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
This tyrant in regard of the manifold crimes whereof he was often accused before the Pope had already prouoked all mens hatred against him Pope Vrbane therefore vppon good consideration sent for this bastard Henrie and Peter King of Arragon who was at continuall enmity with the tyrant as one that had bereft him of diuers Lordships to come before him at Avinion There Henrie the bastard was made legittimate and denounced King of Castile the tyrant being first excommunicate after desposed The King of Arragon promised free passage through his country and prouision of victualles to such armies as should be conducted into Castile against the tyrant intending also by the helpe of those forces to recouer his owne losses To this expedition resorted many honourable personages and by this meanes those souldiers that had so long annoyed the realme of Fraunce were conveyed into Castile The tyrant having intelligence of the armie that was comming against him betooke himselfe to flight with his wife his two daughters and one noble man onlie For he was so hated of the commons that not one of them would take armes in his defence so he was forsaken and left destitute of all men And Henrie the bastard arriving in Castile with great ioye and generall applause of the people tooke vppon him the administration of the kingdome After his coronation when he had received the othe of allegeance from the most part of the Nobilitie and Cities of the realme the noble men by whose ayde he had obtained the crowne tooke their leaues and departed for now all semed to be accomplished But he had not yet discharged those french make-shiftes because he purposed to make warre against the King of Granado The tyrant remaining in these perplexities by the aduise of that one noble man which attended him addressed letters to the Prince of Wales full of lamentable complaints concerning his misfortunes beseeching him to commiserate his estate and to releleeue him with succor Shortly after he himselfe not daring to trust his owne subiects repayred to Bayon The Princes counsell were of opinion that he ought not to be succoured in regard of his abhominable wickednesse and vngodly disposition nor that any daungerous enterprise should be vndertaken for his sake Contrarily the Prince iudged it an vnworthy thing that a bastard Sonne should vsurpe the inheritance of the crowne which was a very ill president and extended to the preiudice of other kings and princes Therefore when the tyrant came he receiued him courteously into the town of Burdeaux and promised him his assistance Neuerthelesse he sent inâ—… England to the King his Father declaring to him the whâ—… circumstance of the matter and requiring his couâ—… and direction concerning his proceedings The King of England in regard thâ—â— of long time before there had beene a league between 〈…〉 Spaniard and him encouraged his Sonne in the answâ—… of his letters to go forward with his purpose for the 〈…〉 him to his â—ing do 〈…〉 And so the iourney was 〈…〉 vppon betweene thâ—… But one thing was 〈…〉 in the waâ—… Their â—…assage lay through the King oSpanâ— varres country who had lately contracted amity with Henrie the newe King of Spaine Howbeit matters were so handled that a meeting was had at Bayon and vppon certaine conditions the King of Navarre was â—o well satisfyed that he promised all curtesy frendship and peace King Henrie being aduertised of these proceedings sent to the King of Fraunce forayd The Prince practised with the Captaines of those souldiers which before had been so troublesome to Fraunce now tooke paye of the Spaniard that they should forsake King Henries seruice and follow him There was about twelue thousand of them and as they were marching towards Gasâ—oine in the kingdome of Arragon they endured great distresse the wayes and passages being on all sides soreclosed and fortified Nevertheles they made way through all inconveniences and holding on their iourney till they came almost at Tholous they were receiued into Mount Albane a towne pertayning to the territory of Guyen The french men vnderstanding thereof besette the wayes rounde about that they might not issue foorth into Tholous or the places adioyning In conclusion it came to hand-strokes and the French men fought valiantly insomuch that they chased their enemies euen vnto the towne but by reason of the fresh supplies comming continually to their rescue in the end the French men were ouerthrowne and the greater part of them eyther slaine or taken prisoners In which number was the Earle of Provence who came at that time to ayde the men of Tholons and besides him diuerse others of great account both of Provence and Fraunce Hauing thus cleared their passage by the sword they proceeded to the end of their iourney The prince of Wales because he was loth to burden the people of Aquitaine with exactions for the maintenance of his soldiers borrowed no small some of money of his father besides that conuerted all his plate both gold and siluer into coyne Many prisoners as the custome is were discharged vpon their worde so was the Earle of Provence But Pope Vrbane for hatred he bare to those mutinous soldiers took vppon him to acquite the Earle of Provence and others that were set at liberty after the same manner from their ransoms so that they payd not one farthing but had a cleare dispensation from him of all bonds and obligations whatsoever Whilst the Prince was making preparation for the warres there arived at Burdeaux the King of Maiorica who made grievous complaint of the King of Arragon which had slain his father in prison at Barcelone and withheld all his possessions from him by force towards the reuenge of which iniuries and the recouerie of his inheritance he humbly implored the Princes ayd He had to wife the Queene of Naples The Prince vpon hearing of his complaint promised that so soone as he had finished this enterprise for Spaine he would vndertake his affaires and so bring to passe that either vppon reasonable conditions or by force of armes he should be restored to his kingdome Before the Prince set out from Burdeaux he had a sonne borne to whom the banished King of Maiorica was godfather He was named Richard and afterward came to be king of England Edward the Princes elder sonne being dead before his father In the beginning of Februarie the Prince departed from Burdeaux and within a little while after an vncertaine rumor was bruted abroad concerning the King of Navarre as if he had entred into a newe league with King Henry of Castile and that therevpon the Ptince and his Army shold be denyed passage through his country Herevpon letters were addressed to the King of Navarre who aduisedly alleadging the reasons that moued him withall declared his good affection to the Prince and the banished Tyrant The Prince marched with his army in three battels one following another the vauntgard was conducted by the Duke of
recovery of his helth and because he had taken part with his enemis apprehended him and detained him in prison for the space of certain yeeres after At length by the helpe of his friends and vppon the paiment of an hundreth thousand pistolets he procured his liberty and levying great forces against the king of Arragon the matter had surely come to a bloudy conclusion had he not againe fallen suddenly into a violent sicknes which in short space ended his life By this meanes therefore the occasion being taken away the warres ceassed Don Pietro the tyrant of Spaine whose history we haue discoursed already left behind him two daughters Constance Isabell whome certaine noble men of Spaine immediately vpon their fathers death conveyed by sea into Aquitaine The Duke of Lancaster by aduise and perswasion of his friends espoused Constance the elder of these sissters wherevnto he was the rather moved aswell in commiseration of the young Ladies miserie as in hope hereafter to obtaine the possession of their inheritance The King of Spaine having intelligence hereof fearing likewise that the King of Englands fift sonne would marry the other daughter addressed his ambassadors to the French King with whome he ioyned in most stedfast league of friendship the French King for his part promising him assured ayd against any enemy whatsoever and moreouer that he would never enter into other conditions of peace with the King of England but such as should be both to the honour and profit of the King of Spaine The Duke of Lancaster shortly after his marriage assembled the Lords of the country together and declaring to them his occasions and purpose of departure appointed such officers as should governe in his absence and departed with his wife into England King Edward vpon advisement with his counsell determined to send his sonne the Duke of Lancaster with an army into Picardy which wasting and destroying that country should from thence proceede forward into Fraunce Moreover he sent the Earle of Pembroke with another army into Aquitaine to make warre likewise in those parts that so the French men might not faile to haue their hands full on all sides But the French King hauing knowledge hereof by meanes of certaine English men that resorted vnto him forefortifyed with garrisons all places of Picardy and further vnderstanding by relation of those fugitives that the English fleete should arrive in Gascoigne he gave secret intelligence therof to the King of Spaine his new cōfederate The Spanyard performed the part of a friend sent 40 great Ships with thirteene others of lesse receyt well appointed to meete with the English men in their passage Not farre from Rochell the Spanish fleete encountred the English with great violence and the fight continued almost a whole day without intermission During which space the Rochellers stood like idle spectators beholding the conflict and being requested by their governors to helpe the English in their necessitie alleadged frivolous matters for excuse and refused For howsoever they dissembled outwardly to the worlde yet in their harts they vttterly abhorred the Englishmens government The next day they renewed their fight afresh and it was maintained with as great resolution as ever was any Notwithstanding in the end the Spaniards obtayned victory by reason that both in number of men and shipping and in the greatnesse of their vessells also they much overmatched the English Many were slaine and many taken prisoners amongst whom was the Earle of Pembroke himselfe and most part of the captaines in his fleete The ship likewise which carryed a great quantity of treasure for the maintayning of three thousand soldiers was swallowed vp in the sea After this battell was ended came a sufficient power out of Gascoigne to Rochell but it was too late when the matter had falne out so vnprosperously before Thus it came to passe that by little and little the King of England lost all his whole seigniory of Gascoigne the people partly rebelling and partly yeelding themselues willingly to his enemy Whilst these things passed there repaired to the French Kings court one Ivan the sonne of a certaine Brittish Lord making grevous complaint of great iniury done vnto him by the King of England both in causing his father Ammon Prince of Wales to be wrongfully put to death afterward in conferring the principalitie of the whole coūtry to his owne sonne Edward Vpon relation of his grevance the French King furnished him with a fleete of ships and some foure thousand men to serue him by whose helpe this Ivan entring into a certaine yland belonging to the English and comming to encounter with his enemies overthrew them in the field and put them to flight After which exploit he was recalled by the French King and sent into Spaine there to make provision of more Shippes that he might lay siege to the towne of Rochell This good successe of the French kings affaires both by the Spanyards and by Ivan gave him occasion to thinke that the rest of the English provinces would easily be brought to revolte especially if the English men should receive but another overthrowe or at leastwise be put to any extraordinary trouble or molestation Herevpon he sent the constable with a great power of the chiefest peeres of his kingdome to renewe the warres againe in his enemies countries Assoone as they came into the territory of Poytiers all the townes and castles thereabout rendred themselues into their subiection The townesmen of Poytiers being at variance among themselues addressed letters to the constable signifying their good affection toward him and earely in the next morning according to promise set open their gates to receive him into the cittie This example of the Poitevins diverse other townes tooke as a president for themselues to imitate In the meane while this Ivans whom we spake of before accompanied with the Spanish Admirall came with a well furnished navy out of Spaine and arrived at Rochell which towne notwithstanding sustained no damage at their hands because the townesmen hated the English and desired by all meanes to be againe vnder the French Kings government They had long since freed themselves from their forced subiection but that the English garrison which kept the castle held them alwaies in such awe as they durst never venter to put their purpose in execution At length contriving a stratageme politick enough for the time vnder pretence of taking a generall muster as well of the townesmen as of the garrison they allured the captaine who was a man of no great forecaste with all his company out of the hold Which done forthwith a great number of the townesmen breaking out from an ambush gaue assault to the forte and suddenly surprised it those fewe which made resistance being easily repressed The noble men of Fraunce were at the same time assembled at Poytiers and having intelligence hereof were desirous to be received by the Rochellers into
noble man of so small account which will bestowe his daughter with you in marriage you haue so spent consumed your means and set your selfe so exceedingly in debt But there is a rich merchant Bertold of Machline which you know hath but one only daughter to whome in expectation of her large dowry many great Lords haue beene suters You cannot make a better match for your selfe than to seize vpon such a booty You shall do well therefore to make this offer to her father that if hee will vndertake with his mony to redeeme those townes and castles which you haue pawned to your creditors and withall be conteÌ„ted to release such bonds of debt as he hath of yours already in consideration hereof you will take his daughter to wife This counsell was well accepted of the Earle and so he sent one to make the motion When Bertold had receiued the message his answere was this that he should hold it a great honour both to himselfe and all his house if his daughter might seem worthy to be matched with such a husband the respects which he thought moued the Earle to desire it were that he might be discharged froÌ„ the danger of his creditors and possesse his owne without controlment Therefore he was well content to proceede with the marriage and dislikte not of the conditions profered so as these likewise for his part might be added that if it fortuned the Earle to dye first leauing no issue then all his possessions to remaine entirely to his wife during her life And if it happened her to die first leauing issue by the Earle that then her children should be admitted to their fathers inheritance and not be debarred of their fortune though he should afterward marry a woman of more honourable birth and haue issue by her also These conditions being accepted Marie the daughter of Bertold was marryed to the Earle of Gelders and the fourth yeere after deceased leauing issue by her husband one daughter named Isabell After her decease the Earle married againe Isabell sister to that most worthy prudent Prince Edward King of England by whom he had two sonnes Reignold and Edward and one daughter called Ioane It fortuned both the Reignolds as wel the father as the son deceased Edward tooke to wife a daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier and afterwards in a battell against Wenceslaus Duke of Braband was wounded to death and departed without issue Ioane therefore after the death of her brothers presumed the inheritance should be hers but Isabell which was descended of the first marriage maintained the contrary affirming that herselfe only had rightfull interest in the succession This Isabell was ioyned in marriage to Iohn of Bloys who had much alteration with his aduersaries about the inheritance and great contention was like to haue growne betweene them so farre forth as the matter had surely come to tryall of the sword but that by his wiues departure in the mean season the controuersie was decided Then Ioane which was now the onely and vndoubted heyre of her father being married to William Marques of Iuliers bare to him a son called after his fathers name William This William made Duke of Gelders in the right of his mother tooke to wife the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier the same which had beene formerly espoused to Edward of Gelders his vnele but by reason of her tender yeeres remaining still a mayden widdowe Reignold Earle of Gelders which marryed the king of Englands sister in regard of his great league and allyance with King Edward was highly fauoured by Lewis of Bauier then Emperour in so much that he aduanced both him and the Marquesse of Iuliers to a higher degree of honour and created them both Dukes Now the occasion why this William the young Duke of Gelders made defiance to the French King was both because he bare good affection to the king of Engand to whoÌ„ he was alyed be faith and homage and also for that Wenceslaus Duke of Braband whom he exceedingly hated was confederate with the French men The cause of his hatred against the Duke of Braband was this Reignold which marryed first Mary of Machline and afterward king Edwards sister being a man beyond all measure prodigall morgaged three Castles to the Earle of Morse a rich Lord in Germany for a great sum of money â—he Earle a long while after seeing his debter vnable to redeeme his pledge solde the castles to Wenceslaus Duke of Braband After the death of Reignold Edward his sonne addressing letters to Wenceslaus requested to haue the Castles againe and he would repay him all the money that he had disbursed Which when Wenceslaus absolutely refused preparation was made for waries which doubtles should haue bene the conclusion but that by intreatie of the Duke of Iuliers and Albert of Bauier the matter for that time was compounded The same yeere Charles the Emperour appointed his brother Wenceslaus as publik protectour of the high waies for the punishment of theeues and robbers that people might passe quietly from one place to another Now it fortuned that certaine merchants of Flaunders and Braband as they trauelled about their affaires into Germany were robbed of their money spoyled of all their goods in the country of Iuliers through which they made their journey It was reported that the offenders were receiued and fostered by the Duke of Iuliers who as many more besides himselfe was thought to repine at the giuing of so great an honour to Duke Wenceslaus The poore merchants that sustained the losse made grieuous complaint to him which had the charge of redressing such enormities who thereuppon directing friendly letters to the Duke of Iuliers preuailed so little that he might plainly perceiue he rather desired warre then peace Wenceslaus therefore least the suffering of such disorders to escape vnpunished should bring the authority of his office in contempt leuyed an army The Duke of Iuliers did the like was ayded by Edward Duke of Gâ—lders The battell was fought in Iuliers with great fiercenesse on both sides but the Brabanders were discoÌ„fited and put to flight and amongst others the Duke himselfe also taken prisoner Edward Duke of Gelders was likewise mortally wounded and dyed of the same When the Dutchesse of Braband heard tidings of her husbands captiuity by aduise of the French King she resorted to the Emperour at Confluence who vppon her complaint being moued with his brothers misfortune prepared sharp warres against the Duke of Iuliers intending to haue made a notable spoile and destruction of his country had he not bene pacifyed by the Princes electors who thought it would be an ill president that a fellowe of the Empire should be so oppressed The Duke therefore being by their meanes brought before the Emperors presence when he had voluntarily discharged his prisoner after sharpe reprehension he was againe reconciled and restored to the Emperours fauour Within fewe yeeres after dyed Wenceslaus
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
he found at Confluence and when he had deliuered his message departed from thence into Fraunce The Diuines there were of opinion that the like motion should be made to Benedict as had bin before to Boniface And vpon this determination the same Bishop beeing sent by the King to Avinion declared the mindes and intentions of the Princes to the Pope Who aunswered plainely and peremptorily that hee would condiscend to no such matter Notwithstanding when he had propounded it to his Cardinalles they were of sundry opinions according as they were mooued by their seuerall dispositions and affections And when no certaintic could be concluded by reason of the difference amongest them their assembly brake vp Then the Ambassadour pressing into the Popes presence required his resolution The Pope prowdly answered how he was lawfully and orderly promoted to that holy dignity which hee would in no wise forgoe as long as he liued neyther was any man liuing so deere vnto him for whose pleasure hee would departe from his right and much lesse did he feare any force or violence in that behalf The Ambassador seeing no other answere could be gotten returned homewardes and by the way shewed the successe of his affaires to the Marshall of Fraunce whome the king had sent with an army to second his proceedings The Marshall as soone as hee vnderstoode the Popes obstinate resolution made haste to Avinion and forraged all the country about diuiding his forces into diuerse companies to keepe all conueiance of victuall from the towne He him selfe encamped before the Citty threatning the inhabitants to destroy all their houses and their vineyardes which they had abroad in the countrey vnlesse they yeelded The townesmen well considering there was little helpe in the Pope and that the King was of great puissaunce tooke counsell with certaine French Cardinalles and by their aduise set open their gates The Pope suffered himselfe to be besieged in his pallace hoping to haue beene rescued by his cousine the King of Arragon but the King of Arragon was too wise to incurre the offence of so mighty a Prince for the Popes pleasure from whom he could expect small succour againe if occasion should serue heereafter Many of his Cardinalles exhorted him to a milder kinde of carriage but the Pope full of pride and arrogancie stoode firme in his first resolution seeming as it were secure of his estate and altogether carelesse what should become of him Hee was plentifully furnished of all necessaries sauing onely fewell the want whereof together with the incessant importunity of the Cardinalles compelled him at length to yeelde vp the place The Marshall bound him by othe that hee should not departe out of the Citty before such time as an vnion were established in the Church and to be sure he should not falsifie his promise appoynted a sufficient guarde to attend him and caused the Cardinalles and rich Cittizens of Avinion to become sureties for his foorth-comming The French King hauing written the whole discourse of these proceedings to the Emperour solicited the King of England that following their example he should likewise take parte with neyther of the Popes but stand indifferent for a time till some remedy might be prouided The King was very willing to haue satisfied his father in lawes request But when the matter was propounded in parliament hee not onely effected nothing of his desire but more and more vehemently incensed the people against him whome it exceedingly offended that he should be so addicted to the French men that to doe them a pleasure it seemed hee would haue condiscended to anie thing And they told him that howsoeuer they had beene otherwise well contented to set aside all partialitie of affection either to the one partie or the other yet in regarde the French King so earnestly desired it they would not agree to his request nor in any wise allow that hee shoulde prescribe articles of religion in England About this time died the Duke of Lancaster a vertuous and prudent prince of whose death as a thing desired the king of England very ioyfully sent newes into Fraunce As for his sonne who soiourned the same time in the French court he was so farre from recalling him againe to receiue his fathers inheritance that hee also seised it into his owne hands as appertaining to himselfe till the time of the earles banishment were expired And not content heerewith he distributed many of the Duke of Lancasters goodes among such persons as no man loued but himselfe The Earle of Derby was highly fauoured and respected by the French King in regarde of his noble carriage and generous disposition And because hee was also a man of great possessions there was a match motioned betweene him and the Duke of Berries daughter which was then a widow Wherof as soone as the King of England had intelligence he sent an Ambassador foorthwith to interrupt their proceedings informing his father in law and his vncles that hee with whome they intended to contract affinitie was a wicked person and a traitour The Earle from whome all this was kept secret to the intent to learne what the Ambassadour had doone for he mistrusted somewhat because he had not seene him all the time of his being there fell in communication againe with the French King and his brothers concerning the marriage And they not thinking good to hold him longer in suspence declared what reporte they hadde heard of him from the King of England How much the Earle was grieued and discontented heerewithall any man out of his owne iudgement may easily coniecture All the nobilitie of England for the most part with the Londoners were exceedingly displeased at this his vnworthy and iniurious accusation for they knew assuredly it proceeded of mere malice hatred King Richard the same time made preparation for another voyage into Ireland assembling to the number of tenne thousand archers and two thousand horsemen and hee banished twoonoble men of great account because they refused to accompany him in that iourney For those Lordes hauing spoken somewhat boldely of the King when they vnderstoode by their friends that he had knowledge thereof they thought it better to disobey his commaund than by comming when he sent for them to put their liues and estates in manifest perill and therevppon sentence of banishment was pronounced against them To be short many causes concurred together at one time to aggrauate the peoples hatred against the King By occasion whereof certaine ill disposed persons taking aduantage of the time when they saw the king both busied in warre and irrecouerably depriued of the loue of his subiects assembling together in rowts and companies made spoyle of the husbandmen robbed the Merchants and ranged ouer all the countrey doing great violence and mischiefe insomuch that many to auoyde the daunger of their outrage were forced to conuey themselues into London and other places of securitie When the king had thus vtterly lost the harts of
had bestowed the seigniory of Angolesme who had also espoused the daughter of Charles of Bloys being aduanced to that office was by Charles king of Navarre slaine suddainlie in his bed With this fact as ye may well iudge the French kings mind was not a little troubled neuerthelesse vppon certaine conditions he was pacified To this Charles thus murdred succeeded Iaques of Burbon And the truce taken between the French king and the English to endure till Aprill was prolonged to Midsommer For the ambassadours of both kings meeting at Avinion before the Pope when they could not agree vppon articles of peace added so much more time to the continuance of the truce The Prince of Wales brought an army into Aquitaine and the King his Father intending to prosecute his warres in Fraunce came to Calice There the French King by an herauld profered the single combate but the King of England refused it The French King sending out his writtes summoned to Paris all his nobilitie with the heads of the church and the burgesses of his townes declaring vnto them how greatly it imported him to prouide for the warres So by act of Parliament a generall subsidy was graunted from payment whereof there was no man could be exempted The King of Navarre Iohn Earle of Harecourt and divers others being surprised by the French kings vnsuspected approche as they sat at dinner in the Castle of Roan were suddainly apprehended and committed to safe custody The King of Navarre was sent prisoner to Paris The Earle of Harecourt had vttered I wot not what reprochfull words against the King in presence of diuers noble men stoutly maintaining that the subsidy lately exacted ought not to be payd and withall exhorting the residue to stand stifly in deniall thereof Hence grew the ground of his inditement and hence proceeded the cause of his punishment For herevppon the King commaunded him to be beheaded and his body afterward to be hanged vppon a gibbet The King of Englands Sonne who came lately as we told you into Aquitaine setting forth from Burdeaux wasted all the country thereabout namely Poytiers Turon and Berrie where fournishing himselfe with what was needfull for his owne vse the rest he vtterly spoyled and destroyed burning vp their corne and shedding out their wines to the intent that afterwards it might not be coÌ„uerted to the benefite of his enemy The French King in the meane while hauing a great power assembled at Charires departed from thence with all possible hast and a right enemie-like affection following after the English Prince When he came neere vnto Poytiers newes was brought him that the English armie laie encamped not farre off Immediatlie herevppon calling his counsell he gaue direction for the setting of his men in order disposing his whole armie into three battalions In the first he placed â—he Duke of Orleans in the second Charles his eldest Son and himselfe led the reregard The number of his enemies was very small Assoone as he vnderstood by his scowts in what sort they were embattelled and how they had planted themselues in a place both by nature and their owne industrie stronglie fortified he gaue commaundement that all his people should fight on foote three hundreth or somewhat more onlie excepted who with their horses were appointed to breake the aray of the english archers He was accompanied in the field with his foure realme with great impunitie of vice as generally happeneth in such cases where scarce any are thought to remaine which by authoritie might represâ—e mischiefe punish offenders Theeues and robbers banding themselues together filled the country with repine and murder forestalling the highwaies and spoyling the passengers Besides this the Sâ—ates could not well agree among themselues for the nobilitie began to distaste the authoritie of the â—ix and thirty which were appointed to haue chiefe rule in the coÌ„mon wealth But most horrible of all other was that â—umultuous insurrection of the peasants which assembled in Champaine and the places thereabout whose companie by little and little augâ—enting through the daily concourse of such rascalles as resorted to them from all quarters at length encreased so farre that their number amounted to an hundreth thousand Their purpose was to have destroyed all the nobilitie and gentry of Fraunce And with this intent entring violently into the noble men and gentlemens houses they riâ—led them bound the Maisters to the postes â—auished their wiues and daughters before their faces murthered cruelly all the whole houshoulde and lastly consumed the houses with fire And now their barbarous outrage preuayling so â—arre that the women of greatest calling were compelled to forsake their dwellings and hide themselues in secret places vnlesse they would abandon their bodies to the beastly lust of most filthy varlets an army at length was raised and at the towne of Meaulx they were fought withall and euerie one slaine or drowned in the riuer Marne Charles the kings sonne perceiuing there was a secret conspiracie betweene the King of Navarre and the Prouost of Paris departed out of the towne and assembled his forces It seemed as if the matter would haue growne to a troublesome issue for hee besieged the cittie but by the mediation of certaine Bishops the Princes were reconciled The Prouoste neuerthelesse intending to set all in an vproare had plotted one night to dispatch all those of the contrary faction And the matter was brought to such forwaâ—dnesse that he had already agreed with ceâ—taine â—ho for the same purpose awayted their prey without the gates that at a time appointed in the night they should enter into the cittie But the treason beeing discouered hee himselfe was apprehended in the night season with â—he keyes of the towne in his hand and so slaine with soâ—e others that were partakers of his practise This Prouoâ—â—e during the troublesome state of those times was the first that enclosed Paris with walles and ditches and planted gates at the entrances into the cittie The King of Navarre beeing certified of this mans death whome he dearely esteemed in regard of the manifolde benefits he had receiued at his handes and partly moued with displeasure of the matter but â—ore neerely touched for that himselfe was commonly noted to bee chiefe author of that practise as well of his oâ—ne accord as by instigation of his brother Philip who had formerly vexed Normandy with warres desired nothing more then to â—orke mischiefe to the realme of Fraunce â—orthwith denounced warre and hotly pursued it making many excursions towards Seane and Marne and â—inning also diuerse townes and fortresses about Amienâ—e Arras The Prouost had furnished him with great sommes of money and therefore he might maintaine men of warre at his pleasure besides many fauoured his pretence and furthered his proceedings Hereby it camâ— to passe that oftentimes he tooke many townes and castles â—ith little or no difficultie insomuch that certaine of the principall toâ—nesmen of Amieâ—ce at an houre
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
departing towards Sivill he made certaine appointment with the Prince and gaue him his faith to returne verie shortly againe and to bring mony with him for the discharge of his soldiers When the prince vppon expectation of his returne had taryed certaine moneths beyond the time prefixed he sent messengers to inquire the cause of his delay The tyrant excused himself how he had sent certaine of his servants with the mony that they were intercepted in the way by theeves Wherfore he requested him to returne into his owne country leave some officers of his in Castile to whome he would make satisfaction to the vttermost This answere greatly displeased the Prince but no other at that time could be obtayned King Henry escaping out of the battell fled to Valentia a cittie of Arragon and there acquainted the king with his calamitie From thence he went to Mountpelier to the Duke of Aniow a mortall enemy of the English After that he tooke his iourney to Avinion to Pope Vrbane who was then prepayring to depart from thence to Rome and to him likewise recounted his miseries and misfortunes At last being privately ayded by the Duke of Aniow he assembled certaine forces and invaded Prince Edwards dominions The Princesse somewhat amazed with the suddainnesse thereof sent to the French King to represse her enemie But the French King winked at the matter Herevppon Prince Edward having advertisement how the world went was constrayned to returne into his owne country before the King of Castile had payd him his money As he came through Arragon he met with some impediments his passage was stopped Neverthelesse at a day of meeting the matter was taken vp friendly betweene them Prince Edward after his returne into his owne dominion because he had consumed a great masse of money about this expedition into Spaine summoned all the nobilitie of Aquitaine with the burgesses of the citties to a parliament and there made publike request for the graunt of a generall subsidy to belevyed through all his dominion and that only for five yeeres in consideration as well of the great debt wherewith he had charged himselfe and had not yet discharged his soldiers as also for that he had spent and in a manner cleerely exhausted all his owne treasure about this voyage All the citties for the most parte gave their consents but many of the greatest Lords opposed themselues against the Princes purpose Affirming that so long as they were subiect to the King of Fraunce they were never burdened with any such exactions and rather then they would now vndergoe them they would endure the vttermost whatsoever When the Prince would relent no part of his rigor the Lords which had thus gainsaâ—d him tooke their way directly to Paris to the French King where in assembly of the councell they declared their griefe making sore complaint of the Prince and withall beseeching the French King to receive them into his protection The French King made answere that he would deale by the advise of his counsell and according to the articles of peace concluded betweene his father and the King of England Meane while the Lords of Gascoine remained at Paris The subsidy was such that euerie houshold should pay yeerely one francke which had amounted to the some of twelve hundreth thousand Frankes by the yeere King Henry having advertisement of the rebellion of the Gascones and holding it good pollicie to make vse of another mans trouble resolved not to let slip so faire an opportunity Therefore by the King of Arragons assistance he raised an army of ten thousandmen and which way soever he directed his forces he recovered townes and castles againe to his subiection Don Pietro remaining the same time at Sivill assoone as he heard newes of these proceedings sent presently to the King of Portingall and the King of Granado for succour He obtayned his request and had gathered together in all forty thousand men amongst whom there were many Saracens King Henrie seeing it stood him in hand to proceede rather by discretion and pollicy then by plaine force for the Tyrant farre exceeded him in number of souldiers following the aduise of a certaine Captaine of his even in the mornings first approche contrary to expectation suddainly invaded his enemies and fought prosperously in such sort that the Tyrant was constrained to fly for tefuge into a castle thereby whereof assoone as King Henry had intelligence he brought all his Army thither and bent his forces against it The tyrant perceiving his imminent perill issued secretly out of the castle accompanied with some sewe in the dead time of the night hoping so to haue escaped by flight But it was his fortune to fall into the hands of the captaine of the Scowtwatch by whome he was apprehended and brought forth with before King Henry who at his first entrance began presently to inveigh against him with most bitter termes and the tyrant for his part also returned words of like reproach calling him sonne of a strumpet To be short King Henry overthrowing him to the ground and getting vpon him stab'd him to the hart with his dagger and in short space after his death with small trouble recovered againe the possession of the whole kingdome The King of Portingall weÌ„t about to haue revenged the death of his kinsman Don Pietro by battell but he was pacified During the time that the Lords of Gascoine soiourned at Paris the French King had a sonne borne which afterward carried the name of his father In the mean while the Lords of Gascoine made often supplication to the French King that he would vndertake the defence of their cause against Prince Edward which thing if he refused to doe extreme necessitie would compell them to seeke some vnder whose protection they might quietly enioye their possessions by meanes whereof it might come to passe in time that the Kings of Fraunce should forgoe all their right and interest in the whole province of Aquitaine The french King considering the great importance and daunger of the warre tooke long respite to deliberate vppon the matter Most of his counsell perswaded him to warre affirming with great vehemency that the articles of peace were infringed by the King of England At length it seemed good to summon the Prince to appeare in person at the parliament of Paris and certaine were appointed to carry the summons accordingly Prince Edward when he heard this message after some pause made answere to this effect that sithence the French King had so commanded him he would surely come to Paris but it should bee with his helmet on his head and threescore thousand souldiers in his company The messengers departed out of Burdeaux and being apprehended in their way homeward wereby the Princes commandement cast in prison Here by the way it shall not be amisse to make some remembrance of the hostages left in England The Duke of Aniow as is declared already had conveyed himselfe away before
forsake the Prince and to resort to the French King notwithstanding whereby it appeared plainely that no vertue hath more force to hold the hearts of men in obedience then affability For Prince Edward though otherwise a worthy gentleman being puffed vp as men commōly are with the prosperous atchieving of great enterprises began to carry himselfe roughly and austerely towards the noble men that were his subiects whereby it came to passe that they could not loue him But the french King for that besides his excellent wisedome he was also gentle and curteous easily insinuated himselfe into the fauour and affection of all men By meanes whereof he greatly enriched the Realme of Fraunce and worthily deserved to bee registred in the number of the most prudent Princes The french King by the aduise of his brethren the Dukes of Aniow Berry and Burgoyne with other of his nobility sent a puissant army into Gascoine The Duke of Aniow marching with his forces from Tholouse easily recouered either by force or by composition whatsoeuer townes or holds were pertaining to the English in those quarters The Duke of Berrie invaded the territory of Lymoges Certaine Lords of Gascoine ioyned themselues with the Duke of Aniow they were the same that by their complaints and accusations had formerly incited the french King to vndertake this warre The Duke of Berry was associated with the dukes of Burbon and Alaunson and diuers others which way soeuer they tooke they found easie passage About this time the french King fell to agreement with the King of Navarre For it stood him vppon to make him his friend least perhappes he should haue giuen accesse to the English forces through a part of Normandy which he held and by the seacoast into the rest of that country pertayning to the crowne of Fraunce The agreement was vppon this point that the King of Navarre assoone as he returned into his own kingdōe should make his defiance to the King of England There came also a power out of Spaine to the ayd of the French King vpon the bountie and good affection of King Henrie In the mean time the Prince of Wales not vnmindful of his frends adherents raysed men of warre on all sides and the King his father that he might with more ease sustaine the brunt of these warres tooke a truce with the Scottish King for nine yeeres in such sort as it should be lawfull for the Scots to serue for entertainment on either partie at their pleasure He sent also another armie to wast the countrey of Picardy the charge whereof he committed to one Sir Robert Knolles a man marvailously affected to the english natiō though himselfe were a stranger and a briton borne The number of his forces came to some ten thousand men With this power departing from Calice and marching through Artois when he came before Arras he forbare to assault it but by setting fire to the subvrbes tempted the townesmen to make some sallie out of their gates whereto notwithstanding he could not provoke them So he proceeded forward destroying all with fire and sword as he passed The Duke of Aniow after he had recouered diuers places from the English in regard he thought sufficient was performed for the present imparting his purpose to the rest of his associates dissolved his army and distributed his men into garrisons The Duke of Berry after long siege received the City of Lymoges by composition Whereat the Prince of Wales conceived so great offence and indignation that raysing a power immediatly he begirt the towne with a new siege vowing never to depart before he reduced it againe into his subiection And when he vnderstood by such as had taken exact view of the scituation and strength thereof that it was too hard a matter for him to take it by assault he caused a mine to be drawne and conveyed vnder the earth even close to the gates of the Citie which being set on fire the violence thereof overthrew a great peece of the wall and opened a large breach for his souldiers to enter But who is able to report the miserable and vnmercifull slaughter which then ensued Not so much as women and young Children which cast themselues prostrate at the feete of the English lamentably imploring the saftie of their liues could obtained any favour but were all put to the sword so implacable was the Princes wrath so relentlesse his displeasure And after all this terrible massacre of people the spoile and sacke of the Citizens goods with the committing of all beastly and inhumane outrage according to the lust and furie of the souldier the towne it selfe by Prince Edwards commaund being set on fire was vtterly raced and laid levell with the ground The Duke of Berry when he wanne this Citie had dismissed his army as his brother had donne before him by meanes whereof it came to passe that his souldiers being dispersed and fewe perhaps remayning there in garrison the townesmen were left destitute of releefe The armie of Sir Robert Knolles which had pierced through Fraunce into the country of Aniow was at length slaine by the Constable and Sir Robert himselfe escaping by flight retourned into Britaine About this time dyed Pope Vrbane who but lately before was retuned to Avinion In his place was set vp Gregorie the xi through the earnest sute and great travell of the french King who foresawe that this bishop would be a great strength to his procedings Prince Edward by the advise of his phisitions left Gascoine and returned into his owne country For at such time as he warred in Spaine in the behalfe of Don Pietro the banished tyrant of Castile he caught a greevous and welneere incurable disease which was now so farre growne and encreased vppon him that he was not able to sit vppon horsebacke but was faine to be caried from place to place in a litter wherevppon his phisitions gaue him counsell to go into England because they were of opinion he might better be recouered in regard the temperature of the climate being his natiue soile was more agreeable to the constitution of his body At his departure out of Aquitaine he appointed his brother the Duke of Lancaster who during the whole continuance of the warres had beene partaker of his fortunes to be his vicegerent into those quarters beseeching the noble men of Gascoine which were assembled at Burdeaux that they would be contēt to accept of his government We haue formerly made mention of the King of Maiorica who in hope to be revenged of the disgrace and iniury done vnto him had for a time depended vppon the faithfull promise of Prince Edward to ayd him against his enemie the King of Arragon then confederate with the Spaniard But King Henrie of Spaine when after the Princes depature he had almost recovered all that belonged to his dominion found this King of Maiorica in a certaine towne of Spaine left there by the english for
was further agreed that the King of England should immediatly send foure thousand horsemen into Navarre to be employed against the Spaniard and that it should not be lawfull for them to depart out of the King of Navarres seruice till such time as the warres were finished This to be done not at the King of Englands charged but his owne The french King being aduertised by some of the King of Navarres owne houshold that he was purposed to goe into England perswaded the king of Spaine to make inuasion vppon his country in the meane while The commaunder of that army which the french King had sent into Normandy was a great souldier and one well experienced in martiall affaires called the Lord Cowcy This man whilste the King of Navarre was absent negotiating his affaires in England recouered many townes and fortresses thereabout and with so much more facility because he caried in his company Charles the King of Nauarres eldest sonne in whose behalfe when many heard those warres were vndertaken they stoode not much vppon resistance Onely the Castle of Chirburg remayned still to be brought in subiection Henrie King of Castile besieging Bayon a towne of the English dominion with a great army had surely enforced them to yeeld had not the plague consumed his souldiers Neuerthelosse he brought not forth his forces in vaine for he subdued many other townes thereabouts and besides a great part of his army was conveyed to the siege of Pampelone the chiefe Citie of Nauarre I told you before of one Ivan a welch man who after the death of his father Prince of Wales had from thenceforth of a child beene brought vp vnder Phillip Iohn Charles Kings of Fraunce This Ivan being growne to mans estate and desirous of reuengment omitted no occasion whereby he might worke displeasure to the English and in all military employments so demeaned himselfe that the french King held him in great reputation As he lay at the siege of a certaine Castle in the country of Burdeloys and had brought the besieged to that point that famine must of necessity haue enforced them to yeeld a certaine welchman vnder pretence of bringing priuate intelligence of his countrymens good affection insinuated himselfe into his acquaintance and in conclusion waiting oportunitie one day when he had no other company about him cruelly murthered him vnawares as he sat idely gazing vppon the Castle combing his head The rest of the Captaines though they were much troubled with this shāefull murther of so gallant a souldier yet continued their siege very straightly notwithstanding But vpon the approche of a great number of Englishmen comming by sea both the french men and Britons which ioyned to their ayd were constrained to breake vp their campe and leaue their enterprise vnperformed By this occasion the Englishmen recouered much in the territory of Burdeauz Amongst other places the English had besieged a towne in Britaine called Saint Maloes at that time in possession of the french men Many assaults were giuen and those very violent but the french King then abyding at Roan sent an army whose comming somewhat abated the fury of the assaylants and gaue a stop to their proceedings Neuertheles they went forward with their enterprise and attempted to cōpasse it by vndermining Which when the townes-men perceiued taking the aduantage of opportunity one night very secretly they issued out of the towne and whilst their enemies kept negligent watch brake vp the mines in such sort that those which laboured in the workes vnderneath were ouerwhelmed with the earth which they tumbled vppon them The English thus preuented and disappointed of their purpose thought it best for their behoofe to returne into their couuntrey Two of the King of Englands vncles were cheefe cōmanders in this seruice Iohn the King of Spaines Sonne termed the infant of Spaine and the Constable of Spain together besieged Pampelone The King of Nauarre emboldened with the assistance of the English valiantly defended himselfe and was purposed to haue giuen battell in the field but King Henrie vppon some occasions recalled his sonne and so the army was dispersed The Englishmen and Nauarroys together pursued the Spaniards in their departure and burned and sacked certaine townes and villages vppon the frontiers Wherewith the King of Spaine was so vehemently mooued that he raysed an army of some forty thousand in purpose to haue besieged Tudell the place where the King of Nauarre wintered But by mediation of good men a meanes was found to make peace between them Which was that Charles the King of Nauarres son should take to wife the King of Spaines daughter and the King of Spaines Sonne should likewise marry the King of Nauarres daughter This Charles as we told you had been detained certaine yeeres by the french King but at such time as this treaty of marriage tooke effect vpon the king of Spaines request he was honourably sent home to her father Immediatly vppon the conclusion of these matters the King of Spaine deceassed and Iohn his sonne with the generall consent and approbation of the state was receiued in his steed The Duke of Lancaster and his brother who had married the daughters of Pietro the tyrant slaine by King Henrie tooke it in high displeasure that the matter was knit vp in this sort not a little enuing the new kings coronation The King of Portingall also was very much offended at the succession of King Iohn as shall be declared more at large hereafter The French king being a notable politicke Prince and of great experience in matters of state to the intent he might more commodiously maintaine his warres against the English sent an ambassadour into Scotland to retayne the Scottish King in amity and frendship This man arriuing by the way at Sluce in Flaunders from whence he purposed to haue proceeded on his iouruey was by the magistrate of the towne brought before the Earle then remayning at Bruges where by occasiō of some vndiscreet speeches he was reprooued and sharpely checkt with tearmes of reproch both by the Earle of Flaunders himselfe and by the Duke of Britaine inueying earnestly against such kind of persons as the chiefe causers of all dissention and vnquietnes There were others also which put him in feare that if he committed himselfe to sea it was likely that the Englishmen lying in waight for such oportunities would intercept him in his passage Here vppon altering his purposes he returned into Fraunce without dispatch of his commission and vppon the report he made of these matters the french King wrote very sharpe letters to the Earle of Flaunders exhorting and aduising him as he tendred his owne welfare that he should not foster his enemy the Duke of Britaine When the Earle had imparted these letters to his counsell there were none but perswaded him that a banished Prince forced in such sort to flye his country was by all meanes to be releeued many of them boasting that if
mony belongs all to you as your husbands debt in lieu of your dowry and since it is now come to my handes I will in no wise suffer it to passe from me againe Then beganne she to intreate and earnestly to beseech him that hee would alter his purpose in that behalfe shewing how great occasion it would minister of perpetuall hatred and contention betweene them how she durst neuer returne home to her husband vnlesse she brought the mony with her for hee was by nature wrathfull and would neuer be pleased with her againe if he sawe himselfe deceitfully dealt with considering how she was the onely meanes which mooued him to accept that assurance and to deliuer his prisoner neither of which he would haue done but vpon hir intreatie and therefore the whole blame would be imputed to her by her husband When she had oftentimes thus expostulated in vaine and sawe his obstinate minde would be nothing changed not daring to goe backe into her owne country she abode still in Nauarre with her brother During the time she soiorned there her sonne which bare his fathers name a youth of some fifteene yeares of age came thither to visite her and after certaine moneths tarâ—iance when he prepared to depart he would faine haue perswaded her to returne with him to his father but she would by no meanes be intreated So he tooke his leaue and went from thence to Pampelone to doe the like to his vncle who not onely vsed him with all honourable and kinde respect but also at his departure gaue him many rich giftes and amongst the rest a purse with a little box in it full of a certaine confection in fine powlder the force whereof was such that whosoeuer had tasted of it in neuer so smal quantity should incontinently haue died In presenting this amiable gift to his yong kinseman he vtterd these speeches You see sweet nephew how great displeasure your father hath conceiued against your mother yet not so great but that there is possibility they may be againe reconciled No man will imagine how much I am grieued for the discontentment betweene them and no lesse in duty ought you to be also But for remedy of this inconuenience when you are returned to your father you shall find the meanes to cast alittle of this powlder vpon the meate which shal be set before him but you must do it very closely for it will come to passe that whereas now he vtterly abhorreth her as soone as he hath eaten of that meate he shall desire her aboue all things insomuch as he shall scarcely at any time endure her out of his company so great shall be his loue so ardent his affection Vndoubtedly you haue much reason to wish it were so but in any wise beware you make no man of your counsell for then you loose your labour The yong gentleman as yet vnacquainted with the world thinking his vncle of whom he would neuer haue suspected ill had intended good faith and spoken as he thought receiued the gift thaÌ„kfully promised to do according to his direction When he came home his father gently welcoÌ„med him inquiring of diuers circumstances concerning his iourney and other nouelties and amongst the rest whether his vncle had giuen him any at his parting or no. He answered yes and shewed him all his gifts the box only excepted But it so fell out that a bastard son of the Earles who kept familiar company with his brother I know not by what occasion lighted vppon his garment and found the purse hanging at it wherein he perceiued some speciall thing whatsoeuer it were was contained Wherevppon questioning with his brother what it should be that he carryed so continually about him in his bosome he would giue him no answere but changed colour and seemed angry that he had been so inquisitiue Within few dayes after they fell at variance playing at tennice and the young Lord buffetted his bastard brother with his fists who hauing no other meanes to make his party good ranne straight to the Earle with a lamentable complaint shewing what iniury was donne to him by his brother who indeed deserued to be beaten himselfe and well chastized with a whip And for what cause quoth the Earle doest thou thinke him worthy to be whipt because quoth the bastard euer since he ruturned from his mother he hath carryed about him at his breast a thing with a ranke sauour to what purpose I know not but that he told me it would not be long before his mother and you were reconciled With that the Earle began to haue some suspition and commaunded the boy to keepe all secret Next meale as he sat at dinner and his sonne after his ordinary custome seruing him with assay he espyed the purstrings hanging at his bosome wherevppon he harkened him to him as if he wouâ—ld haue whispeâ—ed in his eare and when he came nigh tooke hold of his dublet and vnbuttoned it and cutting of the purse made a proose of the confection vppon a dog who assoone as he had reciued it fell downe dead immediatly Then the Earle enraged with anger and trembling all ouer his body rose vp against his sonne intending doubtlesse to haue slaine him but that the Gentlemen which were about him abhorring the cruelty of such a fact and amazed at the strangenes of the accident withheld him When he saw he could be suffered to vse no other violence with bitter execrations he cursed his sonne that had gone about so vnnaturally and with so horrible kind of death to haue murthered his owne father who had oftentimes sustained great warres against mighty and puissant Princes only to enlarge his seigniorie and to leaue him the richer inheritance All that were preseÌ„t did what they could to appease his wrath but he commaunded his sonne forth with to prison and to be sure he should not escape gaue in charge that he should be streyghtly watched threatning this keeper with extreame punishment if he shewed him any fauour Moreouer he put to death with most cruell torments about fifteen persons all gentlemen of good worth because that being conuersant and familiar with his soâ—ne they had not discouered this damnable practise Afterwards in an assembly of all the states of his country whome he had summoned to be present at a day appointed when he had declared at large the most wicked and vnnaturall treason which his sonne had practised against him amplifying the matter with diuers circumstances to make it appeare more haynous he gaue sentence vppon him that he should be put to death Intercession was made of all hands humbly entreating him that he would not shew so cruell an example neyther would they depart from thence before hee had faithfully assured them that his sonnes life should be saued He performed his promise but detayned him still in prison When report of this matter came to Pope Gregory the xi he sent certaine Cardinals from Avinion whome he had giuen
himselfe to the protection of the French King The siege of Tourney continued some three moneths during which space Iane os Valoys the French kings sister and mother to the Earle of Henault laboured very earnestly to procure a composition At length shee obtained thus much that a day was appointed for a meeting to be had betweene the Lords of Fraunce and England where they agreed vpon a truce for twelue months space with condition that each party should hold whatsoeuer he had gotten by battell Herevppon the armies were both dismissed And this further was concluded that at a certain time prefixed within the yeare another treatie should be had at Arras where commissioners from both Princes and from Pope Clement should meete together and this likewise was performed There the English men demaunded much and the French men profered nothing saue the Earledome of Ponthiew which was giuen before in dowrie to King Edwards mother when shee married into England More then thus was nothing done in this treaty onely another yeere added to the truce and the King of England returned into his Country When things were thus set at a stay and that the Duke of Britaine prepared to returne into his owne country he was seised vppon in his iourney by a most violent sicknes whereof in short space he dyed leauing behind no lawfull issue male to succeed him He had two brothers of whome the one which was Earle of Mountfort was his brother onely by the fathers side the other both by father and mother but he died before him leauing issue one only daughter whome the Duke of Britaine in his life time ioyned in marriage to Charles of Bloys sisters Son to Phillip the French King For the Duke fearing it might so fall out that after his decease his brother the Earle of Mountfort would seise the seigniory of Britaine into his owne handes and by that meanes dispossesse and as it were disinherite the lawfull daughter of his brother by the whole bloud thought good to prouide a stay for the Lady by marriage and therefore his desire was the rather to match her to the kings nephew because if the other should make any attēpt hereafter he might the easilier be resisted And so it came to passe For the Earle of Mountfort had no sooner vnderstanding of his brothers death but that partly by force partly by cōposition he possessed himselfe of the greater part of Britane And then the better to supporte his cause and stablish his estate he went ouer to the King of England where relating the whole discourse of his proceedings he receiued from him the inuestiture of his dukedome And the King of England considering that by this meanes he might haue a ready passage through Britaine into Fraunce promised both his councell and furtherance to the newe Duke against his enemie whether it were the French King or any other whosoeuer For he had lost the French kings fauor before euer since he brought in the Germaines to serue in his warres vppon whome he had spent such a huge masse of money withou◠accomplishing any notable enterprise And this is the true cause and originall ground of this warre Charles of Bloys being aduertised of the proceedings and enterprises of Mountfort made great complaint of him to the French King After consultation had the King commaunded that the Earle should be summoned to the Parliament of Paris The Earle came and after some debatings on both sides he was enioyned by the King not to depart the Citie for a certaine season Neuerthelesse he conueyed himselfe secretly away and so sentence was giuen with Charles It was a great blot in Mountforts case that he had been inuested in his Duchie by the King of England And thervppon the French King denouncing Charles to be rightfull heyre encouraged him with his own mouth to recouer by force of armes the seigniorie due vnto him both by iudgement of law and right of inheritance promising not only his owne ayde but procuring other Lords also to assist him in the maintenance of his rightful quarrell The warre was vndertaken in the behalfe of Charles with the power of the Peeres of Fraunce his friendly assistants Besides other at length the Citie of Nants the principall in those partes was forced by assault There Mountfort himselfe was taken prisoner and from thence conueyed to Paris to the King by whose commaundement being cast in prison he there ended his life His Lady in the meane time bearing her fortune with a true manlike resolution encouraged the fainting hearts of her people and both fortified with Garrisons and furnished with victuals the rest of the holdes yet vntaken by the enemie Vppon conclusion of the truce between the kings of England and Fraunce and dissoluing the siege before Tournay the King of England returning home perceiued what great annoyance the Scottes had wrought to his country in the meane while wherevppon he assembled an Armie The Scottes being pressed with great extremitie in the absence of the King purchased a truce of the English vppon condition that if within foure moneths space the King did not prouide for the rescue they should yeeld This was signified to the King of Scottes who therevppon returned and being ayded with forraine power wonne certaine holdes from the English Amongst other the Citie of Durham was one where no mercy was shewen to no sex age nor order whatsoeuer but the very churches and all were consumed with fire Afterward perceiuing that by further prosecutiug his enterprise he did but lose his labour and vnderstanding moreouer that the King of England approached with a mightie power vppon deliberation with his counsell he retired In the meane while ministring proffers of a truce which notwithstanding he had no intention to admitte till he had first taken aduise of the French King with whome he was formerly confederate The Lordes of Fraunce departing out of Britaine for no other respect but because the winter whether compelled them returned againe with their forces in the beginning of Sommer purposing to bring the rest of that Duchy in subiection Whereof the Lady of Mountfort being aduertised shee sent ambassadours to the King of England requiring ayde vppon this condition that her Son whome shee had borne by the Earle of Mountfort should take to wife some one of the kings daughters But the succours which he sent for the space of well nere twoo moneths together were tost vppon the Seas with stormes and contrarie windes in such sort as they could by no meanes attaine to their desired porte so that in the meane season certaine places were recoured by the French men But it is admirable to relate with what courrage and stowtnesse the Lady Mountfort demeaned her selfe Fot shee was not only content to fortifie stronge holdes and encourage her followers with comfortable speeches but shee also put on armor herselfe and attended with a troupe of horse came into the open field and prouoked her
King of England afterwards bought of him that took them for twentie thousand crownes The Englishmen marching still forward passed ouer the riuer Seane towards Roane and their light horsmen scoured the country euen vnto the Suburbes of Paris where encountring the townsmen of Amience well appointed posting towardes Paris vppon commaundement from the King because of long time before they had been charged with no seruice for the warres they let fiercely vpon them and bereft them of their carriage The French King in the meane while notwithstanding the Parisians earnest sute to the contrary departed from Paris to Saint Dennis whither as then the rest of the Peeres were assembled From thence pursuing his enemie with a certaine vehement and wonderfull desire to fight he remoued to Amience The King of England assayed to passe his armie ouer the riuer Some but there was neither foord knowne nor bridge possible to be taken they were all so surely garded by the French men At length after proclamation of enlargement and reward to any French prisoner that should performe it a certaine young man taken by chaunce discouered a forde The French men suspecting they would passe ouer at the same place opposed themselues strongly against them and entertained them in the riuer with a sharpe skirmish Neuerthelesse the Englishmen waded through and put them to flight By this time the French King was come to Abbevile and the King of England wayted for him in the plaine fieldes to giue him battell When the time of battell approched the King of England made his prayers to God to send him an happy victory and diuided his wholy Armie into three parts In the vauntgarde was his Sonne in the reregard himselfe The fight was furious on both sides but at length the Englishmen obtained the victory which may seem a wonder considering the huge multitude of their enemies In this battell the King of England who awaiting oportunitie had not yet put himselfe in preasse being aduertised that his Sonne fighting valiantly in the forefront was wellnighe oppressed by the enemy he made answere to the messengers in this sort Demaunde no helpe of me this day so long as my Son liueth For I will that he now shewe some proofe of his valor and that the honour of the victory be wholy his and theirs that are appointed to attend him In this battell was slaine Henrie of Lutzenburge Father to Charles King of Bohemia who although he were blinde would needes adventure against the enemy notwithstanding Towards night the French King accompanied with very fewe withdrewe himselfe out of the field The King of England caused the dead bodies of the French men to be numbred and there were found slaine eleven Princes fourescore Barons twelue hundreth Knights and about thirtie thowsand others By commaundement from the King all the noble men were buried in the villages neere adioyning and three daies truce was graunted to giue buriall to their dead After the King of England had obtained this notable victorie he tooke his way directly towards Calice and environning the towne with a stronge siege there planted himselfe in purpose not to depart before he had constrained them to yeelde for famine Meane while the French King sent word to his Sonne the Duke of Normandy lying still at the siege of Aguillion that he should giue ouer his enterprise and conuey his forces againe into Fraunce to withstand the English men who subdued all things before them as they passed Before this aduertisement came to the Army there was another battell fought betweene the French and the English wherein was present Phillip son to the Duke of Burgundy who falling with his horse soone after departed this life During the siege of Aguillion wherof an English Baron was captaine the Earle of Derbie whome the King of England had before sent into Aquitaine remayning at Burdeaux Assoone as he vnderstood that the siege was raysed and the Duke of Normandy departed he assembled to the number of six thousand men and raunging through a great part of the countrie thereabouts at length tooke Poitiers by assault and then returning againe to Burdeaux dismissed his souldiers leauing no Garrison in Poitiers because the towne was vtterlie raced Whilste the King of England was busied about the siege of Calice David King of Scottes partly of his owne motion partly by procurement of the French King perswading himselfe that all the souldiers of England or at leastwise the greater part were gone a warfare with their King assembled his forces to the number of fortie thousand or there about and invaded England The Queene of England in the mean time behaved her selfe with great courage and discretion consulting with the Lords and Prelates of her Real me about the direction of her affaires So an armie was levied vpon the suddaine and the enemie fiercely encountred certaine Archbishops and Bishops of England being present in the conflict whose power notwithstanding it were sarre inferiour in number to the Scottes yet they obtained the victorie In this battell the Scottish King himselfe with many others were taken prisoners The number of them that were slaine amounted to fifteene thousand the rest saued themselues by flight After the accomplishment of this honourable victorie the Queene of England crossed the seas and went to visite the King her husband In the battell before mentioned amongst others was also slaine the Earle of Flaunders who by reason of the rebelliu of Iaques de Artevill was compelled to put himselfe into the French Kings protection He left a Sonne named Lewis at that time about fifteene yeeres of age Now the King of England was in great expectation that through the politicke assistance of Iaques de Artevill he should haue brought the Flemminges to receiue him for their soveraigne and that his Sonne the Prince of Wales with their generall acceptance should haue obtained the Lordship of all Flaunders But the author of so wicked a deuise was slaine as is already declared for the Flemmings would not disinherit the Son of their Lord though they loued not his Father The King of England therefore began to treate of a marriage betweene the young Earle who was then remaining in the French Court for he fled thither with his Father at such time as the state grew troublesome in Flaunders and a daughter of his named Isabell Against this match the Duke of Braband opposed himself for he also had a daughter at the same time whom he desired to match with the young Earle Meanes were found by the Flemminges to conuey the Earle from the French King and he returned into Flaunders in hope to recouer his Fathers possession The King of England in the meane while was nothing slacke in soliciting his sute with the Lordes of Flaunders By them the matter was mooued and the match profered to young Lewis But he vtterly refused it protesting that he would neuer marrie the daughter of him that had slaine his Father When the
it should come to the push to haue warres for the matter Flaunders was able to withstand the vttermost that Fraunce could doe Neuertheles the duke of Britaine shortly after of his owne accord departed into England and the minds and affections of his people began to incline more fauourably towardes him then in former times they had done It is declared before how the Cardinals after the death of Pope Gregorie to pacify the tumult of the Romanes had through feare and compulsion chosen Vrbane the sixt Now because this Vrbane by reason of his pride and insolency was misliked of all men the Cardinals by generall consent proceeded to a new election and chose Robert bishop of Cambrey called afterwards by the name of Clement There remained at that time in the territory of the Romanes one Robert Budaeus a mâ—n honourably descended in the country of Britaine and a stout warriour hauing twoo thousand of his country men vnder his command Him did Pope Clement sollicite for the maintenance of his quarrell who nothing misliking the motion was secretly conveyed with his men into the Castle from thence to worke disturbance to the Romanes On the other side the Romanes oftentimes sent the Germane and Italian souldiers whome they had waged in their defence against these Britons and they handled the matter in such sort that their enemies wearied with their often and continuall assaultes were at length constrained to yeeld vp the Castle vppon no other conditions but only the sauing of their liues Robert their captaine who was not present at the dooing hereof but lay encamped without the Citie when he heard these tydings waighted oportunitie till such time as he vnderstood by his espialles that the Romanes should assemble together in the Castle to consult of their affaires then taking his way through secret passages and vnder the euenings couert entring closely into the Citie euen at the fittest time that could be wished for his purpose he assayled the Romanes as they came out of the counsell house vnarmed and suspecting no such matter of whome he made a terrible slaughter and killed many of the principall men and cheefe Citizens amongst them After the accomplishment of which mischâ—efe he returned againe to his campe at leysure When the French King vnderstood that a newe Pope was created he called a conuocation of certaine estates chiefly of diuines demaunding their opinion whether of the two Popes ought in this diuersitie to be acknowledged Their censures for the most part as happeneth in such cases were variable and different The Lords of the spiritualty with the Kings brothers and many of the diuines were of opinion that Cleoment ought to be receiued This determination pleased the King well and was immediately proclaymed through the whole kingdom that a certainty might generally be knowne for his subiects to trust vnto Of the same iudgement were the King of Spaine the Earle of Savoy the Duke of Millaine and the Queene of Naples Charles of Boheme the Emperour dissembled his minde notwithstanding the greater parte of the Empire tooke parte with Pope Vrbane The Scottish King also inclined to Clement Lewis Earle of Flaunders affirmed boldly that open iniurie was offered to Vrbane the Henaulters stood newter adhering neither to the one nor the other Pope Clement the better to confirme his cause directed the Cardinall of Poytiers into Fraunce and the countries adioyning to publish in all places where he came how Vrbane had beene by force and violence vtterly against the willes of the Cardinalles intruded into the papacie It was an easie matter to perswade the French men who had already giuen sentence on his side The Earles of Henault and Barband omitted not to giue him all honourable and curteous entertainment but for aught else there was nothing to be obtayned at their handes The Earle of Flaunders had sent him word long before that he had no desire to talke with him for he accounted Vrbane as chiefe shepheard of the Lords flock and intended neuer to forsake him Moreouer Pope Clement sent to Avinion to haue his Court prepared and furnished with all things necessary against his comming About this time the Queene of Naples resorted to the Pope to treate with him of very important affaires and thus stood the case Lewis of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Calabria lying vpon his death bed caused this his daughter to come before him addressed his speech to her in this manner Thou art now my deare daughter to enter vpon the inheritance of a most flourishing estate I doubt not but many princes will be forward to desire thee in marriage in respect of this thy goodly and glorious heritage Therefore if thou wilt follow thy fathers counsell match thy selfe to a Prince that is rich and powerfull whose puissance may be able to defend both thee and thy possessions And if it happen that thou haste no issue then make conueyance of all thy patrimony according to the direction of the Pope then being This my father Robert enioyned me at his death and this to discharge my selfe of that duetie I likewise giue in charge to thee againe When the father had discoursed much more to this effect the daughter deuoutly promised in the presence of many that she would not faile in her duety for the performance of his commaund After her fathers deceasse she was marryed to Andrew the brother of Lewis the King of Hungary but of this marriage proceeded no issue be reason that her husband dyed very young Afterward she matcht her selfe to Charles prince of Tarent and by him had only one daughter Against this Charles the King of Hungary moued warres and subdewed from him the countries of Apulia and Calabria Charles himselfe being likewise taken prisoner in battell and carryed away into Hungary where he ended his life After him she marryed to the King of Maiorica and sent Ambassadours into Fraunce to Lewis of Navarre of whome we haue formerly made mention for the concluding of a match betweene him and her daughter Who taking his iourney for the same intent deceassed by the way before he could attaine the accomplishment of his purpose The King of Maiorica in hope to recover his fathers inheritance prepared to make sharp warres vpon the King of Arragon by whome it was with-holden from him His wife desirous to retaine him still at home disswaded him all she could from his intended enterprise alleadging how he already enioyed a kingdom large and flourishing sufficient of it selfe to maintaine pleÌ„ty euen with superfluitie but she could not preuaile Therefore giving place to his resolution at his departure she earnestly exhorted him that he should open all his estate to Charles King of Fraunce who was a wise and prudent prince and declaring to him his iniuries receiued dispose all his proceedings according to his direction But the King of Maiorica expecting I know not what greater helpes otherwhere required ayde of Prince Edward the king of Englands sonne who
prouide a wife for my sonne in those quarters that by such meanes the bond of league and frendshippe betwixt vs may be more strongly combined Ye haue heard how the King of England takes the same course and seekes a wife from thence that he may strengthen and establish his affaires by such alliance This realme of ours as we see is much disquiered and suffereth many displeasures by the English I beseech you endeuor to take away all such occasions of warre and enmity For howsoeuer I may seeme to haue nourished warres yet in my heart I haue vtterly abhorred them and the thought thereof at this present moues no small remorce in my conscience These and many other things were spoken by him to the like effect The Duke of Aniow was absent as I told you a little before notwithstanding by messengers that went and came hee easily vnderstood how all things passed and vppon aduertisement from some of his frends remayning at the Court he came to Paris the same day that the King ended his life As soone as he heard certainely that the King was dead incontinently he seazed vpon all the kings apparell and iewelles and whatsoeuer else was there of worth or value For at the same time he had determined vppon a iourney into Naples towards the furniture whereof he had need of many such necessaries especially being so augmented in honour as he was lately before by the gift of Pope Clement Now although it were appointed by the kings will who should haue the administration of his goods yet neuertheles the duke of Aniow took it vpon him his brothers did not greatly gainsay him peradueÌ„ture inrespect he was their elder Afterward it was decreed by the Peeres of the Realme that so soone as the coronation of their new King were finished the gouernment of the state should be committed to his vncles to remaine in their hands till the king came to one and twentie yeares of age To the coronation of this King were called Albert Duke of Bavaria the Earle of Savoy and the dukes of Gelders and Iuliers there were also present Wenceslaus Duke of Braband with the duke of Loraine the Earle of Marche and others The Earle of Flaunders excused himselfe The young King was then twelue yeares old he had one brother and one sister both by father and Mother their names were Lewis and Katherine After these solemnities ended great consultacion was had about matters concerning the honour and fafety of the kingdome At length it was concluded that the duke of Berry should gouerne all that prouince which is commonly called Languedoc the duke of Burgoine should rule Picardy and Normandy and the duke of Aniow remaining about the kings person should haue the chiefe gouernment of the whole kingdome King Charles was a Prince so wise and prudent that sitting in his gowne at Paris in ease and quietnes he recouered many things by counsell and policie which his predecessors fighting themselues in the field with all the forces they could make had lost before in battell to their enemies And amongst other vexations which happened to King Edward at his last voyage that he intended into Britaine for the rescue of his men besieged when he was forced backe by the extremitie of weather this one thing troubled him aboue the rest that he must make warre with such an enemie as neuer bare armes nor came into the field whervppon it is reported he should say that he neuer delt with any enemie which vsed so little armor and put him to so much trouble For indeed King Charles after he came to the crowne neuer put on armour himselfe but mannaging all his affaires by wisedome and policy committed the execution thereof to his brothers Charles the sixt IT is shewed before how the youngest sonne of King Edward passed with his forces through Fraunce into Britaine to ayd the Duke who albeit he were recalled by his subiects as I told you yet the King of Fraunce wrought so much by his policy that he found small faithfulnes and but cold affection in many of them especially in the people of Nants and some others When the duke discoursed of his vnfortunate aduentures and the subtilty of his enemies proceedings the King of Englands sonne alwaies comforted him and promised assurance of frendship and succour So they agreed betweene themselues to besiege the towne of Nants with both their forces vnited together and the Englishmen went about it without further delay The Duke of Britaine in the meane time sollicited his people to furnish him with succours for the proceeding in his enterprise But they made him answere that they would in no wise waste their owne country for the Englishmens pleasures and that they would neuer take armes in his quarell so long as the Englishmen lingred in Britaine This was the very occasion and impediment which made him breake promise with the English And the King of Englands sonne meruailing what the matter meant began to be somewhat offended especially because there came no newes at all from the duke the messengers which carried letters between them being indeed cut off by the way At length after long and dayly expectation when he had spent two moneths in the siege finding that all he could do of himselfe was but labour lost vnlesse more forces came from his confederate leauing his enterprise vnperformed he himselfe tooke his iourney to the duke intending to know directly what was his purpose resolution The Duke aduisâ—dly purged himselfe imputing the blame to his people by whose treachery being deceiued he was not able to performe his promise Neuerthelesse to render his friend some satisfaction he gaue him leaue to winter with his army at Vannes During the time that Nants was besieged certaine noble men of Britaine of more eminent respect and authority then the rest had some communication with their Prince in these words or the like Sir you sufficiently declare and manifestly shew that you are wholy addicted to the English nation But what fruite or commodity what honour or aduauncement doe you expect from their friendship what motiues induce you to obserue them with such affection For when you haue brought theÌ„ into Britaine they shall bereaue you of your goods and dispossesse you of your inheritance descended from your auncestors and this they will doe if euer they obtaine the vpper hand of the French men Let the King of Nauarres example moue you who in regard of the singular good opinion he had conceiued of their faithfulnes committed into their hands the towne and castle of Chirburg whereinto being once admitted they would neuer out of it but held it for euer after as their owne By like occasion if through your sufferance and fauour they be once receiued into our citties here neuer perswade your selfe that they will at any time forgoe them for they may alwaies haue ayd out of their owne country at pleasure whereby their courage shall be
so much for any good faith which he intended as to learne hereby what opinion was holden of him in Fraunce But assoone as hee saw himselfe disappointed there for the King had disdaine at his letters he turned to the King of England of whome he not onely requested ayd for the Gauntoyes but also altogether out of season demaunded the two hundreth thousand crownes that his father Iaques had lent King Edward at the siege of Tourney by meanes whereof it came to passe that he obtayned neither the one nor the other For had he made no mention at all of the money but onely entreated of the league it is like enough he might haue obtayned his desire The Earle of Flaunders hauing accesse now opened vnto him by reason the kings mind was so addicted to this war tooke his iourney into Fraunce And after he had receiued his inauguration at the kings hands for the county of Artoys which was lately befalne him he began to conceiue better hope of his affaires especially when he sawe so puissant a Prince with such forwardnes of affection bring a mighty army of no lesse then threescore thousand men to wage batell against his enemy in the maintenance of his quarell Whereof so soone as Phillip had receiued aduertisement he omitted no part of what pertained to his charge but commaunded presently that all the bridges vpon the riuer Lise which were nere hand should be broken downe Moreouer he caused two passages vpon the riuer to be strongly fortifyed and defended with good garrisons the one of them at Comius being kept by Peter de Boys with nine thousand men Whereof the French men being not ignorant sundry opinions rose amongst theÌ„ as they consulted of their affaires some thinking it were best to goe about by Saint Omers where the riuer is shallowest others giuing counsell to make a bridge ouer Skeld not farre from Tourney to the intent the army might passe easily from thence into Arde. At length it likte them best to venture vppon the enemy before mentioned which lay at Comius When they came thither they found the bridge broken downe and no passage to get ouer whereuppon they fell againe to consultation In the meane while certaine aduenturous gallants which were desirous to make some proofe of their valour hauing formerly agreed amongst themselues that if no passage could be found they would secretly vse some meanes by their owne industry without knowledge of their commanders to conuey themselues ouer with the helpe of three or foure small botes slyding along by a cord fastened to both sides of the riuer passed ouer in that sorte by a fewe at once till they had gotten all their company to the further side in safety and this they did with so little trouble or daunger that the enemy who lay encamped not farre of neuer perceiued it before such time as he saw them marching towards him with Ensignes displayd Peter de Boyis immagining that so small a number durst neuer venture vppon him because the cuening approched would not fight with them as then but rather thought to set vppon them in the night when the wearinesse of their trauell had ouertaken them with sleepe But the French men whom the boldnes of their attempt had made circumspect in their proceedings considering how great and dangerous an enterprise they had vndertaken without lycence either of King or Captaine were exceedingly watchfull and stood alwaies vpon their guard for feare of disaduantage About the breake of day their enemies came forth to assayle them whom they encountred with such resolution albeit their number were but a handfull in comparison that they slew well â—ere six thousand and chased the rest into a towne thereby which they tooke for refuge After this battell the French king presently building vp a bridge brought ouer the rest of his forces and marched directly towards Ipre The townesmeÌ„ following the fortune of the conquerours army slew their gouernour because he refused to yeild and committed themselues to the French King All their neighbours immitating their example did both pay great summes of money and also brought their captaines prisoners which perswaded them to stand out in rebellion But the Earle of Flaunders was called to councell in none of these proceedings The men of Bruges could haue bene contented to yeild as well as the rest but their Captaines so encouraged them with hope of ayd out of England that they held it out notwithstanding When Phillip of Arteuill vnderstood that the power of the most puissant King was encamped not farre from him he also brought forth his army into the field which consisted of some fifty thousand men There he exhorted them in a pithy oration that now going to battell they set before their â—ies that memorable ouerthrowe which with so small a company they had giuen to the Earle of Flaunders and withall to consider how after this battell if they obtayned victory they should thenceforth become Lords of all and be able to make opposition against them Which thing in their behalfe all good and well gouerned common wealthes desired to whome no tydings could be more acceptable then to heare that the Gauntoys fighting valiantly and constantly in defence of their liberty had reaped the honourable reward of their vertue and courage by destroying such persons as through ambition and couetousnesse could not suffer any common wealth to remain in quiet When he had spoken much more to this effect he commanded that in the conflict they should put all to the sword and spare no man the King only excepted The Flemings not forgetting what Phillip had told them fought very manfully this also not a little sharpened their courage that they had stirred vp such a puissant enemy against them whome if they might ouercome it would redound to their perpetual fame amongst all posterity NotwithstaÌ„ding at length being enclosed betweene two wings of their enemies forced into a straight they were ouerthrowne The battel lasted not much aboue an hower and yet in that little space xxv Thousand of their number were wanting Philip fighting valiantly amongst the thickest of his enemies was slaine in the field and his body being sought for and found amongst the dead was by the Kings commaundement hanged vppon a tree Vndoubtedly that dayes battell was fought in a fortunate houre for all noblemen and gentlemen For had it falne out otherwise then it did surely as the world then went it would haue giuen a great blow to their anthority and haue shaken euen the seates of Kings and Princes The Parisians who lately before had begun a coÌ„motion long'd exceedingly to heare some good newes of the successe of this battell In Champaigne and a great part of Fraunce besides all the wealthiest cities and the peasants of the country began to make insurrection Therefore vppon the successe of this action depended the safety or ruine of many Princes estates The King was then between thirteene and fourteene yeares of
in charge to make a perfect attonement betweene the father and the sonne But God knowes they came to late For the young Earle during the space of tenne daies that he was kept in prison had taken little or no sustenance though meate were set before him so as it should seeme through continuall musing vppon the strangenes of his misfortune he had conceiued so great gâ—eese as he desired nothing but death Whereof his father being informed by the keeper he entred in vnto him with a troubled mind holding a penknife in his hand wherewith he was paring his nailes and by what fatall aduenture I know not cut a vaine of his sons throat chiding him bitterly in the meane time for refusing his meate and so departed out of the roome Immediatly after the keeper comming in found him dead vppon the floore Which newes being brought to the Earle did maruailously afflict him though he were much disquieted before For this accident happened altogether beyond his intent and expectation Yee haue heard before of the death of Ferdinando King of Portingale in whose place was chosen not Iohn King of Castile the deceased kings sonne in law but another of the clergy Ferdinandoes base brother that rather by fauor of the cities theÌ„ of the nobility Whervpon the King of Spain sent ambassadors forthwith to the state of Lisbone the principall most florishing of all that country sharpely accusing reprouing them for so vniustly taking the inheritance of the crowne from him who had married the only daughter of their King Ferdinando and conferring the same vppon one which in right had no title at all to that dignity When this would not preuaile and that they shewed themselues themselues resolute to abide by their election he raysed an armie of thirty thousand men and besiegd their Citty But after a yeares continuance and more hauing performed no notable seruice he was constrained to returne into Spaine by reason of a pestilence which consumed wel-neeâ— 20000. of his men not long after there came succours to him to out of Fraunce wherewith both his power and his courage were anew reenforced Neuerthelesse when it came to consultatioÌ„ the Spaniards thought best to discharge the army but the French men being demaunded their opinion gaue counsell to fight with the enemy alleadging probable reasons for the same At such time as the King of Spaine retyred with his army from Lisbone certaine shippes of the Englishmen arriued in the hauen They were not sent thither by the King of England but of their own heads after they had roued about from place to place in Gascoigne and Guyen they assembled at Burdeaux and there taking shipping would needes goe serue the king of Portingale The king was very glad of their seruice and thereupon leuied his forces again in purpose to giue his enemy battell in the field But diuers of the nobilitie such as had not giuen their consents to his election being offended with the Cittizens of Lisbone whose authoritie in that behalfe preuailed refused to take armes at his commaundement The King hereuppon aduising with his counsell they perswaded him to make no longer delay in the matter but to go forth against his enemy with such power as he had already how there was no other meanes to set the Kingdome in quiet that it behooued him to make way for his fortunes by the sword and not be discouraged though his enemy were of greater puissance than he for oftentimes it fell out and examples were plentifull that great numbers were ouerthrowne by small handfulles lastly that he should propose to himselfe the example of Henrie the father of the king of Castile then raigning who by the sword had conquered that Kingdome and by the sword maintained his conquest Encouraged with these and such like speeches he brought his army into the field consisting of ten thousand men The Englishmen seeing themselues ouermatched in number gaue the King counsell that he should not abide in the plaines but seeke some place of stronge situation to encampe in where the enemy might make no approche but to his disaduantage Such a place was found which they likewise so fortifyed by their industrie and compast on euery side with sundry impediments that but by one onely entrance and that not very large there was no possible meanes to come at them In the Spanish army the French men carried greatest sway by reason of the kings fauour who ordered all his affaires by their counsell and direction which things stirred vp enuie in the Spaniards hearts as those that could by no means endure so great hope should be reposed in the ayd of strangers This also much encreased their grudge that when the King had brought his army to the place of battell the French men sued importunatly to haue the leading of the vauntguard When they approched neere their enemyes the French men perswaded to giue battell presently but the Spaniards counselled â—o deferre it till the next morning because night was then at hand But the Frenchmens perswasion tooke place who assoone as the signe of battell was giuen ran furiously vppon their enemyes and assayled them with great violence The fight was maintained with great force and courage on both sides but the valour and skill of the English archers here approoued it selfe as it had oftentimes done in other places For the showers of arrowes which they sent amongst the Frenchmen so galled their horses and distressed their men that the greatest part of them being slaine the residue were all taken prisoners The King of Spaine with the rest of his forces to the nomber of twenty thousand was two miles behind when the French men gaue this ouer-hasty onset and when word was brought him that they were dangerously engaged and in perill to be all slaine he was very desirous to haue come to their rescue but he could not bring his souldiers forward For it was determined amongst them that seeing the french men would needes seeme valiant aboue the rest and had vaunted themselues with so great brauery they would giue them leaue to goe through with their enterprise alone and disclaime all interest in the successe of their proceedings A little before night the King of Spaine drewe neere to his enemy who vppon aduertisement thereof first placed his men againe in order of battell and then gaue commaundement on paine of death that all such as had any prisoners should presently kill theÌ„ least in the ensuing conflict they might happen to recouer armes and ioyne with the enemy Surely it was a cruell sight and such a one as mooued even the conquerours themselues to pitty and teares but there was no remedy they must doe as they were commaunded There was about a thousand of these prisoners all which were consumed by a cowardly kind of death so as it appeared their fellowes which dyed valiantly before in fight were much more happy then they who being both by fortune and their
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
vniust or contrary to reason which the King would not credit vppon his report He brought the kings vncles in suspition and hatred so as they had much ado to keepe themselues out of daunger As for them they were nothing displeased with the peoples complaints for by this occasion they saw many alterations would happen Therfore they inclined to the people allowing their pretence and encouraging them to proceed as they had already begunne In conclusion it came to this passe that at a certaine time when the King and his nobility were assembled together the Londoners made grieuous complaint of the new subsidies and exactions which from time to time were imposed vpon them and which grieued them most of all that they saw no good or necessary vse wherto all that mony was conuerted They thought the King was not made priuy to any thing and therefore they required that a day might be assigned to the kings collectors and receiuors to yeeld an account of their receits and payments whereby it might appeare who had carryed thēselues vprightly in their office who otherwise that the one might be retained the other discharged The Duke of Gloucester one of the kings vncles had giuen them counsell direction to frame their speech in this manner But the King assoone as he heard their sute reiected it at the first and would haue put of his aunswere till another time But the people still vrged their demaund and pressed vpon him with more earnestnes because many of the noble men about him did opēly allow of their petitiō So at length he was contented that within a few daies after an account should be taken of all those officers and that his vncles and certaine other whome the people required should haue the examination of the matter In many of the officers was found great fraud and extortion all which the law condemned to death Immediatly vppon receit of the accompts the King accompanyed with his minion the Duke of Ireland tooke his iourney into another part of the Realme Where vnderstanding that certaine of his houshold were put to execution at London he was exceedingly mooued to displeasure both against the commons and against his vncles For the Duke of Ireland had as it were imprinted this conceit in his mind that they went about to depose him from his crowne and therefore neuer ceased to incense and prouoke him who of himselfe was too apprehensiue of such occasions till he had perswaded him to make warre against them So the Duke was made general and by the Kings appointment leuied some fifteene thousand men But before he would march forward with his army he sent a certaine freind of his disguised in the habite of a marchant to London where the kings vncles were assembled to discouer their counsels and manner of proceedings But this gentleman most contrary to his expectation I wot not by what misfortune was discouered himselfe and when he had reuealed to the Lords certaine matters concerning the King he was put to death This occasion as ye may well coniecture did mightily aggrauate the kings displeasure Now when the Duke of Ireland saw the power of his aduersaries approching against him as fierce and slout as he seemed before yet performed he nothing worthy of a valiant or discreet commaunder For he was absolutely perswaded out of a selfe-guilty opinion of his own desert that if it were his fortune to be taken in battell there would be no other way with him but death Therefore assoone as he had placed his men in order he began to prouide for his own security retyring into the rereward to the intent that as occasion should serue he might be the readyer to conuay himselfe out of daunger The souldiers hearing a suddaine rumor that their Generall had forsaken them abandoned themselues presently to flight without exchanging any stroke with their enemy Very fewe were slaine and those only in chase certaine knights were taken and put to death at London The Duke of Ireland accompanyed with one or two of his freinds fled ouer the seas into Holland whither he had long before caused all his treasure to be conueyed For albeit he had the King wholy on his side yet he much mistrusted and feared his vncles of whome he had so well deserued that nothing but vtter enmity was to be expected at their hands These troubles being thus quieted and the noble men yet hearing no newes of the King it was thought conuenient that the Archbishop of Canterburie should be addressed vnto him in the name of his vncles the people signifying how they were al very desirous of his presence and that if it pleased him to repaire to London he should be honourably and louingly receiued For they sought nothing but the wel-fare and tranquility of the kingdome which it was impossible for him to maintaine without the good willes of his subiects That it was not without causes of great importance that some were openly punished and others driuen out of the realme for as much as through the authority and ill gonernment of those persons the honour of the kingdome was impaired What the noblemen had done in that behalfe was for the generall good of the common wealth and as the state then stood that it was a matter of necessity and therefore he had no iust cause of displeasure against them Although the King were highly offended with the occasions which had passed before yet vpon these and such other reasons as the Archbishop vsed he was perswaded to come to London After he had remayned there a while a Parliament was called at Westminster where the Lords and Prelates of the realme renued their othe of allegiance to him which they had formerly sworne to his vncles in his behalfe for he was now attayned to the age of one and twenty yeeres the age accustomably prescribed for the administration of publicke affaires In this meane while the Duke of Lancaster subdued may townes in Spaine and the King of Portugall was not idle but in an other part of the country brought much into his father in lawes subiection And when they had practised this kind of warre-fare for a time at length they ioyned their forces together to giue their enemies battell in the field The King of Spaine in the meane season meruailed much at the Duke of Burbons long tariance and delay whose only comming he had waited for all this while with so great expectation The French mens aduise being againe demaunded they persisted resolute in their first opinion holding it altogether vnexpedient to giue the Englishmen battell though they had gotten many townes for those might easily be recouered hereafter and it must needs come to passe that the Englishmen being tyred with the continuall trauels of warre sometimes ouercome with extremity of heate otherwhiles enfeebled through the subtiltie of the piercing ayre entring in at the open pores of their bodies should fall into sundry diseases and infirmities And indeed
Duke of Braband then William the Duke of Iuliers sonne holding the seigniory of Gelders in right of his mother claymed againe from the dutchesse of Braband these Castles which his vnckle Edward in his life time had challenged before The restitution wherof being denyed ministred newe occasion whereby the olde grudge was againe reuiued And because Braband at that time was in league with Fraunce and the Duke of Burgoine the French kings brother was next heyre to the widdowe the Duke of Gelders who studyed all the displeasure he could against the house of Fraunce to the intent to shewe his loue towards the English nation passed ouer the seas and contracted great alliance with King Richard receiuing from him a pension of foure thousand franks as hath bene before declared and afterward at his returne defied the French king and professed open enmitie against the Brabanders in so much that the Duke of Burgoigne vppon aduertisement from the widdowe of his daily incursions was constraimed to send thither certaine companies of horsemen for defence of the frontyers Mention is made before of the Duke of Lancaster who by reason of great plague and mortality in his army was forced to discharge his soldiers and returne to the king of Portingale Now when the Spanyards and French men sawe their enemies dispersed they easily recouered all that was lost the Englishmen which remained in garrisons being either expelled by force or dismissed by composition The king of Portugall perswaded his father in lawe to send for a new supply out of England But the Duke considering how it was farre of and that the state of England was at that time greatly encombred made speedy prouision for his departure and sayled as we haue shewed you to Bayon from whence he wrote diuerse letters both to the King and to his brothers for succour But the Englishmens minds were so alienated from the wars of Portingall by reason of the great miseries they endured there that scarce any man could be found which would enter his name to goe vppon that voyage Besides this the troubles seditions and executions which had bene lately in the realme before remayned still so fresh in euery mans memory as they had no leysure to intend to forreine affaires The French king vnderstanding how the world went in England to the intent to make vse of his aduersaries ill fortune vpon great hopes and large promises allured the Duke of Ireland out of the Neatherlands into Fraunce Charles king of Nauarre about this time sessing his people at a subsidy of two hundred thousand franks assembled the burgesses of his townes at Pampelone the chiefe Citty of his kingdome and when he saw that they stucke vppon the matter he shut them vp in a certaine court enclosed about with high walles threatning that if they concluded not the sooner he would handle them according to their deserts But in the meane while happened a wonderfull accident After he had left them in this angry moode he gaue himselfe to sleepe and because he was aged his seruants were accustomed to burne a perfume about him to prouoke him to sweat Now it fortuned by what negligence or mischaunce at that time I know not that some sparke of fire caught hold of the bed which by little and little encreasing and gathering strength at last brake forth in a burning siame about him by means whereof the wretched king being alone and not able by reason of his age to helpe himselfe nor to winde out of the linnen which entangled him was almost consumed in the flames before any could come to his rescue Many Lords of Fraunce which were much displeased that the Duke of Gelders had made defiance to their king in such proud termes contrary to the custome of other Princes were of opinion that if he should escape cleerely away withall it might perhaps hereafter be imputed as a blame and reproch to them which were now of the kings counsell The king was forwarde enough to haue taken a course of reuenge but in regard the Duke of Britaine attempted new troubles solliciting the English to be partakers of his proceedings the enterprise which both himselfe and many other desired could not then be performed The Duke of Berry sent one priuately in his owne name to deale with the Duke of Britaine in friendly manner to drawe him to some reasonable agreement but it was in vaine and that made the French men in greater feare and suspition For they considered what perill it might be to the realme if the King as he desired him selfe and was perswaded by others should now addresse himselfe into Germany when the Duke of Britaine shewed so small affection to peace as he seemd altogether desirous of warre attending but for opportunity to discouer his intention When they had long varied in opinions some thinking such indignity was in no wise to be taken at so meane a Lords hands as the Duke of Gelders that the King now in his youth was to be enured to armes others opposing against this counsell the present state of the kingdome the charge of the warres and the fiercenesse of the Germanes at length it was agreed to contemne the Duke of Gelders as a young man whom rather heate of youth then any aduised iudgement had moued to that action and if he proceeded to make warres as he had threatned that then it should be more honour for the king to aduance his forces against him But by all means it was thought necessarie to fall to agrement with the Duke of Britaine For he as we said before seemed openly to practise with the King of England and already certaine English ships scowred the Seas betweene Normandy and Britaine which notwithstanding they did no harme to Fraunce yet because they still houeâ—ed about that coast the French men alwaies mistrusted the worst For these causes many thought it the fittest course by warr to chastize the Dukes presumption But the Kings Vncles and some others of sadder discretion who alwaies held the successe of warre vncertaine were of a contrary opinion For it was easie to coniecture that the warres with England would be renewed vppon this occasion which was the onely thing that the Duke of Britaine desired Commissioners were therefore directed vnto him to make a peaceable conclusion of the matter Whereof the Duke beeing informed before their comming consulted of his affaires at large His counsell with weighty reasons perswaded him that hee should desist from his course and restrayning his affections submitte himselfe to the French King whose puissance was such as hee had restored great Lords yea and Princes to their honour and estates and had driuen others againe to whome he bare displeasure out of their seigniories and dominions Therefore their best aduise was that he should of his owne accord restore againe to the Constable the castles which he had lately taken from him For it would be more honourable for him to deliuer them now willingly then hereafter
repayd the money also that he had taken from the Constable the King would not by any meanes omit the present occasion of accomplishing his purpose And first he sent ambassadors to the emperour to acquaint him with the causes of this warre for so it be hooued him in regard of certaine couenants and articles made formerly betwixt the Emperour and him It was thought best to passe the army through Braband and the Dutchesse her selfe was well contented it should be so but all the people besides stoode stowtly against it and were readie to defend their frontires from admitting such a multitude as being once receiued would doe no lesse harme and annoyance to the country than if their enemies should waste and spoile it Moreouer they threatned the Dutchesse that if she gratified the Frenchmen in this behalfe they would neuer take armes against the duke of Gelders Then she aduise dly excused her selfe to the King imputing the blame to her people and beseeching him not to take anie offence at her deniall Therefore taking his iourney through Champaigne hee sent three thousand before to make way through the forrest of Ardenne which otherwise he could not haue passed Moreouer he sent vnto the Emperour a coppie of the Letter which the duke of Gelders would haue had carried into France when he made his defiance When the Emperour had seene that despightful and vnreuerent manner of writing he gaue answer to the ambassadors in such sort as might wel assure theÌ„ he would be no hindrance to the Frenchmens proceedings Who hewing their passage through the forrest of Arden entred into the territorie of Lutzemburge and when they approched neere the country of Liege the Bishoppe whose name was Arnold of the house of the Earles of Horne moued by the Archbishop of Colen made intercession to the King for the duke of Iuliers whose seigniory was like to be the first that should haue tasted the violence of that warre The King was not much against his request so the duke himselfe would come and shew how the matters which he alleaged for his excuse were iust and reasonable The duke being brought to the Kings presence protested that hee neither counselled his sonne to make that defiance nor had anie knowledge thereof before the letters were sent And for confirmation of his innocencie in this case promised that hee would perswade with his sonne to make his purgation aduisedly before the King and desire him of pardon which thing if hee could not effect hee would set open all his townes to the King that by meanes thereof hee might accomplish his warres with more aduantage This condition was accepted and the rather by the duke of Burgoigns perswasion The duke of Iuliers therfore accompanied with the Archbishop of Collen resorted to his sonne and ye will not beleeue what trauell and endeuour hee vsed to alter his obstinate minde For all his discourse sauoured of nothing but meere fiercenesse and contempt of the King whose puissance he perswaded himselfe that he should be able to withstand through the helpe of the English At length after many rebukes and sharp threatnings with milde speeches and gentle intreaties now and then intermingled betweene being forced as it were by assault hee condiscended to his father Then the duke drew him a forme of excuse to this effect that whatsoeuer hee had doone in this matter was by counsell and procurement of the King of England When the French King had seene the duke of Gelders and heard what hee had spoken for himselfe his mindeseemed to relent with a singular kinde of affection for hee not onely pardoned his fault but from thenceforth beganne to loue him and that much more earnestly than if he had neuer offended him When the Scottish men vnderstoode that discord was hatching in England and by continuance of time had gathered greater strength being daily more and more augmented to the intent to reuenge olde iniuries without acquainting the King with their purpose they assembled to the number of fortie thousand men They thought likewise to haue concealed it from their enemies by a pollicie but they were deceiued For the English hauing intelligence thereof made preparation to with stand them It came to a pitched field and neuer was battell fought with greater force betweene them The Scottish army being diuided in two partes came not with equall puissance to the encounter because they were separated one farre from an other neuerthelesse they went away with victory After the French mens departure the Duke of Gelders being one that tooke no pleasure in case and idlenesse raysed certaine forces and tooke his iourney towards Prussia It happened that as he passed through Germany hee was taken prisoner But the Lordes of Prussia rescued him againe by force and caused the party which had taken him to flie for his owne safety lest hee should haue fallen into the like miâ—fortune himselfe Now although he were set free by the helpe of his friends and as hee lost his libertie by the lawe of Armes so hee had recouered it by the same meanes againe yet bicause he would keepe faith with his enemy he came at a certaine time to a place appointed and compounded for his ransome The Duke of Lancaster as we shewed before kept the duke of Berry still a suter in great exspectation and yet he was all the while more affected to the Spaniard Amongst other doubts which he cast this was one that if the Duke of Berry should fortune to die his daughter should then remaine but a poore Lady in respect of her other sisters for the duke had children by his first wife which doubtlesse would goe away with the greatest part of his estate When the French King vnderstoode how the King of Spaine had put in a barre against the duke of Berrios proceedings hee was wonderfully offended so was the whole Counsell of Fraunce who knew well how highly Spaine was bound to the Kings of Fraunce for great benefites receiued many ages together For by the ayde of Charles the sift Henry the bastard being set in possession of the kingdome left the same after his decease to his sonne Iohn now raigning yet not in such sort that he was able to defend it against the English men and their confederates the Portingales if hee had not beene vpholden by the succour of the French men This ingratitude therefore being generally taken in very ill part Ambassadours were addressed to the King of Spaine with this message That he should take good aduisement and consider well with himselfe what hee did and with whome he contracted freindship sieldome any marriages were made but there passed leagues and confederacies betweene the parties There were yet extant counterpanes of the allyance between Henrie his father and his posterity on the one part and the Kings of Fraunce on the other Against the couenants whereof it were not good to transgresse if he did that he should thinke no wronge done him by the
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
of the Duke of Lancaster and some others whose dispositions hee mistrusted not what course they would aduise him to in this behalfe The Duke and the rest as well as they could endeuoured to quiet his thoughts and to remooue all feare and suspition out of his minde assuring him that their loue and good affection should neuer faile to doe him faithfull seruice But in the end the matter proceeded so farre that such as were most familiar with the King and nearest about him being vnable to brooke the pride and ouerdaring insolencie of the Duke of Gloucester for he hated all those whom the King fauoured protested plainely that in regarde of his seditious practises they could no longer continue their places without great daunger of their liues and hazard of their estates And therevppon diuerse were seene and those of the chiefer sort to abandon the Court and retire themselues to their country dwellings for it was no hard matter to foresee to what issue all things tended To be short the King moued with with these speeches concurring with so manifest presumptions after much deliberation vnder a politicke pretence of great kindnesse allured his vncle from his owne house to ride abroade with him a hunting Who being by this meanes trayned foorth with a small company was by the Earle Marshall sodainely arrested in the Kings name and conueyed in great secrecie to the Castle of Calice When hee had remained there a while much mistrusting what should become of him one day as hee was entred into the great chamber and about to wash his handes before dinner foure lusty fellowes appoynted by the Kings commaundement cast a towell about his necke and winding it strongly a crosse two at the one end and two at the other ouerthrew him to the ground and strangled him Then stripping off his clothes and closing his eyes they layd him in his bed and presently gaue it foorth in the Castle how the Duke that night died sodainely of an apoplexy Within two dayes after his death was published but there were few or none either in Fraunce or England that greatly bewailed him For such was his desert as he had long since purchased euery mans ill affection by reason of his turbulent spirite which was altogether bent to mooue vnquietnesse and contention Neuerthelesse the Londoners tooke his death in very ill parte and so did the kings other vncles especially the Duke of Lancaster who could well haue found in his heart to reuenge this cruell outrage committed vppon his brother but that hee feared the kings puissance now greatly increased by reason of his marriage After the murther of the duke of Gloucester certaine others also were executed at London as accessary to his treason and conspiracie The Earle of Warwicke a man much respected in the common-wealth should likewise haue tasted of the same cup but that by intercession of his friends the kings rigour was somewhat mitigated and so he was banished into the I le of Wight The duke of Gloucester left a sonne vnder age and therefore the king tooke all his landes into his owne custodie and appoynted his mother to giue attendance vppon the Queene It is the custome of England that the king hath the wardship of all Noble mens heires and the vse of their landes till they come to one and twenty yeares of age The king who knew well how greeuously he had offended his vncles by killing their brother growing now suspitious of all men kept continually a Guarde of two thousand archers about him for the defence of his person Henry Earle of Derby the Duke of Lancasters sonne a man highly in fauour of the people in priuate and familiar conference between him and the Earle Marshall cast forth certaine speeches ouer-liberally against the king The Marshall to winne fauour with the king vttered all their communication in an assembly of the Lordes appeaching him of treason and proffering the combate The Earle on the contrary parte retorted the treason vppon himselfe and accepted his challenge The King in whose presence all this had passed was meruailously displeased and leauing the company with drew himselfe into his chamber Many thought the King much too blame in that hee suffered the matter to proceede so farre for the Champions were at great charge to furnish themselues against the day of combate esteeming it his peculiar duty to haue vsed his authoritie for râ—straining of such quarrells as these whereby occasions of much trouble might ensue afterward When the King vnderstoode that such speeches were giuen foorth and withall how it was generally ill taken in the behalfe of the Earle of Derby to the intent to giue satisfaction both to the Lordes and the Commons who loued not the Earle Marshall he tooke the matter into his owne handes and gaue sentence that the duke of Lancasters sonne should be banished for tenne yeares and the Earle Marshall for euer At the Earle of Derbies departure the King of his owne accord released foure yeares of his banishment and the Earle following his fathers counsell repaired to the french king who gaue him very curteous and honourable entertainment Great sorrow and discontentment was shewed by the Londoners when he departed and from that time forward all things there tended to a bloudy and sorrowfull conclusion After the Lordes of Fraunce were raunsomed from the Turkes and returned into their countrey the French King much mooued with the Earle of Neuers discourse to the intent to establish concord in the Church addressed Letters foorthwith to the Emperour earnestly requesting his assistaunce in that behalfe By mutuall consent a day was appoynted for their meeting at Rhemes Other matters were deuised and giuen forth for the occasion of their comming thither that the true cause of that assembly which they were desirous to conceale might for a time be kept secret After a solemne enterview and great consultation it was agreed that the Bishop of Cambray should be directed to Pope Boniface then lying at Rome to exhort him that for the generall quiet and welfare of the Church he would be content to resigne his office not for euer but onely till such time as by the determination of Princes and learned Diuines a resolution of all controuersies might be established The Pope answered gently that he would take the aduise of his Cardinalles But the people of Rome in the meane while hauing learned the cause of the Ambassadors comming and perceiuing it would turne greatly to their discommoditie perswaded the Pope that hee should not for any respect of Kings or Princes whosoeuer abase himselfe so much but rather stand in defence of his right to the vttermost The Pope therefore dissembling his purpose at his next communication with the Ambassadour told him that for his part he would not refuse to accomplish the Emperours and the Kings request so as his aduersary would be content to doe the like Being dismissed with this aunswere the Ambassadour returned to the Emperour whom
Armenia who had been driuen out of his country by the Tartars and came lately before into France being not a little sory that so great dissension should grow between two such puissant Princes as the French King and the English of a certaine godly zeale and good disposition sayled ouer into England to make a tryall if he could doe ought in establishing a peace between them The King of England gaue him patient eare in discoursing his miseries and banishment and how the power of the Turkes and Barbarians daily encreased through the mutuall wars and dissention of the Christian Princes And when by occasion hereof he descended to the point to exhort to loue and concord the King answered that he should first deale with his aduersary to discharge his great army and that done for his part he was not so peruerse but he would willingly embrace whatsoeuer was agreeable to equity and reason Herevpon he returned to the French King who seemed nothing affected nor inclinable to peace The third Booke IT fortuned in Fraunce that a certaine gentleman of the Earle of Alaunsons house rauished another mans wife whilste her husband was absent in a forraine country Assoone as he returned the sorrowfull Lady with teares in her eyes and shame in her countenance declared vnto him the violence shee had suffered Her husband complained to the Earle of Alaunson and the party accused denied the deed Now the Earle shewing himselfe more fauourable to the offender then to him that had the iniury the plaintiffe appealed to the Parliament of Paris A whole yeere and more the matter was there caâ—uassed and in conclusion when the one still auouched the fact and the other stood stoutly in denyall it was decreed that the controuersie should be decided by combate So at a certaine day which either themselues had chosen or the iudges appointed they encountred one another firston on horse-backe after on foote Not blind fortune which otherwise is wont to beare sway in such cases but iustice and true valour shewed their force in this conflict For he that held his wiues chastiâ—y deerer then his owne life and was not affraid to venture his head in defence of the same by his aduersaries destruction made it manifest to the worlde that there is a God of vengeance which will not suffer secret wickednesse to escape vnpunished After he was slaine the hangman drew his bodie to the gallowes and hung it vp whereas if he had fortuned to gâ—t the victorie the woman for falsly accusing him should by decree of the Parliament haue bene burned and her husband after his death put to the same reproch which now was vsed to his aduersarie The whole company of honourable spectators highly exstolled the conqueror and applauded his victory with deserued commendation Moreouer the French king out of a certaine princely respect and inclination not suffering so worthy an acte to passe vnrewarded gaue him presently a thousand franks and from thenceforth a pension of two hundreth pounds by the yeere during his life About this time deceassed the King of Arragon who a little before his death calling his sonnes vnto him exhorted them to mutuall loue and concord for as much as in so great partaking of Princes he onely had stood indifferent betweene the two Popes he desired his sonnes that they would doe the like and not apply themselues to any faction till the truth were more manifestly discussed Neuerthelesse when he was dead Pope Clement and the French king drew Iohn his eldest sonne to their party But when he came to be crowned the citties would not consent vnlesse he were first solemnly sworne not to leuy any tributes or exactions of money other then such as had bene formerly accustomed Edward Prince of Wales as long as he liued was for his noble chiualry and glorious fortune held in great admiration and many sought his friendship and alliance AmoÌ„gst others there was also a league betweene him and the King of Arragon vnder these conditions That the Englishmen should at no time make warres vppon the realme of Arragon and in consideration hereof that the King of Arragon should yeerely send fiue hundreth horse to serue the Duke of Aquitaine against any enemy whatsoeuer or if he could not conuenâ—ently finde so many horsemen he shold pay him a certaine summe of mony Now for the space of ten yeeres he had neither done the king of England any seruice nor payd him any money The Duke of Lancaster therefore to whom at his setting forth towards Portugall the king his nephew had giuen authority to demaund all rights and seruices belonging to the Dukedom of Aquitaine either from the king of Arragon or any other thinking that so great a masse of money would much pleasure him in his present affaires wrote letters requiring those arrerages and sent them to the King of Arragon by the Archbishop of Burdeaux Who at his coÌ„ming found the King very sicke so as he dyed within few dayes after The Archbishop neuerthelesse still prosecuted his suite and the new king offended with his importunity cast him in prison at Barcelone Whereof when the Duke of Lancaster was informed he gaue commandement to the English garrison at Lourde which is the only strong and impregnable castle in those quarters that they should infest the Arragonians with warre and doe them as much displeasure as they could They were nothing slack in performing his commaund and wrought great annoyance to the country especially to the merchants whom they intercepted at euery passage and spoyled of their commodities The people of Barcelone being vexed with their daily excursions and caught vp as a prey by the rauenous souldiers made such meanes to their king by intercession of the nobility that he was content to release his prisoner After that by perswasion of the Duke of Berâ—y the voyage into England was deferred as we haue shewed a little before assoone as the spring came on it was appointed that the Constable of Fraunce with twelue thousand men should be sent to inuade England and besides that certaine forces should be likewise conueid into Spaine to the reliefe of King Iohn against the Englishmen Portingales Vppon this occasion a new subsidy beeing sessed againe through all Fraunce ye might haue seen many country people and towne-dwellers which not knowing how otherwise to helpe themselues abandoned their lands and tenements and departed either into Henault or into the Bishoprick of Liege because those places at that time were free from the burthen of such intollerable exactions The succours sent into Spaine were six thousand horsemen vnder conduct of the Duke of Burbon We haue told you before how the king of Portugall expecting the successe of the English warre dissembled politickly with the Duke of Lancaster in the meane while Now when he saw that England was discharged of the daunger and that the French kings army was dissolued he sent some forthwith to affiance the Duke