a Troop of Almains from the Castle of Mal-maison which stood two leagues from Cambray the Almains being Servants to the Bishop of the said City So that all joyning together they went to the Town of Haspre upon the Selle which was rich and large being much extended in the Suburbs without the Walls The Inhabitants were all secure as in the depth of Peace for they had seen no War of many Years and knew of none near them Wherefore the French enter'd without resistance and found Men and Women in their houses and at work whom they took or slew as many as they laid hands on and having robbed the Town at their pleasure they set it then on fire and burnt it to the very ground that nothing remain'd but the bare Walls Nor did they so much as spare the Great Priory of Black-Monks within the Walls of large Buildings beside the Church which being all within the Walls was a Cell to St. Waast or Vedast an Abby of Arras but this also being first robbed they burnt to the ground and so return'd laden with prey to their several Garrisons The News of this was brought to the young Earl of Hainault when he was a bed in his Palace at Valenciennes called la Salle du Comte Whereupon he arose suddenly buckled on his Armour and hastily call'd for all those Knights who were about his Court But their Lodgings were so scatter'd that they could not all be ready so soon as the Earl He for his part not tarrying for any Man rode into the Market-place and caused the Bells to ring an Alarm At the sound whereof all the Men of War then in pay in the City arose put on their Armour and follow'd the Earl their Lord who with a few was already ridden out of the Town in great haste towards Haspre He was scarce well out of Town when news came to him that the Frenchmen had atchieved their Enterprise and were gone home Then he rode in a great passion to the Abby of Fontaine where the Lady Joan de Valois his Mother was retir'd in Devotion p C. 10. §. 6. p. 114. as we shew'd before upon the death of her Husband the Earl. To her he related this Affront of her Brother King Philip with the most bitter Invectives imaginable she good Lady took much pains to appease his Anger and to excuse his Uncle of being concern'd in such an unnatural Cruelty to him But he said with an Oath that the Destruction of Haspre should be soundly revenged in France So after a short Visit he return'd to Valenciennes and presently sent out his Writs of Citation to the Prelates and Knights of his Country to come and give him their Counsel in this Affair When his Uncle the Lord John of Hainault heard this News he took horse and rode to the Earl his Nephew to Valenciennes whom as soon as the Earl saw he said Ah! Dear Uncle your Absence from us hath made the Frenchmen presumptuous Sir repli'd he that you have received any Trouble or Dammage I am very sorry I assure you and yet in a manner I cannot but gather thence some kind of satisfaction For now you are fitly rewarded for the love and service you shew'd to the French King when you left your Brother-in-Law the King of England to go and aid him at Viron-fosse Consider now whether you had best stay for a little more Provocation till you see all your Country overrun as some of my Lands have been already Ah Uncle said the Earl do you but advise into what Quarter we had best to March and I 'll see it shall be shortly done with a Witness Now the Day of the Parliament being come which the Earl had summon'd to Mons thither came all the Burgesses of Hainault Holland and Zealand among whom were divers Opinions The more Cauteous advis'd That certain Persons of Quality should be sent to the French King to know whether he consented to those Hostilities done in Hainault or no and if so upon what Pretence he made War in the Earls Land without Defiance Others more warm were of the mind that the Earl should immediately seek Revenge in the same manner as he had suffer'd the Injury to wit suddenly and without giving any Notice at all But at last a third Opinion prevail'd above these that indeed the Earl could do no less in Honour than make War in France but it was reckon'd more generous and agreeable to the Law q Vid. c. 11. §. 5. p. 125. made by King Edward at Arques in Brabant to defie the French King first and then to pass into his Realm with an Army Accordingly the Defiances being there written and sealed by the Earl and all his Nobles the Abbot Theobald of St. Crispin was presently dispatch'd away with them to Paris The Earl thanked all his Lords for their readiness to maintain his Honour and set himself with all his Power to prepare for the War. The Abbot of St. Crispin went and presented the Defiances to King Philip who upon perusal thereof notwithstanding his Quarrel with England haughty as he was made but sport of the matter saying His Nephew was but an Outragious Fool and that he was only taking the readiest course to ruine his own Country The Abbot return'd to the Earl and his Council to whom he shew'd how he had succeeded But the Answer enflam'd them all ten times more than before The mean while the Earl made great Levies from Brabant and Flanders as well as in his own Countries till he had gotten together a Formidable Army V. All things being ready he r Frois c. 45. began his March towards the Lands of Chimar for his intent was to go and destroy the Lord of Bresne's Lands and the Great Town of Aubenton in Tierasche The Inhabitants of Aubenton were in much doubt of these Preparations whereupon they sent for Succour to the Grand Baily of Vermandois who sent unto them the Vidame of Chalons the Lord of Bresne the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Loire and Others to the number of 300 Men of Arms. So they all fell to fortifie the Town where it most wanted determining to expect the Hainalders and to defend the Place which was very considerable in greatness and riches especially in Drapery The Hainalders came thither as was expected early on a Fryday and view'd well the Town to find in what part it was most assaultable That same Morning they resolv'd to give a general Assault and so approached in very good Order in Three Battalia's with their Crossbows before them and their Banners waving in the Wind. The Earl of Hainault himself led the first Battail having in his Retinue a great number of Choice Knights and Esquires of his own Subjects The Lord John his Uncle had the second Battail consisting of many choice Bands of Men of War English and Others the Third and last was brought up by the Lord of Valkenburgh which consisted for the most
than necessaries for War made off and escaped by their Nimble Sailing but the Edward and the Christopher stood stiffly to their Tackling and fought fiercely more then 9 Hours insomuch that on both Parts more than 600 Men were slain before the Victory could be decided But in the end wearied with Labour Wounds and Slaughter and opprest with Number they were both taken and brought into the French Havens most of the wounded English being unmercifully thrown overboard too base a Recompence for their Great Valour On the o Frois c. 37. f. 21. Stow p. 235. Holinshead p. 904. Knighton p. 2573. à n. 1. ad n. 10. Walsing hist Edit Franc. p. 146. n. 5. Fabian p. 206. c. 5 of October being a Sunday 50 Galleys of Normans Picards Genoans and Spaniards all well Mann'd and Furnish'd with Habiliments for War at 9 of the Clock in the Morning while the People were at Church came suddenly to Southampton where they sacked the Town the Inhabitants running away for fear but they plunder'd all they could lay Hands on and slew the poor people they met with and ravish'd Women and wasted the Victuals at a heavy rate Those of the Nobler sort whom they could light on they hung up in their own Houses and upon their Departure set the whole Town on Fire But by the Break of next day before they were half got to their Ships Sr. John Arundel a Valiant Gentleman of Hantshire came in upon them being accompanied with a goodly small Band of Choice Souldiers and those Townsmen who had fled from the French the Day before who thô they came too late to save their Friends came yet soon enough to Revenge them and so falling suddenly upon the Barbarous Pyrates before they could recover their Confusion which their speedy Departure put them into they slew no less than 300 of them upon the spot together with a Chief Captain of theirs the King of Sicily's Son to whom the French King had granted whatsoever he should Win or Conquer in England But for all his High hopes he was in this surprise beaten to the ground by a rough Clown who laid about him with a Flail like a Mad-man the Prince not being able to speak a Word of English cry'd p Speed's Maps in Hantshire f. 13. §. 10. out in French Rancon Rancon meaning that he desired to be taken to Ransome But the Clown nothing understanding either his Language or his Coat-Armour answering him I know thou art a Francon and therefore thou shalt die still laid on till he had thrash'd him to Death The rest of the Pyrates fled as fast as they could to their Ships but the Pursuers cut many of them short and not a few were drowned thrô their too great haste as they confusedly endeavour'd to recover their Vessels most of the Ships being hal'd off for fear the English should board them After this the Townsmen of Southampton encompassed the place about with a great Wall and q Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 20. §. 16 17. M.S. p. 27. §. 16. c. in the Parliament of which we shall speak in due season the Lord Richard Talbot was appointed Captain of the Town with 20 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers at the Kings Wages whereby they were secur'd from the like distress for the future Another time Eleven r Stow p. 235. of these French Gallies approaching to the Town of Harwich in Essex cast fire among some of the Out-houses the force whereof was so abated by reason of a strong Contrary-Wind that no great harm was done But the Town it self was too strong to be attempted with any probability of Success Thus the French Navy sought Advantages along by the Sea-Coasts once they sailed to the Isle of Wight but here they gain'd nothing being strongly resisted by the Inhabitants Thence therefore they coasted about for some more easie adventure at Hastings they burnt Fishers Cottages with their Boats and slew many Poor Labouring Men they also made great shows of a Design against the Isle of Thanet in Kent and against Dover and Folkeston but here they were able to do no great harm except to Poor Fishermen Thence sailing about to the Havens in Cornwall and Devonshire every where they Destroyed the Fishermen and their Boats and whatever Ships they found at Anchor they fired At length they enter'd Plimouth-Haven where they burnt some Great Ships and a good part of the Town But here at last they were met with by Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire and old tough Souldier of Fourscore who came upon them with the Trained Bands of his Country and seeing at the first Brunt a few of his Men fall by reason of the French Quarrels which they shot from far he made his Men to close immediately and fall to Handy stroaks with them whereupon he soon overcame them beating them down by Heaps and so Chaced them eagerly to their Gallies when being not able to reach their Fellows by wading for they were now drawn off and stood aloof there were drown'd of them about 500. About this time there Å¿ Knight n. p. 2573. n. 40. came a Fleet of Frenchmen consisting of 20 Great Ships 15 small Ones and 32 Gallies riding before Sandwich-Haven but they durst not take Land because they saw the County Militia ready drawn up to receive them Thence therefore they tack'd about to Rye where they did much Mischief but while they were there a Squadron of English came up with them whereupon the French hoised Sail and fled before them the English all the while making after them with full Sail till they came to Bologne where they set fire to part of the Town and hang'd 12 Captains of the Fleet whom among others they had taken VI. The News t Stow p. 235. of these Hostilities of the French and especially of their Success at Southampton were brought to the King of England in Brabant while the two Cardinals u Victorelâ—us 1 Vol. p. 862. §. 24. p. 857 §. 4. Pedro de Gomez of Spain Titulo Praxedis and Bertrand de Monte Faventio Titulo Sanctae Mariae in Aquiro were yet in his Presence debating of Matters between the two Realms and urging the King to a Peace with France whereupon the King with Great Indignation turning to the Earl of Juliers and other his Friends there Present asked them If he had not great Cause to break with France If only to Revenge their Inhumane Butchery and extream Cruelty to his Poor Subjects who fell into their Hands At which the Cardinal Bertrand replyed in this Manner not without a smile betraying his Haughty Conceits My Lord said he the Realm of France is encompassed about with so strong a Line of Silk that it cannot be broken by the strength of the Kingdom of England Wherefore my Lord ô King you will do well to stay first for the Arrival of the Dutchmen and others Your Friends and Confederates the greater Part
Fortress At which time the Countess who from the high Tower had seen all this brave Skirmish descended and came forth of the Castle with a glad cheer and in the Street she met and kissed Sr. Walter Manny and his Captains one after another twice or thrice as Froisard says like a valiant Lady VIII This bold and lucky Enterprise of the English Generals took off all hope from the Enemy of Prevailing wherefore the l Frois c. 82. fol. 42. b. next day Don Lewis of Spain called a Council of War and the Vicount of Rouën the Bishop of Leon Sr. Henry du Leon and Sr. Otho du Rue Master of the Genouëse to know their Advice in this Juncture They remembred how long they had lain already to little purpose before the strong Town of Hennebond they saw how mightily the Enemy was reinforced with these Men of Arms and Archers of England so that they were ready even to have bid them Battle at their Gates Their biggest Engine was broke many of their Men slain and wounded their Army weaker the Enemy much stronger So that on all these considerations they thought it but lost time to wait for any good Success there and thereupon concluded to raise their Siege the next day and to draw to the Castle of Auray where still Sr. Charles of Blois lay at Siege with the other half of the Army As they had agreed the next day they began their March for Auray whereat those of the Town made great Outcries and Shoutings after them and some adventur'd to follow them in the Reer but they were soon beat back again nor did they gain the Town without loss When Don Lewis of Spain came to the Lord Charles of Blois he gave his Reasons why he rais'd his Siege from before Hennebond which were allowed But Sr. Charles being of himself strong enough to maintain the Siege before Auray he sent Don Lewis to Dinant a Town not otherwise fortified than by Pales the Water of the River Rance and a Marish Ground The Spanish Leader in his way thither came to a Castle called m Sic corrigo Froisard Conquest Nam inter Auray Dinant nen reperitur Conquest sed immane quantum ab utrisque eccidentem versus distat Vt ex Tab. Geogr. Comper the Captain whereof was a valiant Knight of Normandy named Sr. Anthony Manson who had a pretty considerable Garrison under him This Place Don Lewis resolved to attack and gave them a fierce Assault which held till Midnight for it was begun but in the Evening the Defendants still making their part good The next Morning the Assault was renewed and the Ditches being then found not to be of any great Depth the Assailants approached by Wading and made a great Breach in the Wall whereat they entred by Force and slew all the Garrison but only the Knight their Captain whom they took Prisoner When Don Lewis had set here a new Garrison of 60 chosen Men under a good Captain he went forward and lay down before Dinant IX Now when first Don Lewis had sat down before Comper immediately one was dispatch'd away with News to the Countess of Montford who thereupon said to the Lord Walter Manny That if he could relieve that Place it would be as satisfactory to her as honourable to himself Sr. Walter agreed and the next Morning began his March towards Comper with most of the Forces of Hennebond About Noon he came to the Castle wherein now was a Garrison of Spaniards and French for it had been won the Day before Sr. Walter was vext when he saw that Don Lewis himself was not there for he came with a resolution to give him Battle However he said to his Men Gentlemen I am not in the mind to stirr hence till I know who are in the Castle and how they came there So the Assault was begun and the French and Spaniards within stood stifly to their Defence But the English Archers held them so short that the Ditch being now also gaged with Spears and found passable the Men of Arms came easily to the Walls and presently finding the Breach at which the French had entred before they also entred the Castle the same way and slew all they found there but ten whom they took to Mercy The Lord Manny would not leave any Garrison there for he saw well the Place was not tenable wherefore having set it on fire he returned with his English and Bretons to the Countess to Hennebond for he durst not go too far from that Fortress having almost drained the Garrison X. In the mean time Don Lewis lay at Siege before Dinant wherein was Captain the young Sr. Reynald of Dinant Son to the Lord of Guingand who had so well acquitted himself against Sr. Gerard of Morlaix as we shewed a little before He valued nothing the Threats of Don Lewis but always gave him his hands full of work when he came to assault them But Don n Freis c. 83. fol. 43. Lewis within a little while had got together several Boats and little Barks so that now he could attack the Place both by Land and Water at once Wherefore when the Burgesses of the Town saw their condition they resolved to yield and begun to perswade Sr. Reynald their Captain thereto but he disdaining their Motion protested he would never endure to be so basely disloyal Wherefore these Barbarous Wretches laid hands upon the noble-hearted young Gentleman and most inhumanly murder'd him in the open Market-place When thus Don Lewis had gain'd the Town he released Sr. Gerard of Morlais whom he found there a Prisoner and made both him and his Friend Sr. Pierce Portbeuf Captains thereof with a sufficient Garrison under them From thence Don Lewis marched back again till he came to a great Town on the Sea side between the Vilaine and the Loire called Guerande Where he found several Merchants Ships which had been come laden with Wine from Poictou and Rochel The Wine was all sold off but the Payment was not very good For Don Lewis seised on all the Vessels and what he found therein and having mann'd them assaulted the Town the next day both by Sea and Land. The Besieged could not make good their Defence both these ways at one time wherefore the Place was carried by Force the Town robb'd all the Souls therein both Men Women and Children put to the Sword without Mercy and Five Churches were violated and set on Fire Which last fact so highly displeased Don Lewis that he commanded 24 of those who had done it to be forthwith hanged for their pains In this Place there was found much Treasure and Riches so that every Man was master of more than he could bear away wherefore they were fain to pick and choose the most valuable things and leave the rest against their Wills behind them For it was a Town of great Traffick and Merchandise XI After this cruel Execution done at Guerande Don Lewis enter'd
Rumour that there were many Poisoners and especially the Jews who infected the Waters and Fountains From whence the foresaid Pestilence began Wherefore in many Places Thousands of Jews and some Christians also thô innocent and blameless were burnt slain and cruelly handled Whereas indeed it was the Hand of God which wrought all this for the sins of the World. To resist which unreasonable Fury of the Christians against the Jews Pope Clement twice wrote his Encyclical Letters to all Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church to stop this Fury of the People But all his Endeavours could not prevent the unjust Prosecution of this miserable Nation For every where except in the Province of Venaissin and about Avignon the Jews were sought out on all hands to be put to Death for Poisoners And particularly this Year in Germany where the Plague then reigned this false Rumour made them so odious that as r Rebder fius in Annal. Rebdorf witnesses 12000 of them were put to Death in the City of Mentz And ſ Alb. Argent in Chron. Albert of Strasburgh writes that from this rage of the People against them they were reduced to such Despair and Madness that locking themselves up they consumed themselves and all that they had with Fire But in England early this Year the Plague began to abate and about the end of August was wholly extinct at London and in most other Parts of the Land and immediately a more pleasant Face of things began to smile and cheer up the late dejected Minds of the People And thus we shall end this Tragical Chapter CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward founds the Chappel of St. GEORGE in Windsor Castle with the Copy of his Letters Patents for that purpose II. The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls III. The Kings Progress in the Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR IV. The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER attended with Divine Service Royal Feastings and Solemn Justs and Tourneaments V. Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made also Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne VI. The Lord Thomas Dagworth stain in Bretagne VII Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He reduces the French to Terms VIII A famous Combat between Thirty English and Thirty French-Bretons IX Of Certain who arrived to great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars X. Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy-Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry who lived in Ulster XI A Grant of the Black-Prince to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King. I. NOW this being the Year that King Edward the Third founded and established in his Royal Castle of Windsor the Ever-Noble and Honourable Order of the Knights of the Garter of which we spake more fully in the 18 Year of his Reign it will not be amiss to resume so much of that Matter in this Place as we left unremembred in that And first for the Dignity and Worth of the Subject we shall present the Curious Reader with the Copy of his a Pat. an 22. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 6. extant apud Ashmole de Ordine Garterii in Appendice N. 1. Letters Patents for Founding of St. George's Chappel in Windsor-Castle faithfully translated from the Original Latine which we shall find to bear Date the sixth of August in the Year foregoing before the Plague began in London EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to All who shall see these Present Letters Greeting It becomes the Majesty of a King to delight always in Acts of Piety that when he shall stand before the Tribunal of the Most-High-King with whom there is no acceptance of Persons but every One shall receive according to what he hath done in the Body whether it be good or whether it be Evil he may be able to stand among the Good on the Right Hand and not be condemned with the Reprobates as a slothfull and unprofitable servant We truly with grief of Heart carefully remembring the various Labours of our Life and our own small deserts as also rightly considering the Divine Favours shewed unto us and the Graces and Honours wherewith above others the Most High hath prevented us do greatly repent of those goods which being granted us by God we have above measure so often vainly expended And there remains nothing else for us to do but only that unto Christ and his Mother the Glorious Virgin who hath never failed to defend us but has hitherto by her blessed Prayers protected us when we were set in many Dangers we wholly convert our mind and give unto him thanks for his Favours and ask pardon for our Offences And because it is a good way of Merchandise whereby with an happy bartering transitory things are exchanged for Eternal We have caused a certain Chappel of convenient Beauty for eight Secular Canons scituate within our Castle of Windsor wherein we were washed with the Water of Holy Baptism magnificently begun to the Honour of St. Edward the Confessor by our Progenitors to which Canons for their sustentation they allowed a certain Sum of Money at their pleasure and gave it them for Alms out of their Exchequer to be finished at our Royal Charge to the Honour of God Almighty and of his Mother the Glorious Virgin Mary and of the Saints George the Martyr and Edward the Confessor And earnestly desiring and effectually endeavouring that the said Canons being there to serve the Lord may be augmented as well with an encrease of Revenues as in the number of other Canons Ministers and Servants and that in the said Chappel the Glory of the Divine Name may be exalted with greater Worship unto the foresaid Eight Canons we think fit to superadd One Custos presiding over them and fifteen other Canons more and twenty four Poor Knights impotent of themselves or inclining to Poverty to be perpetually maintain'd of the goods of the said Chappel and other Ministers of the said Chappel perpetually serving Christ under the Command of the said Custos or Warden and there Cause to be received as well the Canons and Knights as other Ministers of the said Chappel as is premised And this We firmly decree inviolably ordain and by our Royal Authority as much as in us lies establish for ever Willing that the said Canons and Ministers perform Divine Offices for us and our Progenitors and Successors in part of Satisfaction for those things whereof in the last judgement we are to give an Account they being to celebrate for ever according to the form of our Ordination thence more fully to be made Unto whom the Rights of Patronage and the Advousons of the Churches of b b Vulgò Rasbury Wyrardesbury in the Dioecese of Lincoln Southtanton of Exon and Vttoxater of Coventry and Lichfield which we have lately purchased for that Cause for Us and our Heirs We have given and granted
that when the Scots within the Town heard how King Edward himself was coming to its Relief they dismantled the Walls set fire on the Town and so fled away with all the Spoil they had gotten However King d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Edward being now repossessed of the Place leaves behind him sufficient Hands both for the Defence thereof and to repair what was wanting in the Fortifications and himself in e Knighton p. 2611. three Great Battails marches forth into Scotland resolving f Buchan l. 9. p. 304. now to bring that Realm to terms of Agreement or to reduce them so low that He should never after stand in doubt of their Rebellion While he was at Roxborough Edward Bailiol King of Scotland considering g M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c 230. how God Almighty wrought graciously and miraculously for King Edward and being also wearied with so long contending for little more than the Empty name of a King which of himself he was not able to maintain reflecting likewise that himself was now well gone in Years and had no Child to leave the Kingdom to upon these thoughts he concluded it wholly vain to labour any longer and therefore coming unto Roxborough by his Charter of Resignation he submitted the Crown of Scotland and all the Right Title and Interest that ever he had or might have thereto unto King Edward of England and his Heirs for ever only out of this Grant h Speed p. 581. he reserved to himself an annual Pension of 2050 pounds to be paid unto him during his Natural Life And he earnestly beg'd that he would now pursue his own quarrel to the utmost and i Buchan l 9. p. 304. not forget those manifold Injuries which the Scots had done unto them both This Solemn k Hâ—lâ—â—sh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Resignation King Bailiol confirmed by his Letters Patents made and given under his Hand and Seal and bearing Date 25 Januarii Ano. Domini 1356 which he deliver'd with his own hands to King Edward of England in sight of all the Lords both of England and Scotland there present Thô King Edward bearing a particular Love for his Third Son born but Second living Prince Lionel l Knighton p. 2611. n. 22. according to some accepted the Kingdom for him he to hold it by Homage now of Him and hereafter of his Elder Brother the BLACK-PRINCE and his Heirs For so says Knighton that King Bailiol resign'd all the Right which He claim'd to the Crown of Scotland to the Lord Lionel Son to the King of England Thô others say that King Edward not only received the Realm of Scotland to his own behoof but also soon after took upon him the Royalties thereof being at Scone in Presence of all the Prelates Lords and other great Men of both Nations m M. S. Vâ—t Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Crowned King of Scotland But We dare not averr so much our selves because We never find him to use the Title or any other way to signifie such a Matter II. However while King Edward and the Bailiol tarried at Roxborough Earl Douglas and many n Knighton p. 2611. n. 27. ad n. 50. of the Chief Nobles of Scotland came to him and treated with him as if they design'd to submit to his Peace and a Day was appointed for a full and final Agreement In order to which the King allow'd them 8 days Respite But the mean while these perfidious People convey'd the best of their Moveables beyond the Scottish Sea and then William Douglas sent word to the King That he would never submit himself to his Peace while he lived King Edward being thus again deluded marched forth with his Army divided into three Great Battails burning and destroying the Country on each side round about him as he passed till he came to Haddington But the Scots had removed out of the way all sorts of Provision so that for 15 days together the English could get no Drink but fresh Water wherefore they were obliged to return But the Scots were always ready both on their flank and Reer to cut off whosoever went forth from the main Host to forage While King Edward tarried at Haddington waiting for his Navy wherein the Provisions for his Army were his Men of War were not idle but ravaged about in the Country at their Pleasure doing much mischief to the Enemy but little good to themselves For there was neither Spoil to be met with of any Worth nor Victuals in any Quantity and Drink as We said before none but Water All that was good for any thing being carried away or consumed by the Scots The mean while the Northern Navy under the Command of the Lord o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley their Admiral suffer'd great Damage at Sea for whether it was because they had spoil'd a Church of our Lady near Haddington called White-Kirk p Hector l. 15. fol. 326. n 6. Buchan l. 9. p. 304. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. as was said or for any other cause or by chance there arose such a Tempest and Vehement North-wind that many of their Vessels rushing together and beating rudely against the Banks and Sands were cast away with most of the Men and Provisions within them and the whole Fleet received much Damage being scatter'd so that hardly three Ships came into one Haven together For Displeasure whereof say the Scotch Writers King Edward fell to ravaging again and abundantly powred out his Anger upon Edinburgh Haddington and other Towns of Louthian Nor will I dissemble that he is here also said to have made terrible havock of Holy Places sparing it seems neither Church Abbey nor any other Religious House as if says Hector he was minded to make War against God and all his Saints But for this I must beg Hector's pardon if I do not so readily believe it partly because his Credit is not very great as We have frequently seen and partly because Buchanan says no such thing as also because that humour was contrary to King Edwards disposition who as Hector says thô falsly in one point slew his own Brother John of Eltham for the same sacrilegious humour and we have instanced more than once in this our History that he hath hanged several of his own Men for setting fire to Churches or Monasteries and lastly not to take Notice of Hector's superstitious humour I believe it not because of that notable Success which followed his Arms this Year in France and elsewhere as we shall shew presently However this is certain the King of England left at this time such Marks of his Resentments in those parts that because this Desolution happen'd about the Feast of the Purification of our Lady and so many Towns and Villages were fired by the English The Scots ever after q Hector ibid. sed ibi bruit malè pro brunt brunt pro burnt called it
exclude a Man from impugning an Act by reason of his Minority in years Of whom some moved perhaps by too free favour to prevent and provide against the Grievances of Minors do then only admit of this Authenticall when full Puberty to wit the Age of XVIII Years is accomplished That the Written Rigour to the cruel undoing of Minors may so proceed that it shall rather fall than rise But here it was not sworn in that manner or by such a Person the Minor being within the Compass and Course of that time Yea the Truth is That no Oath was made at all Thus were the several Causes of the two Kings set forth and maintain'd by Law and Argument but 't is seldom heard that ever a Crown was won by pleading the sword being too Powerfull for the Law and Prejudice more prevalent than Justice or Reason Wherefore now we hasten to the second Argument which was to be discussed in the Field but as yet the two Main Disputants were not matched together However a Frois c. 252. f. 153. first of all the Duke of Guelders and the Duke of Juliers who were perfectly English in Heart as well as in Blood took it in extream Indignation that the French King had sent a Defiance to so Mighty a Prince as King Edward by the Hands of a mean Valet horribly in their minds blaming both him and his Council for putting so unworthy an Affront on so Honourable a Monarch For said they the War between two such Potent Kings ought surely to have been published and denounced by Persons of the best Rank and Quality as Prelates either Bishops or Abbots or some Noble Baron or Valiant Knight at least and not by a simple Valet as the French King had most insolently and presumptuously done Wherefore they vow'd forthwith to send and defie the French King resolving shortly after to invade France with Fire and Sword and there to leave such Marks of their Resentment as should be legible for more than 20 Years following Althô this their Resolution was disappointed by the Celerity of the French King For hereupon the Earl of St. Paul being order'd to joyn with the Duke of Brabant went against these two Dukes of Juliers and Guelders Toward the Declining of this Year b Mezeray p. 83. the two Parties met together in a place called Baeswilder between the Rhine and the Meuse where after a Bloody Fight on the one side the Duke of Juliers was slain and on the other the Duke of Brabant taken Prisoner but soon after by the Emperours means he was deliver'd and so this Matter was ended CHAPTER the SIXTH The CONTENTS I. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter II. King Edward renews Friendship with the King of Navarre III. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt sent by the Prince of Wales to Montauban IV. The French lay Siege to Ardres but rise in Despair V. Realville taken by the French The English make fierce War in the Lands of the Rebel Lords of Gascogne VI. Sr. Thomas Wake maintains his Post La Roche de Pozay taken by the French the Lord of Chauvigney falls off to the French and the Lord of Rochechoüart imprison'd upon suspicion VII The Lord James Audley makes havock in the Lord of Chauvigney's Lands VIII Sr. Robert Knolles sent forth by the Prince upon an Expedition brings over Sr. Perdiccas of Albret and 300 Companions to his side and lays Siege to Durmel where he is joyn'd by the Lord Chandos and others from Montauban by whom Moissac was taken in their way IX The English rise from before Durmel and sit down before Domme but get nothing there however they take Gavaches Foines Roquemadour and Villefranche X. The Earl of Cambridge takes Bourdeilles after a long Siege by stratagem XI The Lord Chandos returns to the Prince having settled Affairs XII The English Companions take Bellepeche and therein the Duke of Bourbon's Mother XIII King Charles preparing to invade England King Edward sets himself in a posture to receive him XIV And sends over the Duke of Lancaster with an Army to Calais XV. The English take the Castle of La Roche Sur Yon. XVI The Lord James Audley Seneschal of Aquitaine returning into England is succeeded by the Lord John Chandos XVII The Vicount of Rochechoüart being released from Prison revolts from the Prince and defies him XVIII John Duke of Lancaster makes great havock in Ponthieu at which News King Charles leaves off his Design of invading England and sends the Duke of Burgundy against him with a Mighty Army XIX The Duke of Lancaster goes forth to meet him and encamps at Tournehan The two Armies confront one another for many days XX. The Lord Chandos intending an Expedition desires the Earl of Pembroke's Company but is deny'd however he goes forth and does what he pleases in Anjou Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and on Prospect of a great Advantage over the French sends again to the Earl of Pembroke to come and joyn him but is again deny'd Whereupon the Lord Chandos desisted for that time XXI The Earl of Pembroke deals severely in Anjou and Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart but being surpris'd by the French at Puirenon loses many Men and is besieged in a Church-yard whence he sends to the Lord Chandos for Succour and being hotly assaulted the next day sends again XXII The Lord Chandos hardly at last resolves to help him but upon News of his approach the Frenchmen retire XXIII The Death of Philippa Queen of England her Tomb Epitaph and Praise XXIV The Lord Robert of Namur's Quarters beaten up by the French but he beats them back XXV A story of the Earl of Warwick exploded XXVI The Frenchmen break up and march off in the Night whereupon the Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais to refresh his Men. XXVII The Earl of Pembroke makes another Expedition into Anjou and takes Pont de Cè St. Maure and other places XXVIII The Duke of Lancaster's March thrô Picardy into Normandy with Design to burn the French Fleet. But the Earl of St. Paul being got into Harfleur with 200 Spears saves the Town and prevents their Design XXIX Sr. Nicolas Lovaine takes the Lord Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France XXX The Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais The Earl of Warwick dies XXXI The Duke of Lancaster returns into England and finds himself a Widdower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester XXXII The French King raises a Tax I. WE spake before how King Edward labour'd earnestly about Five Years ago to make up a Match between the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders who was Dowager to the last Young Duke of Burgundy a Mezeray p. 78. and the most Wealthy Heiress in all Christendom and a Son of his named Edmund Earl of Cambridge all the particular Negotiations of which intended Match are both too long and