This pious and reasonable Request King Edward granted but as for the Tender of his Service in the Wars he said he hop'd to have no more occasion of making War in France there being now such a likelihood of a lasting Peace to be established between the two Nations But shortly after he heard a Walsing Hyp. p. 125. n. 10. Knâ—ghton p. 2618. n. 60. how the French indeed were willing to pay unto him 600000 Florens in Part of the Three Millions for the Redemption of their King but they refused to deliver him such Hostages as he demanded for his Security Which when he understood being extreamly incensed he sent word to the Estates of France that then they should look to themselves and be ready to receive him by the time wherein the Truce was to expire King David of Scotland tarried several Weeks with his Queen at London having his Lodgings prepared in the Gray-Fryers now called Christ-Church During his Stay there were many friendly Entercourses between him and the two Kings of England and France King Edward feasting and caressing them in Royal Manner for it was not till the next Year that King John was closely confin'd thô we have mention'd it before Particularly this Year he kept his Christmas with them both at London where he sat between the two Kings at one Table and not as some report between the two Captive Kings in Ostentation of his great Fortune for as it appears these two Kings were not Captives together in England during any one Christmas at all King John being brought Prisoner into England in May and King David being released the September following But King David as his Guest might now be reasonably expected to sit at his Table And King John as Davids Friend and Edwards Cousin to have so much Respect shewn unto him for that time at least Besides since Pride is so loathsome especially to them over whom she insulteth it is not to be imagin'd that these two Kings should ever after so entirely love and respect King Edward as they did had he entertain'd them with such supercilious Haughtiness at this time That Monarch's Soul was elevated to such a degree of Generosity that he absolutely reigned in the Hearts of these two Princes who came after they were at Liberty of their own Accord to visit him as a Friend as we shall shew in due Place XIV This b Sandfords Geneal hist p. 146. Walsingh hist p. 165. Stow's Chron. p. 264. Survey of London p 421. Knâ—ghton p. 2618. n. 54. Year the Lady Isabella the Queen Mother of England who was Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all successively Kings of France departed this Life in her great Climacterical or 63d Year after almost 28 Years Confinement because of her Concern in the Ruine of King Edward the II her Lord and Husband Her Punishment was easie and temper'd with Respect for all the while she had a liberal Allowance of 4000 l. per annum and freedom enough thô under the Eye of a Keeper and the King her Son did once a Year at least pay her a Visit and often shew'd her many notable Diversions and Princely Recreations Alan Buchet in his Annals of Aquitain and nom him c James Meyors Annal. Flandr l. 12. p. 152. James Meyor says that being big with Child by Mortimer she was presently put to Death by her Son Edward but the Notoriety of this Falshood appears not only from the concurrent Testimonies of all Authors and Records but especially from thus that besides many others at divers times we shall find Pope Innocent the IV to direct his Letters unto her bearing d Extant Tom. 4. Epist Secret. p. 158. vid. Odor Rainal ad ann 1356. §. 4. al as Date Avin XIV Kal. Julii An o Pontif. W. i.e. An o Dom. 1356. Wherefore let those Authors look to their Credit as well as they can 't is certain they wanted Care or Honesty but to return This Queen was married to King Edward the II in the 12 Year of her Age was his Wife 20 Years and his Widow about 31 being as was thought a Widow of her own making And yet truly I am persuaded partly from the Consideration of her long and happy Life after as well as from many other Circumstances apparent from the History that upon her first coming with Armed Force into England she had no design in the World against the King her Husband but only against the Spencers But that Mortimer and Others who were already obnoxious to the Law upon the account of Treason for their own Security drove her on so far by their Cunning that she was not able to retire And afterwards when the King was deposed they so terrified her with making her believe that if ever he recover'd his Crown he would certainly burn her that she complied with the Design for his Destruction However she proved occasionally almost Fatal to her Native Country of France her Birth affording that Title to King Edward which in those Days produced a War of above Fourscore Years Continuance wherein besides many thousand great Losses that Realm suffer'd three Memorable Defeats as at Cressy and Poictiers under King Edward and at Agencourt under King Henry the V. And even unto this Day the Kings of England are from her furnished with a just Pretence whenever they shall please to resume a Quarrel with that Kingdom She died at the Castle of Risings near London on the Wednesday before St. Bartholomew's Day being e Hoc ann G. Dom. Lit. the 22d of August An o Dom. MCCCLVIII having first lived to see her Son the most Glorious Prâ—nce of all Europe and the Right which she had convey'd unto him to be in a manner asserted by the Decision of God Himself in the Captivity of the French King by the Valour of her Grandson the Prince of Wales She was most honourably interred on the 27th of September following being a Thursday in the Midst of the Quire of the Gray-Friers now called Christ-Church in London under a magnificent Tomb of Alabaster The Church not being yet dedicated Queen Joan also of Scotland sirnamed Joan of the Tower Sister to King Edward of England and Daughter to Queen Isabel aforesaid deceased toward the end of this Year without Issue But that it is better to leave an Honourable Report than Children behind And certainly if King David her Husband had never been oppressed with Adversity she might have been accounted happy but then she had never been extolled with that Commendation which her Vertue and Conjugal Affection doth claim from all Posterity For f Holinsh Scotl. p. 244. during the seven Years Exile which King David had formerly led in France when he was expelled his own Kingdom by the English Forces she would by no means forsake Him oâ— his Fortune but faithfully and constantly adhered to him both then and
said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and one more Antient and Mystical asserted The time of this First Round Table with the manner of its Solemnity William Montagu Earl of Salisbury dies his Praise Pedigree Issue King Edwards Buildings at Windsor his Institution of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER The Names of the XXVI Founders A short View of the said most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof King Edward hears how King Philip had put to death sundry Lords of Bretagne his Friends King Philip's Cruelty to the Messenger of these News King Edward's Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. King Edward sends a Defiance to Philip But is alarm'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and the Frontiers of Scotland He makes his Remonstrance to the Pope who endeavours to pacifie him A Parliament at Westminster The Earl of Darby lands in Gascogne His Acts. His Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philip's Lieutenant before Auberoche Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter named Mary John Earl of Monford acquitted his Prison The Lord Oliver Ingham dies his Issue From p. 287. to p. 312. Chap. XXIII King Edward tells the Pope that unless King Philip gives him Satisfaction he will renounce the Truce The Earl of Northampton commissioned to defie the French King. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce His New Commission to the Earl of Darby An account of his Actions in Gascogne this Year The Lord Walter Manny finds his Fathers Bones in Reole The Castle of Reole yielded The Earl of Darby's Victorious Progress and Return to Bourdeaux From p. 312. to p. 320. Chap. XXIV Henry Earl of Lancaster dies The motives and manner of Jacob van Arteveld's Fall. The Flemings appease King Edward The young Earl of Hainalt slain The Lord John of Beaumont brought over to the French side The Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts to England John of Monford amidst his Victories in Bretagne dies The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois and routs his Army The Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce The Death of one Lord and two Bishops From p. 321. to p. 330. BOOK II. CHAP. I. KIng Philip sends the Duke of Normandy against the Earl of Darby aliàs the Earl of Lancaster Duke John sits down before Angoulesme the Earl of Lancaster new Garrisons Ville-Franche and reinforces Aiguillon The Seneschal of Beaucaire wins Ancenis Sr. John Norwich escapes the Duke of Normandy by a quaint device The Duke of Normandy comes before Aiguillon with the Particulars of that Siege The French King's Seneschal of Guienne beaten by the Earl of Lancaster which Earl holds the Duke of Normandy short From p. 331. to p. 337. Chap. II. King Edward resolves to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament settles the Realm sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy and Knights his Eldest Son Prince Edward c. King Philip strengthens Caën against him A Cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to France King Edward marches thrô Normandy King Philip prepares to encounter him King Edward takes St. Lo and Caën Rejects the Cardinals Endeavours for Peace stays at Poissy to repair the Bridge and sends a Defiance to King Philip who goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives and replies to an Answer of King Philips to his Challenge His Progress thrô France His Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Inhabitants of Poix being found treacherous are put to the Sword. King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme A French Prisoner shews him the Passage at Blanchetteaque which yet he finds guarded but goes over and discomfits Godmar du Fay who kept the Passage King Philip rests at Abbeville King Edward encamps in the Fields of Cressy and prepares to receive him From p. 338. to p. 353. Chap. III. The Number and Order of King Edward's Forces the Names of his Chief Captains He creates 50 Knights King Philip goes out of Abbeville against him The Order of the French. King Philip advances his Oriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon The Battle of CRESSY The Earl of Warwick sends to the King for Succour with the King's Answer The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward against their Main Force routs the Marquess of Moravia kills the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers King Philip flies and leaves the Victory to the English The Number of the slain on both sides An Enquiry into the Antiquity of Guns King Philip retires to Broye thence to Amiens and so to Paris The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Bodies of the French defeated The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and care for the burial of the Dead King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais From p. 354. to p. 365. Chap. IV. The Description of Calais The strength of King Edward's Navy He lays a formal Siege to the Place Plenty of Provision in his Camp. The Earl of Warwick takes Teroüenne The Flemings besiege St. Omers Seventeen Hundred poor People being thrust out of Calais are relieved by King Edward The Copies of two Letters containing the summe of this Expedition from the Winning of Caën to the Siege of Calais The Duke of Normandy makes another attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss King Philip commands his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and perswades the King of Scotland to invade England The Duke of Normandy leaves the Siege of Aiguillon the Lord Manny cuts him off at the Reer His Agreement with a Prisoner of Quality The Prisoner brings him a safe Conduct and is set free The Lord Manny riding towards Calais in Confidence of this Conduct is seised by King Philip's Order But the Duke of Normandy saves his Life The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and Conquers in Sainctogne Rochellois and Poictou An Instance of this Earls Liberality and Munificence He wins Poictiers leaves it Desolate and Returns to Bourdeaux An Army of Poictevins discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan From p. 365. to p. 375. Chap. V. King Philip by his Ambassadors perswades the King of Scots to break with England King David resolves on a War Raises an Army and begins to march His Cruelty to an English Knight in cold blood He encamps near Durham Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York and sends an Expostulation to King David The Order and Number of the Scotch Army Also of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders Queen Philippa encourages her Men. She beats Douglas and Graham before the Battle Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is obliged to Retreat King David is taken Prisoner by
but is reconciled to the French King. The War breaks out again between England and France The Black-Prince his Exploits in Gascogne The Lord John Lisle Knight of the GARTER slain Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfields relating the Prince's Exploits King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England Barwick taken by the Scots Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Seventh Son Thomas of Woodstock Nantes taken and Recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion The Death of Peter Lord Mauley From p. 478. to p. 489. Chap. XIV King Edward recovers Barwick King Bailiol resigns his Right and Title to Scotland into King Edward's Hands King Edward wasts Scotland but losing a great part of his Navy is obliged to return He brings Bailiol into England with him A Parliament at Paris A Sedition at Arras supprest King John of France seises the King of Navarre confines him and executes several of his Friends The King of Navarre's Brother Philip obtains Assistance from England and being reinforced by the Duke of Lancaster makes hot War in Normandy King John goes against him but upon News of the Black-Prince's being in France turns back to oppose him The Duke of Lancaster having settled Affairs in Normandy goes into Bretagne to the Dutchess From p. 489. to p. 494. BOOK III. CHAP. I. KING John prepares to go against the Black-Prince The said Prince's Victorious Progress thrô Quercy Auvergne Berry and Touraine The French King follows him Two Cardinals haste after him in hopes to reconcile Matters Some French Troops cut off by the Prince King John having Order'd his Battails a Cardinal perswades him to desist a while till he had try'd to compose Matters But the French K. demands more than the Prince would grant A Quarrel between the Marshal of France and the Lord Chandos The Cardinal despairing of Peace leaves the Field Prince Edward encourages his Men. The Names of his Chief Leaders His speech to them His New Device against the Enemy The Lord James Audley and Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt begin the Fight The Famous Battle of POICTIERS wherein King John is made Prisoner The Prince of Wales his Bounty to the Lord Audley his Obliging Deportment to the French King. He returns to Bourdeaux King Edward's Moderation at the News of his Sons Success The Pope applauds the Prince of Wales for his Humanity to the Captive King. The several claims concerning the taking of the French King adjusted The Duke of Lancaster's proceedings in Normandy and Bretagne after the Battle of Poictiers The Troubles of France freshly fomented by a Seditious Parliament The Lord Godfry of Harcourt slain The Pope stirs up the Emperour to endeavour to compose Matters between the two Kings A Diet at Metz in Lorraine Seals changed in England From p. 495. to p. 525. Chap. II. The Black-Prince brings King John of France into England King Edward receives the Captive King with much Humanity Henry Duke of Lancaster holds a Siege before Rennes The Cardinals obtaine a Truce between the two Kings King David is redeem'd and returns to Scotland The Duke of Lancaster takes Rennes by Composition Sr. Robert Knolles beats the Marshal of France in Normandy The Lord of Granville takes the Castle of Eureux by a slight The Rise of Sr. John Hawkwood and Sr. Robert Knolles The Original of a sort of Free-booters call'd Companions in France The Insolence of the Parisiens and their Provost toward the Dauphin King Charles of Navarre gets at Liberty and grows Popular From p. 525. to p. 535. Chap. III. King Edward holds St. GEORGE'S day with great Solemnity A Friendly Treaty held between King Edward and King John but 't is dash'd The Jaquerie in France with their Cruelty and Extirpation Quarrels between the King of Navarre and the Dauphin and between the Dauphin and the Provost of Paris The King and Duke reconcil'd but the Provost continues Plotting The English Navarrois revenge the Death of their Countrymen on the Parisiens The Provost designing to betray Paris is discover'd and slain The King of Navarre breaks again with the Dauphin His several Garrisons the Dauphin's Difficulties The Confusion and Miseries of France The Constable besieges St. Valery The Captal of Busche comes to the King of Navarre's Assistance The several Garrisons of the Navarrois The Lord Canon Robsart discomfits a Party of them The happy Estate of England Two Kings keep Christmas with King Edward The Death of the Queen Mother of England of the Queen Consort of Scotland and of Orcanes the Great Turk A Quarrel between the Bishop of Ely and Blanche Lady Wake And another between the Four Orders of Predicants and the two Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford From p. 536. to p. 552. Chap. IV. A Method of Agreement pitch'd upon by the two Kings but rejected by the French Parliament Whereupon King Edward resolves for War. St. Valery yielded up to the French. Sr. Peter Audley fails in his Design upon Châlons The Earl of Roucy taken Prisoner a second time Melun besieged but the Dauphin and Navarre are reconciled The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt taken Prisoner by the French. A Judgment on a Sacrilegious Souldier The Navarrois decline suddenly Vpon Sr. Peter Audley's Death Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt is redeem'd by the Navarrois and made their Captain Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition He retires being overmatch'd Submits to the King and obtains his Pardon The Flemings revolt from King Edward King Edward with his Four Sons and others holds a Solemn Justs in the Name of the Mayor and Aldermen of London John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond Marries the Duke of Lancaster's Daughter King Edward chooses the Place of his Sepulture in Westminster Abbey From p. 552. to p. 564. Chap. V. King Edward sends the Duke of Lancaster to Calais and follows himself with an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men. The Names of his Chief Captains with the Order of his Army The King Marches from Calais toward Rheims in Champaigne An adventure between the Lord Galahaut de Ribemont and the Lord Van Boulant The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes the French Master of the Cross-bows Prisoner King Edward lays Siege to Rheims The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt sends relief to the English Army Several Places taken by Detachments from the Camp before Rheims The King of Navarre breaks with the Dauphin again The Lord of Gomegines taken Prisoner by the French. The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes Cormicy and rases it From p. 565. to p. 574. Chap. VI. The Duke of Normandy's Methods to resist King Edward The French take Land at Winchelsea and having done much harm are beaten off Order taken to prevent the like for the future King Edward rising from before Rheims Marches thrô Champaigne Roger Mortimer Earl of March dies The Great Pomp and Order of the English Army King Edward is bought off from destroying Burgundy and turns toward Paris He sits down before Paris Two Treaties offer'd at in vain The King Challenges the Dauphin forth to Battle The Lord Manny
their Eldest Brother the Constable himself could not be there by reason of an Infirmity of Body there was also Sr. b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 145. vid. Ieland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 686. John Lord Molins Robert Lord Hufford Ralph Lord Stafford William Lord Clinton and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby Now while these men were devising how to Seise on Mortimer c M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 222. the same Mortimer in Order to their Destruction held a close Council in the Castle of Nottingham with the Queen-Mother the Bishop of Lincoln Sr. Simon Bereford Sr. Hugh Turplington and Sr. John Monmouth and other his Creatures how to bring to utter Ruine all those that had accused him of Treason and Felony But this close Carriage of Mortimer's was smoak'd by the Lord Montague and those of the Council concern'd with him especially because none of them were permitted to take up their Lodgings in the Castle wherefore they knew that Mortimer and his Complices were brewing mischief for them Then Sr. William Montague went and told the King that since neither he nor any of his Partakers were admitted to Lodge in the Castle they should never be able to Seise Mortimer without the Consent and Assistance of the Constable Sr. William Eland Now surely said the King I love you well and therefore advise you to go to the Constable in my Name and command him to be Aiding and Assistant to you in taking the Mortimer all other things lay'd aside on peril of Life and Limb. St said Montague then God grant Success And thereupon he went and found the said Constable to whom he told the King's will before the rest of his Partakers but only yet in general Terms that it was the King's Pleasure he should be assistant to them in a certain matter relating to the King's Honour and Safety And the Constable answer'd that the King's Will should be obey'd in what he could and that he would not stand out for fear of Death it self and then he swore to be constant and secret and made his Oath to the Lord Montagu and Montagu to him in the hearing of all the Assistants Now surely Dear Friend said the Lord Montagu to the Constable it behoved us to gain your acquaintance in order to seise on Mortimer since you are Keeper of the Castle and have the Keys at your dispose Sirs reply'd the Constable if it be so you shall understand that the Gates of the Castle are locked with the Locks that Queen Isabell sent hither and at Night she hath all the Keys thereof and layeth them under the Pillow of her Bed until the Morning And so I may not help you into the Castle at the gates by any means But I know an Hole that stretcheth out of the Ward under Earth into the Castle beginning on the West-side which Hole neither Isabell the Queen nor none of her Retinue nor Mortimer himself nor none of his Company know any thing of and through this Passage I shall lead you till you come into the Castle without the Espial of any that are your Enemies That same Night Sr. William Montagu and all the Lords his Partakers and the Constable also took Horse pretending to go out of Town which when Mortimer heard of he thought they were fled away for fear of him and devised further how to entrap them But about Midnight being * Lit. Dom. G. a Fryday and the day after the Feast of St. Luke or the 19 of October returning back again they all came to the Passage aforesaid and there following the direction of Sr. William Eland enter a certain dismal Cave not of a long while taken Notice of which opening its Mouth without went all under the Castle dug unequally thrô Stony and other sort of Ground till it came to the Rock on which the Castle stood thrô which it also passed with Stairs till it open'd it self above within the Keep or Chief Tower. This wonderfull d Drayton's Barons Wars l. 6. Stanz 46. Passage had been after this manner hewed and dug forth during the Danish Invasions by some of the Saxon Kings for their better Security in case of a siege But since the Action of this Night it hath purchas'd the e Speed Map. Nettingh §. 6. Name of Mortimer's Hole Whom without any great Noise and with little Resistance they at last took not in the Queen Mothers Chamber as many too ignorantly or too maliciously suppose but in another not indeed far from it in the Company of f H. Knighton p. 2556. Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln Before he could be seised the Lord Montagu finding some Resistance from his Attendants slew Sr. Hugh g Knighton ibid. Adam Marimâ—uth M.S. ibid. c. Turplington Steward of the King's Houshold and Sr. John Monmouth and at last Chiefly by the great Valour of Sr. William Eland took the Lord Mortimer's Person to be reserved to some more Publique Fortune On the King's Party Sr. John Nevil of Horneby was wounded but not as some say slain as will appear hereafter where we shall speak of the Reward the King allotted him for this piece of Service and also in the 15th Year of this King we shall find him Governour of Newcastle upon Tine Thô by others Sr. Hugh Turplington is made one of the King's Party and again both he and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby are by h Drayton's Bar. Wars l. 6. Stanz 63. Mr. Drayton mistaken for Mortimer's Friends and both said then and there to be slain But this I mention not as a Fault in so Great a Man since Poets are not obliged to be so Exact for Truth as Historians are The Queen Mother being then in Bed heard the Noise of this Rencountre and supposing what the matter really was and that the King himself must needs be there she called out to him in these Words i Stow p. 229 c. Bel Fitz Bel Fitz ayes Pitie du Gentil Mortimer Dear Son have pity on the Gallant Mortimer Or as the foresaid k M. S. ibid. c. 222. M. S. which takes no notice of the King 's being there reports her words more probably Now fair Sirs I pray you that you do no harm unto his Body for he is a Worthy Knight Our well-beloved Friend and Our dear Cozen. But for all this the Earl of March was hurryed away thence and brought before the King where he stood and presented unto him who strait commanded him to be put into safe Custody in the Castle whereof all the Keys are forthwith seised into the King's Hands that none might issue out to discover what had been done till the rest of Mortimer's Abettors were secured also So the next Morning by the King 's special Command l Knighton p. 2556. two of his Sons were seised in the Town Sr. Edmund and Sr. Geoffry together with Sr. Oliver Byngham and Sr. Simon Bedford or Bereford and Sr. John
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
as some say in the latter end of * Fabian p. 203. Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. October at the Town of St. Johnston departed out of this Life the most hopefull young Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham in Kent the Place of his Birth who was only Brother to King Edward being the second Son of Edward the Second by his Queen Isabella Daughter to Philip le Bel King of France He was m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. advanced to the Title of Earl of Cornwall by his Brother King Edward the Third and was twice by him made Lieutenant of all England upon his Expeditions the one into France the other into Scotland during his Absence But in his Action of this Year he so heated himself that he fell into a Feavour upon his return to St. Johnston and now at last died in the very Flower of his Youth being but twenty Years of Age and a Batchelour His Body being embalmed and brought into England was with great Solemnity Interr'd n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 110. in St. Edmunds Chappel in Westminster Abbey on the Southside of the Choire and the Northside of the High Altar on the Left hand of the Door of the said Chappel Where the King his Brother raised for him a o Keep 's Monument Westm p. 66. c. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 155 ubi the Figure of it most Noble Monument of Grey Marble set about with 24 little Images of various-coloured Alabaster and white Marble under each whereof are the blank Escutcheons remaining whereon had been as many several Coats of Arms depicted which are now wholly worn away and decayed On this Tomb lies his full Image of Admirable wrought Alabaster in his Coat Armour his Visage bare and a deep Shield on his Left Arm whereon are engraven the Arms of England within a Bordure of France having two Angels on each side supporting his Head and a Lion Couchant at his Feet Carved and finely Pictured of the same Alabaster with a Canopy covering the whole with delicate wrought Spires and Masons Work every where intermixed and Adorned with little Images and Angels according to the Fashion of those times supported by eight Pillars of white Stone of the same Curious-wrought Work But there is no Epitaph or Inscription to inform us any further The Scotch p Hector l. 15. f. 320. n. 40. c. Writers tell the manner of his Death thus that having done many abominable Cruelties in that Kingdom and especially without any Regard to Holy Places after all he came to St. John's Town where say they the King his Brother then was in the Church at his Devotions near the Altar That upon sight of him the King who had heard of all his Barbarous and Profane Cruelties question'd him somewhat about those Matters But receiving from him an harsh and undutifull Answer was so far provoked that immediately drawing his sword he there slew him with his own Hands upon the Place adding this That an Altar ought not to be a Refuge for One who had by Fire and Sword violated both Churches and Altars Certainly this Sentence which Hector puts into King Edward's Mouth was no way unbecoming a Religious Prince even thô he had perform'd such a Fact upon such a Brother as they make this Lord John to have been But this very Author forgetting Decencies and Characters at another time makes the same King as great a Profaner of Holy Places himself and yet his Friend Buchanan likes not this Story of his so well as to set his Hand to it which he very seldom scruples to do but when the Lye is too apparent For indeed King Edward was not in Scotland at the time of Prince Johns Decease and the young Lord was neither so Barbarous nor Profane as Hector feigns and besides his Death was q Knighton p. 2568. n. 30. Holinsh Scot. p. 237. n. 50. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. c. Natural as all our Histories and the Records themselves agree In the r Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. Month of December there died also at St. Johnston the Lord Hugh Frenes who in Title of his Wife the Relict of Sr. Ebulo le Strange was called Earl of Lincoln of a Bloody Flux occasion'd by an excessive cold and indeed many other English were destroy'd by the vehement cold in those Quarters that Winter This Earl Hugh was the ſ Catal. Honor. p. 947. Third and Last Husband of Alice Daughter and Heiress of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln but neither he nor any of her other Husbands had any Issue by her Queen Philippa of England t Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 177. Walsingh Hypod. p. 113. n. 40. this Year was deliver'd of her second Son at Hatfield who in Memory of her Father William Earl of Heinalt was Christened by that Name and sirnamed of Hatfield the Place of his Birth as was customary in those Days But this young Prince William of Hatfield lived but a short while and was buried in the Cathedral at York IX About this time as it were to usher in those grand Affairs which King Edward was now entring upon there u Ashmole p. 646. Fabian p. 203. 208. Walsingh Hypod. p. 114. Hist p. 131. n. 30. Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 900. appeared a fearfull Comet which for a considerable time darted forth its Rays with long and terrible Streams toward the East and toward the South It was look'd upon as a Forerunner both of those Wars in the Holy Land wherein the King of Armenia lost all his Country to the Turks and also of the great Devastation that followed shortly after in the Noble Realm of France Althô if they might not be divers I had rather set the time of this Comets Appearance to the Year following For x Esq Sherburne in his Catalogue of Astromers at the end of his Manilius c. we find that in the Years 1337 and 1338. there were seen either two or one and the same Comet of such a remarkable Phaenomenon that together with that which happen'd in the Year 1330 they employed the Pen of that learned Astrologer of those Days Godfry de Meldis an Oxonian to write his Book called Judicium Stellae Comatae Also this Year in a Village called Leighton about six miles Westward from Huntingdon was calved a Calf with two Heads and Eight feet if y Walsingh hist p. 119. n. 20. 30. c. Walsingham may obtain credit as there is little doubt to be made of the probability of this Matter This Winter was very sharp in England there being a hard Frost from the 27 of November to the 9 of February but no Snow at all whence Wheat became dear but other Grain grew plenty In many Parts of England the Willow-trees brought forth Flowers in January like Roses for Bigness and Colour and Elder-trees bare fruit exactly
on the Sea under the Command of his three Admirals Sr. Hugh Quyriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Nicolas Barbenoir the Genoan These were furnished with a notable Fleet of Genuans Normans Bretons and Picards who did this Winter no small damage to the Coasts of England at Dover Sandwich Winchelsey Hastings and Rye For they were more than 40000 Men in all Beside this King Philip wrote to the Lord of Beaumont-in Champaine the Lord of Bresne the h Qu. Videme i.e. Vicedâ—â—was Vidame of Chalons the Lord John de la Beau the Lords John and Gerard of Loire enjoyning them to furnish themselves with competent forces and so make an Impression upon the Lord John of Hainalts Lands burning killing and destroying without Pity because he took King Edward's Part against France These Lords did as they were Commanded and enter'd the said Lands with 500 Men of Arms appearing suddenly one Morning before the Town of Chimay a strong Town of Hainalt seated in a Wood on the little River Blanche Here they found a vast quantity of Cattle and other Prey for the Country People never imagin'd the French could have come so far without passing the Wood of Thierasche The Place was too strong however to be won by them so that setting fire on the Suburbs and the neighbouring Villages they return'd laden with Spoil to Aubenton and there divided the Booty At the same i Frois c. 44. time the Garrison of Cambray sent a small Detachment to a little strong House hard by called Relenques which also belonged to the foresaid Lord John of Hainault and was now kept by a Bastard son of his who had only 15 Men of Arms and about fourty others in his Company These few held out manfully one whole day against a continual Assault of the Cambresins but because the Ditches were so frozen that there was free Passage for the Enemy to approach to the very Walls about Midnight the Bastard and his Men in great silence trussed up all they had of any worth and setting fire to the House departed for Valenciennes whither they all came in safety Next day as the Cambresins came thither again to renew the Assault seeing all was reduced to Ashes they beat down the Walls and what remain'd to the ground and so returned III. We shew'd before k C. 13. §. 3. p. 135. how the Lord Walter Manny had taken the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque so called because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray over which he had set as Captain his Brother Sr. Giles Manny This l Frois ibid. Sr. Giles was a Valiant Knight and very much incommoded the Garrison of Cambray both distressing them that issued out of the Town and also boldly braving them at their own Walls Once particularly this Winter he Marched from his Garrison in the head of Sixscore Men of Arms and came to the Barriers of Cambray where the clamour rose so high and the skirmish grew so fierce that great numbers within the City were fain to run to Arms and come to the Gate to the assistance of their Fellows who were hitherto too weak for Sr. Giles and were ready to turn their backs But now upon this reinforcement Sr. Giles caused a Retreat to be sounded to his Men and so began to draw off fair and softly The fresh forces of the Cambresins issued out of the Barriers after him as they might well do both considering their own Numbers and that so strong a Place was at hand to second them Among the Frenchmen there was a young lusty Esquire of Gascoign named William Marchant who came out among the foremost into the Field well-mounted his shield about his Neck and his Spear in his Hand Him when Sr. Giles beheld he turn'd his Horse and rode up fiercely to him thinking to have slain or taken him But the Esquire held him tack gallantly insomuch that at last either by his Hands or some others for the Medley and Confusion was now at the highest Sr. Giles was stricken thrô all his Harness the Spear passing quite thrô his Body upon which he fell down to the earth Upon the fall of their Captain his Men renew'd the skirmish more fiercely but by continual Recruits from the Town they were finally overpower'd slain and put to slight The Cambresins took up the Body of Sr. Giles wounded mortally as he was and brought him with great Triumph into the City where presently they disarm'd him and got skilfull Surgeons to dress his Wound for they were very desirous to save him to be Ransom'd but for all their Care he died the next day after Then they resolv'd to send his Body to his Brethren John and Thierry for the Lord Walter the Elder was about King Edward's business which two kept Garrison at Bouchain in Ostervandt For thô at that time the Country of Hainault was not engag'd in any War saving the late Incursion made into the Lord of Beaumonts Lands yet all the Frontiers toward France were Garrison'd for fear of the Worst the times beginning to be troublesome So they prepar'd an Horse and Litter and putting his Body therein caused two Fryers to convey it to his Brethren who received him with great sorrow and saw him decently interred at the Fryers in Valenciennes where afterwards the Lord Manny m Frois c. 110. buried his Father as in due place we shall see This being performed his two Brethren John and Thierry who were also half n Id. c. 49. Brethren to the Earl of Namur went to their Deceased Brothers Castle of Thine whence they made sharp War upon those of Cambray in Revenge of the Death of their Brother IV. At that time the o Frois c. 44. Lord Godmar du Fay of Normandy was Captain of Tournay and the Country thereabout the Lord of Beaujeu was Captain in Mortagne on the Skell at the Consines of Hainault in Tournois the Seneshall of Carcasson in the Town of St. Amand on the Scarp Sr. Emeric of Poictiers in Doway and the Lord Galeas de la Bausine the Lord of Villers the Marshall of Mirepoix and Sr. Theobald of Marville in the City of Cambray All which Garrisons desired nothing more than to make an Inroad into Hainault there to rob and spoil the Country This their Desire was brought to effect by the Bishop of Cambray who being then at Paris with the King complained that the Hainalders had done him great Dammage having destroy'd and overran his Country more than any other And that the Lord John of Hainault was an apparent and known Enemy to France and the Earl his Nephew also secretly a Friend to England Whereupon King Philip as one that consider'd not how many Enemies he created to himself presently gave leave to the foresaid Garrisons of Cambresis and Tournois to make an Incursion into Hainault which they gladly did to the number of 600 Men of Arms. On a Saturday Morning they all began their March from Cambray and were met by
unto the dispose of our Lord the Pope especially the Lords Cardinals being his Assistants the greater Part of whom and in a manner all are Natives of the Kingdom of France or there Beneficed either in their own Persons or in the Persons of their Nephews and have Revenues as well in Temporals as Spirituals and of whom a great part publiquely make against him as to the Affair now in Hand I should in Answer thereto declare the Good Will which our Lord the Pope hath particularly to the Person of the Lord the King and his Kingdom and that in such Matters not concerning the Church and its Patrimony he is not wont to require the Counsel of the Cardinals And in this Affair if it should be refer'd to him he would not care to require Counsel of others Besides this the Pope exhorted those of the Privy Council to both Kings to perswade them unto Peace particularly to the English Lords among other things he wrote thus We desire and require and exhort You all in the Lord that having before Your eyes God alone to whom all Hearts are open and all desires are known and from whom no secret is hid as to such and such hazardous Matters concerning as is premised the state of all Christendom what You shall with Good and Right Consciences believe to be wholsome profitable and expedient to the said King his Weal Honour and Profit and also to Christendom aforesaid You would endeavour to perswade and advise him Dat. Avin VII Kal. Septemb. Ano. Pontificatûs nostri VI. But all this had signified little to King Edward who was sensible of the Loss he always suffer'd by these Treaties which were then most vigorously offer'd when some Great Advantage was in his Hands had not there been a Lady of High Quality and Wonderfull Vertue and Piety whose Tears and Prayers could not be lost upon a Man whose heart was acquainted with Pity This was the Lady Å¿ Frois c. 63. Jane of Valois Countess Dowager of Hainault Holland and Zealand Sister-German to King Philip and own Mother to Philippa Queen of England Who since the Death of her Husband William the Good late Earl of Haâ—nault had withdrawn her self from the World and entred the Abbey of Fontaine au Tertre resolving there to spend the Residue of her Life in Works of Charity and Devotion This Pious Lady as the Greek Poets Report of Jocasta when Polynices and Eteocles were prepared for Battle and as our t Warner's Albion's England l. 3. c. 16. p. 73. English Poets Relate of the Mother of Belinus and Brennus two Brittish Princes when they were ready by unbrotherly War to decide the Right of a Kingdom went assiduously with great Zeal and Diligence between the two Kings humbly kneeling to the King of France her Brother whose Haughty and Resolute Temper she well knew and sweetly like a Vertuous Mother intermixing with her Son-in-Law King Edward Commands and Prayers and moving Tears and convincing Arguments at the same time labouring with the Duke of Brabant whose Son was to have Married one of her Daughters but for a Trick of King Philips and also with her Son-in-Law the Marquess of Juliers and with her late Husbands Brother the Lord John of Hainalt to joyn with her to move King Edward to accept of a Truce thô never so short At last by the Aid and Counsel of the Lord Lewis D'Augemont who was equally acceptable to both Parties she so far prevail'd that both the Kings agreed to send to a certain Place 4 or 5 Commissioners a piece to propose and consider of some Moderate and Equal Way to decide the Matter For which Treaty a Truce was to be had for three Days the said Persons the Commissioners from both Parties to Meet and Treat each day about the Premises in a little Church or Chappel standing in the Fields of Spetelin On Saturday the 23d. of September there came accordingly to the Place appointed on the French Part the Venerable Old Prince John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl of Armagnac on the English Part came John Duke of Brabant Henry Bishop of Lincoln Reginald Duke of Gueldre William Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord Beaumont All these at their first Meeting in the Chappel aforesaid began u Frois c. 63. with many Mutual Salutations and endearing Caresses as if they had been sworn Friends all their Lives Thence they fell upon the Mater in Hand and began to Propound and to Weigh divers Offers and Concessions and all the while the Incomparable Lady Jane of Valois was by earnestly entreating them for Godsake to lay aside all Prejudice and only to consider the Publique Good and the Weal of Christendom and be ready to accept of what should seem just and indifferent But for the first Day there was little or no Advancement made However they brake up with a Mutual Promise to Meet again at such an Hour the next Morning and in Conformity to the Day to dispose themselves towards the Entertainment of Unity and Peace Accordingly they Met and did at last unanimously Agree on certain Articles and Methods but not being able to draw them up at that time and to Compleat the whole Affair as it ought to be they deferred the Consummation of all till the last Day So being all Met again the Third Day they fully Agreed to hold inviolably a Truce for them and their Allies till the Feast of St. John Baptist following during which Term x Freis c. 63. fol. 35. certain Commissioners on both sides were to be sent to Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send certain Cardinals all these being to consult together about a Full Ratification of a Final Peace between the two Kings The Form of the Truce was this John y Knighton p. 2578. n. 44. Atouz ceur que cestez presentez lettrez verrent cue cieront Jean par la Grace c. by the Grace of God King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl 〈◊〉 Armagnac to all who shall see or hear these present Letters Greeting Be it known unto all that a Truce is given and confirmed between the High and Mighty Princes the Kings of France and of England for Them and for all their Friends by the Assent of the High and Mighty Lords the Duke of Brabant the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont on the one Party and of Us and of every of Us above-written on the other Party By vertue of Power delegated to Us and to those abovenamed from the said Kings So that we have drawn up Affiances with our own Hands between the said Kings their Friends and Allies whosoever they be to endure to both Parties from this time untill
The Pope writing about the Matter of Provisions gains ground III. King Edward begins his Round-Table at Windsor with the Description Antiquity and Gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip in Emulation hereof sets up also a Round-Table at Paris IV. The Round-Table of Windsor being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was Instituted Five Years after the said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and One far more Ancient and Mystical Asserted V. The time of this First Round-Table of King Edwards with the Manner of its Solemnity The Death of William Montagu Earl of Salisbury occasion'd thereby with an account of his Worth Pedigree and Issue VI. King Edwards Buildings at Windsor and his Institution of the most Noble Order of the Garter with the Names of the First XXVI Founders VII A short View of the Honour of this most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof VIII Word brought to King Edward how King Philip of France had put to Death several Lords of Bretagne his Friends IX King Philips cruelty to the Messengers of this News and King Edwards Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. X. King Edward sends a Defiance to King Philip. XI But is Alarum'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Isles XII King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and to the Frontiers of Scotland XIII And sends a Remonstrance to the Pope with the Popes Endeavours to pacifie him and the Sum of a Parliament at Westminster XIV The Earl of Darby Lands in Gascogne His Actions XV. His Triumphant Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philips Lieutenant before Auberoche XVI Queen Philippa of England deliver'd of a Daughter John Earl of Montford acquitted his Prison Oliver Lord Ingham Senescal of Bourdeaux dies His Issue I. NOW it is to be remembred that whereas in the Articles of the Truce AN. DOM. 1344. An. Regni Angliae XVIII Franciae V. it was agreed that each Party should send their Commissioners to the Court of Rome in order to hold a Treaty of Peace before the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24 of June following King Edward upon more mature Deliberation and Advice wrote unto the Pope a Oderi◠Rainald ad an 1343. §. 24. desiring the Term to be prolonged unto the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin or the 8 of September That in the mean while the Earl of Montford who in the beginning of the Wars of Bretagne had been taken Prisoner at Nantes might be restored to his Liberty and that King David of Scotland might be admonished to keep the Truce Religiously But whatever King Edwards Meaning hereby was the Pope being jealous that he had his thoughts upon War b Tem. 3. Secr. Epist 718. extat etiam in M.S. Arch. Vat. de rebus transmarin p. 63. Odoric Raynald ad an 1344. § 4. wrote earnestly unto him in the beginning of this Year taking occasion from the late Winning of Smyrna from the Turks by the Christians to exhort him to turn his victorious Arms against the Enemies of Christendom where he should find such matter for his Sword as would crown his Name with Immortal Honour And that he would seriously resolve on Peace with France in order to distress the Pagans Dat. Avin Kal. Februarii Ano. Pontificatûs nostri III. To the same purpose also he wrote to the French King who according to the First Agreement made in the late Truce sent his Ambassadors to the Court of Rome at Avignion where they were punctually met by King Edwards Commissioners c Ashmole's Garter p. 653. Walsingh hist p. 153 Holinshead p. 921. who were Hugh le Despenser or Spencer Lord of Glamorgan Ralph Lord Stafford William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Sr. William Trussel and Andrew Hufford a Civilian Their Commission bearing Date 20 Maii gave them Authority to treat in Presence of the Pope not as a Judge but private Person and Friend to both Parties with the Agents of his Cousin the Lord Philip de Valois upon the King 's Right to the Crown of France as also upon whatsoever Dominions Dignities Honours Lands Possessions Places and Rights appertained to Him concerning which any Controversie had risen between them or was like to arise And d Ashmole ibid. on the 19 of August following another Commission issued forth containing the same Powers to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Darby Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolk Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan Ralph de Nevil Bartholomew de Burghersh John le Grey de Ruthyn Reginald de Cobham and Thomas de Bradestan Barons of the Realm William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln John de Hufford Archdeacon of Ely Robert Herward Archdeacon of Taunton and Andrew de Hufford Professor of the Civil Law or to any 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 or 3 of them who were to treat before his Holiness of the King their Master 's Right to the Crown of France not as before a Judge but only as a Private Person and Common Friend not in Form or Judicial Manner of Proceeding Here again was the Kings Right stated by the English before the Pope and several Cardinals with all the Arguments e § Dr. Stillingfleet's M. S. n. 8. which may be seen at large in the M.S. of the Reverend and Learned Dean of St. Paul's at the Title De jure titulo Regis Angliae ad Coronam Regnum Franciae Primò factum praesupponitur sequuntur Rationes Argumenta pro utrique Parte It begins thus Philippus Filius sancti Lodovici Rex Francorum genuit Philippum dictum Pulchrum Carolum de Valois Eidem Philippo filio sancti Lodovici successit in Regno Philippus Pulcher ipsius Primogenitus qui decessit relictu tribus Filtis videlicet Lodovico Philippo Carolo unâ Filiâ videlicet Dominâ Isabellâ Reginâ Angliae quae vivente Patre suo peperit Dominum Edvardum tunc Regem Angliae c. And so it goes on propounding Arguments and solving Objections of all sorts by the Laws of the Tables by Reason by Example and Scripture but because most of these things have been touched before we shall only instance a little in the Objection of his Homage done to the King of France and in the Famous Question of the Salique Law which latter was yet little on either Side insisted on in those days Nec Homagium quod fecit Rex Angliae Possessori Regni Franciae sibi nocebit quia prastitit Homagium ut Dux Aquitaniae ergo si veniat alio jure ut proximier Masculus in gradu non ut Dux sibi non nocebit Quia dicitur in Textu ei qui alio jure venit quà m eo quod amisit non nocet id quod perdidit sed prodest id quod habet c. Praetereà praestitit Homagium ut Ducatum
at his Funeral Where his Son afterwards erected to his Memory a Fair Tomb on the Northside of the High Altar in the Collegiate Church of our Lady called the New-Warke But there is no Coronet on his Head. II. About this time there happen'd a memorable Revolution in Flanders which may teach us how uncertain Popular Favour is and how suddain the Fall of those Great Ones proves who are not fixed on a sure Foundation We have frequently had occasion to speak of Jacob van Arteveld of Gaunt who had long govern'd all Flanders with a more absolute Sway than ever the Earls themselves had done This Man whether thrô hopes of raising his Family to future Time or whether out of Inclination or of meer Policy to secure his own Greatness by the Aid of England was all along a fast Friend to King Edward and had again as much respect and favour from that Prince as his Heart could desire He now d Frois c. 115. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 854. in Confidence of his boundless Authority among the Commons of the Country grew so presumptuous as some while before this to entertain a Resolution of Disinheriting his Natural Lord Lewis Earl of Flanders and to put the Government thereof into the Hands of King Edward of England On Condition that He the said King should endow his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales therewith and make a Dukedom of the Earldom of Flanders These things being thus privately agreed on beforehand about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward having e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. left his Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp his Lieutenant at Home during his Absence took Shipping at Sandwich and came before Scluse with a great Navy the Young Prince Edward his eldest Son being with him and Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Seagrave John Lord Leiburn and many Others attending Him. The King lay at Anchor in the Haven of Scluse and there kept House on Board whither his Friends the Chief Men of Flanders came to visit him One Day the Flemish Burgesses being invited into the Kings Ship called the Catherine after a f Mezeray p. 23 ad hunc ann most Magnificent Collation bestowed on them by the King Jacob van Arteveld rose up and made a most plausible Oration extolling the King of England's great Power either to protect his Friends or to punish his Enemies he set forth also the notable Good-will which he had all along bore to his Allies and Subjects of Lower Germany That the Young Prince of Wales his Son did no way come short of his Fathers Steps but rather promised if God gave life to reach the very Height of all his Vertues That their own Lord Lewis unmindfull of the Welfare of his People had confederated with King Philip their Mortal Enemy and had himself made War against them and done unto them many great Inconveniences and Dammages Wherefore if they judged it fit to requite their Haters with Neglect and to pay unto their Lovers and Protectors Friendship and Service He must needs advise them either to make the Earl of Flanders pay his Homage unto King Edward to whom as to the Rightfull King of France it was only due or if thrô his Stubborn Obstinacy they could not prevail with him herein then wholly to cast off the hatefull Yoke of a Tyrannous and an Unkind Lord and submit to the pleasant and honourable Government of King Edward and his Son who would advance the Earldom of Flanders into a Dukedom and make them flourish above all other People in Trade and Prosperity III. When the Burgesses had all heard what secret Poison lurked in the Breast of this subtle Orator in their Hearts they utterly abominated his Perfidious Treason and firmly resolved never to be Guilty of so black and base a Deed as to disinherit and depose their own Natural Lord and his Young Son Lewis from their proper Right and Title But however to get off handsomly and make fair weather for the present after a little private Conference they gave this Answer to the King. Sir said they there is proposed unto us a Matter of no small Importance which may some Ages after very nearly concern the whole Country of Flanders and our Heirs for ever as well as our Selves And thô surely we know no Person in the World at this time whose Promotion and encrease of Wealth and Honour We so heartily desire as We do your Majesties Yet this Business we dare not of our selves determine unless the Commonalty of Flanders yield their Consent thereto Wherefore Sir for the present we crave leave to return every Man to his own City and there we shall confer with the Generality of every Town and Corporation and as the Major Part shall agree we shall act most willingly Within a Month at farthest we will all return hither again and bring your Majesty we doubt not such an Answer as shall be agreeable IV. The King and Jacob van Arteveld urged them much to make a more speedy Return but they could obtain no other Reply at that time wherefore they were all dismist to their own several Homes But Jacob tarried still with the King bearing him all along in hand that he would not fail to bring this Purpose to good Effect But King Edward who was not apt to be blinded with Prosperity and had a more piercing Judgment in publick Affairs doubted much not only lest this Business should miscarry but his Friend also incurr some Danger thereby Wherefore at parting he gave him great Caution in the Management of that Affair and allow'd him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 926. also for a Guard 500 Welchmen under the Command of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. William Sturry Sr. John Maltravers was indeed a Baron of the Realm and the same Person we mention'd to have been concerned together with Sr. Thomas Gournay in the barbirous Murther of King Edward the Second wherefore also as we shew'd he fled upon that Act and was three Years after condemned in Parliament to be put to Death wherever he should be found with the price of 500 Marks for his Head or a 1000 for any one that should bring him in alive For fifteen Years after he had lived in great Penitence and very privately in and about Flanders and either finding some hopes from the Kings Mercy or being not so guilty as he was represented or in Confidence of having merited something by his late Services for he had lost h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 101. 102. all his Goods and suffer'd much hardship upon the Kings Account in Flanders he came now voluntarily to the King and rendred himself into his Hands Whereupon especially since he had never undergone a legal Trial he was respited now and by the King set over these Welchmen and six years after fully pardoned But to return This Guard some i Holinshead ibid. p. 926. say that
Villant p. 862. l. 12. c. 53. September he went from Dort in Holland with a great Fleet of Valiant Souldiers gather'd from Hainalt Flanders Brabant Holland Guelderland and Juliers to take Revenge of his Rebells of Friseland For he claimed to be Lord thereof and it was indeed his by Right if the Frisons had not been of Barbarous and Unreasonable Principles But here at last it was his ill Fortune to be met by the Frisons in a narrow passage near Staveren where being unknown he was presently slain before any of his Friends could come up to his Assistance He was a Prince of high Merit and a most Famous Souldier whereof for the short time he lived u Tâ—â—e's stcrehouse p. 721. he gave many good Testimonies in his Wars against the Saracens and Moors in the Kingdom of Granada and against the French in the behalf of his Brother in Law the King of England also in his Victories in Lithuania and Livonia and against the Russian Infidels where he loaded himself with Honour and his Men with spoil and booty Lastly in his Conquest of Vtrecht and his frequent Victories over the Frisons till this unhappy encounter wherein he lost his Life He died without Issue whereupon he was succeeded by his Eldest Sister Margaret the Empress whose Son William of Bavaria was Earl after her Decease Which William Married the Lady Mathilda Daughter to Henry Plantagenet now Earl but then Duke of Lancaster by whom yet he had no Issue There was slain at the same time with this Young Valorous Earl of Hainalt his Sisters Son William x Giov. Villani p. 862. c. Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge a Lord of great Power and Valour and while he lived a sure Friend both to him and King Edward His Uncle Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont was y Frois c. 116. not in Friseland at the time of this woefull chance but soon after coming thither when he was told of the Death of his Nephew he rag'd like a Man distracted and would immediately have taken the Field against the Frisons But he was hinder'd by his servants and especially Sr. Robert Gluves who was his Armour-bearer and by a Dutifull Violence forced him into his Ship against his Will. So he return'd into Holland with a small Company and came to St. Geertruydenberg where he found the Young Lady his Niece late Wife to the said Earl named Joan the Duke of Brabant's Eldest Daughter who being informed of this heavy loss went and lived disconsolate in the Land of Binche about three Leagues Eastward of Mons z Vid. c. 10. §. 6. p. 114. which had been assign'd her for her Dowry The Government of Hainalt was menag'd by the Lord John till the Empress Margaret his Niece came thither to take Possession in her own Person VIII After this News was spread abroad in France King Philip whom it became to be vigilant about this own Advantage began to think how he might bring over the Lord John of Hainalt to his Side now the Earl was dead with whom since his Invasion of his Lands he could never have hopes of Reconciliation But the Lord John's Resentments he knew were not so deep wherefore he spake to Guy Earl of Blois who had married the Lord John's Daughter and had by her three Sons Lewis John and Guy besides the Lord Charles whom he had by a former Venter to use his Interest with him to bring him over to the French Side and he himself also by his Royal Letters assured unto him greater Revenues in France than he had in England which he promised to assign unto him in Lands where he should think best himself But to all these Arguments the Noble Lord was wholly Deaf for he consider'd that he had spent all the slower of his Youth in the King of Englands Service and ever found great Favour and Love from him wherefore now he had no mind to leave him When the Earl of Blois saw there was no sixing on him this way he resolved to try another and first to win the Lord of Saginelles his Chief Companion and Counsellour and so by his means to work further upon the Lord of Beaumont This Man being soon gain'd as one that had no such Obligation to England it was agreed between him and the Earl of Blâ—is to make the Lord John believe that King Edward would no longer pay him his usual Pension but had absolutely refus'd upon Demand to pay it to his Use as he had been wont This Device took for the Lord John without enquiring into the Bottom of it was so displeas'd at this supposed Unkindness that he forthwith renounced his Service and Good-will which hitherto he had born to King Edward The French King hearing hereof sent immediately sufficient Deputies to him and chose him of his Council and retained him in his Service for War at certain Wages assigning him moreover in France as much Land or more than he had in England But to require the Loss of these four Friends of King Edward's Earl William his Uncle John the Marquess of Juliers and Jacob van Arteveld about a Frois c. 114. this very time came over to his Side the Couragious and Politick Lord Godfry of Harcourt Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother to John Earl of Harcourt He had been once as Dear to King Philip of France as any Lord of his whole Realm but on b Fabian p 271. Occasion of a Quarrel between his Brother and Sr. Robert Bertram Marshal of France which was hugely fomented by Partakers on both Sides he so greatly displeased King Philip that if he could have got him into his Power 't was concluded he had found no better usage than the Lord Clysson had done before But he having timely Notice from his Friends withdrew into Brabant to the Duke his Cousin by whom when all his Lands were seised on by King Philip he was advised to go into England and proffer his Service to the King there He did so and was welcome to the King who received him with large Demonstrations of Good-will and made much use of him in his following Wars And this Displeasure of his cost the Realm of France dearly especially the Dukedom of Normandy for there the sad Effects thereof were seen an hundred years after IX In the Close of the foregoing Year it may be remembred c c. 22. §. 1â— p. 312. how we spake of the Deliverance of John Earl of Montford who claim'd the Dukedom of Bretagne from Prison And that by Vertue of the Truce King Philip was obliged in a manner to give him his Liberty but it was done with this Proviso that he d â—â—bian p. 270. should not go into Bretagne nor make the least offer to intermeddle with the Affairs of that Country Notwithstanding this Tye of his Promise Earl Montford took the first Opportunity to make his Escape into England as he did about
Mans nor for none other Cause and in case any Letters come to You contrary to the Law that Ye do nothing by such Letters but certifie the King thereof and go forth to do the Law notwithstanding the same Letters And that Ye shall do and procure the Profit of the King and of his Crown with all things where Ye may reasonably do the same And in case Ye be from henceforth found in Default in any of the points aforesaid Ye shall be at the Kings Will of Body Lands and Goods thereof to be done as shall please him As God You help and all his Saints A like form mutatis mutandic was set for the Clerks of the Chancery for which we refer the Reader to the Statute-Book Where also he will find an excellent Statute made 7 Maii Anâ— Reg. Angl. 20. Fr. 7. which is to be refer'd hither Now also the King hearing e Holinshead Eng. Chr. p. 929. Complaints made against the Purveyors of Victuals for his Houshold who under Colour of their Commissions abused the same in taking up whatever they pleased among the Commons at the rate only set in their Commission he caused strict Inquisition to be made of these Misdemeanours and those who were found Offenders in the Premises of which there were many all condemned some to the Gallows and other to Great-Fines whereby the Groans of the Commons ceased and other of the Kings Officers were made more Wary and Discreet Having thus provided for the settlement of Justice during his Absence he f Frois c. 121. left his Queen to the Care of his Cousin John Plantagenet the Young Earl of Kent his Second Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp he g Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 167. ex Rot. c. constituted his Lieutenant of the Realm appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury and others of his Council to assist him And to Watch the Motions of Scotland b Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. he left the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby together with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Lincoln and the Chief Lords of the North But he gave an especial Charge to Sr. Geoffry Witchingham Lord Mayor of London and to John Croyden and William Clopton Sheriffs to take diligent Care of the Peaceable and Quiet Government of the City and particularly he i 20 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 18. 26. commanded them to look after the Spreaders of False News in and about the City and to apprehend all such Persons and lay them up in the Prison of Newgate II. And having thus providently settled Affairs at home k 6 Maii Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 11. dersc vid. Rot. Franc. 20. Ed. 34. 2. m. 2. and sent to the Prior of the Order of Fryers Preachers in London to offer up Prayers that God would please to Protect and Defend him and give his Forces Victory over his Enemies he repaired to his Army which was now ready to go on board And there he spake aloud to all his Captains and Officers which was also communicated to the whole Army l Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872 That he had more Right to the Realm of France upon the account of Queen Isabella his Mother Daughter of Philip the Fair than Philip of Valois had who was Son of the Lord Charles Second Brother which was of the said Philip the Fair who now usurped the said Realm thô he was not in the direct Line but collateral He therefore earnestly desired them to play the Men forasmuch as it was his Resolution to send back his Navy again as soon as ever he was Arrived in the Realm of France Wherefore it behoved them to be Valiant and either to Win the Land with their Swords or resolve to die every Man for they would have no place to flye But that if any one was in doubt or fear to pass the Seas with him he might ev'n stay in England with his good leave To this they all answer'd as it were with one Voice That they would follow him as their Good and Dear Lord with a good Will even to the Death Then the King seeing his Men well disposed to the War deliver'd his Letters close Sealed to the Admirals of his Fleet least it should happen that by force of Wind they should be separated from the Rest in which letters was contained where he would have them Land and commanded them unless they were divided by Storm not to open them till they came to Land. And so he went on board in the Name of God and St. George at m Frois c. 221. Southampton in the close of June with a Fleet of n Mezeray ad hanc an p. 24. ubi 200. Knighton verò 1100 magnas naves 500 mineres ponit p. 1585. n. 40. Stow p. 241. has a 1000 ships of Barthen and Pinaces Speed p. 577. about a 1000 Sail. Gaguin 1100. Grov Villani 6â—0 c. 200 Sail thô Authors vary much in the Number wherein were 4000 Men of Arms 10000 Archers and Footmen of Wales 12000 and 6000 Irishmen The King had with him in his Company the Young Prince of Wales at that time about sixteen Years of Age There was also Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel John Vere Earl of Oxford William Clinton Earl of Huntington Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and of Barons the Young Lord Roger Mortimer the Lord Gerard o Dudg 1 Vol. p. 738. Lisle and his Kinsman the Lord John Lisle the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lords John and Roger Beauchamps the Lord John Moubray the Lord William Ros of Hamlake the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth the Lord William Felton the Lord Thomas Bradestan the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcoate John Lord Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Peter Mauley V. of the Name * Hâ—c nemina â—u sequuntur ad numerum 22. er M. S. Vetust Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. cui titâ—â—us Acta Edvardi Fihi Edvardi Tertii Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Fitz-Walter William Lord Kerdeston the Lord Roger Say the Lord Almaric de St. Amand the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John le Strange the Lord Edward Montagu the Lord Richard Talbot the Lord John Mohun of Dunster William Lord Boteler of Wemme Robert Lord Ferrers John Lord Seymor John Lord Grey William Lord Botreaux the Lord Hugh Spencer the Lord John Striveling Michael Lord Poynings Robert Lord Morley Thomas Lord Ashley John Lord Sutton the Lord Nicholas Cantilupe and Others and of Knights Batchelours the Lord John Chandos the Lord Peter Audeley and the Lord James Audeley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash junior the Lord Thomas Holland the Lord Fulk Fitz Warine Sr. Richard Pembroke and several others There were but a few Strangers at this time with King Edward because his Friends of Germany had fell off together
besides the Prisoners who were David Bruce King of Scotland the Earl of Fife the Earl of Menteith the Earl of Southerland the Earl of Wigton the Earl of Carrick the Earl Douglas with a Brother of his the Lord James Douglas the Lord Robert Vescy the Bishop of Aberdeen and the Bishop of St. Andrews the Lord William Kinaston the Lord William Ramscy the Lord Malcolm Flemin the Lord David Banant the Lord John St. Clare the Lord William Moubray besides those of less Mark. In the Field many Spoils of great Value were taken together with the Holy-Cross of Halyrood House which was found upon the King who bare it about him in confidence of its Vertue and that thereby he should be secur'd from all Danger But he was now spoil'd both of that and other his Jewels which were found about him Now also was all the Booty recover'd which the Scots had taken in this Expedition and all the Provision which they had left for their own use at Hexham or elsewhere and the Chace of them was held as far as m Stow p. 243. Pruddo-Castle and Cerbridge for about 14 or 16 Miles together XII John Copland the Esquire of Northumberland immediately after he had taken his Royal Prey rode out of the Field with him and having Eight of his Friends and Servants in his Company all well mounted and armed never left riding till he had gotten above twenty Miles from the Place of Battle unto the strong Castle of Ogle in Northumberland on the River Blithe whereof He was Captain and then he said He would not deliver the King of Scots to any Man or Woman living but only at the Command of the King of England his Sovereign And so with great Care he apply'd himself to heal the Kings Wounds and sent for his Friends and Allies and others whom he could procure for Money or Friendship to help to defend the Castle because he well knew he must give an exact Account of this his Royal Prisoner The Queen of England tarried in the Field till toward the Evening with her Guard about her at which time most of the English Captains were returned from the Chace unto her But when she heard that an Esquire named John Copland had taken the King of Scots Prisoner and carried him away no Man could tell whither She dispatched a Pursuivant after him with Command to bring forth his Prisoner the King of Scots unto her gently admonishing him that he had not done well in carrying Him away without leave All the Remainder of that Day and the Night following the English Army kept the Field as well for their greater Honour as for the security of their Friends many whereof were still in the Chace But the Queen had Lodgings provided for her in the City of Durham After which she rode back with her Guard to York leaving Edward n Hector Buch. Aiscue's Hist Scotl. Holinsh c. Bailiol and the other English Lords of the North to prosecute the War with Scotland who forthwith entring that Land with fire and sword took the strong Castle of Hermitage for Roxborough was English before and without any Resistance subdued the Countries of Anandale and Galloway the Marches Tividale and Ethrick Forest extending their Arms to Cockburne-Peke and Sowtray-Hedge And thus for that time Scotland was subdued XIII The mean while Esquire John Copland o Frois c. 139. having received and perused the Queens Letters returned this bold Answer That as for the King of Scots he should be safely kept and he would be answerable for his forth coming upon occasion But that He was resolved to deliver him at the Command of no Man or Woman living but only at the Pleasure of his Sovereign Lord and Master the King of England This Answer did not well satisfie the Queen wherefore she sent to the King her Husband who lay before Calais Letters of Complaint desiring to know what he would have done in this case when one of his Subjects refus'd to Obey her Commands And fully enforming him of the Affairs of the Realm particularly of this last Success near Durham King Edward having received these Letters from his beloved Queen sent immediately for John Copland to come over the Sea to him to Calais which Command the Esquire most readily obey'd and having put his Royal Prisoner in safe Custody under the Hands of the Lord Ralph Nevill and other his Friends and Allies he rode thrô England till he came to the Lands end at Dover Where he went on Board a good Vessel arrived safe at the Camp before Calais and so was brought to the Presence of the King. As soon as the King saw him he took him graciously by the hand and said Ha! now welcome my Loyal Esquire that by your Hardiness have taken mine Adversary the King of Scots Sir said the Esquire kneeling if God of his Grace have suffer'd me to take the King of Scots by true Conquest of Arms I think no Man ought to look with an Evil Eye upon me For God of his Goodness may as well send such Fortune to a poor Esquire as to a Great Baron And Sir I humbly intreat Your Majesty not to be displeased with me thô I did not deliver the King of Scots at the Queens Command For Sir I held Service of Your Majesty as mine Oath is also made only to You and not of the Queen but only in Good Manners Besides I did not think fit to commit so great a Prisoner to any small Company least had he been lost by a Rescue I my self had incurr'd the forfeiture of my Head to Your Majesty and thô the Queen sent Messengers indeed yet there came no Forces sufficient to have secur'd his carrying up to London if I had deliver'd him upon Command The King took him up graciously from the ground saying John the good Service that You have done Us and your known Loyalty and Valour are of so high Merit that they must countervail your trespass So that We admit well of your Excuse and shame light on them that bear You any Envy or Evil Will. But now it is our Pleasure that within these three days You return home and upon the next demand deliver up your Prisoner to the Queen my Wife And to encourage You to pursue Honour as well as to requite this last piece of Service I hereby assign You near to your House where You shall think best 500 pounds Sterling of yearly Rent for You and your Heirs for ever Which till it shall be fully settled shall from this day forward be paid You yearly out of my Exchequer and here I make You Esquire for my Body By this we must understand him to be made Knight Banneret as Mr. p Stow ex Re cordo p. 243. Speed p. 580. Stow proves out of the Record who also shews from thence how this Annual Donation was paid viz. 400 l. out of the Kings Custom of the City of London and an 100
l. out of his Custom of the Town of Barwick upon Tweed till 500 l. lands were firmly settled upon him for him and his Heirs for ever And there it appears that the King gave him further for his good Service at the Battle of Durham with one hundred Men of Arms one hundred Pounds per annum out of the Custom of the Kings Port of Newcastle upon Tine till he should settle upon him so much in Land for him and his Heirs for ever After so truly a Royal Bounty King Edward enquired of him concerning what he knew as to the Particulars of that Battle and afterwards he was fain to repeat this News to a great many Lords and Gentlemen of the Army But on the third Day he went on Board and return'd for England and with him there went a q Knighton p. 2591. n. 20. Command from the King to all and singular High-Sheriffs and Others that no Scotch Prisoner should be deliver'd for any Ransom whatsoever but that they should be all kept in safe Custody and the King himself would satisfie all those who took them for the Redemption of all and every of their Prisoners And this Command of the Kings was generally published throughout all England to be observed on forfeiture of Life and Limb. XIV Sr. John Copland for so now we shall call him being come into England r Speed. p. 580. went to York where the Queen was and there made his Excuse before the Queen and the Lords of the Council in so dutifull and rational a manner that they were all very well satisfied with his Conduct in that Affair and immediately took Order how and with what Forces and at what time the King of Scots should be conveyed to the Tower of London After this Sr. John Copland went home to his own Castle of Ogle and assembled his Kindred and Friends who together with those of the North-parts and Others made up 20000 fighting Men With whom Sr. John Copland the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Piercy convey'd him to the Limits of Yorkshire Å¿ Ashmole p. 656. ex Ret. Sect. 20. Ed. 3. m. 2. Decemb. 20 mo where on the 20 of December he was deliver'd according to the Kings Command to Sr. Thomas Rokeby High-Sheriff of Yorkshire who received him from the Lord Ralph Nevill by Indenture And this Sr. Thomas Rokeby with all the Forces aforesaid conducted the King of Scots up to London where the said King being mounted on an huge Black Courser was at the Kings Command signifi'd in his Letters received by the Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London with great Pomp and Solemnity every Company in their Proper Liveries attending the Cavalcade from Street to Street vast Multitudes of People following him and infinite Numbers from Belconies and the Tops of Houses beholding this Triumphant Spectacle And being thus brought to the Tower of London he was lastly deliver'd up from the Hands of Sr. Thomas Rokeby aforesaid by t Ashmole p. 656. ex Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 1. Derso Indenture dated the second of January to the Lord John Darcy senior Constable of the Tower of London there to be kept in safe Custody King David himself was thus secured in a safe but respectfull manner and the rest of the Scotch Prisoners bestow'd in other Places of Safety But in February following u Knighton p. 2592. n. 30. Holinsh Scotl. p. 241. Stow p. 245. John Earl of Menteith forasmuch as he had done Homage and sworn Allegiance to King Edward of England and had now contrary to his Oath and Duty broken his Faith and taken up Arms in behalf of David Bruce against the King of England and the Bailiol was by the said King of Englands Command indited of High-Treason and thereupon arraign'd condemn'd hang'd drawn and quarter'd as also the Earl of Fife was at the same time condemn'd to the same punishment XV. This Winter the Noble and Valiant x Knighton p. 2592. n. 20. Earl of Lancaster and Darby together with the Earl of Pembroke and some of their Chief Knights and Captains things being first settled in Gascogne return'd for England In which Voyage on the 8 of December they were taken in a Storm and in great Danger according to the King their Masters Fate who usually was thus handled at his return for England But God deliver'd them also this time and they arrived safe whither they were bound After the Battle of Durham y Frois c. 139. fol. 68. b. Queen Philippa made good Provision for the Defence of the Cities of York and Durham for the Castles of Roxborough and Newcastle upon Tine and other Frontier Towns on the Marches of Scotland and having set the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill as Governours over that side of the Country she went from York to London Where having taken order for the safe Custody of the King of the Scots and the rest of the Prisoners she then went with an Honourable Company of Ladies of the Highest Quality whose Husbands Fathers Brethren and other Friends lay then before Calais and with a good Convoy among whom was the Bishop of Durham and many other great Personages took the Sea and had so good a Wind that She arrived safe in the Camp that same day being three days before the Feast of St. Andrew The King received her with extream delight and satisfaction and made a great and splendid Feast for all the Lords and Ladies that were with him especially for those that came with the Queen For the Sea being his own he had all things that might serve either for Use or Pleasure in great Abundance But the City of Calais began to be very much straitned for want of Victuals XVI And yet all this while many Overtures were made by his Holiness toward the Concerting of Matters insomuch that by the instant Mediation of the Cardinals of Naples and Cleremont five z 22 Octob. Rot. Norm 20. Ed. 3. m. 18. Ashmole p. 656. days after the Battle of Durham a Commission was made out to William Marquess of Juliers William Bohun Earl of Northampton Constable Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Marshall the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord Richard Talbot Steward of the Kings House Dr. Thomas Bradwardin Chancellor of London John Thoresby Canon of Lincoln and Andrew Hufford Canon of York either to all Eight or to any Seven Six Five Four or Three of them to treat and conclude with the said Cardinals of and upon all Quarrels and Controversies depending between the King and the Lord Philip of Valois and their several Allies But we shall say no more of this Meeting because it took no Effect the Concessions of France being no way answerable to King Edwards Demands So that this Year passed away without closing that Breach which threatned to prove an Inlet to many great Calamities the Year following CHAPTER the SIXTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip holds a Parliament at Paris II.
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
of this Place And be assured of this that he intends not to let You and those that are with You go away so easily but that You should all entirely submit your selves to him upon Discretion some to be Ransomed and others to be Punished as they have Deserved For the Men of Calais have so highly provoked him by their Obstinacy and frequent Injuries and Piracies against him and his and have now particularly put him to such Charges and Labour and cost him so many of his Men that he is very much incensed against You indeed Why Truly Gentlemen said the Captain this is something too hard a case for Us We are here within a small parcel of Knights and Esquires who have Loyally and Honestly served the King our Master as You serve Yours and in this our Service We have endured as You know many Hazards and Difficulties But for all that We shall yet further undergo as much misery as ever any Knights did rather than consent that the poorest bad in the Town should surf fer harder Conditions than the very best of Us all Wherefore Lords I beg of You that of Your great Generosity You will go and Intercede with the King of England for Us For We trust his Goodness is so large that by the Grace of God he will remit something of his more severe Determination Upon this Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Ralph Basset went both to the King and declared unto him all the Captains Words but the King answer'd that he would not receive them unless they yielded simply to his Mercy without any Capitulation at all Then the Lord Manny said Sir saving your Majesties Displeasure in this Point You may be in the wrong For hereby You will set an ill Example to your Enemies to use a like severity against your Subjects So that when You will send any of Us your Servants into any Castle or Fortress We shall not go with a very good Will If You put any of the Calisians to Death after they have yielded for then the French will serve Us in the same Manner as often as We fall into the same Condition These Words many of the Lords of England that were present approved and maintain'd adding further Å¿ Paradin's Ann. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 333. That the most Noble and Magnanimous Princes made not Wars with Design to exercise Cruelty and to shed the Blood of their Enemies for the sake of Revenge but to purchase Honour and Reputation by being Gracious and Mercifull whereby they obtain more Renown than by being Bloody and Cruel as We may judge by Tyrants who are rendred Odious and Detestable in History Wherefore at last the King said Well my Lords I will not be alone against You all But Sr. Walter You shall go now and tell the Captain that all the Favour they are like to expect from me is this that six of the Chief Burgesses of the Town comeforth to me bare-headed bare-footed and in their shirts with Halters about their Necks and the Keys of the Town and Castle in their hands and upon Condition that six such Men resign themselves in this Manner purely unto my Will the Rest shall all be taken to our Mercy Other Favour than this from Me have they none With this Message Sr. Walter Manny return'd to the Walls where he found the Captain 〈◊〉 waiting for an Answer who having heard the utmost Grace that the King would shew said Well Sir then I only desire You would please to tarry here a little till I declare thus much to the Commons of the Town who sent me hither And with that Sr. John went into the Market-place and order'd the Larum Bell to be rung to call the People together And when the Assembly was full Sr. John related unto them all the Kings last Resolution saying You t Paradin's Annals de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 334. Good People of Calais there is no need for me to put You in mind of the Evils Affliction Distress Necessity Famine and Diseases to which We are at this Day reduced for want of Succour However in this extremity there are two things for our Comfort the One that We have approved our Loyalty both before God and Man even to this time the Other that our Succour from the King failing Us no Man can impute unto Us that We have failed in our Faith or Duty Wherefore following the Resolution taken in Council I went to speak with the Enemy who having Sword in hand and Power without question propounds unto You a Matter most Sad and Lamentable saying this the Tears flow'd from his Eyes in abundance so that he could not presently proceed which is this he Commands That to save the Lives of the Multitude of People within this City Six of the Principal Burgesses of this Town of Calais go forth in their Shirts bare-footed and bare-headed with Halters about their Necks and in that Posture present unto him the Keys of the Town of which Six Burgesses he will dispose at his Pleasure This is the Will of the Conquerour and I would have You to know that I endeavour'd with those who were sent from King Edward to mitigate the Matter and to bring it to a more Favourable Issue But it is not possible for me to draw him from his Resolution He is so fixed and Resolved wherefore my Friends since it will be no otherwise consider of it and make a quick Dispatch Upon this all the People Men Women and Children began such a pitifull Lamentation that it would have melted an heart of Marble into Tears to behold so sad an Object The Captain himself could not refrain from weeping But in the End u Frois ibid. Mezerâ—y ad hunc anâ—um Da Châ—sne p. 66â— c. there rose up the very Richest and most substantial Alderman of the whole City named Eustace de Sanct Pierre who spake thus unto the Heads of the Corporation Gentlemen it would surely be a great Cruelty to suffer so many Christian Souls as are in this Town to perish either by Sword or Famine when there are any means left to save them I am verily perswaded that He or They who could prevent so great a Mischief would do a very acceptable Service in the sight of God. And for my part I repose so much Confidence in the Goodness of our Lord Jesus that if I die in the Quarrel to save the Residue God will receive me into his Mercy Wherefore to save this poor People I will be the First that will offer my Head to the King of England as a willing Sacrifice for my Dear Country When he had thus spoken all the Assembly was ready to adore him and many kneeled down at his Feet with heavy Sighs and condoling Lamentations Then straight arose another Honest Burgess whose name was John Dayre and said I'll keep my Friend Eustace Company in this Honourable Danger After him rose up James of Wissant who was very Wealthy in
in case it were not given there should be injury done unto him I wrote likewise that God should do him injury and approved it This I now revoke as false Heretical and Blasphemous CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH AN. DOM. 1355. An. Regni Angliae XXIX Franciae XVI The CONTENTS I. The King of Navarre murders the Constable of France and invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance The Duke sets forth in order thereto but hearing how the Kings of France and Navarre were agreed returns home again II. The manner how that Reconcilement was made III. The War breaks out again between England and France Prince Edward goes over into Gascogne with his Exploits there The Lord John Lisle slain IV. Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfield's setting forth the Particulars of the Prince's Expedition V. King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England VI. Barwick taken by the Scots VII A Parliament at Westminster VIII A Parliament at Paris IX The Birth of Prince Thomas of Woodstock The City of Nantes in Bretagne taken and recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion from Company The Death of Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth of that Name I. WHen we spake of the Combat that was to have been perform'd between the Dukes of Lancaster and Brunswick we mention'd among other things how extraordinary kind his young Kinsman Charles King of Navarre was then unto him Now the Occasion of this Prince's Coming to Paris at that time was to marry the Lady Jane one of the Daughters of King John de Valois But surely whatever Alliance or Affinity he had or might seek to have with France he became an Occasion of many great Calamities to that Kingdom For a Mezeray ad avn 1353. as he was the most winning and obliging in his Address of any Man living being adorn'd with Vigour Beauty Eloquence Courage Affability and Liberality beyond all Men so he made the worst use of these natural Excellencies and rendred them pernicious by his Ambitious Temper and the secret Delight he had in all kind of Mischief From the time of his Marriage he never ceased to pursue his Pretensions to the Countries of Brie and Champagne but especially to that of Angoulesme But Charles de la Cerda of Spain Constable of France to whom the King had given the latter disswaded him from proffering any Equivalent by way of satisfaction in that Point Whereupon the Navarrois retires discontented into his Earldom of Eureux in Normandy and b Gaguin Frois c. 154. Meâ—eray Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Du Chesne p. 673. there understanding that the Constable was then in his Castle in the Town de L'Aigle he enterprised a design as bold as execrable For on the Sixth of January taking unto him certain armed Knights he caused them to scale the Castle early about break of Day and there by them the Constable was murder'd in his Bed. This done he avowed the Fact by justifying himself in his Letters to King John and his Council and in the mean time thô being the Kings Son-in-Law he endeavour'd to reconcile himself to his Favour yet either to secure himself against the worst or by making himself formidable to extort a Pardon he was very busie in making Musters in fortifying his Castles and inviting several Neighbour Princes to a League against France And althô a Treaty of Reconcilement had been begun and to all seeming appearance established by that time between the French King and him as we shall shew by and by yet when he heard how the Duke of Lancaster was as we shew'd in the preceding Year at the Court of Avignon c Frois c. 154. fol. 76. a. he also made shift to get thither where secretly he d M.S. Ret Par. p. 85. n. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90 confer'd with his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster at which time he complain'd to the said Duke of several Dammages done unto him by the French King and gave him his Oath that he would most willingly enter into League with the King of England and for Assurance of the same would endeavour when the Truce was once ended to joyn him at Jersey with all the Power he should be able to raise And in the beginning of this Year he e Stâ—â— p. 255. sent among Others his Uncle Giles of Champagne to the Duke of Lancaster with Letters heartily beseeching him to come into Normandy with all speed to his Aid and Defence and to receive his Oath of Fidelity to serve King Edward against all Men. The Duke accordingly with the Kings leave f 〈◊〉 p. â—â—9 gather'd a great Navy together which was rigged and made ready at Rutherhive alià s Radriffe being furnished with Provision of Victuals for one Quarter of a Year and the whole Fleet consisting of fourty Sail had all their chief Streamers beaten with the Arms of the said Duke of Lancaster who was appointed with a great Power of chosen Men of Arms and Archers Lord Admiral of the Navy But few or none of his Men knew whither he was bound The Tenth of July he sailed to Greenwich between which and Sandwich he was held till the 15 of August the Wind for the most part all that while continuing at West and South-west which was contrary to this intended Course At length with much Difficulty he came to Winchelsea and thence to the Isle of Wight And it was generally concluded that he design'd for Normandy to support the King of Navarre in his Quarrel against the French King But hearing now certain News of that Kings Reconciliation with France he returned home again to the King his Master II. Now to set forth the Inconstancy of this Navarrois Prince we shall here remember what we promised a little before the manner of his first Reconcilement which was this When King John saw by his Levying of Men and otherwise that Despair of Pardon might drive him to desperate Courses prejudicial to Him and his Realm especially in this doubtfull Juncture he thought to dissemble the Matter and by Flattery to bring him within his Power But g Frois c. 154. f. 75. c. Mezeray p. 40. ad an 1354. this jealous Prince could by no means be allured to come to Paris till he had made most secure and advantageous Conditions for himself As that King John should render him Lands equivalent to Brie and Champagne and an Independency of his Earldom of Eureux from all Others but the King only also he demanded a full and absolute Pardon for all those who had an hand in the Constable's Murther and besides all this a good round Summ of Mony and several other Lands and Advantages and moreover the Lord Lewis Duke of Anjou the Kings Second Son in Hostage for his Security All which King John was fain to grant him being thereto perswaded as well by the Navarrois his Friends as by the Necessity of his own Affairs Whereupon in March following he came to Paris and appeared
Archbishop of Rheimes the Nobility by the Duke of Athens and the Good Towns by the Mouth of Stephen Marcel Provost of the Merchants at Paris That they were according to their Duty ready to live and die with their King and to spend both their Bodies and Goods in his Service only they required sufficient time to deliberate and advise together which the King granted them And the mean while viz. on the seventh of December He created his Eldest Son the Lord Charles who was Dauphin of Vienna Duke of Normandy for which he receiv'd his Homage the next day Now the Estates having seriously considered upon the Kings Requests and the Necessity of his Affairs consented to find him for One Year at their own Costs and Charges 30000 Fighting Men with all their Warlike Furniture Provision and Apparel but because the Sum of Money which at first they reckon'd sufficient for that Exploit together with the Gabel of Salt were both by many question'd to fall short they appointed to meet again on the First day of March following to enquire into the Matter and to make up what should then appear deficient The Progress of which Affair We shall refer to its proper place lest We should be carried too far abroad when We are called upon to stay at home But being brought to the end of this Year We shall now think of concluding this Chapter when We have after our usual Method inserted two or three occurrences which are most properly ranged in such places where they may appear without disturbing the Order or Coherence of greater Matters IX On the sixth of January or after the Roman way of reckoning l Walsingh hist p. 163. Knighton p. 1608. n. 33. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 169. Sandf Geneal p. 227. on the VII of the Ides of the said Month in the beginning of this Year 1355 King Edward received from the Hands of Heaven a lively Young Prince for a New-years Gift this being his seventh and youngest Son was born at the Kings Palace at Woodstock about seven Miles from Oxford Whereupon he bore the sirname of Woodstock being at the Font named Thomas and became in time Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester and was a Prince of High Stomach and Resolution King Edward upon the Queens m Stow p. 255. a Purification of this her Seventh Son held in her Honour a Solemn Justs and Tourneament at Woodstock where were present the greater Part of the Nobility of England It is said n Mezeray ad hunc ann 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 41. Frois c 154. f. 76. that on Shrove-Tuesday this Year at Night contrary to the Truce then in being two and fifty English Men took the Castle of Nantes in Bretagne by Scalado But the Lord Guy of Rochefort the Captain thereof who was at that time in the City was so well provided that he retook it again that same Night and cut them all to pieces without pity because they had so falsly violated the Truce This Summer o Knighton p. 2609. n. 40. ad n. 54. there raged a most strange and unaccountable Infirmity in England which was attributed rather to the Malignity of Evil Spirits than to any natural Cause For People of a sudden grew mad and went out of their Wits in most parts of the Realm whether they were in Towns or in Fields and so they ran about distracted to Woods and Groves to hide themselves as Wild Beasts avoiding the Company of Men And some ran out of the Fields to the Towns and out of Towns to the Fields void of all Care or Conduct and could hardly be laid hold on and some wounded themselves with knives and snapt and bit at those who endeavour'd to catch them And many were carried into Churches and there they lay bound till they might obtain ease from God by Prayer And in some Churches you might see ten or a dozen sometimes more sometimes less in this Condition so that it was a great Pity to behold their case But they soon recover'd by this means and the Malady was not lasting This Year p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 735. Peter Lord Mauley V. of that Name deceased upon the Festival of St. German in the Sixty sixth Year of his Age leaving behind him Peter his Son and Heir then Twenty four Years old called Peter VI. de Malolacu or Mauley who follow'd his Valiant Fathers steps thrô all the hazardous Paths of Glory CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward goes into Scotland and recovers Barwick AN. DOM. 1356. An. Regni Angliae XXX Franciae XVII King Edward Bailiol resigns his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland to King Edward of England II. King Edward ravages about in Scotland but losing a great part of his Navy is obliged to return III. He brings along with him the Bailiol into England IV. A Parliament at Paris with a Famous Tax therein ordained V. A Sedition at Arras prudently supprest VI. King John seises on the Person of the King of Navarre puts him in Prison and executes several of his Friends VII Prince Philip Brother to the King of Navarre obtains Assistance from England and being afterwards reinforced by the Duke of Lancaster makes hot War in Normandy VIII King John goes against him but upon News of Prince Edwards Invasion in another part goes back to oppose him IX The Duke of Lancaster having settled Affairs in Normandy goes into Bretagne to the Dutchess I. THE Parliament at Westminster of which we spake in the preceding Chapter being ended about the Feast of St. Andrew a Knighton p. 2611. n. 10. Holinsh p. 951. b. n. 34. King Edward immediately set forward for Scotland and rested not till he came to Newecstle where he solemnized the Nativity of our Saviour At which time He received Letters from his Valiant Son the Prince of Wales containing a full account of his late Exploits in Gascogne as we have declared On the b Holinsh p. 954. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. 14 of January King Edward having his Army encamped near the Town of Barwick and his Navy ready in the Haven to assail the Scots that were now therein enter'd into the Castle himself with some of his Guard that being still in the hands of his Subjects designing to let down the Bridge and fall in upon the Town that way while the Army from without attempted the Walls The Lord Manny also at the same time being busie in springing a Mine thereby to get entrance by Craft if Force should fail Upon this the Scots within being terrified with these dreadfull Preparations and seeing it impossible to hold out against such Forces and so various attacks began to capitulate desiring only to be secured of Life Limb and Liberty and they would forthwith yield up the Town Which Conditions the King accepted But the c Hector Boeth l. 15. fol. 325. n. 75. Buchan l. 9 p. 304. Scotch Writers say
Sedition and the next day made Twenty of them shorter by the Head laying the rest in Prison till the Kings Pleasure might be known in that Behalf Nor was this Town only reduced hereby but other growing Seditions were nipt in the Bud being aw'd with the severity of this opportune Execution VI. This mean while fell out what we also hinted before the surprize of the King of Navarre's Person by his Father-in-Law King John Which was occasioned and performed in this Manner Since the late Reconciliation between the two Kings King John was certainly informed how King Charles of Navarre had covertly dealt with his Enemies and had imagin'd and treated on divers things prejudicial to the Interest of Him and his Realm And he heard that the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had spoken injurious and undutifull Words against his Person and had in the Parliament assembled for the Kings Supplies endeavour'd what in him lay to stop the Grant of that Subsidy Wherefore being now resolved to bear these Indignities no longer on Tuesday x Frois c. 156. being the fifth of April and about the middle of Lent he took horse early before day and rode from Vernevil in Harness with his Son Lewis Earl of Anjou Philip Duke of Orleans his Brother the Lord John of Artois Earl of Eu and the Lord Charles of Artois his Brother Cousin-Germans to the King together with the Earl of Tancarville the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan Marshal of France and Others to the number of 200 Spears With this Company King John came directly to the Castle of Rouën by the Postern and would not pass thrô the Town So coming suddainly into the Castle he there found at Dinner with his Son the Dauphin in the Great Hall Charles King of Navarre Lewis Earl of Harcourt with his two Brethren John and William and the Lord De la Preux Clere the Lord Friquant of Friquant the Lord of Tournebu the Lord Graville the Lord de Maubuè and two Esquires Oliver Doublet and John Vaubaton with Others All whom he caused to be apprehended together and clapt up severally into divers Chambers of the Castle And then having sat down and dined on what was not prepared for him he took Horse again after Dinner and rode forth into the Field of Pardon But surely at this time it could not be properly so called but rather by an Antiphrasis or contrary way of Speaking For immediatly hereupon were brought thither in two Carts the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt the Lord Graville the Lord Maubué and Oliver Doublet Esquire all whose Heads he caused then and there to be stricken off before him without any manner of Form or Process After which their Bodies were all brought to a Gallows and there hanged up in Chains and their Heads set upon the common Gibbet of Rouën However that same Day the King acquitted all the Rest from Prison except only the foresaid Charles King of Navarre the Lord Friquant and John Vaubaton Esquire all whom he sent to Paris and imprison'd them first in the Louvre and afterward in the Chastelet but especially over the King of Navarre he set several of his most assured Friends of his Privy Council to have a strict regard unto him and sometimes he threatned him with Death it self and had him hurried about to the strong Castle of Gaillard upon the Seyne to the Castle of Arleux in Cambresis and other Places of great Strength as a Person Unsacred and not of Kingly Character VII But this Violence of King John's was followed with Bloody Consequences for immediatly thereupon Prince Philip of Navarre Brother to the imprison'd King and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt Brother to the late Earl combined in a strong League together to revenge the Outrages done against their Brethren And first Prince Philip presently seised into his hands several Castles in Normandy belonging to the King his Brother And thô King John sent unto him to deliver them back again he was so far from complying with him therein that he presently took Shipping for England where he obtain'd a present Supply under the Leading y Dudg Ear. 2 Vol. p. 70. Stow p. 259. of the Lord Miles Stapleton Knight of the Garter with the promise of a speedy Reinforcement to be headed by the Duke of Lancaster For z Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. before that time King Edward had constituted this Mighty Prince his Cousin Henry Plantagenet his Lieutenant and Captain-General in the Dukedom of Bretagne for the Defence of John of Montford the Duke thereof who was still under Age. And while the said Duke of Lancaster was thus preparing to assist the Duke of Bretagne and in his way thither his Kinsman of Navarre Prince Philip and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt aforesaid had brought a Frois c. 155. some Troops of English and Others the King of France's Enemies into the Isle of Constantine or Coutantine in Normandy which they fortified and held against the French King. When a little after Whitsuntide in the Month of June came over to their Aid the said Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Darby which one Person b Mezeray p. 43. Mezeray thrô Mistake accounts for two and joyn'd with Prince Philip and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt at c Knighton p. 2611. n. 60. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788. Montebourg in the said Isle of Constantine with 4000 Fighting Men. These altogether rode to Carentan to Lisieux and Orbec and thence to the Castle of Ponteau de Mer belonging to the King of Navarre which had been besieged for more than two Months by the Lord d Frois c. 156. Robert de Houstetout Master of the Crossbows in France and a great Number of Frenchmen But when they heard of the Duke of Lancaster's approach they quitted the Siege in great haste leaving behind them all their Military Engines and Artillery with many other Necessaries which now the English took for their own Use When the Duke of Lancaster had victual'd the Place and reinforced it with all things necessary he marched thence to Breteville belonging also to the King of Navarre and at that time likewise besieged by the French and having here done as before as well by Raising the Siege as by supplying the Place finding that the City and Castle of Eureux which had lately been taken upon Composition by the French was not worth his present Consideration because at that time the City was burnt and the Cathedral robbed as well by the Navarrois who yielded them up as by the French who gleaned after them he neglected that Place for the present and marched on the right hand to Vernevil a strong City on the skirts of Normandy and took the Town by Storm the first Day he came before it and plunder'd and fired a great part thereof After which he assaulted the Castle thrice and took it the third Day having with him a special Engine of Battery wherewith he did Wonders in demolishing the
Paris to the King his Brother At that time it was that the Archpriest found himself obliged to make use of all his Friends to excuse him to the King who was much offended at him because he was not present in the Battle of Cocherel but now being admitted into the Presence he made it appear that he was bound by Oath not to be armed in Person against his Friend the Captal who himself at the request and instance of the Lord of Albret had been a little before released of his Imprisonment only upon his Parole and being by this time sufficiently convinced that he had unjustly suspected the Archpriest's Faith was now very serviceable in helping to make his excuse to the King and to those Lords of the Council that held him in suspicion Besides all which the Archpriest himself not to mention the many great Services he had formerly rendred to the Crown of France had lately near Dijon in Burgundy overthrown 300 Companions robbers of the Country whose Captains were Guyot du Pyn Taillebert of Talleboton and John de Chafour About this time the said King Charles of France caused the Lord Peter of Samville who had been taken in the Battle of Cocherel to lose his Head in the City of Rouën and had served the Lord William of Granville in the same manner had not his Son Sr. Guy of Granville threatned the Lord Beaumont de la Val then his Prisoner with the like severity Whereupon that Lords Kindred and Friends made such earnest suit to the King that he was content to deliver the Lord Granville in Exchange for the Lord de la Val as we said before XIV Soon after the foresaid Battle of Cocherel Sr. Bertram of Clequin bought the strong Castle of Rolebois for the Sum of 3000 Franks which he paid to Sr. Vantaire Austard the Captain thereof whereupon he return'd quietly into Brabant from whence he came Yet there were other Troops of Companions that held still together in Fortresses in Normandy le Caulx Perche Beausse and other places which prov'd very incommodious to the Realm of France some of them making War in the Name of the King of Navarre others on their own account only to get spoil and to rob without Law or Reason Wherefore King Charles q Frois c. 223. Guil. Paradin Annal. de Bâ—urgâ—gne l. 3 p. 252 sent his Brother the Duke of Burgundy against these Pillagers commanding him to root them out of the Land in order whereto the said Duke made his Rendezvous in the City of Chartres Soon after he took the Field his Forces consisting of 5000 Men of Arms besides Footmen and others among whom were Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Bouciquault Marshal of France the Earl of Auxerre the Lord of Beaujeu Sr. Lewis of Châlons Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Lewis of Ravenal the Lord of Beague of Vilaine Sr. Nicolas du Line New-made Master of the Crossbows Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin and many other Eminent Captains When they found themselves so strong they thought to divide into Three Bodies One whereof consisting of a 1000 Men of Arms Sr. Bertram of Clequin led into Coutantine even to the Marches of Cherburgh to keep the Frontiers there that the Navarrois should not pass to endamage the Country of Normandy and with Sr. Bertram were the Earl of Auxerre and the Earl of Joigny the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and many Knights and Esquires both of Bretagne and Normandy The Second Body was committed to the Lord de la Riviere with whom were many good Knights and Esquires of France and Picardy as Sr. Hugh de Chastillon the Lord of Samny Sr. Matthew of Roye the Lord of St. Eloy the Lord of Crespy the Lord of Campy Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Monsange and others to the Number of 2000 Men of Arms and these were sent into the Earldom of Eureux but the Duke himself with the remaining 2000 Men of Arms and a vast Number of others went and laid Siege to Marcheville in Chartraine a strong Castle held by the Navarrois against which he carried many Engines from Chartres which perpetually play'd upon the Castle with huge stones to the infinite trouble of those within XV. While these Three Armies were thus in Beausse and in Normandy making War against the Navarrois the King of Navarre was not asleep as to his own Defence The Lord Philip of Eureux his Brother was dead indeed a little before this but he had another younger Brother called Lewis of Navarre of no less towardliness for the War nor less addicted to his Interest This Lord Lewis had likewise defy'd King Charles of France because the War which the King his Brother undertook did also concern a good part of his Inheritance After the Battle of Cocherel he made his Musters on all hands and wan certain notable Captains of the Companions to enter his pay so that by this he was at least 1200 Spears strong The Chief Captains of which Troops were Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Robert Cheiny Knights of England and Sr. Robert Briquet of Larsuel but as yet Sr. Robert Knolles had not joyn'd him However his Forces encreased daily his Head Quarters being between the Rivers of Loire and Allier so that he overran a great part of the Country of Bourbonnois as about Moulins St. Pierre le Moutier and St. Pourcain One day 300 of his Men having Sr. Bernard de la Salle and Ortingo for their Captains went and passed the Loire hard by les Marches and rode till they came to la Charité on the River Loire a Town large and well-enclosed which they immediately enter'd by Scalado but stood still together in one place till the Morning for doubt of some Ambush laid to entrap them by the Townsmen whom they heard to be in a perpetual hurry The mean while the Townsmen giving up the Place for lost only took care to convey all their best Moveables into Boats which were ready in good Number on the Loire and so before Morning got off with them their Wives and Children and went to Nivers which was not above six Leagues from thence When it was day the Navarrois English and Gascogners that had thus scaled the Town marched thrô the Streets where they found all the Houses void However they determin'd to keep a Garrison there and make it more defensible because it stood so opportunely to command the Country on both sides the Loire Wherefore presently they sent word to Prince Lewis of Navarre who was then in the Marches of Auvergne for a Reinforcement and he furnish'd them with 300 Spears who were led by Sr. Robert Briquet and passing thrô the Country without the least Opposition went over the stone Bridge and entred la Charité And now being all together they thought themselves strong enough to make good the Place and so began to fortifie apace and to ravage about to let the Country know who they were XVI All this
to Calais where they took the Sea all together and Landed at Dover where at that time the King was with certain of his Council ready to receive them and to Treat further with the Earl of Flanders about the Consummation of the foresaid Affair This was the occasion of the Kings being there at that time when the foremention'd Pursuivant came and brought him the News of the Victory near Auray Whereat the King was wonderfully pleased and all the Court the Earl of Flanders being no less glad than any of them because of the Advancement of his Cousin German the Earl of Monford which must needs happen thereby Thus King Edward tarried with the Earl of Flanders at Dover for the space of Three Days which were spent in Royal Feastings and Princely Recreations And then Matters concerning which they met being adjusted He took his solemn leave of the King and sailed back for Flanders being attended to Bruges by the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother But yet this Intended Match was soon after d Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. broke off by the French Kings envious Policy he craftily hindring the Pope from granting a Dispensation and then he never left Courting the Earl of Flanders till he had given his Daughter in Marriage to that Kings Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Notwithstanding which it appears e Rot. Franc. 39. Ed. 3. m 9. Vid. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. that the Year following Sr. Nicolas Tamworth Knight and John Wyn Esquire were sent by King Edward to all the Nobles and other his Friends beyond the Seas to sollicit their Help for expelling those Strangers who had invaded the Lands of Burgundy Nivers and Reth of Right belonging to the Countess of Flanders and her Son which were to return unto Edmund Earl of Cambridge and to the Dutchess of Burgundy Daughter to the same Earl of Flanders in regard of that Matrimonial Contract made betwixt them as the Record doth manifest XIII This Year on the Feast of All-Saints f Walsingh hist p. 174 n. 20. there was fought a great Battle on the Plains of Turkey between the Christians and Pagans where the Christians after a long and doubtfull Fight obtain'd a Bloody and Cadmean Victory For on their side there fell the Great Master of the Hospital of Rhodes and one or two Kings and of the meaner sort to the Number of 5210 But of the Infidels there were slain more than 40000 of their Men of Arms besides an incredible Number of the Common Souldiers The Chief Captains of the Heathens were the Soldan of Babylon and the King of Turkey Kinstut or Keystut the King of Lithuania Janibech King of Tartary King Baldoc and King Belmarine three whereof were slain in the Field and the King of Lithuania's Son g Dugd. 1 Vol. Bar. p. 233. id in Warwickshire p. 317. a. was taken Prisoner by Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who afterwards brought him into England and made him a Christian calling him Thomas after his own Name as being at that time his Godfather But whereas Walsingham says that among other Christian Princes I King of Hungary was slain at this Fight there is a double mistake for it should be written L in stead of I that King's Name being Lewis and it is most certain that he lived many Years after h Vid. Odor Rainal Câ—ntin Baron Tom. XVI Tom. XVII as will appear to any that shall enquire CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. John of Monford having taken Auray goes before Jugon which yields thence to Dinant which at last yields also then he invests Quimpercorentin II. The Prisoners taken in the Battle of Auray secur'd for fear of new stirs while Earl Monford takes in all Bretagne III. The French King perswaded to admit John of Monford for true Duke of Bretagne AN. DOM. 1365. An. Regni Angliae XXXIX sends unto him to try him He has King Edwards leave to hold the Dukedom of France and so Bretagne is settled in Peace and John Monford sirnamed the Valiant own'd Duke thereof IV. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre by Vertue whereof the Captal of Busche is acquitted his Prison the French King endeavours to win him but in vain V. The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII King Edwards Buildings and the Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity College VIII The Pope Demands the Annual Fee which King John of England engag'd to pay to the Apostolick Chamber and orders King Edward upon his refusal to be cited to answer the Contempt at the Court of Rome Which Matter the King refers to his Parliament IX The Lady Isabella Daughter to King Edward given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy X. The King punishes the Lord Chief Justice and others his Justices for Male-Administration of the Laws XI The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but is forced to leave it again XII Dr. Thoroton twice corrected XIII The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuania's Son his Prisoner whom he makes a Christian and stands his Godfather naming him Thomas after his own Name I. BEing now enter'd upon the Thirty Ninth Year of King Edwards Reign it will be necessary for the understanding of what follows to set down an account of Matters which happen'd in the close of the foregoing Year namely after the Battle of Auray And we shall find that the Earl of Monford upon that notable and entire Victory return'd a Frois c. 228. fol. 128. unto the Siege of that Fortress which he follow'd with greater application than ever before and made a Vow not to Rise thence till he had the Besieged at his Devotion And surely those within were much diminished in Courage thô not in Provision for they had lost in the late Battle their Captain Esquire Henry of Tintineac together with Fourty Men of Arms the very Flower of all their Garrison Wherefore since now they could not expect any further Succour they at last resolved to yield while they might hope to obtain tolerable Conditions and so they began to enter a Parly with the Earl to that purpose The Earl was not willing to lose much more time here and besides he knew not how other Places stood affected to him and he had a mind to try the Country while the Terrour of his Arms was fresh on which Considerations he received them to Mercy and gave them leave to depart with their Goods for they would not yet own his Authority or submit to his Government Having now placed in Auray a good Garrison of his own he rode on with his Army which encreased daily Men of Arms and Archers continually flocking to him Nay the very Bretons who before rejected his Yoke being now won by the Reputation of his Sword came in to him apace especially the Bretons Bretonant or those of Lower Bretagne First he marched
your Father as being a part of the Remainder of King John's Ransome And Sir at this time collect by your Interest among your Friends all the Money you can possibly for you will find need enough without Taxing or Assessing your Subjects for while you keep their Hearts you cannot be poor This and several other prudent Directions were readily followed by the Prince who soon after caused Two parts in Three of all his Plate to be melted down and coined into Money to be bestowed liberally among his Men of War and he sent also into England to the King his Father for the foresaid 100000 Franks King Edward who well knew what an important matter his Son was going about and how Expensive his Design must needs be granted him the said Summ at the first word and presently directed his Letters to the French King willing him to pay the Money to the Princes Use And accordingly the 100000 Franks were paid upon sight of King Edwards Letters and so brought to the Prince who distributed all among his Souldiers One day as Prince Edward was in his Chamber in the City of Angoulesme together with certain Lords and Knights of England Poictou and Gascogne after many pleasant Discourses and Raileries and other Diversions they fell again to touch upon the Expedition then in hand and this was in that while that the Lord Chandos was gone to treat with the Earl of Foix and the Companions of which we spake but now At last the Prince turned his head toward the Lord of Albret and said My Lord of Albret with what number of Men of Arms can you furnish Vs in this Expedition Why Sir replied he if I desire my Friends I shall easily find you a Thousand Spears and yet leave enough at home to defend my Land. Well said the Prince that 's nobly spoken and so turning himself towards the Lord Thomas Felton and other Knights of England he continued in English By my Faith a Man ought to set a Value upon that Land where there are such Barons as can serve their Lord with a 1000 Spears apiece and so turning again to the Lord of Albret he said in Gascogne Sir I retain them all to do me service in this Expeditiou Sir said Albret in the Name of God I am well content and shall not fail It was necessary not to have omitted this seeming small Matter because even hence there afterward arose an occasion of great Mischief as we shall see anon XVII It may not here seem amiss to say something about those Companions who were either Friends to the Prince of Wales or retained for his Service These Men met with many Difficulties before they came into the Principality and at last were fain to part into three Companies The greatest of the Three went coasting Foix and Bearn the Second from Catalunna thrô Navarre and so toward Armagnac all with the Consent and by the Favour of the King of Navarre the Earl of Albret the Earl of Foix and the Earl of Armagnac In the third Company which consisted chiefly of Gascogners were about 3000 who for convenience of Forage were fain to divide themselves in lesser Numbers 300 or 400 in a Body and so having with much adoe passed thrô Aragon into Languedoc they continued their March toward the Bishoprick of Thoulouse till at last a part of them came to Montauban At that time the Seneschal of Tholouse was a French Knight named Sr. Guy Dazay who hearing that the Companions were making that way that they rode divided into small Companies and that in all they were not above 3000 and yet were very weary with Travel but ill armed indifferently horsed and worse ordered then he said how he would never suffer any such Fellows to come into the Parts of Tholouse nor into the Realm of France but rather God willing he would meet them by the way and fight them So he sent word of his Resolution to the Lord Amorry Earl of Narbonne to the Seneschals of Carcassone and of Beaucair and to all Knights Esquires and Officers thereabouts requiring their Aid to defend the Frontiers against these Villanous Companions Those to whom he sent made haste to shew their Compliance by coming as soon as might be to Tholouse so that in all they made up 500 Spears Knights and Esquires besides 4000 Others all who took the Field about Montauban which was seven Leagues from Tholouse and when they were all met under the Conduct of the Earl of Narbonne they encamped near the said City of Montauban which at that time was under the Prince of Aquitain and he had set there a Valiant English Captain named Sr. John Combes The French Lords presently upon their coming sent their Van-Currors to ride before Montauban hoping so to entice out the Companions a Party whereof he knew to be then within the Fortress but they had particular notice of the Numbers of the French and so this Plot was in vain Sr John Combes for his part wonder'd greatly when he saw the Frenchmen come thus with an Army into the Princes Lands and so demanded by an Herald if he might be permitted to speak freely with the Frenchmen who allowing thereof he asked them who sent them thither and for what reason they took upon them to invade the Lands of the Prince who was a good Friend and Neighbour to them and to the Realm of France Sir said they we have no Commission to return you any Answer But to satisfie you of our Reasons if you will either go or send to our chief Leaders they no doubt will know what to say to your Demand Well Gentlemen said the Captain then I desire you to procure me a safe Conduct whereby I may have assurance of going unto them and returning again without Impeachment or else let them send me word plainly by what Title they will make War against me for if I knew the Certainty I would send word thereof to my Lord the Prince who I question not will quickly apply a due Remedy The Marshals of the French Host promised to do thus much for the English Captain and so they returned and told all his Words to their General who presently granted a safe Conduct for Sr. John Combes and Six Eight or Ten to come along with him and sent it to Montauban Having got the Safe Conduct Sr. John left the City with Five more in his Company and went to the French Camp where he found the French Lords who expected him and had well consider'd what to say unto him After Salutation past on both sides Sr. John demanded of them for what Cause they had sent their Van-Currours up to his Fortress and came with such an Army before Montauban which they knew belonged to Prince Edward They told him how they intended not to invade any Person or to begin a War but that they were resolved to pursue their Enemies to destruction whereever they heard they should be Sirs said the Knight who are these
of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lords of Cande De la Barde and Pincornet all who made heavy Complaints to the King how the Prince of meer Pride and Presumption would tread them under his Feet and raise new and unheard of Taxes upon their Lands which they said they would never suffer considering their Resort was to the Chamber of France Wherefore they humbly desired that the Prince might be summon'd to make his Appearance in the Parliament Chamber before the Peers of France there to Answer concerning those Grievances and Innovations which he had began to exercise against them The French King was not unwilling to entertain these Gascogners who thus required Justice of him as of their Sovereign Lord lest otherwise they should seek for Redress in some other place and so he should for ever lose the Sovereignty over them And on this account he at last condescended to their Request thô half against his Will for he could not but see that an open War would ensue thereby which he was very loath to move first at least without some plausible Pretence Besides at that time he saw his Realm not a little molested with the Companions and other Enemies and also he consider'd that his Brother the Duke of Berry with many others were still Hostages in England Wherefore he thought to deal wisely and get first his Hostages home and be fully provided of all things and to try the Hearts of the People thoroughly before he could absolutely resolve to summon the Prince of Wales And accordingly there were such subtle devices used that before any open Breach was made most of the Hostages got out of King Edward's Power as we shall see hereafter Particularly Prince John g Frois c. 244. Duke of Berry having received a private hint of these Matters obtain'd of King Edward to return into France and there to recreate himself among his Friends and Relations for the space of One Year but he order'd his Affairs so cunningly by his frequent excuses and the like that he drove off the time till the War was open and then he thought himself freed from all obligations of Returning And the Lord Guy of Luxemburgh Earl of St. Pol made shift by much subtlety to get into France without taking his leave of King Edward This Man was an Implacable Enemy to the English Nation so that he could neither endure to hear nor speak a good Word of them and now he urged on King Charles as much as he could to take the Gascogne Lords into his Protection for he verily believed that if once the Prince of Wales should be summon'd a War would most certainly ensue And to this Opinion of the Earl of St. Pol agreed several of the Chief Prelates Earls Barons and Knights of France who added how the King of England had not truly kept the Peace to which he had sworn and sealed according to the Tenor of the Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres and afterwards confirmed at Calais For they said it was manifest how the English had hated and molested the Realm of France more since the Peace was made than ever they had done before And Sir said they what We now averr You shall find to be true if it will please You to cause the Charters of the Peace to be inspected and read before You even such as the King of England and the Prince his Son are by Faith and Oath obliged to perform Hereupon King Charles to be the better enformed of all the Truth and that he might not suffer any Encroachment upon the Rights of his Realm caused all the Charters of the Peace to be brought into the Council-Chamber and heard them read over more than once the better to consider and weigh the Point and Articles therein comprised Among others there was found One Letter on which the King and Council stood most because it seem'd to speak more clearly and plainly of what they now look'd for the Tenor whereof ran thus viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine to all who shall see these present Letters Greeting Know that in the final and last Accord and Peace made between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King are contained two Articles comprised in the form following The First Where it is said how the foresaid Kings are bound to cause to be confirmed all the said Articles comprised in the Peace by the Bishop of Rome they to be deliver'd from the Court of Rome confirmed by Sentence touching the full Perfection and Accomplishment of this present Treaty unto each of the said Parties at least within three Weeks after the French King shall be arrived at Calais and also how to the intent that these Articles and Treaties passed may be more firm and stable there shall be made certain Bonds and deliver'd as followeth that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and their Eldest Sons such as should be devised by the Councils of both the Kings And also the said Kings and their Children and others of the Prime Nobility to the Number of Thirty on either Part should swear that they would strictly observe and cause to be observed to their Power all the said Articles accorded and agreed on and perform the same without fraud or deceit And also that both the Kings and all their Friends and Allies should do their utmost to bring all Rebels to Obedience according to the form and true Intent of the Peace And also that both the Kings should submit themselves and their Realms to the Correction of the Bishop of Rome to the end that he should oblige by Ecclesiastical Censures those who should otherwise refuse to comply with this Peace and Accord And further both the Kings and their Heirs by Oath and Promise should renounce all Graces and Absolutions of any thing herein agreed to by them And thô by Disobedience Rebellion or Force of any of the Subjects of the French King the said King should be hindred from performing all the said Articles yet neither shall the King of England nor his Heirs for all that make any War upon the Realm of France but both Kings shall joyn together to bring those Rebels to Obedience and to acquiesce in the said Peace and Concord And thô the Subjects of the King of England should refuse to yield up any Towns Castles or Fortresses which they held in the Realm of France and which by reason of the Peace ought to be deliver'd or what any other Cause should hinder that the King of England could not perform what he ought by reason of this Treaty to perform yet the King of France shall not make War therefore upon the Dominions of the King of England but both the Kings shall joyn together to reduce those Rebels to Obedience and by force to recover such Towns Castles and Fortresses and to
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
Licence From whence he obtain'd Obedience from the Souldiery Good-will from the Country People and Love from his Prince by whom he was Honour'd with the Seneschalsy of Poictou While he bare that Office the Commons were not opprest with unjust exactions nor vexed with the Rapines or frequent Incursions of the Enemy to all which they were abundantly exposed after his Death In the Battles of Since of Cressy of Poictiers of Auray of Najara and others he gain'd much Renown as will appear by several Passages of this History however at last by Mischance he received his Fatal Wound at Lussac He was Honourably interred in the Fortress of Mortimer where he died leaving no Issue of his Body behind him for he was never Married Whereupon i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503 ex Rot. Fin. 50. Ed. 3. m. 21. Ashmole p. 704. ex Commun Term. Mich. an 3. H. 5. Elizabeth and Eleanor two of his Sisters the Latter being then the Wife of Sr. Roger Collings and Isabell Daughter to Margaret the Third Sister at that time Married to Sr. John Annesley were found to be his next Heirs Thus Rest Immortal Heroe for thy Name Shall last till Heaven and Earth's devour'd by Flame And thô Base Envy at these Works repine Yet even they shall if Mortals can Divine Live for the Great Black-Prince's Sake and Thine II. Upon the Death k Frois c. 271. fol. 166. of the Renowned Lord John Chandos who left his Dear Lord the Prince of Wales Heir to all that he had in Normandy which amounted to the Yearly Revenue of 40000 Franks or 4000 l. Sterling the Lands of St. Saviour the Vicount fell into the King of England's Hands to bestow as he should think fit Wherefore he gave the Charge and Government thereof to a Knight of his House a Valiant and Expert Leader called Sr. Alan Boxhull who l True Use of Armory in the Life of the Lord Chandos p. 108. Ashmole Plate 52. bare for his Arms in a Shield Or a Lion Rampant Azure cover'd with a Fret Argent he to defend the Place and to menage the Revenues thereof for the Profit of the King and of the Prince To him shortly after succeeded William Lord Latimer who bare * Ashmole Plate 42. Gules a Cross Pateé Or and being Steward of the King's Houshold was before the end of this Year m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. made Lieutenant Captain and Governour of the Castle Town and Vicountie of St. Saviour And the Office of High Seneschal of Poictou being void also by the Death of the Lord Chandos the Prince of Wales gave it to Sr. Thomas Piercy a Gentleman of Great Valour and Experience n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 285. who was Younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy and afterwards was created Earl of Worcester Soon after the Frenchmen who were taken Prisoners at the Bridge of Lussac having by the Assistance of the French King in whose Service they were taken paid the several Ransoms which were set upon them returned all back again to their several Garrisons as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton Sr. William Bourde and others of whom we shall say more anon At this same time there were several Barons and good Knights of France who became very much concerned when they saw the War of the two Crowns grow hotter and hotter every day especially the Lord Ingelram Coucy whom it affected deeply for he had a Fair Inheritance in England as well upon his own account for his Fathers had been Barons of that Realm ever since the days of King John of England as by the Lady Isabell his Wife who was Daughter to King Edward Which Lands he must not only Renounce but prove ungratefull to his Friend and Father-in-Law if he should serve the King of France and yet on the other hand he would seem no better than unnatural and a Traytor if he should bear Arms for England against the King of France to whom he was both an Ally and Subject And yet he thought to stand Neuter would be to befriend neither but rather to disoblige both Wherefore he took a Fourth Course resolving for a time to bid Farewell to France and to go and Travel abroad to inform his mind and to seek Adventures So having discreetly taken his leave of the French King he set forth with a small Retinue and went into Savoy where he was Honourably received by the Earl and by the Barons and Knights of his Court. Having spent some time there he rode forward into Lombardy and went to the Lords of Milain Galeas and Bernabo to whom he was welcome In the same Manner thô upon another occasion the Lord Edmund of Pamiers one of the most Loyal Knights in the World went away from the Prince's Service the reason was this In those days when there were so many Lords of Gascogne and others who daily revolted from the Prince to the French King's side it could be no otherwise but that the Prince and his Officers should be very jealous of the Faith of those who gave but the least umbrage of Discontent But however it was in this case whether only Suspicion or something more solid the Lord Thomas Felton o Frois Vol. 2. c. 1. Gallice c. 318. fol. 199. B. Angl. who was Seneschal of Bourdeaux for the Prince of Wales and so consequently Lieutenant for the King of England caused the Lord William of Pamiers and a Lawyer his Secretary and one of his Council named John Coulon a Native of Bourdeaux to be apprehended and flung into Prison Being brought to their Tryal it was proved home upon them as was then affirmed that the said Lord of Pamiers had covenanted to yield himself and all his Castles to the Protection of the French King and had actually deliver'd his Castle of Fronsac into the French Hands of all which the said Lawyer and Counsellour were conscious and accessary thereto wherefore neither the Lord of Pamiers nor his Clerk nor the other having any thing to say why sentence of Death should not proceed against them they were all three condemned by the Judgement of the Lord of L'Esparre and other Loyal Gascogners and openly beheaded in the City of Bourdeaux before an infinite concourse of People to the astonishment of many But especially those of the Lord of Pamiers his Kindred took this Execution hainously and upon this occasion it was that the most Gallant and Noble Knight in the World Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Uncle to the foresaid Lord William of Pamiers left Bourdeaux and Bourdelois resolving however in his Mind neither for that nor any other Provocation on Earth to turn Traytor to his Lord the Prince of Aquitaine but with all he took the Death of his Nephew so ill that he sware never from that time to bear Arms for the King of England or his Son the Prince while he lived And so he went on divers Pilgrimages to Cyprus to the Holy sepulchre
however of what might be resolv'd not to leave so Considerable an Entrance unguarded and therefore having obtain'd from his New-Confederate of Spain a strong Navy of Fourty Great Ships and Thirteen Barks well trim'd and furnish'd with Men and Artillery he order'd them to ply about Rochelle either so to trap the Earl of Pembroke whom he heard to design for that Port or at least to encourage those Rochellers who enclin'd to a Defection and to frighten the others of the English side into a Revolt The Admirals of this Fleet were Four Valiant Gentlemen of Spain viz. Sennor Don Ambrosio di Baleguer Don Cabesso di Vaccadent Don Hernando Du Leon and Don Rodrigo de Roses all who had layn at Anchor about Rochelle and the Isle of Re many days expecting the return of the Poictevins with the Earl of Pembroke for they were certainly informed how they intended that way to come into Poictou On the 22d day of June the Earl of Pembroke came up to the Port and should have taken Land happily enough with all his Company But there he found this Fleet of Spaniards ready to impeach his Landing He saw now it was too late to avoid them wherefore he comforted his Men and began to arm the Archers being placed to the best Advantage But surely the Match was nothing equal neither in Numbers of Men nor bulk or strength of Ships to say nothing of the Artillery of the Spaniards among which p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 89. Angl. p. 391. One places Canons and other Fire-Arms And indeed Froisard himself witnesses the same For he tells us how the Spanish Fleet being well-provided with a vast Number of Men of Arms Brigands Cross-bows and Canons great Barrs of Iron and heavy plumets of Lead to fling down first fetch'd a course and tack'd about to get the Wind of the English and so came upon them with full Sails in manner of an Half-Moon making a High and horrible noise which rebounding from the shoar ascended the Skies The Earl of Pembroke having Knighted several Young Esquires for their better Encouragement received them warmly without the least sign of Fear and that day in person performed most worthily doing many notable Exploits with his own Hands and exhorting his Men by telling them these were the same Spaniards over whom they had triumphed at Najara Indeed all the Lords both of England and Poictou shew'd that day extraordinary Manhood in Offending and Defending while the Spaniards from their High-built Carracks thundred down among them huge Barrs massy Stones and heavy Plumets of Lead wherewith they extreamly frustrated the Valour of the English Knights who were not permitted to cope with an equal Enemy but lay thus obnoxious to every Disadvantage However they and their Friends the Poictevins were all greedy of Honour and so became well Content to Court her in the greatest Difficulties And many of their Enemies who saw and felt them acknowledged afterwards q Frois c. 298. c. that they doubted no Attempt whatsoever but to Advance their Names readily accepted the most hazardous offer and that never any Men did fight more Valiantly thô they were but a few in respect of the Spaniards and had also both fewer and smaller Vessels So that it was wonderfull how they could subsist so long had not those Generous thoughts within them supply'd them with fresh Courage and that Courage rendred them for a while Invincible Insomuch r Frois ibid. that it was thought the Spaniards would have got but very little or no Advantage over them had they been in Ships no Higher nor Stronger than theirs For they held themselves so close together and fought with such Resolution and Animosity that none were able to abide their stroaks but those who were exceeding well arm'd and shielded from their Fury But the rowling down of Stones Lead and Barrs of Iron afflicted them and endammaged their Vessels and hurt and wounded many good Knights and Esquires The Citizens of Rochelle saw all this Engagement but they made not the least Motion to come and help the Earl of Pembroke and his Men who fought so obstinately with their Enemies at such mighty Disadvantage They were indeed at that time under the subjection of England but in their Hearts they wished small Success to any of that Nation And thus much the Spaniards knew before by the private Intelligence they had or else they durst not have engaged in the very Mouth of the Channel of Rochelle which was a Place so Considerable Thus the Rochellers left the English to their Fortune not affording them any Succour thô however they maintained themselves with Excessive Bravery till Night coming on the two Fleets with One Consent separated from each other and cast Anchor The English having lost this first day two Good Barges laden with Provision together with all the Men within them That same Night Sr. John Harpedon who was then Seneschal of Rochelle for King Edward spake to John Chaudron the Mayor and to the Chief Burgesses of the City desiring them to take Arms like good Loyal Friends and to muster such a Number of the Commons of the City and so to go on Board to the Assistance of the Noble Earl of Pembroke and the rest of their Friends who came thither only to Succour them and had endured so much all that day in Valiantly resisting their Enemies But these false-hearted Men who had no mind to the Matter but had kept secret Correspondence with the Enemy began to excuse themselves saying how it was as much as they could do to maintain the Town against the Spaniards and how they were no Men for Sea-fights nor should be able to do any Service upon the Water But if the Battle was to have been on the Land he should see how gladly they would go into the Field to serve their Lord the King of England And more than this the Seneschal could not perswade them to and to offer to force them was not seasonable in that juncture And yet besides the Constant Garrison there were at that time in the City the Lord Taniboton Sr. James of Surgeres and Sr. Maubron of Liniers who also earnestly desired the Mayor and Burgesses to send assistance to the English in this their extremity But when they saw they could not prevail they three together with Sr. John Harpedon having left a sufficient Garrison in the Castle went and arm'd themselves and all the rest of their Men such as could be spared and would partake with them which yet was but an Inconsiderable Number and so went on Board in Four Barks and at the break of Day when the Floud came set forth and joyn'd the Earl of Pembroke who thanked them heartily for their Good-Will These Knights told the Earl and Sr. Guischard Dangle how the Rochellers had resused to come to his Assistance Well then said the Earl We must Couragiously expect what Chance it shall please God to allot Vs And I
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced 〈◊〉 but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing â—ypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâ—w p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
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
a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
and French but the Country of Hainault was grievously wasted and afflicted with this War and still the Duke of Normandy lay on the Frontiers no man knowing whither he would turn his Fury next But the Greatest Concern of all was they could hear no tidings of the Earl of Hainault their Lord. He for his part as we shew'd before had taken a Voyage into England where he was well received by the King and his Barons and there was made between the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law a mutual Alliance Offensive and Defensive From England the Earl went into Germany to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who had Married his Eldest Sister the Lady Margaret as King Edward had Married the Youngest and with him also he made an Alliance Offensive and Defensive And these were the Occasions that kept the Earl so long abroad Besides this the Lord John of Hainault his Uncle having as well as he could supply'd all Places of Strength and given necessary Orders since he had received peremptory Command absolutely to decline coming to Battle till the Earl's Return was also gone now into Brabant and other parts of Flanders where he shew'd to the Duke of Brabant and to Jacob van Arteveld the Desolation of his Country of Hainault desiring of them their Advice and Assistance They answer'd How They were sure that shortly the Earl himself would return Home and then they promised to be ready to go with him whither he would please to lead them X. Now i Froâ—s c. 19. while the Duke of Normandy remaind'd at Cambray the Bishop and the Burgesses of the City told him how the English and Hainalders had gotten by Surprise the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque desiring him for the Common good to endeavour its Recovery Because the Garrison that lay there was so prejudicial to all their Country Upon this the Duke began again his Musters out of Artois and Vermandois and having compleated a sufficient Army went forth of Cambray and came before Thine on the River k Mezeray p. 16. Sambre and sat down before it pitching his Tents in the fair plain Meadows toward Ostrevandt The Duke had brought with him from Cambray and Doway several great Engines but especially six of extraordinary size all which he reared up against the Fortress casting from them night and day mighty Stones wherewith he beat down the Roofs of their Chambers Halls Towers and Houses So that the Besieged were fain to lie in Vaults and Cellars for their better Security against these Engines the Captains of the Fortress at that time were Sr. Richard Limesi an English Man of honourable Extract and two valiant Esquires of Hainalt John and Thierry Brethren to the Lord Walter Manny and to the Earl of Namur These three Captains thô infinitely molested by these Engines would often say to hearten their Company Surely Fellow-Souldiers one of these Days the Earl of Hainalt will come against these Frenchmen and deliver us with Honour and fully acquit us of our present Danger Nor will he then fail to give us both great Rewards and Thanks for having so truly defended this Place so long But after that the Engines cast in upon them dead Horses and Dogs and other stinking Carcasses which annoyed them much more than any other thing for it being about the time of Midsummer thrô the heat of the Air the stink became so abominable that they saw at this rate they should never be able to hold out any longer So by good Advice they concluded to desire a Truce for 15 Days in which time to send and inform the Lord John of Hainalt who was Governour of the Country in the Earls absence of their State and Condition and if he should not afford them any Succour in that space then they would yield up the Fortress to the Duke This Treaty being agreed to by the Duke the Three Captains sent forth an Esquire of Hainalt named Estrelart de Sommain to John of Beaumont to whom the Esquire finding him at Mons related the whole Message not forgetting to aggravate the ill Condition of his Friends at Thyne Sr. John thereupon shew'd him the Letters he had newly received from his Nephew the Earl wherein he wrote That he was coming homeward into his own Country and that he had been with the Emperour and King of England and with several Lords of the Empire with all whom he had made a strict Alliance And says he go and tell our Friends at Thyne that they be of good Courage for the Earl will be here within a Day or two and without doubt they shall be relieved effectually upon his Return During this term of Truce the Earl returned home accordingly at which time the Lord of Beaumont his Uncle gave him an exact Account of all publique Transactions during his Absence how the Duke of Normandy had lain on the Frontiers and how he had burnt and wasted his Country The Earl answer'd that it should be dearly paid for adding how the Realm of France was rich and large enough to make ample Satisfaction for all their Trespasses done against him But for the present he resolv'd to address himself immediately to the Assistance of those who were besieged in Thyne since they had hitherto defended themselves in such Difficulties with so much Honour Whereupon he straight sends out his Summons to all his Friends and Allies in Germany Brabant and Flanders and thrô all his own Country himself went to Valenciennes where he made his General Rendezvous and presently he had a gallant Army This done he marched from Valenciennes in great Array with many Carriages Tents and Pavilions and other Necessaries following the Army and went and encamped by Sar on the Plain along by the River Sambre He had in his Company these Lords Hainalders John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle the Lord of Engien the Lord Verchin Seneschall of Hainalt the Lord Dantoing the Lord Barbancon the Lord of Lens the Lord William Bailleul the Lord Havereth the Chastelain of Mons the Lord Montecuculi the Lord Barbais Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Marshall of Hainalt the Lord Dalmed the Lord Gomeygnes the Lord Brisuell the Lord Roisin the Lord Trisagines the Lord Lalain the Lord Mastin the Lord Sars the Lord Vargny the Lord of Beaurien and many Others all ready with their Men to serve their Lord the Earl. Beside of his Allies there came thither to his Aid the Earl of Namur with 200 Spears after whom came the Duke of Brabant with 600 Spears and the Duke of Guerle with 400 William Marquess of Juliers was now in England with King Edward but there was the Earl of Mons the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and divers other Lords and Captains of Almain Westphalia and Flanders All these with their several Troops were encamped along by the River Sambre over against the French Host and Plenty of Victuals and other Provision was daily brought to them out of Hainalt When the Duke of Normandy
Place they came to was Ville Franche in Agenois which together with the Castle was taken by Assault and here the Earl made an Esquire of his named Thomas Cook Captain whom thereupon he Knighted Thus the Earl of Darby without any Resistance overran the Country and conquer'd Towns and Castles and wan much Spoil and great Riches all which like a Noble Prince he distributed among his Men. IX From hence he rode to u Frois c. 113. Mirapont in his way toward Bourdeaux for all this while the Currours of his Army never went near St. Mary-Port which having held out three Days yielded on the Fourth and this Place he committed to the Care of a Valiant Esquire of his John Bristow Thence he sent out a Detachment which took in a little enclosed Town called Tonneins standing on the River Garonne and after that a strong Castle named Damasan a little lower on the other side the said River which was furnished with a convenient Garrison Then the Earl went up higher into Angoulemois and sat down with all his Forces before the great City of Angoulesme saying he would not stir thence till he had it at his Pleasure But the Citizens being terrify'd with his Successes made a Composition with him to send 24 of their Chief Burgesses their Hostages to Bourdeaux That he should give them Respit for a Moneth Within which time if the French King send a sufficient Captain to keep the Field against him then they to have their Hostages restored and to be acquitted of all Obligation But if no such Forces appear then they without any more adoe to submit to the Government of the King of England Upon this Composition the Earl rode to Blaye in Saintogne wherein were two Valiant and Hardy Captains Sr. Guischard alias Sr. Richard Dangle afterwards for the English and in time one of the Knights of the Honourable Order of the Garter and the other was Sr. William of Rochechouart of no less Courage and Loyalty These Knights answer'd the Earls Summons That they would yield to no Man living Wherefore he laid to them a strong and close Siege and in the mean time sent out a Detachment to Mortagne in Saintogne by the Sea-side whereof was Captain a Noble and Hardy Knight named the Lord of Bouciquault Who Defended the Place so well that the Earl's Men despair'd to take it Wherefore after some loss they wheel'd off to Mirembeau and after that as far as Aunay both which also they found too tough for them and so return'd to the Camp before Blaye Here no Day passed without some notable feat of Arms performed and now first did Sr. Richard Dangle begin to bear some kind inclination to the English Nation but here he held out gallantly So that by this time the Moneth being compleat the Earl of Darby remembring his Agreement with the City of Angoulesme sent thither his two Marshals to whom the Citizens sware Allegiance in behalf of the King of England their Master Whereupon their Hostages were restored the City indemnified and the Earl at their Requests sent unto them for their Captain Sr. John Norwich a Valiant and Politick Commander and a x Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 90. Baron of England thô y Frois c. 118. fol. 57. Froisard took him to be but an Esquire And now Winter being far enter'd the Earl seeing the stout Resistance at Blaye and the small Importance of the Place resolv'd to spare his Men for better Service and to raise his Siege till a more commodious season So he dislodged and repassing the River Garonne went back to Bourdeaux where he distributed his Men into Winter Quarters Now if any shall object that it seems incredible that all this while the King of France should lie still let such forbear their Censure till the beginning of the next Year where they will find that he sent a great Man against him but one who thought not fit to act at that time till he was considerably Reinforced as we shall see in due place CHAPTER the TVVENTY FOURTH The CONTENTS I. Henry the Old Earl of Lancaster dies c. II. Jacob van Arteveld having plotted to exclude the Earl of Flanders and his Posterity and to set up in his stead King Edwards Eldest Son proposes the Matter to the Representatives of that Country in Presence of the King. III. They abominate the Motion secretly but get off for the present IV. King Edward allows Jacob van Arteveld a Guard and pardons Sr. John Maltravers senior V. Jacob van Arteveld murther'd at Gaunt by the Commons VI. King Edward being angry therefore with the Flemings is appeas'd by their Ambassadors VII The Earl of Hainalt slain in Friseland VIII His Vncle John Lord Beaumont fetch'd over by the French King from King Edward's Service In whose room the Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts from France to England IX John Earl of Montford being at liberty and assisted by England prevailes in Bretagne but in the midst of his Victories dies X. The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois hand to hand and routs his Army at Morlaix After which he wins Roche D'Arien and so returns for England XI An Army of 30000 Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce XII The Death of one Lord and two Bishops I. DUring the last Campaign of which we spake in the preceding Chapter word was brought over into Guienne to the Earl of Darby a Knighton p. 2585. n. 30. how the Good Old Earl of Lancaster his Father was departed this Life and had left him with his Blessing and a Greater Title a Fair Inheritance He was Younger Brother and upon his Death without Issue next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster eldest Son to Prince Edmund Plantagenet sirnamed Crouchback who was Second Son to King Henry III. and Younger Brother to King Edward the First His Stile ran thus Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester Darby and Provence Lord of Monmouth and Steward of England His true Sirname was Plantagenet but his usual Torcol or de Torto Collo because his Neck stood something awry Which Title is thrô mistake by b Sandford Geneal Hist p. 112 p. 113. Patronage of John Wickliffe Whereas his Sons Sirname was Grismond and Wickliffe's Friend John of Gaunt He had married the Lady c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 783. Mill's Catal. Honor p. 323. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110 c. Maud sole Daughter and Heiress of Sr. Patrick de Cadurcis or Chaworth a Baron of the Realm By whom he had this valiant Son Henry Earl of Darby upon his Death Earl and afterwards created Duke of Lancaster and six Daughters Blanch Lady Wake Isabell Prioress of Ambresbury Maud Countess of Vlster Joan Lady Moubray of Axholme Eleanor Countess of Arundel and Mary Lady Piercy He died at Leicester and was buried in the Monastery of Canons there King Edward with his Queen Consort and the Queen Mother and almost all the Bishops and Barons of the Realm being present
they found no Enemy to oppose them and first let us speak of the Prince of Wales and of his Actions in this Expedition EDWARD the Black-Prince n Frois c. 155. being thus happily arrived in Gascogne as we shew'd before declared o Holinsh p. 951. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. to the Chief Captains and Lords of the Country the Reasons of his coming thither and fell immediately to advise with them how to proceed for the best Advantage in his Affairs After which having well refreshed his Souldiers and sufficiently augmented his small Forces on the * Lit. Dom. D. Fifth of October being a Monday he marched out of Bourdeaux in this Order In the Vanguard was the Earl of Warwick his Constable the Lord Reginald Cobham his Marshal the Lord Roger Clifford Son in Law to the Earl of Warwick the young Lord John Beauchamp of Somersetshire the Lord Richard Stafford Brother to the Earl of Stafford and Sr. John Wingfield an intimate Friend of his of the Lord Cobhams Retinue and seven stout Barons of Gascogne with 3000 Armed Men In the Main-Battail marched the Valiant Young Prince himself being now in the 25th Year of his Age with a double Ensign with him were the Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burghersh or Burwash whose Father was then newly dead the Lord John Lisle the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Roger de la Warre the Lord Maurice Berkley the Lord John Bourchier the Lord John Rose the Elder of Bourdeaux the Lord John Greilly Captal de la Buche the Lord of Chaumont and the Lord of Monferrand the Four latter being of Gascogne and in this Battail were 7000 Men of Arms. The Reer which contained 4000 Men of Arms was led by the Earls of Suffolk and Salisbury with whom was the Lord of Nemours who conducted the Carriages The whole Army consisted of better than 60000 Men one with another and being furnished with such a General and such Valiant and Expert Leaders might well be counted very formidable Wherefore the Earl of Armagnac who was Lieutenant to the French King in Languedoc Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix James of Bourbon who was Lord of Ponthieu and Constable of France and the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France thô they had among them far p Frois c. 155. Mezeray p. 42. greater Numbers than the Prince and were more Powerfull in the Field if their Courage would have permitted a Tryal durst not either for Fear or as Mezeray softens it for jealousie of one another so much as once offer to stop his Victorious Progress Wherefore in little more than two Months time the Prince overran all the Country at his pleasure as far as Beziers and Narbonne burning the very suburbs of Narbonne or rather as will appear by and by the city it self and taking and destroying very many strong Towns and Castles all which are particularly and truly enumerated by Sr. Thomas de la More thô the Names of the Places are there most corruptly written for which reason as well as for the dryness and prolixity thereof we forbear to add the particulars here In this q Stow p. 255 c. Expedition on occasion of a Fire that happen'd one Night in a Town where he lodged he took a Resolution which he kept while he lived never to lie a Night in any Town in an Enemies Country in time of War. Being come to the strong City of Carcassone the Citizens offer'd him 25000 souses of Gold on Condition he would spare their Town from Fire but the Prince answer'd That he came not thither for Gold but to take Cities and Towns with their Inhabitants to succour and cherish his Friends and to offend his Enemies In this Expedition at several times the Prince Knighted all these Gentlemen Jenkin Barefort Giles Stratton Rowland Davis Ralph Basset the Sons of the Lord of Albret Theodorick Dale Porter of the Prince's Chamber and many others In lieu of all whom he lost only one but him a most Valiant and Noble Knight of the Order of the Garter named the Lord John Lisle who on the r Ashmole's Garter p. 673. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 739. 14 of October received a Mortal wound with a stone from a Wall of which he died the next day to the infinite regret of the Prince and all who knew his Worth and Gallantry leaving behind him his Son and Heir Robert then 22 Years of Age. IV. But because a more particular account of this Expedition cannot better be expected than from the Mouthes of those who were actually concern'd therein besides the former Reference to Sr. Thomas de la More I shall take leave to subjoyn the Words of Sr. John Wingfield a Valiant Knight whose ſ Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 952. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Ashmole p. 672. two Letters on this subject are most Worthy to be inserted that thereby the Reader may as by a Touchstone try the Truth of Authors who write of the same Matter A Copy of Sr. JOHN WINGFIELD's Letter to a certain Noble Lord then in England My Lord as touching News in these parts may it please you to understand that all the Earls Barons Bannerets Knights and Esquires were in Health at the writing hereof and my Lord the Prince hath not lost either Knight or Esquire in this Expedition except the Lord John Lisle who was slain after a strange manner with a Quarrel the third day after we were entred into our Enemies Country He died the 15 of October And please you to understand that my Lord hath rode thrô the Country of Armagnac and hath taken many enclosed Towns and burnt and destroy'd them except such as He fortified for himself After this He marched into the Vicountie of Rovergue where He took a good Town called Plaisance the Chief Place in that Country which He burnt and destroy'd with the Country round about the same This done He went into the Country of Estarrac wherein He took many Towns and wasted and ravaged all the Country Then He entred the County of Cominges and took many Towns there which He caused to be destroy'd and burnt together with all the Country round about He also took the Town of St. Bertrand the Chief in that Country being as large in compass as the City of Norwich in England After that He entred the County of t t L'Isle en Dodon Lille and took the greater part of the closed Towns therein causing several of them to be burnt and destroy'd as he passed Then going into the Lordship of Tholouse We passed the River of Garonne and another a League above Tholouse which is very great For our Enemies had burnt all the Bridges as well on the one side of Tholouse as the other except those within Tholonse for the River runneth thrô the Town And within this Town at the same time were the Constable of France the Marshal Clermont and the Earl of
Armagnac with a great Power of Souldiers Tholouse is a City of a large extent strong fair and well-walled And there was none in our Host who perfectly knew the Ford of the River but yet by the Grace and Goodness of God we found it So then we mâ—ched thrô the Seigniory of Tholouse and took many good Towns enclosed before we came to Carcassone which We also took a Town greater stronger and fairer than York But as well this as all other Towns in the Country which We took were burnt plunder'd and destroy'd Now after We had marched by many journeys thrô the Country of Carcassone We came into the Seigniory of Narbonne which Town held out against Us but it was won by force and the same Town is little less than the City of London being scituate upon the u u i.e. the Mediterranean in ho◠〈◊〉 Greekish Sea which is not above two Leagues therefrom And there is there an Haven or Landing-place from whence the x x Aude Latinè Atâ—â— River goeth up to Narbonne And Narbonne is but 11 Leagues distant from Monpellier 18 from Aigues-Mortes and 30 from Avignon And may it please You to understand that our Holy Father sent Messengers to my Lord who being not past 7 Leagues from him sent a Serjeant at Arms who was Serjeant Attendant at the Door of our Holy Fathers Chamber with Letters to my Lord requiring of him a safe Conduct to come and declare to his Highness their Message from our Holy Father which was to treat of an Accommodation between my Lord and his Adversary of France But the Serjeant was two days in the Army before my Lord would vouchsafe to see him or receive his Letters The reason whereof was because He was informed that the Power of France was come forth of Tholouse toward Carcassone wherefore my Lord was obliged to turn back again upon them presently as He did But the Third day when We expected to have met them they understanding of our approach retired before day and gat them to the Mountains marching hastily toward Tholouse But the Country People who had been their Guides to lead them that way were taken by Us as they should have passed the Water At which time because the Serjeant at Arms was in my Custody I caused him to examine the Guides that were so taken and because one of the Guides so taken had been the Constables Guide and his Countryman He might well see and know the Countenance of the French upon this his Examination And I told the Serjeant that he might the better declare to the Pope and all those at Avignon what he had now heard or seen But as to the Answer which my Lord return'd to them who had been sent to treat with him You would be hugely pleased if You knew all the Matter For He would not suffer them by any means to approach his Person any nearer but He sent them word by their Serjeant that if they came to treat of any Matter they should send to the King his Father For my Lord himself would not do any thing therein but by command from my Lord his Father But of my Lords turning back to meet his Enemies of his repassing the River Garonne and of his taking Castles and Towns in this Expedition and of other things done against his Enemies in pursuit of them they were all Deeds Right Worthy and Honourable to be told as Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton can more plainly declare than I can write unto You For it would be too tedious to commit so much to writing Now my Lord rode abroad over the Country eight whole Weeks whereof He rested not above 11 days in all those places whither he came And know for certain that since this War first Commenced against the French King he never received such Loss and Mischief as he has in this last Expedition For the Countries and good Towns which were laid waste at this time supply'd the French King every Year towards the Maintenance of his War with more than half his Realm hath done beside except the Change of his Money which He maketh every Year and the Profits and Custom which he taketh of the Poictevins as I can shew You by good Records which were found in divers Towns in the Collectors houses For Carcassone and Limoux which is as great as Carcassone and two other Towns in the Coasts of Carcassone found to the French King yearly wages for a 1000 Men of Arms and an 100000 old Crowns to maintain the War beside And know that by the Records which We found those Towns of THOLOUSE which We have destroyed together with the Towns in the Country of CARCASSONE and the Town of Narbonne with others in Narbonnois did together with the Sums aforesaid find him every Year to the Aid of his War 400000 Old Crowns into his Coffers as the Burgesses of the great Towns and other People of the Country who are supposed well able to know have told Us. Wherefore by Gods assistance if my Lord had wherewithall to maintain this War to the King his Fathers Profit and to his own Honour He should greatly enlarge the English Pale and win many fair places For our Enemies are wonderfully astonished At the writing hereof my Lord hath resolved to send all the Earls and all the Bannerets of Quarter in certain places on the Marches to be ready to make inroads upon the Enemy and to annoy them My Lord at this present I have no other News to send but You may by Your Letters command me as Yours to my Ability My Right Honourable Lord God grant You good Life Joy and Health long to continue Dated at Bourdeaux the y y i.e. 22d Decemb Lit. Dom. D. Tuesday next before Christmas This Letter may very well be supposed to have been sent into England by Sr. Richard Stafford and Sr. William Burton Knights who returned thither at the end of the foresaid Expedition especially if we compare what is mention'd of them both in the preceding Letter with what is seen in the Title of the Following which is dated a Month later The Tenour of a second Letter written by Sr. John Wingfield directed to Sr. Richard Stafford Knight who had been in Gascogne and there leaving his Family was now returned into England Right Dear Sir and truly Loving Friend Touching News here after your Departure You may understand that We have taken and forced to yield five Towns enclosed viz. Port St. Mary Clerac Tonneins Bourg z z Ita lego pro St. Pierre vid. Maps Sur Mer Chasteau Sacrat and Brassac also seventeen Castles viz. Coiller Buzet Lemnac two Castles called Bolognes which are near one another Montaut Viresche Frechenet Montendre Rochechalais Montpont Montignac Vauclare Cenamont Leyrac Plassac Montravel And please to know that my Lord John Chandos my Lord James Audley and your Men that are with them and the Gascogners that are in their Company and my Lord a
pressing he flatly refused to make any such Bargain So that the English Lords perceived plainly how their Enemies meant not to afford them Battle as at first they pretended but only by Delays to seek Advantages and to put their Master to Charges thereby to make him weary of the War. However because of the Season of the Year the Commissioners on both Sides made shift to strike up a Temporary Truce t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. to endure till Easter which done they parted asunder without any more medling for that time King Edward stayed at Calais however till the Tuesday u 17 Novemb. following at which time having paid the Lords Strangers their appointed Wages because he saw no appearance of having Battle given him he embarqued for England where the next day he happily arrived and came to his Parliament then sitting at Westminster VI. This x M.S. Rot. Par. p. 85. §. 1 4 5 6. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90. c. Parliament first began to sit on the Day of St. Martin the Bishop being the very Day on which the King return'd to Calais from pursuit of his Enemies but upon the Account of the Kings Absence as well as for other Causes had been Adjourned first from the said 12 of November to the 23d and after from thence to 25th by which time the King was returned to his Parliament But before we enter upon this Affair it will not be amiss to dispatch other Matters out of the way in order to clear some Passages which follow Besides what we mention'd and the approach of Winter there was a further Reason why King Edward made so much haste home into England for while he was yet in Artois he had News brought him How on the Sixth of November the Scots came very early one Morning to Barwick and having by Surprize taken the Town thô with the Death of only three or four Englishmen whom they found upon the Watch they seised on all the Goods and Persons therein except those who had got into the Castle But the Castle they could not take the Bridge being drawn up Thô notwithstanding they held the Town as their own till King Edward drove them away as we shall shew in due place Now before King Edward was come into France King John had y Hector Bret. l. 15. f. 325. n. 40. c. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. Holinsh hist Scotl. p. 242 Knighton p. 2611. n. 1. c. sent the Lord Eugenie Garenciers with a select Number of Frenchmen and 40000 Crowns in Gold into Scotland to encourage that People to invade England thereby to give a Diversion to King Edward as soon as ever he should have left his Kingdom Whereupon Patrick Earl of March and the Lord William Douglas being accompanied with Fourty French Captains of Name beside the Lord of Garenciers marched silently towards Barwick and in a certain convenient Place not far off the two Earls planted themselves in a strong Ambush Then Sr. William Ramsey of the Dalehouse according to Order with 400 Light-Horse in his Company began to drive a great many Head of Cattle near the Town to decoy the Garrison into their Ambush The Souldiers of the Town seeing such a Booty sallied out under the Command of Sr. Thomas Grey as was expected and hardly pursued after the Cattle and their Drivers till e'r they were aware they fell into the Scotch Ambush where being suddenly surrounded after a stout Resistance they were all slain except Sr. Thomas Grey their Captain with his Son Sr. John Dacres and a few more Esquires and Gentlemen whom they kept to Ransom Thô the Scots themselves lost in this Skirmish several Persons of Quality as Sr. John Haliburton Sr. James Turnbull and Others z Hector l. 15. f. 325. n. 62. Hector says certain Frenchmen bought of the Scots the English Prisoners and then presently put them to the Sword in revenge of their Friends and Parents slain by them at Cressy and elsewhere But this I 'll not believe the French being naturally a People of more Honour Early the next Morning the Scots encouraged with this Victory approached the Town of Barwick and when the Watch was in a manner overcome with Sleep set their Ladders to the Walls mounted and enter'd the Place Those few English whom they found ready they fell upon and slew thô not without loss to themselves for by their Acknowledgment there fell on the Scots side Sr. Thomas Vaux Sr. Andrew Scot of Balvere Sr. John Gourdon Sr. William Sinclare Sr. Thomas Preston and Sr. Alexander Moubray And of the English Sr. Alexander Ogle the Captain of the Town Sr. Everard Grey and Sr. Thomas Piercy Brother as they say to the Earl of Northumberland thô as yet that Title did not belong to that Name and in the Genealogy of the Lord Piercy there is no mention of a Brother of his so named in those Days But 't is usual with the Scotch Historians to create Men and Titles and then to slay them to advance as they imagin the Honour of their Nation I 'll give but one Instance of Hectors Ignorance or at least indiligence speaking of the Battle of Poictiers which happened a little after he says a Hector Boet. Sect. Hist l. 15. f. 327. l. 27. c. The same time these things were done in Scotland Richard the Son of Edward the Third Prince of Wales He who afterwards as King of England succeeded in his Fathers Place having conquer'd John King of France and bringing him into England c. We may well expect wonderfull intelligence from this Man as to the Families of the English Nobility who is so grosly ignorant of the Name of the Greatest Prince Son to the Greatest King that England ever produced But to return Whatever the Manner was of Winning Barwick the Scots are said at this time b M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229. to have slain no more of the English but only those who resisted But when King Edward heard of the Loss of the Town he forthwith hasted into England to his Parliament as we shew'd before where for the ardent desire he had to recover the Town and save the Castle he tarried but three Days before he began to march for Scotland and yet in that time the Parliament performed Matters worth our Notice Of which now we shall speak briefly Only we must not forget c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. ex Rec. v. Stow p. 255. b.n. 46. c. that the Lord William Greystoch who had been constituted Captain of the Town of Barwick but was absent at the time of its Taking did then much incurr the Displeasure of the King therefore But it being clearly proved that his Absence was occasion'd by the Kings Command for he attended the King personally into France as he was order'd at the request of Queen Philippa he obtained his Pardon VII At the Opening of this Parliament d M.S. Rot. Par.
the same time almost in an instant to fortifie so vast and spacious a City as Paris And whatever the occasion was most certainly never any Provost did an act of more Advantage to that Place for had it not been for these Defences the City had not only been shortly after taken by King Edward but upon several other occasions easily overrun and spoiled Now when the x Frois c. 185. Duke of Normandy had compleated his Musters and gather'd together to his Assistance sundry Persons of Honour not only of the Realm of France but also out of the Empire and elsewhere for pay so that he had more than 3000 Men of Arms besides others He presently went and laid Siege to Paris toward the Gate of St. Anthony along by the River of Seyne himself being lodged at St. Maur des Fossez and his Men thereabout who every day went and skirmished even to the Walls of Paris But still the Provost's Workmen proceeded for the Souldiers within the City defended them upon all occasions Sometimes the Duke lay at St. Maur and sometimes at Charenton so that nothing could come to Paris on that side either by Land or Water For he had caused both the Rivers of Seyne and Marne to be well kept and had burnt all the Villages about Paris which were not enclosed the better to curb the Insolence of that Rebellious City And surely he had served Paris it self in the same manner if it had not been pretty well fortify'd However none durst go in or out for fear of his Men who rode on both sides the Seyne at their Pleasure there was none to Resist them Yet there were in the City several Loyal and well-disposed Persons as John Maillart and his Brother Simon and many of their Relations and Friends who were very much troubled at the Duke of Normandy's Displeasure with the City and would very willingly have submitted unto him and have beg'd his Pardon But the Provost had so inveigled the Vulgar by his Popular pretences that no Man durst contradict him unless he had a Mind to be torn in pieces The Provost for his part still kept in with the King of Navarre following his Directions in all things and all the while he had Men at Work both Day and Night by turns for Defence of the City and moreover retain'd Souldiers on all hands as well Navarrois as English Men of Arms and Archers and other of the Companions For no other Englishmen durst make War in France because hitherto there was a Truce between the two Nations When the King of Navarre saw this Difference between the Duke and the City he began to call to Mind the Words of his Brother Philip That there was no Trust to be reposed in the Vulgar and therefore doubting the Worst if Matters should proceed he very fairly took his leave of them thô not without many kind Promises and drew off to St. Dennis Where he began to retain Souldiers in great Numbers but the City of Paris paid their Wages The Duke of Normandy had now lain at Charenton six Weeks and the King of Navarre almost as long at St. Dennis and between them both all the Vicinage was in a manner destroy'd and eaten up V. But in this sad juncture it pleased God to raise up certain Eminent and Worthy Personages to labour effectually to compose Matters first between the King and the Duke and then also between the two Realms And here we must not forget the great Diligence of the Pope y Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 2. 3. ex Tom. 6. Epist Secret. p. 6. 7. who by his Letters both to the Dauphin and the King of Navarre earnestly exhorted them to a final Concord so profitable to the Realm and so comfortable to all Good Men. Besides the Archbishop of Sens then newly Ransom'd out of England the Bishop of Auxerre and the Bishop of Beauvais the Lord Charles of Monmorency the Lord Moreau de Fiennes and the Lord of St. Venant joyned together to do their utmost in this pious way of Pacification These six went so often between the Parties interceding qualifying arguing and conjuring and bare themselves with such discretion That now the King of Navarre of his own meer good Will without the least Constraint went to Charenton to the Duke of Normandy and excused himself of what he was suspected especially of the Death of the Lords of Clermont and Conflens and of Doctor Simon Bucy and of the Affront which the Provost had done unto him in the Palace at Paris Swearing that it was all without his Consent and knowledge and promising the Duke to embarque with him and joyn issue in all his Affairs both good and evil and to make the Parisians give him satisfaction for what they had done Hereupon there was Peace made between the King and the Duke the latter whereof said He was willing to pardon the Parisians on Condition that he might have the Provost and 12 other Burgesses such as he should name to punish after their Demerits After this Agreement the King of Navarre returned to St. Dennis and the Duke went to Meaux in Brie which had suffer'd so much lately on occasion of the Jaquerie Both the King and the Duke disbanded the greater part of their Troops now and several of the Burgesses in Paris especially such as had been concern'd in promoting the Treaty had invited the Duke to come to Paris promising to render him all the Dutifull Respect imaginable But the Duke reply'd How he would surely keep the Peace which he had made and sworn to without any breach or flaw on his part But as for setting his Foot within Paris that he was resolved never to do till he had satisfaction for the Affronts put upon him When the Duke of Normandy had thus broke up his Siege the Provost of the Merchants and the Chief of his Partakers went frequently to St. Dennis to visit the King of Navarre and they told him How for his sake the◠had incurred the Duke's Displeasure for that they had deliver'd him out of Prison and brought him in such Honour to Paris Wherefore they desired him for Gods sake to have some respect to their safety and not to repose too much Confidence either in the Duke or his Council nor leave them as a sacrifice to attone for all the Publique Miscarriages The King who was very subtle resolving now however things went to make the best Market for himself reply'd Certainly Friends you shall suffer no harm but I will bear a part therein But to be armed against the worst Events I would advise You since at this time You have the sole Government of Paris in Your Hands to furnish Your selves with Gold and Silver so that if You should be thrust out of your Places You may have a Friend left at a Pinch And what You can thus heap together for its better security send it hither to me as privately as may be to be
by the Hands of their own Country-men Being thus resolved they secretly made an Agreement with the Englishmen those that made War against Paris for the King of Navarre knew nothing of this Plot that on such a Night the Provost with his Friends should be at the Gates of St. Anthony and St. Honore at the Hour of Midnight ready to let in the English and Navarrois who were to be near at hand well appointed to overrun rob and utterly destroy the City except only such Houses as should have certain Marks agreed on between them but in all other Houses where such Tokens were not to be seen to plunder and destroy Men Women and Children To this height of Wickedness was the Provost by Degrees carried proving at last a Diabolicall Incendiary instead of a good zealous Patriot as at first he was because his indiscreet Zeal for the People made him at the beginning too bold with his Prince whose Patience when he had abused beyond all hopes of Pardon not daring to trust the Rabble for whose sake he had offended he now resolves for the saving of his own Neck to destroy all even the Innocent with the Offenders had not God blasted his unnatural Design For that same Night on which all this was to have been done John Maillart and his Brother Simon with Pepin des Essards and several other Honest and Loyal Burgesses of Paris having as some think by means Divine or at least Humane received an Intimation that on that Night the City was mark'd out to be destroyed armed themselves secretly and informed their Friends of the Danger that more might be in readiness upon Occasion and so with a compleat Guard being themselves upon the Watch they went the Rounds In their Progress a little before Midnight they came to St. Anthonies Gate where they found the Provost of the Merchants with a small Company having the Keys of the Gates in his hands Then said John Maillart to the Provost Stephen what do you here at this time of Night The Provost answer'd how he was there to look to the safety of the City By God quoth Maillart you shall not come off thus for it is plain by the Keys there in your hands that you are not here at this time of Night for any Good. Said the Provost John you lie falsly in your Throat Nay quoth John 't is thou Stephen that liest like a false Traytor and therewithall offer'd a blow at him and commanded his Guard to slay the Traytors At this the Provost turn'd about and would have fled but John Maillart althô he was his Godfather knockt him down to the ground with an Ax and never left till he had slain him There died with him six more of his Friends among whom were f Da Serres c. Simon Palmier and Philip Guyphart the rest being all seised and clapt in Prison By this the People began to rise at the Alarm and come into the Streets but John Maillart and his Company hasted to the other Gate of St. Honore where they found the rest of the Provost's Friends whom they accused of Treason and having dispatched such as would not be taken lead the rest away to Prison After which they proceeded to take the Accomplices such as had been confessed privy to the Design by those whom they found at the Gates And these they took in their Beds and at their Houses with small ado and sent them away to Prison This is the best Account of several that I have met with For Du Serres as may be seen is a Man that usually models the Circumstances of his Narrations more agreeably to his own Wit or Fancy than to Truth But whoever is minded to compare his Relation with ours may consult it both as he reports it and as Froisard and g Fabian p. 302. Fabian from the French Chronicles do more particularly declare the whole Transaction We are unwillingly by these Foreign Matters detained from the History of England Thô not only what we have already said but something more also is necessary to be spoken for the better clearing of what is to follow VIII To be short therefore h Frois c. 187. 188. f. 101. Fabian Mezeray c. upon this Mans Death the Parisians made their Peace with the Duke of Normandy who thereupon came to Paris with the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and many other of the Nobility in his Company and was lodged in the Palace of the Louvre But yet not even here did the Domestick Troubles of France cease For King Charles of Navarre being highly displeased at the Death of his Friend the Provost by advice of his Brother Philip sent presently a new Defiance to the Duke of Normandy and his whole House to the Parisians and to the whole Body of the Realm of France And now he began to retain Souldiers on all hands as well English under their Captains Sr. James Pipe and Sr. Robert Knolles as Germans Brabanders Hainalders Luxemburgers and Others all who were called Navarrois because they fought in Navarre's Quarrel The Mony which the Provost had so frequently and so largely sent him stood him now in good stead and he was no way sparing of it to his Souldiers so that all Men were glad to serve him The King himself held his principal Garrison at Melun on the River Seyne and the Lord Philip his Brother had Garrisons at Mante and Meulan on the same River and every day their Forces encreased because their Pay was so large and certain And presently they reduced the strong Town of Creil standing on the Oyse into their Power Being therefore Lords of the Rivers Seyne Marne and Oyse they soon won the strong Castle of le Herelle which lies between Compeigne and Amiens after which they took Mauconsel and St. Valery But we must beg the Readers Patience if we are something more particular in this matter not only because many English Captains were concerned herein thô they acted now in the King of Navarre's Name only and not by any Commission from King Edward nor so much as his Consent but also because the Actions themselves are well worthy of Memory for their variety and importance And also the Sequel of our Story will be more clearly understood thereby Now therefore the Captain of Creil was the Lord Fondregas of Navarre who so aw'd the Parts about him that none could pass from Paris to Compeign or to Noyon to Soissons Laon or other Places without his safe Conduct so that while he held that Garrison he gat more than an 100000 Franks by granting of Pass-ports only The Captain of le Herelle was the Lord John Picquigny by Birth a Picard but by interest a Navarrois and a Rebel to his Lord the French King who had entrusted the King of Navarre to his Keeping but he not only let him have his Liberty but embraced his Cause ever after His Garrison very much straightned those of Mondidier Perone and Amiens and all
de Coucy who was the Chief in those Parts on the French Side caused his Castles and Houses to be so well kept that the Navarrois could find no Advantage there And the Lord Canon Robsert was so watchfull over them that they feared him above all others For many times he cut off several of them as he could pick them up about the Country We spake before how the Lord John of Picquigny kept Garrison at le Herelle not far from Amiens in Picardy being a fast Friend to the King of Navarre as who had not only against his Trust deliver'd him from Prison but also openly affronted the Dauphin for his Sake This Man dealt under-hand with Firmin Cockerell Mayor and certain of the Burgesses of Amiens l Jâ—nes Meâ—â—r Ann. Flandr l. 13. p. 183. and used so much Address Subtlety and 〈◊〉 Language that they were at last persuaded to introduce him into the City For this purpose they had secretly conveyed into their Houses certain Armed Men who were to joyn the Navarrois upon their coming thither Accordingly one Evening the Lord John of Prequigny the Lord William of Granville he that had so subtely taken the Castle of Eureux the Lord Fondregas and two or three more Persons of Quality marched silently and came with 700 Fighting Men to the Gate of Amiens that looks towards Herelle in confidence of their Friends within who according to their Promise had lest the Gate ready open for them As they were entred those Armed Men who lay expecting them in the City being hid in Chambers or Cellars came forth and assembling together cried aloud Navarre At this frightfull Noise the Citizens awoke and rose and went to Arms crying Treason Treason making all speed toward the Gate where the Noise was between the City and the Suburbs These few made indeed some Resistance but too inconsiderable to beat the Enemy back So that if the Navarrois had briskly push'd their first Advantage forward they had most certainly carried the Place But while they stood dallying to see what number of Friends they had within and how their Enemies were order'd to receive them there came thither a timely Succour to the Town For by a strange Chance or rather some secret Impulse the Lord Moreau of Fiennes Constable of France and the Earl of St. Paul who were at Câ—â—bie with a strong Garrison took a Resolution to ride forth that Night to Amrens and made such haste that by another Gate they came into the City by that time the Navarrois had won the Suburbs and were now contending to win the City also Which surely they had presently done but for this wonderfull and unexpected Obstacle But these French Lords immediately upon their Arrival drew to the Gate where the Medley was so hot with their Banners display'd and in good Order to receive them But they offer'd not to issue forth at the Gate because they saw the Fauxbourgs irreparably lost The Inhabitants the mean while being hugely encouraged with their Presence lighted up Torches and Links and made Fires that all things appeared as plain as at Noon Day When the Lord of Picquigny saw these unexpected Succours doubting he might lose more than he could win he caused the Retreat to be sounded and so retired in very good Order but they had already overran all the Fauxbourgs which they plunder'd and now in their Retreat set on Fire sparing neither Houses of which there were above 3000 nor Churches nor any thing else And so they return'd with their Plunder and Prisoners to their several Garrisons As soon as the Enemy was thus drawn off the Constable and the Earl of St. Pâ—â— sent a Troop to every Gate of the City commanding the Officers on pain of Death to suffer no Man to go out of the Town that Night So early next Morning taking to their Assistance several Aldermen of the City they went to certain Burgesses houses who were suspected of Treason Of these they took seventeen with the Mayor who were immediately convicted and beheaded openly in the Market-place the Chief whereof was the Abbot of Gars who had as it was proved consented to the Treason having lodged the greater part of the Armed Men within his House In the City of Laon also about the same time were put to Death for a like Cause six of the Chief Burgesses and the Bishop himself had been served in the same manner iâ— they could have got him For Treason was laid to his Charge of which he could never acquit himself But He having a timely intimation of the Discovery gat off in Disguise and went straight to the King of Navarre then at Melun on the Seyne who received him joyfully IX Such Miseries in those Days was the Flourishing Realm of France subjected to insomuch that althô the Navarrois and other Robbers by open Violence made such Havock abroad yet were they also by secret Treachery in as great Danger at home For as War and Desolation stood battering them without Doors so Treason lay undermining them within Wherefore all the Nobility and Gentry and whoever had the Custody of Towns and Castles stood upon their Guard and kept good Watch continually And surely so it behoved them to do for the King of Navarre had many Well-Wishers in that Kingdom so that if a Wonderfull Providence had not been concerned to prevent the total Ruine of France it had inevitably seen its last days then For he being wholly transported with an irreconcileable hate against his Native Country not content with these Miseries which he had already created m Da Serres c. began to sollicite the King of England also and to urge him incessantly to a War representing unto him that now was the only time to make the Crown of France his own for ever King Edward could not but observe a ready way to effect his Designs in this Confusion but knowing the Ambitious and Inconstant Humour of the King of Navarre he could not trust him And so either out of a just Respect to the Truce or fearing that upon the appearance of his Forces all these Domestick Parties would unite against him as is usual in such cases he omitted or rather scorn'd to make use of this Opportunity But surely that which some French n Mezeray Da Serres c. Authors say how by small Succours sent to Navarre he design'd to ballance the Parties to the intent to weaken them both is absolutely false and precarious For 't is confest by o Frâ—is c. 200. Froisard and the better sort of the French Writers also that during the Truce King Edward was not at all concerned in Navarre's quarrel with France and thô several Englishmen were notoriously engaged in these Wars yet it was both p Walsing â—â—st p. 166. â— 1. without the Consent and against the Will of the King of England as he himself solemnly q Knighton p. 2618. n. 60. protested to the French Ambassadors upon their Complaint
he would have them order their Men. All the Carriages and Pages he sent into the Wood for their Security and so ranged his Troops into three Battalions all on Foot in most decent Order In the Front stood Sr. John Jones with his 300 Men of Arms and Archers of England and his Friend d Trâ—â— Use of Armory p. 120 Sr. James Planchine with 200 more both Archers and Men of Arms and these were all Chosen and Resolute Men. The Second Battail he led himself with 600 Fighting Men and with him was the Lord of Salses a lusty young Knight of Navarre the Lord William of Granville and the Lord Peter of Samville The Third he committed to the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon the Lord Bertram de la Franque and Sr. Bascels of Mareville and that Battail also consisted of 600 Men. Being thus order'd he took the Advantage of a little Hill hard by on the Right hand between the place where he order'd his Men and the Wood. And on the Brow of the Hill he stood in Battle Array directly before his Enemies with his Banner raised high on a Bush of Thorn about which stood sixty Chosen Men of Arms for its safeguard To the intent that if his Men should be scatter'd they might repair thither and rally again and so he determin'd not to descend from the Mountain for any Cause whatsoever but to let his Enemies come to him if they intended to fight him The Captals Banner war Or Five Escalopes Argent on a Cross Sable which Arms were richly depicted on his Shield and on the Crest of his Helmet was a dreadfull e True Use of Armory p. 110 p. 147. uâ—â— tamen maâ—â— legitur Midas Head Vid. Ashmoles Garter Plate 5. Medusa's Head Sable the Snakes Argent By this time were the Frenchmen also orderly ranged in three Battalia's besides a Rereguard or strong Body for a Reserve The f Frois c. 221. f. 117. First was lead by Sr. Bertram of Clequin and all his Bretons and he was design'd to oppose the Captal The Second was govern'd by the Earl of Auxerre with whom were the Vicount Beaumont and the Lord Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows and several other Knights of France Picardy and Normandy as Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and Others The Third was commanded by the Lord Arnold of Cervoles commonly called the Archpriest with whom were the Lord of Châlons the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord John de Vienne and Others and in the Rereward were all the other Gascogners as the Lord of Pamiers the Lord Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Perdiccas of Albret with the Lord of Albrets Troops but he himself was not there together with the Lord Petition of Courton and several Others These Gascogners observed particularly the Behaviour of the Captal and how his Standard was raised high on a Bush and the Guard that was set to defend it Whereupon they agreed that when the Armies were hotly joyn'd in Battle they should themselves endeavour to conquer the Captals Banner believing if they might gain that Point to be soon Masters of the Field And besides they had another Device which proved that Day very serviceable to the Lords of France For while in a Council of War they held a long Debate how to behave themselves so as morally to secure the Victory a certain Gascogner Lord let fall a Word which was very seasonable and well accepted Gentlemen says he We all know well that the Captal is as Worthy a Knight as can be found in any Land and that as long as he is able to endure he will be very terrible to Us both by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Conduct Let us therefore set apart Thirty Chosen Men of Arms on Horseback and let these Thirty mind nothing else this Day but to set upon the Captal at the same time that our Rereguard attempts to win his Standard and so by the strength of their Horses to break the stress till they can get to him to take him immediately upon which to bear him out of the Field For otherwise I cannot bode any good end of this Battle the Person of the Captal is that whereon all his Men do wholly depend If he is safe they win all if we win him the Victory comes to us of Course The Knights of France and Bretagne approved hugely of this Project and resolved to put it in Execution so they selected accordingly Thirty of the most Valiant Men of Arms and mounted them on Thirty of the best Horses in all the Company and drew them out on one side of the Field well informed before-hand what to do and all the rest of the Army remained on Foot in Battle Array as they had been ranged Now as yet there was no one that pretended to have the Chief Command over all in the French Army because there were several Persons of far higher Quality than Sr. Bertram of Clequin Wherefore in this Council of War they consulted what should be their Word that Day and to whose Banner they should all repair At last they all agreed to cry our Lady of Auxerre and to make the noble young Earl of Auxerre their Captain But he began with great Modesty to excuse himself saying Gentlemen I most heartily thank you all for the great Honour you are pleased to confer upon me but certainly as for my Part I shall by no means at this time accept thereof No I am too Young and Unexpert to sustain so great a Charge for this is the First Expedition that ever I was concern'd in Here are many good Captains as Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of Gervoles the Master of the Crossbows the Lord Lewis of Chalons the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Edward of Renty and the like These have all been in many great Hazards and also have held considerable Employs in the Wars and I am sure understand Military Conduct far better than as yet I do Wherefore Lords I desire your Pardon at this time Then the Lords and Captains began to look on one another and at last said O Noble Earl of Auxerre you are the most Eminent among us all and therefore it is all the Reason in the World You should now be our Head For Nobility reconciles Authority to a Captain Certainly Gentlemen replied the Earl You say after your Pleasure But this Day I am resolved to be but as one of your Companions and till I shall be able to rule will learn to obey Come Life come Death I promise to share with you in this Adventure but as to the Chief Rule You shall never perswade me to that Then again the Captains beheld each other and at last unanimously agreed that since Sr. Bertram of Clequin was the most practised in War among them all they would for that Day obey him and the Word should be our Lady of Clequin And thus the Tuesday was spent and both Armies prepared to fight
the next Morning Early the next Day the Frenchmen being drawn out in Battle-array into the former Field came and presented themselves before their Enemies and stood a long while without receiving any offer of Battle They beheld the Navarrois on the heighth of the Hill who seemed resolved not to stirr thence but rather to expect them to attack them there in their Strength which was very displeasing to the Frenchmen because it was apparently disadvantageous to mount the Hill and the Sun was also very hot and the best of them began to grow faint and weary For they were in a manner Fasting having neither taken Wine nor other Victuals that Morning because they imagin'd to have Battle presently but they mistook their Aim and so the Day was nigh half gone before things were brought to a Resolution For when the French Lords perceived the Captals humour they went to Counsel again to learn what was best to be done and whether they should go and fight with their Enemies or no. Some were directly for it and said it would be a great dishonour to do otherwise But the more sober and best advised maintained the Contrary saying If we go and fight them in that advantageous Post which now they hold it will certainly redound to our great Dammage if not utter Loss for upon our Ascent of every Fifteen of us Three are sure to fall if not more And when once Men drop fast in an Army the Terror and Ruine spreads far over all that Side Thrô such hazardous Representations given forth by the most experienced Officers they were withheld back and the Captal in all Probability had succeeded if not for one small Matter which however seem'd well done by him but contributed not a little to his Overthrow The Captal had with him certain Knights and Esquires Normans his Prisoners whom when he saw the French ready to come upon him lest in Battle they might turn against him he let go now upon Parole These Men stole privily into the French Host where being brought before the Lords then in Council they said Gentlemen consider what you do For if you let this Day pass without Fighting your Enemies will be much stronger by to Morrow it being confidently discoursed among them that Prince Lewis of Navarre will joyn them by that time with 400 Men of Armes These Words greatly animated them to set upon the Navarrois forthwith but still the Discreeter sort held them back saying Gentlemen let us but wait a little longer and see what they 'll do first For their Hearts are so bold and presumptuous that they would as gladly fight with us as we with them and since we are so weary and fasting and many of our Men chafed by standing thus long in our Armour surely if after all we attempt the difficult Ascent of that Hill we are no better than lost You see it is now Noon therefore let us withdraw for the present to our Lodgings and there having refreshed our selves we may take other Counsel against to Morrow These Considerations much shook the Resolution of the stoutest Men there for they were loth to defer Fighting till the Enemy might be rendred more strong and yet they durst not attack him in that Place because many of their side were faint and weak and to go up-Hill against an Enemy requires the greatest Vigour that may be At last Sr. Bertram of Clequin their General pitch'd upon the Right Counsel for he said Gentlemen we know well our Enemies are desirous enough to fight with us and yet we see that they intend not to leave their Post unless we draw them thence by the means that I shall shew you Let us make an Offer as if we design'd to retreat and not to give them Battle this Day and to that end we will send our Valets with our few Carriages and Horses over the Bridge and pretend all to march back to our Quarters But still as we go we must all be ready to return upon Occasion And so we shall try what they will do If they are willing to fight us they 'll come down the Hill in pursuit of us And if once we gain that Point we shall readily Face about upon them and deal with them more easily But if they come not our own Men will be more encouraged to see them stand in fear of us and however we shall be the Fresher for to Morrows Service This Counsel being approved by all the Chief Captains they went to their several Ensigns and caused a Retreat to be sounded and commanded all their Valets to repass the River before them and take over their Carriages and these were followed by some Troops of Men of Arms who for the greater blind went over in a careless Manner faintly When Sr. John Jones who was an Experienced Knight thô now he committed a fatal Errour and had always a huge desire to give the Frenchmen Battle saw the manner of their Retreat he said to the Captal Sir let us immediately pursue them Don't you see how they fly they fly by St. George Ah! said the Captal Sr. John Sr. John never believe that For what they now do is by Stratagem only to deceive us to our Ruine Sr. John seem'd content with the Captals Opinion but being come among his Men in the first Battalion he said aloud St. George they that love me let them now follow for I am resolved to go and fight these Frenchmen that are stealing away from us And with that he grasped his Spear in his hand and went forth in the Head of his Men before all the Battails and made such haste that he had got down the Hill with most of his own Troops before the Captal knew any thing of the Matter But when now he understood and saw that Sr. John Jones was gone down the Hill against the Enemy without the Consent of his Chief Captain he thought it proceeded of Presumption and Contempt of Martial Discipline However knowing it not a time to chide as then nor to dishearten his Men by vainly complaining of the Rashness of the Action he said aloud to those that were about him Sr. John Jones shall not fight without me this Day Courage my Friends and Banner advance in the Name of God and St. George And therewithall the other two Battails began to march in good Array down the Hill into the open Field When the Frenchmen saw all their Demeanor and how the Enemy voluntarily quitted their Place of Advantage they were very glad and said one to another Lo now we may see what we have so much desired all this day And with that they all faced about in their appointed Order and returned to meet their Enemies being ranged on Foot except those Thirty Horsemen who had Orders to seise the Captal But as soon as Sr. Arnold of Cervoles the Archpriest saw that a Battle must needs ensue he said to his Standard-Bearer and to all his Officers I charge you all as you
as lief see him Dead as Alive and so he went thither with the Knights who were about him Being come to the place where he lay cover'd with a Shield he caused his Shield to be taken off and then beheld him with much Compassion and having look'd stedfastly on him a while he burst out in these Words Ah! Sr. Charles my Fair Cousin by your indiscreet Obstinacy how many Evils have fell out in Bretagne And yet so God help me as I am sorry at my Heart to find you in this Condition But now it is past Remedy And with that he began to weep over him not that he was not well satisfied with the Victory he had so hardly obtained but that this cruel and costly Decision of his Quarrel did much affect his Generous Mind considering his own Case might have been the same But Sr. John Chandos quickly drew him out of this melancholy and unseasonable Humour saying Sir pray come away and thank God for this fair Adventure thus happily fallen to You For without the Death of this Man you could never have enjoyed your Inheritance of Bretagne and perhaps he would have been content to have found You here in his stead Then the Earl gave order that the Corps of his Cousin Sr. Charles of Blois should the next Day be conveyed in Great State to Guerande a City of Bretagne where he was honourably interred as he was well worthy For he was a most Noble Courteous and Valiant Knight so that a while after he obtain'd the Reputation of a Saint being reported to have done many Miracles after his Death whatever Bloodshed he occasion'd in his Life-time But 't is a Mistake of Froisard's z Frois c. 226. ad sin where he says how he was Canonized for a Saint by Pope Vrban V. When as the Truth is that thô indeed he had some such Matter in his Mind and there are a Tem. 6. Ep. secr p. 160. Vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1368. §. 11. extant Letters of his to John Duke of Bretagne to that Purpose yet when he understood that by the manner of his Death he was not to be look'd on as a Martyr he was very angry with those who presum'd without the Approbation of the Apostolick See to give such Honours unto his Memory and by his Letters to the Bishops of Bretagne enjoyned them in their several Dioeceses to prohibit that any such thing be done for the future Dat. apud Montem Flasconem XVII Kalen. Octobris Anno Pontificat VI. Which agrees with the Year of our Lord 1368 being the Fourth Year after his Death XI Now when all the Dead were spoiled and the Englishmen were all returned from the Chace the whole Army drew off to their former Camp and unarmed themselves and took their ease having first set a good Watch and secured their Prisoners and caused the Wounded to be well dressed On the Monday in the Morning the Earl of Monford caused Proclamation to be made to the Citizens of Rennes and all the Towns and Villages thereabout that he would most inviolably grant them a Truce for Three Days following whereby they might be emboldened to come forth and gather up the Dead Bodies and bury them in Holy Ground which Christianlike Proclamation was both well accepted and also generally prepar'd the Hearts of the People in his behalf Then the Earl return'd to his Siege before Auray saying that he would not stir thence till he was Master of the Place And soon after it yielded unto him The mean while Fame was very busie in carrying tidings abroad into Divers Countries that the Earl of Monford by the Assistance and Conduct of the Englishmen had won the Day against Sr. Charles of Blois and discomfited slain or taken all the Cavalry of Bretagne such as were against him The Lord John Chandos especially had great Renown every where for all manner of People Lords Knights and Esquires as well Foes as Friends that had been present in the Field agreed together in acknowledging that chiefly by his Conduct and Great Valour his side had got the better But at this News all the Friends and Assistants of Charles of Blois were extreamly cast down and especially the French King for this Loss concerned him very nearly as well because of the Death of his Kinsman Sr. Charles as also because many of the best Knights of his Realm were either there slain or taken as Sr. Bertram of Clequin whom he highly favoured and the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and all the Barons of Bretagne none excepted Wherefore presently he sent his Brother Lewis Duke of Anjou to the Marches of Bretagne to animate the Country which was utterly dejected and cast down with this great blow and also to comfort the Dutchess of Bretagne as she was called Relict of the Lord Charles who took on so extreamly for the Death of her Husband that it was a great Pity to behold her comfortless Condition The Duke of Anjou had newly Married a Daughter of hers and therefore thought himself the more strongly engag'd to this Office And indeed he promis'd faithfully to afford unto all the Good Cities and Castles in Bretagne his best Counsel Comfort and Assistance in all Cases whereby the Poor Afflicted Lady whom he called Mother and all the Country that held for her had for some while a little Confidence yet to see better times Till the French King to avoid worse Inconveniences took other Measures as we shall see hereafter The Earl of Monford wrote the News of this Victory to his Father-in-Law King Edward of England five days after the Battle was ended His Letters bearing Date from before Auray the Fourth of October were shortly after brought unto the King then at Dover by a Pursuivant at Arms who had been in the Battle And the King was so well pleas'd with the News that immediately in reward thereof he b Frois ibid. Aâ—â—mâ—lâ— p. 703. made him an Herald at Arms by the Name of Windesor But it will not be amiss briefly to declare the Occasion why King Edward was then at Dover XII About Three Years before there began a Treaty concerning a Marriage between Prince Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge King Edward's Fifth Son and the Lady Margaret Daughter of Earl Lewis of Flanders To which Match the said Earl had lately given his Consent on Condition there might be a Dispensation obtain'd from Pope c Rot. Fr. nc 38. Ed. 3. m. 8. Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Fros c. 227. Vrban V because of their Proximity of blood And so a Contract was made between the Parties And on this account the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother had lately passed over the Sea into Flanders with many Knights and Esquires in their Company to visit Earl Lewis of whom they were received very Honourably and with special Tokens of Peace and Love. Insomuch that upon their Return the Earl of Flanders accompanied them
whom you call your Enemies and where are they In the Name of God said the Earl of Narbonne they are those Villanous Companions Robbers and Destroyers of the Country such as have ravaged about and wasted the Fair Realm of France without Law or Reason and they are now with you in Montauban And as for your part Sr. John if you were Courteous to your Friends and Neighbours you would not interest your self for such a sort of Rascals who spoil poor People without a Cause For such things oftentimes cause great and lasting Quarrels between many High Lords and Princes Therefore I pray thrust them out of your Fortress or else we cannot look upon you as a True Friend to the King of France or to his People My Lords answer'd the English Captain it is true there are some New-comers Men of War now in my Garrison but they were order'd to come thither by my Lord the Prince and are at this time by him retained for his Service Wherefore I shall not be so hasty to thrust them out of my Garrison And suppose heretofore these very Men have done you any displeasure yet I see not with what Justice you can come upon them now For they are Men of War and must live only as formerly they lived on the Realm of France now they are to be maintained by the Prince Then the Earl of Narbonne and Sr. Guy Dazay said hastily Yes yes we know they are Men of War and such as cannot live any where without Pillage and Robbery and such as have heretofore most barbarously ravaged our Country All which they shall dearly pay for if we can once meet with them in the Field for they have now lately since they have been retained by the Prince plunder'd rob'd burnt and done many bad Actions in the Marches of Tholouse whereof the grievous Complaints are come to our Ears So that if we should now wink at them we should be no better than false Traitors to the King our Sovereign Lord who hath placed us in these Parts to keep and defend this his Country from such Prollers as these are And pray tell them from Us that since we know where to find them we expect shortly to see them for if ever they stir out of your Garrison we will meet with them and then we shall oblige them to make us some amends or it shall cost us a little more This was all the Answer the Captain of Montauban could obtain wherefore he went back again to his Fortress extreamly displeased in his Mind and resolving for all their Threats not to alter his resolution of defending these Men as long as they would tarry with him And at his return he told unto them all the Words of their Enemies the Frenchmen When the Companions heard this News they began somewhat to doubt their Safety for being so few as they were they could not make Head against these Frenchmen however they were always ready and kept good Watch continually Now it chanced that five days after Sr. Perdiccas of Albret being to pass the way of Montauban with another considerable Body of the Companions for that was the best way to enter into the Principality sent word thereof to the Captain of the Town with whom he was well acquainted But when Sr. Robert Cheney and the Companions under him who were thus besieged by the Frenchmen heard these seasonable Tidings they were very glad and sent word privately to Sr. Perdiccas and his Men how the Frenchmen besieged them and had threatned them grievously and they also informed him who were their Captains and what Number they were When Perdiccas had received this particular account of his Enemies and Friends Condition he was not at all abashed but gather'd all his Men together and came and entred Montauban in the Night and was received with much joy by his Fellows and Sr. John Combes Then they all together took Counsel how to behave themselves and so 't was agreed that the next morning all the Companions only for the Captain of the City would by no means break the Peace should march out of the Town armed and go up to the Frenchmen and desire their leave to pass quietly but if they were denied then to put their Lives in their hands and endeavour to force their way This Resolution they put in practice for the next Morning they armed themselves sounded their Trumpets mounted their Horses and so began to march forth of Montauban The Frenchmen fell to Ranging themselves in the Field when first they heard the sounding of the Trumpets and the great noise made about Montauban so that these Companions had no way to pass forward but thrô the midst of them Therefore Sr. Perdiccas of Albret and Sr. Robert Cheney rode on before their Men and having obtained an Assurance went and spake with the Chief of their Leaders desiring That they would permit them being the Prince's Souldiers to pass by quietly as Friends But the French Lords answer'd How they desired not to hold any friendly Commerce or Communication with such Men as were Enemies to all Mankind protesting that they should never pass that way but with the Points of their Spears or Swords At this the two Captains retired unto their Men and the Frenchmen presently began their Cries and the Lords said aloud Advance Banners toward yonder Robbers and Pillagers who plunder all the World and live on the Sweat and Blood of other Men without all Law or Reason When the Companions saw that now it behoved them either to fight valiantly or to die with shame they alighted boldly from their Horses and ranged themselves on Foot before the Town of Montauban ready to receive their Enemies who also being ranged on Foot came now upon them Then the Archers began their Play and after that they all closed together and a strong and cruel Battle began and many a Feat of Arms was there performed and many a Knight laid along on the earth and the Fight was well maintain'd on both sides but the Frenchmen were at least Two to One. So that within a while they drove the Companions back into the Barriers which were held open for their Refuge by the Captains special Command And surely the Companions had been in no very good Case had it not been for the Captain of the Town for when he saw the Frenchmen presume to follow the Companions into his Town then he commanded all that could bear Arms to come forth and every Man to his Power to assist the Companions who were retained in the Service of their Lord the Prince Then the Townsmen and those of the Garrison armed and put themselves in Array and began to enter the Battle while the Women went into their Houses and ran up to the Battlements and Windows from whence they flang down upon the Frenchmen stones and pots of quick Lime so thick that they had enough to do to defend themselves with their Targets from Braining and some were slain
commanded to the Tower of London there to remain as Prisoner untill he had paid Fine at the Kings Pleasure And thereupon Command was given to Sr. Alan Boxhull Constable of the Tower to keep him accordingly And so the Lords and Commons departed But after that the said Sr John being brought to Westminster before the Kings Council and there examin'd concerning the Business of the said William Latimer made Answer that as freely as the King had granted to him the Wardship aforesaid so freely did he surrender the same into the Kings Hands whereupon it was order'd in Council that the said Wardship should be reseised into the Kings Hands and deliver'd unto the said William Latimer according to the Grant made to the said Bishop of Sarum and that all Recognisances and Conveyances made by the said William to the said Sr. John should be void saving the Kings Right IV. Thus ended this Parliament but it is to be observed that Dr. Simon Langham p Godw. Catal. Bish p. 143. Philpots Catal. Chancel Treasurers c. Archbishop of Canterbury who had been both Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of England and performed the part of King Edwards Spokesman in this Parliament was on the 21 of September following by Pope Vrban V. made Cardinal titulo Sti. Sixti whereupo he resign'd his Archbishoprick of Canterbury and went to Avignon where not long after he was made Bishop Cardinal of Praeneste by Pope Gregory the Eleventh and held divers Livings in Commendum as the Archdeaconry and Treasurership of Welles and others There he lived in high Estimation for about Eight Years at which time he died of a Palsie wherewith he was suddenly taken as he sat at Dinner Of his Bounty Magnificent Buildings and other Deeds of Liberality Bishop Godwin makes mention but what we have further to say of him we shall defer till we come to relate his Death In his Seat of Canterbury he was succeeded by Dr. William Wittlesey a Man of great Parts and Learning for that Age. V. It is credibly reported q Treasury of Time or Times Store-house p. 721. that about this time during a great Storm and an extraordinary high Tide there was seen a Mermaid or Sea-woman swimming in the Zuyderzee between Campen and Edam Who being taken and brought to Edam after she was well cleansed from the Sea-moss which by her long Continuance in that Element had grown about her was not only exactly like another Woman but endured to be Apparell'd and would feed on Meats as others did thô indeed she sought all Means to escape and return again to her Watry Habitation but she was always prevented by those who had the Care of her and watch'd her very narrowly She learn'd to spin and exercise several other Feminine Duties being dayly seen by vast Numbers of People many of whom gave undoubted Testimony of the Truth of the Matter both describing her Features and attesting that she lived 15 Years after she was first taken and was lastly buried there in the Church-yard of Edam If the Reader wants Faith to credit such Matters I entreat him to consider that an Historian is not obliged to gain an Infallible Assurance of all that he says but however r Vid. in Peireskii Vitâ à Gassend conscriptâ c. that since so great and so wise Men have confirmed such things unto Us he who will not allow such authentick and probable Testimonies not only wants Faith but perhaps Modesty and Discretion also VI. But to return to the Affairs of our History Now it is to be remembred that ſ Frois c. 239. fol. a. when the Prince of Wales was come from Spain into Gascogne and his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was gone home into England many of the French and Spanish Nobility were by the English and Gascogners put to their Ransome But Sr. Bertram of Clequin remain'd still a Prison◠with the Prince and the Lord John Chandos being not admitted to pay any Ransome which prov'd a great Trouble to Henry the Bastard because he durst not attempt any New thing against Don Pedro till he should have this his most considerable Friend at Liberty But by chance there was offer'd an Occasion of obtaining that which Counsel and Money were not able to procure for one Day among the rest the Prince who us'd much Grace and Respect to all his Prisoners sent for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to discourse with him Sr. Bertram How doth your spirit Brook this Confinement Sr. I thank God very well I was never at better eas ein all my Life And it is reasonable for me to think so since I am in the Hands of the most Generous Prince living and made a Prisoner by the most Renowned Knight in the World. Who is that said the Prince Sir said he that is Sr. John Chandos That is right replied the Prince therefore you may comfort your self for being taken since it is no dishonour to be conquer'd by a Gallant Man but what comfort have you now for being detain'd a Prisoner when most of your Fellows are put to Ransom O Sir quoth Sr. Bertram as to that matter I have this Comfort namely that it is reported in France and Spain how you stand in such fear of me that you dare not let me go which must needs be a considerable Honour for so mean a Knight as I am The Prince understood well to what end these subtle Words of Sr. Bertram tended and he also remembred that his whole Council had agreed by no means to let him have his Liberty untill King Don Pedro had fully paid all those Sums of Money wherein he was bound lest Sr. Bertram should again embroil the Matters of Spain and put that King out of a capacity of Paying But however he could not endure to be thought to stand in Fear of any one Living and besides he thought to ask such a Ransom as Sr. Bertram should not easily be able to pay wherefore he answer'd him thus Then Sir it seems you imagin that We detain you here for doubt of your Prowess and Chevalry But I would not have you think so for I swear by St. George it is no such matter Do but pay Vs for your Ransom an 100000 Franks and you shall be deliver'd immediatly Sr. Bertram who whatever he pretended defired much in his mind to be at Liberty hearing now on what Conditions he might go took the Prince presently at his Word and said Sir be it so in the Name of God I 'll pay no less a Ransome and thank you for the honour of Rating me so high Then the Prince would willingly have retracted his Words for he saw himself caught now and that by his means Don Pedro might be either deposed again or put to Death before he had satisfied him and besides some of his Council came to him and told him that he had not done well so easily to put him to his Ransom and would fain have perswaded
and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
strong Castle called Monpaon belonging to the Prince of Wales Now the Captain of this Fortress named Sri William of Monpaon thô he kept the Castle for England was rather in his Heart a Friend to France wherefore believing himself secure now because the Prince had left the Country he presently received these Frenchmen into his Castle and openly turn'd Traytor When the French Captains had thus easily obtain'd a Place of that strength and importance they fell about repairing and amending the Fortifications and being even overjoy'd said they would now Defend that Garrison against all the World. When the News of these things came to Bourdeaux the Duke of Lancaster said to the Lords about him Gentlemen surely We do not our Duty aright For the Bretons and Frenchmen are abroad and have taken the Fortress of Monpaon which borders upon Vs Wherefore it behoves Vs to go forth and shew our selves or the Enemy will laugh Vs to scorn Thus the Duke and all the Lords about him were concerned and thought it would redound much to their shame if they should suffer that Place to remain in the Enemies Hand Wherefore on the Wednesday following the Duke of Lancaster leaving the Earl of Cambridge to govern in his absence marched out of Bourdeaux with 700 Spears and 500 Archers on Horseback beside Footmen the Chief Lords and Captains whereof were the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord Thomas Percy the Lord Thomas Ros of Hamlake the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Baldwin Frevile the Lord William Beauchamp the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby Sr. Richard Pontchardon and Sr. Dangouses besides the Gascogne Lords such as the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Monferrant the Lord of Landuras the Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Bernard of Albret the Lord of Garonne Sr. Emery de Tharse with these Lords of Sainctogne and Poictou the Lord of Pous the Lord of Partenay the Lord Lewis Harcourt the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord James of Suggieres Sr. Moubron de Liniers Sr. William of Montendre Sr. Hugh de Vinoye the Lord of Crupenac and several others who all rode forth with the Duke of Lancaster to lay Siege to Monpaon When Sr. William of Monpaon heard how the Duke was coming against him with a great Power and ready to besiege him his Heart misgave him mightily for he knew if he should be taken he must die an ignominious Death So he fairly discover'd his Mind to the Bretons saying Sirs I 'll e'n leave this Castle to your Care and I 'll remove to Perigeux and help to Defend that For the Duke of Lancaster will not take me to Mercy if I should chance to fall into his Power Thus with their consent he marched off and the rest put themselves into the best posture of Defence that might be When the Duke of Lancaster e Frois c. 288. fol. 175. sed Gallicè fol. 239. b. was come with his Army before Monpaon he began to invest the Place and Tents and Pavilions were set up and Provision for Lodging and other necessaries was made as if he intended to tarry there seven Years Nor yet did he suffer his Men to lie idle for immediately they prepared to Assault the Castle and forced the Clowns thereabout to fell an huge Quantity of Wood and Timber to cast into the Ditch For 15 Days together they did nothing but busie themselves in filling up the Ditches by flinging in Wood Stones and Timber and always upon that straw and earth so that at last they had made up a considerable space of the Ditch that it was firm as any other Ground whereby they might approach the Walls at their pleasure to Assault the Besieged or Skirmish at the Barriers which they never failed to do Five or Six times a Day In this Siege there happen'd many notable Exploits for the French and Bretons were all good Knights and Esquires Men of Reputation and Courage and Defended themselves extraordinary well Insomuch that thô the Englishmen and Gascogners by filling the Ditch came so near them yet they were nothing the more concern'd with fear and also they behav'd themselves with that Industry and Valour that for all that they had little or no Disadvantage Wherefore they are worthy to inherit an Honourable Report Now there was not far from thence another Garrison of Bretons in a Castle called Sr. Macari whose Captains were John de Malestroit and Silvester Budes and every day they had News brought them how bravely their Friends of Monpaon acquitted themselves thô they were so hardly put to it These Men said often to one another Our Friends and Countrymen yonder in Monpaon are every day upon hot Service and deserve greatly to be honoured for their noble Courage whereof we hear so advantagious a Character And yet behold We sit still here neither undertaking any thing to advance our own Names nor to assist our Friends who are thus streightly beleaguer'd Surely we do not as becomes Knights and Gentlemen to do Thus they shew'd a good Will to go and help their Neghbours but then they consider'd the Danger of leaving their own Fortress void So that in this Case they were at a stand what course to take At last Silvester said to his Fellow John either you shall go and I 'll stay behind or I 'll go and leave you here Chose you whether Then John said Silvester you shall stay here and I 'll go Thus there was a long strife between them who should go for both of them claim'd that as a Privilege But at last they agreed swearing and promising before all the Garrison to stand to the Decision of Fortune by drawing of Cuts so that he of the two who should draw the Longest must go to Monpaon and the other was to stay behind They drew and Silvester had the longest Cutt whereat all the Company laught because indeed however in point of Honour they had contended for it 't was look'd upon as an Enterprise far more full of Hazard than Advantage However Silvester took not the Matter as a Jest but seriously set about it and exactly accoutred himself and mounted his Horse and rode forth with 12 Chosen Men of Arms in his Company and in the Dark of the Evening came and entred into the Fortress of Monpaon for he had the Night before given them intelligence of an Assistance coming where he was heartily welcome to the Knights of the Garrison all who thanked him kindly and highly extolled his Courage The very next Morning Silvester had occasion to shew his Valour for they were alarum'd with a fierce Assault and after that with another so that all the Defendants had their Hands full But the English had now made themselves strong Mantelets or moveable Penthouses in manner of a Testudo under which they shrouded certain Pioneers who while the Archers shot thick to clear the Battlements with great Pickaxes undermined the Walls till at last there fell
of Galizia A little after whose Departure on that very Day of St. John Baptist there came by Land to Rochell a great Number of Men of Arms English and Gascogners who as yet knew nothing of this Mischance of their Friends They had only heard that for certain the Spiniards lay before Rochell with design as it should seem to block it up and therefore they came thither now to preserve the Place The Chief Captains of these Men were the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche Sr. Beras du Launde Sr. Peter of Landuras the Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Bertram de France and of Englishmen the Lord Thomas x Vid. de his Barenibus Dug Bar. ad ecrum nomina Percy the Lord Baldwin Frevile the Lord John Devereux Sr. Richard Ponchardon Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. William Fermin and others When these Lords and Knights with their Troops which were to the Number of six hundred Men of Arms were come to Rochell the Citizens made them extream Welcome as it should seem For as then they durst not shew the Malice of their Minds But when Sr. James of Surgeres had inform'd them of the Spaniards Victory by Sea in which Engagement he himself had been taken and ransomed these heavy Tidings all the Barons and Knights took mightily to Heart and thought themselves the most unfortunate Men Living that they had not come thither time enough to their Friends Assistance But they were beyond measure displeased that they had lost the Earl of Pembroke and Sr. Guischard Dangle However there they tarried certain Days to consider how they should now proceed and because the Seneschal of Rochell Sr. John Harpedon was taken by the Spaniards the Captal of Busche as being one of the Duke of Lancasters Chief Deputies in those Parts constituted Sr. John Devereux Seneschal of Rochellois of which We shall speak hereafter VI. Many French Writers talk of one Owen or Evan which they corruptly call Yvan making him to be Son to a Prince of Wales whom say they King Edward the Third put to Death and gave the Principality to his Son Edward the Black-Prince But those that are better acquainted with the Welch Story can tell that Lhewellin ap Griffith the last Prince of Wales of the Brittish Blood died without Issue being slain at Buelht in the Days of King Edward the First Grandfather to our Edward in the Year of our Lord MCCLXXXII which was full 90 Years before this time That indeed y Lloyd's Hist of Wales p. 374 one Madoc of the Kindred of the said Lhewellin rebelled afterwards but being taken was kept a perpetual Prisoner in the Tower or as some say submitted and was received into Favour on Condition he would bring in another Rebel named Morgan and put him into the King's Hands which he did That z Lloyd ibid. p. 382. ex Rot. Turr. Edward of Carnarvon afterwards King Edward the Second was by his Father stiled Prince of Wales and received the Homage of several Lords and other Free-Holders of Wales That his Son Edward of Windsor in time King of England by the Name of Edward the Third about the Sixteenth Year of his Fathers Reign was in a Parliament holden at York created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain thô as a Vid. huâ—us Hist l. 1. c. 1. § 2. p. 2 we shew'd before he is no where found to have used the former Title of the two But this is most certain that his Son the Black-Prince in the b Vid. huâ—us Hist l. 1. c. 3. § 5. p. 45. l. 1. c. 21. §. 9. p. 273. Seventeenth Year of his Fathers Reign was created Prince of Wales and that by this means Wales was ever after joyned to the Crown of England even to this Day From all which it appears that this Owen however otherwise commendable was but a Counterfeit as to this Point And yet it might be no ill Policy for the French Kings to entertain him as being a Declared Enemy to the English Having thus by a sincere Antidote taken away the Venom of this Upstart Prince's Pretensions I shall now proceed to shew what Use the French King made of him at this time in his Affairs It was reported that our King Edward the Third took one Edmund Prince of Wales who was never else heard of and beheaded him that his young Son this Owen forsooth being by some means or other brought over into France was nourished up by King Philip of Valois as a Child of Honour in his own Chamber That he bare Arms for King John at the Battle of Poictiers but that after the famous Peace at Bretigny he retired into Lombardy Whence upon the Renewing of the War between the two Realms he came back again and offer'd his service to King Charles against the English The King received him gladly and advanced him in his Court committing to his Charge certain Troops of Souldiers particularly this Summer he gave him 4000 Men and sent him to sea against England VII Prince Owen for so however We will take leave to call him went on â—oard having imbarked his Men at Harfleur in Normandy and so set Sail taking his Course to the left hand for the Isle of Garnsey the Governour whereof for the King of England was Edmund Ros a Valiant and Hardy Esquire When this Gentleman heard how the French had took land in the Isle and that Owen of Wales was their Leader he made his Summons immediately thrô the Country resolving to march forth against him and to give him Battle The whole Isle is not c Speeds Maps p. 94. above 36 Miles in Circuit But however what with his own Men and the Inhabitants he presently raised 800 Fighting Men and so came and presented Battle to Owen of Wales The Fight proved fierce and obstinate on both sides but at last the Englishmen who were far outnumbred by the Enemy were discomfited and fled leaving behind them 400 dead upon the Spot Ros himself with the rest made shift to retire into a strong Fortress about two leagues from the place of Battle called Cornet-Castle which he had exceedingly fortified and victuall'd before and there he resolv'd to expect what God would please to send him After this Victory Prince Owen rallied his Men together and went directly and laid siege to the Castle of Cornet whither he heard Edmund Ros the Captain was retreated But the Place was so strong and as we shewed before so well provided that it was not to be won without much time and labour wherefore Owen sat down before the Castle It was in the time of this Siege that the late unhappy Adventure fell to the Earl of Pembroke and the Lord Guischard Dangle and their Men in the Haven of Rochell as we have related At the News whereof the French King was extream glad and assumed the greater Courage to pursue the Wars in Poictou and elsewhere For now he thought when the Good Towns and Cities of those Parts did
Men of Arms who were all extreamly troubled that they came too late to save their Friends But however when they saw the Matter past Remedy they fell to consult how they might prevent any further Mischief thereabouts They saw and knew that the Rochellers were false at the Bottom wherefore by general Consent the Captal who was the Chief as being the Duke of Lancasters Deputy took order for the Security of the City and made the Lord John Devereux Seneschal of Rochell in the place of Sr. John Harpedon who had been taken by the Spaniards with whom he left no less than 200 Men of Arms For he knew that as long as he was strong enough in the Castle they durst not rebell Having thus settled Affairs here he left Rochell and marched away with 400 Spears toward Soubize for he heard how certain Troops of Bretons held several Churches and small Fortresses thereabouts which they had made Defensible But when the Captal and the English Lords came thither they easily wan their Holds drave them away and rid the Marches clean of them XI All this while f Frois c. 301 302 c. Gallicè fol. 247. there kept the Field about the Frontiers of Anjou Touraine and Berry Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France the Duke of Berry the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord Lewis of Sancerre the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord Beaumont de la Val the Vicount of Roüen and the Lord of Beaumanoir and a great many other Lords of France with very considerable Forces to the Number in all of 3000 Men of Arms. These being all joyn'd with the Constable in Poictou went and laid Siege to Monmorillon standing on the River Gartempe which they wan by Assault and put every Soul within to the Sword and new-mann'd the Place with Frenchmen Thence they proceeded to Chauvigny on the Vienne where they lay two Days and on the Third the Place was yielded up and the English within taken to Mercy Thence they went to the Town and Castle of Lusac both which yielded without enduring One Assault After that they came before Poictiers the Chief City of that Province before which they lay One Night among the Vines so that the English within began to be mightily concerned as expecting to be besieged but there was no such Matter For upon some occasion or other contrary Resolutions were taken and the next Morning the Duke of Berry went away from the Host with a good Body and the Constable lead the Residue of the Army toward Moncontour and sat down before it The Captains within were John Creswell and David Holcroft and with them were sixty Men of Arms of approved Valour who had very much constrained the Marches of Anjou and Touraine and other French Garrisons their Neighbours Wherefore the Constable vow'd not to stir thence till he had the Place at his Devotion But because the Dikes were broad and deep he caused the Bores of the Country to cut down Wood and bring it thither and so flinging it into the Ditches with straw and earth upon it they fill'd them in Four Days time that they might pass over when they pleas'd On the Fifth Day the Constable Commanded to the Assault and there was one begun which lasted with great Animosity all that day But the Garrison were as busie to Defend themselves So that by their extraordinary Manhood for that time they kept themselves from all Disadvantage On the Sixth Day the Constable renewed the Assault and the mean while sent over Pioneers with Pick-Axes and Mattocks in their hands who being cover'd with a Testudo made several small Breaches in the Walls to the great terrour of the Besieged But yet they fought as Valiantly as was possible for Men to do insomuch that they remain'd that day also unconquer'd But at Night John Creswell and Dauid Holcroft began to consider with themselves the Danger they were in that the Constable seem'd resolv'd not to stir thence till he had them at his Mercy and that if they were taken by Force nothing but Death was to be expected Which Matters being duly weigh'd they fell to a Treaty proffring to deliver the Castle their Lives and Goods saved The Constable who was not willing to harass his Men by another Assault nor indeed to be too severe to those of the Castle because he esteem'd them as Valiant Men yielded at last to let them go without any Bodily Hurt on Condition that they should Carry nothing with them except only Gold or Silver And this Concession being accepted they left the Place and were convey'd as they had desired to Poictiers The Constable having thus obtained Moncontour tarried there a while to refresh his Men and to repair the Fortifications of the Castle during which space he advis'd whether he should March next to Poictiers or any other Place But when it was known at Poictiers that the Constable had taken the Castle of Moncontour they were more doubtfull of themselves than before and immediately dispatch'd away Messengers to their Seneschal the Lord Thomas Percy who was then abroad in the Company of the Captal of Busche But before Sr. Thomas had received this Notice Sr. John Devereux came to their Aid with 50 Spears of his Retinue For hearing that the Constable of France had been once already before Poictiers to view the Place whereby he guess'd how he would shortly lay Siege thereto especially because he knew that Sr. Thomas Percy himself was not present he left an English Esquire named Philip Mansell for his Deputy and Captain in the Castle of Rochelle and so went with the 50 Men of Arms aforesaid to Poictiers where he was very welcome and received many thanks for his Good-will But when News came to the Lord Thomas Percy who was then with the Captal how his Men at Poictiers desired his speedy return unto them forasmuch as they doubted a Siege and that they requested him to come as strong as he could because the Bretons and Frenchmen were a great Army he shew'd the Matter to the Captal requiring his Advice thereupon The Captal having seriously debated the point determin'd by no means to break his own former Design for that business but he gave leave to Sr. Thomas to return to Poictiers because it was his particular Charge And so Sr Thomas went thither with 80 Spears where he found Sr. John Devereux and gave and received many hearty Welcomes among his Friends XII All this was shew'd to the Constable who was still at Moncontour namely that Poictiers was mightily strengthened by these New Accessions besides that before it was thought no easie Matter to attempt it Wherefore he intended to give over his Design of making tryal there and to go for the present and joyn the Duke of Berry who having a considerable Army also which he had gather'd out of Auvergne Berry Burgundy and the Marches of Limosin had lately sent for him to come and go along
the Lords Clisson Tournemine Beaumanoir and Rochefort Sr. William of Bourdes Sr. Oliver Manny Sr. Reinald of Limosin Geoffry Ricon John de Lansonet Alan de St. Pol Carswell and other Captains all who with their several Retinues went before St. John D'Angely which they prepared to assault But the Inhabitants seeing how fast the whole Country fell away and despairing of any timely Succour now their Chief Governour the Captal was taken Prisoner yielded themselves and voluntarily engag'd for the French Interest After this they presented themselves before Angoulesme which submitted in the same manner and this Example was followed by Taillebourg a Town of Sainctogne from whence they went and lay before Sanctes the Chief City of that Province where they were two Days without any Success Because their Captain Sr. William Ferenton resolved as he said not so lightly to yield up so considerable a Place but rather to stand stoutly to his Defence But there was within the Bishop of that See who was a perfect Frenchman and made such Harangues to the Citizens that they siezed the Captain and threatned to kill him unless he would agree to deliver the Town So thrô fear he was obliged to consent but on this Condition that He and his Men might go away freely without any Harm or Impeachment And thus was Sainctes also given to the French and Sr. William Ferenton with his Men had safe Conduct to go to Bourdeaux XVII Now the Spanish Fleet of which we spake lay still at Anchor before the City of Rochell with Owen of Wales and many Bretons and French among them And all the while the Rochellers held under-hand Treaty with them for they durst not openly declare their Minds while the Castle remain'd in English Hands Wherefore also they had hitherto dissembled till by little and little the main Strength of the English Garrison had left them while they went to prevent the Loss of other Places As particularly the Lord John Devereux had lately gone to reinforce the City of Poictiers with fifty Spears having left the Castle of Rochell in the Custody of Philip Mansel an English Esquire who had with him in Garrison about an hundred Men of Arms more Now at this time there was a Burgess Mayor of the City a subtle Man and a secret Enemy to the English named John Chaudron who having one day in a close Caball assembled the Chief of his Faction said unto them My Friends We see dayly how our Neighbours turn to the French side and because We delay to do the same I sear We shall be shortly so strictly beleaguer'd as well by Land as now by Water that We shall not tell which way to stir nor dare to put our Heads out of the Town Wherefore in my Opinion 't would be good to take heed betimes and to consider how We may Reduce this Castle into our Power which hath been so great a Curb unto Vs heretofore Surely at this time it is but meanly provided with Men and honest Philip Mansel the Captain has no great Wit to boast of I intend therefore to tell him how I have received a Command from the King of England to cause all the Inhabitants of the City that bear Arms to appear in the Field and be exercised at the time and place as I shall tell him That I may take their Musters and view their Number and the Goodness of their Horses and Armour as also of those within the Castle and so send word thereof unto the King. And hereupon I shall Command him in the King's Name to come forth of the Castle and to make his Musters together with Vs which I believe he will not scruple to do as I shall handle him And if so We will be provided of an Ambush of 200 Men of Arms lying among the Old Walls without the Castle which Ambush stepping in between him and the Bridge shall cut off his Return The mean while others shall be ready to compleat the Design and so We shall take them at our pleasure and be Masters both of them and also of the Castle This project was agreed on and kept secret till one day the Mayor who was Author of the Invention invited Philip Mansell to come and dine with him and several Burgesses also most whereof were then of the English part but they knew nothing of the Plot. There was a great and Splendid Dinner indeed and many things relating to the King of England's Affairs were at that time discussed and the Mayor acted his part very well But after Dinner he produced a Letter with King Edward's Broad Seal appendant to it the better to perswade Philip Mansell to believe him whom he knew to be ignorant of Letters And Philip for his part saw and knew the Seal very well but he could not read a Word whatever he pretended by looking on In short the Mayor took the Letter and read it unto him as he pleased otherwise than it was written the unlearned Captain looking over him all the while as if he read along with him thereby to conceal his Ignorance which yet the Cunning Mayor knew well enough Then he said to Esquire Mansell Captain by the Tenor of this writing You see and hear how our Sovereign Lord the King hath Commanded Me and also You by Me to make our joynt Musters Wherefore in the King's Name I now require You to come forth to morrow Morning and take a View of your Men as I likewise according to my Duty shall do The Captain who suspected no harm in the least said he would be ready to do his Duty and so took his leave and return'd to the Castle That same Night before Day the Mayor took 200 Men of Arms and laid them in an Ambush near the Castle among the Ruines of old Walls that were without and at such an Hour he caused the Watch-Bell to be sounded and all the Inhabitants to be Armed On the other hand Philip Mansell having Armed Eighty Chosen Men marched forth of the Castle in good Order at the Head of them toward the Field where the Rendezvous was to be But when he was once pass'd the old Walls the Ambush rush'd forth and placed themselves between him and the Bridge and then he saw he was betray'd However he fac'd about Couragiously upon them hoping by force to recover an entrance into the Castle again But then came the Mayor upon his Reer with the Commons of the City to the Number of 2000 Fighting Men So that the English being thus unequally match'd and assailed from before and behind were compelled to yield only for safeguard of their Lives They could obtain nothing further But for all that the Castle was not yet won For Esquire Mansell had left behind 20 Valiant Men still in the Place besides their servants Valets and Officers of the Castle who seeing their Captain thus intercepted had by this time drawn up the Bridge again and shut the Gates Whereupon the Mayor being exceedingly enflam'd
come and yet heard no News of the King. However to acquit themselves to their Power they sent to the Barons of Poictou that were in Thoüars this Message by certain Knights Right Dear Sirs we are sent hither unto you from the Loyal Lords of Gascogne and of England who remain under the Obedience of the King of England to let you know that there are come from Niort above twice twelve hundred Men of Arms ready prepar'd to aid and assist you in all manner of respect Only Sir they desire to know from you whether in the Absence of the King of England and of his Children you will accept of their Assistance or no. As for them they are ready if so it please you to adventure their Lives and Fortunes together with you The Barons of Poicton heartily thanked the Lords of England and of Gascogne who had made them so kind a Proffer but they desired time to consider what in that Case was to be done At first they could not agree for the Lord of Partenay who was a Principal Member among them would have them accept of the Assistance of these Lords who as he said represented the King of England But most of the other Lords were of a contrary Opinion saying How they had sealed and sworn to this Agreement that if by such a Day the King of England or one of his Sons did not appear there Personally in the Field then they should submit themselves to the Obedience of the French King. Upon this Resolution the Lord of Partenay went away to his Lodgings in deep Displeasure but the next Day he was so wheedled by those of the adverse Party that he also became of their Mind And so with one Consent they returned this Answer That they thanked them heartily for their Good-will Notwithstanding the King of England or one of his Sons must needs be there in Person according to the Treaty whereto they had sworn and sealed This Answer was no way pleasing to the English and Gascogners about Niort but they could no ways hope to save them who were thus disposed not to be saved by them XXIII On the Eve of St. Michael there came from Poictiers to hold their appointment before Thoüars the Constable of France the Dukes of Berry Burgunay and Bourbon the Lord Oliver Clisson the Vicount of Rohan the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord Lewis of Sancerre the Lord of Sully and other Great Lords of France to the Number of 10000 Men of Arms besides others This vast Army stood ready ranged in Battle Array in the Field before Thoüars on the Eve and all the day long on the Feast of St. Michael and against Night they withdrew to their Tents But on the Morrow in the Morning the Constable and the Dukes sent to the Knights of Poictou within Thoüars demanding of them to deliver up the City according to their Promise and Oaths in that behalf made To these Summons 't was answer'd how they would shortly come to Poictiers and there submit themselves and all their Lands to the Protection of the French King. This Answer seeming sufficient to the Lords of France they brake up from before Thoüars and the Dukes dismist the greater part of their Army only retaining such competent Forces as they had before they expected King Edward's Arrival Among others the Lord Clisson was appointed by the Constable to go with 200 Spears and attempt Mortaigne on the Severe Nantoise which as then held for England having within sixty Men of Arms for its Defence under the Command of an English Esquire named James Clare The Lord Clisson being come before the Place began a fierce Assault whereat he himself was present but for all that he wan little or no Advantage but at Night was fain to retire to his Camp. The Captain within seeing himself thus put to it sent out secretly to the Lords of England and Gascogne then at Niort telling them that if they would send any Troops thither before Morning he would receive them into his Fortress whereby they might easily pass thrô the Castle into the Lord Clisson's Camp who had with him but 200 Men of Arms. Upon this Notice certain Lords went that Night from Niort with 500 Men of Arms in their Company and so rode on toward Mortaigne being very desirous to entrap the Lord Clisson if they could But there was a spy who knew all their purpose for he came out of Niort with them that Evening and so rode on upon the spur before and came to the Lord Clisson whom he found at Supper and said to him Sir Your Enemies to the Number of 500 Men of Arms have left Niort and are coming upon you apace With that the Lord Clisson thrust away the Table from him and arm'd himself with all speed and mounted his Horse and rode away hastily with all his Company leaving the greater part of the Carriages behind and never stopt till he came to Poictiers And the English having thus failed of their design return'd to Niort in great displeasure Soon after which having left Sr. Dangouses and Sr. John Creswell in garrison there the other great Lords and Captains brake up their assembly at Niort Sr. Walter Hewet with some few more returning into England and all the rest to Bourdeaux But as they went they burnt and ravaged in the Lands of the Lord of Partenay who was lately turn'd French at Thoüars Thus all the Country of Poictou was reduced under the French except a few Fortresses as Niort Les Esars Mortimer Mortaigne Lusignan La Motte Achart La Roche Sur Yonne Gauzar La Tour Landry Mexis and some others which made divers Excursions and Inroads among their Neighbours sometimes chacing and sometimes being chaced themselves XXIV Now the a Frois c. 306. f. 186. sed Gallice f. 254. Lord John of Monford Sirnamed the Valiant who had hitherto full and quiet Possession of the Dukedom of Bretagne his Competitor Charles of Blois being slain as We have shewn was infinitely displeased at these Losses of his Old Friends the English Both Gratitude and Honour made him rather love their Interest since it was truly said that the King of England had advanced him to what he was and that he had had nothing had it not been for Him who all along had made Powerfull War in his behalf and had lent him vast Sums of Silver and Gold and given him his Daughter also in Marriage Wherefore the Duke himself would rather have held his Lands of King Edward than of the French King But the Major part of the Lords Knights and Esquires of that Country were for France in their hearts especially the Lord Clisson the Lord de la Val and the Vicount of Rohan who were the Chief Lords of all that Country and these doubted not to assure the Duke to his Face that he must expect no service of them unless he continued true to France Sir said they as soon as We shall once perceive that You resolve
with his Hundred Knights and Esquires to ride abroad so to entice the Enemy into their Ambush Not far thence along by a great Hedge were the Lord of Gomegines and his Men who stood there on Foot all in good Order only Sr. John Harleston i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 154. Captain of Guisnes was sent forth with 20 Spears to see if he could find the French his Orders being on sight of them to fly and suffer the Enemy to pursue him towards this Hedge where his Friends stood ready for them As Sr. John was riding forth in the Fields with this Design the young Earl of St. Pol espi'd him and said aloud to his Men Sirs now let us advance forth Yonder are our Enemies and so clapping Spurs to their Horses they set forward full Speed Sr. John Harleston flying as fast before them till he came to the Hedge where his Friends stood ready ranged with the Archers in their Front. As soon as the Frenchmen came in their reach the Archers received them warmly shooting and overthrowing to the ground Men and Horses and immediatly the Men of Arms came up with them having remounted their Horses with Spears and Axes in their Hands while Sr. John Harleston with his twenty Spears fetching a Compass about came behind and fell in upon their Backs with great fury Many gallant Deeds were done by the Young Earl of St. Pol and the Frenchmen but being thus surrounded and overpower'd with Number they were all slain or taken to a Man. The Earl of St. Pol was taken alive by the hands of an Esquire of the Dutchy of Gueldre and together with him by other Hands the Lord of Pons the Lord of Clery the Lord William of Nesle Sr. Charles of Chastillon Sr. Lionel D'Araines Sr. Gawen de Vesley Sr. Henry de Lisle and Sr. John his Brother the Chastellain of Beauvais and many more Knights and Esquires Immediately after which Discomfiture the Lord Hugh de Chastillon came thither with his three hundred Spears and his Banner before him he rode up almost to the Hedge end but understanding then how his Friends Business was already done and that the English so far outnumbred him he drew his Men together and wheel'd off without giving a stroke for he doubted more to encrease the Loss than to repair it Upon this good Success the English return'd to Ardres with their Prisoners and that very Night the Lord of Gomegines bought the Young Lord Valeran Earl of St. Pol of the Esquire that took him and soon after carried him into England and presented him to the King who thanked him very much and rewarded him more for that acceptable Piece of Service But this young Earl found such Gracious Dealing from King Edward that he became ever after as great a Friend as his Father had been an Enemy to the English Nation * Mili's Catal. Hen. p. 765. being Married to the Half-sister of King Richard the Second VIII About that time the Duke of Anjou and the Constable return'd as we observ'd before into France where they found the Archbishop of Roüen and the Bishop of Carpentras who had been long with the King at Paris making instant and continual Application unto him in the Pope's Behalf as other Legats at the same time dealt with King Edward for the same Purpose Wherefore according to a former Agreement between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster both the Kings were now again obliged to enter a Negotiation thereby if possible to accommodate their Differences The Place appointed for the Assembly was Bruges in Flanders but first the Duke of Anjou according to his Obligation went to St. Omers in great Array having sent for his Cousin Guy of Blois to come thither to him out of Hainal◠about which time the Duke of Lancaster arrived at Calais soon after which both the Dukes with their several Retinues went to Bruges And all the while there lay on the Marches between France and Flanders towards Aire and about Belle or Baillieul and Cassell in Flanders and near those Parts the Constable of France the Lords of Clisson and la Vall and Sr. Oliver Manny with above 600 Men of Arms to keep the Country least any thing should be innovated by the Earl of Flanders For these Lords being all Bretons could not repose any Trust in that Earl because he was so firm a Friend to John of Monford Duke of Bretagne against whom they fought Wherefore neither would they ever come to Bruges whatever the Commissioners on both sides could say or do There were present at this Treaty on the French Kings Part Lewis Duke of Anjou and Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruce the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop Elect of Bayeux and others And for the King of England there was John Duke of Lancaster William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Simon Sudbury Bishop of London Sr. John Cobham of Kent Sr. Frank van Hall Sr. Arnold Savage Mr. John Shephey and Mr. Simon Multon This Treaty was carried on by Snatches for k Mezeray two full Years with incredible Expences the Frenchmen all the while preparing at Home l Walsingh Hyp. p. 133. n. 40. for War fitting and making of Arms of all sorts and providing all manner of Warlike Habiliments And thus even in those Days were the French always too hard at Council for the English However for the present m Frois c. 312. fol. 194. Angl. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. that no Harm or Molestation should come to any of the Lords of either Party or to any of their Men by subtlety or other means since there were Hundreds that rode in and out daily of both Sides thô they could not settle a Firm and General Truce because of the Duke of Bretagne's Concerns and other Matters which render'd the thing impracticable yet first of all they settled this Point by agreeing on a Partial Truce to endure till the First of May in the Year following in all the Marches of Calais as far as the River of Somme all other Lands being left in their former state of Hostility Whereupon the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord de la Val hasted with their Troops into Bretagne because the Truce extended not to that Dukedom About this n Frois c. 311. time also there was a Treaty set on Foot concerning the Delivery of the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners out of Spain especially because the Earl of Pembroke o Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 10. not enduring the hard Usage of the Spaniards sent to Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France whom he knew to have great Interest with the King of Spain entreating him to use his power to deliver him out of that inhumane Thraldom Whereupon Sr. Bertram upon delivering back his Lands belonging to Soria Castle and acquitting certain Sums of Money due unto him from the King of Spain his Nephew Sr. Oliver
Bretagne arrived safe at St. Matthew du Fine Poterne in Bretagne where formerly he had found the Gates shut upon him Here he took Land in good Order and forthwith began to Assault the Castle which stood without the Town not greatly fortified at that time either with Men or Munition Wherefore the English carried it by force and put every Man of them to the Sword because they repented not but stood out still in Rebellion against their Natural Lord. When the Townsmen saw this severe Example they presently set open their Gates to receive the Duke unto whom again they sware true and constant Obedience From hence the English marched straight to the City of St. Pol du Leon which was very strong and enclosed with a Wall and a Ditch However they began a fierce and Vigorous Assault and all the while the Archers who stood on the Dikes shot so wholly together that few or none durst appear at their Defences and so at last the Place was won rifled and plunder'd and many hundreds put to the Sword but of the French Garrison not a Man was saved From thence they passed on taking Towns and Castles all along till they came to St. Brieux de Vaulx which was well furnished with Men and Arms and all things necessary For the Lords of Clisson and of Beaumanoir the Vicount of Rohan and other Lords of Bretagne had been there but a little before and refreshed the Place sufficiently But the Duke sat down resolving to try what he could do by Siege and Assault III. The mean while the Vicount of Rohan and the Lord of Beaumanoir who lay by way of countersiege not far off fronting the Duke of Bretagne heard how the Lord John Devereux being near Quimperlay made great havock thereabouts and had newly repair'd and fortify'd a little Place of Defence which he call'd New-Fort that there he kept his Garrison to the terrour of the whole Country so that the Inhabitants could hardly put their Heads out of their Gates but they were presently pick'd up by Sr. John and his Men. Upon this they sent word to the Lord Clisson who was then at Lamballe a Town about Five Leagues from St. Brieux and He for his part having left some Troops behind to secure the Town marched with the rest of his Men to joyn his Friends before New-Fort to which they soon after laid Siege News hereof was brought to the Duke of Bretagne and the English Lords before St. Brieux just as they had lost a Mine which with great Cost and Pains they had been making for 15 Days together Wherefore being vext at this Disappointment and also desirous by all means to save Sr. John Devereux they agreed not to tarry any longer before so strong a Place but rather to rise and go to the Succour of their Friends For said they if We may but find them in the Field who have now besieged them We trust to have a Fair Day against them Upon this Determination they brake up their Siege and began to March towards New-Fort which it seems the Lords of Bretagne had so fiercely Assaulted that they were now come even to the foot of the Wall and began to dig with might and maine not fearing any thing that the English could cast upon them they were so well cover'd with a Penthouse of shields and indeed the English had but little heavy Matter to fling down But however Fortune so well favour'd them that at the very Instant while they were thus digging to bring down a Pane of the Wall there came one to them suddenly upon the Spur saying Lords get away as fast as You can for yonder is the Duke of Bretagne coming in all haste upon You with his English Army They cannot be above two Leagues off by this time Upon this immediately the Trumpets sounded a Retreat to the Assailants and they drew all back mounted their Horses and marched off speedily taking their way to Quimperlay the nearest Place of Defence they knew of and being enter'd they shut up their Gates drew up the Bridges and prepared for their Defence IV. By this time the Duke of Bretagne came thither with all the Barons and Knights of England having pass'd by New-Fort and given but a short Visit to Sr. John Devereux who thanked them all heartily for their timely Assistance without which he had been most certainly lost But now the Duke lays Siege to Quimperlay his Archers being brought forth into the Field and his Footmen and Men of Arms set to the Assault The Englishmen were not in jest no more were the Besieged So that after a cruel Attack and a Resolute and well-menag'd Defence many being grievously wounded on both sides they parted for that time But thus every day the Game was play'd between them without any considerable Advantage to the English thô to all appearance it was not possible for the Besieged to hold out much longer For Succour to come they had none to Escape away there was no hope all the Avenues being possest by the Enemy and they very well knew that if they were taken by force they should have no mercy especially the Lord Clisson who had been of late so inveterate an Enemy to the English that he could expect no favour at their Hands Upon these considerations they fell to treat with the Duke offering to yield themselves on Condition they might be put to courteous Ransom But the Duke thinking it shamefull to Capitulate thus orderly with his own Subjects absolutely rejected that Motion and would have them yield up simply However at last with much ado they obtain'd of him a Truce and Respit for Eight Days during which time there fell an happy Chance for the Besieged For two English Knights Sr. Nicolas Charnells and Sr. Walter Vrsewick were sent thither from the Duke of Lancaster then at Bruges enjoyning the Duke of Bretagne and all the English Commanders in the King of England's Name to forbear all further Acts of Hostility Forasmuch as there was then lately a Truce taken between the two Kings of England and of France and all their Friends and Allies of the Articles whereof these Knights brought Authentick Copies into the Camp. They were immediately read and published thrô the Camp and also to the Besieged in Quimperlay to the great joy of the latter for without this unexpected good Fortune they had all been lost infallibly And thus the Duke of Bretagne being trepan'd by this subtle trick of the Frenchmen was forced to let his Enemies slip out of his Hands and so brake up the Siege licencing all his Men to depart except his Domestick Retinue with whom he went to Auray where he found his Dutchess After this having at his leisure refreshed his Garrisons of Brest and Auray and done what was necessary for the preservation of his own he return'd with his Lady into England to advise further with the King his Father-in-Law V. A little before which Edmund Earl of Cambridge Edmund
of Archimbald Douglas who fell in the Battle of Halliden Earl of Douglas and committed to his Charge the Leading of one Brigade III. The first e Holinshead Scotl. p. 240. c. â—t ante Fortress they came to near the Borders was Lidel round which they lay encamped for three Days but on the Fourth after a Vigorous Attack carried it by fine force where they put most of those they found to the Sword But the Captain Sr. Walter Selby before he would deliver his Sword compounded with a Scotch Knight to have his Life and the Lives of his Children saved which was thereupon assured him But when King f Stow p. 243. Holinshead ibid. c. David heard of the Captains being taken he gave order that his Head should be cut off Then the Scotch Knight who had taken him began to intreat in his behalf at least that he might be admitted into the Kings Presence this with much adoe being granted the English Knight upon his knees requested that his Life might be saved for a Ransom But notwithstanding he was again adjudged to die Nor only so but the Cruel Prince commanded two of his Children to be strangled in sight of their Father and having thereby afflicted his Mind almost to Madness with rage and grief he presently caused his Head to be stricken off not allowing him so much time as to make a Confession thô like a good Christian he instantly desired that Ghostly comfort Surely that hatred is Diabolical and Implacable nor only unworthy of a Christian but even exceeding the Barbarity of Infidels which extends beyond this Life and endeavours not only to destroy the Body but also to plunge the Soul into Eternal Ruine After this Merciless Execution the Scotch Army marched to Lenercost where they spoil'd the Abbey of all its Ornaments and whatever was valuable therein and so passing the River Irthing they went by Naworth Castle and leaving Cumberland enter'd on the other side the Picts-Wall into Northumberland wasting all along with fire and sword till they came to the Priory of Hexham which was also pillaged and sacked but the Town was saved from fire by the Kings Command for he was advised to spare four Towns from fire in his Passage to York whither he thought to go without Resistance namely this of Hexham Cerbridge Durham and Darlington to the end they might serve him as so many storehouses to lay in what quantities of Victuals and Provender he should find about in the Country therewith to sustain his Army upon Necessity if he should either stay long in England or be reduced to any extremity At Hexham he lay three Days and thence Marched to Ebchester beyond the River Derwen being one of the first Towns on that side within the Bishoprick of Durham As thus he marched wasting and spoiling the Country on every side toward the City of Durham he destroyed many of the Farms belonging to the Abbey of that City and had utterly ruin'd them all had g Knighten p. 2590. n. 40. Stow p. 243. not some of the Monks who were taken thereabouts and were kept as Prisoners to be Ransomed made an agreement for themselves and the rest of their Fraternity to pay the next Day ready down a 1000 pounds Sterling on Condition they would forbear spoiling the Residue of their Mannors or their Tenents But of all others they h Knighton ibid. n. 10. took one penny for every Head and one penny for every Foot which being done they were left free but otherwise put to the sword And thus they intended to do to every Soul they should meet with even to the River Trent but that they found a stop long before At last King David came and encamped by the Wood of Beare-Park within three Leagues of Durham not far from Nevils-Cross He took up his Lodgings in the Mannor there and daily sent forth strong Detachments to fetch in Booty and to burn and destroy Houses and Villages The Spoil Desolation and Slaughter which Rapine Fire and Sword spread along before the Enemy was both Barbarous and terrible for they spared neither Young nor Old neither Church Chappel nor Monastery but in their blind fury made one General Heap of both Sacred and Profane Not so much as the Goods and Lands belonging to the Patrimony of St. Cuthbert were exempted from Rapine and Plunder as the Scotch Writers themselves confess thô not only the Monks of the Abbey dedicated to that Saint had compounded for their exemption but also as Hector says King David was strictly admonished in a Dream by no means to presume to touch any thing belonging unto his Church IV. Now the Noble Queen of England Philippa being at that time in the North-parts about York when she heard of the first Motions of the Scots was not forgetfull of the King her Husbands Honour and of the Good of his Kingdom But putting on a Spirit worthy of Her that was Confort to King Edward and Mother to the Black-Prince sent out her Summons to all the Lords and Prelates of those Parts and others left by the King for the Defence of the Borders to repair with all speed unto her The Summons were sent forth in the Name of the King of England by the Queen and the Archbishop of York and soon after there came the Lords and Captains of England with their Retinues to York to the Queen where she made her General Musters Then the Queen and the Archbishop sent away an Herald at Arms to King David requiring him to desist from further invading the Country and to return into Scotland till some Reasonable Order for a final Peace might be agreed betwixt him and the King his Master Otherwise he should be sure to have Battle to the Uttermost within three Days after i Hector Beeth l. 15. fol. 324. But that if he refused all terms of Agreement he should remember that there was in Heaven a Just God of Power sufficient to Revenge the Injuries done unto England and especially to his Servants the Priests and other Holy Persons whom he had slain with the Sword neither sparing Church nor Church-Lands nor weak Women nor Innocent Children But all this signified little or nothing to that Prince who was not only stirr'd up by his Youth and an Emulation of his Fathers Glory but also provoked to Revenge as well by the former dealings of his English Enemies as by the manifold Benefits received of his Friend of France Wherefore he sends back a Mortal Defiance and the next Day set his Men in Order to receive their Enemies if they should come forward The first Battalia he committed to the Care of the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland as being Eldest Son of King Davids Eldest Sister Margaret Bruce with whom was the Lord Patrick Dumbar Earl of March The Second was commanded by John Randulph Earl of Murray and William Earl of Douglas And the Third he Lead himself having with him the French Auxiliaries
and the Flower of the Nobility of Scotland Thô Buchanan by I know not what Authority contradicts his Friend Hector here and gives the first Battail to the Earls of Murray and Douglas the Middle to the King and the last to Prince Robert Stuart and Dumbar In the same manner also the Scotch Historians divide the English Army contrary to what we shall manifest forthwith V. Now were the English come from York within about three Miles of Durham being in Number 1200 Men of Arms 3000 Archers and 7000 Footmen besides a Choice Band of Expert Souldiers newly come from before Calais the whole amounting to k Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 75. p. 887. 16000 compleat Then they were Order'd into Four Bodies Three to engage with the Enemy and the Fourth to stand behind as a Reserve on Horseback For since the Scots exceeded them in Number it seem'd best to the English thus to dispose their Men because if one of their Battails should be broken by this fresh Reserve it might be again Repaired And their Fronts being little less large than the Scots their Paucity was not so well observed nor were they unlikely to make good their Part with the Enemy because thô the Scots Numbers were greater while things should be doubtfull no more Hands among them could be employ'd than among the English who well-nigh equall'd them in Front and if the English should prevail their Enemies Numbers would rather encrease the Confusion than give them any Advantage Of these a great Part were Clergymen Priests Chaplains Fryers and the like but as my l Aiscue's hist Scotl. p. 179. Author says good tall Trenchermen such as were not afraid of a Crack'd Crown thô they had no hair to hide the Wound But m Knighton p. 2590. n. 10. Piety and a Love to their Country laid the Foundation of this Courage for seeing what havock King David had made of Holy Places and Persons they armed themselves with Faith in him who sets himself in Array against those who defie Religion and reared up the Banner of their Saviour as if now they fought against Infidels The First Brigade was govern'd by the Lord Henry Piercy who was General of all the Army thô not Earl of Northumberland as Hector foolishly calls him since it appears n Mili's Catal. Honor. p. 718. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 276. that his Grandson was the first Earl of that Title With him was Thomas Hatfield Lord Bishop of Durham Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos the Lord Thomas Musgrave and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham In the Second Battalia was William Zouch Archbishop of York and Lord Warden of the North and John Kirkeby Bishop of Carlile with whom were the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby and his Son Sr. John Nevil and o Monast Angl. Vol. 2. p. 918. a. n. 30. Ralph Lord Hastings and Others Althô I must not dissemble that p Joh. Tinemouth Aur. Hist M.S. in Bibl. Bodleâ—â— l. 21. c. 26. Tinemouth places the Lord Nevil in the Van. The Third Battail was lead by Thomas Beck Lord Bishop of Lincoln a Man of great Fame and Merit being assisted with the Lord John Moubray the Lord John Leyburn and Sr. Thomas Rokeby High-Sheriff of Yorkshire of whose first Advancement from an Esquire we have spoken in the first Year of this History The Fourth and Last Battalia was govern'd by Edward Bailiol David's Competitor for the Crown of Scotland with whom were John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury William Lord Ross of Hamlake and q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 545. Robert Lord Bertram High-Sheriff of Northumberland and Governour of Newcastle on the Tine Besides all which William Lord Deincourt and Robert Lord Ogle Sr. r Dugd. Warâ— p. 19. Nicolas Charnells and Sr. Henry Bellasis of Durham were appointed with a strong Guard to attend the Queens Person who by the best Authors is affirmed to have kept the Field all the time of the Battle Each of these Four Battalia's consisted of 4000 Choice Men among and besides whom were as we said many Clergymen who came thither now of their own Accord with wonderfull Zeal to fight against the Scots who had so profan'd and violated the Honour of God in his Members the Clergy that with great Devotion and Faith these Holy Men had already marked them forth for Ruine Some whereof refused not to fight against these Enemies of Religion and Others carried their Crosses as Banners before the Men of War singing at the joyning of the Battle Miserere to the great Encouragement of the Sword-men who thought themselves unconquerable since they fought now as well with the Sword of the Spirit as with an Arm of Flesh VI. When thus on both Sides the Armies were order'd the Amazon Queen Philippa t Frois c. 138. rode before the Battles on a white Courser being attended with her Guard and passing from Rank to Rank she sweetly desired them all to use their utmost endeavour to defend the Honour of her Dear Lord the King of England and wished them every Man in the Name of God to take Heart and be of good Courage graciously promising that to her Power she would remember and consider the Well-deserving no less than if her Lord the King was there personally to bear witness of all their Actions And so she recommended the whole Army and her Self to God and St. George This was done early in the Morning Now before the Armies began to move Earl Douglas by the Kings Command rode forth with a good Brigade of Horse to discover the Face of the Enemy and as Occasion was offer'd to skirmish with them But he coming suddenly e'r he was aware into their Danger was received so sharply and upon his flight pursued so warmly that having lost u Buchan l. 9. p. 302. Aiscue's Hist Scâ—tl p. 180. 500 of his best Men he very narrowly escaped himself to the Main Body Where as soon as he had recover'd himself the whole English Army appeared in Three Battalia's for the Fourth was not yet discover'd marching forward very couragiously Whereupon Sr. David Graham x Hector l. 15. fol. 324. n. 50. Aiscue's Hist Scotl. p. 180 c. a valiant Baron of Scotland with a Wing of 500 Horse well appointed gave a full Charge upon the left Flank of the English Archers hoping to disorder and overrun them But he was mistaken for they received him with such a Showre of Arrows that after two or three Attempts in vain having lost many of his Men he also was fain to fly back to the Main Battle upon the Spurr in great danger of being taken by his Pursuers VII These inauspicious Beginnings did nothing at all startle the Courage of the Scotch King Who was both Young and Valiant and because he had never yet in Person maintain'd a just Fight greedy of War hoping to be no less Victorious than his Father Robert Bruce had been before him Wherefore he presently commanded to sound a Charge
Pedro's Cruelty returned him Letters with full assurance that thô he should lose half his Realm therefore he would make no Agreement with the Prince which should be to his Prejudice but that he would never come to any manner of accord with Don Pedro And further he promised to keep his Country open for all Men of War that would come to his Assistance but to close all the Passages against those who came to trouble or molest him All which promises he kept very punctually For when he knew that Don Pedro was abetted by the Prince and that the Companions were marching toward Bourdeaux to joyn them he presently stopped all the Passages of his Kingdom and kept them strictly and set Men of War on the Mountains to defend the Passages and Streights of Catalunna so that none could pass without exposing themselves to imminent Danger But for all this the Companions found another way thô they suffer'd many Hazards and Difficulties before they could get rid of those traps set for them in Aragon Yet at last they came to the Marches of the Earldom of Foix where they found that Countrey also closed against them For the Earl would not by any means permit such a sort of Pillagers to pass thrô his Land. XV. The mean while Prince Edward employ'd all his thoughts Night and Day how he might to his Honour perform this Expedition and now he was concerned how these Companions who had already proffer'd him their Service might be safely brought into Aquitaine for he heard how the Passages of Aragon were closed up and that now they were upon the Marches of the Earldom of Foix in much trouble and more danger Wherefore he began to doubt lest the Bastard Henry and the King of Aragon together should by thus streightly dealing with these Companions who were in all to the Number of 12000 Men prevail so as either thrô fear of Danger or Hope of advantage to oblige them to act on the other side which he resolv'd if possible to prevent because they were all Expert and Valiant Men. Then he determin'd to send the Lord John Chandos to retain them for his Service and also to treat with the Earl of Foix desiring him in the Prince's Name to do no harm to them on which account he promis'd him that whatever Damage they should do in his Country he would make him double Amends therefore This Business Sr. John Chandos undertook to do for his Lord and so he first rode to the City of Dax in Gascogne whence he continued his journeys till he came to Foix and here he so well menaged the Earl that he consented to all that he requested of him Then the Lord Chandos rode onward till he came to Belcayne where he found the Companions and fully agreed with their Captains and retain'd them to serve the Prince in his Spanish Expedition for such and such Considerations which the Lord Chandos engaged by Oath should be performed This done he return'd to the Earl of Foix again and desired him that these People being now retained in the Prince's Service might find no lett or hindrance from him but that he would freely permit them to pass by one of the sides of his Country The Earl of Foix who had a great Respect for the Prince besides that he held his Lands of him to do him a pleasure consented on condition they should do no harm by Spoil or otherwise to him his Lands or People Sr. John engaged they should forbear all Violence and Rapine and then he sent an Esquire and an Herald to the Companions with the Articles of the Treaty made by him on their behalf with the Earl of Foix after which he return'd to the Prince and gave him an account of his Success wherewith the Prince was well satisfied For he was very earnestly bent on this Expedition XVI The Black-Prince was now in the Flower of lusty Manhood being in the Thirty sixth Year of his Age of full Strength of Body and in perfect Health of undaunted Courage and Resolution all well temper'd with Experience and Discretion and he was never weary nor cloy'd with War from the first time he bore Arms but was always greedy of hazardous Enterprises and honourable Dangers But to say the Truth as for this Expedition into Spain wherein he intended to advance and resettle King Pedro in his Throne from which he had been deposed by Violence he was moved thereto from Principles of Honour and Equity and out of a compassionate Regard to Don Pedro's miserable Change of Fortune For however he might perhaps seem to deserve as bad or worse measure yet he rightly concluded that no Subjects much less a Bastard-Brother had either Law or Reason to call their Sovereign Lord to an account much less to punish him in such a manner He often spake to his Lords and Knights especially to the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton concerning this his intended Journey and particularly once he demanded of them what they thought of the matter And those two Lords answer'd him how indeed they thought nothing but well for the Cause was just and his Counsels proportionable to the end but they continued Sir without doubt this is a greater Enterprise beyond Compare than it was to thrust King Pedro out of his Kingdom For he was generally hated and when he thought to have made his Part good all Men forsook him But now at this present the Bastard King is actually possest of all that Realm and is confirmed the more strongly in the said Possession by being Master of the Hearts and Affections of all the Nobles Prelates and the whole Body of the Kingdom For they have unanimously received him for their King and his Children after him having for ever excluded Don Pedro and his Heirs and they have promised to uphold him in that Estate to the utmost extent of their Lives and Fortunes Wherefore Sir it concerns You to take along with you a Royal Army for besides the Alliances which the Bastard hath made or may make You shall find the whole Power of Spain and Aragon against you These things said the Prince we have fully consider'd but what think you as to the Nerves of this War which ought not to be the last Consideration Sir replied the Lord Chandos I would advise your Royal Highness to break the best part of your Plate and Treasure of which you have great Abundance and convert it all to Money to bestow largely among the Companions and other your Souldiers because 't is only for your Sake that they are willing to go but as for Don Pedro they would not stirr a foot either for the Love they bear to his Person or the Faith they have in his Promises Besides all which You would do well Sir to send into England to the King your Father desiring him to furnish you towards this expensive Enterprise with an 100000 Franks which Summ the French King is obliged shortly to pay to