King Robert lay now on his Death-bed and almost in his Grave and his Young Son David was but little more than out of the Cradle Their General the Lord Randulph began to be very sickly and the other famous Captain the Lord James Douglas had undertaken a journey to Palestine as soon as ever his Lord King Robert should depart this Life to present his Heart in the Holy Land to the Sepulchre of his Saviour as the King had adjur'd him on his Death-bed to do On all these Reasons and because they had already sounded those who sway'd most in the Government of England lest the Young King should this year revenge the Injuries of the last the Scots with much seeming humility came to the foresaid Parliament at Northampton desiring a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms which that they never meant in good earnest this is an undoubted Argument because their King Robert was ever of the mind and so declared on q Hector p. 309. lin 60. his Death-bed That no perpetual Peace ought ever to be made with England lest for want of use the Scots should forget their skill in Arms and that only sometimes to get an Advantage or to avoid an apparent Disadvantage they might strike up a Temporary Peace to endure but for two or three Years at the farthest But however that the Scots now required Peace in so humble a manner and by no less a Man than the Lord Douglas himself this was wonderfully pleasing to those who could not penetrate into the Design And there it was demanded by the English and with small adoe agreed unto by the Scots that they should pay unto the King of England thô it was meant to Mortimer for the Dammages done by them last year in the North r Knighton p. 2558. n. 10. in Artic. 20000 Marks thô Others say 30000 Marks and some as many Pounds Upon which pretended large Allowance the Scots cunningly proposed That for their better Security and to make the Amity more lasting their Young Prince of Scotland might have the King's Sister the Lady Joan of the Tower in Marriage Then with a pretended Zeal it was put home to the Scots that least new Quarrels should arise about Limits they would now renounce all claim to the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland or any other Place or Places which any of that Nation hath at any time held in England which was readily by the Scots granted as had before been privily agreed But then again it was humbly motion'd by them at the same time that all English Men should be prohibited from holding any Lands in Scotland unless only those who should there personally reside This was by the Contrivers acknowledged to be but just in equivalence to those Pretensions the Scots had so readily relinquished in England Only the Lord Å¿ Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. 273. Henry Piercy who was one of the Twelve appointed to advise and guide the young King was utterly against that Clause but he was born down by Mortimer's Party and so this also was granted Whereupon the Encroachment grew higher so that now his Majesty himself was humbly requested to lay down his claim to all Superiority over that Crown and Kingdom else how could they be secure his Subjects would lay by their Pretensions And also it must needs raise Heart-burnings between the two Realms so long as One could shew Evidences and Trophies of the Others slavery This without much consideration was look'd upon but as a consequence of the former and so many ancient Deeds and Evidences of the Scotch Dependance on England with all the Instruments of their former Homages and Fealties from the most Ancient Times till the Days of Edward the First this King's Grandfather to whom John t Harding fol. 232. c. 240. 241. Baliol resign'd his Right to that Kingdom as they are reckon'd up by u Walsing Hist p. 17. c. item p. 49. c. Walsingham x Grafton p. 172. c. item p. 186. c. Grafton and others are all now rendred back again to Scotland And besides this many ancient Jewels and Muniments among which the Sacred Black Cross of Scotland with the famous Evidence called the Ragman Roll containing all the Homages and Fealties of the King of Scotland and of all the Prelates Earls and Barons of that Realm with all their Seals y M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 217. appendant thereto and other Charters and Remembrances that King Edward the First had of his Right to the Realm of Scotland besides the Evidences of what his Barons held in that Kingdom All these were now deliver'd up again In consideration of all which Grants the King of Scotland agrees to pay to King Edward the foresaid summ of 30000 Marks of which be sure the Authors of this contrivance had their share And yet however either of the Kings reserved to himself liberty after a Truce of four Years to refuse the Peace if then he should not like the Conditions To which the Councils of both Nations were willing to agree for as much as the One expected the return of their great Commander James Douglas from the Holy Land by that time and the Other were cautious of confirming the Peace for a longer time than the King's Minority since they all perceived him very desirous already to get Honour on the Scottish Nation This is that Famous or rather Infamous Peace justly accounted so dishonourable to England that the Scots themselves afterward by way of Triumph Nick-named their Queen Joan Make-Peace as if the Realm of England had made that Match out of fear to rid their hands of the War However the Lady Joan of the Tower King Edward's Sister was accordingly on the z Joh. Tinemouth aur Hâ—st p. 229. ex aed. Lambeth Twelfth of July or as a Fabian p. 196. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cautabr c. 217. others on the 20 being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen taken in Marriage by David Bruce the Young King of Scotland his Father being dead but the Month before III. When these things were noised abroad King Edward began to appear Contemptible in the eyes of his Neighbours who did not at all consider what Arts were used to mislead his Youth by those who hop'd always to stand at the Helm The Scots made many insulting Rhymes in derision of our Nation one whereof is chiefly remembred viz. b Fabian p. 196. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. Long Beards Heartless Painted Hoods Witless Gay Coats Graceless Make England Thriftless Even Philip of Valois the French King who held that Crown but by Injustice from our King Edward is so far now from doubting to be called to any Account for it by him that he begins to meditate a Resolution of summoning him to come and render him Homage for his Lands in France held of that Crown But this matter he was forced for a
then in France about renewing a Truce toward a full Establishment of Peace And indeed King Philip who knew that the Lord Robert of Artois his Mortal Enemy was harboured and protected in England did not at all question but that he would do his utmost to embroil the Affairs of France nor was he ignorant what just pretences King Edward might make to his Crown beside the ancient and inveterate Antipathy that seem'd almost Natural between the two Kingdoms He gave therefore to King David the Castle of Galliard upon the Seyne to reside in during his Necessitous condition and assign'd him a truly Royal Allowance for nothing could be got from Scotland considerable enough to maintain a Port becoming the Majesty of a King. Nor was it long e're Philip sent into Scotland to those Lords who held against the English honourable Messengers with many large Promises of great Assistance both in Men and Money provided they would engage never to strike up a Peace with the King of England but by the consent and allowance of him and David their King. This Message so encouraged the Brucean Lords that they readily accepted the Motion and sware to keep the Covenant which they sent back to the French King with their Seals thereto annexed The Contents whereof were but the same with those which their King Achaius of old had made with Charlemaine King of France and which were usually from King to King renewed between the two Crowns till at last in our Fathers Days Scotland was happily united to the Crown of England Which Covenant since the Articles are but short and few it will not I hope be amiss here once for all to record y Favin's Theatre of Hon. 2 Vol. p. 79. l. 5 c. 3 1. That a firm and perpetual Alliance and Confederacy should be maintained between the Scots and French. 2. That when the English made War upon either the Scots or French they should both give mutual Succour reciprocally one to the other 3. That if it happen'd the English should war in France the Scots should then give them Succour with Men of War to be waged and maintained at the Expences of the French They also engaging to do the like for them if it happen'd the English should make War in Scotland 4. That neither Scots nor French should for the future aid or assist the English with Men Money Victuals or Advice without the consent of the Kings of both Nations under penalty of being declared guilty of High Treason 5. That the French should make no Peace or Truce with the English except the King of Scots may be comprised named and allowed therein 6. And lastly That the Covenants and Conditions above-named should be confirmed from King to King and at each Change or Succession of them that their Pragmatical Sanctions should be sealed and confirmed reciprocally on both Sides This is the summ of that ancient League with France which was now renewed again And accordingly King Philip soon after z Frois c. 33. sent into Scotland to the assistance of the Bruceans Men of War under the Command of the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan who after became Marshal of France and a Famous Warrier and the Lord Garenciers with many other Captains Knights and Esquires Besides which he a Fabian p. 200 mann'd out ten Men of War to the Reinforcement of the Scots but these meeting with a Terrible storm at Sea were driven into Flanders and so beaten that after much loss of their Stuff and Provision they were fain to return home inglorious and without effect King Edward the mean while having so happily obtained the Victory aforesaid and settled his Affairs at Barwick and thereabouts adding Piety to his Valour b Walâ—ing hist p. 114. n. 40. goes according to the Superstition of those Times with a few Attendants to visit several Places in England which were most fam'd for Sanctity and there offer'd his Thanks to God Almighty the Blessed Virgin Mother St. Cuthbert at Durham St. Edward at Westminster St. Erkenwold at St. Pauls in London St. Thomas at Canterbury and St. George at Windsor for at that beloved Seat of his he finish'd his Pilgrimage After which in * Fabian p. 200. November he again marched toward Scotland as we shall shew in the beginning of the next Chapter and kept his * Grafton p. 229 Christmas at York being still c Frois c. 26. fol. 16. attended with the Lord Robert of Artois who never ceased day nor night to set forth before him the Great Right which he had to the Crown of France and the King took pleasure to hear him But as yet matters were not fully ripe IX And now was Scotland for a while quite out of breath her Nobility being so mightily consum'd by the continual Wars and their own too great Courage and none remaining who was any way able to encounter or impeach King Bailiol who from this time had the sirname of Conquerour attributed to him So that now with his d Hector f. 316. 40. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Army aforesaid wherein was the Lord Richard Talbot and many young Knights and Esquires of England he took in almost all Scotland diligently viewing every Place and prudently settling his Affairs for the most part furnishing his Garrisons with English as not yet daring since the late Treacherous surprize to repose much confidence in the revolted Scots whatever Submission they now pretended Only a few Castles continued true to King David in this Alteration which as they could not then be easily taken for their strength so for their Number were they very inconsiderable If any thing may be said to be so in a War when no less than a Kingdom lies at stake Hereupon King Bailiol finding himself pretty well established in his Throne e Walsing hist p. 115. M.S. vet Angl. c. summons a Parliament to meet him at Perth alias St. Johnston to which those English Lords that claim'd Possessions in Scotland came and there did their Homage to him for the said respective Lands held under him reserving still the Allegiance they ow'd to their natural Lord and Soveraign the King of England Among these was Henry Lord Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who had to wife the Lady f John Cumin Earl of Buquhan died without Issue but Alexander Cumin his brother left three Daughters his Coheirs of which this Alice the Eldest Mills Catal. Hener p. 957. Alice one of the Sisters or rather as others say Cosins and Heirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan and Constable of Scotland of the Lands of whose Inheritance doing Homage therefore he had g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 50. b. Livery and Seisin in the Sixth of Edward the Second thô afterwards he was dispossessed as other English Lords were till this time This Great Lord they say did first advise King Bailiol to implore the King of England's Aid toward the recovery of his Right and till the King's
ready to accompany the French King to the Holy Land in order to fight against the Common Enemies of Christendom In the discussing and debating of these Articles the King of France was so zealously bent on the Holy War and such diligence was used by his Council not one at that time daring on the suddain to contradict that in the end a full Conclusion of the Peace on the Terms proposed was agreed on and Matters proceeded so far that Proclamation was order'd to be made thereof the next day in Paris and the Towns thereabouts But whether by the Fickleness and Inconstancy of King Philip or the Advice of some Scotch Pensioner in his Council or a sense of Generosity and a Commiseration of King David's exil'd Condition or by some secret Impulse of Heaven for the sins of Christendom and the punishment of France scarce were the English Ambassadors return'd to their Lodgings but they were remanded back again to Court where presently new Scruples were started which chiefly concern'd the third Article For thô as to the second Demand King Philip stood stifly against it at first unless all the Charges his Father Charles had been at in those Gascoigne Wars were repaid him by the King of England yet that when 't was made appear that the War it self was unjust he easily remitted But now as to the third Article King Philip answer'd peremptorily That he could not either in Honour or Equity desert his Friends the Scots in this their Oppression they being his Confederates and just Men Nor ought he to esteem King Edward worthy of his Friendship while he continued War against them That himself was as all Kings ought to be a Friend to Justice from which he should never swerve either for Affinity or Advantage or any other Consideration whatsoever but that he would to his Power vex and molest all the Disturbers of the Peace of Scotland For said he there will never be perfect Peace and Quietness in Christendom till the King of France shall stand as Umpire between the Realms of Scotland and England And therefore he briefly told the Ambassadors that having better consider'd of it he was resolv'd to conclude nothing as to Peace with England unless King David also might be comprehended in the same League so as that he might be restored to his Kingdom and the Bailiol wholly excluded Surely how gallant soever this Speech might seem 't was neither modest enough prudent nor seasonable For had he temporised so far as thereby to have obtain'd King Edward's Company in this Holy War the Bailiol might easily have been ruin'd by King David's Interest alone And it was more likely that then by fair means modest Reasonings King Edward might have been wrought upon by a personal Conference than by this rash and imperious way of Prescribing For from these peremptory Words the Breach became so wide that without bloody Wars Peace was not likely to be obtained Not to say that if King Philip did really intend this Holy Expedition he was not very wise to talk so high in such a juncture and if he did not intend it he was scarce sincere enough in his pious Resolutions However the English Ambassadors replied their Commission extended not so far as to reach to King David or to make any Concession to his Advantage so the whole matter was broke off and the Breach made wider than before Now the most exact Account of the first Original of these Unkindnesses between the two Kings of England and France which is by no Historian over exactly handled is to be found only in the publique Records of the Peace ten years before this made between King Edwards Father and Charles the Fair of France a Copy whereof was then sent to Pope John XXII and afterwards from the Library of Avignon brought into the Vatican and being seen and diligently weighed by my y Odoricus Raynaldus Continuat ad Baremum tom xv Ad an Christi 1327. §. 44. Author because from the Breach thereof the Wars which exercis'd England and France for so many Ages seem'd to take their first Occasion yield us these Observations In the Year 1325. which was the 19 of King Edward the II. of England by the diligence of Qu. Isabella with her Brother K. Charles of France together with the assistance of William Archbishop of Vienna and Hugh Bishop of Orange Nuntio's from the Apostolick Seat a Peace was made between the two Realms on this Condition z L. 9. c. 314. says Villani that what had been won by Charles of Valois in Aquitain should remain wholly to the French but in the publique a Extant in Arch. Vatican ex Avenion delat sign n. 10. in Chart. Pergam Records signed with the Seal of the King of France that Condition is not expressed but very cunningly cover'd with obscure and deceitfull Circumlocutions which when the Inventers of these politick Fetches contrived then they scattered the Seeds of a most inveterate Enmity between the two Realms to the infinite Dammage of France When the French wrested the Articles to their own purpose and the English exclaim'd that they were falsly and treacherously deceived for it was added that as to those Lands the French King should determin according to Law the King of England demanding his Right And so the Quarrel was not ended But now this Condition in that Treaty is evident that the French King should set over Aquitaine to administer justice a Person of integrity and one not suspected by the King of England and so the Armies on both sides should be disbanded and the King of England on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin should meet the French King at Beauvais and do Homage to the Crown of France for Aquitain which was then to be restored entirely unto him the foresaid Lieutenant being called back And this Agreement at the instance of Queen Isabell and the Pope was by consent of the Ambassadors of both Parties unanimously established in the Year aforesaid as appears by the Letters of both the Kings But now when afterwards King Edward II had conferr'd on his Son the Dukedom of Aquitain and a while after by Civil Tumults miscarried and Edward the III succeeded in the Throne the former Wars began to bleed fresh again our Young Edward being obliged to seek that Right by Arms which by Law he could not obtain but lest the Laws of Nature and the Peace of Christendom should be violated these Discords at the instance of the Pope who sent William Archbishop of Vienna and John Grandesson Bishop of Exceter for that purpose were composed on this Condition That as soon as might be what had been taken by the English in Aquitain contrary to the Form of the foresaid Agreement should be restored and on the other side that what had been taken by the French should be rendred to King Edward the said King Edward being to pay 50000 l. Sterling towards the reparation of Dammages and those Gascoigners who
Person till they themselves required a Peace in the most submissive manner yet his Lords perswaded him rather at this time to send unto them in order to Treat for a Truce between the two Realms for two or three Years For they said how it was great Wisdom in a Prince that hath War in several places at One time to make a Truce with One to pacifie the Other by mild Words and on the Third to employ his Power By these and the like Perswasions he was content to send d Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 143. a. Frois ibid. Richard Bury Lord Bishop of Durham Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby the Lord John Striveling and others to Treat about the Premises But King David either because He thought this Offer was extorted by some great Necessity or for that he was really so obliged to King Philip return'd answer that he neither could nor would strike up a Peace with England without the Consent of the King of France That this was one of the Articles in the last Truce and must be for ever that nothing of Agreement could be lasting between England and Scotland without the Allowance of the King of France King Edward was so nettled at so brisk a Reply from a Prince whom he had drove out of his Kingdom that in great Indignation he vow'd openly That now therefore he would for a while intend to no other business but the War with Scotland only till he had reduced that Kingdom to such Destruction as should be remembred while the World endur'd And immediately he gave out his Commands for all his Men of War to meet him at Barwick by Easter except such only who were appointed for the Wars in Bretagne II Nor did this Heroick Prince trust alone in the Arm of Flesh but truly considering that God Almighty was the sole Disposer of the Success of all Mans endeavours he now issues forth his pious Commands to all the Clergy of England that with one Voice they would incessantly storm Heaven and by their importunate Prayers extort a Blessing upon his Arms. Behold a Copy of his Letters EDWARD e e Walsingh hist p. 147. n. 10. Speed p. 574. §. 68. by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Reverend his Archbishops and Bishops c. Greeting in the Lord. The King of Heaven is Terrible in his Judgements and in Wisdom inscrutable Who justly correcteth the Sons whom He loveth and often shews unto his People that offend hard things by humbling Sinners for their Iniquities that so returning unto him they may seek his Holy Name with fear We therefore duly considering with what hazards of War and Adversities both We and the People under Us either for our sins or for theirs or rather both for ours and theirs have been of a long while and still are exceedingly molested and very much damnifi'd and exhausted thereby of our Treasure and further weighing the Dangerous inconveniences that still in all likelihood hang over the heads of Us and of our People unless Divine Providence shall more graciously respect Us from on High In the midst of such Difficulties and Troubles while We behold our own Weakness in all our Actions We have our recourse to the Divine Omnipotence trusting that the Just Judge the True God will kindly respect the Truth and Justice of our Cause and will humble our Adversary And so in confidence of his Heavenly Compassion attempting an Arduous Affair We have ordained our Passage towards the parts of France with a strong and well-armed Power and another Army We have order'd to be conducted toward the parts of Scotland that so by the Grace of God We may prevent the Dangers threatned unto Us and prepare unto our Liege Subjects after those Storms of Trouble they have suffer'd the Halcyon-days of Peace and Quiet Seeing therefore You are constituted of God on the behalf of Men to offer up Gifts and Sacrifices for sin attend We pray You to the foresaid Dangers not of Us only but of our People pouring forth to the most High Prayers for our happy Success supplying the place of Moses that by the lifting up of your Hands We and Our Armies may prevail against the Enemy And that by the Multitude of Intercessors an Augmentation of Grace may be afforded Us do You cause thrô all our Cities and Towns in your respective Dioceses Prayers and Processions to be made and other parts of Pious Attonement to be meekly performed that the God of Mercies would vouchsafe to extend the Hand of his Benediction over Us and our Armies and so direct our Actions according to his Good Pleasure that they may redound to his Praise to our own Comfort and to the Quiet and Advantage of Our Liege-Subjects Dated c. In the Year of Our Reign of England the f f Apud Walsingh dat Angl. 16. Fran 3. hoc est sub fine praecedentis anni 17 and of France the 4. III. And having thus begun with Heaven King Edward as he had appointed with his Men of War kept his g Frois c. 90. fol. 46. Easter at Barwick and for three Weeks held a great Court there for all the Chief Lords and Knights of the Land were then about him But the Divine Goodness was yet willing to defer the further punishment of Scotland For in the mean time there were found certain Pious Men who labour'd so earnestly on both sides that at last a Truce was agreed on to endure for two Years to which also the French King for the sake of the Common good of that harassed Kingdom consented Thus were these two Tempests of War for that time scattered without breaking upon one another saving that during the time of the Treaty some few skirmishes passed between the two Armies and we find h Dudg 1 Vol. p. 294. that in one of them which happen'd at Barwick the Lord Ralph Nevill of Raby was taken Prisoner and carried to Dunbar whence soon after he was redeemed Only we must not omit that before King Edwards Arrival at Barwick the Scots willing to be beforehand with him had laid Siege to the strong i Walsing hist p. 150. Castle of Loughmaban which King Edward had committed to the Custody of William Bohun Earl of Northampton but he upon his late going into Bretagne had left it to the Defence and Care of Sr. Walter Selby a Valiant Knight The King hearing of this Siege sent thither presently the Earl of Darby the Earls of k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. Gloucester and Northampton who both return'd out of Bretagne with the Countess and the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Robert Hufford Junior Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk with a considerable Body to relieve the Castle But the Valour of the aforesaid Sr. Walter Selby with the Assistance of John Kirkeby Bishop of Carlile and Thomas Son and Heir to the Lord Anthony Lucy had raised the Siege and beat away the
Esquire and others of his Domesticks and interred in the said Church of the Augustine-Fryars at Clare aforesaid near unto the Pody of his First Wife Elizabeth de Burgh But the Lord Edward Spencer who doubted some foul play had been used towards him tarried still in Italy and together with Sr. John Hawkwood and his Englishmen called the White-Company * Walsingh Hyped p. 131. n. 23 Frois c. 242. fol. 146. made fierce War upon the Dukes of Milain in Revenge of his Masters Death till at last he was fully satisfied of their Innocence as to that point and their great and unfeigned sorrow for the untimely loss of so Noble a Kinsman This was the first unkind Stroke of Fortune that ever King Edward felt and that no small one neither But he bore it with such Courage as might have obliged her if that Fickle Goddess was to be won by Gallantry to be more Respectfull unto Him for the future Though generally she is observed when once she grows Adverse to be much more extream in her Hate than before she had been in her Love. The Young Lady Violantis tried indeed to tast of Happiness after this Loss of her First Husband and was again m Elias Reasnerus ΒΑâ—ΙΑΙΚΩΠGenealegici Auctarium p. 196. Married to Otho Palaeologus Marquess of Monferrato But she did not long enjoy him neither for he was stabb'd by the hands of a base Hostler on the Mountains of Parma III. Before these things fell out namely on the n M.S. Rot. Par. p. 100 c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 105. 24 of February King Edward had issued forth his Summons for his Parliament to sit at Westminster on the First Day of May then next ensuing On which Day being a Monday Dr. Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury declared to the Lords and Commons then assembled in the Painted-Chamber that it was His Majesties Pleasure to adjourn them to the Thursday following At which time the said Arch-bishop in Presence of the King Lords and Commons then all assembled in the said Painted-Chamber declared how the King yielded unto God Almighty his most hearty Thanks for having given him Victory over all his Enemies also for the peaceable and flourishing Condition of his Realm and for the great Loyalty of his Subjects and their constant Readiness to serve Him both in Body and Goods all which Blessings as he desired what in him lay to continue or rather to encrease so that he might the better succeed in that Resolution he had at this time called his Parliament to confer with them in Matters relating to the Premises So the remainder of that Day was spent in appointing Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales Scotland and Gascogne with other Foreign Places and Isles The next Day the said Arch-bishop declared how after a long Treaty between the Kings Commissioners and David Bruce King of Scotland King David at last made this Offer To preserve a perpetual Peace with England so that he might freely enjoy to Him and his Heirs for ever the whole Realm of Scotland in Fee without any Subjection or Vassalage which might be accounted a perpetual Reproach to that Kingdom Of which Terms of Peace the Lords and Commons being demanded their Advice gave in their Answers severally that they could not assent to any such Peace without Disherison of the King and his Crown and to the great Danger of their own Souls as who were sworn to uphold and maintain the same to their Power After which the said Arch-bishop in the Kings Name gave thanks to the Three Estates for their ready Compliance in assisting the Kings Wants by their Aids and Subsidies and shew'd them farther how at that time the King stood in as great need of a Considerable Supply as ever Whereupon the Lords and Commons granted unto the King for two Years of every Wooll-Pack 36 s. 8 d. for every Twelve Score of Fells as much and of every Last of Skins 4 l. over and above the usual Custom of 6 s. 8 d. for every Wooll-Pack and the same for every Twelve Score of Fells and of 13 s. and 4 d. for every Last of Skins Then certain New Statutes were prepared and made Law by the King and certain Old ones explained and confirmed as may be seen in the Printed Books referring to those Days which for the most part agree exactly with the Records The Londoners by their Representatives desired that no Foreigner should retail any Merchandise as Wine or any other Provision but this was not granted On the 21 of May the King gave Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their Coming and Aid granted and that Day all the Lords and sundry of the Commons dined with the King. After which Dinner Sr. John Leigh was brought before the King Lords and Commons such as dined there to answer certain Objections made against him and first to the Complaint of William Latimer as followeth The King had granted the Wardship of Robert Latimer the Son and Heir of Sr. Robert Latimer with certain Mannors during his Minority to Dr. Robert Wyvill Bishop of Sarum which Estate descending to the said William Latimer the King afterward granted to Sr. John Leigh during the said William's Minority The said William surmised that the said Sr. John being then Steward of the Kings House and of Power sent for him to London where by duress of Imprisonment he compelled the said William to surrender his Estate up into his Hands But the same Sr. John by Recognisance excuseth himself for that the Grant was made unto him which was not allowed foâ—â—hat the said William was not put out by due Process of Law. Another Matter was objected against the said Sr. John forasmuch as during the time he was Steward of the Kings House he should cause sundry Men to be attached and to come before him as before the Kings Council in such Places as he pleased where being out of Council he caused Men to answer as in Council And that he as Steward having Authority only within the Verge did notwithstanding cause sundry to be attached out of the Verge as John Goddard and Others making them to answer in the Marshalsea for things done out of the Verge and other some he had committed to the Tower of his own Authority as John Sibill Edmund o Urdsales Sr. Rob. Cotton Vrdsalls and others That he had also of his own Head against the Justices Command discharged out of Newgate Hugh Lavenham Purveyor who had appealed sundry Men of Felony That he had bargain'd formerly with Sr. Nicolas Lovaine for the Keeping of the Mannor of Raynham in Kent the which the said Sr. Nicolas claimed to hold during the Minority of the Son and Heir of John Staunton whereas the said Sr. John Leigh knew that the said Mannor was holden of the King in Capite as of the Castle of Dover Of all which Points because the said Sr. John could not purge himself he was
Age as a Man zealous for his Masters Honour of whom the Chief Care had been committed to him by Parliament he began to Assemble his Friends and Retinue unto whom he spake of the King's Honour which was now expos'd to obloquy and it seems the matter was so manifest that the King 's two Uncles and many others of the Highest Quality and the Chief Citizens of London swore unto him to stand by him in Opposition to Mortimer And this was the substance of their Design n M. S. id ibid. 1. That the King should hold his Houshold and his Meny according to the Dignity of a King having all his Royalties entire to himself and that the Queen Mother should deliver up into the King's hands all manner of Lordships Rents Towns and Castles that pertained to the Crown of England and that she should live on the Third part of the Rents of England as other Queens before her had done and on nothing else 2. Also that Sr. Roger Mortimer should live upon his own Lands for which yet he had already disinherited many so that the Commons might not be destroyed thrô his wrongfull encroachments 3. Also to make inquisition how and by whom the King was betrayed and falsly deceived at Stanhop and thrô whose Counsel the Scots were suffer'd to escape by Night out of the King's hands 4. Also how and by whose Counsel the Ordinance that was made at the King's Coronation was put down viz. that the King for the good of the Realm and safety of his Person and Honour should be Governed and Ruled by Twelve the Greatest and Wisest Peers of the Realm without whom nothing should be Granted nor done which Order being neglected many Harms Grievances and Scandals have happen'd unto the King and to his Realm And that is to understand Forasmuch as Edward sometime King of England was ordained by consent of the Community in full Parliament to remain under the Custody and Governance of Henry Earl of Lancaster his Cozen for safety of his Person he was taken out of the Castle of Kenelworth where he was in Custody and thrô Counsel of the Queen Mother and Mortimer without consent of any Parliament they took and lead him where none of his Kindred might come to the speech or sight of him And after traitrously took and murd'red him for whose Death a foul Slander arose thrô all Christendom 5. Also all the Treasure that Edward of Carnarvon had left any where either in England or Wales was wasted and carried away without the Will or Knowledge of King Edward his Son to the great Detriment of him and his People 6. Also thrô whose Counsel it was that the King gave up the Kingdom of Scotland for the which Realm the King's Ancestors had full sore travailed and so did many a Noble Man for their Rights But now all was deliver'd up unto David the Son of Robert Bruce who had no Right unto that Realm as all the World knows 7. Also by whom the Charters and Remembrances that the King had of his Right to Scotland were taken out of the Treasury and given to the Scots the King's Enemies to the Disherison of him and of his Successours and to the great Loss of his Liege People and the Reproof of all English men for evermore 8. And lastly wherefore the Lady Joan of the Tower the King's Sister was disparag'd and Married unto David the Son of Robert Bruce that was a Traytour and Enemy unto England and through whose Counsel she was given into our Enemies hands out of England While the Earl of Lancaster the Earl of Norfolk and the Earl of Kent with their Council were contriving how to pursue this matter the Parliament sat at Salisbury to which they refus'd to come because of Mortimer's formidable Retinue and put themselves in a Posture of Defence against the Queen Mother and Mortimer being enforced with 600 men of Arms from London But certainly 't is good for Great Men at Court when they see a Favourite solely to possess their King not therefore to be carried away with unjust and causless Envy if they can perceive the Person to be notwithstanding blameless or usefull to the King's Affairs For Envy is a fierce unbridled and devouring Evil always ungenerous and void of Equity and withall often thrô Precipitancy more hurtfull to its Owner then its Object But if the Favourite appears really Haughty beyond Sufferance and dangerous to the Publique a Man truly Loyal and Brave ought by any means to consult the Interest of his Master Yet this he must not think to perform well by flying out first for that makes his own Cause seem the worst but rather by wisely concealing his Resentments till a fit Occasion offers it self For otherwise we do but rashly declare we are Enemies to One who is better provided than We our selves and will be sure to make use of his present Advantage to our Ruine The truth of this Aphorism appears from the sequel of this Story for by this publique Breach which the Earls of Kent and Lancaster with their Associates seem'd first to make Mortimer held the better appearance and so lightly perswaded the young King that these Men sought no less then his Life and Kingdom Whereupon he obliged him to ride out against them in Person about o An non Bradford legend quod est in Wilteniâ 24. Mill. à Sarisberiâ Bedsord immane quantum distat 24 miles in one Night towards p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 145. ex Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 685. Bedford where they were assembled in Arms thô only resolv'd to stand on the Defensive part But by Mediation of Dr. Simon Mepham q John Tinemouth p. 229. Archbishop of Canterbury and others upon their submission Mortimer also cunningly pretending to befriend them therein a formal Peace was huddled up and all taken to Mercy thô not without severe Fines imposed on them all which for the most part were converted to the profit of Mortimer And particularly the Earl r M. S. Vel. Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 216. of Lancaster was then Fined at no less then 11000 pounds thô that summe was never paid We shall see notwithstanding shortly by what subtle contrivances this aspiring Great One could find Occasion to destroy the Noble Earl of Kent and perhaps he would have done as much to the Earl of Lancaster had he not despis'd his Age which by that time rendred him almost decrepit On the contrary he himself at this very Parliament attain'd to greater Honour for here the King 's own Brother John of Eltham being made Earl of Cornwall and Sr. James ſ Dugd. Warn p. 445. a. Butler of Ireland Earl of Ormond this Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore against the liking of many Great Men was at the same time Created Earl of March in the Marches of Wales Thus did this notable Politician overreach all his Enemies the King's Uncles and the Bishops being indeed taken
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much â—ncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â— Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
Ancient Liberties or free Customs of our Church of Canterbury or diminish them in any thing or knowingly contravene the Privileges granted thereto or do ought against them and also those who wickedly and injuriously presume to disturb the Peace and Tranquillity of the King or Kingdom of England or shall give Counsel Aid or Favour thereto by the Authority and in the Name of God the Father Almighty and of his Son Jesus Christ of his most blessed Mother the Virgin Mary of blessed Thomas the glorious Martyr and of all the Saints Item That whereas in the great Charter of Henry once King of England it was Granted and Ordained that no Freeman of the Realm of England should be taken or imprisoned or disseised of his Free-hold or his Liberties or his Free Customs or be Outlaw'd or Banished or any other way molested and that upon a Freeman the Law should not pass unless by the lawfull Judgment of his Peers or by the Law of England and that the King would deny or sell or delay right and justice to no Man And that the City of London should have all her Ancient Liberties and Free Customs And several other Liberties and free Customs are prudently in the said Charter granted to the Realm of England to the Praise and Honour of God the Peace of the Catholick Church and the Quiet of the Realm And by the Archbishop and Bishops of the said Kingdom those have been excommunicated anathematized and sequestred from the Pale of Holy Mother Church who after the Grant of the said Charter and the Liberties and free Customs therein and in the Charter of the Forest contained and granted to the Church of England by any art or devise should violate infringe diminish or alter privily or openly by Deed Word or Counsel in rashly going against them or any of them in any Article Many notwithstanding not ignorant of the Premises do now rashly attempt to go against the said Charters the Liberties and free Customes in the said Charters contained and mightily endeavour to infringe them Now we being desirous to overthrow their detestable designs and to dissipate their vailed and pretended Ignorance by reducing the Premises into the notice of all Men do in general admonish all and singular who have done against the Premises in any manner of way or contrary to the said Charters or either of them have made Statutes or have kept them when made have introduced Customs or have kept them when introduced also the Writers of Statutes and Counsellours and Executors and those who shall presume to judge according to them That duly they amend themselves and by the appointment of their Ordinaries make full satisfaction for their Offences within 15 Days to be reckon'd from the time of this our Admonition Whom upon their Non-obedience from that time we denounce publiquely and solemnly to have incurred the said Sentence of Greater Excommunication confirmed of sure knowledge by Pope Innocent the IV. Item That all and singular who from the Houses Manors Granges or other Places to Archbishops Bishops or other Ecclesiasticall Persons belonging shall presume to take away seise consume or touch any thing against the Will of the Owners or those who are deputed the Keepers of the said thing or cause the said thing to be taken seised consumed or touched and approve the taking away the seising consuming or touching of the said thing done by their Abettors or in their Name are Violators of the said Liberties and Privileges Ecclesiastick and we publiquely and solemnly in these Writings denounce them ipso facto to incurr the Sentence of Greater Excommunication which in the Council of Oxford was made against the Violators of the Liberties of the Church Item Because the Iniquity of the times renders the Clergy odious to the Laiety insomuch that the Latter do seise on the Former and detain them against their Wills or not permit them to go freely whither they please we publiquely and solemnly denounce all and singular as well Clergymen as Laymen within our Province of Canterbury who knowing them to be Clergymen and publiquely and notoriously to be held and reputed for Clergymen and also to bear themselves as so having not confessed any crime nor being convicted or indicted do in custody or prison put and detain them against their Wills rashly in a Case not permitted by Law or the Custom of the Realm of England to the Scandal and manifest Injury of the Clergy to be involved in the Sentence of Greater Excommunication in this part made by the Canon Item Whereas all and singular who in our Province of Canterbury do maliciously from the false instigations of Hate lay a Crime to the charge of any Person or Persons who among good and grave Men were not before defamed of the said Crime whereby on occasion of the Charge they may any ways be grieved are and have been envolved in the Sentence of Greater Excommunication justly made by Holy Fathers in the Council of Oxford against Defamers of this kind and those who knowingly offend against Archbishops or their Spiritual Fathers Ambassadors of Christ Pillars of the Church do commit a sin so much the greater as is the Eminence of the Person offended We by the Authority wherewith we are invested do publiquely denounce all and singular who in our Province of Canterbury have falsly wickedly and malitiously already presumed or hereafter shall presume to lay to the Charge of an Archbishop or Bishop or any other the Crime of Treason or any other Crime contrary to the Constitution aforesaid to be involved in the said Sentence of Greater Excommunication in the said Council discreetly made and to be sequestred from the Pale of Holy Mother Church c. Besides all this the Archbishop sent the Letters afore-mention'd to all his Brethren and Suffragans that they also in their several Diocesses and Precincts should publiquely promulge the Sentences above-written Whereupon the King hearing of these Letters of the Archbishop and considering them together with others which as r Walsingh hist p. 142. n. 4. was thought some Courtiers had forged in his Name to render him more obnoxious that he might more plainly detect the Archbishops Falshood and establish the Reputation of his own Justice wrote this Letter to the Bishop of London and sent a Copy thereof to the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury VIII Å¿ Antiq. Brit. p. 224. Walsing hist p. 142. Fox Acts and Mâ—num p. 349. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Reverend Father in God Ralph Bishop of London Greeting It is manifest by old approved Histories but more clearly appears by what is dayly practised that many Men abusing the Favour of Princes and the Honour conferr'd upon them and waxing insolent thereby do sometimes by malitious and sly Insinuations endeavour to deprave the laudable Undertakings of Kings And that what we say may be rendred more manifest to all our Liege People We suppose
Attempt himself When Sr. Edward saw this he said Well Gentlemen however I am sufficiently assured of the Loyalty and Good-will that you all bear to my Lady of this Castle wherefore for her sake and yours I 'll put my Life in hazard to do this Errand my self For I have such knowledge of you that I doubt not but you will make shift to hold out till my Return And I repose such a Considence in the Goodness of Our Soveraign Lord the King that he will shortly send me back unto You with such Relief as will please You. And then believe it his Majesty will so well Reward You that You shall all remain highly satisfied These Words kindly refreshed the Mind of the Noble Countess and the rest with her So when Night came he provided all things for his purpose as secretly as possible causing the fleetest Courser that he had to be ready saddled for him Surely either the Ladies Vertue or his Courage or both made Heaven propitious to the Enterprise for it rain'd so hard all that Night that the Scotch Sentinells kept all within under shelter whereby his Passage was not impeached and the Assault next Morning could not proceed to any purpose About Midnight Sr. Edward issued privily out of the Castle and passed within a while clear thró the Host unhurt and unperceived till being got clear he made forward with full speed It was now about Day-break when near half a League from the utmost Limits of the Scotch Camp he met with two Scots driving before them two Oxen and a Cow toward the Army whom upon Examination finding out he set upon them and wounded them both in several places for he would not kill them because he design'd they should tell their King what he was gone about But the Cattle he slew that the Scots might have no Benefit of them After which he said to the wounded Scots Now go your ways and tell your King that I am Edward Montagu who have this Night broke thrô his Camp and am now going to direct the King of England hither with his Army and with this he set forward upon the Spur. The News was brought to the King of Scots wherefore being hindred for a while by the fall of the rain as soon as he could he renewed the Assault with all the fury imaginable but gain'd nothing all the while Upon this the Lords of his Council who had seen so many Attacks made to no purpose but that his Army was daily diminished and weakned thereby fearing that the King of England might come suddenly upon them before the Castle could be won and so they might hazard not only the loss of what they had already gotten but of the King and Kingdom too upon these Considerations I say the Lords of Scotland agreed all together and thus one of them deliver'd their Minds to King David Sir hitherto You have Honourably performed Your Enterprise You have done considerable Damage to the English your Enemies you have taken and destroy'd the City of Durham and in this Country of Northumberland You have now kept the field 12 days And certainly Sir all things consider'd it were better to go home in time with Honour and save what You have already won then with Your wearied Forces to expect a fresh Enemy and so hazard the loss of all upon unequal Terms Your Majesty may more opportunely return another time when Your Men have refreshed themselves and Your Enemies are not at hand with such vast Preparations The King would not be against the general Opinion of all his Council but after a while thô very unwillingly yielded to follow their Advice So early the next Morning he passed the Tweed with all his Host taking the direct way to the Forest of Gedeours among the wild Scots there to remain and wait King Edwards Motions whether he would break up his Army and return or pierce into Scotland at that time XXI That g Frois c. 77. Du Chesne very day at Noon King Edward came thither with his Army to the same place where the Scots had lain and was mightily displeased that he found them not there For he came thither in such haste with hopes to give them Battle that his Infantry especially was much wearied However when he saw how the matter stood he gave Order to encamp there that Night and said how he intended to go see the Castle and give a visit to the Noble Lady the Countess of Salisbury For says Froisard he had not seen her since she was Married before which was near upon 14 Years ago if not more as may be gather'd from the Age of her Eldest Son who was fifteen Years old two Years after this as appears h Fsc 18. Ed 3. n. 51. by Record Wherefore I shall wholly wave that Popular but exploded Story of the Kings Amours with her at this time and only proceed in a way more conformable to Reason and undeniable Authority When King Edward had unarm'd him self he took 10 or 12 of his Barons with him and went to the Castle to salute the Countess and to see the manner of the Scots Assaults and the Defence that was made against them As soon as the Countess heard of the Kings coming she commanded the Gates to be set open and came forth to meet him in her most Rich Attire so that it is not to be doubted but that the Fame of he◠Courage preparing Mens minds and the Splendour of her Garb being added to a Person of that Sex of an high Quality and not too far gone in Years she might appear charming enough to give occasion of much merry talk among the Souldiers who saw her at that time and did possibly scatter such Reports as might propagate an erroneous Tradition even down to us When she came before the King she kneeled upon the Earth and returned her Dutifull Thanks for this his seasonable Succour The King took her up Graciously with a cheerfull and hearty Aire and perhaps as One of that Sex and Quality who had Honourably acquitted her self in a Danger brought upon her upon his account saluted her at the same time And so taking her by the hand he walk'd her easily toward the Castle talking no doubt pleasantly upon the way as a King not fully 30 Years old might probably do on such an occasion Whoso is minded to believe the other account of this Story where the King is made to fall in love with her him I refer to i Frois c. 77. Froisard who discourses it at large and is I must confess as to the main a very credible Historian Althô in this he is not to be followed by those who seriously confer circumstances of Names Times Places and Persons Here the King had a Noble Dinner provided for him both he and his Lords sitting down together at the same Table But the King himself ate but little whereat his Lords wondred much for he was wont to bear a cheerfull Countenance
in Hostile Manner is beaten by the Flemings and English IX King Edward inform'd of a Design to betray Calais pardons the Lombard Captain and gives him Instructions how to behave himself X. King Edward goes privately over Sea to Calais and discomfits the Frenchmen XI King Edward at Supper presents a Rich Chaplet of Pearls to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont a French Prisoner and in contemplation of his Valour acquits him his Ransome XII The Lombard Captain put to Death by the Frenchmen King Edward rewards his Friends and having settled Calais under a New Captain returns for England XIII The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The French King and the Duke his Son marry again I. NOW doth King Edward the Third seem to stand in the full Zenith both of his Age and Glories He had but just past the 35 Year of his Life and yet was crown'd at Home in his Family with a Lovely Row of Hopefull Children and a Vertuous and Beautifull Consort in his Kingdoms with Peace and full Prosperity And abroad he was renowned above all the Kings of the Earth for his Notable Victories by Sea and by Land in Scotland France and Bretagne for set Battles or Taking of Towns for Kings slain Kings routed and Kings taken Captive Nor was his Moderation less admired and commended which he shew'd in Refusing the Title and Dignity of an Emperour This in my Opinion is the Brightest part of all his Reign thô yet another King remains to be Captive by his Arms and another King is destin'd to recover an Usurped Crown by the Aid of his Sword and Fortune For now a Walsingh Hypod 121. hist 159. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 943. Stow p. 245. by means of so honourable a Peace founded on so many remarkable Victories it seem'd as if the Golden Age was reduced to England and a New Sun began to shine in our Horizon So great Riches and Plenty the usual Attendants of Conquest being generally diffused over the face of the whole Land. For there was scarce a Lady or Gentlewoman of any Account which had not in her possession some precious Houshold-stuff as rich Gowns Beds Counterpains Hangings Linnen Silks Furs Cups of Gold and Silver Porcelain and Chrystal Bracelets Chains and Necklaces brought from Caen Calais or other Cities beyond Sea. And yet as the Roman Historians complain that they were overcome by the Luxury and Fashions of the Nations they had conquer'd So from this time the Native Candour and simplicity of the English Nation did visibly empair and Pride Superfluity and Vanity began to lift up their hatefull Heads till they provok'd the Author of the World to visit this Land also with his awakening Judgments Some whereof were not wanting even in the Days of this Great Monarch but did especially take rise in the Reign of his Successour from a Cruel and Unnatural civil War which was not wholly extinct till it had prey'd upon the Lives of Five Kings very many Princes Dukes and Earls and Hundreds of the Prime Nobility of England besides those many Thousands of the Common People who perished in the Quarrel even thrô the Reigns of Seven Kings till in a more mercifull Providence King Henry the VII happily united the two Roses and Peace and Humanity and Arts began again to revive and flourish among us II. But that the Blessings of Peace and Plenty might be preserved unto England as much as lay in King Edwards Power as well for the Support of his own Honour as for the Security of his People's Advantages and the Conservation of the good Laws of the Realm he begins this Year with a Parliament Which he b 14 Febr. Teste Rege apud Westminest M.S. Record p. 66. Sr. Rob. Gott n's Abridgâ—n p. 68. summons to meet him at Westminster on the Monday in Midlent From which time because several of the Peers were not then come the Parliament was continued from day to day untill Wednesday When Sr. William Thorp then Lord Chief Justice by the Kings Command declared in presence of the King and Lords for what Reasons the Parliament at that time was called As that the King had according to the Truce taken at Calais sent Commissioners to the Pope from whom he had long since expected some Satisfactory Answer but as yet had received none Also that sundry Articles of the Truce touching both the Kings and their Allies were not duely performed and further that the French were preparing a Puissant Army wherewith to invade the Realm From all which it appeared that the Truce was but very fickle and that it was neither safe nor prudent to rely upon it but rather betimes to be armed against the worst that might happen Besides he added that the Conservation of the Publique Peace at home was a main Point for their Consideration to employ it self about and that this must be done by wholsom Laws duely and impartially put in Execution Upon these Matters the Lords and Commons debated earnestly for several Days and at last answered the Kings Wants and prepared their own Petitions in manner following They c M.S. Record p. 68. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abidgment p. 69. first shew the great Charges laid upon the Commons as the Reasonable Aid being pardon'd in the 14 Edw. 3. Whereof every Fine was forty shillings whereas by Statute the same should be but twenty shillings also the setting forth of Men the taking up of Victuals without Ready Money and the Charge for keeping the Sea The very Subsidy of Wooll amounting to 60000 l. per annum and yet without Law the Lending of 20000 Sacks of Wooll and the Restraint of Exporting Wooll Notwithstanding they grant to the King Three Fifteens in three Years so as the Subsidy of Wooll might cease and on Condition that David Bruce William Douglas and other Chief Captains of Scotland be not deliver'd for Ransom or on their Faith Yet so that if the Wars do cease within three Years then their Grant might cease also this Condition being likewise understood that their following Petitions be granted and these their Conditions enrolled and exemplified Petitions of the Commons with their Answers Pet. That the Falseness of those who were appointed to gather the 20000 Sacks of Wooll lent to the King may be determin'd by some of the Parliament and that all Acquittances made to any such may be repealed Ans This Petition was answer'd in the last Parliament and therefore Command was given anew to execute the same Pet. That the King would command the Nobles in no wise to take any common Thief or Robber into their Protection And that in every Shire-Town two Knights and two Learned in the Law be appointed to determin all Offences and to enquire of False Money they to have some Fee to encourage them in their Duty and to prevent Receiving of Bribes But this also was said to have been answer'd in the last Parliament Pet. Whereupon the
up to Arques and the Gates of St. Omers and having sufficiently made known the Terror of his Arms he return'd Triumphantly with many Prisoners and much Booty to Calais But soon after the occasions of the late Breach between the two Kings were fully concerted and a further Truce was taken a Knighton p. 2603. n. 4. with this condition that either of the Kings might renounce it when ever he pleased III. The same Yeart b Stow p. 251. the Spanish Ships had liberty to come to England by Reason of a Peace established with that Kingdom whereas the Year before there was an Imbargo set upon them because of the late Breach But now a Truce was taken between the two Crowns for twenty Years before which time we shall find Don Pedro of Spain to stand greatly in need of Englands Friendship Whereas the foremention'd Truce with France was prolonged but for one Year further and yet did it hardly endure so long as we shall shew by and by However now both the Kings seem'd in good earnest to endeavour a final Peace c Fabian p. 228 Odâ— Raâ—nald ad hanc ann §. 37. and sent their Commissioners for that purpose to Avignon to conclude and perfect the Agreement on these Conditions That King Edward should wholly lay aside his Title and Claim to the Crown of France and King John should entirely yield up to him all the Dutchy of Guienne with the Dependencies and whatever was at any time before taken therefrom by his Progenitors and that King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England should freely hold and possess the same without acknowledging owing or paying any Homage therefore to any French King from that day unto the Worlds end But the Conclusion of this Matter was so long put off and delay'd by the Pope and such demurrs and other Artifices usual in the Court of Rome laid in the way that the Duke of Lancaster with the rest of the English Commissioners being wearied by those tedious tergiversations returned back to their Master without bringing the said Agreement to any happy Conclusion But d Oder Rainald â—d hunc ann Mezeray c. some say this Treaty was hindred by an occasion given by the English who took the Castle of Guisnes by Treachery of which we shall speak presently However King Edward hereupon prepared for War resolving to take the Field early next Year as soon as the Truce should be expired But upon the first of April before the last Truce was renewed for another Year the Lord Guy e 〈◊〉 c. 153. Meâ—â—â—y 〈…〉 p. 251 〈…〉 23. April Fâ—x Acts Men. p. 507. de Nesle Marshal of France went in Hostile Manner with a great number of Men of Arms spoiling and ravaging about in Xaintogne and near St. Jean D'Angely but was at last met with by Sr. Walter Bentley who together with Edmund Rous a Norfolk-Man and Captain of the Castle of St. Jean D'Angely making in all but 600 Men encountred him Valiantly and had such Success that he slew and routed the whole Body of them took Sr. Guy de Nesle himself and Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan together with the Lord William de Nesle the Marshals Brother and six other Knights of Quality and of Esquires and Gentlemen 140 Prisoners But yet f Frois c. 153. in the September following the Frenchmen recover'd the Town and Castle of St. Jean D'Angely after it had been in the Englishmens Possession 5 Years without one stroke given or taken For the Garrison being left low and without Provision was fain to yield up the Place on Equal Conditions because they had not wherewithall to live on IV. While thus matters were held in suspence between England and France and hot War g Vid. Oder Ramald ad hunc ann §. 22. c. raged between Casimire King of Poland and the Lithuanians and Tartars on one hand and the Christian States of Venice and Genoa tore out one anothers Bowels on the other and the King of Armenia's Territories were snatch'd away from him piece-meal by the Infidels the h Id. ibid. §. 25. Heathen Governour of Damascus with a design to render the Christians under him odious and so to fill his Coffers with their substance perpetrated a most cruel and Nero-like Action this Year For having himself caused the said City to be secretly fired in two several places he presently hurried away the Christians to the Rack as the only Authors thereof Some of these being rendred impatient by the exquisiteness of the torments confessed themselves guilty Whereupon immediately he condemns them all to die except such as would embrace Mahometanisme Most of them by large gifts appeas'd the Tyrants sury others unhappily renounced the Christian Faith But there remain'd two and twenty who refusing to do either were condemned to be Crucified However first the Tyrant commanded them to be brought before their Friends Parents and Children that so he might shake their Constancy But the Divine Grace did so powerfully assist them at that time that the Father who was to die despis'd the Prayers and Tears of his own Son who entreated him to live and the Faithfull Son upbraided his Apostate Father of wicked Inconstancy to forsake the True Religion for fear of Corporal punishment and call'd him his worst Enemy in that by tempting him with the transitory joys of this Life he endeavour'd to deprive him of the Rewards of Eternity Being therefore all hung upon the Cross for three days they were beheld both by Christians and Saracens to die a notable Example of Religious Constancy But the Tyrant had but a short Triumph for this his exploit For soon after the Innocence of the Christians as to the burning of the City being made manifest by the Soldan's Command he was put to Death after this Manner A Great-broad Anvil of Iron being ready prepared as red-hot as possible the Malefactor was brought near stark-naked from his Privy-parts upwards then two strong Men took and twisted a Towel below his Ribs and above his Hips round his Belly pulling and twisting till by degrees they had rendred him thereabout little more than a span round At which time the Executioner cutting him off with a sword at one Blow just above the Towel this Body was immediately set upon the glowing Anvil So that the Blood and Life together was held in till the Anvil growing colder the Body fell off being seised by Death With such signal severity can it please God. to Revenge the Blood of his Saints even by the hands of the Blasphemers of his Name V. This Year i Favâ—ne's Theatre L'Honne r l. 3. c. 2. p. 346. on the 8 day of September or the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary King John of France that in Magnificence he might not come behind King Edward of England who had lately instituted the Order of the Garter did also k Mezeray ad hâ—â—â— annâ—n institute or rather renew the almost obsolete Order
that when the Scots within the Town heard how King Edward himself was coming to its Relief they dismantled the Walls set fire on the Town and so fled away with all the Spoil they had gotten However King d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Edward being now repossessed of the Place leaves behind him sufficient Hands both for the Defence thereof and to repair what was wanting in the Fortifications and himself in e Knighton p. 2611. three Great Battails marches forth into Scotland resolving f Buchan l. 9. p. 304. now to bring that Realm to terms of Agreement or to reduce them so low that He should never after stand in doubt of their Rebellion While he was at Roxborough Edward Bailiol King of Scotland considering g M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c 230. how God Almighty wrought graciously and miraculously for King Edward and being also wearied with so long contending for little more than the Empty name of a King which of himself he was not able to maintain reflecting likewise that himself was now well gone in Years and had no Child to leave the Kingdom to upon these thoughts he concluded it wholly vain to labour any longer and therefore coming unto Roxborough by his Charter of Resignation he submitted the Crown of Scotland and all the Right Title and Interest that ever he had or might have thereto unto King Edward of England and his Heirs for ever only out of this Grant h Speed p. 581. he reserved to himself an annual Pension of 2050 pounds to be paid unto him during his Natural Life And he earnestly beg'd that he would now pursue his own quarrel to the utmost and i Buchan l 9. p. 304. not forget those manifold Injuries which the Scots had done unto them both This Solemn k Hâ—lâ—â—sh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Resignation King Bailiol confirmed by his Letters Patents made and given under his Hand and Seal and bearing Date 25 Januarii Ano. Domini 1356 which he deliver'd with his own hands to King Edward of England in sight of all the Lords both of England and Scotland there present Thô King Edward bearing a particular Love for his Third Son born but Second living Prince Lionel l Knighton p. 2611. n. 22. according to some accepted the Kingdom for him he to hold it by Homage now of Him and hereafter of his Elder Brother the BLACK-PRINCE and his Heirs For so says Knighton that King Bailiol resign'd all the Right which He claim'd to the Crown of Scotland to the Lord Lionel Son to the King of England Thô others say that King Edward not only received the Realm of Scotland to his own behoof but also soon after took upon him the Royalties thereof being at Scone in Presence of all the Prelates Lords and other great Men of both Nations m M. S. Vâ—t Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Crowned King of Scotland But We dare not averr so much our selves because We never find him to use the Title or any other way to signifie such a Matter II. However while King Edward and the Bailiol tarried at Roxborough Earl Douglas and many n Knighton p. 2611. n. 27. ad n. 50. of the Chief Nobles of Scotland came to him and treated with him as if they design'd to submit to his Peace and a Day was appointed for a full and final Agreement In order to which the King allow'd them 8 days Respite But the mean while these perfidious People convey'd the best of their Moveables beyond the Scottish Sea and then William Douglas sent word to the King That he would never submit himself to his Peace while he lived King Edward being thus again deluded marched forth with his Army divided into three Great Battails burning and destroying the Country on each side round about him as he passed till he came to Haddington But the Scots had removed out of the way all sorts of Provision so that for 15 days together the English could get no Drink but fresh Water wherefore they were obliged to return But the Scots were always ready both on their flank and Reer to cut off whosoever went forth from the main Host to forage While King Edward tarried at Haddington waiting for his Navy wherein the Provisions for his Army were his Men of War were not idle but ravaged about in the Country at their Pleasure doing much mischief to the Enemy but little good to themselves For there was neither Spoil to be met with of any Worth nor Victuals in any Quantity and Drink as We said before none but Water All that was good for any thing being carried away or consumed by the Scots The mean while the Northern Navy under the Command of the Lord o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley their Admiral suffer'd great Damage at Sea for whether it was because they had spoil'd a Church of our Lady near Haddington called White-Kirk p Hector l. 15. fol. 326. n 6. Buchan l. 9. p. 304. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. as was said or for any other cause or by chance there arose such a Tempest and Vehement North-wind that many of their Vessels rushing together and beating rudely against the Banks and Sands were cast away with most of the Men and Provisions within them and the whole Fleet received much Damage being scatter'd so that hardly three Ships came into one Haven together For Displeasure whereof say the Scotch Writers King Edward fell to ravaging again and abundantly powred out his Anger upon Edinburgh Haddington and other Towns of Louthian Nor will I dissemble that he is here also said to have made terrible havock of Holy Places sparing it seems neither Church Abbey nor any other Religious House as if says Hector he was minded to make War against God and all his Saints But for this I must beg Hector's pardon if I do not so readily believe it partly because his Credit is not very great as We have frequently seen and partly because Buchanan says no such thing as also because that humour was contrary to King Edwards disposition who as Hector says thô falsly in one point slew his own Brother John of Eltham for the same sacrilegious humour and we have instanced more than once in this our History that he hath hanged several of his own Men for setting fire to Churches or Monasteries and lastly not to take Notice of Hector's superstitious humour I believe it not because of that notable Success which followed his Arms this Year in France and elsewhere as we shall shew presently However this is certain the King of England left at this time such Marks of his Resentments in those parts that because this Desolution happen'd about the Feast of the Purification of our Lady and so many Towns and Villages were fired by the English The Scots ever after q Hector ibid. sed ibi bruit malè pro brunt brunt pro burnt called it
Battle of Durham among whom the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland was especially numbred Thô both before that and since he had given sufficient Testimonies of his Courage and Conduct and had also by his Government during his Masters Imprisonment and his Care and at last Success in working his Delivery as plainly demonstrated his Loyalty But however King David rather than acknowledge his own Rashness in occasioning that Overthrow laid it so vehemently upon his Nephew Roberts Leaving the Field o Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. Hector l. 15. that now at last that Act whereby the Crown of Scotland for want of Lawfull Issue begotten of Davids Body was for ever entailed on the said Prince Robert and his Heirs was by his Procurement repealed disanulled and wholly made void and his other Nephew the young Lord p Odor Rainal vecat Alexand. alii Johann sed Rainaldi fides prastantior Alexander Son and Heir to the Earl of Southerland by his youngest Sister Jane was declared Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in the Room of Prince Robert who was Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret King David's Eldest Sister Which Act all the Lords of Scotland were sworn to observe and maintain Whereupon the old Earl of Southerland Father to this Prince Alexander verily believing that his said Son could not now miss of the Crown of Scotland gave away the most part of his Lands dividing them among his Friends and Relations especially to the Noble Families of the Hayes the Sinclares the Ogilbies and the Gourdons thereby to bind them the faster unto his Sons Interest But all this Precaution fail'd for shortly after the Lord Alexander his Son being one of the Pledges then remaining in England for the Security of King David's Ransom together with most of the other Hostages died of the Plague which then again raged in this Kingdom as we shall see shortly Whereupon Prince Robert Stuart being then again easily reconciled to the King was once more acknowledged and by Act of Parliament established Rightfully the Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in as full manner as he had been before The mean while especially at the Instance of the Pope the Clergy of Scotland agreed to contribute the Tenth Penny of all their Fruits and Revenues towards the payment of their Kings Ransom And at the same time the said King nothing unmindfull of his Promise made to King Edward before his Deliverance moved his Lords and Barons in a Matter which yet himself was not willing to succeed in thô being bound by Oath so to do he urged it notwithstanding with all the Application he could Namely q Odor Rainal ad ann 1358. §. 4. Scotici Scriptures Holinsh c. That provided he himself should decease without Issue they would agree that the Crown of Scotland and all the Rights thereof should be entirely transferred to the King of England's Eldest Son and to his Lawfull Heirs for ever But to this unexpected Proposal the Lords answer'd all with one Voice That as long as any of them were able to hold a Sword in their Hands they would never yield to be subject to England King David was well pleased with this their Resolution and look'd upon himself now as discharged from attempting any thing further that way Because he had only engaged to King Edward That if the Scotch Nobility would consent he would Entail the Crown upon his Eldest Son. IV. But we have too long left the Duke of Lancaster at the Siege of Rennes in Bretagne from whence as we shew'd r Vid. Lib. 3. c. 2. §. 2. p. 527. before King Edward at the Cardinals Remonstrance had sent him a peremptory Command to rise forthwith upon sight of his Letters Now the mean while the Duke by a strict and long Siege for it began on the 3d of December in the Year foregoing and ended not till the latter end of July in this Year had mightily straitned the Place having moreover ravaged and eaten up the Country all about to supply his Army but I dare not say with Å¿ Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 824. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788. Leland that by a Detachment sent from the Siege he wan Autry and Semay lying on the River Aysne on the Marches of Lorraine for to any one that considers the Distance of those Parts from Bretagne it will seem ridiculous to imagin it I had rather in that Place read Vitray on the Vilaine on which River the City of Rennes also stands However t Knighton p. 2616. once Charles of Blois came thither with 10000 Men to raise the Siege but when he saw the English Duke ready to receive him in the Field and yet at the same time to make good the Siege with another Part of his Army holding it not likely to succeed as then he retired Whereupon the Besieged beginning to doubt of their Affairs sought for an occasion to parly with the Duke but they design'd to do it as it were by Chance that so they might obtain the better Conditions First therefore they request a safe Conduct for a Bishop and six Knights whom they sent to re-consecrate a Church without the Walls which being polluted by a Murther committed therein had been shut up for some time These seven having obtained a safe Conduct and the Work for which they went being done upon their return thrô the Camp were invited by the Duke to Dine with him and there at Table in Discourse it was question'd what might be the Meaning that the Defendants delay'd to yield up the Town since there was no Body able to succour them or to raise the Siege The Bishop having received Instructions before-hand said they should not refuse to yield upon good Conditions the Duke said they could not expect any better Conditions as things were now than to submit Themselves and Goods to his Clemency However after much Altercation Matters were brought at last to this Issue That the Inhabitants should give to the Duke an u Fab. say but 60000. a Scute 6 s. 8 d. i. e. a Noble English hundred thousand Scutes of Gold toward the Charges he had been at so that they should be otherwise free both in their Body and Goods and further that they should give Security that upon the Duke's Demanding the Town for the Use and Behoof of the King of England they would deliver it unto him to set what Captain he should please over them These things were established and agreed to on both sides and thereupon the Duke named them a Captain but because he would not expose the City to Plunder he appointed only certain Troops to go and take Possession of it in his Name he himself tarrying without the Town with the Gross of his Army One x Meâ—eray ad hunc annum says how he had sworn not to rise from before Rennes untill he had entred in Person and should see his Banners planted upon the Rampiers
when the News of this Treason was brought to the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche These two Lords were mightily surprised at this Treachery of Sr. Thomas Batefoile but they said however they would be present at the Delivery of the Town by the Grace of God. And so before it was light they rode from Bergerac towards la Linde whither they came by break of Day and having caused the Gate to be open on that side rode quite thrô the Town in silence till they came to the other Gate where the Frenchmen were to enter at which very instant the Gate was opening for the French and Sr. Thomas Batefoile stood ready to receive them Then Sr. John Greilly Captal of Busche alighted from his Horse and stept forward with his Sword in his Hand to the Gate and said Ah! thou Perfidious Traitor Batefoil thou shalt first die by my hand and never more commit Treason against thy Good Lord and Master And with those Words gave him so sure a Blow that he fell Dead to the Earth When the Frenchmen perceived the Captal and his Banner and Sr. Thomas Felton with him they saw plainly how their Plot was discovered whereupon they hastily withdrew from the Gates like one that found a Lion in his way and then turn'd their Backs and fled to their main Host Then were the Gates closed again for none pursued them because of their great Army which lay near and so the Town continued English but was in great Danger of being plunder'd and burnt by these Captains who were enclin'd to do so and to put all the Inhabitants to the Sword because they consented to this Treason But they excus'd themselves by laying all the Fault upon Sr. Thomas Batefoile who they said over-aw'd them to it by Threats and how they did nothing but for Fear being compelled thereto and so at last they were pardon'd But these two Lords tarried there till the Duke of Anjou had remov'd his Siege and taken another way as we shall shew when we have cleared our Hands of other Matters which naturally fall in at this Place XIV On the h Hector Boet. l. 15. f. 327. n. 50. Buchan l. 9. p. 306. Holinsh Scotl. p. 244. Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 27. Favine le Paris Theatre of Honour l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. Seventh Day of May David Bruce King of Scotland departed this Mortal Life at his Castle of Edenburgh leaving no Lawfull Issue behind him wherefore the Lord Robert Stuart Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret aliàs Margery his Eldest Sister by True Right of Succession came to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland Which have ever since continued in that Glorious Family down to our Most Gracious Sovereign His Present Majesty King JAMES the Seventh of Scotland and of England the Second To whom may God Almighty grant a Long Happy and Victorious Reign and of his Race and Name to wear the United Crowns of Great Brittain till all Earthly Kingdoms shall be swallowed up in the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven The Original of this Illustrious Family is thus traced by i Favine le Paris l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. c. Favine in his Theatre of Honour Banquho who was Thane i. e. President or Governor of Loquhaber in Scotland being slain by the Tyrannical Usurper Mackbeth his Son Fleance made shift to escape into Wales where of the Daughter of Prince Griffith he begat a Son named Walter and Sirnamed also Banquho as his Grandfather was At that time the Arms of this Family are said to have been Or a Fefs Checkie Argent and Sable of Four Pieces This Walter long after the Death of Mackbeth returning into Scotland fought valiantly for his King against the Island Rebels and the Savages of Scotland and was in recompence of his extraordinary Vertue and eminent Services made Great Provost and Treasurer of the Houshold Royal which the Scots signifie by the Name of Stuart or Steward And he so faithfully discharged the Trust reposed in him without the least Reproach or Embezling of the Kings Money that the Sirname of Stuart was imposed on him and transmitted to all his Posterity Walter begat Alan Stuart who was in the Expedition of Godfrey of Boulogne Alan begat Alexander I his Son was Walter who begat Alexander II and Robert Stuart by whom the Family ran into many Noble Branches Alexander the II Eldest Son of Walter the II begat John Stuart James and other Children by whom Scotland hath been replenished with a Numerous Encrease of Generous Souls John Stuart Eldest Son of Alexander the Second left one Daughter named Jane Stuart who brought unto her Husband the Lord of the Isle of Bute Walter Stuart Third of that Name who taking to Wife the Lady Margery Eldest Daughter to King Robert the First and Sister to King David Bruce gat of her this Robert Stuart King of Scotland by the Name of Robert the Second But because there is a gross Error in all the Scotch Historians concerning the immediate Successor of this King Robert of which many Wicked Men have in our days thought to make Advantage for the sake of Truth and Justice and the Honour of Majesty We shall here fairly state the Matter and faithfully and truly settle it It is the Assertion of all the Scotch Writers whom I have seen thô in some particulars they differ one from another that this Robert before he was King had by a certain Mistress named Elizabeth More Three Sons and Two Daughters that after by his Wife Euphemia Ross who was also Queen he had two Sons and a Daughter that upon the Death of his Queen his Former Mistress being then also by the Death of her Husband Giffard at Liberty was by him taken to Wife her Children legitimated and the Right of Succession by Act of Parliament settled first upon them This is the Effect of what the Scotch Writers say wherein there are many abominable Falsities as We shall make appear for We shall most evidently prove that the Lady Elizabeth More was his First and Lawfull Wife and died before he Married Euphemia that John who succeeded him by the Name of k When he came to the Crown he laid by the Name of John as unfortunate to two Kings of England and France and took upon him that of Robert Fortunate to his Father and Great Grandfather Robert Bruce Robert was his true and lawfully begotten Eldest Son and so reputed both by his Father and King David himself all along and that this Act for settling the Succession was only a Declaration of what was Right and Equity and done in the Life time of Queen Euphemia as is abundantly * P. 189. ad p. 201. made out in Sr. George Mackenzies Jus Regium and l Dr. Brady's True c. p. 309. ad p. 311. Dr. Brady's True and Exact History of the Succession of the Crown of England to whom I shall refer the Reader for the Original Record
manner of his coming to the Crown of England III. He is excus'd from being Guilty of his Fathers Deposition his peace is proclaim'd and a General Pardon IV. Twelve Guardians appointed him Mortimer's Greatness and the Queens excessive Dowry V. The Present State of Scotland the King whereof Robert Bruce sends a Defiance to King Edward VI. King Edward's Expedition against the Scots VII The Particulars of the Murder of King Edward the Second VIII King Edward the Third's Return to London the first Year of his Reign concludes with the Death of sundry great Personages Princes and Prelates I. KING Edward the Third of that Name from the Conquest AN. DOM. 1312. was the first Son of King Edward the Second of England sirnamed Caernarvon by his Queen Isabella the Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France a Frois c. 3. fol. 2. accounted in her time one of the most Beautifull Ladies in the world He was born at the Castle of Windsor whence he had his sirname after the manner of that Age on the b Sandford p. 158. thirteenth day of November at c Ashmole p. 644. fourty Minutes past Five in the Morning being the d Claus 6. Ed. 2. m. 22. Dorso Lit. Dom. B.A. Monday next after the Feast of St Martin the Bishop and the very day e H. Knighton p. 2533. n. 10. after the day of St Brice Bishop and Disciple of St Martin in the sixth year of his Fathers Reign and the year of our Lord God MCCCXII Prince f Walsingh hist p. 77. Lewis eldest Son to the King of France and Brother to the Queen of England being then with many of the French Nobility at the English Court labour'd earnestly that this Princely Infant might be named after King Philip but against this motion the English Nobility prevail'd and so on the Thursday after he was Baptised by the Name of Edward after his Father and Grandfather the Ceremony being performed by the hands of g Victorellus p. 839. ad hunc annum Arnold h Claus 6. Ed. 2. Priest-Cardinal titulo Sanctae Priscae in the old Chappel then of St Edward in the said Castle of Windsor his Godfathers being i Ibid. Ashmole p. 644. Richard Bishop of Poictiers John Bishop of Bath and Wells William Bishop of Worcester Lewis Earl of Eureux the Queens Brother John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond Emery of Valence Earl of Pembroke and Hugh le Despencer alias Spencer a Great Man in those Days The News of his Birth was k Walsingh ibid. an occasion of great Rejoycing over all England and the only thing l Speed p. 556. able to cheer up the mind of his Royal Father from that excessive sorrow which the late Death of his Favourite Piers Gaveston had flung upon it and from that Day the King forgot by Degrees his former loss rejoycing in his present Happiness For m Pat. 6. Ed 2. so pleasing to his Father was the Birth of this Hopefull Prince that on the Sixteenth of December following he gave to John Launge Valet to the Queen and to Isabel his Wife and to the longer liver of them for bringing to him so desireable News twenty four pounds per annum to be paid out of the Farm of London Within n Pat. ibid. Par. 2. m. 5. Ashmole ibid. few days after this Prince's Birth the King his Father granted him the County of Chester except the Mannors of Mecklesfield and Shotwike to hold to him and his Heirs Kings of England for ever And likewise the County of Flint and Rothelan to hold as before except the Mannor of Overton the Lands of Mailor Seysnoke and the Castle and Mannor of Holt after which he was thus stiled by the King Edvardus Comes Cestriae filius noster Charissimus But leaving his Infancy we will now proceed to his Youth and the occurrences that attended his Ripening years when we shall first have given some small taste of his Character the fulness thereof being purposely remitted till the end of his Life and this our Work because then it may better be consider'd from the whole tenour of his History From his Birth he was carefully bred up in all things that seem'd necessary or proper for Princes to excell in so that thrô the Vigour of his Parts being rendred very apt to imbibe the best Principles he made a speedy and extraordinary improvement in all Noble Qualities For he was of a very o Pitsaus de Illustr Angl. script p. 517. pierceing Judgment Sweet-nature and Good Discretion and considering the many weighty affairs that employ'd his whole Life not only kind to the Muses but much befriended by them as appears by those Learned Writings of which Pitsaeus says he was the Author When he was capable of receiving more ingenuous Education a Man of Great Reading Erudition and Honour was provided from Oxford to be his Tutor who thô commonly called p Godwin Catal. Bishops p. 661. Richard Bury from the place of his Birth was indeed Son to one St Richard Aungervile Knight but was afterwards by this his Royal Pupil made Privy-seal and q Philipot's Catal Chancellers and Treasurers p. 32. Treasurer of England then Dean of Wells and lastly Lord Chancellour of England and Bishop of Durham II. In a Parliament holden at York in the Sixteenth of the King his Father He was by him created r Speed p. 564. Holinshead p. 869. Catal. Honor p. 315. by Tho. Milles. Prince of Wales as some say thô he is no where found to have used that Title The occasion perhaps being because he was not long after invested with a Greater King Edward his Father ſ Ashmole p. 644. being often summon'd to the Court of France to do homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and still upon some account or other delaying till the French King had siezed thereon it was at length concluded that he should give unto this Prince his Son the said Dukedom for which he doing Homage should enjoy the Lands Whereupon preparation was made for his passing into France But before he went being then at Langedon Abbey near Dover the King his Father t Pat. 19. Ed. 2. p. 1. m. 25. Ashmole ibid. on the second of September in the nineteenth year of his Reign gave unto him his Heirs and Successours Kings of England jure haereditario in perpetuum the Counties of Ponthieu and Mutterel or Monstroile and on the tenth of the same Moneth he being then at Dover granted unto him the Dukedom of Aquitain and all the Lands he had or ought to have in the Kingdom of France Habendum as before Two u Claus 19. Ed. 2. m. 28. Dorse days after which our new Duke took shipping at Dover thence passed into France and performed his Homage to King Charles of France his Uncle In this his Journey it was thought fit that the Queen his Mother should bear him company in regard
her Lands in that Kingdom had also been seized on From which Sr Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore who having been clap'd into the Tower for Treason had made his escape into France as he was a most Politick and Vindicative Person took occasion to insinuate himself into the Queens Favour and by pretending to take her part against the Spencers the great Favourites of her Husband whom she extreamly hated involved her before she was aware into a Rebellion from which she could never extricate her self till she had ruin'd the King her Husband It is no way pleasant to me to relate the whole progress of that execrable Treason nor how the King of France being warned by King Edward durst not entertain any longer within his Dominions the Queen his Sister with this her Son Edward so that she was forced to flee to strangers for succour who being won by her charming tears adventur'd thô but a Few into this Kingdom where quickly encreasing their Numbers by a rash defection of the Giddy multitude they proceeded to the utmost Violations of Faith and Honour In short the old King at last was violently and illegally Depos'd and imprison'd thô with promise of security to himself AN. DOM. 1325. and the allowance of an Honourable Pension during life And our young Edward his eldest Son thô he could never be x Walsing hâ—st p 105. Hâ—â—â—nshead p 881. perswaded even to a Crown till he was made to believe his Father had desired it being at last won by the sight of his Father's seeming-voluntary Resignation which yet was extorted by fraudulent Promises and severe menaces took upon him the Crown and Government of this Kingdom III. Before this while the Realm was yet unsetled and the old King lay as then conceal'd in Wales y Sandford p. 158. He was by an Usurped Authority in an Assembly z Speed p. 564. Ashmole p. 644. of Lords met at Hereford the Queen and Sr Roger Mortimer being present made Custos or Lord Warden of the Kingdom by a common Decree bearing date the 20 of October whereupon all the Lords made him Homage and took an Oath of Allegiance to be Loyal to him as Lord Warden of England And on the twenty sixth of November following the Great Seal sent from the King his Father was deliver'd unto him at Martley Whereupon a a Walsingh hist p. 106. Sr The. de la Mere p. 8. l. 41. Parliament was summon'd to meet at Westminster about the Feast of Epiphany being called indeed in the old King's Name but the Briefs of Citation were signed by the Prince as Lord Warden of England In this Parliament thus called by his own Authority was the old King illegally depos'd when they had extorted his own consent to it by fair and foul means making so the young Prince believe that his Father had freely and willingly resign'd the Government of which matter we shall speak more largely when we come to relate the Murther of the said King Edward the Second But because many of our Historians lay some imputation upon the Name of King Edward the Third as if he was not wholly innocent of these Proceedings against his Father we are to consider the tenderness of his Age he being not then fourteen years old whereby he might very easily be impos'd upon by the treacherous subtlety of Mortimer and his Complices who were always about him also we should cast our eyes upon the severity he shew'd this same Mortimer when he understood the whole Treason nor is it a small sign of his innocence as to this point that he himself lived long and Reigned happily being blest with many Dutifull Children and that no other circumstance of his whole life can furnish us with any thing from whence we may suspect that he could be capable of so black and unnatural a Treason However b Ashmole p. 644 now the old King having resign'd the Crown great Preparations were made for this young Prince's Coronation he being on the 25 of January or the Conversion of St Paul and a c Lit. Dom. D. Sunday proclaimed King of England by Order and Consent of Parliament and Proclamations d Dugd. Warw. p. 165. a. were issued out in his Name declaring to the People that his Father the late King had made a Voluntary and free Resignation of his Regal Dignity to him as being his Eldest Son. And a week after by the direction of those who were Contrivers of this Revolution he was advis'd to Publish his Peace to the whole Kingdom which was done in these words Edward e Walsingh hist p. 105. Speed p. 565. Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 28. by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to N. Sheriff of S. Greeting Whereas the Lord Edward our Father late King of England by Common Council and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords as well as that of the whole Commonalty of the Realm did voluntarily resign the Government thereof willing and granting that We as his Eldest Son and Heir should take upon Us the Rule and Government of the Kingdom And We by the consent and advice of the Prelates Earls and Barons aforesaid yeelding herein to our Fathers good Pleasure have taken upon Us the Government of the said Realm and received as the manner is the Fealties and Homages of the said Prelates and Barons Desiring therefore that our Peace should be inviolably kept to the quiet and benefit of our Liege People We will and command that presently upon sight of these Presents you cause our Peace to be Proclaim'd thrô all your Bailywick charging all and every one in our Name under pain and peril of Disherison and loss of life and limb not to presume to infringe or violate our said Peace but every one to prosecute his Actions and Causes without any outrage whatsoever according to the laws and customs of our Kingdom For We are ready and ever shall be to exhibit and afford to all and singular Plaintiffs as well poor as rich full Justice in our Courts according to due Course of Law. Witness Our Self at Westminster l mo Februarii Annóque Regni nostri Primo On the f Sandford p. 158. H. Knighten p. 2550. Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 2. n. 13. same day being Sunday and the Vigil of the Purification was the young King by the hands of his Cozen Henry Earl of Lancaster first girded with the Sword of Knighthood at which time the King himself Knighted many others among whom were three g Sandford p. 109. Catal. Hono p. 575. Dagd 1. Vol. p. 145. 147. Sons of the Lord Mortimer That day he was Crowned at Westminster by the hands of h Ashmole calls him William by mistake vid. Godw. Catal. Bps. c. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury and thereupon as an Earnest of the many Advantages his People were to reap from his prosperous Reign a General Pardon
is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
lived but Miserably The Principal Authors in due Season we shall see brought to Condign Punishment VIII The young b Walsing hist p. 109. n. 20. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 345. King in his return to London was heartily welcomed by the Mayor and Aldermen and the whole City For he was a Prince of great hope and had much vivacity in his Countenance and courage in his Breast upon which account all his Subjects lov'd him entirely The gratefull Prince to set a Mark of his Royal favour upon that famous Metropolis in a Parliament held at Westminster c Joh. Tinemouth Aur. hist p. 229. a. in Bibl. Lambeth which began on St. Brices Day of his own accord confirmed unto them their former Liberties and granted new ones which they never had before Ordaining that the Mayor of London for the time being should sit in all Places within the Liberties as the Kings Chief Justice and that every Alderman who had been Mayor should while he continued true to the King and his Laws be always Justice of the Peace within his own Ward He also granted unto the Citizens the Fee Farm of London for three hundred Pounds per annum And that the lawfull Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings Hands but only on Occasion d Inst par 2. f. 20. Mirror c. 5. §. 2 Fleta l. 2. c. 48. Plowd com fol. 40. Instit par 4. f. 253 Rich. Grafton p. 217. of Abuse or Misuse e Stow's Survey London p. 248. p. 604. or for Treason or Rebellion countenanced or done by the whole City Further he ordain'd that Southwark should be under the government of the City and that the Mayor of London as Bailiff of Southwark should depute after his own pleasure the Bailiff of that Burrough under him About the same time also he made the Company of Skinners in London a Corporation as they have ever since honourably continued even to this day Himself for their greater Honour vouchsafing to be of their Brotherhood as afterwards other Kings did in imitation of so great a Precedent namely Richard the Second Henry the Fifth Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth Nor hath this Honourable and Ancient Company been ungratefull to the Memory of this their Glorious Founder but take all occasions to testifie their Respect to his Name and to preserve his Glory to Posterity Particularly of late they have at their own proper costs and charges erected his Statue among the Kings of this Land in the Royal Exchange in London To accompany the late unhappy King of England to his Grave there died about this time many other Potentates Princes and Prelates thô none so unfortunately and by such treacherous Cruelty as our Edward of Caernarvon And first there died Charles Earl of Valois younger Brother to Philip the Fair late King of France and Uncle to Charles the Fair then King of France and Father to Philip of Valois afterwards in Opposition to King Edward the Third made King of France He had been all his time a right Frenchman that is an inveterate Enemy to the English Nation Nor did his Nephew Charles King of France himself long survive him But departed this life without Issue being then about 32 years of Age on the Kalends of February Anno Dom. MCCCXXVIII when he had Reigned six Years and one Month leaving his Queen big with Child which notwithstanding died shortly after the Birth So that the Right to the Crown devolved thereupon to our King Edward the Eldest Son and Heir of Isabella the said Charles his only Sister surviving and the Daughter of Philip the Fair. But the French Nation either despising King Edwards Youth or moved by their own evil Genius for it was afterwards the occasion of unspeakable Calamities to that Kingdom prefer'd Philip of Valois the Nephew of Philip the Fair before King Edward the Son of Philip's Daughter to the Throne of France Accordingly on the 29 day of May following * Lit. Dom. CB. Pascha 3 April being then Trinity-Sunday he was Crowned at Rheimes f D'Avila l. 2. ad An. 1561. where the Holy Oyl wherewith Cloüis their First Christian King was anointed is still kept with great Veneration But the ill consequences of this his Coronation will abundantly appear hereafter There died also this Year the Lord g Buchan p. 277. Walter Stuart of Scotland Son in Law to King Robert Bruce and by the Lady Margaret Father to Robert Stuart who was afterwards King of Scotland the First of that Glorious Family From whom is descended our Present Gracious Soveraign King James the Second whom God grant long and happily to Reign About the same time Elizabeth Queen of Scotland deceased and not h Id. Junii An. 1328. long after there departed this life the King himself Robert Bruce that valiant Captain very old and as was said infected with the Leprosie leaving behind him David his only Son and Heir a young Prince of about Eight Years old of whom we shall say much in the Process of this History This King i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 447. Robert Bruce was by birth an English Baron as was also John k Id. ibid. p. 523. Baliol his Competitor thô by Marriages of their Houses with the Royal Line of Scotland they Both at last had a Title to the Crown of that Kingdom King Robert beside his Brother l Speed p. 558. §. 33. Edward who was slain in battle by the English in Ireland had a younger Brother named Bernard Bruce from whom descended the Noble Edward Bruce of Kinlosse in Scotland a Person of great esteem and Merit in the Court of our English Solomon King James the First His Son m Wright's Hist of the Antiq of Rutlandshire p. 50. c. Thomas Lord Bruce was by Letters Patents dated the 21 of June in the Ninth of the said King James created Earl of Elgin in Scotland and on the First of August the Seventeenth of King Charles the First advanced to the Degree of a Baron of this Realm as his Ancestors for many Ages before had been by the Title of Lord Bruce of Wharlton in the County of York Whose Son and Heir Robert Lord Bruce was a Person of such eminent merits as well for his signall Loyalty in the late unhappy Defection as since the Happy Restoration of Monarchy that for a further addition of Honour King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory by Letters Patents bearing Date the 18 of March in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign advanced him to the Titles of Lord Bruce of Skelton in the County of York Vicount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire and Earl of Aylesbury in the County of Buckingham And being also Hereditary High Steward of the Honour of Ampthill Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Bedford Huntington and Cambridge Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and One of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council he lately departed
his Sisters sake whom David the present King of Scotland had married as also because the old Queen and the Lord Mortimer had at the time of making that Peace at Northampton oblig'd the King in a Å¿ Knighton p. 2560. n. 20 30 40. c. Bond of 20000l to be forfeited to the Pope in case of any Hostility or Breach made on his part till the full terme of four Years should be accomplished But as for those English Adventurers who claim'd Lands in Scotland which were now forfeited for their Non-residence according to an Article of the foresaid Peace of Northampton after King Edward t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. a. had in vain sent to the Earl of Murray then upon the Lord u Buchan l. 9. p. 282. An. 1331. Thomas Randulph's death Guardian of that Realm by reason of King David's Minority on their behalf he gave them his leave or rather a tacit Connivance for nothing was expresly said in their own Names upon their own Titles and at their own charges to make War in the company of the Lord Edward Bailiol against the present King of Scotland till they might have their Injuries redressed Of these we find the Lord Henry x Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 51. Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the y Id. ibid. p. 96. young Lord David Strabolgi Earl of Athol who had been a Ward to the said Lord Beaumont the Lord Gilbert z Id. 1 Vol. p. 507. Vmphravil Earl Angus Henry a Harding c. 178. fol. 178. b Lord Perey who claimed Galloway Thomas b Dudg ibid. p. 541. Lord Wake the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine Ralph c Knighton p. 2560. Lord Stafford in the Title of William Lord Zouch d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 267. Henry Lord Ferrers of Groby John e Id. ibid. p. 127 Lord Moubray and Sr. Alexander Moubray his Kinsman the Lord f Knighton p. 2560. Richard Talbot AN. DOM. 1331. An. Regni V. a famous young Warrier Sr. Roger Swinnerton and several other Lords and Knights who raised their Friends and Tenants and as many as desired to purchase Honour or prey in the Wars All who taking the sea at g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. a. Ravenspurr in Yorkshire for the King would not allow them to pass thrô his Land they arrived at Kingcorn in Scotland not far from Dunfermlin The Scots had beforehand intelligence of this their Design and so were not unprovided of Forces to impeach their Landing They had sent forth no less than h Tinemouth fol. 229. Knigh. p. 2560. n. 40. Waisingh hist p. 113. n. 10. Stow p. 230. n. 50. M.S. praefat 10000 Men under the Command of Duncan Macduff Earl of Fife the Lord Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick King David's Bastard brother and Sr. Alexander Seton eldest Son to the Lord Alexander Seton of whom more hereafter The Lord Bailiol's Forces were very small as appears from the highest account of them some as i Buchan l. 9. p. 283. Buchanan confesses reckoning them but 600. which he rather thinks should be 6000. But another of more Honesty and therefore of more Authority says they were no more then k Knighton p. 2560. n. 66. idem Joh. Tinemouth fol. 229. M.S. ve Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 223. 2500 which small number being furnished with so many gallant Leaders must needs be pretty considerable since Discipline and Courage might very well make up their Defects as it is well known to those who either understand the Art Military or have read those many Instances of the like nature abounding in History Accordingly the Valiant Lord Bailiol thô he saw these more numerous Forces ready to impeach his Landing resolved not to loyter away the time in cruising and coasting about but forthwith to discharge his Vessels in that very place for he was not ignorant of the Worth of his Men and what high Hopes they entertain'd as those who fought with him for no less than a Kingdom Withall he discreetly consider'd how this however too great a Match as to his Numbers was the smallest Force he could expect to meet with in Scotland but that if here he prevail'd the reputation of the Victory would be of no small moment but easily procure Friends to his Quarrel and Terror to his Arms. This well-grounded Resolution was so well favour'd by Fortune that before his Men of Arms could touch the land the Scots being gall'd by the Archers a few Footmen also making upon them a brisk Impression at the same time gave back in Great confusion and were soon thereupon totally routed no less than 900 of them being slain together with an hopefull young Gentleman Sr. Alexander l Bachan l. 9. p. 283. Hector l. 15. f. 312 n. 40. c. Eldest son to the Lord Alexander Seton Upon this success the Bailiol marched directly toward the Abbey and Town of Dunfermlin wherein they found good store of Provision and other necessaries for Men of War And among other things m M.S. 〈…〉 500 Great staves of fine Oak with long Pikes of iron and steel which the Bailiol took and deliver'd to the strongest of all his Men. Soon after at a place called Gledesmore this small resolute Band of English not yet consisting of above three or four Thousand in all met with more than 40000 of the Scots to oppose them But for the present they were hindred from joyning by a Deep Water being the River of Erne that ran between both Armies For the Citizens of St. Johnston n M.S. prâ—â—f ibid. c. when they heard how the Earl of Fife was discomfited by the Bailiol were much terrified and brake down all their Bridges which they had made over the Water of Erne so that the English could not get over but stood all that day in Battle Array fronting the Enemies on the Banks of the said River But the Lord Bailiol could not dispose himself to rest the night following his Spies had brought him word of the negligence of the Enemies in their Camp and his Courage made him conceive high Hopes of success if he took his Opportunity wherefore having assembled all the Chiefs together he said Now Dear Lords ye know that we are surrounded with Enemies on all sides who if they may have an Advantage against us there is nothing to be expected but Death And I verily believe that by tarrying here the remainder of this Night we should only contribute to out own ruine For the Power of Scotland may every day wax and encrease but it will not be so with us unless we gain Reputation by our Courage althô we are but a small People in respect of them Wherefore I pray you for Godsake let us be hardy and couragious and resolve with all our might to fall upon the Scots this night and prove our selves the Aggressors whereby we shall daunt their minds especially now they are weary with their long March and all
in England even Buchanan t Buchan l. 13. p. 286. himself acknowledges that King Bailiol was surprised almost asleep and half naked He for his part fled away directly for Caerlile where he was kindly u Knighten p. 2562. received of Ranulph Lord Dacres of the North then High x Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 22. b. Sheriff of Cumberland and Governor of Caerlile with whom he stay'd during the Holydays Thence y Rob. Southwell he went into Westmorland where he was honorably entertain'd by Robert Lord Clifford at his Castles z Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 340. of Appleby and Brougham a Rob. Southwell in requital whereof King Bailiol then and there granted unto him and his Heirs for ever Douglasdale in Scotland which had before been given to his Grandfather the Lord Robert Clifford by King Edward the First of England if ever again he should recover that Realm of his Adversaries Not long b Knighton p. 2562. n. 40. sed lege Lancastriam pro illius Leicestriam after this he went into to Lancashire to the Lady of Ghisnes then residing at Mourholme AN. DOM. 1332. An. Regni VI. where for one week more he tarried with his small Company who had with him escaped from the Scots and this Lady who was wife to c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. William Lord Goucy Earl of Ghisnes in France furnished him with Horse Arms and Money for he had lost all that ever he had when he escaped from the Treason of the Scots Moreover King Bailiol d M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. sent to King Edward his Letters Supplicatory Complaining unto him how falsly and treacherously he had been in a little while reduced to shame and sorrow by the perfidiousness of his Liege-men upon whom he had entirely trusted and praying him for the Love of Almighty God that he would maintain and help him against his Enemies On which Condition he would hold the Crown of Scotland of him and render homage unto him for the same King Edward had great commiseration of this his forlorn Condition and promised him very shortly to give him powerfull Assistance IV. In the mean time while King Bailiol was thus recruiting himself again in England and rallying his former Friends to his Assistance the e Buchan p. 286 Scots that held for Bruce nothing ignorant of what they were to expect apply themselves to Archimbald Douglas who was then Viceroy of that Kingdom in the place of the Lord Andrew Murray who had been taken before at Roxborough to consult with him about their Affairs For they had such an inveterate hatred against the English who still claim'd Superiority over them that even for their sakes by whose Assistance he sought the Kingdom and under whose Homage they rightly judged he would submit it as his Father had done before they now unanimously resolve no way to endure the Bailiol for their King. Him therefore they all mark out for a common Enemy and with more alacrity make provision of all things necessary to a War as knowing what a Potent Adversary they were to deal with 'T was here imagin'd how the English who were to take his part would first begin with Barwick that therefore they first furnish with a sufficient Garrison the Lord Patrick of Dunbar being appointed Governour of the Castle and Sr. Alexander Seton a worthy Scotch Knight to defend the Town and Suburbs But William Douglas Lord of Liddisdale a Man of great Wisdom and Courage is sent to Anandale to guard the West of Scotland Here Buchanan sends Andrew Murray the Viceroy to Roxborough but Archimbald Douglas was now Viceroy the Lord Andrew being a prisoner at Durham And Bailiol was not at Roxborough now as he says So mightily do great Men err sometimes for want of Diligence or Integrity The Lord Archimbald the Viceroy undertook himself with more than f Knigh on p. 2562. n. 60. Holinshea Eng. Chron. p. 895. Walsingh hist p. 114. n. 10. 3000 Choice men to enter the Marches of England and to rob and spoil the Borderers to his power as a while after he did by the way of Caerlile making great havock every where but especially in Gillestand and the Lands of the Lord Ranulph Dacres where for 15 or 16 leagues about he lay'd all wast before him And besides all this the Lord John g Bucha p. 286. Randulph is dispatch'd into France to implore the assistance of King Philip against his and their ancient Enemy V. The news of all these Preparations and the apprehensions thereof was that which allarum'd the Parliament at Westminster in that manner as I said before And indeed gave the first Occasion of renewing that War by discharging King Edward of his former Obligations which afterward proved so fatal to Scotland For immediately when the Parliament was reassembled at York Sr. Geoffry h M.S. 19. §. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 13. §. 6. Scroop declar'd That the King his Master having understood that the Lord Bailiol had proclaimed himself King of Scotland for which Crown on condition of Assistance he proffer'd to render Homage to the Crown of England now therefore demanded whether the Truce being fully expired He should fall upon Scotland in his own Name or claim the Demesne of the same or by making himself a Party should take advantage of Recovering those Services and that Homage which his Royal Ancestours have had before him But because most part of the States were absent these things at that time were not so fully determin'd so that the Parliament was adjourned till the Octaves of St. Hilary the King being fain to send out new Summons strictly enjoyning all Persons to attend and on no pretence whatsoever any longer to delay or hinder the Kings weighty Affairs by their Non-appearance This last default happen'd thrô the Pride of the Spirituality the Archbishops of Canterbury and York not agreeing about the Bearing of their Crosiers so that only the Archbishop of York whose name was William Melton Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln and John Kirkeby Bishop of Caerlile with the Abbots of York and Selby came thither But Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury with all his Clergy forbore coming whereby was occasion'd the loss of a fair Opportunity against Scotland besides the indignity put upon the King in thus Frustrating his Expectation and the Insuppoptable Expence and Trouble that must needs accrue to the whole State by a Reassembly I need not say any more of this Parliament because I cannot find it produced any thing answerable to the present Exigence of Affairs or to the King's Expectation Save that upon their Reassembly i M.S. p. 20. Sr. Rob. Cott. 1. p. 14. Wardens were appointed for the Marches of the North and the King enabled by his Subjects either to Invade or Defend But John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and other the Commissioners that were to consult about certain Matters put to them by
by the Prowess of King Robert our Father from King Edward Father to the King your Master in time of Open War. And by the same Prowess he held it with Honour till by his Death it came with the rest of his Inheritance to Us his undoubted Son and Heir who intend also with our utmost Ability to hold it in the best manner we may But this Lords we require of you as Gentlemen and Christians that you would do your best to persuade the King your Master whose Sister we have taken into our Royal Bed that he will suffer us peaceably to enjoy our Rights and Franchises as his Ancestors have done before and leave freely in our Possession what our Father so valiantly wan and so quietly enjoy'd and at last so entirely transmitted to Us with his Crown and Kingdom Nor let the King your Master be too credulous of light Reports since we intend Religiously to keep the Peace so lately made at Northampton Nor let him give too much Faith to evil Counsellors whose restless Spirits stirr him up against us Since if any other Prince in the world intended to injure us He ought especially to aid succour and defend us for his Sisters sake whom we have Married and taken into our Bosom Upon this Answer the Ambassadors promising to acquit themselves as he had required them were dismissed but King Edward was nothing content when he heard them report the Answer I am well aware that the Scotch Writers imagining the better to colour all their losses deliver how their King David had before this even upon Bailiols Invasion convey'd himself with his Queen into France But neither doth it seem honourable nor reasonable that by so weak thô successfull an Enemy and at the appearance of such small Forces their King should be driven to such desperate Courses nor is it agreeable to other either Circumstances or Authors and it is utterly contradicted by Froisard who lived near those Days and took great Care and was very impartial in Collecting his History Wherefore with him we cannot admit that he left his Kingdom in this manner till the Main of his Forces were overthrown by King Edward in the Battle of Halidoun to which now we hasten III. The late-mention'd Answer from Scotland was no way pleasing to King Edward for whatever Natural affection for his Sister the Queen of Scots might persuade he saw plainly by the resolute Answer of King David that he was no longer to be rely'd on as a Friend than he should want Power of manifesting himself an Enemy to England that the Old League with France was more prevalent than this New Alliance with him that however now in his Pupillage he seem'd desirous of Peace within a few years he would prove both willing and able to wage the fiercer Wars It troubled him also not a little that while himself was under Age so Dishonourable a Bargain had been made wherein he had been induced to resign those Instruments of his Superiority over Scotland which as his Father had purchas'd with much Honourable Difficulty so till himself had regain'd them he could not be at friends with himself The present Occasion also seem'd more promising since the Scots had already broke the Peace and that on his Part beside the Limits of the Peace were fully expired that moreover King Bailiol had in Reality the best Right to that Crown from whom he might expect not only the accustomed Homage but also Restitution of what Himself in his Minority had by evil Counsel resign'd to the extream Diminution of his Honour and Royal Prerogative Add to all this that till he had settled his Affairs on that side he could not safely make any Pretensions to France which the Lord Robert of Artois from his first coming had vehemently instigated him unto according to that vulgar Saying He that the Realm of France would win Must with Scotland first begin Now therefore he calls his m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing hist p. 115. Parliament which as we said before met at York a little after the Purification of the Virgin Mary or rather in the beginning of March the * it began to sit in the 2d week in Lent Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. Second Sunday in Lent happening that Year on the last of February To this Parliment King Bailiol as holding of King Edward had his Summons but n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 6. 45. Walsing hist p. 115. n. 40. he understanding that his Enemies had laid wait for him in the adjacent Isles and elsewhere durst not adventure to come in Person but sent his sufficient Excuse by the Lord Henry Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the Lord William Montagu and other Lords and Knights who so evidently declared the Reasons of his Non-appearance at that time that their Apology was accepted by the King and his Council Here the King declaring to all his Lords the late Answer of the King of Scots to his Embassy o Frois c. 26. f. l. 15. b. demands their Advice thereupon and that they would consider what way he might best salve his Honour and maintain his Right The Result was The whole Parliament was of Opinion that the King could no longer with Honour put up those Wrongs and Injuries daily done unto him and his people by the Scots They humbly therefore pray'd and advis'd his Majesty to provide such force of Men and Arms as might not only reduce Barwick into his Power but also compell the King of Scotland gladly to seek his Peace by rendring unto him the accustomed Homage for that Kingdom In which Enterprise they all promised to assist him in Purse and Person The King as he was always very Gracious to his People thanked them heartily for the Loyal Affection wherewith they embrac'd his Honour and Interest and so having prefixed p Claus 7. Ed. 3. m. 19. Derse Trinity Sunday for the time wherein his Forces were to be Assembled at Newcastle upon Tine he Dissolv'd the Parliament Thus was a War resolv'd on But yet q Frois c. 26. ibid. before the King of England would draw his Sword he sends again to King David other Ambassadors to summon him to come and do the required Homage upon peremptory refusal whereof they were secretly instructed with full Authority to defie him But for all this the Scots were so Resolute upon their Liberty that no better Answer could be obtain'd than what was return'd before So that the Defiance was openly made and War Published between the two Nations r Virgil. l. 12. v. 503. Tanton ' placuit concurrere Motu O Deus aeternâ Gentes in Pace futuras IV. Before ſ Walsingh bist p. 114. n. 10. this King Edward had sent some Forces toward the North not to Invade Scotland but to make good the Borders in case of an Invasion from thence And well it happen'd that he had so provided For t Knighton p. 2562. n. 6◠before the Defiance was made the Lord
Upon Request of the Commons that all Men might have their Writs out of the Chancery for Fees of the Seal only without any Fine according to that of Magna Charta Nulli vendemus Justitiam the King granted that Writs which were of Course should be so and that for such as were of Grace he would Command his Chancellour to be therein Gracious It is Enacted that Bigamy shall be Tryed only in Court Christian It is Enacted that Justices of Assise after their Assise taken shall not depart before they have made Delivery of their Goal on pain of loosing their Fees. It is Enacted If any Delivery be taken before any other Justices than such as are appointed thereto contrary to the Statutes at Northampton that the same may be void It is Enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King. The Commons Petition That Remedy may be had against Oppressions of the Clergy for Probates of Wills and Citations for Trifles The King will herein do his Best and chargeth the Bishops to do the Like That every Infant acknowledging any Statute or Recognisance may at his Full Age Averre his Nonage The King reply'd There was a better Law than by Averment That all Men may have Delivery of their Beasts which escape into any Hay or Forest without any Fine to the Forester who accounteth them Forfeits and that Coroners may Execute their Office there The Coroners shall Execute their Office there and Wardens of Forests shall be commanded to keep their Officers from Extorting That certain may be appointed to hear the Debates between the Town of Great Yarmouth and Little Yarmouth The Judgements therefore made between them shall stand That Remedy may be had for the true making of Woollen Cloaths according to the Assize The King will Provide for the Execution of the Statute That no money be Exported out of the Realm The King will Provide therefore That Pardons may be granted for the Debts due to King John and Henry the Third for which Process came daily out of the Exchequer The King will Provide an Answer the next Parliament That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs and their Officers for Gathering of Green Wax The Statute therefore made shall stand For e In Derso ejusd Ret that the Staple was ordain'd to endure at the Kings Pleasure It is now Enacted that the same Staple should be revoked and that all Merchants-Strangers may freely buy any Staple Wares paying the due Custom Sundry Justices in several Counties were appointed to enquire of the Felonies of Bennet of Normanton Lastly because Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice was to be employ'd in the Kings Weighty Affairs it was Enacted that the Kings Bench should be continued in Warwickshire after Easter next Sr. Richard Willoughby being appointed to supply his Place for the time with the Assistance of Sr. William Shareshull one of the Justices of the Bench. II. This is the Summ of what I find transacted in this Parliament which being adjourn'd the King who was desirous to keep a watchfull Eye over Scotland passed on and held his Whitsuntide f Whitsâ—nday fell on the 15 of May. at Newcastle upon Tine Whither soon after Edward Bailiol King of Scotland Sirnamed the Conquerour came to him well and Honourably attended with the Nobility of either Nation and there g Walsingh hist p. 115. Holinshead p. 896. Ashmole p. 645. on the Day of Gervasius and Prothasius which is the 19 of June in the Church of the Preaching Fryers render'd his Homage and swore Fealty unto him for his Kingdom of Scotland and the Isles thereto belonging with the Ceremony of Kneeling while the Words of the Homage were pronounced after which he h Vid. Selden's Tit. Hâ—nâ—r p. 52. kissed the King of Englands Cheek all being performed in the Presence of several Archbishops Bishops Earls and many other Barons of both Nations Here King Bailiol acknowledged the King of England as Superior Lord of Scotland swearing to hold his Realm of him his Heirs and Lawfull Successours for ever Then and there also he gave and Granted to King Edward in Requital of his Expences and Labour in the Wars on his Behalf Five whole Counties next adjoyning to the Borders of England as Barwick Roxborough Peblis and Dumfres with the Towns of Hadington and Gedeworth and the Castles and Fortresses of Selkirk Etherick and Gedeworth So that all and each of these should from thenceforth be wholly separated from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to the Crown of England for ever And all this was confirmed by Oath Scepter Writings and Authentick Subscription Moreover King Bailiol by the Advice and Consent of his Scotch Nobles in Requital of King Edward's Cost and Labour for his Sake and to Nourish a continual Sence of his Gratitude Granted for him and his Heirs Kings of Scotland to King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England for ever That i Fabian p. 202. whensoever he the said King of England or any of his Heirs should have War either at Home or Abroad the Scots at their own proper Costs and Charges should assist him or them with 300 Horse and a 1000 Foot well Furnished for the War which said 1300 Men the Scots were to pay for one whole Year But if the King of England should not within the said Space end his War then he the said King of England should take them into his Pay as he doth his own Souldiers But this Homage of the Bailiols was so highly stomached by the hardy and couragious Scots that thô for the present they were necessitated to smother their Resentments and indeed could never be able to drive him wholly from his Kingdom as upon the same account was done to his Father he being constantly sustained by the English Yet what with their restless strugglings for Liberty and their frequent and obstinate Rebellions they so tired him out at the long run that seeing himself also old and childless he at last was fain to resign the whole Kingdom with all his Right and Title thereto unto his Superior Lord King Edward of England as hereafter will be shewn at large Yet at the same time k Knighton p. 2566. n. 50. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol Sr. Alexander Moubray and other Scotch Lords that held Lands Tenements and Fees in England did their Homage to King Edward for the same When also the Lord John l Mill's Catal. Honâ—r p. 606. Dreux Duke of Bretagne in France and Vicount Limouvicen Son to Arthur once Duke of Bretagne and Nephew to John the brother of Arthur late Duke thereof who died without Issue the 8 of February this Year performed m Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 10 Adam Muâ—â—mouth his Homage to King Edward on the 24 of June at Newcastle for the Earldom of Richmond in England Which Earldom thô our common Historians say it was lately given to the Lord Robert of Artois as I have shewn before appears n Catal.
Honor. p. 603. ad p. 6â—6 yet to have been and continued in this Family of the Dreuxes ever since the year 1268 in the days of King Edward the First untill this time and seven years after when upon the Death of this John de Dreux without Issue King Edward gave this Earldom to his Fourth Son o Ib. d. p. 610. John Plantagenet sirnamed of Gaunt Nevertheless thô I know not how nor when the Lord Robert of Artois had the Title of Earl of Richmond but I never could find that he had any Creation thereto But this John Dreux as we intimated just now died seven years after in the 15 of this King leaving no Issue behind him thô he had been thrice Married To whom John Earl of Montford his Half-brother succeeded in the Dukedom of Bretagne which John was Father to John sirnamed the Valiant after his Fathers decease Duke of Bretagne of whose Wars and gallant Exploits this History makes honourable mention III. Immediately after this Enterview at Newcastle the two Kings parted the One toward Scotland the Other for Windsor whence King Edward speedily issued out his Summons to the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal commanding them to meet him at Nottingham on the 10th of that instant July there with him to advise about Affairs concerning the Weal of the Realm In this Council 't was ordain'd that a Parliament should be call'd at Westminster to meet on the 24th of September or the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the day bearing some proportion with the Design which was to exalt the interest of Christendom At which time the Parliament being assembled the Pious Young King did then declare That being thereto invited by his Kinsman the Duke of Bretagne who came in Embassy from France he had formed a Resolution to march with his Cosen the French King and other Christian Princes into the Holy Land to advance the Cross of Christ against the Turks and Infidels For thô he had not as yet answer'd King Philip directly when he requested his Society in this Croisade because he had been credibly informed that King Philip about this time had victuall'd and mann'd out ten great Ships which he design'd for Scotland in pursuance of King Davids Quarrel yet forasmuch as those Vessels being miserably shatter'd at Sea were at last forced to return home without any effect and because now Scotland seem'd fully settled under the government of King Bailiol all things appearing safe from those Quarters and quiet at home himself also flourishing with Riches Honour Children and full and vigorous Youth he declares as we said before to this Parliament his Resolution to partake with Christendom in this pious and honourable Enterprise And thô he did not expresly limit the time since there can be no exact certainty before hand of such weighty and slow-moving matters yet then he appointed Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury as his Ambassador to go to the Pope and to the French King to consider and agree with them as of other things so especially about the Time when the two Kings should set forward to the Holy Land together But for all this althô the Lord Robert of Artois could by no means prevail to divert the King from this Design to that of claiming his Right in France which he earnestly labour'd to persuade him to Yet thrô some secret Ordinance of Providence it happen'd even while this Parliament sat that by other means he was compell'd to take other Measures Which were not indeed so happy for Europe but nothing less glorious to this English Monarch IV. For King Bailiol being thus fully settled in his Kingdom of Scotland and no way fearing that his Enemies had any Ability left sufficient in the least to shake his Throne began first himself to open a way to his own Ruine by imprudently occasioning Discord among his most powerfull Friends Many of his Followers had been long disinherited of their Rights in Scotland and several interchangable Marriages happening the while among them it was utterly impossible to avoid but that some Controversies would happen in deciding matters now by adjusting all things equally And besides all this not a few who had no great Concerns in that Kingdom before could not yet but merit high Considerations from the Bailiol in regard of their late Services Among Others John Lord p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 81. Waren Earl of Surry was now by full consent of Scotch and English Nobles created Earl of Strathern instead of Malisius the late Earl who had forfeited that his Honour by Rebellion Thô afterwards q Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. at the sollicitation of Malisius his Friends great endeavours were used for Revocation of that Judgment and Forfeiture This was one difficult Point insomuch that King Edward of England whose clearer Judgment saw the ill Consequences of these matters had by his Letters to King Bailiol desired him that the Business might be publiquely discussed by his Nobles and Faithfull Peers of the Realm and not by such whose Fidelity might be called in question And he had also sent his Letters to Henry Lord Beaumont one of the chief of King Bailiols Council requiring him to use his utmost interest for preventing any sudden Determination in that business Considering of what ill Example it would be as also of peril to himself and others in the like case But there arose another Controversie higher than this by far For whereas the Lord Henry Beaumont had already received what he claimed in Right of his r Hector p. 316. 60. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Lady Alice one of the Cosens and Coheirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan as was shew'd before now it seems her Uncle Sr. Alexander Moubray a potent Man lately brought over to the Batliol claim'd a Purparty of her Lands from the said Lord Beaumont The Cause was debated in Parliament with great heat the Lord Richard Å¿ The One was Lord Beaumont's Wife 's Sister's Husband the other Sister's Sen. vid. l. 1. c. 6. §. 9. Talbot and David Strabolgi Earl of Athol taking part with the Lord Beaumont their Kinsman and Others as their Opinions Humour or Interest lead them with the Lord Moubray King Bailiol thinking himself sure of his Old Friends and hoping now for ever to bind fast unto him this late-reconciled Enemy too rashly adjudged the matter in behalf of Sr. Alexander Moubray As it was too soon done it was too late repented of for the other Party was immediately so exasperated that in the very Parliament House they could scarce forbear flying to extremities But the Parliament hereupon being presently adjourn'd the Quarrel seem'd to sleep for a while Yet however King Bailiol who by the greatness of the Smoak perceived what a dangerous Fire was kindled doubting the worst made towards Barwick in all hast for his better security with Sr. Alexander Moubray in his company The Lord t Hecter fol. 316 60. Buchan p. 290. Richard
till the Truce was fully expired and then on the same 12 day of July to enter Scotland in Hostile Manner with his Forces the Chief Captains whereof under him were John Lord Warren Earl of Surrey in England and of Stratherne in Scotland Richard Fitz-Alan the Stout Earl of Arundel Henry Lord f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who it seems had made no Oath to the Contrary as the Scotch Writers affirm but was redeem'd from his Imprisonment by a good round Summe of Money as we shew'd before the Lord Ralph Nevil and the Lord Henry Percy were here also together with the Lords Nicolas Cantilupe and Ralph Stafford all Barons of great Valour and Conduct who thô Subjects of England being for the most part ally'd to King Bailiol with their several Retinues and a choice Band of lusty Welchmen enter'd Scotland on the One part at the same time that King Edward enter'd on the Other as it had been before appointed Two such Mighty Torrents of War were not likely to be much resisted by the almost-exhausted Powers of the Bruceans So that in a manner they ravag'd the Country at their Pleasure wasting and burning all before them On the 12 g Knighton p. 2566. c. of July being a Wednesday King Edward of England began his March from the City of Carlile passing over the Solway Frith and so entring into Scotland in good Order of Battle On the Tuesday following being the 18 of July the Lord William Montague with certain other Barons of England rode forth coasting on the left hand towards the Parts of Caerlaverock in Nidisdale to fetch in Prey for the Army and the next day they return'd all safe with some Hundred Head of Cattle On * Julii 20. Thursday the King passed the Ford of Anand which giveth Name to Anandale and then he rear'd his Banners Royal and made many Knights but to the Lord William Montague he granted his Crest with the Eagle and a gallant Courser with Caparisons adorn'd with the Arms of Montague which are Argent three Fuzils in Fess Gules Moreover he gave him the Reversion of the Mannor of Wodeton and Mersewode-vale with the Advowsons of the Churches as also of the Mannor of Pole with the Advowson of the Church after the Death of Robert Fitz-Paine and Ela his Wife without Issue paying to the King his Heirs and Successors upon Christmas-day wheresoever he or they should happen to be a sword of 3 shillings and four pence for all Services Encouraged with this Bounty of his Prince the Lord Montague pierced yet farther into Scotland making great Havock and Spoil and continually bringing in huge Quantities of Victuals and Prey to the Army On that same day a certain Knight of Heinalt Named Sr. Enend came before King Edward with a Present from his Father in Law William Earl of Heinalt which was a very Gorgeous and Princely Helmet Richly beset with Precious Stones and adorn'd with the Coronet and other things in the same manner as the Earl himself was us'd to wear it on Festivals and when he appeared in the Greatest Splendor The King was extreamly pleased with this Present and immediately Rewarded the Messenger with an Hundred Pounds sterling 'T is likely he wore it long after for the Sake of the Donor For I have seen several ancient Pictures that Represent him in such an Helmet On the * Julii 23. Sunday after St. Mary Magdalene King Bailiol on the other hand took a strong Castle of the Earl of Athols called Cambremouth which would hardly have been master'd so soon but that in time of the Assault whether by chance or from without there happen'd such a fire in the Castle as compell'd them to yield presently together with all their Ammunition and Provision lay'd up for a long time or else they had all perished by Fire or been put to the sword Here they found the Lord David Marshal with his Lady also the Relict of the Lord Archimbald Douglas and the Wife of Sr. Philip Moubray beside meaner Prisoners Yet all this while neither of the Kings found any Considerable Opposition For long h Frois c. 26. f. 16. now had the Scots been us'd to these Harassings and therefore the better avoided them at this time by retiring with the best of their Substance into their Fortresses among the Marishes and thick Forests This manner they were first taught by their King Robert Bruce who in the Days of King Edward the First being so hardly hunted and pursued that neither Town City nor Castle could or durst entertain him betook himself to these Forests with good Success And still when the said King Edward was return'd for England he would forth again and appear on his Countries Behalf with sword in Hand straight Rally his broken and scatter'd Forces and presently recover either by Strength or Policy all that he had lost as far as to Barwick Upon News whereof King Edward would return with his Power and win all again Thus King Robert wan and lost the Kingdom of Scotland by turns for four or five times together when being at last Chaced into i Martin p. 87. Fabian p. 148 Graften p. 192. Norwey his Mighty Adversary King Edward the First died in a good old Age at Burgh upon the Sands near Caerlile But while he lay on his Death bed he sent for Prince Edward his Son and gave him Counsel to be Mercifull and Just and Constant in all his Words and Deeds to love his Brethren but to avoid Flatterers and especially Piers Gaveston After this he made him k Frois c. 26. f. 16. b. swear upon his Blessing that when he should see the Breath out of his Body he should take his Corps and boyl it in a Cauldron till the Flesh should all come off Then to bury the Flesh but to keep the Bones in a Coffin and to bear them along with him whensoever the Scots should Rebell for whether by Imagination or Superstition or secret Revelation he promised certain Victory against the Scots as often as his Bones were carried into the Field against them We read indeed in profane Story many such Instances and particularly that the Turks had some such Opinion of Scanderbeg's Bones but however King Edward the Second either out of Filial tenderness or pure disobedience buried his whole Body at Westminster where it remains Honourably Entombed to this day yet surely he never prosper'd against the Scots besides that he came to an unhappy end as we shew'd in the beginning of this History whether for want of his Fathers Bones or his Blessing for generally the Blessing of God goes along with a Parents just Benediction But this by the by While after their old Manner the Scots thus again at this time to avoid King Edward's Fury retired into their Fastnesses the l Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 898. Welchmen who were with King Bailiol being Highly incensed for want of Opposition spared neither
Lenox Menteith and Stratherne came laden with Spoil and Prey to St. Johnston where he found the King of England his Brother lately return'd thither from his victorious March beyond the Scottish Mountains This Town had been lately destroy'd by the Scots who despair'd to maintain it for their own behoof But now King Edward order'd it to be rebuilt fortifi'd and encompassed with a strong Wall Ditch and Rampire VI. The King of u Knighton p. 2567. France all this while did what he could by Policy to hinder King Edwards Proceedings and withdraw him home again before he might perfect any Conquest in Scotland To that end again he sends his Ambassadors to him and procures Others to be sent from the Pope x Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1335. §. 36 with Letters bearing date apud Pontemsorgiae Avenionensis Dioecesis 2 Kal. Aug. Anno Pontif. 1. to endeavour a Peace between King David and him and to request his Company once more in the Holy War But King Edward observing his pragmaticall Curiosity in Affairs no way relating to him and also his unsincere way of Address sent him short Word That he was able of himself blessed be God without any help from him to wage war with the Infidels when he should see fit unless He and his Adherents by their Malice and underhand Dealings should stand in his way And that he neither could nor would undertake any Foreign Expedition while his Enemies the Scots continued so rebellious against him who were also by him abetted and encouraged in their Rebellion Thô both as a Christian Prince and a Kinsman he ought rather to compose War and Strife among two Christian Nations and even to assist him with all his Might in his just Wars than to nourish up his Capital Enemies unjustly against him VII Thus King Edward put him off at that time and proceeded with such success in his Affairs in Scotland that about the Feast of the y Augusti 15. Assumption of our Lady most of the Scotch Nobility being wholly tired out and fearing yet much more z Walsingh hist p. 116. Adam Murimouth came in and submitted themselves to King Edward of England at St. Johnston where both the Kings then were among whom thô the Lord Strabolgi came not in person for fear of the Kings sudden Displeasure yet by his Advocates and Letters he so humbly sued for Peace and Pardon and so well acquitted himself of all Treason that he with the rest was accepted on these Conditions a Ces sont les Choses le Pointz accordez c. Murimouth c. Stow p. 232. Knighton p. 2566. n. 30. c. These are the Points and Articles agreed on betwixt the Council of the Kings of England and Scotland on the one Party and the Lord Alexander Moubray the Lord Geoffry Moubray the Lord Geoffry Roos Dr. William Bullock Clerk and the Lord Eustace de Lorrain having full power from David Strabolgi Earl of Athol and Robert Stuart of Scotland on the other Party to treat on accord and confirm all Points enterparled and to be enterparled betwixt the said Kings and the said Earl and Robert Stuart as appeareth by the Letters Patents of either Party 1. Imprimis it is accorded That the Earl of Athol and all the Great Men and Others of the Commonalty of Scotland which were willing to come in to the King of Englands Peace shall have Life and Limb Lands and Tenements Fees and Offices which they ought by right or by inheritance to have in Scotland those except which by common Assent should be excepted In such manner that all Offences and Misdemeanours which they had committed in the Realm of England from the beginning of the World to the Date of these Presents shall be pardon'd without Imprisonment or any other Molestation 2. Item That the Earl of Athol and the Lord Alexander Moubray shall still hold those Lands Tenements and Fees in England which they held at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England 3. Item That the Franchises of the Kirk of Scotland shall be maintained after the ancient Usage And that the Laws of Scotland in Burroughs Towns and Sheriff-wicks within the Lands of the King of Scotland be used after the Old Way as they were used in the time of King Alexander And that the Offices of Scotland be administred by Men of the same Nation yet so as that the King of Scotland of his Prerogative Royal may at any time according to his pleasure advance to places of Office Men of any Nation whatsoever 4. Item That all those who being in the same case with the Earl of Athol have Lands and Tenements within the Lands of the King of England shall still hold those Lands and Tenements Possessions Fees and Offices as they had them at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England those except who by common Assent shall be excepted and if they be impleaded for their Lands and Tenements aforesaid they may have their Defence and Recoveries in any Court according to Law. 5. Item As touching the Demand which the Earl of Athol claimeth that the King of England would release him his Lands in England which he hath in gage for 800 Marks the King neither ought nor will do that but as for his Mannor of b Stow Byphingdone quod corrigo autoritate Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. ubi legitor Bulinden in Com. Buck. Bulindon which the said Earl laid to pledge for c Stow 250 l. sed Knighten CC li. ubi li pro l. à Stow acceptim per errorem cum stat li. pro libris two hundred Pounds it is accorded That if the said Earl of Athol come within one Year and make true payment of the said Money that the King shall cause the said Mannor to be restored unto him 6. Item That as touching the Castle and Lands of Chilham the said Earl shall be in the same point that he was before at his departure from Newcastle upon Tine when he paid Homage to the King of England and shall have his Recovery by Law and the King promiseth in good Faith to take Order that he shall have the Law of his Kingdom without favour on either Party 7. Item That as touching the Lands which the said Earl claimeth in Norfolk whereof he hath Charters the King promiseth that having seen first his Charters by Advice of his Council he will do him reason And if in any case any man surmise Treason upon the said Earl he may defend himself with his Body according to the Laws and Usage of Scotland and upon the Marches And that all those in his case have the like Grant. 8. Item that as to the Pardon which William Ramsey Knight demandeth for the Trespass by him done to William Lord Montagu in beating down his Castle of Haghterdorne the same William shall be ready to make satisfaction in
before their coming having Intelligence of their Design upon her Castle had Requested King Edward's Aid which was one occasion more of this his Expedition But now the Fame of him did what was desired from his Sword for the Scots upon Report of his coming brake up their Siege and departed The mean while n Ashmele p. 646. Buchan p. 296. King Edward passed with his Army by Dunkelden thrô Athol and Murray as far as Elgin and Innernes where Scotland is bounded that way in pursuit of the Enemy if by any means he might come to a Battle But for all the Assistance from France they durst not at that time look him in the Face but o Adam Murimouth kept themselves in Forests and other Fastnesses only in the night times they would make false Alarms to terrifie the English but they knew them so well and kept such Watch that they easily prevented all their Attempts that way In the King 's Return on the left hand through Buquhan p Ashmole ibid. he took Aberdeen and burnt divers Towns and destroyed the Country but still the Scots kept aloof for they durst not hazard their only standing Forces against a Royal Army nor in common prudence could they Wherefore King Edward not relishing this dilatory Way and being perpetually both advised by his Friends and provoked by his Enemies to the French War leaving King Bailiol at S◠Johnston settled in the Goverment of that Kingdom with sufficient Forces to deal with the Scots returns himself for England resolved now either by fair Means or Force to keep the French quiet at home III. For besides q Knighton p. 2568 n. 30. p. 2569. n. 10. the Assistance King Philip had lately sent to the Bruceans in confidence of these Diversions in Scotland he began to take so much upon him that thinking those Forces sufficient to hold play with England he rashly and unjustly flies upon King Edward's Lands in France conquering surprizing and plundering Towns and Castles in Gascoigne and slaying his Subjects without any other reason but that he vow'd as he said to take revenge for his Friends the Scots Besides all these Provocations while King Edward was in Scotland he sent abroad no less than twenty six Gallies well mann'd with other Ships of War to cruise about the English Coasts for some Advantage or to make for Scotland to the Assistance of the Bruceans whereupon we find that the King who was not yet returned from St. Johnston sent forth his Commission to the Lord Geoffry Say then constituted his Admiral of the Southern and Western Sea and to the Lord John Norwich his Admiral of the Northern Sea a Copy whereof for that it proves the King of Englands Power over the English Seas I have thought fit to insert in this place translated from the r Vid. Selden's Mare Clausum l. 2. c. 23. p. 376 Ret. Secc 10 Ed. 3. Memb. 16. 27. Original The King to his Beloved and Trusty Geoffry de Say Admiral of his Fleet of Ships from the Mouth of the River Thames toward the Western Parts Greeting Whereas we have of late commanded you by our Letters that together with certain Ships out of the Cinque Ports which we have order'd to be furnished and made ready for War according to our Command you should set forth to Sea to oppose and resist certain Gallies provided and enforced with Men of War in divers Foreign Parts which as we are informed were set out toward the Parts of our Dominion to molest Us and our People or else to make toward the Coasts of Scotland for the succour and relief of our Enemies there and in regard that it hath been related by some that Gallies of that kind to the number of twenty six are newly come to the Coasts of Bretagne and Normandy and there still abide waiting as it is suppos'd to do what Mischief they can against Us and Ours or to succour our said Enemies as aforesaid We therefore calling to mind that our Progenitors the Kings of England have before these times been LORDS OF THE ENGLISH SEA on every side yea the Defenders thereof against the Encroachments of Enemies and seeing it would very much grieve us if in this kind of Defence our Royal Honour should which God forbid be lost or any way diminished in our time and desiring with the Help of God to prevent all Dangers of this Nature to provide for the Safeguard and Defence of our Realm and Subjects and to restrain the malice of our Enemies do strictly require and charge you by the Duty and Allegiance wherein you stand bound unto Us according to the special Trust reposed in you that immediately upon sight of these Presents and without any further Delay you set forth to Sea with the Ships of the Ports aforesaid and other Ships which are now ready and that in obedience to our Command you arrest those other Ships which we lately required you to arrest for our Service but so as they may be ready and provided to set forth according to our foresaid Command seeing we caused the Masters and Mariners of the said Ships to be prepared and gathered together whether they were within your Liberties or without and to cause them being well furnished with Soldiers and other Provisions to launch out to Sea with the aforesaid Ships and that with all diligence you make search after the foresaid Gallies and other Ships of War abroad against Us and stoutly and manfully set upon them if they shall presume to bend their Course for the end aforesaid either toward the Parts of our Dominion or the Coasts of Scotland And if they steal away from you so that you cannot meet with them then you are with the foresaid Ships of our Fleet without any delay to follow after the said Gallies and Ships of War set out against Us if they shall make toward our Kingdom or the Coasts of Scotland and them couragiously to destroy for the Conservation of our Royal Honour But yet we will not that you occasion any hurt or hindrance to Merchants or Others passing by Sea who have no intention either to offend Us and our Subjects or to succour our Enemies c. After all which there follows in the Commission a Power from the King to press Sea-men and some other matters of that kind the like Commission also was issued to the Lord John Norwich Admiral of the Northern Parts both bearing this Date Witness the King at the Town of St. Johnston the 16 day of August By the King himself IV. Presently after King Edward came ſ Knighton p. 2568. n. 40. Walsing hist p. 119. n. 10. back to Nottingham where he found his Parliament sitting as he had left them who had provided him towards the maintenance of his Wars in Scotland France and Gascoigne a Grant of one Twentieth or as others of one Fifteenth of their Temporalities of a Tenth or as some a Sixth of the
Cosin the King of England or any of his so that He or they might come or go armed or unarmed at his or their pleasure That if King Edward would defie the French King he also would do the same and enter the Realm of France with Forces to the number of a thousand Men of Arms so that their Wages might be paid them from England And accordingly on the 13 of July we find that John Duke of Brabant Lorraine and Lomberg i Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 8. 2 Septem ibid. m. 6. ibid. m. 11. was retained for the King and with the assent of the Emperour was the Confederation made with Lewis his eldest Son there stiled Marquis of Brandenburgh Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and Arch-Chamberlain to the Emperour There passed also between the Emperour himself and the King of England and their Heirs an Union and Confederacy which obliged them to use all their Power particularly against Philip of Valois who bore himself as King of France and his Successors in that Kingdom for the Recovery and Defence of their Honours Inheritances and Possessions Things succeeding thus happily the k Frois ibid. English Lords return to the rest of their Company at Valenciennes whence by Letters and Messengers they so well managed the residue of that Affair that the Lord Reginald Earl of Gueldre and Zuitphen who had married Eleanora the King of Englands Sister and William Marquis of Juliers who had married Joan one of Queen Philippa's Sisters with Walram Archbishop of Cologne and the Lord Valeran his Brother and the Lord Faulquemont came all to Valenciennes to treat with the English Lords about the Premises before the Earl of Heinalt and the Lord John his brother And here at last on Consideration of certain Summs of Florens to be paid to each of them beside such and such Wages for their Men They all undertook to defie the French King and to bring into the Field against him every Man such a number to attend King Edward when and where it should please him Promising moreover on the like Conditions to procure other Lords of the Empire such as were best inclin'd to War and most able from beyond the Rhine After this Covenant thus made the Almaine Lords departed to their several Countries but the English remain'd still with the Earl of Heinalt whence they sent frequent Messengers to Adolph Bishop of Liege being very desirous to bring him over But he was so firmly knit to the French Kings Interest that there were but small hopes of ever prevailing with him As for the Valiant King John of Bohemia thô they wish'd for him he being a Prince of great Wisdom as well as Resolution and of great Power in the Empire which once was govern'd by his Father Henry of Luxemburgh yet they forbore to attempt any thing upon him because they saw plainly that having married his Daughter to King Philips Son John Duke of Normandy he could neither in honour nor interest move another way And indeed both he and the foresaid Bishop of Liege stuck so close to the Crown of France that nothing but Death could separate them from it which they both at last suffer'd in one day at the famous Battle of Cressy wherein the English obtain'd a most signall Victory But however they prevail'd elsewhere and retain'd in the Kings Name for his intended Expedition into France several other Noblemen of those Countries l Ashmole p. 647. as namely Adolph Earl of Mont who having done Fealty and Homage to King Edward received of him in reward thereof a Pension for Life of 1200 Florens of Gold per annum out of his Exchequer Everard eldest Son to Theoderick Earl of Limbergh Adolph Earl of Marlia Robert de Touburgh Lord of Warnich Theoderick Earl of Lossen and Heuseberg and the Lord Blatikenberg and Theoderick de Montjoy Lord of Walkenberg besides divers Valiant Knights and Commanders of eminent Note II. Moreover King Edward well considering how opportunely the Flemings lay to annoy the Kingdom of France and how their Trade in Wooll and other Merchandises which came from England made them in a great measure obnoxious to him resolves to attempt them And thereupon sends over m Fabian p. 204 an English Knight named Sr. Bernard Brett of an excellent Tongue and obliging Deportment who if upon tryal he should find any Difficulty with Lewis n English Atlas 4 Vol. p. 239. sirnamed of Cressy Earl of Flanders was then secretly by promises and other arts to work upon the Demagogues and such as were most acceptable to the Populace so as to perswade them to enter League and Amity with the Crown of England The Earl of Flanders thô he was perfect French at heart yet could not he thought in reason but propound this Request of King Edwards to his Estates being called together in Council In short the King of England found more Favourers here than the Earl had imagin'd many openly alledging that it was more for their Interest to prefer his Friendship than that of France the chief of whom was a Lord of Flanders named o Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 903. Sr. Siger of Courtray who stifly maintain'd that Opinion in Council for which he began to be in great dislike with the Earl. This Knight p Frois c. 29. fol. 18. had been accounted a Person of singular Honour and of unquestionable Valour and Fidelity to his Lord the Earl of Flanders but whether that he was won by the Policy and Golden Perswasion of this English Knight Sr. Bernard Brett or whether he indeed thought it the best Advice for the Wealth of his Lord and of his Country he was perfectly now for abetting the English Interest His usual Residence was in the City of Gaunt the Metropolis in those Days of all Flanders where he kept great Hospitality especially for the entertainment of Strangers for which he was extreamly dear to the common People who call'd him the Lord of Courtesie This his manner of being Free to all Men made him not doubt of entertaining the English among others with all civility and honour whereat the jealous Head of King Philip was so stung that upon News thereof he sent to the Earl of Flanders commanding him to strike off his Head as One whom he affirmed to be corrupted with English Gold from his Duty The Earl who was already not well-pleas'd with the Lord Sigar of Courtray not daring or not willing to give King Philip any occasion of Suspition sent for him accordingly Whereupon Sr. Sigar readily obeyed as one who having done no ill suspected none but when the Earl had got him once in his power without Process or Judgment he caused him presently to be beheaded This rash and illegal Action of the Earls did so incense the Commons of Gaunt and Bruges that they began plainly to Rebel against him openly rejected his Government and prepared to resist him by force of Arms. The q
intend to the Cause of our Saviour which is neglected and may thereby be attributed to the great shame and ignominy of every Christian King thô never so well deserving But we know not for what Offence it happens that from the meek Offers of Peace from whence Friendship ought to arise there hath grown a Swelling of greater Anger and Obstinacy in our Persecutors Mind against Us Thô God and our Conscience bearing Us witness We have not provoked Him by any one fact or attempt made by Us against Him. Nay the Eyes of all the World our publique Witnesses do see with how many and great Indignities our foresaid Persecutor who stiles himself King of France doth daily wound and defalcate Us and our Rights He is at this Present an Invader and unjust Usurper of the Realm of France it self which is known to belong to Us by all true Right of Succession not having been asham'd to withhold by Force that Crown which he ought rather to claim by Law and Equity We being called and heard thô We were a Male and it could no way be doubted but that We were a Person principally concern'd in the Matter and Our Right was as Notorious in that very Realm as it is founded on the Law of Nature The matter of Fact being Evident that Philip of Famous Memory late King of France Father of Charles King of France last-deceased and of the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England Our Mother was our Grandfather And that to the same Charles at the time of his Death no Male living of those who together with him descended from the same Philip was nearer than Our Selves And thô the Female Person by Custom Anciently observed in that Kingdom be rendred uncapable of inheriting that Crown this Law being principally intended for the Good of the Realm that under a frail Womans Government the Kingdom should not fall to ruine thô it excludes the Person of the Woman doth not yet exclude the Person of the Male descending from the Woman thus excluded d d Here a Clause of which I can make no good Sense is left out Beside by the foresaid Law the Female Frailty is excluded from the Kingdom that the Realm may be more Advantagiously provided for and the nearest Male be admitted Or else let him be admitted rather to that Right who doth not primarily proceed from the Mother so excluded but is to be look'd on as a Nephew propagated Originally from the Grandfather otherwise there would follow another absurdity of Injustice that the Collaterals of the same Line should be excluded and a more Remote Kinsman call'd in when by the very Natural Law of Nations Brothers and Sisters and their Children are in mutual Succession still Prefer'd to other Collaterals of another Line And thence the said Law arose in Favour of Kings and Hate of the Females Inability to Reign not that by the Injury done to the Female an Occasion also should be taken of Injuring the Male Descendant Nor yet is it to be thought that the intention of this Law could be so unjust as to condemn the Mother and the Son being of another Country Nay rather on the contrary by that very Judgement of the Law whereby the Mother is remov'd from the Succession the Son being seated in his Mothers Place and supplying her deficiency the Succession devolves unto him Just as a Son steps into the Right and Degree of his Father deceased so as to be admitted to the Succession of his Father among his Fathers Brethren Then well may the disconsolate Mother thô by the foresaid Rigour of the Law divested of her Royal Inheritance Rejoyce again and be Comforted that her Son is so substituted in her Place Nor then is Affliction added to Affliction which the Sacred Consideration of the Law abhorreth as we see even where the Law hath not laid an easie Burden of Affliction but a case in the Law which condemns that customary Law that yields the goods of shipwrack'd Persons to another Because it there expresly corrects it by this reason that we should avoid adding to Affliction much more for that very Reason is it forbid Let it therefore satisfie this Law of France that from a Mother more then Pregnant who yet was not made a Woman by any of her own fault but by necessity of Nature it fully cuts off the Root of Royalty And that so the Mother by the Law of her Disherison doth expresly suffer as it were a certain Shipwrack But let it not also be cruelly and against all Right concluded that she is in the Person of her disinherited Son to suffer a second and a worser Shipwrack or that without a Fault the Punishment should be doubled when even where a Fault is the Punishment ought to be mitigated Otherwise if because the Mother is not Lawfully admitted to the Throne the Son must be understood to be Lawfully expelled from the Throne Then had not the Kingdom of the Jews of Right belonged to the Holy Jesus which is against the Foundation of our Faith to assert Who notwithstanding he was the Son of God begotten in a Mystery without the Company of a Man of a Female of the Royal Stem of David even of the Virgin Mary who her self was not admitted to the Kingdom nor perhaps ought she to be admitted yet by the undoubted certainty of Faith became the True and Lawfull King of the Jews And God forbid that this Royal Succession of King Jesus should be either an untying or breaking of the Legal Observance since he came not to break the Law but to fulfill it Wherefore this most Excellent Instance of Lawfull Succession by Right of the Mother may reasonably put to silence the pretended Reasons of the Enemies of our Right in the said Kingdom of France That the Saviour of the World and We a Poor Mortal Sinner whom parity of reason as to this reconciles together may not be separated as to Our Lawfull Degree and Order of Succession by any vain Constitution or forced Interpretation of humane Laws And yet for all this there was not only not any due Citation of Us made nor our Defence thô in a Matter so highly Prejudicial to Our Right admitted but also Our Proctors who instantly desired that they might Legally appear for Us and Our Title were so far from being allowed an equitable Hearing as that they were rudely and unjustly repelled with horrible Menaces of no less than present Death Wherefore their Procedure thô the Deed of the Twelve Peers of France hinders Our said Title nothing at all since as to Us who were then Weak and in Our Minority they laying by the part of indifferent Judges perform'd the Office of Thieves and Robbers Whose Process thus made against Us to Our Prejudice even Our very Minority renders invalid in the Law. For neither could it have been effectual had it been made against an Adult Person that Just Defence being so deny'd which to every Freeman is allow'd
Battle The Men of War and others in St. Quintins might easily discern their Banners but they had no great desire to disturb them They thought it sufficient if they might preserve themselves So that thô the Van-currours of the English Host came riding up to the Barriers to skirmish none yet came out against them The next day the Lords of the Kings Council debated which way they should proceed and by advice of the Duke of Brabant they resolv'd for la Tierasche because that way their Provision came in most plentifully And if King Philip followed them as they thought he would most certainly do then they were determin'd to expect him in the plain Fields and there to give him Battle Thus they marched forward in three Great Battalia's the English Marshals and the Germans made up the First the King of England led the Main and the Duke of Brabant brought up the Reer In this Order they rode forth burning and wasting the Country for three or four Leagues a day but always they took up their Lodgings betimes One Brigade of English and Germans passed the River of Somme by the Abby of Vermand and wasted and overran the Country all above Another under the Lord John of Hainault the Lord of Faulquemont and Sr. Arnold of Baquehen rode to Origny St Bennet a good Town and a rich but it was not greatly fortified so that it was presently taken by Assault and Plunder'd an Abby of Nuns being violated and the Town it self fired Then the Army proceeded toward Guise and Ribemont but the King lodged at Vehortes and staid there one day while his Men overran and destroy'd the Country all about The next Day the King took the way to la Flemenguere to go to Lesche in Tierasche and the Marshals and the Bishop of Lincoln with 500 Spears passed the River of Oyse and entred into Laonnois toward the Lands of the Lord William of Coucy where they destroy'd St. Gawen and the Town of Marle with Fire At night they lodged in the Valley beside Laon and the next Day they drew again to the main Host For they had found by examination of their Prisoners that the French King was come to St. Quintins with an Hundred Thousand Men and intended there to pass the Somme and follow King Edward to fight him But in the return to the Army they fired a great Town called Cressy sur Serre with many other Towns and Hamlets thereabout As for the Lord John of Hainault and his Company who were 500 Spears they went to Guise where they burnt the Town and beat down the Mills And thô Sr. John found within the Fortress his own Daughter the Lady Jane Wife to Lewis Earl of Blois who begg'd of him to spare the Inheritance of his Son-in-Law the Earl her Husband yet for all that he proceeded in what he had begun and utterly destroy'd all but the Fortress and then returned to the King whom he found at the Abby of Sarnaques and still his Men rode about to fetch in Prey for the Army and to spoil the Enemies Country Among others the Lord of Falquemont with an hundred Spears went to Plommion a considerable Town in Tierasche which he found empty for the Inhabitants were fled into a great Wood having carried all their Goods with them and had fortified themselves in the Wood by felling of Trees round about them The Almains having first set fire to the Town rode thither and beheld their manner of Defence but here they met with Sr. Arnold Baquehen and his Company who joyning together assayled them there in the Wood The Townsmen defended themselves to their power but these were Men of War and by removing the Timber on one hand and offering to set it on fire on the other presently drove them to flight having in the Medly slain and grievously wounded little more than 40 or 50 of them but all that ever they had was left behind a prey to the Conquerour Thus on all hands was the Country overran for they did what they pleased and as yet found no manner of impeachment g Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. thô they had burnt near a 1000 Towns and Villages When this Havock began to be made in France on h Knighton p. 2574. Stow p. 235. St. Matthew's Festival at night the Lord Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice of England led the Cardinal Bernard de Monte Faventio who had so boldly insulted to King Edward of the strength of France up into an high Tower shewing him the Frontiers of that Kingdom where for about 14 or 15 leagues together it seem'd as if all the Country was on a light fire Whereupon Sr. Geoffry said to the Cardinal My Lord what thinketh your Eminence now Doth not this Silken Line wherewith you say France is encompassed seem to you in great danger of being crack'd if not broken The Cardinal was so amaz'd that he answer'd nothing but fell down as Dead for sorrow and fear About this time there was i Odoric Rainal ad hunc an § 10 ex Tom. 5. Epist secr 417. brought to King Edward in his Camp a Letter from the Pope bearing Date from Avignon the iv of the Ides of Octob. Anno Pontificatus v to the Substance whereof was to let him know the great Propensity of the Roman See to his Person and Welfare the Edicts and Sentences set forth against Lewis of Bavaria and how assiduously he had sought to reduce him to the Bosom of the Church and advising him not any longer to cleave or adhere unto Him or his Interest till he should be reconciled to the Church because of those heavy Penalties which were denounced against Him and his Adherents into which himself was thereby plunged That Lewis was not really Emperour nor any of his Actions valid or done by Imperial Authority that he moved War unjustly against the Bishop and People of Cambray to which he then laid Siege that therefore he must not suffer these things in silence but unless he would reform himself and forbear those Courses he should be obliged thô unwilling to proceed against him according to the extent of his Apostolick Power By that time this Letter was received King Edward had as we shew'd rais'd his Siege from before Cambray and was now enter'd into the French Pale with Fire and Sword. VIII In this manner King Edward passed through France for about the space of 5 Weeks and he so scoured the Country with his Armies that in a manner all the Lands of k Stow ibid. Cambresis Vermandois Tierasche and Laonnois and other Parts of Picardy and Artois were wholly wasted except those Cities which were sworn to him with Churches and Monasteries which he spared for Devotion or Castles which were too strongly fortified The Inhabitants of the Country fled on all hands nor was there any that offer'd to resist him Thô the French King had gather'd several great Armies some being dispersed about in Walled Towns and
and Bethune which three Towns the French King withheld from Flanders Upon King Edwards Request therefore Jacob van Arteveld came to this Parliament at Brussels with a great Retinue as if he had been Earl of Flanders and at his Motion all the Chief Burgesses of Gaunt and the other Good Towns of that Country by some called the Hanse-Towns of Flanders thô properly speaking they belong rather to the Four Provinces of Lubeck Cologne Brunswick and Dantzick All these were well pleased with the foresaid Promise of King Edward and thereupon desired to take Advice among themselves When having Retired and Debated sufficiently upon the Point they gave the King this Answer the Contrivance and Menagement of all which is Attributed to Jacob van Arteveld Sir You were pleased to require of Us that which of Our selves We would most willingly do if We might do it handsomly and without Loss or Dishonour But alas Sir We are Obliged both by Oath and a Bond of b Ashmole p. 650. Fox p. 340. Sandford p. 160 2000000 of Florens of Gold to be paid into the Popes Chamber never to make War against the King of France whosoever he shall be Which Forfeiture not only keeps Us in Aw but also the Danger of being Interdicted by the Pope if We break Our Oath made to him But Sir If You will but undertake to bear the Arms of France and Quarter them with the Arms of England and Own Your Self publiquely King of France as indeed You are and ought of Right to be Accounted then We will look upon You as the True King of France against whom We are not to make War and thereupon demand of You an Acquittance of Our said Bond which You may Grant Us as King of France By this means We shall be assured of Our Money and acquitted of Our Oath and then We will be ready to serve You in what You shall Command This Fine Trick was thus Invented by that subtle Demagogue Jacob van Arteveld to satisfie the unthinking Commons of the Equity of standing to King Edward against France notwithstanding all their Solemn Engagements to the Contrary However the King demurr'd at this their Answer For thô he knew he might Lawfully claim the Crown of France in Right of his Mother Queen Isabella yet he thought it neither Reasonable nor much for his Honour to take upon him the Arms and Kingly Title of that Realm before he had made Conquest of any Part thereof not being sure that ever he should be able to bring those Matters to effect On the other side he was very loath to refuse the Flemmings this their Desire because they might prove so Instrumental in his Service Whereupon he Advis'd in private with the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre the Earls of Juliers and Blankburg Mons and Bergen the Lords of Hainault and Valkenburgh the Lord Robert of Artois and his English Peers by whose Advice he return'd this Answer That if they would Swear and Seal to this Covenant and Engage to serve him upon all Occasions in his War he would then readily do all this since in Equity he might and further undertake to restore them those three Cautionary Towns of Lille Doway and Bethune which they had deliver'd as Pledges of their Faith to the French King. To this the Flemmings agree'd and d Joh. Villani l. 11. c. 108. Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 3. Hocsem l. 2. c. 25. so the 23 of January was appointed firmly to Ratifie these mutual Covenants and Conditions at Gaunt on which day the King and most of the forenamed Lords came to Gaunt where he was met by the Chief Burgesses of all the Towns of Flanders and then and there all the foresaid Agreements being ready Engrossed were rehearsed Sworn and Seal'd to and so the King took upon him the Style of France and Quarter'd the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England But thô e Speed p. 572. afterwards perhaps to gratifie the French Nation or because that was the more Ancient and Greater Monarchy he placed the Flowers de Lis in the Dexter and more Honourable Quarter yet it is highly probable that at their First Entermingling it was not so as appears not only by the Figure of this King in Armour trampling on a Boar by a Castle signifying France in a very Old Vellam M. S. now by me where the English Lions are ranged in the First and Last Quarters of his Shield but also from f Speed p. 572. a Seal of Queen Isabella this Kings Mother where the Arms of England as being those of the Husband's Line and therefore to have Precedence are Marshal'd where now the Flower de Luces shine But to put this out of all Doubt We shall further produce the Words of King Philip spoken at this time upon occasion of this Action of King Edwards to certain English Gentlemen sent to him about the present Affairs Our g Stâ—â— p. 236. Cosin says he doth wrongfully Quarter the Arms of England and France which notwithstanding doth not so much displease Us because indeed he is descended thô by the Weaker Sex of Our Kin and therefore as being a Batchelour We could easily be content to allow him part of the Arms of France but whereas in his Seals and Letters Patents he Styles himself King of England and of France in the One and sets the Quarter of his Arms with Leopards before the Quarter Charged with Lillies in the Other this is that which We disdain exceedingly For thereby it should seem he Prefers that Inconsiderable Isle of England before the Mighty Kingdom of France To this Complaint Sr. John Shoreditch the King of Englands Agent made Answer that it was the Custom of England to set the Title and Arms of their Progenitors before the Arms and Title of a Right derived from the Mother And thus said he doth my Lord the King of England Prefer his Paternal Coat both out of Duty and Reason But as it appears soon after they were alter'd even as now they stand at this Day only h Sandford p. 157. an Not. vid. eund ibid. in Notis p. 270. that when Charles the Sixth of France with Design to shew a Difference changed the Semee Flours de Lize into Three Our King Henry the V. also did the like and so it hath continued ever since Either at this time or soon after the King set at the Foot of his Shield beneath the Arms of France and England thus quarter'd this French Motto DIEV ET MON DROIT in English GOD AND MY RIGHT declaring thereby his Confidence to be only in God and the Equity of his Cause Which Motto with the Title of France hath been continued by the Kings of England his Successors even unto this day That King Edward might justifie his Title to the Kingdom of France whose Arms he thus undertook to Bear he sent his Ambassadors to the Pope with these Instructions following i Odâ—râ—â—uâ— Raynald ad hunc
annum §. 9. extat apud Benedict Tom. 6. Epist secr 302. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet sâ—â— incipiens Ut Sanctitati Domini nostri Summi Pontifiâ—is c. That it may be made evident to the Holiness of our Lord the Pope that our Lord the King of England doth justly by Hereditary Right claim the Kingdom of France the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the said King. The Matter whereupon the Lord Edward King of England saith He hath Right to the Crown of France is thus It is and hath been notoriously known that the Lord Charles the Younger Son of Philip King of France commonly called the Fair after the Death of the Lord Philip his Brother at which time the said Lord Charles immediately by Hereditary Right succeeded in the said Kingdom was true King of France and that unto him the said Kingdom of France was lawfully devolved by Right of Succession and that he the Lord Charles held and peaceably and quietly possessed the said Kingdom of France for the time that he Reigned as true King of France And that at last the same Lord Charles leaving no Brother then surviving deceased without any Heir Male begotten of his Body It is also certain de jure that in Hereditary Successions coming from one Intestate the next of Bloud to the Deceased being able at the time of the Decease to Succeed doth wholly exclude all the more remote of the Blood of the said deceased whether he was allied to the Deceased by the Person of a Male or Female And it is certain that at the time of the Death of the said Lord Charles King of France as aforesaid the foresaid Lord Edward King of England was his nearest Kinsman as who was Son of the Sister of the said Lord Charles namely of the Lady Isabella Queen of England being only removed from the same Lord Charles aforesaid in the Second Degree of Consanguinity But the Lord Philip of Valois who occupies the said Kingdom of France was Son of the Uncle of the said Lord Charles namely Son of the Lord Charles of Valois Brother to the foresaid Philip the Fair and so notoriously removed from the said King Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity And by Consequence in common Right the foresaid Lord Edward King of England Son of the Sister of the foresaid Lord King Charles deceased k The Original more full debait debet ought by Right of Succession to be preferr'd in the Succession of the said Kingdom to the foresaid Lord Philip of Valois who only is near to the said King. Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity l Hic in M.S. Dr. Stilling-sleet multa adduntur eâ— Pandect c. ad Jus Regis stabiliendâ—on allegata tum quâ—e sequuntar hic The Intention therefore of our Lord the King of England being founded on Common Right nothing remains but only to answer what may be objected And first it is objected on the part of the Lord Philip of Valois who bears himself as King of France against the King of England aforesaid that the same King of England did unto him as King of France make Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and for the Earldom of Pontive and did thereby recognise him the said Lord Philip to m The Original more full fore else be his Lord and King of France 2. It is also objected to the King of England that he made unto him Liege Homage and Oath and that of these things the foresaid Philip hath by him Letters sealed with the Seal of the foresaid King of England and moreover that these Letters were sealed in England 3. It is also objected to the foresaid King of England that he is not of the Blood of the House of France but by Means of a Woman namely of the Lady Isabell his Mother And that a Woman neither can nor ought an approved and lawfully prescribed Custom in the Realm hindring to be admitted to obtain the said Kingdom by Right of Succession and by Consequence by means of her her Son is not to succeed To answer these Objections the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the King aforesaid First that the Homage made ought not in effect to prejudicate the King of England because the same King of England at the time of making the said Homage was notoriously under Age nor had then compleated the 18th Year of his Age whereby he ought as other Minors when they are abused within the times provided by the Laws of Restitution to the full to be aided by a competent Judge if there had been a Competent Judge with the benefit of Restitution to the full But upon Defect of a Competent Judge the said King of England within the foresaid times of Restitution to the full used other Remedies of Law which ought to suffice him in this Part. Moreover the said King of England being under Age as aforesaid did before the making of his Homage by one of his Procurators especially constituted for that purpose protest openly and expresly that for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by the said King of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the County of Pontive he did not nor would intend to renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the said Right to derogate althô thereupon Letters should thereafter be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free Will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Losing the said Dukedom and County and because he feared that unless he should do such Homage unto him he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the Truth of the Premises the King of England caused by his said Procurator an Oath to be taken upon his Soul by laying Hands on the Holy Gospel before many Witnesses called thereto As to the Objection concerning the Oath which the King of England in his Homage ought to have made or that he should have sworn so to have declared saving the Objectors Reverence it is not true because neither the Lord the King of England nor any of his Progenitors did ever swear in the Performance of any Homage as will evidently appear by the Inspection of the Registers containing the Forms of the said Homages nor is it contained in any Letters sealed with the King of England's Seal that such an Oath hath been made Nor can it be said that in the Homage made by the said Lord the King an Oath was tacitly implied hereby that the Letters were sealed with the King of England's Seal wherein it was contained that this Homage was Liege because the word Liege doth by its signification no way import the same And as to what is said that these Letters were sealed
in England and so without Fear it is answer'd that even so it was not without Fear when there was a fear of losing the whole Dukedom aforesaid by reason of an Army then ready to invade the King himself in the Dukedom and in England by the way of Scotland and that the said Letters were sealed while the said King was notoriously under Age as aforesaid not of the perfect Knowledge of the said King nor upon due Notice of his Right or Prejudice as neither by reason of the frailty of his Age could then be had Besides he the said King ought to be restored in full in this Case within the Times thereto limited if he had had a Competent Judge and because he had not a Competent Judge he used in due time other Remedies whereby there was taken better Provision as to his Right And the King of England would have our Lord the Pope to be more surely informed that the said King never did any thing on purpose to the Lord Philip bearing himself as King of France for which he ought to cease or desist from the Prosecution of his said Right or for which he thought or doth think his Conscience wronged in this part and that it was so He calls God to Witness As to the Objection wherein 't is said that the said Lord the King of England is not of the Blood of France but by means of a Woman who is not capable of the Right of the Hereditary Realm of France it is answerd that althô by the Custom of the Realm of France a Woman of the Royal Blood be excluded from the Hereditary Rights of the Realm of France yet hereby it doth not follow that her Son being a Male and able to Reign ought to be excluded from the Succession of his Forefathers devolved unto Lawfull Heirs because the King of England claims the Succession of his Uncle the Lord King Charles deceased according to the Prerogative of his Degree as next of Kin to the deceased King who ought not to be excluded from the Inheritance of his Uncle or his Grandfather by any Kindred more remote in Degree even althô the Mother of the said King by reason of her Sex should be excluded or put by And if it be said that some Nephews and Kindred of the Lords Lewis and Philip Brethren of the said Lord King Charles successively have been excluded from the Royal Succession upon that Account that they were only allied to the said Kings by the means of Females as also the King of England was allied to the said Lord King Charles by means of a Female only namely of his Mother it is answer'd that not upon that account were the said Nephews excluded but upon this that none of the said Nephews was in Being at the Time of the Death of the said King about whose Inheritance the Controversie was and this will evidently appear by matter of Fact underwritten For it is to be known that the Lord Philip the Fair King of France deceased leaving behind him three Brothers namely Lewis the Eldest Philip the Long the Second Born and Charles the Third and Youngest and one Daughter namely Isabell Queen of England Lewis the Elder Son succeeded his Father Philip the Fair immediately in the Kingdom of France and got one Daughter after which King Lewis died leaving the said Daughter which had no Issue during the Life of the said King Lewis and his Wife impregnate who after the Death of the said King brought forth a Male Child named John who after Nine Days wherein he was accounted King of France deceased And Philip the Long the Middle Brother of the said Three succeeded him immediately in the said Kingdom This King Philip begat three Daughters but no Male the Elder Daughter whereof was coupled in Matrimony to the Duke of Burgundy the Second to the Dauphin of Vienna the Third and Youngest to the Earl of Flanders Of the First Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy was born a Male Child called as is said Robert during the Life of King Philip but that Robert died before King Philip his Grandfather and so was not in Being at the time of the Death of the said Lord Philip his Grandfather Of the Second Daughter married to the Dauphin there was no Issue at all during the Life of the said King Philip as neither of the Other who was married to the Earl of Flanders After the Death of the said King Philip his Third and Younger Brother namely the Lord Charles immediately succeeded who in the end leaving two Daughters unmarried deceased without Issue Male. From all which it is evident that the said Lord Charles was True and Lawfull King of France and by Consequence that the Lord the King of England who was Son of the Lady Isabella Queen of England Sister to the said Charles as aforesaid ought as his Nearest Kinsman to succeed him in the Kingdom These Instructions were given to Nicolas de Flisco and his Son Andrew who were to be follow'd by others with Letters from the King to his Holiness sealed with the Arms of England and France which New Seal was not yet made But while the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco remained at the Court of Avignon under the Pope's Protection certain wicked Persons thinking to curry Favour with the King of France about Midnight on Good Fryday Eve enter'd his House by Violence broke open his Chamber and hardly giving him time to put on one thin Garment hurried Him and his Son and one young Gentleman away and carried them down the Rhosne to a certain Tower where they kept them close till Saturday and then convey'd them into the Parts of France At which Injury his Holiness was so moved that he began to thunder out the most heavy Edicts against the Authors and Accomplices of that Crime and put France under Interdict as appears by an Expostulatory Letter of King Philips to the Pope Wherein calling God to Witness that this Violence was neither done by his Command nor Will or Knowledge and that when he heard the English Men thus taken were within his Kingdom he had given Order to make diligent Search for them and to return them to Avignon again he complains that those Processes were too sudden and too rigorous since he was wholly innocent of the matter and so to the blackning of his Honour and that for the future he would not be so hasty in acting against him without giving him Notice c. Dated at Moncell near Pont St. Maixence 21 of Maii. To which the Pope return'd That he could never think the Knowledge of that Fact did belong to him however it was so horrid that the Severity which he had used was necessary But that his Paternal Affection toward him was no way diminished thereby nay he would rather conspire with him in a mutual Agreement of Good-will and kind Offices Dated at Avignon iii Kal. Jun. Anno Pontif. vi Soon after at King Philips Command Nicolas
said Kingdom there are however to the Kings of France of Famous Memory who gradually Succeeded unto Philip King of France of Famous Memory Your Grandfather Daughters and their Children who as to the said Succession as is reported are nearer unto the Kings their Fathers than are You and our most Dear Daughter in Christ Isabella the Illustrious Queen of England Your Mother Daughter of the foresaid King Philip But the Custom aforesaid hath been of former time so inviolably observed and still is observed that it admits not a Succession to the said Kingdom by the Female Line But to think that by the way of force You may obtain the said Kingdom considering the Greatness and Power of the King and Kingdom of France Your Forces are by no means believed to suffice thereto And that holding and possessing nothing in the said Kingdom You make Your self to be called King of France and have assum'd the Arms thereof as is Premised it is certainly reckoned to proceed from Evil and Unrighteous Counsell But if those who perswaded You to such things endeavour to say for an Excuse that You are Lord in Flanders which is known to be in Fee of the King and Kingdom of France truly it is to be attended and considered and Your Royal Wisdom may diligently examin who and what Men and of what Condition they are who have brought You in there For in them hitherto hath the Vertue of Constancy and Loyalty never been Praise-worthy For they have often basely ejected out of Flanders it self Their Natural Lords to whom they were bound in the Debt of Loyalty violating the Covenant of Their Faith after the Pleasure of Their own Wills and if they have done this to them whom they were Naturally Obliged to Reverence what may be presumed of You ô Son and what kind of Title may thence be taken or formed We pray that Your Wisdom would discreetly consider Again consider even thô it did proceed of Good and Right Counsel that now You cause Your self to be named King of France during the Reign of Our most Dear Son in Christ Philip the Illustrious King of France who as King hath for many Years peaceably held and possessed the Kingdom of France and to whom as such for the Lands within the said Kingdom to You belonging by doing Fidelity and Liege Homage You have recognis'd him for King of France and Your Lord for the Lands aforesaid Those that hear asmuch are amaz'd d d Ascribentes in M.S. quod male legitur arbitrantes apud Oder Rainald ascribing it not to discretion but rather to Simplicity and Vanity Finally We judge it ought to be more strictly consider'd that such a Title wanting both Reality and Advantage which those are said to have perswaded You to who love you not but seek by Your Losses to make Their own Market believing to attain thereto more fully when they shall have procured You to be insnared and involved in more deep Intricacies and hazardous Necessities and Troubles is feared to be a Poysonous Root which will probably unless other Care be taken bring forth Fruits of Bitterness and Sorrow Moreover We account that You ought no less diligently to consider how many and how Great Kings Princes and Noblemen who have proceeded from the Stock of the House of France or have Affinity or Confederation therewith who opposed not themselves unto You about Your Affairs before by this Name and Title You would provoke against You and more directly incense if which God forbid You should insist thereon And the very Title might begin such a Matter which God avert whereby the Reformation of Peace between You and the said King of France might as to all humane judgement be render'd for ever impossible And also the Princes and other Subjects of the said Realm who as the vulgar report goes would expose themselves to the hazards of Death and the perpetual loss of Their Goods rather than endure the Premises would by the same Name and Title be render'd more prompt able Valiant and Couragious against You e e Ad desensâ—â—nâ—m M.S. recte Odoric aâ— defensionem â—â—lâ— for the Defence of the said King Philip and his Kingdom Nor ought You most Dear Son as We remember to have written unto You elsewhere to repose much Confidence in the Germans and Flemings for You shall find them Affable and Kind unto You as long as They can have leave to drain Your Substance but otherwise You may not confide in Their Assistance And if You peruse the Deeds of Your Progenitors how the same Germans and Flemings behaved themselves formerly towards them You will manifestly find how far You may trust unto Them. We therefore intreat Your Royal Highness and earnestly in the Lord exhort You that You would receive the Premises which We write of a Fatherly Good Will and Sincere Affection with a favourable Mind and taking them together with other Matters which as to this Point may occurr unto You into a just and considerate Discussion and Examination laying by the foresaid Title would incline Your Royal Mind to the way of Peace and Concord whereby You may be able both to attain and peaceably to keep those things which shall be Your Right a Mutual Agreement being made between You and the said King that as You are joyned with the Tye of Blood and Affinity so You may be allied in the perpetual Bond of Confederation and Love. Dated Aven III. Non. Martii Ano. Pontif. VI. Other Letters bearing the same Date were written to the King wherein the Pope chid him that being Admonished the last Year IV Id. Octob. under Penalty of Ecclesiastical Censures and other heavy Penalties to break with Lewis of Bavaria he had yet return'd no Answer to the Apostolick See and as it appears f Odâ—rit Râ—inald ad â—â—ndâ—â— A◠§. 8. â—â—â—em 6. Epist Secâ— 25â— those very Cardinals who were Nuntio's of the Apostolick See upon the Account of Peace wrote to the Pope that those Censures he had once threatned the King of England with might now be inflicted on him because he still kept the Lieutenantship of the Empire but Benedict wrote Back unto them to abstain from any such Proceedings against Edward till with the Cardinals he had more maturely weigh'd so important a business But before things went so far We shall find the Emperour himself to Repeal his former Commission given unto King Edward so that there was no further Occasion for that Papal Thunderbolt to strike England at that time CHAPTER the FIFTEENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King sends an Army into Gascoign which the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschal of Aquitain being too weak to match overthrows by a Stratagem II. King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to waste the Lord John of Hainalts Lands III. Sr. Giles Manny Brother to the Lord Walter Manny slain by the Cambresins IV. The French King gives leave to the Bordering Garrisons to make an Incursion into the Earl of
to an High Degree as indeed she well merited Then follow the Remembrances for the King to keep promise as to keep the Sea to purvey for the Navy and to defend the Isles of Jersey and Garnsey Sr. Anthony Bath was Order'd to see to the delivery of the Kings Jewells And Conrade Clipping and Godrick de Renley are Assign'd for the Customs of England Then there is the Copy of a Letter sent from the Lords of the Parliament to the King by Sr. William Trussel containing the Grant of the Ninths and their Policy in making present shift for ready Money by Woolls In the Postscript they direct him to buy at Sluce and other Ports of Zealand because the greatest store of Woolls had been convey'd away by stealth To which there is another secret Letter adjoyned sent as it seems from some of the Council to the same Effect And here 's the Substance of this Parliament and the Summe of all the Aid that came to the King during the Siege of Tournay thô it both fell short and came also too late and as is highly probable not till after the Treaty But We are also to remember that in this Parliament King Edward Bailiol was appointed to serve at Carlile with 40 Men of Arms being still allowed 300 l. per annum together with the Mannor of Hexlisham as in the last x I. 1. c. 16. §. 1. p. 180. Parliament And the Earl of Angos and the Lord Piercy were Order'd to set forth the Arrays of Yorkshire Nottingham and Darby to Newcastle upon the Tine and so to the Marches For about this time Scotland began to Raise up her Head again of whose Affairs it will not be amiss in this place to take some Prospect VIII About the time that King Edward Commenced his French Wars the Lord y Buchan p. 297. l. 9. Holinshead Scotl. p. 238. Hector Beeth p. 322. Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland Departed this Life and was buried at Rosmarkie being greatly desired by the Scots for his successfull Valour After his Death the Young Lord Robert Stuart was continued Viceroy till the Return of King David out of France This Lord Robert took up during his Viceroyship the most Successfull Arms against England that ever had been since the Death of King Robert his Uncle But in Process of time when he came to be King himself he first wholly cast off the English Yoke and maintain'd that Kingdom in Prosperity and Honour during his whole Reign as in part we shall shew hereafter But the uncertain and contradictory Reports with the false Computations of the Scotch Writers make it as impossible to give a succinct and exact Account of every Action as it is indeed unnecessary Let this suffice that Scotland being now left more at Liberty by King Edward's Absence while he was busied in the French Wars did by Degrees recover many Great and Important Places which before she had lost thô as yet she was unable to do any Notable Exploit upon the Borders of England And first by the High Valour of Sr. William Douglas all Tividale was clean Recover'd out of the English mens Hands for which piece of Service he was afterwards Rewarded with that Country He also overthrew the Lord John Striveling at Cragings Wan the Castle of Hermitage baffled Sr. Laurence Vaux and took Sr. William Abernethie Prisoner and then by the Lord Robert Stuart was sent into France to King David to Request his Counsel and Assistance in the War because a Tempest was expected from England The mean while the Lord Robert Besieges Perth alias St. Johnston which was by the English Valiantly maintain'd against him for the space of Ten Weeks When the Lord Douglas on a sudden Arrived from France bringing with him into the Tay 5 Ships well furnished with Men Arms and Ammunition the Captains whereof were two Knights belonging to Galliard Castle in France upon the Seyne which was allotted for King Davids Residence also two Valiant Esquires named Giles de la Hoy and John de Breis with a Pirate of great Renown whose Name was Hugh Handpile so that now the Captain of Perth Sr. Thomas Vghtred not being able to hold out any longer after he had z Holinshead p. 239. destroy'd the best Ship that Hugh Handpile had and perform'd all that could be expected was at last enforced to yield up the Town thô not without a Hector p. 322. Honourable Conditions Now beside the foremention'd Captains who were on the Brucean Side Patrick Earl of Dumbar Kenneth Earl of Southerland Sr. Robert Hussey Sr. Simon Frasier and Sr. Alexander Ramsey who were dispos'd about in Garrisons of those parts of Scotland which the English had not won during the space of seven Years made continual War upon the English with various Success sometimes loosing and sometimes winning as well by Open Force as by Surprise Till at last King Bailiol being wholly tired out by these their importune Hostilities retired into England as we shew'd before Thô others say he was brought hither by King Edward either for his own further Security or hoping by his Removal to keep the Scots more quiet or for suspicion of his Loyalty But now while King Edward lay at the Siege of Tournay the French King sent new Supplies of Men and Money into Scotland requesting withall the Lord Robert Stuart to make strong War upon England that by such a Diversion King Edward might be forced to quit the Siege The Scots taking heart upon this Reinforcement not only wan many Fortresses in Scotland but also adventur'd in several Bodies to enter England where they destroy'd the Country almost as far as Durham returning all safe again saving b Holinshead Sâ—ctl p. 238. that the Earls of March and Southerland being encountred by the Lord Thomas Grey of Werke Sr. Robert Manners and John Copland a valiant Esquire of Northumberland were utterly discomfited In short the Scots did so well use this Opportunity of King Edwards Absence c Frois c. 55. f. 31. b. c. that there was by this time scarce any Place of Moment left to the English in all Scotland except Barwick Striveling Roxborough and Edinborough Which last Castle stands on a Rock on an Hill so high that a Man who is no way resisted can yet hardly pass up to the Top without Resting so that it is in a manner impregnable The Captain of this Piece at that time was Sr. Richard Limesi who had so valiantly kept the Castle of Thine l'Evesque against the Duke of Normandy as we shew'd d Vid. l. 1. c. 15. §. 10. p. 174. before and was thereupon Commission'd by King Edward to undertake the Defence of this Place But althô the Strength of the Hold and the Resolution of the Captain were so notorious the Lord William Douglas invented a subtle Device wherewith to recover the Castle and which he discover'd only to three of his chief Companions and Friends Sr. Alexander Ramsey Sir
Villani a Person of more Credit says it was on the 28 of July But I shall hereafter take little Notice of that Mans Writing because the Authorities I shall bring and the Contexture of the Story it self will confute him among the Learned and to others I write not Thô I know he took this Account from Du Chesne and other French Authors but even them he has corrupted and mistook as any Man may observe X. These are the various Adventures which most deserve Memory during the Siege of Tournay that is for the space of Nine Weeks and upward King Edward all the while expecting to win the Place by Famine for he knew well there was a great Number of Mouths within and not much Victuals the Frenchmen as he knew presuming that the King of France would not suffer the Siege to continue so long without endeavouring a Rescue Wherefore the King of England being strongly encamped and always prepared to give or receive Battle resolved to win the City by Famine For this Wise and Pious Prince knew it would be too expensive of Christian Blood to attempt so strong a Place by Storm Some thought however that they could not have held out so long had not the Duke of Brabant secretly favour'd them and allow'd certain Quantities of Provision to be convey'd into the City thrô his Quarters nay there are who stick not to affirm that he was o Gâ—ovâ—n Vâ—llâ—niâ— 11. c. 111. p. 770. Mezeray 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 17. brib'd and corrupted by the King of France's Money and that being therefore suspected by King Edward he most willingly admitted of a Treaty when 't was offer'd him But it may be these were only vain and undutifull Reflections cast out by the idle People of Bruges and Louvain and other Brabanders who were both ill-affected to the Cause and also grew so uneasie with this long Siege that they were not asham'd openly to ask leave of the Marshal of the Host to return home into Brabant When the Marshal heard such an unworthy Request he told them that for his part he was very well content they should go but then they must leave their Horses and their Armour behind them least those who saw them going home should say there went a sort of Souldiers who had left their General at a Siege because there were no Carpets and Perfumes in the Field With which nipping Retort they were so confounded that they never more open'd their Mouths to their Captains about that Affair And beside this backwardness of the Brabanders those Officers whom King Edward had entrusted to Collect his Taxes and other Moneys in England for his Use beyond Sea were so negligent and slow if not false in that business that they mightily perplext their Master thereby and made him borrow vast Summs upon Usury and to enter into many Disadvantagious Engagements for the Payment of his German Auxiliaries and other Necessities consequent upon the Siege Nor was King Philip of France without his Difficulties For besides that it tormented his very Soul to see his Good Towns Besieged and spoiled in a manner before his Eyes his Lords not suffering him to hazard a Battle for Revenging thereof he is said to have lost what by Skirmishes and divers Rencounters with the English and what by ill-diet and Famine which may be wonder'd at he being in his own Country especially for want of Water by the p Frois c. 63. fol. 35. evil Air hot Weather and other Inconveniences more than q Fox Monum p. 348. b. n. 60. 20000 Men Without any set Battle XI King Robert of Sicily being still in those Parts was wonderfully assiduous in his Negotiations for Peace The Pope by his Cardinals back'd him very close and especially by an r Odoric Rainald ad An. 1340 §. 29. Englishman one of his Chaplains named William Norwich Dean of Lincoln and Auditor of the Gauses of the Holy Palace whose Credence from the Pope contained these Heads 1. That he should advise the King not to be too much puff'd up with his Victories nor in confidence thereof to shew himself strange or difficult in admitting of Peace by two Instances of One who being 17 times beaten in War yet the 18 time obtain'd an entire and absolute Victory And of Another who having gain'd two Notable Victories was the third time utterly Defeated and overthrown 2. Secondly To advise him of the Perfidiousness of the Nation ally'd unto him as the Flemings who since they had deceived their own Natural Lord would in all probabilitie much more deceive him whom but accidentally and for the present they had received for their Lord. And that the Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess of Juliers were like to serve him only as far as they might serve their own ends And least of all should he trust to the Almaines who always use to be accounted unstable and his Grandfather the Good King Edward found by Experience their Instability in the time of his utmost Exigence 3. Thirdly Of the Excessive Power of the King of France who thô he should lose Ten Battles in his Kingdom could easily recollect People in abundance to resist any body in all probability Which yet in the King of England being in another Kingdom and in the Hands of Strangers and not attended with his own People is accounted Difficult nay Impossible And this appears by the Example of a certain King of England who formerly had more in Revenues within the Realm of France then the King of France himself had in his own Kingdom and yet was quite expelled by Degrees And especially since the said King of England's claim as to the Realm of France in which he is reputed to have no Right and as to certain Counties in which by Prescription of an Hundred Years and more the Kings of France have continually and quietly had Possession doth seem unjust Wherefore it seems that of Right he ought to be content with the Dutchy of Guien under that form whereby the Lord Edward his Grandfather held the same 4. Fourthly To put him in mind of the Fear of God which he always ought to bring to Memory by revolving in the Closet of his Breast the Processes and Censures made and set forth against the Bavarian which by the adhering to him and assuming the Lieutenantship of the Empire he is known to have incurred Upon which our foresaid Lord the Pope hath often writ to the same King as well by Exhortation as Admonition and once intended Letters unto him not as unto a Son nor as one faithfull to the Church but as one that adhered to Rebells and Infidels And especially because of the Incursions of the Enemies of the Christian Faith who had begun on all Hands to oppose Christianity as is particularly contained in the Letters of our said Lord he ought to desist from carrying on the said War. 5. Also in case that the King should say he not without Reason doubted to put himself
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 War and were now quite tired out with the length of the Siege So that the very next Morning with the light ye might have seen Tents taken down Carts and Waggons lading and People removing with all speed imaginable The Brabanders therefore went away first as being more eagerly bent upon home the King of England thô much against his Will departed also but he was so earnestly parswaded to the Truce both by his real and false Friends and also by the necessity of his Affairs that he could not but comply And the King of France had so much of the bad Air and hot Weather already that he was glad to make hast away from that unfortunate Place Thus was the strong City of Tournay wonderfully preserved from utter Ruine without Battle given only by the power of a Ladies Tongue and by the Providence of the Divine Goodness which even yet seem'd desirous to give further Warning to King Philip and as it were to offer him one more Opportunity for Deliberation Before it would resign his Kingdom up to those Destructions for which already it was marked out Yet notwithstanding f Frois ibid. the City had been so reduc'd that their whole Provision of Victuals could not as was said have held out above three or four Days longer So in France it was reckon'd that King Philip had the chief Honour of this Expedition because he had as he design'd saved Tournay from ruine and obliged her Enemies to forsake the Siege and to depart the Country On the other Hand the Lords of England said how they had the Honour only because they had tarried so long in the Realm of France without Battle having for more than nine Weeks besieged one of the best Towns thereof wasting and destroying about in the Country all the while at their pleasure and that the French King had not once offer'd to relieve the Place at the time prefix'd in his Letters but had in the end without giving Battle as he ought to have done first himself sought and after agreed to a Truce with them who had done him all this Displeasure King Edward g Frois ibid. went from Tournay directly for Gaunt where he found his Vertuous and Beautifull Queen in good Health with whom about two Months after he went privately for England as we shall shew in due place all his Men being Order'd to follow except those Lords who were to be at the Parliament at Arras King Philip for his Part dismist the Main of his Army and himself went first to Lille whither the Burgesses of Tournay came to wait upon him He received them very Graciously and shewed them much favour upon the account of their Hazard for his Sake restoring unto them at this time all their former Privileges and adding to them several New ones to their great Satisfaction for a while before he had upon some Displeasure taken away their Charter and set over them the Lord Godmar du Fay and other Captains successively to be their Governours But now for their late approved Loyalty and Valour they had their old Form of Government restored and leave to choose a new Provost and Jurats according to their Ancient Customs All which being done and ratified the King went from Lille to Paris XIII While King Edward tarried yet at Gaunt he h Odoric Raynald An. 1340. §. 33. ad §. 37. wrote unto the Pope a Letter wherein thanking him for his diligence in Labouring after a Peace between the two Realms which he himself also mightily desired that thereby he might be at liberty to prosecure the Holy War against the common Enemies of Christendom and declaring how at the importunate Instances of some he had accordingly condescended to a Truce even then when he had almost reduced Tournay to the last Extremity he shews that upon sight of his Holinesses Letters he had prolonged the Term of the Truce that thereby he might give his Holiness suller Information of his own Intentions and also of the Equity of his Cause requiring thereupon his Advice which he should be ready to embrace Also that he had sent his Envoys to the Apostolick See to return Thanks to his Holiness for his Diligence in obtaining the Liberty of Nicolas de Flisco desiring God Almighty to preserve his Holiness in the Government of his Holy Church many and happy Days Datum apud Gandavum 19 no Novembris Anno Regni nostri Franciae Primo Regni verò nostri Angliae Quartodecimo At which time also he sent unto his Holiness the following Justification of Himself and his Cause i Extat apud Benedict Tom. 2. Ep secr 114. in Bib. Vatican Odoric Raynald ibid. These are the things in effect which are reported unto You Most Holy Father our Lord by Us William of Norwich Dean of Lincoln John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely and John Thoresby Canon of Southwell on the Behalf of our Lord the Illustrious King of England Most Holy Father and Lord that your Holiness may be more fully informed of the sincere and just intention of our said Lord the King which is ever prone and ready to accept of a Reasonable Peace something in Fact is to be opened The Lord Philip who now bears himself as King of France from the time that he first occupied the Realm of France verily believing nor without Reason that our said Lord the King directed the Eyes of his mind toward the Kingdom of France or at least would afterwards look that Way was pleased what in the Parts of Scotland by really Adhering to the Scots and what in the Dutchy of Guienne by there Usurping many Places so continually and strongly to divert him that he should have no leisure to intend to the Recovery of his Rights in France And because he being under Age and having no skill in the matter of his Right nor Experience as to what he was to do especially because of the foresaid Snates as is premised prepared for him had not untill of late any way open of duly prosecuting his Rights as to his said Kingdom of France Our said Lord the King desiring Peace and Quiet offer'd unto the said Lord Philip the Methods here under-named only for the Recovery of the Dutchy aforesaid and that he would absolutely refrain from Assisting the Scots Viz. First the Marriage of his Eldest Son for a Daughter of the Lord Philip to be Coupled with him in Matrimony without any Dowry Secondly the Marriage of his own Sister now Lady of Gueldre for a Son of the said Lord Philip with a great and excessive Dowry Thirdly the Marriage of his own Brother the Earl of Cornwall for some one Kinswoman of his Fourthly to redeem the Seisure of his Lands he offer'd unto him a Summ of Mony to be adjusted at the Discretion of the said Lord Philip Fifthly because the said Lord Philip pretended that he would cross the Seas to the Aid of the Holy Land our said Lord the King out of the great Zeal
which he always had and hath to undertake this Holy Expedition offer'd to be ready to undertake the said Expedition with him and to grant a reasonable and final Truce to the Scots on that Condition that the said Lord Philip would faithfully promise him after their Return to do him full Justice as to the Dutchy But he despising and rejecting Conditions so reasonable nay more than reasonable answer'd That he would do nothing untill he had given unto all the Scots as well those that were Living as unto the Heirs of the Dead full Satisfaction for all Places which in his time he had by force taken in Scotland And when the Messengers of our said Lord the King answer'd that as to that Point they were not empower'd nor did they believe how their said Lord the King would do it the Lord Philip answered in these Words It will never be well untill there be one King of both the Realms of France and England This the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury declared publiquely before a great Number of Prelates Earls Barons and Others Our Lord the King hearing these things being then come to Years of Discretion caused a Parliament to be called wherein by the Advice and Consent of all the Prelates Earls Parons and other Nobles and of the Commons there present and especially of the said Lord of Canterbury particularly insisting thereupon it was Ordained that since by the way of Humility he could not obtain Peace and by the Sentence and Decision of the Doctors and Advocates as well of the Court of Rome as of the Students of Paris and Oxford and others and also of all the more Expert and Famous Prelates of England with whom he had caused his Right to be carefully discussed the said Kingdom of France by the Death of his Uncle the Lord Charles last King of France of Famous Memory was Lawfully by Right of Succession devolved unto him as the next Heir Male He should take Care effectually to prosecute even by a strong Hand his foresaid Right And that this he might do more securely and secretly there were sworn there to the Lords Canterbury Lincoln London Salisbury Litchfield and many other Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles Peers of the Realm upon the Cross of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury aforesaid Also among other things it was Ordained that the Alliances should be made in Almaine which are now made and that the Lord Bishop of Lincoln taking unto him certain Noblemen of England should be constituted Agent for the perfecting those Alliances aforesaid Who by Ordinance of the said Parliament and by the Command of our said Lord the King being so obliged accepted the same Office of Agent and brought it to effect Which done our said Lord the King in pursuance of the Counsel aforesaid passed the Sea and wasted certain Parts of the Realm of France with an Army of his own and of certain his Allies Afterwards the Winter Season approaching our said Lord the King being Returned into England heard that there was a great Fleet of Ships prepared on the Sea for a sudden Invasion of him and his Who by the Counsel of his Friends his then Assistants and principally of the foresaid Lord Canterbury speedily prepared himself to scour the Seas and expos'd himself to go over without Provision of Money or Horses chiefly upon Confidence of the said Lord Canterbury who had promised within certain and few days to send him Money enough And passing the Seas he found his Enemies upon the Sea near the Haven where he designed to Land and obtain'd that Victory which God gave him Who afterwards taking Land on Confidence of the foresaid promise with a Mighty Multitude of Armed Men Besieged the City of Tournay and there having sat a great while destitute of all Aid of Money althô at the Importunate Instance of many yet in very deed being forced by the only failure of Money he consented to take a Truce as being in the greatest Danger and utmost point of Necessity since as he said he had not all the time of the Siege received one Penny out of England and further unfolding his Opinion against the said Archbishop he said these Words I verily believe that the Archbishop would that for want of Money I had been ruin'd and slain And further he hath privately said to me such things of my Wife and on the other Hand hath said to my Wife such things of me for which if he had been credited he had provoked Us to such Mutual Discord that there would have been a perpetual Division between Us. Truly Holy Father our Lord the King hath often remembred all those things touching the Lord Archbishop to me William Norwich as well apart as before others of his Council and strictly enjoyn'd me upon Oath that I should fully and faithfully Report them to your Holiness Those things most Holy Father namely that our Lord the King consented to a Truce for want of Money and what Relates to the Lord Archbishop if it please You may be kept secret All the rest may be made Publick At the same time these Negotiators declared King Edward's Resolutions in these Words Most Holy Father and Lord that He may particularly and nakedly open his Mind to your Clemency he signifies unto your Holiness that he Challenges and intends to Challenge the whole Realm of France as Lawfully due and devolved unto him by Hereditary Right But for the Reverence of You and of the Apostolick See and to avoid the Perils which in all probability will happen by continuance of the Wars he is ready to Treat of Peace and to consent to a Good Peace but so as that in the Treaty of Peace to be made consideration be had as to the Right proportionable unto him in the said Kingdom and not only as to the Dutchy because with the whole Dutchy alone althô free from all Service and Subjection of any One he intends not to be contented And moreover because your Holiness being Highly sollicitous for the Reformation of Peace have offer'd your self by your Letters to Labour in your own Person at the Apostolick-Seat if the Deputies of the Parties be therefore sent to your Court or by others as it may be Honestly and Profitably done our Lord the King out of his great Confidence and Devout Reverence consents that this may be in your Holinesses choice These were King Edward's peremptory Demands so that there appear'd no way of a Final Agreement Nay it was to be expected that King Philip upon hearing thereof would be inflam'd the more Wherefore the Pope advis'd him to be more moderate in his Demands for the King of France was so far from granting thus much that in his k Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 38. Letters to the Pope he only gave him Liberty to declare a Restitution of those Lands of Aquitain which had been Won by his Father Charles of Valois in the time of Charles IV. When King
that neither you nor they have forgotten how We being formerly exalted to the Regal Throne in the years of our tender Youth and desiring at our first Undertaking that Royal Charge to be directed by wholsome Counsels did call unto Us John then Bishop of Winchester and now Archbishop of Canterbury because We supposed him to excell others in Loyalty and Discretion and have made use both of his Spiritual Advice in Matters concerning the Health of our Soul and also of his Temporal in Affairs relating to the Augmentation and Conservation of our Kingdom Nay he was by Us received into such Familiarity and experienc'd so much of our Favour towards him that he was called Our Father and next unto the King adored of all Men. Now afterwards when by Right of Succession the Kingdom of France was devolved unto Us and by the Lord Philip of Valois de facto manifestly usurped the same Archbishop by his Importunities perswaded Us to make a League with the Lords of Almain t t Et aliis quod habe◠l. Antiqu. Brit. emittit Walsingh and others against the said Philip and so to expose Our Selves and Ours to the Expences of War promising and affirming that He would see Us abundantly supplied out of the Profits of our Lands and elsewhere adding moreover that We should only take Care to provide Men of Courage and Skill sufficient for the War for he himself would effectually procure such Summs of Money as should both Answer our Necessities and the Souldiers Pay. Whereupon having passed the Seas we set Our Hand to Great undertakings and with marvellous Expence as it behoved made Our Warlike Provisions and bound Our Selves in vast Summs of Money to our Confederates in confidence of the Foremention'd Aid promised unto Us. But alas since We put Our Confidence in the Staff of a broken Reed whereon according to the u u Isai 36. v. 6. Prophet if a Man lean it will go into his Hand and pierce it being defrauded of Our wish'd for Aid of meer Necessity We were compelled under heavy Usury to contract the Insupportable Burthens of Debt and so breaking off Our further Expedition for that time were Obliged to desist from Our Enterprises so Valiantly begun against Our Enemies and to return into England Where having made Relation to the said Archbishop of Our manifold Vexations and Misfortunes and thereupon calling a x x Vid. l. 1. c. 16. §. 1. p. 177. Parliament the Prelates Barons and other Liege Subjects of Our Kingdom gave Us the Ninth of their Corn Lambs and Wooll besides a Tenth granted Us by the Clergy which Subsidy had it been faithfully collected and obtained in due time had not a little availed toward Our said Warlike Expedition the Payment of Our Debts and the confusion of Our Enemies nay it might probably have sufficed to have answer'd all as many then supposed The said Archbishop then again promised Us diligently to use his Endeavours as well in the Collecting the same as also in procuring other things necessary for Us. Whereupon giving credit to his promises and having Recruited Our Forces with a Navy collected for that purpose We set Sail for Flanders and upon the way buckled in a fierce Sea Fight with Our Enemies who had combin'd to the Destruction of Us and of Our English Nation But by the Mercifull Bounty of him who Ruleth both the Winds and Seas and not by Our own Merits We obtain'd over the Numerous Multitude of those Enemies a Glorious Victory and Triumph Which done passing forward with a Great Army for the Recovery of Our Rights We encamped near the most strong City of Tournay in the Siege whereof being very much busied and even wearied with continual Toyl and Charges We silently waited in daily Expectation hoping that however by means of the said Archbishop Our promised Aid would at last come to relieve Us in Our so Many and so Great Necessities At length being frustrated of Our conceived hope thô by many Messengers and divers Letters We fully signified to the said Archbishop and other Our Counsellors joyned in Commission with him Our Necessities and the sundry Inconveniences we were exposed to for want of the promised Aid aforemention'd as also the Great Advantage and Honour which We saw We might easily obtain by a seasonable supply of the said Moneys We yet received no Advantagious Answer from them Because minding their own business and wholly neglecting Ours they palliated their own Idleness not to say Fraud or Malice with painted Glossings and frivolous Excuses like those Mockers who as y y C. 28. v. 10. 13. Isaiah says deridingly Scoff and say Precept upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line Here a little and there a little So that alas while a near hope of Triumphing over Our Enemies most graciously smil'd upon Us We were even then for want of Necessary Supplies constrained against Our Will to submit to accept of a Truce to the shamefull Hinderance of Our Expedition and the no small Joy of Our Adversaries Returning thereupon into Flanders both Empty of Money and Full of Debt neither Our own Purses nor Our Friends being sufficient to discharge Our Necessities and to pay off Our Foreign Auxiliaries We were compelled to plunge Our Selves into the Devouring Gulf of Usury and to submit Our Shoulders to the various Burthens of Insupportable Debts At last Our Faithfull Friends Companions of Our Labours and Partakers of Our Troubles came unto Us with whom We carefully consulted for a desired Remedy whereby We might happily obtain some Fair Weather after this so Great Storm of ill Fortune These All agreed that the sad protracting of Our Wars and the manifold Inconveniences proceeding from Our Want of Supply happen'd all thrô the Fault or Negligence not to say Malice of the said Archbishop to whose Discretion We had committed the Affairs of Our whole Kingdom They the while much Admiring and Murmuring at Us because Our Royal Goodness had so long left unpunished the Insolence of the said Archbishop and other Our Officers Saying that if We would not apply a speedy Remedy to these Evils They must of Necessity withdraw from Our Service and go back from their Alliance made with Us And this certainly must needs redound to the Subversion of Our Kingdom Our own perpetual Infamy and the Eternal Reproach of the English Nation which God Our most Mercifull Father of his Infinite Goodness Graciously forbid to come to pass in Our Days as the Anchor of Our hope is immoveably fixed on him Whereupon intending the due Correction of Our Officers some of them whom for many Reasons We suspected Guilty of Male-Administration Subversion of Justice Oppression of Our Subjects of Bribery and other Heinous Offences We have as We might do caused to be removed from their Offices Others also of Inferior Degree being culpable in the Premises We have committed to safe Custody least should they enjoy their wonted Liberty the Execution of
not undertake their Defence Upon all which Accounts they resolv'd by any means to divert the War for this time and so sent to King Edward a Bishop an Abbot and two Knights to desire a Truce of him for such a time on such and such Conditions These Messengers found the King in the beginning of December at Newcastle where they declared to him and his Council their business which was to require a Truce for six Moneths on these Conditions That the Scots should the mean while send into France to King David to protest unto him that unless He would return home by the Moneth of May next following with Power able to meet his Enemies of England in the Field and to defend his Realm then all Scotland would admit of King Edwards Government and never after own either David or any of his Posterity for their King and that thus to do upon King Davids failure all the Lords of Scotland had agreed Upon good security given these reasonable Conditions in so bad a juncture were accepted the Scotch Messengers return'd with a Ratification of the Truce into Scotland and King Edward having settled Affairs in those Parts towards London XVI Soon after the Scots agreed to send into France Sr. Robert Vescy Sr. Simon Fraiser and two other Knights to shew their King what they had resolv'd upon in case he should absent himself any longer from them 1342. An. Regni Angliae XVI Franciae III. They accordingly about the beginning of March by reason of the Truce took shipping at Dover in order to sail into France The mean while King David who had now been in that Kingdom upward of seven Years hearing daily unwelcome News of the Miseries and Ruines of his Country at last understood how his Captains at home had raised up some Light and Life in his Realm had recover'd almost all Scotland from his Enemies and had now extorted an half-Years Truce from the King of England althô as yet the Conditions thereof had not reach'd his Ears Whereupon being now about 21 Years of Age and fired with a generous Indignation against England as well as a due sense of Honour toward himself and an hearty Commiseration of his poor Subjects he determinately resolves the Redemption of his People thô with the hazard of his Life and Crown This his Resolution he communicates to his Friend King Philip of France who highly approving thereof furnishes him with Men Money and Vessels and vehemently inflames him to a cruel and perpetual Enmity with England Whereupon King David having taken his leave of the French King went on board with his Queen Joan King Edwards Sister and such Company as he had for Scotland His Admiral was the Loyal and brave Malcom Flemin of Cummirnald who had formerly with great Care and Conduct convey'd him into France and above a Year before had resign'd his strong Castle of Dumbriton to the Custody of the Lord Robert Stuart Viceroy of Scotland only to enjoy the Honour of waiting upon his Exil'd Prince in France King David landed at the Haven of Murray before any of his Subjects heard any thing of his Arrival For neither did he himself know of the Deputies about that time sent unto him into France nor did they know any thing that their King was then upon his Return home again When n Frois c. 74. the Arrival of King David was nois'd abroad in Scotland his glad Subjects flock'd unto him as if He had been sent from Heaven to work their Deliverance At first they brought him with great joy and solemnity to St. John's Town whither his loving Subjects came unto him from all Parts of the Kingdom to see and welcome him home Especially his Deputy the Lord Robert Stuart Sr. William Douglas Sr. Alexander Ramsey and other his Great Captains the Prime of his Nobility all whom he highly thanked for their constant Valour and Fidelity unto Him. These Lords declared then to their Master what terrible Devastation had been made in his Kingdom by the English to whose Complaints the young King only answer'd shaking his Head Well well my Lords by the Grace of God I will be sufficiently revenged for all or else it shall cost me both my Realm and Life in the Quarrel Then he straight sent forth his Summons to all his Subjects Friends and Allies to come unto Him to St. Johnston by such a day to aid Him against his Adversary of England At the time appointed there came thither the Potent Prince of Orkney who had married one of King Davids Aunts with a prodigious Number of Men of War in his Company and divers Lords and Knights of Sweeden Norway and Denmark some for Love and some for Wages So that in all He number'd in his Army no less than 60000 Foot and 13000 Horse armed after their Manner The time o Buchan says K. David return'd not till July thô he makes the time limiting the Truce to be May And yet that he came before the Deputies had been with him Preposterous of Cessation being therefore now expired hoping after all his troubles to have as good Success against England as his Father Robert had he began to march from St. Johnston with this terrible Army That day he reach'd Dumfermlin the next crossing a little Arm of the Sea and passing forth beyond Edenburgh He went over the Tweed leaving both Roxborough and Barwick both which held then for England unattempted For he thought to do a greater Feat before his Return So thrô the Marches he descended into Northumberland exercising all manner of Hostility and wasting and ravaging all before him for about 40 Miles in length till he came to Newcastle upon Tine which he resolved to besiege and so sat down with all his Forces before it The Captain p Frois c. 74. f. 39. of the Castle was the Lord John Nevill of Horneby a Person of great Conduct and Bravery who resolving to give the young King of Scotland a taste of the English Valour as soon as might be commanded 200 Lances to make a Sally very early the next Morning These dashing suddenly with great Fury into the Scotch Host on that Part where the Earl of Murray was who as they say was chief General for the time the King himself keeping private took the Earl himself in Bed drag'd him away naked out of his Tent and so having slain several of his Men and wan much Booty they return'd all safe into the Town with great joy and deliver'd the Earl of Murray Prisoner to Sr. John Nevill their Captain This Earl was a chief Prince of the blood in Scotland next of Quality to Prince Robert Stuart and the Earl of Southerland but for Valour and Conduct he yielded to none Froisard says his Arms were Argent three Oreills gules This daring enterprise having alarum'd the whole Camp the Scots ran like Madmen to the Barriers of the Town and began a fierce Assault which they continued a great while with much
These Letters were dispatch'd away b Holinshead ibid. p. 922. Sandfords Geneal Hist p. 164. Walsingh hist p. 150. n. 20 hypod p. 116. Adam Murimouth M.S. to the Pope by Sr. John Shoreditch Knight a Man of great Gravity and deep Knowledge in the Law Who coming to Avignion and being conducted into the Pope's Privy Chamber where his Holiness then sat among his Cardinals humbly presented these Letters from the Three Estates of England assembled together in Parliament The Letters being once read the Knight made Answer to what the Pope thought fit to object against them and particularly he instanced in the Deanry of York which his Holiness had lately taken up for one of the Kings Enemies Whereat the Pope with some Emotion reply'd Well well it is not unknown to Us who made and endited these Letters and We are sensible how you are not the Author But there is one who endeavours to pinch us narrowly whom we shall find a way to bring down For we understand these Affairs well enough and will not suffer them to be too nicely handled by others He added that there was a Knight of England who accustomed himself to speak derogatory to the Church of Rome wherewith he could not but be highly offended especially since he saw his Honour invaded with Impunity In conclusion he promised to answer the Letters of the Lords and Commons of England in reference to the Contents thereof Whereat the Cardinals rose up and departed in great seeming Displeasure and the Knight having taken his leave left the Court and without longer tarrying went for Bourdeaux in Guienne about other of the Kings Business Either because he was so commanded or least otherwise on some Pretence or other he might have been detained there against his Will. The Pope never theless soon after sent an Answer directed to the King in Behalf of those Cardinals for whom he had before made Provisions which now the King by vertue of his Prerogative Royal had deprived them of The Tenour whereof followeth c Antiquitates Britannicae p. 237 n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 152 n. 10. Adam Murimuth c. XI CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ the Lord Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Lately after the Creation of new Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church having before taken a provident and mature Deliberation We judg'd it highly requisite both for the Honour of God and of his Holy Church and also for the publick Utility that those Cardinals who partake with Us of our Labours and Burthens in dispatching those great Affairs which from all Parts as to their proper Chanel flow into the Apostolick See should also have agreeably wherewithall to supply their Necessities according to the Dignity of their State and Condition Whereupon having consider'd of the most proper and lawfull Ways and Means whereby the said Provision might with less burthen to the Churches and their Clergy be made We gave out of Ecclesiastical Benefices then vacant in sundry Realms of Christendom and also of such as should from that time be vacant unto each of the said new Cardinals for their Support our Special Grants unto such a certain Summ and under certain Forms and Limitations so distinguished as We judged might be proportionable to the several Provinces Now since unto two Cardinals born in the Dukedom of Aquitain to wit our beloved Sons d d Victorellus de Vit. Pontif. p. 894 895. concerdat cum Histericis nâ—stris Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of St. Sabina Priests We have made the like Grants of Benefices within your Kingdom and Territories most Dear Son contained in Form for them and other the said Cardinals with great Deliberation ordained and they for the obtaining the said Grants have sent their Proctors and Ecclesiastick Messengers being Persons of Wisdom and Learning unto the Parts of your Kingdom of England the said Proctors and Messengers when being enter'd the said Kingdom they began there to pursue the Business of their said Lords were not only hinder'd in their said Business by the Kings Subjects and Officers but also confined and after that in very Disgracefull manner ejected the said Kingdom as We have too well understood by the too-unwelcome Relations thereof Truly most Beloved Son if the Premises which about the said Proctors We have premised are founded upon real Truth considering the sincere Devotion which You are known to bear towards the Lord and toward the Holy Roman Church your Motheâ— as the Kings of England your Progenitors of Famous Memory in their Days have born We cannot easily believe that they proceeded from your Knowledge But this is certain that not only in your said Kingdom and Territories but in a manner in all Kingdoms and Countries as well near as remote whereever the Catholick Faith flourishes We have made the like Grant to other new Cardinals Where notwithstanding except the said Rebellious Denial which if it be true We mention with grief of Heart We have hitherto heard of no manner of Refusal For We thought and still do think it sufficiently advantageous for your Royal Honour and Interest that Cardinals especially such who are naturally affected to your Royal Honour and Interest should obtain Ecclesiastical Benefices in your Kingdom and Territories Because thereby they may be induced more freely and frequently to promote your Princely Advantage And we wish to God that those who are fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments were not too probably suspected not without a Note of most Detestable ingratitude and to their own peril to have procured the foresaid impediments unto Her Whereby they have to the great hazard of their Souls rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons Which respect the happy Encrease of the Health Fame and Honour of your Majesty towards which if with Loyal Endeavours these Men had attended they would not by doing the contrary so eagerly hunt after their own filthy Lucre under the pretence of their Prince's Service Finally We entreat your Royal Excellence and most earnestly exhort You in the Lord that diligently within your Princely Breast considering the Premises and what else shall occurr to your Royal Wisdom You would graciously order those things which were done against the said Proctors and Others authorized by the said Cardinal Ademare who are reported to have been afterwards taken and confin'd to be decently amended and revoked and that your Royal Majesty would cause the said Proctors being upheld by the Royal Favour in the Prosecution of the said Affairs in the same Kingdom to rejoyce with full Security for the Reverence of God and of Us and of the said See not lending your Royal Ears to those things which may bring any Offence to God Dishonour to the said Church
or harm to your Imperial Honour Safety and Dignity That so you may render the Lord always propitious unto You and the foresaid See still more ready to serve your Occasions We desire You would again write unto Us most Beloved Son what your Royal Wisdom shall think fit to ordain in these Matters Dated at Villeneuve in the Dioecese of Avignion the v. of the Kalends of September in the second Year of our Pontificate XII This Letter to the King of England was accompanied by another of the same Date directed to his Council which being no where extant but in e Adam Murimouth ad An. Ed. 3.17 Adam Murimouth whose Authentick and Ancient MS. was kindly communicated unto me by the Learned and Reverend Linguist and Philologist Dr. John Covel Dean of York I also thought fit to set it down faithfully translated from the Original CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his Beloved Sons the Counsellours of his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction A Displeasing and most ungratefull Rumour hath in these Days reported unto Us how that when our Dear Sons Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of Sabina Priests Cardinals did send their Proctors to the Parts of the Kingdom of England in order to pursue the Grants lately by Us granted unto them as unto other new Cardinals in divers parts of the World of Ecclesiastical Benefices being in the Parts of the said Kingdom of England the said Proctors thô both Learned and also Ecclesiastical Persons were not only hindred in the Pursuance of the said Affairs but also by the procurance of some who have been fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments as it is probably supposed whereby as well they as others who procured or perpetrated the same have to their great Danger rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons have been ignominiously taken and then expelled the said Kingdom certain other Proctors of the foresaid Cardinal Ademare being afterwards taken and detained Prisoners But since We cannot by any means believe that the Premises which if Truth agrees with the Relation would redound to the Offence of the Divine Majesty the Discredit of the Roman Church and the exceeding Reproach of the said Cardinals could proceed from the Knowledge of our most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England considering his Devotion which he beareth to God and the Holy Roman Church his Mother as neither can We by any means imagine that He to whom We write also about this Matter would endure such things as are contrary to his Honour Safety and Dignity We therefore entreat Your Wisdom and in the Lord more earnestly exhort You That You whose Office is to direct the Actions and Affairs of the said King by the way of Honesty Righteousness and Justice the Contrary whereof if it should happen which God forbid would be imputed to You do â—rudently speedily and discreetly take Care that whatsoever Matters in this part have undecently and unjustly proceeded be revoked and amended Knowing that in divers other parts of Christendom as well near as remote wherein We have made the like Grants to other New Cardinals We have not heard of any notable impediment given unto them or unto their Proctors which therefore they have sent to those parts long since Given at Villeneuve in the Diocese of Avignon f f i. e. 28 Aug. V. Kal. Septemb. in the second Year of our Pontificate XIII To these Letters of the Pope the King immediately return'd this Famous Epistle in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England g Adam Marimouth Antio Brit. p. 238. Walsingh hist p. 150. 2 M.S. ex Vatican apud Odoric Raynald ad hunc annum §. 90. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman Catholick Church the Chief Bishop EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet When We seriously consider the Goodness of the Apostolick See which is wont to be most solicitous concerning the Encrease of Devotion in Christs Flock and the Welfare of their Souls not seeking that which is its own but rather those things which are Christs We have a very probable hope that Your Wisdom being now worthily placed in the Watch-tower of the Apostolick Eminence will graciously take Care to reform those things which detract from the Honour of the Church and the Devotion of the People and threaten inevitable Danger to the Souls and Goods of Mankind We nothing doubt but that it is now publiquely known how from the very first rise of Christianity in our Kingdom of England our Progenitors the Kings of England and the Lords and other Subjects of the said Realm have for the augmentation of Divine Worship built Churches enriched them with ample Possessions and endowed them with large Privileges placing fit Ministers therein who have nor without Success Preached the Catholick Faith to the People in their Mother Tongues By whose Care and Diligence the Vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth hath wonderfully prospered both in Culture and Fruit. But now which is to be lamented the slips of this very Vine are degenerated into a Wild-vine and the Boar out of the Wood doth waste it and the h h Ita Hebraâ—ice singularis fera Latinè i.e. Quadriennis aper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graeâ—è sanglier Gallicè singular English vid. Wase on Gratius p. 69. Wild-Beast of the Field doth devour it While by the Impositions and Provisions of the Apostolick See which now grow more insupportable than ever its own proper Goods against the Pious intent and appointment of the Donors are held in the Hands of the Unworthy and especially of Foreigners and its Dignities and Chief Benefices are confer'd upon Strangers who for the most part are Persons at least suspected unto Us and who neither reside on the said Benefices nor know the Face nor understand the voice of the Flock committed unto them but wholly neglecting the Cure of Souls like Hirelings only seek their own Profit and Temporal Advantage And so the Worship of Christ is empaired the Cure of Souls neglected Hospitality withdrawn the Rights of the Churches lost the Houses of the Clergy dilapidated the Devotion of the People extinguished the Clergy of the said Kingdom who are Men of great Learning and Honest Conversation and are both able and willing effectually to perform the Work of Ministers and would also be very fit for our and the Publique Service forsake their Studies because the Hope of a Reasonable Preferment is thus taken away Which things We know can be no ways acceptable to the Divine Pleasure but will most certainly prove a Mighty Prejudice and unspeakable
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
displeas'd that he seised his Temporalities for a while And We find him the Year following a Ano. 1334. obliged to make use of all his Cunning and Sophistry b Vid. Apologiam Adae Orleton c. apud Hister Angl. Scriptâ—r Antig. p. 2763. Edit London Ano. 1652. to Answer an Appellation that then came out against him thô not in the King's Name and proved him Guilty of Felony c. Consisting of these Articles 1. That he Commanded and caused most Sacrilegiously Violent Hands to be laid on the King's Chancellour Robert Baldock Bishop of Norwich c. Item that in the City of Oxford in the Moneth of November he falsly and maliciously Preached and Taught and more than once Asserted that the Lord Edward of Famous Memory was a Tyrant c. Item that by his false and subtil Insinuations and Assertions he struck such a fear into the Lady the Queen Mother then at Wallingford that she durst not go to her Husband the foresaid King by occasion whereof the use of Matrimony both as to the Procreation of Children and as to the Faith and Sacrament thereof was render'd ineffectual All which with more he Answer'd for that time very plausibly suppressing the most Dangerous Articles and eluding and evading the Rest and at last concludes his appellant guilty of Perjury in offering to swear to the Truth of what he falsly laid to his Charge By these Means and by the Aid of the Clergy who c Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 874. ad â—n 1324. once before took him with their Pastoral Crosiers in their Hands from the King's Tribunal when he was to be try'd for Treason he escaped Punishment in this World except that for d Walsing hist p. 155. n. 50. Godw. Gatal Bps p. 233. many Years before his Death he was stricken stark blind thô We can hardly think that without an unfeigned and thorough Repentance of which this his Apology gives Us little hope he could avoid those Torments which are prepared in the other World for Murderers and Traytors Nay e Sr. Winston Churchill's Drvi Britan. p. 239. some say that Horrour of Mind at his Death gave him as great Torture as if the burning-Iron which sear'd his Conscience had been thrust into his Bowels Which expression is no doubt allusive to the manner whereby King Edward the Seconds Death was effected thrô his Means and Contrivance However here now we fix him as an Example to deter Men of such Principles from the Consideration of the Evil Memory they are like to leave behind them He was succeeded by Dr. William Edingdon who was very Dear to King Edward and the Knights of the Garter being created in his time became the first Prelate of that most Noble Order The End of the First Book THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. AN. DOM. 1346. An. Regni Angliae XX. Franciae vii BOOK THE SECOND CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Philip sends his Son John Duke of Normandy with a mighty Army against the Earl of Darby now since his Father's Death called Earl of Lancaster II. Duke John having retaken Miramont and Ville-Franche in Agenois goes and sits down before Angoulesme III. The Earl of Lancaster hearing the Enemy had left Ville-Franche void sends thither a new Garrison as also a Reinforcement to the strong Castle of Aiguillon IV. The Seneschal of Beaucaire with a Detachment from the French Host wins Ancenis and returns with a great Booty to the Camp. V. Sr. John Norwich the English Captain of Angoulesme by a neat Device escapes away thrô the French Army in the Day-time with Bag and Baggage and goes to Aiguillon After whose Departure the Duke takes the City to Mercy as also the Fortress of Damasan by Force and Tonneins by Composition VI. The Duke of Normandy takes Port St. Mary by Force and goes before the strong Castle of Aiguillon VII The Particulars of the Famous Siege of Aiguillon counted the most Notable of that Age. VIII The French Kings Seneschal of Guienne beaten and taken Prisoner by a Detachment from the Earl of Lancaster Which Earl hovering near the Duke cuts him short I. ALL this while we may wonder that between two such Potent Monarchs as Philip of France and Edward of England althô no less than a Kingdom was the Prize there seem'd rather a certain-Tendency and Disposition to War than any deadly and irreconcileable Rupture But this we should attribute to the Goodness of God who is always slow when he intends to strike home and partly also as well to the pious Assistance of the Pope King Robert of Sicily the Lady Jane of Valois and other Peace makers as in a manner to the Humanity of these Princes themselves and also to the weight of the Affair which required much Advice and vast Preparations But now at last all things being sufficiently ripened we shall presently see the Bloody Flag of War hung out in good earnest and the two Kings hastily opening the Way to their own several Destinies King a Frois c. 118. Philip of France was quickly alarum'd at those notable Conquests which the Earl of Darby whom henceforward we shall call the Earl of Lancaster had made in Gascogne the preceding Year and resolv'd with all Expedition to provide a wholsom Remedy against so devouring a Gangrene While therefore himself was busie in raising a Mighty Power for the Defence of his Kingdom he dispatched away his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy with considerable Forces to stop the English Earls Career But when he began to approach he heard such Reports of the strength of the English the Terror of their Conquests belike encreasing their Numbers that for that time b Gaguin l. p. 140. Fabian p. 220. itâ Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 856. Messer Giovanni di Francia no venne al sâ—ccerso ne tenne campo ma si ternò addietro he return'd back to his Father again without once looking the Fail of Lancaster in the Face And this was towards the Declining of the preceding Year King Philip was extreamly incensed at this Action of his Sons Wherefore to avoid his Fathers Displeasure he immediatly resolves to address himself with all his vigour to the War and rather to venture any thing than to hazard the loss of his Fathers Love and his own Reputation King c Frois c. 118. Philip also desiring to Reinforce him in the best manner sent forth his General Summons That all Nobles and Others on that side the Loire of such and such Qualifications and able for the War should laying aside all Excuse repair to Orleans and Bourges and the Parts thereabout by such a Day Whereupon there came to the King being at Paris Eudes Duke of Burgundy and his only Son Philip Earl of Artois and Boulogne with a 1000 Lances There came also the Duke of Bourbon and his Brother the Earl of Ponthieu Ralph Earl of Eu and Guisnes and Constable of France the
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
those many notable Successes of King Edward rather to the Vertue Holiness and Prayers of this Man than to any other worldly either Wisdom or Prowess Thus much we shall readily acknowledge that althô after his Death King Edward had the same good Success as before the Reason may be justly attributed to that Prince's Care of following the Precepts of this memorable Prelate For whose wonderfull Modesty we have this also to say that whereas he might have obtain'd of the King whatever Preferment he would have asked he was so far from any Ambitious Desire of superfluous Promotion that it was long e'r he could be prevail'd with to accept a Prebend of Lincoln when it was offer'd him he being at the same time Chancellor of St. Pauls in London And it is certain that the Archbishoprick came at last to him without the least of his Endeavours for it the Convent electing him the King allowing their Choice and the Pope who knew not any of these things at the same time conferring this Dignity upon him without the least Application made to him in his Behalf Whereas had he but shew'd the smallest Inclination for the Place he might have obtain'd it of the King before Concerning which Matter when certain spake to the King saying they admired that his Majesty did not admit of this Mans Election from the Convent for they had chosen him before his Predecessour John Hufford was chosen he replied That it was because he could very ill spare so Worthy a Man to be from him and he never could perceive that he himself desired to be spared He was succeeded by Simon Islip Keeper of the Privy Seal who was Consecrated in December 1349. Besides these c Walsingh hist p. 160. ubi Banham male pro Langham Vti aperte lâ—quet 〈◊〉 Simon Langham selus sib haec cmnia Officia Tâ—talos vendicet v. Godw. Catal. Bâ—sh p 143. Philpets Catal. Chancell p. 41. Catal. Treas p. 36. Simon Abbot of Westminster being taken away in this Visitation was succeeded by Simon Langham who was afterwards Lord Treasurer of England then Bishop of Ely soon after Lord Chancellour then Archbishop of Canterbury in which Seat having sat two Years he was by Pope Vrban V created Cardinal Titulo S i Sixti and lastly was made Bishop-Cardinal of Preneste by Gregory the XI X. These are all whom I find to have died this Bout of the most Eminent of the Prelacy of England a Number not great but for the Heighth of the Dignity and Worth of the Persons very considerable But of the inferior Clergy there was such havock made that many Churches were left wholly void without either Parson or Curate or any to perform the least Divine Office whether Mass Mattins Vespers Sacraments or Burial So that it was hard to procure any one to be a Chaplain or to Administer in any Church under Ten Pounds or Ten Marks per Annum at least d Knighton p. p. 2600. n. 20. Which Ten Marks as Money then went did countervail 40 l. with us And few or none would accept of a Vicaridge worth 20 l. or 20 Marks per annum whereas before the Pestilence when there was Plenty of young Divines a Man might have a Chaplain for four or five Marks per annum nay sometimes for two or three besides his Board So that now the Prophecy of Robert the Jacobin Frier against the Clergy was very fully and severely accomplished indeed But shortly after this Scarcity of Clergymen was abundantly made up or rather the Church was overstock'd For vast Numbers of Laymen whose Wives were dead of the Plague came crowding now into Orders many of whom were meer Idiots and utterly unlearned except that perhaps they knew how to read thô not with Understanding Sr. John Poultney e Stow's Survey p. 86. 252. who had been Mayor of London Four times and a very charitable and munificent Person died also in this Pestilence but of others who were either considerable for their Dignity Birth or Station I have not met with any So that it is no wonder if when the Wars were again renewed between England and France King Edward seem'd nothing the weaker for all the great Loss of his People in this Plague For of the Common Sort France was as much exhausted hereby as England and in a manner all King Edwards expert Barons and Captains remained still alive to be another Plague to that Nation XI In Wales f Stow p. 246. Holinsh Chr. Ireland p. 72. also this Epidemical Calamity raged extreamly and shortly after passing over into Ireland it made great havock of the Englishmen in those Parts especially about the Sea-coasts But as for those who were true Irishmen born and dwelt in the hilly Countries it scarce just saluted them So that they suffer'd but little or no loss thereby When the Scots heard of this strange and dreadful Fatality here in England g Knighton p. 2600 n. 1. Stow p. 246. a. n. 60. they too maliciously insulted over our Sufferings and instead of humbling themselves under a due sense of Gods terrible Judgments made a Scoff and Derision of what should have been their Warning and in their ordinary Conversation took up this profane Oath by the foul Deaths of the English Nor this only but out of a most inveterate and implacable hatred desiring if possible to add more weight to the heavy Judgments of Gods Hand they made a Warlike Rendezvous in Solkirk Forest on purpose to invade the North-Borders But before they could make any considerable Progress a sudden and most terrible kind of Death fell among them So that more than 5000 of them died in a manner presently Whereupon they made all the haste home imaginable as well the infected as the whole but they were overtaken wearied despairing and out of Order by a strong and well-prepared Body of English who easily overcame and slew of them with a great Slaughter But however so many escaped home as sufficed to communicate the Infection they had won by this Expedition over all that Kingdom also So that Scotland partook of the universal Contagion in as high a Degree and in the same manner as other Countries had done before them Only in this there was a difference that whereas other Nations with trembling sat still and waited for it the Scots did seem ambitious to fetch it in among themselves XII In the mean time whereas during the Plague there was almost every where sufficient plenty of all things so that in a manner no other Mischief reigned all that while as soon as this grand Conquerour was march'd off innumerable other Mischiefs as so many petty Tyrants began to play their Tragical parts also And h Knighton p. 2599. lin 65. first by occasion of the Plague the Cattle for want of Men to look to them wandred about in fields at randome from whence no Body drove or gather'd them So that they began to perish among
and many other Commodities II. About this time e Knighton p. 2606. n. 12. Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 161. the Cheshire-men had committed some great Insolence or Riot against the Servants of the Prince of Wales on what Occasion I have not found which were Officers under the Prince as he was Duke of Chester Wherefore the King being extreamly incensed against them and resolving to make them submit to Law or to the Sword sends forth Sr. Richard Willoughby and Sr. William Shareshull his Justices Itinerant to sit in Eyre at Chester At the same time ordering sufficient Forces under the Leading of his Son the Prince attended with Henry Duke of Lancaster and the Earls of Warwick and Stafford to go thither to prevent any Violence or Insurrection of the People But when the Cheshire men knew in their Consciences that they were in fault and saw plainly there was as little Contending in Battle as in Law against such Force and such Right they compounded with the Prince of Wales their Lord for 5060 Marks to be paid within four Years thence to come and gave him such Security as the Prince himself desired on Condition that the Justices should no longer continue their Circuit of Eyre upon them However because they would not according to their Duty submit to but capitulate with their Prince when they thought themselves quit and wholly free the Justices came and sat again upon the Inquisition of Traillebaston and leavied vast Summs of Money and seised many Lands and Tenements into the Hands of the Prince and raised Fines without number After which the Prince passing upon his return thrô the Abby of f Vid. Sr. Rich. Baker in Ed. 1. 〈◊〉 Works of Piety done in his Time. Vnde 〈◊〉 Deâ—uleneros in Vale Royal. Vale-Royal and seeing there a wonderfull Structure of the Fabrick of a Church which the good King Edward his Great Grandfather had begun of his meer Princely Good-will gave toward the Promotion of the said pious Work 500 Marks which Summ was esteemed a Tenth of his whole Perquisits in Cheshire III. About which time the King g Stow's Chron. p. 254. Survey of London p. 523. his Father also converted the Chappel of St. Stephen at Westminster founded by his Royal Progenitors into a College consisting of 38 Persons to serve God namely one Dean Twelve Secular Canons Vicars and other Ministers accordingly and endowed it with Revenues to the Summ of 500 l. per Annum for ever For the use of this Chappel thô out of the Palace Court some distance Westward in a little Sanctuary he also raised a mighty strong Bellfry or Steeple of Stone and Timber covered with Lead and placed therein three Great Bells which afterward were usually rung at Coronations Triumphs Funerals of Princes or their Obits Of which Bells Men fabled that their Ringing sowred all the Drink in the Town and it is said that about the Biggest of the Three there were written these Rhymes King Edward made me Thirty Thousand and Three Take me down and weigh me And more shall ye find me However when these Bells were taken down as they have been long since they were found all Three hardly to weigh Twenty Thousand Pound IV. We spake h Lib. 2. c. 10. §. 8. p. 455. vid. Knighton p. 2606. à n. 20. ad n. 30. cellat cum p. 2603. n. 10 c. before how the King of Scotland had liberty to return home from his Captivity in order to discourse with his Lords about his Ransom and that being not able to come to any Conclusion he rendred himself a Prisoner again Now it is to be consider'd that the Scots were not at all backward to redeem their King but that the Demands of King Edward were such as their free Souls could never brook for he would have them do Homage unto him as King David himself had sworn to do and as the Kings of Scotland before-time were accustomed to do But the Scots answered all with one Heart and Voice How as for their King they were willing and ready to redeem his Person at any Rate Except only by submitting themselves unto the King of England for that they would never do Whereupon King David for that time as we observed returned his Body back again to Prison in the Tower of London But now this Year again by King Edwards leave he resolved to try them once more in Person and having given a like Security went as before to Newcastle upon Tyne where he was met by such Scotch Lords as were thereto appointed in order to treat of a Final Peace between the two Realms and also of his Redemption But here as the Scottish Commissioners held still to their old Obstinacy so that King David was fain to upbraid them thereof and check them something roughly That bearing a Mind too high for the present Condition of Affairs they were too unreasonably stiff when both for his Sake and that of their bleeding Country they ought rather to bend and shew a little Complyance for the present the Debate grew hereupon so high that the Scots threatned to renounce both Him and his Authority unless he would wholly fall off from the Thoughts of paying any Submission to England and forbear to listen any longer to their Counsel And they further added That they would neither redeem him nor any way promote his Redemption unless he would first engage to pardon them all sorts of Quarrels and Grievances and all Offences by them done or committed since the time that he was taken at Durham Otherwise they threatned to set up another King over them King Edward and his Council upon this Backwardness of the Scots to close with them resolved that the Lords of the North should enter Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Northampton and that all those who claim'd any Lands or Inheritance in Scotland should accompany the said Earl together with King. David into that Kingdom by Force to reduce the Scots to a more reasonable Submission Accordingly i Stow p. 254. c. the Earl of Northampton with King David in his Company and a formidable Power of Men of Arms and Archers entred the Marches of Scotland where he obliged the strong Fortress of Loughmaban and several other Places of Strength to yield unto him and took and slew and dissipated all the close Ambushes of the subtle Scots who not being able to check him in plain Field attempted by these Finenesses to gain some notable Advantage of him But this Lord was too expert a Captain to be trepan'd by those usual and well-known Stratagems Whereupon they were now again compell'd to endeavour an Accommodation and at last obtained an Hearing in order to a Treaty at which time they declared How they were most willing to redeem their King but not on that Condition as thereby to fling both Him and Them and all their Posterity into a far worse Captivity by Subjecting their Native Country to be held by
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.
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
of Westminster visiting the Ancient Monuments of his Predecessors he q M. S. Vet. Angl. â—n Bill C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. chose a Place for his own Sepulture and Burial in the Chappel of St. Edward hard by the Shrine of that Royal Saint and Confessor Commanding his Son the Prince and his other Children upon his Blessing when it should please God to call him out of this transitory Life to a better to lay his Body there and no where else And thô the Prince his Son died before him yet we find the rest of his Sons were not forgetfull of this his Fatherly Injunction for there he lies buried to this Day as we shall shew more particularly when we come to treat of his Death which happen'd 18 Years after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Foreign Succours being come to Calais King Edward sends thither the Duke of Lancaster who leads them forth thereby to ease the Town II. King Edward follows the Duke with an Army of an 100000 Men. III. The Names of his Chief Leaders with the Numbers and Order of the Army the King marches from Calais toward Rheims in Champaigne IV. An Adventure between the Lord Galahaut de Ribemont French and the Lord Reginald van Boulant English V. The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes the French Master of the Crossbows King Edward lays Siege to Rheims VI. The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt sends Relief to the English Army Cernoy en Dormois and other Places taken by Detachments from the Camp before Rheims VII The King of Navarre breaks with the Dauphin again The Lord of Gomegines taken Prisoner by the French. VIII The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes Cormicy and rases it I. ALL this while the whole Realm of England and the Dominion of Ireland were hot in Preparations for War and King Edwards Friends wherever they were resolved at this time to embark with him in this bold Enterprise especially such Lords and Knights of the Empire as had served him before These Men a Frois c. 205. fol. 99. made great Provision of Horse and Arms and other Necessaries according to their Degrees and Qualities and when they were ready they all came together by the way of Flanders to Calais and there waited till the King should come from England But he did not come thither so soon as was expected because he had so many weighty Matters to settle before he could leave his Kingdom During therefore this time of their Stay many more Strangers flocking thither there was hardly room in Calais for Lodging or Stabling for the Horses and besides Bread and Wine Hay Oats and other Provision was very scarce so that they could hardly be got for Gold or Silver wherefore there b Knighton p. 2621. n. 10. were some insolencies committed by the Strangers as is usual in such cases But still the general Comfort was King Edward would presently come thither and the News ran always that he would be there the next Week And yet if he had been there all things would have been much dearer and Lodgings harder to be got onely indeed then 't was expected that the King would draw off presently into the Field Thus the Lords of Almain Bohemia Brabant Flanders and Hainalt tarried there at their great Charges from the beginning of August till October so that many of them were fain to sell the best part of their Jewels and some had spent almost all they had Whereupon some Quarrels arose between them and their Hosts and some Mischief was done and more had been if the King finding now that his Affairs would not be ripe till after the time he had appointed which was the 8 of September had not sent over the Great Henry Duke of Lancaster with 400 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers to lead these Strangers forth lest they should eat up the Town of Calais For he had heard c Frois ibid. that many more were come than either he expected or desired hoping belike to enrich themselves by the Spoils of France The Strangers received the Duke upon his Arrival with great Joy and asked him News about the King and when he would follow and complain'd a little how they had been disappointed The Duke excused unto them the Kings Delay by telling them that it was not possible so soon to furnish so great an Army as the King design'd to bring over with all manner of Necessaries for so long a time as he intended to stay in those Parts And says he surely Gentlemen to lie here idly till then is neither honourable nor profitable I am therefore resolved to ride forth into France and do something the mean while Only I desire of you so much Money as will pay off your several reckonings here at your Quarters and I 'll furnish you with Provision of Victuals to carry on your Sumpters These Gentlemen were asham'd to deny the Duke what it seems they had deny'd their Landlords and so they all satisfied their Hosts punctually and new shod their Horses and trussed up their Baggage and rode forth with the Duke and went to St. Omers being in all 2000 Men of Arms besides Archers and other Footmen St. Omers they passed by without Medling and so they went to Bethune which they left likewise and rode forward about 6 French Leagues further till they came to Mount St. Eloy a large and rich Abbey within two Leagues of Arras Here they tarried four Days to refresh themselves and their horses for they found Provision enough in the Abby and then they marched about ten Leagues further and passed the River d Leland Collect. Vol. 1. p. 824. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 788. Frois ibid. Knighton p. 2621. n. 40. c. Somme and began to assault Bray sur Somme a considerable Town in Picardy where the Duke caused his Men to wade up to the shoulders that they might get to the Walls and so a fierce Attack was made in which Sr. Thomas Murrers an English Banneret was unfortunately slain with a shot from the Walls and several others wounded For the Inhabitants made a good Defence by the Assistance of the Earl of St. Paul and the Lord of Rayneval and other Gentlemen who a little before came into the Town at a back-Gate with 200 Spears The Duke of Lancaster therefore failing here went along by the River Somme in great want both of Bread and Wine till he came to Ceresy a Town on the same River between Bray and Corbie where he found good Plenty of both and having supplied himself therewith he repassed the River in the same place for the Bridge was not broken and went to Chipilly where he tarried to refresh his Men the remainder of that Day and all Night it being then the Feast of All-Saints On that very Day he had notice that King Edward was arrived with all his Forces at Calais and commanded him on sight of his Letters to draw thitherward to meet him II. Now e Frois c. 206.
they had such an Enemy in their very Bowels Why surely the Parliament being alarum'd with this Publick Danger began to be at Friends among themselves all the Lords and good Captains of France rose up vigorously in their Country's Defence and the Duke of Normandy with the Lords of his Council and other his Friends and Allies gather'd together a vast Number of Men of Arms to the Metropolis of that Kingdom and set sufficient Garrisons as we have partly intimated before in most of the other Cities and Fortresses where they suspected King Edward had an Eye But being warn'd by the late ill Success of his Father and the great Losses of his Grandfather the Duke resolved no more to give the King of England Battle but rather to hold him short by removing all manner of Provision into strong Places and in the mean while to stand only on the Defensive Part well knowing that Hunger and Delay would soon cool the Fury of the most Valiant Souldiers and that the mightiest Treasures of the Richest Kings would easily be exhausted by such a tedious War. The a Knighton p. 2622. n. 40. mean while as well to divert the War from his own Doors as to repay those Injuries he felt he had gather'd together into the Ports of Normandy a mighty Navy which had Orders to sail into England and exercise there all manner of Hostility Some of these Souldiers to the Number of 240 Lances were met about Honfleur by Sr. Thomas Fowkes an English Captain who with 27 Lances only and about an 100 Archers set upon them overthrew them and took of them Prisoners no less than 120 Men of Arms among whom were the Lord Lewis Harcourt Lieutenant of Normandy for the Regent the Lord John Bigott Marshal the Lord Baldwin de la Huse with two of his Brethren the Lord of Bracquemont and his Brother the Bailiff of le Caulx and another Baron his Kinsman But this was too small a Wound to be felt by the Navy of France who notwithstanding consisted of no less than b Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 83. p. 558. 120 Sail and c Knighton ib. 20000 Armed Men under the Conduct of the Earl of St. Paul who made for England and coasting about the d Fabian p. 234. Borders of Kent and Sussex landed at Rye and Hastings where they spoiled the Towns slew the People and did much harm to the poor Fishers But especially on St. Matthias his Day they suddenly took Land at Winchelsea e Walsing Hist p. 166. n. 30. Dom. Lit. E D. where they slew all they met with sparing neither Age Sex nor Order but only such Matrons or Virgins whose Youth and Beauty made them desirable were cruelly reserved for a Life far worse than Death Among many abominable and execrable Deeds done at this time by this Piratical Sort of Villains one most horrid and diabolically impious is related namely that upon their first Landing hearing that most of the Inhabitants were at Church it being time of Mass they ran immediately thither where without any Regard to the Place having committed many Murders and robbed the Altar and the Vestry at last they found there a very comely young Gentlewoman of exact Shape and Beauty who came thither with her Neighbours to hear Mass Her these unchristian Villains abused there in the very Church making use of her Body so long one after another till the unhappy Woman died under their hands An Abomination like f Judges c. 19. 20. c. that of the wicked Gibbeathites whose intemperate and barbarous Lust had well nigh occasion'd the total Extirpation of one of the Tribes of Israel But while these ungodly Wretches were thus busied in Spoiling Robbing Murdering and worse Matters the Townsmen who had fled had raised the Country g Knighton p. 2622. n. 60. in such Multitudes that the Frenchmen durst not stand them Yet before they could reach their Ships they fell so foul upon one another thrô the precipitant haste they made to the Water that what with those who were killed and those who were drownned they lost above 400 Men. Besides while the greater part of the Fleet was thus busied in the Plunder some of our Mariners came upon the rest and contended with them so well that they wan of them 13 Vessels laden with Wine and other Provision and carried them away Thô now at last the French also having set fire to the Town of Winchelsea which yet was presently quenched carried away great Spoils and many Prisoners among whom h Knighton p. 2623. n. 1. were Nine very Beautifull Women whom they so filthily abused that 't is shamefull to relate or think it II. All England i Knighton ib. n. 10. Walsin hist p. 166. was so alarum'd at this Action of the French especially because it was reported how they had a wonderfull strong Navy at Sea ready to do the like at other Places besides the perpetual infesting our Merchants that a Decree came forth from Prince Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Son and Lieutenant in England by Advice of his Council that all Laymen whatsoever between the Age of sixteen and sixty should be arrayed for the Wars and of these the lustiest and the best Armed and the tall Archers should be sent to the Cinque Ports to the Kings Admirals for defence of the Kingdom The Archbishops also and Bishops thrô their respective Dioceses granted great Indulgences to all those who went to Sea against their Enemies particularly that every of them might choose his Confessor at his pleasure The Bishops also themselves the Abbots and Priors Rectors Vicars Chaplains and all Men of the Church were ready on the Land to defend the Country against the Common Enemy some as Men of Arms and others as Archers by injunction of the Church And all Persons Beneficed who could not serve in their own Persons were bound to maintain one in their stead able for the War all to be ready whenever the French should land and Necessity require them to march against the Enemy At which time the City k Walsing hist p. 167. n. 20. M. S. vet Angl. in Biblieth C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. of London rigged forth a Navy of 80 Sail consisting of 14000 Men of Arms and Archers to revenge upon the Coasts of France the Mischief done at Winchelsea Thô l Knighton p. 2623. n. 30. Others say how this Fleet was commanded by the Kings Admiral and consisted of an 160 Sail which passing from London up the Thames scoured the Sea to Boulogne and after that to Harfleur in Normandy where they made great Spoil even over all the Region called le Pais de Caulx which is a Part of Normandy lying between the Rivers Seyne and Bresle and terminated by the Brittish Ocean on the one side and by the Bishoprick of Rouën on the other III. Now had King Edward lain before Rheims above m Frois f. 103. c. 209. §. 3.
Countries Isles and Places above-named that they obey the King of England and his Heirs at their certain Commandment in such sort as they have obeyed the Kings and the Crown of France q This Clause added out of King Johns Recapitulation of the Articles And by the same their Letters shall acquit and discharge them in the best manner that may be of all Homages Fealties Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises in any sort by any of them made to the King and Crown of France 8. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named with all their Appurtenances and Appendages wheresoever they shall be to hold to him and to his Heirs and Successors Hereditably and for ever in Demain that which the Kings of France have had there in Demain and also in Fiefs Services Soveraignties or Resorts that which the Kings of France have had there in such manner Saving notwithstanding what was said above in the Article of Calais and Merk And if of the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or any of the Soveraignties Rights Mere and Mixt Empire Jurisdictions and Profits whatsoever which any King of England did there hold or their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever any Alienations Donations Obligations or Charges have been made by any of the Kings of France which have been for the Time within Seventy Years past by whatsoever Form or Cause it be that all such Donations Obligations or Charges are now at this time and shall be henceforth made void repeal'd abolished and annihilated and all things so given alienated or charged shall really and de facto be restored and delivered to the said King of England or to his Special Deputies in the same entire Condition they were to the Kings of England before or since the said 70 Years without Fraud or Deceit so soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing within one Year To be held by the said King of England and all his Heirs and Successors for ever by Right of Inheritance in manner above-written Except what is said before in the Article of Ponthieu which shall remain in Force and saving and excepting all those things given and alienated to Churches which shall remain peaceably in all the Countries here above and under named Provided that the Rectors of the said Churches shall diligently pray for the said Kings as for their Founders wherewith their Consciences are charged 9. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have and hold all the Cities Towns Castles and Countries above-named which anciently the Kings of England did not hold in the same state and manner as the King of France or his Children hold them at present 10. Item It is agreed that if within the Bounds of the said Countries which did anciently pertain to the Kings of England there shall be any Places which otherwise belonged not to the Kings of England but were possessed by the King of France at the day of the Battle of Poictiers which was the 19 Day of September in the Year One Thousand three Hundred Fifty and Six they shall be and remain to the King of England and his Heirs in manner as before 11. Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for themselves and for their Heirs and all the Kings of France and their Successors for ever shall without deceit as soon as may be and at the furthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing in one Year render and deliver unto the King of England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts Safeguards Dominions and Soveraignties which did pertain or do pertain or might any ways pertain to the Kings and Crown of France or to any other Person because of the King or Crown of France at any time in those Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or in any of them and in their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever or in any of the Persons Vassals or Subjects whatsoever whether Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church Barons Nobles and others whatsoever without retaining in them or reserving any thing to Themselves their Heirs or Successors to the Crown of France or to any other Person whatsoever Whereby they their Heirs or Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places above-named So as all the above-named Persons and their Heirs and Successors for ever shall be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall Have and Hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and Appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Soveraignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their Appurtenances and Appendages and other Places specified before with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without recognising any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort and Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognisance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them 12. Item it is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expressly the said Resorts and Sovereignties and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall renounce expresly all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd to or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Kingdom of France and the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dukedom of Normandy of the Dukedom of Tourain and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dukedom of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or could make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this Present Treaty ought to remain or to be
Places abovenamed which by this present Treaty ought to be deliver'd unto the King of England 29. Item It is agreed that the Towns Forts and whole County of Ponthieu the Towns Forts and whole County of Montrevil the City and Castle of Saincte the Castles Towns and Forts and all that which the King holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Sainctogne on this side and beyond the Charente the Castle and City of Angoulesme and the Castles Forts and Towns which the King of France holdeth in Demaine in the Country of Angoulesmois with Letters and Mandates of releasing of Fees being deliver'd to the King of England or to other especially deputed for him then the King of England at his own proper Costs and Charges shall deliver all the Forts taken and possessed by himself his Subjects Adherents and Allies in the Countries of x Lisle de la France France Anjou Touraine Maine Berry Auvergne Burgundy Champaigne Picardy and Normandy and in all other Parts Lands and Places of the Realm of France except those of the Dutchy of Bretagne and the Countries and Lands which by this present Treaty ought to belong and remain to the King of England 30. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall cause to be deliver'd to the King of England his Heirs or Deputies all the Towns Castles Forts and other Lands Countries and Places abovenamed with their Appurtenances at the proper Costs and Charges of the said King of France And also that if he shall have any Rebels and such as will not obey to render yield up or restore to the King of England any Cities Towns Castles Countries Places or Forts which by this Present Treaty ought to appertain unto Him then the King of France shall be obliged to cause them to be deliver'd to the King of England at his own Charges And in like manner the King of England shall cause those Forts which by this present Treaty ought to appertain to the King of France to be deliver'd at his own Charges the said Kings and their Subjects with them shall be obliged mutually to aid one another in this respect if they shall be thereto required at the Wages of the Party so Requiring Which shall be a Floren of Florence per diem for a Knight half a Floren for an Esquire and for others proportionably And of the surplus of double Wages it is agreed that if the pay aforesaid shall be too little respect being had to the Price of Victuals in the Country it shall be done at the Appointment of Four Knights elected thereto that is to say of two on the One Party and two on the Other 31. Item It is agreed that all the Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of Holy Church shall in regard of their Temporalities be subject to that King of the two under whom they hold their Temporalities And if they have Temporalities under both the Kings they shall be subject to each of the two Kings for the Temporalities which they hold of either of them 32. Item It is agreed that good Alliance Friendship and Confederation shall be made between the two Kings of France and of England and their Realms in maintaining the Honour and Conscience of the One King and of the Other notwithstanding any Confederations which they have on this side or beyond the Sea with any Persons whether of Scotland or Flanders or of any other Country whatsoever 33. Item It is agreed that the King of France and the Regent his Eldest Son for themselves and for their Heirs Kings of France shall as much as may be done forsake and altogether depart from the Alliances which they have with the Scots and shall promise as much as may be that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of France for the time being shall give or lend to the King of Scotland or to the Subjects thereof present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the said King of England or against his Heirs and Successors or against his Realm or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Scots against the said King of England and Realm of England in time to come And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son so much as it can or may be done shall forsake and depart from all those Alliances which they have with the Flemmings and shall promise that neither they nor their Heirs nor the Kings of England for the time being shall give or lend to the Flemmings present or to come any aid favour or comfort against the King of France his Heirs or Successors or against his Kingdom or Subjects in any sort And that they shall not make any Alliances with the said Flemmings against the said King and Realm of France in time to come 34. Item It is agreed that the Collations and Provisions made by the One Party and by the other of Benefices falling void during the War shall hold good and remain in Force And that the Fruits Issues and Revenues received and levied of any Benefices and other Temporalities whatsoever in the said Realms of France and England by the One Party or by the Other during the said Wars shall be quitted on both sides 35. Item that the Kings aforesaid shall be obliged to cause to be confirmed all the Matters aforesaid by our Holy Father the Pope and they shall be Ratified by Oaths Sentences and Censures of the Court of Rome and by all other Tyes in the most binding manner that may be And there shall be obtained from the Court of Rome Dispensations Absolutions and Letters touching the Accomplishment and Perfection of this Present Treaty and they shall be deliver'd to the Parties at the farthest within three Weeks after the King shall be Arrived at Calais 36. Item That all the Subjects of the said Kings which will study at the studies and Universities of the Realms of France and of England shall enjoy the Privileges and Liberties of the said studies and Universities in like manner as they might have done before the Present Wars and as they do at present 37. Item To the end that the Matters aforesaid treated and discoursed may be more stable firm and valid there shall be done and given these Confirmations following that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of the said Kings and of their Eldest Sons the best that can be made by the Councils of the said Kings And the said Kings and their Eldest Sons and their other Children and others of the Lineage of the said Kings and other Noblemen of their Realms to the number of Twenty on either Party shall swear that they will observe and endeavour to maintain as much as concerneth each of them without fraud or deceit the said Matters treated and agreed on and accomplish them without ever going to the Contrary and without empeaching the performance thereof And if there be any Persons 〈◊〉 the said Realms of France and of England
put all the Infidels to the Sword. This Peters Ancestor Guy of Lusignan King of Jerusalem k Speed p. 477. §. 40. in Ricardo Primo purchased the Island and Kingdom of Cyprus of our Richard the First King of England sirnamed Coeur du Lyon by Exchange for his Kingdom of Jerusalem ever since which it remain'd in the hands of the said Guy and his Descendants II. King Peter came to Avignon l Frois c. 217. about Candlemas in the beginning of this Year of whose Coming the whole Court was glad and most of the Cardinals together with the French King went forth to meet him and conducted him with much Honour to the Popes Palace where they were highly caressed and after a splendid entertainment the two Kings returned to their Lodgings prepared for them in Villeneufe Thus they tarried during all the season of Lent and made frequent Visits to the Pope and discoursed him of many serious Matters concerning which they came thither While the Kings were at Avignon there happen'd a Controversie in Arms which by the Court Martial was adjudged to be tried by Combat between two Noble and Experienced Knights namely Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and Sr. Fulk de Orillac the King of France being to sit as Judge of the Field Both the Knights behaved themselves with that Activity Skill and Resolution that is was no easie matter to say who was the Better So that when after a long and gallant Fight neither had any apparent Advantage of the other and both their Spears and Swords being broken they were proceeding to Pole-Axes King John presently flang down his Wardour and caused the Combat to cease after which He reconciled them together Now the King of Cyprus spake more than once to the Pope his Cardinals and the French King That it would be both an exceeding Honour and Advantage for all Christendom if some Powerfull Christian King would undertake to lead the Way over the Sea and rear his Banners against the Enemies of the Christian Faith who for want of such Opposition overran all Asia and hung now like a dreadfull Storm over Europe These Words the French King consider'd well and resolved with Himself if he might live Three Years longer to be One among the Foremost in this Holy Expedition not only out of a pious Consideration backed with the Words of the Pope and the King of Cyprus but also for two other Respects the one because his Father King Philip had made a Vow so to do to the m Odâ—r Rainal ad hunc an §. 14 Breach whereof he constantly attributed all the Miseries which had befell France since that time and the other that by so doing he should not only drain his own Country of those Evil Companions who harassed his People without any just Title or Pretence but also thereby prove an Instrument of saving their Souls by making them draw their Swords in the more righteous Cause of Christ These were his Reasons and this his Resolution which he kept secret to himself till Good-Fryday at which time Pope Vrban himself preached in his Chappel at Avignon in the Presence of both the Kings of Cyprus and of Frâ—nce and also of Waldemar King of Denmark who was newly come thither for the same purpose Sermon ended the French King in great Devotion stept forth and professed himself a Champion of Christ and took upon him the Croisade which he solemnly sware personally to set about and to begin the Voyage within two Years from that Time it n Pascha 2 Apr. Lit. Dom. A. being then the last of March. He also requested the Pope to yield his Consent and Furtherance thereto and by his Bulls to authorise this his pious Undertaking The Pope not only most readily agreed to this Request but also granted him his Pontifical Diploma Dat. Aven Pridie Kal. April Anno Pontif. I. Wherein he constitutes him Governour and Captain General of all the Christian Armies and produces these three Causes of that Expedition First the Indignity of the Matter that Christians should suffer those places which our Saviour had honoured with his Footsteps and the Mysteries of our Redemption to be defiled and trodden down of the Mahometans also the seasonable Occasion of Recovering Syria now that the strength of the Saracens was exhausted with a Pestilence and lastly the great Necessity of repressing the growing Tyranny of the Turks when 't was to be feared that all Christendom would be a prey unto them unless their Fury should meet with a timely Check Talayrand the Cardinal of Perigort was the Popes Legate in this Holy Expedition and then Methods were taken how to support the Design with Tithes and other pecuniary Collections the Prelates were commanded to publish this Croisade from their Pulpits and to distinguish those who took it upon them with the Sign of the Cross And then Excommunication and an Anathema was set forth against them who should offer to disswade the French King from his pious Design of recovering Syria On which account circular Letters were sent and solemn Prayers were appointed to engage the Divine Assistance The Pope also sent his Letters to the Emperour Charles to King Edward of England to Lewis of Hungary and to other Kings and Princes that they would now employ all their power and Conduct toward the reducing of Asia unto Christ and because King John could not conveniently set forth till about two Years after by reason that his Realm was so unsettled and he could not in less time finish his Musters and other vast Preparations thereupon wherefore he tied himself to a certain Day which was to be the Kalends of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand three Hundred Sixty and five The King of Cyprus resolved in the mean time to go about and visit all the great Courts in Europe and as he should succeed to go over before the King of France to whom the Pope o â—dâ—r Rain ad hâ—nc ann §. 19. promised considerable Assistance And thus a mighty Resolution was taken up and the Cross of Jerusalem was worn by John King of France Waldemar King of Denmark and Peter King of Cyprus p Freis c. 217. also by Talayrand commonly called the Cardinal of Perigort thô he was Earl of Perigort and Bishop Cardinal of Alba the same was done by the Earl of Artois and the Earl of Eu the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and the Grand Prior of France and many other Lords and Knights then and there present The King of Cyprus was extreamly overjoy'd at the great Zeal he found in all these Christian Worthies and thought his Journey well bestow'd in so great a purchase towards the Advancement of Religion But yet not content with this he design'd to proceed and visit Charles the Emperour and all the Princes and Chief Lords of the Empire he intended likewise to see the King of England the Prince of Wales
Opportunity of King Johns Sickness he sent his Letters to the Lord John Greilly Captal of Buche his Cousin who was at that time with the Earl of Foix desiring him to come unto him in Normandy for that he design'd to make him Generalissimo of all his Forces Whereupon the Captal presently set forward toward Normandy and gather'd up as he went along several Knights and Esquires English Gascogners and others who were willing to partake with so Renowned a Captain in his Adventures But they were not over many This mean while on the VI q Labbei Chron. Techn ad hanc annam of the Ides alià s on the 8 Day of April King John of France departed this Life at the Savoy in London whereat King Edward and the Queen and their Children were exceeding sorry because of the great Love and Friendship that was between them ever since the Peace of Bretigny One says r Knighton p. 2627. n. 60. that upon his Death-bed having one time sent for King Edward he began very earnestly to beg his Pardon confessing unto him That from his first Coming into England he had Confederates in London and other Places who secretly collected the Finest Gold of the Kingdom and made it into Plates and put it up in Barrels hooped with Iron to send into France and how they had bought up to the Number of 1000 Bows and Arrows and a great Quantity of other Arms to the same Purpose All which he now confessed to the King and in whose Hands the said Things now were and also that he had illegally and unjustly withheld from him the Crown of France untill the Peace made at Bretigny For all which he now most heartily beg'd his Pardon And King Edward forgave him with much Tenderness but caused all the Gold and Arms asoresaid to be seised on and severely punished those English Men whom he found offending in the Premises among whom were Å¿ Walsingh Hyp. p. 128. n. 40. many Lombard Merchants who being discovered by some of their Fellows were clapt up in the Tower till they had compounded as the King pleased VI. Immediately upon King Johns Death t Frois 〈◊〉 219. f. 115 a. the Duke of Orleans his Brother and the Duke of Berry his Son who were still in England among the Hostages and wonderfully dejected at his Departure wrote Word thereof to the Duke of Normandy whereat he was extreamly troubled But knowing that there was now no Remedy and that Himself was the next Heir to the Crown of France and that the King of Navarre was preparing to give him a Baffle at his first setting forth he thought it high time to rouse and put on the Spirit of a King and endeavour to establish his Affairs on all hands At that time there flourished a gallant Captain in Bretagne a Valiant and Hardy Knight named Sr. Bertram de Clequin of whose Name and Original it wâ—ll not be amiss for us to enquire a little thô only for the great Renown he afterwards arrived to and the many Noble Deeds of Arms which he performed as we shall see in the Process of this History About the Year of our Lord 800 u Frois l. ult c. 90. f. 103. Charlemain being then King of France there reigned in Bougie in Barbary a King called Aquin in whose time the said Charlemain was taken up in his Spanish Wars which lasted him in all for about Nine Years For the Kingdom of Spain is a large and great Country whose Beginning was reckon'd heretofore at St. Jean Pied de Port and so it went along including the Realms of Biscay Navarre Aragon and Portugal of Conimbria and Lisbon of Sevile Toledo Corduba Castille and Leon up as far as the Streights of Gibralter where is the shortest Passage into Barbary In this Country was that Great French Monarch when the foresaid Aquin an African King whose Dominions lay directly over Spain undertook to divert him from pursuing his Victories among the Saracens and went into Bretagne and landed at the Port of Vannes with a Mighty Army his Wife and Children being also in his Company On the Sea side hard by Vannes he built a great and strong Tower called by him Glay which in the Phoenician Tongue signifies a Castle and there he made his chief Residence but daily he sent forth his Captains and conquer'd about in Bretagne at his pleasure Charlemain heard in Spain how King Aquin proceeded without Opposition however he would not return back to make Head against him but said Let him alone in Bretagne for a while we shall easily rid the Country of him when once we have throughly established the Christian Faith in these Parts Accordingly when he had finished his Affairs there he returned into Bretagne and there one Day gave Battle to King Aquin and overthrew him with a mighty Slaughter so that he fled to his Castle of Glay where he found a good Ship ready for him at the Foot of the Tower into which he enter'd with his Wife and Children and a few of his Servants and escaped away But in such a Hurry that he forgot a young Son of his scarce a Year old who then lay asleep in the Tower. This Child was found and brought to Charlemain who received him gladly and caused him to be baptized Rowland and Oliver two Heroick Princes of those Days being his Godfathers who named him Oliver and the King gave unto him all the Lands that his Father Aquin had conquer'd in those Parts The same in process of Time became a most Valiant Knight and was called Sr. Oliver de Glay Aquin because he was found in the Tower of Glay and was Son to King Aquin. This Original whether true or false was afterwards assigned to Sr. Bertram de Clequin when he came to the height of his Honour but at this time he was not greatly taken Notice of except among the Knights of Bretagne that were of his Retinue with all whom he was highly esteemed and well beloved still making War in the Behalf of the Lord Charles of Blois by whom he was recommended to the Duke of Normandy and he had a little before employed him in those Parts VII Now when the x Frois c. 219. f. 115. Duke of Normandy heard of his Fathers Death and of the Preparations of the King of Navarre against France he said to his Marshal the Lord Bouciquault I would have you forthwith ride with your Troops into Normandy where you shall find a Valiant Knight a True and Loyal Frenchman called Sr. Bertram of Clequin and look that you and he together make up a sufficient Power of Good Souldiers to resist the King of Navarre and to guard the Passages of the River Seyne And therewithall he gave him some secret Orders how to proceed Sr. Bouciquault promised to do his Devoir and soon after went with a competent Number of Knights and Esquires and took his way toward Normandy by St. Germain having declared to his Men tho
them to be reasonable for the ease of his People That 3 s. 4 d. laid upon every Sack of Wooll at Calais and all other unreasonable Impositions may cease The King willeth that all unreasonable Impositions should cease It is agreed that One Staple be at l Melcomb Regis in 〈◊〉 Melcomb and another at Ipsewich and that all Merchants and others for their Ease may ship Woolls at Lewes where the Customers of Chichester shall take the Customs and the Customers of Yarmouth shall take in like manner at Lynn As for the Statutes made in this Parliament I shall refer those who desire to Inspect them to the Statute-Books in Print especially because those of this Year do more exactly agree with the Record Only for my self I must put in this Caution that whereas in the Record and Statute-Books this Parliament is rightly fixed to the 38 of Edward the Third considering that he began not to Reign till the 25 of January before which time the Parliament sat yet I have placed it here as well because I begin the Year constantly with January as because it was indeed the Thirty Ninth of this Kings Inchoate before the Parliament was adjourn'd For on the m Ita M.S. Feâ—â—rd Paâ—l â—â—d Sr. Rob. Câ—ttâ—â—'s Abrid pâ—â—ent Seventeenth legit Seventh of February after the King in Presence of the Lords and Commons had given his Royal Assent to all the Premises He gave his Thanks to the Three Estates and so gave them leave to depart VII Now is King Edward said to have finished all his Wars for he had full Peace with France and Scotland and all the Quarrels about the Dukedom of Bretagne were ended and Aquitaine gladly embraced the Government of his Son Prince Edward and his other Son the Duke of Clarence had brought Ireland to a very good Settlement Wherefore thô in the Midst of his Wars he always would find leisure to exercise Actions of Devotion Piety and Charity yet now he more seriously apply'd himself and in a manner wholly Dedicated his time to such Matters as in his Buildings at Windsor Castle Queenborough Castle and Town St. Stephen's Chappel at Westminster Aberconney in Wales Henley and East-Hamstead and his Royal Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge which being afterwards augmented with the Addition of Two or Three other adjoyning Foundations was by King Henry VIII named Trinity-College and lastly by the Beautifull Accession of a Magnificent Building called the Library is rendred now the most August and Famous Structure that ever the Christian World hath seen Dedicated to the Studies of good Letters Which College is no less adorned with those Illustrious Lights of Learning that have continually shined there Nor have their Beams been confined to any Limits but have spread themselves like the Rays of the Sun over Earth and Heaven and enlightned the Church and State and the whole Universe 'T is now happily Govern'd by the Reverend Doctor John Montagu Brother to the Earl of Sandwich a Person no less conspicuous for his Eminent Parts and Vertues than for his Birth and Quality VIII This Flourishing Condition of our King Edward put the Pope it seems in mind of some Old Debts which he pretended to be due from England to the Apostolick See for the Kingdom of England and Lordship of Ireland which King John promised to hold of the Church as a Fee Farm for ever His n Extant apud Odor Rainald ad hunc an §. 13 Letters bear Date at Avignon Idibus Junii Ano. Pontif. III in which Letters it appears that the Sum demanded was but 1000 Marks sterling per annum and that the last payment was made by this King on the Seventh of July Ano. Dom. 1333 but had ever since by reason of the Wars been discontinued So that at this time there was due no less than 32000 Marks to the Apostolick Chamber Thô in good truth saving the Authority of these Letters I could never find o Vid. John Speed in the Reign of King John p. 500. §. 48. 49. that ever this Annual Pension was paid to Rome since the Days of King John. But in the next Year we shall see how King Edward now resented this Matter For the Pope had besides his foresaid Letters empower'd his Nuntio John Abbot of the Monastery St i Bavonis Gaudensis of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Tournay by process to cite the King unto his Court to answer for his Default on Condition he should refuse to pay the Arrears But the effect of this daring Summons we shall see in the Parliament of the next Year IX At this time King Edward p Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. Ashmole p. 669. Sandford p. 178 Dugd. p. 761. Mills Catal. Hon. p. 440. Knighton p. 2628. n. 40. c. gave his Daughter the Lady Isabella in Marriage to the Young Lord Ingelram de Guisnes the Rites being performed with Great Pomp and Splendor at the Famous Castle of Windsor The said Lord was by Birth a Baron both of England and of France and his Titles were Lord and Baron of Coucy of Oisey and Mount-Mirabel of Doüilly of Beauraine and of Barques Earl of Soissons and of Nide and some Years after Arch-Duke of Austria Besides which the King at this time created him Earl of Albemarle to have and to hold the said Earldom for him and the Heirs Male of his and her Body for ever He also confirmed unto him the Mannor of Moreholme the Moieties of the Mannors of Wyersdale and Ashton with the Third Part of the Lordship of Whittington in the County of Lancaster to him and to the said Isabell and to the Heirs of their Bodies lawfully begotten I say he confirmed them unto him For the q Robert Glover Somerset Herald set forth by Tho. Mills Author of the Catalogue of Honour mistakes in saying they were now given him in the name of a Dowry since we find the said Places or the greatest part of them did belong unto his Grandfather r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. William de Guisnes Lord Coucy What further Honours he obtain'd we shall see next Year wherefore at this time we shall only add this that the King gave him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. ex Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. leave to go over with his Lady into France declaring that whatever Children Male or Female they might have between them thô born beyond Sea they should enjoy and inherit all Lands descendible to them in this Realm as Freely as if they were born in England He bare for his Arms t Mill's Catal. Hon. p. 440. ubi haec Arma Periscelidi inveluta cernurtur the First and Fourth Barry of Viverry and Gules the Second and Third Gules A Fess Argent and in process of time he was elected into the Most Honourable Order of the Garter of which Grace he was well Worthy X. In these days King Edward caused the Lord
ejus pedibas iter conficiunt Pedage * * Latinè Leuda quâ—d lego Feuda Vid. Glessaria Somneri Skinneri c. Fee Custom Maletolt or any other Impositions or Exactions imposed or hereafter to be imposed in our Kingdoms so that the said Men of the said Kingdom Country and Dominion of England and of the Principality of Wales in going staying or returning thrô our Kingdoms by Sea or by Land shall not be obliged to pay any Custom Pedage Fee Maletolt or any other Imposition or Exaction unless the said Men should buy any thing for the sake of Merchandise or for Merchandising In which case whether they be bought for the sake of Merchandise or no by our Officers and Receivers of the said Pedages We will stand to the Oath of the said Men of which things so bought for the cause of Merchandise they shall not be compelled to pay nor shall any thing be exacted of them above what other Merchants use to pay And We swear on the Holy Gospels of God corporally by Us touched with our Hand and promise in the Word of a King to hold fulfill and inviolably to observe the foresaid Concessions Donations and Privileges and all and singular the things contained in these present Letters In testimony whereof and of singular the Premises and for their greater Confirmation We have in Presence of these undernamed subscribed with our own Hand and caused our Seal to be affixed thereto in pendant Willing and Granting and also requiring You Master John de London by Apostolick Authority Publick Notary that to the perpetual Memory of all and singular the Premises You with the Present Witnesses would subscribe and sign the present Letters with your usual Seal Dated at Libourne of the Dioecese of Bourdeaux on the Twenty third of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Three Hundred Sixty Six in Presence of our most Dear Cousin the Lord John Duke of Lancaster Son of the King of England and Brother of the said Prince and the Reverend Fathers in Christ the Lord Elias Archbishop of Bourdeaux the Lord Bernard Bishop of Sainctogne John Elect Bishop of Bath and Welles Chancellour of Aquitain John Chandos Constable and Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitaine Neal Loring Chamberlain of the said Prince Baldwin Freville Seneschal of Sainctogne and other Witnesses to the Premises f f i.e. I the King. YO EL REY And I John de London Clerk of the Dioecese of Winchester by Apostolick Authority Publick Notary on the Eleventh day of the Month of February in the Year of our Lord g g i.e. 1366 / 7. aforesaid in the Fifth Indiction and in the Fifth Year of our most Holy Father in Christ and our Lord the Lord Vrban the Fifth by Divine Providence the Pope within the Castle of the City of Bayonne in the Chappel of the said Castle was present together with the Witnesses undernamed when the said Lord King Pedro renewed and confirmed and by his Oath Established all and singular the Premises touching with his own Hands the Holy Gospels of God and when the said King subscribed himself with his own Hand and Required and enjoyn'd me to subscribe my self to the Present Letters and to set to my usual Seal The Witnesses who were present at these things together with me are the Lord Fryar h h Frater Martinus Lupi c. Martinez de Leyva master of the House of the Knighthood of Alcantara of the Order of Cisteaux Roger Lord de la Warre Gomez i i Magister dicti Domini Regis c. Tutor of the said Lord the King Paulo Gabriel Citizen of Sevil John Guttern Dean of the Church of Segovia and Master Robert Fregand Notary Chancellour of the Lord the foresaid Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales ✚ S PETRI DEI GRATIAE REGIS CASTELLE ET LEGIONIS ✚ S PETRI DEI GRATIAE REGIS CASTELLE ET LEGIONIS And at this time it was also agreed k Selden ibid. p. 270. that the Prince of Wales should have the Castle of Vermejo Lequitio Bilbao and Biscay as also the Castle of Vrdiales to hold to himself and his Heirs and Successors for ever and to dispose of them as he should please being wholly discharged of all Sovereignty and Resort and as free as the King had held it heretofore And accordingly We find the Prince to use besides his former Titles that of Lord of Biscaye and of the Castle of Ordiales as in an Instrument In Camer â Ducatûs Lancastriae Vid. Sandford Geneal hist p. 185. bearing date the 8 day of October in the Year 1370. Ano. 44. Ed. 3. Whereby he grants unto his Brother John Duke of Lancaster the Castle Town and Chastellanie of la Roche Sur Yon he styles himself Edward Eldest Son of the King of France and of England Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earl of Chestre Lord of Biscaye and of the Castle of Ordiales And all these things were confirmed by King Don Pedro under the Great Seal of Castille both the Originals and Duplicates thereof remaining m In Thesaur Regis apud Westmonast in Bibl. Cotton ut ante with Us in England to this day which shew also that to the King's Seal his Oath was afterwards added being solemnly taken before the High-Altar in the Church of n Selden Burgos sed haec Vrbs in Hispaniâ tum fieri intelligatur pest Victoriam à Principe partam Potiùs verò Bourdeaux legendum duxi Bourdeaux XII When all these things were fully Ratified Established and Confirmed and all the great Men knew what they were to do the Prince of Aquitain sent his Heralds into Spain to certain Knights of England and Gascogne Subjects to him and his Father signifying unto them privately how it was his Pleasure that they should presently upon sight of his Letters take their leaves of King Henry the Bastard and come away with all speed to him for he said he had need of their Service and should speedily have an occasion to employ them When the Heralds had deliver'd their Letters to the Chief Captains in Castille and had secretly confer'd with them so that they perfectly understood the Prince's Design they embraced the first Opportunity of taking their leaves of King Henry in the most obliging manner they could devise without making the least Discovery of the Prince's Intention So that King Henry who indeed was of a Liberal Courteous and Honourable Disposition after many thanks for their good Service and many ample Gifts and Largesses dismiss'd them and gave them his Letters for their free Passage thrô his Country Whereupon Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. John Devereux Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. John Neville and all the other Lords Knights and Esquires of the Prince's Court with their Troops and Retinues having the Bastards Passport began their March out of Spain with all Expedition for fear of a Countermand if the Matter
conceived during the servitude of his Father q Inst de pa. po §. fi d. c. patrem he shall not be in the Power of his Grandfather because the Grandfather receiveth Power over the Nephew by the Father Here then he was free when he begat him of whom the question is made but afterwards he became r Vid. the Words of Joh. in his Collect. because the Book which I have seen is very false a slave And this maketh against the King of England For admitting that he might have Right in the Kingdom of France yet it is by no other way but by his Mother as the same King acknowledgeth But the Mother is disabled to succeed in the Kingdom Ergo. c. Also the Mother when living claimed nothing as in Right she could not therefore 't is impossible that King Edward should have any Right For it is hard and repugnant to reason that a Man should come to the extreams but by the Meane as it is expressed Å¿ Incip Vaam Sanctam in the Extravagant of Pope Boniface And hereof I have spoken in * C. Cum Marthâ— de Celebr Mis another place For if ye exclude him from whom I have or may have Title you t C. quamvis de sen re judicat do thereby also exclude me And if the Grandchild should succeed by the Person of his Mother she being excluded he cannot come in as in the Case propounded u Guliel Durandi in speculo Juris tit de Success ab Intest Versic Quid si Speculator hath also noted Thus far against England Here follow Arguments for King Edward's Right to the Crown of France To the Contrary for King Edward these Proofs do stand And First We may be induced to be of Opinion that the Statute beforemention'd should not be of force For that the Daughter should succeed in the Inheritance of her Parents it is a Precept of the Law of God as it is expressed Numbers XXVII V. 6 7 8. upon Petition of the Daughters of Zelophehad whereto served that of Tobit VI. V. 11. 12. It is also a Precept of the Law of Nature which x Auth. de Her. falc §. semper ibid. Glo. noâ— in ver filiis ff de Bon. Damnatorum l. cum ratio ibi similiter bena Gloss in verb. Parentes is also confirmed by the Canon Law and by the last Civil Law whereby all difference of Sex and of Kindred whether by Father or Mother is taken y D. Auth. post Liberos away Therefore seeing it is against the Law of God the Law of Nature the Law Canon and Civil to exclude a Woman from Succession to a Kingdom which is carried in Course of Succession by Right of Blood as the z In C. Grandi de sup negl prael lib. VI. Law expresseth and as Baldus after Inno a In Repertorio suo super Inno. in verb. Rex questione 2. firmly holdeth it followeth that this Statute is not of any strength in b Arg. Inst de Jur. Nat. Gent. Civili §. sed Naturalia ff de sepulchro viclato l. 3. §. Divus funct nâ—tat Bartholi in lâ—omnes populi in 3. quaest Principali suae Repetitionis ubi videte notat Cy. C. de precibus imp offerend l. rescriptum q. 3. unà cum notat Joh. Fabri in d. §. sed Naturaliq Law. But admitting that this Statute should be of strength yet shall it not hurt King Edward that his Mother althô disabled thereby should the less transmit the Right of Royalty unto him This is plain For where there is Ability in regard of the Common Law althô there be a Disability by a special Law yet this Impediment of Disability shall not be any hindrance that a Right should not be conveyed by such a disabled Person to another as appeareth by the Law where c ff de Legatis praestand l. 3. §. sed si proponas a Stranger being of Ability by the Common Law althô disabled by special Law to receive a Benefit by Title there expressed yet he transmitteth that Benefit to another Therefore seeing Isabell is of Ability by Common Law as it is manifest by the Premises althô I should confess that she is disabled by special Law of the said Statute yet this Right of the Kingdom may be carried from her unto King Edward Again by a Disabled Meane so it be not altogether of no Ability a Right may d ff Quod cujusque Vnivers nomine l. item eâ—rum §. si Decurienes be transmitted to another which the Interpreters of the Law do note in handling the Question of a Procurator not enabled having a Warrant to make a e Joh. And. in de Religiosis in fi de Procur ubi etiam Gessal in in verb. substituere Paulus in verb. Commissum Card. ext de usur c. 2. junct in c. fi de Procur Substitution But here the Meane which is Isabell is not altogether of no Ability as appeareth by that which hath been said Therefore c. And that Isabell being the Meane is not altogether disabled by the Statute whereof we spake it is plain For the Right of a Kingdom is carried by way of Inheritance in respect of the Royal Blood as it appeareth by that which hath been alledged and said in the First Reason of this part But the Right of Blood cannot by any Covenant of Man by any Civil Law be altogether broken or determin'd against Therefore the Right of Royal Blood which is in Isabell remaineth still enabled at least in Habit and Power to this Kind f Ar. l. Jus Agnationis ff de pactis l. Jura sengainis ff de Reg. Jur. l. Abdicatic C. de patrià petestate of Succession It seemeth also that this Royal Blood in Isabell is considerable two ways One as Royal Blood another as Royal Blood qualified Therefore althô such Blood may be said to be disabled from Succession to the Kingdom in regard it is in a Woman yet can it not be so said in regard that it is simply g Arg. l. Celsus ff de Arbitris Royal In which regard it shall be esteem'd of Ability to transmit and carry a Right to another But althô I should confess which yet I do not that by such Statute the Mother is altogether disabled from Succession yet it seemeth We may hold that King Edward is to be admitted to the same Right And that by a notable Law h ff ad Tertull. l. 2. §. fi where it is said that althô the Mother be incapable of the Succession there mentioned yet others who are descended of her must be admitted as if the Mother were not For that must not hurt or prejudice which cannot help or benefit a Man Ergò c. Yea althô We should grant that the Mother is so disabled that she can transmit no Right unto King Edward yet may he make claim from his
they are not yet it seemeth that King Edward is to be preferred For Right of Inheritance in proper Nature is principally due unto Descendants whereupon the Law z L. Nam eâ—si parentibus ff de inoff testam saith that in Succession to those who die intestate the First Place is given to Children because they are a Inst de Her. qui ab intest in princip Descendants But it is certain that in respect of King Charles of whose Succession we now do treat King Edward is in the Third Degree of the Collateral descending Line But Philip is in the Fourth Degree in the equal Collateral Line Therefore seeing that King Edward not only hath Prerogative of Degree but also is favoured by reason of Descent it followeth that He is to be preferred before Philip c. Nonnulla desiderantur VII The Reasons which the French alledge for excluding Edward the Third King of England and his Posterity both from the Kingdom and the rest of his Inheritance in France for Brevity sake I shall reduce to these few Heads That either a Woman had Right to succeed or not if a Woman had then the Three Daughters of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair should have had the Right before the Mother of King Edward who was but Sister to those three Brethren Kings because the Daughters ought to be preferred before the Sister in the Succession of their Fathers as every Man doth know But here lies the Fallacy that whereas 't is acknowledged on King Edward's Part that the Daughters Persons are excluded and the Sisters also but not their Male Issue those Daughters at the time of the Vacancy of the Kingdom by the Death of King Charles the Fair had neither of them any Issue Male but King Edward the Son of the Sister was then a Male and actually King of England Then is urged the Force of the Salique Law which is said to have been approved and confirmed by Charles the Great by which means say they King Edward could not be admitted to the Crown of France since he could lay no Claim but by his Mother who could not give that to Him which she her Self never had nor in Right could or ought to have And to this purpose or effect the Use and Custom hath been at all times notoriously observed within the Realm of France that when a Woman is expelled from any Succession or from Succeeding in a Fee the Sons which are descended of her are always precluded and excluded from the same Neither shall it ever be found that a Woman hath succeeded to the Crown of France or b The Falsity of this appears l. 1. c. 22. §. 1. p. 289. given Right of Succession to a Man or to a Woman And so it appeareth evidently that the Law whereby a Woman is utterly debarred from the Succession to the Realm of France was not made in the Time of King Edward nor of his Mother nor in Prejudice of them For in Case a Woman might or should succeed to the Crown of France that Law should have been prejudicial to the Daughters of the Three Brothers Kings who Reigned successively in France and not to the mother of Edward who was but Sister of the said Three Brothers Then it is urged that King Edward before he began the War had done Liege Homage unto King Philip de Valois and it could not stand that King Edward should be Supream Lord and also Vassal of one and the same Thing And that this Liege Homage remain'd in the Treasury of the Kings Charters at Paris in the Letters Patents of King Edward with a silk Label and green Wax the Transcript whereof is extant c Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 1. p. 37. in the former Part of our History That yet notwithstanding King Edward unjustly and without good Tittle made mortal War by notorious Attempts upon the King of France his Leige Lord he laid Hand also upon the Person of his said Lord incurring the Crime of Felony and Treason wherein the said King Edward grievously offended and so lost by way of Confiscation all that which he had within this Realm whether in Aquitain or any other Place Insomuch as yet further neither he nor his Successors were afterwards capable or ought in Terms of Justice to have the same Lands and Dominions So much is the Crime of Treason by all Laws by all Rights by all Men of just Judgment disallowed and condemned That afterwards King John being taken Prisoner by Misadventure of War a certain Treaty was made at Calais in the Year 1360 whereby the English had the Dutchy of Aquitain and the County of Ponthieu and Monstreul and should have had also a certain Summ of Money whereof they received Fourteen Thousand Pieces of Gold which was no otherwise consented unto but that they should avoid all the Villages and Fortresses which their Followers or other Adherents then held in the Realm of France And further King Edward should have sent his Messengers or Procurators unto Bruges within a Year after that Treaty to accomplish certain Matters which both He and his Sons and other Great Lords of England had taken Oath upon the Holy Evangelists and upon the Holy Sacrament to perform And yet they neither came nor sent to the said place of Bruges And so the Messengers of the King of France expected them a long time for performance and accomplishment of that which had been agreed and promised on his Part. And as for the Avoidance out of the said Towns and Castles many Knights and Esquires and Others yet alive do know and can testifie as they who oftentimes armed themselves and travelled for Recovery of them by Sieges Assaults and other Means to the great Charge of the King of France Whereupon it followeth that the English are bound to the Restitution of all that which was deliver'd unto them by the said Treaty of Calais upon Condition and Limitation before expressed together with the Charges and the Interest since that time and the same Treaty is to be held void in Law. Then 't is declared how King Philip who was Earl of Valois succeeded to the Crown of France as next Heir Male of the said Crown drawing his Descent from Male to Male by the Right Line of Holy King Lewis Whereas it is but 214 Years or thereabouts since the English had first any thing in Aquitain It is further alledged how the English by acting many Outrages and Mischiefs disabled themselves from holding the Dutchy of Aquitain and the County of Ponthieu and Monstreul unless they would acknowledge the King of France for their Sovereign Lord. And therefore that the said King of France hath resolved by strong Hand and by way of Affecting the Execution of Justice to cause the said Lands and Dominions to be reduced into his own Possession and to be annexed to the Right of the Crown of France For that a Soveraign Lord hath no clearer Means of Purchase
or Encrease than by way of Confiscation especially of that which riseth upon the Crime of Treason as it is in this present Case It was also set forth at large by the Letters and Rescripts of King Edward how the King of France never renounced either the Reversion or Soveraignty of those Lands which were deliver'd to the King of England by the Treaty of Calais And it was said by way of Corollary that neither the Dutchy of Aquitain nor any other Lands whatsoever ought ever to be deliver'd to the English upon any Respect because among other Reasons the English never yet had althô it were but one Foot of Land in France whether it were by Marriage or otherwise but in the end they always raised Wars and Troubles against the King and State of France And further there were noted and set down many Expeditions made into Aquitain both before and since the time of Charles the Great occasion'd by Justice of the Kings of France for Condemning and Depriving many Dukes of Aquitain because of their Rebellions and other bad Behaviour declaring manifestly that the said Dutchy of Aquitain was sometime the Proper Right and Inheritance of the Kings of France and that did evidently appear in that Charles the Great made and ordained Lewis the Gentle his Eldest Son King of the said Country of Aquitain as King Dagobert long before made Hubert his Brother by the Fathers side only Many other things are there contained which pretend to answer all that the English could say or alledge But We shall now hear what the King of England could say in his own Behalf when We have first set down a short Genealogical Table of the Descent from St. Lewis to King Edward and Philip of Valois VIII THE PEDIGREE OF THE Kings of FRANCE From Philip the Son of St. Lewis untill Charles the Fair. King Philip the Son of St Lewis King Philip the Fair. King Lewis Hutin Jane Countess of Eureux King Philip the Long. Margaret Countess of Artois King Charles the Fair. Blanch Dutchess of Orleans Isabell Queen of England Edward the III. K. of England Charles of Valois Philip of Valois IX Reasons alledged by the KING of ENGLAND for his Right and Title to the Kingdom of FRANCE UPON Supposal as it is evident and notorious in Fact that Philip of Famous Memory sometime King of France the Father of Charles of Honourable Remembrance King of France last deceased and of the most Gracious Lady Isabell Queen of England our Mother 1 Reason Proximity in the Descending Line was our Grandfather by the Mothers Side Then was no Male surviving nearer than We to the same King Charles at the time of his Death of all those who were descended with him from our Grandfather Philip Uncle to our Adversary Now the Person of a Woman is not capable of that Kingdom by a Law therein anciently observed which Law by way of final Cause respecting the Favour of that Realm lest the State thereof should decline under the Weak Government of a Woman by Excluding the Person of a Woman doth not therefore exclude the Person of a Man descended of a Woman so excluded Lest Matters Odious should be extended which is Odious in Law from Person to Person from Sex to Sex from Cause to Cause from Hatred to Favour And lest the Feminine Gender which is contrary to all Rules of Law should comprise the Masculine 2 Reason Restraint of things odiouâ— 3 Reason the Femin Gender compriseth not the Mascaline 4 Reason Derivation of Right from the Grandfather by the Mother 5 Reason Absurdity in Law. 6 Reason The Descending preferred before the Collateral 7 Reason the cause or reason of the Law ceasing especially in a case of an Odious Nature For to this end the Law before mention'd excludeth the Weakness of Women from bearing Rule that more Profitable Provision might be made for the State and that the next Male no otherwise debarred might be Assumed into her Place especially to that Right which did not first spring from the Mother so excluded but is originally derived and propagated from the Grandfather to the Grandchild Otherwise by this odious Enlarging another Absurdity in Justice would ensue that the Nearer Collateral should be excluded and the more distant and remote brought in Seeing that by the Law of Nature and of Nations Brothers and Sisters and their Sons are preferred in mutual Succession before other Collaterals in another Line So that upon this Statute which is made in Favour of the Kingdom and in Hatred of a Woman being debarred from the Kingdom Occasion should arise both of Violation to Law and of Injury to such Males as are descended from a Woman Neither can We conceive that the Intent of the Law here mention'd is so unjust as that the Mother and the Son upon Dislike Reason should be condemned and punished alike Yea by the Contrary Judgment of the same Law whereby the Mother is expelled from Succession the Son entring into the same Degree of his Mother succeedeth in her Place like unto that Son who riseth into the Degree of his Father or Mother deceased 8 Reason the Son entreth into the Degree of his Mother to succeed his Grandfather 9 Reason One vexation not to be added to another that he may be received in equal Terms with his Uncles to the Succession of his Grandfather That so the Sorrowfull Mother being stripped of her Royal Inheritance by Rigour of this Statute should in Right receive some Solâ—ce by Substitution of her Son and not one Heaviness to be heaped upon another which the Upright Consideration of Law doth abhorr as we see even where a Charge of Calamity cometh not by the Law but by Misadventure as in that Law whereby the Custom is condemned which permitteth another Man to take the Goods of them that suffer shipâ—reck By which Reason that which is corrected in express Disposition of Law for avoiding an Encrease of Grief is more strongly prohibited in the secret Disposition Let it therefore more than fully suffice that by the Law of the Realm of France the Mother is cut from the Royal Stem not by any Default in her Self but by the Fact of Nature which framed her a Woman And that by Express Law she suffereth a certain Shipwrock in her own Disinheriting althô she be not by any secret Consequence of the same Law contrary to the Course of Justice wrecked again with her Disinherited Son 10 Reason One not to be burthen'd with anothers Hate And so against all Rules and Reasons of Law one should be burthen'd with anothers Hate Whereas the Right from which the Mother is excluded is in such sort given unto the Son that the Mother receiveth nothing by this Office and Charge of the Son. So likewise we shall find Punishment enlarged without Offence whereas it should be mollified and restrained 11 Reason Punishments to be restrained 12 Reason from an Instance of great Authority even where there
and only set down here an Exact Translation of the said Record word for word that all the World may see upon what solid Grounds we go The Declaration Ordinance or Statute of the Succession to the Crown of Scotland made at Scone on the 4th of April in the Third Year of King Robert the Second Ano. Domini 1373. XV. In the Name of God Amen In the Year of the m Incarnationis ejusdem viz. Dei which went before Incarnation One Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Three and in the Third Year of the Reign of King Robert the Second the Fourth day of April the said King Robert the Second in his Parliament at Scone n Ac Cupiens c. sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ac super fluum being desirous to avoid to his Power the Uncertainty of Succession which hath formerly happened in most Kingdoms and Parts and for him and his as much as may be to prevent it for the Future of Deliberate Counsel and with the Consent and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords and Nobles and of all others of the Three Estates or Communities of the whole Realm there Assembled hath Declared Ordained and o Statuit Established that the Sons of the said King now begotten of his First and Second Wives and their Heirs shall p Succesive succedent in order succeed the said King in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning in manner under-written and under the form and conditions under-written Videlicet that the Lord John the Eldest Son Earl of Carrick and Steward of Scotland for whose Right of Succession Declaration was fully made in the q Hoc Parliamentum fuit coactum Ano. 1372 c. Vid. Statuta Roberti 11. c. 17. §. 2 3 4. Parliament immediately preceding and his Heirs after his Death shall succeed him in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning And the said Lord John and his Heirs failing perchance which God forbid the Lord Robert Earl of Fife and Menteith Second Son of the said Lord the King by his First Wife and his Heirs shall in Order and immediately succeed in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning And the said Lord Robert and his Heirs r Hic inseritur hujâ—smodi â—ticsè ut mihi videtur also failing perchance which God forbid the Lord Alexander Lord of Badenagh the Third-begotten Son of the said Lord the King by the same Wife and his Heirs only shall in the same manner successively and immediately after their Death succeed in the Kingdom and Right of Reigning But the said Lord Alexander and his Heirs aforesaid failing also perchance which God forbid the Lord David Earl of Strathern Son of the said Lord the King begotten of his Second Wife and his Heirs they so failing Å¿ Ex toto integrum in jus 〈◊〉 tâ—to in regnum c. shall ex toto succeed in like manner successively and immediately to the Kingdom and Right of Reigning But the said David and his Heirs aforesaid in like manner perchance failing Walter Son of the said Lord the King Brother German of the said Lord David and his Heirs shall succeed in like manner to the Kingdom and the Right of Reigning But the foresaid Five Brothers and the Heirs from them descending failing perchance in like manner and t Ex toto wholly which God forbid the True and Lawfull Heirs of the Blood and Stock Royal shall from thence succeed to the Kingdom and the Right of Reigning Which things being thus Established Ordained Declared and Done all the Prelates Earls and Barons and all of the Three Estates or Communities of the whole Realm in the said Parliament for that and other things there Assembled did Ratifie and approve them for them and their Heirs for ever And notwithstanding those underwritten namely Prelates Bishops of Churches the Lord William of St. Andrews Michael of Dunkelden Alexander of Aberdeen Patrick of Brechin Alexander of Murray Andrew of Dumblane Alexander of Rosse and Malcome of Cathanes on the Holy Gospels of God being present and open and the underwritten Earls Barons and Nobles namely First the Elder Sons of the said King that are of Age viz. the Lords John Robert and Alexander and also the Lord William Earl of Douglas George of Dumbar Earl of Marche John of Dumbar Earl of Murray Thomas Hayes Constable of Scotland the Lord William Keth Marshal of Scotland James Lindscy Lord of Crawford Archimbald Douglas Lord of Galloway James Douglas Lord of Dalkeith Robert de Irskin Hugh de Eglington Duncan Wallais David Graham Walter of Haliburton William Dissington Alan de Irskin Alan u Ità lacunam hìc suppleo Frazer James Frazer Alexander Frazer Robert Stuart of Innerness Roger Mortimer David Fitz-Walter Patrick Graham Andrew Vaux John Wallais John Maxwell Andrew Campbell William de Cunningham the Son and John Straquhan Knights John Kennedy and Alexander Cockburn Esquires and each of them on the said Holy Gospels by their Hands touched have corporally sworn that for them and their Heirs they will inviolably observe and by others to their Power cause to be observed for ever the foresaid Declarations Ordinations and Statutes Consequently and immediately whereto the whole Multitude of the Clergy and People being specially thereto called in the Church of Scone before the High Altar and the foresaid Declaration Ordination and Statute so sworn-to being read unto them openly and aloud Every One with his Hand lifted up in manner of giving Faith in token of the Universal Consent of all the Clergy and People did express and manifest publiquely their Consent and Assent In witness of all which the foresaid Lord the King commanded his Great Seal to be put to the present Writing or Instrument and for the Greater Evidence and Fuller Security all the Bishops Earls Barons and Nobles aforesaid caused their Seals to be put to the said Instrument for the sake of Testimony and to the perpetual Memory of those that are to come Acta fuerunt haec apud Sconam in pleno Parliamento Domini Regis Praedictis Anno Mense Die. superiùs annotatis Now if the pretended Defect be true as to the Children begotten on the Body of Elizabeth More it was a very palpable and undeniable One and could not but have been unanswerably known to the whole Nation And how then can We imagine that the whole Parliament would so unanimously draw upon themselves the dreadfull sin of Perjury by Excluding the Lawfull Heir against their National Oath taken in the Reign of King Kenneth the Third whereby they swore for ever to own the Immediate Heir Or that they would thus venture to entail upon themselves a Civil War by preferring even a Questionable Heir after the Miseries which they had so lately felt in the Competition betwixt the Bruce and the Bailiol Nay among these Seals We find the Seal of James Douglas Lord of Dalkeith is One and how ridiculous is it to think that
Expedition then Richard of Bourdeaux the Prince's only Son living should succeed according to Right unto the Crown of England For the Black-Prince u Churchill's Divi Britannier p. 245. whose Wisdom fell no way short of his Courage knowing how apt they are who stand nearest unto a Throne to step first into it was so carefull to prevent any Disorder of that kind which might be feared from the Ambition of his Brethren the Eldest of whom had already the Title of a King that he obliged his Father at this time to declare his Son Richard the next Heir to the Crown after the Decease of the King and of his son Edward Prince of Wales And now the Prince himself x Frois c. 305. c. shew'd in Full Parliament that if he should happen to die before the King his Father then his Son Richard as being next Heir was to succeed to the Crown of England after the Decease of the King his Grandfather And here besides the Equity of Law and Nature and the Unalterable Rule of Succession never but by Treason Usurpation and Violence transgressed in the Kingdom of England the Prelates Lords Knights and all the Commons of the Realm had such a Veneration for the Prince of Wales because of his many Heroick Vertues that with one Consent they all agreed to so Reasonable a Motion and took it upon themselves and their Posterity that they would always be true to the Right Line especially to the Lord Richard and this they desired to be enacted not without apparent Demonstrations of extraordinary joy And first the King himself then all his Sons and after that all the Lords of England Spiritual and Temporal sware to uphold and maintain the Right of the Young Prince Richard in case of the Prince his Fathers Decease And to this Ordinance the Prince of Wales caused them all to put their Hands and Seals before they went away The Commons only express'd their Concurrence by Holding up their Hands and Consenting all together Nor is this to be look'd upon as a Case not before clear enough or that it was possible for the Prince to doubt the Right of his Son but that it became the Wisdom and Tenderness of a Father by all lawfull Arts imaginable to corroborate the Title of a Presumptive Orphan against the open or secret Attacks of Ambition or Treason Accordingly to set an early Mark of Sovereignty upon the Young Prince Richard the King his Grandfather by Commission y Pat. An. 46. Ed. 3 pars 2. m. 25. Vid. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 191. bearing Date at Sandwich the 30 Day of August in the 46 Year of his Reign constituted him his Custos Regni or Lieutenant during his Absence beyond the Sea. And having given Directions that Publick Prayers should be made in all Churches for his Good Success in this Voyage that same Day being a z Claus 46. Ed. 3. m. 12. Derso Lit. Dom. DC vid. Ashmole p. 667. Monday about Nine of the Clock he went on Board at Sandwich in a Ship called the Grace de Dieu with as Great a Fleet as ever any King before had carried forth of England There was with the King at this time the Prince of Wales who had as then recover'd to a tolerable degree of Strength also the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge his Brethren the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Arundel Suffolk and Stafford with the Lord Edward Spencer then newly return'd out of Lombardy whither he went with Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence four Years before There was also in this Expedition the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the Lord John De la Ware Sr. William Nevile younger Brother to the Lord John Nevile Sr. Ralph Frescheville Baron of Cryche Ancestor to the Freschevilles now Barons of Stavely and several other Lords Knights and Esquires of England to the Number of 3000 Men of Arms and 10000 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen This Great Navy set Sail for Rochelle coasting Normandy and Bretagne but the Wind was adverse and would by no means serve them XX. The mean while the French King who had perfect knowledge of all these vast Preparations against him had made no small Assembly of Men of War from all Parts to resist so Considerable an Enemy And as it was said He himself now at last intended to have a Pull before Thoüars with the King of England all things seeming to be laid upon this last Stake On the other hand the Loyal Gascogners and others who held in those Parts for King Edward prepared now to joyn him with their utmost Forces And first the Lord Archimbald Greilly Uncle to the Captal of Busche at the instance of the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Bourdeaux came to the General Rendezvous at Niort with 300 Spears among whom were the Lords of Duras of Courton of Mucidan of Rosan of Languran of Landuras and Sr. Petiton Coutras and Sr. William Ferenton an English Gentleman All these went from Bourdeaux to Niort the place of Rendezvous where they found Sr. Thomas Percy Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. John Creswell and many more to the Number of 1200 Spears and lastly Sr. Richard Ponchardon came and joyn'd them with 1200 Spears more So that all France was now alarm'd and swarm'd with Souldiers of one part or the other XXI All this while King Edward and his Sons with their great Army were on the Sea not being able by reason of Contrary Winds to take Land at Rochell or thereabouts as was design'd And that strange Fortune which before was always ready to wart that Prince over but very Difficult to convey him back was now quite otherwise disposed and became an eminent Hinderer of his Glorious Designs So that for this Success France was beholden to the most inconstant of Elements or rather to the Benign Providence of Him who governs both the Winds and the Seas King Edward having thus for a Months space struggled to no purpose against Wind and Fortune when he saw now the Feast of St. Michael come and that it was impossible for him to keep the Time appointed for the Rescue of Thoüars was obliged to break up this Expedition as he did with great Displeasure of Mind and gave leave to his Men to return home as they pleased But at his Return he had Wind at Will and immediately after the Wind was favourable for those Parts so that 200 Sail of English Merchants who traded for Wine arrived at Bourdeaux whither they were bound the very day after St. Michael King Edward for his part besides that he was thus strangely hindred from keeping his Day before Thoüars is said to have lost more than 900000 Marks or as one says Pounds in this Expedition XXII Now about a Week before Michaelmas the Barons of England and Gascogne that were beyond the Sea marched from Niort toward Thoüars in order to joyn the King of England but they were extreamly surprised when they saw the Day
the Destruction of Christians but hath also lately administred unto many Infidels the Courage to seise on the Lands of Christians and to extinguish the a a Lat. aliàs ad Religionem Christiani Nominis extinguendam Name of the Christian Religion and that if the said Infidels shall perceive that Discord shall endure between the said Kings of England and France and Concord shall be banished of their wonted madness they will arise more Couragiously and boldly against the Christians and their Lands and will assume the greater Confidence to bring upon Christian Kings Kingdoms and People more heavy and pernicious Troubles than before to the Execution whereof the foresaid most wicked Infidels do already as is said prepare and dispose themselves And not being able any longer to endure the like War and Discord as also weighing and often revolving that We and our Predecessors Popes of Rome by frequent sending both Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and divers other Nuntio's of the Apostolick See to those Parts have in this point shewn what Diligence We could since We cannot see any further Remedy if this Concord and Peace cannot be perfected We intend not any longer to delay but forthwith to proceed without any Favour Justice always being our Guide against that Party of the two which shall appear to be the Occasion thereof and all its Favourers Counsellers and Assistants whatsoever by Ecclesiastical Censures and other Remedies of Law. Dat. Aven III Non. Jan. Ano. Pont. II. The same b Tom. 2. Episecret p. 237. Vid. Odoric Runald ibid. Letters only mutatis mutandis were sent to the Ambassadors of the French King at the same time But the Rancour of their Minds was too great and the Difficulty of adjusting Affairs to both their satisfaction too impracticable to admit of any tolerable Agreement at this time Thô Simon of the Title of St. Sixtus and John of the Title of the Four-Crowned-Saints being sent unto the Two Kings and much stirr'd up by the Popes Letters are reported to have spared no pains in the Affair This was in the beginning of the Year as appears by the Date of the Pope's Letters but now when the Duke of Lancaster was thus upon his March thrô France and all things tended to a Desperate War the Pope sent again into France his two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras to treat of a Peace if possible between the Two Kings These Pious Prelates took much Pains in riding too and fro between the French King and his Brethren on the One Part and the Duke of Lancaster on the other but all to no purpose For all the while the English Duke rode forward as we have partly shew'd piercing thrô and ravaging from Artois and Picardy thrô Champaigne Burgundy Beaujolois le Forestes Auvergne and Limosin by the Loire even to the Lot Dordogne and Garonne Rivers of Guienne XVI Much part c Frois Gallicè fol. 257. a. of this long way being at that time the whole extent of the Kingdom of France gave indeed great trouble to the English besides those few Losses We have related for not to mention the many Difficulties incident to such a long March especially when Provision was so hard to be got the Duke of Lancaster lost many both Men and Horses thrô some secret indisposition From which neither were the Frenchmen free for there died several of them and particularly three Lords of Hainalt as the Lord Fatieres of Berlammont the Lord Bridol of Montagne and the Begue of Werlan But there was no such Matter as some Historians too rashly report namely that the Duke of Lancaster's Army of 30000 was reduced only to 6000 by that time he came to Bourdeaux unless it be meant that he had no more Horses left For of them it must be confessed how there perished a great Number for want of Fodder as well because all Provender was convey'd away into strong Places as because the French King by his several flying Parties kept them from Foraging So that whatever they got was dearly bought and not fetch'd in to the Army without many Hands Wherefore more wisely doth Honest d Fabian p. 258. Fabian say from the French Writers themselves that thô indeed this Expedition was Honourable to the English because they rode thrô the whole Realm of France unfought withall yet was it also exceeding troublesome and chargeable unto them considering the many mischiefs they met withall in their long March especially the great Loss of Horses When the Duke of Lancaster had past the Loire about Roanne he was informed how the Frenchmen prepar'd to entertain him as they should find opportunity with sundry Ambuscadoes Wherefore he presently e Polyd. Virg. Holinsh p. 994. set his light Horsemen with a Division of Archers in the Front and in the Main Battail where he himself was with the Duke of Bretagne the whole Force of his Footmen and Men of Arms on each side for Wings to cover them The Rest of the Horse with the other Division of Archers he appointed to be in the Reer and having commanded them all to March close together in this Order he thus frustrated all further attempts of his Enemies and came in safety into Poictou where in Revenge of their Defection from England he began a new spoil killing and ransoming the people wasting the Country and firing the Towns where-ever he came till at last he arrived at Bergerac in his way to Bourdeaux the Frenchmen always following till he came thither at the tail and coasting him as they saw occasion without any further Advantage than what we have mention'd But the Duke of Anjou having left Paris and joyn'd the Constable rode above towards Rouvergue Rodez and Tholouse but at last they return'd to Perigort where the two Legates then were having rode between the two Parties preaching and laying many sound Reasons before them to bring them to some Agreement but they were both so harden'd that neither would admit of Peace without some apparent Advantage which the other would not grant So about the beginning of November the Duke of Lancaster came to Bourdeaux where both he and the Duke of Bretagne lay all that Winter and the Lent following only some few taking their leave now the Campaine was over among whom the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote with his Retinue went back into England whereat the King was much displeas'd and chode him severely that he would offer to return without his Lord and General Of this Expedition we are to observe that some thrô largeness of speech have made it to begin in Flanders whereas it is to be understood as We have shewn at Calais which confines on Flanders And so Sr. William Dugdale is to be expounded who speaks of an Expedition this Year made into Flanders wherein he f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. says were present the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord * Id 2 Vol. p. 173. John
c. 236. Caxton c. that not long before the King had sent the Ambassadors aforesaid to Avignon to require of Pope Gregory that as to the Reservation of Benefices of England made in his Court he would supersede Medling for the future that Clergymen might freely enjoy their Elections to Episcopal Dignities and that it might be sufficient for them to be confirmed by their Metropolitans as was the Antient Custom Upon these and the like Abuses they required Remedy of the Pope concerning all which Articles the said Ambassadors had certain Answers from his Holiness touching which the Pope enjoyned them upon their Return into England to certifie him by their Letters of the King's Will and of his Realm and also that they would press the King to let him first know what he and his Council design'd to do before they proceeded to determine any thing as to the Premises The Result whereof we shall refer to the next Year However in this Parliament it was Enacted That Cathedral Churches should enjoy their own Elections and that for the future the King should not write against the Persons so Elected but rather by his Letters endeavour their Confirmation if need were But this Statute availed not much afterward The o M.S. Ret. Par. ut ante Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Burgesses of Bristow in this Parliament require that the said Town with the Suburbs thereof may be a County of it self and that the Perambulation of the same with the Bounds thereof returned into the Chancery with all the Liberties and Charters thereto granted may be confirmed by Act of Parliament The King is content to grant that the Charters Liberties and Perambulation aforesaid may be confirmed under the Great Seal That no French Prior Alien be permitted to dwell within twenty Miles of the Sea-Coast for several Reasons there specified The King by his Council will provide therefore That Remedy may be had that Men be not called into the Exchequer upon Suggestion without Process contrary to the Statute made in the 42 Year of the King. Let any particular Man complain and he shall find Remedy After this the Lord Chancellor in the Kings Name gave great Thanks to the Lords and Commons and so this Session ended It is to be observed that the Printed Statute touching the Assize of Broad Cloath Cap. 1. agreeth with the Record As also that Cap. 2. touching Scottish Silver Coin. XVIII This Year it is reported p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 92. Odor Rainal ad an 1374. §. 13. ex Chron. Belg. Job Leyd c. that there happen'd in Italy France and England especially in the Lower Countries a certain Maniack Passion or Frenzy unknown to former Ages for those who were tormented therewith which for the most part were the Scum of the People stript themselves stark naked put Garlands of Flowers on their Heads and taking one another by the Hands went about in the streets and into the Churches dancing singing and turning round with such vehemence that they would fall down to the ground quite out of Breath This Agitation made them swell so prodigiously that within an Hours time they would burst unless some-body took care to bind their Bellies about with strong Swathing-bands Those who looked on them too earnestly were often tainted with the same Malady It was thought to have come by some Diabolical Operation and that Exorcisms did much prevail against it The Vulgar called it St. John's Dance XIX There died q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. b. about this time a valiant Baron of England named the Lord Miles Stapleton one * Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 7. p. 298. of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind Thomas his Son and Heir then of full Age who yet died also this same Year without Issue leaving his Sister Elizabeth his next Heir she being then married to Sr. Thomas Metham Which Sr. Thomas having at that time Issue by her and doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance There died r Walsing hist p. 183. Vid. Godwins Catal. Bish c. also this Year Dr. John Thoresby Archbishop of York and Dr. John Barnet Bishop of Ely besides the Bishop of Worcester of whose Death we spake at the beginning of the last Parliament Alexander Nevile succeeded in the See of York Thomas Fitz-Alan younger Son to the Earl of Arundel in that of Ely and Henry Wakefield in that of Worcester CHAPTER the ELEVENTH AN. DOM. 1374. An. Regni Angliae XLVIII Franciae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward inquires into the Livings then in the Hands of Aliens with his Letters to the Bishop of Winchester for that purpose II. He sends Commissioners to treat with the Popes Legates about the Premisses with the Copy of their Commission and the Effect of their Treaty III. The Duke of Anjou's Expedition into Gascogne IV. A Truce between the Dukes of Lancaster and Anjou V. The Lords of High Gascosgne yield to the Duke of Anjou who takes in all 40 Towns and Castles from the English VI. Becherel for want of succour yields VII Sr. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France is redeem'd with an Adventure between him and the Lord of Gomegines Captain of Ardres for King Edward VIII A Treaty at Bruges concerning a Peace between the two Crowns wherein Care is had of the Earl of Pembroke and others taken formerly by the Spaniards with the Death of the said Earl of Pembroke and some Observations thereon IX The Death of Francis Petrarch Laureat Poet of Italy and some other Considerable Persons of England X. An Account of Madam Alice Perrers who was falsly said to be King Edward's Concubine I. KING Edward being perpetually alarum'd as well in Parliament as otherwise by his Subjects who complain'd of the many great Abuses done unto Him and his Authority by the See of Rome as of their Reservations and other Arts whereby they entrenched upon his Prerogative Royal and the Liberties of the Church of England exhausting his Kingdom to enrich Strangers and such as were his Enemies the King I say being now throughly awaken'd at these Cries of his People among other notable Ways whereby he encountred these Usurpations began a Fox Acts Monum p. 560. at this time to require an exact Survey of all Benefices and Dignities Ecclesiastical throughout his Dominions which were then in the Hands of Italians Frenchmen or other Aliens with a true Valuation of the same and sent unto all his Bishops his Royal Commission to make such Enquiry the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Reverend Father in God William by the same Grace Bishop of Winchester Greeting Being willing for certain Reasons Us thereunto moving to be certified what and how many Benefices as well Archdeaconries and other Dignities as Vicarages Parsonages Prebends and Chapters within your Dioecese there be
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâ—is c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. â—d 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Râ—â— Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
but the known Piety and Moderation which King Edward used thrô all his Life and that he could not easily be at this time unmindfull of Death may appear in that many Years before thrô a Pious consideration of Human Frailty he close the Place of his Sepulture as a Lib. 3. c. 4 §. 14. p. 564. Ano. Regni 1359. we have shewn and likewise settled the Point of Succession afterwards and had also so lately seen his Gallant Son go the same way before him not to mention the many Instances of his Piety of which we shall speak by and by And as for that solitary manner of his Death it is every whit as improbable for the Court of the Next Heir being then hard by at Kennington and the Three Sons of the King being thereabouts all the while if Piety and Duty could not have kept his Servants about Him yet a Care of their own Interest must have caution'd them at this time not to shew too much neglect of the Grandfather of the Young Prince and of the Duke of Lancaster's Father Not to say any thing of the Earl of Salisbury the Duke of Bretagne and Sr. Guischard Dangle who as we shew'd were just come unto him a little before his Departure And besides He was so far from being totally neglected that every Moment of his Sickness was particularly observed by his Sons and Others So that on that very Day whereon he died before his Soul had left the Body the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London being certainly informed that his Case was now desperate sent certain of their Chief Citizens to Kennington where Prince Richard and his Mother resided to declare unto the said Prince their Loyal Affections to his Sacred Person and how ready upon his Grandfather's Death they should all be to accept of Him for their Lawfull King and Governour And yet had it been true that our Edward was thus left at his last Gasp by all his Waiters and Domesticks surely it would be very Hard Uncharitable and Unchristianlike to argue any thing against his Person therefore or to conclude his Death any whit the more miserable since then he could not be sensible of what happen'd and also it is very usual and ever will be for the Court to fall away from the Setting Sun and to turn toward the East XVII However thus died King Edward the Third of whom when his Enemy King Charles of France heard of his Death he gave this Testimony b Frâ—is c. 314. f. 196. Gallicè verò fol. 267. That He had Reigned most Nobly and Valiantly and well deserved to be added to the Number of the Antient Worthies And soon after he assembled all the Nobles and Prelates of his Realm with whom he Solemnly performed his Obsequies in the Holy Chappel of his Palace at Paris But in England there was great Sorrow made for his Death and immediately all the Ports were stopped lest the News thereof should reach France before the Affairs of the Kingdom might be settled A little before the Coronation of King Richard the Second the Body of King Edward was removed from Sheen and with a great Pomp of Sorrow his Three Sons John of Gaunt Edmund of Langley and Thomas of Woodstock and his Son-in-Law John the Valiant Duke of Bretagne and all the Barons and Prelates of England following the Herse was brought along thrô the City of London with Open Visage to Westminster where it was c Sandford p. 175. vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast solemnly interred on the South-side of the Royal Chappel in the Abbey of St. Peter near to the Body of his Beloved Queen Philippa as on her Death-Bed she had requested Where betwixt two Pillars parallel with the Tomb of King Edward the Confessor He hath his Monument of Grey Marble upon the Superficies whereof lies his Full Portraiture of Copper Gilt and upon the Verge of the Tomb these Old Verses are ingraven beginning on the North-side at the Foot being Latine Rhyme after the Manner of that Age. Hic Decus Anglorum Flos Regum Preteritorum Forma Futurorum Rex Clemens Pax Populorum Tertius Edvardus Regni complens Iubileum Invictus Pardus Bellis pollens Machabeum Prospere dum vixit Regnum Pietate revixit Armipotens Rexit Iam Câ—lo Coelice Rex sâ—t Tertius Edvardus Famâ super aethera Notus PVGNA PRO PATRIA MCCCLXXVII On both Sides of this Tomb are the Figures of all his Sons and Daughters in Solid Brass viz. On the South-side in several Niches are Edward Prince of Wales Joan of the Tower Entitled Queen of Spain Lionel Duke of Clarence Edmund of Langley Mary Dutchess of Bretagne and William of Hatfield under which their several Escutcheons of Arms Enamelled are placed And also under them the Arms of Saint George and of King Edward the Third interchangeably on Four large Shields of Brass Enamelled On the North-side were the Statues and still there remain the Arms of Isabell Lady Coucy William of Windsor John Duke of Lancaster Blanch of the Tower Margaret Countess of Pembroke and Thomas of Woodstock near unto which Sepulchre they will still shew you the Sword which it is said this King used in his Wars in France being only Cross-barr'd Seven Foot long and weighing Eighteen Pounds I will not dissemble d Cod. M. S. Misâ—ell R. Glover Somerset fol. 135. that there is somewhere attributed unto him one Natural Son besides his Twelve Legitimate Children named Nicolas Litlington who was Abbot of Westminster and lies buried in the said Abbey before the Altar of St. Blase But there are several Arguments which with me weigh down the Credit of this single Testimony as his Age he being made Abbot immediately after Simon Langham sixteen Years before this whereas usually Old Age is required for such and he survived King Edward but e He died 1386. Keep 's Men. West p. 52. Nine Years He bare for his Arms f Vid. Keep 's Mon. Westmonast p. 13. Quarterly Argent and Gules in the Second and Third a Fret Or on a Bend Azure Three Flowers de Luces of the Third His Character may best be gather'd from his History but however we shall again represent him in little according to those lively Colours wherewith the joynt Concurrence of the best g Walsing hist p. 189. Heur Knighton p. 2630. Foae Acts Mon. p. 394. Daniel's Hist p. 260. Ric. Dinothi Advers p. 92. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 144. Stow p. 269. Holinsh p. 999. Weever's Fun. Mon p. 466. c. Authors have represented him He was a Prince the soonest a Man and the longest that held so of any we meet with His Stature not exceeding the usual Bigness of Men but of the Middle sort h Vid. Hakewill's Apology for Providence p. 212. that is just six Foot or two Yards High his Limbs neat and well-made his Body strong his shape Exact his Visage something Long but exceeding Comely Gracefull and Angelical