thing Full seauen months the armie held their ground Within which time so many braue assaies For to defend so many practise found In forraging so many goodly fraies Such skirmiges and that such sundrie waies To win the same as Greekes had neuer more When they strong Ilion planted were before This Castle strongly seated is betweene Two sliding streames that vessels well may beare Enuironed with gawdie meddow greene Vpon the which right bitter bickering are Oft on the riuers fight they without feare Sir Gualter Mannie chiefe of the English band Full expert knight on water or on land This courteous knight sage imagenatiue Found to his foes much warlike buisnes Right warilie affaires doth he contriue For sure defence of honor spotles Couragious knight and valiant doubtles Yellow banner he shewd three Cheurons blacke An English Lion on the highmost stake Whilst thus thassailaunt and defendaunt striue Euery day some practise new to doe The King of England maks hast to ariue Hearing declard his friends besiged so Conueniently he hasts himselfe to go To rease the Duke from Hamton port he saild Contrary wind made that his purpose faild For where he thought in Gascoine to take land Sir Godfrey Harcourt causd him change his mind Whose reasons being by grauest counsell scand And likte bicause contrary was the wind A faire large bay in Constantine we find Cald Hogg saint vast from shipping well ariud In Battails three our Armie is contriud Toward wealthfull Cane we onward hold our way And all the Countrie wast with sword and fier The Earle of Tankervile made with vs a fray Fast to the towne we forst him to retier After taken by his owne desier Within the towne of which we Masters were And Countrie round all trembled fast with feare Our soueraine determinde in his mind To passe through France to Callis if he could The Castle of Poys we in the way do find Rease assault and easly gaine the hould Nothing so strong might dure our forcement bould Absent the owner of the fort away Spoild was the towne bicause they false did play Two damesels faire were in this Castle found Of bewtie rare and of fine tender age Who rudely Rauisht had been in that stound Saue that Lord Basset and my selfe in rage Did them defend and by aduisement sage Safely protect and brought before the King Which them receiud and thankt vs for the thing Right princely he and sweetly intertaind These Virgins causing them to be conuaid To Corby towne high praise hereby we gaind Ech armed Knight who Knighthood true hath waid Will suffer no foule act done silly maid A souerain praise it is to armed Knight Outragious acts to hinder by his might What wight vile sin forbids not if he may Consents and giltie is to wicked ill The King doth march to Callis seeking way The riuer of some we are attaind vntill Where Godmare say a Knight of warlike skill Hauing in charge from soueraigne to keepe The passages where water was not deepe The Knight obeyd and Knightly did his best Due woorthie praise ech man doth well deserue That to his power fulfils his Princes hest Tho tickle fortune seeme oft times to swerue As vnto him who leader like did serue Strong Archer shot so whely all togither From kept defence the Frenchmen they deseuer When this Baron I meane sir Godmare say Sawe this huge mischiefe light amongst his men What he can helpe when fortune sayeth nay Fairly withdrew the best he could as then Its wisedome good for ech commander when Things crosse fall out to gouerne so his will That he the more for lesser do not spill Into the water brauely did we mount Which at that time passed with channell loe Where ouerthrowne Knights were of good account The passage won dame fortune fauored so To be admierd how she can ouerthroe Thus we Blanchtaque by noble courage gaine Gladded with ioy in lew of passed paine Thus when we had acquierd the further banke The gratious King as duety doth requier To mightie God yeeldeth most humble thanke Highly inflamed King Philips boyling yer In streete to close vs was his chiefe desier Angerly vexed with Lord Godmare fay Till sir Iohn Henault doth his rage allay Foorth hould we martch to Cressie in Ponthew The King his mind the Campe should there be staid Well informed the Frenchmen him pursew A space pondring lastly to vs said This Land my mothers dower should haue staid It giuen was therefore here make I choice To challenge it from Philip of Valoys And for that we were scarcely one gainst eight We warely batteled at aduantage Th'assayling tempter by fine skilfull sleight Of warlike heed for to indammage Three battailes ordred for knightly vsage i th first the Prince and Earle of Warwicke were In guls a fes six croslets gold did beare Sir Reignald Cobham strongly armd in red Three sable stars plast on a Cheuron gold Sir Barthelmew Burwash in like colour sped Gold ramping Lion queue doth forked hold Amongst these first my name is also told Sir Richard Stafford in gold shield did beare A gulie Cheuron and blew Labell faire With vs there were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers Brigands a thousand Purposely bent to worke fell enimies harms i th second did th' earle of Northanton stand With men at Armes iust numbred to our band Twelue hundred Bowes in gold Lord Basset dight Three Rubie piles a quarter ermins bright Faire clad in Armes seuen hundred the king With bowmen thousands two for gard abide Well pointed and directed euerie thing Our second battell moude somwhat aside Vs first to second as the time espide The king withdrew him to a windmill hill Where he and his all day they stooden still When as the French thus heard of our addresse They forward came bedect right sightly It pleasure was taview their noblenesse Their gilded armors glistering brightly To fight with them stird vs more lightly High valerous mind where enterprise is braue Would conquer honor and due praises craue Too long to tell the fierce incounters made The puissant strength or courage of the foe How euerie prince in order doth inuade Or how the arrowes flew like flakes of snowe Or how the horse their masters ouerthrow Or how we were oppressed so with might As that we sent vnto the king a knight Requesting him with his fresh power to aid His tender sonne so fiercely fought withall What slaine or wounded is my sonne he said That thus they send and for my succour call Neither the knight then tell him that he shall Replide the king his first worne spurs obtaine To him and his the honor shall remaine When as we heard this answer vs resent As lions fell with fasting mawes near pinde Amongst the herds new come do fellie rent The sillie flocke such like our vs finde For many liues from bodies we vntwinde Fourscore banners deiected to the ground And sixscore knights were there prostrated found And thirtie thousand of the
courage foes pursues apace And many knights beares he downe in chase No heed tooke I good prisoner rich to gaine But had regard the prince so well to guide Hot fresh and yoong wherfore I ply my paine As dutie would lest harme should him betide His owne desier was I should abide His person near in thickest of the fraies He credits what I speake to my great praise All as we would glad prince did franke bestow A stately supper t'prisoner king and praid His good content though buisnes gainst him goe For your owne selfe renowmed king he said Your prowes past all those to you obaid by th true censure of our best skilled knights The soueraigne praise you wan in all the fights What triumphing in England knowne these newes At Burdeux what great reioicing seene In forren courts how honored all our crewes Where they became my seruice as I weene That heere I did was highly in esteeme About a prince men thought me meet to be As well for counsell as for cheualrie King Iohn int'England gladly was conueid On trampling steed through London doth he ride Note fortunes change a king that scepter sweid With large command through noble Fraunce doth bide In forren land there pricking him beside His conquerer on cole black hobbie plast On whom the woondring vulgars praises blast No Romain in his triumphs glorious Through citie passing with trumpets sounding More apparant appeered victorious Than our braue prince by modest riding At peoples plause with ioy abounding Remembring those high words he earst did say Neuer shall England ransome for me pay Betwixt the kings there grew agreement And if performd then backe Iohn should retier The peeres of Fraunce denide their kings intent Wherat king Edward stormd with furious yer And vowd their plague with wastfull sword and fier Vntill they grant the thing which he thought good Strongly prepard he past the swelling flud Lands at Callis thence marcheth in aray With brauerie such and shew of martiall might In goodly armors dect so fine and gay All beat with Arms fine banners tossing light On vs dan Phoebus ioyd to haue a sight With fauning face he seemd on vs to smile We fresh be seen reflexion cast the while Vndoubtedly in all the world was not More noble band than heer were present now What knight was he that honor had not got In some strange land well shone his vertue how For leader good a man might him allow Most happie realme thrise happie is that king Whose subiects fame in forren regions ring First if the prince of Wales I should recite Or Henrie Duke late Darbie Earle before Or Reignald Cobham that much renowmed knight Lord Mowbray Manny Basset with great store Lord Audley Willoughby and many more Than now I shew what if I tell my name And say that Chandos was not lest in fame Fame our names imblasoned not so far For tennise plaie or handling of a lute Nor dauncing fine or glistering as a star As women drest in most vnseemly sute Our chiefest musicke trumpe and checking flute Our daunce our march our tennise oft to feele Thundring blowes our clothing tried steele Through Picardie and Artoys spoyld we passe Int fertile Cambray making there some stay In former places found we little grasse Toward Thyriach we martch anone away Till foulding siege to Cittie Reames we lay Which countrie was so wasted and so foild That all our horse for want wel ny wer spoyld Sir Barthelmew Burwash whilst siege doth hold My selfe Lord Audley and Lord Mucedent Sir Richard Pontchardon a prudent knight and bold agreed all fowr and with our troups we went To Chalous in Campayne for ventures bent We approcht strong Cragney a castle hey Whereas two knights couragious captaines be Ton Caples cald who bare in golden sheild An ancred crosse of sables we asseild Rudely the hold from whence some one did weild A mightie stone that head a peeces peild Of Lord Mucedent but it was not feild For to reuenge his hard mischance againe Tooke the hould and all the soldiers slaine Seauen weeks at Reames the king made his abode and forrage faild and men began to want For still we knights the countrie ouer rode Whereby ech thing waxed exceeding scant Then to remooue the king and nobles mant Chalous Troys and countries neere we wast Passing the riuer Muson at the last So foorth we marcht keeping same ordinance At first ordaind to Aguyllon we came Did hauke and hunt passing in pleasaunce Oft tride our horse and vsed warlike game Which still among much did the Frenchmen tame Nothing vnlesse too hot for vs could staie T'heauie or cold but we did beare away Sweeping from hence to Paris ward apace The countie of Neuers and Gastenoys we waste Raunge at our wils continuing foorth our race Vntill that we at Burge le royne were plast Two leagues fro Paris and so the towne we facst Well famed Fraunce might waile for nought but flame Was to be found in bowels of the same Where Meroue puissant warrier raind Whom fierce Attila ouerthrew in fight Where Charls le main that many kingdomes gaind In all Europa feared for his might Vnconstant fortune taking so far flight Sometimes the yoke on others shoulders laid With biting snaffle now are strongly staid From Burg le royne to Mont le herri we In sightly wise our battailes all do draw Our constant dealing when the french Lords see Perseuering still in Fraunce to make a flawe Consuming all as fier doth the strawe Vnto a peace to mooue our king they ment Their Chaunclor and their learned counsaile sent They vnderstood our king would not depart Till pleasing peace he conquerd as he voud Which thing neere toucht duke Charls his tender hart And nobles for owne harmes too hawtie proud Faire conditions twixt them were aloud By thundring storme which God from heauen sent And knotted haile our king doth first relent A written deed at Charters there was framd Betwixt the kings their heires allies and friends In which faire townes strong castles all were namd toth king and his were giuen for amends For passed paine and so the strife it ends More Castles Townes more Cities and more ground Were giuen then in England could be found Some speeches were braue dukedome to inclose Of Britton in the charter of this peace Yet do they not of it so well dispose So as fresh wars in that place did not cease How track of time hard bound doth of release Charls thoughts vpbound within his stubborne brest Them foorth to loose supposed now his best Home went his grace soone I repasse the seas As regent and lieuetenant for my king Taking the othes possessions and the keas Of Lords Cities Castles which did wringe Some Frenchmens harts like percing adders sting Great griefe it was subiuged to be bound To strangers most vncurteous they had found I stewards bailifes and captaines do ordaine As liked me and this when I had done Came to Nyort there purposd to
mannor or lands by descent albeit their ancestors married the heire of the same many hundred yeers agone and whose parents peraduenture neuer did beare any marke or if they did time hauing obscured the same it remaineth vnknowen yet shall you haue them run to an Herald or painter as busily as if the matter were of weight and there make search they know not for what and the herald or painter on the other side to draw some small peece of siluer from them will find out the badge of some one or other of the same name although many times none of the kindred and may be neuer came neare that countrey and that will they inuest them with as their owne and sometimes when no marke for any of the name will be found then deuise some conceit or other and say they find it borne by such a name and content them wonderously therewith which serues yet to no other vse but to make vp a iust number whereby their owne marks become the more confused and yet into this quartering being a very fountaine of errors many both Noble men and Gentlemen and the officers of Armes themselues do oftentimes very rashly enter It is not long sithence there died a knight in Staffordshire of good account and in his life time was a deputie Lieuetenant there to doe his obsequie came an officer of Armes who compiled for him nine seuerall marks all in one Escuchion and yet neuer a one of them as they were there set foorth to him belonging but his owne of name And as I haue giuen you this one for an instance so almost can a man come into no towne of any account nor almost into any Church or house of Noble man or Gentleman but he shall find errors so that the numbers thereof be infinite It were therefore to be wished that this matter of quartering should be reformed as well for the vntruths therein committed as for the titles that may be brought in question thereby to lands and Heritages And as being one of the chiefest things that bringeth the honor of Armory into disgrace for not long agoe heard I one speake in this maner did I not quoth he know the grandfather of this man speaking of the owner of a scuchion wherein were quartered many marks to purchase by plaine patent although he neuer were man at Armes both his coate and crest within these fortie yeers and how comes it now to passe that I see his nephew inuested in all this Armorie numbring many and diuers seuerall deuices all in one shield by way of quartering this being a very mockerie to see a man of no valure or estimation in warlike affaires and the paternall Ancestors of whom for ought that can be prooued were not in any late age welders of Armes to entrude themselues into so many badges of Armorie is not the least matter to bring into contempt an order so honorable and necessarie as the bearing of Armes is Another matter that to my vnderstanding is also to be reformed is the maner of differings which are by the yoonger brothers and their posterities laid vpon their marks being cressants mollets c. and that such little ones as that a man cannot discerne them a verie small distance from him which differences are in reason to be made faire plaine and large that they may be also as easie to be discouered as any other deuise that is in the coate shield or banner otherwise they serue not to the purpose for which marks were first ordeined And the inconuenience which ensueth of this error will the more easily appeere if I but set you downe the words of mine Author treating of an accident that happened in such a case which be these Et feist msr Robert Baileul aler sa Banniere tout deuant en escriant moriannes les Henuiers qui inestoint esthauses Aperceurent la Banniere de moriannes qui encore estoit tout Droicte si cuiderent que ce feust la leur ou ilz se deuoient radresser car mult petite y auoiâ— de difference de lune a l'autre car les Armes moriennes sount Barres contre Barres d'Argent d'Azure a deux Cheuerons de Gueules et le cheuron de msr Robert auoit vne petite crosete d'or si ne l'aduiserent mye bien les hennuiers ainsi vindrent bouter de fait dessubs la Banniere de msr Robert si furent moult fierement reboutes et tous discomfis For these henowers being led by sir William Baileul thought in the stir and busines to haue come to his banner hearing the surname of Moriens called vpon and seeing as they supposed their captains ensigne and the difference of sir Robert being the yoonger brother but a little crosse vpon the vpper cheuron they could not apperceaue so that the most of them were either slaine or taken and the elder brother the Knight their leader was glad to saue himselfe as well as he might The Lord of Cowcie sonne in law to king Edward the third suffered also reproch through the hard dealings of the Lord of Chine who raised his banner against certaine Englishmen of sir Hugh Caueleys company being either the same that Cowcies was or the difference so small as might not be discerned whereby the said Lord Cowcie though he were absent as far as Austrich had dishonor spoken of him as in the discourse of the Capitall I haue touched Thus then hauing shewed by example the harme and inconuenience that cannot but many times happen through the littlenes and nicenes of such differences I haue thought it not amisse to laie before you the differings that antiquitie vsed that by comparing them togither you may discerne the great wisedome of our ancestors and our owne imperfections in this point for want of due consideration which was done at the first by changing of the deuise borne into other colors onely but when that would not suffice for the number of leaders manie times all of one house then were they forced to varie their markes by adding of either bars bends cheurons cheefes quarters borders labels losinges or such like and verie seldome should you see in those times cressant mollet or such like small little thing borne for a difference and if anie did yet was the same made so large and faire that it might be seene as well as any other the deuise which should be in the shielde or banner And for the proofe I will giue you the example but of one house onelie for your better information though I could do the like of manie others namelie that of the Bassets who indeed in my iudgement varied their markes of honor verie finelie and that vpon good respect Thus haue I set downe vnto you though something tediouslie the vse that the antiquitie followed in a verie glorious line for Lords Knights and Gentlemen which florished diuers hundreds of yeeres sithence and you may see that these men though they were manie of them great Barons were not
sacerdoti vt tollat Thuribula quae iacent in incendio ignem huc illucque dispergat c. produc atque ea in laminas affigat altari c. vt cernant ea pro signo monimento filij Israel Also in the booke of Iosua I finde these words Et ait Iosue ad eos ite ante arcam Domini Dei vestri ad Iordanis medium portate inde singuli singulos lapides in humeris vestris iuxta numerum filiorum Israel vt sit signum inter vos quando interrogauerint vos filij vestri cras dicentes quid sibi volunt isti lapides Respondebitis defecerunt aquae Iordanis ante arcam foederis Domini cum transiret eum idcirco positi sunt lapides isti in monimentum filiorum Israel vsque in aeternum And for the disposing of heritages it is written thus Homo cum mortuus fuerit absque filio ad filiam eius transibit haereditas si filiam non habuerit habebit successores fratres suos quod si fratres non fuerint dabitis haereditatem fratribus patris eius sin autem nec patruos habuerit dabitur haereditas his qui ei proximi sunt Eritque hoc filijs Israel sanctum lege perpetua sicut praecepit Dominus Moysi And for the collection of Genealogies thus saith God to Moyses and Eleasar Numerate omnem summam filiorum Israel à viginti annis suprà per domos cognationes suas cunctos qui possunt ad bella procedere c. Ruben primogenitus Israel huius filius Henoch à quo familia Henochitarum Phallu à quo familia Phalluitarum Hesron à quo familia Hesronitarum And for a further proofe of the recording of Genealogies it is to be considered how diligently the same hath beene obserued through the whole course of the Scriptures as the descents from Adam to Noe and from Noe to Abraham c. do sufficiently testifie And more that with the spirit of truth the Genealogie of Christ our Sauiour and redeemer as concerning his humanitie is also by the writing of his holie Euangelistes most plainelie and sincerely remembred and set downe All these things being therefore by the Scriptures of God and decider of all controuersies prooued and declared Your Lordships may see that the bearing of Armes raising and aduauncing of Standerds Banners and Ensignes vsing of obsequies erecting of moniments enroling and regestrings of pedegrees and descentes haue ioyned to the auncient customes and Lawes both of this Land and all other nations the authoritie of Gods word being very well accompanied with discretion reason and iudgement for God hauing by his sacred institution ordeined Kingdomes Prouinces and Seignories and that ouer them Kings Princes and Magistrates shall commaund rule and gouerne his people to the ende chiefely that his heauenly kingdome may be replenished with the blessed soules of his seruants for the instructing whereof he hath also ordeined his holy Church and the Bishops pastors and ministers of the same which Bishops and other spirituall officers cannot so well enforme his Christan people without the aid of the said Kings and temporall Lords neither can they gouerne their particular Countries either from the inuasion of outward tyrants or inward rebels but through the vse of their sword of iustice which sword cannot be exercised against vnruly persons being of strength wanting men skilful in Martiall Discipline who cannot manage those affaires but by meane of the aforesaid Armes and ensignes in maner as before I haue more largly expressed And in like sort as Princes great Lords Iudges Magistrates and Gouernors do vse to weare sacred Robes of gold purple scarlet and other ornaments and apparell not to take pride in or for any vaine ostentation or show but onely that they may be distinguished from the inferior people to the end that a reuerent regard may be had of them in respect of the high office which vnder God here on earth they beare And as these things no man of any reason will gainsay so I see not but as wel may their iust vertues and good gouernment be remembred with funerals obsequies and moniments after their decease whereby such as succeed in gouernment may also be had in more high estimation and a faire example is thereby giuen them to imitate the regiment of their predecessors Likewise doth the registring of descents carrie with it reason ioined to authoritie and custome for as by Gods lawe there is commanded a priuiledge of enheritance to the first begotten of Israell and so for want of sonnes to the females and from them to others answerable to the proximitie of their blood and kindred which with our lawes of this land and of most nations do concur and agree it doth well stande with peacefull gouernment for the auoiding of contentions which may rise for want of records to testifie the truth of mens titles to their enheritances that Genealogies and Pedegrees should be enrolled and kept in remembrance I haue my good Lords stood the longer vpon this point for that of late traueling through some countries of this Land and hauing a desire to see the moniments of antiquitie which haue remained in such places as I passed by for which cause as otherwise I many times resorted to Churches and other houses to satisfie my affection I found that many moniments both of burials and in glasse were so broken and defaced that vneth may be had any knowledge what the fragments remaining did signifie and enquiring of the inhabitance how it came to passe that those things were so blemished they made report that certaine persons delighting as may seeme in noueltie for they can abide no marke of antiquitie had defaced the same These men that take vpon them to be reformers whose desires are great through the singularitie pride they haue in their owne wits and vnderstandings weening themselues to be very wise where indeed they are verie simple and onely looke but into the abuses of things and do not see into the grounds depth of the reasons and causes for which good ordinances were made go about to finde faults where many times none are but if peraduenture they hap to finde an ordinance well made misused then streight neuer seeke they to reforme the abuse but by their wils downe goeth ordinance and all such is their insolencie rashnes and want of iudgement It were well done therefore my good Lords and I could wish that your Honors hauing somtimes accesse to hir Maiestie and oftentimes conference with my Lords of hir priuie Councell should enforme hir Highnes and their Honors of the said abuses committed and to be thereby a meane that these simple fellowes taking vpon them to be reformers might be reformed themselues and both kept from destroieng of good ordinances and be punished for their offences in that behalfe committed In the meane time yet shall I desire that Honorable personages will looke better to the moniments of their
rage of wars alaie For where but late the trembling mother cride Dreading hir babe in safetie doth she plaie None carefull now their treasures close to hide None watcheth now for doubt what may betide Britton but now with bluddie wars did rage And now faire concord doth all furie swage Now doth weare the great Castilian Crowne Dan Peter whose extremest rage was such As on him all his chiefest nobles frowne And vulgar commons at his doing gruch Some said his deeds whole Christendome did tuch The Pope the French and Arragon agree Him to depose and Henrie plast to be And for that cause the foresaid states do pay Sir Bertram Glesquins ransome vnto me For hundred thousand franks I said not nay From his gagd fiaunce cleere I set him free These states request me into their iorney As one to rule and speciall roume to beare I flat refusd my liking was not there Yet certaine of my princes knights did go When these troups assembled were in Spaine They thirtie thousand soldiers were and mo When ech considered the euill raine Of Peter and the nobles he had slaine They him depose and Henrie do adorne As king although Alphonsus bastard borne Thus he possest bestoweth right largelie And soldiers bountifull him account To Siuile citie first in haste doth flie Forsaken king thence to high sea doth mount Accompaned with Dan Casters in count Faithfull knight to Galitia ward amaine Making saile there of one castle faine Called Coulone on craggie cliffe strong plast Distressed selfe welth children and treasure There doubting staid sent trustie knight in haste T'acquitain with letters shewing the seasure Of bastard Henries wrongfull displeasure Vnto my Prince who thought too hard euent Was falne on him and too sharpe punishment Spitefull Fortune great enimie to those Of high degree what pastime canst thou take Through turning times thy selfe so to dispose Of mightie king meane fugitiue to make But peeuish selfe thou all men wilt forsake To highest things peasd leuell dost thou ame At sharpest fals thou makest sporting game A king but late vnto whose onely becke Whole Castile bowd liues like a prisner pend Dares not appeere for feare of too great checke And stateliest troupes of nobles with attend Remayns one knight like sad AEneas frend Large countries late obeid his bending will And now possest but barren basest hill The Prince cald me these letters in his hand And braue sir Thomas Phelton speedilie In most princely fauor we highly stand Sir Knights quoth he strange news is come to me Which vnto you shall soone imparted be Which don he wild as was his vsage Our opinions to so great voyage Then presently a parlement was cald To which repaird the noble Gascoine knights Arminack Gomigines Dalbreth stald In highest rooms from hence four woorthie Wights T'england sent as reason wils of rights King Edward he our iourney doth allow Fresh Iohn of Gaunt to go with vs doth vow Without delay into Nauar were wild Sir Thomas Phelton and my selfe to fleet We so exploit with iourney labring hild As with the king at Pampelune we meet From loued prince him do we nobly greet He promisd be at Bayon by a day With courteous leaue we home returne our way Our prince dan Peter both do meet him there With parle much at last he condescends Hard passages to ope that straightest were For which dan Peter promisd for amends The Groine and countrie shoring that extends To Sauater and more a hundred thousand franks Thus he an aid toth prince and all his ranks The prince two heraulds doth dispatch with speed To Castile ward giuing his knights to kno The purposd war and what he had decreed His pleasure knowne they came king Henrie fro But why they part they little to him sho Then Caueley Dabscote and bold Huet was Gay sir Iohn Deuereux all thence do passe Companions some hard not so soone this newes Safe to returne much toiling they endure King Henrie closely vp all passage mewes In dangerous state remaine the most vnsure The prince doubted his enimies might allure Them to their wils which well twelue hundred were Of pyked men in welding shield or spere At th' entrie of Foix inclosd they stay And may not pas th'erle doth flat forbid Them t' enter in his countrie any way Most noble prince of message send me did Toth Earle of Foix and shew him he would rid Him of these men and that what harme they should His countrie do that he remend it would The Erle accords to their safe passage I chaffer so as them I wholie hier Mongst whom in wars full many a trustie gage All which one word would worke to my desier To busie prince I hastelie retier These waged soldiers do themselues deuide By companies toard Acquitaine they ride Toward Tholouse some their rediest iourney take At Mountabon the riuer seeke to passe Sir Guy Dazay and Earle of Narbone make Quick sommons and of soldiers gether a masse Sir Iohn Comes Mountabons captaine was The French toth towne sent courrors riding T' see if companions would be stirring Sir Iohn demaunds why thus in armors drest They came t' inuade the principalitie They chaffing said our enimies with you rest Whom we will rouse for their iniquitie Sir Iohn sir Iohn you know not curtesie If thus you harbour the pillers of the land Here be their foes will wake them out of hand Lords he replide heer be some men of war Into Montaubon lately entered That with my Lord the prince retained ar And him must serue as is indented Better vndoon than soon repented Aduise you well ere forward you proceed My princes frowns you haue good cause to dreed But when our men tride and aduenterous Threatning enimies plast before them see To hazard battell hard and dangerous They ment ordaining ech thing feateouslie Though pressing enimies far more numbers be Sir Iohn Comes his soldiers all armed Then to assist great need required Sir Perducas Dalbreth sir Robert Cheney Passe all before requesting safe they might Go by in peace the Frenchmen fierce denie Then suddenly terrible was the fight Back to the towne our men were beaten right Nandon of Begerant and Burg of Bertvell Had rid all night and came in time so well Vnto their aid as foes were take or slaine Rich prisoners were woon and fienced Vpon their faiths which lost our men there gaine For with their othes the Pope dispenced Wherof our captains to me complained And wild redresse in this they thoughten wrong To me of Arms the iudgement did belong To cipher plainly how braue Lords did cum gaily beseen with valiant numbers How Lord Dalbreth was countermand his sum Of thousand spears wherat he woonders Or else what lets peect buisnes sunders Or all winter t'shew the princes charge Where things past count asking recitall large With buisnes much we pearse into Nauare With toiling more some streights we got beand Which asperous foule and stiepâ—e doubtles are Mantled with snow was all
strongly would such speed vnto them make That angred enimies should not get them out Doutles they were a braue and ventrous rout Ortigo Wisk and Bernard Delasale Who ouer a wall like anie cat would scale These three the castle of Belperch do gaine Olde Queene of Fraunce Duke Borbons mother there Made her abode great cause had she to plaine Such companions of her rulers were How so she plaine hard Fortune must she bere Ortigo Launt and Bernard Wysk I weene With sale right happie thus to rule a Queene From Quercy we from Burdell so retierd Both erles of Cambrig and of Penbroke It hauing wone as greatly they desierd Where sir Iohn Mountague at the skirmige toke Two brethren Batfoyls oft their hoste awoke At Angolesme arriued all by chaunce To ech the prince shewd lowly semblance Still purposing fierce foes with war to vex The Roch sur you a fortresse mightie strong Which enimies held we thought to ours tanex Iohn Bloudew captaine was the French among The peece toth Duke of Aniow did belong Thinking it against our power sure Ablie well one yeare strong to indure Attempting we gaind it in little space Madlie displeasd the fretting Duke his minde Poore Bloudew found with him but little grace For in a sacke some drowned do him finde In which the Duke some caused him to binde We returned of wished purpose sped The castle won and captaine Bloudew ded Magnanimous Proteselaue that desirde The threatning Troians first for to inuade Therby vnto perpetuall fame aspirde Of loftie honor gaining highest grade Before the best the ventring way he made So oftentimes when men do most dispise Their liues faire fame ene then doth highest rise Our Proteselaue at Poicters that vs led Sir Ieams Audley thrise renowmed knight Sharpe sicknes tooke causing him keepe his bed Wherin he dide with praises euer bright His funerall the prince caused be dight Most solemly himselfe in person there At Poycters where his bodie we Iteer Thus changing time about doth changes wheele Present in office I do him succeed Shortly making stoutest Frenchmen feele My being there I euer found good speed Which greatly made them stand of me in dreed Although bright sun heer Poyctow seemd to lose Yet many deemd another to them rose For Seneschall of Poyctow was I made Int ' Aniow then I ment to make a rode Gathered knights and men of warlike trade Th'erl of Penbroke at Mortain made abode Chandos my herauld vnto him he yode To ride with me him most humbly praying With his command he sent me the denaying At first he seemed gladly to agree AEmulous som about him that attend Affirmd the honor would remaine to me Of his iourney and farther do defend That by himselfe it honor was to wend. A batchelor I respecting his regard So he refusd but yet I forward fard Foorth sending hauing gathered som my friends Sir Thomas Percie who in sun bright banner raisd A blew lion rampine which difference fends From challenging sir Thomas Spencer plaisd With me to ride sir Eustace Dabscote seasd His launce and came sir Thomas Balester All in good will the French stout to master Sir Iohn Crinell sir Steuen Gouseton Three roses gold in Azurd shield had pend Sir Neal Loring who fairly Arms put on Quarterly white and red of guls a bend Sir Richard Dargenton doth knightly wend Who faire in Corall bar as we beheld Three siluer cups bright glistering in the field Burned Aniow bout Loundonoys we bide Right plentious rich and good the countrie was By Crewse green banks we Thourayn ouer ride Burning wasting that many shrike alas Thence to Vicount Rochaorts land we pas Sir Lewis Sanxer I hard did rest vs near Who Campain banner did sans difference bear Toth Earl this caused me to send againe Desierous this Marshall fresh to vew Created for old was sir Dandrehen Notwithstanding th'erl all this well knew He yet to me excuses framd of new I discontent for orgule that he did Refuse dischargd and back to Poycters rid Earl Iohn of Penbroke gatherd soldiers bold Entring spoild where late I left before A manche of rubie richly set in gold In banner ventelan en la vent he bore Rochaorts lands he burneth very sore One day by noon vnto Puirone he came The Frenchmen well aduised had the same Well purposing to rest him there all night Dismounting soone as one that dreaded nought His people all from off their horses light Some herbage for themselues and them they sought But here they all close in a trap were cought Sir Lewis Sanxer for the noueltie Of his new office sought for dignitie He knew the erl couragious gaie and yoong More sooner for to be intrapt then I His folks assaild the foemate was too strong At entrance they our Ladie Sanxer crie Of therls troupe a hundred and twentie die At greeting first therle him soone adrest Assembling fast his masd freends the neerest Sir Thomas Percey sir Baldwine Freuile Perceiuing strength and foes furiousnes Into a house their men within a while They drew the French making great ioyousnes Apperceiuing them well so succourles Saieng they should most dearely and suerly pay For their misdeeds before they went away So fierce assaile so fine defence againe So strong attempt and then so sure resist Such eger climing such tumbling downe amaine More briefer worke no soldier euer wist That afternoone the French their purpose mist Wearie and toild at night they make retrait The morrow morne determind of their fait Ne could they scape so hardlie inclosed The French men thought they had them sure and fast Good watch they kept least any escaped Distressed erl strange misse auenture cast And found himselfe oppressed sore at last For vittaile none nor comfort ought at all But helpfull hands and bad thin stonie wall At silents hower and darkest of the night Good squier he cald in whom he trusted much Intreating him with swiftest speed he might To Poycters considering danger such From needfull iourney true squier doth not gruch From postern parting wandred vp and downe All night could finde no way to Poycters towne Till broad day his horse then wearie was Yet traueling by nine to me he came Found me kneeling as custome vsd at masse The state of his left Lords doth plainly frame Repeating oft the erle of Penbroks name Praieng aide greatly I repinde At former act so easely not inclinde Pawsing a space then dinner was prepard And I disposd to dine before I went About this time the fight exceeding hard The erle a second squier to me hent Willing him ride ragd foes for to preuent From finger taking his knowne ring of gold Chandos from me salute praie him he wold Giue me releefe so hardly in distresse By storming foes who many ladders brought Right egerly ascending to oppresse Them toild within so vertuously they wrought That desperate climers deerely climing bought So well induring as woonder was to see So weake a place defended strong to bee