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
the same Pleasant musicke to sound mild victors name Armed knight true staie of commonwealth Selfe gouerning in goodly temperaunce Conseruer of her cheefest states in health Good winner of her peacefull plesaunce For lawyer none could plead his ordinaunce Vnles thy armed bodie did defend Him and the thing whereto his speech doth tend Departed life the Prince my heire remaind Vnto my goods which great esteemed were Foure hundred thousand Franks which I had gaind In wars pursuit of body I had no heire On expert knight King Edward loued deare Sir Allain Bocquesels who bare in shield of gold A Lion blew that siluer fret did fold Saint Saluiours lands sir Godfrey Harcourts Late he bestowd and sir Thomas Percie My office had and thus coy fortune sourts Some now aloft and then cast downe we see Thus gasing stages euer filled bee He was he is he is vp and now he is downe He liues he dies here is here was the towne Ah throughfare full of balefull miseries Hard passage couerd with sharp thretning rocks Vile toilsome life subiect to destinies Mad fools on stage whom flouting fortunes mocks Poore silly sheepe to slaughter led by flocks Drunke peeuish men whom safties thought confound Dreaming they neuer shall consume in ground As silent night brings quiet pawse at last To painfull trauels of forepassed day So closing death doth rest to labors cast Making of our toilfull worke a stay Thoughts griefes sad cares are bandon then away In pomp and glory though braue daies we spend Yet happie none vntill be knowen his end FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY CAPITALL DE BVZ THE HONORABLE LIFE AND LANGVISHING DEATH OF SIR IOHN DE GRALHY CAPITALL DE BVZ one of the Knights elected by the first founder of the Garter into that noble order And somtime one of the principall Gouernors of Guyen Ancestor to the French King that now is LOVE is a thing that cannot be compeld Nor further wrested then his liking growes Not mines of wealth nor honors glory weld Nor blandisment with hir faire pleasing shoes Not gastfull death from which great horror growes Not lothd imprisonment nor loue of libertie Nor sad conceits plungd in perplexitie The more you striue the more you vainely striue Thinking to mooue a constant setled mind Such one as seeks not after gainfull thriue But firmely doth his thoughts to honor bind And troubles makes him faster for to twind Fast gaged band of loue and scornes to liue More rather then the same he will vnriue Rather then that one iot of plighted truth Good valiant hart will swerue from voud behest It suffer will much woe and pining ruth With endles griefes and torments ouer prest For true loue dwels but in a valiant brest Harboreth but in high Heroique thought For cowards loue is fickle light and nought Record my selfe a knight in Gascoine borne And to the house of Foix by wife allide Germaine Remond from him fame did adorne With Phoebus surname for his wittie guide His honor wealth estate were bruted wide For errant knights such as braue Arms professe Right welcome these strange knights his chiefest gesse And vnder him I first gan Arms to wear Learnd faire to ride and tame the raging steed To don my helme and couch my thretning spear To brandish sword to serue his maisters need That daring foe by these his end might reed To weld resisting shield with gold bedight On sables crosse fiue siluer scallops bright The English partie strongly I maintaind And euer armd against the crowne of Fraunce Much honor praise and noblenes I gaind Most highly me king Edward did aduaunce Deckt in his knightly Garter gay I praunce Mongst first elected is my name enrold And euer went my valure vncontrold At Poicters field in battelous aray I raunged was among the hardie knights My shining pennon wefting I display Amid the throngs in thickest of the fights On whom soeuer my sad axe it lights Is either feld or slaine or prisoner bound So dealt I death and many a dolefull wound Sir Charls D'artoys and many knights were tane By me and mine that ransoms rich we gaine For through the presse I pressing made a lane Of ventring Arms delighted with the paine No trifling heere nor leasure was to faine But fight or die or yeeld with foule reproofe Defend assaile for honor and behoofe The battaile wone our furie all was laid In such triumphant iolitie we groe That ech one thinks him selfe so well apaid As numbers of our captiues we let goe On their gagd faiths we trust them euen soe Word and deed deare Christian blood is saude The conquest ours the thing we onely craud The noble mind nought but the conquest seeks And where the quarrels but for titles cause Faire wars should be not like reuenging Greeks Whom scattered blood and fier made to pawse For as our God is iust in all his lawes Plagues the murtherous and bloodthirstie mind With blood for blood as those fell Greeks did find I ouer passe the taking of King Iohn His yoongest son and many a great estate The numbers slaine of Erles and Lords ech one But fortune here did yoong Lord Barckeley mate Pursuing foe with swift and speedie gate With courage stout through too much courage lost His iorney did a Barons ransom cost A squier he spide to void the field in hast Well mounted braue he after him doth hie The French lookt backe and was not much agast Though fine in Armes the Lord he dight espie In field of gneuls ten formed croslets bee Of siluer bright a cheuron them betweene Full knightly Lord one might him easly deeme This skilfull squier a warie man at Armes Practisde in fight and heedy in his deed The Lord venterous dreadles of all harms Fast spurring coms as he that thought to speed But fortune him a little faild at need Right poysent bloe he stroke and haples mist For th 'others checke hit right vpon his wrist Th'incountring stroke did force his sword to fall Into the field the Lord dismounted streight As he no misaduenture could apall But as he stoupt the squier by cunning sleight Picketh his sword and pearst his thies with weight Iohn Helens light the Lord his prisoner swore Drew out his sword and from the field him bore Such doth of wars the rare aduentures fall Most sonst to loose when least we do mistrust Now was blacke prince so buissie t'order all His great affairs abstaine a space he must From Armes but I lest that mine Armour rust With cosen Foix to war in Pruce do wend Where Sarisines soules full fast to hell we send Like Christian knights on miscreants we war High honor gaine and home we ment returne But now in France was falne so foule a iar To heare the same ech honest eare would burne The pesant French did at the gentle spurne No Scythian nor lothd Parthian act So monstrous euer both for forme and fact This clownish rabble by troups assembled Vntill that they six thousand were
I mistake that then it would please such as be of iudgement or skill to iustifie the same as well done and I shall most willinglie yeeld to authoritie and reason and so not speaking but vnder correction I saie that first I find as I conceiue some blame to be imputed in your selues which be professed soldiers that where your ancestors and al others generallie did in their standards banners and pennons shew foorth to the viewe and face of the enimie certaine faire ancient and knowne marks which their elders for the most part had vsuallie before time carried or at least themselues had then taken if they but then were in their rising age wherby their owne people were in a goodlie and decent order conducted and led and their enimies verie much terrified when they should see those marks shewed foorth the owners whereof had in their memories by plaine feat of armes ouerthrowne their parents or happely themselues beaten them out of the fielde razed downe their castels and fortresses sacked their townes and cities wasted and spoiled their countries ransomed their people and generally so daunted and amazed them that it was sometimes found to be true that verie bare names of some valiant persons ouercame whole armies I can not but blame you of all sorts which shall make choise of banners which you call colors so curtein like and so far from all due order of Ancient bearing as may be and for your parts which are descended from Ancestors of marke I would be glad to heare any reason from you to what end you should lay the same a side and make choise of a curtein in the place thereof And you others whose wisedome and valure haue gained you the reputation of a charge I would gladly also heare from you what should moue you to be of that mind as not to take some conuenient marke such a one as may be thought meete by authority for you whereby you may gaine an honor both to your selues and your posteritie and by your good vsage thereof much enlarge the reputation you haue by your valours obtained An other thing that is amisse as I take it and hath great need to be reformed is the quartering of many marks in one shield coate or banner for sithence it is true that such marks serue to no other vse but for a commander to lead by or to be knowen by it is of necessitie that the same be apparent faire and easie to be discerned so that the quartering of many of them together doth hinder the vse for which they are prouided As how is it possible for a plaine vnlearned man who may be as good a soldier in some respects as the best to discerne and know a sunder six or eight what speake I of six or eight sometimes thirtie or fortie seuerall marks clustered all together in one shield or banner nay though he had as good skill as Robert Glouer late Somerset that dead is and the eies of an Egle amongst such a confusion of things yet should he neuer be able to decipher the errors that are daily committed in this one point nor discerne or know one banner or standard from another be the same neuer so large So that except it be to be made in a pedegree or descent to locke vp in an euidence chest therby to shew mens titles to their lands or the Alliences and kindreds of their houses otherwise as I say I see not to any vse in the world they serue specially so many together to be made vpon a mans vesture Target or banner and therefore I could wish that euery man would content himselfe with his owne peculiar coate of name and not to vse aboue one quartered therewith at the most which one yet doth not so much trouble the capacitie of a man but that he may both know and discerne a banner or shield well ynough And this one do I the rather esteeme well of to be borne for that a Prince or Noble man making challenge or title to any Countrie for which he is forced to make warres before he can obtaine it it will be a goodly thing for him to shew foorth his standard of the Armes of that Countrie quartered with his owne amongest those people which in reason and conscience owe him duety and obedience to the end that they may thereby be the sooner induced to submit themselues to their true and lawfull soueraine as his subiects And for that cause as I take it King Edward the third and his valiant sonnes deuised and shewed foorth the Armes of France and England quartered together and although my Author saith that Iaques Dartuell a honie trier of Gaunt was the first deuiser thereof yet will I not beleeue otherwise but that the principall reasons that led the king thereto was to make knowne the iustnes of his title to that kingdome where he then intended to make warres But now it may be obiected sithence a Prince or great Lord may haue title to seuerall Countries that therefore it is necessarie for him to beare all such tokens or marks as he hath title too To this I answere that although I could yeeld to them but that it will bring the confusion aforesaid yet is it of no such necessity for that a man needs to shew his title but onely to them whom he means to subdue and if it should fortune that he had title to diuers and seuerall Countries and that he would make warres to them all at once yet should it not be needfull to him to shew foorth any more marks quartered in one standard but onely vnto euery seuerall countrie the Armes of that nation quartered with his owne But this being the case of Kings and Princes wherein amongest others our most famous noble and worthy kings and princes of this land haue shewed themselues most prudent and wise to what purpose is it that others being but commanders vnder their prince and which of themselues haue neither title to countrie nor are able to maintaine wars should in their princes seruice pester their banners and shields with such an infinite number as many do And in this point I cannot ynough commend the Baron of Stafford who heerin sheweth his great skill and temperance for althongh his Ancestors haue had title to quarter the marks of that valiant Thomas of Wodstocke yoongest sonne of King Edward the third Earle of Buckingham and Duke of Glocester of Bohune Earle of Hereford and Northanton and high Cunstable of England and also of that great house of Somerset which by their ancestor Iohn Earle of Somerset yoonger sonne to Iohn of Gaunt descended from the same king Edward the third I omit to speake of diuers Barons and others of great estate whose heires both with reuenue and honor enlarged greatly his family yet the said Baron contents himselfe with the paternall marke of his house and neuer so much as dreames of any other far differing from a number of meaner persons who if they possesse any
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
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
t'high mountaine land Horse nor man scarce on their feete might stand Our armie closd in three we do deuide That one might passe whilst other two abide On munday armd like youthfull Troyilus And fresh as he in all his iolitie As stirring weldie and as cheualrous As Chaucer makes him in felicitie Past Iohn of Gaunt and with him passed I Twelue hundred pensils vnder me remaine Wrought with my armes that glisteren on the plaine On twesday past our Hector princelie Spanish Peter and Charls king of Nauare Lewis Harcourt in barons dignitie Sir Thomas Phelton well drest for war His brother William of selfe had little care King of Malorques on wensday ouer came Accompaned with Lords of peereles fame Erle Arminak Dalbreth bold Gascoynes all Pomiers Gomigines and stout Mucident And of Buiff couragious capitall Lord Clisson and sir Robert Canol went Barnerdle Sall that was to scaling bent Of Rounceuauls we haue forsake the streights Which flieng Fame to bastard Henrie beits And more how we strong Sauatar had won Placed at the entrie into Spaine When storming king all hard what we had don He sommons forst and doth such numbers gaine Entring in armes into the open plaine Which newes foreriders to the prince haue tould Who saith the bastard valiant is and bould The cherefull trumpet soundeth to addres Fresh knights furbishen armors hastelie And many squiers to stirre vp hardines The noble prince doth knight immediatelie Some made the duke and some were made by me But th'ennimie battaile doth denie before Braue Frenchmen come in number fortie score Right warlike band which bold sir Bertram led And wise sir Arnole Cleped Dandrehen With heedie toiling wairie iourney sped At Spannish campe ariuing with their men It hapt vnto king Henries brethren when They new were come to ride our hoste to vew With the attempt some haples ouerthrew Strike fierce into the Canton where I set The watch I stirring they recoile with speed Returning they with both the Pheltons met Which foorth were rid to do some valiant deed With hundreds two well Armed for their need Sir Richard Cauton sir Hugh Hastings With other knights of faire proceedings These Spaniards six thousand were no lesse And when our English once they had espide Which little mountaine t' aue had in distresse With shooting ioy amaine they toard them ride Where many a skilfull feat of war was tride But in the end they were all take but one And he too rash doth lose himselfe alone For when he saw proud Spaniards placed In leueld plaine his sharp gleiue he taketh His hard resisting sheild he soone imbraced Towards the thickest speedie hast he maketh One stroke he dead then bright sword he shaketh So vigorously in his threatning hand And stroke and foynd and lasht whilst he might stand Armed he was in red most glorious Two Ermin Lions passant crowned gold With Scottish treasure diffrence spatious His brother and his friends the fight behold And saw his ending too aduenterous bold Raging furor fair knighthood doth confound Sir William Phelton brought dead to ground Spaniards of faire aduenture ioyious The leaders were king Henries bretheren Their iourney to their brother prosperous They glad declare shew prisoners taken Great thanks he gaue and residue threaten Soft stepped foorth a soldier bold and wise Praying the king heerin to take aduise Sir saue your grace your speech I not gain say But yonder 's armed manie a prooued knight As euer rangde in battelous affray Hardie in Arms and matchles in strong might If with stout prince you do assemble fight You l find no fliers what so ere betide Twixt life and death toth vntraunce thei le abide In reuerent sort vnto your grace I speake Abstain from war let fierce enimies be Contagious aire will make their strongest weake Your countrie left behind them shall you see They pincht with want it so will chaunce that we May fight with them who present are the flower Of cheualrie of wisdom and of power Marshall replide the king I so desier The princes power with good power to meet He shall not by my fathers soule retier Till him I do in ioined battell greet Seuen thousand I haue armed head and feet Of genetors full twentie thousand more And threescore thousand which haue truly swore Me not to faile therefore sir Arnole I A basht to be may seeme to haue no cause Stout willing numbers vowd haue with me to die Yet full six daies vpon these things they pause We forward come compeld by hungers lawse The swift riuer near to the groyne we passe Where as we find a better soile for grasse At entrance first when we approched Spaine King Henrie seald letter sent our Prince Requesting knowledge and the title plaine Why so with power he sought him to conuince The Herauld was retained euer since He came till now wherein seuen weeks spent Now backe by him his answer thus he sent That his true cosen he was come to aide In rightfull cause as iustice doth desier Therefore quoth he Earle Cristmer hauing waid Your great wrong thus to the Crowne t'aspier Am come in armes but yet I faire requier You both t' accord right king to haue the crowne Your selfe rich lands but if at this you frowne Then you chiefe cause of slaughter spoile and blood Which I God knowes am passing loth to shee l I wish you would well ponder of the good We offer and not trust th' uncertaine speed Of fickle chaunce so careles in hit heed Here rest your frends if that you say not nay Dated from Groyne in March the thirtith day This Herauld gon his letters red with all Sir Bertram said now shortly shall we haue A doo therefore O noble King let call Ech officer his charge to order braue The hawtie prince doth nought but battaile craue Replide the king I little do him dreed Good hope is of a furtherance to the speed Int ' three their fights the first sir Bertram lad Aduentrous French and strangers where with him Th'erls of Dancell and sanxes second had Greatly renowmed cause they late did win The third stout King martiall passing trim A hundred thousand the one and other were Right noblie seene before vp deckt appere As busie king pricketh from ranke to ranke Neerer Naueret we a little drew Where they behold vs raised on a banke From vnder which we all the vallies vew Couerd with helms whose banners some I knew Gainst me ear this reasd had they been and borne Taken and beat and all too peeces torne Sir Bertram Glesquine thimperiall egle bare In siluer gulie baston ouer all Sixe white spur rowels Dandrahen doth reare In field of red a checkered fes doth stall Of th'on and th' other colour then I call My banner for vproled I hit bring Vnto my Prince in presence Spanish king Beloued Lord behould my banner hear Vouchsafe the pains it to vnfould for me Graunting licence this day it vp to rear Thanks good Father yours
and your large bountie Faire lands I hold t' maintaine it in degree The Prince and King as two that all vs rules Disuellope siluer a sharpned pile of gules Right well they wish with dutie I depart To my good freends companions feareles Take here my banner and yours with good hart Which all you beare in greatest buisnes I said I know your valuers peareles All plast on foote all ordred be so well That prieng spite would say we did excell Here mightie prince the cristall skies beheld Praieng to God the iourney might be ours Aduance he cride God shall the buisnes weld Duke Iohn and I fierce charge the stragers powers Dashing with force as some mightie towers Together rusht right long lasteth the fraie Or either could be opened any way Much foyning here with speares and axes fell Much rushing here with shields and pauish strong Much striuing here ech other to excell Much strugling here as hapneth in like throng And by much strength we mixe ech other among Amongst the rest was I feld to the ground And Spannish captaine fallen on me I found Cald Martine Ferrant greatly in esteeme Amongst his nation for his woorthines In dangerous furie I drew a knife full keene That oft I wore and through true valiantnes I deadly wounded Martine dredles Slaine he abides streight vp rose I againe Rescude by right valiant friends with paine Like chaffed Lion scaped from the toile Amide his foes fell ragd in angrie moode Heer byting one there doing other foile Inflamd I fare as furious Lion wood Amongst the French tride matchles soldiers good Excepting vs we forced them t'open Whereby aray and order all was broken Well to report they knightly did their power Vs to resist which prooud companions were Sir Robert Cheney sir Perducas a flower In mars his field sir Robert Bricquet there Laid him about too long to name them here Fierce foughten so as wonder t' was to see All these bould French or slaine or taken bee Too sloe I praise couragious Iohn of Gaunt Like Priams sonne strong broyling mid his foes All timorousnes from him bed he auaunt And boldly in amongst the thickest throes Such poissant weldie and so thicke his bloes Whom sound he hits with staggring steps doth reel They knew it sure that his sad thundring feel Sir Bertram and sir Arnold taken were I taking none attended to the fight Yet many a Lord about me taken nere On King Henrie we driue with all our might Who shewed himselfe a kingly leader right Most terrible and stormie grew the fray And stout Henrie did many fliers stay Princely Edward mirror of Cheualrie Accompaned with martiall puissance So hotte assaild the enimies fast do flie Recouering horse some swift away do praunce Desierous Henrie with gentle semblaunce Returnd them oft braue Edward beat them thence As oft for nought gainst him could ablie fence Which pestilence when stout King Henrie sawe Assuredly if taken to be slaine From out so sharp a tempest doth withdraw Quickly mount we vnto our horse againe Chasing our foes fleeing lost field amaine Great slaughter and miserable drowning Of those that sought the riuers passingâ— Some do repasse the bridge to Naueret neare Sad towne right fast their flying friends receaue Hard pursued and surprisde with feare Take is the towne where many life do leaue Of trustiest hope we flatly them bereaue Of saint Iames grand Prior chiefe of Calcan Both taken here with many a valiant man Proud Darius Campe was little richer When Macedonian soldiers entred Gold siluer vessels glorious glister Things that increase stout soldiers venter To reaching thought these toyes no tempter Yet meaner soldier that liueth by the ware Of his maintenance ought to haue some care Dam Peter would the prisoners all to die But gentle Prince their pardons doth obtaine Reason wild him no demand denie But lowlie said high Prince the realme of Spaine By your good vertue t' me restord againe When tidings came how Henrie safe was fled He was perplext and pesterd in his hed Thus turning times their changes often haue Thus fortune fraile is mouing too and froe Thus things that are do passe and others craue Their place which hasting after them do goe Mad fortune like vnconstant wind doth bloe What was not is what is right soone doth cease Now ruffling war then sweet temperat peace What sots be we to heed so great a care For worldlines that no man can combine In saftie what dolts sweetest sleepe to spare For earthly trifles slipper then the slime No earthly great but wasted is with time He crownd he fled he fled and then he crownd Regno Regnaui fortunes wheele goth round This act knowen wrought contrarie effects Our friends reioyst ther 's great sorrow make Ours hopt with ioy ther 's worser ils suspects Then be for most mens harts will quake Dreding worst till best the better make This spanish Peter dealeth very ill With noble Prince possessed of his will Fairly possest all Spaine is at his beck Vanisht so great a hundred thousand armd Gay fortunes fauns after frowning check Too small a salue where thou so greatly harmd Fie on thy spite so many nobles charmd For euer long Dam Peter proud was slaine And bastard Henrie crowned king againe Most countries famd faire prince to highest skies Him woorthie thought Imperiall crowne to weare Goodly his fame for princely praise doth rise Three mightie kings by him discomferd were Of which the brauest he away did beare Th' other two as Philip and Henrie Fast fled the field and feard his cheualrie No couenant held king Peter that he seald To our good prince i th vale of oliues staid Sent to him knights but smally that auaild Delaying scuces for himselfe he laid Which soundest counsell circumstances waid Sir Dandrehen the beugie of vitams were Exchangd for knights of ours late taken there Sir Thomas Phelton sir Richard Cawton Sir Hue Hastings armd gold we do redeem With gulie manuch and siluer labell on These taken were thought act of high esteem By Henries brethren dastads plainly seem Parching drought and hot infesting aire Causes vrging hastie home repaire Huge vastie Ocean stirred with large wind High mounting waues demonstrat mightie rage So shipmen tost and toild themselues do find Esteeming that stormes neuer will asswage Till drenched bodies pawned be in gage So AEolus huffs so billowes big arise As to be lost ech man himselfe doth prise Vnexpected so gently breaths a calme As gliding channell smilingly doth pas The wanton Dolphin dallieth on ech walme Large sea it selfe seemeth as smooth as glas Sweete cheerefull songs are chaunted for alas The sayler drinks quicke boy hies to the top Ech nouist stands and doth on hatches hop Glistering swords vnshethed for reuenge Blacke thretning frowns fell furie felt withall The rumored noise and sound of armors clenge is husht to battaile none doth trumpet call Scaling ladders reare none against the wall Now rage now calme now war now pleasant peace