the cause of Thomas of Canterbury against the Tyrant of England King Henry sends likewise with all speed Roger Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of Winchester London Chichester and Excester Guido Rufus Richard Iuechester and Iohn of Oxford Clerkes William Earle of Arundell Hugh de Gundeuile Bernard de Saint Walleric and Henry Fitz Gerrard to informe the Pope of the whole cause and preuent the Archbishoppes complaint The multitude and greatnesse of the Commissioners shewed the importance of the Ambassage and the Kings earnest desire to haue his cause preuaile They finde the Pope at the Citie of Sens to whom they shewed how peruers and disobedient the Archbishoppe had behaued himselfe to his Soueraigne Lord the King of England how hee alone refused to obay his Lawes and Customes which hee had sworne to doe and that by his peeuish waywardnesse the Church and Kingdome were like to bee disturbed which otherwise would agree in the reformation thereof as was fit and necessary and therefore they besought him as hee tendred the peace of the Church of England and the loue of the King their Soueraigne not to giue credit or grace to a man of so turbulent and dangerous a spirit This Information notwithstanding earnestly vrged they found mooued not any disposition in the Pope to fauour the Kings cause so that in the end They besought him to send two Legats ouer into England to examine the particulars of this businesse and how it had beene carried and in the meane time to admit no other information of the cause but referre it to their relation The Pope refuses to send any Legat the commissioners depart without any satisfaction And with in foure dayes after comes the Archbishop and prostrates himselfe at the Popes seete deliuers him a coppie of those Lawes which the King called his Grandfathers Lawes which being openly read in the presence of all the Cardinals Clergie and many other people the Pope condemned them for euer and accursed those who obeyed or any way fauoured them Those Lawes among the Statutes of Clarendon which the Archbishop so much oppugned and most offended the Clergie were as by his owne letter to the Bishop of London appeares these especially That there should bee no appeale to the Apostolike Sea without the Kings leaue That no Archbishoppe or Bishoppe should goe out of the Realme but by the Kings permission That no Bishoppe excommunicate any who held of the King in Capite or interdict any officiall of his without the Kings leaue c. That Clergie men should bee drawne to secular iudgements That Lay men as the King and other should handle causes of the Church Tythes and such like And these were daungerous incrochments vpon their liberties But now the King seeing his Ambassage to take no effect and withall in a manner 1166. Anno. Reg. 12. contemned presently makes his heauie displeasure and the scorne hee tooke knowe by his seuere Edicts both against the Pope and the Archbishoppe that they might see what edge his secular powre had in this case ordayning That if anie were found carrying Letter or Mandat from the Pope or Archbishoppe contayning any The Kings Edicts against the Pope and his agents interdiction of Christianity in England should bee taken and without delay executed as a Traytor both to the King and Kingdome That whatsoeuer Bishop Priest Monke or Conuerser in anie Order Clerke or Layman should haue and retaine any such letters should forfeit all their possessions goods and chattells to the King and bee presently banished the Realme with their kinne That no Clergie men Monke or other should bee permitted to passe ouer Sea or returne out of Normandie into England without letters from the Iustices here or from the King being there vpon paine to bee taken as a Malefactor and put in hold That none should appeale to the Pope That all Clerkes which had any reuenue in England should returne into the Realme within three monethes vpon paine of forfeiting their estates to the King That Peter Pence should bee collected and sequestred till the Kings pleasure were farther knowne Besides this hee banishes all that were found to bee any way of kinne to the Archbishop without exception of condition sex or yeres And withall takes occasion vpon the Scisme which was then in the Church to renounce Pope Alexander and incline to the Emperors faction which stood thus After the death of Adrian the fourth Rouland a Geneuese and a great enemy of the The Election of two Popes Empire is by two and twenty Cardinalls elected Pope by the name of Alexander the third to which election foure Cardinals opposed and made choyce of Octauian a Citizen of Rome that would be called Victor the first The Emperor Frederic Barbarossa summons these two Popes to a Concel at Pauia to vnderstand determin their right Alexander makes the old answere that the Pope could not be iudged by any man liuing refuses to appeare before the Emperour and withdrawes into Anagnia Victor consents to appeare there or wheresoeuer the Emperour would appoint so that he was the man for that side But all the other Princes of Christendom except those of the Emperours faction acknowledge Alexander for Pope as elected by most voyces And especially by the King of France who called him thither and at Cocy vpon Loyr he and the King of England receiued him with all honour and reuerence in so much as they are sayd to haue attended vpon his Stirrop the one on the right hand the other on the left after this he calls a Councell at Tours whether the Kings of England Spaine and Hungarie send their Ambassadors and there are the constitutions of the Councell of Pauia and the Emperours confirmation of Victor nullified so that Alexander hauing his party dayly increasing in Italy was shortly after receiued into Rome Notwithstanding all this the King of England finding him so auers in this businesse Falls off from him renounces his Authority turnes to the Emperours faction seekes to strength himselfe with the Princes of Germanie consents to match his daughter Maude to the Duke of Saxony at the motion of Reginald Archbishop of Collen sent ouer by the Emperour for that purpose and intertaines a motion for another daughter to bee matched with the Emperours sonne But now by reason this contrary faction to Pope Alexander grew to bee but feeble all this working did the King no good but exasperates the Pope and sets him on the more to support the cause of the Archbishop who sollicites the Clergie of Pope Alexanders letter to the Clergie of England England threatnes intreats adiures them not to forsake their hold nor giue way to the inuador of their liberties which sought to confound the Priesthood and the Kingdome and if they opposed not mainely at the first but suffered the least breach to bee made vpon them they were vndone Then excommunicates hee all the especiall Ministers of the King that adhered to the Teutonicque faction or held
so was it in this and therefore the lesse worthy of thankes The Legat was well payed for his paynes and notwithstanding the great distresse of the Kingdome carries away twelue thousand Markes with him to Rome But thus the long afflicted state began to haue some peace and yet with many distemp ratures at the first ere those virulent humors which the warre had bred were otherwise diuerted For many of the Nobles who had taken part with the King either vnsatisfied in their expectations or knowing not how to maintaine themselues and theirs but by rapine fall to mutinie surprizing of Castles and making spoyles in the Country as the Earle of Albemarle Robert de Veypont Foulke de Brent Brian de Liste Hugh de Bailioll with many other but at length they are likewise appeased And seeing the warre must nurse whom it had bred an Action is vndertaken for the Holy Land whither Ralph Earle of Chester Saer de Quincy Earle of Winchester William de Albeny Earle of Arundle Robert Fitz Walter William de Harcort with many other are sent with great forces Besides to vnburthen the Kingdome all strangers vnlesse such as came with Merchandize are commanded to auoyde the Land and all meanes vsed for the regayning the ability it had lost And no sooner had this prouident Protector the Earle of Pembrooke setled the The death of the Protector Earle Marshall Kings affaires but he dies to the great regrate of the Kingdome leauing behinde him a most Noble memorie of his actiue worth and is to bee numbred amongst the examples of the best of men to shew how much the Wisdome and Valour of a potent Subiect may steed a distracted State in times of danger The Bishop of Winchester imparting the charge with many other great Councellors is made Protector of the young King who in An. Reg. 4. is againe Crowned and the next yeare after hath by Parliament graunted for Elcuage two Markes of Siluer of euery Knights fee for the affaires of the Kingdome and recouery of his transmarine The King againe crowned 1. Parliament Dominions which now is designed and Malleon de Sauerie the Poictouine with William Long sword Earle of Salsburie sent ouer into Guien to try the affections of that people whom they finde for the most part inclinable to the obedience of this Crowne The King of France is required to make restitution of what hee had vsurped but returnes answere that what hee had gotten both by forfeiture and Law of Armes hee would holde To retayne amitie with Scotland and peace at home Ioan the Kings Sister is giuen 1220. Anno. Reg. 5. in marriage to Alexander King of Scots and Margueret sister to the same King to Hubert de Burgh now made Iusticiar of England and the especiall man who guided the greatest affaires of the Kingdome Wales reuolting vnder their Prince Lewelin gaue occasion of great charge and trouble to this State in the beginning of this Kings raigne and long after till it was wholy subdued And a commotion in Ireland made by Hugh Lacy is appeased by William Earle of Pembrooke sonne to the late great Marshall 1221. Anno. Reg. 6. and some few yeares after hath the Kingdome a kinde of quietnesse sauing that Falcasius or Foulke de Brent with certaine Chatelaynes the dregs of war fortifying the Castle of Belford with some other peeces of strength and committing many outrages gaue occasion of businesse till they were gotten by hard assault But now the King being come to some yeares of vnderstanding was in a Parliament holden at London put in minde by the Archbishop of Canterbury in behalfe of the State of his Oath made and taken by others for him vpon the peace with Louys for confirmation of the liberties of the Kingdome for which the warre began with his father and being the mainebase wheron his owne good and that of his people must subsist without which the whole State would againe fall a sunder they would haue him to know it betime to auoyde those miserable inconueniences which the disvnion of 1222. Anno. Reg. 7. Rule and Obedience might bring vpon them all which though it were impiously there oppugned as Princes shall euer finde mouthes to expresse their pleasures in what course soeuer they take by some ministers of his amongst whom one William Brewer a Councellor is named who vrged it to haue beene an act of constraint and therefore 2. Parliament not to be performed was notwithstanding promised at that time by the King to bee ratifyed and twelue knights or other Legall men of euery shire by writs charged to examen what were the Lawes and Liberties which the Kingdome enioyed vnder his Grandfather and returne the same by a certaine day and so by that vsuall shift of Prolongation the businesse was put off for that time to the greater vexation of that following For during all his raigne of sixe and fifty yeares the Longest of any King of England this put him to the greatest imbroylement made him ill beloued of his paople euer crost in his intendements and farre a lesse King onely by striuing to be more then he was the iust reward of violations And euen this first pause vpon the lawfull requisition thereof turnd the bloud shew'd how sensible the state was in the least stoppage of that tender vaine For presently the Earles of Chester Albimarle with many other great men assemble at Lecester with intent to remoue from the K. Hugh de Burgh chiefe Iusticiar and other officers supposed to hinder this motion But the Archbishop of Canterbury by his spirituall power and the rest of the nobility more carefull to preserue the peace of the Kingdome stood to the King and would not suffer any proceeding in this kind so as the Lords effected nothing at that time but were constrained to come in and submit Resumptions themselues And here the king by parliament resumes such alienations as had bin made by his Ancesters of what had apertayned to the Crowne whereby he might haue the 1223. Anno. Reg. 8. more meanes of his owne without pressing his subiect but this serued not his turne The next yeare after another Parliament is held at Westminster wherein is required the fiftieth part of all moueables both of the Clergy and Layetie for the recouery of those parts in France withheld from this crowne by Louys now King contrary to his 3 Parliament oath and promise made here in England at his departure Which motion though it concerned the honour and dignity of this Kingdome being the inheritance of the King and the Estates of most of the Nobility and other the subiects who had lands and possessions in those parts which no doubt they desired to recouer with their vtmost means yet would they not yeeld to the graunt of this subsidy but vpon confirmation of their liberties which in the end they obtayned in the same words and forme as King Iohn had graunted them in the
desires hee might not receiue detriment whence hee expected fauour as a brother and friend Adding in the end that if the King would be aduised by him hee would by powre free this Kingdome from that vniust tribute which Innocentius the 3 and other Popes had layde vpon it These letters pleased the Assembly and animated them the rather to deny the Popes Mandate The interposition of this businesse tooke vp so much time as nothing else was done in this Parliament onely they granted an Ayde to the King for the marriage of his daughter twenty shillings of euery Knights fee and that with much adoe and repetition of all former Aydes After this vpon a light occasion the King vndertakes an expedition of great charge against Alexander King of Scots for which euery Baron which held in Capite Spirituall and Lay were commanded to bee ready withall Military prouision due for that seruice Whereunto likewise repaires Thomas Earle of Flaunders with three score Knights and a hundred other seruants thirsting for the Kings money whose vnnecessarie Another Greeuanees of the Barons comming was ill taken by the Barons of Eng. as if the strength of the Kingdome without him were not sufficient for that Action which was as sodainely ended as vndertaken by a faire conclusion of Peace with King Alexander a Prince highly commended for his vertues by the Writers of that time Vpon his returne againe that Winter he assembles another Parliament wherein hee moues for an Ayde vpon a designe he had for Wales and to supply his wants and pay 13 Parliament his debts which were vrged to be so great as he could not appeare out of his chamber for the infinite clamor of such to whom he owed for his Wine Wax and other necessaries of House But they all to his face with one voyce refused to grant him any thing Wherevpon other violent courses are taken An ancient quarrell is found out against the city of London for which they are commanded to pay fifteene thousand Markes And Passeleise the Kings Clerke is imployed with others in a most peremptory commission to inquire of all such lands as had beene inforrested and either to fine the occupiers An inquirie about Lands inforested which bred great greeuances thereof at their pleasure or take it from them and sell the same to others Wherein such rigor was vsed as multitudes of people were vndone So vnsafe are priuate mens estates where Princes fall into so great wants Passeleue for his good seruice in this businesse should haue beene prefeired to the Bishopricke of Chichester but the Bishop withstood the king therein Now in regard to shew the King the Estate of his kingdome and the oppression of Popes Inquiry was made of the reuenues which the Romans and Italians had in England which was found to be annually sixty thousand Markes being more then the An inquiry of the Popes reuenues in Eng yearely reuenues of the Crowne of England which so moued the King as hee caused the same to be notified withall other exactions by his procurators to the general councell now assembled at Lyons Which with the ill vsage of Martin so vexed the Pope as he is said to haue vttered these words It is fit that wee make an end with the Emperor that 1245. Anno. Reg. 29. we may crush these Petty Kings for the Dragon once appeased or distroyed these lesser snakes wil be soone troden downe Which impious speech proceeding from such a mouth whence the Oracles of peace and charity ought to be vttered was as ill taken bred great scandall and gaue warning to Princes of preuention who though they maligned the corruptions of the Court of Rome they were yet euer at one with the Church And the Clergy of England were most forward to vindicate the State from that miserable oppression which of late by degrees they were drawne vnto through the humility of their zeale For such is the nature of Domination wheresoeuer it sits that finding an yeeldingnes to indure it neuer thinkes it hath power sufficient vnles it hath more then enough for if the Popes the professed souraignes of piety vpon the aduantage of mens zeale and beliefe grew to make their will and their power equall so that to question their sanctions was taught to be sinne against the Holy Ghost no meruaile if secular Princes whose consciences are vntyed striue to breake out into the wildnesse of their wills from those bounds wherein by the law of the state they are placed But vpon the Popes reiecting the consideration of these greeuances of England which were particularly deliuered in this councell at Lyons and dispising the Kings Vide Append. message who he said began to Frederize it was absolutly here ordayned vnder great penalty that no contribution of money should be giuen to the Pope by any subiect of 1246. Anno. Reg. 30. England and the King for a time bustles against these forraine exactions in such sort as it gaue some hope of redresse But being of an irresolute and wauering nature and a feard of threats soone womanlike giues ouer what hee manfully vndertooke so that the Pope continues his former rapine though hauing by the continuall exclamations of the Clergy bene brought to promise neuer to send any more Legats into England yet imployes he other ministers vnder the the title of Clarkes who had the same power as had his former Agents and effected vnderhand his desires Now the other part of the state haue new occasions of complaynt offered Peter of Sauoy Earle of Richmond brings ouer certaine maydes to be married to young noble 1247. Anno. Reg. 31. men of England the Kings Wards of which Edmond Earle of Lincoln hath one and Richard de Burgh another And the same yeare 3. of the Kings brothers by the mother Guy de Lusignan William de Valence and Athelmar Clarke are sent for ouer to be prouided of Estates in England Thomas of Sauoy sometimes Earle of Flanders by right of his wife comes with his sister Beatrix Countes of Prouince the Queenes Mother 1248. Anno. Reg. 32. and they are againe feasted and guifted for which the King is taxed in the next Parliament conuoked at London in Candlemas Tearme and besides sharply reprehended for his breach of promise vpon his requiring of another ayde hauing vowed and declared vpon his last supply by his Charter neuer more to iniury the state in that kinde Besides 14 Parliament they blame him for his violent taking vp of prouisions for dyet Wax Silkes robes c. and especially for wine contrary to the will of the sellers whereby Merchants both of this and other That he tooke from his subiects quicquid habuerlint in esculentis poculentis Rusticorum enim Equos Bigas Vina Victualia ad libitum capit Rishanger Kingdomes withdraw their commoâ—ities in so much as all traffique and commerce vtterly cease to the detriment and infamy of the Kingdome That his Iudges were sent in
the operations of the minde as they make men neglect the ease of their bodies especially in times not dissolued with those softnings of Luxurie and Idlenesse which vnmannes them And we cannot but admire the vndauntable constancie of this Prince whom all the sad examples of others calamities crossing euen the beginning of this action could not deterre from proceeding therein For first the King of France who with two of his sonnes the King of Nauarre and a mighty Army being set out before and by the way besieging the Citie of Tunis in Affrica possest then by the Sarazines that infested Christendome perished miserably by the Pestilence that raged in his Army and with him one of his sonnes and many of his Nobles whereby all their enterprise was dasht and vtterly ouerthrowne Besides Charles King of Sicile brother to this King of France who likewise came to ayde him returning home lost the greatest part of his Nauie by tempest Moreouer many of this Princes owne people were desirous to leaue him and returne home Whereupon he is sayde to haue stricken his brest and sworne that if all his followers The resolution of Prince Edmond forsooke him he would yet enter Tolemais or Acon though but onely with his Horse-keeper Fowin By which speech they were againe incenced to proceed but yet his Cozin Henry sonne to the King of Romans obtaines leaue of him to depart and was set on shore in Italie where notwithstanding hee found what hee sought to auoyde Death and was slaine in the Church at Viterbo being at deuine seruice by his owne Cozin German Guy de Monfort sonne to Simon late Earle of Leicester in reuenge of his fathers death The newes of which vnnatural murther seemes to hasten the 1274. Anno. Reg. 57. end of Richard King of Romans who died shortly after and the next yeare following finished likewise Henry the 3 of England his act in the 65 of his age hauing reigned 56 years and 20 daies A time that hath held vs long taken vp more then a tenth part from the Norman Inuasion to this present and yeelded notes of great varietie with many examples of a crasie and diseased State bred both by the inequality of this Princes manners and the impatience of a stubborne Nobility He had by his wife Elionor sixe sonnes wherof only two suruiued him Edward and Edmond His issue and two daughters which liued to be married Margueret the eldest to Alexander King of Scots Beatrice the other to Iohn the first intituled Duke of Brittaine Heere endeth the Life and Raigne of Henry the third The Life and Raigne of Edward the first VPon the death of Henry the State assembles at the new Temple and 1272. Anno. Reg. 1. proclaimes his sonne Edward King though they knew not whether he were liuing sweares fealty vnto him causes a new Seale to be made and appointes fit ministers for the custody of his Treasure and his Peace whilst himselfe remaines in Palestine where by an Assasin making shew of deliuering letters he receiues three dangerous wounds with a poysoned knife whereof he was hardly recured After three yeares trauell from the time of his setting forth and many conflicts without any great effect disappointed of his aides and his ends he leaues Acon which he went to relieue well fortified and manned returnes homeward lands in Sicile is royally feasted by Charles the King thereof passes through Italy with all the honour could be shewed him both by the Pope and the Princes there Thence descends into Burgogne where at the foote of the Alpes hee is met by many of the Nobilitie of England and there challenged by the Earle of Chabloun a fierce man at Armes to a Turneament Wherein againe hee hazards his person to shew his valor which may seeme to be more then became his Estate and dignitie From thence he comes downe into France where hee is sumptuously entertayned and feasted by Phillip 3. surnamed the Hardy to whome hee doth homage for all the Territories he held of that Crowne Thence hee departs into Aquitayne where hee spent much time in setling his affaires His Coronation And after six yeeres from his first setting out hee returnes into England Receiues the Crowne without which hee had beeene a King almost three yeeres at the hands of Robert Archbishop of Canterburie in Septemb. 1275. And with him is Elionor his Reg. 3 An. 1274. Queene likewise Crowned at Westminster Alexander King of Scotts and Iohn Duke of Brittaine who both had married his Sisters beeing present at the Solemnitie The spirit and abilities of this Prince shewed in the beginning of his Actions vnder his Father after the great Defeit hee gaue the Barons at Euesham The prosecution of the disherited Mutiners of the Kingdome The exposition of his Person to all hazards and trauaile His single Combat with Adam Gordun the Outlaw neere Farnham His great aduenture and Attempts in the East And finally his long experience in the affaires of the World with his Maturitie of yeeres being about 35. before he came to the Crowne might well presage what an able Master hee would proue in the mannage thereof And how by these aduantages of Opinion and Reputation he was likely as he did to make a higher Improuement of the Royaltie hauingwonne or worne out the greatest of those who heretofore opposed the same In so much as hee seemes the first Conqueror after the Conqueror that got the Domination of this State in that emminent manner as by his gouernment appeares And euen at his first Parliament held shortly after his Coronation at Westminster he Quintam Decimam omnium bonorum Temporalium tam Clericorum quam Laicorum in audito more ad vnguem taxatam Rex iusserat confiscari Mat. West made triall of their patience and had the Fifteenth of all their goods Cleargie and Lay granted vnto him without any Noyse as we heare off The Cleargie hauing yeelded before a Tenth for two yeers to be paid to him his brother Edmond toward the charge of the Holy Warre But yet all this could not diuert the Designes hee had to abate the power Ecclesiasticall which by experience of former times hee found to be a part growne to strong for the Soueraignety whensoeuer they combined with the Lay Nobilitie and therefore now at first whilst hee was in the exaltation both of opinion and estimation with the World hee beganne to set vppon their priuiledges And in Anno Reg. 6. to extend saith the Monkish Historie the Royall Authoritie hee depriued many famous Monasteries throughout England of their Liberties and tooke His proceeding against the Clergie from the Abbot and Couent of Westminster the Returne of Writts granted them by the Charter of his Father King Henry 3. The next yeere after hee got to be inacted the Statute of Mortmaine to hinder the increase of their temporall possessions which made them so powerfull as beeing detrimentall to the Kingdome and the Militarie seruice
markes sterling a day Such vent of wools were there in that time And presently after the Parliament in winter to shew that hee was for all weathers he goes with an Armie to recouer Barwicke which had beene surprised by the Scottes whilst he was last at Calais and heere hath he not onely his Towne but the whole Kingdome of Scotland resigned vnto him by Edward Baliol who held himselfe King Edward Baliol resignes the Kingdome of Scotland to King Edward reseruing to himself a pension therof by the best Title but not best regarged For King Alexander though now Prisoner in England had the most powerfull Partie there so both were Kings to their seuerall sides that held them so a miserable distraction to that poore Kingdom And euery where dwelt affliction but in England and here was nothing but Tryumphes Vanquishings and Recouerings in all parts The Prince enters Guien passes ouer Longuedoc to Tholouse Narbonne Burges without any encounter in the field sacks spoyles destroyes where hee goes and loaden with bootie returnes to Burdeanx The French King thus assaulted on all sides gathers what power hee possibly Anno Reg. 30. 1336. could and first makes against his enemies in Normandie recouers many of his lost Townes and was likely to haue there preuailed but that he was drawne of force to oppose this fresh Inuador the Prince of Wales who was again abroad come vp into Toureyne against whom he brings his whole Armie causing all the Townes and passages The French King hath the Prince of Wales at an aduantage vpon the Riuer Loyr to be strongly garded Whereupon the Prince whose forces were not to encounter those so mightie was aduised to withdraw again thorow Toureyne and Poyctou towards Burdeaux The French King to preuent his course followes and within two Leagues of Poyctiers hath him at a great aduantage Two Cardinalls at that instant came from the Pope to mediate a peace The French King supposing he had his Enemie now in his mercie would accept of none other conditions but that the Prince should deliuer him foure Hostages and as vanquished render himselfe and his Armie to his discretion The Prince was content to restore vnto him what hee had gayned vpon him but without preiudice of his honour wherein he sayd Hee stood accomptable to his Father and his Conntry So the Legates perswasions though earnestly vrged could preuaile nothing vpon the French Kings obstinacie who presuming of victorie in regard his Armie was sixe to one would instantly as loath to loose time to loose himselfe set vpon the Prince who reduced to this Straight takes what aduantage he could of the The Battayle of Poytiers fought the 19. of September 1336. ground and prouidently got the benefit of Vines Shrubs and Bushes on that part he was like to be assayled to impester and intangle the French Horse which hee sawe were to come furiously vpon him The successe answered his expectation for behold the Cauallarie of his Enemies vpon their first assault wrapt and incumbred amongst the Vines so that his Archers without danger gall and annoy them at their pleasure For the French King to giue the honour of the day to his Cauallarie whereof hee had caused a choyse to bee selected out of euery companie to the discontent of the rest imployed them onely without his Infantery So that they being disordered and put to rout his whole Armie came to be vtterly defeited The errors committed in the Battaile of Cressie could not warne this King to auoyd the like For had he had the patience to haue tymed it out awhile the Prince could not haue possibly subsisted being thus inuironed shut vp from all succours as he was and now thus furiously assaulted and hauing no safetie but what was to be The French King taken prisoner wrought by the Sword which desperation euer makes the sharper Hee and his shewed that admirable courage that day as purchased them the most memorable glorie that euer any Mattiall action did that was at chiued by the English with so fewe handes Here was now the Head of that great Kingdome-claymed taken Prisoner with his yongest sonne Phillip who valiantly defending his father when his other brothers forsooke him had afterwarde the Title of Hardie and became Duke of Burgogne Iaques de Borbon Conte de Ponthieu the Arch-byshop of Sens Iohn d' Artoys Conte d' Eu Charles d' Artoys his brother Conte de Longnevitle Charles Conte de Tancarville The number of Prisoners taken the Conts of Vendosme Salbourg Dampmartin and La Roche with many other Lords of markes besides 2000. Knights Esquires and Gentlemen in so much as the Conquerors holding it not safe to retaine so many let many of them goe The French who can giue best account of their owne losses report there dyed in the battaile a thousand seauen hundred Gentlemen amongst which were fifty two Bannerets the most eminent Peter de Borbon the Duke d' Athens Constable of France Ian de Clermont Marshall Geoffrey de Charny High Chamberlaine The slaine in the battaile There escaped from this battayle three of the French Kings sonnes for hee brought them all thither Charles Prince Dauphin and the first so intitled Lonys after Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry all great actours in the time following This blow might seeme to haue beene enough to haue vtterly ouerthrowne that kingdome and absolutely subdued it to the Crowne of England but that is was a body which consisted of so many strong limbs had such store of spirits dispersed in seuerall parts and contayned so wide an extent of state as all this blood letting could not dissolue it or make it faint to giue ouer And sure these powerfull kingdomes howsoeuer they may be diseased and suffer either through the distemperature of their Heads or distractions of their other parts can neuer vnlesse by a gene rall dissolution be so low brought but they will recouer againe in the end their frame holdes by many nayles which neuer fayle all together The Prince of Wales in this battaile hath a double victory the one by the sword the other by his Curtesie first hee visits the captiue King with all reuerence and regarde of Maiesty comforts him by examples of the fortunes of warre and assures him of all faire entertainement according to his dignity The especiall great men who were actors in this worke must not passe vnremembred the Earles Warwicke Suffolke A memorable act of Iames Lord Audley Salisbury Oxford Stafford the Lords Cobham Spencer Barkley Basset Of Gescoignes Le Capital de Beuf the Lords Pumier Chaumont and others And here the Lord Iames Audley is renowned both for his valour and bounty who hauing vowed to bee formost in this fight performed his word sealed it with many wounds for which the Prince hauing rewarded him with the gift of Fiue hundred markes Fee-simple in England he presently gaue it to foure of his Esquires who had with
for the reformation of the State Besides they compose a Councell of themselues whereof the Bishop of Laon the Primier President the Prouost with some of the Vniuersity were chiefe assuming a Soueraigne power to order all affaires of the State as a Common-wealth So that wee see in what a miserable confusion that kingdome stood being without a head and how apt it was then to shake off all authority and dissolue the gouernement into parts shewing vs that it was no new proiect amongst them to Cantonize as the great Townes and the Princes of late practised to doe in their leagues during their ciuile combustions The Dauphin thus disgraced with much a doe gets out of this tumultious City and retyres into Champagne and at Vertus assembles the States of the Countrie whom hee found loyall and ready to yeeld him all succour The rest of the great Townes refusing with much disdaine to ioyne with the City of Paris offer him likewise their ayde So that hee was put into some heart and likly to effect his desires in short time had not the King of Nauarre who sought his destruction still raysed new broyles in the State and taken Armes against him Now besides these confusions greater mischiefes arose in that miserable kingdome the poore Paysants that had beene eaten out by the Souldiers and troden vnder foote by their Lords colleague and arme themselues in the Country of Beauuoysis France spoyled by the souldiers and others on all sides and turne head vpon the Gentry and such as had done them wrong spoyling sacking burning their houses killing their wiues and children in most outragious manner This was not all troupes of souldiers which had no work or meanes to liue ioyne together in mighty Companies ouer-runne and rauage other parts of the kingdome The forces in Brittaine vnder the conduct of Sir Robert Knoles breake out vpon the confining Countries and returne loaden with inestimable booties of wealth All which miserable calamities enough to haue vtterly dissolued a State prolong the imprisonment of their King in England so that nothing could bee effected for his ransome which King Edward thinkes long till he haue in his Treasury and vrges likewise for his part very hard conditions requiring say they besides infinite summes that King Iohn should doe homage and holde the kingdome of France of the Crowne of England which hee with great disdayne refuses as being not in his power to alien what was vnalienable vowing that no misery of his should constrayne him to doe any thing preiudiciall to his successors to whom hee would leaue the State as hee receiued it But yet at length offers other and more large conditions then the French were willing to yeeld vnto which being long in debating and nothing concluded after foure yeares expectation King Edward in great displeasure resolues to make an end of this worke with the sword and to take possession King Edward goes to take possession of the kingdome of France of the kingdome of France And ouer hee passes to Calais with a Fleete of eleuen hundred Sayle His Army hee diuides into three battailes one hee commits to the Prince of Wales another to the Duke of Lancaster and the third hee leades himselfe And first hee marches to the City of Aras which hee takes within three dayes Thence into Champagne where the Cities of Sens and Neuers are rendered Anno Reg. 34. vnto him The Duchy of Burgogne terrified with these examples redeemes it selfe from spoyle vpon paying two hundred thousand Florins of gold Furnished with which treasure and booties by the way vp King Edward marches to Paris where the Dauphin who had now the title of Regent hauing lately ouercome the faction and executed the principall of the Mutiners was with great forces which in the common danger flocked together to defend their Countrie and would not by the example of his father and Grand-father be drawne out to hazard vpon any attempt but stood onely vpon his defences which the King of England seeing after many prouocations raysed his siege and returnes into Brittaine to refresh his Army In the meane time the Regent layes in mighty store of victualls prouides that the Souldiers should haue enough without pressing the inhabitants and with extreame dilligence so fortifies the City as King Edward returning with all his refreshed power was vtterly disappoynted of his hopes to doe any good there Thus that great Citty which was like to haue endangered the whole kingdome of France was the onely meanes to preserue it From hence King Edward takes his way towards Chartres with purpose to besiege that City but being by an horrible tempest of haile thunder and lightning that fell vpon his Army so terrified as hee vowed to make peace with the French King vpon any reasonable conditions as he shortly after did at the treaty of Britigny The Treatie of Accord concluded at Britigny neere Chartres vpon these Articles That the country of Poicton the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleuille the Countrie of Gascoigne Agenois Perigort Limosin Cahors Torbe Bigorre Rouergne Angoulmois in soueraigntie with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories Monstruel on the Sea Ponthieu Calais Guines La Merk Sangote Boulogne Hames Vales and Onis should bee to the King of England who besides was to haue three Millions of Scutes of gold whereof sixe hundred thousand presently in hand foure hundred thousand the yeere following and the Surplus in two yeeres after insuing vpon reasonable payment And for this the King of England and his Sonne the Prince of Wales as well for them as their Successors for euer should renounce all their right pretended to the Vid. Append. Crowne of France the Duchy of Normandie the Countryes of Touraine Aniou Maine the Soueraigntie and Homage of the Dutchy of Britagne and the Earldome of Flanders and within three weekes King Iohn to bee rendred at Callais at the charge of the King of England except the expences of his House For assurance of which Accord should be giuen into his hand Hostages Louys Duke of Aniou Iohn Duke of Berry King Iohns sonnes Phillip Duke of Orleance his brother Iohn Duke of Burgogne the Conts of Bloys Alenson Saint Pol Harcourt Poncian Valentinois Grand Pre de Brenne des Forrests the Lords Vaudemont Couscy Piennez de Saint Venant de Preaux de Momerancy de Garanciecis La Roche guion Estou-teuille Le Dauphind ' Auergne d' Andrigil de Craon sufficient cautions for the sayd Summes and conditions The Scots not to be ayded by the French King nor the Flemmings by the English Charles King of Nauarre and his brother Phillip are comprehended likewise in these Articles c. This Treatie of good accord and finall Peace signified by both Kings was ratified King Iohn deliuered by their two eldest Sonnes Edward and Charles and sworne vnto by the Nobilitie of both Kingdomes The Hostages are deliuered vnto King Edward who departing from Honfleur brought them into England leauing the