A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Royal biography 7 · Part 3
Of his Acts together with the Prince.
KING Philip informed of so many great losses, assembles a mighty Army, no lesse then a hundred thousand men, with which he recovers Miremont, and Villefranche, and then proceeded to besiege Angoulesme, whom the Earle of Derby having not forces sufficient to encounter, King Edward (leaving for Wardens of England in his absence, the Lords Percie and Nevill) goeth himselfe in person with an Army (as Froyssard saith) of fourescore thousand men at Armes, and ten thousand Archers, besides those out of Wales and Ireland; taking with him his sonne, the Prince of Wales, and Duke of Guyenne, being then but of the age of fifteene yeares. It may be thought preposterous in King Edward, to put his sonne to be a Souldier before he was come to be a man; but it seemes he had a longing to try his sonnes valour in the bud, and perhaps was loath to omit any thing that might give any countenance to this battell, in which the two kingdomes were laid as it were at stake; but howsoever, taking him along with him, and almost all the Lords of his kingdome, he takes Shipping, and lands at Normandy, where at the first setting his foote on ground, he tooke such a fall, that the bloud gushed out at his nose; which the Barons tooke for an ill signe, but the King tooke it for a good: saying, it was a signe that the Land desired to have him: and in deede he presently tooke the Townes of Harsteur, Moulbourg, Carenton, and Saint Lo, and afterward the City of Ca…n it selfe; and from thence passed to the County of Eureux, saccaged and pillaged it, as also the City of Gisors, Vernon, Meulan, and Boulebourse to the City of Poyssy. King Philip all this while staied about Paris, as looking for King Edward to give him battell there; and for that purpose had planted his Campe neare to Saint Germans; but King Edward deceived him: for going from Poyssy, he passed into Picardie and Ponthie…, where he tooke and burned many Townes and Castles: and then passed the River of …, though not without danger: for King Philip had sent thither Gundemar de Fay with a thousand horse, and sixe thousand foote, to stop his passage: King Edward notwithstanding resolves to passe, or perish, and plungeth forem… into the River; crying out, They who love me, will follow me at which voyce, … man strove who should be foremost, and so the shoare was presently gained by the English. Gun…emar astonished with this bold adventure, astonisheth his peo… with his fearfull countenance: so that the English encountring the French all in …, put them to flight. King Philip enraged with this dishonour, resolves to … it; and presently provokes King Edward to a battell. King Edward had … …camped in a Village called Cressy, his Army consisted of thirty thousand … …hich he divided into three battalions: the first was led by the young Prince …, with whom were joyned the Earle of Warwicke, Geoffrey of Harecourt, … Holla…d, Ric…ard Stafford, Iohn Chandoes, Robert Nevile, and many other … and Gentlemen, to the number of eight hundred men at Armes, two thou…, and a thousand Welsh. In the second were the Earles of Northam… …nd of …, the Lords Rosse, Basset, and others, to the number of eight hun… Armes, and twelve hundred Archers. In the third the King was him… h…ving about him seven hundred men at Armes, and three thousand Archers. … battels thus ordered, mounted on a white Hobby, he rode from ranke to ranke … …em; encouraging every man that day to have regard to his right and ho… The French Kings Army was farre greater, consisting of above sixty thou… well armed; whereof the chiefe were Charles Duke of Alanson … Iohn of Luxembourg King of Bohemia, Charles de Blois the Kings … Duke of Lorraine, the Earles of Flanders, Nevers, Sancerre; of Ba… and Gentlemen, about three thousand. The Vauntguard he commits to his …rother the Count de Alanson, the Reere to the Earle of Savoy, the maine battell …e lead… himselfe; his heate out of confidence of victory was so great, that … permitted time for a little counsell what was fit to be done. The old King … advised that the Army should take some repast, and that the Infantry c…isting of Ge…oueses (which were above fifteene thousand Crossebowes, and … men… should make the first Front, and the Cavallery to follow; which was agreed on. But the Count of Alanson, contrary to this order, tooke it ill that the … were in the first ranke, and in fury caused them to change place; which … discontentment, that it irritated them more against the Leader, then the …; besides there fell at the instant, such a showre of raine, as dissolved their …, and made their Bowes of little use; and at the breaking up of the showre, the … full in the face of the French (dazling their sight) and on the backe of the …, as if all made for them. K. Edward who had gotten to a Windmill, beholding … a Sentinell, the countenance of the Enemy, and discovering the disturbance … by the change of place; instantly sends to charge that part, without giving … to re-accommodate themselves; whereupon the discontented Gen…ese … which the Co…nt de Alanson perceiving, he comes on with the horse, and … …age cries out, On, on, Let us make way upon the bellies of these Genoueses, … but hinder us: and instantly pricks on with a full careere through the midst …, followed by the Earles of Lorraine and Savoy, and never staies till he came … the English battell, where the Prince was; the fight grew hot and doubtfull, … as the Commanders about the Prince send to King Edward to come up with his power to aide him. The King askes the messengers whether his son were … hurt: who answering, no; but that he was like to be over-laid: Well then (… …he King) returne, and tell them who sent you, that so long as my sonne is a… they send no more to me what ever happen; for I will that the honour of this … his. And so being left to try for themselves, they wrought it out with the … … the rather by reason the French King having his horse slaine under him, and … danger to be trodden to death, had he not been recovered by the Lord Beau… … …s to the great discouragement of his people, withdrawne out of the field: … no…ce being once taken by the English, the day was soone after theirs, and … victory they ever had yet against the French, and so bloudy, as there is … made of any one prisoner taken in the battell, but all …laine out-right; …nely …ome few troopes that held together, saved themselves by retiring to places neare adjoyning. The French King himselfe with … small company, got to Bray in the night, and approaching the walls, and the Gu…rd asking him who goes there? he answered, the Fortune of Fr…c…. By …i… voyce …e was knowne, and thereupon received into the Towne, with the teares and lamenta…ions of his people. The number of the slaine are certified to be thirty thousand: the chiefe whereof, were Charles de Al…ns…n, Iohn Duke of …, …alph Earle of Lorraine, L…wis Earle of Fl…ers, I…ques Da…lphin de …, So…e to I…b…rt, (who after gave Daulphin to the Crowne of France) the Earl… of S…c…rre, H…r…court, and many other Earles, Barons, and Gentlemen, to the number of fiftee… hundred. This memorable Victory happened upon the S…turday after Bart…l… day, in the yeare 1346. The next day, earely in the morning, being Sunday, he s…n… out 300. Lances, and 2000. Archers… to discover what was becom… of t… … who found great Troopes comming from Abbe…l…, Saint …, a…d B…uvoyes, (ignorant of what had happened … by the Arch-Bishop of R…, and the Priour of France: whom they likewise defeated, and slew s…ven thousand.
But this was not all th… Victories that fell to King Edward that yeare, there was another of no lesse importance gotten in Engl…d, by the Queene and hi… peopl… at home against the Scots; who being set on by the French, to divert the wa… there… entred upon this kingdome wit… …hreesco…e thousand men, (as our Writers report) assuring himselfe of successe, in regard (as he supposed)… the ma…e stre…gth thereof was now gone into France; but …e found it otherwise… For the Lords of the North, as Gylbert de Umfrevile, the Earl… of Ang…, Henry Perc…, Ralph Nevile, William D…y…co…t, with the Arch-bishop of Yorke, the Bishop of Dur…am, and others of the Clergy, gathered so great Forces, and so well ordered them, by the animation of the Queene, (who was there in person) as fighting a great Battaile at Nevils Crosse in the Bishopricke of Durha…, they utterly defea…ed this great Army, tooke David their King Prisoner, with the Earles of Fif…, Menteth, Murry, Sutherland, the Lord Dowglas, the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes, and others; and put to the sword fifteene thousand Sc…ts. This Victory also fell upon a Saturday, sixe weekes after that of Cressy. He that tooke King David Prisoner, wa… one Iohn C…pl…nd, an Esquire of Northumberland, whom King Edward rewarded with five hundred pounds land a yeare, and made him a Banner…t. And as if all concurred to make this yeare Triumphant, the Aides sent to the Countesse of Montford in Britaine, led by Thomas Dagworth a Valiant knight, overthrew and tooke Prisoner, Charles de Blois, Pretender to that Dutchy, and with him Mounsi…ur la Vall, the Lords Rochford, Bea…anoyre, Loi…c…ue; with many other Barons, Knights, and Esquires: Where were slaine the Lord De la Vall, Father to him that was taken, Viscount Rohan, Mounsieur de Chastea… Bryan, de …alestroit, de Quintin, de Dyrev…ll, besides many other knights and Esquires, to the number of seven hundred. And now King Edward without medling with the great Cities of Amiens and Abbevile, marcheth on directly, and sits downe before Callice, a Town of more importance for England, and the Gate to all the rest: Wherein Iohn d… Vienne Marshall of France, and the Lord de Andregh…n, (a great man in his time) commanded.
All that Winter King Edward lay without any molestation by the French King, who was busied at home in his owne State about raising of money; wherewith supplyed at last, he raiseth an Army and approacheth Callice, but findes no way open to come to relieve it. The King of England was both Master of the Haven, and possest all other wayes that were passable; and the Flemings his friends had besieged Aire; to oppose whom, Iohn Duke of Normandy is sent for out of Guyenne: who departing leaves Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby, Master of the Field, and …e having an Army consisting of twelve hundred men at Armes, two thousand Archers, and three thousand other Foot, takes in most of the Townes of Xaintoigne, and Poict…, and in the end besieged and sacked P…ityer…, and then returnes to B…rdea…x, with more …illage then his people could well beare: Thus the … prosper every …here, and the French suffer. During this siege of Calli…e, (…n … some t…in… King Edw… first used Gunnes) the Fleming… send to King … to make a marriage betweene his Daughter Isabell and their Lord the …; to which the King consented, but the Duke of Br…nt gets … of …, …o make the match for a Daughter of his… The Flemings presse … Lord with t…e match of England; but he absolutely refuse…h it, saying… h… … never marry a Daughter of him, that had killed his Father, though he would … …lf… his kingdome. This answer so incensed the Flemi…gs, that they … Lord in Prison, till with long durance he at last consented; and there … E…ward and his Queene, with their Daughter Is…ll, come over to … there the young Earle is aff…an…ed to her; but returning after…rds … as …e found opportunity, he went to King Philip, and …eft …; and marryed afterwards a Daughter of the … this whi… …he siege of Callice was continued; and King Philip … come to relieve it; sollicits King Edward to appoint some… place … would mee…e him. But King Edward returnes answer, that if he … owne way to come thither to him, there he should finde him, but … be would not pa… having laine there so long to his great l…our and … b…ing now so neare the point of gaining the place… Two… …a…nals … the Pope, to mediate a Peace, but could effect nothing, so as the … w…s forced to breake up his Army and retire to Paris, leaving C…llice … the Besieger: which when the Towne understood, they sent to de… granted, and therein received this finall answer, that …ixe of the chiefe Burgesses should be sent to the King, bare-headed, bare-footed, in their shirts, … their neckes… the keyes of the Towne and Castle in their hands, … th…elves to the Kings will; the rest he was content to take to mercy. … condition, and much difficulty who should be those sixe: but … up, and out of love to his Country offering himselfe to be one, the sixe … made …p; for now by his example every one strove to be of the … who presenting themselves before the King, he commanded them instantly … to death. Great supplication was made by his Lords for their lives, but … would not be drawne to alter his sentence, till the Queene, great with … on her knees, and with teares obtained pardon for them; which done, … them to be cloathed, and besides a good repast, gives to every one of them … Nobles a p…ece. But though the King in this sentence shewed severity, … Act before he had shewed mercy; For when Victuals began to faile in …, and all unusefull persons, as old men, women, and children, were put … Gates; he forced them not backe againe as he might have done, there… … sooner to consume their store; but suffered them to passe through his Ar…y… … them to eate, and two pence a piece to all of them. And thus was that strong … of Callice gotten, the third day of August, in the yeare 1347. after eleven … siege, and continued afterward in possession of the English two hundred …. All the Inhabitants are turned out, but onelyonly one Priest, and two … to informe of the Orders of the Towne: and a Colony of English, amo…gst which seven and thirty good Families out of London is sent to inhabit it… … and Queene enter the Towne triumphantly, and make their abode there, … Queene was brought a bed of her Daughter Margaret. The King made … of the Town Ayme…y of Pavia a Lombard, whom he had brought up from …, and then with his Queene returnes into England; at which time the … Electours send to signifie… that they had chosen him King of the Romans, but … refuseth to accept it, as being an honour out of his way, and scarce com… his State at home.
…fter this Tr…s were made by mediation, from one time to another, for the … …wo yeares, in which time, Geoffrey de Charmy Captaine of Saint Omer, … Aymery of P…via, whom King Edward had left Governour of Callice, to … for twenty thousand Crownes: which King Edward hearing of, sent to A…mery, and charged him with this perfidiousnesse; whe…pon Ay…y comes to the King, and humbly desiring pardon, promiseth to h…ndl… the … so as shall be …o the Kings advantage, and thereupon i… sen… backe to Callice. The King, the …ight before the time of agreement… arrives with three …und…ed men at …, and … hundred Archers: … de Charmy … likewise the … …ght from Saint Omers with his Forces, and sent a hundred m…n before with the Crownes to …: the men are let in at a Posterne Gate… the crownes received, …nd assured to be all weight: which done, the Gates of the Towne are opened, and out marches the King before day, to encounter … de Charmy; who perceiving himselfe betrayed, defended …imselfe… the best he could, and put King Edward to a hard bickering, who for that …e would not b… … person, put hi…self… and the Prince under the Colours of the Lord … bea…en …wne on …is knees by … …hom he fought hand to hand) and ye… recove…d, and … prisoner. Charmy was likewise taken, and all his Fo… defeated. Ki…g …dward the night after (which was the first of the New-yeare) feasted with the Prisoners, and gave …ibo…nt in honour of his valou…, … Chaplet of Pearle, which himselfe wore on his head, (for a New-yeares gift) forgave him his ransome, and set him at liberty. But the English not long after, in the like practise, had better successe, and got the Castle of Guysnes, (a piece of great importance ne…r… Callice,) for a summe of money, given to one Beaconr…y a French …n. Of which C…s…le, when the French King demanded restitution in regard of the Truc…, King Edwar… returnes answer, that for things bought and sold betweene their people, there was no exception, and so held it.
About this time Philip King of France dyed, leaving his Sonne Iohn to succeed him; in the beginning of whose Raigne, Humber… P…ince of D…lphin, dying without issue, made him his Heire, and ther…upon Charles King Ioh… Sonne, was created the first Daulphin of France: from whence it grew to be a Custome, that the King of France his Heire should alwayes be called Daulphin of France. About this time also the Duke of Lancaster was to perfo…me a combat, upon a challenge, with a Prince of B…h…mia, but when they were entred the Lists, and had taken their Oathes, King Iohn interposed, and made them Friends. And now when after many meanes of mediation, no Peace could be concluded betweene the two Kings; the Prince of Wales being now growne a man, is appointed by Parliament, to goe into Gascoyne with a thousand men at Armes, two thousand Archers, and a great number of Welshmen; and in Iune following he sets forth with three hundred Saile, attended with the Earles of Warwick…, Suffolke, Salisbury, and Oxford, the Lord Chand…s, the Lord Iames A…deley, Sir …obert Knolles, Sir Francis Hall, with many others. About Michaelma… following… the King himselfe passeth over to Callice, with another Army, taking with him two of his Sonnes, Li…n…ll of Antwerpe, now Earle of Ulster i… Right of his Wife, and Iohn of Gant, Earle of Richmond. There met him at Callice of mercenaries out of Germany, Flanders and Brabant, a thousand men at Armes, so that his Army consisted of three thousand men at Armes, and two thousand Archers on horse-backe, besides Archers on foot. The City of London sent three hundred men at Armes, and five hundred Archers, all in one livery, at their owne charge; but all this great Army effected nothing at that time, by reason the King of France would not be drawne to any Encounter, and had so disfurnished the Country of all provisions, that the King of England was forced to returne. King Edward solicited by the King of Navarre to aide him against the King of France, sends over the Du…e of Lancaster with foure thousand men at Armes, who winnes many Townes… and the Prince enters G…yenne, passeth over Langn…d…c to Tholouse, Narbonne, Burges, without any Encounter, sackes, spoyles and destroyes where he goes, and loaden with booties returnes to Burdeaux. The French King thus assaulted on all …ides, gathers all the power he possibly could, and first makes against his E…emies in N…dy, recovers many of his lost Townes, and was likely to have there prevaile…, but that he was drawne of force to oppose … fresh Invader, the Prince of Wales, who was come up into Tourayne, against … he brings his whole Army, consisting of above threescore thousand: where… the Prince, whose Forces were not likely to be able to encounter him (being … for one) was advised to retire againe to Burdeaux. But the French King, to preve… this course, followes; and within two leagues of Poyctiers, hath him at a … advantage: at which instant, two Cardinals came from the Pope to mediate … Pe…ce. But the French King supposing he had his enemy now in his mercy, would accept of no other conditions, but that the Prince should deliver him foure Hostage…, …nd …s vanquished, render himselfe and his Army to his discretion. The Prince wa… content to restore unto him what he had gained upon him, but without pr…ju… of his honour, wherein he said he stood accomptable to his Father, and to his C…u…tr…y. But the French King would abate nothing of his demands, as making hims…lf… sure of victory; and thereupon was instantly ready to set upon the Princ…: … seeing himselfe reduced to this straight, takes what advantage he could of th… …, and providently got the benefit of Vines, Shrubs, and Bushes, on that part … like to be assailed, to impester and intangle the French horse, which he saw … …ome furiously upon him. The successe answered his expectation, for the … of his enemies upon their first assault were so wrapt and encombred … …he Vines, that his Archers galled and annoyed them at their pleasure. For … Fre…h King, to give the honour of the day to his Cavallery, imployed them onelyonly without his Infantery; so as they being disordered and put to rout, his whol… Army came utterly to be defeated. In this battell were taken prisoners, King Iohn himselfe, with his yo…ngest sonne Philip, by Dennis de Morbecque a knight of Ar…h…is; Iaques de Bourbon, Conte de Ponthieu; the Arch-bishop of Sens; Iohn de Arth…is; Conte de En; Charles de Arthois; his brother Count de Longueville; Iohn de …, Count de Tankarvile; the Counts of Vendosme, Va…demont, Estampes, Salbourg, … and La Roche; also Iohn de Ceintre, accounted (as Froissard saith) the … …night of France, with many other Lords, besides two thousand Knights and Gen…lemen; in so much, as the Conquerours holding it not safe to retaine so many, le… …ny of them goe. The French, who can give best account of their owne losses, …por… there died in the battell, a thousand seven hundred Gentlemen, amongst which were fifty two Bannerets: the most eminent, Peter de Bourbon, the Duke of Ath…s Constable of France, Iehan de Clermont Marshall; Geoffrey de Charmy, High Chamberlain…; the Bishop of Chalons, the Lords of Landas, of Pons, and of Cham…y. There escaped from this battell, three of the French Kings sons, (for he brought them all thither) Charles Prince Daulphin; Louys after Duke of Anjou; and Iohn Duke of B…ry … all great actours in the time following. The special great men of the English i… th… fight, were the Earles of Warwicke, Suffolke, Salisbury, Oxford, Stafford; the Lord… Cobham, Spenser, Barkeley, Basset: of Gascoynes, Le Capital de Beuff; the Lords, Pumyer, Chaumont, and others. The Lord Iames Andeley wonne honour both by his valour, and his bounty; for having vowed to be foremost in this fight, he pe…formed his word, and sealed it with many wounds: for which the Prince having rewarded him with the gift of five hundred Markes Fee-simple in England, he p…esently gave it to foure of his Esquires; whereupon the Prince demanding whether he accepted not his gift? he answered, that these men had deserved the same as well …s himselfe, and had more neede of it; with which reply the Prince was so well pleased, that he gave him five hundred Markes more in the same kinde. A rare example, where desert in the Subject, and reward in the Prince, strive which should be the greater.
And now, though King Iohn had the misfortune to fall into the hands of his enemy, yet he had the happinesse to fall into the hands of a Noble enemy; for Prince Edw. used him with such respect and observance, that he could not find much d…ference betweene his captivity and liberty. After the battell, which was fought the …in…enth day of September, in the yeare 1357. Prince Edward leads King Iohn and the captive Lords to Burde…ux, where he retaines them till the spring following; but … present newes of his victory to his Father: who thereupon causeth a generall Thanksgiving all England over eight dayes together: and in May following; King Iohn rather comming over with the Prince, then brought over by him, is lodged at the Savo… ; a Palace belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster, and the fairest at that time about London. And King Edward, as though he thought it honour enough to have one King his prisoner at once, at the suite of his sister Queene I…ane, he sets her Husband David King of Scots at liberty, after he had beene prisoner in England eleven yeares, but not without paying a Ransome, which was a hun-thousand Markes, to be paid in ten yeares.
After this, by mediation of Cardinals sent by the Pope, a Truce for two yeares is concluded betweene the two kingdomes of France and England, and in the time of this Truce, Articles of Peace betweene the two Kings are propounded… King Edward requires the Dutchies of Norm… and G…yenn…, the Counties of Poicto…, T…uraine, Mayne, and Anjo… … with all their …ppur…e…ances as large as King Richard the first held them, and many other Provinces besides, and to hold them all without Homage or any other service; to which Articles, King Iohn (weary of imprisonment) assents and seales, but the … …nd Councell of France utterly reject it: whereupon King Edward in great disple…sure resolves to make an end of this worke with the sword, and to take possession of the kingdome of France; and leaving his younger sonne Thomas Gove…our of his kingdome at home, with a Fleet of …leven hundred saile, and taking all the great Lords of the Realme with him, he passeth over to Callice, dividing his Army into three battels, whereof one he commits to the Prince of Wales, another to the Duke of Lancaster, and the …hird he leads himselfe… and first marching through … where he takes in many Townes, he plants his si…ge afterward before …; but having spent there sixe or seven weekes without effecting any thing, he …asseth thence, and takes in the Cities of Sens & Nevers; the Dutchy of, B…rgoyne redeemes it self from spoil with paying two hundred thousand Flo…ens of gold: then he marcheth up to …aris, and plants his Camp within two small Leagues of the Tow…, where …e honoured 400. Esquires and Gentlemen with the Order of knighthood: but when Sir Walter de Manny had made a Bravado before the Gates of the City, and the King saw that the Daulphin would by no provocations be drawne out to battell; he raiseth his siege, and returnes into Bri…aine to refresh his Army; from thence he marcheth towards Char…res with a purpose to besiege that City, and though great offers were made him by the French, and Commissioners from the Pope solicited him with all earnestnesse to accept them, yet neither they, nor the Duke of Lancasters perswasions could prevaile with him, till a terrible …torme of haile with thunder and lightning fell upon his Army, which so terrified him, being a warning as it were from Heauen, that he presently vowed to make Peace with the French King upon any reasonable conditions, as shortly after he did at a Treaty of Britigny neare to Chartres, upon these Articles: that the Fiefs of Thouars and Belleville, the Dutchy of Guyenne, comprising Gascoyne, Poictou, San…ogne, Limo…sin, Perigort, Quercie, Rhodes, Angoulesme, and Rochell, together with the Counties of Guysnes and Callice, and some other places, with the Homages of the Lords within those Territories should be to the King of England, who besides was to have three Millions of crownes of gold… whereof sixe hundred thousand in hand, foure hundred thousand the yea…e following, and the rest in two yeares after: and for this the King of England, and his sonne the Prince of Wales, for them and their successours for ever, should renounce all their right pretended to the C…owne of France; the Dutchy of Normandy, the Countries of Touraine, Anjou, Mayne, the Homage and Soveraignty of Britaine, and the Earledome of Flanders; and within three weekes King Iohn to be rendred at Callice at the charge of the King of England, except the expenses of his house. For assurance of which accord, should be given into his hand five and twenty of the greatest Dukes and Lords of France for Hostages. The Scots not to be aided by the French King, nor the Flemmings by the English. This accord and finall Peace signed by both Kings, was ratified by their two eldest sonnes, Edward and Charles, and sworne unto by the Nobility of both kingdomes. The Hostages are delivered to King Edward, who brought them into England; and thereupon King Iohn is honourably conducted to Callice, after he had remained prisoner in England neare about five yeares: but being come to Callice, he was detained there above three moneths, till the money which he was to pay in hand, could be provided; and for providing the rest he was put to hard shifts; being faine to give the Iewes leave to dwell in France for twenty yeares, paying twelve Florins a man at the entry, and sixe every yeare after. At this time the Prince by dispensation marries the Countesse of Kent, daughter to Edmund, brother to Edward the second, and his Father investing him with the Dutchy of Aquitaine, he was now Prince of Wales, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Cornwall, and Earle of Chester and Kent: and not long after, with the Princesse his wife, he passeth over into France, and keepes his Court at Burdeaux.
This was now the yeare 1362. and the fiftieth yeare of King Edwards age, wherein for a Iubilee, he shewes himselfe extraordinarily gracious to his peopl…, freely pardoning many offences, relesing prisoners, revoking exiles; with many other expressions of his love and bounty. The yeare following was famous for three Kings comming into England: Iohn King of France, Peter King of Cyprus, and D…vid King of Scots. The King of Cyprus came to solicite King Edward to joyne with other Princes in the Holy Warre, but receives onelyonly royall entertainment and excuses. The King of Scots came for businesse and visitation, but why the King of France came, is not so certaine, whether it were about taking order for his Hostages, or to satisfie King Edward for breach of some Articles, or else for love to the Countesse of Salisbury; or perhaps out of a desire to let England see his Majesty, being at liberty, which had beene darkened before by the cloud of captivity; but whatsoever the cause of his comming was, the cause of his staying (at least, of longer staying then he meant) was a mortall sicknesse, whereof (having lien all the Winter at the Savoy) in March or Aprill following, he died; and his body convaied over into France, was buried at Saint Donis with his Ancestours. The Prince of Wales was now growne famous all the Christian world over, and the man to whom all wronged Princes seemed to appeale, and to flie for succour: for which end there came at this time to his Court, Iames King of Majorque, and happened to come at a time when the Princesse lay in; and thereupon he and Richard King of Navarre were taken to be Godfathers to his sonne Richard. For the like assistance also, there came at the same time to him, Peter King of Castile, driven out of his kingdome by the French, in favour to Peter King of Aragon: and Prince Edward, partly out of charity, to succour a distressed Prince, and partly out of policy, to keepe his Souldiers in exercise; undertakes the enterprise, and was so prosperous in it, that with one battell, (having but thirty thousand against a hundred thousand) hee put King Peter in possession of his kingdome, though he was ill rewarded for his labour: for the ungratefull King would not so much as pay his Souldiers. An unfortunate journey for the Prince, for though he came back with victory, yet he brought backe with him such an indisposition of body, that he was never throughly well after: not perhaps by poyson, nor given him by his brother the Duke of Lancaster, though both were suspected; but there were causes of distempering him enough besides, the Countrey, the season, the action it selfe; and it may be more marvelled that his Souldiers came home so well, then that he came so ill; but howsoever, being now returned, there was presently to his indisposition of body, added discontentment of minde: for not having meanes to pay his Souldiers, which forced him to winke at that which he could not chuse but see, and seeing, grieve at, how they preyed upon the Countrey, and thereupon how the Countrey murmured against him: and now to stop this murmuring, his Chancellour, the Bishop of Rhodes, devised a new Imposition, of leavying a Frank for every Chimney, and this to continue for five yeares, to pay the Princes debts: but this Imposition made the murmuring the more; for though some part of his Dominions, as the Poict…ins, Xaingtonois, and Lymo…sins in a sort consented to it, yet the Count of Armigni…ck, the Count of Comminges, the Viscount of Carmayn, and many others so much distasted it, that they complained thereof to the King of France, as to their Supreme Lord; who upon examination finding their complaint to be just, he thereupon, by advise of his Councell, Summons Prince Edward to appeare in person, to answer the complaint: whereunto Prince Edw. made answere, that if he must needs appeare, he would bring threescore thousand men in Armes to appeare with him; and had certainely brought his Army that Summer against Paris, if he had not fallen into Symptomes of a Dropsie, which (Walsingham saith) was wrought by Enchantments. But upon this answer of the Prince, King Charles sends defiance to King Edward; who thereupon prepares Armes both by Sea and Land to oppose him. The French enter upon the Territori…s of the Prince, and defeate divers of his Troopes; in revenge whereof, Iohn Chandos the Princes Lieutenant, assaults Terrieres in the Province of Tholouse, and takes it. The Count of Perigourd a… saults Royanville, in Quer…y, and puts all the English to the sword; in revenge whereof, Iames Audeley Sene…chall of Poicton, assaults the City of Brosse, and takes it. In the meane time Robert Knols, by some called Robin, and by others, Arnould, or Reynold Knoll, had drawne Perducas de Albert to the party of the English; and thereupon wen… and encamped before the Fort of Darc…ell in Quercy, which Iohn Chandos understanding, went also and joyned with him in the Siege; but finding they could doe no good there, they removed, and Besieged the City of Damme: and when they could doe no good there neither, they marched forward, tooke the Fort of Froyus, Rochevaudour, and Villefranche; and that done, returned to the Prince at Angoulesme. At the same time, the Earles of Cambridge, and Pembroke, having spent nine weekes at the Siege of Bordeille, at last tooke it; but other Captaines of the English did yet more, for they scaled Belleperche in the Province of Bourbon, where the Mother of the Duke of Bourbon, and of the Queene of France was, and take her prisoner.
About this time, Philippa Queene of England, King Edwards Wife died, and was buried at Westminster; but this hindred not the proceeding of the English in France; the Earle of Pembroke enters Anjou, where he takes many Townes: the Duke of Lancaster doth the like about Callice, and marching forward, plants his Campe before Harfleur, with a purpose to burne the King of France his Navy, but being watched by the Count Saint Poll, was forced to forbeare that designe; and so passing other wayes, and spoyling all the places where he passed, he returned to Callice. Winter now was drawing on, and Iohn Chandos, desiring to recover the Abby of Saint Silvin in Poictou, which not long before had beene betraied to the French; was in the enterprise discovered, and being assaulted by greater forces, was slaine in the place, to the great griefe of the Prince of Wales, and of the English Lords: but dying without issue, his estate, which amounted to foure hundred thousand Franks, came to the Prince. At this time, the Dukes of Anjou and Berry, with two great Armies enter upon the Territories of the Prince of Wales; whereof the Prince advertised, assembles Forces to oppose them: but when the newes was brought him of the taking of Limouges, he was so much troubled at it, by reason of the Bishop of that place was his Gossip, and one in whom he specially had affiance; that he resolved to recover it at any price, and not to spare a man that had any hand in the rendring it up: and thereupon taking it by force, he commanded to sacke and pillage it, and would not be staied by the cries of the people, casting themselves downe at his feete; till passing through the Towne, he perceived three French Captaines, who themselves alone had withstood the assault of his victorious Army, and moved with the consideration of their valour, he then abated his anger; and for their sakes, granted mercy to all the Inhabitants. So much is vertue even in an enemy, respected by generous minds. In the meane time, David King of Scots died without issue; and Robert Stuart his Nephew succeeded him in the kingdome, and was Crowned at Scone. At this time Robert Knolls with a great Army is sent into France, where making many attempts, with valour enough, but with little successe; he was comming home, though with no gaine, yet with no losse: till Bertrand de Gueschlyn assaulting him, slew the most part of his men; and so this great Army on a sudden came to nothing. It seemes Knolls his action was the lesse succesfully, by reason some young Lords that wen… with him, sco…ning to …e … his command, as being but a new man, and risen fro… a low estate; were refractory to hi… directions: And indeed what can a Generall do, if he have not as well reputation of person, as of place?
And now the Prince of Wales, his eldest sonne Edward dying … Bu…de…, the … with his wife, and his other sonne Richard, come over into England, at whi… time the vallant knight Walter de M…ny died at Lond…n, and was buried in the Monastery of the Chartreux which he had builded; leaving one onelyonly daughter; married to Iohn Earle of Pembroke. This Earle of Pembroke was soone after sent Go…ernour into Aquita…ne, but set upon by the way by Spaniards in favour of the Fr…ch; was by them taken prisoner, and carried with other into Spain… … who being chained together, as the manner is; one Evans a Welsh Fugitive… who gave …selfe out for the right Heire of Wales; cam… unto him foolishly playing upon him with scornfull language, as though to insult over another mans misery, could s…le for a co…diall to mitigate his owne. And now upon the taking of this Earle, the Princes Dominions in France are either taken away, or …all away faster then they …ere gotten; Gueschly… enters Poictou, and takes Montm…rillon, Chauvigny, Luss…, and Mo…t…onti…r: straight after followes the Countrey of Aulnys, of Xaintoigne, and the rest of Poic…ou; then Saint Maxen…, Neele, Auln…y; then Benaon, Marant, Surg…rs, … ; and at last they came to Thouars, where the most part of the Lords of Poic…o…, that held with the Prince, were assembled; at which time King Edward with the Pr…ce, the Duke of Lancaster, and all the great Lords of England, set forward to their succour, but being driven back… by tempest, never came to give them assistance, so as Thouars yeelded upon composition. Yet did this preparation of the King stand him in nine thousand Markes; that it may be truly said, it cost him more now to lose Townes, then it had cost him before to win them so great oddes there is betweene the Spring and Fall of Fortune. After this, the Duke of Lancaster is sent over with another great Army, who passed up into many parts of the Country, but King Charles resolved to hazard no battell; saying, They were but clouds, and would soone passe away; yet so watched him, that what with light skirmishes, and what with skarcity of victuals, his forces were so diminished, that of thirty thousand which went out of Callice, there scarce retunred six thousand home: which made King Edward say of this King Charles, that he did him more mischiefe sitting still, then his Predecessours had done with all their stirring. And now by this time all Poictou is lost, and all Aquitaine also, but onelyonly Burdeaux and Bayon: when the Arch-bishop of Roan and others, are sent from Pope Gregory the eleventh, to mediate a Peace betweene the two Kings; but each of them standing upon high termes of conditions, nothing could be effected but Truce upon Truce, for two or three yeares together. In which time Edward Prince of Wales died, and with him we may say, the Fortune of England; being a Prince so full of vertues, that he left no place for any vice; and if he had lived in the Heroicke times, might well have beene numb…ed amongst the nine Worthies. His body was buried at Canterbury, where his Monument standeth. King Edward in his seven and fortieth yeare calleth a Parliament at W…stminster, which lasted but eight dayes; and to which were Summoned by Writ, of Clergy men onelyonly foure Bishops, and five Abbots.