A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Royal biography 7 · Part 2
Of his Acts after he came of age.
ANd now Robert of Arthois banished out of France, comes into England, whom King Edward makes Earle of Richmond, and of his Counsell. This Robert perswades King Edward to make warre upon France, to which Crowne (he said) he had more right then he that held it; with whose perswasions, King Edward is at last resolved to undertake the enterprise: and to furnish himselfe of Noble Chiefetaines, he at one time in a Parliament at Westminster, the eighth yeare of his Raign, creates sixe Earles, Henry of Lancaster he made Earle D…rby, William Montacute he made Earle of Salisbury, Hugh Audeley Earle of Glocester, William Clinton Earle of Huntington, and Robert Clifford or Ufford Earle of Suffolke; also twenty knights, of whom Thomas de la Moore, who writ the life of the Kings Father, was one: withall he enters League of amity with many Princes abroad, with the Dukes and E…rles of Gelders, Iulyers, Cleves, Heynault, and Brabant, and with the Arch-bishop of Colen, and Valeran his brother: as on the other side, the King of France got to take his part the Bishop of Liege, Iohn King of Bohemia, Earle of Luxemburg, Henry Count Palatine, Aubert Bishop of Mets, Otho Duke of Austria, Ame Earle of Geneva, with many other Princes and Captaines out of Germany, Spaine, and other Countries. King Edward thus resolved in himselfe, and furnished with friends abroad, goes over into Flanders with his Queene and children, makes his residence at Antwerp, where by perswasion of the Flemings he takes upon him the Stile, Title, and Armes of the King of France; for by this they accounted themselves disobliged of the Bond of twenty hundred thousand crownes, which they had entred into, never to beare Armes against the King of France; and hereupon the League was established betweene them and King Edward. And now King Edward for a beginning to put his claime in execution, sets upon Cambray, and enters France by the way of Vermandois and Thierach; on the other side King Philip seiseth on the Dutchy of Guienne, and sends thither the Conte d' Eu, Constable of France, with the Earles of Foix and Armigniack. At last both Armies came so neare together, that a fight was appointed the Friday after; but upon better consideration, the English thought it no discretion to give battell to an Army so much greater then their owne, if they could avoid it; and the French thought it as little discretion for them to hazard the person of their Prince within his owne kingdome; and perhaps were not a little moved with the warning given them by Robert King of Sicilie, a great Astronomer, that he fore-saw by the Starres, some great misfortune to threaten the French, if they should that day fight with the Engli…h, King Edward being present: and thus both Armies having their severall reasons to decline the battell, they parted without doing any thing; onelyonly an accident happened scarce worth remembring, yet must be remembred. A Hare starting out before the head of the French Army, caused a great shout to be made; whereupon, they who saw not the Hare, but onelyonly heard the shout, supposing it to be the onset to the battell, disposed themselves to fight, and foureteene Gentlemen for encouragements sake, as the custome is, were knighted; called afterward in merriment, knights of the Hare.
But now King Edward must a little looke home, and therefore leaving the Queen in Brabant, he passeth himselfe into England about Candlemas, having beene in Brabant about a yeare; and landing at the Tower about midnight, and finding …t unguarded, was so much displeased, that he presently sends for the Major of …ondon, commanding him to bring before him the Chancellour and Treasurer, with Sir Iohn Saint Paul, Michael Watch, Philp Thorpe, Henry Stratford, Clergy men, (who it seemes were Officers for his Receipts) and Iohn Sconer Justice of the Bench; all which, except the Chancellour, were apprehended and committed to prison; as were afterward in like manner divers Officers of Justice, and Accomptants, upon inquiry made of their unjust proceeding. During the Kings abode in England, William Montacute Earle of Salisbury, and Robert Ufford Earle of Suffolke, le…t in Flanders to oppose the French, having performed divers great e…ploits, were a… last in an encounter about Lis…e, so overlaid by multitude, as they were both taken, and sent prisoners to Paris. Besides, about this time two accidents happened that were thought would be great rubs in King Edwards proceeding; one, that his Wives Father, William Earle of Hayn…ult, dying, and leaving his sonne to succeed, this son left his brother King Edward, and fell to take part with the King of France: the other, that the Duke of Normandy, thinking himselfe as strong as ever William Du… of Normandy was that conquered England, he saw no reason but he might conquer it as well as that William; and thereupon makes preparation by Sea and Land to attempt the enterprise: but these were but vapours that never came to be winds, at least brought no stormes: for Iohn Earle of Haynault had quickly enough of the King of France, and was soone after reconciled to his brother King Edward; and the Duke of Normandy went no further then preparations: for indeed King Edw…d prosecuted his courses against France with such heate, that all the neighbouring Princes seeing a fire kindled so neare their owne borders, were glad to looke …o themselves at home. But now to impeach the King of Englands returne into Fra…ce … King Philip had provided a mighty Navie in the Haven of Sluce, consisting of tw… hundred saile of Ships (besides many Gallies) and two thousand armed men in th… Port ready to encounter him upon his landing: whereof King Edward being adve…tised, prepares the like number of Ships, and sets out to Sea upon Midsommer Eve; is m… the morrow after with a Navy likewise from the North parts, conducted by Sir … bert Morley; and encounters his enemy who lay to intercept him with such force and courage, and such advantage of Wind and Sun, that he utterly defeated their whole Navy, took and sunke all their Ships, slew thirty thousand men, and landed with as great glory, as such a victory (the greatest that ever before was gotten by the E… glish at Sea) could yeeld, though King Edward himselfe was there wounded with an Arrow in the thigh. Most of the French, rather then to endure the Arrowes of the English, or be taken, desperately leapt into the Sea; whereupon the French Kings Jester, set on to give him notice of this overthrow, (which being so ill newes, no… else would willingly impart unto him) said, and oftentimes repeated it in the Kings hearing; Cowardly English men, Dastardly English men, faint-hearted Englis… men… the King at length asked him why… for that (said he) they durst not leap out of their Ships into the Sea, as our brave French men did. By which speech the King apprehend a notion of this overthrow: which the French attribute to Nichol… … chet, one of their chiefe Commanders, who had armed his Ships with men of base condition (content with small pay) and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldiers, in regard they required greater wages: And indeed it often happens that the avarice of Commanders is the occasion of great defeats.
By this victory King Edward gained a free entrance into Flanders, and presently went and besieged Tournay with an Army of five and fifty thousand, but was so valiantly encountred by the Duke of Burgundy and the Earle of Armigniack, that they routed his Army, and slew foure thousand upon the place; which so enraged King Edward, that two dayes after he sent a Challenge to King Philip to meete him in … single combate, or with an hundred against as many, before the wals of Tourn…. King Philip answers, that his Challenge being made to Philip de Valois, withou… mention of King, he tooke it not to be to him, who was truly King of France … but he wished him to remember the Homage he had done him at Amiens, and the wrong he did to the Christian world… by his troublesome courses to hinder him from his voyage intended to the Holy Land. Besides this answer in writing he sends to him by word of mouth; that by his Challenge he hazarded nothing of his owne, but exposed onelyonly the Dominion of another, which was against all reason: but if he would set his kingdome of England, though much meaner, agai… his of France, he would then accept the Challenge, and meete him in the field … single combate. But this King Edward would not hearken to for as he was valiant to make the Challenge, so he was circumspect to looke to the conditions. But here upon he continues his siege of T…rnay; to the reliefe whereof King Philip sends all the forces he could possibly make by himselfe o… his friends; and after the siege had continued three moneths, partly by mediation of Robert King of Sicilie, but chiefely by the Lady Iane of Valois, sister to King Philip, and mother of King Edwards wife (who had vowed her selfe a Nunne; but to doe this good office, travelled from one to another) a Truce was concluded for a yeare, and both their Armies are dissolved.
After this, K. Edward returning into England, was advertised how the Scots after many other places gained, had besieged the Castle of Striveling; for reliefe whereof, the King makes all the haste he can; and yet before he could come, it was by force of battery, compelled to render it selfe upon conditions. Then King Edward being at Berwicke, passeth to New-Castle upon Tyne, where he staies a monethmonth waiting for his provision that was to come by Sea; but that being driven into other parts by tempest, he makes a Truce with the Scots for three or foure moneths, and then returnes home. In the time of this Truce; the Scots send to King David, to come and governe the kingdome in his owne person; who thereupon taking his leave of the King of France, with whom he had remained seven yeares, he with his wife Ioane, King Edwards sister, returnes into Scotland; where after he had beene most honourably received by the Prince of Or…nay, and the other Lords and Barons of the Kingdome, as soone as the Truce was ended, with a strong Army enters Northumberland, passing on to New-Castle upon Tyne, where he plants his Campe. Of this Castle, Iohn Nevile was left governour by King Edward, who sending out certaine companies, tooke the Earle Murray prisoner, and with the slaughter of divers of his men, and rich booties, returned backe to his Castle; which so incensed King David, that he assaulted the Castle as a man enraged, but finding it too strong for his taking, he then passed into the Province of Durham, where he used all kinds of cruelty, first upon the Countrey, and then upon the City, killing men, women and children, Clergy, and others; burning and destroying houses and Churches, and utterly defacing it. From thence he passeth on to the Castle of Salisbury, which Castle belonged to William Mountacute Earle of Salisbury in right of his wife; but himselfe being then prisoner in France, onelyonly his Countesse, and one William Mountacute a Cousin of his, was in the Castle. This William perceiving the Scottish horse to be so over-charged with pillage, that they were scarce able to goe; issues out of the Castle with forty horse, sets upon them, kils two hundred, and takes sixe score, whom he brings with their rich pillage, into the Castle. King David soone after with his whole Army arrived, but hearing of King Edwards comming (who certified of these things, made all the haste he could) he retires himselfe from thence; and King Edward finding him gone before he came, yet would needs goe in and visit the Countesse: of whom, as soone as he saw her, he was so enamoured, that he laid more battery to her chastity, then King David had done to her Castle; but finding it inexpugnable, after a day and a night he left it, and followed after the Scots, with whom for three dayes together he had many skirmishes, till at last a Truce was concluded for two yeares; and amongst other conditions, William Earle of Salisbury, prisoner with the King of France, was set at liberty in exchange for the Earle Murray, prisoner with the King of England.
About this time another difference fell out betweene the Kings of France and England. Iohn Earle of Montford laid claime to the Dutchy of Britaine, but in the quarrell was taken prisoner by the King of France: his Lady sends to King Edward for succour; which King Edward grants upon condition that a marriage be made betweene his daughter Mary and the Earle of Montfords sonne; which being agreed on, he sends over to her aide, first, Walter de Manny a valiant knight, and afterward Robert d' Arthois: but whilest his Army was preparing, King Edward was informed by Edward Baylioll, the pretended King of Scotland, and Governour of Berwicke, that the Scots had not kept the conditions of the Truce; whereupon King Edward drawes a great Army to Berwicke, with a purpose to doe great matters, but nothing was done, for a new Truce was againe concluded for two yeares. By this time Robert d' Arthois had made ready his Army, and taking with him the Countesse of Montford, the Earles of Pembroke, Salisbury, and Suffolke, and many other Barons; after great tempests and encounters at Sea lands safely at last neare to Vannes, which was held by the French, and laying …ege to the City, with the assistance of Walter de Manny, who came unto him, after many assaults, at last he tooke it, to the great joy of the Countesse of Montford, though she held it not long; for certaine resolute French knights assaulted it soone after, and recovered it from the English. In which action many Lords were slaine or wounded, and particularly Robert de Ar…hois himselfe; who passing over into England, for the better curing of his wounds, soone after died, and was buried in Pauls Church in L…ndon. And now King Edward himselfe with a strong Army passeth over into Britaine, and plants his Campe before the City of Vannes, where was like to have beene a cruell battell; but in the instant, there came from Pope Cl…ment the sixth, two Cardinals, the Bishops of Preneste and Thusculum; who upon certaine conditions concluded a Peace; amongst other conditions, this was one; that the City of Vannes should be delivered to …ing Philip, and thereupon Iohn Earle of Montford should be set at liberty, but yet with this charge, not to goe into Britaine: which promise notwithstanding, he kept not, but went presently and besieged a Tow…e in Britaine, though he were forced to retire, and died shortly after. But the Truce cracked …hus, as it were, by Montford, was afterward absolutely broken by King Edward though he charged the breach of it upon K. Philip, and King Philip upon him. But howsoever broken it was; and Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby, with divers other Earles and Barons, is sent into France, who won many Townes in Gascoyne … and in the Counties of Perigort and Tholo…se, and then went to winter at Burdeaux. And afterward, in May following, pursuing his victories, he wonne many mor… Townes; and amongst others, the great Towne of Reoll. After this againe, he tooke Montpesat, Maurore, Villefranche, and many other Townes; and at last the great City of Ango…lesme, and then came to winter againe at Burdeaux.