Part 6
Within a few daies after, the earle of Lancaster required the quéenes, that they would call vpon the king to grant his safe conduct for the king of England, to reuoke the citation or summons, to restore the lands taken from him; and to deliuer the pledges: but the French king by the mouths of certeine knights sent vnto the earle, renounced all such couenants as before had béene concluded. The earle of Lancaster then perceiuing that both he and his brother king Edward were mocked thus at the French kings hands, returned into England, and informed the king & his councell from point to point of all the matter. Herevpon a parlement being called at Westminster, at the which the king of Scotland was present, it was decréed by the states, that those lands which were craftilie taken so from the K. should be recouered againe by the sword. And the king herewith sent vnto the French king a frier preacher named Hugh of Manchester, and a frier minor called William de Gainesbourgh, both being wise and discréet men, and doctours of diuinitie, to declare vnto him, that sith he would not obserue such agréements as had béene concluded betwixt their ancestours; and further had broken such couenants as were now of late agréed vpon betwixt them, by the trauell of his brother Edmund earle of Lancaster: there was no cause whie he ought to account him being king of England, and duke of Guien, as his leigeman, neither did he intend or meane further to be bound vnto him by reason of his homage.
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into Germanie.]
[Sidenote: Wolles staied.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A subsidie raised of wols.]
[Sidenote: An armie sent to Gascoigne.]
About the same time did the king of England send the archbishop of Dubline, and the bishop of Duresme into Germanie, about the concluding of a league with Adolph king of Romans, to whome was giuen a great summe of monie (as was said) vpon couenants, that he should aid the king of England against the French king, with all his maine force, and that neither of them should conclude peace with the said French king without consent of the other. About the Ascension tide, king Edward staied the woolles of this land, as well belonging to spirituall men as temporall men, till the merchants had fined with him for the same, so that there was a subsidie paied for all sarpliers of wooll that went out of the relme, and in semblable wise for felles and hides. He also sent an armie by sea into Gascoigne, vnder the conduct of his nephew Iohn of Britaine that was earle of Richmond, appointing to him as councellors, the lord Iohn saint Iohn, and the lord Robert Tiptost; men of great wisdome, and verie expert in warlike enterprises.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Thrée fléets appointed to the sea.]
[Sidenote: A dearth.]
[Sidenote: _Rich. South._]
[Sidenote: The English armie passeth to Gascoigne.]
[Sidenote: Towns won.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
He also caused thrée seuerall fléets to be prepared, and appointed to them thrée sundrie admerals, for the better kéeping of the seas. To them of Yarmouth and other of those parts, he assigned the lord Iohn Botetourt: to them of the cinque ports, William de Leiborne: and to them of the west countrie, and to the Irishmen, he appointed a valiant knight of Ireland as their chéefteine. This yeare in England was a great dearth and scarcitie of corne, so that a quarter of wheat in manie places was sold for thirtie shillings: by reason whereof poore people died in manie places for lacke of sustnance. About Michaelmas, the English fléet tooke the sea at Portesmouth, and after some contrarie winds, yet at last they arriued within the riuer of Garon, and so passing vp the same riuer, wan diuers townes, as Burge, Blaines, Rions, and others.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: A shift for monie.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The treasurer accused.]
[Sidenote: The K. excuseth himselfe.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The spiritualtie called to a councell.]
The kings coffers by reason of furnishing foorth of this armie, and other continuall charges which he had susteined, were now in maner emptie: for remedie whereof, William March one of the kings treasurers, purposed with other mens losses to supplie that want. He knew that in abbeies and churches was much monie kept in store, the which if he commanded to be taken from thence, he thought that he should not commit any offense, but rather doo a good déed, that the monie might come abroad to the vse of the people, whereby the souldiers might be satisfied for their wages. Such capteins therefore, as he appointed to worke the feat, placing their souldiers in euerie quarter through the realme, made search at one time, in Iulie, at thrée of the clocke in the afternoone, for all such monie as was hid and laid vp in all hallowed places, and taking the same awaie, brought it vnto the king, who dissembling the matter, as he that stood in néed, excused the act doone by his treasurer so well as he could, to auoid the enuie of the people; and not content herewith, he called togither shortlie after, to wit, on saint Matthewes day the apostle, at London, all the archbishops, bishops, deanes, & archdeacons, not in their proper persons, but by two procurators of euerie diocesse. Here when they were once assembled, the king declared vnto them the warres which he was driuen to mainteine against the Frenchmen, & the charges which he was at for the same. He also shewed them, that the earles, barons & knights of the realme, did not onlie aid him with their goods, but put their persons forward to serue him in defense of the land, whereof they were members, euen to the shedding of their bloud, and oftentimes with losse of their liues. Therfore (saith he) you which may not put your persons in perill by seruice in the warres, it is good reason you should aid vs with your goods.
[Sidenote: Their offer not liked.]
[Sidenote: The halfe part of spirituall liuings granted to the king.]
[Sidenote: _R. Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
The cleargie hauing no speciall head, by reason that the sée of Canturburie was void, wist not well how to gouerne themselues. At length Oliuer bishop of Lincolne, required in all their names to haue thrée daies respit to make answer to the matter, the which time expired, they offered to the king two dismes to be paid within one yeare. The which when the king heard, he tooke great disdaine therewith, and threatned by some of his men of war to put the cleargie out of his protection, except they would grant to him the halfe of their goods. The cleargie put in feare herewith, and some of them also desirous to win the kings fauour, granted his request, and so the king at that time got the halfe part of euerie spirituall mans liuing and benefice for one yeares extent, to be paid in portions within thrée yeares next insuing, beginning at twentie marks benefice, & so vpwards. And the sooner to induce them herevnto, he promised the bishops to grant some thing that might be beneficiall to the cleargie, if they would demand it.
[Sidenote: The prelates require to haue the statute of Mortmain repealed.]
[Sidenote: The K. shifteth them off.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
The bishops taking councell togither, required of him that the statute of Mortmain might be repealed, which they saw to be most preiudiciall to their order. But the king answered them, that without the whole consent of a parlement he could not breake that ordinance, which by authoritie of parlement had béene once established, and therefore he wished that they would not require that thing which laie not in him to grant, and so by that means he shifted them off. The spiritualtie was not onelie charged with this subsidie, but they of the temporaltie were also burthened. For the citizens and burgesses of good townes gaue to the king the sixt part of their goods, and the residue of the people gaue the tenth part.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen are busie.]
[Sidenote: Madoc.]
[Sidenote: Carnaruan burnt.]
[Sidenote: Malgon.]
[Sidenote: Morgan driueth the earle of Glocester out of Glamorganshire.]
[Sidenote: The earles of Lancaster & Lincolne vanquished by the Welshmen.]
Moreouer, about the same time, the Welshmen eftsoones rebelled against the king, and in diuerse parts made diuerse rulers amongst them. Those of Northwales which inhabited about Snowdon hils, hauing to their capteine one Madoc, of the line of their former prince Leolin, burned the towne and castell of Carnaruan, sleaing a great multitude of Englishmen, which doubting no such matter, were come thither to the faire. Those of the west part hauing chosen to their ruler one Malgon on the parts of Penbroke and Carmardin shires, did much mischéefe. And one Morgan hauing them of Southwals at his commandement, expelled and droue the earle of Glocester out of his countrie of Glamorgan, which earle had before time disherited the ancestors of the same Morgan. The king therefore to represse the Welshmens attempts, called backe his brother Edmund earle of Lancaster, and the earle of Lincolne, being readie to haue sailed ouer into Gascoine, the which earles as they approched néere vnto the castell of Denbigh vpon saint Martins day, the Welshmen with great force incountred them, and giuing them battell, droue them backe and discomfited their people. Polydor iudgeth that this ouerthrow happened to the Englishmen, the rather for that the armie was hired with such monie as had béene wrongfullie taken out of the abbeis and other holie places, howbeit it is but his opinion onelie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 23.]
[Sidenote: 1295.]
[Sidenote: Baion yéelded to the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: The castell of Baion won.]
[Sidenote: Two French gallies taken.]
[Sidenote: Saint Iohn de Sordes.]
[Sidenote: The Gascoigns aid the Englishmen.]
The king kept his Christmasse at Aberconwey in Wales, and hearing that the new archbishop of Canturburie, doctor Robert Winchelsey, being returned from Rome (where, of pope Celestine he had receiued his pall) was comming towards him, he sent one of his chapleines named Iohn Berwike with a power of souldiers to conduct him safelie vnto his presence. And after the archbishop had doone his fealtie to the king, accordinglie as of dutie and custome he was bound, he was licenced to returne with great honour shewed vnto him at the kings hands. Vpon the day of the circumcision of our Lord, was the citie of Baion rendred vnto the lord Iohn saint Iohn, the which the day before had béene taken by the mariners by force of assault. Manie of the citizens which were knowne to be chéefe enimies vnto the king of England, were apprehended and sent into England. The castell was then besieged, and after eight daies taken. The lord of Aspermont with diuerse others that held it, were committed to prison. There were also taken two gallies, which the French king had caused to be made, and appointed to be remaining there vpon defense of that citie. Shortlie after the towne of saint Iohn de Sordes was deliuered vnto the Englishmen, who wan manie other townes and fortresses, some by surrender of their owne accord, and some by force and violence. The English armie greatlie increased within a while, after the deceit of the Frenchmen once appeared, for the Gascoins returned vnto the English obedience, in such wise that foure thousand footmen and two hundred horsemen came to aid the English capteins.
[Sidenote: The king entreth into Wales.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
In the meane time, the king of England passing ouer the riuer of Conwey, with part of his armie to go further into Wales towards Snowdon, lost manie carts and other cariages which were taken by the Welshmen, being loden with the prouisions of vittels, so that he with his people indured great penurie, and was constreined to drinke water mixt with honie, and eat such course bread and salt flesh as he could get, till the other part of the armie came vnto him. There was a small quantitie of wine amongst them, which they would haue reserued onelie for the king, & therfore refused to tast therof. But least they should repine at his extraordinarie and seuerall fare, and so by conceits of discontentment for not hauing the like, he considered in a sympathie, that,
Quæ mala cum multis patimur, leuiora videntur,
saieng, that in time of necessitie all things ought to be common, and all men to be contented with like diet. For as touching him (being the cause and procurer of their want) he would not be preferred before any of them in his meats and drinks. The Welshmen compassed him about in hope to distresse him, for that the water was so risen, that the residue of his armie could not get to him. But shortlie after, when the water fell, they came ouer to his aid, and therewith the aduersaries fled.
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen ouerthrowne by the earle of Warwike.]
The earle of Warwike, hearing that a great number of Welshmen was assembled togither, and lodged in a vallie betwixt two woods, he chose out a number of horssemen, with certeine crossebowes and archers, and comming vpon the Welshmen in the night, compassed them round about, the which pitching the ends of their speares in the ground, and turning the points against their enimies, stood at defense so to kéepe off the horssemen. But the earle hauing placed his battell so, that euer betwixt two horssemen there stood a crosbow, a great part of the Welshmen which stood at defense in maner aforesaid with their speares, were ouerthrowne and broken with the shot of the quarels, and then the earle charged the residue with a troope of horssmen, and bare them downe with such slaughter, as they had not susteined the like losse of people (as was thought) at anie one time before.
[Sidenote: The woods in Wales cut downe.]
[Sidenote: Beaumarise built.]
[Sidenote: Madoc taken prisoner.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Welshmen imprisoned.]
In the meane while, king Edward to restreine the rebellious attempts of those Welshmen, caused the woods of Wales to be cut downe, wherein before time the Welshmen were accustomed to hide themselues in time of danger. He also repared the castels and holds in that countrie, and builded some new, as the citie and castell of Bewmarise with other, so that the Welshmen constreined through hunger and famine, were inforced within a while to come to the kings peace. Also at length about the feast of saint Laurence, the Welshman Madoc, that tooke himselfe for prince of Wales was taken prisoner, and being brought to London was committed to perpetuall prison. ¶ By some writers it should appeare, that Madoc was not taken, but rather after manie aduentures & sundrie conflicts, when the Welshmen were brought to an issue of great extremitie, the said Madoc came in and submitted himselfe to the kings peace, and was receiued, vpon condition that he should pursue Morgan till he had taken him and brought him to the kings prison, which was doone, and so all things in those parts were set in rest and peace, and manie hostages of the chéefest amongst the Welsh nobilitie were deliuered to the king, who sent them to diuerse castels in England where they were safelie kept almost to the end of the warres that followed with Scotland.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Charles de Valois chaseth the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: The Earle of Richmond.]
[Sidenote: Rion besieged.]
About the same time Charles de Valois brother to the French king, being sent with an armie into Gascoine, and comming vpon the sudden, found the Englishmen wandering abroad in the countrie out of order, by reason whereof taking them at that aduantage, he caused them to leaue their booties behind them, slue part of them, and chased the residue, the which fled to their ships, or to such hauen townes as were in their possession. The capteins of the Englishmen, as Iohn de Britaine earle of Richmond, and the lord Iohn saint Iohn, after they had got togither their souldiers which had béene thus chased, sent two bands vnto Pontesey to defend that towne against the enimies: also other two bands vnto saint Seuere: and they themselues went to Rion to fortifie that place. Charles de Valois aduertised hereof, thought he would not giue them long respit to make themselues strong by gathering any new power, and therfore appointed the conestable sir Rafe de Neale, (who had woone the citie of Burdeaux from the Englishmen latelie before) to go vnto Pontesey and besiege that towne, whilest he went vnto Rion, which he besieged and fiercelie assaulted. But the Englishmen and Gascoins did not onelie defend the towne stoutlie, but also made an issue foorth vpon their enimies, though (as it happened) the smaller number was not able to susteine the force of the greater multitude, and so were the Englishmen beaten backe into the towne againe.
[Sidenote: Pontsey won.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Rion wone.]
Whilest they tried their manhood thus at Rion, the constable woone Pontesey or Pontsac vpon Dordone, and came to ioine with the earles de Valois at Rion, and so inforced both their powers to win that towne. The Englishmen and Gascoins, though they were put in some feare, yet they shewed their approoued valiancie in defending the towne, till at length when they saw they could defend it no longer, and were in no hope of succour from anie part, they fled out about midnight, and made toward their ships: but diuerse of them were taken by the waie, for the Frenchmen hauing knowledge of their intent, forlaie the passages, and taking some of them that first sought to escape thus by flight, slue them, but there was not manie of those. For all the residue, when they perceiued that the Frenchmen had laid betwixt them and their ships, making vertue of necessitie, stood still in defense of the towne, till the Frenchmen entred it by force of assault the friday in Easter wéeke.
[Sidenote: Englishmen taken.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Sir Adam Kreting kild.]
[Sidenote: Sir Walter Gifford.]
Some write, that the same night, in which they so ment to flée to their ships, there chanced a great tumult and mutenie betwixt the footmen and horssemen, so that they fought togither, or else might the whole number of them haue escaped. The horssemen that got foorth left their horsses behind them readie brideled and sadled, which the Frenchmen vpon entring the towne in the morning tooke, after they had slaine the most part of the footmen. The Frenchmen hauing got a bloudie victorie, saued onelie the capteins and gentlemen, and slue the other, aswell Englishmen as Gascoins. There was taken of knights, sir Rafe Tannie, sir Amis de saint Amand, with his brother sir Rafe de Gorges marshall of the armie, sir Roger Leiborne, sir Iohn Kreting, sir Iames Kreting, sir Hen. Boding, sir Iohn Mandeuile, sir Iohn Fulborne, sir Robert Goodfield, sir Thomas Turberuile, & sir Walter, with thrée & thirtie esquiers, which were sent all vnto Paris. Sir Adam Kreting was killed, a right valiant knight, by reason of one sir Walter Gifford a knight also, which had dwelled in France manie yeares before as an outlaw.
[Sidenote: Saint Seuere taken.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Hugh Véer.]
[Sidenote: Charles de Valois.]
[Sidenote: Saint Seuere besiged.]
[Sidenote: Saint Seuere yéelded by composition.]
[Sidenote: Charles de Valois returneth into France.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
On the same day was the towne of saint Seuere deliuered vnto the Englishmen, the which Hugh or (as Abington saith) Robert Véer, brother to the earle of Oxenford tooke vpon him to kéepe as capteine there with two hundred men of armes. Charles de Valois aduertised thereof, departed from Rion with all spéed, to besiege the foresaid towne of saint Seuere, yer the Englishmen should haue time to fortifie it. But the foresaid Hugh Véer kept him out the space of thirtéene or (as Abington saith) nine wéekes, to the great losse of the Frenchmen, no small part of their people dieng in the meane time, both of pestilence and famine. At length, when vittels began to faile within, a truce was taken for fiftéene daies, within the which it might be lawfull for them within the towne to send vnto Baion for succour, which if it came not within that tearme, the towne should be yéelded vnto the Frenchmen, and so it was vpon these conditions, that the Englishmen and other that would depart, should haue libertie to take with them their armour and goods, and be safelie conueied two daies iornie on their waie from the French armie. Also that those which were minded to remaine still in the towne, should not susteine any losse or damage in their bodies or goods. The pledges also which aforetime were taken out of that towne by the French kings seneshall, should returne in safetie to the towne, and haue their goods restored vnto them. This doone, Charles de Valois appointed a garrison of soldiers to remaine there for the kéeping of the towne, and then returned backe into France. The Englishmen, which escaped out of those places from the Frenchmens hands, repaired vnto Baion, to defend that towne with their capteins the foresaid earle of Richmond and the lord Iohn de S. Iohn, the which of some are vntruelie said to haue béene slaine at Rion. Shortlie after that Charles de Valois was departed and gone out of the countrie, the towne of saint Seuere was recouered by the Englishmen.
[Sidenote: The earle of Oxford then liuing hight Robert Véer; and not Hugh Véer.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
¶ It should appeare by report of some writers, that Hugh Véer (whome they wronglie name to be earle of Oxenford) was sent ouer as then from king Edward to the aid of his capteins in Gascoine, and at his first comming, recouered the towne of saint Seuere, and afterwards so valiantlie defended it against the Frenchmen, that honorable mention is made of him, both by Nicholas Triuet, and also by some French writers, for his high manhood therin shewed. But whether he were brother or sonne to the earle of Oxford, I can not saie; howbeit about the 27 yeare of this king Edwards reigne, we find one Hugh Véer, that was a baron, whom I take to be this man, but earle I thinke he was not. For (as Euersden saith) one Robert Véer that was earle of Oxford deceassed in the yeare next insuing, and after him succéeded an other earle that bare the same name (as by records it may appeare.) Polydor speaking of the siege of S. Seuere, rehearseth not who was capteine as then of the towne, but in the yéelding of it vnto Charles de Valois, after he had laine more than thrée moneths before it, he agréeth with other writers.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Cardinals sent to the kings of England and France to treat a peace.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The cardinals gather monie.]
In the same yeare Berard bishop of Alba and Simon archbishop of Bourges, two cardinals of the Romane sée, were sent vnto the kings of England and France, to mooue them to conclude a peace. They first came into France, and after into England, but perceiuing the minds of the kings nothing inclined to concord, they returned to Rome without any conclusion of their purpose, but not without monie gathered of religious men to beare out their expenses, for they had authoritie by the popes grant to receiue in name of procuracies and expenses, six marks of euerie cathedrall and collegiat church thorough the realme, besides diuerse other rewards. And where any poore chapiter of nunnes or religious persons were not able of themselues, the parish churches next adioining were appointed to be contributorie with them.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Turberuiles promise to the French king.]