Part 7
At the same time sir Thomas Turberuile a knight, and one of those (as before ye haue heard) which were taken at Rion, to saue his life, and to deliuer himselfe out of captiuitie, though he was neuer proued false before, promised king Philip that if he would suffer him to returne into England, he would so worke with king Edward, that he might be made by him admerall of the seas; which thing brought to passe he would deliuer the English nauie into the hands of the said king Philip. Herevpon was he set at libertie, and ouer he came into England. And for as much as he had knowne to be a man of singular and approued valiancie, king Edward receiued him verie courteouslie, who remembring his promised practise to the French king, fell in hand by procuring of fréends to be made admerall of the seas. But king Edward (as God would haue it) denied that sute.
[Sidenote: The French king sendeth foorth a fléet against England.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: French men slaine.]
[Sidenote: A gallie burnt.]
The French king in the meane time hauing prepared his nauie, conteining thrée hundred saile, what with the gallies and other ships (for he had got diuerse both from Merselles and Genoa) sent the same foorth to the seas, that vpon such occasion the king of England might also send foorth his fléet. But the French nauie comming néere to the coast of England, and lieng at anchor certeine daies, looking for Thomas Turberuile; when he came not at the day prefixed, the capteines of the French fléet appointed one of their vessels to approch néere to the shore, and to set on land certeine persons that knew the countrie, to vnderstand and learne the cause of such staie. They being taken of the Englishmen and examined, could make no direct answer in their owne excuse, and so were put to death. Some write that they sent fiue gallies towards the shore to suruey the coast, of the which gallies one of them aduansing foorth afore hir fellowes, arriued at Hide néere to Romney hauen, where the Englishmen espieng hir, to draw the Frenchmen on land, feined to flie backe into the countrie, but returning suddenlie vpon the enimies, they slue the whole number of them, being about two hundred and fiftie persons. They set fire on the gallie also and burned hir.
[Sidenote: Douer robbed by the French.]
[Sidenote: The Frenchmen chased to their ships.]
[Sidenote: Frenchmen slaine about Douer.]
The admerall of the French fléet kindled in anger herewith, sailed streight vnto Douer, and there landing with his people, robbed the towne and priorie. The townesmen being striken with terror and feare of the sudden landing of their enimies, fled into the countrie, and raised people on euerie side, the which being assembled togither in great numbers, towards euening came to Douer, and inuading such Frenchmen as were straied abroad to séeke preies, slue them downe in sundrie places. The French admerall which had béene busie all the day in pilfering the towne, hearing the noise of those Frenchmen that came running towards the sea side, streightwaies got him to his ships with such pillage as he could take with him. The other Frenchmen, which were gone abroad into the countrie to fetch preies, and could not come to their ships in time, were slaine euerie mothers sonne. Some of them hid themselues in the corne fields, and were after slaine of the countrie people. There was little lesse than eight hundred of them thus slaine by one meane and other at that time. There were not manie of the men of Douer slaine, for they escaped by swift flight at the first entrie made by the Frenchmen: but of women and children there died a great number, for the enimies spared none. There was also an old moonke slaine named Thomas, a man of such vertue (as the opinion went) that after his deceasse, manie miracles through him were shewed.
[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Turberuile executed.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
Sir Thomas Turberuile, being troubled in his mind that he could not bring his traitorous purpose to passe, began to assaie another waie, which was to procure Iohn Balioll king of Scotland to ioine in league with the French king, but yer any of his practises could be brought about, his treason was reuealed, who being thereof euidentlie conuicted, was put to execution. Nich. Triuet saith, that he had promised the French king to cause Wales to reuolt from king Edward, and that by procurement of the prouost of Paris, he consented to worke such treason. And (as some write) he did not onelie homage vnto the French king, but also left two of his sonnes in pledge for assurance to worke that which he had promised. His secretarie that wrote the letters vnto the French king, conteining his imagined treasons, with other aduertisements touching king Edwards purposes, fearing least the matter by some other means might come to light (as the old prouerb saith,
Quicquid nix celat solis calor omne reuelat)
as well to his destruction as his maisters for concealing it, disclosed all to the king. Now he hauing knowledge that he was bewraied by his seruant, fled out of the court, but such diligence was vsed in the pursuit of him, that he was taken within two daies after, and brought backe againe to London, where he was conuicted of the treason so by him imagined, and therefore finallie put to death. ¶ This yeare the cleargie gaue to the king the tenth part of their goods, the citizens a sixt part, and the commons a twelfth part, or rather (as Euersden saith) the burgesses of good townes gaue the seuenth, and the commons abroad the eleuenth penie.
[Sidenote: The death of noble men.]
[Sidenote: Sir Rafe Monthermer wedded the countesse of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 24.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: 1296.]
The same yeare died Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester, which left issue behind him, begot of his wife the countesse Ione the kings daughter (beside thrée daughters) one yoong sonne named also Gilbert to succéed him as his heire. The countesse his wife, after hir husbands deceasse, married a knight of meane estate, borne in the bishopricke of Duresme, named sir Rafe Monthermer, that had serued the earle hir first husband in his life time. The king at the first tooke displeasure herewith, but at length through the hie valiancie of the knight, oft times shewed and apparantlie approued, the matter was so well taken, that he was intituled earle of Glocester, and aduanced to great honor. ¶ Iohn Romane archbishop of Yorke also this yeare died, after whome one Henrie de Newmarke deane of the colledge there succéeded. ¶ Moreouer the same yeare William de Valence earle of Penbroke departed this life, and lieth buried at Westminster, and then Aimer his sonne succéeded him.
[Sidenote: The king of Scots concludeth a league with the French king.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
Iohn king of Scotland affianced his sonne Edward Balioll with the daughter of Charles du Valois brother to the French king, and concluded with the said French king a league against the king of England. Nothing mooued the Scotish king so much hereto, as the affection which he bare towards his natiue countrie, for he was a French man borne, and lord of Harecourt in Normandie, which segniorie was after made an earledome by Philip du Valois king of France. The Scotishmen had chosen 12 péeres, that is to saie, foure bishops, foure earles, and foure barons, by whose aduise and counsell the king should gouerne the realme, by whome he was induced also to consent vnto such accord with the French men, contrarie to his promised faith giuen to king Edward when he did homage to him.
[Sidenote: K. Edwards request made to the Scots is denied.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The disloiall dealing of the Scots.]
King Edward not fullie vnderstanding the conclusion of this league, required aid of the Scotish king for the maintenance of his warres against France, and receiuing a doubtfull answer, began to suspect the matter: whervpon he required to haue thrée castels, as Barwike, Edenburgh, and Rokesburgh, deliuered vnto him as gages till the end of the warre, and if the Scotishmen continued faithfull vnto him, he would then restore the same castels to them againe when the warres were ended. This to do the Scotishmen vtterlie denied, alledging that their countrie was frée of it selfe, and acquit of all seruitude or bondage, and that they were in no condition bound vnto the king of Scotland, and therefore they would receiue the merchants of France, of Flanders, or any other countrie without exception, as they thought good.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Lancaster sent into Gascoine.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
There were in the hauen of Berwike at the same time, certeine English merchants, vpon whome the Scots made assault, and wounded some of them, and some of them they slue, and chased the residue, the which returning into England, made complaint, and shewed in what euill maner they had béene dealt with. King Edward héerevpon perceiuing the purposes of the Scots, determined to make warre vpon them with all spéed, & to conquer the whole countrie, if they could not cleare themselues of such euill dealing as of them was reported and thought to be put in practise. About the conuersion of saint Paule in Ianuarie, king Edward sent ouer into Gascoine his brother the lord Edmund earle of Lancaster, with the earle of Lincolne and other, to the number of 26 banerets, and 700 men of armes, besides a great multitude of other people. They arriued at Blay, about the midst of Lent, and staied there till towards Easter. In which meane season, a great sort of Gascoins and other people resorted vnto them, so that they were two thousand men of armes.
[Sidenote: The castell of Lespar deliuered vnto him.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The Frenchmen forced to retire.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Vpon Cene thursdaie, the castell de Lesparre was deliuered vnto the earle of Lancaster, and after that diuers other castels. At his approching néere vnto Burdeaux, vpon the thursdaie in Easter wéeke, as he rested to refresh himselfe and his armie in a little village called Kekell, an armie of French men issuing out of Burdeaux, ment to come on the Englishmen at vnwares: but hauing warning, they prepared themselues to battell, so well as the shortnes of time would permit, and so therevpon incountring with their enimies, and fighting a sore battell, at length constreined the French men to returne vnto the citie, and pursuing them as they fled, two English knights being brethren to sir Peter de Mallow and an other that was a Gascoine, entred the citie with two standard bearers belonging to the earle of Richmond, & to the lord Alane de la Zouch, whom the Frenchmen tooke, closing them within the gates. The other Englishmen being shut out, first fell to the spoile of the suburbs, and then set fire vpon the same. After this were certeine of the citizens that secretlie were at a point with the earle of Lancaster, to haue deliuered the citie into his hands, but their practise being espied, they were taken and executed yer they could performe that which they had promised.
[Sidenote: The earle of Lancaster departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: Aques besieged.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Arthois sent with an armie to Gascoine.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
Then the earle perceiuing he should but lose his labor to staie any longer there, vpon certeine weightie occasions returned vnto Baionne, where he shortlie after fell sicke and died. He left behind him thrée sonnes, Thomas that succéeded him in the earldome of Lancaster, Henrie lord of Monmouth, and Iohn whome he had begot of his wife Blanch, the which before had béene married vnto Henrie earle of Champaigne, and king of Nauar, by whome shée had but one onelie daughter, that was married vnto the French king Philip de Beau. After this the English armie besieged the citie of Aques, but thorough want of vittels he was constreined to raise thence and breake vp the siege. The earle of Arthois being sent of the French king with an armie into Gascoine, incountred with the Englishmen, and chased them with the slaughter of a great number, and after recouered diuers townes and fortresses in the countrie.
[Sidenote: Burg besieged.]
[Sidenote: The lord Simon de Montagew his enterprise to rescue the garrison of Burg.]
[Sidenote: The siege is raised.]
Those Englishmen that kept the towne of Burg, being compassed about with a siege by Mounseur de Sully, obteined truce for a certeine space, during the which they sent vnto Blaines for some reléefe of vittels, and where other refused to bring vp a ship loden with vittels, which was there prepared, the lord Simon de Montagew, a right valiant chéefetaine, and a wise, tooke vpon him the enterprise, and through the middle of the French gallies, which were placed in the riuer to stop that no ship should passe towards that towne, by helpe of a prosperous wind, he got into the hauen of Burgh, and so relieued them within of their want of vittels, by meanes whereof, Mounseur de Sully brake vp his siege, and returned into France.
[Sidenote: The king of England concludeth a league with the earle of Flanders.]
[Sidenote: He concludeth a league also with the earle of Bar.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Bar inuadeth Champaigne.]
In the meane time, king Edward not sléeping his businesse, procured Guie earle of Flanders to ioine with him in league against the Frenchmen. This Guie was the son of Margaret countesse of Flanders, whom she had by hir second husband William lord of Dampire in Burstoine. Also king Edward procured Henrie earle of Bar, to whome (as before ye haue heard) he had giuen his daughter Eleanor in marriage, to make warre vpon the Frenchmen, so that at one time the erle of Bar inuaded the countrie of Champaigne, and the earle of Flanders made incursions vpon those countries of France which ioine vnto Flanders. King Philip hereof aduertised, sent forth one Walter de Cressie with a great armie against the earle of Bar, so that besieging the chéefest towne of Bar, he constreined the said earle to leaue off his enterprise in Champaigne, and to returne home, for doubt to lose more there than hée should win abroad.
[Sidenote: A mariage concluded.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders arrested.]
But now to touch more at large the circumstances of the occasion that mooued the earle of Flanders to make war against the French king. I find (in Iacob Meir) that there was a marriage concluded betwixt the lord Edward the eldest son of king Edward, and the ladie Philip daughter to the foresaid Guie earle of Flanders, which marriage was concluded by Henrie bishop of Lincolne, and the earle Warren, being sent ouer as ambassadours by king Edward, vnto the said earle Guie for the same purpose. In the yeare following, the said earle of Flanders, togither with his wife, comming to visit the French king at Corbeill, were arrested, and sent to Paris, there to remaine as prisoners, bicause that the earle had affianced his daughter to the French kings aduersarie, without his licence neither might they be deliuered, till by mediation of the pope (who must néeds meddle in the matter by virtue of his peremptorie power, & all christendome must veile the bonnet to his holinesse, or rather abhominablenesse,
Ille etenim toto sese iubet orbe colendum, Cui nisi parueris, crede perire licet)
[Sidenote: The pope intermedleth in the matter.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders forced to agrée with the French king.]
and suertie had vpon the promise of Amedie earle of Sauoy, they were set at libertie, with these conditions, that they should deliuer into the French kings hands their daughter, which was so affianced vnto K. Edwards sonne, and further couenanted, not to conclude any league with the king of England, but in all points t'obserue a certeine peace which was concluded with Ferdinando earle of Flanders, in the yeare 1225. And if earle Guie brake the same peace, then should he be excommunicated, and all his countrie of Flanders interdicted by the archbishop of Reims, and the bishop of Senlis, iudges appointed herein by authoritie of the pope.
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders released returneth home.]
[Sidenote: The French kings answer to the pope.]
[Sidenote: A new league betwixt the K. of England, the emperour and others against the French king.]
The earles daughter being sent for, and brought vnto Paris, the earle and his wife were released, and suffered to returne into Flanders, and shortlie after, the earle made earnest suit to haue his daughter restored vnto him againe, insomuch that he procured pope Boniface to be a meane for him to the French king; but all would not serue, no, though as some say the pope accurssed the French king for reteining hir, answer being made, that matters perteining to worldlie gouernment, belonged not to the pope to discusse. Finallie, earle Guie, perceiuing he could not preuaile in that suit, to haue his daughter againe, vpon high displeasure concluded to ioine in league with king Edward & his confederats. Herevpon, at an assemblie or councell kept at Gerardmount, there was a solemne league made and agréed betwixt Adolph the emperour of Almaine, Edward king of England, Guie earle of Flanders, Iohn duke of Brabant, Henrie earle of Bar, both sonnes in law to king Edward, and Albert duke of Austrich, against Philip king of France, and Iohn earle of Henault his partaker.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
The merchants of Flanders procured the earle to conclude this league with king Edward, as some write, the rather in respect of the great commodities which rose to their countrie, by reason of the intercourse of merchandize vsed betwixt England and Flanders, and for that through aid of the Englishmen, they might the better withstand the malice, both of the French and of all other their enimies. This league being proclaimed in England, there were sent ouer into Flanders, the treasurer of the excheker, and diuerse other noble men, to fetch hostages from thence, and to giue to the earle fiftéene thousand pounds of siluer, towards the fortifieng of his castels and holds. King Philip being hereof aduertised, by counsell of the péeres of his realme, sent two honorable personages, as the capteine of Mounstrell, and the capteine of Belquerke, which should attach the earle of Flanders by his bodie, and summon him to yéeld himselfe prisoner at Paris, within the space of fiftéene daies next insuing.
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders defieth the French king.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders accurssed.]
[Sidenote: His sonne appealeth from the interdiction.]
This attachment made, and summons giuen, the earle of Flanders sent his full defiance vnto the French king by the abbats of Gemblois, and Senefles, vnto whome he gaue sufficient letters procuratorie, to authorise them thereto, dated at Male in the yeare of Grace 1296, after the accounts of the chronicles of Flanders, which begin their yere at Easter: and so this chanced in the fiue and twentith yeare of king Edwards reigne, the Wednesdaie next after the feast of the Epiphanie. Herevpon was the earle accurssed, & Flanders interdicted by the archbishop of Reims, and the bishop of Senlis comming vnto Terwane for that purpose, about the fiftéenth day of Iune, in the yeare 1297. But the lord Robert the earles sonne appealed from that interdiction to the pope, and so the Flemmings tooke themselues frée & out of danger of the same. Earle Guie also obteined of king Edward, that it might be lawfull for them of Bruges to buy wools, through England, Scotland and Ireland, as fréelie as the Italians might by their priuilege and grant.
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to the K. of Scots.]
But to returne now to the dooings of king Edward, who in this meane time, hauing a perfect knowledge of the league concluded betwixt the king of France and the king of Scotland, prepared an armie, and first sent ambassadors into Scotland, to giue summons to king Iohn to appeare at Newcastell within certeine daies, that he might there shew the cause whie he had broken the league: and further, to declare vnto him that he was deceiued, if he thought he might serue two maisters, contrarie to the words of the gospell, and according to the old saieng which seldome neuer faileth in consequence,
Deficit ambobus qui vult seruire duobus.
For how much fauour as he purchased at the hands of the French king, so much displeasure might he assure himselfe to procure at the hands of the king of England, whome to obeie, it should be most for his aduantage. The ambassadors that were sent, did their message throughlie, but king Iohn was so farre off from answering anie thing that might sound to the maintenance of peace, that shortlie after he sent letters of complaint vnto king Edward, for wrongs which he alledged he had susteined by his means and at his hands. Herevpon king Edward, by aduise of his councell, determined to set forward with his armie into Scotland.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The lord Ros reuolteth to ye K. of Scots.]
[Sidenote: William de Ros continueth faithfull to the king of England.]
[Sidenote: Englishmen distressed.]
[Sidenote: _Rich. South._]
In the meane time, Robert Ros, capteine of Warke castell, reuolted to the Scotish king, mooued therevnto through the loue of a Scotish gentlewoman, whome he meant to marrie, notwithstanding he had sworne fealtie vnto king Edward. Wherevpon, his brother William de Ros giuing knowledge to king Edward, required to haue some aid, whereby he might defend the castell against the Scotishmen. King Edward sent vnto him a thousand souldiers, (Polydor saith an hundred) the which as they lodged one night in a towne called Prestfen, were slaine by the Scotishmen of the garison of Rockesborough, that were led and guided by the said Robert Ros: some of them although but few escaped awaie by flight. King Edward aduertised hereof, hasted foorth, and came to the said castell, glad of this (as is reported) that the Scotishmen had first begun the warre, meaning, as it should séeme by their procéedings, to follow the same, for vpon Good friday, diuerse Scotishmen entring the borders, burnt sundrie villages, and spoiled the abbeie of Carham.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The Scots inuade England.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The Scots raise their siege from Carleil.]
Furthermore, whilest king Edward kept his castell at Warke, seauen earles of Scotland, as Bouchan, Menteth, Stratherne, Lennox, Ros, Atholl, and Mar, with Iohn Comin the maister of Badenaw, hauing assembled an armie togither of fiue hundred men of armes on horssebacke, and ten thousand footmen in Annandale, vpon monday in Easter wéeke entred England, and putting all to fire and sword, approched to Carleill, and laid siege therevnto on each side, passing the water of Eden by a foord vnder Richardston, and did so much preuaile, that they burned the suburbes, and assaulted the gates, at which enterprise, a gentleman of Galloway as he ventured somewhat néere to the gate, was drawne vp by an iron hooke, of those that stood aloft vpon the gates to defend the same, and there slaine, and thrust through with speares. In the meane time, a spie, the which had béene taken and committed to prison, set fire on the house wherein he was inclosed, and so the flames catching hold vpon the other buildings, a great part of the citie was thereby burned. Yet the men and the women getting themselues to the wals, droue their enimies backe, and so defended the citie from taking. Whervpon, the Scotish lords perceiuing they could not preuaile, left their siege on the thursdaie in Easter wéeke, and returned againe into Scotland.
[Sidenote: Berwike summoned.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The English fléet.]
[Sidenote: Foure English ships lost.]