Part 12
[Sidenote: The English men obteine the victorie. The king of Scots taken.]
Shortlie herevpon the Scots set forward to begin the battell, and likewise did the Englishmen, and therewith the archers on both parts began to shoot: the shot of the Scots did little hurt, but the archers of England sore galled the Scots, so that there was an hard battell. They began at nine of the clocke, and continued still in fight till noone. The Scots had sharpe and heauie axes, & gaue with the same great and mightie strokes, howbeit finallie the Englishmen by the helpe of God obteined the victorie, although they lost manie of their men. There were diuerse of the nobles of Scotland slaine, to the number of seauen earles, beside lords. The king was taken in the field sore wounded, for he fought valiantlie. He was prisoner to an esquier of Northumberland, who as soone as he had taken him, rode out of the field with him, accompanied onelie with eight of his seruants, and rested not till he came to his owne castell where he dwelled, being thirtie miles distant from the place of the battell.
[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius._]
[Sidenote: _Ri. Southwell._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Neuils crosse.]
There was taken also beside him, the earles of Fife, Sutherland, Wighton, and Menteth, the lord William Douglas, the lord Vescie, the archbishop of S. Andrewes, and another bishop, with sir Thomelin Foukes, and diuerse other men of name. There were slaine of one and other to the number of 15 thousand. This battell was fought beside the citie of Durham at a place called Neuils crosse, vpon a saturdaie next after the feast of saint Michaell, in the yeare of our Lord 1346. Of this ouerthrow Christopher Okland hath verie commendablie written, saieng,
[Sidenote: _In Angl. prælijs sub Edwardo 3._]
---- haud omine dextro Iam Scotus intulerat vim Dunelmensibus agris, Cùm formidandum sæuus bellum instruit Anglus, Aggreditúrque hostem violantem foedera sacra. Nominis incerti Scoticæ plebs obuia gentis Sternitur, & tristi gladio cadit impia turba, Frustrà obluctantur Scotiæ comitésque ducésque, Quorum pars iacet occumbens; pars cætera capta Captiuum corpus dedit vincentibus, auro Et pacto pretio redimendum, bellicus vt mos Postulat. At Dauid Scotiæ rex captus ad vrbem Londinum fidei pendens dignissima fractæ Supplicia, adductus celebri concluditur arce. Exiguus numerus volucri pede fisus equorum Effugit in patriam, testis certissimus Anglos Deuicisse suos, & tristia funera narrant.
[Sidenote: Sée in Scotland.]
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
[Sidenote: Countries of Scotl[=a]d subdued by the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
¶ He that will sée more of this battell, may find the same also set foorth in the Scotish historie, as their writers haue written thereof. And for somuch as by the circumstances of their writings, it should séeme they kept the remembrance of the same battell perfectlie registred, we haue in this place onelie shewed what other writers haue recorded of that matter, and left that which the Scotish chronicles write, to be séene in the life of king Dauid, without much abridging therof. The Englishmen after this victorie thus obteined, tooke the castels of Roxburgh and Hermitage, and also without any resistance subdued the countries of Anandale, Galloway, Mers, Tiuidale, and Ethrike forrest, extending their marches foorth at that time vnto Cokburnes Peth, and Sowtray hedge, and after vnto Trarlinlips, and crosse Caue.
[Sidenote: Iohn Copland refuseth to deliuer the K. of Scots.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Copland rewarded.]
The quéene of England being certeinelie informed that the king of Scots was taken, & that Iohn Copland had conueied him out of the field, no man vnderstood to what place, she incontinentlie wrote to him, commanding him foorthwith to bring his prisoner king Dauid vnto hir presence: but Iohn Copland wrote to hir againe for a determinate answer, that he would not deliuer his prisoner the said king Dauid vnto any person liuing, man or woman, except onelie to the king of England, his souereigne lord and master. Herevpon the quéene wrote letters to the king, signifieng to him both of the happie victorie chanced to his people against the Scots, and also of the demeanour of Iohn Copland, in deteining the Scotish king. King Edward immediatlie by letters commanded Iohn Copland to repaire vnto him where he laie at siege before Calis, which with all conuenient spéed he did, and there so excused himselfe of that which the quéene had found hirselfe gréeued with him, for deteining the king of Scots from hir, that the king did not onelie pardon him, but also gaue to him fiue hundred pounds sterling of yearelie rent, to him & to his heires for euer, in reward of his good seruice and valiant prowes, and made him esquire for his bodie, commanding him yet vpon his returne into England to deliuer king Dauid vnto the quéene, which he did, and so excused himselfe also vnto hir, that she was therewith satisfied and contented. Then the quéene, after she had taken order for the safe kéeping of the king of Scots, and good gouernement of the realme, tooke the sea and sailed ouer to the king hir husband still lieng before Calis.
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir._]
[Sidenote: The Flemings.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: 1347.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders c[=o]streined to promise mariage to the king of Englands daughter.]
Whilest Calis was thus besieged by the king of England, the Flemings which had latelie before besieged Betwine, and had raised from thence about the same time that the battell was fought at Cressie, now assemble togither againe, and dooing what damage they might against the Frenchmen on the borders, they laie siege vnto the towne of Aire. Moreouer, they wrought so for the king of England (earnestlie requiring their fréendship in that behalfe) that their souereigne lord Lewes earle of Flanders being as then about fiftéene yeares of age, fianced the ladie Isabell daughter to the king of England, more by constraint indéed of his subiects, than for any good will he bare to the king of England: for he would often saie, and openlie protest, that he would neuer marrie hir whose father had slaine his: but there was no remedie, for the Flemings kept him in maner as a prisoner, till he granted to follow their aduise. But the same wéeke that the mariage was appointed to be solemnized, the earle as he was abroad in hawking at the hearon, stale awaie and fled into France, not staieng to ride his horsse vpon the spurs till he came into Arthois, and so dishonorablie disappointed both the king of England, and his owne naturall subiects the Flemings, to their high displeasure.
[Sidenote: The lord Charles de Blois taken prisoner.]
[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Dagworth.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Hartille an English knight was also there with him.]
While the king laie thus before Calis, diuerse lords and knights came to sée him out of Flanders, Brabant, Heinault, and Almaigne. Amongst other came the lord Robert of Namur, and was reteined with the king as his seruant, the king giuing him thrée hundred pounds sterling of yearelie pension out of his coffers to be paid at Bruges. During the time that the siege thus continued before Calis, the lord Charles de Blois, that named himselfe duke of Britaine, was taken before a castell in Britaine, called la Roch Darien, and his armie discomfited, chéeflie by the aid of that valiant English knight sir Thomas Dagworth, who had béene sent from the siege of Calis by king Edward to assist the countesse of Montfort and other his fréends against the said Charles de Blois, that with a gret armie of Frenchmen and Britains, had the same time besieged the said castell of Roch Darien, c[=o]streining them within in such forceable maner, that they stood in great néed of present succors. The said sir Thomas Dagworth aduertised hereof, with thrée hundred men of armes, and foure hundred archers of his owne retinues, beside certeine Britaines, approched to the siege, and on the 20 of Iune earlie in the morning, a quarter of an houre before day, suddenlie set vpon the enimies, who hauing knowledge of his comming, were readie to receiue him as the day before, but being now surprised thus on the sudden, they were greatlie amazed: for they that were within Roch Darien, as soone as the appearance of daie had discouered the matter vnto them, so that they might know their fréends from their enimies, they issued foorth, and holpe not a litle to the atchiuing of the victorie, which was cléerelie obteined before sunne-rising, and the French armie quite discomfited, greatlie to the praise of the said sir Thomas Dagworth and his companie, considering their small number, in comparison of their aduersaries, who were reckoned to be twelue hundred good men of armes, knights, and esquires, beside six hundred other armed men, two thousand crossebowes, six hundred archers of the countrie of Britaine, and footmen of commons innumerable.
There were taken, besides the lord Charles de Blois naming himself duke of Britaine, diuerse other lords and men of name, as monsieur Guie de la Vaall, sonne and heire to the lord la Vaall, which died in the battell, the lord of Rocheford, the lord de Beaumanour, the lord of Loiacke, with other lords, knights, and esquiers, in great numbers. There were slaine the said lord de la Vaall, the Vicount of Rohan, the lord of Chasteau Brian, the lord de Mailestreit, the lord de Quintin, the lord de Rouge, the lord of Dereuall and his sonne, sir Rafe de Montfort, and manie other worthie men of armes, knights and esquiers, to the number of betwixt six and seuen hundred, as by a letter written by the said sir Thomas Dagworth, and registred in the historie of Robert de Auesburie dooth appeare.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The French king assembleth an armie.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
In this meane while, king Philip hauing dailie word how the power of his enimie king Edward did increase by aid of the Easterlings and other nations, which were to him alied, and that his men within Calis were brought to such an extreme point, that without spéedie rescue they could not long kéepe the towne, but must of force render it ouer into the hands of his said enimie, to the great preiudice of all the realme of France, after great deliberation taken vpon this so weightie a matter, he commanded euerie man to méet him in their best arraie for the warre, at the feast of Pentecost in the citie of Amiens, or in those marches. At the daie and place thus appointed, there came to him Odes duke of Burgoigne, and the duke of Normandie eldest sonne to the king, the duke of Orleance his yoongest sonne, the duke of Burbon, the earle of Fois, the lord Lois de Sauoie, the lord Iohn of Heinault, the earle of Arminacke, the earle of Forrest, and the earle Valentinois, with manie others.
[Sidenote: The Flemings besiege Aire.]
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir._]
[Sidenote: The French K. c[=o]meth towards Calis.]
These noble men being thus assembled, they tooke councell which waie they might passe to giue battell to the Englishmen: it was thought the best waie had béene through Flanders, but the Flemings in fauour of the king of England denied, not onelie to open their passages to the Frenchmen, but also had leuied an armie of an hundred thousand men of one and other, and laid siege to Aire, and burnt the countrie all about. Wherevpon there were manie sharpe bickerings and sore incounters betwixt the Flemings and such Frenchmen as king Philip sent foorth against them both, now, whilest the French armie laie about Amiens, and also before, during all the time that the siege lay at Calis. For all the French towns vpon the frontiers were stuffed with strong garrisons of souldiers, as Lisle, saint Omers, Arras, Bullongne, Aire and Monttreuill, and those men of war were euer readie vpon occasion to attempt sundrie exploits. After this, when the armie of the Flemings was broken vp, and returned home, or rather diuided into parts, and lodged along on the frontiers, the French king with two thousand men one and other came forward, taking his way through the countrie called la Belme, and so by the countrie of Frankeberge, came streight to the hill of Sangate, betwixt Calis and Wisant.
[Sidenote: The earle of Derbie.]
The king of England had caused a strong castell to be made betwéene the towne of Calis and the sea, to close vp that passage, and had placed therein thrée score men of armes, and two hundred archers which kept the hauen in such sort that nothing could come in nor out. Also considering that his enimies could come neither to succour the towne, nor to annoie his host, except either by the downes alongst the sea side, or else aboue by the high waie, he caused all his nauie to drawe alongst by the coast of the downes, to stop vp that the Frenchmen should not approch that waie. Also the erle of Derbie being come thither out of Guien, was appointed to kéepe Newland bridge, with a great number of men of armes and archers, so that the Frenchmen could not approch anie waie, vnlesse they would haue come through the marishes, which to doo was not possible.
[Sidenote: The request of the French lords to the king of England.]
[Sidenote: His answer.]
Fiftéene hundred of the commons of Tournie wan a tower, which the Englishmen had made and kept for the impeachment of the Frenchmens passage by the downes, but that notwithstanding, when the marshals of France had well viewed all the passages and streicts through the which their armie must passe, if they meant to fight with the Englishmen, they well perceiued that they could not come to the Englishmen to giue them battell, without the king would lose his people, wherevpon (as Froissard saith) the French king sent the lord Geffrey de Charnie, the lord Eustace de Ribaumont, Guie de Néele, and the lord de Beauiew vnto the king of England, which required him on their maisters behalfe to appoint certeine of his councell, as he would likewise appoint certeine of his, which by common consent might aduise betwéene them an indifferent place for them to trie the battell vpon: wherevnto the king of England answered, "That there he was and had béene almost a whole yeare, which could not be vnknowne to his aduersarie their maister, so that he might haue come sooner if he would: but now, sith he had suffered him there to remaine so long, without offer of battell, he meant not to accomplish his desire, nor to depart from that, which to his great cost he had brought now at length to that point, that he might easilie win it. Wherefore if the French K. nor his host could not passe those waies which were closed by the English power, let them séeke some other passage (said he) if they thinke to come hither."
[Sidenote: Cardinals s[=e]t to intreat of peace.]
[Sidenote: They depart.]
[Sidenote: The French K. returneth into France.]
[Sidenote: The conditions of the surrender of Calis.]
In this meane while came two cardinals fr[=o] pope Clement, to treat a peace betwixt the two kings, wherevpon commissioners were appointed, as the dukes of Burgoigne and Burbone, the lord Lewes de Sauoie, and the lord Iohn de Heinault, otherwise called lord Beaumont, on the French part: and the earles of Derbie and Northampton, the lord Reginald Cobham, and the lord Walter de Mannie, on the English part. These commissioners and the legates (as intreators betwéene the parties) met and communed thrée daies togither, but agréed not vpon anie conclusion, and so the cardinals departed; and the French king perceiuing he could not haue his purpose, brake vp his host and returned to France, bidding Calis farewell. After that the French king with his host was once departed from Sangate, without ministring anie succour to them within the towne, they began to sue for a parlée, which being granted, in the end they were contented to yéeld, and the king granted to receiue them and the towne on these conditions; that six of the chéefe burgesses of the towne should come foorth bareheaded, barefooted, and barelegged, and in their shirts, with halters about their necks, with the keies of the towne and castell in their hands, to submit themselues simplie to the kings will, and the residue he was contented to take to mercie.
[Sidenote: Six burgesses of Calis presented to the king.]
[Sidenote: The quéene obteined their pardon.]
This determinate resolution of king Edward being intimated to the commons of the towne, assembled in the market place by the sound of the common bell before the capteine, caused manie a wéeping eie amongst them: but in the end, when it was perceiued that no other grace would be obteined, six of the most wealthie burgesses of all the towne agréed to hazard their liues for the safegard of the residue, and so according to the prescript order deuised by the K. they went foorth of the gates, and were presented by the lord Walter de Mannie to the king, before whom they knéeled downe, offered to him the keies of the towne, and besought him to haue mercie vpon them. But the king regarding them with a fell countenance, commanded streight that their heads should be striken off. And although manie of the noble men did make great intreatance for them, yet would no grace be shewed, vntill the quéene being great with child, came and knéeled downe before the king hir husband, and with lamentable chéere & wéeping eies intreated so much for them, that finallie the kings anger was aswaged & his rigor turned to mercie (for
Flectitur iratus voce rogante Deus)
so that he gaue the prisoners vnto hir to doo hir pleasure with them. Then the quéene commanded them to be brought into hir chamber, and caused the halters to be taken from their necks, clothed them anew, gaue them their dinner, and bestowing vpon ech of them six nobles, appointed them to be conueied out of the host in safegard, and set at libertie.
[Sidenote: Calis yéelded to the king of England.]
[Sidenote: Calis made a colonie of Englishmen. The quéene brought to bed in the castell of Calis.]
Thus was the strong towne of Calis yéelded vp into the hands of king Edward, the third of August, in the yeare 1347. The capteine the lord Iohn de Vienne, and all the other capteins and men of name were staied as prisoners, and the common soldiers and other meane people of the towne were licenced to depart and void their houses, leauing all their armor and riches behind them. The king would not haue any of the old inhabitants to remaine in the towne, saue onlie a priest, and two other ancient personages, such as best knew the customes, lawes and ordinances of the towne. He appointed to send ouer thither amongst other Englishmen, there to inhabit, 36 burgesses of London, and those of the wealthiest sort, for he meant to people the towne onelie with Englishmen, for the better and more sure defense thereof. The king and quéene were lodged in the castell, and continued there, till the quéene was deliuered of a daughter named Margaret.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir._]
[Sidenote: A truce. Women hard to agrée.]
[Sidenote: Sir Amerie de Pauie.]
The cardinals, of whome ye heard before, being come as legats from pope Clement to mooue communication of peace, did so much in the matter, that a truce was granted betwixt the realme of England & France, for the terme of twelue moneths, or two yeares (as Froissard saith.) But the English chronicle and Iacobus Meir séeme to agrée, that this truce was taken but for nine moneths, though afterwards the same was proroged. To the which truce all parties agréed, Britaine excepted, for the two women there would not be quieted, but still pursued the war the one against the other. After that this truce was accorded, the king with the quéene his wife returned into England, and left as capteine within Calis one sir Amerie of Pauie an Italian knight, or (as other bookes haue) he was but capteine of the castell, or of some one of the towers of that towne, which séemeth more like to be true, than that the king should commit the whole charge of the towne vnto his gouernement, being a stranger borne, and therefore Iacobus Meir is the more to be credited, that writeth how sir Amerie of Pauie was left but in charge with the castell onelie, and that the towne was committed to the kéeping of the lord Iohn Beauchampe, and Lewes his brother.
[Sidenote: 1348.]
[Sidenote: _Thom. Walsi._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 22.]
[Sidenote: Great raine.]
[Sidenote: 1349.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 23.]
[Sidenote: A great mortalitie.]
[Sidenote: Dearth.]
But now that there was a peace thus concluded betwixt the two kings, it séemed to the English people that the sunne breake foorth after a long cloudie season, by reason both of the great plentie of althings, and remembrance of the late glorious victories: for there were few women that were housekéepers within this land, but they had some furniture of houshold that had béene brought to them out of France as part of the spoile got in Caen, Calis, Carenten, or some other good towne. And beside houshold stuffe, the English maides and matrones were bedecked and trimmed vp in French womens iewels and apparell, so that as the French women lamented for the losse of those things, so our women reioised of the gaine. In this 22 yeare, from Midsummer to Christmasse for the more part it continuallie rained, so that there was not one day and night drie togither, by reason whereof great flouds insued, and the ground therewith was sore corrupted, and manie inconueniences insued, as great sickenes, and other, in somuch that in the yeare following in France the people died woonderfullie in diuerse places. In Italie also, and in manie other countries, as well in the lands of the infidels, as in christendome, this grieuous mortalitie reigned to the great destruction of people. ¶ About the end of August, the like death began in diuerse places of England, and especiallie in London, continuing so for the space of twelue moneths following. And vpon that insued great barrennesse, as well of the sea, as the land, neither of them yéelding such plentie of things as before they had doone. Whervpon vittels and corne became scant and hard to come by.
[Sidenote: A practise to betraie Calis.]
About the same time died Iohn Stretford archbishop of Canturburie, after whome succéeded Iohn Vfford, who liued not in that dignitie past ten moneths, and then followed Thomas Bredwardin, who deceassed within one yeare after his consecration, so that then Simon Islep was consecrated archbishop by pope Clement the sixt, being the 53 archbishop that had sit in that seat. Within a while after, William archbishop of Yorke died: in whose place succéeded Iohn Torsbie, being the 44 archbishop that had gouerned that church. Moreouer in this 23 yeare of king Edwards reigne, the great mortalitie in England still continuing, there was a practise in hand for recouering againe of Calis to the French kings possession. The lord Geffrie of Charnie lieng in the towne of S. Omers, did practise with sir Amerie de Pauie, to be receiued into the towne of Calis by the castell, secretlie in the night season. The Italian gaue eare to the lord Geffrie his sute; and to make few words, couenanted for the summe of twentie thousand crownes to betraie the towne vnto him, in such sort as he could best deuise.
[Sidenote: Diuersitie in writers.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: The king secretlie passeth ouer to Calis.]
[Sidenote: The lord Geffrie de Charnie.]