Part 18
1 First that the king of England should haue and enioy (ouer and beside that which he held alreadie in Gascoigne and Guien) the castell, citie, and countie of Poictiers, and all the lands and countrie of Poictou, with the fée of Touars, and the lands of Belleuille; the citie and castell of Xainctes, and all the lands and countrie of Xaonctonge on both sides the riuer of Charent, with the towne and fortresse of Rochell, with their appurtenances; the citie and castell of Agent, and the countrie of Agenois; the citie and castell of Piergort, and all the land and countrie of Perigueux; the citie and castell of Limoges, and all the lands and countrie of Limosin; the citie and castell of Cahors, and the lordship of Cahorsin; the castell and countrie of Tarbe; the lands countrie and countie of Bigorre; the countie, countrie, and lands of Gaure; the citie and castell of Angolesme; and the countie, land, and countrie of Angolesmois; the citie, towne and castell of Rodaix; and all the countie, and countrie of Rouergne; and if there were in the duchie of Guien any lords, as the earles of Foiz, Arminacke, Lisle, and Perigueux, the vicounts of Carmain, and Limoges, or other holding any lands within the foresaid bounds, it was accorded that they should doo homage and other customarie seruices due for the same vnto the king of England.
[Sidenote: The date of the charter of the peace.]
2 It was also agréed, that Calis and Guines with the appurtenances, the lands of Montreuill on the sea with the countie of Ponthieu, wholie and entirelie should remaine vnto the king of England. All the which countries, cities, townes, and castels, with the other lands and seigniories, the same king should haue and hold to him and his heires for euer, euen as they were in demaine or fée, immediatlie of God, and frée without recognizing any maner souereingtie to any earthlie man. In consideration whereof, king Edward renounced all such claimes, titles and interest as he pretended vnto any part of France, other than such as were comprised within the charter of couenants of this peace first agréed vpon at Bretignie aforesaid, and after confirmed at Calis, as appeareth, by the same charter dated there the foure & twentith daie of October, in the yeare of our Lord 1360.
[Sidenote: The French kings ransome.]
[Sidenote: Hostages.]
3 It was also couenanted, that the French king should paie vnto the king of England thirtie hundred thousand crownes in name of his ransome: for assurance of which paiment, & performance of all the couenants afore mentioned, and other agréed vpon by this peace, the dukes of Orleance, Aniou, Berrie, and Burbon, with diuerse other honorable personages, as earles, lords, and burgesses of euerie good towne, some were appointed to be sent ouer hither into England to remaine as hostages.
[Sidenote: The French not to aid the Scots.]
4 It was further agréed, that neither the French king nor his successors should aid the Scots against the king of England or his successors; nor that king Edward nor his heirs kings of England should aid the Flemings against the crowne of France.
[Sidenote: Britaine.]
5 And as for the title or right of the duchie of Britaine, which was in question betwéene the earles of Blois and Mountfort, it was accorded, that both kings being at Calis, the parties should be called before them, and if the two kings could not make them fréends, then should they assigne certeine indifferent persons to agrée them, and they to haue halfe a yéeres respit to end the matter: and if within that terme those that should be so appointed to agrée them, could not take vp the matter betwixt the said earles, then either of them might make the best purchase for himselfe that he could, by helpe of fréends, or otherwise: but alwaies prouided, that neither of the kings nor their sonnes should so aid the said earles, whereby the peace accorded betwixt England and France, might by any meanes be broken or infringed. Also, to whether of the said earles the duchie of Britaine in the end chanced to fall by sentence of iudges, or otherwise, the homage should be doone for the same vnto the French king.
[Sidenote: The king of England returneth home.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike.]
All these ordinances, articles and agréements, with manie mo (which here would be too long to rehearse) were accorded and ratified by the instruments and scales of the prince of Wales on the one part, and of the duke of Normandie regent of France on the other part, as by their letters patents then sealed further appeared, bearing date, the one at Loures in Normandie the sixtéenth daie of Maie in the yeare of Grace 1360, and the other at Paris the tenth day of the same moneth, and in the yeare aforesaid. Ouer & beside this, both the said princes tooke on them a solemne oth, to sée all the same articles and couenants of agréement throughlie kept, mainteined and performed. This doone, king Edward imbarked himselfe with his four sonnes and the most part of his nobles at Hunfleu the twentith daie of Maie, and so sailed into England, leauing behind him the earle of Warwike to haue the gouernement of all the men of warre which he left behind him, either in Guien or in any other place on that side the sea.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsin._]
[Sidenote: The French king goeth ouer to Calis.]
[Sidenote: The kings receiue a solemne oth to sée the peace performed.]
There died in this iournie diuerse noble men of this land, as the earles of March and Oxford, the lord Iohn Graie then steward of England, and the lord Geffrie de Saie, with diuerse other. The eight of Iulie next insuing, the French king hauing licence to depart, landed at Calis, and was lodged in the castell there, abiding till the king of England came thither, which was not till the ninth day of October next after. On the foure and twentith daie of October, both the kings being in two trauerses and one chappell at Calis, a masse was said before them, and when they should haue kissed the pax, either of them in signe of greater fréendship kissed the other, & there they were solemnlie sworne to mainteine the articles of the same peace; and for more assurance thereof, manie lords of both parts were likewise sworne to mainteine the same articles to the vttermost of their powers. Whilest these kings laie thus at Calis, there was great banketting and chéere made betwixt them.
[Sidenote: The duke of Normandie.]
[Sidenote: The number of the French hostages.]
[Sidenote: The French king set at libertie.]
Also the duke of Normandie came from Bullongne to Calis, to visit his father, and to sée the king of England, in which meane time two of king Edwards sonnes were at Bullongne. Finallie, when these two kings had finished all matters in so good order and forme that the same could not be amended nor corrected, and that the French king had deliuered his hostages to the king of England, that is to saie, six dukes, beside earles, lords, and other honorable personages, in all to the number of eight and thirtie: on the morrow after the taking of their oths, that is to saie on the fiue and twentith daie of October, being sundaie, the French king was fréelie deliuered, and the same daie before noone he departed from Calis, and rode to Bullongne. The king of England brought him a mile foreward on his waie, and then tooke leaue of him in most louing maner. The prince attended him to Bullongne, where both he and the duke of Normandie with other were eftsoons sworne to hold and mainteine the foresaid peace without all fraud or colourable deceit: and this doone, the prince returned to Calis. Thus was the French king set at libertie, after he had béene prisoner here in England the space of foure yeares, and as much as from the ninetéenth daie of September, vnto the fiue and twentith of October. When the king of England had finished his businesse at Calis, according to his mind, he returned into England, and came to London the ninth daie of Nouember.
¶ Thus haue yée hard the originall begining, the processe, and issue of sundrie conflicts and battels, and speciallie of two, one of Iohn the French king vnluckilie attempted against England; the other of Dauid the Scotish king as vnfortunatlie ended. For both kings were subdued in fight, vanquished, and taken prisoners; with a great number of their noblemen, whereas they were in hope to haue gone awaie with the conquest, and to haue had renowme for their reward. Of which ouerthrow giuen to both these kings, with the clemencie of king Edward (in whose hands though their liues laie to be disposed as he list, yet he was so far from violating the same, that he shewed himselfe a woonderfull fauourer of their estates, and in fine not onelie put them to their reasonable ransoms, but restored them to their roialties, from the which their sinister lot had deposed them) Christopher Okland hath left this remembred:
[Sidenote: _In Angl. proel. sub Edwardo, 3._]
Plantageneta duos reges iam illustris habebat Captiuos, tenuit comites custodia mitis Multos ambabus claro regionibus ortos Sanguine, quos sæuo bello cepere Britanni. Attamen Eduardi viguit clementia regis Tanta, & tanta animo virtus innata sedebat, Vt pretio & pacto dimitteret ære redemptos In patriam ad propriæ consanguinitatis amicos.
[Sidenote: Strange woonders.]
[Sidenote: A great death.]
In this foure and thirtith yeare of king Edward, men and cattell were destroied in diuerse places of this realme, by lightening and tempest; also houses were set on fire and burnt, and manie strange and woonderfull sights séene. ¶ The same yeare Edward prince of Wales married the countesse of Kent, which before was wife vnto the lord Thomas Holland: and before that, she was also wife vnto the erle of Salisburie, and diuorsed from him, and wedded to the same lord Holland. She was daughter vnto Edmund earle of Kent, brother to king Edward the second, that was beheaded in the beginning of this kings reigne, as before yée haue heard. And bicause the prince and shée were within degrées of consanguinitie forbidden to marrie, a dispensation was gotten from the pope to remooue that let. In this yeare also was a great death of people (namelie of men, for women were not so much subiect thereto.) This was called the second mortalitie, bicause it was the second that fell in this kings daies.
[Sidenote: _Hen. Marl._]
[Sidenote: The primat of Ardmach departed this life.]
[Sidenote: 1361.]
[Sidenote: Additions to _Triuet_, and _Adam Merimuth._]
[Sidenote: A Str[=a]ge sight in the aire.]
This yeare also by the death of Richard fitz Rafe primat of Ardmach, that departed this life in the court of Rome; and also of Richard Kilminton deceassed here in England, the discord that had continued for the space of thrée or foure yeares betwixt them of the cleargie on the one part, and the foure orders of friers on the other part, was now quieted and brought to end. Moreouer, this yeare appeared two castels in the aire, of the which the one appeared in the southeast, and the other in the southwest, out of which castels about the houre of noone sundrie times were séene hosts of armed men (as appeared to mans sight) issuing foorth, and that host which sailed out of the castell in the southeast séemed white, and the other blacke. They appeared as they should haue fought either against other, and first the white had the vpper hand, and after was ouercome, and so vanished out of sight.
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 35.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
About the same time the souldiors which were discharged in France and out of wages, by the breaking vp of the warres, assembled togither, and did much hurt in that realme, as in the French histories yée may read. Their chéefe leaders were Englishmen and Gascoignes subiects to the king of England. The king assembled the states of his realme in parlement at Westminster in the feast of the Conuersion of S. Paule, and there was declared vnto them the tenor and whole effect of the peace concluded betwixt England and France, wherewith they were greatlie pleased, and herevpon the nobles of the realme, and such Frenchmen as were hostages, came togither at Westminster church on the first sundaie of Lent next following: and there such as were not alreadie sworne, receiued the oth for performance of the same peace, in a right solemne manner, hauing the tenour of their oths written in certeine scrols; and after they had taken their oths vpon the sacrament and masse booke, they deliuered the same scrols vnto certeine notaries appointed to receiue and register the same.
[Sidenote: _Tho. Wals._]
[Sidenote: _Adam Merimuth._]
[Sidenote: 1362.]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: A mightie wind.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 36]
The mortalitie yet during, that noble duke Henrie of Lancaster departed this life on the éeuen of the Annunciation of our ladie, and was buried at Leicester. ¶ Iohn of Gant the fourth son to the king, who had married his daughter the ladie Blanch, as before yée haue heard, succéeded him in that dutchie as his heire in right of the said ladie. The same yéere also died the lord Reginold Cobham, the lord Walter fits Warren, and thrée bishops, Worcester, London, and Elie. This yeare vpon the fiftéenth day of Ianuarie there rose such a passing wind, that the like had not béene heard of in manie yéeres before. It began about euensong time in the south, and that with such force, that it ouerthrew and blew downe strong and mightie buildings, as towers, stéeples, houses and chimnies. This outragious wind continued thus for the space of six or seauen daies, whereby euen those buildings that were not ouerthrowne and broken downe, were yet so shaken, that they without reparing were not able long to stand. After this followed a verie wet season, namelie in the summer time and haruest, so that much corne and haie was lost and spoiled, for want of seasonable weather to gather in the same.
[Sidenote: Creations of the kings sonnes to degrées of honor.]
[Sidenote: _Hen. Marle._]
[Sidenote: The prince of Wales passeth ouer into Guien.]
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._]
[Sidenote: Additions to _Ad. Merim._]
[Sidenote: A iusts in Smithfield.]
[Sidenote: The Staple of wools remoued to Calis.]
The lord Lionell the kings sonne went ouer into Ireland, to be deputie to his father there, and was created duke of Clarence, and his brother Edmund was created earle of Cambridge; also Edward prince of Wales was by his father king Edward inuested duke of Guien, and did homage vnto his father for the same, in like manner and forme as his father and other kings of England were accustomed to do for the said dutchie to the kings of France. And afterwards about the feast of Candlemasse next insuing, the said prince sailed into Gascoigne, and arriued at Burdeaux, taking vpon him the gouernement and rule of the countrie. Moreouer this yeare, the fiue first daies of Maie, were kept roiall iusts in Smithfield by London, the king and quéene being present, with a great multitude of the nobles and gentlemen of both the realms of England and France; at which time came hither Spaniards, Cipriots, and Armenians, requiring aid of the king against the infidels, that sore molested their confines. ¶ The staple of wols was this yeare remooued to Calis.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: A pardon.]
[Sidenote: A statute against purueiers.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie.]
Also the sixtéenth of October, a parlement began, that was called at Westminster, which continued till the feast daie of S. Brice, on which daie, the king at that time fiftie yeares then past, was borne; wherevpon, as it were in the yeare of his iubile, he shewed himselfe more gratious to his people, granting pardon to offendors, and reuoking outlawes. Moreouer, it was ordeined in this parlement, that no maner of person, of what estate or degrée soeuer he was, the king, the quéene, and dukes onelie excepted, should haue any purueiers of vittels, nor should take vp any thing without readie paiment, and those that from thencefoorth did contrarie to this ordinance, should be extremelie punished. There was granted to the king in this parlement six and twentie shillings eight pence of euerie sacke of wooll that was to be transported ouer the sea, for thrée yeares next insuing.
[Sidenote: Lawiers to plead their cases in English.]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: Schoolemasters to teach scholers to construe their lessons in English.]
Furthermore, at the suite of the commons it was ordeined and established by an act in this parlement deuised, that men of law should plead their causes, and write their actions and plaints in the English toong, and not in the French, as they had béene accustomed to doo, euer since the Conquerors time. It was ordeined also, that schoolemasters should teach their scholers to construe their lessons in English, & not in French, as before they had béene vsed. The K. shewed so much curtesie to the French hostages, that he permitted them to go ouer to Calis, and there being néere home, to purchase friendship, by oft calling on their fréends for their deliuerance. They were suffered to ride to and fro about the marches of Calis, for the space of foure daies togither, so that on the fourth daie before sunne setting, they returned into Calis againe. The duke of Aniou turning this libertie to serue his owne turne, departed from thence, and went home into France, without making his fellowes priuie to his purpose.
[Sidenote: 1363.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 37.]
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._]
[Sidenote: Additions to _Adam Merimuth._]
[Sidenote: A statute of araie against costlie apparell.]
[Sidenote: Thrée kings come into England about businesse with K. Edward.]
This yeare a parlement was called by the king, which began the ninth of October, from the which none of the noble men could obteine licence to be absent. In this parlement all rich ornaments of gold and siluer vsed to be worne in kniues, girdels, ouches, rings, or otherwise, to the setting foorth of the bodie, were prohibited, except to such as might dispend ten pounds by yeare. Morouer that none should weare any rich clothes or furres, except they might dispend an hundred pounds by yeare. ¶ Moreouer it was enacted, that labourers and husbandmen should not vse any deintie dishes, or costlie drinks at their tables. But these, and such other acts as were deuised and established at this parlement, tooke none effect, as after it appeared. In this yeare, there came into England to speake with king Edward concerning their weightie affaires, thrée kings, to wit, the king of France, the king of Scotland, & the king of Cypres: they were honorablie receiued, and highlie feasted.
[Sidenote: 1364.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 38.]
[Sidenote: The death of the French king.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
The king of Scotland, and the king of Cypres after they had dispatched their businesse for the which they came, turned backe againe; but the French king fell sicke, and remained here till he died, as in the next yeare ye shall heare. He arriued here in England, about the latter end of this yeare, and came to Eltham (where king Edward as then laie) on the foure and twentith day of Ianuarie, and there dined. After diner, he tooke his horsse and rode toward London, and vpon Blacke heath, the citizens of London clad in one kind of liuerie, and verie well horssed, met him, and conueied him from thence through to London, to the Sauoy, where his lodging was prepared. About the beginning of March, in this eight and thirtith yeare, the forenamed French king fell into a gréeuous sickenesse, of the which he died the eight day of Aprill following. His corps was conueied into France, and there buried at S. Denise: his exequies were kept here in England, in diuerse places right solemnelie, by king Edwards appointment.
[Sidenote: The battell of Aulroy.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
This yeare, by reason of an extreme sore frost, continuing from the seuen and twentith day of September last passed, vnto the beginning of Aprill, in this eight and thirtith yeare (or rather from the seuenth day of December till the ninetenth day of March, as Walsingham and other old writers doo report) the ground laie vntild, to the great hinderance and losse of all growing things on the earth. This yeare on Michaelmasse day, before the castell of Aulroy, not far distant from the citie of Vannes in Britaine, a sore battell was fought betwixt the lord Charles de Blois, and the lord Iohn of Mountford. For when there could be no end made betwixt these two lords, touching their title vnto the duchie of Britaine, they renewed the wars verie hotlie in that countrie, and procured all the aid they might from each side. The king of France sent to the aid of his cousine Charls de Blois a thousand speares; and the earle of Mountford sent into Gascoigne, requiring sir Iohn Chandois, and other Englishmen there to come to his succour. Sir Iohn Chandois gladlie consented to this request, and therevpon got licence of the prince, and came into Britaine, where he found the earle of Mountford at the siege of the foresaid castell of Aulroy. In the meane time the lord Charles de Blois, being prouided of men, and all things necessarie to giue battell, came and lodged fast by his enimies.
[Sidenote: Thrée thousand and six hundred fighting men, as _Walsing._ saith.]
The earle of Mountford aduertised of his approch, by the aduise of sir Iohn Chandois and other of his capteins, had chosen out a plot of ground to lodge in, and meant there to abide their enimies. With the lord Charles of Blois was that valiant knight sir Berthram de Cleaquin or Guesclin (as some write him) by whose aduice there were ordeined thrée battels, and a reregard, and in each battell were appointed a thousand of good fighting men. On the other part, the earle of Mountford diuided his men likewise into thrée battels and a reregard. The first was led by sir Robert Knols, sir Walter Hewet, and sir Richard Brulle or Burlie. The second by sir Oliuer de Clisson, sir Eustace Daubreticourt, and sir Matthew Gournie. The third the earle of Mountford himselfe guided, and with him was sir Iohn Chandois associat, by whom he was much ruled: for the king of England, whose daughter the earle of Mountford should marie, had written to sir Iohn Chandois, that he should take good héed to the businesse of the said earle, and order the same as sagelie as he might deuise or imagine.
[Sidenote: The worthie actiuitie of the English archers.]
In ech of these thrée armies were fiue hundred armed men, and foure hundred archers. In the reregard were appointed fiue hundred men of warre, vnder the gouernance of sir Hugh Caluerlie. Beside sir Iohn Chandois, & other Englishmen recited by Froissard, there was the lord William Latimer, as one of the chiefe on the earle of Mountfords side. There were not past sixtéene hundred good fighting men on that side, as Thomas Walsingham plainelie writeth. Now when the hosts were ordred on both sides (as before we haue said) they approched togither, the Frenchmen came close in their order of battell, and were to the number of fiue and twentie hundred men of armes, after the manner of that age, beside others. Euerie man had cut his speare (as then they vsed, at what time they should ioine in battell) to the length of fiue foot, and a short ax hanging at his side. At the first incounter there was a sore battell, and trulie the archers shot right fiercelie, howbeit their shot did little hurt to the Frenchmen, they were so well armed and furnished: the archers perceiuing that (being big men and light) cast awaie their bowes, and entered in amongst the Frenchmen that bare the axes, and plucked them out of their hands, wherwith they fought after right hardlie. There was doone manie a noble feat of armes, manie taken, and rescued againe.
[Sidenote: Sir Hugh Caluerlie.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Auxerre tak[=e] prisoner.]