Part 9

The king of England, to preuent the enimies purpose, caused a large trench to be, cast without his campe, which was pight full of sharpe stakes, with a great rampire fensed with bulworks, and turnepikes, in as defensible wise as might be deuised. Sir Robert Bapthorpe, knight, was appointed comptroller, to sée this worke performed, which he did with all diligence accomplish; in like case as he had doone, when the other trench and rampire stronglie staked and hedged was made at the first betwixt the campe and the citie, to restreine such as in the begining of the siege rested not to pricke foorth of the gates on horsse backe. And so by this meanes was the armie defended both behind and before.

[Sidenote: 1419]

Finallie, the whole number of the Frenchmen within the citie were brought to such an extremitie for want of vittels, that they were in danger all to haue starued. Wherevpon being now past hope of reléefe, they determined to treat with the king of England, and so vpon Newyeares euen there came to the wals such as they had chosen amongst them for commissioners, which made a signe to the Englishmen lieng without the gate of the bridge, to speake with some gentleman, or other person of authoritie. The earle of Huntington, which kept that part, sent to them sir Gilbert Umfreuile; vnto whom they declared, that if they might haue a safe conduct, they would gladlie come foorth to speake with the king. Sir Gilbert reparing to the duke of Clarence, and other of the kings councell, aduertised them of this request.

[Sidenote: They within Rone demand parlée.]

Herevpon the duke of Clarence with the other councellors resorted to the kings lodging, to informe him of the matter, and to know his pleasure therein; who after good aduisement and deliberation taken, willed sir Gilbert to aduertise them, that he was content to heare twelue of them, which should be safelie conueied into his presence. This answer being brought to the Frenchmen by the said sir Gilbert, on the next daie in the morning, foure knights, foure learned men, and foure sage burgesses, all clothed in blacke, came foorth of the citie, and were receiued at the port saint Hilarie by sir Gilbert Umfreuile, accompanied with diuerse gentlemen and yeomen of the kings houshold, commonlie called yeomen of the crowne, by whome they were conueied to the kings lodging, whome they found at masse, which being ended, the king came out of his trauerse, sternelie, and princelie beholding the French messengers, and passed by them into his chamber. And incontinentlie after he commanded that they should be brought in before his presence, to heare what they had to say.

[Sidenote: A presumptuous orator.]

One of them séene in the ciuill lawes, was appointed to declare the message in all their names, who shewing himselfe more rash than wise, more arrogant than learned, first tooke vpon him to shew wherin the glorie of victorie consisted, aduising the king not to shew his manhood in famishing a multitude of poore, simple, and innocent people, but rather suffer such miserable wretches as laie betwixt the wals of the citie, and the trenches of his siege, to passe through the campe, that they might get their liuing in other places, and then if he durst manfullie assault the citie, and by force subdue it, he should win both worldlie fame and merit great méed at the hands of almightie God, for hauing compassion of the poore, néedie, and indigent people.

[Sidenote: The kings answer to this proud message.]

When this orator had said, the king who no request lesse suspected, than that which was thus desired, began a while to muse; and after he had well considered the craftie cautell of his enimies, with a fierce countenance, and bold spirit he reprooued them, both for their subtill dealing with him, and their malapert presumption, in that they should séeme to go about to teach him what belonged to the dutie of a conquerour. "And therefore since it appeared that the same was vnknowne vnto them, he declared that the goddesse of battell called Bellona, had thrée handmaidens, euer of necessitie attending vpon hir, as blood, fire, and famine. And whereas it laie in his choise to vse them all thrée; yea, two, or one of them at his pleasure, he had appointed onelie the méekest maid of those thrée damsels to punish them of that citie, till they were brought to reason.

"And whereas the gaine of a capteine atteined by anie of the said thrée handmaidens, was both glorious, honourable, and woorthie of triumph: yet of all the thrée, the yoongest maid, which he meant to vse at that time was most profitable and commodious. And as for the poore people lieng in the ditches, if they died through famine, the fault was theirs, that like cruell tyrants had put them out of the towne, to the intent he should slaie them; and yet had he saued their liues, so that if anie lacke of charitie was, it rested in them, and not in him. But to their cloked request, he meant not to gratifie them within so much, but they should kéepe them still to helpe to spend their vittels. And as to assault the towne, he told them that he would they should know, he was both able and willing thereto, as he should sée occasion: but the choise was in his hand, to tame them either with blood, fire, or famine, or with them all, whereof he would take the choice at his pleasure, and not at theirs."

[Sidenote: A truce for eight daies.]

This answer put the French ambassadors in a great studie, musing much at his excellent wit and hawtinesse of courage. Now after they had dined (as his commandement was they should) with his officers, they vpon consultation had togither, required once againe to haue accesse to his roiall presence, which being granted, they humbling themselues on their knées, besought him to take a truce for eight daies, during the which they might by their commissioners take some end and good conclusion with him and his councell. The king like a mercifull prince granted to them their asking, with which answer they ioifullie returned. After their departure were appointed and set vp thrée tents, the one for the lords of England, the second for the commissioners of the citie, and the third for both parties to assemble in, and to treat of the matter.

[Sidenote: C[=o]missioners appointed.]

The commissioners for the English part were the earles of Warwike and Salisburie, the lord Fitz Hugh, sir Walter Hungerford, sir Gilbert Umfreuile, sir Iohn Robsert, and Iohn de Vasques de Almada. And for the French part were appointed, sir Guie de Butteler, and six others. These commissioners met euery daie, arguing and reasoning about a conclusion, but nothing was doone the space of eight daies nor so much as one article concluded: wherfore the Englishmen tooke downe the tents, & the Frenchmen tooke their leaue: but at their departing they remembering themselues, required the English lords (for the loue of God) that the truce might indure till the sunne rising the next daie, to the which the lords assented.

When the French commissioners were returned into the citie without any conclusion of agréement, the poore people ran about the stréets, crieng, and calling the capteins and gouernors murtherers and manquellers, saieng that for their pride and stiffe stomachs all this miserie was happened, threatning to flea them if they would not agrée vnto the king of Englands demand. The magistrats herewith amazed, called all the townesmen togither to know their minds and opinions. The whole voice of the commons was, to yéeld rather than to sterue. Then the Frenchmen in the euening came to the tent of sir Iohn Robsert, requiring him of gentlenes to mooue the king, that the truce might be prolonged for foure daies. The king therevnto agréed, and appointed the archbishop of Canturburie, and the other seuen before named for his part, and the citizens appointed a like number for them.

[Sidenote: The articles c[=o]cerning the yéelding vp of Rone.]

The tents were againe set vp, and dailie they met togither, and on the fourth daie they accorded on this wise, that the citie and castell of Rone should be deliuered vnto the king of England, at what time after the middest of the ninetéenth daie of that present moneth of Ianuarie, the said king willed the same; and that all the capteins and other men whatsoeuer, dwelling or being within the said citie and castell, should submit them in all things to the grace of the said king: and further, that they should paie to the said king thrée hundred thousand scutes of gold, whereof alwaies two should be woorth an English noble, or in stead of euerie scute thirtie great blankes white, or fiftéene grotes.

[Sidenote: Luca Italico]

Moreouer it was accorded, that euerie soldier and stranger, being in the said citie and castell, should sweare on the euangelists before their departure, not to beare armour against the king of England before the first daie of Ianuarie next to come. Also they within the towne should suffer all the poore people lieng in ditches, or about the ditches of the citie, which for penurie were chased out, to enter the citie againe, and to find them sufficient food till the said ninetéenth daie of Ianuarie. There were diuerse other articles, in all to the number of two and twentie agréed as well on the behalfe of the citizens, as of king Henrie, who granted, that all the souldiers, strangers, and other within the said citie and castell at that time, being not willing to become his lieges, should depart, after that the citie and castell was once yéelded, fréelie without let, leauing to the said king all their armors, horsses, harnesse, and goods, except the Normans, which if they should refuse to become lieges to him, were appointed to remaine as his prisoners, togither with one Luca Italico, and certeine others.

[Sidenote: The vicar generall of the archbishoprike of Rone for denouncing the king accursed was deliured to him and deteined in prison til he died.]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

[Sidenote: One Alane Blanchart was likewise deliuered to him, & by his c[=o]mandement put to death.]

[Sidenote: Tr[=a]slator of _Titus Liuius._]

[Sidenote: King H[=e]ries entrie into Rone.]

When the daie of appointment came, which was the daie of saint Wolstane, sir Guie de Buttler, and the burgesses, deliuered the keies of the citie and castell vnto the king of England, beséeching him of fauour and compassion. The king incontinentlie appointed the duke of Excester, with a great companie to take possession of the citie, who like a valiant capteine mounted on a goodlie courser first entered into the citie, and after into the castell. The next daie being fridaie, the king in great triumph, like a conquerour, accompanied with foure dukes, ten earles, eight bishops, sixtéene barons, and a great multitude of knights, esquiers, and men of warre entered into Rone, where he was receiued by the cleargie, with two and fourtie crosses; and then met him the senat, and the burgesses of the towne, offering to him diuerse faire and costlie presents.

In this manner he passed through the citie to our ladie church, and there hauing said his orisons, he caused his chapleins to sing this antheme: Quis est tam magnus dominus: Who is so great a lord as our God. This doone, he came to the castell, where he continued a good space after, receiuing homages and fealties of the burgesses and townesmen, and setting orders amongst them. He also réedified diuerse fortresses, and townes, during which time he made proclamation, that all men which would become his subiects, should enioy their goods, lands & offices, which proclamation made manie townes to yéeld, and manie men to become English the same season.

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

[Sidenote: A league concluded betwéene king Henrie and the duke of Britaine.]

The duke of Britaine, vnderstanding that if the king of England should continue in possession of Normandie, his countrie could not but be in great danger, if he prouided not to haue him his fréend, vpon safe conduct obteined for him & his retinue, came to Rone with fiue hundred horsses, and being honorablie receiued of the king, after conference had betwixt them of diuerse things, at length they agréed vpon a league on this wise, that neither of them should make warre vnto the other, nor to any the others people or subiects, except he that meant to make war denounced the same six moneths before. Thus this league being concluded, the duke tooke leaue of the king and so returned into Britaine.

About the same time, at the sute of certeine bishops and abbats of Nomandie, the king confirmed vnto them their ancient priuileges, granted by the former dukes of Normandie and kings of France, except such as were granted by those whome he reputed for vsurpers, and no lawfull kings or dukes. He also established at Caen the chamber of accounts of the reuenues of his dukedome of Normandie. In Rone he begun the foundation of a strong tower behind the castell, that from the castell to the tower, and from the tower to his palace, the men of warre appointed there in garrison, might passe in suertie without danger of the citie, if perhaps the citizens should attempt any rebellion.

[Sidenote: She was c[=o]mitted to the safe kéeping of Pelham, who appointed hir nine seruants to attend hir & conueied hir to the castell of Pompsey.]

[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsin._]

[Sidenote: Frier R[=a]doll.]

In this sixt yeare, whilest these things were adooing in Normandie, quéene Ione late wife of king Henrie the fourth, and mother in law to this king, was arrested by the duke of Bedford the kings lieutenant in his absence, and by him committed to safe kéeping in the castell of Léeds in Kent, there to abide the kings pleasure. About the same time, one frier Randoll of the order of Franciscanes that professed diuinitie, and had béene confessor to the same quéene, was taken in the Ile of Gernesey; and being first brought ouer into Normandie, was by the kings commandement sent hither into England, and committed to the Tower, where he remained till the parson of the Tower quarelling with him, by chance slue him there within the Tower ward. It was reported that he had conspired with the quéene by sorcerie and necromancie to destroie the king.

[Sidenote: Vernon and Mante taken by the English.]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

[Sidenote: Hunflue tak[=e].]

Whilest the king remained in Rone, to set things in order for the establishment of good policie in that citie, he sent abroad diuerse of his capteins, with conuenient forces to subdue certeine townes & castels in those parties, as his brother the duke of Clarence, who wan the strong towne of Vernon and Mante. In Vernon was sir William Porter made capteine, and in Mant the earle of March. The earle of Salisburie wan Hunflue, after he had besieged it from the fourth of Februarie vntill the twelfth of March. This towne was giuen afterwards vnto the duke of Clarence. Also the said earle of Salisburie wan the townes of Monster de Villiers, Ew, Newcastell, and finallie all the places in that quarter, which till that present were not vnder the English obeisance. At Newcastell sir Philip Léech was made capteine.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]

[Sidenote: Roch Guion rendered vp.]

After Candlemasse, the king departed from Rone to go to Eureux, whither he promised to come in like case, as the Dolphin promised to be at Dreux, to the end that they might aduise vpon a conuenient place where to méet, to intreat of peace to be concluded betwixt the two realms. But the Dolphin by sinister persuasion of some enimies to concord, brake promise, and came not. When the king saw that thorough default of his aduersarie, no treatie would be had, he remooued to Vernon, and there a while remained. Now from Eureux the king had dispatched the earle of Warwike vnto the siege of la Roch Guion, which fortresse he so constreined, that it was yéelded into his hands, the sixt of Aprill, in the beginning of this seuenth yeare of king Henries reigne, and giuen to sir Guie Buttler late capteine of Rone, of the kings frée and liberall grant.

[Sidenote: Chateau Galiard besieged.]

[Sidenote: Yuri taken by assault.]

About the same time, the duke of Excester laid siege vnto Chateau Galiard, which siege continued from the last of March, vnto the latter end of September, or (as some write) vnto the twentith of December, as after shall appeare. The duke of Glocester being sent to win the towne and castell of Yuri, tooke the towne by assault, and the castell was deliuered by composition after fortie daies siege. After this the Englishmen ouerran the countrie about Chartres, and did much hurt to their enimies in all places where they came. The hearts of the Frenchmen were sore discouraged with the losse of Rone, and the other townes which yéelded one after another thus to the Englishmen, so that such as loued the wealth of their countrie sore lamented the imminent mischéefes, which they saw by the diuision of the nobilitie, like shortlie to fall on their heads, namelie bicause they saw no remidie prepared.

But who euer else was disquieted with this matter, Iohn duke of Burgognie raged and swelled, yea and so much freated therewith, that he wist not what to saie, and lesse to doo: for he knew well that he was neither frée from disdaine, nor yet deliuered from the scope of malice, bicause that he onelie ruled the king, and had the whole dooings in all matters about him. And therefore he considered, that all such mishaps as chanced to the state of the common-wealth would be imputed to his negligence and disordred gouernement. To find some remedie against such dangers at hand, he thought first to assaie, if he might by any reasonable means conclude a peace betwixt the two mightie kings of England and France, which if he might bring to passe, he doubted not to reuenge his quarell easilie inough against the Dolphin Charles, and to represse all causes of grudge and disdaine.

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent on either side.]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

Herewith intending to build vpon this fraile foundation, he sent letters and ambassadors to the king of England, aduertising him, that if he would personallie come to a communication to be had betwéene him and Charles the French king, he doubted not but by his onelie meanes, peace should be brought in place, and bloudie battell cléerelie exiled. King Henrie giuing courteous eare to these ambassadors, sent with them the earle of Warwike as his ambassador, accompanied with two hundred gentlemen to talke with the duke, as then remaining in the French court at the towne of Prouince. The earle was assailed by the waie as he iournied, by a great number of rebellious persons, gotten into armour of purpose to haue spoiled him of such monie and things as he and his companie had about them. But by the high valiancie of the English people, with the aid of their bowes, the Frenchmen were discomfited and chased.

[Sidenote: Creation of earles.]

The earle at his comming to Prouince was honorablie receiued, and hauing doone the effect of his message, returned; and with him the earle of saint Paule, and the sonne and heire of the duke of Burbon were also sent as ambassadors from the French king, to conclude vpon the time and place of the méeting, with all the circumstances. Wherevpon the king of England agréed to come to the towne of Mante, with condition that the duke of Burgognie, and other for the French king should come to Pontoise, that either part might méet other in a conuenient place betwixt those two townes néere to Meulan. According to this appointment, K. Henrie came to Mante, where in the feast of Pentecost he kept a liberall house to all commers, and sate himselfe in great estate. Vpon the which daie, either for good seruice alreadie by them doone, or for the good expectation of things to come, he created Gascoigne de Fois, otherwise called the captau or captall de Buef a valiant Gascoigne, earle of Longueuile; and sir Iohn Greie earle of Tankeruile, and the lord Bourchier, earle of Ew.

[Sidenote: Either part was appointed to bring with them not past two thousand and fiue hundred men of warre as _Tit. Liu._ saith.]

After this solemne feast ended, the place of enteruiew and méeting was appointed to be beside Meulan on the riuer of Seine, where in a faire place euerie part was by commissioners appointed to their ground. When the daie of appointment approched, which was the last daie of Maie, the king of England accompanied with the dukes of Clarence, and Glocester, his brethren, the duke of Excester his vncle, and Henrie Beauford clerke his other vncle, which after was bishop of Winchester and cardinall, with the earles of March, Salisburie, and others, to the number of a thousand men of warre, entered into his ground, which was barred about and ported, wherin his tents were pight in a princelie maner.

[Sidenote: A treatie of peace.]

[Sidenote: Seuen times the last being on the last day of Iune.]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

Likewise for the French part came Isabell the French quéene, bicause hir husband was fallen into his old frantike disease, hauing in hir companie the duke of Burgognie, and the earle of saint Paule, and she had attending vpon hir the faire ladie Katharine hir daughter, with six and twentie ladies and damosels; and had also for hir furniture a thousand men of warre. The said ladie Katharine was brought by hir mother onelie to the intent that the king of England beholding hir excellent beautie, should be so inflamed and rapt in hir loue, that he to obteine hir to his wife, should the sooner agrée to a gentle peace and louing concord. But though manie words were spent in this treatie, and that they met at eight seuerall times, yet no effect insued, nor any conclusion was taken by this fréendlie consultation, so that both parties after a princelie fashion tooke leaue ech of other, and departed; the Englishmen to Mante, and the Frenchmen to Pontoise.

[Sidenote: _Chro. of Flanders._]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

Some authors write that the Dolphin to staie that no agréement should passe, sent sir Taneguie de Chastell to the duke of Burgognie, declaring that if he would breake off the treatie with the Englishmen, he would then common with him; and take such order, that not onelie they but the whole realme of France should thereof be glad and reioise. Howsoeuer it came to passe, truth it is that where it was agréed, that they should eftsoones haue met in the same place on the third of Iulie; the king according to that appointment came: but there was none for the French part, neither quéene nor duke that once appeared; so that it was manifest inough how the fault rested not in the Englishmen, but in the Frenchmen. By reason wherof no conclusion sorted to effect of all this communication, saue onlie that a certeine sparke of burning loue was kindled in the kings heart by the sight of the ladie Katharine.

The king without doubt was highlie displeased in his mind, that this communication came to no better passe. Wherefore he mistrusting that the duke of Burgognie was the verie let and stop of his desires, said vnto him before his departure: "Coosine, we will haue your kings daughter, and all things that we demand with hir, or we will driue your king and you out of his realme. Well (said the duke of Burgognie) before you driue the king and me out of his realme, you shall be well wearied, and thereof we doubt little." Shortlie after, the duke of Burgognie and the Dolphin met in the plaine fields besides Melun, and there comming togither, concluded apparantlie an open peace and amitie, which was proclamed in Paris, Amiens, and Pontoise.

[Sidenote: An agréement betwéene the duke of Burgognie & the Dolphin.]

[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]

[Sidenote: A conspiracie in Rone.]