Columbia SBnitJf t^ftp 
 intljeCitpofSlmgcrk 
 
 THE LIBRARIES 
 
 GIVEN BY 
 
 Timothy Schmiderer 
 
SIR JOHN FROISSART'S 
 
 CHRONICLES 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 ADJOINING COUNTRIES, 
 
 IROM THE LATTER PART OF THE REIGN OF EDWARD IL 
 TO THE CORONATION OF HENRY IV. 
 
 NEWLY TRANSLATED FROM THE FREfJOH EDITIONS, 
 WITH VARIATIONS AND ADDITIONS FROM MANY CELEBRATED MSS. 
 
 By THOMAS JOHNES. 
 
 JllStljo fo fijall telle a tale"after a man, 
 3^e ntofte iel)erfc, a^ neig^e a^ euet i)t can, 
 Cuetid) tnorQe, if it fie in l)i;S cljarge, 
 ^n fpeke ije neiier fo tuaclg auo fo targe; 
 ®r elle^ l)e mofte tellen l)is tale tmtretne, 
 SDr feinen tljinge^, ov Snaen tDorne^ nebjt* 
 
 Chaucer's prologue, 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, 
 
 A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, AN ESSAY ON HIS WORKS, 
 
 A CRITICISM ON HIS HISTORY, 
 
 AND A DISSERTATION ON HIS POETRY. 
 
 VOL. HI. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATEENOSTER»ROW 
 AND J. WHITE, FLEET-STRSET. 
 
 1806. 
 

 V 
 
 ,3 
 
 Bye and Law, Printers, 
 §£. John's-Squarc, CitikeavvcU, 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 THE THIRD VOLUME. 
 
 CHAP. CCV. THE King of England leaves Ca- 
 lais. The Order of his Armv in 
 their March through Picardy to- 
 wards Rheims - Page 1 
 CCVL The King of England lays (lege to 
 the City of Rlieims, and to the 
 Caflle of Chargny. The War 
 re-commences between the Duke 
 of Normandy and the King of 
 Navarre - _ 12 
 CCVII. The Lord of Roye and his Company 
 defeat the Remauider of the 
 Troops of the Lord of Gomegines 
 — The Caftle of Commercy fur- 
 renders to the Englifli - 22 
 CCVIII. The King of England, after he had 
 raifed the fiege of Rheims, wafles 
 and deftroys all the Countries he 
 paffes through. — He comes to 
 Guillon, where he remains. — 
 Great Quantities of Provifion fol- 
 low the Army - 28 
 A 2 CHAR 
 
IV 
 
 CHAP. CCIX. The King of England lays the 
 Kingdom of France under great 
 V Tribulation, — A Cordelier Friar 
 
 prophecies. — The Englifli place 
 an Ambufcade for thpfe who 
 fhould come out of Paris Page 33 
 
 CCX. The Form and Tenor of the Paper 
 drawn up as Articles of the Peace 
 Avliich was concluded before Char- 
 tres, between the Kings of France 
 and England - - 43 
 
 CCXI, The Tranfadlions of the two Kinors 
 of France and England, when at 
 Calais, refpe6ting the Duchy of 
 Brittany and fome Lands of the 
 late Godfrey de Harcourt. — King 
 John fits out from Calais and re- 
 turns home in Freedom - 61 
 CCXII. Commifliuners appointed on both fides 
 to fee the-Garrifons in the Kins:- 
 dom of France evacuated. Dif- 
 ferent Bodies of armed Men over- 
 run the Kingdom, and do much 
 Mifchief - - 68 
 CCXIII. The Lord James de Bourbon and 
 his army are defeated by thefe 
 Freebooting Companies. — The 
 Pope orders a Croifade to be pro- 
 claimed, after they have taken the 
 Pont du St. Efprit, and finds 
 means to get rid of them - 79 
 CCXIV. The Deaths of the Dukes of Lan- 
 cafter and of Burgundy, which 
 laft caufes new Diffentions be- 
 tween the Kings of France and 
 Navarre. — The Prince of Wales 
 croffes the Sea to Acc^uitaine. 94 
 
 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. CCXV. The Kings of France and of Cy-. 
 prus undertake and fwear to per- 
 form a Croifade againfl, the In- 
 fidels. —ITie King of Cyprus 
 makes earneft Solicitations for 
 Affiftance to many Kings and 
 Princes in divers Places of 
 Chriltendom - Page 103 
 
 CCXVI. The King of England detains the 
 Hoftages as Prifoners. — The 
 King of Cyprus ufes great In- 
 treaties with the Kings of Na- 
 varre and England and the 
 Prince of Wales, to induce 
 them to undertake this Croifade 
 againft the Saracens 
 CCXVII. King John returns, of his own free 
 Will to England, and dies there 
 CCXVIII. King Charles of Fiance makes 
 " wife Prepaiations againfl the 
 
 King of Navarre, immediately 
 after the Death of King John 
 his Father, and before his Coro- 
 nation 
 CCXIX. The King of Cyprus returns to Pa- 
 ris. — The Funeral of King John 
 at St. Denis. — ^The Captal de 
 , Buch makes an Attack on Sir 
 Bertrand du Guefclin 
 CCXX. The Battle between the French 
 under Sir Bertrand du Guefclin, 
 and the Navarrois under the 
 Captal de Buch, at . Cocherel 
 in Normandy. — The Captil 
 h made Prifoner, and Vi6tory 
 declares for the French 
 
 I OS 
 
 118 
 
 127 
 
 i: 
 
 A 3 
 
 144^ 
 CHAP. 
 
VI 
 
 CHAP. CCXXI. Charles V. furnamed the Wife, 
 is crowned King of France. — ^ 
 His Brother Philip is inverted 
 with the Duchy of Burgundy, 
 and fent againfl: the Free Com- 
 panies of Pillagers Page 160 
 CCXXII. The Lord Lewis of Navarre makes 
 Incurfions into France. — The 
 Duke of Burgundy plans feveral 
 Expeditions againft him, but is 
 forced to go into Burgundy^ to 
 defend "it againfl the Earl de 
 Mountbeliart - - 16^- 
 
 CCXXIIL King Charles orders the Duke of 
 Burgundy to befiege La Charite. 
 He wants it to furrender uncon- 
 ditionally, that he may fend Af- 
 fiftance to Lord Charles de Blois, 
 * who is contefting the Duchy of 
 Brittany witli the Earl of Mont- 
 fort - - - 170 
 
 CCXXIV. The Lord Charles of Blois ad- 
 vances againfl: the Earl of Mont- 
 fort in order of Battle. — Sir 
 John Chandos, after having 
 drawn up the Battalions of the 
 Earl of Montfort, prevents the 
 Treaty from taking place which 
 the Lord de Beaumanoir was 
 negociating between the two 
 Pretenders to the Duchy of 
 Brittany - - 177 
 
 CCXXV. The Battle of Auray, hi which Sir 
 Bertrand duGueiclin is madePri- 
 foner. Chs. de Blois is flain, and 
 John de Montfort is vidorious 1 88 
 
 CHAP. 
 
VI 1 
 
 CHAP. CCXXVL The Chiefs attached to the 
 Earl of Montfort retire after 
 the Vidory at Auray. — ^The 
 Earl's Condufl, on feeing 
 Charles de Blois dead. — 
 Truces granted for burying 
 the Slain. — In what manner 
 the King of England was in- 
 formed of the Event of this 
 Battle of Auray Page 195 
 
 CCXXVII. The Earl of Montfort conquers 
 Auray and feveral other 
 Places from the Widow of 
 Lord Charles de Blois. King 
 Charles interpofes between 
 them, and makes Peace.— 
 A Peace is alfo made be- 
 tween the Kings of France 
 and Navarre, through the me- 
 dium of the Captal de Buch 201 
 ICCXXVIIL A War in Spain between the 
 King, Don Pedro of Caf- 
 tille, and his baftard Brother 
 Henry, to whofe Aid the 
 Lord John de Bourbon and 
 Sir Bertrand du Guefclin 
 lead the pillaging Compa- 
 nies. Henry, by their Means 
 is crowned King of Caflille 210 
 CCXXIX. King don Pedro fends to en- 
 treat the Prince of Wales' 
 Afliftance againft his Brother 
 Henry the Baftard. — He re- 
 tires into Guienne, where he 
 is well received by the 
 Prince - .- - 224 
 A 4 CHAP. 
 
Vlll 
 
 CHAP. CCXXX. The Prince of Wales liolds a grand 
 Conference at Bourdeaux on 
 the Affairs of the King of 
 Caftille. He receives Letters 
 from the King of England to 
 aflent to the Propofals of 
 affifting Don Pedro. He 
 makes Overtures to the King 
 of Navarre, for a Free Paf- 
 fage through his Kingdom, to 
 enable him to conduct Don 
 Pedro back to Caftille Page 234 
 CCXXXI. The Prince of Wales makes 
 Preparations for replacing 
 Don Pedro on his Throne of 
 Caftille; Henry the Baftard, 
 though late informed of it, 
 endeavours to prevent it 241 
 
 CCXXXII. The Vifcount of Narbonne, the 
 Senefchal of Touloufe, with 
 other French Lords, having 
 attacked fome of the Free 
 Companies, that were come 
 into France according to the 
 Orders of the Prince, are 
 difcomfited near Montauban. 
 — ^The Pope forbids the Pri- 
 foners, whom the Compa- 
 nies had taken, and fet free 
 on their Parole after the 
 Combat, to keep their Faith, 
 or to pay any Ranfom 250 
 
 CCXXXriL During the Time the Prince of 
 Wales is preparing for his 
 Expedition into Caftille, the 
 King of Majorca feeks Refuge 
 
 with 
 
ax 
 
 with him agaiiifl the King of 
 Arragon. — The Prince dif- 
 pleafes the Lord D'Al- 
 bret - Page 260 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXIV. The Birth of Richard, Son of 
 the Prince of Wales — The 
 Arrival of the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter, to accompany his Bro- 
 ther on his intended Exj>cdi- 
 tion. — New Treaties with 
 the King of Navarre, for the 
 Security of paffing through 
 his Kingdom. — Sir Bertrand 
 du GuefcHn returns to the 
 Afiiftance of King Henry 267 
 CCXXXV. The Prince of Wales and his 
 Army pafs the Mountains of 
 Navarre, and arrive at Pam- 
 peluna. — King Henry of Caf- 
 tille writes Letters to him. 
 Sir William Felton com- 
 mands an advanced Party of 
 the Army - 273 
 
 CCXXXVL The King of Navarre is made 
 Prifoner by Sir Olivier de 
 Mauny, a Breton and Parti- 
 fan of King Henry. — Tlie 
 Prince of Wales advances to 
 ' Salvatieira, in Spain. — Sir 
 William Felton flcirmiflies 
 with the Enemy iiear the 
 Quarters of the King of 
 ' • Spain. — The two Armies ad- 
 
 vance towards each other 28 1 
 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. GCXXXVII. The Arrival of Sir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, to the Aid of 
 King Henry. — Don Tello 
 attacks the Advanced 
 Guard of the Prince of 
 Wales, defeats Sir Wil- 
 liam Felton and his Body 
 of Men - Page 28$ 
 
 CCXXXVIII. Sir Arneld d'Andreghen gives 
 good Advice to King Henry 
 of Caftille. — ^The Prince 
 of Wales fends a tardy An- 
 fwer to the King's Letter 294 
 GCXXXIX. The Battle of Navarete, which 
 the Prince of Wales, fup- 
 porting the Part of King 
 Don Pedro agalnfl his 
 Brother the Ballard, gains. 
 Sir Bertrand du Guefclin 
 is made Prifoner, and King 
 Henry forced to fly, after 
 having fought moft vali- 
 antly - - 300 
 CCXL. All Cauille, after the Battle 
 of Navarete, acknovyledge 
 Don Pedro. He protradls 
 the Stay of the Prince o^ 
 Wales at Valladolid, whilft 
 he feeks for Money to pay 
 the Army - Zll 
 CCXLL King Henry of Caftille, hav- 
 ing efcaped from the Bat- 
 tle of Najara, makes War 
 upon Ac<iuitainc. — The 
 
 Princff" 
 
XI 
 
 Prince of Wales leaves Spain, 
 difcontented with the King 
 Don Pedro - Page 325 
 
 CHAP. CCXLIL After the Return of the Prince 
 to Acquitaine, Henry King of 
 Caflille leaves B^gnieres in 
 Bigorre, and retires to the 
 Kingdom of Arragon. — Sir 
 Bertrand du Guefclin obtains 
 his Ranlbm. — ^The Free Com- 
 panies of the Prince enter the 
 Kingdom of France. — Some 
 of the Great Barons of Ac- 
 quitaine complain to King 
 Cliarles of France of a certain 
 Tax, called Fouage, which 
 the Prince was about to lay- 
 on their Lands - 335 
 CCXLIIL The Baftard Henry of Caftille, 
 by the Affiflance of the King 
 of Arragon arid Sir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, again inakes War 
 upon his Brother Don Pe- 
 dro. — Having defeated him in 
 a Battle, he is made Prifoner, 
 and murdered. — Henry re- 
 mains king of Spain 345 
 CCXLIV. King Charles V. is advifed to 
 declare himfelf Lord Para- 
 mount of Guienne and Ac- 
 quitaine, on account of the 
 Hearth Tax which the Prince 
 of Wales was about to raifc. 
 This caufes a Renewal of the 
 War between the French and 
 Englifh . - - 363 
 8 CHAP. 
 
CHAP. CCXLV. The king of France fends A 
 Summons to the Prince of 
 Wales, to appear in the Cham- 
 ber of Peers at Paris, in the 
 Matter of an Appeal from the 
 Barons of Gafcony P^ge 374 
 
 CCXLVI. The Prince of Wales imprifons 
 the Commiffioners from the 
 King of France who had 
 brought him the Summons of 
 Appeal from the Lords of 
 Gafcony to the Court of 
 France - - 375 
 
 CCXLVII. The Duke of Berry and feveral 
 more Lords, who had been 
 Hoflages in England, return 
 to France - - 382 
 
 CCXLVIIL The Earl of Perigord, the Vif- 
 
 count of Carmaing and other 
 
 ^ Barons of Gafcony defeat the 
 
 High Steward of Rouergue 386 
 
 CCXLIX. The King of France gains over 
 feveral Captains of the Free 
 Corapanie*. He fends his 
 Defiance to the King of Eng- 
 land - - 390 
 CCL, Challenges from France are de- 
 livered to the King of Eng- 
 land.— The Eail de St. Pol 
 and the Lord de Chatillon 
 conquer the Qounty of Pon- 
 thieu - - 395 
 CCLL The King of p:ngland fends a 
 large Body of Men at Arms 
 to the Borders of Scotland. — 
 I'he Dukes of Berry and of 
 
 Anjou 
 
Xill 
 
 Anjou iffue their orders for their 
 Vaflals to attack the Prince of 
 Wales -' - Page 399 
 
 CHAP. CCLII. Several Captains of Companies 
 fide with different Parties. The 
 King of England fends the Earl 
 of Cambridge and the Earl of 
 Pembroke to the AfTiftance of his 
 Son the Prince of Wales. They 
 pafs through Brittany - 401 
 
 CCLIII. The Earls Cambridge and of Pem- . 
 broke arrive at Angrouleme. — 
 The Prince fends them to over- 
 run the County of Perigord. — 
 Some Englilli are defeated near 
 to Lufignan - - 406 
 
 CCLIV. Sir John Chandos takes Terrieres. 
 The Earl of Perigord and many 
 other Knights lay Siege to Real- 
 ville in Quercy - 410 
 
 CCLV. The Archbifliop of Touloufe turns 
 the City of Cahors and feveral 
 other Towns to the Party of the 
 King of France. — -The Dukes of 
 Gueidres and of Juliers fend 
 Defiances to the King of France 413 
 CCLVI. The Duke of Burgundy, Brother to 
 King Charles V. marries the 
 Daughter of the Earl of Flanders. 
 — The King ©f England enters 
 into Negociations with the King 
 of Navarre - - 419 
 
 pCLVII. The Conflables of France and of 
 Hainault undertake a grand Ex- 
 
 pedition to attack Arures. 
 
 The 
 Fortrefs 
 
XIV 
 
 Fortrefs of Realville is taken, 
 and all the Engllfli who were 
 in it put to the Swoi d Page 424. 
 CHAR CCLVIII. The Frencli take La Roche 
 Pofay. — The Senefchal of 
 Poitou burns and deftroys 
 the Lands of the Lord de 
 Chauvigny, and takes by af- 
 fault his principal Town of 
 Brux - Page 427 
 
 CCLIX. Sir Robert Knolles is appoint- 
 ed Captain of the Prince's 
 Company. — -He caufes Sir 
 Perducas d'Albrct to turn to 
 the Enghfli. — He befieges 
 the French Companies in 
 the Fort of Durmel - 431 
 CCLX. Sir Robert Knolles and Sir 
 John Chandos raife the Siege 
 of Durmel. — ^They lay Siege 
 to the Caftle of Domme 43S 
 
 CCLXL Sir Robert Knolles and Sir John 
 Chandos march from Domme 
 •without doing any thing.— 
 Tiiev take Gavaches, Roche- 
 mador and feveral other 
 Towns which had turned to 
 the Party of the French 440 
 
 CCLXn. The Earls of Cambridge and of 
 Pembroke conquer the Gar- 
 rifon of Bourdeilles - 443 
 
 CCLXIIL Sir Robert Knolles, Sir John 
 Chandos and Sir Thomas 
 Felton marflial their Men, 
 and return to the Prince of 
 Wales - - 447 
 
 CHAP. 
 
XV 
 
 CHAP. CCLXIV. The Free Companies attached 
 to the Enghfli take the Caf- 
 tle of Belleperche, and the 
 Mother of rhe Duke of Bour- 
 bon who was in it. — They 
 alfo take the ftrong Caftle of 
 St. Sauveur in Berry Page 419 
 CCLXV. The King of France, intending- 
 to fend a large Naval Ar- 
 mament to the Englifli 
 Coafts, is prevented by the 
 Arrival of the Duke of Lan- 
 carter at Calais _ 45 j 
 
 CCLXVI. The Caftle of La Roche Sur 
 Yon furienders to the En- 
 glifli. — Tlie Governor of it 
 put to Death, by Orders 
 from the Duke of Anjou 454 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CHRONICLES 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, &e: 
 
 CHAP. CCV. 
 
 tHE KING Of ENGLAND LEAVES CALAIS. THE 
 ORDER OF HIS ARMY IN THEIR MARCH THROUGH 
 PiqARDY TOWARDS RHEIMS. 
 
 \\^HEN the king of England was arrivedat Calais, 
 attended by the prince of Wales and three 
 other fons, namely Lionel earl of Ulfter, John earl 
 of Richmond^ and Edmundj afterwards earl of 
 Cambridge^ the yoiingeft of the four^ with the £oU 
 lowing lords and their attendants, he ordered the 
 cavalry, provifion and baggage to be landed, and 
 remained there four days. He then commanded 
 every man to get ready ; for he was defirous of 
 marching after his coufin the duke of Lancafter. 
 
 He left the town of Calais on the next morning, 
 and took the field with the largeft army and beft 
 appointed train of baggage-waggons, that had ever 
 quitted England. It was faid, there were upwards 
 of fix thoufand carts and waggons, which had all 
 been brought with him. He then arranged his 
 battalions : they were fo richly and well dreffed that 
 it was a pleafure to look at them ; he nominated his 
 
 Vol. Ill, B coufin 
 
coufin the earl of March, whom he much loved, his 
 conftable. 
 
 Firft marched five hundred knights, well armed, 
 and a thoufand archers, in the van of the king's 
 battalion, which was compofed of three thoufand 
 men at arms and five thoufand archers ; hirafelfand 
 attendants riding among them in clofe order after 
 the conftable. In the rear of the king's battalion, 
 wks the immenfe baggage^train, which occupied two 
 leagues in length: it confiftcd of upwards of five 
 thoufand carriages, with a fufiiciency of horfes to 
 carry the provifion for the army, and thofe utenfils 
 never before accuftomed to be carried after an 
 army, fuch as handmills to grind their corn, ovens 
 to bake their bread, and a variety of other neceflary 
 articles. 
 
 Next marched the ftrong battalion of the prince 
 of Wales : he was accompanied by his brothers : it 
 was compofed of full two thoufand men at arms, 
 moft excellently mounted and richly drefled. Both 
 the men at arms and archers marched in clofe 
 order, fo that they were ready inftantly to engage, 
 fhould there be occafion. 
 
 On their march, they did not leave even a boy 
 behind them without waiting for them, fo that they 
 could not well advance more than four leagues a- 
 day. 
 
 , In this ftate, they were met by the duke of Lan- 
 cafter with the foreign lords, as has been before re* 
 lated, between Ca\ais and the abbey of Licques*, 
 
 * Licques, — a imall town in Picardy, fovereignty of 
 Ardres. 
 
5 
 
 hi a handfome plain. There were alfo, in this army 
 of the king of England, five hundred pioneers with 
 fpades and pick-axes, to level the roads, and cut 
 down trees and hedges, for the more eafily palling 
 of the carriages. 
 
 I wifh now to name the great lords of England 
 who crolTed the fea with the king, and the duke of 
 Lancaller his coufin-^erman. 
 
 Firft then, there were his four fons already 
 named; Henry duke of Lancader; John earl of 
 March, conftable of England; the earls of Warwick 
 and Suffolk, marflials of England; the earls of 
 Hereford, Northampton, Salifbury, Stamford, Ox- 
 ford; the bifliops of Lincoln and Durham; the 
 lords Percy, Neville, Defpenfer, Roos, Manny, 
 Reginald Cobham, Mowbray, Delawarre; fir John 
 Chandos, fir Richard Pembridge*, the lord Maine, 
 the lord Willoughby, the lord Felton, the lord 
 Baffet, the lord Charlton t, the lord Silvancier;];;; 
 fir James Audley, fir Bartholomew de Burgherlh, 
 the lord Scales, fir Stephen Coffmgton, fir Hugh 
 Haftings, fir John Lifle, fir Nefle Loring, and a 
 great many others whom I cannot recolle6l. 
 
 Thefe lords then rode on in the fame order I 
 mentioned on their quitting Calais, and marched 
 
 * Sir Richard Pembridge is buried in Hereford cathedral. 
 See Gough's Sepulchral Monuments. 
 
 f J In my MSS. it is Corhanton and Sil'vancier. Barnes 
 fays, there was lord John Charlton, who was chamberlain to 
 the king ; but who Silvancier is, I cannot find out. Lord 
 Berners repeats the word, and calls the firft lord Crabalton. 
 
 B 2 through 
 
through Artois, paffing by Arras, taking the fame 
 road which the duke of Lancaftcr had done before. 
 They, however, could not find any provifion in the 
 flat countries, for every thing had been carried into 
 the different garrifons. The country had been fo 
 pillaged and deftroyed, that the ground had not 
 been cultivated for the laft three years; and there 
 ■was fuch diftrefs and famine in the kingdom of 
 France, that if corn and oats had not been fent, 
 from Hainault and the Cambrefis, into Artois, 
 Vermandois, the bifhoprick of Laon, and Rheims, 
 muft have died with hunger. 
 
 It was upon this account, that the king, who had 
 been informed of the poverty and diftrefs in France, 
 had made fuch ample provifion before he quitted 
 England. Each lord had done the fame according 
 to his rank, except in the articles of ftraw and oats, 
 and for that they did with their horfes as well as 
 they could. The feafon, however, was very rainy, 
 which hurt greatly both themfelves and their horfes; 
 for almofl: every day and night it rained in torrents, 
 fo that the vintage of this year was worth nothing. 
 
 The king continued his march, by fhort journeys 
 ■with his whole army, until he came near Bapaume*. 
 I muft notice here an adventure v^'hich befel fir Gala- 
 haut de Riberamont, a very gallant and expert knight 
 of Picardy. I will firft inform you, that all the 
 towns, cities and cafllcs near the road that the king 
 of England was following were well guarded ; for 
 each town in Picardy took and received knights and 
 
 * Bapauinej— 'E ftrong town in Artois, diocefe of Arras. 
 
 fquires 
 
fqulres into t^ieir pay. The count de St. Pol had 
 pofted himf-lf, with two hundred knights, in Arras; 
 the conflable of France, in Amiens; the lord de 
 Monfault in Corbie; fir Odart de Renty and fir 
 Enguerrant de Hedin in Bapaume; fir Baldwin 
 de Annequin, captain of the crofs-bowmen, in St. 
 Qiientin: and thus from city to city, for it was well 
 known to all that the king of England was march- 
 ing to l.iy fiege to the good city of Rheims. It 
 happened, that the inhabitants of Peronne in Ver- 
 mandois had neither captain nor leader; and as 
 their town was on the line of march the king was 
 taking, and the Englifh very near, they were not at 
 their eafe. This town is fuuated upon the river 
 Somme; and the Englifh followed the courfe of the 
 rivers in preference: they bethought themfelves, 
 therefore, of fir Galahaut de Ribemmont, who was 
 not at that time engaged to any town, and, as they 
 had heard, was at Tournay. They fent thither to 
 him moil courteous letters, to intreat that he would 
 come to afTift in guarding the good town of Peronne, 
 and bring as many companions as were attached to 
 him; that they would pay him every day, for him- 
 felf twenty livres; for each knight under him, ten 
 livres; and each lance having three horfes, feven 
 livres* a-day. 
 
 * All my copies MS. as well as printed, have ung franc 
 a-day ; but as Denys Sauvage has altered it to jei'en, and fays 
 that other authors fay feven, and particularly as la Chaux 
 marks it clearly vii, 1 have therefore follovi^ed it. 
 
 B3 Sir 
 
Sir GalahaiU was always eager for any warlike 
 cntorprifc, and, finding himfclf thus conrteoufly 
 fought after by his neighbours of Peronnc, readily 
 complied with their requcfl, and anfwered, that he 
 would fet out and be with them the day after the 
 morrow. He left Tournay with about thirty lances; 
 But his numbers, as he rode on, increafed. He fent 
 to fir Roger dc Coulongne, to meet him at an ap- 
 pointed place, vshich fir Roger did, accompanied 
 by nineteen good companions, fo that fir Cialahaut 
 had now fifty lances. They took up their quarters 
 one night, in their way to Peronne, within two 
 fhort leagues of the enemy, at a village, but where 
 the) found no one, for all the inhabitants of the low 
 countries had fled to the fortified towns. 
 
 On the next morning, they were to have got into 
 Peronne, as they were but a finall dillance from it. 
 About the hour of midnight, when fupper was over, 
 after they had pofled dieir watch, they were chat- 
 |;ing and jelling about feats of arms, of which they 
 had wherewithal to talk, fir Cialahaut faid; ' We 
 fliall get into Peronne very early to-morrow morn- 
 ing; but, before we make our entry there, I would 
 propofe an cxcurlion towards the flanks of our 
 enemies; for I Ihall be much midaken, if there will 
 not be fonie of them who will fet out early in hopes 
 of gaining honor or booty by pillaging the ccnmtry; 
 and we may perchanqe meet wiili them, and mhkc 
 them pay our fcore.' His comi)anions immediately 
 agreed to this propolal, kept it fecret among them- 
 felves, and were ready with their lK)rfes I'addled 
 at break of day. They took the field in good order, 
 
 and. 
 
ntul, leaving the road which Icil to IVronnc, flvirlcd 
 ihc wootls to fee if they couUl meet with any one: 
 they ani\ cd at a viUage, the inhabitants of wlucli 
 ]iad fortified tiie church: (ir (.iahihaut difnuninted 
 at this phicc, wlierc there was wine, w^th hread 
 and meat in plent)', which were oUbred to them by 
 thofe within. 
 
 Whilil they were at this place, fir Galahaut 
 called to him two of his fquircs, one of whom was 
 Bridoul dcTallonne, and laiil to them; * Ride for- 
 ward, antl examine the country round, to fee if you 
 can perceive any one: and, if you find nothing, 
 return here to us : we will wait fbr you.' The two 
 fquires fet off, mounted on good iiorfes, and made 
 for a wood which was about iialf a French league 
 didant. 
 
 This fame morning, fir Reginald de Boullant, a 
 gcrman knight belonging to the duke of Lancaller's 
 divifion, had rode forth fincc day-break, and, 
 having made a large circuit without feeing any one, 
 had halted at that fpot. The two fquires, being- 
 come thither, imagined they might be fome perfons 
 of the country, who had placed themfelves there in 
 ambufcade, and rode fb near that each pai t\- f.iw the 
 cMher. The two Frenchmen, therefore, coniulted 
 togedier, and laid, ' if they be Germans, we muft 
 pretend we belong (o them : if they be of this part 
 of the country, we will tell them who we arc.* 
 When they were fo near each otiier that they coidd 
 fpcak, the two fquires foon perceived, by their uni- 
 forms, that they were Ciernians and their enemies, 
 B 4 Sir 
 
Sir Reginald de Boullant fpoke to them in 
 German, and inquired whofe foldiers diey were. 
 Bridoul de Tallonne, who well underftood that 
 language, anfwered, ' We belong to fir Bartholomew 
 Burgherfli.' ^ And where is fir Bartholomew?' 
 ' He is,' replied he, ' in that village.' ^ For what 
 reafon has he flopped there ?' ' Sir, becaufe he 
 has fent us forward, to fee if we can find any thing 
 to forage in this part of the country.' ' By my faith, 
 there is not,' anfwered fir Reginald; ' for I have 
 been all over it, and have not been able to pick up 
 any thing. Return to him, and tell him to advance, 
 and we will ride together as far as St. Ouentin, and 
 fee if we cannot find out a better country, or fome 
 good adventure. ^ And who are you?' demanded 
 the fquire. ' I am called Reginald de Boullant,' 
 anfwered the knight, 'and fay fo to fir Bartholomew.' 
 Upon this the two fquires turned about, and went 
 to the village where they had left their mailer. As 
 foon as fir Galahaut faw them, he afls^ed, ' What 
 news ? have you found or feen any thing ?' ' Yes, 
 fir, enough, in confcience : beyond this wood is fir 
 Reginald de Boullant, with about thirty moje : he 
 has been riding about this neighbourhood all this 
 morning, and defires much to have your company 
 to ride further forward towards St. Quentin.' 
 
 ' How,' replied fir Galahaut, ' what are you fay- 
 ing? fir Reginald de Boullant is a German knight, 
 and in the feivice of England.' ' All this we know 
 well,' anlwcied the fquire. ' Then how could you 
 get away from him ?' * Sir,' faid Bridoul, \ I will tell 
 
 you.; 
 
you.' He then related to him all that converfation- 
 which has juft been mentioned. 
 
 When lir Galah lU heard what had paffed, he 
 was for a moment thoajrhtful, and then afked the 
 opinions of fir Re2,inald de Coulongne and fome 
 other knights prefent, what was bed to be done. 
 The knights anfwered, ' Sir, you are feeking for 
 adventures, and, when they fall into your mouth, 
 take advantage of them, for by all means, allowed 
 by the laws of arms, every man ought to moleft his 
 enemy.' To this advice fir Galahaut cheerfully 
 aflented, for he was very defirous of meeting the 
 Germans. 
 
 He ordered his fteed to be got ready, and put on 
 his helmet with the vifor down, that he might not 
 be known : the reft did the fame. 
 
 They quitted the village, and, getting into the 
 fields, rode to the right for the wood, where fir 
 Reginald was waiting for them. They might be 
 about feventy men at arms, and fir Reginald had 
 but thirty. 
 
 As foon as fir Reginald perceived them ad- 
 vancing, he colletted his men together in a very- 
 orderly manner, and thus left his ambufcade, with 
 his pennon difplayed before him, and marched with 
 a gentle pace to meet the French, whom he believed 
 to beEnglifh. When he was come up with them^ 
 he raifed his vifor, and faluted fir Galahaut, by the 
 name of fir Bartholomew Burgherfh. Sir Galahaut 
 kept his face covered, and replied in a low voice, 
 adding; ' Come, come, let us ride on.' Upon 
 
 which, 
 
10 
 
 which, his people drew ofF on one fide, and the 
 Germans on ihe other. 
 
 When fir Reginald dc Boullant noticed his man- 
 ner, and that fir Galahaut was eyeing him aikance 
 without faying a word, fome doubts entered his 
 mind. He had not rode a quarter of an hour be- 
 fore he ftopt ihort, under his banner, in the midfl 
 of his people, and faid aloud ; ' I have fome fufpi- 
 cions, fir knight, that you are not fir Bartholomew 
 de Burgherfh ; for I am well acquainted with fir 
 Bartholomew, and hitherto I have not feen your 
 face; therefore, you muft tell me your real name, 
 before I ride any farther in your company.' 
 
 At thefe words, fir Galahaut raifed his vifor, and 
 advanced towards the knight, in order to feize the 
 reins of his horfe, crying out, ' Our Lady of Ribem- 
 mont!' which was echoed by fir Roger de Cou- 
 longne, crying, ' Coulongne to the refcue !' 
 
 Sir Reginald, perceiving his miftake, was not 
 much frightened, but laying his hand quickly on his 
 fword of war, which he wore by his fide, that was 
 both ftiff and ftrong, drew it out of the fcabbard ; 
 and, as fir Galahaut advanced to take the bridle, fir 
 Reginald gave him fo furious a jflrokc* with this 
 fword, that it penetrated the armour, and paffed 
 through his body. Having drawn it back again, 
 he ftuck fpurs in his horfe, and left fir Galahaut 
 grievoufly wounded. 
 
 The companions of fir Galahaut, perceiving their 
 
 mafter and captain in fuch a condition, were like 
 
 madmen : they drew themfelves up, and attacked 
 
 2 the 
 
II 
 
 the party of fir Reginald moft fiercely, when fome 
 of them were unhorfed. As for fir Reginald 
 himfelf, he had no fooner ftruck fir Galahaut than, 
 clapping fpurs to his horfe, he had gallopped off. 
 Some of fir Galahaut's fquires purfucd him, whilft 
 others were engaged with the Germans, with the 
 intention of being fully revenged : but fir Reginald, 
 who was a bold and accompliOied knight, was not 
 much alarmed : however, when he found himfelf 
 fo clofely purfued,^ that it was proper to turn about 
 or be difgraced, he wheeled round, and ftruck the 
 neareft fo violently with his ftrong fword, that he 
 had not any defire to follow him further : thus, as 
 he was riding off, he beat down and feverely 
 wounded three; and, had he had a fliarp battle-axe 
 in his hand, every one of his ftrokes would have 
 killed a man. 
 
 In this manner did the knight efcape from the 
 French, without receiving the fmalleft wound, which 
 his enemies, as well as all thofe who heard of it, con- 
 fidered as a moft gallant a8; : but it fared otherwife 
 with his people, as they were almoft all killed or 
 made prifoners, fcarcely any efcaping. 
 
 They placed fir Galahaut de Ribemmont, who 
 was very feverely wounded, on a litter, and carried 
 him to Peronne to a phyfician. He was never per- 
 fedly cured of this wound; for he was a knight of 
 fuch courage that he would not allow it time to 
 heal, fo that he died fhortly afterward. 
 
 We will now return to the king of England, and 
 relate how he laid fiege to the city and caftle of 
 Rhcims. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
12 
 
 CHAP. CCVI. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND LAYS SIEGE TO THE CITY O? 
 RHEIMS, AND TO THE CASTLE OF CHARGNY. THE 
 WAR. RE-COMMENCES BETWEEN THE DUKE OF 
 NORMANDY AND THE KING OF NAVARRE. 
 
 ''T^HE Englifli continued their march, until they 
 had paired through Artois, the low country of 
 which they found in great poverty and diftrefs for 
 provifions, and had entered Cambrefis, where all 
 things were in greater abundance; for the inhabi- 
 tants of the plains had not carried their provifions 
 into any fortrefies, thinking themfelves fecure from 
 the Englifh, as forming a dependance of the empire ; 
 but the king of England did not confider them in 
 that light, nor look upon Cambrefis as part of the 
 empire. 
 
 The king took up his quarters in the town of 
 Beaurevoir in Cambrefis, encamping his army in 
 the neighbourhood, where they halted four days to 
 refrefli themfelves and horfes, and from whence 
 they overran the greater part of the country of 
 Cambrefis. 
 
 The bifliop, Peter of Cambray, and the councils 
 of the lords of the country and the principal towns, 
 fent divers melfengers, under a paflport, to inquire 
 the grounds of the war. They received for anfwer, 
 that fome time ago they had contrafted alliances 
 with the French, had aided them much, had fup- 
 ported them in their towns and fortrelfes, and had 
 before made part in the war as enemies: that thefe 
 
 were 
 
13 
 
 were the reafons why the war was carried on in 
 their country : nor could they get any other anfwer. 
 The Cambrefians were therefore obhged to put up 
 with their lolFes and grievances as well as they 
 could. 
 
 The king continued his route through Cambrefis, 
 and entered Tierache*; but his people overran the 
 country to the right and left, and took provifions 
 wherever they could lay hands on them. 1 1 chanced, 
 that in one of thefe foraging parties fir Bartholo- 
 mew Burgherfh, in riding towards St. Quentin, 
 accidently met the governor of that place, fir 
 Baldwin d'Annequin, when both riders and horfes 
 met together : there was great confufion, and many 
 were unhorfed on each fide; but in the end the 
 JEnglifh gained the field, and fir Baldwin d'Anne- 
 quin was captured by fir Bartholomew Burgherfli, 
 to whom he had before been a prifoner at the battle 
 of Poitiers. 
 
 The Englifh returned to the king, who that day 
 was lodged in the abbey of Ferny t, where they 
 found great plenty of provifions for themfelves and 
 horfes : they then paffed on, and continued their 
 march without any hindrance, fo that they arrived 
 in the environs of Rheims. 
 
 * Tierache,— a fertile country in Picardy, watered by the 
 ©ife and the Serre, to the weft of Champagne, and fouth of 
 Hainault. 
 
 + Ferny, — a village in Cambrefis, on the borders of Hai, 
 liault. 
 
 The 
 
The liing^s quarters were at St Waal beyonc! 
 kheims, and the prince of Wales's at St. Thierry*, 
 ■where they held their courts. The duke of Lan- 
 eafter, after them, kept the greateft houfehold. The 
 counts, barons and knights were quartered in the 
 neighbouring villages to Rheims, fo that they were 
 not very comfortable, nor had they weather to 
 pleafe them; for they had arrived there in the 
 depth of winter, about St. Andrew's day^ when it 
 was very rainy : their horfes were badly houfed, 
 hardly treated, and ill fed, as the whole country was 
 fo deftroyed, by having been for two or three years 
 before the theatre of war, that no one had tilled or 
 fowed the ground. There was fuch fcarcity of corn 
 of all forts, many were forced to feek forage ten or 
 twelve leagues off. Thefe parties met frequently 
 with the garrifons of the neighbouring fortreffes : 
 Iharp fliirmifhes enfued between them : fometimes 
 the Englifli loft, at others were victorious. 
 
 Sir John de Craon, archbifiiop of Rheims, the 
 count de Porcicn, fir Hugh de Porcien his brother, 
 the lord de la Bone, the lord de Canency, the lord 
 Dannore, the lord de Lore, were governors and 
 captains of the town at the time the king of Eng- 
 land befieged it. Many other barons, knights and 
 fquires of the diftrift of Rheims were alfo there, 
 who exerted themfelves fo much that the town 
 fuffered little lofs or damage from the fiege : 
 
 * St. Thierry,— a firall village in Champagne, diocefe of 
 Rheims. 
 
 befidcs 
 
]5 
 
 befides, it was Ilrong, well fortified, and as well 
 defended. 
 
 The king of England was not defirous of ftorm- 
 ing it, left his army might fuffer too much from 
 wounds or fatigue ; he remained, therefore, before 
 it, from St. Andrew's day to the beginning of Lent, 
 
 Detachments from his army, however, fcoured 
 the country in fearch of adventures. Some of them 
 went over the whole country of Rhetcl, as far as 
 Warq*, to Maifierest, Donchery J, and Moufon^; 
 they quartered themfelves in the country for three 
 or four days; and, after having pillaged it without 
 let or hindrance, they returned again to their 
 army. 
 
 During the time that the king of England was 
 before Rheims, fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt had 
 taken the good town of Achery fur Aine |j ; in 
 which he had found a great quantity of provifions, 
 and, in particular, upwards of three thoufand tons 
 of wine. He fent a large portion of it to the king 
 of England and his fons, for which they were very 
 thankful. 
 
 Whilft this fiege lafted, many knights left it,! to 
 feek what good fortune they might find. Amon«- 
 
 * Warq-Ies-Maifons,' — a village of Champagne, eledion of 
 Rhetel. 
 
 i Mezieres, — a ftrong city of Champagne, diocefe of 
 RheimSj eleftion of Rhetel. 
 
 X Donchery, — a town of Champagne, on the Meufe, dio- 
 cefe of Rheims, elcftion of Rhetel. 
 
 § Moufon, — a town of Champagne, diocefe of Rheims. 
 
 II Achery, — a town in Picardy, on the Oife, diocefe of Laoh. 
 The river Aine falls into the Oife near Compiegne, 
 
 Others-^ 
 
15 
 
 etiiers, fir John Chandos, fir James Audley, th& 
 lord of Mucident, fir Richard de Pontchardon^ 
 with their companies, advanced fo near to Chalons 
 in Champagne, that they came to Chargrny en 
 Dormois*, where there was a very handfnme and 
 ftrong caftle. Having carefully examined it, they 
 were very defirous of gaining this caftle, and direftly 
 made an affault on it. 
 
 Within it were two good and valiant knights as 
 governors : the name of one was fir John de Caples, 
 who bore for arms a crofs anchored fable, on a 
 fhield or. 
 
 The attack was (harp and long : the two knighta 
 and their garrifon defended themfelves well ; and 
 it behoved them fo to do, for they were aflaulted 
 very roughly. The lord of Mucident, who was a 
 powerful and rich lord in Gafcony, advanced (o 
 forward at this attack, that he received a fevere 
 blow from a ftone on his helmet, through which it 
 found a pafTage to his hea4 : he was fo badly 
 wounded, that he could not be carried away, but 
 died in the arms of his people. 
 
 The other barons and knights were fo enraged at 
 the death of the lord of Mucident, they fwore they 
 would never quit the place until they had conquered 
 the caftle, and all that were in it. They renewed 
 the affault with double vigour : many gallant deeds 
 were performed : for the Gafcons, being irritated by 
 'the lofs of their lord, ruflied into the ditches, clofe 
 to the walls of the caftle, without fparing them- 
 felves, and, placing their fliiclds over their heads, 
 
 * Dormois, — a country of Champagne^ diooefe of Rheims. 
 
 climcd 
 
17 
 
 climbed up them : the archers, in the mean time, 
 kept (lich a continual volley of arrows, that no 
 one dared to appear. The caftle was fo brifldy 
 affaulted that it was won, but it coft them dear. 
 When the Englifh were mafters of it, they made 
 the two knights prifoners who had fo valiantly de- 
 fended it, and fome other fquires and gentlemen : 
 the reft of the garrifon they put to the fword. 
 They deftroyed much of the caftle of Chargny, 
 becaufe they did not wifti to keep it, and returned 
 to the king and his barons, to relate what they had 
 performed. 
 
 During the time they were before Rheims, great 
 animofities and hatred arofe between the king of 
 Navarre and the duke of Normandy. I am not 
 perfeftly well informed of the real caufe *, but fo it 
 was, for the king of Navarre quitted Paris fuddenly, 
 and went to Mantes fur Seine, from whence he feni 
 his challenge to the duke and his brothers. Many 
 a baron was much furprifed at this, and wondered 
 for what caufe the war was to be renewed. 
 
 However, a fquire from Bruftels, whofe name 
 was Wauftre Oftrate, under pretence of this war, 
 took the ft rung caftle of Roulleboife upon the Seine, 
 a fiiort league from Mantes, which was afterwards 
 a great annoyance to the Parilians and all the 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 * Probably occafioned by the king of Navarre's treafon- 
 able defigns being difcovcred. See Villaret's Hift. of France, 
 pp. 216, &c. 
 
 It is faid there, that the caftle of Roulleboife was taken by 
 one of the king of Navarre's captains. 
 
 Vol. III. C While 
 
18 
 
 While the king of England was bcfieging, with 
 his whole army, Rheims, it happened that the lord 
 Gomegines, who had returned to the queen in 
 England, at the time the king had fent all ftrangers 
 out of Calais, as has been before related, re-paffed 
 the fea, and with him fome fquires of Gafcony and 
 England, who accompanied him into Hainault, in- 
 tending to join the army before Rheims. 
 
 The young lord of Gomegines, being eager to 
 advance himfelf, collefted fome men together on his 
 return to Hainault. Many men at arms joined him, 
 and ferved under his pennon. When they were all 
 afTembled, they might amount to about three hun- 
 dred. They fet out from Maubeuge *, where they 
 had been muftered, and came to Avefnes t, which 
 they pafled through, and then to Trelon J. 
 
 The lord of Roye, at this period, was in garrifon 
 at Roye } in Tierache : there were a great many 
 companions with him, as well knights as fquires; 
 and he had been informed, by the fpies he kept in 
 pay on the borders of Hainault, of the lord of 
 Gomegines having colle6led abody of forces, which 
 he was marching to the afTiftance of the king of 
 England before Rheims, and that he and his troops 
 mult pafs through Tierache. As foon as the lord 
 
 * . A ftrong town in Hainault, on the Sambre, diocefe of 
 Cambray. 
 
 ■{■ Avefnes, — a ftrong town in Hainault, diocefe of Cam, 
 bray. 
 
 j^ Trelon, — a village in Flanders, near Avefnes. 
 
 § Roye, — a ftrong town in Picardy. My printed copies 
 have it Ray, two MSS. Roy, one Rofoy. 
 
 of 
 
19 
 
 of Roye had afcertained the truth of this tntelligence, 
 he communicated it fecretly to all his fellow-foldiers 
 in the neighbourhood, and particularly to the lord 
 Robert, canon de Roberfart, who at that time 
 managed the eftates of the young earl de Coucy, 
 and refided in the caftle of Marie *. When the 
 canon heard it, he was not flow in obeying the 
 fummons, but came to the lord of Roye with full 
 forty lances. The lord of Roye was chofen the 
 chief of this expedition, as indeed he had reafon to 
 expeft, for he was a powerful baron in Picardy, and 
 for the times was a good man, and a gallant foldier, 
 much renowned, and well fpoken of in various 
 places. 
 
 Thefe French men at arms, who might amount 
 to three hundred, pofted themfelves in ambufcade 
 on the road the lord of Gomcgines and his troops 
 mufl neceffarily pafs, who was quiie ignorant of 
 their intentions, and who thought to continue his 
 march unmolefted; he entered, therefore, Tierache, 
 and, taking the road to Rheims, came very early in. 
 the morning to a village called Habergny t, where 
 they determined to halt for a fliort time to refrefii 
 themfelves and horfes, and then to continue their 
 route without any more delay. They difmounted 
 in this village, and began to make preparations for 
 feeding their horfes. Whilft his companions were 
 thus employed, the lord of Gomegines, who was 
 
 * Marie, — a town in Picardy, diocefe of Laon. 
 
 t Habergny. Barnes call it Harcigny, which is a village 
 ill Picardy, diocefe of Laon. Habergny is not in the 
 Gazetteer. 
 
 C 2 then 
 
20 
 
 then young and wilful, faid, he would ride out of 
 the village to fee if he could not meet with fome- 
 thing better to forage. He called to him five or fix 
 of his companions, and Chriftopher de Mur* his 
 fquire, who bore his pennon : they quitted the vil- 
 lage furioufly, but without any order or regularity. 
 It happened that the French knights and their 
 troops were in ambufcade near this village : they 
 had followed them the preceding day and night, in 
 order that they might combat them with more cer- 
 tainty ; and, if a proper opportunity had not offered 
 itfelf in the plain, they intended to have entered the 
 village, for the purpofe of attacking them ; but the 
 lord of Gomeoines fell into their hands. 
 
 o 
 
 When the French lords perceived the lord of 
 Gomegines and his company advancing on this 
 fecret excurfion, they were at firft furprifed, and 
 could not conceive who they might be. They fent 
 two fcouts on the look-out, who brought back word, 
 that they were enemies. 
 
 This news was no fooner heard than they quitted 
 their ambufcade, each crying out, ' Roye, for the 
 lord of Roye !' 
 
 The knights advanced before the lord of Roye, 
 who had his banner difplayed in front. There 
 were fir Flamen de Roye his coufin, fir Lewis de 
 Roberfart, the canon de Roberfart his brother, who 
 was a fquire, fir Triftram de Bonne-roye, and 
 others, each armed according to his condition, with 
 
 * Barnes makes him an Engliihman, of the name of Moor ; 
 but I fee no caufc l®r it. '' 
 
 their 
 
21 
 
 their fwords hanging to their wrifts, and their fpears 
 couched, towards their enemies, crying out, ' Roye, 
 for the lord of Roye !' 
 
 When the lord of Gomegines perceived the am- 
 , buTcade he had fallen into, he was much aftonifhed ; 
 but he determined to ftand his ground, and wait his 
 enemies, for both himfelf and followers difdained to 
 fly : they couched their fpears, and formed them- 
 felves in order of battle. The French, being well 
 mounted, charged thefe Englifh and Gafcons, who 
 were not very numerous; and, at the firft charge, the 
 lord of Gomegines was run through with a fpear, 
 and had not afterwards an opportunity, from the 
 fituation of the place, to remount his horfe. His 
 people fought valiantly, and many gallant deeds were 
 done; but in the end the lord of Gomegines could 
 not hold out; he was therefore made prifoner, on 
 his parole. Two of his fquires had fought valiantly, 
 but were forced to yield, or they would have been 
 flain, as well as Chriftopher de Mur, a valiant 
 fquire, who bore the pennon of the lord of Gome- 
 gines. To make an end of this affair, all thofe of 
 the Gomegine party were either flain or made pri- 
 foners, except the valets, who, being well mounted, 
 faved themfelves by flight. No purfuit was made 
 after them, more weighty confiderations occupying 
 their enemies. 
 
 C 3 CHAP. 
 
22 
 
 CHAP. CCVII. 
 
 THE LORD OF ROYE AND HIS COMPANY DEFEAT THE 
 REMAINDER OF THE TROOPS OF THE LORD OF CO- 
 MEGINES. THE CASTLE OF COMMERCY * SURREN- 
 DERS TO THE ENGLISH. 
 
 T^HE knights and fquires who had taken the lord 
 of Gomegines, and overthrown all thofe who 
 had followed him out of the village, did not wifh to 
 lofe time, but, putting fpurs to their hcrfes, gal- 
 lopped into the above mentioned village, calling 
 out, ' Roye, for the lord of Roye!' Thofe who 
 were there were much alarmed at this cry, and fur- 
 prifed to find their enemies fo near them, as they 
 were chiefly difarmed and fcattered about, fo that 
 they could not rally nor colleft together. 
 
 The French made prifoners of them at their 
 pleafure, in houfes, barns and ovens: and the canon 
 de Roberfart had many who furrendered themfelves 
 to him, becaufe his banners w^ere better known than 
 thofe of the others. It is true, indeed, thatfomeof 
 them retreated to a fmall fortified houfe, furrounded 
 by a moat, which is fituate in this village of Har- 
 cigny, and confulted among themfelves whether to 
 defend it until the king of England, who was before 
 Rheims, might hear of their difafter, (for the man- 
 fion could very foon be made ftrong enough to 
 enable them to hold out,) when they thought, that 
 as foon as he fhould know of their fituauon, he 
 
 * Commercy is not in the Gazetteer. Barnes calls it Cor- 
 micy, which is a town in Champagne, diocefe of Rheims. 
 
 would 
 
23 
 
 would without doubt fend forces to relieve them. 
 Some, however, hefitated, as the houfe was in an 
 open country, and they were furrounded by their 
 enemies. Whilft they were thus debating, the lord 
 of Roye and his companions came before it, and faid 
 to them ; ' Liften, gentlemen ; if you force us to 
 make the flighteft affault, we will not fufferany one 
 of you to efcape death ; for, if we begin, we will 
 continue the attack until we take it.' Thefe and 
 fuch like words threw them into confufion ; and 
 even the boldeft were alarmed : they furrendered, 
 therefore, on having their lives fpared. 
 
 They were all made prifoners, and fent to the 
 caftle of Coucy, and the other garrifons from 
 whence the French had marched. 
 
 This difafter happened to the lord of Gomegines 
 and his party about Chriftmas 1359. When the 
 king of England was informed of it, he was mightily 
 enraged; but he could not amend it. 
 
 We will now return to the fiege of Rheims, and 
 fpeak of an adventure which happened to fir Bar- 
 tholomew Burgherlh, who had laid fiege to the town 
 and caftle of Cormicy, in which was a knight of 
 Champagne, whofe name was fir Henry de Vaulx; 
 he wore black armour, and bore (or acms five 
 almonds argent on a field fable : his war-cry was 
 ' Vianc *.' 
 
 * In all the printed books I have feen, h;s name is Henry de 
 Noir, but at the end it is Henri de Vauix. My two M'^S, 
 have, * Meffire Henri de Vaulx, ct s'armoir le dit meffire 
 Henri, de noir a cinq amans d'argent, et criet Viane.' 
 
 Q. Amans, — not in any of my dictionaries. Mr, Lodge 
 fuppofes they muft mean almonds. 
 
 C 4 During 
 
24. 
 
 During this fiege of Rheims, the earls, barons 
 and great lords were quartered in the neighbour- 
 hood, as you have before heard, in order to prevent 
 any provifion being carried into that city. Among 
 them was fir Bartholomew Burghcrfli, a great baron 
 of England: he and his fuite, with his company of 
 archers and men at arms, were lodged near Cor- 
 micy, where there is a very handfome caftle belong- 
 ing to the archbilhop of Rheims, who had put into 
 it the knight before mentioned, with many good 
 companions, to guard it againll their enemies. 
 
 They were far from fearing any attack ; for the 
 caftle had a large fquare tower, whofe walls were 
 vtiy thick, and it was well furniihed with arms of 
 defence. 
 
 When fir Bartholomew had furrounded this 
 caftle, and, by well reconnoitring its ftrength, 
 found he could not take it by affault, he ordered 
 a number of miners, whom he had with him in his 
 pay, to get themfelves ready and do their duty in 
 undermining the fortrefs, when he would reward 
 them handfomely : upon which they replied, they 
 would cheerfully undertake it. 
 
 The miners immediately broke ground, and, 
 having lodged themfelves in their mine, worked 
 night and day ; infomuch that they advanced far 
 under the great tower; and, as they puftied forward, 
 they propped up the work, that thofe within knew 
 nothing of it. 
 
 When they had thus completed their mine fo that 
 they could throw down the tower when they chofe, 
 they came to fir Bartholomew Burgherfli, and faid 
 to him ; ' Sir, we have carried our works fo far 
 
 that 
 
25 
 
 that this tower, great as it is, fiiall be thrown down 
 whenever you pleafe.' ' It is well,' replied fir 
 Bartholomew ; ' but do nothing more without my 
 orders:' to which they willingly confented. The 
 knight immediately mounted his fteed ; and taking 
 John de Guiftelles * with him, who was one of his 
 companions, they advanced to the caftle, and fir 
 Bartholomew made a fignal that he wifhed to have 
 a parley with thofc within. 
 
 Upon this, fir Henry came forward on the battle- 
 ments, and demanded what he wanted. ' I want 
 you to furrender,' replied fir Bartholomew, ' or 
 you will be all infallibly deftroyed.' ' By what 
 means ?' anfwered the French knight, who began to 
 laugh : ' we are perfeftly well fupplied with every 
 thing ; and you wifh us thus fimply to furrender : 
 certainly it fhall not be to-day,' added fir Henry, 
 * Certainly,' faid the Englifh knight, if you were 
 truly informed what your fituation is, you would fur- 
 render inftantly, without more words.' ' Why, what 
 is our fituation?' demanded fir Henry. ' If you will 
 come out, upon my affurance of your fafety, I will 
 fliew you,' replied fir Bartholomew. Sir Henry 
 accepted the condition, and came out of the fortrefs, 
 with only three others, to fir Bartholomew and 
 John de Guiftelles, who immediately conducted 
 them to the mine, and fhewed them that the great 
 tower was only fupported on props of wood. 
 
 When the French knight faw the peril he and his 
 garrifon were in, he told fir Bartholomew, that he 
 had very good reafons for what he had faid, and 
 
 * Barnes calls him lord John de Botetourt ; but he gives nq 
 authority for it. 
 
 that 
 
Q6 
 
 that his proceedings were truly gallant and noble: 
 ' we fhall therefore furrender ourfelves to your will,' 
 
 Sir Bartholomew took them all his prifoners, 
 made them leave the tower one after the other with 
 their baggage, and then fet fire to the mine. 
 
 The timber was foon on fire; and, when the 
 props were burnt, the tow er, which was extremely 
 large, opened in two places, and fell on tlie oppofite 
 fite to where fir Bartholomew was ftanding, who 
 faid to fir Henry and the garrifon of the fortrefs, 
 ' Now, fee if I did not tell you the truth.' ' We 
 own it, fir', replied they, ' and remain prifoners at 
 your pleafure. We alfo return you our befi; thanks 
 for your kindnefs to us; for if the Jacques, who 
 formerly overran this country, had had the fame 
 advantage over us that you have, they would not 
 have afted fo generoufiy. 
 
 Thus were all the garrifon of Cormicy made 
 prifoners, and the caftle thrown to the ground. 
 
 The king of England remained before Rheims 
 for upwards of feven weeks, but never made any 
 alfault upon it, as it would have been ufelefs. He 
 began to tire; and, as his army found great diffi- 
 culties in obtaining forage and provifion, their horfes 
 periflied. He broke up his camp, and marched off 
 towards Chalons, in Champagne, in the fame order 
 as before. 
 
 The king and his army paffed very near to Cha- 
 lons, and fat down before Bar fur Aube, and after- 
 wards before the city of Troyes. He took up his 
 quarters at Mery fur Seine*. 
 
 * Mery fur Seine^ — diocefe and election of Troyes, (even 
 leagues from Tro} tji. — Gazetteer. 
 
 The 
 
27 
 
 The whole army lay between Mery and Troyes, 
 which is reckoned to be eight leagues dillant from 
 each other. 
 
 Whilft he was at Mery fur Seine, his conftable*, 
 who commanded always the van battalion, advanced 
 and came before St. Florentint, which was under 
 the command of fir Odoart de Renty; and, after 
 having difplayed his banner, (which was blazoned, 
 or and azure, a chief pally, and at each of the two 
 corners girons, and an efcutcheon argent in the midft 
 of the fhield,) before the gate of the fortrefs, made 
 a fierce attack on it, but in vain. The king of Eng- 
 land and his whole army came and took up their 
 quarters at Saint Florentin and the neighbourhood, 
 on the banks of the river Arman^on X- 
 
 When they marched from thence, they came be- 
 fore Tonnerre §, which was fo brifkly attacked, the 
 town was won, but not the caftle. The Englifh, 
 however found in that town upwards of three 
 thoufand tons of wine, which were of great fervice 
 to them. 
 
 * Roger earl of Mortimer. See more of him and his arms, 
 in Afhmole, p. 692. 
 
 Mr. Lodge fays, the arms of Mortimer have puzzled lie. 
 raids at all times : but the terms heralds now ufe in blazoning 
 the arms of Mortimer are thefe ; * Barry of fix or and azure, 
 an inefcutcheon argent ; on a chief of the firft three pallets of 
 the fecond, between two girons or.' 
 
 + St. Florentin — fituated on the Arman^on, thirteen leagues 
 from Troyes. 
 
 J In the printed copies it is Moufon, but in my MSS. Ar- 
 man^on. 
 
 § Tonnerre,-— fituated on the Arraan^on, diocefe of Lan» 
 gres. 
 
 At 
 
2S 
 
 At this period, the lord de Fiennes, conftablc of 
 France, was in the city of Auxerre * with a number 
 of men at arms. 
 
 CHAP. CCVIII. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND, AFTER HE HAD RAISED 
 THE SIEGE OF RHEIMS, WASTES AND DESTROYS 
 
 ALL THE COUNTRIES HE PASSES THROUGH. 
 
 HE COMES TO GUILLON, WHERE HE REMAINS. 
 
 • GREAT QUANTITIES OF PROVISION FOLLOW 
 
 THE ARMY. 
 
 nPHE king of England and his army remained five 
 days in Tonnerre, on account of the good wines 
 he found there. The caftle was often affaulted ; 
 but it was well provided with men at arms, com- 
 manded by fir Baldwin d'Annequin, mafter of the 
 crofs-bows. When they had well repofed and re- 
 freflied themfelves in Tonnerre, they marched off, 
 and croffed the river Arman^on. The king of 
 England left the road to Auxerre on his right hand, 
 and took that which leads to Noyerst: his inten- 
 tions were to enter Burgundy and pafs his Lent 
 there. He and his whole army marched above 
 Noyers; but he would not fuffer any attack to be 
 made on it, as the lord of it was his prifoner fince 
 the battle of Poitiers. They marched on for their 
 
 * It is Dampierre in the printed copies. Denys Sauvage 
 thinks it ought to have been Auxerre. It is Auxerre in my 
 MSS. 
 
 + / Noyers, — a town in Burgimdy, on the river Serin, dio- 
 cefe of Langres. 
 
 quarters 
 
'2D 
 
 quarters to a town called Montroyal*, fituated on a 
 river called Sellettes; and, when the king left it, he 
 went up that river, and proceeded llraight to take 
 pofleffion of his lodging at Guillon t, which is alfo 
 on its banks ; for one of his fquires called Joha 
 d'Alen9on, who bore for his arms a fcutcheon 
 argent in a field azur, had taken the town of 
 Flavigny J in its neighbourhood, and had found 
 within it a fufficiency of provifion for the whole 
 army for a month. This was very fortunate, as the 
 king remained there from the night of Afh- 
 Wednefday until Mid-lent. His marfhais and light 
 troops fcoured the country round, burning and de- 
 (Iroying it, and frequently bringing to the army 
 frefh provifions. 
 
 I muft inform you, that the king of England and 
 his rich lords were followed by carts laden with 
 tents, pavilions, mills and forges, to grind their 
 corn and make fhoes for their horfes, and every 
 thing of that fort which might be wanting. For 
 this purpofe there were upwards of fix thoufand 
 carts, each of them drawn by four good and ftrong 
 horfes which had been tranfported from England. 
 Upon thefe carts alfo were many veffels and fmall 
 boats, made furprifingly well of boiled leather : 
 thcv were lar^e enough to contain three men, to 
 
 * I cannot find Montroyal, nor the river Sellettes, in the 
 Gazetteer. 
 
 + Guillon, — a town in Burgundy, in the bailiwick of 
 Avalon. 
 
 I Flavigny, — a town of Burgundy, fituated near the On- 
 zerain, bailiwick of Semur-en-Auxois. 
 
 enable 
 
30 
 
 enable them to fifii any lake or pond, whatever 
 might be its fize: and they were of great ufe to the 
 lords and barons during Lent : but the commonalty 
 made ufe of what provifions they could get. 
 
 The king had, befides, thirty falconers on horfe- 
 back, laden with hawks; fixty couple of ftrong 
 hounds, and as many greyhounds ; fo that every 
 day he took the pleafure of hunting or fifliing either 
 by land or water. Many lords had their hawks and 
 Ijiounds as well as the king. 
 
 Their army was always in three divifions, and 
 each perfon kept to his divifion : there was alfo a 
 van-guard to every one of them, and their quarters 
 were one league diltant from each other, the king 
 being with the third and largeft divifion. This 
 order was conftantly kept on their march from Ca- 
 lais, until they came before the town of Chartres. 
 
 During the time the king of England remained at 
 Guillon, where he was living on the provifion 
 ■which John d'Alen^on had found in Flavigny, his 
 thoughts were employed in devifmg means to keep 
 and maintain himfelf in France. The young duke 
 of Burgundy and his council, at the requeft of his 
 fubjefts, fent to the king divers lords and knights, 
 as ambaffadors to treat with him, fo that the duchy 
 of Burgundy fhould not be deflroyed or pillaged. 
 The under-named lords accepted this commiflion : 
 Brft the lord Anfelme de Sallins, great chancellor of 
 Burgundy, fir James dc Vienne, fir John Derie, fir 
 Hugh de Vienne, fir William de Thoroife and fir 
 John dc Montmartin. 
 
 8 Thefe 
 
31 
 
 Thefe lords managed the affair fo well, and found 
 the king of England in fuch good humour, that 
 a treaty was foon entered into between them; and 
 a compofition was made, that for three years no 
 part of the duchy of Burgundy fliould be overrun, 
 on condition of having 200,000 livres paid down*. 
 When this treaty was finiflied and fealed, the king 
 and his whole army diflodged, and fet out on his 
 return, taking the ftrait road for Paris, fixing his 
 quarters at Avalon t upon the river Coufm, below 
 VezelayJ. 
 
 The quarters of his army extended from the 
 river Yonne as far as Clamecy }, to die entrance 
 of the county of Nevers. The Englifh entered 
 Gatinois; and the king made fuch forced marches 
 that he came fo near Paris as to take up his quarters 
 within two fhort leagues of it, at Bourg la Reine. 
 As he and his army paffed through the country, 
 they deftroyed it on all fides. On the other hand, 
 the garrifons which he had in Picardy, Beauvoifis, 
 the I fie of France, Champagne and Brie, carried on 
 a continual war, and ruined the country. 
 
 The king of Navarre refided in Normandy, and 
 made a cruel war againft France, infomuch that that 
 
 * See this treaty in Rymer, anno 1360. The fum was 
 200,000 moutons, — 50,000 to be paid at the enfuing fcaft of 
 St. John the Baptift, ioo,ogo at Chriftmas, and 50^000 at 
 Eafter. 
 
 f Avalon, a town of Burgundy, on the Coufin, which falls 
 into the Yonne. 
 
 X Vezelay, a town in Nivernois, diocefe of Autun, four 
 leagues from Clamecy. 
 
 § Clamecy, — a fmall city of the Nivernois, diocefe of 
 Auxerre, on the conflux of the Yonne and Beuvron. 
 
 noble 
 
32 
 
 noble kingdom was fo grievnufly oppreflfed, it did 
 not know which way to turn itfelf. 
 
 But above all, fir Euflace d'Ambreticourt was 
 the mofl aftive : his quarters were at Cheny fur 
 Aifne, where he had a ftrong garrifon of foldiers 
 and men at arms, who overran, pillaged and ran- 
 fomed the good county of Rethel, from Donchery 
 to Meziercs, and as far as Chefne le Pouilleux and 
 Stcnay *, in the county of Bay t. They quartered 
 themfelves wherever they chofe in all that country, 
 for two or three nights, without oppofition from any 
 one, and then returned unmolefted to their garri- 
 fon at Cheny, to refrefh and recruit themfelves. 
 
 It is true indeed, that all the neighbouring lords, 
 knights and fquires threatened them much : they 
 met together, and appointed different days for their 
 affembling, to take the field and befiege fir Euflace 
 in his caflle of Cheny ; but nothing in fa6l was 
 done. / 
 
 It happened that thefe adventurers (whofe whole 
 thoughts, night and day, were occupied on the beft 
 means of taking towns, and in what parts of the 
 country they fhould find mofl to pillage) came one 
 night to a good town with a flrong caflle, fituated 
 in the LaonoisJ, tolerably near to Montagu J, and 
 in a very deep marfliy country, the name of which 
 
 * Stenay, — In the diocefe of Treves, on the Meufe. 
 
 + I cannot find, in any dictionary, the county of Bay. It 
 is Buy in Dcnys Sauvage. Stcnay is in the diocefe of Treves: 
 but even the connexion of names is fo wide, I cannot fuppofe it 
 to be a miftake for Treves. 
 
 + Laonois,' — inPicardy. 
 
 § Montagu, — in Picardy, diocefe of Laon. 
 
 was 
 
was Pierl-eporlt *. At this time, there were in It a 
 great many people of the country, who had carried 
 thither their goods, trufting to the ftrength of the 
 place. When hr Euftacc's companions arrived, 
 the guard was afleep : they marched, therefore, 
 through the deep marflies with much lofs, for their 
 avarice urged them on, and they came to the, walls 
 of the town, which they entered without refiftance, 
 and robbed at their pleafure. They found in it 
 more riches than in any other place ; and, when it 
 was day, they burnt the town, and returned to 
 Cheny well laden with booty. 
 
 CHAP. CCIX. 
 
 THE KIN'C OF ENGLAND LAYS THE KINGDOM OF 
 FRANCE UNDER GREAT TRIBULATION. A COR- 
 DELIER FRIAR PROPHECIES. THE ENGLISH PLACE 
 
 AN AMBUSCADE FOR THOSE WHO SHOULD COME 
 OUT OF PARIS. 
 
 A BOUT this period, a francifcan friar, full of 
 knowledge and underflanding, was at Avig- 
 non : his name was John dc Rochctaillade : and 
 pope I nnocent VI. kept him a prifoner in the cadle of 
 Baignoux, not only on account of the great prophe- 
 fies he made of the times to come, chiefly and prin- 
 cipally relating to the heads and prelates of the holy 
 church, by reafon of their pride and the expenfive 
 life they led, but alfo concerning the kingdom of 
 
 * Pierrepont, — village of Picardy, diocefs of Laon. 
 Vol. III. D France, 
 
-34 
 
 France, aJhd the great lords of Chriftendorji, for 
 their heavy oppreffi on s on the common people. The 
 ^bove-mentioned John was willing to prove all he 
 faid from the Apocalypfe, and by the ancient books 
 of the holy prophets, which were opened to him 
 through the grace of the Holy Ghoft, by which he 
 uttered things that were difficult to be credited. 
 
 Some of the predictions he had made were feen 
 to come to pafs within the time, which he never 
 could have foretold as a prophet but by means of 
 the ancient Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit, that 
 had given him the power of underftanding thefe 
 ancient prophefies, and of announcing to all Chrif- 
 tians the year and time when they were to be ful- 
 filled. 
 
 He made many books, full of much fcicnce^and 
 learning. One was written in the year 1346, which 
 contained many marvellous things, difficult of be- 
 lief, but of which fome had come to pafs already. 
 When he was qucftioned concerning the war againft 
 France, he anfwered, that what they had feen was 
 nothing to what was to happen ; for there would 
 be no peace until the realm of France was deftroyed 
 and ruined from one end to the other. This in- 
 deed happened afterwards; for that kingdom was 
 completely fpoiled at the time the friar had fixed, 
 m the years 1356, 1357, 1358 and 1359; infomuch 
 that none of its princes or gentlemen dared to fliew 
 them^'lves againft thofe of the low eftate collefted 
 from all parts, and who had arrived, one after the 
 other, without Icad-er or chief, whilft the country 
 \idfl not any m*:ar!< oFrciiiting them. They clcBed 
 
 (as 
 
35 
 
 (as ypu have before feeii), in different parts of the 
 country, captains from among themfelves, to whom 
 they paid obedience. Tiie captains, when they en- 
 rolled any man in their companies, made certain 
 agreements with them refpefting their Ihares of 
 booty and the ranfoms of prifoners ; they found fo 
 much pillage, that all the leaders became riehfromi 
 the great wealth they amafTed. 
 
 King Edward was lodged at Bourg la Reine, two 
 fhort leagues from Paris, and his army in different 
 parts between that and Montlhery *. He fent from 
 thence his heralds to the Duke of Normandy in 
 Paris, who had with him a great number of men at 
 arms, to offer him battle : but the duke would not 
 accede to it. His meffengers, therefore^ returned 
 without having done any (thing. When the king 
 found that his enemies would not venture out of 
 Paris, he was mightily enraged : upon which that 
 good knight, fir Walter Manny, ftepped forth and 
 befought his lord that he would permit him to 
 make an excurfion and affault as far as the barriers 
 of Paris. 
 
 The king confented to his requeft, and named 
 himfelf thofe knights that fliould accompany him. 
 He made alfo many new knights on the occafion; 
 among whom were, the lord Delawarre, the lord de 
 Silvacier, fir Thomas Banaftert, fir William Tor- 
 
 * Montlhery, — a town in the ifle of France, feven leagues 
 from Paris. 
 
 + Sir Thomas Banaf!er was afterwards cleded knight of the 
 garter in this king's reign. See his life in Anflis' Hiflory of 
 the Garter, vol. ii. p. 15-3. 
 
 D 2 ceaux. 
 
36 
 
 Ceaux, fir Thonu's le Defpenfier, fir John Neville, 
 fir Richard Doftmay, and many odiers. Colart 
 d'Ambredcouit, fon of fir Nicholas, would have 
 been of the number; for the king was defirous of 
 it, as he was attached to his perfon and fquire of 
 his body; but the young man excufed himfelf, by 
 faying he could not find his helmet. 
 
 Sir Walter Manny fet out on his enterprife, and 
 carried with him thefe new knights to fkirmifli and 
 make an attack on the barriers of Paris. Many 
 hard blows were given and received ; for there were 
 within the city feveral valiant knights and fquires, 
 who would willingly have fallied forth, if the Duke 
 of Normandy had given his confent. They, how- 
 ever, guarded the gates and barriers fo well that no 
 damage was done to them. This fls.irmifh lafted 
 until twelve o'clock, and many were killed on both 
 fides. Sir Walter then retreated with his people to 
 their quarters, where they remained together that 
 day and the following night. On the morrow, the 
 king diflodged, and took the road to Montlhery. 
 
 When the camp was breaking up, fome Englifli 
 andOafcon knights planned the following enter- 
 prife. They thought, that as there were fo many 
 knights in Paris, fome of them would fally out after 
 -them ; and fome young adventurers would en- 
 deavour to gain, by their valour, both honor and 
 booty. They therefore placed two hundred picked 
 men, well armed, in an old empty houfe, three 
 leagues from Paris. The chiefs on the Gafcon party 
 v.'ere, the captal dc Buch, fir Aymery de Pommiers 
 «,nd the lord de Courton : on the Englifli, the lord 
 
 Neville, 
 
37 
 
 X'eville, the Lord Mowbray and fir Richard de 
 Pontchardon. 
 
 Thefe fix knights were the leaders of this am-, 
 bufcade. 
 
 W^hen the French v;ho were within Paris per^ 
 ceived that the king of England was decamping, 
 fome young knights collected together, and faid 
 among themfelves ; ' It will be a good thing for us 
 to fally out fecretly, and follow a while the army of 
 England, to fee if we cannot gain fomething.' 
 They were all inftandy of this opinion, fo that lir 
 Raoul de Coucy, fir Raoul de Ravenal, the lord 
 de Monfault, the lord de Helay, the conftable of 
 Beauvais, le begue dc Villaines, the lord de Beau- 
 fiers, the lord of Ulbarin, fir Gauvain de Valouel, 
 fir Flamant de Roye, fir Azellesde Cavilly, fir Peter 
 de p>rmoi fes, Peter de Savoifies, and upwards of a 
 hundred lances with them, fallied out well mounted, 
 w^'th a thorough good will to do fomething; but 
 they muil firfl find the occafion. They took the 
 road to Eourg la Reine, which they pafled, and 
 gained the open fields, when they followed the 
 track of the cavalry and army of England, and rode 
 beyond the ambufcade of ihe captal and his com- 
 pany. 
 
 I'hcy were no fooner paffed than the Englifii and 
 Gafcons marched out of it, after ihem, wifh their 
 lances in their refts, fliouting their war-cry. The 
 French turned about, wondering who they could 
 be : but tlicy foon found they were their enemies. 
 They immediately halted, and drew them felves up 
 in battlc-ai ray, and, with couched fpears, prepared 
 
 D 3 to 
 
33 
 
 to meet the Englifli and Gafcons, who foon joined 
 them. At this firft onfet many were unhorfed on 
 each fide, for both parties were well mounted. Af- 
 ter this tilting-bout, they drew their fv/ords, and, 
 attacking each other more clofely, many hard blows 
 were given, and many gallant deeds performed. 
 This attack lafted a confiderable time, and the 
 ground was fo well difputed, that it was difficult to 
 fay which of the two would be conqueror. The 
 captal de Buch fhone particularly, and did v^ith his 
 hand many deeds worthy fo good a knight. In 
 the end, however, the Englifli and Gafcons fought 
 fo valiantly, that the field remained to them : 
 they were more than half as many again as the 
 I'rench. 
 
 The lord of Campreny fhewed himfelf a valiant 
 knight on the fide of the French, and fought gal- 
 lantly under his banner, the bearer of which was 
 flain : his banner was argent, a buckle gules, be- 
 tween fix martlets fable, three above and three be- 
 low. The Lord of Campreny was made prifoner. 
 The other French knights and fquires, who faw the 
 ill fuccefs of their attempt, and that they could not 
 recover themfelves, took the road toward Paris, 
 fighting as they retreated, and the Englifli purfuing 
 them moft eagerly. In this retreat, which continued 
 beyond Bourg la Reine, nine knights, as well ban- 
 nerets as others, were made prifoners ; and, if the 
 Englifh and Gafcons who purfued them had not 
 been afraid that others might fally out of Paris to 
 their afliftance, not one would have efcaped being 
 killed or t^ken. 
 
 \Vhen 
 
59 
 
 When this entcrprlfe was finifhed, they returned, 
 towards Montlhery, where the king was. They 
 carried their prifoners with them, to whom they 
 behaved very courteoufly, and ranfomed them 
 handfomely that fame evening, allowing them to 
 return to Paris, or wherever elfe they chofe, taking 
 readily their word of honour as fufficient fecurity 
 for their raniom. 
 
 The intention of the kln^ of England was to enter 
 the fertile country of Beauce, and follow the courfe 
 of the Loire all the fummer, to recruit and refrefh 
 his army in Brittany until after Auguft; and as 
 foon as the vintage was over, which from all ap- 
 pearances promifed to be abundant, he meant to 
 return again and lay fie^e to France, that is to fay 
 to Paris; for he wiflied not to return to England, 
 as he had fo publicly declared, on fctting out, his 
 determination to conquer that kingdom, and to 
 leave garrifons of thofc who were carrying on the 
 war for him in France, in Poitou, Champagne, Pon- 
 thieu, Vimeu, Valgueffin*, in Normandy, and 
 throughout the whole kingdom of France, except 
 in thofe cities and towns which had voluntarily 
 fubmitted to him. 
 
 The duke of Normandy was at this time at Paris 
 with his two brothers, their uncle the duke of Or- 
 leans and all the principal counfellors of ftate, who, 
 well aware of the courage of the king of England, 
 and how he pillaged and impoveriflied the whole 
 
 * MoR probably Vexin, Vexin Norman is bounde4 on 
 one fide by the Seii.e, 
 
 D 4 realm 
 
40 
 
 realm of Fiance, knew alfo that this fituation could 
 notlaft, for the rents both of the nobles and clergy 
 were generally unpaid. At this period, a very wife 
 and valiant man was chancellor of France, whofe 
 name was fir William * de Montagu, bifhop of 
 Therouenne : by his advice the kingdom was go- 
 verned : every part of it profited from his good and 
 loyal counfel. Attached to him were tw^o clerks of 
 great prudence; one was the abbot of Clugny, the 
 other friar Symon de Langres, principal of the pre- 
 dicant monks, and doftor in divinity. Thefe tw,o 
 clerks juft named, at the requefh and command of 
 the duke of Normandy and his brothers, the duke 
 of Orleans their uncle, and of the whole of the 
 great council, fet out from Paris with certain articles 
 of peace. Sir Hugh de Geneve, lord of Autun, 
 was alfo their companion. They went to the king 
 of England, who was overrunning Beauce, near to 
 Gallardon t. 
 
 Thefe two prelates and the knight had a parley 
 with the king of England, when they began to open 
 a treaty of peace with him and his allies. To this 
 treaty the duke of Lancafter, the prince of Wales, 
 the earl of March J, and many other barons were 
 fummoned. However, this treaty was not con- 
 
 * The prefident Renault calls him Gille Aycelin de Mon, 
 tagu, cardinal and bilhop of Therouenne, vol. 1,410, p. 263. 
 
 + Gallardon, — a town in Beauce, diocefe and ele^flion of 
 Chartres. 
 
 ^ This is a miftake, for the earl of March was killed a 
 month prior to this treaty, the 26th of February, at Rouvray 
 in Burgundy, — Barnes, 
 
 cludcdj 
 
41 
 
 eluded, though it was difcaiTcd for a long time. 
 The king of England kept advancing into the coun- 
 try, feeking for thofe parts where was the grcatefl 
 abundance. The commiffioners, like wife men, 
 never quitted the king, nor fuffered their propofals 
 to drop; for they faw the kingdom in fuch a mi- 
 ferable fituation, that the grcateft danger was to be 
 apprehended if they (liouid fuffer another furamer 
 to pafs v/ithout peace. 
 
 On the other hand, the king of England infixed 
 on fuch conditions as would have, been fo very 
 grievous and prejudicial to France, that the com- 
 miflioners, in honor, could not aiTent to them: fo 
 that their treaties and conferences lailed feventeen 
 days, the two prelates and the lord of Autun con- 
 ftantly following the king of England : this laft: 
 was much liflened to at the court of the kins. 
 
 o 
 
 They fent every day, or every other day, their trea- 
 ties and minutes to the duke of Normandy and his 
 brothers at Paris, that they might fee what ftate 
 they v/ere in, and have anfv/ers thereto; as v/ell as 
 to know in what manner they were to a6l. All 
 thefe papers were attentively examined and con- 
 fidered privately in the apartments of the duke of 
 Normandy, and then the fall intentions of the duke 
 were written down, with the opinions of his council 
 to thefe com.mifiioncrs : by which means, nothing 
 pafled on either fide without being fully fpecificd 
 and examined moft cautioufly. Thefe aforefaid 
 Frenchmen were in the king's apartments, or in 
 his lodgings, as it happened, in the different places 
 he halted at, as well on his march towards Chartres 
 
 as 
 
4« 
 
 as otherwife; and they made great offers, to bring . 
 
 the war to a conchifion; but the king was very 
 
 hard to treat with : for his intention was, to be in 
 
 fa6t king of France, although he had never been 
 
 fo, to die with that rank, and alfo to put Brittan}', 
 
 Blois and Touraine in the fame fituation as thofc 
 
 other provinces where he had garrifons. If his 
 
 coufm the dukeof Lancafler, whom he much loved 
 
 and confided in, had not perfuaded him to give up 
 
 fueh idea?, and advifed him to liften to the offers of 
 
 peace, he never would have come to any terms. 
 
 He very wifely remonllrated with him, and faid; 
 
 ' My lord, this war which you are carrying on in 
 
 the kingdom of France is wonderful to all men, 
 
 and not too favorable to you. Your people are the 
 
 only real gainers by it; for you are wafting your 
 
 time. Confidering every thing, if you perfifl in 
 
 continuing tlie war, it may laft you your life; and it 
 
 appears to me doubtful if you will ever fucceed to 
 
 the extent of your wiflies. I would recommend 
 
 therefore, whilfl you have the power of clofing it 
 
 honorably, to accept the propofals which have been 
 
 offered to you; for, my lord, we may lofe more in 
 
 one day than we have gained in twenty years.* 
 
 Thefe prudent and fcnfible words, which the 
 duke of Lancaflcr uttered loyally, and with the befl 
 intentions, to advife the king of England to his 
 good, converted the king to his opinion, through 
 the griic^ of the Holy Spirit, who alfo worked to 
 the fame effeft : for an accident befcl him and all 
 his army, who were then before Chartrcs, that 
 much humbled him, and bent his courage. 
 
 During 
 
43 
 
 During the time that the French commi (Boners 
 were pafling backwards and forwards from the king 
 to his cotincil, and unable to obtain any favourable 
 anfwer to their offers, there happened fuch a ftorm 
 and violent temped of thunder and hail, which fell 
 on the Englifh army, that it fccmed as if the world 
 was come to an end. The hailftones were fo large 
 as to kill men and beails, and the buldeft were 
 frightened. 
 
 The king turned himfjlf towards the church of 
 Our Lady at Chartrcs, and religioufly vov/ed to the 
 virgin, as he has fmce confehed, that he would 
 accept of terms of peace. He was at this time 
 lodged in a fmall village, near Charires, called 
 Bretigny; and there were then committed to 
 writing, certain rules and ordinances for peace, 
 upon which the following articles were drawn out. 
 To follow up this, and more completely to treat of 
 It, the counfellors and lawyers of the king of Eng- 
 land drew up a paper called the Charter of Peace, 
 with great deliberation and much prudence, the 
 tenor of which follows. 
 
 CHAP. CCX. 
 
 TFIE FORM AND TENOR OF THE .PAPER DRAWN 
 UP AS ARTICLES OF THE PEACE, WHICH WAS 
 CONCLUDED BEFORE CHARTRES, BETWEEN THE 
 KINGS OF FRANCE AND ENGLAND. 
 
 l^OWARD, by the giacc of God, king of Eng- 
 land, lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine, to all to 
 whom thcfe prefents Ihali come, greeting. As, in 
 
 confe- 
 
tonfcquence of the difTcnfions, variance, dilcord and 
 ftrife, that have arifeii, or that might have been ex- 
 peeled to arifc between us and our very dear brother 
 die king of France, certain commifTionersand procu- 
 rators from us and from our dear fon, Edward prince 
 of Wales, having fufficient power and authority 
 for us, for him and for our kingdom on the one 
 part, and certain other commiflioners and procura- 
 tors from our faid brother, and from our very dear 
 iiephew Charles duke of Normandy and dauphin of 
 Vienne, ejdeii fon to the aforefaid king of France, 
 having, power and authority from his father, in this 
 inilancc, for his father and for himfelf on the other 
 part, have been affemuled at Bretigny, near Char- 
 tres; in which place the above-mentioned diflen- 
 fions, variances and ftrife were di feu {fed, debated, 
 and finally clofed; and the commifiioners from us 
 and from our fon, for us and for him, and the com- 
 miflioners from our aforefaid brother and nephew, 
 for his father and for himfelf, did fwear upon the 
 holy Evangelifls, to preferve, keep and fulfil the 
 aforefaid treaty, as we have alfo fwcrn and wili 
 fwear to whatever is faid or concluded in the above 
 treaty. 
 
 And in this treaty, among other articles, our 
 brother of France and his fon aforefaid, are held 
 and have promifed to give up and furrendcr to us, 
 our heirs and fiicceflbrs for ever, the counties, cities, 
 towns, caftlcs, fortreffcs, lands, i Hands, rents and 
 revenues, and other things which follow, with all 
 that we now are in poffefnon of in Guienne and 
 Gafcony, to hold for ever by us, our heirs and 
 fuccelTors, in the fame manner that the kings of 
 
 France 
 
45 
 
 France have always held them; that which is in 
 demefnein demefne, and that which is in fief in fief, 
 m Inch manner as will be hereafter explained; that 
 is to fay, the city, caflle and county of Poitiers, with 
 all the lands and country of Poitou, together with 
 the fief of Thouars * and the lands of Belleville t : 
 the town and caflle of Saintes, and all the lands and 
 territory of the county of Saintonge on each fide the 
 river Charente, with the town and fortrefs of la 
 Rochelle, their appurtenances and appendages : the 
 city and calUe of Agen, and thecountry of Agenois: 
 the city, town, caflle, and all the lands of Perigord, 
 with the whole country of Perigueux : the city and 
 caflle of I,imoi);es and countrv of Limoufm : the 
 city and catlle of Cahors and country of Cahorfin: 
 the city, cailte rind country of Tarbes; the territory 
 of the country of Bigorre : the country and lands 
 of Gaure : the city and caflle of Angouleme, with 
 ail the country of Angoumois : the city and caflle 
 of Rodais, and the county and country of Rou- 
 ergue: and if there fliould be any lords in the 
 dui.hy of Guicnne (fuch as the count de Foix, the 
 count d'Armagnac, the count de I'lOe, the vifcount 
 de Carmain, the count de Perigord, the vifcount de 
 Limoges or others,) that hold any lands within the 
 boundaries of the above-mentioned places, they 
 fhall be bounden to do us homage, and all other 
 
 * Thouars, — an ancient city on a hill, and on the river 
 Thoiie, fixtecn leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 i Belleville. There are two villages in Poitou of this 
 tiame, — one near Niort, the other near les Sables d'Olonne, 
 
 fervices 
 
46 
 
 fervices and duties due on account of their lands 
 and places in the fame manner as they formerly 
 have performed them ; and we (hall re-enter upon 
 all that we, or any other kings of England have 
 pofTefled, as well as upon thefe places whence we 
 formerly had received nothing. 
 
 The vifcounty of Montrcuil fur mer has been 
 alfo promifcd to be given up to us in the fame 
 manner as in former times, and all whatfoever we or 
 any other king of England polTeffed there : and 
 whereas there have arifen difputes relative to the 
 divifion of this territory, our brother of France has 
 promifed, that he will declare it to be ours as 
 fpeedily as pofTiblc after his return to France. 
 
 Item, it is alfo promifed diat the county of Pon- 
 ihieu Ihall be delivered over to us entire, fave and 
 except thatif any part of it fliould have been alienated 
 by the kings of England who reigned before us, 
 and were formerly polfeffors of it and its appurte- 
 nances, to others than the kings of France, neither 
 our aforefaid brother, nor his fucccffors, fhall be 
 bounden to furrender them: and if the faid aliena- 
 tions have been made to any former kings of France, 
 immediately^ without paffing through a third per- 
 fon, and our aforefaid brother be in poffeflTion of 
 them, he fliall render them wholly up to us; ex- 
 cepting that if the kings of France have had them 
 from us in exchange for other lands, we will de- 
 liver up fuch lands fo exchanged : but if any of the 
 kings of England at former times fhould have alien- 
 ated or difpofed of any parts to others than to the 
 lungs of France, and it fliould afterwards have come 
 
 into 
 
47 
 
 into the hands of our aforefaid brother, he fliall not 
 be obliged to furrender them : and if the parts 
 aforefaid owe homage to us, or our fucccffors, he 
 fhall grant them to others, who will pay us that 
 homage; but, if they do not owe homage, he fhall 
 then give them to a tenant that fhall do us fuitand 
 fervice, within the year enfuing upon our departure 
 from Calais. 
 
 Item, the caflle and town of Calais : the caftle, 
 town and lordfhip of Merle ; the towns, calllcs and 
 lordihips of Sangate, Couloigne, liam, Wallesand 
 Oye, with the lands, woods, marflies, rivers, rents, 
 lordfiiips, advowfons of churches, and all other ap- 
 purtenances and places lying within the limits and 
 bounds following ; that is to fay, from Calais to the 
 courfe of the river before Gravelincs, and alfo by 
 the courfe of the river which falls into the great lake 
 of G nines, as far as Fretun, and from thence b\ the 
 valley round the mountain of Chalk, inclohngthat 
 mountain, and as far as the fea, including Sangate 
 and all its appurtenances. 
 
 Item, the king of England fliall alfo poffefs the 
 caftle, town, and the whole county of Guines, with 
 all its calllcs, towns, fortrefles, woods, lands, men, 
 homages, lordfhips, {'orefls, rights, as completely as 
 the la(t count of Guines, lately deceafed, held it 
 during his life : and the churches and good men, 
 being within the boundaries of the laid county and 
 other places above mentioned, fhall obey him ifi 
 the fame manner as they did our aforefaid brother, 
 the count of (? nines, for that time. All thefe things 
 comprehended in the prcfent article, and in the pre- 
 ceding 
 
4« 
 
 teding one of Merle and Calais, ve fhall hold in 
 demefne, excepting the inheritances and pofTeffions 
 of the churches, which fhall remain wholly to the 
 iaid churches wherever they may be fituated ; and 
 alfo except the inheritances of the otlier people of 
 the countries of Merle and Calais, as far as the value 
 of one hundred pounds a-yearin land, according to 
 the current coin of the country ; which inheritances 
 ihall remain to them of the abovefaid value and un- 
 der ; but the habitations and inheritances in the 
 town of Calais, and their appurtenances, fhall re- 
 main in demefne to us, for us to order and do as we 
 pleafe with them : and alfo all the pofTefTions of the 
 houfeholdcrs and inhabitants of the county and town 
 of Guines fhall remain to them, and fhall be re- 
 ftored fully, fave ar.d except what is faid and de- 
 clared relative to the bounds and frontiers above 
 mentioned, in the article of Calais. 
 
 Item, the king of England Oiall have poffeflion of 
 all iflands adjoining to the lands or places above 
 mentioned, tOLTCihcr with all other iflands he was 
 pofTefTed of at the time of this treaty. 
 
 And it has alfo been difcuffed, that our aforefaid 
 brother and his ckkll fon fliould renounce all right, 
 and f'overcignty which they may have over the 
 above mentioned places, and that we fhould poffefs 
 them as a neiglibour, without any vaiTalage or de^ 
 pendance on our faid brother, or on the kingdom of 
 France; and that our brother aforefaid fhall 
 give up to us in perpetuitv all right and dominion 
 which he may have over the places before men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Aid 
 
49 
 
 And it has alfo been difcuflcd, that in like man- 
 fter we and our faid Ton fiiall exprefsly renounce all 
 thofe things that are not to be given up and far- 
 rendered to us by the faid treaty, more efpecially the 
 name of king of France, and all right and title to 
 that kingdom, and to the homage, fovereignty and 
 domain of the duchy of Normandy, the couniy of 
 Touraine, and the counties of Anjou and Maine; 
 and to the fovereignty and homage of the county 
 of Flanders ; and to the fovereignty and homage of 
 the duchy of Brittany (excepting the right of the 
 count de Montfort, and what claim he may have on 
 that duchy and country of Brittany, which we rc- 
 ferve, and by exprefs words put out of our treaty; 
 faving, however, that when we and our aforefaid 
 brother fliall come to Calais, we will fo manage the 
 bufinefs, by the advice of able counfellors and other 
 deputies, that we will eftabli/lj peace and concord 
 between the count de Montfort and our coufm fir 
 Charles de Blois, who claims and challenges the in- 
 heritance of Brittany): and we renounce whatever 
 claims we made, or may have made, of any fort 
 whatever, except thofe things above mentioned 
 which are to be given to us and our heirs; and we 
 give up and ceafe from making any claims on all 
 other things, but thofe which are to be yielded to us. 
 
 Upon this fubjetl, after many altercations had 
 taken place, ending in a mutual agreement that 
 thefe renunciations, tranfportations, cefTions and 
 aforefaid furrenderings fhould be made as foon as 
 our faid brother fhall have given up to us, or to our 
 people efpecially deputed for that purpofe, the city 
 
 Vol. III. E and 
 
50 
 
 and caflle of Poitiers, with all the territory of Poltoii, 
 toocthcr with the fief of Thouars and of Belleville ; 
 the city and caftle of Agen, with all the territory 
 of the Agenois; the city and caftle of Perigord, 
 with the territory of Perigueux; the city and caftle 
 of Cahors, with the territory of Cahorfin ; the city 
 and caftle of Rodais,with the territory of Roiiergue j 
 the city and caflle of Saintes, with the territory of 
 Saiutonge; the city and caflle of Limoges, with all 
 the territory of Limoufin; and that which we or 
 other kings of England have held in the town of 
 Montreuil fur mer, with its appurtenances. Item, 
 the whole county of Ponthieu, fave and except the 
 contents of the article contained in the fa id treaty 
 which makes mention of the faid county. Item, the 
 caflle and town of Calais ; the caflle, town and lord- 
 fhip of Sangate, Colloigne, Ham, Walles, Oye, 
 with the lands, rivers, marfhcs, rents, woods, lord- 
 fhips and other things mentioned in the article rc- 
 fpetliag them. Item, the caflle, town and entire 
 county of G nines, with all tfie lands, caflles, towns, 
 fortrcffes, places, men, homages, woods, lordfliips, 
 forefts and rights, according to the tenor of the 
 article^ which in the treaty makes fuller mention of 
 them, and with the iflands adjacent to the faid lands, 
 countries and places before mentioned, together 
 with thofe other iflands which we are now in the 
 poffefTion of (that is to fay, at the date of this article 
 and of the peace). We, and our brother the king 
 of France, have promifed by faith and oath to each 
 other to preferve and keep this treaty and maintain 
 the peace, and to do nothing againfl it; and we are 
 
 boundenj 
 
51 
 
 bounden, us and our faid brother the king of France, 
 and our eldcft fons before mentioned, by obligation 
 and promife and by faith and oath to each other 
 pledged, to make certain renunciations one to the 
 other according to the form and tenor of the afore- 
 faid article of peace. 
 
 Item, It is agreed, that the king of France and 
 his eldeft fon the regent, for them and for their heirs 
 for ever, fliall as foon as poffible, and without any 
 double dealing, at the lateft within the feaft of St. 
 Michael next enfuing, deliver up and give to the 
 king of England, his heirs and fucceffors, and con- 
 vey to them the honors, royalties, fervices, homages, 
 allegiances, vaffalages, fiefs, obediences, acknow^- 
 ledgments, oaths, rights, feizures, and all manner 
 of jurifdiftions, both criminal and civil, appeals, 
 fecurities, lordlhips and ibvereignties which apper- 
 tained, now appertain, or may hereafter appetain 
 to the kings or to the crown of France, or to any 
 other perfon on account of the king or for the 
 aforefaid crown of France, in whatever time it may 
 -have been, in the cities, towns, caftlcs, fortreffes, 
 iflands, countries and places before named, or in 
 any one of them, their appurtenances and appen- 
 dages, wherever they may be, whether held by 
 princes, dukes, counts, vifcounts, archbifhops, bi- 
 fliops, abbots or other prelates of the church, 
 barons, knights, nobles or others whorafoever, 
 without referve to themfelves, their heirs and fuc- 
 ceffors, or to the crown of France, or to any other 
 perfon whatever : nor fhall they challenge or efe- 
 mandj at any future period, any thing of the above 
 
 E 2 from 
 
52 
 
 from the king of England, his heirs or fucceflbrs, 
 or from any one of his vafTals or fubjeQs aforefaid, 
 in any one of the places or countries before men- 
 tioned, in behalf of the king or crown of France. 
 Thus, therefore, all the before named perfons, and 
 their heirs and fucceffors, fliall be liege men and 
 fubjefts of the king of England, his heirs and fuc- 
 ceffors for ever; and they ftiall hold and keep all 
 perfons, cities, counties, lands, iflands, caftles and 
 placesbefore mentioned, with all their appurtenances 
 and appendages, and fliall remain fully and peace- 
 ably for ever in their lordfliip, fovereignty, obe- 
 dience, loyalty and fubjctlion, as the preceding 
 kings of France had and kept them in former 
 times : and the aforefaid king of England, his heirs 
 and fucceffors, fliall and will maintain, peaceably 
 and perpetually, all the countries before named in 
 full freedom and liberty for ever, as fovereign and 
 liege lord, and neighbour to the king of France 
 and faid kingdom of France, without acknowledging 
 any fovereignty or paying any obedience, homage, 
 jurifdiftion or fubjection, and in time to come with- 
 out doing any fervice or acknowledgment to the 
 king or crown of France for the cities, counties, 
 caflles, lands, territories, iflands, places and perfons 
 before named, or for any one of them. 
 
 Item, it is agreed, that the king of France and 
 his eldefl: fon fliall exprefsly renounce the faid 
 jurifdi6tions and fovereignties, and all thofe things 
 which by this prefent treaty ought to belong to the 
 king of England: and in like manner, the king of 
 England and his eldefl: fon fliall renounce- all thofe 
 
 things 
 
53 
 
 things which by this prefent treaty are not to be 
 granted to the king of England, and all thofe claims 
 he made on the king of France, and particularly the 
 title, right and arms, and the challenge he made of 
 the crown and kingdom of France; the homage, 
 fovereignty and domain of the duchy of Normandy? 
 cf the county of Touraine, the counties of Anjou 
 and Maine, and the fovereignty and homage of the 
 county and territory of Flanders, and all other 
 claims which the king of England made at the time 
 of the aforefaid challenge, and might make in times 
 to come upon the faid realm of France, through 
 any reafon whatever, except thofe things which by 
 the prefent treaty are granted to the king of Eng- 
 land and his heirs : and they will convey, furrender 
 and yield, one king to the other, in perpetuity, all 
 the right which each has or may have on all thofe 
 things and places which by the prefent treaty are to 
 remain or to be granted to each of them; and with 
 regard to the time and place when thefe renunci- 
 ations are to be made, the two kings will confult 
 each other, and order it when they flaall be at Calais 
 together. 
 
 And becaufe alfo our faid brother of France and 
 his eldefl fon, in order to maintain and keep the 
 faid articles of peace and agreement aforefaid, have 
 exprefsly renounced the jurifdiclions and fovereign- 
 ties comprifed in the faid articles to all rights which 
 they had or might have had on all the above men- 
 tioned things v>hich our faid brother has granted, de- 
 livered and abandoned to us, and in thofe other things 
 which henceforward ought to appertain and belong 
 
 E 3 tQ 
 
54 
 
 to us by the faid treaty of peace. We, among thefe 
 faid things, renounce exprefsly all thofe which are 
 not to be granted to us, for ourfelves and our heirs, 
 and all thofe claims which we made or might make 
 on our faid brother of France, and efpecic.lly to the 
 title and right to the crown of France and the 
 fovereignty of that kingdom; and to ihe homage, 
 fovereignty and domain of the duchy of Normandy, 
 the counties of Anjou, Maine and Touraine ; and to 
 the fovereignty and homage of the county and 
 territory of Flanders ; and all other claims which we 
 made, or might have made, on our faid brother, for 
 •whatever caufe there might be, fave c nd except that 
 which by this prefent treaty is to remain to us and 
 our heirs : and we yield, abandon and give up to 
 him, and he to us, mutually to each other, in the 
 fecureft way we can, all the rights which each of us 
 may have, or may have had in all thofe things, which 
 by the faid treaty are to be refpe6tively granted to 
 each of us; referving to the churches and to 
 churchmen that which appertains or may appertain 
 to them ; and all that which has been occupied or 
 detained of their property, on account of the wars, 
 fhall be made good and reftored to them. The 
 towns, fortrefles,and all dwellings of the inhabitants, 
 fhall retain and enjoy fuch liberties and franchifes as 
 before they came into our hands ; and, if required, 
 they fliall be confirmed by our faid brother of 
 France, if not contrary to what has been already 
 agreed on. 
 
 And with regard to ourfelves, we fubmit all things 
 
 belonging to us, our heirs and fuccefTors, to the 
 
 1 jurif 
 
55 
 
 jurifditlion and coercion of the church of Rome, and 
 are willing and defirous that our holy father the 
 pope fhould confirm all thcfe things by given mo- 
 nitions and gentle mandates for the accomplifhment 
 of them againfi; ourfelves, our heirs and fucceObrs, 
 our commonalty, colleges, u.iiverfities, or any par- 
 ticular perfons whatfoevcr, and by giving general 
 fentences of excommunication, fufpenhon or inter- 
 di6l, which we may incur by ourfelves or by them, 
 by this aft, when we fliall, either by ourfelves or 
 others, infringe the peace, by taking or occupying 
 any town or caflle, city or fortrefs, or in any thing 
 elfe, by giving advice, aid or afliftance, public or 
 private, againft the faid peace : from which fentences 
 they cannot be abfolved until they fliall have made 
 full fatisfa6tion to all thofe who by this att fhould 
 have fuflained or might fulfain anv damage. And 
 with this wc dcfue and confent, that by our holy 
 father the pope (in order that the faid may more 
 firmly b,e kept, maintained and obfcrvcd for ever) 
 all the agreements, confederations, alliances and 
 conventions, under whatever name they may be, 
 in cafe they become prejudicial or inimical to the 
 faid peace in the prefent moment or hereafter (fup- 
 pofing they were clofed under penalties and by 
 oaths, and confirmed by our holy father the pope 
 or others), fi^otild be broken and annulled as con- 
 trary to the public welfare, to the good of the peace, 
 unprofitable to all Chriftendoni and difpleafing to 
 God : and that all oaths, in fuch a cafe made, fliall 
 be reported to our holy father the pope, that it may 
 be decreed by him that no one (houUi be boundeu 
 
 E 4 to 
 
56 
 
 to keep fiich oaths or conventions ; and if, in fact, 
 any one auempted to aft contrarv, they fhall from 
 this moment be broken and annulle i, and of no 
 weight: neverthcleis we fliall punifli fuch by cor- 
 poral punilliment and confifcations, as violators of 
 the peace, if the cafe fliould require it, or it fhould 
 appear reafonable : and if we fhould encourage or 
 fulTcr any thing to be done huiiful to the peace 
 (which God forbid), we are willing to be counted 
 as liars aud difloval, and alfo to fuffer in this cafe 
 fuch blame and difrepute, as a faced king ought to 
 undergo for fuch condu6l : and we fwear upon the 
 body of |i:sus Christ to conclude, maintain and 
 keep the aforefaid treaty, and neither by ourfelves 
 nor others to depart from it for any caufc or reafon 
 whatfoever. And in order that thefe premifes may 
 be concluded and maintained, we bind ourfelves, 
 our heirs, our property, and the property of our 
 heirs, over to our faid brother the king of France, 
 and to his heirs, and fwear by the holy Evangeliits, 
 bodily touched by us, that we will complete, con- 
 clude and prefer ve (according to the articles afore- 
 faid) all the preceding conditions by us promifed 
 and agreed to, as is before mentioned. And we 
 will, that in cafe our brother, or his deputies at the 
 place and time, and in the manner befo e flated, do 
 his duty, that from that time our prefent letters, 
 and whatever is comprehended m them, IJiould 
 have as much force, efFeft and vigour as any of our 
 other letters fhall have that have been promifed and 
 granted by us, as has been already faid ; faving, 
 however, and referving for us, our heirs and fuc- 
 
 ceflbrsj 
 
57 
 
 GefTors, that the letters above incorporated fliall have 
 no effcft, nor be of any prejudice or damage until 
 pur fa'id brother and nephew fliall have performed, 
 fent and ^iven the above renunciations in the man- 
 ner before fpecified; and therefore they fliall not 
 avail themfelves of them againft us, our heirs and 
 fucceflTors, in any manner but in the cafe above 
 mentioned. 
 
 In tefl:imony of which, we have caufed our feal 
 to be put to thefe prefent letters, given at Calais 
 this twentieth day of Otlober, in the year of grace 
 and of -our Lord one thoufand three hundred and 
 fixty. 
 
 When this private charter (which is called letter 
 of renunciation, as well from one king as the other) 
 was written, engroffed and fealed, it was read and 
 pubiifhed generally in the council chamber, when 
 the two above named kings were prefent with their 
 counfeilors. It c'ppeared to each to be handfome, 
 good, weii dictctea and well ordered; and then 
 again the two faid kings and their two faid eldefl 
 fons, fwore upon the holy Evangeliils, bodily 
 touched by them, and upon the facred body of 
 Jesus Christ, to conclude, keep and maintain, 
 and not to infringe any of the articles included in it. 
 
 Afterwards, by the advice and deliberation of the 
 king of France and his council, and towards the 
 end of the conference, the king of England was 
 requefted to make out and give a general commiflion 
 to all thofe who for the time, and under fliadow of 
 the war, held towns, caltles and fons in the king- 
 dom of France, that they may have knowledge of 
 
 what 
 
58 
 
 what had pafTed, with orders to give them up and 
 quit them. The king of England, who was fin- 
 cerely defirous of maintaining a good underftanding 
 and peace between himfelf and the king of France 
 his brother, as he had before fworn and promifed, 
 readily acceded to this requeft, which he thought 
 reafonable. He ordered his people to make it out 
 in the cleareft manner they could, to the fatisfaftion 
 of the king of France and his council. The mofl; able 
 of the counfellors of the two kings aforefaid united, 
 and then was drawn up, written and engroffed by 
 the advice of each other, acommiffion, the tenor of 
 which is underneath. 
 
 Edward, by the grace of God, king of England, 
 lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine, to all our captains, 
 governors of towns and caftles, adherents and allies, 
 being in parts of France, as well in Picardy, in 
 Burgundy, in Anjou, in Berry, in Normandy, in 
 Brittany, in Auvergne, in Champagne, or Maine, 
 in Touraine, and within the boundaries and limits 
 of France, greeting. As peace and concord is now 
 ellablifhed between us, our allies and adherents on 
 the one part, and our dear brother the king of 
 France, his allies and adherents on the other part, 
 in regard to all quarrels or difcords which we may 
 have had in times paft; and having fworn upon the 
 body of Jesus Christ, as well our dear eldeft fon 
 and others our children, and thofe of our blood, as 
 likewife many prelates, barons and knights, and the 
 principal men of our kingdom ; and alfo our faid 
 brother, and our nephew the duke of Normandy, 
 and our other nephews his children, with many 
 
 barons. 
 
S9 
 
 barons, knights and prelates of the faid kingdom of 
 France, to maintain and firmly keep the peace : and 
 as it may fall out or happen that fome warriors from 
 our kingdom, or other of our fubjefts, may endea- 
 vour to do or undertake things contrary to the faid 
 peace by taking or detaining forts, towns, cities and 
 caftles, or in pillaging and arrefting perfons, and 
 taking from them their goods, mcrchandife or other 
 things, afting againit the faid peace (the which will 
 highly difpleafe us, and we cannot nor will not 
 fuffer it, nor pafs it over under any fort of didbm- 
 bling). We, willing to remedy thefe aforefaid things 
 with all our power, wifh, defire and ordain, by the 
 deliberation of our council, that none of our fub- 
 je6ts or allies, whatever their flate or condition mav 
 be, do, or endeavour to do, any thing contrary to 
 the faid peace, by pillaging, taking or detaining 
 forts, perfons or goods of any fort in the kingdom 
 of France, or belonging to our faid brother, his 
 fubjeds, allies or adherents whomfoever. And in 
 cafe there fhould be found any one that acts contrary 
 to this faid peace, and who docs not ceafc from fo 
 doing, nor renders back the damages he may have 
 committed within the fpace of one month from the 
 lime he fhall be required fo to do by any of our 
 officers, ferjeants or public perfons, for this act 
 alone, without other fuit or condemnation, he fliall 
 be reputed banifhed from our realm and from our 
 protedion, as well as from the kingdom and tciri- 
 torics of our faid brother; all his goods confifcatcd 
 and fubje6led to our governance ; and if he fliould 
 be found in cur kingdom, we command and ex- 
 
 prefsly 
 
66 
 
 prefsly will, that punifiiment fhould be inflicled on 
 him, as a rebel and traitor to us according to the 
 cuftomary punifhment for leze majefte, without any 
 pardon, grace or remiffion : and we will that the 
 fame be done to our fubjefts, of whatever condition 
 thev may be, who, in our kingdom on either fide 
 of the fea, fhall feize, occupy or detain any forts 
 whatever contrary to the will of thofe to whom they 
 belong ; or who fhall burn or ranfom towns or per- 
 fons, and fhall pillage or be guilty of robberies, or 
 who fhall flir up wars within our realm againfl our 
 fubjeds. 
 
 We therefore order, command and exprcfsly en- 
 join all our fenefchals, bailiffs, provofls, captains of 
 cafiles or others our officers, under pain of incurring 
 our high difpleafure, and of lofing their offices, that 
 they proclaim, or caufe to be proclaimed, thefe 
 prefents in the moff public places of their diftrifts, 
 bailiwicks, provoftfhips and cafflewicks; and that no 
 one, after having feen and heard this proclamation, 
 remain in any fort which belongs to the kingdom of 
 France, except according to the tenor of the treaty 
 of peace, under pain of being conhdered as an 
 enemy to us and to our aforefaid brother the king 
 of France ; and that they, in all the aforefaid points, 
 conform to, preferve and make to be flrictly ob- 
 fervedin every particular. And be it known to all, 
 that if they fail, or are negligent, in addition to the 
 punifhment aforefaid, we will make them pay the 
 lofles to all thofe who through their fault or negle6l 
 may have been aggrieved, or fuffered any lofs ; and 
 with this we will punifh them in fuch a, manner 
 
 that 
 
6] 
 
 th'dt they fliall be an example to all others : in 
 teftimony whereof, we have had thefe letters patent 
 drawn up, given at Calais the 24th day of Octo- 
 ber, in the year of grace and of our Lord 1360. 
 
 CHAP. CCXI. 
 
 THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE TWO KINGS OF FRANCE 
 AND ENGLAND, WHEN AT CALAIS, RESPECTING 
 THE DUCHY OF BRITTANY AND SOME LANDS OF 
 
 THE LATE GODFREY DE HARCOURT. KING JOHN 
 
 SETS OUT FROM CALAIS AND RETURNS HOME IN 
 FREEDOM. 
 
 VyHEN all thefe letters had been drawn up, and 
 the different commiffions delivered, which 
 were mutually done by the advice and to the fatif- 
 faftion of each other, there was fome convcrfation 
 refpefting fir Charles de Blois and fir John de 
 Montfort, and the ftate of Brittany, for each of 
 them claimed it as their right of inheritance : and 
 though there was a conference holden, how thefe 
 matters could be fettled, nothing was definitively 
 done; for, as I have fince been informed, the 
 king of England and his party had no great de- 
 fire of agreeing to it. 
 
 They prefumed, that henceforward all men at 
 arms attached to them would be obliged to furrcn- 
 der every fort and ftrong place which they at pre- 
 fent held and poffeffed in the kingdom of France, 
 and that they would retire to whatever parts they 
 chofe :. it was therefore much better, and more 
 
 pro- 
 
62 
 
 profitable that thcfc warriors and pillagers fhould 
 retire into the duchy of Brittany, which is one of 
 the richcfl: and heft foraging countries in the world, 
 than that they fhould come to England, which 
 might be pillaged and robbed by them. 
 
 This confideration made theEnglifh fliortly break 
 UD the conference refpefting Brittany. It was a 
 pity, and ill done that it fo happened; for, if the 
 two kings had been in earneft, peace would have 
 been eftabliflied, by the advice of their connfellors, 
 between the parties, and each would have held 
 what fhould have been given him. Sir Charles 
 de Elois would have recovered his children, who 
 w^ere prifoners in England, and probably have 
 lived longer than he did. As nothing was 
 done at this conference, the wars in Normandy 
 were more bitterly carried on than before the peace 
 we have juft fpoken of (as you will hear in the 
 continuance of this hiftory), and even between the 
 knights and barons of Brittany who had fupported 
 different intercfts. 
 
 The duke of Lancafter (who was a valiant and 
 difcrcet knight, full of devices, and who too flrongly 
 loved the count de Montfoit and his advancement) 
 then addreffed himfelf to the king of France, in the 
 prcft-nce of the king of England and the greater 
 part of the counfellors; ' Sire, the truces of Brit- 
 tany, which were made and agreed to before Ren- 
 nes, will not expire before the firfl of the enfuing 
 month of May : then, or within that time, the king 
 our Lord will fend, by the advice of his council, 
 peiTons from him, and from his fon-in-law the young 
 
 duke. 
 
6s 
 
 duke, fir John de Montfort, to you in France, and 
 they fhallhave power and authority to explain and 
 declare thofe rights the faid fir John claims from the 
 inheritance of his father in the duchy of Brittany, 
 and accept them in fuch manner as you, your coun- 
 fellors and ours affembled together, fhall ordain : 
 for greater fafcty, it is proper the truces fhould be 
 prolonged until the feaft of St. John the Baptift 
 next enfuing.' All this was agreed to, as the duke 
 of Lancafter had propofed, and then the lords con- 
 verfed on different matters. 
 
 King John, who had a great defire to return to 
 France (as was natural), teftified moft heartily to 
 the king of England every proof of that affe6lion 
 which he had for him and for his nephew the prince 
 of Wales: the king of England made an equal re- 
 turn : and, for a ftronger confirmation of their 
 friendfliip, the two kings (who by the articles called 
 each other Brother), gave to four knights of each 
 party eight thoufand francs, French money of re- 
 venue; that is to fay, two thoufand to each. 
 
 And becaufe the lands of St. Sauveur le Vicomte, 
 in Coutantin, came to the king^ of England from fir 
 Godfrey de Harcourt by the fale the faid fir God- 
 frey had made of them to the king, as has been be- 
 fore related in this hiftory, and that the faid lands 
 were not included in the articles of peace, it was 
 neceflary fur thofe who fhould hold the faid lands 
 to do homage and (ervice to the king of France : 
 the king of England, therefore, had referved and 
 given it to fir John Chandos, who had done him and 
 his children many notable fervices; and the king 
 of France, through his great affection and love, 
 
 con- 
 
6i 
 
 firmed and fcaled it, at the in treaty of the king 
 of England, to the faid fir John Chandos, as his 
 right and lawTuI inheritance. It is a very faireftate, 
 and worth lull fixteen hundred francs of yearly rent. 
 
 In addition to thefc things, many other letters 
 and alliances were made, of which I cannot relate 
 the particulars; for, during the fifteen days or 
 thereabouts, thot the two kings, their children 
 and their counfellors, were at Calais, there were 
 every day conferences, and new ordinances made, 
 flrengthening and confirming the peace; and, 
 moreover, other deeds were drawn up, without 
 annulling or changing the former ones ; and they 
 were all made to one date, as more fure and cer- 
 tain, of which I have feen copies in the chanceries 
 of the two kings. 
 
 When everv thing relative to the peace had been 
 fo concluded and iettled, that no one could think 
 of any means to fhrengthen or amend it, and that 
 nothing could be devifed to add to the flrong al- 
 liance between the two kings and their children, 
 which bound them, and by which they had fworn 
 to maintain the peace from being infringed, which 
 was indeed kept, as you will hereafter fee in read- 
 ing this book ; and that thofe who were to be the 
 hoflages for the redemption of the king of France 
 were arrived at Calais, whom the king of England 
 had fw orn to guard in peace in England, until the 
 fix hundred thoufand francs * were paid to the 
 
 depu- 
 
 * This feems a millake ; for in the fourteenth article of 
 the peace of Bretigny in 1360, in Rymcr, particular men, 
 
 tion 
 
deputies of the king of England, that king gave to 
 the kinff of France a moil magnificent and ffrand 
 flipper in the caflle of Calais; it was well arranged : 
 and the children of the king, and the duke of Lan« 
 carter with the greateft barons of England waited 
 bare headed. 
 
 After this fupper, the two noble kings took final 
 leave of each other in a mod gracious and affectionate 
 manner, and the king of France returned to his hotel. 
 
 On the morrow, v/hich was the vigil of St. Si- 
 mon and St. Jude, the king of France fet out from 
 Calais, with all thofe of his party who were to ac- 
 com.pany him*. The king of France went on foot, 
 
 tion is made of the value of the crown, two of which fhall be 
 worth an Snglrfli noble. 
 
 14th article, — ' It is agreed that the king of France fliall 
 pay to the king of Eng-I.ind three millions of cronjjni of gold , 
 tivoofivhichjhall be of the value of an Enghjhnohle, 
 
 * And there fhall be paid to the faid king of England, or his 
 deputies, fix hundred thoufand crowns at Calais, in fourteenthis 
 from the time the king of \ ranee fhall be at Calais. 
 
 * And within the next year enfuing, there fhall be paid 
 four hundred thoufand crowns of the above value, id the city 
 of London. 
 
 * And from tlienceforward^ every following year, four 
 hundred thoufand crowns, like to the above, fhall be paid in 
 the faid city, until fuch time as the aforefaid three millioTis 
 fhall be paid.' 
 
 According to Corgrave, a ncble in his time was worth fif. 
 teen fliillings. 
 
 * FroilTart feems to have bren miftaken as to the day king 
 John left Calais, when he fays ifwas the eve of St. Simon and 
 St. Jude, the 27 th Odober ; for in an ancient ftate of Brittany, 
 by Nicholas Vignier, page 3S3, there is a letter from king 
 John, dated Boulogne fur mer, Odober 26, 1360. 
 
 Vol, III. F in 
 
66 
 
 in pilgrimage to Cur Lady of Boulogne. The 
 prince of Wales and his two brothers, Lionel and 
 Edmund, accompanied him; and in this manner 
 they arrived, before dinner, at Boulogne, where 
 they were received with great joy. The duke of 
 Normandy was there waiting for them, when all 
 thefe aforefaid lords went on foot to the church of 
 our Lady of Boulogne, where they made their 
 offerings mofl devoutly, and afterwards returned 
 to the abbey at Boulogne, which had been prepared 
 for the reception of the king of France and the 
 princes of England. 
 
 They remained there that day, and on the fol- 
 lowing night returned to the king their father. 
 
 All thefe lords croffed the fea together, with the 
 hoftages from France : it was the vigil of All- 
 Saints, in the year 1360. 
 
 It is proper that I fhould name the nobles of 
 France who went to England as hoftages for the 
 king of France. Firft, fir Philip, duke of Orleans, 
 fon of the late king Philip of France; his two 
 nephews, the dukes of Anjou and Berry: after them 
 the duke of Bourbon, the count d'Alen^on, fir 
 John d'Eftampes, Guy de Blois, for his brother 
 the count Louis de Blois : the count de St. Pol, 
 the count de Harcourt, the count dauphin of Au- 
 vergne; fir Enguerrant, lord of Coucy ; fir John 
 de Ligny; the count de Porcien, the count de 
 Breme, the lord of Montmorency, the lord of 
 Roye, the Idrd of Preaux, the lord d'Eftouteville, 
 the lord de Cieritez, the lord de St. Venant, the 
 
 lord 
 
07 
 
 lord de la Tour d'Auvergne, and many others, but 
 I cannot name them all*. 
 
 There we»"e alfo from the good city of Paris, from 
 Rouen, Rhcims, Bourses in Berry, Tours in Tou- 
 rair.e, Lyon upon the Rhone, Sens in Burgundy, 
 Orleans, Troyes in Champagne, Amiens, Beauvais, 
 Arras, Tournay, Caen in Normandy, St. Omef, 
 L'Ifle, Douay, from each city two or four bur- 
 geffes, who all croffed the fea, and fliortly arrived 
 in London t. ' 
 
 The king of England commanded all his officers, 
 under pain of incurring his difpleafure, to behave 
 Courteoufly to all thefe lords and their attendants, 
 and to preferve peace between thciii and his fub- 
 je6ls, as they were under his fpecial care. 
 
 The king's orders were flriftly obeyed in 
 every refpeB: ; and the hoftages were allowed to 
 enjoy themfelves, without any danger or moleft?;- 
 
 * In the fifteenth article, inRymer, they are mentioned as 
 underneath : 
 
 Monfieur I.ouis, comte d'Anjou ; M. Jean, comte de 
 Poitiers ; le due d'Orleans ; le due de Eourbon ; le comte de 
 Elois, ou fon frere ; le comte d'AIen^on, on M. Pierre d'Alen- 
 ^on fon frere; le comte de St. Pol ; le comte de Harcourt; 
 le comte de Porticn ; le comte de Valentinois ; le comte de 
 Breme ; le comte de Vaudemont; le comte de Forez ; le vi- 
 comptede Beaumont ; le fire de Couci ; le fire de Frcnles ; le fire 
 dePreaiis; le fire de Sr. Venant ; le fire de Gauntrines ; le 
 dauphin d'Aavergne; le fire de Hangeft ; le fire de Mont- 
 morency ; monfire Guillaiime de Craon ; monfire Louis de 
 Harcourt ; monfire Jean de Ligny. 
 
 + Cha!ons, Chartresj Touloufe, Compiegne, are men- 
 tioned, in addition to thofe of Froilfart, in the treaty in 
 Rymer, 
 
 F 2 ♦ tion. 
 
6S 
 
 tion, in the city of London and its neighbourhood. 
 The lords followed the chafe or hawking, acct-rd- 
 ing to their pleafure, and rode out as they pleafcdto 
 ,_vi(i-t the ladies without any conftraint, for the king 
 was right courteous and amiable. 
 
 We will now fpeak a little of the king of France 
 on his arrival at Boulogne, after he had quitted 
 Calais. 
 
 CHAP. CCXII. 
 
 COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED ON BOTH SIDES TO 
 
 SEE THE GARRISONS IN THE KINGDOM OF 
 
 FRANCE EVACUATED. DIFFERENT BODIES OT 
 
 ARMED MEN OVERRUN THE FLINGDOM, AND DO 
 MUCH MISCHIEF. 
 
 npHE king of France did not remain long at 
 Boulogne, but fet out foon after All-faints, 
 and went to Montreuil and Hefdin : he continued 
 his journey until he came to Amiens; and wherever 
 he paffed he was moft magnificently and honorably 
 received. After he had remained at Amiens until 
 Chriftmas was pafled, he fet out for Paris, when he 
 was folemnly and reverently met by all the clergy 
 of Paris, and conduced to the palace*, where he 
 
 dif- 
 
 * Palace. — I believe the king of France's palace at that 
 time was the hotel de Nefle. I find, by Villafet's hiftory, 
 that he was lodged there after his coronation at Rkeims. 
 
 This hotel was built on the banks of the Seine, where the 
 KA^pi /J- "^'^-vers was afterwards conftru<^ed, and nearly upon 
 
 the 
 
69 
 
 difmnunted, as did fir Philip his fon, and all the 
 iiobles who accompanied him. The dinner was 
 grandly magnificent, and the tables well covered; 
 but I can nevei tell how warmly the king of France 
 was received on his return to his kingdom, by all 
 forts of people, for he was mich wifhed for. They 
 made him rich gifts and prefents, and the prelates 
 and barons of the realm feafted and entertained him, 
 as became his condition ; and the king gave them a 
 mofi: gracious reception. 
 
 Soon after king John was returned to France, 
 the commiflioners appointed by the king of England 
 croflTed the fea, to take pofieflion of the lands, coun- 
 tries, counties, bailiwicks, cities, towns and caftles, 
 that were to be given up to him, according to the 
 articles of the peace. But this was not fo foon accom- 
 pliflied; for many of the nobles in Languedoc atfirfl: 
 abfolutely refufed to obey them, or to furrender 
 themfelves to the king of England, though the 
 king of France had acquitted them of their fidelity 
 and homage to him; for they thought it highly- 
 contrary and adverfe to their interefts to be obliged 
 to obey the Englifh. The count de lar Marche, the 
 count de Perigord, the count de Comminges, the 
 vifcount de Chatillon, the vifcount de Carmaing, 
 the lord of Pincornet, in particular, with many 
 
 the fcitc which the College Mazarine and the hotel de Conti 
 now occupy. 
 
 This horel muft be diftinguifhed from another hotel de 
 Nefle, which was built at the fame time. This fecond hotel 
 de Nefle was fituated on the fpot where the hotel de ioilTons 
 was built, and which was demolilhed I747t 
 
 F 3 others 
 
70 
 
 others in the diftant countries wondered much that 
 the king of France fliould force them from his 
 jurifdiftion. Others faid, it was not in his power 
 thus to free them; and it was not his right fo to do; 
 for, as they were jGafcons, they had very old 
 charters and privileges from the noble Charlemagne 
 (who was king of France), which placed them 
 under the jurifdiclionof his court, and of no other. 
 On which account, thefe lords would not at firft 
 yield obedience to the commiffioners; b^t the king 
 of France, who wifhed to uphold and maintain 
 what he had fworn and fealed, fent thither his dear 
 coufm fir James de Bourbon, who appeafed the 
 greater part of thefe nobles; and thofe who were 
 bounden became liege men to the king of England; 
 fuch as the count d'Armagnac, the lord d'Albret 
 and many others, who at the intreaties of the king 
 of France and of fir James de Bourbon, obeyed, 
 but very unwillingly. 
 
 On the other hand, it was very difpleafing to the 
 barons, knights and inhabitants of the towns on the 
 fea coaft, and in the country of Poitou, the Rochel- 
 lois and all Saintonge, that they fhould be given up 
 to the Englifh: in particular thofe in the town of 
 la Rochelle would not confent to it: they made 
 frequent excufes, and would not, for upwards of a 
 year, fuffer any Englifh man to enter their town. 
 The letters were very affefting which they wrote to 
 the king of France, bcfeeching him, by the love of 
 God, that he would never liberate them from their 
 fidelity, nor feparate them from his government 
 and place them in the hands of ftrangers; for they 
 
 would 
 
71 
 
 would prefer being taxed every year one h?]f of 
 what they were worth, rather than be in the hands 
 of the Endifh. 
 
 o 
 
 The king of France (who knew their good will 
 and loyahy, and had frequently received their ex- 
 cufes) felt great pity for them; he wrote, therefore, 
 very affeftionate letters, and fent to inform them, 
 that it was necelTary they fhould obey, or otherwife 
 the peace would be infringed, which would be too 
 prejudicial to the kingdom of France. 
 
 When the inhabitants of la Rochelle received 
 theff letters, and faw the fituation they weie in, that 
 neither excufes, prayers nor intreaties. were of any 
 avail, they obeyed ; but it was fore againft their in: 
 clinations. The principal perfons of the town faid, 
 ' We will honor and obey the Englifh, but our 
 hearts fliall never change.' 
 
 Thus had the king of England feifin and pof- 
 feffion of the duchy of Aquitaine, the counties of 
 Poitou and Guigncs, and of all thofe lands which 
 he was to have beyond fea, that is to fay in the 
 kingdom of France, which were given to him by the 
 articles of the peace. This year fir John Chaiidns 
 croffed the fea, as regent and lieutenant of the kin,^of 
 England, to take pofl'effion of all the lands aForefaid, 
 and receive the faith, fidelity and homage of the 
 counts, vifcounts, barons, knights, towns and caftles : 
 he inftituted every where fenefchals, bailiffs and 
 officers according to his will, and fixed his refidence 
 at Niort. 
 
 Sir John kept a noble and great edablifhment; 
 and he had the means of doing it> for the king of 
 
 F 4 Eng« 
 
72 
 
 England, %v'ho loved him much, wiilied it iliould be 
 fo. He was certainly worthy of it; for he was a 
 fweet tempered knight, courteous, benign, amiable, 
 liberal, courageous, prudent and loyal in all affairs, 
 and bore himfelf valiantly on every occafion : there 
 was none more beloved and efteemed by the knights 
 and ladies of his time. 
 
 Whilft the commifiioners and deputies of the 
 kin<^ of England were taking feifm and podeffion of 
 the aforefaid lands, according to the articles of 
 peace, other commiffioners and deputies were on 
 the frontiers of France with commiffioners from that 
 king, ordering all men at arms, who were gar- 
 rifoned in the different caftles and forts of France^ 
 to evacuate and furrender them to the king of 
 France, under pain of confifcation and death. 
 
 There were fome knights and fquires attached to 
 England who obeyed, and furrendered, or made 
 their companions lurrender, fuch forts as they held ; 
 but there were otheis ;. ho would not obey, faying 
 that they made war in the name of the king of 
 Navarre. 
 
 There were alfo fome from different countries, 
 who were great captains and pillagers, that would 
 not, on any account, leave the country ; fuch as 
 Germans, Brabanters, Flemings, flainaulters, Gaf- 
 cons and bad Frenchmen, who had been im- 
 poverifhed by the war : tbefe perfons perfevered in 
 their wickednefs, and did afterwards much mifchief 
 to the kingdom. 
 
 When the captains of the forts had handfomely 
 delivered them up, with all they contained, they 
 
 marche4 
 
73 
 
 marched off, and, when in the piahi, they difrailfed 
 their people : but thofe who had been fo long 
 accuftomed to piliage, knowing well that their 
 return home would not be advantageous for thenij 
 but that they might perhaps fuffer for the bad 
 actions they had committed, alFembled together, 
 and chofe new leaders from the word difpofed 
 among them. They then rode on, one party 
 following the other, and made their firft Itand in 
 Burg'indy and Champagne, where they formed 
 large fquadrons and companies, which were called 
 the Late-comers, becaufe as yet they had but little 
 pillaged that part of the kingdom of France. Thev 
 fuddenly came before and took the fort of Toin- 
 ville*, with great v.cahh in it, which the whole 
 country round had brought thither, confiding in 
 the ftrength of the place. When thefe troops found 
 fuch riches as were valued at a hundred thoufand 
 francs, they divided it amongft them as far as it 
 would go, and held the caftle for a time, from 
 whence they fcoured all thecountry of Champagne, 
 the bifliopricks of Verdun, Toul and Langres; but, 
 when they had plundered fufficiently, they de> 
 parted, and fold the caftle of Joinville to the inha- 
 bitants of the country for one thoufand frajics. 
 
 They then entered Burgundy, where they re- 
 pofed and refreflied themfelves until they were all 
 collefted, and did many bad and villainous anions ; 
 for they had among them fome knights and fquires 
 
 Joinville, — an ancient town in Champagne, on the Marne, 
 diocefe of Chllons. 
 
 of 
 
74 
 
 of that country, who advifed and conduced them. 
 They remained fome time in the neighbourhood 
 of Befan^on, Dijon and BeaunI, defpoiling every 
 where, for none went out to oppofe them. They 
 alfo took the good town of Guerchey* in the 
 Beaunois, which they facked, and remained for a 
 time near Vergy t, on account of the fertility of 
 that country. Their numbers' were perpetually 
 increafmg; for thofe who quitted the caftles and 
 towns on their being funendercd, and who were 
 difbanded by their captains, came into thofe parts; 
 fo that by Lent they amounted to at lead fixteen 
 thoufand combatants. 
 
 When they found their numbers fo great, they 
 appointed many captains, whom all obeyed impli- 
 citly. I am able to name fome of their greateft 
 leaders; and firft a knight from Gafcony, called fir 
 Seguin de Batefol, who had under his command 
 two thoufand combatants. There were alfo Tal- 
 lebert Tallabaton, Guy du Pin, Efpiote, le petit 
 Mechin, Battailler, Mannequin Francois, leBourg 
 de I'Efpare, Nandoz de Bauguerant, le Bourgca- 
 mus, le Bourg de Bretcuil, la Nuyt, le Scot, Ar- 
 brethouny, I'Allemant, Bourdonelle J, Bernard de 
 la Salle, Robert Briquet, Carnelle, Aimenon 
 d'Ortige, Garfiot du Chatel, Gironet du Paux, 
 I'Ortingo de la Salle, and many others. 
 
 * A village in Champagne, near Joigny. 
 + Vergy, — a village of Burgundy, bailiwick of Nuits. 
 •^ Q. if this do not mean the Scot Aberthouny, and the 
 German Bourdonnelle ? 
 
 Thefe 
 
75 
 
 Thefe leaders, about the middle of Lent, refolved 
 fhat they would advance with their forces towards 
 Avignon, and pay a vifit to the pope and cardinals. 
 They therefore traverfed the country of Burgundy 
 and Mafcon, making for the rich and fertile 
 country of Foretz, and for Lyon fituate on the 
 Rhone, 
 
 When the king of France was informed in what 
 manner thefe free booting troops overran and pil- 
 laged his kingdom, he was mightily enraged. It 
 v.'as ftated, by fpecial ordei's of the council, to his 
 majcfty, that unlefs thefe bands were repreifed, they 
 would multiply fo much and do fuch mifchief, 
 to judge from what they had already done, that the 
 kingdom of France would fuller equally as during 
 the war with the Englifh, The council, therefore, 
 advifed the king to fend a fufficient force to fight 
 tliem. 
 
 The king, in confequence, wrote efpecial letters to 
 bis couhn the lord James de Bourbon*, (who was 
 at that time in the town of Montpelier, and had 
 
 * Lord James de Bourbon. Count de la Marche received 
 from king John, to whom he was always faithful, the county 
 of Ponthieu and the dignity of conllable. He was famous in 
 three battles :*firft in that of Crecy, where he was wounded; 
 next in that of Poitiers, when he was taken prifoner ; and laftly 
 in that of Brignano, where he conquered. But fcon after, a 
 company of difbanded foldiers ravaging Champagne and the 
 Lyonnois, lord James was fent againft them, when, being over- 
 powered by numbers, he and his fon Peter were mortally 
 wounded, and died three days afterwards at Lyon, 6th April 
 J 38 2. — Anderfon's Royal Qenealogies, 
 
 I fufpeft, however, there is fome miftake, and that Brignano 
 means Brignais, when he was mortally wounded. 
 
 lately 
 
76 
 
 lately put fir John Chandos in full pofleffion of the 
 cities, lands, towns and caftles of the duchy of 
 Guienne, as has been before mentioned,) ordering 
 him to put himfelf at the head of the force that was 
 to be fent againft thefe freebooters^ and to take a fuf- 
 ficient number of men at arms to give them c(^mbat. 
 
 When the lord James de Bourbon received thefe 
 orders, he fet off immediately for the city of Agen *, 
 without flopping any where, and feut off letters and 
 meffengers to the nobles, knights and fquires, re- 
 quiring, in the king's name, their inllant attendance. 
 Every one mofl willingly obeyed his orders, and 
 followed him to the city of Lyon; for he was eager 
 to fight with thefe 'wicked people. 
 
 The lord James of Bourbon was much beloved 
 throughout the kingdom of France, and all moft 
 cheerfully obeyed his orders. Knights and fquires, 
 therefore, came to him from all quarters; from 
 Auvergne, from Limoufm, Provence, Savoy and 
 Dauphine. On the other hand, many attended him 
 from the duchy of Burgundy, whom the young 
 duke of Burgundy had fent to him. 
 
 This army began its march, making no halt at 
 Lyon, but advanced into the county of Mafcon. 
 The lord James entered the county of Fpretz, which 
 was dependant on his filler in right of her children, 
 for the count de Foretz was lately dead, and was 
 governed by Reginald be Foretz, in the interim. 
 
 * Agen is a confiderable city in Guienne, the capital of 
 the Agenois, twenty-eight leagues from Toulourc;, and thirty- 
 fix fr^.i. Bourdeaux. 
 
 who 
 
77 
 
 who was brother to the late count. He received the 
 lord James and his company with great joy, and 
 feafted them in the bed manner he was able. The 
 two nephews of the lord James de Bourbon were 
 at home : he prefented them to him, who received 
 them very gracioufly, and o. dered them to be ported 
 near his perfon, that they might aid to defend their 
 country. 
 
 The free companies were advancing towards this 
 neitihbourhood ; for thofe who were at Chalons * 
 
 o 
 
 upon the Saone and near to Tournus t, and in that 
 fertile country, having heard that the French were 
 affembling an army to fight with them, their captains 
 called a council, to determine what fleps they 
 fhould take. They made a mufter of their troops, 
 and found they amounted, one with another, to 
 fixteen thoufand combatants. They then refolved 
 to go and meet the French, who were fo defirous of 
 it, arid to offer them battle, in fuch fituations only 
 as would be for their advantage, but upon no other 
 terms. ' If fortune,' faid they, ' fhould be favor- 
 able to us, we may all be rich, and at our eafe for a 
 long time, as well by the valuable prifoners we fhall 
 make, as from the fear v/e excite; for no more troops 
 will be hardy enough to come againft us: but, if we 
 lofe the batde, we fhall have hard blows for our 
 pay.' This refolution was adopted: they broke 
 up their camp, and marched towards the mountains, 
 
 * Chalons, — an ancient town in Burgundy, twenty-nine 
 leagues from Lyon. 
 
 + Tournus, — an ancient town of Burgundy, on the Saone, 
 in the road froiu Lyon to Dijon. 
 
 in 
 
78 
 
 in order to penetrate into ihe count)'' of Forefz : 
 they came to the river Loire, and, in their road, to 
 a good town called Charlieu*, in the bailiwick 
 of Mafcon, which they furrounded and attacked. 
 They exerted themfelves to take it by affault, 
 which employed them a whole day, but they could 
 do nothing, for it was well defended and guarded 
 by the gentlemen of the country, who had flung 
 themfelves into the town; otherwife it would have 
 been won. 
 
 They then marched off, and revenged them- 
 felves on the eftates of the lord of Beaujeu, w^hich 
 were near, and v*'here they did very confiderable 
 mifchief, and entered the diocefe of Lyon. 
 
 As they advanced, they took all the fmaller forts, 
 and lodged themfelves in them, and did much 
 damage wherever they paffed. They took a calUe 
 and a lord and lady in it; which calHe was called 
 Brignaist, and is fituate on the Rhone, three 
 leagues from Lyon. There they halted and took 
 up their quarters, for they were informed that the 
 f^-ench army was drav/n out in the plain in order 
 of battle. 
 
 * Charlieu, — a town of the Lyonnois. 
 
 t Brignais, — In all my old editions, and in lord Berner's 
 tranflation, it is Brunay : but Denys Sauvage is certainly 
 .right to alter it to Brignais. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
79 
 
 CHAP. CCXIII. 
 
 THE LORD JAMES DE BOURBON AND HIS ARMY ARE 
 DEFEATED BY THESE FREEBOOTTNG COMPANIES. 
 THE POPE ORDERS A CROISADE TO BE PRO- 
 CLAIMED, AFTER THEY HAVE TAKEN THE PONT 
 HU ST. ESPRIT, AND FINDS MEANS TO GET RID 
 OF THEM. 
 
 T^HE men at arms, affembled under the lord 
 James de Bourbon, were in the city of Lyon 
 upon the Rhone, when they heard that thefe com- 
 panies were approaching in great ftrcngth, and had 
 taken by affavilt the town and caftle of Brignais, as 
 well as feveral others, and were pillaging and ruin- 
 ing the whole country. 
 
 This was very unpieafant news to the lord James, 
 who had taken the management of the cftates of 
 the county of Foretz for his nephews, as well as to 
 all the other chiefs. They immediately took the 
 field, and were a numerous body of men at arms, 
 knights and fquires. They fent out their fcouts for 
 intelligence refpeding thefe companies, to know 
 where they were, that they might find them. 
 
 I muft now mention the grand trick which thefe 
 free companies played. They were encamped upon 
 a high mountain*, on the fummit of which there 
 
 * A high mountain, — Denys Sauvage has written a long 
 note to fay, that he had vifited this fpot in 1558, and that it 
 ought not to be called a high mountain, for it was but a 
 hillock. This FroifTart himfelf allows in the following lines, 
 where the fcouts call it a ' tertre.' D, Sauvage fays, the place 
 correfponds to the defcription, and that different weapons 
 have been found in the adjoining grounds. 
 
 was 
 
so 
 
 was a plain that could not be ken : in this place they 
 had pofled the greater part of their army, anc! 
 permitted the French fcouts to come fo near, they 
 could have taken them if they had chofen it, but 
 they were allowed to return unhurt. 
 
 They informed the lord James de Bourbon, the 
 count d'Ufez, the lord Reginald cle Foretz and 
 thofe lords who had fent them, all they had obferved 
 and heard, adding, ' we have feen the companies 
 drawn up in array upon a hillock, and, according 
 to our underftanding, well formed ; but, having 
 attentively confidered them, they cannot be more 
 than five or fix thoufand men, and feem marvel- 
 louliy ill armed/ 
 
 When lord James de Bourbon heard this, he faid 
 to the archprieft, ' You told me they amounted to 
 at leaft fixteen thoufand combatants, and you now 
 hear the contrary,' ' My lord,' anfwered he, ' I 
 Hill think they are not lefs in number: if it fhould 
 be othcrwife, we may thank God for it, and it is fo 
 much the better for us: you will therefore determine 
 what you will do.' ' In the name of God,' faid 
 the lord James, ' we will go and fight them.' 
 
 The lord James ordered all the banners and 
 pennons to halt immediately, and formed his bat- 
 talions in good order to begin the combat, for they 
 faw their enemies before them. He theo created 
 many new knights : the firft was his eldeft fon 
 Peter, who difpiayed his banner; his nephew, the 
 young count de Foretz, did the fame; the lord of 
 Toarnon, the lord de Molinier, and the lord de 
 Groflee in Dauphine. Among the nobility, there 
 were fir Louis and fir Robert de Beaujeu, fir 
 6 Leu is 
 
81 
 
 Louis de Chalons, fir Hugh de Vienne, the count 
 d'Ufez, ynd many other worthy knights and fquires, 
 eager to advance to the combat, both for their own 
 honor and to dcftroy thefe freebooters, who were 
 wafting the country without right or reafon. 
 
 The archprieft, whofe name was Arnaut de 
 Cervole, was ordered to take the command of the 
 firft battalion. He willingly obeyed; for he was an 
 expert and hardy knight, and had under his com- 
 mand about fixteen hundred combatants. 
 
 The freebooters, from their fituation on the hill, 
 faw but too clearly all thefe arrangements of the 
 French, who could not fee what they were aboutj 
 nor approach them without danger and lofs; for 
 there were at leaft a thoufand cart loads of flints 
 ready to be thrown againft the firft aflailants by 
 that body of men who appeared fo ill armed to the 
 fcouts. 
 
 I muft mention, that the only way thefe French 
 men at arms, who were fo defirous to fight the 
 companions at any rate, could approach them was 
 to afcend fideways the hill on which they had placed 
 themfelves. When they, therefore, attempted this^ 
 thofe who were on the hill began to throw down 
 on them the ftones and flints, of which they had 
 made fo large a provifion that they had only to 
 ftoop and pick them up; and, having full time to 
 aim them well, they wounded and killed many, 
 fo that others were afraid to pufli forward. This 
 advanced battalion was fo feverely treated, it was 
 not of any good ufe afterwards. The other bat- 
 talions marched to its fuccour, under the lord James 
 
 Vol. III. G dc 
 
82 
 
 de Bourbon, liis fon and his nephews, with their 
 banners, and many other refpeftable gentlemen, 
 who ruflied on to their own deftruftion, fo that it 
 •was a pity they had not formed better plans, or 
 liftened to wifer counfel. 
 
 The archprieft and fome other kni;^hts had truly 
 faid, they were going to fight with thefe companions 
 at a difadvantage, with certain lofs, conhdering the 
 fituation they had chofen for themfelves. They 
 advifed waiting until they fhould have been diflodged 
 from the ftrong hold where they had polled them- 
 felves, that then they would have a better chance of 
 fuccefs, but they were never liftened to. 
 
 Thus then, when the lord James de Bourbon and 
 the other lords, with banners and pennons flying, 
 approached and afcended fideways this hill, the 
 weaker and lefs completely accoutred of the free- 
 booters were enabled to haraf* them ; for they flung 
 upon them fo rapidly and vigoroufly fhones and 
 flints, that the boldeft and bell armed were in dread 
 of them. 
 
 When they had thus for fome time kept them in 
 check, their grand battalion, frefh and untouched, 
 advanced by a fecret road round th: hill, and being 
 in clofe order like a brufh, with their lances cut 
 down to fix feet or thereabouts, with loud cries and 
 a-ihorough good will, fell upon the French aipjy. 
 
 In this firft attack, very many v;ere unhorfed, 
 and many gallant deeds performed; but the free- 
 booters fought fo hardily, it was marvellous to 
 think of it, and the French army was forced to re- 
 treat. That good and valiant knight the archprieft 
 
 fought 
 
83 
 
 fought excellently well : but he was fo overpowered 
 by numbers that, after being grievoufly wounded, 
 he was made prifoner, as well as feveral knights and 
 fquires of his company. 
 
 Why fhould I make a longer talk of this affair ? 
 in faft, the French had the worfe of the day : lord 
 James de Bourbon and the lord Peter his fon were 
 very badly wounded : the young count de Foretz 
 was flain : fir Reginald de Foretz his uncle, the 
 count d'Ufez, the lord Robert de Beaujeu, the lord 
 Louis de Chalons, and upwards of one hundred 
 knights were made prifoners. It was with great 
 difficulty the lord James de Bourbon and his fon 
 the lord Peter were brou^^ht back to Lyon. 
 
 This battle ofBrignais was ^^ought on the Friday 
 after Eafter, in I'Se year of our Lord 1361. 
 
 All the borde.ing countries were thrown into the 
 grcateft confufion, when they heard that the army 
 had been difcomfited ; and there was no one fo bold, 
 who had even the flrongeft caftle, that did not 
 tremble; for the wifeft among them immediately 
 fuppofed the greateft mifchiefs would enfue and 
 multiply, if God did not diredly bring fome remedy. 
 The inhabitants of Lyon were confounded, when 
 they firft heard that viftory had declared for thefe 
 freebooting companies. They, however, received 
 in the kindeft manner all thofe who returned from 
 the battle, and v/ere much hurt at what had befallen 
 the lord James de Bourbon and his fon the lord 
 Peter. The ladies, both young and old, vifited 
 them in the kindeft manner; for they were much 
 beloved in the city of Lyon. The lord James 
 
 G 9 departed 
 
departed this life the third day after the battle, and 
 his fon did not long furvive him. They were much 
 pitied and regretted. The king of France was 
 greatly afFefted at the death of the lord James de 
 Bourbon ; but, as it was not now to be amended, he 
 was obliged to bear his mourning as well as he 
 could. 
 
 We will now return to thefe freebooters, who, 
 having refolved to keep themfelves united, were 
 rejoiced at the fortunate iffue of this battle. They 
 had been great gainers, as well by what they had 
 feized on the fpot as from the ranfoms of their 
 wealthy prifoners. Thefe companies had the whole 
 country under their difpofal, for no one now ven- 
 tured to attack them. 
 
 Soon after the battle at Erigr>ais, they entered 
 and overfpread the county of Foxflz., which they 
 completely facked and ruined, except the fortreffes ; 
 and becaufe they were in fuch large bodies that no 
 fmall extent of country could maintain them, they 
 divided themfelves into two parties : fir Seguin de 
 Baftefol commanded the fmalleft, which, however, 
 confifted of about three thoufand fighting men. He 
 advanced towards Ance*, near to Lyon, where he 
 fixed his quarters. He then flrongly fortified and 
 rebuilt parts of it, and kept his troops in its neigh- 
 bourhood, which is one of the richelt countries in 
 the world. He overran and ranfomed at his cafe all 
 
 * Ance, — an ancient town of the I-yonnois, fituated near 
 the Saone, diocefe and eledion of Lyon, absut a league from 
 
 the 
 
85 
 
 the countries above and below the Saone, fuch as 
 the county of Macon, the archbifhoprick of Lyon, 
 the territories of the lord of Beaujeu, and the whole 
 country as far as Marfilly les Nonnains * and the 
 county of Nevers. 
 
 The other divifion of thefe free companies under 
 the command of Nandoz de Baugerant, Efpiote, 
 Carnelle, Robert Briquet, Ortingo and Bernard de 
 la Salle, Lannuyt, le Bourgcamus t, le bourg de 
 Breteuil, le bourg de I'Efparre, and many others of 
 
 * Marfilly les Nonnains. I cannot find in the Gazetteer 
 this name. There is Marcilly fur Saone, a village in Burgun- 
 dy, near Auxonne, which is, I fuppofe, the fame. 
 
 + Bourg, in the diftionaries of the old French language 
 feems to mean hajiard or illegUimate. 
 
 Burgi, in Du Cange's Gloflary, is as follows, Calepino ex 
 Tit. C. dc fund, rei privatae. * Qui collegio, vel curije, vel 
 burgis casterifque corporibus fervierit. An inde, an non po- 
 tius a burggravius per contraftionem Bourgs, appellatifunt caf- 
 tellani, et prefefti caftrorum, per arciuma pud FroIiTartem,* 
 tom. ii. cap. 34. * Si etoient de fa route les capi taints des 
 autres chateaux, comme le iourg Calart, le ieurg Anglois, le 
 iourg de Champ.igne, et Raymond de Force,' &c. 
 
 Burgi, adde, * A genuina vocis Gallicae bonrg notione longe 
 aberrari raihi videtur, cum ex FroilTarte exponitur de Caftel- 
 lano fur burgi praefedo. Bourg enim eo loci, quemadmodum 
 €t in aliis ejufdem cevi hiftoricis, fpurium, noihumfonat, Gall, 
 batard ; quod apprime docet Berry in Hilt. Chronol. Caroli 
 VII. ad an. 1432, ubi quem bo7irg dicit, paulo infra appellat 
 haflard : fie et ad an. 1430, le bourg de Majqucren, Bourc in 
 Litt. Remiff. an. 141 1. ex reg. 165. Chartoph. reg. ch. 219. 
 Icelui Pierre appellaft le fuppliant arlof, tacain, bourc ; qui 
 vaut autant a dire en languaige du Pais de par de la, garden, 
 truant, baftart. 
 
 * Bort^ eodem fenfu ufurpant Hifjiani. Vide in hac voce.' 
 
 G 3 the 
 
85 
 
 the fame fort and with the fame intentions, ad- 
 vanced towards Avignon, faying they would go and 
 vifit the pope and the cardinals, in order to have 
 fome of tlieir money; otherwife they fhould be 
 well vexed. They waited in that neighbourhood to 
 receive the amount of the ranfoms for the prifoners 
 taken at Brignais, as well as to fee if the peace that 
 had been made between the two kings was likely to 
 be lafting. 
 
 In their route to Avignon, they took towns, 
 caftles and forts; for nothing could fland before 
 them. The whole country was in an alarm ; for in 
 thofe parts they had not had any war, and the 
 guards did not know how to defend or keep their 
 flrong holds againft fuch men at arms. 
 
 Thefe companions got information, that at the 
 Pont du St.Efprit*, feven leagues from Avignon, 
 there was very great wealth; and that all the riches 
 of the country thereabouts had been carried thither, 
 as to a place of fafety, trufting to the ftrength of its 
 cattle. They therefore confulted together, and 
 agreed that if they could get polfeffion of this town 
 
 * Pont da St. Efirit, — a town of lower Languedoc, on the 
 Rhone, diocefe and receipt of Uzes ; fo called from one of the 
 moft beautiful brli^ges in Europe built over the Rhone, in the 
 road fiom Monfpellier to Paris. 
 
 It is probable that the town of Pont St. Efprit was taken 
 twice; for a chronicle, written in the reign of king John af- 
 fures us pofitively, ' que les compagnons qui ctoient fortisdela 
 France, et qui fe faifoient appeler la grand compagnie,' took 
 poffeffion of the town and caftle of St. Efprit on Innocent's 
 day 1360. — Chrotiquej MSS, du Roi Jean, Bibliotj du Roi, 
 
 No. 9652. 
 
 of 
 
87 
 
 of St. Efprit, it would be of tbe greateft advantage 
 to them ; for* they would then be mafters of the 
 Rhoiie as well as of Avignon, 
 
 After they had well digefted their plan, Guyot 
 du Pin and the litde Mechin (as I have heard it 
 related} mounted their horfes, and, with their com- 
 panies, rode one whole night to the extent of fifteen 
 leagues. They arrived by break of day, .at the 
 town of St. Efprit, which they took, and all thofc 
 of both faxes which were therein. It was a pitiful 
 fight; for they murdered many a difcreet man, and 
 violated many a virgin. They gained immenfe 
 riches, and provifion fufficient to lall them a whole 
 year. 
 
 They could from ihis town efcape eafdy, in an 
 hour's time and without danger, into the kingdom 
 of France, and in another hour into the empire. 
 They coUefted their companies together, and kept 
 advancing towards Avignon, at which the pope and 
 cardinals were much alarmed. 
 
 Thefe companions had chofen, at the Pont du 
 St. Efprit, a captain to command the whole of their 
 forces, who was commonly ftiled the friend * of 
 God, and enemy of all the world. 
 
 There were at that time in France, befides thefe 
 companies, many other pillagers, Englifh, Gafcons 
 
 * Friend. Denys Sauvage H^ys, in a note on the margin, 
 th^t inftead of ami it was ennjni in all the editions ; hut that 
 he had correded it frona the two abridgements. He is cer- 
 tainly right as to the printed editions of Verard and Eu(!ace, 
 as well as in lord Berner's tranflation and Barnes's hiltory 
 of Edward III, ; but it is ami in my two MSS. 
 
 G 4 and 
 
88 
 
 and Germans, vho were defirous of living there, 
 and who maintained many garrifons in fortrefTcs. 
 Although the commifFaries from the king of Eng- 
 land had ordered them to evacuate thefe caftles, 
 and to leave the country, they had not obeyed, 
 which was very difpleafing to the king of France, 
 as well as to his council. 
 
 But when many of them learnt (for they had 
 poffefTion of different places in France) that their 
 brethren had overthrown the lord James de Bour- 
 bon with two thoufand knights and fquires, had 
 taken a great many prifoners, and had very lately 
 furprifed and conquered the town of St. Efprit, 
 where they had found immenfe riches, and that 
 they had expe£lations of gaining Avignon, where 
 they would have the pope and the cardinals at their 
 mercy, as well as all Provence, each was eager to 
 join them, in the hopes of gain and of doing more 
 mifchief. This was the reafon why many warriors 
 left their forts and caftles, and advanced before 
 their companions, expefting greater pillage. 
 
 When pope Innocent VI. and the Roman college 
 faw themfelves thus threatened by thefe accurfed 
 people, they were exceedingly alarmed, and ordered 
 a croifide to be publiflied againft thefe wicked 
 Chriftians, who were doing every thing in their 
 power to dcftroy Chriftianity (like the Vandals* of 
 old, without right or reafon) by ruining all the 
 
 * Vandals. Denys Sauvage has Bandesy and fays it is {o 
 in all the editions, but that he thinks it fhould be Vandals, 
 It is yandei in all my printed editions, as well as MSS. 
 
 coun- 
 
S9 
 
 countries whither they reforted; by robbing wher- 
 ever they could find, any thing; by violating 
 women, both young and old, without pity; and by 
 killing men, women and children without mercy, 
 who had done no ill to them; for he was reckoned 
 the bravefl:, and moft honored, who could boaft of 
 the moft villainous a6lions. 
 
 The pope and the cardinals had therefore a 
 croifade publicly preached. They abfolved from 
 every crime and fin all thofe who fhould take the 
 crofs, and voluntarily give themfelves up to deftroy 
 thefe wretches. The cardinals elected the lord 
 Peter de Monftier, cardinal d'Arras, by fome called 
 cardinal d'Oftia, to be the chief of this croifade; 
 who, upon his nomination, immediately left Avig- 
 non, and went to Carpentras, feven leagues diftant, 
 where he fixed his quarters. He retained all fol- 
 diers, and others, who were defirous of faving their 
 fouls, and of gaining the forefaid pardons : but he 
 would not give them any pay, which caufed many 
 of them to depart and go into Lombardy ; others 
 returned to their own countries, and fome joined 
 thefe wicked companies, which were daily increafing. 
 
 They divided themfelves into feveral companies, 
 over each of which they nominated captains, and 
 took up their quarters in different places. Thus 
 they haraffed the pope, the cardinals and the mer- 
 chants in the neighbourhood of Avignon, and did 
 a great deal of mi fchief until the fummer was far 
 advanced of the year 1361. 
 
 It happened that the pope and cardinals caft their 
 eyes upon a very accomplifhed knight and good 
 
 war- 
 
"* 90 
 
 warror; that is to fay, upon the marquis de Mont- 
 ferrat *, who, for a long time, had been engage d in 
 war againft the I ^rds of Milan, and was at this time 
 fo employed. They fent to him t . co^ne to Avig- 
 non, where he was received vvidi much honor by 
 the pope and cardinals. 
 
 A treaty was then entered into with him. He 
 agreed, for a con(iderable fum of moricy, to f ee the 
 territories of the pope and the neighbourhcod of 
 thofe freebooiing companies, and to lead them with 
 him into Lombardy. 
 
 The marquis negr^tiated, therefore, with the 
 captains of ihefe companies t, and managed fo well 
 that by means of fixty thoufand Horins which he 
 divided among them, and the high pay he promifed 
 them, they confented to follow him into-Lombardy; 
 
 * The raarquis de Montferrat. John Palxlogus, i6th 
 marckgrave of ontfsrrat, 1338, died 1371, reigned $^ 
 year-:. — Andfrfiu^^ R:yil Genealogies, 
 
 + C;iptains of thefe coinpa ies. Barnes fays, that the 
 principal leader was fir John Hawkwood ; but the following 
 quotation from the life of fir John Hawkwood, publifhed in 
 the 6th volume of the Bibiiot. Typog Britan. page 6, Pacws 
 it was not fo. 
 
 * The company of Englifh adventurers who now entered 
 into thefcr\ice of the marquis of Montferrat, 1363, is faid, 
 by Muratori, vol. xii. p. 207, to have been commanded by 
 one Aib :r, t. 
 
 ' Upon the conclufion of the peace between the marquis 
 of Mo tfet'at and G^leazzo, the few Englifh who remained 
 wiih th; former, went ani joined their co'jntrymen in Tuf- 
 canv, and f )on after formed one body under Hawkwood.' 
 
 ! hore muft be a mirtake refpefting the date of 1365, for 
 FroilTiiri, as well as Dea|o Sauvage, fixes it pofitively 1361. 
 
 but 
 
91 
 
 but they alfo infifted on receiving pardon and ab- 
 folution from all crimes and fin. 
 
 Every article was fulfilled, and the money paid: 
 they gave up the town of St. Efprit, quitted the ter- 
 ritory of Avignon, and marched away with the 
 marquis of Montferrat. 
 
 King John and his whole kingdom were much 
 rejoiced, when they found themfelves delivered from 
 thefe people; but many of them returned back into 
 Burgundy: fir Seguin de Batefol, who kept his 
 garrifon at Ance, would not furrender it for any 
 treaty or promife they made him: however, France 
 ■was, in many places, more at peace than it had 
 been. 
 
 When the greater part of thefe companies had 
 quitted the country, and had marched with the 
 marquis de Montferrat into Piedmont, the marquis 
 managed his affairs well againft the lords of Milan. 
 He conquered many towns, caftles and forts, and 
 gained much territory from them. He had alfo 
 many flcirmifhes and attacks, which turned out to 
 his profit as well as honor; and thefe companies, 
 within the year, gave him a fuperiority in the war, 
 and were in a great meafure the caufe that the lords 
 Galeas and Bernabo Vifconti *, who were fove- 
 
 reigns 
 
 * In the year 13J4, Matthew II., Bernabo and Galeas II., 
 all three fons of Stephen Vifconti, brother of John, fucceeded 
 their uncle in the ftate of M'lan, and divided it into equal 
 portions, except Milan and Genoa, which the two laft 
 individuallj- held. Matthew dying without male cbildren, 
 the 26th September 1355, his two brothers inherited hi» 
 
 portion. 
 
92 
 
 reigns of Milan, and who fince reigned ihere in 
 great profperity, came to a proper underftanding 
 ■with him. 
 
 About this time fir Seguin de Batefol, who h^d 
 retained his garrifon at Ance upon the i iver Saone, 
 took by fcalade a good city in Auvergne, called 
 Brioude, and which is fituated on the river Allien 
 He maintained himfelf there for upwards of a year, 
 and fortified it fo ftrongly that he was not afraid of 
 an attack: from this place he overran all the country 
 as far as Clermont*, Tilhac, Puyt, Cafe Dieu;^, 
 MontferrantJ, Riom||, la NonnetteH, Uffoire**, 
 Oudallett, and the lands of the count Dauphin, 
 
 portion, except Bologna, which they fufFered Vifconti d'Olegio 
 to carry from them. They obtained the fame year, from the 
 emperor Charles IV. the vicegerency of Lombardy. Their 
 union defended them againft a powerful league, formed by 
 the Florentines, the marquifes of Efte, of Mantua and of 
 Montferrat. In 1359, Galeas, affifted by his brother Ber- 
 nabo, made the conqueft of Pavia, in the month of November, 
 after ^ long fiege. In 1371, Bernabo acquired, from Feltrin 
 de Gonzague, tVe city of Reggio. Galeas died 1378, aged 59 
 years. Muratori gives a very bad charadler of him. 
 
 See more of the houfe of Vifconti, in I'Art de verifier les 
 Dates, whence the above is taken. 
 
 * Clermont, or Clermont Ferrand, — capital of Auvergne. 
 
 + Puy, — a village in Auvergne, diocefe of Clermont. 
 
 ^ Cafe Dieu, Q. an abbey, diocefe of Auch. 
 
 § Montferrant, — a town in Auvergne, near Clermont. 
 
 H Rion, Riom, — a city of Auvergne, near Clermont, 
 
 H La Nonnette, — a town of Auvergne, eleftion of Iffoire. 
 
 •* Uffoire, Ulfon, — a town of Auvergne, four leagues 
 from Bnoude. 
 
 it Oudalle I cannot find, nor Tilhac. 
 
 who 
 
93 
 
 \i'lio was at that time a hoftage in England, and 
 committed the greateft damages. 
 
 When he had very much impoverifhed the whole 
 country, he marched away, according to an agree- 
 ment, carrying off with him great riches. Sir 
 Seguin de Batefol* returned into Gaf'cony, whence 
 he had originally come. Of this fir Seguin I know 
 no move, except that by accident I heard it related 
 that he died in an extraordinary manner. God 
 pardon him for all his mifdeeds ! 
 
 • Sir Seguin de Batefol. Mezeray calls him Simon 
 Batefol. — Villaret calls him gentilhomme navarrois, and 
 fays that he died from feme poifoned oranges, which Charles 
 ie Mauvais, king of Navarre, had ferved at dinner, in order to 
 get rid of hira. He was defirous of engaging Sir Seguin de 
 Batefol to make frefii difturbances in France, contrary to the 
 promife he had made king John, on furrendering Brloude : but 
 he afked too large a fum ; and, having poflefTiOn of Charles's 
 fecret, he thus poifoned him that it might not be divulged. 
 Hij^oire de France^ far Villaret^ tom. T. p. 258. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
P4 
 
 CHAP. CCXIV. 
 
 THE DEATHS OF THE DUKES OF LANCASTER ANi> 
 OF BURGUNDY, WHICH LAST CAUSES N EW 
 DISSENTIONS BETWEEN THE KINGS OF FRANCE 
 
 AND NAVARRE. THE PRINCE OF WALES CROSSES 
 
 THE SEA TO AQUITAINE. 
 
 A T this period died in England, the good duke of 
 Lancafter*, whofe Chriftian name was Henry. 
 The king and all his barons, knights and fquires 
 were much afflitled, and wifhed it had not been fo. 
 He left two daughters, the lady Maude and the lady 
 Blanche. The eldeft was married to the carl of 
 Hainault of the name of William, Ton of the lord 
 Lewis of Bavaria and Margaret of Hainault. The 
 ybungeft was married to the lord John, earl of Rich- 
 mond, fon of the king of" England, who was after- 
 wards duke of Lancafter, in right of his wife, and 
 by the deoth of Henry duke of Lancafter. 
 
 * * Henry duke of Lancafter, v/ho died of the plague 1360, 
 was buried on the fou h fide of the high altar of the collegiate 
 church at Leicefter, founded by his father (not by him, as in 
 Dugdale), and on the next niche to him lay a lady, by likeli- 
 hood his w'x'ie.' '-Cough's Sep. Mov. 
 
 * He left iffue by his wife Ifabel, daughter of Henry lord 
 Beaumont, two daughters, his heireffes. Maude firft married 
 to Ralph, fon and heir to Ralph lord Stafford, and afterwards 
 to William duke of Zealand ; and Blanche (by virtue of a 
 fpecial difpenfation from the pope, in regard to their near aL 
 liance) to John of Gaunt, earl of Richmond, fourth fon to Ed- 
 ward 111. and afterwards duke of Lancafter.' — Dugdale's Ba^ 
 roiuigty vol. 1. p. 789. 
 
 Maude camii to England foon after her father's death, and 
 died, fuppofed by poifon.— Knyghton,. 
 
 In 
 
 6 
 
95 
 
 In this feafon alfo died the young duke Philip of 
 Burgundy*, earl of Burgundy, of Artois and of 
 Boulogne, palatine of Brie and Champagne. He 
 marrit'd the daughter of Louis earl of Flanders, by 
 one of the daughters of John duke of Brabant, to 
 whom fell the earldom of Burgundy, by the near 
 relationfliip of Margaret his mother, who did ho- 
 mage and fealty for it to the king of France. The 
 lord John of Boulogne, earl of Auvergne, came, 
 by the fame means, into pofieffion of the earldom 
 of Boulogne, and was homager to the king of 
 France. King John alfo, from his proximity, took 
 pofieffion of and retained the duchy of Burgundy, 
 and all rights over Champagne and Brie, which 
 was highly difpleafing to the king of Navarre; but 
 he could not help himfelf; for he claimed Cham- 
 pagne and Brie, as being the neareft heir; his rea- 
 fons were not lillened to, for king John hated him 
 much, and declared that he fliould never poffefs a 
 foot of ground in Champagne nor in Brie. 
 
 * Philip duke of Burgundy fuccecded to the earldoms of 
 Boulogne and Auvergne at the age of fifteen, by the death of 
 his mother, 29th September 1360. Towards the latter end 
 of November 1361, he died at Rouvre, and was buried at Ci- 
 teaux. He lived but a fhort time, and was very much re- 
 gretted, as he promifed well. The duchy of Burgundy paffed 
 to the king of France, not by virtue of the law of appanages, 
 but as being neareft heir to duke Philip. The earldom 
 of Burgundy, by the fame right, pafled to Margaret, who 
 married Philip, fourth fon of John king of France, who 
 was created duke of Burgundy by letters patent, 6th Sept. 
 
 L' Art de verifier des Dates. 
 
 About 
 
96 
 
 About this time, the king of France had formed 
 3 refoliuion to go to Avignon, and vifit the pope 
 and cardinals, and, in his road, to amufe himfelf 
 by inipefting the duchy of Burgundy, which had 
 lately fallen in to him. 
 
 The king, therefore, ordered preparations to be 
 made, and fet out from Paris about St. John's day 
 1362, having left his eldeft fon, Charles duke of 
 Normandy, regent and governor of the kingdom 
 during his abfence. 
 
 The king took with him the lord John of Artois, 
 his coufm, whom he much loved; the earl of Tan- 
 carville, the earl of Dam.pmartin, Boucicault mar- 
 Ihal of France, fir Arnold d'Andreghen, the grand 
 prior of France and feveral others. He travelled 
 flowly and with much expenfe, making fome ftay 
 in all the cities and towns of Burgundy, fo that he 
 did not arrive at Villeneuve* until about Michael- 
 mas. It was there that his hotel was prepared, as 
 ■well for himfelf as for his attendants. He was moft 
 magnificently received and fealied by the pope and 
 the college at Avignon : the king, pope and cardi- 
 nals vifited each other often. The king remained 
 at Villeneuve daring the whole time t. 
 
 About 
 
 * Villeneuve d'Avignorij — a town of lower Languedoc, on 
 the Rhone, oppoiice to Avignon. 
 
 + Villaret feems to think Froiflart has made a miftake re- 
 fpedling this vifit of the king, and that it was to prevent the 
 marriage of Edmund earl of Cambridge, fon of king Edward 
 III. with the widow of the late duke of Burgundy, by means 
 
 ©f the pope, 
 
 * Since 
 
97 
 
 About Chriftmas pope Innocent VI. departed 
 this life: and the cardinals were in great difcord 
 about the eleftion of another, for each was defirous 
 of that honor ; more particularly the cardinals of 
 Boulogne and Perigord, who were the greateft in 
 the college. Their difTentions kept the conclave a 
 long time fhut up. The conclave had ordered and 
 arranged every thing according to the defires of the 
 two before mentioned cardinals, but in fuch a man- 
 ner that neither of them could fucceed to the pa- 
 pacy : upon which they both agreed, that none of 
 their brethren fliould wear the papal crown, and 
 ele6ted the abbot de St. Viftor* of Marfeilles, who 
 
 was 
 
 ' Since his (the king's) return from London, he made only 
 one journey to the court of Avignon, where he did not arrive 
 until after the death of Im-vocent VI.' This opinion will not 
 agree with what Froiffart fays of the entertainments and feafts 
 he received from the pope. John muft have made two jour- 
 neys, at a fhort diftance one from the other. The contrary, 
 however, is proved by the letters of this king, preferved in 
 the fourth volume des Ordonnances. Froiffart will have, 
 without doubt) confounded this journey with the one made be- 
 fore his imprifonment. 
 
 Hi/}, de France^ vol, v, p. 270, note. 
 
 In the Grands Chroniqucs de St, Denis, vol, li. feuillet, 
 273. * In the month of Auguft 1362, the king of France 
 fet out to vifit the pope, Innocent, at Avignon, wlio was 
 then alive, and that fame year, the 2 2d December, he 
 died.' 
 
 * King John entered Avignon St, Catharine's day, the 2 2d 
 November. Pope Urban received him ver)' honorably in con- 
 fiftory, and retained him to dinner.' 
 
 There muft be fome miftake in thefe dates. 
 
 * Abbot de St. Vidor. Urban V. William Grimoald, 
 abbot de St. Germain 4'Auxerre, then abbot of St. Victor 
 
 Vol. III. H de 
 
was a holy and learned man, of good morals, and 
 who had laboured hard for the church in Lombardy 
 and other places. The two cardinals font to inform 
 him of his elevation, and to defire he would come 
 to Avignon : which he did as foon as poffible, and 
 received this gift with joy. He was called Urban 
 V. and reigned with great profperity : he augmented 
 much the power of the church, and did great good 
 to Rome and other parts. 
 
 Soon after this eleftion, the king of France 
 heard that the lord Peter de Lufignan, king of Cy- 
 prus and ferufalem, was on his road to Avignon, 
 having crofTed the fea : upon which he refolved to 
 wait for him, as he was anxious to fee otie of whom 
 fo many handfome things had been related, for 
 having made war upon the Saracens. Lately, the 
 new king of Cyprus had taken the ftrong city of 
 .Satalie* from the enemies of God, and had flain, 
 
 without 
 
 de Marfeille, was elefted pope, 28th September 1362, at the 
 age of 55 years; he died 19th December 1370. 
 
 * City of Satalicj — is the Attalea of the ancients, fituated 
 in Pamphilia, a province which at this day makes part of 
 Caramania. 
 
 Antalia, or Satalie, — at the bottom of the gv.lph of Sa- 
 tiilie. D' Afi'jiile's I'dip, Geographi Modenie. 
 
 Peter de Lufignan had fucceeded his father Hug!'.. 
 
 He did not arrive at Avignon until the zgth March 1362, 
 the Wednefday of the holy week. 
 
 Valdemar, king of Denmark, was there at the fame time, 
 who came to place his perfon and kingdom under the protec- 
 tion of the holy fee. — Viilaret Hijh de Fmtice. 
 
 Peter I. fucceeded his father Hugh, as king of Cyprus, in 
 
 1361. 
 
 January 
 
99 
 
 Vithout any exceptions, all the inhabitants of b( th 
 fexes whgm he had found there. 
 
 There was, during this winter, a full parliament 
 holden in England, refpeding regulatic n^ for the 
 country, but more efpecially to form ellabli/hmcnts ' 
 for the king's fons. 
 
 They confidered that the prince of Wales kept a 
 noble and grand (late, as he might well do; for he 
 was valiant, powerful and rich, and had befides a 
 large inheritance in Aquitaine, where provifions and 
 every thing f He abounded. They therefore remon- 
 ftrated with him, and told him from the king his 
 father, that it would be proi)cr for him to relide in 
 his duchy, which would furnifli him withal to keep 
 as grand an eltablifliment as he pleafed. The ba-' 
 ,roi:is and knights of Aquitaine, were alfo defirous of 
 his rehding among them, and had before jntreatcd 
 the king to allow him fo to do ; for although the 
 lord [ohn Chandos was very agreeable and kind to 
 them, they ftii! loved better to have their own natu- 
 ral lord and fovereigti than any other. 
 
 The prince readily afTented to this, and m^idi 
 every preparation becoming his own and his wife's 
 jrank*. When all was ready, they took leave of 
 
 the 
 
 January i8, 1372, he was aflaflinated by two lords whom 
 he had abufed. 
 
 He difg raced the glories and fame of his early life by his 
 debaucheries and cruelties in his latter days. — Jirt de njerijur 
 ks Dates. 
 
 * His wife's rank. The prince of Wales married this 
 year the lady Joan, daughter of Edmund Planta^cnet earl 
 
 H2 of 
 
100 
 
 the kin<^, the; queen and their bvoth:rs fet fail from 
 England, and were landed, wiih their attendants, 
 at la Rochelle. 
 
 But we Vv^-'l for g while leave this prince, and talk 
 of fome other regulations which were m;.de at this 
 time in England. It was ena8,ed by the king and 
 his council, that the lord Lionel, the kind's fecond 
 fon, and who had borne the title of earl of U liter, 
 fliould from thenceforward bear that of duke of 
 Clarence; and the lord John, who was. called earl 
 of Richmond, was ceated duke of Lancafter, which 
 eitate came to him by bis wife, the lady Blanche, 
 as heirefs to the good duke of Lancafter, her 
 father. 
 
 It was alfo t?ken into confideration by the king 
 and Jiis cor.ncil, that the lord Edmund, the king's 
 youngeft fon, who was called earl of Cambridge, 
 fhould be well i rovided for, and, if it were poHible, 
 that he flioujd be united in marriage with the 
 daughter of the earl of Flanders, at that time a 
 widow. 
 
 However, that matter, though propofed, was 
 not fully entered upon ; for it would be necelfary 
 to go cautioufly to work about it ; befides, the- lady 
 herfelf was fufficiently young. 
 
 of Kent, commonly called the fair countefs of Kent. She was 
 a widow, and of the blood royal of England. 
 
 She was firft married to the earl of Salifbury, and di- 
 vorced from him, then married to Sir Thomas Holland. — 
 Fabian. 
 
 About 
 
101 
 
 About this time, the lady Ifabella of France, mo- 
 ther of the king, died. She was daughter of Philip 
 the Fair. The king ordered a mod magnificent and 
 pompous funeral for her, at the Friar Minors * ; at 
 which all the prelates and barons of England, as 
 well as the lords of France who were hoftages for 
 the performance of the articles of peace, attended. 
 
 This happened before the prince and princcfs of 
 Wales left England ; foon after which they fet out, 
 and arrived at la Rochclle, where they were re- 
 ceived with great joy, and remained four whole 
 days. 
 
 As foon as the lord John Chandos (who had go- 
 verned the duchy of Aquitainea conliclerable time) 
 "Was informed that the prince was coming, he fet 
 out from Niortt, where he rcfided, and came to 
 la Rochelle with a handfome attendance of knights 
 and fquires, where they feafted moft handfomely 
 the prince, princefs, and their fuite. 
 
 The prince was conduced from thence, with 
 great honor and rejoicings, to the city of Poitiers, 
 The barons and knights of Poitou and Saintonge 
 who at that time refided there, came and did ho- 
 mage and fealty to him. 
 
 The prince rode from city to city, and from town 
 to town, receiving every where due homage and 
 fealty. He at lalt came to Bourdeaux, where he 
 refided a confiderable time, and the princefs with 
 
 * Friar Minors, — commonly called ihe Grey Friars, now a 
 parifli church called Chrift Church. — Gr. a fton. 
 t ^^iort, a city in Poitou, diocefe of la Rochelle. 
 
 H 3 him. 
 
102 
 
 him. The earls, vifcounts, barons, knights and 
 lords of Gafcony came thither to pay their refpefts 
 to him : all of whom he received in fo gracious and 
 pleafing a manner, that every one was contented. 
 Even the count de Foix came to vifit him, whom 
 the prince and princefs received moft honorably, and 
 treated him magnificently. A peace was at this 
 time concluded between him and the count d'Ar- 
 magnac, with whom there had been a continual 
 warfare for a very confidcrable time. 
 
 The lord John Chandos was foon after appointed 
 conftable of all Guienne, and fir Guifcard d' Angle 
 m irflial. The prince thus provided for the knights 
 of his own country and his houfehold, particularly 
 thofe he loved mofh, with thefe noble and handfome 
 ofHces, which were at his difpofal in the duchy of 
 Aquitaine. He nominated to all his llewartries and 
 biili\\icks knights from England, who kept up 
 greater ftate and magnificence than the inhabitants 
 of the country could have wiflied : but things did 
 not go according to their defires. We will now 
 leave the prince and princefs of Wales, to fpeak of 
 king John of France, who at this time was at Ville- 
 neuve d'Avignon. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
103 
 
 CHAP. CCXV. 
 
 THE KINGS OF FRANCE AND OF CYPRUS UNDER- 
 TAKE AND SWEAR TO PERFORM A CROISADE 
 
 AGAINST THE INFIDELS. THE KING OF CYPRUS 
 
 MAKES EARNEST SOLICITATIONS FOR ASSIST- 
 ANCE TO MANY KINGS AND PRINCES IN DIVERS 
 PLACES OF CHRISTENDOM. 
 
 ABOUT Candlemas* 1302, the king of Cyprus 
 came to Avignon : at which event the whole 
 court was much rejoiced, and many cardinals went 
 out to meet him, and to conduft him to the palace 
 of pope Urban, wlio received him very gracioufly, 
 as did the king of France, who was prefent. When 
 they had remained together fome time, and had had 
 wine and fpices ferved to them, the two kings took, 
 leave of the pope, and each went to his hotel. 
 
 During this time, there was a pubic combat be- 
 fore the king of France, at Villeneuve, from pledges 
 given and received, between two valiant and noble 
 knights, whofe names were fir Ayrrion de Pom- 
 miers and fir Foulques d'Archiac. When they had 
 
 * Candlemas. Denys Sauvage fays, in a note on the 
 margin, that Froiffart forgets in this place to begin the year 
 the I ft of January. 
 
 < By an edift given by Charles IX. at Rouflillon-Chateau 
 in Dauphine 1564', he fixed the beginning of the year 156c 
 at the firft of January ; whereas formerly the year com- 
 menced at Eafter. It appears to me that its commencement 
 ought to be the 21ft D'^cember, or tather the 21ft of March.* 
 EJfah Ihjhriqms fur Paris, tome iii. p. 328. 
 
 H 4 fought 
 
104. 
 
 bought well and valoroufly for a length of time, the 
 king of France appeafed them, and made up their 
 quarrel. 
 
 The two kincfs remained the whole Lent at Avig-- 
 non, or thereabout. They often vifited the pope, 
 who received them with joy. During thefe frequent 
 vifits, the king of Cyprus remonflrated with the 
 pope, the king of France and the cardinals pre- 
 fent, how noble and praife-worthy a thing it would 
 be for Chriftendom, to open a holy pafTage beyond 
 fea, and to fall upon the enemies of the true faith. 
 The king of France liftened eagerly to this difcourfe, 
 and propofed that for himfelf he would willingly, 
 undertake fuch an enterprife, if he fhould live three, 
 years only, for two reafons : one was, that king 
 Philip his father had formerly made a vow to do the 
 fame; the other was to draw out of his kingdom 
 all thofe men at arms, called free companions, who 
 pillaged and robbed his fubjetls without any Iha- 
 4ow of right, and to fave their fouls. Thefe rea- 
 fons, however, the king of France kept to himfelf, 
 without mentioning them to any one, until holy, 
 f riday, when the pope preached in his chapel be- 
 fore the kings of France and Cyprus, and the Col- 
 lege of Cardinals. 
 
 After the fermon, which was very humble and 
 devout, the king of France, through his great de- 
 votion, put on the crofs, and requefted the pope, 
 with great fweetnefs, to confirm it to him. The 
 pope immediately and benignantly complied with 
 his rcqucft, and crofled in like manner the lord 
 Taleyrand cardinal de Perigord, the lord John 
 
 d'Artois^ 
 
d'Artois, the earl of Eu, the earl of Dampmanin, 
 the earl of Tancarville, the lord Arnold d'Andre- 
 ghen, the grand prior of France, the lord Bouci- 
 caut, and many knights there prefent. The king of 
 Cyprus was highly pleafed, and returned fervent 
 thanks to the Lord for having infpired theif 
 hearts. 
 
 Thus, as you have heard, the king of France, 
 and thofe barons and knights that were with him, 
 put the Vermillion crofs upon their outward robes. 
 The holy father gave it his benedi6lion, and ordered 
 it to be preached in many places : not, however, 
 throughout all Chrillendom, for a reafon I willi 
 give. The king of Cyprus (who had come thithcE 
 \fith the intention of forming this croifade, having 
 promifed himfelf much pleafure in vifiting the em- 
 peror and all the great barons of the empire, the 
 king of England and the chief princes of Chrifteij- 
 dom, which he did, as this hiftory hereafter ml\ 
 ^ew you,) offered to the holy father and to the^ 
 king of France his perfonal fervices, his wealth and 
 his eloquence, wherever he fliould arrive or make 
 any ftay, in remonftrating and arguing the grace 
 and devotion of this expedition, in order to excite 
 all thofe princes and lords to join in it who before 
 had not had much religion. 
 
 This faid king was fo much honored, as it was, 
 but juft he (hould be, that, from the eloquence and 
 warmth with which he would difplay the value of 
 this expedition to the different princes, he would^ 
 gain more hearts than all the preachments. The, 
 I pope 
 
i06 
 
 pope affented to this propofal, which was tncn re- 
 folved on. 
 
 Soon after Eafter 1363, the king of Cyprus left 
 Avignon, faying he was going to vifit the emperor 
 and the lords of the empire, and then return by 
 Brabant, Flanders and Hainault, to the kingdom 
 of France. 
 
 He took leave of the pope and king of France, 
 who on every occafion fliewed him marked atten- 
 tions : the pope gave to him and to his attendants 
 prefents of jewels and benediftions. 
 
 Soon after the departure of the king of Cyprus, 
 the king of France took leave of the pope, and went 
 towards the city of Montpellici, in order to vifit 
 LanguedoCj where he had not been for a long 
 time. 
 
 We will now return to the king of Cyprus, and 
 to the journey which he made. After many days 
 ti-avel in Germany, he came to a city called Prague, 
 and found there the emperor of Germany, the lord 
 Charles of Bohemia*, w^ho received him magni- 
 ficently, as did all the lords of the empire who were 
 with him. 
 
 The king of Cyprus remained in Prague and in 
 its environs three weeks, and greatly exerted him- 
 felf in exhorting all the Germans to affift in tlas holy- 
 expedition. The emperor defrayed his expenfes 
 
 * Lord Charles of Bohemia, — Charles IV. emperor of 
 Germany. He publiihed the famous Golden Bull, that has 
 ever fince regulated all the elcdions of emperors in Germany. 
 
 during 
 
107 
 
 during the ftay he made, and For his journies in 
 Germany. The king of Cyprus went next to the 
 duchy of Juliers, where the duke received him with 
 much feafting and rejoicings. From the duchy he 
 went to Brabant, where the duke and duchefs re- 
 cieved him magnificenily in the good town of Bruf- 
 fels. He was there entertained with grand dinners, 
 fuppers, tournaments and other fports, in which 
 he knew well how to play his part; and, at his 
 departure, they made him many prefents of rich 
 jewels. 
 
 When he left BrufTels, he went to Flanders, to 
 vifit earl Lev.'is, who received and feafted him 
 grandly. He found at Bruges the king of Den- 
 mark, who had come thither to fee him. They 
 were magnificently treated at Bruges ; infomuch 
 that the two kings were very well pleafed with earl 
 Lewis, and with the knights and barons of his 
 country. 
 
 The king of Cyprus thus pafTed his fummer, 
 fmce he hyd left Avignon, in his journey through 
 the empire and along its frontiers, exhorting all to 
 undertake this expedition againfi the Saracens. — 
 This gave much pleafure to many of the great lords, 
 who were defirous that it fhould be accomplifhed ; 
 but many others excuied themfeives from taking 
 part in it. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
lOS 
 
 CHAP. CCXVI. ^' ^'^'^^ 
 
 .imp.? 17 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND DETAINS THE HOSTAGES 
 
 AS PRISONERS. THE KING OF CYPRUS USES 
 
 CREAT INTREATIES WITH THE KINGS OF NA- 
 
 VARRE AND ENGLAND AND THE PRINCE OF 
 
 WALES, TO INDUCE THEM TO UNDERTAKE THIS 
 
 CROISADE AGAINST THE SARACENS. 
 
 A BOUT this time, the king of England fhewed 
 much favor to four dukes, viz. the duke of 
 Orleans, the duke of Anjou, the duke of Berry, and 
 the duke of Bourbon. Thefe lords had returned to 
 Calais, whence they had liberty to make cxcurfions 
 whither they chofe for three days ; but they were to 
 return on the fourth day by fun-fet. The king had 
 granted this favor with the good intent of their 
 feeing nearer to make folicitations to their friends, 
 and that they might haften their ranfoms, which 
 they were eager to do. 
 
 During the time the four above-mentioned lords 
 vere at Calais, they fent many and preffing mef- 
 feges to the king of France, and to the duke of 
 Normandy his eldeft foji, v.ho had nominated them 
 as hoftages, to remonftrate with them on the fub- 
 jeft of their ranfoms, which they had fworn and 
 promifed to attend to at the time they went to Eng- 
 land, otherwife they would have undertaken it 
 themfelves, threatening no longer to confider them- 
 felves as prifoners. 
 
 But although thefe lords were, as you know, very 
 near relations to the king of France, their folicitors 
 and meffeiigers were not liftened to, nor themfelves 
 
 ranfomedj 
 
109 
 
 ranfomed, which was very difpleafing to them, more 
 particularly to the duke of Anjou, who declared he 
 Would himfelf find a remedy, happen what would. 
 
 At this moment, the kingdom :nd the councils of 
 the king and duke of Normandy were hardly prelfed, 
 as weU on account of the croifade which the king 
 had undertaken, as for the war with the king of 
 Navarre, who was haraifmg the realm of France, 
 and who had recalled fome of the captains and com- 
 panies from Lombardy, in order the better to carry 
 on his defigns. This wns the principal reafon why 
 they could not immediately attend to the ranforas 
 of the four dukes, nor give fatisfa6tory anfwers by 
 their mclfengers, when they came to France. 
 
 We will now return to the king of Cyprus. 
 When he had vifited the empire and other countries, 
 as you have heard, he returned to P'rance, where he 
 was magnificently received by the king and the 
 great lords of his court. Several councils were 
 held on the fubjeft of this croifade, to difcover in 
 what manner it could turn out to the honor of 
 the king of France or to the good of his realm. 
 The wifeft were of opinion, that feeing the kingdom 
 fo much haraffed, robbed ar?d ruined, by the com- 
 panies and thieves that invaded it from all parts, 
 this expedition ought not to take place until the 
 kingdom were in a better ftate, or till peace were 
 made with the king of Navarre. However, not- 
 withftanding the good fenfe of this advice, the king 
 would not lilten to it, nor allow his ardour for this 
 croifade to be cooled. He confirmed his engage- 
 ment to the king of Cyprus, aad promifed to be at 
 
 Marfeilles 
 
110 
 
 Marfeilles in March the enfuing year (which would 
 be 1 364), and that then he would without delay 
 ciofs the fea, and order purveyances to all who 
 were willing to do the fame. 
 
 Upon this, the king of Cyprus took his leave of 
 the king of France, finding that he had fufficient 
 time to return to his own country and make his 
 preparations. He confidered with himfelf, if he 
 fiiould not do well to pay a vifit to his coufin the 
 king of Navarre, and endeavour, if p'^fTible, to make 
 a peace between him aad the king of France. 
 
 He therefore fet out from Paris with a grand 
 equipage, and took the road to Rouen; where, 
 when he v/as arrived, he was moft handfomely 
 received by his coufin the lord John d'Alen^on, 
 archbifhop of Rouen, who entertained him very 
 agreeably for three days. On the fourth he de- 
 parted, taking the road to Caen, and continued his 
 route to Cherbourg, where he found the king of 
 Navarre, the lord Louis* his brother, and a very 
 fmall company with them. 
 
 Thefe two lords of Navarre received the king of 
 Cyprus gracioufly and honorably, feafted him 
 grandly, as they had the means, and knew well how 
 to ufethem. Whilfl he was there, he endeavoured 
 to begin a treaty between them and the king of 
 France, and talked to thrm frequently and elo- 
 quendy upon this fubjett; for he was a man of 
 
 * Lord Louis. Charles had two brothers, Philip and 
 Lewis ; but which :'s here meant, I know not. Denys Sau- 
 vage fays it was Philip, n:iy MSS. Louis, 
 
 exccHent 
 
Ill 
 
 excellent underftanding, mafler of many languages, 
 and much beloved. The two brothers made very 
 handfome replies to him, butexcufcd themfelves by 
 faying, it was not their fault if they were not good 
 friends with the king and realm of France; for 
 their great defire was to be f), but the king muH 
 give bnck their iiihcritance which he held from them 
 wrongfully. The king of Cynrus would Vs illingly 
 have brought this bufinefs to a concluiion, for the 
 king of Navarre would have left it to him, had not 
 their differences been too great. 
 
 When the king of Cyprus had remciined at 
 Cherbourg about fifteen days, having been en- 
 tertained by the king of Navarre and his brother 
 fuitably to his rank, he took leave of them, faving 
 he fliould not reft until he had been in England, 
 and exhorted king Edward and his children to put 
 on the crofs. He departed from Cherbourg, and 
 arrived at Caen; theiiCxC he croffed the Seine at Pont 
 de I'Arche*; and entered Ponthicu ; having paflcd 
 the Somme at Abbeville t, he came to Rue;];, to 
 Montreuil ^, and to Calais, where he found the 
 three dukes of Orleans, Berry and Bourbon: for 
 the duke of Anjou had returned to France, but by 
 what means or in what condition I know notjj. 
 
 lliefe 
 
 * Pont de I'Arche, — a town of Normandy, on the 5eine, 
 diocefe of Evreax. 
 
 + Abbeville, — a confiderable town in Lower FIcardy, dio- 
 cefe of Amiens. 
 
 ;|; Rue, — a fmall town In Picardy. 
 
 § Montreuil, — a town in Picardy, diocefe of Am'ens. 
 
 Ij See Rymer, anno 1363, for different letters from king 
 John Vv'hilli at Avignon, and other matters refpeftiug the 
 
 raufoxns 
 
112 
 
 ^ Thefe three dukes, prifoners, though they wefei 
 in the town of Calais, received the king of Cyprus 
 very joyfully, and the king behaved with equal 
 politenefs to them. They continued together for 
 twelve days. When the king of Cyprus had a fa- 
 vourable wind, he croffed the Straits, and arrived at 
 Dover. He remained there two days to recover 
 himfelf, whilH they unloaded his vefifel and difem- 
 barked his h'>rfes. The king then continued his 
 route by eafy day-journeys, until he arrived at the 
 good city of London. 
 
 ranfoms of thefe princes of the blood. It appears that they 
 were all promifed their freedom on poffoffion being given to 
 the officers named by king Edward of certain lands and caftles 
 belonging to each of them, dated at Weftminller, 26th May 
 
 The duke of Anjoil and other hoftages broke their parole 
 and efcaped. In the Foedera 1 364, there are various re- 
 naonilrances made by Edward on this fubjeft. 
 
 Stow fays, in his Chronicle, that the duke of Anjou, by 
 breaking his word and oath to return to England as one of the 
 hoftages for king John, and thus deceiving him, was the caufe 
 of his. majefty's death, through grief. 
 
 Carte fays, * Their negotiations not fucceeding, the duke 
 of Anjou made ufe of that indulgence to efcape into France: 
 the king his father blamed him exceedingly, and, to repair 
 his fon's faults, refolved to go himfelf to England, and, by a 
 peifoiial treaty with Edward, remove the obftrudtions which 
 had hitherto prevented the full execution of the treaty of 
 Bretigny. His minifters tried, in vain, to diffuade him from 
 this refolution; for he told them, that though good faith 
 were baniflied out of the reft of the world, it oughi ftill to be 
 found in the words of princes, and as the performance of the 
 articles of that treaty was the condition of his^ he would at 
 any rate fee them executed,' 
 
 He 
 
113 
 
 He was honorably received on his arrival, as well 
 by the barons of France who were there as hoftages, 
 as by the Englifh lords, who had rode out to meet 
 him; for king Edward had ordered fome of his 
 knights, viz. the earl of Hereford*, hr Walter 
 iManny, the lord Defpencert, the lord Ral^h de 
 Ferrers J, fir Richard PembiidgeJ, fir R.icha:d 
 Stafford ||, and others, to meet him, who accom- 
 panied and conducted him to the lodgings which 
 were prepared for him in the city of London. 
 
 It would take me a day were I to attempt relating 
 to you the grand dinners, fuppers, and other fealts 
 and entertainments that were made, and the magni- 
 ficent prefents, gifts and jewels which were given, 
 
 * The earl of Hereforc^, fon ot" William Bohiin, earl of 
 Northarnpton, fuccet'ded to the tiile and eilates of Hereford, 
 en the deaih of his uncle Humphry de Bohun, in 1361. He 
 was afterwards nominated ambaflador to the duke of Milan, 
 refped^ing the marriage of his daughter Violarite to the duke of 
 Clarence, and died fhortly after. 
 
 + Lord Dcfpencer, — grandfon of Edward that was executed 
 at Hereford. He enjoyed much favour under Edward HI. and 
 was buried at Tewkefbury. 
 
 i Lord Ralph de Ferrers. I cannot find in Dugdale's 
 Baronage any of this family that bore the name of Ralph, 
 There is Rauf de Ferriers, banneret, in Aihmole, which 1 fup- 
 pofe muil be the fame. 
 
 § Sir Richard Pembridge — was fifty. third knight of the 
 garter. He died 1375, and his torub is in Hereford cathedral. 
 The only account I can find of him is in Mr. Gough's firfl vo- 
 lume of Sepulchral Monuments, to which I refer. 
 
 II Sir Richard Stafford — was fon to fir Richard Stafford, 
 brother to Ralph earl of StafR;rd. He ferved in Edward IIL's 
 wars in Gafcony, and was fummoned to parliament among 
 the barons, from 44th Edward III. until 4th Richard IL in- 
 Uufive. 
 
 Vol. III. I efpecially. 
 
efDeciallv by queen Philippa, to the accompli fliecl 
 kincT of Cyprus. In truth, he was deferving of 
 them, for he had come a long way and at a great 
 expenfe, to viht them, to exhort the king to put on 
 the red crof:^, and afhft in regaining countries now^ 
 occupied by the enemies of God. But the king of 
 England politely and wifely excuf^d himfelf, by 
 faying; * Certainly, my good coufin, 1 have every 
 inclination to undertake this expedition; but I am 
 growing too old, and fliall leave it to my children. 
 I make no doubt, that when it fliall have been 
 begun, you will not be alone, but will be followed 
 mod willingly by my knights and fquires.' ' Sir,*^ 
 replied the king of Cyprus, ' what you fay fatisfies 
 me. I verily believe they will come, in order 
 to ferve God, and do good to themfelves; but you 
 muf!: grant them permilTion fo to do ; for the 
 knights of your country are eager in fuch expe- 
 ditions.' ' Yes,' anfwered the king of England; ' I 
 will never oppofe fuch a work, unlefs fome things 
 fhould happen to me or to my kingdom which I do 
 not at this moment forePee.' 
 
 The king of Cyprus could never obtain any 
 thing more from king Edv/ard, in refped to this 
 croifade; but, as long as he remained, he was po- 
 litely and honourably feafled with a variety of 
 grand fuppers. 
 
 About this time king David *■ of Scotland had 
 fome affairs to tvanfact with king Edward that made 
 
 h 
 
 * King David. It appears by Rymer, from the paflport 
 granted him b/ king Edward, the 20th February 1364, that 
 
 David 
 
115 
 
 it necefTary for him to come to England; fo that 
 when he heard the king of Cyprus was there he 
 haftened his journey, in order to meet him, and 
 made fuch difpatch that he arrived in London be- 
 fore he had left if. 
 
 The two kings were much rejoiced to meet, and 
 congratulated e?,ch other upon it. The king of 
 England gave them two grand entertainments in his 
 palace of WeftminJler. At the laft of thefe, the 
 king of Cyprus took his leave of the king and 
 queen of England, who -made him very magnificent 
 prefents : king Edward gave him alfo a fliip called 
 the Catharine, which was very beautiful and v/ell 
 built. The king of England had had her con- 
 ftrufted, by his orders, to make the voyage to Je- 
 rufalem. She was valued at twelve thoufaiid francs, 
 and lay in the harbour of Sandwich. 
 
 The king of Cyprus was much pleafed with this 
 gift, and returned many thanks for it. He made 
 no Jong ftay after this in England, but returned to 
 the king of France. The king of England, however, 
 defrayed all his and his attendants' expences during 
 the time he remained, as well as the cofi; of his 
 journeys in coming and returning. I do not know 
 how it was, nor for what reafon, but he left the fhip 
 
 David Bruce's journey into England was to pay his de- 
 votions at the flirine of our Lady at Walfingham. The 
 fame religious motives might have made him fo eager to 
 converfe with the king of Cyprus on the fubjeft of the croi- 
 fade. — His paflport was to continue in force until the enfuing 
 Michaelmas. 
 
 His new queen, Margaret Logie, had at the f :me time a 
 paflport, to pay her devotions at the (hrihe of Thomas a 
 Becket, at Canterbury. 
 
 I 2 in 
 
1)5 
 
 in tlie harbour of Sandwich; for, two year^ after- 
 wards, I faw it there at anchor. 
 
 The king of Cyprus left England*, and eroded 
 the fea to Boulogne, Having learnt on the road, 
 that the king of France, the duke of Normandy^ 
 the lord Philip, youngeft fon to king John, and the 
 
 * Bjrnes, in his hiftoiy of Edward III. fays, that the king 
 of Denmark and the duke of Bavaria accompanied him to Eng- 
 land, and that their palTports were dated 6th December. 
 
 In Rymer, there is a pafTport for Waldemar king of Den. 
 mark, dated the i!l of February 1364, to continue to the en. 
 fuing Michaelmas, for himfelf and three hundred horfemen, &c., 
 but not one word is faid of the king of Cyprus^ nor of the duke 
 of Bavaria. 
 
 * Anno rcg. 31. 13J7. — Henry Picard, vintner, mayor of 
 London, in one day did fumptuocily feaft Edward king of 
 England, John king of France, the king of Cyprus (theit 
 newly arrived in England), David king of Scots, Edward 
 prince of Wales, with many noblemen and others : and after, 
 the faid Kenry Picard kept his hall againft all comers whofo- 
 cver that were willing to play at dice and hazard. 
 
 * In like martner, the lady Margaret, his wife, did alfb 
 keep her chamber to the fame 'ntent. 
 
 * The king of Cyprus playing with Henry Picard in his 
 hall, did win of him fifty marks ; but Henry being very 
 fkilful in that art, altering his hand, did after win of the faid. 
 king the fame fifty marks and fifty marks more ; which 
 when the faid king began to take in ill part, although he 
 diflt-mljlcd the fame, Henry faid unto him, ' My lord and 
 king, be not aggrieved : I covet not your gold, but your 
 play ; for I have not bid you hither that I might grieve you, 
 but that ainopgft other things I might try your play ;' 
 and gave him his money again, plentifully beftowing his 
 own amongrt the retinue. Eefides, he gave manj'' rich gifts- 
 to the king and other nobles and knights, who dined with 
 him, to the great glory of the citizens of London in thofe 
 days/ — Stevje'f Chmukle, 
 
 council 
 
117 
 
 council of ftate, were to be in the good town of 
 Amiens, the king of Cyprus took thn road, and 
 found the king of France juft arrived, vith part of 
 his council. He was kindly received by them, and 
 related to them the greater part of his travels, 
 which they liftened to with pleafu'e. 
 
 When he had been there fome time, he faid that 
 as yet he had done but little, until he fhould h^ve 
 feen the prince of Wales; and thrit, if it pleafed 
 God, he would go vifit him, as well as the barons of 
 Pcitou and Aquitaine, before he returned home. 
 
 The king of France m^de no obje8ion to this, 
 but earnelily entrcc ted, that when he fet out on his 
 return home, he would take his departure from 
 France, <o which jthe king of Cyprus readily a ffent:- 
 ed. He therefore left Amiens, taking the road to 
 Beauvais, paffed the Seine at JPontoife, and con- 
 tinued his route to Poitiers, 
 
 At this time, the prince was at Angouleme, where 
 there were fhortly to be grand entertsinments and 
 jufts by forty knights and as many fquires, in honor 
 of the princefs, who had lately been brought to bed 
 of a handfoiue fon, c:d!c(i Edward*, after his father. 
 
 As foon as the prince was informed of the arrival 
 of the king of Cyprus at Poitiers, he fent by f-ecial 
 command, fir John Chandos, attended by many 
 knights and fquires of his houfehold, to meet him. 
 
 * * By her (the princefs) he had two fons, namely Ed- 
 ward the eldeft, born ar Angouleme in P'ebruary 1365 (Le- 
 land fciith 1364.), who died in Gafcoigne at {"even years of 
 age/ — and Richard, who was afterwards king of England. 
 ^^AJhmoh^ Garter, p, 676. 
 
 I Z They 
 
118 
 
 They accompanied him, with great joy and re- 
 fpetl, to the piince, wljo received him moft kindly 
 and honorably. 
 
 We will now leave the king of Cyprus for a 
 while, and return to the king of France, to relate 
 what were the reafons why he and his council had 
 come to Amiens. 
 
 CHAt', CCXVII. 
 
 KING fOHN RETURNS, OF HIS OWN FREE WILL, 
 TO ENGLAND, AND DIES THERE. 
 
 WAS informed, and indeed truly, that king 
 John had a wifh to go to England, to vifit his 
 brother king Edward and the queen his fifter, and 
 for this effect had fammoned part of his council. — 
 They could not make him change his mind, though 
 they gave freely their opinions on the fubjeft; and 
 many of the prelates and barons of France told him, 
 he would do a very foolifh thing, if he again put 
 himfeif in the power of the king of England. 
 
 But the king anfwered, that hv^ had found fo 
 much loyalty and honor in his brotl er the king of 
 England, the queen, and his nephews their chil- 
 dren, that he could not fufficiently praife them : he 
 did not in the leuft doubt but that they would be 
 courteous, polite and loyal, and friends to him in all 
 fituations. He was alfo anxious to go to England, 
 in order to make excufes for his fon, the duke of 
 Anjou, who had returned to France. On hear- 
 ing this, not one of the council had a word 
 
 more 
 
l\9 ^ 
 
 more to fay, fince his majefty had thus ordered and 
 fettled it. 
 
 He aqain apnointed his fon, the duke oF Nor- 
 mandv, regent of France, during his abfence. He 
 promifed his youngeft ("on the loid Piniip, that on 
 his return from the journey he was about to make *, 
 he would cre-ite him duke of Burgundy, and that 
 he fh mid inherit the lands of that duchy. 
 
 When all things were prepared according to his 
 orders, and his purveyances fent to Boulogne, he 
 departed from the city of Amiens, and, having be- 
 gun his journey, continued it uatil he came to 
 Hefdin, where he remained to pafs his Chriftmas. — 
 The earl Louis of Flanders, who was much at- 
 tached to him, came there to vifit his majefty ; and 
 they continued together about three or four days. 
 On Innocents' day, he left Hefdin, rode forwards 
 to Boulogne, where he took up his quarters in the 
 abbey, and remained there until he had a favorable 
 wind. 
 
 He was accompanied, when he croffed the fea, 
 by the following nobles of his realm, the lord John 
 d'Artois, the earl of Eu, the earl of Dampmartin, 
 the grand prior of France, the lord Boucicaut mar- 
 
 * That on his return, &c. King John's paffport is in 
 Rymer, dated loth December 1363. There is alfo in that 
 excellent coUeftion, the patent of rhe creation of Philip duke 
 of Burgundy, which is dated Germigny fur Marne, 6th Sep- 
 tember, 1363. — Carte, vol. ii. 
 
 There are two Germignys, Germigny I'Eveque and Ger« 
 migny fous Coulome, villages of Brie, in the diocefe and election 
 of Mcaux, 
 
 I 4 Dial 
 
120 
 
 fhal of France, fir Triflan de Maguelle?, {ir Peter 
 and fir John de Viliiers, fir Johnd'Anville, fir Ni- 
 cholas Bracque, and feveral great knights. 
 
 When their veffeis were laden, and the mariners 
 had a wind to their wiflies, they informed the king, 
 Vk'ho embarked on board his veffel about midnight, 
 as did his attendants on board of theirs. Having 
 fet their fails for the coaft of England, they arrived 
 at Dover about vefpers. It was on the day pre- 
 ceding the vigil of the feafh of the three kings, 
 called the Epiphany*. 
 
 Newsvv'as brought to the king of England (who 
 at that time was with his queen at Ekham, a very 
 magnificent palace which the king had, feven miles 
 from London), that the king of France had landed 
 at Dover. He immediately ordered many knights 
 of his houfehcld to go and congratulate the king on 
 his arrival; the l-:>rd Bartholomew Burgherfht, fir 
 Richard Pembridge J, fir Allan Boxhall {, and fe- 
 
 * This, according to a marginal note of Denys Sauvage, 
 makes it 1364, beginning the year the i<\ of January. 
 
 + Lord Burgherihj — knight of the Garter. "See Dugdale's 
 Baronage. 
 
 J Sir Richard Pembridge. See p, 113, note. 
 
 § Sir Allan Boxhall, — fifty -fecond knight of the Garter, 
 See Afhmole. 
 
 Walfmg. Ypodigma, p. 136, fa'th ; • Hoc anno, Rob. 
 Haule fcutifer fuit occifus in ecclcfia Weftmon. tempore ma~ 
 ioris mifTo) per quofdam regis fatcllites quorfum dudlor extitit 
 Alanus de Buxhaile, miles per ante non ignobilis, fed hoc 
 fafto poilea femper infamis ;' for which he was by name ex- 
 communicated. 
 
 Anno 1378, fir Ralph de Ferrars was excommunicated with 
 him for the fame offence. 
 
 veial 
 
ni 
 
 vcral others. They took leave of king Edward, 
 and rode towards Dover, where they found the 
 kin.g of France, who had remained there fince his 
 arrival. They attended and condu6led him with 
 every mark of refpect and honour, as they well knew 
 how to do. Among other complimerts, they told 
 him the king their loid was much rejoiced at his 
 coming, which the king of France readily be- 
 lieved. 
 
 On the morrow m.orning, the king and his at* 
 tendants were on horfeback early, and rode to 
 Canterbury, where they dined. On en'teririg the 
 cathedral, the king p^.id his devotions at the flvinc 
 of St. Thomas a Becket, and prefented to ii a rich 
 jewel of oreat value. The king of France remained 
 two days in the city of Canterbury, llie third day 
 he fct out, taking the road to London, and rodeoa 
 until he came to Eltham, where the kis^jr of Ens[- 
 land was, with a number of lords, ready to receive 
 him. It was on a Sunday, in the afternoon, that 
 he arrived : there were, theref )re, between this 
 time and fupper, many grand dances and carols. 
 
 The young lord de Coucy * was there, who 
 took pains to flrine in his dancing and finging when- 
 ever it was his turn. He was in great favor with 
 both the French and En^glifli; for whatever he chofe 
 to do he did well and with grace. 
 
 * Lord de Coucy. Engucrrand de Coucy, Ton of Engu- 
 crrand de Coucy and Catharine, daughter of Leopold, firft 
 fluke of Swabia (the prefent imperial familv). He married 
 Ifabella, eldeft dayohier of Edwaid IIL — Anderfon's Royal 
 Grmalcgies, 
 
 I can 
 
122 
 
 I can never relate how very honorably and mag- 
 nificently the kino; PVid queen of Eiiglaod received 
 king John. On leaving Elthain, l.e went to Lon- 
 don ; and, as he came near, he v.-as met by the ci- 
 tizens drelTed out in their proue" companies, who 
 greeted and welcomed him with much reverence, 
 and attended him with large bands of minftrcls, 
 unto the palace of the Savoy, which had been pre- 
 pared for him. 
 
 The princes of the blood royal that remained, as 
 his hoftages, in England, were alfo lodged in the 
 fame palace; namely, his brother the duke of Or? 
 leans, his fon the duke of Berry, his coufin the 
 duke of Bourbon, the earl of Alen^on, Guy de 
 Blois, the earl of St. Pol, and many more. 
 
 Thd king pafTed there part of the winter very 
 gaily with his countrymen. The king of England 
 vifited him often; as did his chiidien. the duke of 
 Clarence, the duke of«Lanca{ler, t^nd ihe lord Ed- 
 mund his youngeft fon. • There were feveral times 
 great feaftings between them, in dinners, fuppcrs 
 and other entertainments, at this hotel of the Savoy, 
 and at the palace of Weftminfter, which is not far 
 off, whither the king went in a private manner, 
 M'henever he chofe it, by means of the river 
 Thames. 
 
 They both frequently regretted the lofs' of the 
 lord James de Bourbon, and faid that it was a very 
 unfortunate bufinefs ; for no one deferved better 
 his rank among nobles. 
 
 We w^ill now leave the king of France for a fliort 
 
 time, and fpeak of the king of Cyprus, who had 
 
 Q come 
 
123 
 
 come to Angoiileme to vifit his coufin the prince of 
 Wales. He was mofl; gracioufly received by his 
 royal highnefs, and by all the barons, knights and 
 fquires of Poitou and Saintonge who were then 
 with the' prince, fuch as the vifcount de Thouars, 
 the young lord of Pons, the lord of Partenay, fir 
 Louis de Harcourt, fir Guifcard d'Angle; and, 
 among the Englifh, by fir John Chandos, fir Tho- 
 mas Felton*, fr Nele Loring t, fir Richard ,de 
 Pontchardon J, fir Simon de Baflelle §, and feveral 
 others, as well of that country as from England. 
 
 The king of Cyprus was magnificently enter- 
 tained by the prince, princefs, and the barons and 
 knights above mentioned. He (laid there upwards 
 of a month; and then fir John Chandos accom- 
 panied him, for his amufement, into dififerent parts 
 of Poitou and Saintonge, and fhewed him the good 
 town of la Rochclle, where there was a grand feaft 
 made for him. When he had feen every thing, he 
 
 * Sir Thomas Felton, — of Lutcham In Norfolk, forty-ninth 
 knight of the Garter. He was grand fenefchal and com-r 
 raandant de Guienne for Richard II. He was killed in oppof- 
 ing Henry Tranftaraare, before the battle of Najara. Sir 
 Thomi's Hoo, knight of the Garter^ married his daughter. — 
 Aujlii' MSS. Coll^iliof/s. 
 
 + Sir Nele Loring, — twentieth kniglif of the Garter. See 
 his life in Afhniole. He was chamberlain to the black prince. 
 He died tiae 9th Richard II. and wis buried at Dundable. 
 
 Anftis' MSS. editions. 
 
 \ Sir Richard de Pontchardon. 1 cannot find any tiding 
 ^bout him. 
 
 § Sir Simon de Bafielles, — probably EafTet, but I cannot 
 fay more. 
 
 returned 
 
124 
 
 returned to Angouleme, to affift at the noble tour* 
 nament which the prince held, where there were 
 plenty of knights and fquires. 
 
 Soon after this feaft, the king of Cyprus took his 
 leave of the prince and of the knights of the 
 country, but not before he had related to them the 
 principal reafon of his vifit, and for what caufe he 
 had put on the red crofs which he wore : how the 
 pope had blcfled this expefiition, which was de- 
 ferving of every praifc; and how the king of France 
 through devotion, as well as many other great 
 lords, had put it on, and had fworn to its exe^ 
 cution. 
 
 The prince and the kniohts made him a courteous 
 anfwer, faying, that in t. uth it was an expedition 
 in which eveiy man of w;>rth or honor was in- 
 terefted; and that, if it pleafed God, and the paf- 
 fage were open, he would not be ah^ne, but would 
 be followed by all thofe who were delirous to ad- 
 vance themfelves. 
 
 The king of Cyprus was well pleafed with this 
 fpeech, and took his departure; but fir John Chan- 
 dos attended him, until he had quitted the princi- 
 pality. It appears to me, that he went back into 
 France, and took the road towards Paris, in the 
 hopes of finding the king of France returned home: 
 but it was not fo; for he was (till at the palace of 
 the Savoy, confined to his bed by ficknefs, of which 
 he grew worfe every day, to the great uneafinefs of 
 the king of England and his queen, as the moft 
 learned phyficians had declared him to be in much 
 danger. 
 
 .The 
 
125 
 
 The duke of Normandy was informed of all this 
 at Paris, where he refided, having the regency of 
 the realm; for the lord de Boucicaut had croflTed 
 the fea, to convey the news of this illnefs to him. 
 
 T'-e kintr of Nav-rre alfo heard of the progrefs 
 of this diforder, which gave him no difpleafare, for 
 he hoped, if the king of France died, to carry ori 
 his WT more fo his fatisfaBion : he fent letters, 
 therefore, to the captal de Buch*, who at that time 
 was with his brother-in-law the carl of Foixt, to 
 defire that he would come to him in Normandy^ 
 and that he woul 1 exalt him in dignities above all 
 other lords and knights. 
 
 The captal, who Vvas foid of crms and coufin to 
 the king of Navarre, complied with his requeft. He 
 left the earl of Foix, taking his road through the 
 principality of Aquitaine, where he foHcited feveral 
 knights and fquires to go v,ith him ; but he fuc- 
 ceeded with only a fev;. Neither the Knglifii, 
 Gafcons nor Poitevins were willing to take up arms 
 for the king of Navarre, againft the crown of 
 France; for they confideied the treaties and alli- 
 
 ♦ Captal de Buch, — fifih knight of the Garter. M. Anftis, 
 in his fecond volume," fays, ' it W3s fir John de Greilly, of 
 royal lineage, and the moft renowned commander at that t'rne^ 
 whofe unalterable loyalty to tije crown of England was fuch, 
 that he chofe to die a prifoner at Paris, 1397, rather than de- 
 viate from it.' 
 
 * Buch is a fmall promontory, lying along the coaft from 
 Bayonne to Medoc,' &c. See Anftis. 
 
 + Earl of Foix. Gaftcn IL fuccec.>'i his father, 1544. 
 His filter Blanca was married to John de Greilly. 
 
 ances 
 
126 
 
 ances entered into and fworn by ihe king of Eng- 
 lai>d, t'leir fovereign lord, with the king of France 
 at Calais, fo facred and ftrong, they would not by 
 any means infringe or break them. 
 
 During the time the eaptal de Bach was journey- 
 ing towards the king of Navarre, John king of 
 France departed this life in England. The king, 
 queen, the princes of the blood and all the nobles 
 of England v/eie exceedingly concerned at it, from 
 the great love and affection he had Ihewn to them 
 fince the eonclufion of the peace. 
 
 His brother, the duke of Orleans, and his fon, the 
 duke of Berry, were in great affliction at his death, 
 and fent in hafle to inform the duke of Normandy 
 of the melar.choly event ; who, when he was certain 
 it was true, was much ajfefted by it, as he had 
 re-fon to be; but, confidering that eyery thing, 
 which is created muft in the courfe of nature have 
 an end, and that he could not remedy this lofs, he 
 bore it as patiently as he was able. Finding himfelF 
 thus fucceffor to the inheritance of the kingdom of 
 Frr-'nce, and being well informed that the king of 
 N vaire was daily reinforcing his garrifons in the 
 county of Evreux, and that he was engaging men. 
 at arms to carry on the war, he refolved to provide 
 himfelf with an able council, and to oppofe this evil 
 by every means in his power. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
iQt 
 
 CHAP. CCXVIII. 
 
 JLING CHARLES OF FRANCE MAKES WISE PREPARA- 
 TIONS AGAINST THE KING OF NAVARRE, IMME- 
 i)IATELY AFTER THE DEATH OF KING JOHN HIS 
 FATHER, AND BEFORE HIS CORONATION. 
 
 A T this period there was a knight of Brittany, 
 who had always borne arms in favour of the 
 French, called fir Bertrand du Guefclin*. His 
 worth and fame were but little known except amonf^ 
 the kni2Jits of Brittany, who were his neighbours in 
 that country, where he had refided and carried on 
 the war in favour of the lord Charles of Blois. 
 
 This fir Bertrand was always much efteemed by 
 them as a valiant knight, and well beloved by his 
 brethren at arms: he was already in the good graces 
 of the duke of Normandy, on account of the great 
 acts of valour that he had heard related of him. 
 
 It happened that the duke of Normandy, fooii 
 after the death of the king his father, had very 
 ftrong fufpicions of the king of Navarre : he there- 
 fore gave orders to the lord of Boucicaut, {ayino-; 
 * Set out from hence as f^r.eedily as you can, with 
 as many friends as poffible, and ride towards Nor- 
 mandy, where you will meet fir Bertrand du Guef- 
 clin : I fhall then defire that you both fall on the king 
 of Navarre, and retake Mante; by which means we 
 
 * Bertrand du GueA.Iin. For more of him, fee his mernoirs, 
 in the third and fourth volumes of les Memoires Hiftoriqiies, 
 and alfo in Hift. de la Bretagne, Sec, 
 
 fliall 
 
128 
 
 Ihall be mafters of the river Seine.' The lord de 
 Boucicaut anfwered, ' Sir, this I will moil willingly 
 perform *.' 
 
 He then quitted Paris, taking with him a great 
 number of knights and fquires. He followed the 
 road towards Normandy, through St. Germain en 
 Laye, and gave thofe to underftand who accom- 
 panied him that he was going to attack the cadle of 
 Roulkboife t, which was detained by certain per- 
 fons called free companions, who did every mifchicf 
 poffible. Roulleboife has a very good and flrong 
 caUle upon the river Seine, about a league diftant 
 from Mantc, and was at that time filled and garri- 
 foned by thcfe companies and their men at arms, 
 •who carried on the war for their own benefit, and 
 attacked the friends of the kings of France and of 
 Navarre without di(lin6lion. Thev had a captain 
 of the name of Wautaire Auflarde J, a native of 
 Brulfels, whom they implicitly obeyed. He paid 
 them according to a certain fixed proportion of 
 ■wagesj and was an expert foldier of great courage. 
 
 He and his people had pillaged the country all 
 around; fo that no one dared travel from Paris to 
 Mante, nor from Mante to Rouen or Pontoife, for 
 
 ' * It does not appear from the memoirs of Bcrtrand du Giief- 
 din, re-publiQied in the third and fourth volumes of les Mc- 
 moires Hiftoriqucs, that the marechal de Boucicaut had any 
 thing to do with the taking of Mante, &c. as his name never 
 once occurs. Ner are the chronicles agreed as to the exaft 
 date when this happened. — See Note 19. Mem. Hift. 
 + Roulleboif', — a village in Normandy, on the Seine. 
 
 t Wautaire Auftarde. Barnes calla him Vantair Auftart 
 
 fear 
 
fear of them ; for they attacked both French and 
 Navarrois, prefTing efpecially the people of Mante 
 very hard. 
 
 When the lord de Boucicaut left Paris, thoush 
 he made it be underftood he was going to that part 
 of the country, neverthelefs he miffed taking the 
 right road to Roulleboife. He waited, therefore, 
 for fir Bertrand da Guefclin and his army, who a 
 lliort time before had made an excurfion to 
 Evreux *, and held a parley with the inhabitants of 
 that city; but, inftead of opening their gates to him, 
 they feverely attacked him with ftones,&;c. : be re- 
 treated, and made for the marflial, who had halted 
 for him in a road not far from Roulleboife. 
 
 Upon muftering their forces, they found they 
 were full five hundred men at arms. Thefe two 
 captains had a long conference together, upon the 
 heft means of fubfiilingthemfelves, and what would 
 be the fureft method of gaining the town of Mante^ 
 their principal object. They determined that the 
 lord de Boucicaut, with one hundred of his knights 
 only, (hould ride to Mante, and feign themfelves to 
 be much frightened, crying out that the garrifon (.f 
 Roulleboife was in purfuit of them, and begging 
 that they would give them admittance. If they 
 confented, they were to feize the gates, and fir 
 Bertrand would directly ft^llow with the remainder 
 of the army : they would then be matters of the 
 
 * Evreux. — an ancient city of Normandy. Its bifliop is 
 fuffragan to the archbiihop of Rouen. 
 
 Vol. III. K place. 
 
m 
 
 place. Should this plan fail, they did not fee by what 
 other means they could gain it. 
 
 The council being diflblved, the lords kept ihe 
 fecret among themfelves. The lord de Boucicaut 
 fet out, according to their plan, and took the road 
 to Mante : fir Bertrand went with the reft of the 
 troops another road, but placed himfelf and men in 
 ambufh not far from the town. 
 
 When the lord de Boucicaut was near to Mante, 
 he and his troop feparated, like to people that had 
 been beaten and were purfued. The marfhal at- 
 tended only by ten others, (followed, however, by 
 the reft at a fmall diftance) came to the barricadoes 
 of the town, and cried out, ' Hollo, good people of 
 Mante, open your gates, I beg of you, and let us 
 come in; for the thieves of RouUeboifehave difcom- 
 fited us, and are now at our heels.' ' Who are 
 you ?' afked thofe whom he had addreffed. ' I am, 
 gentlemen, the lord de Boucicaut, marfhal of France, 
 whom the duke of Normandy had fent againft Roul- 
 leboife : but thofe rogues there have beaten us, and 
 made us fly, whether willing or not; and they will 
 capture me and my people unlefs you open your 
 gates to us.' 
 
 The people of Mante, thinking he had faid 
 nothing but truth, replied; ' Sir, we know well 
 that thofe in Roulleboife are our enemies as well as 
 "yours, and that it is indifferent to them on which 
 party they make war: on the other hand, the duke 
 of Normandy hates us, on account of our attach- 
 ment to the king of Navarre our lord: we are 
 
 there- 
 
131 
 
 therefore in great doubt, if we fliall not be betrayed 
 by you, who are marflial of France.' ' By my Faith, 
 gentlemen, that fhall never be ; for I am come into 
 this country folely to deftroy the gari ifon of Roul- 
 leboife.' At thefe words they opened their gates. 
 The lord de Boucicaut entered, with fome of his 
 companions ; but he was followed fo flowly by the 
 remainder, that the people of Mante had not time 
 to fhut their, gates upon fir Bertrand's men, who 
 came in with the laft of the lord de Boucicaut's 
 party : for though the lord de Boucicaut went with 
 his men direftly to an hotel, where they difarmed 
 themfelves, in order the better to blind the inhabi- 
 tants, fir Bertrand and his forces came full gallop 
 into the town, crying, ' St. Yves Guefclin ! death to 
 the Navarrois.' They entered, pillaged the houfes of 
 whatever they found, and made prifoners of whom 
 they pleafed : they alfo murdered feveral. 
 
 Soon after they had pofTeflion of Mante, a detach- 
 ment of Bretons advanced to Meulan, a league 
 diftant, and very cunningly entered it. They faid 
 they were men at arms whom fir William de Gra- 
 ville had fent thither, and that as many or more had 
 remained at Mante. The people of Meulan believed 
 the truth of this the more readily becaufe they came 
 by the road from Mante, and becaufe they could 
 not have croflfed the river but by the bridge of 
 Mante. Thinking what they had told them muft 
 be true, they opened their gates, which were in- 
 ftantly feized by the Bretons, who entered, crying 
 put, ' St. Yves Guefclin V and began to lay about 
 
 K 2 them 
 
132 
 
 them with their arms. When the inhabitants found 
 themfelves thus deceived, and that there were no 
 hopes of redrefs, they fled and faved themfelves as 
 well as they could. 
 
 Thus were Mante and Meulan taken, to the 
 great joy of the duke of Normandy. The king of 
 Navarre was in a furious rage, when he was in- 
 formed of it ; he direftly reinforced all his towns 
 and ^aftles with troops and well tried officers ; for 
 he was much chagrined at lofing Mante and Meulan, 
 as they were to him convenient entrances into France. 
 
 This fame week, the captal de Buch arrived at 
 Cherburgh with four hundred men at arms. The 
 king of Navarre was well pleafed thereat, and re- 
 ceived him moft gracioully. In his complaints againft 
 the duke of Normandy, he was very fore upon his 
 lofTes of the towns of Mante and Meulan, which, 
 he faid, had been taken from him by ftealth. The 
 captal replied; ' My lord, if it pleafe God, we will 
 "o and meet vour enemies, and exert ourfelves fo 
 effeBually that, God willing, you fliall fpeedilyhave 
 again pofiefiion of thefe, as well as many other 
 towns and caftles. It is faid, that the king of France 
 will very foon go to Rheims, for his coronation : 
 we will therefore at that time begin our attack on 
 his country.' 
 
 The king of Navarre, being much rejoiced at the 
 arrival of the captal de Buch, faid he fliould fend 
 him on an excurfion into France. The king fought 
 for men at arms wherever he could get them, or 
 where there was any likelihood of obtaining them. 
 
 T here 
 
133 
 
 There was at that time in Normandy, an Englifh 
 knight who formerly had borne arms for the king 
 of Navarre; his name was fir John Jouel*; a 
 very able and expert man in his profeffion. He 
 commanded about two or three hundred lances. 
 The king of Navarre fent to intreat him to ferve 
 under him, together with his men; which fir John 
 Jouel confented to, and waited on him to place him- 
 felf under his orders. 
 
 The duke of Normandv was informed that the 
 king of Navarre was collecting large bodies of men 
 at arms, and that the captal de Buch was to be the 
 commander of them. He therefore formed his re* 
 folutions, and wrote to fir Bertrand du Guefclin, to 
 order him and his Bretons to make a ftand againft 
 the Navarrois, and that he would fpeedily fend hitn 
 fufficient reinforcements to oflFer battle to the troops 
 of the king of Navarre. At the fame time, he 
 ordered the lord de Boucicaut to remain at Mante 
 and Meulan. 
 
 Sir Bertrand and his Bretons departed, and took 
 up their quarters near to V^ernon. In a few days 
 afterward, the duke of Norma.ndy fent to him fome 
 noble men at arms; fuch as the earl of Auxerre, 
 the vifcount de Beaumont, the lord de Beaujeu, the 
 lord Louis d« Chalons, the archprieft,the mafter of 
 the crofs-bowmen, and many other knights and 
 fquires. 
 
 * Sir John Jouel. Barnes calls him fir John Jones ; but he 
 quotes no authority for this change from all the chronicles and 
 memoirs of the times. 
 
 K 3 About 
 
134 
 
 About this time, feveral knights of Gafcony came 
 to ferve under the duke of Normandy : atr.ong 
 whom were the lord d'Albret, fir Aymon de Pom- 
 miers, the foaldich de TEftrade*, fir Petion dc 
 Counon and ieveral more. The duke of Normandy 
 felt himfelf much obliged to them for coming to his 
 affiftance, and begged of them to go into Normandy 
 to orpofe his enemies. 
 
 The above-named lords willingly obeyed, and, 
 having put their men in proper arr^iy, marched to- 
 wards Normandy, except the lord d'Albret, who 
 remained with the duke; but his troops went on the 
 expedition. 
 
 At this period a knight, called Beaumont de 
 Laval, came from the French fro.uiers of Brittany, 
 and advanced towards Evreux, with about forty 
 lances under him. A young knight, fir Guy de 
 Graville, happened to be in that town at the time, 
 •who no fooner heard of the alarm than he haftened 
 to arm himfelf, ordering all the garrifon to do the 
 fame : they were foon mounted, and in purfuit after 
 them. But (ir Beaumont had already fucceeded in 
 his enterprife. However, by the fleetnefs of his 
 horfe, fir Guy de Graville came near enough to cry 
 out, « Beaumont, you mufl: not go off thus : the 
 men of Evreux mud fpeak to you, for they wifh to 
 be better acquainted with you.' When fir Beau- 
 
 * The fouldich de I'Eftrade. He was afterwards created 
 a knight of the Garter. See Anflis's Garter, vol. ii. p. 157. 
 He calls him fir Sandich de Trane, 
 
 mont 
 
136 
 
 mont thus heard himfelf called upon, he turned his 
 horfe about, lowered his lance, and made ftraight 
 for fir Guy. Thefe two knights met each other 
 with fuch force, that their lances were fhivered on 
 their fhields; but they were fo firm in their feats 
 that neither was unhorfed, as they pafTed each other. 
 On their return, they drew their fwords ; and, at 
 the fame time, both their companies began to fight 
 fo furioufly, that in the courfe of the rencounter 
 many were unhorfed on each fide. 
 
 The Bretons acquitted themfelves mofl loyally; 
 but in the end they could not maintain their ground, 
 for numbers increafed upon them every moment fo 
 that they were all killed or made prifoners : none 
 efcaped. Sir Beaumont de Laval was taken by fir 
 Guy de Graville, and brought as his prifoner to the 
 caftle of Evreux, whither all the other prifoners 
 were conducted. Thus ended this adventure; for 
 which fir Guy was much praifed, and beloved by 
 the king of Navarre and the citizens of Evreux, 
 
 CHAP. CCXIX. 
 
 THE KING OF CYPRUS RETURNS TO PARIS. THE 
 
 FUNERAL OF KING JOHN AT ST. DENIS. THE 
 
 CAPTAL DE BUCH MAKES AN ATTACK ON SIR. 
 BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN. 
 
 nPHE king of Cyprus, who was now returned from 
 
 Aquitaine to. France, went to meet the king, 
 
 who had before borne the title of duke of Normandy. 
 
 His two brothers, the duke of Anjou, and the lord 
 
 K 4 Philip, 
 
\56 
 
 Philip, fincednke of Burgundy, were with the king, 
 wiiiting for the corpfe of thcii father, which was oa 
 the road from England. The ki'\g of Cyprus very 
 cordially condoled with them on the fubje6t of their 
 lofs, and was himfelf much affi^Bed bv the death of 
 the king of Fiance, beraufe his expedition would 
 be retaided by it: he clothed himfelf in black for 
 his mourning. 
 
 V/hci the body of the king of Fr-^nce, which had 
 been embalmed and put into a c"ifin, aprrc^ached 
 near to Paris, attended by the loid John d'Artois, 
 the earl of Dampmartin, and the graiuj prior of 
 France, the duke of Normandy, his brothers, the 
 king of Cyprus and the greater part of the clergy 
 of Paris, went on foot beyond St. Denis, to meet it. 
 On being brought thither, it was buried with great 
 folemnity } and the archbilhop of Sens faid mafs on 
 the day of the interment. 
 
 After the fervice was over, and dinner ended 
 (which was very magnificent) the great lords and 
 prelates returned to Paris. There were then held 
 many councils on the ftate of the kingdom, which 
 could not any longer do well without a king; and 
 it was determined by the prelates and nobles, that 
 they fhould immediately go for Rheims. The duke 
 of Normandy (for Rich was flill his title) \vrote to 
 his uncle, Wincefiaus duke of B abant* a.id Lux- 
 emburgh, and alfo to his coufin the earl of Flan- 
 
 * Wiuceflaus duke of Brabant, — fon of the emperor 
 Charles IV. — Auderfon's R. Genealogies, 
 
 der?j 
 
137 
 
 ders*, to requeft their attendance at his coronationf, 
 which was fixed for Trinity -day next enfuingt. 
 
 Whilft 
 
 * Karl of Flanders, — Lewis II. the laft earl of Flanders. 
 He was ftabbed in a quarrel by John, fon of the king of 
 France, at Boulogne, 1382. — Anderson. 
 
 + As the account of the funeral of king John is very dif- 
 ferent in the fuperb edition of les Grand Chroniques de St. 
 Denis, in my poffeffion, I tranflate it. 
 
 * This Tuefday, the ift day of May 1364, the body of 
 king John who had died at London, as has been related, 
 was brought to the abbey of St. Anthony, near Paris. It 
 remained there until the Sunday following, that preparations 
 might be made for the funeral. On that day, the cth of 
 May, it was tranfported from thence to the church of Notre 
 Dame, attended hy proceffions on foot from all the churches 
 of Paris, and by three of the king's fons, namely, Charles 
 duke of Normandy, Lewis duke of Anjou, and Philip duke of 
 Terouenne : the king of Cyprus was alfo there. 
 
 * The body was carried by the members of his parliament, 
 9s had been the ufage with other kings, becaufe they repre- 
 fent the perfon of the king in matters of juftice, which is the 
 faireft jewel in his crown, and by which he reigns. On the 
 Monday morning folemn mal:. was fung in the church of 
 Jslolre Dame J and, foon afterward, the body was carried to 
 St. Denis in the fame manner as it had been brought from 
 the abbey of St. Anthony. The three princes and the king 
 of Cyprus followed on foot, as far as the gate of St. Landri |, 
 where they mounted their horfes, and accompanied the body 
 to the town of St. Denis, where, on their arrival, they dif, 
 mounted, and, as before, followed the body on foot to the 
 fhurch. I 
 
 4. There was formerly a gate called Port St. Landri, near to 
 St. Germain I'Auxerrois. It was built up in the year 1558, 
 •T'M. Sawvalf Antijuites de Faris^ 
 
 'On 
 
138 
 
 Whilft thefe things were going forwards, and the 
 nobles were making preparations for the coronation, 
 the French and Navarrois were advancing towards 
 each other in Normandy : the captal de Buch was 
 already in the city of Evreux, colle6ling his men at 
 arms and foldiers from every place he could get 
 them. We will fpeak of him and of fir Bertrand de 
 Guefclin, as well as of a famous battle which was 
 fought the Thurfday preceding Trinity Sunday, the 
 day the duke was to be crowned king of France (as 
 indeed he was) in the cathedral of the city of Rheims, 
 
 When the lord John de Grielly, known by the 
 appellation of the captal de Buch, had completed his 
 numbers of archers and foot-foldiers in the city of 
 Evreux, he made his final arrangements, and ap- 
 pointed as governor of it a knight called the lord 
 Michael d'Orgery. He fent to Conches * the lord 
 Guy de Graville, to defend that place as a fort of 
 frontic^r. He then marched with all his men at 
 arms and archers; for he had heard that the French 
 •were abroad, but was not certain in what quarter. 
 
 * On Tuefday, the 'yth day of May, the obfequies of the 
 late king were performed in the church of St. Denis, and the 
 body was interred on the left hand of the high altar. 
 
 * Shortly after mafs, king Charles, the eldeft fon of tke 
 late king, went into the meadow, and there received the 
 homages of the peers of France and other great barons. He 
 then went to dinner, and remained at St. Denis that and the 
 following day. On the Thurfday, king Charles left that town, 
 to prepare for his coronation, which was fixt for the Trinity- 
 Sunday following.' 
 
 * Conches, — a market-town in Normandy, four leagues 
 from Evreux. 
 
 He 
 
159 
 
 He took the field, very defirous of finding them; 
 and, having muftered his army, he found he had fe- 
 ven hundred lances, and full three hundred archers, 
 with five hundred other ferviceable men. There 
 were among them feveral good knights and fquires, 
 efpecially a banneret of the kingdom of Navarre, 
 named the lord Saulx; but the greateft and moft 
 expert, with the largeft company of men at arms 
 and archers in his train, was an Englifli knight, 
 called fir John Jouel. There were alfo the lord 
 Peter de Saque-ville, the lord William de Gaville, 
 the lord Bertrand du Franc, Bafque de Marneil, and 
 many others, who were eager to meet fir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, to give him battle. They marched 
 towards Paffy* and Portte de I'Arche, thinking the 
 French would pafs the Seine there, if in truth they 
 had not already crofled it. 
 
 It chanced that, as on the Whitfun-Wednefl 
 day, the captal and his companions were riding 
 through a wood, he met a herald, whofe n^me 
 was Faucon, and who had that morning left the 
 French army. As foon as the captal faw him, 
 he recognized him, for he was one of the king 
 of England's heralds, and afked him from whence 
 he came, and if he could give him any intel*. 
 ligence of the French army. * Yes, that I can, 
 in God's name, my lord,' replied he; ' for I only 
 left them this day : they are feeking after you, and 
 are very anxious to mret with you.' ' Where are 
 they ?' afked the captal, ' on this or on the other fide 
 
 • Paffy, — a town in Normandy, four leagues from Evreux. 
 
 of 
 
140 
 
 of Pont de I'Arche ?' 'In the Lord's name,' an* 
 fwered Faucon, ' they have pafiTed Pont de I'Arche 
 and Vernon, and are, as I believe, at this moment 
 very near to Pafly.' ' Tell me, I pray thee,' faid 
 the captal, ' what fort of people they are, and who 
 are their captains !' ' In God's name,' replied Fau- 
 con, ' they are full hfteen hundred combatants, and 
 all good men at arms. Sir Bertrand du Guefchn is 
 there, who has the Jargefl company of Bretons : 
 there are the earl of Auxerre, the vifcount de 
 Beaumont, the lord Louis de Chalons, the lord of 
 Beaujeu, the lord Baudoin- d'Ennequin, grand 
 mafter of the crofs-bows, the archprieft, the lord 
 Odoart de Renty. Some lords from Gafcony, 
 your countymen, are likewife among them, with 
 the men at arms of the lord d'Albret; as alfo 
 the lord Aymon de Pomraiers and the lord Soul- 
 dich de la Trane.' 
 
 When the captal heard the names of thefe Gaf- 
 cons, he was marvelloufly aftoniflied, and turned 
 red with anger: recovering his fpeech, he faid; 
 * Faucon, Faucon, is it indeed true what thou haft 
 jufl: told me of thefe Gafcon lords being in the 
 French army ? and the men attached to the lord 
 d'Albret?' ' Yes, in good faith, it is really as I 
 have faid,' anfwered the herald. ' And where is 
 the lord d'Albret himfelf ?' afked the captal. ' In 
 God's name,' anfwered Faucon, ' he is at Paris, 
 with the regent-duke of Normandy, who is making 
 preparations for going to Rheims, to be crowned; 
 f£)r it is commonly reported that that ceremony is to 
 take place on Sunday nejct.' The captal then put 
 
 hi§ 
 
141 
 
 his hand to his head, and cried out in anger; ^ By 
 the head of St. Anthony, Gafcons againfl; Gafcons 
 will make mifchief enough.' 
 
 Then Faucon fpoke concerning Prie (a herald 
 whom the archprieft had fent thither), and faid to 
 the captal, ' My lord, there is a herald hard by 
 waiting for me, whom the archprieft has fent to 
 you, and who, as I underftand from the herald, 
 would willingly fpeak to you.' The captal made 
 anfwer, faying, ' Ha, Faucon, Faucon, tell this 
 French herald, that he need not come nearer; and 
 let him fay to the archprieft, that I do not wifh to 
 have any parley with him.' Sir John Jouel, upon 
 this, ftepped forward, and faid, ' Why, my lord, will 
 you not fee the archprieft ? perhaps he may give u$ 
 fome information that we may profit by.' The 
 captal replied; 'John, John, it will notbefo; for the 
 archprieft is fo great a deceiver, that if he were to 
 come among us, telling his tales and his nonfenfc, 
 he would examine and judge of our ftrength and 
 numbers, which would turn out probably to our 
 difadvantage : therefore I do not wifh to hear of 
 any parleys.' 
 
 Faucon, king at arms, upon this, returned to the 
 herald Prie, who was waiting for him at the end of 
 the hedge, and made fuch good and fenfible ex- 
 cufes for the captal that the herald was perfedly 
 fatisfied, went back to the archprieft, and related 
 to him all that Faucon had told him. 
 
 By the reports of the two heralds, both armies 
 were acquainted with each other's fituation. They 
 therefore made fuch difpofitions, as would fpeedily 
 
 force 
 
force them to meet. When the captal had heard 
 from Faucon the numbers the French army con- 
 fifted of, he immediately difpatched meflengers to 
 the captains who were in the city of Evreux, with 
 orders for them to fend him as many recruits and 
 young gallants * to his affiftance as they could 
 polhbly colleft : they were to meet him at Co- 
 cherelt; for, fuppofing that he fhould find the 
 French in that neighbourhood, he had determined 
 to fight them wherever he fliould meet them. 
 
 When the meflengers came to Evreux, the lord 
 Michael d'Orgery had it publicly cried, and ftriftly 
 ©rdered all thofe who were horfemen to join the 
 , captal. Upon this, there immediately fet out one 
 hundred and twenty young companions from that 
 town. 
 
 On the Wednefday the captal de Buch took up 
 his quarters, about two o'clock, on a mountain, and 
 encamped his army. The French, who were wifh- 
 ing to meet them, marched (Irait forwards until 
 they came to a river,. called Yton, in that country, 
 which runs towards Evreux, having its fource near 
 Conches, and encamped themfelves at their eafe, 
 this fame Wednefday, in a handfome meadow, 
 through which this river runs. 
 
 On the morrov/, the Navarrois decamped, and 
 fent their fcouts out, to examine whether they could 
 
 * Young gallants. In all the originals, it is * jeunes arme- 
 rets,' which D. Sauvage thinks (hould be bannerets, but I do 
 not fee why. In du Ca.ige, ^rmeret is a gallant, and thus I 
 ,have traniiaied it. 
 
 + Cocherel, — a village in Normandy, diocefe of Evreux. 
 
 learn 
 
i 
 
 us 
 
 learn any news of the French. The French alfo 
 fent out their fcouts on the fame errand. Before 
 they had gone two leagues, each brought back to 
 his army fuch intelligence as could be depended 
 upon. 
 
 The Navarrois, condu8:ed by Faucon, marched 
 ftraight by the way he had come, and, by four 
 o'clock in the morning, found themfelves in the 
 plains of Cocherel, with the French in front of 
 them, who were already drawing up their army in 
 battle-array. There were a great many banners and 
 pennons flying ; and they feemed to be in number 
 more than half as many again as themfelves. 
 
 The Navarrois direftly halted on the outfide of a 
 fmall wood. The captains aflembled together, and 
 began to form their men in order of battle. 
 
 They firft formed three battalions well and hand- 
 fomely on foot, fending their baggage and attendants 
 into the wood. Sir John Jouel commanded the firft 
 battalion of Englifh, which confifted of men at 
 arms and archers. The captal de Buch had the fe- 
 cond battalion, which, one with anoiher, was about 
 four hundred combatants. With the captal, there 
 were the lord of Saulx in Navarre, a young knight 
 who had a banner, the lord William de Gaville, and 
 the lord Peter de Saquej-ville. The third battalion 
 had three knights ; the lord Bafque de Marneil *, 
 the lord Bertrand de Franc and the lord Saufelop- 
 pins, and were in the whole about four hundred 
 men under arms. 
 
 * Lord Bafque de Marneil. In the memoirs of Bertrand, 
 iie h Qalled Bafcon de Manuel, and the baron dc Marceuil. 
 
 i When 
 
144 
 
 When tliey had formed their battalions, they 
 marched them not far diftant from each other, tak- 
 ing advantage of the mountain which was on their 
 right, between them and the wood, polling their 
 front upon this mountain facing their enemies, and 
 fixing, by orders of the captal, his banner in the 
 midft of a large thorn bufh. He commanded fixty 
 men to remain there, to guard and defend it. They 
 had fo placed it to ferve as a ftandard for them to 
 rally round, if by chance of war they fhould be 
 difperfed or feparated; and they ftriftly ordered, 
 that no one fhould, on any pretence, defcend the 
 mountain; but if their enemies wifliedto fight, they 
 muft come to feek them. 
 
 CHAP. CCXX. 
 
 THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FRENCH UNDER SIR 
 BERTRAND DE GUESCLIN, AND THE NAVAR- 
 ROIS UNDER THE CAPTAL DE BUCH, AT CO- 
 CKEREL IN NORMANDY. THE CAPTAL IS MADE 
 
 PRISONER, AND VICTORY DECLARES EOR THE 
 FRENCH. 
 
 n^HUS drawn out and formed were the Englifh 
 and Navarrois, who remained, as I have faid, 
 upon the mountain. The French, in the mean 
 time, arranged themfelves into three battalions alfo, 
 and a rear-guard. 
 
 Sir Bertrand de Guefclin commanded the firft 
 battalion, which was compofed of all his Bretons, 
 and they were fronted oppofite to the battalion of 
 the captal. The earl of Auxerre had the fecond 
 
 bat- 
 
145 
 
 battalion. There were with him, as his advifers, the 
 vifcount de Beaumont, and the lord Baudoin d'En- 
 nequin, grand malter of the crofs-bows. There 
 were alfo in that battalion I'rench, Picards and 
 Normsns, and fir Odoart de Rcnty, fir Enguerrant 
 de Hefdin, fir Louis de Havenquerque,with feveral 
 other good knights and fquires. The third bat- 
 talion confided of Burgundians, commanded by the 
 archpiieft : with him were the lord de Chalons, the 
 lord de Beaujeu, the lord John de Vicnne, the lord 
 Guyde Felay, the lord Hugh de Vienne, and many 
 more. This battalion was to oppofe Bafque de 
 Marneil and his company. The other battalion, 
 which was to ferve as a rear-guard, was entirely 
 compofed of Gafcons; and they were commanded 
 by the lord Edmund de Pommiers, the lord Soul- 
 dich de la Trane, the lord Perdiccas d'Albret, and 
 the lord Petiton dc Courton. 
 
 Thefe captains had a grand confultation. They 
 confidered the arrangement of the captal, and that 
 his people had fixed his banner in a bufli, with part 
 of his men guarding it, as if it were to ferve as a 
 ftandard: they therefore faid, ' It is abfolutely 
 neceffary, when the combat fliall begin, that we 
 march direftly for this banner of the captal, and 
 that w^e exert ourfelvcs as much as pofiTible to <^am 
 it; for, if we be fuccefsful, our enemies will be 
 much difheartened, and incur great danger of being 
 conquered. 
 
 Thefe Gafcons thought alfo of another plan, 
 which was of great fervice to them, and Wis the 
 caufe of their gaining the day. As foon as the 
 
 Vol.. III. L French 
 
U6 
 
 French had formed their line, die principal Gafcoil 
 chiefs vvididrcw togedier, and confulted for a long 
 time how they could beft a6l ; for they faw that 
 their enemies, from their pofition, had greatly the 
 advantage over them. One of them made a pro- 
 pofai, which was cheerfully liftened to : ' My lords, 
 we well know that the captal is as hardy a knight 
 as can be found upon earth; and, as long as he 
 ihall be able to keep with his men and fight, he will 
 be too much for us. I therefore think that if wc 
 order thirty of our boldefl and mo/t expert cava- 
 liers, to do nothing but to follow and attack the 
 captal, whilft we are making for his banner, his men 
 will be thrown into feme confufion : and then our 
 thirty, by their own flrength and that of their 
 horfes, will be able to pufli through the crowd, 
 and advance fo near the captal, that they may feize 
 him, and carry him off between them to fomc 
 place of fafety, where they will remain until the end 
 of the battle ; for, if he can be taken by fuch means 
 as this, the day will be ours, as his army will be 
 panic-ftruck *.' 
 
 The Gafcon knights immediately affented to this 
 plan, faj'ing it\vas well thought of and fhould be 
 followed. They chofe from their battalion, thirty 
 of the mofl enterprifing men at arms, and mounted 
 them upon the ftrongefl and moll afHve horfes they 
 had with them. They then marched into the plain, 
 
 * The editors of the Memoues Hiftoriques doubt very much 
 this fad, in a note to the Memoires du Guefclin, and think 
 Froiflart muft have hc-iird it from a Gafgon. 
 
 well 
 
147 
 
 ^'ell inftru6led what they were to do. The army 
 remained where it was, on foot, in order of" battle. 
 
 When the French had thus drawn up their 
 forces, and each knew what he was to do, the 
 chiefs held a confultation, and long debated what 
 war-cry they fhould ufe, and whofe banner or pen- 
 non they fhould fix on as a rallying point. They 
 for a long time determined to cry, ' Notre Dame 
 Auxerre!' and to make the earl of Auxerre their 
 commander for that day. But the earl would not 
 by any means accept of it, excuhng himfelf by fay- 
 ing; ' My lords, I return you many thanks for the 
 good opinion you have of me, and for the honor 
 you offer me; but at this moment I cannot accept 
 of fuch an office, for I am too young to undertake 
 fo honorable a charge. This is the firft pitched 
 battle I was ever at : for which reafon I mult beg of 
 you to make another choice. We have here many 
 very able and enterprifing knights, fuch as my lord 
 Bertrand du Guefclin, my lord the archpriell, my 
 lord the grand maffer of the crofs-bows, my lord 
 Lewis de Chalons, my lord Edmund de Pommicrs 
 and fir Odoart de Renty, who have been in many 
 hard engagements, and know much better than I 
 do what in fuch cafes is proper to be done. I muff, 
 therefore, intreat you to excufe me from accepting 
 your honorable offer.' 
 
 The chiefs, after looking at each other, faid; 
 ' Earl of Auxerre, you are the highefl by birth, and 
 of the largeft property and eftatesofany of us: you 
 have therefore the right of being our chief.' ' Cer- 
 tainly, my lords,' replied the earl of Auxerre, 
 ' what you fay is very pleafing to me; but this da/ 
 
 L 2 I wili 
 
14S 
 
 I will only rank as one of your companions ; ancfy 
 whether I live or die, I will hazard the adventure 
 among you ; but, as to the command, I am deter- 
 mined not to accept it.' 
 
 They again looked at each other, in order to fee 
 whom they fliould fix on for their chief. Sir Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin was unanimoufly thought on, 
 and confidered as the beft knight of the whole com- 
 pany, one who had been engaged in the greateft 
 number of battles, and who was the beft informed 
 in military affairs. 
 
 It was therefore refolved they fhould cry, ' Notre 
 Dame Guefclin !' and that the whole arrangement 
 of that day fliould be as fir Bertrand would order it. 
 
 Every thing, therefore, being fettled, each lord 
 retired to his banner or pennon. They found that 
 their enemies were ftill upon the hill, and had not 
 quitted their ftrong fituation (not having a defire or 
 thought of fo doing), which very much vexed the 
 French; feeing that they had greatly the advantage 
 where they were, and that the fun was beginning to 
 be high, which was the more to their difadvantage, 
 fur it was at that feafon very hot. This delay was 
 what the moft able and expert knights dreaded ; for 
 they were as yet falling, and had not brought with 
 them any wine or vitluals vrorth mentioning, except 
 fome of the lords, who had fmall flagons of wine 
 that were foon emptied, and none had been pro- 
 cured or thought of in the morning, as they 
 imagined the engagement would begin on their 
 arrival : but this, as it appeared, was not the cafe. 
 The Englifli and Navarrois deceived them thus by 
 fubtlety, and it was a late hour before they engaged. 
 
 When 
 
149 
 
 When the French lords perceived their fituation, 
 they alFembled in council, to know what would be 
 the beft for them to do, and whether they fliould 
 march to attack them or not. In this council, all 
 were not of the fame opinion. Some wiihed to fight 
 'whatever might be the confequences ; for, they faid^ 
 it wouid be fhameful for them to make any diffi- 
 culties about it. But others, better advifed, faid, 
 that if they fhould begin the combat, lituated as 
 they were fo much to their difadvantage, they would 
 be in the greateft danger, and out of five men they 
 fhould certainlv lofe three. In fliort, they could not 
 agree to light in their prefent pofition. 
 
 During this time, the Navarrois faw them very 
 plainly, and how they were formed : they faid to 
 each other, ' Look at them : they will very foon 
 come to us, for they have a good will fo to do.' 
 
 There were among them fome knights and 
 fquires of Normandy, that had been made prifoners 
 by the Englifh and Navarrois, who had been al- 
 lowed perfetl liberty to go and ride about wherever 
 they pleafed, upon the faith of their word of honor, 
 provided they did not bear arms in favor of the 
 French. They rode towards the French army, and, 
 in converfation, faid to the French lords ; ' My 
 lords, confider what you are about; for, fliould this 
 day pafs without an engagement, your enemies will 
 to-morrow receive a very large reinfisrcement; as it 
 is reported among them, that the lord Louis de 
 Navarre is on his road to join them with at leall 
 four hundred lances.' 
 
 h 3 Thi^ 
 
150 
 
 This intelligence much inclined the French to 
 attack the Navarrois at all events : they were made 
 ready for it two or three different times : but the 
 "wifer advice got the better. Thofe lords faid, ' Let 
 ■us wait a little longer, and fee what thev will do; 
 for they are fo proud and prefumptuous that they 
 are as eager to fight us as we are to meet them.' 
 Many of them were very ill and faint, from the 
 great heat, as it was now about noon : they had 
 faded all the morning, and had been under arms : 
 thev were therefore much heated by the fun, which 
 afFc6k'd them doubly throuc^h their armour. They 
 faid, therefore, ' If we attempt to fight them by 
 afcending the hill in oar prefent ftate, we fhall molt 
 certainly be beaten; but if we retreat to our quar- 
 ters, through the neceffity of the cafe, by to-morrow 
 morning we fhall form a better plan.' Thus had 
 they different opinions on what was to be done. 
 
 When the knights of France (to whofe honor the 
 command of this army was intrufled) faw the 
 Englifli and Navarrois were not inclined to quit 
 their ftrong hold, and that it was now mid-day; 
 having heard the information which the French 
 prifoiiers who had vifited their army had given, and 
 having confidered that the greater part of their met] 
 were exceechngly hurt and faint, through j:he heat; 
 they met together, by the advice of fir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, whofe orders they obeyed, and held 
 another council. 
 
 ' My lords,' faid he, ' we perceive that our ene- 
 mies are very eager to fight us, and have a great 
 wifh for it ; but, however violent that may be, they 
 
 will 
 
151 
 
 will not defcend from their flrong pofition, iinlefs 
 hy a plan which 1 fliall propofe to you. We will 
 make difpofitions, as if for a retreat, not intending 
 to fight this day; (our men, indeed, are feverely 
 arfliBcd hy the great heat); and order our fervants, 
 hag^y.g'^, horfes, &c. to crofs the bridge and river, 
 and retire to our quarters; we will, at the fame 
 time, keep clofe to them, watching attcntivrly the 
 enemy's motions. If they really wiOi to fight us, 
 they will defcend the hill, and follow us into the 
 plain. As foon as we fliall perceive their motions, 
 if they a6l as I think they will, we fliall be ready 
 armed to wheel about, and thu5 fhall have them 
 more to our advantage.' This propofal was ap- 
 proved of by all, and confidered as the bed that 
 could have been offered. 
 
 Each lord, therefoie, returned to his people, 
 under his banner or pennon. The trumpets founded 
 as for a retreat, and every knight and fquirc ordered 
 his fervants to 'crofs the river with their bafjcTaiTe, 
 This the greater part did, and afterv/ard the men at 
 arms followed, but very flowly. 
 
 When fir John Jouel (who was an expert and 
 valiant knight, and eager to engage wi^h the French) 
 faw the manner of their retreat, he faid to the cap- 
 tal, ' My lord, my lord, let us now deiccnd boldly ; 
 do you not fee how the French are running away ?' 
 ♦ Ha,'' replied the captal, ' they arc only doing fo 
 out of malice, and to draw us down.' 
 
 Sir John Jouel upon this advanced forward (for 
 tie was very defirous of fighting), crying out, ' St. 
 .George !' and faid to his battalion, ' March : thofe 
 
 L 4 that 
 
152 
 
 that love me let diem follow mc, for I am going to 
 enna'^e.' He then drew his fword, and, widi it in his 
 hand, marched at the head of hi; battalion. He and 
 his company were almoit down the hill before the 
 captal moved : but when he found this to be fo, and 
 that fir John jouel meant to f sht without him,. he 
 confidered it as a great prefumption, a/id faid to 
 thofc around him, ' Come, let us defcend the hill 
 fpeedily, for fir John Jouel fliall not fight without 
 me.' 
 
 The company of the captal advanced forwards, 
 with him at their head, his fword in his hand. 
 When the French, who had been watching them all 
 the t-me, f w them defcend and enter the plain, 
 they were mightily rejoiced, and faid, ' See now, 
 •what we have been waiting for all this day has 
 come to pafs !' They then faced about, with a 
 thorough good will to meet their enemies, crying 
 out ' Notre Dame Gucfclin !' 
 
 They dreffed their banners in front of the Na- 
 varrois, and began to form under them from all 
 parts and on foot. On the fide of the Navarrois, 
 fir. John Jouel advanced, fword in hand, moll 
 valiantly, and drew up his battalion oppofite to that 
 of the Bretons, which was commanded by fir Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin, and performed many gcllant 
 deeds of arms; for he was a bold knight; but he 
 found there one that was too able a match for him. 
 
 The kiii^hts and fquires then fpread themfelves 
 over the plain and began to fight with all forts of 
 weapons, juft as they could lay hands upon them; 
 and eaqh party met the other with great courage. 
 
 The 
 
153 
 
 The Englifli and Navarrois fhouted out, « St. 
 Ceorge !' the French, ' Notre Dame Guefclini' 
 
 In this battle, there were many good knights on 
 the fide of the French : fir Bertrand du Guefclin, 
 the young earl of Auxerre, the vifcount de Beau- 
 mont, fir Baudoin d'Ennequin, grand mafter of the 
 crofs-bows, the lord Louis de ChalonSj, lord An- 
 thony the young lord de Beaujeu, who raifed his 
 banner for the firft time, the lord Anthony dc 
 Kanerly, fir Odoart de Renty, fir Enguerrand dc 
 Hedin, 
 
 In like manner, in the battalion of Gafcons, who 
 were drawn up by themfelves, there combated molt 
 valiantly, fir Ayraon de Pommiers, fir Perdiccas 
 id'Aibret, the foufdich de la Trane, fir Petiton de 
 Courton, and feveral others of the fame fort. This 
 battalion was formed oppofite to that of the captal, 
 which confilted of Gafcons alfo, ynd they were very 
 defirous of meeting. There were many hard blows 
 given, and many valorous deeds of arms performed 
 on each fide; for no one fliould wilfully lie. 
 
 It may be afl^ed, ' What became of the archprieft, 
 who was an excellent knight, and had the command 
 of a battalion, that I have not hitherto made any 
 mention of him ? I will tell the truth. As foon as 
 the archpriell faw the enemies drawn up, and that 
 the battle was going (;o begin in earneft, he quitted 
 his company, but faid to his people, and particularly 
 to his banner-bearer; ' I order and command you, 
 under pain of my greateft difpleafure, that you re- 
 fiVdin where you are, and wait the event of the battle. 
 
 I fet 
 
154 
 
 I fet oiitdlreftly from hence, not meaning to return; 
 for I can neither bear arms nor fight againft fome of 
 the knights that are with the enemy. If any one 
 fhould inquire after-me, this is the anfwer that vou 
 will give him.' He then fet out, accompanied by a 
 fingle fquire, re-crolfed the river, and left the others 
 to make the beft of it. They did not notice his 
 abfence, as they faw his banner, and thought he was 
 among them, until the bufmcfs was over. 
 
 I will now fpeak of this battle, and how it was 
 ftiflFly maintained. At the commencement of the 
 conflift, when fir John Jouel had d^ fcended the hill, 
 he was followed by all as clofelyas they could, and 
 even by the captal ?nd his company, who thou, ht 
 they fhould have gained the day ^ but it turned out 
 otherwife. 
 
 When they perceived that the French had 
 wheeled about in good order, they immediately 
 found they had been deceived. However, like de» 
 termined men, they were not panic-ftruck at the 
 difcovery, but were refolved to recover it by their 
 gallantry in the combat. 
 
 They retreated a little, then afilrabled together, 
 and after that they opened the ranks to give room 
 to their archers, who were in their rear, to make ufe 
 of their bows. When the archers were advanced in 
 front, they extended themfelves, and began to exert 
 themfelves handfomely in (hooting; but the French 
 were fo ftrongly armed and fhielded againft their 
 arrows, they were but little hurt by them, if at all, 
 and for this did not fight the lefs valiantly, but inter- 
 mixed 
 
155 
 
 mixed themfelves with the Englifh and Navarrois, 
 as did the Englifli with them, equally eager in the 
 combat. 
 
 There was much hacking and cutting of each 
 other, with lances and battle-axes, feizing each other 
 by main ftrength and wreftling. They took and 
 ranfomed prifoners from each alternately, and were 
 fo much intermixed together, that they engaged 
 man to man, and behaved with a degree of valour 
 fcarcely to be credited but by eye-witneffes. 
 
 A'ou may eafdy imagine that in fuch a crowd, and 
 •fo fituated, numbers were thrown down, wounded 
 and killed: for neither fide fpared the other. The 
 French had need not to deep on their bridles ; for 
 they bad oppofed to them men of ability and deter- 
 jiiined cnterprife. Each, therefore, loyally agreed, 
 not only to defend himfelf and his pofh vigoroudy, 
 but to take every advantage that fliould offer : if 
 they had not done fo, they muft have been defeated. 
 In truth, I muft fay, that the Bretons and Gafcons 
 were good pen, and performed many gallant feats 
 of arms. 
 
 I wifh now to fpeak of the thirty who had been 
 felefted to attack the captal. They had been ex- 
 cellently mounted, on the befl: horfes of the army, 
 and attentive to nothing but their orders (as, being 
 fo charged, they were bound to do) : they advanced 
 in a clofe body towards the captal, who was ufing 
 his battle-axe manfully, and gave fuch deadly 
 ftrokes with it that none dared approach him. They 
 pufiied through the crowd by the ftrength of their 
 
 horfes. 
 
156 
 
 horfes, as well as by the help of fome Gafcons who 
 had accompanied them. 
 
 Thefe thirty men, who, as you have feen, were 
 fo well mounted, and who knew well what they 
 were to do, neither looking to the rifk nor danger, 
 made up dirc6lly to the captal and furrounded him. 
 They all fell upon him, and carried him off by dint 
 of force, quitting the fpot direQly. This created 
 great confufion, and all the battalions drew thither- 
 ward ; for the captal's men were like to madmen, 
 fhouting out, ' Refcue, refcue the captal !' All this, 
 neverthtlefs, was of no fervice or help to them ; 
 for, in fa6l, the captal was carried off in the manner 
 I have related, and placed in fafety. However, at 
 the moment this happened, it was not truly known 
 which fide had the beft of the battle. 
 
 In this grand buftle and confufion, whilft the 
 Navarrois and Englifh, like madmen, were follow- 
 ing the captal, who had been captured before their 
 eyes, fir Aymon de Pommiers, fir Petiton de Cour- 
 ton, the fouldich de la Trane, and the company of 
 the lord d'Albret, determined unanimoufly to make 
 for the banner of the captal, which was fixed in 
 a bufli, and which ferved as a flandard for the Na- 
 varrois. 
 
 The attack and defence were equally fharp and 
 vigorous ; for it was guarded by good men : parti- 
 cularly, by fir Bafcon de Marneil and fir Geoffry 
 de Rouffillon : many were wounded, killed, un- 
 horfed and refcued. The Navarrois, at laft, who 
 were near this bufh and about the banner, were 
 
 broken 
 
157 
 
 broken in upon and forced to retreat. Sir Bafcon 
 de Marneil wiih feveral others were flain. Sir 
 GeofFry de Rouifillon was made prifoner by fir 
 Aymon de Pommiers. The banner of the captal 
 was immediately feized : and thofe who defended it 
 were either killed, taken, or had retreated fo far 
 that there was no news of them. 
 
 Whilfl: the banner of the captal was thus con- 
 quered, torn and dragged upon the ground by the 
 Gafcons, the Bretons, the French, the Picards, the 
 Normans and Burgundians were mofl; valiant] v 
 fighting in another part of the field; and well it 
 behoved them fo to do, for the Navarrois had made 
 them retreat. Among the French, there was already 
 killed the vifcount de Beaumont; the more the 
 pity, for he was a young knight, well formed to do 
 great things. His people, to their great forrow, 
 had carried him out of the battle, and guarded him, 
 as I have heard related, by thofe of both (ides. No 
 one had ever feen a battle, with the like number of 
 combatants, fo well fought as this was; for they 
 w^re all on foot, and combated hand to hand, 
 intermixing with each other, and driving for viQory 
 with the arms they u fed, and, in particular, with thofe 
 battle-axes which gavefuch aftonilhingly fatal blows. 
 
 Sir Petiton de Courton and the fouldich de la 
 Trane were forely wounded, infomuch that they 
 could do no fervice during the remainder of the 
 day. Sir John Jouel, by whom the combat began, 
 and who had mofl; courageoufly attacked and 
 fought the French, performed, that day, many very 
 gallant feats of arms, and never deigned once to re- 
 treat. 
 
15S 
 
 treat. He had been engaged fo far in the battle 
 that he was grievoufly wounded in Ibvcral parts of 
 the head and body, and at laft made prifoner by a 
 fquiie of Brittany under fir Bertrand du Guefclin: 
 he was then carried out of the crowd. 
 
 At length, the French gained the field; but on 
 their fide there were killed the grand mailer of the 
 crofs-bows, fir Louis de Plavenquerque, and many 
 others. On the fide of the Navarrois, the lord de 
 Saulx and numbers of his people were (lain. 
 
 Sir John Jouel died in the courfe of the day. 
 There were made prifoners, fir William de Graville, 
 fir Peter de Seqainville, fir GeoffVy deRoufiillon,fir 
 Bertrand du Franc, and fcveral more. Few of the 
 Navarrois efcaped being flain or taken. This battle 
 was fought in Normandy, pretty near to Cocherel, 
 on a Thurfday, the 24th day of May 1364 *. 
 
 After this defeat, when all the dead were dripped, 
 and thofe who had made prifoners had put them 
 afidc and attended to the wounded; when the 
 greater part of the French, having re-pafled the 
 bridge, were retiring bruifed and weary, to their 
 quarters ; fir Guy de Graville, fon of fir William de 
 Graville, who had been made a prifoner, having in 
 hafte left Conches (a garrifon-town of the Na- 
 
 * * It is fingular enough, that the date of fo memorable a 
 battle fhould not have been more certainly known. Piiftorians 
 place it the 23d May 1364. Du Chatelet reports ancient 
 a(fls, which prove it to have been the i6th May. 
 
 * Froilfart, in relating this battle, differs from our memoires 
 in feveral details,' &c,^ — Mcmoira HiJlQriqms, vol. iv. 
 
 3 varrois}j 
 
159 
 
 varrois), with fifty lancemen, intending to join the 
 .captal, came on full fpeed to the field where the 
 battle had been fought. Upon which, the French 
 in the rear cried out, * Let us turn back, for here 
 are more enemies.' 
 
 On hearing this, fir Aymon and his company, 
 who had remained on the field, feeing thefe Na- 
 varrois advancing, fixed his pennon aloft in a bufh, 
 as a rallying poft for the French. When fir Guy 
 faw this, and heard the fhout of ' Notre Dame 
 Guefclin !' and that none of his party appeared, but 
 plenty of dead bodies were lying around, he foon 
 found that the Navarrois had been difcomfited; he 
 therefore quickly faced about, and returned the 
 way he came. 
 
 In the evening, the French examined thofe pri- 
 foners whom they had in their tents. The arch- 
 prieft was much inquired about, and fpoken of, 
 when it was found that he had not been in the 
 engagement: his people made the beft excufes for 
 him they could. You muft know that the thirty 
 cavaliers who had carried off the captal, as you have 
 heard, never halted until they had brought him fafc 
 to Vernon, and lodged him in the caftle. On the 
 morrow, the French decamped, and marched to the 
 city of Rouen, where they left a part of their 
 prifoners. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
1^0 
 
 CHAP. CCXXI. 
 
 CHARLES V. SURNAMED THE WISE, IS CROWNED 
 
 KING OF FRANCE. HIS BROTHER PHILIP IS 
 
 INVESTED WITH THE DUCHY OF BURGUNDY, 
 AND SENT AGAINST THE FREE COMPANIES OF 
 PILLAGERS. 
 
 /^N Triniiy-day 1364, king Charles, eldeft fon of 
 the late king John of France, was crowned ai^d 
 confecratcd king, in the great church of our Lady 
 at Rhcims, by the archbifhop of that city; and 
 with hira his queen, the daughter of duke Peter of 
 Bourbon. 7'he king of Cyprus, the dukes of Anjou 
 and Burgundy, the lord Wenceflaus of Bohemia, 
 duke of Luxembourg and Brabant, the earls of 
 Eu, of Dampmartin, of Tancarville, of Vaude- 
 mont, and great numbers of other lords and pre- 
 lates were prefent at this ceremony. 
 
 There were great entertainments and feafts at 
 Rheims, during the time the king remained, which 
 was five days : he then departed for Paris. It would 
 take me a long time were I to relate all the fine 
 fliews and feafts the Parifians made for him at his 
 entry. The lords after this, that is to fay, the 
 flrangers w^ho had come to his coronation, returned 
 to their ov;n countries. 
 
 When the king of France was come back to 
 Paris, he gave the inveftiture of the duchy of 
 Burgundy to his youngeft brother, who left Paris 
 with a noble company, in order to take poffeffion 
 and receive the homage of the barons, knights, 
 
 citiesj 
 
1^1 
 
 cities, caftles and large towns in that duchy. After 
 he had vifited the whole country, he returned to 
 Paris. 
 
 He brought with him the archprieft, who ap- 
 peafcd the angt^r of the king, which he had incurred 
 by not fighting at the battle of Cocherel, by the 
 fair reafons he ^ave for not bearing arms aCTainft 
 the captal*. The captal h?d been brought a prifoner 
 to Paris, and, through the interceffion of the lord 
 d'AIbret, obtained his liberty on his parole. He 
 alfo affiled the archprieft to excufe himfelf towards 
 the kin,g, as well as towards the French knights 
 who had talked very fcurvily of him, notwith- 
 ftanding he had overthrown lately, in a part of 
 Burgundy, beyond .Dijon, four hundred pillagers; 
 over whom Guillot du Pin, Taillebert, Taillebour- 
 don and John de Chaufour were captains. 
 
 About this time, the king of France ordered fir 
 Peter de Sequainville to be beheaded in the city of 
 Rouen, for having taken the part of the Navarrois. 
 Sir William de Graville would have undergone the 
 fame punifhment, ifhis Ion, fir Guy, had not fignified 
 to the king of France, that whatever treatment his 
 
 * The archprieft, according to the life of Charles V. by the 
 abbe de Choify, had oftentimes changed fides : fometimes for 
 the king of France, but oftener for the king of Navarre, becaufe 
 there was more licence allowed the foldiers of his army. AfteC 
 tbe peace, he pillaged various provinces of France, In his re- 
 treat from the emperor Charles IV. near Macon in Burgundy, 
 he was affaflinated by his own men. His death gave great joy 
 to the people, whom he had robbed for ten years fucceflively.— 
 Hijioirede Charles T. p. 88. 
 
 Vol. Ill, M father 
 
father fufFered, he would do the like to fir Beau- 
 mont de Laval, a great lord of Brittany, whom he 
 kept as his prifoner. Upon this, the family of fir 
 Beaumont interceded with the king, and exerted 
 themfelves fo effeBually that they obtained the 
 exchange of fir Beaumont for fir William de Gra- 
 ville *. 
 
 Sir Bertrand du Guefclin, at this time, gained 
 the caftle of Roulleboife, by prefenting the governor 
 of it, fir Vautaire Auftard, with fix thoufand francs, 
 \yho retired to Brabant, whence he had come. 
 
 Many large companies of pillagers ftill kept 
 poffeffion of diflPerent forts in the countries of 
 Caux, Normandy, Bcauce and Perche, whence 
 they greatly haralfed the kingdom of France : fome 
 under pretence of ferving the king of Navarre; 
 others, for themfelves, robbed and deftroyed the 
 country without any claims of right or of reafon. 
 
 The king of France fent his brother, the duke of 
 Burgundy, againft thefe pillagers, who appointed 
 his rendezvous in the city of Chartres. He then 
 took the field, accompanied by fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin, the lordde Boucicaut, thecarl of Auxerre, 
 the lord Louis de Chalons, the lord de Beaujeu, fir 
 
 * In the Memolres Hiltorlques, note 31. of Ecrtrar.d da 
 Guefclin, it is faid, that fir William de Graviile was ran- 
 fomed from fir Guy de Bayeux, who had taken him, for one 
 thoufand florins, and that the king was fo much angered by- 
 it, againft Bayeux and his children, they were forced to leave 
 the kingdom : the king afterwards pardoned them. In the 
 continuation, however, of this note, it is related nearly the 
 fame as FroiiTart tells us. 
 
 6* Aymon 
 
1 163 
 
 Aymon dc JPommiers, the lord Raineval, Pierre de 
 Villaines, furnanied ie Begue, die lord Nicholas de 
 Ligne, grana mailer of the crofs-bows, fir OaOort 
 de Rent!, fit Engiierraiid de Hedin, and full five 
 thoufaiid combatants. 
 
 When they found they miiftered fo Rr^ng^ 
 they divided themfelves into three bodies; fioni 
 which fir Bert! and took, at the mod, one thoufand 
 fighting men, and marched for the country of Cou- 
 tantin, towards the neighbou':h'jod "f Cherbimrg, 
 to gua'd the frondeis, and to preve'nt the Navar- 
 rois from doing a;iy mifchief to Normandy. The 
 lord of Sancerre, the earl of Joigny, the lord Arnold 
 d'Andreghen, and a crowd of knights and fq aires 
 from Brittany and Normandy, accompanied fir 
 Bertrand. 
 
 Another divifion was under the command of the 
 lord John de la Riviere; and with him were many 
 knights and fquires of France and Picardy, whom 
 he fent towards Evreux. 
 
 The duke had the largcft divifion. He went 
 and laid fiege to the caftle of Marcheville*, which 
 was a very Itrong fortrefs, in polfellioa of the Na- 
 varrois. He ordered many machines to bf brought 
 from Chartres, by wh'ch he flung into it Itones and 
 other things day and night, that much annoyed the 
 ganifon. 
 
 Marcheville, — -a town in Beauce, diocefe of Chartres. 
 
 M 2 CHAP. 
 
164 
 
 CHAP. CCXXII. 
 
 THE LORD LEWIS OF NAVARRE MAKES INCURSIONS 
 
 INTO FRANCE. THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY PLANS 
 
 SEVERAL EXPEDITIONS AGAINST HIM, BUT IS 
 FORCED TO GO INTO BURGUNDY, TO DEFEND IT 
 AGAINST THE EARL DE MON'TBELIART. 
 
 VyHILST thefe men at arms 'were haraffing the 
 Navarrois and enemies of the realm, in 
 Beauce and in Normandy, the lord Lewis of 
 Navarre (the lord Philip being dead) had taken 
 upon himfelf the management of the war for his 
 brother the king of Navarre, and had fent a chal- 
 lenge to the king of France, becaufe the objeft of 
 this war was perfonal to their family, being for a 
 risht of inheritance. He had therefore afTcmbled 
 men at arms ever fince the battle of Cocherel, and 
 was collecting them from every part he could get 
 them. He had been fo active himfelf, and by 
 means of the captains of companies, of which great 
 numbers ftill remained in France, that he had af- 
 fembled upwards of twelve hundred lances. 
 
 With him v/ere fir Robert Knolles * fir Robert 
 Ceny t, and fir Robert Briquet de Carfneile J. The 
 
 * Sir Robert Knolles was a great captain, and the maker of 
 his own fortune. There is a doubt if he were or were not a 
 knight of the Garter (No. 74.), See M. Anftis, Having 
 confidered the different very great employments he held, &c, 
 I am inclined to believe he was of the Garter. 
 
 + Sir Robert Ceny, — fir Robert Cheny. See his pedigree 
 in Ivl. Gough's Sepulchral Monuments. His defcendants were 
 called to thehoufe of peers, 3d Henry VII. 
 
 ^ Sir Robert Briquet dc Carfnelle. I can find nothing 
 about him. 
 
 men 
 
165 
 
 men at arms, who were every day increafing, were 
 quartered between the rivers Loire and Allier*, 
 and had overrun a part of the Bourbonnois and 
 Auvergne, between Moulinst, St. Pierre le Mou- 
 ftierj and St. Pourfaint^. From this body, whom 
 the lord Lewis de Navarre commanded, a com- 
 pany of about three thoufand were detached under 
 the orders of Bertrand de la Salle and Ortingo. 
 
 o 
 
 They croffed the Loire above Marcilly les Non- 
 nains |[, and puflied forward with fo much hafte, 
 that by day-break they came before la Charite H, a 
 large and well inclofed town upon ihe Loire. 
 
 This they immediately fcaled without any oppo- 
 fition ; and, having entered the town, took pofTef- 
 fion of that part of it; but, as they were fearful 
 left the townfpeople might have laid an ambufcade 
 for them, they dared not advance further until it 
 lliould be broad day. 
 
 During this delay, the inhabitants of the town 
 embarked all their moft valuable things in boats 
 which were on the river Loire, and, having alfo 
 placed their wives and children in them, failed off 
 
 * Allier, — a river in Languedoc, which rifes in the Gevau, 
 dan, near the village of Coudray, whence, flowing northwards, 
 it traverfes Auvergne and the Bourbennois, and then, enter- 
 ing the Nivernois, falls into the Loire, about a league abov^ 
 Nevers. 
 
 + Moulins,' — capital of the Bourbonnois, on the Allier, 
 
 + St. Pierre le Mouftier, — a tewn of the Nivernois, 
 
 § Saijnt Pourfaint, — a town of Auvergne. 
 
 II Marcilly les Nonnains, — a village in Berryj eledion of 
 !a Charite. 
 
 H La Charite,— a town in the Nivernois, 
 
 ' M 3 in 
 
166 
 
 in fafety towards the city of Neversj which was five 
 leagues diftant. 
 
 The Englifh, Navarrois and Gafcons, who had 
 entered the town, upon day appearing, marched 
 forwards, but found all the houfes, empty. Upon 
 this, they called a council, to confider if they fhould 
 keep poiieffion of the town, and fortify it; for it 
 would be very convenient for them, as a place ox 
 flrength, to attack each fide of the Loire. 
 
 They fent to inform the lord Lewis de Navarre 
 of their fitualion, whow^as at that time in Auvergne, 
 and who immediately difpatched to them fir Robert 
 Briquet, with three hundred armed men. They 
 crofled the country without moleftstion, and entered 
 t|ie town of la Charite, by the bridge over the 
 Loire. When they were tlius aiTembled together, 
 they were in fuch force, they began to make griev- 
 ous war upon the kingdom of France. 
 
 We will return to the duke of Burgundy, whom 
 we left befieging Marcheville, Lie had done fo 
 much by his machines and by his affauks, that the 
 garrifon furrendered upon having their lives and 
 fortunes fpared. The duke fent the lord de Bou- 
 cicaut, and the lord John de Vienne, marflial of 
 Burgundy, to take pofTefiion of it. He gave the 
 caftle to a fquire of Beauce, called William de 
 Chartres, and forty men to guard it. The duke 
 th?n led his army to the ca-ftlc of Camerolles, which 
 he furrounded, for it is fituated in the flat country. 
 
 It is time to fay fonqething of the lord John de la 
 Riviere, who was befieging Acquigni, near to 
 Paffyj in the county of Evreux, lie had undei; him 
 
 two 
 
167 
 
 two tlioufand good combatants; for he M'as fo great 
 a favorite with the king that he managed the 
 finances according to his pleafure. 
 
 This caftle of Acquigni was garrifoned by Eng- 
 lifh, Normans, French and Navarrois, who had fled 
 thither after the battle of Cocherel. They defended 
 themfelves well, and were amply provided with ar- 
 tillery and provifion. Notwithftandingthis, matters 
 •were fo well managed, that they furrendered upon 
 having their lives and fortimes fpared, and carried 
 their property with them to Cherbourg, whither 
 they retired. The lord John placed a new gar- 
 rifon in the caftle, and marched toward the city of 
 Evreux. 
 
 Under his command, were fir Hugh de Chatillon, 
 the lord of Sanny, the lord Louis de Sancerre, 
 fir Matthew de Roye, the lord of Monfang, the lord 
 of Eloy, the lord of Crequi, the lord of Campy, fir 
 Odoart de Renti, fir Enguerrand de Hcdin, and 
 many other knights and fquires of France. 
 
 In the mean time, the duke of Burgundy preffed 
 fo hard upon the garrifon of Camerolles, that they 
 were forced to furrcnder at difcretion. All the 
 foreign foldiers were pardoned; but fome French 
 pillagers, who had taken refuge there, were put to 
 death. 
 
 Some of the principal burgefles of Chartres came 
 to the duke's camp, to intreat of him to give them 
 the caftle of Camerolles, as a recompenfe for the 
 ufe of their machines; for it had done them much 
 harm in former times. The duke confented to their 
 
 M 4 requeftj 
 
1.6S 
 
 requeft j and immediately they fent workmen, who 
 levelled the calile with the ground. 
 
 The duke marched next to a caftle called Drue, 
 which is fituated in the plains of Beauee, and was 
 in the poflelTion of pillagers. He took it by ftorm, 
 and killed all that were found in it. He then halted 
 before a caftle called Preux, and furrounded it on 
 all fides. He made many an affault, in hopes of car- 
 rying it; but atlaft thegarrifon furrendered on hav- 
 ing their lives fpared : they carried nothing with 
 them : but all the French remahied prifoners at the 
 duke's will. 
 
 The duke ordered the caftle to be taken pofteffion 
 of by his marftials, and made a prefent of it to a 
 knight of Beauce, called fir Peter du Bois, in order 
 that he might fufficiently guard and repair it. The 
 duke, and the greater part of his army, went after 
 this to Chartres, to refrefli themfelves. 
 
 When he had been there fiye or fix days, he fet 
 out to befiege the caftle of Connie*, which had 
 done much mifchief to all the couiltry round, and 
 pointed againft it fix large machines. 
 
 Durinsf the time thefe fie'j;cs, affaults and con- 
 quefts were going forward in Beauce and Normandy, 
 the lord Lewis de Navarre was overrunning Au- 
 vergne. He kept the field, and impoverilhed the 
 whole country; for no one went forth againft him. 
 Thofe alfo who were at la Charite upon the Loire 
 did in thofe parts juft what they pleafed. 
 
 * Connie,— a village in Beauce, eledion of Chateaudun. 
 
 On 
 
On the other hand, the earl of Montbellart, with 
 fome aUies from Germany, had entered the duchy 
 of Burgundy, near Belan^on, and was defpoilingit. 
 On which account, the king of France ordered the 
 duke of Burgundy to raife the fiege of Connie, and 
 come to Paris; for it was neceffary that he fhould 
 go into Burgundy, 
 
 Tire duke, on receiving this news, was very pen- 
 five; for he had publicly declared, that he would 
 never depart from Connie until he had fubjecled it 
 io his will. But thofe of his council made him un- 
 derfland, that fi nee the king, who had fent him 
 thither, ordered him to return, he might very well 
 leave the place without difgrace. Thofe in Connie 
 had no information whatever refpetling this : they 
 were, therefore, fummoned by the marfhals to fur- 
 render unconditionally, which they refufed. They 
 faid, they were willing to furrender, on having their 
 lives and fortunes fpared. Thefe terms were then 
 agreed upon. The duke gave the caftleto a fquire 
 of Beauce, whofe name was Philip d'Arcieres, who 
 repaired it, and garrifoned it with good and trufty 
 men. 
 
 The duke went to Chartres, and then gave up the 
 command of the greater divifion of his army to the 
 earl of Auxerre, Boucicaut and the lord Louis de 
 Sancerre. He fct out for Paris, taking with him 
 the lord Louis d'Alen9on, the lord of Beaujeu, and 
 the lord of Vienne. He ordered the Burgundians 
 to march towards Burgundy as fpeedily aspoffible. 
 But the duke himfelf went to meet the king, who 
 was at that time at Vaux la Comteffe in Brie. He 
 
 remained 
 
170 
 
 remained but one day there, and then fet out for 
 Troyesin Champagne; whence he took the road to 
 Langres, fending every where for men at arms. The 
 Burgundians were aheady colle61ed, and drawn out 
 as a frontier to their enemies: the archprieft, the 
 lord of Chateau Vilain, the lord of Vergey, the lord 
 of Grancy, the lord of Soubournon, the lord 
 of Rougemont, and a very rich man called John of 
 Boulogne, the lord of Prifes, fir Hugh de Vienne, 
 the lord du Chatel, the bifliop of Langres, and 
 fevcral more, who were all mightily rejoiced on the 
 arrival of their lord the duke. 
 
 They immediately marched againft their enemies, 
 who were full fifteen hundred lances; but they re- 
 treated acrofs the Rhine. Upon which, the Bur- 
 gundians entered the county of Montbclliard, and 
 burnt the greater part of it. 
 
 CHAP, CCXXIII. 
 
 K.1NC CHARLES ORDERS THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY 
 
 TO BESIEGE LA CHARITE. HE WANTS IT TO 
 
 SURRENDER UNCONDITIONALLY, THAT HE MAY 
 SEND ASSISTANCE TO LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS, 
 WHO IS CONTESTING THE DUCHY OF BRITTANY 
 WITH THE EARL OF MONTFORT. 
 
 TN the interim, the king of France fent his con. 
 ftable, the lord Moreau de Fiennes, and two 
 marftials, the lord de Boucicaut and John de Mau- 
 querchi, lord of Blainville, accompanied by many 
 knights and fquires, to befiege la Charitc upon the 
 
 Loire, 
 
171 
 
 i.oirc. On their arrival, they attacked it on one 
 fide, and every day had ll<.irmifiies with the garrifon 
 of the place. 
 
 When the duke of Burgundy and the greater 
 part of his troops, who had accompanied him into 
 the county of Montbelliard, were returned to Paris, 
 the king fent him, with upwards of a thoufand 
 lances, to la Charite. 
 
 There were then at that fiege three thoufand 
 knights and fquires, of whom many went every day 
 to fkirmifh with the garrifon; when feveral were 
 killed and wounded on {joth fides. 
 
 At a faily which the garrifon made, the lord 
 Robert of Alen^on, fon of the earl of Alencon, who 
 was killed at Crecy, and the lord Louisd'Auxerre, 
 who was fon of the earl of Auxcrre, and brother to 
 the earl of Auxerre, then prefent, were knighted, 
 and difplaved their banners. 
 
 The inhabitants of la Charije were very hard 
 prefled, and would willingly have furrendered upon 
 terms; but the duke was refolved to have them un- 
 conditionally, and for that reafon had guarded the 
 jfiver fo that no provifion could enter the town. 
 
 During this time, the lord Lewis de Navarre, 
 who was deftroying every thing before him in the 
 country of Auvcrgne, exerted himicif much, and 
 affembled a fufRcient body of men to enable him to 
 raife the fiege of la Charite : he had coUefted two 
 thoufand combatants at the Icaft, and had alfo fent 
 into Brittany to requeit that fir Robert Knolles, fir 
 Walter Huet, fir Matthew Gournay, and fev^eral 
 other knights and fquires, would haften to his 
 affiftance. They w^ouldhave complied cheerfully; 
 
 buj. 
 
172 
 
 but at the time they were engaged with the earl of 
 Montfort, befieging the caftle of Auray *, who had 
 fworn he would not depart until it had fubmitted to 
 his pleafure. 
 
 When the lord Lewis found he could not have 
 their aid, he retreated, by the orders of his brother, 
 toward Cherbourg. Upon which, the king of 
 France, that the lord Charles de Blois might have 
 more men at arms, commanded the duke of Bur- 
 gundy to treat with the garrifon for their furrender- 
 ing the town and fort, on condition of not bearing 
 arms for the king of Navarie during three years. 
 The garrifon complied with thefe terms, furrendercd 
 la Charite, took nothing with them, and marched 
 out on foot : they pafifed through the kingdom of 
 France under pafl'ports of the duke of Burgundy. 
 The old inhabitants of la Charite now returned 
 back to it, having been forced to refide in other 
 places. The dukt- went to Paris. 
 
 After this, the king of France granted permiflion 
 for his coufin the lord Charles de Blois, to raife in 
 his kingdom a thoufand lances. He again wrote to 
 fir Bertrand du Guefclin, who at the time was in 
 Normandy, to march to the affiftance of the lord 
 Charles, againft the earl of Montfort. 
 
 Thefe orders gave fir Bertrand great pleafure, 
 for he had always confidered the lord Charles as 
 his natural lord. He fet out therefore, from Nor- 
 mandy with all the troops that v;ere under him, and 
 
 * Auray, — a fea-port in Brittsny, diocefe of Vannes. 
 One of my MSS. fays, it was founded by Arthur. 
 
 marched 
 
]73 
 
 marclied through Tours, in his way to Brittany. 
 The lord de Boucicaut went to guard Normandy 
 in his place. 
 
 Sir Bertrand continued his march until he came 
 to Nantes, where he met the lord Charles de Blois 
 and his lady. They received him very kindly, and 
 thanked him much for coming to their allillance. 
 They had then a long conference, upon what was. 
 to be done; for they were in the bed parts of Brit- 
 tany, which were much attached to the lord Charles 
 de Blois, as their duke and lord, and willing to 
 fupport him. They conferred alfo on the means of 
 raifing the liege of Auray, and fighting with the 
 lord John de Montfort^ 
 
 Within a very fliort time, many barons and 
 knights came thither from France and Normandy : 
 among whom were the earl of Auxerre, the earl of 
 Joigny, the lord de Franviile, the lord de Prie, le 
 Begue de Villaines, and many other knights and 
 fquires, all of the right fort, and good men at arms. 
 
 News v.'as brought to the lord John de Montfort, 
 at that time befieging Auray, that the lord Charles 
 de Blois was affembling large bodies of men; that 
 a number of the lords of France had come to him, 
 and were daily arriving, to affift him, in conjunc- 
 tion with thofe barons, knights and fquires of Brit- 
 tany who had remained fteady to his interefl. 
 
 As foon as lord John heard this, he made it 
 known in the duchy of Acquitaine to the knights 
 and fquires of England who were there, and in 
 particular to fir John Chandos,earne{tlyintreating 
 them to come to his aid in the difficulties he was 
 
 about 
 
174 
 
 about to enconnter; adding, that he expelled Brit- 
 tany would afford fuch a field of honor, that all 
 knights and fquires who were defirous of advancing 
 their name ought mofl cheerfully to come thither. 
 
 When fir John Chandos faw himfelf thus af- 
 feQionately intreated by the earl of Montfort, he 
 fpoke of it to the prince of Wales, to know how he 
 fhould aft. The prince faid, he might go there 
 without any blame, fince the French had already 
 taken part againft the earl, in fupport of the lord 
 Charles; and he advifed him to accept the invitation. 
 
 Sir John Chandos was much rejoiced at this, and 
 made accordingly grand preparations. He afked 
 feveral knights and fquires of vVcquitainc to accom- 
 pany him; but few went except the Englifli. How- 
 ever, he conduced full two hundred lances, and as 
 many archers, and marching through Poitou and 
 Saintonge, entered Brittany. He went ftraight to 
 the fiege of Auray, where he found the earl of 
 Montfort, who was very happy at his arrival; as 
 were fir Oliver de Cliffon, fir Robert Knolle& and 
 the other companions. It feemed to them, that 
 now no evil could bcfal them, fince fir John Chan- 
 dos was m then' company. 
 
 Many knights and fquires crofled the fea in hade 
 from England, eager to advance their fortunes, and 
 to fight with the French. They came to the aid of 
 the earl of Montfort, before Auray, who received 
 them all with great joy. They were therefore in 
 all, as well Bretons as Englifh, when mufiered, 
 fixteen hundred men at arms, and from eight to 
 nine hundred archers, 
 
 Wc 
 
175 
 
 We \vill now return to the lord Charles dcBlois, 
 who lemained in the good city of Nantes, and 
 made there his mufter of knights and fquires from 
 all parts ) for he had been informed that the earl of 
 Aiontfort fed been ftrongly reinforced by the 
 Englifn. He therefore intreated thofe barons, 
 knights and fquires whofe homage he had received, 
 to affift him in guarding his inheritance, and in de- 
 fending him againft his enemies. 
 
 Among the barons of Brittany who came to ferve 
 him, in obedience to his fummons, were the vifcoiint 
 de Rohan, the lords de Leon, Charles de Dinan, 
 de Rieux, de Tournemine, d'Ancenis, de Male- 
 ftroit, de Ouentin, d'Avaugour, de Loheac, dii 
 Pont, and many others whom I cannot name. 
 Thefe lords and their companies were quartered in 
 the city of Nantes, and in the villages around it. 
 
 When they were muftered, they were eftimated 
 at two thoufand five hundred lances, including thofe 
 who had come from France. Thefe lords did not 
 wifh to make any long ftay, but advifed the lord 
 Charles to march againft his enemies. 
 
 When the lord Charles was about to fet out, and 
 was taking leave of the lady his wife, fhe faid to 
 him, in the prefence of fir Bertrand du Guefclin 
 and fome of the barons of Brittany ; ' My lord, you 
 are going to defend your inheritance and mine (for 
 that which is mine is yours*}, which the lord John 
 
 de 
 
 * ' Johanna, countcfs of Penthievre born 13 19, was made 
 heirefs of Brittany by her uncle, John III. who, to ftrengthen 
 
 her 
 
176 
 
 de Montfort had feized, and has kept for a long 
 time mod wrongfully, without any right, as God 
 knows. The barons of Brittany, who arc here 
 prefent, know well that I am the rightful heirefs of 
 it. I therefore moft earneftly beg and intreat of 
 you, that you will not liften to any treaty, or com- 
 pofition, which may be offered, fo that the whole 
 body of the duchy may be ours.' The lord Charles 
 promifed to comply with her requeft. 
 
 All the lords, knights and barons, who were at 
 Nantes departed, each having bid adieu to his lady, 
 whom he confidcred as his duchefs. They began 
 their march, and took the road to Rennes *, where, 
 on their arrival, they were quartered, and in its 
 environs. They halted there to repofe and refrefh 
 themfelves, as well as to learn the numbers and 
 countenance of their enemies, and to confider of 
 the beft place to offer batde, in cafe they fliould not 
 be able to find a fituation which might give them an 
 advantage. Many fine fpeeches and harangues 
 were made by the knights and iquires of France and 
 of Brittany, who had come to the fuccour of the 
 
 her title, gave her in marriage to Charles de Blois, lord of 
 Guyfe and Mayenne, nephew of Philip IV. king of France. 
 
 * When the earl of Montfort gained the dukedom and held 
 it from the crown of France, he engaged to give Johanna lands 
 that Ihould yield her 20,000 francs yearly^ befides Penthievre 
 and Limoges.' — Anderson. 
 
 * Rennes. I believe, with Denys Sauvage, it Qiould bs 
 Vannes, confiftently with what follows ; but it Is Rennes in 
 all my printed editions and MSS. and alfo in the Hiftoire de 
 Bretagne. 
 
 lord 
 
177 
 
 lord Charles de Blois. Lord Charles was very 
 courteous and polite, and perhaps would willingly 
 have liftened to terms of peace, and been contented 
 with a part of Brittany, without much wrangling; 
 but he was, in God's name, fo hard preffed by the 
 lafl words of the lady his wife, and the knights of 
 his party, that he could neither draw back nor dif- 
 femble. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXIV, 
 
 THE LORD CHARLES OF BLOIS ADVANCES AGAIN'ST 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT IN ORDER OF BATTLE. 
 SIR JOHN CHANDOS, AFTER HAVING DRAWN UP 
 THE BATTALIOIVS OF THE EARL OF MONTFORTj 
 PREVENTS THE TREATY FROM TAKING PLACE 
 WHICH THE LORD DE BlAUMANOIR WAS NEGO- 
 TIATING BETWEEN THE TWO PRETENDERS TO THE 
 DUCHY OF BRITTANY. 
 
 "O ETWEEN Vannes and Auray, where the earl 
 of Montfort was encamped, there are eight 
 country leagues ; fo that news was foon brought to 
 him that the lord Charles was advancing, with the 
 fineft body of men at arms, the handfomeft equipped 
 and the bed ordered that had ever left France, 
 This intelligence gave great joy to the Englifh who 
 were there; for they were eager for the fight. 
 Thefe companions, therefore, immediately fet 
 about putting their armour in good repair, and re- 
 furbifliing their lances, daggers, battle-axes, coats 
 of mail, helmets, fcuU-caps, vifors, fwords, and all 
 Vol, III. N forts 
 
178 
 
 forts of weapons, as they well imagined they fhould 
 foon have ufe for them. 
 
 The commanders of the army then waited on the 
 earl of Montfort; firft fir John Chandos (whofe 
 advice he meant in particular to follow), fir Euiiace 
 d'Ambreticourt, fir Robert KnoUes, fir Hugh Ca- 
 verly *, fir Matthew Gournay t. Thefe knights and 
 barons, having deliberated on their prefent fituation, 
 refolved that it would be moft advantageous to 
 quit their quarters early in the morning, and take 
 the field. They might then confider on the beft 
 mode of afting again ft the enemy, when they 
 fhould have had more exaft information concerning 
 them. Orders were therefore given, that the whole 
 army fhould, on the following morning, be ready 
 armed and in battle-array, as if they were immedi- 
 ately to begin the engagement. 
 
 This night paflcd quietly. On the morrow, 
 which was a Saturday, the Englilh and Bretons 
 ilfued forth from their quarters, marching gaily in 
 order of battle, to the rear of the caftle of Auray, 
 where they halted, and, having chofen a fituation, 
 declared they would wait there the coming of their 
 enemies. 
 
 Almoft immediately after day-break, the lord 
 
 * Sir Hugh Caverly. Q. if it be not fir Hugh Colville, 
 eqiies auratu^, conftituted admiral of England (Fauftina, c. 14, 
 of the Cotton MSS.) Sept. 11. anno 2 Ric. II. Otho E. 9.— 
 3ri^'s Campaign of Edward III. 
 
 + Sir Matthew de Gournay. See more of him in the fecond 
 volume of Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, page 20. He die4 
 *t the age of 96, 
 
 Charles 
 
179 
 
 Charles and his army appeared. They had march- 
 ed on die Friday after dinner from Vannes, and 
 had refted that night three fmall leagues diftant from 
 Auray. The troops of the lord Charles were in 
 the beft and handfomefl order, and drawn up in the 
 mod brilliant manner that could be feen or imagin- 
 ed. They marched in fuch clofe order that one 
 could not throw a tennis ball among them, but it 
 muft have ftruck upon the points of fome of their 
 lances, fo ftiffly did they carry them. The EngliOi 
 look great pleafure in looking at them. 
 
 The French halted in this order in front of their 
 enemies, and took their ground on an extenfive 
 heath. Their marfhals gave ftrift charge that no 
 one fliould quit his ranks without orders, and that 
 there fhould be no tilting, jufts or afTaults. The 
 men at arms, having halted, formed their line of 
 battle, and made preparations for an immediate 
 combat, as they expefted nothing lefs, and were 
 very defirous of it. 
 
 The lord Charles de Blois, by the advice of fir 
 Bertrand du Guefclin (who was a great captain, 
 and much praifed and confided in by the Bretons) 
 formed his army again. He divided it into three 
 battalions and a rear-guard. It feems to me, that 
 fir Bertrand had the command of the firft; and 
 with him were numbers of knights and fquires of 
 Brittany. The earl of Auxerre had the fecond, 
 with the earl of Joigny and many knights and fquires 
 from France. The third and largeft battalion was 
 commanded by the lord Charles himfelf: under 
 him were the principal lords of Brittany ; among 
 
 N i whoni 
 
180 
 
 wliom were the vifcount de Rohan, the lords dc 
 Leon, d'Avaugour, Charles de Dinan, d'Ancenis, 
 de Maleftroit and feveral odiers. In the rear- 
 guard were, die lords de Raix, de Rieux, de Tour- 
 nemine, du Pont, and many good knights and 
 fquires. Each of thefe battalions was compofed of 
 a thoufand men. 
 
 The lord Charles de Blois entreated every one in 
 the fairefl manner, that they would loyally and dif- 
 creetly afTift him. He fwore, upon his foul, and his 
 hopes of Paradife, that it was for a juft and right 
 caufe they were going to engage. He affured each, 
 that, if they acquitted themfelves well, he fliould 
 feel' him felf ever obliged to them. 
 
 We muft now fpeak of the difpofitions of the 
 Englifli and Bretons, and in what manner they 
 drew up their army. You firft muft underftand 
 that, though the earl of Montfort was the com- 
 , mander in chief, yet it was under the fole direftion 
 of fir John Chandos : for the king of England had 
 thus fetded it with the earl of Montfort. He had 
 alfo ordered fir John Chandos to have efpecial re- 
 gard to whatever concerned the interefts of his fon- 
 in-law; for the earl of Montfort had received one? 
 of the king's daughters* in marriage. 
 
 In obedience to fuch orders, (ir John Chandos 
 advanced before the knights and fquires of Brittany 
 who were about the perfon of the carl of Montfort, 
 and having well confidered the difpofitions of the 
 French in his own mind, thought fo highly of themj 
 
 The ptincefs Mary, 
 
 he 
 
m 
 
 he could not remain filent, but faid; ' As God is 
 my help, it appears to me that all the flower and 
 honor of chivalry is there, moft wifely and expertly 
 drawn up.' He then added aloud to thofe knights 
 ■who were within hearing; ' Gendemen, it is time 
 that we form our line of battle ; for the enemy 
 have fet us the example.' Thofe who heard him 
 replied; ' Sir, you fay truly; and, as you are our 
 commander, you will form us according to your 
 wifh ; for there is none higher than yourfelf to look 
 to, and you know much better than any one how 
 to order fuch things.' 
 
 Si^ John Chandos formed three battalions 
 and a rear-guard. He placed over the firft, fir 
 Robert Knolles, fir Walter Huet and fir Rich- 
 ard Burley *. The fecond battalion was under 
 the command of fir Olivier de ClifTon t, fir Euftace 
 d'Ambreticourt and fir Matthew Gournay. — 
 The earl of Montfort had the third, which was to 
 remain near his perfon. There were in each bat- 
 talion five hundred men at arms, and four hundred 
 archers. When he came to the rear-gUard, he 
 called fir Hugh Caverly to him, and faid : ' Sir 
 Hugh, you will take the command of the rear- 
 
 * Sir Richard Burley — was nephew of fir Simon Burley, 
 Jcnight of the Garter, who was beheaded early in Richard 
 II's reign. — Ge/igh's Sep. Mon. Vol. i. p, 150. 
 
 + Sir Olivier de CliiTon. Dom Morice, in his Hiftoire de 
 la Bretagne, fays that this Olivier de Cliflbn was not the 
 nephew of Walter de ClifTon, who was killed, 1341J at the 
 fiege of Chateauceau, but feems to have been the * veritable 
 feigneur de Cliflbn,' — Vol. i. p. 148. 
 
 N 3 guard 
 
182 
 
 guard of five hundred men, and keep on our 
 wing, without moving one ftep, whatever may 
 happen, unlefs you fhall fee an abfolute neceffity for 
 it ; fuch as our battalions giving way, or being by 
 accident broken : in that cafe, you will haflen to 
 fuccour thofe who are giving way, or who may be 
 in diforder: and affure yourfelf, you cannot this 
 day do a more meritorious fervice.' 
 
 When fir Hugh heard fir John Chandos give 
 him thefe orders, he was much hurt and angry with 
 him, and faid ; ' Sir John, fir John, give the com- 
 mand of this rear-guard to fome other; for I do 
 not wifh to be troubled with it;' and then added, 
 ' Sir knight, for what manner of reafon have you 
 thus provided for me ? and why am not I as fit and 
 proper to take my poft in the front-rank as others ?* 
 
 Sir John difcreedy anfwered ; ' Sir Hugh, I did 
 not place you with the rear-guard becaufe you were 
 not as good a knight as any of us ; for, in truth, I 
 know that you are equally valiant with the beft ; 
 but 1 ordered you to that poll, becaufe I know you 
 are both bold and prudent, and that it is abfolutely 
 necefiary for you or me to take that command. I 
 therefore moft earneflly entreat it of you; for, if 
 you will do fo, we fhall all be the better for it; and 
 you yourfelf will acquire great honor : in addition, 
 I promife to comply with thefirfl: requell you may 
 make me.' 
 
 Notwithftanding this handfome fpeech of fir Jphn 
 Chandos, fir Hugh refufed to comply, confidering 
 it as a great affront offered him, and entreated, 
 through the love of God, with uplifted hands^ 
 
 that 
 
183 
 
 that he would order feme other to that command; 
 for, in fa6l, he was anxious to enter the battle with 
 the firft. 
 
 This condu6l nearly brought tears to the eyes of 
 fir John. He again addrefTed him, gently faying : 
 ' Sir Hugh, it is abfolutely necelTary that either you 
 or I take this command : now, confider which can 
 be moft fpared.' 
 
 Sir Hugh, having confidered this lad fpecch, was 
 much confufed, and replied; ' Certainly, fir, I 
 know full well that you would afli. nothing from 
 me which could turn out to my diflionour; and, 
 fince it is fo, I will very cheerfully undeitake it.' 
 
 Sir Hugh Caverly then took the command of the 
 battalion called the rear-guard, entered the field in 
 the rear, on the wing of the others, and formed his 
 line. 
 
 It was on Saturday the 8lh day of Oclober, 1364, 
 that thcfe battalions were drawn up facing each 
 other, in a handfome plain, near to Auray in Brit- 
 tany. I mud fay, it was a fine thing to fee and re- 
 fleft on; for there were banners and pennons fly- 
 ing, with the richeft armour on each fide : the 
 French were fo handfomely and grandly drawn up, 
 it was great pleafure to look at them. 
 
 Whilft either party was forming or dividing its 
 battalions, the lord of Beaumanoir, a very great and 
 rich baron of Brittany, was going to and from each 
 army, with propofitions for peace. Very willingly 
 would he have laboured, if he had been able, to 
 ward off the perils that were on the point of hap- 
 pening.. He was earneft in the bufinefs : and the 
 N 4 Englifli 
 
184 
 
 Englifli and Bretons on the fide of Montfort, allow- 
 ed him to pafs and repafs, to par :c\ with fir John 
 Chandos, and the earl of Montfoi t, although he 
 had pledged his honor, as a prifoner, and therefore 
 Gould not bear arms againft them. 
 
 This fame Saturday, he brought many propofals, 
 in hopes to make ^ peace; of which, however, none 
 fucceeded: he was occupied with one party or the 
 other until noon. He neverthelefs obtained, through, 
 his good fenfe, a truce between the two armies for 
 this day and the I"ollnv/ing night, until the morrow 
 at fun-rife. Each army retreated to their quarters, 
 and refrefhcd themfelves with what they had. 
 
 During the time the truce lafted, the governor 
 of the caflle of Auray came out of it, on Saturday 
 night, and went peaceably to the army of the lord 
 Charles de BIois,who gracioufly received him. The 
 name of the governor was Henry de Hauternelle, a 
 very expert warrior, who brought with him forty 
 lances, good companions, w^ell armed and well 
 mounted, who had aided him in guarding that for- 
 trefs. 
 
 When the lord Charles faw the governor, he 
 afked him, laughingly, the ftate of the caftle. ' In 
 God's name,' replied the fquire, ' and praife be to 
 him, we are ftill fufficiently provided with every 
 thing for two or three months, fhould there be 
 occafion.' * Henry, Henry,' anfwered lord Charles, 
 ' to-morrow by day-break, you (hall be made free 
 in every refpefl, either by a treaty of peace or by 
 a battle.' ' My lord,' replied the fquire, ' God 
 grant us his affiftance/ ' By mv faith, Henry,' 
 
 faid 
 
185 
 
 faid the lord Charles, ' I have under my command 
 two thoufand men at arms, of as good ftufF, and as 
 much inclined to acquit themfelves well, as there are 
 in the kingdom of France.' ' My lord,* anfwered 
 this fquire, ' this is a great advantage: you fhould 
 therefore praife God, and thank him moft grate- 
 fully: likewife fir Bertrand da Guefclin, and the 
 barons of France and Brittany, who have come fo 
 courteoufly to your af?- fiance.' 
 
 Thus the lord Charles amufed himfelf inconver- 
 fation with fir Henry, and with one or another, and 
 pafTed the night much at his eafe. 
 
 In the courfeofthis evening, fomeEnglifh knights 
 and fquires earneftly begfred of fir John Chandos, 
 that he would not liften to any overtures of peace 
 between the earl of Montfort and lord Charles de 
 Blois ; for they had expended their whole fortune, 
 and were fo poor, that they hoped by means of a 
 battle either to Jofe their all or to fet themfelves up 
 again. The knight afTented to their requeft. 
 
 When Sunday morning came, each army made 
 itfelf ready, and armed. Many malTes were faid in 
 that of lord Charles, and the facrament was admi- 
 niftered to all who wiflied it. The fame was done 
 in the army of the earl of Montfort : and, a little 
 before fun-rife, each perfon polled himfelf in the 
 fame battle array as on the preceding day. 
 
 Shortly after, the lord de Beaumanoir, who had 
 prepared different propofals for peace, and who 
 would willingly have brought them to fome agree- 
 ment, had he been able, returned to the charge, 
 and came gallopping towards fir John Chandos, who 
 
 left 
 
186 
 
 left his battalion and the earl of Montfort, at the 
 time with him, as foon as he perceived his inten^ 
 tions, and advanced into the plain to meet him. 
 
 When the lord de Beaumanoir came up, he fa- 
 luted him very humbly, and faid ; ' I intreat of 
 you, fir John Chandos, in the name of God, that we 
 may bring thefe two lords to fome agreement ; for 
 it is a great pity that fo many good perfons who are 
 here Ihould flaughter each other in fupport of their 
 opinions.' 
 
 Sir John Chandos gave him a very different 
 anfwer than he expefted from what had paffed on 
 the preceding evening. ' Lord de Beaumanoir, I 
 would advife you not to make any more attempts at 
 peace to-day; for our men declare that, if they can 
 inclofe you within their ranks, they will kill you. 
 You will fay to lord Charles dc Blois, that happen 
 what may, the lord John de Montfort is determined 
 to rifk the event of a combat. Have done, there- 
 fore, with all ideas of peace or agreements ; for he 
 will this day be duke of Brittany, or die in the 
 field; 
 
 When the lord de Beaumanoir had received this 
 anfwer from Chandos, he was mightily enraged, 
 and replied; « Chandos, Chandos, that is not lefs 
 the intention of my lord, who has as good a will to 
 fight as the lord John de Montfort : his army arc 
 alfo of the fame mind.' 
 
 At thefe words, he fet off without faying any 
 thing more, and went to lord Charles and the 
 barons of Brittany, who were waiting for him. 
 
 Sir 
 
187 
 
 Sir John Chandos returned to the carl oF Mont- 
 fort, who aflved, ' How goes on the treaty ? What 
 does our adverfary fay ? « What does he fay ?* 
 replied Chandos : ' why, he fends word bv the lord 
 de Beaumanoir, who h?is this inftant left me, that 
 he will fight with you at all events, and remain duke 
 of Brittanv, or die in th^ held.' This anfwer was 
 made by fir John, in order to excite the courage of 
 the earl of Montfort; and he continued faying, 
 * Now, confider what you will determine to do, 
 whether to engage or not.' ' By St. George,' 
 anfwered the cai of Montfort, 'engage I will, and 
 God affift the right caufe: order our banners to ad> 
 vance immediately.' 
 
 With regard to the lord de Beaumanoir, he faid 
 to lord Charles de Blois ; ' My lord, my lord, by 
 St. Ives, I have heard the proudeft fpeech from 
 John Chandos that my ears have liftened to for a 
 long time : he has juit aflured me, that the earl of 
 Montfort fhall remain duke of Brittany, and will 
 clearly fiiew to you that you have not any right to 
 it.' Thefe words brought the colour into lord 
 Charles's cheeks; when he anfwered, ' Let God 
 fetde the right, for he knows to whom it belongs ;* 
 and thus faid all the barons of Brittany. He then 
 ordered his banners and men at arms to march, in 
 the name of God and St. Ives. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
188 
 
 CHAP. CCXXV. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF AURAY, IN WHICH SIR BERTRAND 
 
 DU GUESCLIN IS MADE PRISONER. CHARLES D£ 
 
 BLOIS IS SLAIN; AND JOHN DE MONTfORT IS 
 VICTORIOUS. 
 
 A LITTLE before eight in the morning the two 
 armies advanced near to each other. It was 
 a very fine fight, as I have heard thofe relate who 
 fawit; for the French were in fuch clofe order 
 that one could fcarcely throw an apple among 
 them, without its falling on a helmet or lance. 
 Each man at arms carried his fpear right before 
 him, cut down to the length of five feet; a battle- 
 axe, fliarp, (trong and well fteeled, with a fhort 
 handle, was at his fide, or hung from his neck. 
 They advanced thus handfomely a foot's pace, each 
 lord in array and among his people, v/ith his ban- 
 ner or pennon before him, well knowing \yhat they 
 were to do. 
 
 On the other hand, the Englifh were drawn up 
 in the handfomeft order. 
 
 The Bretons, under the command of fir Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin, polled themfelves with his ban, 
 ner oppofite to the battalion of fir Robert Knolles 
 and fir Walter Huet. The Bretons of either party 
 placed the banners of their two lords, who was each 
 called duke, oppofite to the other. 
 
 In this firft onfet, there were hard blows between 
 the lancemen, and a fharp fcuffle. True it is, that 
 the Englifli archers fhot well at the commencement; 
 
 but 
 
18^ 
 
 but their arrows hurt not, as the French were too 
 well armed and fhielded from them. Upon this, 
 they flung away their bows; and, being light and 
 able men, they mixed with the men at arms of their 
 party, and attacked thofe of the French who had 
 batde-axes. Being men of addrcfs and courage, 
 they immediately feized feveral of thefe ax&s, with 
 which they afterwards fought valiantly and fuc- 
 cefsfully. 
 
 There were many gallant feats of arms perform- 
 ed; many a ftruggle, many a capture, and many a 
 refcue. You mull know, that whoever had the 
 misfortune to fall, found great difficulty to rife 
 again, unlefs he was fpeedily fuccoured. 
 
 The battalion of lord Charles marched ftraight 
 to that of lord John de Montfort, which was very 
 ftrong and deep. In his company were, the vif- 
 count de Rohan, the lords de Leon, Charles de 
 Dinan, de Ouintin, d'Ancenis, and de Rochefort, 
 each with his banner difplayed before him. 
 
 The engagement between thefe two battalions was 
 very fevere and defperate, and well fought on both 
 fides. That of the earl of Montfort was at firft 
 thrown into confufion ; but fir Hugh Caverly, who 
 was upon its wing with a good battalion of gallant 
 men, perceiving them giving way and opening theilr 
 ranks, drove the enemy back, and replaced every 
 thing by force of arms. This a6lion was certainly 
 of great ufe to them. 
 
 In another part of the plain, fir Olivier de Cliffon, 
 fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt, fir Matthew Gournay, 
 and feveral other vahant knights and fquires, fought 
 
 valoroufly 
 
190 
 
 valoroufly with the battalion of the earls ofAuxerre 
 and Joigny, which was very numerous and deep, 
 and crowded with fevera) able men at arms. 
 
 Many bold aftions were performed on both fides: 
 prifoners and refcues were frequent. The French 
 and Bretons fought in carneft with their battle-axes. 
 The lord Charles fhewed himfelf a marvelloufly 
 good knight, eagerly feeking for and engaging his 
 enemies. His adverfary, the earl of Montfort, 
 fought with equal gallantry : and each perfon fpokc 
 of them according to their deferts. 
 
 Sir John Chandos proved himfelf more able than 
 his opponents ; for he was at the fame time bold 
 and hardy, redoubted by his adverfaries in battle, 
 as well as wife and difcreet in council, giving the 
 clearefl orders. He advifed the earl in every thing, 
 and, in order to animate him and his people, faid to 
 them, ' Do fo and fo: march to this fide, or to that.' 
 The young earl of Montfort believed all he faid, 
 and followed his advice. 
 
 In another part, fir Bertrand du Guefclin, the 
 lords du Pont, de Tournemine, d'Avaugour, de 
 Raix, de Loheac, de Maleftroit, du Prie, and many 
 other able knights and fquires of Brittany and Nor- 
 mandy, who were there on the fide of the lord 
 Charles, fought very determinedly, and did many 
 handfome deeds of arms. The battle was fo 
 warmly contefted that all the battalions were en- 
 gaged, except the rear-guard of the Englifli, which 
 fir Hugh Caverly commanded. This battalion 
 kept always on one wing, and never engaged with 
 any, but was folely occupied in recovering and 
 
 bringing 
 
191 
 
 bringing back to their ranks thofe who were thxown 
 into confufion. 
 
 Among other knights, fir Olivier de Cliflfon 
 played his part handfomely, and did marvels with 
 his battle-axe, by which he opened and cut through 
 the ranks, fo that none dared to approach him. 
 Once, indeed, his eagernefs brought him into great 
 peril; for he advanced fo forward that he had the 
 battalion of the earls of Auxerre and Joigny upon 
 him, and had hard work to extricate himfelf. He 
 received in this affair a ftroke of a battle-axe which 
 ftruck off the vifor of his helmet; and its point en- 
 tered his eye, which he afterwards lofl. He was 
 not however, for this, a lefs gallant knight during 
 the whole of the day. 
 
 Battalions and banners rufhed againft each other, 
 and fometimes were overthrown, and then up again. 
 Among the knights, fir John Chandos fhewed his 
 ability, valoroufly fighting with his battle-axe : he 
 gave fuch defperale blows, that all avoided him; 
 for he was of great flature and flrength, well made 
 in all his limbs. He advanced to attack the bat- 
 talion of the earl of Auxerre and the French. 
 Many bold a6lions were performed; and, through 
 the courage of himfelF and people, he drove this 
 battalion before him, and threw it into fuch diforder 
 that, in brief, it was difcomfited. All their banners 
 and pennons were thrown on the ground, torn and 
 broken : their lords and captains were in the 
 grcateft danger; for they were not fuccoured by 
 any,,, their people being fully engaged in fighting 
 and defending themfelves. 
 
 To 
 
15i 
 
 To fpeak truly, when once an army isi5ircomfited, 
 thofe who are defeated are fo much frightened, that 
 if one fall, three follow his example, and to thefe 
 three ten, and to ten thirty ; and alfo, fliould ten 
 run away, they will be followed by a hundred. 
 Thus it was at the batde of Auray. 
 
 Thefe lords fhouted again and again their cries of 
 war, as well as their banner-bearers, which fome 
 who heard them anfwered; but others were too 
 much in the rear, and from the greatnefs of the 
 Crowd could not advance, fo that the earl of 
 Auxerre was defperately wounded, and taken, 
 under the pennon of fir John Chandos : he gave his 
 |)ledge as a prifoner, as well as the earl of Joigny 
 and the lord de Prie, a great banneret in Nor- 
 mandy. 
 
 The other battalions fought very valiantly, and 
 the Bretons made a good appearance ftill. It muft 
 hov\?ever, to fpeak loyally of this battle, be allowed, 
 that they did not keep their line nor array (as it 
 feemcd) like the Englifli and Bretons on the fide of 
 Montfort. The wing commanded by fir Hugh 
 Caverly was to them, in this batde, of the greateft 
 advantage. 
 
 When the Englifh and Bretons of the Montfort 
 pany perceived the French to be in confufion, they 
 Were much rejoiced. Some of the French had 
 their horfes got ready, which they mounted, and 
 began to fly as faft as they could. 
 
 Sir John Chandos then advanced with a part of 
 his company, and made for the battalion of fir 
 Bertrand du Guefclin, where many courageous 
 
 deeds 
 
193' 
 
 deeds were doing; but it had been already broken, 
 and feveral good knights and fquires (lain. Many 
 a hard blow was given by the battle-axes, and 
 many a helmet opened, fo that feveral were wound- 
 ed and killed. To fay the truth, neither fir Ber- 
 trand nor his people were able to withftand the 
 ftrength of their adverfaries. 
 
 Sir Bertrand was made prifoner by an Englifh 
 fquire, under the pennon of fir JohnChandos. In 
 this conflict, fir John received the pledge asprifoner, 
 from a baron of Brittany called the lord of Raix, a 
 wonderfully hardy knight. After this, the Bretons- 
 and their battalion being broken, were as good as 
 defeated : the others being in diforder, took to 
 flight, each in the bell way he could to fave hirafelf, 
 except fome good knight:^ and fauires of Brittany^ 
 who would not quit their fovereign, the lord Charles 
 de Blois, preferring death to ; ei-roach. They col- 
 let! ed themfelves together, ana rallied round liim, 
 fighting valiantly. The lord Charles and his com- 
 panions kept their ground a long time, by their 
 valour in deft-nding themfelves : at laft, however, it 
 was of no avail, for they Vv'ere defeated a.'^^d put to 
 the rout by numbers ; for the whole ftrength of the 
 Englifh was drawing towards them. 
 
 The banner of the lord Charles was conquered, 
 caft to the ground, and the bearer of it flain : he 
 himfelf was alfo killed facing his enemies, as well as 
 a baftard of his called the lord John de Blois, with 
 many other knights and fquires of Brittany. 
 
 It appears to me, that orders had been given to 
 the Englifh army, that if they ihould gain the battle. 
 
 Vol. III. o' and 
 
194. 
 
 and the lord Charles were found or madeprifoner, 
 no ranf{"»m {hould be taken for him, but that they 
 fliould kill him. In a fmiilar cafe, the French and 
 Bretons had given the like orders rcfpefting the 
 lord Johnde Montfort; for in this day each party 
 wilhed, by battle, to put an end to the war. 
 
 W^hen a purfuit took place, great daughter and 
 many mifchiefs happened, and feveral good men 
 were killed or made prifoncrs. The whole flower 
 of chivalry, who had that day taken the lide of lord 
 Charles de Blois, were cither prifoncrs or flain, par- 
 ticularly the bannerets of Brittany. Among the 
 dead, lay the lord Charles de Dinan, the lords de 
 Leon, d'Ancenis, d'Avaugour, de Loheac, de Gar- 
 golle, de Maleftroit, du Pont, and many whofe 
 names I cannot remember. There were made pri- 
 foncrs, the vifcount de Rohan, fir Guy de Leon, 
 the lords de Rochefort, de Raix, de Rieux, de 
 Tournemine, fir Henry de Maleflroit, fir Olivier 
 de Mauny, the lords de Riville, de Franville, de 
 Raineval, with feveral from Normandy, and many 
 good knights and fqtiircs from France, with the earls 
 of Auxcrre and joigny. In a word the defeat and 
 lofs were immenfe : numbers were flain in the field, 
 as well as in the purfuit, which continued for eight 
 good leagues, even as far as Vannes. 
 
 A variety of accidents happened this day which 
 have never come to my knowledge, and many aman 
 was killed or made pnfoner. Some fell into good 
 hands, where they met v.'ith kind and civil mailers. 
 
 This battle was fought near to Auray, in the )ear 
 of our Lurd 1364. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
19^^ 
 
 CHAP. CCXXVI. 
 
 THE CHIEFS ATTACHED TO THE EARL OF MONT- 
 FORT RETIRE AFTER THE VICTORY AT AURAY. 
 -^THE earl's CONDUCT, ON SEEING CHARLES 
 DE BLOIS DEAD. TRUCES GRANTED FOR BU- 
 RYING THE SLAIN. IN WHAT MANNER THE 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND WAS INFORMED OF THE 
 EVENT OF THIS BATTLE OF AURAY. 
 
 A FTER the total defeat of lord Charles's army, 
 when the field of battle was free, and the prin- 
 cipal leaders, Englifh and Bretons, were returned 
 from the purfuit, fir John Chandos, fir Robert 
 Knolles, fir Euflace d'Ambreticourt, fir Matthew 
 Gournay, fir John Bourfier *, fir Walter Huet, fir 
 Hugh Calverley, fir Richard Burley, fir Richard 
 Tancon t, and feveral others drawing near to the 
 eirl of Montfort, came to a hedge, where they be- 
 gan to difarm themfelves, knowing the day was 
 theirs. Some of them placed their banners and 
 pennons in this hedge, with the arms of Brittany 
 high above all, in a bufh, as a rallying poft for 
 their army. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, fir Robert Knolles, fir Hugh 
 Calverley and others, then approached to the earl 
 of Montfort, and faid to him fmiling; ' My lord, 
 praife God, and make good cheer, for this day you 
 have conquered the inheritance of Brittany.' He 
 bowed to them very refpedfully, and then faid. 
 
 * Sir John Bourchier. — Barnes. 
 i Sir Richard Taunton. — Barnes. 
 
 O 2 teud 
 
nj6 
 
 loud enough to be heard by all around him ; ' Sir 
 John Chandos, it is to your valour and prudence 
 that I am indebted for the good fortune of this day : 
 this I know for a truth, as well as all thofe who are 
 with me : I beg you will, therefore, refrefh yourfelf 
 out of my cup.' He then extended to him a flagon 
 full of wine, and his cup, out of which he himfelf 
 had juft drank, adding, ' After God, I owe more 
 thanks to you than to all the reft of the world.' 
 
 As he finifhed thefe words, the lord de Clifton 
 returned, out of breath and very hot. He had 
 purfued the enemy a long way, and had juft left 
 them, bringing back his men, with a number of 
 prifoners. He advanced dire6lly to the earl of 
 Montfort and the knights who were about him, 
 leaped off his courfer, and refreflied himfelf with 
 them. 
 
 Whilft they were thus together, two knights and 
 two heralds returned, who had been fent to ex- 
 amine the dead bodies in the field, to know what 
 was become of the lord Charles de Blois : for they 
 were uncertain if he had been flain or not. They 
 cried with a loud voice, ' My lord, be of good 
 cheer, for we have feen your adverfary lord Charles 
 de Blois among the dead.' Upon this, the earl of 
 Montfort rofe up and faid, he wiflied to fee him 
 himfelf, for that, ' he fhould have as much pleafure 
 in feeing him dead as alive.' All the knights then 
 prefent accompanied him to the fpot where he was 
 lying apart from the others, covered by a ftiield, 
 which he ordered to be taken away, and looked at 
 him very forrowfully. Afier having paufed awhile, 
 
 he 
 
197 
 
 he exclaimed; ' Ha, my lord Charles, fweet coufin, 
 how much mifchief has happened to Brittany from 
 your having fupported by arms your pretenfions ! 
 God help me, I am truly unhappy at finding you 
 in this lituation, but at prefent this cannot be 
 amended.' Upon which he burft into tears. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, perceiving this, pulled him by 
 the fkirt, and faid; ' My lord, my lord, let us go 
 away, and return thanks to God for the fuccefs of 
 the day ; for without the death of this perfon, 
 you never would have gained your inheritance of 
 Brittany.' 
 
 The earl then ordered that lord Charles's body 
 Ihould be carried to Guingamp*, which was 
 immediately done with great refpeQ, and he was 
 moft honorably interred. This was but his due, as 
 he was a good, loyal and valiant knight. 
 
 His body was afterward fanftified by the grace of 
 God, and venerated as Saint Charles. Pope Ur- 
 ban V. M'ho was the reigning pontiff, approved of 
 it, by canonifing it ; for it performed then, as it 
 does to this day, many miracles t. 
 
 * Guingamp,— a town of Brittany, diocefe of Treguier. 
 
 + This is a miftake of Froiflart. There was fome fuch 
 intention in the pope's mind, as there are extant letters from 
 him to John duke of Brittany on this fubjedl ; but, when he 
 underftood the manner of his death, he was not looked upon 
 as a martyr. He was very angry with thofe who had given 
 him fuch honors, without the approbation of the apoftolic 
 fee, and, by his letters to the bifhops of Brittany, enjoined 
 jhem to prohibit fuch things being done in future. 
 
 Barnei' Hift. Edw, III, p. 660. 
 
 O 3 After 
 
IPS 
 
 After thefe orders, when the dead was firipped, 
 and the viftors returned from the purfuit, they all 
 retired to the quarters which they had left that 
 morning. They difarmed themfelves ; and hav- 
 ing taken fome refreflimcnts, of which they had 
 an ample provifion, they attended to their prifoners, 
 Thofe that were wounded, were moved and dreffed : 
 even the fervants who had fufFered were well taken 
 care of. 
 
 On the Monday morning, the earl of Montfort 
 fent information to the city of Vannes, and to the 
 neighbouring towns, that he fliould grant a truce 
 for three days, in order that thofe flain in the battle 
 might be buried in confecrated ground. This con- 
 du6l was very pleafmg to all. 
 
 The earl of Montfort fat down before the caflle 
 of Auray, declaring he would aot depart thence 
 until he had poflTelTion of it. News was fpread 
 abroad with great celerity^ and in different places, 
 that the earl of Montfort, by the help and afliflance 
 of the Englifli, had gained the viQ;ory; that the 
 lord Charles was defeated and flain ; and that aji 
 the knights of Brittany, who had fided with the 
 lord Charles, were either taken prifoners or dead. 
 
 Sir John Chandos had the whole honor of this 
 battle; for all the knights, lords and fquires who 
 had been engaged in it declared, that it was folely 
 owing to his prudence and prowcfs they had gained 
 the day. 
 
 The friends and allies of lord Charles were much 
 afflir.'cd at this news, as was natural for them to be : 
 but the king of France was the moft hurt ; for this 
 
 defeat 
 
199 
 
 defeat affefted him greatly, confidering that many 
 of the knights of his reahn had been made pri- 
 foners and killed. Among the firfl, fir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, whom he much loved ; the earls of 
 Auxerre, of Joigny, and all the barons of Brittany 
 without exception. 
 
 The king of France, therefore, fent his brother 
 the duke of Anjou to the borders of Brittany, to 
 the affiftance of the country, which was much 
 diftreffed by thelofs of their lord, Charles de Blois; 
 and to comfort and condole with the duchefs of 
 Brittany, his widow, who was in the deepeil af- 
 fliftion. This it was the duty of the duke to do; 
 but he was the more earneftly engaged in this 
 melancholy taflv., having married her daughter. 
 
 He therefore moft willingly gave his promife of 
 advice, affiftance and fuccour to the large cities, 
 towns, caftles, and to all the country of Brittany, 
 in which the duchefs, whom he called his mother, 
 and the whole country, had for a long time great 
 confidence, until the king of France, to avoid all 
 difficulties, made other arrangements, as you ffiall 
 hereafter be informed of. 
 
 News of this victory was brought to the king of 
 England; for the earl of Montfort had written to 
 him on the fifth day after the battle of Auray, and 
 fent the intelligence, with credential letters, by a 
 purfuivant at arms, who had been in the engage- 
 ment, to the town of Dover. The king of England 
 nominated him his herald, and gave him the naiue 
 of Windfor, with a handfome prefent of money. 
 , O 4 Through 
 
'200 
 
 Through this herald, and from lome knights ot 
 both parties, I have been informed of the whole. 
 With regard to the catife why the king of Engf 
 land was then at Dover, you ftiall immediately learn. 
 
 It is a vv-:ll-known fa6l, that propofals for a mar- 
 riage between the lord Edmund earl of Cambridge, 
 fon of the king of England, and the daughter of 
 earl Lewis of Flanders, had been treated of, and 
 different negociations entered upon three years be- 
 fore * : to which marriage the earl of Flanders had 
 but lately given his confent; but pope Urban V. 
 was defirous of difpenfing him from it, as they 
 were very nearly allied. 
 
 The duke of Lancafter and the lord Edmund his 
 brother, attended by many knights, had been to 
 vifit the earl of Flanders, who received them with 
 every mark of diftin6lion; and, to fhew greater 
 affeftion and love, he had accompanied them to 
 Calais, and croffed die i'ca to Dover, where the 
 king and part of his council had lemained. 
 
 When the before-mentioned purfuivant brought 
 to this place the news of the affair at Auray, as it 
 has been told, the king and his barons were much 
 rejoiced at the event; as v/as alfo the earl of Fhn- 
 iders, on account of the advancement of his coufin- 
 german the carl of Montfort. 
 
 * The firil mention I find in R)'iTier is dated yth Febru- 
 ary 1362, — the fecond, 20th July 1364, — the third, the 
 articles of marriage, dated i9ihC(5tober, at Dover, 1364,— 
 the fourth, to poflpone the day of marriage, Windfor, iSth 
 December 1364, 
 
 The 
 
20}" 
 
 The king of England, the eirl of Flanders and 
 ihe other barons, (laid at Dover three days, 
 which were fpent in feafts and entertainments. 
 When they indulged in thcfe fufficiendy, and had 
 finifhcd the affairs on which they had met, the earl 
 of Flanders took his leave of the king, and departed. 
 
 It feems to mc, that the duke of Lancaftcr and 
 the lord Edmund croiTed the channel vviih the earl, 
 and attended him until he arrived at Bruges. We 
 v/ill not fpeak longer of this matter, but return to 
 the earl of Montfort, and mention how he con- 
 duced himfelf in Bi ittany. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXVII. 
 
 THE EARL OF MONTFORT CONQUERS AURAY AND 
 SEVERAL OTHER PLACES FROM THE WIDOW OF 
 LORD CHARLES DE BLOIS. KING CHARLES IN- 
 TERPOSES BETWEEN THEMj AND MAKES PEACE. 
 
 A PEACE IS ALSO MADE BETWEEN THE KINGS 
 
 OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, THROUGH THE ME- 
 DIUM OF THE CAPTAL DE BUCH. 
 
 npHE earl of Montfort, as it has been before re- 
 lated, laid fiege to Auray, and declared that he 
 would not leave it until he had conquered it ; at 
 which thofe of the callle were not very well pleafed. 
 They ha'd loft their captain, Henri de Hauternelle, 
 who had fallen in the battle with the flower of the 
 garrifon ; fo that they were very few to defend it, 
 ^nd without hope of affiftance. 
 
 They 
 
£02 
 
 They took courjfel together, whether it would 
 not be advifable to furrender, on having their Jives 
 and fortunes faved, and on thefe terms entered into a 
 negotiation with the earl. The earl, who had many 
 other places to look to, and was not certain how 
 the country would aft after this viftory, accepted 
 their terms, allowing thofe who would not remain 
 with him to depart according to their inclinations. 
 He then took pofieirion of the caftle, new garrifoned 
 it, and marched forward with his whole army, 
 which increafed daily ; for men at arms and 
 archers came to him in crowds, and many knights 
 and fquires turned to his party, efpecially thofe 
 /rem lower Brittany. 
 
 He came before the good town of Jugon*, 
 which fhut its gates againft him. He remained 
 there three days, and ordered it to be affaulted 
 twice, which occafioned many both within and 
 without the walls to be badly wounded. Thofe in 
 Jugon, feeing themfelves thus hardly preffed, and no 
 hopes of aid, did not wifli to be further harafTed : 
 they acknowledged therefore the earl of Montfort 
 for their lord, opened the gates, and fwore homage 
 and fealty to him, which they faithfully promifed to 
 keep. The earl changed all the municipal officers, 
 appointing new ones in their ftead. 
 
 He then advanced towards the city of Dinan t, 
 and laid fiege to it, which continued during the 
 
 * jugon, — a town in Brittany, diocefe of St. Pol. 
 + Dinan, — a confiderablc town in Brittany, diocefe of St. 
 Malo. 
 
 winter ; 
 
203 
 
 winter; for that town was well furnifhed with men 
 at arms and provifion : befides, the duke of Anjou 
 had exhorted them to behave themfelves as good 
 men fliould do (for he had affifted them) : this 
 made them hold out, and fuffer many a fcarp 
 alfault. 
 
 When they found their provifion growing low, 
 and that no relief was coming to them, they entered 
 into a treaty of peace with the earl, who willingly 
 liftened to it ; for he was defirous of nothing but 
 that they fliould acknowledge him as their lord, 
 which they did. lie made a folemn entry into the 
 town of Dinan, where all the inhabitants fwore 
 homage and feaky to him. 
 
 After this, the earl marched with his army to the 
 city of Quimpcr Corcntin *. He laid clofe (lege to 
 it, and ordered large machines to be brought from 
 Vannes and Dinan, faying, he would have it before 
 he left it. I muft now inform you, that the Englifli 
 and the Bretons of Montfort's party, fuch as fir 
 John Chandos and others, who had made prifoners 
 ;sit the battle of Auray, would not accept of ran- 
 foms for them, nor allow them to go and feek for 
 prioney; becaufe they were unwilling they fhould 
 again alTemble in a body and offer them battle : 
 ihey fent them into Poitou, Saintonge, Bourdeaux 
 and la Rochelle, to remain there as prifoners. Dur- 
 ing this time, the Englifh and Bretons conquered 
 all Brittany, from one end to the other. 
 
 * Quimper Corentin,~a town in Brittany, generality of 
 Nantes. 
 
 Whilft 
 
i!04' 
 
 Whilft tlie carl of Montfort was bedeging the 
 city of Ouimper Corentin, to \vhich he did much 
 damage by his machines that played night and day, 
 as well as bv his alTauits, his men overran the coun- 
 try, leaving nothing unpillaged. 
 
 The king of France was duly informed of all that 
 •was going on : many councils were held to confider 
 how he could turn thefe affairs of Brittany to his 
 own intereft ; for they were in a defperate iituation, 
 unlefs promptly remedied, and he would be forced 
 to call upon his fubjefts to fupport.him in anew 
 war againft England on account of Brittany. This 
 his council advifedhim not to think of: but, after 
 many deliberations, they faid to him; ' Our molt 
 dear lord, you have fupported your coufin, the lord 
 Charles de Blois, in Brittany, as did the king your 
 father, and your grandfather Philip, who gave to 
 him the heirefs of the lad duke of Brittany in mar- 
 riage : bv which means much evil has befallen Brit- 
 tany and the neighbouring countries. Since the 
 lord Charles de Blois, your coufin, was flain in de- 
 fending that country, there is no one now of his 
 party in a fituation to refume the war ; for at this 
 moment thofe to whom it belongs, and whom it 
 touches fo nearly, are prifoners in England : we mean 
 the lord John and lord Guy de Blois, his two fons. 
 We hear every day of the earl of Montfort con- 
 quering towns and caflles, which he poffeffes as his 
 lawful inheritance : by this means you will lofe your 
 rights, as well as the homage of Brittany, which is 
 certainly a great honor and a noble appendage to 
 your crown. This you ought to endeavour to keep ; 
 
 for. 
 
for, if the earlof Montfoit fliould acknowledge for 
 his lord the king of England, as his father did, you 
 will notbeableto recover it without great wars with 
 England, with whom we are now at peace, and 
 which we would advife you not to break. Every 
 thing, therefore, fully confidered, we recommend to 
 you, our dear lord, to fend ambafifadors and wife 
 negotiators to the earl of Montfort, to find out 
 what his intentions are, and to enter upon a treaty 
 of peace with him, as well as with the country, and 
 the lady of it, who beais the tide of duchefs. You 
 will derive from thefe negotiators pofitive informa- 
 tion as to what are his intentions. At the worft, it 
 will be much better he (liouid remain duke of Brit- 
 tany (provided that he will acknowledge you for his 
 lord, and pay you all your rights, as a loyal man 
 (liould do) than that this bufinefs fiiould continue 
 longer in peril.' 
 
 The king of France willingly afTented to this 
 propofal. The lord John de Craon, archbifhop 
 of Rheims, the lord de Craon his coufin, and 
 the lord de Boucicaut, were ordered to fet out 
 for Quimper Corentin, to treat with the earl 
 of Montfort and his council, as it has been above 
 related. Thefe three lords departed, after hav- 
 ing received full inftruCtions how they were to 
 act, and rode on until they came to the fiege 
 which the Englifii and Bretons Vv'ere laying to 
 Ouimper Corentin, where they announced theni- 
 fclves as ambaffadors from France. 
 
 The earl of Montfort, fir John Chandos and the 
 
 members of the council, received them with plea- 
 
 6 fure. 
 
206 
 
 fure. Thefe lords explained the caufe of theif 
 coming. To this firit opening, the earl of 
 Montfort replied, ' We will confider of it,' and 
 fixed a day for his aiifwer : during this interval, 
 thefe three lords retired to Rennes, where they 
 refided. 
 
 The earl of Montfort difpatched lord Latimer* 
 to the king of England, to inform him of the pro- 
 pofals for a peace he had received, and to have his 
 advice on the fubjeQ. The king of England, hav- 
 ing . confidered them, advifed the earl to make a 
 peace, on condition the duchy fhould be his ; and 
 alfo to make handfome reparation to the lady who 
 was called duchefs, by aiTigningher a fixed annuity, 
 or rent-charge, on certain lands where fhe might 
 colleft it without danger. 
 
 o 
 
 Lord Latimer brought back the opinion of the 
 king of England to the earl of Montfort, who was 
 ftill before Quimper Corentin. Upon the arrival 
 of thefe letters, the earl and his council fent to the 
 aqibaffadors from France, who had remained at 
 Rennes : they came immediately to the armv, and 
 had a very courteous and civil anfwer given to 
 them. They were told that the earl of Montfort 
 wouM never give up his claims to the duchy of 
 Brittany, happen what might, but would keep and 
 maintain the title and rights of duke of Brittany, 
 w,hich he was now poflefied of : that, neverthelefs, 
 wherever the king of France fliould caufe any cities, 
 towns or caflles to furrendcr peaceably upon the 
 
 * Lord Latimer. See Dusdalc's Baronage. 
 
 fame 
 
'207 
 
 fame terms of homage, fealty, and rights, as they were 
 held from the preceding duke of Brittany, he would 
 willingly acknowledge him for his liege lord, and 
 would do him homage and fervice in the prefence 
 of the peers of France. Moreov^er on account of 
 the affinity between him and his coufin the widow of 
 the lord Charles de Blois, he was willing to do 
 every thing to affift her; and would alfo ufe his 
 endeavours to obtain the liberty of his coufms, the 
 lords John and Guy de Blois, who were detained 
 prifoners in England. 
 
 This anfwer was very agreeable to the French 
 lords who had been fent thither : a day was ap- 
 pointed for them to declare their acceptance of 
 thefe terms or not : they inftantly fcnt information 
 of what had pa[fcd to the duke of Anjou, who had 
 retired to Angers, to whom the king had referred 
 the acceptance of the terms, according to his plea- 
 fure. 
 
 When the dukeof Anjou had confidered the pro- 
 pofals for fome time, he gave his affcnt. The two 
 knights who had been fent to him returned with his 
 anfwer fealed. 
 
 The ambaffadors of France again left Rennes, 
 and wentt© Quimper Corentin, when a peace with 
 the lord of Montfort was finally agreed to and 
 fealed. 
 
 He was to remain dake of Brittany; but, in cafe 
 he fhould have no legal heirs by marriage, the 
 duchy fliould revert, after his deceafe, to the chil- 
 dren of lord Charles de Blois. The lady who had 
 been the wife of lord Charles was created countefs 
 
 of 
 
COS 
 
 of Penthicvre, with the lands attached to it ; which 
 lands were fuppofed worth about twenty thoufand 
 francs a-year, or if not, that fum was to be made up 
 to her. The earl of Montfort engaged to go to 
 France, whenever he fhould be fummoned, to do 
 homage to the king of France and acknowledge 
 that he held the duchy of him. Charters and pub- 
 licly fealed inftruments were drawn up of all thefe 
 articles. Thus had the earl of Montfort poffeflion 
 of Brittany : he remained duke of it for a time, 
 until new wars began, as you fiiall hear in the fol- 
 lowing hiftory. 
 
 Among thefe articles, it was flipulated, that the 
 lord de Cliffon ihould rcpoffefs thofe lands which 
 king Philip had formerly taken from his family. 
 This lord de Cliffon gained the confidence of the 
 king of P'rance, who did whatever he wifhed, and 
 without him nothing was done. 
 
 The whole country of Brittany was full of joy 
 upon the concluHon of a peace. The duke re- 
 ceived homages from cities, towns, caftles, pre- 
 lates and gentlemen. 
 
 Soon afterwards, the duke married* the daueh- 
 ter of her royal highncfs the princefs of Wales, 
 which flic had borne to her former hufband, the 
 lord Thomas Holland. The nuptials were cele- 
 brated with great pomp and magnificence, in the 
 good city of Nantes. 
 
 It alfo happened this winter, that queen Jane, 
 
 * Johanna of Holland, daughter of Thomas earl of Kent, 
 — married 1366 — died, without ifTue, 1386. — ^Anderson, 
 
 aunt, 
 
209 
 
 aunt to the king of Navarre, and queen Blanche, his 
 Tiller, laboured fo earneftly for peace that it was con- 
 cluded between the kings of France and Navarre, 
 alTifted much by the advice and prudence of the cap- 
 tal deBuch, who took great pains in the bufinefs. He 
 alfo obtained his liberty by it. The king of France 
 fhowed him great marks of efteem, and, as a proof 
 of it, gave him the handfome caflle of Nemours, 
 with all its rights, appurtenances and jurifdiQions, 
 which were worth three thoufand francs of revenue. 
 The captal became, by this means, liege man to the 
 king of France. The king was well pleafed at re- 
 ceiving him a homager; for he loved much the 
 fervice of a knight fuch as the captal; but he was 
 not fo long, for, when he was returned into the 
 principality to the prince, who had been informed 
 of what had paffed, he was much blamed, and told 
 that he could not acquit himfelf loyally in his fer- 
 vice to two lords : that he was over covetous, when 
 he accepted of lands in France, Vvheie he was neither 
 honored nor beloved. 
 
 When he found himfelf in this fituation, and fo 
 treated and taunted by the prince of Wales, his own; 
 natural lord, he was quite ailiamed of himfelf, and 
 piade excufes, faying ' that he was not by any 
 means too much conne6led w^iih the king of France,- 
 and that he could very eafily undo all that had been 
 done.' He fent, therefore, by his own fquire, his 
 homage back to the king of France, renounced all 
 that had been given him, and remained attached to 
 the prince. 
 
 You IlL P Among 
 
Among the articles of the treaty between the' 
 kin<Ts of France and Navarre, the towns of Mante 
 and Meulan were to be given the king of France, 
 who reftored to the king of Navarre other caftles in 
 Normandy. 
 
 About this time, the lord Louis de Navarre fet 
 out from France, and paffed through Lombardy, ta 
 efpoufe the queen of Naples *. At his departure, 
 he borrowed of the king of France fixty thoufand 
 francs, upon the fecurity of fome caftles which be- 
 longed to him in Normandy. He furvived his 
 marriage with that queen but a fliort time. May 
 God forgive him his faults ! for he was a good and 
 courteous knight. 
 
 CHAP.CCXXVIII. 
 
 A WAR IN SPAIN BETWEEN THE KING, DON PEDRO OF 
 
 CASTILLE, AND HIS BASTARD BROTHER HENRY, 
 
 TO WHOSE AID THE LORD JOHN DE BOURBON AND 
 SIR BERTRAND D U GUESCLIN LEAD THE PIL- 
 LAGING COMPANIES. HENRY, BY THEIR MEANS, 
 
 IS CROWNED KING OF CASTILLE. 
 
 A T this period t, thofe companies of freebooters 
 
 were fo much increafed in France that the 
 
 government did not know what to do with them, 
 
 * The queen of Naples. This muft have been the too ce- 
 khrated Jane, but 1 cannot find the iniirrlage mentioned in any 
 pther book. 
 
 T This period, — 1365. 
 
 fmce 
 
fince the wars in Brittany and thofe with the king- 
 of Navarre were now put an end to. Thefe com- 
 panies having been brought up to arms, and taught 
 to live on pillage and plunder alone, neither could 
 nor would abftain from it. Their great refource 
 was France ; and thefe companions called the king- 
 dom of France their domain. They dared not, 
 however, make any attempts on Acquitaine, for the 
 country would not have fuffered it; behdes, to fay 
 truth, the greater number of their captains were 
 Gafcons and Englifli, or perfons attached to the 
 king of England or prince of Wales. 
 
 Some lords of Brittany were among them, but 
 they were few in number. On this account, many 
 of the inhabitants of France murmured much, and 
 complained fecredy of the king of England and the 
 prince, that they did not aft well towards the king 
 of France in not affifling him to drive thefe bad 
 people out of the realm. They were better pleafed 
 to fee them with their neighbours than among 
 themfelves. The wifeft of the kingdom declared, 
 that if fomething were not fpeedily done in this 
 bufinefs, either by fighting or getting rid of them 
 out of the country^ by a handfome prefent in 
 mone\', they would deftroy the noble kingdom of 
 France. 
 
 There was at the time a king in Hungary who 
 was defirous of having their aififtance, and would 
 have given them full employment againft the 
 Turks, with whom he was at war, for they had 
 done him much mifchief. He wrote, therefore, to 
 pope Uiban V. (who was then at Avignon, and 
 
 P 2 who 
 
212 
 
 who would ghdlyhave feen France delivered from 
 thefe' companies,) and alfo to the king of France 
 and to the prince of Wales. 
 
 He wifhed to enter into a treaty with their lead- 
 ers, and offered large fums of money to them and 
 a free paffage; but they would not liflen to it, fay- 
 ing, that they would not go fo far to make war. It 
 was told them by their oldefl; captains, who were 
 well acquainted with the country of Hungary, that 
 there were fuch narrow pafTes, if they fliould in 
 any combat be engaged in them, they would never 
 be able to get out, but mud infallibly be cut offi 
 This report frightened them fo much, that they had 
 not any defire to go thither. 
 
 When pope Urban and the king of France found 
 thefe wicked people were not likely to come into 
 their plan, and would not quit the kingdom, but, 
 on the contrary, multiplied daily, they thought upon 
 another method to free the country from them. 
 
 There was in thefe times a king of Callille, of the 
 name of Don Pedro*, whofe mind, full of flrange 
 opinions, was very rebellious and refraftory to all 
 the regulations and commands of the church: he 
 wanted to fubdue his Chriftian neighbours, more 
 efpecially the king of Arragon, of the name of 
 Petert, who was a good Catholic : he had even 
 taken from him part of his pofTeffions, and was 
 preparing to feize the remainder. 
 
 * Don Pedro — the fourth, furnamed the Cruel. 
 t Peter — the fourth, furnamed the Ceremonious* 
 
 This 
 
213 
 
 This king, don Pedro of Caftille, had three 
 baftard brothers, children of the good Alphonfo 
 his father and a lady called la Riche Done *. The 
 eldeft was named don Henry; the fecond, dor) 
 Tello ; the third, don Sancho t. 
 
 Don Pedro hated them mortally; and, could he 
 have laid hands on them, he would have had them 
 beheaded. They had been, however, much loved 
 by their father, who in his lifetime had given to 
 Henry, the eldeft, the county of Traftamare; but 
 the king, don Pedro his brother, had taken it from 
 him by force, and every day was haraffing him. 
 
 This baftard Henry was a very valiant and wor- 
 thy knight : he had been a long time in France, 
 where he followed the profeffion of arms, and had 
 ferved under the king of France J, whom he loved 
 much. 
 
 The king don Pedro, as common report told th^ 
 ftory, had by different means caufed the death of 
 their mother, which, as was natural, gave them 
 great difpleafure. He had baniflied and murdered 
 many of the greateft barons of the realm of Caftille. 
 He was withal fo cruel, and of fuch a horrid difpo- 
 fition, that all men feared, fufpe^ted and hated him, 
 but dared not fhew it. He had alfo caufed the 
 death of a very good and virtuous lady, whom he 
 
 * La Richa Donna, — Eleanora de Guzman. 
 
 + Sancho. In I'Art de verifeer les Dat^s, the fecond fon 
 is called Frederick, and the third D, Tello. Frederick was 
 murdered by don Pedro, 1358. 
 
 I King of Firanccj — John, Don Henry was at the battle 
 of Poitiers. 
 
 P 3 had 
 
214 
 
 had married, the lady Blanche, daughter of" duke 
 Peter de Bourbon, and coufin geiman to the queen 
 of France and to the countefs of Savoy. Ail her 
 relations, who are of the nobleft blood in the 
 world, were mofl exceedingly irritated by the man- 
 ner of her death *. 
 
 There was alfo a report current among the peo- 
 ple, that king Peter had even formed an alliance 
 >vith the kings of Benamarinet, Granada and Tre- 
 jne^enj, who were enemies to God, and infidels. 
 Many were uneafy at wrongs he might do to his 
 country, and left he ftiould violate the churches ; 
 for he had feized their revenues, and detained the 
 priefts of holy church in prifon, where he vexed 
 them with all forts of tyranny. 
 
 Great complaints of thefe proceedings were fent 
 daily to the pope, entreating him to put a ftop to 
 them. Pope Urban received and attended to thefe 
 complaints. He fent ambalTadors to the king, don 
 Pedro, ordering and enjoining him to come forth- 
 with in perfon to the court pf Rome, to purge and 
 
 * She was poifoned, by don Pedro's orders, in the caftle of 
 Medina Sidonia, where he had confined her. Choist, Hift, 
 Charles V. — Others fay, fmcthered between two cufhions. 
 
 + Benamarine. Aben Jacob, king of Fez, fent his fon 
 Abomelique to take poffeffion of lands given him by the king 
 of Granada, as a barrier againft Alphonfo XI. He landed 
 with his fleet at Algeziras 1331, with a number of Benama. 
 rine Moors, and formed a new kingdom in Spain, ftiling hini.- 
 felf king of Algeziras and Ronda. — Dillon's Hift. Peter the 
 Cruel, vol, i. p. 14. 
 
 :|: Treme9en, By Moreri, this appears to have been a town 
 in Africa, dependant on the kingdom of Talenfm. 
 
 clear 
 
215 
 
 rlear himfelf From all the villainous anions he was 
 Lharged with. 
 
 Don Pedro, proud and prefumptuous as he was, 
 not only refufed to obey the mandate, but even re- 
 ceived with infults the ambafTadors from the holy 
 father, for which he fell grievoufly under his indig- 
 nation. This wicked king ftill perfevered in his 
 fm. It was then confidered how or by what means 
 he could be correfted; and it was determined that 
 he was no longer worthy to bear the title of king, 
 nor to poffefs a kingdom. He was therefore pub- 
 licly excommunicated, in full confiftory, held in 
 the apartments of the pope, at Avignon, and de- 
 clared to be a heretick and infidel. They thought 
 they fhould be able to punifh him, by means of the 
 free companies who were in France. 
 
 They requefted the king of Arragon, who hated 
 very much this don Pedro, and Henry the baftard of 
 Spain, to come immediately to Avignon. The 
 holy father then legitimated the birth of Henry the 
 baftard, fo that he might be in a condition to obtain 
 the kingdom from don Pedro, who had been curfed 
 and condemned by the fentence of the pope. 
 
 The king of Arragon offered a free paffage 
 through his kingdom, with a fupply of men at arms, 
 and all forts of provifion and aid, ro whoever 
 fhould enter Caftille, and attack don Pedro to de- 
 prive him of his throne. 
 
 The king of France was much pleafed with this 
 intelligence, and took great pains that hr Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, whom fir John Chandos held as his 
 prifoner, fhould be ranfomed. This was fixed at 
 
 P 4 one 
 
216 
 
 one hundred thoufand francs *. The king of France 
 paid one part, the pope and Henry the baftard the 
 other. 
 
 Soon after his liberty was obtained, they entered 
 into a treaty with the chiefs of thofe companies, pro- 
 mifing them great advantages if they would go into 
 Caftilie, They readily alfented to the propofal by 
 means of a large fum of money, which was divided 
 among them. 
 
 * The abbe Ckoify fays, it was 30,000 francs. 
 In a rote to the Memolres du Guefclin, it is faid, that * it 
 coll du Guefclin ioo,QOo francs for his ranfom. As he had 
 no ready money, the lords de Matignon, de Montbourcher 
 and de Laval were his fecurity to the general, Chandos. 
 Charles V. paid of it 40,000 francs, the pope and Henry 
 Traftamare, afterwards king of Caftilie, made up the remainder. 
 Memoires Hiftorijues. 
 
 In a moft curious hiftory, called Les Faiz de MefTire Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin, which I confider as the editio princeps (from 
 the flile and manner of printing) in the Haford Library, no 
 mention whatever is made of a ranfom. 
 
 * Les Faiz du Meflire Bertrand du Guefclin, in fol. figures, 
 ancienne edition gothique. 
 
 < Je n'ai vu ce livre nulla parte ailleurs que dans le cata- 
 logue du marcchal d'Etrees, num. 15052. On feroit porte 
 a. croire c'eft le raeme que le manufcrit de Menard, qu'il a 
 pub'ie comme inconnu jufqu' alors, ainfi qu'il dit dans fon avis 
 au leflear.' 
 
 In the Memoires de Bertrand, by M. Guyard de Berville, 
 t vols. izmo. it is faid that Charles V. paid part of the 
 lor, 000 francs of the ranfom, and that Bertrand found the reft 
 himfelf. 
 
 Extraft from the Bibliotheque Hiftorique de 
 France, du pere le Lon^. 
 
 The 
 
217 
 
 The prince of Wales was informed of this intend- 
 ed expedition, as well as his knights and fquires, 
 but particularly fir John Chandos, who was foli- 
 cited to be one of the leaders of it, in conjun61ion 
 with fir Bertrand du GuefcHn. lie cxcufed him- 
 felf, and faid he could not go. This, however, did 
 not put a Hop to it : many knights who were at- 
 tached to the prince, among whom were fir Euftace 
 d'Ambreticouvt, fir Hugh Cavcrly, fir Walter 
 Huet, fir Matthew Gournay, fir Perducas d'Albret, 
 and feveral others were of the party. 
 
 The lord John de Bourbon, earl of Marche, took 
 the chief command, in order to revenge the death 
 of his coufin the queen of Spain : but he was 
 under the advice and controul of fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin, as he was at that time a very young 
 knight. 
 
 In this expedition were alfo the lord of Beaujeu, 
 whofe name was Anthony, and many worthy 
 knights : fuch as lord Arnold d'Andreghen, mar- 
 shal of France, the lords Begue de Villaines, d'An- 
 toin in Hainault, de Brifnel, John de Neufville*, 
 Guimars de Bailheul, John de Berguetes, the Ger- 
 man lord de St. Vcnant, and others whom I can- 
 not name. All thefc men at arms affembled toge- 
 ther, in order to begin their march at Montpeliier 
 in Languedoc. 
 
 Thefe men at arms might be about three thou- 
 fandt. They all paffed through Narbonne, ir>. 
 
 * Neufville. Sir John Neville. 
 
 + My MSS. fay, 30,000 men; and the abbe Choify fays, 
 they were 30,000 men, well armed. — Hift. Charles V. 
 
 their 
 
218 
 
 their march to Perpignan, in order to enter Arra- 
 gon by that toun*. All the leaders of thefe com- 
 panies were there : the lords Robert Briquet, John 
 Carlheille, Nandon de Bagerant, La Nuit, le petit 
 Mefchin, le bourg Camus, le bourg de I'Efparre, 
 Battiller, Efpiote, Aymemon d'Ortige, Perrot de 
 Savoye, and numbers more : all of one mind and 
 accord, to dethrone don Pedro from his kingdom 
 of Caftille, and to place there in his room the ballard 
 Henry, earl of Traftamare. 
 
 Don Pedro had received information that this 
 army was marching againft him : he colle6led his 
 troops, in order to meet them, and fight boldly on 
 their entering Caftille. 
 
 When they were about to enter Arragon, they 
 fent to him, in order to cover and mafk their real 
 intentions, to aflc a free palTage through his country, 
 and that provifion might be fupplied to fome 
 pilgrims of God, who had undertaken, through de- 
 votion, an expedition into the kingdom of Granada, 
 to revenge the fufferings of their Lord and Saviour, 
 to deftroy the infidels, and to exalt the Crofs. 
 
 Don Pedro laughed at this requeft, and fent for 
 anfwer, that he would never attend to fuch beggarly 
 crew. When the men at arms and companions 
 heard this reply, they thought him very proud and 
 prefumptuous, and made every hafte to do him as 
 much mifchief as they could. 
 
 • Choify fays, tkat one part embarked at Aigues Mortes for 
 Barcelona, and that the reft went by land. 
 
 They 
 
219 
 
 They marcbed through the kingdom of Arragon, 
 where every accommodation was prepared for them, 
 and they found all forts of provifion plenty and 
 cheap; for the king of Arragon was very joyful 
 on their arrival, becaufe this army would foon 
 re-conquer from the king of Caftille the whole 
 country which he had taken from him, and kept 
 by force. 
 
 Whenever thev won any towns, caftles, cities or 
 fortreffes, which don Pedro had feized from Arra- 
 gon, fir Bertrand and his army gave them back to 
 the king of Arragon, who declared, that from that 
 day forward, he would affift Henry the baftard 
 again don Pedro. All the men at arms palTed the 
 great river* which divides Caftille from Arragon, 
 and entered Spain. 
 
 News was brought to the king of Caftille, that 
 French, Englifti, Bretons, Normans, Picards and 
 Burgundians had crofted the Ebro, and entered his 
 kingdom : that they had re-conquered every plac^ 
 on the other fide of the river that feparates Caftille 
 from Arragon, which had coft him fo much trouble 
 to gain. 
 
 Upon hearing this, he was in a great rage, and 
 faid things ftiould not go on thus. He ilfued a fpecial 
 ordinance throughout his kingdom, ordering all 
 thofe to whom it was addrefted to meet him with- 
 out delay, as he was determined to combat thefe 
 men at arms who had entered the kingdom of 
 Caftille. 
 
 * The Ebro, — probably at Alfaro or Calahorra. 
 
 Too 
 
220 
 
 Too few obeyed his mandate; for, when he 
 thought to have affembled a large force, fcarcely 
 any came to the rendezvous. All the barons and 
 knights of Spain fell off from him, in favor of his 
 brother the baflard. This event forced him to fly, 
 or he would have been taken; and fo much was he 
 hated by his fubjefls and enemies, that not one re^ 
 mained with him, fave one loyal knight called Fer- 
 dinand de Caftro *. He was determined never to 
 quit don Pedro, whatever ill-fortune might happen 
 to him. The king of Caftille went to Seville, the 
 handfomeft city in Spain ; but, not thinking himfelf 
 in fecurity there, he ordered all his treafures and 
 other things to be packed up in large coffers, which 
 he embarked on board of fliips, leaving Seville 
 vith his wife, his children, and Ferdinand de Caftro. 
 Don Pedro arrived that fame eveningt (like a knight 
 
 that 
 
 * Ferdinand de Caftro. In the hiftory of Spain by Fer- 
 raras, don Pedro publicly marries the daughter of adou Pedro 
 Fernandez de CallrOj widow of don Diego de Haro, during 
 the life of his wife, Blanche de Bourbon, and of Maria di Pa- 
 dilla, in the year 13^4; whether the daughter of this knight 
 who accompanied him in his flight, I know not. 
 
 + Don Pedro retired firft to Portugal, where he offered his 
 daughter Beatrice to the infant of Portugal, in marriage, with 
 a large portion of money he had brought with him. This 
 propofal was rejefted for fear of embroiling the two kingdoms. 
 He retreated to different caftles, the governors of which re- 
 fused to admit him, and ilopped at the caftle of Monterey 
 in Gaiicia : from thence he went to Fan Jago, and murdered 
 riie archbifhop, and thence to Corunna, where, finding twenty- 
 two-A'eifels, he embarked for Bayonne. Don Ferdinand de 
 Caftro did not accompany him, but remained to fupport his in- 
 
 terell; in Bifcay, 
 
 He 
 
221 
 
 that had been beaten and difcomfited) at a town 
 called Corunna, in Galicia, where there was a very 
 ftrong caftle. He immediately flung himfelFinto it, 
 with his wife and children ; that is to fay, two young 
 damfels, called Conftance* and Ifabellat. None of 
 his courtiers followed him, nor had he any of his 
 council with him except the above-mentioned Fer- 
 dinand de Caftro. 
 
 We will now return to his brother, Henry the 
 baftard, and relate how he perfevered in his defigns. 
 I have before faid, that don Pedro was much hated 
 by all his fubjefts, for the great and numberlefs 
 a6ts of injuftice he had committed, and for the 
 various murders by which he had cut off many of 
 the nobility, fome of them even by his own hands; 
 fo that, as foon as they knew his brother the baftard 
 had entered Caftille widi a powerful army, they all 
 joined him, acknowledged him for their lord; and, 
 having increafed his army, caufed all the cities. 
 
 He CGuId not at that time have any wife ; for he had mur- 
 dered Blanche de Bourbon, and Maria di Padrik died before 
 this. He indeed owned his marriage with Maria very fo- 
 lemnly, but \eas not believed. 
 
 Don Pedro had entered into an alliance with the king of 
 England and prince of Wales as early as 1363, for fear of 
 the vengeance of France for the murder of queen Blanche. 
 
 For more particulars, fee Ferraras' Hift. of Spain, Dillon, 
 See. 
 
 * Conftance married John of Gaunt, duke of Lancafter, who 
 claimed the kingdom of Caftille after don Pedro's death. 
 
 i Ifabella, — firft wife of Edmund duke of York, married 
 ^31^s — much lamented for her youthful wantonnefs, dieal 
 1392. ^^Aridirfon 's R^ Gen» 
 
 I towns 
 
<>£>«?• 
 
 towns and caftles to open their gates to him,- and 
 the inhabitants to do him homage. The Spaniards- 
 Ihouted with one voice, ' Long live kiiig Henry I 
 Down with don Pedro, who has treated us fo 
 cruelly and wickedly.' 
 
 Thus they conduced Henry throughout the 
 kingdom of Caftille; that is to fay, the lord Gomez, 
 Garilz*, the grsnd mafter of the order of Cala- 
 trava t, and the mailer of the order of St. James '^, 
 making all the people obey him. They crowned 
 him king in the city of Burgos, where all the pre- 
 lates, earls, barons and knights paid him their 
 homage, and fwore they would ferve and obey him 
 as their king for evermore, and, if there fhould be 
 occafion, would facrifice their lives for him. King 
 Henry then palfed from city to city, all the inhabi- 
 tants of which treated him as their king. 
 
 Henry made large prefents and gifts to the foreign 
 knights \vhq had put him in poflbffion of the king- 
 dom of Caftille. They were fo magnificent, that 
 he was conlidered as a moll generous and bountiful 
 
 ,* + Gomez Garilz. DcTiys Sauvage cannot make out' 
 who tWs is J nor is the account correft, according to other 
 hiftorians. Many of the king's friends remained fteady to 
 him, as did ihe bulk of l.i> armv. Don Garc: t /.Ivarcz dc 
 Toledo, mafter of the knights of St. James, who commanded 
 at Logrono ; Garcia de Padilla, governor of Agreda ; Fer- 
 riando de Toledo, brother to the mafler of St. James; and 
 Boccanegra, admiral of Caftille, were among the number. — 
 Dillon. 
 
 + Mafter of Calatrava. Martin Lopez de Cordova, mafter 
 of Calatrava, followed don Pedro's fortunes, and went with 
 kim from Seville to Portugal. — DILLo^•, 
 
 lord: 
 
2^3 
 
 lord : the Normans, French and Bretons, who had 
 been partakers of his bouKty, faid he was deferving 
 of" a large fortune, and that he ought to reign with 
 great profperity. Thus the baftard of Spain found 
 himfelf mailer of Caftille. He created his two 
 brothers, don Tello and don Frederick, earls, and 
 gave them large estates, with other revenues. He 
 continued king of Caftille, Galicia, Seville, Toledo 
 and Leon, until the forces of the Prince of Wales 
 deprived him of them, re-placing the king, don 
 Pedro, in the poffeffion of thefe realms, as you will 
 find related in the following history. 
 
 When king Henry faw himfelf thus fituated, and 
 the bufinefs completed, fo that all obeyed him, 
 both nobles and ferfs, as their king and lord; that 
 there was not any appearance of oppofition to his 
 crown; he imagined it would add lufhre to his 
 name, if he made an irruption into the kingdom of 
 Granada with thofe free companies that had come 
 from France, as a means of giving them employ- 
 ment. He mentioned it therefore to feveral of the 
 knights who were about him, when they confented 
 to it. He retained conftantly near his perfon thofe 
 knights who were attached to the Prince of Wales; 
 namely, fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt, fir Hugh Cal- 
 verley and others, fliewing them the moft marked 
 attentions and kindnefs, in expe6lation of being 
 aided by them in his intended expedition to Gra- 
 nada, which he was defirous of undertaking. 
 
 Soon after his coronation, the greater number of 
 
 French knights took their leave, and departed. On 
 
 their going away, he made them very rich prefents. 
 
 6 The 
 
224 
 
 The earl de la Marche, fir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 the lord de Beaujeu and many more returned to 
 their own country. However, fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin, fir Olivier de Mauny and the Bretons, as 
 well as the free companies, remained in Caftille 
 until other news arrived. Sir Bertrand du Guef- 
 clin was made conftable of Caftille by Henry, with 
 the afient of all the barons of the realm. We will 
 now return to don Pedro. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXIX. 
 
 K.ING DON PEDRO SENDS TO ENTREAT THE PRINCE 
 OF WALES* ASSISTANCE AGAINST HIS BROTHER, 
 
 HENRY THE BASTARD. HE RETIRES INTOGUIENNE, 
 
 WHERE HE IS WELL RECEIVED BY THE PRINCE. 
 
 ^V^OU have heard how don Pedro had call himfelf 
 into the caftle of Corunna near the fea, with 
 only his wife, his two daughters and don Fernando 
 de Caftro ; whilft in the mean time, his brother, the 
 bailard, through the afliftance of the men at arms 
 whom he had drawn from France, was conquering 
 Caftille, to whom the whole country had furren- 
 dcred. 
 
 All this much alarmed him ; and he did not think 
 hipifelf in perfect fafety in the caftle of Corunna; 
 for he had a great dread of his brother the baftard, 
 and well knew that, if he M^ere informed where he 
 was, he would come and feek him with his forces, 
 to beliege him in the caftle. He would not wait 
 
 this. 
 
'225 
 
 this danger, but embarked on board a veffel, with 
 his wife, his daughters, don Fernando de Caftro, 
 and whatever he had amaffed of money and jewels, 
 and put to fea in the night. The wind, however, 
 was fo contrary, that they could not clear the coaft, 
 but were obliged to return, and again to enter the 
 caftle of Corunna. 
 
 Don Pedro then demanded from his knight, don 
 Fernando de Caftro, complaining of his evil fortune, 
 which was fo much againft him, what was beft: to 
 be done. ' My lord,' replied the knight, ' before you 
 leave this place, I think it would be proper that you 
 fend fome perfon to your coufm the prince of Wales, 
 to know if he will receive you, and to entreat of 
 him, for God's fake, that he would attend to your 
 diftrefs. He is in a manner bound to it, from the 
 flrong connection that has fubfifted between the 
 king his father, and yours in former times. The 
 prince of Wales is of fuch a noble and gallant dif~ 
 pofition that, when he fhall be informed of your 
 misfortunes, he will certainly take compafiion on 
 you : and, if he fhould determine to replace you 
 on your throne, there is no one, fir, that could 
 oppofc him, fo much is he redouted by all the world, 
 and beloved by foldiers. You are now fafe where 
 you are; for this fortrefs v>ill hold out until fome 
 intelligence fhall be brought you from Acquitaine.' 
 
 Don Pedro immediately alfented to this: a letter, 
 in a moft lamentable and piteous (train, was written : 
 and a knight, with two fquircs, having been in- 
 flrucled to undertake this employ, cheerfully nc- 
 cepted it, diredly put to fea. and made fail for 
 
 Vol. III. " Q ' Bay- 
 
'226 
 
 BayDnne,-a city dependant on the king of England, 
 Avhere they fafely arrived. They made inquiries 
 after the prince, and learnt that at that time he was 
 at Bourdeaux. Upon this, they rode to Bourdeaux, 
 and took up their quarters at an inn. Soon after- 
 ward they made for the monaftery of St. Andrew, 
 where the prince refided. 
 
 The knight and fquires who had come from 
 Spain informed the knights of the prince, that they 
 were Spaniards, and ambaffadors from don Pedro of 
 Caftille. The prince, when informed of it, wiflied to 
 fee them, and to know what bufmefs had brought 
 them. They were, upon this, introduced, and after 
 having caft themfelves on their knees, faluted him 
 according to their cuftom, recommending the king 
 their lord to him, as they prefented him his letter. 
 The prince made them rife : having taken the letter, 
 he opened it, and afterwards read it more at his 
 leifure. He found that don Pedro had written a 
 mofl melancholy account of himfelf, informing him 
 of his hardfhips and diftrefs, and in what manner his 
 brother the baflard, by means of the great alliances 
 he had made, firll with the pope, then with the 
 kings of France and Arragon, and the free com- 
 panies, had driven him out of his inheritance, the 
 kingdom of Caftille. In that letter, he entreated 
 the prince, for the love of God, and for pity's fake,, 
 that he would attend to his fituation, and find fome 
 remedy to it; for it was not a Chriftian-like aft,, 
 that a baftard, through force, fhould difmherit a 
 legitimate fon, and fcize his pofleffions. 
 
 The: 
 
The prince, who was a valiant and a wife knight, 
 liaving folded up the letter in his hands, faid to the 
 ambaffadors, who had remained in his prefence, 
 * You are welcome to us from our coufin the king 
 of Caflille : you will ftay here in our court, and will 
 not return without an anfwer.' 
 
 The knights of the prince were already prepared ; 
 for they well knew what was proper to be done, 
 and took with them the Spanifh knight and his 
 two fquires to entertain them handfomely. 
 
 The prince had remained in his apartment, 
 thinking much on the contents of the letter from 
 the king of Caftille. He immediately fent for fir 
 John Chandos and fir William Felton, the chiefs of 
 his council : one was high fteward of Acquitaine., 
 and the other conftable. 
 
 When they were come, he faid fmiling; ' My 
 lords, here is great news from Spain. The king, 
 don Pedro our coufin, complains grievoufly of 
 Henry his baftard brother, who has feized his king- 
 dom, and driven him out of it, as perhaps you may 
 have heard related by thofe who are come hither. 
 He entreats of us help and affi (lance, as his letter 
 will more fully explain to you.' The prince then 
 again read it over, word for word, to the knights, 
 who lent a willing ear. When he had read it, he 
 faid; ' You, fir John, and you, fir William, who 
 are my principal counfellors, and in whom I have 
 the greatell confidence and truft : teil me, I b_?g of 
 you, what will be the mod advifable for us to do in 
 this bufinefs,' The two knights looked at each 
 Q 2 othef. 
 
other, but uttered not a word. The prince again 
 appealed to them, and faid, ' Speak boldly, what- 
 ever be your opinion.' 
 
 The prince was then advifed by thefe two knights, 
 as I have heard it told afterwards, to fend a body of 
 men at arras to king don Pedro, as far as Corunna, 
 ■where he was, and whence he had dated his letter; 
 to condu6l him to Bourdeaux, in order more fully 
 to learn what were his wants and intentions : that 
 then they fliould be better informed from his con- 
 verfation how they were to a8:. 
 
 This anfwer pieafed the prince. Sir William 
 Felton was ordered to take the command of the ex- 
 pedition; and the prince afl^ed fir Richard Pont- 
 chardon, fir Nele Loring, fir Simon Burley* and 
 fir William Troufleaux to accompany it into Ga- 
 licia, to efcort from Corunna the king, don Pedro, 
 and the remnant of his army. The armament for 
 this expedition was to confift of twelve veffels, 
 which were to be fdled with archers and men at 
 arms. 
 
 The above-named knights made proper purvey- 
 ances for the occafion, and fet out from Bourdeaux, 
 accompanied by the ambaffadors from don Pedro. 
 They continued their journey to Bayonne, where 
 they remained three or four days, waiting for a fa- 
 vorable wind, and to load the fhips. On the fifth 
 day, as they were on the point of failing, don Pedro, 
 
 * Sir Simon Burley, — knight of the Garter, S:c. — beheaded 
 jn the rcio-n of Richard i I. 
 
 king 
 
259 
 
 king of Caflille arrived there. He had left Corunnar 
 in great fufpenfc, being afraid to ftay there longer, 
 and had brought with him a few of his people, and 
 as much of his treafure as he could carry away. 
 
 This was great news for the Englifli. Sir William 
 Fclton and the other knights waited on him, on his 
 landing, and received him handfomely. They in- 
 formed him, that they had prepared themfelves, and 
 were on the point of failing to Corunna, or farther, 
 had it been necefiary, to feek for him, by orders 
 from the prince their lord. Don Pedro heard this 
 with great joy, and returned his warmeft thanks to 
 the prince, as well as to the knights then prefent. 
 
 Sir William Felton immediately fent the prince 
 information of the arrival of the king of Caftille at 
 Bayonne, who was much pleafed thereat. Thefe 
 knights did not make any long ftay at Bayonne, 
 but, taking the king v.ith ihem, made for the city of 
 Bourdeaux, where they fafely arrived. 
 
 The prince, who was anxious to fee his coufin 
 the king, don Pedro, and alfo to do him the more 
 honor, rode out of Bourdeaux, attended by his 
 knights and fquires, to meet him. When they met 
 he faluted him very refpeSfully, and paid him every 
 attention by fpeech and a6\ion ; for he knew per- 
 fectly well how fo to do : no prince of his tim? 
 underftood fo well the praftice of good breeding. 
 
 After their meeting, when they had refrefhed 
 
 themfelves as was becoming them to do, they rode 
 
 towards Bourdeaux. The prince placed don Pedro 
 
 on his right hand, and would not fufler it to be 
 
 O 3 other-- 
 
230 
 
 otherwife. During their return, don Pedro told 
 the prince his diftrefies, and in what manner his 
 brother the baftard had driven hira out of the king- 
 dom of Caftiile, He complained bitterly of the 
 difloyalty of his fubjetts; for all had deferted him 
 except^ one knight, don Fernando de Caftro, then 
 with him, and whom he pointed out to the prince. 
 
 The prince comforted him by a moil courteous 
 and difcreet anfwer : he begged of him not to be too 
 much call down; for, if he had loft every thing, it 
 ■was fully in the power of God to give him back 
 what he had loft, and more, as well as vengeance 
 upon his enemies. 
 
 Converfing on this fubjeQ:, as well as on other 
 topicks,they rode on to Bourdeaux,anddifmounted 
 at the monaftery of St. Andrew, the refidence of 
 the prince and princefs. The king, don Pedro, was 
 condu6ted to an apartment which had been prepared 
 for him. 
 
 When he had drcfted himfelf fuitably to his rank, 
 he waited on the princefs and the ladies, who all re- 
 ceived him very politely. I could enlarge much or^ 
 the feafts and entertainments which were made; but 
 I will briefly pafs them oyer, and relate to you how 
 don Pedro condu6ted himfelf towards his coufm the 
 prince of Wales, whom he found courteous and 
 affable, and willing to attend to his requeft.of aid, 
 notv/ithftanding fome of his council had given hirn 
 the advice I will now mention. 
 
 Before the arrival of don Pedro at Bourdeaux, 
 
 fome lordsj as well Englifli as Gafcons, who had 
 
 7 much 
 
231 
 
 much wifdom and forethought, were of the prince's 
 council, and who, by incHnation as well as duty, 
 thought themfelves bound to give him loyal ad- 
 vice, fpoke to the prince in words like the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 ' My lord, you have often heard the old proverb 
 of ' Ail covet, all lofe.' True it is, that you are one 
 of the princes of this world, the moft enlightened, 
 efteemed and honored, in pofTeffion of large do- 
 mains and a handfome principality on this fide of 
 the fea, and are, thank God, at peace with every 
 one. It is alfo well known, that no king, far or 
 near, at this prefent moment dares anger you ; fuch 
 reputation have you in chivalry for valour and good 
 fortune. You ought, therefore, in reafon, to be 
 contented with what you have got, and not feek for 
 enemies. We mull add, likewife, that this dorx 
 Pedro, king of Caftille, who at prefent is driven out 
 of his realm, is a man of great pride, very cruel, 
 andfuUof baddifpohtions. The kingdom of Caitille 
 has fulfered many grievances at his hands : many 
 valiant men have been beheaded and murdered, 
 without juftice or reafon; fo that to thefe wicked 
 ^6lions, which he ordered or confcntcd to, he owes 
 the lofs of his kingdom. In addition to this, he is 
 an enemy to the church, and excommunicated by 
 our holy father. He has been long confidered as a 
 tyrant, who, without any plea of jullice, has always 
 Ifiiade war upon his neighbours; fuch as the kings 
 of Arragon and Navarre, whom he was deiirous to 
 dethrone by force. It is alio commonly reported, 
 Q 4 and. 
 
232 
 
 and believed in his kingdom, and even by his own 
 attendants, that he murdered the young lady, his 
 wife, who was a coufin of yours, being daughter to 
 the duke of Bourbon. 
 
 ' Upon all thefe accounts, it behoves you to 
 paufe and reflect before you enter into any en- 
 gagements; for what he has hitherto fuffercd are 
 the chaftifements of God, who orders thefe punifh- 
 ments as an example to the kings and princes of the 
 earth, that they (hould never commit fuch like 
 wjckednefs.' 
 
 With fimilar language to this was the prince alfo 
 addrefied by his council, on the arrival of the king 
 of Caftille at Bourdeaux : but to this loyal advice 
 they received the following ani'wer: 
 
 ' My lords, I take it for granted and believe 
 that you give me the beft advice you are able. 
 I muft, however, inform you, that 1 am perfectly 
 well acquainted with the life and condu6l of don 
 Pedro, and well know that he has committed 
 faults without number, for which at prefent he fuf- 
 fers : but I will tell you the reafons which at this 
 moment urge and embolden me to give him af- 
 fiflance. I do not think it either decent or proper 
 that a baftard .fhould pofTefs a kingdom as an in- 
 heritance, nor drive out of his realm his own 
 brother, heir to the country by lawful marriage; 
 and no king, nor king's fon, ought ever to fuft'er it, 
 as being of the greateft prejudice to royalty. Add 
 to this, that my lord and father and this don Pedro 
 have for a long time been allies, much connected 
 
 to- 
 
£33 
 
 together, by which we are bounden to aid and affift 
 him, in cafe he fhould require it.' 
 
 Thefe were the reafons that inftigated the prince 
 to aflift the king of Caftille in his great diftrefs, and 
 thus he rephed to his counciL No one could after- 
 wards make the fmallelt change in his determination, 
 but every day it grew firmer. 
 
 When don Pedro arrived at Bourdeaux, he 
 humbled himfelf to the prince, offering him many 
 rich prefcnts, and the promife of further advantage ; 
 for he faid, he would make his eldeft fon, Edward, 
 king of Galicia, and would divide among him and 
 his people the great riches he had left in Caftille, 
 where it was fo well fecurcd and hidden that no one 
 could find its lituation except himfelf. Theknights 
 paid a willing attention to thefe words ; for both 
 Englifh and Gafcons, by nature, are of a covetous 
 ^ifpohtion. 
 
 The prince was advifed to fummon all the barons 
 of Acquitaine to an efpecial council at Bourdeaux, 
 fo that there might be a grand conference held; 
 when the king don Pedro might lay before him his 
 fituation, and his means of fatisfying them, fhould 
 the prince undertake to conduct him back to 
 his own country, and to do all in his power to re- 
 place him upon his throne. 
 
 Letters and melfengers were therefore fent to all 
 
 parts, and the lords fummoned : tiril, the earl of 
 
 Armagnac, the eai I of Commmges, the lord d'AU 
 
 i^ret, the earl of Carmaing, the captal de Buch, the 
 
 Jord deTande, the vifcount de Chatillon, the lords 
 
 de 
 
234 
 
 de rEfcut, de Rofem, del'Efparre, de Chaumont, 
 de Mucident, de Courton, de Pincornet, and other 
 barons of Gafpony and Guienne. The earl of Foix 
 ■was requefted to attend ; but he would net come, 
 and excufed himfelf, having at the time a diforder 
 in one of his legs, which prevented him from 
 mounting on horfeback : he fent, however, his 
 council in his {lead. 
 
 sSSmmai 
 
 CHAP. CCXXX. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES HOLDS A GRAND CON- 
 TERENCE AT BOURDEAUX 0^f THE AFFAIRS OF 
 THE . KING OF CASTILLE. HE RECEIVES LET- 
 TERS FROM THE KING OF ENGLAND, TO A.SSENT 
 TO THE PROPOSALS OF ASSISTING DON PEDRO. 
 • — HE MAKES OVERTURES TO THE KING OF 
 NAVARRE, FOR A FREE PASSAGE THROUGH HIS, 
 KINGDOM, TO ENABLE HIM TO CONDUCT DOr{ 
 PEDRO BACK TO CASTILLE. 
 
 nnO this conference, which was holden at Bour- 
 deaux, there came all the counts, vifcounts, 
 barons, and men of abilities, in Saintongc, PoitoUj 
 Quercy, Limoufm, Gafcony and Acquitaine. 
 
 When they were all affcmbled, they formed a 
 parliament ; and, having entered upon the bufinefs 
 of their meeting, they for three days difcuffed the 
 fituation and future profpeft of this don Pedro, 
 king of Caftille, who was all the time prefcnt, 
 placing himfelf near his coufin the prince, who 
 
 fpoke 
 
Q35 
 
 fpoke in his behalf, and gave the belt account he 
 was able of his affairs. 
 
 It was at lafl refolved, that the prince fiiould fend 
 fufficient ambalfadors to the king his father in Eng- 
 land, to know his opinion on the fubjeft ; and that, 
 as foon as they Ijiould have the king's anfwer, they 
 would then alTemble, and give the prince fuch good 
 advice as reafonably ought to be fatisfaftory to him. 
 
 The prince immediately named four knights; the 
 lord Delawar, fir Nele Coring, fir John and Hr 
 Hely de Poramiers ; and ordered them to fet out 
 for England. 
 
 This conference then broke up, and each returned 
 to his home. The king, don Pedro, remained at 
 Bourdeaux with the prince and princefs, who en- 
 tertained him handfomely, and with due honor. 
 
 Thefe four knights began their journey, accord- 
 ing to their orders, for England; andj having era- 
 barked on board two fliips, they arrived fafely at 
 Southampton, through God's good will and favor- 
 able winds. They remained there one day, to refrelli 
 themfelves and to difcmbark their horfcs and 
 equipage, On the fecond day, they mounted their 
 horfes, and rode on to the city of London, where 
 they inquired after the king, and where he was. 
 They v.'ere told, he was at Windfor. They fet out 
 for that place, and were very well received by the 
 king and queen, as much through love for the 
 prince their fon, as becaufe they were lords and 
 knights of great renown. 
 
 Thefe lords and knights gave their letters to the 
 l^ing, who opened thetn and had them read. After 
 
 having 
 
23{) 
 
 having for a Ihoit time confidered their content?, 
 he faid; ' My lords, you may retire : I will fend 
 for fome of my barons and learned men of my 
 council : we will then give you our anfwer, that 
 you may return back foon.' 
 
 This reply was very pleafmg to the ambaffadors, 
 who went the next day to London. It was not long 
 before the king of England came to Wellminfter, 
 where he was njet by the greater part of his coun- 
 cil ; that is to fay, his fon the duke of Lancafter, the 
 carl of Arundel, the earl of Salifbury, fir Walter 
 jVIanny, fir Reginald Cobham, earl Percy, lord 
 Neville, and many others. Among the prelates, 
 were the bifhops of Winchefter, Lincoln and Lon- 
 don. They deliberated for a long time on the let- 
 ters from the prince, and on the requeft he had 
 made to the king his father. It appeared reafonable 
 to the king and his council, that the prince fhould 
 attempt to conducl back and replace the king of 
 Spain on his throne and in his inheritance, which was 
 unanimoufly agreed on. Upon this, they drew up 
 excellent anfwers, from the king and council of Eng- 
 land, to the prince and all the barons of Acquitaine. 
 They were carried back by the fame perfons who 
 had brought the letters, to the city of EourdeauXj 
 v.-herc they found the prince, and the king, don 
 Pedro ; to each of whom they gave other letters 
 which the king of England had fent by them. 
 
 Another conference was determined upon : and, 
 a day being fixed for holding it in the city of Bour- 
 deaux, all thofe who were fummoned attended. The 
 letters from the king of England were publicly read, 
 
 who 
 
227 
 
 who clearly and decidedly gave his opinion, that the 
 prince his fon, in the names of God and St. George, 
 fhould undertake the reftoration of don Pedro to his 
 heritage, from which he had been driven unjuftly, 
 and, as it would appear, fraudulently. In thefe let- 
 ters, mention was alio made, that the king thought 
 himfelf obliged, from certain treaties which had 
 been formerly entered into between him and his 
 coufin don Pedro, to grant him help and fuccour, 
 in cafe he fhould be required fo to do. He ordered 
 all his vaffals, and entreated his friends to help and 
 afTift the prince of Wales, by every means in their 
 power, throughout this affair, in the fame manner 
 as if he himfelf were prefent. 
 
 When the barons of Acquitaine had heard thefe 
 letters read, and the commands and requefls of the 
 king and of the prince their lord, they cheerfully 
 made the following anfwer : ' Sir, we will heartily 
 obey the commands of the king our fovercign lord. 
 It is but juft that we fliould be obedient both to him 
 and to you : this we will do, and will attend you 
 and don Pedro upon this expedition ; but wc wifli 
 to know from vi'hora we are to have our pay, as it 
 is not cuftomary for men at arms to leave their 
 habitations to carry on a war in a foreign country 
 without receiving wages.' 
 
 The prince, on hearing this, turned towards don 
 Pedro, and faid : ' Sir king, you hear what our peo- 
 ple fay: it is for you to give them an anfwer; for 
 it behoves you to do fo who are about to lead them 
 into aflion.' Don Pedro made the follov.'ing reply 
 to the prince: 'My dear coufin- as long ^ as my 
 
^3g 
 
 gold, my filver and my treafure will laft, wliich I 
 have brought with me from Spain, but which is not 
 fo great by thirty times as what I have left behind, t 
 am willing it (hould be divided among your people.* 
 Upon which the prince faid ; ' My lordj you fpeak 
 well : and for the furplus of the debt, I will take 
 that upon myfelf towards them, and will order 
 whatever fums you may want to be advanced you 
 as a loan, until we fhall be arrived in Caftille.' 
 ' By my head,' replied don Pedro, ' you will do 
 me a great kindnefs.* 
 
 Several of the moft experienced among them, 
 fuch as the earl of Armagnac, the lord de Pom- 
 miers, fir John Chandos, the captal de Buch and 
 fome others, having confidered the bufinefs, faid, the 
 prince of Wales could not well undertake this expe- 
 dition without having gained the confent and good 
 will of the king of Navarre; for he could not enter 
 Spain without traverfing his kingdom, and by the 
 pafs of Roncevaux *. This entrance to Spain they 
 were not quite fure of obtaining ; for the king of 
 Navarre had lately formed frefli alliances with the 
 baftard Henry. It was therefore debated for a long 
 time, in what manner they could fucceed in gaining 
 this important point. The wifeft were of opinion^ 
 that another meeting fhould be appointed, and that 
 it fhould be held in the city of Bayonne; and that 
 the prince, when there, fliould fend able ambafladors 
 
 * Roncevaux, — a village in Navarre, made famous by the 
 defeat of Charlemagne, in which Orlando and Rinaldo, fo 
 much celebrated by the old romances, were Ilain, 
 
 to 
 
^39 
 
 to the king of Navarre, to entreat he would come 
 to this conference at Bayonne. 
 
 This refolution was adopted ; and the conference 
 broke up. They had all a wifh to attend the meet- 
 ing at Bayonne; and a day was fixed for holding 
 it. 
 
 During this interval, the prince fent fir John 
 Chandos and fir William Felton to the king of Na- 
 varre, who was at that time in the city of Pompeluna. 
 Thefe two knights, having wifdom and eloquence, 
 exerted themfelves fo efFedually with the king of 
 Navarre that he agreed to their requeft, and gave it 
 under his feal that he would attend the conference 
 at Bayonne. Upon which they returned to the 
 prince, and related to him what they had done. 
 
 On the appointed day for this meeting in the city 
 of Bayonne, the king of Spain, the prince, the earl 
 of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, and all the barons 
 of Gafcony, Poitou, Quercy. Rouergue, Saintonge 
 and Limoufin came thither. The king of Navarre 
 was alfo there ; to whom the king of Spain and the 
 prince paid every attention, thinking they fliould 
 not lofe by it. 
 
 This conference in the city of Bayonne was long. 
 It lafted five days. The prince and his council had 
 many difficulties before they could get the king of 
 Navarre to confent to their wiflies ; for it was not 
 eafy to make any thing of him whenever he found 
 that his fervices were wanted. 
 
 However, from the great influence which the 
 prince had over him, he brought him at laft to fwearg 
 promife and k^l atreatv of peace, alliance and con- 
 
 federatioa 
 
Sf40 
 
 lederatian with don Pedro. The king of Caftille' 
 entered into certain engagements with the king of 
 Navarre, which had been propofed to him by the 
 -prince of Wales. Thefe engagements were, that 
 don Pedro, as king of both the Caftilles, (hould give, 
 under his fcal, to the king of Navarre and his heirs, 
 to hold as their inheritance, all the domain of Lo- 
 grono, with the lands on each fide of the river, and 
 alfo the town, caftle, territory and dependencies of 
 Salvatierra, with the town of St. Jean Pied du 
 Port and its furrounding country ; which lands, 
 towns, caflles and lordlliips he had in former times 
 taken poifeflion of, and held by force. 
 
 In addition to this, the king of Navarre was to 
 receive twenty thoufand francs, for laying open his. 
 country, and permitting the army to pafs peaceably 
 through, finding them provifions upon being paid 
 for them: in which fam he acknowledged himfclf 
 
 debtor to the king of Navarre *. 
 
 When 
 
 * See the Fccdera for the underneath treaties, which re- 
 late to thefe tranfadlions. 
 
 The firft treaty between Edward III. and don Pedro, king of 
 Caftille, appears to be the 22A June 1362. — Confirmed jft 
 February, 1363. — and ill March, 1365. 
 
 * Forbidding all foldiers to enter ^pain as enemies, addrefled 
 to fir John Chandos, fir Hugh Calverley, &c. — December 6> 
 
 1365-' 
 
 A treaty, in which don Pedro acknowledges himfelf debtor 
 to the prince of Wales in 56,00© gold florins, of good weight, 
 Sk. whicK the prince, by the king's direiflions, had paid to 
 the king of Navarre, &c. dated Libourne (a city on the 
 Dordogne, ten leagues diftr.nt from; Bourdeaux), Sept. 23, 
 
 156V: 
 
241 
 
 When the barons of Acquitaine learnt that thefe 
 treaties were made, and that don Pedro and the 
 king of Navarre were friends, they made inquiry 
 who was to pay them their wages : the prince, who 
 was very eager for this expedition, took that upon 
 himfelf, king don Pedro having promifed punc- 
 tual re-payment. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXI. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES MAKES PREPARATIONS 
 FOR REPLACING DON PEDRO ON HIS THRONE 
 
 OF CASTILLE. HENRY THE BASTARD, THOUGH 
 
 LATE INFORMED OF IT, ENDEAVOURS tO PRE- 
 VENT IT. 
 
 V/I/^HEN all thofe things had been fo ordered and 
 fettled that every one knew what he was to 
 do, and they had remained in the city of Bay=- 
 onne twelve days amufing themfelves together, the 
 king of Navarre took his leave, and fet out for the 
 kingdom of Navarre whence he had come. The 
 other lords departed alfo, and each returned to his 
 
 1366. The number of witnefies to this deed fi:iews that Froif- 
 fart was mifinformed when he fays, that don Pedro was folely 
 attended by don Fernando de Caftro. 
 
 Articles of convention between Pedro king of Caftille, 
 Charles king of Navarre, and Edward prince oF Walesa- 
 dated LIbourne, Sept. 23, 1366. 
 
 There are various other treaties between the king and 
 prince, as well as the prince's letter to Henry de Traftamare, 
 and the anfwer, before the battle of Navarette. — See Rymer. 
 Vol. III. R own 
 
242 
 
 own home. Even the prince came back to Bour- 
 deaux; but the king of Caftille remained at 
 Bayonne. 
 
 The prince immediately font his heralds into 
 Spain, to the knights and other captains who were 
 EngUfli or Gafcons attached to or dependant on 
 him, to fignify his orders to take their leave of the 
 baflard, and to return as fpcedily as poflTible; for 
 he had need of them, and fliould find them em- 
 ployment elfcwhere. 
 
 When the heralds who were the bearers of thefe 
 orders to the knights in Caftille came to them, they 
 gueffed they were fent for home : they immediately 
 took leave of king Henry in the moft courteous 
 manner they could, without difcovering either their 
 own or the prince's intentions. King Henry, who 
 was liberal, courteous and honorable, made them 
 very handfome prcfcnts, thanking them moft grate- 
 fully for their fervices. 
 
 SirEuftaced'Ambreticourt, fir Hugh Calverley, 
 fir Walter Huer, fir Matthew Gournay, fir John 
 Devrcux, with their men, left Spain, and returned as 
 fpeedily as poftible. They v^'ere followed by feveral 
 other knights and fquires of the prince's houlehold, 
 whole names I cannot remember : but as their 
 companies were fcattered in different parts of the 
 country, they did notre^Ceive this intelligence fo foon 
 as the other knights. 
 
 o 
 
 Upon their receiving the information, they vS- 
 fembled together, and fet out on their return. In 
 this laft divifion were, fir Robert Briquet, John 
 
 Treuelle, 
 
243 
 
 Treuelle*, firRabourst, fir Perducas d'Albrct, fir 
 Garfis da Chaftel Nandon de Bagerant, die baftard 
 de I'Efparre, the baftard Camus, die baftard de 
 Breteuil. 
 
 King Henry had not heard of the prince's inten- 
 tions to bring his brother, don Pedro, back to Caf- 
 tille, fo foon as thefe knights ; and well it was for 
 them he had not; otherwife, if he had received this 
 intelligence, they would not have been fufFered to 
 depart fo eafily; for he had the power to detain 
 and vex them. However, when he knew the truth 
 of it, he did not feem much affefted by it : never- 
 thelefs, he fpoke to fir Bertrand du Guefclin, who 
 was ftill with him, as follows : ' Sir Bertrand, think 
 of the prince of Wales : they fay, he intends to 
 make war upon us, to replace by force this Jew, 
 who calls himfelf king of Spain, upon our throne of 
 Caftille. What do you fay to this ?' To which fir 
 Bertrand replied; ' He is fo valiant and deter- 
 mined a knight that, fince he hay undertaken it, he 
 will exert himfelf to the utmoft to accomplifii it. I 
 would therefore advife you to guard well all the 
 pafibs and defiles on every fide, fo that no one may 
 enter or go out of your kingdom without your 
 leave. In the mean time, keep up the affeftions of 
 your fubjefts. I know for a truth, that you will 
 have great affiftance from many knights in France, 
 who will be happy to ferve you. I will, with your 
 permiffion, return thither, where I am fure of find- 
 
 * John Treuelle. — Barnes calls him fir John Charnelle* 
 + Sir Rabours, Sir Robert Cheney, — Barnes. 
 
 R 2 in^ 
 
244 
 
 ing feveral friends ; and I will bring back with me 
 as many as I pofiTibly can.' ' By my faith,' replied 
 king Henry, ' you fay well ; and I will, in this 
 bufinefs, follow every thing you fnall order.' 
 
 Not long after, fir Bertrand took leave of king 
 Henry, and v;ent to Arragon, where he was re- 
 ceived with joy by the king; with whom he re- 
 mained fifteen days, and then departed. He conti- 
 nued his journey to Montpellier, where he found 
 the duke of Anjou, who was very happy to fee 
 him, as he loved him much. When he had paffed 
 fome time there, he took his leave, and went to 
 France, where he had a mod gracious reception 
 from the king. 
 
 ' When it was publicly known through Spain, Ar- 
 ragon and France, that the intentions of the prince 
 of Wales were to replace don Pedro in the king- 
 dom of Caftille, it was a matter of great wonder to 
 many, and was varioufly talked of. Some faid, the 
 prince was making this expedition through pride 
 and prefamption ; that he was jealous of the honor 
 fir Bertrand du Guefclin had obtained, in conquer- 
 ing Caftille in the name of king Henry, and then 
 making him king of it. Others faid, that both 
 pity and juftice moved him to affift don Pedro in re- 
 covering his inheritance; for it was highly unbe- 
 coming a baftard to hold a kingdom, or bear the 
 name of king. Thus were many knights and 
 fquires divided in their opinions. 
 
 King Henry, however, was not idle : he fent am- 
 baffadors to the king of Arragon, to entreat of him 
 that he would not enter into any treaty or conven- 
 
 tign 
 
OA.n 
 
 tion with the prince and his allies; for that he was, 
 and would continue to be, his good neighbour and 
 friend. 
 
 The king of Arragon, who elleeraed him much, 
 for in former times he had found don Pedro 
 very overbearing, afilired him, that upon no ac- 
 count, no, not for the lofs of one half of his king- 
 dom, would he enter into any treaty with the prince 
 nor with don Pedro, but would lay open his king- 
 dom to all forts of men who fliould wifli to enter 
 Spain to his affiilance, and would fhut it up from all 
 who had evil intentions againfl: him. This kincr of 
 Arragon kept faithfully all he had promifed to king 
 Henry ; for as foon as he knew that don Pedro was 
 aided by the prince, and that the companies were 
 marching that way, he ordered all the pafles of Ar- 
 ragon to be clofed, and caufed them to be ftri6lly 
 guarded. He polled men at arms and watchmen 
 on the mountains and in the defiles of Catalonia, 
 fo that no one could pafs that way without great 
 danger. 
 
 The companies, however, on their return, found 
 out another road; they had much to endure from 
 famine and other evils before they could be fiee 
 from danger in Arragon. They advanced to the 
 frontiers of the country of Foix, but could not ob- 
 tain pcrmiflTion to pafs through it; for the earl was 
 not defirous that fuch people fhould enter his terr 
 ritories. 
 
 News was brought of their diftrefs to the prince, 
 who was then at Bourdeaux, occupying his mind 
 night and day on the befl: means of executing this 
 
 R 3 expedition 
 
245 
 
 expedition with honor. He faw that thefe compa. 
 nies could neither pafs nor return into Acquitaine, 
 for the defiles of Arragon and Catalonia were well 
 guarded, and they were now on the borders of the 
 country of Foix very ill at their eafe. He was 
 therefore alarmed, lell the king of Arragon or don 
 Henry fhould gain by force, or by large gifts and 
 promifes, thefe companies (who were upwards of 
 twelve thoufand men, from whom heexpe6led great 
 afliftance), and they might be engaged to fight 
 againft him. The prince, therefore, determined to 
 fend fir John Chandos to meet and to retain them. 
 He at the fame time ordered him to wait on the 
 €arl of Foix, to beg that, for his love to him, he 
 would allow thefe companies to pafs through his 
 country, and that he would pay double the value 
 for any mifchief they might commit in their march. 
 Sir John Chandos undertook this journey moft wil- 
 lingly, to oblige his lord : he fet out from Bour- 
 deaux, and rode on to Dacqs*; thence he conti- 
 nued his route until he arrived in the country of 
 Foix, where he waited on the earl. 
 
 He found thefe companies in a country called 
 Bafques t, where he entered into a treaty with them, 
 
 and 
 
 * Dacqs, or Dax, — an arxient city of Gafconv^, on the 
 Adcur, forty-two leagues and a half from Bourdeaux, fifteen 
 from Pau. Denys Sauvage thinks it ought to be Auch. 
 This town is certainly more in a direft line to Foix, from 
 Eourdeaux, than Dax. It is d'Aft in his edition ; but my 
 MSS. have Dax. 
 
 t Eafquer;. Le pays de Bafques is a fmall country of 
 France, near the Pyrene.;s, between the river Adour, the 
 
 frontieis 
 
247 
 
 and managed it fo well that they all agreed to ferve 
 the prince, in his intended expedition, upon hav- 
 ing a handfome fum of money paid down to them, 
 which fir John Chandos fwore to fee done. He 
 again returned to the earl of Foix, and entreated 
 him moft earneftly that he would permit thofe com- 
 panies, who now belonged to the prince, to pafs 
 through one end of his domain. The earl, who 
 was defirous of plcafing the prince, and firmly at-^ 
 tached to him, in order to gratify his wifhes, com- 
 plied with the requeft, provided they did no damage 
 to him or to his lands. This fir John Chandos 
 promifed to be anfwerable for, and fent back one of 
 his fquires, attended by a herald, with the treaty he 
 had made with the earl of Foix, to the commanders 
 of the companies. He then returned toBourdeaux, 
 and related to the prince his journey, and the fuc- 
 cefsful iffue of it. The prince, who loved him and 
 had great confidence in him, was w^ell pleafed wiih 
 both. 
 
 The prince was at this time in the full vigour of 
 youth, and had never been weary or fatiated w ith 
 war, fince the firft time he bore arms, but was al- 
 ways looking forwards to feme achievement of high 
 renown. This Spanifii expedition occupied his 
 mind entirely. Both honor and compafiion urged 
 him to replace on his throne, by force of arms, a 
 king who had been driven from it. 
 
 frontiers of Spain, the ocean and Eearn. It comprehends le 
 Lahour, la Bafle Nav;^rre, and the country of Soulc. Bay. 
 onne is the capital. 
 
 R4 He 
 
248 
 
 He converfed frequently on this fubje6l with fir 
 John Chandos and fir William Fehon, who were his 
 principal advifers, and aflced them their opinions. 
 Thefe two knights truly faid; ' My lord, this un- 
 doubtedly is, without comparifon, a much more 
 difficult enterprife than driving him out of his 
 r'^'^hn; for he was detefted by his fubje61s, info- 
 much tiat they all fled from him when he moft 
 waited their help. The baftard king at this mo- 
 ment poffefles the kingdom from the afFeftion 
 which the nobility, prelates and commonalty bear 
 him; and therefore they will do every thing in 
 their power to keep and maintain him as their king, 
 whatever may be the confequences. It behoves you 
 then to have a fufFicient number of archers and men 
 at arms; for you will find, on your entering Spain, 
 work enough for them. We advife you alfo to melt 
 tKe beft part of your plate and treafure, of which 
 you are abundantly fusniiiied, that it may be coined 
 into money, for you to diilribute liberally among 
 the companions who are to ferve under you in this 
 expedition, and who, from affeftion to you alone, 
 will engage to do fo; for, as to don Pedro, they 
 will do nothing on his account. You fhould fend 
 likewife to the king your father, to beg of him to 
 allow you to receive the hundred ihoufand francs 
 which the king of France is bound to fend to Eng- 
 land in a fhort time. You ought alfo to colleft 
 money wherever you can procure it (for you will 
 have need of an immenfe quantity), without taxing 
 your fubjefts or country ; by which means you vi'ill 
 be more beloved by them.' 
 
 Thefe 
 
249 
 
 Thefe and fach like coiinfels, equally good and 
 loyal, were at times given by thofe two knights, 
 and followed by the prince. He had his plate, 
 both gold and filver, broken and coined into money, 
 which he liberally diilributed among the free com- 
 panies. He alfo fent to England, to requeft that he 
 might obtain from the king the hundred thonfand 
 francs before mentioned. The king of England, 
 who knew the wants of the prince, immediately 
 complied, wrote to the king of France on this fub- 
 je61:, and fent him proper acquittances for the fum 
 he was to pay him. The hundred thoufand francs 
 •u'ere by this means paid to the prince, who divided 
 them among different men at arras. 
 
 During the time the prince paffed at AngouJeme, 
 he' was one day amufing himfelf in his apartment 
 "with many knights of Gafcony, Poitouand England, 
 joking each other alternately upon this Spanifh ex- 
 pedition, (fir John Chandos was at the time abfent, 
 on his journey to retain the companies,) when he 
 turned himfelf towards the lord d'Albret, andfaid; 
 ' My lord d'Albret, how many men can you bring 
 into the field for this expedition?' Lord d'Albret 
 was quick in his anfwer, replying, ' My lord, if I 
 wifiied to alls, all my friends, that is, all my vafials, 
 I can bring full a thoufadd lances, and leave a 
 fufficiency .behind to guard the country.' ' By 
 my head, lord d'Albret, that is handfome,' returned 
 the prince : then looking at fir William Fclton and 
 other Englifli knights, he added in Englifh, ' On 
 my faith, one ought to love that country well where 
 there is a baron who can attend his lord with a 
 
 thoufand 
 
250 
 
 thoufand lances'. Then, again addrefling himfelf to 
 the lord d'Albret, he faid; ' Lord d'Albret, with 
 great willingnefs I retain them all.' ' Let it be fo, 
 then, in God's name, my lord,' anfwered the lord 
 d'Albret. This engagement was the caufe of much 
 mifchief hereafter, as you will fee in the courfe of 
 this hiftory. 
 
 CHAP, ccxxxn. 
 
 THE VISCOUNT OF NARBONNE, THE SENESCHAL OF 
 TOULOUSE, WITH OTHER FRENCH LORDS, HAVING 
 ATTACKED SOME OF THE FREE COMPANIES, THAT 
 WERE COME INTO FRANCE ACCORDING TO THE 
 ORDERS OF THE PRINCE, ARE DISCOMFITED NEAR 
 
 MONTAUBAN. THE POPE FORBIDS THE PRISONERS, 
 
 WHOM THE COMPANIES HAD TAKEN, AND SET FREE 
 ON THEIR PAROLE AFTER THE COMBAT, TO KEEP 
 THEIR FAITH, OR TO PAY ANY RANSOM. 
 
 Tl/'E muft now return to thofe free companies 
 who had become allied and conncfled with 
 the prince. I have already faid, that they had 
 fufFered very great hardfhips before they entered his 
 prir.cipality. As foon as they found thcmfelves 
 clear of all danger from Arragon and Catalonia, 
 they divided themfelves into three bodies, with the 
 confent of the earls of Foix and Armagnac and the 
 1 nd d'Albret. One of thefe divifions marched 
 along the borders of the countries of Foix and 
 Touloufe; another through the country of Armag- 
 nac, and the third towards Albret. The firft divifion 
 
 con- 
 
251 
 
 confifted chiefly of Gafcons; and they might, in the 
 whole, amount to three thoufand; but they had 
 again divided themfelves into companies of three 
 and four hundreds, and thus advanced towards 
 Touloufe and Montauban. 
 
 At this time, there was a- knight of France high 
 fteward of Touloufe, whofe name was Guy d'Afai*. 
 When he learnt that thefe companies were near at 
 hand, that they were advancing in divifions,and did 
 not amount in the whole, to more than three thou- 
 fand combatants, who were pinched by hunger, 
 badly armed and mounted, and ftill worfe clothed 
 and fhod, he declared that no fuch perfons fhould 
 enter Touloufe, nor the kingdom of France, to re- 
 cruit themfelves; and that, if it pleafed God, he 
 would march out, to offer them battle. 
 
 He direftly gave notice of his intentions to the 
 lord Aimeri, vifcount of Narbonne, to the high 
 ftewards of Carcaffonne and of Beaucaire, and to 
 all knights, fquires and officers in that quarter, 
 commanding them to give him aid and affiftance to 
 defend the borders againfl thefe wicked companions. 
 Thofe who had been fent to, obeyed, and came wath 
 all fpeed to the city of Touloufe. They anxounted 
 
 * Guy d'Afai. When Bertrand faw the duke d'Anjou at 
 Montpellier, he requefxed him to prevent thofe companies 
 from returning to Acquitaine : he thereupon aiTembled the 
 ir^Iitia of the coLintry, and collefted a force of five hundied 
 lances and four thoufand archers. He gave the command ©f 
 this army to Guy d'Afai fcnefchal de Touloufe, Arjiould 
 d'Efpagne fenefchal de Carcaflonne, Guy de Prohins fe- 
 jicfchal de Beaucaire, and Aimeri vifcount de Narbonne. 
 
 Hifi. de LangucdoCf vol. iv. p. 332. 
 
252 
 
 to five hundred men at arms, knights and fquires, 
 with upwards of four thoufand infantry, who im- 
 mediately took the field, and marched towards 
 Montauban, feven leagues dillant from Touloufe. 
 Thofe who arrived firft, and the others as they 
 came in, inftantly quitted the town, to wait until the 
 whole were affembled together. 
 
 When the vifcount of Narbonne and fir Guy 
 d'Afai, who were the commanders of thefe men at 
 arras, had left Touloufe, they fixed their quarters 
 near to Montauban, which was at that time depen- 
 dant on the prince of Wales, who had appointed 
 for its governor a knight called fir John Combes. 
 Thefe French lords ordered their fcouts, with the 
 van-guard, to advance to Montauban, in hopes of 
 drawing out fome of the companions who had lately 
 arrived there, and who were entertained by fir John 
 Combes. 
 
 The gcvernor of Montauban was much fur- 
 prifed, on hearing that the French were come with 
 a numerous army fo near to his town, becaufe the 
 territory belonged to the prince : he afcended, 
 therefore, the battlements of the gates, and, having 
 obtained a hearing from thefe fcouts, demanded 
 who had fent them thither, and for what reafon 
 they had thus come upon the lands of the prince, 
 Vvho was their neighbour, and who had fworn 
 friendfliip to the king and kingdom of France. 
 
 They anfwered him, that they were not charged 
 by the lords who had fent them thither to give any 
 reafons for fo doing; but that, in order to be fatis- 
 fied, he might come himfelf, or fend any one to 
 
 their 
 
255 
 
 their commanders, who would give him an anfwen 
 * Indeed,' replied the governor of Montauban, ' I 
 fhall beg of you then to go back, and tell them to 
 fend me a pafTport, that I may fafely come to them 
 and return, or let them fend to inform me fully for 
 what reafons they have marched in this warlike 
 manner againft me; for did I think they were in 
 earneft to make war, I would immediately inform 
 my lord the prince of it, who would fpeedily pro- 
 vide a remedy.' They willingly accepted his pro- 
 pofal, and returned to their lords, to whom they 
 exadly repeated the governor's words. 
 
 The paffport was made out in fir John's name, 
 and fent to Montauban. Upon the receipt of it, he 
 fet out, attended only by four perfons, and went to 
 the quarters of thefe lords, who were ready dreffed 
 to receive him, and prepared with their anfwers. 
 He faluted them, which they returned : he then 
 aficed them their reafons for ordering troops to ad- 
 vance to the fortress which was a dependance on the 
 prince. They replied; ' We wifli not to invade the 
 rights of any one, nor to make war; but we are 
 determined to purfue our enemies where we know 
 they are.' ' Who are your enemies r and where 
 are they ?' demanded the knight. 
 
 * In God's name,' anfwered the vifcount of Nar- 
 bonne, * they are at this moment in Montauban. 
 They are robbers and pillagers, who have feverely 
 oppreffed the kingdom orf France. And you, fir 
 John, if you had been courteous toyour neighboursj 
 ought not thus to have fupported them in their 
 robberies of poor persons, without a fliadow of 
 
 juitice; 
 
254 
 
 juftice; for thefe are the caufes that give rife to 
 hatred between the great. If you do not therefore 
 drive them oat of your fortrefs, you are neither a 
 friend to the king nor kingdom of France.' 
 
 ' My lords,' replied the governor, ' it is true there 
 are men at arms in my garrifon, whom my lord the 
 prince has ordered thither, and v/hom I retain for 
 him. I am not therefore inclined to fend them 
 away thus fuddenly. If they have given you any 
 caufe of difpleafurc, I do not fee from whom you 
 can right yourfelves; for they are men at arms, and 
 they will fupport themfelves in their ufual manner, 
 either on the territories of the king of France or on 
 thofe of the prince.' 
 
 The lord of Narbonne and fir Guy d'Afai made 
 anfwer by faying; ' They are indeed men at arms, 
 but of fuch a fort that they cannot exifl without 
 pillage and robbery, and have very unbecomingly 
 trefpaifed on our boundaries, for which they fhall 
 pay dearly, if we conid but once meet with them in 
 the open plains. They have burnt, ftolen, and done 
 many (hameful afts Vv-ithin the jurifdiftion of Tou- 
 loufe, complaints of which have been made to us, 
 which if we fuffer to go unpunifhed, we fhall be 
 traitors to the king our lord, who has appointed us 
 to watch over and guard his country. You will 
 therefore tell them from us, for, fince we know 
 where their quarters are, we can find them, that 
 they Ihall make us amends for their proceedings, 
 or we will fare the worfc for it.' 
 
 The governor could not, at that time, get any 
 other anfwer from them. He returned very ill 
 
 pleafedj 
 
255 
 
 plcafed, and faid diat all their menaces would not 
 make him change his mind. Upon his return, he 
 told the companions all that had pafTed, as well as 
 the mefTage he was to deliver to them. The leaders, 
 on hearing it, were not much fatisfied; for they 
 were unequal in numbers to the^ French, fo that 
 they kept them felves on their guard as much as they 
 could. 
 
 Now it chanced, that exaftly five days after this 
 converfation, fir Perducas d'Albret with a large 
 body of companions were on their march to pafs 
 through Montauban, for that was the direft road 
 into the principality. He Tent information of it to 
 the governor : which when fir Robert Cheney and 
 the other companions who had fliut themfelves up 
 in the town heard, they were mightily rejoiced. 
 They fecrelly made fir Perducas acquainted with 
 the arrival of the French, and how they kept them 
 befieged, threatening them much : they alfo inform- 
 ed him of the numbers of the French, with the 
 names of their commanders. 
 
 When Hr Perducas learnt this, he was no way 
 frightened, but, colle8:ing his men in a body, 
 galloppedinto Montauban, where he was joy fully re- 
 ceived. Upon their arrival, they di feu (Ted among 
 themfelves, what would be mofl advifable to do : 
 they unanimoufly refolved, that on the morrow 
 they would arm, iffue out of the town, and addrefs 
 themfelves to the French, to requefl they would 
 allow them peaceably to pafs on. If they would not 
 2gree to this, and it were abfolutely nece/Tary to 
 
 fight, 
 
256 
 
 fiaht, they would then exert themfelves, and rifli 
 the event of a battle. 
 
 What they had determined the preceding day, 
 they put in execution the folio vnig. On the 
 morning, having armed themfelves and mountied 
 their horfes, their trumpets founded, when they 
 fallied out of Montauban, The French had ah-cady 
 drawn up before the town, from the alarm of what 
 they faw and heard the preceding evening, fo that the 
 companies could not pafs but through them. Upon 
 this, fir Perducas d'Albret and fir Robert Cheney 
 ftepped foirward, to demand a parley of the French, 
 and to beg of them to SUow them quietly to pafs. 
 But thefe lords fent to inform them, they would 
 have nothing to fay to them, and that they fhould 
 not pafs but over the points of their fpears and 
 fwords. They inftantly began to fhout their war- 
 cry, and to call out, ' Advance, advance upon thefe 
 robbers, who pillage the world, and who live upon 
 every one, without reafon or juftice.' 
 
 When the companions faw that they muft fight 
 in earneil, or die with diihonor, they difmounted, 
 ahd formed their line, to wait for the French, who 
 advanced verv boldly on foot to meet them. Much 
 fighting and purfuing now commenced : many hard 
 blows were given, which knocked down feveral on 
 each fide. The combat was fevere and long : many 
 gallant deeds were performed, and feveral knights 
 and fquires unhorfed. The French, however, were 
 more in num.ber than the companions by at lead 
 two to one. They had not, therefore, any caufe of 
 
 fear 
 
257 
 
 fear, and, by valiantly fighting, drove the cdm- 
 panions far back, even within the barriers. When 
 they were in that fituation, the combat became 
 more hot: many were killed and wounded on both 
 fides. It would have been very hard with the com- 
 panions, if the governor had not ordered all the townf- 
 people to take arms and affift, to the utmoft of their 
 power, thofe who were attached to the fervice of 
 their prince. 
 
 The inhabitants immediately took to their arms, 
 and united themfelves with the companies in the 
 fray. Even the women, having colle6ted ftones, 
 afcended their garrets, whence they flung fo many 
 on the French that they had fufficient employment 
 in fhielding themfelves from them, and by wound- 
 ing many made them retreat* The companions, 
 upon this, took courage (for they had been for a 
 confiderable time in great peril), and boldly attack- 
 ed the French. Many as gallant deeds were per- 
 formed by captures and refcues as had been feen 
 for fome time, though the companies were but few 
 in comparifon of the French : every man exerted 
 himfelf to do his duty well, and to drive the enemy 
 by force out of the town. 
 
 It happened, that during this engagement, the 
 baftard de Breteuil and Nandon de Bagerant, with 
 about four hundred men whom they commandedj 
 entered the back way into the town. They had 
 marched all night with the greateft expedition; for 
 they had had information how the French were be- 
 fieging their comrades in Montauban. The battle 
 was now renewed with frefh vigour ; and the French 
 
 Vol. Ill,, S were 
 
. 258 ' . 
 
 were fadly beaten by thefe new comers. All thofc 
 combats lafled from eight o'clock in the morning 
 until four in the afternoon. At laft, the French 
 were completely difcomfited and put to flight : 
 happy were thofe who could find horfes to mount 
 and efcape. 
 
 The vifcount of Narbonne, fir Guy d'Afai, 
 the earl of Uzes, the lord de Montmorillon, the 
 fenefchal de Carcaffonne, the fenefchal de Beau- 
 taire, with upwards of a hundred knights, as well 
 of France as of Provence, and the adjoining coun- 
 tries, many rich fquires, and others of large prow 
 perty in Touloufe and Montpellier, were made 
 prifoners. They would have taken more, if they 
 had purfued them; but, as they were few in num- 
 ber and badly mounted, they were afraid to follow 
 them, contenting themfelves with what they had got. 
 
 This battle was fought before Montauban, the 
 vigil of the feaft of our Lady, in Auguft 1366. 
 After this defeat, fir Perducas d'Albret, fir Robert 
 Cheney, fir John Combes, the baftard de Breteuil 
 jand Nandon de Bagerant, divided the booty they 
 had gained among themfelves and their companies. 
 
 All thofe who had made any prifoners were to 
 keep them, in order to gain by their ranfom, or to 
 give them their liberty, as they pleafed. They were 
 very attentive to them, accepting moderate ran- 
 foms, fuitable to their rank, or the ftate of their 
 affairs. They were the kinder to them, becaufe 
 this affair had turned out fortunately, and through 
 their own gallantry. Thofe who had pledged 
 'their faith went away, having fixed a time for 
 § bringing 
 
259 
 
 bringing their ranfoms to BourdeauXj or other 
 places more agreeable to them. Each now departed, 
 and returned to his own country. The companies 
 marched to join the prince, who received theni 
 very gracioufly, and fent them to their quarters 
 in a country, called Bafques, which is among the 
 mountains. 
 
 I will now relate the end of this bufmefs, in 
 •what manner the vifcount of Narbonne, the high 
 fteward of Touloufe and the other prifoners, paid 
 their ranfoms. 
 
 Pope Urban V. who at this time reigned, hated 
 mortally thefe free companies, whom he had for a 
 Jong time excommunicated on account of their 
 wicked deeds. Upon being informed of this en- 
 gagement, and how the vifcount of NaibonnCj 
 having exerted himfelf to the utmoft to fucceed ia 
 his attack upon them, had been miferably defeated, 
 he was in a great rage. This was increafed, on 
 learning that, having given pledges for their ran- 
 foms, they were returned home. He immediately 
 fent exprefles to them, ftritlly forbidding them to 
 pay any ranfom, and at the fame time difpenfations 
 andabfolutions from all engagements on this fubje6^.^ 
 
 Thus were thefe lords, knights and fquires, who 
 had been made prifoners at Montauban, acquitted 
 of their ranfoms ; for they dared not difobey the 
 orders of the pope. It turned out luckily for fame, 
 but quite the contrary to the companions, who were 
 cxpecling the money : indeed they were in want of 
 it, and intended out of it to equip themfelves hand- 
 S a fomelyj 
 
^60 
 
 fomcly, as foldiers fhould do who have a fufficiency, 
 but they never received any thing. This order of 
 the pope was fo hurtful to them that they made 
 frequent complaints of it to fir John Chandos, who, 
 being conftable of Acquitaine, had the fuperinten- 
 dance of fuch affairs by right of office ; but he 
 turned them off as well as he could, becaufe he was 
 fully acquainted that they were excommunicated by 
 the pope, and that all their thoughts and a6ls were 
 turned to pillage. I do not believe they ever re- 
 ceived any of this debt at any time afterwards. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXIII. 
 
 DURING THE TIME THE PRINCE OF WALES IS 
 PREPARING FOR HIS EXPEDITION INTO CAS- 
 TILLE, THE KING OF MAJORCA SEEKS REFUGE 
 WITH HIM AGAIMST THE KING OF ARRAGON. 
 
 THE PRINCE DISPLEASES THE LORD d'aL- 
 
 ERET. 
 
 E will now return to the prince of Wales, and 
 fliew with what perfeverance he continued to 
 make preparations for his expedition. He had, as 
 I have before related, gained over all the free com- 
 panies, who might be about twelve thoufand fight- 
 ing men. It had coft him much to retain as well as 
 to fubfift them, Vv'hich he did at his own expenfe, 
 from the end of Auguft until they quitted the prin- 
 cipality the beginning of February. In addition to 
 thefe, the prince accepted the fervices of men at 
 
 arms 
 
2^1 
 
 «rms from every quarter whence he could obtain 
 them, under his dependance. 
 
 From the kingdom of France, there came none; 
 for king Henry had every perfon from that king- 
 dom, on account of the alHances that exifted 
 between their fovereign and king Henry, who had 
 alfo fome of the free companies that came from 
 Brittany, and were attached to fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin : of thefe, fir Bertrand de Budes, fir Alain 
 de St. Pol, fir William de Brueix and fir Alain de 
 Couvette, were the leaders. The prince might 
 have had foreign men at arras, fuch as Flemings, 
 Germans and Brabanters, if he had chofen it ; but 
 he fent away numbers, clioofing to depend more on 
 his own fubjefts and vaffals than on ftrangers. 
 There came, therefore, to him a great reinforce- 
 ment from England; for, when the king his father 
 found this expedition was near taking place, he 
 gave leave for his fon, the duke of Lancafler, to go 
 to the prince of Wales, with a large body of men 
 at arms; that is to fay, four hundred men at arms 
 and four hundred archers. As foon as the prince 
 heard that his brother was coming to him, he was 
 much rejoiced, and gave orders accordingly. 
 
 At this period, the lord James, king of Majorca, 
 came to vifit the prince in the city of Bourdeaux; 
 for fuch was his title, though he poffeffed nothing, 
 the king of Arragon having kept his kingdom from 
 him by force, and caufed his father to be put to 
 death in prifbn, in a city of Arj^agon called Barce« 
 |ona. On which account, this king James, to, 
 revenge the death of his father, and to recover his 
 S 3 in- 
 
252 
 
 inheritance, had left the kingdom of Naples, whofc 
 queen was at that time his wife*. 
 
 The prince of Wales received the king of 
 Majorca very kindly, and entertained him hand- 
 fomely. After he had heard from him the reafons 
 of his coming, and the caufe why the king of 
 Arragon did him fo much wrong, in keeping his 
 heritage from him, and deftroying his father, the 
 prince replied; 'Sir king, I promile you moft 
 loyally, that upon our return from Spain, we will 
 undertake to replace you on your throne of Ma- 
 jorca, either by treaty or by force of arms.' 
 
 Thefe promifes were highly pleafing to the king. 
 He remained at Bourdeaux with the prince, wait- 
 ing for his departure for Spain with the others. The 
 prince, through refpecl, equipped him as hand- 
 fomely as he could; becaufe he was a flranger, far 
 diftant from his own country, and his finances were 
 but low. 
 
 Great complaints were daily made to the prince 
 of the bad condu6l of the free companies, who were 
 4oing all poffible mifchief to the inhabitants of the 
 countries where they were quartered. They prefTed 
 the prince to haflen his march, who would willingly 
 have complied, if he had not been advifed to let 
 Chriftmas pafs over, fo that he fhould have winter 
 
 * Don Jaymej king of Majorca, married Jane queen of 
 Naples 1363. — Ferraras. 
 
 Towards the end of this year, the infant Philip of Navarre 
 died. Idem. — If, as before mentioned, he married Jane, don 
 Jayme muft have married the widow. 
 
263 
 
 in his rear. The prince liftened to this counfel the 
 more, becaufe his lady the princefs, being far gone 
 with child, was melancholy and Ibrrowful at the 
 thoughts of his abfence. He was defirous to wait 
 until (he (hould be brought to bed, as fhe wifhed to 
 detain him. 
 
 During this time he was colleQing great quantities 
 of purveyances of all kinds; and well he had need 
 to do fo, for he was about to enter a country where 
 he would find little enouoh. Whilft he remained 
 at Bourdeaux, the prince and his council held many 
 confultations together. It feems to me, that the 
 lord d'Albret and his thoufand lances were counter- 
 manded, and that the prince, by the advice of his 
 council, wrote to him in fuch terms as thefe. 
 
 ' My lord d'Albret, whereas, out of our liberal 
 bounty, we have retained you with a thoufand 
 lances, to ferve under us in the expedition which 
 through the grace of God, we intend fpeedily to 
 undertake, and briefly to finifh : having duly con- 
 fidered the bufinefs, and the cofts and expenfes we 
 are at, as well for thofe who have entered into our 
 |g{-vi«« as for the free companies, whofe number is 
 fo great that we do not wifh to leave them behind, 
 for fear of the dangers which may happen, we have 
 refolved that feveral of our vaffals fhould remain, in 
 order to guard the territories. For thefe caufes it 
 has been determined in our council, that you fhall 
 ferve in this expedition with two hundred lances 
 only, as has been written to you. You will choofe 
 them out from the reft ; and the remainder you 
 will leave to follow their ufual occupations. May 
 S 4 God 
 
264 
 
 God have you under hisholy prote6lion ! — Given at 
 Bourdeaux, the eighth day of December.' 
 
 Thefe letters were fealed with the great fcal of the 
 prince of Wales, and fent to the lord d'Albret, 
 who was in his own country, bufily employed 
 making his preparations ; for it was daily reportecj 
 that the prince was on the point of fetting out. 
 
 When he received thefe letters from the prince, 
 he opened them deliberately, and read them twice 
 over, in order the better to comprehend them ; for 
 what he faw of their contents aftonifhed him greatly. 
 Being mightily vexed, he exclaimed, ' How is this ? 
 My lord the prince of Wales laughs at me, when 
 he orders me to difband eight hundred knights 
 and fquires, whom, by his command, I have re- 
 tained, and have diverted from other means of ob- 
 taining profit and honor.' In his rage, he called 
 for a fecretary, and faid to him, ' Write ;' and the 
 fecretary wrote as fallows from his dilating. 
 
 ' My dear lord, — I am marvelloufly furprifed at 
 ihe contents of the letters you have fent me; and 
 1 neither know nor can imagine what -anfwer to 
 make to them. Your orders will be to me of^he 
 greateft prejudice, and fubjefb me to much blame; 
 for all the men at arms, whom I have retained by 
 your commands, are ready prepared to do you 
 fervice,and I have prevented them feeking for honor 
 and profit el fe where. Some of thefe knights were 
 engaged to pafs the fea, to Jerufalem, to Conftand- 
 nople or to Pruffia, in order to advance themfelves. 
 They will, therefore, be much difpleafed if left be- 
 Ijind, I am equally foj and cannot conceive for 
 
 what 
 
265 
 
 what reafon I have deferved this treaiment, Ml^ 
 dear lord, have the goodnefs to underftand I can-, 
 not feparate myfelf from them. I am the worft and 
 lead among them ; and, if any of them be dif- 
 miffed, I am convinced theywill all go their ways. 
 May God keep you in his holy prote£lion !••■•" 
 Given,' Szc. 
 
 When the prince of Wales received this anfwer, 
 he looked upon it as a very prefumptuous one; as 
 did alfo fome knights from England, who were pre- 
 fent, and of his council. The prince fliook his 
 head, and faid in Englifh (as I was told, for at the 
 time I was not at Bourdeaux) ; ' This lord d'AI- 
 bret is too great a man for my country, when he 
 thus wifhes to difobey the orders of my council: 
 but, by God, it fliall not be as he thinks to have iu 
 Let him (lay behind, if he will: for we will per- 
 form this expedition, if jt pleafe God, without his 
 thoufand lances,' Some Englifli knights added; 
 * My lord, you are but little acquainted with the 
 thoughts of thefe Gafcons, nor how vainglorious 
 they are : they have but little love for us, nor have 
 they had much for fome time paft. Do you nol^ 
 remember how arrogantly they behaved to you 
 when king John of France was iirft: brought to 
 Bourdeaux ? They then declared publicly, that it 
 was by their means alone you had fucceeded at 
 Poitiers, and made the king of France your prifoner. 
 It is apparent that they had intended carrying 
 things farther; for you were upwards of four 
 months negociaiing with them before they would 
 confent that king John fhould be carried to England, 
 
 and 
 
2e>(J 
 
 and it v^-as fiifl neceffary for you to comply with 
 their demands in order to preferve their attach- 
 ment.' 
 
 Upon hearing this, the prince was filent, but did 
 not the lefs occupy his thoughts with what had juft 
 been laid. 
 
 This was the firft ground of the hatred between 
 the prince of Wales and the lord d'Albret. The 
 lord d'Albret was at the time in great peril; 
 for the prince was of a high overbearing fpirit, and 
 cruel in his hatred : he would, right or wrong, that 
 every lord who was under his command fliould be 
 dependant on him : but the earl of Armagnac, uncle 
 to the lord d'Albret, hearing of this quarrel be- 
 tween the prince and his nephew, came to Bour- 
 deaux to wait on the prince, Sir John Chandos 
 and fir William Fekon (by whofe advice and coun- 
 fels the prince folely a6ted) managed the matter fo 
 well that the prince was appeafed, and faid nothing 
 more. However, the lord d'Albret received orders 
 tojoinwi^th only two hundred lances, which was 
 equally difagreeablc to him and to his valfals : they 
 riever afterwards were fo affeftionate to the prince 
 as they had formerly been. They were forced, 
 neverthelefs, to bear this difappointment <as well a* 
 they couldj for they had no remedy for it. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
267 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXIV, 
 
 THE BIRTH OF RICHARD, SON OF THE PRINCE OF 
 WALES. THE ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF LAN- 
 CASTER, TO ACCOMPANY HIS BROTHER ON HIS 
 
 INTENDED EXPEDITION. NEW TREATIES WITH 
 
 THE KING OF NAVARRE, FOR THE SECURITY OF 
 
 PASSING THROUGH HIS KINGDOM. SIR BERTRANO 
 
 DU GUESCLIN RETURNS TO THE ASSISTANCE OF 
 KING HENRY. 
 
 npiME pafiTed away fo quickly while the prince was 
 collefting his ftores, and waiting the arrival of 
 his brother the duke of Lancafter, that the princefs 
 was taken in labour, and, through God's grace, de- 
 livered of a -fine boy on a Wednefday, the feaft of 
 the Epiphany, in the year 1367. The child was 
 born about eight o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The prince and his whole houfchold were very 
 much rejoiced at this event. On the following 
 Friday, he was baptized, about noon, at the holy 
 font of St. Andrew's church in the city of Bour- 
 deaux. The archbifhop of Bourdeaux performed 
 the ceremony : tfte bifliop of Agen and the king of 
 Majorca were his godfathers. They gave him the 
 name of Richard : he was afterwards king; of Enff- 
 land, as you will hear in the continuation of this 
 hiftory. 
 
 On the enfuing Sunday, the prince fet out from 
 Bourdeaux, with a grand army, about eight o'clock 
 in the morning: he carried with him all the men at 
 arms who had been quartered there. The greater 
 
 part 
 
5^8 
 
 part of his force had already marched forward, an4 
 were cantoned in the city of Dax in Gafcony. The 
 prince arrived that Sunday evening at Dax, where 
 he halted, and remained for three days; for he was 
 there informed that his brother the duke of Lan- 
 cafter, was on the road to him, having crofTed the 
 fea to Brittany, where he had landed a fortnight 
 fince, at St. Mahe de fine Poterne: he went thence 
 to Nantes, where he was magnificently entertained 
 by the duke of B ittany. 
 
 The duke of Lancafter continued his route, 
 through Poitou and Saintonge, to Blaye, where he 
 croffed the river Giionde, and landed at the quay 
 at Bourcieaux. He went to the monaftery of St. 
 Andrew, where the princefs lay in, and was joyfully 
 welcomed by her and by all the ladies of her court. 
 At this time, however, the duke would not remain 
 in Bouideaux: but, having bid adieu to his filter 
 the princefs, he and all his ti oops departed, never 
 halviiig until they were arrived in the city of Dax, 
 ■where he found his brother the prince of Wales. 
 
 The two brothers were very happy in this meet- 
 ing, for they had a mutual affeftion for each other; 
 and many proofs of fiiendfhip pafTed between them 
 and their men. Sooq after the arrival of the duke 
 of Lancafter, the earl of Foix came thither, who 
 paid much court and refpeSt, at leaft in outward 
 appearance, to the prince and his brother, offering 
 himfelf and vaffals for their fervice. 
 
 The prince, who knew how to pay every honor 
 and attention according as they were due, fhewed 
 him all refpett, thanking him much for his obliging 
 
 ciTersj 
 
2^9 
 
 offers, and for having come to vlfit them. He af- 
 terwards gave him in charge the government of the 
 country, and defircd that, during his abfence, he 
 would be attentive to guard it. The earl very wil- 
 lingly accepted this charge : having taken his leave 
 of the prince and the duke, he returned to his 
 home. The prinee, however, remained at Dax, 
 with his army, which was fpread all over the coun- 
 try, as far as the entrance of the defiles which lead 
 to Navarre; for they were uncertain if they could 
 pafs through them or not, or if the king of Navarr« 
 would lay open his country to them, according to 
 his treaty. 
 
 It had been currently reported, that he had en- 
 tered intb new conventions with king Henry, which 
 had much aftonifhed the prince and his council, 
 and made don Pedro very melancholy. Whilft 
 thefe reports were believed, and during the ftay at 
 Dax, fir Hugh Calverley and his men entered Na- 
 varre, and took the city of Miranda and the town 
 of Puenta della Reyna, which alarmed the whole 
 country, fo that information was immediately fent 
 of it to the king of Navarre. 
 
 Upon hearing that the companies were forcibly 
 entering his kingdom, he was much enraged, and 
 wrote to the prince, who made very light of it, be- 
 caufe he thought the king of Navarre did not per- 
 form the articles of his treaty with don Pedro : he 
 therefore wrote back to him, to come himfelf, or 
 to fend fome perfon to explain thofe things which 
 were laid to his charge, as it was publicly reported 
 he had changed fides^ and had joined king Henry. 
 
 When 
 
270 
 
 "VVlK^n the king of Navarre heard that he was ac^ 
 cufed of treachery, he was more enraged than be- 
 fore, and fent an experienced knight, called don 
 Martin de la Carra, to wait on the prince. When he 
 arrived in the city of Dax, to exculpate the king of 
 Navarre, he fpoke fo ably and eloquently to the 
 prince that he fatisficd him. It was then agreed that 
 he lliouid return to Navarre to his king, and induce 
 him to come to St. Jean Pied de Port*, where, when 
 he fliould be arrived, the prince would confider 
 whether he would meet him in perfon or not. 
 
 Upon this, don Martin de la Carra quitted the 
 prince, and returned to Navarre, where he related to 
 ihe king all that had pafled, in what difpofition he 
 had left the prince and his council, and upon what 
 terms he had been fent back. Don Martin exerted 
 himfelf fo much that he brought the king to St. 
 Jean Pied de Port : he himJelf went to wait on the 
 prince at Dax. When it was known that the king of 
 Navarre was on his road, the prince was advifed to 
 fend, to meet him, his brother the duke of Lancalter 
 and fir John Chandos. Thefe two lords, with a few 
 attendants, fet out, accompanied by don Martin, who 
 conduced them to St. Jean Pied de Port to the 
 king of Navarre, who very gracioufly received them, 
 and they had a long conference together. It was 
 after fome time fetded, that the king of Navarre 
 fliould advance, to meet the prince, to a place called 
 
 ♦ St. Jean Pied de Port, — a fmall town in Nayarre^ on the 
 Niv?, a^d a« the foot of the Pyrenees, 
 
 in 
 
S71 
 
 in that cduntry Peyre Hourarde*, where the prince 
 and don Pedro fhould be; and that then and there 
 they fhould renew their treaties, fo that each party 
 might for a certainty know on what he was to de-^ 
 pend. The king of Navarre was thus difTembhng, 
 becaufei he wifhedto be more fure of the articles of 
 the treaty being complied with than he was at that 
 inoment ; for he was afraid, that if thefe companies 
 fhould once enter his territories before w^hat he de* 
 manded was fully figned and agreed to, it would 
 never be thought of afterwards. 
 
 The duke of Lancafter and fir John Chandos, 
 having finifhed their bufinefs, returned,>^nd related 
 what they had done to the prince and don Pedro, 
 This agreement was fatisfaftory to both of them. 
 They kept the appointment, and went to the place 
 fixed on, where they met the king of Navarre and 
 his privy council. There were at Peyre Hourarde 
 thefe three princes, the prince of Wales, don Pedro 
 and the duke of Lancafter, on one part, and the king 
 of Navarre on the other, where long conferences 
 were held between them. At laft, it was finally 
 fettled what each party was to receive and to 
 perform; and the treaties which had been made 
 before, at Bayonne, were renewed. The king of 
 Navarre then knew for certain what was to be given 
 up to him in the kingdom of Caftille. He fwore to 
 maintain and preferve faithfully peace and friend- 
 iliip with don Pedro. They broke up their confe- 
 rences very amicably, having fettled that the prince 
 and his army might pafs through his country when- 
 
 *• Pe/rc Hourarde,— a town in Gafcony, diocefc ofDax. 
 
 ever 
 
272 
 
 ever fie pleafed, as all the defiles were left unguard- 
 ed ; and provifion would be had for the men, upon 
 paying for it. The king of Navarre returned to the 
 city of Pampeluna, and the king don Pedro, the 
 prince and his brother, to their quarters at Dax. 
 
 There were at this time many great barons from 
 Poitou, Gafcony and Brittany, who had not joined 
 the army of the prince. They had remained be- 
 hind, becaufe, as has been before faid, it was not 
 quite clear, until after this laft conference, if the 
 prince would have a free paffage through Navarre. 
 It was even thought in France, that it would be 
 refufed him, and* that the king of Navarre would 
 caufe this expedition to fail. However, the con- 
 trary happened. 
 
 When the knights and fquires of each party 
 found that the pafTiige v/as open, they haftened their 
 preparations, and made fp'eed to join their friends; 
 for they knew the prince would pafs foon, and that 
 he would not return without a battle. 
 
 Sir Olivier deClilfon came with ahandfome com* 
 pany of men at arms; and alfo, but very unwil- 
 lingly, came laft, the lord d'Albret, with two hun- 
 dred lances : he was accompanied in this expeditiou 
 by the captal de Buch. 
 
 Every thing which had pafled in thefe conferences 
 was known in France ; for there were melfengers 
 conftantly going and coming, who carried with them 
 all the news they could pick up. Sir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin (who was with the duke of Anjou) was no 
 fooner informed that the palies in Navarre were 
 open,andthat the prince was on his march, than he 
 
 haftened 
 
273 
 
 haflened his departure, and reiterated his fumnons ; 
 for he knew now, that this bufinefs would not be 
 fettled without an engagement. He took the road 
 to Arragon, in order to join king Henry as fpeedily 
 as poffible. He was followed by all forts of men at 
 arms to whom he had fent his orders. Many came 
 from France and other countries, who were at- 
 tached to him, or who were defirous of acquiring 
 honor. We will now return to the prince, and re- 
 late what befel him and his army in his paffage 
 through Navarre, 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXV. 
 
 -CHE PRINCE OF WALES AND HIS ARMY PASS THE 
 MOUNTAINS OF NAVARRE, AND ARRIVE AT 
 PAMPELUNA.— KING HENRY OF CASTILLE WRITES 
 LETTERS TO HIM. SIR WILLIAM FELTON COM- 
 MANDS AN ADVANCED PARTY OF THE ARMY. 
 
 T> ETWEEN St. Jean Pled de Port and Pampe- 
 luna are the defiles and ftrong paffes of Navarre, 
 "which are very dangerous; for there are a hun- 
 dred fituations among them which a handful of 
 men would guard and fliut up againft a whole 
 army. 
 
 It was very cold in thefe countries when the army 
 pafled, for it was the month of February. But be- 
 fore they began their march, though very eager to 
 get forward, the principal leaders held a council to 
 determine in what numbers and in what manner 
 
 Vol. Ill, T they 
 
they ftiould march through thefc mountains. They 
 learnt that the whole army could not pafs together; 
 for which reafon, they ordered it to be divided into 
 three bodies, and to pafs one at a time three days 
 fucceffively ; that is to fay, on the Monday, Tuef. 
 day and Wednefday. 
 
 On the Monday, the van-guard marched, under 
 the command of the duke of Lancafter. He was ac- 
 companied by the conftable of Acquitaine, fir John 
 Chandos, who had under him full twelve hundred 
 pennons, all ornamented with his arms, which were 
 d. fharp pile gules, on a field argent*. It was a 
 handfbmc'fight to behold. The two marfhals of 
 Acquitaine were alfo in this firft divifion, namely, 
 fir Guifcard d'Angle and fir Stephen Coffington, 
 "with whom was the pennon of St. George. There 
 vere alfo in this divifion, with the duke, fir William 
 Beauchamp t, fon of the earl of Warwick, fir Hugh 
 Raftings, fir Ralph Neville;];, who ferved under fir 
 John Chandos with thirty lances at his own expenfe 
 and charges, out of what he had gained at the bat- 
 tle of Auray, There were likewife the lord d'Au- 
 beterre, fir Garfes du Chatillon, fir Richard Cauf- 
 ton, fir Robert Cheney, fir Robert Briquet, fir John 
 Tyrrel, fir Aimery de Rochechouart, fir Gaillartde 
 la Moitre, fir William Clayton, Villebos le Bouteil- 
 ler et Panneticr}. All thefe, with their pennons, 
 
 were 
 
 * Barnes. See the arms in Ailimole. 
 + Barnes fays, he was lord Abergavenny, and fourth fon to 
 the earl of Warwick. 
 
 J Lord Ralph Neville. — Barnes, 
 
 § Villebos le Bouteiller et Pa?netier, Barnes calls him fir 
 
 William 
 
275 
 
 were under the command of fir John Chandos, and 
 might amount in the whole to ten thoufand cavalry, 
 who all crofTed the mountains^ as before related, on 
 the Monday. 
 
 On the Tuefday, paffed the prince of Wales and 
 don Pedro, accompanied by the king of Navarre, 
 wiio had returned to them, in order to ferve as 
 their guide. In this divifion of the prince were the 
 lord Louis de Harcourt,thevifcountdeChatelleraut, 
 the vifcount de Rochechouart, the lords de Parte- 
 nay and de Pinane, fir William Felton high fteward 
 of Acquitaine, fir Thomas Felton his brother, fir 
 EuPiace d'Ambreticourt, the high ftewards of Sain- 
 tonge, of la Rochelle, of Ouercy, of Limoufm, of 
 Agenois, of Bigorre, the lord de Cannaibouton and 
 ail the men of Poitou, fir Richard de Pontchardon, 
 fir Nele Loring, the earl of Angus, fir Thomas Ba- 
 nafter*, fir Louis de Merval, fir Aymon de Marnel, 
 the lord de Pierre-Buffiere, and four thoufand men 
 at arms at leaft : there were in the whole about ten 
 thoufand horfe. This Tuefday was bitter cold with 
 a Iharp wind, and fnow, fo that their march was 
 very painful : however, they pafled the mountains, 
 and took up their quarters in the valley of Pampe* 
 
 William Eoteler, or Butler, of Overfley in Warwickfhire; but 
 I fee no authority for it. Some of the other names I have 
 altered from Barnes, as being probable : but lord Berners, 
 who ought to have been better informed, keeps the very names 
 in P^oiffart, who, from being a foreigner, might eafily mif- 
 take them. 
 
 * Sir Thomas Banafter, — fifty.fixth knight of the Garter, 
 See his life in Anllis' Garter. 
 
 T a luna, 
 
276 
 
 luna. The king of Navarre, indeed, conduced the 
 prince of Wales and don Pedro to die city of Pam- 
 pel una to flipper, and entertained them handfomely, 
 as he was well enabled to do. 
 
 The king of Majorca croffed thefe mountains 
 on the Wednefday, accompanied by the earl of Ar- 
 magnac, the lord d'Albret his nephew, fir Bernard 
 d'Albret, lord de Gironde, the earl of Perigord, the 
 vifcount de Carmaing, the earl of Comminges, the 
 captal de Biich, fir Olivier de Cliflbn, the three 
 brothers de Pommiers, fir John, fir Elias, and fir 
 Edmund, die lords de Chaumont and de Muci- 
 dent, fir Robert KnoUes, the lords de I'Efparre, de 
 Condon, de Rofem, the fouldich de la Trane*, fir 
 Petiton de Courton, fir Aimery de Tarfe, the lord 
 de la Barde, fir Bertrand de Caude, the lord de 
 Pincornet, fir Thomas Winftanley, fir Perducas 
 d'Albretj the baitard de Brcteuil, Nandon de Bagc- 
 rant, Bertrand de la Salle, Ortingo, I>a Nuitandall 
 the other captains of the free companies, amounting 
 to full ten thoufand horfe. They had much better 
 weather than the preceding divifion which crofied 
 on the Tuefday. All diefe different bodies of men 
 at arms were encamped in die vale of Pampcluna, to 
 recruit their horfes. They remained in the country 
 about Pampeluna (where they found abundance of 
 provifion, fuch as meat, bread, wine, and all forts of 
 food for themfclves and horfes) until the following 
 Sunday. 
 
 * Souldich de la Trane. See Anftis, 
 
 I muft 
 
Til 
 
 I muft fay, that all thefe companies did not pay 
 the demands which were made upon them ; nor 
 could they abftain from pillaging as heretofore ; 
 they alfo caufed great difturbances in the country 
 round Pampeluna, as well as on their march. The 
 king of Navarre was much vexed at this; but bet- 
 ter himfclf he could not : he repented more than 
 once that he had ever confented to the palfage of the 
 prince aiid his army through his dominions, or that 
 he had left unguarded the defiles ; for there was 
 more lofs than profit by what he had done. This, 
 however, was not the time to fhew what his thoughts 
 were; for he was not then matter of his own country. 
 He daily received great complaints from his fubjefts 
 on this head, which, though the circumftance griev- 
 ed him much, he could not remedy. Neverthelefs, 
 he entreated the men at arms of the prince, by 
 means of fome of his principal barons, who had 
 ferved longeft with them in Normandy and in other 
 places in France, that they would refrain from 
 robbing the country in the manner they were doing, 
 which they promifed and engaged to do. 
 
 King Henry was duly informed of the march of 
 the prince of Wales through Navarre, for he had 
 his meffengers and fpies conftantly upon the look- 
 out. He was therefore increafing his forces as 
 much as poffible by earnefl and kind entreaties to 
 the knights of Caflille (of which he had affumcd the 
 title of king), in order to have a fufficient army to 
 refill the attack. He alfo impatiently expeded the 
 arrival of fir Bertrand du Guefclin, with great rein- 
 {bf ceinent$ from France. He had befides iffued 
 
 T 3 fpecial 
 
27S 
 
 fpeclal orders throughout the kingdom, to all hh 
 vaflals, under pain of death, that each, according tO' 
 his rank, fliould immediately come to his afliftance, 
 and to defend the reahu. This king Henry was 
 much beloved, as the Caftiliians had exerted them- 
 fehes ill aiding him to drive don Pedro out of the 
 kingdom : they therefore willingly obeyed his fum- 
 mons, and flocked in great numbers every day to 
 the rendezvous he had appointed at St. Domingo 
 de la Cal^ada. They amounted in all to upwards 
 of fixty thoufand, as well horfe as foot, ready to a6l 
 for him, and refolved to live or die for his fervice. 
 
 Upon king Henry having fure intelligence that 
 the prince of Wales, with his whole army had 
 paffed the ftraits of Roncefvalles, and was in the 
 kingdom of Navarre, whence he was about to ad- 
 vance towards him, he knew that a battle muft be 
 the confequence. This feemed to give him great 
 pleafure, and he faid aloud; ' The Prince of Wales 
 is a valiant and worthy knight; and in order that he 
 may know I am waiting for him, to defend my 
 right, I will write him a part of my mind.' He then 
 called for a fecretary, who advancing into his pre- 
 fence, ' Write,' faid king Henry to him, ' a letter 
 in fuch terms as thefe ; 
 
 ' To the high, puiffant and honorable lord, the 
 prince of Wales and of Acquitaine. 
 
 ' My lord, — We have been informed, that you 
 have with an army pafTed the mountains, and have 
 entered into treaties and alliances with our enemy, 
 to make war upon, and to harafs us : all this has 
 <?aufed in us much aflonifhment ; for we have not 
 
 ^ ' done 
 
^79 
 
 done any thing, nor ever had the fmalleft hoftile in- 
 tentions againft you, that flioLild juftify your ad- 
 vancing hitherward with a large army, to deprive us 
 of the fmall inheritance which it has pleafed God to 
 give us. But as you are the nioft powerful and the 
 moft fortunate prince of the age, we flatter our- 
 felves and hope that you glorify yourfelf in it. 
 Since we have received certain intelligence that you 
 feek us in order to offer us batde, if you will have 
 the goodnefs to inform us by what road your inten- 
 tions are to enter Caftille, we v;ill advance to meet 
 you, in order to guard and defend our realm.— 
 Given,' &c. 
 
 When this letter was written, king Henry had it 
 fealed, and calling his own herald to him, faid; ' Go 
 thou as faft as podible, by the neareft road to the 
 prince of Wales, and give him from me this letter.* 
 The herald replied, ' Willingly, my lord.' He left 
 the king, and, taking the road to Navarre, came up 
 to the prince; when, bending on his knee, he deli- 
 vered to him the letter from king Henry. The prince 
 made the herald rife, and taking the letter, opened it, 
 and read it twice over, the better to under (tand it. 
 When he had read, and confidered a little its con- 
 tents, he ordered part of his council to be fummon- 
 ed, telling the herald to quit the place where the 
 council was to be held. 
 
 When the council was affembled, he read again 
 
 the letter, and explained it to them word for word : 
 
 after which, he afked their advice upon it. Whilft 
 
 they were thinking what advice to give, the prince, 
 
 ' .faid} ' This baftard is a gallant knight, and of good 
 
 T 4 prowefsj, 
 
2S0 
 
 prowefs; for he muft be a valiant gentleman to 
 Vi'ite me fuch a letter.' The prince and his coun-. 
 cil were a confiderable time together, for they could 
 not agree as to what anfwer they Ihould fend. They 
 fdid to the herald ; ^ My friend, you cannot yet fet 
 out on your return. When it fliall fuit my lord the 
 prince, he will write back by you,; and by no one 
 elfe : you will, therefore, tarry with us until you 
 have ypur anfwer, for the prince wiflies it to be fo.' 
 The herald anfwered, ' Pleafe God, it fliall be as 
 you fay.' He remained, therefore, with them quite 
 Ql his eafe. 
 
 The evening of the fame day that the herald ha4 
 brought this letter, fir William Felton came to the 
 prince, and aflced him a fayor. The prince, who was 
 ignorant what he wanted, demanded what favor 
 he had to requeft : ' My lord,' replied fir William, 
 * 1 entreat permiflion to quit the army, and make 
 an excurfion into the enemy's country ; for I have 
 many knights and fquires under my copimand, as 
 good men as myfelf, that are anxious to do fome- 
 thing M'orthy of notice. I promife you, if you will 
 permit us to ride forward, we v\(ill fee what appear- 
 ance the enemy makes, and where their quarters 
 are.' The prince immediately granted his requeft, 
 as he was plcafed with him for having made it. 
 
 Sir William Felton left the prince's arrny, as the 
 leader of this expedition, accompanied by the fol- 
 lowing knights : fir Thomas Felton his brother, fir 
 Thomas Hufford, fir Robert Knolles, fir Gaillard 
 Viguier, fir Ralph Haftings, the earl of Angus, and 
 feveral other knights and fquires. They were in all 
 
 one 
 
?81 
 
 one hundred and fixty lances, well mounted, and 
 three hundred archers. There were alfo widi him, 
 fir Hugh StafFord, fir Richard Caullon and fir 
 Simon Burley, who are not men to be forgotten. 
 
 This body rode on through the kingdom of 
 Navarre, under the direftion of guides, who con- 
 duced them to the river Ebro, which, at Logrono, 
 is very deep and rapi'd. They, however, advanced 
 beyond it, and took up their quarters at a village 
 called Mavarete: there they halted, in order to be 
 the better informed where king Henry was, and 
 to learn the ftate pf his army. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXVI. 
 I 
 
 •THE KING OK NAVARRE IS MADE PRISONER BY SIR 
 OLIVIER DE MAUNY, A BRETON AND PARTISAN OF 
 
 KING HENRY. THE PRINCE OF WALES ADVANCES 
 
 TO SALVATIERRA, IN SPAIN. SIR WILLIAM 
 
 FELTON SKIRMISHES WITH THE ENEMY NEAR THE 
 
 QUARTERS OF THE KING OF SPAIN. THE TWO 
 
 ARMIES ADVANCE TOWARDS EACH OTHER. 
 
 'VU'HILST all thefe things were going on, the 
 knights remained at Navarete, and the prince 
 and his army in the country round Pampeluna. 
 The king of Navarre, in riding from one town to 
 another on the fide where the French lay, was made 
 prifoner by fir Olivier de Mauny. The prince and 
 all the Englifii were much aftoniflied at it: fome in 
 the army thought it might have been done defign- 
 
 edly, 
 
282 
 
 edly, In order to prevent his accompanying the 
 prince farther in this expedition, as he was uncer- 
 tain what would be the ifTue of the bufinefs between 
 king Henry and don Pedro *. 
 
 AUhough there was no one who was not clear as 
 to the caufe of this capture, the lady his queen was 
 much alarmed and difpirited at it. She caft herfelf at 
 the feet of the prince, exclaiming, ' for God's mercy, 
 my dear lord, have the goodnefs to inquire about 
 the king my lord, who has been treacheroufly made 
 prifoner by fome means unknown to us; and exert 
 youifelf in fuch a manner that, through pity to us 
 and the love of God, we may have him back again/ 
 The prince courteoufly replied as follows : ' Cer- 
 tainly, fair lady and coufin, this capture is highly 
 difplcafmg to us; and wG.will provide fhortly a 
 remedy for it. I beg, therefore, you will not be 
 cafl down, but take comfort ; for when once this 
 expedition is over, he fhall be delivered: this I 
 fait! fully promife, for I will attend to nothing elfe : 
 immediately on our return, you fhall have him re- 
 flored to you.' 
 
 The queen of Navarre then departed. But one 
 of her noble knights, called don Martin de la Carra, 
 undertook to conduct the prince through the king- 
 dom of Navarre, and to procure guides for the 
 army; otherwife they would not have been able to 
 
 * This was a trick of the king of Navarre, thinking to 
 exculpate himfelf for having fufFered the prince of Wales to 
 pafs through his ftrong country ; for he had, before his lift 
 treaty with the prince, entered into one of a contrary ten- 
 dency v/ith the king of Arragon and king Henry» 
 
 have 
 
have found the roaclsj or the eafiefl palTes through 
 the mountains. 
 
 The prince broke up his encampment, and began 
 his march. They came to a place called Echar- 
 riaranas, where they met with many difficulties; for 
 it was a narrow pafs, with very bad roads. In 
 addition to this, there was great fcarcity of pro- 
 vifion; for they found nothing on this road until 
 they arrived at Saivatierra, which is a very good 
 town, fituated in a fertile and rich country accord- 
 ing to the appearance of the adjoining lands*. This 
 town of Saivatierra is on the confines of Navarre, 
 on the road to Spain, and was attached to king 
 Henry. 
 
 The whole army fpread itfelf over the country. 
 The free companies advanced eagerly towards Sai- 
 vatierra, in hopes to take it by affault and plunder 
 it : they much wifiicd to do fo: for they had learnt 
 there were great riches collc6led, which had been 
 brought thither from all the neighbourhood, con- 
 fiding in the ftrengthof its caftle. The inhabitants 
 of Saivatierra, however, were too wife to wait for 
 this danger : they well knew they could not with- 
 ftand the great army of the prince, if he fliould 
 think proper to lead it againft them ; they came 
 and furrendered themfelves to don Pedro, craving 
 his pardon, and prefenting to him the keys of their 
 town. By the advice of the prince, don Pedro for- 
 
 * According to the map of Spain by Jaillot, 1781, Sul. 
 ratierra is in the divifion of Guipifcoa, in the principality of 
 Bifca/, 
 
 gave 
 
284 
 
 crave thcrn, or he would have fared worfe, for he 
 wifhed to deftroy them: however, diey were all 
 pardoned; and die prince, don Pedro, the king 
 of Majorca and the duke of Lancafter entered the 
 town, where they took up their quarters : the earl 
 of Armagnac and the reft lodged themfelves in the 
 villages round about. 
 
 We will for a while leave the prince, to fpeak of 
 that advanced corps which was in Navarete. The 
 before-named knights, who had remained there, 
 were very defirous of diftinguifliing themfelves : for 
 they had advanced five days march before their main 
 army. They made frequent excurfions from Na- 
 varete to the country of their enemies, to find out 
 where they lay, and what they were doing. King 
 Henry was encamped in the open plain, with his 
 whole armv. He was defirous of hearing fome in- 
 tellic'ence of the prince, and much furprifed that his 
 herald did not return. 
 
 His people made alfo daily excurfions, to learn 
 fomething of the Englifh, and even advanced near 
 to Navarete ; fo that don Tello, brother to king 
 Henry, was informed there was an enemy's garrifon 
 in that town; which made him refolve to go thither 
 with a greater force, in a more regular manner, to. 
 fee if what he had heard were true. 
 
 But before this was done, it happened that the 
 Englifh knights made, one evening, fo long ar^ 
 excurfion, that they fell in with king Henry's 
 quarters. A grand fkirmifh was the confequence, 
 which threw the whole army into a great alarm. 
 They fiew fome, and made feveral prifoners : in par. 
 
 ti.Culari 
 
2S5 
 
 ticular, the knight who commanded the guard was 
 taken, without lofs to thcmfelves, and carried clear 
 off. On the morrow, they fent a herald to the 
 prince, who was at Salviaterra, to inform him what 
 they had difcovered. They told him the fituation 
 the enemy had chofen, and what numbers they 
 confifted of; for they had obtained every informa- 
 tion from their prifoncrs. The prince was de- 
 lighted with this intelligence, and with the good 
 fuccefs of his knights. 
 
 King Henry was much enraged that theEnglifii 
 who were quartered ?.t Navarete fliould thus alarm 
 his army, and faid that he would advance towards 
 them. He therefore decamped with all his army, 
 defigncd to fix his quarters in the plains near Vit« 
 toria : lie crolfed the river * which runs near Na- 
 varete, in order to march to that country. 
 
 Sir William Felton, as foon as he heard that don 
 Henry had pafied the river, and was on his march 
 towards the prince, held a council of all the knights 
 who were with him. They determined to quit their 
 prefent quarters, and take the field, in order to be 
 fatisfied of the truth in regard to the Spaniards. 
 They therefore marched from Navarete, fending in- 
 
 * I imagine this muft be the Ebro ; for by the map, there 
 is no river that runs near Navarete which it was neceflary for 
 don Henry to crofs in his march from St. Domingo de la CaU 
 cada, where he was encamped, to Vittoria in Bifcay. 
 
 Barnes fays, don Henry advanced as far as St. Miguel to 
 meet the Englifh ; but it is not fo in my copies, nor can I find 
 St. Miguel in my maps. It feems, however, probable, as Vit- 
 toria was far diliant, and out of the line to Navarete. 
 
 formation 
 
286 
 
 foriration to the prince, that king Henry wa<; ad- 
 vancing towards him in great force, and that, from 
 appearances, he feemed dcfirous to meet him. 
 
 When the prince received the news at Salvatierra, 
 ■where he flill was, that king Henry had croffcd the 
 river, and was on his march to meet him, he was 
 right glad, and faid aloud to thofe about him ; ' By 
 my faith, this baftard is a bold and gallant knight, 
 and fiicws great valour and enterprize in thus 
 coming to feek us. Since he is as eager to find us 
 as we are defirous of meeting him, it is moft probable 
 it will fo happen, and a combat enfue. Our belt 
 vay, therefore, will be to decamp hence imme- 
 diately, in order to gain poffeffion of Vittoria be* 
 fore our enemies.' 
 
 The prince and his army marched from Salvatierra 
 very early the following morning, and halted at 
 Vittoria, where he found fir William Felton and his 
 party, whom he gracioufly entertained, afl<.ing them 
 different queftions. Whilft they were thus dif- 
 courfing, the fcouts brought news that they had fcen 
 the fcouts of the enemy, and were certain that 
 king Henry and his whole army were not far dif- 
 tant, from the fignals they had obferved, and from 
 the demeanour of the Spaniards. 
 
 The prince, on hearing this, ordered the trumpets 
 to found an alarum through the army; which being 
 heard, every man made for his poft: they were ail 
 inflantly drawn up in regular order of battle: for 
 each man had been informed what he was to do 
 before he had left Salvatierra, fo that every man 
 made direftly for his banner. It was a noble fight 
 
 to 
 
287 
 
 to fee fo great a number of banners and pcnnonsj 
 ornamented with different arms. 
 
 The van-guard was excellently well drawn up, 
 under the command of the duke of Lancafter. With 
 him were, fir John Chandos, conflabic of Acqui- 
 taine, with a great retinue, and in fine order. Many 
 received the order of knighthood. The duke of 
 Lancafler, in the van-guard, knighted a^s many as 
 twelve : among whom were, fir Ralph Camois, fir 
 Walter Loring, and fir Thomas Danvery. Sir John 
 Chandos advanced fome good fquires to that honor 
 in his divifion; fuch as M. Cotton, M. Clifton, 
 M. Prior, William Firmeton, Aimery de Roche- 
 chouart, Girard de la Motte and Robert Briquet. 
 
 The prince made alfo feveral knights : firfl, don 
 Pedro king of Spain, fir Thomas Holland, the fon 
 of the princefs his lady, fir Philip and fir Denis 
 Courtenay, fir John Covet, fir Nicholas Bond, and 
 many more. The other lords beflowcd fimilar 
 honors in their battalions; fo that there were made 
 upwards of three hundred knights, who remained 
 drawn up the whole day, waiting for their enemies, 
 to give them batde, if they had advanced to them ; 
 but they did not come nearer than where the fcouts 
 were. 
 
 King Henry was expefting great reinforcements 
 from Arragon ; and he waited alfo for fir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin, who was coming to his affiflance with 
 upwards of four thoufand combatants; for he was 
 not defirous of engaging before their arrival. The 
 prince was not difpleafed at this delay; for his rear- 
 divifions, which confifted of more than fix thoufand 
 
 men. 
 
288 
 
 men, were above feven country leagues beliin<!. 
 The prince was, during the whole time he lay be- 
 fore Vittoria, in the greateft anguifh of mind at 
 their being fo long in coming up to him. Never- 
 thelefs, had the Spaniards thought proper to ad- 
 vance nearer them with the intent of offering battle, 
 the prince without waiting for this divifion would 
 not have refufed the combat. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXVII. 
 
 tH£ ARRIVAL OF SIR BERTRAND DU CUESCLIM, TO 
 
 THE AID OF KING HENRY. DON TELLO ATTACKS 
 
 THE ADVANCED GUARD OF THE PRINCE OF 
 
 WALES, DEFEATS SIR WILLIAM FELTON AND 
 
 HIS BODY OF MEN. 
 
 '\\7'HEN" evening came, the two marfiials, fir 
 Guifcardd'Angle and fir Stephen Coffingtonj 
 ordered every man to retire to his quarters ; but, 
 on the trumpets founding on the morrow morning, 
 they were all to take the field in the fame pafition 
 they had done before. Every one obeyed thefe 
 orders, except fir William Felton and his company, 
 whom I have before mentioned. They left the 
 prince that fame evening, and advanced farther into 
 the country, to learn the ftate of the enemy : they 
 took up their quarters about two leagues diftant 
 from their army. 
 
 Don Tello happening this very evening to be in 
 his brother king Henry's tent, converfing on various 
 topicsj faid to the king; ' Sire, you know that our 
 
 enemies 
 
289 
 
 enemies are encamped very near us, and yet none 
 of our men think of beating up their quarters. I 
 therefore entreat you will give me permiflion to 
 make an excurfion towards them to-morrow morn- 
 ing, with a detached body of the army, who are 
 ■well inclined: I promife you to advance fofar that 
 we will bring you back certain news of them, and 
 what they are about.' King Henry, dbferving the 
 eagernefs of his brother, wifhed not to baulk him^ 
 and gave him his confent dire6tly. 
 
 At this fame hour, fir Bertrand du Guefclin, 
 with upwards of four thoufand fighting men, arrived 
 at the army, from France and Arragon. The king 
 was much rejoiced at this : he received them in the 
 moft honorable and gracious manner, as was be- 
 coming him to do. 
 
 Don Tello was anxious not to let his plan fleep, 
 but immediately mentioned it to feveral of his 
 friends who he knew would join him. He would 
 have done the fame to fir Bertrand du Guefclin, 
 fir Arnold d'Andreghen, the begue de Villaines 
 and the vifcount de Roquebertin, if he had dared ; 
 but, as they were juft arrived, he did not : befides, 
 king Henry had forbidden him to fpeak to them 
 on this fubjeft. Don Tello, therefore, left them 
 alone. Neverthelefs he had with him fome French 
 and Arragonian knights, who had been with the 
 army the whole feafon : he had exerted himfelf fo 
 much that, in the whole, he had colle6led a body of 
 more than fix thoufand horfemen, well mounted 
 and accoutred. His brother, don Sancho, accom- 
 panied him. 
 
 Vol. III. U At 
 
290 
 
 At the lirft break of day, they were all ready 
 mounted. They left the army, advancing in good 
 order towards the quarters of the Englifh. About 
 fun-rife, they met, in a valley, part of fir Hugh 
 Calverley's company, with his baggage, who had 
 flept about a league diflant from the main army, 
 and alfo fir Hugh himfelf. When the Spaniards 
 and French perceived them, they immediately at- 
 tacked and defeated them. The greater part were 
 fiain, and the baggage feized: but fir Hugh, who 
 was behind, had taken another road : he was, how- 
 ever, feen, purfued, and forced to fly with all his 
 attendants, as faft as they could, to the arm)'»of the 
 duke of Lancafler. 
 
 The Spaniards, who were upwards of fix thou- 
 fand in one body, rode on, and made a violent 
 affault upon the outfkirts of the quarters of the 
 van-guard, under the command of the duke of 
 Lancafter. They began to Ihout, ' Caftille!' with 
 loud cries, to overthrow tents, huts and every thing 
 that came in their way, killing and wounding all 
 that oppofed them, fo that when the van-guard 
 heard this noife, the leaders as well as men were 
 alarmed, and hallened to arm themfelves and draw 
 up before the lodgings of the duke of Lancafter, 
 who was already armed, with his banner flying in 
 front. The Endifli and Gafcons hurried to the 
 field, each lord to his banner or pennon, according 
 to the arrangements made at Salvatierra, fuppofing 
 they were inftantly to have a general engagement. 
 
 The duke of Lancafter marched ftraight for a 
 fmall hill; he was followed by fir John Chandos, the 
 
 two 
 
251 
 
 two mai-nials, and feveral other knights, who drew 
 themfelves up in order of battle. After a fhort time, 
 the prince and don Pedro came thither, and, as they 
 advanced, formed themfelves in like manner. 
 
 Don Tello and his brother were alfo very defirous 
 of gaining this eminence, it being a favorable po- 
 fition; but they were difappointed in their wilhes, 
 as you have juft heard. When, therefore, they faw 
 that they could not attempt it, without great rifk, 
 for the whole Englifh army was in motion, they 
 formed themfelves into a compa6l body, to return 
 to their own army, and thus retreated, marching in 
 handfome array, and hoping to have fome fortunate 
 adventiire ere they got home. Before they had re- 
 tired, feveral gallant aftions were performed; for 
 fome of the Englifli and Gafcons had quitted their 
 rahks, to tilt with thefe Spaniards, many of whom 
 they had unhorfed; but the main body of the 
 Englifli army remained upon the inountain, ex- 
 pefting a general engagement. 
 
 When the Spaniards, in their retreat from the 
 prince's army, were approaching their own, they 
 met the detached party of the Englifli under the 
 command of fir William Felton and his brother, fir 
 Hugh Haftings, fir Richard Caullon, the earl of 
 Angus and many more, who might amount in the 
 whole to two hundred knights and fquires, as well 
 Gafcons as Englifli. They immediately charged 
 them in a wide valley, fliouting out, ' Caftille, for 
 king Henry !' 
 
 The above-named knights, perceiving they had 
 
 but little chance of fuccefs againft fuch fuperior 
 
 U 2 numbers 
 
292 
 
 numbers as the Spaniards were, comforted them^ 
 lelves the befl: rhey could, and, advancing into the 
 plain, took poffefJion of a fmall eminence, where 
 they drew up in order of battle. The Spaniards 
 marched towards them, and halted to confider what 
 would be the moft advantageous manner of fighting 
 them. 
 
 Sir William Felton that day performed a moft 
 brilliant aftion : defcending the hill full gallop, 
 with his lance in its reft, he dafhed into themidft of 
 the Spaniards, when meeting a Spanifli knight, he 
 drove his fpear with fuch force, it pafled through 
 his armour, body and all, and threw him dead on 
 the ground. 
 
 Sir William was furrounded on all fides; but he 
 fought as manfully as any knight could have done, 
 and did them much mifchief before they were able 
 to bring him down. His brother and the other 
 knicrhts were witneftes, from the eminence, of his 
 valour, and the gallant a6ls he was doing, as well 
 as the peiil he was in; but it was out of their 
 power to aflift him, without running every rifli 
 themfelv^es. They remained, therefore, fteadily 
 upon the mountain in order of battle. The knight 
 fought as long as his ftrength lafted, but in the 
 end was unfortunately flain. 
 
 The French and Spaniards, after this, began to 
 attack the Englifh, and to endeavour to take them 
 that had drawn themfelves up on the hill. That 
 day, many good aftions were done. At one time, 
 they made a general attack, and defcended in a 
 body upon their enemies; and then, wheeling fud- 
 
 denly 
 
293- 
 
 denly about, they wifely regained their mountain, 
 where they remained until high noon. Had the 
 prince known their dangerous lituation, he would 
 have relieved them ; but he was quite ignorant of 
 it, They were therefore obliged to wait the iffue 
 of this bufinefs in the befl way they could. 
 
 When the combat had been thus carried on, ad- 
 vancing and retreating, until the hour I have men- 
 tioned, don Tello, tired at their holding out fo long, 
 cried angrily aloud ; ' My lords, (hall we remain 
 here all the day, with this handful of men ? By 
 St. Jago, we ought to have fwallowed them up be- 
 fore this time. Forward ! forward ! let us attack 
 them in a better and a more vigorous manner than 
 before. One cannot gain any thing without taking 
 fome pains.' 
 
 Upon hearing this, the Spaniards and French ad- 
 vanced courageoufly, mounted the hill, with their 
 fpears prefented before them, in fuch clofe order 
 and in fuch numbers, that the Englilh could neither 
 break nor force through them. Many valorous 
 deeds were done on this mountain ; for the Englifh 
 and Gafcons defended themfel-ves moll valiandy, 
 but, from the moment the Spaniards had gained the 
 hill, they could not make any long lehltance. 
 They were all taken or flain ; and not one of the 
 knights efcaped : only a few boys faved themfelves 
 by the fleetnefs of their horfes, who returned to 
 the army of the prince, which had all that day con- 
 tinued drawn up in battle array, in the expectation 
 pf an engagement, 
 
 U 3 CHAP. 
 
294 
 
 CHAP, ccxxxyiii. 
 
 SIR. ARNOLD d'aNDREGHEN GIVES GOOD ADVICE 
 
 TO KING HENRY OF CASTILLE. THE PRINXE OF 
 
 WALES SENDS A TARDY ANSWER TO THE KINg's 
 LETTER. 
 
 A FTER having conquered the before-named 
 
 knights, don Tello and don Sancho returned 
 
 with their detachment in great joy to their army, 
 
 and went in the evening to the quarters of king 
 
 'Henry. 
 
 The two brothers who had been in this expedition 
 made a prefent to the king of their prifoners, and 
 related to him, in the prefence of fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin, fir Arnold d'Andreghen and others, how 
 the day had paffed, and what road they had taken : 
 how they had niH fallen in with the people of fir 
 Hugh Calverley, whom they had flain or chaced 
 even to the army of the EngUih : that they had 
 beaten up the quarters of the duke of Lancafter, 
 alarmed the whole army, and done much mifchief : 
 that upon their retreat they had met tliofe knights, 
 whom they had taken prifoners. 
 
 Hing Henry, who had iiftened to this account with 
 great pride, replied moft gracioufiy to his brother, 
 don 1. ello, and faid; ' Amiable brother, well have 
 you perfoimed your promife: I will reward you 
 handfcmely for it ; and I feel, that all the reft of 
 our enemies mult ultimately come to this pafs.' 
 
 Sir Arnold d"Andreghen, on this, ftepped forth 
 and faid; ' Sire, fire, with your permiffion; I wifh 
 
 not 
 
^5 
 
 not to doubt your majefly's words, but to make ah 
 amendment by informing you, that when you (hail 
 meet the prince of Wales in battle, you will find 
 men at arms fuch as they ought to be; for with 
 him is the flower of chivalry of the whole world, 
 and hardy and tough combatants : thofe who, in 
 truth, would rather die on the fpot than think of 
 flying. It therefore behoves you to weigh maturely 
 this point, before you determine; and, if you will 
 believe what I am going to fay, you may take them 
 all, without ftriking a llroke. You have only to 
 guard the pafTes and defiles, fo that no provifioii 
 can be brought them? when famine will do the 
 bufinefs for you ; they muft then return back to 
 their own country in diforder and fpiritlefs, fo that 
 you may eafily gain your object, and defeat them 
 without ftriking a blow.' 
 
 King Henry anfwered : ' By the foul of my fa- 
 ther, marflial, I haye fuch a deiire to fee this prince, 
 and to try my ftrength with him, that we will never 
 part without a battle. Thank God, I have enow of 
 men to affift me. In the firft place, there are al- 
 ready in our army feven thoufand men at arms, 
 each mounted on a good courfer, and fo well co- 
 vered with armour that they fear not the arrows of 
 the archer. Iri addition, I have twenty thoufand 
 more, mounted on genets and armed from head to 
 foot. I have befides forty thoufand common fol- 
 diers, with lances, darts and fliields, who will do 
 much fervice, for they have all fworn they will 
 rather die than leave me ; fo that, my lord marfhal, 
 I ought not to be afraid, but rather place great con- 
 U 4 lidence 
 
295 
 
 fidence in the power of God and of my men.* 
 Thus ended this converfation : wine and fpices were 
 brought in by feme knights, f which the king and 
 the lords prefent partook; and then they all retired 
 to their quarters. 
 
 The knights and fquires who had that day been 
 made prifoners, gave their oaths as fuch, and were 
 put under the care of different knights. 
 
 We will return to the prince, tc fpeak of his ar- 
 rangements. He and the duke of Lancafter had re- 
 mained in the pofition they had taken in the morn- 
 ing, until about vefpers, when they were informed 
 that their advanced detachment had been all taken 
 or killed; at which they were much vexed, but they 
 could not then amend it. They retired to their quar- 
 ters, where they remained that night. 
 
 On the morrow morning, they called a council, 
 and determined to leave their prefent pofition, to ad- 
 vance more into the country. They decamped, and 
 took up their quarters nearer to Vittoria, marching 
 full armed, as if immediately to engage ; for they 
 had heard that king Henry and his bi others, with 
 their army, were not far diftant : however they made 
 no advances to meet them. 
 
 You muft know, the prince and his brother were 
 in great want of provifion for themfelves and their 
 horfes, as they had entered a very barren country, 
 "whilfl king Henry and his army enjoyed a quite 
 contrary fituation. A loaf of bread, and of no 
 great fize, was fold in the prince's army for a florin; 
 and many were very eager to pay this price when- 
 ever they were able to get it. The weather was 
 
 alfo 
 
297 
 
 aifo extremely bad, with high wind, rain and fnow ; 
 and in this miferable diftrefling plight they remain- 
 ed for fix days. 
 
 When the prince and his lords found the Spa- 
 niards make no advances to offer them battle, and 
 that their dillrefs was great where they were, they 
 held a council, and refolved to feek elfewhere for a 
 paifage over the Ebro. They therefore decamped, 
 and took the road towards Navarete, through a 
 country called la Guardia, which haying paffed, 
 they ciame to a towri called Viana. There the 
 prince, the duke of Lancafter, the earl of Armag- 
 pac and the other lords, halted two days, to refrelh 
 themfelves. They then croffed the river which di- 
 vides Caftille from Navarre, at the bridge of Lo- 
 grono, in the midft of gardens and olive trees. 
 They found there a richer country than that which 
 they had left; but even here they were much dif- 
 treffed for want of proviiion. 
 
 When king Henry was told that the prince and 
 his army had croffed the Ebro at the bridge of Lo- 
 grono, he left St. Miguel, where he had kept his 
 quarters for a long time, advanced to Najera upon 
 the fame river, and there encamped. News was 
 foon brought to the prince of king Henry's ap- 
 proach. This gave him great joy ; and he faid 
 aloud; 'By St. George, this baftard proves himfelf 
 a valiant knight, from the defire he fhews to meet 
 us in battle. We fhall certainly foon fee each other; 
 for we cannot fail doinsj fo much longer.' 
 
 He then fummoned his brother, the duke of 
 Lancafter, and fome other barons of his council 
 
 who 
 
298 
 
 who were there, and wrote, with their advice, an 
 anfwer to the letter which king Henry had fent to 
 him, in the following terms : 
 
 ' Edward, by the grace of God, prince of 
 Wales and of Acquitaine, to the renowned Henry 
 earl of Traftamare, who at this prefent time calls 
 himfelf king of Caftille. 
 
 ' Whereas you have fent to us a letter by your 
 herald, in which, among other things, mention is 
 made of your defire to know why we have admitted 
 to our friendfhip your enemy, our coufin the king 
 don Pedro, and upon what pretext we are carrying 
 on a war againft you, and have entered Caftille 
 with a large army : in anfwer to this, we inform 
 you, that it is to maintain jufticeandin fupport of 
 reafon, as it behoveth all kings to do, and alfo to 
 preferve the firm alliances made by our lord the 
 king of England, with the king don Pedro, in for- 
 mer times. 
 
 ' But as you are much renowned among all 
 good knights, we would wifh, if it were pofTible, 
 to make up thefe differences between you both ; 
 and we would ufe fuch earneft entreaties with 
 our coufin, the king don Pedro, that you Ihould. 
 have a large portion of the kingdom of Caf- 
 tille, but you mult give up all pretenfions to 
 the crown of that realm, as well as to its inheri- 
 tance. Confider well this propolition ; and know 
 further, that we fhall enter the kingdom of Caftille 
 by whatever place fliall be moft agreeable to us.— 
 Written at Logrono, the 30th day of March 1367.* 
 
 When this letter was finifhed, folded up and 
 
 fealed. 
 
299 
 
 fealed, it was given to the herald who had brought 
 king Henry's, and who had waited for an anfwer 
 for three weeks. He took his leave of the prince 
 and the other lords, and rode on until he came to 
 Navarete, near to which place the king was en- 
 camped upon the heath. He made fur the king's 
 tent, followed by the principal lords of the army, 
 who, having heard of the return of the herald, 
 were anxious to know what news he had brought. 
 
 The herald, on his knees, prefented the king the 
 letter which the prince had fent by him. 1 he king 
 took and opened it, calling fir Bertrand de Guef- 
 clin, and fome of the lords of his council, to its pe- 
 rufal. When the letter had been read and well con- 
 fidered, fir Bertrand du Guefclin thus fpoke to 
 king Henry : ' Sire, be afTured that very- fliortly you 
 muft have a battle : from what I know of the 
 prince, I am convinced that it muft be fo. I there- 
 fore advife you to look well to this bufinefs, to order 
 and arrange your men in the beft poffible manner.' 
 
 ' Sir Bertrand,' replied king Henry, ' in God's 
 name fo it fnall be. 1 have no dread of the prince's 
 army: for I have three thoufand barbed horfes, 
 which will be on our two wings, feven thoufand 
 warders, and upwards of twenty thoufand men at 
 arms, the beft that can be found in all Caftiile, Ga- 
 licia, Portugal, Cordova and Sicily, befides ten 
 thoufand crofs-bows, and full forty thoufand foot, 
 armed with lances, darts, fwords and all forts of 
 weapons, who have fworn to die rather than defert 
 me. I truft therefore, fir Bertrand, that through 
 God's grace, in whom I put my truft, we fhall have 
 
 the 
 
300 
 
 the bell of it, as well as from the juftice of our 
 right in this affair. I therefore entreat you all to 
 be of good courage.' 
 
 Thus the king and fir Bertrand converfed toge- 
 ther, as v/ell as on different fubjects, laying afide all 
 thoughts of the letter which the prince had fent, for 
 king Henry was determined to have a battle. Don 
 Tello and don Sancho began to draw up their men 
 in proper order, and to bufy themfelves in preparing 
 every thing: they were much efteemed, for the 
 fuccefs of their late expedition. But we muff now 
 return to the prince, and fhew how he was 
 going on. 
 
 CHAP. CCXXXIX. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF NAVARETE, WHICH THE PRINCE 
 OF WALES, SUPPORTING THE PART OF KING 
 DON PEDRO AGAINST HIS BROTHER THE 
 
 BASTARD, GAINS. 9IR BERTRAND DU GUES- 
 
 CLIN IS MADE PRISONER, AND KING HENRY 
 FORCED TO FLY, AFTER HAVING FOUGHT MOST 
 VALIANTLY. 
 
 C\N Friday the 2d of April, the prince decamped 
 from Logrono, where he and all his army had 
 halted. He marched in order of battle, as if an 
 engagement were on the point of commencing; 
 for he knew that king Henry was not far diftant. 
 After having marched about two leagues, he ar- 
 rived before the town of Navarete, about nine 
 o'clock^ where he took up his quarters. As foon 
 
 as 
 
301 
 
 as they had difmounted, the prince fent his fcouts, 
 to obferve the countenance of the enemy and where 
 they lay. Thefe fcouts, being mounted on the beft 
 of horfes, left the army, and advanced until they 
 faw the whole of the Spanifh force encamped upon 
 the heaths beyond Navarete : they inftantly inform- 
 ed the prince of this, who was very glad to hear it. 
 Towards evening, he gave out fecret orders for the 
 army to hold itfelfin readinefs at the firfl; found of 
 his trumpet ; that at the fecond found it fhould 
 arm, and on the third mount, and immediately fol- 
 low the banners of the marflials and the pennon of 
 St. George; and that no one, under pain of death, 
 jfhould break his rank, without being ordered fo 
 to do. 
 
 King Henry had done exaQly as the prince of 
 Wales, and had fent out his fcouts on this Friday 
 evening, to learn the condition of the prince's army, 
 what appearance they made, and where they were 
 quartered. Thofe fent brought back true intelli- 
 gence : upon hearing it, the king and fir Bertrand 
 held a confultation on the fubjecl. 
 
 They made their men fup and go to bed very 
 early, that they might be more frefh and hearty by 
 midnight, when they were commanded to make 
 themfelves ready, arm, and take the field in battle- 
 array; for they well knew that a battle muft enfue 
 on the morrow. The Spaniards, therefore, made 
 themfelves merry, for they had wherewithal largely 
 to do fo : but the Englifh were in the greateft 
 want of provifion ; for which reafonj they were 
 anxious lo fight. 
 
 The 
 
302 
 
 The trumpets of king Henry founded at mid- 
 night ; on which, his whole army was on foot : at 
 the fecond blaft, they left their tents, took the fieldj 
 and formed in three battalions. 
 
 The firft battalion was commanded by fir Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin and fir Robert de Roquebertin, 
 a vifcount of Arragon. Under him were all the 
 foreigners, as well from France as from other 
 countries : among whom were two barons from 
 Hainault, the lord d'Antoing and fir Alard lord de 
 Brifueil. There were alfo in this divifionthe begue 
 de Villaines, the begue de Villiers, fir John de Ber- 
 gettes, fir Gauvain de Bailleul, I'Allemant de Saint 
 Venant, who was there created a knight, with 
 many other knights from Arragon, France, Pro- 
 vence and the neighbouring countries. There w^ere 
 in this battalion full four ihoufand knights and 
 fquires, excellently armed, and draw^n up according 
 to the French manner. 
 
 Don Tello and his brother don Sancho com- 
 manded the fecond divifion. There w^ere under 
 them tw^enty-five thoufand lance- men, as well on 
 horfe as on foot, who drew up a little behind the 
 divifion of fir Bertrand, on his left hand; 
 
 The third, and largeft battalion without compa- 
 rifon, was commanded by king Henry himfelf. 
 There were in it, and drawn up in array, upwards 
 of feven thoufand horfemen and forty thoufand in- 
 fantry among the crofs bowmen. 
 
 When they were thus formed, king Henry 
 
 mounted a handfome and ftrong mule, according to 
 
 the cullom of his country, and rode through the 
 
 8 ranks, 
 
303 
 
 ranks, paying his compliments to the lords, gra- 
 cioufly entreating them to exert them fclves this day 
 in defending his honor, and pointing out to every 
 one of them what they were to do with fo much 
 cheerfulnefs and good humour, that they were all 
 in hio^h fpirits. After he had thus vifited his army, 
 he returned to his own battalion. It was foon 
 broad day. About fun-rife they began their march 
 towards Navarete in order of battle, to meet and to 
 engage the enemy. 
 
 The prince of Wales, as it has been before re- 
 lated, drew up his army in the manner he intended 
 they fhould engage, whilft he lay before Vittoria, 
 when the enemy did not appear according to his ex- 
 peftations. He had not fince then made any altera- 
 tions concerning it, and had always marched in 
 this order. At break of day, therefore, the prince's 
 army took the field, marching in battle-array, as 
 expe6ling to meet the Spaniards. No'one advanced 
 before the battalion of the marfhals excepting thofe 
 who received orders, as fcouts ; and the two leaders, 
 as well as both the armies, knew, from the intelli- 
 gence of the fcouts, that they fliould fhortly meet : 
 they therefore marched forward with a gentle 
 pace. 
 
 When the fun was rifenit was a beautiful fight to 
 view thefe battalions, with their brilliant armour glit- 
 tering with its beams. In this manner, they nearly 
 approached to each other. The prince, with a few 
 attendants mounted a fmall hill, and faw very clearly 
 the enemy marching ftraight towards them. Upon 
 
 defcending 
 
304 
 
 defcending this hill, he extended his line cf battle 
 in the plain, and then halted. 
 
 The Spaniards, feeing the Englifh had haltedj 
 did the fame, in order of battle : then each man 
 tightened his armour, and made ready as for inftant 
 combat. 
 
 Sir John Chandos advanced in front of the bat- 
 talions with his banner uncafed in his hand. He 
 prefented it to the prince, faying, ' My lord, here 
 is my banner : I prefent it to you, that I may dif- 
 play it in whatever manner fhall be moft agreeable 
 to you ; for, thanks to God, I have now fufficient 
 lands to enable me fo to do, and maintain the rank 
 "which it ought to hold,' 
 
 The prince, don Pedro being prefent, took the 
 banner in his hands, which was blazoned with a 
 Iharp flake gules on a field argent : after having 
 cut off the tail to make it fquare, he difplayed it, 
 and, returning it to him by the handle, faid; ' Sir 
 John, I return you your banner. God give you 
 ilrength and honor to preferve it.' 
 
 Upon this, fir John left the prince, went back to 
 his nni,en with the banner in his hand, and faid to 
 them ; ' Centlemen, behold my banner and yours : 
 you will therefore guard it as it becomes you.' His 
 companions, taking the banner, replied with much 
 cheerfulnefs, that ' if it pleafed God and St. George, 
 they would defend it well, and aft worthily of it, to 
 the utmoft of their abilities.' 
 
 The banner was put into the hands of a worthy 
 Englifli fquire, called William Allellry, v/ho bore it 
 
 with 
 
305 
 
 ^ith honor that day, and loyally acquitted himfelf 
 in the fervice. The Englifh aad Gafcons foon after 
 difmounted on the heath, and affembled very or- 
 derly together, each lord under his banner or pen- 
 non, in the fame battle array as when they paffed 
 the mountains. 
 
 It was delightful to fee and examine thefe banners 
 and pennons, with the noble army that was under 
 them. The two armies began to move a little, and 
 to approach nearer each other; but, before they 
 met, the prince of Wales, with eyes and hands up- 
 lifted toward heaven, exclaimed; * God of truth, 
 the Father of Jesus Christ, who haft made and 
 falhioned me, condefcend, through thy benign grace, 
 that the fuccefs of the battle of this day may be for 
 me and my army; for thou knoweft, that in truth 
 I have been folely emboldened to undertake it in 
 the fupport of juftice and reafon, to reinftate this 
 king upon his throne, who has been dilinherited 
 and driven from it, as well as from his country.* 
 
 After thefe words, he extended his right arm, 
 took hold of don Pedro's hand, who was by his fide, 
 and added, ' Sir king, you fhall this day know 
 whether you will have any thing in the kingdom of 
 Caftille or not.' He then cried out, ' Advance, 
 banners, in the name of God and St. George !' 
 
 As he faid this, the duke of Lancafter and fir 
 John Chandos came up to him. The duke faid to 
 fir William Beauchamp; ' William, there are our 
 enemies : you fliall fee me this day aft like a true 
 knight, or die for it.* At thefe words, the two ar- 
 mies advanced. The firfl confli£l was between the 
 
 Vol. III. X battalion 
 
306 
 
 battalion of the duke of Lancafler and fir John 
 Chandos and that of fir Bertrand du Guefclin and 
 the maifiial d'Andreghen, who had under them 
 four thoufand men at arms. 
 
 At its commencement, there was a terrible med- 
 ley of fpears and fhields. They were in this fituation 
 a confiderable time before they could make any 
 opening into each other. Many gallant deeds were 
 performed, and many a knight unhorfed, who 
 could not again raife himfelf. 
 
 When thefe two divifions were thus engaged, thfc 
 others were not willing to remain idle, but advanced 
 to the combat with eagernefs. The prince of 
 Wales, accompanied by the king, don Pedro of 
 Caftille, and don Martin de la Carra, who repre- 
 fented the king of Navarre, charged the divifion 
 which was commanded by don Tello and don San- 
 cho. But it feems that, as the prince and his bat- 
 talion were on the points of engaging, a fudden 
 panic feized don Tello, fo that he wheeled about, 
 and fled in diforder without ftriking a blow, carry- 
 ing with him two thoufand cavalry of his divifion. 
 No one knew how to account for this condu6l. 
 This fecond divifion was no fooner broken than it 
 was difcomfited; for the captal de Buch and the 
 lord de Cliffon, quitting the battalion of the earl 
 d'Armagnac with their men, fell upon them, and 
 flew and wounded immenfe numbers. 
 
 The prince and don Pedro, upon this, advanced 
 to the divifion commanded by king Henry, in which 
 there were at lead forty thoufand men, as well on 
 foot as on horfeback. The fight now began in earned 
 
 on 
 
307 
 
 on all fides ', for the Spaniards and Caftilllans had 
 flings, from which they threw flones with fuch force 
 as to break helmets and fcull-caps, fo that they 
 wounded and unhorfed many of their opponents. 
 The Englifh archers,according to their cufl:om,fl:iot 
 Iharply with their bows, to the great annoyance and 
 death of the Spaniards. On one fide, there were 
 fhouts of, ' Cafiille, for king Henry!' on the othefj, 
 ' St. George, fir Guienne!' 
 
 During this time, the firft battalion, commanded 
 by the duke of Lancafter, fir John Chandos, and 
 the two marfhals, fir Guifcard d' Angle and fir 
 Stephen CofTington, was warmly engaged with that 
 of fir Bertrand du Guefclin and the other knights 
 from Arragon and France. Many valorous a£lions 
 were done ; and each tried his ftrength to open a 
 paflage through the enemy. Several fought with 
 their fpears in both hands, with which they dealt 
 about luftily their blows; others made ufe of fliort 
 fwords and daggers. At the commencement the 
 French and Arragonians made a defperate refift- 
 ance, and gave the good knights of England much 
 trouble. 
 
 Sir John Chandos fhewed himfelf an able knight, 
 and performed many gallant deeds under his ban- 
 ner : but, in his eagernefs in fighting and driving 
 his enemies before him, he was fo far engaged as to 
 be furrounded, and in the crowd unhorfed. A 
 large man of Caflille, called Martin Ferrand, who 
 was much renowned for courage among the Spa- 
 niards, threw himfelf upon him with r determined 
 refolution to kill him, and kept him down in the 
 
 X 2 greateft 
 
303 
 
 created danger. Sir [ohn, however, bethought 
 himfelf of a knife he had in his bofom, which he 
 drew, and ftruck fo well with it this Martin in the 
 fides and back that he gave him his death-blow as he 
 was lying under him : Ije then turned him over, 
 and rofe up as fpecdily as he could : his people 
 were now all ready about him, for ihey had with 
 great difficulty broken through the crowd to come 
 to the place where he had fallen. 
 
 It was on a Saturday, in the morning, between 
 Najara and Navarete, that this fevere and bloody 
 battle was fought, in which multitudes of men 
 were flain. In this engagement many were the 
 brilliant aftions performed by the prince of Wales, 
 his brother the duke of Lancafter, fir John Chandos, 
 fir Guifcard d' Angle, the captal de Buch, the 
 lords de Cliffon and de Raix, fir Hugh Calverley, 
 fir Matthew Gournay, fir Louis de Harcourt, the 
 lords de Pons and de Partenay. 
 
 On the other hand, among the Gafcons, the lords 
 d'Armagnac, d'Albret, de Poramiers and his two 
 brothers, de Mucident, de Rofem, the earls de Peri-* 
 gord, de Comminges, de Carmain^ the lords de Con- 
 don, de I'Efparre, de Chaumont, de PincornetjBar-^ 
 tholomew de Cande, de Geronde, fir Bernard d'Al- 
 bret, fir Aimery de Tarfe, the fouldich de I'Eftrade, 
 fir Petiton de Courton, with many other knights 
 and fquircs, gave equal proofs of gallantry. 
 
 Under the pennon of St. George, and attached 
 
 to the banner of -fir John Chandos, were the free 
 
 companies, w4io had in the whole twelve hundred 
 
 ^ftrcamerl, Among them were good and hardy 
 
 '''•"*-■'*■ knights 
 
309 
 
 knights and fquires, whofe courage was proof, 
 namely, fir Robert Cheney, fir Perducas d'Albret, 
 Robert Briquet, fir Garfis du Chaftel, fir Gaillard 
 Viguier, fir John Charnels, Nandon de Bagerant, 
 Aymemon d'Ortige, Perrot de Savoye, le bourg 
 Camus, le bourg de I'Efparre, le bourg de Bretueil, 
 Efpiote, and feveral others. I muft therefore fay, 
 that fir Bertrand du Guefclin, fir Arnold d'An- 
 dreghen, don Sancho, don Gomez Garilz*, and 
 the French and Arragonian knights who had en- 
 gaged with this battalion, did not find themfelves 
 the better for it, as thefe companies were compofed 
 of tried men, who had been long accuftomed to 
 arms. 
 
 There were befides many other knights and 
 fquires from England, under the banners of the 
 duke of Lancafier and fir John Chandos: among 
 whom were fir William Beauchamp fon to the earl 
 of Warwick, fir Ralph Camois, fir Walter Urfwick, 
 fir Thomas de Demery,fir JohnGrandifon, fir John 
 Draper, fir John du Pre, fir Aimery de Rochechou- 
 art, fir Gaillard de la Motte, and upwards of two 
 hundred other knights whom I am not able to^ 
 name. 
 
 To fay the truth, fir Bertrand du Guefclin, the 
 marfhal d'Andreghen, le begue de Villaines, the 
 lords d'Antoing and de Brifueil, fir Gauvain de 
 Bailleul, fir John de Bergettes, le begue de Villiers, 
 I'Allemand de St. Venant, and the good knights 
 
 * Gomez Garilz, Gomez Carillo di Quintana.— Z)///o«'i 
 ffier the Cruel, 
 
 ^ 3 who 
 
510 
 
 who were there from France, acquitted themfelves 
 moft valiantly : truly, had the Spaniards as well 
 performed their parts, the Englifh and Cafcons 
 would have fuffered more than they did. 
 
 Thofe who were near king Henry did their duty 
 like men; for he had before entreated of them to 
 behave courageoufly. He himfelf fet the example, 
 and performed fuch valorous atls as gave courage 
 to all around him. He advanced before thofe who 
 were beginning to give v;ay and fly, calling to them ; 
 ' My lords, I am your king. You haye placed me 
 upon the throne of Caflille, and have fworn that 
 you would die fooner ihan forfake me. For the 
 love of God preferve your oaths facred which you 
 have fwo'. n to me, and behave yourfelves hand- 
 fomely in my caufe. I will acquit myfelf towards 
 you, for I will not fly one ftep as long as I fliall fee 
 you combating by my fide.' 
 
 By thefe words, or others of a fimilar tendency, 
 did king Henry thrice bring back his men to the 
 combat. He himfelf behaved fo valiantly, that he 
 ought to be much honoured and refpe6ted. This 
 battle was fought with great perils : many were 
 flain, wounded and put to flight. 
 
 The Spaniih commonalty made ufe of flings, to 
 which they were accuftomed, and from which they 
 threw large fl;ones which at firft much annoyed the 
 Englifh : but when their firft caft was over, and 
 they felt the fharpnefs of the Englifli arrows, they 
 kept no longer any order. 
 
 King Henry had in his battalion a large number 
 of good men at arms, as well from Spain as from 
 
 Lilbon^ 
 
311 
 
 Lifbon, Arragon and Portugal, who acquitted them- 
 felves exceedingly well, and did not give up fo 
 eafily, but fought very courageoufly with lances, 
 guifarmes*, pikes and fwords. He had alfo upon 
 his two wings bodies of lancemen, mounted on ex- 
 cellent courfers, who kept up the courage of his di- 
 vifion; for when they faw any part of it likely to 
 be broken, or willing to give way, they gallopped up 
 to them, and drove them back. The Englifh and 
 Gafcons had not much advantage here, but what 
 they gained from their experience and by dint of 
 deeds of prowefs and vigour. The prince had in- 
 deed with him the flower of chivalry, and there 
 were under him the moil renowned combatants in 
 the whole world. 
 
 A little to the right of the battalion of the prince 
 was the king of Majorca and his company, who 
 fought vigoroufly, and exerted themfelves to the 
 bed of their power. On the other hand was don 
 Martin de la Carra, who reprefented the king of 
 Navarre, and did his duty well. 
 
 I cannot particularize all that were deferving of 
 notice; but the prince had in his divifion many 
 well famed knights from England and Gafcony, 
 namely, fir Richard de Pontchardon. fir Thomas 
 Defpencer, fir Thomas Holland, fir Nele Loring, 
 fir Hugh and fir Philip Courtenay, fir John Combes, 
 
 * Guifarmes, — ' a kind of (offenfive) long handled and 
 long headed weapon, or (as the Spanifli vifarma) a ftafF that 
 hath within it two long pikes, which with a (hoot, or thruft 
 forward, came forth.'— Cbtgrave's Diiiionarj^ 
 
 X 4 fir 
 
512 
 
 fir Nicholas Bond, fir Thomas Combes, and feveral 
 others, fuch as the fenefchal of Saintonge, fir Bald- 
 win de Franville, the high Rewards of Bourdeaux, 
 of la Rochelle, of Poitou, of Angouleme, of 
 Rouergue, of Limoufin, of Perigord, fir Louis de 
 Marnel, fir Raymond d'Ondueil and many more. 
 All thefe you muft know, fought in earneft, as 
 indeed they had need to do; for the Spaniards and 
 Caftillians v;ere near one hundred thoufand men in 
 arms, fo that their great numbers Icept up their 
 courage : there could not but be among them many 
 who fought well and did their utmoft. 
 
 The king don Pedro was much heated, and very 
 anxious to meet his brother the baftard : he gal- 
 lopped about, calling out, ' Where is this fon of 
 a whore who calls himfelf king of Caftille ?' 
 
 King Henry was engaged in another part of the 
 field, where he fought manfully,' and kept up the 
 courage of his men as well as he could by his 
 fpeeches to them : he faid, ' My good people;, 
 you have made me your king, and have crowned 
 me : help me to defend the inheritance which you 
 have given to me.' By fuch words as thefe, which 
 lie every now and then addrefled to them, many 
 were fo bold and valorous that for their honor they 
 fell on the fpot, difdaining to fly. 
 
 The divifion on the fide of the Spaniards which 
 behaved the beft, and was alfo the beft fought 
 with, was that commanded by fir Bertrand du 
 Guefclin; for there were on both fides true men at 
 arms, who exerted themfelves to the utmoft of their 
 abilities. Many gallant deeds were performed by 
 
 ihemo 
 
513 
 
 them. Sir John Chandos diflinguiflied hlmfelf par- 
 ticularly. He governed, that day, the duke of 
 Lancafter, in the fame manner he had done the 
 prince of Wales at the battle of Poitiers ; for which 
 he was exceedingly praifed and honored, as was in- 
 deed but juft: when fuch a valiant and good knight 
 thus acquits himfelf toward his lords, he is worthy 
 of honqr and refpeft. Sir John therefore, during 
 the day, never thought of making any prifoncrs 
 with his own hand, but was folely occupied in 
 fighting and pufhing forward. 
 
 However, many good knights and fquires from 
 Arragon, France and Brittany, were made prifoners 
 by his people, and under his banner : particularly fir 
 JBertrand du Guefclin, fir Arnold d'Andreghen, 
 the begue de Villaines, with upwards of fixty 
 knights; confequently the battalion of fir Bertrand 
 was difcomfited. All thofe who had come thither 
 from France and Arragon were either flain or 
 taken. 
 
 Among the flain was the begue de Villiers. The 
 lord d'Antoingin Hainault, the lord de Brefueil, fir 
 Gauvain de Bailleul, fir John de Bergettes, fir 1 Al- 
 lemand de St. Venant, with many others, were 
 made prifoners. 
 
 Upon this the banners and pennons, that is to 
 fay, the banner of the duke of Lancafler, the ban- 
 ner of fir John Chandos, the banner of the two 
 marfhals, and the pennon of St. George and ethers, 
 returned toward the divifion which was commanded 
 by king Henry, fhouting out, « St. George, for 
 Guienne !' Upon this the Spaniards, and thofe who 
 
 fupporled 
 
514 
 
 fupported them, were repulfed. On one fide, was 
 feen the captai de Buch and the lord de Cliflbn 
 manfully engaged : on another, fir Euftace d'Am- 
 breticourt, fir Hugh Calverley, the fouldich de 
 I'Eftrade and fir John Devereux fiiewed themfelves 
 good knights. 
 
 The prince fhone pre-eminently : he proved his 
 noble birth, and the gallantry of his knighthood, 
 by his eagernefs to feek his enemies, and bravely 
 fighting with them. 
 
 On the other hand, king Henry acquitted him felf 
 right valiantly in every fituation : he more than 
 once rallied his men to the combat; for when they 
 faw don Tello take flight, accompanied by two 
 thoufand men, they began to be caft down, and the 
 greater part of them were fo much frightened, that 
 they were willing to follow his example; but king 
 Henry gallopping up to the foremoft, faid; ' My 
 good lords, what are you doing? why would you 
 thus feek to abandon and betray me? you who have 
 chofen me for your king, and placed the crown of 
 Caftille upon my head, giving me the inheritance of 
 it ? Return back, and help me to guard, defend 
 and maintain it : remain fteady near to me, for, 
 through God's grace, the day fhall ft ill be ours.* 
 By fuch fpeeches as thefe, he encouraged many, 
 and caufed them to fight boldly : they could not for 
 ftiame fly, when they faw their king and lord a6l 
 himfelf fo vigoroufly in the combat, and addrefs fuch 
 friendly words to them. More than fifteen hundred 
 perfons loft their lives by this management, who 
 vould otherwife have been faved by taking advan- 
 tage 
 
215 
 
 tage of a favorable opportunity, if it had not been 
 for their love of the king. 
 
 After the defeat of the battalion of fir Bertrand 
 du Guefclin and the marfhal d'Andreghen, wheA" 
 all the divifions of the prince were formed into one 
 large body, the Spaniards could no longer keep 
 their ground, but began to fly into great diforder, 
 much frightened, towards the to\vn of Naj?ra *, 
 and to c.of3 the river which runs by it : in fpite of 
 every thing king Henry could fay, they would not 
 rally nor return to the fight. 
 
 When king Henry perceived that his army was 
 totally defeated, \yithout hopes of recovery, he 
 called for his horfe, mounted it, and gallopped 
 among the qrowd of runaways, but was careful not 
 to take the road either to Najara or to the river: 
 for he wifhed not to be furrounded : he fallowed 
 another road, to avoid every danger; in which he 
 afted wifely, as he was fully aware, that if he fhould 
 be made prifoncr, he would be flain without mercy. 
 
 The Englifli and Gafcons now mounted their 
 Jiorfes, and went in purfuit of the Spaniards, who 
 were flying in difmay, as far as Najara. There was 
 ?nuch (laughter and effufion of blood at the entrance 
 
 • D. Sauvage will have it Navarete ; but I think it muft 
 te Najara, for they would never run away towards Navarete, 
 but on the contrary towards their own homes. The battle 
 was Fought between Najara and Navarete. A river runs by 
 Najara, none by Navarete. The Ebro is not far diftant ; but, 
 if they had croffed that river, there would have b-^en mention 
 made of Logrono : and befides, they would then have been in 
 an enemy's country, 
 
 of 
 
$\6 
 
 of the bridge: many were killed and drowned: for 
 great numbers leaped into the river, which was both 
 rapid and <leep, preferring the being drowned to 
 being murdered. 
 
 I n this flight, there were two valiant men of Spain, 
 knights at arms, who wore, how'ever, the drefs of 
 monks : one was called the grand prior of St. Jago, 
 the other the grand mailer of the order of Calatrava : 
 they and their attendants threw themfelves for fafety 
 into the town of Najara, but were fo clofely purfued 
 by the Englifh and Gafcons, who were at their 
 heels, that they won the bridge with great flaughter, 
 and entered the town with them. They took 
 pofleilion of a flrong houfe which was well built 
 ■with worked ftone : but this was foon gained, the 
 knights taken, many of their people killed, and the 
 V'hole town pillaged. The Englifh and Gafcons 
 gained confiderable riches : they went to the lodg- 
 ings of king Henry and the other Spanifh lords 
 where the firft comers found quantities of plate and 
 jewels; for king Henry and his army had come 
 thither with much fplendor, and after the defeat had 
 not leifure to return to place in fecurity what they 
 had left behind them in the morning. 
 
 The defeat was very complete and dreadful, 
 efpecially upon the banks of this river, where num- 
 bers were flain. Some faid, as I have heard from 
 thofe who were there, that the river below Najara 
 was tinged with the blood of men and horfes there 
 killed. This battle was fought between Najara and 
 Navarete, in Spain, on Saturday the third day of 
 April, in the year of our Lord 1367. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
317 
 
 CHAP. CCXL. 
 
 ALL CASTILLE, AFTER THE BATTLE OF NAVARETE, 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGE DON PEDRO. HE PROTRACTS THE 
 
 STAY OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AT VALLADOLID, 
 WHILST HE SEEKS FOR MONEY TO PAY THE ARMY. 
 
 A FTER this defeat at the battle of Navarete, 
 which was completed before noon, the prince 
 of Wales ordered his banner to be fixed in a bufh, 
 on a fmall eminence, as a rallying point for his men, 
 on their return from the purfuit of the enemy. The 
 duke of Lancafter, fir John Chandos, the lord de 
 ClifTon, the captal de Buch, the earl of Armagnac, 
 the lord d'Albret and the other barons came thither: 
 their banners were difplayed to aflemble their men, 
 who formed themfelves under them as they returned. 
 
 The lord James, king of Majorca, was there, 
 with his banner before him : his men colleded 
 themfelves under it. A little higher, was don 
 Martin de la Carra, with the banner of his lord, the 
 kincy of Navarre. In fimilar order were all the 
 other earls and barons drawn up ; fo that it was a 
 beautiful fight to look on and contemplate. 
 
 The king, don Pedro, came thither in a great 
 heat from the purfuit, mounted upon a black 
 courfer, with his banner, emblazoned with the arms 
 of Caftille, borne before him : he difmounted as 
 foon as he perceived the banner of the prince, and 
 advanced towards it. When the prince faw him 
 coming, he haftened, out of refped, to meet him. 
 Don Pedro would have call himfelf on his knees, to 
 
 return 
 
518 
 
 return thanks to the prince, but he would not fuffer 
 it, and took him by the hand : upon which, don 
 Pedro faid; ' Dear and fair coulin, I owe you many 
 thanks and praifes for the happy event of this day, 
 which I have gained' through your means.' The 
 prince replied; ' Sir, render your thanks to God; 
 for to him alone belongs the praife: the vi8,ory 
 comes from him, and not from me.' 
 
 The lords of the council of the prince were now 
 aflembled, and converfed on different matters. The 
 prince remained there fo long that all his men were 
 returned from the purfuit, when he ordered four 
 knights, with as many heralds, to fearch the field 
 of battle, and fee what men of rank had been killed; 
 and alfo to know for a truth what was become of 
 king Henry called the Baftard, if he were among 
 the dead or not, for at that time they knew nothing 
 certain about him. After having given thefe orders^ 
 the prince and his barons defcended towards the 
 quarters of king Henry and the Spaniards. The 
 army, according to orders, fpread itfelf abroad 
 among the tents of the enemy, where they found 
 plenty of every fort of provifion, f'-'m the want of 
 which they had fo lately fuffered. They made 
 themfelves very comfortable, and fur>ped with 
 great joy. After fupper, the knights and heralds 
 who had been fent to examine the field of battle, 
 returned, and reported from the account they had 
 taken, that only five hundred and fixty men at arms 
 lay dead; that they had not found the body of king 
 Henry, which was difpleafing information to don 
 Pedro. Among the dead, they had only found four 
 8 knid:iis. 
 
519 
 
 knights of their party ; two of whom were^Gafcons, 
 one a German, and the other an Englifhman. But 
 of the commonalty they faid there were about feven 
 thouland five hundred dead, without counting thofe 
 drowned, the numbers of whom they were ignorant 
 of; and of their own party about forty commoa 
 men. 
 
 They repofed themfelves this Saturday night at 
 their eafe : they were well enabled to do fo, from 
 the great plenty of provifion and wine which they 
 had met with. They remained there the whole of 
 the enfuing day, which was Palra-Sunday, to refrefh 
 themfelves. 
 
 On that morning, about fix o'clock, when the 
 prince was rifen and drefTed, he came forth from 
 his tent, and the duke of Lancafter, the earl of 
 >Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, fir John Chandos, 
 the captal de Buch, the lord de Pommiers, fir 
 Guifcard d'Angle, the king of Majorca, with a 
 great number of knights and fquires advanced to 
 pay their refpeds to him. Soon afterward, the 
 king don Pedro came thither, to whom the prince 
 paid every refpe6l and honor. Don Pedro, having 
 faluted him, faid; ' Dear lord and fair coufin, I 
 entreat and befeech you, as a mark of your friend- 
 fhip, that you will have the kindnefs to deliver up 
 to me the traitors of my country, efpecially my 
 brother Sancho the baflard, and the others, that I 
 may cut off their heads ; for they have done me 
 much injury.' 
 
 The prince of Wales, after having confidered 
 for a moment the requeft which don Pedro had jufl 
 
 made 
 
520 
 
 made him, anfwered ; ' Sir king, I have alfo a 
 requeft to make you; and I beg of you, in the name 
 of our friendfhip and connection, that you will not 
 deny it to me.' Don Pedro, who could refufe hinn 
 nothing, moft cheerfully affented, faying; ' My lord 
 and fair coufin, whatever I have is yours.' Upon 
 which, the prince replied; ' Sir king^, I entreat and 
 beg of you to pardon all the ill which your rebellious 
 fubjeds have done againfl you. You will do an a6l 
 of kindnefs and generofity, and will by this means 
 remain in peace in your kingdom. But I except 
 from this amnefty Gomez Garilz ; for I am willing 
 tliat you fhould do with him as belt pleafes you.' 
 
 The king don Pedro granted this favour, though 
 much againfl his inclination : he dared not refufe it, 
 feeling himfelf under fo many obligations : he there- 
 fore anfwered, ' Fair coufin, I willingly grant your 
 requeft.' 
 
 All the Spanifh prifoners who were in the army 
 of the prince were fent for, and he gave them up to 
 the king don Pedro, their lord. The king kiffed the 
 earl don Sancho, his brother, and forgave him all 
 his mifdeeds towards him, as well as all the others, 
 on condition they would fwear fealty, homage and 
 fervice, and would become his vaflals, and acknow- 
 ledge him for their lord. 
 
 This courtefy and much more did the prince to 
 don Pedro, who but very little remembered them, 
 as you will fee in the continuation of this hiftory. 
 He made alfo very liberal prefents to the barons of 
 Spain who had been his prifoners. If the king 
 could have had them given up to him, in his rage he 
 
 would 
 
3Ql 
 
 Would infallibly have put them all to death. Gomez 
 Garilz was delivered up to him; for whom he 
 would not hear of any ranfom, fo much did he 
 hate him, but had him beheaded before his eyes, 
 on the outlide of the tent. 
 
 After this, don Pedro mounted on horfeback, at- 
 tended by his brother don Sancho, and all thofe 
 who were again become his fubjefts, with the two 
 marfhals of the prince, fir Guifcard d'Angle and fir 
 Stephen CofTmgton, and upwards of five hundred 
 men at arms : they let out from the army of the 
 prince, and rode towards Burgos, where they arrived 
 on the Monday morning. 
 
 The inhabitants of Burgos, who had been in- 
 formed of the defeat of king Henry, had neither the 
 will nor inclination to fhut themfelves up in the 
 town, to hold out againft their prince. The richeft 
 and principal perfons of the city went out of the 
 gates, to prefent the keys to don Pedro, whom, 
 after acknowledging for their lord, they conduced 
 with ail his company, in great pomp and folemnity, 
 into the city of Burgos. 
 
 The prince remained all Sunday, in his newly- 
 acquired quarters. On the Monday, after vefpers, 
 he and his army decamped, and marched to Villo- 
 rado, where he halted until the Wednefday follow- 
 ing, when he marched to Burgos. The prince en- 
 tered the town in great parade. With him were the 
 duke of Lancalter, the earl of Armagnac, and others 
 of the principal lords. The army encamped in the 
 plains without the town, in which there was not 
 room to quarter them comfortably. 
 
 Vol, in. y ' The 
 
322 
 
 The prince vifited his army every day during its 
 encampment on the plain ; for his tent was there 
 pitched, and he gave judgment concerning arms 
 and all things thereunto belonging : he there kept 
 the field and wager of battle ; fo that one may 
 truly fay, all Spain was for fome days under his 
 command. 
 
 The prince of Wales and the king don Pedro 
 celebrated the feftival of Eafler in the city of Bur- 
 gos, where they tarried upwards of three weeks. 
 On Eafter-day, the deputies from Afturias, Toledo, 
 Leon, Cordova, Gallicia, Seville, and from all the 
 other provinces and towns dependent on the crown 
 of Caftille, came to Burgos, to do homage to don 
 Pedro. That loyal knight of Caflille, don Fer- 
 dinand de Caftro, came alfo thither to pay his 
 refpefts, whom they handfomely entertained, and 
 were very happy in feeing. 
 
 When the king don Pedro had refided in Burgos 
 rather more than the time I have mentioned, and 
 had learnt from exact information that the rebellion 
 was at an end, all having returned to their alle- 
 giance, the prince of Wales, in order to fatisfy his 
 army, and to acl conformably to what was becom- 
 ing him, faid to the king ; ' Sir king, you are now, 
 thanks to God, king and lord over your country : 
 all rebellion and oppohtion to you are at an end : 
 we therefore remain here at fuch very great expenfe 
 that I muft defire you will provide yourfelf with 
 money fufhcient to pay thofe who have replaced 
 you in your kingdom, and that you now fulfil all 
 the articles of the treaties which you havefworn and 
 
 fealed 
 
323 
 
 fealed to perform. We fiiall feel ourfelves obliged 
 by your fo doing, and as fpeedily as it may be 
 poffible, which will be the more profitable to you ; 
 for you know that men at arms will live, and, if 
 they be not paid, will help themfelves. 
 
 The king don Pedro replied as follows : ' Sir 
 coufin, we will punftually perform, as far as fliall 
 be in our loyal power, whatever we have promifed 
 and fworn to : but at this moment we have no 
 money : we will therefore fet out for Seville and 
 its environs, and will ihere coUefta fufficiency to 
 fatisfy everyone. If you will march to Valladolid, 
 which is a fertile country, we will return to you as 
 foon as it fhall be in our power, but at the latefl: by 
 Whitfuntide.' 
 
 This anfwer was agreeable to the prince and his 
 council. The king don Pedro left the prince 
 abruptly, and went to Seville, with the intention of 
 procuring money. The prince marched to Valla- 
 dolid, where he fixed his quarters. The army w^as 
 fpread over the country about that town, in order 
 to find provifion for themfelves and horfes; they 
 continued there with little profit to the peafants, for 
 the companies could not refrain from pillaging. 
 
 News was immediately carried through France, 
 England, Germany and other countries,, that the 
 prince of Wales had defeated king Henry (who was 
 himfelf either taken, drowned or flain) with upwards 
 of a hundred thoufand men, in a regular battle. 
 The prince was therefore the more honored and re- 
 nowned for it wherever true knighthood and deeds 
 of enterprife w re efteemed, particularly in the em- 
 y 2 pire 
 
324 
 
 pire of Germany and in England. The German?, 
 Fleminf^s and Englifli declared the prince of Wales 
 was the mirror of knighthood, and that fuch a 
 prince was worthy of governing the whole world, 
 who, by perfonal prowefs, had gained three glorious 
 vi6lories : the firft at Crecy in Ponthieu, the fecond 
 at Poitiers ten years afterwards, and the third in 
 Spain at Najara. 
 
 The citizens of London made folemn fliows, 
 triumphs and feafts, for this viftory; fuch as were 
 formerly done in honour of their kings who had 
 taken a town or defeated their enemies. 
 
 But in France, there was much lamentation for 
 the knights of that kingdom, who had been either 
 flain or made prifoners ; more efpecially for fir 
 Bertrand du Guefclin, fir Arnold d'Andreghen and 
 feveral others, who, however, were courteoufly 
 treated, and fome immediately fet at liberty on 
 their ranfom. Sir Bertrand had not his freedom fo 
 foon; for fir John Chandos, whofe prifoner he was, 
 being unwilling to confent to it, fir Bertrand was 
 not overprefling on the fubjeft. 
 
 We will now fpeak a litde of king Henry, what 
 became of him after his flight from the battle, and 
 then return to the prince of Wales and king don 
 Pedro of Caftille. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
39.5 
 
 CHAP. CCXLI. 
 
 KIx\G HENRY OF CASTILLE, HAVING ESCAPED FROM 
 THE BATTLE OF NAJARA, MAKES WAR UPON 
 
 ACQUITAINE. THE PRINCE OF WALES LEAVES 
 
 SPAIN, DISCONTENTED WITH THE KING DON 
 PEDRO. 
 
 ING Henry, as has been before related, efcaped 
 the beft way he could, and, leaving his enemies 
 behind him, condu6led his wife and children as 
 quickly as he was able to the city of Valencia, 
 where the king of Arragon refided, who was his 
 godfather and friend : to him he related the ill fuc- 
 cefs of the battle. Upon confidering the ftate of 
 his affairs, he determined to make a longer jour- 
 ney, and vifit the duke of Anjou, who was then at 
 Montpellier, to tell him his misfortunes. 
 
 The king of Arragon approved of this plan, and 
 confented to his leaving him, becaufe the duke was 
 an enemy to the prince of Wales, who was his too 
 near neighbour. 
 
 King Henry then departed from the king of Ar- 
 ragon, leaving his wife and children in the city of 
 Valencia. Purfuing his journey, he pafTed through 
 Narbonne, which is the firft city of the realm of 
 France on that fide ; then through Beziers, and that 
 country, until he arrived at Montpellier, where he 
 found the duke of Anjou, who loved him much 
 and as cordially hated the Engliflij though he was 
 not at war with them. 
 
 Y 3 The 
 
326 
 
 • 
 
 The duke, who had before heard of his ill for- 
 tune, received king Henry in the handfomeft man- 
 ner, and comforted him by every means in his 
 power. He remained widi him feme time, and then 
 fet out for Avignon, to vifit pope Urban V. who 
 was about to depart for Rome, which he fliortly af- 
 terwards did. King Henry then returned to Mont- 
 pellier, to the dukeof Anjou, when fome treaties 
 were entered into between them. It was related lo 
 me, by thofe who at the time thought themfelves 
 well informed of what was going on, (and there is 
 every appearance from enfuing circumltances that 
 it was true,) that king Henry bought or borrowed 
 of the duke of Anjou, a caftle fituated near Tou- 
 loufe, upon the borders of the principality ; v.hich 
 caftle was called Roquemaure *. 
 
 He 
 
 * Roquemaure. From all the fearches I have made, Froif- 
 fart feems to have been mifinformed as to the caftle king Henry 
 retired to from Montpellier. 
 
 * Henry and the duke of Anjou went together to Avignon, 
 On their return, they entered into a treaty, as well againft 
 don Pedro as the Englifn : but this was kept fecret. Henry 
 then retired to his comte de CeiTenon, in the diocefe of S. 
 Pons and of Beziers. 
 
 * Being diftrefl'ed for money, he fold this county, with the 
 caftles ofCeflenon, of Servian, Thefan, Sec. to the king of 
 France, for the fum of 27,000 gold francs. 
 
 ^ Henry gave a receipt for this fum, 27th July, and then went 
 with his family to refide at the caftle of Pierre Pertufe, where 
 he had relied on coming from Spain," 
 
 7/y?. de Languedfc. 
 
 This 
 
327 
 
 He there afTembled fome of the free companies, 
 fuch as Bretons and others, who had not followed 
 the prince into Spain : they amounted, at this com- 
 mencement, to three hundred. 
 
 News was immediately difpatchcd to the princefs 
 of Wales, who had remained at Bourdeaux, that 
 king Henry was feeking for affiftance, and making 
 preparations on all fides, to wage war upon the 
 principality and the duchy of Guienne. She was 
 much aftoniflied on hearing it ; but, fince he was 
 upon the territories belonging to the crown of 
 France, fhe fent fpecial ambafladors to the king of 
 France, to entreat that he would not fuffer the 
 ballard of Spain to make war upon her, nor to 
 have any fupportfrcm France to carry fuch defigns 
 into effeft, for too ferious evils would arife from it. 
 
 The king of France immediately aflented to the 
 requeft of the princefs : he fent melfengers in hafle 
 to the baftard Henry (who ftili remained in the 
 caflle of Roquemaure, near to Montauban, and 
 Avho had already begun to make war upon Acqui- 
 taine and the territories of the princej, commanding 
 
 This calile of Pierre Pertufe I believe to be thecadle which 
 Froiffart calls Roquemaure. It was demolillicd by Louis XIV, 
 after the peace of Nimeguerij who built the caiiie of Eeilegarde 
 on its ruins. It is a very ilrong fituation, coinraanding the 
 Col de Pertus. Rouffillon at that time was attached to the 
 crown of Arragon. 
 
 There is a town called Roquemaure in Upper Languedoc, 
 near to and in the diocefe of Montauban, fo thcct Froiilart may- 
 be right, notwithftanding what the hiftorian of Languedoc fays, 
 which I have juft quoted. 
 
 Y 4 himj 
 
328 
 
 him, as he was a refident in his kingdom, not to 
 wage war on the principality of his dear nephew the 
 prince of Wales and of Acquitaine. To give greater 
 weight to thefe orders, and as an example for his 
 fubjetls not to form any alliance with the ballard 
 Henry, he fent the young earl of Auxerre to prifon 
 in the caftleof the Louvre in Paris, becaufe he had 
 entered into treaties with king Henry, and as it was 
 faid, was to join him with a large body of men at 
 arms : the king of France made him give up this 
 expedition, and dilfolve the connctlion. 
 
 King Henry paid obedience to the orders of the 
 kincT of France, as it was natural he ftiould : but for 
 all this he did not think the lefs of his attempt. He 
 departed from the caftle of Roquemaure, v/ith 
 about four hundred Bretons, having for his allies 
 the following knights and fquires : fir Arnold de 
 Limoufin, hr Geoffry Ricons, fir Pons de Laconet, 
 Silvefter Budes, Allot de Calais*, and Alain de 
 St. Pol, Thefe men at arms, Bretons as w-ell as 
 others, advanced into the territories of the prince, 
 and galloping boldly through the mountains, en- 
 tered the principality by Bigorre, and took by 
 efcalade a town called Bagnieres t. 
 
 They repaired and fortified it very ftrongly; 
 whence they made irruptions on the territories of 
 the prince, to which they did much mifchief. But 
 the princefs fent after them fir James Audlcy, who 
 had remained in Acquitaine, as governor to guard 
 
 * Barnes calls him Eliot du Carhais. 
 
 f Eagnieresj — a town of Bigorre, diocefe of Tarbes. 
 
 the 
 
329 
 
 the country. Notwithftanding this, king Henry 
 and the Bretons did a great deal of damage ; for 
 his army was continually increafing. 
 
 We will now return to the prince of Wales and 
 his army, who had been encamped at Valladolid 
 and its environs waiting for the return of don 
 Pedro. 
 
 The prince had continued at Valladolid until 
 after the feaft of St. John the Baptift, expefting don 
 Pedro, who did not return, nor could he learn any 
 certain tidings of him . He became very melancholy, 
 and affembled his council, that they might deliberate 
 what was beft to be done. The council advifed the 
 prince to fend two or three knights to remonftrate 
 with the king on his fituation, and to demand the 
 reafon why he did not keep to the agreement he had 
 made, nor return the day he had himfelf appointed. 
 
 Sir Nele Loring, fir Richard Pontchardon and 
 fir Thomas Banifter were ordered to make them- 
 felves ready to wait on don Pedro. Thefe knights 
 of the prince fet out immediately, and rode on until 
 they came to the city of Seville, where don Pedro 
 Vvas, who in outward appearance, received them 
 with great joy. 
 
 Tlie knights delivered their meffage pun6lually 
 and hterally, as they had been ordered by the prince. 
 The king don Pedro replied, and by way of ex- 
 cufing himfelf, faid ; ' It is, my lords, very dif- 
 plealing moft certainly to us, that we have not 
 been able to perform what we had covenanted to 
 do with our coulin the prince. We have remon- 
 flrated ourfelves, and made others do fo with our 
 
 fub^ 
 
530 
 
 fubjePis, frequently on this bufinefs ; but our peo- 
 ple excufe themfelves; and fay they cannot collect 
 any money as long as the free companies remain in 
 the country ; for they have already killed three or 
 four of our treafurers, who were carrying funis of 
 money towards the prince our coufm. You will 
 therefore tell him from us, that we entreat he will 
 have the goodnefs to fend out of our kingdom thefe 
 ■wicked companies, and that he will leave with us 
 fome of his knights, to whom, in his name, we will 
 pay fuch fums of money as he demands, and which 
 we hold ourfelves obliged and bound to pay him.' 
 
 This was all theanfwerthe knights could obtain. 
 They took leave of don Pedro, and returned to the 
 prinxe at Valladolid; to whom, and to his council, 
 they related all they had feen or heard. This an- 
 fwer made the prince more melancholy than before, 
 becaufe he cleaily found that, though the king don 
 Pedro entered into agreements, he put off the ful- 
 filling of them. 
 
 During the ftay the prince made at Valladolid, 
 which was upwards of four of the hotted months, 
 the king cf Majorca was confined to his bed, 
 through ficknefs; at which the prince and the 
 other lords were very much concerned. 
 
 At this place, fir Arnold d'Andregben, and le 
 begue de Villaines, with fevcral knights of France 
 and Brittany, who had been madeprifoners, were 
 ranfomed, or exchanged, for fir Thomas Felton, fir 
 kichard Caufton, fir Hugh Haftings and others. 
 But fir Bertvand du Gucfclin remained ftili in the 
 power of the prince, for he was not ranfomed fo 
 
 foon. 
 
331 
 
 foon. The Engllfft and the council of the prince 
 thought, that if he obtained his liberty, he would 
 immediately jom thebaftard Henry, and carry on 
 the war with frefli v^our. The prince had heard 
 that Henry had eitered Bigorre, had taken 
 JBagnieres, and was vafting his principality: on 
 which account, he wa not in any hafte to grant fir 
 Eertrand his liberty. 
 
 When the prince oi Wales had confidered the 
 anfwer of don Pedro, le was more difturbed than 
 ever, and ordered his council to give him their 
 opinions on it. His pople, who were anxious to 
 return, (for the air and hat of Spain had been very 
 hurtful to their health even the prince himfelf 
 was unwell, and in low fpirits ;) recommended a 
 retreat, and declared tha don Pedro had fliame- 
 fully and difiionourably ftled in his engagements. 
 
 Orders were immediatey given for the return of 
 the army. W^hen they ^ere on the eve of their 
 departure, the prince fent Ir Hugh Courtenay and 
 fir John Chandos to inforn the king of Majorca of 
 the reafons why he was abut to quit Spain; and 
 that he fhould be very mch concerned to leave 
 him behind, in cafe he wilbd to return. The king 
 of Majorca replied to the kights; ' I give my lord 
 the prince, our brother foiier, my beft thanks ; 
 but for the prefent I canno ride, nor, until God 
 pleafe, can I raife my foot to the Itirrup.' The 
 knights anfwered, by inquiing if he v/ifhed the 
 prince Ihould leave behiri fome men at arms, 
 as a guard for him, and tocondutl him when he 
 ihould be in a fituation tomount on horfeback ? 
 
 The 
 7 
 
532 
 
 The king faid, * By no meanr. for it is uncertain 
 how long I may be forced to remain here.' 
 
 Upon this, the knights to»k leave of the kino-, 
 and returned to the prince; t) whom they related 
 what had paffed, with the arfwers of the king] of 
 Majorca. He replied, 'Beitfo then.' The prince 
 and his whole army now begin their march towards 
 a good city called Madrigiy*, where he ftaid a 
 Ihort time. He thenadvan:ed to a valley called de 
 Foirie t, upon the bordersof Spain, Arragon and 
 Navarre, where he and his irmy remained upwards 
 of a month : for fome of he paffes on the borders 
 of Arragon were fliut aganft him ; and it was re- 
 ported in the army, that ne king of Navarre (who 
 had lately come out of jrifon) had compromifed 
 his quarrel with the bafl;a"dof Spain and the king of 
 Arragon, and had enga^d to cut off the retreat of 
 the prince through his d)minions. However, as it 
 appeared afterwards, thee was no truth in this re- 
 port : neverthelefs, it ws fufpeQed, becaufe he was 
 in his kingdom, and hacnot waited on the prince. 
 
 While the prince regained in this jfituation, he 
 fent negotiators to ar appointed place between 
 Spain and Arragon, 'here they met others from 
 the king of Arragon, vith whom they had long 
 conferences for feveraldays : at laft, it was finally 
 agreed, that the king f Arragon fliould open his 
 country For the peaceable return of the prince and 
 
 * Madrigay. Agrcd-d~Cel/ms's Hi^. 0/ ike B/aci F/wce, 
 •f Foirie. Vale of Sorj between Arragon and Spain. — 
 Coll IKS, 
 
 his 
 
333 
 
 his army : through which they were to pafs, with^ 
 oiit doing any violence or moleftation, andnaying 
 courteoLifly fo- whatever they fhould want. 
 
 Tlie king )f Navarre, when he found that a 
 treaty had beej entered into with the king of Arra- 
 gon, came to meet the prince, attended by don' 
 Martin de la Carra, He paid him every refpe6l 
 and honor, haidfomely offering a paffage through 
 his dominions, for himfelf, his brother the duke of 
 Lancafter, as \ell as for feveral barons and knights 
 of England anl of Gafcony; but he was anxious 
 that the free ccnpanies fhould take any other road 
 than through I'avarre. 
 
 The prince md the lords, who knew that their 
 march would b much fiiortened by going through 
 Navarre, were not willing to renounce fuch a 
 favor : they threfore greatly thanked the king for 
 his offer : and he prince managed him fo well that 
 he obtained the fame permifTion for the companies 
 as for the reft (f his army, afTuring the king, upon 
 his word and ath, that they fhould pafs fo peace- 
 ably, and payfo well for what they might want, 
 that he would e fatisfied with them. 
 
 The prince therefore, and his men at arms, 
 quitted the kigdom of Caftille, on their return, 
 marching as uietly as they could through Na- 
 varre. The pi nee was attended by the king of 
 Navarre and on Martin de la Carra, as far as 
 Roncevaux; whence he continued his march to 
 Bayonne, whet he was received withgreatjoy. He 
 remained ther four days, to repofe and recruit 
 himfelf. Whn he approached Bourdeaux, he was 
 
 received 
 
received with great folemnity : tbe princefs of 
 Wales came out to meet him, accompanied with 
 her eldeft fon, Edward, who was tlen about three 
 years old. 
 
 He there difbanded his army : tie men at arms 
 departed different ways : the lores, barons, and 
 knights of Gafcony, to their caftles; the knights of 
 England to their governments, a high fleward- 
 Ihips ; and the free companies, as tley returned, re- 
 mained in the principality waitiig for payment. 
 The prince, vv^ho thought himfelf nuch obliged to 
 them, was defirous of fatisfying then as far as was 
 in his power, and as foon as moneycould be raifed. 
 He faid, that ' although don Pedo had not kept 
 his engagements, it was not becomng him to a6l in 
 like manner to thofe who had fo \dl ferved him.' 
 
 CHAP. 
 
33: 
 
 CHAP. CCXLII. 
 
 AFTER THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE TO ACOUI- 
 TAINE, HENRY KING OF CASTILLE LEAVES 
 BAGNI'eRS in BIGORRE, and RETIRES TO THE 
 
 KINGDOM OF ARRAGON. SIR BERTRAND DU 
 
 GUESCLIN OBTAINS HIS RANSOM. THE FREE 
 
 COMPANIES OF THE PRINCE ENTER THE KING- 
 DOM OF FRANCE. SOME OF THE GREAT BARONS 
 
 OF 'ACOUITAINE COMPLAIN TO KING CHARLES 
 OF FRANCE OF A CERTAIN TAX, CALLED 
 FOUAGE*, WHICH THE PRINCE WAS ABOUT TO 
 LAY ON THEIR LANDS. 
 
 A S foon as king Henry who had remained in the 
 
 garrifon of Bagniers for a confiderable time, 
 
 heard of the prince's return from Spain into the 
 
 principality, he fct out, accompanied by all his men 
 
 at 
 
 * Fouage, — ' a yearly tax levied in old time, by fupreme 
 lords, upon every chimney or houfe fire kept within their 
 dominions. In Charles V's time, it was four livres tournois. 
 Since that time, in raoft places the tailles have been intro- 
 duced in lieu thereof. 
 
 * The tailles were originally only allowed in four cafes : 
 nouvelle chivalcrie, marriage dcs fiUes, voyage d'outre mer, 
 et captivite. 
 
 * Charles VII. made them ordinary. All gentlemen, or 
 fuch of a gentlemanly profeffion, are exempted from them.' 
 -— Cot G R A V e's Di^ionarj — Fouage — Taille, 
 
 *■ The taille was levied on goods, moveable and immove- 
 able. It amounted to the tenth part of the revenues. A 
 falfe declaration occafioned the confifcation of the overplus. 
 (Beaumanoir^ chap. L,} When the kings impofed the taille 
 
 on 
 
336 
 
 at arms, Bretons and companions towards the king 
 of Arragon, who had much afFeftioii for him, and 
 ■who received him with great joy. He paffed there 
 the whole winter : when new treaties were entered 
 into between them, to carry on the war againft don 
 Pedro. The Bretons, who were his adherents, had 
 already made incurfions into Spain, in the name of 
 king Henry: they were commanded by fir Arnold 
 de Limonfin, fir Geoffry Ricons and fir Pons de 
 Lakonet. 
 
 on the fubjefls of their domain, thofe barons who were bound 
 to ferve them in their wars laid it on their vaffals. Accord- 
 ing to a regulation of St. Louis, the parifhes elefted thirty or 
 forty men, who from among themfelves chofe twelve that 
 were appointed to apportion this tax; and they fwore on the 
 Gofpels, neither to favor nor injure any one through love or 
 hatred. Thefe twelve men elected in their turn four who 
 were appointed to raife this tax. 
 
 • The Aide was a tax which the principal barons levied In 
 money from their vafials. There were two forts of aides, — ■ 
 * I'aide legitime,' which was rigoroufly exafted in certain in- 
 Hances, fuch as the ranfom of the lord, the marriage of the 
 eldeft daughter, the knighthood of the fon, the acceffion of 
 the prefumptive heir to the eftate. From this aide, the clergy 
 were not exempted. 
 
 • The other was called ' I'aide gracieux.' It was demand- 
 ed as a gift in certain cafes, and depended on the will of the 
 inferior. It was granted when the lord went croifading to 
 Paleftine, — when he himfelf, or his brother, was armed 
 knight, — when he married his filler or younger children, — 
 when he built or repaired any caftle, — when he was at war 
 for the defence of his lands. This voluntary tax was not 
 long before it became a forced one.' 
 
 Introduftion to M. Levefque's Hift. of France under 
 thefirft five Valois, vol, i. pp. 325, &c. 
 
 We 
 
537 
 
 We will ndiv relate how fir Bertrand dii Guef- 
 clin obtained his liberty. After the prince was re- 
 turned to Acquitaine, his brother the duke of Lan* 
 carter to England, and all the pther barons to their 
 different homes, fir Bertrand du Guefcl in remained 
 prifoner to the prince and to fir John Chandos ; for 
 he could not by any means obtain his ranfom; 
 which was highly diipleafing to king Henrys but 
 he could not remedy it. 
 
 Now it happened (as I have been informed) that 
 one day, when the prince was in great good humour, 
 he called fir Bertrand du Guefclin, and afi^ed him 
 how he was. ' My lord,' replied fir Bertrand, ' I 
 was never better: I cannot otherwife but be well, 
 for I am, though in prifon, the moft honored knight 
 in the world.' ' How fo ?' rejoined the prince. 
 ' They fay in France,' anfwered fir Bertrand, "^ as 
 well as in other countries, that you are fi> much 
 afraid of me, and have fuch a dread of my gaining 
 my liberty, that you dare not fet me free ; and this 
 is my reafon for thinking myfelf fo much valued and 
 honored.' The prince, on hearing thcfe words, 
 thought fir Bertrand had fpoken them with much 
 good fenfe; for, in truth, his council were unwilling 
 he fhould have his liberty, until don Pedro had paid 
 to the prince and his array the money he had en- 
 gaged to do : he anfwered, ' What, fir Bertrand, 
 do you imagine that we keep you a prifoner for fear 
 of your prowefsr By St. George, it is not fo; for, 
 my good fir, if you will pay one hundred thoufand 
 francs, you ftiall be free.' Sir Bertrand was anxious 
 for his liberty, and now having heard upon what 
 terms he could obtain it, taking the prince ai his 
 
 Vol. in. Z wordj 
 
335 
 
 word, replied, ' My lord, through God's will, I 
 ■will never pay a lefs fum.' The prince, when he 
 heard this, began to repent of what he had done. 
 It is faid, that fome of his council went farther, and 
 told him ; ' My lord, you have afted very wrong, 
 in thus granting him fo eafily his ranfom.* They 
 wanted to break through the agreement ; but the 
 prince, who was a good and loyal knight, replied ; 
 ' Since we have granted it, we will keep to it, and 
 not aft any way contrary ; for it would be a fhame, 
 and we fhould be blamed by every one for not 
 agreeing to his ranfom, when he has offered to pay 
 fo largely for it as one hundred thoufand francs.' 
 
 From the time of this converfation, fir Bertrand 
 was taking great pains to feek the money, and was 
 fo aftive, that by the affi (la nee of the king of France 
 and the duke of Anjou, who loved him well, he 
 paid in lefs than a month the hundred thoufand 
 francs, and went to the aid of the duke of Anjou, 
 with two thoufand combatants, in Provence, where 
 the duke was laying fiege to Tarafcon, which held 
 out for the queen of Naples. 
 
 At this period*, a treaty of marriage was entered 
 into between the lord Lionel, duke of Clarence and 
 earl of Ulfter, with the daughter of the lord Galeas 
 fovereign of Milan. This young lady was niece to 
 the earl of Savoy, being daughter of the lady Blanche 
 his fiRer. The treaty was fo well conduced on both 
 
 * See Rj'mer, 1366, 1367, 1368, where the treaty Is at 
 length, and the names of thofe who accompanied the duke of 
 Clarence to Milan, 
 
 iidef 
 
S39 
 
 fides that it was agreed upon. Tlie duke of Cla- 
 rence came from England, attended by a great 
 number of Englifh knights arid fquires to France, 
 where he was received by the king, the duke of 
 Burgundy, the duke of Bourbon, the lord de 
 Coucy, and magnificently feafted at Paris. 
 
 He pafTed through France, and entered Savoy, 
 where the gallant earl received him moft honorably, 
 at Chamberry : he was handfomely entertained 
 there, during three days, by the ladies, both young 
 and old. On the fourth day, he departed. The 
 earl of Savoy conduced him to Milan, where he 
 efpoufed his niece, the daughter of the lord Galeas, 
 on the Monday after Trinity, in the year 136&. 
 We will now return to the affairs of France. 
 
 You have before heard of the expedition which 
 the prince of Wales made into Spain; how he had 
 left it, difcontented with the condu8: of don Pedro, 
 and was returned to Acquiiaine. 
 
 When he arrived at Bourdeaux, he was followed 
 by all the men at arms; for they were unwilling to 
 remain in Spain longer, becaufe they could not ob- 
 tain their pay from don Pedro, according to the en* 
 gagements he had entered into with them. At the 
 time of their return, the prince had not been able 
 to colle£l money fufficient for them as fpeedily as 
 he could have wiflied; for it was wonderful to 
 imagine how much this expedition hadimpoverifhed 
 and drained him : for which reafon, thofe men kept 
 their quarters in Acquitaine, and could not be pre- 
 vented from doing mifchief, as they were upwards of 
 {iK thoufand fighting men. The prince had thern 
 
 Z 2 ipokcft 
 
340 
 
 fpoken to, and entreated that they would change 
 their quarters, and feek elfewhcre for a maintenance, 
 for he could not longer fupport them. 
 
 The captains of thefe companies (who were all 
 Englifli or Gafcons, namely, fir Robert Briquet, 
 John Trefnelle, fir Robert Cheney, fir Gaillard 
 Viguier, le bourg de Breteuil, le bourg Camus, le 
 bourg de I'Efparre, Nandon de Bagerant, Bernard 
 de la Salle, Ortigo, la Nuit, and feveral others) 
 were not willing to anger the prince ; they there- 
 fore e|uitted the principality as foon as poffible, and 
 entered France, which they called their home, by 
 croflSng the river Loire. They halted in Cham- 
 pagne, in the archbifhoprick of Rheims, in the 
 bilhopricks of Noyons and Soiffons, and their num- 
 bers were daily increafing. They were fo much 
 blamed for their former deeds by the French, which 
 greatly irritated them, that they would willingly, as 
 it appeared, have fought with all France, if they had 
 been liftened to: and to put this to the hazard, they 
 made incurfions through the kingdom of France, 
 where they did fo much damage, and fuch wicked 
 afts, as caufed great tribulation. Complaints were 
 frequently made of them to the king of France, and 
 to his council ; but they could not remedy it, for 
 they w^ere afraid of rifking a battle, and fome of 
 thofe who had been made prifoners from the French 
 garrifons faid that the prince of Wales encouraged 
 them underhand. Many in France were aftonifhcd 
 at this condutl of the prince. At laft, the king of 
 France fent for the lord de Cliflfon, and appointed 
 him captain againft thefe diforderly companies, be- 
 
 caufe 
 
541 
 
 caufe he was a good and hardy knight, for which 
 the king was very fond of him. 
 
 At this time, a marriage was concluded between 
 the lord d'Albret and the lady Ifabella de Bourbon, 
 which was not very agreeable to the prince of Wales, 
 who would have wifhed that he had chofen his wife 
 from another houfe. He fpoke very coarfely and 
 rudely both of him and his bride. The principal per- 
 fons of his council, as well knights as fquires, made 
 excufes for him as well as they could, by faying, 
 * Every one advances and aggrandizes himfelf in the 
 beft way he can; and a gallant knight ought never 
 to be blamed, if he feek for honor and profit in.the 
 Way moft agreeable to himfelf, provided he do not 
 fail in his fervice to the lord whofe vafTal he is.' By 
 thefe, and fuch like words, was the prince anfwered, 
 in hopes of appeafing him ; but never thelefs, in 
 fpite of appearances, he was very far from being 
 fatisfied; for he was well aware, that this marriage 
 would caufe an eftrangement of afFeftion from him 
 and from his party, as in truth it happened, accord- 
 ing to what will be hereafter more fully explained.. 
 
 During the time the companies were quartering 
 themfelves in France, the prince of Wales was ad- 
 vifed by fome of his council to lay a tax on the lands 
 of Acquitaine: the bifiiop of Rhodez in Rouergue, 
 in particular, took great pains to perfuade him to.it. 
 The eftablilhments of the prince and the princefs 
 were fo grand, that no prince in Chrjftendom main- 
 tained greater magnificence. 
 
 The barons of Gafcony, Poitou, Saintonge and 
 
 Rouergue, who had the right of remonftrating, as 
 
 Z 3 well 
 
342 
 
 well as thpfe from the principal towns in Acquitaine, 
 were fummoned to a council on this tax. This 
 parliHn;ient was held at Niortj when the bifliop of 
 Rhodez, chancellor of Acqu taine, in the prefence 
 of the prince, explained fully the nature of this tax, 
 in what manner it was to he levied, and th=it the 
 prince had not any intentions to continue it longer 
 than for .five years, or until he fliould have fatisfied 
 the large debt which had been caufed by the Spanifh 
 expedition. The deputies from Poitou, Saintonge, 
 Limoufm, Rouergue and la Rochelle were agree- 
 able to this impofition, provided the prince would 
 keep his coin to the fame ftandard for feven years; 
 but it was refufed by thofe from the upper parts of 
 Gafcony, namely, the earl of Armagnac, the lord 
 d'Albre.t his nephew, the earl of Comminges, the 
 vifcount of Carmain, the lord de la Barde, the lord 
 de Cande, the lord de Pincornet, and feveral great 
 jbarons from the counties, cities and good towns 
 undejr their jurifdiclion, faying, that « in former 
 titnes, when they were under the vaffalage of the 
 Jcing of France, they were not oppreffed by any 
 tax, fubfidy, impofition or gabelle, and that they 
 lieyer would fubmit to any fuch oppreffion fo long 
 as they could defend themfelves : that their land^ 
 and lordfliips were free from all duties, and that the 
 prince jiaid fworn to maintain them in this ftate. 
 Neyerjthclefs, in order to leave the parliament of 
 ^he prince in an amicable manner, they declared^ 
 (hey would, when returned to their own country, 
 ^onfjder this bufinefs pove fully; and that they 
 >fould Gonfult feveral prelates, bifhops, abbots, 
 
 barons 
 
3^3 
 
 barons and knights, to whom it belonged to fpeak 
 more deliberately on this demand than had hitherto 
 been done.' The prince of Wales and his council 
 not being able to gain more at this time, the par- 
 liament broke up at Niort, and each perfon return- 
 ed to his own home ; but they were commanded by 
 the prince to return again by a certain day, which 
 had been fixed upon before they broke up. 
 
 Thefe lords and barons of Gafcony being arrived 
 in their own country, and having their opinions 
 ftrengthened, were refolved neither to return attain 
 to the parliament of the prince nor to fuffer this 
 tax to be impofed upon their lands, even fhould 
 they be obliged to oppofe force in preventing it. 
 
 Thus this country began its rebellion againft the 
 prince. The lords of Armagnac, d'Albret, de 
 Comminges, the earl of Perigord, and feveral great 
 prelates, barons, knights and fquires of Gafcony, 
 went to France, to lay their complaints before the 
 court of the king of France (the king and his peers 
 being prefent) of the wrongs the prince was about 
 to do them. They faid, they were under the jurif- 
 diclion of the king of France, and that they were 
 bound to return to him as to their fovereign lord. 
 
 The king of France, who was deiirous not openly 
 to infringe the peace between the' king of England 
 and him, diflTcmblcd his joy at thefe words, and re- 
 plied in a guarded manner to the barons of Gafcony, 
 faying; ' Certainly, my lords, we fliall always be 
 very anxious to preferve and even augment the 
 jurifdidion of our inheritance ancj of the crown of 
 France; but we have fworn, as our father had done, 
 |o feyeral articles of the peace, all of which we do 
 
 Z ^ not 
 
not now recoUefh; we vlll have them looked into 
 and exami' .ed, and all that (hall be in thern to our 
 and to your advantage v;e ^vill aid you to preferve. 
 We will .endeavour to make up your differences 
 with our dear nephew the prince of Wales; for 
 perhaps if has been through evil advifers that he has 
 wifhed to encroach upon you and your v.-tfTals' 
 franchifes.' With this anfwcr, wh'ch the king 
 jhade to them off hand, the Gafcons were mightily 
 fatisfied, and remained at P>:ris, near the king's 
 perfT^r, without wifhing to xeturn home. 
 
 The prince was not pleafed at this conduQ. He 
 continued to perfevere, and to make his council 
 perfevere in the affair of the hearth tax. Sir Jt>hn 
 Chandos, who was one of the principal of his 
 council and a valorous knight, was of a contrary 
 opinion, and wanted the prince to delift : fo that, 
 when he faw he could not fucceed, in order that he 
 might not be accufcd nor have any blame, he re- 
 quefled leave of the prince to vifit his effate of 
 St. Saiivfcur le Vicomte, of which he was lord, for 
 he had not been there thefe three years. The prince 
 granted him leave; and fir John Chandos fet out 
 from Poitou for Coutantin, and reipained in the 
 town of St. Sauveur upwards of half a year. In the 
 mean time, the prince proceeded with thi-s tax, 
 which, if it had been properly managed, would 
 have been worth twelve hundred thoufand francs, 
 one paying with the other one franc each fire. We 
 will now return to king Henry, who had remained 
 in the kingdom of Arragon, and relate how he 
 condufted his affairso 
 
 CHAP. 
 
545 
 
 CHAP. CCXLIIL 
 
 THE BASTARD HENRY OF CASTILLE, BY THE AS- 
 SISTAN'CE OF THE KING OF ARRACON AND SIR. 
 BERTRAND DU GUESCLIN, AGAIN MAKES WAX. 
 
 UPON HIS BROTHER DON PEDRO. HAVING AE- 
 
 FEATED HIM IN A BATTLE, HE IS MADE PRI- 
 SONER, AND MURDERED. HENRY REMAINS E.INC 
 
 OF SPAIN. 
 
 'T^HE fituation of the prince of Wales and 
 the ftate of his affairs were well known to 
 the neighbouring monarchs; particularly to the 
 king of Arragon and king Henry; for they took 
 great pains to gain information concerning thera. 
 They had been truly told how the barons of Gaf- 
 cony were gone to Paris, to wait on the king; and 
 that all that country was beginning to rebel againft 
 the prince. This intelligence was not difpleafing to 
 cither of the above-mentioned kings, efpeeially king 
 Plenry, who looked forward to the conqueft of 
 Caftille, which he had loft through the power of 
 ihe prince of Wales. 
 
 King Henry took leave of the king of Arragon, 
 and fet out from the city of Valencia, accompanied 
 by the vifcounts de Roquebeitin* and de Rhodez. 
 Hiey had with them three thoufand men at arms 
 and hx thoufand infantry, including fome Genoefe, 
 who ferved for a fubfidy. 
 
 ♦ 'R.ocabettu—ferrera's fijji, Geg, d'Efffigne^ tranflated bf 
 .4'Hermilly, 
 
 This 
 
345 
 
 This body of men at arms advanced into Spain, 
 to the city of Burgos, which inftantly opened its 
 gates, and furrendered to king Henry, receiving 
 him as its lord. From thence they marched to Val- 
 ladolid; for king Henry had received information 
 that the king of Majorca had been left there, which 
 gave him great joy. 
 
 When the inhabitants of Valladolid heard that 
 thofe of Bjirgos had furrendered and had acknow- 
 ledged king Henry, they no longer thought of 
 making any refinance or holding out againft him, 
 but furrendered alfo, and received king Henry as 
 their lord, in the fame manner as formerly. 
 
 As foon as king Henry had entered the town, he 
 inquired where the king of Majorca was lodged, and 
 ■when the place was pointed out to him, he immcr 
 diately, on his going thither, entered the hotel and 
 the room where he was confined by illnefs. King 
 Henry advanced towards him, and faid; ' King 
 of Majorca, you have been our enemy, and have 
 entered our kingdom of Caftille with a large army; 
 for which reafons we lay our hands on you, and 
 make you our prifoner, or you are a dead man.' 
 The king of Majorca, fenfible of the difficulty of his 
 fituation, and that oppofition would be of no avail, 
 replied ; ' Sir, I am certainly dead, if you order it 
 {a^ but I am very willing to furrender myfelf as 
 your prifoner, and to you alone. If you intend to 
 place me in any other's hands, fay fo; for I had 
 much rather die than fall into the hands of my ad7 
 verfary the king of Arragon.' ' By no nieans 
 
 what 
 
347 
 
 whatever,' anfwercd king Henry, ' will I aO: fo dif* 
 Joyr.lly by you, for which, and with good reafon I 
 Jhould be greatly blarped. You fhall remain my 
 priloner, for nie to ranfom or fet at liberty accord* 
 ^ng to my own will and pleafure*.' 
 
 T,hus was the king of Majorca made prifoner, on 
 his oath, by king Henry, who placed a numerous 
 garrifon in Valladolid, for the more fecurely guard- 
 ing it, and then advanced towards the city of Leon 
 in Spain, which immediately opened its gates on 
 hearing he was marching that way. 
 
 Upon the furrender of the city of Leon to king 
 Henry, the whole province of Galicia did the fame, 
 and changed their party. The principal barons and 
 lords, who lately had done homage to the king don 
 Pedro, came out to meet king Henry; for, not- 
 withftanding their outward appearances of friend- 
 Ihip to don Pedro during the prefence of the prince 
 of Wales, they could not love him, from the 
 cruelties he had fqrmerly exercifed upon them, and 
 from their doubts of what he might do in future ; 
 whilft king Henry had always treated them kindly: 
 not only did he not opprefs them, but promifed to 
 do them much good : all the country, therefore, 
 jreiurned to their allegiance to him. 
 
 Sir Bertrand du Guefclin had not as yet arrived 
 ^n Spain, but was haitening to join king Henry 
 
 * The king of Majorca was afterwards ranfomed by his 
 wife, the too celebrated Jane of Naples, whofe third hufband he 
 Wijs, for Z 8,000 florins of gold. — Vie de du Guefclin, 
 
 with 
 
348 
 
 mih two thoufand figliting men. He had left the 
 "duke of Anjou, \vho had put an end to the war in 
 Provence, and broken up the fiege of Tarafcon by 
 a capitulation with its inhabitants, the terms of 
 V'hich I do not know*. 
 
 He had therefore fet out for Spain, attended by 
 feveral French kiiights and fquires, who were 
 defirous of fignalizing their prowefs, and had aU 
 ready entered Arragon to join king Henry, who 
 was laying fiege to the city of Toledo. 
 
 News was brought to the king don Pedro of all 
 thefe conquefts ; that the whole country was turning 
 to his brother the baftard, du ing the time he tarried 
 in the neighbourhood of Seville, and on the borders 
 of Portugal, where he was but little loved. Upon 
 hearing thefe tidings, he was in a violent rage 
 againfl: his brother and againft the Caftillians, who 
 had abandoned him, and declared with an oath, 
 that he would avenge himfelf fo feverely upon 
 them, they fhould be a warning to all others. He 
 
 * ' The duke of Anjou and Bertrand du Guefclin having 
 croffed the Rhone, laid fiege to Tarafcon, which is oppofite to 
 Beaucaire, the 4th March 1 368. The real hiftory of this fiege 
 is unknown to us ; for we cannot place any reliance on the 
 different authors of the life, or rather romance of Bertrand da 
 Guefclin, who relate various circumftances about it. What may- 
 be depended on is, that the duke of Anjou, having befiegcd 
 Tarafcon by fca and land, the inhabitants, who had an under- 
 ftandipg with him, delivered up the town, of which he made 
 himfelf mafter,' 
 
 ////?. Gen. de LnuguedoCi vol, iv. p. 336. 
 
 immc- 
 
349 
 
 immediately iffued his commands to all thofe from 
 %vhom he expe6lcd help or fervice. He fent to 
 fome, however, who never came, but excufed 
 themfelves to the beft of their ability ; whilft. 
 others turned to king Henry, and paid to him their 
 Jiomage. 
 
 When the king don Pedro found his people 
 were wavering, and failed to obey his fummons, he 
 began to be alarmed ; he therefore applied to don 
 Fernando de Caftro for counfel, who had never yet 
 deferted him. He advifed him to colleft as large a 
 force as he could from all countries, as well in 
 Granada as elfewhere, and to haften to meet his 
 brother before he fhould have made a farther pro- 
 grefs into the kingdom. 
 
 Don Pedro did not hefitate following this advice, 
 but fent to the king of Portugal, who was his 
 coufin-german, from whom he had a large body of 
 men; and alfo to the kings of Granada, Bellema- 
 rine and Tramefames*, with whom he entered into 
 alliances, and engaged to fupport them in their 
 kingdoms, and not to make war againft them for 
 the fpace of thirty years. Thefe kings, on their 
 part, fent him upwards of twenty thoufand Moors, 
 to aflift him in his war. Don Pedro ufed fo much 
 activity that he had aflembled, as well Chriftians as 
 
 * Eellemarlne — Tramefames. Probably Benmaiin and 
 Treme^en, kingdoms in Barbary. 
 
 Neither Mariana nor Ferreras make mention of any Other 
 king than Mahomet king of Granada, who joined don Pedro 
 with fix thoufand cavalry and about thirty thoufand men, 
 
 Hi/i. Ge?tt de I'L/pagne^ vol. v, p. 400. 
 
 MoorS| 
 
556 
 
 Kfdors, forty thoufahd men, in the country Toutid 
 Seville. 
 
 While thefe treaties and negotiations were going 
 forwards, and during the time of the fiege of To- 
 ledo, fir Bertrand du Guefclin, with his body oftwo 
 thoufand men, arrived in the camp of king Henrys 
 where he was received with great joy, as was 
 naturally to be expefted : the whole army were 
 happy at his arrival. The king don Pedro, who, aj 
 I have already faid, had alTembled his whole force 
 at Seville and in its environs, was defirous of giving 
 his brother battle : he left Seville with his nume* 
 rous army, in order to raife the fiege of Toledo. 
 There may be between thefe two places, Seville and 
 Toledo, feven days march. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to the army of king 
 Henry, that don Pedro was approaching with forty 
 thoufand men, including thofe of every defcription. 
 He called a council, to confider what was to be 
 done, to which all the French and Arragonian 
 knights were fummoned; and in particular fir Ber- 
 trand du Guefclin, by whole opinion they wifhed 
 to aO:. Sir Bertrand gave the following advice, 
 which was followed, namely, that king Henry 
 fhould immediately collc6l as many of his army as 
 he could fpare from the fiege, advance by forced 
 marches to meet don Pedro, and in whatever 
 fituation he ihould meet him begin the battle: 
 * For,' added he, ' we have heard that he is march- 
 ing againft us with a ftrong army, and he would be 
 too powerful, were he to come regularly upon us : 
 let us, therefore, be beforehand with him, without 
 
 his 
 
Sol 
 
 his knowing any thing of our intentions ; that we 
 may furprife him and his army fo unexpe£ledly as 
 to have the advantage, and, I doubt not, defeat 
 him/ 
 
 This plan of fir Bertrand was applauded and 
 followed. Towards evening, king Henry fet out 
 with a chofen body of men at arms, and left the 
 command of the fiege to his brother don Tello. 
 On his march, he had his fpies difperfed over the 
 country, in order to bring him exa6; intelligence the 
 moment they fhould fee or hear of don Pedro and 
 his army, and what condition they were in. 
 
 The king don Pedro was ignorant of every thing 
 his brother was doing, even of his marching to 
 meet him; fo that he and his army were advancin<y 
 flowly, in a very diforderly manner. It fell out, 
 that upon the dawn of day king Henry and bis 
 army met don Pedro and his force; for, the pre- 
 ceding night, he had (lept in a caftle called Montiel, 
 where the lord of Montiel had received him with 
 all pofTible honor and refpeO:. He had left it very 
 early in the morning, and was continuing his march 
 in the fame diforderly manner, for he never ex- 
 pefted to fight that day, when fuddenly king Henry, 
 his brother don Sancho, fir Bertrand du Guefclin, 
 by whofe orders they afted, le begue de Villaines, 
 the lord de Roquebertin, the vifcount de Rhodez ♦, 
 
 and 
 
 • M. Dillon, in his Hiftory of Peter the Cruel, fays, 
 * While Henry lay before Toledo, ambalTadors arrived at his 
 «aiop from Charles V, of France, who fent his chamberlain, 
 
 Fran* 
 
and their companies, with banners flying and pre- 
 pared for adion, came upon them : they might be 
 fix thoufand fighting men ; they advanced in very 
 clore order, and at a full gallop, fo that they fell 
 heavily and with a good will upon the firft they 
 met, crying out, * Caftille for king Henry!' and 
 * Our Lady, for Guefclin !' They overthrew and 
 defeated all whom they firft encountered, driving 
 them before them. Many were flain and unhorfed; 
 for none were made prifoners, according to the 
 orders of fir Bertrand du Guefclin the preceding 
 day, on account of the great number of Jews and 
 inhdels who were in don Pedro's army. 
 
 When don Pedro, who was advancing with the 
 largeft divifion of his army, received the news that 
 his van^ had been defeated by his brother the 
 baftard and the French, he was amazed where they 
 could come from : he perceived that he had been 
 betrayed, and was in danger of lofing every thing; 
 for his men were very much difperfed; fo that like 
 a bold and valiant knight as he was, and of great 
 refource and enterprize, he halted upon the fpot, 
 and ordered his banner to be difplayed in the wind 
 to rally his men. He fent orders for the rear to 
 advance with all fpeed, for that the engagement 
 was begun. Upon this all men of courage haftened 
 
 Francis de Perellcs, vifcount de Rhodez, and John de Ric, 
 lord of Neburis, to acquaint him, that war was declared be- 
 tween England and France, &c.' — Vol. ii. p. 104. 
 
 This John de Ric may perhaps be the Geoffry Ricon of 
 Froiffart. 
 
 towards 
 
OO 
 
 S 
 
 toCarJs this banner, wh^ch was fluttering in the 
 wind. The battle now btcame more general and 
 hot : many of don Pedro's army were (lain and 
 unhorfed ; for king Henry, fir Bertrand, and their 
 friends, fought them fo manfully, that none could 
 fland before them. The battle, however, was not fo 
 foon over ; for don Pedro had fuch immenfe num- 
 bers, as to be at leaft fix to one ; but they were fo 
 clofely followed that it was wonderful to fee how 
 they were difcomfited and flain. 
 
 This battle of Spaniards againft Spaniards, and 
 the two brother kings, with their allies, near Mon- 
 tiel, was very grand and horrible. Many were the 
 good knights on king Henry's fide; fuch as fir 
 Bertrand de Guefclin, fir GeofPry Ricon, fir Arnold 
 de Limoufin, fir Gauvain de Bailleul, le begue de 
 Villaines, Alain de St. Pol, Aliot de Calais, and the 
 Bretons who were there. From the kingdom of 
 Arragon were the vifcount de Rocaberti, the 
 vifcount de Rodais, with many other good knights 
 and fquires whom I cannot name, who performed 
 various gallant deeds of arms, as in truth they had 
 full need. They had ftrange people to encounter, 
 fuch as Moors and Portuguefe : the Jews who were 
 there very foon turned their backs, and would 
 not fight; but thofe from Granada and Bellema- 
 rine fought valiantly : they were armed with bows 
 and lances, of which they made good ufe, and 
 behaved themfelves right well. Don Pedro was in 
 the midft, and with intrepid courage fought fo 
 valiantly with his battle-axe that fcarcely any dared 
 to come near him. 
 
 Vol. III. A a King 
 
354 
 
 King Henry drew up his divifion oppofite to his 
 brother, in very compa6l order, and full of bold 
 combatants, who fhouted loudly, making good ufe 
 ef their lances; fo that the army of don Pedro was 
 thrown into confufion, and thofe near his pcrfon 
 began to be alarmed. Don Fernando de Caftro, 
 who had watched over the king his lord, foon per- 
 ceived (fo good was his judgment) that their army 
 would be beaten ; for they were too much fright- 
 ened from having been fo fuddenly attacked : he 
 therefore faid to don Pedro, ' Sir, fave yourfelf, 
 and haften back to the caftle of Montiel, which you 
 left this morning : if you retire thither, you will be 
 in fafety; but if you be taken, your enemies will 
 ilay you without mercy.* The king approved of 
 this advice, fet out dire£Uy on his retreat to the 
 caftle of Montiel, and arrived there fo a-propos 
 that he found the gates of the caftle ©pen, where 
 he was received with only eleven followers. 
 
 Whilft this was paffing, the remainder of his 
 men, who were difperfed over the plain, continued 
 the combat as well as they could; for the Moors 
 who were among them, and had not any knowledge 
 of the country, were indifferent whether they were 
 direQly flain br fuffered a long purfuit : they there- 
 fore fold their lives dearly. Others alfo ahed mar- 
 velloufly well. 
 
 Intelligence was brought to king Henry and to 
 fir Bertrand, that don Pedro had retreated to the 
 caftle of Montiel, where he had fhut himfelf up ; 
 that le begue de Villaines and his men had purfued 
 hid to the caftlcj which had but one path to enter 
 
 or 
 
555 
 
 or come from it, and that le begue had there 
 placed himfelf and fixed his pennon. King Henry 
 and fir Bertrand were delighted with this news i 
 they advanced towards that place fighting and flay- 
 ing multitudes, killing them like beafts : they were 
 quite fatigued with this bufinefs of butchery. The 
 purfuit lafted more than three long hours, and 
 there were upwards of fourteen thoufand killed and 
 Vounded : very few efcaped : thofe who did were 
 from that part of the country, and acquainted with 
 its ftrong places. 
 
 This battle was fought Under Montiel, and in its 
 environs, the 13th day of Auguft, 1368. 
 
 After the defeat of don Pedro and his army, king 
 Henry and fir Bertrand encamped themfelves before 
 the caflle of Montiel, where don Pedro was : they 
 furrounded it on all fides : for they faid truly, that 
 what they had hitherto done would be of no effeft, 
 unlefs they took the caflle of Montiel, with don 
 Pedro, who had fliut himfelf up in it. They fent 
 the principal part of their force back to Toledo, 
 in order to reinforce the befiegers, which was very 
 agreeable to don Tello, who commanded there*. 
 
 The caflle of Montiel was of fufficient flrength to 
 have held out a confiderable time, if it had been 
 properly victualled ; bur when don Pedro entered 
 it, there was not enough for four days, which 
 
 * M. Dillon fays, that Manrique, archbifliop of Toledo, af- 
 fifted by feme able officers, had the command of the blockade 
 of Seville, when Henry marched to meet don Pedro ; and that 
 don Tello had joined the king of Navarre in fpoiling the king- 
 ilom of Spain, 
 
 A a a much 
 
356 
 
 much alarmed him and his companions. They 
 were fo ftriftly watched that a bird could not efcape 
 from the caftle without being noticed. 
 
 Don Pedro was in great anguifh of heart at fee- 
 ing himfelf thus furrounded by his enemies, well 
 knowing that they would not enter into any treaty 
 of peace or agreement with him ; fo that confider- 
 ing his dangerous fituation, and the great want of 
 provilion in the caftle, he was advifed to attempt 
 an efcape with his eleven companions about mid- 
 night, and to put himfelf under the protection of 
 God : he was offered guides that would condu6l 
 him to a place of fafety. 
 
 They remained in the caftle, with this determi- 
 nation, until midnight, when don Pedro, accom- 
 panied by don Fernando de Caftro and others of 
 the eleven companions, fet out. It was very dark. 
 At this hour the begue de Villaines had the com- 
 mand of the watch, with upwards of three hundred 
 men, 
 
 Don Pedro had quitted the caftle with his com- 
 panions, and was defcending by an upper path, but 
 fo quietly that it did not appear as if any one was 
 moving: however, the begue de Villaines, who had 
 many fufpicions, and was afraid of lofing the object 
 of his watch, imagined he heard the found of 
 horfes' feet upon the caufeway : he therefore faid 
 to thofenear him : ' Gentlemen, keep quiet : make 
 no movement : for I hear the fteps of fome people. 
 We muft know who they are, and what they feek 
 at fuch an hour. I fufpeft they are victuallers, who 
 are bringing provifion to the caftle; for I know 
 
 it 
 
357 
 
 it is in this refpeQ very fcantily provided.' The 
 begue then advanced, his dagger on his wrift, 
 towards a man who was clofe to don Pedro, and 
 demanded, ' Who art them? Speak, or thou art 
 a dead man.' The man to whom the begue had 
 fpoken was an EngHlhman, and rcfuled to anfwer i 
 he bent himfeif over his faddle, and uartied forwards. 
 The begue fuffered him to pais ; when addreffing 
 himfeif to don Pedro, and examining him earneltly, 
 he fancied it was the king, notwuhitanding the 
 darknel's of the night, from his likenefs to king 
 Henry his brother, for they very much refembled 
 each other. He demanded from him, in placing 
 his dagger on his breaft, ' And you, who are you ? 
 Name yourfelf, and furrender this moment, or you 
 are a dead man.' In thus faying, he caught hold 
 of the bridle of his horfe, and would not fuffer him 
 to efcape as the former had done. 
 
 King don Pedro, who law a large body of men at 
 arms before him, and found that he could not by 
 any meaws efcape, faid to the begue de Villaines, 
 whom he recognized; ' Begue, begue, 1 am don 
 Pedro king of Caftille, to whom much wrong has 
 been imputed, through evil counfellors. I furrender 
 ;aiyfelf, and all my people, but twelve in number, as 
 thy prifoners: we place ourfelves under thy guard 
 and difpolition. I befeech thee, in the name of thy '" 
 gentility, that thou put me in a place of fafety. I 
 will pay for my ranfom whatever fum thou fhalt 
 pleafe to aflv; for, thank God, I have yet a fuffi- 
 ciency to do that; but thou mull prevent me from 
 falling into the hands of the ballard.' 
 
 A a 3 The 
 
358 
 
 The begue (according to the information I have 
 fmte received) replied, that he and his company 
 might come with him in all fecurity; for that his 
 brother fhould not from him have any intelligence 
 of what had happened *. Upon this confideration, 
 they advanced, when don Pedro was conducled to 
 the tent of the begue, and into the chamber of fir 
 Lyon de Lakonet. He had not been there an hour, 
 when king Henry and the vifcount de Rocaberti, 
 with their attendants, but not in great numbers, 
 came thither. As foon as king Henry had entered 
 the chamber where don Pedro was, he faid, ' Where 
 is this fon of a jewifli whore who calls himfelf king 
 of Caftille ?' Don Pedro, who was a bold as well as 
 a cruel man, fteppcd forward, and faid ; ' Why, 
 thou art the fon of a whore, and I am the fon of 
 Alphonfo.' On faying this, he caught hold of king 
 Henry in his arms, began to wreflle with him, and, 
 being the ftrongeft, threw him down under him 
 upon line aubarde^ qu on dit en Francois coejle de 
 materats de Joye\ : placing his hand on his poig- 
 
 nard. 
 
 * There are different accounts of this affair. Ferreras at- 
 tributes the capture of don Pedro to Bertrand du Guefclin, and 
 not much to his honor : but I cannot believe this, as avarice 
 was not a vice of fuch gallant men, and am inclined to believe 
 Froiffart has been rightly informed. 
 
 + Not knowing how to tranflate this, I have left it as in 
 the original. Du Cange, in the laft volume of his Gloflary, 
 refers the word anharde to ahharda^ in the firft volume of 
 the fupplement, which is as follows : ' Ahbarda, Clitella — 
 flddey Prorincialibus bardo, noftris olim ^^r^f, equi armatura. 
 
 Aubardc 
 
S59 
 
 nard, he would infallibly have killed him, if the 
 vifcount de Rocaberti had not been prefent, who, 
 feizing d. -n Pedro by the legs, turned him over, by 
 which means king Henry being uppermoft, imme- 
 diately drew a long poignard which he wore in his 
 fa{h, a.ad plungea it into his body. His attendants 
 enterec; the tent, and helped to difpatch him. There 
 were flain with him a knight from England called 
 fir Raoul Heliae, who had formerly had the fur- 
 name of the Green Squire, and anodier efquire of 
 the name of James Roland, becaufe they had put 
 themlcives in poltures of defence*. 
 
 But MO harm was done to don Fernando de 
 Caftro, nor to the reft of don Pedro's attendants : 
 they continued, therefore, prifoners to le begue de 
 Villaines and to fir Lyon de Lakonet. 
 
 Thus died don Pedro king of Caftille, who had 
 formerly reigned in great profperity. Thofe who 
 
 Aubarde vero dixerunt, pro culcitra, vulgo coue de matelas.' 
 Froifl'art quoting the expreffions in the text. 
 
 Alhardacha. — Gall. Hailebarde. Vide fupra Alabarda. — Du 
 Cange. 
 
 * * With this unfortunate monarch there alfo fell two gal- 
 lant Englifhmen, who were flain for having drawn their fwords 
 in his 4efeaee when grappling with Henry. Thefe were fir 
 Ralph Holmes and James Rowland The life of Fernando de 
 Caftro was fpared, on account of hi ^ong attachment and fidelity 
 to his fovereign. 
 
 ' Don Fernando de Caftro, after the death ,<Df king Peter, 
 made his efcape into Portugal, and afterwards retired to 
 Guienne, where he died. Over his tomb was placed the 
 following infcription : * Aqui yace don Fernando perez 
 
 P^ CASTRO, TODA LA FIDELIDAD DE ESPANA.' 
 
 P'tUon's Hifl, of Peter the Cruel, vol, ii, p. 1 1 9. 
 
 A a 4 had 
 
560 
 
 had flain him left him three days unburied, which 
 was a pity for the fake of humanity ; and the Spa- 
 niards made their jokes upon him. 
 
 On the morrow, the lord of Montiel came to fur- 
 render hirafelf to king Henry, who received him gra- 
 cioufly, as well as all thofe who returned to their 
 allegiance. News was foon fpread abroad of the 
 death of don Pedro, to the great joy of his enemies 
 and forrow of his friends. .When the king of Por- 
 tugal heard in what manner his coufin don Pedro 
 had been flain, he was mightily vexed at it, and 
 fwore he would have fatisfatlion for it. He imme- 
 diately fent a challenge to king Henry, and made 
 \var upon him, remaining mafter of all the environs 
 of Seville for one whole fcafon. This, however, 
 did not prevent king Henry from following his en- 
 terprize : he returned before Toledo, which furren- 
 dered to him as foon as it learnt the death of don 
 Pedro ; as did all the other parts of the country 
 dependant on the crown of CalUlle. Even the king 
 of Portugal did not wifli to continue the war longer 
 againft king Henry ; fo that there was a treaty of 
 peace concluded between them, by means of the 
 barons and prelates of Spain. 
 
 King Henry, therefore, reigned in peace over all 
 Cadille. Sir Bertranri du Guefclin, fir Olivier de 
 Mauny, and fome others from France, Brittany and 
 Arragon, continued with him, to whom king Henry 
 '^ behaved very handfomely : indeed, he was in juf- 
 lice bound fo to do, for without their aid he would 
 never have been able to have accompliflied this 
 iDufmefs. Sir Bertrand du Guefclin was made con- 
 r, {table 
 
S6\ 
 
 flable of Spain, and received the eftate of Soria, 
 worth twenty thoufand francs a-year. The king gave 
 to his nephew, fir Olivier de Mauny, the eftate of 
 Create, worth ten thoufand francs a-year : and fo 
 on to the other knights with fuch liberahty that they 
 were all contented. King Henry went to Burp-os 
 with his queen and children, to hold his court 
 there, which he did in a princely ftile*. 
 
 The kings of France and of Arragon, as well as 
 the duke of Anjou who loved him perfonally, were 
 very much rejoiced at the fortunate event of the 
 war. 
 
 About this time died the lord Lionel of England, 
 who had crolfed the Alps, as has been before re- 
 lated, and had taken for his wife the daughter of 
 the lord Galeas Vifconli, fovereign of Milan. But, 
 as his death appeared extraordinary t, the lord Ed- 
 ward Defpenfer, his companion, who had remained 
 
 with 
 
 * * King Henry aflcmbled the ftates of the realm at Me- 
 dina d'el Campo, to make arrangements for recompenling 
 the French and other knights. They paid Bertrand du 
 Guefclin one hundred and twenty thoufand gold florins. 
 The king alfo gave Soria, Almazan, Atien9a, Monteagudo 
 and Seron, with their dependencies, to fir Bertrand ; to 
 Oirvier de Mauny, Agreda : Ribadeo, with the title of 
 count, to the Viguer de Villames, whom he niarr^xi to a lady 
 of the Guzman family : Aquilar de Campo to Geofiry Relor, 
 and Villalpand to Arnold Solier.* 
 
 FerrerasHifi, d'Efpagne, vol. v. pp. 414, 415". 
 
 + * Anno Domini 1367, et regni 42 Edwardi, Leonellus 
 dux Clarentia; obiit in natali S. Maria^, ut fertur, potiona- 
 tUS.' Lelatidi Colle8aiien, yoI, I. p. 25 J. 
 
362 
 
 %\'\d\ him, declared war againft Galeas, and flew 
 many of his fubje6ls at different times : at laft, 
 
 how 
 
 * Quo anno (1368), menfe Apx'ilis, Leonellus dux Cla- 
 rencias, regis Edwardi tertii filius, cum eleda multitudine no- 
 bilium Anglicorum tranfivit verfus Mediolanum, ad accipi- 
 endum in uxorem filiam domini Gallias, domini Mediolani, 
 cum qua medietatera ejufdem dominii fuerat habiturus. Sed 
 tamen modico tempore fuper conjuge vel dominio gaudere 
 pcrmifius eft, morte (quEc cunfta disjungit & feparat) mox 
 prsventus. Celebrate nempe inter cos cum maxima gloria 
 matwmonio, Leonellus, circa feftum nativitatis beatae Marias 
 proximo fequentem diem claufit extremum.' 
 
 Tko. Walfingham Hi ft. Angli. EdiAj. III. pp. 132, 3, 
 
 * Moreover, at the coming of Leonell, fuch abundance of 
 treafure was in moft bounteous manner fpent, in making 
 ©f moft fumptuous feafts, fetting forth ftately fights, and 
 honoring with rare gifts above two hundred Englifhmen 
 who accompanied his fon. in-law, as it feemed to furpafs the 
 greatnefs of moft wealthy princes : for the banquet at whiclj 
 Francis Petrarch was prefent amongft the chiefcft guefts, 
 had about thirty courfes of fervice at the table, and betwixt 
 «very courfe there were as many prefents of wondrous price 
 intermixed ; all which John Galeafius, chief of the choice 
 youth, bringing to the table, did offer to Leonell. There 
 were in one only courfe feventy goodly horfes, adorned wjth 
 filk and filver furniture ; and in another filver veffels, fal- 
 cons, hounds, armour for horfes, coftly coats of mail, breaft^ 
 plates gliftering of maify fteel, helmets and ccrfelets decked 
 with coftly crcfts, apparelled diftinft with coftly jewels, foU 
 dicrs girdles, and laftly certain gems by curious art fet in 
 gold, and purple, and cloth of gold for mens apparel in great 
 abundance. And fuch was the fumptuoufnefs of that ban. 
 quet that the meats which were brought from table would 
 fufficiently have ferved ten thoufand men. But not long 
 after, Leonell, living with his new wife, whilft after the 
 manner of his own country, as forgetting or not regarding 
 
 his 
 
363 
 
 however, the earl of Savoy made peace between 
 them. Let us now return to what was going for- 
 wards in the duchy of Acquitaine. 
 
 CHAP. CCXLIV. 
 
 KING CHARLES V. IS ADVISED TO DECLARE HrM- 
 SELF LORD PARAMOUNT OF GUIENNE AND AC- 
 QUITAINE, ON ACCOUNT OF THE HEARTH TAX 
 WHICH THE PRINCE OF WALES WAS ABOUT TO 
 
 RAISE. THIS CAUSES A RENEWAL OF THE 
 
 WAR BETVwEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH. 
 
 \\7 E have before related how the prince had been 
 advifed to raife a l^arth tax in his do- 
 minions: by which many thought themfelves over- 
 burdened, efpecially the Gafeons ; for thofe of the 
 low countries of Poitou, Saintonge and laRochellc 
 had acceded to it with tolerable good humour, as 
 living nearer the refidence of their prince, and 
 as being more obedient and moretratlably difpoled 
 to the ordinances of their lords, more to be de- 
 pended on, and firmer in their allegiance than thDfe 
 from the more diftant parts of the country. 
 
 his change of air, he addifted himfelf overmuch to untimely 
 banquettings, fpent and confumed with a lingering ficknefs, 
 ■died at Alba.' 
 
 This account from Stow, pp. 267, 268, edition 1631, 
 feems very naturally to account for the death of the duke of 
 Clarence, without fuppofing it caufed by treachery. 
 
 For a more particular account of this entertainment, fee 
 Corio's Hiftory of Milan, printed at Milan 1503. 
 
 In 
 
564- 
 
 In order to carry tbefe intentions of tlie prince 
 into efFett, feveral parliaments were held at Niort, 
 Ancfouleme, Poitiers, Bourdeaux and Berserac : 
 but the Gafcons declared they would never pay this 
 tax, nor fuffer it to be laid upon their lands, and 
 afferted, that they had an appeal to the courts of 
 the king of France. This claim of appeal much 
 angered the prince, who anfwered, that they had no 
 fuch appeal ; for that the king of France had fur- 
 rendered all right to appeals and jurifdi8ions, 
 when he had given thefe territories to his lord and 
 father, as was fully apparent by the treaties of 
 peace 3 for that the negotiators of this peace had 
 not referved the flighteil article whereby an appeal 
 to the king of France could be made. To this the 
 Gafcons replied*, that it was not lawful for the 
 king of France, nor in his power, nor had ever 
 been in his power, to free them from appealing to 
 him, without the will of the prelates, baror.s, cities 
 and principal towns of Gafcony, who would neveF 
 have confented to it, nor ever will confent to it, if 
 it were to be propofed, becaufe it would be the 
 caufe of a perpetual warfare with France. 
 
 Thus were the prince and the barons of Gafcony 
 quarrelling with each other; for either party fup- 
 ported his own opinion, and maintained that it was' 
 the right. The earl of Armagnac, the earl of 
 Comminges, the lord d'Albret, the earl of Perigord 
 and feveral other barons from Gafcony, remained 
 quiet at Paris, near the perfon of the king, and at 
 his Icifure moments informed his majefty, that the 
 prince, lhrx)ugh pride and prefumption, was de- 
 
 firous 
 
365 
 
 firous of trampling them under his feet, and op= 
 preffing them with taxes upon their lands which 
 had not been heard of before, and which they 
 would never permit to be levied. They demon- 
 ■ftrated to the king, that they had an appeal to him, 
 and demanded that the prince fliould be fummoned 
 before the parliament and the peers, to anfwer for 
 the grievances and opprefTions he intended to lay 
 on them. 
 
 The king of France liftened with complacency 
 to thefe lords of Gafcony, when they requefted from 
 him help and affiftance as from their fovereign lord, 
 adding, that fhould he refufe it to them, they 
 would withdraw their allegiance, and apply to fome 
 other court ; fo that, for fear of lofmg his claim to 
 this fovereignty, he in the end complied with their 
 requeil. 
 
 He was, however, fenfible that this affair mull 
 caufe a war, which he was defirous not to begin 
 without fome appearance of right : befides, his king- 
 dom was not recovered from the effefts of the late 
 war, nor from the oppreffions of the free compa- 
 nies and other enemies. In addition alfo to thefe 
 reafons, his brother the duke of Berry was ftill a 
 hoftage in England ; fo that he was determined to 
 a6l with prudence and caution. 
 
 About this time, fir Guy de Ligny, earl of 
 St. Pol, had returned to France from England, 
 without permilTion of the Englifii, by a very in- 
 genious trick. As the full detail of it would take 
 a confiderable time, I pafs it ©ver. This earl hated 
 the Engliili more than words can exprefs^ and took 
 
 much 
 
366 
 
 much pains that the king of France fhould acCedd! ' 
 to therequeft of the Gafcon lords; for he was weH 
 aware, that if the prince of Wales were fummonedto 
 appear before the parliament, it would create a war. 
 
 Many prelates, barons, earls and knights of 
 France had united themfelves with the earl of Su 
 Pol, and had told the king, that the: king of Eng- 
 land had not in any Way maintained the peace, nor 
 paid any refpe6l to what he had fworn and fealed, 
 according to the tenor of the treaties which had 
 been made at Bretigny near Chartres, and after- 
 wards confirmed at Calais ; for the Englifh had 
 carried on the war with France in an underhand 
 manner, as much, if not more, fince the peace had 
 been made than before. They remonftrated with 
 the king on this fubjeft, adding, that if he would 
 bave the articles and treaty of peace read, which had 
 been accepted by the king of England and his eldeft 
 fon upon their faith and oath, he would find the 
 truth of what they had told him. 
 
 Upon this, the king of France, to be better in- 
 formed, and to preferve the rights of his crown, 
 ordered all the papers relative to the laft peace, to 
 be brought to the council-chamber, where they 
 were read feveral times, that the different points 
 and articles might be fully examined. They were 
 very carefully infpetlcd, and among them they 
 found one relating to the territories given up, 
 which the king and his council fixedon with greater 
 attention, bccaufe it fpoke fully and clearly on the 
 fubjeft they were defirous to difcufs. The paper 
 was in thefe terms : 
 
 ' Edward, 
 
367 
 
 ' Edward, by the grace of God, king of Eng- 
 land, lord of Irelandand of Acquitaine, to all thofe 
 to whom thefe prefent letters fhall come, greeting. 
 Know all, that in the agreement and final peace 
 entered into between our very dear brother the 
 king of France and ourfelves, there are two articles 
 of the folloM'ing tenor : Item, the aforefaid kings 
 fiiall be bound to have all the before-mentioned 
 filings confirmed by our holy father the pope ; 
 and they fhall be flrengthened by oaths, fentences 
 and cenfnres of the court of Rome, and by every 
 other bond in the flrongeft manner pofTible : and 
 there fhall be obtained from the aforefaid court of 
 Rome difpenfations, abfolutions, and letters in re- 
 gard to the perfefting and accomplifhing this pre- 
 fent treaty, which fhall be forwarded to the diffe- 
 rent parties within three weeks at the latell after 
 the king fliall be arrived at Calais. Item, in order 
 that the aforefaid things, which have been gone 
 through and treated of, may be more firm and 
 liable, the fecurities which follow fhall be given; 
 that is to fay, letters drawn up in the beft pofTible 
 manner by the councils of the two kings, and feal- 
 ed with the feals of the two kings, and alfo with 
 the feals of their two eldeft fons. The aforefaid 
 kings, their eldefl fons, and their children, as well 
 as others of the branches of the royal family, and 
 of the principal nobility of their kingdoms, to the 
 number of twenty, fhall fv/ear they will keep, and 
 help to keep as far as in them lies, all thefe articles 
 which have been made, entered into and agreed 
 upon, and will keep them without doing any thing 
 
 coil' 
 
^6$ 
 
 contrary, either by fraud, malice, or by any hin- 
 drance whatever. And if there fiiould be any per- 
 fons in the two before-mentioned kingdoms of 
 France and England who fhall be rebellious, and 
 not confenting to the aforefaid treaties, the two 
 aforefaid kings together fhall ufe every exertion of 
 body, fortunt and friends, to bring the aforefaid 
 rebels into true obedience, according to the form 
 and tenor of the aforefaid treaty. And withal the 
 two aforefaid kings will fubmit themfelves and their 
 kingdoms to the coercion of our holy father the 
 pope, in order that he may conftrain by ecclefiafti- 
 cal cenfures, or other proper means, him who fhall 
 be rebellious, according to what fball be thought 
 reafonable. And among the fecurities and affur- 
 ances aforefaid, the two kings fhall renounce for 
 themfelves and their heirs, upon their faith and 
 oath, all wars and actions of war : and if through 
 difobedience, rebellion or power of fome of the 
 fubjefts of the kingdom of France, or through any 
 other juil caufe, the king of France fliall not be 
 able to accompli fh and fulfil all the things aforefaid, 
 the king of England aforefaid, his heirs and king- 
 dom, or any of them, fliall not make war, nor 
 caufe war to be made upon the aforefaid king of 
 France, nor upon his heirs nor kingdom ; but both 
 together fhould unite and exert themfelves in bring- 
 ing back the aforefaid rebels to their proper obe- 
 dience, and to the fulfilling the aforefaid things. 
 And alfo, if in the aforefaid kingdom, and under 
 the obedience of the king of England, there fhould 
 be any not willing to furrender and give up thofe 
 
 caflles, 
 
S69 
 
 caftles, towns or fortrefTes which they hold in the 
 kin<^dom of France, nor to obey the afprefaid 
 treaty: or if, through any jufl; caufe, the king of 
 England fliall be prevented from accomplifliing 
 what is laid down in the aforefaid treaty, neither 
 the king of France, his heirs, nor any one for them, 
 fliall make war upon the king of England, nor up- 
 on his kingdom; but both of them together will, 
 with all their might, endeavour to regain the afore- 
 faid caflles, towns and fortrefTes, and to bring back 
 fuch rebels to their proper obedience, fo that the 
 perfed fulfilment of the aforefaid treaties may ht 
 wrought. And there fhall be mutually given on 
 both parts, according to the nature of the a8:, 
 every fort of fecurity which may be devifed, as well 
 by the pope and college of Rome as by others, for 
 the maintaining the peace and other articles of the 
 treaty. For which reafons, widiing to preferveand 
 cherifh a perpetual peace and love between us and 
 our aforefaid brother and kingdom of France, we 
 have renounced, and by thefe prefents do renounce, 
 all war and offenfive afts againft our brother afore- 
 faid, his heirs and fucceffors, the kingdom of 
 France, and his fubjefts. And we promife and 
 fwear, and have promifed and fworn upon the body 
 of Jesus Christ, for ourfelves and fucceffors, that 
 we will not do, nor fuiTer to be done, any aft or 
 word againft this renunciationj nor againft any thing . 
 contained in thefe aforefaid articles. And if we 
 fhould do or fuffer to be done any thing to the con- 
 trary, which God forbid, we arc willing to be re- 
 puted falfe, wicked and perjured, and to incur fuch 
 Vol. III. Bb blame 
 
370 
 
 blame and infamy as a confecrated and crowned 
 king ought to incur in fimilar cafes. We renounce 
 all idea of importuning any difpcnfation or abfolu- 
 tion from the pope from our oath aforefaid ; and 
 if obtained, we declare it. to be null and of no 
 weight, and that no advantage whatever ought to 
 be made of it. In order more fully to ftrengthen 
 the aforefaid declarations, we fubmit ourfelves, our 
 heirs and fuccefiTors, to the jurifdi6tion and coercion 
 of the church of Rome, and will and confent that 
 our holy father the pope confirm all thefe things by 
 ordering monitory and general mandates for the 
 accomplifliment of them, againft us, our heirs and 
 fucceffors, and againft our fubjefts, (whether com- 
 monalties, univerfitics, colleges or private perfons 
 of whatever defcription,} and by granting fentences 
 of excommunication, fufpenfion or interdift, to be 
 incurred by us or by them, as foon as we or they 
 fiiall attempt or do any thing contrary to thefe arti- 
 cles, by occupying towns, caftles, fortreffes, or any 
 other a6l, by giving comfort, aid, advice or affift- 
 ance, that may in any way infringe upon the true 
 meaning of this treaty. 
 
 ' We have caufed our very dear eldeft fon, Ed- 
 ward prince of Wales, to fwear to the aforefaid 
 articles, in like manner as ourfelf; and alfo our 
 younger fons, Lionel earl of Ulfter, John earl of 
 Richmond and Edmund of Langley ; and alfo our 
 dear coufin Philip de Navarre, the dukes of Lan- 
 cafter and Brittany, the earls of Stamford and Salif- 
 bury, the lord of Manny, the captal de Buch, the 
 lord de Montfort, lord James Audiey, fir Roger 
 
 Beau- 
 
371 
 
 Beauchamp, fir John Chandos, lord Ralph Ferrers,' 
 lord Edward de Spenfer, fir William and fir 
 Thomas Felton, fir Euftace d'An^breticourt, ffr 
 Franque van Halle, fir John Moubray, fir Bartholo- 
 mew Burgherfli, fir Henry Percy, and feveral other 
 knights. And we will alfo have the aforefaid 
 articles in like manner fworn to, as foon as we well 
 can, by our other children, and by the greater part 
 of our prelates, churchmen, earls, barons and other 
 nobles of our realm. In witnefs whereof, we have 
 affixed our feal to thefe prefents, given in our town 
 of Calais, the 24th day of 06lober, in the year of 
 grace 1360*. 
 
 Among other letters which had been drawn up, 
 as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais, dur- 
 ing king John's refidence there, was the above letter, 
 now under examination of king Charles, his cldelt 
 fon, and the principal perfons of his council. After 
 it had been maturely confidered' by the prelates and 
 barons of France who had been fummoned to this 
 council, they told the king, that neither the king of 
 England nor the prince of Wales had kept or ful- 
 filled the articles of the treaty of Bretigny; but, on 
 the contrary, had taken poffeffion of caftles and 
 towns by force, and had remained in the aforefaid 
 kingdom of France, to its great lofs ; where they 
 had pillaged and ranfomed its fubjeds ; by which 
 means, l^he payment for the redemption of the late 
 king John was ftill part in arrear : that upon this, 
 and upon other points, the king of France and his 
 
 * See this and other treaties, in the Fcedera, relative to the 
 peace of Bretigny. 
 
 B b 2 fubjefts 
 
572 
 
 fubje£ls had good right and jiift caufe to break the 
 peace, to make war upon the Englifh, and deprive 
 them of the po{Te(rioiis they had on this fide the 
 fea. 
 
 The king was alfo fecretly advifed, after much 
 deliberation, in fuch words as thefe : ' Dear fire, 
 undertake with courage this war : you have a very 
 good ciiufe to induce )ou to do fo : and know, 
 that as foon as ycAi fliall have determined upon it, 
 you will find that many in the duchy of Acquitaine 
 will turn to your fide; fuch as prelates, barons, 
 earls, knights, fquires, and citizens of the principal 
 towns; for as the prince proceeds in levying this 
 hearth tax, in the fame proportion will hatred and 
 ill-will follow from all ranks, as they will be very 
 miferable fhould he fucceed in his attempt. As 
 for thofe of Poitou, Saintonge, Rouergue, Quercy, 
 and la Rochelle, from their nature they cannot love 
 the Englifli, who in their turn, being proud and 
 prefumptuous, have not any affedion for them, nor 
 ever had. Add to this, that the officers of the 
 prince are fuch extortioners, as to lay their hands on 
 whatever they can find, i'ud levy fuch heavy taxes, 
 under the name of the prince, that they leave nothing 
 to the fubject : bendes, the gentlemen of the coun- 
 try cannot obtain any offices, for they are all feized 
 on by the Englidi knights attached to the prince.' 
 
 By thefe arguments, the king of France was de- 
 termined to declare war; and the duke of Anjou, 
 who at that time was at Touloufe, took great pains 
 to bring it about; for he was very defirous that the 
 war fliuuld be renewed with the Englifh, as he was 
 
 one 
 
one who could not love them for fome affronts they 
 had put upon him in former times*. 
 
 On the other hand, the Gafcons frequently faid 
 to the king of France; ' Dear fire, we infift that 
 we have an appeal to your court, (and therefore 
 fupplicate you to do usjuflice, as being the mofl; up- 
 right prince in the world,) in regard to the great in- 
 juries and extortions which the prince of Wales and 
 his people want to impofe upon us. Should you 
 refufe, however, to do us right, we will feek for it 
 in other courts, and we will place ourfelves under 
 that lord who will exert himfelf to prcferve our 
 rights; by which means you may lofe the princi- 
 pality.' 
 
 The king of France, who^ very unwillingly 
 would have fufPered this lofs, for it would have been 
 of the greateft prejudice to his kingdom, made a 
 courteous reply; ' that never, for want of law or 
 advice fhould they apply to any other court ih;-in his 
 own; but it was proper fuch affairs Ihoald be treat- 
 ed with much deliberation and prudence.' 
 
 In this manner, he kept them in expefclation for 
 one year, detaining them privately at Paris; where, 
 befides paying all their expences, he made them 
 handfome prefents and gave them rich jewels. He, 
 however, inquired fccretly, whether, in cafe the 
 peace fhould be broken, and war with the Englifh 
 recommence, they would fupport him : they re- 
 plied, that he ought not to be alarmed, nor prevent- 
 
 * Very probably for having efcaped difhpnorably from Eng- 
 land, where he was an holtage for his father king John, 
 
 B b 3 ed 
 
374 
 
 ed from carrying on the war in their country, as 
 they were fufficiently able to make head againft the 
 prince, and all the force he could employ. 
 
 The king, at the fame time, founded thofe of 
 Abbeville, if they would return to their allegiance, 
 and become good Frenchmen : they defired no- 
 thing more earneftly than to do fo, for much did 
 they hate the Englifh. Thus did the king of 
 France acquire friends on all fides : otherwife, he 
 would not have dared to aft as he did. At this 
 time was born Charles of France, eldeft fon to the 
 king of France, in the year of grace, 1368, which 
 gave great joy to the kingdom. Before this time, 
 had been born Charles d'Albret. The birth of thefe 
 two children, who were coufins german, was highly 
 pleafing to the whole realm, but particularly to the 
 king of France. 
 
 CHAP. CCXLV. 
 
 TriE KING or FRANCE SENDS A SUMMONS TO TH£ 
 PRINCE OF WALES, TO APPEAR IN THE CHAMBER 
 OF PEERS AT PARIS, IN THE MATTER OF AN AP- 
 PEAL FROM THE BARONS OF GASCONY^ 
 
 HTHE king of France was fo ftrongly advlfed by 
 his council, and fo ftrenuoufly entreated by the 
 Gafcons, that a > appeal was drawn up, and fent to 
 Acquitaine, to fummon the prince of Wales to ap- 
 pear before the pailiament of Paris. It was in the 
 names of the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, 
 the earls of Perigord and of Comminges, the vif- 
 
 count 
 
^75 
 
 count of Carmaing, the lords de la Barde and de 
 Pincornet, who were the principal appellants. 
 
 In this appeal, the faid Gafcons complained of 
 certain oppreflive grievances which the prince of 
 Wales and of Acquitane was about to inflift on 
 them and their valfals; and that the faid Gafcons 
 appealed to and claimed the jurifdittion of the king 
 of PVance, whom, as a matter of right, they had - 
 chofen for their judge. 
 
 When this appeal from the faid barons and lo'ds 
 of Gafcony had been well drawn out, and reduced 
 to writing, after different coireQions in the bed 
 poffible manner by the wifefl; of the French coun- 
 cil, and after it had been very fully confidered, they 
 refolved that it fhould be fignified to the prince of 
 Wales, that they fummoned him to appear in per- 
 fon, in the chamber of peers at Paris, to anfwer the 
 complaints made againfh him and attend tlie judg- 
 ment : to which effeft, orders were given to an 
 eloquent lawyer, that the bufmefs might be more 
 properly done, and a very noble knight of Beauce, 
 called Caponnel de Caponnal. 
 
 Thefe two commiflioners left Paris with their at- 
 tendants, taking the road towards Bourdeaux. 
 They pafled through Berry, Touraine, Poitou, 
 Saintonge, and came to Blaye, where they crofTed 
 the Garonne: from thence they went, to Bour- 
 deaux, where the prince and Princefs at that time 
 refided, more than at any other place. Th-^C/- ~ ti- i 
 miffioners declared wherever they pa!i 
 were come by orders of the kino .li 
 which means, they were in all places , ■: . 
 Bb4 
 
376 
 
 -When they entered the city of Bourdeaux, they 
 took up their quarters at an inn (for it v as late, 
 about the hour oFvefpers), and remained therq all 
 that night. On the foUowin.; day, at a proper 
 hour, they went to the abbey of St. Andrew, where- 
 . the prince of Wales kept his court. 
 
 The knights and fquires of the prince received 
 them kindly, out of refpeft to the king of France, 
 by whom they faid th.ey were fent. The prince of 
 Wales was foon informed of their aniva), and or- 
 dered them to be brought to him. When they 
 came into his prefence, they bowed very Ir^w, and 
 faluted him with great refpett (as was on every ac- 
 count his due, and they well knew how to pay it), 
 and then gave him their credential letters. The 
 prince took them, and, after having read every 
 ^vord, faid, ' Youare welcome : now communicate 
 all that you have to fay to us.' ' Refpefted fir,' faid 
 the lawyer, ' here are letters which were given to 
 us by our honoured lord the king of France ; which 
 letters we engaged on our Faith to publifli in your 
 prefence, foi: they nearly relate to you.' The 
 prince upon this changed colour, from his great dif- 
 ficulty to conjefture what they could relate to : the 
 barons and knights who were with him were equally 
 aftonifhed : but he reftrained himfelf, and added, 
 ' Speak, fpeak : all good news we will cheerfully 
 hear.' The lawyer then opened the letter, and 
 l«ad, word for word, the contents Df it, which 
 were : 
 
 ' Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, 
 
 to our nephew the prince of Wales and Acquitaine, 
 
 ' health. 
 
377 
 
 lieaUh. Whereas feve^al prelates, barons, knights, 
 iiniverfuies, fraternities and colleges of the country 
 and diftrict of Gafcony, refiding and inhabiting 
 upon the borders of our realm, together with many 
 others from the country and duchy of Acquitaine, 
 have come before us in our court, to claim juflice 
 for certain grievances and unjuft oppreflTions which 
 you, throu-^h weak counfel and foojifli advice, have 
 been induced to do to them, and at which we are 
 much aftonifiied. Therefore, in order to obviate 
 and remedy fuch things, we do take cognizance of 
 iheir caufe, infomuch that we, of our royal majefty 
 and fovereignty, order and command you to appear 
 in our city of Paris in perfon, and that you fhew and 
 prefent yourfelf before us, in our chamber of peers, 
 to hear judgment pronounced upon the aforefaid 
 complaints and grievances done by you to your 
 fuhjeds, wh ) claim to be heard, and to have the 
 jurifd'ftion of our court. Let there be no delay in 
 obeying this fummons, but fet out as fpeedily as oof- 
 fible after having heard this order read. In witnefs 
 whereof, we have affixed our fcal to thcfe prcfents, 
 jGiven at Paris, the 25th day of January, i^^g.' 
 
 CMAP. 
 
o/ 
 
 78 
 
 CHAP. CCXLVI. 
 
 THE PRIKCE OF WALES IMPRISONS THE COMMIS- 
 SIONERS FROM THE KING OF FRANCE WHO HAD 
 BROUGHT HIM THE SUMMONS OF APPEAL FROM 
 THE LORDS OF GASCONY TO THE COURT OF 
 FRANCE. 
 
 "^^HEN the prince of Wales had heard diis letter 
 read, he was more aftonifhed than before. 
 He fhook his head; and after having eyed the faid 
 Frenchmen, and confidered awhile, he replied as 
 follows: 'We fhall willingly attend on the ap- 
 pointed day at Paris, fince the king of France fends 
 for us; but it will be with our helmet on our head, 
 and accompanied by fixty thoufand men.' The two 
 Frenchmen, upon this, fell on their knees, faying; 
 ' Dear fir, have mercy, for God's fake :' do not bear 
 this appeal with too much anger nor indignation. 
 We are but meflengers fent by our lord the king 
 of France, to whom we owe all obedience (as your >. 
 fubjefts in like manner do to you), and to whom it 
 is proper we fhould pay it : therefore, whatever 
 anfwer you fhall wifli to charge us with, we will 
 very willingly report it to our lord.' ' Oh no,' re- 
 plied the prince, ' I am not in the lead angry with 
 you, but with thofe who fent you hither. Your 
 king has been ill-advifed, thus to take the part of 
 our fubje6ls, and to wifh to make himfelf judge of 
 what he has nothing to do with, nor any right to 
 interfere in. It fhall be very clearly demonllrated 
 to him, that when he gave pofifeffion and feifm of 
 the whole duchy of Acquitaine to our lord and 
 
 father, 
 
379 
 
 father, or to his commiflaries, he furrendered alfo 
 all jurifdiclion over it; and all thofe who have now 
 appealed againft us, have no other court to pply 
 to but that of England, and to cur lord and fatherl 
 It fhall coft a hundred thoufand lives, before It 
 ihall be otherwife.' 
 
 On faying this, tlie prince quitted them, and en- 
 tered another apartment, leaving them quite thun- 
 derftruck. 
 
 Some Englifh knights came to them, and faid; 
 * My lords, you muit go from hence, and return to 
 your hotel : you have well executed the bufinefs 
 you came here upon, but you .will not have any 
 other an Aver to it than what you have juft heard.* 
 
 The knight and lawyer returned to their inn, 
 where having dined, they foon after packed up 
 their baggpge, and mcn.inting their horfes, fet out 
 from Bouideaux, taking the road to Touloufe, to 
 relate to the duke of Anjou what they had done. 
 
 The prince of Wales was much caft down by this 
 appeal which- had been made againft him. His 
 knights and barons were not in better fpirits : they 
 wifhed, and even advifed the prince to kill the two 
 meffengers, as a falary for their pains ; but the 
 prince forbade it to be doae. His thoughts, 
 however, were ill-inclined to them: when he 
 heard they were fet out, and had taken the road 
 towards Touloufe, he called fir Thomas Felton *, 
 the high fteward of Rouergue, fir Thomas de 
 
 * Barnes fays, fir Thomas Feltoh was feiiefchal of Ac- 
 quitaine, and fir Thomas Wake fenefchal of Rouergue. 
 
 Pont- 
 
380 
 
 Pontchardon, fir Thomas Percy, his chancellor the 
 bifhop of Rodez, and feveral others of his principal 
 barons; of whom he afked, ' Have thefe French- 
 men that are gone away any pafTports from me ?' 
 They anfvvered, that they had hcc.rd nothing about 
 it. ' No,' replied the prince, fiiaking his head : ' it 
 is is not right that they fliould fo eafily leave our 
 country, and go to relate their prattle to the duke 
 of Anjou, who loves us»little, and fay how they 
 have fummoned us perfonally in our own palace. 
 They are, upon due confideration, mejfrtngers from 
 my vaffals, the earl of Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, 
 the earls of Perigord, Comminges and of Carmaing, 
 rather than from the king of France; fo that, for 
 the vexation they have given us, we confent they 
 fhould be detained and thrown into prifon.' The 
 council of the prince were well pleafed on hearing 
 this, as it was before their advice, and faid it had" 
 been but too long delayed. 
 
 The high fleward of Agenois was charged with 
 this commiffion : his name was fir William le 
 Moine, a very gallant and noble knight of England : 
 who immediately mounted his horfe with his at- 
 tendants, and left Bourdeaux. He made fuch hafte, 
 in purfuing thefe Frenchmen, that he overtook 
 them before they had paffed the diftricl of x^genois. 
 Upon coming up with them,* he arrefted them 
 under title of his office, and found another pretence 
 for fo doing without compromifing the prince, 
 whofe name he never mentioned, but faid, their 
 hoft of the preceding evening had complained to 
 him that they had taken one of his horfes in 
 
 miftake 
 
381 
 
 miftake from bis inn. The knight and lawyer 
 were aftoniflied on hearing diis, and endeavoured to 
 cxcufe thcmfelves, but in vain, for they could not 
 obtain their liberty. They were conduced to the 
 city of Agen, and put in the prifon of, the caftle. 
 The Englifh fufifered fome of their attendants to 
 return to France, who, paffing through Touloufe, 
 related to the duke of Anjou every thing as it had 
 happened. The duke was not much difpleafed 
 thereat; for he thought it would be the beginning 
 of the war, and prepared to take his meafures ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 News of the imprifonment of his commiffioners 
 was foon carried to the king of France; for their 
 fervants, being returned to court, told all they had- 
 feen and heard from their mafters, in regard to the 
 ftate, government and countenance of the prince of 
 Wales; which, coming to the ears of the king, 
 inflamed his .anger : he was greatly vexed, and 
 thought much upon it, as well as on the words of 
 the prince^ on receiving this appeal, namely, that 
 he would attend the appeal in perfon, with his 
 helmet on his head, accompanied by fixty thoufand 
 men. This haughty and proud anfwer occupied 
 the mind of the king of France : he therefore, mofl 
 prudently and wifely, began to make preparations 
 for fupporting the weight of this enfuing war; for 
 in truth it was likely to be very heavy as well as 
 hazardous, and to draw upon him the whole force 
 of the king of England, againffwhora his prede- 
 cefTors had laboured fo much in former times, cs 
 has been related in this hillory. But he was 
 
 ftrongly 
 
382 
 
 flrongly foHcited by the great lords of Guyenne on 
 the other hand, who demonftrated to him the ex- 
 tortions of the Englifli, and ihe g'eat 1<^ ffes which 
 this might in future occafion to him, the trufh of 
 which he well knew. What appeared to affeft 
 him the moft, in beginning this war, was his con- 
 fideration for the deftruftion of his poor people, 
 which migin continue for a long time, and the 
 dangers and opprobrium which his nobles had fuf- 
 fered from the laft war. 
 
 CHAP. CCXLVII. 
 
 THE DUKE OF BERRY AND SEVERAL MORE LORDS, 
 WHO HAD BEEN HOSTAGES IN ENGLAND, RETURN 
 TO FRANCE. 
 
 'T^HE king of France and his council, not regard- 
 ing the haughty anfwer from the prince of 
 Wales, made every preparation which might be ne- 
 ceffary for the grand event about to take place. 
 
 At this period, the lord John of France, duke of 
 Berry, had returned home, through the favour of 
 the king of England, who had granted him per- 
 miffion to remain a year in France. He afted fo 
 prudently, and made fo many different excufes, 
 that he never went back; for the war fpeedily 
 broke out, as you will hear related. 
 
 Sir John de Harcourt had alfo returned to his 
 own country, where his eflates had been granted 
 him, through the folicitations of fir Louis de Har- 
 court his uncle, who was from Poitou, and at the 
 
 time 
 
time one of the prince's knights. Sir John de 
 Harcourt fell fick, which happened to him very 
 opportunely : for it laftcd until the renewal of the 
 war, fo that he never again returned to England. 
 
 Sir Guv de Blois, who at that time was a young 
 fquire, and brother to the earl of Blois, obtained his 
 liberty alfoj for when he perceived that the king 
 of France, for whom he was hoftage, had not 
 thought of ranfoming him, he made overtures to 
 the lord de Coucy, who had married one of the 
 king's daughters, and who had a very great re- 
 venue in right of his wife, affigncd to him on the 
 king's treafury. This treaty advanced fo well be- 
 tween the king, his fon in-law, and fir Guy, that 
 the latter, with the permiffion of his two brothers 
 Louis and John, and v.ith the confent of the king 
 of France, gave up wholly and abfolutely into the 
 hands of the king of England, the county of 
 SoifTons ; whicji county the king of England ,g;ave 
 again, and prefented to the lord de Coucy, who re- 
 leafed it for four thoufand livres a-year annual rent. 
 Thus were thefe agreements and covenants finifhed. 
 
 The earl Peter d'Alen^onhad, through the good 
 will of the king of England, returned alfo to 
 France, where he remained fo long, and made fo 
 many excufes, that he never went back to refume 
 his duty as hoflage : but, I believe, at laft he paid 
 thirty thoufand francs, to acquit his faith and oath. 
 
 Before this time, a fortunate circumftance hap- 
 pened to duke Louis de Bourbon, who was one of 
 the hoftages in England. By favor of the king of 
 England, he had returned to France ; and while he 
 
 was 
 
38* 
 
 was at Paris with his brother-in-law king Charles, 
 it chanced that the bifhop of Winchefter, chancel- 
 lor of England, died. There was at that time a 
 priell in England of the name of William ofWyke- 
 ham: this William was fo high in the king's grace 
 that nothing was -done, in any refpeft whatever, 
 without his advice. When the chancellorfhip and 
 biflioprick thus became vacant, the king of Eng- 
 land immediately wrote to the duke of Bourbon, at 
 the requell and prayer of the faid William, to beg 
 of him, through the affection he had for him, to go 
 to the holy father Urban, and prevail on him to 
 grant the vacant bifhoprick of Winchefter to his 
 chaplain ; and that, in return, he would be very 
 courteous to him as to his ranfom. 
 
 When the duke of Bourbon received the mef- 
 fengers with the letters from the king of England, 
 he was much pleafid, and explained to the king of 
 France what the king of England and fir William 
 wanted him to do. The king advifed him to go to 
 the pope. The duke therefore, with his attendants, 
 immediately fet out and travelled until they came to 
 Avignon, where pope Urban refided, for he had not 
 as yet fet out for Rome. The duke made his re- 
 qucft to the holy father, who direftly granted it, 
 and gave to him the biflioprick of Winchefter, to 
 difpofe of as he fliould pleafe; and if he found the 
 king of England courteous and liberal as to his 
 ranfom, he was very willing that Wykeham ftiould 
 have this biflioprick. 
 
 The duke upon this returned to France, and 
 
 afiei wards to England, where he entered into a 
 
 1 treaty 
 
585 
 
 treaty with the king and his council for his ranfom, 
 fhewing at the fame tim;^ his bulls from the pope. 
 The king, who loved Wykeham very much, did 
 whatever he defired. The duke had his liberty, on 
 paying twenty thoufand francs; and fir* William 
 Wykeham was made bifhop of Winchefler and 
 chancellor of England. 
 
 In this manner, the French lords who were 
 hoftages in England obtained their liberty. We 
 will now return to the war in Gafcony, which firft 
 broke out on account of the appeal that has been 
 already fpoken of. 
 
 * * The cuftom of prefixing the addition of Sir to the 
 Chriftian name of a clergyman was formerly ufiial in this coun- 
 try. Fuller, in his chuich-hiftory, book vi. enumerates 
 feven chauntries, part of a much larger number, in the old 
 cathedral of St. Paul, in the time of king Edward VI. with 
 the names of the then incumbents, mofl: of whom have the ad- 
 dition pf fir ; upon which he remarks, and gives this reafon 
 why there were formerly more firs than knights : fuch priefts 
 as have the addition of fir before their Chriftian name were 
 men not graduated in the univerfity, being in orders, but not 
 in degrees ; whilft others, entitled Mafters, had commenced 
 in the arts. This ancient ufage is alluded to in the following 
 humourous catch : 
 
 * Now I am married. Sir John I'll not curfe : 
 He join'd us together for better for worfe. 
 But if I were fingle, I do tell you plain, 
 I'd be well advis'd, ere I married again,* 
 
 Sir John Haivkhis's Hiji, of Mujtc, vol. ii. p. ^I'B^ 
 
 Vol. Ill, C c CHAP, 
 
386 
 
 CHAP. CCXLVIII. 
 
 THE EARL OF PERIGORD *, THE VISCOUNT OF 
 CARMAING AND OTHER BARONS OF GASCONY, 
 DEFEAT THE HIGH STEWARD OF ROUERGUE. 
 
 X^OU have heard how much the prince of Wales 
 was offended by the fummons which had been 
 ferved on him to appear at the court of the parha- 
 ment in Paris. It was fully his intention to perform 
 the anfwer he had given to the commiffioners from 
 the king, namely, that in the courfe of the fummer 
 he would come and take his feat, and perfonally 
 appear at the feaft of the lendit t. He therefore 
 fent orders to thofe captains of Englifli and Gafcon 
 companies who were attached to him, and in quar- 
 
 * The earls of Carmaing have fince taken the name of 
 Foix, by an alliance with anheirefsof this name, who brought 
 to them the county of Foix, in the fourteenth century. 
 
 The earl", of Perigord bear to this day the fame name ; 
 they are likewife known under thofe of prince of Chalais, 
 earls of Perigord, or earls of Talcyran, which is the primi- 
 tive name of their houfe. M. de Talcyran de Perigord was 
 bifhop of Autun, of which office he divcfted himfelf, when, 
 in the courfe of the revolutionary furor, epifcopacy became 
 unpopular, and is now minifter for foreign affairs to the 
 republic of France, 1803. 
 
 •f Lendit, — a great fair kept (in a field near St. Denis) 
 from the fecond Wednefday in June until Midfummer eve, 
 < — whence 
 
 Lendits, — gate-money, fairings, or yearly prcfents be- 
 ftowed by the fcholars of the univerfity, efpecially thofe of 
 Paris on their tutors. — Cotcrave. 
 
 ters 
 
S87 
 
 ters upon the banks of the Loire, not to march to 
 any great diftance from that river, for he fliould 
 fliortly have occafion for them, and would' find 
 them employment. The greater part of thefe com- 
 panies were much rejoiced at the news. 
 
 The prince would not have failed in his inten- 
 tions, but that his illnefs and the fwelling daily in- 
 creafed ("which had been cau fed by his expedidon 
 into Spain) : fo that his attendants were very much 
 alarmed at it, for he could not at this moment 
 mount his horfe. 
 
 The king of France had received accurate infor- 
 mation of all this, and had been furnifhed with the 
 flatement nf his cafe drawn up in writing ; from 
 which the phyficians and furgeons of France judg- 
 ed that he had a confirmed dropfy, a;.d declared 
 him unable ever to recover. 
 
 As foon as the capture of fir Caponnel de Ga- 
 ponnal and the man of law was publicly k':own, 
 who, as it has been before faid, wee arrelied by fir 
 William le Moine, and carried prifonersto Agen, 
 the earl of Comminges, the earl of Perigord, the 
 vifcount of Carmaing, fir B:"r;:rand Taude, the lord 
 de laBarde, the loid de Pincornet, and many more 
 knights and fquires who refided on their eftates and 
 lordfliips, were very much offended at this meafure; 
 fince for them, and upon their 'ccount, had they 
 undertaken this commillion. T'ley determined to 
 have revenge for this violence, and to begin the 
 war in their own country, by making pnfoners 
 fome of thofe attached to the party of the prince. 
 They had information that fir Thomas Wake was 
 C c 2 on 
 
3S^ 
 
 on his rode to Rhodez, to examine the ftrength of 
 the caftlc; that he was at Villeneuve d'Agenois, 
 from whence he was to be.efcorted by only lixty 
 lances. 
 
 When thefe knights heard this news, they were 
 in high fpirits, and refolved to lay an ambufcade for 
 fir Thomas, confifting of three hundred lances; 
 fo dial about two leagues from Montauban, as the 
 high rttward was continuing his route with fixty 
 lances and two hundred archers, they were attacked 
 by this large ambufcade of Gafcons. The Englifli 
 were very much furprifed : for they, not fufpefting 
 fuch an attack, were quite unprepared for it: how- 
 ever, they began to exert themfelves ftoutly in felf- 
 defence ; but the Gafcons, who had formed their 
 plan at leifure, were too many for them, and at the 
 firft fhock numbers were difmounted : the Englifh, 
 not being able to refill the violence of the Gafcons 
 of Perigord, Comminges and Carmaing, were 
 thrown into diforder, and, being defeated without 
 much refiftance, turned their backs. Many were 
 taken and flain. Sir Thomas was obliged himfelf 
 to ^ fly, otherwife he would have been made pri- 
 foner; and he owed his fafety to the fleetnefs of his 
 horfe, which carried him to Montauban. The, 
 Gafcons and others r^^turned to their own country, 
 carrying with them their prifoners and booty. 
 
 News was very foon brought to the prince of 
 Wales, who at that time refided at Angouleme, 
 how his high Reward of Roucrgue had been de- 
 feated by the earl of Perigord, and by thofe other 
 noblemen who had fummoned him by appeal to 
 
 "the 
 
389 
 
 the chamber of peers at Paris. Much enraged was 
 the prince, when it was told him : he faid, he 
 would have a fevere and early revenge for this, 
 upon the perfons and lordfhips where this outrage 
 had been committed. He wrote directly to fir John 
 Chandos, who had retired to his eflate at St. Sau- 
 veur le Vicomte in Coulantin, ordering him to 
 come to him, without delay, as foon as he fhould 
 have received his letter. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, defirous of obeying the 
 prince, made all poffible hafte, and came to Angou- 
 leme to the prince, who received hna with great- 
 joy. Soon after, the prince fent him tu Montau- 
 ban, with a large body of men at arms and archers, 
 to make war upon the Gafcons and Freiich, who 
 were every day increafmg in numbers, ma kit. g in- 
 curfions upon the territories of the priiice. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wake colletled his fcattered men as 
 well as he could, and went to Rhodez, which he 
 amply reinforced and re-viftualled, as well as the 
 caftle of Milhaud upon the confines of Montpcl- 
 lier ; and in every place he put men at arms and 
 archers. 
 
 Sir John Chandos made the townof Montauban 
 his head-quaxters, and gallantly defended the fron- 
 tiers againft the Gafcons ana French, with the 
 other knights whom the prince of Wales had lent 
 thither; fuch as, the captal de Buch, the two bnj- 
 thers de Fommiers, fir John and fir Melie, the ioul- 
 dich de I'Eftrade, the lord of Partcnay, the lord of 
 Pons, fir Louis de Harcourt, the lord de Fiaaine, 
 the lord de Taiinaybouton and fir Richard de 
 Cc 3 Pont- 
 
390 
 
 Pontchardon. Thefe knights, wiih their companies, 
 made frequent attacks upon the forces of the earl of 
 Armagnac, the lord d'Albret, the earls of Perigord 
 and Comminges, the vifcounts of Carmaing and of 
 Tharide, the lord de la Barde, and feveral other 
 barons and knights of the fame connexion, who, 
 with their companies, were upon this frontier. 
 Sometimes one fide was victorious, fometimes the 
 other, as in war fuch things commonly happen. 
 
 The duke of Anjou remained very quiet, and 
 made not the fmalleft movement, notwithftanding 
 the rumours he heard ; for the king of France had 
 ftriftly ordered him not to make war upon the 
 prince of Wales, nor on his fubjefts, until he fhould 
 receive from him pofitive orders for fo doing. 
 
 CHAP. CCXLIX, 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE GAINS OVER SEVERAL 
 
 CAPTAINS OF THE FREE COiMPANIES. HE 
 
 SENDS HIS DEFIANCE TO THE i^ING OF ENG- 
 LAND. 
 
 nnHE king of France, all this time was fecrctly and 
 ably gaining over feveral of the captains of the 
 free companies, and others attached to the party of 
 the Englifh, who had afcended the river Loire, and 
 were on the confines of Berry and Auvergne, 
 where the king of France had given his permilfion 
 for them to refide. Not one of the companies of 
 France was in motion ; for the king of did not wilh 
 
 that 
 
391 
 
 that his name fhould yet be made ufe of in this 
 war, left it might do his affairs harm, and left he 
 ftiould lofe the county of Ponthieu, which he was 
 very anxious to regain. 
 
 Had the king of England perceived that the king 
 of France intended war, he would e?{ily have pre- 
 vented the lofs of Ponthieu by reinforcing the gar- 
 rifons of Abbeville with Englilh, and others at- 
 tached to him; fo that he would have betn mpfter 
 of the whole country; and i' the like manner 
 would he have done to all the other garrilons de- 
 pendant on that county. 
 
 The kincT of EnQ;land had at this time, for hidi 
 fteward of Ponthieu, a good Englifh knight called 
 fir Nicholas Louvain, in whom the king had great 
 confidence, and with juftice; for, fooner than com- 
 mit any cowardly or unworthy deerL he would have 
 had his limbs torn from him. 
 
 At this period, the king of France fent to Eng- 
 land the earl of Saltzburg and lir William des 
 Dormans, to remonftrate with the king and his 
 council, and to complain that part of the country 
 of France had been, and ftill was, much harafted, 
 as well by the daily incurhons of the fee compa- 
 nies, who had for thefe laft fix years mc.df w<:,r upon 
 France, as by other oppreffi^rs, of which the kiig 
 of France asid his council had had informution, 
 and were ve^y ill fatisHed that the king of England 
 and his eldeft fon the prince of Wales fhould ati in 
 fuch a manner as to countenance them. 
 
 Thefe two perfonages remained in Engla ;'d for 
 
 the fpace of two months : and dunng this time, 
 
 C c 4 they 
 
59^ 
 
 they propofed various agreements and reafons to the 
 king, which made him frequently out of humour 
 ^nd in a paffion ; but they did not pay much at- 
 tention to this, for they had received inflruciions 
 from the king of France and his council how to 
 a8; and what to fay. 
 
 When the king of France had received fuch in- 
 formation as he could depend on, that the inhabi- 
 tants of Abbeville were in their hearts Frenchmen ; 
 that the war was begun in Gafcony; that all the 
 men at arms in the k^igdom of France were pre- 
 pared, and eager to wage w^ar upon the prince of 
 Wales and to enter his territories ; he was anxious 
 that no reproach might be cafl on him, either at 
 the prefent moment, or in times to come, for hav- 
 ing ordered an army into the territories of the king 
 of England, or the prince of Wales, to take cities, 
 caftles, towns or fortreffes, without having fent 
 them a challenge : he therefore refolvcd to defy 
 the king of England ; which he did by fealed letters. 
 One of his valets, who was from Brittany, carried 
 them. He met at Dover the earl of Salizburg 
 and fir William des Dormans, who were returning 
 from England to France, having accomplifhed the 
 bufmefs they had been fent on. The Breton, ac- 
 cording to the orders he had received, told them 
 "what he was going about ; which they no fooner 
 heard than they fet off as quickly as pofr.blc, and 
 croPfd the fea. 1 hey were very happy when they 
 found themfelves in the town and fortrefs of Bou- 
 logne. 
 
 About 
 
S93 
 
 About this time, fir Guifc?j-d d'Angle, marfhal of 
 Acquitaine, had been lent by the prince of Wales 
 to pope Urban V. at Rome, on affairs relating to 
 Acquitaine. He had found the pope very polite in 
 complying with the requeils he had to m?ke to him. 
 On his return, he firft: heard the news of war being 
 made on the prince, and that the French had en- 
 tered the principality. He was very much furprifed 
 at this, and dubious how he fiiould be able to con- 
 tinue his journey. He went, however, to the gal- 
 lant earl of Savoy, whom he found at the town of 
 Pignero!, in Piedmont, engaged in war with the 
 marquis de Saiuces. 
 
 The earl of Savoy received fir Guifcard and his 
 company with great pleafure : he entertained them 
 for two days with much magnificence, and pre- 
 fented them with handfome gifts, particularly fir 
 Guifcard, who had the larger fhare ; for the gallant 
 earl refpecled him greatly, on account of his hardy- 
 knighthood. 
 
 When fir Guifcard and his companions had left 
 the earl of Savoy, the nearer they approached the 
 boundaries of France and Burgundy the worfe 
 news they heard, and more difagreeable to their 
 feelings. Sir Guifcard having well confidered all 
 the information he could gain, fav/ that it would be 
 impolfiblc for him to return to Guyenne in the 
 flate he travelled. He therefore delayed as much as 
 he could, and gave the command of his whole array 
 and attendants to a knight called fir John Shore, 
 who had married his daughter. Sir Juhn came 
 from Brittany, and fpoke very good French : he 
 
 took 
 
394 
 
 took the command of ^l the attendants and baggage 
 of his father-in-law : when coming to the eflate of 
 the lord of Beaujeu, he crofled the river Soane, and 
 became fo well acquainted with the lord of Beaujeu 
 that he conducted him and his whole company to 
 Rion in Auvergnc, to the duke of Berry : he there 
 offered to become a true Frenchman, provided he 
 were fufFered to return peaceably to his houfe in 
 Brittany, as it had before been fettled between him 
 and the lord of Beaujeu. 
 
 In the mean time, fir Guifcard, under the difguife 
 of a poor chaplain, ill mounted and badly equipped, 
 pafTed through France, Burgundy and Auvergne, 
 and wijth great difficulty entered the principality. 
 On his arrival at Angouleme, he was heartily re- 
 ceived by the prince of Wales. 
 
 Another knight, whofe name was fir William de 
 Sens, who had accompanied him on this embaffy 
 to Rome, took refuge in the abbey of Clugny in 
 Burgundy, from whence he never ftirred for five 
 years, and at laft turned Frenchman. 
 
 We will now return to the Breton who was the 
 bearer of the challenge from Charles king of 
 France to Edward kino of Endand. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
S95 
 GHAP. CCI,. 
 
 CHALLENGES FROM FRANCE ARE DELIVERED TO 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND. THE EARL DE ST. POL 
 
 AND THE LORD DE CHATILLON CONQUER THE 
 COUNTY OF PONTHIEU. 
 
 T 
 
 'HE valet before mentioned made hafteto Lon- 
 don, as he had heard the king of England and 
 his council were ailcmbled at the palace of Weft- 
 minfter. The king had for fome time held various 
 councils upon the ftate of the prince's affairs, who 
 was at war with the barons and kiir^hts of Gafcony, 
 to examine into the bell means of alhiling hiin, and 
 to confider whom he fhould fend from England to 
 the prince's aid. He foon heard other news, which 
 troubled him more than before; for the valet who 
 was the bearer of thefe letters managed fo as to 
 enter the chamber where the king and his council 
 were fitting. He faid he was a valet belonging to. 
 the houfehold of the king of France, and had been 
 fent by that king with letters addiclfed to the king 
 of England, but was ignorant what were their con- 
 tents, nor did it belong to him to know. He • re- 
 fented them on his knees to the king; who, being 
 deiirous to know what might be their fubjeft, or- 
 dered them to be taken, opened, and read. The king 
 and all thofe with him were much furprifed when 
 they had heard die challenge they contained. 
 
 They examined them very carefully every way, as 
 
 well as the feal, and cleariy law that the challenge 
 
 was good. They ordered the v. let to withdraw, 
 
 telling him he had done his bufinefs well; and that 
 
 6 he 
 
3C)6 
 
 he might boldly fet oiit on his return, for he would 
 not meet with any obftacle to his doing fo, as in- 
 deed- he did not : he therefore went back to France 
 as fpeedily as pofTible. 
 
 The earl dauphin of Auvergnc, the earl of Por- 
 cien, the lord de Maulevrier, and feveral others at 
 this time in England, as hoftages for the king of 
 France, were in the greateft anxiety on hearing the 
 above intelligence; for they were doubtful of the 
 intentions of the king of England and his council, 
 and what they meant to do to them. 
 
 It is proper to be known that the king and his 
 council were greatly offended that this challenge 
 Ihould have been brought by a valet : they faid 
 it was not decent that a war between two fuch great 
 lords as the kings of France and of England fliould 
 be announced and declared by a common fervant; 
 that it would not have been unworthy of a prelate, 
 or of a valiant baron or knight, to have been the 
 bearer of fuch a declaration : however, nothing 
 more v;as done. 
 
 In this council, the king was advifed to fend di- 
 reftly reinforcements of men at arms to Ponthieu, 
 to guard that country, more particularly to Abbe- 
 ville, which ran much rifl^ of being taken. The 
 king approved of this, and ordered the lord Percy, 
 the lord Neville, the lord Carbeftone* and fir Wil- 
 liam Windfor on this bufinefs, with three hundred 
 men at arms and one thoufand archers. 
 
 * Barnes fays, lord Henry Percy, lord William Neville and 
 lord William Windfor, and one lord more, but does not name 
 him. 
 
 While 
 
S97 
 
 While thefe lords were making their prepara- 
 tions, and were already as far advanced on their road 
 as Dover, to crofs the Tea, other news was brought 
 which did not pleafe them much. For as foon as 
 the earl Guy de St. Pol and fir Hugh de Chatillon, 
 who was at that time mafter of the crofs-bows of 
 France, could fuppofethat the king of England had 
 received the defiance, they advanced towards Pon- 
 thieu, having before fent privately their fummons to 
 the knights and fquires of Hainault, Artois, Cam- 
 brefis, Vermandois, Vimeu and Picardy; fo that 
 their whole force amounted to not lefs than a hun- 
 dred and twenty lances, with which they appeared 
 before Abbeville. The gates were immediately 
 opened, as had before been privately concerted; 
 and thefe men at arms entered the town without 
 doing any harm to the inhabitants. 
 
 Sir Hugh de Chatillon, who was the leader of 
 this expedition, marched to that part of the town 
 where he thought he fliould find the high Ikward 
 of Ponthieu, fir Nicholas Louvain, and exerted 
 himfelf fo efFeftually as to make him his prifoner, 
 as well as a very rich clerk and valiant man who 
 was treafurer of Ponthieu. The French made this 
 day many a good and rich prifoner; for the Eng- 
 lifh loft every thing they had in the town. 
 
 On the fame day, the French advanced to St. 
 Valery, which they took by ftorm; they did the 
 fame to Crotoy*, as well as to the town of Dernet 
 upon the fea. 
 
 * Crotoy, — a townoppofite to St. Valery, on the Somme. 
 + Derne. No fuch place. Q. if not Pvue, which is a fmali 
 town on the coaft, two miles from St, Valery ? 
 
 Shortly 
 
Shortly after, the earl of St. Pol went to Pont 
 de St. Remy on the Somme, where fome Englifh 
 were colletled. The earl ordered them to be at- 
 tacked. There was a grand fkirmifli, with many 
 valourous deeds of arms. His eldeft fon, Galeran, 
 was created a knight, and did honor to his new 
 knighthood. The Englifh were fo roughly handled, 
 that they were either flain or made prifoners, and 
 the bridge and fort conquered by the French. In 
 fliort, the whole territory and county of Ponthieu 
 were freed from the Englifh, fo that none remained 
 who could any way do mifchief. 
 
 News was brought to the king of En^^^land, who 
 was at London, how thofe of Ponthieu had deferted 
 him, and turned to the French. The king was 
 much enraged at this, and at firft had intentions of 
 feverely retaliating upon thofe of the hoflages who 
 were ftill in London ; but he thought it would be 
 cruel to make them anfwerable for his ill fortune. 
 Neverthelefs, he fent all the citizens who had been 
 given as hoflages from the cities and principal 
 towns of France, to other towns, fcaflles and forts 
 in his kingdom, and did not allow them the fame 
 liberty they had before enjoyed. He ranfomed the 
 earl dauphin d'Auvergne for thirty thoufand francs, 
 and the earl of-Porcien for ten thoufand. The lord 
 de Roye, however, remained in prifon, in great 
 peril; for, as he was not in any favour at the court 
 of England, he was obliged to endure much ill 
 treatment, until delivered by accident and great 
 good fortune, as you will hear in the continuance 
 of this hiflory. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
399 
 
 CHAP. CCLI. 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS A LARGE BODY OF 
 MEN AT ARMS TO THE BORDERS OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 THE DUKES OF BERRY AND OF ANJOU ISSUE 
 
 THEIR ORDERS FOR THEIR VASSALS TO ATTACK 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES. 
 
 VITHEN the king of England thus faw himfelf 
 defied by the king of France ; the county of 
 Ponthieu loft, after having coft him fuch fums in 
 the reparation of towns, caftles and houfes (for he 
 had expended one hundred thoufand francs in ad- 
 dition to the revenues he drew from it) ; he was in 
 a mighty paiFion. He had, however, more fears of 
 a war from Scotland than from France : he knew 
 the Scots did not love him, for' the great mifchiefs 
 he had done them in former times. 
 
 He therefore fent large detachments of men at 
 arms to Berwick, Roxburgh, Newcaftle upon Tyne, 
 and to the whole border, to guard it. He alfo 
 ordered detachments to Southampton, Guernfey, 
 and to the ifland of BlifTo*; for he had procured 
 information that the king of France was making 
 great preparations, and collefting a number of fliips, 
 in order to invade England. He did not know 
 what part tu guard the moft ; and, to fpeak truth, 
 the Englifli were very much alarmed. 
 
 As foon as the dukes of Berry and of Anjou 
 were certain that the challenge had been delivered, 
 
 Bliflb, O. Ifle of Wight. 
 
 and 
 
400 
 
 and war declared, being unwilling to remain idle, 
 they iflTued their fpecial orders; one in Auvergne, 
 the other at Touloufe ; for their vafTals to enter the 
 principality. The duke of Berry had under his 
 command all the barons of Auvergne, of the bi- 
 fliopricks of Lyons and Macon, the lords de 
 Beaujeu, de Villars, de Tournon, fir Godfrey de 
 Boulogne, his brother-in-law fir John d'Armagnac, 
 fir John de Villemur, the lords de Montagu and de 
 Talencon, fir Hugh Dauphin, the lord de Roche- 
 fort and feveral more. Thefe men at arms imme- 
 diately advanced to Touraine, and to the borders of 
 Berry, from whence they carried the war into the 
 fine country of Poitou ; but they found it well 
 filled with knights and fquires, who did not permit 
 them to gain much advantage. 
 
 Sir Louis de St. Julian, fir William des Bourdes, 
 and Garnet le Breton, were at that time in garrifon 
 in the French caftles of Touraine. Thefe three 
 were great captains, brothers in arms : they per- 
 formed many gallant deeds, and did much harm 
 to the Englifli, as will hereafter be more fully 
 related. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
401 
 
 CHAP, CCLII. 
 
 SEVERAL CAPTAINS OF COMPANIES SIDE WITH DIF- 
 FERENT PARTIES THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS 
 
 THE EARL OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE EARL OF 
 PEMBROKE TO THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS SON THE 
 PRINCE OF WALES.-^THEY PASS THROUGH BRIT- 
 TANY. 
 
 'T'HE duke of l.ancafter pofleflTed, as part of his 
 inheritance in Champagne, a caftle fituated 
 between Troyes and Chalons, called Beaufort; of 
 which an Englifli fquire, named the Pourfuivant 
 d'Amour*, was the captain. When this fquire 
 
 per- 
 
 * Pourfuivant d'Amour, was a title that knights ancj 
 fquires gave themfelves, on account of their wearing the por- 
 trait or colours of their miftrefles,, and challenging each other 
 to fight in honor of their ladies. 
 
 Barnes calls him Pei-cival Dannoric, but I do not fee on 
 what foundation : it fecms to me to be a corruption of 
 Pourfuivant d'Amour. 
 
 ' Tke duke of Lancafter at this fame time loft his caftle of 
 Beaufort, between Troyes and Chalons. He had intruftcd 
 this place to the gu^jrd of Evan of Wales. This Evan was 
 called le Pourfuivant d'Amour. He was the fon of Edmund, 
 the laft of the ancient fovereigns of Wales, who had been 
 beheaded by Edward. He had been brought up at the court 
 of Philip de Valois, as page of honor to his chamber, and 
 made his firft campaign under king John. At the peace, 
 the duke of Lancafter, who was probably ignorant of his 
 birth, made him governor of his caftle of Beaufort. Being 
 naturally an enemy tp the Englilh, he eagerly feized this 
 opportunity of revenging himfcif for the ancient injuries of 
 his houfe. The kipg of France accepted his offers of fcrvice, 
 
 V<..i,.nj, Dd and 
 
402 
 
 perceived that the war was renewed betwen the 
 kings of France and England, he turned to the 
 king of France, and fwore lo him faith and loyalty 
 from this time forth, as a good Frenchman. The 
 king for this enriched him greatly, and left this 
 caflle under his care, in conjunftion with another 
 fquire of Champagne called Yvain. 
 
 The pourfuivant and Yvain were great friends. 
 They performed many feats of arms againfl the 
 Englifh, and againfl their partifans. 
 
 The canon de Robefart, who had before been 
 a loyal and good Frenchman, on the renewal of the 
 war turned to the Englifh, and became the liege 
 man of the king of England, who was well falisfied 
 with his fervices. 
 
 In this manner, feveral knights and fquires 
 changed their party. The duke of Anjou had been 
 fo aftive among the free companies of Gafcony 
 that fir Perducas d'Albret, le petit Mechin, \e. 
 bourg de Breteuil, Aimemon d'Ortigue, Perrot de 
 Savoye, Jacquet de Bray and Naudon de Pans, 
 turned Frenchmen ; which much difpleafed the En- 
 
 and gave him the command of fome (hips, with which he 
 made incurfions on the Englifh coafts.' 
 
 //'/?. de France^ par Villaret^ tome V. p, 396. 
 There muft be fome millake in the preceding account from 
 Villaret, for Wales was finally conquered by Edward I. 
 in 1283, by the defeat of Llewelin, and the difgraceful man- 
 ner in which Ed^vard murdered his brother David. The 
 furrender of the caflle of Beaufort happ(?ned nearly one hundred 
 years afterwards, fo that Evan could not have been a fon of 
 one of our lafl fovereigns. 
 
 glifll, 
 
403 
 
 gliBi, as their forces were greatly weakened by it, 
 Naudon de Bagerant, le bourg de I'Efparre and le 
 bourg Camus, remained fteady to the Englifh j 
 as well as the moll approved captains among 
 them, fuch as fir Robert Briquet, Robert Thin^ 
 John Trefnelle, Gaiilardde Motte, and Aimery de 
 Rochechouart. 
 
 Thefe companies of Englifli and Gafcons, with 
 their followers, fixed their quarters in the bifhop- 
 rick of Mans in lower Normandy; where diey took 
 a town called Vire*, and deftroyed and ruined all 
 the neighbouring country. Thus thefe free com- 
 panies changed their fides; but all of them were 
 engaged for the French or Englifli. 
 
 The king of England determined to fend his fon, 
 Edmund of Langley earl of Cambridge, and his 
 fon-in-law, John Haftingsearl of Pembroke, to the 
 affiftance of the prince of Wales in the duchy of Ac- 
 quitaine, with the command of a body of men at arjns 
 and crofs bowmen. He alfo named luch as he thought 
 risrht to fend widi them : and in the number were, 
 the lord Braddeftont, fir Bryan Stapleton, fir Johu 
 Trivet, fir Thomas Banafter and divers others. 
 They embarked as fpcedily as they could, and put 
 to fea, having with them four hundred men at arms 
 and as many archers. They fteered their courfe 
 for Brittany; and, having a wind to their wifli, 
 
 * Vire, — a town in Normandy, on the river Virc, diocefe 
 of Bayeux. 
 
 + In Froiffart, it is ' le fire cie Taiijcftonne/ wPich I think 
 rpuft be Braddefton. See Dugdale's Baronage. 
 
 D d 3 they 
 
404 
 
 they landed at the port of St. Malo. When John 
 de Montfort, duke of Brittany, was informed of 
 their arrival, he was much rejoiced; and immediately 
 fent fome of his knights to receive and entertain 
 them ; namely, fir John de Laigniguay and fir John 
 Auguftin. The earls of Cambridge and Pembroke 
 were well pleafed on feeing thefe knights : but they 
 were not perfeftly affured if the barons and princi- 
 pal towns in Brittany would permit them to pafs 
 through the country, in their way to Poitou. The 
 Englifh lords, therefore, made this their requeft to 
 the duke and to the country. 
 
 The duke, being very partial to the Englifli, 
 complied diredly with their wifhes, and a6led fo 
 efficacioufly with the barons and principal towns that 
 it was agreed they fliould pafs through the country in 
 a peaceable manner, upon paying for whatever they 
 might have occafion to ufe : to which terms ihe 
 Engliflrjoyfully aflented. 
 
 The earls of Cambridge and Pembroke prepared 
 to march with their army to join thofe free com- 
 panies who were in the province of Maine, at 
 Chateau Gontier* and at Vire ; where they had 
 deflroyed and pillaged the whole country; de- 
 claring their intentions to advance farther into the 
 interior of the kingdom. 
 
 The Bretons entered into treaty with them; and 
 it was agreed that they fliould have liberty to pafs 
 through that country, by crofling the river Loire at 
 
 * Chateau Gontier, — a town in Anjoii, aiocefeof Angers. 
 
 the 
 
405 
 
 the bridge of Nantes, engaging not to do any mif- 
 chief on their march. 
 
 At this time, fir Hugh Calverley was on the 
 borders of Arragon, with a large body of the free 
 companies, who had lately quitted Spain. As foon 
 as he heard that the French were making war upon 
 the prince, he fet off with all the men at arms of 
 the companies, paJOTed through Arragon and Foix, 
 entered Bigorre, and haftened until he came to the 
 prince, who at that time held his court in the city 
 of Angouleme. 
 
 When the prince faw him arrive, he gave him a 
 handfome reception, and thanked him much for the 
 afliftance he had brought. He prevailed with him 
 to be his gueft until the companies which had left 
 Normandy (having firfl fold thofe fortreffes which 
 they held there) were come; for the Bretons al- 
 lowed them to pafs through their country, provided 
 they behaved themfelves well. As foon as they 
 were arrived at Angouleme and in that neighbour- 
 hood, the prince appointed fir Hugh Calverley to 
 be their captain. They were in the whole, including 
 thofe who had come with him from Arragon, two 
 thoufand fighting men. 
 
 The prince immediately ordered them to march 
 to the eftates of the earl of Armagnac and the lord 
 d'Albret, to burn" and deftroy them. In confe- 
 quence of this order, they made a very difaftrous 
 war, and did great damages. 
 
 D d 3 CHAP. 
 
406 
 
 CHAP. CCLIII. 
 
 l-fiK EARLS OF CAMBRIDGE AND OF PEMBROKE 
 
 ARRIVE AT ANGOULEME. THE PRINCE SENDS 
 
 THEM TO OVERRfUN THE COUNTY OF PERIGORD. 
 
 SOME ENGLISH ARE DE-FEATED NEAR TO LU- 
 
 SIGNAN. 
 
 T^HE earh of Cambridge and Pembroke remain- 
 ed at St. Mato with their troops, as has been 
 before faid, until all the free companies of their 
 party had come through the country with the af- 
 fcnt of the duke of Brittany. When they had fuf- 
 ficiently recruited themfelves, and had permiffion 
 to march, they fet out from St. Malo, and by eafy 
 days journeys arrived at Nantes, where the duke 
 received thefe lords moft honourably, and kept 
 them with him for three days, which were fpent in 
 magnificent feafts. On the fourth day they croffed 
 the great river Loire over the bridge at Nantes, and 
 then continued their march until they came to An- 
 goul erne,, where they found the prince and princefs. 
 
 The prince was much rejoreed at the arrival of 
 his brother the earl oF Cambridge and the earl of 
 Pembroke. He inquired after the healths of the 
 king his father, the queen, and his other brothers : 
 to which qucftions he received fatisfaftory anfwers. 
 After they had remained with him three days, and 
 had refreflied themfelves, the prince ordered them 
 to fet out from Angoult^me, to make an- excurfion^ 
 into the county of Pcrigord. 
 
 The t\vo lords and the knights who had come 
 with them from England inftamly made prepara. 
 
 tioas 
 
4dr 
 
 tions to provide diemfelves with every thing that 
 might be necefTary. Having taken leave of the prince, 
 they marched off in grand array. They were, in the 
 whole, full three thoufand combatants : among 
 thefewere feveral knights and fquires from Poitou, 
 Saintonge, Limoufin, Ouercy and Rouergue,whoni 
 the prince ordered to accompany them. 
 
 Thefe lords and men at arms entered hoftilely 
 the county of Perigord, which they overran, and 
 did much mifchief to it. When they had burnt 
 and deftroyed the greater part, they laid fiege to a, 
 fortrefs called Bordeilles*, of which two fquires of 
 Gafcony were governors : they were brothers, j 
 named Ernaldon and Bernardcl de Batefol. i 
 
 There were in this garrifon of Bordeilles, with; 
 the two captains, a number of men at arms, whom 
 the earl of Perigord had fent thither. It was alfo 
 amply provided with artillery, wine, provifion and 
 every thing elfe that might be neceflary to hold out 
 for a confiderable time; and thofe in garrifon were 
 well inclined to defend it : fo that during; the fie5e 
 of Bordeilles many gallant deeds of arms, many a 
 fkirmifli and many an aflault were daily performed. 
 The two before-mentioned fquires were bold, proud 
 and enterprifing: they little loved the Englifh, and 
 in confequence advanced frequently to their barriers 
 to flvirmilh with them. Sometimes one fide con- 
 quered, fometimes the other, as it happens in fuch 
 adventures and deeds of arms. 
 
 BoKkilles, — a town in Perigord, dioccfe of Perlguez. 
 
 D d 4 Oh 
 
4:08 
 
 On the other hand, there were full one thoufand 
 combatants, French, Burgundians, Bretons, Pi-» 
 cards,- Normans and Angevins, in Poitou, and on 
 the borders of Anjou and Touraine, who were over- 
 running the lands of the prince of Wales, and daily 
 committing great devaftations. The leaders of 
 thefe men at arms were, fir John de Bueil, fir Wil-. 
 liam dcs Bourdes, fir Louis de St. Julian and Car- 
 net le Breton. 
 
 In order to oppofe this force, fome knights ai>d 
 fquires of the prince, in particular fir Simon Bur- 
 ley and the earl of Angus, were quartered on the 
 borders of Poitou and Saintonge; but they were 
 fcarcely a fourth part of the ftrength of the French. 
 
 Whenever the French made any excurfions, they 
 amounted always to a thoufand fighting men: 
 whereas the Englifh w^ere never more, at the ut- 
 moH:, than two or three hundred; for the prince 
 had fent off three very large detachments, — one to 
 Montauban, of five hundred men at arms, under fir 
 John Chandos, to ravage the lands of the earl d'Ar- 
 magnac and the lord d'Albret, — another of confi- 
 dcrable numbers, under fir Hugh Calverley, — and 
 the largeft divifion under the command of his bro- 
 ther, the earl of Cambridge, before Bordeilles. 
 Notwithftanding this, thofe who were in Poitou did. 
 not fail to acquit them felvcs gallantly, and to do 
 their dutv in makin^ excurfions on the lands of 
 France, and in guarding. their own. The Englifh, 
 with their partifans, have always a6led in this man- 
 ner, -and have never refufed nor dreaded the com- 
 bat becaufe they were not in greater numbers. 
 
 1 It 
 
409 
 
 It happened then one day, that the French had 
 gained exa6l information how the EngHfh had taken 
 the field and were out on an excurfion, which gave 
 them fuch fpirits that they collected all their forces, 
 and placed themfelves inambufcade, to fall upon the 
 Englifh as they returned from the inroad which they 
 had made between Mirebeau * and Lufignan t. It 
 was on a broken caufeway that the French, to the 
 amount of five hundred men, commanded by the 
 before-mentioned captains, fir John de Bueil, fir 
 William des Bourdes, fir Louis de St. Julien and 
 Carnet le Breton advanced to attack them. A fharp 
 engagement enfued, when many were unhorfed;, 
 for the Englifti defended themfelves bravely, and 
 fought gallantly as long as it lafted. Many valo- 
 rous a6lions were performed. Sir Simon Burley 
 and the earl of Angus proved themfelves good 
 knights : but in the end they had the difadvantage 
 for they were only a handful of men when compared 
 with the Frenfft. They were therefore defeated, 
 and compelled to fly. The earl faved himfelf as 
 well as he could, and gained the caftle of Lufi^r- 
 nan; but fir Simon Burley was fo clofely purfued, 
 and furrounded on the broken caufeway near Lu- 
 fignan, that he was made prifoner by the French : 
 mod of his people being killed or taken, for very 
 few efcaped. 
 
 * Mirebeau, — a town in Poitou, 
 
 i Lufignan, — a town in Poitou, feven leagues from Poitiers. 
 
 The 
 
410 
 
 The French returned to their garrifons rejoiced 
 at the iffue of this adventure, as was alfo the king 
 of France when he heard it. Not fo the prince 
 of Wales, who was much vexed, and bitterly la- 
 mented the capture of his good knight fir Simon 
 Burley, whom he loved well, as indeed he had rea- 
 fon; for, to fay the truth, he was a moft expert 
 man at arms for his time, very courageous, and had 
 always carried himfelf valiantly for his lord the king 
 of England and his country. His companions who 
 had been (lain or made prifoners on the caufeway 
 had behaved equally well ; for whofe lofs the prince 
 was in great forrow, and much enraged. It is a 
 common faying, that one man is worth a hundred, 
 and that a hundred is not worth one man ; for, in 
 truth, it happens fometimes, that by the good con- 
 du6l and courage of one man, a whole country is 
 preferved, whilft another perfon may totally ruin 
 and deftroy it. Thus things frequently fall out. 
 
 CHAP. CCLIV. 
 
 SIR JOHN CHANDOS TAKES TERRIERES. THE EARL 
 
 OF PERIGORD AND MANY OTHER KNIGHTS LAY 
 SIEGE TO REALVILLE* IN OUERCY. 
 
 A FTER this defeat, which happened, as has been 
 
 related, between Mirabeau and Lufignan, the 
 
 Englifh and Poitevins, when they made any excur- 
 
 * Realville, — a town of Quercy, on the rher Aveyron, 
 about two leagues from Montauban. 
 
 fions. 
 
411 
 
 fions, a6led with greater prudence and kept more 
 together. 
 
 We will now fpeak of fir John Chandos,lir Guif- 
 card d'Angle*, and others who were in Montau- 
 ban, feven leagues diftant from Touloufe, and who 
 made frequent fallies from that place very much to 
 their honor. However, whilft they were there, 
 they thought they could employ their time more 
 profitably than in guarding the frontiers, and in 
 confequence determined to lay fiege to Terrieres in 
 the Touloufain. They made therefore every ne- 
 ceffary preparation, and, marching from Montau- 
 ban in grand array, came to Terrieres. The whole 
 army being arrived, it was furrounded clofely; for 
 they depended on gaining it by means of mines, as 
 it could not eafily be taken by aflault. 
 
 Their miners were fet to work, who laboured fo 
 well that at the end of fifteen days they took the 
 town: all who were in it were killed, and the 
 place pillaged and deftroyed. 
 
 In this excurfion, they had intended to take ano- 
 ther town, three leagues from Touloufe, called La- 
 val, and had placed an ambufcade in a wood near 
 that place. They advanced with about forty men, 
 armed, but drelfed in peafants' clothes. They were, 
 however, difappointed by a country boy, who, fol- 
 lowing their footlteps, difcovered their intentions; 
 
 * Sir Gatfcard d'Angle was created a peer, by the tide of 
 earl of Huntingdon, ift Ric. II. He was alfo a knight of the 
 Garter, which he received for having been inftri?rnenta'. to the 
 marriage of the duke cf Lancailer with a daughter of don Pedro 
 of Caftille. 
 
 by 
 
412 
 
 by which means they failed, and returned to Mon-J 
 tauban. 
 
 The earl of Perigord, the earl de Comminges, 
 the earl de I'lfle, the vifcount de Carmaing^ the 
 vifcount de Brunikel, the vifeount de Talar, the 
 vifcount de Murendon, the vifcount de Lauftre, fir 
 Bertrand de Tharide, the lord de la Barde, the 
 lord de Pincornet, fir Perducas d'Albret, the little 
 Mechin, the bourg de Breteuil, Aimemon d'Ortige, 
 Jacquet de Bray, Perrot de Savoye and Arnaudon 
 de Pans, took the field about this period. There 
 were among thcfe free companies full ten thou- 
 fand fighting men. By orders from the duke of 
 Anjou, who at that time refided in Touloufe, they 
 entered Quercy in great force, where they brought 
 on much tribulation by burning and deftroying the 
 whole country. They advanced to Realvilie, 
 ■wherein they befieged the high fteward of Quercy, 
 who had before provided it with every thing necef- 
 fary for the defence of a town, and with good £n- 
 glilh foldiers, who had refolved never to furrender 
 but with their lives : notwithftanding the inhabi- 
 tants were well inclined to the French. 
 
 During the time thcfe knights and barons of 
 France, were befieging this town, they fent to Tou- 
 loufe for four great engines, which were immedi- 
 ately brought thither. They were pointed againfl 
 the walls of Rcalville, into which they flung night 
 and day large flones and pieces of timber that did 
 much mifchief and weakened it. They had alfo 
 rhiners with them, whom they fet to work, and who 
 boafted that in a fhort time they would take the 
 
 town. 
 
41g 
 
 town. The Englifh, however, behaved like good 
 and brave men, fupported each other, and in ap- 
 pearance held thefe miners very cheap. 
 
 CHAP. CCLV. 
 
 THE ARCHBISHOP OF TOULOUSE TURNS THE CITY OF 
 CAHORS AND SEVERAL OTHER TOWNS TO THE 
 
 PARTY OF THE KING OF FRANCE, THE DUKES OK 
 
 CUELDRES AND OF JULIERS SEND DEFIANCES TO 
 THE KING OF FRANCE. 
 
 "V\rHILST the French men at arms were thus 
 quartering themfelves in Ouercy, and upon 
 ^he borders of Limoufin and Auvergne, the duke of 
 Berry was in another part of this lafl province, 
 where he had a large body of men at arms, under 
 fif John d'Armagnac, his brother-in-law, the lord 
 John de Villemur, Roger de Beaufort, the lord de 
 Beaujeu, the lords de Villars, de Sergnac, de Ca- 
 lencon, fir Griffon de Montagu, fir Hugh Dauphin, 
 and a great many other good knights. They made 
 inroads on the confines of Rouergue, Quercy and 
 Limoufin, and carried ruin and devaftation wherever 
 they went, for nothing was able to ftand before 
 them. 
 
 By the advice of the duke of Berry, the duke of 
 Anjou fent the archbidiop of Touloufe from that 
 citv, during^ the time thefe armies were overrunning 
 the country, to the city of Cahors, of which place 
 his brother was bifhop. This archbifliop was a very 
 icarned clerk, as well as a valiant man. He preach- 
 ed 
 
414. 
 
 ed up this quarrel of the king of France fo earneftly, 
 and fo well, that the city of Cahors turned to the 
 French fide : and the inhabitants fwore that from 
 this time forth they would be loyal and faithful fub- 
 jeds to the king of France. After this, the arch- 
 bifhop continued his journey through the country, 
 preaching every where, with fuch good fuccefs, the 
 rights of the king of France, that all the people of 
 thofe parts embraced his opinions : and upwards of 
 lixty towns, caftles and fortrefl'es were turned to the 
 king of France, with the affiftance of the army of 
 the duke of Berry; that is to fay, of fir John d'Ar- 
 magnac and the others who were overrunning the 
 country. He caufed alfo Sigac, Gaignac, Capedo- 
 nac, and feveral other principal towns and ftrong 
 caftles to change fides; for he remonftrated and 
 preached, that the king of France had a good and 
 clear right in this quarrel, with fuch effeft, that all 
 who heard him were convinced : befides, naturally 
 in their hearts they were more French than Englifh, 
 which greatly helped this bufinefs. 
 
 In like manner, as the archbifhop went preach*- 
 ing and remonftrating on the juftice of the quarrel 
 of the king of France along the confines of Langue- 
 doc, there were in Picardy many prelates and law- 
 yers who were as a6live in doing the fame duty, by 
 preaching and converting the people of the cities, 
 large towns and villages. Sir William des Dor- 
 mans, in particular, diftinguifhcd himfelf by preach- 
 ing this quarrel of the king of France from city to 
 city, and from town to town, fo wifely and ably 
 that all people liftened to hiiij willingly ; and it was 
 
 wonder- 
 
415 
 
 wonderful how well he coloured the whole bufinefs 
 through the kingdom by his harangues. 
 
 In addition to this, the king of France, moved by 
 devotion and humility, ordered frequent proceffioos 
 of the whole clergy ; when he himfelf, as well as 
 the queen, attended without {lockings, and bare- 
 footed. In this manner, they went praying and 
 fupplicating God to liften to them, and to the ne- 
 ceffities of the kingdom of France, which had been 
 for fo long a time under tribulation. The king or« 
 dered all the fubje6ls of his realm to do the fame, by 
 the advice of the prelates and churchmen. 
 
 The king of England a6led in a fimilar manner in 
 his kingdom. There was at that time a bifhop of 
 London* who made feveral long and fine fermons ; 
 he demonftrated and preached in thefe fermons, 
 that the king of France had moll unjuftly renewed 
 the war, and that it was againfl right and reafon, as 
 he plainly (hewed in different points and articles. 
 In truth, it was but proper that both kings, fince 
 they were determined on war, Ihould explain and 
 make clear to their fubjeds the caufe of the quarrel, 
 that they might underftand it, and have the better 
 will to afliil their kings; to which purpofe they 
 were all equally alert in the two kingdoms. 
 
 The king of England had fent to Brabant and 
 Hainault, to learn if he could have any affiftance 
 from either of them, and had frequently, on ac- 
 count of his near conneflion, requefted duke Al- 
 bert, who at that time governed the country for his 
 
 * Pr, Simon Tibaldj alias Sudbury. — Barnes. 
 
 brother. 
 
41^ 
 
 brother, to allow him to pafs through his territo- 
 ries, or to remain there, if there fhould be occafion, 
 and to enter through his country, the kingdom of 
 France, to carry the war into the heart of it. 
 
 Duke Albert would willingly have complied with 
 the requefts of the king of England, his uncle, and 
 of queen Philippa his aunt, through the mediation 
 and advice of lord Edward de Gueldres, who was 
 of the king's party, and alfo by means of the duke 
 of Juliers his coufin-german, but he had been 
 already gained, as you will hear. Thefe two were 
 in thofe times ftriftly connetled, by faith and ho- 
 mage, to the king of England, who had defired 
 each of them to engage for him as many as a thou- 
 fand lances, for which they fhould be well fatished. 
 On this account, thefe two lords would have been 
 very glad to have had duke Albert in alliance wit|i 
 the king of England. The duke was much tempt- 
 ed to join them by the magnificent prefents which 
 the king offered to make him; v;hich promifes 
 were frequently repeated by thefe two lords, as welJ 
 as by other knights whom he fent over to him, and 
 principally by the lord de Comines *, who chiefly 
 on this account had returned to Hainault, after hav- 
 ing refided fome time with the king. 
 
 But the king of France and his council had 
 gained over the lord John de Verchin, high ileward 
 
 * Lord de Comines. My MSS. have Gomnaegines. This 
 fjaffage feems very much confufed. Lprd Berners fays, in his 
 f ranflation, that the lord de Comines was at the French court, 
 and came away ;o prevent duke Albert joining the king of 
 England. 
 
 of 
 
417 
 
 of Hainault, who governed the whole country. 
 He was a wife man, a valiant knight and a good 
 Frenchman. This high fteward had fo much 
 weight, and was fo greatly beloved by the duke and 
 duchefs, that he overfet all the expectations of the 
 Englilh, with the affiflance of the earl of Blois, fir 
 John de Blois his brother, the lords de Ligny and 
 de Barban^on, and exerted himfelf fo that duke Al- 
 bert and the whole country remained neuter, and 
 would not take either fide, which was the anfwer 
 made by the lady Jane duchefs of Brabant. 
 
 King Charles of France, who was wife and artful, 
 had taken the previous meafures, and fettled all 
 this bufinefs three years * before. He well knew 
 that he had good friends in Hainault and Brabant, 
 efpecially among the greater part of the counfellors 
 of the principal noblemen. In order to put a bet- 
 ter colour on his war, he had copies made by learn- 
 ed men of different papers relative to the peace, 
 which were figned at Calais ; in which he ftated all 
 the fafts in his favor, and thofe articles the king of 
 England and his children had fworn to maintain, 
 and to which they had fubmitted by fealed deeds, 
 with the orders which they ought in confequence to 
 have given to their fubjetts : in ftiort, all the points 
 and articles which were favorable to him, and con- 
 demned the adions of the EngUih. Thefe papers 
 were made public in the town-halls, and in the pre- 
 
 * Three years. Denys Sauvage fufpeftb it ought to be three 
 months, but gives no reafon for it. 
 
 Vol. hi. E e fence 
 
418 
 
 fence of diffeient noblemen and their counl'ellofs, 
 that they might be fully informed on the fubjccl. 
 
 On the other hand, the king of England atled in 
 like manner; for he fent memorials and remon- 
 ilrances through Germany, or wherever he expeft- 
 ed to gain afliftance. The duke of Gueldres (who 
 was nephew to the king of England, being the 
 fon of his filler, and thus coufin-german to the chil- 
 dren of the king), and the duke of Juliers wereat that 
 time true and loyal Englifhmen : they had been 
 very much affronted by the manner of the king of 
 France fending his challenge by a fervant, and re- 
 buked the king for it, highly blaming both him and 
 his council for this unbecoming form of fending 
 it. They faid, that war between fuch great and re- 
 nowned lords as the kings of France and of England 
 fliould have been declared by proper meffengersj 
 fuch as dignified prelates, bifhops or abbots. They 
 added, that the French bad not followed this ufual 
 mode through pride and prefumption. Thefe lords 
 fent their challenge to the king of France in a 
 handfome manner, as did feveral other knights of 
 Germany. It was their intention immediately to 
 have entered France, and to have done fuch deeds 
 there as twenty years fliould not efface : but their 
 fchemes were broken by means they did not expefct,! 
 as you will hereafter find recorded in this hiflory. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
419 
 CHAP. CCLVI. 
 
 i-riE DUK^ OF BURGUNDY, BROTHER TO KING 
 CHARLES V^ MARRIES THE DAUGHTER OF THE 
 
 EARL OF FLANDERS. THE KING OF ENGLAND 
 
 ENTERS INTO NEGOCIATIONS WITH THE KING 
 OF NAVARRE. 
 
 TT has been before related how much the king of 
 England folicited and intrigued, during upwards 
 bf five years, the marriage of his fon, Edmund earl 
 of Cambridge, uith the dabghter of the earl of 
 Flanders. As the detailed account of the different 
 negotiations would be too long, I fhall briefly pafs 
 thehi over: but you muft know that the king of 
 England could not by any means whatever obtain 
 from pope Urban V. a difpenfation. As this was ab- 
 folutely neccfTary the marriage remained in fufpenfe. 
 The earl of Elariders being folicited, on the other 
 liand, by the king of France, for his brother the 
 duke of Burgundy; and feeing that the marriage 
 not being likely to take place with England, his 
 daughter ought to marry, as he had not any other 
 children; having alfo learnt that th.e countefs of 
 Artois, his mother, was favorable to the duke of 
 Burgundy's fuit, for it was a grand and well-afTorted 
 alliance ; for thefe reafons he fent noble ambaffadors 
 to England, to treat with the king for an acquittal 
 of his enCTaaements between them. 
 
 o o 
 
 Thefe ambaffadors managed the bufinefs fo ably 
 
 that the king of England, who always wifhedto afcl: 
 
 honorably, affented to the earl of Flanders' requeft. 
 
 They returned, therefore, to Bruges, and related 
 
 E e 2 to 
 
420 
 
 to the earl their lord what they had done. The 
 earl was much pleafed at their fuccefs. It was not 
 long before the marriage of the duke of Burgundy 
 with theheirefs of Planders was determined on. 
 
 There were great treades, agreements and alli- 
 ances made between lK)th parties; and it was then 
 told mcj that the earl of Flanders, in confideration 
 of this marriage, received upwards of fifty thoufand 
 crowns*; that the towns of Douay and Lille were 
 given up to him, on account of the money which 
 the king of France was to give his brother on this 
 matriage. The earl of Flanders took pofTeffion 
 of thefc towns, put his own fubjefts into them, and 
 they were efteerned as part of Flanders, on accourft 
 of the fums they were pledged for. But I know 
 nothing further. 
 
 Soon after thefe arrangements were concluded, 
 they proceeded to the riiarriage, which was cele- 
 brated in the city of Ghent. There were great 
 feafts at the folemnity of the wedding,- and after- 
 wards, which were attended by crowds of lords, 
 barons and knights. The gallant lord of Coucj 
 Ivas there, whofe prefence was fo acceptable at a 
 feaft, of which none knew better how to do the 
 honours : it was for this reafon the king of France 
 had fent him thither. After they had been magni- 
 ficently entertained, as well with tournaments as 
 otherwife, they feparated, and returned to their 
 homes. 
 
 * La Chaux fays 100,000 crowns. 
 
 the 
 
421 
 
 The king of England, who faw that from this 
 marriage the earl of Flanders miift become the ally 
 pf the king of France, was ignorant whether the 
 earl would take part againft him with the duke of 
 Burgundy his fon, who of courfe would be his heir 
 to the county of Flanders, and what treaties had been 
 entered into by the earl with the king of France, 
 The king, therefore, was much harder upon the 
 Flemings than before, and haraffed them by fea 
 and land, and whenever he found them in his own 
 country with their merchandife. 
 
 The king of France was not difpleafed at this, 
 and would viillingly have feen a war declared bcr 
 tween the Flemings and the Englifli : but the pru- 
 dent men of Flanders and the citizens of the princi- 
 pal towns were averfe to it, for the commonalties 
 of Flanders maintained the quarrel between the 
 two kings to be more juft on the part of England 
 than of France, 
 
 King Edward was gaining friends on all fides, 
 and much need had he of them, from the appear^ 
 ^nce of the great wars and rebellions that were 
 breaking out in his dominions beyond fea. He was 
 given to underftand, that his coufin king Charles 
 of Navarre, who at that time refided in lower 
 Normandy, would join his party; for he hated the 
 king of France, on account of fome eftates which 
 the king of Navarre claimed as his inheritance, and 
 which the king of France denied his right to. 
 
 Counfellors on each fide had frequendy met, but 
 
 they could never come to any agreement. The 
 
 affair had remained in this fituation, and each was 
 
 on his guard. The king of Navarre had amply 
 
 E e 3 pro- 
 
422 
 
 provided his towns and caftles in Coutantin. in the 
 country of Evrcux, as well as his principal towns in 
 Normandy, with all forts of ftores : he had filled 
 Cherbourg, where he relided, with men at arms. 
 
 At this time, fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt was with 
 the king of Navarre: he was governor of a town 
 called Carentan *, beyond the fords of St. Clement 
 in Coutantin, which he held under the king of Na- 
 varre, being part of his inheritance: fir Eultace 
 was alfo one of his privy counfellors : fo that the 
 king of England fent to him (fojr he was his liege 
 man and knight), to found the intentions of the 
 kinfT of Navarre. He found him well incli'ied, 
 and treated fo fuccefsfully that the king of 
 Navarre, with a fmall retinue, embarked oi^ 
 board a fliip called the Lynnc, and vifited the 
 king of Engliand, who was right glad to fee him. He 
 entertained him handfomcly ; and tHey had many 
 conferences together, in which they underfiood 
 each other fo well that, on the return of the king of 
 Navarre, he was to declare war againft the king oi 
 France, and to admit Engliih garrifons into alj 
 his caftles. 
 
 After thefe engagements and treaties had beeij 
 concluded, the king of Navarre returned to Cher- 
 bourg in Normand)'. He was efcorted thitljcr by 
 fome of the knights of the houfchold of the kin,^ 
 and queen of England, who were unfortunate as 
 they came back ; for they met fome pirates of Nor- 
 mandy that attacked their ^■clle!s, and, being the 
 
 * Circman,: — a town ot Norn.ai-.d)-, three leagues from 
 the fea^coart, diocefe cl Coutance.'-. 
 
 3 ftrongeftj 
 
423 
 
 ftrongeft, overpowered them, and killed every per- 
 fon : they gave no quarter to any one. 
 
 The king of England was much enraged when he 
 heard this, but he could not poffibly then remedy it. 
 Soon after the return of the king of Navarre to 
 Cherbourg, fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt (who had 
 been fent for by the prince of Wales, and whofe he- 
 ralds had fummoned his attendance) took his leave, 
 in order to obey the prince. The king parted with 
 him with much regret, but fir Euftace explained his 
 reafons fo fully that he allowed him to depart. He 
 embarked with his attendants, and failed for St. 
 Malo, where he landed, and then rode to Nantes, 
 in order to pafs the river Loire, v/ith the permiflion 
 of the duke of Brittany and the inhabitants, who 
 as yet had not taken any part in this war. He con- 
 tinued his journey until he arrived in Poitou,atthe 
 town of Angouleaie, where the prince received him 
 with great pleafure, and fliortly afterwards fent him 
 to fir John Chandos and the captal de Buch, who 
 were in Montauban, guarding the frontiers againft 
 the French. Sir Euftace, on his arrival, was moft. 
 joyfully greeted by his forrner companions*. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 * From the Foedera it would appear, that Charles of Na. 
 varre fent two ambaffadors to England ; for there is a paiT- 
 port for Peter Terturon, his fecretary, and one alfo for Wil- 
 liam Dordane, dated the 6th June, 1370. The king's paflT- 
 port is dated the 12th i ■ uguft 1370, when, I fuppofe, he 
 came to England, where he muft have remained fome time, 
 for the pafiport for his return is dated the 28th November, 
 1370. The convention between the two kings is in the Foe- 
 E e 4 dera, 
 
424 
 
 CHAP. CCLVII. 
 
 THE CONSTABLES OF FRANCE AND OF HAINAULT 
 UNDERTAKE A GRAND EXPEDITION TO ATTACK. 
 
 ARDRES. THE FORTIIESS OF REALVILLE IS 
 
 TAKEN, AND ALL THE ENGLISH WHO WERE IN 
 IT PUT TO THE SWORD. 
 
 nPHE knights of Picardy, about this period, were 
 preparing a grand expedition of men at arms, 
 with the intention of paying a vifit to thofe of Ar- 
 dres*. Sir John Moreau de Fiennes, conftable of 
 France, and fir John Werthin, conftable t ofHain- 
 ault, were appointed, by order of the king of 
 France, the leaders of it. Their rendezvous was in 
 the good town of St. Omer. They amounted iri 
 the whole, to a thoufand lances, knights and fquires, 
 Thefe men at arms advanced, to fhew their array, 
 before the fort of Ardres, which was well garrifon-. 
 edwith Englifh. They encamped there, and gave 
 out that they intended to lay fiege to it. The Eng, 
 lifti in Ardres were not alarmed, but made every 
 neceffary preparation to defend themfelves, if thev 
 fhould be attacked. 
 
 dera, to which I refer for further particulars. The king of 
 Navarre, when returned to Cherbourg, fcnt other ambafTadors 
 to Englandj as their paflport in the Fcedera is dated t^e ill 
 Pecember, 1370. 
 
 * Ardres, — a ftrong town in Picardy, four leagues from 
 Calais. Near this place was held the famous interview be- 
 tween Henry VIII. and Francis I. 
 
 + Sir John Wei thin, or Verchin, conftable. He was be- 
 fore fenefchal. 
 
 One 
 
425 
 
 One day thefe lords of France and of Hainault 
 drew out their army to the field in gay fpiiits, and 
 in noble array. It was a fine fight to behold the 
 banners of thefe lords flying before them, and the 
 gallant mufter they made. They began an attack, 
 but with little advantage ; for many were killed and 
 wounded; and nothing gained. According to the 
 information which I then received, I believe it was 
 on the fifth day they left Ardres, without any other 
 a6lion, and each man returned to his own home. 
 Thus was this expedition put an end to. 
 
 We will now return to what was going forwards 
 in adiftant part of the country, and relate the fiege 
 of Realville in Quercy by the French. There were 
 upwards of twelve thoufand combatants, all good 
 men at arms ; and at two days march were the 
 duke of Berry, fir John d'Armagnr;c, fir John dc 
 Villemur, the lord de Beaujeu, and others from 
 Auvergne and Burgundy, in all about three thou- 
 sand fighting men, who were ready to advance 
 fliould there be occafion. 
 
 Sir John Chandos, the captal de Buch, fir Guif. 
 card d'Angle, and the others who were guarding 
 the frontiers of Montauban, knew well what was 
 pafl!ing at Realville, and what the ftrength of their 
 own forces in that part of the country confided of. 
 They found they were not ftrong enough to fight, 
 nor to raife the fiege ; for the earls of Cambridge 
 and Pembroke, who were befieging Bourdeilles, 
 would not give up that fiege. 
 
 The French had fet their miners to work at 
 Realville, and by their machines, which caft Hones, 
 
 Sec. 
 
426 
 
 Sec. into It day and night, had harafTed the garrifon 
 fo much, they could not fufficiently watch thefe 
 miners, who fucceeded in their operations, and 
 flung down a great part of the walls; by which 
 means the town was taken, and all the Englifli in it 
 were put to death without mercy, which was a pity, 
 for there were among them feveral good fquires. 
 The inhabitants were pardoned on their promiiing 
 from that time forth to be loyal Frenchmen. The 
 French commanders appointed captains ai-d men at 
 arms to guard it, as well as others to give advice in 
 the article of repairs, or in whatever other bufmefs 
 occafion might require. 
 
 After the conqueft of Realville, the army dif- 
 perfed itfelf over the countries of Quercy and 
 Rouergue, to get refrefhments and recruijL them- 
 felves. The companies went to the city of Cahors 
 and its neighbourhood. Their leaders were, Aime- 
 mon d'Ortige, Perrot de Savoye, le petit Mechin, 
 Jacques de Bray and Arnaudon de Pans, who dg' 
 fpoilcd the whole country. 
 
 The earl of Perigord, the earl de I'lfle, the earl de 
 Comminges, the vifcount de Carmaing and the other 
 lords returned to their own eflates j for fir Hugh 
 Calverley, fir Robert Briquet, John Trefnelle, La- 
 nut, Naudon de Bagerant, le bourg Camus, le bourg 
 de I'Efpane and other captains of thefe free com- 
 panies were carrying on a deftru6live war there, and 
 had burnt and ravaged the lands of the earl d'Ar- 
 magnac and the lord d'Albret. 
 
 There was at this time, as high fteward of 
 Rouergue, a very vaJiant man and good knight, an 
 
 Englifli- 
 
AilJ 
 
 Engiifhnian, called fir Thomas Witeval*. He re* 
 fided in the town and caftle of Milhaudt, a day's 
 journey from Mpntpellier^ and notwithftanding 
 the whole country furrounding it had changed {ides, 
 and was conquered, he kept this garrifon upwaids 
 of a year and a half, and alfo another fortrefs in 
 Rouergue called Vauclerc. He made many ex- 
 peditions, and different fallies much to his honor, 
 until fir Berirand du Guefclin drove him out, as 
 you will hear related anon in the courfe of this 
 hiilory. 
 
 The town and caftle of Bourdeilles ftill remained 
 Jjefieged. 
 
 CHAP. CCLVIII, 
 
 JHE FREN'CH TAKE LA ROCHE POSAY ;];]. THE 
 
 SENESCHAL OF POITOU BURNS AND DESTROYS 
 THE LANDS OF THE LORD DE CHAUVIGNY. AND 
 TAKES BY ASSAULT HIS PRIN'CIPAL TOWN OF 
 
 BRUX. 
 
 CIR John de Bueil, fir William des Bourdes, 
 
 fir Louis de Saint Julien and Garnet le Breton, 
 
 jemained on the frontiers of Poitou, with upwards 
 
 * Witeval. Q. if not Whitwell. Barnes calls him fir 
 Thomas Wake. 
 
 + Miihaiid, or Millau, — a towa in Rouergue, on the river 
 Tarne. 
 
 J La Roche Pofay, — a town ii^ Touraine, on the Creufc, 
 noted for its mediciiial fprir>gs. 
 
 of 
 
428 
 
 of twelve hundred fighting men, and (ludied night 
 and day by what means they could take, gain by fur- 
 prife or otherwife, any towns, caftles or fortrefTes 
 in Poitou. From thefe meafures it happened that 
 they took by fcalado a caflle called la Roche Pofay, 
 at the entrance of Poitou, on the river Creufe, two 
 leagues diftant from la Haye* in Touraine, and 
 tolerably near to Chatelheraut on the fame river. 
 
 The whole country was exceedingly alarmed at 
 this; for the French placed a large garrifon in it, 
 repaired the walls, and amply provided it with all 
 forts of provifion, ammunition and artillery. 
 
 When this news was brought to the prince, he 
 was much difpleafed; but he could not prevent it. 
 He fent orders to fir Guifcard d'Angle, fir Louis de 
 Harcourt, the lord de Parteriay, the lord de Pinane, 
 and feveral others who were at Montauban with 
 fir John Chandos, to return to him direftly, as 
 he wanted to employ them in another part of the 
 country. 
 
 The aforefaid lords, in confequence of this com- 
 mand, left Montauban, and journeyed to Angou- 
 leme, where the prince was, who ir^imediately fent 
 them to Poitiers, to guard that city and defend the 
 frontiers againft the French. 
 
 There had lately turned to the French party a 
 great baron of Poitou, called the lordde Chauvigny, 
 vifcount de Brux. This town had followed his 
 example, which he had filled with Bretons and men 
 
 * La Haye, — four leagues from Chatelheraut. 
 
 at 
 
4^9 
 
 at arms : he himfelf had left the country, and gone 
 to France to the king. 
 
 The prince and all the barons of Poitou were 
 exafperated at this defedion. The vifcount de 
 Rocheehouart was alfo fufpetled; and the prince, 
 being informed that he was about to change fidesj 
 fent for him to Angouleme, where he told him 
 what he had heard. The vifcount denied it, and 
 excufed himfelf as well as he could : notwithftand- 
 ing this, he was committed a clofe prifoner, and 
 remained a confiderable time in this dangerous 
 fituation. 
 
 Sir James Audley was at this period high fteward 
 of Poitouj a right fage and valiant knight. He made 
 preparations for a grand expedition. There were 
 with him fir Guifcard d'Angle, fir Louis de Har- 
 court, the lord de Pons, the lord de Partenay, the 
 lord dc Pinane, fir Geoffry d'Argenton, fir Maubrun 
 de Linieresj the lord de Tannaybouton, fir William 
 de Montaudire, and many other knights and fquires 
 of Poitou. They amounted in the whole to twelve 
 hundred lances ; and there was alfo with them fir 
 Baldwin Freville, high fteward of Saintonge. 
 
 Thefe lords made Poitiers their place of rendez- 
 vous ; from that place they rode in grand array, and 
 advanced until they entered Berry, where they 
 began to burn and deftroy the country, and to 
 pillage poor people, to whom they did great damage. 
 They then returned to Touraine. Wherever they 
 palfed, the countries fuffered moft exceedingly ; for 
 none ventured to oppofe them, as they were in fuch 
 force as to be mafters of the country. Thefe men 
 
 at 
 
430 
 
 at arms cnfercd the lands of the lord de Ch^uvigny," 
 ■vvhofe lord had lately turrfed Frenchman, which 
 they burnt and deftroyed without hindrance, except 
 the towns and ftrong holds. They came to his' 
 principal town of Brux*, attacked it, and coniinu- 
 ed the attack a whole day with their men at arms, 
 but gained nothing. They theri encamped, and de- 
 clared they would not thus leave it, for it was to be 
 taken. They rofe at day -break, and, having made 
 every thing ready, founded their trumpets for an af- 
 fault.The Pditevins and Englifh being formed into 
 battalions, each lord with his men under his own 
 banner, they made, on this Saturday, a moft fierce 
 attacks It lafted fome time : for there were in the 
 town meh at arms, and fofne from the companies, 
 who defended »hcmfelves as Well as they could, as 
 they knew their lives de[)ended upon it. Many, 
 therefore, were the gallant deeds of arms performed. 
 The two hi'^h ftewards of Poitou andSaintonre were 
 anxious to gain the town. They made their archers 
 fhoot u) quickly that fcarcely any one dared to ap- 
 pear on the walls to defend it. On this Saturday 
 morning, the town of Brux was fo vigoroufly at- 
 tacked, that it w-as won at lafl, and the gate thrown 
 open for every one to enter it who cbofe. 
 
 All the men at arms of the vifcount were taken ; 
 and the lords of the army had fixtecn of them 
 hanged in their armour, from hatred to the vifcount, 
 who was not in the country, but with the king 
 
 * Erux, — a town in Poitou, near Chaunay, diocefe of 
 Poitiers, 
 
 of 
 
431 
 
 of France at Paris. The tovrn was bmnt, and the 
 inhabitants loft their all : there were befides very 
 many flain and drowned. The Englifli returned 
 to Poitiers with their army, the better to r^frelh 
 themfelvesi 
 
 CHAP. CCLIX. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES IS APPOINTED CAPTAIN" OF 
 
 THE prince's company. HE CAUSES SIR PER- 
 
 DUCAS d'aLBRET TO TURN TO THE ENGLISH^ 
 
 HE BESIEGES THE FRENCH COMPANIES IN THE 
 
 rORT OF DURMEL. 
 
 C IK! Robert Knolles refided in Brittany, where lit 
 had a fine and large eftate ; he had always been 
 a good and loyal Englifhman, and had ferved under 
 the king of England, and the prince of Wales his 
 eldeft fon, in their different expeditions, by whom 
 he was much loved: having heard that the French 
 were carrying on a difaftrous war againft the prince, 
 <and meant to take from him his inheritance of Ac- 
 <]uitaine, which he had aflfifled in gaining for him, 
 he was very much furprifed and difpleafed. He 
 therefore refolved in his own mind to collefl as 
 many men at arms as he poflibly could, and go 
 with them to ferve the prince of Wales at his own 
 coft and charges. As he had refolved, fo did he 
 execute: ,he fent to fummon all his vaffals, and to 
 intreat his friends to accompany him. He gathered 
 about fixty men at arms, with as many archers of 
 his own dependants and friends, and made his pre- 
 parations 
 
43^ 
 
 parations for embarking tliem on board four large 
 veflels, at a town and fea-port in Brittany called 
 Conquet*. When all his purveyances had been 
 completed and fent on board, he fct out from his 
 caflle at Dervalt, and followed them, when he 
 embarked on board his veffel, perceiving that his 
 people were already at fea. He made fail, and 
 arrived at the quay of la Rochelle, where the 
 inhabitants gave him a grand entertainment, much 
 Hgainft their inclinations ; but they dared not do 
 otherwife. He found there fir John Devreux, 
 who commanded for the prince of Wales, as high 
 ft e ward, fir Thoriias Percy being with fir John 
 Chandos. 
 
 Sir John Devreux received fir Robert Knolles 
 with great joy, and entertained him in the befl 
 manner he could. Sir Robert remained there two 
 days, to rcfrefh himfelf and his people. On the 
 third day, he fct out, taking the road to Angou- 
 leme, and continued his journey until he ijrrived 
 there. 
 
 The prince and princefs were exceedingly pleafed 
 to fee fir Robert, and it feemed they could not do 
 enough to fhow it. The prince appointed him 
 captain of the knights and fquircs of his houfchold, 
 out of love to him, and as a reward for his valour 
 and honor. He ordered them to pay fir Robert 
 
 * Conqiiet, — a fea-port, five leagues from Breft. This name 
 is much disfigured in ail my copies, except in the Lamoignon 
 manufcript. 
 
 + Derval, — a village between Nantes and Rennes, thirteen 
 leagues from Nantes. 
 
 the 
 
435 
 
 the farhe obedience as to himfelfj which they pro* 
 Inifed willingly to do. 
 
 When fir Robert had remained with the prince 
 about five days, and thofe who were to accompany 
 him in an expedition were ready, he was informed to 
 what part it was meant that he fhould lead them : 
 he took his leave of the prince, and fet out from 
 Angouleme well attended by the prince's knights. 
 There were fir Richard de Pontchardon, fir Stephen 
 Coffington, fir Dagloiret, fir Nele Loring, fir Wil- 
 liam Torciel, fir Hugh Haftings, fir John Trivet, 
 fir Thomas Defpenfer, fir Tancon*, fir Thomas 
 Banafter, fir Nicholas Bond, fir William le Moine, 
 the high fleward of the Agenois, fir Baldwin Fre- 
 ville, and upwards of fixty knights. They amounted 
 in the whole to about fixty men at arms, five hun- 
 dred archers, and as many foot foldiers, all in high 
 fpirits, eager to meet the French t. 
 
 This fmall army, of which fir Robert Knolles was 
 the leader, advanced towards Agen, to enter Quercy, 
 where the free companies had quartered themfelves, 
 and continued their march until they came to the 
 city of Agen. They halted there a Ihort time to 
 refrefii themfelves, and to wait for the enemy. 
 Whilft fir Robert made this halt at Agen, he learnt 
 
 * Tancon. Q. Sir Richard Taunton. — Barnes. 
 
 + There feems fome millake relative to the number of men 
 at arms ; for fir Robert brought with him fixty men at arms. 
 We mull fuppofe, that many of the prince's houfehold were at 
 the time of fir Robert's Arrival with fir John Chandos or fir 
 James Audley, and, though menuoned by name, were not per^ 
 haps prefent. 
 
 Vol. III. F f that 
 
454 
 
 tliat fir Perducas d'Albret (a famed captain of the 
 free companies, who had upwards of three hundred 
 men under his command) was in that part of the 
 country, and that, through the folicitations of the 
 duke of Anjou, he had embraced the French fide. 
 Sir Robert immediately fent to him a herald, with 
 other melfengers, who managed fo well, that he 
 confented to meet him at an appointed place in the 
 open fields, on the faith of his pafTport. 
 
 When fir Robert met fir Perducas d'Albret, he 
 feafted him well, and then by degrees entered upon 
 the buhnefs of his having left the prince. He 
 blamed him very much for having turned French- 
 man, and for quitting the fervice of a prince who 
 loved him fo much, and who had advanced him to 
 honors. Why fhould I make a long ftory of it ? 
 Sir Robert argued and talked the matter over fo 
 ably that fir Perducas d'Aibret changed to the 
 Englifli party, and went over to tliem with upwards 
 of five hundred Gafcons from the free companies. 
 The duke of Anjou was much angered at this when 
 he heard it, and held fir Perducas cheap for his 
 breach of promife, as did all the others who were 
 of the French party, and hated the Englifh more 
 than ever. 
 
 This news was foon carried to the city of Cahors, 
 and to the other free companies, who formed a 
 large garrifon there, and had done fo for a con- 
 fidciable time. When their leaders, Aimemon 
 d'Ortigc, le petit Mechin, Jacques de Bray, Perrot 
 de Savoye and Arnaudon de Pans, heard that fir 
 Perducas d'Albret had, with his whole company. 
 
435 
 
 gone over to the Englifh, they were very much 
 dlfheartened and alarmed. Finding that the city of 
 Cahors was of too great an extent for them to hold 
 out againft the Englifh, they departed, after having 
 given up the town to the bifhop and the inhabitants. 
 They went to the priory of Durmel, that was not 
 far diftant, which they had fortified fome time be- 
 fore, and was not difficult to defend. They entered 
 this place in good order, to wait for their enemies, 
 who came as foon as they knew they had retired 
 thither: they furrounded it, and made many a gal- 
 lant attack : but thofe within, being tried men at 
 arms, and well fupplied with every thing, made 
 very light of it. 
 
 As foon as fir John Chandos, fir Thomas Fel- 
 ton, the captal de Buch, fir John de Pommiers, fir 
 Thomas Percy, fir Euftace d'Ambreticourt, and the 
 other knights attached to the prince in Montauban, 
 heard that fir 'Robert Knolles was befieging the 
 companies in Durmel, they determined to march to 
 his affiftance ; for it feemed to them that much 
 glory might be acquired. Upwards of three hun- 
 dred lances went from Montauban, leaving behind 
 in garrifon full two hundred, under the command 
 of fir Aimery de Chartres, the fouldich de I'Eftrade, 
 fir Bernardet d'Albreth, and the lord de Gironde, 
 They preffed their march to arrive at the fiege of 
 Durmel. In their road, they came to a tolerably 
 ftrong French town, called Moiffac*. It was only 
 
 * Moiffac, — a town of Quercy, on the Tarne, feven leagues 
 from Montauban, 
 
 F f 2 guarded 
 
AS6 
 
 guarded by the townfmen, for there was not a gen-* 
 tlem ,n in it. They fent their fcouts to examine 
 the place, who brought information that it was fufB- 
 ciently ftrong, and that without a fiege they could 
 not well gain it. The leaders immediately called a 
 council, to fee what was belt to be done; and they 
 refolved in this council, that it would be wrong for 
 them to flop at this place, which would interfere 
 with their intentions regarding Durmel, They 
 therefore continued their march : it was but early 
 morning : and they had not advanced more thana^ 
 league from the place before they met four carriers 
 horfes laden with provifion, who were immediately 
 ftopped and feized. They inquired whence they 
 came, and whither they were going. The carriers 
 truly anfwered, that they had come from Touloufe, 
 and were going to Moiffac, with the intent of felling 
 their provifion. They were then queftioned as to 
 the ftate of that town, and what was the force 
 within it. The carriers, not daring to tell a lie, 
 laid, that the town was much diftrelfed by a fcarcity, 
 and they did not believe there were in it provifions 
 for four days, if they fiiould be befieged ; and that 
 there were no gentlemen in it, nor had it any de- 
 fenders but the citizens. 
 
 The chiefs then called a council, and determined 
 not to march further till they fhould have con- 
 quered this towii. They returned, and, keeping 
 the provifion for themfclves, gave the carriers their 
 horfes, telling them to go feek for more. They 
 baked before Moiffac, and encamped as if they 
 meant to fix their quarters before it for a month : 
 
 this 
 
437 
 
 this firft day they made preparations feemingly for 
 an aflault on the following, and pointed their can- 
 non againft the walls. 
 
 When the inhabitants of MoifTac faw what was 
 going forwards, they were much frightened, know- 
 ing they could not long hold out : for they were in 
 great want of all forts of provifion ; they opened a 
 treaty with the Englifli knights, which was fuon 
 concluded. By it they acknowledged the prince of 
 Wales for their lord, and agreed to hold the town 
 from him for ever, without fraud or treachery. On 
 which they had peace granted, and nothing was 
 taken from them. 
 
 Sir John Chandos and the other knights, at the 
 requeft of the inhabitants, appointed a knight, 
 called fir Robert Mytton*, governor, with twenty 
 men at arms and forty archers, to be maintained 
 and paid at the expenfe of the town. They then 
 marched to Durmel, where fir Robert KnoUes and 
 his army were. 
 
 There was great joy at their arrival, and thus all 
 meeting together again. The new comers united 
 with their former friends in pulhmg on the fiegc 
 with vigour. 
 
 ' * Mytton. Barnes calls him Mutton, and quotes ' the 
 tfue ufe of armoury, in the life of the lord John Chandos,' 
 
 F f 3 CHAP, 
 
438 
 
 CHAP. CCLX. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES AND SIR JOHN CHANDOS RAISJES. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF DURMEL. THEY LAY SIEGE TO 
 
 THE CASTLE OF DOM.ME*. 
 
 TT^URING the fiege of Durmel, there were many 
 attacks, fkirmiflies and gallant feats of arms ; 
 for they were good and able men, as well thofe 
 who befieged the place as thofe who defended it. 
 Had they not been fuch fkilful foldiers, they could 
 not have held out as they did. 
 
 The Englifh and their partifans who lay before 
 it, did not gain much advantage, for they were 
 overpowered in two ways : it rained night and day, 
 which hurt both men and horfes : added to this, 
 there was fuch a fcarcity of provifion, they had 
 great difficulty in procuring wherewithal to fatisfy 
 their hunger. A loaf was fold there for three old 
 groats. They were diftrelTed to obtain any even at 
 fuch a price. Of wines, they had a fufficient quan- 
 tity, which to them were of the greateft comfort. 
 In this fituation, they remained upwards of five 
 weeks. When they perceived that they made no 
 irapreflion, nor were likely to take the garrifon of 
 Burmel, and that they remained there in a very 
 comfortlefs flate, they determined to raife the fiege, 
 and to march for the town and caftle of Domme, 
 which was fituated in a richer country. 
 
 Sir Robert de Domme, the lord of it, was gover- 
 nor of the town and caftle ; and there was with him 
 
 * Domme, — a town in Perigord, eledion of Sarlet, on the 
 Dordogne, 
 
 a knightj 
 
439 
 
 a knight, his coiifin, called fir Peter Sanglet. Thele 
 two knights had collected large quantities oF every 
 thing neceffary from the low countries, which they 
 had brought into the town. 
 
 When the Engiilh and Gafcons, "who were fif- 
 teen hundred men at arms, two thoufand archers 
 and foot foldieis, arrived at Dorame, they drew up 
 in array, to lay fiege to it, and began a brific attack 
 on the place. They pointed large machines againlt 
 the walls; and many fevere {ivirmifnes and affaults 
 were made on each fide. 
 
 After they had befieged this place for fifteen 
 days, and found they did not gain any advantage, 
 nor were likely to conquer it, but were much 
 ftraitened themfelves, they determined to inform 
 the prince of Wales of their fituation, who was at 
 that lime at Angoiileme. Chandos, the herald, 
 was ordered to carry this meffage, who imntediately 
 fet out, and journeyed until he came to Angouleme, 
 where he found the prince with very few attendants, 
 for all his knights and fquires were away on aiffcr- 
 €nt expeditions. 
 
 When the herald, Chandos, was arrived in the 
 prefence of the prince, he dropped on his knees, and 
 recommended to him his mailers who had fent him, 
 and whom he had left at the fiege of Domme. He 
 then related their fituation moft wifely, as he had 
 been ordered to do, and gave the credential iettcis 
 which he had brought to the prince. 
 
 The prince hftened attentively to all that was ?old 
 him, and faid he would confider thi^) fubjetl. He 
 |iept the herald , with him five days, and, oi; ':-* 
 
 rf4 i- 
 
440 
 
 fixth, he had letters delivered to him under the 
 prince's feal, who faid to him on his departure, 
 ' Chandos, falute from me all our companions.' He 
 replied, ' Mofl: willingly, my lord.' When the he- 
 rald fet out, he took the road through Quercy. I 
 will now relate what pafTed in the army, and what 
 things they did during the abfence of this herald. 
 
 CHAP. CCLXI. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES AND SIR JOHN CHANDOS 
 MARCH FROM DOMME, WITHOUT DOING ANY 
 
 THING. THEY TAKE GAV ACHES *, ROCHE- 
 
 MADORt, AND SEVERAL OTHER TOWNS WHICH 
 HAD TURNED TO THE PARTY OF THE FRENCH. 
 
 COON after Chandos had left his mailers at the 
 fiege of Domme, fir John Chandos, fir Robert 
 Knolles, fir Thomas Felton, the captal de Buch, fir 
 James Audley and the other knights, held a council, 
 and refolved to break up this fiege, for they gained 
 nothi;ig, and to make an incurfion more into the 
 country, in order to conquer fuch towns and gar- 
 rifons as had lately turned to the French through 
 the means of the duke of Berry and the free com- 
 panies. 
 
 * Gavaches. 1 cannot find this in the Gazetteer, and fuf- 
 peft it nauft be Gramat, a town in Quercy, eleftion of Figeac, 
 near Peyrac. 
 
 + Rochemador, — Roquemadour, — a town in Quercy, 
 eleftion of Figeac, near Peyrac. 
 
 They 
 
441 
 
 . They decamped, and marched from Domme, 
 taking the road for Gramat, which immediately fur^ 
 rendered: the inhabitants turned again to the En- 
 gUfli the rjioment ;hsy came before jt. The chiefs 
 and the army remained for three days in Gramat, to 
 refrefh themfelves, and during that time conhdered 
 whither they fhould go next. When they went away, 
 they made for a fortrefs which the companies had 
 newly taken, called Frons. As foon as the Garrifoa 
 perceived the Englifh advancing with. fo great a force, 
 and learnt thatthofe of Gramat had become Englifh, 
 they alfo changed their fide, and fwore that they would 
 be faithful to the Englifli; but they lied. The En- 
 glifh continued their march, and halted before Ra. 
 quemadour. The inhabitants had ftrongly fortified 
 themfelves, not having any inclination to furrender. 
 The Englifh having weil examined the iituation 
 of the town of Roquemadour and the countenance 
 of its inhabitants, brought forward their engines and 
 artillery, and began to attack it with great vivacity 
 and vigour. I can fay, that many and fharp were 
 the attacks: feveral were flain and wounded by the 
 arrows from thofe within and without. This af- 
 fault lafled one whole day. 
 
 Towards Vefpers, the Englifh retired to their 
 camp, with the intention of renewing the attack on 
 the morrow: but during the night thofe of Roque- 
 madour, who the preceding day had fev^erely felt 
 the courage of their opponents, and how hardly 
 they had pufhed them, called a council. The wifeft 
 among them faid, that in time they mufl furrender; 
 and if they were taken by affaultj they would all 
 
 be 
 
be flain, the town burnt without mercy; and that, 
 weighing the bad and good, they advifed opening 
 an immediate treaty with the Englifh. This was 
 foon concluded. They declared that from that day 
 forward, they would be true to the Englifh, which 
 they afterward folemnly fwore to obferve. They 
 were alfo obliged to fupply the army with fifty 
 horfe-Ioad of provifions from the town, during the 
 fpace of fifteen days, which were to be paid for at a 
 certain fixed price: and, thus Roquemadour obtain- 
 ed peace. 
 
 The Englifh continued their march towards Vil- 
 lefranche, in the Touloufain, burning and deftroy- 
 ing the flat countries, bringing great calamities on 
 the poor inhabitants, and conquering fuch towns 
 and caftles as had changed fides; fome by treaty, 
 others by force. They came at length before Vil- 
 lefranche, which was tolerably well inclofed, and 
 provided with provifion and artillery ; for all thofe 
 of the furr(-unding flat country had retired into it. 
 They commenced the attack, on their arrival, with 
 much intrepidity. During the four days they lay 
 before it, frequent were the affaults, and many were 
 killed on both fides. The garrifon having refle6l- 
 ed on their fituation, found they could not hold out 
 much longer, and, as there was no appearance of 
 help coming to them, they furrendered to the En- 
 glifti, on condition that neither themfelves nor their 
 town fliould receive any harm. In this manner did 
 Villefranche, on the borders of Touloufe, become 
 Englifli ; which when told to the duke of Anjou, 
 who was at Touloufe, grieved him much. Sir John 
 
 Chandos 
 
443 
 
 Chandos appointed governor and captain of ViHe^ 
 franche an Englifh knight, called fir Robert le 
 Roux *, and then continued his march, burning 
 and deftroying the country. 
 
 We will now return to the fiege of Bourdeilles, 
 and relate how the earls of Cambridge and Pem- 
 broke perfevered in it. 
 
 CHAP. CCLXIL 
 
 THE EARLS OF CAMBRIDGE AND OF PEMBROKS 
 CONQUER THE GARRISON Of BOURDEILLES. 
 
 "VXfHILST thefe laft-mentioned barons and 
 knights of Ens,land, with their army, were 
 making excurfions and conquefts in Rouergue, 
 Quercy and the Agenois, where they continued a 
 confiderable time, the fiege of Bourdeilles was Rill 
 going on. It had lafted upwards of nine weeks. 
 All this while there were daily fKirmifiies, attacks 
 and gallant deeds of arms. 
 
 The befieged had a cuflom of advancing every 
 day with their whole army without the gate, where 
 they flcirmifhed valoroufiy with all comers, and 
 behaved themfelves fo gallandy that they acquired 
 great praife even from the enemy. The garrifon 
 remained in this fituation fome time, and would 
 have continued fo longer, if pride and prefumption 
 ^ad not tempted them ; for they were m fufficicot 
 
 * Sir Robert le Roux. Barnes calls him fir John Roos. 
 Why not fir Robert Rous o-* 
 
 numbers. 
 
444 
 
 numbers, all tried men, with plenty of provifion, 
 and anillery to defend themfelves. The beficgers 
 began to grow weary, notwithflanding they acled 
 much to their honour, for they confidered that their 
 expenfes were greater than the conquelt they were 
 attempting \yas worth. 
 
 After holding a council, to confider by what 
 means they could the fooner bring this bufinefs to 
 an end, they determined to arm all their people 
 by four o'clock in the morning, and to keep them 
 in their quarters, fending a part of them to fldr- 
 mifh with the garrifon as ufual : for the garrifon were 
 fo eager for thefe combats, they would frequently 
 march into the open fields to engage in them. The 
 Englifh ordered their party to make a feint, and 
 to retreat by degrees towards their own army, as if 
 they were defeated, in order to draw them further 
 put, and then a body of cavalry was to fally forth, 
 and, by getting between them and the town, pre- 
 vent them from entering it again. 
 
 The plan was adopted ; for they faid, if they 
 could not win the place by this means, they fhould 
 not eafily gain it. On the morrow morning they 
 armed themfelves, and fent two hundred to fkirmiftj 
 with the garrifon. 
 
 When the companies in Bourdeilles, and their 
 captains Ernaudon and Bernardin, faw them ap- 
 proach, they were very much rejoiced, and quickly 
 made themfelves and their men ready. There 
 might be about feven fcore young men, aQive fol- 
 diers, who, having ordered the gate to be thrown 
 quite open, advanced to their barriers, and met the 
 
 Englifl^ 
 
445 
 
 Enf^lifii lances and bucklers very handfomely. They 
 fought fo well that the Englifli gave way, and re- 
 treated as they had been ordered ; which being ob- 
 ferved, thofe of the garrifon ordered their ftandard 
 to be advanced, crying out at the fame time, ' By 
 St. Anthony's head, we fhall take them.' On which 
 they attacked them with greater fury as they were 
 flying before them, fo that fome were unhorfed, 
 wounded or made prifoners. But becaufe they 
 were fo eager to gain every thing, and as the pro- 
 verb fays, ' All covet, all lofe,' they had advanced ' 
 fo far from the town that when they w^iflied to re- 
 turn they could not; for fir John Montague *, who 
 had the command of the ambufcade, which confifted 
 of five hundred chofen men, placed himfelf between 
 them and the town. He was knighted on the field, 
 by the earl of Cambridge, and direftly attacked 
 them with great vigour. 
 
 When the companies of Bourdcilles faw them- 
 felves thus entrapped, they were fenfible of their 
 folly in purfuing fo far : however, they collefted 
 themfelves in a body like brave men, and began to 
 fight valiantly, and to perform fuch feats of arms as 
 were marvellous to behold. This combat laftcd 
 upwards of two hours : and they annoyed their 
 enemies fo much, and behaved fo gallantly, that 
 the Engliih lords were much delighted with them,. 
 
 Sir John Montague proved himfelf deferving of 
 his knighthood, by his valour and prowefs in at- 
 
 * Sir John Montsgue, — nephew and heir to the earl of 
 Salifljury. — Bar-^^es. 
 
446 
 
 tacking the enemy. At laft, thofe of BoiirdeiHes 
 were entirely defeated : all were killed or made pri- 
 foners, for not one of them efcaped. Thofe of the 
 Englifh who had been taken were refcued. Sir 
 John Montague made the two governors, Ernaudon 
 and Bernardin de Batefol, his prifoners. 
 
 During the time of this fkirmifh, the earls of 
 Cambridge and of Pembroke had advanced to the 
 barriers and gate, which having gained, they enter- 
 ed the town, the earl of Cambridge's banner dif- 
 played before them. Thus did the Enghfh con- 
 quer Bourdeilles. They made the inhabitants 
 fwear fealty and allegiance to the prince. The 
 chiefs ordered the lord de Mucident to remain there 
 as governor, and gave him fixty archers, in addi- 
 tion to his own people. They then broke up their 
 encampment, having determined to march to An- 
 gouleme, to know from the prince what he wifhed 
 them next to do. 
 
 Thus ended the fiege of Bourdeilles ; and the 
 lords with their companies fet out on their return. 
 We will now fpeak of thofe knights of England and 
 Gafcony, who were making inroads in Quercy, and 
 of Chandos the herald, and the news he brought 
 from the prince of Wales, 
 
 CHAP. 
 
447 
 
 CHAP. CCLXIII. 
 
 SIR ROBERT KNOLLES, SIR JOHN CHANDOS AND 
 SIR THOMAS FELTON MARSHAL THEIR MEN, 
 AND RETURN TO THE PRINCE OF WALES. 
 
 A S thefe knights and their army were making 
 incurfions on the borders of Rouergue and 
 Quercy, taking towns and caflles, and diftreffing the 
 whole country, Chandos the herald returned. He 
 found them before a caftle in Quercy, which they 
 had hard preffed. When they faw the herald, they 
 received him joyfully, and inquired what news he had 
 brought. He told them that his highnefs the prince 
 faluted them all, and was very defirous of feeing 
 them ; and at thefe words he gave them the letters 
 from the prince, v/hich the barons took and read. 
 
 They found that with many alfurances of affedion 
 and friendfhip, he defired that fir John Chandos, fir 
 Thomas Felton, and the captal de Buch fhould re- 
 turn to him at Angouleme; and that fir Robert 
 Knolles with his army, and all the free companies, 
 fhould remain where they were to continue the war. 
 
 When thefe three lords, who were the chiefs of 
 the army, heard the prince's orders, they looked at 
 each other, and aiked what was belt to be done. 
 With one voice, they addreffed themfelves to fir 
 Robert Knolles, and faid ; ' Sir Robert, you fee and 
 hear how our lord the prince orders us back, and 
 direds that you fhould remain in this country to be 
 the leader of the army.' 
 
 ' My lords,' replied fir Robert, « his highnefs the 
 prince does me more honor than I could wifh. 
 
 Know, 
 1 
 
448 
 
 Know, that I will never remain here without your^ 
 and that, if you go, I will not ftay behind.' So they 
 refolved to return all four to the prince, to learn 
 more fully what were his intentions. This grand 
 expedition was broken up : and, when the time of 
 feparation arrived, they ordered fir Perducas d'Al- 
 breth to the town of Roquemadour with his com- 
 pany to defend that part of the frontiers againft the 
 French. The lords then addrefled the other free 
 companies as follows : 
 
 ' Gentlemen, you hear how our lord the prince 
 fends for us to come to his prefence ; for what 
 caufe we are as yet ignorant. We will therefore 
 explain to you what we wifh you to do in our ab- 
 fence. You will colleft all your forces into one 
 body, and with them pafs the frontiers of Limoufin 
 and Auvergne, to carry the war thither; for with- 
 out waryou cannot fubfift ; and we fwear and pro- 
 mife you faithfully, that whatever town, caftle or 
 fortrefs of France ye fhall take and conquer, where- 
 ever it may be fituated, and ye fliall be befieged in 
 it we will fly to your affiftancc, and will caufe the 
 fiec^e to be raifed.' Thofe who heard this promife 
 replied, ' It is well fpoken, and we will abide by 
 it; for perhaps we may be obliged to have recourfe 
 
 to you.' 
 
 In this manner they feparated : the excurfion 
 was put an end to by the lords on one fide, and the 
 companies on the other. The lords returned to- 
 the town of Angouleme, where the prince enter- 
 tained them handfomely. A fhort time before, the 
 earls of Cambridge and of Pembroke, with fir 
 
 John 
 
449 
 
 John Mountague and feveral others, had alfo re- 
 turned from Perigord. 
 
 We will now mention the companies and men at 
 arms who had feparated from Sir John Chandosj 
 and how they profpcred. 
 
 CHAP. CCLXIV. 
 
 THE FREE COMPANIES ATTACHED TO THE ENGLISH 
 TAKE THE CASTLE OF BELLEPERCHE *, AND THE 
 MOTHER OF THE DUKE OF BOURBON WHO V/AS IN 
 
 IT. THEY ALSO TAKE THE STRONG CASTLE OF 
 
 ST. SAUVEURt IN BERRY. 
 
 A MONG the leaders of thefe companies, there 
 were three fquires from the territories of the 
 prince, who were great captains and valiant men at 
 arms, very enterprifing, and determined fcalers of 
 fortrefles. One of them was named Ortingo, 
 another Bernard de Wifle, and the third Ber- 
 nard de la Salle J. Thefe three captain* wiOied 
 not to remain long idle, nor without being fpoken 
 of for fome gallant deed of arms. They marched 
 with their companies into Limoufin, to refrefti 
 themfelves. At that time, fir John Devreux was 
 
 * Belleperche, — a town and abbey on the Garonne, in the 
 diocefe of Montauhan, near to Caltel Sarrafin. 
 
 + St. Sauveur, — a village in Berry, diocefe and eledion of 
 Bourges. 
 
 % Q. thefe three names. One of my MSS. calls the fecond 
 Bernard de Wiflce, and fo does Barnes. 
 
 Vol. III. G g fenefchal 
 
450 
 
 fcnefchal and governor of the province for the 
 prince. 
 
 Thefe three fquires, having confidered what 
 caftle they might conquer from France, fixed upon 
 that of Bclleperche, in ihe Bourbonois. It was 
 beautiful and Ihong. The mother of the duke of 
 Bourbon, and of the queen of France made it her 
 refidence. They learnt by their fpies that the good 
 ladyAvas alone, and had not any guards with her 
 except her own houfehold; and that the governor 
 of the caftle, making frequent excurlions from it, 
 was very far from being attentive or on his guard. 
 
 Thefe captains, and fuch companions whom they 
 had picked out, did not let their intentions fleep 
 after they had formed them, but rode day and night, 
 and arrived by break of day at Belleperche, which 
 they took by fcalado, and the mother of the queen 
 of France who was in it. Finding the caftle was fo 
 ftrong, and handfome, and in fo rich a country, they 
 declared they would keep it againft all oppofers. 
 
 In that fame night, they alfo took another caftle, 
 called St. Sauveur, on the borders of Limoufin, and 
 gave it to fir John Devreux. 
 
 News was foon carried to France, that Belle- 
 perche was taken by the Englifli, and the mother 
 of the queen made prifoner. The king was very 
 much vexed at this, as were the queen and duke of 
 Bourbon, but they could not better them fe lyes, at 
 Icaft for the prefent. 
 
 About this time, fir Louis de Sancerre was no- 
 minated a marfhal of France : he was a valiant and 
 hardy knight. Sir Arnold d'Andreghcn was ftill 
 
 alive, 
 
451 
 
 alive, but fo old and worn out with bearing arms, 
 and from his former labours, that in truth he could 
 not be of any fervice, nor was he able to do the du- 
 ties of his office; but he was willing to carry arms 
 whenever it might be neceffary. 
 
 We will fay a little of the affairs of Picardy, as 
 we have been fome time with thofe of the diftant 
 parts, and fpeak of an affembly which was held in 
 the city of Rouen. 
 
 CHAP. CCLXV. 
 
 THE KING OF FRANCE, INTENDING TO SEND A 
 LARGE NAVAL ARMAMENT TO THE ENGLISH 
 COASTS, IS PREVENTED BY THE, ARRIVAL OF THE 
 DUKE OF LANCASTER AT CALAIS, 
 
 ^T^HE king of France, during the fummer (1369), 
 had made great preparations of fliips, barges 
 and other veffels in the port of Harfleur, with the 
 intent of fending a large force to England, well 
 furnifhed with men at arms, knights and fquires. 
 His brother, the lord Philip, duke of Burgundy, 
 was appointed commander of this army, which was 
 to deftroy all England. 
 
 The king of France fixed his refidence in the 
 good city of Rouen, in order to attend more 
 promptly to this bufinefs. He vifited his fleet two 
 or three times every week, to which he ihewed 
 much affeftion. Added to this, his fummons were 
 fo extenfive that it was wonderful to fee the num- 
 }3crs of men at arms who were colleded in Vexin, 
 G g 2 Beauvpifisj 
 
45$ 
 
 Beauvoifis, and in the neighbourhood of Rouen. 
 Provifions and other ftores were fo abundantly 
 brought there that they would have been fufficient 
 for a voyage to Spain or Portugal. 
 
 The lord de ClifTon, who was one of the privy 
 counfellors to the king, approved not of thi.. expe- 
 dition to England, and did all he could to diflTuade 
 the king an,d his nobles from it. He told them, 
 they were not fo much accuftomed to naval engage- 
 ments as the Englifh, and urged many reafons in 
 fupport of this, as one who was better acquainted 
 •with the manners and habits of the Englifh, and 
 the ftate of that country, than many others. Not- 
 withftanding this, neither the king nor his council 
 would change their mind, but refolved this arma- 
 ment fliould fail. 
 
 The king of England and his fon the duke of 
 Lancafter, as well as feveral of his council, had re- 
 ceived information of this army, and of the inten- 
 tions of the French to invade and carry the war 
 into England. They were much rejoiced at this, 
 and had provided all the ports and harbours oppo- 
 fite to Ponthieu and Normandy with fufficient gar- 
 rifons of men at arms and archers to receive them, 
 if they fhould come. The whole kingdom of Eng- 
 land was ready prepared to give them a good re- 
 ception whenever they fhould land. 
 
 The king, having determined to fend the duke 
 of Lancafter with a body of men at arms to Calais, 
 immediately named thofe w^hom he ordered to 
 accompany him. — There were the earl of Salilbury, 
 the earl of Warwick, fir Walter Manny, the lord 
 
 Rocs 
 
453 
 
 jRoos of Hamlakejfir Henry Percy, the lord BaflTetj, 
 the lord Willoughby of Erefby, the lord Delaware, 
 the lord de Ja Pole, fir Thomas Grandifon, fir Alan 
 Boxhall, fir Richard Stury*, and many others : 
 the whole force amounted to about five hundred 
 men at arms, and as many archers. They marched 
 to Dover and its neighbourhood. When the 
 tranfports were ready, they embarked, and having 
 a favourable wind, arrived at the ftrong town of 
 Calais, where they landed, and by little and httle 
 difembarked every thing which belonged to thein. 
 Th^y took up their quarters in the town. 
 
 About this time the king of England fent am-» 
 baflfadors to entreat mod earneftly fir Robert de 
 Namur to aflift him in the war, with all the men at 
 arms that were dependant on him. Sir Robert, 
 who had ever been fteady and loyal to the Englilh, 
 replied, that he fiiould be as foon on his march as 
 was necefTary; for having been informed that the 
 king or one of his fons was to be at Calais, to make 
 an incurfion, the moment he fliould hear of the 
 duke of Lancafler's arrival, he would fummon all 
 his companions, and thofe whofe aflillance he 
 wifhed for; his arms and every thing elfe being aU 
 ready prepared. 
 
 We will now return to what was pafl^ing in 
 Poitou. 
 
 * Sturie, Barnes calls him Sterrie.; HollIngQiead, Sturrie. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
4S4 
 
 CHAP. CCLXVI. 
 
 THE CASTLE OF LA ROCHE SUR YOM SURRENDERS 
 
 TO THE ENGLISH. THE GOVERNOR OF IT PUT TO 
 
 DEATH, BY ORDERS FROM THE DUKE OF ANJOU, 
 
 '"VrOU will remember, that when the herald 
 Chandos brought the orders from the prince 
 of Wales, the barons and knights of Guienne, who 
 were upon an expedition in Quercy and Roiiergue, 
 returned with one accord to the town of Angou- 
 leme, where they found the prince, who received 
 them with great joy. Some little time before, the 
 earls of Cambridge and Pembroke had alfo return- 
 ed with their armv, after the conqueft of Bourdeil- 
 les, as you have bef re heard. 
 
 The lords and barons rejoiced exceedingly at 
 jhis meeting, and great entertainments were made 
 by them. They confidered which way they ftiould 
 next march, to make the mod of the feafon. They 
 found, on examining the country, that there was 
 near the borders of Anjou a fine and ftrong caftle, 
 called la Roche fur Yon *, which was a depend- 
 ance of Anjou : there they refolved to march, lay 
 liege to it, and conquer it if they were able. 
 
 They made their preparations, and fet out for 
 that part of the country. They were joined by all 
 
 * La Roche fur Yon, — a town in Poitou, on the Yon, eight 
 leagues from Lu^on, fourteen from Nantes. 
 
 the 
 
455 
 
 the batons and knights of Poitou : fir James Audley, 
 the lord de Pons, the lord de Partenay, fir Louis 
 de Harcourt, fir Guifcard d'Angle, the lord de 
 Pinane, the lord de Tannaybouton, fir Maubrun 
 de Linieres, and the fenefchal of la Rochelle, fir 
 Thomas Percy. Thefe men at arms and gallant 
 company of lords, when they were all affembled, 
 amounted to more than three thoufand lances. 
 They took the field, and came before the caftle of 
 la Roche fur Yon, which was well built and ftrong, 
 with a good garrifon, and well provided with pro- 
 vifions and artillery. 
 
 The duke of Anjou had appointed governor a 
 knight called fir John Blondeau, who had under 
 his command many good companions, at the 
 charge and pay of the duke. 
 
 The lords and barons formed the fiegein a hand- 
 fome manner, and with great difplay. They fur- 
 rounded the caftle, for they were ftrong enough to 
 do fo, and had ordered from Poitiers and Thouars * 
 large engines on carriages, which they pointed 
 againft the fort, as well as feveral cannons and fprin- 
 gals, with which the army was provided, and from 
 long cuftom had always carried with them. They 
 had alfo great plenty of provifion, which was 
 brought to them daily from Poitiers and the adja- 
 cent country. 
 
 Sir John Blondeu, finding himfelf thus befieged 
 by fo many good men at arms (for almoft all the 
 
 * Thouars, — an ancient city of Poitou, fixteen leagues from 
 Poitiers, 
 
 knights 
 
455 
 
 knights of Acquitaine were there), and that nb 
 aid was likely to be fent to him, began to be alarm- 
 ed : he well knew that thofe lords would nevTei* 
 leave the place until they had won it by fair or foul 
 means. 
 
 In the army of the carl of Cambridge, with fir 
 John Chandos and the other barons, were fome 
 knights from Poitou well acquainted with the go- 
 vernor, and who in former times had been his com- 
 panions in arms. 
 
 Thefe knights advanced to the barriers, and upon 
 their faith and afiurances held a converfation with 
 him, and talked the matter over fo ably (for he was 
 not a fenfible man, though a valiant knight,) that he 
 entered into a treaty to deliver up the caftle, if he 
 were not fuccoured, nor the fiege raifed, within a 
 month ; when he was to receive the fum of fix 
 thoufand francs for the provifions in it. 
 
 The treaty thus entered into was ratified; and ' 
 the garrifon remained quiet, under condition, that 
 if the caftle was not relieved within a month, it 
 fliould be furrendered. 
 
 This being done, the knight fent information of 
 it to the king of France, the dukes of Anjou and of 
 Berry, and to all the lords from whom he ex-- 
 pefted affiftance, in order that he might be fecure 
 from any reproaches they might caft upon him. 
 Notwithftanding thefe informations, that the caftle 
 was ftrong, and abfolutely eftential to France, on 
 account of the provinces of Touraine and Anjou, 
 no relief was fent ; fo that, when the month was 
 expired, the Englifti lords fummoned the governor 
 
 to 
 
4S7 
 
 to perform his promife, for which he had givent 
 good hollages. Sir John did not intend to break 
 his engagement : he faid to his companions, ' Since 
 the king of France and the duke of Anjou are de- 
 termined to lofe this caftle, I cannot defend it 
 alone :' he therefore delivered it up to the Eng- 
 liih, who took pofTeffion with great joy. The go- 
 vernor received the fum of fix thoufand francs, as 
 agreed upon for the provifion in the caflle, which 
 was Vv^eil worth it ; and he and his garrifon were 
 efcorted to the town of Angers. 
 
 Inftantly on his arrival, he was arretted by the 
 governor of Angers, and thrown into prifon ; and, 
 as I have heard, was the fame night put into a fack, 
 caft into the river, and drowned by the orders of 
 the duke of Anjou, for having accepted money to 
 furrender a caftle, which had been well provided, 
 and was ftrong enough to have held out for a yearj 
 if the governor had chofen. 
 
 Thus did the Englifh gain the caf!le of la Roche 
 fur Yon in Anjou, which they well garrifoned and 
 ftrengthened : they then returned to the prince of 
 Wales at Angouleme. 
 
 After the conqueft of la Roche fur Yon, which 
 enraged the French much, the lords, as I have faid, 
 returned to Angouleme, where the prince gave 
 leave for fome to go to their homes. Lord James 
 Audley, that valiant knight aud fenefchalof Poitou, 
 went to his refidence at Fontenay le Comte*, 
 
 * Fontenay le Comte, — a city in Poitou, rear la Vendee, 
 diocefe of la Rochelle, twenty-five leagues from Poitiers. 
 Vol. Ill, H h where 
 
45S 
 
 \\'hcre he was attacked by To fcvere a diforder that 
 it ended his lite. Tlic prince and princefs were 
 exceedingly grieved at this event, as were all the 
 knights and barons of Poitou. His obfequies were 
 performed at Poitiers in a mod magnificent manner, 
 and were attended by the prince in perfon *. 
 
 Soon afterward, at the requeft of the barons 
 and knights of Poitou, fir John Chandos, who was 
 conflable of Acquitaine, was appointed fenefchal 
 of Poitou, and went to the city of Poitiers, \vhich 
 he fixed on for his rcfidence. He frequently 
 made excurfions upon the French, and kept them 
 under fuch continual alarms, they never dared to 
 venture abroad but in very large bodies. 
 
 About this time, the vifcount de Rochechouart 
 obtained his liberty. The prince of Wales had 
 kept him a prifoner, becaufe he fufpeQed him of 
 being inclined to the French; but at the folicita- 
 tions of his friends in Poitou, who were at that 
 lime with the prince, he gained his freedom, and 
 was reftored to his eftate. When the vifcount de 
 Rochechouart had got his liberty, he went in dif- 
 guife as fpeedily as he could to Paris, to the king of 
 France, where he turned Frenchman, and then 
 
 * Barnes fays this is a miftakc — of the fon for the father. 
 Sir James Audley, fon of lord James Audley, fenefchal of 
 Poitou, died in Gafcony about this time ; and on this lofs, 
 lord James, vvith the prince's leave, retired to England, 
 where he lived many years. He died in 1386, in the feventy- 
 third year of his age. 
 
 Sir John Chandos was nominated fenefchal of Poitou, on 
 lord James retiring to Epgland, 
 
 came 
 
459 
 
 came back to his eilate, without any one being in- 
 formed of the matter. Having placed Thibasit dii 
 Pont, a Breton and expert man at arms, in hh 
 caftle, he diretlly ftnl his challenge to the prince 
 of Waie% againll whom be kept up a I'igorous 
 warfare. 
 
 EMD OF THE THIRD VOLUME. 
 
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