[Sidenote: An. Reg. 1.]
[Sidenote: _Buchan lib. 10._]
After that death had bereft the world of that noble prince king
Henrie the fift, his onelie sonne prince Henrie, being of the age of
nine moneths, or thereabouts, with the sound of trumpets was openlie
proclamed king of England and France the thirtith daie of August, by
the name of Henrie the sixt; in the yeare of the world fiue thousand,
thrée hundred, eightie and nine, after the birth of our Sauiour 1422,
about the twelfe yeare of the emperour Frederike the third, the fortith
and two and last of Charles the sixt, and the third yeare of Mordaks
regiment (after his father Robert) gouernour of Scotland. The custodie
of this yoong prince was appointed to Thomas duke of Excester, & to
Henrie Beauford bishop of Winchester. The duke of Bedford was deputed
regent of France, and the duke of Glocester was ordeined protectour of
England; who taking vpon him that office, called to him wise and graue
councellors, by whose aduise he prouided and tooke order as well for
the good gouernment of the realme & subiects of the same at home, as
also for the maintenance of the warres abroad, and further conquest to
be made in France, appointing valiant and expert capteins, which should
be readie, when néed required. Besides this, he gathered great summes
of monie to mainteine men of warre, and left nothing forgotten that
might aduance the good estate of the realme.
While these things were a dooing in England, the duke of Bedford regent
of France studied most earnestlie, not onelie to kéepe and well order
the countries by king Henrie late conquered; but also determined not
to leaue off warre & trauell, till Charles the Dolphin (which was
now aflote, because king Charles his father in the moneth of October
in this present yeare was departed to God) should either be subdued,
or brought to obeisance. And suerlie the death of this king Charles
caused alterations in France. For a great manie of the nobilitie,
which before, either for feare of the English puissance, or for the
loue of this king Charles (whose authoritie they followed) held on
the English part, did now reuolt to the Dolphin, with all indeuour
to driue the English nation out of the French territories. Whereto
they were the more earnestlie bent, and thought it a thing of greater
facilitie, because of king Henries yoong yeares; whome (because he was
a child) they estéemed not, but with one consent reuolted from their
sworne fealtie: as the recorder of the Englishmens battels with forren
nations, verie aptlie doth note, saieng:
Hîc Franci puerum regem neglectui habentes
Desciscunt, violátque fidem gens perfida sacro
Consilio ante datam.
The duke of Bedford being greatlie mooued with these sudden changes,
fortified his townes both with garrisons of men, munition, and
vittels, assembled also a great armie of Englishmen and Normans, and
so effectuouslie exhorted them to continue faithfull to their liege
and lawfull lord yoong king Henrie, that manie of the French capteins
willinglie sware to king Henrie fealtie and obedience, by whose example
the communaltie did the same. Thus the people quieted, and the countrie
established in order, nothing was minded but warre, and nothing spoken
of but conquest.
[Sidenote: Pont Meulan surprised by the Fr[=e]ch.]
[Sidenote: 1423.]
[Sidenote: _Enguerant._]
The Dolphin which lay the same time in the citie of Poitiers, after
his fathers deceasse, caused himselfe to be proclamed king of France,
by the name of Charles the seuenth: and in good hope to recouer his
patrimonie, with an haultie courage preparing war, assembled a great
armie: and first the warre began by light skirmishes, but after it grew
into maine battels. The Dolphin thinking not to lose anie occasions
of well dooing, sent the lord Grauile to the towne of Pont Meulan,
standing on the riuer of Seine, who comming to the same vpon the
sudden, the fourtéenth of Ianuarie, tooke it and slue a great number of
English souldiors, which he found within it.
[Sidenote: Lord Grauile falsified his oth.]
When the duke of Bedford the regent, aduertised of this sudden
surprise, appointed the lord Thomas Montacute earle of Salisburie (a
man both for policie and courage, liker to the old Romans than to men
of his daies) accompanied with the earle of Suffolke, the lord Scales,
the yoong lord Poinings, sir Iohn Fastolfe maister of the houshold,
with himselfe and diuerse others, to besiege the said towne of Pont
Meulan, which after two moneths siege was rendred to the said earle,
and the lord Grauile sware to be true to the king of England euer after
that day: but shortlie after, forgetting his oth, he turned French
againe.
The earle of Salisburie appointed sir Henrie Mortimer, and sir Richard
Vernon, capteins of the towne, and from thence went into Champaigne,
and there besieged the towne of Sens, tooke it, and sir William Marin
the capteine within it, and slue all the souldiors that kept it, made
capteins there sir Hugh Godding, and sir Richard Aubemond. ¶ In this
season, Humfrie duke of Glocester, either striken in loue, or vpon some
other occasion, maried the ladie Iaquet or Iaquelin, daughter and sole
heire to William of Bauier duke of Holland, which was lawfull wife to
Iohn duke of Brabant then liuing, who afterwards (as after ye shall
heare) recouered hir out of the dukes hands.
[Sidenote: Affinitie an interteiner of friendship.]
The chances thus happening (as you before haue heard) Iohn duke of
Bedford, Philip duke of Burgognie, and Iohn duke of Britaine made a
fréendlie méeting in the citie of Amiens, where they renewed the old
league and ancient amitie made betwéene the noble prince king Henrie
the fift and them, adding thereto these conditions and agréements, ech
of them to be to the other fréend and aider; and the enimie of the one
to be enimie to the other; and all they to be fréends and aiders to
the king of England, welwiller to his welwillers, and aduersarie to
his aduersaries. And (bicause that affinitie is commonlie the bond of
amitie) there was concluded a mariage betwéene the duke of Bedford,
and the ladie Anne sister to the duke of Burgognie, which was after
solemnized at Trois in Champaigne, in the presence of the duke of
Burgognie brother to the bride, and of hir vncle the duke of Brabant,
the earles of Salisburie and Suffolke, and of nine hundred lords,
knights, and esquiers, with such feast and triumph, as before that time
had not béene séene of the Burgognions.
[Sidenote: The Parisiens preuented of their practises.]
Whilest these matters were in hand, the Parisiens, thinking to blind
the eies of the duke of Bedford, wrote to him how diuerse castels and
fortresses lieng about their territories, were replenished with their
enimies, dailie stopping their passages, and robbing their merchants,
to their vtter vndooing, if they by his helpe were not relieued. But
this was but a glose of the Parisiens, meaning to cause him to go about
the winning of some strong hold, whilest they in his absence might
bring into the citie Charles the Dolphin, that then called himselfe
French king; for so had they appointed, assigning to him the daie of
his comming, and the post of his entrie. But their practise being
discouered to the duke of Bedford, he with a great power entered into
Paris, one daie before the faire was appointed, & two nights before he
was looked for of his enimies being vnprouided, and suddenlie caused
the conspirators within the citie to be apprehended, and openlie to be
put to execution.
This doone, putting a mistrust in the Parisiens, he caused the castels
and fortresses néere and adioining to the citie, to be furnished with
Englishmen. And to auoid all night-watchers about Paris, and the
confines thereof, he first tooke into his possession either by assault
or composition, the towne of Trainelle and Braie vpon Seine. And
bicause two castels, the one called Pacie, and the other Coursaie were
also euil neighbours to the Parisiens, he sent sir Iohn Fastolfe great
maister of his houshold with a notable armie to win the same castels;
which he did, and with preie and prisoners returned backe againe to his
maister the regent.
[Sidenote: The English armie entreth the riuer and winneth the banke.]
In this verie season, the Dolphin sent the lord William Steward earle
of Buchquhane that was constable of France, and the earle of Ventadour
in Auuergne, and manie other noble men of his part, to laie siege to
the towne of Crauant in the countie of Auxerre, within the parts of
Burgognie. Wherof hearing the lord regent, and the duke of Burgognie
they assembled a great armie, and appointed the earle of Salisburie
to haue the guiding thereof; who with his capteins and men of warre,
English and Burgognions, came in good arraie to giue battell to the
besiegers. And bicause the riuer of Yonne, which runneth by the said
towne, was betwéene the English armie, and their aduersaries, they
could not well assaile their enimies, which defended the bankes and
passages verie stronglie: yet notwithstanding, both horssemen and
footmen of the English part couragiouslie put themselues into the
riuer, and with fine force recouered the banke, whome the Burgognions
incontinentlie followed.
When they were all gotten into the plaine, the archers shot, the
bill men strake, and long was the fight in doubtfull balance. But in
conclusion the Frenchmen not able to resist the force of the English
nation, were discomfited, slaine, and chased, leauing a glorious
victorie to the Englishmen and Burgognions. There were slaine of the
Frenchmen an eightéene hundred knights and esquiers, beside commons:
of Scots néere hand thrée thousand. Amongest the Frenchmen these were
chiefest that were slaine: the earle of Lestrake, the earl of Comigens,
the earle of Tonnoire, the lord Coquart de Comeron, the bastard of
Arminake, the viscount of Touraine, the bastard of Forrestes, the lord
de Port, and the lord Memorancie.
Of Scots the lord of saint Iohns towne, sir Iohn of Balgarie, sir
Iohn Turnbull, sir Iohn Holiburton, sir Robert Lislie, sir William
Coningham, sir William Dowglas, sir Alexander Hume, sir William Lislie,
sir Iohn Rotherford, sir William Craiford, sir Thomas Seton, sir
William Hamilton, and his sonne, Iohn Pillot. There were taken the
earle of Buchquhane constable of France, which lost his eie, the earle
of Ventadour, sir Alexander Meldrine, sir Lewes Ferignie, and two and
twentie hundred gentlemen of the French part. Of Englishmen there were
slaine sir Iohn Greie, sir William Hall, sir Gilbert Halsall one of the
marshals of the field, Richard ap Madocke, and one and twentie hundred
souldiers and men of warre.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 2]
After this fortunate victorie was the earle of Salisburie made (by
the lord regent) lieutenant and vicegerent for the king and the said
lord regent in the countries of France, Brie, and Champaigne; and sir
Iohn Fastolf was substituted deputie vnder the lord regent within the
duchie of Normandie on this side the riuer of Seine; and withall he
was also made gouernour of the countries of Aniou and Maine. The earle
of Salisburie after fiue moneths siege, wan by surrender the towne and
castell of Montaguillon in Brie; the capteins whereof, the one named
Pregent of Cotinie, and Guille Bourgois Britons, sware neuer to beare
armour against the Englishmen on this side the riuer of Loire. In the
mean time of that siege, the earle of Suffolke tooke by force the
castell of Coucie, and the strong castell of la Roch in Masconnois he
got by appointment.
[Sidenote: 1424]
[Sidenote: _Ann. 1423, per Buchanan._]
[Sidenote: Homage doone by the king of Scotland to king Henrie the
sixt.]
In this second yeare of king Henrie the sixt, Iames (the first of
that name & the hundred & second K. of Scotland, tooke to wife the
ladie Iane, daughter to Iohn earle of Summerset deceassed, and sister
to Iohn then duke of Summerset, and also coosine germane remoued to
king Henrie, and néece to the duke of Winchester, and to the duke of
Excester) was set at libertie, couenanting to paie a small portion
of monie more than was allowed to him for his wiues marriage monie,
and left hostages for the same. But before his departure out of the
realme, he did his homage vnto the the yoong king of England Henrie the
sixt at the castell of Windsor, before thrée dukes, two archbishops,
twelue earles, ten bishops, twentie barons, and two hundred knights
and esquiers, beside others, in order of words according to the tenour
hereafter following.
The formall recognisance or acknowledgement of the said homage.
I, IAMES STEWARD, K. of Scots, shall be true and faithfull vnto you
lord Henrie by the grace of God king of England & France, the noble
and superiour lord of the kingdome of Scotland; and to you I make my
fidelitie for the same kingdome of Scotland, which I hold and claime of
you; and I shall beare you my faith and fidelitie of life and lim, and
worldlie honour against all men; and faithfullie I shall knowledge and
shall doo you seruice due for the kingdome of Scotland aforesaid. So
God helpe me, and these holie euangelists.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _Buchan. lib. 10. An. 1425. W. P._]
But notwithstanding this his oth, and the great bounteous liberalitie
of the mother & vncles of his wife, in bestowing on him abundance of
plate & treasure, with rich clothes of arras; he had not béene long at
home, but that soone out of France into Scotland ouer came there Iames
Steward, who (after manie of the Scotish nobilitie by diuerse occasions
in France consumed) grew to be capteine of the horssemen there.
With him came the archbishop of Remes with power and commission for
concluding a league betwéene France and Scotland, and also of a mariage
betwéene Lewes the Dolphins sonne and Margaret Iameses daughter,
though both verie yoong. Which matters acordinglie accomplished, to
France againe they got them. So Iames became as firm French as any of
his predecessours.
[Sidenote: Compeigne surrendered to the English by a policie.]
But now to leaue the Scotish king amongst his countriemen in Scotland,
and returne to the dooings of England. I find that the duke of
Glocester, being protector and gouernour of the realme, prepared an
armie of ten thousand men, and sent them ouer to his brother the regent
into France; who comming into the territorie of Paris, were ioifullie
of him receiued. About the same time the Frenchmen got by stealth
diuerse townes out of the Englishmens hands, and amongst other the
faire towne of Compiegne was one, and the pretie towne of Crotoie an
other. When the duke of Bedford was aduertised hereof, he determined
not to let the matter passe in such sort, but with all conuenient spéed
sent foorth a force to recouer these townes againe. And first the earle
of Suffolke with the earle of Lignie, and diuerse other capteins of
the Englishmen went to besiege Compiegne, and lodged on the one side
of the riuer of Sohame, as the lord Lisle Adham, sir Thomas Ramston,
and the prouost of Paris laie on the other side. The Frenchmen within
the towne well furnished with good souldiers, munition, and vittels,
couragiouslie defended themselues.
[Sidenote: Compeigne & Crotoie recouered from the French.]
The Englishmen remembring that Guilliam Remond, other wise called
Mariolaine had béen the leader of the souldiers within the towne (which
Mariolaine before at Pacie was taken prisoner by sir Iohn Fastolfe)
caused him to be brought from Paris vnto the campe, and set him in a
chariot with an halter about his necke, and conueied him to the gibet
without the towne, sending word to them within, that if they would not
without delaie render the towne, their capteine should incontinentlie
be strangled afore their faces. Which moued the souldiers so much, by
reason of the loue they bare to their old capteine and gouernour, that
for the deliuerance of him and partlie of themselues they yéelded the
towne, so that both he and they might depart with horsse and harnesse
onelie in sure conduct and safetie. Yet yer this towne of Compiegne
was deliuered, sir Philip Hall, which was sent to Crotoie by the
lord regent with eight hundred men to besiege it, got it suddenlie
by assault yer the Frenchmen had either disposed their garrison, or
appointed their lodgings.
About the same time sir Iohn de la Poole brother to the duke of
Suffolke, being capteine of Auranches in Normandie, assembled all
the garrisons of the base marches of the countrie of Aniou, and came
before the citie of Angiers, burnt the suburbes, spoiled and destroied
the whole countrie; and hauing as manie prisoners as his men might go
awaie with, he was incountered by the earle of Aumarle, the vicount of
Narbonne, and six thousand Frenchmen; which finding the Englishmen out
of araie, incumbred with carriage of their great spoile, suddenlie set
on them, gaue them the ouerthrow, slue thrée hundred and tooke manie
prisoners; as the said sir Iohn de la Poole, sir Iohn Basset, Iohn
Aufort lieutenant of Faleise, Iohn Clifton, Henrie Mortimer, and other
to the number of six hundred.
But though the Frenchmen got here in this place, they went not awaie
with like gaine in an other: for the bastard de la Baulme, and the
lord Craignar capteins of Courallon, with a great band made rode into
Masconnois, whom by chance Matthew [1]Gough and other Englishmen,
which were also abroad in the countrie, met and incountred. There was
a sore fight betwéene the parties, being of courage and number in
maner equall. But after long conflict, the Frenchmen almost all were
slaine and taken, and the bastard being well horssed, fled; after
whome followed vpon the spurres, Matthew [2]Gough chasing him euen
to his castell gate, and there tooke him: for the which act he was
much praised of the erle of Salisburie (to whom he presented the said
bastard) and had not onelie the rights giuen him that belonged to the
prisoner but also was rewarded with a goodlie courser at the earles
hands.
[1] Or rather Goche.
[2] Goche.
About this season, Arthur brother to Iohn duke of Britaine, commonlie
called the earle of Richmond, hauing neither profit of the name, nor of
the countrie, notwithstanding that king Henrie the fift had created him
earle of Yurie in Normandie, and gaue him not onelie a great pension,
but also the whole profits of the same towne of Yurie; yet now, bicause
that the duke his brother was returned to the part of the Dolphin, he
likewise reuolting from the English obeisance, came to the Dolphin to
Poictiers, and there offered himselfe to serue him, whom the Dolphin
gladlie accepted, reioising more thereof, than if he had gained an
hundred thousand crownes: for the Britons within the towne of Yurie,
hearing that their maister was ioined with the Dolphin, kept both the
towne and castell against the duke of Bedford, furnishing it dailie
with new men and munition.
The lord regent aduertised hereof, raised an armie of Englishmen and
Normans, to the number of eightéene hundred men of armes, and eight
thousand archers and other. He had in his companie the earles of
Salisburie and Suffolke, the lords Scales, Willoughbie, and Poinings,
sir Reginald Graie, sir Iohn Fastolfe, sir Iohn Saluaine, sir Lancelot
Lisle, sir Philip Hall, sir Iohn Pashleie, sir Iohn Greie, sir Thomas
Blunt, sir Robert Harling, sir William Oldhall, and manie other, both
knights and esquiers, with whom he came before the towne of Yurie,
which was well defended, till they within perceiued themselues in
danger, by reason of a mine which the Englishmen made, wherevpon they
yéelded the towne. But the capteins of the castell would not presentlie
render the place, howbeit they promised to deliuer it, if the same were
not rescued at a day assigned by the Dolphin or his power.
Vpon this promise, hostages were deliuered into the possession of the
lord regent, by whose licence an herald was sent to the Dolphin, to
aduertise him of the time determined; who vnderstanding the distresse
of his fréends, incontinentlie sent Iohn duke of Alanson, as his
lieutenant generall, the erle Douglas, whome at their setting foorth
he made duke of Touraine, and the earle Buchquhane as then constable
of France, the erls of Aumarle, Ventadoure, Tonnere, Maulieurier, and
Forests, the vicounts of Narbonne, and Touars, the lords of Grauile,
Gaules, Malicorne, Mannie, Ballaie, Fountains, Montfort, and manie
other noble knights and esquiers, to the number of fiftéene thousand
Frenchmen and Britons, besides fiue thousand Scots, whome the earle
Dowglas had but latelie transported out of Scotland.
[Sidenote: Verneuil gotten from the Englishmen by crediting a lie.]
This roiall armie approched within two miles of Yurie. But when the
duke of Alanson understood by such as he had sent to view the conduct
of the Englishmen, that he could not get anie aduantage by assailing
them (although the Dolphin had giuen him streict commandement to fight
with the regent) he retired backe with his whole armie to the towne of
Vernueill in Perch, that belonged to the king of England; sending word
to the garrison, that he had discomfited the English armie, and that
the regent with a small number with him by swiftnesse of horsse had
saued himselfe. The inhabitants of Vernueill, giuing too light credit
herevnto receiued the duke of Alanson with all his armie into the towne.
In the meane time came the daie of the rescues of Yurie, which for
want thereof was deliuered to the duke of Bedford by the capteine
called Gerard de la Pallier, who presenting vnto the duke of Bedford
the keies of the castell, shewed him a letter also signed and sealed
with the hands and seales of eightéene great lords, who the daie before
promised by the tenour of the same letter to giue the duke battell, and
to raise the siege. "Well (said the duke) if their hearts would haue
serued, their puissance was sufficient once to haue proffered, or to
haue performed this faithfull promise: but sith they disdaine to séeke
me, God and saint George willing, I shall not desist to follow the
tract of their horsses till one part of us be by battell ouerthrowne."
And herewith he sent foorth the earle of Suffolke with six hundred
horssemen, to espie the dooings of the Frenchmen, and where they were
lodged. The earle riding foorth, passed by Dampuile, and came to
Bretueill, where he heard certeine newes where the Frenchman had gotten
Verneueill, and remained there still.
[Sidenote: The ordering of their battels.]
These newes he sent by post vnto the duke of Bedford, the which
incontinentlie vpon that aduertisement set forward in great hast
towards his enimies. The Frenchmen hearing of his comming, set their
people in arraie, and made all one maine battell without fore ward or
rere ward; and appointed foure hundred horssemen, Lombards and others
to breake the arraie of the Englishmen, either behind, or at the sides,
of the which was capteine sir Stephan de Vinoiles, called the Hire. The
duke of Bedford likewise made one entier battell, and suffered no man
to be on horssebacke, and set the archers (euerie one hauing a sharpe
stake) both on the front of the battell, and also on the sides, like
wings. And behind were all their horsses tied togither, either by the
reins or by the tailes, with the carts and cariages, to the defense
whereof were two thousand archers appointed.
Héerewith either part being come almost to the ioining, the duke
of Alanson, on the one side, exhorted his people to plaie the men,
declaring vnto them, that the conclusion of this battell should
either deliuer them out of vile seruitude, or place them in the vale
of bondage. On the other side, the duke of Bedford, to incourage his
men, willed them to remember how oft they had subdued those their
aduersaries in battell (with whome they should now cope) for the
most part, euer being the lesse number against the greater. Againe,
he declared how necessarie it was to tame the bold attempts of the
presumptuous Dolphin now in the beginning, least if the fire were
suffered further to burne, it must haue néed of the more water to
quench it.
[Sidenote: The battell of Vernoile the 28 of August, 1424.]
Manie words he vttered, to put them in hope of good successe and
victorie. But scarse had he ended his exhortation, when the Englishmen
rushed foorth, and boldlie set on their enimies, crieng, Saint George,
a Bedford, a Bedford: and the Frenchmen likewise cried Montioy saint
Denis. Then began the battell right fierce on both sides, continuing
for the space of thrée houres in doubtfull balance, fortune shewing hir
selfe so equall, that no eie could iudge to whether part she was more
fauourable. But at length, after that those foure hundred horssemen,
which were appointed, as yée haue hard, to brake the arraie of the
Englishmen, had passed thorough on the one side vnto the place where
the cariages and horsses stood, and could not passe further, by reason
of the fierce shot of the English bowes, they falling to the spoile
made a hand, and therewith departed. Those archers then that were
appointed to kéepe the cariages, being now at libertie, came forward,
and so fiercelie shot at the thickest prease of their enimies fighting
on foot, that in the end they were not able longer to indure, but were
borne downe by fine force, and so vanquished.
This battell was fought the eight and twentith of August, in the yeare
of our Lord a thousand foure hundred twentie and foure, in the which
battell were slaine of the Frenchmen the earles of Aumarle, Ventadour,
Forest, Marie, the lords Grauile, Gaules, Fountaines, Ambois, Touars,
Montenie, Combreste, Brunell, Tumble, and Poisie, beside thrée hundred
knights. The vicount Narbonne was hanged on a gibbet, bicause he
was one of the murtherers of the duke of Burgognie. Of Scots also
were slaine, Archembald earle Dowglas, that was made (as before is
mentioned) duke of Touraine, Iames Dowglas sonne to the said Archembald
earle of Wicton, Iohn earle of Bouqhen newlie made constable of France,
sir Alexander Meldrin, sir Henrie Balglauie, sir Iohn Sterling, William
of Homelsdon, sir James Graie, sir Robert Randen, sir Alexander
Linsaie, sir Robert Steward, sir Robert Swinton, and seauen and twentie
hundred Scots of name and armes, beside others.
[Sidenote: Fiue thous[=a]d saith _Aemilius_ but _Nicholas Giles_ saith
there died but foure thous[=a]d on both parts.]
[Sidenote: Dudley and Charleton, two of the English nobilitie, were
slaine at this battell, as _Ia. Meir_ saith.]
So that in this battell were slaine by report of Montioy king at armes
in France, and the English haralds there present, of Frenchmen & Scots
nine thousand and seauen hundred: and of Englishmen one and twentie
hundred, but no man of name, sauing fiue yoong esquiers. And there were
taken prisoners, Iohn duke of Alanson, the bastard of Alanson, the lord
of Faiect, the lord of Hormit, sir Piers Harison, sir Lois de Gaucourt,
sir Robert Brusset, sir Iohn Turnebull a Scot, and two hundred
gentlemen, beside common soldiers. The Frenchmen within Vernoill,
séeing the Dolphins armie thus ouerthrowne, deliuered the towne to the
regent, their liues saued. Then was sir Philip Hall appointed capteine
there, and the lord regent returned, and came to Rone, and after to
Paris.
The Dolphin that called himselfe king of France, was sore appalled with
the ouerthrow of his armie: for he was driuen out of all the countries
in maner, that apperteined to the crowne of France, & might resort
to none except to Bourbonois, Aluergne, Berrie, Poictow, Touraine, a
part of Aniow, and Languedoc: yet to shew himselfe as king, he erected
his court of parlement, his chancerie, & all other courts in the
citie of Poictiers, and there established his great seale, with all
due circumstances thereto apperteining: where he continued fouretéene
yeares togither, and then was remooued to Paris, after he had got that
citie, and expelled the Englishmen, as after shall appeare.
[Sidenote: The lord Scales sent to conquer Aniow and Maine.]
The duke of Bedford lieng at Paris, sent the lord Scales, sir Iohn
Montgomerie, sir Iohn Fastolfe, with two thousand men to winne the
countries of Aniow, and Maine, vnto whom were rendred without assault,
the strong castels of Beaumont le Vicount, Teune, Sillie, Osce,
Courceriers, Roussie, Vasse, Couetemenant, and twentie other, which
I doo héere passe ouer. Such was then the opinion conceiued of the
English puissance, so oft tried, prooued, and preuailing, that the
Frenchmen thought the Englishmen would haue all which they wished for
or wrought for.
[Sidenote: Mans deliuered to the Englishmen.]
The earle of Salisburie, with the said lord Scales, and the other
capteins before named, were appointed with an armie of ten thousand
men, to besiege the rich and strong citie of Mans, the chéefe citie
of all the countrie of Maine; whither when they came, they made their
approches, and planted their batterie to the wals, so that with the
shot of their great péeces (which kind of engins before that time had
not béene much séene nor heard of in France) the citie was within a few
daies despoiled of all hir towers and outward defenses. The citizens
and soldiers, perceiuing in what danger they stood, & knowing not how
to remedie the matter, offered the towne vpon this condition, that all
persons which would tarrie within the towne, might abide; and all that
would depart with horsse and harnesse onelie, should be permitted:
which offers were accepted, and the towne rendered, whereof the earle
made capteine the earle of Suffolke, and his lieutenant sir Iohn
Fastolfe.
After this, the earle of Salisburie besieged the faire towne of saint
Susan, whereof was capteine one Ambrose de Lore, a right valiant
chéefteine. The earle caused the towne to be assaulted at his first
commmg to it; but he lost more than he gained, and therefore left off
his assaults, and caused a trench to be cast about the towne, and so
planted his batterie, by force whereof he ouerthrew the walles, in such
sort that the capteine offered for himselfe and his soldiers 200000
crownes, so that they might depart in their doublets onelie, which
summe (bicause winter approched) was accepted, and the towne yéelded.
Of this towne sir Iohn Popham was made capteine. Then the erle went to
Maine la Iuhez, which towne after fiue wéekes siege was yéelded, and
appointed to the kéeping of sir Iohn Montgomerie, knight.
After the feast of the Purification of our ladie, the earle of
Salisburie besieged the castell de la Fert Barnard; during which siege
a sale was made of the towne of Alanson being in the Englishmens
possession, by a Gascoigne that was one of the garrison there. But
this sale being opened to the erle of Salisburie by the same Gascoigne
at the daie appointed, the lord Willoughbie and sir Iohn Fastolfe,
with two thousand men were sent to incounter with the buiers of that
towne; so that when Charles de Villiers chéefe merchant of this ware,
came earlie in a morning with two hundred horsemen, and thrée hundred
footmen, and approached the towne, abiding for the Gascoigne, yer he
was aware, the Englishmen had compassed him and his companie round
about, and setting vpon the Frenchmen, slue and tooke all the whole
number of them, saue Peter Danthenazie and fiue and twentie other,
which by the swiftnesse of their horsses saued themselues.
[Sidenote: Generall processions after victorie.]
After this conflict, the lord Willoughbie returned to the earle of
Salisburie, lieng still at siege before the towne de la Fert Barnard,
which shortlie after was rendered vp into the erle of Salisburies
hands, to whome the lord regent gaue it, to inioie to him and his
heires for euer. Beside this, the said earle partlie by assalt, &
partlie by composition tooke diuers other, as saint Kales; where he
made capteine Richard Gethin esquier; Thanceaux Lermitage, where he
made gouernour Matthew [3]Gough; Guerland of the which he assigned
ruler Iohn Banaster; Malicorne, whereof he made capteine William
Glasdale esquier; Lisle Soubz Boulton, whereof was made capteine sir
Lancelot Lisle knight; Loupelland, whereof was made capteine Henrie
Branch; Montseur, of the which was made capteine sir William Oldhall
knight: la Suze was assigned to the kéeping of Iohn Suffolke, esquier.
And besides this, aboue fortie castels and piles were ouerthrowne and
destroied. The newes hereof reported in England, caused great reioising
among the people, not onelie for the conquest of so manie townes &
fortresses, but also for that it had pleased God to giue them victorie
in a pitched field: whereof generall processions were appointed, to
render vnto God humble thanks for his fauour so bestowed vpon them.
[3] Or rather Goche.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 3.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie of tunnage and poundage.]
This yeare after Easter, the king called a parlement at Westminster,
by aduise of the péeres; and comming to the parlement house himselfe,
he was conueied through the citie vpon a great courser, with great
triumph, the people flocking into the stréets to behold the child,
whome they iudged to haue the liuelie image and countenance of his
father, and like to succéed him, and be his heire in all princelie
qualities, martiall policies, and morall vertues, aswell as in his
realmes, seigniories and dominions. In this parlement was granted to
the king a subsidie of twelue pence the pound, towards the maintenance
of his warres, of all merchandize, comming in or going out of the
realme, as well of Englishmen as strangers.
[Sidenote: The prince of Portingale commeth to London.]
During which parlement, came to London Peter duke of Quimbre, sonne to
the king of Portingale, cousine germane remooued to the king; which
of the duke of Excester and the bishop of Winchester his vncles was
highlie feasted, he was also elected into the order of the garter.
During the same season, Edmund Mortimer, the last earle of March, of
that name (which long time had béene restreined from his libertie,
and finallie waxed lame) deceassed without issue, whose inheritance
descended to the lord Richard Plantagenet, sonne and heire to Richard
earle of Cambridge, beheaded (as before yée haue heard) at the towne of
Southampton. ¶ In the time of this parlement also was sir Iohn Mortimer
cousine to the same earle, either for desert or malice, atteinted of
treason, and put to execution, of whose death no small slander arose
amongst the common people.
After all these things doone in England and in France, Humfreie duke of
Glocester, who had married the ladie Iaquet, or Iaqueline of Bauier,
countesse of Heinault, Holland, and Zeland (notwithstanding she was
coupled in marriage afore to Iohn duke of Brabant, as yet liuing, and
had continued with him a long space) passed now the sea with the said
ladie, and went to Mons or Bergen in Heinault, where the more part of
the people of that countrie came and submitted themselues vnto him, as
to their souereigne lord, in right of his said wife, the ladie Iaquet
or Iaqueline: with which dooing hir former husband was greatlie mooued.
And likewise the duke of Burgognie, being great friend to the same duke
of Brabant, was much offended: who of old familiaritie wrote louinglie
to the duke of Glocester, requiring him to reforme himselfe according
to reason, and to forsake his vngodlie life, both in kéeping of an
other mans wife, and also in séeking to vsurpe other mens rights and
titles.
Herevpon went letters betwixt them for a time, but at length when
the duke of Burgognie perceiued that the duke of Glocester meant to
mainteine his interest, & to make warre against the duke of Brabant; he
tooke part with the duke of Brabant so earnestlie, that he consented to
fight with the duke of Glocester bodie to bodie within lists in defence
of the duke of Brabants quarell, and further aided the duke of Brabant
in his warres against the duke of Glocester, with all his puissance,
insomuch that in the end (after the duke of Glocesters returne into
England) the duke of Brabant recouered all the towns in Heinault, which
the ladie Iaquet or Iaqueline held against him. And further the same
ladie was by composition deliuered by them of the towne of Mons vnto
the duke of Burgognie; who caused hir to be conueied vnto Gant, from
whence she made shift to escape into Holland, where she was obeied as
countesse of the countrie.
Then made she warre in hir owne defense against the dukes of Burgognie
and Brabant, who sought to spoile hir of all hir towns and lands: but
they procured pope Martin the fift (before whome the matter was) to
giue sentence that the first matrimonie with the duke of Brabant was
good, and the second with the duke of Glocester to be vnlawfull. But
in the meane time, the lord Fitz Walter was sent ouer to the aid of
the ladie Iaquet or Iaquelin, with a power of Englishmen, landed in
Zeland, néere vnto the towne of Zerixe, aginst whome came the duke of
Burgognie, and incountering with them and other such Hollanders and
Zelanders, as were ioined with them, néere to a place called Brewers
hauen, there discomfited them; so that of English, Hollanders, and
Zelanders, with the said lord Fitz Walter, were slaine seauen or eight
hundred, and the residue chased to the water. At length, when the duke
of Glocester vnderstood the sentence pronounced against him by the
pope, he began to wax wearie of his wife the said ladie Iaquet, by
whome he neuer had profit, but losse, and tooke in a second marriage
Eleanor Cobham, daughter to the lord Cobham of Sterberow, which before
(as the fame went) was his souereigne paramour, to his slander and
dishonour.
[Sidenote: Alias Bowron.]
[Sidenote: Twentie thousand hath _Nicholas Giles_. ]
[Sidenote: S. Iames de Beuuron besieged.]
A little before this time, sir Thomas Rampston, sir Philip Branch, sir
Nicholas Burdet, and other Englishmen, to the number of fiue hundred
men of warre, repared and fortified the towne of S. Iames de Beuuron,
situate on the frontiers of Normandie towards Britaine, within halfe a
league of the duke of Britains ground, with whome as then they had open
warre; and so began to doo manie displeasures to his people. Wherevpon
Arthur earle of Richmont and Yurie, brother to the said duke, and
latelie before created constable of France, assembled an huge power of
men to the number of fortie thousand (as some haue written) and with
the same came before the said towne of S. Iames de Beuuron, and planted
his siege verie stronglie about it, inforcing with his great ordinance
to ouerthrow the wals. And one day amongst other, he determined to giue
the assault, and so did, the which continued a long space verie hot and
earnest.
[Sidenote: Sir Nicholas Burdet.]
[Sidenote: _Enguerant de Monstreller._]
The Britons Britonants were come downe into a low bottome, where there
was a little pond or fish poole, and they must néeds passe by a streict
waie to come to the walles in great danger. On that side of the towne
was a little bulworke, which sir Nicholas Burdet kept, hauing with him
a fortie or eightie fighting men: and ouer against the same bulworke
there was a gate well furnished also with English souldiers; so that
the Britons which came downe into the ditches in great number to giue
the assault, heard on either side them the Englishmen (within the
said bulworke and gate) make a great noise, in crieng Salisburie and
Suffolke; with the which crie the Britons being maruelouslie astonied,
began to recoile in great disorder. And therewith the said sir Nicholas
Burdet issued foorth vpon them, and pursuing them right valiantlie,
slue them downe, so that there died of them what by the sword, and what
by drowning in the said poole, about seauen thousand or eight hundred,
and to the number of fiftie were taken prisoners. And beside this,
those Englishmen gained eightéene standards and one baner.
Incontinentlie the newes hereof were reported to the constable of
France, who was busie at the assault on the other side of the towne,
whereof he was sore displeased, and no lesse amazed; so that he caused
the retreit to be sounded, for all the siege on that side toward the
poole was alreadie raised. After this, vpon counsell taken amongst the
Frenchmen, it was determined that they should dislodge: and so about
the middest of the next night, the constable and all the residue of
his people departed toward Fougiers, leauing behind them great plentie
of artillerie both great and small, with victuals, and all their other
prouisions: as fourtéene great guns and fortie barrels of powder,
thrée hundred pipes of wine, two hundred pipes of bisket and flower,
two hundred frailes of figs and reisins, and fiue hundred barrels of
herrings.
[Sidenote: Dissention betwixt the duke of Glocester and the bishop of
Winchester.]
Somewhat before this season fell a great diuision in the realme of
England, which of a sparkle was like to haue grown to a great flame.
For whether the bishop of Winchester called Henrie Beaufort, sonne to
Iohn duke of Lancaster by his third wife, enuied the authoritie of
Humfrie duke of Glocester, protectour of the realme; or whether the
duke disdained at the riches and pompous estate of the bishop: sure it
is that the whole realme was troubled with them and their partakers:
so that the citizens of London were faine to kéepe dailie and nightlie
watches, and to shut vp their shops for feare of that which was
doubted to haue insued of their assembling of people about them. The
archbishop of Canturburie and the duke of Quimbre, called the prince of
Portingale, rode eight times in one daie betwéene the two parties, and
so the matter was staied for a time. But the bishop of Winchester, to
cléere himselfe of blame so farre as he might, and to charge his nephue
the lord protectour with all the fault, wrote a letter to the regent of
France, the tenor whereof insueth.
The bishop of Winchesters letter excusatorie.
Right high and mightie prince, and my right noble, and after one,
lieuest lord, I recommend me vnto you with all my hart. And as you
desire the welfare of the king our souereigne lord, and of his realmes
of England and France, your owne health, and ours also: so hast you
hither. For by my truth, if you tarie, we shall put this land in
aduenture with a field; such a brother you haue here, God make him a
good man. For your wisedome knoweth, that the profit of France standeth
in the welfare of England, &c. Written in great hast on All hallowen
euen. By your true seruant to my liues end, Henrie Winchester.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: A parlement holden at Leicester.]
The duke of Bedford being sore gréeued and disquieted with these newes,
constituted the earle of Warwike, which was latelie come into France
with six thousand men, his lieutenant in the French dominions, and in
the duchie of Normandie; and so with a small companie, he with the
duchesse his wife returned againe ouer the seas into England, and the
tenth daie of Ianuarie he was with all solemnitie receiued into London,
to whome the citizens gaue a paire of basins of siluer and gilt, and
a thousand markes in monie. Then from London he rode to Westminster,
and was lodged in the kings palace. The fiue and twentith daie of
March after his comming to London, a parlement began at the towne of
Leicester; where the duke of Bedford openlie rebuked the lords in
generall, bicause that they in the time of warre, thorough their priuie
malice and inward grudge, had almost mooued the people to warre and
commotion, in which time all men ought or should be of one mind, hart,
and consent: requiring them to defend, serue, & dread their souereigne
lord king Henrie, in performing his conquest in France, which was in
manner brought to conclusion. In this parlement the duke of Glocester
laid certeine articles to the bishop of Winchester his charge, the
which with the answers hereafter doo insue; as followeth.
The articles of accusation and accord betwéene the lord of Glocester,
and the lord of Winchester.
[Sidenote: Articles set foorth by the duke of Glocester, against Henrie
bishop of Winchester.]
Here insueth the articles, as the kings councell hath concerned, the
which the high and mightie prince my lord of Glocester hath surmised
vpon my lord of Winchester chancellor of England, with the answer to
the same.
1 First, whereas he being protectour, and defendour of this land,
desired the Tower to be opened to him, and to lodge him therein;
Richard Wooduile esquier (hauing at that time the charge of the kéeping
of the Tower) refused his desire and kept the same Tower against
him vndulie and against reason, by the commandement of my said lord
of Winchester; and afterward in approouing of the said refusall, he
receiued the said Wooduile, and cherished him against the state and
worship of the king, and of my said lord of Glocester.
2 Item, my said lord of Winchester, without the aduise and assent of my
said lord of Glocester, or of the kings councell, purposed and disposed
him to set hand on the kings person, and to haue remooued him from
Eltham, the place that he was in, to Windsor, to the intent to put him
in gouernance as him list.
3 Item, that were my said lord of Glocester (to whome of all persons
that should be in the land, by the waie of nature and birth, it
belongeth to sée the gouernance of the kings person) informed of the
said vndue purpose of my said lord of Winchester declared in the
article next abouesaid, and in letting thereof, determining to haue
gone to Eltham vnto the king to haue prouided as the cause required;
my said lord of Winchester vntrulie, and against the kings peace, to
the intent to trouble my said lord of Glocester going to the king,
purposing his death, in case that he had gone that waie, set men of
armes and archers at the end of London bridge next Suthworke: and in
forebarring of the kings high waie, let draw the chaine of the stoupes
there, and set vp pipes and hurdles in manner and forme of bulworks:
and set men in chambers, cellars & windowes, with bowes and arrowes and
other weapons, to the intent to bring finall destruction to my said
lord of Glocesters person, as well as of those that then should come
with him.
4 Item, my said lord of Glocester saith and affirmeth, that our
souereigne lord his brother that was king Henrie the fift, told him on
a time, when our souereigne lord being prince was lodged in the palace
of Westminster in the great chamber, by the noise of a spaniell, there
was on a night a man spied and taken behind a [4]tapet of the said
chamber, the which man was deliuered to the earle of Arundell to be
examined vpon the cause of his being there at that time; the which so
examined, at that time confessed that he was there by the stirring and
procuring of my said lord of Winchester, ordeined to haue slaine the
said prince therein his bed: wherefore the said earle of Arundell let
sacke him foorthwith, and drowned him in the Thames.
[4] Or hanging.
5 Item, our souereigne lord that was, king Henrie the fift, said vnto
my said lord of Glocester, that his father king Henrie the fourth
liuing, and visited then greatlie with sickenesse by the hand of God,
my said lord of Winchester said vnto the king (Henrie the fift then
being prince) that the king his father so visited with sicknesse was
not personable, & therfore not disposed to come in conuersation and
gouernance of the people; and for so much, counselled him to take the
gouernance and crowne of this land vpon him.
The answer of the bishop.
Here insue the answers to the accusations made by my lord of Winchester
chancellour of England, vnto the causes and matters of heauinesse,
declared in the articles against him by my lord of Glocester.