[Sidenote: _Les grand chron._]
[Sidenote: _Les grandes chronic. le 4 liure._]
But herein (God helpe vs) she fullie afore possest of the féend, not
able to hold hir in anie towardnesse of grace, falling streight waie
into hir former abominations (and yet séeking to éetch out life as long
as she might) stake not (though the shift were shamefull) to confesse
hir selfe a strumpet, and (vnmaried as she was) to be with child. For
triall, the lord regents lenitie gaue hir nine moneths staie, at the
end wherof she found herein as false as wicked in the rest, an eight
daies after, vpon a further definitiue sentence declared against hir to
be relapse and a renouncer of hir oth and repentance, was she therevpon
deliuered ouer to secular power, and so executed by consumption of fire
in the old market place at Rone, in the selfe same stéed where now
saint Michaels church stands, hir ashes afterward without the towne
wals shaken into the wind. Now recounting altogither, hir pastorall
bringing vp, rude without any vertuous instruction, hir campestrall
conuersation with wicked spirits, whome in hir first salutation to
Charles the Dolphin, she vttered to be our Ladie, saint Katharine,
and saint Annes, that in this behalfe came and gaue hir commandements
from God hir maker, as she kept hir fathers lambs in the fields (where
saints in warres among christen men were (be we sure) neuer so parciall
patrons or partners to maintenance of horrible slaughters, rapines, and
bloudshed) hereto hir murtherous mind in killing of Franquet hir owne
prisoner, hir two yeares continuance in hir abominations and deadlie
mischiefe without anie hir trauell or motion betwéene the princes
for peace, hir relapse at last & falling againe into hir abiured
iniquities, by hir virginitie (if it were anie) by hir holie words, hir
fasting and praiers what they might be, sith satan (after S. Paule) can
change himselfe into an angell of light, the déeplier to deceiue.
[Sidenote: _Christianissimus rex._]
[Sidenote: _Tillet._]
[Sidenote: This prelate at his death left a hundred and fiftéene
crownes in gold, that vnder colour of warres with the infidels he had
fléesed from christen princes.]
[Sidenote: _Piatina._]
These matters may verie rightfullie denounce vnto all the world hir
execrable abominations, and well iustifie the iudgement she had, and
the execution she was put to for the same. A thing yet (God wot) verie
smallie shadowed, and lesse holpen by the verie trauell of the Dolphin,
whose dignitie abroad foulle spotted in this point, that contrarie to
the holie degrée of a right christen prince (as he called himselfe) for
maintenance of his quarels in warre would not reuerence to prophane
his sacred estate, as dealing in diuelish practises with misbeléeuers
and witches. Which maladie he full sorilie salued (like one that to
kill the strong sent of onions would cheaw a cloue of garlike) so a six
and twentie yeares after, he pact with pope Calixt the third, by whose
mandat directed to his thrée delegats, the bishops or Paris, Reimes,
and Constance, at the cathedrall church of Paris, in presence of Ione
(the pusels mother) Iohn and Peter hir brethren, the seuen and twentith
daie of Nouember 1455, the validitie and goodnesse of the processe and
sentence vpon hir was called in question, and in great solemnitie sit
vpon.
[Sidenote: _Li. 23 in vita. H. 6._]
Wherein the cause was so sincerelie canuassed among them, that
afterward, on the eight of Iulie 1456, a quite contrarie sentence was
there declared; of effect, that this Ione (forsooth) was a damsell
diuine, no fault in the Dolphin for his counsell and witcherie
practises with hir; the processe, iudgement, and condemnation against
hir all wrong and iniurious. And for iustification and remembrance
aswell of hir innocencie in life and death, as also of the sinceritie
of their later sentence, a new crosse in that old market to be reared.
In this tale of Tillets is she further likened to Debora, Iahell, and
Iudith, and vnto Romane Clelia compared by Polydor, that shames not
somewhat also to carpe at hir iudgment, and much pitieth hir paine. But
what puritie or regard of deuotion or conscience is in these writers
trow yée, who make no consideration of hir heinous enormities, or else
any difference betwéene one stirred vp by mercie diuine, or naturall
loue, and a damnable sorcerer suborned by satan? And thus much of this
gentle Ione, and of hir good oratours that haue said so well for hir:
now iudge as ye list.]
After the bestowing of this Pusell in sort as yée haue heard, the siege
still continued before Campiegne, and the duke of Bedford sent to the
duke of Burgognie lieng at the siege, the earle of Huntington, and sir
Iohn Robsert (two iollie gentlemen, of no lesse prudence to parle with
the enimie, than puissance to incounter them) with a thousand archers
(whose actiuitie, I warrant you, stood not then vpon the first triall)
which dailie skirmished with them within, and made such bastiles &
fortresses, that the towne had béene rendred into their hands, but
that the duke of Burgognie departed from the siege to go into Brabant,
to receiue the possession of that duchie, by the death of his cousin
Philip the duke of that countrie, as then departed this world.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.]
[Sidenote: 1431.]
Sir Iohn de Lutzenburgh was left by the duke of Burgognie as generall
of the siege before Campiegne, the which he raised within a short space
after, contrarie to the minds of the Englishmen, which were verie
desirous to haue lien there till the towne had béene rendered, which
if the siege had béene continued but eight daies longer, must néeds
haue come to passe; by reason that pestilence and famine had almost
consumed all the souldiers within the towne, so that it remained in
maner without defense. After the breaking vp of this siege, Iohn duke
of Norffolke tooke againe the townes of Dampmartine, and the Chasse
Mongaie, with diuerse other townes. Also the earle of Stafford tooke
the towne of Brin countie Robert, and from thence forraged all the
countrie to Sens, and after tooke Quesnoie in Brie, Grand Puis, and
Rampellon.
During this time, the Frenchmen on the otherside tooke Louiers and
Villeneuf. Then also did the towne of Melun rebell, and had such aid of
other townes adioining, that the English souldiers were faine to leaue
Melun, Morret, and Corbell. Thus did things wauer in doubtfull balance
betwixt the two nations English and French. But bicause the English
sore mistrusted further danger, it was concluded, that king Henrie in
his roiall person with a new armie should come into France, partlie
to visit and comfort his owne subiects there, and partlie either by
feare or fauour (bicause a child of his age and beautie dooth commonlie
procure them loue of elder persons) to moue the Frenchmen to continue
their due obeisance towards him.
[Sidenote: King Henrie the sixt in person goeth with an armie into
France.]
[Sidenote: S. Albons.]
[Sidenote: _Ed. Hull._]
Wherefore after a great host conuenient for that purpose assembled, and
monie for maintenance of the warre readie gathered, and the realme set
in an order vnder the gouernement of the duke of Glocester protector
(which during the kings absence appeased diuerse riots, and punished
the offenders) the king with a great power tooke shipping at Douer on
saint Georges euen within night, and landed at Calis on the morrow
being saint Georges daie, and sundaie, by seuen of the clocke in the
morning. He remained in Calis a good space, and from thence he remoued
to Rone, being there receiued with all triumph. He taried in that citie
a long time, his nobles dailie consulting on their great businesse &
weightie affaires.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Polychron._]
[Sidenote: A widow without Algate murthered in hir bed by a Breton
whome she charitablie reléeued.]
¶ In this kings time, & somewhat about this yeare, a certeine Breton,
whom a good honest widow had receiued into hir house, and conceiued
well of him in opinion, was by hir mainteined of hir owne pursse, &
(as Polychronicon saith) she found him of almes and for Gods sake.
This charitable déed of hirs deserued a deuout mind to God ward, and
a thankfull hart to hir. But (good soule) how was she recompensed?
[12]Euen murthered in hir bed by the hands of that villaine whome
so bountifullie she succored, and motherlike tendered. Vnto which
bloudie fact (which was a preparatiue to a further mischéefe bred
in his vnnaturall hart) he added another offense: for when he had
dispatched the woman, vsing the riddance of hir to his aduantage, and
as he had obteined oportunitie (to his thinking) he conueied all that
she had awaie with him for his owne reléefe. Then being persecuted with
guiltinesse of conscience, which troubleth offenders with ceaselesse
vexations, and forceth them from place to place to séeke corners of
euasion and shift, he tooke priuilege of holie church at saint Georges
in Southwarke, where laieng hands on the crosse, as a shield of
sufficient safegard, he abiured this land, and by that meanes thought
himselfe frée from afterclaps.
[12] O fowle ingratitude.
[Sidenote: The murther reuenged by women at the appointment of Gods
iustice.]
Neuerthelesse, God (whose mercifull nature abhorreth the effusion of
mans bloud) prepared a punishment for the malefactor, who passing
through the suburbs of London, without Algate (the place where he had
commited the murther) the women of the same parish and stréet (as it
were inraged) came out with stones, staues, kenell doong, and other
things, wherewith they so bethwackt him on all parts of his bodie, that
they laid him a stretching, and rid him quite of life. In the wreking
of this their téene they were so fell and fierce, that the constables
with their assistants (which were no small number) dooing what they
could by their authoritie and maine strength, were not able to rescue
him out of the womens hands; who had sworne in their hearts (as it
séemed by the maner of their reuenge which was void of all mercie)
to sée the end of such a villaine as most vnnaturallie had slaine a
woman, a neighbour, a widow, a pitifull woman, a good neighbour, an
honest widow; the wretch himselfe being a fugitiue, a stranger borne, a
begger, and he to whome she shewed hir selfe the staffe of his support.
O singular ingratitude which nature abhorreth, law dissalloweth, heauen
disclaimeth, God detesteth, humanitie condemneth, and euerie good bodie
to the verie death defieth; as the old distichon excellentlie and with
good sense noteth;
Lex & natura, coelum, Deus, omnia iura
Damnant ingratum, moerent ilium quoq; natum.
But to returne to the affaires of king Henrie, who in the moneth of
Nouember remooued from Rone to Pontoise, and so to saint Denis, to
the intent to make his entrie into Paris, and there to be sacred king
of France. There were in his companie of his owne nation, his vncle
the cardinall of Winchester, the cardinall and archbishop of Yorke,
the dukes of Bedford, Yorke, and Norffolke, the earles of Warwike,
Salisburie, Oxenford, Huntington, Ormond, Mortaigne, and Suffolke. Of
Gascoigns, there were the earles of Longuille and Marche, besides manie
other noble men of England, Guien, and Normandie. And the chéefe of the
French nation were the dukes of Burgognie, and Lewes of Lutzenburgh,
cardinall and chancellor of France for king Henrie: the bishops of
Beauuois and Noion, both péeres of France, beside the bishop of Paris,
and diuerse other bishops; the earle of Vaudemount, and other noble
men, whose names were superfluous to rehearse. And he had in a gard
about his person thrée thousand price archers, some on horssebacke, and
part on foot.
[Sidenote: King Henrie the sixt crowned in Paris.]
[Sidenote: _Le Rosier historiad._]
To speake with what honour he was receiued into the citie of Paris,
what pageants were prepared, and how richlie the gates, stréets, and
bridges on euerie side were hanged with costlie clothes of arras &
tapestrie, it would be too long a processe, and therefore I doo héere
passe it ouer with silence. On the seauentéenth daie of December,
he was crowned king of France, in our ladie church of Paris, by the
cardinall of Winchester, the bishop of Paris not being contented that
the cardinall should doo such an high ceremonie in his church and
iurisdiction. After all the ceremonies were finished, the king returned
toward the palace, hauing one crowne on his head, and another borne
before him; and one scepter in his hand, and the second borne before
him. As touching other the roiall seruices and princelie appointments,
they are verie diligentlie & at large set out in the French chronicle
of that time. This coronation of the king, Anglorum prælia as manie
other good and memorable matters, so this also he hath noted, saieng
thereof in comelie breuitie and truth, as after followeth:
Aeternæ famæ paulo post rege sepulto,
Parisijs, diadema vias & compita circum
Junior Henricus portat lepidissimus infans.
This high and ioious feast passed not without some spot of displeasure
among the English nobilitie: for the cardinall of Winchester, which
at this time would haue no man be equall with him, commanded the duke
of Bedford to leaue off the name of regent, during the time that the
king was in France, affirming the chéefe ruler being in presence, the
authoritie of the substitute to be cléerlie derogate, according to the
common saieng; In the presence of the higher power, the smaller giueth
place. The duke of Bedford tooke such a secret displeasure with this
dooing, that he neuer after fauoured the cardinall, but stood against
him in all things that he would haue forward. This was the root (as
some haue thought) of that diuision amongst the English nobilitie,
where through their glorie within the realme of France began first to
decline.
[Sidenote: Montargis recouered by the English.]
The next daie after the solemne feast of the kings coronation, were
kept triumphant iusts and torneis, in the which the earle of Arundell,
and the bastard of S. Paule, by the iudgement of the ladies woone the
price. The king kept open hall the space of fiue daies to all commers,
and after (bicause the aire of Paris séemed contrarie to his pure
complexion) by the aduise of his councell, he remooued to Rone, where
he kept his Christmasse. But before his departure from Paris, the noble
men as well of France and Normandie did to him homage, and the common
people sware to him fealtie. In this meane time, sir Francis called
the Aragoignois, a noble capteine of the English part in Normandie,
tooke by force and policie the towne of Montargis, with a great preie
of treasure and prisoners, and put therein a garrison, leauing it well
furnished with vittels and munition.
[Sidenote: The lord Talbot ransomed by exchange.]
[Sidenote: The holie shéepheard.]
About the same time, the earle of Arundell, being truelie informed that
the lord Bousac, marshall of France, was come to Beauuois, intending to
doo some feat in Normandie, assembled the number of thrée and twentie
hundred men, and comming néere to the said towne of Beauuois, sent a
great number of light horssemen to run before the towne, to traine out
the Frenchmen within; the which issuing out and following the English
horssemen vnto their stale, were so inclosed and fought with, that in
maner all the number of them, saue a few which fled backe into the
towne with the marshall, were slaine or taken. Amongst other of the
chéefest prisoners, that valiant capteine Pouton de Santrails was one,
who without delaie was exchanged for the lord Talbot, before taken
prisoner at the battell of Pataie. There was also taken one called
the shéepheard, a simple man, and a sillie soule; but yet of such
reputation for his supposed holinesse amongst the Frenchmen, that if
he touched the wall of any of their aduersaries townes, they beléeued
verelie it would incontinentlie fall downe.
[Sidenote: Vaudemont besieged.]
This chance succéeded not fortunatlie alone vnto the English nation,
for Richard Beauchampe earle of Warwike had a great skirmish before the
towne of Gournie, where he discomfited and repelled his enimies: and
beside those that were slaine, he tooke fortie horssemen, all being
gentlemen of name and armes. Like chance happened to the fréends of
king Charles, towards the marches of Loraine, where Reigner duke of Bar
besieged the towne of Vaudemont perteining to the earle thereof named
Anthonie, coosine to the same duke Reigner. This earle, before the
dukes approching, left a conuenient crue within the towne to defend it,
and with all spéed rode to the dukes of Bedford and Burgognie, being
then at the foresaid great triumph at Paris, where he purchased such
fauour at their hands, bicause he had euer taken their parts, that not
onelie sir Iohn Fastolfe was appointed to go with him, hauing in his
companie six hundred archers, but also the duke of Burgognies marshall
named sir Anthonie Toulongon, accompanied with fiftéene hundred other
men of warre.
When the duke of Bar heard that his enimies were thus comming towards
him, like a hardie capteine he raised his siege, and met face to face
with the earle and his companie, betwéene whome was a cruell and
mortall battell. The horssemen of the French side endured long, but in
conclusion the English archers so galled their horsses, and so wounded
the men, that the Barrois, Almains, and other of duke Reigners side
were compelled to flée. In the chase was taken the duke of Bar, the
bishop of Metz, the lord of Roquedemaque, sir Euerard of Salseburgh,
the vicont Darcie, and two hundred other, beside thrée thousand which
were slaine.
[Sidenote: Saint Seuerine besieged.]
In this luckie time also, no lesse occasion of victorie was offered
to the Englishmen in an other part, if they could haue vsed it with
such circumspect warinesse as had béene expedient. For Robert lord
Willoughbie, and Matthew [13]Gough, a valiant Welshman, with fiftéene
hundred Englishmen, laid siege to a towne in Aniou called saint
Seuerine. Whereof Charles the French king being aduertised, sent
with all spéed the lord Ambrose de Lore, with manie noble men to the
succours of them within the towne, wherof the same lord Ambrose was
capteine: and therefore made the more hast to reléeue his deputie, and
the other being streictlie besieged, but yet staied at the towne of
Beaumont, till his whole power might come to him.
[13] or rather Goche.
The Englishmen aduertised of this intent of the capteine, came vpon him
in the night, and found the Frenchmens watch so out of order, that a
thousand men were entered into the campe before they were espied; by
reason whereof the Englishmen found small resistance. But when the daie
began to appeare, and that the sunne had set foorth his bright beames
abroad, that all things might be séene, the Englishmen giuen wholie to
spoile, followed not their enimies in chase, but being contented with
their preie and game, began to retreit toward the siege againe, which
the lord Willoughbie still mainteined with a part of the armie.
But sée the chance. The Frenchmen which were c[=o]ming after, hearing
by the noise of the people that some fraie was at hand, put spurres to
their horsses, and set on the Englishmen pestered with bag and baggage
of the spoile and preie which they had gotten in the French campe. The
other of the Frenchmen which before had fled, returned againe, and
aided their fellowes; so that the Englishmen being taken out of order,
were compelled to flée, of whome Matthew [14]Gough and diuerse other
were taken prisoners. And yet of the other part manie were slaine, and
a great number taken: amongst whom was the lord de Lore, who (for all
that the Frenchmen could doo) was kept, and not deliuered. The lord
Willoughbie hearing of this mishap, raised his siege, and departed
verie sore displeased in his mind, but could not remedie it.
[14] Goche.
[Sidenote: A legat from Rome sent to treat a peace betwixt the English
and the French.]
[Sidenote: A truce for six yeares.]
[Sidenote: Chartres taken by treason notwidthstanding the truce.]
[Sidenote: The two errours.]
About this season, Nicholas the cardinall of the holie crosse was sent
into France, as a legat from Eugenie the fourth as then bishop of Rome,
to treat a peace betwéene the Englishmen and Frenchmen. But when after
great instance and labour made betwéene the parties, he saw their
obstinate and froward minds, nothing inclined to anie agréement, he
wan so much at their hands by earnest sute, that a truce was granted
to indure for six yeares to come: but as the same was hardlie granted,
so was it of the Frenchmen soone and lightlie broken. For the bastard
of Orleance newlie made earle of Dunois, tooke by treson the towne
of Chartres from the Englishmen, affirming by the law of armes, that
stealing or buieng a towne, without inuasion or assault, was no breach
of league, amitie, or truce. In which towne he slue the bishop, bicause
he was a Burgognian. Hereby did new malice increase, and mortall warre
began eftsoones to be put in vse.
Whilest these things were dooing in France, the cardinall of Winchester
was come backe againe into England, to appease certeine commotions
and sturres attempted by sundrie persons vnder colour of religion:
but after that William Mandeuile, and Iohn Sharpe the chéefe authors
thereof were apprehended and executed by the gouernour and the kings
iustices, the residue yéelded and confessed their offenses, whereof
two articles were these (as some write) that priests should haue no
possessions, and that all things by order of charitie among christian
people should be in common. Other thought their opinions were not such
errours, but that their enimies spread abroad such rumors of them, to
make them more odious to the people.
[Sidenote: A parlement called by the duke of Glocester the king being
in France.]
[Sidenote: A peace concluded with the Scots.]
After that, a parlement was called by the duke of Glocester, in the
which monie was assigned to be leuied, and men appointed, which should
passe ouer into France to the aid of the duke of Bedford, for the
maintenance of the warres: bicause it was suspected the truce would
not long continue. During this parlement, Iames the king of Scots
sent ambassadors to conclude a peace with the duke of Glocester, who
(bicause the king was absent) referred the matter to the thrée estates.
After long consultation, not without great arguments, a peace was
concluded. When the parlement was ended, the cardinall well furnished
with men & monie, departed out of England, and came to Rone to the
king, to whome also resorted the duke of Bedford from Paris, to consult
of things not vnlikelie to follow.
Herevpon a great councell was kept in the castell of Rone, and manie
doubts mooued, and few weightie things out of hand concluded. At
length, after great disputation, with manie arguments ended, the dukes
of Bedford and Yorke, and Edmund late earle of Mortaigne, and now (by
the death of Iohn duke of Summerset, leauing behind him a sole daughter
and heire, maried to the earle, and called Margaret after the countesse
of Richmond) atteined to the name and title of duke of Summerset,
approoued the reason of those, that held it expedient to haue an armie
in a redinesse for defense, least the Frenchmen suddenlie should
attempt anie enterprise to the danger of the Englishmen, and losse of
those townes and countries that were vnder them.
[Sidenote: 1432]
[Sidenote: King Henrie returneth out of France into England.]