inueigled, left the holie life (such as it was) that he had profest,
tooke the papasie vpon him the same 1439, and called Felix the fift,
which promotion yet he not long inioied. For after, by his successour
Nicholas the fifts ambition, that had suborned emperour Frederike to
be a worker in the matter, this sillie Amedius was coosined of his
popes golden crowne for a cardinalls felt hat. Then (good man) at
last could he find, whether were néerer to christen profession, the
life of a vertuous prince ruling in iustice, of a solitarie heremite
vértuouslie occupied, of an imperious pope that may know no péere, or
of a licentious cardinall to liue as he list. This poore prince had
experience of all, and then knew the best: when well might he lament
him, but too late repent him.
[Sidenote: 1435]
And in the fift yeare of this Basilien councell that had a continuance
of eleuen yeare (whereof an eight were run yer Felix was chosen, in
which Eugenie remaining pope still, though of curst hart he neuer
came at them) motion was made among Sigismund the emperour and other
christen kings (who for appeasing this schisme betwéene the pope
and his prelats, were all present by person or proxie) that sith
such horror of bloudshed betwéene the two nations continuallie so
lamentablie raged in France, some mediation might be made for accord:
whereof one thing séemed to minister occasion of the more hope,
bicause the duke of Burgognie was willing (so that it were not of his
owne sute) to returne and reconcile himselfe with the French king his
mortall enimie and ancient aduersarie.]
[Sidenote: A solemne tretie of peace at Arras.]
Héerevpon by authoritie of this generall councell, two graue prelats,
the one Nicholas Albergat a Carthusian frier, intituled a préest
cardinall of the holie crosse; the other Hugh Lusignan a Cyprian,
Gréeke, bishop cardinall of Prenest in Italie, came to the towne of
Arras in Arthois, whither were sent from the king of England, Henrie
Beauford cardinall of Winchester, Henrie archbishop of Yorke, William
de la Poole earle of Suffolke, and Iohn Holland earle of Huntington,
with diuerse other knights and esquiers. And for the French king were
there present Charles duke of Bourbon, Lewes erle of Vandosme, Arthur
of Britaine constable of France, the archbishop of Reimes, and sir
Philip Harecourt. The duke of Burgognie was there in proper person,
accompanied with the duke of Guelders, and the earles of Estampes,
Lignie, S. Paule, Vaudemont, Neures, and Daniell sonne to the prince of
Orange, with a great gard and a gallant companie.
Vpon the daie of the first session, the cardinall of S. Crosse declared
to the thrée parties the innumerable mischéefes, that had followed
to the whole state of the christian common-wealth by their continual
dissention and dailie discord, exhorting them for the honour of God,
& for the loue which they ought to beare towards the aduancement of
his faith and true religion, to conforme themselues to reason, and to
laie aside all rancor, malice and displeasure; so that in concluding
a godlie peace, they might receiue profit and quietnesse héere in
this world, and of God an euerlasting reward in heauen. After this
admonition, and diuerse daies of communication, euerie partie brought
in their demands, which were most contrarie, and farre from anie
likelihood of comming to a good conclusion.
The Englishmen would that king Charles should haue nothing but what it
pleased the king of England, and that not as dutie, but as a benefit
by him of his méere liberalitie giuen and distributed. The Frenchmen on
the other part would that K. Charles should haue the kingdome franklie
and fréelie, and that the king of England should leaue the name, armes,
and title of the king of France, and to be content with the dukedomes
of Aquitaine and Normandie, and to forsake Paris, and all the townes
which they possessed in France, betwéene the riuers of Some and Loire,
being no parcell of the duchie of Normandie. To be bréefe, the demands
of all parts were betwéene them so farre out of square, as hope of
concord there was none at all.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]
The cardinals séeing them so farre in sunder, minded not to dispute
their titles, but offered them reasonable conditions of truce and
peace for a season, which notwithstanding, either of frowardnesse,
or of disdaine on both parts, were openlie refused. Insomuch that
the Englishmen in great displeasure, departed to Calis, and so into
England. ¶ One writer affirmeth, that they being warned of a secret
conspiracie mooued against them, suddenlie departed from Arras, and
so returned into their countrie. But what cause soeuer hindered their
accord and vnitie (sith this and that may be surmized) certeine it is,
that the onelie and principal cause was, for that the God of peace and
loue was not among them, without whom no discord is quenched, no knot
of concord fastened, no bond of peace confirmed, no distracted minds
reconciled, no true fréendship mainteined: for had he béene among them,
their dissenting and waiward willes had sounded the swéet harmonie of
amiable peace, which of all things that God hath bestowed vpon man is
the verie best, and more to be set by than manie triumphs, as the poet
excellentlie well saith:
[Sidenote: _Sil. Ital. lib._ 11.]
---- pax optima rerum
Quas homini nouisse datum: pax vna triumphis
Innumeris potior, pax custodire salutem
Et ciues æquare potens.
Now whiles this treatie of peace was in hand, the lord Talbot, the
lord Willoughbie, the lord Scales, with the lord Lisle Adam, and fiue
thousand men of warre, besieged the towne of saint Denis with a strong
band. The earle of Dunois hearing hereof, accompanied with the lord
Lohac, and the lord Bueill, with a great companie of horssemen hasted
thitherwards to raise the siege, and by the waie incountred with sir
Thomas Kiriell, and Matthew [15]Gough, riding also toward saint Denis,
béetwéene whom was a great conflict. But suddenlie came to the aid of
the Frenchmen the garrison of Pont Meulan, which caused the Englishmen
to returne without anie great harme or damage: sauing that Matthew
[16]Gough by foundering of his horsse was taken, and carried to Pont
Meulan.
[15] Or rather Goche.
[16] Or Goche.
[Sidenote: S. Denis taken by the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: A peace betwéen Charles of France and the duke of Burgognie.]
In the meane time was the towne of saint Denis rendered to the
Englishmen, the which raced the walles and fortifications, sauing the
walles of the abbeie, and of the tower called Venin. Shortlie after the
towne of Pontois, where sir Iohn Ruppelleie was capteine, rebelled;
and by force the Englishmen were expelled, the inhabitants yéelding
themselues to the French king. This towne was small, but the losse
was great, bicause it was the keie that opened the passage betwixt
the cities of Paris and Rone. But now to returne to the communication
at Arras, which after the departure of the English commissioners held
betwixt the Frenchmen and Burgognians, till at length a peace was
concluded, accorded, and sworne betwixt king Charles and duke Philip of
Burgognie, vpon certeine conditions, as in the French histories more
plainlie appeareth.
And after, the duke of Burgognie, to set a veile before the king of
Englands eies, sent Thoison Dore his chéefe herald to king Henrie
with letters, excusing the matter by way of information, that he was
constreined to enter in this league with K. Charles, by the dailie
outcries, complaints, and lamentations of his people; alledging against
him, that he was the onlie cause of the long continuance of the wars,
to the vtter impouerishing of his owne people, and the whole nation
of France. Therefore sith he could not otherwise doo, but partlie to
content his owne people, and chéefelie to satisfie the request of the
whole generall councell, was in manner compelled for his part to growe
vnto a peace and amitie with king Charles.
He likewise wished that king Henrie, vpon reasonable and honorable
conditions of agréement offered, should in no wise refuse the same:
whereby the long continued warre at length might ceasse and take end,
to the pleasure of almightie God, which is the author of peace and
vnitie: & hereto he promised him his aid and furtherance, with manie
gaie words, which I passe ouer. The superscription of this letter was
thus [To the high and mightie prince, Henrie by the grace of God king
of England, his welbeloued cousine.] Neither naming him king of France,
nor his souereigne lord, according as (euer before that time) he was
accustomed to doo. This letter was much maruelled at of the councell,
after they had throughlie considered all the contents thereof, & they
could not but be much disquieted, so far foorth that diuerse of them
offended so much with the vntruth of the duke, that they could not
temper their passions, but openlie called him traitor.
[Sidenote: Spoil vpon the Burgognian people in London.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
But when the rumor of the dukes reuolting was published amongst the
people, they left words, and fell to bestowing of stripes: for being
pricked with these euill tidings, they ran in great outrage vpon all
the Flemings, Hollanders, and Burgognions, which then inhabited within
the citie of London, and the suburbes of the same, and slue and hurt
a great number of them before they, by the kings proclamation, could
be staied from such iniurious dooing: for the king nothing more minded
than to saue innocent bloud, and to defend them that had not offended.
The officer at armes was willed to tell his maister, that it stood not
with his honor to be enimie to the English nation; and that his dutie
had béene to kéepe his ancient truth and allegiance, rather than to be
occasion of new warre. And what a new reconciled enimie was in respect
of an old tried fréend, he might shortlie find. [When the messenger
with this answer was dispatched, and vpon consultation found, a matter
standing both with good policie in forceing the proud subiect to know
his obedience, and also with great equitie to twitch a quareller with
such pinsars as wherewith afore he had nipt an other, so was it anon
brought about, that sundrie of his good townes and cities rebelled
against him, whereby (lesse to his liking than to his deseruing) he was
verie well made to bite of a chokepeare of his own grafting.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 14.]
[Sidenote: The death of the duke of Bedford regent of Fr[=a]ce.]
[Sidenote: A worthy saieng of a wise prince.]
This yeare the fourtéeth daie of September died Iohn duke of Bedford,
regent of France, a man both politike in peace, and hardie in warre,
and yet no more hardie than mercifull when he had the victorie, whose
bodie was with all funerall solemnitie buried in the cathedrall church
of our ladie in Rone, on the north side of the high altar, vnder
a sumptuous and costlie monument. Which toome when king Lewes the
eleauenth, by certeine vndiscréet persons was counselled to deface,
affirming that it was a great dishonour both to the king and to the
realme, to sée the enimie of his father and theirs to haue so solemne
and rich a memorial: he answered saieng, "What honour shall it be to
vs, or to you, to breake this monument, and to pull out of the ground
the dead bones of him, whome in his life neither my father nor your
progenitors, with all their power, puissance, and fréends were once
able to to make flée one foot backward; but by his strengh, wit, and
policie, kept them all out of the principall dominions of the realme of
France, and out of this noble and famous duchie of Normandie? Wherefore
I saie, first, God haue his soule, and let his bodie now lie in rest,
which when he was aliue, would haue disquieted the proudest of vs all.
And as for the toome, I assure you, it is not so decent nor conuenient,
as his honour and acts deserued, although it were much richer, and more
beautifull."
[Sidenote: Great Frost.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Yorke made regent of France.]
The frost was so extreame this yeare, beginning about the fiue and
twentith daie of Nouember, and continuing till the tenth of Februarie,
that the ships with merchandize arriuing at the Thames mouth, could not
come vp the riuer: so their lading there faine to be discharged, was
brought to the citie by land. After the death of that noble prince the
duke of Bedford, the bright sunne in France toward Englishmen, began
to be cloudie, and dailie to darken, the Frenchmen began not onelie to
withdrawe their obedience by oth to the king of England, but also tooke
sword in hand & openlie rebelled. Howbeit all these mishaps could not
anie thing abash the valiant courages of the English people: for they
hauing no mistrust in God and good fortune, set vp a new saile, began
the warre afresh, and appointed for regent in France, Richard duke of
Yorke, sonne to Richard earle of Cambridge.
Although the duke of Yorke was worthie (both for birth and courage) of
this honor and preferment, yet so disdeined of Edmund duke of Summerset
being cousine to the king, that by all means possible he sought his
hindrance, as one glad of his losse, and sorie of his well dooing: by
reason whereof, yer the duke of Yorke could get his dispatch, Paris
and diuerse other of the chéefest places in France were gotten by the
French king. The duke of Yorke perceiuing his euill will, openlie
dissembled that which he inwardlie minded, either of them working
things to the others displeasure, till through malice & diuision
betwéene them, at length by mortall warre they were both consumed, with
almost all their whole liues and ofspring.
The Normans of the countrie of Caux, being heartened by the death of
the duke of Bedford, began a new rebellion, slue diuerse Englishmen,
robbed manie townes that were vnder the English obeisance, and tooke
the towne of Harflue by assault, and diuerse other townes. But the
lord regent being aduertised, sent foorth the lord Scales, sir
Thomas Kiriell, and the lord Hoo, which so afflicted those rebels
of Caux, that they slue aboue fiue thousand persons, and burnt all
the townes and villages in the countrie, not being walled: so that
in that part was neither habitation nor tillage, for all the people
fled into Britaine, and all the beasts of the countrie were brought
to Caudebecke, where a good shéepe was sold for an English penie,
and a cow for twelue pence. Dailie was skirmishing and fighting in
euerie part, in so much that the lord Scales at the Rie beside Rone,
discomfited the Hire, and fiftéene hundred valiant Frenchmen; of the
which, aboue thrée hundred were taken prisoners, beside the gaine of
seauen faire coursers.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]
[Sidenote: Sée before pag. 129.]
Amongst other of the prisoners, were sir Richard Reginald de
Fountaines, sir Alain Gerond, Alain Monsaie, and Geffrie Grame,
capteine of the Scots. But yet this victorie and others the like,
staied not the Frenchmen from working treason dailie, insomuch that
diuers townes turned to the part of K. Charles, and some were taken by
practise, as Diepe, Bois, Vincennes, and others. ¶ So that here partlie
was accomplished the prophesie of Henrie the fift, giuen out in the
ninth yeare of his reigne when he laie at siege before Meaux, that
Henrie of Windsore should loose all that Henrie of Monmouth had gotten
(for so they are named according to the place of their natiuitie) and
this prediction was complet and full by that time the yeares of his
regiment were expired.
[Sidenote: 1436]
But héere is one chéefe point to be noted, that either the disdeine
amongest the chéef péeres of the realme of England (as yée haue heard)
or the negligence of the kings councell (which did not foresée dangers
to come) was the losse of the whole dominion of France, betwéene the
riuers of Seine and Marne, and in especiall, of the noble citie of
Paris. For where before, there were sent ouer thousands for defense of
the holds and fortresses, now were sent hundreds, yea and scores, some
rascals, and some not able to draw a bowe, or carrie a bill: for the
lord Willoughbie, and the bishop of Terwine, which had the gouernance
of the great citie of Paris, had in their companie not two thousand
Englishmen.
Which weakenesse king Charles well perceiued, and therefore by
authentic appointed the constable, Arthur of Britaine, the earle
of Dunois, the lords de la Roch, and Lisle Adam, with other valiant
capteins and men of warre, as well Burgognions as French, to go
before Paris, trusting by fauour of certeine citizens, with whome he
had intelligence, shortlie to be lord of the citie, without great
losse or battell. So these capteins came before the citie of Paris.
But perceiuing that all things succéeded not according to their
expectation, they returned to Mont Martyr, and the next daie suddenlie
set on the towne of saint Denis, and constreined the Englishmen
that kept it, to flée into the abbeie, and into the tower Venin. In
this conflict two hundred Englishmen were slaine, the residue vpon
reasonable composition rendered vp the place, and departed to Paris.
Thomas lord Beaumont, who of late was come to Paris with eight hundred
men, issued foorth with six hundred souldiers, intending to view the
dooings and number of the French armie; but suddenlie compassed about,
within a small space was discomfited and taken, with him fourescore
prisoners, beside two hundred slaine in the field, the remnant chased
to the verie gates of the citie. The Parisiens, and especiallie the
maister of the halles, and some of the vniuersitie, and Michaell
Lallier, and manie notable burgesses of the citie (who euer with an
English countenance couered a French hart) perceiuing the weaknesse
of the Englishmen, and force of the French; signified to the French
capteins their toward minds willing them with all diligence to come &
receiue so rich a preie without anie difficultie, readie to be giuen
and deliuered into their hands.
[Sidenote: The treson of the Parisiens.]
The constable delaieng no time, came with his power, lodged by the
charter house: and the lord Lisle Adam, approching to the walles,
shewed to the citizens a charter, sealed with the great seale of
king Charles, by the which he had pardoned them their offenses, and
granted to them all their old liberties, and ancient priuileges, so
that they would hereafter be to him true and obedient: which thing to
them declared, they ran about the towne, crieng; S. Denis, liue king
Charles. The Englishmen perceiuing this, determined to kéepe the gate
S. Denis, but they were deceiued: for the cheines were drawne in euerie
stréet, and women and children cast downe stones and scalding water on
the Englishmens heads, and the citizens in armour fought with them and
chased them from stréet to stréet, and from lane to lane, and slue and
hurt diuerse and manie of them.
[Sidenote: Paris yéelded to the French king.]
The bishop of Terwine, chancellor there for king Henrie, the lord
Willoughbie, and sir Simon Morhier, tooke great paine to appease the
people: but when they saw that all auailed not, they withdrew into the
bastile of saint Anthonie, which fortresse they had well vittelled,
and furnished with men and munitions. Whilest this rumor was in the
towne, the earle of Dunois and others scaled the walles, and some
passed the riuer by botes, and opened gate of saint Iames, by the which
the constable with his banner displaied, entered, at whose entrie the
Parisiens made great ioy. The bishop and the lord Willoughbie, with
their small companie, defended their fortresse ten daies, looking for
aid: but when they saw that no comfort appeared, they yéelded their
fortresse, so that they and theirs, with certeine baggage, might
peaceablie returne to Rone. Thus was the citie of Paris brought into
the possession of Charles the French king, through the vntrue demeanour
of the citizens, who contrarie to their oths, and promised allegiance,
like false and inconstant people, so reuolted from the English.
After this glorious gaine, the Frenchmen besieged the towne of Craill
vpon Oise, wherof sir William Chamberlaine was capteine, the which with
fiue hundred Englishmen issued out of the towne, and after long fight,
discomfited his enimies, & slue two hundred, and tooke a great number
prisoners: the remnant not liking the market departed to Campaigne,
and other townes adioining. During which season, twelue burgesses of
the towne of Gisours sold it for monie vnto Poiton de Xantrailes. But
he had not the castell deliuered, & therefore with all his power he
besieged the same; whereof the lord Talbot being aduertised, sent for
the lord Scales, and they both with eightéene hundred men rescued the
castell, tooke the towne, and discomfited their enimies, and slue of
them foure hundred persons.
[Sidenote: The duke s[=e]t into France too late.]
Now according to the old saieng (when the stéed is stolen shut the
stable doore) the duke of Yorke appointed at the last parlement to be
regent of France (after that Paris, Saint Denis, Saint Germans in Laie,
and diuerse other townes in France were taken and betraied for lacke of
conuenient succours) was sent ouer into Normandie with eight thousand
men, and in his companie, the earles of Salisburie, and Suffolke, and
the lord Fawconbridge, and diuerse other valiant capteins. When he was
landed, the earle of Salisburie besieged the castell of Chambois which
shortlie was to him rendered. Then the duke remooued to Rone, where
he set good orders, and did great iustice to the countrie; wherefore
the Normans in their chronicles highlie extoll him for that point.
Howbeit they saie, that he gat by long siege the towne and abbeie of
Fecampe, and did none other notable act, during the time of his rule
and gouernment.
[Sidenote: The duke of Burgognie prepareth an armie against Calis.]
In this fourtéenth yeare, the duke of Burgognie determined by the
aduise of his councell, to attempt the winning of Calis. The prouision
was woonderous great which was made for the atchiuing of this
enterprise: whereof sir Iohn Ratcliffe, deputie of the towne of Calis,
hauing perfect intelligence, aduertised king Henrie, and his councell,
who incontinentlie sent thither the earle of Mortaigne, sonne to the
duke of Summerset, and the lord Camois, with fiftéene hundred men, and
great foison of vittels, that issued out of Calis, and came before
Grauelin, where they were incountered with a great number of Flemings,
who were shortlie discomfited, foure hundred of them slaine, and six
score taken prisoners. Within two daies after, the Englishmen draue by
fine force the lords of Warren and Bado to the barriers of Ard, and
discomfited their whole companie, to the number of fiftéene hundred,
slue seauen valiant capteins, and tooke manie gentlemen prisoners.
[Sidenote: The Duke of Burgognie with fortie thousand m[=e].]
The duke of Burgognie, remaining still in his former purpose,
assembled togither, of Flemings, Picards, Hollanders, and Heneweirs,
a great armie, to the number of fortie thousand, so well armed, so
well vitteled, so well furnished with ordinance, and garnished in
all things, that they thought and blazed amongst themselues, that
the Calisians would leaue their towne desolate, and flée for their
safegard, hearing onelie of the dukes approch: but they reckoned
without their host; and so paid a déerer shot than they looked for.
Now when this mightie armie was past the water of Grauelin, the duke
intending to begin his feats, assaulted the little poore castell of
Oie, which hauing in it but fiftie souldiers, whereof twelue sold
their liues déerelie; the remnant (compelled by necessitie) yéelded
themselues to the dukes mercie. Which to please the Gantois (being of
number most puissant in all the armie) liberallie gaue to them, both
the castell and prisoners, who (rude and cruell people) not onelie
raced the castell but also hanged nine and twentie of the captiues, and
had so doone with the residue, if the duke, offended at their crueltie,
had not willed a staie.
[Sidenote: Calis besieged by the Duke of Burgognie.]