gaue thrée assaults to it. The Englishmen within, being in number two
hundred and six, vnder the gouernement of their capteine sir Iohn
Gedding, valiantlie defended the place; vntill at length, despairing
of succours, they yéelded themselues (their liues and lims saued.) The
castell of Marke being thus deliuered, was raced to the ground. Then
the duke, accompanied with the duke of Cleues, the earle of Estampes,
the lords of Dantoing, Croie, Crisquie, Humiers, and manie other barons
and knights, with his great armie, came before Calis, & placed his
siege about the same most to his aduantage: he gaue thrée assaults,
and gained nothing by them, but constreined to kéepe them further
off. At the first assault, the Hire which was come to sée the duke of
Burgognie, was sore wounded and hurt. A cooling card it was also vnto
them, still to sée ships arriued in the hauen out of England, openlie
before their faces, laden with vittels, munition and men.
[Sidenote: The dukes enterprise to bar the hauen.]
The duke on a daie riding about to view the situation of the towne, to
the intent to take his most aduantage (either by assault or otherwise)
was quickelie espied, and with the shot of a canon, a trumpetter,
which rode next before him, and thrée horsses in his companie were
slaine out of hand. The lord of Croie, and a conuenient number with
him, was appointed to besiege the castell of Guisnes, where he got
little profit, and did lesse harme. Moreouer, for the better aduancing
of his enterprise, the duke minded to stop vp the hauen; so that no
succours should enter there. Herevpon, he caused foure great hulkes to
be fraught with great square stones, cemented and ioined togither with
lead, to the intent they should lie still like a mount, and not seuer
in sunder.
These ships, with the residue of the dukes nauie, were conueied into
the mouth of Calis hauen, and at a full sea, by craft and policie,
were soonke downe to the ground. But whether God would not that the
hauen should be destroied, either the conueiers of the hulkes knew not
the verie chanell; these foure great ships, at the low water, laie
openlie vpon the sands, without hurting the rode or chanell. Which
when the souldiers perceiued, they issued out of the towne, brake the
ships, and caried both the stones and timber into the towne. An other
deuise the duke had, which was the building of a strong bastile vpon a
little mountaine, which he furnished with foure hundred men, and much
artillerie, that did impeach the Englishmen from issuing foorth of the
towne, to their great displeasure.
Whilest these things were adooing, there came to the duke an herald
called Penbroke, belonging to duke of Glocester, who declared to the
duke of Burgognie, that the protector of England his maister (if God
would send him wind & weather) would giue him battell, either there, or
in anie other place within his owne countrie, where he would appoint,
and that with spéed, if God vouchsafed him wind and weather. The duke
answered the herald; "Sir, saie to your maister, that his chalenge is
both honorable and reasonable: howbeit, he shall not néed to take the
paines to séeke me in mine owne countrie, for (God willing) he shall
find me héere, till I haue my will of the towne, readie to abide him
and all the power he can bring." After the herald had receiued this
answer, he was highlie chéered, and had a cup and an hundred guildens
to him giuen in reward, and so he returned to Calis.
[Sidenote: The dukes bastile woone.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Burgognie breaketh vp the siege before Calis,
and fléeth, the 26 of Iulie.]
After whose departure, the duke called a councell in the chéefe
pauilion of the Gantois, about this message of the English herald,
where it was determined with great courage, that they would abide
the battell, if the duke of Glocester came to offer it. Whilest this
great matter was in consultation, the Calisians, not well content
with the bastile which the duke had newlie builded, issued out of
the towne in great number, part on horssebacke and part on foot. The
footmen ran to assault the bastile, and the horssemen went betwéene
the armie & the assailants, to stop the aid and succours that might
come. Vpon the sounding of the alarme, the duke himselfe in person was
comming on foot, to reléeue his men: but being kept backe a space by
the English horssemen, in that delaie of time, the bastile was woone
by fine force, and eight score persons of those that kept it slaine,
beside the residue which were taken prisoners, and led to Calis with
all the ordinance and artillerie, to the high displeasure of the duke
and his prudent councell. The next daie after, there sprang a rumor
in the armie (no man could tell how) that the duke of Glocester with
a great puissance was alreadie imbarked, and would arriue at the next
tide. The same night the duke fled awaie, and sent in all hast to
the lord of Croie, to raise his siege before Guisnes, which tidings
were to him verie ioious, for he neither got nor saued. So these two
capteins departed, leauing behind them, both ordinance, vittels, &
great riches. ¶ The French writers (to saue the honor of the duke
of Burgognie) saie, that there was a certeine discord and commotion
amongst the Flemings and Duch nation, affirming, that the great lords
and the Picards (whome the Frenchmen greatlie extoll) would betraie
and sell the Flemings and their fréends, and that for the same cause
in a great furie they cried; Home, home: and would not tarrie for
anie request that the duke could make, and so by their misgouernance,
the duke was inforced to raise his siege, and to depart. The Flemish
authors affirme the contrarie, saieng, that they were readie to abide
the comming of the duke of Glocester: but the duke of Burgognie fearing
to be intrapped betwéene the English armie without, and the garrison
within the towne of Calis, fled awaie in the night, giuing to them no
warning thereof before, so that for lacke of time, and conuenient space
to lade and carrie their stuffe, and being commanded vpon the sudden to
dislodge with all spéed, they left behind them their vittels, tents,
and other things, to their great losse and detriment.
[Sidenote: A gun called Digeon.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Glocester spoileth Flanders.]
Howsoeuer the matter was, the truth is, that he fled the six and
twentith daie of Iulie, in the night. And the next daie in the
morning, the duke of Glocester landed in Calis hauen, & streight went
into the campe, where his enimies the night before were lodged, and
there he found manie faire péeces of ordinance, and speciallie one
called Digeon: so named, after the chéefe towne of Burgognie; beside
pauilions, wine, béere, meale, and innumerable vittels. The duke of
Glocester, séeing his enimies reculed, hauing in his companie fiue and
twentie thousand men, entered into Flanders, burning houses, killing
such as made resistance, destroieng the countrie on euerie part,
setting fire in the townes of Poperinch, Bailleull, and others. Also,
they wasted the suburbes of diuerse closed townes, and after passed
by Newcastell, Rimesture, and Valon chapell: and then entering into
Artois, they came to Arques and Blandesques, setting fire in euerie
part where they came. Thus they passed by saint Omers, and finallie by
Arde returned to Guisnes: and so to Calis at the six wéeks end, with
great booties of cattell and riches.
[Sidenote: _Barlund._]
[Sidenote: _Enguerant._]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots fled from his siege at Rockesburgh.]
In all this their iournie, they had but small store of bread, which
caused much faintnesse and diuerse diseases in the armie, whereof a
greater number died than did of the enimies sword: and yet the Flemings
write, that they of Bruges distressed to the number of two thousand
Englishmen in this iournie. Howbeit, the French writers affirme, that
the Englishmen lost more of their companie in the marches about Ard,
than they did in all other places where they had béene before, hauing
passed through the parties of Flanders, without incounter, or any
damage doone to them by the enimies. After that, the duke of Glocester
returned into England, where he was aduertised, that Iames king of
Scots had besieged the castell of Rockesburgh with thirtie thousand
men: but the capteine thereof, sir Rafe Greie defended it so manfullie,
for the space of twentie daies, that king Iames being then aduertised,
that the earle of Northumberland was comming to fight with him, fled
with no lesse losse than dishonor, and inough of both.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]
[Sidenote: A truce taken betwéene the king of England and the duchesse
of Burgognie.]
Shortlie after that the duke of Burgognie had béene before Calis,
at the desire of princes, a truce for a time was moued to be had
betwéene the king of England & the said duke. For which cause were
sent to Grauelin for the king of England, Henrie Beauford cardinall of
Winchester, Iohn lord Mowbraie duke of Northfolke, Humfrie earle of
Stafford, and diuerse other well learned & honorable personages. And
for the duke of Burgognie, there appeared the duchesse his wife, the
bishop of Arras, the lord of Croie, and diuerse other. At this treatie,
a truce was taken for a small time, and for a lesse obserued, which was
concluded betwéene the king of England, and the duchesse of Burgognie
(interlacing the duke and his name.)
[Sidenote: _Hall._]
Some thinke, that the king of England would neuer enter in league with
him, bicause he had broken his promise, oth, and writing sealed to
him, and to his father. Other imagined this to be doone of a cautell,
to cast a mist before the French kings eies, to the intent he should
beléeue that this feat was wrought by the duchesse, without assent
or knowledge of the duke or his councell; and so he was not bound to
accomplish anie act or thing doone in his wiues treatie. Thus may you
sée, that princes sometime with such vaine glosses and scornefull
expositions will hide their dooings, and cloke their purposes; to the
intent they would not either be espied, or else that they may plucke
their heads out of the collar at their pleasure. But (as the common
opinion goeth) he which is a promise-breaker escapeth not alwaies
with impunitie. For it is well séene by dailie and vsuall euents both
in princes and priuat persons, that for violating their faith, and
breaking of promise, manie discommodities arise, and inconueniences
not a few doo follow. To the due kéeping whereof the heathen bare such
a religious conscience, that a prophane man in respect of others,
preferreth it before sacrifice, the sentence is of great excellencie
out of a pagans mouth:
Non boue mactato coelestia numina gaudent,
Sed quæ præstanda est & sine teste fide.
[Sidenote: 1437.]
[Sidenote: Katharine mother to king Henrie maried Owen Teuther.]
About this season, quéene Katharine mother to the king of England
departed out of this life, and was buried by hir husband in the abbeie
of Westminster. This woman, after the death of king Henrie the fift
hir husband, being yoong and lustie, following more hir owne wanton
appetite than fréendlie counsell, and regarding more priuate affection
than princelike honour, tooke to husband priuilie a galant gentleman
and a right beautifull person, indued with manie goodlie gifts both of
bodie & mind, called Owen Teuther, a man descended of the noble linage
and ancient line of Cadwallader last king of the Britains. By this Owen
she brought foorth thrée goodlie sonnes, Edmund, Iasper, and another
that was a monke in Westminster and liued a small time: also a daughter
which in hir youth departed out of this transitorie life.
[Sidenote: _Ab. Fl._]
King Henrie, after the death of his mother, bicause, they were his
brethren of one wombe, created Edmund earle of Richmund, and Iasper
earle of Penbroke: which Edmund of Margaret daughter and sole heire
to Iohn duke of Summerset begat Henrie, who after was king of this
realme, called Henrie the seuenth, of whome ye shall heare more in
place conuenient. This Owen, after the death of the quéene his wife,
was apprehended and committed to ward, bicause that (contrarie to
the statute made in the sixt yeare of this king) he presumptuouslie
had maried the quéene, without the kings especiall assent, out of
which prison he escaped, and let out other with him, but was againe
apprehended, and after escaped againe. ¶ Polychronicon saith that
he was a squier of low birth and like degrée, the same author also
reporteth that he was commanded to Newgate by the duke of Glocester
then lord protector of the realme: out of which prison he brake by
the helpe of a préest that was his chapline. Neuerthelesse he was
apprehended afterwards by the lord Beaumont, & brought againe to
Newgate, whence (when he had remained there a while) he was deliuered
and set at libertie.
[Sidenote: Quéene Elizabeth.]
The duchesse of Bedford also, sister to Lewes erle of S. Paule, more
for affection than increase of honour, without councell of hir fréends,
maried a lustie yoong knight, called sir Richard Wooduile, to the great
displeasure of hir vncle the bishop of Terwine, and the earle hir
brother. This sir Richard was made baron of Riuers, and after earle,
and had by this ladie manie noble sonnes, and faire daughters, of the
which one was the ladie Elizabeth, after quéene of England, by reason
she was married vnto Edward the fourth. ¶ Whilest this marriage was
a celebrating, Iane late quéene of England, and before duchesse of
Britaine, daughter to the king of Nauarre, and wife to king Henrie the
fourth, died at the manor of Hauering, and was buried by hir husband
at Canturburie. ¶ About the same time, deceassed also the countesse of
Warwike, and Henrie archbishop of Yorke.
[Sidenote: Harflue besieged and woon by the Englishmen.]
In this yeare also, the duke of Summerset, accompanied with the lords
of Fauconbridge, Talbot, sir Francis Surien, the Arrogonnois, Matthew
[17]Gough, Thomas Paulet, Thomas Harington, Walter Limbrike, Iohn
Gedding, William Watton, esquiers, and Thomas Hilton bailiffe of Rone,
with a great companie of the English partie, besieged the towne of
Harflue (latelie before gotten by the Frenchmen) both by water and
land: the capteine within the towne was one sir Iohn d'Estouteuille,
hauing his brother Robert with him, and a six hundred good fighting
men. The assailants cast trenches and so fortified themselues in their
campe and lodgings, that when the earles of Ew and Dunois, the valiant
bastard of Bourbon, the lord Gawcourt, and other famous capteins, with
a foure thousand men, sent to the rescue of them within, came before
the towne, they could not succour their fréends, nor annoie their
enimies by any meanes they could deuise; & so for feare to lose honour,
they returned backe againe, with much trauell and little profit.
[17] Or rather Goche.
[Sidenote: The duke of Summersets infortunatnes.]
[Sidenote: Iames king of Scots murthered.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Polychr._]
The capteins within the towne perceiuing they could not be aided,
did shortlie after render the towne to the duke of Summerset; who
after committed it to the kéeping of Thomas Paulet, William Limbrike,
Christopher Barber, and George saint George, which manie yeares (till
the diuision began in England) manfullie and valiantlie defended both
the towne and the hauen. But afterward, when this duke of Summerset
was regent and gouernour of Normandie, he not onlie lost this towne of
Harflue, but also the citie of Rone, and the whole duchie of Normandie,
whereas now (being but a deputie) he got it to his high praise and
glorie. In this yeare was Iames king of Scots murthered by certeine
traitors of his own subiects [euen in his bedchamber by night, which
king (saith Polychr.) had béene prisoner in England fiftéene yeares,
the murtherers of whom being afterwards taken, were terriblie executed.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike made regent of France.]
The lord Talbot besieged Tankeruile, and after foure moneths had
it simplie to him rendered. This towne was no great gaine to the
Englishmen, for in the meane season, the French king in his owne person
besieged the strong towne of Monstreau fault Yonne; whereof Thomas
Gerard being capteine, more for desire of reward, than for feare of
enimies, sold the towne to the French king, and had of him great gifts
and interteinement, as afterwards was openlie knowen. This towne had
béene rescued of the French king fought withall, if one chance had not
happened. For the duke of Yorke about that time was discharged of his
office, and the earle of Warwike preferred to the same, so that the
duke of Yorke, lieng as then at Rone, would haue gladlie rescued the
towne, if his authoritie had not surceassed; and the earle of Warwike
could not come in time, for the wind was contrarie to him.
This present yeare was a parlement holden at Westminster, in the which
manie good and profitable acts for the preseruation of concord at home,
and defense against the enimies abroad, were ordeined and deuised. ¶
Arthur of Britaine constable of France, and Iohn duke of Alanson, were
sent by the French king into Normandie, with a great armie, to besiege
the towne of Auranches, standing vpon the knob of an hill: where after
they had laien a certeine space without gaine, the lord Talbot with a
valiant companie of men came thither, and offered the enimies battell.
Which when they at all hands refused, the lord Talbot perceiuing their
faint harts, raised his field, and in the open sight of them all,
entered into the towne, and the next daie issued out; and finding the
Frenchmen riding abroad to destroie the plaine countrie, he compassed
them about, and slue manie of them, and tooke diuerse prisoners.
Although the Frenchmen got neither honor nor profit by this iournie,
yet they enterprised a greater matter, as the winning of Rone; in so
much that Pouton de Santreils, and the Hire, with manie other notable
capteins, hauing promise of certeine burgesses of that citie to haue
entrie made them, secretlie in the night came forward to a towne called
Rise or Riz, not past foure leagues from Rone, and there lodged.
The lord Talbot, the lord Scales, and sir Thomas Kiriell hearing of
their approch, set out of Rone at midnight, & with great paine came to
Rise so couertlie in the morning, that the French suddenlie surprised
and set vpon, like men all amazed ran awaie and fled. In the chase
were taken the lord of Fontains, sir Aleine Geron, sir Lewes de Balle,
and thréescore knights, and esquiers, beside others; and there were
slaine two hundred and more. The Hire escaped verie narrowlie, by
swiftnesse of his horsse, though not vnwounded. The Englishmen returned
to the towne of Rise, and found there great number of horsses & other
baggages, which they ioiouslie brought with them to Rone.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Warwike regent came into France.]
[Sidenote: Croitoy besieged by the duke of Burgognie.]
On the sixt daie of Nouember this present yeare, the earle of Warwike,
as regent of France, passed the sea, after he had béene seuen times
shipped and vnshipped, and landed at Homflue with a thousand fresh
souldiers, and came to Rone, and then the duke of Yorke returned
into England. Betwéene the change of these two capteins, the duke of
Burgognie (which sore enuied the glorie of the Englishmen) besieged the
towne of Crotoy, with ten thousand men and more, hauing with him great
plentie of guns and goodlie ordinance. The earle of Warwike aduertised
hereof, sent the lord Fauconbridge, sir Thomas Kiriell, sir Iohn
Montgomerie, Thomas Limbrike, Thomas Chandois, Dauid Hall, and diuerse
other knights and esquiers, and an host of fiue thousand men, which
passed the riuer of Some, beside the towne of saint Valerie, wading in
the water vp to the chin, so glad were they to rescue their felowes.
[Sidenote: Croitoy rescued.]
When the duke of Burgognie was informed of the approching of the lord
Talbot, he with all his power (sauing foure hundred, which were left
in a bastile by him there newlie builded) fled to Abuile, the bastile
was soone gained by the Englishmen, and those within either slaine
or taken. After this, the lord Talbot sent to the duke of Burgognie,
signifieng that except he would come foorth, and bide by a battell, he
would vtterlie wast his countrie of Picardie. According wherevnto (the
duke of Burgognie shrinking) he burnt townes, spoiled and slue manie
people in Picardie. But for all those his doings, the duke of Burgognie
appeared not, but got him from Abuile to Amiens, so that the lord
Talbot abode twentie daies full in Picardie and Arthois, destroieng
all afore him, and after returned vntouched. In the meane season,
sir Thomas Kiriell had gotten all the dukes cariages and ordinance,
and left as much vittell in the towne of Croitoy, as would serue six
hundred men a whole yeare, and conueied the residue to the earle of
Warwike, who highlie praised them for their hardie dooings.
[Sidenote: 1438]
After this, Henrie earle of Mortaigne, sonne to Edmund duke of
Summerset, ariued at Chierburgh with foure hundred archers, & thrée
hundred speares, and passed through Normandie, till he came into the
countie of Maine, where he besieged a castell called saint Anian, in
the which were thrée hundred Scots, besides Frenchmen. This castell he
tooke by assault, slue the Scots, and hanged the Frenchmen, bicause
they were once sworne English. After this he got also another castell,
two miles from saint Iulians, called Alegerche, which was shortlie
after recouered; and the lord of Camewis, which came to the rescue of
the same, in the meane waie was intrapped and taken. Thus flowed the
victorie, sometime on the one partie, and sometime on the other. For
about the same time the townes of Meaux in Brie, and saint Susan were
sold and deliuered to the French part, by the vntruth of the burgesses
and inhabitants of the same towns, about the latter end of this
sixtéenth yeare.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]
[Sidenote: Dearth of vittels.]
[Sidenote: 1439]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl. ex Polychr._]
[Sidenote: Bread made of ferne roots.]
This yeare (by reason of great tempests) raging winds, and raine,
there rose such scarsitie, that wheat was sold at thrée shillings
foure pense the bushell, wine at twelue pense the gallon, baisalt at
fourtéene pense the bushell, and malt at thirtéene shillings foure
pense the quarter, and all other graines at excessiue prices aboue the
old rate. ¶ Wherevpon Steuen Browne (saith Polychronicon) at the same
season maior of London, tendering the state of the citie in this want
of breadcorne, sent into Pruse certeine ships, which returned loden
with plentie of rie: wherwith he did much good to the people in that
hard time speciallie to them of the citie, where the want of corne was
not so extreame as in some other places of the land, where the poore
distressed people that were hungerbitten, made them bred of ferne
roots, and vsed other hardshifts, till God prouided remedie for their
penurie by good successe of husbandrie.
[Sidenote: A feat of a politike capteine & wise councellor.]
In the moneth of Iune, the earle of Huntington (as Steward of Guien)
with two thousand archers, and foure hundred speares was sent into
Gascoigne, as a supplie to the countrie and c[=o]mons of the same: for
the king of England and his councell were informed, that the earle of
Dunois laie in the frontiers of Tholouse secretlie, by rewards and
faire promises practising to procure diuerse townes in Guien to become
French. Wherefore this earle (like a politike warrior) altered not
onelie the capteins in euerie towne and citie, but also remoued the
magistrates, and changed the officers from towne to towne, and roome to
roome; so that by this meanes, the earle of Dunois at that time lost
both trauell and cost.
[Sidenote: Two shrewd persuaders.]