[Footnote 139: June 22, 1340.]
[Footnote 140: Dover.]
[Footnote 141: June 23.]
[Footnote 142: June 24.]
[Footnote 143: The Navy at the period consisted of ships, galleys,
barges, _batelli_ or boats, _snakae_ or cutters, and _cogee_ or
COGS.--See the Observations prefixed to the _Liber Quotidianus
Contrarotulatoris Garderobae Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Primi vicesimo
octavo_, p. liv.]
[Footnote 144: June 28.]
* * * * *
P. 63. "And in this yere, that is to seye the yere of oure lord a
m^{l} ccclvj^{to}, the xix day of Septembre, kyng John of Fraunce was
taken at the bataill of Peyters be the doughty prynce Edward, the
firste sone of kyng Edward." &c.
It would be difficult to name a more interesting document connected
with English History than that by which, through the courtesy of Henry
Woodthorpe, Esq., Town Clerk of the City of London, the passage in the
text will be illustrated; namely, a copy of the letter from Edward the
Black Prince to the Mayor, Aldermen and Comonalty of London,
acquainting them with the achievement of the battle of Poictiers. This
important record, which has never before been printed, occurs among
the archives of the city, in a contemporary MS. entitled Letter G.
fol. 53^{b}. and was, there can be little doubt, entered into that
volume soon after the receipt of the original.
The greater part of the Prince's letter is occupied by the detail of
the proceedings of the army for some days previous to the battle, and
in describing the efforts of the Cardinal Peregort to produce a peace
or truce between the kings of France and England; whilst the conflict
itself is mentioned in a few words. Independently of the particulars
of the English forces and their rencontres with the enemy which this
letter so minutely relates, its most important statement is that of
the precise day when the battle took place, for historians have
differed materially upon the point. The Prince, however, expressly
says that it occurred on the eve of the feast of St. Matthew, i.e. the
20th of September. His letter was dated at Bordeaux on the 22nd of the
following month, and was sent to the Mayor of London by the Prince's
chamberlain Sir Neel Loring; and the manner in which he refers the
Mayor and Citizens to that distinguished knight for further
information, cannot fail to be noticed, from its great similarity to
the conclusion of a modern military dispatch. Another feature of this
and other documents of the same nature in early periods, is the great
simplicity and modesty with which they are written. An expression of
gratitude to God alone interrupts the unadorned narrative; and the
defeat of an army infinitely superior in numbers, and the capture of
one of the most powerful sovereigns of the times together with his
eldest son, are thus laconically related: "The battle took place on
the eve of St. Matthew; and, praise be to God, the enemy were
discomfited, and the king and his son were taken, and great numbers of
other people taken and slain." To present as many contemporary
documents as could be collected relative to this memorable event, two
other letters are introduced, as well as the affidavit of an
individual who claimed to have been the person to whom king John of
France surrendered himself.
One of the letters alluded to, which is printed in the _Archaeologia_,
vol. i. p. 213, is also from the Black Prince, to Reginald Bryan
bishop of Worcester, dated at Bordeaux on the 20th of November,
briefly informing him of his success, which he attributes in a great
measure to the efficacy of that prelate's prayers.
The other letter is from Robert Prite to some English nobleman, dated
on the 8th of December 1356, whose clerk, or probably priest, he
styles himself, and is taken from the original on vellum in the
Cottonian MS. Caligula D. III. f. 33. After mentioning the battle of
Poictiers, the particulars of which he says he will learn from a
knight whom the duke of Lancaster had sent into England to the king,
the writer acquaints him with some other news of the time, as well as
with what had occurred in some of his towns; and entreats him to come
over as soon as possible. This letter, which is now for the first time
printed, though not so important as the others, is nevertheless of
interest, as connected with the battle of Poictiers, and with other
public and private transactions of the period.
The third document on the subject is the solemn declaration of Bernard
du Troy, a Gascon gentleman, made on his death-bed the 1st of July
1361, that he was the person who took the king of France prisoner at
the battle of Poictiers; which point it is evident from this
instrument, as well as from historians, had been much disputed. This
very curious article, which also occurs in the Cottonian MS. just
mentioned, is highly interesting; for it not only shows who were the
claimants to the honour of having captured the king, but the ardour
with which that claim was supported. It is however doubtful whether
the love of fame or pecuniary interest prompted this declaration at so
awful a moment; but his motive, like those of most other human
actions, was probably of a mixed nature; for whatever might be the
renown which was attached to the exploit, the ransom to which the true
claimant would be entitled must have been an object of great
consideration to him or to his heirs. Du Troy carefully provides, that
those who would support his pretensions with their swords should
partake of the benefits which might arise from their valour; and this
circumstance presents a curious picture of the manners of the age. Sir
Denys de Morbeque of whom he speaks, is thus noticed by Froissart.
"There was much pressing at this time through eagerness of taking the
king: and those that were nearest to him, and knew him, cried out
'Surrender yourself, surrender yourself, or you are a dead man.' In
that part of the field was a young knight from St. Omer, who was
engaged by a salary in the service of the king of England: his name
was Denis de Morbeque, who for five years had attached himself to the
English, on account of having been banished in his younger days from
France for a murder committed in an affray at St. Omer. It
fortunately happened for this knight, that he was at the time near to
the king of France when he was so much pulled about. He by dint of
force, for he was very strong and robust, pushed through the crowd and
said to the king in good French, 'Sire, sire, surrender yourself.' The
king, who found himself very disagreeably situated, turning to him,
asked 'To whom shall I surrender myself; to whom? Where is my cousin
the Prince of Wales? if I could see him I would speak to him.' 'Sire,'
replied Sir Denys, 'he is not here; but surrender yourself to me, and
I will lead you to him.' 'Who are you?' said the king. 'Sire, I am
Denys de Morbeque, a knight from Artois, but I serve the king of
England because I cannot belong to France, having forfeited all I
possessed there.' The king then gave him his right-hand glove, and
said 'I surrender myself to you.' There was much crowding and pushing
about, for every one was eager to cry out 'I have taken him.'"
Most of the witnesses to Du Troy's declaration were celebrated peers
and knights both of England and France.
L'RA D'NI EDWARDI PRINCIPIS GALL' MAIOR ALDR'S ET COM'ITATI CIVITATIS
LONDON' DIRECTA DE NOV' BAT'I IUX^{ta} POYTERS.
Tresch'e et tres bien ameez endroit des novelles es p'ties ou nous
sumes voillitz savoir qe puis l'eure qe nous certifiasmes a n're
tresredoute S^{r} et piere le Roi qe no' estoions en p'pos de
chivaucher env's les enemis es p'ties de Fraunce no' p'smes n're
chemyn p' le pais de Peregort et de Lymosyn et tout droit v's Burges
en Were ou no' entendismes davoir troues le fitz le Roi le counte de
Peytiers et la sov'aigne cause de n're aler v's celles p'ties estoit
qe nous entendismes davoir eu noveles de n're dit S^{r} et piere le
Roi come de son passage et puis q' no' ne trovasmes le dit counte ne
nul autre g'unt poair illeosqes nous no' treismes dev's leyre et
maundasmes noz gentz au chivaucher a conoistre si no' p'uons nulle p't
avoir trovez passage lesqueles gentz encontrerent les enemis et
avoient faire assemble si qe les uns des ditz enemys estoient mortz et
pris les queuz p'soners disoient qe le Roi de France avoient envoiee
Grismoton q'estoit encelle compaignie p' lui faire asavoir c'teines
novelles de no' et de n're poair et si avoit le dit Roi p' mesmes le
cause envoie en autre p'tie le S^{r} de Creon Mons^{r} Busigaut le
Mareschal de Clermount et aut's et disoient les ditz p'soners qe le
dit Roi avoit p's certe in p'pos de combatre ovesq' nous a quele heure
nous estoioms s^{r} le chymyn env's Tours et encostoavit dev's Orliens
et lendemein la ou nous estoions loggiez aviens novelles qe les ditz
Sire de Creon et Busigaut estoient en un chastel bien p's de n're
loggiz et p'ismes p'pos de y aller et venismes loggier entour eux et
acordasmes d'assailler le dit lieu lequel estoit gayne p' force ou
estoient tout plein de lo'r gentz p's et mortz auxint les uns des
n'res y furent mortz mes les ditz Sires de Creon et Busigaut se
treerent en une fort Tour qil y avoit la quele se tenoit cynk jours
avant qelle feust gaignee et la se rendirent ils et illeosqes estoions
c'tifiez qe touz les pontz s^{r} leyre estoient debruses et qe nulle
p't purriens avoir passage s^{r} qei nous p'ismes n're chemyn tout
droit a Tours et la demourasmes devant la ville quatre iours deins
quelle estoient le Counte Dangeo et le Mareschal de Clermount od g'nt
poair des gentz. Et a n're dep'tir d'illeoqs no' p'ismes le chemyn p'
passer ascuns daung' des eawes et en entente davoir encountree ovesqe
n're tres ch' cosyn le ducs de Lancastre de qi no' aviens certeins
novelles qil se voillent afforcier de trere dev's nous a quelle heure
le Cardenal de Peregort vynt a nous a Monbezon a troiz lieues de Tours
ou il no' p'la tout plein des choses touchauntes trewes et pees s^{r}
quele p'lance no' lui fesoiens respounse qe la pees ne avient poair a
ffaire ne qe nous ent voloiens meller saunz le comaundement et le
volunte de n're tresch' S^{r} et piere le Roi ne de trewe nestoiens al
heure avisez qe se eust estee le meillo' p' no^{q} de y avoir acordee
car illeosqes estoiens non plus plenement c'tifiez qe le Roi se tailla
p' toutes voies de combatre ove nous si q' nous no' treismes dilleoqes
v's chastel Heraud sur le passage del eawe de la Vivane ou no'
desmourasmes quatre iors ettendauntz de savoir plus la c'tein de lui
le quel Roi vint od son poair a chaveny a cynk lues de nous p' passer
mesme lewe v's Poyters et s^{r} ceo p'ismes p'pos de hastier dev's lui
s^{r} le chemyn qil devereit passer p' estre combatuz ove lui mes ses
batailles estoient passeez devant qe no' estoions venuz au lieu ou
nous entendismes de lui avoir encountree hors pris p'tie des gentz de
lour entour sept centz homes darmes qe se combatirent od les n'tres ou
estoient p's le countes de Soussoire et de Junhy le S^{r} de
Chastillion et tout plein dautres pris et mortz p'ties de lour et des
n'res et puis les p'suievrent noz gentz tanq' a Chaveny bien a treis
lieus loyns p'quoi il nous convienoit logger cel jour a plus pres de
celle place qe nous poiens p' recoiller noz gentz et lendemeyn p'ismes
n're chemyn tout droit dev's le Roi et mandasmes noz descov'res qe
troverent lui od son poair p'st bataille es champs a une lue de
Peiters et alasmes a plus p's de lui qe nos poiams p'ndre n're places
et nous mesmes a pie et en arraie de bataille et p'st de combatre ove
lui ou vynt le dit Cardinal requerraunt molt entierment p' une pettit
suff'nce issint qe home purroit faire parler dasemble c'teins gentz
des p'ties en atente d'acord et de bone pees quelle chose il emp'st
qil amereit a bon fey sur quoi nous p'ismes avis et lui otreiasmes sa
requeste sur quoi furent ordeyner c'teins gentz dune p't e d'autre a
tretir sur celle matirs lequel trete ne p'st nul exploit Et adonqes
volleit le dit Cardinal avoir purchace une trewe en destourbaunce de
la bataille a son gree a quel treve ne voilloit assentir Et
demaunderent les Fraunceys c'teins chivalers d'une p't et d'autre p'
prendre owelle place issint qe la bataille ne se purroit en nulle
man'e failler et en tieu man'e estoit cel jour delaiee et demourerent
les batailles d'une p't et d'autre tote noet chescun en lour place et
tanqe le demein entour un prime et p' ascuns forces qe estoient p'
entre les ditz batailles nul ne voloit a autre taunte davauntage
demp'ndre a venir l'un sur l'autre Et p' defaute des vitailles si bien
p' aut's enchessons acorde estoit qe nous deveriens prendre n're
chemyn encosteant p' devant eux en tieu man'e q' s'ils voilont la
bataille ou trere dev's nous en lieu q' nestoit mye tres graundment a
n're desavauntage qe nous le preindreins et ensint estoit fait s^{r}
quoi le bataille se prist la surveile de seint Matheu et loiez ent
soit dieux les enemys estoient desconfitz et pris le Roi et son fitz
et tot plein des aut's g'ntz pris et mortz si come n're Tresch' ame
bach'r Mons^{r} Neel Loereng n're chaumberlein port^{r} de cestes qu
ent ad assetz pleine conisance vous sav'a plus pleinement dire a
monstre come nous ne vous purroins escrire A qi voilletz pleine foi et
credence doner Et n're seign^{r} vuis voille garder Donnez souz n're
secre seal a Burdeux le xxij jour d'Octobr'.
LETTER FROM THE BLACK PRINCE TO THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER, DATED 20TH
OCTOBER 1356, RELATING TO THE BATTLE OF POITIERS, WHEREIN THE FRENCH
KING WAS MADE PRISONER, &C. EX REGISTRO REGINALDI BRIEN WIGORN.
EPISCOPI. FOL. 113. COMMUNICATED TO THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES BY DR.
LYTTELTON, DEAN OF EXETER.
[_Archaeologia, Vol._ I. _No._ XLIV. _p._ 213.]
L'RA D'NI PRINCIPIS WALL' DE CAPCIONE R. FRANCIAE PAR LE PRINCE DE
GALES.
Reve'nt piere en Dieu, et tresch' ami. Nous vous mercions entierement
de ce que nous avons entendu q' vous estes si bien et si naturelment
porte dev's nous, en p'ant Dieux p'r nous et p'r n're exploit; et
sumes tout certiens q' p'r cause de vous devoutes p'eres et dautres,
Dieu nous a en toutes nos besoignes be' vueliz aide; de quoi nous
sumes a touz jo's tenuz de lui grazier, en p'ant que v're part ancy
vieullietz faire en continuant dev's nous come devant ces heures avetz
fait, de quoi nous nous tenons g'n'ment tenuz a vous. Et, rev'ent
piere, endroit de n're estat, dont nous penceons bien q' vous desirez
la v're merci doier bones nouvelles, vuellietz entendre q' a la
faisance de cestes estions sains et heures et tout en bon point, loiez
en soit Dieux q' nous donit y ces mesmes de vous toutes soitz oir et
saver, et de ce nous vueilletz certifier p'r vos l'res et p' les
entrevenantz a plus souvent q' vous p'res bonement en droit de
nouvelles ceandroitz. Vueilletz savoir q' la veille de la translation
Saint Thomas de Canterbire, nouz commenceasmes a chivauch' ove n're
povar v's les parties de France et souvraignement p' cause q' nous
entendismes la venue de n're treshonn'e seign'r et piere le Roy la
endroit, et si neismes dev's les parties de Burges en Berye, Orlions,
et Tours, et avions nouvelles q' le Roy de France ove g'nt povar bien
pres de celles marches venoit p' combattre ove no's, et approcheasmes
tant q' la battaille se prist entre nous en tiele maniere q' les
ennemis estoient disconfitez, grace en soit Dieux, et le dit Roi et
son fils et plusiers autres g'ntz pris et mortz, les noms de queaux
nous vous envions p' n're tresch' bachiler Mons' Roger de Cottesford
portoir de cestes. Rev'ent piere en Dieux, et n're tresch' ami, le
Saint Esprit vous ait toute jours en sa guarde. Donne souz n're seal a
Birdeaux, le xx^{e} jour d' Octob'r.
[Tradita fuit ista l'ra Domino Reginaldo de Briene, Ep'o Wygorn, apud
Alvech', pr'mo die Decemb', an' Dom' M^{o}. ccc. quinquagesimo sexto,
cum cedula nomina continente capt' et mortuorum in bello praedicto,
cujus cedulae tenor insequitur p' o'ia ---- parte folii istius
suprascriptus]
A Rev'ent Piere en Dieux Evesqe de Worcester, ces sont les
noms de ceaux q' estoient pris a la battaile de Poyters p'
le Prince de Gales fitz a noble Roi de Engleterre Edward
Tierts.
John de Valoys, Roy de France.
Mons. Philip son fitz.
Arcevesque de Leyens.
{ Mons. Jakes de Bourbonn, Counte de Pountois.
{ Mons. John d'Artoys, Counte d'Eu.
{ Mons. Charles de Artoys, Counte de Souggevil.
{ Le Counte de Tankervill.
{ Le Counte de Ventadour.
Countes { Le Counte de Saussier.
{ Le Counte de Salesberg.
{ Le Counte de Vendome.
{ Le Counte de Wademont.
{ Le Counte de Dammartyn.
{ Le Counte de John de Nasso.
{ Le Counte de Salerplok.
{ Le Chatelaine de Composta.
{ Le Visconte de Narbone.
Viscontes { Le Visconte de Vychichoart.
{ Le Visconte de Walemont.
{ Le Visconte de Beaumont.
Le S. de Sully.
{ Mess. Arnold Doudinham.
{ Mess. Rauf de Coussy.
{ Le S. de Danbeney.
Bannerets { Le S. de Denyn.
{ Le S. de Saint Dyser.
{ Le S. de la Tour.
{ Le S. Damboisa.
{ Le S. de Derval.
{ Le S. de Manhales.
{ Le S. de Planuche.
{ Le S. de Montagu.
{ Le S. de Beaufremont.
{ Le S. de Plamory.
Mons. Giscard D'Angle Seneschal de Sentonge.
Mons. Moris Mauvinct Sen. de Tours en Toreyne.
Mons. Renaud de Guilhon Sen. de Peyton.
{ Mons. Pierres de Creon.
{ Mons. Giscard de Arx.
{ Mons. Gauter de Castellion.
{ Mons. Giscard de Beanyon.
{ Le S. de Basentin.
Ceaux furent ceaux dessoutz p's devant la battaile a Remoartin.
{ Le S. de Acon.
Bannerets { Mons. Busignaut.
{ Mons. Guy Turpin.
{ Mons. Guilliaume de Lorak.
Bachelers { Mons. Folles de Forsela.
{ Mons. Jakelyn de Ponsey.
Et sont pris outre les noms dessus escptz des gentz d'armes. M.
ix^{e}. xxxiii. Gaudete in Domino semper.
Les nomes de ceaux q'furent mortz a la dite battaile sont ceux.
{ Le Duc de Bourbon.
Ducs. { Le Duc Datermes.
{ Le Evesque de Chalons.
Mons. Rob de Duras.
Le Marischal de Clermont.
Le Visconte de Vrons.
Mons. Geffrei de Charsey.
Mons. Renaud de Pointz.
Le S. de Landas.
Le S. de Chastel Vileyn.
Le S. de Argenton.
Le S. de Mountgay.
Le S. de Malevrer.
Mons. John de Sausar.
Mons. Lewis de Broyse.
Mons. Guilliem de Viele.
Mons. John de Jole.
Mons. Andrew de Chaveny.
Mons. Eustas de Kirpemont.
Et outre le noms surnometz sont mortz des gentz d'armes M.M. ccccxxvi.
Iterum dico gaudete.
A LETTER FROM ROBERT PRITE, CLERK, TO SOME ENGLISH NOBLEMAN, DATED
8^{th} DECEMBER 1356, GIVING HIM INFORMATION OF THE BATTLE OF
POICTIERS, AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE.
[_Original on vellum in the Cottonian MS. Caligula_ D. III. f. 33.]
Mon t'sg'nt et t'sredoute seign'. Nous tenons com'unement p'decea et
p' c'tein q' le Roi de Fr'nce le duc d'Orliens deux filz du roi les
deux mareschalx de [F'ance] et plusours autres g'ntz seign's ont este
mortz en la bataille q'ad este entre le P'nce de Gales et eux et dit
ho'me q' Mons^{r} Loys v're frere Mons^{r} Martin [le] Roi les
Navarrois ont en la p'm'e bataille et ceux descomfirent la busoigne
et tua Mons^{r} Martin le Roi et ce purrez vous savoir plus au plein
p' un Chivaler qi le duc de Lancastr' ad envoie nadgaires en Englet're
dev's le Roi. Et se p'ti de la busoigne le duc de Normandie qi sicome
home dit est venuz a Paris et ad signifie ces novelles a Mons^{r}
Rob't de Cleremont son lieutenant es p'ties de seint Loo. Des autres
novelles de p'decea, plese vous savoir mon t'sredoute seignur q' le
poeple de ce paiis est molt esbay de la longe demoer q' vous faites
p'dela moemens les gentils genz; a qui Mons^{r} Godefrey de Harecourt
p'lemente touz les iours et les enhorte estre oveges lui et de lui
faire hom[age] come a lieutenant le Roi d'Englet're et especialement a
ceux qi tenent p'decea fort'estes et fait pullier p'my voz villes q'
qicunqes voudra estre a lui obeissant il ne serra greve de taillee ne
aut's subsides p' qeconqz affaire q' ce soit et q' ceux il gardera et
defendera contre vous et aut's dont plusours gentilz homes et autres
bones villes lui ont entierement accordez sa volonte p' sa petite
puissance q'ils veient q' vous avez et en outre ad fait le dit
Godefrey mettre la main en la t're qe feust vassailles Honriot de
Pemot J de Chesnos et en plusours aut's lieux et fait iniunccion q'
nul ne obbeisse a vous s^{r} peine de la teste et tant d'autres choses
plus g'nt q'si vous accordez a venir p'decea vous trouviez petit de
voz gent qi p^{r}' vous face riens car de iour en iour. Il fait
conu'tir le paiis et tiegne q' a son poair. Il lev'a de voz gentes de
la seint Michel la greigunure p'tie et navez ja p'sent officer a qi la
people voille ore obeir p' la doute de Godefrey, si vous voillez
avancer sicome vous poez veer q' busugne est et p'dela mettez tiel
remede come vouz verrez q' bon s'ra, car les Engleis p'decea tiennent
sa p'tie, et si ne feust l'esp'ance, q' iai de v're brieve venue Je
vous envoiasse p'chemement aucune finance. Mon t'sredoute S^{r} n're
Seign^{r} vous doint bone vie et longe, et vous ait en sa seincte
garde, t'stre a seint benet les viij^{ne} iour docenb'r.