of Scotland, Iohn archbishop of Dubline, Iohn bishop of Winchester,
Anthonie bishop of Duresme, William bishop of Elie, Iohn bishop of
Carleil, William bishop of S. Andrewes, Robert bishop of Glasco, Marke
bishop of Man, and Henrie bishop of Aberdene, with diuerse other
bishops, besides abbats and priors of both the realmes; Henrie earle
of Lincolne, Humfrie earle of Hereford, Roger earle of Norffolke, Iohn
earle of Buchquane, Douenald earle of Mar, Gilbert earle of Angus,
Patrike earle of March, and Malisius earle of Stratherne; with the
foure and twentie auditors of England, and the foure score auditors of
Scotland: chapleins also, Henrie de Newmarke deane of Yorke, Iohn Lacie
chancellour of Chichester, William de Gréenefield canon of Yorke, and
Iohn Ercurie notarie, and manie other. Iohn Balioll being thus created
K. of Scotland, on the twentith day of Nouember, in the castell of
Norham, did fealtie to king Edward for the kingdome of Scotland, in
maner as followeth.
The forme of the fealtie of Iohn Balioll king of Scots to the king of
England in protestation.
This heare you my lord Edward king of England, souereigne lord of the
realme of Scotland, that I Iohn de Balioll king of Scotland, which I
hold and claime to hold of you, that I shall be faithfull and loiall,
and owe faith and loialtie to you, I shall beare of life and member,
and of earthlie honour, against all people, and lawfullie I shall
acknowledge and doo the seruices which I owe to doo to you, for the
realme of Scotland aforesaid. So God me helpe and his holie euangelists.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Balioll crowned king of Scotland.]
Hereof also he made letters patents, witnessing that he had thus doone
fealtie vnto king Edward, which letters he sealed and deliuered in
presence of William bishop of saint Andrews, Robert bishop of Glasco,
Iohn earle of Bouchquane, William earle of Ros, Patrike earle of March,
Walter earle of Menteth, Iames lord steward of Scotland, Alexander de
Ergay, Alexander de Balioll lord of Caures, Patrike de Graham, and
William de Saintclere. This doone, king Edward appointed Anthonie
bishop of Duresme, and the lord Iohn saint Iohn to passe with Balioll
into Scotland, and there to put him into the corporall possession of
the same realme of Scotland, which they did, and so he was crowned at
Scone vpon saint Andrews day, being placed in the marble chaire within
the abbeie church there. The solemnitie of which coronation being
ended, he returned into England, and comming to Newcastell vpon Tine,
where K. Edward in that yeare kept his Christmasse, he there did homage
vpon saint Stephans daie vnto the said king Edward, in forme of words
as followeth.
The forme of the king of Scots homage to king Edward, in action.
My lord, lord Edward king of England, superiour lord of Scotland, I
Iohn de Balioll king of Scotland, doo acknowledge and recognise me
to be your leigeman of the whole realme of Scotland, with all the
appurtenances, and whatsoeuer belongeth thereto, the which kingdome I
hold and ought of right and claime to hold by inheritance of you and
your heires kings of England, and I shall beare faith and loialtie
to you and to your heirs kings of England, of life, of member, and
earthlie honour, against all men, which may liue and die.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1293.]
[Sidenote: Richard Bagley.]
[Sidenote: A prisoner rescued.]
[Sidenote: The offenders lost their hand.]
[Sidenote: A great snow and tempest of wind in Maie.]
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie deceasseth.]
[Sidenote: The kings daughter married to the earle of Bar.]
This homage in forme aforesaid did king Edward receiue, his owne and
others right saued. Then did the king of England without delaie restore
vnto the said Iohn Balioll the kingdome of Scotland, with all the
appurtenances. This yeare, as one Richard Bagley an officer of the
shiriffes of London led a prisoner towards the gaile, thrée persons
rescued the said prisoner, and tooke him from the officer, the which
were pursued and taken, and by iudgement of law then vsed, were brought
vnto Westcheape, and there had their hands striken off by the wrists.
On the 14 daie of Maie fell a woonderfull snow, and therewith blew such
an excéeding wind, that great harme was doone thereby in sundrie places
of England. In the same yeare died frier Iohn Peckham archbishop of
Canturburie, and then was Robert of Winchelsie elected archbishop the
48 in number that had ruled that sée. About the middle of September
following, the earle of Bar a Frenchman, married the ladie Elianor the
kings daughter in the towne of Bristow. ¶ This yeare wheat was sold at
London for two shillings a bushell.
[Sidenote: War betwixt England and France.]
[Sidenote: Two English ships taken.]
[Sidenote: The lord admerall of England setteth vp[=o] the Norman
ships.]
This yeare also the war was begun betwéene the kings of England
and France. For whereas king Edward had furnished foorth six ships
of warre, and sent them vnto Burdeaux for defense of the coasts
thereabouts, two of them as they sailed alongst the coast of Normandie,
and fearing no hurt by enimies, were taken by the Norman fléet, and
diuerse of the mariners hanged. The lord Robert Tiptost that was
admerall of the English fléet aduertised thereof, got togither a great
number of ships, and directed his course with them streight towards
Normandie, and finding no ships of the Normans abroad in the seas, vpon
a desire to be reuenged, entered the mouth of the riuer of Saine, and
set vpon the Norman ships that laie there at anchor, slue manie of the
mariners, & tooke six ship awaie with him, and so returning to the sea
againe, cast anchor not far off from the land, to prouoke the Frenchmen
to come foorth with their fléet to giue battell. And as he laie at
anchor, it chanced that certeine Norman ships fraught with wine came
that waies, as they returned out of Gascoigne. The lord Tiptost setting
on them, tooke them with little adoo, and sleaing néere hand the third
part of all the mariners, sent the ships into England.
[Sidenote: Charles earle of Valois procureth warre betwixt England and
France.]
The Frenchmen to reuenge this act, prepared a nauie, and furnishing
the same with souldiers went foorth to the sea, to incounter the
Englishmen: but yer they met, messengers were sent to and fro, the
Englishmen accusing the Frenchmen of truce-breaking, and the Frenchmen
againe requiring restitution of their goods taken from them by
violence. And now forsomuch as this businesse had béene mooued rashlie
betwixt the Englishmen and the Normans, without any commission of their
princes, their minds therefore were not so kindled in displeasure, but
that there had béen good hope of agréement betwixt them, if Charles
earle of Valois the French kings brother (being a man of a hot nature &
desirous of reuenge) had not procured his brother to séeke reuengement
by force of armes. Wherevpon the French fléet made toward the
Englishmen, who minding not to detract the batell, sharplie incountred
their enimies in a certeine place betwixt England and Normandie, where
they had laid a great emptie ship at anchor, to giue token where they
meant to ioine. There were with the Englishmen both Irishmen and
Hollanders, and with the Normans there were Frenchmen and Flemings, and
certeine vessels of Genowaies.
[Sidenote: The Englishmen victors by sea.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward summoned to appeare at Paris.]
The fight at the first was doubtfull, and great slaughter made, as in
the méeting of two such mightie nauies must néeds insue. Yet in the end
the victorie fell to the Englishmen, and the French ships put to the
chase and scattered abroad. The number of ships lost is not recorded by
such writers as make report of this conflict, but they write that the
losse was great. King Philip being aduertised of this discomfiture of
his fléet was sore displeased, and as though he would procéed against
king Edward by order of law, he summoned him as his leigeman to appeare
at Paris, to answer what might be obiected against him; but withall
bicause he knew that king Edward would not come to make his appearance
he prepared an armie.
[Sidenote: Edmund earle of Lancaster sent to the French king.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward condemned in the French kings court.]
[Sidenote: Arnold de Neale sent into Gascoigne with an armie.]
In the meane time king Edward sent his brother Edmund earle of
Lancaster to be his attornie, and to make answer for him before all
such iudges as might haue hearing of the matter: but the iudges meaning
nothing lesse than to trie out the truth of the cause, admitted no
reasons that the earle could alledge in his brothers behalfe, and
so pronounced king Edward a rebell, and decréed by arest, that he
had forfeited all his right vnto the duchie of Guien. These things
thus doone, he sent priuie messengers vnto Burdeaux, to procure the
citizens to reuolt from the Englishmen, and appointed constable of
France the lord Arnold de Neale to follow with an armie, who coming
thither easilie brought them of Burdeaux vnder the French dominion,
being alreadie minded to reuolt through practice of those that were
latelie before sent vnto them from the French king for that purpose.
After this, the said constable brought the people néere adioining
vnder subiection, partlie moued by the example of the chéefe and head
citie of all the countrie, and partlie induced therevnto by bribes
and large gifts. The Englishmen that were in the countrie, after they
perceiued that the people did thus reuolt to the French king, withdrew
incontinentlie vnto the townes situat néere to the sea side, but
speciallie they fled to a towne called the Rioll, which they fortified
with all spéed. Thus saith Polydor.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Henrie earle of Lincolne.]
Nicholas Triuet, writing hereof, declareth the beginning of this warre
to be on this manner. The English merchants being diuerslie vexed vpon
the seas, made complaint to the king for losse of their merchandize.
The king sent Henrie Lacie earle of Lincolne vnto the French king,
instantlie requiring, that by his assent there might some waie be
prouided with spéed by them and their councell, for some competent
remedie touching such harmes and losses by sea as his people had
susteind. In the meane time whilest the earle taried for answer, a
nauie of the parts of Normandie conteining two hundred ships and aboue,
being assembled togither, that they might the more boldlie assaile
their enimies, and the more valiantlie resist such as should encounter
them, sailed into Gascoigne, determining to destroie all those of their
aduersaries that should come in their waie. But as these Normane ships
returned backe with wines, glorieng as it were that they had got the
rule of the sea onelie to themselues, they were assailed by thréescore
English ships, which tooke them, & brought them into England the friday
before Whitsunday: all the men were either drowned or slaine, those
onelie excepted which made shift to escape by botes. The newes hereof
being brought into France, did not so much mooue the king and the
councell to woonder at the matter, as to take thereof great indignation.
[Sidenote: The bishop of London sent with an answer vnto the French
king.]
Ambassadors were appointed to go into England which on the behalfe of
the French king, might demand of king Edward restitution of those ships
and goods thus taken by his subiects, and conueied into his realme,
without all delaie, if he minded to haue any fauour in the French court
touching his affairs that belonged to his countrie of Gascoigne. The
king of England hearing this message, tooke therein deliberation to
answer, and then sent the bishop of London, accompaned with other wise
and discréet persons into France, to declare for answer vnto the French
king and his councell as followeth; that is, "Whereas the king of
England hath his regall court without subiection to any man, if there
were therefore any persons that found themselues hurt or indamaged by
his people, they might come to his court, and vpon declaration of their
receiued iniuries, they should haue spéedie iustice, and to the end
they might thus doo without all danger, whosoeuer minded to complaine,
he would giue vnto them a safe conduct to come and go in safetie
thorough his land: but if this waie pleased not the French king, then
he was content there should be arbitrators chosen on both sides, who
weieng the losses on both parts, might prouide how to satisfie the
complaints: and the king of England would for his part enter into bonds
by obligation to stand to and abide their order and iudgement herein,
so that the French king would likewise be bound for his part, and if
any such doubt fortuned to arise, which could not be decided by the
said arbitrators, let the same be reserued vnto the kings themselues
to discusse and determine, and the king of England vpon a sufficient
safe conduct had, would come ouer to the French K. if he would come
downe vnto any hauen towne néere to the sea coast, that by mutuall
assent an end might bée had in the businesse: but if neither this waie
should please the French king nor the other, then let the matter be
committed to the order of the pope, to whom it apperteined to nourish
concord among christian princes; or bicause the sée was as then void,
let the whole colledge of cardinals or part of them take order therein,
as should be thought necessarie, that strife and discord being taken
awaie and remoued, peace might againe flourish betwixt them and their
people," as before time it had doone, and bring with it the blessings
therevpon depending; namelie, althings that may make an happie &
fortunat state, according to the nature of peace, whereof it is said,
Pax est cunctorum mater veneranda bonorum,
Fit sub pace forum, fit felix cultus agrorum,
Pax pietas mentis, pax est pincerna salutis.
[Sidenote: The king of England cited to appéere.]
[Sidenote: Sentence giuen against the king of England.]
The French councell weied nothing at all these offers, and would not
so much as once vouchsafe to giue an answer to the English ambassadors
earnestlie requiring the same. Finallie, the French K. sent vnto the
citie of Aniou, which is knowne to belong vnto the dutchie of Guien,
where he there caused the king of England to be cited to make his
appéerance at Paris, at a certeine daie, to answer to the iniuries and
rebellions by him doone in the countrie of Gascoigne, at the which daie
when he appéered not, the French king sitting in the seat of iudgement
in his owne proper person, gaue sentence there against the king of
England, for making default, and withall commanded the high conestable
of France to seize into his hands all the duchie of Guien, and either
to take or to expell all the king of Englands officers, souldiers, and
deputies, which were by him placed within the said duchie. The king a
little before had sent thither a valiant knight, named the lord Iohn
saint Iohn, which had furnished all the cities, townes, castels, and
places, with men, munition, and vittels, for defense of the same.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 22.]
[Sidenote: 1294.]
[Sidenote: The peace of the quéenes.]
In the mean time the king of England, desirous to be at quiet with the
Frenchmen, appointed his brother Edmund earle of Lancaster, as then
soiourning in France, to go vnto the French kings councell to procure
some agréement, which both might be allowed of the French king, and
not be dishonorable vnto him. But when the earle could not preuaile in
his sute, he tooke his iournie towards England, vtterlie despairing to
procure any peace. But yer he came to the sea side, he was sent for
backe againe by the two quéenes of France, Ione wife to king Philip,
and Marie his mother in law, which promised to frame some accord
betwéene the two kings, and so therevpon after diuerse communications
by them had in the matter with the said earle of Lancaster, at length
it was accorded, that for the sauing of the French kings honour, which
séemed to be touched by things doone by the king of Englands ministers
in Gascoigne, six castels should remaine at the said kings pleasure,
as Sanctes, Talemond, Turnhim, Pomeroll, Penne, and mount Flaunton.
Also there should be set a seruant or sergeant in the French kings
name, in euerie citie and castell within all the whole duchie of Guien,
except Burdeaux, Baion, and the Rioll. And further, hostages should be
deliuered at the French kings pleasure, of all ministers to be placed
by the king of England in Gascoigne and other places through all the
country. These things doone, the French king should reuoke the summons
published and pronounced in the court of Paris against the king of
England. Also he shuld restore all the castels (his seruants being
remooued which he had placed in the same) togither with the pledges
incontinentlie, at the request of the same quéenes, or of either of
them. The king of England hauing a safe conduct should come to Amiens,
that there méeting with the French king, peace and amitie might be
confirmed betwixt them. Then were there writings made and ingrossed
touching the forsaid articles of agréement, one part deliuered to the
earle, sealed with the seales of the quéenes, and other remained with
the foresaid quéenes sealed with the seale of the earle.
[Sidenote: Letters patents.]
The king of England certified hereof, sent his letters patents,
directed vnto all his officers and ministers in Gascoigne, commanding
them to obeie in all things the French kings pleasure. These letters
patents were first sent vnto the earle of Lancaster, that he might
cause them to be conueied into Gascoine when he should sée time. The
earle hauing receiued those letters, doubting whether the French K.
would obserue the agréement which the quéenes had made and concluded,
or not; required of them that he might heare the French king speake the
word, that he would stand vnto that which they had concluded. Wherevpon
in the presence of the said earle and his wife Blanch quéene of Nauar,
mother to the French quéene, also of the duke of Burgoigne, Hugh Véere
sonne to the earle of Oxenford, and of a chapline called sir Iohn
Lacie, the French king promised by the faith of a prince, that he would
fulfill the promises of the said quéenes, and the couenants by them
accorded.
[Sidenote: Sir Geffrey Langley.]
Herevpon a knight of the earles of Lancaster, called sir Geffrey de
Langley, was spéedilie sent into Gascoigne with letters from the French
king, directed to the conestable, to call him back againe from his
appointed enterprise. And the foresaid chapleine sir Iohn Lacie was
sent also thither with the letters patents of the king of England,
directed vnto his officers there, in forme as is aboue mentioned,
whervpon the lord Iohn saint Iohn the king of Englands lieutenant in
Gascoigne, vnderstanding the conclusions of the agréement, sold all
such prouisions as he had made and brought into the cities, townes, and
fortresses for the defense of the same, and departing out of Gascoigne,
came towards Paris to returne that waie into England.
[Sidenote: The French kings mind changed.]
[Sidenote: His vniust dealing.]
But behold what followed; suddenlie by the enimie of peace was the
French kings mind quite changed. And where the king of England was come
vnto Canturburie, and kept his Easter there, that immediatlie vpon the
receipt of the safe conduct he might transport ouer the seas, and so
come to Amiens, according to the appointment made by the agréement;
now not onelie the safe conduct was denied, but also the first letters
reuocatorie sent vnto the conestable to call him backe, by other
letters sent after were also made void, and he by the latter letters
appointed to kéepe vpon his iournie, so that the conestable entring
into Gascoigne with a power, found no resistance, the capteins and
officers submitting themselues with the townes and fortresses at his
pleasure according to the tenor of the letters patents latelie to them
deliuered. All the officers and capteins of the fortresses were brought
to Paris as captiues and pledges.
[Sidenote: The French K. renounceth what he had said.]
[Sidenote: Hugh of Manchester a frier sent to the French king.]
[Sidenote: The king of England renounceth the French king.]
Within a few daies after, the earle of Lancaster required the quéenes,
that they would call vpon the king to grant his safe conduct for the
king of England, to reuoke the citation or summons, to restore the
lands taken from him; and to deliuer the pledges: but the French king
by the mouths of certeine knights sent vnto the earle, renounced all
such couenants as before had béene concluded. The earle of Lancaster
then perceiuing that both he and his brother king Edward were mocked
thus at the French kings hands, returned into England, and informed the
king & his councell from point to point of all the matter. Herevpon
a parlement being called at Westminster, at the which the king of
Scotland was present, it was decréed by the states, that those lands
which were craftilie taken so from the K. should be recouered againe
by the sword. And the king herewith sent vnto the French king a frier
preacher named Hugh of Manchester, and a frier minor called William
de Gainesbourgh, both being wise and discréet men, and doctours of
diuinitie, to declare vnto him, that sith he would not obserue such
agréements as had béene concluded betwixt their ancestours; and further
had broken such couenants as were now of late agréed vpon betwixt them,
by the trauell of his brother Edmund earle of Lancaster: there was no
cause whie he ought to account him being king of England, and duke of
Guien, as his leigeman, neither did he intend or meane further to be
bound vnto him by reason of his homage.
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into Germanie.]
[Sidenote: Wolles staied.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A subsidie raised of wols.]
[Sidenote: An armie sent to Gascoigne.]
About the same time did the king of England send the archbishop of
Dubline, and the bishop of Duresme into Germanie, about the concluding
of a league with Adolph king of Romans, to whome was giuen a great
summe of monie (as was said) vpon couenants, that he should aid the
king of England against the French king, with all his maine force, and
that neither of them should conclude peace with the said French king
without consent of the other. About the Ascension tide, king Edward
staied the woolles of this land, as well belonging to spirituall men as
temporall men, till the merchants had fined with him for the same, so
that there was a subsidie paied for all sarpliers of wooll that went
out of the relme, and in semblable wise for felles and hides. He also
sent an armie by sea into Gascoigne, vnder the conduct of his nephew
Iohn of Britaine that was earle of Richmond, appointing to him as
councellors, the lord Iohn saint Iohn, and the lord Robert Tiptost; men
of great wisdome, and verie expert in warlike enterprises.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Thrée fléets appointed to the sea.]
[Sidenote: A dearth.]
[Sidenote: _Rich. South._]
[Sidenote: The English armie passeth to Gascoigne.]
[Sidenote: Towns won.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
He also caused thrée seuerall fléets to be prepared, and appointed to
them thrée sundrie admerals, for the better kéeping of the seas. To
them of Yarmouth and other of those parts, he assigned the lord Iohn
Botetourt: to them of the cinque ports, William de Leiborne: and to
them of the west countrie, and to the Irishmen, he appointed a valiant
knight of Ireland as their chéefteine. This yeare in England was a
great dearth and scarcitie of corne, so that a quarter of wheat in
manie places was sold for thirtie shillings: by reason whereof poore
people died in manie places for lacke of sustnance. About Michaelmas,
the English fléet tooke the sea at Portesmouth, and after some
contrarie winds, yet at last they arriued within the riuer of Garon,
and so passing vp the same riuer, wan diuers townes, as Burge, Blaines,
Rions, and others.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: A shift for monie.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The treasurer accused.]
[Sidenote: The K. excuseth himselfe.]