In a parlement holden at Westminster this yeare after Easter, it
was ordeined, that the priuileges and immunities of the abbeie of
Westminster should remaine whole and inuiolate; but yet there was a
prouiso against those that tooke sanctuarie, with purpose to defraud
their creditors, that their lands & goods shuld be answerable to the
discharging of their debts. In the same parlement was granted to the
king a subsidie, to be leuied of the great men of the land. To the end
the commons might be spared, the dukes of Lancaster and Britaine paied
twentie marks, euerie earle six marks, bishops and abbats with miters
as much, and euerie moonke thrée shillings foure pence: also, euerie
iustice, shiriffe, knight, esquier, parson, vicar, and chapleine, were
charged after a certeine rate, but not any of the commons that were of
the laitie.
Ye haue heard how sir Iohn Harleston was sent to Chierburg as capteine
of that fortresse, who issuing abroad on a day, with such power as
he might take foorth, leauing the fortresse furnished, came to a
place, where within a church and in a mill, the Frenchmen had laid
vp, as in storehouses, a great quantitie of vittels, for prouision;
which church and mill the Englishmen assaulted so valiantlie, that
notwithstanding there were within a good number of the enimies, that
did their best to defend themselues, yet at length they were taken, and
sir Iohn Harleston with his companie, returned with the vittels towards
Chierburg, but by the way they were incountred by one sir William de
Bourds, whome the French king had appointed to lie in Mountburg with a
strong power of men of war, to countergarison Chierburg.
Herevpon insued a sore conflict, and manie an hardie man was beaten to
the ground. And although it séemed that the Englishmen were ouermatched
in number, yet they stucke to it manfullie. Their capteine sir Iohn
Harleston, fighting in the foremost presse, was felled, and laie on the
ground at his enimies féet in great hazard of death. The Englishmen
neuerthelesse continued their fight, till at length sir Geffrie
Worslie, with a wing of armed footmen with axes, came to the rescue
(for to that end he was left |723| behind, of purpose to come to their
aid if néed required) with whose comming the Frenchmen were so hardlie
handled, that to conclude, they were broken insunder, beaten downe and
wholie vanquished: there were of them slaine aboue six score, and as
manie taken prisoners, among which number was their chéefe capteine sir
William de Bourdes taken, and brought to Chierburg with the residue,
and there put in safe keeping. This exploit was atchiued by the
Englishmen, on saint Martins day in winter, in this third yeare of king
Richard his reigne.
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Clearke a valiant capteine.