But least any ioy should come to the English people in that season,
without some mixture of gréefe, one sir I. Clearke a right valiant
knight, & fellow in armes with sir Hugh Caluerlie, chanced this yeare
to lie in garrison in a castell in Britaine, where was an hauen, &
diuerse English ships lieng in the same, whereof the French gallies
being aduertised, came thither, to set those ships on fire, appointing
one of their gallies first to attempt the feat, and if fortune so
would, to traine the Englishmen foorth, till they should fall into the
laps of foure other gallies which they laid as it had béene in ambush.
Now as the enimies wished so it came to passe, for the Englishmen
perceiuing their vessels in danger to be burnt of the enimies, ran
euerie man aboord to sane the ships and goods within them; and amongst
the rest, sir Iohn Clearke their capteine, meaning to take such part as
his men did, got aboord also, and streight falling in pursute of the
gallie that withdrew for the purpose aforesaid, the Englishmen were
shortlie inclosed with the other gallies before they were aware, not
knowing what shift to make to auoid the present danger.
Sir Iohn Clearke, perceiuing how the case stood, laid about him like
a giant, causing his companie still to draw backe againe, whilest he
resisting the enimies, did shew such proofe of his valiancie, that they
were much astonished therewith. To be short, he so manfullie behaued
himselfe, that the most part of his companie had time to recouer land;
but when he that had thus preserued others shuld leape foorth of the
ship to saue himselfe, he was striken on the thigh with an ax, that
downe he fell, and so came into the enimies hands, being not able to
recouer that hurt, for his thigh was almost quite cut off from the
bodie, so that he died of that and other hurts presentlie, leauing a
remembrance behind him of manie worthie acts through his valiancie
atchiued, to his high praise and great commendation. The barke of Yorke
was also lost the same time, being a proper vessell; and now taken
suddenlie, sanke with all that were aboord in hir, both Englishmen, and
the enimies also that were entered into hir, thinking to carrie hir
awaie.
[Sidenote: The duke of Britaine restored to his dukedome.]
About the same time the duke of Britaine returning into his countrie,
vnder the conduct of sir Thomas Percie and sir Hugh Caluerlie, landed
at a hauen not far from saint Malo, the fourth day of August, being
receiued with vnspeakable ioy of the Britaines, as well lords as
commons, so that the louing harts which they bare towards him, might
well appeare, although the loue which he bare to the king of England
had caused his subiects, in fauor of France, to kéepe him manie yeares
foorth of his dukedome as a banished prince, but at length, they being
ouercome with irkesomnesse of his long absence, with generall consents
sent for him home, so that there were but few of the British nobilitie
that withdrew their dutifull obedience from him, and those were onelie
such as firmelie linked in seruice with the French king, were loth to
forgo such roomes and dignities as vnder him they inioied; namelie, the
constable of France, sir Berthram de Cleaquin, the lord Clisson, the
lord de Rohen, and the lord Rochfort, and certeine others.
[Sidenote: Sir Hugh Caluerlie.]
The lord de la Vall amongst other, came to him (as we find in Thomas
Walsingham) offering him his seruice as well as the residue. At his
landing, he was likelie to haue lost all such furniture, as well of
vittels, apparell, hangings, bedding, armour, and other things, which
either he or his traine had brought with them. For the French gallies
espieng their time, immediatlie as he and his companie were set on
land, before the ships in which the said furniture was fraught, could
enter the hauen, which was somewhat |724| streight and narrow, came
vpon them, and had them at such aduantage, that if sir Hugh Caluerlie
with his archers had not caused the master of his ship, euen against
his will to returne againe to the rescue, the gallies had taken and
gone awaie with the other ships; but through the manfull prowes of sir
Hugh, the gallies were repelled, & the ships saued: for according to
his woonted valiancie he would not returne, till he saw all other in
safetie, & then defending himselfe so well as he might, withdrew into
the hauen, and landed safelie with the residue.
[Sidenote: An hainous murther of a merchant stranger.
Great death in the north countrie.