The knight at his comming before the king, besought him & his nobles,
to grant him so much, that he might be eftsoones laid on the ground
as before, and the esquier to be laid aloft vpon him: for the knight
perceiued that the esquire through excessiue heat, and the weight of
his armor, did maruellouslie faint, so as his spirits were in manner
taken from him. The king and the nobles perceiuing the knight so
couragiouslie to demand to trie the battell foorth to the vttermost,
offring great summes of monie, that so it might be doone, decreed that
they should be restored againe to the same plight in which they laie
when they were raised vp: but in the meane time the esquire fainting,
and falling downe in a swoone, fell out of his chaire, as one that was
like to yéeld vp his last breath presentlie among them. Those that
stood about him cast wine and water vpon him, séeking so to bring him
againe, but all would not serue, till they had plucked off his armor,
& his whole apparell, which thing prooued the knight to be vanquisher,
and the esquier to be vanquished.
After a little time the esquier began to come to himselfe, and lifting
vp his eies, began to hold vp his head, and to cast a ghostlie looke
on euerie one about him: which when it was reported to the knight,
he commeth to him armed as he was (for he had put off no |729|
péece since the beginning of the fight) and speaking to him, called
him traitor, and false periured man, asking of him if he durst trie
the battell with him againe: but the esquier hauing neither sense
nor spirit whereby to make answer, proclamation was made that the
battell was ended, and euerie one might go to his lodging. The esquier
immediatlie after he was brought to his lodging, and laid in bed, began
to wax raging wood, and so continuing still out of his wits, about
nine of the clocke the next day he yéelded vp the ghost. ¶ This combat
was fought (as before yée haue heard) the seuenth of Iune to the great
reioising of the common people, and discouragement of traitours.
[Sidenote: The Frenchmen spoile & burne diuerse townes in the west
countrie.
An. Reg. 4.
_Froissard._ The earle of Buckingham sent into Britaine to aid the duke
against the French king.]
About the same time or rather somewhat before, the lord Oliuer de
Clisson, with a number of ships and gallies of France and Spaine, tooke
the sea, and comming on the coast of England, landed in diuerse places
of the west countrie, and also in the south parts, and burning sundrie
townes, taking such ships and vessels as they might laie hold vpon, and
so continued to indamage the English people that inhabited néere to the
sea side, all that summer following. ¶ In the beginning of the fourth
yeare of this king, Thomas of Woodstoke earle of Buckingham, vncle to
the king, with an armie of seauen or eight thousand men of armes and
archers, was sent ouer to Calis, that he might inuade France, and passe
through the same to come into Britaine vnto the aid of the duke there.
¶ You haue heard how the French king had seized into his hands the
more part of the duchie of Britaine, bicause that the duke had ioined
himselfe in league with the king of England: but yet there were diuerse
of the good townes, and also manie of the barons and nobles of the
countrie which kept themselues as neuters a long season; but at length,
longing to see the returne of their naturall lord and duke, sent for
him into England, requiring him to repaire home, and to see to the
quieting of the troubled state of his countrie.
The duke being thus earnestlie desired to returne home, by the aduise
of the king of England and his councell, granted to their request
that had so instantlie required him, both by letters and sufficient
messengers: wherevpon he tooke the sea, and sailing foorth, arriued in
Britaine, hauing with him sir Robert Knolles, and a certeine number
of Englishmen both armed men and archers (as before yee haue heard.)
The king also promised to send him a new supplie verie shortlie,
which was not forgotten. But fortune was so contrarie, that sir Iohn
Arundell generall of those that were sent, and manie of his companie,
were drowned by force of tempest, and the other driuen backe againe
into England (as before ye haue heard.) In the meane time, though the
duke of Britaine with aid of his subiects, did manfullie defend his
townes and countrie against the Frenchmen, yet he was in doubt to be
oppressed by the great puissance of the Frenchmen, if aid came not
the sooner. Which being signified ouer into England, mooued the king
and his councell to appoint the earle of Buckingham to take vpon him
this voiage. He landed at Calis three daies before the feast of Marie
Magdalene.
[Sidenote: Knights made by the earle of Buckingham at his entrie into
France.]
There went ouer with him in that armie, the earls of Stafford and
Deuonshire, the lord Spenser constable of the host, the lord Fitz
Walter marshall, the lord Basset, the lord Bourchier, the lord Ferrers,
the lord Morlie, the lord Darcie, sir William Windsore, sir Hugh
Caluerlie, sir Hugh Hastings, sir Hugh de la Sente, sir Thomas Percie,
sir Thomas Triuet, sir Hugh Tirell, sir William Farrington, sir Iohn
and sir Nicholas Daubriticourt, Thomas Camois, Rafe Neuill sonne to the
lord Neuill, sir Henrie bastard Ferrers, sir Hugh Broe, sir Geffrie
Wourslie, sir William Clinton, sir Iuon Fitz Warren, and diuerse other.
After they had rested them at Calis two daies, they remooued the third
day out of the towne, and came to Marqueignes, where they remained
thrée daies, till all their companie, cariages, and prouisions were
come to them out of Calis: from thence they remooued and came before
Arde, where the earle of Buckingham made knights these that follow: the
earle of Deuonshire, the lord Morlie, the son of the lord Fitz Walter,
sir Roger Strange, sir Iohn Ipre, sir Iohn Colle, sir Iames Tirell, sir
Thomas Ramston, sir Iohn Neuill, and sir Thomas Ros or Roslie, as some
copies haue. These persons were made |730| knights, bicause they went
in the vaward, which was sent to win a strong house called Follant,
which the owner had fortified against them. But though he defended
himselfe manfullie for a time, yet in the end both he and all his
companie were taken prisoners.
[Sidenote: Knights againe made.