SOURCE.--Froissart's _Chronicle_ (Hafod Press, 1803), iii. 209.
I, the author of this history, was at Bordeaux when the Prince of
Wales marched to Spain, and witnessed the great haughtiness of the
English, who are affable to no other nation than their own; nor could
any of the gentlemen of Gascony or Aquitaine, though they had ruined
themselves by their wars, obtain office or appointment in their own
country; for the English said they were neither on a level with them
nor worthy of their society, which made the Gascons very indignant,
as they showed the first opportunity that presented itself. It was
on account of the harshness of the Prince's manners that the Count
d'Armagnac and the Lord d'Albreth, with other knights and squires,
turned to the French interest. King Philip of France, and the good
John his son, had lost Gascony by their overbearing pride; and in like
manner did the Prince. But King Charles, of happy memory, regained them
by good humour, liberality, and humility. In this manner the Gascons
love to be governed....
Such are the Gascons; they are very unsteady, but they love the English
in preference to the French, for the war against France is the most
profitable; and this is the cause of their preference.
"TIME-HONOURED LANCASTER" (MAY-JUNE, 1376).
SOURCE.--Harleian MSS. (British Museum), 247, fol. 173; and
6217, fols. 3-4.[40]
... There arose this question amongst them [the Commons] which of the
knights should be their speaker, for they had fully resolved to deny
the King's request until certain abuses were corrected.... Careful they
were, as is said, about their speaker for they doubted certain of the
King's secretarys who they thought would have disclosed their drifts,
for they were captious and in great and especial favour with the King.
In this space God moved the spirit of a knight of their company
called Peter de la Mare, pouring into him wisdom, and boldness to the
conceit of his mind, and with all such constancy that he neither feared
the threats of his enemies nor the subtleties of such as envied his
preferment, &c. Peter, trusting in God, and standing together with his
fellows before the nobles (whereof the chief was John Duke of Lancaster
whose doings were ever contrary, for, as it is thought, he wanted the
grace of God, &c.), he began thus:
"Lords and nobles, by whose faith and diligence the realm is governed,
it is well known to your wisdoms, how with like vexations the Commons
have been often oppressed, now paying fifteenths, otherwhiles ninths
and tenths, to the King's use, which they would take in good part,
if the King or his realm took any commodity, thereby, nor would they
grieve at it if it had been bestowed in the King's wars, although
scarcely prosperous; but it is evident neither the King nor the realm
do have any profit thereby. And because it cannot be known how such
great expences should arise, the commonalty require an account of such
as received the same to the King's use, neither is it credible that the
King should want such an infinity of treasure if they were faithful
that served him."
When he had thus said, they having not wherewith to answer, the judges
held their peace.
The night following the Duke [of Lancaster] consulted with his private
men how he might put off that that redounded to his infamy and manifest
dishonour. After divers men's opinions diversely told, he, liking of
none of their ways, is reported to have said: "What," saith he, "do
these base and ignoble knights attempt? Do they think they be kings or
princes of this land? Or else whence is this haughtiness and pride? I
think they know not what power I am of. I will therefore early in the
morning appear unto them so glorious and will show such power among
them and with such vigour I will terrify them, that neither they nor
their like shall dare henceforth to provoke me to wrath." Boasting in
this sort and vainly assuring himself, one of his gentlemen is said to
have given him this answer: "My lord," saith he, "it is not unknown
to your honour what helps these knights, not of the common sort, as
you affirm, but mighty in arms and valiant, have to undershore them;
for they have the favour and love of the lords, and especially of the
Lord Prince Edward, your brother, who giveth them his council and aid
effectually. The Londoners also, all and everyone, and common people
be so well affected towards them that they will not suffer them to
be overlaid with reproachful language, or to be molested with the
least injury in the world. Yea, and the knights themselves abused in
any reproachful manner, shall be enforced to attempt all extremities
against your person and your friends, which, haply, otherwise they
would never do." With this admonition the duke's guilty conscience was
very much troubled. He was afraid indeed that it would so come to pass,
as the gentleman had said unto him, and that so his honour should ever
more distained.[41] Whereas he knew that if mention were openly made of
his wicked acts he could not satisfy the people by any purgation, nor
for trouble of mind and guiltiness of conscience durst, though he were
willing thereto, wage battle against his enviers....
O unfortunate duke and miserable, O that destroyest with thy treason
and lack of sense and reason, whom thou guidest to battle, and whom in
peace thou shouldst guide through examples of good works, thou leadest
them through bye ways and bringest them to destruction, for thou
whereas either God, or, that I may so say, Nature, the mother of all
things hath given thee a soul and discretion, than the which nothing is
more excellent, so dost abject and abase thyself, that a man may think
you to differ nothing from a brute beast. Behold, O most miserable man,
thinkest thyself to flourish, which accountest thyself happy, in what
sort thy own miseries do overbear thee, thy lusts do torment thee; to
whom that which thou hast is not sufficient, and yet fearest lest it
will not long continue thine.
The sting of conscience for thy lewd acts prick and vex thee but would
God and the fear of laws and judgment terrify thee as it doth others,
truly then thou wouldst even against thy will, amend that is amiss.
The Duke therefore, as afore is touched, punished with the most
sharp pricks of his conscience and terrified with the answers of his
councillors, laid aside all vigour and stoutness of stomach, and the
next day came into the assembly of the knights, and, contrary to all
expectations, showed himself so favourable and so mild that he drew
them all into admiration. They knew how proud Moab was ii or iii days
before, although they regarded not his arrogancy; and they said,
is not this the change of the right hand of the highest? The Duke,
counterfeiting modesty, deceitfully seemed to comfort them, saying he
knew well the desire of the knights to be zealous, and to tender the
state of the realm and therefore, whatsoever they thought good to be
corrected they should speak, and he would put thereto the wished remedy.
FOOTNOTES:
[40] The first leaf of this English translation of part of the Harleian
MS. 3634, which is the _Chronicon Angliæ_, 1308-1388, written by a
contemporary monk of St. Albans, possibly Walsingham, has at some time
been separated from the main part of the manuscript, and is now in
Harleian MS. 247, while the rest is in Harleian MS. 6217, fol. 3, of
which begins: "The night following, the Duke consulted," etc.
[41] Soiled, stained.
LAMENT FOR THE BLACK PRINCE.
SOURCE.--_Chronicon Angliæ_, 1328-1388 (Rolls Series), 91.
Who being dead, the whole hope of the English perished; for while he
lived they feared no inroad of any enemy, even as when he was present,
they feared no warlike encounter. For never when he was present were
any foul deeds done, nor did any soldiers turn renegade; and, as it
was said of the great Alexander, he attacked no people that he did not
conquer, he besieged no city that he did not take. Let these witness
to what I say: the battle of Creçy, the siege of Calais, the battle
of Poitiers where the King of France was taken; the war in Spain
[1367] where Henry the Bastard, the invader of that kingdom, was put
to flight, and the courageous Peter, the lawful King, was restored to
his dominion; and, finally, that greatest siege of the city of Limoges
(September 19, 1370), and the ruin of that city, where, although he was
weighed down by so great infirmity of body that he could scarcely sit
on his horse at the time, he nevertheless so inspired his men that
they believed it impossible for any city to be able to resist their
strength. His body was borne to Canterbury, there, as he, while living,
had commanded, to be buried, bewailed by the whole realm of England.
O thou untimely, too-eager Death, who bearest away that one of the
English who seemed to be of help! Oh, what sorrow dost thou give to
the old King, his father, taking from him not only his own desire, but
that of the whole people, namely that his first born should sit after
him upon his throne and should judge the people in equity! Oh, what
lamentations dost thou give to the country which believes itself shorn
of a protector now he is no longer present! What tears dost thou give
to the citizens deprived of so great a prince; what exultations to the
enemy, the fear of so great a defender being removed! In truth, unless
God, who protected him in battle, and now took him out of the world
(perchance we English should place a greater hope in the Lord God, lest
the poor English-born be set at variance among themselves) shall raise
his hand, our enemies, who surround us on every side, will surely rage
upon us even to our destruction, and will destroy our place and people.
Rise up, O God, help us and protect us for Thy name's sake.
RENEWAL OF THE WAR (1376-77).
SOURCE.--Froissart's _Chronicle_ (Hafod Press, 1803), ii. 178.
After the feast of Michaelmas, when the funeral of the [Black] Prince
had been performed, in a manner suitable to his birth and merit, the
King of England caused the young Prince Richard to be acknowledged as
his successor to the Crown after his decease, by all his children, the
Duke of Lancaster, the Earl of Cambridge, the Lord Thomas, his youngest
son, as well as by all the barons, earls, prelates, and knights of
England. He made them solemnly swear to observe this, and on Christmas
Day he had him seated next to himself, above all his children, in
Royal state, that it might be seen and declared he was to be King of
England after his death.
The Lord John Cobham, the Bishop of Hereford, and the Dean of London,
were at this time sent to Bruges on the part of the English. The French
had sent thither the Count de Saltzbourg, the Lord de Châtillon, and
Master Philibert l'Espiote. The prelates, ambassadors from the Pope,
had still remained there, and continued the negotiations for peace.
They treated of a marriage between the young son of the Prince and the
Lady Mary, daughter of the King of France: after which the negotiators
of each party separated, and reported what they had done to the
respective Kings.
About Shrovetide a secret treaty was formed between the two Kings for
their ambassadors to meet at Montreuil-sur-Mer, and the King of England
sent to Calais Sir Guiscard d'Angle, Sir Richard Sturey, and Sir
Geoffry Chaucer. On the part of the French were the Lords de Coucy and
De la Rivieres, Sir Nicholas Bragues, and Nicholas Bracier. They for a
long time discussed the subject of the above marriage; and the French,
as I was informed, made some offers, but the others demanded different
terms, or refused treating. These Lords returned, therefore, with their
treaties to their sovereigns; and the truces were prolonged to the
first of May.
The Earl of Salisbury, the Bishop of St. David's, Chancellor of
England, and the Bishop of Hereford, returned to Calais, and with them,
by orders of the King of France, the Lord De Coucy, and Sir William De
Dormans, Chancellor of France.
Notwithstanding all that the prelates could say or argue, they never
could be brought to fix upon any place to discuss these treaties
between Montreuil and Calais, nor between Montreuil and Boulogne, nor
on any part of the frontiers; these treaties, therefore, remained in an
unfinished state. When the war recommenced, Sir Hugh Calverley was sent
Governor of Calais.
JOHN OF GAUNT ATTACKS WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM (1377).
SOURCE.--_Chronicon Angliæ_, 1328-1388 (Rolls Series), 106, 107.
The Duke [of Lancaster] spewed out the venom of serpents which was
in him and directed the sting of his malice against the Bishop of
Winchester, Lord William Wykeham, seeking a knot in a bulrush and an
occasion for condemning him in every way and manner that he could.
At length, among the many things which, as it is said, he falsely
deposed against him, he declared that he had been false to the lord
King at the time when he was discharging the office of Chancellor. And
although the said Bishop would have been prepared to bring forward
sufficient honest witnesses and accounts to prove his innocence,[42]
nevertheless, William Skipworth unjustly sitting as justiciar, he [the
duke] caused him to be condemned without answer, and the temporalities
of his bishopric to be taken from him by royal authority. And, in order
that he might gain popular favour, he demanded, in the power of the
King, that the same goods should be given to the aid of the son of the
[Black] Prince, Richard de Bordeaux, Earl of Chester, who had lately
received by gift of the King the principality and name of his father.
Moreover, he prohibited the same bishop, in place of the King, from
taking it on himself to come within twenty miles of the royal presence.
Thus was he avenged against the said bishop.
Now the cause of all this malice was, as it is said, that the same
Bishop had said that he [John of Gaunt] was not the son of the King or
Queen; but in the time when the Queen was delivered at Gaunt, she had
given birth not to a boy, but to a girl, whom she had overlaid; and,
fearing the royal indignation, she had ordered the son of a certain
Flemish woman, born at the same time, to be put in its place; thus she
had fostered one to whom she had not given birth, namely, this man, the
notorious Duke of Lancaster. These things the Queen, in her last hours,
had related to the bishop under seal of confession; and had prayed
him steadfastly that, if at any time it should happen that he [John
of Gaunt] should either have designs on the kingdom, or if the said
kingdom should in any way whatever devolve on him, he, the said bishop,
should make known his birth, lest he, a false heir, should inherit the
kingdom of England.
FOOTNOTES:
[42] In Harleian MS. 247, fol. 170_b_, we read of the Council of July,
1377, wherein the lords did "greatly debate upon the suppressing of the
Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Latimer by Sir William Wykeham, Bishop
of Winchester, of sundry trespasses and misprisons by him committed,
and charged him with sundry grievous articles and forfeits, which the
King himself had certainly understood and by divers evidences were
known, as also by the common voice of the people; for he had sundry
charges and offices under the King from the xxxv. year of his reign and
had by his writings made sundry defaults to the prejudice, hurt and
reproach of the King and of his realm, and to the oppression of his
people."
MASTER JOHN WICLIF (1377).
SOURCE.--Harleian MS. 2261, fols. 399, 399_b_.
Master John Wiclif, doctor of divinity in the University of Oxford,
began to sustain openly in the said University erroneous conclusions
contrary to the state of the universal Church and conclusions of
heresy, and especially against canons, monks, and religious men
possessionate, which drew to him in this time divers fellows of the
same sect dwelling in Oxford, going barefoot with long gowns of
russet, that they might publish and fortify their errors against men
contrarious to them, preaching openly the said errors. Among whom
they said that the sacrament in the altar after the sacrament or
consecration is not the very body of Christ. Also he said that temporal
lords and men might take away meritoriously the goods [of] men of the
Church sinning or trespassing. Nevertheless, the Pope with his council
damned xxiii conclusions as vain, erroneous and full of heresy, and
sent bulls direct to the Metropolitan of England and to the Bishop
of London that they should cause the said Master John to be arrested
and to examine him of the said conclusions. That inquisition done,
and a declaration made, the Archbishop of Canterbury commanded and
prohibited the said Master John and his co-disciples to use the said
conclusions, and so they were still for a season. But soon after, by
supportation of lords and other noble men, they took to them more
wicked opinions, and had great continuation in their malice.
A TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION (1377).
SOURCE.--Harleian MS. (British Museum) 247, fol. 172_b_.
At the same time the commons of London made great sport and solemnity
to the young prince. For upon the Monday next before the Purification
of our Lady at night and in the night, were 130 men disguisedly
apparelled and well mounted on horseback to go on mumming to the said
prince, riding from Newgate through Cheap[side], where many people
see them, with great noise of minstrelsy trumpets,----,[43] cornets
and shaumes and great plenty of wax and torches lighted. And in the
beginning they rid 48, after the manner of esquires, two and two
together, clothed in coats and cloaks of red say or sendall and their
faces covered with vizards well and handsomely made; after these
esquires came 48 like knights well arrayed after the same manner;
after the knights came one excellently arrayed and well mounted as he
had been an Emperor; after him some 100 paces came one nobly arrayed
as a pope; and after him came 24 arrayed like cardinals; and after
the cardinals came 8 or 10 arrayed and with black vizards like devils
nothing amiable, seeming like legates; riding through London and over
London bridge towards Kenyton (Kennington) where the young prince made
his abode with his mother. And the duke of Lancaster, and the earls
of Cambridge, Hertford, Warwick and Suffolk and many other lords were
there with him to behold the solemnity. And when they were come before
the manor, they alighted on foot and entered into the hall; and soon
after the prince with his mother and the other lords came out of the
chambers into the hall and the said mummers saluted them, showing a
pair of dice upon a table to play with the prince, which dice were
subtly made, so that when the prince should cast he should win. And
the said players and mummers set before the prince three jewels each
after other, the first a ball of gold, then a cup of gold, then a gold
ring, the which the said prince won at three casts, as before it was
appointed; and after that they set before the prince's mother, the duke
of Lancaster and the other earls every one a gold ring and the mother
and the lords won them; and then the prince caused to bring the wine
and they drank with great joy, commanding the minstrels to play; and
the trumpets began to sound and other instruments to pipe etc. and the
prince and the lords danced on the one side and the mummers on the
other a great while. And then they drank and took their leave and so
departed towards London.
FOOTNOTES:
[43] A blank in the manuscript.
THE KING OF FRANCE EQUIPS A FLEET (1377).
SOURCE.--Froissart's _Chronicle_ (Hafod Press, 1803), ii. 181.
During the negotiations for peace, the King of France had been very
active in providing ships and galleys; the King of Spain had sent him
his admiral, Sir Fernando Sausse, who, with Sir John de Vienne, Admiral
of France, had sailed for the Port of Rye, which they burnt, five days
after the decease of King Edward, the vigil of St. Peter, in June, and
put to death the inhabitants, without sparing man or woman.
Upon news of this coming to London, the Earls of Cambridge and
Buckingham were ordered to Dover with a large body of men-at-arms. The
Earl of Salisbury and Sir John Montague, on the other hand, were sent
to the country near Southampton.
After this exploit the French landed in the Isle of Wight. They
afterwards burnt the following towns: Portsmouth, Dartmouth, Plymouth,
and several others. When they had pillaged and burnt all in the Isle
of Wight, they embarked and put to sea, coasting the shores until they
came to a port called Poq (? Pool). The Earl of Salisbury and Sir John
Montague defended the passage, but they burnt a part of the town of
Poq. They again embarked and coasted towards Southampton, attempting
every day to land; but the Earl of Salisbury and his forces, who
followed them along the shore, prevented them from so doing.
The fleet then came before Southampton; but Sir John Arundel, with a
large body of men-at-arms and archers, guarded well the town, otherwise
it would have been taken. The French made sail from thence towards
Dover, and landed near to the Abbey of Lewes, where there were great
numbers of the people of the country assembled. They appointed the
Abbot of Lewes, Sir Thomas Cheney, and Sir John Fuselée their leaders,
who drew up in good array to dispute their landing, and to defend the
country. The French had not the advantage, but lost several of their
men, as well might happen. However, the better to maintain the fight,
they made the land, when a great skirmish ensued, and the English,
being forced to retreat, were finally put to flight. Two hundred at
least were slain, and the two knights with the Abbot of Lewes made
prisoners.
The French re-embarked and remained at anchor before the abbey all that
night. They then heard for the first time, from their prisoners, the
death of King Edward [June 20] and the coronation of King Richard, and
also a part of the regulation of the kingdom, and that great numbers of
men-at-arms were under orders to march to the coast.
CHARACTER OF EDWARD III.
SOURCE.--Harleian MS. 2261, fol. 400_a_.
This noble and mighty King Edward, among all other men of nobility
in the world, was a man of great goodness called gracious, excelling
all his predecessors by virtue and grace given to him of God, a bold
man in heart, dreading not sinister fortune in battles, having great
fortune in them both by sea and land. Also he was meek, benign, and
familiar to all manner of people, devout to God, honouring the church
of God, and having his ministers in great reverence. Also he was
moderate in cures temporal, provide in council, affable and eloquent,
meek in behaviour, having compassion on men in tribulation. Also he
was elegant and beauteous of body, having a comfortable and pleasant
countenance, like to the sight of an angel, for God had endued him with
such excellence of grace that a man would have thought as for a surety
that he should have sped well in the day following after that he had
dreamed of the said King. This noble King governed his reign gloriously
unto his later days, large in gifts, excessive in expenses, endued with
all honesty of manners. Whereof his fame was so increased among people
of Barbary, insomuch that they said there was no land in the world that
had so noble a prince, and that England should never have so noble
again after his death. But the inordinate lust of the flesh used in his
old age helped him much unto death. Also it is to be attended, as the
acts afore express, that like as in his beginning all things enjoyed to
him, and in the midst of his age glorious and fortunate, so the said
King drawing to age and towards death, all things were as unfortunate
to him, for his sins and many incommodities began to spring, having
after him long continuation, which thing was to be sorrowed.
THE PEASANTS' REVOLT (1381).
SOURCE.--_Chronicle of Adam of Usk_ (translated and edited by
Sir E. Maunde Thompson, 1904), 13.