had appointed certeine of the kings liege people to repaire into
Scotland, and to bring from thence one Thomas Trumpington; also an
other resembling in shape, fauour, and countenance king Richard, and
Henrie Persie, togither with a great multitude of people to fight
with the king, and him to destroie in open field. Beside this, that
they had meant to win certeine castels in Wales, and to kéepe them
against the king: and manie other treasons they had contriued, as
by the indictement was specified, to the intent they might destroie
the king and his brethren, the dukes of Bedford and Glocester, and
other the great lords & péers of the realme. And Henrie Scroope of
Masham, of Flarflet, in the countie of Yorke was likewise indicted, as
consenting to the premisses. So that it appeareth their purpose was
well inough then perceiued, although happilie not much bruted abroad,
for considerations thought necessarie to haue it rather husht and kept
secret.
About the selfe same time the lord Cobham with his fréends, whether
as one of counsell in the conspiracie with the earle of Cambridge or
not, was determined to haue made some attempt against the lord of
Aburgauennie, who being aduertised thereof, got for his defense from
Worcester, Persore, Teukesburie, and other places thereabout, to the
number of fiue thousand archers, and other armed men, which came to
him vnto his castell of Haneleie: whereof when the lord Cobham was
aduertised, he withdrew againe to such secret places about Maluerne,
as he had prouided for his suertie, to resort vnto: but a priest that
belonged vnto him, was taken, and diuerse other, who disclosed to
the lord Aburgauennie, one of the places where the said lord Cobham
with his men vsed to kéepe themselues close. Vnto that place the lord
Aburgauennie went, where he found indéed monie and armor piled vp
betwixt two wals, handsomelie conueied and framed for the purpose; but
the lord Cobham with his folkes were withdrawne into some other place,
after they once heard, that the earle of Cambridge and the lord Scroope
were executed.
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
[Sidenote: The king saileth ouer into France with his host.]
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
[Sidenote: A charitable proclamation.]
[Sidenote: Princelie and wiselie.]
But now to procéed with king Henries dooings. After this, when the wind
came about prosperous to his purpose, he caused the mariners to weie vp
anchors, and hoise vp sailes, and to set forward with a thousand ships,
on the vigill of our ladie daie the Assumption, and tooke land at
Caur, commonlie called Kidcaur, where the riuer of Saine runneth into
the sea, without resistance. At his first comming on land, he caused
proclamation to be made, that no person should be so hardie on paine of
death, either to take anie thing out of anie church that belonged to
the same, or to hurt or doo anie violence either to priests, women, or
anie such as should be found without weapon or armor, and not readie to
make resistance: also that no man should renew anie quarell or strife,
whereby anie fraie might arise to the disquieting of the armie.
[Sidenote: _Harding._]
The next daie after his landing, he marched toward the towne of
Harflue, standing on the riuer of Saine betwéene two hils; he besieged
it on euerie side, raising bulwarks and a bastell, in which the two
earles of Kent & Huntington were placed, with Cornwall, Graie, Steward,
and Porter. On that side towards the sea, the king lodged with his
field, and the duke of Clarence on the further side towards Rone. There
were within the towne the lords de Touteuill and Gaucourt, with diuerse
other that valiantlie defended the siege, dooing what damage they could
to their aduersaries; and damming vp the riuer that hath his course
through the towne, the water rose so high betwixt the kings campe,
and the duke of Clarence campe (diuided by the same riuer) that the
Englishmen were constreined to withdraw their artillerie from one side,
where they had planted the same.
[Sidenote: The king besieged Harflue.]
The French king being aduertised, that king Henrie was arrived on that
coast, sent in all hast the lord de la Breth constable of France,
the seneshall of France, the lord Bouciqualt marshall of France, the
seneshall of Henault, the lord Lignie with other, which fortified
townes with men, victuals, and artillerie on all those frontiers
towards the sea. And hearing that Harflue was besieged, they came to
the castell of Caudebecke, being not farre from Harflue, to the intent
they might succor their fréends which were besieged, by some policie
or meanes: but the Englishmen, notwithstanding all the damage that the
Frenchmen could worke against them, forraied the countrie, spoiled the
villages, bringing manie a rich preie to the campe before Harflue. And
dailie was the towne assaulted: for the duke of Glocester, to whome the
order of the siege was committed, made thrée mines vnder the ground,
and approching to the wals with his engins and ordinance, would not
suffer them within to take anie rest.
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
For although they with their countermining somwhat disappointed the
Englishmen, & came to fight with them hand to hand within the mines,
so that they went no further forward with that worke; yet they were so
inclosed on ech side, as well by water as land, that succour they saw
could none come to them: for the king lieng with his battell on the
hill side on the one partie, and the duke of Clarence beyond the riuer
that passeth by the towne, and runneth into Saine on the other partie,
beside other lords and capteins that were lodged with their retinues
for their most aduantage: none could be suffered to go in, or come
foorth, without their licence; insomuch that such pouder as was sent to
haue béene conueied into the towne by water, was taken by the English
ships that watched the riuer.
[Sidenote: _Harding._]
[Sidenote: _Thos. Walsi._]
[Sidenote: The seuentéenth of September they within Harflue praie
parlée.]
The capteins within the towne, perceiuing that they were not able long
to resist the continuall assaults of the Englishmen, knowing that their
wals were vndermined, and like to be ouerthrowne (as one of their
bulwarks was alredie, where the earles of Huntington and Kent had
set vp their banners) sent an officer at armes foorth about midnight
after the feast daie of saint Lambert, which fell that yeare vpon the
tuesdaie, to beséech the king of England to appoint some certeine
persons as commissioners from him, with whome they within might treat
about some agréement. The duke of Clarence, to whome this messenger
first declared his errand, aduertised the king of their request, who
granting thereto, appointed the duke of Excester, with the lord Fitz
Hugh, and sir Thomas Erpingham, to vnderstand their minds, who at the
first requested a truce vntill sundaie next following the feast of
saint Michaell, in which meane time if no succour came to remooue the
siege, they would vndertake to deliuer the towne into the kings hands,
their liues and goods saued.
[Sidenote: A fiue daies respit.]
The king aduertised hereof, sent them word, that except they would
surrender the towne to him the morow next insuing, without anie
condition, they should spend no more time in talke about the matter.
But yet at length through the earnest sute of the French lords, the
king was contented to grant them truce vntill nine of the clocke the
next sundaie, being the two and twentith of September; with condition,
that if in the meane time no rescue came, they should yéeld the towne
at that houre, with their bodies and goods to stand at the kings
pleasure. And for assurance thereof, they deliuered into the kings
hands thirtie of their best capteins and merchants within that towne
as pledges. But other write, that it was couenanted, that they should
deliuer onelie twelue pledges, and that if the siege were not raised
by the French kings power within six daies next following, then should
they deliuer the towne into the king of England hands, and thirtie of
the chéefest personages within the same, to stand for life or death
at his will and pleasure: and as for the residue of the men of warre
and townesmen, they should depart whether they would, without carieng
foorth either armour, weapon, or goods.
[Sidenote: Harflue yéelded and sacked.]
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._ out of _Angl. præl._]
[Sidenote: _sub. Hen. 5_, and _Polychron._]
The king neuerthelesse was after content to grant a respit vpon
certeine conditions, that the capteins within might haue time to send
to the French king for succour (as before ye haue heard) least he
intending greater exploits, might lose time in such small matters. When
this composition was agréed vpon, the lord Bacqueuill was sent vnto
the French king, to declare in what point the towne stood. To whome
the Dolphin answered, that the kings power was not yet assembled, in
such number as was conuenient to raise so great a siege. This answer
being brought vnto the capteins within the towne, they rendered it vp
to the king of England, after that the third daie was expired, which
was on the daie of saint Maurice being the seuen and thirtith daie
after the siege was first laid. The souldiors were ransomed, and the
towne sacked, to the great gaine of the Englishmen. ¶Some writing of
this yéelding vp of Harflue, doo in like sort make mention of the
distresse whereto the people, then expelled out of their habitations,
were driuen: insomuch as parents with their children, yoong maids and
old folke went out of the towne gates with heauie harts (God wot) as
put to their present shifts to séeke them a new abode. Besides that,
king Henrie caused proclamation to be made within his owne dominions
of England, that whosoeuer (either handicraftesman, merchantman,
gentleman, or plowman) would inhabit in Harflue, should haue his
dwelling giuen him gratis, and his heire after him also inioy the like
grace and fauour; insomuch that great multitudes flocked to the sea
coasts, waiting wind and wether for their transportage into Harflue,
where being arriued woonderfull it is to tell, within how short a time
the towne was peopled. This doth Anglorum prælia report, saieng (not
without good ground, I beléeue) as followeth:
---- tum flentes tenera cum prole parentes
Virgineúsque chorus veteres liquêre penates:
Tum populus cunctus de portis Gallicus exit
Moestus, inarmatus, vacuus, miser, æger, inópsq;
Vtque nouas sedes quærat migrare coactus:
Oppidulo belli potiuntur iure Britanni, &c.
All this doone, the king ordeined capteine to the towne his vncle the
duke of Excester, who established his lieutenant there, one sir Iohn
Fastolfe, with fiftéene hundred men, or (as some haue) two thousand
and thirtie six knights, whereof the baron of Carew, and sir Hugh
Lutterell, were two councellors. And bicause manie of his nobles
whilest this siege laie before Harflue, fell sicke of the flix and
other diseases, diuerse also dead, amongst whom the earle of Stafford,
the bishop of Norwich, the lords Molins and Burnell were foure (beside
others) the king licenced his brother the duke of Clarence, Iohn earle
marshall, and Iohn earle of Arundell, being infected with that disease,
to returne into England.
[Sidenote: Great death in the host by the flix.]
King Henrie, after the winning of Harflue, determined to haue procéeded
further in the winning of other townes and fortresses: but bicause the
dead time of the winter approched, it was determined by aduise of his
councell, that he should in all conuenient spéed set forward, and march
through the countrie towards Calis by land, least his returne as then
homewards should of slanderous toongs be named a running awaie: and
yet that iournie was adjudged perillous, by reason that the number of
his people was much minished by the flix and other feuers, which sore
vexed and brought to death aboue fiftéene hundred persons of the armie:
and this was the cause that his returne was the sooner appointed and
concluded.
[Sidenote: The kings mercifull dealing with the French prisoners.]
But before his departing thence, he entered into the towne of Harflue,
& went to the church of saint Martines, and there offered. All the men
of warre which had not paid their ransoms, he sware them on the holie
euangelists, to yéeld themselues prisoners at Calis by the feast of
saint Martine in Nouember next. There were two strong towers standing
on the hauen side at Harflue, which looking for aid, did not yéeld,
till ten daies after the towne was rendered. When the king had repaired
the walles, bulwarks and rampiers about the towne, and furnished it
with vittels and artillerie, he remooued from Harflue toward Ponthoise,
intending to passe the riuer of Some with his armie, before the bridges
were either withdrawen or broken. Such vittels and other necessaries as
were to be caried with the armie, he appointed to be laid on horsses,
leauing the carts and wagons behind for lesse incombre.
[Sidenote: Corne & vittels destroied where the Englishmen should
passe.]
[Sidenote: A skirmish with the garrison of Ew.]
[Sidenote: _Enguerant._]
The French king hearing that the towne of Harflue was gotten, and that
the king of England was marching forward into the bowels of the realme
of France, sent out proclamations, and assembled people on euerie side,
committing the whole charge of his armie to his sonne the Dolphine
and duke of Aquitaine, who incontinentlie caused the bridges to be
broken, and the passages to be kept. Also they caused all the corne
and vittels to be conueied awaie, or destroied in all places, where it
was coniectured that the Englishmen would passe. The king of England
nothing dismaied herewith, kept his iournie in spite of his enimies,
constreining them within diuerse townes and holds to furnish him with
vittels: but yet as he passed by the towne of Ew, the garrison of the
towne issued foorth, and gaue the Englishmen a skirmish, who beat them
into the towne with losse, namelie of a right valiant man of armes,
named Lancelot Piers. There were manie Englishmen hurt with quarels
shot off from the loops and wals, as they pursued the enimies vnto the
gates.
[Sidenote: Blanchetake.]
At length the king approched the riuer of Some, & finding all the
bridges broken, he came to the passage of Blanchetake, where his great
grandfather king Edward the third a little before had striken the
battell of Cressie: but the passage was now so impeached with stakes in
the botome of the foord, that he could not passe, his enimies besides
there awaie so swarming on all sides. He therefore marched forwards
to Arames, marching with his armie, and passing with his carriage in
so martiall a maner, that he appeared so terrible to his enimies, as
they durst not offer him battell. And yet the lord Dalbreth constable
of France, the marshall Boncequault, the earle of Vendosme great
master of France, the duke of Alanson, and the earle of Richmont, with
all the puissance of the Dolphin laie at Abuile, but euer kept the
passages, and coasted aloofe, like a hauke though eager yet not hardie
on hir preie. The king of England kept on his iournie till he came to
the bridge of saint Marence, where he found aboue thirtie thousand
Frenchmen, and there pitched his field, looking suerlie to be fought
withall.
[Sidenote: Diuerse capteins knights.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: Standing in Picardie betwéene Amiens & Peron all vp[=o] the
riuer of Some.]
[Sidenote: Sir Hugh Stafford lord Bourghchier.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Bromley. He came of a younger brother in the linage of
the right honorable the lord chancelor that now is 1585.]
[Sidenote: The kings standard recouered.]
[Sidenote: 1585.]
Wherefore to incourage his capteins the more, he dubbed certeine of his
hardie and valiant gentlemen knights, as Iohn lord Ferrers of Grobie,
Reginald of Greistocke, Piers Tempest, Christopher Morisbie, Thomas
Pikering, William Huddleston, Iohn Hosbalton, Henrie Mortimer, Philip
Hall, and William his brother, Iaques de Ormond, and diuerse other:
but the French making no semblance to fight, he departed in good order
of battell by the towne of Amiens, to another towne néere to a castell
called Bowes, and there laie two daies looking for their bidding of
battell euerie houre. From thence he came néere to Corbie, where he was
staied that night, for that the common people and pezants mightilie
there assembled, hauing gotten them some head and hartening by meanes
of their number that was great, and by trust of a strength (then ioined
vnto them) made of men at armes (manie too tall and well appointed
for fight) all of the garrison of Corbie: a strong towne well walled
and warded. Herevpon at a streict (which they had preoccupied) they
stoutlie from our armie not onelie kept the passage, but also vpon vs
gaue a proud onset: wherein sir Hugh Stafford knight lord Bourghchier,
cheéfteine of a wing to the king vnder his standard of Guien, and as
then néerest to the enimie, though far inferior in number, yet with
readie and valiant incounter receiued them. The force and slaughter
grew great both on the one side and the other, by the French in
especiall, at first right fiercelie pursued, in so much as with an
hardie charge vpon our men, they had both beat downe the standard, and
also from vs quite woone it awaie, to their hie incouragement, and our
incredible despite and dismaie. Whereat one Iohn Bromley of Bromley in
Staffordshire esquier, a néere kinsman vnto the lord Bourghchier, was
euen streight so pearsed at hart, as he could not conteine him, but by
and by ran eagerlie vpon the French; and with his souldiers (in whom
wrath and téene had alreadie inflamed furie and desire of reuenge) did
so fiercelie set vpon them, that they were not onlie beaten backe, but
also forced to abandon the place. At this push the capteine cutting
through the thickest, strake downe the champion that bare the standard,
and so gloriouslie recouered it againe, and after during the fight
(where as manie of the French lost their liues) couragiouslie ouer his
souldiers aduanced it himselfe. The rest that fled awaie our people
pursued in chasing & slaughter vnto Corbie verie gates. So in victorie,
honor, and great ioy, with our small losse (in comparison) thanks vnto
Gods maiestie, the chéefteine brought his host into his campe and order
againe. The singular prowes of this worthie capteine the noble man
highlie regarding, in an ample testimonie thereof and vpon his owne
honorable consideration, by a faire ancient déed yet extant at these
daies did giue him reward of fortie pounds annuitie for his life. The
monument so plainelie declaring the truth of the matter, with the maner
and dignitie of the feat, as it was doone, hath béene thought verie
méet for the storie in hand here now to place it as followeth.
A copie of the said déed.
Hoc præsens scriptum testatur, quòd nos Hugo de Stafford
dominus le Bourghchier concessimus & per præsentes
confirmauimus prædilecto consanguineo nostro Iohanni Bromley
de Bromley armigero, pro suo magno auxilio nobis impenso in
oppugnatione contra Francos prope le Corbie; & præcipuè pro suo
laudabili seruitio in recuperatione & supportatione vexilli
domini regis de Guien sub nostra conductione, vnam annuitatem
siue annualem redditum quadraginta librarum legalis monetæ
annuatim percipiendum, durante tota vita naturali prædicti
Iohannis de Bromley, de & in omnibus manerijs, terris, &
tenementis nostris cum pertinentibus in comitatu Stafford &
Warwik, ad festa Penthecostes & sancti Martini in hyeme æquis
portionibus. Et si contingat prædictam annuitatem siue annualem
redditum quadraginta librarum, à retrò fore in parte vel in
toto, ad aliquod festum quo solui debeat, tunc bene licebit
prædicto Ioh[=a]ni & assignatis suis in prædictis manerijs, ac
in omnibus alijs terris & tenimentis cum suis pertinentibus
præscriptis, distringere & districtiones effugare & retinere,
quousque de prædicta annuitate simul cum arreragijs, si quæ
fuerint, plenariè sibi merit satisfactum & persolutum. Et vt
hæc nostra concessio, & scripti huius confirmatio (durante
tota vita prædicti Iohannis de Bromley vt præfertur) rata &
stabilis permaneat, hoc scriptum impressione sigilli armorum
meorum roboraui. Hijs testibus, Iohanne de Holland, Richardo le
Greuyll, Richardo de Horwood, Thoma le Forestar, & alijs. Datum
apud Madeley decimo die mensis Martij, anno regni regis Henrici
quinti post conquestum quarto.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: King Henrie passeth the riuer of Some with his host.]
[Sidenote: The kings armie but of 15000.]
For that by the armes in the scale it may the better be knowne of
what stem this noble man sproong (a matter which this storie séemes
iustlie to require) vnderstand yée thus were the same. In his shield, a
cheuorne charged with a mullet; his crest, a swans head couped betwéene
two wings displaced all out of a crowne supported by two greihounds;
about the shéeld ingraven, Signa Hugonis de Stafford militis. Héereby
is gathered that he was a third brother of the duke of Buckingham
house. This feat thus well doone, the king the same daie found a
shallow, betwéene Corbie and Peron, which neuer was espied before, at
which he with his armie and carriages the night insuing, passed the
water of Some without let or danger, and therewith determined to make
haste towards Calis, and not to séeke for battell, except he were
thereto constrained, bicause that his armie by sicknesse was sore
diminished, in so much that he had but onelie two thoussand horssemen
and thirtéene thousand archers, bilmen, and of all sorts of other
footmen.
[Sidenote: The English armie sore afflicted.]
[Sidenote: Iustice in warre.]
[Sidenote: Note the force of iustice.]
[Sidenote: _Hall._]
The Englishmen were brought into some distresse in this iornie, by
reason of their vittels in maner spent, and no hope to get more: for
the enimies had destroied all the corne before they came. Rest could
they none take, for their enimies with alarmes did euer so infest them:
dailie it rained, and nightlie it fréesed: of fuell there was great
scarsitie, of fluxes plentie: monie inough, but wares for their reléefe
to bestow it on, had they none. Yet in this great necessitie, the poore
people of the countrie were not spoiled, nor anie thing taken of them
without paiment, nor anie outrage or offense doone by the Englishmen,
except one, which was, that a souldier tooke a pix out of a church,
for which he was apprehended, and the king not once remooued till
the box was restored, and the offendor strangled. The people of the
countries thereabout, hearing of such zeale in him, to the maintenance
of iustice, ministred to his armie victuals, and other necessaries,
although by open proclamation so to doo they were prohibited.
[Sidenote: The French king c[=o]sulteth how to deale with the
Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: Dolphin king of Sicill.]
[Sidenote: The French k. sendeth defiance to king Henrie.]
[Sidenote: K. Henries answer to the defiance.]