Villers had doone, and dailie did diuerse and sundrie displeasures to
the Englishmen, he pight downe his field néere to the same, the better
to restraine them from their hostile attempts, and withall sent part of
his armie to besiege the castell, which put them in such feare, that
they despairing of all reléefe or succour, and perceiuing they should
not be able long to defend the place against the kings puissance,
yéelded the place, with all their coine and other goods into the kings
hands. The soldiers of that garrison, and the inhabitants, at the
contemplation of a certeine ladie there amongst them, were licenced by
the king to depart without armor or weapon, onelie with their liues
saued. Iohn of Burgh that was after bailiffe of Gisours, was appointed
capteine of this castell.
[Sidenote: Gisours besieged and yéelded to the Englishmen.]
After this, all the townes and castels within a great circuit offered
to yéeld themselues vnto the English obeisance; the strong towne and
castell of Gisours onelie excepted, which still held out, & would
shew no token of will to yéeld. Héerevpon the king the last of August
began to approch the same, but at the first he could not come néere,
by reason of the marishes and fennes: but yet such was the diligence
of the Englishmen, aduanced by the presence of the king, readie in all
places to commend them that were forward in their businesse, and to
chastise such as slacked their duetie, that dailie they came néerer and
néerer, although the Frenchmen issued foorth dailie to encounter them,
giuing them manie sharpe skirmishes. For the towne being double walled
and fensed with those broad marishes, so incouraged them within, that
they thought no force had béene able to haue subdued them.
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._]
[Sidenote: Duke of Clarence saith _Rich. Grafton._]
But at length calling to remembrance, that the king of England came
before no towne nor fortresse, from which he would depart before he
had brought it vnder his subiection, they offered to come to a parlée,
and in the end compounded to render the towne into the kings hands the
eight daie of September next insuing, and the castell (bicause it was
the stronger péece) they couenanted to deliuer the foure and twentith
of the same, if in the meane time no rescue came to raise the siege.
Herevpon when no such reléefe could be heard of, at the daies limited,
the soldiers of the garrison, and the more part of the townsmen also
submitted themselues, and receiued an oth to be true subiects to the
king, and so remained still in their roomes. The earle of Worcester was
made capteine there.
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
[Sidenote: Normandie brought into the kings subiection, that had béene
lost & deteined a long time fr[=o] the English.]
About the same time, to wit, the thrée and twentith of September (as
some write) was castell Galiard surrendred to the hands of the duke of
Excester, which had béene besieged euer since the last daie of March
(as before yée haue heard.) But others write that it held out seauen
moneths, and was not deliuered vp till the twentith of December. This
castell was not onelie strong by situation, standing vpon the top of a
stéepe hill, but also closed with mightie thicke walles, and furnished
with men and all maner of munition and things necessarie. The king
appointed the lord Ros capteine of it. After that Gisours and castell
Galeard were thus yéelded to the English obeisance, all the other
townes and castels thereabout, and in the countrie of Veulquessin,
shortlie after yéelded to the king, as Gourneie, Chauniount, Neaufle,
Dangu, and other small fortresses. Of Gourneie, was sir Gilbert
Umfreuile made capteine; at Neaufle, the earle of Worcester; and at
Dangu, Richard Wooduile. Shortlie after was the castell Daumall yéelded
to the earle of Warwike, to whome it was giuen. And thus was the whole
duchie of Normandie (Mont saint Michael onelie excepted) reduced to the
possession of the right heire, which had béene wrongfullie deteined
from the kings of England euer since the daies of king Iohn, who lost
it about the yeare one thousand two hundred and seauen.
To satisfie those that be desirous to know what capteins were appointed
by the king in diuerse townes that were yéelded to him (of which we
haue made no mention heretofore but in generall) here their names doo
follow, and of the townes, as we find them in the chronicles of maister
Hall. At Crewleie sir Henrie Tanclux an Almaine; at Torignie, sir Iohn
Popham, to whome it was giuen; at Chamboie, the lord Fitz Hugh; at
Vernueil in Perch, sir Iohn Neuill; at Essaie, sir William Huddleston
bailiffe of Alanson; at Crulie sir Lois Robsert; at Conde Norean sir
Iohn Fastolfe; at Cawdebecke, sir Lois Robsert; at Déepe, William lord
Bourchier earle of Eu; at Aubemarle, the earle of Warwike, and his
deputie thereof William Montfort; at Bellincombre, sir Thomas Ramston
lord thereof by gift; at Longueuille, the capitall de Beuf or Buz,
earle thereof by gift; at Danuille, sir Christopher Burden; at Couches,
sir Robert Marburie; at Chierburg, sir Iohn Gedding; at Bacqueuille,
the lord Ros; at Arques sir Iames Fines, bailiffe of Caux; at Monceaux,
sir Philip Léech; at Estrie Pagnie, Richard Abraham; at Sentler Surget,
William Basset; at Bretueill, sir Henrie Mortimer bailiffe of Hunflew.
[Sidenote: The duke of Burgognie murthered.]
But now to returne where we left. The wise and graue personages of
the realme of France, sore lamenting & bewailing the miserie of their
countrie, saw they had puissance inough to defend their enimies, if
they were of perfect concord amongst themselues. And therefore to
remooue all rancor and displeasure betwixt the Dolphin, and the duke of
Burgognie, they procured a new méeting, which was appointed to be at
Monstreau ou fault Yonne, where the two princes at the daie assigned
met. But such was the fortune of France, that the duke of Burgognie was
there murthered, as he knéeled before the Dolphin: wherevpon insued
greater debate than before. For Philip earle of Charolois, the sonne
and heire of the said duke, tooke the matter verie gréeuouslie, as he
had no lesse cause, and determined to be reuenged on the Dolphin, and
other that were guiltie of the murther: so that now there was great
expectation of slaughter and bloudshed, but no hope for the most part
of tranquillitie & peace. France therefore, what with ouerthrowes giuen
by the English, & diuision among themselues, was verie sore afflicted;
insomuch that one miserie riding on anothers necke, the whole land was
in danger of desolation by ciuill dissention & mutuall mutinies; as the
poet noteth:
[Sidenote: _Anglorum prælia sub Henr. 5._]
---- accessit ad ista
Tunc mala Celtarum Burgundio fraude peremptus
Sparsaq; ciuilis tota dissensio terra.
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to king Henrie.]
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
[Sidenote: A wise and princelie caution.]
[Sidenote: The castell of S. Germane in Laie and Montioie yéelded to
the Englishmen.]
When he had well considered of the matter, and taken aduise with his
councell, he first sent ambassadours to the king of England, then lieng
at Gisours to treat and conclude a truce betwéene them both for a
certeine space, that they might talke of some conclusion of agréement.
King Henrie receiued the ambassadors verie courteouslie, and granted
that communication might be had of peace, but vtterlie denied anie
abstinence from warre, bicause he would not lose time, if the treatie
sorted not to good effect. Herevpon hauing his armie assembled at
Maunt, he diuided the same into thrée parts, appointing the duke of
Glocester with one part to go vnto the castell of S. Germane in Laie,
and to laie siege therevnto. The duke according to his commission,
comming before that castell, within a while constreined them within
by continuall skirmishes and assaults to diliuer vp the place into
his hands. An other part of the armie was sent vnto the castell of
Montioie, which likewise by such fierce assaults and manfull approches,
as the Englishmen made thereto, was shortlie giuen ouer and yéelded.
The third part of the hoast went to Meulanc, a verie strong towne
compassed about with the riuer of Seine.
[Sidenote: A policie for redie bridges.]
[Sidenote: The strong town of Meulanc yéelded to the English.]
But the king deuised to fasten botes and barges togither, and to rere
vp certeine frames of timber aloft on the same for defense of his
soldiers, that should by that meanes approch the walles, wherewith
those that had the towne in kéeping were so put in feare, that their
capteine was glad to come to a communication, & agréed to deliuer the
towne into the kings hands, if no rescue came before the thirtith daie
of October next insuing. On which daie, for that no succours appeared,
the towne (according to the couenants) was giuen vp into the kings
hands. Sir Thomas Ramston was made capteine there, and after him sir
Iohn Fastolfe. The king, whilest these places were besieged, and thus
brought vnder his subiection, continued for the most part at Maunt;
but yet oftentimes he went foorth to visit his campes, and to sée that
nothing should be wanting, that might further the spéedie dispatch of
his enterprises.
[Sidenote: 1420 An. Reg. 8.]
[Sidenote: A great victorie on the English side.]
About the same time, there came againe ambassadours to him from Charles
the French king, & from the yoong duke of Burgognie to treat with him
of some good conclusion of peace to be had; who had no such trust in
their sute, but that he doubted their meaning, and therefore ceassed
not to procéed in the winning of townes and castels, as he was in
hand. Now when Christmasse approched, the king withdrew to Rone, and
there kept the solemnization of that feast, appointing in the meane
time his men of warre to be occupied as occasion serued. The earle of
Salisburie was sent to besiege the towne of Fresneie, the which after
stout resistance made at the first, shortlie after was deliuered to
him to the kings vse. The earles Marshall and Huntington, sir Iohn
Gréene Cornewall, sir Philip Léech, and diuerse other, were sent into
the countrie of Maine, where, not farre from the citie of Mens they
were incountered by a power of Frenchmen, which the Dolphin had sent
against them. There was at the first a sharpe bickering betwixt them,
but in the end the victorie remained with the Englishmen; so that manie
of the Frenchmen were slaine, and taken, and the residue chased out of
the field. There were slaine (as Thomas Walsingham saith) at the point
of fiue thousand, and two hundred taken prisoners, among whome was the
marshall de Rous, and diuerse other of good account. The two English
earles remained there as victors, in the countrie which was by the king
to them assigned.
[Sidenote: King Henrie condescendeth to a treatie of peace.]
Whilest these victorious exploits were thus happilie atchiued by the
Englishmen, and that the king laie still at Rone, in giuing thanks to
almightie God for the same, there came to him eftsoones ambassadours
from the French king and the duke of Burgognie to mooue him to peace.
The king minding not to be reputed for a destroier of the countrie,
which he coueted to preserue, or for a causer of christian bloud still
to be spilt in his quarell, began so to incline and giue eare vnto
their sute and humble request, that at length (after often sending
to and fro) and that the bishop of Arras, and other men of honor had
béene with him, and likewise the earle of Warwike, and the bishop of
Rochester had béene with the duke of Burgognie, they both finallie
agréed vpon certeine articles, so that the French king and his commons
would thereto assent.
[Sidenote: A truce tripartite.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors from K. Henrie to the French king.]
Now was the French king and the quéene with their daughter Katharine
at Trois in Champaigne gouerned and ordered by them, which so much
fauoured the duke of Burgognie, that they would not for anie earthlie
good, once hinder or pull backe one iot of such articles as the same
duke should séeke to preferre. And therefore what néedeth manie words,
a truce tripartite was accorded betwéene the two kings and the duke,
and their countries, and order taken that the king of England should
send in the companie of the duke of Burgognie his ambassadours vnto
Trois in Champaigne sufficientlie authorised to treat and conclude of
so great matter. The king of England, being in good hope that all his
affaires should take good successe as he could wish or desire, sent
to the duke of Burgognie his vncle, the duke of Excester, the earle
of Salisburie, the bishop of Elie, the lord Fanhope, the lord Fitz
Hugh, sir Iohn Robsert, and sir Philip Hall, with diuerse doctors, to
the number of fiue hundred horsse, which in the companie of the duke
of Burgognie came to the citie of Trois the eleuenth of March. The
king, the quéene, and the ladie Katharine them receiued, and hartilie
welcomed, shewing great signes and tokens of loue and amitie.
[Sidenote: The articles of the peace concluded betwéene king Henrie and
the French king.]
After a few daies they fell to councell, in which at length it was
concluded, that king Henrie of England should come to Trois, and marie
the ladie Katherine; and the king hir father after his death should
make him heire of his realme, crowne and dignitie. It was also agréed,
that king Henrie, during his father in lawes life, should in his stéed
haue the whole gouernment of the realme of France, as regent thereof,
with manie other couenants and articles, as after shall appéere. To the
performance whereof, it was accorded, that all the nobles and estates
of the realme of France, as well spirituall as temporall, and also the
cities and commonalties, citizens and burgesses of townes, that were
obeisant at that time to the French king, should take a corporall oth.
These articles were not at the first in all points brought to a perfect
conclusion. But after the effect and meaning of them was agréed vpon
by the commissioners, the Englishmen departed towards the king their
maister, and left sir Iohn Robsert behind, to giue his attendance on
the ladie Katharine.
[Sidenote: _Thom. Wals._]
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
King Henrie being informed by them of that which they had doone, was
well content with the agréement and with all diligence prepared to go
vnto Trois, and therevpon hauing all things in readinesse, he being
accompanied with his brethren the dukes of Clarence and Glocester,
the earles of Warwike, Salisburie, Huntington, Eu, Tankeruile, and
Longuile, and fiftéene thousand men of warre, went from Rone to
Pontoise; & departing from thence the eight daie of Maie, came to saint
Denis two leagues from Paris, and after to Pontcharenton, where he
left a strong garison of men, with sir William Gascoigne, to kéepe the
passage; and so then entering into Brie, he tooke by the waie a castell
which was kept against him, causing them that so kept it, some to be
hanged, and the residue to be led foorth with him as prisoners. And
after this kéeping on his iournie by Prouins, and Nogent, at length he
came to Trois.
[Sidenote: King Henrie commeth to Trois to the French king.]
[Sidenote: King Henrie affieth the French kings daughter.]
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
The duke of Burgognie accompanied with manie noble men, receiued him
two leagues without the towne, and conueied him to his lodging. All
his armie was lodged in small villages thereabout. And after that he
had reposed himselfe a little, he went to visit the French king, the
quéene, and the ladie Katharine, whome he found in saint Peters church,
where was a verie ioious méeting betwixt them (and this was on the
twentith daie of Maie) and there the king of England, and the ladie
Katharine were affianced. After this, the two kings and their councell
assembled togither diuerse daies, wherein the first concluded agréement
was in diuerse points altered and brought to a certeinetie, according
to the effect aboue mentioned. When this great matter was finished,
the kings sware for their parts to obserue all the couenants of this
league and agréement. Likewise the duke of Burgognie and a great number
of other princes and nobles which were present, receiued an oth, the
tenor whereof (as the duke of Burgognie vttered it in solemne words)
thus insueth, accordinglie as the same is exemplified by Titus Liuius
De Foro Liuisiis in Latine.
The oth of the duke of Burgognie.
Ego Philippus Burgundiæ dux, per me meósque hæredes, ad sacra Dei
euangelia domino regi Henrico Angliæ, Franciæque, pro Carolo rege
regenti iuro, quòd humiliter ipsi Henrico fidelitérq; cunctis in rebus;
quæ rempublicam spectant & Franciæ coronam, obediemus, & statim post
mortem Caroli domini nostri, domino Henrico regi suisque successoribus
in perpetuum ligei fideles erimus; nec alium quempiam pro domino nostro
supremo Franciæ rege, quàm Henricum & suos hæredes habebimus, néque
patiemur. Non erimus præterea in consilio vel consensu cuiuscquam damni
regis Henrici, suorúmue successorum, vbi quicquam detrimenti patiantur
capitis siue membri, vel vitam perdant; sed prædicta (quantum in nobis
fuerit) quàm citissimis literis vel nuntijs, vt sibi meliùs prouidere
valeant, eis significabimus.
The same in English.
I Philip duke of Burgognie, for my selfe, and for mine heires, doo
here sweare vpon the holie euangelists of God, to Henrie king of
England, and regent of France for king Charles, that we shall humblie
and faithfullie obeie the said Henrie in all things which concerne the
common-wealth and crowne of France. And immediatlie after the deceasse
of our souereigne lord king Charles, we shall be faithfull liegemen
vnto the said king Henrie, and to his successors for euer. Neither
shall we take or suffer anie other souereigne lord and supreme king
of France, but the same Henrie and his heires: neither shall we be of
councell or consent of anie hurt towards the said king Henrie or his
successors, wherby they may suffer losse & detriment of life or lim,
but that the same so farre as in vs may lie, we shall signifie to them
with all spéed, by letters or messengers, that they may the better
prouide for themselues in such cases.
* * * * *
The like oth a great number of the princes and nobles both spirituall
and temporall which were present, receiued at the same time. This
doone, the morow after Trinitie sundaie, being the third of Iune,
the mariage was solemnized and fullie consummate betwixt the king
of England, and the said ladie Katharine. Herewith was the king of
England named and proclamed heire and regent of France. And as the
French king sent the copie of this treatie to euerie towne in France:
so the king of England sent the same in English vnto euerie citie and
market towne within his realme, to be proclamed and published. The true
copie whereof, as we find it in the chronicles of maister Hall, we
haue thought good here to set downe, for the more full satisfieng of
those that shall desire to peruse euerie clause and article thereof as
followeth.
The articles & appointments of peace betwéene the realmes of England
and France.
Henrie by the grace of God king of England, heire and regent of France,
lord of Ireland, to perpetuall mind of christian people, and all those
that be vnder our obeisance, we notifie and declare, that though there
hath béene here before diuerse treaties betwéene the most excellent
prince Charles our father of France and his progenitors, for the peace
to be had betwéene the two realmes of France and England, the which
heretofore haue borne no fruit: we considering the great harmes, the
which haue not onelie fallen betwéene those two realmes, for the great
diuision of that hath béene betwéene them, but to all holy church; we
haue taken a treatie with our said father, in which treatie betwixt our
said father and vs, it is concluded & accorded in the forme after the
manner that followeth.
1 First, it is accorded betwéene our father and vs, that forsomuch as
by the bond of matrimonie made for the good of the peace betwéene vs
and our most déere beloued Katharine, daughter of our said father, & of
our most déere moother Isabell his wife; the same Charles and Isabell
béene made our father and moother: therefore them as our father and
moother we shall haue and worship, as it fitteth and séemeth so worthie
a prince and princesse to be worshipped, principallie before all other
temporall persons of the world.
2 Also we shall not distrouble, diseason or let our father aforesaid,
but that he hold and possede as long as he liueth, as he holdeth and
possedeth at this time, the crowne and dignitie roiall of France, with
rents and profits for the same, of the sustenance of his estate and
charges of the realme. And our foresaid moother also hold as long as
she liueth, the state and dignitie of quéene, after the manner of the
same realme, with conuenable conuenient part of the said rents and
profits.
3 Also that the foresaid ladie Katharine shall take and haue dower in
our realme of England as quéenes of England here tofore were woont for
to take and haue, that is to saie, to the summe of fortie thousand
scutes, of the which two algate shall be a noble English.
4 And that by the waies, manners, and meanes that we without
transgression or offense of other made by vs, for to speake the lawes,
customes, vsages and rights of our said realme of England, shall done
our labour and pursuit, that the said Katharine, all so soone as it
maie be doone, be made sure to take, and for to haue in our said realme
of England, from the time of our death, the said dower of fortie
thousand scutes yearelie, of the which twaine algate be worth a noble
English.
5 Also if it happe the said Katharine to ouerliue vs, we shall take
and haue the realme of France immediatlie, from the time of our death,
dower to the summe of twentie thousand franks yearelie, of and vpon the
lands, places and lordships that held and had Blanch sometime wife of
Philip Beasaill to our said father.
6 Also that after the death of our said father aforesaid, and from
thence forward, the crowne and the realme of France, with all the
rights and appurtenances, shall remaine and abide to vs, and béene of
vs and of our heires for euermore.
7 And forsomuch as our said father is withholden with diuerse
sickenesse, in such manner as he maie not intend in his owne person for
to dispose for the néeds of the foresaid realme of France: therefore
during the life of our foresaid father, the faculties and exercise
of the gouernance and disposition of the publick & common profit of
the said realme of France, with councell, and nobles, and wisemen of
the same realme of France, shall be and abide to vs; so that from
thencefoorth we maie gouerne the same realme by vs. And also to admit
to our counsell and assistance of the said nobles, such as we shall
thinke méet. The which faculties and exercise of gouernance thus being
toward vs, we shall labour and purpose vs spéedfullie, diligentlie,
and trulie, to that that maie be and ought for to be vnto the worship
of God, and our said father and moother, and also to the common good
of the said realme, and that realme with the councell & helpe of the
worthie and great nobles of the same realme for to be defended, peased
and gouerned after right and equitie.
8 Also that we of our owne power shall doo the court of parlement in
France to be kept and obserued in his authoritie and souereignetie,
and in all that is doone to it in all manner of places that now or in
time comming is or shall be subiect to our said father.
9 Also we to our power shall defend and helpe all and euerie of the
péeres, nobles, cities, townes, communalties, and singular persons, now
or in time comming, subiects to our father in their rights, customes,
priuileges, fréedomes, and franchises, longing or due to them in all
manner of places now or in time comming subiect to our father.
10 Also we diligentlie and truelie shall trauell to our power, and doo
that iustice be administred and doone in the same realme of France
after the lawes, customes, and rights of the same realme, without
personall exception. And that we shall kéepe and hold the subiects of
the same realme in tranquillitie and peace, and to our power we shall
defend them against all manner of violence and oppression.
11 Also we to our power shall prouide, and doo to our power, that able
persons and profitable béene taken to the offices as well of iustices
and other offices belonging to the gouernance of the demaines, and of
other offices of the said realme of France, for the good right and
peaceable iustice of the same, and for the administration that shall
be committed vnto them; and that they be such persons, that after the
lawes and rights of the same realme, and for the vtilitie and profit of
our said father, shall minister, and that the foresaid realme shall be
taken and departed to the same offices.