them within, made a bridge ouer the riuer, able to beare horsses and
carriage: and againe, appointed diuerse botes furnished with men of
warre, to kéepe the streame; so that they within should haue no waie
to come abroad, either by water or land; yet on a daie, the Frenchmen
sailed foorth, and assailed the English lodgings, where the earle of
Warwike was incamped on the east side of the towne, not farre from the
duke of Burgognie; but by the valiant prowesse and manlie courage of
the Englishmen, the enimies were easilie beaten backe and constreined
to retire into the towne againe with their losse. Héere is to be
remembred, that during this siege before Melun, there came to the king
the duke of Bauiere, the kings brother in law (but the kings sister
that had béene married to him, was not then liuing) and brought with
him seauen hundred well appointed horssemen, which were reteined to
serue the king, and right worthilie they bare themselues, and therefore
most liberallie recompensed at the kings hand, for the time they
continued in his seruice.
[Sidenote: The tr[=a]slator of _Tit. Liuius._]
[Sidenote: K. Henrie and m[=o]sieur Barbason fight hand to hand.]
The king inforced this siege by all waies and meanes possible, to
bring the towne into subiection, as well by mines as otherwise, but
they within the towne so valiantlie behaued themselues, as well by
countermines (whereby at length they entered into the kings mines) as
by other waies of resistance, that by force of assaults it was not
thought anie easie matter to win the same. It fortuned on a daie, that
whilest there rose a contention betwixt two lords of the kings host,
who should haue the honor to go first into the mine, to incounter with
the Frenchmen, that now had brought their mine through into the English
mines, and made barriers betwixt, that they might safelie come and
fight with the Englishmen: the king (to auoid the strife) entered the
mine himselfe first of all other, and by chance came to fight hand to
hand with the lord Barbason, who was likewise entered the mine before
all other of them within the towne.
[Sidenote: It was surrendred about Alhalontide, as Thom.]
[Sidenote: _Wal._ noteth.]
[Sidenote: Melun yéelded vp to king Henrie.]
After they had fought a good season togither, at length they agréed to
discouer either to other their names; so as the lord Barbason, first
declaring what he was; the king likewise told him, that he was the king
of England. Wherevpon, Barbason perceiuing with whome he had fought,
caused the barriers foorthwith to be closed, and withdrew into the
citie, and the king returned backe to his campe. At length, vittels
within the towne began to faile, and the pestilence began to wax hot,
so that the lord Barbason began to treat; and in conclusion, about
the middest of Nouember (as Fabian saith) the towne was yéelded vpon
certeine conditions, whereof one was, that all that were consenting to
the death of the duke of Burgognie, should be deliuered to the king of
England, of whome the lord Barbason was suspected to be one. The king
sent them vnder the conduct of his brother the duke of Clarence, to the
citie of Paris, whereof the French king made him capteine, and so at
his comming thither, he tooke possession of the Bastill of S. Anthonie,
the Loure, the house of Néelle, and the place of Bois de Vincennes.
[Sidenote: _Titus Liuius._]
Monsieur de Barbason was accused by the duke of Burgognie, and his
sisters as guiltie to their fathers death; but he in open court
defended himselfe as not guiltie of that crime, granting indéed and
confessing, that he was one of the familiar seruants to the Dolphin,
but that he was priuie or consenting to the death of the duke of
Burgognie, he vtterlie denied. Wherevpon he was not condemned, neither
yet acquited, by reason of such presumptions and coniectures as were
alledged and brought against him, so that he remained in prison at
Paris and else-where, the space of nine yeares, till at length, being
brought vnto castell Galliard, it chanced that the same castell was
woone by those of the Dolphins part, and he being as then prisoner
there, escaped out of danger, and so by that means was set at libertie,
as after shall appeare.
[Sidenote: Note this appeale.]
[Sidenote: A note in law of armes.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
Some write, that he had béene put to death, if he had not appealed from
king Henries sentence, vnto the Judgement of the officers at armes;
alledging, that by the lawe of armes, no man hauing his brother in
armes within his danger, afterwards ought to put him to death for any
cause or quarell. And that he was the kings brother in armes he prooued
it, for that he had fought with him hand to hand within the mines (as
before yée haue heard) which combat was thought of equall force by
the heralds, as if he had fought with the king bodie to bodie, within
solemne lists. The credit of this matter we leaue to the consideration
of the readers. The earle of Huntington was made capteine of Melum.
In defense of this towne and castell, the French had gotten vnto them
manie Scots. At the siege héere the king kept with him yoong Iames of
Scotland, who sent to those Scots, that they should come put and yéeld
them vnto him, and not to stand in armes against their liege lord and
king; but they gaue word backe againe, they could not take him for
king, that was in the power of another, and so kept them in hold and in
their armor still. King Henrie vpon winning of these forts, for their
rebellion against their prince, which they would haue to be counted
constancie, and for their contemptuous answer vnto him, twentie of the
proudest, in example of the rest, caused he there to be hanged at once.
[Sidenote: King Henrie is receiued in at Paris.]
From thence the king departed with his armie vnto Corbeill, where the
French king and the two quéenes then soiourned; and after, both the
kings, accompanied with the dukes of Bedford, Burgognie, Glocester, and
Excester, and the earls of Warwike and Salisburie, with a great number
of noble men and knights, set foorth towards Paris, whome the citizens
in good order met without the gates, and the cleargie also with solemne
procession. All the stréets were hanged with rich clothes, the two
kings rode togither (the king of England giuing the vpper hand to his
father in lawe) though the great citie of Paris, to our ladie church,
where after they had said their deuotions, they departed vnto their
lodgings; the French king to the house of S. Paule, and the king of
England to the castell of Louer.
[Sidenote: The duchess of Burgognie hir appeale.]
The next daie, the two quéenes made their entrie and were receiued
with like solemnities, as their husbands were the day before. During
all the season that these two kings laie in Paris, there was a great
assemblie called, as well of the spiritualtie, as of the nobles of
the temporaltie, in the which, the kings set as iudges, before whom
the duches of Burgognie by hir proctor, appealed the Dolphin, and
seauen other, for the murther of duke Iohn hir husband. To the which
appeale, the counsell of the other part made diuerse offers of amends,
as well of foundations of chantries for préests, to praie for the
soule, as recompense of monie to the widow and children; for the finall
determination whereof, the kings, to take further aduise and counsell
therein, appointed another daie.
[Sidenote: The oth of the thrée estates of Fr[=a]ce.]
At this same time, the thrée estates of the realme of France assembled
at Paris, and there euerie person seuerallie sware vpon the holie
euangelists, to kéepe, support, mainteine and defend the treatie and
finall accord, which was concluded betwéene the two kings and thereto
euerie noble man, spirituall gouernour and temporall ruler, set to
their seales, which instruments were sent to the kings treasurie of his
eschecker at Westminster safelie to be kept, where they yet remaine.
The French king at the same time being in good and perfect state of
health, openlie there in parlement declared, that peace was concluded,
accorded, and made by his frée assent, and with the aduise of all the
councell of France, and that he would for his owne part and that his
successors ought for their parts, obserue and kéepe the same, with all
the articles therein conteined. And likewise, that all his subiects
were bound for euer, to obserue and kéepe the same, without breaking or
dooing anie thing preiudiciall therevnto.
[Sidenote: King Henrie taketh vpon him the office of regent of France.]
[Sidenote: The coine salute.]
During the time that the two kings thus soiourned in Paris, the French
king kept a small port, verie few, and those of the meaner sort
resorting vnto his court; but the king of England kept such a solemne
state, with so plentifull an house, and shewed himselfe so bountifull
in gifts, and setting foorth of warlike shewes and princelie pastimes,
that all the noble men and other resorted to his palace to sée his
estate, and to doo him honor. He tooke vpon him as regent of France, to
redresse causes, remooue officers, reforme things that were amisse, and
caused a new come to be made, called a salute, wherein were the armes
of France, and the armes of England and France quarterlie stamped.
Also, to set all things in quiet, he constituted sir Gilbert Umfreuile
capteine of Melun, with a good number of valiant soldiers, to remaine
there in garrison, and the earle of Huntington (coosine germane to
the king) was deputed capteine at Bois de Vincenes; and the duke of
Excester, with fiue hundred men of warre, was assigned to kéepe Paris.
Thus had king Henrie (when he was constituted gouernour of the land)
the disposing of prouinces, townes, and castels at his pleasure; and
the making of lawes and ordinances, standing with the drift of his
policie to kéepe both people in due obedience; as Anglorum prælia
bréefelie noteth; saieng:
Rectorem patriæ postquam rex Gallus & omnes
Vnanimes proceres Henricum constituerunt;
Plantageneta dabat princeps iam iura duabus
Gentibus, effrænes ductis cohibebat habenis.
[Sidenote: The duke of Bauier & his troope with the kings fauor
departeth.]
The duke of Bauier about the same time, with the kings licence,
departed into his countrie, both he and his retinue, receiuing large
gifts or the kings great liberalitie, and amongst other things, the
king gaue him a cup of gold, garnished and set with pretious stones
of great price and value. Moreouer, he had a pension giuen him of a
thousand markes by yeare, vnder the kings letters patents, to be had
and receiued of the kings frée and liberall grant, during the life of
the said duke. A right roiall reward & worthie the maiestie of a king,
bestowed vpon the said duke, and his retinue, partlie in respect of the
aliance betwixt the king and him (for he had maried the kings sister)
but speciallie for the notable seruice which they did him at the
siege before Melun. So that hereby is commended vnto vs an example of
gratitude and beneficence; teaching vs, that to such as haue béene good
and gratious vnto vs, we should be alwaies forward with a right hand
and readie mind to make amends in some proportion and measure.
[Sidenote: 1421]
[Sidenote: Sentence against the Dolphin.]
When the king had thus ordered his businesse, he with the quéene his
wife, the princes, & nobles of the realme departed from Paris, the
sixt of Ianuarie, and came to Rone, but first before his departing,
he caused processe to be made and awarded foorth against Charles the
Dolphin, commanding him to appéere at the marble table at Paris; where
for lacke of appearance, he was with all solemnitie in such case
requisite, denounced guiltie of the murther and homicide of Iohn duke
of Burgognie, and by the sentence of parlement banished the realme; but
the Dolphin withdrew into Languedoc, and after to Poictiers, getting
to him such fréends as he could; and namelie, he found the earle of
Arminacke verie faithfull to him, not onelie aiding him with men, but
also with his owne person he continuallie serued him against all his
aduersaries.
[Sidenote: These counties they inioied of the kings gift.]
[Sidenote: He landed at Douer vpon Candlemasse ieue saith _Tho.
Walsingham._]
The king of England comming to Rone, soiourned there a certeine time,
and receiued the homage of all the nobles of Normandie, amongst whome,
the earle of Stafford did homage for the countie of Perch, and Arthur
of Britaine likewise for the countie of Yurie. He also ordeined his
lieutenant generall, both of France and Normandie, his brother Thomas
duke of Clarence; and his deputie in Normandie was the earle of
Salisburie. When the feast of Christmasse was passed, he departed from
Rone, with the quéene his wife, and by Amiens came to Calis, where he
tooke ship the morow after Candlemasse daie, and landed at Douer, and
came to Canturburie and from thence to Eltham, and so through London to
Westminster. I passe ouer to write what ioy and triumph was shewed by
the citizens of London, and of all other his subiects in euerie place
where he came.
[Sidenote: King Henrie returneth into England with his new wife.]
[Sidenote: _Thomas Walsingham_ saith, she was crowned the first in Lent
which that yere, fell vpon the ninth of Februarie.]
[Sidenote: The coronation of quéene Katharine.]
The king himselfe, to render vnto God his most humble & hartie thanks,
caused solemne processions to be obserued and kept fiue daies togither
in euerie citie and towne. After that doone, he made great purueiance
for the coronation of his quéene & spouse, the faire ladie Katharine:
which was doone the daie of S. Matthew, being the twentie fourth
of Februarie, with all such ceremonies and princelie solemnitie as
appertained. Which because it was full of roialtie and honour (the
qualitie of the principall personages requiring no lesse) and recorded
by writers of former ages, it séemeth necessarie and conuenient in
this place to report it, in such sort as it is found at large in
some, though others glansinglie passe by it, as a matter of no great
obseruation. But it is worth the noting, to consider and take a view of
the goodlie order and reuerend dutifulnesse exhibited on all sides to
the new quéene; of whome Anglorum prælia saith,
More coronatur maiorum regia coniux,
Ingeminans rex ô viuat, regináque vulgus,
Altisonis suprema ferit clamoribus astra.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._ out of _Fabian_ pag. 402, 409.]
[Sidenote: A roiall banket.]
¶ After the great solemnization at the foresaid coronation in the
church of saint Peters at Westminster was ended, the quéene was
conueied into the great hall of Westminster, and there set to dinner.
Vpon whose right hand sat at the end of the table the archbishop of
Canturburie, & Henrie surnamed the Rich cardinall of Winchester. Vpon
the left hand of the quéene sat the king of Scots in his estate, who
was serued with couered messe, as were the forenamed bishops; but yet
after them. Vpon the same hand and side, néere the boords end, sat the
duchesse of Yorke and the countesse of Huntingdon. The earle of March,
holding a scepter in his hand, knéeled vpon the right side: the earle
marshall in like manner on the left of the quéene. The countesse of
Kent sat vnder the table at the right foot, and the countesse marshall
at the left. The duke of Glocester sir Humfrie was that daie ouerséer,
and stood before the quéene bareheaded. Sir Richard Neuill was that
daie caruer to the quéene, the earles brother of Suffolke cupbearer,
sir Iohn Steward sewar, the lord Clifford pantler in the earle of
Warwikes stéed, the lord Willoughbie buttler in stéed of the erle of
Arundell, the lord Graie Ruthin or Riffin naperer, the lord Audleie
almoner in stéed of the earle of Cambridge, the earle of Worcester was
that daie earle marshall in the earle marshals absence; who rode about
the hall vpon a great courser with a multitude of tipped staues about
him, to make and keépe roome in the said hall. Of the which hall the
barons of the cinque ports began the table vpon the right hand, toward
saint Stephans chappell; and beneath them at the table sat the vowchers
of the chancerie. Vpon the left hand next to the cupboord sat the
maior and his brethren the aldermen of London. The bishops began the
table against the barons of the cinque ports; and the ladies against
the maior. Of which two tables, for the bishops, began the bishop of
London and the bishop of Durham; and for the ladies, the countesse of
Stafford, and the countesse of March.
[Sidenote: The first course.]
The feast was all of fish, for the ordering of the seruice whereof
were diuerse lords appointed head officers, as steward, controller,
surueior, and other honourable officers. For the which were appointed
the earles of Northumberland and Westmerland, the lord Fitz Hugh, the
lord Furneuall, the lord Graie of Wilton, the lord Ferres of Grobie,
the lord Poinings, the lord Harrington, the lord Darcie, the lord
Dacres, and the lord de la Ware. These with others ordered the seruice
of the feast as followeth; and thus for the first course. Brawne and
mustard, éeles in burneur, frument with balten, pike in herbarge,
lamprie powdered, trowt, codling, plaice fried, martine fried, crabs,
léech lumbard flourished, tartes; and a deuise called a pellican,
sitting on hir nest with hir birds, and an image of saint Katharine
holding a booke, and disputing with doctors, holding this poesie in hir
right hand, written in faire and legible letters, Madame le Royne; and
the pellican answering.
C'e est la signe & du roy, pour tenir ioy,
Et a tout sa gent, elle mette sa entent.
[Sidenote: The second course.]
The second course was: gellie coloured with columbine flowers, white
potage or creame of almonds, breame of the sea, coonger, soles, cheuen,
barbill and roch, fresh salmon, halibut, gurnard, rochet broiled,
smelts fried, creuis or lobster; léech damaske, with the kings poesie
flourished therevpon, vne sans plus; lamprie fresh baked, flampeine
flourished with a scutchion roiall, and therein thrée crownes of gold
planted with flourdeluces and floure of camomill wrought of confection:
with a deuise of a panther, and an image of saint Katharine with a
whéele in one hand, & a scroll with a poesie in the other, to wit,
La royne ma file, in cesta ile,
Per bon resoun, aues renoun.
[Sidenote: The third course.]
The third course was, dates in compost, creame motle, carpe deore,
turbut, tench, pearch with goion, fresh sturgion with welks, porperous
rosted, mennes fried, creuisse de eau doure, pranis, éeles rosted with
lamprie, a léech called the white léech flourished with hawthorne
leaues & red hawes; a marchpane garnished with diuerse figures of
angels, among which was set an image of S. Katharine, holding this
poesie,
Il est escript, pur voir & eit,
Per marriage pure, cest guerre ne dure.
And lastlie a deuise of a tiger looking in a mirror, and a man sitting
on horssebacke all armed, holding in his armes a tigers whelpe with
this poesie; Per force sans resounie ay prise ceste best: and with his
owne hand making a countenance of throwing of mirrors at the great
tiger, which held this poesie; Gile che mirrour ma feste distour.
Thus with all honour was finished the solemne coronation, after which
the quéene soiourned in the palace of Westminster till Palmesundaie
following; and on the morow she tooke hir iournie towards Windsor;
where the king and she held their Easter.
[Sidenote: Iustice ministered by king Henrie in progresse.]
After the solemne feast of the coronation was ended, the king as well
to visit certeine places for deuotion by waie of pilgrimage, as also
to sée in what state and order diuerse parts of his realme stood,
departed from the quéene, appointing daie and place where she should
méet him, and so iournied foorth from place to place, thorough sundrie
countries, as well of Wales as England, and in euerie quarter where he
came, he heard with diligent eare the complaints of sutors, and tooke
order for the administration of iustice both to high and low, causing
manie misdemeanours to be reformed. At length he came to the towne
of Leicester, where he found the quéene according to the appointment
before taken. Here at Leicester, he held the feast of Easter.
[Sidenote: _Abr. Fl._]
¶ How then standeth this with the report of Fabian, who saith, that the
king and quéene kept their Easter at Windsor; and that when the said
festiuall time was expired, the king made prouision for his warres in
France, during the tearme of Richard Whitinghams meraltie of London,
which was in the eight yeare of this king Henries reigne: Suerlie
there must néeds be an errour, either in mistaking the yeare or the
place: vnlesse we will grant the king and quéene (with their court of
attendants) to haue béene Hîc ibi simul, which priuilege is granted to
none but Ubiquitaries.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence made a rode into Aniou.]
[Sidenote: Viell Baug[=e] or Baugie.]
But while these things were thus adooing in England, the duke of
Clarence, the kings lieutenant in France and Normandie, assembled
togither all the garrisons of Normandie, at the towne of Bernaie, and
from thence departed to the countrie of Maine, and at Pont le Gene he
passed the riuer of Yonne, and rode through all the countrie to Lucie,
where he passed the riuer of Loire, and entered into Aniou, and came
before the citie of Angiers, where he made manie knights, that to saie,
sir William Ros, sir Henrie Goddard, sir Rowland Rider, sir Thomas
Beaufort, called the bastard of Clarence, and diuerse other; and after
that he had forraied, burnt, and spoiled the countrie, he returned with
preie and pillage to the towne of Beaufort in the vallie, where he
was aduertised, that a great number of his enimies, Frenchmen, Scots,
Spaniards, and other were assembled togither, at a place called Viell
Bauge, that is Old Baugie, with the duke of Alanson, calling himselfe
lieutenant generall for the Dolphin.
[Sidenote: Forgusa, a Lumbard betraieth the duke of Clarence.]
The duke of Clarence had a Lombard resorting vnto him, reteined with
the part aduerse (his name was Andrew Forgusa) of whom the duke
inquired the number of his enimies, to whome he reported, that their
number was but small, & not of puisance to match with halfe the power
of his strong armie, intising him with assurance of victorie, to set on
the Frenchmen. The duke like a couragious prince, assembled togither
all the horssemen of the armie, and left the archers vnder the guiding
of the bastard of Clarence, and two Portingales, capteins of Fresnie le
vicount, saieng, that he onelie and the nobles would haue the honor of
that iournie. When the duke was passed a certeine streict and narrow
passage, he espied his enimies ranged in good order of battell, by
the monition of the Lombard, which had sold him to his enimies, & his
aduersaries had laid such ambushments at the streicts, that the duke by
no waie without battell could either retire or flée.
[Sidenote: The Englishmen discomfited.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Clarence and diuerse nobles of England slaine.]
The Englishmen séeing this, valiantlie set on their enimies, who were
foure to one, by reason whereof at length the Englishmen were oppressed
with multitude, and brought to confusion. There were slaine, the
duke of Clarence, the earle of Tankeruile, the lord Ros, sir Gilbert
Umfreuile earle of Angus, and sir Iohn Lomlie, sir Robert Verend, and
almost two thousand Englishmen: & the earles of Summerset, Suffolke,
and Perch, the lord Fitz Water, sir Iohn Berkelie, sir Rafe Neuile,
sir Henrie Inglis, sir Wiliam Bowes, sir Wiliam Longton, sir Thomas
Borough, and diuerse other taken prisoners. And of the Frenchmen were
slaine aboue twelue hundred of the best men of warre they had, so that
they gained not much.
The bastard of Clarence which tarried at Beaufort, being informed of
the great number of the Frenchmen, made forward with all the archers,
to come to the succor of the duke, but they came too late. For the
Frenchmen, hearing of the approching of the archers, fled with their
prisoners, and left the bodie of the duke, and other the dead carcases
behind them. The archers buried them all sauing the dukes corpse, which
with great solemnitie was sent to England, and buried at Canturburie
beside his father. After this the Englishmen burnt and spoiled the
countrie of Maine, and so returned to Alanson, and after departed
euerie man to his garrison. This battell was fought on Easter euen, in
the yeare 1421. But now to returne to the king.