the people made against purueiours of vittels for his houshold (the
which vnder colour of their commissions, abused the same, in taking vp
among the commons all manner of things that liked them, without making
paiment for the same, further than the said commissions did allow
them) he caused inquirie to be made of their misdemeanors, and such
as were found to haue offended, of whome there was no small number,
some of them were put to death on the gallowes, and other were fined,
so to teach the rest to deale more warilie in their businesse from
thenceforth. ¶ About the same time, he caused all the iustices within
his dominions to renounce and giue ouer all their pensions, fées, and
other bribing benefits and rewards, which they vsed to receiue of
the lords and great men of the land, as well prelats, as of them of
the temporaltie, to the end that their hands being frée from gifts,
iustice might more fréelie haue course, and be of them dulie and
vprightlie ministred. Also this yeare in the Lent season, the king held
a parlement at Westminster, and tooke into his hands all the profits,
reuenues, and emoluments, which the cardinals held within this land:
for he thought it not reason, that they which fauoured the pope and
the French king, being his aduersaries, should inioy such commodities
within his realme.
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: The king paseth ouer into Normandie.]
[Sidenote: _Iohn Villani_ saith there were 2500 horsemen, and 30000
footmen and archers, that passed ouer with the K. but when he commeth
to speake of the battell, he séemeth to increase the number.]
After this, in the moneth of Iulie following, he tooke shipping, and
sailed into Normandie, hauing established the lord Percie, and the lord
Neuill, to be wardens of his realme in his absence, with the archbishop
of Yorke, the bishop of Lincolne, and the bishop of Duresme. The armie
which he had ouer with him, was to the number of foure thousand men
of armes, and ten thousand archers, beside Irishmen, & Welshmen, that
folowed the host on foot. The chéefest capteins that went ouer with
him were these. First his eldest sonne Edward prince of Wales, being
as then about the age of thirtéene yeares, the earles of Hereford,
Northampton, Arundell, Cornewall, Huntington, Warwike, Suffolke, and
Oxford; of barons the lord Mortimer, who was after erle of March,
the lords, Iohn, Lewes, and Roger Beauchampe; also the lords Cobham,
Mowbraie, Lucie, Basset, Barkeley, and Willoughbie, with diuerse other
lords, besides a great number of knights and other worthie capteins.
They landed by the aduise of the lord Godfrey of Harecourt, in the Ile
of Constantine, at the port of Haguc saint Wast, néere to saint Sauiour
le Vicount. The earle of Huntington was appointed to be gouernour of
the fléet by sea, hauing with him a hundred men of armes, and foure
hundred archers.
[Sidenote: The ordering of the kings armie.]
[Sidenote: Harflew.]
[Sidenote: Chierburge.]
[Sidenote: Mountburge.]
[Sidenote: Carentine.]
After that the whole armie was landed, the king appointed two marshals,
the lord Godfrey of Harecourt, and the earle of Warwike, and the earle
of Arundell was made constable. There were ordeined thrée battels, one
to go on his right hand, following by the coast of the sea; and another
to march on his left hand, vnder the conduct of the marshals; so that
he himselfe went in the middest with the maine armie, and in this order
forward they passed towards Caen, lodging euerie night togither in one
field. They that went by the sea, tooke all the ships they found in
their waie, and as they marched foorth thus, what by water & land, at
length they came to a towne called Harflew, which was giuen vp, but
yet neuerthelesse it was robbed, and much goods found in it. After
this they came to Chierburge, which towne they wan by force, robbed
it, and burnt part of it, but the castell they could not win. Then
came they to Mountburge and tooke it, robbed it & burnt it cleane. In
this manner they passed foorth, and burnt manie towns and villages in
all the countrie as they went. The towne of Carentine was deliuered
vnto them against the will of the soldiers that were within it. The
soldiers defended the castell two daies, and then yéelded it vp into
the Englishmens hands, who burnt the same, and caused the burgesses to
enter into their ships. All this was doone by the battell that went by
the sea side, and by them on the sea togither.
[Sidenote: Saint Lo.]
On the other side, the lord Godfrie of Harecourt, with the battell on
the right hand of the king, road foorth six or seuen leagues from the
kings battell, in burning and exiling the countrie. The king had with
him (beside those that were with the marshals) 3000 men of armes, six
thousand archers, and ten thousand men on foot. They left the citie of
Constance, and came to a great towne called saint Lo, a rich towne of
draperie, hauing manie wealthie burgesses within it: it was soone taken
and robbed by the Englishmen vpon their first approch. From thence the
king marched streight to Caen, wherein were capteins Rafe earle of Ewe
and Guines constable of France, & the earle of Tankeruile. These noble
men meant to haue kept their defenses on the walles, gate, bridge,
and riuer, and to haue left the suburbes void, bicause they were not
closed, but onelie with the riuer: but they of the towne said they
would issue forth, for they were strong inough to fight with the king
of England.
[Sidenote: There were slaine in all without and within the towne 5000
men, as _Gio. Villani_ writeth.]
[Sidenote: Peter Legh.]
When the constable saw their good willes, he was contented to follow
their desire, and so foorth they went in good order, and made good face
to put their liues in hazard: but when they saw the Englishmen approch
in good order, diuided into thrée battels, & the archers readie to
shoot, which they of Caen had not séene before, they were sore afraid,
and fled awaie toward the towne without any order or arraie, for all
that the constable could doo to staie them. The Englishmen followed,
and in the chase slue manie, and entered the towne with their enimies.
The constable, and the earle of Tankeruile tooke a tower at the bridge
foot, thinking there to saue themselues, but perceiuing the place to
be of no force, nor able long to hold out, they submitted themselues
vnto sir Thomas Holland. ¶ But here whatsoeuer Froissard dooth report
of the taking of this tower, and of the yéelding of these two noble
men, it is to be proued that the said earle of Tankeruile was taken
by one surnamed Legh, ancestor to sir Peter Legh now liuing, whether
in the fight or within the tower, I haue not to saie: but for the
taking of the said earle, and for his other manlike prowes shewed
here and elsewhere in this iournie, king Edward in recompense of his
agréeable seruice, gaue to him a lordship in the countie of Chester
called Hanley, which the said sir Peter Legh now liuing dooth inioy and
possesse, as successor and heire to his ancestor the foresaid Legh, to
whom it was so first giuen.
[Sidenote: Caen taken.]
[Sidenote: 40000 clothes, as _Gio. Villani_ writeth, were got by the
Englishmen in one place and other in this iournie.]
But to returne now to the matter where we left. The Frenchmen being
entred into their houses, cast downe vpon the Englishmen below in the
stréets, stones, timber, hot water, and barres of iron, so that they
hurt and slue more than fiue hundred persons. The king was so mooued
therewith, that if the lord Godfrie of Harecourt had not asswaged his
mood, the towne had béene burnt, and the people put to the edge of the
sword: but by the treatie of the said lord Godfrie, proclamation was
made, that no man should put fire into any house, nor slea any person,
nor force any woman, and then did the townesmen and souldiers submit
themselues, and receiued the Englishmen into their houses. There was
great store of riches gotten in this towne, and the most part thereof
sent into England, with the fléet which the king sent home with the
prisoners, vnder the guiding of the earle of Huntington, accompanied
with two hundred men of armes, and foure hundred archers.
[Sidenote: Louiers.]
[Sidenote: Gisors.]
[Sidenote: Vernon.]
[Sidenote: _Gio. Villani._]
[Sidenote: S. Germans in Laie. S. Clowd.]
[Sidenote: Beauuois.]
[Sidenote: Burners executed.]
When all things were ordred in Caen as the king could desire, he
marched from thence in the same order as he had kept before, burning
and exiling the countrie. He passed by Eureux & came to Louiers, which
the Englishmen soone entred and sacked without mercie. Then went they
foorth and left Roan, and came to Gisors, the towne they burnt, but
the castell they could not get: they burnt also Vernon, and at Poissie
they repared the bridge which was broken, and so there they passed ouer
the riuer of Saine. The power of the Englishmen increased dailie, by
such numbers as came ouer foorth of England in hope to win by pillage.
Also manie gentlemen of Normandie, and other of the French nation,
which loued not nor owght any good will vnto the French king, came
to the king of England, offering to serue him, so that there were in
his armie foure thousand horssemen and fiftie thousand footmen with
the Normans, and of this number there were thirtie thousand English
archers, as Giouan Villani writeth. The English marshals ran abroad
iust to Paris, and burnt S. Germans in Laie: also Mountioy, and S.
Clowd, and petie Bullongne by Paris, & the quéenes Burge. In the meane
time had the French king assembled a mightie armie vpon purpose to
fight with the Englishmen. ¶ The lord Godfrey of Harecourt, as he rode
foorth with fiue hundred men of armes, and 13 hundred archers, by
aduenture incountered with a great number of the burgesses of Amiens on
horssebacke, who were riding by the kings commandement to Paris. They
were quickelie assailed, and though they defended themselues manfullie
for a while, yet at length they were ouercome, and eleuen hundred of
them slaine in the field, beside those that were taken. The Englishmen
had all their cariage and armour. Thus passed foorth the king of
England, and came into Beauuoisin, and lodged néere vnto the citie of
Beauuois one night in an abbeie called Messene, and for that after he
was dislodged, there were that set fire in the same abbeie, without any
commandement giuen by him; he caused twentie of them to be hanged that
were the first procurers of that fire.
[Sidenote: Piqueney.]
[Sidenote: The French kings armie.]
So long the king of England passed forward, that finallie he approched
néere to the water of Some, the which was large and déepe, and all the
bridges broken and the passages well kept, wherevpon he caused his two
marshals with a thousand men of armes, & two thousand archers, to go
along the riuer, to the end to find some passage. The marshals assaied
diuerse places, as at Piqueney, and other where, but they could not
find any passage vnclosed, capteins with men of warre being set to
defend the same, in somuch that the marshalls returned to the king,
and declared what they had séene and found. At the same instant time
was the French king come to Amiens, with more than a hundred thousand
men, and thought to inclose the king of England, that he should no waie
escape, but be constreined to receiue battell in some place greatlie to
his disaduantage.
[Sidenote: Sir Godmare du Foy.]
[Sidenote: Gobin Agace.]
The king of England well perceiuing himselfe in danger, remooued from
the place where he was incamped, and marched forward through the
countries of Pontiew and Vimew, approching vnto the good towne of
Abuile, and at length by one of the prisoners named Gobin de Grace, he
was told where he might passe with his armie ouer the riuer of Some, at
a foord in the same riuer, being hard in the bottome, and verie shallow
at an eb water. The French king vnderstanding that the K. of England
sought to passe the riuer of Some, sent a great baron of Normandie,
one sir Godmare du Foy, to defend the passage of the same riuer, with
a thousand men of armes, and six thousand on foot with the Genowaies.
This sir Godmare had with him also a great number of them of Mutterell
and others of the countrie, so that he had in all to the number of
twelue thousand men, one and other, and hearing that the king of
England was minded to passe at Blanchetake (which was the passage that
Gobin Agace had informed the king of England of) he came thither. When
the Englishmen approched, he arranged all his companie to defend the
passage.
[Sidenote: The English men wan the passage ouer the water of Some.]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: The number slaine.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Crotay burnt.]
And suerlie when the Englishmen at the lowe water entred the foord
to passe ouer, there was a sharpe bickering, for diuerse of the
Frenchmen incountred the Englishmen on horssebacke in the water,
and the Genowaies did them much hurt, and troubled them sore with
their crosbowes: but on the other side, the English archers shot so
wholie togither, that the Frenchmen were faine to giue place to the
Englishmen, so that they got the passage and came ouer, assembling
themselues in the field, and then the Frenchmen fled, some to Abuile,
some to saint Riquier. They that were on foot could not escape so
well as those on horssebacke, insomuch that a great number of them of
Abuile, Mutterell, Arras, and S. Riquier were slaine and taken, for
the chase indured more than a great league. There were slaine in all
to the number of two thousand. When the K. of England had thus passed
the riuer, he acquitted Gobin Agace, and all his companie of their
ransomes, and gaue to the same Gobin an hundred nobles, and a good
horsse, and so the king rode foorth as he did before. His marshals road
to Crotaie by the sea side, and burnt the towne, and tooke all such
wines and goods as were in the ships and barks which laie there in the
hauen.
One of the marshals road to the gates of Abuile, and from thence to
S. Riquier, and after to the towne of Rue saint Esperit. This was on
a fridaie, and both the marshals returned to the kings host about
noone, and so lodged all togither about Cressie in Pontiew, where
hauing knowledge that the French king followed to giue him battell, he
commanded his marshalls to choose a plot of ground, somewhat to his
aduantage, that he might there abide his aduersaries. In the meane time
the French king being come with all his puissance vnto Abuile, and
hearing how the king of England was passed ouer the riuer of Some, and
discomfited sir Godmare du Foy, was sore displeased in his mind: but
when he vnderstood that his enimies were lodged at Cressie, and meant
there to abide him, he caused all his people to issue out of Abuile,
and earlie on the saturdaie in the morning, anon after sunne rising he
departed out of the towne himselfe, and marched towards his enimies.
The king of England vnderstanding that his aduersarie king Philip still
followed him, to giue him battell, & supposing that the same saturdaie
he would come to offer it, rose betimes in the morning, and commanded
euerie man first to call vpon God for his aid, then to be armed, and
to draw with spéed into the field, that in the place before appointed
they might be set in order of battell. Beginning his enterprise at
inuocation or calling vpon God, he was the more fortunate in his
affaires, and sped the better in the progresse of his actions, as the
issue of the warre shewed. A notable example to euerie priuat man, to
remember to call vpon God when he purposeth anie thing, for as the poet
saith, and that verie christianlie,
[Sidenote: _Mar. Pal. in sag._]
---- nihil est mortalibus ægris
Vtilius, quàm coelestem, sanctéq; piéq;
Orando sibi quærere opem.
[Sidenote: _Giov[=o] Villani_ saith, that when they should ioine in
battell, the Englishmen were 30000 archers English & Welsh, beside
other footmen with axes & iauelins, and not fullie 4000 horssemen.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: The kings demeanor before ye battell.]
Beside this, he caused a parke to be made and closed by the wood side
behind his host, in the which he ordeined that all the carts and
carriages should be set, with all the horsses (for euerie man was on
foot.) Then he ordeined thrée battels, in the first was the prince
of Wales, and with him the earle of Warwike, the lord Godfrey of
Harecourt, the lord Stafford, the lord de la Ware, the lord Bourchier,
the lord Thomas Clifford, the lord Reginald Cobham, the lord Thomas
Holland, sir Iohn Chandos, sir Bartholomew de Browash, sir Robert
Neuill. They were eight hundred men of armes, and two thousand archers,
and a thousand of other with the Welsh men. In the second battell was
the earle of Northhampton, the earle of Arundell, the lords Ros and
Willowbie, Basset, S. Albine, Multon, and others. The third battell
the king led himselfe, hauing with him seauen hundred men of armes,
and two thousand archers, and in the other battell were to the number
of eight hundred men of armes, and twelue hundred archers. Thus was
the English armie marshalled according to the report of _Froissard._
When euerie man was gotten into order of battell, the king leapt vpon
a white hobbie, and rode from ranke to ranke to view them, the one
marshall on his right hand, and the other on his left, desiring euerie
man that daie to haue regard to his right and honour. He spake it so
courteouslie, and with so good a countenance, that euen they which
before were discomforted, tooke courage in hearing him speake such
swéet and louing words amongst them. It was nine of the clocke yer euer
he had thus visited all his battels, & therevpon he caused euerie man
to eat and drinke a little, which they did at their leisure.
[Sidenote: The disorders among the Frenchmen.]
The French king before he approched néere to his enimies, sent foorth
foure skilful knights to view the demeanor of his enimies, the which
returning againe, made report as they had séene, and that forsomuch
as they could gesse, the Englishmen ment to abide him, being diuided
into thrée battels, readie to receiue him and his puissance, if he
went forward, in purpose to assaile them. Here was the French king
counselled to stay and not to giue battell that day, but to aduise all
things with good deliberation and regard, to consider well how and
what way he might best assaile them. Then by the marshals were all men
commanded to staie, and not to go anie further, they that were formost
and next to the enimies taried, but they that were behind would not
abide but rode foorth, and said they would not staie till they were as
far as the formost: and when they before saw them behind come forward,
then they marched on also againe, so that neither the K. nor his
marshals could rule them, but that they passed forward still without
order, or anie good arraie, till they came in sight of their enimies:
and as soone as the formost saw their enimies, then they reculed backe,
whereof they behind had maruell, and were abashed, supposing that the
formost companie had béene fighting. Then they might haue had roome
to haue gone forward, if they had béene minded. The commons, of whome
all the waies betwixt Abuile and Cressie were full, when they saw that
they were néere their enimies, they tooke their swords and cried;
"Downe with them, Let vs slea them all." There was no man, though he
were present at the iornie, that could imagine or shew the truth of
the euill order that was among the French partie, and yet they were a
maruellous great number.
[Sidenote: Charles Grimaldi & Anthonie or Othone Doria were capteins of
these Genowaies, which were not past six thousand, as _Gio. Villani_
saith.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Alanson.]
The Englishmen which beheld their enimies thus approching them,
prepared themselues at leisure for the battell, which they saw to be at
hand. The first battell, whereof the prince was ruler, had the archers
standing in maner of an herse, and the men of armes in the botome of
the battell. The earle of Northampton and the earle of Arundell with
the second battell were on a wing in good order, readie to comfort the
princes battell if néed were. The lords and knights of France came
not to the assemblie togither, for some came after, in such hast and
euill order, that one of them troubled another. There were of Genowaies
crosbowes to the number of twelue or fiftéene thousand, the which were
commanded to go on before, and with their shot to begin the battell;
but they were so werie with going on foot that morning six leagues
armed with their crosbowes, that they said to their constables; "We be
not well vsed, in that we are commanded to fight this daie, for we be
not in case to doo any great feat of armes, we haue more néed of rest."
These words came to the hearing of the earle of Alanson, who said; "A
man is well at ease to be charged with such a sort of rascals, that
faint and faile now at most néed."
[Sidenote: Raine and thunder with an eclipse.]
[Sidenote: The Genowaies.]
[Sidenote: The battell is begun.]
Also at the same instant there fell a great raine, and an eclipse with
a terrible thunder, and before the raine, there came flieng ouer both
armies a great number of crowes, for feare of the tempest comming: then
anon the aire began to wax cleare, and the sunne to shine faire and
bright, which was right in the French mens eies, and on the Englishmens
backs. ¶ When the Genowaies were assembled togither, and began to
approch, they made a great leape and crie, to abash the Englishmen,
but they stood still and stirred not at all for that noise. Then the
Genowaies the second time made an other leape and huge crie, and
stepped forward a little, and the Englishmen remooued not a foot. The
third time againe the Genowaies leapt, and yelled, and went foorth
till they came within shot, and fiercelie therwith discharged their
crossbowes. Then the English archers stept foorth one pase, and let
flie their arrowes so wholie and so thicke togither, that it séemed to
snowe. When the Genowaies felt the arrowes persing their heads, armes
and breasts, manie of them cast downe their crosbowes, and cut the
strings, and returned discomfited. When the French king saw them flée
awaie, he said: "Slea these rascals, for they will let and trouble vs
without reason."
[Sidenote: The king of Boheme.]
Then ye might haue séene the men of armes haue dasht in amongst them,
and killed a great number of them, and euer the Englishmen shot where
they saw the thickest prease: the sharpe arrowes ran into the men of
armes, and into their horsses, and manie fell horsse and man amongst
the Genowaies, and still the Englishmen shot where they saw the
thickest prease, and when they were once downe they could not recouer
againe. The throng was such that one ouerthrew another; & also among
the Englishmen, there were certeine of the footmen with great kniues,
that went in among the men of armes, and killed manie of them as they
laie on the ground, both earles, barons, knights, and esquires. The
valiant king of Bohem being almost blind, caused his men to fasten all
the reines of the bridels of their horsses ech to other, and so he
being himselfe amongst them in the formost ranke, they ran on their
enimies.
[Sidenote: The earle of Alanson.]
The lord Charles of Boheme sonne to the same king and late elected
emperour, came in good order to the battell, but when he saw how the
matter went awrie on their part, he departed and saued himselfe. His
father by the meanes aforesaid went so far forward, that ioining with
his enimies he fought right valiantlie, and so did all his companie:
but finallie being entred within the prease of their enimies, they were
of them inclosed and slaine, togither with the king their master, and
the next daie found dead lieng about him, and their horsses all tied
ech to other. The earle of Alanson came right orderlie to the battell,
and fought with the Englishmen, and so did the earle of Flanders also
on his part. These two lords coasted the English archers, and came to
the princes battell, and there fought right valiantlie a long time.
The French king perceiuing where their banners stood, would faine haue
come to them, but could not, by reason of a great hedge of archers
that stood betwixt them and him. This was a perillous battell and sore
foughten: there were few taken to mercie, for the Englishmen had so
determined in the morning.
[Sidenote: The princes battell pearsed.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Northampt[=o] sendeth to the king.]
[Sidenote: The kings answer.]
[Sidenote: The French king departeth out of the field.]
Certeine Frenchmen and Almaines perforce opened the archers of the
princes battell, and came to fight with the men of armes hand to
hand. Then the second battell of the Englishmen came to succor the
princes battell, and not before it was time, for they of that battell
had as then inough to doo, in somuch that some which were about him,
as the earle of Northampton, and others sent to the king, where he
stood aloft on a windmill hill, requiring him to aduance forward, and
come to their aid, they being as then sore laid to of their enimies.
The king herevpon demanded if his sonne were slaine, hurt, or felled
to the earth? "No (said the knight that brought the message) but he
is sore matched." "Well" (said the king) "returne to him and them
that sent you, and saie to them that they send no more to me for any
aduenture that falleth, so long as my son is aliue, for I will that
this iournie be his, with the honor thereof." With this answer the
knight returned, which greatlie incouraged them to doo their best to
win the spurs, being half abashed in that they had so sent to the king
for aid. At length when it drew toward euening, and that the Frenchmen
were beaten downe and slaine on ech hand, king Philip as it were by
constreint departed out of the field, not hauing as then past thrée
score persons about him, of whome the lord Iohn of Heinault was one, by
whose persuasion he chéefelie consented to ride his waie for his owne
safegard, when he saw the losse was such as on that daie it could not
be recouered.
[Sidenote: Great slaughter of Frenchmen.]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: _Iac. Meir._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Noble men slaine.]
The slaughter of the Frenchmen was great and lamentable, namelie for
the losse of so manie noble men, as were slaine at the same battell,
fought betwéene Cressie and Broy on the saturdaie next following the
feast of saint Bartholomew being (as that yeare fell) the 26 of August.
Among other which died that daie, these I find registred by name as
chéefest, Iohn king of Boheme, Rafe duke of Lorraine, Charles of Alanso
brother germane to king Philip, Charles earle of Blois, Lewes earle
of Flanders, also the earle of Harecourt, brother to the lord Geffrie
of Harecourt, with the earles of Ausserre, Aumerle, and saint Poule,
beside diuerse other of the nobilitie. The Englishmen neuer brake out
of their battels to chase any man, but kept themselues togither in
their wards and ranks, and defended themselues euer against such as
came to assaile them. This battell ended about euening.
[Sidenote: The king of England commeth downe from the hill.]
When the Frenchmen were clearelie ouercome, and those that were left
aliue fled and gone, so that the Englishmen heard no more noise of
them, king Edward came downe from the hill (on the which he stood all
that day with his helmet still on his head) and going to the prince,
imbraced him in his armes, and kissed him, saieng; "Faire sonne, God
send you good perseuerence in this your prosperous beginning, you haue
noblie acquit your selfe, you are well worthie to haue the gouernance
of a realme committed to your hands for your valiant dooings." The
prince inclined himselfe to the earth in honouring his father, as he
best could. This done, they thanked God togither with their souldiers
for their good aduenture. For so the king commanded, and willed no man
to make anie boast of his owne power, but to ascribe all the praise to
almightie God for such a noble victorie; séeming héerein to be affected
as Dauid was in the foure and fortith psalme; for he also referreth the
happie successe of warre, and all victorie, vnto Almightie God, and not
to the strength of a multitude of men, saieng:
[Sidenote: _Georg. Buch. paraph. in psal._]
Tu nos ab hoste subtrahis, sternis solo
Infensa nobis agmina.
Non ergo semper iure te cantabimus
Nostræ salutis vindicem?
¶ On the sundaie in the morning, there was such a mist, that a
man could not sée an acres bredth before him. Then by the kings
commandement there departed from the host fiue hundred speares, and
two thousand archers, to trie if they might heare of anie Frenchmen
gathered togither in anie place néere vnto them.
[Sidenote: Frenchmen slaine the day after the battell.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Rouen and the lord grand prior of France
slaine.]
On the same morning there were departed out of Abuile and S. Requier in
Pontiew, the commons of Roan and Beauuais, with other that knew nothing
of the discomfiture the daie before. These met with the Englishmen,
supposing they had béene Frenchmen, and being fiercelie assailed
of them, after sore fight, and great slaughter, the Frenchmen were
discomfited and fled, of whome were slaine in the hedges and bushes,
more than seuen thousand men. The archbishop of Roan, and the grand
prior of France, ignorant also of the discomfiture the day before, &
supposing (as they were informed) the French should not haue foughten
till that sundaie, were likewise incountred (as they came thitherward)
by the Englishmen, with whome they fought a sore battell, for they were
a great number, but yet at length they were not able to susteine the
puissant force of the Englishmen, and so the most part of them were
slaine, with the said archbishop and grand prior, and few there were
that escaped.
On that sundaie morning, the Englishmen met with diuerse Frenchmen,
that had lost their waie on the saturdaie, and wist not where the king
nor their capteins were become. They were all slaine in manner, so
manie as the Englishmen could méet with, insomuch that of the commons
and footmen of the cities and good townes of France (as was thought)
there were slaine this sundaie foure times as manie as were slaine
on the saturdaie in the great battell. When those Englishmen that
were sent abroad thus to view the countrie, were returned againe, and
signified to the king what they had séene and doone, and how there was
no more appearance of the enimies, the king to search what the number
was of them that were slaine, and vpon the view taken, it was reported
vnto him, that there were found dead eleuen princes, foure score
baronets, 12 hundred knights, and more than thirtie thousand other of
the meaner sort. Thus was the whole puissance of France vanquished, and
that chéeflie by force of such as were of no reputation amongst them,
that is to say, the English archers, by whose sharpe and violent shot
the victorie was atchiued, to the great confusion of the French nation.
¶ Of such price were the English bowes in that season, that nothing was
able to withstand them; whereas now our archers couet not to drawe long
and strong bowes, but rather to shoot compasse, which are not méet for
the warres, nor greatlie to be feared, though they come into the field.
[Sidenote: Calis besieged.]
The king of England with his armie kept still his field, vntill mondaie
in the morning, and then dislodged, and came before Moturéell by the
sea, and his marshals ran towards Hedin. The next daie they road toward
Bullongne, & at Wisam the king and the prince incamped, and tarried a
whole daie to refresh their people, and on the wednesdaie being the
thirtith day of August, he came before the strong towne of Calis,
and there planted his siege, and erected bastides betwéene the towne
and the riuer, and caused carpenters to make houses and lodgings of
great timber, which were couered with réed & broome, so manie and in
such order, that it séemed a new towne, and in it was a market place
appointed of purpose, in the which the market was dailie kept of
vittels, & all other necessarie things euerie tuesdaie and saturdaie,
so that a man might haue bought what he would of things brought thither
out of England & Flanders. ¶ But now, forsomuch as we haue spoken of
this iournie and inuasion made by king Edward into France, in this
ninetéenth yéere of his reigne, accordinglie as we haue gathered out of
Froissard, and diuerse other authors, I haue thought good to make the
reader partaker of the contents of a letter written by a chapleine of
the said king, and attendant about him in the same iornie, conteining
the successe of his procéedings after his departure from Poissie, which
letter is inserted with others in the historie of Robert de Auesburie,
and Englished by maister Iohn Fox as followeth.
A letter of W. Northbourgh the kings confessor describing the kings
voiage into France.
[Sidenote: In the acts and monuments.]
Salutations premised. We giue you to vnderstand, that our souereigne
lord the king came to the towne of Poissie the daie before the
Assumption of our ladie, where was a certeine bridge ouer the water
of Saine broken downe by the enimie, but the king tarried there so
long, till that the bridge was made againe. And whiles the bridge was
in reparing, there came a great number of men at armes, and other
souldiers well armed, to hinder the same. But the earle of Northampton
issued out against them, and slue of them more than a thousand, the
rest fled awaie: thankes be to God. And at another time, our men passed
the water (although with much trauell) and slue a great number of the
common souldiers of France, about the citie of Paris, and countrie
adioining, being part of the French kings armie, and throughlie well
appointed: so that our people haue now made other good bridges vpon
our enimies, God be thanked, without anie losse and damage to vs. And
on the morrow after the Assumption of our ladie, the king passed the
water of Saine, and marched toward Poissie, which is a towne of great
defense, and stronglie walled, and a maruellous strong castell within
the same, which our enemies kept. And when our vauntgard was passed
the towne, our rergard gaue an assault therevnto, and tooke the same,
where were slaine more than thrée hundred men at arms of our enimies
part. And the next daie following, the earle of Suffolke, and sir Hugh
Spenser, marched foorth vpon the commons of the countrie assembled and
well armed, and in fine discomfited them, and slue of them more than
two hundred, & tooke thrée score gentlemen prisoners, beside others.
And after that, the king marched toward grand Villiers, and while he
was there incamped, the kings vantgard was descried by the men at armes
of the K. of Boheme: whervpon our men issued out in great hast and
ioined battell with them, but were inforced to retire. Notwithstanding,
thanks be vnto God, the earle of Northampton issued out, and rescued
the horssemen with the other soldiers: so that few or none of them were
either taken or slaine, sauing onlie Thomas Talbot, but had againe
the enimie in chase within two leagues of Amiens: of whome we tooke
eight, and slue twelue of their best men at armes: the rest being well
horssed, tooke the towne of Amiens. After this the king of England
marched toward Pountife, vpon Bartholomew day, and came to the water
of Some, where the French king had laid fiue hundred men at armes, and
thrée thousand footmen, purposing to haue kept and stopped our passage:
but thanks be to God, the K. of England and his host entered the same
water of Some, where neuer man passed before, without losse of any of
our men; and after that incountered with the enimie, and slue of them
more than 2000, the rest fled to Abuile, in which chase were taken
manie knights, esquiers, & men at armes. The same day sir Hugh Spenser
tooke the towne of Crotaie, where he & his soldiers slue 400 men at
armes, & kept the towne, where they found great store of vittels.
The same night incamped the king of England in the forrest of Cressie
vpon the same water, for that the French kings host came on the other
side of the towne, néere vnto our passage: but he would not take the
water of vs, & so marched toward Abuile. And vpon the fridaie next
following, the king being still incamped in the said forrest, our
scuriers descried the French K. which marched toward vs in foure
great battels; and hauing then vnderstanding of our enimies (as Gods
will was) a little before the euening tide, we drew to the plaine
field, and set our battels in arraie: and immediatlie the fight began,
which was sore and cruel, & indured long, for our enimies behaued
themselues right noblie. But thanks be giuen vnto God, the victorie
fell on our side, & the king our aduersarie was discomfited with all
his host & put to flight: where also was slaine the king of Boheme,
the duke of Loraine, the earle of Alanson, the earle of Flanders, the
earle of Blois, the earle of Harecourt, with his two sons, the earle
Daumarle, the earle de Neuers, and his brother the lord of Tronard,
the archbishop of Nismes, the archbishop of Sens, the high prior of
France, the earle of Sauoie, the lord of Morles, the lord de Guies, le
seigneur de Saint Nouant, le seigneur de Rosinburgh, with six earles
of Almaine, and diuerse other earles, barons, knights, and esquiers,
whose names are vnknowne. And Philip de Valois himselfe, with an other
marques, which was called lord elector among the Romans, escaped from
the battell. The number of the men of armes which were found dead in
the field, beside the common soldiers and footmen, were a thousand,
fiue hundred, fortie and two: and all that night the king of England
with his host aboad armed in the field, where the battel was fought.
On the next morrow before the sunne rose, there marched towards vs
another great host mightie & strong, of the Frenchmen: but the earle
of Northampton, and the earle of Norffolke issued out against them in
thrée battels, & after long and terrible fight, them likewise they
discomfited by Gods great helpe and grace (for otherwise it could
neuer haue béene) where they tooke of knights and esquiers a great
number, and slue aboue two thousand, pursuing the chase thrée leages
from the place where the battell was fought. The same night also the
king incamped himselfe againe in the forrest of Cressie, and on the
morrow marched toward Bullongne, and by the way he tooke the towne of
Staples: and from thence he marched toward Calis, where he intendeth
to plant his siege, and laie his batterie to the same. And therfore
our souereigne lord the king willeth and commandeth you, in all that
euer you may, to send to the said siege vittels conuenient. For after
the time of our departing from Caen, we haue trauelled through the
countrie with great perill & danger of our people, but yet alwaies had
of vittels plentie, thanks be to God therefore. But now (as the case
standeth) we partlie néed your helpe to be refreshed with vittels. Thus
fare you well. Written at the siege before the towne of Calis, the
fourtéenth daie of September.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _Iac. Meir._]
[Sidenote: Terrouan.]
[Sidenote: Terrouan woon by force.]
But now touching the siege of Calis, and to returne where we left,
ye shall vnderstand, that (as ye haue heard) the English campe was
furnished with sufficient prouision of meat, drinke, apparell,
munition, and all other things necessarie: and oftentimes also the
soldiers made roads and forrais into the borders of France next
adioining, as towards Guines, and saint Omer, ye euen to the gates of
that towne, and sometime to Bullongne. Also the earle of Northampton
fetched a bootie out of Arthois, and as he returned toward the host,
he came to Terrouan, which towne the bishop had fortified and manned,
deliuering the custodie therof vnto sir Arnold Dandrehen: for when he
heard the Englishmen approched, he durst not tarrie within the citie
himselfe, but got him to saint Omers. Sir Arnold stood valiantlie to
his defense, and would not yéeld, till by verie force the Englishmen
entered the citie, slue the soldiers, and tooke their capteine the said
sir Arnold prisoner. The citie was put to sacke, and after set on fire.
And when the Englishmen were departed, there came a number of Flemings
from the siege, which they had laid before S. Omers, and began a new
spoile, and fired such houses belonging to the canons and other, which
the Englishmen had spared. Thus were those confines in most miserable
case, for no house nor other thing was in safegard, but such as were
conteined within closure of strong townes and fortresses.
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn de Vienne capteine of Calis.]
[Sidenote: The king of Englands pitie towards the poore.]
The king of England would not assaile the towne of Calis by giuing
anie assault to it, for he knew he should but lose his labour, and
waste his people, it was so strong of it selfe, and so well furnished
with men of warre. Capteine thereof also was one sir Iohn de Vienne, a
valiant knight of Burgoigne, hauing with him diuerse other right hardie
and expert capteins, knights, and esquiers. When the said sir Iohn de
Vienne saw the manner of the English host, and what the kings intention
was, he constreined all the poore and meane people to depart out of the
towne. The king of England perceiuing that this was doone of purpose to
spare vittels, would not driue them backe againe to helpe to consume
the same, but rather pitied them; and therefore did not onelie shew
them so much grace to suffer them to passe through his host, but also
gaue them meat and drinke to dinner, and moreouer two pence sterling to
euerie person: which charitable déed wan him much praise, and caused
manie of his enimies to praie right hartilie for his good successe and
prosperitie. A most notable example of pitie and compassion, teaching
other to be in like sort affected, and also to know, that
Spernit coelorum regem spretor miserorum.
[Sidenote: The duke of Normandie sent for.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Derbie assembleth an armie.]
[Sidenote: Towns won by the earle of Derbie.]
The French king meaning to raise the siege from Calis, which the king
of England kept there, sent for his sonne the duke of Normandie, which
had line long at the siege of Aiguillon, and now by commandement of his
father left it sore against his will. In this mean while, the earle
of Derbie remained in the citie of Burdeaux, and there had held him
during all the time that the siege laie before Aiguillon. When he once
vnderstood that the siege was raised, and that the duke of Normandie
had broken vp his campe, he sent into Gascoigne for all knights and
esquires that held of the English part. Then came to Burdeaux the lord
Dalbret, the lord de Lespare, the lord de Rosam, the lord of Musident,
the lord of Pumiers, and a great sort more of the lords and nobles
of Gascoigne, so that the earle had twelue hundred men of armes, two
thousand archers, and thrée thousand other footmen. They passed the
riuer of Garon, betwixt Burdeaux and Blaie, and tooke their waie to
Zanctonge, so to go vnto Poictiers, and tooke by the waie the towne of
Mirabell by assault: they wan also the towne and castell of Aunaie,
Surgieres, and Benon. Also they took Maraunt in Poictow by force, they
burnt also the towne of Lusignen, but the castell they could not win.
Moreouer, they did win the bridge, towne, and castell of Tailburge, and
slue all that were found within it, bicause a knight of the English
part was slaine in the assaulting. From thence the earle of Derbie went
and laid siege to saint Iohn Dangelie, which was yéelded to him by
composition.
[Sidenote: The citie of Poictiers woon by force.]
At Niort he made thrée assaults, but could not win it, and so from
thence he came to Bourge saint Mariment, the which was woone by force,
and all that were within it slaine; and in like manner the towne of
Montreuill Bonin was woone, and the most part of them within slaine,
that tooke vpon them to defend it, which were 200 coiners of monie that
wrought in the mint, which the French king kept there. From thence he
passed forward with his host, and finallie came before the citie of
Poictiers, which was great and large, so that he could not besiege
it but on the one side. The third daie after his comming thither, he
caused the citie to be assaulted in thrée places, and the greatest
number were appointed to assaile the weakest part of the citie. As
then there were no expert men of warre within Poictiers, but a great
multitude of people vnskilfull and not vsed to any feats of warre, by
reason whereof the Englishmen entered in at the weakest place. When
they within sawe the citie woone, they fled out at other gates, but
yet there were slaine to the number of seauen hundred persons, for all
that came in the Englishmens waie, were put to the sword, men, women,
and children. The citie was sacked and rifled, so that great store of
riches was gotten there, as well of the inhabitants as other that had
brought their goods thither for safegard of the same. The earle of
Derbie laie there ten or twelue daies, and longer might haue laine, if
his pleasure had so béene, for there was none that durst go about to
disquiet him, all the countrie trembled so at his presence.
[Sidenote: Saint Iohn Dangelie.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots inuadeth England.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
At his departure from Poictiers he left the citie void, for it was too
great to be kept: his souldiers and men of warre were so pestered with
riches, that they wist not what to doo therewith: they estéemed nothing
but gold and siluer, and feathers for men of warre. The earle visited
by the waie as he returned homewards to Burdeaux the towne of saint
Iohn Dangelie, and other fortresses which he had woone in going towards
Poictiers, and hauing furnished them with men, munition, and vittels
necessarie, at his comming to Burdeaux he brake vp his host, and
licencing his people to depart, thanked them for their paines and good
seruice. All this while the siege continued still before Calis, and the
French king amongst other deuises which he imagined how to raise the
K. of England from it, procured the Scots to make warre into England,
insomuch that Dauid king of Scotland, notwithstanding the truce which
yet indured betwixt him and the king of England, vpon hope now to doo
some great exploit, by reason of the absence of king Edward, intangled
thus with the besieging of Calis, he assembled the whole puissance of
his realme, to the number of fortie or thréescore thousand fighting men
(as some write) and with them entered into England, burning, spoiling,
and wasting the countrie, till he came as far as Durham.
[Sidenote: The English lords assemble a power to fight with the Scots.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: _Tho. Wals._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: The quéenes diligence.]
The lords of England that were left at home with the quéene for the
sure kéeping and defense of the realme, perceiuing the king of Scots
thus boldlie to inuade the land, and in hope of spoile to send foorth
his light horssemen to harrie the countrie on ech side him, assembled
an host of all such people as were able to beare armour, both préests
and other. Their generall assemblie was appointed at Newcastell, and
when they were all togither, they were to the number of 1200 men of
armes, thrée thousand archers, and seauen thousand other, with the
Welshmen, and issuing out of the towne, they found the Scots readie to
come forward to incounter them. Then euerie man was set in order of
battell, and there were foure battels ordeined, one to aid another.
The first was led by the bishop of Durham, Gilbert de Vinfreuile earle
of Anegos, Henrie lord Percie, and the lord Henrie Scroope: the second
by the archbishop of Yorke, and the lord Rafe Neuill: the third by the
bishop of Lincolne, Iohn lord Mowbraie, and the lord Thomas de Rokebie:
the fourth was gouerned by the lord Edward Balioll capteine of Berwike,
the archbishop of Canturburie, and the lord Ros: beside these were W.
lord d'Eincourt, Robert de Ogle, and other. The quéene was there in
person, and went from ranke to ranke, and incouraged hir people in the
best manner she could, and that doone she departed, committing them and
their cause to God the giuer of all victorie.
[Sidenote: The Scots fight with axes.]
[Sidenote: The English men obteine the victorie. The king of Scots
taken.]
Shortlie herevpon the Scots set forward to begin the battell, and
likewise did the Englishmen, and therewith the archers on both parts
began to shoot: the shot of the Scots did little hurt, but the archers
of England sore galled the Scots, so that there was an hard battell.
They began at nine of the clocke, and continued still in fight till
noone. The Scots had sharpe and heauie axes, & gaue with the same great
and mightie strokes, howbeit finallie the Englishmen by the helpe of
God obteined the victorie, although they lost manie of their men. There
were diuerse of the nobles of Scotland slaine, to the number of seauen
earles, beside lords. The king was taken in the field sore wounded, for
he fought valiantlie. He was prisoner to an esquier of Northumberland,
who as soone as he had taken him, rode out of the field with him,
accompanied onelie with eight of his seruants, and rested not till he
came to his owne castell where he dwelled, being thirtie miles distant
from the place of the battell.
[Sidenote: _Hect. Boetius._]
[Sidenote: _Ri. Southwell._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Neuils crosse.]
There was taken also beside him, the earles of Fife, Sutherland,
Wighton, and Menteth, the lord William Douglas, the lord Vescie, the
archbishop of S. Andrewes, and another bishop, with sir Thomelin
Foukes, and diuerse other men of name. There were slaine of one and
other to the number of 15 thousand. This battell was fought beside
the citie of Durham at a place called Neuils crosse, vpon a saturdaie
next after the feast of saint Michaell, in the yeare of our Lord 1346.
Of this ouerthrow Christopher Okland hath verie commendablie written,
saieng,
[Sidenote: _In Angl. prælijs sub Edwardo 3._]
---- haud omine dextro
Iam Scotus intulerat vim Dunelmensibus agris,
Cùm formidandum sæuus bellum instruit Anglus,
Aggreditúrque hostem violantem foedera sacra.
Nominis incerti Scoticæ plebs obuia gentis
Sternitur, & tristi gladio cadit impia turba,
Frustrà obluctantur Scotiæ comitésque ducésque,
Quorum pars iacet occumbens; pars cætera capta
Captiuum corpus dedit vincentibus, auro
Et pacto pretio redimendum, bellicus vt mos
Postulat. At Dauid Scotiæ rex captus ad vrbem
Londinum fidei pendens dignissima fractæ
Supplicia, adductus celebri concluditur arce.
Exiguus numerus volucri pede fisus equorum
Effugit in patriam, testis certissimus Anglos
Deuicisse suos, & tristia funera narrant.
[Sidenote: Sée in Scotland.]
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
[Sidenote: Countries of Scotl[=a]d subdued by the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
¶ He that will sée more of this battell, may find the same also
set foorth in the Scotish historie, as their writers haue written
thereof. And for somuch as by the circumstances of their writings, it
should séeme they kept the remembrance of the same battell perfectlie
registred, we haue in this place onelie shewed what other writers haue
recorded of that matter, and left that which the Scotish chronicles
write, to be séene in the life of king Dauid, without much abridging
therof. The Englishmen after this victorie thus obteined, tooke the
castels of Roxburgh and Hermitage, and also without any resistance
subdued the countries of Anandale, Galloway, Mers, Tiuidale, and
Ethrike forrest, extending their marches foorth at that time vnto
Cokburnes Peth, and Sowtray hedge, and after vnto Trarlinlips, and
crosse Caue.
[Sidenote: Iohn Copland refuseth to deliuer the K. of Scots.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Copland rewarded.]
The quéene of England being certeinelie informed that the king of
Scots was taken, & that Iohn Copland had conueied him out of the
field, no man vnderstood to what place, she incontinentlie wrote to
him, commanding him foorthwith to bring his prisoner king Dauid vnto
hir presence: but Iohn Copland wrote to hir againe for a determinate
answer, that he would not deliuer his prisoner the said king Dauid
vnto any person liuing, man or woman, except onelie to the king of
England, his souereigne lord and master. Herevpon the quéene wrote
letters to the king, signifieng to him both of the happie victorie
chanced to his people against the Scots, and also of the demeanour of
Iohn Copland, in deteining the Scotish king. King Edward immediatlie
by letters commanded Iohn Copland to repaire vnto him where he laie at
siege before Calis, which with all conuenient spéed he did, and there
so excused himselfe of that which the quéene had found hirselfe gréeued
with him, for deteining the king of Scots from hir, that the king
did not onelie pardon him, but also gaue to him fiue hundred pounds
sterling of yearelie rent, to him & to his heires for euer, in reward
of his good seruice and valiant prowes, and made him esquire for his
bodie, commanding him yet vpon his returne into England to deliuer king
Dauid vnto the quéene, which he did, and so excused himselfe also vnto
hir, that she was therewith satisfied and contented. Then the quéene,
after she had taken order for the safe kéeping of the king of Scots,
and good gouernement of the realme, tooke the sea and sailed ouer to
the king hir husband still lieng before Calis.
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir._]
[Sidenote: The Flemings.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: 1347.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders c[=o]streined to promise mariage to
the king of Englands daughter.]
Whilest Calis was thus besieged by the king of England, the Flemings
which had latelie before besieged Betwine, and had raised from thence
about the same time that the battell was fought at Cressie, now
assemble togither againe, and dooing what damage they might against
the Frenchmen on the borders, they laie siege vnto the towne of Aire.
Moreouer, they wrought so for the king of England (earnestlie requiring
their fréendship in that behalfe) that their souereigne lord Lewes
earle of Flanders being as then about fiftéene yeares of age, fianced
the ladie Isabell daughter to the king of England, more by constraint
indéed of his subiects, than for any good will he bare to the king of
England: for he would often saie, and openlie protest, that he would
neuer marrie hir whose father had slaine his: but there was no remedie,
for the Flemings kept him in maner as a prisoner, till he granted to
follow their aduise. But the same wéeke that the mariage was appointed
to be solemnized, the earle as he was abroad in hawking at the hearon,
stale awaie and fled into France, not staieng to ride his horsse vpon
the spurs till he came into Arthois, and so dishonorablie disappointed
both the king of England, and his owne naturall subiects the Flemings,
to their high displeasure.
[Sidenote: The lord Charles de Blois taken prisoner.]
[Sidenote: Sir Thomas Dagworth.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Hartille an English knight was also there with him.]
While the king laie thus before Calis, diuerse lords and knights came
to sée him out of Flanders, Brabant, Heinault, and Almaigne. Amongst
other came the lord Robert of Namur, and was reteined with the king
as his seruant, the king giuing him thrée hundred pounds sterling of
yearelie pension out of his coffers to be paid at Bruges. During the
time that the siege thus continued before Calis, the lord Charles de
Blois, that named himselfe duke of Britaine, was taken before a castell
in Britaine, called la Roch Darien, and his armie discomfited, chéeflie
by the aid of that valiant English knight sir Thomas Dagworth, who
had béene sent from the siege of Calis by king Edward to assist the
countesse of Montfort and other his fréends against the said Charles
de Blois, that with a gret armie of Frenchmen and Britains, had the
same time besieged the said castell of Roch Darien, c[=o]streining
them within in such forceable maner, that they stood in great néed
of present succors. The said sir Thomas Dagworth aduertised hereof,
with thrée hundred men of armes, and foure hundred archers of his owne
retinues, beside certeine Britaines, approched to the siege, and on the
20 of Iune earlie in the morning, a quarter of an houre before day,
suddenlie set vpon the enimies, who hauing knowledge of his comming,
were readie to receiue him as the day before, but being now surprised
thus on the sudden, they were greatlie amazed: for they that were
within Roch Darien, as soone as the appearance of daie had discouered
the matter vnto them, so that they might know their fréends from their
enimies, they issued foorth, and holpe not a litle to the atchiuing of
the victorie, which was cléerelie obteined before sunne-rising, and
the French armie quite discomfited, greatlie to the praise of the said
sir Thomas Dagworth and his companie, considering their small number,
in comparison of their aduersaries, who were reckoned to be twelue
hundred good men of armes, knights, and esquires, beside six hundred
other armed men, two thousand crossebowes, six hundred archers of the
countrie of Britaine, and footmen of commons innumerable.
There were taken, besides the lord Charles de Blois naming himself
duke of Britaine, diuerse other lords and men of name, as monsieur
Guie de la Vaall, sonne and heire to the lord la Vaall, which died in
the battell, the lord of Rocheford, the lord de Beaumanour, the lord
of Loiacke, with other lords, knights, and esquiers, in great numbers.
There were slaine the said lord de la Vaall, the Vicount of Rohan, the
lord of Chasteau Brian, the lord de Mailestreit, the lord de Quintin,
the lord de Rouge, the lord of Dereuall and his sonne, sir Rafe de
Montfort, and manie other worthie men of armes, knights and esquiers,
to the number of betwixt six and seuen hundred, as by a letter written
by the said sir Thomas Dagworth, and registred in the historie of
Robert de Auesburie dooth appeare.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The French king assembleth an armie.]
[Sidenote: _Froissard._]
In this meane while, king Philip hauing dailie word how the power of
his enimie king Edward did increase by aid of the Easterlings and
other nations, which were to him alied, and that his men within Calis
were brought to such an extreme point, that without spéedie rescue
they could not long kéepe the towne, but must of force render it ouer
into the hands of his said enimie, to the great preiudice of all the
realme of France, after great deliberation taken vpon this so weightie
a matter, he commanded euerie man to méet him in their best arraie for
the warre, at the feast of Pentecost in the citie of Amiens, or in
those marches. At the daie and place thus appointed, there came to him
Odes duke of Burgoigne, and the duke of Normandie eldest sonne to the
king, the duke of Orleance his yoongest sonne, the duke of Burbon, the
earle of Fois, the lord Lois de Sauoie, the lord Iohn of Heinault, the
earle of Arminacke, the earle of Forrest, and the earle Valentinois,
with manie others.
[Sidenote: The Flemings besiege Aire.]
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir._]
[Sidenote: The French K. c[=o]meth towards Calis.]
These noble men being thus assembled, they tooke councell which waie
they might passe to giue battell to the Englishmen: it was thought the
best waie had béene through Flanders, but the Flemings in fauour of
the king of England denied, not onelie to open their passages to the
Frenchmen, but also had leuied an armie of an hundred thousand men
of one and other, and laid siege to Aire, and burnt the countrie all
about. Wherevpon there were manie sharpe bickerings and sore incounters
betwixt the Flemings and such Frenchmen as king Philip sent foorth
against them both, now, whilest the French armie laie about Amiens,
and also before, during all the time that the siege lay at Calis.
For all the French towns vpon the frontiers were stuffed with strong
garrisons of souldiers, as Lisle, saint Omers, Arras, Bullongne, Aire
and Monttreuill, and those men of war were euer readie vpon occasion to
attempt sundrie exploits. After this, when the armie of the Flemings
was broken vp, and returned home, or rather diuided into parts, and
lodged along on the frontiers, the French king with two thousand men
one and other came forward, taking his way through the countrie called
la Belme, and so by the countrie of Frankeberge, came streight to the
hill of Sangate, betwixt Calis and Wisant.
[Sidenote: The earle of Derbie.]
The king of England had caused a strong castell to be made betwéene
the towne of Calis and the sea, to close vp that passage, and had
placed therein thrée score men of armes, and two hundred archers which
kept the hauen in such sort that nothing could come in nor out. Also
considering that his enimies could come neither to succour the towne,
nor to annoie his host, except either by the downes alongst the sea
side, or else aboue by the high waie, he caused all his nauie to drawe
alongst by the coast of the downes, to stop vp that the Frenchmen
should not approch that waie. Also the erle of Derbie being come
thither out of Guien, was appointed to kéepe Newland bridge, with
a great number of men of armes and archers, so that the Frenchmen
could not approch anie waie, vnlesse they would haue come through the
marishes, which to doo was not possible.
[Sidenote: The request of the French lords to the king of England.]
[Sidenote: His answer.]
Fiftéene hundred of the commons of Tournie wan a tower, which the
Englishmen had made and kept for the impeachment of the Frenchmens
passage by the downes, but that notwithstanding, when the marshals of
France had well viewed all the passages and streicts through the which
their armie must passe, if they meant to fight with the Englishmen,
they well perceiued that they could not come to the Englishmen to giue
them battell, without the king would lose his people, wherevpon (as
Froissard saith) the French king sent the lord Geffrey de Charnie,
the lord Eustace de Ribaumont, Guie de Néele, and the lord de Beauiew
vnto the king of England, which required him on their maisters behalfe
to appoint certeine of his councell, as he would likewise appoint
certeine of his, which by common consent might aduise betwéene them an
indifferent place for them to trie the battell vpon: wherevnto the king
of England answered, "That there he was and had béene almost a whole
yeare, which could not be vnknowne to his aduersarie their maister,
so that he might haue come sooner if he would: but now, sith he had
suffered him there to remaine so long, without offer of battell, he
meant not to accomplish his desire, nor to depart from that, which to
his great cost he had brought now at length to that point, that he
might easilie win it. Wherefore if the French K. nor his host could
not passe those waies which were closed by the English power, let them
séeke some other passage (said he) if they thinke to come hither."
[Sidenote: Cardinals s[=e]t to intreat of peace.]
[Sidenote: They depart.]
[Sidenote: The French K. returneth into France.]
[Sidenote: The conditions of the surrender of Calis.]
In this meane while came two cardinals fr[=o] pope Clement, to treat a
peace betwixt the two kings, wherevpon commissioners were appointed, as
the dukes of Burgoigne and Burbone, the lord Lewes de Sauoie, and the
lord Iohn de Heinault, otherwise called lord Beaumont, on the French
part: and the earles of Derbie and Northampton, the lord Reginald
Cobham, and the lord Walter de Mannie, on the English part. These
commissioners and the legates (as intreators betwéene the parties) met
and communed thrée daies togither, but agréed not vpon anie conclusion,
and so the cardinals departed; and the French king perceiuing he could
not haue his purpose, brake vp his host and returned to France, bidding
Calis farewell. After that the French king with his host was once
departed from Sangate, without ministring anie succour to them within
the towne, they began to sue for a parlée, which being granted, in the
end they were contented to yéeld, and the king granted to receiue them
and the towne on these conditions; that six of the chéefe burgesses of
the towne should come foorth bareheaded, barefooted, and barelegged,
and in their shirts, with halters about their necks, with the keies of
the towne and castell in their hands, to submit themselues simplie to
the kings will, and the residue he was contented to take to mercie.
[Sidenote: Six burgesses of Calis presented to the king.]
[Sidenote: The quéene obteined their pardon.]
This determinate resolution of king Edward being intimated to the
commons of the towne, assembled in the market place by the sound of the
common bell before the capteine, caused manie a wéeping eie amongst
them: but in the end, when it was perceiued that no other grace would
be obteined, six of the most wealthie burgesses of all the towne agréed
to hazard their liues for the safegard of the residue, and so according
to the prescript order deuised by the K. they went foorth of the gates,
and were presented by the lord Walter de Mannie to the king, before
whom they knéeled downe, offered to him the keies of the towne, and
besought him to haue mercie vpon them. But the king regarding them
with a fell countenance, commanded streight that their heads should
be striken off. And although manie of the noble men did make great
intreatance for them, yet would no grace be shewed, vntill the quéene
being great with child, came and knéeled downe before the king hir
husband, and with lamentable chéere & wéeping eies intreated so much
for them, that finallie the kings anger was aswaged & his rigor turned
to mercie (for