John Stow's Annales of England

Never afore that time was scene the like preparation, pride and cost in the time of warre, as affirmeth Robert Paston, a Carmelite frier, being present and taken of the Scots, which he sorowfully bewayled in his heroycall verse whiles he was prisoner. The first night (saith hee) ye might have scene the Englishmen bathing themselves in wine and casting their gorges. There was crying, showting, wassaling, and drinking, with other ryoting farre above measure. On the other side, yee might have scene the Scottes quiet, still, and close, fasting the even of Saint John Baptist, labouring in love of the libertie of their countrey. On the morrowe, the Scottes having gotten the most convenient place in the fielde for victorie, made ditches in the grounde three foote deepe, and the like in breadth, from the right wing of the army unto the left, covering the same with weake twigges or herdles, and againe over with the turfe and grasse, which was not of strength to beare horsemen. The army of the Scottes, being devided into certaine troupes, stoode not farre off from this dike, which was betwixt them and the Englishmen. On the other side, the army of the Englishmen comming out of the west, the sunne rising, casting his beames on their golden targets, bright helmets, and other armour, gave such a reflection as was both woonderfull and terrible to beholde. In the first warde were the light horsemen and heavie coursers. In the second were the archers and other footemen, who were appointed for the chase of the adversaries. In the thirde was the king with his bisshoppes and other religious, amongst whome was Hugh Spencer. The horsemen of the first front, making uppon their enemies, foundered with their fore feete into the ditch and lay there tumbling, abiding the cruelty of the Scots, who, coraming upon them, slew some and tooke a great manie rich men for raunsome. Almost three hundreth men of armes were slaine in that place, our archers killing manie of them, who, seeing the Scottes cruellie bent upon our horsemen fallen in the ditche, shotte theire arrowes with a high compasse, that they might fall betwixt the armour of their enemies, which was all in vayne: and when they shotte righte foorth, they slewe fewe of the Scottes, by reason of their armed breasts, but manie of the Englishmen, by reason of their naked backs.

The bishop of Winchester and the bishop of Lincolne went before the rest and talked secretly with the king, together with his keeper the earle of Leicester; these three craftily compassed him, counselling him to make resignation of the crowne to his eldest sonne, promising him no lesse honor and renowne after the deposition of his royall dignitie, then his princelie estate was woont to have of all men before. They added also, what a great reward it woulde bee at the hands of God, for the peace and quietnes of his subjects, for him to refuse the governement of a temporall kingdome. In the other part they threatned him that, if he would not make resignation, the people withdrawing their homage and obedience, faith and friendship unto him, his sonnes also being forsaken, they would crowne another king, none of the royall blood. With these and other promises and threats, the king (not without sobbes and teares) agreed to the advertisements of the byshops. Finallie, that mischievous embassadour Adam de Orleton, bishop of Hereford, brought to the castell, wherein the king was shut up, the kings other enimies, whome he placed orderlie according to their dignities in the kinges chamber, reserving unto himselfe the thinges which hee had sought long time before. At length the king comming foorth of his secret chamber, being clothed in a mourning gowne, shewing himself to his servants, knowing the businesse for which they came, for verie sorrow beeing as it were distraught of his wittes, sodainelie swouned. The earle of Leicester and the bishop of Winchester did take him up, being almost dead; and being called to his senses, Adam de Orleton, byshoppe of Hereforde, declaring the cause of the messengers comming, did adde that the king should make resignation of the crowne and realme to his eldest sonne, or else, after that himselfe was refused, hee shoulde suffer them to choose to their king another fitter man, whome they thought good for the defence of the kingdome. The king hearing this, with much mourning answeared that hee was verie sorie that the commons had conceived such wrath and indignation against him, that they disdained to bee governed under his rule, for the which hee asked them forgivenesse, and finallie added that hee would be very glad if they would receive his sonne to be their king.

These champions bring Edward towardes Barkeley, being guarded with a rabble of hel-houndes, along by the grange belonging to the castle of Bristowe, where that wicked man Gorney, making a crowne of hay, put it on his head, and the souldiours that were present scoffed and mocked him beyond all measure saying ... avaunt sir king: they feared to be met of anie that should knowe Edward, they bent their journey therefore towardes the lefte hand, riding along over the marish grounds lying by the river of Severne. Moreover, devising to disfigure him that hee might not bee knowne, they determine for to shave as well the haire of his head as also of his beard: wherefore, as in their journy they travailed by a little water which ranne in a ditch, they commanded him to light from his horse to be shaven, to whome, being set on a moale hill, a barber came unto him with a basen of cold water taken out of the ditch, to shave him withall, saying unto the king that that water should serve for that time. To whome Edward answered that, would they, noulde they, he would have warm water for his beard; and, to the end that he might keepe his promise, he began to weepe and to shed teares plentifully. At length they came to Barkley castle, where Edward was shut up close like an anchor. Isabell his wife, taking it grievously that her husbands life (which she deadly hated) was prolonged, made her complaint to her schoolemaister Adam de Orleton, faining that she had certaine dreames, the interpretation whereof shee misliked, which if they were true, she feared lest, that if her husband be at anie time restored to his olde dignitie, that hee would burne her for a traytor or condemne her to perpetuall bondage. In like sort the bishop, being guiltie in his owne conscience, stoode in like feare. The like feare also strooke the hearts of others for the same offence: wherefore it seemed good to many of great dignitie and bloud, as well spiritual! as temporal!, both men and women, that all such fear should bee taken away, desiring his death: whereupon there were letters colourably written to the keepers of Edward, greatly blaming them for looking so slenderly to the king, suffering him to have such libertie and nourishing him too delicately. Moreover, there is a privie motion made unto them, but yet in such sorte as it might seeme halfe done, that the death of Edward would not bee misliking unto them, whether it were natural! or violent. And in this point the great deceit of sophisters stoode in force, set downe by the byshop who wrote thus:

Eduardum occidere nolite timere bonunt est.

Kill Edward doe not feare is a good thing:

Or thus:

To seeke to shead king Edwards bloud

Refuse to feare I count it good.

"Which sophisticall saying is to be resolved into two propositions, whereof the first consisting of three words, to wit, Eduardum occidere nolite, doe not kill Edward, and the second of other three, that is timere bonum est, feare is a good thing, do seeme to perswade subtilly from murthering of the king: but the receivers of these letters, not ignorant of the writing, changed the meaning thereof to this sense, Eduardum occidere nolite timere, to kill Edward doe not feare, and afterwards these wordes, bonum est, it is good; so that they being guiltie turned a good saying into evill. The bishop being thus determinately purposed touching the death of Edward, and warily providing for himselfe, if by any chance he should be accused thereof, craftely worketh that the authoritie which he gave by writing might seeme to be taken expressely contrary to his meaning, by reason of accenting and pointing of the same. To conclude, the murtherers of Edward hoping to have found both Isabel and the byshopp to be their trustie friendes, they found them earnest persecutors of their enterprise, quite denying whatsoever they had devised against Edward, yea, they were greatly busied in devising most cruell death for them, so that the murtherers, being quite dismayed, wist not what to doe, but shewing the letters of Isabel!, the byshoppe, and other conspiratours, being confirmed with their owne handes and seales; which the byshoppe refused not, but confessed to be his and others, but construed them to an other sense, accusing them to be false interpreters of his letters, and of his owne authoritie threatened them, untill he forced them to runne away. Thus much touching the letters. Now when king Edward was brought unto the castle aforesaide, hee was courteously received by Thomas Barkeley, then lord of the fee, but after the tormentors had received their letters of a government over the castle, the said Thomas is commanded to use no familiaritie with Edward: wherefore Thomas Barkeley with heavie cheere departeth thence to other his dwelling places; and Edwards persecution continuing to his death beganne to take effect. For after this he was shut up in a close chamber, where, with the stench of dead carkasses laide in a cellar under him, he was miserably tormented many daies together, in such sort that he was well nigh suffocated therewith. And that the paine was almost intollerable unto him, it appeareth by the complaint he made on a certaine day at the chamber window, certaine carpenters, then working on the right side therof *, hearing the same. But those tyrants perceiving that this terrible stench was not of a sufficient force to cause the death of this valiant man Edwarde, one night, being the 22 of September, they came rushing in upon him sodainelie, as he laie in his bed, with great and heavie featherbeds, beeing in weight as much as 15 strong men coulde beare, wherewith they oppressed and strangled him by smoothering. Into whom also they thrust a plummers sodring yron, being made red hot, up into his bowelles, through a eertaine instrument like to the end of a trumpet or glister pipe, put in at the fundament, burning thereby his inward parts, providing thereby least anie wound being founde in the kings bodie might cause his tormenters to answeare for committing open treason, and therefore suffer just punishment. In this sort was this stoute knight oppressed, crying out with a lowd voice, so that manie, as well within the castle as without, heard it, perceiving it to be the cry of one that suffred violent death, which caused manie of Barkley and also of the castle (as themselves affirmed) to take compassion thereof, and to praie for the soule of him that was then departing the world. And this was the end of Edwarde of Carnarvon, being betrayed as is aforesaid: but to colour the matter, that they might seeme guiltlesse in this case, Isabel and the bishop of Hereford laboured to cleare themselves by banishing and outlawing of Thomas Gorney and John Maltravers, laying as it were all the fault upon them. This Thomas Gorney, flying to Marsils and there lying hid privilie the space of three years, was at length espied and taken, and as he was brought towarde England, there to have received just and worthy punishment for his deserts, he was beheaded on the sea, fearing that, if he had becne brought into England, he would have accused divers other great personages. The other, to wit, John Maltravers, living in great contrition and repentance, spent a long time in Dutchland.

In the vigil of S. Matthy king Edward began to ride, with banner displaied and twelve thousand men of armes, against the French king, burning towns and castles whersoever he came. In the first night, being very darke, Geffrey lord Scrope, one of the kings justices, led one of the cardinals, to wit, Bertrand de Mount Faventine, of the title of our Lady, up into an high tower, shewing him the whole land about toward Fraunce, for the compasse of fifteene leagues, to be in every place on fire, saying these words : "Sir, doth not this silken threed, wherewith Fraunce is compassed, seeme to you to be broken ? " The cardinal, answering nothing, fell down as dead for sorow and feare. In this sort king Edward made journeyes into Fraunce daily, continuing the space of five weekes, and caused his armie to travell in such sort that they destroyed the whole countrey of Cambray, Tourney, Vermoden, and Laudenew, excepting those cities which were sworne to him, with churches and castles. The inhabitants of the countrey fled, neither was there any man that durst resist his enterprises, although the French king had gathered great armies within the walled cities, himselfe lying in the strong towne of Saint Quintines, what time the Brabanters had determined to returne home againe and were entred into their journey, being forced thereunto partly by want of victuals and partly by the coldnesse of winter which grew on fast. The French king, understanding thereof, began to moove himselfe with his army toward the campe of the king of England, who, gladly looking for his comming, called backe againe the Brabanders, and, having received letters from the French king that he would joyne battell against him, he sent him word backe againe that he would stay for him three dayes. Wherefore oh the fourth day, the king looking for the French kings comming, which would come no neerer them then two miles off, breaking bridges and felling of trees, that the king of England might not follow him, hee fled to Paris ; whereupon king Edward returned by Hanonia into Brabant, where he continued almost the whole winter.

King Edward kept his Whitsontide at Ipswich, for that he intended from thence to make his passage into Flaunders ; but, being certified that the French king had sent a great navie of Spanish shippes and also the whole fleete of France to stoppe his passage, he caused his shippes of the Cinque Ports and other to be assembled, so that he had in his fleete, great and small, two hundred and threescore ships. Wherefore, on the Thursday before the nativitie of Saint John Baptist, having a prosperous wind, he began to sayle ; and the next day, in the even of the sayd feast, they escried the French fleete lying in Swine haven. Wherefore the king caused all his fleete to come to anker. The next day, being the feast of Saint John Baptist, earely in the morning, the French fleete divided themselves into three parts and remooved themselves as it were a mile, approching towards the kings fleete. Which when the king perceived, about nine of the clocke, having the wind and sunne on his backe, set forward and met his enemies as he would have wished ; wherewithall the whole fleete gave a terrible shoute, and a showre of arrowes out of long wooden bowes so powred downe on the Frenchmen that thousands were slaine in that meeting. At length they closed and came to hand blowes with pikes, polaxes, and swordes, and some threw stones from the toppes of shippes, wherewith many were brained. The greatnesse and height of the Spanish shippes caused many Englishmen to strike many a stroke in vaine. But, to be shorte, the French shippes being overcome and all the men spent of the first part, the Englishmen entred and tooke them. The French shippes were chayned together in such sort that they could not be separated one from another, so that a fewe Englishmen kept that parte of the fleete: Wherefore they set upon the second warde and with great difficultie gave the charge, which being done, was sooner overcome then the first, for that the Frenchmen, leaving their shippes, many of them leapt over boorde. The Englishmen having thus overcome the first and second part of the fleete, and now having night drawing on, partly for want of light and partly for that they were wearie, they determined to take some rest till the nexte morning ; wherefore that night thirtie shippes of the third crewe fledde away, and a great shippe called the James of Diepe, thinking to have carried away a certaine ship of Sandwich belonging to the prior of Canterbury, was stayed : for the sailers so stowtly defended themselves by the helpe of the earle of Huntingdon that they saved themselves and their ship from the Frenchmen. The fight continued all the night, and in the morning, the Normans being overcame and taken, there were found in the ship above foure hundreth men slaine. Moreover, the king understanding that the ships were fled, he sent fourtie ships well appointed to followe them, over the which he made John Crabbe governor : but what good speede he had is not knowen. In the first companie of shippes that were taken they found these conquered shippes, the Denis, the George, the Christopher, and the Blacke Cocke, all which shippes were taken by Frenchmen at Sluce and carried into Normandie. The number of ships of warre that were taken was about two hundred and thirtie barges ; the number of enemies that were slaine and drowned were about five and twentie thousand, and of Englishmen about foure thousand, among whom were foure knights, sir Thomas Mortimer the kings cousin, sir Thomas Latimer his sonne, sir William Butler of Seortkorne, and sir Thomas Poynings.

King Edward prepared to make a voyage into Normandy, his navy being ready to transport him from Portesmouth and Dorchester, with the earles of Northampton, Arundell, Warwicke, Harecourt, Huntingdon, Oxenford, and Suffolke, the bishop of Durham, and master William Killesby, clearke, every one of these, leading a great army of souldiours well appointed, were embarqued, and waited for the winde from the first of June to the fift of July, and then, having a good winde, they beganne to make saile with the number of one thousand shippes of burthen and pinases, and on the thirteenth day of July they landed at Hogges in Normandy, where on the shoare of the sea king Edward made his eldest sonne knight and also prince of Wales, and immediately the prince made knights, Mortimere, Montacute, Rose, and other. That night the king lodged in the towne of Hogges, and the next day the towne was brent by the army. The night following, king Edward lodged in Mercels, where he stayed five dayes, during which time all the countrey, with the towne of Barbefleete, was by his men consumed with fire. From thence they departed to Veloigns, which they set on fire ; then they went to Senet comb de Mount, which is nigh the sea, and to Garantam ; thence to Serins and to Saint Lewes, passing along unto the towne of Tourney, wasting all with fire, and that night the king lodged at Carmalin ; then to Gerin, being a religious house belonging unto Cane, leaving nothing behind them unspoyled. Afterward they made an assault and entred the city of Cane, making their entrance by a bridge which was strongly defended. There was slaine an hundreth three and fourtie knights, among the which was taken the earles of Ewe and Camberlin de Tankervill, with divers other captaines, and of them of the citie were slaine above one thousand three hundred. At this citie the armie remained sixe dayes, and the spoile thereof they sold to those mariners which followed the coast as the king went. Then they went to the monasterie in the towne of Toward, a verie strong thing and well defended. Afterward they came unto Argons by night, burning still as they went, till they came to the citie of Liceus, where they found the cardinalles of Clarimount and of Naples, and one archbishop, who offered the king a treatie of peace ; and there the king continued three dayes, refusing to treate of peace. Then they went to Lastentnoland and to the towne of Briue, and lodged at New Burge, and after at Lelelefe upon Sayne, and being resisted by the inhabitants they slewe many of them. Then they passed nigh to the towne and castell of Fount Darch, being strong places and not assaultable. This night he lodged at Lury upon Segan, nigh unto the good towne of Lovars, which they did burne. After, they passed by the towne and castell of Gailon, which they tooke and brent, and lodged at Lingevie, which is nigh the good towne and castle of Vernon, which they touched not ; and there they first entred into Fraunce. And the same night they brent the castell of Roche Blanch, which standeth on the other side of Segan, and lodged at Fremble upon Segan. After that, they passed by the towne of Maunt, lodging that night at Oporne. On the next day they passed to Frigmas, and the next day to the good towne of Poecie, where being a bridge to passe over the river of Segan, the French had spoyled it, but the king caused it to be reedified. And the next day they came to Amias, where were three armies appointed to keepe the king from passing that way ; but he slew three hundred of them at the first charge, put the residue to flight, and spoyled their tentes, burning three hundreth and two cartes and wagons laden with crossebowes, quarrels, armour and victualles. The king staying there two dayes, they went to Gresile nigh unto Pountoys ; then to Autell. The next day they passed by the citie of Wenneys, which they touched not ; and so by Trosolours at the water of Some, where they lodged. The next day they wanne the towne of Poys, and brent the castell. From thence they went to Aregnus ; then to Acheu, where they lodged. The nexte day they came to Noell upon the sea side ; the French men of Dabvile and the countrey came to the foorde side to hinder their passage, with whom the king had a sore conflict, but the enemies were put to the worse and more then two thousand slaine, and the towne of Croytoy taken and brent, and above three hundred Germaines slaine. The next day they followed the king on the river of Some, and on the banks side (where the king with his hoste were lodged) came traveling Philip de Valoys, the French king, with the kings of Boheme and Malegre, leading an armie of men innumerable, divided into eight great battelles. King Edward sent to the French king, offering him free passage over the foorde, if he would come and choose a place apt to fight a field in ; but this Philip went to another place of passage. On the morrow king Edward removed to Cresifield, where the armie of the French king met him. The king therefore set his sonne the prince of Wales to governe the vaward ; the middle warde the earle of Northampton ; the third he tooke to guide himselfe. The armie of the Frenchmen were devided into nine troupes. The vaward was committed to the king of Boheme. The French king commaunded his banner called Oiliflame to be set up, after which time it was not lawfull under paine of death to take any man to save his life. [Side note : The French banner of oiliflame signified no mercy, more then fire in oile.] This banner, that it might differ from his standert, had in it lillies of gold very broad. On the other side king Edward commanded his banner to be erected of the dragon, which signified fiercenesse and cruelty to be turned against the lillies. These armies being thus appointed stoode in the fielde from one of the clocke untill the evening. About the sunne setting, after the armies had justed, they beganne by the sound of the trumpets to give signe of battaile, but they themselves felt the force of the English archers, and as for their quarrels, they fell short a great way. Moreover, their footemen, being placed among their owne horsemen, were by them (when they were gauled with the English shotte of arrowes) overrunne and troden upon, that a great outcry was made, as it were to the starres, and the whole forme of the array was broken, and they, fighting with the English armed men, are beaten downe with polaxes. In this so terrible a bickering the prince of Wales, being then but sixeteenth yeeres old, shewed his wonderfull towardnesse, laying on very hotely with speare and shielde. This battell dured three partes of the night, in the which time the Frenchmen gave five great assaults against our men, but at the length they being conquered ran away. On the morrow there came foure armies of fresh souldiours to the French side, and, making semblance as though their part had suffered no harme, they came against the Englishmen and gave them a fresh battell. On the other side, the Englishmen withstood them very stoutely, and, after a sharpe conflict, they forced their foes to flie, and in chasing of them, together with them that were slaine in the conflict, they slew three thousand men in the said two dayes. There were slaine in the battaile of Cressie the Kings of Boheme and of Majorica the Archbishop of Zanrinus, the Bishop of Bayone, the Dukes of Loraine & Burbon, the Earles of Alanson, Harecourt, Awmarle, Savoy; Pois, Mountbilliard, Nivars and of Flanders; withthe grand Priour of the hospitall of Fraunce, and 4000 men of arms, beside common souldiors without number.

During which feast and solemnitie, it was signified to the king by the secretaries of Americous of Padua, who was a feed man to the king of England, that on the fourteenth day of Januarie next comming Geffrey Charney, knight, and many other Frenchmen should be received into Caleis, unto whom the said towne was solde by the said Americous. But the towne being presently rescued by king Edwarde, the said Americous of Padua with other Genoways continued in Caleis, being maintained there at the costs of the French king against the king of England, when he besieged it; who also, after the yeelding of it to the king of England, being pardoned both of life and limme, from thenceforth continued and dwelt as a feed man of the kings in the said towne for the defence thereof. At that time the said Geffrey was lord of Matas, a man more skilful in war than any French man in Fraunce. Wherfore he was greatly esteemed, even to the time of his death. This crafty deviser indevoured by his letters, wherein hee made promise of large giftes of gold and-other sophisticall perswasions, quite to subvert the faith and loyaltie of the said Americous. Finally, this craftie deviser agreed with this false man that for twentie thousand French crownes he should let in the French men to the town, and, as much as lay in him, deliver up to the French men both the towne and castle. This bargaine being most traiterously made by oath and breaking of the Sacrament betwixt them, yet, al this notwithstanding, he wrote letters unto the king touching the state of the whole matter, but very privily, how that he was readie to shew friendship to the French men, yet meaning to make frustrate their purpose, whereby they should be convicted of breaking the truce, and also many of them should bee taken to bee raunsomed. Wherefore king Edward speedily passed over, being accompanied with his eldest sonne, the earle of March, and a few other, comming before the time appointed for the yeelding of the towne certaine daies. Therefore, being come to Caleis, hee laid certaine men of armes within the vaultes which were betwixt the outter gate and the inner parte of the castle, building a thinne and slender wall before them newly set up, not made of plaister but of counterfaite matter, which joyned to the other wall, craftily devised and made like the olde woorke, so that no man would judge that any were enclosed therein. Also he caused the maine postes of the drawe bridge to bee sawed almost in sunder, yet in such sorte that armed horse-men might ride over it; and for the purpose he had a great stone, which was laid up in a hole made in form of an arch, being in the forepart of the tower hanging over the bridge, in which he appointed a faithfull souldier should bee, in due time to throwe downe the said stone upon the bridge, that with the fall thereof the bridge being halfe cut in two should bee broken in sunder, and so that hole, where the stone was laid, should bee wrought in such sort that hee within shoulde perceive through the hole how many did enter in. Fewe we're made privie to this practise, neither did many know of the kings presence or of the prince of Wales, who, when they had wrought this feate, secretly conveied themselves into the towne. The day before the time of deliverie of this towne, Geffrey Cherney sent fifteene of his faithfullest men with the greater parte of the golde which was to bee paide, who should also trie the faith of Americous and the order of the castle, who, searching everie where, in everie tower and corner which they could finde open, could perceive nothing contrarie to their liking, whereupon, on the next day in the morning, they set up the French kings standerde in the highest tower of the castle, and the ancients also of Geffrey and of other lords upon other towers and places. Then the people of the towne, who kept common watch and ward, not knowing of this secrete devise, were greatly terrified therewith, in so much that they, taking weapon in hand, began to give a charge against the castell: by and by the French men, who had entred the day before, tooke Thomas Kingstone, then fleeing away, quite ignorant of that which was devised, and forceably they set him in the stockes. Then certaine of them being sent out to the French men, their companions and masters, who lay without in ambushes, shewed them the ancients and standard set up, and all to be well, even as they would have it, hastening them forward to come to the defence of the castle against the townes men: wherefore they, rising from their lurking places, advanced themselves in pride and bragging, and came by heapes in at the gates of the castle. The townes people, perceiving this, had much adoe to forbeare their hands from them, had not their chiefe leaders withdrawen them from it, least some danger should have happened to them that lay hid. By and by those that lay hid closed under the arches of the walles prepared themselves to breake out upon their enemies. In like sort also he that with the great stone was shut up in the hole, after that he saw so many entred in, esteeming that his fellowes were sufficient to overthrow them, with that great stone put to his custodie he brake the drawbridge by the which the enemies had entred in, but being once in could not goe that way out againe. When the stone was thus downe and had discharged the thing for which it was laid up, and the French men deceived by that pollicie, they were enclosed safe ynough. At the noyse of this stone and the bridge that brake, these armed men, of whom before I spake, breaking downe their counterfaite wall, behinde the which all the deceite was hid, they presently set themselves in order to invade the French men, bitten (sic) to a bitter breakfast. The conflict was sharpe for a good season, but at length the enemies being overcom yeelded themselves to the pleasure of the conquerours. They which were without and had not entred, as soone as they perceived their companions to be deceived, fled, after whom the king with scarce sixeteene men of armes and as many archers followed apace, the runnawayes not knowing what companie would follow them: many in this chase were wearied, and many mo slaine, and in a small time the king overcame daungerous and great labours: but at length, when it was understood by them that fled how few there were that chased them, fourescore armed men turned them against the king. I dare not ascribe this boldnesse of the king in chasing his enemies to his wisdome, but onely to the stoutnesse of his minde, the which is well knowen through Gods grace to be brought to good effect by his meanes, though the daunger were never so great: for, when he perceived that the French men had turned themselves to withstand him, he cast away the scaberd of his sword, and comforting his men about him, setting them in good order, exhorted them to play the men lustily. The archers, being placed in the marish against the sides of the enemies, stood on drie hilles, which were compassed about with quagge-myres and foggie places, that neither horse-men nor foote-men might approch them, but they should rather be drowned in mudde then come neere to hurt them: these also did the king comfort, saying to them "Doe well, you archers, play the men lustily, and knowe that I am Edward of Windsore." Then the presence of the king and necessitie of the matter stirred up their hearts to doe well: the archers, uncovering their heads, stripping up their sleeves, bent themselves to bestow their arrowes in such sorte that they might not be lost: and, as the French men drew towards them, they saluted them after with their arrowes. The armed men of both parts stood in order to fight upon a long and narrowe causeway, the breadth whereof was not able to receive scarce twentie men of armes in a front, having on both sides thereof the marish, in the which the archers were placed, who gawled and wounded their enemies on the sides, fleeing as thicke as haile. The king and his men before with the archers on the side slewe and tooke a great many: and many of them stood stoutly to it, till at the length by the comming of the prince of Wales the French were put to flight. After a long chase in pursuing the enemies, they returning backe againe to Caleis numbred those which were fled, as well as those which were taken, and they found that for the taking of the castle (as the prisoners reported) there came a thousand men of armes and sixe hundred armed men, but they which served were above three thousand Thus by pollicie and devised treason the authors thereof came to death and destruction: neither Eustachius himselfe escaped scotfree from the snares, for he, within a while after, being taken by the French men, was burned alive with, a hot yron, and degraded from the order of knighthood by the cutting off of his heeles and depriving of his tongue by abscition: afterward, he. was hanged up, and last of all beheaded and quartered, receiving just punishment for his treason and false forswearing.

In the sommer following, variance rising betweene the fleets of England and Spaine, the Spaniards beset the Brytaine sea with 44 great ships of warre, with the which they sunk ten English ships comming from Gascoigne towards England, after they had taken and spoyled them, and thus, their former injuries being revenged, they entred into Sluce in Flanders. King Edward, understanding heereof, furnished his navie of fiftie shippes and pinaces, forecasting to meete with the Spaniards in their return, having in his company the prince of Wales, the carles of Lancaster, Northhampton, Warwicke, Salisburie, Arundale, Huntington, Glocester, and other barons and knights with their servants and archers, and upon the feast of the decollation of S. John, about evensong time, the navies mette at Winchelsea, where the great Spanish vessels surmounting our ships and foystes, like as castles to cotages, sharpely assailed our men ; the stones and quarels flying from the tops sore and cruelly wounded our men, who no lesse busie to fight aloofe with launce and sword and with the fore ward manfully defend themselves, at length our archers pearced their arbalisters with a further retch than they could strike againe, and thereby compelled them to forsake their place, and caused other, fighting from the hatches, to shade themselves with tables of the ships, and compelled them that threw stones from the toppes so to hide them, that they durst not shew their heads but tumble downe. Then our men, entring the Spanish vessels with swords and halberds, kill those they meete, within a while make voyde the vessels and furnish them with Englishmen, untill they, beeing beset with darknesse of the night, could not discerne the 27 yet remayning untaken : our men cast anker, studying of the hoped battell, supposing nothing finished whilest any thing remained undone, dressing the wounded, throwing the miserable Spaniards into the sea, refreshing themselves with victuals and sleepe, yet committing the vigilant watch to the armed band. The night overpassed, the Englishmen prepared (but in vaine) to a new battell ; but when the sun began to appeare, they, viewing the seas, could perceive no signe of resistance, for 27 ships, flying away by night, left 17 spoiled in the evening to the kings pleasure, but against their will.

Two hyred souldiers of the king of Armenia came into England, into the presence of the king, where they shewed the letters of the aforesaid king of Armenia, wherein it was signified that the one of them, to wit John de Viscount, a man borne in Cipres, had slanderously charged the other, that is, Thomas de la March (age 32), a French man borne and bastard sonne to Philip, late king of France, saying that the said Thomas should have received of the Turkes a certaine summe of gold, for the betraying the armie of the Christians unto the Emperour of the Turkes ; and, for the proofe of this slander, this John challenged a cotnbate with the said Thomas, to be tried by the judgement of Edward, king of England, and that by him (as by a most worthie prince) all strife should be ended. For this therefore were these two worthie souldiers appointed to fight, which they perfourmed within the listes of the kings palace at Westminster, on Munday next following after the feast of Saint Michael, where Thomas, in declaration of his innocencie, in that he was accused of, overcame his enemie, but yet killed him not, because he was not able to wounde him, being so armed, with any kinde of piercing weapon, except it were in his face, which was bare. For, after that they had runne at the tilte and fought on foote, as they were striving together on the ground, with certaine prickes both short and sharpe, then called Gadlings, being closed in the joyntes of his right gauntlet, the said Thomas stroke the said John in the face and sore wounded him. But on the other side John had no such shorte kinde of weapon, wherewith he might hurt Thomas face, and therefore cryed out aloude most horribly ; whereupon by the kings commaundement the combate was ended and the victorie adjudged to Thomas, who gave the said John, being thus overcome, to the prince of Wales, for a captive, and offered uppe his owne armour to Saint George in Saint Pauls church at London, with great devotion. These matters being thus finished, the Cipres man is manumitted and set al libertie as a free man againe. And Thomas, thinking boldely to goe into the presence of his brother, the French king, tooke his journey thither, and at his comming found the said king arid the nobilitie of Fraunce greatly offended and in indignation against him, for that he agreed that the combate should be tried before the king of England. Wherefore Thomas, thinking secretly with himselfe how to winne the false friendship of his brother, being desirous to show that therein he had done well, among all other things he greatly praised the nobilitie of Edward and his worthie fame spread over al the world, and also the justice which he used in judging, "not accepting the person of the man of Cipres (yea, though hee loved the king himselfe very well), neither suffered him to be preferred before me, which am a Frenchman and brother and friend to thee, my lord king of Fraunce, judge over the sayd king Edward my adversarie." Also the earle of Ewe highly praised the king of England, for that he had received great comfort and commoditie at his hands, during the time of his captivitie in England, shewing also how farre that good king had banished envie and hatred from his heart, who at a time of justing, being in the field at that exercise, and the king also, was commaunded by the king himselfe to beare away the price and pricke from them all. These commendations did the French king envie at, and for indignation hee most wickedly commaunded the setters forth of those prayses to bee beheaded. And for to colour the matter the better, hee fayned that the earle used too much familiaritie with the queene, his wife, and that his brother was guiltie of treason against the king of Fraunce, because he committed his cause and the combat to be thus tryed by the judgement of the king of England. After hee had thus murdered his brother, hee tormented his wife to death by famine, who was daughter of the noble king of Boheme, lately slaine in battaile by Geffrey [i.e. Cressy].

About the beginning of Januarie, the Frenchmen being occupied about the repayring of the walles of Guisnes towne, being afore that time destroyed by the Englishmen, some men of armes of Caleis, understanding their doings, devised how they might overthrow the worke, in this sort. There was an archer, named John Dancaster, in prison in the castle of Guisnes, before that time taken, who, not having wherwith to pay his ransome, was let loose, with condition that he should worke there among the Frenchmen. This fellow chanced to lye with a laundres, a strumpet, and learned of her where, beyond the principal! ditch, from the bottome of the ditch, there was a wall made of two foote broade, stretching from the rampiers to the brimme of the ditch within forth, so that, being covered with water, it could not be seen, but not so drowned but that a man going aloft thereon should not be wet past the knees, it being made for the use of fishers : and therefore in the middest it was discontinued for the space of two foote : and so the archer (his harlot shewing it to him) measured the height of the wall with a threede. These things thus knowne, one day, slipping downe from the wall, he passed the ditch by that hidden wall, and, lying hidde in the marish till evening, came in the night neere unto Caleis, where tarying for the cleare day, he then went into the towne (for else he might not). Here he instructed them that were greedie of pray and to scale the castle, how they might enter the same : they caused ladders to be made to the length by the archer appoynted. Thirtie men conspiring together, clothing themselves in black armour without any brightnesse, went to the castle by the guiding of the said John de Dancaster, and climing the wall with their ladders they slew the watchmen and threw them down headlong beside the wall. After this, in the hall they slew many whom they found unarmed, playing at the chesse and hazard. Then they brake into the chambers and turrets upon the ladies and knights that lay there asleepe, and so were made masters of all that was within ; and shutting all the prisoners into a strong chamber, being bereft of all their armour, they tooke out the Englishmen that had been taken the yeere before and there kept in prison, and, after they had relieved them well with meate and drinke, they made them guardeins over them that had them in custodie : and so they wan all the fortresses of the castle, unknown to them that were in the towne (appointed to oversee the repay ring of the broken walles) what had happened to them within the castle. In the morning they commanded the workemen in the towne to cease from their workes, who, thereupon perceiving that the castle was wonne, straightwaies fled, and the new castilians suffered the ladies to depart on horsebacke, with their apparell, writings, and muniments, where they ought to hold their fees. And the same day there came from Caleis to their ayde such persons as they sent for, by whose ayde they kept the castle : and about three of the clock there came two knights, sent from the earle of Guisnes, who demanding a truce willed to know of them that were thus entred the castle, who they were, to whom they belonged, and by whose authoritie they kept the castle so taken in the time of truce ; whereunto they answered that, being intruded, they would not declare to any man their purpose, till they had tryed a longer possession : and therefore on S. Mawrice day, the abbot, (the king being busie in parliament,) the Frenchmen being sent from the said earle of Guisnes declared how, in prejudice of the truce, the said castle was taken and therefore by right of mutuall faith it ought to bee restored to them. The king answered that without his knowledge that enterprise was made, and therefore he gave commandement to his subjects that none of them should deteine the castle of Guisnes, but deliver it unto the lawfull lords thereof. The messengers being returned home and reporting what they had done, the earle of Guisnes commeth to the castle, demaunding of them within, as at other times, in whose name they kept it. Who constantly affirming that they kept it in the name of John Dancaster, hee required to know if the same John were, the king of Englandes liegeman or would obey him ; who answering that hee knew not what messengers had been in England, the earle offered for the castle, besides all the treasure found in it, many thousands of crownes, or possessions for exchange, and a perpetuall peace with the king of Fraunce. To this they answered that, before the taking of that castle, they were Englishmen by nation, but by their demerites banished for the peace of the king of England, wherefore the place which they thus held they would willingly sell or exchange, but to none sooner then to their naturall king of England, to whom they said they would sell their castle, to obtaine their peace ; but if hee would not buy it, then they would sell it to the king of France or to whom soever would give most for it. The earle being thus shifted off from them, the king of England bought it in deede, arid so had that place which he greatly desired.

Whilest these things were a doing by sea and land, Otto, sonne to the duke of Brunswike, the French kings feed man, sent letters to the duke of Lancaster, being returned out of Spruce, by the tenour wherof he accused him, affirming that, as he returned out of Spruce by Colein, he maliciously informed the Coloners that the said Otto went about by stealth to have taken him prisoner and to have presented him to the French king, adding hereunto that, because he never ment any such taking of him, he was ready, in declaration of his good name, by a singular combat onely in the French kings court, to proove the duke of Lancaster a Iyer, touching the said article. The letters were not sealed, and therefore, least it might have been thought folly to have given credite to the letter, delivered by a servant, the duke sent unto Otto two knights, to learne the cause of the chalenge and to demand thereof his letters patents, sealed with his seale of armes ; which knights accomplishing the effect of their journey and returning with speede, the duke sent to the French king for a safe conduct for himselfe and his men, and, with much adoe obteining it, he went to Paris, where in the lists, in presence of. the French king, the king of Navarre, and the duke of Burgoigne, and many peeres and other of the realme of Fraunce, he mounted on his steed in seemely wise, ready in all signes, without default, to trie the combate, and so staid till his adversary was ready, and the voyce of the herault and caution to be had by their common oath, for the assurance of his word and to obey the law. On the contrary part the said Otto scarcely was set on his horse and was not able decently to set on his helmet nor to weelde his speare (or else he fayned), whose unablenesse being perceived by the French king, the king of Navarre and other, the king tooke the quarrell into his hands ; whereupon Otto was commaunded first to depart the lists, and so went his way, but the duke abode still within them. After this, by commaundement of the French king, Otto sware that he should never after that day appeach the duke of Lancaster of that article : and so from thence the duke returned home by Zeland.

The prince of Wales being certified that the captaines of the French would have no kind of peace, but such as they could get by force of armes, and calling his men together, he made to them an oration, first in general and then to his archers, as foloweth: "Your manhood (saith he) hath bin alwaies known to me, in great dangers, which sheweth that you are not degenerate from true sonnes of English men, but to be descended from the blood of them which heretofore were under my fathers dukedome and his predecessors, kings of England, unto whom. no labor was paineful, no place invincible, no ground unpassable, no hill (were it never so high) inaccessible, no tower unscaleable, no army impenetrable, no armed souldiour or whole hosts of men was formidable. Their lively couragiousnesse tamed the Frenchmen, the Ciprians, the Syracusians, the Calabrians, and the Palestines, and brought under the stiffe necked Scots and unruly Irishmen, yea, and the Welchmen also, which could well endure all labor. Occasion, time, and dangers maketh of fearcfull very strong and stoute, and doth many times of dull wilted men make wittie : honour also, and love of the countrey, and the desire of the rich spoyle of the Frenchmen, doth stirre you up to follow your fathers steps. Wherefore followe your antientes and wholy be intentive to follow the commandement of your captaines, as well in minde as in body, that, if victorie come with life, we may still continue in firme frendship together, having alwayes one will and one minde : but if envious Fortune (which God forbid) should let us at this present, to runne the race of all flesh, and that we ende both life and labour together, be you sure that your names shall not want eternall fame and heavenly joy, and we also, with these gentlemen our companions, will drinke of the same cuppe that you shall doe, unto whom it shall be an eternall glory and name to have wonne the nobilitie of France : but to be overcome (as God forbid) is not to be ascribed unto the danger of time but to the courage of the men."

25th October 1532. On the twenty-fifth of October King Henrie returned againe to Calleis, accompanied with the Frenche King, the King of Nauarre, the Cardinall of Loraine, and many other Dukes, Byshoppes and great estates of Fraunce, Gasoine, Brytaine, and Normandie: And the xxviij. of October, Kyng Henrie made the King of Nauarre Knight of the Garter: and the nexte daye the Frenche King with the King of Nauarre, and all the greate Lordes of Fraunce, rode againe to Boloigne, and King Henrie of Englande rode wyth them to Sandingfielde, where he made to the Frenche King a costlye banquet, and there the three Kings departed like louing brethren in great amitie: & the xiiij. of Nouember King Henrie landed at Douer.Richard Reynold: Nicholas Pinchon, the 28. of September.Sherifes.Iohn Martin Butcher.Sir Stephen Pecocke Haberdasher, the 28. of October.Maior.Kyng Henrie kepte hys Christmasse at Greenewiche, and after Christmasse sir Thomas Audeley Lord Kéeper of the great Seale, was made Lord Chauncelor of England, and then beganne a Parliament, in the whiche it was enacted, that no person shoulde appeale for anye cause oute of thys Realme, to the Court of Rome: and also, that Quéene Katherine shoulde from thenceforth be no more called Quéene, but Princesse Dowager of Prince Arthur.The twelfth of Aprill being Easter euen, the Ladye1533 Anno reg. 25Anne Bolleine, who hadde béene priuily marryed to Kyng Henrie, wente to hir Closet openly as Quéene, and was proclaymed Quéene of Englande.The sixe and twentith of Aprill, Arthure Plantagenet sonne illegitime of Kyng Edwarde the fourth, was created Viscount Lisle at Bridewell.The twelfth of May Pauier, towne Clearke of London, hung himselfe.The Kings highnesse addressed his letters to the Maior and Communaltie of London, signifying vnto them, that his pleasure was to solempnize the Coronation of his most deare and welbeloued wife Quéene Anne at Westminster on Whitsonday next ensuing, willing them to make preparation as well to fetche hir Grace from Greenewiche to the Tower by water, as to sée the Citie garnished wyth Pageants in places accustomed, for the honor of hir Grace, when shée shoulde be conueyed from the Tower to Westminster. Wherevppon a common Counsell was called, and commaundement gyuen to the Haberdashers, of whiche Craft the Maior was, that they shoulde prepare a Barge for the Bachelers, wyth a Wafter, and a Foyste, garnished wyth Banners, lyke as they vse when the Maior is presented at Westminster, on the morrowe after the feast of Saint Simon & Iude. Also all other Craftes were commaunded to prepare Barges, and to garnishe them, not onely with their Banners accustomed, but also to decke them with Targets by the sides of the Barges, and to sette vppe all suche séemely Banners and Bannerets, as they hadde in their