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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
1340-1349 Plague and Crecy is in 14th Century Events.
On 24th June 1340 King Edward III of England (age 27) attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 24), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 30), Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham (age 27), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 10), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 22), Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 38), Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 30), Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 30), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 32) and Richard Pembridge (age 20).
Thomas Monthermer 2nd (age 38) died from wounds. His daughter Margaret succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. On the feast of Saint John the Baptist1 [24th June 1340], very early in the morning, the French fleet divided itself into three squadrons, moved about a mile toward the king's fleet. Upon seeing this, King Edward declared that it was no longer the time to wait, and he and his men hastened to arm themselves and were quickly ready. After the ninth hour, when he had the wind, the sun, and the river's current at his back, he launched an attack on the enemy, dividing his own forces into three squadrons. A terrible cry rose to the heavens over the wooden horses, as Merlin's prophecy foretold. A rain of iron bolts from crossbows and arrows from longbows slaughtered thousands of men; they fought hand-to-hand with lances, axes, and swords, those who dared or were able. Stones hurled from the masts of ships cracked open many skulls. In sum, a great and terrible naval battle was fought without pretence, the kind that a madman2 would not have dared to witness even from afar.
In festo vero sancti Iohannis valde mane classis Francorum se dividens in tres turmas movit se per spacium unius miliaris versus classem regis; quod percipiens rex Anglie dixit non esse ulterius expectandum, se et suis ad arma currentibus et cito paratis. Post horam nonam, quando habuit ventum et solem a tergo et impetum fluminis secum, divise in tres turmas, hostibus dedit optatum insultum. Horridus clamor ad ethera conscendit super equos ligneos, iuxta Merlini propheciam; ferreus imber quarellorum de balistis atque sagittarum de arcubus in necem milia populi detraxit; hastis, securibus et gladiis pugnabant cominus, qui voluerunt aut fuerunt ausi; lapides a turribus malorum proiecti multos excerebrarunt; in summa committitur sine ficticio ingens et terribile et navale bellum, quale vecors vidisse a longe non fuisset ausus.
Note 1. Details, more or less full, of the battle of Sluys are to be found in Edward's own letters, in Guisborough, Nangis, Murimuth, Avesbury, Knighton, Minot, Le Bel, and Froissart and, later, in Walsingham:
Among modern writers, sir N. Harris Nicolas, A History of the Royal Navy, 2.51, has given the most exact account. He has embodied all the information to be gathered from contemporary writers known to him, but, having found that which is given here in Baker's text and in Murimuth (whose chronicle was not then fully in print) only as quoted by Stow and other later historians, he excluded it from his narrative and placed it in a foot-note (p. 56) as being of an 'apocryphal character.' Murimuth and Baker are the authorities for the statement that the French fleet sailed out the space of a mile to meet the English; and the movement is also, though more obscurely, described by Knighton ('divertit se de portu de Swyne' i.e. 'he turned away from the port of Zwin'). The English fleet had lain the previous night off Blanckenberghe, some ten miles westward of the haven of Sluys. Edward would have therefore approached the enemy from nearly due west. But, before engaging, he executed a manoeuvre which is thus described by Froissart 114.
That is to say, the wind blowing probably from the north or north-east, the English fleet went about and stood away to the north-west, thus getting the advantage of the wind for the attack. (The manoeuvre, as appears both from Froissart and Avesbury, was mistaken by the enemy for a retreat.) But the object of the movement was, further, to get the advantage of the sun and also of the tide. Baker's words (following Murimuth) are "After the ninth hour, when he had the wind, the sun, and the river's current at his back." Edward himself also, in his letter to his son describing the battle (Nicolas, 2.501 Edward's letter Attacking in the afternoon from a position north-west of the enemy, Edward would bear down upon them with the tide running down channel, thus literally having the 'impetum fluminis,' the ebbing ocean stream, in his favour, and with the sun, not indeed actually 'a tergo' i.e. 'from behind' but, rapidly drawing away behind him.
Note 2. Froissart 115.
Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. On that same day [24th June 1340], shortly before the hour of vespers, the ship of Lord Robert de Morley was the first of all to attack the French fleet; after that came the ship of the Earl of Huntingdon, then the Earl of Northampton, then Walter de Manny. In this way, each ship, hastening toward the enemy, had both the sun and the wind in their favour, just as they wished. And almost at the beginning of the struggle, they captured three of the largest "cogs," called Edward, Katherine, and Rose, which had once been taken from the English at sea. Once this first French naval line was subdued, those within being slain by the sword and the French king's banner trampled down, while the English king's banner was raised high on the three captured ships, the remaining ships each tried to flee. But, surrounded by the English, those inside threw down their arms and tried to escape into small boats. Before they could reach shore, however, the little vessels, overloaded, sank, sending about two thousand men into the depths. Thus, with the first three French battle-lines subdued, the fourth line, about sixty ships strong, still contained some armed men who had escaped from the captured vessels, and who were difficult to overpower. And after the middle of the night had passed, with many thousands slain, they could scarcely be subdued. In this final fight the English lost one ship and a galley from Hull, all those inside being crushed by stones. In the ship where the wardrobe of the King of England was kept, all but two men and one woman were killed; yet the ship was afterwards taken by the English. From the French side there fell, some by the sword, some who leapt into the sea, and others who, descending from their great ships into small boats, were sunk by the excessive weight, about thirty thousand men. On the English side, no nobleman was killed that day, except for Sir Thomas de Monthermer, knight. Thus, with victory granted by the Lord over the French, the King of England, coming ashore with certain others, humbly gave the highest thanks to Almighty God.
Et eodem die, parum ante horam vesperam, navis domini Roberti de Morlee navigio Gallicorum primo omnium insultum dedit, post illam navis comitis de Huntingdon, deinde comitis de Northampton, deinde Walteri de Mannay, sicque singulæ naves versus inimicos festinantes, solem et ventum secum habuerunt juxta votum. Et quasi in agonis principio tres maximos cogones quos vocabant Edwardum, Katerinam, et Rosam, olim de manibus Anglorum in mari sublatos, adepti sunt. Subjugata, que prima navali acie, qui intus erant gladio deletis et conculcato regis Franciæ vexillo, regisque Angliæ in sublimi in tribus dictis navibus elevato, reliquæ naves singulæ fugam inire temptabant; circumclusæ tamen ab Anglis, depositis armis suis, qui intus erant scaphas intrabant, sed antequam terram tangere possent naviculæ, nimis oneratæ, submersis circa duo millibus hominum profundum maris petierunt, sicque tribus gagement at aciebus subditis, in IV acie, circa LX naves habente, erant nonnulli armati a prædictis fugati navibus difficiles ad subjiciendum. Transactaque media nocte occisis multis millibus vix subjugari potuerunt. In hoc enim ultimo bello perdiderunt Anglici unam navem et galeam de Hull, cunctis qui intus erant lapidibus oppressis. Illi vero qui erant in navi, ubi garderoba regis Angliæ posita est, præter duos homines et mulierem quandam omnes occisi sunt: navis tamen postea ab Anglicis adepta est. Ceciderunt autem ex parte Gallicorum tum ferro tum ex illis qui in mari saltaverunt tum ex illis qui de magnis navibus in naviculas parvas descendentes nimio navali pondere submersi sunt circa triginta millia virorum. Ex parte vero Anglicorum nullus nobilis, præter solum dominum Thomam de Monte-Hermeri militem, interfectus fuit die illo. Collata itaque super Francigenas a Domino victoria, rex Angliæ cum quibusdam ad terram veniens, summas Altissimo gratias humiliter referebat.
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Chronicle of William Nangis, -1300. [24th June 1340] In this year, King Philip of France, upon hearing that King Edward of England, who had long remained hidden, had prepared a large fleet to cross the sea in aid of the Flemings, assembled a considerable fleet from Picardy and Normandy, and fortified it to block his crossing, as well as that of Lord Robert of Artois, who was with him. He appointed two admirals over this fleet: namely, Lord Hugh Quieret and Nicholas called Béhuchet. But when, on or around the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the English crossed the sea and came to battle, the French, who were waiting for the King of England and his ships at the port of Sluys to prevent him from taking the harbour, although some advised it would be better to intercept him in the open sea, where neither the English nor the Flemings could assist each other, initially held their ground fairly well. However, when Flemish reinforcements arrived both from the port of Sluys and nearby harbours to support the English, the French were unable to withstand them and took to flight. Many threw themselves headlong into the sea in hopes of escaping by swimming, but were immediately killed by the Flemings upon reaching the shore. Many ships were lost. Nicholas Béhuchet was also killed, and, insultingly to the King of France, was hanged from the mast of a ship. Lord Hugh Quieret was captured aboard his vessel. And as some claimed, all of this happened because the two admirals were not in harmony and were stirred by bitter envy; one could not tolerate the other's rank. As Lucan says:
No trust exists among co-rulers of a kingdom; all power
Resents a partner. Do not trust such alliances among nations,
Nor seek distant examples from fate,
The first city walls were soaked in a brother's blood.
This saying affirms and agrees with the idea that, whatever may be said or imagined, no one truly wishes to share authority, but seeks to claim all power for himself.
Hoc anno rex Franciæ Philippus, audiens quod rex Angliæ Eduardus, qui diu latuerat, magnum navlgium ad transfretandum in auxilium Flammingorum præparasset, classem non modlcam Plcardiæ ac Normanniæ acceptit, ipsamque munivit ad impediendum transitum ejus, necnon et domlni Roberti de Attrebato qui cum eo erat. Congregavit duos admiraldos; dominum scilicet Hugonem Queret et Nicholaum dictum Behuchet eldem classi præficiens. Sed cum in die beati Johannis Baplistæ vel circa transfretasset, et ventum esset ad conflictum, nostri, ad portum Sclusæ regem Angliæ cum navibus suis exspectantes, ut a captione portus ipsum impedirent, (licet aliqui consulerent in medio raaris obviare sibi melius esse ad finem, quod nec Anglici nec Flammingi possent sibi auxilium ferre) primo impetu satis bene se habuerunt. Sed supervenientibus Flammingis tam de portu Sclusæ quam de portubus vicinis in auxilium Anglorum, ipsos sustinere non valentes fugam arripuerunt, multique in mari præcipites se dederunt ut natando evaderent, sed a Flammingis statim occidebantur in littore; et amissis pluribus navibus, Nicholaum dictum Behuchet etiam occiderunt, et in despectum regis Franciæ ad malum navis suspenderunt. Dominum etiam Hugonem dictum Queret in navi acceperunt. Et ut aliqui asserebant, hoc totum accidit quia isti duo admiraldi male concordes erant ac felle invidiæ commoti; unus alterius dignitatem ferre non valebat, secundum Lucani verba, qui dicit:
Nulla fides regni sociis, omuisque potestas
Impatiens consortis erit, nec gentibus ullis
Credite, nec longe fatorum exempla petantur,
Fraterno primi maduerunt sanguine muri
Volens dicere et annuere quod quidquid dicatur seu fingatur, niillus \ult habere socium in auctoritate, sed totam sibi attribuere auctoritatem.
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On 30th September 1342 the French army attacked the English besiegers of Morlaix forcing the English to retreat to the nearby woods. William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 32) commanded, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 30) and Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 34) fought.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. Thus, in the field near Morlaix, the hostile armies clashed [30th September 1342], where the courage of both nations, namely the Bretons, the French, and the English, was put to the test. The battle was fought fiercely on both sides, so much so that it happened, in that engagement, what we have not heard of occurring at the battles of Halidon Hill, or Crécy, or Poitiers. The commanders of the opposing forces, Charles of Blois, to whom the tyrant of the French had granted the duchy of that land, and William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton, whom the king had appointed commander of the English army to uphold the rights of John of Montfort, the natural duke of that land, fought with such noble valour that, rather than be accused of cowardice or dishonour for retreating from the field, they would have more willingly lost all. And so the fighting continued on both sides with great spirit. Indeed, in the entire French war prior to the capture of the false king of France, John, never had the French been fought so fiercely or for so long in hand-to-hand combat on the field, as any Englishman or Frenchman would affirm unless he were a liar. Three times that day, worn out from fighting, both sides withdrew briefly to catch their breath, leaning on stakes, lances, and swords to rest. But at last, the great-hearted Charles, as his troops began to flee, was compelled to take flight himself leaving the English free to tend to their victory and safety in peace.
Igitur in campo iuxta Morleys exercitus hostiles conflixerunt, ubi animositas utriusque gentis, Britonum videlicet, Gallicorum atque Anglicorum, fuerat experta. Pugnatum est fortiter ex utraque parte, ita quod contigit in illo certamine quod nec in bellis, nec Halydonehiel nec de Cressi nec de Petters, audivimus contigisse. Duces nempe parcium, scilicet Karolus de Bloys, cui illius terre dederat ducatum Francorum tirannus, et Willelmus de Bohun, comes Norhamptonie, quem pro tuendo iure Iohannis de Mountfort, naturalis ducis illius terre, rex exercitui Anglicorum prefecit, animositate quam habuerunt heroes generosi, omnia libencius perdidissent quam turpi vecordia arguendi, campo relicto, terga vertissent. Pugnatur proinde ex utraque parte animose, nec unquam in tota Gallica guerra, que capturam seudo-regis Francorum Iohannis antecessit, Francos tam acriter vel ita diu manualiter in campo pugnasse potuerit asserere Anglicus aut Francus aliquis, nisi mendax. Ter eodem die lassati ex utraque parte se modicum retraxere anelitum respiraturi, palis, lanceis et spatis ad quiescendum appodiati. Set tandem magnanimus ille Karolus, suis fugientibus, compulsus erat fugam inire; unde Anglici saluti pacifice vacabant.
On 23rd April 1344 King Edward III of England (age 31) created the Order of the Garter. The date nominal as there are different accounts; some sources say 1348.
2 Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster.
3 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick.
4 Jean Grailly.
5 Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford.
6 William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury.
7 Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March.
9 Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh.
10 John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick.
11 John Mohun 2nd Baron Mohun of Dunster.
12 Hugh Courtenay.
13 Thomas Holland 1st Earl Kent.
15 Richard Fitzsimon.
16 Miles Stapleton.
17 Thomas Wale.
18 Hugh Wrottesley.
19 Neil Loring.
20 John Chandos.
21 James Audley.
22 Otho Holland.
23 Henry Eam.
24 Sanchet Abrichecourt.
Adam Murimuth Continuation. In this year [1344], the Lord King ordered that the most noble tournament or chivalric contest be held at the place of his birth, namely, Windsor Castle, on the 19th of January, that is, the 14th day before the Kalends of February. He had it publicly proclaimed at an appropriate earlier time, both across the sea and in England. He also had all the ladies of the southern parts of England and the wives of the London burgesses invited by letter. So, on Sunday, the 14th day before the Kalends of February [19th January], when the earls, barons, knights, and a great many noble ladies had gathered at the castle, the king held a magnificent feast— such that the great hall of the castle was completely filled with ladies, and no man was among them, except two knights from France who had come solely for the celebration. At that feast were two queens, nine countesses, and the wives of barons, knights, and burgesses, whose numbers could hardly be counted. The king himself personally placed each woman in her seat according to rank. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cornwall, the earls, barons, and knights, together with the common people, dined in tents and other locations, where food and all necessities were provided—freely and without complaint. In the evening, there were various dances and revels, solemnly arranged. For the three days following, the king, along with nineteen other knights, held the tournament against all challengers from outside. And the king himself, not because of royal favor, but because of the great effort he made and the fortune he had during those three days, was awarded the prize among the English participants. Among the foreign challengers, on the first day, Sir Miles de Stapleton (age 24), the second day, Sir Philip Despenser, the third day, Sir John Blount (age 46) were each honored for their performances. On the Thursday following, during the squires' tournament, the king held a great banquet, at which he inaugurated his Round Table, and took the oaths of certain earls, barons, and knights whom he wished to include under a specific form associated with that Round Table. He then set the next meeting of the Round Table to be held at the feast of Pentecost, and gave all those present leave to return home, with thanks and blessings. Later, he ordered that a magnificent building be constructed at Windsor, in which the Round Table could be held on the assigned date. To that end, he appointed masons, carpenters, and other craftsmen, and commanded that timber and stone be provided—sparing no labor or expense. However, this work was later abandoned, for certain reasons.
Hoc anno ordinavit dominus rex habere nobilissima hastiludia sive tirocinium in loco nativitatis suse, videlicet in castro de Wyndesore, die videlicet Januarii XIX et XIIIJ kalendas Februarii, quæ competenti temore præcedenti fecit tam in partibus transmarinis quam in Anglia publice proclamari. Ad que etiam fecit omnes dominas australium partium Angliæ et uxores burgensium Londoniensium per suas literas invitari. Congregatis igitur comitibus, baronibus, militibus, et quam plurimis dominabus die Dominica, videlicet XIIJ kalendas Februarii, in castro prædicto, fecit rex solempne convivium, ita quod magna aula ipsius castri plena exstitit dominabus, nec fuit aliquis masculus inter eas, præter duos milites qui soli de Francia ad solempnitatem hujusmodi accesserunt. In quo convivio fuerunt dus reginæ, IX comitissæ, uxores baronum, militum, et burgensium, qua non potueruunt faciliter numerari, quas rex ipse personaliter in locis suis secundum ordinem collocavit. Princeps vero Wallis, dux Cornubiæ, comites, barones, et milites, una cum toto populo in tentorio et locis aliis comederunt, ubi fuerunt cibaria et omnia alia necessaria præparata et omnibus liberaliter et sine murmure liberata; et in sero choreæ et tripudia diversa 'solempniter ordinata. Et tribus diebus sequentibus rex cum aliis decem et novem militibus tenuit hastiludia contra omnes ab extrinseco venientes; et idem dominus, non propter favorem regium, sed propter magnum laborem quem sustinuit et propter fortunam quam dicto triduo habuit, inter intrinsecos gratias reportavit, Extrinsecus vero dominus miles de Stapeltona primo die, dominus Philippus Despenser secundo die, dominus Johannes Blount tertio die, gratias reportarunt. Die vero Jovis sequente post hastiludia domicellorum, dominus rex fecit cenam magnam in qua suam rotundam tabulam inchoavit, et juramenta quorumdam comitum et baronum et militum quos voluit esse de dicta tabula rotunda recepit sub certa forma ad dictam rotundam tabulam pertinente; et præfixit diem rotundese tabule tenendæ ibidem in festo Pentecostes proxime tunc futuro, et omnibus præsentibus dedit licentiam cum gratiarum actionibus ad propria remeandi. Ordinavit etiam postea quod ibidem fieret una nobilissima domus, in qua posset dicta rotunda tabula teneri in termino assignato; ad quam faciendam, cæmentarios et carpentarios ceterosque artifices deputavit, et tam ligna quam lapides provideri præcepit, non parcendo laboribus vel expensis. A quo opere fuit postea ex certis causis cessatum.
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On 23rd April 1344. The date somewhat unclear; it may have been before. King Edward III of England (age 31) formed the Order of the Garter. The first reliable record occurs in autumn of 1348 when the King's wardrobe account shows Garter habits being issued. The Order may have been formed before then with some traditions such as the mantle, and the garter and motto, possibly being introduced later. The Garter refers to an event at Wark Castle, Northumberland [Map] at which King Edward III of England picked up the Countess of Salisbury's fallen garter and saying to the crowd "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ie Shame on him who thinks badly of it, or possibly, he brings shame on himself who thinks badly of it. The Countess of Salisbury could refer to his future daughter-in-law Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 15) or her former mother-in-law Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury (age 40). The event has also been described as taking place at Calais [Map].
Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury: Around 1304 she was born to William Grandison 1st Baron Grandison and Sibylla Tregoz Baroness Grandison at Ashford, Herefordshire. Around 1320 William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and she were married. She by marriage Baroness Montagu. On 23rd November 1349 Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury died at Bisham Abbey [Map].
Around 25th August 1345 Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 35) commanded the English forces at Bergerac, Dordogne during the Battle of Bergerac. The English army including Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 35) won a decisive victory over the French with Henri Montigny captured.
After 22nd September 1345 Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (deceased) was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map], or possibly the Hospital Chapel, at a ceremony attended by King Edward III of England (age 32) and his wife Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 31). His son Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 35) subsequently had his remains moved to St Mary de Castro Leicester, Leicestershire [Map].
On 12th July 1346 King Edward III of England (age 33) landed at La Hogue [Map] with army of around 10,000 men including John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28).
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. Afterwards, the lord king hastened his passage into Normandy,1 where his fleet was awaiting him at Portsmouth and Porchester. Thus, accompanied by the earls of Northampton, Arundel, Warwick, and the lord of Harcourt, as well as the earls of Huntingdon, Oxford, and Suffolk, the bishop of Durham, and Sir William de Kyllesby, a cleric, each of whom brought with him a large force of armed men and archers, the king remained at the aforementioned ports from the calends of June [1st June] until the fifth day of July, awaiting a wind, slow but favourable. At last, with a fleet of a thousand ships, pinnaces, and transports, they began to sail in remarkable fashion. The royal council was kept secret: indeed, even the shipmasters, having left port, did not know where the fleet was to be directed, but were ordered to follow the admiral. However, on that same day, the king sent messengers from his own ship to the other vessels, already far from shore, instructing their captains to follow the admiral and steer toward the port of Hogue in Normandy.
Postea dominus rex suum passagium in Neustriam properavit, ipsum apud Portusmutham et Porcestriam navigio expectante. Igitur cum comitibus Norhamptonie, Arundelie, Warwykie, et domino de Harecourt, Huntyndonie, Oxenfordie, et Suffolchie, et episcopo Dunelmensi, et domino Willelmo de Kyllesby, clerico, quorum quilibet copiosam massam armatorum atque sagittariorum secum deduxit, dominus rex ad predictos portus a kalendis Iunii usque ad quintum diem mensis Iulii ventum tardum set prosperum expectavit. Tandem cum mille navibus, spinaciis, atque cariariis inceperunt velificare mirabiliter. Secretum tenebatur tunc concilium regale; magistri nempe navium adhuc de portu amoti nescierunt quo deberent naves dirigere, set iussi sequebantur amirallum. Attamen eodem die rex de sua nave emisit nuncios ad cetera vasa, iam longe ab litore distancia, precipiens eorum rectoribus ut sequerentur amirallum, ad portum de Hoggis in Normannia naves directuri.
Note 1. Stow Annales 377.
On 26th July 1346 the English army attacked and took Caen [Map] killing around 5000 French soldiers and militia. Otho Holland (age 30) fought.
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. Then they went to Valognes, a fine town, which was burned, then to Saint-Côme-du-Mont near the bridge of the river Douve, and then to Carentan, and then to Serins, and to the city of Saint Lô, and the fine town of Torigni, all of which were burned; that night, the king lodged at Cormolain. Then he came to Juvigny, a cell of the monastery of Caen, where nothing was left unburned. On Tuesday, they launched an assault and, after a great struggle, entered the noble city of Caen at the bridge, which had been fiercely defended. There were taken and slain 114 knights, including the Count of Eu1 and the chamberlain of Tankerville,2 brave knights, who were sent as prisoners to England, as well as the abbess of Caen.3 Of the townspeople who resisted, more than 1,300 were killed. The army remained there for six days, during which time the spoils that had been acquired in towns and countryside were either sent or sold to the sailors, who followed the king along the coast, laying waste to everything that could serve a naval purpose.
Deinde ad Valoygnes, bonam villam combustam; deinde ad Seint Combe de Mont, iuxta pontem Dove, et ad Karantam; deinde ad Serins et ad civitatem sancti Ludowici et bonam villam de Turny profecti, omnia combusserunt; et illa nocte ospitatus rex ad Cormolin. Deinde apud Gerin, cellam monasterii de Came, nihil relinquitur inconsumptum. Postea, in die Martis, dederunt insultum, et cum magno certamine ingressi sunt nobilem civitatem de Came, ad pontem, qui acerrime fuerat defensus. Illic fuerunt capti et occisi centum et XlIIJ milites, inter quos fuerunt comes de Ew et camberlinus de Tankervyle, probi milites, cum aliis captivis in Angliam missi, et abbatissa de Came; de civibus ville qui resistebant fuerunt occisi amplius quam mille trecenti. Ibi morabatur exercitus per sex dies, qui spolia usque tunc in villis et patria adquisita vel miserunt vel vendiderunt nautis vel per nautas, qui iuxta maritima regem sequebantur, omnia vastantes, que possent ad artem navalem pertinere.
Note 1. Raoul II de Brienne, comte d'Eu, became constable of France, on the death of his father, in 1344. He remained prisoner in England for some years; and, returning to France in 1350, was beheaded by king John about the 19th November in that year.
Note 2. Jean de Melun, sire de Tancarville, grand chamberlain of France, died in 1350.
Note 3. The abbess of the Abbé aux Dames (or of the Holy Trinity) at this time was Georgia de Mollay, who succeeded in 1336 and died in 1376. The letter of Bartholomew, lord Burghersh, written from Caen three days after the assault (Murimuth 202.
Knighton 2586, gives pretty nearly the same account. Letter of Northburgh narrating the advance to Caen in Avesbury 359.
On 3rd September 1346 King Edward III of England (age 33) commenced the Siege of Calais. It lasted eleven months with Calais eventually surrendering on 3rd August 1347.
In or after 3rd September 1346 John Savile of Shelley and Golcar (age 21) took part in the Siege of Calais.
On 9th April 1347 Edward "Black Prince" (age 16) attended a Tournament at Lichfield. John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Hugh Courtenay 2nd or 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (or possibly his son also Hugh Courtenay (age 20) ) and Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 38) took part in the Tournament.
On 20th June 1347 Charles "Saint" Chatillon Duke Brittany (age 28) was captured by Thomas Dagworth 1st Baron Dagworth (age 71) at La Roche Derrien during the Battle of La Roche Derrien.
On 3rd August 1347 the English captured Calais [Map] providing England with a French port for the next two hundred years. Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 34) commanded, John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 29), Richard Vache and Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 37) fought during the year long siege.
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Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. When the besieged in Calais learned of the disgraceful flight of the French tyrant, they threw his standard from the tower into a ditch with great sorrow. And on the following Saturday, their captain, an experienced and well-trained soldier in the art of war, named John of Vienne, opened the gates, and seated on a small horse, unable to walk due to gout, with a rope around his neck, came before the king. He was followed by other knights and townsmen on foot, with bare heads and barefoot, also with ropes around their necks.
Turpi fuga tiranni Francorum Calisiensibus obsessis comperta, eius stacionardum cum ingenti luctu de turri in foveam proiecerunt, et sabbato sequenti illorum capitaneus, in bellica praxici miles multum eruditus, vocatus lohannes de Vienna, ianuis apertis, insidebat parvo runcino, impos pre gutta pedes incedere, collum corda constrictus, venit coram rege; quern alii milites et burgenses pedites, nudi capita et discalciati, funes ad colla eciam habentes, sequebantur.
In 1349 Parlament enacted the Ordinance of Labourers in response to the shortage of labour caused by the 1348 Black Death Plague Outbreak. The Ordinance introduced
In 23rd April 1349 King Edward III of England (age 36) created new Garter Knights:
26th William Fitzwarin (age 33). The date may be earlier.
27th. Robert Ufford (age 50).
28th William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 39).
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. As the aforementioned solemnity1 was approaching, the king was informed, through the secretaries of Americo of Padua,2 a mercenary knight, that on the 14th day of January, Geoffroi de Charny,3 a French knight, and a great number of other Frenchmen were to be admitted into Calais, which had been sold to them by the said Americo, but was by the king's grace rescued by the following intervention. The said Americo of Padua, who had been staying in Calais during its siege among the Genoese, served for pay under the tyrant of the French [the King of France], against the English king, who was then besieging the city. But after the surrender of the town, like the others, he was granted clemency of life, limbs, and knightly liberty, and remained in the king's service as a mercenary, assigned to the defence of Calais. At the time, Geoffroi, Lord of Matas, was regarded, so the rumours spread, as the most experienced of all the French in military affairs: a man of long experience in arms, endowed with keen natural intelligence, and thus principal counsellor to the French "tyrants" [the French royalists], until his death and the capture of the crowned French king at the Battle of Poitiers. This man, a most cunning schemer of crimes, attempted to corrupt the loyalty of Americo, who had been summoned by letters and lured with gifts of gold and deceitful promises. Finally, driven by greed, Americo agreed that for thousands of gold écus,4 he would open a tower under his command to provide the French with easy access into the town, and help them as much as he could in seizing the town and castle. Thus, this treacherous pact, though confirmed by oath and even by sharing the sacrament of the altar, was still a most wicked undertaking, initiated in treacherous cunning and false faith. Indeed, not at the walls of Ilium,5 but at the walls of Calais, sin was committed both without and within: for although a truce was still in effect, the laws of moral conscience would have forbidden the French from any deceit, open or secret, that could violate the peaceful possession of Calais by the English king. Moreover, Americo should have been deterred, by reverence for knightly honour, from any betrayal or unworthy promise, even one not binding, for by right, faith must be kept even with an enemy. But he kept faith with neither enemy nor king, serving the King of Heaven most wickedly, when he falsely invoked the Body of the Savior to seal his deceitful agreement, and furthermore received the communion of the chalice. Nevertheless, he wrote to the king, disclosing the entire affair without hiding anything, thus keeping himself prepared either to support the French, if they succeeded, or to retain the favour of the king, if the French plot failed and they were convicted of breaking the truce, and possibly many would be captured for ransom. And so it happened.
Instante prefata solempnitate, nunciatum est regi per secretarios. Americoi de Padua, militis stipendiarii, quod quartadecima die mensis Ianuarii forent in Calesiam recipiendi Galfridus de Charny, miles, et alii Gallici in magno numero, quibus Calesia per predictum Americoum fuerat vendita, set per regem graciose rescutata tali processu. Predictus Americous Paduensis inter ceteros Ianuenses morabatur in Calesia obsessa, ad stipendia tiranni Francorum contra regem obsidentem; set sibi, sicud ceteris, post ville dedicionem concessa gracia vite et membrorum atque libertatis militaris, de cetero mansit cum rege stipendiarius ad eiusdem Calesie tuicionem. Erat pro tunc Galfridus dominus de Matas miles plus quam aliquis Gallicus, ut fama ventilavit, in re militari exercitatus atque, cum longa experiencia armorum, nature vivacis sagacitate excellenter dotatus, et ideo Francie tirannorum, usque ad suum interitum et coronati Francorum capcionem in prelio Pictavensi, conciliarius principalis. Iste facinorum calidissimus machinator fidem prefati Americoi literis sibi evocati auri donis et sofisticis promissis conatus pervertere. Finaliter cum falso cupidus convenit quod, pro milibus scutatorum aureorum, per turrim, cui Americous preficiebatur, facilem introitum Gallicis in villam prepararet, atque ad ville et castri plenam capcionem quatenus posset adiuvaret. Pactum itaque prodiciosum quantumcunque per iuramentum et communionem sacramenti altaris utrimque confirmatum, attamen ut plenum versuta calliditate et fide mentita pessime fuerat iniciatum. Equidem non iam 'IIiacos,' set Calesios, 'muros extra peccatur et intra,' nam Gallicos, treuge adhuc durantes, pie consciencie legibus proibuissent ob omni circumvencione pupplica vel occulta, qua pacifice possessioni regis Anglie, quoad predictam villam, poterant derogasse. Eciam prefatum Americoum reverencia fidei militaris terruisset ab omni prodicione et inonesta, non eciam servanda, sponsione, cum de iure sit hosti servanda fides; set ipse nec hosti fidem servavit, nec regi terreno aliter quam dubie militavit, et Eterno Principi impiissime servivit, quando corpus Salvatoris, in testimonium sue versute convencionis, fallaciter invocavit, et insuper communionem calicis recepit. Scripsit tamen regi literas de toto negocio, nihil occultans, itaque paratus ad Gallicorum amiciciam, si ipsi expedivissent, et in regis benevolenciam, casu quo Gallici a proposito frustrati fuissent convicti de fraccione treugarum et insuper forte multi redimendi caperentur. Set ita contingebat.
Note 1. Stow Annales 387.
The story of the attempt on Calais is best known from Froissart's picturesque narrative, founded on Le Bel. It is curious that there should be confusion regarding the date of the event. Le Bel gives the year 1348, and in this he is followed by certain MSS. of Froissart while in others the more correct date 1349 is found. Baker also, as we have seen, inclines to 1348. The actual attempt took place in the night between the last day of 1349 and New Year's day 1350. The Grandes Chroniques de France, 5.491, and Avesbury 408, whose account of the affair is very well given, are both in the right as regards the year. The confusion between 1348 and 1349 may have arisen (as it does appear to have arisen in Baker's mind) from the fact that Edward was at Calais at about the same time in both years.
Avesbury 408-410: "In the year of our Lord 1349, while a certain Genoese [Amerigo of Pavia] served as captain of the castle of Calais under the King of England, Sir Geoffroy de Charny, a knight and a native of Picardy, who was one of the principal counsellors of King Philip of Valois, plotted and conspired to seize the castle of Calais deceitfully and secretly since he could not take it by open assault. Having held a secret discussion with the said Genoese, Charny promised him many thousands of florins if he would agree and lend his effort to help carry out the scheme in secret. However, the Genoese, unwilling to betray the King of England, his lord, whose bread he ate and who placed great trust in him, wanted nonetheless to pocket the promised gold. So, speaking peacefully with Sir Geoffroy de Charny, he feigned agreement, cleverly pretending to go along with the plan. On the appointed day, namely on the morrow of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord 1st January 1349
Note 2. Americo di Pavia. The description here given of him seems to be a true one. He was apparently a Lombard mercenary. Avesbury calls him a Genoese; see previous note. Jean Le Bel 2.177. Froissart 317 Le Bel tells us that Edward discovered the intended treachery, not through the traitor's confession, but by some other means. Americo's position in Calais has been exaggerated. He is generally represented as captain of the castle; Froissart also puts him in command of the town, whereas John Beauchamp had held that command since 1st January 1349. He was probably nothing more than captain of one of the towers forming part of the walls of the town, as stated in the text. He had been appointed captain of the king's galleys, 24th April 1348; Rymer's Fœdera 3.159.
Note 3. Geoffroi de Charny, seigneur de Pierre-Perthuis, de Montfort et de Savoisy, a soldier, who was at this time captain of Saint-Omer. In 1352 he was made one of the knights of the newly-founded order of the Star. He fell at Poitiers. In the present affair he was taken prisoner by sir John de Potenhale (Devon, Issue Rolls of the Exchequer, 158). Baker gives him the title of 'dominus de Matas' i.e. 'Lord of Matas', which however is not found attached to his name in the French accounts of him. But it is a coincidence, if nothing else, that Chandos Herald, the author of The Black Prince (Roxburghe Club), names 'Matas' as one of the chief men who fell at Poitiers; and that Bartholomew, lord Burghersh, in his letter describing the battle (ibid. 369), gives the two names 'mons. Geffray Charny; mons. Geffrey Matas' in juxtaposition, in his list of the slain; and also that, in the same manner, the two names 'Mounsire Geffray Charny; Le sire de Mathas' come together in the list at the end of Avesbury's chronicle. With Baker's statement confronting us, we are tempted to think that in the Poitiers lists two men have been made out of one.
Note 4. The amount of the bribe was 20,000 ecus d'or. This coin was worth a little more than a half-noble, or about 2s 10d.
Note 5. Paraphrasing Horace's Epistles Book 1 Chapter 2 Line 16: 'Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra.' i.e. 'There is sin both within the walls of Ilium and outside them.'
Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. [31st December 1349] Therefore, on the day before the appointed day of treachery, Geoffroi de Charny sent fifteen of his trusted men, bringing with them a large sum of gold, the price of betrayal, to test Americo's loyalty and inspect the layout of the castle. These men, scouting every tower and hidden corner, perceived nothing contrary to their hopes. Thus, on the next day, they planted the royal French standard on the highest tower of the castle, and the banners of Geoffroi and those of other French lords were raised upon the other towers. Because the common townsfolk, who knew nothing of the plot, saw this, great terror seized them. Rushing to arms, they prepared to attack the castle at once. Immediately, the French, who had entered the day before, seized Sir Thomas de Kyngestone,1 who was pretending ignorance of the conspiracy, and bound him in wooden stocks. Then some of the French were sent out to their lords, who were lying in ambush outside the fortress, and showed them the raised standards, promising that all was going well, and urging them to hurry to the castle under the pretence of helping defend it against the townsfolk. Rising from their hiding places, with their customary pomp and pride, the French forces surged in great numbers, breaking through the gates of the castle. At that moment, the townsfolk barely restrained themselves from attacking, though their leaders held them back, and the danger seemed to pass as the French streamed into the fortress. Then, the king's loyal men, who had been hidden like anchorites under the vaulted arches of the walls for three long days, weary of the delay, prepared to strike. At the same time, the man hidden in the false tower chamber with the great stone, seeing that enough Frenchmen had entered for his comrades to overcome, released the huge stone entrusted to him. The stone shattered the drawbridge, cutting off the way by which the French had so eagerly entered, now trapped inside, they could no longer escape that way. The stone had thus taken the place of the portcullis, which had originally been removed from its proper position and left in the control of the French, as a deceptive show of security. At the crash of the falling stone and the collapse of the bridge, the armed "anchorites", bursting through the false wall that had hidden them, threw off their disguise, and welcomed the French knights back to their "order" with a fierce and deadly greeting. A furious assault followed, lasting some time but at last the French, defeated, submitted humbly to the will of the victors.
Igitur pridie peremtorie diei Galfridus de Charny misit quindecim suos fideles, cum magna parte auri, premii prodicionis, exploraturos fidem Americoi et castri disposicionem. Qui, circumquaque quamlibet turrim et angulum opertum visitantes, nihil suis votis contrarium perceperunt. Unde in crastino fixerunt stacionardum regium Francorum in eminenciori turri castelle, et vexilla Galfridi aliorum quoque dominorum super alias turres locaverunt. Proinde populares de ville custodia, quos latuit facinus, tantus terror agitavit, quod ad arma convolantes insultum disponebant in castrum festinare. Confestim Gallici pridie ingressi dominum Thomam de Kyngestone nescium facinoris se fingentem violenter ceperunt et in bogis ligneis captivarunt. Deinde quidam ex illis, emissi ad Francos suos dominos extra municionem imboscatos, ostenderunt stacionardum et erecta vexilla, cetera prospera compromittentes, si tamen festinarent ad defensionem castri contra villanos. Igitur, surgentes de latibulis, cum pompa solita et innata genti Gallicorum, portas castri irruperunt Franci copiose. Tunc villani vix manus ab insultu continuerunt, ipsos tamen ducibus eorum retrahentibus quasi periculum insiliencium diffugitivis, statim fideles regis amici, qui sub arcuatis murorum latibulis instar anacoritarum fuerant inclusi, trium dierum longam moram fastidientes, se prepararunt ad irrupcionem. Nec minus ille qui cum saxo grandi fuit in foramine nuper inclusus, postquam vidit tot ingressos ad quorum debellacionem estimabat suos consentaneos sufficienter potuisse, molarem illum ingentem sibi commissum direxit ruine; quo pons versatilis rumpebatur, et via fuerat preclusa per quam hostes fuerant nimium ingressuri, atque, semel ingressi, non poterant per illud iter evadere. Saxum predictum supplevit quodammodo vices pectinis ruituri, quod in principle fuit ab officio debito suspensum atque Gallicis traditum tutcle in illorum delusoriam assecuritacionem. Ad strepitum saxi et pontis fracti armati anacorite, depulso muro fictili eos occultante, apostatarunt, et ad suum ordinem milites Francigenas coegerunt dira salutacione invitatos. Insultus acerrimus quam diu duravit, set tandem devicti hostes suppliciter victorum voluntati se commiserunt.
Note 1. Sir Thomas Kingston must either have been carried away prisoner, or have surrendered unconditionally; for in 1352 the king gave him £100 in aid of his ransom. Issue Rolls Exchequer, 156. Baker seems to imply that he allowed himself to be taken in order to keep up the delusion of the French that they were effecting a surprise. He was afterwards, 13 June 1361, made warden of the castle of Calais. Rymer's Fœdera 3.619.
Chronicle of Robert de Avesbury. [31st December 1349] Observing this, the said Lord Geoffroi de Charny, being not far from the king, began to advance toward him with a large company of French noblemen, all heavily armed and on horseback. Then the said Lord King, placed in such great and present danger, did not yield, but, like a valiant and high-spirited knight, drew his sword and cried out in a loud voice: "A! Edward, Saint George! A! Edward, Saint George!" When the French heard these words, they were so astonished that they lost their nerve, as one noble knight among them, who was later taken prisoner, recounted afterward.
Hoc considerans prædictus dominus Galfridus de Charny, modicum distans a rege, cum una magna acie nobilium hominum armorum equitum de Francigenis movebat se versus regem. Tunc dictus dominus rex, in tali et tanto periculo constitutus, nimum non submisit, sed, sicut miles strenuus et magnanimus, evaginavit gladium suum et alta voce protulit hee verba: "A! Edward, seint George! A! Edward, seint George!" Et cum Francigeni hac verba audissent, adeo fuerant attoniti quod perdiderunt animum, sicut unus nobilis miles de eisdem Francigenis ibidem captus postea narravit.
Bourgeois de Valciennes. 31st December 1349 And in that battle was present the very noble Lord Pepin de Wierre, a knight of great renown, along with Lord de Créquy and Lord du Bos, and many other young knights (bachelors). From that battle escaped Lord John of Landas, Lord Morel de Fiennes, and a great number of others. But Lord Eustace de Ribemont was taken prisoner, while conducting himself with such grace and defence that all the English marveled at him; so much so that he won the prize and the laurel as the best defender of the day. Along with him was also captured Lord Galeran, his son, who was badly wounded during the capture. And when this was done, the King of England withdrew, and left as chief captain of Calais Lord Beauchamp, for the truce between the King of France and the King of England was soon expected to expire.
Et en celle bataille y fut très monseigneur Pepin de Werre, ung chevalier de grant renom, et monseignenr de Créquy et monseigneur du Bos et moult d'aultres bacelers. Et de celle bataille eschappsrent monseigneur Johan de Landas et monseigneur Morel de Fiennes et grant plenté d'aultres. Et y fut prins monseigneur Ustasse de Ribeumont en bon contenant et en luy deffendant sy souffisamment que tous les Englecqs s'en esmervilloient ; sy eult le pris et le chappelet au mieuls deffendant celle journée. Et sy fut prins avoecques luy monseigneur Galerant, son fils, qui moult durement fut navrés au prendre. Et ce fait, le roy d'Engleterre s'en rala et laissa pour souverain capitaine de Calais monseigneur de Beauchamp ; car les tréves devoient assez prochainement fallir entre le roy de France et le roy d'Engleterre.