1360-1369 Black Monday Hailstorm

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. Thus, riding in this way, they came before Paris to seek battle, as you have heard above, and then drew towards the city of Chartres, always seeking the richest country. Then they went towards Bonneval and towards the march of Vendôme. Then the noble king, at the request of the Abbot of Cluny, drew towards Chartres¹ and remained there for the space of twenty-one days², negotiating peace, which was made and agreed in the manner that follows.

Ainsy chevauchant, tant firent qu'ilz vindrent devant Paris pour avoir bataille, ainsy que vous avez ouy cy devant, et puis se trairent par devers la cité de Chartres, tousjours querant le plus gras pays, et puis alerent par devers Bonyvaulx et par devers la marche de Vendosme. Adoncques le noble roy, par la priere de l'abbé de Clugny, se tray par devers Chartres et y demoura par l'espace de XXI jours, traittant de paix, laquelle fut faitte et acordée en la maniere que s'ensuit.

Note 1. Jean le Bel neglects to mention an events that many other contemporary chroniclers mention; the Black Monday Hailstorm, which may have been a factor in King Edward III deciding to sue for peace. Knighton: 'For as they were returning from the city of Paris toward the region of Orléans in the Beauce, a terrible storm suddenly arose [on 13th April 1360], with thunder, lightning, and then hail, and it killed an uncountable number of people and more than 6,000 horses, so that the baggage train of the army was almost entirely lost. It became absolutely necessary to return toward England. But God turned the misery of necessity into a moment of honour for royal majesty. For the pope sent solemn envoys with letters to the king of England to begin negotiations for peace and reconciliation. And they negotiated at Morancez near Chartres, and the negotiations continued on the fifth day of May. Then the king prepared to return to England, both because of necessity and because of the form of the treaty; and whatever they had, they consigned to flame and fire due to the lack of transport, tents, utensils, wagons, saddles, and almost all other things.' and Jean de Venette: 'On the following day [13th April 1360], that is, the following Monday, throughout the whole day there was such an abundance of rain and hail that the greater part of the English carts and wagons remained stuck on the roads and tracks, which were soaked by the excessive rain, the horses failing and unable to pull them. Rather, many of them, together with their drivers, were miserably suffocated by the hailstones and the immeasurable rainwater. So much so that, on that day, because of this hindrance, the English suffered a very great loss of their goods and of the bodies of many men who failed, as is said. And so, leaving the region of Paris, the English went towards the lands of Chartres, while nevertheless occupying many strongholds, destroying others, and likewise plundering and burning towns.'

Note 2. According to the Grandes Chroniques the French negotiators left Paris on 27th April 1360, and, on 1st May, the talks began at Brétigny between the representatives of the Kings of France and England. These negotiations led, on 8th May, to the conclusion of the peace treaty.

1. D'après les Grandes chroniques, t. VI, p. 172, les négociateurs français quittèrent Paris le 27 avril 1560, et, le 1% mai, commencérent à Brétigny les pourparlers entre les représentants des rois de France et d'Angleterre, qui aboutirent, le 8 mai, à la conclusion du de paix.

Chronicle of Jean le Bel Volume 2. Then King Jean departed from Calais¹, and the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Lancaster conducted him as far as Saint-Omer. The said king held a great court there at the feast of All Saints, and for all three days the said Prince of Wales, the Duke of Lancaster and those of his company were splendidly feasted there. Then the lords of England departed and returned to England in great joy². King Jean went towards Arras³, and proceeded from good town to good town until, quite near Christmas, he arrived in Paris, where he remained throughout the winter, with all the princes around him. Everywhere he was presented with many noble and beautiful jewels, but never did he speak great thanks for them with his own mouth.

Adoncques se departi le roy Jehan de Kalaist, et le conduisirent le prince de Galles et le duc de Lencaste jusques à Saint Omer, et tint ledit roy là une grande court à la feste de Toussains, et là y furent durement festiez tous les nr jours ledit prince de Galles, et le duc de Lencaste, et ceulx de sa compaignie, puis se partirent les seigneurs d'Angleterre, et à grand joye retournerent en Angleterre. Et le roy Jehan s'en vint vers Arras et ala de bonne ville en bonne ville jusques bien prez de Noël, qu'il arriva à Parys, où il demoura tout l'yver, et tous les princes avecques luy. Partout on luy presenta assez de nobles et beaulx joyaulx, mais oncques n'en dit grand mercys de sa bouche.

Note 1. Jean le Bon left Calais for Boulogne on the morning of Sunday, 25th October 1360. He was accompanied by the Prince of Wales and his brothers only as far as that town, and not as far as Saint-Omer; Grandes Chroniques. On Thursday, 29th October 1360, Jean went from Boulogne to Saint-Omer, where great festivities were held in his honour; Grandes Chroniques.

1. Jean le Bon partit de Calais pour aller à Boulogne le dimanche 25 octobre, au matin. Il fut accompagné par Le prince de Galles et ses frères, seulement jusqu'à cette ville et non jusqu'à Saint-Omer, (Grandes chroniques, t. VI, p. 217 et 218; Froïssart, éd. Luce, 1. VI, p. 54.) Le jeudi 29 octobre, Jean se rendit de Boulogne à Saint-Omer, où de grandes fêtes furent données en son honneur. (Grandes chroniques, t. VI, p. 218 à221)

Note 2. Edward III embarked at Calais with the hostages to return to England on Saturday, 14th October 1360, before daybreak; Grandes Chroniques.

2. Édouard III s'embarqua à Calais avec les otages pour retourner en Angleterre le samedi 14 octobre, avant le jour. (Grandes chroniques, t. VI, p. 219.)

Note 3. Jean le Bon did not pass through Arras, but, according to the Grandes Chroniques, from Saint-Omer he passed through Hesdin, Amiens, Noyon, Compiègne, Senlis and Saint-Denis, and made his entry into Paris on 13th December 1360.

3. Jean le Bon ne passa pas par Arras, mais, d'après les Grandes chroniques, t. VI, p. 220 à 223, de Saint-Omer il passa par Hesdin, Amiens, Noyon, Compiègne, Senlis, SaintDenis et fit son entrée le 13 décembre 1360 à Paris. (Cf. Froissant, éd. Luce, t. VI, p. xv et xvi.)

Inquisitions Post Mortem 118. Leicester. Inq. taken at Leycestre, Saturday after St. George, 35 Edward III.

Leycestre. The castle, manor and honor, held of the king in chief. The manor (extent given) includes £8 sterling from perquisites of 'portmonnesmot,' 106s. 8d. from perquisites of views of frankpledge of the town, 100s. from the assize of ale, 40s. from butchers' stalls, 10s. from rents of booths (seldarum) in the market, a watermill charged with 100s. yearly to Master Nicholas le Cok, a windmill, and a wood called 'le Frith.'

Hynkeleye. The manor (extent given), held of the king in chief as parcel of the above honor. The extent includes 4s from perquisites of halimotes and the reversion of a plot called the Castle and a carucate of land after the death of Joan Hastinges and John, her son. The manor is charged with a yearly rent of 10 marks to Richard de Schelton, knight, for life.

Schelton. The manor (extent given). The extent includes agistments in Tolou park and 3s. 4d. from perquisites of haUmotes. The manor is charged with lOZ. yearly for life to Peter de Melborne, 81. yearly for life to John Marreys, 40s. yearly for life to Nicholas Spicer, 30s. yearly for life to Robert Porter, 13s. 4rf. yearly for life to Hugh Cok, 13s. 4d. yearly for life to Richard Carters, and 100s. [yearly] for life to John de Claybroke.

Hynkeley. The manor is also charged with 10 marks yearly for life to John de Hastinges and 20s. yearly for life to Wilham de Stillinton.

Leyoestre. The manor is charged with 3Os. yearly for life to William Squiler, 30s. 5d. yearly for life to Beatrice, recluse there, 100s. yearly for life to Adam de Derby, 30s. yearly for life to Wilham Fauconer, 26s. 8d. yearly for life to John Knotting, 5 marks yearly for life to Wilham de Isham, clerk, 40s. yearly for life to John Hastinges, 91. [yearly] for ever to the prior of Ware, £7. 19s. 1½d. yearly to the brethren of the hospital of St. Leonard and their successors, 6L [yearly] to the abbot of Leycestre and his successors, 10s. yearly to the canons of St. Mary de Castro, 10s. yearly for ever to the master and brethren of Burton Lazars, 10s. yearly for ever to the nuns of Wroxale, 6s. 8d. [yearly] to the prior of Oselescroft, and 101s. 8d, yearly to the abbess of Preaux (de Pratellis) in Normandy.

Schelton. The manor is also charged with 62s. 2d. yearly to Walter de Legh for life.

Dersford. The manor (extent given). The extent includes 3s. from perquisites of halimotes, 10s. from herbage of a garden and of 'les Leyes' called 'le Grete,' and 30s. from the farm of a watermiU. The manor is charged with 100s. yearly to John Haward, receiver, for life, 20s. yearly to Simon del Halle for life, 305. yearly to Richard de Cravene for life, and 5 marks yearly to Walter de Irland for life.

There are in the county four views of frankpledge in the baihwick of Selby, four in that of Carleton, and two in that of Schulton. There are also two views yearly at Dersford, and two at Hynkeley. Of all these the duke died seised.

He died on Tuesday before the Annunciation last. Maud [aged 20] and Blanche [aged 18] his daughters, aged respectively 22 years and more and 19 years and more, are his heirs.

Rymer's Fœdera Volume 3. The Bull of Pope Innocent VI concerning the dispensation for marriage between the Prince of Wales and the Countess of Kent.

Innocent, Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to our venerable brothers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and to our beloved son, the Abbot of the Monastery of Cluny in the diocese of Mâcon, greeting and apostolic blessing.

There was presented to us, on behalf of our dearest son in Christ, Edward, the illustrious King of England, and of our beloved son the noble man Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, the first-born of the said King, and of our beloved daughter in Christ, the noble woman Joan, Countess of Kent, a petition which set forth…

That although the said first-born son and the countess were well aware that, descending from one common stock, the said first-born in the third degree and the countess in the second were thereby related to one another in the third degree of consanguinity, and that moreover the said first-born had stood as sponsor at the sacred font for one of the sons of the said countess, nevertheless the said first-born and the countess, for the strengthening of the royal throne, from which the countess herself also draws her lineage, for the good estate of the kingdom, and for the increase of mutual affection among their common kinsmen and friends, not in contempt of the keys [of the Church], but in the hope of mercifully obtaining the grace and dispensation of the Apostolic See, contracted marriage with each other by words expressed in the present tense.

But since, as the same petition further stated, the said first-born son and the countess, on account of the aforesaid impediments, could not lawfully remain in the said marriage without obtaining an apostolic dispensation in this matter, and since from the approbation of that marriage many good things, with the Lord as author, were hoped to result, and on the other hand many scandals might arise, it was humbly supplicated to us, on behalf of the king, the first-born, and the said countess, that we might mercifully deign to provide for the said first-born and countess in these matters, by granting them the appropriate benefit of absolution from the sentence of excommunication, and of the remission and relaxation of the penalties which they are known to have incurred on account of the aforesaid, together with the grace of dispensation.

We therefore, who gladly strive to avert dangers to souls, and who earnestly desire among the faithful of Christ—especially among princes and magnates—the blessings of peace and concord, and who, as far as we are able with God, seek to prevent scandals, being moved by such supplications, commit and command to your discretion by these apostolic letters, that you, or two, or even one of you, if they humbly request it, shall, first separating the said Edward the first-born and Joan the countess from one another, according as you shall deem expedient, absolve them by our authority from the said sentence of excommunication, in accordance with the form of the Church; and remit and relax to them the aforesaid penalties, enjoining them penance such as you shall judge expedient for the salvation of their souls, together with the other things which of right ought to be enjoined. And, among other things, that under the obligation of an oath they promise that henceforth they will not commit the like, nor give counsel, aid, or favor to those who do commit it; and that within one year they shall build, or cause to be built and founded, two chapels, each of which shall be endowed by them with an annual revenue of twenty marks of silver.

And thereafter, if, after considering the aforesaid matters, and other things which in so great a business must be considered, it shall seem to you expedient that such a dispensation be granted, then with the same Edward the first-born and Joan the countess you shall, by the same authority, dispense: that, notwithstanding the impediments arising from the said consanguinity and spiritual kinship, they may freely contract marriage together anew, and, after it has been contracted, may lawfully remain therein; declaring the offspring to be conceived from that marriage legitimate.

Given at Avignon, on the seventh day before the Ides of September [7th September 1361], in the ninth year of our pontificate. By the hand of Peter Eustace of Transmontana. With the leaden seal pendant from cords of hemp.

Bulla Innocentii VI. Papæ, super dispensatione matrimonii, inter principem Walliæ et comitissam Cantiæ.

Innocentius, episcopus, servus servorum DEI, venerabilibus fratribus, archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, episcopo Londoniensi, ac, dilecto filio, abbati monasterii Cluniacensis, Matisconensi diocese, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem.

Exhibita nobis, pro parte, carissimi in CHRISTO filii nostri, Edwardi Regis Angliæ illustris, ac dilecti filii nobilis viri Edwardi de Wodestok, principis Walliæ, dicti Regis primogeniti, et dilectæ in CHRISTO filiæ, nobilis mulieris Johannæ comitissæ Cantiæ, petitio continebat;

Quod, licet olim iidem, primogenitus et comitissa, non ignorarent quod ipsi, ab uno communi stipite descendentes, et ab eo promogenitus tertio et comitissa prædicti secundo gradibus distantes, ex hoc tertio consanguinitatis gradu se invicem contingebant, et quod etiam dictus primogenitus quendam ejusdem comitissæ filium de sacro fonte levaverat, ipsi tamen primogenitus et comitissa, pro consolidatione regii solii, à quo etiam eadem comitissa ducit originem, ac bono statu regni, et mutuæ inter eorum communes consanguineos et amicos dilectionis augmento, non in contemptum clavium, sed sub spe gratiæ et dispensationis apostolicæ misericorditer obtinendæ, matrimonium, per verba de præsenti invicem contraxerunt.

Cum autem, sicut eadem petitio subjungebat, ipsi primogenitus et comitissa, propter impedimenta præmissa, nequeant in dicto matrimonio. licitè remanere, dispensatione super hoc apostolicâ non obtentâ, et ex approbatione dicti matrimonii multa bona sperentur, auctore DOMINO, proventura, et ex contrario multa possent scandala exoriri, fuit nobis, pro parte Regis primogeniti et comitissæ prædictorum, humiliter supplicatum, ut eisdem primogenito et comitissæ super hiis, de oportuna absolutionis, ab excommunicationis sententiâ, ac remissionis et relaxationis pœnarum, quas propter præmissa incurrisse noscuntur, beneficio, et dispensationis gratiâ providere misericorditer dignaremur;

Nos itaque, qui animarum periculis libenter occurrimus, et inter CHRISTI fideles, præsertim principes et magnates, quietis et pacis commoda ferventer appetimus, et, quantum cum DEO possumus, scandala, præcavemus, hujusmodi supplicationibus inclinati, discretioni vestræ per apostolica scripta committimus et mandamus, quatinùs vos, vel duo, aut unus vestrûm, prædictos Edwardum primogenitum et Johannam comitissam, si hoc humiliter petierint, ipsis priùs juxta formam sanctionis canonice separatis ab invicem, prout vobis videbitur expedire, ab eadem excommunicationis sententiâ, juxta formam ecclesiæ, auctoritate nostrâ absolvatis, eisque pœnas hujusmodi remittatis et etiam relaxetis; injunctis eis pœnitentiâ, quam saluti animarum suarum videritis expedire, et aliis, quæ de jure fuerunt injungenda: et, inter cætera, sub debito juramenti præstandi, quod ipsi de cætero similia non committant, nec committentibus præbeant consilium, auxilium, vel favorem; et quod, infra unum annum, duas capellas, quarum quælibet de viginti annuis marchis argenti per eos dotetur, construere seu construi facere debeant et fundare.

Et deindè, si, consideratis præmissis, et aliis, quæ in tanto negotio consideranda fuerint, vobis videatur expediens quod hujusmodi sit dispensatio concedenda, cum eisdem Edwardo primogenito et Johanna comitissa, ut, impedimentis, quæ ex dictis consanguinitate et compaternitate proveniunt, nequaquam obstantibus, matrimonium insimul de novo liberè contrahere, et in eo, postquam contractum fuerit, licitè remanere valeant, eadem auctoritate dispensetis; prolem, ex ipso suspiciendam matrimonio, legitimam nunciando.

Dat' Avinion', vii. id' Septembr', Pontificatûs nostri anno nono. P. Eustacii, Transmontan'. Plumbeo sigillo à filo canabeo pendente.

Bourgeois de Valenciennes. When Sir Jean Joyel saw that the French were withdrawing across the bridge, as has just been described, he said to the Captal de Buch that the French were defeated. But the Captal told him they were not. Nevertheless Jean Joyel departed with his company, despite the Captal’s wishes; and when the Captal saw this, he said that he would not fight without him, and so he followed after, drawn up and in good order. When the French saw them come out from their strong position, they were greatly pleased, and they turned back, well ordered and closely ranked, their divisions properly arrayed. Then the Captal clearly perceived that he had done wrong to have moved so far from his stronghold. The English then began to shoot, and the thirty mounted Frenchmen advanced against the Captal’s banner, which was well guarded. But the French, with the help of their supports, seized it, struck it down, tore it away, and cast it to the ground. There the Captal was taken, securely bound and led across the bridge, and he swore to remain prisoner and to submit as such. Afterwards there was fierce fighting; but in the end the Navarrese and the English were defeated and utterly overthrown, and not one foot escaped from that battle who was not either killed or taken. This took place on the field called Cocherel, where there are many bushes, and the battle and defeat occurred on a Thursday, the 16th day of May, in the year of grace 1364. On the French side Sir Baudouin d’Annequin was slain; and the Archpriest withdrew with three companions, leaving his banners and his men on the field, at which his followers greatly marvelled.

Quant monseigneur Jehan Joyel vid que les Franchois retournoient par delà le pont, ainsy comme nous venons de faire mention, il dist au catal de Beuf que les François estoient desconfis, et le catal luy dist que non estoient. Et touttesfois Jehan Joyel se party, luy et sa routte, raaugrë le catal, et quant le catal vid ce, il dist que jà ne se combateroit sans luy, et adont le siëvy tout rengiés et ordonnés. Et quant les François les virent hors de leur fort, ils en furent moult lies, et retournèrent rengiés et serrés en bon aroy, leurs batailles toutes ordonnées. Et adont perchut bien le catal qu'il avoit fait mal d'estre sy eslongiés de son fort. Dont commenchèrent les Englès à traire, et les XXX François à cheval vindrent au guidon du catal qui estoit bien gardés; mais certainement les François parmy leurs aydes le prinrent, l'abatirent, le destachèrent et jettèrent par terre. Et là fut prins le catal, et bien loyés et emmenés delà le pont, et jura de tenir prison et à estre prisonnier. Et depuis y eult forte bataille, mais finablement Navarrois et Englès furent vaincus et desconfîs, et n'en eschappa onques pied de toute ceste bataille qu'ils tous ne fussent mors ou pris. Et cela fut au champ qu'on dist de Coquerel, où il y a maints buissons, et fut ceste bataille et desconfiture faite par ung joeudy l'an de grâce mil III^c LX et IIII, XVI^e jour du mois de may, et y morut de par les Franchois monseigneur Bauduin d'Anequin, et l'Arceprestre s'en ala luy III^e, et ses bauières et ses gens deraourèrent au champ, de quoy ses gens s'esmervillèrent moult.