1380-1389 Peasants' Revolt and Lords Appellant

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. After the princes and barons¹ had rendered to the king, now adorned with the precious diadem, the feudal duties and the oaths of fidelity by manual homage, followed by a humble kiss, they hastened, before two days had passed, to bring him back to Paris through Champagne and Picardy. Yet they did not allow him to enter the walled towns or cities, where he was being awaited with the greatest favour and with great preparations. They knew that until then it had been the custom of former kings that, when passing through such places, they exercised royal generosity by confirming liberties and releasing prisoners. But they by no means allowed this, as many who knew the secret reasons reported, lest the livelihood of the inhabitants of the kingdom, through strong petitions, might obtain some relaxation of the royal subsidies. Nevertheless, during this journey it seemed most displeasing to everyone that, while traveling toward Paris, although he was only a mile distant from the church of the blessed Denis, the special patron of France, where the venerable abbot and convent were waiting for him in solemn procession, yet, at the suggestion of certain malicious persons, he decided to postpone the prayers owed to that glorious martyr, something which is not recorded to have happened to any of the earlier kings.

Cum feodalia jura et fidelitatis juramenta regi precioso dyademate insignito principes et barones manualiter, subsequente humili osculo, persolvissent, ipsum, biduo non exacto, per Campaniam et Picardiam Parisius reducere maturaverunt, non sinentes eum tamen villas muratas aut civitates ingredi, ubi cum summo favore expectabatur et ingenti apparatu. Antecessorum regum morem sciebant hucusque inolevisse, quod per eas transeuntes liberalitatem regiam in confirmandis libertatibus et liberandis captivis exercebant. Sed hoc minime permiserunt, multis referentibus, qui cause secreta noverant, ne regnicolarum victus vallidis precibus de regiis subsidiis aliquid relaxaret. Hoc tamen in itinere cunctis displicencius visum fuit, quod, cum tendens Parisius, ab ecclesia beati Dyonisii, Francie peculiaris patroni, solum per miliare distaret, ubi venerabiles abbas et conventus in processione solempni ipsum expectabant, quorumdaur tamen malignancium monitu, oraciones debitas ipsi glorioso martiri, quod nec cuiquam priscorum legitur contigisse, censuit differendas.

Note 1. This taking of the oath took place on the day after the coronation, and on the same day, Monday, 5th November 1380, "the king came," says Froissart, "to dine in the abbey of Saint-Thierry, two leagues from Reims, for those there owed him this meal."

1. Cette prestation de serment eut lieu le lendemain du couronnement, et le même jour (lundi, 5 novembre ) «si vint le roi, dit Froissart, dîner en l’abbaye de Saint-Thierry, à deux lieues de Reims; car ceux de léans lui doivent ce past.»

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. The duke of Berry, however, mindful of his oath, together with the count of Armagnac, whose sister he had married, led great forces of chosen soldiers into Aquitaine around the beginning of June. For three months they ravaged the country like enemies, carrying out everything that enemies usually inflict upon enemies, except for slaughter and arson. The inhabitants, worn down by such hardships, appealed to the count of Foix, earnestly begging him to avenge the injuries done to them by force. He immediately sent the duke of Berry notice of a day for battle and, marching out from Toulouse with a very large force of nobles and common soldiers, reached the battlefield first. When the duke arrived there and had surveyed the enemy's position, he realized that they greatly outnumbered his own men. Because of the disadvantage of the terrain, several brave men advised that the battle should be postponed. But he replied: "May God turn away from the heart of the king's son such a sign of cowardice as to have the enemy nearby and refuse battle! For I swear an oath that I will not withdraw from here." Thus the engagement took place. Once the battle lines had been drawn up, the fight did not last long: the smaller force quickly gave way to the greater, and the count gained the victory. Three hundred of the duke's men were killed, and he himself, spurring his horse, took flight¹. The duke tried several times during that year to redeem this disgrace, now near Toulouse, now near Béziers, sometimes by assaults on castles, sometimes by bloody raids, but always in vain, since the men of Aquitaine were constantly ready to resist. At last, however, the noble count of Foix, moved by compassion for the devastation of the land, decided to prefer the common good to his own advantage. Content that he had honourably defeated the duke, he made a treaty of peace with him, confirmed by oaths, and voluntarily resigned from the government of the country².

Dux vero Biturie, juramenti non immemor, cum comite Armeniaci, cujus sorori nupserat, electorum bellatorum ingentes copias circa principium junii secum in Aquitaniam traxit; que trium mensium spacio per patriam grassando hostiliter sevierunt, quidquid hostis in hostem consuevit exercentes, duntaxat cedibus et incendiis exceptis. Tantis gravaminibus incole attediati, comitem Fuxi adeunt, vallidis precibus requirentes ut dampna illata viribus susciperet vindicanda; qui mox duci Biturie diem belli mutui intimavit, quo eciam, cum cuneo nobilium et ignobilium permaximo exiens de Tholosa anticipavit locum pugne. Illic eciam dux accedens, statu hostium explorato, cum eos comperisset suos longe antecedere numero, et propter iniquitatem loci nonnulli viri strenui ad tempus bellum differre censerent: «Ab animo, inquit, filii regis Deus avertat tante pusillanimitatis signum, ut hostes habeat in vicino et bellum detrectet! Nam jurejurando firmo inde me non recessurum, consulciüs dictum fuit; nam, instructis aciebus, non diu pugna duravit, sed paucitas multitudini cito cessit, sicque comes victoria potitus est, trecentisque ex parte ducis occisis, ipse, equo calcaribus adacto, fuga dilabitur; Quod dedecus anno illo pluries temptavit redimere, nunc prope Tholosam, nunc prope Besiers, nunc oppugnacionibus castrorum, nunc discursibus cruen tis, frustra tamen, Aquitanis semper-ad. resistenciam paratis. Tandem tamen vastacioni patrie nobilis comes Fuxi compaciens, bonum commune utilitati proprie preferre excogitavit, et contentus ducem laudabiliter debellasse, cum eodem. federe pacis inito et sacramentis vallato, a regimine patrie se voluntarie abdicavit.

Note 1. The Monk gives neither the day nor the place of the battle. The Duke of Berry [aged 40] having besieged Revel, in the diocese of Lavaur, the Count of Foix [aged 50] appointed for the Duke of Berry, as the place of combat, the plain which lies around that town, and the battle took place on 15th or 16th July 1381. Histoire générale de Languedoc, vol. IV, p. 378.

1. Le Religieux ne marque ni le jour, ni le lieu du combat. Le due de Berri ayant asiégé Revel, dans le diocèse de Lavaur, le comte de Foix assigna au duc de Berri, pour le combat, la plaine qui est aux environsde cette ville, et la bataille eut lieu le 15 ou le 16 juillet. Hist. gener. de Languedoc, tom. IV, page 378.

Note 2. The Cardinal of Amiens, having intervened by order of Pope Clement to pacify the province, went to Capestang towards the end of December, and finally mediated an agreement between the Duke of Berry and the Count of Foix. Histoire générale de Languedoc, vol. IV, p. 580.

2. Le cardinal d’Amiens s’étant entremis, par ordre du pape Clément, pour pacifier la province, se rendit à Capestang vers la fin du mois de décembre, et moyenna enfin un accord entre le duc de Berri et le comte de Foix. Hist. génér. de Languedoc, tom. IV, p. 580.

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. The illustrious Prince of Taranto, called Charles of Durazzo, who had married the granddaughter of the niece of the aforesaid lady, and by that claim asserted a right to the said dominions, bore the queen's adoption very impatiently. Therefore, having consulted with leading men of the land, he stirred up a grave conspiracy against the same queen, this being certainly approved by Urban, who at Rome acted as the supreme pontiff and favoured his cause. For he knew that she adhered to Pope Clement, and in hatred of him had appointed this same Charles as defender and guardian of the rights and liberties of the Roman Church. Supported by this authority, he quickly gathered great forces of soldiers and, marching hostilely through the queen's land, harassed it with many injuries. Although these harms were serious, they did not change her resolve. Instead, to repel the enemy incursions she summoned by letters Lord Philip of Artois, a most valiant knight and kinsman of the King of France, so that he might command her army and wage war against Charles. Obeying her orders and hastening toward her with forced marches, he prepared to accomplish promptly what had been entrusted to him; but events turned out otherwise than he had hoped. For when battle was joined¹, victory fell to Charles; and after many of the supporters of Clement had been killed, he captured the queen herself, together with her husband Lord Otto of Brunswick and Philip of Artois, and imprisoned them. Then, with the consent of Urban the antipope, he had himself crowned King of Sicily and Jerusalem in the city of Naples. Having thus been raised to the height of royal power, after he had kept the aforesaid Philip and Otto imprisoned for nearly three months, he at last restored them to freedom upon receiving a large monetary ransom. The queen, however, overcome by the misery of long suffering, or, as was more commonly said, strangled in prison by order of Charles, met her final day.

Adopcionem regine illustris princeps Tarentinus, dictus Karolus de Pace, qui neptem neptis prefate domine uxorem duxerat, racione cujus jus in prefatis dominiis reclamabat, impacientissime tulit. Unde majorum patrie sibi consiliatis animis, in eamdem reginam gravem conspiracionem concitavit, hoc certe Urbano, qui Rome se pro summo pontifice gerebat, annuente et partem ejus favente. Sciebat eam Clementi-pape adherere, in eujus odium. ipsum Karolum, jurium et libertatum romane Ecclesie advocatum constituerat et custodem. Qua fultus aucto'ritate, mox ingentes copias pugnatorum congregavit, et patriam regine perlüstrans hostiliter, multis. incommodis lacessivit. Que, quamvis irreparabilia fuerint, non tamen ejus propositum mutaverunt; sed ad discursiones hostiles propellendas dominum Philippum de Artesio, strenuissimum militem, cognatum regis Francie, litteris accersivit, ut. suo preesset exercitui et Karolum debellaret. Qui jussionibus parens, et ad eam magnis itineribus;contendens, quod sibi injunttum fuit, propere-statuit adimplere; sed aliter contigit quam sperabat. Commisso namque prelio, Karolo cessit victoria, et multis.ex Clementinis occisis, ipsam reginam cum domino Othone de Bresouich, viro suo, et Philippo de Artesio capiens, incarceravit; et tunc, consensu Urbani antipape, in civitate Neapolis se fecit in regem Sicilie et Jerusalem coronari. Sic assumptus ad regni fastigium, cum fere trium mensium spacio prefatos Philippum et Othonem incarceratos tenuisset, eos tandem, ingenti. peccuniali redempcione recepta, sue restituit libertati. Regina vero, tedio longe molestie affecta, vel, ut communius dicebatur, jussu Karoli in ergastulis strangulata, diem ultimum signavit.

Note 1. The Battle of St Germano was fought on 6th August 1381.

Westminster Chronicle. On the eighteenth day of the month of January [1382], the sister¹ of the aforesaid emperor was received with the highest honour by the citizens of London, and was led to Westminster with great glory, while lords performed the office of equerry, for she was seated on a single destrier. On the thirteenth day before the Kalends of February [20th January 1382], she was married to the king in Westminster Church, and on the following feast of Saint Vincent [22nd January 1382] she was crowned queen by the hands of Lord William Courtenay [aged 40], archbishop. The bishop of London² performed the solemnities of the marriage, wherefore the archbishop, though unjustly, was indignant. He nevertheless completed the sacred rites of the coronation, although he had not yet obtained the pallium from the pope. Of this queen someone wrote in verse: "Worthy Anna, noble, is given to the English to enjoy as manna." But to those who examined the truth, she seemed not to be given, but rather bought. For the king of England paid out no small sum of money for so small a portion of flesh³.

Decimo octavo die mensis Januarii cum summo honore Londoniensium civium recepta fuit soror prædicti Imperatoris et ad Westmonasterium cum ingenti gloria perducta stratoris officium gerentibus dominis residebat enim in uno dextrario, quæ tertiodecimo kalendas Februarias in ecclesia Westmonasterii regi desponsata est, et in die sancti Vincentii proxime subsequente per manus domini Willelmi Courteneye archiepiscopi in reginam coronabatur. Desponsationis peragebat solemnia episcopus Londoniensis quare archiepiscopus inindignatus, licet injuste, coronationis sacra complevit, quanquam pallium a papa nondum obtinuerat. De ista regina quidam scripsit metrice, "Digna frui manna datur Anglis nobilis Anna," sed scrutantibus verum videbatur non dari sed potius emi. Nam non modica pecunia refundebat rex Angliæ pro tantilla carnis portione.

Note 1. Anne of Bohemia, 1366-1394, sister of Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund.

Note 2. Robert Braybrooke, 1337-1404. Appointed Bishop of London in 1381 when the previous Bishop William Courtenay was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.

Note 3. Anne of Bohemia did not bring a dowry. Rather King Richard paid 20,000 florins to her brother King Wenceslaus of Bohemia. Walsingham, St Albans Chronicle: The Chronica Maiora: "The king had therefore chosen to have this woman, bought at great price and with many labours, although the daughter of Lord Bernabò of Milan had been offered to him with an inestimable sum of gold."

Westminster Chronicle. Shortly before Christmas, the emperor’s sister landed at Dover¹. The duke of Lancaster went to meet her, and, having received her most honourably, led her as far as Leeds Castle [Map], where she stayed throughout Christmas. Within these Christmas days, at midnight between the feast of Saint Stephen [26th December] and the feast of Saint John the Evangelist [27th December], the earl of March² died on the coasts of Ireland. The guardianship of all Ireland had been entrusted to him by the king, so that by force of arms he might restrain the insolence of the rebels. He was mature in bearing, pleasant in speech, loyal to the kingdom, and supported by the highest prudence in the conduct of affairs.

Modicum ante Natale Domini soror Imperatoris Dovoriam applicuit, cui fuit obvius dux Lancastriæ, quam honestissime receptam usque ad castrum de Ledys perduxit, ubi per totum Natale morata est. Infra hujus Natalis dies nocte media inter festum sancti Stephani et festum sancti Johannis Evangelistæ obiit comes Marchiæ in oris Hibernicis. Huic per regem totius Hiberniæ fuerat commissa tutela ut armorum virtute rebellium insolentiam refrenaret. Erat is gestu maturus, affatu suavis, regno fidelis et in rebus agendis summa prudentia fultus.

Note 1. Walsingham, St Albans Chronicle: The Chronica Maiora describes her landing a Dover: "On that day there occurred a marvellous omen for all, according to the opinion of many, foreshadowing the favour of God and the happy fortunes that would come to the land. For when she [Anna] had set foot on land from the ship, and when all had safely disembarked, with the rest of the vessel remaining, there followed immediately such a disturbance of the sea as had not been seen for a long time before. It so shook the ships stationed in the harbour that they were suddenly scattered and dashed together, the ship in which the queen had sat being first broken apart and horribly shattered into many pieces."

Note 2. Edmund Mortimer, 1352-1381, 3rd Earl of March. Son of Roger Mortimer 2nd Earl March and Philippa Montagu Countess March. He married in 1369 Phillippa, daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, 2nd son of King Edward III. Their granddaughter Anne was the mother of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, father of King's Edward IV and Richard III.

Westminster Chronicle. On the day of the Invention of the Holy Cross [3rd May 1382], the citizens of Ghent, inflamed with inextinguishable hatred against the townsmen of Bruges, continued the civil war already begun between them with a lamentable assault, and in this manner. The ancient custom of the Bruges people had been, and had been most religiously observed without any interruption, that on the day of the Invention of the Holy Cross the whole city should assemble as one, and that each craft, with the greatest devotion and in solemn procession, should carry the blood of the Crucified, miraculously obtained. As most devout imitators, they were now observing this ritual custom, with the count of Flanders present according to custom. Thus that solemnity was being celebrated with great joy, by a people utterly ignorant of the danger hanging over them. Meanwhile the men of Ghent, like watchful warriors, doing nothing sluggishly, were studying how they might overcome them, and they had the opportunity offered by the moment. When all things had been arranged, a certain treacherous man, Philip van Artevelde, son of Jacob van Artevelde, attacked the city. When the count and his men saw this, they flew to arms and fought with swords, but, surrounded by hidden ambushes, they were overwhelmed. The count, recognising that his adversaries were triumphing over his men, fled with some others, consulting only the safety of his own life in this matter. Having defeated the enemies who resisted them, the men of Ghent pursued the rest as they fled into the city of Bruges, consuming each one by the sword and sparing no sex, except only the English merchants. Thus, for the time being, a glorious triumph over their enemies fell to them.

In die Inventionis sanctæ crucis cives de Gaunt, inextinguibili odio contra villanos de Bruges succensi, civile bellum inter eos jamdudum inceptum sub lamentabili invasione continuaverunt et hoc modo. Antiqua Brugensium consuetudo fuerat et religiosissime sine quavis intermissione servata quod in die Inventionis sanctæ crucis tota civitas in unum conveniret, singulique artifices cum summa devotione et facta processione solemni sanguinem crucifixi miraculose obtenti deferebant. Cujus ritus observantiam ut devotissimi imitatores jam observabant, præsente jam consuetudini comite Flandrensi. Quare agebatur solemnitas illa ingenti lætitia velut a gente inminentis periculi pevitus ignara. Interea illi de Gaunt uti pervigiles bellatores nihil segniter agentes studebant quomodo eos vincerent et opportunitate habentes ex tempore. Constitutis cunctis infidus quidam Philippus Hartefeld filius Jacobi Hartefeld civitatem invasit, quod comes cum suis considerantes ad arma convolarunt et rem gladiis agentes ex incognitis insidiis circumvallati oppressi sunt. Agnoscens comes adversarios triumphare de suis fugçam cum aliquibus iniit suæ vitæ solum in hoc consulens. Devictis hostibus resistentibus persecuti sunt ceteros fugientes in urbem de Bruges quemque gladio consumebant nulli sexui parcentes, Anglicis mercatoribus duntaxat exceptis, sicque eis de inimicis gloriosus pro tempore cessit triumphus.

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. While Flanders was tossed about amid the winding storms of rebellions, the count, seizing an opportunity to avenge the injuries, disgraces, and shameful flights he had suffered, summoned French auxiliaries from the county of Artois and again took up arms against the people of Ghent. When Philip van Artevelde, their leader and chief captain, learned of this, and boasting that in that year he had repeatedly defeated the men of Bruges, he did not wish to let favourable fortune pass by. Therefore, having quickly assembled his forces, he sought a pitched battle in order to fight the count. On both sides they were driven by such implacable hatred that, at the mere sight of one another, the formalities of battle being set aside, discordant shouts immediately arose from both sides, echoing again and again through the nearby air as they rushed to death [3rd May 1382]. While a thick shower of arrows filled the air like hail, and lances and goedendags were hurled here and there, the terrible contest began [....] and with great slaughter, not long after the attack the ground was already reddened, stained with much blood, and on both sides many fell dying or mortally wounded. At that moment armed men came to Philip's aid, who with hostile spear-points and drawn swords scattered the tightly packed wedge of the count's troops from the flanks and from the rear. Thus their ranks thinned, and with their spirits broken they collapsed in defeat. Since the defeated had to yield to hostile fortune, the count, fearing for his safety, spurred his horse and fled in long and unbroken flight through wooded and thorny paths toward Lille with a few companions. The men of Bruges, following his example, quickly withdrew to their own town. The French auxiliaries, however, because they did not trust them either, entered the fortified town of Oudenaarde, bordering France and difficult to approach because of the surrounding marshes, as though it were a safe refuge. In that encounter, out of forty thousand men of Ghent, four thousand fell; but from the count's side ten thousand are reported to have been slain.

Inter rebellionum anfractuosas procellas Flandria fluctuante, comes occasionem nactus iterum injurias et ignominiosas, quas passus fuerat, fugas ulciscendi, accitis ex comitatu Artesii subsidiariis Gallicis, in Gandavenses iterum movit arma. Quod comperiens Philippus de Artevella, eorum dux et capitaueus singularis, et gloriatus hoc anno Brugenses pluries superasse, ne faventem pretermitteret fortunam, mox adunatis copiis campale bellum peciit contra comitem pugnaturus. Utrinque sic inexpiabili agitabantur odio, quod ad mutuum conspectum, preliorum sollempnitatibus obmissis, mox utrobique clamores dissoni ingeminantes ad mortem in vicino aere multipliciter echonizant. Dum instar grandinis aerem occupat sagitarum dempsitas, et dimissis hinc inde lanceis et godendardis dirum inchoatur certamens, [....] ingentique cede, non diu post adgressum jam rubricaret tellus, multo distincta cruore, et utrinque multi corruerent moribundi aut letaliter vulnerati, eo instanti ad Philippum succursum armati superveniunt, qui infestis cuspidibus gladiorum strictisque ensibus dempsissimum comitis a lateribus et a tergo dissipant cuneum, sicque sui rarescunt, et consternatis animis victi suceubuerunt; Victis quiz cedere fortune novercanti opus erat, comes saluti sue metuens, equo calcaribus adacto, diuturna atque perpetua fuga per dumosos silvososque tramites Insulam cum paucis peciit; exemplum cujus Brugenses sequti in villam propriam ocius se receperunt. Gallici vero subsidiarii, quia nec illis fidebant, villam clausam de Odenarde, Francie conterminiam, accessu difficilem ob adjacentes paludes, velut securum habitaculum intraverunt. Eo siquidem congressu ex quadraginta milibus Gandavensium quatuor milia ceciderunt, de parte vero comitis decem milia cesa referunt.

Westminster Chronicle. At the same time an innumerable multitude of Frenchmen entered the eastern borders of the Flemings, and the towns of Gravelines, Dunkirk, Nieuwpoort, and other towns. The king of France was present and raised his banner, around the feast of Saint Katherine [25th November 1382], after the eastern parts of Flanders had been obtained. The king of France joined battle three times¹ with the leader of the citizens of Ghent, namely Philip van Artevelde [aged 42], and defeated him after he had been surrounded through the treachery of the Flemings. And so he occupied the towns of Bruges and Ypres.

Hisdem temporibus innumera multitudo Gallorum intravit fines orientales Flandrensium et villas de Gravenyng, Dunkyrke et Neuport et alias villas, assistente rege Franciæ et vexillam suam erigente, circiter festum sanctæ Katerinæ obtentis partibus orientalibus Flandriæ. Rex Franciæ trinum bellum commisit cum duce civium de Gaunt, scilicet, Philippo Hartefeld et ipsum fraude Flandrensium circumventum devicit. Et ita villam de Bruges et de Ipres occupavit.

Note 1. Life of King Charles VI by a monk of St Senis: "For a certain man standing in that battle line, whose name, as if it had come down from heaven, has until now remained unknown, seeing the formation wavering as though it were a shifting wave, cried out in a loud voice: 'Most faithful friends, now act bravely, for the peasants are turning their backs!' And when those fighting in the front ranks of the enemy looked back to see what was happening, the condition of the battle was instantly changed. The French once more planted their feet more firmly and, recovering their strength, began again to press forward as before. Moreover, those who were on both wings abandoned their positions, and an immense mass of infantry companies came running swiftly upon them. Striking with mighty arms from left and right, and aiming their blows especially where they saw their enemies' throats exposed, wherever they turned the enemy were struck as if by a deadly star and fell into panic. Slaughter took place everywhere around the field; the ground was reddened everywhere and stained with much blood. As a result, those who held the centre of the formation, compressed by excessive crowding, were crushed to death, and when one fell upon another and yet another, driven to the end of life, collapsed upon the rest, heaps of corpses in many places rose to the height of a lance. ... On the following day, while the spoils of the slain were being divided, and the king was uncertain whether Philip van Artevelde had escaped in flight or had fallen slain by the sword, he ordered that he be searched for, promising great rewards to whoever should find him. It was known to be most difficult to recognize a man who had never been known before, and his body, buried beneath heaps of his companions piled upon it, could not be discovered. At last, on the next day, a man so close to death that he could scarcely draw a faint breath from his weak chest was led across the corpses. He found that body lying lifeless and, shedding tears over it, was brought before the king and declared with a groan that this was Philip, from whom he had hoped on the day of battle to receive the knightly belt. The king, delighted at this discovery, promised the finder pardon and immunity if he would make himself a Frenchman. But with a stubbornness remarkable both to tell and to hear, he replied, as well as he could speak: 'You strive in vain; my blood and life already fail me. I was, I am, and I shall always be a Fleming.' And, despising life, he chose to die more quickly rather than be granted freedom under the name of a Frenchman."

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. [on 27th November 1382] In the eyes of those present this speech seemed worthy of every approval, and by the unanimous consent of all, the twelve thousand fully armed men found earlier in the camp were divided into five divisions. The first of these, according to the custom of the French, was placed under the command of the constable and the marshals of France, Louis of Sancerre and Mouton of Blainville. Joined to them were many men distinguished both by birth and by valour, worthy to be named: the counts of Flanders, Saint-Pol, Harcourt, Grandpré, Saumes in Germany, and Tonnerre; together with the viscount of Aulnay and the notable barons the lords of Antoing, Châtillon, La Fère, Anglure, and Hangest, as well as all those who on that very day had recently been girded with the knightly belt in order to obtain the title of valour. The Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon together, as well as the lord of Sampiaco and the bishop of Beauvais called Milo of Dormans, moved along the flanks of the royal line, standing a short distance apart so that they might bring assistance to those advancing if necessity required. With a larger company of knights and squires, John of Artois, count of Eu, led the rear division. The king himself, together with the Duke of Burgundy and the Count of Valois, his uncle and his brother, with many men experienced in warfare and others who drew their noble origin from illustrious ancestors, formed the middle division.

In oculis assistencium sermo iste omni accepcione dignus visus fuit, unanimique omnium consensu duodecim milia loricatorum ad unguem, in castris prius reperta, in quinque ordines dividuntur; quorum primum, servando morem Francorum, conestabularius et marescalli Francie, Ludovicus Sacri Cesaris et Muto de Blainvilla, regendum susceperunt. Predictis se adjunxerant multi tam genere quam strenuitate clari, merito nominandi, Flandrie scilicet, Sancti Pauli, Haricurie, de Grandi Prato, de Saumes in Alemania ac Tonitrui comites; cum vicecomite eciam de Alneto insignes barones domini d'Antouain, de Castellione, de Fera, d'Anglure, de Hangest, necnon et quotquot eadem die ad strenuitatis titulum aëquirendum recenter accincti fuerant baltheo militari, Dominus dux Biturie et dux Borboniensis simnl, dominus quoque de Sampiaco et episcopus Belvacensis dietus Milo de Dormanis, latera aciei regie ambiebant, tellure modica separati, ut preeuntibus in necessitate possent opem ferre. Cum militum et armigerorum majori copia:dominus Johannes de Artesio, comes Augi, extremam aciem conducebat. Rex autem, dux Burgundie comesque de Valesio, patruus et frater ejus, cum multis emerite milicie viris, et qui a generosis proavis claram trahebant originem, mediani aciem faciebant.

Westminster Chronicle. On the twenty-fifth day of May [1383], while the bishop and his men were resting in the town of Dunkirk with their armour taken off, after the ninth hour of the day, there came a numerous force of Flemings and Frenchmen, very well arranged in armed companies, thickly surrounded on every side with banners and lances, scarcely a mile distant from the town. Their number amounted to at least twenty-eight thousand men. When a great sound of horns and trumpets, noise, and shouting had been made in the English army, they ran to arms. The common soldiers came out in bands and manfully began the battle. When the battle-lines had joined, there came a crash of lances, helmets were broken, fastenings were loosened, and the whole field rang with the roar of the slain. Armed horsemen pursued the fleeing enemies. At least ten thousand were handed over to death, scattered throughout the whole country in ditches, cornfields, and open ground. When this was finished, all returning to the banners, they humbly bent the knee and sang "Te Deum laudamus", rendering thanks to the Most High for the victory granted to them from heaven. When the hymn had ended, a marvellous thing happened. A terrible thunderclap and loud peal, a dreadful lightning-flash, and a very dense mist appeared over the places to which the fleeing enemies were turning aside, while the Lord showed clear air and a gentle breeze over the army of the English. In all these things few or none of the English succumbed to death.

Vicesimo quinto die mensis Maii dum episcopus et sui in villa de Dunkyrk armis exuti se recrearent post horam diei nonam venerunt gens numerosa Flandrensium et Francorum, in armatis cuneis optime dispositi, vexillis et lanceis undique stipati, vix per miliare a villa distantes quorum numerus ad xxviij millia hominum ad minus extendebat. Factoque in exercitu Anglorum ingenti buccinarum et tubarum sonitu, strepitu et clamore cursum est ad arma et catervatim villani exeuntes bellum viriliter aggressi sunt, conjunctisque aciebus fit fragor lancearum, disrumpuntur cassides, solvuntur laquei, et totus campus sonuit a fremitu océcisorum fugientesque adversarios armati equites insequuntur. Traduntur neci ad numerum x. milium ad minus, per totam patriam in fossis segetibus et planitiebus dispersi. Quo finito ad vexilla cunctis reparantibus "Te Deum laudamus" humiliter genuflexi decantarunt Altissimo pro victoria illis celitus concessa gratias exsolventes, hymnoque finito accidit mirabile enim tonitruum et grandissonum terribileque fulmen et nebula densissima super loca ad quæ inimici fugientes divertebant apparuerunt, aeris serenitatem auramque levem super exercitum Anglorom Domino ostendente. In quibus omnibus pauci aut nulli de Anglis neci suceubuerunt.

Westminster Chronicle. On the 6th day of August the king of England entered Scotland with a large army and with banner unfurled, and he made knights, earls, and dukes. That is, he promoted the earl of Cambridge [aged 44] to duke of York¹, and the earl of Buckingham [aged 30] to duke [of Gloucester]. He raised Lord Michael de la Pole [aged 55] to earl of Suffolk, and Lord Neville to earl of Cumberland². That night the king lodged with his army in the forest of Ettrick, and he caused to be killed all whom he could capture of the Scots and French. Those in the army seized there both large animals and small, and by the capture of these the army was somewhat refreshed. From there, for about a week, as they passed towards the abbey of Melrose, they gave themselves over continuously to slaughter, plunder, and burnings for a width of two leagues, leaving the whole country destroyed behind them. They consumed the abbey of Melrose with devouring fire, because it was a certain refuge of our enemies. From there as far as the Scottish Sea they laid waste the whole land of Lothian. They also put their enemies, both French and Scots, to flight before them. They also burned all their places and castles, except the royal ones in which the enemy had been refreshed. They reduced the abbey of Newbattle to dust. For they inflicted these evils upon them because they were schismatics, holding with the Genevan antipope, and the enemy always fled before them, the Scots towards the western region, and the French towards the eastern. Thus, divided into two parts, neither of them dared approach the other. Afterwards, on the eleventh day of August, the king came to the chief city of Scotland, called Edinburgh, which, together with a certain abbey attached to it, he ordered to be consumed by fire.

Sexto die Augusti rex Angliæ intravit Scotiam cum exercitu copioso ac vexillo expanso, fecitque milites comites et duces, scilicet comitem de Cantabrigia promovit in ducem Cantabrigiensem, et comitem de Bukyngham in ducem, dominum Michaelem de la Pole erexit in comitem de Southfolk, et dominum de Nevyle comitem de Comberlond. Ea vero nocte hospitatus est rex cum suo exercitu apud forestam de Edryk et quoscunque potuit capere de Scotis et Francigenis fecit occidi. Ceperuntque illi de exercitu tam grossa animalia ibidem quam parva, ob quorum captionem exercitus fuit inde aliqualiter recreatus. Et ab hinc quasi per unam septimanam transeuntes versus abbatiam de Mailros, ad duas leucas in latitudine cædi prædis et incendiis continuis indulserunt, totam patriam post se relinquentes destructam. Abbatiam Malrocensem quia fuit quoddam receptaculum hostium nostrorum voraci incedio consumpserunt. Et abhinc usque ad Scoticum mare totam terram Laudian vastaverunt. Hostes vero tam Francos quam Scotos coram eis etiam fugaverunt. Omnia loca et castella eorum, exceptis regalibus in quibus hostes fuerant recreati, etiam combusserunt. Abbatiam de Neubotel in pulverem redigerunt. Nam ista mala eis ingesserunt quia erant schismatici, tenentes cum antipapa Gebenensi, et semper hostes fugerunt coram eis, Scoti versus occidentalem plagam, et Francigenæ versus orientalem; et sic in duas partes divisi nullus eorum audebat alterum appropinquare. Postea xi die Augusti venit rex ad urbem Scotiæ capitalem vocatam Edinburgh quam cum quadam abbatia eidem annexa jussit igne consumi.

Note 1. The Latin text has Cambridge which is a mistake for York. The peerages were confirmed at a ceremony on 6th November see below at which Duke of York is used.

Note 2. Lord Neville, John Neville [aged 48], 3rd Baron Neville of Raby, 1337-1388. He was not created Earl of Cumberland; the only Earldom of Cumberland was created in 1525 for Henry Clifford. John Neville's son Ralph was created Earl of Westmoreland in 1397. We note unlike the other peerages mentioned here John Neville's is not mentioned when the Chronicler describes the 6th November ceremony.

Life of Charles VI by a Monk of St Denis. And at the end of the treaty, the length of which I have briefly summarised so as not to cause weariness, there followed: "That mutual concord may remain firm in times to come, and that our subjects may remain in the beauty of peace and in true obedience toward our lord the king and toward us, for the avoidance of all dissensions, we will and ordain that the aforesaid articles be observed inviolably. Moreover, we forbid all our subjects that, on account of the said disputes, they hinder or cause to be hindered, directly or indirectly, the men of Ghent or their associates, nor that they presume in any way to injure them by word or deed with insults; and if anyone should attempt this, we will that they be punished by our officers and judges as for a criminal act, and that, after satisfaction has been made to the injured party from their goods, the remainder shall fall to our treasury. We also command that such offenders shall not be able to enjoy any refuge, but shall be seized by the ministers of justice and delivered to the ordinary judges, so that, according to the offence, the appropriate punishment may follow, as has been stated. Given at Tournai, on the eighteenth day of the month of December [1385]."

Et in calce tractatus, cujus prolixitatem summatim perstrinxi, ne fastidium generaret, sequebatur: «Ut autem mutua eoncordia futuris temporibus stabilis maneat, et ut subditi nostri manere possint sub pulcritudine pacis et vera obediencia erga dominum nostrum regem et nos, ad evitandum dissensiones quascunque, volumus et ordinamus ut articuli pretacti inviolabiliter serventur. Prohibemus insuper omnibus subditis nostris, ne occasione dictarum dissensionum impediant vel impedire faciant directe vel indirecte Gandavenses vel eorum complices, nec eos verbo vel facto, opprobriis injuriare presumant quovis modo; et si quis hoc attemptaret, volumusquod ab officiariis et judicibus nostris velud pro facto criminali puniantur, ac de bonis eorum parti lese satisfactione facta, residuum ad fiscum nostrum devolvatur. Precipimus eciam quod dicti malefactores quibuscunque diffugiis gaudere non valeant, sed a ministris justicie capiantur, judicibus ordinariis reddantur, ut secundum delictum et punicionis modus sequatur, sicut dictum est. Datum apud Tournacum, decima octava die mensis decembris.»

Westminster Chronicle. Also, on the twelfth day of March [1387], the earl of Arundel [aged 41] came to the sea, and, when everything necessary for so great an expedition had been prepared, on the sixteenth day of March a remarkable event occurred by chance according to our wish. For the French and Spaniards, sailing the seas in one balinger and one line-ship around the coasts of England, were spying out where our fleet wished to turn. Suddenly those from the ports rushed upon them and captured them all. From them, in exchange for their ransom, they learned how and when the fleet of the French and Flemings would cross the seas to the regions they desired. When this had been done, our sailors allowed them to return freely to their own homes. The earl of Arundel, greatly encouraged by these things, boldly put to sea with his men on the twenty-third day of March. On the following day the aforesaid fleet of the French and Flemings came, laden with wine from La Rochelle. Without delay our men rushed upon them with hostile force, and a hard battle¹ was fought between them. There was a long struggle between our men and them as to which side would carry off the victory. But at length, with God favouring them, our men prevailed, and fifty ships, large and small, were captured. The said earl sent these under safe-conduct to the port of Orwell². During the battle, however, another part of the said fleet escaped. The said earl pursued it from behind and manfully captured several of them. Six he sank, and five he consumed with fire.

Item xii die Martii comes Arundell venit ad mare paratisque omnibus pro tanto expeditionis negotio opportunis xvi, die Martii unum mirabile nostro pro voto casualiter occurrebat. Nam Franci et Hispani in uno balynger et una lyna sulcantes maria circa ora maritima Angliæ explorando quonam nostrum navigium divertere voluerit repente in eos illi de portubus irruerunt ceperuntque omnes. A quibus pro eorum redemptione didicerunt quomodo et quando classis Francorum et Flandrensium transiret per maria ad eorum partes optatas; quo facto nostri nautæ permiserunt illos ad propria libere remeare. Comes vero Arundelliæ super his non modicum confortatus xxiii, die Martii animose cum suis mare intravit. Sequenti vero die venit prædicta classis Francorum et Flandrensium vino de la Rochell onusta; nec mora irruunt nostri in cos impetu odioso et durum prœlium committitur inter eos, eratque longa concertatio inter nostros et illos quæ pars victoriam reportaret. Sed demum deo favente vicerunt mnostri captisque navibus quinquaginta magnis et parvis quas misit dictus comes sub salvo conductu ad portum de Orewell. Durante vero , prœlio alia pars dictæ classis evasit, quam a tergo dictus comes insequens plures ex eis cepit viriliter. Sex vero submersit et quinque igne consumpsit.

Note 1. Froissart, Thomas Johnes, Esq., Volume II: "The fleet, after this, anchored in Margate-roads, at the mouth of the Thames, to wait for the return of the Flemings from La Rochelle, which they knew would soon happen. The merchants from Flanders, Hainault, and several other parts, who had sailed in a body for fear of the English, having loaded their vessels again with wines, set sail from the port of La Rochelle, with a favourable wind, for Flanders and for Sluys, from whence they had come. They had passed the Ras-St.-Matthieu, in Brittany, and coasted the shores of Normandy and England, until they came to the mouth of the Thames, where the English fleet were lying at anchor. The Flemings descried their masts; and those aloft said, 'Gentlemen, prepare yourselves, for we shall meet the English fleet; they have seen us, and will take advantage of the wind and tide to give us battle before night.' This intelligence was not very agreeable to several of the merchants from Hainault and other countries, who having their goods on board, would have wished to have sheered off. However, as a combat was now unavoidable, they made preparations for it; and they had, of cross-bows and other armed men, upwards of seven hundred, under the command of a noble and valiant knight of Flanders, called sir John de Bucq, who was admiral of the Flemish seas for the duke of Burgundy, and who had done much mischief to the English at sea. Sir John de Bucq, having ably and prudently drawn up his vessels, said to their crews, 'My fair sirs, do not be alarmed, for we are enow to combat the English, should the wind be in our favour; but remember to make a running fight of it, and make for Sluys; if we can draw them on the Flemish coast, we shall have the best of the day.' Some were comforted by these words, others not; but they continued heir preparations for battle, and the gunners made ready their bows and cannons. The two fleets now approached each other. The English had some light galleys in which they had embarked archers; and these galleys advancing, by dint of oars, began the combat with a shower of arrows, which were lost; for the Flemings sheltered themselves in their vessels, and were unhurt, while they sailed on before the wind. Some of the cross-bows, out of arrow-shot, let fly bolts, which wounded many, and prevented those in the galleys from being of any service. The large ships, under lord Arundel, the bishop of Norwich, and others, now advanced, and ran in among those of Flanders, but they had not any advantage; for the cross-bow men defended themselves gallantly, as their commander, sir John de Bucq, had advised them. He and his company were well armed, in a ship equal to any he might meet, and had their cannons on board, which shot balls of such a weight that great mischief was done. The Flemings, during the engagement, made as much sail as they could for Flanders; indeed, some of the merchant-ships had already gained the coast, and had run into shoal water, where the large ships could not follow them for fear of the sand-bank. This battle was very long and obstinate, for it continued for three or four hours, and many of the vessels were sunk by the large bolts of iron, sharply pointed, that were cast down from the tops, and drove holes through them. When night came on, they separated and cast anchor, to repair their damages and take care of the wounded; but, on the return of the tide, they set their sails and renewed the combat. Peter du Bois commanded a body of archers and sailors, and gave the Flemings enough to do; for, having been a sailor himself, he knew how to act, and was enraged at the Flemings, for having held out so long. The English continually gained on the Flemings, and, having got between them and Blanquenberg and Sluys, drove them to Cadzand, where the defeat was completed. They received no succour, for at this time there were neither men at arms nor vessels in Sluys fit for sea."

Note 2. The port of Orwell probably refers to Harwich situated on the estuaries of the Rivers Orwell and Stour. The borough of Harwich was founded in 1318.

Westminster Chronicle. At the end of the month of July, our negotiators for peace came to London. They immediately went to the king, explaining to him how and under what form the truce had been made. Then, on the 4th day of August, the Count of Saint-Pol [aged 34]¹ came to London to obtain security from the king concerning the observance of the aforesaid truce. Therefore the lord king, with his council, came to Westminster on the 9th day of August, and on the 10th day of the same month, security having been given, he confirmed the aforesaid truce². When these things had been duly completed, the king went to his manor of Eltham, where he splendidly entertained the aforesaid count and the other knights who had come with him for the aforesaid reason. Then, having taken leave, within a few days the aforesaid count and the others who were with him returned to their own king.

In fine mensis Julii venerunt Londonias pacis nostri tractatores, qui confestim adierunt regem exponentes sibi quomodo et sub qua forma capta erat treuga. Deinde quarto die Augusti venit Londonias comes sancti Pauli ad captandam securitatem à rege super observatione treugæ prædictæ, quare dominus rex cum suo consilio ix die Augusti venit Westmonasterium et decimo die ejusdem mensis facta securitate firmavit treugam præfatam. His igitur rite peractis accessit rex ad manerium suum de Eltham ubi splendide convivavit comitem prædictum, et alios milites qui causa prætacta cum illo venerunt, demum licentia captata infra paucos dies præfatus comes et alii qui cum illo aderant suum remearunt ad regem.

Note 1. Waleran of Luxembourg, 1355-1415. Count of Saint Pol and Ligny. In 1374 he was captured by the English at the Battle of Baesweiler at which his father was killed. In 1380 whilst captive in England he married Maud Holland, half-sister of King Richard II. After Maud's death in 1392 he married Bona of Bar, granddaughter of King John II of France.

Note 2. Life of Charles VI by a monk of St Denis: "Around the same time, the Bishop of Bayeux, the king's counsellor and principal president of his Chamber of Accounts, informed him that a three-year truce had been voluntarily granted by the King of England, and that, to establish it more firmly, a certain famous knight would soon come. Receiving him honourably and with a gracious countenance, the king entertained him lavishly on repeated occasions, pledged his faith to him that the agreement would be kept inviolate, and, as was his custom, sent him back to his own king laden with abundant gifts. He then sent the Count of Saint-Pol there, to require a similar oath from him." and Walsingham, Historia Anglicana: "Around the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist [24th June], a three-year truce was confirmed between the realms of England and France; Sir John Clanvowe and Richard Rounhale, clerk, receiving in France the oath on behalf of the King of France. And shortly afterwards, namely around the feast of St Lawrence [10th August], there came into England the Count of Saint-Pol, who had married Maud de Courtenay, sister of the King of England, together with other honourable men, to receive the oath on behalf of the King of England that the truce would be faithfully observed; and he was received with the greatest honour."

In September 1389 the Scrope vs Grosvenor Case was brought to the Court of Chivalry. Up to that time two families, Scrope and Grosvenor, had been using the armorial Scrope Arms: Azure, a bend or.

Several hundred witnesses were called including John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 49], Geoffrey Chaucer [aged 46], John Clanvowe [aged 48] and John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 64].

On 3rd September 1386 Owain ap Gruffudd "Glyndŵr" Mathrafal Prince Powys [aged 27] gave evidence at the Church of John the Baptist, Chester [Map].

The Court decided in favour of Scrope.

Neither party was happy with the decision so King Richard II [aged 22] was called upon to give his personal verdict.

On 27th May 1390 he confirmed that Grosvenor could not bear the undifferenced arms.

As a consequence of the case the Grosvenor has for many years used the name Bendor for horses and nicknames.