1340-1349 Plague and Crecy

Adam Murimuth Continuation. And on the Thursday before the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the king had a favourable wind and began to sail successfully. On the following Friday, that is, on the vigil of Saint John [23rd June 1340], he saw the fleet of France drawn up in the port of Sluys, arranged like ranks of fortified positions. Throughout that day he deliberated what would be best to do. On the feast of Saint John the Baptist 24th June 1340, in the morning, the French fleet, dividing itself into three squadrons, advanced about a mile toward the fleet of the king of England. Perceiving this, the king of England declared that there was no longer time to wait, and he prepared himself and his men for battle. Thus, shortly after the ninth hour, having the wind and the sun at his back and the force of the tide with him, he likewise divided his fleet into three squadrons and attacked the French.

A great naval battle was then fought, because of the strength and size of the ships of Spain and France prepared for combat. Nevertheless, the English overcame the French and broke into the ships of the first division, among them a very large vessel called the Saint Denis, another called the Saint George, and others named the Christopher and the Black Cogges, which the French had earlier deceitfully seized in the port of Sluys. In this first clash were present the earls of Gloucester, Northampton, and Huntingdon, who was commander and admiral of the ships of the Cinque Ports, and Sir Robert de Morley, admiral and leader of the northern fleet from Yarmouth, Lynn, and other northern ports, along with many other nobles. When the first French division had been defeated, though with great difficulty, the English attacked the second, which they overcame more easily, for many of the enemy cast themselves into the sea; and they captured their ships, as evening approached. With nightfall, because of the darkness and extreme exhaustion, they wished to rest until morning. But the ships of the third French division attempted to flee secretly, and about thirty ships escaped. One large ship among them, called the James of Dieppe, tried in its flight to seize a ship of Sandwich belonging to the priory of Christ Church, Canterbury; but its crew defended themselves, with the aid of the earl of Huntingdon. The fighting continued until morning, that is, on the day after the feast of Saint John the Baptist; but in the end the English defeated the Normans and captured their ship, in which they found more than four hundred men slain and dead.

Et die Jovis ante festum Nativitatis sancti Johannis baptistæ habuit ventum bonum, et incepit feliciter navigare. Et die Veneris sequenti, scilicet in vigilia sancti Johannis, vidit classem navium Franciæ in portu de la Swyne paratam cet quasi castrorum acies ordinatam; et per totam illam diem deliberavit quid essect consultius faciendum. Et in festo sancti Johannis Daptistie, mane, classis Franciæ, se dividens in tres turmas, movit se per spatium unius milliaris versus classem regis Angliæ. Quod percipiens rex Angliæ dixit non esse ulterius exspectandum, sed se et suos ad arma paravit; it quod cito post horam nonam, quando habuit ventum et solem ad tergum et vim fluminis secum, divisit navigium suum similiter in tres turmas et Francis dedit insultum.

Ubi fuit magnum prœlium navale commissum, propter fortitudinem et magnitudinem navium Hispanite et Franciæ ad prœlium paratarum. Tamen Anglici Gallicos devicerunt et naves primæ cohortis intrarunt, videlicet unam maximaun navem vocatam Sanctus Dionisius et aliam vocatam Sanetus Georgius et alias naves, videlicet Christofre, et Blakekoges, quas Gallici primitus, ut supra seriptum est, in portu de Swyne dolose ceperunt. Et in isto primo conflictu fuerunt comites Gloucestriæ, Northamptoniæ, e Huntyngdoniæ, qui fuit dux et admirallus navium de Quinque Portubus, et dominus Robertus de Morley, qui fuit admirallus et dux navium borealium, scilicet de Yarnemouth, Lynne, et ceterarum navium borealium, et multi alii nobiles. Victa igitur prima cohorte Gallicorum, licet cum magna difficultate, dederunt insultum secundæ, quam facilius devicerunt, quia multi se gratis submerserunt; et naves eorum ceperunt, quasi in crepusculo noctis Adveniente nocte, tam propter obscuritatem quam propter nimiam fatigationem, quiescere voluerunt usque mane. Sed naves tertiæ cohortis Gallicorum latenter fugere voluerunt; et fugerunt circa XXX naves. Sed una magna navis illarum,quæ vocabatur James de Depe, voluit fugiendo cepisse quandam navem de Sandewyco, quæ fuit prioris ecclesiæ Christi Cantuariæ; sed ipsi se defenderunt, cum adjutorio comitis Huntyngdoniæ. Et duravit conflictus usque mane, scilicet in crastino sancti Johannis baptistæ, sed finaliter Anglici vicerunt Normannos et navem illorum ceperunt, in qua quadringentos homines et ultra interfectos et mortuos invenerunt.

[24th June 1340] The French had a fleet half as large again as that of the others, and they possessed the great ship called Cristofle, which could destroy many smaller vessels. Indeed, it inflicted great damage upon the English, and if God had not aided them, they would have had neither the power nor the hope to withstand the French. But King Edward bore himself so valiantly and performed such feats of arms with his own body that he encouraged and gave heart to all the others. Thus, through his prowess, and that of the Earl of Derby and Sir Walter Manny, who acquitted himself most nobly, as well as many others whom I cannot name, and above all through the grace of God, the French, Normans, Gascons, Bretons, and Genoese, were in the end slain, drowned, and defeated, and few escaped. The English also suffered heavy losses, but they recaptured the fine ship called Cristofle, along with a great number of other vessels. In that battle the said Sir Hugh Kiriel was killed, together with many of his kin, and, as was said, fully thirty thousand men, whether slain or drowned. Of these, the sea cast a great number upon the shores of Sluys and Cadzand¹, and some were found still fully armed, just as they had fought.

Les Françoys avoient de navire la moitié plus deux fois que les aultres, et sy avoient la grosse nave que on appelloit Cristofle, qui pouoit destruire moult de petites, aussy fist elle moult de dommages aux Anglois, et se Dieu ne leur eust aidié, ilz n'avoient pas pouoir n'esperance de resister aux Françoys. Maiz le roy Edowart se maintint sy vassaument, et faisoit de si grands proesses de son propre corps que il resbaudissoit el donnoil cuer à lous les aultres, siques par la proesse de luy, et du conte Derby, et de messire Walier de Manny, qui trés bien s'y porta, aussy firent pluseurs aultres que je ne sçay nommer, et par la grace de Dieu principaument, les Françoys, Normans, Gascons, Bretons, Genevoys furent au desrain mors, noyez et desconfitz, et petit en eschappa. Et les Anglois aussi perdirent grandement, maiz ilz regaignerrent la belle nave que on appelloit Cristofle avecques grand foison d'aultres vasseaulx. A celle bataille fut mort ledit messire Hue Kyrès et pluseurs de son lignage, et bien XXX^m hommes, que morts que noyez, ainsy comme on disoit, desquelx la mer en jetta grand partie sur la rive de l'Escluse et de Cagant, et furent trouvez aucuns tous armez, ainsy que combastus s'estoient.

Note 1. Cadzand, an island situated between the town of Sluys and the island of Walcheren, in Zeeland.

1. Auj. Cadsand, île située entre la ville de l'Écluse et l'île de Walcheren, en Zélande.

Bourgeois de Valenciennes. On that same day of which mention has been made above, the king of England was at sea with all his fleet. And as he intended to come and land in Flanders, between Sluys and Blankenberge, there came against him Barbevaire, who claimed allegiance to the king of France, a robber, pirate, and sea-raider, with a great force, guarding the passage on behalf of the king of France so that the king of England might not pass. And they fell upon one another most fiercely, and there were many dead on both sides¹. In the end Barbevaire was defeated and fled, and a great number of his men; and there were slain of Barbevaire’s company well twenty-five thousand and more, besides those of the English party. And this was on the night of Saint John the Baptist [24th June] in the year 1340.

En ce jour mesmes, dont dessus est dit, le roy d'Engleterre estoit en mer à toute sa navie. Et ainsy qu'il euidoit venir et ariver en Flandres, entre l'Escluse et le BlancheBerge, il leur vint au-devant Barbevaire, qui se disoit au roy de France, ung robeur, piratte et escumeur de raer, à tout grans gens, et gardoit le passage de par le roy de France que le roy d'Engleterre ne passast; et coururent sus l'un à l'autre moult mervilleusement, et y eult moult de mors d'un costé et d'aultre, et enfin fut Barbevaire desconfit, et s'enfuy et grant plenté de ses gens, et y eult Barbevaire mors de ses gens bien XXV mille et plus, sans ceulx de la partye des Englecqs, et fut la nuit Saint- Jehan-Baptiste l'an mil CCC et XL.

Note 1. Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke: "On the feast of Saint John the Baptist, 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 madman would not have dared to witness even from afar.

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."

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.

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. "Edward, by the grace of God king of England and France and lord of Ireland, etc. We think it fitting to make known to you, for your consideration and joy, the outpouring of divine mercy which has lately been shown toward us. You know indeed, and you and our other faithful people have in some measure felt it, by how many storms of war we have been assailed and how, as upon a great sea, we have been tossed by violent waves. Yet although the surges of the sea are mighty, more mighty is the Lord on high, who, turning the storm into a calm, has now most graciously looked upon us amid so many adversities. For when we had lately arranged our necessary passage toward the parts of Flanders, Philip of Valois, our most hostile persecutor, foreseeing this, sent to the port of Sluys a very great fleet of armed ships, which he had prepared to destroy us and our faithful followers, lying in wait to capture us or at least to hinder our passage. Had that passage been hindered, which God forbid, the important undertakings which we pursue would have fallen entirely into ruin; indeed we and our people would likely have been exposed to great danger and confusion. But God, the Father of mercies, seeing us placed in such dangers, more graciously and more swiftly than human reason could judge, sent us a great naval aid and an unexpected number of armed men, and always a favourable wind according to our desire. Thus, trusting in heavenly help and in the justice of our cause, when we came by ship to the said port we found the said fleet and our enemies there, very ready for battle in great numbers. Against them, on the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist [24th June 1340] last past, Christ our God, our hope, granted us victory in a strong and fierce conflict. A great slaughter was made among those enemies, and the whole fleet was in a manner captured, with comparatively little loss among our own people. Thus, the passage over the sea will henceforth lie more safely open to our faithful subjects, and many other advantages will likely come from this to us and to our faithful people, from which a most fair hope now arises. Contemplating so great a heavenly grace with devotion, we humbly render praise and thanks to our Saviour, praying that He who has already and always graciously assisted us in times of need may continue His help, and grant that we may so rule in this world that we may rejoice eternally in Him above. We earnestly ask your affection and beseech you by the mercy of God that, rising in the praise of devout thanksgiving to the living God who has wrought so great a sign of good with us, you will commend us, now far away and seeking not only to recover our rights but also to uphold the holy Catholic Church and to govern the people in justice, to Him through your devoted prayers. Cause masses and other works of pious devotion to be performed for us, and by wholesome exhortations encourage the clergy and people of your diocese to do the same, so that God Himself, having mercy upon us, may grant a happy progress and a gracious outcome, and give His servant an understanding heart to judge and rule rightly, and so to do what He commands that we may deserve to obtain what He promises. Witness Edward, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester, our most dear son, guardian of England, at Waltham Holy Cross, on the twenty-eighth day of June [1340], in the fourteenth year of our reign of England and the first year of our reign of France."

"Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliæ et Franciæ et dominus Hiberniæ, etc. Effusam circs nos his diebus propitiationis divinæ clementiam ad vestri contemplationem et lætitiam vobis ducimus intimandam. Scitis autem immo vos et alii fideles nostri, quadam participatione sensitis, quantis fuimus et sumus guerrarum lacessiti turbinibus et velut in mari magno procellosis fluctibus agitati. Sed, licet sint mirabiles elationes maris, mirabilior tamen est in altis Dominus, qui, procellam convertens in auram, jam inter tot adversa clementissime nos respexit. Nam, cum pridem ordinassemus passagium nostrum necessarium versus partes Flandriæ, dominus Philippus de Valesio, persecutor noster infestissimus, hoc prævidens, classem maximam navium armatarum, quam in expugnationem nostram nostrorumque fidelium parari fecerat, ad insidiandum nobis, in portu de Swina transmisit, ut vel sic nos caperet vel nostrum transitam impediret. Qui transitus si, quod absit, fuisset impeditus, ardua negotia, quæ prosequimur, fuissent penitus in ruina; quin immo nos et nostri fuissemus verisimiliter periculo confusionis magnæ subjecti. Sed Deus misericordiarum, videns nos in tantis periculis constitutos, gratius et citius quam humana ratio judicare poterat, misit nobis magnum navale subsidiam et insperatum numerum armatorum, ac semper ventum prosperum juxta votum; et sic, sub spe cœlestis auxilii et justitiæ nostræ fiducia, dictum portum navigio venientes, invenimus' dictam classem et hostes mnostros ibidem paratissimos ad prœlium in multitudine copiosa. Quibus, in festo Nativitatis sancti Johannis baptistæ proximo præterito, ipse spes nostra Christus Deus per conflictum fortem et validum nos prævalere concessit, facta strage non modica dictorum hostium, capta etiam quodammodo tota dicta classe, cum læsione gentis noatræ modica respective. Sicque tutior de cetero patebit transitus nostris fidelibus supra mare, et alia bona plurima sunt ex hoc nobis et nostris fidelibus verisimiliter proventura, de quo spes palcherrima jam arridet. Nos autem, tantam cœlestem gratiam devotissime contemplantes, ipsi Salvatori nostro laudes et gratias humiliter exsolvimus, deprecantes ut, qui jam et semper in opportunitatibus copiosis gratis nos prævenit, continuatis nos auxiliis prosequatur, et nobis regere tem poraliter sic concedat in terris, ut in Eo lætemur æternaliter in excelsis. Dilectionem vestram attente rogamus et per Dei misericordiam obsecramus, quatinus soli Deo vivo, qui tantum signum nobiscum fecit in bonum, in devotæ laudis præconium assurgentes,nos, jam in remotis agentes, et nedum jura nostra recuperare sed sanctam eocle siam catholicam attollere et in justitia populum regere cupientes, Sibi devotis orationum instantiis recommendare cuaretis, facientes pro nobis missas et alia piæ placationis officia misericorditer exerceri; et ad hoc clerum et populum vestræ dioceseos salutaribus monitis inducatis, ut Deus ipse, miseratus nobis, progressum felicem et exitum annuat gratiosum, detque servo suo cor docile, ut recte judicare possimus et regere et sic facere quod præcipit, ut mereamur assequi quod promittit. Testo Edwardo, duce Cornubiæ et comite Cestriæ, filio nostro carissimo, custode Angliæ, apud Waltham Sanctæ Crucis, XXVIIJ die Junii, anno regni nostri Angliæ XIIIJ, regni vero Franciæ primo."

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.

On the day that had been agreed upon between the lords and the Flemings, they all came before Tournai and laid siege to it on every side¹. The noble king was positioned fairly close on one side, with Jacquemart d’Artevelde and the Flemings; the Duke of Brabant was on another side with all his forces; and the Count of Hainaut, together with all the other lords who made up the third division of the host, took their position elsewhere. Thus the whole city was surrounded. Afterward they constructed several bridges over the Scheldt, which there is wide and deep, setting them upon boats, so that one army could easily go to the other without danger¹.

A celluy jour qui fut acordé entre les seigneurs et les Flamens, tous vindrent devant Tournay et l'assiegerrent tout autour; le noble roy assez prez, d'une part, de Jacquemart d'Artevelle et des Flamens, le duc de Brabant, d'aultre part, à toutes ses gens, le conte de Haynau et tous les aultres seigneurs qui faisoient le tiers ost, d'une part, par quoy toute la cité fut assiegée par quoy en aprez firent pluseurs pons sur l'Escaut, qui là est grand et parfont, sur nefs, ainsy l'un ost pouoit legierement aler à l'aultre sans peril.

Note 1. The siege of Tournai lasted from 1 August to 27th September 1340, the day on which Philip VI dismissed his army assembled at Bouvines. However, after the 27th, the defenders of Tournai remained in the city until 1st October, "because it was necessary to settle payment of what they owed in the said town, and they could not depart sooner." (Bibliothèque nationale, ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fols. 54v–55r.) This explains why all the accounts of the defenders of the city run from 1st August to 1st October, "during which time they were enclosed in the said town of Tournai for sixty days." See ibid., fols. 55–90 and 141–165, for the names of the knights and squires who took part in the defense of Tournai. The dates given prior to 1st August for the beginning of the siege are no doubt the dates of assembly of the various army corps that were to invest the city. Cf. Chronique normande, ed. Molinier, p. 255, note 4; Chronographia, vol. II, p. 139, note 1; Chronique de Richard Lescot, p. 53, note 1; Appendix, p. 207.

1. Le siège de Tournai dura du 1^o août au 27 septembre 1340, jour où Philippe VI donna congé à son armée réunie à Bouvines. Mais, après le 27, les défenseurs de Tournai restèrent encore dans la ville jusqu'au 1^o octobre, «pour ce qu'il esconvint faire finance de ce qu'il devoient en ladicte ville, et plus tost ne sen poouoient partir.» (Bibl. nat., ms. fr. nouv. acq. 9238, fol. 54 v^o et 55 r^o.) C'est ce qui explique que tous les comptes des défenseurs de cette ville vont du 1^er août au 1^er" octobre, «qu'ils furent enclos en ladicte ville de Tournay par zx: jours.» Voy., Ibid., fol. 55 à 90 et 141 à 165, les noms des chevaliers et écuyers qui prirent part à la défense de Tournai. Les dates données avant le 1^er août pour le commencement du siège sont sans doute les dates de rassemblement des différents corps d'armée qui devaient investir la ville. Cf. Chronique normande, éd. Molinier, p. 255, note 4; Chronographia, t. II, p. 139, note 1; Chronique de Richard Lescot, p. 53, note 1; Appendice, p. 207.

Note 2. For the arrangements made around Tournai by Edward II and his allies, see Froissart, ed. Luce, vol. II, p. xxi.

2. Pour les dispositions prises autour de Tournai par Édouard II et ses alliés, voy. Froissart, éd. Luce, 1. II, p. xxi.

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. Meanwhile, the said lord Philip of Valois, assembling a very great army, set out toward the said siege, intending, as many believed, to raise it. However, he feared to engage in battle with the said King of England, and remained encamped at a considerable distance from the English king. Although the Count of Hainault, Lord Walter de Manny, Reginald de Cobham, then Marshal of the said King of England, and others from the said army ventured out from the siege and destroyed the towns of Orchies, Urssis, Greneye, Archis, Odynt, Saint-Amand, and the town of Lisle, killing there three hundred men-at-arms of the kingdom of France, and near Saint-Omer slew the noble lords de Duskune, de Maurfelon, de Rely, de Chastelon, de Melly, de Fenys, de Hamelcourt, de Monfaucon, and other barons, fourteen in all, with six score knights also killed, and in the direction of Douai destroyed the town of Seclin and more than 300 small towns and villages within six leagues of the region of Tournai, carrying off plunder and spoils and devastating by fire. Still, the said lord Philip did not dare to oppose such losses or to resist in defence of the people of that region, but remained continuously in the same place, far removed from the siege, until, because more than 20,000 men of his army, due to the multitude and their prolonged stay, miserably perished from hunger and thirst, at his insistence a truce was arranged. To this truce the said King of England, lacking sufficient treasure, whereby he might attend to his own needs and pay the wages due to those serving him in war, was compelled to consent. The terms of the truce are as follows, as will appear below:

Interim vero dictus dominus Philippus de Valesio, exercitum congregans magnum valde, versus dictam obsidionem gressus suos direxit, ad removendam eandem, ut a multis opinabatur; tamen cum dicto rege Anglorum bellum committere formidabat et in campis ab eodem rege Angliæ multum distantibus cum suo exercitu moram traxit. Et, licet comes Hannoniæ ac dominus Walterus de Manny et Reginaldus de Cobham, tunc marescallus dicti domini regis Anglorum, et alii dicti exercitus, in destructionem rebellium & dicta obsidione egredientes, villas de Ortys, Urssis, Greneye, Archis, et Odynt, Seint Amand, villamque Lisle, interfectis ibidem CCC hominibus armorum regni Francis, et juxta Sanctum Omerum nobilibus dominis de Duskune, de Maurfelon, de Rely, de Chastelon, de Melly, de Fenys, de Hamelcourt, de Monfaucon, et aliis baronibus XIIIJ, cum VJ^xx militibus etiam interfectis versus Dowe villam de Chely, aliasque villas parvas plus quam CCC, quasi in circuitu de Tourneye per VJ leucas illius patriæ, captis prædis et spoliis, per incendium devastassent—tamen dictus dominus Philippus hujusmodi dampna occurrere seu resistere in defensionem populi dietæ patriæ non audebat, sed continue in eodem loco a dicta obsidione remoto permansit, donec, plus quam XX, millibus hominum sui exercitus, propter ipsius exercitus multitudinem et moram ibidem diutinam, fame et siti miserabiliter necatis, ad ipsius domini Philippi instantiam, treugæ captæ fuissent. Quibus treugis dictum dominum regem Anglorum, sufficienti thesauro, unde debuit propriis necessitatibus subvenire et debita stipendia suis obsequiis militantibus erogare, destituto, oportuit consentire. Quarum tenor talis est, ut patet consequenter:

The King of Spain and his men were then fully assured of victory, and fell upon the Saracens like hungry wolves among a flock of sheep, killing as many as they could and pursuing them all day, from the hour of tierce until nightfall without resting. In like manner the other divisions fought, slaying and killing so many that no certain number was ever known; but it was said that never in battle had there been such a slaughter. Some reckoned the dead at more than one hundred thousand men, while the Christians, whether good or ill, lost no more than forty. The great King of Benamarin² and the King of Granada³ saved themselves as best they could, but the King of Tlemcen⁴ was taken prisoner, along with several other great lords whose names I do not know.

Le roy d'Espaigne et ses gens furent adoncques tous asseurez, et ferirent entre les Sarrasins comme les loups familleux entre ung tropeau de brebis, et en ochirrent tant qu'ilz peurent, et les chasserent tout le jour, de leure de tierce jusques à la nuit sans reposer. Et tout par semblable maniere firent les aultres batailles, et en ocirent et tuerrent tant qu'il n'en fut oncques fait certain nombre, maiz on disoit que jamaiz en bataille ne fut faicte telle occision, et les aucuns nombroient les mors à plus de c^m hommes, qu'onques les crestiens n'y perdirent plus hault de xL hommes que bons que mauvaïz. Le grand roy de Benmarin et le roi de Guernade se mirent à sauveté comment que ce fust, maiz le roy de Tarmente fut pris et pluseurs aultres grands seigneurs dont je ne sçay les noms.

Note 1. This victory is that of the Battle of Río Salado, won by the Kings of Castile and Portugal over the Saracens on 30th October 1340. Edward III of England wrote a letter of congratulations to the King of Castile on 12th June 1341 (Rymer, vol. II, part II, p. 1164). In the Appendix ad Murimuth, p. 263, M. Thompson published the letter of an Englishman who had been present at the Battle of the Salado and who wrote to Edward on the subject, sending him a copy of a letter that Sultan Abu’l-Hasan had addressed to Benamarin.

1. Cette victoire est celle du Salado, remportée par les rois de Castille et de Portugal sur les Sarrasins le 30 octobre 1340. Édouard IN écrivit au roi de Castille une lettre de félicitations le 12 juin 1341. Rymer, t. II, Il^o partie, p. 1164.) Dans l'Appendix ad Murimutk, p. 263, M: Thompson a publié la lettre d'un anglais qui avait assisté à la bataille du Salado et qui écrivit à Édouard à ce sujet, en lui envoyant copie d'une lettre que le sultan Abu'l Hassan avait adressée à Band Marin.

Note 2. The King of Benamarin i.e. the Sultain of Marinid was Abu al-Hasan Ali. He ruled the Marinid Sultanate of Morocco from 1331 to 1351 and personally led the Marinid army that crossed into Iberia to support the Emir of Granada against the Christian coalition of Castile and Portugal. After the decisive defeat at Río Salado on 30 October 1340, he retreated to North Africa.

Note 3. The King of Granada was Yusuf I of Granada. He ruled the Nasrid Emirate of Granada from 1333 to 1354.

Note 4. The King of Tlemcen, now in north-west Algeria. Its last King, Abu Tashfin I, had died in 1337. In 1340 it was controlled by Abu al-Hasan Ali, Sultain of Marinid. It is not known who the author is referring to.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. Right honourable and most gentle lord, please you to know that, on the day of All Saints [1st November 1340] last past, the king of Spain, in Granada, had a battle with the Saracens, and, by the grace of God, had there the fairest victory that hath been, for long time past, over the said Saracens. In which battle there were slain five Saracen kings and one hundred and fifty thousand men. And, the battle being fought, the king of Spain returned back to the tents of the king of the Bani Marin, which was chief of all the Saracens, the which king escaped and passed over the sea in a little bark; and there, in his tents, the king of Spain found a letter written in letters of gold and sealed with a seal of gold. The which letter came from the great soldan of Egypt, bidding him make the passage of the sea upon the king of Spain and upon the Christians. [And the king of Spain] which took a part of the Saracens to ransom made cne of the Saracens translate the said letter into Latin, and then was it translated into Spanish, and from Spanish into French; and it beginneth in this wise:"

"From me, the Khalifa, the lord, the noble, the soldan, great lord, wise, mighty, and puissant lord of the house of Mecca of the holy Mahomet, puissant and trusting in his highness and in his holy virtue, doing justice to high and low, and ruling over all that rule; lord of the realm of Turkey and of Persia, holder of the lands of the two holy cities, lord of the dynasty and of the dynasties of the Persian sea, comrade of the weak, believer in the holy law of Mahomet, lord of the mighty sword of Elias and of David, that slew and cut off the heads of the men of the city of Ancyra and destroyed them altogether, lord of the kingdoms of all the world from the creation downwards, and of the parts of Asia, of Africa, and of Europe, and conqueror of battles and of the hosts of the Christians and of all the kingdoms of the world: to thee, king of the Banû Marin, health and commandment in the fear of our mighty sword. We make thee to know that our wise men, Saracens, have made us to understand that thy son Pichnco, the honourable child, strong knight and nursling son of the holy Mahomet, went against the law of the Christians of the accursed law, which is cast-away and evil-fated, that know not how they live, for they believe in their soul [on him that] they call pope, and say that he is pardoner of sins; and therefore are they deceived for the belief which they hold. And for that the king of Spain, vassal as he ought of right to be held, and all the other kings in the world, that believe in that law, which are against our Saracens, that are pure, clean, and believers in the holy Mahomet and in our holy Koran, slew so holy a creature as was the child Pichaco, thy son, noble as he was, and they slew him falsely, for otherwise he could not have died in battle; and I verily believe that, for the holy belief that he had in the holy Mahomet and in our holy Koran, he is in the holy Paradise, in the embrace of the holy Mahomet, and that he feedeth on cakes, honey, butter, milk, and cheese, and that he is raised up again and liveth, and that, so holy a creature as he is, he will have sixty virgin wives in the holy Paradise. Therefore we command thee, on pain of our law, that thou rest not until all Christendom be put to shame and destroyed; and we give power to our doctors and our Knights, that they may pardon and spread abroad the holy name of those which shall go against the Christians by sea and by land, and that they have pardon for themselves and for eleven persons of their blood, each of them. So we command thee, by the fear of our mighty sword, that thou march with all the power that I have given to thee, on this side the sea and on that, and that thou attack ail the lands of the Christians, Ly sea and by land. And for those which shall die, I lift my hand in presence of our holy Koran, that within three days thereafter they shall be raised up again in the holy paradise of Mahomet, witl their wives aud their children, and that they shall feed on cakes, honey, butter, milk, and cheese, and that each of them shall have seven virgin wives; for which holy faith we hold to be saved those which shall be strong and of good heart. And those which shall not be able to go, and shall give of their goods, shall have this same pardon aforesaid, as if they went themselves to battle. And I bid thee, noble king, eater of the herbs and drinker of the waters beyond the sea and on this side the sea, and destroyer of Christians, that thou straightway march with all the power that I have bidden thee, and that thou go by way of Gibraltar, our happy joy, with Algeciras, the stronghold of right great virtue, and pass over the sea against the king of Spain and against the other Christians, that on none of them you have mercy or pity, but that all Christendom be destroyed. And do in such wise that all the churches which they have be straightway destroyed; and make of them stalls for the beasts, and of their altars make mangers, and of their crosses make posts whereto to tether the cattle. Little children dash against the wall; women with child rip open; of other women cut off breasts, arms, noses, and feet; and all this do in dishonour of Christendom; and so depart not thence, till thou have overcome and destroyed all Christendom from sea to sea. And we hold these deeds, if thou canst do well, to be in the guerdon of our lord Mahomet, the elect of God, which will be with thee in all thy battles, when thou shalt call apon him; for never was born so holy a man of our law, from creation downwards, from the time of the holy Mahomet, the elect of God, as thou shalt be in all thy battles."

"Tres honurable et tresdoce seignur, vous plaist a savoir qe, le jour de Tutz Seintz derrein passe, si avoit le roi Despaigne, en Granade, un bataille contre les Sarazins, et, par la grace de Dieu, fist illoeges la plus hele victorie qe fut, grant tenps pazse, sur les ditz Sarazins. À quele bataille furent occis V rois Sarazins et C et L mil personis Sarazins. Et, la bataille faite, le roi Despaigoe retourna a les pavilons le roi de Belmarim, qi estoit chevetein de toutz les Surazins, le quel roi eschapa et passa la mer en une petisto galiot; et la, en ses pavillons, ei trova le dit roi Despuigne une bille escripte as lettres dor et assele dun seal dor. La quele bille viut du grant soudan de Babiloyne, comandant qil feist le passage sour le dit roi Despuigne et sur les Chrestienes. Et le roi de Espanye qi prist partie des Sarazins n rauncoun si fist ou des Sarazins translater la dito bille en Latin, et puis fait ele translate en Espaignolf, et despaignolf en Fraunceys; la quele comence en ceste manere:"

"'De moi Goldifa, un ley exarif, soudan, grant seignur, sages, fort, et puissant seignur de la maison de Meke du seint Mahomet, puissant et creiant en la sue hautesce et en la suo scinte vertu, faisant justices as hautes et basses, et constreignant sour toutz constreignaunz; seignur du roislme de Turkye et de Percie, retenour des terres de Hermenie, seignur de la dobble et de les dobbles de la mier mervaillouse, parceinour de les fiebles, creyaunt en la seinte ley de Mahomet, seiguur de la forte espee de Elyas et de Davyd, qi tua et coupa les tentes de ceux de la citee Dangere et les destruyt du tout, seignur des roialmes de tout le mond de creatour en aval, et des parties Dasia, Daffrica, et Deuropa, et vencour des bateilles et des hostes des Crestiens et des toutz roialmes du mounde: a toi, roi de Belmaryn, salutz et commandement sus la timure de la nostre fort espee. Nous toc faceons assavoir qe les nostres sages Sarazins nous firent entendre qe toun fitz Pichaco, lenfaunt honurable, chivaler fort et fieux noritz de seint Mahomet, ala contre la ley des OCrestienes de la ley maudite, perdue et desaventure, qi ne sevent coment ils vivent, car ils creyent en la sue alme, gils appellent pape, et dient qil est pardonour de pecches; et de ceo sont ils enginiz pur la creaunce qils tignent. Et pur ceo qe le roi Despaigne, auxint qil devoit estre tenutz vassal de droit, et toutz les autres rois gen monde mount, qi creyent en cele ley, qi sont encontre les nos Sarazins, qi sont clieres, nettes, et creyauntz en le seint Mahomet et en le nostre seint Alcoran, et tuerent taunt seint creature come cest enfaunt Pichaco, ton fitz, taunt noble come il iert—et si le tuerent fauxement, qar autrement ne purreit estre mort en bataille; et jeo croi vereiment qe pur la seinte creaunce qil tenoit en le seint Mahomet et en la nostre seint Alcoran, qil est en le seint Parays, bras et bras cole seint Mahomet, et qil mange bienges, mel, bure, leet, et fourmage, et qil est resuscitez et vive, et ge, tant seint creature come il est, avera lx. femmes puceles en le seint Parays—Et pur ceo te comandons, sour la peine de nostre ley, qe ne reposez jesqes tote la Crestienete soit honie et destruite; et donons poer as nos Alfakyns et as nos Alfiers, ils puissent pardonner et sermoner le seint non de ceux qi alerount contre les Crestiens par mier et par terre, et qils eyent pardoun pur eux mesmes et pur XJ persones de lour lignage, chescon deux. Auxint te comandong, sour la timure de nostre fort espee, qe tu te muez a tout le poer ge jeo te ai donee, de cea la mer et de la la mier, et ge tu coures toutz les terres de Crestiens, par mier et per terre. Et ceux gi murrent, jeo leve la main de per nostre seint Alcoran, qe dedeinz les treis jours apres serrent resuecitez en le seint Parais du Mahomet, ovesge lours femmes et Jlours enfauntz, et qils mangerent bienges, mel, bure, leet et fourmage, ct chescon deux avera VIJ femmes puceles; par la quele seint foy nous tendons destre salve ceux qi serrent forts et de bon queor. Et ceux qi ne purrent aler, et durrent de lour avoir, gils eyent ceste mesme pardoun susdite, auxi bien come ila alassent meismes a la bataille Et jeo te comand, noble roi, pastour des herbes et bevour des cawes de la la mier et de ceæ la mer, et destruour des Crestiens, qe tu te mues tantost a tout le poer qe jeo tay comande, et qe tu te vois par Gilbalbar, uostre joye aventure, ovesqe Aclier, chastel de mult grant vertu, et passez la mier contre le roi Despaigne et contre les autres Crestiens, qe neiez deux nul merci ne pete, mes qe tote la Crestiente soit destruite. Et faites en tiele manere ge toutz les esglises qils averent, soyent tantost destruitz; et en facez estables pur les Le-tes, ct en lours auteres facez manjours, et des croys facez cstaches par lier les bestes. Les petitz enfauntz fuites gettre au mur; les femmes engrocez faites overir les ventres; les autres femmes faites tailler les mameles, les bras, le niez, et les pices; et tout ceo facez pur deshonur de la Crestiente; et si ne te partez de illoeges, si la qe tote la Crestiente eyez conquise et destruyte de mier a mier. Et nous tenons ses faitz, si ta puissez bien faire, au paier de sire Mahomet et de seint Almofoffan, qi serrent ovesqe toy en tutz tes bateilles, quant tu les appelleras; qar unges tiel seint homme fut niez de nostre ley, desoutz la creature en aval, de seint Mahomet et de seint Almofoffan come tu serras en toutz tes bateilles.'"

When the said Count of Montfort saw that he had a great number of men on foot and on horseback, he took counsel to go and conquer by force or by persuasion all the country and to destroy all rebels within his power. Thus he left Nantes and first made his way toward a very strong castle, which stands on one side by the sea, and is called Brest. Its keeper and castellan was a noble knight named Sir Garnier de Clisson¹, cousin to the late duke and cousin to Sir Olivier de Clisson [aged 43], a noble knight and one of the highest barons of Brittany, whom King Philip of France afterward had shamefully beheaded in Paris² on suspicion of treason. For this all men bore him ill will, holding the knight to have died without guilt, and believing that the king had rather caused him to die in order to seize his inheritance than for any other reason. Before the said count came to Brest, he had so compelled those of the open country that everyone followed him, on foot or on horseback, so that he had a marvelously great host. When he arrived before the castle of Brest with all his army, he had the above-named knight, Sir Garnier de Clisson, summoned by Sir Henry of Leon, and required him to obey him and to surrender the fortress as to the Duke of Brittany. The knight replied that he was not advised to do so, and that he would do nothing of the kind, nor would he acknowledge him as lord unless he had command and tokens from the one to whom he was bound by right. Then the count withdrew and defied the knight and those within the castle.

Quant ledit conte de Montfort vit qu'il eut gens à pyé et à cheval en grand nombre, il eut conseil d'aler conquerre par force ou par amours tout le païz et destruire tous rebelles à son pouoir. Si issi hors de Nantes et se tray premierement vers ung chastel moult fort, qui siet d'ung costé sur la mer, et l'appelle on Brait, et en estoit garde et chastellain ung gentil chevalier qu'on appelloit messire Garnier de Clichon, cousin au duc qui mort estoit, et cousin à messire Olivier de Clichon, ung noble chevalier et ung des plus haults barons de Bretaigne, lequel Philippe roy de France fist puis aprez villainement decoler à Paris par souspechon de trahison, dont toutes gens Iny en sceurent mal gré, et tenoicnt le chevalicr mort sans coulpe, et tenoient que le roy l'avoit fait mielx morir pour avoir ses heritages que aultrement. Ainçoys que ledit conte venist à Brait, il avoit si contraint ceulx du plat pays que chascun le suivoit à pié ou à cheval, siques il avoit si grahd ost que merveille. Quant il fut devant le chastel de Brait à tout son ost, II fist appeller le chevalier dessusdit, monseigneur Garnier de Clichon, par messire Henry de Lyon, et luy requist qu'il voulsist obeir à luy et rendre la fortresse comme au duc de Bretaigne. Le chevalier respondi qu'il n'estoit point conseillié de ce faire, et qu'il n'en feroit riens, et ne le tendroit à seigneur, s'il n'avoit mandement et enseignes du seigneur à cui il debvoit estre par droit. Adonq se retray ledit conte el deffya le chevalier et ceulx du chastel.

Note 1. Dom Lobineau, in his History of Brittany (vol. I, p. 312), and Dom Morice (ibid., vol. I, p. 246) call him Gautier, though it is not known why, since the Chronographia (vol. II, p. 169) also gives him the first name Garnier.

1. Dom Lobineau Hist. de Bretagne, t. 1, p. 312) et dom Morice (Ibid., t. I, p. 246) le nomment, on ne sait pourquoi, Gautier, car la Chronographia, t. II, p. 169, lui donne aussi le prénom de Garnier.

Note 2. Olivier de Clisson was executed on 2nd August 1343. See Froissart, ed. Luce, vol. III, pp. IX–X.

2. Olivier de Clisson fut exécuté le 2 août 1343. Voy. Froissart, éd. Luce, t. III, p. IX et X.

On 23rd April 1344 King Edward III of England [aged 31] created the Order of the Garter. The date nominal as there are different accounts; some sources say 1348.

1 Edward "Black Prince".

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.

8 John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle.

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.

14 John Grey 1st Baron Grey.

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.

25 Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh.

Adam Murimuth Continuation. In this year the lord king ordained that most noble jousts or tournaments should be held at the place of his birth, namely at the castle of Windsor, on the 19th day of January [1344] and the 14th day before the Kalends of February, which he caused to be publicly proclaimed beforehand both overseas and in England. For these he also caused all the ladies of the southern parts of England and the wives of the burgesses of London to be invited by his letters. Therefore, when earls, barons, knights, and very many ladies had assembled on Sunday, namely the 13th day before the Kalends of February [20th January], in the said castle, the king held a solemn feast, so that the great hall of the castle was filled with ladies, and there was no man among them except two knights who alone had come from France for this solemnity. At this feast there were two queens, nine countesses, and the wives of barons, knights, and burgesses, who could not easily be counted; and the king himself personally placed them in their seats according to rank. But the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cornwall, the earls, barons, and knights, together with all the people, dined in tents and other places, where food and all other necessities were prepared and distributed to all generously and without complaint; and in the evening dances and various festivities were solemnly arranged. And for the three following days the king, with nineteen other knights, held the tournament against all comers from outside; and the king himself, not out of royal favour, but because of the great effort he made and the success he had during those three days, won the prize among those within. Among those from outside, Sir — of Stapleton won the prize on the first day, Sir Philip Despenser on the second day, and Sir John Blount on the third day. On the Thursday following, after the tournaments of the squires, the lord king held a great feast in which he began also a Round Table, and received the oaths of certain earls, barons, and knights whom he wished to be of that Round Table, under a certain form pertaining to it; and he appointed a day for holding the said Round Table there at the coming feast of Pentecost, and gave permission to all present to return home with thanks. He also afterwards ordered that there should be built there a most noble building in which the said Round Table might be held at the appointed time; for which purpose he assigned masons, carpenters, and other craftsmen, and commanded that timber and stone be provided, sparing neither labour nor expense. But this work was afterwards abandoned for certain reasons.

Hoc anno ordinavit dominus rex habere nobilissima, hastiludia sive tirocinium in loco nativitatis suæ, videlicet in castro de Wyndesore die videlicet Januarii xix. et xiiij. kalendas Februarii, quæ competenti tempore præcedenti fecit tam in partibus transmarinis quam in Anglia publice proclamarium. Ad quæ 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 duæ reginæ, ix. comitissæ, uxores baronum, militum, et burgensium, quæ non potuerunt faciliter numerari, quas rex ipse personaliter in locis suis secundum ordinem collocavit. Princeps vero Walliæ, 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 cœnam magnam in qua euam 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 rotundæ tabulæ 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.

Bourgeois de Valenciennes. In the month of July, about the feast of Saint James and Saint Christopher [25th July]¹ in the year 1346, when the battle before the city of Liège had taken place, as we have said, and when the duke of Normandy, son of King Philip of France, was holding siege before the town and castle of Aiguillon in Gascony, near La Réole and Bordeaux, where the Earl of Derby and my lord Walter of Mauny and their men were stationed on behalf of King Edward of England to guard the land of Gascony and defend it against the said duke of Normandy and his forces. King Edward of England set out from England with a great host. With him were the Prince of Wales his son, the Bishop of Durham, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Montfort, my lord Godfrey who had been driven out of France, and many other knights and men-at-arms, as well as squires, pikemen, and archers. When they were all assembled, they numbered about eight thousand men-at-arms in harness of steel and twenty-five thousand archers, both Welsh and others. They had thirteen hundred ships, including those carrying provisions, and thirty-five thousand horses, and they put to sea. The wind drove them toward the coast of Cornwall, where they rested. While they were there, sixteen ships from Bayonne passed by, carrying five thousand tuns of wine into Normandy. They made it known that they were bringing the wine to Sluys in Flanders, but this was proven false by the letters they carried, which were found upon them, showing that they were taking it to Normandy. The King of England and his men seized all the wine and distributed it throughout the host, but returned the ships and vessels to the mariners. On the following day they had favourable wind to sail for Normandy.

Ou mois de jullet et en celle saison, environ la SaintJaques et Saint-Cristoffle, l'an mil III^c et XLVI que la bataille devant la cité de Liège avoit esté, ainsy comme nous avons dit, et que le duc de Normendie, fils du roy Philippe de France, estoit et tenoit siège devant la ville et le chastel de Mont-Aguillon en Gascongne assez près de la Riolle et de Bordeaux en Gascogne où le conte d'Erby et monseigneur Gaultier de Mauny et leurs gens estoient de par le roy Édouart d'Engleterre pour garder le pays et la terre de Gascongne et deffendre à leur pooir contre le dit duc de Normendie et ses gens .... Et avoit le dit roy d'Engleterre avoec luy le prinche de Galles, son fils, l'évesque de Durâmes, le conte de Werwic, le conte de Monfort, monseigneur Godeffroy qui estoit encachiet de France et maints aultres chevaliers et gens d'armes, coustilliers, picquiers et archiers. Et quant ils furent tous assamblés, ils furent environ VIII mille hommes armés de harnas d'achier et XXV mille archiers, que Gallois, que aultres. Sy eult XIII^c nefs parmy celles des pourvéances et XXXV mille chevaulx, et entrèrent en mer; mais le vent les mena en la marche de Cornuaille, et se reposèrent là. Et en tandis qu'ils estoient là, passoient XVI nefs de Bayonne qui menoient V mille tonneaux de vin en Norraendie, et ils faisoient et donnoient à entendre qu'ils les menoient à l'Escluse en Flandres, et ce fut bien prouvé par les lettres qu'ils portoient et qu'on trouva sur eulx, qu'ils mentoient et qu'ils les menoient en Normendie. Sy eurent le roy d'Engleterreetsesgens tous les vins, et les départirent en l'ost, et rendirent aux mariniers leurs nefs et navires; et lendemain eurent bon vent pour aller en Normendie.

Note 1. The date clearly incorrect since in the next History he describes King Edward arriving in Normandy on 12th July. Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke: "Afterwards, the lord king hastened his passage into Normandy, 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. Finally, on the thirteenth day of the same month of July [1346], they arrived at the desired port."

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. Very dear sir, you should know that on the day [25th June 1347] after Saint John's Day the wind, which had been from the west, turned toward the east at the hour of tierce. Because of this the earls of Northampton [aged 37] and Pembroke [aged 28], and the lords Morley, Talbot, and Bradeston, together with the two admirals and a great number of archers from their retinues and from the commons, boarded their ships and sailed toward Boulogne and Crotoy in order to observe the enemies who had arranged to provision Calais. Thus, they encountered, on this side of Crotoy about the hour of vespers, the said enemies, who were counted within sight of our men as forty-four vessels: hulks, galleys, and victualling ships loaded with various supplies. Some of those enemies who were at the rear threw their provisions into the sea and swam toward England, while others made for the port of Crotoy. The ten galleys abandoned their boats and their cargo and put out to the high sea. One hulk and twelve victualling ships which were ahead were so vigorously pursued that they ran as close to the shore as they could, and all the men leapt into the sea and drowned so completely that not a single person remained alive in their vessels. But on the following night, at daybreak, two boats came out of the town into the open sea, and they were quickly noticed by a mariner named William Roke together with a man called Stephen Hikeman. One of the boats returned to the town with great difficulty, but the other was driven ashore. In that boat was captured a great master who was the commander of the Genoese galleys and the leader of the Genoese who are inside the town, and with him seventeen others of the same company and about forty letters. But the said commander, before he was taken, tied with an axe a letter which carried an important message and threw it into the sea. That letter and the axe were found on the shore when the sea had receded, of which you will find a copy enclosed within this. And what I have already sent you concerning this matter before this hour, know that it is true, for I heard it from a knight who was within the ships."

"Tres chier sire, voilletz savoir qe lendemain de seint; Johan le vent, qestoit vers le west, se tourna vers lorient a houre de tiercz, si qe lez countes de Northamtone et Penbrok et les seignurs de Morleye, Talbot, Bradston, et lez IJ amirals, od graunt foison darchiers de lor retenances et des comunes, qe entrerent noz niefs et siglerent vers Buloigne et Croteye, pur visiter lez enemys qount ordeigne de vitaller Caleys, si qils encountrerent decea Croteye environ heure de vespre lez dits enemys, qe fusrent acountez deinz la veue de noz gentz XLIIIJ vesseaux: des fluynes, galeyes, et vitaillers, chargetz des diverses vitailles. Dez queux enemys ascuns qestoient a derere dischargeront lor vitailles par meer et nagierent devers Engleterre, ascuns devers le porte de Oroteye. Lez X galeyes qe fusront gueperount lour bateux et lour charge, se mistrent al haut meer. Et un fluyne et XIJ vitaillers od lor vitailles qe fasront devaunt fusrent si fortement pursuiz qils se mistrent si pres de terre come ils poount, et saillerent trestoutz en meer et neierent si purement qe une soul persone ne remient en vie deinz lor vesseaux. Mais la nuyt suant, en laube de jour, al haut meer isserent hors de la ville IJ bateaux, qe fusrent bien tost aparceux par un mariner gest appelle William Roke, od une Hikeman Stephene, si ge lun batel retourna en la ville od graunt paine et lautre estoit chace a terre. En quele bateux estoit pris un grant maistre, qestoit patroun des galeyes de Gene et maistre de Geneuoys qe sount dedeinz la ville, et ovesqe luy XVIJ de mesmes lez persones et bien XL lettres. Mais le dit patroun, devaunt qil estoit pris, la a une hache une lettre ge portoit graunt charge, et le getta en meer; geles lettre et hache estoient treovetz a la retret de la meer, de qi vous troueretz a cople enclose dedeinz ceste. Et qoi jeo vous aay maunde devaunt ceste heure touchant ceste matiere, sachietz qe ceo est verite; car jeo lay oye dun chivaler ge fust dedeintz lez niefs."

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. On the Friday [3rd August 1347] mentioned above, on which day, if the said lord Philip had observed the offer of battle that had been made on his behalf, as stated earlier, by certain nobles of France, the king of England would have fought him in open field, the besieged in the town of Calais, being entirely without provisions and seeing themselves abandoned by all aid from the said lord Philip, surrendered the town, themselves, and all that they possessed to the will of the said king of England. And the same lord king, always merciful and gracious, having taken and detained a few of the principal men, graciously allowed the community of the said town to depart with all their goods, and retained the said town subjected to his rule. These things having been successfully accomplished by the Lord's favour, the king of England remained there for many days, intending, after deliberation, to ride further on a military campaign. However, at the supplication of the said lord Philip, who continually sought delays, and at the urging of the aforesaid cardinals, out of reverence for the Apostolic See, truces were taken, and the said king returned to England. The wording of the said truces was as follows:

Die vero Veneris prædicto, in quo, dictus dominus Philippus si observasset oblationem belli factam, ut præemittitur, ex parte sua per quosdam nobiles Franciæ, rex Angliæ cum eodem domino Philippo in campestri prœlio dimicasset, obsessi in villa de Caleys, victualibus omnino carentes et videntes se omni auxilio dicti domini Philippi destitutos, ipsam villam ac se et sua omnia voluntati dicti domini regis Angliæ reddiderunt. Et idem dominus rex, semper misericors et benignus, captis et retentis paucis de majoribus, communitatem dictæ ville cum bonis suis omnibus gratiose permisit abire, dictamque villam suo retinuit imperio subjugatam. Præmissis, auctore Domino, feliciter expeditis, dominus rex Anglorum per multos dies moram traxit ibidem, proponens in expeditionem guerræ, deliberatione præhabita, ulterius equitare. Sed tamen, ad supplicationem dicti domini Philippi, semper dilationes quærentis, dictis dominis cardinalibus ad hoc instantibus, ob reverentiam scdis apostolicæ captæ sunt treugæ, et dictus doniinus rex Angliam remeavit.

Tenor vero dictarum treugarum talis est:

Deeds of King Edward III by Robert of Avesbury. Thereupon, Sir Geoffroy sent a number of armed men to seize and hold the castle. But when these men entered [on 31st December 1349], a wooden drawbridge at the castle gates, previously prepared as a trap, was cleverly raised, locking all those who had entered inside and keeping the others out. Then, about sixty armed Englishmen, who had been hiding silently within the castle, sprang up and valiantly captured all the French who had entered. Meanwhile, King Edward III of England, having been warned of this treacherous plot by Sir Geoffroy de Charny, had secretly entered Calais days before with a suitable number of men-at-arms and archers, unbeknownst to his enemies. Once the trap had been sprung, the king left the town of Calais through one gate, heading toward the fields, while his son, Edward, Prince of Wales, the king's firstborn, exited by another gate toward the sea, each leading their own detachments. They boldly attacked the French, who were twice as numerous as the English, and fought them fiercely. The main force of the English had been so occupied engaging the French in battle apart from the king that King Edward was left with barely thirty men-at-arms and very few archers. 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. Immediately after these words had been spoken by the king, many armed Englishmen and archers rushed to him, and they made such an assault upon the French that more than a hundred noble men-at-arms of them were slain there by the sword and by flying arrows. Some were put to flight, and the said Sir Geoffrey de Charny and thirty other Frenchmen with him were taken captive. And thus the deceit of the deceivers, cleverly outwitted, was turned back to their own destruction.

Tunc dictus dominus Galfridus multos homines armatos, ad capiendum et tenendum dictum castrum, transmisit ibidem; quibus dictum castrum ingressis, pons ligneus ante fores ejusdem castri ex præordinata cautela subtiliter elevatus omnes includebat ingressos, et alios extra detinebat exclusos. Tunc circiter LX Anglici armati infra dictum castrum, caute juxta quandam materiem. latitantes, viriliter surrexerunt omnesque Francos ingressos illico ecapiebant. Dominus vero rex Anglorum supradictus, de dicta proditione per dictum dominum Galfridum de Charny machinata præmunitus, ante dictum diem cum competenti numero hominum armorum et sagittariorum infra villam de Caleys, adversariis suis insciis, se recepit, et statim, præmissis expletis, per portam villæ de Caleys versus campos, et dominus Edwardus, princeps Wallis, regis primogenitus, per aliam portam ville ejusdem versus mare, cum suis turmis, egredientes, suos adversarios de Francia, in duplo majori numero quam ipsi Anglici ibidem fuerant venientes, viriliter sunt aggressi et cum ipsis fortiter præliarunt. In majori enim conflictu Anglici fuerant seorsum a rege in præliando cum Francigenis adeo occupati, quod dominus rex sfans vix habuit secum XXX homines armatos, et sagittarios habuit valde paucos. 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. Confestim vero, dictis verbis prolatis a rege, plures Anglici armati et sagittarii confluebant ad ipsum, et talem Francigenis dederunt insultum quod plus quam ceti nobiles homines armoram ex eisdem in ore gladii et a sagittis volantibus perierunt ibidem, quibusdamque in fugam conversis, dictus dominus Galfridus de Charny et XXX alii Francigeni cum eo fuerant captivati. Et sic dolus dolosi caute delusi in perniciem propriam retortus est.