and marishes) were so pinched and starued wyth famyne: that a great part of the army, there presently perished: and they that returned home, as soone as they tasted of meates, escaped not. The kyng, neyther hauing any resistaunce of hys enemyes, and seyng such a destruction of his subiectes: was forced without any acte done to retire. But in hys retyring, Sir Iames Duglas and the Scottes hauyng knowledge therof, pursued him in such wyse: that they slue many Englishe men, and had well neare taken the king hymselfe. After which distresse, the kyng thus beaten and wearyed with the Scottes, was fayne to ioyne in truce wyth them for xiii. yeares.

MarginaliaPolydorus Verigilius, an Italian writer of our Englishe stories.Polidorus Vergilius amōg other histories of our Englishe nation which he intermedleth withall, prosecuting also the actes and life of this present king, and commyng to write of the Queenes going ouer into Fraunce: inferreth much varietie and diuersitie of autours and story writers, concering the cause therof. Otherwise, he geueth hymselfe no true certeinty of that matter, neither yet toucheth he that which was the cause in deede. By reason partly, that he being an Italian and a forener, could not vnderstand our English toung. And partly againe being but one man, neither could he alone come to the sight of all our Latine autours. One I am sure came to his perusing, an olde auncient Latine history fayre written in parchment (but without name) belonging to the library of William Cary citizen of London. In the which story, the truth of this matter without all ambiguitie is there fully and with all circumstaunces expressed, as here brefely is excerpted.

Marginalia1324The kyng of England had beene diuers and sundry tymes cited vp to the court of Fraunce, to do homage to the French king, for the Dukedome of Aquitanie and other landes, which the kyng then helde of Fraunce. Which homage because the king of England refused to tender: the French king began to enter all such possessions as the king then did hold in Fraunce. Wherupon, great contētion and conflictes there were on both sides. At length in this yeare now present, a parliament was called at London. Where (after much altercatiō) at last it was determined: that certaine should be sent ouer, to witte, the byshops of Winchester, and Norwich, and the Earle of Richemond, to make agreement betwixt the two kynges. For the better helpe & fortification of which agreement, it was thought good afterward: MarginaliaThe Queene put to her pension.that Queene Isabell, sister to Charles then the French kyng, should be sent ouer. Where is to be noted first, that the Queenes landes, possessions, and castles a litle before vpon the breach betwene the French king and the king of England, were seised into the kynges handes, and the Queene put to her pension. &c. MarginaliaThe Queene sent to Fraunce.Thus the queene being sent ouer with a very few to attend vpon her, onely Sir Ihon Cromwell Baron, and 4. knightes, tooke their passage into Fraunce: by whose mediation, it was there concluded, that the king of England (if he would not himselfe come to do his homage) MarginaliaPrince Edward made duke of Aquitaine, and earle of Pontinehe should geue to his sonne Edward, the Dukedome of Aquitanie, and the Earledome of Pontine, and so he to come to make his homage to the kyng, and to possesse the same. Thys beyng in Fraunce concluded, was sent ouer by message to the king of Englād, with þ^e kinges letters patentes adioyned for the safe conduct of him or of hys sonne. Vpon this, deliberation was taken in the counsaile of England. But the two Spensers fearyng to take the seas eyther wyth the kyng, or els wythout the king to remayne behind for feare of the nobles: so appointed, that Prince Edward the kynges sonne was sent, which happened after to their vtter desolation, as it folowed. For all things beyng quieted & ordered accordyng to the agreement in Fraūce: kyng Edward of England soone after Michaelmas, sendeth for his wife and hys sonne agayne out of Fraunce. MarginaliaThe Queene & the Prince refuse to returne into England.But she sending home most part of her familie, refuseth her selfe to returne. For what cause it is not fully certayne, whether for indignation that her possessions and landes were seised to the king as is afore premised: or whether for feare and hatred of the Spensers, as is likely: or els for loue and familiaritie of Syr Roger Mortimer. For here is to be noted, that the sayd Sir Roger Mortimer, wyth diuers other of the Barōs part, which had broken prison in England, were fled before into Fraunce, and now resorted vnto the queene. MarginaliaThe Queene & the Prince proclaymed traytours in EnglandThe kyng seeing this, geueth forth in proclamation, and limiteth a certayne day to þ^e Queene and hys sonne to returne: or els to be proclaymed traytours to the kyng and to the Realme. Notwithstandyng, þ^e queene persisting in her purpose, denieth to returne, vnlesse the other nobles which were fled, might be permitted safely also to returne wyth her. Whereupon, the kyng immediatly caused them both to be proclaymed traytours and all them that tooke their partes.

Here then began great hatred betwene kyng & king, betwene the kyng & the Queene, much preparation of warre, great spoilyng on the sea, much sendyng betwene the pope & them, but that would not serue. MarginaliaThe king conspireth priuely to the death of the Queene and of hys sonne.Then the king (by the coūsaile of the Spensers) sendeth priuely to procure the death of the Queene and of his sonne: which should be wrought by the execution of the Earle of Richmōd, the Queenes familiar. But as the Lord would, that imaginatiō was preuented and vtterly frustrate. Albeit, the Queene yet notwithstādyng, whether misdoubtyng and fearyng what corruptiō of money might do in the Court of Fraūce: or whether the French kyng beyng threatned by the kyng of England and by the pope, durst not deteine her: MarginaliaAn. 1325.she remoued from thence, & was receaued with Edward her sonne ioyously and honourably, in the Court or countrey of the Earle of Henawde. Where by meanes of such as were about her a mariage was concluded betwene the sayd Edward her sonne beyng of the age of xiiij. yeare, andMarginaliaPrince Edward betrothed to the earle of Heynawdes daughter.Philip the foresayd Earles daughter. Whan this was noysed in Englād, diuers men of honour & name came ouer to the queene. And soone after the Earle of Henawde prepared a crew of fiue hūdred men of armes to set ouer the young Prince with his mother into England. Of this, the fame sprang shortly through the realme. Wherfore, the kyng in all defensable wise made prouisiō to haue the hauens and portes of his land surely kept, for to resiste the landyng of his enemyes. On the contrary side, the Queene with no lesse preparation prouideth all thynges to her expedition necessary. MarginaliaThe queene returneth to England.Who when she saw her tyme, speedyng her selfe to the Sea coast with Prince Edward her sonne, Lord Edmund Earle of Kent the kynges brother, Syr Roger Mortymer, the Lord Wygmore and other exiles of England, accompanied also with the foresayd Heinawders, of whom sir Iohn Henawde the Earles brother was Captaine: Of Englishmen & straungers hauing with her, the nūber of 2757. souldiours, she tooke shipping in those partes, & had the winde so fauourable, MarginaliaThe landing of the Queene.that they landed in England at a porte called Orwell beside Harwich in Suffolke, in the dominion of the Earle Marshall, the moneth of September. MarginaliaAn. 1326.To whom after her landyng resorted Earle Marshall, the Earle of Leycester, with other Barons, knightes, and Byshops also: namely of Lyncolne, Hereford, Duresme, and Ely: The Archbyshop of Cāterbury though he came not himselfe, yet sent his ayde & money. Thys the Queene well furnished with plenty both of men and vitaile, setteth forward toward London: so that the further she came the more her number dayly encreased, and the kynges power contrary, decreased. MarginaliaThe king destitute of helpe and souldiors.In somuch, that as myne author affirmeth, not one almost in all the Realme could be hyred with any wages to fight on the kynges behalfe agaynst the Queene. Neither did the Queenes army hurt any man or child, either in goodes or in any other thyng, by the way.

MarginaliaThe aunswere of the Londiners to the kyng.At the arriuyng of the Queene, the kyng was then in London, which first would not beleue it to be true. Afterward (seyng and perceauyng how it was) he asketh helpe of the Londiners. Who after mature aduisement, rendred this aunswere to the kyng agayne: that as touchyng the kyng, the Queene, and their sonne (the lawfull heyre of the kyngdome) they were ready with all duety and seruice to honour and obey. As for straungers and traytors to the realme, they would receaue none such within their Citie gates. MarginaliaThe liberties of the citie of London in going out to warre.Farthermore, to go out of the Citie to fight, that they sayd they would not, vnles it were so, that according to the liberties of their Citie, they might returne home agayne before sunne set. The kyng hearyng this aunswere (which liked him not well) fortifieth the Tower of London with men & vitaile: committing the custodie therof of Iohn Ealtham his younger sonne, and to the wife of Hugh Spenser his Niece. And leauyng Walter Stapletō byshop of Exeter behinde him to haue the rule of the citie of Lōdon: he himself hearing dayly the great recourse of the people þ^t drew to the Queene: For more sauegard of himselfe, fled with a small company westward toward Wales. But before his departing frō London, he caused a proclamatiō to be made: MarginaliaThe kynges proclamation.wherin, all and singular persons were charged vpon forfeit of lyfe and goodes: euery mā with all his power to rise and inuade the rebelles & to destroy them all, onely the life of the Queene, his sonne, and his brother reserued. Also that no man, vpon payne pretaxate, should helpe, rescue, or relieue the sayd rebels, with goodes, vitailes, or any otherwise. Item, it was also proclaimed, that whosoeuer would bryng to the kyng the head or body either dead or aliue of sir Roger Mortimer: should haue out of the kinges cofers, a M. pound.

In contrarywise, the Queene setteth forth an other proclaimation, MarginaliaThe queenes proclamation.wherin it was forbidden, to take or spoyle vio-