the crown of Fraūce. But yet notwithstādyng, he thought it not good to make any attempt therunto without aduised and circumspect counsaile, for that it contained matter of no small, but most difficult importance: neither yet he tooke it to deserue the same either of wisedome or prowes to let so good a title to dye, or so fit oportunitie to passe. Wherfore, he callyng together certaine of his counsaile, vsed their deliberate aduises touchyng the seriousnes of this matter. MarginaliaEmbassadors are sent to the Earle of Heynalt concernyng the title.In fine, it was by thē thought good, that the kyng should send certaine Embassadours ouer to the Earle of Heynalt, whose daughter he had maried, as well to heare his aduise and counsell herein: as also of what friendes and ayde, by him and his meanes in this so great an expedition to be begō in the empire, to him might be procured. The king hereunto condescendeth, and apointeth for this Embassage the byshop of Lyncolne with two other Barenettes, and two Doctors: MarginaliaThe Embassadours returne wyth answere frō the earle that pleaseth the kyng.who in such speedy wise made their voyage, that in short space they returned agayne to the kyng with this aūswere: That not onely the Earle his counsell and aduise, should be herein prest to the kyng of England their master, but also the whole countrey of Heynalte. And further, for that to such an expedition as appertained he sayd, the prouince of Heynault was but a small matter to make accompt of: he would procure for the kyng greater ayde and frendshyp in the Empire, as the Duke of Brabāt his cousen Germaine, and a puisant Prince, the Duke of Gwerles, the Archbishop of Colayne, the Marques of Iuliers. &c. which are all good men of warre, and able to make x. M. fightyng men sayth he. Which aunswere well liked the kyng, and made him ioyous therof. MarginaliaK. Philip of Fraunce heareth of the kynges purpose, and stayeth hys viage of the Croysne.But this counsell of the kyng as secrete as it was, came to Philip the French kynges eare: wherupon, he stayed the voyage of þ^e Croisie which thē he had in hand, sendyng forth countermaūdes to stay the same, till he knew farther the purpose of the kyng of England.

The kyng hereupon himselfe taketh shippyng accompanied as to a kyng appertained, and when he had consulted with all the foresayd Lordes of the Empire in this matter & vnderstode their fidelitie: he made his repayre to the Emperour at whose handes he was well intertained and honorably receaued, MarginaliaK. Edward assigned lieftenaunt Generall of the Empyre.whom the Emperour appointed to be his Lieftenant generall, hauing therby more autority both to will and commaund such as for this his expedition he trusted vnto, and made made conuention with. Thys hearyng Philip, prepared his army and rigged his Nauy, that so soone as the kyng should enter the dominion of Fraunce, they also might enter England, requiryng like for like.

The kyng of England, after the feast of S. Iohn Baptist, accordyng to his purpose, prepared all thynges ready to such an expedition, conductyng his army & gatheryngMarginaliaThe first viage of kyng Edward into Fraunce.greater strength in the Empire, as before to him was promised: vsing the Emperours autoritie therin, as his lieftenaunt generall, howbeit at the charge altogether of the k. of England. The French kyng as soone as kyng Edward, had landed his army at Macline in Flaunders, and hearyng of the defiance, which the kyng and other Noble men of the Empire had sent vnto him: MarginaliaSouthampton burnt of the Frenchmen.Sent certaine shyps lying ready therunto, and wayting for such oportunitie vpon the cost of England, and dyd so much that vpon a Sonday, whilest the townes men were at the Church litle lookyng for any such matter, entered the hauen of Southampton, tooke the towne and spoyled the same, defloured maydens, enforced wiues, brent, kild, tooke captiues, and caried away rich spoyles and great booties to their shyppes, and so agayne departed into Fraunce. Further, as the kyng of Englād had allied himselfe with the noble men of the Empire, and had the frendly fauour of the Emperour also thereunto: so the French kyng made the like leage and aliance with Dauid the kyng of Scots, whom the kyng had so hardly delt with all in Scotland (as partly before you heard) and kept the most part of Scotland vnder his subiection: Bindyng the sayd Dauid as well by writing, as othe & pledge, that without his consent he should make no peace nor conclude any truce with the kyng of England. MarginaliaThe Scots styrred vp agaynst England by the French k.Who agayne assured him, of ayde, rescue, and helpe, and to recouer his kyngdome & dominiō to his vse: and forthwith sent certaine garrisons and bandes into Scotland to keepe playe with the Englishmen and there to fortifie diuers places till further oportunitie serued. He also fortified with men, money, vitayle, and munitiō, the towne of Cambrey: which he suspected would be besieged, lying so neare vpō þ^e Empire as in deede it came to passe. For, kyng Edward departyng from Machelyne, set forward his host towardes Heynalt, and by the way assembled such power, as in the Empire he looked for, marchyng forward still till that they came to Cābrey and it besieged with 40000. men: while that with an other company, the Flemynges, Brabanters, and Holiners, went to S. Quentin. But in effect, neither there, nor at Cambrey nor els where: any thyng notorious was achiued, but the summer beyng well spent and litle preuayling in the siege of Cambrey, beyng of situation strōg and well defēced therwithall with mē & mūition: brake vp the siege, & marched further into the hart of Fraunce towardes Mutterell. Which thyng the French kyng hauing vnderstandyng of, prepared himselfe to giue battaile to the kyng of England, who with an other great army came to Vironfosse, where dayes were appointed to meete in battaile: but in end, nothyng was done nor attempted betwene the princes. And the kyng of Englād (without any battaile either giuing or takyng) returned with his army from thence to Gaunt. MarginaliaThe pope cause of the kinges remouing out of Fraunce.Concernyng the cause of the sodain remouyng of the k. out of Fraunce, semeth most specially to rise of the Pope: which at the same tyme sent downe his Legates, for the order of a peace to be takē betwene the kynges. MarginaliaAn. 1340.At Gaunt was gathered by the kynges appointement all the nobles as well of England, as of the Empire in counsaile together what was best to be done. Where playne aunswere was made to the kyng of England, that vnles he would take vpon him the clayme and title of Fraunce, as his lawfull inheritance and as kyng therof prosecute his warres: It might not be lawfull for them any further, to ayde the kyng of England, or to fight with him agaynst the French kyng: for that the Pope had bound them in two millions of Floranes of gold, and vnder payne of excommunicatiō, that they should not fight agaynst the lawfull king of Fraunce. MarginaliaThe k. of Englād taketh the title of Fraunce.Wherupon, the kyng thought good therfore presently to make open chalenge to the realme and crowne of Fraunce: and further, to quarter and intermingle the armies of Fraunce, with the armes of England in one Scootchen. Wherupō eftsones kyng Edward made answere vnto the Pope agayne, directyng vnto him his letters wherin he declareth at large his right and title vnto the crowne of Fraunce, purgyng thereby himselfe and his cause vnto the Byshop. The copy and tenure of which letter, because it is long to expresse, it is to be founde in the story of Thom. Walsingham remaining in the library of I. Steuenson Citizen of London, who so hath list or leasure to peruse the same. Besides this letter to the Pope, he directeth an other to the Piers and Prelates of Fraunce, (he remainyng yet at Gaunt) in tenure as followeth.

MarginaliaK. Edward to the nobles & commōs of fraunce.EDward by the grace of God kyng of Fraunce and of England, Lord of Ireland: Vnto all Prelates and the Ecclesiasticall persons, to the Pieres, Dukes, Earles, Barons, and to the Commons of Fraunce, greetyng: The hygh Lord and kyng aboue, to whom although his will be in his owne power, yet would that power should be subiect vnto law: commaundyng euery thing to be geuen to him which is his, declaryng therby that iustice and iudgemēt ought to be the preparation of the kynges seate. MarginaliaThe title of Fraunce how it came to kyng Edward.Wherfore, seyng the kyngdome of Fraunce through the prouidence of God by the death of Charles last kyng of Fraunce of famous memory, brother Germaine to our Lady mother, is fallen vnto vs by playne and manifest law: And for somuch that Lord Philip de Valoys, beyng the sonne of the Vncle of the foresayd k. and so beyng farther from the crowne by a farther degree of consanguinitie: Through force and vsurpatiō hath intruded himselfe in the foresayd kyngdome (whilest we were yet in our Minoritie) and so cōtrary both to God and to iustice doth detaine and occupy the same: And least we should seeme to neglect our owne right and the gift geuen vs of God, or not to submit our will to Gods deuine ordinaunce: We haue thought good to acknowledge the title of Fraūce, and by supportation of the almighty kyng haue taken vpon vs the defence and regiment of the sayd kingdome: Firmly purposing with our selues (as euery good mā ought to do) graciously to minister iustice to euery one, accordyng to the rites and laudable custome of the foresayd kyngdome. Als to renue the good lawes and customes whych haue bene in the tyme of Ludouike our progenitour, addyng to moreouer, that which shall seeme expediēt accordyng to the cōdition and qualitie of the tyme. As by any chaunge of coyne or any other inordinate exactions, we entend not to seeke our profite by your detrimentes: when as (the almighty be praised therfore) we abounde and haue inough. And as cōcerning the affaires of the realme, our purpose is not to procede rashly or by our own will, but by the discrite aduise and Counsell of the Pieres, Prelates, Nobles, and other our faithfull subiects of the kyngdome so farre forth as shall make for the honour of God, the defence and aduauncemēt of the Church (which in all fulnes of deuotion we doo reue-