rence) and to the profite both publike and priuate of all the subiectes therof, with full execution of iustice by the grace of God to be executed vpon all and singuler persons, beyng earnestly carefull for the honour, profite, and trāquilitie of you all. For as the Lord knoweth, nothyng shall be more gratefull to vs, thē that by our careful solicitude peace may be engendred, specially betwixt vs and vniuersally among all Christen men: so that by our concorde, the force and strength of all Christian Princes may be ioyned together for the recouery of the holy land, which our sauiour and redeemer hath dedicated with his owne proper bloud, MarginaliaNote the grosenes of thys tyme when the bloud of Christ was thought but only dedicated to the holy landwhereunto we will indeuour our selues through the grace of the holy Ghost. And for asmuch as we haue offered to the foresayd Lord Philip diuers frendly and reasonable cōditions of peace, wherunto he would neither condescende, neither agree to any reasonable conformation: yea rather moueth agaynst vs vniust warre, to the vtter subuersion of our state: we are inforced of necessitie to the vttermost of our power (for the defence both of vs, and recouery of our right) to defende our selues by force of battaile: not seekyng anye slaughter of good and humble subiectes, but desiryng their safegard and profit. For the which cause, all and singuler such subiectes of the kyngdome of Fraunce, which shall submit themselues to vs as the true kyng of Fraunce, within the feast of Easter next ensuyng: professing vnto vs their fealtie, and doyng to vs as to the kyng of Fraunce by duty apertaineth, so as our beloued subiectes of Flaunders haue done already, or be ready to offer thēselues so to do: all such we willingly admit and receaue to our peace and grace vnder our protection to be defended, them to maintayne as is conuenient, from all molestation and disquietnes what soeuer, in person or goods hereafter to be inforced either by vs or by our officers, vpon what soeuer occasion of rebellion afore passed. And for as much as the premises, cannot easely be intimated to all and singular persons: we haue prouided the same to be fixed vpon Church doores and other publike places, whereby the manifest notice therof may come to all men, to the comfort of you that be to vs deuout, and to the true information of them, whych through sinister surmises of our enemies are otherwise informed of vs. Dated at Gaūt the. 8. day of February the yeare of our kyngdome of Fraūce the first, of England the. xiiij.

This done, for that the winter then drew on, neither was there any hope as the tyme serued, of farther doyng good: the kyng thought best for a season to returne agayne to Englād with his cōpany, giuyng ouer the warres vntill the next spryng and so did, takyng shipping and so ariued at Douer. MarginaliaSouthampton burnt & spoyled by the frenchmē.When he came to London, it was declared vnto him, of the great spoyle the Frenchmen had made at Southampton: Who aunswered agayne that within one yeare, he doubted not the same to be well payd for and recōpenced. And accordyng to the same purpose of his, he lingered no tyme but calling a Parliament at Westminster: with much grudge & euil will of his subiectes, was for the maintenaunce of his warres graunted to him a great subsidie, which was the fift part of euery mans goodes, and also the custome of his woolles ij. yeares before hand, and the 9. shefe of euery mans corne. At the spryng, the kyng agayne prepared his army, & rigged his nauy purposing to land in Flaunders. MarginaliaCounsaile of the Archb. geuen to the kyng.But the Archbyshop of Cāterbury, thē Lord Chaūcelour hauing vnderstandyng of the French power vpō the sea lyeng for the king, gaue him aduertisement therof willyng him more stronglier to go or els not to vēture. But the kyng not credityng the Archbyshop, and beyng angry with him therfore, sayd that he would go forward: wherupon, the Byshop resigned the Chauncelourshyp, and remoued him selfe from his counsell. Then the kyng consultyng hereupon farther with the Lord Morley, his Admirall, and others (hearyng also the same of them) furnished himselfe with stronger power, and committed him to his shyp: and did so much, that a few dayes before midsommer, he was vpon the Sea with a great fleet. MarginaliaBattell vpon the sea betwene king Edward and french men.Before þ^e town of Sluse, the Frēch kyng to stop his passage, had layd ready a great nauy well neare to the nūber of xx. score sayle: and had made the Christopher of England (which before the Frenchmen tooke at Southhamptō) their Admirall: betwixt which two nauies, was a long and terrible fight. But in the end, the victory by Gods grace fell to the kyng of England, in which fight he himselfe was personally. MarginaliaThe french men beaten vpon the sea.So that of the number of thirtie thousand Frenchmen, few or none were left & escaped aliue, and two hūdreth sayle of shippes taken: in one of the which, were found 400. dead bodies.

After this great slaughter of the Frenchmen (of whom many for feare of the sword lept into the Sea) when no man durst bryng tidynges therof to the French kyng: They which were next about the kyng, did suborne his foole, to insinuate the vnderstandyng thereof by subtiltie of couert wordes, which was thus. MarginaliaThe words of the foole to the frēch kyng.As the foresaid foole beyng in the kynges presence, and was talkyng of many thyngs: among other talke, he sodenly brast out (beyng prompt by others) into a vehement rayling of the Englishmen, callyng them cowardes & dastards, with many such opprobrious words, tending to that effect. The kyng not knowing wherunto the woordes of the foole did appertaine: asked the foole, why he called the Englishmen such weakelinges and cowardes. &c. Why, sayth the foole? Because the fearefull and cowardly Englishmen had not the hartes to leape into the Sea so lustely, as our Normandes, and Gentlemen of Fraūce had. Wherby the French kyng began to vnderstand the victory of his part to be lost, and the Englishmen to be victorers.

This victory achiued, þ^e fame therof spreading abroad in England, first was not beleued till letters thereof came from þ^e kyng to prince Edward his sonne, being thē at Waltham, directed to the bishops and prelates of the realme, the effect of which letters here followeth vnder written.

MarginaliaThe letters of K. Edward to the Byshops of England.THe bountifull benignitie of Gods greate clemency powred vpō vs of late, for your true certification, & reioycyng, we thought good to intimate vnto you. It is not vnknowen (we suppose) to you, and to other our faythfull subiectes, which also haue bene partakers with vs of the same, wyth what stormes of boysterous warres of late we haue been tossed and shaken, as in the great Ocean. But although the rising surgies of the sea be marueilous, yet more maruelous is the Lord aboue: who turnyng the tempest into calme, in so great daungers, so mercifully hath respected vs. For where as we of late did ordayne our passage, vpon vrgent causes, into Flaunders: the Lord Phillip de Valoys our bitter enemie vnderstandyng thereof, layde agaynst vs a mighty nauy of ships, entendyng therby either to take vs, or at lest to stoppe our voyage. Which voyage if it had bene stayd, it had bene the cuttyng of, of all the great enterprises by vs intended and taken in hand, and moreouer we our selues brought to a great confusiō. But the God of mercies seyng vs so distressed in such perils and daungers, hath graciously and beyond mans expectation sent to vs great succour & strength of fightyng soldiours, and a prosperous wynd after our owne desires. By the meanes and helpe wherof, we set out of the hauen into the seas, where we eftsones perceyued our enemies, well appoynted and prepared with a mayne multitude to set vpon vs, vpon Midsomer day last past. Agaynst whō notwithstandyng, Christ our Lord and Sauiour hath rendred to vs the victory: through a strong and vehement conflict. In the which conflict, a mighty number of our enemies were destroyed, and well neare all their whole nauy was taken: with some losse also of our part, but nothyng like in comparison to theirs. By reason wherof, we doubt not but our passage by the seas hereafter shalbe more quiet and safe for our subiects, and also many other commodities shall ensue therof, as we haue good cause to hope well of the same. For which cause, we deuoutly considering the heauenly grace so mercifully wrought, vpon vs. do render most humble thākes and prayse to Christ our Lord and sauiour. Besechyng hym, that as he hath bene, and always is redy to preuent our necessities in tyme of oportunitie, so he will continue hys helpyng hand euer toward vs, and so to direct vs here temporally, that wee maye raigne and ioy with hym in heauen eternally. And in like sort we require your charitie, that you also with vs rising vp to the prayse of God alone, who hath begon so fauourably to worke with vs to our goodnesse, in your prayers and diuine seruice do instantly recommend vs vnto the Lorde, traueiling here in these forreine countryes and studieng to recouer not onely our right here in Fraunce, but also to aduance the whole Catholike church of Christ and to rule our people in iustice. And that also ye call vpon the Clergy and people, euery one through his dioces to do the same, inuocating the name of our sauior: that of hys mercy he will geue to vs his humble seruaunt a docible hart, so to iudge and rule herevpon rightly, doyng that whiche he hath commaunded: that at length we may attayne to that which he hath promised. &c. Which letter was written to the Bishops and prelates. an. 1340.

After this foresaide victory vpon the sea, & newes therof with due thankes to our sauiour: sent into England: the king striking into Flaunders, came to Gaunt in Brabance, where he had left the Queene, who ioyfully receaued him, being a litle before purified or churched as we terme it of her second sonne, whose name was Ihon and commonly