whiche was graunted vnto you in ayde of the same your warres, vntill this present day, doth remayne and is not layd out agayne, as also by whose default you were so enforced to leaue the sayd siege of Tourney: and those which shalbe found in any point faulty and gilty therein agaynst you as a good Iusticer, your grace will cause to be punished accordyng to the law: and in somuch as appertaineth vnto vs therin, we aske iudgement of our Peeres (the state alwayes of holy Church, of vs, and of our order reserued inuiolate) according as we haue writtē vnto you herein. And for gods sake Syr, beleue not either of vs or any other your true subiectes els, more then that you shall vnderstand the veritie of: for if men should be punished without making aunswer to that, which is obiected against them, there should be then no difference in iudgement betwixt the good doer and the bad.
[Back to Top]And Sir, may it please you well to consider, of the great enterprise you haue in hand, the great good wil which you haue neede of for this cause, and of your great enemyes the Scottes, and the great ieoperdy of your realme besides. For, if your Prelates, your nobles, and all the wisemen of your Realme, were of one mynde and will (without any discord or diuision amōgest them) to dispose and set in order those thynges, which are needefull in so great affaires and busines: they should haue all inough to beate their heads about, for the maintenance of your great enterprise begon, the honour of you, and sauegarde of your Realme. And Syr, may it please your grace, not to be displeased that so rudely and grosly we declare vnto you the veritie: for why, the great loue and affection which we beare vnto you and alwayes haue done the same: the preseruatiō of your honour & sauegarde of your realme, as also for that we are (although vnworthy) the primate of the whole realme of Englād: which thyng apertaining vnto vs by our office, & beyng your spiritual father, doth incite vs the rather both to say & commaūde that, which may turne to the benefite of your soule, & profite of your Realme and kyngly estate. Thus the holy spirite saue you both body & soule, and giue your grace both to heare & beleue good coūsaile, & further giue you victory ouer all your enemies. Written at Caunterbury, the first day of Ianuary, By your graces Chaplein the Archbyshop of the same.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe returne of the kings army from Tourney.And thus stode the case betwene the kyng and the archbyshop of Canterbury, who commyng thus (as is sayd) in secret wise into England, from the siege of Tourney, his army in the meane while, by shyps was conueyed to litle Britaine. Of whom a great number, through vnseasonable and inconuenient meates and drinkes, was there consumed. To whom also no lesse daunger happened by the seas commyng out of Britayne into England, by tempest, thunder, and lyghtenyng stirred vp, as is thought, by the Necromansers of the French kyng. Marginalia1341.
Truce takē for 3. yeares, betwene k. Edw. & the Frēch king.About whiche season, approachyng to the yeare of our Lord 1341,
The Foxe Project was not able to complete the commentary on this section of text by the date by which this online edition was compiled (23 September 2008). This commentary will become available in due course from the 'Late Additions and Corrections' page of the edition.
In the sayd historyes where these things bee mentioned, it is also noted, that the same yeare suche plentye there was here in the Realme of vitails, that a quarter of wheat was solde for. ij. s. a fat oxe for a noble, and as some say a sheepe for. iiij.d. And thus farre endureth the historye of Ranulphus Cestrensis called Polychronicon.
[Back to Top]Marginalia1342.The next yeare folowing, which was. 1342. Ludovicus Bauarus the Emperour, who before had shewed great curtesie to king Edwarde as in his first vyage ouer, in so much that he made him his Vicar or Vicegerent generall, and offered hym also ayde against the French king: now (eyther turned by inconstancie, or seduced by the Pope) writeth to him contrary letters, wherein he reuoketh agayne the Vicegerentship graunted to him, and seeketh all meanes in the fauour of the French king, agaynst king Edwarde: as by his letters here vnder written, may better appeare.
[Back to Top]LUdouicus, by the grace of God Emperor of the Romaines alwayes Augustus, &c. To Edward kyng of England hys beloued brother, greting & vnfained loue. Although great and vrgent busines of our owne do oppresse vs, and about the same our waighty affaires are daily incombred: yet with the discord and variaunce betwene your kingly dignity and the renowmed Phillip the king of Fraunce our cosine, for your sake we are not a litle troubled. And the rather the great charges which may hereafter grow both to you and to your kingdome, therby considered both of men and money vnlesse the same be taken vp: doeth more earnestly prouoke vs to geue our selfe, to the carefull studye of your affayres. Wherefore, we geue you to vnderstande, that the foresayde Philip (at our request) hath geuen vnto vs by his letters, authoritie and power to intreate and conclude a peace betweene you, touching the variance begon: which peace (all the state diligently considered both of your selfe, your kyngdome and subiectes) we take and beleeue to be right expedyent for your mouing therewithall your charitie and earnestlie desiring you that to this also you wil geue your consent: wherby we may bring you both to concorde & vnitye, and establish betwene you a firme peace to endure, whereunto with willing minde we would apply our selfe and bestow our painfull labour in prosecuting of the same. And herein if you will condescend and agree vnto our counsaile, as we trust you will, It may please you by your letters to geue vnto vs the lyke authoritie as is abouesayd, to entreate peace or ordering of a truce for one yeare or two at least to continue. Neither let it mooue you, that betwene vs and the sayd Phillip of Fraunce a truce is taken. For seyng that you without our consent tooke truce with him: we by the aduise of our princes which know the bondes, dedes, and conenauntes betwixt vs, who also thought no lesse but that sauyng our honour we might do the same, haue also made a league with the sayd Phillip king of Fraunce, and for certayne causes do reuoke and call backe the Lieftenantship which we assigned vnto you by our leters: Neuerthelesse geuyng you for a certayne to vnderstand, that in our sayde treaties and peace concluded we haue so brotherly considered you, that if you will agree and condescende vnto our counsel: your cause (by our meane & helpe) shalbe brought to good passe and effect. About which thinges farther to confer with your brotherhode herin, we haue sēt a deuoute and Religious man Eliarhardus reader and brother of the order of the Heremites of Saynt Augustine, and Chaplaine of our Court: whom aboute the premisses we desire wythe speedye expedition to be sent to vs agayne. Dated at Frāckforde the. xiiij. day of Iune in the xxiiij. yeare of our reygne, and xiiij. of our Empyre.
[Back to Top]To the high and mightie Prince Lord Ludouike, by the grace of God Emperour of the Romanes, alwayes Augustus, Edward by the same grace kyng of Fraunce, and England, and Lord of Ireland: salutation and prosperous successe.
We haue reuerently receaued your highnesse letters, amongst other thinges contayning, that the noble Phillip de Valois (to the intent a peace and concord betwene vs and hym might be concluded) hath geuen vnto you by his letters full power and authority therunto at your highnes request: And that if the same myght content vs to do in lyke sort, your highnes would trauayle to bryng the concord to passe: And that it would not moue vs any whit at all, that your highnes and the sayd Phillip are in league together: For in somuch as we without your assent and consent (you say) toke truce with the said Phillip you also haue done the like with him (which thing you might well doo sauing your honour, by the counsaile of all your nobles and princes) and for certayne causes reuoke agayne the Lieftenauntshippe which you committed vnto vs. Doubtlesse, the zeale and good wyll you haue to make this concorde and agrement, we much commend: letting you to vnderstand, that we alwayes haue bene desirous and still are, to haue a reasonable peace with the sayd Phillip: which peace, as much as to vs (our honour saued) apertayned, we haue in iustice and by law prosecuted: and in very dede, it should be to vs acceptable, and as we would wish, if by such a Mediator as your Celcitude is, it might be brought to passe. But for asmuch as we vnderstand the same our right and title to the kingdom of France, to be manifest & cleare inough: we purpose not to cōmit the same by any of our letters to doubtfull arbitremēt. But while we well consider and reuolue wyth our selues,
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