kyng of England in the Forest of Cressy vpon the same water, for that the French kyngs hoste came on the other side of the towne neare vnto our passage: But he woulde not take the water of vs, and so marched towarde Abuile. And vpon the Friday next following, the kyng beyng still encamped in the sayd Forest, our Scuriers discried the French kyng, which marched toward vs in 4. great battels: And hauyng then vnderstanding of our enemies (as Gods wil was) a litle before the euenyng tyde we drew vnto the playne field and set our battels in araye: and immediatly the fight began, which was sore and cruell, and indured long, for our enemyes behaued themselues right noblye. But thankes be geuen to God, the victory fell on our side, and the king our aduersary was discomfited wyth all hys hoste, and put to flight: where also was slayne the kyng of Bename, the Duke of Loren, the Earle of Dabeson, the Earle of Flaunders, the Earle of Blois, the Earle of Harcot wyth his two sonnes, the Earle of Damarley, the Earle of Nauuers and hys brother, the Lord of Tronard, the Archbyshop of Myemes, the Archb. of Saunds, the high Prior of Fraunce, the Earle of Sauoy, the Lord of Morles, the Lord de Guis, Segniour de S. Nouant, Segniour de Rosingburgh, wyth 6. Earles of Amanie and diuers other Earles, Barons, Knightes, and Squires, whose names are vnknowen. And Philip de Valoys himselfe, wyth an other Marques which was called Lord Elector among the Romaynes, escaped from the battell. The number of the men at armes whiche were found dead in the field, beside the common souldiours and footemen, wer 1542. And all that night the king of Englād with his hoste abode armed in the field where the battayle was fought. On the next morow before the sunne rose, there marched towards vs an other great hoste, mighty and strong, of the Frenchmen. But the Erle of Northhampton, and the Erle of Norfolke issued out agaynst them in 3. battels, and after long and terrible fight, them in likewyse they discomfited by gods great helpe and grace (for otherwise it could neuer haue bene) where they tooke of knightes and squiers a great number, and slue aboue 2000. pursuyng the chase three leagues from the place where the battaile was fought. The same night also the king encamped himself againe in the Forest of Cressy, and on the morow marched toward Boleyne, and by the way he tooke the towne of Staples: and frō thēce, he marched toward Calys where he entendeth to plant his siege and lay his battery to the same. And therfore our soueraigne Lord the kyng willeth and commaundeth you in all that euer you may, to send to the sayd Siege, vitailes conuenient: For after the tyme of our departyng from Chaam, we haue trauailed through the countrey with great perill and daunger of our people, but yet always had of victuall plenty thankes be to God therfore. But now as the case standeth, we partly nede your helpe to be refreshed with vitailes. Thus fare ye well. Written at the siege before the towne of Caleys the 14. day of September.

Marginalia1346
Siege of Calys.After the siege and winning of Poysie, the third daye of September an. 1346. the king through the middest of Frāce, directed his passage vnto Callys, as by the tenor of this letter you heare, and besieged þ^e same: which siege he cōtinued from the third of September aforesayd, tyll the third day of August the yeare next ensuing, vpon the which day it was rendered vp vnto the sayd king Edward the third, and subdued vnto the crowne of England, as after the Lorde willing shall more appeare.

MarginaliaDauid Kyng of Scots inuadeth England.In the mean time, during the siege of Callis, Dauid the Scottish king at the request of þ^e French king, with a great army, brast into the North partes of England, and first besieging the towne of Lidell, within sixe dayes, obtayned the greatest part of the towne, and there taking all that he could find, with Sir Walter Salby a valiant knight which was the keeper of the hold, caused him vncurtuously to be put to the sworde, and so from thence proceded further into Englande: till at length being met with all by William Surche archbishop of Yorke, and the L. Percie and the L. Neuell, with other nobles of those parties (calling & gathering their men together) in the plain nere to Durham the xvij. day of October in the yeare aboue sayde through the gratious hāde of Christ, there were subdued and cōquered. MarginaliaThe Scots ouerthrowen.In the which conflict, the Earles of Murrife and Stratheron, with the flower of all the chiualrie and principall warriors of Scotland, were slaine. MarginaliaDauid the Scottishe K. taken prisoner.Also the foresayd king Dauid, with the Earles of Mentif and Fiffes, and other Lords: and Williā Douglas Masklime, fleming, and William Douglas, and other many mo men of armes, were taken prisoners: and so the mischiefe which they intended to other, fell vpon there owne heades.

During moreouer the sayde siege of Callis, the foresaide pope Clement the sixt, writing to the king of England, went about vnder the pretence of peace, to stop his procedings, whose letters here follow vnder written.

CLement the bishop, seruaunt of Gods seruants: To hys welbeloued sonne in Christ, Edward the puissant kyng of England: Salutation and Apostolicall blessing. If you diligently consider deare sonne (as ought a catholike Prince to do) the slaughter of such an innumerable sort, bought with the precious bloud of Christ our redemer: the losse of their substance and soules, and the lamentable perils, which the dissensions and warres stirred vp betwene you and our welbeloued sonne Philip the noble king of France haue brought vpon vs, and yet daily do without intermission. And also the bewayling of so many poore people, crying out of Orphans and pupils, lamentation of widowes, and other miserable people, which be robbed and spoyled, and almost famished: what exclamation they make with teares running downe their chekes, yellyng and crying vnto God for helpe, as also the destruction of churches, monasteries, & holy places, holy vessels, and other ornamentes vnto Gods seruice dedicated: the sacrilegious robberies, takings & imprisonings: the spoiling of holy churches, and religious persons, with many other such innumberable, detestable, execrable mischiefes, offending the eies of the deuine maiesty: All which, if your princely hart would consider and well remember, with this also that the Catholike fayth (especially in the East partes) and the Christians there abidyng by meanes of the same dissensions and warres, destitute of the helpes of such catholike men as are in the West parties, are so afflicted of the Infidels, seyng the other partes of Christendome so troubled, wyth cruell persections yea and more crueller then euer yet hath bene (although in these tymes to amplifie this our fayth in the sayd East partes is cruell persecution shewed more then hath bene of many yeares past) doubtles we beleue it would pitie your hart. And to the end that such and so great euils shoulde no farther proceede, nor yet that so greate good as might be doone by delatinge of our foresayde faith in these times should be let & hindered, we desire you that ye would apply your minde to make some agreement and peace with the foresayde king. For if (my welbeloued sonne) God hath geuen vnto you prosperous succes and fortune, ye ought rather to humble then to extoll your selfe: and so muche the more redier to incline to his peace, and to indeuoure youre selfe to please God, which loueth peace, and delighteth in peaceable mē, and to eschew the foresaid euils, which without doubt do greuously offend him. Furthermore, we maruell greatly that vnto our reuerend brother Anibaldus Byshop of Tusculane, and our beloued sonne Stephen of the title of S. Ihon and Paule, priest and cardinal of the apostolical sea, being sent as Legates by vs and the same see Apostolical to intreat a peace, who diligently and faithfully labouryng for the same as louers of veritie, iustice, and equity, and therwithall regarders of your honour: could not be suffred touching the intreaty of the same peace, to come vnto your graces presence.

Wherefore, we desire your kingly highnes more earnestly, and for the mercy of God with more vehemence require the same: that you takyng vp the foresayd horrible euils & preuenting the swetnes of pietie and cōpassion, may escape the vengeance of Gods indignation, which were to be feared, If you should perseuer in your former euils as God forbid. And as touchyng the intreaty of peace, for which our foresayd Cardinals were sent vnto you (howbeit secretly least it should be any derogation to your honour) we desire you to condescend therunto, & with all your affection you will incline your mynd to the same, so pleasaunt vnto God, so desired of the world as also to you, the foresayd king, and vnto the catholicke faith profitable. And that the same peace by Gods helpe and grace established and made perfect, you might assay your puissaunt strength about Gods busines, in the foresayd East partes (so good occasion seruing as before is sayd in these our tymes) beyng so apt aduauncementes of your honour and happy increasing of your princely name: for feruently we haue heard of you reported to behaue your selfe, in all your attempts. Thus we doubt not, but that you will write vnto vs agayne touching the premisses, and the purpose of your intention touchyng the same. Dated at Auinion the 18. of February and 5. yere of our Papacy.