year, the King continuing In those Wars, was
constituted his Lieutenant here, during his ab∣sence.
About this time also, upon the death of Ed∣mund
Earl of Kent; having Married Marga∣ret,
one of his Sisters and heirs, (Widow of
Iohn Earl of Somerset) doing his Homage, he
had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance.
And, in 5 H. 5. (bearing then the Title of
Duke of Clarence and Albemarle, and
Steward of England) was again in those
Wars of France; being retein'd by Indenture
to serve with one Earl, one Baron, five Knights,
fifty three men at Armes, and One hundred and
eighty Archers. Some say, that in this Ex∣pedition
he had of his retinue Two hundred
and forty speares, and Seven hundred and twen∣ty
Archers.
But before he advanced towards this hazar∣dous
adventure he declared his Testament, 10
Iulii, An. 1417. (5 H. 5.) whereby he be∣queath'd
his Body to be buried, in the Cathedral
at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, called Christ-Church, at the
feet of his Father, King Henry the Fourth. And
appointed, that his Executors should purchase
the Patronage of some Church, worth Forty
pounds per annum, and procure the same to be
appropriated to the Prior and Monks of that
Cathedral to maintain four secular Priests, there
to celebrat Divine service perpetually, for the
Soules of his Father and Mother; as also for his
own Soul, and the Soul of Margaret his wife,
with all his Ancestors, and all the Faithful de∣ceased.
Likewise, that his Executors should
purchase the Patronage of some other Church, of
Forty Marks per annum value; and procure the
same to be appropriated to the Deane, Ca∣non,
and Vicars of the Collegiate Church cal∣led
Newark, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to support two sit∣ting
Priests to celebrate Divine Service there for
ever, for the Soules before mentioned.
And then took his journey into Normandy;
where, being at the siege of Cane, his Post
was on the North-side the Town, near to the
Monastery of the Holy Trinity. The Leaguer on
all parts being compleatly form'd; the French,
who were in St. Stephens-Abby, seeing them∣selves
too weak for resistance, carried the
Jewels of the House, with all the Victual, into
the Town, with purpose to set that Abby on
fire. Which being discern'd by one of the
Monks, he crept on his hands and knees, in
the dead time of the night, till ••e came to this
Duke, whom he found in compleat Harness, ly∣ing
in a Garden on the grass, with his head upon
a stone; and beseeching him to defend their
Abby from ruine; said, It doth specially pertain
to you to preserve it, who are descended from the
King our Founder. Wherefore, be advised by me,
and I will bring you into it. Whereupon, taking
the Counsel of the Monke, he got scaling
Ladders, and carne to that side, which was not
defended. And having, by this meanes, entred,
he brought the King into it.
The City of Cane being thus taken, he was
made Governor thereof; as also of the Castle:
Likewise of Beau••••••s, and the parts there∣abouts.
In ••6 H. 5. at the siege of ••ontlarch,
he passed the Seine with part of the Army,
in small Boates of Wicker, covered with Hides;
and, as the King lay on the one side, besieged
the other. Shortly after this, being at the
siege of Roan, he lay with his Forces be∣fore
the Gate of Caulx. During the time of
which siege, he was sent out with some For∣ces,
to take in those Towns and Castles therea∣bouts;
viz. the Castle of Galiard, the Towns
of Uernon, and Mant; the Castle of Brand∣mont,
with divers other. And, after the ta∣king
of Roan, the King lodging at 〈◊〉〈◊〉
was imploy'd thence, with a choice number
of men, to Par••s, to view the situation and
strength of that City; where he staid certain
dayes, and then return'd. And after Easter, the
same year, was sent to besiege Bee-Herle∣win.
In 7 H. 5. being constituted Governor of
Pontoise, he took the Town of Y••eri by
assault; and, in 8 H. 5. accompanied the King
at the siege of Melon, that strong City. Soon
after that, also, he attended him to Cro••s
(in Champaine) and was present in the
Cathedral there (with a multitude of other
great persons, both of the Clergy and Laitie)
at the confirmation of the Agreement then
made betwixt King Henry, and the French, for a
Peace betwixt both Realmes.
But, in 9 H. 5. being at the Castle of Beau∣ford;
and, having intelligence, that the Dol∣phin's
Army, consisting of about Four thou∣sand
fighting men, was within four Leagues;
he sent command to his soldiers, dispers'd in
sundry parts, to follow him with all speed: and
with a small number marcht himself before.
In which march, passing a Marish, not with∣out
much difficulty and loss (his men being in
disorder) he fell into his Enemies hands and
was there unhappily slain, upon Saturday, Ea∣ster-Eve,
9 H. 5. leaving King Henry the
Fifth his Brother, his next heir, Thirty four
years of age. And Margaret his wife survi∣ving:
Which Margaret, in 1 H. 6. had for her
Dowrie, an assignation of the third part of the
Castle, Mannor, and Lordshid of Somerton,
in Somersetshire; as also a third part of the
Castle, Town and Lordship of Montalt, and
Mohautesdale, with its Members in North-Wales.
She had also, in 12 H. 6. upon the death of
Ioane late Dutchess of York, her sister, without
issue, an assiguation of divers Lordships Lands
and Rents, for her purparty of what her said Si∣ster
died seised: and died 30 Dec. 18 H. 6. leav∣ing
Iohn Earl of Somerset her son and heir,
Thirty years of age.
This Thomas Duke of Clarence died with∣out
any lawful issue; leaving an illegitimate
son, called Iohn the Bastard of Clarence. Who
(notwithstanding his youth) being a person of
an high courage, and present with his Father
in that unhappy skirmish, wherein he lost his
life; recovered his dead body from the Ene∣my,
and brought it to Canterbury, where
it was interred, according to the direction of his
Testament. In consideration whereof, King
Henry the Sixth, in the Seventh year of his Reign,
granted to him, the Mannors of Eskyr, New∣castle,
of Lyouns, Cromelyn, and Te••••a∣gard,
in the Realm of Ireland: But, all that
I have farther seen of that Iohn, is, that in
8 H. 6. he was retein'd by Indenture to serve
the King, in his Wars of France, with Forty
nine men at Armes, and Nine hundred Arch∣ers:
and, that in 9 H. 6. in consideration of