of these his eminent Services, had thereupon a
Grant of the Earldom of Perch in Normandy,
as also of the Barony and Castle of Longny (part
of the Possessions of Sir Lewes de Longny Knight)
paying yearly to the King, his Heirs and Successors,
two Ousles, at the Castlle of Koan, upon the first
day of August. Moreover, he was the same year
constituted the King's Lieutenant-General of the
whole Dutchy of Normandy. So likewise again
in 8 H. 5. And in 10 H. 5. upon the death of
King Henry (in France) was left there, with the
Duke of Suffolk, and others of the Nobility, for
defence of the Castles and Towns then remaining
in the Power of the English. Likewise, in 1 H. 6.
he still continued there.
But the King's death much altered the Scene: for
the French King taking new courage thereat,
brought, his Army before the Town of Meulan
(lying upon Seine in Normandy) and taking it
by Storm put all the English therein to the
Sword. The News whereof being brought to the
famous Iohn Duke of Bedford, then Regent of
France, he forthwith dispatch'd this Earl (as a
Person more of an old Roman Courage, than one
of that age, as my Author saith) with Iohn of
Luxemburgh, Master of the Burgundian-Cavalry,
and a choice number of Men, to recover it. Who
forthwith marching into Champaine, set down
before it, and in short space got it again, retalia∣ting
to the French the like measure as the English
had there: and thence coming to Brie, and storm∣ing
it, put all to the Sword.
Shortly after this, the French besieging Cra∣vant,
he advanc'd with the Earl of Suffolk thi∣ther,
and with Four thousand Men giving Battel
to them, slew Two thousand, took Four hundred
Prisoners; of which number, Bucanus, General of
the Horse, was one; who, within a little time,
ransom'd himself for Money.
In 3 H. 6. he march'd to the strong and rich
City of Maine, and so battered the Walls thereof
with his great Guns (not before that time known
to the French) that dispairing of Relief, they ren∣dred
it to him. Thence to Susan's-Church (a
noted Town of that Country) and prepared to
assault it upon the weakest side thereof, setting
Ladders to scale it: But the Townsmen defended
it with such courage, that many of each part
were slain. Which being discerned by this
Earl, and that by such slight Skirmishes he should
do no good, he begirt the Walls with a Ditch,
and caused his Guns to be planted towards that
part which was least fortified; and so plied the
Walls with his great Shot, that he batter'd them
down in few days. Whereupon the Gover∣nour
render'd it, giving Two thousand Pieces
of Gold, for liberty to depart free from Plunder,
but without Arms.
Soon after this, he took the Castle of Mene, and
some other Places, partly by Force, and partly by
Treaty. For which Services he obtain'd a Grant
of Fifty Marks Sterling, to be received out of the
King's Exchequer.
But now, after all these his glorious Exploits,
drawing near his death, he made his Testament;
wherein stiling himself Earl of Salisbury, Pereh,
and Lord Mouthermer, he apponinted, That in what
Part of the World soever he should happen to die,
his Body should be buried at Bustlesham, in Eng∣land:
but that neither his Wife, nor his Executors,
should make any great Entertainment, or have a
solemn Herse for him at his Funeral; or that any
large and sumptuous Lights (for Worldly Pomp)
should then be provided. But when it should hap∣pen
that his Body was carried through any Cities
or Towns of his Native Country, four Torches
only should be lighted at its entrance therein, and
born therewith. Moreover, That upon the day of
his Trentall, twenty four Torches should be pro∣vided,
and four other Lights, to be about his Corps,
at the Solemnizing the Exequies and Masses then to
be celebrated for his Soul; and to be born by xxiv
Poor Men, all cloathed alike.
Furthermore, That to every Poor Body coming
to his Trental, Four pence a piece should be given,
for the health of his Soul, by the hands of his Exe∣cutors;
fifty poor People being first chosen out of
the whole number there being, unto whom he dire∣cted
that his most beloved Wife should, with her
own Hands, give xx d. a piece.
To the Monastery of Bustlesham he thereby like∣wise
gave the Sum of C l. Sterling, out of his mo∣vable
Goods; willing, That the Prior and whole
Covent there, should specially ordain one Mass, to
be celebrated every day for his Soul, in a peculiar
Place appointed for that purpose, with this Collect,
Deus cui proprium, &c.
And, That two Canons of that House, immedi∣ately
after the Mass of the Blessed Virgin ended be∣fore
his Tomb, should for ever say the Psalm of De
profundis, with the Lord's Prayer, the Angelical
Salutation, and this Prayer, viz. Deus, cui proprium
est miserere semper & parcere; propitiare animae
famuli tui Thomae; & omnia ejus peccata dimitte;
ut, mortis vinculis absolutus, transire mereatur ad vitam:
with these Prayers also; Inclina, and Fide∣lium
Deus, pro animabus parentum, & progenitorum
nostrorum inibi sepultorum, &c.
Also he farther willed, That his most beloved
Wife should, so soon as possible after his death,
cause a thousand Masses to be specially celebrated
for his Soul, and the Souls of all the Faithful de∣ceased.
Charging her moreover, and his Execu∣tors,
That they should cause three Masses to be daily
celebrated for his Soul, during the term of her
Life, in such Places as they should think sit, within
the Realm of England; and, if possible, to be so∣lemnized
in her Presence.
Likewise he ordained, That three poor People
should be every day, by the care of his Executors,
brought to his Wife; that is to say, severally, if
they could be found; to the end she might serve
each of them with one Mess of Meat, one Loaf,
and one Quart of Drink, with her own Hands.
Also, That his said Wife, and his Executors, should
with all good speed cause three thousand Masses to
be clebrated for the Souls of all Companions of
the Order of St. George, of the Garter, in recom∣pence
of those Masses which had been by him for∣gotten.
Moreover, That his said Wife and his Executors
should within one year after his decease cause a
thousand Marks to be distributed amongst poor
People, partly in Money, and partly in Raiment,
both Linen and Woollen.
To his Uncle, Sir Richard de Montacute Knight,
he bequeathed C l, Sterling. To Iohn, his own Ba∣stard-Son,
fifty Marks. Furthermore, by a Codicil
annexed to this his Testament, he appointed, That
Five hundred Marks should be raised out of his
Lands, to erect a Chantry to the Honour of the
Blessed Virgin, above the High-Altar in the East-part
of the Conventual-Church at Bustlesham, in
length forty Foot, in breadth twenty, and in height