The holy state by Thomas Fuller ...

[illustration]

EDWARD Prince of Wales, commonly called the black-Prince. He dyed at Canturbury june the 8^th. 1326. Aged 46 yeares. W Marshall s••ulp:

CHAP. 20. The life of EDVVARD the Black Prince.

EDward the Black Prince (so called from his dreaded acts and not from his * 1.1 complexion) was the eldest sonne to Edward the third by Philippa his Queen. He was born Anno 1329, on the fifteenth of June, being friday, at Woodstock in Oxfordshire. His Parents perceiving in him more then ordinary na∣turall perfections, were carefull to bestow on him such education in Piety, and Learning, agreeable to his high

birth. The Prince met their care with his towardli∣nesse, being apt to take fire, and blaze at the least spark of instruction put into him.

We find him to be the first Prince of Wales, whose * 1.2 Charter at this day is extant, with the particular rites of investiture, which were the Crownet, and Ring of gold, with a rod of silver, worthily bestowed upon him, who may passe for a miroir of Princes whether we be∣hold him in Peace or in Warre. He in the whole course of his life manifested a singular observance to his Pa∣rents, to comply with their will and desire; nor lesse was the tendernesse of his affection to his Brothers and Sisters, whereof he had many.

But as for the Martiall performances of this Prince, they are so many and so great that they would fill whole volumes: we will onely insist on three of his most memorable atchievements, remitting the Reader for the rest to our English Historians. The first shall be his behaviour in the battel of * 1.3 Cressy, against the French, wherein Prince Edward, not fully eighteen years old, led the sore front of the English.

There was a causlesse report (the beginning of a ru∣mour is sometimes all the ground thereof) spread through the French army, that the English were fled: whereupon the French posted after them, not so much to overcome (this they counted done) but to overtake them, preparing themselves rather to pursue then to fight. But coming to the town of Cressy, they found the English fortified in a wooddy place, and attending in good array to give battel. Whereat the French falling from their hopes were extremely vext (a fools para∣dise is a wisemans hell) finding their enemies faces to stand where they look'd for their backs. And now both armies prepared to fight, whilest behold flocks of ravens and vulturs in the aire flew thither; bold guests to come without an invitation: But these smell-feast birds when they saw the cloth laid (the tents of two

armies pitch'd) knew there would be good cheere, and came to feed on their carcases.

The English divided themselves into three parts: The formost consisting most of Archers, led by the Black Prince; the second, by the Earl of Northam∣pton; the third, commanded by King Edward in per∣son. The French were treble in number to the English, and had in their army the three Kings, of France, Bohe∣mia, and Majorca: Charles Duke of Alenson, with John the Bohemian King, led the vanguard; the French King Philip, the main battel; whilest Amie Duke of Savoy brought up the rere.

The Genoan Archers in the French forefront, wea∣ried with marching, were accus'd for their slothful∣nesse, and could neither get their wages nor good words, which made many of them cast down their bows, and refuse to fight; the rest had their bowstrings made uselesse, being wetted with a sudden showre which fell on their side: But Heavens smiling offended more then her weeping, the sunne suddenly shining out in the face of the French, gave them so much light that they could not see.

However Duke Charles, breaking through the Ge∣noans, furiously charged the fronts of the English, and joyned at hand-strokes with the Princes battel, who though fighting most couragiously was in great dan∣ger: Therefore King Edward was sent unto (who hitherto hovered on a hillock, judiciously beholding the fight) to come and rescue his sonne. The King ap∣prehending his case dangerous but not desperate, and him rather in need then extremity, told the messen∣ger, Is my sonne alive, let him die or conquer, that he may have the honour of the day.

The English were vext, not at his deniall, but their own request; that they should seem to suspect their Kings fatherly affection, or Martiall skill, as needing a remembrancer to tell him his time. To make amends,

they laid about them manfully, the rather because they knew that the King looked on, to testifie their valour, who also had the best cards in his own hand, though he kept them for a revie.

The victory began to incline to the English, when, rather to settle then get the conquest, the King (hither∣to a spectatour) came in to act the Epilogue. Many English with short knifes for the nonce stabb'd the bellies of their enemies, cut the throats of more, letting out their souls wheresoever they could come at their bodies: and to all such as lay languishing, they gave a short acquittance, that they had paid their debt to na∣ture. This makes French Writers complain of the English cruelty, and that it had been more honour to the Generall, and profit to the souldiers to have drawn lesse bloud, and more money in ransoming captives, especially seeing many French Noblemen, who fought like lions, were kill'd like calves. Others plead that in Warre all wayes and weapons are lawfull, where it is the greatest mistake not to take all advantages.

Night came on, and the King commanded no pur∣suit should be made for preventing of confusion; for souldiers scarce follow any order, when they follow their flying enemy; and it was so late, that it might have proved too soon to make a pursuit.

The night proved exceeding dark (as mourning for the bloud shed) nor was the next morning comfort∣ed with the rising of the sun, but remained sad and gloomy, so that in the mist many French men lost their way, and then their lives, falling into the hands of the English: so that next dayes gleanings for the number, though not for the quality of the persons slain, exceed∣ed the harvest of the day before. And thus this victory, next to Gods Providence, was justly ascribed to the Black Princes valour, who there wonne and wore a∣way the Estridge feathers, then the Arms of John King of Bohemia, there conquer'd and kill'd, and therefore

since made the * 1.4 hereditary Emblemes of honour to the Princes of Wales.

The battel of Poictiers followed ten years after, which was fought betwixt the foresaid Black Prince, and John King of * 1.5 France. Before the battel began the English were reduced to great straits, their enemies be∣ing six to one. The French conceived the victory, though not in hand, yet within reach, and their arm must be put out not to get but take it. All articles with the English they accounted alms, it being great charity but no policy to compound with them. But what shall we say? warre is a game wherein very often that side loseth which layeth the oddes. In probability they might have famished the English without fighting with them, had not they counted it a lean conquest so to bring their enemies to misery, without any honour to themselves.

The conclusion was, that the French would have the English lose their honour to save their lives, tendring them unworthy conditions, which being refused, the battel was begun. The French King made choice of three hundred prime horsmen to make the first assault on the English; the election of which three hundred made more then a thousand * 1.6 heartburnings in his ar∣my: every one counted his loyalty or manhood su∣spected, who was not chosen into this number; and this took off the edge of their spirits against their ene∣mies, and turned it into envy and disdain against their friends.

The French horse charged them very furiously, whom the English entertain'd with a feast of arrows, first, second, third course, all alike. Their horses were galled with the bearded piles, being unused to feel spurres in their breasts and buttocks. The best horses were worst wounded, for their mettall made one wound many; and that arrow which at first did but pierce, by their struggling did tear and rend. Then

would they know no riders, and the riders could know no ranks; and in such a confusion, an army fights against it self. One rank fell foul with another, and the rere was ready to meet with the front: and the valiant Lord Audley, charging them before they could repair themselves, overcame all the Horse, Qua parte belli (saith my Authour) invicti Galli habebantur. The Horse being put to flight, the Infantry consisting most of poore people (whereof many came into the field with conquered hearts, grinded with oppression of their Gentry) counted it neither wit nor manners for them to stay, when their betters did flie, and made post hast after them. Six thousand common souldiers were slain, fifty two Lords, and seventeen hundred Knights and Esquires; one hundred Ensignes taken, with John the French King, and two thousand priso∣ners of note.

The French had a great advantage of an after-game, if they had returned again, and made head, but they had more mind to make heels, and run away. Prince Edward, whose prowesse herein was conspicuous, overcame his own valour, both in his piety, devoutly giving to God the whole glory of the conquest, and in his courtesie, with stately humility entertaining the French Prisoner-King, whom he bountifully feast∣ed that night, though the other could not be merry al∣beit he was supped with great cheere, and knew him∣self to be very welcome.

The third performance of this valiant Prince, wherein we will instance, was acted in Spain, on this occasion. Peter King of Castile was driven out of his kingdome by Henry his base Brother, and the assist∣ance of some French forces. Prince Edward on this Peters petition, and by his own Fathers permission, went with an army into Spain, to re-estate him in his kingdome: For though this Peter was a notorious Tyrant, (if Authours in painting his deeds do not

overshadow them, to make them blacker then they were) yet our Prince, not looking into his vices but his right, thought he was bound to assist him: For all Sovereignes are like the strings of a Basevioll equally tuned to the same height, so that by sympathy, he that toucheth the one moves the other. Besides, he thought it just enough to restore him, because the French helpt to cast him out; and though Spain was farre off, yet our Prince never counted himself out of his own coun∣trey, whilest in any part of the world; valour natura∣lizing a brave spirit through the Universe.

With much adoe he effected the businesse through many difficulties, occasioned partly by the treachery of King Peter, who performed none of the conditions promised, and partly through the barrennesse of the countrey, so that the Prince was forced to sell all his own plate (Spain more needing meat then dishes) to make provision for his souldiers; but especially through the distemper of the climate, the aire (or fire shall I say) thereof being extreme hot, so that it is conceived to have caused this Princes death, which happened soon after his return. What English heart can hold from inveighing against Spanish aire which deprived us of such a jewell? were it not that it may seem since to have made us some amends, when lately the breath of our nostrills breathed in that climate, and yet by Gods providence was kept there, and returned thence in health and safety.

Well may this Prince be taken for a Paragon of his age, and place, having the fewest vices, with so many virtues. Indeed he was somewhat given to women, our Chronicles fathering two base children on him; so hard it is to find a Sampson without a Dalila. And seeing never King or Kings eldest sonne since the conquest before his time married a subject, I must confesse his Match was much beneath himself, taking the double reversion of a subjects bed,

marrying Joan Countesse of Salisbury, which had been twice a widow. But her surpassing beauty pleads for him herein, and yet her beauty was the meanest thing about her, being surpass'd by her virtues. And what a worthy woman must she needs be her self, whose very garter hath given so much honour to Kings and Princes?

He dyed at Canterbury, June the eighth 1376 in the fourty sixth yeare of his age: it being wittily * 1.7 observed of the short lives of many worthy men, fatuos à morte defendit ipsa insulsitas; si cui plus caeteris aliquantulum salis in∣sit (quod miremini) statim putrescit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For King Ed. his father cal¦led him his Fair Sonne, Speed p. 579.
• * 1.2

  See the copy thereof in Mr. Seldens titles of Honour, pag. 595.
• * 1.3

  1346 in the twenty yeare of Ed. the third.
• * 1.4

  Vid. Cambd. Remains pag. 344.
• * 1.5

  September 19. 1356.
• * 1.6

  Paulus Ae∣mil. in the life of King Iohn, pag. 286.
• * 1.7

  Sr Francis Nethersole in his fun. or at. on Prince Hen∣ry, pag. 16.