The Conquest of France with the life and glorious actions of Edward the Black Prince, son to Edward the Third, King of England, his victory, with about twelve thousand archers, and men at arms, over Phillip of France, and a hundred thousand French-men, near Cressey, his vanquishing King John of France, and taking him, and his son prisoners, at the Battle of Poietiers, his love to the Earl of Kent's fair daughter, and marriage with her : also all that passed during that glorious and successful war against France, with the Battle of Agen-Court, and King Henry the Fifth being crowned King of France at Paris, being a history full of great and noble actions in love and arms, to the honour of the English nation, and the encouragement of the horoes [sic] of the present age.

CHP. I.

How the French King, upon King Edward the Thirds coming to the Crown, sent to him to come to Paris, and do him homage, for the Pallaces the English held in France; how he not only refused it, but layd claim to the Crown of France, Quartered their Arms with his own; entered into confederacy with the Neighbouring Princes, In∣vaded them with powerful Armys, his love to the Countess of Salisbury, the order of the Garter, &c.

WHEN the English valour was famous, and more Renowned, than that of other Nations, our Warlike heroes contended more for fame than Gold, and brought a terror on their Enemys, wherever they carryed their Arm; proud France then trembled, and the English Lyon grasped, with so strong a hand, their Golden Lillys, that all the struggling of that large Kingdom was not able to rescue them from the spoil, and becoming the trophies of out Conquering Princes, as I shall plainly and largely show you in this Famous History.

King Edward the third in his Fathers life-time took upon him the Ti∣tle of king of England, by the consent of the three Estates assembled in Parliament, when he was but Fifteen Years of Age, and Young as he was, shewed much of a Martial spirit, and promised great things to the world, which he accordingly performed, for having Warred successfully in Scotland, and brought that to his terms, their king submitting and hold∣ing fealtie of him, he making and unmaking them at pleasure: Phillip D' Valois The French king, began to mistrust his growing greatness, and think∣ing whilst he was young, to put a Check to his forward Valour, sent to demand his Homage, for the Province of Guyen, held by him in the king∣dom of France; but he not only ••outly refused it, in the terms the French Required it, by the Advice of his Peers, lay'd claim to the Crown of

France, as coming to him in the right of Queen Isabel his mother, bein his due both by civil Law, and order of Succession, as being Nephew to Charles the Fourth, Brother to the said Isabel; and that as much as Phil∣lip then Reigning, was descended of a second Branch; to this the French opposed their Salsque Law, wherein it was provided, that no Woman should inherit the Crown of France; but this being looked on as contrived to hinder the succession of the English kings in their Marriages, with the Daughters of France, and king Edward declaring, he was a Male of a Female that had right to the Crown, that pretence ought not to Exclude him; a War upon these grounds was Proclaimed, the king quartering the Arms of France with those of England, and laying a Peremptorie claime to the Crown.

This Business as it was extraordinary weighty, so it required much secrecy, untill it was well layed; for which purpose king Edward craved the Advice of the Earl of Hanault, Father to Phillipa his Queen, and Mother to Edward the Black Prince, who was growing up to great Acti∣ons, as will hereafter appear; who with his Brother, and other Nobles of Flanders, procured king Edward to be created Vicar General of the Empire: that so without being controuled, he might command the No∣bles, and common people of those Countrys, to further his purpose in the intended War.

But how private soever these things were carried, Phillip, the French king had private notice of what was doing, and stopped the huge Army he ••ad raised, at the Importunity of Pope Benedict, the Eleventh, from passing into the Holy Land, to war against the Turks and Sarazens, who there mightily oppressed the Christians, Resolving to defend his own Country from the threatened storm.

In the mean while king Edward raised great Sums of Mony, and Leabyed men, and with his Queen Sailed into Flanders, where that Winter they remained at Antwerp, and Conferrnig with the Princes and States of Germany, he so well settled his Affairs, that in the Spring, he Landed in France, with an Army consisting of 27000 Fight∣ing-men, bringing a great terror on the Country, though the French king had on Army of 60000 Common Souldiers to oppose him, being accom∣panied with Three kings, viz. of Bohemia, Scotland, and Navarre, Five Dukes, Six and Twenty Earls, and more than Four Thousond Lords, and knights; and so both Armys drawing into the Field, and approaching each other, as the bloody blast was about to be sounded, by the Mediation of Jane, Countess of Hanault, Sister to king Phillip, and Mother to king Edward's Queen, they seperated from each other, without striking a

blow, to the great discontent of the English, who full of Valour thirsted to begin the Battle on the first command.

King Edward however laid not aside his pretentions, but hearing the French king had set out a great Fleet, consisting of 200 Sail of his own, and other Nations, he had hired, which had on Board them 40000 men, who Robbed the English Merchants, and made some spoils on our Coast, being full of Magnanimity and Valour, Resolute in his purposes, and reckoning the French as his Subjects, and Inferiours in Arms; Espe∣cially on the Seas, and hoping by his good success, not only to win Hon∣our among the Princes, and Sates of his confederacy, and purposing if he might to strike Terror in the French Nation, concerning those Wars, set upon their whole Navy, with such incomparable courage, and bold spirit; that after a long, Obstinate and Bloody Fight, very few or none of the French Ships escaped; but were either taken, sunk, or burnt by the English, with a much Inferiour Number, with inconsiderable loss on our side: This great Sea Victory much discouraged the French, and migh∣tily encouraged the English, and their Confederates, so that the king land∣ing at Slace in Triumph and going from thence to Gaunt, where his Queen lay, and the Black Prince was accompanied with Seven Earls, Eight Bishops, Twenty eight Barrons, Two Hundred knights, 4000 Men at Arms, and ••i••e Thousand Archers; all Valiant English-Men, he joyned the Duke of Brabant, who commanded 22000 men, Jaques Dartwell a famous Fleming, who commanded 60000 men of these Provinces, also the Duke of Guilder, the Marquess of Meuse, the Earls of Juliers, Mons, Savens, and Hanault, the Lord Tralquemont, and divers others.

With this gallant Army he Besieged the Strong City of Tournay, which was with great Resolutiou and Valour Manfully defended, for the space of ten weeks; in all which time, the French king appeared not to Relieve it; however, by the Mediation of the aforementioned Jane De' Valois, Mother to the Queen of England, and to the Dutches of Juliers, to the then Earl of Hanault, and Sister to the French king, a Truce was once more concluded; but that expired, soon after these delays the War be∣gun in earnest.

During these transactions, the king returned home to beat the Scots out of England, who; in his absence, dared to Invade it, under the Lea∣ding of David their king, fell desperately in Love with the Fair Countess of Salisbury; in this manner having delivered her from the Siege layed to her Castle of Roxbourough, hard pressed by the Scots, he disarmed him∣self and with ten or twelve Lords and knights, entered the Castle, where the excellent Beauty, and modest behaviour of the sweet Countess, so In∣flamed

his heart, that by secret and Amorous wooing, he endeavoured to perswade her to ease his passion, with a return of her Love; but the Vir∣tuous Lady, first with mild and kind entreatys, and afterward with quick and nipping Reprehensions, strove to make him see his own Error; but such was his desire, and her denyal•••• were so peremptorie, and resolute, that Discontentedly at that time he left her; yet love still prevailing, he wrote the following Letter to her.

The King's Letter to the Countess of Salisbury.

Fair Countess.

Your Eyes have enthralled my heart, and A midst the Alarums of War, my thoughts are chained to your Beautys, and other rare perfections; take compassion on a King, which nothing on Earth, but your Peerless self, can bring to the low submission of a supplicant; I own your Virtues are great, yet to save the life of a Monarch, what should not one, who is all Goodness, and tenderly made for Compassion, like you, do? Let me entreat you then to take Compassion on the sufferings of my labouring mind, that I may be restored to my former peace and tranqui∣lity; & become pleasent to my friends, and as I have been wont, a terror to the enemy of my Country: So in expectation you will Relent, and become mild and merciful, I rest in hopes of enjoying that blessing, I so earnestly wish for, and passionately desire;

Your devout Lover though a King.

The vertuous Countess having well weighed the Contents of this Let∣ter, was much troubled in her mind, her blushes came and went; she well knew the King was already married to a Fair and Virtuous Princess; & that he sought by unlawful Love to defile her bed; this some times put her unto a grievous passion, and then relenting, Pearly tears trickled from her Eyes, considering if she yielded, how much it would turn to her dishonour; and if she refused, how much she must trouble and afflict the bravest Prince on Earth; at other times, she considered, she was his Subject, and in his power, and knew not to what force his wild passion might carry him; yet tender and careful of her chasttiy and honour; in the end she returned him this answer.

The COUNTESSES Answer.

My Soveraign!

COuld you but conceive what trouble and disturbance Your Letter has wrought in my mind, you would cease to afflict me, who so highly Honour you in all Virtuous ways; but in this matter, without a violation of my Honour, cannot Condescend to pleasure you; Consider you are Marryed to a Chast and Virtuous Queen, who Loves and Honours you; how then can you stray from the Rules of that virtue, you have ever Ex∣ercised,

and Encouraged in others; to harbour thoughts in your Royal Breast, of wronging her Bed? Cease then, great Sir, to persecute me with your Love, that cannot be Lawfully returned; lay aside your passion, and be again your self: I am indeed your subject, and you may indeed com∣mand my life and fortunes, but not in a Dishonourable way, the spotting my innocency, and Chastity, the first of whic•• I will always be ready to sacrifice, to the preservation of the Latter: So humbly Entreating you to consider and weigh these things; I remain your much afflicted Subject and Servant.

Salisbury.

The King upon Receipt of this Letter was not a little Abashed, torment∣ing himself for a time, thus to be Repulsed; but casting many things in his mind, at length he Concluded, time, and Rich presents, might overcome her Womanish fears and scruples, rendering her more tractable; and in this business, he trusted his faithful Confident, the Lo••d Montaone, Bro∣ther in Law to the Countess, who Ignorant of the King's main intentions, so solicited his Fair Sister, that he brought her to Court, in Honour of whose presence, the King caused Magnificent Sports and Pastimes; and at last won so much upon her as to dance with him; when in the end of the Dance a Blew Ribbon, which she had for her Garter, falling off; the King stooped, and took it up; at which the Countess blushed, and the Nobles smiled, whereat the King said, Honi Soit Qui Male Panse; evil be to him that evil thinketh: Vowing, that e'er long, the greatest of them, should do Honour to that silken tye, and having Created his Son Edward, the Black Prince (so called from his terrible deeds in War) Prince of Wales, he Established the Order of the Garter, Confining the number to 26 of which himself, and his Successors were Soveraigns, which Order is Yearly Solemnized, with Princely Magnificence in the Kings Castle at Windsor.

But now to pass from Love again to Arms, we find the Drums rattling, and the Trumpets sounding to War; great Armys prepared on either side, and the Earl of Darby Landed with the King's Forces in Gascoin, where they drove the French Army before them, and took many Citys, Towns and Castles, subduing almost all that large Province in small time.

But now come I to speak of the black Prince, that honour of virtue, and Valour, more particularly than I have done.