A Chronicle of London from 1089 to 1483 Part 31

are stated to have held those offices, the king's expedition is properly noticed. This error cannot be explained in any other manner than by attributing it to the transcriber; for it is notorious that Henry quitted England, besieged and captured Harfleur, and fought the battle of Agincourt, in the _third_ year of his reign. The account of that expedition is so differently related from that in the text, that it is here given at length.

"The kyng with alle his hoste seiled over the see with ij m^{l} s.h.i.+ppis and mo; and the xvj day of August a litle from Harflete he landid: and the Sat.u.r.day next after tha.s.sumpcion of oure lady he leide siege about Harflete, and contynued the sege unto the Sonday next before the fest of seint Michel, upon which Sonday the towne of Harflete was delyvered to the king, that was the xxij day of Septembre. But it is to wite, that on Tuesday bifore, that was the xvij day of Septembre, at xij of the belle wythynne nyght, the lordes that were capteynes and governours of the towne, that is to sey the lord Gaucourt, the lord Tutvill, and mo other lordes, senten out an haraude of armes unto the duke of Clarence, praiyng him at the reverence of G.o.d that he wolde send to the kyng, bisechyng hym that he wolde of his high and gracious lords.h.i.+p, graunt them leve to trete with what persones that the kyng wolde a.s.signe to them. And the kyng at the reverence of G.o.d, and at there request, a.s.signed therle of Dorset, the lord Fitz Hugh, and S^{r}. Thomas of Erpyngham, to here what thei wolde desire. And thei desired that the kyng wold not werre upon them fro that houre at mydnyght, unto the Sonday next after the fest of seint Michel; and but it were so that thei were rescued by bataile of the Frensshe kyng or with the dolphyn by that day, thei to yelde the towne to the kyng, and thei to have theire lives and goodes.

And the kyng sent them worde that if thei wolde delyver the towne on the morwe next after the houre of mydnyght aforseid, without any condicion, he wolde accepte it, and in any other wise he bad them seke no trete. And yet the Frensshe lordes praied oure lordes to biseke the kyng at the reverence of G.o.d and of oure lady, that he wolde graunte them that same Tuesday nyght, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat.u.r.day, and the Sonday til an houre after none: and in that meane tyme the lordes that were capitayns of the towne, to come to the kyng with xxij knyghts and squyers with them, of the moost sufficient men withyn the towne, and thei to be sworen openly afore alle the people upon G.o.ddis body. But it so were that the Frensshe kyng or the dolphyn rescued them by that Sonday, by the houre of none or anon after none, thei to delyver the towne to the kyng, and alle there bodies and goodes to done with them whatsoever him list, without eny condicion, with that the kyng wolde suffre them to send to the Frensshe kyng viij persones out of the towne, lettyng him wite in what plite thei stond: and they graunted them. And upon the Wednesday by the morowe these lordes comen out of the towne, and xxij knyghts with them; and come the procession solempnely and stately, with xxiiij copis of a sute before G.o.ddis body, with many wors.h.i.+pful lordes, knyghts, and squyers, and other moch mult.i.tude of people fro the kings tent, as solempnely done and as stately as any man saugh ever such a thing done bifore that time; but the kyng was not there present. And the Frenssh lordes there made there othes upon the holy sacrament. And the othes thus done, the Frensshe lordes with theire felaus.h.i.+p were brought to the kyngs tents, and there thei eten in the kyngs halle: but in all this tyme thei sawe not the kyng. And when thei had eten, they were departid and delyvered to certen lordes for to in hostage unto the Sonday at the houre after none, as it was accordid whan thei received. And at the houre on Sonday after none, the kyng had a tent pight on an hille bifore the towne, and there he sate in his estate roial, and al his lordis about hym; and than came the Frensshe lordes with iij^{xx} and iiij with them, of the moost sufficient men that were withynne the towne, and to the kyng in his propre persone yelded up the keies of the towne, and there bodies and goodes to the kyngs grace without eny condicion: and this was done the xxij day of Septembre, the yere of oure lord m^{l} iiij^{c} xv. And anon after that, the kyng ostered from thens xxj daies thurgh the realme of Fraunce, fro Harflete toward Caleys; and the Friday, that is to sey the day of the holy seints Crispyn and Crispinian, alle the roial power of Fraunce, excepte the Frenssh kyng, the dolphyn, the duke of Bourgoyne, and the duke of Barre were bifore the kyng in his heigh weie, as he shulde pa.s.se to Caleis, faire embatailed in iij batailes, to the nombre of lx m^{l} men of armes, and the fairist armed men that eny man saugh ever in any place. And the kyng seyng wele that thei wolde not suffre hym to pa.s.se withouten bataile, seid to his t.i.tle mayny, 'Sires and felawes, the yonder men letten us of oure wey; and if thei wol com to us, let every man preve hymself a good man this day, and avaunt banere in the best tyme of the yere.' And he rode furth with his basnet upon his hedde, and all other men of armes went upon theire fete a fast paas in holle arraie, an Englisshe myle er thei a.s.semblid. And thrugh the grace of G.o.d the kyng made his heigh wey thrugh the thikkest prees of alle the bataile. And there was slayne the duke of Launson, the duke of Braban, the duke of Bare, vj erles, the constable of Fraunce, the seneschall of Henaude, the maister Arblaster, and of other lordes grete plente. And there was take the duke of Orliaunce, the duke of Burbon, the counte of Richmond, the counte Ewe, the marschal Sir Bursequant, and many other lordes and knyghts. And there were slayne of Frensshemen v m^{l}, and of al estats of Englisshemen pa.s.sid not xxviij persones. And of estats of thenglisshe, the duke of Yorke, therle of Suffolke, ij knyghts, and Davy Game; and of gentilmen no moo. And the xxiiij day of Novembre the kyng with all his prisoners came to London in good prosparite. Also this same yere bigan the general counsell at Custance."

NOTE FF. page 103.

The arrival of the emperor is differently noticed in the copy in the Cottonian MS.

"This yere [A^{o}. iv. Hen. V.] the vij day of Maij came themperour of Almayne, Segismundus, to London; and the fest of seint George was deferrid til his comyng, and than solempnely holden at Wyndisore: and at the procession the kyng went on the upper side of themperour, and so alle the ma.s.se tyme stode in the higher place, and at mete he sate on the right side of themperour; and the duke of Bedford, and the chaunceller of England, and the bisshop of Develyn, sate on the lefte side of themperour: and the duke of Briga and another duke of themperours compeigny sate upon the kings side; and all these saten on that oon side of the table. And the first sotelte was oure lady armyng seint George, and an angel doyng on his spores; the ij^{de} sotelte was seint George ridyng and fightyng with the dragon, with his spere in his hand; the iij^{de} sotelte was a castel, and seint George, and the kynges doughter ledynge the lambe in at the castel gates. And all these sotelties were served to the emperor and to the kyng, and no ferther: and other lordes were served with other sotelties after theire degrees. And the same tyme duke William of Holand came into England; but he was not at that fest. Also the emperour laye at Westminster the tyme that he abode in England; and the duke of Holand laie at the bisshop of Elies place. And after Midsomer the duke of Holand seilid home ageyne. And after that themperour and the kyng went to Caleys: and than the duke of Burgoyne and the counte Charles his son came to Gravenyng; and the sent thider his brother the duke of Gloucestre, and therle of the March, to abide there in hostage while the duke of Burgoyne come to Caleys. And in the myddis of the river the lordes metten togider; and the dukes son of Burgoyne receyved there oure lords, and led them furth with hym into Flaundres: and the erle of Warwik receyved the duke of Burgoyne and brought him to Caleys, where he spake with the kyng of diverse matiers atwixt them ij. And he toke his leve of the kyng: and the erle of Warwik brought hym agayne to Grevenyng Water; at which tyme also the counte Charlis brought our lordes to the same place, where either of these lordes token live of other. And than the kyng retorned ageyne into England; and themperour seiled into Holand, and so pa.s.sid furth into Custaunce."

NOTE GG. page 106.

"with all the lords.h.i.+ps longyng thereto. And than the duke of Clarence with other lordes rode furth to Cane: and upon our Lady even the a.s.sumpcion, he mustred hym bifore the towne of Cane; and the Tuesday next after our Lady day, that was the xxvij day of August, the kyng with all his host came to Cane, and ther leide his sege, and contynued til our Ladies even the Nativite, upon which even by strong a.s.saute the towne was wonne. And than the kyng leide strong sege to the castel, which was yolden to hym. And while he was abidyng at Cane, he sent the duke of Clarence with other lordes to Baieux, and bisegid and wan it. And the same yere the kyng bisegid Argentyne, bothe towne and castell, which were yolden to hym. Also the kyng wan many castelles and townes, and strong abbeis long before seint Edwardis day."

NOTE HH. page 106.

"upon the moru after the fest of seint Lucie the virgyn and martir, the yere of our lord m^{l} iiij^{c} xvij. Also the same yere, about Alhalowen tide, the kyng leide a sege to Falowes, and contynued it to the xx day of Decembre: and than thei of the towne desired to trete with the kyng. And the kyng committid the trete unto Thomas erle of Salisbury, to Herry lord Fitz Hugh, to S^{r}. John Cornewaille, and S^{r}. William Harington knight, as commissioners for his partie: and as for the partie of the towne, S^{r}. John Meultone, S^{r}. Gilbert Mousteins, lordes of Faiete, capitaynes of men of armes and of shot withynne the towne of Faloys, and with them upon the same entrete, the lord of Gamulle; which parties entreted and accorded upon the articles and appointments folowyng."

[Then follows the treaty alluded to, which extends to eleven folios, but it is not of sufficient interest to require insertion.]

"Which castel was delyvered up and yolden to the kyng in manner and fourme as it is bifore seid. And than the kyng lete parten his hoste to journey diverse weys; that is to say, oone partie the duke of Clarence with many ful worthis with hym: and he gate many townes, castells and strong abbeis. And the duke of Gloucestre another partie of the oste; and with hym therle of the March, the lord Grey, the lord Clifford, Sir Water Hungerford steward of the kyngs house, with ful many other knyghts and squiers: and he gate er he leide his sege to Chirburgh, xxiiij townes and castells. And after Eastrene he leide sege to Chirburgh, and contynued it unto Michelmas, at whiche tyme bothe towne and castel of Chirburgh was yolden to hym. And the iij^{de} parte of the hoste the kyng delyvered to therle of Warwik and other lordes with hym, which gate many strong townes, castells and abbeis. And after Eastern the kyng leide a sege to Lovers, and wan it: and afterward he leide a sege and wanne Pount Large. And than he leide a sege to the cite of Rone and contynued; and duryng the sege the maire of London was chosen upon seint Edwardes day."

NOTE II. page 107.

A^{o}. vij. Hen. V.--"Also the kyng contynued his sege from seint Edwardes day unto the xiij day of Janeuary, at which day thei of the cite desired to trete: and the kyng comytted with hym for to trete, therles of Warwik and Salisburie, the lord Fitz Hugh, Sir Water Hungerford, Gilbert Humfrevile, John de Vasques de Almada, and Robesard, knyghts: and for the parte of Rone these followyng."

[Then follows a copy of the agreement in six folio pages.]

"And the forseid cite was yolden to oure sovereigne lord the kyng upon seint Wolstanes day: and after that the kyng gate many strong castells and townes."

NOTE KK. page 108.

A^{o}. viij. Hen. V.--"And the xx day of Maij the yere of oure lord m^{l} cccc xx^{ti} the kyng come to Troys in Champayne, where he was worthely receyved of al the lordes spiritual and temperal that were with the kyng of Fraunce. And upon the morue the kyng and quene of Fraunce, and dame Katerine his sustre, the duke of Burgoyne metten togiders in seint Petres chirche of Troys, in the body of the same chirch; and after went thei up to the high auter, and there tharticles of the peas redde, and the othes made on either partie: and than was the kyng and dame Katerine sured togiders. And upon the morue after Trinity Sonday, that was than the iij^{d} day of Juyn, the yere of our lord m iiij^{c} and xx, in the chirch of seint Petre of Troys the kyng weddid dame Katerine, kyng doughter of Fraunce, and was made regent of Fraunce. The convencions of which accord followen here after, that is to say."

[Then follows the agreement, which extends to nearly eleven folios.]

"And thanne after that the fest and solempnetie of the mariage was done, the kyng conquerid many townes and castells. Also the kyng leid his sege to Milon sur Seyne, duryng which sege the maire and s.h.i.+reves of London were chosen."

NOTE LL. page 108.

A^{o}. viij. Hen. V.--"And whanne the solempnite was done in the chirch, she was brought ful worthely into the greet halle.

Of the sittyng of the astates at the coronacion of Quene Kateryne hereafter foloweth: that is to say;

First Quene Kateryne sate in hire astate.

The archebisshop of Caunterbury.

The bisshop of Wynchestre.

Thei saten upon the right side of the Quene, and served next the Quene, and covered at every course.

The kyng of Scotland sate in his astate upon the lefte side of the Quene, which was served at every course, the ij bisshops aforseid.

The d.u.c.h.es of Yorke, the countes of Huntyngdon; they saten on the same side that the kyng of Scotlande sate.

The duke of Gloucestre supervisour.

Therle of March knelyng upon the deys on the right side of the Quene, held a sceptre upright of the Quenes.

Therle Marchall knelyng on the same deys upon the left side of the Quene, held another sceptre of the Quenes upright.

The countes of Kent was sittyng at the right fote of the Quene undre the table.

The countes Marchall sate at the lefte fote of the Quene undre the table.

Sir Richard Nevile, Carver, bifore the Quene.

Therles brother of Suffolk, Cup berer.

Sir John Steward, Sewer to the Quene.

The lorde Clifford, Panter, instede of therle of Warwik.

The lord Willoughby, Butler, instede of therle of Arundel.

The lord Grey of Ruthyn, Naperer.

The lord Awdley, Avener, instede of therle of Cambrige.

The duke of Bedford, Constable of England.

Therle of Warwik, Steward of England, instede of the duke of Clarence.

Therle of Worcestre, Marchal of England, instede of therle Marchal.

Of the maner of sittyng of the astates at the other tables in the Halle.

First the Barons of the Five Poortes biganne the table of astate in the halle upon the right hand of the Quene.

And byneth them at the same table seten the Bouchers of the Chancery.

The Maire of London and his brethren thaldermen biganne the table of astate in the halle on the lefte hand of the Quene, with other comoners of the cite, and other men byneth them at the same table.