1. First, because the king is incompetent to govern in person. For throughout his reign he has been controlled and governed by others who have given him evil counsel, to his own dishonor and to the destruction of holy Church and of all his people, without his being willing to see or understand what is good or evil or to make amendment, or his being willing to do as was required by the great and wise men of his realm, or to allow amendment to be made.
2. Item, throughout his reign he has not been willing to listen to good counsel nor to adopt it nor to give himself to the good government of his realm, but he has always given himself up to unseemly works and occupations, neglecting to satisfy the needs of his realm.
3. Item, through the lack of good government he has lost the realm of Scotland and other territories and lordships in Gascony and Ireland which his father left him in peace, and he has lost the friendship of the king of France and of many other great men.
4. Item, by his pride and obstinacy and by evil counsel he has destroyed holy Church and imprisoned some of the persons of holy Church and brought distress upon others and also many great and noble men of his land he has put to a shameful death, imprisoned, exiled, and disinherited.
5. Item, wherein he was bound by his oath to do justice to all, he has not willed to do it, for his own profit and his greed and that of the evil councilors who have been about him, nor has he kept the other points of his oath which he made at his coronation, as he was bound to do.
6. Item, he has stripped his realm, and done all that he could to ruin his realm and his people, and what is worse, by his cruelty and lack of character he has shown himself incorrigible without hope of amendment, which things are so notorious that they cannot be denied.
First, the King of England sent solemn messengers to the King of France, begging him to restore the lands that he is arbitrarily and unreasonably withholding from him in the Duchy of Guienne; at whose request the King of France did nothingâ but at last he promised that if the King of England would come to him in his own person, he would do him justice, grace, and favour.
Trusting in which promise, the King of England crossed secretly into France, and came to him humbly requesting the delivery of his aforesaid lands, offering and performing to the said King whatever he ought, and more; but the King of France put him off always with words and treaty, and in reality did nothing; and moreover, during these same discussions, he wrongfully drew to himself more and more the King of Englandâs rights in the aforesaid duchy.
Item, the King of England, seeing the stubbornness of the King of France, to have his goodwill, and that which he wrongfully detains from him, held out to him the following great offers, that is to say, when one was refused, he put forward another: —
2First, the marriage of his eldest son, now Duke of Cornwall, for the said King of Franceâs daughter, taking nothing with him for the marriage;
Item, the marriage of his sister, now Countess of Gelders, for his son, with a very great sum of money;
Item, the marriage of his brother, the Earl of Cornwall, whom God assoil, for some demoiselle of his royal blood.
Item, to make recompense for the inconvenience, he offered him money, as much as he might reasonably wish to ask. Item, because the King of England was given to understand that the King of France wished to undertake the blessed voyage to the Holy Land, and desired greatly to have the King of England in his company, and therefore he would show him grace and favour, the King of England, so that no hindrance of the said voyage might be charged upon him, made offer to the King of France to pass over with him, with great force on the said voyage; on condition, however, that before his going he should make him full restitution of the aforesaid lands.
Item, then he offered to go with him on the said voyage, on condition that before his going, he should make restitution of the half, or of a certain part, of the said lands.
Item, afterwards he made him more ample offers, namely, that he would go with him, so that on his return from the Holy Land the King of France should make him such restitution.
Item, then to arrest the malice of the King of France, who was striving to charge the hindrance of the said voyage upon the King of England, he proffered his readiness to undertake the voyage with him, so that, upon his return, he should accomplish justice towards him.
But the King of France, who was striving by all means in his power to undo the King of England and his people, so that he might retain what he wrongfully withheld, and 3 conquer more from him, would accept none of the aforesaid offers; but seeking occasion, he busied himself in aid and maintenance of the Scots, the King of Englandâs enemies, striving so to delay him by the Scottish war, that he would have no power to pursue his rights elsewhere.
Item, then, in deference to the King of France, and at the request of his envoys, the King of England granted the Scots respite of war, and truce, in the hope of parley concerning peace; during the which respite, the Scots slew the Earl of Athol and others, and seized many great men of the King of Englandâs allegiance, and besieged and took castles and other places of the King and his people. And nevertheless, at the request of the said envoys, he offered the Scots a truce for four or five years, on condition that they would make restitution of the things which they had seized during the first truce, so that in the meantime, the aforesaid voyage might have been undertaken. But to this restitution the King of France would not assent, but maintained the Scots in their malice with all his might; and moved open war upon the King of England without just cause, and has sent to sea his galleys and his fleet, which he caused to be prepared under feigned colour of the said voyage, with great number of men-at-arms, to destroy the fleet and the subjects of the King of England. And these men have in warlike manner seized and carried off many English ships, capturing and killing those on board; and they have come to England, and to the King of Englandâs islands, burning, slaying, robbing, and committing other horrible mischiefs, according to their power.
Item, then the King of England, by the counsel and advice of the great men and sages of his realm, wishing to avoid war so far as he could, sent solemn messengers to the King of France, to offer him whatever he could, without great disherison, in order to have peace with him. But the King of France, hardened in his malice, would 4 not suffer the said messengers to come to him, nor agree to peace, or talk of peace; but sent his host, great and strong, to take into his hands by force, the whole of the aforesaid Duchy, saying untruly, that the Duchy is forfeit to him; the which host is doing very great mischiefs in the Duchy, besieging and taking castles and towns.
Item, the King of France, to cover his malice, etc., is striving falsely to inform the Pope, and other great persons of Christendom, against the King of England, compassing with all his might to win not only the said Duchy, but all the lands of the King of England.
These things and others, as many as the King and his Council can think of, have been offered to the King of France in order to have peace; and if any man may know other fitting way, he will be glad and ready to accept it.
Edward, etc., to our dear son, and to the honorable fathers in God, John, by the same grace, Archbishop of Canterbury, Richard, Bishop of London, William de la Zouche, our Treasurer, and others of our Council in England, greeting. The cause of our long sojourn in Brabant we have often made known to you before now, and well is 5 it known to each one of you. But because lately scarcely any aid has come to us from our realm, and the delay was so grievous to us, our people in such straits, and our allies all too tardy about the business; and also our ambassadors, who had tarried so long with the Cardinals and the Council of France to treat of peace, brought us no other offers but that we should have not one handâs breadth of land in the realm of France; and moreover, as we had tidings, our cousin Philip of Valois had always sworn that we should not be a single day in France with our host without that we would give us battle — we, always trusting in God and our right, caused our allies to come to us, and had it certainly shown to them that we would on no account wait longer, but would advance in pursuit of our right, taking the grace that God should give us. And seeing the dishonour that would have fallen upon them if they had stayed behind, they agreed to follow us. A date was appointed for us to be on the marches within France on a certain day, at which day and place we were all ready, and our allies came after, as well as they could. The Monday on the eve of St. Matthew we went our from Valenciennes,1 and the same day there began burning in the Cambrécis, and we were burning the country there all the following week, so that that district is full clean laid waster, the corn and cattle, and other goods. On the following Saturday we came to Marcoing, which lies between Cambrai and France, and that same day we began to burn in France.2 And we had heard that the said lord Philip was coming towards us at Péronne, on his way to Noyon. So we still held on our march, our people burning and devastating the country commonly for the space of twelve or fourteen leagues. The Saturday3 next before the Feast of St. Luke we crossed the water of Oise, and camped and tarried there on the Sunday; on which day we had our allies with us, who 6 showed us that their victuals were nearly spent, and that winter was coming hard upon us; and that they could not stay with us, but when their victuals were spent they must set out on their return march. Truly, they had the shorter supplies by reason that they expected our said cousin would have given us speedy battle. On the Monday morning there came letters to my lord Hugh of Geneva from the master cross-bowman of France, making mention that he wished to say to the King of England, from the King of France, — let him take up a field not protected by wood, marsh, or water, and he would give him battle before the Thursday next following. The next day we moved on, so as always to do what damage we could. The Wednesday after there came a messenger to the said lord Hugh, bringing letters from the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lorraine, with their seals hanging, containing that as to whatever the said master cross-bowman had sent on behalf of the King of France, he would keep covenant. We, seeing the said letters, at once drew towards Flamangerie, were we stayed all day on Friday. At vespers three spies were taken, and were examined, each one separately, and they all agreed that the said Philip would give us battle on Saturday,4 and that he was a league and a half from us. On the Saturday we were on the field a full quarter before daybreak, and took up our position to fight, in a place fitting for us and for him. In the early morning some of his scouts were taken, who told us that his advanced guard was in front of the field in battle array, and coming out towards us. When the new came to our hose, our allies, although they had borne themselves sluggishly towards us, were truly of such loyal intent that never were men of such good will to fight. In the meantime, one of our scouts, a knight of Germany, was taken, who perchance showed all that he had seen of our array to 7 the enemy; so that he at once withdrew his vanguard, and gave orders to encamp. And they made trenches around them, and cut down the big trees, to prevent our approach. We stayed all that day on foot, drawn up for battle, until towards vespers, when it seemed to our allies that we had tarried long enough. And at vespers we mounted our horses, and went near to Avesnes, a league and a half from our said cousin, and made known to him that we would await him there all the Sunday; and thus we did. And we can send no other news of him, save that on the Saturday, when we mounted our horses, in departing from our ground, he thought that we should have come against him, and he was in such haste to take stronger ground, that in his crossing, a thousand horsemen foundered in the marsh, coming down one over another. On Sunday, the lord of Faniels was taken by our people. On the Monday morning we had news that the lord Philip and all his allies would not afterwards stay longer, And as to what is to be done further, we shall hold a Council with them at Antwerp on the morrow of St. Marin. And afterwards we will send you tidings thence speedily as to what shall in the meantime have been done. Given under our Privy seal at Brussels, the first day of November.
1 20 September.
2 9 October.
3 16 October.
4 23 October.
Whereas aliens hold so many benefices in this land, and the alms that were wont to be distributed from them, are withdrawn, much of the treasure of the land is carried beyond the sea, in maintenance of your enemies, the secrets of the realm are revealed, and your liege clerks in this country have the less advancement; — and now lately several cardinals have been made, to two of whom the Pope has granted benefices in this land amounting to 6000 marks a year. . . . And the commons have heard that one of these two cardinals, to wit, the cardinal of Périgord, is the Kingâs fiercest enemy at the papal court, and the most hostile to his interests. And from year to year the country will be so filled with aliens that it may be a great peril, and scarcely any clerk over here, the son of a great lord or other, will find a benefice wherewith he may be advanced — Wherefore the commons beg a remedy, for they cannot, and will not endure it longer; and that it may please the King to write to the Apostolic See . . . requesting the Pope to suspend these charges and recall what has been done. . . .
Answer. — The King is advised of this mischief, and he is willing that remedy and amendment may be ordained, 179 between the great men and commons, if it can be agreed upon; and also he wills and agrees that good letters shall be made to the Pope touching this matter, as well in the name of the King and the great men as of the commons.
To the most holy father in God, our lord Clement, by divine providence sovereign bishop of the holy church of Rome and of the Church universal, his humble and devoted sons the princes, dukes, earls, barons, knights, citizens, burgesses and all the commons of the Kingdom of England, assembled in the parliament holden at Westminster in the quinzaine of Easter last past, devoutly kissing his feet with all reverence and humility. Most holy father, the holy discernment, government, and equity which are manifest in you and ought to reign in so holy and high a prelate, head of holy Church, by whom all holy Church and the people of God ought, as by the sun, to be enlightened, give us sure hope that the just prayers, to the honour of Jesus Christ and of his holy Church, offered by us to your Holiness, will be graciously hearkened to by you, and all faults and wrongs be done away and removed, in fruitful accomplishment and remedy, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, who hath chosen and accepted you for such high state, and by you applied and graciously ordained. Wherefore, most holy father, we all in full consultation, by common assent do in lively manner set forth to your Holiness that the noble Kings of England, and our forefathers and predecessors and we, according to the grace of the Holy Ghost, to them and to us devised and giving each one in his devotion, have ordained and established, founded and endowed within the kingdom of England cathedrals and collegiate churches, abbeys and 180 priories, and other divers religious houses, and in them have ordained, and to the prelates and governors of the said places have given lands, possessions, patrimonies, franchises, advowsons, and patronages of dignities, prebends, offices, churches, and other many benefices: to this end and intent, that the cure and government of such benefices might be given to such persons, as that by them the service of God and the Christian faith might be honored, increased, and embellished, hospitalities and alms given and maintained, Churches and buildings honorably preserved and kept, devout prayers offered up therein for founders, poor parishioners aided and comforted; and that by them those whose cure they should have might in their own tongue, in confession and otherwise, be fully taught and instructed. And inasmuch, most holy father, as you cannot have notice of the faults and shortcomings of the persons and places so far removed, if you be not informed thereof, we, having full knowledge of the faults and shortcomings and of the state of the persons and places aforesaid within the said kingdom, do make known to your Holiness that, by means of divers reservations, provisions, and collations granted by your predecessors, apostles of Rome, and by you, most holy father, in your time more largely than they were wont to be, as well to foreign and divers nations and to some our enemies not having knowledge of the tongue nor the condition of those whose government and cure should belong to them, as to others who are not fit, there come to pass dangers and mischiefs, which are these — the souls of parishioners are imperiled, the service of God is destroyed, alms are withdrawn, hospitalities impoverished, churches and buildings thereto belonging fallen into decay, charity stinted, cure of souls and the government which belonged thereto brought to naught, devotion of the people checked, honest persons of the realm unad 181 vanced, as well as many scholars, the treasure of the realm carried away, contrary to the intent and pious will of the founders. Which faults, shortcomings, dangers, and scandals, most holy father, we cannot nor ought not to suffer or endure. Therefore we humbly beg that the faults, shortcomings and divers perils which may thence come to pass being discreetly considered, it may please you both to recall such reservations, provisions, and collations, and to ordain that they be not henceforth made, and to apply fitting remedy for the evils which may thence arise, follow and ensue; and that the benefices, buildings, and rights thereto belonging may to the honour of God be had in charge, defended and governed by persons of the said realm. And may it please your Holiness to signify unto us by your holy letters your intention upon this our petition without captious delay, understanding for certain that we shall on no account fail to apply our care and travail to get remedy and fitting correction in the matters aforesaid.
In witness whereof to these our letters patent we have set our seals. Given in full Parliament at Westminster, on the 8th day of May, the year of grace 1343.
An idea of the show and gallantry of the tournaments and festivals of this period can be obtained from this description by the chronicler Adam of Murimuth, of a famous gathering at Windsor held by Edward while home on a visit after his first invasion of France, and of the foundation of the order of the Knights of the Garter, which the chronicler fancifully describes as if it were a revival of Arthurâs Round Table.
FLOAT LEFT 139. A tournament at Windsor (1344)ÎIn the year 1344, the king, Edward III, ordered a great tournament to be held on the nineteenth day of January in the place of his birth, that is, in the castle of Windsor; and this he caused to be publicly proclaimed a sufficiently long time beforehand as well in foreign parts as in England. He invited to this by his own letters all the ladies of the south of England and the wives of the citizens of London. There assembled in the said castle on Sunday, the twentieth of January, earls, barons, knights, and very many ladies. There the king provided the customary banquet so that the great hall was filled with the ladies, not a single man being present excepting only two knights who had come from France for this occasion. At this banquet there were present two queens, nine countesses, wives of the barons, knights, and citizens, who could not easily be counted, and who had been placed by the king himself in their seats according to rank.
The Prince of Wales, the duke of Cornwall, the earls, barons, and knights ate together with the people in a tent and other places where food supplies and all other necessaries had been prepared freely for all without murmur; and in the evening there was dancing. For the three following days the king with nineteen other knights kept a jousting against all who came from without; and the same lord, not on account of royal favor but because of great skill which he showed and because of the good fortune which he had, for three days gained the palm among those at home. A foreign lord, knight 247 of Stapleton, gained the victory on the first day, on the second Philip Despenser, on the third John Blount. On the Thursday following the tournament of the sons, the lord king gave a banquet at which he founded the order of the Round table, and under a certain form belonging to the said Round Table he received the oaths of certain earls, barons, and knights whom he wished to belong to this said Round Table; and he fixed the day for holding the Round table for the next day of Pentecost following, giving to all present the right of returning home with their badges of honor. Afterwards he ordered a very fine building to be erected there, in which the said Round Table could meet at the designated time. For the erection of this building he brought in stonecutters, carpenters, and other workmen, ordering wood as well as stone to be procured, sparing neither labor nor expense.â