[1] Shortlie after, considering with himselfe that the towne of Meaux in Brie, being replenished with e|nimies, was not to be suffered to remaine in that state, in the middes of his new gotten subiects; he de|termined to take awaie the open scruple that might poison and infect the members, dwelling hard by: wherefore with a great number of earles and barons in his companie, he came to besiege it. This towne was no lesse well vittelled than manned, and no bet|ter manned than fortified; so that the king could nei|ther haue it to him deliuered at his pleasure, nor gaine it by assault, without the great losse of his peo|ple: yet neuerthelesse, he determined not to depart, till he had got it by one meane or other. The riuer of Marne diuided this towne into two parts, so that there was no enterie from the one into the other, but by a bridge, raised vp, and made ouer the riuer, sustei|ned with manie arches. The one part is called the ci|tie, and the other la March, being the strongest and best fortified.The strong towne of Me|aux besieged by the Eng|lishmen. The king first lodged a mile off in a ca|stell, and sent the duke of Excester to begin the siege, which he did, according to his instructions, vpon the sixt of October.