Amery of Pavy

Amery of Pavy (also called Aymery de Pavie, Armerie of Pavie and Amerie of Pavia in various sources) was a 14th-century English knight, originally from Pavia in Lombardy, who was made captain of Calais by King Edward III of England in 1347. He made a secret bargain with Sir Geoffrey de Charney, a French knight, to sell Calais to Sir Geoffrey for 20,000 crowns, roughly two million pounds adjusted for inflation. Upon discovering the plot, Edward summoned Sir Amery to London and confronted him, ordering him to keep his bargain with Sir Geoffrey and say nothing of the King's knowledge. Sir Geoffrey gathered an army to take control of the town in December of that year, and King Edward brought an army from England to ambush the French takeover. The English prevailed in the failed siege of Calais on December 31, 1348, and King Edward transferred governance of Calais to John de Beauchamp and abated the arms of Sir Amery in 1349.

Captain of Calais

After Edward III took possession of Calais on August 4, 1347, he negotiated a treaty with Philip VI of France on September 28 under the mediation of the Pope, which truce was set to expire on July 8, 1348, but was subsequently continued until 1355.[1] Edward appointed Amery of Pavy captain of Calais and ordered the restoration of the city's fortifications while he returned to England, landing at Sandwich on October 12, 1347.

Sale of Calais

Some time in 1348, without the knowledge of either King Edward or King Philip, Amery entered into a secret agreement with Sir Geoffrey de Charney, a French knight and governor of nearby Saint-Omer, for the sale of Calais to Sir Geoffrey in exchange for the sum of 20,000 crowns.[1] Upon discovery of the plot, King Edward summoned Sir Amery to London and upbraided him for his betrayal, ordering him to keep the bargain with Sir Geoffrey and inform him before the French arrival. Sir Amery informed the king, who brought an expeditionary force under the command of Sir Walter Manny to ambush Sir Geoffrey's forces in December 1348. On the last day of December, Sir Geoffrey arrived before dawn with five hundred lancers to occupy the city. Sir Amery received his payment of 20,000 crowns from Sir Geoffrey and led his advance company of twelve knights and a hundred archers into King Edward's awaiting trap in the tower of Calais castle.[2]

Disgrace

Following the failed French siege of the city, King Edward transferred governance of Calais to Lord Beauchamp and abated the arms of Sir Amery in 1349. This rare example of historically attested heraldic abatement was recorded by Sir George Mackenzie: "And Edward the Third of England ordained two of six stars which a gentleman had in his arms to be effaced, because he had sold a seaport of which he was made governor."[3] Pursuivant of arms John Guillim, writing circa 1610, gave the story in considerable detail, adding that Sir Amery's arms were also inverted for his treachery.[4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Henry, Robert (1788). The History of Great Britain: From the First Invasion of It By the Romans Under Julius Caesar. Volume VII (2nd ed.). London: A. Strahan and T. Cadell. pp. 242–5.
  2. ↑ Froissart, John (1844). The Chronicles of England, France and Spain. London: William Smith. pp. 192–5.
  3. ↑ Parker, James. "Abatements". Parker's Heraldry. Karl B. Wilcox. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  4. ↑ Guillim, John (1611). "Section I Chapter VIII". A Display of Heraldrie. London: Printed by William Hall for Raphe Mab. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15.
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