saye that whan the kyng of Cyper was in his countre of Byerne and moued him to haue gone to the voiage of the holy Sepulture He hadde thought the same tyme to haue made suche a iourney that if the frenche kyng or the kyng of Englande had taken that enterprise howe ther shulde haue ben no lorde shulde haue brought suche a company as he wolde haue done and as yet he is of the same mynde and in parte that is one of the causes that he gadereth suche treasure tHe prince of Wales the season that he raigned in the countre of Acquitayne beyng at Burdeux on the ryuer of Geronde thought to haue made hym warre The prince manassyde him for the couÌ„tre of Bierne and wolde haue had hym to haue holde his couÌ„tre of hym and the erle sayd he wolde nat and sayd howe his countre of Bierne was so free a lande that it ought to do homage to no man of the worlde And the prince who at that tyme was great and sore feared said howe he wolde compell hym ê‘force for therle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret who loued nat therle of Foiz bycause of suche victories as he hadde won on them before They tytled the prince euer in his eare and entysed hym to haue made warre agaynst the erle of Foiz but the voiage that the prince made in to Spayne brake his purpose Also sir IohnÌ„ Chandos who was chefe of couÌ„sayle with the Prince was agaynst it that the prince shulde make any watre to the erle The erle of Foiz loued right well sir Iohan Chandos and he hym but the erle douted the prince bycause he was fierse and coragious and therfore he gadered togyder as moche treasure as he coude gette to th entent therwith to defende hym if nede were And so he set great tayles taxes in all his couÌ„tre and in euery towne whiche as yet endureth and shall do as long as he lyueth He had of euery fyre euery yere two fraÌ„kes and the ryche to beare out the poore therby he gadered and yet dothe great riches and the people payeth it with a marueylous good wyll For by reason therof there is nother Englysshe nor frenche nor robbers nor reyuers that dothe them any hurte to the value of one peÌ„ny And so his countre is in sauegarde and iustice truely kepte for in doyng of iustyce he is right cruell he is the moost rightfull lorde that is nowe lyueng And so with these wordes we came to the towne of Turney where as we shulde rest all night So than the knight seased of his talkyng and I remembred well where we lefte agaynst the next day and we were lodged at the signe of the Starre and toke our ease And at supper tyme the capitayne of Maluoysin called sir Raymonde of Lane came to se vs supped with vs and brought with hym four flaggons of the best wyne that I draÌ„ke of in all my iourney those two knightes talked long togider and whan it was late the knight departed and retourned to the castell of Maluoysin and the next mornyng we mounted on out horses and departed fro Tourney passed by a gyde the ryuer of Lysse and rode towarde the cytie of Tarbe entred in to Bigore And we lefte the waye to Lourde to Bagueres and to the castell of Mountgaylliard on the lyfte hande And we rode towarde a vyllage called Teracimytat and dyd coost it and came to a wode in the lande of the lorde of Barbasan and we came nere to a castell called Matheras at the entre of the countre of Layre Than the knight said to me Sir Iohan beholde here the place of Layre and beholde it well aduyse the couÌ„tre which semed to me right straÌ„ge I thought my selfe but as lost ther if I had nat ben in the company with that knight Than I remeÌ„bred the wordes that this knight had shewed me .ii. or thre dayes before of that countre of Layre and of the MeÌ„geant of Lourde Than I sayd to hym Sir ye shewed me the last daye that whan we shulde be in the couÌ„tre of Layre that ye wolde shewe me the maner of the MeÌ„geant of Lourde and howe he dyed It is true sir ê™ the knyght come on ryde by me and I shall shewe you Than I rode nere hym to here his wordes and than he sayde Sir in the season that Peter Danchyne helde the castell and castell of Ortyngas as I haue shewed you before this tyme. They of the garison of Lourde soÌ„tyme rode forthe at aduenture farre fro their garyson howe be it they had nat alwayes the aduauntage for ye maye beholde here the castell of Barbason and the Castell of Martheras wherin there was alwayes many men of warre there and in other garysons as Bagueces Tourney Mountgalyarde Salenges Benache Gorre and Tarbe all frenche townes and garysons And whan these garysons knewe that they of Lourde rode outher towardes Tholous or Carcassone ThaÌ„ they wolde laye busshementes for them and somtyme take fro them of Lourde their praye and pyllage somtyme they scaped without any rencounter And on a tyme it fortuned that Eruaulton of saynt Colombe and the Mengeant of saynte Cornyle and to the nombre of sixscore speares of good men of warre departed fro Lourde about the mouÌ„tayns bytwene these two ryuers Lysse and Lesse and so rode nere to Tholous and at their retournyng they founde in the medowes a great nombre of beestes oxen keen hogges mottons and lambes and also they toke dyuers of the good men of the countre prisoners and so droue all their pray before them Than it was shewed to the capitayne of Tarbe a squyer of Gascoyne called Erualton Bysette an experte man of armes Howe they of the garyson of Lourde were abrode and were comyng homewarde with a great praye than he sente to the lorde of Benache and to Enguerose eldest sonne to sir Raymonde and also to the lorde of Barbason Certifyeng them howe he wolde ryde out agaynst theym of Lourde The knyghtes and squyers of the countrey of Bigore agreed to ryde forthe and assembled to guyder at Tourney and with them ther was the Bourcke of Spaygne who came fro his garyson of saynt Bearte So they were to the nombre of two hundred speares and they had their spyes abrode in the Countrey to knowe what they of Lourde dyde On the other syde they of Lourd had abrode their spies to knowe if any men of warre were abrode to lette them of their enterprise And so moche dyde these that eyther partie knewe what other dyde WhanÌ„e they of Lourde knewe howe they of the frenche garysons were abrode and taryed for them at Tourney Than they were in doute and toke couÌ„sayle what they might best do to saue their pray Than they determyned to departe their company in two The one company to driue before them their praye with all their varlettê and to go couertly by the lane of Bourge and so to passe
we shal answere you shortely I am contente sayd the marshall then the capytayne entred in to the towne and caused euery man to come before hym Then wysely he shewed to them frome poynte to poynte as ye haue harde before and fynally they agreed to receyue the duke and the duches peasybly as theyr lorde lady and to abyde in theyr towne as longe as it pleased them without the puyssaunce of kynge IohnÌ„ dyd dryue them thens and also that wheÌ„ they had taryed there as it pleased them a yere or .ii. longer or shorter and that when they departed out of the countrey without they lefte there a suffycyent garyson to defende them fro theyr enemyes elles they to rendre it agayne to kynge IohnÌ„ or to his marshall yf they were soo commaunded and so they to be quyte of theyr fayth and promyse then made This treatye the marshall syr Thomas Moreaur accepted sayd how they sayd as they ought to do that the duke and the duches desyred nothynge elles of them Then the marshall retourned to his men so to the duke who taryed for hym in the feldes there he shewed the duke this trety wher with the duke was content soo in good ordre of batayle the duke rode to the towne of saynt Iames. WIthin .ii. lytell frensshe myles of saynt Iames in Galyce there came in processyon all the clergy of yâ— towne with crosses relykes meÌ„ women chyldren tomete with the duke the duches the men of the towne brought the keys with theÌ„ whiche they preseÌ„ted to the duke to the duches with theyr good wylles by all semblaunt I can not say if they dyd it with theyr good hartes or no there they kneled downe receyued theyr lorde lady they entred in to the towne of saynt Iames the fyrst voyage they made they wente to the chyrche all theyr chyldren made theyr prayers offrynge with grete giftes it was shewed me that the duke the duches theyr .ii. doughters Phylyp katheryn were lodged in an abbay there kept theyr house the other lordes as syr IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de syr Thomas moreaux theyr wyues lodged in yâ— towne al other barons knightes lodged abrode in the felde in houses bowres of bowes for there were ynowe in the couÌ„trey they fouÌ„de there flesshe strong wyne ynough whereof the Englysshe archers draÌ„ke so moche that they were ofte tymes droÌ„ken wherby they had the feuers or elles in the mornyng theyr hedes were so cuyl that they coulde not helpe theÌ„ selfe all the day after ANd wheÌ„ the Barroys of barres IohnÌ„ of Castel morant the other knyghtes squyers as were in the castel of CouloÌ„gne herde how the duke duches were entred peasybly in to saynt Iames that they were there receyued theÌ„ they toke couÌ„sayle togyder what was best for theÌ„ to do sayd it was but foly to tary ther ony lenger for here we can haue no good adueÌ„ture let vs go to Burgus to the kynge se what he wyl do it can be none otherwyse but that he wyll go agaynst these Englysshmen for yf he suffre theÌ„ to lodge thus in rest by lytell lytell they shall coÌ„quere be lordes of Castell wherfore it is more honourable for vs to go thyder theÌ„ to abyde here this couÌ„sayle they helde for the best so they made theÌ„ redy to departe trussed that they had so yssued out of the castell of Coulongne toke theyr leue of them that they fouÌ„de there when they entred fyrst they toke gydes suche as knew yâ— couÌ„trey elles they had ben encouÌ„tred so they rode thrugh Bysquay costyng Galyce so came to Lyon in spayne as then the kynge the quene were there the kynge there welcomed the frensshe knyghtes as it was reason demaunded of theÌ„ tydynges howbeit he knew ynoughe al redy they shewed hym how they entred in to coulongne the same tyme that the englysshmen entred in to the hauen how the englysshmen fouÌ„de in the hauen .vii. galeys other vesselles of Bysquay laden with wynes whiche the englysshmen had to theyr profyte the merchauntes had sone solde it ye sayd the kynge so it goth by the warre they were not wyse to tary when they knew the army of Englonde on these they myght haue gone in to some other quarter syr sayd the knyghtes they were come thyder in trust of saufegarde for they sayd the wynes other marchaundyse that they had sholde go in to flaundres for they had her de wel by the maryners of saynt Andrewes that the englysshmen were on the see on the boundes coost of Bysquay true it is yâ— kynge of Portyngale sent to theÌ„ galeys gret shyppes thyn kynge how they wolde haue landed at the porte of Portyngale or at Lyxbone but they dyd the coÌ„trary as it appered for they entred in to Galyce by Coulongne Well syrs sayd the kynge among you knyghtes of frauÌ„ce who knoweth more of dedes of armes theÌ„ meÌ„ of this couÌ„trey for ye haue more haunted vsed the warre theÌ„ they haue how thynke you by the englysshmeÌ„ how haue they borne theÌ„selfe al this season syr sayd they they haue borne themselfe lyke good meÌ„ of warre for they be so close pryuy that harde it is to knowe what they entende to do but supposyng we thynke the duke of LaÌ„castre wyl abyde all this nexte wynter in saynt Iames towne his people theraboute ouer rynne the couÌ„trey of Galyce wyn the small holdes gete vytayles prouysyons tyl somer come by lykelyhode there shall be some treatye made bytwene hym the kynge of Portyngale or elles neuer there is one poynte that causeth vs to byleue that some alyaunces shal be coÌ„cluded bytwene theÌ„ that is the duke hath brought out of EnglaÌ„de with hym al his doughters maryed to mary he hath .ii. to mary we thynke the kyng of Portyngale your aduersary shal haue one of them wel sayd the kyng what thynge were best for me me to do syr sayd the knyght we shal shew you cause al your townes castels on yeâ—ronâ—er of galyce to be wel kepte suche as be of streÌ„gth suche as be of no strength cause theÌ„ to be beten downe it is shewed vs how men of the couÌ„trey do fortefy minsters chyrches steples bryng in to theÌ„ al theyr goodes syr surely this shal be the losse confusyon of your royalme for wheÌ„ the englysshmen ryde abrode these small holdes chyrches steples shal holde no while agaynst theÌ„ but they shal be refresshed nourysshed with suche prouysyon as they shall fynde in them whiche shal helpe to furteth them to wynne all the resydue therfore syr we say that ye do wel cause al suche holdes to be beten downe now why le ye haue leysure make a crye that wtout
pope Clement yet he had neuer ferme beleue on hym But the prelates of the realme of Fraunce and specially Guy of Roy archebysshoppe of Reyns the archebysshoppes of Sens and of Roen and the bysshoppe of Ostune they had brought the duke to beleue on pope Clement ThanÌ„e it was aduysed by the kynges secrete couÌ„sayle that if they purposed to bringe the Churche to rest and peace to haue the accorde of Almayne Than was there sente suffycient ambassadours and clerkes of bothe lawes as maister Philyppe of Playes was one in to Almayne to the kyng of Boesme and of Almayne who wrote hym selfe kyng of Romayns This mater went so forwarde that a day was sette that the kyng of Almayne and his counsaile and the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle shulde mete ê‘sonally at the cyte of Reynes This mater was done secretely bicause the prelates cardynalles archebysshoppes and bysshoppes shulde nat breke their purpose that they were about They made it be noysed that the metyng of these two kynges and their counsayls at Reynes was for non other purpose but to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene the sonne of the marques of Blanquebourge brother to the kyng of Almayne and the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce And so by reason and vnder colour of that mater they wolde common of other In this same seasone dyed at Nesues in Heynaulte the lorde Guye of Chastellone erle of Bloyes and brought to ValenceÌ„nes and buryed at saynt Fraunces in the Freres mynours in a chapell called the Chapell of Orthais he had done moche coste in the closynge of the sayd Freres and whan he dyed he was so in dette that the countesse Mary of Namure forsoke al his goodes and durst nat take on her the admynistracyon of his testament but retourned to her dowrie of the lande of Chinay and of Beaumonde his other herytages went to the heyres The duke of Orlyaunce hadde the countie of Blois for he had payed whyle the erle Guye lyued two hundred thousande crownes of FrauÌ„ce and the landes of Hollande zelande Heynaulte wente to the duke Aubert of Bauyere erle of Heynaulte And the lande of Dauesnes of Landrecier and of Lonnon in terreasse fell to Iohan of Bloyes called IohnÌ„ of Bretaygne And if the erle had nat solde the countie of Blois the sayd Iohan of Bretaygne shulde haue been his heyre therof Consydre what a doÌ„mage a lorde or any other may do to his heyre by gyueng credeÌ„ce to yuell counsayle god forgyue hym ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the busynesse of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the exle of AruÌ„dell and howe the kynges vncles and the londoners toke the mater Capi. CC.xxvi YE haue herde here before of the couert hates that was bytwene kynge Rycharde of Englande and his vncle Thomas duke of Gloucestre whiche the kynge wolde beare no lengar but sayd and also was counsayled rather to distroye another man than hymselfe And ye haue herde howe the kyng was at Plasshey by crafte and coloure brought hym out of his owne house to London And by the waye about .x. or a .xi. of the cloke in the nyght therle marshall arested hym in the kynges name And for all that he cryed after the Kynge yet the kynge made a deafe eare and rode on before and so the same nyght the kynge laye at the towre of London but the duke of Gloucecestre was otherwise lodged For byforce he was put in to a Barge and out of the barge in to a shyppe that laye in the Thamise and the erle marshall with hym and all his company And dyde so moche that the nexte day by night they came to Calais without knoledge of any man excepte the kynges offycers of the sayd towne yE maye well knowe whanÌ„e the takynge of the duke was knowen at Plaâ—hey by the duchesse and her chyldren they were sore troubled and abasshed and thought well that the matter went nat well The duchesse demaunded couÌ„saile what was best to do of sir Iohan Laquyham The knight answered that it was best to sende to his bretherne the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke that they myght fynde some meanes to apeace the kynges dyspleasure For he sayde he thought that the kyng wolde nat displease them The duchesse dyd as the knyght counsayled her and she sente incontynent messangers to these two dukes who were farre a sondre who whanne they herde therof were sored displeased and sente worde agayne to the duchesse that she shuld be of good coÌ„forte For they sayd they knew well the kyng wolde nat entreat hym but by laufull iudgement for otherwise they coude nat suffre it but as thanne they knewe natte where he was The Duchesse and her chyldren were somwhat conforted with their answere The kynge the nexte daye wente fro the towre of London to Eltham and there taryed The same night was brought to the towre of London as prisoners the erle of Arundell and the Erle of Warwyke wherof they of the cytie of London had great marueyle and made therof great murmurynge but none durst saye nay agaynst the kynges pleasure But all maner of people knightes squyers burgesses of good cyties townes of EnglaÌ„de said We haue very well suffred the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke bretherne to the duke of Gloucestre They maye prouyde for this whanne it please theÌ„ We thynke they wolde well haue prouyded for the mater if that they hadde knowen the kynges entent agaynst their brother of Glocestre but bycause they were nat dilygent in the cause the matter is come yuell and lyke to haue an yuell conclusyon WHan the duke of Glocestre was brought to the castell of Calys than he feared hym selfe greatlye said to the erle Marshall For what cause am I brought out of Englande hyder to Calais Me thynke ye holde me as a prisoner Lette me go abrode and se the fortresse aboute Sir quod the marshall that ye desyre I dare nat do it for I haue the charge vpon you on payne of my lyfe The kynge my soueraygne lorde is a lytell myscontente with you Wherfore ye muste take pacyence here for a seasone tyll I here other newes and that shal be shortely by goddes grace For sir as helpe me God I am right sorie for your trouble if I myght remedy it But sir ye knowe well I am sworne to the kynge wherfore I must obey and so wyll I do for sauynge of myne honoure The duke coude haue none other aunswere But by that he sawe he feared greatly his lyfe And on a daye he desyred a preest that sange masse before hym that he myght be coÌ„fessed And so he was at good leysar before the sacrament with deuout herte and cryed God mercy and was sore repentaunt of all his synnes And in dede it was tyme so for hym so to do for his dethe was nerer to hym than he was ware of For as I was enfourmed whan
after he ordeyned him to go in to the realme of Hungery for the kynge of Hungery had written to the frenche kynge howe Lamorabaquy assembled great puyssaunce of men of warre of turkes arabyes tartaryes and suryens and of dyuers other of his secte to fyght with hym The erle of Derby the same season beynge at Paris in the house of Clyssone nere to the temple was wyllynge to go in to Hungery whiche shulde be the lesse coste to the Frenche kynge for he had euery weke redy payed him fyue hundred crownes of golde and the erle thought hym selfe moche bounde to the frenche kynge for that grace and whan that tydynges came fro the kynge of Hungery in to Fraunce the erle of Derby entended well to that mater and thought in hym selfe that voyage to be ryght honourable for hym to passe his tyme there wherby he shulde the lightlyer forget the tyme of his trouble and spake to them of his specyall counsayle and they counsayled hym to go in that voyage so that he knewe fyrst the duke of Lancastre his fathers pleasure in that behalfe Than the erle one of his knyghtes called Dinorth in to Englande to knowe his fathers pleasure This knyght came in to Englande and founde the duke of Lancastre at a Castell a twenty myle fro London called Hertforde There he shewed hym his sonnes entente And whan the duke vnderstode the mynde of the erle his sonne and the good wyll that he had to go in to Hungery to passe the tyme of his banyssment he was ryght well content and sayd to the knyght syr ye be welcome your wordes and my sonnes lettre requyreth counsayle◠ye shall rest you here with vs a season and in the meane whyle we shall take aduyse and in the whyle ye may go and se my sonnes chyldren for ye muste beare tydynges of them to their father Syr quod the knyght ye say true So this knyght syr Dynorth taryed a season in Englande NOwe had the frenche kinge good occasyon to write to the kynge of Almayne and to his coūsayle in what case he had brought pope Benedic and the cardynalles The kynge than sent thyder a noble ambassade as the patryarke of Iherusalem syr Charles of Hangers and other knightes and they founde the kynge at Strawbourgh and dyd their message wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were well content and sayd howe they wolde determyne on that matter but they said they wolde gladly that the kyng of Englande shulde take the same waye the whiche they feared shulde be herde to do with this aunswere the ambassadours retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge what they had doone and sene The frenche kynge than to th entent to bring his purpose to passe sente agayne in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and the messangers shewed the kynge the cause of their cōmynge The kynge gaue good herynge to the mater but as than he had nat the prelates of the realme nor the clergy with hym nor were nat so plyable to folowe his pleasure as they in Fraunce to folowe the pleasure of their kynge and this he shewed to the frenche kynges messangers howe be it he sayde he wolde do his deuoyre and so he dyd And so the messangers returned in to Fraūce and kynge Rycharde on a daye at Westmynster assembled all his prelates and clergy of Englande and whan they were there the kynge shewed wysely the dyfference that was in the churche and howe the frenche kynge by delyberacyon and aduyse of counsayle and by consent of the vnyuersite of Parys and other clerkes he was determyned to be newter and in lykewyse so are the kynges of Spaygne of Scotlande of Aragone and of Nauer and howe that all Almayne Boesme and Italy were of the same opynyon In lykewyse the kynge of Englande desyred that his realme shuld folowe the same Whan the prelates and the clergy who knewe nothynge why they were sent for herde that mater they had great marueyle and were sore abasshed some stode styll and spake no worde and some began to murmure and sayde Our kynge is become frenche he entendeth to nothynge but to dyshonour and distroy vs but he shal nat What wolde he bringe vs out of our beleue he maye do so moche that he shall haue yuell therof let vs nat folowe this opynion sythe the frenche kynge taketh that waye lette hym holde hym selfe newter and let vs holde styll our beleue and lette no man put it fro vs without there be greater apparaunce of a surer foundacyon than we se as yet Whan kyng Rycharde sawe the dyfference and murmurynge of the clergy he caused the bysshoppe of London to demaunde of all the clergy what was best to do They all aunswered that the matter was so great that therin requyred great counsayle and delyberacyon and so they departed and euery man went to his lodgynge And whan the londoners knewe the cause of that assemble and the request that the kynge had made they were than sore troubled agaynst the kyng for the people of Englande were so fermely set on the beleuynge on the pope at Rome that they wolde nat leaue it and sayde howe that Rycharde of Burdeaulx wolde distroy them all if he be let alone his herte is so frenche that he canne nat hyde it but a daye wyll come to paye for all that he shall repente hym and all suche as gyue hym suche counsayle What so euer the kynge sayd to haue his people newter they wolde in no wyse agree therto And the frenche kynge was nat well content with his sonne kynge Rycharde in that he had nat incontynent caused his realme to haue been newter but to saye the trouth the kynge was nat to blame therin And also suche accydentes fell soone after the whiche were so great and horryble that the lyke hath nat ben sene in all this hystorye vpon no kynge crysten except of noble kynge Peter of Lusygnen kyng of Cyper and Iherusalem whome his owne brother and the cypriens martyred ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the aunswere of the Duke of Lancastre to the knyght sent to hym fro his sonne the erle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Cap. CC .xxxiiii. WHan sir Dinorth Whom the erle of Derby had sente in to Englande to his father the duke of Lancastre and had his answere of the duke and had vysyted all the erles landes and had sene his chyldren four sonnes and two doughters than he toke his leaue and retourne in to Fraunce His aunswere was howe that the duke wolde nat counsayle the erle his sonne to go in to Hungery but whan he was wery of beynge in Fraūce than rather to go in to Castell to the kynge there and to his suster and if he lyste to go further than to go and vysite his other suster the quene of Portugale The erle redde his fathers letters two tymes ouer and studyed theron a season and syr Dinorth shewed him that the physicions and surgyons in Englande sayd surely howe
whanÌ„e euery thynge is agreed and at peace thanÌ„e we maye well speke treate of maryage but fyrst ye must take possession in the duchy of Lancastre for that is the vsage in Fraunce and in dyuers countreis on this syde the See That if a lorde shall marry by the consent of his soueraygne lorde he must endowe his wyfe and therwith they had spyces and wyne and cessed of that coÌ„munycacion and euery man departed to their owne lodgynges WHan the erle of Derby was coÌ„e to his lodgyng he was sore displeased and nat without a cause Whan he who was reputed one of the trewest knyghtes of the worlde in the preseÌ„ce of the frenche kyng who loued hym well had shewed him many curtesies shuld be reputed as a traytour and that those wordes shulde coÌ„e out of Englande and brought by the erle of Salisburye He was therwith in a great malencoly his counsayle apeased hym as well as they coude sayd Sir he that wyll lyue in this worlde must endure somtyme trouble Confort you for this tyme and be pacient and parauenture herafter ye shall haue great ioye and glorie And sir of al the lordê on this syde the see the frenche kyng loueth you best and we se well he wolde enploye his payne to briÌ„ge you to ioye and sir ye ought to gyue him and his vncles great thaÌ„ke in that they kept this mater secrete tyll the erle of Salisbury was deê‘ted yea sirs quod the erle I thynke it had ben better it had ben shewed me in his presence that I myght haue made a sufficieÌ„t excuse before that kyng and all the lordes thus I shall abyde styll in blame tyll the mater be otherwyse declared Sir quod they all trespasses can nat be amended at the fyrst daye Sir suffre let the tyme ryn we beleue your busynesse in Englande dothe better than ye be ware of The loue that is in the hertes of the people in Englande towardes you with their good prayers by the grace of god shall shortely delyuer you out of all daungers This they sayd to recoÌ„fort their lorde who was sore disconforted and their sayeng was soner trewe than they were ware of ANone it was knowen in Englande howe therle of Salisbury had ben in FrauÌ„ce with the frenche kynge his vncles and borne letters thyder conteynyng howe the erle of Derby was falsely ê‘iured and a traytour Of the whiche dyuers noble men and prelates were sore troubled and were nothynge contente with the erle of Salisbury and said generally that he was soore to blame to take on hym the charge to beare in to Fraunce any suche wordes vpon as trewe a man as lyued A daye wyll come that he shall repent the tyme that euer he spake the worde ye maye well knowe the Londoners were greatly displeased and murmured agaynst the kyng and his counsayle sayd A geÌ„tyll knight erle of Derby great enuy is there agaynst you It is nat suffycient for the kynge and his counsayle to driue you out of the realme but also to accuse you of trayson to putte you to the more shame rebuke Well euery thynge muste haue his tourne Alas quod the people What faulte or trespasse hath your children done that the kynge taketh thus awaye fro theÌ„ their herytage whiche ought to be theirs by ryght successyon This thynge can nat longe abyde in this case without chaunge nor we can nat suffre it Thus anone after the retourne of the erle of Salisbury out of Fraunce kyng Richarde caused a iustes to be cryed and publysshed throughe out his realme to Scotlande to be at Wynsore of .xl. knyghtes and xl squyers agaynst all coÌ„mers And they to be aparelled in grene with a whyte faucon the quene to be there well acoÌ„panied 〈◊〉 a dyes damosels This feest thus holden the quene beyng there iÌ„ gret neblenes but there were but fewe lordes or noble men for mo thaÌ„ .ii. ê‘tes of the lordes knightes other of the realme of Englande had that kyng in suche hatered what for the banysshyng of the erle of Derby and the iniuryes that he had done to his chyldren and for the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre who was slayne in the castell of Calais and for the dethe of the erle of AruÌ„dell who was beheeded at LoÌ„don The kynred of these lordes came nat to this feest nor but fewe other And at the same feest the kynge ordayned to go in to Irelande to enploy his men in that voyage and so he departed and lefte the Quene with her trayne styll at Wyndsore and the kynge rode to Bristowe and there made all his prouysion and he had ten thousande knightes and squiers and ten thousande archers WhanÌ„e the Londoners knewe that the kyng was goyng in that voyage they began to murmure and said amonge themselfe Nowe gothe Richarde of Burdeaux the waye to Bristowe and so in to yrelande whiche wyll be to his distruction He shall neuer retourne agayne with ioye no more than dyde kynge Edwarde the seconde his great grauntfather who was folysshely gouerned by to moche beleuyng of the SpeÌ„sers In lykewise Rycharde of Burdeaulx hath belued so moche yuell counsayle that it can nat be hydden nor suffred any lengar ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii THere were many knightes and squyers in the kynges company that shulde go with hym in to IrelaÌ„de that were nat coÌ„tent with hym and wente in maner with an yuell wyll sayd oftentymes one to another Our kynge gouerneth hym selfe folisshely and beleueth yuell counsayle Suche wordes were so multiplyed that the lorde Henry Percy and sir Henry his sonÌ„e spake certayne wordes whiche came to the kynges knowlege and to his counsayle and it was sayd to the kyng Sir the wordes ought nat to be suffred that the erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e hath spoken for it is to sette your subiettes agaiÌ„st you It must behoue you to correcte all these rebelles one after another wherby they that be greattest shall doute you and take ensample That is trewe quod the kyng but than what is beste to do Sir quod they they be nat here with you but they ought to come whan they become call them before you and than by the erle of Salisbury and by some other as it shall please you lette it be rehersed to them the yuell wordes that they haue spoken against you and your couÌ„sayle ThaÌ„ shall you here what answere they wyll make and thervpon ye maye taken aduyse wheder ye wyll correcte them by prison or other wyse Well sirs quod the kynge ye say well this shal be done The erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e had good frendes in that armye so that some of them knewe the kynges entent And they sent suche worde to the erle and to his sonne that they shulde natte come in the kynges preseÌ„ce nor to go in that iourney For they hadde worde that if they dyde it
howe the duke of Burgoyne had great desyre to cause the frenche kynge to make a iourney in to Englande Cap. xvii ¶ Howe by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt entred to 〈◊〉 with the duke of Buâ—goyne for peace howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what answere the duke gaue vnto them Ca. xviii ¶ Howe these two 〈…〉 burgesses assembled their frendes to acomplyâ—â—â— their enterprise and sent syr Iohan Delle 〈…〉 letters of peace Cap. â—ii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Delle came to Gaunt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the eytie were and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sente to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Capi. xx ¶ Howe sir Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and went to the erle of Foyzland the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi ¶ Howe the prince of Wales and the princesse came to Tarbe and of the request that the countesse of Armynake mad to the prince and princesse and howe the countrey of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap. xxii ¶ Of the warres that the duke of â—niou made agaynst the englysshe men and howe he recouered the Castell of Maluoysyn in Bygore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to the Erle of Foize Cap. xxiii ¶ Howe the garyson castell of Lourde was caste downe and discomfyted by the great dylygence that the erle of Foiz made Ca. xxiiii ¶ Howe the peace was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and the erle of foyz and of the begynnynge of the warre that was bytwene the erle of Foiz the erle of Armynake Ca. xxv ¶ Of the great vertuousnesse and larges that was in the erle of Foize and the maner of the pytuous dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Capi. xxvi ¶ Howe syr Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bysquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii ¶ Of the great soleÌ„pnyte that the erle of Foiz made at the fyest of saynte Nycholas and the tale that the â—â—stot of Manlyon shewed to sir Iohan Froâ—â—â—rt Cap. xxviii ¶ Howe dyuers capytayns englysshe and other were dyscomfyted before the Towne of Saxere by the frenche men Cap. xxix ¶ Howe a Squyer called Lymosyn tourned frenche and howe he caused Loyes Rambalt his coÌ„pany on in armes to be taken Ca. xxx ¶ Of the state or ordynauÌ„ce of the erle of Foiz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle dommage and outrage that was done therto Cap. xxxi ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle left the siege of â—â—â—bone and howe they of saynt prayne 〈…〉 selfe Cap. xxxii ¶ 〈…〉 batayle that was at 〈…〉 kinge of Castyle and kynge 〈◊〉 of Portugale Cap. xxxiii ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordred them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the frenche knyghtes and gascons suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloyes were slayne by their maysters and none escaped Cap. xxxv ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle all his great batayle were discomfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberothe Capi. xxxvi ¶ Howe a spiryte called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a longe tyme and brought him euer tidynges from all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretayne and howe that dyuers englyssh forâ—â—esses aboute the countrey of Tholous were recouered and tourned frenche Cap. xxxviii ¶ Howe the castelles of Conuall of Bygorâ— and of Nesuyll were taken all they 〈◊〉 taken slayne and hanged Cap. xxâ—◠¶ Howe the kinge of Cypres was slayn◠〈◊〉 murthered in his bedde by his owne broâ—â—â— by exortacyon and corruptyon of the in 〈…〉 for the bountye and hardynesse that 〈…〉 hym Cap. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony wa◠〈…〉 and howe .lx. M. turkes were 〈…〉 distroyed in the realme of Hungry Ca. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe pope Vrbane pope Clement were at gret discorde togyder and howe the cristen kynges were in varyaunce for their lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Cap. xlii ¶ Howe they of Portugale sent out messangers in to Englande to shewe tydynges of their countrey to the kynge of Englande and to the great lordes there Cap. xliii ¶ Howe Laurens Fongase ambassadour fro the kynge of Portugale in to Englande shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the discorde that was bytwene the realmes of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xliiii ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberothe bytwene the kynges of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xlv ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had aunswere of the kynge of Englande and great gyftes and howe they tooke their leaue and went into their countreys Cap. xlvi ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre assayled the lordes knightes and squyers that were in the bastydes before Brest in Bretayne and howe they defended them selfe Cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his hoost whasie they had soiourned a moneth at Colongne than they departed and rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Cap. xlviii ¶ Of the great apparell and prouyson that generally was made in the realme of Fraunce by the kynge there and by his counsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande and also of the deth of Fraunces Atreman Cap. lii ¶ Howe the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre whan he knewe that he was arryued at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the socours that the kynge of Castyle sent for into FrauÌ„ce and howe the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the Englysshe men Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„castres marshall and his men assayled the towne of Vieclope in Galyce whiche yelded by coÌ„posycion and of the ambassadours that the duke sent to the kynge of Portyngale Cap. li. ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded theym to the duke of Lancastre and howe the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and tâ—ke possessyon therof Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and the duchesse helde them at saynte Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frenche knyghtes gaue to the kynge of Castyle Cap. lxii ¶ Of the great apparell of shyppes and galeys that the Frenche men made on the see to passe in to Englande Cap. liii ¶ Howe the frenche kinge and his vncles arryued at Sluse in Flaunders Cap. liiii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge taryed at Sluse with his great hoost to the entent to entre in to Englande Cap. lv ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Caunterburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he atchyued great hate Cap. lv ¶ Howe the kynge of Armonye passed in to Englande in truste to fynde some meanes of peace or good appoyntment bytwene the kynge of Englande and the frenche kyng Cap. lvi ¶ Howe the kinge of Armony
Englande the good quene Phylyp whos seruaunt I was in myne yongth she was of ryghtfull gouernacyon cosyn germayne to the lorde Charles of Bloys she dyd put to her payne for his delyuerauce howbeit the counsayle of Englande wolde not that he sholde be delyuered the duke Henry of Lancastre sayd and other lordes of englande that yf he were out of pryson by hym myght be made many grete recoueraunces for the royalme of Fraunce for kynge Phylyp as then frensshe kyng was his vncles and they affyrmed that as longe as he were kepte in pryson theyr warre in to Fraunce sholde be the easyer howbeit for all those wordes that was shewed to the kynge by the good meanes of the noble and good quene he was set to his fynaunce to paye CC.M. nobles whiche was as then a grete some to be payde for lordes as then lyued in another maner theÌ„ they do nowe for as nowe men may pay more then theyr predecessours myght haue done for nowe they tayle theyr people at theyr pleasure and before they lyued but on theyr rentes and reuenues for as nowe the duchy of Bretayne wtin a yere or two is able to pay to helpe theyr lorde .ii. M. nobles or more The lorde Charles of Bloys layde to the kynge of Englande his .ii. sones in pledge for the sayd some afterwarde the lorde Charles of Bloys had so moche to do in pursuyng his warre for the duchy of Bretayne and to pay his souldyours and to kepe his estate alwayes hopynge to come to a good ende of his warre so that he was not able to quyte out his sones out of Englande for the holy man in pursuynge of his herytage dyed as a saynt in a batayle in Bretayne before aulroy by the ayde of the Englysshe men who were agaynst hym when he was deed yet the warre ended not but then kynge Charles of fraunce who in his lyfe doubted gretly the fortunes of the warres when he sawe that the erle Mountforde the Englysshe men seased not but styll wente forwarde wanne townes fortresses in Bretayne he fered that yf the erle Mountforde myght come to his entente of the duchy of Bretayne that he wolde not holde nor do homage to hym for he had promysed his alleageaunce to the kynge of englande who ayded alwaye hadde done to maynteyne his warre then he treted with the erle Mountforde his counsayle as it hath ben shewed here before wherfore I wyll speke no more therof but the erle of MouÌ„tforde abode as duke of Bretayne with that he sholde do homage and holde soueraynte or the crowne of fraunce and by the same trety the duke sholde ayde helpe to gete delyuered out of pryson in englande his .ii. cosyns sones to the lorde Charles of Bloys whiche artycle he neuer dyd accomplysshe for alwayes he doubted that yf they retourned they wolde put hym to some busynes for the duchy of Bretayne fered lest they of Bretayne wolde receyue them as theyr lordes for they more enclyned to theÌ„ then to hym wherfore he wolde not speke for theyr delyueraunce Thus these .ii. chyldren abode so longe in Englande in pryson somtyme in the kepynge of the lorde Roger Beawchamp and the lady Sybyll his wyfe and somtyme with syr Thomas Dambrychcourte on a tyme the yonger Guy of Bretayne dyed then IohnÌ„ of Bretayne abode styll in pryson alone he was often tymes sad of his beynge in pryson but he coulde not ameÌ„de it And often tymes when he remembred the losse of his yonge dayes as he that was of the moost noble generacyon of the worlde was lykely to lese he wolde often tymes wepe and wysshed hymselfe rather deed then a lyue for a .xxxv. yeres or theraboute he had ben in the daunger of his enemyes in Englande and coulde se noo maner of meanes of his delyueraunce for his frendes and kynne drewe of fro hym and the some that he laye for was so grete that he wyst not how it sholde be payde without god helped hym and the duke of Anioy for all his puyssaunce and prosperyte and that he had wedded his syster germayne by whom he had .ii. fayre sones Loys Charles for all this he dyd nothynge for hym Now shall I shew you howe this IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was delyuered ¶ Howe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sone to syr Charles of Bloys was delyuered out of pryson by the meanes of Olyuer of Clysson the constable of Fraunce Ca. lxxii IT hathe ben shewed here before in this hystory how the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ made a voyage thrughe the royalme of Fraunce came in to Bretayne the duke of Bretayne had desyred hym so to doo bycause parte of his countrey wolde not be vnder his obeysaunce there the erle of Buckyngham his company lay al yâ— wynter the begynnyng of somer 〈◊〉 in grete pouerte before Nantes Wennes tyll it was Maye then he retourned in to englande when the erle Thomas of Buckyngham his company laye before Wennes in lodgynges without There were dyuers skyrmysshes bytwene the englysshment frensshmen thyder came Olyuer ClyuÌ„on constabable of Fraunce to se the warre that was there made to speke with the englysshe knyghtes for he knewe them well for in his yongth he was brought vp amonge theÌ„ in Englande soo he made good company with them in diuers maners as noble men of armes wyll do eche to other as frensshmen and englysshmeÌ„ haue alwayes done as then he had good cause so to do for he entended a purpose whiche touched hym ryght nere but he wolde dyscouer his entente to noo man lyuynge but alonely to a squyer that was there who had alwayes before serued the lorde Charles of bloys for yf the constable had dyscouered his entente to ouy man he had ben out of all hope to haue sped brought aboute his purpose whiche by the grace of god he atteyned vnto The constable coulde in no wyse loue the duke of Bretayne nor he hym longe tyme or they shewed it And where as he sawe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne in pryson in englande he had therof grete pyte wheÌ„ he sawe the duke of Bretayne in possessyon of the herytage of Bretayne when he thought that he was in moost loue with the duke then he sayd syr why do ye not put to your payne that your cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bretayne were out of the kyng of Englandes pryson syr ye are bounde therto by othe promyse for syr when all the countrey of Bretayne was in treaty with you the prelates noble men good townes the cyte of Nantes Archebysshop of Reynes syr IohnÌ„ Craon syr Boncequalte as then marshall of fraunce â—reted with you for the peas before Compercorentync than there ye sware that ye sholde do your full puyssaunce to delyuer your cosynes out of pryson syr ye haue done nothynge in that matter Wherfore be you sure the countrey of Bretayne loueth you the lesse oweth you the
ben good lorde vnto me and I haue hadde moche profyte by hym who was nephewe and nexte to the erle Loys of Bloys broder germayne to saynt Charles of Bloys and as longe as he lyued he was duke of Bretayne Truely I saye not this for no cause but all onely to declare the trouthe And also the gentyll prynce and erle that hathe caused me to wryte this story wolde in no wyse that I sholde swarue from the trouth NOwe to retourne to our purpose ye knowe well as longe as duke Iohan of Bretayne lyued he coulde neuer attayne to haue all his men in euery poynte to agree to his oppynyons And he sore fered them lest at the last they sholde haue taken hym and put hym in pryson in Fraunce Wherfore he departed out of Bretayne and wente in to Englande with all his householde and the lady his wyfe Iahan of Holande doughter somtyme of the good knyght syr Thomas Holande and thus a season he became seruaunt to kynge Rycharde of Englande and afterwarde he wente in to Flaunders to the erle of Bloys who was his cosyn germayne there taryed more then a yere and an halfe ¶ Fynally they of his owne countrey sente for hym and soo by good accorde thyder he wente ¶ And when he came in to his countrey there were certayne townes closed styl agaynst hym and rebelled and specyally the cyte of Nauntes But all his lordes knyghtes and prelates were all of his accorde excepte the lordes before rehersed and to haue the sygnory of them and to gete the fauoure and good wyll of the good townes and Cytyes and to put the Frensshe kynge in more fere bycause he wolde ouerpresse them with taxes and subsydyes as they dyd in Fraunce and in Pycardye whiche they wolde not suffre in Bretayne Therfore he sente vnto the kynge of Englande for socoure and ayde of men of warre and archers promysynge that yf the kynge of Englande wolde come in too Bretayne or elles one of his vncles with a grete puyssaunce of men of armes and of archers howe that his countrey of Bretayne sholde be opened redy to receyue hym and his company ¶ The kynge of Englande and his counsayle were gladde of those tydynges thought them good and concluded to sende thyder theÌ„ prouysyon was made and thyder was sente the erle of Buckyngham with .iii. M. men of armes and .viii. M. archers who aryued at Calays and passed throughe the royalme of Fraunce without ony resystence as it hathe ben shewed here before demaundynge noo thynge but batayle and so they came in to Bretayne trustynge to haue founde the countrey redy open for them to receyue and to refresshe them for â—â—rely they had made a longe voyage Howbeit they founde it contrary dysposed for the duke of Bretayne was soo ledde by his men and so wysely entreated that they made a peas bytwene hym and the yonge Charles kynge as then in fraunce but with kynge Charles his fader he coulde neuer haue peas he hated hym soo sore The duke of Borgoyne who was one of the chese gouernours in the royalme of Fraunce ayded gretely to make this peas he was so desyred by the lady his wyfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was nere of theyr lygnage soo he was fayne to breke all his promyses with the Englysshmen for he coulde not be suffred to accomplysshe his couenaunt for the Bretons wolde not consent to yelde them to the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce they sayd they were neuer of that oppynyon nor neuer wolde be so that it behoued the Englysshmen to take theyr lodgynges in the marches of wannes where they suffered as moche pouerte as euer dyd men for one tyme and specyally theyr horses dyed for hungre and pouerte and soo in the tyme of somer they departed out of Bretayne as euyl contente with the duke of Bretayne as myght be and not without a cause And specyally the erle of Buckyngham and the barons of Englande that were in his company and when they were retourned in to Englande they made grete complayntes to the kynge and to the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle And then it was deuysed and ordeyned that IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sholde be delyuered and to brynge hym with puyssaunce in to Bretayne to make warre there agaynst the duke of Bretayne and the Englysshe men sayd howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde knewe well howe they had put hym in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne for without vs he hadde neuer come therto And nowe to play vs this tourne to cause vs to trauayle our bodyes and to spende the kynges treasoure it behoueth vs to shewe hym his fawtes And we can not better be reuenged then to delyuer his aduersary and to brynge hym in to Bretayne For all the countrey wyll delyuer hym townes Cytees and fortresses and put the other duke clene that thus hathe mocked and dysceyued vs. ¶ Thus the Englysshe counsayle were all of one accorde and then IohnÌ„ of bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and there it was shewed hym howe they wolde make hym duke of Bretayne and recouer for hym all his herytage of Bretayne And he sholde haue to his wyfe the lady Phylyp of Lancastre so that he wolde holde the duchy of Bretayne in fayth and homage of the kynge of Englande the whiche poynte he vtterly refused But to take the dukes doughter in maryage he was contente But to swere to be agaynst the crowne of fraunce in noo wyse he wolde consente but rather to abyde in pryson all his lyfe WHen the kynge and his counsayle sawe that they withdrewe the grace that they hadde thought to haue shewed to hym and thenne he was delyuered in to the kepynge of syr Iohan Dambretycourte as ye haue herde before I haue made as nowe relacyon of all these matters bycause of the incydentes that folowed after and appered by the duke of Bretayne for the duke knewe well howe he was gretely out of the fauoure of the noble men of the royalme of Englande and also of the comons there And he ymagened that the hatred that they bare to hym was for the voyage that the erle of Buckyngham hadde made thrughe Fraunce to come in to Bretayne wenynge to haue founde the duke there and countrey open agaynst them as the duke of Bretayne hadde promysed whiche the Englysshe men founde contrary ¶ Also he sawe well howe the kynge of Englande hadde not wryten vnto hym soo amyably as he hadde done often tymes before And specyally as he hadde done before the erle of Buckynghams voyage ¶ And also he doubted that the kynge of Englande sholde delyuer Iohan of Bretayne to the entente to make hym warre ¶ Thenne the duke cast his ymagynacyon how he myght fynde remedy in this matter and to brynge it in to a good poynte And to doo his entente soo secretly that the Englysshe men sholde be well content and pleased with hym For he knewe well the man in the
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌ„ded what mater was that I shall shewe you quod the other knyght for I was there present There was wyne brought on a day into the princes Chambre where as there were many lordes of Englande with hym whan the prince had dronke bicause sir IohnÌ„ Chandos was constable of Acquitayne the prince sente hym his cuppe first to drinke and he toke the cuppe and dranke and made therof none offre firste to the Erle of Oxenforde who was father to this duke of IrelaÌ„de and after that sir Iohan Chandos had dronke a squyer bare the cuppe to the Erle who hadde suche dispyte that sir Iohan Chandos hadde droÌ„ke before hym that he refused the cuppe wolde nat drinke and sayde to the squyer in maner of a mocke Go to thy mayster Chandos and bydde hym drinke Shall I go said the squyer he hath dronke all redy Therfore drinke you sythe he hath offred it to you if ye wyll nat drinke by saynt George I shall cast the drinke in your face Th erle whan he herd that douted that the Squyer wolde do as he sayde and so toke the cuppe and sette it to his mouthe and dranke or at leest made semblant to drinke And sir Iohan Chandos who was nat farre thens sawe well all the mater and helde hym styll tyll the prince was gone from them Than he came to the Erle and sayde Sir Aubery are ye displeased in that I dranke before you I am Constable of this countrey I maye well drinke before you sythe my lorde the Prince and other lordes here are coÌ„tente therwith It is of trouthe ye were at the batayle of Poycters but suche as were there knoweth nat so well as I what ye dyd theâ— I shall declare it ¶ Whanne that my lorde the Prince hadde made his voyage in Languedocke and Carcassone to Narbone and was retourned hyther to this towne of Bourdeaux ye toke on you to go in to Englande What the Kynge sayde to you at your coÌ„mynge I knowe right well yet I was nat there He demaunded of you if ye hadde furnysshed your voyage and what ye had done with his sonne the Prince ye aunswered howe ye had lefte hym in good helth at Bourdeaux Than the kynge sayde What and howe durste ye be so bolde to retourne without hym I commauÌ„ded you and all other whan ye departed that ye shulde nat retourne without hym on payne of all that ye myght forfayte And you this to retourne I straitly commaunde you that within four dayes ye auoyde my realme and retourne agayne to hym For and I fynde you within this my realme the fifth day ye shall lese your lyfe and all your herytage for euer And ye feared the kynges wordes as it was reason and so auoyded the realme and so your adueÌ„ture and fortune was good for truely ye were with my lorde the prince a foure dayes before the batayle of Poicters And so ye hadde the day of the batayle fourtie speares vnder your charge and I had threfore Nowe ye mayese wheder I ought to drinke before you or nat syth I am constable of â— equytaygne The erle of Orenforde was a shamed and wolde gladlye he hadde ben thens at that tyme but he was fayne to suffre and to here those wordes This sir Iohan Chandos sayde to hym in opyn presence Therfore it is nat to be marueyled thoughe this duke of Irelande who is sonne to the sayd erle of Oxenforde be disdaynfull in folowynge the steppes of his father For he taketh vpon hym to rule all Englande aboue the kynges vncles Well quod some other why shulde he nat sythe the kyng wyll haue it so THus the people in the Realme murmured in dyuers places agaynst the duke of Irelande And he dyde one thyng that greatly abated his honour that was he had firste to his wyfe the doughter of the lorde of Coucy the lady Isabell who was a fayre Lady and a good and of more noble blode than he is of But he fell in loue with another damosell of the quenes of Englande an Almaygne borne and dyde so moche with pope Vrbayne at Rome that he was deuorsed fro the doughter of the lorde Coucy without any tytell of reason but by presumpcion and for his synguler appetyte and than wedded the quenes mayde and kynge Rycharde conseÌ„ted there to he was so blynded with this duke of Irelande that if he had sayd sir this is whyte tho it had ben blacke the kyng wolde nat haue sayd the contrarye This dukes mother was greatly displeased with him for that dede and toke in to her coÌ„pany his first wyfe the lady of Coucy The duke dyde yuell and therfore at length yuell came to hym and this was the first princypall cause that he was behated for in Englande euery thyng that turneth to yuell must haue a begynning of yuell This duke of Irelande trusted so moche in the grace and fauour of the kyng that he beleued that no man shulde trouble hym And it was a coÌ„mon renome through EnglaÌ„de that theâ— shulde be a newe taxe raysed through the realme that euery fyre shulde paye a noble and the riche to beare out the poore The kynges vncles knewe well it wolde be a harde mater to bringe about And they had caused certayne wordes to be sowen abrode in the cyties and good townes of Englande as to saye howe the people of Englande were sore greued with tares and talenges and howe there was great rychesse raysed and that the common people wolde haue accomptes of the gouernours therof as the archebysshop of yorke the duke of Irelande sir Symon Burle sir Mychaell de la Pole sir Nycholas BraÌ„ble sir Robert Tryâ—â—lyen ser Peter Golouser sir Iohan Salisbury sir Iohan Beauchampe and the maisters of the Staple of the wolles The commons sayd that if they wolde make a trewe accoÌ„pte there shulde be founde golde and syluer suffycient without raysing of any newe subsydies It is a common vsage none is gladde to pay money nor to opyn their purses if they may lette it THis brute and noyse spredde so a brode in Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is chyefe cytie in the realme that all the coÌ„mons rose and sayde howe they wolde knowe howe the realme was gouerned sayenge howe it was longe syth any accompte was made Firste these londoners drewe theym to syr Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucestre thoughe he were yonger brother than sir Edmonde duke of yorke The common people reputed the duke of Glocestre for a valyant and a sage discrete parson And whan they came before hym they sayde Syr the good cytie of London recoÌ„maundeth them to you and all the people ingenerall requireth you to take vpon you the gouernynge of the realme For they knowe well it is nat vnknowen to you howe the kynge and the realme is gouerned The coÌ„mon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
remedy that other Realmes shulde take ensample by his realme NOwe sirs I reporte me if I haue nat good cause to saye the the realme of Englande in this season was in great paryll and aduenture to haue ben lost without recouery For the kynge was moued agaynst his vncles and agaynst a great parte of all the great lordes of the realme and they agaynst hym And the cytes and good townes one against another And the prelates hadde great indignacyon one agaynst another so that none coude remedy it but alonely god Whan the duke of Irelande sawe that he had the agrement of the kyng and of the moost ê‘te of theÌ„ of the couÌ„trey of Wales than he came to the kyng sayd sir if ye wyll instytute make me your lieutenaunt I shall take a .xii. or a fyftene thousaÌ„de men with me and go to the marchesse of London or to Oxenforde your cyte and myne and there we wyll shewe our puyssaunce agaynst these Londoners your vncles who haue so great indignacyon agaynst you They haue putte to dethe some of your counsayle And sir outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse we shall bringe them to reason The kynge sayde he was content Sayeng I wyll and ordayne you to be the cheife souerayne of my Realme and to reyse vp men where ye can gette theym and leade them wheder ye thynke best to augment our sygnorie and realme And to the entent that euery man shall clerely se that the hoole Realme parteyneth to me I wyll that ye beare with you my banners and standerdes and other abylmetes of warre suche as I wolde beare my selfe in batayle And I thynke that if the people se my banners displayed they shall take corage and hardynesse to susteyne my quarell And I wyll ye punysshe suche rebelles as wyll nat obey you in suche wyse as all other maye take ensample by them I beleue all suche as shall se my banners waue in the wynde shall put them selfe vnder them and shal be afrayde to disobey our coÌ„mauÌ„dement These wordes greatly reioysed the duke of Irelande ¶ oHwe the kyng of Englande made his soÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe sir Robert Tryuylyen was taken at westmynster and beheeded by the commaundement of the kynges vncles Capi. xcvi THe kyng made his assemble in the countrey of Wales and about the froÌ„ters of Bristowe a longe the ryuer of Syuerne Dyuers lordes and knightes were sende for some excused them selfe laufully and some came at the kynges commauÌ„dement howe be it they douted leste great yuell shulde come of that enterprice In this meane season the kynge and the duke of Irelande had a secrete counsayle bytwene them and determyned to seÌ„de some of their men in to the marchesse of London to se and to knowe howe the kynges vncles dyd and what they purposed to do they studyed whome they myght sende in that busynesse to knowe the trouthe than a knyght cosyn to the duke of Irelande and of his couÌ„sayle called sir Robert Tryuilyen sayd sir ye make doute whome to sende that is trusty to London For the loue of you I shall take on me to do that iourney wherof the Duke thanked hym and lykewise so dyde the kyng Therwith this sir Robert Tryuilyen departed from Bristowe disguysed in maner of a poore marchaunt vpon a lytell Nagge and so came to London and tooke his lodgynge where he was vnknowen so taryed there a certayne space and lerned what he coulde At last he vnderstode that the kynges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande wolde kepe a secrete Parlyament at Westmynster wherfore he thought to go and lye there to lerne what shulde be doone there And so he came and lodged at Westmynster the same daye that their counsaile began and lodged in an alâ—house right ouer agaynst the palys gate and there he was in a chambre lokyng out at a wyndowe downe in to the courte there he myght se them that went in and out to the couÌ„saile and he knewe nerehaÌ„de euery man but none knewe hym bycause of his apparel At last on a day asquyer of the duke of Gloucesters knewe hym for he had often tymes ben in his coÌ„pany And assone as sir Robert Triuylien sawe him he knewe him well and withdrewe hym selfe out of the wyndowe The squyer had suspecious therof and sayd to hym selfe Me thynke I se yonder sir Robert Triuylen and to th entent to knowe the trouthe he entred in to the lodgyng and said to the wife Dame who is that that is aboue in the chambre is he alone or with coÌ„pany Sir quod she I can nat shewe you but he hath been here a longe space Therwith the squier went vp the better to aduyse hym and saluted hym and sawe well it was true but he fayned hymselfe and tourned his tale and sayde God saue you good man I pray you be nat myscontented for I toke you for a farmour of myne in Essere for ye are lyke hym Sir quod he I am of Kente and a farmour of sir Iohan of Hollandes and there be men of the bysshop of CauÌ„terburyes that wolde do me wrong and I am come hyther to complayne to the couÌ„sayle Well quod the squier if ye come in to the palys I wyll helpe to make your waye that ye shall speke with the lordes of the counsayle Sir I thanke your ê™ he and I shall nat refuce your ayde THan the squyer called for a potte of ale and dranke with him and payed for it and badde hym farwell and departed and neuer seased tyll he came to the couÌ„sayle chambre dore and called the vssher to open the dore Than the vssher demauÌ„ded what he wolde bycause the lordes were in counsayle He answered and sayd I wolde speke with my lorde and mayster the duke of Gloucester for a mater that ryght nere toucheth hym and all the counsayle Thanne the vssher let hym in and whan he came before his mayster he sayde Sir I haue brought you great tidynges What be they quod the duke Sir quod the squyer I wyll speke a loude for it toucheth you and all my lordes here present I haue sene sir Robert Triuylyen disguysed in a vyllayns habytte in an alehouse here without the gate Triuylien quod the duke yea truely sir quod the squier ye shall haue hym or ye go to dyner if you please I am contente quod the duke and he shall shewe vs some newes of his mayster the duke of Irelande Go thy waye fetche hym but loke that thou be stronge ynoughe so to do that thou fayle nat The squier went forthe and toke foure sergiauntes with hym and sayd Sirs folowe me a farre of and as soone as I make to you a sygne and that I laye my hande on a man that I go for Take hym and lette hym nat escape Therwith the squyer entredde in to the house where Tryuylien was and went vp in to the chambre and as soone as he sawe hym he sayd Triuylien ye
departed fro the cytie of Tholous with a fyue hundred horse and rode so longe that he came to Tarbe in Bygore and fro thence to Morloys in Bierne And the erle of Foiz who was signyfied of his comyng was ioyfull and coÌ„maunded all his offycers that the towne of Ortays shulde be well aparelled to receyue him for he sayd the marshals comynge pleased hym ryght well lodgynges for his men were made redy and the erle rode out in to the feldes to mete with hym and mothan thre hundred horses and there receyued hym with good chere And he was at Ortays a syre dayes and the marshall sayd to the erle howe the frenche kynge had great affection to se the countrey of Languedoc and to se hym Than the erle aunswered and sayd Syr the kynge shall be ryght welcome and gladde I wolde be to se hym yea but sir quod the marshall it is the kynges entension at his comyng playnely to knowe whether ye wyll holde you frenche or englissh for alwayes ye haue dissymuled out the warre for ye wolde neuer arme you for no desyre A sir quod the erle I thanke you in that ye haue shewed me somoche For syr though I wolde neuer arme me nor take no parte there hath been good cause why As for the warre bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce I haue nothynge to do therwith I holde my countrey of Bierne of no man but of good and the sworde What haue I to do to put my selfe in seruytude or in dyspleasure of one kynge or other yet I knowe well myne aduersaryes of Armynake haue done that in them is to bring me in the indyngnacion of bothe partyes for or the prince of Wales wente in to Spayne by the informacyon of the erle of Armynake the prince wolde haue made me warre he was so sore moued therto that he had done so and sir Iohan Chandos had nat broken his purpose but I thanke god alwayes I haue borne my selfe as mekely and as curteyssy as I coulde and shall do as longe as I lyue and whan I am deed let the maters go as they wyll Thus the erle of Foyze and the marshall passed the tyme togyder And at their departure the erle gaue hym a fayre courser a fayre mule and a nother good horse all thre togyther rychely sadylled and aparelled And he gaue to syr Roberte of Challus and to syr Rycharde Dolphyn to eche of them two huÌ„dred frankes and to fyue other squyers to eche of them fifty frankes Than the marshall toke leaue to departe to Tholous And I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme and wolde haue departed fro Ortays with hym but the Erle of Foyze wolde nat suffre me and sayd I shulde nat as than departe So it behoued me to byde his pleasure Sir Loys departed fro Ortays and rode to Tarbe and the lorde Dolphyn of Bygore conueyed him and sir Peter of Calestan one of the erle of Foiz knyghtes ABoute the same season there was at Burdeaux a dede of armes done before the duke of Lancastre by fyue englisshmen of his owne house and fyue frenche menne some of theym were of the marshall of Fraunce house Fyrst by ser Pecton Dallagnie a gascone englyssh agaynst sir Mores Mannigmente frenche Seconde bytwene sir Aragon Raymon englysshe agaynst the bastarde of Chauigny Frenche The thyrde bytwene Loys Malapus capytayne of Agremortes frenche agaynst Iaquemyn Corne de Cerfe englysshe Fourthe bytwene Archambalte de Villyers frenche and the sonne of the lorde of Chaumonte gascone englysshe The fyfte by Willyam Foucalt frenche against the brother of the lorde of Chaumont englysshe And to se these armes acomplysshed dyuers knyghtes and squiers of Bierne of therle of Foiz house toke their way towarde Burdeaux I wente with them in company bytwene Ortars and Burdeaux is but .xxiiii. myle There we sawe the sayde armes done before saynte Andrews in the presence of the duke of Lancastre and the duches their doughter and other ladyes and damosels of the couÌ„trey These knightes were nat all armed at ones but euery man by hym selfe with his felowe aparte their armes were thre courses with a speare thre strokes with a sworde thre with an are and thre with a dagger and all a horsehacke And this they dyd in thre dayes and none of all tenne hurte but sir Raymon slewe the bastardes horse wherwith the duke of Lancastre was sore dysplesed and blamed greatly the knight bicause he bare his staffe so lowe and the duke gaue the bastarde one of his horses Whan this was accomplysshed euery man deê‘ted to their owne houses AN one after the duchesse of Lancastre ordayned to goo in to Castyle and to leade with her Katheryne her doughter who shulde haue in maryage the kynge of Castyls sonne And the duchesse entente was fyrste or she wolde entre in to Castyle to go to Mantuell where somtyme was the batayle bytwene kynge don Peter her father agaynste kynge Henry of Castyle and of sir Bertram of Clesquyn And there she purposed to make iuste enquiry where the kynge her father lay buryed and to dygge vp his bones and to haue them to the cytie of Cyuill and there to bury theym agayne rychly as it appertayned to a kynge In the begynnynge of Marche whanne the sonne beganne to mount and the dayes to encrease than the duches of Lancastre was redy with her doughter and so departed fro Burdeaux and went to Bayon and there the duke of Lancastre toke leaue of her and he retourned to Burdeaux And the ladyes rode forthe to Dape and there she was well receyued for the cyte of Dape was vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande There she rested two dayes and than passed throughe the countrey of Basquence and passed by the passe of Rouceualx and entred in to Nauerre and came to Panpilona and there founde the kyng of Nauer and the quene who receyued the duchesse honourably The quene of Nauer was suster to the kynge of Castyle The duches and her doughter were a monethe passynge throughe the realme of Nauer for they taryed with the Kynge and with the quene a certayne space and their costes and charges were borne and payed for Than they entred in to Spaygne and at the entre of the realme they founde of the kynge of Castyls seruauntes redy there to receyue theym acordynge as they were commaunded And than the yonge prince was called prince of Galyce ¶ Howe the duches of Lancastre departed fro the kynge of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to brynge her fathers bones to Ciuyll and howe the frenche kynge sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the maryage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with the doughter of the erle of Boloyne Cap. C.lv. WHan all these matters were renewed and the maryage confyrmed than the duchesse of Lancastre lefte her doughter with the king with her yonge husbande that shulde mary her who was of the age of eight yeres the duches toke leaue
deê‘ted fro Lunell he went to dyner to Moutpellyer it was but thre lytell myles There he was receyued of the burgesses ladyes and damoselles of the towne for they greatly desyred to se the kynge and many riche presentes were gyuen to hym for MouÌ„tpellyer is a puissaunt towne ryche full of marchandise The kynge praysed the towne moche and well consydred their puissauÌ„ce And it was shewed the kyng that the towne hadde ben moche richer before thanne it was at that presente tyme For the duke of Aniou and the duke of Berrey eche of them in their tourne hadde greatlye pylled them The kyng was sorie that the good people had endured so moche doÌ„mage and sayd how he wolde reforme the countre in to a better state Than it was shewed the kynge that the pouertie of that towne was nothyng to that he shulde fynde forwarde For that towne of it selfe hath good meanes of recouerauÌ„ce by reson of the marchandise that is there vsed bothe by lande and by see But in the marchesse of Carcassone Tholous therabout where as the said two dukes had the gouernaunce Loke on what thyng they had puyssaunce to laye on their handes there was nothyng left but all taken away For ye shall fynde the people there so poore that suche as were wont to be riche and puissaunt nowe they are scant able to labour their vynes nor landes It is a great pyte to se them their wyues and chyldren for they haue had euery yere fyue or sixe tayles layde on their shulders and are rauÌ„somed to the thirde or fourthe parte of their substaunce somtyme to all toguyder One tayle coude nat be payde but that another was redy in the necke therof for ser as it is well knowen these two dukes your vncles while they ruled in LaÌ„guedocke they haue leuyed in the countrey fro Vyle Neufe in to Tholousyn rounde about to the ryuer of Garon and retournyng to the ryuer of Dordone the soÌ„me of .xxx. hundred thousande frankes And specially sythe the duke of Aniou departed the duke of Berrey hath done the more doÌ„mage for he founde the playne countrey and coÌ„montie in good case for the duke of Aniou tooke but of the ryche men who had wherwith to paye But the duke of Berrey spared nother poore nor riche for he gadered all before him specially by one of his counsayle his treasourer named Betysache who is of the nacyon of the cytie of Besyers As ye shall here by the complayntes of the people that wyll crye out on hym To these wordes the kyng said As god haue my soule I shall prouyde for this mater or I retourne I shall punisshe the trespasours For I shall make an inquysycion of the seruantes and oâ—nycers of myne vncles suche as had ruled here before in the parcies of Languedocke and suche as haue deserued shal be corrected The kynge taryed at Mount pellyer the space of .xii. dayes for the order of the towne and the pastyme of ladyes and damoselles suche as he fouÌ„de there pleased hym greatly To saye trouthe the kynge as at that tyme was in his lusty youthe and lyght quycke of spyrite He daunsed and caroled amonge the frysco ladyes and damoselles of the towne somtyme all nyght And gaue and made bankettes and suppers largely and wolde gyue to the ladyes and damosels rynges of golde and chaynes to them that he reputed worthy The kynge dyde so moche that he had great laude and prayse And some of them wolde that he had taryed there lengar than he dyd for he kepte reuell daunsyng and solas and euery day it was newe to begyn ¶ ye haue herde oftentymes said howe the sporte of ladies and damosels encorageth the hertes of yonge lusty gentylmen and causeth them to desyre and to seke to gette honour I say this bycause with the kyng there was thre gentylmen of highe enterprice and of great valure and that they well shewed as ye shall here Fyrst there was the yonge sir Boucequant the other sir Raynold of Roy and the thirde the lorde of saynt Pye These thre knyghtes were chamberleyns with the kyng and well beloued with him for they were well worthy They were fresshe and serued hym well in armes and in all other maters These thre beyng at Mountpellier among the ladyes damosels they toke on them to do armes the next somer after And as I was enformed the priÌ„cipall cause that enclyned theÌ„ therto was as I shall shewe you ye knowe well as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystorie howe that in the dayes of kyng Charles there was an Englysshe knyght called sir Peter Courtney a valyaunt knight in armes caÌ„e out of Englande in to FrauÌ„ce to Paris and demauÌ„ded to do armes with sir Guy of Tremoyle in the presence of the kyng or of suche as wolde se them sir Guy wolde nat refuce his offre and in the presence of the kyng and of other lordes they were armed on a daye ran toguyder one course And than the kyng wolde nat suffre them to ryn agayne toguyder wherwith theÌ„glyss he knyght was right yuell content For as he shewed he wolde haue furnysshed his chalenge to the vttraunce but he was apeased with fayre wordê and it was sayde to hym that he had done ynough he ought to be content therwith The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne gaue hym fayre gyftes and presentes Than he retourned agayne towardes Calays And the lorde of Clary who was a friscay and a lusty knyght was charged to conuey hym They rode so longe toguyder that they came to Lucynen where as the countesse of saynt Poule laye suster to kynge Richarde of Englande The lady was ioyfull of the coÌ„mynge thyder of sir Peter Courtney for she hadde maryed fyrste his cosyn the lorde of Courtney but he dyed yonge and after she maryed the erle of saynt Poule The Englisshe men called her madame Courtney and nat Countesse of saynt Poule ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Peter Courteney came in to Fraunce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle And howe the lorde of Clary coÌ„ueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calais Cap. C.lxi. THus as sir Peter of Courtney and the lorde of Clary were at Lucenen in Arthoys with the couÌ„tesse of saynt Paule who was right ioyouse of their commynge And as they deuysed of many thynges the countesse demaunded of sir Peter Courtney what he thought of the state of Fraunce He aunswered and sayd Certaynly madame the states of FrauÌ„ce are well and goodly serued we can nat be so serued in our countrey Sir quod the lady Do the lordes of Fraunce and the maner there contente you Haue they nat made you good chere Surely madame quod he their there contenteth me passynglye well but in the case that I passed the See for they haue but easely acquyted me therin And madame I wyll ye knowe that if the lorde of Clary here present hadde come
and passed this transitory lyfe The next day whan it was knowen that the erle of Armynake was deed in Alexaunder in his bedde syr Iaques of Bierne wolde nat that his dethe shulde be vnknowen but caused it to be publysshed in the hoost by suche prisoners as he had to se what his enemyes wolde do They of the host were sore dyscomfyted as they well shewed for as than they had no capitayne to drawe vnto for they were but companyons gadred of all partes Than they sayd let vs returne and saue our selfe for we haue lost our tyme. Anon it was knowen in the Cytie howe the armynois were discōfyted and had no capytayne than they armed them and issued out a horsebacke and a foote and set on the hoost cryenge Pauy for the lorde of Myllayne There they were taken and slayne without defence The conquest and botye was great with the companyons that were come thyder with syr Iaques of Bierne the Armynage is yelded them selfe without defence and cast away armure and sledde and were chased lyke beastes Lo what a harde aduenture therle of Armynake and his company bad and where as his entente was to do well it tourned hym to great yuell If he had lyued fyue dayes lenger syr Iohan Acton had come to hym with fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigandyns a foote wherby he myght haue done many feates of armes and all lost by harde aduenture WHan the duke of Myllayn knewe the trouth that his enemyes were slayne and taken and specyally the erle of Armynake slayne he was ioyfull therof and loued syr Iaques de Bierne the better in his herte and made hym soueraygne ouer all his chyualry and made him chefe of his coūsayle The duke of Myllayne to auoyde his countrey of his enemyes gaue to euery prysoner that was a gentylman a horse and to euery other man a florayne and quyted them clene of their raunsomes but at their departynge he caused them to swere that they shulde neuer after arme them agaynst hym Thus these companions departed out of Lombardy and Piemount and entred in to Sauoy and in to the dolpheny and had suche pouertie that it was marueyle for as they passed euery towne was closed agaynst theym Anone euery man had spent his florayn some had pytie of them and dyd gyue them almes for charite and some rebuked and mocked them sayenge Go your wayes seke out your erle of Armynake who is drinkynge at a well before Alexaundre yet they were in more myschiefe whan they came to the ryuer of Rone they had thought lightly to haue passed ouer in to the realme of Fraūce but they dyd nat for the frenche kynge hadde cōmaunded all the passages to be closed and kept agaynst them wherby they fell in great daunger and pouertie After that they coulde neuer assemble togyther agayne Thus the yonge erle of Armynakes army brake a sonder his suster abode styll in as yuell case as she was in before Than the duke of Myllayne sent for a bysshop of his coūtrey and for suche as were most next to the erle of Armynake as had ben there with hym at that iourney and the duke cōmaunded that therles body shulde be baumed and sente to his brother syr Barnarde who was ryght sorowfull of those tydynges and good cause why but there was no remedy Than the erle of Armynake was buryed in the cathedrall churche of Rodays and there he lyeth IT ought to be knowen as it hath ben contayned here before in this history how syr Thomas Percy was sent by kyng Rycharde of Englande in to the realme of Fraūce and shewed well howe he had gret affectyon to haue a ferme peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce and specyally two of the kynge of Englandes vncles as the duke of Lancastre and the duke Edmonde of yorke but the kynges other vncle the duke of Glocestre and constable of Englande wolde in no wyse acorde to haue any peace with the french men without it were to the kynges honoure and theirs and that there myght be rendred agayne all suche cyties townes castels landes and sygnories whiche had been gyuen to the kynge of Englande and to his heyres whiche falsely had ben taken away by the frenchmen without tytell or reasone and besyde that the sōme of four thousande frankes whiche was owyng whan the frenchmen began the warre agayne And of this opynyon was dyuers lordes of Englande sayenge that to the dethe they wolde iustifye the same Many sayd that the duke of Glocestre had good ryght and reason to sustayne that opinyon but they dissymuled the mater couertely bycause they sawe the kynges mynde and affection enclyned greatly to haue peace But the poore knightes and squyers and archers of England rather enclyned to haue warre suche as had susteyned there estates by reason of the warre Consydre well than howe peace loue or acorde might be had bytwene these parties for the frenche men in their treatie demaunded to haue Ealays beaten downe to haue the sygnorie of Guysnes Hammes Marke and Dye all the landes of Froyton and the dependantes of Guysnes vnto the lymyttes of the water of Grauelyng and the frenche kynge offred to delyuer to the crowne of Englāde as moch landes in values in Acquytayn against whiche artycle that duke of Gloucestre helde and said The frenchmen wyll paye vs with our owne for they knowe well ynough howe we haue charters sealed by kynge Iohan all his chyldren that all hole Acquytayn shulde haue been delyuered to vs without any resorte or soueraynte to any man and all that euer they haue doone sythe hath ben by fraude and false engyn and nyght and day entende to no other thyng but to disceyue vs for if Calays and suche landes as they demaunde were delyuered in to their handes they shulde be lordes of all the see coste and than all our conquestes were as nothynge I shall rather neuer agree to peace as long as I lyue ⸫ ⸫ ¶ How syr Peter of Craon fell in the french kynges displeasure and in the duke of Thourayns after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii IN this said seasō there was a knyght of Fraunce of the countrey of Aniou a gentle knight and of noble extraction called syr Pyer of Craon marucylously well beloued and specially with the duke of Thourayne for aboute the duke no thynge was doone but by hym Also this knyght helde a gret astate about the duke of Aniou who was called kynge of Naples Cicyll Iherusalem and also he was ryche Asclaunder was brought vp on hym through the realme of Fraūce howe he had robbed the yonge kynge of Cycyll duke of Aniou for the whiche brute the sayd sir Peter absented him selfe fro the yonge kynge and fro his mather who had ben wyfe to the olde duke of Aniou howe be it he delte so that he was welbeloued with the frenche kynge and with his brother the duke of Thourayne Also the same
the same opynion that the coÌ„mons were of in Englande and enclyned rather to the warre than to peace to the entent therby to susteyne their estate By the occasion therof the peace was the harder to driue yet the kynge the duke of Lancastre wolde fayne haue hadde peace for by their meanes that metynge at AmyeÌ„ce was apoynted howbeit they wolde nat displease the coÌ„mens of Englande The Englysshe men wolde gladlye haue hadde a peace so they myght be restored agayne to al suche landes as was agreed on at the treaty before Charters and that the Frenche men shulde paye fourtene hundred thousande fraÌ„kes whiche was vnpayed whan the warre began to renewe IN this season thus great coÌ„munycacion there was at the cytie of Amyence on treatie of peace and the lordes that were there on bothe parties toke great payne in the cause It myght well be marueyled why this peace toke none effecte for specialy the duke of Burgoyne dyd what he coude for the Frenche partie and the duke of Lancastre for the Englysshe partie Sauyng the charge that he had whiche he durst nat passe Whan these lordes sawe that they coulde come to no good conclusyon than the frenchemen somwhat to apease and to please the englysshmen and the rather therby to fall to some reason it was offred to them to enjoy styll peasably all that euer they were as than in possessyon of in Acquytayne and nyne dyoces to be quite delyuered without any resorte so that Calays myght be beaten downe And also they offred to paye in thre yere after the somme of .xiiii. hundred thousande frankes Than the duke of Lancastre and the englyssh counsayle answered and sayd Syrs we haue taried here a longe season and haue concluded nothyng nor we canne nat conclude tyll we be retourned in to Englande and than we shall shewe all your desyres and offers to the kyng our souerayne lorde and to the thre estates of the realme and of one thinge be you sure that as moch dyligence as I my brother of yorke can do shall be doone to bringe your desyre to passe except the beatyng downe of Calays we dare nat speke therof for if we dyd we shulde ryn in the indygnacyon and hatred of the most parte of all the realme of Englande and yet were we better to speke no worde therof these wordes somwhat contented the french kynge and his couÌ„sayle and desyred them that whan they were returned into England to do their dyligence in the mater they said they wolde do what they coude for the frenche party sayeng howe the warre had endured ouer longe and many yuell inconuenyentes hath ensued therby in the worlde than it was considred bytwene the parties bycause the truce fayled the next mydsomer after bytwene Englande and Fraunce to contynue it lengar the space of an hole yere bothe by lande and by see bytwene them their alyes and adherentes and therto the lordes of Englande were agreed Than the frenche kynges counsayle desyred to sende two french knightes to go with them into Englande and at their retourne to bringe worde what case they shulde fynde the realme of Englande in The duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke were contente therwith It was shewed me and also the apparaunce was great howe that the frenche kynge desyred greatly to haue peace for as than great brute ranne through Fraunce and other places howe that Lamâ—rabaquyn was entred with great puissaunce of turkes in to the realme of Hungry syr Boucyquant thelder marshall of Fraunce brought those newes and syr Iohan of Charon who were newely retourned fro the partyes of Grece and Turkey wherfore the frenche kynge in his youthe had great affectyon to go in voyage and to go and se the sayd Lamorabaquyn and to recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes had wonne fro the kynge Lyon of Armony who was the same tyme at Amyence and he shewed the cause of his comynge thyder to the duke of Lancastre and to the duke of yorke They knewe hym well for they had sene him before in the realme of Englande He was in Englande to treate for the peace whan the frenche kynge was at Sluse And consyderynge the kynge of Armonyes busynesse at the ende of their parlyamente the frenche kynge sayde to the duke of Lancastre Fayre nephewe if peace maye be had bytwene vs and the kynge of Englande we might than make a voyage in to Tukey comfortyng the kynge of Hungry and the emperour of Constantynople whome Lamorabaquyn dothe moche trouble and let vs recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes kepe We here saye that Lamorabaquyn is a valyaunt man and of great enterprise and agaynst suche persones as are contrary to our beleue and daily dothe trouble and greue vs we ought to enclyne our selfe to defende our crysten faythe wherfore fayre nephewe helpe you to prouyde for this voyage in the realme of Englande The duke of Lancastre promysed to do his deuoyre in that behalfe Thus they toke leaue eche of other THis counsayle at Amyence endured a fyftene dayes than the Englysshe men departed and had with them in writyng the coÌ„clusion of their treatie to shewe to the kynge of Englande and his counsayle Than the duchesse of Irelande departed fro AmyeÌ„ce and toke leaue of her father the lorde of Coucy and retourned with the englysshe lordes And fro that tyme that they departed fro Calais tyll they came thyder agayne they spent nothyng without they lyst for the french kynge made euery thynge to be payed bothe for them selfe and for their horses The duke of Burgoyne than retourned into Archoys to the cytie of Arras and there he founde the duchesse his wyfe who had vysited the countrey of Flaunders The duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey and the duke of Butbone taryed with the kynge and the kinge purposed to go to Beamoys to Gysors to sporte hym there in the waye to Parys With the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke certayne knightes of Fraunce wente in to Englande as syr Iohan of Castell Morante sir Taupyns of Cantmell to bringe aunswere agayne out of England and sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Moncaurell and the lorde of the olde towne conueyed them to Calays and than toke their leaue and the englysshe men passed ouer the see to Deuer and there founde the kynge and the duke of Glocestre taryeng for them Whan the kyng sawe them he had great comunynge with them of the sâ—ate of the parlyamente of Amyence The kynge was well content with that his vncles had done but than the duke of Glocestre who was alwayes harde agaynst the treatie of peace sayd howe there coulde no good conclusyon be taken in this treatye tyll the mater were brought to Westmynster to a generall counsayle of all the thre astates of the realme and than to folowe their aduyses and none otherwyse The duke of Glocesters wordes were well herde no manne wolde saye agaynst hym
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌ„ce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌ„mage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌ„stable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌ„e inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌ„mage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌ„tage and make good prouisyon for theÌ„ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌ„e we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌ„e I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌ„ged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no ê‘sone The tyme was sore chauÌ„ged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌ„castre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
the firste all abasshed for if I had sene any auncyent knyght that had ben with kyng Edwarde or with the price I had ben well reconforted and wolde haue gone to hym but I coulde se none suche Than̄e I demaunded for a knyght called sir Rycharde Seury whyder he were a lyue or nat and it was shewed me yes but he was at London Than I thought to go to the lorde Thom̄s Percy great seneschall of Englade who was there with the kyng so I acquaynted me with hym and I founde hym right honorable and gracyous And he offred to present me and my letters to the kynge wherof I was right ioyfull for it behoued me to haue some meanes to bringe me to the presence of suche a prince as the Kynge of Englande was He wente to the kynges Chambre at whiche tyme the kynge was gone to slepe and so he shewed me and badde me retourne to my lodgynge and come agayne and so I dyde And whan I came to the bysshoppes palays I founde the lorde Thomas Percy redy to ryde to Ospring And he counsayled me to make as than no knowledge of my beynge there but to folowe the court and sayd he wolde cause me euer to be well lodged tyl the kyng shulde be at the fayre castell of Ledes in Kent I ordered me after his coūsayle and rode before to Ospring by aduēture I was lodged in an house where was lodged a gentyll knyght of Englande called sir Wyllyam Lysle He was taryed there behynde the kynge bycause he had payne in his heed all the nyght before He was one of the kynges preuy chambre And whan he sawe that I was a straunger and as he thought of the marchesse of Fraūce bycause of my langage We fyll in acquayncaunce toguyder for gentylmen of Englande are curcesse treatable and gladde of acquayntaunce Than he demaunded what I was and what busynesse I had to do in those parties I shewed hym a great parte of my cōmynge thyder and all that the lorde Thomas Percy hadde sayd to me and ordred me to do He than answered and sayde howe I coulde nat haue a better meane and that on the Friday the kyng shulde be at the castell of Ledes And he shewed me that whan I came there I shuld fynde there the duke of yorke the kynges vncle wherof I was ryght gladde bycause I had letters dyrected to hym and also that in his youthe he hadde sene me in the courte of the noble kyng Edwarde his father and with the quene his mother Than on the Friday in the mornyng sir Wylliam Lysle and I rode toguyder and on the waye I demaunded of hym if he had been with the kynge in the voyage in to Irelande He answered me yes Than I demaunded of hym the maner of the Hole that is in Irelande called saynt Patrykes purgatorie if it were trewe that was sayde of it or nat Than he sayde that of a suretie suche a hole there was and that he hym selfe and another knyght of Englande hadde ben there whyle the kynge laye at Duuelyn and sayd howe they entred in to the hoole were closed in at the sonne goynge downe and abode there all nyght and the nexte mornyng issued out agayne at the son risyng Than I demaūded it he had any suche strāge sightes or vysions as was spoken of Than he sayd howe that whan he his felowe were entred and past the gate that was called the purgatorie of saynt Patryke and that they were discended and gone downe thre or four paces discendyng downe as in to a cellar a certayne hoote wapure rose agaynst them and strake so in to their heedes that they were fayne to syt downe on the steres whiche are of stone And after they had sytte there a season they had great desyre to slepe and so fell a slepe and slepte there all nyght Than I demaūded that if in their slepe they knewe where they were or what visyons they had he answered me that in slepyng they entred in to great ymaginacyōs and in marueylous dremes otherwyse than they were wont to haue in their Chambres and in the mornynge they issued out and within a shorte season clene forgate their dreures visyons wherfore he sayde he thought all that mater was but a fantasy Than I lefte spekyng any further of that matter bycause I wolde fayne haue knowen of hym what was done in the voyage in Irelande And I thought as thā to haue demaūded what the kyng had done in that iourney but than company of other knyghtes came and fell in communycacion with hym so that I lefte my purpose for that tyme. Thus we robe to Ledes and thyder came the kyng and all his cōpany and there I founde the lorde Edmonde duke of yorke Than I went to hym and delyuered my letters fro the erle of Heynaulte his cosyn and fro the erle of Ostrenaunt The duke knewe me well and made me good chere and sayde Sir Iohan holde you alwayes nere to vs and we shall shewe you loue and courtesy we are boūde therto for the loue of tyme past and for loue of my lady the olde Quene my mother in whose courte ye were we haue good remembraunce therof Than I thanked hym as reason requyred So I was aduaunsed by reason of hym and sir Thomas Percy and sir William Lysle By their meanes I was brought in to the kynges chambre and in to his presence by meanes of his vncle the duke of yorke Than I delyuered my letters to the kyng and he toke and reed thē at good leysar Than he sayd to me that I was welcome as he that hadde ben and is of the Englysshe courte As on that daye I shewed nat the kynge the boke that I hadde brought for hym he was so sore occupyed with great affayres that I had as than no leysar to present my boke The kyng was sore busyed there in counsayle for two great mightye maters First was in determynynge to sende sufficient messangers as therle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne and the erle Marshall the archbysshoppe of Dublyn the bysshoppe of Ely the lorde Loys Clyssorde the lorde Henry Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spensar and many other ouer the See to Charles the Frenche kynge to treate with hym for a maryage to be hadde bytwene the kyng of Englande and the Frenche kynges eldest doughter named Isabell of the age of eyght yeres The secōde cause was the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Taryde the lorde of Pyntherne the lorde of Newcastell the lorde of Nesque the lorde of Copane and the counsaylours of Burdeux Bayon and of Daxe were come in to Englande and had quickely pursued their mater sythe the kynges retourne out of Irelande to haue an answere of the requestes and processe that they had put forthe to the kyng on the gyfte that the kynge had gyuen to his vncle the duke of Lācastre of the landes seignories lordshippes and baronyes in Acquytayne whiche they verifyed
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ„ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâ—sayle of those two great matters the kynge had sente for the moost parte of the prelates and lordes of Englande to be at the feest of Maudelyntyde at a manner of the kynges called Eltham a seuyn Englysshe myles fro London And whan they had taryed at Ledes a four dayes the kyng retourned to Rochester and so to Elthame so I rode forthe in the kynges company ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquytayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sent in to Englande to the kynge and his counsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Acquytayne Cap. CC.i. IN rydynge the waye bytwene Leades and Eltham I demaunded of syr Willyam Lysle and of syr IohnÌ„ of Graily capitayne of Bouteuyll the cause why the king drewe to London warde and why that great counsayle shulde assemble at Eltham They tolde me and specially syr Iohan Graily rehersed to me playnly why the lordes of Gascon were come thyder and the counsaylours of the good townes and cyties thus I was enfourmed by this knight who knewe the trouth for he was often tymes amonge theym they and he were in a maner all of one countrey and fronter he sayde thus Surely whan the Duke of Lancastre came fyrst in to Acquytayne suffycyently fournysshed with charters and wrytinges engrosed and sealed with the great seale of Englande and enrolled and fermely decreed with full accorde of all prelates and lordes of Englande and also by consente of the duke Edmonde of yorke and Erle of Cambridge and of Thomas duke of Gloucestre though the sayd herytages might by succession haue come to them for Kynge Rycharde of Englande their nephue had as than no chyldren and these sayd two dukes were brethern germayns of father and mother to the duke of Lancastre whiche duke anone after he was come in to Acquytayne sente some of his counsayle to the cytie of Burdeaux to shewe to the Mayre counsaylours of the towne the fourme and tenoure of his request and for what cause he was come in to the countrey Whan they herde this they greatly marueyled howe be it they ioyfully receyued the kynges and dukes coÌ„myssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌ„sayle and so they dyd Than after they aunswered and said that the duke of Lancastre sonne to kynge Edwarde who had ben their lorde was welcome amoÌ„ge them and none otherwyse for they sayde they had nat so farre forthe taken counsayle as to receyue hym to their souerayne lorde for they sayd that to kyng Rycharde their soueraygne lorde they had done feaultie and homage and as than he had made them no quytaÌ„ce Than aunswered the coÌ„myssioners and sayd Syrs feare nat but that ye shall haue suffycient dyscharge in that behalfe so ye take the duke to your souerayne lorde for ye shall se by the content of the kinges charters that there shall neuer questyon be made therof in tyme to come WhanÌ„e they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌ„myssion extendeth nat all onely vpon vs but in lykewyse to them of the cytie of Bayon and to the prelates and barones of Gascoyne and to all that be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande ye shall drawe you towardes them and as they do and ordre theÌ„ we shall folowe the same Other aunswere the coÌ„myssioners coulde nat haue at that tyme of them of Burdeauâ— Than they departed and rode to Lyborne where the duke of Lancastre laye WHan the duke herde their aunswers he imagyned in hymselfe that the â—â—synesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌ„sayle to the cytie of Bayon and as they sped in Burdeaux so they dyd there other answere coude they haue none And fynally all the prelates and noble men counsaylours of cytes good townes in Gascoyne vnder the obeysaunce of the kyng of Englande conioyned them togyder and concluded in the forme and manner as I shall shewe you They sayde they wolde gladly receyue the duke of Lancastre in to their cytâ—es townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de so that at his entringes he shulde solemply swere that pesably and in good maner he and his shulde entreat the people with out enforsynge of any thynge and to pay reasonably for euery thynge that they shulde dispende and also to swere that he shulde nat oppresse nor cause to be oppressed the iurysdictyon of the Crowne of Englande by no maner of waye nor accyon The duke aunswered to this and sayd that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people but wolde rather kepe and defende them agaynst all men as his herytage and desyred and requyred theym that the coÌ„maundement of the kynge of Englande myght be obserued and acomplisshed Than the hole countrey by a comune voyce sayd that in no wyse they wolde departe fro the crowne of Englande and that it was nat in the kynge of Englandes power to gyue them away to another lorde nor to put them fro the crowne of Englande These demaundes and denyenges were longe a debatyng bytwene the duke of Lancastre and the lordes and townes of Gascon And whan the duke sawe none other remedy than he made request to the countrey that the prelates and noble men and couÌ„saylours of the good townes shulde sende suffycient personages to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle and howe he wolde sende in lykewyse notable persones of his counsayle and loke what so euer the kyng and his counsayle shulde determyne in that cause he promysed surely to abyde ther by whether it were with hym or agaynst him Than they of Gascon consydred well that his request was reasonable and agreed to do as the duke had desyred Than the duke rode to Burdeaur and was lodged in the abbey of saint Andrewes where he had ben lodged before tyme. Than they of the cytie of Bayon and Dar apoynted suffycient personages to sende in to Englande and the barons of Gascon vnder the kinges obeysaunce sent in lyke wyse Also ye shall knowe that whan the frenche kyng and his vncles vnderstode that the duke of Laucastre was peasably entred in to the cytie of Burdeaux and knewe nat for what entent nor whether he wolde kepe or breake the trewce Than he and his counsayle
determyned to sende to hym to knowe somwhat of his entent There was apoynted to go the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce the lorde Iohan of castell Morante and Iohan Barres of Barroys and they to haue with them a thousande speares Thus they rode forth tyll they came to the cytie of Agen and there taryed Than they sent harauldes and messnagers to Burdeaux to the duke of Lancastre shewynge hym howe they wolde gladly speke with hym The duke made these messangers good chere and wrote agayne to these lordes certifyeng them that where as they had great desyre to speke with hym in lykewyse he had the same to speke with them and bycause they shulde take the lesse payne he promysed to come and mete with them at Bergerate And whan the frenche lordes sawe this letter they gaue credence therto and ordred them there after and as sone as they knewe that the duke was come to Bergerate they departed fro Agen and rode thyder There they were receyued and lodged in the towne and their company in the subbarbes These lordes spake with the Duke and shewed hym their message The duke receyued them swetely and aunswered and sayd howe he wolde be a good a kynde neyghbour to the frenche kyng and the realme and to kepe and mayntayne the trewce taken bytwene the two kynges for he sayde he hym selfe was one of the princypalles that ayded to make and ordayn that truce wherfore he sayd he ought nat nor wold nat breke it therof they myght be well assured The dukes aunswere pleased greatly the lordes of Fraunce Thus the duke and they were louingly togyder and the duke gaue them a great dyner and supper and after they tooke their leaue and the duke retourned to Burdeaux and the frenche men in to Fraunce They founde in their waye the duke of Berrey at the cytie of Poyeters and they shewed hym what they had doone The duke of Berrey thought the duke of Lancasters answere reasonable and so dyd the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and so the mater abode styll in this estate And for this cause quod sir Iohan Graily the duke of Lancastre hath sent hyther in to Englande of his counsayle as syr Wylliam Peâ—reer and syr Peter Clyfton and two clerkes lerned in the lawe as mayster Iohan Huche and mayster Iohan Rychard of Leycettour to treate and to pleate his maters before the kynge and his vncles and for this cause the kynge rydeth to Eltham and shall be there on thursday nexte that shall be Mary maudelyn daye but what shal be done as yet I knowe nat But as I am enfourmed of some englysshe men that knowe somwhat the duke of Gloucestre wyll be princypally of the opynion that his brother the duke of Lancastre shulde abyde styll in Guyen rather than to retourue agayne in to Englande bycause he was so great with the kynge for I ensure you this duke of Gloucestre is a maruaylous mynded man proude and presumptuous he wolde rule all hym selfe and he is so beloued of the comynalte that what so euer he saythe they wyll enclyne to him He caused the valyaunte knyght the lorde Symon Burle and the duke of Irelande the archebysshoppe of yorke and many other knyghtes and other of the kynges counsayle to dye for hatred and yuell wyll durynge the seasone that the duke of Lancastre was beyonde the see in Castyle He is more dred in Englande than beloued NOwe lette this mater passe quod syr IohnÌ„ Graily and I shall shewe you nowe the seconde busynesse that the kynge hathe to do as I am enfourmed The kynges pleasure is to be remaryed and hath sertched ouer all for a wyfe if the duke of Burgoyne or the erle of Haynalte had any doughter to mary the kynge wolde gladly haue had one of them but they haue none but suche as be maryed It hath ben shewed the kyng that the kynge of Nauarre hath bothe suffers and doughters but he wyll nat entende that wayes The duke of Gloucestre hath a doughter able to mary he wolde gladly that the kyng shulde haue had her but the kynge wolde nat for he said she was to nere of his kynne for she is his cosyn germayne The kynge enclyneth moste his mynde to the Frenche kynges doughter wherof all the countrey hath great marueyle that he wolde take his enemyes doughter the kynge is nat the beste beloued Prince of the worlde with his people but he setteth lytell therby he sheweth always how he had rather haue warre with any other realme than with FrauÌ„ce wherfore he wolde haue a good peace bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and their realmes for the kynge wyll often tymes saye that the warre hath endured to longe bytwene them and that many valyaunt men are deed therby on bothe parties wherby the christen faythe is sore mynysshed and febled And it is nat pleasaunt to the realme of Englande that he shulde mary with Fraunce and it hath ben shewed hym that the doughter of Fraunce is ouer yonge and that this fyue or syxe yere she shall nat be able to kepe hym company Therto he hath aunswered and saythe that she shall growe ryght well in age and though he faste a season he shall take it well a worth and shall ordre her in the meane season at his pleasure and after the maner of Englande sayenge also howe he is yet yonge ynough to abyde tyll the lady be of age No man canne breke the kynge out of this purpose and or ye departe ye shall here moche of this matter And thus for these causes the kynge rydeth nowe to Eltham THus this gentle knyght syr Iohan of Graily and I deuysed togyther as we rode bytwene Rochestre and Dertforde this knight was capytayn of Bouteuyle bastarde sonne somtyme to the Captall of Beusz and I herde his wordes gladly and dyd put them in memory And all the way bytwene Leades and Eltham I rode most parte in his company and with syr Wylliam Lysle Thus the kynge came to Eltham on a tuesday and on the wednysday the lordes of all costes began to assemble Thyder came the duke of Gloucestre and the erles of Derby Arundell Northumberlande Kent Rutlande and the erle Marshall and the archebysshoppes of Caunterbury and yorke and the bysshoppes of London and Wynchester And on the thursday aboute the houre of thre they assembled togyther in the kynges chambre in the kynges presence Than the knyghtes of Gascoyne were sent for and the couÌ„saylours of the good townes And also the Duke of Lancastres counsayle was sent for I was nat preseÌ„t nor might nat be suffred there were none but the lordes of the counsayle who debated the mater more than four houres And after dyner I fell in acquayntauÌ„ce with an auncyent knyght whome I knewe in kynge Edwardes dayes and he was as than of kynge Rychardes priuy counsayle he was called syr Rycharde Sury he knewe me anone and yet in .xxiiii. yeres he had nat sene me before whiche was
him selfe to auoide this realme of Englande and goo dwell in what place he lyste out therof And that he be banysshed in suche wyse that he neuer retourne agayne And also I ordayne that the erle of Derby our cosyn bycause he hathe displeased vs and that he is the chiefe cause of the banysshment of therle Marshall That within this fyftene dayes he auoyde the Realme of Englande and to be banysshed for tenne yeres without retournynge excepte we repeale hym agayne the whiche shall alwayes lye in our pleasure THis sentence greatly contented the lordes that were there present and they sayde the erle of Derby maye well ynoughe go and sporte hym out of the realme for two or thre yeres He is yonge ynoughe Thoughe he haue been sore traueyled in his dayes in farre countries as in to Pruce and to the holy Sepulchre to Cayre and to saynt Katheryns mount So he may do yet goo some other voyages to passe the tyme if he lyste he knoweth wyll ynoughe whider to go he hath two susters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale He maye well passe the tyme with them and also as nowe there is no warre Whan he cometh in to Spaygne he maye moue theym to make warre vpon the Sarazyns and to make a voyage in to Granade wherby he maye better employe his tyme than abydynge in Englande or elles he maye goo in to Heynaulte to his brother and cosyn the Erle of Ostrenaunt who wyll receyue hym with great ioye and retaygne hym sor he hathe warre with the Fresons and in Haynaulte he maye dayly here newes out of Englande and fro his children He can natte go amysse goo where he wyll And the kynge maye repeale hym agayne by good meanes whan it shall please hym for he is one of the fayrest floures in his garlande He shall nat be longe absente if the kynge purpose to haue the loue of his people But the erle Marshalle is in a farre worse case for he is banysshed without hope for euer to retourne agayne And to saye the trouthe he hath well deserued it for all this myschiefe is come by hym and by his wordes Thus dyuers knyghtes and squyers of Englande talked toguyder one with another the same daye that the kynge gaue the sayde iugemēt ⸪ ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro London to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to Flaunders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ⸪ ⸪ WHan these two Erles sawe what sentence the kynge had gyuen theym they were ryght sore pensyue and good cause why The erle Marshall sore repented him of that he had said and done For whan he began the mater he thought otherwyse to haue ben borne out by the kyng than he was For if he hadde knowen as moche before he wolde neuer haue begon the matter Whan he sawe there was no remedy he made hym redy and made his exchaung fro London to Bruges and so cāe to Calays where as he had been capitayne and there toke his leaue and so went to Bruges and there taryed a fyftene dayes than to Gaunt and so to Maynges and finally to Colloigne ¶ Lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke or the erle of Derby who prepared hym selfe in lykewise to departe out of Englande accordyng to the kynges sentēce Whan his daye of departure aproched he came to Eltham to the kynge where as the duke of Lācastre his father was and the duke of yorke with them the erle of Northumlande and sir Henry Percy his sonne with a great nombre of other knyghtes and squyers of Englande suche as loued hym And were soore displeased of the fortune that he must auoyde the realme These lordes came thyder to se what ende the kynge wolde make in the mater of whose cōmyng the kynge made semblaunt to be right ioyfull and made them great chere and helde a great court Also there was the erle of Salisbury and the erle of Huntyngton brother to the kyng who hadde to his wyfe the duke of Lancastres doughter and suster to the erle of Derby These two lordes came to therle of Derby I knowe nat if they dissymuled or nat At the erles departynge the kynge humyled hym greatly to his cosyn of Derby and said As Godde helpe me it right greatly displeaseth me the wordes that hath been bytwene you and the Erle Marshalle But the sentence that I haue gyuen is for the beste and for to apease therby the people who greatly murmured on this matter Wherfore cosyn yet to ease you somwhat of your payne I release my Iudgement fro tenne yere to syxe yere Cosyn take this a worthe and ordyne you therafter The erle answered and sayd Sir I thāke your grace and whan it shall please you ye shall do me more grace All the lordes that were there were well contented with the kynge as for that tyme. Than euery man departed and some went to London with the erle of Derby The Erle made all his prouisyon at Douer to passe to Calays And the erle beyng at London or his departure was counsayled by his father for to go streight to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns in Fraunce And accordynge to his fathers counsayle so he dyde or elles he wolde haue gone to the erle of Ostrenaunt his brother and cosyn Whan the Erle departed fro London there were in the stretes mo thanne fourtie thousande men wepyng and cryeng after hym that it was pytie to here And sōe said O gentyll erle of Derby shall we thus leaue you This Realme shall neuer be in ioye tyll ye retourne agayne But the daye of retourne is very longe for enuy falsehed and trayson hath putte you out of this Realme where as ye ought to abyde rather thā many other For ye are of suche lynage and of so noble blode that none ought to be compared to you And gentyll erle why shalle we leaue you ye neuer dyde nor thought yuell THus men women pituously spake He was nat conueyed out of the cytie with instrumentes but with lamentable wepynges And some sayd secretelye Cōsyder the order of these people what displeasure they take for a small occasyon Who so euer wolde styrre the Londoners to ryse agaynst the kyng he might than go seke further flye out of the realme rather than the erle of Derby but it is as nowe no tyme sithe the duke of Lācastre his father suffreth if we must nedes suffre it The mayre of Lōdon and a great nombre of the chiefe burgesses accompanyed therle of Derby out of the cytie Some rode to Dartforde and some to Douer and sawe hym take shippyng than they retourned And the erle of Derby or he came to Calais he hadde sent a knyght and an heraulde to the Frenche kyng and to his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and to the kynges vncles the dukes of Berrey of Burbon and of Burgoyn to knowe the kynges pleasure if he wolde suffre the
haue repealed therle of Derby agayne in to the Realme but the kyng had no mynde so to do for he dyd clene the contrary for incontynent he sente his offycers in to all the duke of Lācasters landes and toke the profites therof to hym selfe and sayd that as longe as therle of Derby stode as a banysshed man that he nor none of his shulde receyue any reuenues of any landes within the realme of Englande And moreouer wherof the kyng was greatly blamed of suche as loued the erle and his chyldren The kyng gaue awaye landes parteynynge to the herytage of the duchy of Lancastre to some of his seruauntes suche as asked them for the whiche cause many knyghtes other in Englande spake and said The kyng sheweth well that he oweth no good wyll to his cosyn the erle of Derby sythe he wyll nat repeale hym home agayne and suffre his landes to be gyuen awaye where as therle and his chyldren shulde be great membres in Englande a good staffe for the kyng to leane by But he dothe the contrary for he driueth hym awaye so wyll kepe hym in this daūger and worse if he coude For he hath taken to hym selfe his heritage and causeth his offycers to medell with the dukes landes as thoughe they were his owne And if that poore tenauntes complayne of the iniuryes done to them in their lordes absence they can nat be harde there is none that wyll do them right Also it is but a small token of loue that the kyng beareth to the erle of Derby and to his chyldren for their herytage of Lācastre whiche shulde come to thē by right enherytaūce discended fro their grandame the lady Blanche doughter to duke Henry of Lancastre The kyng gyueth parte therof away where as it pleaseth hym suche landes as shulde fall to them by the right of the lady their mother who was doughter to the erle of Herforde and Northampton and cōstable of Englande The kynge gyueth parte therof at his pleasure This is to moche done agaīst all ryght and reason and to the displeasure of all the noble men of Englande this can nat longe endure vnamended Thus the prelates noble men and commons in Englāde cōmuned and murmured IN lykewise in the realme of Frāce suche men of honour as herde spekynge of this mater and hadde sene erle of Derby at Parys hadde great marueyle therof and sayd one to another As we thynke the kynge of Englande hath takenne to great a displeasure with his cosyn the erle of Derby who is the greattest man in Englad next hym selfe He is a gracious knyght curtesse meke and tretable and a man good to be spoken vnto The kyng of Englande knoweth some other thynge by hym than we do or elles the kynge is yuell counsayled And it is marueyle that the Frenche kynge and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles do nat attemper the mater for the erle is daylye amonge theym They shulde fynde best prouisyon in this case for the kynge of Englande wyll do more for thē than for any men bicause he hath maried the Frenche kynges doughter But sythe they do nothynge therin it is best we holde oure peace and lette it passe As for the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles thought nothyng but good They honoured and loued greatly the erle of Derby and desyred moche his company and they sawe well he was a wydower and to marry and that the duke of Berry hadde a doughter a wydowe of two husbandes she was but yonge of a xxiii yere of age was named Mary Her fyrst husbāde was Loys of Bloys who died yonge and her secōde husbande was the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe who died in his retourne in Hungry as ye haue herde here before This maryage was at apoynt to haue concluded for they in Fraūce knewe well that the duke of Lancastre was a great enherytoure in Englande and the Frenche kynge was well pleased therwith bycause his doughter was Quene of Englande for he thought that the company of those two ladyes togyder shulde be great pleasure to thē bothe sythe they were so nere of blode And therby the two realmes of Fraunce and Englande shulde be the surer conioyned toguyder in loue and peace whiche was trewe if it might haue been accomplysshed but kyng Richarde of Englande his coūsayle brake all that mater for the fortunes of this world whiche are marueylous nor a thynge that shall be canne nat be eschewed The whiche fortune of this kynge Richarde was so marueylous that it is harde to thynke theron The kynge myght well haue remedyed the mater if he had wolde but that that shall be shal be I shall shewe you what I Iohan Froissarte auctour of this hystorie Herde whan̄e I was but yonge in Englande in a place called Bertamstede whiche as at that tyme parteyned to the price of Wales father to this sayde kynge Rycharde it was in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred thre score and two And bycause the same tyme the prince and the princes shulde departe out of Englande to go in to Acq̄tayne to kepe their estate there Kyng Edwarde his father and quene Phillyppe my maistres and Lyon duke of Clarence Iohan duke of Lancastre the lorde Edmonde who was after Erle of Cambridge and duke of yorke their chyldren were come to the said maner place to se the prince and princes or they departed And as than I was of the age of .xxiiii. yere and one of my said lady the quenes clerkes of her chambre And as I satte on a benche I herde a knyght talkyng and deuysinge among dyuers ladyes and damoselles of the Quenes and sayde to them There is a booke in this countrey called the Brust many men saye it is of marueylous prophycies But accordynge to that booke the realme and crowne of Englande shulde nat retourne to the price of Wales nor yet to the duke of Clarence nor that they shulde be kynges of England though they were sonnes to kyng Edwarde but this knyght sayd that accordyng to that boke the crowne of Englande shulde come to the house of Lancastre The same season whan this knyght spake these wordes this sayd Hēry erle of Derby was nat borne nor yet seuyn yere after but yet in my dayes the same wordes tooke effecte for I sawe after the same Henry erle of Derby kynge of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berries doughter and howe kyng Rycharde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Capi. CC .xxxvi. AS soone as kyng Rycharde kyng of Englande herde of the treatie of the maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berryes doughter that the parties were nerehāde accorded he toke those newes to great dyspleasure and sayd to the erle of Salisbury in whom he had great affyaunce ye must or dayne you to go in
shulde nat be for their welthe but to their great dōmage for the kynge was sore enformed against them Whan they had this warnynge they stopped their cōmyng to the kyng and nat without good cause For they were shewed that if they came they shulde be in ieopardye of their lyues Whan the kynges counsayle sawe that therle and his son̄e came nat they sayd to the kyng Sir nowe ye maye se whyder we dyde enforme you of the trouthe or nat ye maye se therle and his sonne disdayneth to serue you for they wyll nat come at youre cōmaundement and that shall ye se if ye sende for them And I shall sende for them quod the kyng Than letters were written sente by notable messangers to therle to the lorde Henry Percy his son The content of the letters was that incontynent without delaye vpon the sight of those letters that they shulde come to the kyng and do their duetie as they were bounde to do These messangers iourneyed so longe that they came to fayre castell of the erles standyng on the fronter of Scotlande The messanger acquyted hym well in doynge of his message as he was cōmaūded Th erle reed his letters at length and than shewed them to his sonne Than they toke aduise to make the messanger good chere and to write agayn to the kynge in excusynge of them selfes howe they coulde nat come out of their countrey as at that tyme and howe that the kyng had men ynowe to acōplysshe his iourney besyde them The messangers retourned to the kynge and delyuered the erles lettre The kynge redde it the whiche answere was nothynge pleasaunt to the kynge nor to his counsayle and thanne for this cause and for other thynges that were layde to the Erles charge and to his sonnes they were openly banysshed the realme of Englande tyll the kyng dyd repeale them agayne This was publysshed through out all the cyties and good townes of Englande and specyally in London wherof the londoners had great marueyle nor they coulde nat knowe iustly for what cause it was for the erle and his sonne were reputed for noble and as valyaunt men as any within the realme Some sayd it cōmeth by some of the kynges counsayle that hateth them whiche counsayle wyll distroy the kyng at last peraduenture the erle and his sonne haue spoken some wordes vpon the kynge and his counsayle for the yuell gouernynge of the realme coulde nat be herde though they said the trouth and for their true sayeng nowe they be punisshed but we thinke herafter they wyll be punysshed that nowe iudge them Thus the londoners and other spake of this mater The erle had a brother a valiaunt knight sir Thomas percy who had of a longe tyme done many noble seruyces to the kynge of Englande whan the erle knewe that he and his sonne were banysshed the realme he toke it for an vnreasonable punysshment without cause Than he sente for all his frendes in the countrey suche as he coulde get togyther for many of his lygnage were with the kynge to go in to Irelande The erle toke counsayle of them what was best to do sythe the kynge had banysshed hym without cause Than he was counsayled to sende in to the realme of Scotlande and to desyre the king there that he and his sonne might abyde peasably in Scotlande tyll the kynge of Englande were apeased of his dyspleasure Thus therle sent to kynge Robert of Scotlande and the kyng the erle Archambalt Duglas and the other lordes of Scotlande condiscendyd lyghtly to the erles desyre sent the erle worde howe they shulde be gladly receyued and also if they neded of fyue or syre hundred speares if they were signyfied of the tyme they shulde be redy to serue them This message pleased greatly the erle and his lygnage and so the erle taryed styll in his countrey amonge his frendes for kynge Rycharde and his counsayle had so moche to do in sorte season after that they had no layser to do any dyspleasure to the erle nor to his sonne as ye shall here after in this hystory KInge Rycharde thus beynge aboute Bristowe than the state generally of all men in Englande began to murmure and to ryse one agaynst another and mynystrynge of iustyce was clene stopped vp in all courtes of Englande wherof the valyaunt men and prelates who loued reste and peace and were glad to paye their duetyes were greatly abasshed for there rose in the realme companyes in dyuers rowtes kepynge the feldes and hygh wayes so that marchauntes durste nat ryde abrode to excercyse their marchaundyse for doute of robbynge and no man knewe to whome to cōplayne to do them ryght reasone and iustyce whiche thynges were ryght preiudyciall and dyspleasaunt to the good people of Englande for it was contrary to their accustomable vsage for all people laborers and marchauntes in Englande were wonte to lyue in rest and peace and to occupy their marchaundyse peasably and the laborers to labour their landes quyetly and than it was contrary for whan marchauntes rode fro towne to towne with their marchaundyse and had outher golde or syluer in their purces it was taken fro them and fro other men and labourers out of their houses these companyons wolde take whete ootes bufes muttons porkes the pore men durste speke no worde these yuell dedes dayly multyplyed so that great complayntes and lamentacyons were made therof through out the realme and the good people sayde the tyme is chaunged vpon vs fro good to yuell euer sythe the dethe of good kynge Edwarde the thyrde in whose dayes iustyce was well kepte and mynystred In his dayes there was no man so hardy in Englande to take a hen or a chekyn or a shepe without he had payed trewly for it and now◠a dayes all that we haue is taken fro vs and yet we dare nat speke these thinges canne nat longe endure but that Englande is lykely to be loste without recouery We haue a kynge nowe that wyll do nothyng he entendeth but to ydelnesse and to acomplysshe his pleasure and by that he sheweth he careth nat howe euery thynge gothe so he maye haue his wyll it were tyme to prouyde for remedy or els out enemyes wyll reioyse mocke vs our kynge hath sette his brother the erle of Huntyngdon at Calais therby peraduenture may be made some yuell treatie and bargayne for the towne of Calays with the frenche men and rendre in to their handes that thynge that is most necessary for the realme of Englande for if Calays were rendred to the Frenche men Englande was neuer so abasshed as it shulde be than and good cause why for than shulde be lost the chiefe key of Englande THus multyplyed the lamentacyons and murmurynge in Englande and the prelates and other ryche men of the realme came to London to dwell there to be in the better suretie They of the lygnages of suche lordes as the kynge had put to dethe and banisshed
the realme they were gladde of all this and wolde that more trouble had ben in the realme and the cytezins of Lōdon who were ryche and lyued by their marchaundyse as well coraunt by see as by lande and kepte therby great estate and by ensample of them all the remnaūt of the realme lyghtly folowed they sawe well that as great myschiefe was lykely to folowe in the realme as was sometyme in kynge Edwarde the secondes dayes whan the lorde Spencer caused the kynge to put out of the realme the quene Isabell and Edward her sonne and wolde haue distroyed them and wyste nat why and so were out of the Realme more than thre yere but fynally whan the men in Englande and specyally the londoners sawe howe that the kynge was so asotted on this syr Hugh spenser they prouyded for a remedy for they sente secretly to the quene Isabell that if she coulde get thre hundred men of warre to come in to Englande she shulde fynde the greatest parte of the realme and the londoners redy to receyue her and to put her in possessyon of the realme whervpon the quene founde the lorde Iohan of Haynalt lorde of Beaumont and of Chynay and brother to the erle Guillyam of Haynalte who what for loue and pytie toke on him the vyage to brynge the quene and her sonne in to Englande with four hundred men of warre and so aryued in Englande and by the ayde of the londoners the quene atchyued her enterprise for without their ayde it wolde haue ben hard to haue come to passe and so kynge Edwarde was taken at the castell of Bristowe and set in prisone in the castell of Berkley and suche as fauoured him slayne and put to execusion and Edwarde his sonne crowned kynge at Westmynster All this the londoners ryght well remembred for they that were yonge herde this reported of their elders and some founde it in writynge and they sayd secretly one to a nother Our fathers and antecessours of olde tyme prouyded for these greate mischiefes and we thinke there was neuer greater cause than nowe at this present tyme for suffer this kyng Rycharde to haue his wyll and he wyll waste and dystroy all for sythe he was kynge there hath nat been in Englande suche prosperyte as was before he sheweth nat that the prince of Wales shulde be his father for if he had he wolde haue folowed his condicions and haue taken great pleasure in his prowes and nat to lyue in reste and ease as he dothe for he loueth nothynge but sporte and ydelnesse with ladyes and to be alwayes in their company and to beleue men of small reputacyon and to gather great rychesse and distroy the realme whiche thynges ought nat to be suffred And bycause that valyaunt man the duke of Gloucestre sawe clerely that the maters in Englande went nat as they shulde do by right and sawe howe dayly it was worse and worse and bycause he spake playnely therof the traytours that be about the kinge caused hym to be murthered and in lykewyse the good erle of Arundell and haue driuen out of the realme that valyaunt yonge knight Henry of Lancastre erle of Derby by whome the realme myght and ought to be counsayled and susteyned and by his four sonnes that he hath And yet for more crueltie besyde the dōmage that they cause the father to suffre out of the realme they dysenheryte the chyldren and the herytage that was their auntes the lady dame Blanche of Lancastre is dayly gyuen awaye to them that are nat worthy to haue theym And also bycause the erle of Northumberlande and his sonne the lorde Henry Percy haue somwhat spoken acordynge to reasone kynge Rycharde hath banysshed them it is well apparaūt that with in a shorte tyme there shall neuer a valyaunt man be lefte in the realme wherfore all wyll rynne to nought without remedy be founde shortely and we thynke the best remedy were to sende for the erle of Derby who leseth his season in Fraunce and whan he is come lette hym haue the gouernaunce of the realme that he may refourme all yuell and bringe it in to good state and lette them be punysshed that haue deserued and let Richarde of Burdeaux be taken and sette in the towre of London and all his fautes put in writynge in artycles of the whiche there wyll be founde a great nombre and by that tyme they be examined it shall be sene clerely that he is nat worthy to beare a crowne nor to kepe a realme for his owne de des shall confounde hym ¶ Howe the archebysshop of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to the erle of Derby fro the londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue him to returne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii THus the londoners cōmunded togyder and nat al onely they but also in dyuers other places of the realme but the chyefe murmuracyon that the people were in was by the first set rynge on of them of London for the cōmons of London were as chefe and by them lyghtly all other cōmons wold be ruled and vpon the myschiefe that they sawe apparaunt in Englande they had dyuers secrete counsayles to gyther and with them certayne prelates and other knyghtes of the realme and they concluded to sende in to Fraunce for the erle of Derby and were determyned whan he were come to shewe hym the yuell gouernynge of kynge Rycharde and to put to hym the crowne and gouernynge of the realme of Englande and so to make hym kynge and his heyres for euer so that he wyll kepe the realme in all good vsages Than it was thought that he that shulde go in that message must be a wyse man and of good credence for they thought it shulde be a great mater to gette the erle of Derby out of Fraūce for they said that for any symple wordes of a meane messanger or for any letters he wolde gyue no faythe there to but rather thynke it shulde be to betraye hym Than the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury a man of honoure and prudence was desyred to do that message who for the cōmon profyte of the realme acorded to go at their desyres and ordeyned for his departure so wysely that none knewe therof but suche as ought to knowe it and so he toke a shyppe at London and but seuen all onely with hym and so past without any parell and came to Sluse in Flaunders and fro thens to Ardenbourge and so to Gaunte to And warpe to A the in Brabant to Conde and so to Valencennes and there toke his lodgynge at the signe of the Swanne in the market place and there taryed a thre dayes and refressed himselfe He rode nat lyke no bysshop but lyke a monke pylgryme and dyscouered to no man what he was nor what he entended to do The fourth day he departed and toke a man to be his guyde to Parys sayenge howe he wolde go a pylgrymage to saint More He dyd so moch that he came
thyder where as the erle of Derby was at a place called vyncetour besyde Parys Whan the erle of Derby sawe the bysshop of Caunterbury cōmynge to him his herte and spyrites reioysed and so dyd all suche as were aboute him for he thought well than to here some newes oute of Englande The bysshoppe shewed nat as than the cause of his cōmynge but dissymuled bycause euery man shuld nat knowe his entent and therfore to couer his busynesse he sayd openly he was come on pylgrymage to saynt Mors. All suche as were aboute the erle thought it had ben so Whan the bysshop sawe his tyme he toke a parte the erle of Derby alone in to a chambre and closed the dore to them Than the bysshop shewed the erle the debylyte of the realme of Englande and of the desolacyon therof and howe iustyce had no place to reygne for faute of a good kinge and howe certayne valyaunt men and prelates with the londoners and other ingenerall had deuised a remedy and for that cause he was sente thyder to hym to desyre him to retourne in to Englande and they wolde make hym kynge bycause that Rycharde of Burdeaulx had doone and consented to be done so many yuell dedes that all the people sorowed it and are redy to ryse agaynst hym and therfore syr nowe is the tyme or neuer for you to seke for your delyueraūce and profyte and for the welth of your chyldren for if ye entende nat to helpe your selfe and theym also none other wyll for Rycharde of Burdeaux gyueth to them of his chambre to other dayly parte of your enherytaūce and of your chyldrens of the whiche many valyaunt men and the londoners were sore dyspleased therwith if they coude amended it but they durst neuer speke tyll nowe But bycause the kynge hath yuell vsed hym selfe agaynst you and agaynst your vncle the duke of Gloucestre who was taken by nyght and conueyed to Calays and there murdered and the erle of Arundell beheeded without tytell of any good reason and the erle of Warwyke exyled and you banysshed and thus the realme of Englande is nere dysheryted of all noble men by whome the realme shulde be susteyned And also the kynge hath banysshed the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Percy his sonne bycause they spake somewhat agaynst the kynges gouernaunce and his counsayle Thus they dayly encrease in doynge yuell and none dare speke agaynst it great parte of the realme haue pytie therof and therfore they desyre you to slepe no lenger but to take leaue of that frenche kynge and retourne in to Englande there shall you be receyued with ioy and all this that I haue sayd they wyll fyrmely vpholde for they desyre to haue none other kynge but you ye are so well beloued in the realme WHan the erle had herde the bysshops wordes at length he was nat hasty in gyuenge of aunswere but leaned out at a wyndowe lokynge downe in to a gardeyne and studyed a certayne space and had many imagynacions at last he tourned hym to the archebysshop and sayd Syr your wordes causeth me to study Lothe I wolde be to take on me this enterprise and lothe I wolde be to leaue it for I knowe well that it wyll be longe or I canne retourne in to Englande without it be by the same meanes as ye haue declared Lothe I wolde be to enclyne to your wordes for the Frenche kynge here and the frenchmen do to me and haue done wyll do if I lyst here to tary all the honour and curtesye that I canne desyre And if so be by reasone of your wordes and promesse of the londoners my good frendes that I shulde apply and agree to their wylles and desyre and that therby kynge Rycharde shulde be taken and dystroyed I shulde in that case beare great blame wherof I wolde be tyght lothe if any other meanes might be founde Sir quod the bysshoppe I am sent hyther to you in hope of all goodnesse call to you your counsayle and shewe them what I haue sayd and I shall also shewe them the cause of my cōmynge and I thynke they wyll nat counsayle you to the contrary That shall I do quod the erle for suche a weyghty mater requyreth counsayle Than the erle called to hym his counsayle suche as he trusted best Whan they were before hym than the erle caused the bysshop to shewe them all the mater and the cause of his commynge thyder Than the erle demaūded counsayle what was beste for hym to do They all aunswered with one voyce syr god hathe taken pytie of you howe so euer ye do refuse nat this bargayne for ye shal neuer haue a better and surely who so euer wyll enquyre of your lygnage and fro whence ye dyscended ye are of the ryght stocke and generacyon of saynt Edwarde somtyme kynge of Englande syr thanke the londoners your good frendes who wyll helpe to delyuer you out of daunger and haue pytie on your chyldren and of the desolacyon of the realme of Englande and syr remembre well what wrōges and iniuryes this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done to you and dothe dayly for whan the maryage bytwene you and the countesse of Ewe was nere at a poynte dyd nat the erle of Salysbury breke it and called you traytoure in the presence of the frenche kynge and other lordes whiche wordes are nat to be pardoned but ye ought to desyre howe to be reuenged Sir if ye wyll nat helpe yourselfe who shulde helpe you syr take good aduyse herin ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretaygne Cap. CC.xxxix WHanne the erle herde his coūsaylours so ernestly counsayle him his spyrites opened and sayd Syrs I wyll do as ye wyll haue me for to haue your counsayle was the entente that I sent for you Syr quod they ye saye well and syr we counsayle you trewly to our power and as the matter requyreth Than as secretly as they coude they ordeyned for their departure Than it was deuysed howe they might passe the see or any knowledge therof shulde come in to Englande They deuysed that of two wayes they muste take one outher to go into Haynalte and in to Holande and there take the see at Dordright or els to go in to Bretaygne to the duke and there to take the see and so to lande at Plummouth or where as god wolde in Englande All thynges consydred they sayd the best way shulde be by Bretaygne and than they sayd to the erle syr go and take your leaue of the frenche kynge and thanke hym of the curtesy that he hath shewed vnto you and take leaue of the duke of Orlyance and of the kynges vncles and other and thanke theym all of the good chere they haue made you and desyre of the kinge to haue conducte to go in to Bretaygne sayenge that ye wyll go se the duke your cosyn to tary there a
haue nede of good Counsayle shortely for the Londoners and other cometh agaynst you with great puissaunce and hath made therle of Derby your cosyn their chefe capitayne they haue gote hym out of FrauÌ„ce This hath nat been done without great treatie Whan the kynge herde that he was sore abasshed and wyste nat what to saye for all his spyrites trymbled For thaÌ„ he saw well the maters were lykely to go yuell agaynst hym without he coude gette puyssauÌ„ce to resyst them Than the kynge sayd Sirs make all our men redy and lende throughe out my realme for ayde For I wyll nat flye before my subiettes Sir quod they the mater gothe yuell for your men do leaue you flye awaye ye haue loste the one halfe and all the rest are sore abasshed and leseth couÌ„tynauÌ„ce Why quod the kyng what wyll ye that I shall do Sir leaue the felde for ye are nat able to kepe it And gette you in to some stronge castell tyll sir Iohan HollaÌ„de your brother come who is aduertysed of all this mater And whanÌ„e he is come he shall fynde some remedy outher biforce of armes or elles by treatie at leest to bring you in to some better case than ye be in at this present tyme. For if ye kepe the felde paraduenture some wyll forsake you and go to hym To this couÌ„saile the kyng agreed At that tyme the erle of Salisbury was nat with the kyng he was in his countre Whan he herde howe the erle of Derby with the Londoners and great puissaunce rode agaynst the kyng He ymagined that the matter was in paryll for hym and for the kynge and for suche as the kyng had ben counsayled by so he sate styll to here other tidynges Also the duke of yorke was nat with the kyng but his sonne the erle of Rutlande was alwayes with the kyng for two causes The one was kyng Richarde loued hym entierly And another was bycause he was constable of Englande therfore by right he ought to be with the kynge Whan the kyng had supped newe tidynges caÌ„e agayne to hym sayeng Sir it is tyme to take aduise howe ye wyll order your selfe your puyssauÌ„ce is nat sufficient agaynst theÌ„ that cometh agaynst you It can nat aueyle you to make batayle agaynst them It behoueth you to passe this daunger by sadde aduyse and good counsayle And by wysedome apease them that be your yuel willers as ye haue done or this tyme and than correcte them after at leysar There is a castell a .xii. myle hens called the castell of Flynte whiche is stronge We counsayle you to go thider and close you within it tyll ye here other newes fro the erle of Huntyngton your brother and for other of your frendes and sende in to Irelande for socours And the freÌ„che kyng your father in lawe whan he knoweth of your nede he wyll conforte you the kyng folowed that counsayle and apoynted them that shulde ride with hym to the castell of Flynt And he ordayned his cosyn erle of Rutlande to tary styll at Bristowe and that they shulde be redy to sette forwarde whan he sent to them and that he was of power to fyght with his enemyes The nexte day the kynge with suche as were of his housholde rode to the castell of Flynte and entred in to the castell without makynge any semblaunt to make any warre but to abide there and to defende the castell if they were assayled ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kyng Richarde yelded him selfe to the erle of Derby to go to London Cap. CC.xli THe erle of Derby the londoners had their spies goyng and coÌ„myng who reported to them al the state of the kyng And also the erle knewe it by suche knyghtes and squyers as daylye came fro the kynges parte to therle who had sure knowledge that the king was gone to the castell of Flynt and had no company with him but such as were of his owne housholde and semed that he wolde no warrÌ„ but to scape that dauÌ„ger by treatie Than therle determyned to ryde thyder and to do so moche to haue the kyng outher biforce or by treatie Than the erle and all his company rode thyder and within two myle of the Castell they founde a great vyllage there the erle taryed and dranke determyned in hym selfe to ryde to the castell of Flynt with two hundred horse and to leaue the rest of his company styll there And he sayde he wolde do what he coude by fayre treatie to entre in to the castell by loue and nat perforce And to bring out the kynge with fayre wordes and to assure hym fro all paryll excepte goynge to London and to promise hym that he shall haue no hurte of his body and to be meane for hym to the Londoners who were nat coÌ„tent with hym Therles deuyse semed good to them that harde it and they sayd to hym Sir beware of dissymulacion This Rycharde of Burdeaux muste be taken outher quycke or deed and all the other traytours that be about hym and of his counsayle and so to be brought to London and sette in the towre the Londoners wyll nat suffre you to do the contrary Than the erle sayde Sirs feare nat but all that is enterprised shall be accomplysshed But if I can gette hym out of the castell with fayre wordes I wyll do it and if I canne nat I shall sende you worde therof and than ye shall come and laye siege about the castell And than we wyll do so moche by force or by assaute that we wyll haue hym quicke or deed for the castell is well prignable to those wordes accorded well the londoners So the erle departed fro the army and rode with two huÌ„dred men to the castell where as the kyng was amoÌ„g his men right sore abasshed The erle came ridyng to the castell gate whiche was faste closed as the case requyred The erle knocked at the gate The porters demauÌ„ded who was there the erle answered I am Henry of Lancastre I come to the kynge to demaunde myne herytage of the duchy of Lancastre shewe the kynge this fro me Sir quod they within we shall do it Incontynent they went in to the hall and in to the â—ongyon where as the kyng was and suche knyghtes about hym as had long tyme couÌ„sayled hym than these newes were shewed to the kyng sayd sir your cosyn of Derby is at the gate who demaÌ„deth of you to be set in possessyon of the duchy of Lancastre his enherytaunce The kynge than regarded suche as were aboute hym demaunded what was best to do They said sir in this request is none yuell ye maye let hym come in to you with .xii. persons in his company and here what he wyll say He is your cosyn and a great lorde of the Realme He maye well make your peace and he wyll for he is greatly beloued in the realme and specially with the Londoners who sente for hym in to FrauÌ„ce They be as nowe the
the better This duchesse of Brabant who was a ryght sore ymaginatyue lady shewed many reasons to the kynges vncles and to his counsayle sayenge howe this lady was doughter to a great lorde in Almaygne and the greattest of all the Bauyers And howe that thereby they shulde haue great alyaunce in Almaygne For duke Stephyn she sayde was so great a manne that he myght well breke the purposes of the great lordes of th empyre For he was as great or greatter than the kynge of almaygne the whiche enclyned sonest the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce to parceyuer in that mater Howe be it the matter was handeled right secretely For there were but fewe that knewe therof tyll it were doone And the cause why this was It is the vsage in Fraunce that any lady doughter to any great lorde yf the Kynge shulde mary her firste she shulde be sene and viewed all naked by certayne ladyes therto admytted to knowe if she were proper and mete to brynge forthe chyldren and also bycause this lady was of a farre countre so that if she shulde be pleasaunt to the kyng or nat or elles all were broken for these causes the matter was kepte secrete but the lady about the feest of Penthecost after she was brought to Brabant to the duchesse there who ioyfully receyued her and ordered her accordynge to the vsage of Fraunce And with her in company was duke Frederyke of Bauyer her vncle by whom to saye trouthe the maryage was firste procured by suche wayes as I shall shewe you ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabaunt wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyer of the maryage of the yonge frenche kynge with her nese Isabell of Bauyer And howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Cap. v. WHan that duke Frederyke of Bauier caÌ„e first in to FraÌ„ce to serue the freÌ„che kyng in his iourney that he made in to flaunders and came to the siege of Boutbourcke True it was he was feested and receyued by the kynges vncles bycause he was come so farre of to serue the kynge as out of the couÌ„tre of Bauyer the whiche was more than two hundred leages of This was reputed for a great seruyce and he was alwayes loged nere to the kyng in token of good loue and fauour And whan he departed out of Bauyer he thought surly that there shulde be batayle bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Englande in the marchesse of FlauÌ„ders or of frauÌ„ce for so ranne all the brute in all Almaygne Therfore the kynge and his vncles gaue hym the more thanke And thus as he was with the kyng in that voyage before Burbourke Bergues the kingê vncles curtesly demauÌ„ded on a day of hym if he had any doughters to mary â–ª sayeng howe they lacked a wyfe for the kyng and howe that they had rather the kynge shulde mary in Bauyer rather thanÌ„e in any other place For aunciently the buyers were of the counsayle of Fraunce The duke aunswered and sayd surely I haue no doughter to mary but myne elder brother duke Stephyn of Bauyer hath a right fayre Lady to his doughter Of what age is she of quod the lordes Bytwene xiii and fourtene quod the duke That is all that we desyre quod the kynges vncles Therfore sir whan ye do retourne home in to Bauyer speke to your brother of the mater bring your nese a pylgrimage to saynt IohnÌ„s of Amyence the kyng shal be there if it please hym We drynke he wyll desyre it for he loueth gladly to se fayre thynges and if he wysshe to haue her she shall be quene So this was the first procurement and as at that tyme there was no more done nor sayde The kynge knewe no thynge of these wordes And whanÌ„e this duke Federyke of Bauyer was retourned home he shewed all this mater to duke Stephyn of Bauyer his brother who studyed somewhat at his wordes and at last sayd Fayre brother I beleue well it is as ye saye My doughter shulde be happy if she myght come to so highe an honour as to be frenche quene But Fraunce is very farre of and it is a matter wisely to be regarded to make a Quene I shulde be ryght soore displeased if my doughter shulde be caryed in to FrauÌ„ce for suche a purpose and than sente home agayne yet I had rather mary her at myne ease nerer home This was the aunswere that duke Stephyn gaue to his brother duke Frederyke where with duke Frederyke was well content and wrote all his aunswere to Fraunce to the Kynges vncles and to his vncle duke Auberte and to the Duches of Brabant They hadde went that duke Frederyke had forgoten the matter For they were aboute maryages for the kynge in other places And the kynge was nere agreed to the doughter of the duke of Lorayne for she was a fayre damosell of her age nere to the kyngê age She was of noble and great generacyon of the house of Bloyes Also there was spekyng for the doughter of the Duke of Lancastre who was after quene of Portyngale but there was no coÌ„clusion bycause of the warre Therfore the matter hanged styll in suspence as ye haue herde before The duches of Brabant whaÌ„ she was at Cambâ—ay at the maryages of Burgoyne Heynalte and that the frenche kyng was they and the duke of Burbone and Burgoyn were there Than she moued forthe this maryage of Bauyer for the kyng affirmynge that it was moost profitable and honorable for the kynge bycause of the alyaunce with Almaygne Madame quod the kynges vncles we here nothynge therof Well quod the duchesse I warrant you ye shall here somwhat therof or this somer be paste Her promyse was well fulfylled for she dyde so moche that duke Frederyke vncle to the damosell was so agreed with his brother duke Stephyn that he shulde be conuey the lady in to Fraunce And that it shulde be noysed all the waye that they went a pylgrimage to saiÌ„t Iohans of Amyence Euery man supposed the same for Almayns go the often on pylgrimage it is their vsage _wHan duke Frederyke and his nese the lady Isabell of Bauyer had ben thre dayes at Brusels than they toke leue but it was the duchesse intensyon to be as soone at Amyence or soner than they So than they came in to Heynaulte to Quesnoy where they founde the duke and the duchesse and sir Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and his wyfe There thy were nobly receyued for duke Aubert was her vncle and had great marueyle what brought them in to that countre And than demauÌ„ded why they came thyder Certaynlye quod duke Frederyke I haue had moche payne to bringe the mater to this purpose And so there he shewed hym all the mater and sayd I haue brought my brother in that mynde that I haue brought my nese hyder as ye saye but whan I departed my brother sayd to me Nowe Frederike my fayre brother ye leade with you Isabell my doughter without any sure
brent and rased downe for they sawe well that it was nat to be kept seyng that it was so farr in Englande as it was Than the admyrall scottes rode towarde Auwike in the lande of the lorde Percy lodged there about brent certayne villages and so came to another castell of therle of NorthuÌ„berlandes standyng on the see syde but they assayled it nat for they knew well they shulde lese their payne And so they rode all about that fronter halfwaye bytwene Berwyke Newcastell on the ryuer of Tyne and there they vnderstode howe that the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Notingham the lorde Neuell and the barons of those marches of NorthuÌ„berlande of the bysshoprikes of yorke Dyrham were comynge on them with a great power Whan thadmyrall of Fraunce knewe therof he was right ioy full and so were all the barons of FrauÌ„ce that were in his coÌ„pany for they desyred to haue batayle but the scottes cared Iytell therfore there they were counsayled to returne againe towarde Berwyke bycause of their prouisyon that folowed them also to be nere their owne couÌ„tre and there to abyde for their ennemyes So thadmyrall beleued theÌ„ and returned towarde Berwyke wherof sir Thomas Redman was capitayne with hym right good men of armes So the french men and scottes lay before the towne but assayled it nat so passed by the next day and toke the waye to Burbourcke to retourne to their owne countrees Tidynges was brought anon in to EnglaÌ„de howe the freÌ„chmen scottes were in Northum berlaÌ„de distroyed and brent the couÌ„tre The kynge of Englande knewe rightwell before of their comynge wherfore the lordes were redy in the felde toke their way towarde the scottes Thenglysshmen had made that somer the grettest prouisyon that euer they made to go in to Scotlande bothe by lande water They had a .xxvi. vessels on the fee charged with ê“uision costyng the froÌ„ters of Englande redy to entre in to euery hauen of Scotland And the kyng caÌ„e him selfe acoÌ„panyed with his vncles therle of CaÌ„bridge sir ThoinÌ„s Holand Ther was also therle of Salisbury therle of AtuÌ„dell the yong erle of Penbroke the yong lorde SpeÌ„sar therle of Stafforde therle Mysien so many barons knightes that they were four M. speres besyde them that were before with the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de therle therle of NotynghmÌ„ the lorde Lucy the lorde Neuell The lordes barons that were on before pursuyng the scottes were a two M. speares .xv. M. archers And the kynge the lordes were fyftie M. archers besyde varlettes The kyng folowed the duke of Lancastre so fast that he and all his host came in to the marches about yorke for on the way tidynges caÌ„e to the kyng howe that his people that were before were likely to fight with the scottes in the marches of NorthuÌ„berlande therfore he made the gretter hast so the kyng caÌ„e at last to sait IohnÌ„s of Beuerley in the marches of DyrhinÌ„ And ther tidynges came to the kyng how that the scottes were returned in to their owne countre so all the men of warre lodged about in the marches of NorthuÌ„berland ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of an adueÌ„ture that fell in theÌ„glysshe hoost wherby that voyage was broken mortall warre bytwene certayne of the lordes ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Hollande slewe sir Rycharde Stafforde howe therle of Stafforde came to the kyng to demaunde iustyce Cap. xii IN the marches of sait IohnÌ„ of Beuerley in the dyoces of yorke The kynge of England was lodged with a great nombre of erles barons and knightes for euery man lay as nere the kyng as they might and specially his two vncles ser Thomas Holande erle of Lien and sir Iohan Holande his brother In the kynges company there was a knyght of Boesme was come to se the quene of Englande and for loue of the quene the kyng and the lordes made hym good chere His name was sir Myles he was a fresshe lustye knight after the vsage of Almaygne And so it fortuned besyde a vyllage nere to sait Iohans of Beuerley that there fell wordes bitwene this knight two squyers of sir Iohan of Hollandes brother to the kynge and to the wordes there came two archers of sir Iohan Staffordes The wordes so multiplyed that the two archers toke parte with the straunger and blamed the two squyers sayng Sirs yedo wroÌ„ge to medyll with this knight for ye knowe he is belongyng to the quene and of her countre ye ought rather to support him than otherwise Than one of the squyers sayd What enuyous knaue Hast thou to do thoughe I blame hym for his folly What haue I to do quod the archer I haue right well to do therwith for he is companyon to my mayster Therfore I wyll nat be in the place to suffre hym to receyue any villany yea quod the squyer if I thought thou woldest ayde hym agaynste me I wolde put this swerd through thy body made couÌ„tnauÌ„ce as thoughe he wolde haue stryken him The archer stepped backe with his bowe whiche was redy bente And sette an arowe therin and drewe it vp and shotte agaynst the squyer that the arowe pearsed thoroughe body hart and so fell downe deed Whan the other squyer sawe his felowe deed he fledde awaye and sir Myles retourned to his lodgynge The two archers went to their maister and shewed hym all the aduenture Sir Richarde Stafforde sayde Thou hast done right yuell Sir quod the archer I coude do none otherwise without I wolde haue been slayne my selfe and I had rather haue slayne hym thaÌ„ he shulde haue slayne me Well quod sir Rycharde Go thy waye that thou be nat founde and I shall entreate for thy peace with sir Iohan of Holande by my father or by some other So the archer deê‘ted TIdynges anone was brought to sir Iohan of Holande that an archer of sir Richarde Staffordes had slayne a squyer of his that man that he loued best in all the worlde and it was shewed hym the maner howe And that it was for the cause of sir Myles the strauÌ„ger Whan sir Iohan of Holande was well enfourmed of this aduenture he was ryght sore displeased and sayd I shall neuer eate nor drike tyll it be reuenged Than he lepte on his horse and toke certayne of his men with hym and departed fro his owne lodgynge It was as than right late and so rode in to the feldes and enquered Where sir Myles was lodged It was shewed hym he was lodged in the reregarde with the erle of Deuurynters and therle of Stafforde Than sir Iohan Hollande toke the waye thyder warde and sought to fynde sir Myles And as he and his men rode vp downe amonge the hedges and busshes in a straite waye he mette at aduenture with sir Richarde Stafforde and bicause it was night he demauÌ„ded who was there I am
cytte of Carlyle was chiefe cytie of all that countre and it was nede full for good men of warre to be theâ— for whan the admyrall of Fraunce came thyder he assayled the cytie by great force the whiche assaute was cruell and fierse So thus before the cytie there were many noble dedes of armes done ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kyng of EnglaÌ„d had thought to haue made in to wales after the frenche men and scottes And howe the kynge retourned the same waye that he came and howe the frenche men and scottes determyned to retourne agayne in to ScotlaÌ„de Cap. xv THe kyng of Englandes vncles knewe well what waye the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and the scottes helde said how they thought it for the best to folowe theym and to serche tyll they myght fynde them and so to fight with them Sayeng howe they coude in no wyse escape them In this purpose was the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and dyuers other of the great barons of Englande and the moost parte of the coÌ„mons of the hoost And as than all their prouisyon was come as well by lande as by see and the kynge also was agreed to the same purpose and than on a night the erle of Oxenforde who was as than chiefe of counsayle with the kynge bare all the rule the kyng trusted no man so moche He turned the kyng cleue fro his purpose I can nat shewe you for what cause but the enformed the kyng as it was knowen after and said sir What thynke ye to do Wyll ye folowe the way that your vncles hath counsayled Sir knowe for trouth that if ye do so ye shall neuer returne agayne For sir the duke of LaÌ„castre desyreth none other thynge but that ye were deed that he might be kyng Howe durst he couÌ„sayle yor grace to go this wynter season in to a strange countrey Sir I wolde nat counsayle you to passe the mouÌ„tayns of Northumberlande for there be mo than .xxx. streightes and passages that if ye were closed in them ye shulde neuer come out agayne without daunger of the scottes Sir putte nat youre selfe in to that daunger what soeuer they saye to you If the duke of Lancastre wyll go lette hym go and haue the charge therof but by my counsayle ye shall nat go Sir ye haue done ynough for this one tyme. youre father was neuer so farre within Scotlande nor yet Kynge Edwarde youre graunt father Therfore sir this oughte to contente you and saue youre owne persone ye be yonge and lusty And suche there be that sheweth you sayre semblant and loueth you but lâ—tell The kynge gaue suche audyence to the sayeng of this erle that it went neuer out of his mynde as ye shall herafter THe next mornyng the lordes of Englande and their people ordred them selfe to deê‘te out of ScotlaÌ„de and to folowe their ennemyes to fight with them as it was concluded the night before Than the duke of Lancastre came to the king his nephue nat knowyng of the trouble and chaunge of his purpose â–ª and the kynge beyng in his malencoly assone as he sawe hym he sayd in great yre Certesse vncle of LaÌ„castre ye shall nat attayne as yet to your entent Thynke you for all your wordes that we wyll lese our selfe folisshely I wyll nat beleue you nor yet your couÌ„sayle for I se therby more domage than profyte to vs and to our people For if ye wyll make this voyage do it and ye lyste but as for me I wyll nat For I wyll retourne into Englande the nexte waye and all suche as loue vs wyll folowe vs. Than the duke of Lancastre sayd Sir I shall folowe you for ye haue neuer a man in your company that loueth you so well as I do also my bretherne And if there be any man wyll saye except your persone that I wolde any thynge otherwyse than well to you or to your people here is my guage to the coÌ„trarie So there was none that wolde speke any worde And the kynge helde his peace and spake to other of his seruauntes of other maters and orderyng hymselfe to returne into Englande the same way that he came and the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro the kynge right sore troubled in his mynde and returned to his coÌ„pany and made newe ordynauÌ„ce for in the morning they had thought to haue folowed the frenchmen in to the marches of Wales but they dyde nat so for they retourned the next waye in to Englande Lo thus ye may se howe thetle of OxeÌ„forde who was great with the kyng brake all this voyage and dyuers of the great lordes sayd that the kyng was yuell counsayled Seynge that all the prouisyon was come For they sayd they might well haue folowed the scottes in to Wales For in their so doyng they shulde euer haue drawen in to Englande warde And some ê‘sons that were wery of payne and trauell said howe that all thynges coÌ„sidred they were better to retourne than to go any further Sayeng howe a great ê“uision must be had to scrue suche an host howe it was yuell to passe the mountayns that wynter season wherby they sayd they might rather lese than wynne THus in his season brake vp the iorney and army of Englande and the kynge and his lordes retourned in to Englande the same way they came but they hadde distroyed the moost parte of the realme of Scotlande These tidynges came to the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and to the scottes than they tooke counsayle what was best for them to do and so concluded to retourne agayne in to Scotlande for their vitails began to fayle and they were in a poore countrey for they had distroyed the marches of Carlyle and the landes of the barone of Clyfforde the lorde Maubray and the bysshoprike of Carlyle but the cytie they coude nat wynne And the frenche men sayd howe they had brent and distroyed in the bysshorike of Dyrhame Carlyle that was better worthe than all the townes in Scotlande So the frenchmen and scottes retourned in to Scotlande the same waye they came And whan they came into ScotlaÌ„de they founde the countrey distroyed but the people of the countre dyde sette but lytell therby and said howe with thre or four poles shortely they wolde make agayne their houses for they had saued moche of their catayle in the forestes But all that the frenche men tooke they were fayne to paye truely therfore and dere The frenche men were often in great daunger for the scottes and they were at many debates for vitayle And the scotes sayd howe the frenche men dyde them more demage than the Englysshe men had done when it was demaunded of them why so they answered and sayde howe the frenche men as they rode abrode they beate downe desoyled their cornes as whete barley and otes and wolde nat kepe the highe wayes but rather ryde throughe the corne Of whiche demages they said they
primer state Also if any of the sayd inhabytauntes of the towne of gauÌ„t or any of their adherentes be out of the towne and be in the countreis of Brabant Holande zelande or in Cambres or in the bysshoprike of Liege That they come and submytte them selfe to vs or to suche as we shall appoynte wtin the space of two monethes after the publycacion of this peace that than they to enioye the pardone and foresaid grace And suche as be in the realme of Englande or in FryselaÌ„de Almayne and other on that syde the great see they to come and submytte theym selfe within foure monethes after notifycacion of this peace And suche as be beyonde the great See at Rome or at saynt Iames they to haue respyte of their submissyon a hole yere after knoledge of this peace And than they thus sworne may enioye this our sayd pardone And also all suche as hath ben banysshed or iudged out of our sayd towne by the sayde occasyon that they be restored to their fees houses rentes and herytages whan soeuer they wyll at their pleasure As for mouable goodes that hath ben taken of eyther partie there shal be no restytuicion made therof but euery partie to bequyte therof Also if any oblygacions be made for any mouable goodes taken for the said occasyons for dyschargynge of their conscyence to render them agayne And all suche houses as shall be delyuered agayne to the owners that nothing be taken out of theym nayled or pynned with yron or leed And fro thens forthe the reuenwes to be payable to the owners and also though it be so that some of our subiectes of Gaunt haue done homage for suche landes as they holde to other lordes than to the true owners wherby their landes myght be fortifyed Natwithstandynge we of our specyall grace wyll that they shall styll enioye suche landes in doynge to vs homage for that they holde of vs without and to other meane for that they holde of them And also we graunt all disenherytaunces and recognysauÌ„ces done by the lawe bytwene any partes to stande so that our subiectes of GauÌ„t aldermen counsaylours coÌ„mens of the same and their adherentes by their owne good wylles renounce all their alyaunces promises oblygacions made and homage that they or any of them haue done or made to the kyng of Englande or to any of his deputies or officers or to any other that be no good wyllers to the kyng or to vs And frohens forwarde to swere to be true to the kyng as to their seueraygne lorde and to his successours kynges of Fraunce and to vs as their ryght lorde and lady and to our successours erles of Flaunders to vs do seruyce as true subiectes ought to do to their lorde lady As to defende our persons honours herytages and rightes and to lette to their powers all suche as wolde the contrarye and to gyue knowledge therof to vs or to our officers sauynge alwayes their priuyleges and fraunchesse Also to the entent that oure subiectes of the towne of GauÌ„t shulde be alwayes in good peace and true obeysaunce to the kyng and to vs and to our heyres erles of Flaunders and to eschewe all disceÌ„syons debates that myght fall We wyll and ordayne that all these sayde artycles be surely kepte without breakynge straitely we coÌ„maunde all our subiectes on payne to lese that they maye lese to vs that for any occasyon of the sayd debates or disceÌ„syoÌ„s that they do nothing openly nor priuely iÌ„ worde nor dede that shulde be preiudicall to theÌ„ of gaunt nor to rebuke or to gyue theym any yuell language And if any do contrarye to these sayde artycles or do any iniury or domage to theym of Gaunte or to any of their alyes or any that helde on our partie by occasyon of any of the sayd debates or discencyons do any suche offence that by suche knowledge of the lordes offycers and by the lawes to whom it appertayneth that the dede be cremenell the doers ayders and counsayle kepars withoute fraude be punysshed by their bodyes and goodes as brekers of the peace as well by iustyce of our officers as of our lordes officers by the lawes of the countrey to whom it apparteyneth and reasonable satisfactyon made to the partie hurte of the goodes of the trespasar and the resudue to vs or to the lordes of the soyle sauyng euer to all townes their priuyleges And if any of our burgesses of the sayd towne of gauÌ„t though they be nat banysshed by the lawe and if they be gyltie for breakynge of this peace thynke by reason of the priuylegê of olde tyme therby to be saued and nat to lese any of their goodes yet nowe we wyll by this present treatie that they shall lese their goodes and the ê‘tie hurte satisfyed therof as is said before and the resydue to come to the right heyres as thoughe they were deed in all other cases sauyng the priuyleges of the towne of Gaunte And if suche yuell doers can nat be taken thanÌ„e they to be banysshed and depriued fro their goodê Also if there be any that in wordes or otherwyse do contrarye to this our said ordynaunce and coÌ„e to the knowledge of our offycers We wyll that all suche be punysshed and to make amendes in suche maner that they maye be ensample to all other The punysshment to be done by the offycers of the lawe by them to whom the right apparteyneth Natwithstandynge any priuyledge or Fraunchesse of any place Also if any persone of the churche do agaynst this ordynasice than he to be delyuered to his ordynarie he to take suche vengeauÌ„ce on him as a breaker of the peace and as the case requireth Also we wyll that this sayd peace bytwene vs and oure subiectes be cryed and publysshed solempnely in this towne and in all other townes of FlauÌ„ders And herafter if any dout be made in any of the sayd artycles or cyrcumstaunces therof We shall than declare cause to be declared by our counsayle euery thynge that all parties shall of reason holde them content And we aldermen burgesses and coÌ„monties of the towne of Gaunt for vs and all oure adherentes We receyue and haue receyued huÌ„bly the sayd graces pardons and benefytes to vs done by kyng Charles our souerayne lorde and by the said duke and duchesse erle and couÌ„tesse of FlauÌ„ders our naturall lorde and lady of the whiche graces and pardons we thanke with all our hertes the kyng our souerayne lorde and his successours and our naturall lorde and lady aforsayd erle and countesse of Flaunders And we make and shall make ê“myse as trewe and faythfull subiectes ought to do and we shall kepe and defeÌ„de their personages and honours In wytnesse of the whiche thynges we the sayde duke and duchesse haue putte our seales to these present letters And we shyriffes aldermen burgesses and coÌ„mons of the sayde towne of Gaunt haue also putte to the seale of the towne of
other countreis The yonge kynge enclyned lightely to his wordes for he loued him with all his hart bicause they had been norisshed vp toguyder And this erle had great alyaunces with dyuers lordes and knightes of Englande for he dyde all his maters by the counsayle of sir Symon Burle sir Robert Treuelyen ser Nicholas Brambre sir Iohan Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la pole And also sir Thomas Tryuet and sir Wylliam Helmon were named to be of the same ê‘te so that by the dyffernes and discorde bitwene the kynge and his vncles and the nobles and commons of the realme many yuels came therby in EnglaÌ„de as ye shall here hereafter in this hystorie IT was nat longe after that the erle of Cambridge departed out of Portyngale but that the kynge Feraunt felle sicke and so contynued a hole yere and dyed than he had no mo chyldren but the Quene of Spayne Than kynge Iohan of Castell was enformed of his deth and howe that the realm of Portyngale was fallen in to his haÌ„des and howe that he was ryghtfull heyre thervnto by reason of the dethe of the kynge Sother was dyuers couÌ„sayls kept on that mater and some sayd howe that the Portingales were so harde harted people that they wold nat be had without it were by conquest And in dede whan the portyngales sawe howe they were without a kyng than they determyned by counsayle to sende to a bastarde brother of the kynges a sage and a valyant man called Deuyse but he was a man of relygton and was mayster of the hospytals in all the realme They sayd they had rather be vnder the rule of this maister Denyse than vnder the rule of the kynge of Castell for they reputed hym no bastarde that hath good corage to do well Whan this mayster Denyse vnderstode the coÌ„mens wyll of foure chiefe cyties of Portyngale for they hadde great affectyon to crowne hym kyng wherof he had great ioye and so wrote secretely to his frendes and came to Lurbone whiche is the kay of the realme The people of the towne receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym if they crowned him kyng wheder he wolde be good to theÌ„ or nat and kepe the lande in their fraunchese And he aunswered and sayd he wolde be to theÌ„ as they desyred and that they had neuer a better kynge than he wolde be Than they of Luxbone wrote to Connubres to Pount de portugale and to them of Dourke These were the kayes of the Realme and so they determyned to crowne to their kyng this mayster Denyse who was a sage a valyant man and of good gouernauÌ„ce and was brother to kyng Ferant for they sawe well the realme coude nat be longe without a kyng as well for feare of the spay mardes as of the myscreaÌ„tes of Granado and of Bongie who marched on them So these sayde townes and certayne of the lordes of the lande enclined to him but some of the lordê sayd that it was nat mete a bastarde to be crowned kyng And the people of the good townes said that it shulde be so for of necessyte they must so do sithe they had none other and seyng that he was a valyant and a sage man bothe in wyâ—te and in dedes of armes And they toke ensample by kynge Henry who was crowned kyng of Castell by electyon of the countrey and for the coÌ„mon profyte and that was done kynge Peter beynge a lyue So thus the electyon abode on this maister Denyse and solemynely he was crowned in the Cathedrall churche of Connubres by the accorde and puyssaunce of the coÌ„mons of the realme And there he sware to kepe iustyce to do ryght to his people and to kepe and maynteyne their frauncheses and to lyue and dye with them wherof they hadde great ioye Whan these tidynges came to the hearyng of don Iohan kyng of Castell he was sore displeased therwith and for two causes The one was bycause his wyfe was enheryter there the other bycause the people by election hadde crowned maister Denyse kynge there Wherfore this kyng Iohan toke tytell to make warr and to demauÌ„de of them of Luxbone the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande florens whiche Ferant promysed hym whan he toke his doughter to his wyfe So than he sende the Erle of Terme therle of Ribydea and the bysshoppe of Burges in to Portyngale as his ambassadours to them of Luxbone whan they were at saynt prayne the laste towne of Castell towarde Luxbone Than they sent an haraulde to the kyng and to them of Luxbone to haue a saue conducte to go and come and to furnysshe their voyage whiche was graunted lightly so they came to Luxbone and so the towne assembled their counsayle toguyder and the ambassadours shewed why they were come thyder and finally sayde ye sirs of Luxbone ye ought iustely nat to marueyle if the kyng our souerayne lorde demaundeth of you the soÌ„me of money that ye are bounde for And is nat coÌ„tent that ye haue gyuen the noble crowne of Portyngale to a clerke a man of relygion and a bastarde It is a thynge nat to be suffred for by rightfull election there is non nerer to the crowne thaÌ„ he And also ye haue done this without the assent of the nobles of the realme Wherfore the kyng our maister saythe that ye haue done yuell And without that ye shortely do remedy the make he wyll make you sharpe warâ— To the whiche wordes don Feraunt Gallopes de vyle fois a notable burgesse of the cyte answered and sayd Sirs ye reproche vs greatly for our electyon but your owne election is as moche reprouable for ye crowned in Spaygne a bastarde sonne to a iewe And it is clerely knowen that to the ryghtfull election your kynge hath no right to the realem of Portyngale for the right resteth in the doughters of kyng Peter who be in Englande maryed bothe ConstauÌ„ce and Isabell maryed to the duke of I an castre to therle of Cambridge Wherfore sers ye may departe whan ye wyll and retourne to them that sent you hyder and say that our electyon is good whiche we wyll kepe and other kyng we wyll haue none as long as he lyste to be our kyng And as for the soÌ„me of money that ye demauÌ„de of vs we say we are nothyng bouÌ„de therto take it of them that were bouÌ„de therfore and of suche as had the profyte therof At this answere the kynge of Portyngall was nat presentâ— howbeit he knewe well what shulde be sayd And whaÌ„ these ambassadours sawe they coude haue non other answere they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Cyuell where they lafte the kyng and his couÌ„sayle to whom they shewed all the said answere Than the kyng of Spayne toke couÌ„sayle what was best to do in this mater Than it was determyned that the kyng of Portyngale shulde be desied and howe that the kyng of Spayne had a good
you but nat as nowe for the mater is ouer longe and we are nere the towne as ye se Therwith I left the knight in peace and so we came to Tarbe and toke oure lodgynge at the Starre and there taryed all that day for it was a towne of great easement bothe for man and horse with good hay otes and a fayre ryuer THe nexte day after masse we mounted a horsbacke and departed fro Tarbe came to a towne called Iorre whiche valyantlye alwayes helde agaynst them of Lourde so we passed by the towne withoute and than entred in to the countrey of Bierne Than the knight stode styll and sayd Sir beholde here is Bierne and we stode in a crosse waye The knight aduysed bym whiche waye to take outher to Morlens or to Panne At laste we toke the way to Morlens ridynge ouer the lauÌ„des of Bierne whiche were right playne Thafie I demaunded of hym if the towne of Panne were nere vs and he sayde yes and so he shewed me the steple Howe be it the distauÌ„ce was farther of than it semed for it was anyuel way to ryde bycause of the myres to theÌ„ that knewe nat the countre and nat farre thens was the castell of Lourde and I demaunded who was as than capitayne there He sayd that as than the seneschall of Bigore was capitayne there admytted by the kynge of Englande brother to ser Peter of Bierne as ye haue herde before That is trewe sir quod I But dyde he neuer after go to se the erle of Foiz He answered and sayd Sithe the dethe of his brother he neuer came there but other of his company hath ben often with the erle as Peter Dauchyn Erualton of Restue Erualton of saynt Colome and other Sir quod I hath the erle of Foiz made any amendes for the dethe of that knight or sorie for his dethe yes truely sir quod he he was right sorie for his dethe but as for amendes I knowe of none without it be by secrete penauÌ„ce masses or prayers He hathe with hym the same knightes sonne called Iohan of Byerne a gracyous squyer the erle loueth hym right well Ah sir quod I the duke of Aniowe who that wolde so fayne haue the castell of Lourde ought to be well content with the erle of Foyz whan he slewe suche a knight his owne cosyn for to accomplysshe his desyre By my faythe sir quod he so he was For anone after that the duke came to the Frenche kyng the kynge sent in to this countre sir Roger of Spaygne and a presydent of the parlyament chambre of Parys and letters sealed makyng mencion howe the kynge dyde gyue to the erle of Foiz the couÌ„tie of Bygore duryng his lyfe to holde the same of the crowne of Fraunce The Erle thanked greatly the kyng for the great loue that he shewed him and for that great gyfte without any request makynge But for all that the sayd sir Roger of Spaygne coude doâ— saye or shewe the erle in no wyse wolde take the gyfte but he toke the castell of Maluoysin bycause it was a fre lande For that castell and the purteynauÌ„ce holdeth of no man but of God and also auncyently it parteyneth to his enherytaunce The frenche kyng by the meanes of the duke of Aniowe dyd gyue it hym And the erle sware and ê“mysed to take it on a condycion that he shuld neuer sette man there that shulde do any yuell to the realme of Fraunce and so he dyde For suche as were ther feared as moche thenglisshe men as any other Frenche garysons in Gascoyne but the Bernoyse durst nat tonne in to the countre of Foyz ⸪ Howe the peace was made bitwene the duke of Berry and therle of Foiz and of the begynninge of the warre that was bitwene therle of Foiz and the erle of Armynake Cap. xxv ALl these maters that sir Espayne de Leon shewed me right well coÌ„tented me euery nyght assoone as we were at our lodgynges I wrote euer alâ—â—hat I herde in the day the better therby to haue theÌ„ in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce for writyng is the best remeÌ„brauÌ„ce that may beâ— so we rode the sayd mornyng to Morlens but are we came there I said sir I haue forget to demauÌ„de of you whan ye shewed me the aduentures of Foiz dyde dissymule with the duke of Berrey who had to wyues the doughter and suster of therle of Armynake and wheder that the duke of Berry made him any warre howe he dyd Howe he dyd quod the knight I shall shewe you In tyme past the duke of Berrey wolde him as moche yuell as he coude ymagyn but as nowe by meanes whiche ye shall hereof whan ye come to Ortaise they be accorded Why sir ê™ I was there any cause why the duke shulde be displeased with hym As helpe me god ê™ the knight non but I shal shewe you the cause Whan Charles the frenche kyng father to kyng Charles that nowe is was dyssessed the realme of FrauÌ„ce was deuyded in two partes as in the gouernyng therof For the duke of Aniou who entended to go in to Italy as he dyd he gaue vs the rule than his two bretherne the duke of Berry and the duke of Burgoyne had the rule The duke of Berry had the gouernynge of Languedocke and the duke of Burgoyne ruled Languedoyle and Picardy Whan they of Languedocke vnderstode that the duke of Berry had the gouernyng ouer them they were sore abasshed and specially they of Tholous for they knewe well that the duke was a sore taker of golde and syluer and a sore oppressar of the people Also ther was in Carcassone and in Rouergue bretons and tholousins whiche the duke of Aniou had left in the couÌ„tre and they robbed pylled the brute ran that the duke of Berry maynteyned them to th eÌ„tent to ouer maister the good townes but in this season that I speke of the duke of Berrey was nat in the couÌ„tre there he was with the kyng in FlauÌ„ders They of Tholous who be great and puissant parceyued howe the frenche kyng was yonge and was greatly busyed in Flaunders for the ayde of his vncle the duke of Burgoyn And they sawe well howe they were dayly robbed and pilled by the britons and other so that they wyste nat what to do Than they sent and treated with the erle of Foiz desyring hym for a certayne soÌ„me of money that they offred hym euery moneth to be payed that he wolde take on him the gouernynge of Tholous and of the couÌ„tre of Tholousin and also he was desyred of other townes in lykewise they desyred hym bycause they knewe hym for a iuste man and a rightwyse in iustyce redouted of his enemyes and fortunate in all his businesse and also they of Tholous loued hym for he had been euer to them a good neyghbour Thus he toke on him the charge and the gouernynge and sware to maynteyne and kepe the countre in their ryght agaynst
of his house wher me was bycause I had brought with me a boke whiche I made at the conteÌ„placion of Vmslance of Boesme duke of Luzenbourge and of Brabant Whiche boke was called the Melyader conteyninge all the songes baladdes rundeaux and vyrelayes whiche the gentyll duke had made in his tyme whiche by imagynacyon I had gadered toguyder whiche boke the erle of Foiz was gladde to se And euery night after supper I reed theron to hym and whyle I reed there was none durst speke any worde bycause he wolde I shulde be well vnderstande wherin he tooke great solace And whan it came to any mater of questyon than he wolde speke to me nat in Gascoyne but in good and fayre frenche And of his estate and house I shall somewhat recorde for I taryed thereso long that I might well parceyue and knowe moche This erle Gascone of Foiz with whom I was at that tyme he was of a fyftie yere of age and nyne and I say I haue in my tyme sene many knightes kynges princes other but I neuer sawe none lyke hym of personage nor of so fayre forme nor so well made His vysage fayre sanguyne smylyng his eyen gray and amorous where as he lyst to set his regarde in euery thyng he was so parfite that he can nat be praised to moche He loued that ought to be beloued hated that ought to be hated He was a wyse knyght of highe enterprise and of good counsayle he neuer had myscreant with hym He sayd many orisons euery daye a nocturne of the psalter matyns of our lady of the holy goost and of the crosse and dirige euery day he gaue fyue florens in small money at his gate to poore folkes for the loue of god he was large and courtesse in gyftes He coulde ryght well take where it parteyned to hym and to delyuer agayne where as he ought He loued houÌ„des of all beestes wynter and somer He loued huntyng he neuer loued folly outrage nor foly larges Euery moneth he wolde knowe what he spended He tooke in his countre to receyue his reuenewes and to serue him notable ê‘sons that is to saye .xii. receyuouts and euer fro .ii. monethes to two monethes two of them shulde serue for his receyte For at the two monethes ende he wolde change and put other two in to that offyce and one that he trusted best shulde be his comptroller and to hym all other shulde accompt and the comptroller shulde accoÌ„pt to hym by rolles and bokes written and thaccoÌ„ptes to remayne styll with therle he had certeyne cofers in his chambre out of the whiche ofte tymes he wolde take money to gyue to lordê knyghtes and squyers suche as came to hym for none shulde departe fro him without some gift and yet dayly multiplyed his treasure to resyst the adueÌ„tures and fortunes that he douted He was of good and easy acquayntance with euery man and amorously wolde speke to theÌ„ He was shorte in counsayle and answers He had four secretaries and at his risyng they must euer be redy at his hande without any callynge And whan any letter were delyuered him and that he had reed it than he wolde calle them to write agayne or els for some other thynge In this estate therle of Foiz lyued at mydnight whan he came out of his chambre in to the hall to supper he had euer before hym .xii. torches brennyng borne by .xii. varlettes standyng before his table all supper they gaue a gret light and the hall euer full of knightes and squyers many other tables dressed to suppe who wolde There was none shulde speke to hym at his table but if he were called his meate was lightlye wylde soule the legges and wyngê alonely and in the day he dyd but lytell eate and drike He had great pleasure in armony of instrumeÌ„tes he coude do it right well hym selfe he wolde haue songes song before him he wolde gladlye se conseytes and fantesies at his table And whan he had sene it than he wolde sende it to the other tables bruely all this I consydred aduised And or I came to his court I had ben in many courtes of kynges dukes princes erles and great ladyes but I was neuer in none that so well liked me nor ther was none more reioysed dedes of armes than the erle dyde There was sene in his hall chaÌ„bre and court knightes and squyers of honour goyng vp downe and talkyng of armes and of amours All honour ther was founde all maner of tidyngê of euery realme and countre ther might be herde for out of euery couÌ„tre there was resort for the valyantnesse of this erle Ther I was enfourmed of the moost parte of the dedes of armes that was done in Spayne in Portyngale in Aragon in Nauar in Englande in Scotlande and in the fronters and lymitacions of LaÌ„gue docke For I sawe come thyder to therle while I was there knightes and squyers of all nacyons And so I was enformed by them by the erle him selfe of all thynges that I demauÌ„ded Ther I enqÌ„red howe Gascon therles son died for ser Espayn of Leon wolde nat shewe me any thing therof somoch I enqÌ„red that an auÌ„cient squyer a notable maÌ„shewed the mater to me began thus True it is quod he that the erle of Foiz and my lady of Foiz his wife agreeth nat well toguyder nor haue nat done of a long season And the discorde bytwene theÌ„ first moued by the kyng of Nauar who was brother to the lady For the kyng of Nauar pledged him selfe for the lorde Dalbret whom the erle of Foiz had in prisone for the soÌ„me of fyftie thousande frankes And the erle of Foiz who knewe that the kyng of Nauarr was craftie malycious in the beginnyng wolde nat trust hym wherw t the countesse of Foiz had great displeasur and indignacyon agaynst the erle her husbande sayd to hym Sir ye repute but small honour in the kyng of Nauar my brother whaÌ„ ye wyll nat trust hym for fyftie M. frankes thoughe ye haue no more of the armynakes nor of the labrisyence than ye haue it ought to suffyce also ser ye knowe well ye shulde assigne out my dower whiche mouÌ„teth to fyftie thousande fraÌ„kes whiche ye shulde put in to the haÌ„des of my brother the kyng of Nauarr Wherfore sir ye can nat be yuell payed Dame quod he ye saye trouthe but if I thought that the kyng of Nauarr wolde stoppe the payment for that cause the lorde Dalbret shulde neuer haue gone oute of Ortayse and so I shulde haue ben payed to the last penny And sithe ye desyre it I wyll do it nat for the loue of you but for the loue of my sonne So by these wordes and by the kyng of Nauars oblygacion who became dettoure to the erle of Foiz the lorde Dalbret was delyuered quyte and became frenche was maryed in FrauÌ„ce to the suffer of the duke
horses and so rode to Sanetere and theâ— lodged that night And the nexte day they departed and entred in to the lande of Baseles toke the waye to Panpylone and they passed surely for they payed truely for all that they tooke And in the same season whyle the kyng laye in Lixbone had layen there the space of a yere Than they of the towne of saynt yrayne rebelled agaynst the kyng of Castell and closed their gates sayde that nother French nor spaynisshe shulde entre in to their towne bycause of the domage that they had done to them and oppressyons And some sayd it was in the faute of Geffray Rycous company and sir Parteney who had a coÌ„pany of bretons who toke euer that they might gette for they set nothyng by peace Than the cytezins toke the two castelles sayd how they wolde kepe them and their towne agaynst all ê‘sons that wolde do theÌ„ any hurte and the same day that they rebelled they slewe mo than threscore bretons and had nere slayne sir Geffray Partenay but that he saued hym selfe vnder the walles of the towne that were nere his lodgynge Than the frenchmen bretons that were there fiersly assauted them of saynt yrayne but they lost more than they wonne and so dyd nothynge These tidynges came in to the hoost to the kyng of Castell howe that they of saynt yrayn were tourued portyngalois howe they were in mynde to delyuer the towne and castelles to the kyng of Portyngale Of whiche newes the kynge was nat content and called to hym his marshall sir Raynolde Lymosin and said take a hundred or two hundred speares go to saiÌ„t yrayne and knowe why the men of the towne do rebell and what occasion they haue to do as they haue done So the marshall rode forthe with hym a two hundred speares and came to saynt yrayne he sent before hym an haraulde to shewe them of his comyng howe he wolde speke with them at the barryers and so he dyde his message and it was answered hym by theÌ„ of the towne sayeng Sir haralde we knowe right well Sir Raynolde Lymosin is a gentylman and a valyant knight and is marshall with the kyng he may rightwell come hyder if it please hym vnarmed in to the towne or els nat This was all the message that the haralde brought to his mayster ThanÌ„e sir Raynolde sayd I am nat come hyder to do theÌ„ any domage but to knowe their ententes It is all one to me to entre armed or vnarmed to knowe their wylles And so he and sixe with hym rode thyder vnarmed and lefte all his coÌ„pany behynde hym and so he a lyghted before the barryers whan they within sawe him in that estate they opyned the gate receyued him in to the towne and made hym good chere and than he assembled the people in the market place and sayde Sirs all ye that dwell in this towne take hede what I saye I am sente hyder by the kynge of Castell to demaunde of you for what enteÌ„cion ye do rebell close your gates and haue slayne of them that be come hyder to serue the kynge Knowe for trouthe the kyng is sore displeased with you and also he is enfourmed howe that ye haue taken in possessyon the two castelles of this towne whiche parteyneth to his enherytaunce and howe that ye wyll delyuer them to his aduersary the kyng of Portyngale Than they aunswered and sayd Sir Raynolde sauynge the kynges grace we are nat so disposed nor to rendre them to any mannes handes but to our kynge The kynge of Castell of whome we holde them so that he gouerne vs in peace iustice and that we do or haue done was in the faut of these robbers and pyllers the bretons who were lodged in this towne for yf we had been sarazyns or worse people we coulde nat haue ben worse dalte withall than we were as in rauysshinge of our wyues and doughters breakynge vp our coffers and breakynge out of the heedes of our vesselles of wyne beatynge and meamynge of vs whan we speke any worde to them Therfore it can nat be marueyled whan we sawe these outrages done to vs and to ours by theÌ„ that shulde defende vs though we were displeased Men wyll be displeased for lesse cause Sir ye maye shewe all this if it please you for we be of one accorde that whosoeuer come we wyll receyue in to our towne nother frenche nor breton nor none but the kynges owne persone with suche as shall please hym so that we be nat traueyled nor putte to vyolence WhanÌ„e sir Raynolde herde them saye so he was a peased for it semed to hym that they dyd no wronge to putte out of their towne their enemyes than he sayde O ye good people I haue well herde you and well vnderstande you ye shall abyde in peace and I wyll retourne to the kynge and shewe hym all that ye haue sayd and in good faythe I shall do for you as moche as in me is possyble to do Sir we thanke you quod they and we trust in you that if the kyng haue any yuell informacyon of vs that ye wyll be oure good meane And than sir Raynolde tooke his leaue and departed and retourned to his company who abode for hym in the feldes And so he rode tyll he came to the hoost before Lixbone and lyghted at his lodgynge and went to the kynge and shewed hym all that he hadde harde and founde with theÌ„ of yrayne Whan the kyng knewe the trouthe he sayd By my faythe they haue done wisely for no man can be sure of thes robbets And whan sir Geffray Richone and sir Geffray Partenay their companyes sawe howe they coulde haue none other remedy of them of saynt yrayne and that the kynge of Castell dissymuled with them They were sore displeased and sayd among them selfe We haue well lefte the realme of Fraunce to come hyder to serue the kyng of spayne thus to be shamed domaged by a sorte of villayns and we can haue no right We trust shortly hyder wyll come a sorte of knightes of Gascone we wyll suffre tyll they come And than we wyll all agree togyder and reueng our companyons that they haue slayne and yuell entreated Tidynges came in to the hoost to the kyng and to his counsayle that the bretons sore manasshed them of saynt yrayne and maketh their auaunte that the Gascoyns one 's coÌ„e howe they shulde derely paye for that is done Wherfore the kyng was counsayled to departe fro the siege and to go refresshe hym a season at saynt yrayns and to sette the mater in a good waye and so theâ— to tary the comyng of the gascoyns of whome there were a foure hundred speares of good men of warre Wherof they kynge was ioyfull and wolde nat that they shulde fynde the couÌ„tre in trouble at their comynge And also moche of his people desyred to refresshe theym for there
they had layen longe and nothynge done Than it was commaunded euery man to dislodge and to drawe towarde saynt yrayne Than the spanyardes dyslodged and all other and so came in to the marchesse of saynt yrayne Whan they of saint yrayne knewe howe the kynge of Castell was comyng towarde their towne They ordayned twelfe men the most notablest persons of their towne to mount on their horses so they dyde and rode tyll they came where the kyng was to knowe his pleasure And the kynge was a lighted vnder the shadowe of Olyue trees to refresshe hym for the great heate that was than And this was a two leages fro saynt yrayne there was sir Raynolde Lymosin marshall of the hoost who knewe of their comynge and so he was present by the kynge whan they came and kneled downe and said as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Howe the kyng of Castell lefte the siege of Lixbone and howe they of saynt yrayne excused them selfe Cap. xxxii RIght redouted prince and noble kynge of Castell we are come hyder to youre presens sende fro the poore coÌ„mynaltie of your poore towne bayliwike of saynt yrayne To theÌ„ it is gyuen to vnderstande howe ye be greatly with them displeased And sir wheder it be thus or shal be right redouted sir the faute came nat by them but by reason of the iniuryes and oppressyons that the bretons hath done to theÌ„ suche as were in their towne Sir all their yuell dedes can nat come to knowledge sir we blame nat the maysters squiers nor knightes nor capitens but all onely them that dyded vs hurte For sir these pyllers and robbers bretons haue doone with vs suche dedes that it were marueyle to thynke or to recorde it Sir they helde a season in subiectyon the towne and countre about saynt yrayne so that we herde of theym many great complayntes And sir in the dispyte of vs they wolde breake vp oure cofers and take all that we had and vyolate our wyues our doughters before our faces And whan we spake any worde we were beten maymed or slayne In this pouertie we were a two monethes or more wherfore right redouted noble kynge we besech your grace if we haue displeased you for this cause or for any other that it maye please you that we may haue true iustyce and laufull informacyon and to maynteygne vs in our ryght as ye promysed and sware to vs to kepe vs in our lyberties the first tyme we sware you kynge in the towne of saynt yrayne sir ye shall do great almesse on vs. For sir whan ye be come thyder we truste in you and in your counsayle to be suche noblenesse that the towne of saynt yrayne shal be opyned agaynst your comynge And that it may please yor grace your poore people there cryeng for mercy and complaynynge of their iniuryes and oppressyons done to them That youre royall maiestie and your noble counsayle wyll graunt them grace and remyssyon of that is paste and to remedy their wronges The kyng stode styll a lytell sir Raynolde Lymosin kneled downe and said Dere sir ye haue herde your people of saynt yrayns complaynt shewyng what hath ben don to them Wherfore may it plase you to answere them Raynold quod the kyng we knowe well they had a iuste cause to do as they dyde Go to them and bydde them ryse and go their wayes to saynt yrayne and make redy for my comyng for theâ— we wyll lye this night And also shewe theÌ„ howe they shal be well maynteyned in their right Than sir Raynolde rose and went to theÌ„ and sayd Sirs a ryse the kyng hath well conceyued your sayeng ye desyre but right and iustyce that ye shall haue Go your wayes and apparell as ye ought to do the towne of saynte yrayns agaynst the kynges comyng and do so that he may gyue you thaÌ„ke your maters shall come well to passe by suche meanes as ye shall haue in your ayde Sir quod they we thanke you Than they toke their leaue of the kyng retourned to their towne and shewed all that they had herde of the kyng the answere that sir Raynolde Lymosin made them on the kynges behalfe wherof all they of the towne were gladde Than they apparelled their towne richely agaynst the kyngê comyng and strawed the stretes with fresshe grene herbes So the kyng entred in the euenyng and lodged at the castell called the Lyon and his men in the towne as many as might and the moost ê‘te in the feldes and in the villages therabout Theâ— the kyng was well a moneth and so the mater stode for if they had done more more had they lost ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Of the marueylous batayle that was at Iuberoth bytwene the kynge of Castell and kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale Cap. xxxiii WHyle the kynge of Castell was at saiÌ„t yrayns theâ— come to hym the gascons of Bierne with a fayre coÌ„pany sir Raynolde Lymosin rode to receyue them and welcomed them ryght swetely as he that coulde right well do it and brought theÌ„ to the kyng who had great ioye of their comynge and coÌ„maunded sir Raynolde Lymosin to se them well lodged at their ease and he dyde so that they were contented Thus these busynesses rested the kyng laye styll at saynt yrayns and his people there about The kynge of Castell hadde as than abrode lodged in the feldes and therabout a four thousande men of armes and .xxx. thousande of other And on a daye he called the barones of Fraunce to counsayle to knowe their myndes howe he shulde meÌ„tayne forthe his warre for he had layen at great cost before Liâ—bone and had done nothynge And surely if the gascoins had nat come and encoraged the kynge he had deê‘ted fro saynt yrayns and gone outher to Bergus or into Galice for his people were sore anoyed to lye so longe in the feldes Whan the knyghtes of Fraunce and of Bierne were come before the kynge he sayde Fayre sirs ye be all good men of warre wherfore I wolde haue your couÌ„sayle howe I may maynteyne my warre agaynst the lyxbonoyes and portyngaloyes that haue kepte me here in the felde a yere and yet I haue done nothynge to them I had thought to haue gotte them out of Lixbone to haue fought with them but they wolde in no wyse issue out wherfore my people gyue me counsayle to gyue euery man leaue to departe to their owne houses wherfore I pray you gyue me youre aduyse The knyghtes of Fraunce and of Byerne who were but newely come and desyred armes and as than had nothynge done thynking to deserue their wages that they had receyued aunswered and sayde Sir ye be a puyssant man of landes and lytell costeth you the payne and traueyle of your people and specially sithe they be in their owne countrey We wolde nat saye so moche yf they were in a straunge countre clene without prouysion but as nowe we saye they ought nat to gyue you any suche counsayle
for they be here in as great ease as we se as though they were at home Sir we saye to you nat in maner of a determynate couÌ„sayle for ye are wyse ynough but we thynke by your highe prudence the best were to chuse as yet to kepe the felde ye maye well kepe it tyll the feest of saint Michaell and paradueÌ„ture by that tyme your enemyes wyll assemble togyder and drawe out in to the felde whan ye take leest hede therto and so thaÌ„ without fayle they shal be fought withall Sir we haue great desyre to wyn soÌ„what for this iourney hath cost vs moche and great payne traueyle bothe to our self and to our horses or we came in to this couÌ„tre Therfore sir it shall nat be the opinyon of our company thus to departe agayne By my faithe quod the kyng ye speke well and truely In this warre other I shall vse fro hens forthe after your counsayle for the kyng my father I also haue founde alwayes in youre countreis great trouthe and faythfulnesse And god haue mercy of sir Bertram of Clesquyes soule for he was a true knyght by whome in his tyme we had many recoueraunses and good iourneys THe wordes and counsails that the kyng had of them of Fraunce and of Bierne were anone knowen among the lordes knightes of Spaygne wherwith they were sore displeased for two causes One bycause it semed to them that their kyng had more trust and coÌ„fydence in straungers than in them who were his liege men and had crowned hym kyng the seconde was in that they of Fraunce counsayled the kyng to kepe styll his warre and they felyng them selfe so wery of the warre so spake among them selfe in dyuers maners nat openlye but priuely They wolde saye the kyng coude make no warre but by the frenchmen and in lykewise no more coude his father so they had great enuy at the frenche men whiche well appered For whan the freÌ„che varlettes went out a forragyng if the spaynisshe forrengers were stronger than they wolde take their forage fro them and beate them and mayme them so that complayntes came therof to the kynge and he blamed therfore his marshall sir Raynolde Lymosyn and sayde Why haue ye nat prouyded for this mater The marshall excused hym and sayde As god might helpe hym he knewe nothynge therof and that he wolde prouyde a remedy fro thens forthe Incontynent he stablysshed men of armes to kepe the feldes that the frenche forreÌ„gers rode at their suretie and also he made a crye and a coÌ„maundement that euery man that had any vitayle or prouision to sell that they shulde bringe it to the felde before saiÌ„t yrayns and they shuld haue a prise reasonable for euery thyng So than the straungers had largely their parte for the kyng ordayned that they shulde be serued before all other wherof the spanyardes had great dispyte So it was the same weke that the kyng of Castell departed fro the siege of Lixbone thre great shyppes of men of warre and Englysshe archers aryued at Lixbone they were to the noÌ„bre of fyue hundred one other And the thirde parte of them were of the coÌ„panyons aduenturers hauyng no wages of no man some were of Calys of Chierburge of Brest in Bretayne of Mortaygne in Poytou They had herde of the warre bytwene Castell and Portyngale they came to Burdeux and ther assembled and sayd Let vs go at aduenture in to Portyngale we shall fynde them there that wyll receyue vs and sette vs awarke Sir Iohan Harpedan who as than was marshall of Burdeux counsayled theÌ„ greatly therto for he wolde nat they shulde abyde in burdeloys for they might ther haue done more hurte than good bycause they were companyons aduenturers and had nothyng to lese Of them that arryued at Lixbon I can nat name all There were thre squyers englysshe that were their capitayns One was called Northbery and another Morbery and the thirde Huguelyn of Harcerell And there were none of them paste the age of fyftie yere and good men of armes well vsed in the feates of warâ— Of the comyng of these Englysshe men they of Lixbone were right gladde and so was the kyng of Portyngale who wolde se theÌ„ and so they went to the palays where the kyng was who made them great chere And demauÌ„ded of them if the duke of Lancastre had sent them thyder Sir quod Northbery it is a longe season sythe he had any knowledge of vs or we of hym Sir we be men of dyuers sortes sekynge for aduentures here be some are come to serue you fro the towne of Calays By my faythe quod the kynge you and they bothe are right hartely welcome your comyng dothe me great good and ioye and shortely I shall sette you a warke We haue ben here inclosed a gret season so that we be wery therof but nowe we wyll be at large in the felde as well as our enemyes hath been Sir quod they we desyre nothynge els and sir we desyre you that shortely we maye se youre enemyes The kynge made them a dyner in his palays at Lixbone and coÌ„maunded that they shulde all be lodged in the cytie at their ease and to be payed for their wages for thre monethes Than the kyng set his clerkes awarke and made letters and sente theÌ„ ouer all his realme coÌ„maundynge euery man able to beare harnesse to drawe to Lixbone ALl suche as these letters came vnto obeyed nat for many abode styll iÌ„ their houses for thre partes of the Realme dissymuled with the kynge and with theym of Lixbone bycause they had crowned kynge a bastarde and spake great wordê ther agaynst priuely And bycause of the great trouble and dyffereÌ„ce that the kynge of Castell and his couÌ„sayle sawe in the realme of Portyngale made hym to auaunce hym selfe to the entent to haue conquered the countre Sayenge howe all shulde be wonne with one dayes iourney of batayle and that yf they of Lixbone might be ouerthrowen the resydue of the countrey wolde nat be sorie of it but put out of the realme that mayster Denyce or elles slee hym and than it shulde be a lande of conquest for hym for his wyfe was ryght enherytoure yet with a good wyll kynge Iohan of Castell wolde haue lefte the warre but his people wolde nat suffre him for they euer gaue hym corage Sayeng how his quarell and cause was iuste And whan the kynge of Portyngale sawe that his commaundement was nat obserued and that moche of his people disobeyed to serue hym he was right pensyue and malencolyous He called to hym suche as he trusted best of Lixbone and of the knyghtes of his house who dyde their payne to crowne hym and also they had serued kyng Ferant As sir Iohan Radygos and sir IohnÌ„ Teatedore the lorde of Siegere and sir GoÌ„me of Tabeston Ambrise Condricho and Peter his brother ser Ouges of Nauaret a knyght of Castell who was tourned Portyngaloyes
kynge loked vp and by semynge was gladde with those wordes the spanyardê were abasshed and feared they had done gretter trespace than they dyd for though the marshall reproued them and spake agaynst them yet they had well spoken and truely couÌ„sayled the kyng but what for valyantnesse to please the strangers who desyred batayle the marshall spake as he dyde Than euery man was styll and the kynge sayd I wyll in the name of god and saynt Iames that our enemyes be fought with all and all suche as wyll be made knyghtes to coÌ„e forth before me for I wyll gyue theÌ„ thordre of knight hode in the honour of god and saynt George Than ther came forthe many squyers of FraÌ„ce and of Byerne there they were made knightes of the kyngê hande as sir Roger of spayne EdmoÌ„de son to sir Roger of the couÌ„tie of foiz ser Bertrand of Barroge sir Peter of Salebere sir Peter of Valentyne sir Wylliam of Quere sir Anger 's of Sollenayre sir Peter of Vande sir Wyllyam of Montigny and of one other to the noÌ„bre of a hundred and .xl. and ther were certayne barons of Bierne that raysed vp ther first their baners and also dyuers of Castell also sir Iohan of Rey. There might haue ben sene amonge these newe knightes great noblenesse and they maynteyned them selfe so goodly that it was pleasure to beholde theÌ„ for they were a fayre batayle Than the lorde of Loyngiache came before the kyng and all other that were strangers what soeuer nacyon they were of so they were no spanyardê they were all named in the name of strangers Than they said to the kynge Sir we become fro farre partes to serue you Sir we requyre you do vs that grace to let vs haue the first batayle I am content quod the kyng in the name of god and saiÌ„t Iames saynt George be in your ayde than the spanyardes sayd one to another softely beholde for goddessake beholde howe our kynge putteth all his truste in these freÌ„chmen He hath no parfyte trust in none other they shall haue the first batayle they prayse vs nat so moche that they wyll take vs with them they wyll do their dede by them selfe and than lette vs do ours be our selfe let vs let them alone with their enterprise they haue made their auaunt howe they be stronge ynough to discomfyte the Portugaloys Lette it be so we are content but it were good we demaunded of the kynge wheder he wyll abyde with vs or els go with the frenchemen So thervpon they were long in murmuryng wheder they shulde demauÌ„de it or els be styll for they douted greatly the wordes of sir Raynolde Lymosin how be it all thynges consydred they thought it none yuell to demaunde hym the questyon Than sixe of the moost notablest of them wente to the kynge and enclyned them selfe and sayd RIght noble kyng we se vnderstand well by aparent signes that this day ye shall haue batayle with youre enemyes god sende grace it be to your honoure vyctorie as we greatly desyre Sir we wolde knowe wheder your pleasure lyeth to be amonge the feneÌ„chmen or els with vs. Fayre sirs ê™ the kyng though I haue graunted the first batayle to these knightes and squyers strauÌ„gers who are come farre of to serue me and are valyant and expert men in warres yet for all that I renounce you nat for I wyll be and abyde amonge you therfore sirs helpe to defende me Of this answere the spanyerdes had great ioy and were well contented and sayd sir so shall we do and nat to fayle to dye in the quarell for sir we are sworne to you and so haue promised by the faithe of our bodyes whan ye were crowned For sir we loued so well the kyng your father that we can nat sayle you in any wise that is our trust quod the kyng So thus the kyng of Spayne abode among his owne men who were well a twentie thousande horsmen all couered in stele Sir Raynolde Lymosin was in the first batayle for it was his right so to be by cause he was marshall The same saturday was a fayre daye the sonne was tourned towarde euynsong Than the first batayle came before Iuberoth where the kyng of Portugale and his men were redy to receyue theÌ„ Of these frenche knightes there were a two thousaÌ„de speares as fresshe and as well ordred men as coulde be deuysed And as soone as they sawe their enemyes they ioyned toguyder lyke men of warre and aproched in good order tyll they came within a bowe shotte And at their first comyng ther was a harde reÌ„countre for suche as desyred to assayle to wyn grace and prayse entred in to the strayte way where the Englysshmen by their policy had fortyfied theÌ„ And bycause thentre was so narowe there was great prease and great mischefe to the assaylaÌ„tes for suche englysshe archers as were there shot so holly toguyder that their arowes pearsed men horse and whan the horses were full of arowes they fell one vpon another than the Englysshmen of armes the portugaloys Lyxbonoyes came on them cryeng their cryes our lady of Portugale with good speares and sharpe heedes wherwith they strake and hurte many knightes and squyers There was the lorde of Lanache of Bierne beaten downe and his baner won and he taken prisoner and many of his men taken and slayne also sir Iohan of Ree sir Geffray Richon sir Geffray of parteney and all their coÌ„panyes that were entred within the strayte There horses were so hurte with tharchers that they fell on their maysters and one vpon another There these frenchmen were in great danger for they coulde nat helpe one another for they had no roume to enlarge them selfe nor to fight at their wyll And whan the portugaloys sawe that myschefe fall on the first assaylers they were gladde and as fresshe and coragyous to fyght as any men might be There was the kynge of Portugale with his baners before hym mounted on a good horse trapped with the armes of Portugale and he had great ioye to se that myschefe fall on his enemyes and to conforte his people he laughed sayd a highe On forthe good men defeÌ„de you and fight with good wyll for if ther be no mo but these we nede nat to feare and if I knewe euer any thynge in batayle all these be ours Thus the kyng of Portugale reconforted his people who fought valiaÌ„tly and had enclosed in the streight all the first assaylers of whome ther were many slayne True it was that this first batayle whiche these knightes of FrauÌ„ce and of Bierne ledde had thought to haue ben quickelyer ayded of the spaynerdes than they were For if the kyng of Castyle and his company who were a twentie thousande men had come by another parte and assayled the portugaloys it had been lykely the iourney to haue ben theirs but they dyde nothynge wherfore they were to blame and receyued
to se them with a good wyll sayd the kynge Then the .ii. messagers kneled downe before the kynge Laurence Fongase delyuered his letters the kynge toke them and caused them to be redde also they delyuered letters to the erle of Cambrydge to the erle of Bokynghā eche of them redde theyr letters The kyng answered the messageres ryght swetely and sayd ¶ Syrs ye are welcome in to this countrey your comynge dothe vs grete ioy and ye shal not departe without answere suche as shall please you and all your busynes let myne vncles here haue them in remembraunce so they thanked the kynge and departed out of y◠counsayle chambre and wente downe in to the palays abydynge for the duke of Lancastre who taryed tyll it was hyghe noone Then the duke of Lancastre toke his two bretherne with hym to dyner and wente by water and these messageres with thē The erle of Cambrydge knewe ryght well the grete mayster of saynt Iames and Laurence of Fougase for he had sene them before in Portyngale wherfore after dyner he comoned with thē of dyuers thynges in the presence of his other two bretherne and demaunded them of the maryage of Castell and of her that sholde haue ben his doughter in lawe the lady Beautyce To all his demaundes the ambassadours answered wysely and truely wherby the lordes were ryght well contente and pleased TRewe it was that before these ambassadours were comen into Englonde the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had dyuers counsayles togyder for the ryght they claymed by theyr wystes The Erle of Cambrydge as ye haue herde before was not well contente with kynge Ferant of Portyngale nor with the men of warre there for they had lodged .xv. dayes in the feldes before the Castellyans and yet kynge Ferant nor the Portyngales wolde neuer fyght with thē yet the erle the same tyme shewed the kynge his defaulte sayd syr I haue here in my company of poore Englysshe mē a C. speres a M. archers And al we are wyllyng to fyght with our enemyes and to abyde the aduenture that god wyll sende vs but kynge Ferant answered euer that he was not counsayled to fyght wherfore when the Erle saw that he departed thens and toke with hym agayne his sone out of Portyngale and when he was departed then the kynge of Portyngale accorded with kynge Iohn̄ of Castell maryed his doughter to hym to make the peas and this treatye was made by syr Iohn̄ Audre a knyght of portyngale The kynge there had all his trust in hym The kynge of Portyngale demaunded of his doughter whether she had rather haue the kynge of Castel or the erle of Cambrydge sone She answered and sayd howe she loued better Iohn̄ of Englonde then Iohn̄ of Castel The kynge demaunded why she sayd soo she answered bycause Iohn̄ of Englonde was a goodly personage and of her age that was the cause she wolde not haue the kynge of Castell howbeit her fader to haue peas with the Spanyardes made that maryage Also the erle had sayd to the duke of Lancastre his broder that kynge Ferant ones deed he doubted that the comons of the royalme of Portyngale wolde rebell agaynst the lady Beautryce for the moost parte of the royalme For al that theyr kynge had maryed her moder the lady Elyanoure of Coygne yet they helde not the kynges doughter to be borne in lawfull maryage but reputed her as a bastarde and mermured theron whyle the erle was there Wherfore he was the gladder to take away his sone thens The duke of Lancastre to whom y◠matter touched nerer then to the erle of Cambrydge bycause he had maryed the eldest syster heyre to Castell and he had a fayre chylde by the lady Constaunce his wyfe wherfore he euer desyred to be truely and iustly enfourmed of that busynes in those partyes and dyd set his mynde howe he myght exalte and further his tytle he sawe clerely that as then he coulde not haue so good an entre in to Castell as by the royalme of Portyngale specyally seynge howe he was desyred and requyred of the kyng of Portyngale and of the barons and comons of the royalme also consyderynge howe the kynge of Portyngale that was then was a noble sage prynce and valyaunt seynge howe he had dyscomfyted the kynge of Castel in playne batayle and all his puyssaunce Wherby the duke the soner enclyned to go in to Portyngale And also the kynge of Englonde and his counsayle was agreed therto but to the entente to be iustly enfourmed of all the busynes state and condycyon of the countrey of Castell and of the ryght that the lady Beautryce claymed to the crowne of Portyngale and also of the ryght of kynge Iohn̄ of Portyngale whome the comons had crowned to theyr kynge For this entente on a daye the duke made a dyner to these ambassadours of Portyngale in his owne lodging and after dyner he made euery man to departe called these ambassadours to hym ryght amorously and demaunded of them of the busynes of Portyngale and bycause that Laurence Fougase coulde speke Frensshe the duke addressed his wordes vnto hym sayd Laurence I requyre you to shew me from poynte to poynte the conducyon and maner of your londe of Portyngale what hath fallen there and in Castell syth my broder the erle of Cambrydge was there for the kynge of Portyngale hath wryten to me that there is no man in Portyngale that can enforme me more iustly then ye can do and in this ye shall do me a grete pleasure syr sayd y◠squyer I shall fulfyll your pleasure and then began to speke and sayd in this maner Syrsyth the departure of your broder the erle of Cambrydge out of Portyngale there hath fallen grete trouble and dyscencyō in the royalme and in grete aduenture to haue ben lost but thanked be god the busynesses there are as nowe in good poynte and fermely stablysshed but and god had not wrought by his grace the matter had gone euyll and all thrughe the defaulte of kynge Ferrant last dysseased This is the oppynyon of the moost parte of the royalme for kynge Ferrant in his dayes loued sore a lady wyfe to a knyght of his called syr Iohn̄ Laurence of Coygne and bycause of her beautye he wolde haue her by force The lady withstode the kynges desyre as longe as she myght but at the laste he had her and sayd Dame I shall make you quene of Portyngale for thoughe I loue you it is not for your hurte but to exalte you for I wyl mary you Then the lady on her knees wepynge sayd syr sauynge your dyspleasure I can haue none honour to be quene of Portyngale for you knowe and so doth all the worlde that I haue an husbande all redy and haue hadde this .v. yere Elyanoure sayd the kynge make none escuse for I wyll haue none other wyfe but you but I shall quyte
you from your husbande or I mary you The lady coulde gete none other wordes of the kynge and she shewed all the matter to her husbande and when that knyght knewe therof he was sory and maleneolyous and regarded and studyed what were best for hym to do and sayd to hymselfe I wyll not thus leue my wyfe howbeit he doubted the kynge and wente out of the royalme of Portyngale into Castell to kynge Henry who receyued hym and reteyned hym to be of his house as longe as he lyued and soo dothe kynge IohnÌ„ that nowe is Thus the kynge of Portyngale to accomplysshe his folysshe pleasure sente for the knyght and for the lady but the knyght was goone Then the kynge sente for the bysshophe of Connymbres who was as then chauncelloure of Portyngale and of the kynges counsayle and the kynge shewed hym his entent how he wolde wedde Elyanoure of Coygne and the bysshop fered the kynge bycause he knewe hym of an hyghe and a fyerce condycyon therfore he durst not saye contrary to the kynges pleasure and also syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Audere who was chefe of counsayle with the kynge to please the kynge ayd to the bysshop Syr ye may wed them wel ynoughe ones the kynge shal make recompence for all so the bysshop wedded them this lady was crowned quene so reputed in al the grete Cytees in Portyngale and had as moche honoure and reuerence as euer hadde ony other quene in the royalme of Portyngale and the kynge had by her a doughter who as nowe is quene of Castell True it was that whyle kynge Ferant lyued he sente on a day to Lyxbone for all the prelates and noble men of the countrey and for the counsayles of the Cytees portes and townes of Portyngale and this was or your broder the erle of Cambrydge came in to Portyngale and there the kynge made euery man to swere and to promyse that after his dyssease they sholde take his doughter the lady Beautryce Who was as then but fyue yeres of aege for herytoure of the royalme of Portyngale euery man sware whether they wolde or not Howbeit the moost parte of them that were there knewe ryght well that she was but a bastarde and borne in aduoutrye for her moders husbande was styll lyuynge called syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of Coygne who lyued in Castell with the kynge there as longe as kynge Ferant of Portyngale lyued and lenger how bert syr I thynke surely yf the kynges doughter had ben a sone that all the comonaltye of Portyngale wolde soner haue agreed to hym theÌ„ to his doughter For to her they sayd they wolde neuer agree but had rather dye then to be vnder the subiectyon of the royalme of Castell ¶ For as yet the royalme of Portyngale and the royalme of Castell neuer loued parfytely togyder But hathe often tymes haryed and made warre eche with other In lykewyse as the royalme of Scotlande dothe with that royalme of Englonde THen the duke of Lancastre demaunded of Laurence Fongase where kynge IohnÌ„ that nowe is broder to kynge Ferrant was in kynge Ferrantes dayes Syr sayd the squyer he was in the royalme of Portyngale in a house of relygyon wherin be knyghtes of an ordre in whyte habytes with a reed crosse and he was souerayne of that house and was called mayster Deuyce The kynge set lytell by his broder but made hym ruler of that house of Denyce nor also kynge IohnÌ„ that nowe is medled nothynge with the busynes of the royalme nor thought nothyng of the crowne therof For yf kynge Ferrant of Portyngale had thought ony thynge of that is fallen syth he loued his lady Elyanoure the lady Beautryce her doughter he wolde haue slayne his broder who is nowe kynge but bycause he sawe that he kepte his house with the bretherne of his ordre so mekely and duely he had no suspecte in hym but so let hym lyue in peas And syr as for the dyssencyon that is nowe bytwe-Portyngale and Castell surely syr to saye the trouthe therin the Spanyardes are cause ther of Why so sayd the duke I shall shewe you sayd the squyer The Castellyans when they sawe that kynge Ferrant had maryed his doughter to theyr kynge then they began to be prowde and began to speke grete wordes whiche sore greueo the Portyngales for the Spanyardes wolde say Oye Portyngales rude people lyke beestes The tyme nowe is come that we shall haue a good market of you for ye haue ben and shall be ours we shall deuyde and set you in companyes as we do the Iues who dwelleth by truage vnder vs ye shall be our subiectes with other venymous wordes often tymes they sayd thus when they met the Portyngales And whyle kynge Ferrant lyued had maryed his doughter in to Castell they engendred suche an hate that they murmured and sayd it were better to be deed theÌ„ to be vnder the daunger and subieccyon of the Castellyans and so kynge Ferrant fell syke whiche endured a hole yere And when he was deed and buryed in the chyrche of saynt Fraunce a relygyous house of freers in the cyte of Lyxbone Then the cytees good townes and castelles in Portyngale closed theyr gates they sente for the kynge that nowe is to Lyxbone who knewe ryght well the ententes of the .iii. other cytees as Connymbres Porte and Eure. Then they sayd Mayster Deuyce so he was called as then We wyll make you kynge of this royalme thoughe ye be a bastarde but we say that your cosyn the lady Beautryce quene of Castell is borne rather a basterde than you for as yet lyueth her moders fyrst husbande And syth it is so that the crowne of Portyngale is fallen in two wayes we wyll take for vs the moost profytable and also the moost parte of the royalme enclyneth to make you our kynge and that the crowne of Portyngale shall not go to a woman nor we wyll not be vnder the subieccyon of the kynge of Castell nor of the Castellyans we had rather ye sholde take all that we haue to ayde and to maynteyne vs and our fraunches theÌ„ the Castellyans sholde be maysters ouer vs wherfore syr receyue our gyfte for we wyl it shal be thus then this mayster Denyce who is as nowe kynge wolde not receyue theyr offre at the fyrst nor seconde request but answered and sayd Good people I knowe well of good affeccyon and entyer loue ye offre me the crowne of Portyngale whiche is a grete thynge and where as ye saye that I haue as grete ryght or more to the crowne as my coâ—yn the quene of Castell In lykewyse I thynke the same for true it is she is a basterde for as yet lyueth her moders husbande and is in Castel but there is one poynte ye all alone can not do this matter it behoueth that al the nobles or grete parte of them agre therto theÌ„ they of Lyxbone answered and sayd syr we haue ynowe We knowe all redy
the quene her doughter for she was in suche fray by the dethe of her knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Audere that she thought no lenger to abyde in Portyngale for she sawe she coulde haue there no ther honoure nor rest then she caused mayster Denyce now kynge to be desyred to suffre her to departe and he lyghtly agreed therto and sayd howe that it pleased hym well that she sholde peparte for he sayd she had good cause soo to do The lady departed fro Lyxbone with all her company and she rode so longe by her iourneys that she came to Syuyll where the kynge of Castell and the quene laye and the same season that this lady came thyder there were assembled nere all the nobles of Castell for there they had a grete counsayle on the busynes for Portyngale for kynge IohnÌ„ there toke counsayle howe he myght do scynge the royalme of Portyngale was fallen to hym by successyon by the dethe of kynge Ferrant fader to the quene his wyfe Who agreed or he dyed that it sholde so be and all the countrey in lyke wyse This lady Elyanoure was receyued with the kynge and with the quene her doughter ryght honourably as it was reason Then she was examyned of all the busynes in Portyngale and she shewed them the trouthe of that she hadde sene and knowen and also she sayd howe that it well appered that by all lykelyhede the comons of Portyngale wolde crowne to theyr kynge mayster Denyce with out the kynge of Castell there agaynst made resystence and defence and for that cause they hadde slayne her knyght syr IhonÌ„ Ferrant of Audere bycause he susteyned and alwayes he had done the kynge of Castelles quarell and in all that this lady sayd she was wel byleued for they sawe it well apparent And also certayne barons and knyghtes of the royalme of Portyngale suche as hadde better affeccyon to the kynge of Castell thenne to she kynge that nowe is bycause of kynge Ferrantes doughter and for to accomplysshe and fulfyll theyr othes that they had made to the kynge of Castell at the desyre of theyr kynge IohnÌ„ Ferrant when he gaue his doughter in maryage to the kynge of Castell therfore to acquyte theyr promyse they departed out of the royalme of Portyngale and wente in to Castell and lefte theyr owne landes and herytages on the aduenture to recouer them agayne as the erle Alphons Seroll the grete pryour of saynt IhnÌ„s in Portyngale syr Delagare his broder Ange Syluaste of Geneull IohnÌ„ Aussall and dyuers other to the nombre of .xxv. Wherby the royalme of Portyngale was sore febled and the royalme of Castell enforced Then the kynge of Castell made his somons thrughe out all his royalme that all noble men and all other able to bere armure bytwene .xv. and .xl. sholde in all hast come to hym in to the felde of Sebyll for he sayd he wolde with puyssaunce entre in to the royalme of Portyngale and conquere it as his owne herytage at his commaundement euery man obeyed as it was reason for suche as helde of hym and so they came to the felde of Sebyll and there assembled to the nombre of .lx. M. men of one and other ANd when syr Laurence of Coygne husbande to the lady Elyanoure whome kynge Ferrant of Portyngale toke to his wyfe and was quene of Portyngale vnderstode that she was come out of Portyngale in to Castell Then he wente to certayne of the kynge of Castelles counsayle and sayd to them as in demaundynge of them counsayle My lordes and my grete frendes howe shall I do with Elyamoure my wyfe who is come out of Portyngale in to this countrey I knowe ryght well kynge Ferrant toke her by force agaynst her wyll and nowe kynge Ferrant is deed and ye knowe well by reason I ought to haue my wyfe agayne what counsayle wyll ye gyue me therin and suche as he spake vnto gaue hym counsayle and sayd IohnÌ„ we counsayle you to make no scâ—â—blaunt therof nor demaunde her not agayne nor take her not for if ye do ye shall gretely abate the honoure of the lady and also blemyssheth the honoure of the quene of Castell her doughter for then ye sholde make her worse then a basterde ye se howe the kyng of Castell wyll demaunde and thynke to conquere the royalme of Portyngale as his owne ryghtfull herytage by the ryght of his wyfe Thus ye shode open clerely whiche is nowe somwhat in doubte and trouble and without ye take good hede it wyll cost you your lyfe yf ye make the quene of Castel a bastarde for they of this countrey susteyne her quarell and say that she was borne in iust maryage by dyspensacyon of the pope Well sayd the knyght then what is it best for me to do we shall shewe you sayd they the best that we thynke is that as sone as ye can gete you out of Castell and go agayne to your enherytaunce in to Portyngale leue the lady Elyanoure here with her doughter we se none other saufegarde for you but this by my fayth sayd the knyght I byleue you well for ye counsayle me truely and lyke good frendes So this syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of Coygne taryed not longe after in Castell but departed and wente to Lyxbone there he founde mayster Denyce now kynge and sayd how he was come to serue hym and wolde be vnder his obeysaunce for he wolde take hym for his kynge Mayster Denyce had grete ioye sayd howe he was welcome to hym so gaue hym agayne all his herytage and made hym capytayne of Lyxbone Thus syr as I haue shewed you fell the busynes bytwene Portyngale and Castell ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase ambassadoure fro the kynge of Portyngale in to Englonde shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the dyscorde that was bytwene the royalmes of Castell Portyngale Ca. xliiii THe duke of Lancastre toke grete pleasure to 〈◊〉 Laurence Fongase speâ—â— he spake so attemperaciâ—â—â—o good Frensshe and 〈◊〉 bycause the matter touchâ—â— hym nere and to the enâ—eâ—â— that he wolde come to the botom of his desyâ—â— he sayd Laurence speke on hardely I 〈◊〉 harde no straunger speke this two yere thaâ— had rather here speke then you for ye go toâ— trouthe of the matter Also the letters that 〈◊〉 haue brought to me fro the kynge of Portyngale testefyeth howe there is nothynge thâ—â— hath ben done bytwene Portyngale and Castell but that ye can iustly informe me therâ— â–ª Syr sayd the squyer lytell thynge hath theâ—â— ben done as in dedes of armes but that I haue ben at them wherfore I can well speke of them and syth it is your pleasure and volante that I shall pursewe my wordes I shall shewe you euery thynge as I knowe Thus as I shewed you before kynge IohnÌ„ of Castel assâ—bled his people as soone as he myght and so came with a grete puysaunce and strength towardes Lyxbone or the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is
was crowned to put the Portyngales in feare and to shewe howe he hadde ryght to the herytage of Portyngale And so fyrst he came before saynt yrayne whiche was the entre of Portyngale there he rested two dayes they of the towne with the gouernours therof were in grete feare with his comynge bycause of the grete nombre of men of warre that were with hym and soo they yelded vp theyr towne to hym And after he had taken theyr possessyon and lefte men of armes to kepe the towne for feare of rebellyon Then he departed with all his oost and soo wente tyll he came before the towne of Tuy whiche was ryght stronge there he layde his syege and a grete parte of them of Tuy helde with the quene of Castell For the lady Elyanoure had it lymytted to her for her dowry Wherfore lyghtely they yelded them to the kynge of Castell and became his subiectes and was vnder his obeysaunce And when the kynge of Castell hadde taken possessyon there he lefte men of armes to kepe it And when he hadde soo done he passed the ryuer and wente to the towne of Valencennes in Portyngale and thereto layde his syege and he sente his messagere vnto them that were whithin that they sholde yelde them and theyr towne vnto hym And they of Valence answered and sayd let the kynge of Castell passe forth and go to Lixbone and as soone as they myght knowe that he hath wonne that cyte outher by loue feare or perforce that then incontynente they wolde delyuer vp the keyes of theyr towne to hym This answere pleased ryght well the kynge of Castell and so departed fro Valence In lykewise dyd they of another cyte called Serpe whiche was stronge and fayre the kyng thought to haue gone thyder but when he knewe theyr composycyon he was content and came not there but so toke the waye to Lyxbone for he knewe yf he myght subdue that cyte he sholde haue all the resydue of the countrey at his case and where soeuer he wente he had with hym the quene his wyfe to shewe therby to the Portyngales that the ryght was his and that by good and iust cause he wolde conquere his wyâ—â—es herytage THus kyng IohnÌ„ of Castell came with all his oost before Lyxbone and there layde a grete syege shewed wel by his syege that he wolde not departe thens tyll he had the cyte at his pleasure and gretly thretened mayster Denyce who was within the cyte and sayd howe that yf he myght gete hym he sholde dye an euyll dethe and all the rebelles with hym The kynge of Castelles oost was grete for he had moche people for the Spanyardes and Frensshe men that were there closed so the Cyte aboute that none coulde yssue out nor entre with out he were taken or slayne somtyme it fell by skyrmysshes and otherwyse that the Spanyardes toke some Portyngales then the Spanyardes wolde put out theyr eyen or stryke of a fote or an arme or some other membre and so sente them in agayne in to the cyte commauÌ„dynge them to saye that they dyd they dyd in dyspyte of the Lyxbonoys and of theyr mayster Denyce whom they wolde make theyr kynge and also shewe them playnly that we shall holde this syege here so longe that we shall haue them perforce by famyne or otherwyse then they shall all dye an euyll dethe and set fyre on the cyte without mercy or pyre And when the Lyxbonoys toke ony of them they dyd not so for the kynge that nowe is of Portyngale made them to be well kepte at theyr ease so sent them agayne in to the oost without ony hurte or domage of theyr persones wherfore some sayd in the oost that it was done of a grete gentylnes for he rendred good for euyll And syr whyle this syege endured whiche was an hole yere and more euery weke there was one or two skyrmysshes and dedes of armes done some hurte and slayne on the one parte or on the other The kynge of Castell helde as well his syege by water as by lande and had plente of vytaylles for it came to his oost from all partyes out of Castell and on a day it happened at a skyrmysshe that was made at one of the gates syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of coygne who was capytayne of the Cyte yssued out of the barryers with his penon of the armes of Coygne before hym and with hym a good nombre of propre men of warre and at that skirmysshe there was done many a propre feate of armes and many a darte cast By my fayth sayd the duke of Lancastre of all the feates of armes that the Castellyans and they of your countrey dothe vse the castynge of theyr dartes best pleaseth me gladly I wolde se it for as I here say yf they stryke one aryght without he be well armed the darte wyll perce hym thrughe by my fayth syr sayd the squyer ye saye trouthe for I haue sene many a grete stroke gyuen with them whiche at one tyme cost vs derely and was to vs grete dyspleasure for at the sayd skyrmysshe syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of Coygne was stryken with a darte in suche wyse that the heed perced all the plates of his cote of mayle and a iacke stopped with sylke and passed thrughe his body so that he fel downe deed and therwith seased the skyrmysshe bycause of the dethe of that knyght and so was the lady Elyanoure a wydowe in one yere of bothe her husbandes FOr this syr Iohan Laurence of Cygne was made grete mone for he was a valyauÌ„t knyght full of good counsayle after his dethe there was chosen to be capytayne of Lyxbone a cosyne of his a ryght valyaunt maÌ„ called pouuasse of Coyne he made agaynst the Spanyardes thre or foure yssues and dyd to them grete domage ¶ Thus contynued the syege at Lyxbone and surely often tymes they within the towne were sore abasshed for they coulde se no comforte come to them frome ony parte and when they sawe that none came out of Englonde wheron lay all theyr trust TheÌ„ the kynge that nowe is was counsayled to haue taken a shyp and so to haue come hyder in to Englonde for syr IohnÌ„ Vadigothz of passe syr IohnÌ„ Cete Dore and the archedeacon of Lyxbone whom they had sent hyther in to Englonde to the kynge here to you to the erle of Cambrydge your broder for to haue some coÌ„forte ayde when they retourned in to Lyxbone they brought tydynges howe that ye wolde haue comforted them in the name of god sayd the duke all that is of trouthe so had I done and was redy and at the poynte to haue departed but as then the warre of Flaundres and of Gaunte dyd let me for the Gauntoys came hyder for ayde and helpe and so all suche or the moost parte of them that sholde haue gone with me in to Portyngale wente in to Flaundres with the bysshop of Norwyche
of armes done and there syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere fought with an axe ryght valyauntly and so dyd his .ii. companyons on the other partye the Spanyardes fought ryght valyauntly Thus they fought the space of .iii. houres whiche was meruayle that meÌ„ coulde endure so longe in theyr armure fyghtynge but the grete dysyre that eyther partye had to wynne honoure caused them to endure the more payne and syr surely Spanyardes and Portyngales are harde men in batayle specyally when they se it is of necessyte thus they fought longe that no maÌ„ knewe who had the better theyr batayle was so egall And syr thanked be god there was nother baner nor penon on our syde that day ouerthrowen but fynally theyr syde began to open and were beten downe on euery syde so that the dyscomfyture fell on them then theyr pages fled awaye to saue themselfe and of the .vii. capytaynes that were there present there scaped away but one that was the meanes of his page who brought hym his horse he dyd his mayster good seruyce that day and that was Adyentall Cassel all the other .vi. were slayne for there was neuer a man taken to raunsome Thus syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere his company obtayned the vyctory of theyr enemyes who were thre agaynst two and this was on a tuysday in the moneth of Octobre nere to Treutouse in the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and .iiii. ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberoth bytwene the kynge of Castel and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. xlv ANd after this dyscomfyture on our enemyes our men mounted on theyr horses and there we delyuered suche prysoners as the Castellyans had taken before also gaue them suche pyllage as theyr enemyes had gotten excepte the beestes whiche were in nombre an .viii. hundreth all those we draue in to the garyson of Treutouse for vatayllynge of the towne as it was reason there we were receyued with grete ioye they wyst not what chere to make vs bycause we had delyuered yâ— couÌ„trey of theyr enemyes rescued that they had lost wherby we had grete prayse thrughe all the townes of Portyngale syr in the same yere our men had another fayre iourney on theyr enemyes in the felde of Sybylle but syr fyrst I shall shewe you the moost happyest iourney that the kynge of Portyngale had or ony kynge before hym in CC. yere before whiche was done within .iiii monethes before that that kynge sente vs hyther our enemyes were .iiii. agaynst one of good men of warre and of hyghe empryse wherfore our iourney ought to be the more praysed But syr I thinke ye haue herde therof al redy wherfore I thynke best to speke not therof nay sayd the duke ye shall not leue so ye shall shewe me the hole processe for I wolde gladly here you speke therof yet of trouthe I haue an heraulte here with me called Derby who was there at the batayle as he sayth and he shewed me that suche Englysshe men as were there dyd meruaylles in armes and more by his reporte theÌ„ I bileue was of trouth for there was no grete nombre of them wherby ony grete feate sholde be done by them for my broder the erle of Cambrydge when he came out of Portyngale brought agayne with hym suche Englysshmen as wente thyder But there be many of these Heraultes be suche lyers that they wyll exalte suche as they lyst beyonde measure But for all that the noblenes of them that be good is not lost nor enpayred thoughe it be not shewed by them Therfore it is good to knowe it by the reporte of other that knoweth it ¶ Syr sayd Laurence of all the straungers that were at the batayle of Iuberoth with the kynge of Portyngale there passed not a two hundred men Englysshe Gascoynes and Almaynes and the grettest capytaynes that were there of the straungers were two Gascoynes and one of Almayne of the duchy of Guerles The Gascoynes were called syr Wyllyam of mountferrant and Bernardon and the Almayne Albert of EnglysshmeÌ„ there were a certayne archers but I herde none named but .ii. squyers Northbery and Hartecell and they were called to counsayle with the kynge and other lordes before the batayle Well sayd the duke prosede forthe tell me of that iourney howe it was fought I requyre you syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyl for syr to shewe you other howe it was I am sente hyther fro the kynge my mayster THen Laurence Fongase renewed his tale and spake of the busynes of Iuberoth and sayd thus syr ye haue herde by me also by other that after the coronacyon of the kynge of Portyngale at Connymbres that kyng of Castell who had raysed his syege fro Lyxbone for the dethe of pestylence that fell in his â—ost and so wente to yrayne and it was sayd howe it greued hym sore when he was enfourmed of the coronacyon of my redoubted lorde kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale for the kynge of Castell claymed and yet dothe ryght in the herytage and crowne of Portyngale by the tytle of his wyfe doughter to kynge Ferrant whiche we denyed and yet do for suche cause as I haue shewed you before so thus the kynge of Castell was counsayled to sende for meÌ„ of war where he myght gete them and specyally in to Fraunce for the frensshmen had alwayes ayded hym susteyned his quarell and the kynge his fader in lykewyse and it was sayd to hym by his counsayle ye nede nothynge but one iourney agaynst them of Portyngale for by puyssaunce if ye may kepe the felde and fyght with them theÌ„ ye shal come to your entente for there is grete varyaunce all redy in Portyngale as ye se and perceyue well for there is here with you of the noblest persones of the royalme and they haue submytted theÌ„selfe vnder your obeysaunce whiche thynge gretely furdereth your warre if ye auaunce yourselfe with puyssauÌ„ce to fyght to this bastaÌ„rde of portyngale whom that comons haue crowned to theyr kynge or he gete ayde of the Englysshemen ye are lyke to ouerthrowe hym and yf ye wynne the iourney all the royalme is yours for it is no grete matter to wyn it after soo by suche counsayle and other thynges IohnÌ„ of Castell auaunced hym selfe to sende letters messageres in to Fraunce Poictou Bretayne Normandy Borgon in to dyuers other places where as he thought to haue men of armes knyghtes squyres for his money or for loue or suche as helde ony thynge of hym and specyally there came many knyghtes squyres to hym out of Byerne and so on a daye as he was at saynt yrayne he auewed his people to the nombre of .vi. or vii.c speres .xxx. M. spanyardes all on horsoacke all hauynge desyre to do vs domage TIdynges came in to Portyngale to the kynge and to the lordes there to them of the good townes and cytees suche as were of
was slayne Goussalenas of Merlo Alue Porie marshall of the oost a good knyght Radigos Perriere IohnÌ„ Iames of Salues IohnÌ„ Radigo cosyn to the kynge of Ammoudesque Radigo Radiges Valeroâ—ceaux mendignes of valconseaux Then the duke of Lancastre began to laughe Laurence Fongase demaunded sayd syr why do you laughe Why sayd the duke there is good cause why I neuer herde so straunge names as I haue herde you reherce Syrsayd he by my fayth all these names we haue in our countrey more straunger I byleue you well sayd the duke But Laurence what became of the kynge of Castell after this dyscomfyture made he ony recouery or dyd he close hymselfe in ony of his townes or dyd the kynge of Portyngale folowe hym the nexte day Nay surely syr sayd Laurence we folowed them no furder but abode styl in the same place where that felde was all nyght the nexte daye tyll noone then we retourned to the castell of Alerne a .ii. lytel legges fro Iuberoth so fro thens to Connymbres the kynge of Castel went to saynt yrayne there toke a barge .xiiii. w e hym rowed to a greteshyp and so wente by the see to Sybyll where the quene was his men wente some one way some another lyke people dysmayde with out recouery for they lost moche of theyr domage they are not lyke to recouer it of a grete soason wtout it be by the puyssauÌ„ce of the frensshe kynge bycause the kynge of Portyngale his counsayle knowe well that the Castellyans wyll pourchace ayde out of Fraunce bycause they be alyened togyder Therfore we be sent in to this countrey to the kynge of Englande to you then the duke sayd Laurence ye shal not departe hens tyl ye bere with you good tidinges But I pray you shewe me of the other encountrynge that your men had in the felde of Sybyll as ye spake of ryght nowe for I wolde gladly here of dedes of armes thoughe I be no good knyght myselfe syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyll I shall shewe you AFter the fayre honourable iourney the kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale had at the Cabase of Iuberoth that he was retourned with grete tryumphe to the cyte of Lyxbone that there was no tydynges of ony newe assembly of the Castellyans or Frensshmen but helde theÌ„ in garysons Then the kynge of Castel departed fro Sybyl the quene his wyfe with hym wente to Burgus in Castell so our men theyrs made warre togyder by garysons so on a tyme the erle of Nauare constable of Portyngale entred in to Castell in to the feldes of Sybyl with .xl. speres came before a towne called Valewyde within whiche there was a CC. men of armes of castell the erle of Nauare came to the baryeres shewed wel howe he demaunded batayle of theÌ„ within who made no semblauÌ„t to yssue out howbeit they armed theÌ„ when our men had ben there as longe as it pleased theÌ„ theÌ„ they retourned they had not ryden past a legge of that couÌ„trey but that they saw theÌ„ of the garyson of Valewyde come galopyng after them the capytaynes of theÌ„ was Diogenes of Padillo an experte man of armes the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Galyce when our men saw theÌ„ so comynge they lyghted on fote and delyuered theyr horses to theyr pages the Spanyardes who were a grete nombre wolde haue set on the pages varlettes to haue taken theyr horses fro them some sayd let vs wyn theyr horses we can not do them a gretter dyspleasure nor put theÌ„ to more payne then to make them retourne on foote then the mayster of saynt Iaques sayd naye let vs not do so for if we wyn the maysters we shal soone haue the horses let vs alyght a fote fight with theÌ„ they shall not endure agaynst vs thus whyle the Castellyans were arguynge our meÌ„ passed oure a lytell water that was behynde theÌ„ there toke a grete grouÌ„de fortefyed it made semblaunt as though they caryed nothyng for theyr horses when the Castellyans sawe that they were passed the water then they repented theÌ„ that they had not set on soner theÌ„ they dyd howbeit they thought soone to ouercome our men so came on them began to cast dartes when the Castellyans had enployed al theyr artyllery had no mo dartes to cast had soo contynued theyr assaulte fro noone tyll it was nere nyght When our men sawe that theyr enemyes had spente all theyr artyllery then the erle of Nauare made his baner to passe the water all his company so dasshed in amonge the Castellyans who anone begaÌ„ to open for they weresore trauayled weryed chased in theyr harneys so that they coulde not helpe themselfe but were all ouerthrowne dyscomfyted the mayster oesaynt Iaques slayne mo then .lx. with hym the other fled so they saued theyr horses wan many other fro the Castellyans How say you syr had not our meÌ„ that day a fayre aduenture yes by my faythe sayd the duke of Lancastre ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had answere of the kynge of Englande and grete gyftes howe they toke theyr leue and wente in to theyr countreys Ca. xlvi And syr bycause of suche rencountres dedes of armes that our men haue had on theyr enemyes syth the eleceyon of kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale the Portyngales are entred in to grete ioy most comonly say the god is for them theyr ryght syr they say not moche amys to say the god is with theÌ„ for in euery thynge as touchyng ony dede of armes lytell or moche euer syth the dethe of kynge Ferrant they haue had the vyctory the erle of Foys that nowe is one of the gretest lordes of the worlde full of hyghe prudence as we knowe by them of his countrey he sayd that fortune was with vs of Portyngale yf the knyghtes of Byerne had byleued hym whaÌ„ he departed out of his couutrey they sholde not haue armed themselfe agaynst the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is a wyse and a dyscrete man fereth god loueth holy chyrche exalteth it as moche as he may and is often tymes in his oratory on his knees in herynge of deuyne seruyce he hath ordeyned that for what so euer busynes it be that none speke to hym tyll he be out of his oratory and is a grete clerke taketh lytell hede of ony grete sermones and specyally he wyll haue iustyce kepte in all his royalme and poore men maynteyned in theyr ryght Thus syr at your request I haue shewed you the maner of our countrey and all that I knowe of the kynge and all his counsayle and by theÌ„ I was coÌ„maunded at my departyng fro them to shewe you euery thynge that I knewe Wherfore syr it maye please you that I
drewe towarde the assaulte of the bastyde Then they herde tydynges how the Bretons were departed and had lefte the bastyde voyde then the Englysshmen repented them in that they had not layde a busshment for them wherby they sholde not haue lost so theyr pray Then they brake downe the bastyde set fyre theron Thus by the duke of Lancastre the bastydes were raysed before Brest the same day the duke syr Iohn̄ Holande certayne other lordes wente to se the castell of Brest the ladyes with them there they ete a drāke made chere so wente agayne to theyr lodgynges the nexte day whiche was the .iii. day they refresshed theyr shyppes with fresshe water the .iiii. daye toke shyppynge so departed THe fourthe day after the duke and his company and the maryners toke counsayle togyder whiche waye they sholde drawe and whether they sholde take lande at Lyxbone or at the porte of Portyngale or in Bysquay or at Coulongne and longe they were in counsayle or they were fully determyned Alphons Vietat patron of the galeys of Portyngale was sente for to them and the questyon was demaunded of hym and he answered sayd Syrs for this cause I was sente to you out of Portyngale fro the kynge my mayster and syr knowe for trouthe that where soeuer ye aryue in his countrey ye shall be ryght welcome to hym it shall be ryght ioyfull to hym for gretely he desyreth your comynge and to se you So thus the space of an houre they were at a poynte to haue landed at the porte of Portyngale a .xxx. myle from Lyxbone Howbeit after they chaunged theyr purpose for it was sayd amonge them that it were ferre more honourable for them to lande in the marches of theyr enemyes then in the lande of theyr frendes saynge also that yf theyr enemyes knowe that they be landed on them they shal be the more feared then they rested to take lande at Coulongne in Galyce the maryners set theyr course that way and had wynde and wether at wyll and so after they departed fro Brest the .v. daye they came to the hauen of Coulongne and taryed for the fludde wherfore they sholde not approche nere to the lande NOwe shall I shewe you of the knyghtes of Fraunce as the lorde of Barroys syr Iohn̄ Braquemont syr Iohn̄ of Castell Morant syr Peter of Bellames syr Trystrā and other that were come in pylgrymage to the towne of Compostella where lyeth the body of saynt Iames and whē they had done theyr pylgrymage and offered and were in theyr lodgynges tydynges came to them howe the Englysshe men were on that coost and by lykelyhode to aryue at Coulongne or they coulde vntrusse theyr harneys and discharge theyr mules Then they armed them quyckely and determyned to go thyder to defende the porte castell and towne there and suche as knewe the countrey sayd syrs auaunce forwarde shortely for yf the Englysshe men happen to wynne the towne or Castell of Coulongne they wyll be lordes of all the countrey aboute these knyghtes dyd suche dylygence that they came the same nyght to the towne of Coulongne whiche was a .xiiii. longe myles thens and a coūtrey full wylde to laboure in They came so to the poynte that they entred in to the towne and Castell the same season that the Englysshmen came in to the hauen of theyr comynge they of the towne and castell were ryght ioyfull all that nyght came after them theyr caryages and somers and in the mornyng it was grete beautye to beholde entrynge in to the hauen the galeys and shyppes charged with men and prouysyon and to here the trompettes claryons sounde and the trompettes and claryons of the towne and castell dyd sounde in lykewyse agaynst them thē the Englysshe men knew wel that men of warre were in the towne and Castel Then they yssued out of theyr galeys and shyppes in to the feldes not as then approchynge the towne for they sawe well the towne was stronge and well prouyded of men of warre without the towne there were certayne fissher houses There the Englysshe lordes made theyr lodgynges and soo laye styll a .iiii. dayes doynge none other thynge but dyschargynge of theyr shyppes they had so grete prouysyon theyr horses were set a lande whiche had ben on the see a .xv. dayes sore oppressed what with the furoure of the see and with the nombre of people in euery shyppe yet they had ben well kepte and had haye ootes and fresshe water sufficyent whā euery thynge was voyded out of the galeys and shyppes then it was demaūded of the duke what he wolde haue done with his nauey he answered and sayd I wyll that al the maryners be payde of theyr wages and then let euery man do his owne profyte I gyue them good leue for I wyll that euery man do knowe that I wyll neuer passe agayne the see in to Englonde tyll I haue my full pleasure of the royalme of Castell or elles I wyll dye in the quarell then the maryners were payde so that euery man was contente and so departed when they myght out of the hauen of Coulongne and some wente in to Portyngale and some to Lyxbone and some to Bayon or to Albay in Bretaygne or in to Englande soo that none abode there behynde Thus the duke of Lancastre and his men lodged without Coulongne in suche lytell houses as they founde there and abrode in the feldes in bowers made of grene bowes lyke men of warre ABoute the space of a moneth and more the duke laye at Coulongne and remeued not without it were a huntynge or a hawkynge for the duke other lordes of Englande had brought with them hawkes and houndes for theyr sporte and sparowe hawkes for the ladyes Also they brought with them in the shyppes mylles to grynde corne and ouyns to bake in theyr foragers wente dayly a foragynge where as they thought to spede howbeit they founde no grete plenty of forage for they were lodged in a poore countrey and a deserte Wherfore they were dryuen to go ferre of for forage And also they of the garyson of Coulongne as the barroys of barres who ryght wel coulde take a vauntage of his enemyes if nede were and his other companyons When they sawe the Englysshe foragers ryde forthe so folysshly they thought on a daye to be before thē and to make them pay for all they had before so on a daye they armed them a CC. and rode by guyde in the nyght aboute the woodes and mountaynes and so at the brekyng of the day they came to a wood and to a mountayne called the Espynet and there taryed For it was shewed them howe the Englysshe foragers rode abrode true it was to the nombre of .iii. C. And when these foragers had ben a brode a .ii. dayes and gotten moche forage then they retourned towarde theyr oost and theyr waye laye to passe the pace of
season that the kynge of Aragon thus dyed there was at Barcelona the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus whome the duke of Lancastre had sente thyder in ambassade I shall shewe yon the cause why ¶ The prynce of wales bycause he was duke and lorde of the countrey of Acquytayne and that all his neyghbours doubted hym as the Frensshe kynge the kynge of Aragon the kynge of Spayne and the kynge of Nauare yea And also kynges that were sarazyns that harde grete spekynge of hym for the good fortune and noble chyualrye that he was of and he hadde a certayne alyaunce and confyderacyon with kynge Peter of Aragon whiche leage was sworne and sealed bytwene them and it was confyrmed by the kynge of Englande fader to the prynce ANd amonge other thynges it was comprysed that the kynge of Englande nor the duke and lorde of Acquytayne sholde make ony warre nor consente to make ony warre agaynst the roayalme of Aragon for the whiche the kynge of Aragon sware and sealed for hym and for his ayres that euery yere he sholde serue the prynce of Acquytayne with the nombre of fyue hundred speres agaynst who so euer he hadde to doo withall or elles to sende vnto hym as moche money as sholde wagâ— fyue hundreth speres ¶ And soo it was that as then there was .x. yeres rynne in aterages that the kynge of Aragon had payde nothyng nor done ony seruyce to the kynge of Englande nor to his deputyes and when the duke of Lancastre wente out of Englande he hadde with hym letters patentes sealed with the grete seale of Englande wherby he was stablysshed to be the kynges Lyeutenaunt in the marches of Burdeaus Bayon and Acquytayne and the kynge gaue hym fall puyssaunce and auctoryroyall to demaunde all ryghtes and due accyons as well of the royalme of Aragon as elles where and wolde that the duke sholde haue yâ— profyte without ony excepcyon and what soo euer he dyd to be ferme and stable so thus wheÌ„ the duke of Lancastre had ben a season in the towne of saynt Iames in Galyce he remembred hymselfe of the busynes of Aragon and perceyued well by reason of his commyssyon howe the kynge of Aragon was sore in his det in a grete some of money longe renne in arerages whiche he thought if he myght gete it sholde gretely ayde hym in his warres of Castell and soo he sente to the archebysshop of Burdeaus and to syr IohnÌ„ Harpedan who was senesshall of all Burdeloys commaundynge theÌ„ bothe or at the leest one of them to go in to Aragon to the kynge there and to shewe hym playnly howe he was in grete arrerages with the kynge of Englande and with the duke of Acquytayne the archebysshoppe and the Senesshall behelde well the duke of Lancastres letters and soo toke counsayle togyder theron and there they determyned that it was best that the Senesshall sholde â—â—ry styll at Burdeaus and the bysshop to take on hym the charge of that voyage and soo he dyd and he came in to Aragon in so euyll a season that the kynge the relaye syke and dyed and after the kynges dethe the archebysshop poursued his cause and folowed the kynges chyldren and the counsayle of the royalme who came to the kynges enterment to the cyte of Barcelona and this bysshop pursued his ambassade so affectuously that he was set in a courtoyse pryson so that he coulde not departe when he wolde when these tydynges came to Burdeaus to the senesshall there he sayd I thought neuer none other wyse for the archebysshop is hasty heedy I thynke nowe it had ben better that I had gone for I wolde haue spoken moore mekely there is a maner thrughout all the worlde howe to demaunde a mannes ryght the senesshall sente these tydynges to the duke of Lancastre in to Galyce who was therwith ryght sore dyspleased and euyll contente with the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle that they had put the archebysshop in to pryson for doynge of his ambassade then the duke of Lancastre wrote to the companyons of the garyson of Lourde that they sholde make warre agaynst them of Barcellona where as the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus was in pryson IOhnÌ„ of Byerne who was capytayne there and senesshall of Bygore Pier Dauchyn Ernalton of Resten Ernalton of saynt Colombe and other of the garyson of Lourde were gretely reioysed when they herde that tydynges and then began to rynne in to the royalme of Aragon to the portes of Barcelona so that no merchaunt durst go abrode ¶ Also in Aragon there was another myschefe for the yonge kynge IohnÌ„ of Aragon wolde haue ben crowned kynge of Aragon but the good townes wolde not consente therto without he sware fyrst solemply that he sholde neuer demaunde tayle taxe nor inposycyon in all the countrey and dyuers other thynges that he sholde swere and put it in wrytynge sealed yf he wolde be crowned kynge whiche thynge semed to hym and to his counsayle to be ryght preiudycyall Wherfore he thretened to make them warre and specyally to them of the cyte of Barcelona for the kynge sayd they were to ryche and to prowde IN the same season there was in Langue docke and on the fronters of Auuergue and of Rouergue to warde Pezanas and the cyte of Duzes a maner of men of armes called the Rowtes they dayly multyplyed to do euyll and .iiii. men of armes were capytaynes who demaunded warre agaynst euery man they cared not agaynst whom theyr names were Peter of Mount fawcon Geffray Chastelyer Hamgue de forge and the goulent They had a foure hundreth men vnder them who ryfled and pylled the countrey where as they were conuersaunt and when they were enfourmed that the archebysshop of Burdeaus was in pryson in Aragon and that the duke of Lancastre was not contente with the Aragonoys and also that the kynge of Aragon was euyll pleased with the good townes of his royalme and countrey And they were of these tydynges gretely reioysed for suche people as they were are rather pleased with euyll dedes then with good They toke counsayle bytwene them determyned to approche to Aragon and to gete some forterers on those fronters thynkynge then that the duke of Aragon or elles some of the good townes wolde entreate with the to theyr profyte So they rode costynge the countrey set theyr myndes to gete yf they myght the castell of Dulcen beynge in the archbysshopryche of Narbone bytwene the royalme of Aragon and Fraunce on the departynge of bothe royalmes they came thyder at suche a poynte and by nyght that they founde it but symply watched nor kepte they dyd soo moche that they wan it were lordes thereof wherby al the countrey was afrayde specyally they of Parpygnen for it was but .iiii. legges thens also they of Lourde gate the same weke a castell in Aragon a .iiii. legges fro Barcelona called the olde castell of Rolbays perteynynge to the countesse of Castell Boze cosyn germayne
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâ—wyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of â—ur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌ„dynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌ„ges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ— to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ„ without to syr IohnÌ„ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ„ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
loke for grete comforte to come to them out of fraunce and suche as desyre dedes of armes and aduauncement of honoure wyl come as soone as they can wherfore it behoueth me alwaye to be redy and to abyde batayle this ye may shewe to the kynge of Portyngale and to his counsayle and yf I se that I shall haue ony thynge to do I shall shortely sende the kynge worde therof Wherfore saye that I desyre hym to be redy to ayde and to defende our ryght and his in lyke maner as we haue promysed and sworne togyder and madame when ye retourne agayne to me leue our doughter katheryne there styll with the quene her syster she can not be in better kepynge syr sayd the lady all this shall be doone Then the duches and her doughter and all other ladyes and damoyselles toke theyr leue and departed syr Thomas Percy the admyral accompanyed them and syr non Fythwaren and the lorde Talbot and the lorde IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and syr Namburyne of Lyuyers and a hundred speres and two hundred archers and soo came to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale ¶ Howe the duches and her doughter wente to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene And howe the towne of Besances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Ca. lxxvi WHenne the kynge of Portyngale vnderstode that the duches of Lancastre and her doughter were comynge to hym warde he was therof ryght ioyfull and sente to receyue them of the grettest meÌ„ of his courte The erle of Angoses and the erle of Nouayre syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Perteke syr Vas Martyne of Marlo syr Egeas Colle and a .xx. other knyghtes who mette with the duches a two grete legges of and ioyfully receyued them and the duches made frendly chere to al the lordes and knyghtes bothe with wordes countenaunce Thus they came to the cyte of Porte and all the ladyes and damoyselles were lodged in the palays and the kynge came and met with the ladyes kyssed them all then after came the quene who receyued the duches her mooer and her syster ryght honourably as she that coulde ryght wel do it all the kynges courte were ryght ioyfull of the comynge of these ladyes and damoyselles I wyll not speke of all theyr acquayntauÌ„ces and good chere for I was not there present I knowe nothynge but by the reporte of that gently knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Perteke who was there present and he enfourmed me of all that I know in that matter and of many other There the duches deuysed with the kynge of Portyngale when she sawe her tyme shewed hym all the wordes that the duke her husbande had gyuen her in charge to shewe The kynge answered her ryght sagely and sayd Fayre lady and cosyn I am all redy yf the kynge of Castell come forth in to the feldes within .iii. dayes I shal haue râ—dy iil M. speres they be redy in the felde on the fronters of Castell and also I haue redy .xx. M. of the comons of my royal me who be not to be refused for they dydde me good seruyce on a day at the batayle of Iuberoth Syr sayd the lady ye speke well I thanke you therof And syr yf ony thyngs happen to fall to my lorde and husbande he wyll incontynente sygnyfye you therof with these wordes other the kynge the duches deuysed togyder ¶ Nowe let vs tourne to them of Besances shewe howe they sped WHen these .vi. men of Besances were before the kynge of Castel they kneled downe and sayd Ryght redoubted lorde may it please you to vnderstande that we be sent hyder fro your towne of Besances who are by force in composycyon with the duke of Lancastre and with the duches hath obteyned a sufferaunce of warre for .ix. dayes soo that yf ye come or sende suche a strength able to resyst the duches puyssaunce then the towne to abyde styll vnder your obeysaunce elles they are bouÌ„de haue layde hostage to delyuer vp the towne to the duke of Lancastre wherfore maye it please your grace to gyue vs answere what we shall do in this case The kynge answered and sayd syrs we shall take aduyse and then gyue you answere therwith the kynge departed fro them and entred in to his secret chambre I cannot tell what counsayle he toke nor howe the matter wente but these .vi. men were there .viii. dayes and had no maner of answere nor sawe no more the kynge Soo the day came that the towne sholde be gyuen vp as theÌ„ theyr messagers were not retourned agayne Then the duke of Lancastre sent to Besances his marshall the .x. day to speke with them and to coÌ„maunde them to rendre vp theyr towne or elles to stryke of the heedes of the hostages the marshall came to Besances to the barryers and there spake with them of the towne and sayd ye syrs of Besances take hede what I saye My lorde the duke of Lancastre hath sente me to you to demaunde why ye haue not brought to hym the keyes of your towne and submyt you to be vnder his obeysaunce as ye ought to be the .ix. dayes be past as ye knowe well and yf ye wyll not thus do your hostages shall lese theyr heedes here before you and after we shall assayle you and take you perforce and then ye shall all dye without mercy lyke theÌ„ of Rybadane wheÌ„ the men of Besances herde those tydynges they gretly doubted and also fered to lese theyr frendes that were in hostage with the duke sayd to the marshall syr my lorde the duke hath good cause to say and do as ye haue reported but syr as yet we here no tydynges fro our men whom we sente to the kynge of Castel for the same cause we wote not what is become of them Syrs sayd the marshall peraduenture they are kepte there styll for the tydynges they haue brought to the kynge of Castell whiche are not very plesaunt to hym to here but my lorde the duke wyl abyde no longer wherfore aduyse you to make me shorte answere elles shortely ye shall haue assaulte then they spake agayne and sayd syr we requyre you let vs assemble togyder in the towne to take aduyse and then we shal answere you I am content sayd the marshall then they retourned in to the towne and by the blastes of trompettes in euery strete they assembled to gather in the market place then they declared to all the comonte all the foresayd wordes and so fynally they accorded to rendre vp theyr towne to saue theyr estates that were in pryson then they retourned to the marshall sayd syr in al your demaundes we can fynde nothynge but as reason requyreth we are content to receyue my lorde the duke and my lady the duches in to this towne to put theÌ„ in possessyon therof and syr here be the keyes and we shall goo with you to theÌ„
Lancastre knew that the kynge came thyder he toke his hors and many other lordes and yssued out of Besances and met the kynge and the ladyes there the kynge and the duke made grete chere togyder and so entred togyder in to the towne theyr lodgynge appoynted as it aperteyned accordynge to the maner of the countrey and that was not so easye nor large as thoughe they had ben at Parys ABoute a .iii. dayes after that the kynge of Portyngale was come to Besances thyder came syr Reynolde du Roy well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers he hadde a vi score horses and they were all well lodged for the duke of Lancaste hadde prepayred redy theyr lodgynges Then the nexte daye syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Raynolde Roy were armed and mounted on theyr horses soo came to a fayre place redy sanâ—ed where they sholde doo theyr armes and scafoldes redy made for the kynge for the ladyes for the duke other lordes of englande for they were all come thyder to se the dedes of armes of these .ii. knyghtes they came in to the felde as well appoynted as coulde be deuysed there was brought in theyr speres theyr axes and theyr swordes and well horsed and so eche of them a good dystaunce fro other made theyr tournes fryskes fresshly for they knewe well they were regarded euery thynge was ordeyned at theyr desyre and all theyr armes graunted excepte the vtteraunce howbeit no man knewe what sholde fal of theyr bodyes for syth they were thyder come they must nedes mete at the poynte of theyr speres and after that with theyr swordes and then with axes daggers loo what daunger they were in to the entente to exhaulte theyr honoure for theyr lyues lay but in the mysaduenture of one stroke thus they ranne togyder and met as euen as thoughe they hadde rynne by a lyne and strake eche other in the vysoure of theyr helmes so that syr Raynolde du Roy brake his spere in .iiii. peces and the sheuers flewe a grete hyght in to the ayre whiche course was gretely praysed syr IohnÌ„ Holande strake syr Raynolde in lykewyse in the vysoure but the stroke was of no force I shall shewe you why syr Raynolde had the vysoure of his helme made at auauÌ„tage for it was tyed but with a small lase the lase â—rake with yâ— stroke the helme flewe of his heed so that the knyght was bare heeded and so passed forth theyr course and syr IohnÌ„ dyscharged and bare his staffe fresshely then euery man sayd it was a goodly course THen these knyghtes retourned to theyr owne places and syr Raynolde was helmed agayne and had a newe spere and so they ranne togyder agayne they were bothe wel horsed and coulde well guyde theÌ„ they strake eche other on the helmes so that the fyer flewe out the speres brake not but syr raynoldes helme agayne flewe of his heed A sayd the Englysshmen the frenssheman hath auauntage Why is not his helme as fast bocled as syr IohnÌ„ of Holandes is we thynke he dothe wronge let hym set his helme in lyke case as his companyon hathe done his holde your peas syrs sayd the duke of Lancastre let them dele in armes let euery maÌ„ take his aduauntage as he thynketh best yf syr IohnÌ„ Holande thynke that the other knyght haue aduauntage let hym set on his helme in lyke maner but as for me sayd the duke and I were in lyke armes as these .ii. knyghtes be I wolde haue my helme as fast bocled as I coulde and I thynke here be many of the same oppynyon then the englysshe men spake no moo wordes and the ladyes and damoyselles sayd howe the knyghtes had iusted well and goodly and the kynge of Portyngale sayd the same and spake to syr IohnÌ„ Ferant and sayd syr IohnÌ„ in our countrey knyghtes iust not in this goodly maner syr sayd he these knyghtes do iust wel and syr I haue sene or this the frensshmen iust before the kynge your broder when we were at Elyres agaynst the kynge of Castell lyke iustes I sawe there bytwene syr wyllyam Wyndsore and another frensshe knyght but theyr helmes were faster tyed then this knyghtes helme is then the kynge regarded agayne the two knyghtes to se theyr thyrde course THus they ranne togyder the thyrde course and regarded eche other wysely to take theyr aduauntage they myght well so doo for theyr horses serued them at theyr wysshyng and so they strake eche other agayne on the helme in suche wyse that theyr eyen trimbled in theyr heedes and theyr staâ—es brake and agayne syr Raynoldes helme flewe of his heed and so eche other passed forth theyr course and demeaned themselfe fresshly so that euery man sayd howe they had nobly iusted but the englysshmen blamed gretely syr Raynolde du Roy in that his helme was no faster set on his heed but the duke of Lancastre blamed hym nothyng but sayd I thynke hym wyse that can in feates of armes seke his lawfull aduauntage it semeth well that syr Raynolde is not to lerne to iust he knoweth more therin then syr IohnÌ„ doth thoughe he haue borne hymselfe ryght well So thus after theyr courses with theyr speres they toke theyr axes and dyd theyr armes with them and gaue eche other .iii. grete strokes on theyr helmes then they fought with theyr swordes and after with theyr daggers when all was done there was none of them hurte The frensshmen brought syr Raynolde to his lodgynge and the Englysshmen syr IohnÌ„ Holande to his the same day the duke of Lancastre made a dyner to all the frensshmen in his lodgynge and the duches set at the table by the duke and syr Raynolde du Roy bynethe her after dyner they wente in to a counsayle chambre and the duches toke syr Raynolde by the hande and made hym to entre as sone as herselfe and there she comoned with hym and other of the frensshe knyghtes tyll it was tyme to call for drynke then the duches sayd to the frensshe knyghtes syrs I haue meruayle of you that ye do susteyne the wronge oppynyon of a bastarde for ye knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that Henry that was somtyme called kynge of Castel was a bastarde therfore what iust cause haue you to susteyne that quarell and ayde to your power to dysheryte the ryght ayre of Castell for I knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that I and my syster were doughters by lawfull maryage to kyng Peter Wherfore god knoweth what ryght we haue to the royalme of Castell the good lady wheÌ„ she spake of her fader she wepte then syr Raynolde du Roy made his obeysaunce and sayd Madame we knowe ryght well that all is of trouth that ye haue sayd howbeit the kynge our mayster is of the contrary oppynyon agaynst you and we be his subiectes and must make warre at his pleasure and go where as he wyl sende vs We maye not say nay
a wyse man and a subtell well langaged and amonge other thynges he shewed them howe the frensshe kynge and his counsayle had ben dyspleased with hym without a cause and wrongfully had taken fro hym his herytage and landes in Normandy whiche he ought to haue by successyon of his predecessours kynges of fraunce and of Nauare whiche he sayd he coulde not forgete seynge he had taken fro hym in Normandy Languedoc and in the barony of Mountpellyer the some of .lx. M. frankes of yerely reuenues and he sayd he wyst not to whome to complayne to haue ryght but all onely to god syrs sayd the kyng I say not this to you bycause ye sholde addresse my wronges for I knowe well it lyeth not in your power for I thynke the frensshe kynge wyll do but lytell for you in that behalfe for ye be none of his counsayle ye be but knyghtes aduentures and sowdyours to go where soeuer he sende you But I speke this in maner of complaynte to al knyghtes in Fraunce that passe by me then syr Gaultyer of Passac sayd syr your wordes be true yf that you saye that our kynge for all vs wyll nother gyue nor take for surely syr we be not of his counsayle but redy to go where as he wyll sende vs but syr the duke of Borbon who is our souerayne capytayne and vncle to our kynge cometh after vs this same waye outher goynge or retournynge ye maye shewe hym your busynes by hym ye maye be addressed of all your complayntes and syr we praye to god that he may rewarde you of the honour that ye haue done to vs syr we shall shewe your curtoysye to our kyng to his counsayle when we retourne in to fraunce and also to the duke of Borbone who is our chefe capytayne whome we trust to se or we se the kyng and then wyne was brought and they dranke toke theyr leue of the kynge and the kynge rewarded them largely and sente to eche of them to theyr lodgyng goodly horses wherof they had grete ioye THus these men of warre passed thrugh the royalme of Nauare came to Groyne there demaunded where they sholde fynde the kynge of Castell and it was shewed them howe he had lyen at Valeolyue a grete season but as then they sayd they thought he was at Burgus in Spayne there makynge his prouysyon then they toke the way to Burgus and lefte the way to Galyce for that waye was not sure for them for the Englysshe men were sore abrode in the countrey Tydynges came to the kynge of Castell howe socoures came to hym out of fraunce to the nombre of .ii. M. speres wherof he was ryght glad and so departed fro Valeolyue and rode to Burgus with a .vi. M hors Thus these frensshmen of armes came to Burgus and lodged theraboute abrode in the countrey and dayly thyder came men of warre And syr wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac came to the kynge in to his palays who receyued them swetely and thanked them of the payne and grete trauayle that they had taken for his sake as to come thyder to serue hym The knyghtes made theyr reuerence and sayd syr yf we maye do you ony seruyce to please you our paynes shall soone be forgoten but syr it please you to take aduyse howe we shal do outher to ryde agaynst our enemyes or elles to make them warre by garysons tyll suche season as the duke of Borbon be come and syr yf it please you ye maye sende for syr Olyuer of Clysquy we knowe well he is in his countrey and for syr Peter of Vyllaynes the Barroys of Barres Chatell Morant and the other companyons who haue haunted this countrey more then we haue done for they were here longe before vs and then let vs al counsayle togyder and with goddes grace you and your royalme shal haue honoure and profyte Syrs sayd the kynge ye speke wysely and thus shal it be done Then clerkes were set a worke and letters made and messagers sent forthe in to dyuers places to the knyghtes and men of warre there as they were spred abrode in the countrey when they knewe that syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were at Burgus with the kynge they were gretely reioyced therof then these knyghtes and other companyons departed fro theyr garysons and lefte them in sure kepynge and so rode to Burgus in spayne soo that there was a grete nombre of Frensshe men of warre THen the kynge of Castel and his lordes knyghtes of fraunce went to couÌ„sayle togyder to se how they sholde maynteyne theyr warre for they knewe well theyr enemyes rode abrode and kepte the feldes wherfore they thought to prouyde some remedy to the honoure of the kynge and profyte of the royalme of Castell So there were many matters debated in this counsayle and then all theyr people were nombred and it was sayd that of the royalme selfe they myght well brynge togyder a .xxx. M. horses and the men well armed after the vsage of Castell with dartes and Iauelyns and foote men castynge stones out of slynges other .xxx. M. The frensshe knyghtes amonge themselfe consydered al this and sayd one to another this is a grete nombre of people and they were good men of warre but they be lytel worth for we haue sene suche slowfulnes in them that we haue no grete trust to them as it appered as well in the batayle of Marres where the prynce of Wales had the vyctory as 〈◊〉 the batayle of Iuberoth where as the Portyngales and Gascoynes were and alwaye the Spanyardes were dyscomfyted Then the erle of Lune in susteynynge the Castellyans in exscusynge of them sayd syrs as to the batayle of Marres I shall answere you it is of trouthe that syr Bertram of Clysquy a grete nombre of knyghtes of Fraunce were there and fought valyauntly for they were all taken or slayne but ye haue herde and ye know well that agaynst them was the floure of all the chyualry of the worlde bothe in wysdome valyauntnes and prowes the whiche is not nowe with the duke of Laâ—castre the prynce at teh batayle of Marres had .x. M. speres and .vi. M. archers they were suche men that there were a iii. M. of them euery man worth a Rowlande or an Olyuere but the duke of Lancastre hathe none suche he passeth not a .xii. or a .xv. C. speres and a .iiii. M. archers and we be a. vi M. speres nor we shall not fyght agaynst Rowlande nor Olyuer Syr IohnÌ„ Chandos syr Thomas Felton syr Olyuer Clysson syr Hughe Caurel syr Rycharde Pountchardon syr Garsis the lorde of Ryeux and syr Rycharde Dangle I coulde name .v. C. suche that were there they be deed we shall fynde none suche nowe Wherfore the matter is not soo peryllous as it was in tyme past for yf ye wyll byleue me we shall go fyght with them and passe the ryuer of Derne it
Warwykeshyre and the lande of the erle of Salysbury they agreed soner then they of ferther countreys as they of the north and marches of Wales and of Cornewall al these rebelled and sayd We haue not sene none of our enemyes come in to this countrey why sholde we be greued and haue done no fawte yes yes sayd some let the bysshop of yorke be spoken withall and the kynges counsayle and the duke of Irelande who hathe .lx. thousande frankes of the constable of fraunce for the redempcyon of Iohan of Bretayne this money ought to be tourned to the comon profyte of all Englande ye and speke with syr Symon Burle Syr Wyllyam Helmen Syr Thomas Branbe Syr Robert Tryuylyen and syr Iohan Beauchampe who haue gouerned the kynge and the royalme yf they make a good accompte of that they haue receyued and delyuer it the comons shall sytte in rest and euery thynge payde as it ought to be ¶ When these wordes came abrode and to the herynge of the kynges vncles they were ryght gladde therof for that made well for them for al those before named were agaynste them Nor they coulde bere noo rule in the courte for them Wherfore they ayded the people in theyr oppynyons and sayd These good men that thus speketh are well counsayled in that they desyre to haue accompte and wyll not paye ony more money For surely outher in the kynges treasure or elles in theyr purses that gouerne hym there must nedes be grete treasure Thus by lytell and lytell multyplyed these wordes and the people beganne to waxe bolde to deny to paye ony more money by reason that they sawe the kynges vncles of theyr accorde and susteyned them ¶ And the archebysshop of Cauntorbury the erle of Salysbury the erle of Northumbrelande and dyuers other lordes of Englande put of this taxe for that tyme and deferred theyr counsayle to Myghelmasse after at whiche tyme they promysed to retourne agayne but the knyghtes and squyers suche as had thought to haue had money for the arrerages of theyr wages hadde noo thynge Wherfore they were in dyspleasure with the kynge and his counsayle They were apeased as well as myght be euery man departed the kynge toke no leue of his vncles nor they of hym THen the kynge was counsayled to drawe in to the marches of Wales and there to tary tyll he herde other tydynges and soo he was contente to doo and departed fro London without leue takynge of ony man and toke with hym all his counsayle excepte the archebysshop of yorke who wente backe in to his â—â—ne countrey whiche was happy for hym for I thynke yf he hadde ben with the other he sholde haue ben serued as they were as ye shall here after But it is requysyte that I speke as well of Fraunce as of Englande for the matter requyreth it ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce and dyuers other lordes and squyers of the royalme apparelled grete prouysyons to go in to Englande to wynne townes and castelles Ca. lxxxiii ANd when season of somer was come and the ioly moneth of Maye in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC foure score and .vii. In the same season that the duke of Lancastre was in Galyce and conquered there and that the kynge of Portyngale with grete puyssaunce rode abrode in Castell without ony withstandynge Thenne was it ordeyned in Fraunce as ye haue herde before howe the constable of Fraunce with one army and the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and syr Iohan of Vyen with another armye the one at Lentrygnyer in Bretayne and the other at Harflewe in Normandy sholde the same season make a voyage in to englande with a .vi. thousande men of armes and two thousande crosse bowes and .vi. thousande other men of warre and it was ordeyned that none sholde passe the see to goo in to Englande without he were well armed and prouysyon of vytayles for the space of thre monethes with other prouysyon of hay ootes for theyr horses a daye was prefyxed amonge the capytaynes when they sholde departe and were determyned to lande in englande in two hauens at Douer and at Orwell thus the daye approched of theyr departure At Lentrygnyer prouysyon was made and put in to the shyppes for them that sholde passe from thens and in lyke wyse was done at Harflewe and euery man of war was payde theyr wages for .xv. dayes This iourney was soo farre forwarde that it was thought it coulde not haue ben broken ¶ Nor also it brake not by noo cause of the capytaynes that were ordeyned to goo in that voyage But it brake by another incydent and by a meruayllous matter that fell in Bretayne wherwith the Frensshe kynge and his counsayle were soore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it wherfore it behoued them wysely to dyssymule the matter for it was no tyme then to remedy it ¶ Also other tydynges came vnto the Frensshe kynge out of the partyes of Almayne as I shall shewe you hereafter when tyme and place shall requyre it But fyrst we wyll speke of the matters of Bretayne before them of Almayne for they of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed thoughe other cost more YF I sholde saye that suche matters fell in that season and not open clerely the mater whiche was grete peryllous and horryble it myght be a cronycle but nâ—o hystory I myght let it ouerpasse yf I lyst but I wyll not doo soo I shall declare the case syth god hathe gyuen me the knowledge therof and tyme and leysure to cronycle the matter at lengthe ¶ ye haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde named duke of Bretayne and surely so he was by conquest and not by ryght lyne howbeit alwayes he maynteyned the warre and oppynyon of the kynge of Englande and of his chydren agaynst the frensshe kynge Also he had good cause soo to doo on his partye for without the ayde of englande he hadde not atteyned as he dyd nother before Alroy nor in other places Also ye haue herde here before howe the duke of Bretayne coulde not haue his entente of all the nobles of his countrey nor of all the good townes specyally of syr Bertram of Clesquy as longe as he lyued nor of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce nor of the lordes de la Vale and of Beawmanoyre nor the lorde of Rase of Dygnant the vycount of Rohan nor of the lorde of Rochforde for whereas these lordes enclyned nyghe all Bretayne folowed They were contente to take parte with theyr lorde the duke agaynst all maner of men excepte agaynst the crowne of Fraunce And surely I can not se nor ymagyne by what waye but that the Bretons pryncypally regarded euer the honoure of Fraunce it maye well appere by that that is wrytten here before in this hystory I saye not this by noo corrupcyon nor fauoure that I haue to the erle Guy of Bloys who hath
tydynges to be of trouthe wherfore they were ioyfull for they wolde gladly haue made an ende by batayle for otherwyse they sawe well they coulde not atteyne to theyr desyred entrepryse and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were alwayes aboute the kynge of Castell and euery weke they had tydynges out of Fraunce what busynes there was there and of the departynge of the duke of Borbon and howe he toke in his waye of Auygnyon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles there euer they counsayled the kynge not to fyght tyll the duke of Borbon were come and amonge other tydynges they herde of the duke of Bretayne howe he had taken in the castell of Ermyne the constable of frauÌ„ce and raunsomed at a C.M. frankes and of his .iii. castelles and towne that was delyuered to the duke of Bretayne and howe that therby the iourney and boyage in to Englande was broken they had meruayle of this and to what purpose the duke of Bretayne dyd it they supposed that the counsayle therof came out of Englande THus as I haue sayd before the royalme of Fraunce was brought in to trouble and specyally the kynges vncles were sore moued with the defyaunce that came fro the duke of Guerles for they were fell and rude and out of the course of other defyaunces as I shall shewe you when I declare the matter And also the frenssh kynge and his vncles were sore dyspleased in that the duke of Bretayne had broken theyr voyage in to Englande by the see and he that was chefe of the entrepryse taken that was the constable of fraunce and raunsomed as before is sayd at a C.M. frankes taken fro hym .iii. castelles and a towne whiche was a thynge gretely preiudycyall to the kynge and to the royalme of fraunce howbeit the kynge sonne passed ouer all the matters for he was but yoâ—ge wherfore he regarded it not so sore as though he had ben of perfyte age but suche as were auncyent and wyse sayd that by suche lyke matters the royalme of fraunce hath had moche a do in tyme past as when the kynge of Nauare caused syr Charles of Spayne constable of Fraunce to be slayne for whiche cause kynge IohnÌ„ neuer loued after the kynge of Nauare and toke fro hym all his landes in Normandy Then some other wolde saye yf kynge Charles fader to the kynge that nowe is were a lyue he loued the constable soo well surely he wolde be reuenged and make warre to the duke of Bretayne and to take fro hym all his landes what soo euer it cost hym Thus euery man spake of this dede and sayd it was euyll done then the kynges vncles and the counsayle of the royalme somwhat to satysfye the people who were sore dyspleased with the duke of Bretayne determyned that a prelate .iii. barons sholde be sente to the duke to speke with hym and to here his reasons to commauÌ„de hym to come to Parys to make his exscuse of that he had done thyder sholde go the bysshop of Beawuoys and syr Myles of Dornams a sage and a ryght valyaunt man and well langaged and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Bean syr IohnÌ„ of Beuell and the lorde de la Ryuer who had theyr charge what they sholde saye and do and the bysshoppe of Beawâ—oys toke his waye by Mount le herry where as the constable was for the towne of Castell perteyned to hym kynge Charles had gyuen it to hym and to his heyres And whyle the bysshop was there a sykenes toke hym and so lay in a feuer a .xv. dayes dyed then in his stede was sente the bysshop of Langers and he toke his waye with the other in to Bretayne IT myght be demaunded of me howe I knewe all these matters to speke so proprely of them I answere to all suche that I haue made grete dylygence in my dayes to knowe it and haue serched many royalmes countreys to come to the true knowledge of all the matters conteyned in this hystory wryten and to be wryten for god gaue me the grace to haue the laysure to se in my dayes and to haue the acquayntaunce of all the hyghe and myghty prynces lordes as well in Fraunce as in Englande for for in the yere of our lorde god a M. iiiC.iiii score and .x. I had laboured .xxxvii. yeres and as then I was of the age of .lvii. yeres and in .xxxvii. yeres a man beynge in strength and wel reteyned in euery coost as I was for after my yonge dayes I was in the kynge of englandes courte .v. yeres with the quene And also I was welcome to kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce to kynge Charles his sone myght well lerne many thynges and surely it was alwayes my chefe ymagynacyon and pleasure to enquyre to retayne it by wrytynge and howe I was enfourmed of the takynge of the constable of Fraunce I shall shewe you A yere after this matter fell I rode from the cyte of Angyers to Towres in Towrayne And I laye on a nyght at Beauforte in the vale and the nexte day I met with a knyght of Bretayne called syr Wyllyam Daucemys he was rydynge to se my lady of Mayll in Towrayne his cosyne her chyldren she was newly a wydowe I fell in aquayntaunce with this knyght and founde hym ryght curtoys swete of wordes then I demaunded of hym some tydynges and specyally of the takynge of the constable whiche matter I was glad to here and to knowe the trouth therof and he shewed me sayd howe he had ben at the parlyament at wannes with the lorde of Aucemys his cosyne a grete baron of Bretayne And in lyke maner as syr Espayne de Lyon enfourmed me of all thynges that had fallen in Foyze in Byerne in gascoyne also as syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant parteke shewed me of all the matters of Portyngale and of Castell In lyke maner this knyght shewed me many thynges and more wolde haue done if I had ryden longer in his company Thus bytwene Mounte le herry and Premylly was .iiii. grete leages and we rode but softely and in this way he shewed me many thynges the whiche I bare well in my remembraunce and specyally of the aduentures of Bretayne And thus as we rode that we came nere to Premylly we entred in to a medowe there this knyght rested and sayd A god haue mercy of the soule of the good constable of Fraunce he dydde here ones a goodly iourney and profytable for the royalme vnder the baner of syr IohnÌ„ de Bewell for he was not as then constable but newly come out of Spayne and I demaunded of hym howe it was I shal shewe you sayd he wheÌ„ I am on horsebacke and so we mounted than we rode forthe fayre and easely and as we rode he sayde In the season that I haue shewed you quod this knight this countre here was full of Englysshmen robbers and pyllers of Gascoyne bretons and almayns and
all the myscreantes and the kynges Sarazyns deed and slayne and all the lande tourned to the Christen faythe than he retourned in to Bretaygne and on a daye hadde a great batayle agaynst this kynge Aquyne and nyghe all the myscreantes slayne And so this kynge Aquyne fledde in to the castell of Glaye and there he hadde redy at the foote of the towre a shyppe and therin he entred and his wyfe and his chyldren But he and his wyfe made suche haste he was so nere chased that they hadde no leysar to take with them a yong sonne that laye and slepte in the towre of a yere olde Thus the kynge and his wyfe departed by the see and this chylde was founde in the towre of Glaye and was brought to kynge Charlemaygne who was right ioyouse of hym and said howe the chylde shulde be baptysed and so he was and Rouland Olyuer helde hym ouer the fonte and was named Olyuer And the kyng gaue him all the landes that his father Aquyn had conquered This chylde whan he came to the age of a man was a good knight and his men called hym sir Olyuer de Glaye aquyn bycause he was founde in the towre of Glaye some to the kynge Aquyn Thus I haue shewed you the firste fouudacyon of sir Bertram of Clesquyn who shulde be called Glaye aquyne And sir Bertram in his dayes after the puttynge out of kynge DoÌ„peter of Castyle and had crowned kyng Henry sayde howe he wolde go in to Bougy to demauÌ„de his herytage And without fayle so he had done for kyng Henry had lent hym men and shyppes to go in to Bougye with a great armye if a great lette had nat broken his voyage And that was whanÌ„e the prince of Wales made warre vpon the sayde kynge Henry and dyde put hym downe and by puissaunce dyde sette in to Castyle agayne DoÌ„peter And than at the batayle of Marres sir Bertram was taken prisonner by sir Iohan Chandos and was sette to raunsome at a huÌ„dred thousande frankes And at another tyme he was also taken at the batayle of Alroy and raunsomed agayne at a hundred thousande Frankes So thus sir Bertrams purpose was brokenne for the warres bytwene Englande and Fraunce was renewed So that they hadde ynoughe to do Thus he was lynially discended fro the kynge of Bougy named Aquyne whose kyngdome is in Barbarye Thus I haue shewed you the ryght discente of sir Bertram of Clesquyn I thanked hym and so we came to the towne of Prinulley ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the coÌ„stable of FrauÌ„ce and of the aunswere that was made to them Cap. xci IF I had ben as longe in coÌ„pany with this knight sir Guyllyam of Aunsens as I was with sir Espayn de Leon whaÌ„ I rode with hym fro the cyte of Pauyers to Ortayes in Byerne Or elles as long as I had ben with sir IohnÌ„ Ferant Pertelette of Portyngale He wolde haue shewed me many thyngê but it was nat so for after dyner whan we had rydden a .ii. leages we came to a forked waye the one way was right to Towres in Towrayne whether as I supposed to ryde the other waye was to Maylle whether the knyght was determyned to ryde So at this waye we brake company takyng leaue eche at other but bytwene Prinulley and our departynge he shewed me many thynges and specially of the busynesse in Bretayne and howe the bysshoppe of Langers was sent in the stede of the bysshoppe of Beawuoys who dyed by the waye and how the bysshoppe of Langers with sir Iohan de Bowyll and other came to the duke of Bretayne and of the answere that they had and on the informacyon of this knyght I toke my foundacion and haue written as foloweth _yE haue herde here be fore howe these ambassadours departed fro Parys fro the kyng and his counsaye well in structed what they shulde saye and do and so long they rode by their iourneys that they aryued at Nauntes Than they demaunded where the duke was it was shewed theÌ„ howe he was about the marchesse of waÌ„nes wheâ— as most accustomably he lay They rode thyder and so came to the cytie of Wannes it is but .xx. myles bytwene The duke was in the castell called le Mote than they came before the duke who by semblant made to theÌ„ good and swete recule The bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate began to speke and to make his preposicyon well and sagely and sayde Sir duke we are here sente to you fro the kynge our maister and fro his vncles the duke of Berrey and of Burgoyne to shewe vnto you howe they haue great marueyle in that the voiage that they wolde haue made in to Englande is by your meanes broken and haue taken and raunsomed the Constable of Fraunce at so highe a rauÌ„some that they are ryght sorie therof And moreouer ye wyll haue thre of his castelles in Bretaygne the whiche shal be a great anoyauÌ„ce to all the resydue of the couÌ„tre if they shuloe be holde agaynst them with the ayde of the towne of Iugone the whiche is pertaynynge to the Constables herytage Therfore we are charged to shewe you and we saye vnto you as messangers fro the kynge our mayster and from his vncles that ye rendre agayne to the coÌ„stable of FrauÌ„ce his herytage that ye with holde from hym and sette hym agayne in peasable possessyon accordyng vnto ryght in lyke maner as they were before whan they were delyuered you perforce and by none other ryght nor tytell that ye haue to them And also that ye restore agayne entierlye all the money that ye haue hadde of hym And this is the commaundement of the kynge and his counsayle that ye come ê‘sonally to Parys or where as it shall please the kyng to assygne you there to make your excuse And we repute hym so benygne and pacyent with that ye be of the blode royall that he wyll here your excuse And if he be nat reasonable the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne wyll so temper hym that ye shal be frendes and cosyn to the kynge as by reason ye ought to be Than the bysshoppÌ„ tourned hym to sir Iohan of Beull and said Sir is nat this the kynges pleasure and he sayde yes and so dyde sir Iohan de Vyen At these wordes there were no mo present but they foure WHan the duke of Bretaine had herde the bysshoppe of Langers speke he studyed a lytell and good cause why for it was a great matter and at the laste he sayde Sirs I haue well vnderstande your wordes and it is good reasone that I so do bycause ye be sent from the kyng and his vncles Wherfore in their behalfe I wyll do you all the honour and reuerence that I can do I am bounde therto but your demauÌ„de and request requyreth counsayle Wherfore I shall take counsayle with myne and make you
vpon tayles aydes vpon aydes so that the realme hath ben more greued with tayles and other subsydies nat accustomed sythe the kynges Coronacyon than in fyftie yere before and it is nat knowen where the richesse is become Wherfore sir maye it please you to prouyde some remedy or elles the mater wyll go yuell for the commons cryeth out theron Than the duke answered and sayde fayre sirs I haue herde you well speke but I alone can nat remedy this mater howe be it I se well ye haue cause to coÌ„playne and so hathe all other people But though I be vncle to the kynge and sonne to a kyng though I shulde speke therof yet nothynge shal be done for all that For the kyng my nephue hath suche couÌ„sayle as nowe about hym whome he beleueth better than hym selfe whiche couÌ„sayle ledeth hym as they lyste But if ye wyll come to the effecte of your desyres it must behoue you to haue of youre accorde and agrement all the cyties and good townes of Englande And also some prelates and noble ê‘sonages of the realme and so come toguyder in to the kynges presens and I my brother shal be there And than ye maye saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir ye were crowned very yonge and yuell ye haue ben counsayled as yet hyther vnto Nor ye haue nat takenne good regarde to the busynesse of this your Realme by reason of the poore and yonge counsayle that ye haue aboute you Wherby the matters of your realme hath hadde but small and yuell effectes as ye haue sene and knowen ryght well For if God haddenat shewed his grace this realme had been loste and distroyed Therfore sir here in the prensens of your vncles we requyre youre grace as humble subiectes ought to desyre their prince that your grace wyll fynde some remedy that this noble Realme of Englande and the noble crowne therof whiche is discended to you from the noble kyng Edwarde the thirde who was the moost nobles kynge that euer was sythe Englande was firste enhabyted that it maye be susteyned in sprosperyte and honour and your people that complayneth to be kepte and maynteyned in their ryght the whiche to do your grace dyde swere the daye of youre Coronacion And that it maye please you to call togyther the thre estates of your Realme prelates and barownes and wysemen of your cyties and good townes and that they may regarde if the gouernyng of your realme that is past be well or nat And sir if they parceyue that it hath been well thanne suche as be in offyce to remaygne styll as longe as it shall please your grace and if they be founde contrarye thauÌ„e they in courtesse maner to be auoyded fro your persone and other notable and dyscrete persones to be sette in to offyce First by your noble aduyse by the consent of my lordes your vncles and noble prelates and barones of your realme And sirs quod the duke of Gloucester whan ye haue made this supplycacion to the kynge he wyll thanne make you some maner of answere If he saye that he wyll take counsayle in the mater than desyre to haue ashorte day And peyse so the mater before hande to putte the kynge and suche marmosettes as be about hym to some feare Saye to hym boldely that the Realme wyll no lengar suffre it and that it is marueyle howe they haue suffred it so longe and I and my brother and the bysshoppe of Caunterburye and the Erle of Salisbury the Erle of Arundell and the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„de wyll be by for without we be present speke no worde therof We are the greatest ê‘sonages of Englande and we shall ayde to susteyne your wordes For all we shall say howe your desyre is but reasonable And whan he hereth vs speke he wyll agre there to or els he dothe amysse and thervpon apoynt a tyme This is the best counsayle I can gyue you Than the Londoners answered and sayde Sir ye counsayle vs nobly But sir it wyll be harde for vs to fynde the kyng and you and all these lordes toguyder in one place Nay nay quod the duke it maye well be done saynt Georges daye is nowe within this syre dayes The kynge wyll be than at wyndsore ye knowe well the duke of Irelande wyll be there and sir Symon Burle and many other and my brother and I and therle of Salisbury shall be there therfore prouyde for yâ— mater ayenst that tyme. Sir quod they it shal be done and so they departed ryght well contente with the duke of Gloucester Than whan saynt Georges daye came the kyng and the quene were at Wyndsore and made there a great feest as his predecessours hadde done before the next daye after the feest of saynt George Thyder came the londoners to the nombre of threscore horse and of yorke as many and many othes of dyuers good townes of Englande they lodged in the towne of Wyndsore The kyng was determyned to departe to place a thre leages thens and whan he knewe of the commyng of the people to speke with hym he wolde the sooner haue ben gone He sayde he wolde in no wyse speke with them But than his vncles and therle of Salisbury sayd sir ye may nat with your honour thus departe The people of youre good townes of Englande are come hyder to speke with you Sir it is necessary that ye here them and to knowe what they demaunde and there after ye maye aunswere them or els take counsayle to aunswere them So thus full sore agaynst the kynges mynde he was fayne to tarye than they came into his presâ—ns in the great hall alowe there was the kynge and bothe his vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshop of Wynchester and the Chaunceler and the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumber lande and dyuers other There this people made their request to the kyng and a burges of London spake for them all named sir Simeon of Subery a sage man and well langaged and there declared well and boldely the effecte of thinformacyon that the duke of Glocester had shewed theÌ„ before as ye haue herde Whan the kyng had herde hym well he sayd Amonge you coÌ„mons of my realme your requestes are great and long they are nat ouer soone to be spedde we shall nat be toguyder agayne a long season and also great parte of my counsayle is nat here present Therfore I saye vnto you gette you home agayne sytte in reste and come nat agayne tyll the feest of Myghelmas without ye be sente for at whiche tyme our parlyament shal be at Westmynster Than come bringe your requestes and we shall shewe it to our counsayle and that is good we shall accepte it and that ought to be refused we shall condempne But sirs thinke nat that we wyll be rewled by our coÌ„mon people that shall neuer be sene as for our gouernynge nor in the gouernaunce of them that rule vnder vs we se nothynge
dystroyed vs. ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde too make warre agaynst his vncles agaynst the cytees and townes Ca. xcv IN lyke maner as the kinges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande beynge at London deuysed of the busynesse of Englāde to reforme it to bring it into good estate So on the other syde the duke of Irelande and his counsayle ymagined nyght and daye howe they myght contynue in their estates and to condēpne the kynges vncles as ye shall hereafter Whanne kyng Richarde was come to Bristowe the quene with hym they kepte them selfe in the Castell there and men that were farre of beleued that the kyng laye there for sauour of the duke of Irelande who said that he wolde go in to Irelande and it was sayd that the kyng wolde se hym dispatched It was agreed by the generall coūsaile that if he wolde go in to Irelande he shulde haue at the coste of the realme fyue hūdred men of armes and fyftene hundred archers and that he shulde abide there thre yere and to be well and trewly payde Howe be it the duke had no great wyll to make that vyage for he sawe well the kyng was yonge and as than he myght rule as he lyst Therfore he feared if he shulde go farre of that the loue and the fauour that he was in with the kynge shulde asswage Also besyde that he was in suche loue with one of the quenes damoselles called Lancegrone that in no wyse he coude leaue the syght of her She was a fayre and a pleasaunt vamosell and was come with the quene out of the realme of Beame This duke loued her so entierlye that he wolde gladly be deuorsed fro his owne wife who was doughter to the lorde of Coucy and dyde sende for that entente to Rome to pope Vrbayne All the good people of the realme had marueyle therof and dispreysed hym greatly for that the good lady was dought̄ to the doughter of good kyng Edwarde of the good quene Philyppe The duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre toke that dede in great dispyte but for all their hate the duke of Irelande set lytell therby for he was so blynded with louynge of this damosell that he promysed to be deuorsed and to mary her He douted nat the popes graunt so that he myght gette the kynges and the quenes good wyll for he reputed his wyfe that he had frēche brought vp in Fraunce and so was her father the lorde of Coucy and he had made warre agaynst pope Vrbayne in the tytell of pope Clemēt wherfore pope Vrbayne loued nat that blode Therfore he sayde the pope wolde enclyne the lyghtlyer to his deuorse This mater the duke dyde putte forthe and promysed to Lācegrone to mary her This duke had a mother a wydowe called the olde countesse of Oxenforde she agreed nat to the opynion of her sonne but blamed hym greatly of his folye and sayde Howe god wolde be sore displeased with hym and paye hym one day for all and than̄e it wolde be to late to repente and she toke the duchesse to her and kept her styll in her estate And suche as ought the ladye any good wyll gaue her great thankes therfore THus I haue shewed you parte of the busynesse of Englande that fell in this season And yet I shalle procede further as I was enfourmed ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande was aboute the kynge in the marches of Wales and nyght and daye ymagyned on none other thynge but howe he myght bringe about his entent And so serued the kynge and the quene with fayre wordes to please theym and caused all other knyghtes and squyers there about to come to Bustowe to se the kyng and the quene and made them great sporte in huntyng the kynge suffred hym to do what he lyste The same season that the kynge laye at Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne in the marches of Wales The duke of Irelande tooke great payne to ryde in and out and specially in to Wales and sayd to suche as wolde here hym gentylmen or other Howe the kynges vncles to haue the soueraygntie of the realme hadde dismyssed out of the kynges coūsayle noble valyaunt and sage personnages As the archebysshoppe of yorke the bysshoppe of Dyrhame the bysshoppe of London sir Mychaell de la Poule sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Salisbury sir Robert Tryuilyen sir Iohan Beauchampe hym selfe and hadde putte to dethe a valyaunt knyght sir Symon Burle So that and they multiplye in their estate they wyll distroye all Englande This duke of Irelande dyde so moche and preached so to the people and to the knyghtes and squyers of Wales and of the countreis there aboute that the moost parte beleued hym And on a daye they came ingenerall to the kynge to Bristowe and demaūded of hym if that it were his pleasure as the duke of Irelande hadde shewed theym The kynge aunswered and sayd yea truely And prayed and commaunded them as they loued hym to beleue hym and sayd he wolde auowe all that he shulde do affyrmyng how he thought his vncles were to hygh mynded so that he feared leste they wolde surmounte hym and take awaye his realme from hym And they of the marches of Wales alwayes loued the prince of Wales father to the kyng For by the tidynges they herde out of the marches of London they thought iustely that the kyng and the duke of Irelande had good cause And so demaunded of the kynge what his pleasure was to do The kynge aunswered and sayd howe he wolde gladly that the lōdoners that hadde done hym so great trespasses that they were corrected and brought to reason his vncles in lykewise They of Wales sayd they were bounde to obey their kyng nor they ought no fayth nor homage to no man but to hym for he was their kynge soueraygne lorde Wherfore they sayde they were redy to go whyder soeuer the kyng dyd commaunde them The kynge was well cōtente with that aunswere and in lykewise so was the duke of Irelande Whan the Duke sawe that the kyng wolde shewe that the busynesse was parteynynge to hym selfe and that he hadde so good desyre to distroye his aduersaries and to bringe theym to reason He hadde therof great ioye and sayde to thē of his counsayle We can nat do better than to retourne to London and shewe our puissaunce And so to do outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse to bring the Lōdoners to their accorde and to be obeysaunt to the kynges commaundement Alwayes they enfourmed the kynge howe that it was a great losse to a realme whan there be many heedes chefe gouernours and howe there coude no good come therby and the kynge affyrmed the same and sayde howe he wolde no lenger suffre it but that he wolde fynde suche
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌ„ducte And of this coÌ„posycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌ„panyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ„ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌ„bre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ„ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌ„castre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deê‘ted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌ„stable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌ„panyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌ„e to Medena de CaÌ„po other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise â—ore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌ„forted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌ„che with the duke of LaÌ„castre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌ„postella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌ„ductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌ„de dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌ„dred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌ„ce his name was sir ThomÌ„s Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌ„ture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ„ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌ„pany Among the freÌ„chmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌ„passion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌ„munyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌ„ce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
frendes dyd stoppe it Whan these lordes were come to the duke he was gladd specyally by the comynge of his two cosyns germayns the duke Aubert of Bauiers and the duke Oste his brother for he knewe well that they wolde nat his dyshonoure but rather to gyue hym good couÌ„sayle as they dyd Their counsayle was to shewe you breuely that he shulde sende some honorable persones for the duke of Lusenburge and of Brabant whome he helde in curtoyse prison in his castell of Nideque and so he dyd And whan he was come all those lordes dyd hym great honour as reason was And than they all departed togyder and came to Ayes and toke their lodgynges Than the duke Auberte and his brother and the foresayd prelates who were the meanes of this treatye they sore entreated the emperour and his counsayle and shewed the emperoure howe the duke of Iuliers his cosyn of his owne free wyll was come to se hym and to put hym selfe poorely with out any reseruacyon into his obeysaunce and commaundement and to knowledge hym for his soueraygne and liege lorde These swete and amyable wordes molefyed greatly the emperours ire that he had before Than the emperoure sayd Lette the duke come to me and so he dyde and kneled downe before the emperoure and sayde My ryght redoubted souerayne I beleue well ye are dyspleased with me bycause of your brother in lawe the duke of Brabante whome I haue helde longe in prison for the which cause I submytte my selfe to abyde your ordre and your counsayles To that worde themperour gaue none aunswere but his sonne sir Charles who was called kynge of Boesme aunswered and sayde Duke of Iulyers ye haue ben to outragyous to kepe our vncle so longe in prisone And if it were nat at the desyre of your well be loued cosyns duke Auberte and duke Oste of Bauyers this busynesse wolde haue ben soer layd to your charge than it is for ye haue well deserued to be hyghly punysshed but chaunge your copye so that we haue no cause to renew our yuell wylles agaynste you for ye do it wyll be costly to you Than the duke of Iulyers beynge on his kne before the emperoure where as he sate in his chayre imperiall sayde My ryght redoughted souerayne lorde by your puyssaunt hyghnes I knowledge my selfe to haue trespassed youre maieste in that I with an army came against my cosyn your vycaire of the empyre and in that I haue helde hym as my prisoner I delyuer hym vnto you freely and quyte and I requyre your grace that you nor he beare me any yuell wyll fro hence forthe Than the prelates and the princes there beynge presente to helpe forwarde his wordes sayde Ryght noble prince this suffyseth that your cosyn of Iulyers hath sayd Well quod the emperour we are content and so toke hym vp by the hande And as it was shewed me for the confyrmacion of more loue he kyst the duke on the mouth and also his sonne the kynge of Boesme And than the duke of Brabante was delyuered out of prison and all suche as were prisoners vnder the duke of Iulyers and were nat raunsomed before were delyuered quyte by reason of the composycion of the treatie and this done euery manne retourned to their owne The emperour wente to Prage in Almayne and the duke of Brabant in to Brabante and whanne the duke of Brabante was retourned than he reysed a newe tayle in his couÌ„trey to restore to his knightes parte of their domages ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Brabante dyed and howe the duke Guylliam of Guerles treated with the duches of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castels and what aunswere he had and how he made alyauÌ„ce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C.xiiii ⸪ ⸪ I Am yet wyllynge to treate of this matter more at lengthe to renforce this hystorye and to brynge it to the poynte that I wolde come vnto to declare the trouthe why Charles the frenche kyng came with a great puyssaunce in to Almayne I might haue shewed this before but I haue prolonged it for all thingê though the date and season be paste yet they ought to be shewed in this hystory for whan I knowe that the frenche kynge and the kynge of England began to be besy than I began to wake to procede this hystory more than I dyd before Therfore I saye thus Whan duke Wyncelant was returned in to the countrey clerely delyuered out of person as ye haue herde before Than he was in wyll to vysyte his landes and castels as well in the duchy of Luzenbourge as else where and toke his iourney to the good cytie of Strawesbourge throughe the lande of Fauquemount and behelde the thre castels whiche were the occasion of the duke of Guerles yuell wyll He founde theym stronge and fayre if he loued theÌ„ before he loued them moche better than and caused them to be newly fortyfied and set workemen a worke as masons carpeÌ„ters and dykemakers to amende euery place and at his departynge he set a valyaunt knyght to be soueraygne keper of these thre casteles This knyght was called sir Iohan Grosset who at the dukes commaundemente toke on hym the charge at his parell The duke passed further and vysited his couÌ„trey and at his pleasure retourned agayne in to Brabante for there was his abydynge In this season syr Iohan of Bloâ—s had wedded the olde lady and duches of Guerles for the herytage by right came to hym by the deth of sir Edwarde of Guerles his brother who was slayne as ye haue herde in the batayle of Iulyers But his suster the duches of Iulyers stroue with hym and made chalenge and the moste parte of the knightes and good townes inclyned most to the ladyes parte bycause she had a fayre sonne who was able than to ryde and that was well sene for always he was in the warres so that sir IohnÌ„ de Bloyse nor his wyfe coulde neuer haue peasable possessyon But the chalenge of the ryght of his wyfe and the pursute therof coste hym aboue a hundred thousaÌ„de frankes For the sonne of duke Wyllyam of Iuliers shewed well in his youth that he was noble and hardy and loued dedes of armes for he came of noble ertractyon and so was duke of Guerles and had in mariage the eldest doughter of duke Auberte who had ben wedded before to sir Edward of Guerles but he had neuer carnally coupyled with her for she was to yonge Thus she was maryed to the lorde Willyam of Iulyers and he and she were moche of one age And soo she was styll duches as she was before This yonge duke increased in honour wytte and prowes and in great wyll to hauÌ„te dedes of armes and to augment his herytage And his heâ—e was rather englysshe than frenche and sayd always as yong as he was that he wolde ayde to insteyne the kynge of Englandes quarell for he was nerer of blode to hym than to the Frenche
their prisoner they make great ioye therof and wyll conuey hym in to Boesme or in to Austryche or in to Xasenne and kepe hym in some castell inhabytable They are people worse than sarazins or paynyms for their excessyue couetousnesse quencheth the knowledge of honoure Lette vs go and put the kynge in daunger amonge these people and if any thynge happen to fall a mysse as the chaunces of fortune are maruaylous what shall be sayde than howe we haue brought the kynge thyder to betray him and to the dystructyon of the realme and nat for the augmentynge therof God defende the realme fro all domage and parell If the kyng go he muste haue parte of his noble men with hym And if mysse fortune fall the realme of Fraunce is loste without recouery Therfore loke wysely if it be good to counsayle the kyng to go that voyage in to Almayne Than some other suche as had wysely coniected all parelles in their imagynacyons sayd In the name of god lette nother the kynge go nor yet sende thyder no puyssaunce For though the duke of Guerles who is but yonge and that youthe of wytte haue made hym to defye the kynge whiche was nat done by no greate wysdome nor good counsayle but rather done by folissh pride of yonge people who wolde flye or they haue wynges And sythe he hathe thus defyed the kynge lette hym alone and suffre hym to pursewe his desyaunce the realme of Fraunce is great if he entre in to the realme in any maner of wyse the kinge shall sone be enfourmed therof and than he shall haue a iuste cause to styre vp his people and to go and fyght agaynste hym where so euer he fynde hym or els to make hym flye or yelde hym in the felde and therby the kynge shall haue more honour and lesse charge than to go in to Guerles for suche as knowe the countrey saye that or we can come to the duke if he lyste we must passe a foure great ryuers the lyste of them as great as the ryuer of Loyre at Namurs or Charite Also they say it is a fowle countrey and yuell lodgynges THe noble men and counsaylouts of Fraunce were thus in dyuers imagynacyons on this voyage that the kynge wolde make in to Almayne and surely it had ben auaunsed the soner forwarde and they had nat douted the venym that myght growe by the occasyon of Bretayne and of the duke there that mater drewe theym a backe And indede they had good cause to doute it for the duke of Bretayne was well infourmed of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles hadde made to the Frenche kynge and howe that the yonge kinge Charles wolde go in to Almayne The duke loked for nothyng els but that the kynge shulde be ones departed out of his Realme of Fraunce he hadde ordeyned and concluded bytwene hym and the englysshe men to suffre the englisshe army to entre in to his countrey And also he had by subtyle meanes drawen to his acorde the moste parte of the good townes of Bretaygne and specyally Nauntes Wennes Rennes Lentriguier Guerrādo Lambale saynte Malo and saynte Mathewe defyn poterne but the noble men he coulde nat gette to his opynyon Than the duke imagyned if the lordes shulde go with the constable of Fraunce in to Almayne thanne his warre and entente shulde the soner come to passe He caused his townes and castels to be well prouyded for with vytayles and artyllary and he shewed well howe he inclyned rather to the warre than to haue pease Also he had great alyaunce with Charles they yonge kyng of Nauerre and the duke promysed hym that if he might come to his entent to haue puyssaunce of men of armes and archers out of Englāde he wolde bringe them streight in to Normandy and recouer fyrst the good townes and castels that kynge Charles of Fraunce vncle to the kynge of Nauerre had taken fro hym by his men as the lorde of Coucy and outher Of this the kynge of Nauer had great trust and by reason therof he helde in humble loue the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon for bytwene theym was great alyaunces And of all this I sawe great apparence as I shall shewe after IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght the seuenth daye of Aprell it was concluded by the kynge of Englande and his counsayle and by his vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre that the erle Rycharde of Arundell shulde be heed and chefe of an army on the see with hym a thousande men of armes and thre thousande archers and to be at Hamton the fyftene day of May and there to fynde his nauy redy apparelled And euery man that was apoynted to go to be there redy at that daye And the kynge of Englande on saynte Georges daye nexte after helde a great feast at his castell of Wyndesore And there were the chefe lordes that shulde go with therle of Arundell and there they toke their leaues of the kynge and of the quene and of all other ladyes and so came to Hampton at their daye apoynted and entred in to their shyppes the twenty day of May whiche was a fayre clere day There was the erle of Arundell the erle of Notyngham the Erle of Deuonshyre syr Thomas Percy the lorde Clifforde sir Iohn̄ of Ware wyke sir Willyam de la Selle the lorde Cameux syr Stephyn de Libery syr Willyam Helman syr Thomas Moreaur syr Iohan Dambreticourt syr Roberte Sere sir Peter Mountbery sir Loys Clombo sir Thomas Coq syr Willyam Pulle and dyuers other They were of good men of armes a thousand speares and aboute a thre thousande archers They had with theym no horses for they trusted if they might come to their ententes to entre in to Bretayne and there to refresshe them where as they shulde fynde horses ynowe at a good price to serue them The daye that they departed fro Hampton was so fayre and peasable that it was meruayle they drewe towardes Normādy nat purposyng to lande in any parte but to passe by the fronters of Normandy and Bretayne tyll they herde other newes They had in their nauy certayne vessels called Ballengers who sayled on before to se if they myght fynde any aduenture in lyke maner as knyghtes do by lande go before the bataylles to dyscouer the coūtrey and enbusshes ¶ Nowe we shall leaue a season of spekynge of this army and speke somwhat of the busynesse of Guerles Brabant and shewe howe the siege was layde to Graue ¶ Howe the brabansoys layde siege to the towne of Graue And howe the constable of Fraunce toke saynte Malo and saynte Mathewes and set there men in garyson and howe the duke of Lancastre was at Bayon greatly dyscomforted in that he coulde gette no maner of ayde Cap. C.xxvi AS it hath been shewed here before of the auncyent dukes of Guerles howe the eldest sonne of the duke of
Guerlâ—s of whome I treat at this present tyme was maryed to the doughter of Berthalce of Malynes therby to bringe him out of daunger and to redeme againe his herytage the whiche was in sore trouble before and the duke of Guerles sonne to the duke of Iulyers to entertayne and to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys as he had cause and iuste tytle Whan he sawe howe he coulde nat gette agayne his thre castels Gauleth Buth and Nulle on the ryuer of Muse pertaynynge to his herytage and to the countrey of Guerles thought than to attrybute the towne of Graue to his herytage for euer this duke had a bastarde doughter maryed to the sonne of the lord Bruke who was enherytour to the towne of Graue So there was an amyable treatye bytwene them as bytwene the fader and the sonne and there the lorde of Bruke gaue the towne and sygnory of Graue to the duke of Guerles in presence of the knyghtes of Guerles and Iuliers and for that cause the duke of Guerles dyd recompence the lorde of Bruke with the landes of Bresde on the ryuer of Lighen in the duchy of Guerles marchyng on the countrey of Holande aboue Brabaunte At this towne of Bresde there was a fayre castell and the towne great and profytable how be it the towne of Graue was better This the duke of Guerles dyd to the entent to haue a iuste tytle to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys The duches of Brabant and the brabansoys said howe the lorde of Bruke had it but to pledge and that they myght quyte it out whan they wolde but the duke of Guerles sayd nayetherto By reason wherof the warre moued So that in the moneth of May the brabansoys came and layde syege to the towne of Graue with many lordes knyghtes and squyers and with the puyssaunce of other good townes in Brabante And thyder they brought engyns springals and other habylimentes of warre They were a .xl. thousande one and other there was skrymysshynge dayly The towne of Graue standeth on the ryuer of Muese on the syde of Brabante and there is a bridge ouer the ryuer to go in to the countrey of Guerles At this siege euery thynge was plenty and as good chepe of euery thynge as though they had been before Brusels Euery day there was skrymysshynge at the barryers of Graue of suche as wolde aduenture them selfe Sometyme they were put a backe and some tyme they droue their enemyes in to their towne as chaunce of aduenture fell The duke of Guerles was well infourmed of this siege He laye a foure leages fro Nymarse and wrote often tymes in to Englande where he trusted to haue socoure by reason of the englysshe army wherof the erle of Arundell was capytayne on the see as sone as wynde and wether wyll serue them to come to Guerles to reyse the syege before Graue The duke of Guerles knewe well that the towne of Graue was strong and well forty fyed so that he thought it coulde nat be wonne by none assaute but outher by trayson or by treatye He trusted theym of Gruae to be sure and faythfull to hym Thus the siege endured longe before Grane And the erle of Arundels army was on the see and tooke no lande but styll kepte on the fronters of Normandy So that the normans fro agaynst Mounte saynte Mychell and downe alonge to Depe to saynt Valery and to Croty were nat well assured wherto they shuld take hede The portes and hauens of Normandy were refresshed by the frenche kynge with good men of armes and crose bowes to resyste agaynste all parelles And by the marshall of Blankewyll was sette in the towne of Carentyne standyge on the see whiche before of olde tyme pertayned to the herytage of kynge Charles of Nauerre the lorde of Ambre and the lorde Coucy two gret lordes of Normandy And the Constable of Fraunce toke the towne of saynte Malo and the towne of saynte Mathews and as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men were on the see they sette men in to those townes in the name of the frenche kyng In this season they thought surely to haue open warre with the duke of Bretayne for the knyghtes and squyers sayde that the armye on the see of the englysshmen were sente thyder for none other purpose but sente for by the duke of Bretayne to lande in his countrey They sayd it was none other lykely for alwayes the shyppes kepte on the coste of Bretaygne without force of wethersome tyme caused them to departe yet alwayes breuely they retourned agayne to the same coste yE haue herde here before howe the duke of LaÌ„castre was departed out of the realmes of Castyle and Portugale the imagynacyons that he had turned hym to great dyspleasure for he sawe well his busynesse was sore troubled and darked as fortune often tymes falleth in sondrie ê‘sons somtyme good somtyme yuell whan it is lest thought on For whan the duke of Lancastre departed out of the realme of Englande acoÌ„panyed with good meÌ„ of armes and archers he thought than to haue sped otherwise than he dyde He sawe and herde howe that in xv dayes he had loste all Galyce whiche was a long season or he had won it the space of xvi wekes And besyde that his men deed sparcled abrode some here and soÌ„e there and hoped of no conforte out of EnglaÌ„de for the Englysshmen were wery of the warre of Spaygne They thought it ouer long and farre of fro them So the duke of Lancastre thought his busynesse in a harde case seyng no comforte he spake lytell but he thought moche more In his ymaginacyon he lyconed his iourney to the voiage that the duke of Aniou made in to the realme of Naples For whan he departed out of the realme of Fraunce he was well furnysshed of all maner of thyng and wente with great richesse puissaunce a great nombre of noble men of armes knightes and sâ—â—uiers at the ende all were slayne and lost Thus the duke of Lancastre reckoned his vâ—yage to come to nothynge by reason of suche disconforte as he had The erle of Foiz Who was in his countre of Bierne and was eight sage and ymaginatyue sayd and accompeed the duke of Lacasters vyage but lost as inrecoueryng of the realme of Castyle whiche he chalenged The duke of Lacastre who was a sage and a wise prince and valyaunt amonge all his disconfytures yet somtyme he toke coÌ„forte to hym selfe I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes He sawe well he had a fayre doughter by the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to done Peter kyng of Castyle in whose right and clayme he made his warre in Castyle He thought thoughe fortune were agaynst hym at that tyme yet it myght tourne good to his doughter who was fayre and yonge for she had ryght to the heritage of Castyle by reason of her mother and thought that some valyaunt man of Fraunce wolde
many metynges to coÌ„mune toguyder as well of the state of Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go as of the duke of Bretaygne whom they coude bring to no reason nor wolde nat obey nor wyste nat whom to sende to hym that he wolde beleue for there hadde ben many valyant men and sage with hym but all that aueyled nothyng for they coude bring nothyng to passe as they desyred wherof the kyng his counsaile was sore troubled For they vnderstode well that the duke of Bretaygne had all that wynter prouyded and fortifyed his townes and castelles and shewed howe by lykehode he hadde rather haue warre than peace and the wysest of the counsayle sayd We speke of goynge in to Almayne but we ought rather to speke of goynge in to Bretaygne and to putte downe the duke there who is so highe mynded that he wyll here no reasone and is alwayes agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce and disdayneth to be obedyent thervnto we shal haue no reason of hym without we force him therto For and if he be suffred he wyll be to presumptuous he feareth no man nor he loueth nor prayseth no man but hym selfe this is a clere case If the kynge go in to Almaygne and leaue his realme bare of men as he muste do if he go thyder The duke of Bretaigne than wyll suffre the Englisshe men to come in to his countrey so entre in to FrauÌ„ce The apparaunce herof is great for there is all redy a great army of archers on the see and they kepe styll on the coste of Bretaygne for if wynde and wether putte theym of yet euer they drawe thyder agayne lyeth there at ancre besemyng taryeng tyll the warre be opyn Wherfore we thynke it were good yet to sende agayne to the duke the bisshoppe of Langers and the erle of saynt Poule for the duke and the erle haue maryed two susters Naye sirs nat so ê™ maister yues who was a very Breton If ye wyll sende to the duke agayne ye can not sende one more agreable to hym than the lorde of Coucy for in lykewyse they haue maryed two susters haue loued marueylously togyder and haue euer written eche to other Fayre brother with the lorde of Coucy sende whom ye wyll well quod the duke of Burgoyne Maister yues sithe ye haue begon name you the rest Sir with right a good wyll sithe it pleaseth you With the lorde of Coucy sende sir Iohan of Vyen and the lorde de la Ryuer These be suche thre lordes as shall bring hym to reason if he wyll euer come to any Thus let it be ê™ the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne than they were apoynted and charged what they shulde saye whervpon they shulde groude their mater and to handell hym by fayre wordes Thus they taryed a certayne space or they departed fro Parys The duke of Bretayne knewe well of their comyng or they deê‘ted fro Parys but he coude nat tell whan And he sawe well the mater touched highlye in that the lorde of Coucy came The duke had many ymaginacyons on that mater and discouered his mynde to certayne of his couÌ„sayle as the lorde of Mountbouchier demaunded counsayle of hym and of other and sayd Sirs I here as the brute roÌ„ueth that the duke of LaÌ„castre shulde mary his doughter in to Fraunce to the duke of Berrey and the mater is so forwarde that sir Helyon of Lignacke is goyng to the duke to Bayon the duke greatly enclyneth to this maryage wherof I haue great marueyle for my fayre brother of Lancastre hath nat written to me therof so that I knowe nothyng of the mater but by heryng saye He was nat accustomed so to do for in all his maters touchyng FrauÌ„ce he was wount to write to me than his couÌ„sayle answered and said Sir if it be thus it must behoue you to chauÌ„ge your purpose or els it shal be greatly to your losse and daunger and bring your couÌ„tre in to warre whiche were good to eschewe For ye nede nat to make warre sythe ye maye be in peace yea and desyred therto Also my lady your wyâ—e is great with chylde the whiche ye ought to regarde The kynge of Nauer can but tytell ayde you for he hath ynoughe to do for hym selfe Also the duke of LaÌ„castre who is a sage and a valyant prince as it is sayd shall mary his doughter to the duke of Berrey This shal be a gret begynnyng to entre in to a treatie of peace bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce or elles a longe truse And by reason therof ye shall se at the ende the kyng of Castell putte out of his realme as they haue kepte hym in and the rather if the duke of Lancastre and the Englysshe men be agreed with hym and also it is of trouthe that the lorde Coucye admyrall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer are coÌ„myng hyder ye maye well knowe that is for some great cause touchynge the kyng who busyeth hym selfe for his coÌ„stable and for his Realme And by lykelyhode the kynge and his vncles wyll knowe presisely what ye wyll do and wheder ye wyll kepe styll your opinyon or nat And if ye kepe styll your purpose it is to be ymagined that the great armye that is prepared for to go in to Guerles shall tourne agaynst you Nowe remembre well what conforte ye are likely to haue yf ye haue warre with Fraunce whiche ye are moost lykely to haue if the duke of Lancaster marry his doughter into FrauÌ„ce as be semyng he wyll for he can nat bestowe her better to recouer her herytage Also ye knowe well that the moost parte of the prelates barons knyghtes and squyers and cyties and good townes are in maner ye agaynst you Therfore sir sithe ye demaunde counsayle of vs We saye that ye had neuer so moche cause to aduyse you as ye haue nowe Therfore putte to your hande to kepe well your herytage whiche hath cost the shedyng of so moche blode sweate and traueyle and refrayne somwhat your yre and hatered We knowe well ye beare great dyspleasure to sir Olyuer Clysson he hath done you many displeasures and ye hym paraduenture may do though he be nat lyke vnto you the FreÌ„che kynge and his vncles wyll maynteygne hym agaynst you for he shall he Constable And if kynge Charles that laste dyed who loued hym so well hadde lyued and ye done as ye haue done We knowe well it shulde rather haue cost the kynge halfe his realme thanne he wolde haue suffred it But kynge Charles his sonne is yonge he taketh nat â—o good hede to all maters nowe as he wolde do tenne yeres here after He cometh on and ye shall go If ye encre in to a newe warre agaynst the Frenche men besyde all that we haue shewed you ye shall do it without our counsayle and without the counsayle of any man that loueth you It behoueth you to dissemule whatsoeuer ye
purpose to do here after What nede you to kepe the thre castelles parteynyng to sir Olyuer of Clyssons herytage after the maner toke them Wheder it be so ye haue peace or warre they shall coste you more the kepynge of theym in thre yeres than they shall profyte you in twelue yeres Sir delyuer them agayne out of your handes without any desyre and whan the renome therof spredeth abrode as there is nothynge done but it wyll be knowen that without cōstreynt ye haue delyuered them of your owne mynde ye shall therby attemper and molifye euery mannes displeasure it shall greatlye please the duke of Burgoyne who ye knowe well hath nat done so moche agaynst you as he myght in all your busynesse And that is by the meanes of the good lady his wyfe your cosyn She hath many fayre chyldren who are nexte of blode to you therfore sir consyder fro whens ye came and are issued departe nat farre of fro thens that ye ought to approche nere it were follye in Englande ye hadde neuer thyng to do Also the Englysshmen haue ynoughe to do amonge themselfe They shewe you fayre semblaunt of loue and promyse to do for you all that they maye but they do it for their owne aduauntage and for nothynge elles ye haue proued them or this ye were norisshed amonge thē in your youthe ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne delyuered vp the thre castelles of sir Olyuer Clissons and howe he receyued ioyously the lorde of Coucy and his company ambassadours fro the frēche kyng And howe the duke of Lācastre made grete chere to sir Helyon of Lignacke seneschall of Xaynton ambassadoure fro the duke of Berrey Cap. C.xxviii WHan the duke of Bretayne had herde his counsayle speke and cast so many reasonable doubtes he was abasshed and stoode styll a season without spekynge of any worde leanyng in a wyndowe lokyng downe in to the courte his counsayle beyng aboute hym he stode in a great study at last he tourned and said sirs I se well that ye haue highly coūsayled me and I se well I haue nede of nothynge so moche as of good counsayle But howe may any loue be norisshed where is no thyng but hate Howe maye I loue Olyuer of Clysson that hath done me so many dyspleasures Wherfore of all the thynges that euer I dyde in this worlde I moost repente me of that I dyd nat put hym to dethe whan I had hym in my castell of Ermyne In the name of god sir quod they of his counsayle if he had ben slayne but ye ought nat to haue raunsomed hym nor taken his herytage For Iohan of Bretayne and the Vycount of Rohers sonne be his heyres and herytours to all his landes for his doughters are their wyues Wherfore they wolde haue entred in to the heritage as their owne for their resort is in to the Parlyament chambre at Parys For ye haue receyued all redy great blame in Fraunce for that ye haue done and kepynge of the thre castelles The constable hath entred his quarell and plee agaynst you in the parlyament house of Parys and there sentence wyll be gyuen agaynst you for there is none to answere for you agaynst any artycle that the Constable hath layde agaynst you Than sir Olyuer of Clysson and his heyres shall haue iuste cause and quarell to make warre agaynst you in his owne tytell And if the kynge with other of your owne countrey of Bretayne wyll make you warre and ayde your ennemyes ye haue nede than̄e to haue more puyssaunce to defende you thasie we can se that ye are lyke to haue Wherfore sir while the plee hangeth ye were best to delyuer agayne the thre castelles and haue thāke than to abyde the sentence to be gyuen agaynst you Sir agre for suche dommages as ye haue done as well as ye canne therby shall you wade out of all sclaundre the whiche a prince ought to dout for his dishonour And sir cōferme you to peace and contynue in loue with them that ye ought to do that is the Frenche kynge your soueraygne and naturall lorde and my lorde the duke of Burgoyne and your cosyns his chyldren ye may take ensample by that ye haue sene in youre dayes your cosyn germayne therle of Flaūders who was a myghte prince and a sage yet by insydētes in th ende of his dayes there fell to hym suche marueylous aduentures that without he had humyled hym selfe to the frēche kynge to his vncles and to the nobles of the realme he had loste his herytage and by their ayde and helpe he recouered it Well sirs quod the duke sithe I haue demaunded counsayle it behoueth me to take it and I accepte your wordes that ye haue spoken THis mater wente so forwarde that the duke of Bretayyne who was in possessyon of the thre castelles of the constables as ye haue herde here before he sent for his men that was in them and rydde his handes clene of them and there were stablysshed men in them for the constable But this restytuicion was nat suffycient in the opynion of the Frenche kynges counsayle wtout the duke restored agayne the money that he hadde taken of the Constable and besyde that the duke to come personally to the kyng to Parys to make his excuse before all the peres of the realme and to abyde on the mendes makynge suche as the kyng and his coūsayle shulde iudge by good delyberacion And whan the knowledge of the restytucion of these castels was come to the lorde of Coucye and to the other lordes that were apoynted to go in to Bretaygne to the duke Than the lorde of Coucy sayde to his company Sirs we haue the lesse to do I beleue the duke wyll gyue credence to vs whan he heareth vs speke I was enfourmed that before these thre barons departed fro Parys the dukes of Berrey and of Bourgoyne had them in counsayle and sayde Sirs ye muste entreate the duke of Bretaygne with fayre and swete wordes nat rigorously And shewe hym howe the duke of Bourgoyne wolde that he shulde come to Parys to the kyng but at leest shewe hym howe he must come to the halfe way to the towne of Bloyes and there we shall mete with hym and speke toguyder These thre lordes said they wolde do as they were cōmaūded They rode forthe came to the cytie of Rennes in Bretayne there demaūded tidinges of the duke and it was shewed them howe he was at Wannes and than they rode tyhder Their cōmynge was anon knowen in the dukes court for they had sent before their herbygers to take vp their lodgynges The duke had about hym his counsayle greate lordes suche as he trusted most the more honourably to receyue these lordes Whan they entred in to the towne of Wānes they had good chere and lordes and knyghtes of the dukes mette them and specially the lorde de la Wall there they a lyghted at their lodgynges refresshed them selfe
treated amyable the duke of Bretaygne and shewed hym nothyng but loue ye haue herde here before how the duke had rendred agayne to the constable his thre castels and the towne of Iugon but as for the hundred thousande frankes that he had receyued he was lothe to rendre them agayne for he axed alowaunce for suche prouysyons as he had made and fortifyenge of his garysons castels and townes and retayning of men of warre and kepynge theym all the wynter for he thought to haue had warre but the kyng and his counsayle fedde hym with so swete pleasaunte wordes that fynally he was agreed to pay agayne the hundred thousande frankes in fyue yere .xx. thousande euery yere tyll it were paied Than the duke of Bretayne departed ryght amyably and the kynge gaue hym many fayre iouels And so he returned to Parys and there the duke of Burgoyn made hym a great dyner and there they toke leaue eche of other Thanne the duke of Bretaygne payed for all his dyspenses and toke the waye to Estampes rode through Beaulce to Bogency on the ryuer of Loyre and there his men wente on before and passed through the countreys of Bloys Mayne Thourayne Aniou and entred in to Bretayne but the duke hym selfe had redy at BoygeÌ„cy his nauy and there he entred into a fayre shyp and with hym the lorde Mountforde the lorde of Malestroit and so sayled downe the ryuer of Loyre and passed vnder the bridge of Bloys and so went a longe the ryuer to NauÌ„tes in his owne countrey ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretayne and as farre as I coulde here he helde well the couenaunte made bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and dyd nothyng after to be remembred tyll I closed this boke I can nat tell what he wyll do herafter if he do I shall speke therof acordyng as I shall knowe Nowe I wyll retourne to the frenche kynge who prepared for his iourney in to Guerles Whan the lorde of Coucy was coÌ„e to the kyng to Monstreau he shewed the kyng his counsayle howe he had sped and howe that all the knyghtes squyers in Bare in Lourayne in Burgoin to the riuers of Ryne and Some were redy to go with hym the kyng had therof gret ioy sayd by the grace of god he wold the same yerese his cosyns the duke of Iuliers and Guerles Fyrste they determyned whiche way they shulde take for the surest way shortest some sayd that the ryght way was to go by Thyreashe and to passe by the fronter of Haynalt and of Liage to passe through BrabaÌ„t and so to entre in to Guerles and to passe the ryuer of Meuse at Trecte and so to entre into the lande of Iuliers and fro thence in to Guerles Of this determynacion the kynge and his counsayle wrote to the duches of Brabant and to the countrey shewnge them the waye that the french kynge purposed to kepe It pleased ryght well the duches but the countrey wolde nat agre therto but sayd howe the kynge and the freÌ„chmen shulde haue no passage that way for it shulde be greatly to their domage The good townes and the knyghtes of Brabante were of the opynyon and sayd to their lady the duches that if she coÌ„sented to suffre the frenche men to entre into her countrey they wolde neuer ayde nor socoure her agaynst the duke of Guerles but surely they sayd they wolde close their townes and go and defende their landes against the frenchmen sayeng howe they shuld lese more by their passinge through their countrey than if their enemies were in the myddes therof whan the duches parceyued the wylles and ententes of the people aswell knightes as other she sawe no remedy but to dyssymule the mater than she charged sir Iohan Orpen and syr Iohan of Graue and Nycholas de la Money to go in to Fraunce to speke with the frenche kyng with the duke of Burgoyn to excuse the countrey of Brabant that he shuld nat take his voyage that waye for they of the countrey thinke they shuld be sore greued and distroyed if he shulde passe through their countrey and she coÌ„maunded them to saye that as for herselfe she coude be well content therwith and had done all that she coulde that it myght so haue ben They acordynge to their ladyes mynde departed fro Brusels rode towardes Parys and dyd so moche by their iourneys that they came to Moustreau fault yon where the kynge and his vncles were and there was nothynge spoken of but of their goynge in to Guerles The duchesse ambassadours fyrste came to the duke of Burgoyne and shewed him their letters and their message And he at the request of his aunte was meane to the kynge and to his counsayle and also the lorde of Coucy dyd what he myght In so moche that their firste purpose as passynge through Brabant to entre in to Guerles was broken and the duches and the countrey excused Than it was aduysed that they shuld go along the realme whiche way they sayd was moste honourable for the kynge and also for the brabansoys burgonyons sauoysyns and other THan it was coÌ„cluded and such named as shulde go in vowarde There were ordeyned a .xxv. hundred hewers of woodes hedgers dykers to make playne the wayes The frenche men had way good ynough thorough the realme tyll they came to Ardayne Than their good wayes began to fayle than they founde hygh wodes dyuers and sauage and walles rockes mountaynes These pyoners were sente before the vangarde with a thousande speares to aduyse the best passage for the kyng and for the hoost and for their caryage wherof they had a .xii. M. cartes besyde other caryages and they to hewe downe the hygh wodes of Ardane and to make them playn and to make newe wayes where neuer none was before nor no man passed that way Euery man toke great payne to do their dylygence and specyally suche as were aboute the kynge for they had neuer so great affection to go in to FlauÌ„ders as they had than to go into Guerles and the lorde of Coucy was sent to Aâ—â—gnon to hym that called hym selfe pope Clement I knowe nat for what cause the vicount of Meaulx sir Iohan Roy and the lorde de la Bone had the goueruauÌ„ce of his men tyll he retourned agayne Nowe let vs somwhat speke of sir Guy of HaÌ„court of maister yues Orient who were sent to the kynge of Almayne They rode so long that they came to CoÌ„ualence where the kyng was And whan they hadde refresshed theÌ„ they went towardes the kyng who was enformed of their coÌ„myng before and he had great desyre to know what entent they came for He assembled his counsayle than these two lordes came before the kyng of Almayn and curtessy dyd salute hym delyuerd their letters of credeÌ„ce fro the french kyng the kyng toke reed them than regarded theÌ„ said
he shulde go with him and thought that this companyons yet shulde se that he had founde somwhat and thought the same manne shulde do them some seruyce in their lodgynges and so Godynos rode on before on a lowe hackeney and the almayne folowed hym a foote with a hewynge axe on his necke wherwith he had wrought in the wode Godinos page lepte on his maysters courser and bare his bassenette and speare and folowed them halfe slepynge bycause he had rysen so early And the almayn who knewe nat whyder he shuld go nor what they wolde do with hym thought to delyuer hymselfe and came fayre and easely to Godynos and lyfte vp his are and strake hym suche a stroke on the heed that he claue it to the teth and so ouerthrewe hym starke deed the page knewe nat therof tyll he sawe his mayster fall Than the vyllayne fledde in to the wode and saued hymselfe This aduenture fell to Godinos wherwith suche as knewe hym were sore dyspleased and specyally they of Auuergne for he was the man of armes that was moste doughted of the englisshmen in those parties and he that dyd them most domage If he had been in prisone he shulde haue ben quyted out and if it had been for twenty thousande frankes ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the duke of Iulyers ¶ Howe the duke of Iuliers and the archebysshop of Coloygne departed fro the frenche kynge and wente to Nymay to the duke of Guerles and howe by their meanes he was reconsyled and brought to peace with the frenche kynge and with the duches of Brabante Cap. C.xlix YE knowe well as it hathe ben shewed here before howe the duke of Iulyers made his peace with the frenche king by meanes of the bysshoppes that treated in that behalfe and also to saye the trouthe the duke of Lorayne his cosyn toke great payne in the mater And as ye haue herde the duke promysed to go to his sonne the duke of Guerles and to cause hym to come to the kynges mercy or els to make hym warre Thus the duke of Iulyers was fayne to promyse or els all his countrey had ben loste Thus the duke of Iulyers and the archbysshoppe toke their iourney to go in to Guerles and passed the ryuer and came to Nymay where as the duke was who receyued his father with great ioye as he was bounde to do for there is nothynge so nere a man as his father and mother But he was nothynge glad of that he herde howe that the duke his father was agreed with the frenche kynge Than the duke of Iuliers and the bysshop shewed hym at length the hole mater in what case he and his lande stode in He made lytle therof for he was so sore alyed with the kynge of Englande that he wolde nat forsake hym for his herte was good englysshe and so excused hym selfe greatly and sayde to his father syr let me alone I wyll abyde the aduenture and if I take domage by reason of the frenche kynges comynge I am yonge ynough to beare it and to be reuenged herafter on some parte of the realme of Fraunce or vppon my neyghbours the brabansoys there is no lorde canne kepe warre without some domage sometyme lese and sometyme wynne Whan his father the duke of Iulyers herde hym so styffe in his opynyon he was sore dyspleased with him and sayd Sonne Willyam for whome make you youre warre and who be they that shall reuenge your domage Syr quod he the kynge of Englande and his puysaunce and I haue gret maruayle that I here no tydynges of the englysshe army that is on the see for if they were come as they haue promysed me to do I wolde haue wakened the frenche men oftener thanne ones or this tyme. What quod his father do you trust and abyde for the englysshmen they are so besyed in euery quarter that they wote nat to whome to entende The duke of Lancastre our cosyn lyeth at Bayon or at Burdeaux and is retourned out of Spayne in a small ordre and hath lost his men and tyme and he hath sente in to Englande for to haue mo men of armes and archers and he can nat get to the nombre of .xx. speares Also the englysshe men haue had but late in playne batayle a great domage in Northumberlande for all their chyualry aboute Newcastell vpon Tyne were ouerthrowen and slayne and taken so that as nowe the realme of Englande is nat in good quyete nor reste Wherfore it is nat for you to trust at this tyme on the englysshe men for of them ye shall haue no comforte Wherfore I coūsayle you to be ruled by vs and we shall make your peace with the frenche kyng shall do so moche that ye shall nouther receyue shame nor domage Syr quod the duke of Guerles howe may I with myne honoure acorde with the Frenche kynge though I shulde lese all my hole lande go dwell in some other place surely I wyll nat do it I am to sore alyed with the kinge of Englande and also I haue defyed the frenche kynge Thynke you that for feare of hym I shulde reuoke my wordes or breke my seale ye wolde I shulde be dyshonored I requyre you let me alone I shall defende my self right well agaynst them I set lytell by their thretenynges The waters and raynes and colde wethers shall so fight for me or the tyme of Ianyuer come that they shall be so wery that the hardyest of theym shall wysshe them selfe at home in their owne houses THus at the begynnynge of this treatie the duke of Iuliers and the bysshoppe of Coloyne coulde nat breke the duke of Guerles purpose and yet they were with hym a sixe dayes and euery day in counsayle And whan the duke of Iulyers sawe no otherways he began sore to argue against his sonne and sayd Sonne if ye wyll nat byleue me surely I shall dysplease you and as for your enherytaunce of the duchy of Iulyers ye shall neuer haue one foote therof but rather I shall gyue it to a straunger who shall be of puyssaunce to defende it agaynste you ye are but a foole if ye wyll nat beleue my counsayle Whan the duke of Guerles sawe his father inflamed with ire than to apease his displeasure sayd Sir than counsayle me to myne honour and at your desyre I shall leane therto for syr Iowe to you all obeysaunce and wyll do Than the duke of Iulyers sayde Sonne nowe ye speke as ye shulde do and I shall loke for your honoure asmoche as I wolde do for myne owne Than it was deuysed by great delyberacion of counsayle that for to saue the honoure on all parties that the duke of Guerles shulde go to the frenche kynge and to do hym honoure and reuerence as he ought to do to a Kynge and to make his excuse of the defyaunce that he had sente to the kynge and to say after this maner Syr trewe it is there was a letter
deliuered to you to conducte to Calays by the kynges coÌ„maundement ye dyde a great outrage whan ye renewed the wordes the whiche were spoken but in sport before the couÌ„tesse of saynt Poule Or ye had done it ye ought to haue returned to the kyng and haue shewed hym the wordes that shulde haue sowned agaynst the honour of the knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce than what couÌ„sayle the king had gyuen you ye ought to haue folowed bycause ye dyde nat thus ye haue hadde this payne Beware better another tyme thaÌ„ke the lorde of Burbone and the lorde of Coucy of your delyueraunce for they haue sore labored for you also the lady of sayut Poule Quod the lorde of Clary my lordes I thaÌ„ke you all howe be it I thought I hadde done well Thus he departed ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe the iustes at saynt Inguelyert otherwise called SaÌ„dyngfelde were enterprised By sir Reynolde of Roy the yonge sir Boucyquant and the lorde of saynt Pye Cap. C.lxii. THe Frenche kyng lay at the good towne of mouÌ„tpellyer in gret myrthe and sport and at a banket that the kynge made to the Ladies and damoselles of the towne There was rehersed all this sayd mater of the lorde of Clary and of sir Peter Courtney True it was I began to speke of thre valyaunt knightes of the yonge sir Bauciquaunt sir Reynolde of Roy and the lorde of saynt Pye The whiche thre enterprised to do dedes of armes in the fronter besyde Calais in the tyme of Somer nexte after abyding all knightes squiers straungers the terme of .xxx. dayes who soeuer wolde iuste with theÌ„ in iustes of peace or of warre and bicause thenterprice of these thre knyghtes semed to the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle to be an high enterprice There it was said to them that they shulde putte it in writyng bycause the kyng wolde se thartycles therof that if they were to hygh or to outragyous that the kyng might amende them bycause the king nor his counsayle wolde nat susteyne any thynge that shulde be vnresonable These thre knyghtes answered and said It is but reasone that we do thus it shall be done Than they toke a clerke and caused him to write as foloweth FOr the great desyre that we haue to come to the knowledge of noble gentlemen knightes and squiers straungers as well of the realme of Fraunce as els whereof farre countreys we shall be at saynt Ingylbertes in the marches of Calays the twenty day of the moneth of May nexte commyng and there contynewe thyrty dayes complete the frydayes onely excepte and to delyuer all maner of knyghtes and squyers gentlemen straungers of any maner of nacyon whatsoeuer they be that wyll come thyder for the breakynge of fyue speares outher sharpe or rokettes at their pleasure And without our lodgynges shall be the sheldes of our armes both on the sheldes of peace and of warre and who so euer wyll iust lette hym come or sende the day before and with a rod touche whiche shelde he please if he touche the shelde of warre the nexte daye he shall iust with whiche of the thre he wyll and if he touche the sheld of peace he shall haue the iustes of peace and of warre So that who soeuer touche any of the sheldes shew or cause to be shewed their name to suche as shal be there lymyted by vs to receyue their names and all suche knightes straungers as wyll iuste to bringe some noble man on their partye who shall be instructed by vs what ought to be done in this case And we requyre all knyghtes and squyers strauÌ„gers that wyll come and iuste that they thynke nor ymagyn in vs that we do this for any pride hatred or yuell wyll but all onely we do it to haue their honorable company and acquayntaunce the whiche with our entier hartes we desyre Nor none of our sheldes shall be couered with yron nor steell nor none of theirs that wyll come to iust with vs without any maner of fraudes aduauntage or male engyn but euery thynge to be ordered by them that shall be coÌ„mytted by eyther parte to gouerne the iustes And bycause that all gentlemen noble knyghtes and squiers to whom this shall come to knowlege in that it shulde be reputed ferme and stable we haue sealed this present writynge with the seales of our armes written at Mountpellier the twenty daye of Nouembre in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and nyne and signed thus Raynolde du Roy Boucyquant saynte Pye OF the high courage and enterprise of these thre knyghtes the french kynge was ryght ioyefull therof and or the mater went forwarde euery thynge was well examyned and sene that no faulte shulde be therin founde Some of the kinges counsayle thought it was nat reasonable that these armes shulde be doone so nere to Calays for the englysshe men might take it for a presumpcyon the whiche wolde be eschewed bycause of the treuce that is taken bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce to endure for thre yere wherfore they sayde there ought nothynge to be wrytten nor doone that shulde be occasyon of any dyscensyon to be had bytwene the realmes The kynges couÌ„sayle rested on this mater a hole day and wyste nat what to do they wolde faynt haue broken it Suche as were sage sayde it were nat good alwayes to consente to the purpose of yonge people for often tymes therby maye growe incydentes rather yuell thanne good Howe be it the kynge who was yonge inclyned greatly to these knyghtes and sayd Lette them do their enterprise they are yonge and coragyous they haue promysed sworne to do it before the ladyes of Mountpellyer we wyll that the mater go forwarde let them purse we their enterprise Whanne euery man sawe that it was the kynges pleasure there were none durste say agaynst it wherfore the knyghtes were ryght ioyfull And so it was concluded and agreed that the matter shulde go forwarde as the knightes had written and sealed than the kynge sent for the thre knyghtes into his chambre aparte and said to them Syrs in all your doynge regarde wysely the honour of vs and of our realme and to mayntayne your astate spare nothynge for we shall nat fayle you for the expence of ten thousande frankes The thre knyghtes kneled downe before the kynge and thanked his grace THus the frenche kynge toke his sporte in the good towne of Mountpellyer a fyftene dayes moste parte with ladyes and damosels And the kynge and his counsayle had parfytely regarded the busynesse and necessyties of the towne for princypally he was come thyder for the same cause and by the aduyse of his counsayle euery thynge was well refourmed and brouggt to good astate and their oppressyons do one awaye wherby the good people had been sore traueyled Than the kynge toke his leaue of the ladyes and damoselles and in a mornynge he departed and wente to dyner to Alâ—pyam and at nyght lay at Vbere the
was sente for agayne WHan these tydynges were spredde abrode in the countrey that Betysach was in prison and that inquyre was made of his dedes and that it was publysshed that who so euer had any matter to hym shulde come forthe therby moche people came to Besyers and put vp supplycacions to the kynge of the cruell dedes of Betysach Some complayned of hym that he hadde dysheryted them without cause or reason And other complayned of hym that he hadde by force taken their wyues and doughters Whan the kynges counsayle sawe so many gret causes laide to Betysache they were wery therof And besyde all these complayntes he was sore behated with the people And all this came to hym by reason to fyll the duke of Berreys purse he dyd euer what he wolde haue hym to do The kynges counsayle wyste nat what to do for than there was come thyder two knightes fro the duke of Berrey the lorde of Nantonelet and syr Peter Mespyn who had brought letters to the kynge fro the duke and they in the dukes behalfe auowed all that euer Betysach had doone before and the duke requyred the kynge and his counsayle to haue agayne his man and treasourer The kynge had greate hatred to Betysach bycause of the yuell name and fame that ranne vpon hym The kynge and the duke of Thourayne his brother inclyned greatly to haue had hym hanged sayenge howe he hadde well deserued it But the kynges counsayle durste nat iudge hym for dought of the duke of Berrey They sayde to the kynge syr if the duke of Berrey auowe all his dedes what so euer they be we canne nat se by no waye of reason that he hath deserued dethe for the seasone that he medled in these countreys by cessynge of tayles subsydyes and aydes and receyuynge of them he dyd it at the instauÌ„ce of the duke of Berrey who had at that tyme there puyssaunce royall as well as ye haue nowe but syr acordynge to the desertes of his dedes ye maye sease in to your handes all his mouables and herytages and leaue hym in the same case as the duke of Berrey founde hym fyrste and with his goodes make restytucion to suche poore men as be vn done by hym What shulde I make longe processe Betysache was at the poynte of his delyueraunce with the losse of his goodes tyll at the laste other tydynges came in place I shall shewe you what I Knewe nat nor I coulde nat knowe but by knowledgyng of him selfe if he were in dede so yuell as he iudged himselfe he sayd he was an herytyke and had done many horryble dedes As it was shewed me there came some to hym on a nyght beynge in prisone to put hym in feare whether they were his frendes or fooes I knowe nat they sayde Betysach thou art in a harde case the french kyng his brother and the duke of Burbone dothe hate you mortally there be so many complayntes put vp agaynste you fro dyuers place of suche oppressyons as ye haue doone whan ye had rule in Languedoc so that they all iudge you to be hanged for ye canne nat scape with the losse of your goodes the whiche hath been offred to the kynge But the kynge who hateth you mortally hath aunswered howe that all your goodes are his and your body also the whiche he sayeth he wyll nat kepe longe I shew you this for good wyll for to morowe it is thought ye shall be delyuered to be iudged to dye Those wordes greatly afrayed Betysach and sayd to them Ah saynt Mary is there no remedy yes quod they to morowe say how ye wolde speke with the kinges counsayle than outher they wyll come to you or sende for you to them and whan ye be in their presence than say thus My lordes I knowledge my selfe I haue greatly displeased god and for the displeasure he hath to me this false slaunder is reysed on me Than they wyll demaunde of you wherin Than ye shall aunswere howe ye haue a longe season arred in your faythe and that ye be an herytyke and kepe styll that opinyon Whan the bysshop of Besyers shall here that he wyll than chalenge to haue you in his kepynge than ye shall be delyuered to hym for suche causes ought to be declared by the lawe of the churche thanne ye shall be sente to Auignon there wyll be none against the duke of Berrey the pope wyll nat displease hym and by this meanes ye may be delyuered and nother lese body nor goodes But if ye byde styll in the case that ye be in ye shall nat skape paste to morowe but that ye shall be hanged for the kynge hateth you bycause of the slaunder of the people Betysache who trusted on that false infourmacyon for he that is in parell of dethe knoweth nat well what to do wherfore he aunswered and sayd ye be my frende and couÌ„sayle me truely wher of god thanke you and I trust the tyme shall come that I shall thanke you The next mornynge he called the gayler and sayde Frende I requyre you cause suche menne and suche to come to speke with me and named suche as were the enquysitours ouer him The gayler shewed theym howe Betysache wolde speke with them They came to hym and demaunded what he wolde He aunswered and sayd Sirs I haue serched my coÌ„science I knowledge my selfe I haue hyghly displeased god for longe tyme I haue arred agaynst the fayth I neuer beleued of the Trinyte nor that the sonne of god wolde come so lowe as to come fro Heuen to come in to this worlde to take humayn kynde of a woman for I beleue and saye that whan we dye there is nothynge of the sowle Ah sainte Mary quod they Betysach ye are greatly against holy churche your wordes demaundeth for a fyre aduyse you better I canne nat tell quod Betysache whether my wordes demauÌ„deth fyre or water but I haue holden this opinyon sythe I haue had knowledge and shall holde it tyll I dye The enquysitours wolde here no more of hym at that tyme and were gladde to fynde suche a mater against hym therby to put him to deth Than they coÌ„maunded the gailer to kepe him straytely and to suffre no man to speke with hym to the entente that he shulde nat be tourned fro that opynyon Thanne they wente to the kynges counsayle and shewed them all the mater than they wente to the kynge and shewed hym all the maner of Betysache as ye haue herde wherof the kynge had great marueyle sayd We wyll that he be put to dethe it is an yuell man he is a false herytyke and a thefe we wyll he be brynte and hanged than he shall haue as he hath deserued he shall nat be eâ—cused for all myne vncle of Berrey Anon these tydynges were spredde abrode in the cytie of Besyers howe Betysache hadde of his owne voluntary wyll without any constraynt confessed howe he was an herytyke and had vsed longe the synne
Englande suche as his specyall 〈…〉 might come in to your presence and to your counsayle as shortely as myght be to treate for a maner of peace so that it he and you togyther myght couenably and resonably be conâ—oyned and meanes sounde to haue a conclusyon of peace he wold be therof right ioyfull and for that entente he wolde nouther spare his owne payne and laboure nor yet none of his men nother to come hym selfe or to sende suffyciente persones ouer thesee to the cytie of Amyence or to any other place assigned And syr we be come hyder for this entente to knowe your pleasure in this behalfe Than the kynge aunswered and sayde Syr Thomas Percy you and all your company are ryght hertely welcome and of youre comynge and wordes we are ryght ioyfull ye shall â—ary here in Paris a season and we wyll speke with our counsayle and make you suche a couenable answere or ye depart that it shall suffyce you With this answere the englysshe men were well content Than it was nere dyner tyme and the englysshe men were desyred to tary to dyne And so the lorde of Coucy brought them in to a chambre and the lorde de la Ryuer There they dyned at their layser and after dyâ—er they retourned in to the kynges chambre and there had wyne and spyces and thanne toke their leaue of the kynge and wente to their lodgynge THe comynge of syr Thomas Percy and his company in to FrauÌ„ce and the tydynges that they brought pleased greatly the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and dyuers of his counsayle but nat allâ— and specially suche as ayded to sustayne pope Clementes quarell for they sawe well by these tydynges that if the frenche kynge enclyned to this treatie that it shulde greatly let hynder the voyage that was mynded to go to Rome to distroy pope Bonyfacâ— and his cardynals or els to bringe them to the beleue of pope Clemente But the mater of treatie of peace was so â—egh and touched so moche the welthe and prefyte all crystendome so that no persone durst speke against it The duke of Burgoyn and his counsayle with the kynge and his brother and the duke of Burbone were all of one acorde The kyng made good chere to ser Thomas Percy to the englysshmen but amonge them there was one knyght called sir Robert Briquet wheme the frenche kynge loued nat he was a frenche man borne but alwayes he helde him selfe outher naueroys or englysshe and as than he was one of the king of Englandes priuy chambre The frenche kynge dissymuled with hym sagely for whan he spake to theym alwayes the kynge wolde tourne his selfe to syr Thomas Percy or els to syr Loys Clyfforde and sayd Syrs we wolde gladly se this peace to be had bytwene vs and our aduersary the kynge of Englande for the quarell and warre hath to longe endured bytwene vs. and one thinge I wyll ye knowe that it shall nat be hyndred on out parte though it be gretly to our cost Sir quod they the kyng our souerayne lorde who hath sent vs hyther hathe great affection to haue peace and saythe that it shall nat be let on his parte and hath marueyle that the warre and dyscensyon bytwene your landes hath endured so longe and that no good amyable meanes hathe been had or this tyme. Than the frenche kynge answered and sayd we shall se the good affection that he hath thervnto THese englysshemen taryed at Parys vi dayes and euery day dyned with one of the dukes of Fraunce and in the meane season it was determyned that the frenche kynge his vncles and his priuy counsayle shulde be at Amyence by the myddes of Marche next after there to abyde the coming of the kynge of Englande his vncles and his counsayle if they wolde come thyder And the englysshe knyghtes sayd they made no doute but at the lest the kynge of Englandes vncles shulde be at the day assigned at Amyence this was the conclusyon of this treatie The daye before that they shulde departe out of Parys the kynge came to the palays where his vncles were and there he made a dynner to the Englyssh knightes and caused sir Thomas Percy to sytte at his borde and called hym cosyn by reason of the Northumberlandes blode at which dyner there was gyuen to sir Thomas Percy and to the englyssh knightes and squiers great gyftes and fayre iewels but in the gyunge of them they ouer slypte syr Robert Briquet and syr Peter Villers chefe steward with the frenche kynge delyuered the gyftes and be said to syr Robert Briquet Sir whan ye haue done suche seruyce to the kynge my maister as shall please hym he is ryche and puisaunt ynough to rewarde you With whiche wordê sir Robert Briquet was sore abasshed and parceyued well therby that the kyng loued hym nat but he was fayne to suffre it after dyner mynstels began to play that pastyme ones past sir Thoms Percy caÌ„e to the kyng sayd Sir I and my company haue great marueyle of one thing that ye haue made vs so good chere and gyuen vs so great gyftes that sir Robert Briquet hath nothynge who is a knight of our maisters preuy chambre Sir we desyre to knowe the cause why therto answered the frenche kyng and sayd Sir Thomas the knyght that ye speke of syth ye wyll knowe that mater he hath no nede to be in batayle agaynst me for if he were taken prisoner his raunsome shulde soone be payde and therwith the kyng entred in to other coÌ„munycacion Than wyne and spyces were brought forthe and so tooke leaue retourned to their lodgynge and made a reconyng and payde for euery thyng The nexte daye they departed spedde so in their iourneys that they arryued in EnglaÌ„de and shewed the kyng and his vncles howe they had spedde and greatly praysed the freÌ„che kyng and the chere that he had made them shewed of the gyftes and iewels that he had gyuen them ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue a lytell to speke of the Englysshe men and some what shewe of kyng Iohan of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of kyng IohnÌ„ of Castyle and of the crownyng of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C .lxxvi. YE haue herde here before in this hystorie how peace was made bytwene the kynge of Castyle and the duke of Lancastre who chalenged to haue ryght to the realme of Castyle by reason of the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to kyng DoÌ„peter And by meanes of a fayre doughter that the duke of Lancastre had by the sayde lady Custaunce the peace was made and confyrmed For the sayde kynge Iohan of Castyle had a sonne to his heyre called Henry who was prince of Galyce This Henry was maryed to the duke of Lancasters Doughter wherby good peace was made bytwene Englande and Castyle and within two yeres after this maryage kynge Iohan of Castyle dyed and was buryed in Burgus in Spaygne Anone after his dethe the prelates
than but pacyentely suffred howe be it he thought the more and at nyght came to his wyfe to supper shewed her more token of loue than euer he dyd befor and he dyd somoche with fayre wordes that the duchesse shewed him all the matter and howe that she knewe it by syr Peter of Craon than the duke spake no more at that tyme. that nyght passed and the nexte day about nyne of the clocke he toke his horse and rode fro the howse of saynte Poll to the castell of Lowre where he founde the kynge his brother heryng of masse The kyng swetelye receyued hym for he loued hym entyerly and the kynge sawe well by the dukes maner that he had some dyspleasure in his mynde and said Ah fayre brother what is the mater it semeth ye be troubled Syr quod he good cause why Wherfore quod the kynge I praye you shewe me The duke who wolde hyde no thynge fro the kynge shewed hym all the hole mater and complayned greatly agaynst syr Peter of Craon and sayd Syr by the faythe that Iowe to god and to you if it were nat for your honoure I wolde slee hym We shall do well ynough quod the kynge he shall be warned by our counsayle to auoyde our house and seruyce and in lykewyse cause him to auoyde your house and company I am well content with this ê™ the duke The same day the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercyer sayd vnto syr Peter of Craon on the kynges behalfe that he shulde auoyde the kynges courte and seruyce and go where he lyste In lykewyse syr Iohan of Buell and the lord of Dernaulx seneschall of Thourayne gaue hym lyke commaundement on the duke of Thourayns behalfe Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe this he was abasshed and tooke it in great dyspyte and coude nat ymagyn why it shulde be And trewe it was he desyred to come in to the kinges presence and the dukes to know the cause of their dyspleasure But he was aunswered that nother the kynge nor the duke wolde nat here hym speke Whan he sawe none other remedy he apparelled hym selfe and departed out of Parys in great displeasure in his hert and so rode into Aniou to a castell of his owne called Sable and taryed there a season fore troubled in his mynde He sawe well he was chased out of the frenche courte and out of the house of Thourayn and also out of the house of the quene of Naples and Iherusalem than whan he parceyued these thre howses closed fro hym he thought to go to the duke of Bretaygne his cosyn and to shewe hym all his aduentures so he dyd and rode in to Bretayne and founde the duke at Wannes who made hym good chere and knewe somwhat before of his trouble And than this syr Peter shewed hym all the case Whan the duke of Bretaygne had well herde all the mater he sayde Fayre cosyn recomforte your selfe all this is surely brought aboute by syr Olyuer of Clysson THis rote and foundacyon of hatred multyplyed greatly after as ye shall here in this hystory Syr Peter of Craon taryed so longe with the duke of Bretaygne that he forgate Fraunce for the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and the kynges counsayle were agaynste hym and also they were nat contente with the duke of Bretayne in that he kepte sir Peter Craon in his house As for the duke of Bretaygne cared nat greatly neyther for the good wyll nor yuell wyll of the Frenche kynge he prouyded suffyciently for his cyties townes and castelles in suche wyse that he loued as well warre as peace And all that euer he dyd was well knowen in Fraunce and with the kinges counsayle and suche as were nexte aboute the kynge reputed the duke of Bretaygne prowde and presumptuous and thretened him greatly but the duke dyde sette lytell therby and sayde that he wolde make warre agaynst the erle of Pointhieur in a iuste quarell for the erle of Pointhyeur our cosyn wryteth and nameth hym selfe Iohan of Bretayne as though he were herytour of this countrey I wyll he be called Iohan for that is his name and erle of Pointhieur and I wyll he put out of his armes the Ermyns and write himselfe Iohan of Bloys or of Chatellon and none other and if he wyll nat do thus I shall cause him to do it and take fro hym his lande for he holdeth it by faythe and homage of vs as for the herytage of Bretaygne he hathe nothynge to do therwith so that it shulde returne to him for I haue bothe sonnes and doughters that shall be myne heyres Let hym purchase hym landes in some other place for as of this he hath fayled Thus often tymes the duke of Bretayne wolde deuyse with sir Peter of Craon who wolde nat replye agaynst his pleasure but rather dyd further it and all for the yuell wyll that he bare to the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and to the counsayle of Fraunce ⸪ ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekynge of this mater and treate a lytell of another pytuous mater concernynge the erle Guy of Bloys of whom mencyon is made here before in this hystory ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastelone sonne to the erle Guy of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix IT hath been shewed here before in this hystory whanÌ„e I spake of the alyauÌ„ce and maryage of Lois of Chatellon sonne to the erle of Bloys maryed to the lady Marye doughter to duke Iohan of Berrey and at the confyrmacyon of this maryage the duke of Berrey prouyded greatly for his doughter for she was assigned for her dowry in the couÌ„tie of Bloys the somme of syxe thousande pounde money corante in Fraunce to be payed in florayns if the foresayd Loys of Bloys dyed before his wyfe than all the countie of Blois to be bouÌ„de to pay these foresayd syre thousande frankes And so it fortuned that about the feest of saint Iohan the Baptyste in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and a leuen this yonge Loys of Bloys sonne to the erle Guy departed fro his father fro the castell of Moltyz in Bloys to go in to Haynalt to se his mother and wyfe and whan he came to Beaumonte in Haynault he fell sycke of a feuer by reason that he had rydden great iourneys and the season was boote and he was but yuell kepte and but tendre of age as of xiiii yeres by whiche syckenes he dyed with out helpe for the physycions coulde nat put a way his hote feuer ye maye well knowe that the father and mother were ryght soroufull whan they knewe of the dethe of thier sonne and heyre In lykewyse so was his wyfe the yonge lady of Berrey who loued hym entierly and thought her selfe hyghtly maryed specyally the trouble of the father was right gret for he ymagyned that the duke of Berrey was ryght couetouse and feared leste he wolde entre in to the countie of Bloys
Foiz sayd that no strauÌ„ger with any puissaunce shulde entre in to no castell nor towne of their countrey tyll the mater were determyned and as they of the countrey shewed themselfe they were better mynded to be Frenche to be gouerned by a seneschall as the countre and cytie of Tholous was and Carcasson and Beauuoyre rather than to be vnder any other ruler Howe be it the mater went otherwyse as ye shall here For whan the Frenche kynges coÌ„myssaries were come to Tholous they demaunded newes of the archebysshoppe and of the seneschall of Foiz and of Bierne and of other suche as had ben at Orthays at the buryeng of the erle of Foiz There they were enformed in what case the countre stode in Than they toke aduyse togyder determyned to sende for sir Roger of Spaygne bycause he was the Frenche kynges man by faythe and homage and his oftycer as seneschall of Carcassone They sent a credable persone with a letter to hym The messanger rode to saynt Gausens a .xii. myle fro thens Than he delyuered to sir Roger of Spaygne his letter sir Roger toke reed it and sayd to the squyer Sir ye shall tary here all this day to morowe ye shall departe I thynke ye shall nat go without company Than sir Roger and the Vycount counsayled toguyder Than it was thought for the beste that sir Roger of Spayne shulde ryde to Tholous and speke there with the bysshop of Noyon and with the Lorde de la Ryuer to knowe what they wolde say The next day ser Roger of Spayne and the messanger rode forthe togyder and came yâ— same nyght to Tholouse Syr Roger toke vp his lodgyng and the messanger went to his maysters Than the coÌ„myssioners said to morowe we shall here tydynges seynge sir Roger is come The next day after masse syr Roger drewe to the bysshop and to the lorde de la Ryuer made good chere eche to other bycause they were all of aquayntaunce and there communed the cause of their coÌ„mynge Than the kinges coÌ„myssyoners shewed forth the kinges procuracions and howe they were set and stablysshed to take possessyon and season of the countie of Foiz and whan syr Roger had well herde them at length he replyed with swete wordes and sayde Lordes I am nat so nere of the kinges couÌ„sayle as ye be and if I were sauynge your correction I wolde counsayle the kyng that he shulde take agayn his money and somwhat more trewe it is he hath lente money on the herytage of Foize to be reysed after the dethe of the erle yet let the kynge leaue the ryght of the enherytaunce to the nexte enherytoure of the blode this shall be for the kynges profyte honour and saluacyon and in this that I saye I shall laye dyuers reasons if ye wyll here it There is one thynge whiche is clere the erle of Foiz layde his lande to pledge by fraude for as for golde and syluer he had ynough for that he dyd was for nothynge but to dysheryte the Vicount of Chastellon wroÌ„gfully bycause he hated hym without cause Also as touchyng the kynges profyte I ensure you the kepyng of the lande of Foize shulde coste the kynge more than the rentes or reuenues cometh vnto And thyrdly the kyng shall lese therby the homage and seruyce of suche a man as is able to do him good seruyce this ought to be well regarded also it shulde be a great charge to the kynges consyence to dysheryte any persone without a reasonable cause for if the herytage of Foiz shuld haue ben bought and solde fyrste all suche as claymeth any ryght therin shulde haue ben a greed with all and satyfyed whiche was nat so wherfore my lordes these reasons well consydred seynge ye be great wyse men and counsaylours to the kynge take good hede what ye do or ye pronounce any thynge that shulde tourne to the kinges sclaunder or hurte to his conscyence if ye do otherwyse it were great synne and as yet there is tyme suffycyente to fynde remedy My cosyn the Vicount of Chastellon hathe sente me hyther to you to shewe you this mater and ryght effectuously desyreth you and so do I in his name to take regarde in this behalfe It is nat good nor conuenyent a man to take euery thynge byforce that he maye take Whan he had sayde than the bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryuer loked on eche other at laste the bysshop sayde Syr Rodger we se and knowe well that all that ye haue sayd is for good entente but our coÌ„myssyon stretcheth nat so farre to quyte the bargayne that was bytwene the kyng and therle of Foize howe be it for the loue of you and to bringe the matter somwhat to good purpose and that all partyes myght be coÌ„tent we shall put this mater in suffraunce and ye shall take the payâ—e to ryde with vs into Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and than shewe there your reasons as ye shall thinke best and if by your meanes ye can cause the vycount of Chastellon to enioy the herytage of Foiz who is enherytoure therto as ye saye we shall be ryght gladde therof for we wyll dysheryte no person Syrs quod syr Roger I am well contente with your sayenge if it please you to abyde here a season your costes shall be borne of the good that is in the castell of Orthays THe thyrde day sir Roger of Spayne tooke leaue of the kynges coÌ„myssyoners and sayde Syrs I thynke to bringe this mater to a good purpose I must be fayne to make a iourney into Fraunce if I tary longe I pray you be nat myscontent for it shall nat be in my faulte and I shall sende you daily messangers and letters Thus they departed they taryed at Tholous and sir Roger rode to saynt Gausens to the Vycount of Chastellon and shewed him all the mater the Vycount was ioyfull of those tydynges and sayd Fayre cosyn syr Roger all my trust is in you the mater toucheth me nere it is for thenherytaunce wherof I beare the armes I can nat tell whome to sende in to Fraunce but all onely you to shewe my tytle to the kynge and to his couÌ„sayle wherfore sir for the loue of me and for that I may deserue to you in tyme to come take on you the charge of this voyage syr Rodger sayd Syr for the loue of you and of your lynage I shall do it Than sir Roger prepared for his iourney to ryde in to FrauÌ„ce and so toke the way to Rodes and the shorter way for as than truce was bytwene Fraunce and Englande or els the way that he toke had nat been sure for hym for on the fronters of Rouuergue Quercy Lymosyn there were many fortresses that made warre for the Englysshemen ¶ Nowe I wyll leaue for a season spekynge of syr Roger of Spayne and speke of the frenche kynge and of the duke of Bretayne ⸪ ⸪ ¶ How the treatie of peace renewed
he came and was lodged at his ease There was syr Roger of Spaygne to haue ben aunswered but the kynge and the counsayle had somoche to do with the duke of Bretayns maters that they coulde entende to nothyng els This syr Roger was there more than two monethes or he coulde be aunswered but daily he was answered that he shulde be herde but it was longe fyrste Also the same tyme there fell another let for thyder came fro kyng Rycharde of Englande syr Iohan Clapam one of the kynges counsayle and of his chaumbre and Rycharde Choall clerke and doctour of lawe to speke with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the same matter that syr Thomas Percy and the lorde Clyfforde had ben at Parys for with the kynge Whan the englysshe men were come to Towrs all other treaties were closed vp and entended to their delyueraunce It was shewed me that they brought letters of credence to the kynge and to the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne they were herde Their credence was that the kynge of Englande and his Vncles wolde knowe if the frenche kynge and his counsayle were in wyll and mynde to kepe their metyng at Amyence to treate for a peace to be had bytwene the two kynges their alyes and confederates The frenche fynge who as he shewed desyred no thynge so moche as peace and answered and said that he was redy to accomplysshe all promesses sayenge that as soone as he had delyuered the duke of Bretayne and were departed fro Towrs he wolde entende to nothynge eâ—s tyll he were come to Amyence and there to abyde for the englysshe ambassadours and there to make them as good chere as he coude Here with the englysshe ambassadours were well coÌ„tent and were a fyue dayes at Towrs with the kynge and than tooke their leaue of the kynge and of the other lordes The kynge gaue them great gyftes and their costes there payed for and so departed and all that season they sawe nat the duke of Bretayne nor spake nat with hym for the duke welde nat leste the frenche men shulde haue any suspecte in hym Thus the englysshmen retourned to Calays and so to Douer and to London and founde the kynge and his counsayle at Westmynster and there shewed what they had done herde and sene The answere that they brought pleased well the kynge and his counsayle and ordeyned for their iourney to go to Amyence ¶ Nowe let vs som what speke of the messangers that were sente to the frenche kynge fro the Vycount of Chastellon out of Foize and Bierne SIr Roger of Spayne sir Espaygne du Lyon who were sent in to Fraunce fro the Vicounte of Chastellen they toke on theym great payne and traueyle to pursewe their cause for certayne clerkes and knightes of the kinges counsayle aduysed the kynge to take the countie of Foiz and to attrybute it to the crowne of Fraunce sythe they of the countrey wolde agree therto The kynge enclyned well therto but the duke of Burgoyne who was sage and ymagynatyue wolde nat agree therto but sayd alwayes Let the kynge take agayn his money and somwhat more Howe be it as it was shewed me the duke of Burgoyne coulde nat be herde But the duke of Berrey toke the busynesse him by meanes as I shall shewe you ye haue herde here before what fell bytwene hym and the olde Gascon erle of Foize whan the duke sente in to Bierne to the erle suche notable persones as was the erle of Sanxete the vicount Dassey the lorde de la Ryuer and syr WyllmÌ„ of Tremoyle to treate for the maryage of the lady Iahan of Boloyne whome the erle of Foize had in kepinge and at that tyme the erle was well content with the maryage that the duke of Berrey shulde haue her so that he wolde pay thyrty thousande frankes for the kepyng and bringynge vp of the lady and the duke payed the said some and so had the lady to his wyfe The duke of Berrey remembred the mater than and sente for syr Roger of Spayne and for syr Espayne du Lyon to come speke with hym in his chambre and so secretly he sayde to them Syrs if ye wyll come to a good conclusyon in your sute ye shall attayne therto by my meanes but fyrst I wyll haue agayne the thyrty thousande frankes whiche I payed to the olde erle of Foiz whan I had my wyfe I haue alwayes ymagyned that if I myght ouer lyue the erle of Foiz to haue the money agayne Whan these two knyghtes herde the duke say so they regarded eche other spake neuer a worde Than the duke sayd agayne Syrs to say trouthe I haue taken your wordes fro you speke togyther and aduyse you well without this treatie ye shall nat attayne to your purpose for my brother of Burgoyne wyll do as I wyll haue hym he hath the gouernaunce of the countrey of Picardy and I of Languedocke agaynste my wyll no man wyll speke The Vycount of Chastellon shall fynde good ynough for the erle that is deed had more rychesse than the kynge hath in his treasour Than syr Roger of Spayne sayde sir though we wolde agre to your demaunde yet we haue nat here with vs the treasure to contente you withall Ah syr Roger quod the duke that shall nat let nor hyndre the mater and ye promyse the dette on your faythe and writynge I wyll beleue you and if it were in a greater mater than that is Syr quod the knyght I thanke you we shall sheke togyder and to more we gyue you an answere It pleaseth me well quod the duke They departed fro the duke and went to their lodgynge and toke counsayle togyther whether they shulde retourne agayne home without agrement or els acorde to the dukes demaunde so that the heritage might clerely remayne abyde with the Vycount of Chastellon The nexte daye they retourned to the duke and offered hym all his demaunde and so there syr Roger of Spayne and syr Espaygne du Lyon became dettours to the duke of Berrey for .xxx. thousande frankes on the condicion that he shulde be meane that the kynge shulde take agayne the soÌ„me of money that he had lente to the erle of Foize and that the Vicount of Chastellon might peasably enioy the herytage well quod the duke lette me alone I shall do it I truste After that day the duke of Berrey who desyred to haue these .xxx. thousande frankes was so good an aduÌ„ocate for the vycount of Chastellon that he concluded his busynesse at his owne wyll The kynge and his counsayle put all the mater to his pleasure and so these two knyghtes had letters sealed of the confyrmacyon of the countie of Foiz to be the trewe enherytauÌ„ce of the Vicount of Chastellon with letters therof adressed to the bysshop of Noyon and to the lorde de la Ryuer beynge at Tholouse The â—enour of the letters as I was enfourmed by suche credyble persones as went on the same legacyon
was as foloweth CHarles by the grace of god kynge of Fraunce we sende and coÌ„mende vs to the ryght reuerende bysshoppe of Noyon and to our knight and chambrelayne the lorde de la Ryuer We wyll that ye suffre the vycount of Chastellon enherytour of Foiz and of Bierne to enioy possede his heritage of the countie of Foiz with the purtenauÌ„ces so that ye take in to your possessyon the soÌ„me of .lx. thousande frankes at one payment and the money payed than our seneschall of Tholouse to make a sure quytaunce of the recryte therof Also at a nother paymente I wyll ye receyue twenty thousande frankes for your costes and charges in goynge and retournyng and that money payed than make quytaunce therof vnder the seale of offyre of Tholouse Also we wyll that syr yuan and syr Gracyen of Foiz bastarde sonnes to the erle Gascon of Foiz haue parte and ceasonable assignement bothe in landes and goodes of that was their fathers by the aduyse and dyscrecyon of syr Roger of Spayne and of the vicount of Bruny quell syr Raynolde of Newcastell and the lorde of Corase to whome we shall write that they maye so aquyte them to dyscharge our conscyence for we made suche promyse to the erle their father And if there be any faute in these four lordes or any rebellyon in the Vycount than we disanull all this sayde treatie and wyll that it stande as boyde In wytnesse her of to these letters we haue sette to our seale in out cytie of Towrs the .xxii. yere of oure teygne the twenty day of the moneth of Decembre THese letters made and sealed and delyuered the knyghtes of Foiz retourned fro Towrs their leaue taken This season syr Loys of Sanxere marshall of Fraunce lay in the marches of Carcassone as soueraygne gouernour there instytuted by the kynge The bysshoppe of Noyon and the Lorde de la Ryuer sent for hym to Tholouse and whan he was come thyder they sayde to hym Syr marshall the vycount of Chastellon reputeth hym selfe to be enherytour of the country of Foiz and we haue sent in to FrauÌ„ce to the kynge to knowe what he and his counsayle wyll saye in that mater wherfore be ye redy with menne of armes on the fronters of Foiz and as soone as syr Roger of Spayne and syr Espayne be returned or that we haue other message fro the Kynge that they agree nat on any peace and that the king wyll haue the lande of Foiz than entre you incontynent and take possessyon acordynge to the right and puyssaunce that the kynge hathe gyuen vs in that quarell Thus the marshall was redy prouyded and euery day loked for aunswere fro the kynge ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue speakyng of this mater and shewe somwhat of the duke of Bretayne YE haue herde here before what treatie was at Towrs in Thourayn bytwene the frenche kyng and the duke of Bretaygne the whiche duke dyde put the kynge and his counsayle to moche payne for he wolde fall to no reason It was sayde the kynge demaunded of hym and he refused In lykewyse he demaunded and the kynge refused Moche treatie there was but no conclusion taken The duke he was redy to serue the kynge and to do hym homage as farre forthe as he was bounde to do Thanne the kynges counsayle sayd to hym Sythe ye knowledge yourselfe to be the kinges liegman why wyll ye nat than obey to reason Why syrs quod he wherin am I rebell Than they layde to him dyuers poyntes Fyrste in the beleuynge on the pope at Auygnon whome they sayde the kynge toke for the trewe pope ye dyffer ther fro and dyssymule the mater for ye wyll obey none of his coÌ„maundementes but gyue all the benefyces your selfe in Bretaygne and suche as brynge any bulles fro the pope ye wyll nat knowe theym this is agaynste the magesty royall and great synne to your coÌ„scyence and soule Than the duke aunswered and sayde As for my conscyence there is no man ought to speke therof nor iudge it but all onely god who is soueraygne iudge in all suche causes and sythâ— ye argue and appose me in that maner â–ª I shall aunswere you As for these popes who are indyfferent there is no sure declaration made of them and the season that the first tydynges came of the chosynge of pope Vrbayne I was in the towne of Gaunt with my cosyn the erle of Flaunders and there he receyued letters sealed with the popes seale as than called Robert of Quesne cardynall and in his letter he certifyed to the erle my cosyn that by the grace of god and by the deuyne in spyratyon he was chosen pope and hadde to name Vrbayne Howe than canne this be vndone agayne me thynke it were harde to do I wyll nat argue agaynst the kinges maieste for I am his cosyn and lyege man and shall well and trewly serue hym whan so euer I be requyred as farre forthe as I am bounde to do but I wyll speke agaynst them that counsayle nat the kynge well Why syr quod they shewe vs who they be that do nat counsayle the kynge as they ought to do and we shall fynde remedy for them Syrs â— he ye knowe them better than I do for ye company with them oftener than I do but as touchynge the benefyces of my countrey I am nat so haute nor so cruell agaynst suche as desyre them but that I suffre the clerkes of my countrey to enâ—oy them by the bulles of pope Clement but suche cerkes as be nat of the same countrey I refuse them and the cause why I shall shewe you They wolde beare away the rychesse of my countrey out therof and deserue it nat whiche is agaynst ryght and consyence wher fore I can nat agree therto And where as ye saye that I am rebell and 〈◊〉 to agaynst the kynges offycers whanne they come in to my couÌ„trey that is nat so nor wyll nat be ye ought to knowe and if ye do nat lerne it the fee of the â—uchy of Bretayne is of so noble a condycion that soueraygnely there ought none to enterprise any mater there but alonely their owne naturall lorde that is to say the duke of Bretayne holdeth his court open to here all ryghtes and his offycers to execute all ryghtes in the lande of Bretaygne and to do acordynge to their offyce And if I haue any offycer that dothe contrary to ryght that outher straunger or other haue cause to complayne I punysshe them and shall do that other shall take ensample by them more ouer I say that some of the kynges counsayle do so that they ought to be reproued for they do as moche as they maye do to norysshe warre and hatred bytwene the kyng and me the cause why is clere ynough they suffre my cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bloys to do two thynges agaynst me vnreasonable The fyrste is he writeth hym selfe Iohan of Bretayne by reason of that name it semeth he entendeth to
erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who had ben as an hostager in Englande and moche in the duke of Lacasters company and loued hym very well He came and humbly saluted the duke of Lancaster Whan the duke sawe him he enbrased hym in great token of loue and spake toguyder a lytell Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne came to them the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy and therle of â—aynt Poule came to the duke of yorke the erle of Huntyngton and to sir Thomas Percye and so â—ode talkyng togyder with amorous wordes tyll they aproched the cytie of Amyence Than the duke of Lancastre rode bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyn Thus they rode all thre in a front makyng honour eche to other tyll they came to the bysshoppes palais where the kynge the duke of Thourayne was There they a lighted and the two dukes ledde the duke of Laâ—castre vp the steres and the other dukes and lordes folowed Than the Frenche lordes came in to the kynges presence made their reuerence and lefte the Englysshe dukes standyng alone Than a lytell they enclined them selfe to the kyng than the kyng caâ—e to them and toke them by the handes lytte them vp and spake swetely to them they to hym and other lordes of Fraunce fell in talkynge with the other lordes of Englande whan they had coÌ„maned a season they toke their leaue of the kyng his brother vncles and departed were conueyed to their lodgynges by the coÌ„stable of Fraunce the lorde Coucy the erle of saynt Poule sir Iohan of Vyenne and other Lordes of the realme of Fraunce Than they toke their leaues deê‘ted agayne to the kyng and the lady of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy was lodged in her fathers lodging all her coÌ„pany IT was ordayned by the freÌ„che kyng his counsayle before thenglysshe lordê came to the cytie of Amyence whiche ordynauÌ„ce was publysshed and proclamed openlye to th entent that no ê‘sone shulde be ignorant therof but euery man to beware of â—re kyng of any artycle in the proclamacion on payne of lefyng of their heedes First that no maner of person make any riot or gyue any riotous wordes to any Englysshman also that no knight nor squier speke or make any chalenge of armes to any englysshman on payne of the kynges highe displeasure they to company with the with swete wordes and goodly behauour in that towne lodgyngê or felde nor that the Frenche pages make any debate nor riotte in any place on payne of dethe And what soeuer any englysshman demauÌ„deth to suâ—â—re them pesably to haue it that no hoâ—t nor vitayler demaunde any money outher for meate or drinke nor for other suche coÌ„men charges Also it was ordayned that no knight nor squyer of Fraunce shuld go by night tyme without torche or torches and that the englysshmen shulde go at their pleasure without any coÌ„trolement that if any freÌ„chman mete any Englysshman in the night in any strete that they shulde swetely gently conuey him or theÌ„ to their lodgyng or to their company Also it was ordayned that in four places of the cyte four watches to be set of a thousande men in euery watche and that if any fyre happe to fall in the nyght by any incydence the watche in no wyse to remoue for no maner of cause but at the so wnynge of a bell all other people to drawe to queÌ„che the fyre Also it was ordayned that no freÌ„ch knight nor squier for no maner of cause shulde presume to speke to the king wtout the kyng fyrst dyde call hym Nor also that the knightes nor squyers of Fraunce shulde talke nor comune toguyder as long as any of the Englysshe men were present But to fynde comunynge and pastyme with theym Also it was ordayned that all hostes and their seruauntes in anywyse shulde nat conuey or hyde any Bowes or Arrowes or any other thynge parteyninge to the Englysshe men without makynge of large amendes without it were gyuen them by the Englysshmen of their curtesy than to take it or els nat All these thynges were determyned by delyberacyon or good counsayle to do the Englysshe men the more honoure for they trusted of a good conclusyon of peace Nighe euery day a fiftene dayes toguyder these lordes were in counsayle and brought nothyng to coÌ„clusyon for their demaundes were greatly different The Frenche men demaunded to haue Calais rased and beaten downe in suche wyse that no persone shulde dwell there after The Englysshe men wolde in no wyse agree to that treatie for it ought to be beleued that Calais was the towne of the worlde that the coÌ„mons of Englande loued best for as longe as they be lordes of Calays They sayde they bare the kayes of Fraunce vnder their gyrdell Thoughe the lordes departed euery daye vnagreed yet they departed a soÌ„der right amiably for euery daye they poynted to were agayne the nexte day bothe parties trustyng at last to coÌ„clude on some good poynt The frenche kyng made thenglysshe men in that space thre notable dyners at his palais In lykewise so dyde the duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule Eche of these made the Englysshe men a great dyner And for euery thyng that the Englysshmen toke in the towne was payd for and clerkes apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to write euery thyng and euery man apoynted for their money to the chambre of accomptes It ought to be knowen that Iohan duke of Lancastre and his brother the duke of yorke for all that they were come thyder on trust of peace yet they had charge of the kyng of Englande and of his counsayle that what soeuer treatie they made in no wise they shulde nouther gyue nor take any maner of thynge MAny were of the opynion that the coÌ„mynaltie of Englande rather enclyned to warre than to peace for in the tyme of good kyng Edwarde the thirde and of his sonÌ„e the prince of Wales they had so many fayre and highe vyctories on the frenche men and so great conquestes with so moche money for raunsomes sellyng and patesynge of townes countreis that they were become marueylous riche for many suche as were no gentylmen of byrthe by reason of their hardynesse and valyaunt aduentures wan and conquered so moche golde and syluer that they became noble and rose to great honour And so such as folowed after wolde folowe the same lyfe how beit after that dayes of the sayd kyng Edwarde and the prince his sonne by the wysdome and highe enterprice of sir Bertram of Clesquy and by the ayde of other good knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce The Englysshmen were than agayne sore put backe The duke of Gloucestre sonne to the sayde kynge Edwarde and vncle as than to kyng Richarde than beyng at Amyence dyuers other lordes knightes and squyers were of
good nyght and so departed and in the streate he founde his seruauntes and his horse an eyght persones and two torches Than he rode forthe to entre in to the hygh streate of saynt Kateryns SIr Peter of Craon had the same night layde good spyall on ser Olyuer of Clisson and knewe well that he was bydden behynde his company with the kynge and that his horse taryed at the kynges gate for hym Than he mouÌ„ted on his horse and all his company well armed couertly and there past nat sire of his company that knew his entent and whan he came in to saynte Katheryns streate there he taryed and abode priuely for the constables coÌ„myng And as sone as the constable was issued out of the streate of saynt Powle and came in to the hyghe streate and his torches besyde hym and came rydynge talkyng with a squyer of his sayenge To morowe I must haue at dyner with me the duke of Thourayne the lorde Coucy syr Iohan of Vyen syr Charles Dangers the barone of Vrey and dyuers other wherfore speke to my stewarde that they lacke nothynge And sayeng of those wordes syr Peter Craon and his company came on hym and at the first they strake out the torches And whan the constable herde the russhynge of the horses behynde hym no thought it had been the duke of Thourayne that had folowed and sported with hym and sayde Ah syr it is yuell doone but I pardon you ye are yonge and full of play and sporte With those wordes syr Peter of Craon drewe out his swerde and said slee the constable slee hym for he shall dye What arte thou quod Clysson that spekest those wordes I am Peter of Craon thyne enemye thou hast so often tymes dyspleased me that nowe thou shalte make ameÌ„des and therwith strake at the constable and syr Peters men drewe oute their swordes and strake at the constable who had no wepon but a shorte knyfe of two foote of length and defended hym selfe as well as he myght and his men were without armure and sone put a brode fro their mayster Than syr Peters men sayd shall we slee them all yea quod sir Peter all suche as make any defence Their defence was but small for they were but eight persones and without armure Sir Peter demaunded nothynge but the dethe of the constable some that were there whan they knewe it was the constable they gaue him but faynte strokes for a thynge doone by trayson is doone cowardly without any hardynesse The constable defended hymselfe valyauntly with that wepyn that he had howe be it his defence hadde vayled hym but lytell and the great grace of god had nat ben Styll he sate on his horse tyll he had a full stroke on the heed with whiche stroke he fell fro his horse ryght agaynst a bakers dore who was vp and busy to bake breed and had left his dore halfe open whiche was happy for the constable for as he fell fro his horse he fell agaynste the dore and the dore opened and he fell in at the dore and they that were a horsebacke coulde nat entre after hym the dore was to lowe and to lytell God shewed great grace to the constable for if he had fallen in the streates as he dyde in at the dore or if the dore had been shytte he had ben slayn without remedy but they that were a horsebacke durste nat alyght and also they thought and so dyd syr Peter that on the stroke that he had on the heed that at laste it shulde be his dethes wounde Than syr Peter sayd go we hence we haue done ynough for if he be nat deed he wyll dye on the stroke that he hathe on the heed for it was a great stroke Therwith they departed and rode a waye a good pace to the gate of saynte Anthony and rode out therat for as than the gate was open and had ben ten yere sythe the frenche kynge retourned fro the batayle of Rosebeque and that the sayd constable put downe the malles of Parys and punysshed them for their rebellyons THus syr Olyuer of Clysson was lefte in this case as a man halfe deed and more in the bakers house who was sore abasshed whan he knewe it was the constable as for his men had lytell hurte for syr Peter and his men loked for nothynge but to haue slayne the constable Than syr Olyuers men assembled togyther and entred in to the bakers house and there founde their it mayster sore hurte on the heed and the blode rennynge downe by his vysage wherwith they were sore abasshed and good cause why there they made great complayntes fyrste they feared he had ben deed Anone tydinges hereof came to the kynges lodgynge and it was sayde to the kyng as he was goynge to his bedde Ah syr we canne nat hyde fro you the great myschiefe that is nowe sodenly fallen in Parys What myschefe is that quod the kynge Syr quod they your constable syr Olyuer of Clisson is slayne Slayne quod the kynge and howe so and who hath done that dede Syr quod they we canne nat tell but this myschefe is fallen on hym here by in the streate of saynt Kateryn Well quod the kynge light vp your torches I wyll go se hym Torches anone were lyghted vp The kynge put on a cloke and his slyppers on his fete Than suche as kept watche the same nyght went forthe with the kynge and suche as were a bed herde of these tydyngê rose vp in hast and folowed the kyng who was gone forthe with a small company for the kynge taryed for no manne but wente forthe with theym of his chambre with torches before him and behynde him and had no mo chamberlayns with hym but sir Gaultier Martell and syr IohnÌ„ of Lygnac Thus the king came to the bakers house and entred and certayne torches taryed without Than the kynge founde his constable nere deed as it was shewed him but nat fully deed and his men had taken of all his geare to se his woundes howe he was hurte And the fyrst worde that the hynge sayd was Constable howe is it with you Dere syr ê™ he ryght febly Who hath brought you in this case quod the kyng Syr quod he Peter of Craon and his company traytoursly and without defence Constable quod the kynge there was neuer dede so derely bought as this shall be Than physycions and surgeons were sent for on all partes and whan they came the kyng sayd to his owne surgyons Syrs looke what case my constable is in and shewe me the trouthe for I am sory of his hurte Than they serched his woundes in euery parte Than the kynge demaunded of them and sayd Syrs howe saye you is he in any parell of dethe They all answered and sayd syr surely there is no ieoperdy of dethe in hym but that within these .xv. dayes he shall be able to ryde With that aunswere the kynge was ryght ioyous and sayd thanked be
by their good wylles howe be it they hadde made their assemble and to saue their honour they obeyed and folowed WHan the Frenche kyng hadde rested hym a fyftene dayes at saynt Germayns and that his armye was assembled than he departed and passed the ryuer of Seyne and toke the waye to Charters and so to Annens a good towne and a castell parteyning to the lorde de la Ryuer as herytage of his wyues With the kynge was his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the duke of Burbone The lorde de la Ryreceyued the kynge honorably and there taryed thre dayes and than rode to Charters where as Montague was bysshoppe The kynge was lodged in the bysshoppe palais and the two dukes And the seconde day after thyder came the duke of Berrey and the erle of Marche in his coÌ„pany And the fourh daye thider caÌ„e the duke of Burgoyne wher of the kynge was ryght ioyfull and people came dayle and the kyng sayd he wolde nat retourne to Parys tyll he hadde brought the duke of Bretayne to reason who so often tymes had put hym to payne and trouble The kynges counsayle hadde so sette hym on that warre that the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne wolde gladly haue modered the mater but they coulde nat be herde wherwith they were sore displeased so were suche as were of their couÌ„sayls and they said eche to other that surely the mater coude nat long endure in that state for it is full lykely that the kynge and the realme shall haue some busynesse to do sithe the kyng refuseth the counsaile of his vncles and leaneth to other at his pleasure who be nothyng lyke to theÌ„ Whan the kyng had taried at Charters a seuyn dayes than he departed and toke the waye to Mans and his men folowed some fro farre partes as out of Arthois Beamoys Vermandois and Picardy and some said one to another Ah this duke of Bretayne maketh vs to haue moche to do putteth vs to great payne and traueyle He hath been alwayes harde highe herted agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce nor he neuer loued nor honored it And his cosyn the erle of Flaunders and the duchesse of Burgone who haue alwayes borne hym and as yet do had nat ben he had ben distroyed long a go for euersyth the lorde Clysson tourned Frenche he neuer loued him Surelye by an likelyâ— â—de he is â—â—â—yable of this dede for he hath alwayes 〈◊〉 sir Peter of Craon agaynst the kyng and agaynst the Constable Than other sayde Lette the kyng alone for as at this tyme he hath the mater so at his hert that he wyll bring the duke to reason or he retourne That is trewe ê™ other if there be no trayson But we feare that all suche as go with the kyng be nat enemies to the duke as it may be well 〈◊〉 if we durst speke it by some tokens For there be some that nyght and daye do what they can to couÌ„sayle the kynge to breke his voyage whiche so troubleth the kyng that he can scant gette hym selfe any helthe or recouery of his laste sickenesse Thus knightes and squiers deuised among theÌ„ selfe as they rode in their couÌ„treys Styll the kyng aproched to the cytie of Mans and there the kynge lodged in the castell and his lordes in the cytie and his men of warre abrode in the countrey There the kyng taried a thre wickes for he was sore vexed with the feuer and his phisicions sayde to his brother and to his vncles My lordes we ensure you ye do yuell to traueyle the kyng for he is in no good state to ryde rest were farre better for hym for sythe he came fro the cytie of Amyens he hath nat ben in so good helthe as he was before They shewed this to the kynge but he had so great affection to go in this iourney that he wolde nother beleue them nor yet his phisycions but sayde howe he founde more ease in trauelyng than in restyng Therfore who so euer counsayle me the contrary shall nat please me nor he loueth me nat Other answere they coulde nat haue of the kyng Euery day the kyng wolde sytte in the myddes of his counsayle tyll it was noon to th entent that none shulde laye any lette of his iourney Thus the kyng being at Mans and somwhat to acomplysshe the desyers of his vncles He sent four notable knightes to the duke of Bretayne as sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Varensiers the lorde of Castell morant and sir TaÌ„pyne of Cautenâ—l chateleyne of Gysors and they were charged to shewe the duke howe the kyng and his counsaile reputed that he dyde great offence to susteyne the kynges enemy and the realmes and to make amendes that he shulde seÌ„de sir Peter of Craon to Mans to the kyng wherby meanes shulde be fouÌ„de that he shulde take no doÌ„mage nor his countrey for all the kynges voyage Thus they deê‘ted fro Man 's with a .xl. speres passed through the cyte of Angiers and at last came before the cytie of Nauntes and entred and there sounde the duke who made them good chere and on a daye made them a dyner and than they dyde their message and declared the kynges entent and his counsayls whervnto the duke answered wisely and sagely said Howe it shulde be harde for hym to delyuer sir Peter of Craon and sayd as god myght helpe hym in all his busynesse he knewe nat where he was Wherfore he desyred them in that case to holde hym excused But he sayde he had well herde of hym a yere past that he loued nat sir Olyuer of Clysson but wolde make him mortall warre to his power what soeuer ende came therof And at that tyme I demaunded of hym if he had gyuen sir Olyuer knowledge therof and he sayd he had vtterly defyed and wolde slee hym if he coude outher by daye or by nyght where soeuer he coude fynde hym Of his dedes I knowe no further wherfore I haue marueyle that the kynge wyll make warre agaynst me for his cause for as to the couynauntes of maryage bytwene our chyldren by the grace of God shall nat be broken on my parte wherfore I haue done nothynge to hym nor to his counsaile that he shulde make warre agaynst me This was the aunswere that the duke made to the Frenche kynges messangers and so whan they hadde taryed a daye at Nauntes than they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Mans to the kyng who thought longe tyll he herde their aunswere and as ye haue herde before they declared it to the kyng and his couÌ„sayle The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne were well coÌ„tent with the answere and sayd it was reasonable but the kyng by reason of suche enformacion as he had sayde the contrary and sayd sithe he was so forewarde in his iourney he wolde nat returne agayne in to Fraunce nor to Parys tyll he had brought the duke of Bretayne to reason Gladly
squyer hym selfe had on the syxte And whan they where thus arayed in these sayd cotes and sowed fast in them they semed lyke wylde wode houses full of beare fro the toppe of the heed to the sowle of the foote This deuyse pleased well the frenche kynge and was well content with the squyer for it They were aparelled in these cotes secretly in a chamre that no man knewe therof but such as holpe them Whan syr yuan of Foiz had well aduysed these cores he sayd to the kynge Syr coÌ„maunde straytely that no man aproche nere vs with any torches or fyre for if the fyre fasten in any of these cotes we shall all be brent without remedy the king aunswered and sayd yuan ye speke well and wysely it shall be doone as ye haue deuysed and incontynent sent for an vssher of his chambre coÌ„maundyng him to go in to the chambre where the ladyes dauÌ„sed and to coÌ„maunde all the varlettes holdinge torches to stande vp by the walles and none of them to aproche nere to the wovehouses that shulde come thyder to daunce The vssher dyd the kynges coÌ„maundement whiche was fulfylled Sone after the duke of Orlyance entred in to the hall acompanyed with four knyghtes and syxe torches and knewe nothynge of the kynges coÌ„maundement for the torches nor of the mummery that was coÌ„mynge thyder but thought to be holde the daunsynge and began hym selfe to daunce Therwith the kynge with the fyue other came in they were so dysguysed in flaxe that no man knewe them Fyue of them were fastened one to another The kynge was lose and went before and led the deuyse WHan they entred in to the hall euery man teke so great hede to them that they forgate the torches The kynge departed fro his company and went to the ladyes to sporte with them as youth requyred and so passed by the quene and came to the duchesse of Berrey who toke and helde hym by the arme to knowe what he was but the kyng wolde nat shewe his name Than the duches sayd ye shall nat escape me tyll I knowe your name In this meane season great myschyefe fell on the other and by reason of the duke of Orlyance howe be it it was by ignoraunce and agaynst his wyll for if he had consydred before the mischefe that â—ell he wolde nat haue done as he dyd for all the good in the worlde but he was so desyrous to knowe what personages the fyue were that daunced he put one of the torches that his seruauÌ„tes helde so nere that the heate of the fyre entred in to the flaxe wherin if fyre take there is no remedy and sodaynly was on a bright flame and so eche of them set fyre on other the pytche was so fastened to the lynen clothe and their shyrtes so drye and fyne and so ioynynge to their flesshe that they began to brenne and to cry for helpe None durste come nere theym they that dyd brente their handes by reason of the heate of the pytche One of them called Nanthorillet aduysed hym howe the botry was therby he fled thyder and cast himselfe in to a vessell full of water wherin they rynsed pottes whiche saued hym or els he had ben deed as the other were yet he was sore hurt with the fyre whan the quene herde the crye that they made she douted her of the Kynge for she knewe well that he shulde be one of the syxe wherwith she fell in a sowne and knightes and ladyes came and comforted her a pyteous noyse there was in the hall The duchesse of Berrey delyuered the kynge fro that parell for she dyd caste ouer him the trayne of her gowne and couered him fro the fyre The kynge wolde haue gone fro her Whyder wyll ye go quod she ye se well howe your company brennes What are ye I am the kyng quod he Haste you quod she and gette you in to other apparell that the quene maye se you for she is in great feare of you Therwith the kynge departed out of the hall and in all haste chaunged his apparell and came to the quene And the duchesse of Berrey had somwhat comforted her and had shewed her howe she shulde se the kynge shortely Therwith the kynge came to the quene and as soone as she sawe hym for ioy she enbrased hym and fell in a sowne Than she was borne in to her chambre and the kynge wente with her And the bastarde of Foiz who was all on a fyre cryed euer with a loude voyce saue the kynge saue the kynge Thus was the kynge saued It was happy for hym that he went fro his company for els he had ben deed without remedy This great myscheife fell thus about mydnyght in the hall of saynt Powle in Parys where there was two brente to dethe in the place and other two the bastarde of Foiz and the erle of Iouy borne to their lodgynges and dyed within two dayes after in gret mysery and payne Thus the feest of this maryage brake vp in beuynesse howe be it there was no remedy The faulte was onely in the duke of Orlyaunce and yet he thought none yuell whanne he put downe the torche Than the duke sayde Syrs lette euery man knowe there is no man to blame for this cause but all onely my selfe I ame sory therof If I had thought as moche before it shulde nat haue happened Than the duke of Orlyaunce went to the kynge to excuse hym and the kyng toke his excuse This case fell in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and twelue the tuesday before the feest of Candelmas of whiche fortune great brute spredde abrode in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and in other countreys The dukes of Burgoyne and of Berrey were nat there present at that season They hadde taken their leaue before of the kyng and were gone to their lodginges THe next daye these newes spredde abrode in the cytie and euery manne had merueyle therof and some sayd howe God had sente that token for an ensample and that it was wysedome for the kynge to regarde it and to withdrawe hym selfe fro suche yonge ydell wantonnesse whiche he had vsed ouermoche beynge a kyng The coÌ„mons of the cytie of Parys murmured sayd Beholde the great myshappe and myschiefe that was lykely to haue fallen on the kynge He myght as well haue been brent as other were What shulde haue fallen than of the kynges vncles and of his brother They myght haue ben sure none of them shulde haue scaped the dethe yea and all the knyghtes that myght haue been founde in Parys As soone as the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde of that aduenture they were abasshed and marueyled greatly They lepte on their horses and rode to the kyng and coÌ„forted and counsayled hym whiche was necessary for he was sore troubled and the paryll that he was in was styll in his ymaginacion he shewed his vncles howe his aunt of Berrey had saued hym
they sayd sirs surely it wyll be harde to fynde hym for this daye he is in one place and to morowe in another But if it please you ye maye ryde ouer all the duchy of Bretaygne and sertche ouer all his forteresses and houses none shall be closed agaynst you Whan they sawe they coulde haue none other aunswere they departed thens rode and visyted all the fortresses great and small parteynynge to the lorde Olyuer of Clysson ThanÌ„e they came to Wannes and there founde the duke of Bretaygne and the duchesse who receyued them and there they taryed but halfe a daye and dyscouered nat to the duke the secrete mater that they came thyder for nor also the duke examyned them nothynge of the mater Also they coulde nat se there sir Peter of Craon THus they toke leaue of the duke and of the duchesse and retourned to Parys where they fouÌ„de the kyng and the lordes and there reported to the kynge to the duke of Orlyaunce howe they hadde sought all the places and townes parteynynge to sir Olyuer of Clysson but in no wyse they coulde fynde hym The dukes of Burgoyn and Berrey were right gladde of these newes and wolde nat it had ben otherwise Than anone after proceded the maryage bytwene the lorde Philippe of Arthois and the lady Mary of Berrey and so this lorde Philyppe was Constable of Fraunce and vsed the offyce with all profytes and aduauntages therto belongyng of auncyent ordynauÌ„ces yet the lorde Olyuer of Clysson had nat renounced the offyce nor delyuered vp the Martell whiche is the token of the Constable of Fraunce For he contynued and sayd he wolde abyde styll CoÌ„stable and had done no cause why to lese it nouther to the kynge nor to the realme He knewe well the erle of Ewe was profered to haue the offyce of the Constable and to enioye the profyttes therof by consente of the Kynge and howe he hadde maryed the doughter of the Duke of Berrey the lady Mary He toke but lytell regarde to all this for he knewe hym selfe true to the kynge and to the crowne of Fraunce And knewe well all that was done agaynst hym was through enuy and hatered that the dukes of Burgâ—yne and Berey had against hym Thus the lorde of Clysson lette the mater passe and contynued styll his warre agaynst the duke of Bretayne whiche warre was right fierse and cruell without mercy or pytie The lorde of Clysson rode ofter abrode and layde busshmentes than the duke dyde And all other lordes of Bretayne satte styll wolde nat medyll The duke dyde sende for the lordes of his countrey and they came to speke with hym to knowe his entent than the duke requyred them of their ayde helpe agaynst his ennemy sir Olyuer of Clysson Than the lordes of Bretayne as the vicouÌ„t of Rohan the lorde Dignan the lorde Hermen of Lyon and dyuers other excused them and sayd they knewe no cause why nor they wolde nat make no warre agaynst the lorde Clysson but they said they wolde right gladlye endenour them selfes to bringe them to a peace if they coude Whan the duke sawe he coude haue none other conforte of them and parceyued well howe he lost and was lykely to lese mo men in that warre than sir Olyuer of Clysson than he consented that the sayde lordes shulde go to sir Olyuer of Clysson treate for a peace and to bringe hym vnder saueconducte to Wannes to speke with hym at whiche tyme he sayd he shulde be founde tretable and to agre to all reason And if sir Olyuer had done hym any displeasure that he myght haue amendes accordynge to their aduyse These lordes were well agreed thus to do and so they all thre wente to the lorde Olyuer of Clysson and dyde so moche that they spake with hym as I was enformed in the castell of Ioâ—elyn and shewed him the dukes entent And moreouer to bringe them to a peace for they sawe well warrÌ„ was nat fytting bytwene them but greatly noyed the noble men marchauÌ„tes and coÌ„mons of Bretaygne they sayd to the lorde Olyuer Sir if it wyll please you to go to the duke we shall bynde vs to abide here iÌ„ this castell tyll your retourne And we doute nat ye beynge ones in his presence ye shall fynde him so resonable that peace and good accorde shal be had bitwene you Sir Olyuer sayd Sirs what shall it profyte you if I were deed Thynke you that I knowe nat the duke of Bretayne He is so cruell and so haute that for all his saueconducte or what soeuer he saythe if he sawe me in his preseÌ„ce he wolde neuer cease tyll I were deed and thanÌ„e shulde you dye lykewise for my men here wolde soone slee you without mercy Wherfore it is best that bothe you and I saue our lyues rather than to putte vs in that daunger I shall kepe me fro hym and I can and lette hym kepe hym as well fro me ThanÌ„e the lorde Charles of Dignan sayde Fayre cosyn ye may saye as it please you but we thynke surely thoughe he sawe you he wolde do you no displeasure This that we offre you is of good affection and to bringe you to accorde and we praye you that ye wyll thus do Than the lorde Clysson sayde Sirs I beleue surely ye meane well but I ensure you vpon this assuraunce I shall neuer go to hym But sithe ye medell in the mater bytwene vs we shall nat thynke that I shal be vnresonable I shall tell you what I wyll do Retourne you agayn to the duke and saye that I wyll nat take you for no pledge nor hostage Lette hym sende me his sonne and heyre who is maryed to the doughter of FrauÌ„ce and he shall abyde here in this castell with my men tyll I retourne agayne This way I thynke more surer thaÌ„ the other for if ye shulde abyde here as ye offre Who shulde thanÌ„e entremedell in the busynesse bytwene the duke and me For without a meane we shall neuer come to accorde WHan these lordes of Bretayne sawe they coude haue non other answere they tooke their leaues and retourned to WaÌ„nes to the duke and shewed hym what they had done but in no wyse the duke wolde consente to sende his sonne to the castell of Ioselyn So their warre contynued styll wherby no persone durst ryde abrode and marchaundyse was layde downe thoroughe whiche the people of good townes cyties were sore hindred and poore laborers lette laboringe of the erthe The duchesse of Burgoyn couertly ayded her cosyn the duke of Bretayne with men of armes aswell of Burgoyne as of other places for the duke coude get none of his countrey to take his parte in that quarell agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson They alwayes dissymuled the mater except suche as were of his owne house The duke of Orlyaunce on the other parte loued well the lorde Olyuer of Clyison and secretely so coured hym with men and sente
had spedde and they shewed hym all the hole processe and vpon what poynte they departed wherof the kynge was gladde for he shewed to be glad to haue peace In lyke maner the englyssh dukes whan they came to Calays they wrote to the kynge of Englande all the poyntes and artycles of that treatye And shortly they had agayne a good aunswere coÌ„maundynge them to procede for a peace sayenge the warre had contynewed longe ynoughe and that crystendome therby was sore doÌ„maged Thus at the daye prefyxed these dukes mette agayne at Balyngham and with the frenche lordes came the kynge of Armony to shewe to the lordes of Englande his busynesse and necessyte He was well knowen with the duke of Gloucestre for he had ben in Englande whan the frenche army was ordeyned at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande The duke of Glocestre the same tyme receyued the kynge of Armony and made hym good chere at a fayre place of his in Esser called Plasshey At Balyngham also the Dukes of Englande made the kynge of Armony good chere and was glad to here hym speke And they aunswered hym that gladly they wolde ayde hym wherof the kynge was ryght ioyfull Many thynges were treated in this parlyament And all this season the cardynall of Line lay at Abbeuyle who was sente thyder in legacyon by hym that called hym selfe pope Clemente for maters concernyng the churche The frenche dukes at this assemble at Balyngham wolde haue had certayne artycles comprised in their treatie concernynge the churche and susteynynge the opynyons of this pope Clemente Robert of Geneue But whan the Englysshe dukes harde that they sayd to their cosyns of Fraunce Cosyns and ye wyll that we shall fall to any poynte of conclusion speke no more of that cardynall we haue nothyng to do with hym his matter is a busynes without profyte or effecte we are determyned vpon a pope to whom we wyll obey we wyll here no spekyng agaynste hym if the other medle any thynge with vs we shall departe and god hence and leaue all togytder After that tyme there was no mo wordes of that cardynall he taried styll at Abbcuyle Than these lordes proceded in their treaties the duke of Lancastre was well enclyned to haue peace The Frenche kynge the yere before hadde sore desyred hym to be a good meane to entreate for a peace and so he promysed to do howbeit his brother the duke of Gloucestre was hard to agree for he layde forthe the frenchemens dysceytes and colored wordes that they vsed alwayes in their writynges sayenge howe the frenche men wolde alwayes wrestell with their armes dyscouered whiche was euer perceyued On a daye there came a squyer of honour a frenche man called Robert the hermyte to the duke of Gloucestre he was one of the frenche kynges priuy chambre whether he was sente to the duke of Glocestre or came on his owne heed I can nat tell but as the duke shewed me in Englande at Plasshey this squyer sayd to him Syr for the loue of god be nat agaynst this treatie of peace for ye se howe the lordes of Fraunce do their dyligence to bringe it aboute ye shall do an almesse dede for the warre hath to longe endured and sythe that bothe kynges are content to haue peace all their subgiettes ought to obey therto Than the duke answered hym as he sayd Roberte I am nat agaynst it nor wyll nat be but ye frenche men amonge you ye haue so many coloured wordes so darke and obscure to our vnderstandynge so that whan ye wyll it is warre and whan ye lyst it is peace thus haue ye ledde vs vnto this presente daye But if the kynge my soueraygne lorde had beleued me and suche other of his realme as are bouÌ„de to serue hym peace shulde neuer haue been bytwene Englande and Fraunce tyll restytucyon had ben made to vs of all that is taken fro vs without cause by subtylte and crafte as god and all the worlde knoweth But sythe the kynge my souerayne lorde enclyneth to the peace it is reasone that we agree to the same and therfore if we make a peace acordyng to the desyres of bothe kynges sythe we be here assembled let it be well holden on your syde for it shall be well kepte on our partye And thus the duke shewed me that this Roberte the Hermyte departed fro hym and went to his company And so these lordes contynewed styll their treatie I Wyll make no further processe but come to conclusyon These foure dukes that were at this assemble and had full power aâ—d auctorite of their kynges to take a treâ—â—ce and to make a peace They dyd so in suche wyse that generall voyce and 〈◊〉 through the towne of Abbeuyle that a peace was taken vpon certayne artycles bytwene the two kynges their alyes and consyderates But I sir Iohan Froyssart auctour of this hystory beynge the same tyme in Abbeâ—â—yle coulde nat lerne the certaynte of the artycles comprised in that peace Howe be it I knewe that a peace was taken to endure four yeres to be kepte ferme and stable bothe by see and by lande And it was concluded and agreed that within the sayde space of the four yere shulde be delyuered to the kynge of Englande for euer and perpetually to all kinges of Englande and to his coÌ„myssioners all the landes and sygnories in the countrey of Languedoâ— and to be as of the demayne and herytage of the crowne of Englande And this doone and accomplysshed it was agreed by the same ordynaunce that certayne capitayns and their men that helde some holdes and fortresses in the Realme of Fraunce shulde aduoyde and departe all suche as made warre and do make any warre vnder the shadowe and coloure of the kyng of Englande and the Englysshe men of what nacyon so euer they were To all these artycles these lordes that were as than at Balyngham were bounde in writynges sygned and sealed and the copyes therof sent to bothe kynges Than the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sent an harauld called Marche with letters to the Kynge of Englande shewynge and declarynge all the hole processe ordynaunce concluded in their treatie vpon the forme of peace Thus this haraulde departed with his letters and rode to Calys and passed ouer to Deuer and rode forthe tyll he came to the kynge who was at a manoure of his owne besyde London Whan he came in the kynges presence he delyuered his letters And whan the Kynge had redde them he was ryght ioyouse and gaue to the haraulde for his good tydynges bryngynge great giftes as the same haraulde shewed me after at leysare as I rode with hym in to the Realme of Englande These foure dukes of Fraunce and of Englande were styll at Balyngham and soiourned there in fayre tentes and pauylyons and well and dylygently perused and examyned the artycles of their treatie and wolde passe nor seale to none tyll all darke and obscure wordes were clerely declared and made
perfyte Nowe in the same season there happed to fall a great lette and trouble in this matter wherby all was nyghe at a poynte to haue been broken and made voyde and it is reason I tell you the cause to the entent that the hystory be playne and trewe YE haue herde here before how the frenche kyng had great pleasure to lye at Abbeuyle and also to be nere to here dayly howe the treatie wente forwarde at Balyngham And whan the four dukes were at a poynt as ye haue herde at the conclusyon of the mater the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sayd howe that it was the entensyon of kynge Rycharde kynge of Englande and his counsayle that pope Bonyface beynge at Rome whome the Romayns almayns hungaryons lumbardes venysyans and all the nacyons of the worlde chrystened helde to one pope and he that named hym selfe Clement degraded and condeÌ„pned that they shulde desyre the frenche kynge to take the same way Whan the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne vnderstode those wordes the duke of Burgoyne to the entent somewhat to please his cosyns of Englande and to the entente that their treatie of peace shulde nat be hyndred therby sayd Fayre cosyns we desyre you to haue some respyte to take counsayle vpon that mater whiche was graunted them And thervpon they toke counsayle and than aunswered and the Duke of Burgoyne spake and sayd Fayre cosyns the mater and questyon of the two popes is nat couenable to be moued nor spoken of here amonge vs and we marueyle why ye put this mater in coÌ„munycacion for at the fyrst begynnyng of our treatie ye refused to se or to speke with the Legate de la Lyne who is as yet in Abbeuyle wherfore we rest vs on that Whan the cardynalles at Rome dyd chose pope Vrbayne and after his dyscease pope Bonyface none of our party nor yet of yours were called to that electyon and in lykewyse we saye of Clement who is at Auygnon We saye nat agaynst but that it were great almes to a pease theym and to vny the churche who so myght entende to do it but lette vs leaue that mater and lette the vnyuersitees and clerkes determyne it and whan all our busynesse is concluded and a ferme peace ratifyed than by the counsayle of our cosyn the kynge of Almayne we shall entende therto gladly on our partye and in lykewyse do you on your partie With this aunswere the dukes of Englande were well content for it semed to them reasonable Than they aunswered and sayde Fayre cosyns ye haue sayde very well we are content with the same Thus that mater rested Than there fell a nother great lette and trouble for the frenche kynge who had layne at the towne of Abuyle a great season bycause of the great disportes pleasure and pastyme that he fouÌ„de there sodaynly he fell agayne in to his maladye of fransy in lyke maner as he had ben the yere before He that fyrst perceyued it was syr Willyam Martell a knyght of Normandy who was alwayes nere to the kynges persone in his priuy chambre The same seasone the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne were at Boloyne or at Balyngham vpon th ende of their parlyament and they had in a manerall concluded for that seasone And as soone as the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce brother to the kynge knewe of this chaunce of the kynges sycknesse and that he had sene hym he sente a secrete squyer of his named Bonyface to his vncles to Boloyne aduertisynge them secretly of the kynges dysease Whanne the dukes knewe that they were ryght sorye and departed for they had all redy taken their leaues of their cosyns of Englande who were also departed to Calays and taryed there to here tydynges fro the kyng of Nauerte and fro the duke of Bretaygne for they hadde moued in their treatie that the castell of Chyerbourge standynge on the seesyde vpon the close of Constantyne in Normandy whiche the kynge of Englande had in gawge and in kepynge as I was enfourmed for the soÌ„me of threscore thousande nobles of Englande that the frenche kynge shulde paye the sayd somme and the castell to retourne to the Kynge of Nauerre and also the stronge castell of Brest that the englysshe men helde shulde retourne to the duke of Bretaygne The dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne abode nat the conclusyon of that matter but came to Abbeuyle and founde the kynge in ryght yuell estate of his helthe where of they were sory The kynges sycknesse was kepte secrete as longe as it myght be but it was nat very longe for suche aduentures are soone spredde abrode Thus all the lordes that had been in Abbeuyle departed one after another euery man home to his owne howse Than it was determyned that the kynge shulde be caryed in an horse lytter to the castell of Crayll vpon Oyse where he had been before Thyder he was conueyed by nyght tyme and the daye tyme he rested for the heate of the sonne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Orlyaunce rode to Crayell with the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne rode in to Arthoys and in to Flaunders vysitynge his countreys and founde the duchesse his wyfe at the castell of Hedyn As than there was no mo wordes spoken of the lorde de la Ryuer nor of syr Iohan Mercyer they were as than all forgoten no man spake of their greuaunce nor of their delyueraunce This seconde malady that Charles the frenche kynge was fallen in dyd put away greatly the speakynge of the people The wyse and sage men of Fraunce feared before greatly this chaunce for they sawe the kynge was lykely to fall in to that malady by reason of the great excesse that he had vsed in tymes paste and through the feblenesse of his heed mayster WillmÌ„ of Harsley was as than newly deed and suche as were nere about the kyng coude nat tell where to haue a good sure phisicyon to wayt vpon the kyng howbeit they that were about him dyd the best they coude deuise ¶ Of the dethe of pope Clement at Auygnon and of the lectyon of pope Benedic Cap. C.xcvi IN that tyme in the moneth of Septembre passed out of this worlde at Auygnon Roberte of Geneue named pope Clement and it came by hym as he had alwayes said before whan any man spake of the peace and vnyâ—n of the church he wolde say alwayes howe he wolde dye pope and so he dyd in maner as ye haue herde here before wrongfully or ryghtfully I wyll nat determyne Than the Cardynalles there were sore abasshed and studyed whome they myght chose to be pope The same tyme the Frenche kynge retourned agayne to his helth wherof all suche as loued him had great ioye and specyally the good quene who had gyuen moche almesse and done many pylgrymages for the kynge and caused generall processyons to be made in Parys As I was enfourmed the cardynals at Auygnon dyd electe and chose to be pope the cardynall de la
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌ„ded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ— that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâ—tendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌ„myssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌ„t of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌ„ce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌ„maundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌ„dement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌ„maundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
of Napoles agaynst syr Peter of Craone Cap. CC.ix. THe same seasone that the Englysshe men were at Paris quene Iane duches of Aniowe who wrote her selfe quene of Napoles and of Iherusalem was at Parys and pursued dylygently her busynesse She was a lady of great corage she pleted in parlyament for two causes The fyrst was for the herytage of the countie of Roussey agaynst the Erle of Brayne for Loys the duke of Aniou her lorde husbande had bought it and payed for it to a lady that was couÌ„tesse of Roussey somtyme wyfe to the lorde Loys of Namure but afterwarde she was deuorsed fro hym for a reasonable cause as it was sayde The seconde sute this quene had was agaynst syr Peter of Craon she demaunded of hym the soÌ„me of a hundred thousande frankes whiche she was redy to proue that he had receyued it in the name of his lord and mayster Loys kyng of Napoles Cysyll and Iherusalem her husbande whiche money was delyuered hym to haue payed in to Powell and or it was payed he herde howe his sayd mayster my husbande was deed Than he iourneyed no further but returned agayne in to Fraunce and kept styll the sayd soÌ„me of money to his owne profyte and neuer made acompte to the sayde quene therof nor to her chyldren Loys and Charles but spente and wasted the money in pride and bobbans The quene layde to his charge that for faute of payment of the sayd money the realme of Napoles was loste and conquered by Margarete of Duras and by the heyres of the lorde Charles de la Paix by reason that suche soudyours as her husbande had to mayntayne his warres in Puell Calabre were nat payed their wages wherby many tourned to the Erle of saynt Seuyre and to Margarete of Duras and other departed and lefte the warres All these causes were put in to the Parlyament chambre at Parys where all causes were preposed shewed and demaunded and all the defences and aunsweres herde on all partyes Their plee had endured the space of thre yeres And though syr Peter of Craon were absent fro the parlyament yet his aduocates defended his cause and sayd though he had recyued the sayd soÌ„me in the name of his lorde and mayster yet his mayster was as moche bounde to him as that soÌ„me came to and more for the good seruyce that he had done to him This plee had endured so longe that it was necessary to haue a conclusyon and the lady made importunate sewte to haue iudgement The lordes of the parlyament consydred all thynges and sayd they wolde gyue no iudgement without both parties were present and syr Peter of Craon durste nat well apere in Parys bycause of the Kynges dyspleasure and the duke of Orlyance for the offence that he had doone to syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce and without he were present they wolde gyue no sentence defynityue wher vpon the sayd lady pursewed to set hym clere in Fraunce and by her meanes he was pardoned so that he myght ryde and go where he lyst without any daunger except the sute that was bytwene her and hym for the sayd soÌ„me of money So he was clerely dyscharged of all other charges and lordes ladyes made hym good chere I wote nat whether it were by dissymulacyon or otherwyse thus he was agayne at Parys holdynge as great estate as euer he dyd The same tyme he was apoynted to be one of theym to receyue and bringe the englysshe ambassadours to the kynge for he was a knyght that hadde sene moche and knewe moche honoure Than the daye was prefyxed that the iudgement concernynge the quenes maters shulde be determyned at whiche day there were present in the parlyament great nombre of the lordes of Fraunce to the entent that the maters shulde be the more autentyke There was the quene of Cicyll and Iherusalem and her sonne Charles prince of Thaurent and Iohan of Bloys called Iohan of Bretaygne erle of Ponthyeure and of Lymogynes and the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey Burgoyne and Burhone and the erle of Brayne and the bysshoppe of Laon. And before theym the lady was herde to laye her tytell for the countie of Roussey And on the other parte there was syr Peter of Craon and many of his lygnage Fyrste iudgement was gyuen for the countye of Roussey and that was the herytage was remyssed and iudged in to the handes and possessyon of the erle of Brayne and to the heyres that shulde dyscende of the ryght braunche of Roussey reserued that the quene shulde haue agayne repayed to her all the money that kynge Loys her husbande hadde payed to the countesse of Roussey laste deed Of this iudgement the enherytours of the countie of Roussey to whom the herytage pertayned thanked greatly the lordes of the parliament Than suche as were ordayned to gyue the seconde sentence arose vp and sayde howe that by the sentence of the parlyament sir Peter of Craon ought to pay to the quene of Napoles duchesse of Aniowe the somme of a hundred thousande frankes in redy money or els his body to go to prysone tyll she were contented and satysfyed Of this iudgement the sayde lady thanked the lordes of the parlyamentâ— and in contynent at the coÌ„playnte of the lady handes was layde on him by the kynges commaundement and so was ledde to the castell of Loure and there surely kepte So the lordes departed fro the parlyament Thus these two iudgementes were gyuen by the princypall occasyon of this lady duchesse of Aniou ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage â—aken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande Isabell eldest doughter to the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. THe ambassadours of Englande were with the frenche kynge at Parys a xxii dayes and they had as good chere as coulde be deuysed and their maters tooke suche effecte that it was agreed that the kyng of Englande shuld haue in maryage Isabell the eldest doughter of kynge Charles and by vertue of procuracyon the erle Marshall fyaunced and espoused her in the name of the kinge of Englande and so she was called fro thens forthe quene of Englande And as I was enfourmed it was a goddly syght to se her behauour for all that she was but yonge ryght plesauntly she bare the porte of a quene â–ª Than all this mater concluded the englysshe men tooke their leaue of the frenche kynge and of the quene and of their doughter quene of Englande and of all other lordes and so departed fro Parys and retourned to Calays and so in to Englande The Kynge and other of his opynyon were glad of their retourne But who so euer was gladde of that maryage the duke of Gloucestre vncle to the kynge made no ioye there of for he sawe well that by reasone of that maryage and alyaunce peace shulde be bytwene the kinges and their realmes whiche greued hym without it shulde be greatly to the honour of the
ordayned that if the newe were nat trewe that they shulde be all drowned and putte to dethe ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kyngê house Capi. CC.xix SO it was on ChristeÌ„mas daye sir Iaques of Helley about the houre of noone entred in to Parys and so toke his lodgynge and demaunded where the kyng was and it was shewed hym that he was at saynt Poules on the ryuer of Seyn Than he went thyder There was with the kyng the duke of Orlyaunce his brother the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone and therle of saynt Poule and dyuers other noble men of the realme of Fraunce as the vsage was for suche noble men to be with the kynge at suche highe feestes So sir Iaques of Helley entred in to the court boted and spurred As than he was nat be knowen for he had of long tyme hauÌ„ted farre countreis He dyd so moche that he came to the kynges chambre and sayd howe he came fro Lamorabaquy oute of Turkey and hadde ben at the batayle before Nicopolye where the Christen men had lost the iourney And sayd he hadde letters fro the erle of Neuers and fro other lordes of Fraunce suche as were prisoners than he was brought to the kynge He kneled downe and wisely declared his message as well fro Lamorabaquy as fro the erle of Neuers and other lordes of Fraunce prisoners in Turkey the kynge gaue hym audyence and was swetely examyned of all the hole mater and to euery thyng he answered so discretely that the kyng was well content with hym and was ryght soroufull for the doÌ„mage that the kyng of Hugry and they had susteyned Howe be it they were gladde that the kyng of Hungery was scaped without dethe or prisonment for they sayde he shulde recouer ryght well agayne the losse and doÌ„mage that he had receyued at that tyme. Also they were ryght ioyfull that the erle of Neuers and the other lordes were escaped the dethe and were but as prisoners And they sade there was no doute but they shulde be raunsomed and delyuered For sir Iaques of Helley sayd there was no doute but that Lamorabaquy wolde within the yere put them to rauÌ„some for he loued golde and richesse And that sir Iaques sayd he knewe well bicause he had long ben conuersaunt in Turkey and serued Lamorabaquyes father more than thre yere Thus the kynge ryght well receyued this knyght and so dyde all other lordes suche as were there And euery man sayd he was happy in this worlde to be in suche a batayle and to haue the acquayntaunce of suche a hethan kynge as Lamorabaquy was sayenge it was an honoure for him and for all his lynage than the kyng coÌ„maunded all suche as were in prison to be delyuered wherof they were gladde THus these newes that sir Iaques of Helley had brought spredde anone a brode in Fraunce and in other places many were right soroufull for the losse of their fathers bretherne husbandes chyldren and nat without good cause and specially the gret ladyes of Fraunce as the duchesse of Burgoyne for her sonne the erle of Neuers and her doughter Margarete of Heynault was soroufull for the erle her husbande In lykewyse was dolorous Mary of Berrey countesse of Ewe for her husbande the lorde Philyppe of Arthoise constable of Fraunce And in lykewise so was the countesse of Marche the lady of Coucy and her dought of Bare the lady of Sully and many other ladyes as well of Fraunce as of other places And whan they had wepte ynoughe than they reconforted them selfe in that they were natte slayne but prisouers But suche as knewe their husbaÌ„des fathers bretherne chyldren and freÌ„des deed their lameÌ„tacions endured long in FrauÌ„ce The duke of Burgon made moche of this knyght sir Iaques of Helley who had brought hym worde that his sonne was a lyue and gaue hym many ryche gyftes and reteyned hym as one of his knyghtes with two hundred pounde of reuenewes yerely duryng his lyfe The Frenche kyng all other lordes gaue largely to this knight ThaÌ„ he shewed howe he must nedes returne agayne to Lamorabaquy for that was his promyse at his departynge for he stoode but as prisoner and sayd howe he hadde nat retourned but to do this message fro Lamorabaquy The kynge and other thought it but resonable that he shulde kepe his promyse Than the kynge and other wrote to these prisoners And it was concluded by counsayle that the Frenche kyng shulde sende a knight of honour to Lamorabaquy to th entent that he myght retourne agayne to bring newe tydynges in what case the prisoners were in There was apoynted to go in this voyage sir IohnÌ„ of Castell morant who was a wyse knyght and well languaged Than it was demaunded of sir Iaques what iowelles or presentes the kynge myght best sende to Lamorabaquy and that shulde best please him to the entent that the prisoners shulde be the better entreated The knight answered that Lamorabaquy toke gret pleasure in clothes of arras made of olde auncyent hystories And also he sayd he had great delyte in these whyte Faucons called Gerfaucons Also he sayd that fyne lynnen clothes and fyne scarlettes were moche made of there for of clothe of golde and sylke they hadde plentie This pleased well the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgonoe whose myndes were sette to please Lamorabaquy Thus a .xii. dayes sir Iaques of Helley taryed at Parys and euery man was gladde to here hym reporte of the aduentures of Turkey and of the maner of Lamorabaquy WHan he deê‘ted to retourne the kynge sayd to hym Sir Iaques take your way and make but small iourneys at your ease I thynke ye wyll returne by Lombardy speke with the duke of Myllayne for there is great amyte bytwene hym and Lamorabaquy But whiche waye so euer ye go we wyll that sir Iohan of Castell Morant abyde in Hungry tyll ye haue gote hym a saueconducte to go to Lamorabaquy with suche presentes as we shall sende hym to the entent that he shulde be the more fauorable to the prisoners Sir quod he all this shal be done So he departed and tooke the same waye he came Anone after his departure the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne dyde prepare for these presentes and sir Iohan of Castell Morant dispatched and had his charge He had with hym sixe soÌ„mers laden with preseÌ„tes two of them with clothes of arras of the goodlyest that coude be gote wrought with the storie of Alexandre of his lyfe and conquestes ryght pleasaunt to beholde other two soÌ„mers were charged with fyne scarlettes whyte reed And also with moche payne the kynge gate of these whyte gerfaucons Thus sir Iohan of Castell morant departed fro Parys with his presentes and charge a fyftene dayes after that sir Iaques of Helley was departed In this mean season the kynge of Hungry retourned in to his couÌ„tre wherof all
the lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce for he had dyuers thynges to saye to them out of their countre Lamorabaquy studyed a lytell or he aunswered and at laste sayd Thou shalte speke with one of them but with no mo and so sent for the erle of Neuers alone and whan he was come sir Helley kneled downe to hym Th erle was glad to se hym and demaunded howe the frenche kynge and the duke his father the duches his mother dyde The knyght shewed hym all that he knewe and all that he was charged to saye to hym howe be it they had nat so good leysar to talke togyder as they wolde haue had for Lamorabaquyes men that were there present badde them haue done for they sayd they had other thynges to do than to stande there and wayte vpon them Than sir Iaques demaunded of the Erle howe all the other lordes of Fraunce dyde The Erle said they were all in good case except the lorde of Coucy who was somwhat diseased and was at the cytie of Burse Than sir Iaques shewed hym howe sir Iohan of Castell morant was come out of Fraunce fro the kyng and fro the duke of Burgoyne in ambassade to Lamorabaquy and to asswage his yre he hath sent hym ryche iewelles and presentes but he is at Bode in Hungry with the kyng there and I am come before for a sauecoÌ„duct for hym to come and go the whiche Lamorabaquy hath graunted And I thynke I shall retourne to hym shortely Herof therle was right ioyous but he durst make no semblant for feare of the Turkes but said sir Iaques I vnderstande by you that ye are quyte of your raunsome and prison and that ye maye retourne whan it pleaseth you in to FrauÌ„ce whan ye come there I praye you shewe the kyng and my father that we all desyre them to treate as shortely as maye be for our delyueraunce by some marchauntes genowayes or venisyons and agree at the fyrst worde to that Lomorabaquy shall desyre for our rauÌ„some for if they shulde make long treatie with hym we shal be lost for euer for I vnderstaÌ„de Lamorabaquy is trewe of his worde curtesse and shorte in all his maters so he be taken at the poynt Thus the erle of Neuers and sir Iaques departed Whan the saueconducte was redy it was delyuered to sir Iaques Than he toke his leaue of Lamorabaquy and of other of his courte of his aquayntaunce and rode so longe by his iourneys that he arryued at Bode in Hungry Than he drewe to sir Iohan Moraunt who thought longe for hym Than sir Iaques sayd sir I haue brought you a saueconducte to go in to Turkey and all youre company and to retourne agayne at your pleasure I am gladde therof ê™ the knyght Lette vs go to the kyng of Hungry and shewe hym therof and than to morowe betymes lette vs departe for I haue taryed here longe ynoughe Than they bothe togyder wente to the kyng in to his chambre and shewed hym all the mater The kynge than answered and sayde Sir Iohan Moraunt and ye Helly ye be welcome ye shall go at youre pleasure for the loue of my cosyns of Fraunce to whom I wolde be gladde to do pleasure and to you also ye maye go come throughe my realme at your pleasure and also in to Turkey if ye please But as for your presentes that you sir Iohan haue brought out of FrauÌ„ce I wyll nat agree that ye shall conuey them to that hell hounde Lamorabaquye He shall neuer be enryched therwith It shulde tourne to our great shame and rebuke if he shulde make his auauut that bycause he hath had victorie on vs and hath in daunger and prison certayne lordes of FraÌ„ce that for feare therof there shulde be sente to hym riche presentes as for the GerfaucoÌ„s I care nat for for foules flye lightly oute of one countre in to another they are soone gyuen and soone lost But as for riche hangynges of arras are thynges to be sene and to endure for euer Wherfore sir Iohan Morant if ye wyll passe in to Turkey with your ger faucoÌ„s go whan it please you but as for any other thyng ye shall haue non with you thaÌ„ the knyght aunswered and sayd Certaynly sir it shulde nat be myne honour nor pleasaÌ„t to the Frenche kynge nor to the lordes that haue sente me hyder without I myght accoÌ„plysshe my voyage as I haue in charge well quod the kynge ye shall haue none other waye of me at this tyme. So the kynge went fro them and lefte the two knightê spekynge toguyder They were sore troubled with the abusyon on the kynge of Hungery Than they counsayled toguyder what was best for them to do Than they determyned to sende hastye messangers to the freÌ„che kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne sithe they sawe they coulde haue none other remedy they wrote letters to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne that they shulde ê“uyde for the mater They sente their letters by poste to make the more hast and taryed styll them selfes at Bode with the kyng of Hungry abyding the retourne of their messanger THis messanger spedde so well and made suche dilygence that he came to Parys and there founde the kyng and the duke of Burgoyn and there shewed his leâ—â—s and they were reed at length with the whiche they were nothynge pleased and had marueyle that the kyng of Hungry wolde nat suffre his presentes to passe throughe his countre in to Turkey The duke of Berrey excused the kynge of Hungry and sayde howe he had good cause to do as he dyde for it is a thyng to humbly done for the kynge to sende suche presentes to an hethan thyng the duke of Burgoyne bycause the mater touched hym he was of the contrary opinyon and said it was a thyng reasonable so to do sith that fortune hath ben so fauorable to him to haue the vyctorie in suche a batayle and hath hadde the kyng of Hungry in chase and hath taken prisoners all suche noble men as were agaynst hym in that iourney wherfore the freÌ„des of those prisoners may well fynde the meanes howe to comforte them for their delyueraunce This dukes wordes were vp holden with the kynge and with dyuers of his counsayle Than the kynge demaunded of his vncle of Berrey Sayeng fayre vncle if Lamorabaquy the soudan or any other hethan kynge sende you a ruby or a ryche iewell wheder wyll ye receyne it or nat Sir quod he I wolde take aduyse Than that kyng sayd It passeth nat yet tenne yere sythe the soudan sente you a ruby whiche cost twentie thousande frankes So the kynge of Hungries dede was nat susteygned but it was sayd that he had yuell done to stoppe the goyng of these presentes and that it shulde rather hynder the prisoners than auaunce theÌ„ Than the kyng was couÌ„sayled to write to the kyng of Hungry amyable letters desyringe hym nat to stoppe his knyght but suffre him to passe in to
knightes This shyppe was so goodlye fayre that it was great ioye to beholde it the whiche gyfte the soudan toke in gree and sente agayne to the kynge of Cypre the double in value therof All this was anone knowen in FrauÌ„ce by marchauntes that wrote therof to Dyne of Responde to the entente that he shulde shewe it to the Frenche kyng and to the duke of Burgoyn to haue a thanke of the kynge THis kyng of Cypre had good cause thus to do for he was in doute of the frenche kynges displeasure bicause he caused to be slayne murdered by night his brother the valyaunt kynge Peter who dyde moche trouble to the Sarazins toke Saptalye and Alexandre The Sarazins douted hym more than any other kyng or emperour christened bicause of his valyaÌ„tnesse of the whiche dede this sayde kynge Iames sore repented hym selfe and knewe well he had done yuell And after the same dede he fledde out of Cypre or els the Christen men wolde haue slayne hym So he entred in to a galley of Gene beyng at the porte of Nicopossie and so wente to Genes and the genowayes receyued hym And some said that he dyde that foule murdre by the entysement of the genoways for anone after the genouois came with puissaunce of men of warre and galyes and toke the cytie of Famagous and the porte and kepte it with puyssaunce This kynge of Cypre had a fayre yonge sonne The Cyprience crowned this chylde kynge and after his crownyng he lyued nat long but dyed soone after And aft his dethe the genouois with great puyssauÌ„ce brought this Iaques in to Cypre and crowned hym kyng and so he reigned kyng of Cypre And the genowayes alwayes susteyned hym agaynst all men but they wolde neuer rendre vp the Cytie of Famagous nor the porte but helde it styll at the tyme that the auctour wrot this hystorie And to saye the trouthe if the genowayes had nat had it the Turkes had wonne it longe before and all the realme of Cipre had brought it in to their obeysauÌ„ce and by all lykelyhode had subdued the ysles of Rodes and all other ysles enclosed in the See to Venyce but alwayes the genoways and venisyaÌ„s resysted them And whan they sawe that the turkes had wonne the Realme of Armony than they toke the strong towne of Corque in Hermyne on the See syde and so helde it so that and it had nat ben for dout of the passage and straytes of Corque and of Xere before CoÌ„stantyne the noble the turkes had sore entred in to Christendome and vpon the border of the see the whiche shulde haue been great preiudyce to the ysle of Rodes and to the ysles adioynyng Thus by these meanes the fronters of Christen dome were kepte and defended ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to our purpose THis kyng Iaques of Cyper who knewe hym selfe gylcy of the deth of the kynge his brother wherby he had the hatred of all other crysten kynges therfore he dyd as moche as he coude do to get agayne their loue and fauour and tooke it for a great honoure that the frenche kynge wrote fyrst to hym for he douted him most of all and so he had cause for the duke of Burbone by ryght successyon of the lynage of Lusygnan ought to be kynge there and his heyres for thoughe this kynge Iaques was brother to the kyng Peter of Cyper yet he had no ryght to the crowne for he was but a bastarde and all this knewe ryght well the genouoys so that whan he was made kynge there was made a great alyaunce bytwene them confermed nat to be broken and the genouoys to defeÌ„de and kepe him and his heyres agaynst all other and therby they atteygned great sygnories and fraunchesses in the realme of Ciper and all that euer they dyd to the exaltynge of this Iaques kynge of Cyper was alwayes for their owne chiefe auauntage and to be stronge against the venycians and to haunte and erercyse their feate of marchaundyse in to the Sarazyns landes This kinge Iaques as longe as he lyued dyd what he coulde to please the Frenche kynge by the meanes of the genouoys for they wolde in no wyse dysplease hym and therfore the same season this kynge Iaques ordeyned this shyppe of golde to presente Lamorabaquy to haue loue and acquayntauÌ„ce with him whiche gyft was ioyfully receyued and moch praysed with the turkes and it was thought that the lorde Dyne of Rresponde was meanes therof and wrote therin to the genouoys for in this maner and otherwayes he laboured all that he myght for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and of the other lordes of Fraunce WHan the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe sawe that Lamorabaquy began to fall to treatie for the crysten prisoners the newes therof was greatly to their pleasure and apoynted a sage valyaunt knyght of the countie of Flaunders called syr Gylberte of Linrenghen who was souerayne of Flaunders vnder the duke and duchesse And than they sent for syr Iaques of Helley bycause he knewe the wayes and passages and desyred hym to acompany syr Gylberte to treate with Lamorabaquy for the delyueraunce of the crysten prisoners and promysed hym that his payne shulde be well consydred and rewarded Syr Iaques promysed them so to do So these two knyghtes departed and rode so longe that they came in to the realme of Hungery and so drewe to the kynge for they had letters to hym The kyng receyued them ioyously for loue of the frenche kynge and also he knewe well syr Iaques of Helley There they shewed the kyng the cause of their coÌ„mynge out of Fraunce and howe they were sente in to Turkey to treate for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and the other lordes of FrauÌ„ce if Lamorabaquy wolde gyue them the herynge The kynge sayde it was well done to redeme them if they myght be put to raunsome and sayd in the assayenge therof they coulde lese nothynge besydes that the kinge offred them his body and goodes to ayde theym in all maners Wherof these two knyghtes thanked hym To entre in to this treatye with Lamorabaquy or they coulde come therto these knightes had moche payne and made great dâ—â—ygeÌ„ce for fyrst syr Iaques of Helley was fayne to go to Lamorabaquy to requyre a safe conducte for his companyon syr Gylbert to come in to Turkey And whan he had ateyned it than he returned in to Hungery and so they rode than into Turkey The souerayne of Flaunders was receyued of Lamorabaquy and of his men ryght nobly and was herde speke and so lytell and lytell they entred in to their treatie the same tyme there haunted in to Turkey a marchaunt genouoy of the isle of Sio vnder the obeysaunce of the genouoys This marchauÌ„t was named Bartylmew Pologrine and he was well be loued in Turkey and namely with Lamorabaquy Syr Dyne of Responde beynge at Parys to th entent that this treatie myght haue the better
the countrey is so hote that the people be of sobre dyet and vse moche spycery and specyally suger and gotes mylke wherof they haue great haboundaunce the whiche is cōmon drinke of the sarazyns and they haue plenty of bredde made of a grayne called mylle he had euer aboute hym a seuen thousande fawconers and as many hunters So it was on a daye he wente a hawkynge and had a flyght with a fawcon at an Egle in the presence of the erle of Neuers the whiche flyght pleased nat Lamorabaquy wherwith he was sore dyspleased and as it was shewed me for the same faute there was at the poynte a two thousande fauconers to haue loste their heedes bearyng them in hande that they were nat dylygent in kepynge of his hawkes Another tyme in the presence of the erle of Neuers a woman came to complayne to the kynge desyringe to haue ryght and iustyce vpon a seruaunt of his sayenge Syr kynge I come to you as to my soueraygne I complayne me of a seruaunt of your chambre as it is shewed me he is come this same day in to my howse and the mylke of a gote that I had for me and my chyldren he hath dronken it agaynst my wyll and syr I said to him that if he wolde do me that wronge I wolde complayne to you and as soone as I sayde so he gaue me two great blowes wolde nat forbeare for all that I spake in your name therfore syr kynge do me iustyce as ye are sworne to do to all your people The kinge marked well the womans wordes and so caused his seruaunte to come a fore hym and the woman also and than he caused the woman to renewe her complaynt The seruaunt began to excuse hym and sayd that he knewe nothynge of that matter The woman spake wysely and affyrmed her wordes to be trewe Than the kynge sayde woman aduyse the well for if I fynde thy wordes vntrewe thou shalte dye an yuell dethe Syr quod she I am content for if my wordes were nat true what nede me to come in to your presēce do me iustyce I desyre none other thyng Thou shalt haue iustyce quod the kynge for I haue sworne so to do to euery man and woman Than the kynge caused the man to be taken and caused his bely to be opened to se if he had eaten or dronken the mylke or nat and there he founde that he had dronke the mylke for it was nat turned to digestyon And whan the kyng sawe that the womans wordes were trewe he said to her thou haddest good cause to complayne go thy way quyte thou art well reuenged of the trespase that was done to the and she had a good recompence and the man deed This iudgement the lordes of Fraunce sawe and herde ¶ Howe the lordes of Fraunce returned by see to Venyce and of the isles they founde by the waye Cap. CC.xxiiii WHan the Erle of Neuers and the other lordes of Fraūce who had ben taken prisoners at the batayle before Nycopoly in Turkey whan they had sene a season the state and maner of Lamorabaquy and that he was content of euery thynge and vnderstode that the lorde of Mathelyn and the lorde of Damyne and the marchaunt of Sio were come to Burselle in Turkey than he gaue them leaue to departe So they came all togyther before Lamorabaquy excepte the erle of Ewe and the lorde of Coucy who were bothe deed thus they toke their leaue and thanked hym of his curtesies Than Lamorabaquy said to therle by a truch man Iohan I knowe well thou arte a great lorde in thy Countrey and sonne to a great lorde thou art yonge and pe◠aduenture shall beare some blame and shame that this aduenture hath fallen to the in thy fyrste chyualry and to excuse thy selfe of this blame and to recouer thyne honour peraduenture thou wylt assemble a puyssaunce of men and come and make warre agaynst me if I were in doute or feare therof or thou departed I shulde cause the swere by thy lawe and faythe that neuer thou nor none of thy company shulde beare armure or make warre agaynst me but I wyll nother make the nor none of thy company to make any suche othe or promesse but I wyll that whan thou arte retourned and arte at thy pleasure rayse what puyssaunce thou wylte and spare nat but come agaynst me thou shalt fynde me alwayes redy to receyue the and thy company in the felde in playne batayle and this that I say shewe it to whome thy lyste for I am able to do dedes of armes and euer redy to conquere further in to crystendome These hygh wordes the erle of Neuers vnderstode well and so dyd his company they thought on it after as longe as they lyued Than they tooke their leaue and they were conducted with a great nombre vnder the leadynge of Assybaathe and Surbasaache and so delyuered to the lordes of Mathelyn and Damyne who were cause of their delyueraunce and whan their galees were redy they entred and their conducte retourned to their kynge So they sayled tyll they came to the porte of Mathelyn where they were receyued with great ioye THe lady of Mathelyn was ryght honourable and gentle as well assured of her selfe as any lady in Grece for in her youth she had ben brought vp in the emperour of Constantyne the nobles courte with the lady Mary of Burbone where she had lerned moche norture for in Fraunce the lordes and ladyes be more honourable than in many other coūtreys This lady was right ioyouse to se in her house the erle of Neuers and syr Henry of Bare sir Guy of Tremoyle and the other she receyued them ryght honourably with great ioy and dyd what she coude to do them pleasure First she newly aparelled all the lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce with shyrtes gownes and other aparell of fyne damaske acordynge to the vsage of Grece and all other euery man after his degre The lady spared nothyng on them wherfore they gaue her great thanke and greatly praysed her estate and ordre In lykewyse they thāked and praysed the lordes of Mathelyn and of Damyne who made them good chere and honourable Anone tydynges of their delyueraunce was knowen at the Rodes wherof the great mayster of the Roodes and all the knyghtes there were ryght ioyfull and they determyned to arme forth two galees and to sende for theym to come in to the isle of Rodes and so they dyd and in the one galee they sette syr Iaques of Brassemont a burgonyon marshall of the Rodes So longe they sayled and rowed that they aryued at Mathelyn The marshall was well receyued of euery man and of the lady of Mathelyn Than these lordes and other refresshed them there a foure dayes and on the fyfte daye their galees were redy Than the erle of Neuers tooke leaue of the lady of Mathelyn and thanked her greatly and the lordes also and the erle of Neuers
day the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall communed togyder of dyuers maters at last amonge other they spake of the state of the kynge and of his counsayle suche as he had about hym and beleued them so that at the last the erle of Derby spake certayne wordes whiche he thought for the best wenynge that they shulde neuer haue ben called to rehersall whiche wordes were nouther vylenous nor outragyous for he sayde thus Saint Mary fayre cosyn what thynketh the kynge oure cosyn to do wyll he driue out of Englande all the noble men within a whyle there shal be none left it semeth clerely that he wylleth nat the augmentacyon of his realme The erle marshall gaue none aunswere but dissimuled the mater and toke it that he spake agaynst the kynge and thought in hymselfe that the Erle of Derby was ryght lykely to make great trouble in Englande bycause he was so great with the londoners and the dyuell was redy to styre his brayne and that thynge that shall fall can nat be eschewed SO he thought to shewe this mater to the kynge whan noble mē shulde be presente and on a day to please the kynge he sayde Ryght dere syr I am of youre lygnage and ame your lyege man and marshall of Englande Wherfore sir I am bounde to you by myne Alliegeaunce and othe sworne my handes in yours that I shulde be in no place hearynge any thynge contrarye to your mageste royall and shulde kepe it secrete I ought to be reputed as a false traytour whiche I wyll nat be for I wyll trewly acquyte me agaynst you and all the worlde The kynge loked on hym and demaunded and sayd Why say you these wordes we wyll know it My right redouted souerayne lorde quod the erle Marshall I saye it bycause I canne nat suffre any thynge that shulde be preiudyciall or agaynst your grace syr cause the erle of Derby to come before you and than I shall shewe you more Than the erle of Derby was sente for and the kynge cōmaunded the erle Marshall to stande vp for he was on his knee whyle he spake to the Kynge And whan the erle of Derby was before the kyng who thought none yuell than the erle Marshall sayde Syr erle of Derby I say to you ye haue thought yuell and spoken otherwyse than ye ought to do agaynste your naturall lorde the kynge of Englande whan ye sayde that he was nat worthy to holde lande or realme seynge without lawe or iustyce without counsayle of any of his noble men he distourbeth his Realme and without tytell or good reason putteth out of his realme and dystroyeth them who ought to ayde and susteyne him wherfore here I cast my gage and wyll proue with my body agaynst yours that ye are an yuell false traytour The erle of Derby was sore abasshed with those wordes and stepte backe a lytell and stode styll a season without demaundynge of his Father or of any other what aunswere he shulde make Whan he had studyed a lytell he stept forthe with his cappe in his hande and came before the kynge and the erle Marshall and sayd Erle Marshall I saye thou arte an yuell and a false traytour and that I shall proue my body agaynst thyne and in that quarell here is my gauge Th erle Marshall whan he herde howe he was apealed shewed howe he desyred the batayle With that the erle of Derby aunswered and sayde I sette your wordes at the kynges pleasure and other lordes that be here and I tourne your wordes to a mocke and myne to be true Than eche of these erles drewe to their company and lygnage so that the manner of takynge of wyne and spyces was lette passe for the kyng shewed hym selfe to be right sore displeased and so entred in to his chambre and left his two vncles without and all their chyldren and the erles of Salysbury and Huntyngdon his bretherne Than anone after the kynge sent for his vncles and entred in to his chambre Thanne the kynge demaunded of them what was best to do in this mater Syr quod they cause your constable to come before you and than we shall shewe you our opynyons Than the erle of Rutlande who was constable was sente for and whan he was come than he was commaunded to go to the erle of Derby and to the erle Marshall and to take suretye of theym that they go nat out of the realme of Englande without the kynges lycence The constable dyd as he was cōmaunded and than retourned agayne to the kinges chambre YE maye well knowe this matter greatly troubled the courte and many lordes and knyghtes were sore dyspleased of that aduenture and secretly they greatly blamed the erle Marshall but he made as though he had ser nothyng by the mater his hert was so proude presumptuous Thus the lordes departed for that day The duke of Lācastre what so euer coūtynaunce he made he was sore displeased with these wordes and he thought the kynge shulde nat haue taken the mater as he dyd but shulde rather haue tourned it to nothynge and so thought the moste parte of all the lordes of Englande The erle of Derby went and lay at London and helde his estate at his owne lodgynge and there were pledges for him the duke of Lancastre his father the duke of yorke the Erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes And the erle Marshall was sente to the towre of London and there helde his estate These two lordes made prouysyon for that was necessary for them for their batayle The erle of Derby sent his messangers in to Lombardy to the duke of Myllayne syr Galeas for to haue armure at his pleasure The duke agreed to the erles desyre and caused the knight that the erle had sent thyder whose name was Fraunces to se all the dukes armorye And whan the knyght had chosen suche as he lyked than the duke furthermore for loue of the erle of Derby he sent four of the best armorers that were in Lombardy to the erle in to Englande with the knight to the entent that they shulde arme and make armure acordynge to the erles entente The erle Marshall on his parte sent in to Almayn and in to other places to prouyde him for that iourney The charge of these two lordes was greate but the erle of Derby was at moost charge The erle Marshall whan he beganne that busynesse he thought to haue had more ayde of the kynge than he had for suche as were nere aboute the kynge sayd to him Syr ye haue nothyng to do to medle bytwene these two lordes dyssymule you the mater and let them deale they wyll do well ynough Sir ye knowe well the erle of Derby is well beloued in the realme and specyally with the Londoners and if they se that ye shulde take parte with the erle Marshall ye were lyke to lose their loue therby for euer The kynge vnderstode well their wordes and knew well it was trewe he
other thinges parteynynge to a fortresse and also he was of his person hygh and cruell and wolde nat be abasshed for a lytell thynge The marshall of Fraunce departed fro pount saynt Spyrite and passed with all his company by the towne of Orenge by consent of the prince of Orenge and so entred in to the countre of Venyce whiche was lande parteygnynge to the churche the whiche anone was ouer rynne and the men of warre passed at the bridge of Sourgnes and so they were lordes of all the ryuer and the marshall taryed in the towne of Sourgnes with a gret nombre of menne of warre to kepe the towne and passage and also the garysone of Noues whiche partayned to the pope Than the marshall went and lodged at saynt Verayne nere to Auignon and his men therabout and dayly came thyder men of warre so that the cytie of Auignon was closed in before and behinde by lande and by the ryuer so that nothynge coulde entre nor issue without leaue for at the towne of Noue without Auygnon whiche partayned to the realme of Fraunce was the seneschall of Beaucayre with fyue hundred men and kepte the entre on that syde and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce with two thousande men was on the other syde of Auignon and he sent to theym of the cytie that without they wolde obey and open their cytie that he wolde burne all their vynes and houses abrode in the countrey aboute to the ryuer of Dureuse That soÌ„monynge greatly abasshed the men and women within the cytie for their herytages laye without Auignon vnto the ryuer of Dureuse Than they went to counsayle without knowledge of the pope and they called to their counsayle certayne cardynals as the cardynall of Amyence of Poictours of Newcastell of Viuyers and dyuers other Than suche as had moste to lose shewed these cardynalles howe the marshall of Fraunce had thretened them to brinne their vynes and their howses and all this had caused the frenche kynge agaynst whome they coulde nat resyste for his puyssaunce was so nere them and all thynges consydred they sayde they were better to obey to the frenche kynge than to holde their paryllous opynyons for of Benedyc they coulde haue no ayde nor comforte and they demaunded of these cardynalles if they wolde ioyne and take their parte The cardynals said they were content to take their wayes for vitayles beganne to fayle theym and also their benefyces were in the realme of Fraunce whiche they sayd they wolde nat wyllyngly lese So they entred in to treatie with the marshall of Fraunce the whiche toke suche effecte that all the men of warre entred in to the cytie of Auignon and it was apoynted to besiege the palays their couynaunt was to do no hurte nor dyspleasure to the cardynalles nor to none of their men nor to the hole body of the towne This to do the marshall promysed So they entred in to Auignon and lodged at their ease and lybertie and than all the passages as well by lande as by water were opened to the entent that all maner of bytayle myght come to the cytie WHen he that wrote him selfe pope Benedyc beynge closed in his palays sawe that the cardynals and the men of the cytie had made a treatie with the marshall of Fraunce without his counsayle or aduyse he was therwith sore dyspleased howe be it he sayd that he wolde nat submytte hym selfe to dye in the payne and so he kepte hym selfe close in his palais which was as stronge a place as any in the worlde and most easyest to be kepte so that it be well vytayled This pope had sent letters to the kynge of Aragone instantly to socoure hym in his nede and to sende him men of warre that he myght be able to resyst the marshall of Fraunce also he sente the kynge worde in his letter that if he coulde get hym thens fro Auignon he wolde go and kepe his see apostolyke in Aragon at Parpygnon or at Barcelone The kynge of Aragon sawe well the popes letters but he made no force of them and sayd to his couÌ„sayle that were aboute hym What weneth this preest that to susteyne hym and his argumentes I shall enterpryse to make warre agaynste the frenche kyng to ayde hym than I might well be reputed a fole Syr quod his counsayle ye say trouthe ye haue no nede to medle in that mater for syr ye may be sure the frenche kynge hath suche counsayle aboute hym that he wolde make no warre agaynst hym without a iuste cause lette the clergy alone for if they purpose to lyue the prelates must obey the great lordes 〈◊〉 whome their rentes and reuenues are they haue longe kept them in peace And also syrâ—he frenche kynge hath writen to you all redy desyringe you to determyne you and your countrey to be newter as he is and wyll be and syr ye were beste so to do for my lady the quene who is the Frenche kynges cosyn germayne is content so to be and so is the moste parte of your realme and the clergy in lykewyse and specyally Catelone and Spayne and syr we thynke it is the best opynion for if all cristen kynges do nat the same the churche shall neuer come to vnyte by reasone of two popes Thus the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle deuysed togyder and pope Benedic was styll in his palays trustynge to haue ayde of the kynge of Aragon but he was dysceyued and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce was with in the cytie of Auygnon and the palays was so kept that none coulde issue out nor entre in They lyued with that store they had for of vytayles they had suffycient for two or thre yere but they lacked woode to make fyre with all and to sethe their meate whiche made theym abasshed Euery weke the marshall herde newes fro the frenche kynge and the kynge fro hym and the kynge coÌ„maunded hym that he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had atchyued his enterprise Thus the pope coude nat issue out of the palays there was suche watche layde on hym THe conclusyon was whan this Benedyc sawe that he was so straytely kepte and that fyre fayled hym and other prouysions dayly dyscreased and sawe that no comforte nor ayde came to hym fro no parte at laste he yelded at the request of certayne of the cardynalles and the treatie was thus that he shulde nat departe out of Auignon tyll there were made an vnyon in the churche and a certayne garde was sette aboute hym and the cardynalles and ryche men of Auignon bounde them selfe to kepe this Benedyc so strayte that they shulde rendre accompte of hym agayne outher quycke or dede Suche cardynals as had their benefyces in Fraunce tooke great payne to make this treatie and composycion for they sayde all with one accorde that they wolde abyde with the frenche kynge Thus this busynesse ended at that tyme and euery man departed and the Marshall went to Parys and anone
that the duke his father had on hym a paryllous sycknesse whiche shuld be his dethe these wordes gretly letted the erle to take on hym any maner of voyage but so taryed styll at Parys and often tymes he went and sawe the frenche kyng the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles and alwayes they made hym good chere so that he was moche bounde to them and he sayde to the kynge Syr ye do me so moche honoure and curtesy and shewe me so great sygne of loue that I knowe nat in all my lyfe dayes howe to deserue it but if euer I come in Englande my lady that quene your doughter to my power shall haue my seruyce I thanke you cosyn quod the kynge So it fell that aboute the feest of Crystmasse duke Iohan of Lancastre who lyued in great dyspleasure what bycause the Kynge had banysshed his sonne out of the realme for so litell a cause and also bycause of the yuell gouernynge of the realme by his nephewe kynge Rycharde for he sawe well that if he longe percepuered were suffred to contynewe the realme was lykely to be vtterly loste With these ymagynacyons and other the duke fell sycke wheron he dyed whose dethe was greatly sorowed of all his frendes and louers The kyng by that he shewed toke no great care for his dethe but sone he was forgotten Than certayne of the noble men of Englande sawe well howe the realme feblysshed sythe the duke of Lancastre was deed and the duke of Gloucestre his brother slayne and the erle of Arundell and the erle of Derby banysshed who ought than to be duke of Lancastre by ryght succession Than some sayde Nowe we shall se what the kynge wyll do it is tyme nowe that he repeale home agayne his cosyn of Derby and to pardone hym his yuell wyll though he haue no cause to be dyspleased with hym it were tyme he came and entred in to his landes as duke of Lancastre Suche wordes ranne a brode in the Realme in dyuers places and specyally in the cytie of London where the erle of Derby was a hundred tymes better beloued thanne the kynge howe be it for all the wordes and murmuryng that the kyng and his counsayle knewe of yet he dyd nothynge therafter but clene the contrary He was yuell counsayled for if he had incontynent after the dethe of the duke of Lancastre sente for the erle of Derby and at his coÌ„mynge haue frendely welcomed hym home and haue called hym duke of Lancastre and haue taken hym as greatest personage in Englande nexte hym selfe and haue sayde howe he wolde be gouerned in all poyntes after his aduyse and counsayle and to do nothynge without his aduyse than the kynge had done well and lykely to haue contynued his estate as kynge of Englande and had nat receyued the yuell fortune that fell to hym shortly after as ye shall here after ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of LaÌ„castre was knowen in Fraunce the kyng of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes sonÌ„e Cap. CC .xxxv. TIdynges of the duke of Lancasters dethe came in to Fraunce kyng Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de in maner of ioye wrote therof to the frenche kyng and nat to his cosyn therle of Derby howe be it the erle knewe it as soone as the Frenche kynge or soner by suche men as he had in Englande Than the erle apparelled hym and all his men in blacke and caused his obsequy to be done right honorably at the whiche was the Frenche kyng and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and all the kynges vncles with a great nombre of prelates and great lordes of Fraunce For the erle of Derby was welbeloued with euery maÌ„ and many were right sorie of his trouble for he was a pleasaunt knight and an honest ê‘son curtesse and swete meke to euery man and euery man that sawe hym said howe the kyng of Englande was nat well counsayled that he repealed hym nat home agayne And truely to saye trouthe if the kynge of Englande had wysely regarded the mater and had ben well counsayled the mater had nat tourned agaynst hym as it dyde For the erle of Derby after the dethe of his father was right enherytoure to be duke of Lancastre and to haue been the seconde persone of the realme and by whom all the busynesse of the realme shulde chiefely haue passed Also the kynge and his counsayle ought to haue consydred howe often tymes the people of Englande hadde styrred and murmured agaynst hym and shulde haue knowen howe he was nat very welbeloued of the people nor of some knightes other and how that in the duke of Gloucesters dayes he was often tymes in daunger of his persone As whan the Londoners and the counsaylles of dyuers good townes in Englande caÌ„e to hym to Eltham and there made their requestes that all subsidies and ayes gyuen and graunted within twentie yere shulde haue ben frustrate and fordone or els they were determyned by the consent of the duke of Gloucestre and other noble men of the Realme to haue taken the kynge and to haue sette another to haue reygned in his place and to haue putte the kyng and the Quene in to a place and so to haue hadde meate and drinke as long as they had lyued In somoche that the duke of Gloucester hadde desyred a nephewe of his sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence who was called Iohan erle of Marche That he wolde haue taken on hym the charge and gouernyng of the realme and that they wolde haue made hym kyng But the same erle excused hym selfe honestly therfro All these thynges were apeased and layde downe by the wyse sadde meanes and prudence of the sayde duke of Lancastre father to this sayd erle of Derby IF kyng Richarde had wysely consydred all these mats he had reigned in gretter ê“sperite than euer he did before Kyng Richarde knewe all this well ynough and so by yuell counsayle the kynge caused by colour of loue the duke of Gloucestre to be taken and ledde to Calays where he was strangled and murdered Wherof great brute was throughe out all the realme with great grudge and murmuracyons so that it was at the poynt to haue deposed the sayde kyng Richarde Howe be it the duke of Lancastre lyke a sage and a prudent price for all that the duke of Gloucestre was his brother and that the murderyng of hym touched hym nere to his herte All thynges consyred and that he coude nat recouer agayne his brother wisely and amiably he apeased all these maters And the kynge his nephue more feared in EnglaÌ„de than he was before All this the kynge ought to haue consydred and specially howe therle of Derby was better beloued with the people than any other man within the realme All these thyngê wysely coÌ„sidred after the dethe of the duke rf LaÌ„castre the kyng shulde
chefe that be agaynst you Sir ye must dissymule tyll the mater be apeased and tyll the erle of Huntyngton your brother be with you And it cometh nowe yuell to passe for you that he is at Calais For there be many nowe in Englande that be rysen agaynst you that and they knewe that youre brother were aboute you they wolde sytte styll and durst nat displease you and yet he hathe to his wyfe the erle of Derbyes suster by his meanes we suppose ye shulde come to peace and coÌ„corde The kyng agreed to those wordes and said Go and let hym come in with .xii. with hym and no mo Two knyghtes went downe to the gate and opyned the wycket and issued out and made reuerence to the erle and receyued hym with gracious wordes for they knewe well that they hadde no force to resyst them and also they knewe well the Londoners were sore displeased with theÌ„ therfore they spake fayre and sayde to the erle Sir what is your pleasure the kyng is at masse he hath sente vs hyder to speke with you I saye quod therle ye knowe well I ought to haue possessyon of the ouchy of Lancastre I am come in partie for that cause and also for other thynges that I wolde speke with the kynge of Sir quod they ye be welcome the kyng wolde be gladde to se you to here you and hath commaunded that ye come to hym all onely with .xii. persones The erle answered it pleaseth me well So he entred in to the castell with .xii. persones and than the gate closed agayne and the rest of his coÌ„pany taryed without NOwe consyder what dauÌ„ger therle of Derby was in for the kyng than myght haue slayne hym and suche as were with hym as easely as a byrde in a cage But he feared nat the mater but boldelye went to the kyng who chauÌ„ged colours whan he sawe the erle Than the erle spake aloude without makynge of any great honour or reuerence and sayd Sir are ye fastynge The kyng answered and sayd yea why aske you It is tyme quod the erle that ye had dyned for ye haue a great iourney to ryde Why wheder shulde I ryde quod the kynge ye must ryde to London quod therle wherfore I counsayle you eate and drinke that ye maye ryde with the more myrthe Than the kynge who was sore troubled in his mynde and in a maner afrayde of those wordes sayde I am nat hungry I haue no luste to eate Than suche as wereby who were as than gladde to flatter therle of Derby for they sawe well the mater was lyke to go dyuersly sayde to the kynge Sir beleue your cosyn of Lancastre for he wyll nothyng but good Than the kyng sayd well I am content couer the tables Thanne the kynge wasshed and satte downe and was serued Than the erle was demaunded if he wolde sytte downe he sayde no for he was nat fastynge IN the mean season whyle the kyng satte at dyner who dyde eate but lytell his hert was so full that he had no lust to eate All the countrey about the castell was full of men of warre They within the castell myght se them out at the wyndowes and the kynge whan he rose fro the table myght se them hym selfe Than he demaunded of his cosyn what men they were that appered so many in the feldes Th erle aunswered and sayde the moost parte of theÌ„ be Londoners What wolde they haue quod the kyng They wyll haue you quod therle and bringe you to London and putte you in to the towre there is none other remedy ye can scape none otherwyse No quod the kyng and he was sore afrayde of those wordes for he knewe well the LoÌ„doners loued hym nat and sayde Cosyn can you nat prouyde for my suretie I wyll nat gladly putte me in to their haÌ„des For I knowe well they hate me and haue done long though I be their kynge Than therle sayd Sir I se none other remedy but to yelde your selfe as my prisoner and whan they knowe that ye be my prisoner they wyll do you no hurte but ye must so ordayne you your coÌ„pany to ryde to LoÌ„don with me and to be as my prisoner in the towre of London The kyng who sawe hym self in a harde case all his spyrites were sore abasshed as he that douted greatly that the londoners wolde slee hym Than he yelded hym selfe prisoner to the erle of Derby and bouÌ„de hym selfe and promysed to do all that he wolde haue hym to do In lykewise all other knightes lquyers and offycers yelded to the erle to eschewe the dauÌ„ger and paryll that they were in and the erle than receyued them as his prisoners and ordayned incontynent horses to be sadylled brought forthe in to the courte the gates opyned than many men of armes archers entred Than the erle of Derby caused a crye to be made on payne of dethe no man to be so hardy to take away any thyng within the castell nor to laye any handes vpon any ê‘sone for all were vnder the erles sauegarde and protection whiche crye was kept no man durst breke it the erle had the kyng downe in to the courte talkyng toguyder caused all the kynges hole housholde and estate to go forwarde as of custome they had done before without chauÌ„gyng or mynisshynge of any thyng Whyle euery thyng was a preparyng the kyng and the erle coÌ„muned toguyder in the court and were well regarded by the Londoners And as it was entormed me kynge Richarde had a grayhounde called Mathe who alwayes wayted vpon the kynge and wolde knowe no man els For whan soeuer the kyng dyde ryde he that kept the grayhounde dyde lette hym lose and he wolde streight rynne to the kynge and fawne vpon hym and leape with his tore fete vpon the kynges shulders And as the kyng the erle of Derby talked togyder in the courte the grayhounde who was wont to lepe vpon the kyng left the kynge came to the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre and made to hym the same frendly couÌ„tinauÌ„ce chere as he was wonte to do to the kyng The duke who knewe nat the grayhouÌ„de demaunded of the kyng what the grayhounde wolde do Cosyn quod the kyng it is a gret good token to you and an yuell signe to me Sir howe knowe you that quod the duke I knowe it well quod the kyng The grayhounde maketh you chere this day as kynge of Englande as ye shal be and I shal be deposed the grayhouÌ„de hath this knowledge naturally therfore take hym to you he wyll folowe you forsake me The duke vnderstode well those wordes and cherisshed the grayhounde who wolde neuer after folowe kyng Richarde but folowed the duke of LaÌ„castre SO euery man lepte a horsbacke and departed fro the castell of Flynt entred in to the feldes Thus duke Henry of Lancastre who was no more called erle of Derby but duke of LaÌ„castre rode by
letters and wytnesse of all the prelates and lordes there beynge present Than Rycharde of Burdeaux retourned agayne in to the chambre fro whence he came Than the duke of Lancastre and all other lept on their horses and the crowne and ceptour were put in a cofer and conueyed to the abbey of Westmynster and there kept in the treasory And euery man wente to their lodgynges and abode tyll the day of parliament and counsayle shulde be at the palays of Westmynster ¶ Of the coronacyon of kyng Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore nynetene the last daye of septembre on a tuysday began a parlyament at Westmynster holden by Henry duke of Lancastre at whiche tyme there was assembled prelates and clergy of the realme of Englande a great nombre and also dukes erles and barones and of euery towne a certayne Thus the people assembled at Westmynster there beynge presente the duke of Lancastre and there the same duke chalenged the realme of Englande and desyred to be kynge by thre reasones Fyrst by conquest secondly bycause he was heyre And thyrdly bycause Rycharde of Burdeaur had resygned the Realme in to his handes by his free wyll in the presence of certayne dukes erles prelates and barones in the hall within the towre of London These thre causes shewed the duke of Lancastre requyred all the people there present as well one as other to shewe their myndes and ententes in that behalfe Than all the people with one voyce sayd that their wylles was to haue him kynge and howe they wolde haue none other but hym Than the duke agayne sayd to the people Sirs is this your myndes and they all with one voyce sayde ye ye And than the duke sate downe in the syege royall whiche seate was reysed vp in the hall and couered with a clothe of estate so that euery man myght well se hym sytte And than the people lyfted vp their handes a hygh promysing hym their faythe and allegyaunce Thanne the parlyament coÌ„cluded and the day was taken for his coronacyon of saynt Edwardes day the monday the .xiii. day of Octobre at whiche tyme the saturday before his coronacyon he departed fro Westmynster and rode to the towre of London with a great nombre and that night all suche squyers as shulde be made knyghtes the nexte day watched who were to the nombre of .xlvi. Euery squier had his owne bayne by him selfe and the next day the duke of Lancastre made theym all knyghtes at the masse tyme. Than had they longe cotes with strayte sleues furred with mynyuer lyke prelates with whyte laces hangynge on their shuldes And after dyner the duke departed fro the towre to Westmynster rode all the way bareheeded and aboute his necke the lyuery of Fraunce He was acompanyed with the prince his sonne and syxe dukes syxe erles and .xviii. barons and in all knyghtes and squyers a nyne hundred horse Than the kynge had on a shorte cote of clothe of golde after the maner of Almayne and he was mounted on a whyte couâ—ser and the garter on his left legge Thus the duke rode through London with a great nombre of lordes euery lordes seruaunt in their maysters lyuery All the but gesses lombardes marchauntes in London and euery craft with their lyuerey and deuyse Thus he was conueyed to Westmynster He was in nombre a syxe thousaÌ„de horse and the streates hanged as he passed by and the same day and the next there were in London rynnynge seuen cundyttes with wyne whyte and reed That nyght the duke was bayned and the next mornynge he was confessed and herde thre masses as he was acustomed to do and than all the prelates and clergy came fro Westmynster churche to the palays to fetche the kynge with procession and so he went to the churche a procession and all the lordes with hym in their robes of scarlet furred with menyuer barred of their shulders acordynge to their degrees and ouer the kynge was borne a clothe of estate of blewe with four belles of golde and it was borne by four burgesses of the portes as Douer and other And on euery syde of him he had a sword borne the one the sworde of the churche and the other the sworde of iustyce The sworde of the church his sonne the prince dyd beare and the sworde of iustyce therle of Northumberlande dyd beare for he was as than constable of Englande for the erle of Rutlande was deposed fro that offyce and the erle of Westmerlande who was marshall of Englande bare the ceptour Thus they entred in to the churche about nyne of the clocke and in the myddes of the churche there was an hygh scaffolde all couered with reed and in the myddes therof there was a chayre Royall couered with clothe of golde Than the kyng sate downe in that chayre and so sate in estate royall sauynge he had nat on the crowne but sate bare heeded Than at four corners of the scaff olde the archebysshop of Caunterbury shewed vnto the people howe god had sent them a man to be their kyng and demaunded if they were content that he shulde be consecrated and crowned as their kynge And they all with one voyce sayd yea helde vp their handes promysynge him faythe and obeysaunce Than the kynge rose and wente downe the scaffolde to the hygh auter to be sacred at whiche consecracyon there were two archbysshoppes and ten bysshops and before the aulter theâ— he was dispoyled out of all his vestures of estate there he was anoynted in vi places on the heed on the brest on the two shulders behynde and on the handes Than a bonet was ser on his heed and whyle he was anoyntynge the clergy sange the latyny and suche seruyce as they synge at the halowing of the fonte Than that kinge was aparelled lyke a prelate of the churche â–ª with a cope of reed sylke and a payre of spurres with a poynte without a rowell Than the sworde of iustyce was drawen out of the shethe and halowed and than it was taken to the kyng who dyd put it agayne in to the sheth than the archebysshop of Caunterbury dyd gyrde the sworde about hym than saynt Edwardes crowne was brought forthe whiche is close aboue and blessed and than the archebysshop dyd sette it on the kynges heed After masse the kyng departed out of the churche in the same estate and went to his palays and there was a fountayne that ranne by dyuers braunches whyte wyne and reed Than the kyng entred in to the hall and so in to a priuy chamber and after came out agayne to dyner At the fyrst table sate the kynge At the seconde the fyue peres of the realme at the thyrde the valaunt men of London at the fourth the newe made knightes At the fyft the knyghtes and squiers of honour And by the kyng stode
Henry in Fraunce wherby they were soner aquaynted so they taryed at Douer tyll their horses were vnshypped and than they rode to Caunterbury And where so euer they bayted or lay their hostes were payed At laste they came to Eltham and there they founde kyng Henry and parte of his counsayle The kinge made them good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge Than they shewed the kyng the cause of their cōmynge The kynge aunswered and sayde Sirs ye shal go to London and there I wyll be within this foure dayes and assemble my counsayle and than ye shall haue aunswere of your demaunde That daye they dyned with the kynge and after dyner they rode to London and the sayde knyght of the kynges styll with them who sawe them well lodged The kinge acordyng to his promyse came to Westmynster these frenche knyghtes had knowlege of the kynges cōmynge thyder and made them redy to go whan they shulde be sent for The kynge had his counsayle with hym and than it was deuysed what answere they shuld haue than they were sent for and than it was shewed them that where as they desyred to se the quene their desyre shulde nat be denyed so that they wolde swere and promesse that nouther they nor none of their menne shulde speke any worde of that was fallen vpon king Rycharde for it was said to them that if they dyd they shulde rynne in great dyspleasure of the people and be in great parell of their lyues The two knightes sayd they wolde in no wyse breake the ordre that they had sette but obey their cōmaundement They sayd whan they had ones sene and spoken with her than they wolde retourne and departe Anon after the erle of Northum berlande brought theym to Haueringe of the bowre to the yonge quene who was there as than and with her the duches of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy and the duchesse of Gloucestre with her doughters and other ladyes and damoselles The quene receyued them swetely and demaūded of them howe the frenche kinge her father dyd and the quene her mother They sayde well and so cōmuned with her a gret season They kepte well their promesse for they spake no worde of kynge Rycharde Than they tooke leaue of the quene and retourned to London Than shortely after they wente to Eltham to the kynge and there dyned and the kyng gaue them fayre presentes and iowelles and ryght amyably they toke their leaue of the kynge who sayd to them Syrs ye may say whan ye come in to Fraunce that the quene of Englande shall haue no hurte nor trouble but shall alwaies kepe her estate as to her belongeth and shall enioy all her right for as yet she shall nat knowe the mutacyons of the worlde Of these wordes spoken of the kynges mouth the two knyghtes were well content and so departed and lay at Dertforde and the next day at Osprynge and so to Caunterbury and than to Douer And all their costes and charges commynge goynge the kynges offycers payed Than they tooke the see and aryued at Boloyne and so to Parys and there founde the kyng and the quene and shewed them all that they had sene and herde ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speake of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne lordes in Englande rose vp with an army to haue delyuered kyng Rycharde and to haue dystroyed kynge Henry and howe they were slayne Cap. CC xivii DIuers questyons and argumētes were made in Englande amonge noble men and counsayls of the good townes that Richarde of Burdeaux was deed slayne wherfore men spake no more of hym for well he had deserued it To these poyntes kyng Henry answered and sayd Nay quod he I haue pytie of his dethe I wyll neuer consent therto To kepe hym in prisone is suffycient I haue warrāted his lyfe and I wyll kepe my promyse suche as wolde haue had hym deed sayd Sir we se well ye haue Pytie on hym but ye do for your selfe a perylous thyng For as long as he is a lyue though he haue willyngly resigned to you the crowne of Englande and that euery man hath receyued you as kyng and haue made to you faythe and homage yet it can nat be but that there be in the Realme some that loued hym as yet do who wolde lightly ryse agaīst you if they might se any lykelyhode of his delyueraunce Also the Frenche kynge is sore displeased for his trouble he wolde soone be reuenged yf he myght and he is of great puyssaunce with suche ayde as he maye fynde in Englande The kynge aunswered and sayde As longe as I se nat the contrary or that the Frenche kyng wyll take no parte agaynst me I wyll kepe my promyse This aunswere that the kynge made had nerehande haue ben to his owne distructyon The erle of Huntyngton sir Iohan of Hollande brother to kyng Richarde who hadde to wyfe kynge Henryes suster coulde nat forgette the aduenture of his brother No more coude the erle of Salisbury and they had at Oxenforde secrete counsayle toguyder And they deuysed how they might delyuer kynge Richarde oute of the towre and distroye kyng Henry bring a trouble agayne in to the realme They deuysed to make a iustes of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers to beholden at Oxenforde and howe they wolde desyre the kyng to be there priuely And whyle he shulde be syttynge at the table to slee hym For they had deuysed to haue hadde men ynowe to haue perfourmed their ententes and they had redy a preest called Maladyn who was a syngar in kynge Rychardes chapell to haue putte hym in the Kynges appareyle for he was lyke kynge Rycharde in fauoure And than they wolde haue made the people to haue beleued that kynge Richarde hadde been delyuered and returned in to his fyrst state and than̄e to haue sente worde of their dede to the Frenche kynge that he shulde incontynent haue sente in to Englande some socoure to them by the erle of saynt Poule or by some other As they had deuysed so they dyde begynne They caused a feest at Oxenforde to be proclaymed of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers well accōpanyed with ladyes and damoselles They hadde also on their partie the yonge erle of Kente nephue to sir Iohan Hollande also another great lorde the lorde Spensar And they beleued to haue hadde on their partie the erle Iohan of Rutlande bycause kynge Henry had put hym out of the offyce of the Cōstable shyppe of Englande but he fayled theym for some sayde by hym they were bewrayed This feest prouyded for thau the erle of Huntyngton came to Wyndsore where the kyng was and humbly made his reuerence as he that thought to haue disceyued the kynge with swete wordes and to haue gote hym to haue come to this feest the whiche to do he desyred the kyng effectuously and the kyng who thought none yuell graunted hym so to do wherof the erle was ryght ioyouse and departed
freer Iohn̄ the Cardynalles that were in his presence Syrs thus shall it fall on you of the chyrche for the Emperour of Rome and of Almayne and the other kynges crystened hyghe prynces of the worlde haue gyuen you the goodes possessyons ryches to the entente to serue god and ye spende it in pryde and superfluyte ¶ ye rede not the lyfe of saynt Syluester pope of Rome after saynt Peter ymagyne and consyder howe the Emperour Cōstantyne gaue hym fyrst the dysmes of the chyrche and on what condycyon Saynt Syluester rode nother with CC. nor CCC horse abrode in the worlde but he helde hymselfe symply closed in Rome and lyued soberly with them of the chyrche when the aungell of god shewed hym how the Emperour Coustātyne who was as then but an infydell sholde fende for hym in lykewyse the Emperour had it by reuelacyon of an aungell that Syluester sholde shewe hym the way of helthe for he was syke of the lypper so that his fless he fell in peces whē Syluester came before hym he shewed hym the way of baptyme so crystened hym and incontynent he was hole for the whiche the Emperoure Constantyne byleued in god and all his Empyre and gaue to Syluester to the chyrche all the dysmes for before the Emperoure of Rome helde them and besyde that gaue hym many fayre gyftes grete sygnyoryes augmentynge out fayth and the chyrche but it was his entencyon that the goodes and syguyoryes that he had gyuē hym that he sholde gouerne it humbly and truely and not to spēde it in pompe and pryde but nowe a dayes they of the chyrche do the contrary wherwith god is dyspleased and hereafter wyll be more dyspleased so that the grete lordes of the erthe wyll ware colde in theyr deuocyons and not be so lyberall in gyuynge ony thynge to the chirche But rather to be redy to take fro it that was gyuen before and I thynke it wyll not be longe or this besene ¶ Thus this freer Iohn̄ of Roche tayllayd whome the cardynalles helde in pryson in Auignyon shewed to them these wordes and dyuers other wherof the cardynalles were abasshed and wolde gladly haue put hym to dethe yf they myght haue founde ony iust cause agaynst hym But they coulde fynde none so suffred hym to lyue but they durst not let hym out of pryson for he shewed his matters so parfyte and layde for hym hyghe scryptures that peraduenture he myght haue made many in the worlde to haue arred Howbeit suche as toke more hede to his sayenge then I dyde sawe many thynges fall after accordynge as he sayd and wrote in pryson all that he sayd he wolde proue by the apocalyps the true prowes wherwith he armed hymselfe who saued hym fro brennynge and also some of the Cardynalles had pyte on hym and wolde not do theyr vttermoost to hym NOwe let vs leue to speke of these narracyons and retourne to our pryncypall matter hystory of Spayne of Portyngale of Fraunce and of Englonde and recorde the fortunes that fell in that season whiche be not to be forgotten ¶ ye haue herde here before howe kynge Iohn otherwyse called mayster denyce of portyngale bastarde broder to kyng Don Ferant was in possessyon of the royalme of Portyngale by the helpe all onely of .iiii. Cytees in Portyngale But as for the nobles and knyghtes of the royalme of Portyngale at the begynnynge acquyted them truely to kynge Don Peter to kynge Iohn̄ of Castell and to his wyfe the lady Beatryce yet thoughe some helde the opynyon of that lady neuerthelesse other named her a bastarde for she was doughter to a lady in Portyngale called Elynoure who had as then her fyrst husbande on lyue a knyght of that countre syr Iohn̄ Laurence of Coygne and the kynge of Portyngale had taken her fro hym and the kynge maryed her and put her husbande out of Portyngale who wente and dwelled with the kynge of Castell for he durst not dwell in Portyngale for fere of the kynge who helde his wyse yet he was of hyghe lygnage These thynges are to be meruaylled at For kynge Ferant of Portyngale reputed his doughter as lawfully begotten for he had a dyspensacyon of pope Vrban the .vi. And then the peas was made bytwene the .ii. kynges of Castell Portyngale that a knyght of the royalme of Portyngale called syr Iohn̄ Ferant Andere who was chefe of counsayle with the kynge of Portyngale treated of peas and made the mariage bytwene kynge Ferant of Portyngalles doughter and kynge Iohn̄ of Castell who was as thē a wyddower and had maryed before the doughter of Don Peter kynge of Aragon thoughe the kynge of Castell his counsayle dyd cast all these doubtes and howe they fered lest the kynge of Portingales doughter sholde not be taken as heyre of Portyngale after her faders dysseas but to put in suretye therof the kynge of Castell the kynge of Portyngale caused dyuers of the chefe lordes of Portyngale to swere that after the kynges dysseas to take her as theyr lady to tourne the royalme of Portyngale to the kynge of Castel Also the kynge of Portyngale had bounde certayne good townes to the kynge of Castel to take hym as theyr kynge on the payne of forfayture of .ii. thousande frankes thoughe this knyght Iohan Ferant Andere dyde his busynes for a good entente to make peas concorde bytwene Castell and Portyngale at the instaunce of his lorde yet the comons of Lyrbone slewe hym and chase to theyr kynge this mayster Deuyce for they sayd they wolde not be vnder the subiectyon of them of Castell they hated them so moche for they coulde neuer loue togyder also they sayd that the crowne of Portyngale myght not go to a woman and that the quene of Castell was not true herytour but a bastarde worse then a bastarde for kynge Ferantes lyuynges and after his dethe Iohan Ferant of Coygne lyued who was husbande to that ladyes moder and therfore they chase this mayster Denyce and was crowned by these .iiii. Cytees Lyrbone Vyc Eure and the porte of Portyngale they sayd they wolde haue a kynge amonge them one of the chefe incydentes that moued the comons to be agaynst the kynge of Castell was as I shall shewe you The Spanyardes whom I call Castellyans when the maryage was made bytwene them and Portyngale and that the kynge of Portyngale had graunted that after his dysseas the royalme sholde go to the kyng of Castell euer when the Spanyardes mette ony of the Portyngales they wolde mocke thē and say syrs whether ye wyll or not nowe ye shall come to our daunger we shall holde you vnder subiectyon and seruage and kepe you lyke slaues and Iues and do with you as we lyst they wolde answere saye they trusted that sholde neuer be neuer to be vnder subiectyon of ony other man lyuyng excepte god and for suche causes
and wordes reprouable of the Spanyardes the Portyngales toke this mayster Denyce basterde broder to kynge Ferant made hym kynge in his broders dayes there was no rekenynge made of hym nor the kynge that the comons wolde neuer haue chosen hym to theyr kynge and forsake his doughter as they dyd Howbeit often tymes this sayd knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Andere sayd to the kynge how that this mayster Denyce his basterde broder had gretely the grace of the comons of the royalme wherfore he sayd it had ben good he had ben put to dethe but kynge Ferant answered and sayd howe the comons sholde neuer haue puyssauÌ„ce to do ony thynge agaynst the wyll of the noble men of his countrey and how that his sone in lawe the kynge of Castell sholde euer be puyssaunt ynough to constrayne them and to chastyce them yf they rebelled after his dyssease Wherfore he sayd there was noo cause to put his bastarde broder to deth nor put hym in pryson sayng how he was his broder and a man of relygyon and had ynoughe to lyue on besyde the crowne of Portyngale and so he was lefte alyue THese foresayd poyntes and artycles be true for I the auctoure of this booke haue ben sufficyently enfourmed therof by the nobles of Portyngale it is a thynge to be meruayled at to make a bastarde a kynge they of Portyngale saye and as yet sayth that the quene of Castel the lady Bâ—autryce doughter to the lady Elynour of Coygne was a bastarde therfore they wolde not take her as quene of Portyngale nor none heyre that came of her the same opynyon the erle of Foys layde to the knyghtes of his countrey when they wente in to Spayne to ayde the kynge of Castel for he had ben suffycyently infourmed in the matter bytwene Portyngale and Castel wherfore he sayd to theÌ„ at theyr departyng Syrs ye haue nothynge to do to busy yourselfe bytwene Castell and Portyngale for the quene of Castell who was doughter to kynge Ferant of Portyngale it is a warre euyll begon there maye moche euyl come to them that be busye in that matter but they answered hym syth they had receyued wages of suche a man as the kynge of Castell was they must nedes go and serue hym and so they wente moost parte of them there dyed as ye haue herde here before NOwe let vs retourne to the busynes of Portyngale For they be not for to be lefte for the grete aduentures that there hathe falleÌ„ And to cronycle al thynges as they haue fallen to the entente that in tyme to come they sholde be founde wryten and regystred yf aduentures were not knowen it were grete domage And by clerkes that auncyently haue wryten and regystred the hystoryes and bookes therby the hystories are knowen there is not so perpetuall a memory as is wrytynge truely I saye to you wyll that they that come after me sholde knowe that for to knowe the trouth of this hystory I haue taken therin grete payne in my dayes and haue serched many royalmes and countreys to knowe the trouthe and haue had acquayntauÌ„ce of many valyaunt meÌ„ and haue sene dyuers bothe of Fraunce of Englonde of Scotlande Castell Portyngale of other landes Duchyes and Countyes suche as they and theyr landes hath ben conioyned in these warres with them I haue spoken and ben instructed and infourmed and I wolde not that ony enquest sholde passe vnknowen syth I knewe it to be true and notable And whyle I was in Byerne with the erle Gaston of Foys I was there enfourmed of dyuers busynesses suche as fell bytwene Castell and Portyngale and when I was retourned agayne in to my countrey in the countye of Heynalte and in the towne of Valencennes and that I had refresshed me there a season then I determyned me to folowe the hystory that I had begon then I aduysed in myne ymagynacyon howe I coulde not suffycyently be instructed by the herynge of them that susteyned the opynyon of the kynge of Castell but that in lykewyse I ought to here the Portyngales as well as the Gascoynes and Spanyardes that I herde in the house of the erle of Foys and in the waye goynge thyder and retournynge I toke noo regarde to the payne or trauayle of my body but so I wente to Bruges in Flaundres to fynde there some of that royalme of Portyngale and of Lyxbone for there were euer some of yâ— countrey beholde if myne aduenture were good or no yf I had sought a season .vii. yere I coulde not haue come to a better poynte then I dyd then for then it was shewed me that if I wolde go to Meldeboure in Selande I sholde fynde there a knyght of Portyngale a valyaunt man and a sage and of the kynge of Portyngales counsayle who was newly come thyder was goynge thens by see in to Pruce howe he coulde iustly and playnly shewe me of the busynes and aduentures of Portyngale for he knewe had ben ouer all the countrey These tydynges reioysynge me and so I wente fro Bruges with one of Portyngale in my company who knewe ryght wel this knyght and so we came to Sluse and there toke the see and dyd so moche by the grace of god that we came to meldeboure and the Portyngales that were in my company aquaynted me with this knyght and I founde hym ryght gracyous sage honourable courtoys amyable and acquayntable so I was with hym .vi. dayes or there aboute And this knyght enfourmed me of all the busynes bytwene the royalme of Castel and Portyngale syth the dethe of kynge Ferant tyll the departynge of that knyght out of that countrey he shewed me euery thynge so playnly and so gracyously that I toke grete pleasure to here hym and to wryte it And when I was enfourmed by hym of all that I desyred to knowe I toke leue of hym and he conueyed me to my shyp so dyd dyuers other ryche merchauntes of his countrey who were come fro Bruges fro other places to se hym in his company there was the sone of Nauarre in Portyngale dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of that royalme but he had the chefe honoure amonge them certaynly by that I coulde se and ymagyne of hym and of his estate he was worthy to haue honour for he was of noble porte and goodly stature and lykely to be a valyaunt man And wheÌ„ I retourne agayne fro Rome in to myne owne countrey I shall busy me to make relacyon of the wordes of this gentyll knyght called syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Porteler and shall cronycle all that hathe fallen in Portyngale and in Castell vnto the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and x. ¶ Howe they of Portyngale sent out messageres in to Englonde to shewe tydynges of theyr couÌ„trey to the kynge of Englonde and to the grete lordes there Ca. xliii HOwe sheweth the hystory that after this mayster Denys kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale had dyscomfyted kynge
he hadde dyned and was aboute to haue wasshen his handes There came in to the chambre foure men and caste sodaynlye a towell aboute the dukes necke two at the one ende and two at the other and drewe so sore that he fell to the Erthe and so they strangled hym and closed his eyen whan he was deed they dispoyled hym and bare hym to his beed and layde hym bytwene the shetes all naked and his heed on a softe pyllowe and couered with clothes furred And than they yssued out of the chambre in to the hall well determyned what they wolde saye and sayde openly Howe a palueysye hadde taken the duke of Gloucestre the same night sodaynly and so dyed These wordes anon were abrode in the towne of Calais Some beleued theym and some natte Within two dayes that the duke was thus deed the erle marshall appareled hym selfe in blacke bycause he was his nere cosyn and were many other knyghtes and squyers that were in Calays His dethe was sooner knowen in Fraunce and in Flaunders than in EnglaÌ„d The Frenche men were gladde therof For there was a coÌ„mon brute that there shulde be no good peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande as long as he lyued And in all treaties bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande he was euermore harder and obstynaier thanÌ„e any other of his bretherne wherfore they cared nat for his dethe In lykewise many men in Englande bothe knyghtes squyers and other officers of the kynges who were in feare of hym bycause of his crueltie All suche were gladde of his dethe They toke to recorde his cruell dedes by the duke of IrelaÌ„de whom he had exyled out of Englande Also of the deth of that valyant knight sir Symon Burle and of sir Robert Triuylien sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Standysshe dyuers other The dukes dethe was but lytell regarded in Englande excepte but with suche as were of his opinyon Thus this duke dyed in Calais his body was enbaumed and seared in leed and couered and so sente by See in to Englande And the Shyppe that caryed hym arryued at the Castell of Hadley vpon Thamyse syde and fro thens caryed by chariot symply to his owne place at Plasshey and there buryed in the Churche Whiche the sayde duke hadde founded in the honoure of the hooly Trynite wherin were twelue Chanonnes to synge diuyne seruyce YE maye well knowe that the duchesse of Gloucestre and Affren his sonne and his two susters were sore discoÌ„fyted whan they sawe the duke brought thyther deed The duchesse had double sorowe for Richarde erle of Arundell her vncle was be heeded openly by the kynges coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in Chepesyde there was no lorde durst speke to the contrary the kynge beyng presente at the same iustyce doynge It was done by the erle Marshall who hadde to wyfe the doughter of the sayde erle of Arundell and yet he bounde his eyen hym selfe The erle of Warwyke was in great daunger to be beheeded but the erle of Salisbury who was in the kynges fauour desyred the kynge for his lyfe and so dyde dyuers other barons prelates in Englande The kynge enclyned to their requestes so that he myght be banysshed and putte in suche a place as he shulde natte come fro for the kyng wolde nat clerely forgyue hym He sayde he had well deserued to dye bycause he was of counsayle with the duke of Gloucestre and with the erle of Arundell to haue brokeÌ„ the peace and truce taken bitwene Fraunce Englande For the whiche artycle the kyng sayd they had deserued to dye for the peace was taken bytwene the ê‘ties on suche coÌ„dycion that who so euer dyde breake it shulde be worthy to dye The erle of Salisbury who had ben the erle of Warwykes companyon dyuers tymes in excusyng of him said Howe he was an olde man and was desyred by the duke of Gloucestre by his fayre wordes Wherfore he sayd that he dyde was natte of his owne mocyon but by theirs Affyrming howe there was neuer none of the Beauchampes that euer dyd trayson agaynst the crowne of Englande Thus the erle of Warwyke for pytie was respyted fro dethe He was banysshed in to the ysle of Wyght And it was sayde to hym Erle of Warwyke ye haue deserued to dye as well as the erle of Arundell but for the great seruyce that ye haue done in tyme past to kynge Edwarde and to the prince his sonne and to the crowne of Englande aswell on this syde the see as byonde hath done you great ayde for the kyng hath pyte on you and hath grauÌ„ted you your lyfe But it is ordayned by iudgement that ye shall go in to the ysle of Wight and lyue there as longe as ye can and shall haue suffycient of your owne to maynteyne there your estate soberly but ye maye neuer departe thens The erle toke this punysshement a worthe and thaÌ„ked the kyng and his counsayle for sauyng of his lyfe and so made hym redy to go thyder at the daye apoynted In the whiche ysle was space sufficient for a lorde to kepe his estate enuyroned with the See Thus passed forthe these Iudgementes in Englande at that season whiche multiplyed dayly worse worse as ye shall here after WHan the dethe of the duke of gloucestre was knoweÌ„ by the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke incoÌ„tinent they knewe well that the kynge their nephue had caused hym to be slayne and murdered at Calays As than these two dukes were nat toguyder eche of theÌ„ were at their owne plates They wrote eche to other to knowe what were best to do and so they came to London For they knewe well that the londoners were nat content with the dethe of the duke their brother Whan they mette there toguyder they tooke couÌ„sayle and sayd Suche dedes ought nat to be suffred as to putte to dethe so hyghe a priÌ„ce as was their brother for ydell wordes and false reportes For they sayd though he spake oftentymes of the breakyng of the peace yet he neuer brake it And bytwene sayenge and doyng is great difference for by reason of wordes he ought nat to deserue dethe by suche cruell punycion these two dukes were in the case to haue put all Englande to great trouble and there were ynowe redy to counsayle them therto and specially them of the erle of Arundelles lynage and of the erle of Staffordes whiche was a great kynred in Englande The kyng as than was at ElthaÌ„ and had sente for all suche as helde of hym in chiefe And he had redy assembled toguyder about London in Kent and Essexe mo than ten thousande archers And sir Iohan Hollande his brother was with hym and therle Marshall and the erle of Salisbury and a great nombre of lordes and knyghtes the kyng sent to theÌ„ of London that they shulde nat receyue the duke of Lancastre They answered and sayd They knewe no cause that the duke hadde done why they shulde refuce hym The duke of Lancastre was at LoÌ„don and
the erle of Derby his sonne and also the duke of yorke and his sonne Iohan erle of Rutlande The kyng loued the erle of Rutlande beyonde measure who dissymuled the dethe of his vncle the duke of Gloucestre shewed howe he wolde gladly se a good peace bytwene the parties said howe he knew well that his vncle dyde wronge oftentymes agaynst the kynge The londoners in lykewyse consydred the great myschiefe that myght fall in Englande by the discencyon bytwene the kynges vncles the kyng and their alyaunces Also they consydred syth the myschefe was fallen of the duke of Gloucestres dethe that there was no recouery therin they knewe well it was bycause the duke of Gloucestre had been to lauesse of his tonge and wolde haue styrred the realme to haue broken the trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce Wherfore suche as were wyse men in the cytie dissymuled the mater and thought it was no tyme to a mende it as than they feared the puyssaūce of Fraunce and lesynge of their marchaundyse Than beganne to treate and went as a meane bytwene the king and the duke of Lancastre who was in many imagynacions for the dethe of his brother troubled him sore Also he sawe howe his nephue kynge Rycharde was alyed by mariage with the frenche kyng Also the duke of Lancastre had .ii. of his doughters out of the lande one quene of Spayne a nother quene of Portugale by whome he thought he shulde haue great ayde if he made warre agaynst his nephue kynge Rycharde All thynges consydred the duke chaunged his courage at the desyre of the londoners and of other prelates of Englande who were meane bytwene the kyng and hym and by their meanes the kynge was agreed with the duke and peace made with that the kinge promysed fro thens forwarde to be gouerned by the duke of Lancastre and to do nothyng but by his counsayle and aduyse whiche promesse the kynge nothynge fulfylled but was counsayled by yonge and wylde coūsayle whiche was to his hurte and great dōmage as ye shall here after in this hystory THus the kyng of Englande had peace with his vncles bycause of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre Than he beganne to reygne more fiersly than he dyd before The kynge went and lay in Essex where as the duke of Gloucestre had the chiefe rule whiche ought to haue pertaygned to Affcen his sonne and heyre but the kynge toke all for the ordynaunce in Englande was the kynge to haue the warde of all herytours chyldren orphelyns vnder the age of .xxi. yeres and than they to haue their herytages Thus the kinge tooke the wardeshyppe of his cosyn the duke of Gloucestres herytour and the kynge toke the possession profyte of all the dukes lande and kepte the chylde with hym And the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters were with the quene The duke of Gloucestr◠by enherytaunce was constable of Englande the kynge toke that offyce fro the right heyre and gaue it to his cosyn the erle of Rutlande The kynge than kept greate state than euer he dyd nor there had nat ben no kynge before in Englande that spente so moche yerely by a hundred thousande nobles as he dyd In lyke wyse the kynge had with hym the heyre of the erle of Arundell who was beheeded at London And bycause a knyght that was belongyng to the duke of Gloucestre called Cerbe spake at a tyme certayne wordes agaynst the kynge and his counsayle he was taken and beheeded Syr Iohan of Quynghay was in great parell but whan he sawe that the maters went so dyuersely as they dyd he dyssymuled as moch as he might and departed fro the duchesse of Gloucestres house and wente and dwelt in other places ¶ In those dayes there was none so great in Englande that durst speake agaynst any thynge that the kyng dyd or wolde do He had counsayle mete for his appetyte who exhorted hym to do what he lyst The kynge kept styll in his wages ten thousande archers night and day that wayted on him for he reputed himselfe nat parfytely sure of his vncles nor of the lygnage of Arundell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made in the cytie of Reyns as well by the emperour as of the realme of Fraūce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii THe same seasone there was a great assēble of gret lordes in the cytie of Reynes what of lordes of the empyre and of Fraunce to the entent to bring the churche to a peace and reste for the frenche kynge dyd so moche that at his request his cosyn the kynge of Almayne came to the cytie of Reynes with his counsayle and bycause they wolde nat haue it brewted that they assembled there all onely for the mater by twent the popes the one at Rome and the other at Auygnon they made it to be noysed that they came thyder to treate for a maryage of the sonne of the marques of Blācquebourge with the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce This Marques was brother to the kynge of Almayne The frenche kyng lay at the archebysshoppes palayes and there was with hym the dukes of Orlyaūce Berrey and Burbon therle of saynt Powle and dyuers other hygh barones and prelates of Fraunce And whan the kinge of Almayne entred in to the cytie all the lordes and prelates and kynge Charles of Nauer who was in lykewyse there went to mete with hym and receyued hym honourably Fyrste they brought hym to our lady churche and after in to the abbey of saynt Remy there the kynge of Almayne laye and his lordes aboute hym And it was ordeyned by the frenche kinge that what so euer the kynge of Almayne spent shulde be at the frenche kynges cost The almayns had euery day delyuered theym ten tonne of herynge for it was in Lent tyme and eyght hundred carpes besyde other fysshes whiche was a great charge WHan the kyng of Almayne came first to the frenche kynge all the lordes went for hym to saynt Remy and so brought him to the kynges palays Whan these two kynges mette they made great honoure eche to other and great reuerence and specyally the frenche kynge for almayns of nature are rude and grose manered without it be to take their profyte therto they be experte and redy ynough All the lordes of Fraunce and of Almayne toke acquayntaunce eche with other with louyng wordes and countinaunce and the frenche kynge made the kynge of Almayne and his company a great dyner at one table there sate fyrst the patryarke of Iherusalem than the king of Almayne the frenche kynge and the kynge of Nauer there sate no mo at that table At the other tables sate the lordes and prelates of Almayne No lorde of Fraūce sate that day but sarued To the kynges borde the meate was brought by the dukes of Berrey of Burbone the erle of saynt Powle and by other great lordes of Fraūce The duke of Orlyaūce set euery man
quod the kyng why shulde they nat We wyll se their dedes of armes Paraduenture we shall knowe therby that we knowe nat as yet shulde be right necessary to knowe to the entente we shulde prouyde for it For there is none so great in Englande but if he displease me I shall cause hym to make me amendes For if I shulde any thynge submytte me to my subiettes they wolde soone ouercome me And I knowe for certaygne that some of theym of my blode haue hadde dyuers treatyse toguyder agaynste me and myne estate and the moost princypall of theÌ„ was the duke of Gloucestre For in all Englande was natte a worse hedde agaynst me than he was Nowe I shall haue peace fro hense forwarde for I shall do well ynough with all the other But sirs I praye you shewe me why ye make this demauÌ„de to me Sir quod they we are bounde to counsayle you And sir we often tymes here wordes spoken that ye canne nat here For sir ye be in youre chambre and we abrode in the couÌ„trey or in London where many thynges be spoken whiche greatlye toucheth you and vs also Sir it were tyme to prouyde remedye and so ye muste do Sir we counsayle you for the best Howe so quod the Kynge Speke further and spare natte for I wyll do euery thynge parteynyng to reason and minyster Iustyce in my realme Sir quod they the renoume ronneth through out Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is the soueraygne cytie of youre Realme They saye ye are cause of this enterprice bytwene these two lordes and that ye haue sette the erle Marshall to fyght with the erle of Derby THe Londoners and dyuers other noble men and prelates of the realme saye Howe ye take the ryght waye to distroye your lygnage and the realme of Englande Whiche thynge they saye they wyll natte suffre And if the Londoners rise agaynste you with suche noble men as wyll take their parte ye shall be of no puyssauÌ„ce to resyst theym And also they haue you in a marueylous suspecte bycause ye be alyed by maryage with the Frenche kynge wherby ye be the worse beloued of all youre people And sir knowe for certayne that if ye suffre these two Erles to come in to the place to do batayle ye shall nat be lorde of the felde but the Londoners and suche lordes of their ê‘te wyll rule the felde for the loue and fauoure that they beare to the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall is soore hated and specially the Londouers wolde he were slayne And thre partes of the people of Englande saye that whan ye harde that wordes fyrst bytwene these two erles that ye shulde haue done otherwyse than ye dyd and that ye shulde haue broken the quarell and haue sayd Sirs ye are bothe my cosyns and lyegmen therfore I commaunde you to kepe the peace fro hens forthe And shulde haue taken the Erle of Derby by the hande and haue ledde hym in to youre chambre and haue shewed hym some signe of loue And bycause ye dyde nat thus the brute ronneth that ye beare fauour to the erle Marshalles partie and are agaynst the erle of Derby Sir consyder well these wordes that we shewe you for they be trewe Sir ye had neuer more nede of good counsayle than ye haue nowe Whan the kynge herde these wordes he chaunged countynauÌ„ce the wordes were so quickely spoken Therwith the kynge tourned fro them and leaned out at a wyndowe and studyed a certayne space and than he tourned agayne to them that had spoken to hym who were the archebysshoppe of yorke and the Erles of Salisbury of Huntingdon his bretherne and thre other knightes of his chambre than he sayde to them Sirs I haue well herde you and if I shulde refuce your counsayle I were greatly to blame Wherfore sirs consyder what is beste for me to do Sir quod one of theym that spake for all The matter that we haue spoken of is ryght peryllous ye muste dissymule the mater if ye wyll haue youre honour saued and to make peace And sir ye ought rather to entertayne the generaltie of your realme than the ydell wordes of two knyghtes But sir the brute thoroughe out all the Realme of Englande is howe the erle Marshall hathe greatlye trespassed and hath renewed to many yuell thinges and daylye reneweth and the realme taketh all his wordes in vayne and saith how that by his ydell words he wolde reise a ê“cesse agaynst the erle of Derby and to bringe the lande in to trouble First They say it were better that he abode the payne and the erle of Derby to be quyte Sir we thynke that or they shulde arme theÌ„ to mete togyder that ye shulde sende to them cause theÌ„ to be bounde to abyde youre ordynaunce in this enterprise And whan they be furely bounde to abyde youre sentence than ye maye gyue theym this Iudgemente That within fyftene dayes after the erle Marshall to auoyde the realme without any truste euer to retourne agayne And therle of Derby in lykewyse to auoyde the realme and to be banysshed for tenne yere And whan he shall departe the realme to please the people withall release foure yere of the tenne and so let hym be banysshed for sixe yere without pardone This is the counsayle sir that we wyll gyue you For sir in no wyse let them be armed one agaynst another for the inconuenyentes that maye fall therby The kynge studyed a lytell and sayde Sirs ye counsayle me trewly and I shall folowe youre counsayle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde gaue sentence wherby he banysshed out of Englande therle of Derby for .x. yere and the erle Marshall for euer Capi. CC.xxix ANone after that this couÌ„sayle was gyuen to the kynge he assembled great nombre of prelates grete lordes of Englande and they came to hym to ElthaÌ„ there was his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke The erles of Northumberlande of Salysbury and of Huntyngton Than the kynge sente for the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall and sette eche of them in a seuerall chaÌ„bre The kynge shewed howe he wolde be a meane bytwene them and howe their wordes hadde greatly displeased hym and that they were suche that ought nat lyghtly to be pardoned Wherfore he wolde in all poyntes they shulde submytte them selfe and to abyde his ordynaunce in that behalfe Than he ordayned the constable of Englande and foure other great lordes to go to the erle of Derby and to therle Marshall to take their bondes to abyde the kynges ordynaunce These lordes came to the sayd erles and shewed them the kynges pleasure and how the kynge wolde take the matter on hym So they bounde them selfe to abyde the kynges order Than the kynge sayde I ordaygne and commaunde that the erle Marshall bycause he hath brought this Realme in to this trouble by reason of his wordes wherin he canne nat make profe That he ordayne