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
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
quod he Rycharde Stafforde And I am Hollande quod the other and I seke for the. One of thy seruauntes hath slayne my best beloued squyer And therwith drewe out his sworde and strake Richarde Stafforde so that he slewe hym fell downe deed whiche was great pytie So he passed for the and knewe nat well what he had done but he sawe well one falle to the grounde Sir Richarde Staffordes men were sore dismayd whan they sawe their maister deed than they cryed A Holande Holande ye haue slayne the sonne of therle of Stafforde This wyll be heuy tidynges to the father whan̄e he knoweth therof Some of sir Iohan of Holandes seruauntes herde well these wordes and sayde to their mayster Sir ye haue slayne sir Rycharde Stafforde Well quod sir Iohan Hollade what than I had leauer haue slayne him than a worse The better haue I reuenged the dethe of my squyer Than sir Iohan of Hollande wente streyght to saynt Iohans of Beuerley and tooke the fraunchesse of the towne and abode there styll For he knewe well there wolde be moche a do in the hooste for the dethe of that knight And he wyst nat what the kynge wolde saye or do in the mater So to eschue all paryllce he tooke sentuarye in the towne of saynt Iohans of Beuerley TIdynges anone came to the Erle of Stafforde howe his sonne was slayne by yuell aduenture Thafie the erle demaunded who had slayne hym And suche as were by hym whan he was slayne sayd sir the kynges brother sir Iohen of Holande dyd slee hym And shewed hym the cause why and howe it was ye maye well knowe that he that loued entierly his sonne and hadde no mo but hym and was a fayre yonge knyght and a coutagyous was marueylously sore dyspleased and sente incontynent for all his frendes to haue their counsayle howe he shulde vse hym selfe in the reuengynge of his dethe The moost wysest man of his counsayle sayd Sir to morowe in the mornynge shewe all the matter to the kyng and desyre hym to haue lawe and iustyce Thus they suaged som what his yre and so passed that night And the nexte mornynge Rycharde Stafforde was buryed in the churche of the vyllage therby And at his buryeng were all those of his lynage barons knightes and squyers that were in armye And the obsequy done the erle of Stafforde and a thre score of his lygnage mounted on their horses and so came to the kynge who was well enformed of that yuell aduenture And so the Erle founde the kyng and his vncles toguyder and a great nombre of knightes with them Whan the erle came before the kyng he kneled downe and all wepynge sayde with a soroufull harte Sir ye are kynge of Englande and haue solemly sworne to kepe Englāde in all right to do iustyce ser ye knowe how your brother wtout any tytell of reason hath slayne my sonne and ayre Sir I requyre you do me right and iustyce or els ye shall haue no worse enemy than I wyll be And sir I wyll ye knowe the dethe of my son toucheth me so nere that and it were nat for brekynge of this voyage that we be in I shulde bring the host in to suche trouble that with honour it shulde be amended and so coūteruenged that it shulde be spoken of a hūdred yeres hereafter in Englande But as nowe I wyll cease tyll this voyage in to Scotlande be done for our ennemyes shall nat reioyse of the trouble of the erle of Stafforde The kyng answered Knowe for trouthe that I shall do you iustyce and reason as fatforthe as all my barones wyll iudge I shall nat fayle therof for no brother that I haue Than they of the erles lynage sayd Sir ye haue sayd well we thanke you therof Thus the lynage of sir Richarde Stafforde was apeased and so helde on their iourney in to Scotlande And all the iourney the erle of Stafforde made no semblant of the dethe of his sonne wherin all the barons reputed hym right sage ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande caused to be distroyed the church of meurous in Scotlande and howe the barons of Scotlande answered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuyied to leaue Scotlande and to let the Englesshe men alone Cap. xiii THus auaunsed forthe the kyng of Englande with seuyn thousande men of armes and threscore thousand archers All the strength of the realme of Englāde was there For it was sayd howe the admyrall of Fraunce wolde fight with thē and in dede he had great desyre and wyll so to do for he sayde to the barons of Scotlande or they came forthe Sirs make your sommons to gette as moche strength as ye can for if the Englysshe men come in to Scotlande I wyll surely fight with thē The scottes sayd as than howe they were content therwith howe be it after they toke other aduyse The kynge of Englande passed forthe so fary that he passed Duresme and Newe castell on the ryuer of Tyne and all the lande of Northumberlande and so at laste came to Berwyke wherof sir Mathue Redman was capitayne who receyued the kynge ioyfully and the kyng taryed nat ther long but passed forthe ouer the ryuer of Twede and toke his lodgynge at the abbey of Mewrous the whiche for all the warres that had been bytwene Englande and Scotlande had neuer no hurt nor domage but as than it was clene brnet and exiled For it was th entent of the englyssh men nat to retourne agayne in to Englande tyll they had distroyed all Scotlande bycause they were fortifyed at that tyme by the frenche men Whan̄e the admyrall of Fraunce knewe that the kynge of Englande was passed the ryuer of Twede and was entred in to Morlane in Scotlande Than he sayd to the barons of Scotlande Sirs why do we sytte styll Let vs go forthe and aduyse our ennemyes fyght with them It was shewed vs or we came here that if ye had out of Fraunce but one thousāde of good men of armes ye shulde be stronge ynoughe to fyght with the Englysshe men And I ensure you ye haue mo than a thousāde and fyue hundred cror bowes And surely the knightes and squyers that be here in my company ar parfyte men of armes and the floure of chiualrye and wyll nat flye but abyde suche aduenture as god wyll sende you and them TO these wordes answered the barones of Scotlāde who knewe so well the puissaunce of the Englysshe men that they hadde no wyll to fight with them Wherfore they said Sirs we beleue well that ye and your company be chosen men and of great valure But sir we haue knowledge that all the power of Englande is here there were neuer so many Englysshe men toguyder assembled as be nowe And ye wyll we shall bringe you in to suche a place that ye shall well se and aduyse theym And thanne if ye counsayle that they shall be fought with all it shall nat be
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
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
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„
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
ben to vs a great cōforte but we lost you to yong your father hath taryed to short a season with vs. He was but threscore and thre yeres of age He myght haue lyued for any age many a yere lengar It was no great age for suche a prince hauynge euery thyng at his ease and wysshe Ah thou lande of Bierne destytute and without conforte of any noble herytour What shall become of the Thou shalte neuer haue agayne suche another as was this gentyll erle of Foiz With suche lamentacions and wepynges the body of this Noble Erle was borne throughe the towne of Orthayes by eight noble knyghtes The first the Vycounte of Brunyquell and agaynst hym the lorde of Compayne The thirde sir Roger of Spaygne and agaynst hym sir Raymonde of Laysne The fyfthe sir Raymonde de la Mote agaynst hym the lorde of Besache The seuenthe sir Menault of Noualles and agaynst hym Rycharde of saynt George And behynde was sir yuan his bastarde sonne The lorde of Corase The lorde of Barantyne The lorde of Baruge the lorde of Quere and mo than threscore other knyghtes of Byerne who were soone come to the hospytall of Ryone whan they knewe of the Erles dethe Thus he was caryed with open vysage to the freers in Orthayes and there he was enbaumed and layde in leed so lefte vnder good kepynge vnto the day of entierment And nyght and daye withoute cease there was brinnynge aboute his body four and twentie torches borne by eight and fourtie yomen Foure and twentie in the nyght and foure and twentie in the daye ⸪ THe dethe of this noble erle of Foiz was anone knowen in dyuers countreis mo were rather sorie of his dethe than gladde for he had in his dayes giuen suche gyftes so liberally that it coulde nat be eschewed wherfore he was be loued of euery man that knewe hym Pope Clement whan he knewe of his dethe was right soroufull for hym bicause he had taken great payne in fortherynge of the maryage of his cosyn Iane of Boloygne who was duchesse of Berrey The same season there was at Auignon the bysshop of Palmes who durst nat com at his benifyce for a displeasure that the erle of Foize had to hym and yet he was of his lynage The cause was the bysshopp̄ wolde haue exalted his iurisdiction and abated therles for all that therle made hym bysshop Than the pope sente for the bysshoppe to come to his palais and whan he was cōe the pope sayde Sir bysshoppe of Palmes your peace is made the erle of Foiz is deed Of those tidynges the bysshoppe was glad and within a shorte season after he departed fro Auignon and wente to his bysshoprike in to the countrey of Foize Tidynges of the dethe of this erle was anone come into Fraūce to the kynge and to his counsayle The Frenche kyng and his brother and the duke of Burbone were sorie of his dethe bycause of his noblenesse Than the counsayle saide to the kyng Sir the coūtie of Foiz is yours by right successyon seyng the erle of Foiz is deed without heyre of his body laufully begotten no man canne debate with you therin Also they of the countie thynke the same And sir there is one thyng that helpeth gretlye your tytell ye haue lende there on fyftie thousande frankes Sir sende and take possessyon of your guage and kepe it as youre owne enherytaūce For they of the same coūtrey desyre to be vnder youre hande It is a fayre countre and shall come to you to good purpose for it marcheth nere to the Realme of Arragone and also to Chattelone And paraduenture here after ye may happe to haue warre with the kyng of Arragon Than the countie of Foiz shal be a good fronter for therin be many fayre and stronge castelles to kepe in men of warre and to make good garysons The kyng herde well those wordes and anone enclyned to their counsayle and sayde Sirs lette se whome shall we sende on this message Than̄e it was determyned to sende the lorde de la Ryuer bycause he was knowen in that countrey and with hym the bysshoppe of Noyon These two lordes prepared them selfe to go on this legacyon and whan̄e they departed they rode at leysar by small iourneys and toke their waye by Auignon IN this meane season worde was sente to the Vicount of Chastellon beyng in the realme of Arragon of the dethe of his cosyn the erle of Foiz Than he rode tyll he cāe in to Bierne streyght to Orthays They of the towne made hym good chere howe be it they toke him nat as than for their lorde and saide howe all the countrey was nat assembled and that first they must assemble toguyder the prelates lordes and men of the good Townes and to counsayle toguyder what they shulde do Sayeng that is a good coūtrey that holdeth of hym selfe and the lordes that dwelleth therin and hath herytages to be free Than̄e it was aduysed for the best First to make the entierment of the erle Gascone of Foiz at Orthays and to sende for all the nobles of Bierne and of Foize suche as wolde come and than to take counsayle whō they shulde accepte for their lorde Than all barones and prelates and heedes of good townes of Bierne and of Foiz were sent for They of Bierne cāe thyder but they of Foiz refused to come there and sayde they wolde kepe their countrey For they herde saye the Frenche kyng wolde sende thyder to chalēge they countre of Foiz Howe be it the bysshop of Palmes was desyred to come to Orthais bycause of lynage and so he came thyder in good array as to hym apparteyned The day of the obsequy of the gentyll erle Gascon of foiz last erle of that name done in the freres in the towne of Orthays the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and a .xi. on a monday There was moche people of the countrey of Bierne and of other places bothe lordes knightes and other prelates There were four bisshoppes the bysshop of Palmes who sayd the masse and the bysshoppes of Ayre of Auron and of Tenues in Bierne There was a goodly herse and well ordred And duryng the masse tyme there was holden before the aulter by four knightes foure baners with the armes of Foiz of Bierne The first helde sir Raymon of Newcastell The seconde sir Espaygne du Lyon The thirde sir Peter deguier The fourthe sir Menaulte of Noualles sir Roger of Spaygne offred the sworde bytwene the Bourge of Campaigne and Pier of Arnaulte of Bierne capitayne of Lourde The shelde bare the Vicount of Bruniquell bytwene sir Iohan of Newcastell and Iohn̄ of Chanteron The helme offred the lorde of Valētyne and of Bierne bytwene Arnalton of Rostem and Arnalton of saynt Colombe The horse was offred by the lorde of Corase bytwene Arnalton of Spayne and Raymonet of Campaygne This entierment was honorably done accordyng to the vsage of the countre
assēble all the counsayle of Fraunce and ordeyne who shall haue the gouernaūce of the realme the duke of Orlayunce or we That is well sayde quod the duke of Berrey it were good we studyed where were best to haue the kynge to lye that he myght the soner recouer his helth Than it was deuysed that he shulde be brought to the castell of Crayell where is good ayre and a fayre countrey on the ryuer of Oyse whan this was ordeyned than all the men of warre had leaue to departe and were cōmaunded by the marshalles euery man to retourne peasably in to his owne countrey without doynge of any vyolence or domage to the countreys as they shulde passe through and if any dyd their lordes and capytayns to make a mendes And the kynges two vncles and the chauncellour of Fraunce sente anone soundry messangers to the good Cyties and townes of Fraunce that they shuld take good hede to kepe well their townes consyderynge that the kynge was nat well dysposed in his helthe Their cōmaundementes were fulfylled The people of the realme of Fraunce were fore abasshed whan they knew howe the king was fallen sycke and in a fransey and menne spake largely agaynste them that counsayled the kynge to go in to Bretaygne And some other sayde howe the kynge was betrayed by them that bare the duke of Bretaygne and syr Peter Craon agaynst the kyng Men coulde nat be lette but that they wolde speke the mater was so hygh that wordes ranne therof dyuersely Thus fynally the kyng was brought to Crayell and there lefte in the kepynge of his physicyons and of the sayde four knyghtes Than euery man departed And it was commaunded to hyde and to kepe secrete the kynges malady fro the knowledge of the quene for a seasone for as than she was great with chylde and all of her courte were cōmaunded to kepe it secrete on payne of great punysshement Thus the kynge was at Crayell in the marches of Seulis and of Compyen on the ryuer of Oyse and kept by the sayd knyghtes and physycions who gaue hym medicyns but for all that he recouered but lytell helth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and Berrey vncles to the kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kynge before Cap. C.lxxxix IN this seasone there was in the realme of Fraunce a wyse and a sage physicyon the brewte was that there was none lyke hym and he was well be loued with the lorde Coucy he was natyue of his countrey As at that tyme his a bydyng was in the cyte of Laon he was called mayster Guylliam of Harsley Whan he knewe fyrste the kynges malady and by what accydent he fell sycke he sayd as he that thought hym selfe to knowe the kynges compleryon howe this maladye is fallen to the kynge through faute his complexyon holdeth to moche of the moyster of the see these wordes were reported to the lord Coucy who was as than at Paris with the duke of Orlyance and with the kinges vncles for as than the coūsayle of Fraūce the noble men and prelates were at Paris to determyne who shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme as longe as the kyng shulde be in that malady outher his brother the duke of Orlyance or his two vncles or one of thē vpon this cōmunycacion they were a .xv. dayes or they agreed Fynally it was concluded bycause the duke of Orlyaunce was very yonge to take on hym so great a charge that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme and specyally the duke of Burgoyne and that the duches of Burgoyne shulde be aboute the quene and to be as seconde person Thus as I haue sayde before the lorde of Coucy shewed to the kynges vncles the great wysdome and practyse of the sayd physycion mayster Guyllyam Harseley Whan the dukes herde that they sente for hym and so he came to Parys And than the lorde of Couey presented hym to the kynges vncles and sayd My lordes beholde here is mayster Guyllyam Harseley that I shewed you of He is ryght welcome quod the dukes they receyued him and made him good chere and ordeyned hym to go to Crayell to vysyte the kynge and to abyde aboute hym tyll he hadde recouered his helthe Than the sayd mayster at their cōmaundement went to Crayell to the kynge and had the chiefe ouer syght of mynystryng any thynge to the kyng and he sawe well the kynges malady was curable and sawe howe he had taken it by reasone of feblenesse of his herte and heed and through faute therfore he dyd his dylygence to recouer his helthe THe tydynges of the kynges malady spred farre abrode but who so euer was sorye ye maye well knowe the duke of Bretaygne nor syr Peter of Craon wepte neuer a deale nor had no great sorowe Also whan pope Boryface of Rome and his cardynals knowe the trouthe they were right ioyfull and drewe togyther in consistory and sayde howe their greatest enemy the Frenche kynge was beaten with a cruell rodde seyng god had taken fro hym his wytte and sayde howe that influence was sente to hym fro heuen to chastyce hym withall bycause he had so moche susteyned the pope at Auignon therfore this cruell plage was sent to hym to cause the hole realme to be better aduysed therfore they sayd their quarell was the stronger And truely to haue wysely consydred euery thynge it was a great token to haue caused the cardynalles at Auygnon to haue been aduysed but they made but lytell force therof nother to the honour of god nor to the realme for the pope at Auignon and his cardynalles sayde howe by reasone that the kynge was yonge and wolde haue his owne wyll therby he is fallen in to this malady through faute for suche as haue had the rule aboute hym haue nat doone their duetie but haue suffred hym to rynne on the bridell and to ryde nyght and daye excessyuely in traueylynge of his body out of measure therfore suche as hath had the rule ought to be charged therwith and none other for it is through their faulte for if they had ordred hym in his youthe and so contynued by a reasonable regement and haue folowed the counsayle of his vncles this sycknesse had nat fallen to hym nowe Also he hath broken his promesse against reason for he promysed the yere passed and sware by the wordes of a kynge that he wolde so ordayne to dystroy the antepape at Rome and his cardynals and to subdue the sysme of the churche and to sette the maters that be in trouble in good estate whiche is nothynge doone but hathe doone contrary to his promesse wherwith god is dyspleased and to cause hym better to aduyse him selfe he hathe punysshed hym with this cruell rodde And if he retourne to helte as he may well do than it shall behoue vs to sende to him sufficyent legates to shewe hym wysely the defaute and
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
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
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
Erle to abyde at Parys and to kepe there his house to pay for euery thyng that he or his men shulde take To this request the Frenche kynge and his vncles lightly agreed and shewed that they were right ioyfull of his cōmynge and said howe they were ryght sorie of the erles trouble These messangers returned to Calais and fouude the erle redy there The frēche kynge sent sir Charles of Hangers to open all the cyties and townes bytwene Calais and Paris to receyue therle and his cōpany Thus the erle of Derby departed fro Calays and toke the waye to Amyence and in euery place he was well receyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde Guillyam erle of Ostrenaunt sente to his cosyn therle of Derby certayne messangers and howe therle came to Paris howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi THe erle of Ostrenaūt beyng at Quesnoy assone as he knewe that his Cosyn the erle of Derby was passed the See and was come to Calais He ordayned sir Auncell of Trassagetes and sir Fierebras of Vertayne to ride to Calais and to desyre the erle of Derby to come in to Heynaulte to sporte hym and to abyde there a season promysynge hym to haue good chere These two knyghtes departed fro Quesnoy and rode to Cambrey and to Bapames for they herde newes that the erle was departed fro Calais and hadde taken the waye to Amayēce and so to go to Parys These two knyghtes mette hym by the waye They spake with hym and dyde their message so that the Erle thanked them and also his cosyn that had sent them to him and than he excused hym selfe and sayd howe he had made his prouisyon to go in to Fraunce as at that tyme to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns of Fraunce but he wolde nat renounce the curtesy that his cosyn of Heynalt had shewed hym Than these two knightes departed and retourned and shewed therle of Ostrenaunt what they had sene and done And therle of Derby and his company rode so long that he aproched nere to Parys Whā the kyng and the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles knewe that the erle of Derby came to Paris he prepared his chābers in his place of saynt Poule richely to receyue therle and caused all lordes to issue out of the cytie to receyue hym and the kyng taryed at the house of saynt Poule First mette hym the duke of Berrey and the duke of Orlyaūce and than the duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Burbon and other noble prelates lordes knightes At the metyng there was frendly chere and so in good order they entred in to Paris with great ioye The same daye one great mysfortune fell there was a squyer named Boniface mounted on a great coursar whiche horse rose vpright vpon his hynder fete and fell backewarde and the squyers hedde lyght vpon the stones that his hedde cloue a sonder and so dyed of whose dethe the duke of Orlyaunce was ryght sorie for he loued hym entierly and so dyde the lorde of Coucy in his dayes for he brought hym in to Frūce out of Lombardy THus they came to the house ofsaynt Poule where the kynge was who receyued the erle nobly and therle was sage and wyse and knewe moch of that parteyned to honour He made his reuerēce and acquaynted hym with the kynge after good maner so moche that he greatly pleased the kynge and for good loue he gaue the erle his deuyse to weare the whiche the erle receyued ioyfully The wordes that were bitwene them I can nat tell but all was well And after takyng of spyce and wyne the erle toke leaue of the kyng and than went to the quene in the same house and she made hym ioyouse chere Than after the erle departed and toke his horse to go to his lodgyng and so was conueyed thyder Thus passed the tyme and the lordes of Fraunce dyde often tymes kepe hym company and caused hym to passe the tyme with sportes and otherwyse to the entent he shulde thynke the season the shorter bycause he was out of his owne nacion ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of the erle of Derby and somwhat speke of the ordynaunce of the Churche of the two popes Benedic beyng at Auignon and Bonyface at Rome ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bitwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed And howe the bysshoppe of Cābrey was sent by the sayd kynge to Rome and to Auygnon to thē that wrote them selfe popes to th ētent that they shulde depose thēselfe fro their papalytes and submyt thē to the order of these two kynges Capi. CC .xxxii. YE haue herde here before howe that kyng of Almaȳne and the kyng of Fraunce the lordes of thempire and their coūsails had ben at the cytie of Reynes and there they had dyuers secrete counsayls and their entencion was to bring the churche in to a parfyte vnite for to folowe the way that the churche helde as than The errour was to great And also ye haue herde howe mayster Peter de Ailly bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent in legacion to Rome to speke with pope Boniface he spedde hym so in his iourney that he came to Foūdes and there foūde pope Boniface and to hym he delyuered his letters of credence dyrected fro the kynges of Almaygne and of Fraunce The pope receyued them and the bysshoppe right mekelye The pope knewe well parte of his message Than the bysshoppe declared the cause of his cōmynge Whan the pope hadde well herde hym he sayde Howe the answere laye nat all onely in hym but also in all the cardy nalles that had chosen hym pope but he said whan he hadde spoken with them by delyberate counsayle than he wolde make suche answere that he trusted to content them This aunswere was suffycient for that tyme. The bysshoppe dyned that daye in the popes palyce and certayne Cardynalles with hym Than after the pope departed fro Foundes and went to Rome and there the pope assembled a conuocacion of the cardynalles in his palyce besyde saynt Peters churche In this consistorie there were none but the pope and his cardynalles And there the pope shewed the request that the kynge of Almaygne and the Frenche kyng had made hym by the bysshoppe of Cambrey there he demaunded coūsaile what answere he shuld make there were than̄e many reasons alleged for it semed right contrary to the cardinalles to put downe that they hadde made they sayde it shulde be greatly to their shame and rebuke Than they said to the pope Holy father to cause these kynges to be in a good hope that ye wyll obey to the ye must sōwhat dissymule y◠mater and saye howe ye wyll gladly obey to all thynge that the kynge of Almaygne the kyng of Hungry and the kyng of Englande wyll counsayle you vnto So that he that is in Auignon who writeth hym selfe pope Benedic whom the Frenche kyng
hym selfe The nexte day be tymes the bell sowned to the consistory and than there was a conuocacyon of all the cardynalles that were at Iuygnon They all assembled at the palays and entred in to the consistory and thyder was called the bysshop of Cambraye who in laten shewed at length his message and the cause of his cōmyng thyder Whan he had sayd than he was aunswered howe the pope shulde take counsayle to answere and in the meane tyme he to departe out of the house so he dyd and in the meane season Benedic and his cardynalles counsayled togyder and were longe debatynge of the mater and many thought it herde and a contrary mater to put downe that they had created than the cardynall of Amyence spake and sayd Lordes whether we wyll or nat it must behoue vs to obey the Frenche kynge and the kinge of Almayne sythe they be conioyned togyder for without thē we can nat lyue howe be it we shulde do well ynough with the kyng of Almayne if the frenche kynge wolde take our parte but it is otherwyse for he cōmaundeth vs to obey or els he wyll stoppe fro vs the fruites of our benefyces without the whiche we can nat lyue Trewe it is holy father that we haue created you as pope on the condycion that to your power ye shuld ayde to refourme the churche and to bring it in to parfyte vnyon and this ye haue alwayes sayd and mayntayned therfore syr aunswere atemperately and in suche maner as we may prayse you for syr ye ought better to know your owne corage than we Than dyuers other of the cardynalles sayd syr the cardynall of Amyence sayeth well and wysely wherfore syr we pray you all in generall that ye wyll speke and shewe vs what ye wyll do Than Benedyc aunswered and said The vnyon of the churche I desyre and I haue taken great payne therin but syth god of his deuyue grace hathe prouyded for me the papalyte and that ye haue chosen me therto as longe as I lyue I wyll be pope and I wyll nat depose my selfe nouther for kyng duke erle nor other treatie nor by no processe nor meanes but that I wyll abyde pope Than the cardynals rose vp all togyder with great murmurynge some sayd he had spoken well and some sayd contrary Thus they dyffered and were in dyscorde The most parte departed out of the consystory and toke no leaue of the pope and retourned to their lodgynges Some suche as were in this popes fauour taryed styll with hym Whan the bysshoppe of Cambray sawe howe they departed in suche maner he knewe well they acorded nat well and therwith auaunced hym selfe and entred in to the consystory and so came to the Pope whyle he sate styll in his see and without doynge of any great reuerence sayde Syr gyue me myne aunswere sythe ye haue had your counsayle aboute you ye ought to gyue me myne aunswere that I may retourne This pope Benedic who was in great dyspleasure for the wordes that the cardynall of Amyence had spoken sayd Bysshoppe of Cambray I haue counsayle of dyuers of my bretherne the cardynals who hath created me in to the dignyte papall and haue receyued all the solemynytyes therto belongyng and am writen and named pope by all my subgiettes and as pope I wyll abyde as longe as I lyue I wyll nat do the contrary to dye in the payne for I haue doone no cause why to lese it and saye to our sonne of Fraunce that hyther vnto I haue taken him as a good catholyke prince but nowe bysynister meanes if he wyll entre in to great errour he wyll repente it I praye you to say to hym fro me that he be well aduysed howe he enclyneth to any thinge that shulde trouble his conscyence Therwith this Benedic rose out of his chayre and went in to his chambre and certayne cardynalles with hym and the bysshoppe of Cambray retourned to his lodgynge and dyned sobrely and than after toke his horse and passed the bridge of Rone and came to vile Nefe and at nyght lay at Baignoulx whiche partaygned to the Realme of Fraunce and he vnderstode that syr Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce was come to porte saynt Andrewe a nyne leages fro Auygnon The nexte day thyder came the bysshoppe of Cambray and shewed hym the aunswere of Benedic Whan the marshall vnderstode that this pope Benedic wolde nat obey the kynge his maysters ordynaunce he sayd to the bysshop syr ye are best to retourne in to Fraunce ye haue no more to do here and I shall execute that I am cōmaunded to do by the kynge and his vncles The next daye the bysshoppe departed and toke the way to Albenoys and to Pyne and the marshall set clerkes awarke to write and sente for knyghtes squyers and men of warre through all the countrey of Viurays of Vyuieres and Auuergne to Mount pellyer for he had cōmyssyon so to do by the king and also he sent to the seneschall of Beaucayre that he shulde close all the passages as well by the ryuer of Rone as by lande to the entent that nothynge shulde entre in to Auignon He wente hym selfe to the pownte saynt Esperyte and closed there the passage ouer the ryuer of Rone that nothynge shulde entre that way in to Auygnon Thus the marshall daily gathered men of warre and many came to serue hym some for obeysaunce and some to pyll and robbe theym of Auygnon There came to hym syr Raymonde of Thourayne and the lorde de la Both the lorde of Tornon the lorde of Monclaue and the lorde Duses so that the marshall had a great nombre of men Than the marshall sent an haraulde to defye pope Benedic in his palays and all the cardynals that wolde take his parte This was harde tydynges to the cardynals and to them in the cytie of Auygnon for they knewe well they coulde nat longe susteyne the warre agaynst the puyssaunce of the Frenche kynge than they determyned to go and speake with the pope and so they dyd and shewed hym howe they coulde nat nor wolde nat susteyne the warre agaynst the frenche kynge for they sayd they must lyue and haue their marchaundyse to go as well by lande as by ryuer This Benedyc aunswered folysshly and sayd syrs your cytie is stronge and well prouyded I wyll sende for men of warre to Gennes and in to other places and to my sonne the kynge of Aragon that he come and serue me whiche I am sure he wyll do for he is bounde therto for two causes he is of my lygnage and also he ought to be obeysant to the pope Sirs ye are abasshed of to lytell a cause go your wayes and kepe and defende your towne and I shall kepe my palays Other aunswere the cardynals and the men of the cytie coulde nat haue of this Benedyc So euery man retourned home This Benedic had of longe tyme purueyed his palays with wyne corne larde oyle and of all
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
and he went and came agayne and sayd Sir surely he is deed Than the Erle was sore displeased and made great complaynt for his sonne sayd A Gascone What a poore aducnture is this for the for me In an yuell hour thou wentest to Nauar to se thy mother I shall neuer haue the ioye that I had before Than therle caused his barbour to shaue hym and clothed him selfe in blacke and all his house and with moche sore wepyng the childe was borne to the Freres in Ortaise and there buryed Thus as I haue shewed you the erle of Foyz slewe Gascoyne his sonne but the kynge of Nauar gaue the occasyon of his dethe ¶ Howe sir Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bisquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii WHan I had herde this tale of the dethe of Gascone sonne to the erle of Foyz I hadde great pytie therof for the loue of therle his father whome I founde a lorde of hyghe recoÌ„mendacyon noble lyberall and curtesse And also for loue of the countrey that shulde be in great stryfe tor lacke of an heyre Than I thanked the squyer and so departed fro hym but after I sawe him dyuers tymes in the erles house and talked often tymes with hym And on a tyme I demauÌ„ded of hym of sir Peter of Byerne bastarde brother to therle of Foyz bycause he semed to me a knyght of great valure wheder he were riche and maryed or no. The squyer aunswered sayd Truely he is maryed but his wyfe and chyldren be nat in his company And why sir quod I I shall shewe you quod the squier ¶ This sir Peter of Bierne hathe an vsage that in the night tyme whyle he slepeth he wyll ryse arme hym self and drawe out his swerde and fyght all aboute the house and can nat tell with whome and than gothe to bedde agayne And whan he is wakynge his seruautes do shewe hym howe he dyde And he wolde saye he knewe nothymg therof and howe they lyed soÌ„tyme his seruautes wolde leaue non armure nor swerde in his chaÌ„bre whan he wold thus ryse fynde non armour he wolde make suche a noyse and rumoure as though all the deuylles of helle had ben in his chambre Than I demaunded yf he had great landes by his wyfe yes truely sir quod he But the lady by whom cometh the lande ioyeth of the profytes therof This sir Peter of Bierne hath but the fourthe parte Sir quod I where is his wyfe sir ê™ he she is in Castell with the kynge her cosyn her father was erle of Bisquay and was câ—syn germayne to kyng Dampeter who slewe him and also he wold haue had the lady to haue put her in prisone And he toke the possession of all the lande and as long as he lyued the lady had nothynge there And it was sayd to this lady who was countesse of Bisquay after the dyssease of her father Madame saue youre selfe for kyng Dampeter if he may gette you wyll cause you to dye or els put you in prisone He is so sore displeased with you bycause he sayth ye shulde report and beare wytnesse that he caused the quene his wyfe to dye in her bedde who was suster to the duke of Burbone and suster to the frenche quene your wordes he sayth are beleued rather thanÌ„e another bycause ye were preuy of her chambre And for this cause the lady Florens countesse of Bisquay departed out of her countre with a smalle company as the coÌ„mon vsage is to flye fro dethe as nere as men can So she went in to the countrey of Bascles and passed throughe it and so came hyder to Ortayse to the Erle and shewed hym all her aduenture The erle who had euer pyte of ladyes and damoselles reteyned her and so she abode with the lady of Carase a great lady in his countre As than this sir Peter of byerne his brother was but a yonge knyght and had nat thanne this vsage to ryse a nyghtes as he dothe nowe The erle loued hym well and maryed hym to this lady and recouered her land â–ª And so this sir Peter had by this lady a sonne and a doughter but they be with their mother in Castell who be as yet but yong therfore the lady wolde nat leaue them with their father Ah saynt Mary quod I howe dyde sir Peter of Bierne take this fantasy First that he dare nat slepe alone in his chambre and that whan he is a slepe ryseth thus and maketh all that be synesse they are thynges to be marueyled at By my faithe quod the squyer he hath ben often demaunded therof but he saythe he can nat tell wherof it cometh The first tyme that euer he dyde so was the night after that he had ben on a day a huntynge in the wodes of Bisquay and chased a marueylous great Beare and the beare had slayne four of his houndes and hurt dyuers so that none durst come nere him than this sir Peter toke a swerde of Burdeanx and came in great yre for bycause of his houndes and assayles the beare and fought longe with hym and was in great parell and tooke great payne or he coulde ouercome hym Finally he slewe the beare and than retourned to his lodgyng to the castell of LaÌ„guedon in Bisquay made the beare to be brought with him Euery man had marueyle of the greatnesse of the beest and of the hardnesse of the knight howe he durst assayle the beare And whanÌ„e the countesse of Bisquayes wyfe sawe the beare she fell in a sowne and had great dolour and so she was borne in to her chambre and so all that day the night after and the nexte day she was sore disconforted and wolde nat shewe what she ayled On the thirde dayeshe sayd to her husbande Sir I shall nat be hoole tyll I haue been a pylgrimage at saynt Iames. Sir I praye you gyue me leaue to go thyder and to haue with me my sonne and Adrian my doughter her husbande agreed therto She toke all her golde towels and treasure with her for she thought neuer to retourne agayne wher of her husbande toke no hede So the lady dyde her pylgrimage and made an errande to go and se the kynge of Castell her cosyn and the quene They made her good chere and ther she is yet and wyll nat retourne agayne nor sende her chyldren And so thus the next night that this sir Peter had thus chased the beare and slayne hym while he slept in his bedde this faÌ„tasy toke hym And it was said that the countesse his wyfe knewe well as sone as she sawe the beare that it was the same that her father dyde ones chase And in his chasyng he herde a voyce and sawe nothynge that sayd to him Thou chasest me and I wolde the no hurte therfore thou shalt dye any yuell dethe Of this the lady had remembraunce whan she sawe the beare by that she had herde her father saye
before and she remembred well howe kynge dan Peter strake of her fathers heed without any cause in lykewise she feared her husbande And yet she say the and maynteyneth that he shall dye of an yuell dethe and that he dothe nothyng as yet to that he shall do herafter NOwe sir I haue shewed you of sir Peter of Byerue as ye haue demanÌ„ded of me and this is a true tale for thus it is thus it be fell Howe thynke you quod he therby I who mused on the great marueyle sayd sir I beleue it well that it is as ye haue sayde sir we synde in olde writyng that auÌ„ciently suche as were called goddes and goddesses at their pleasure wolde chaunge and transforme men in to beestes and in to foules and in lykewyse women And it might be so that this â—ere was before some knight chasyng in the forest of Bisquay and paraduenture displeased in that tyme some god or goddes wherby he was transformed vnto a beare to do there his penaunce as aunciently Acteon was chauÌ„ged vnto an hart Acteon quod the squyer I pray you shewe me that storie I wolde fayne here it Sir quod I accordyng to the auncyent writynges we fynde howe Acteon was a iolye an expert knight and loued the sporte of huntynge aboue all games And on a day he chased in the wodes and an Harte arose before hym marueylous great and fayre he hunted hym all the daye and lost all his company seruauntes and houÌ„des and he was right desyrous to folowe his pray And folowed the fewe of the Harttyll he came in to a lytell medowe closed rounde about with wodes and highe trees And in the medowe there was a fayre fountayne in the whiche Dyana goddesse of Chastyte was bayninge her selfe and her damoselles about her The knight caÌ„e sodaynly on them or he was ware and he was so farre forwarde that he coulde nat go backe And the damoselles were abasshad to se a straÌ„ger and ran to their lady and shewed her who was a shamed bycause she was naked whan she sawe the Knyght she sayde Acteon they that sente the hyder loued the but lytell I wyll nat that whan thou arte gone hens in other places that thou shuldest reporte that thou haste sene me naked and my damoselles and for the outrage that thou hast done thou mayst haue penaunce Therfore I wyll that thou be tranformed in the lykenesse of the Iame Harte that thou haste chased all this daye and incoÌ„tynent Acteon was tourned vnto an Harte who naturally loueth the water In lykewise it might be of the beare of Bisquay and howe that the lady knewe paraduenture more than she wolde speke of at that tyme therfore she ought the better to be excused The squier answered sayd Sir it maye well be Than we lefte oure talkynge for that tyme. ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the great solemynetie that the erle of Foyz made at the feest of faint Nycholas and the tale that the Mastot of Banlyon shewed to sir IohnÌ„ Froyssart Cap. xxviii AMonge other solemynities that the erle of Foyz kepte on the hyghe feestes of the yere he kept euer the fest of saynt Nycholas in great solemynytie he and all his lande as great as at the fest of Ester And this was shewed me by a squier of his house the thirde day that I came hyder and I sawe it my selfe right well apparent for I was there on the same day First all the clergie of the towne of Ortayse and all the people men women chyldren with processyon came to the castell to fetche the erle who all a fote departed fro his castell and went with the clergy a processyon to the churche of saynt Nycholas and there the clergy sange a psalme of the psalter Benedictus dominus deus meus qui docet manus meas ad praelium et digitos meos ad bel lum c. And whan this psalme was songe than they began to syng as they dyde on Christmas day or Eester daye in the popes chapell or in the Frenche kynges for he had with hym many syngars the bysshoppe of Pauyers sange the masse and there I herde as good playeng at organs as euer I herde in any place to speke breuely and accordyng to reason the erle of Foiz than was right parfyte in all thynges and as sage and as parceyuing as any hyghe prince in his dayes There was none coude coÌ„pare with hym in wytte honour nor in larges At the feestê of Christmas whiche he kept euer right solemyne came to his house many knightes and squyers of Gascone and to euery man he made good there There I sawe the Burge of Spayne who layde the wodde and the Asse on the fyre toguyder of whom sir Espayne de Lion shewed of his force and I was gladde to se hym and therle of Foiz made hym good seÌ„blant There I sawe also knightes of Aragon of Englande of the duke of LaÌ„castres house who as than laye at Burdeux The erle made them good chere and gaue them great gyftes I acquaynted my selfe with those knyghtes by them I was enformed of many thyngê that fell in Castell in Nauar in Portyngale of the whiche I shall speke of whan tyme reâ—reth herafter And on a day I sawe asquyer of Gascone called the Bastot of Manlyon a man of a fyftie yere of age an expert man of armes and a hardy be semynge He a lighted at my lodgynge in Ortaise at the signe of the Moone at Erualton de Pyns He brought with hym his somers and caryages as thoughe he had ben a great barone was serued bothe he his seruauÌ„tes in syluer vessell and whan I herde his name and sawe therle of Foiz and euery maÌ„ do hym so moche honour than I demauÌ„ded of sir Espaygne de Lion and sayd Sir is nat this the squyer that departed fro the castell of Trygalet whan the duke of Aniou laye at siege before Maluoysin yes truely quod he it is the same and he is a good man of armes a good capitayne and so than I fell in aquayntaunce with hym for he was lodged there as I was a cosyn of his called Erualton capitayn of Carlate in Auuergne with whome I was well acquaynted helped me to be aquainted with him and in lykewise so dyd the Burge of Compare and at a tyme as we were talkyng deuysinge of armes sytting by the fyre abyding for mydnight that therle shulde go to supper than this squiers cosyn began to reken vp his life and of the dedes of armes that he had ben at sayeng howe he had endured as moche losse as profite Than he demaunded of me and sayd sir IohnÌ„ haue ye in your hystorie any thyng of this maters that I speke of and I answered said I coude nat tell tyll I here theÌ„ shewe forthe your mater and I wyll gladly here you For paradueÌ„ture I haue herde som what but nat all that is true quod the
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
domage Also in dede the frenchmen sette on to soone but they dyde it to th entent to haue won honoure and to maynteyne the wordes they had spoken before the kyng and also as I was enformed the spaynierdes wolde nat sette on so soone for they loued nat the frenchmen for they had said before Lette them alone they shall finde right well to whoÌ„e to speke these freÌ„chmen ar great vantours and highe mynded also our kyng hath no ê‘fite trust but in theÌ„ and sith the kyng wolde they shulde haue the honour of the iourney let vs suffre them to take it or els we shall haue all at our enteÌ„tes Thus by thse meanes the spanynierdes stode styll in a great batayle and wolde nat go forwarde whiche was right displesant to the kyng but he coude nat ameÌ„de it but the spaynierdes sayd bycause ther was none retourned fro the batayle sir surely these knightes of FrauÌ„ce haue disconfyted your enemyes thonour of this iourney is theirs God gyue grace quod the kyng that it be so Let vs ryde than somwhat forwarde that they rode a crosbowe shotte forwarde and than agayne rested It was a great beautie to se them they were so well mouÌ„ted armed and in the mean season the frenchmen fought and suche as had leysar to a light fought valiaÌ„tly dyuers knightes and squyers of eyther partie dyd many feates of armes one vpon another whan their speares fayled they toke axes and gaue many great strokes on the helmes sleyng and maymynge eche other Who soeuer were in suche case of armes as the frenchmen and portugaloys were at Iuberoth must abyde the aduenture as they dyde without they wolde flye awaye and in flyeng there is more paryll than to abyde the batayle for in flyeng lightly are moost slayne in batayle whan one seith he is ouermatched he yeldeth hym selfe prisoner It can nat be said but that the knightes of Fraunce of Bretayne of Burgoyne and of Byerne but that right valiantly fought but at their first encountre they were hardely handled and all that was by the counsayle of the Englysshmen to fortyfie their place So at this first batyle the portugaloys were stroÌ„ger than their enemyes so they were all taken or slayne but fewe that were saued so that there were at that firste brunt a thousande knightes and squyers taken prisoners wherof the portugaloys were ioyfull and thought as that day to haue no more batayle so made good chere to their prisoners and euery man sayd to their prisoners Sirs be nat abasshed for ye are won by clene feate of armes we shall kepe you good company as we wolde ye shuld do if ye hadde vs in lyke case ye shall come to Lixbone and refresshe you there and shal be at your ease and they thanked theym whan they sawe none other bote so there some were put to their fynaunce incoÌ„tynent and some wolde abyde their aduenture for they ymagined that the kynge of Spaygne with his great armye wolde shortely come and delyuer them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche knightes gascoyns suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloys were slayne of their maysters none escaped Cap. xxxv TIdynges came in to the felde to the kyng of Castyle and to his companye who were aprochynge to Iuberoth by theÌ„ that fledde who caÌ„e cryeng with great feare and sayd sir kyng auaunce your selfe for all they of the vowarde are outher taken or slayne there is no remedy of their delyueraunce without it be by your puyssaunce And whan the kyng of Castyle herde those tidyngê he was sore displeased for he had good cause for it touched hym nere Than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to ryde on and sayd auauÌ„ce for the baners in the name of god and saynt George lette vs ryde to the rescue sithe our men haue nede therof Than the spaynierdes began to ryde a better pase cloose toguyder in good order and by that tyme the sonne was nere downe thaÌ„ some sayd it were best to abyde tyll the mornyng bycause it was so nere night they said they coude make but an easy iourney The kynge wolde they shulde sette on incontynent and layde his reasons and said What shall we leaue our enemyes in rest nowe they be wery to gyue them leysar te refresshe them selfe whosoeuer do gyue that counsayle loueth nat myne honoure Than they rode forthe makyng great noyse brunt with so wnyng of trumpettes tabours to abasshe therwith their enemyes nowe shall I shewe you what the kyng of Portugale dyd and his company AS soone as they had discoÌ„fited the vowarde and taken their prisoners and that they sawe none other batayle comyng wtin their sight yet for all that they wolde put no trust in their first vyctorie Therfore they sent sixe notable persons to go and auiâ—we the couÌ„trey to se if they shulde haue any more to do They that rode forthe came and sawe the kynge of Castelles great batayle comyng to them warde fast approchynge to Iuberothe more than twentie thousande horsmen Than they retourned as fast as they might and sayde all an highe to the people Sirs aduyse you well for as yet we haue done nothyng beholde yonder cometh the kyng of Castyle with his great batayle with mo than twentie thousande men there is none taryed behynde WhaÌ„ they herde those tidynges they toke shorte counsayle whiche was of necessyte Than incontynent they ordayned a pyteous dede for euery man was coÌ„maunded on payne of dethe to slee their prisoners without mercy noble gentyll ryche nor other none except Than the lordes knightes and squyers that were prisoners were in a harde case for there was no prayer that auayled them fro the dethe and so they were slayne some in one place and some in another as they were spredde abrode vnarmed wenyng to haue ben saued but they were nat To say trouth it was great pytie for euery man slewe his prisoner and he that dyd nat other men slewe thâ— in their handes And the portugaloys and the Englysshmen who had gyuen that counsayle sayd it was better to slee than to be slayne For if we kylle them nat whyle we be a fightynge they wyll escape and slee vs for theâ— is no trust in a maÌ„nes enemy thus was slayne by great mischiefe the lorde of Longnache sir Peter of Byerne the lorde of Lespres the lorde of Byâ—rne the lorde of Boordes sir Bertrande of Bergues the lorde of Morayne sir RaymoÌ„de of Douzanche sir Iohan of Fologe sir Manant of Sarenen sir Peter of Salybers sir Stephyn Valentyne sir Raymon Courase sir Peter Hansame and to the nombre of thre hundred squyers of Byerne and of Fraunce sir Iohan of Rue sir Geffray Richon sir Geffray Partenay and diuers other Lo beholde the great yuell aduenture that felle that saturday for they slewe as many good prisoners as wolde well haue ben worthe one with another foure hundred thousande frankes ¶ Howe the kynge of Castell and all his great batayle
sone and after they put the agayne fro it as it is clerely conteyned in this hystory by the good wyt aduyce of kynge Charles sone to kynge IohnÌ„ he drewe to his loue by fayre meanes grete gyftes the grettest lordes of all Gascoyne as the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret The prynce lost them by pryde for I Iohan Froysarde who wrote this hystory the same season that I was at Buroeaus that the prynce wente in to Spayne the Englysshe meÌ„ were so prowde that they set nothyng by ony nacyon but by theyr owne for the gentylmen of Gascoyne of Acquitayne suche as lost theyr goodes in the warre yet they coulde gete no maner of offyce in theyr counâ—rees for the Englysshemen sayd they were not worthy nor able to haue ony wherwith they were sore grudged in theyr myndes and when they myght they shewed it for bycause of the hardnes that the Erle of Armynacke the lorde Dalbret founde in the prince they forsoke hym became Frensshe so dyde dyuers other knyghtes squyers of Gascoyne kynge Phylyp of FrauÌ„ce kynge IohnÌ„ his sone had lost theÌ„ by pryde hyghe mynde in lyke wyse so dyde the prince kynge Charles wynne them by fayrnes by larges and humylyte for so wolde Gascoynes be delte withall kynge Charles to the entente that the loue of these lordes sholde the longer contynewe he made a maryage bytwene the syster of the lady Isabell of Burbon the lorde Dalbret bytwene them were fayre chyldren for this cause the loue endured the longer on a tyme at Paris where as I was I herde the lorde Dalbret speke a worde whiche I well noted but I byleue he spake it but in sporte howbeit he spake it in grete sadnes to a knyght of Brytayne who had serued hym before for the knyght had demaunded hym of the busynes of his countrey howe he was contente to be frensshe he answered and sayd I thanke god I do metely well howbeit I had more money my meÌ„ also wheÌ„ we made war for the kynge of Englonde then we haue now for when we rode forthe at aduenture we fouÌ„de euer some ryche merchaunt other of Tholous Condon or Bergerath lyghtely there was no day but we gate cuer some good pray Then we were fresshe Ioly nowe we be as deed then the knyght began to laughe and sayd truely this is a lyfe of Gascoynes lyghtly they wolde euer haue other meÌ„nes domage Therfore I that harde these wordes say as I thought that the lorde Dalbret repented hym in that he was become frensshe as the lorde of Musydent Gascoyne who was taken at the batayle of Anneâ— sware in to the handes of the duke of Aniow that he wolde come to Parys and become frensshe euer after so he came to Paris kynge Charles made hym good chere but for all that euer the kynge dyd the lorde of Musydent departed agayne fro Parys without ony leue wente in to his couÌ„trey became agayne Englysshe brake all the promyses that he had made with the duke of Aniow In lykewyse so dyde the lorde of Rousen the lorde of Duras the lorde of Languerant Suche is the nacyon of Gascoyne they be not stable for they loue yet the Englysshe men better then the frensshemeÌ„ for theyr warre agaynst the Frensshe men were more profytabe for them then agaynst the Englysshe men this is the pryncypall incydent that moost inclyneth them therto ¶ Howe the kynge of Cypres was slayne and murdred in his bedde by his owne broder by exhortacyon and corrupcyon of the infydelles for the bountye hardnes that was in hym Capitulum .xl. IN this same season there came other tydynges iÌ„ to frauÌ„cefor thâ—der came kyng LyoÌ„ of Armony not with no grete company but as a man chased out of his royalme wherof he was kynge by the turkes al his royalme was wonne excepte one castel standynge on the see called Courthe whiche was kepte by the Genâ—uoys bycause that castell was the key yssue entre by the see to go to Alexandria in to the Sowdans londe for these Geneuoys gothe a marchaundyse by the meanes of truage that they pay in to Rude in to Prester IohnÌ„s londe and in euery place they are welcome bycause of the golde syluer that they brought thyder for other merchauÌ„dy se that they exchaunge in Alexandria in Cayr in Damas in other places amonge the Sara syns for in suche maner the worlde is gouerued for that is not in one countrey is in another therby euery thynge is knowen the Geneuoys be those that furthest doth aduenture theyr merchauÌ„dyse They be lordes of the portes of the se aboue the VenisiaÌ„s more feared doubted amonge the sarasyns theÌ„ ony other people on the see they be valyaunt men of grete entrepryse A Galy well furnysshed of the Geneuoys dare well assay .iiii. Galeys of the Sarasyns The turke Tartaryes sholde do moche domage to crystendome yf the Geneuoys were not bycause they be renomed to be chefe lordes of the see marchynge on infydelles therfore they haue euer .l. Galeys grete shyppes rynnynge on the see to defende the Iles as the I le of Cypres the I le of Rodes the Ile dostye all the boundes of the see Grece vnto Turkye they haue the towne castel of Pere stoÌ„dynge on the see before Constantyne le noble whiche is kepte at theyr cost charge .iii. or iiii tymes euery yere it is refresshed with that that is necessary the Tartaryes Turkes haue dyuers tymes assayed to gete it but they coulde neuer attayne therto for they haue euer lost there more then they haue wonne for the castell of Pere stondeth on a rocke there is but one entre whiche the Geneuoys gretely dyde fortefye Also the Geneuoys haue the towne castell of Iason whiche is ryght noble a grete profyte to them to other nere countres of crystendome for yf Pere Iason Stycye Rodes were not with the ayde of the Geneuoys the infydelles wolde soone come to Gaiet yea to Naples to the porte of Cornet to Rome but the sayd garysons whiche alwayes be well prouyded for with men of warre Geneuoys with the shyppes galeys are euer redy to defende them wherfore the Turkes dare not aduenture on that partyes but that they do is on the fronters of Constantyne le noble towarde Hungery yf the noble kynge of Cypres Peter of Liesieguen who was so noble valynnt a prynce had conquered the grete cyte of AlexaÌ„drie Satalye yf he had lyued longer he wolde haue gyuen the Sowdan Turkes so moche a do that syth Godfrey of Boloyns dayes they had neuer so moche that ryght wel knewe the Turkes Tartaryes infydelles suche as knewe his prowes hygh dedes therfore to haue hym dystroyed they made
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
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
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 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
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
them prouysyon out of the towne for theyr money thus do if ye can I thȳke they wyll be glad of the obeysaunce for they haue many moo townes to wynne in Galyce wherfore I thynke they wyll the lyghtlyer go hous ye say well syrsayd they we shal do thus syth you counsayle vs to do it so they were determyned on this purpose and so passed y◠nyght as well as they myght and in the mornyng at the sone rysynge they ordeyned certayne mē to go out of the towne instructed and charged what truce they sholde make with the marshal yf they coulde there were .vii. of them they came to the marshall who was redy to retourne to the saulte and kneled downe salutynge hym and sayd syr we be sente hyder to you fro them of the towne of Ponce voyde who haue commaunded vs to say in theyr names that gladly they wyll put themselfe vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches in maner fourme as they of Coulongne hath done and as for prouysyon ye shall haue ynoughe out of the towne payenge courteysly therfore and syr it is the entencyon of them that hathe sente vs hyder that ye sholde not enforce thē ony further nor you nor none other to entre in to the towne with ony army but yf you some of your company wyll entre symply ye shall be welcome The marshall had an englysshman by hym that vnderstode the speche of Galyce he shewed the marshall in Englysshe the wordes that they had spoken The marshall answered and sayd syrs shortely retourne agayne to your towne and cause to come to the barryers suche as sente you hyder to speke there with me I wyl gyue thē assuraūce this day and to morowe the sone rysyng without we be agreed so they departed and wente to theyr towne and founde at the barryers the moost parte of them of the towne there they made relacyon of theyr message sayenge howe incontynent the marshall wolde come to the barryers to speke with them and yf ye be not company ynowe sende for suche mo as ye wyl haue so then all the notablest men of the towne drewe togyder then the marshall with a .xl. speres came thyder and alyghted came to the barryers and sayd thus YE syrs of Ponce voyde ye sente to vs .vii. of your men and I byleue surely ye dyd put your trust in them and they sayd howe ye wolde gladly knowledge my lorde the duke and my lady for your soueraynes in maner and fourme as they of Coulongne hath done but ye wyl not haue none other gouernours but your selfe within the towne I pray you what soueraynte sholde they haue ouer you without they had men set in the towne vnder them elles when ye wyll ye wyll be vnder hym and when ye lyst forsake hym surely it is myne entencyon and al my company to ordeyne you a good capytayne true wyse to gouer you and to mynystre true Iustyce and to put out al offycers set there by the kynge of Castel and yf ye wyll not do thus answere me for we are determyned what we wyll do then they desyred a lytell to take counsayle togyder and so they dyd and then sayd syr we haue good trust in you but we doubte these pyllers robbers for we haue ben sore beten with suche people in tyme past when syr Bettram of Clesquy and the bretons came fyrst in to this countrey for they lifte vs nothynge therfore we fere nay syrs fere not that sayd the marshall there shall noo pyllers robbers entre in to your towne nor ye shall lese nothynge by vs for we desyre noo thynge but obeysaunce and so with those wordes they were accorded then the marshall and certayne of his men entred in to the towne and the oost abode without in tentes and pauylyous and there was sent out of the towne to the lordes .iiii. somers laded with good wyne and as moche brede polayne grete plenty the marshal abode all that day in the towne set offycers there for the duke of Lācastre and he made a capytayne there a Galysyan who had alwayes ben in Englande with the lady Custaunce with whom they of the towne were well contented the nexte day the marshall retourned to the oost THē he determined to go to another towne a .vi. myles thens in Galyce called Dyghos so rode forth thyderwarde when they were wtin .ii. myles they sent a messagere to the towne to know whether they wolde rebel or elles yelde thē as they of Ponce voyde haue done yf not they sholde be saulted the nexte daye they of Dyghos made no care for that message and sayd we care for none assaulte we haue bē assayled or this tyme lost nothynge whē that answere was sayd to the marshall he sayd by saynt George and they shall be fyersly assayled are these vyllaynes so proude to gyue suche an answere so they passed that nyght and toke theyr ease the nexte mornynge at the sone rysyng they dyslodged and soo came before the towne lyghted a foote and set them in ordre to go to the assaulte they within made them redy to defende them theyr towne this towne was not grete but it was stronge and I byleue yf they had had ony good mē of warre in theyr towne the englysshmen had not so soone haue had thē for as sone as they within the towne saw how they were assayled felte the arrowes of the archers of Englande sawe howe dyuers of thē were sore hurte for they were but euyl harney sed then they began to be abasshed and sayd why doo we suffre ourselfe thus to be slayne hurte for the kynge of Castell it were as good for vs to haue to our lorde the duke of Lancastre syth he hath maryed the doughter of kyng Don peter as the sone of kyng Henry we know well yf we be taken perforce we shall all dye we se no comforte fro no parte it is more then a moneth syth we sent to the kynge of Castel to Burgus in Spayne there it was shewed to his counsayle the peryl that we were in for we knewe wel the englysshmen wolde come on vs as they do the kyng then spake to the knyghtes of Fraūce who are of his specyall coūsayle but they gaue hym counsayle to sende noo garyson hyder nor to noo parte of Galyce by semynge the kynge had as leue all Galyce were lost as saued he answered to our messagers syrs retourne to your towne and do the best you can for yourselfe wherby we may well vnderstande that we nede not to suffre ourselfe to be slayne nor taken perforce and therwith the men of the towne came to the gate mounted vp to a wyndowe made sygne to speke to treate they were herde the marshall came thyder demaunded what they wolde they answered sayd syr marshall cause your men to sease
good chere bycause theyr mayster and he were companyons and felowes togyder and serued bothe one lorde and mayster and as for the lady she thought none euyll in hym for she knewe nothynge of his entente nor wherfore he was come thyther Howbeit swetely she receyued hym and ledde hym in to her chambre and shewed hym parte of her busynes Then this squyer Faques le Grys to accomplysshe his folysshe appetyte desyred the lady that he myghte se the dongeon for he sayd it was a grete parte of his comynge thyder to se it The lady lyghtly graunted hym his desyre and soo she and he wente thyder all alone and nother chamberer nor varlet entred with them for the lady had noo mystrust in hym of ony dyshonoure and as sone as they were entred in to the dongeon Iaques le Grys closed the doore after theym The lady knewe not therof for she wente on before and thought that the wynde had shotte the dore and so when they were togyder thus alone Iaques toke the lady in his armes and enbraced her and dyscouered to her his entent The lady was sore abasshed and wolde gladly haue gone to the dore but she coulde not for he was a bygge man and so layde her downe on the carpeâ— and so by force dyd his pleasure with her and when he had done what he lyst he opened the dore and so departed and the lady sore dyspleased and abasshed of that adueÌ„cure 〈…〉 alone in the donteonbut at the knyghtes departed she sayd wypynge Iaket Iaket ye haue not well done thus to shame me but the blame shall not rest on me but on you yf god suffre my husbande ones to retourne home agayne Soo Iaket toke his horse and departed and rode agayne to his mayster the erle oâ— Alanson and was there at his rysynge aboute .ix. of the clocke and at .iiii. of the clocke moâ—e mornynge he was sene there before I shall shewe you why I speke these wordes bycause of the grete plee that folowed after for the comyssaryes of the parly ament of Parys had the matter in eramynacyon Thus the lady of Carongne abode styl in her castel after this sorowfull deed was done to her and dyscouered the matter to no creature but kepte her sorowe as secrete as she myght for she sawe wel to speke as then therof the myght haue more blame then honoure but she remembred well the day houre and tyme that the dede was doone and soo after the tyme came that the lorde of Caroagne came home from his voyage the lady his wyfe made hym good chere the day passed and the nyght came and the knyght wente to bedde and the lady wolde not wherof the knyght had grete meruayle and often desyred her to come to bedde and euer she blessyd her and walked vp and downe the chambre studyenge and musynge fynally when all her seruauntes were gone to bedde then she came to her husbande and fell downe on her knees and lamentably shewed hym all her aduenture the knyght coulde not byleue her Howbeit the lady 〈◊〉 soo moche that he agreed well that it was so and sayd certaynly lady syth the matter is so as ye shewe me I pardon you but the knyght shall 〈◊〉 or his dede by the aduyse and counsayle of 〈◊〉 frendes and youres And yf your 〈◊〉 be founde vntrue ye shall neuer come in my company The lady euer more and more 〈…〉 that it was true so that night passed The nexte daye the knyght wrote many letters and sente them to all his wyffes frendes and also to his owne soo that in a shorte tyme they were all come and assembled togyder at the castell of Argentuell and when they were all in a chambre then he began to shewe them the cause why he hadde sent for them and there made his wyfe to shewe them all the matter fro poynte to poynte wherof they all hadde grete meruayle so there he demaunded of theÌ„ counsayle and he was counsayled that he sholde drawe to his lorde the erle of Alanson and shewe hym all the matter and soo he dyd and the erle who gretely loued this foresayd Iaques le Grys wolde not byleue hym and soo gaue daye to the partyes to be before hym at a day lymytted And also he commaunded that the lady that hadde appeched Iaques le Grys sholde be there presente for to shewe the more playnly the trouthe of the matter and soo she was with a grete nombre of her lygnage soo the pletynge was grete and longe in the erles presence And Iaques le Grys was accused of his dede by the knyght the lorde of Carongne by relacyon of his wyfe who shewed there the case as it was fallen Iaques le Grys exscused hymselfe sayenge howe he was not gylty therin and the lady layde it sore to his charge and he euer denyed it and hadde meruayle by his wordes why the lady dyd hate hym he proued by them of the erle of Alansons house that the same daye at foure of the clocke in the mornynge he was sene there in his maysters castell and his mayster sayd and affyrmed that at .ix. of the clocke he was with hym at his vp rysynge wherfore the erle sayd it was not possyble for hym to go and come and to do that dede in foure houres and an halfe to ryde .xxiii. myles wherfore the erle sayd to the lady howe she dyd but dreame it wherfore he wolde maynteyne his squyer and commaunded the lady to speke noo more of the matter But the knyght who was of grete courage and well trusted and by leued his wyfe wolde not agree to that oppenyon but soo wente to Parys and shewed the matter there at the parlyament and there appeled Iaques le Grys who appered and answered to his appele and there layde in pledges to accomplysshe the ordenaunce of the parlyament THe plee bytwene them endured more then a yere and an halfe and they coulde not be agreed for the foresayd knyght helde hymselfe sore of the informacyon of his wyfe and bycause the matter was so sore publysshed abrode he sayd he wolde maynteyne his quarell to the dethe wherwith the erle of Alanson was sore dyspleased with the poore knyght often tymes wolde haue had hym slayne but that the matter was in the parlyament so longe theyr plee endured that the parlyament determyned bycause the lady coulde make no proffe agaynst Iaques le Grys but by her owne wordes that there sholde be batayle at vtteraunce bytwene them and soo on a daye prefyxed the knyght and his wyfe and the squyer beynge present Iudgement was gyuen that the nexte mondaye after mortall batayle sholde be done bytwene the knyght and the squyer whiche was in the yere of oure lorde god M.CCC lxxx and .vii. At whiche tyme the frensshe kynge and his lordes were at Sluse to the entente to passe ouer the see in to Englande and when the kynge herde of that matter howe a daye of batayle was taken to be at
Parys the kynge sayd he wolde se that batayle bytwene the knyght and the squyer the duke of Berre the duke of Borgoyne the duke of Borbone and the constable of Fraunce who had also grete desyre to se that batayle sayd to the kynge syr it is good reason that ye be there and that it be done in your presence then the kynge sent to Parys comaundynge that the iourney batayle bytwene the squyer and the knyght sholde be relonged tyl his comynge to Parys and so his coÌ„maundement was obeyed SO the kynge then retourned fro Sluse and helde the feest of Crystmas at Arras and the duke of Borgoyne at Lysle And in the meane season all other men of warre passed and retourned in to Fraunce euery man to his place as it was ordeyned by the marshalles but the grete lordes retourned to Parys to se the sayd batayle Thus the kynge and his vncles and the constable came to Parys Then the lystes were made in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple there was soo moche people that it was meruayle to beholde and on the one syde of the lystes there was made grete scaffoldes that the lordes myght the better se the batayle of the .ii. champyons and so they bothe came to the felde armed at all peaces and there eche of them was set in theyr chayre the erle of saynt Poule gouerned IohnÌ„ of Carongne and the erle of Alansons company with Iaques le Grys and when the knyght entred in to the felde he came to his wyfe who was there syttynge in a chayre couered in blacke and he sayd to her thus Dame by your enformacyon and in your quarell I do put my lyfe in aduenture as to fyght with Iaques le Grys ye knowe if the cause be iust and true syr sayd the lady it is as I haue sayd wherfore ye maye fyght surely the cause is good and true with those wordes the knyghte kyssed the lady and toke her by the hande and then blessyd hym and soo entred in to the felde the lady sate styll in the blacke chayre in her prayers to god and to the vyrgyne Mary humbly prayenge them by theyr specyall grace to sende her husbande the vyctory accordynge to the ryght he was in this lady was in grete heuynes â—or she was not sure of her lyfe for yf her husbande sholde haue ben dyscomfyted she was Iudged without remedy to be brente and her husbande hanged I can not say whether she repented her or not that the matter was so forwarde that bothe she and her husbande were in grete peryll howbeit fynally she must as then abyde the aduenture Then these two champyons were set one agaynst another and so mounted on theyr horses and behaued them nobly for they knewe what perteyned to deades of armes there were many lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce that were come thyder to se that batayle the two champyons iusted at theyr fyrst metyng but none of them dyd hurte other And after the Iustes they lyghted on foote to perfourme theyr batayle and soo fought valyauntly And fyrst IohnÌ„ of Carongne was hurte in the thyghe wherby al his frendes were in grete fere but after that he fought so valyauntly that he bette downe his aduersary to the erthe and threst his swerde in his body and soo slewe hym in the felde and then he demaunded yf he had done his deuoyre or not and they answered that he hadde valyauntly acheued his batayle Then Iaques le Grys was delyuered to the hangman of Parys and he drewe hym to the gybet of Mountfawcon and there hanged hym vp Then IohnÌ„ of Carongne came before the kynge and kneled downe and the kynge made hym to stande vp before hym and the same daye the kynge caused to be delyuered to hym a thousande frankes and reteyned hym to be of his chambre with a pencyon of .ii. hundred pounde by the yere durynge the terme of his lyfe then he thanked the kynge and the lordes and went to his wyfe and kyssed her and then they wente togyder to the chyrche of our Lady in Parys and made theyr offerynge and then retourned to theyr lodgynges then this syr IohnÌ„ of Carongue taryed not longe in Fraunce but wente with syr IohnÌ„ Boucequant syr IohnÌ„ of Bordes syr Loys Grat all these wente to se and vysyte the holy sepulture and to se Lamorabaquyn of whome in those dayes there was moche spekynge and with them wente Robonet of Bolowne a squyer of honoure with the Frensshe kynge who in his dayes made many voyages aboute in the worlde ¶ How the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus was sette in pryson in Barcelona Ca. lxi THe same season aboute Candelmas kynge Peter of Aragon fell syke in his bed and when he sawe that he sholde dye he caused his two sones to come before hyÌ„ IohnÌ„ the elder and Martyne duke of Blasmont in Aragon and sayd to them fayre sones I leue you in good poynte and all the busynes of the royalme standeth well and clere kepe peas and loue bytwene you and kepe fayth and honoure eche to other ye shall doo the better as for the feates of the chyrche accordynge to my conscyence and for the moost sure way I haue alwayes holden the new tralyte bytwene the .ii. popes and so I wolde ye sholde do tyl the determynacyon bytwene them apere more clerely The two sones answered sayd syr gladly we shall obey that ye commaunde ordeyne as it is reason thus in this case dyed kynge Peter of Aragon who had ben a ryght valyaunt prynce in his dayes and gretely had augmented the crowne and royalme of Aragon and had conquered the royalme of Mayiorke and had anexed it to his owne crowne and he was buryed in the good cyte of Barcelona there he lyeth and when his dethe was knowen in Auygnyon with pope Clement his Cardynalles they wrote incotynent to the frensshe kynge and to his vncles to the duke of Barre and to the duches who was of theyr oppynyon and they were fader and moder to the yonge quene that sholde be in Aragon the lady yolent and also they wrote to her that all these sholde styre and moue the yonge kynge of Aragon to be of theyr opynyon the frensshe kynge the duke of Berre and the duke of Borgoyne sente in to Aragon in legacyon a cardynall to preche and to styre the yonge kynge his broder and the people of that royalme of Aragon to take the oppynyon of Clement the Cardynall dydde soo moche with the ayde of the lady yolent of Barre as then quene of Aragon who gladly enclyned to that way bycause she was so instantly requyred therto by her fader and moder and by the frensshe kynge and dukes of Berre and Burgoyne her cosyns soo that she brought the kynge and the royalme to be of the oppynyon of pope Clement Howbeit the kynge wolde haue ben styl a newter as his fader was IN the same
that the tretye of the maryage of his doughter with Iohn of Bretayne was passed for the duke of Lancastre had his doughter with hym in to Castell then he thought to ratrete the kyng of englande to gyue hym in rewarde for suche seruyce as he had done and entended to do Iohn̄ of Brtayne for yf he coulde gete hym of the kyng he was agreed with the constable of Fraunce to haue for his raunsome at two paymentes .vi. score M. frākes the fyrst .lx. M. to be payde as sone as Iohn̄ of Bretayne were sent delyuered in to the towne of Boloyne and the other .lx. M. to be payde at Parys whersoeuer he wolde haue it delyuered the duke of Irelande coueted these floreyns and dyd so moche with the kynge of englande that the kynge gaue hym Iohn̄ of Bretayne clerely wherof many in Englande had grete meruayle but they that lyst to speke wolde speke there was none other thynge the duke of Irelande caused hym to be delyuered in to Boloyne and there the constable had made redy euery thynge for hym dnd so he rode to Parys and there founde the kynge and other lordes of his lygnage who made hym good chere and the constable also who brought hym in to Bretayne and there Iohan of Bretayne wedded his doughter as he had promysed and when the duke of Bretayne knewe that Iohn̄ of Bretayne was retourned in to Fraunce and clene delyuered out of Englande by the ayde and purchase to the constable of Fraunce then he had the cōstable in double hatred sayd what weneth syr Olyuer of Clesson to put me out of myne herytage he sheweth wel the tokens therof he hath delyuered out pryson Iohn̄ of Bretayne and hath gyuen hym his doughter in marriage whiche thynges are to me ryght dyspleasaunt surely that shall I well shewe ones on a daye howe he hath not wel done peraduenture whē he taketh leest hede therof he sayd truely for he shewed it quyckely or the yere passed as ye shall here after in the story But fyrst we wyll speke of the busynes of Castell and Portyngale and of an armye on the see that the englysshmen made to come to Sluse HEre before ye haue herde how the frensshe kynges armye by the see to haue gone in to englande was broken vp in the same season not by the frensshe kynges good wyll for alway he shewed good courage to haue passed in to Englande and when he sawe howe the iourney brake he was more dyspleased then ony other and all the fawte was layde vpon the duke of Berre howbeit it was to be thought that he saw more depelyer in the matter then ony other in his counsayllynge to leue the iourney was for the honoure and profyte of the royalme of fraunce ▪ for who soo euer enterprysed to doo a thynge ought to regarde what ende may come therof and the duke of Berre had ben before so longe in englande in hostage for the kyng his fader had ben so cōuersaunt among the englyssh men had sene so moche of the countrey that he knewe by reason what effecte the goynge in to englande sholde haue come to the cause moost exscusable not to go was bycause wynter was so farre ronne But then it was sayd that the constable of fraunce the nexte somer sholde goo in to englande with a .vi. M. men of armes and as many crosse bowes for it was thought by hymselfe sayd howe that nombre was sufficy to fyght with the englysshe men by reason the constable ought to haue knowen it for he had ben nourysshed there in his yonge dayes whē these lordes were retourned in to Fraunce thē it was determyned to sende socours in to Castell to ayde the kynge there agaynst the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre for it was thought that shortely there sholde be some dedes of armes for the englysshmen kepte the felde And it was consydered that they coulde sende noo men of warre thyder without grete cost and charge for the iourney was ferre of there was but lytell money in the kynges treasoury nor in treasourers handes for the some of money that had ben gadered of the people before in the royalme was spente wasted wherfore they studyed howe to gete more and soo a newe tayle and taxe was deuysed to ryn thrughout all the royalme of Fraunce to be payde incontynent without delay noysynge howe it was for the comfortynge of the kynge of Spayne and to dryue the englysshmen out of his royalme This tayle was publysshed in euery place and the kynges commyssyoners sente in to euery good towne and Cyte who sayd to the gouernours of the townes Syrs thus moche your towne is taxed at the whiche ye must pay incontynent then the rulers sayd syrs we shall gather this some and then sende it to Parys nay syrs not so sayd the commyssaryes we wyl not abyde so longe we wyll do otherwyse then so and commaunded in the kynges name a .x. or xii of the best of the towne to goo to pryson without they payde the some without ony longer delay the honest men fered the pryson and the kynges dyspleasure wherfore they drewe them togyder and payde the money incontynente and recouered it agayne of the poore mē thus they dyd in euery good towne so that there were so many tayles and taxes one after and ther for the fyrst was scante payde when another began thus in that season the noble royal me of fraunce was gouerned and the poore people ouer ledde So that many auoyded out of theyr townes and forsoke theyr herytages and houses for they were fayne to sell all that they had and some wente to dwell in Haynalte and in to the bysshopryche of Lyege where as there ranne no taxe nor tayllage ¶ Howe the duke of Borbon was chosen to goo in to Castell and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyral of flaunders was taken prysoner by the Englysshe men Ca. lxxii THen yt was deuysed what capytaynes sholde go in to Spayne Fyrst they apoynted the gentyll duke of borbone that he sholde be souerayne capytayne aboue all other or he departed there was apoynted .ii. other capytaynes to be in the vowarde and the duke of Borbon in the rerewarde with .ii. M. speres knyghtes squyers these .ii. capytaynes that sholde be in the vowarde were syr Wellyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer hf Passac these .ii. lordes when they knewe that they sholde be the capytaynes of certayne men of armes to go in to Castel they prepayred thē selfe for that iourney then knyghtes and squyers were sente for all aboute the royalme of fraunce to go to Castell and the passages were opened as well in Nauare as in Aragon thenne knyghtes and squyers departed fro Bretayne Poycton Aniowe Mayne Torayne Bloys Orleaunce Beause pycardy borgoyne berre Awuergne fro all the boundes of the royal me of fraunce euery man toke theyr way to go in to Castell
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
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
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
was so lyberall and outragious He ran so in dette that he coulde nat ayde hym selfe with any thynge that he had so that his parentes and frendes greatly blamed hym and speciallye an vncle of his by his mothers syde He came of the house of Orcle and was archebysshop of Coleygne who sayd to hym in maner of gyueng hym counsayle My fayre nephewe Raynolde ye haue so demeaned youre selfe that nowe ye are become a poore manne and your laÌ„des lyeth in pledge in dyuers places And throughe all the worlde there is but lytell accompte made of poore lordes Thynke you that suche as haue hadde these great giftes of you and profite wyll rendre it againe as god ayde me no But whan they se you in this poore case and haue no more to gyue them they wyll flye fro youre company and mocke you and youre foule larges ye shall fynde them no frendes Thynke nat though I be bysshoppe of Coleyne that I ought to breke or mynisshe myne estate to helpe you nor to gyue you of the patrimony of my churche Surely I wyll nat do it nor my conscyence shall neuer agre therto nor also the pope nor the cardynals wyll nat suffre it Th erle of Heynalt hath nat behaued hym self as ye haue done who hath gyuen Margarett his eldest doughter in maryage to the kynge of Almayne Loys of Bauyers and yet he hath thre other he wyll marry them all highly yf ye hadde well borne your selfe and nat haue layde your heritage to pledge nor put out of your haÌ„des none of your castels nor townes ye might ryÈtwell haue fortuned to haue had one of his doughters in maryage but in the case ye be in now ye shall neuer come therto ye haue as nowe nother townes nor castels that ye maye endowe any woman with all nat so moche as a poore lordshyppe This erle of Guerles was sore abasshed with the wordes of the bysshop his vncle for he knew well he shewed hym but trouthe And than for loue and kyndred he desyredde his counsayle Counsayle fayre nephue quod the bysshop it is to late ye wyll close faste the stable whan the Horse is loste Howe be it I se in all your busynesse but one remedy What remedy quod the erle I shall shewe you ê™ the bysshoppe BErthaulte of Malygnes who is as nowe renomed the rychest man of syluer and golde that is knowen in any place by reason of the course of marchaundise that he vseth bothe by lande and by see He occupyeth to DaÌ„mas to Cayre and to AlexaÌ„dre His galyes and marchauÌ„dyse are worthe an hundred thousande floreyns hath to pledge parte of your herytage this Berthault hath a fayre doughter to mary and he hath no mo chyldren Great and high barons of Almaygne in those marches haue desyred her in maryage for them selues and for their sonnes This I knowe well and yet they coude neuer come to their enteÌ„tes for some he refused and some he thought nat worthy wherfore I wolde counsayle you that ye shulde treate with this Berthault desyring to haue his doughter in maryage so that he wyll redeme all your landes and paye all your dettes and bring agayne in to your haÌ„des your townes castelles and lordshippes perteyning vnto your herytaunce And I suppose bycause ye be of an high lynage and of great signorie haue many townes cyties and castels bytwene the ryuers of Meuse and Ryne that he wyll enclyne to your request Sir ê™ therle of Guerles ye counsayle me truely and I shall so do Than after therle of Guerles assembled togider his couÌ„sayle and frendes suche as loued hym best and discouered his entent to them and desyred them to go in his name to the sayd Berthault of Malignes and to treate honorably with hym for that mater Whan these knightes and clerkes came to Berthalt sent fro the erle of Guerles he made them good chere and made them a curtesse answere and said he wolde take aduysement And he was riche beyond measure as worthe a .v. or sixe huÌ„dred M. florens And desyred the aduauÌ„cement of his doughter Thynkynge that he wyst nat where to mary her more highly thaÌ„ to therle of Guerles thought to accepte this maryage but or he fullye assented therto in hymselfe he had dyuers ymaginacions and cast many doutes and sayd to hymselfe yf I mary my doughter to this Erle and he haue chyldren by her and than she happen to dye as all thynges fall dayly than he that shal be made riche with my goodes and put againe in to possessyon of his townes and castelles Happe to mary agayne secondly in to some high blode and haue children agayne by her Those chyldren than coÌ„mynge out of noble lynage by their mothers syde shall be more made of than the chyldren issued of my doughter yea And moreouer lyke to be dysenheryted Wherfore without this be artycled I wyll neuer consent therto How be it I wyll answere these messanges that their coÌ„myng pleaseth me greatlye and that my doughter shulde be happy if she myght coÌ„e to so great a perfection as to be conioyned in maryage to the erle of Guerles thoughe it shulde cost me right derely so that the maters were clere But as nowe euery man knoweth well they be nat clere but in sore trouble And also he hath forfayted all his herytage bytwene the ryuers of Muese and Ryne Wherfore to be quyte of this euery man maye se clerely he demaundeth my doughter in maryage and if I gyue her to hym I wyll knowe howe it shall be And also if case that my doughter haue sonne or doughâ— by hym I wyll know if they shal be heyres of Guerles or no for any other maryage that the erle may happe to haue after And of this alyauÌ„ce I wyll haue good suretie of hym and of them that be next of his blode and of suche as haue any ryght to demaunde any successyon in the countrie of Guerles and also promyse of the noble men and good townes of the countre Thus Berthaulte of Malygnes determyned hym selfe to make answere to therle of Guerlrs coÌ„myssyoners THe next daye at an hour assigned the erles messanges came to Berthaldes lodgynge and there he shewed well that he was a ryche man Berthault mette them in his hall and swetely recyued theÌ„ and spake to them merilye and than ledde them in to a fayre chambre apparelled and dressed and it had benfor a kyng and had there about hym some of his frendes And whan they were all there assembled and the doore closed Than Berthaulte desyred them to shewe the cause of their coÌ„mynge whervpon he wolde make them a fynall answere and so they dyd And the deane of Coleygne a ryght sage Clerke and cosyn to the erle of Guerles spake and there shewed theffecte of their ambassade in suche wyse that it was ioye to here hym Of his wordes nor of his requestes I nede nat to speke any more for they haue ben shewed here before touched
the duke of Iulyers sware that he shulde neuer beare armure agaynst the Crowne of Fraunce And so as longe as the kyng lyued he kept his othe For surely as long as kyng Charles lyued he dyde hym no maner of domage nor consented to none to be done to the crowne of Fraunce But whan kyng Charles was deed that Charles his sonne was kynge By reason of the warres of Flaunders as it hath been shewed before in this hystorie And after he tooke his Creacyon at Parys He hadde so moche to do that he coude nat take hede in euery place The duof Iulyers than came nat in to Fraunce nor made no relyefe for the landes of Viersone Wherfore the duke of Berrey who toke hym selfe as soueraygne sayde Howe the relefes parteyned to hym And so ceased the landes and toke the profytes therof and by puyssauÌ„ce putte out fro his ryght the Erle of Bloyes Howe be it the same tyme I sawe them bothe oftentymes togyder and neuer debate made bytwene them for any of the sayd landes nor any yuell wyll shewed There was good cause for theym to be frendes toguyder for Loyes sonne to the erle of Bloyes had in maryage the lady Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey The duke of Iuliers wolde gladlye haue entred in to his herytage but he regarded his sonne who shulde be his heyre Therfore he made but lytell counte of the alyaunce that his sonne the duke of Guerles hadde made in Englande And by this reason he spake the wordes that ye haue herde here before to the duke of Guerles whan he was retourned out of Englande Howe be it the duke of Guerles who was yonge and coragyous toke lytell regarde to his fathers wordes and sayde Sir that I haue done I wyll vpholde for I had rather haue warrÌ„ with the Frenche kynge than peace and rather with hym than with a poore man ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the FreÌ„che kyng complaynyng of the duke of Guerles And howe the kynge his counsayle were sore busyed with insydentes that fell in the realme of FrauÌ„ce as well for the defyances of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretaygne Capi. C.xv. THe duchesse of Brabant beynge at Bruselles was well enformed of all these troubles And howe the duke of Guerles thretned theym of Brabante to make theym warre The duchesse feared the same and sayde Ah god assoyle the soule of my lorde and husbande for if he hadde lyued the Duke of Guerles durst nat haue spoken of any suche matters But nowe bycause I am a woman and aged he wyll make warre agaynst me Than the lady called toguyder her counsaile to knowe what she were best to do for she knewe well the duke was hote hasty and coragyous THe same seasone whyle this ladye was takynge of counsayle with her frendes the Frenche kynge was defyed by the duke of Guerles wherof ranne a great brute throughe all the Realme and in other realmes therto adioynyng They had marueyle of these newes Bycause the duke of Guerles was but a small prince to the regarde of other and but of smalle landes Men spake therof in dyuers maners euery man after his own opynion ThanÌ„e the duchesse counsayle sayde Madame ye haue nede of counsayle And we shall counsayle you to sende to the Frenche kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne be tymes For ye haue herde howe the duke of Guerles hathe defyed the Frenche kynge and all his alyes If he be in purpose to make warre to the realme of Fraunce as the brute ronneth that he wyll bycause the Englysshemen and the almaygnes are of his alyaunce He can haue no better entre in to the realme of FrauÌ„ce than throughe youre countrey Wherfore it is good that the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne be aduertysed therof And that youre castels on the fronters be well fortifyed and garnysshed For there is nat so small an ennemye but he is to be doubted We saye nat that ye shulde haue great nede to seke for any ayde or confore all onely for them of Guerles but it is good to regarde the alyaunces that he maye lightlye gette as well of Englysshe men as of almaygnes who alwayes are couetous and desyreth to make warre to the realme of Fraunce on trust of wynnyng Than the duchesse sayd to her couÌ„sayle sirs ye saye trouthe it shal be as ye haue deuised Than suche as shulde go on that message were apoynted out As the lorde of Bourguenall cheife Stewarde of her house sir Iohan Opeyn a gracyous knyght a clerke and a squyer of honoure The clerke called sir Iohan Grane and the squyer Nycholas de la Monoy All four were of the preuy couÌ„sayle with the duchesse of Brabant They departed fro Bruselles with letters of credeÌ„ce and rode to Parys At that tyme nother the kynge nor the duke of Burgoyne was natte there they were at Rohane in Normandye Than they went fro Parys to Roane where the kynge was WHan these ambassadoures came to Rohane firste they treated with the duke of Burgoyne and he made theÌ„ good chere for he knewe them well they delyuered letters to hym and he receyued and reed them Than whaÌ„ tyme was he brought them to the kynge who for loue of their lady receyued theÌ„ louyngly Than the kyng reed their letters and herde them speke and aunswered and sayde Sirs your wordes and requestes demaundeth counsayle Resorte alwayes to our vncle of Burgoyne he shall here you and dispatche youre busynesse as shortely as maye be Those wordes contented greatly these ambassadours and so went to their lodgynges The kynge and his vncles with other of his counsayle were dayly toguyder in counsaile for dyuers causes and insydentes newe fallen The defyance of the duke of Guerles was nothyng pleasaunt to them nor also they knewe nat what the duke of Bretayne was purposed to do bycause he had taken the constable of Fraunce prisoner and set hym to rauÌ„some to a C.M. frankes and had taken fro him thre castelles a good towne and had greatly fortifyed with men vitayls and artyllary all his garysons and townes had sent dyuers tymes letters and messangers in to Englande to the kyng and to his vncles As for the duke of Lancastre was at that tyme in Galyce The couÌ„sayle of FrauÌ„ce had moche a do to prouyde for euery busynesse wherby it was the lengar or the duches of Brabantes ambassade had their answere Finally the duke of Burgoyn made theÌ„ an answere sayd sirs ye shall retourne to your lady our aunte salute her fro vs and delyuer her these the kynges letters ours shewe her that her businesse is ours and let her nat be abasshed for any thyng for she shal be coÌ„forted in suche wyse that she shall well ê‘ceyue that her countre of Brabant shall take no domage nor reproch This fayre answere contented greatly the ambassadours of Brabant Thus they departed returned to Parys and fro theÌ„s to
his leaue departed and rode to Chasteaulx and iourneyed so long that he came to the cite of Naūtes and there refresshed hym And than he demaūded where the duke was and it was shewed hym howe he was in the marches of Wēnes therefoūde the duke who receyued him ioyously for they were nere cosyns togider The erle of Stampes who right well coude acquyte hymselfe amonge great princes and ladyes for he had been brought vp amonge theym in his youthe acquytedde hym selfe right sagely with the duke And shewed nat the princypall affectyon of his corage at his fyrste commynge but dissymuled two or thre dayes and whan he sawe his tyme he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the duke the rather therby to drawe hym to his entent and than sayd Sir and my right dere cosyn ye ought nat to marueyle thoughe I am come so farre of to se you for greatlye I haue desyred it And than notably he shewed hym the charge that he hadde to saye to hym on the behalfe of the duke of Berrey of the whiche wordes the duke made light And for resolucion of answere at that tyme the duke sayde Cosyn we knowe well this that ye haue sayde is trewe I shall remembre me and ye shall abyde here with vs as long as it shall please you for your comyng dothe vs great pleasure Other aunswere the erle coulde nat haue as at that tyme. The erle taryed there a fyftene dayes and the duke shewed hym gret loue and shewed hym the fayre castell of Ermyn whiche was nere to Wannes the whiche the duke had newely made and there he toke parte of his pastaūce And alwayes whanne he sawe a conuenyente tyme he shewed swetely and sagely the cause of his comyng And euer the duke aunswered hym so couertly that the erle coulde haue no suretie in any aunswere to make any restytucion of a hundred thousand frankes nor of the castels that he helde of the constables the whiche yet at the ende he dyd and that was without request of any persone whan it was leste loked for as I shall shewe you hereafter as I was enfourmed Whan the erle Stampes sawe that he laye there in vayne than he thought to take his leaue and to retourne in to Fraunce and so he dyd The duke gaue hym leaue and at his departynge gaue hym a fayre whyte palfrey aparelled and it had ben for a kynge and gaue hym a fayre rynge with a stone well worthe a thousande frankes Thus the erle departed and retourned by Anger 's and there founde the quene of Napoles and Iohan of Bretayne who greatly desyred to here tydynges and sayd Fayre cosyn I thynke ye haue sped well for ye haue taryed longe out Than the erle shewed parte of his busynesse but fynally howe he had spedde nothynge Whan he had taryed there a day he departed and went to Towrs and at last came in to Berrey and founde the duke at Mehyn a castell of his whiche he had newly made and had workemen dayly theron Whan the duke of Berrey sawe the erle of Stampes he made hym good chere and demaunded tydinges of Bretayne There he declared fro poynt to poynte all that he had sente and herde and sayde howe in no wyse he coulde breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose The duke of Berrey passed the mater lyghtly whan he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And so retourned in to Fraunce to the king and to the duke of Burgoyne his brother and shewed theym howe he had sente in to Bretaygne to the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes and declared in euery poynt howe he had spedde Thus the mater rested whan they sawe none other remedy ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lācastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenchmen recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the englisshmen that had ben there ī that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the frenche kynge sent for the duke of Irelande Ca. C.xxiiii IT hath been resyted here before in this hystory howe the englisshmen dyd in Galyce howe the duke and the duchesse and his doughter came to the Porte of Portyngale and there taryed a season with kynge Iohan of Portugale and with the yonge quene doughter to the duke of Lancastre as ye haue herde here before It anoyed greatly the duke and nat without a cause in that he had done nothynge for his profyte all that season in Castyle but that he hadde done was to his great domage his men deed of sykenes of the best of his company knyghtes and squyers And suche conquest as he hadde made with great payne and cost he sawe well it shulde besoone recouered agayne by the kynge of castell And in dede so it was for as sone as he was departed and entred in to Portugale and that the spanyardes and knyghtes of Fraunce suche as were taryed there with syr Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Castyle sawe that the duke of Lancastre was departed and that in maner all his englysshe men were departed fro hym Than they sette forwarde to reconquere agayne all that had ben loste of the realme of Castyle the whiche was sone done for they of the townes castels cyties in Galyce had rather to haue ben vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Castyle than vnder the duke of Lancaster without he had been able to haue kepte the felde to haue defended the countrey For they of Castyle Lombardy and of Italy of vsage euer they saye Lyue he that is strongest and he that wynneth All that euer the duke of Lancastre had wonne fro the feast of Easter to the begynnynge of Iuly all was wonne agayne and refresshed with newe frenchmen and men of Castyle and the englysshmen that were left there by the duke in garysons who thought to haue taryed there peasably all the wynter were sone put out outher by fayre meanes or perforce and some slayne suche as wolde nat yelde vp and some returned by sauecōducte to passe by Portugale so to Bayon or to Burdeaux And of all this the duke of Lancastre was well aduertysed he beynge in the cytie of Porte in Portugale but he coude nat remedy it whiche was ryghtsore dypleasaunte to his herte It is nat to be beleued the contrary for the more noble valyaunt and sage that a man is displeasures to hym be the more bytter and paynefull howe be it the duke wolde say often tymes and bare out a good face If we haue lost this yere by the grace of god a nother season shall be for vs. the fortunes of this worlde are meruaylous they can nat be always permanente Also the kynge of Portugale gaue hym alwayes good comforte and sayde Syr ye may abyde here and kepe your astate and wryte to youre bretherne and frendes in Englande that they maye sende you this nexte Marche a fyue or syre hundred speares and two thousande archers and I shall
gather to gyder my power and people who haue good myndes to make warre into Castyle so we shall make a good warre somtyme one countrey wynneth and a nother leseth The duke of Lancastre thanked the kynge of Portugale of his good comforte and offre Howe beit for all that the kyng was the dukes sonne in lawe and had maryed his doughter and that he sayde was of a good wyll yet for all that the duke discouered nat all his corage for he knewe well Englande was in trouble and great debate a monge the lordes and howe the lordes hadde maters yno we to attende vnto as well for the kepynge of the fronters agaynst Scotlande as for to treate with the duke of Bretaygne And the kyng knewe well that whan the duke came out of Englande there was a do to sette forwarde his armye wherfore he thought it shulde be harde to get any newe ayde thence seinge the realme at so many great charges all redy and also he thought well that suche englysshmen as were retourned wolde no more come thyder agayne but thought rather that they shulde dyscorage other to come the duke considered all these maters in his mynde and whan he had ben a season at the cytie of Porte with the kynge of Portugale than on a daye he sayd Syr it shulde be for my profyte to retourne to Bayon and to the marches of Burdeaulx for dyuerse reasons He sawe well his beynge in Portugale coulde do him lytell aduaūtage for there he was nat on his herytage that he desyred but he sayde his goynge in to the archebysshoppriche of Burdeaux and of Aulose and so to retourne by Bygore and so by the lande of the lombrisience of the countie of Foyze and countie of Armynake and so by Garonne Dordone and entrynge in to Pier gourte and Querchyn Rochelloys Xayntone Cristynge Poictou Auuergne and Lymosyn wherin were many garysons and castels holden of the englisshe parte who wolde all make warre for his sake Wherfore he sayd it were better for hym to be amonge theym to counsaile and encorage them than to be in any other place And also he sayde howe Portugale was farre of to here any newes out of Englande and also he knewe well that the englyssh men wolde be lothe to come thyder bycause of the long voyage by see and also he knewe well that shyppes of Spaygne of Galyce and of Castyle were goynge and comynge on the see in and out to Flaunders with their marchandyses whiche was also great daunger for encountrynge of them All these thynges consydred the duke of Lancastre prepared for his departynge and had shyppes apoynted hym by the kynge and a patrone called Alphons Bretat Whan these galyes were redy and the wynde good the duke and the duches and her doughter toke leaue of the kynge of Portugale and of the quene and so toke shyppynge and entred on the see abydynge goddes pleasure and wyndes They had wynde and wether at pleasure so that they aryued at Bayon of whose comynge they of the countrey were ioyfull desyringe sore to se them Whan the duke and the duches and their doughter were aryued at Bayon Tydynges therof spredde abrode and they of Burdeloys were ryght ioyfull therof Than sir Iohan of Harpdame senesshall of Burdeaux and the senesshall of the landes came thyder to se the duke and so dyd other gentlemen of the countrey as the lorde of Mucydente the lorde of Duras the lorde of Rosem the lorde of Landuras the lorde Lespare the lorde of Newechasteaur and other knyghtes and squyers of the countrey Thus they came dayly some at one tyme some at another all they offred hym their seruyce as they ought to do to their lord Thus the duke taryed at Bayon and often tymes sente in to Englande to the kynge his nephewe and to his other bretherne But for all his writynge he was nothynge comforted nother with men of armes nor archers for as the worlde wente than the dukes busynesse was lytell taken hede vnto nor lorde knyght nor squyer to make any hast to auaunce forwarde to the ayde of the duke of Lancastre for suche as had ben in Portugale made suche reporte through the realme of Englande that no man had corage to auaunce thyder but euery man said the voyage in to Castyle is to farre of fro vs. It is more profytable for vs to haue warre with Fraunce for that is a good swete countrey and temperate and good lodgynges and fayre swete ryuers And in Castyle there is no thynge but harde rockes and Mountaynes whiche are nat good to eate and an vntemperate ayre and troubled ryuers and dyuerse meates and stronge wynes hote and poore people rude and yuell arayed farre of fro our maner wherfore it were folly to go thyder for if we entre in to any great cytie or towne there wenynge to fynde maruayles we shall fynde nothynge but wyne larde and empty cofers This is contrarye to the realme of Fraunce for there whan it is fortune to wyn any towne or cytie we fynde suche rychesse that we be a basshed therof and it is good to make warre where we may haue profyte let vs aduenture there and leaue the vnhappy warre of Castyle and Portugale where is no thynge but pouuertye and domage Thus the englysshe men sayde in Englande suche as had been in Castyle so that the lordes perceyued well howe that voyage was out of the fauoure of the englysshe men Also the realme was in trouble and the iustyce of Triuylyen and outher but newly done and the duke of Irelande departed out of the Realme and kynge Rycharde came to the guydynge of newe counsayle the whiche he hadde nat well lerned So by reason of suche insydentes the matters abode in harde case for the duke of Lancastre beynge in the cytie of Bayon where he helde all that season ALl these busynesses as well in Castyle and Portugale as in Englande and of the departyng of the duke of Irelande was well knowen with the frenche kynge and his counsayle Than to haue more parfyte knowledge it was ordayned by the frenche kynge and by his vncles to sende to Trecte to the duke of Irelande where as he was and to gyue hym a sure saueconduct to come into Fraunce and to tarye there as longe as bothe partyes were pleased It was behouable to sende for hym by specyall messangers and sure wrytyng fro the kyng or els the duke of Irelande wolde nat haue come there for he knewe well that he was out of the loue and fauoure of the lorde Coucy who was a great baron in the realme of Fraunce and was of a great lynage He had no cause to loue hym as ye haue herde before for acordynge to the trouthe the duke had nat well acquyted hymselfe to his wyfe who was doughter to the lorde Coucy And certaynly it was the principall thing that toke awaye the good renome of his honour bothe in Fraunce and in other places And in lykewyse he
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
them that he trusted best howe he shulde perceuer and deale in all his busynesse and they counsayled hym well and truely as the mater requyred as I shall shewe you YE knowe well as ye haue herde before in this hystorie Howe kynge Henry of Spaygne made a peace with Peter kynge of Arragone on the full poyntment that the kyng of Arragon shulde gyue his doughter in maryage to the kynge of Castyle This was Iohan who is nowe kyng and by this coniunction of maryage they were iÌ„ peace and their realmes Of this Iohan sonne to Henry and of the doughter of Arragon there came a sonne Than dyed the lady and after the dethe of kynge Henry of Castyle this kyng Iohan by the couÌ„saile of his men maried agayne the lady Beatrice doughter to Fernando kynge of Portugale and they hadde a sonne called Henry he was but yonge Than the counsayle of Castyle sayd to the kyng Sir we se in all these doutes but one remedy What is that quod kyng Iohan Sir we shall shewe you quod they your yong sonne Henry may well breke this maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancasters doughter for it is to be beleued that the duke of LaÌ„castre and the duches his wyfe had rather marchant with you and with your sonne than with the duke of Berrey In the name of god ê™ the kynge ye saye well I shall herken to this mater I thynke our people wyll lightly enclyne thervnto by that mariage we shulde haue peace with Englande â— bothe by lande and by water Therfore sirs those out them that were mete to go in our name to treate on this mater with the duke of Lancastre Sir ê™ they it is requisyte that they be discrete persones and that the matter be wisely handeled and in the secretest maner that maye be to the entente that ye ronne nat in the indignacyon of the Frenche kynge For nowe a dayes enuy rayneth greatly and sooner reporte is made of yuell than of good and the yuell sooner reysed vp than the good For if they of FrauÌ„ce knowe that ye treate with the duke of LaÌ„castre the Frenche kynge and his counsayle wyll demauÌ„de whervpon ye treate with the duke by reasone of the great alyaunce made in tyme past bytwene your father FrauÌ„ce And also the Frenche men haue alwayes susteyned your warre Wherfore sir â— your treaties must be done secretely and sende to the duke sage men and secrete and well enstructed of your busynesse And sende nat forthewith boost and pride tyll euery thynge be in a sure case It is true quod the kynge name them that be mete to go on that voyage Sir quod they sende your confessour frere FernaÌ„do of Farre and the bysshoppe of Geghene who was somtyme confessour to the kynge your father and Peter Gardelopes who is well languaged I am content ê™ the kynge lette them be sente for and well enfourmed what they shall say they wolde or this tyme haue treated for a peace but we wolde natte here them For the duke of Lancastre wolde none other wyse but that I shulde haue forsaken the Crowne of Castyle the whiche I wyll neuer do Than these thre were sent for to Burgus in Spayne where the kyng was Than it was sayd to them by the kynge and his priuâ—e counsayle Sirs ye muste go to Bayon to the duke of Lancastre and shewed them all their instructions They sayde they were redy to accomplysshe the kynges commanÌ„dement And so sette forthe on their iourney â— nat in no gret estate but symply for they wolde nat be knowen that they wente to the duke of LaÌ„castre as ambassadours to treate for any alyaunce for they knewe nat howe to spede Thus they entred in to Nauerre and came to Pampylona and there founde the kynge and the quene First they came thyder bycause the quene was suster to the kynge of Castyle There they hadde good chere but they nouther shewed the kyng nor the quene where about they wente And so passed thorough the countrey by the mountayns of Roseaulx and entred in to Bisquay and so rode tyll they came to Bayon WHanÌ„e they were come to the towne of Bayon sir Helyon of Lignacke was styll there who was sente fro the duke of Berrey as ye haue herde here before But after the coÌ„mynge of the castilyans they taryed nat longe after for frere don Fernando the kynge of Castyls confessour came to the duke of Lancastre for he knewe hym better than any of the other He began somwhat to breke the mater to shewe the cause of their coÌ„mynge The duke opyned his eates to his wordes and was gladde to here those tidynges and sayde Frere Fernando ye be welcome And the same day sir Helyon of Lignacke was delyuered And as I vnderstode the duke accorded the same tyme to a truse on all partes for such as made warre for hym in Acquitayne Bygore Thoulous and other place to endure vnto to the firste day of Maye in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and nyne this truse to contynue all the countrey to the ryuer of Loyre and no further This truese was concluded at the request of the duke of Berrey to the entent that he myght sende in and out to the duke of Lancastre For before they of the fortresses of Mortaygne on the see of Bonteuyll of Rouuergue of Quercyn of Pyergourt and they on the ryuer of Garon were people without mercy they wolde knowe no manne wherfore these two dukes accorded to this truese the whiche was well kepte Whan sir Helyon of Lignacke departed fro the duke there was great loue shewed for the duke said howe the mater pleased him right well Howe be it the duke sayd playnlye he wolde neuer marry his doughter in to Fraunce without the consent and accorde of the kyng of Englande his nephue And also by the agrement of the counsayle of EnglaÌ„de but he sayd he trusted so to order the mater that all shulde do well Thus sir Helyon of Lignacke departed and returned in to FrauÌ„ce and shewed the duke of Berrey his letters that the duke of Lancastre had sent him and shewed hym by mouthe all the maner howe euery thyng wente and so the duke was well content ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the kynge of Castyls ambassadours to whome the duke of LaÌ„castre gaue good eare so dyd the duches for all their hertes and ymaginacions lay euer on their chalenge of Spayn THe duke made these ambassadours good chere they came before the duke and the duchesse and there shewed their message first they treted for peace and there the frere preached in the dukes chaÌ„bre the duchesse present And she shewed the duke the entent of all his wordes for the duke vnderstode hym nat parfitely The lady vnderstode hym well for in her youthe she was brought vp in Spaygne The duke for all that the mater of their coÌ„myng was pleasauÌ„t to him yet he discouered
these reasons the countrey was the more feble for where there is defaulte of good heedes there must nedes be defaulte in the body and in the fote And he that hath no foote can do nothynge that is worthe Thus these lordes were in feare two wayes They had the Englysshmen armed before them that came fro the see And on the other syde they herde newes fro Berrey and fro Limosyn that Perot le Bernoys rode abrode with fyue or sixe hundred fyghtynge men with hym and was entred in to Berrey So they wyst nat wher to they shulde take hede but euery manne to kepe his owne For the renome wente howe these two hoostes shulde mete toguyder outher in the countrey of Poictou or Xaynton This was the opinyon of dyuers TRue it was that in the towne of Rochell the same season that the Englysshe men were landed at Marant there was two valyāt knyghtes the one called sir Peter of Iouy and the other sir Taylle Pie whome sir Helyon of Lignacke had lefte at Rochell to kepe the towne and countre therabout Whan tidynges came to Rochell how the erle of Arundell and the armye that had ben so longe on the see were a lande and lodged besyde Marant Than these two knightes sayd to thē that were vnder their charge and to the mayre of Rochell and men of the towne sirs it must behoue vs to go and loke on these Englysshe menne It is shewed vs howe they be arryued in these parties I and my companion wyll go and gyue them there welcome for the whiche they shall paye vs or els we them For we shal be blamed if we suffre them to rest in peace sythe we haue the charge of the kepynge of this countre there is one poynte good for vs they haue no horses They are men of the see and we be well mounted We shall sende our crosbowes be fore they shall wake them and shote hurte them and whan they haue done they shall retourne Than the Englysshe men wyll issue out after them a fote and we shall suffre our crosbowes to passe homwarde and than we shall receyue our enemyes at the spere poynt We shall haue of them suche aduaūtage that we shall do them great domage Euery man that herde these knyghtes speke reputed thē for noble valyaunt men and agreed to their counsayle And there assembled toguyder what one and other a twelue hundred The nexte mornynge at the breakyng of the daye euery mā was redy assembled togider and the crosbowes and men a fote issued out and went a great pace to reyse the Englysshmen out of their lodgynges and in the meane season the horsmen made them redy vpon a .iii. hūdred for there were dyuers knyghtes and squyers cōe to Rochell Certainly if by any maner inspyracion thenglysshmen had knowen of their cōmynge that they might haue made an embusshe but of two hundred archers and a hūdred men of armes there had nat one Frenchman retourned agayne Whā they of Rochell came to the Englysshe mens lodgynges it was carely in the morenynge and their watche was retourned to their lodgynges Than the Frenche crosbowes began to shote and entred in among their lodgynges and hurte many The Englysshe men lyeng on the strawe had marueyle of the noyse many were hurte or they knewe that they were Frenche men And whan the crosbowes had shotte euery man a sixe shottes or there about they retourned as it was before apoynted Than aproched the horsmen and entred among the lodgynges therwith the hoost began to styrre and knyghtes and squyers drewe toguyder in to the felde And whan the Frenche men sawe the hoost styrre and drawe toguyder they drewe backe and retourned towarde Rochell a good pace for feare of the shotte of Englysshe men who folowed them nere to Rochell Than the Erle of Arundell with foure hundred men of armes folowed after a great pace euery man his speare in his hande or on his necke The preace of the Frenche fotemen was great at the entrynge in to Rochell and alwayes the two Frenche knyghtes were behynde sette their men forwarde tyll they were within the barriers and euer the Englysshe men folowed in suche wyse that the two Frēche knightes were in great daūger to be taken or slayn They were sore sette at bycause they semed to be the chiefe capitaynes as they were in dede so that sir Peter Iouy hadde his horse slayne vnder hym and with great payne his men saued hym and drewe hym within the barryers And sir Peter Taylle Pye was stryken through the thye with a glayue and with an arrowe throughe the bassenet in to the heed and his horse fell downe deed within the gate At the entrynge in to the towne there were many slayne and hurte mo than .xl. the men of the towne were aboue ouer the gate and caste downe stones and shotte out bombardes so that the Englysshe men durste aproche no nerer Thus wente the first scrimysshe bytwene them of Rochell and the Englysshe men and whan they hadde scrimysshed nere to noone The erle of Arundell sowned the retrayte Than they withdrewe in good order and retourned to their lodgynges vnarmed them and toke their ease they had well wherof they lacked nouther wyne nor flesshe The Englysshe men taryed there about a fyftene dayes abydinge all aduentures But after that they of Rochell issued no more oute to scrmysshe for they sawe well the Englisshe men were wise and valyaunt and also the two capitayns were hurt wherfore the other had good cause to sytte styll in rest The Erle of Arundell sent a thre or four tymes abrode in to the countrey of Rochelloys towarde Bresmure and in to the lande of Towars and dyde great dōmage wherof all the countrey was a frayde The Englysshmen had done a great enterprice if they had ben furnysshed with horsmen in the countre they gatte but sewe for as soone as they herde of their landynge euery man caryed all that they hadde in to the fortresses And whan this army had taryed there a fyftene dayes and were well refresshed sawe that no man came against them and parceyued the wynde good for thē they drewe them in to their shippes and caryed with them moche wyne fresshe flesshe and so entred in to their vesselles and drewe vp their sayles and toke the see and the same daye they mette with .xii. shippes of Bayon goynge in to Englande charged with wynes and other marchaūdises so they ioyned toguyder and made good chere They gaue to the erle of Arundell two peces of Gascoyn wyne Thus they sayled forthe at aduēture ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of Perot le Bernois and of the other capitayns that were in his cōpany howe they drewe agayne in to their fortresses ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his cōpanyons resorted agayne to theyr holdes with great pyllage howe the duke of Guerles coulde haue no ayde of the Englysshe men to reyse the siege before
was faire and resonable and so thought dyuers other Than the kyng toke vp the duke of Iulyers who was on his kne whyle he spake to the kyng and sayd to hym Sir we shall take counsayle and aduyse on your promyses and wordes Than the duke rose vp stode styll by the bysshoppes that brought hym thyder Than the kyng and his vncles and suche of his secrete counsayle drewe toguyder and debated this mater long with dyuers opinioÌ„s The duke of Burgoyne to whom principallye the mater touched bicause of the duchy of Brabant wherin he chaleÌ„ged to haue great right of enherytaunce after the dethe of the duches Iane bycause of the lady Margaret his wyfe and also to say the trouthe he was the chiefe causer of the kynges coÌ„myng thyder with all that puissauÌ„ce Wherfore he wolde that euery thyng might be for the best and to th entent that a good peace might be made bitwene all ê‘ties that there shulde be no more occasyon to coÌ„e thyder agayne another tyme bycause the voyage is long and costly for the realme Than he sayd to the kyng Sir and it lyke your grace you my brother of Berrey and to you all I saye that in all thynges yuell begone lyeth great aduyse We here howe our cosyn the duke of Iulyers greatly exscuseth hymselfe and he is so valyant a man and of our blode and we of his that we ought to beleue hym He offereth to the kyng a great thyng his body his countrey his townes and castelles to be at the kynges coÌ„maundemente in case that his sonne the duke of Guerles wyll rebell and come nat to make amendes of the defyaunce that he hath made To speke acordynge to reason it is a great thynge to haue with vs the duke of Iuliers the duke of Guerles shall be the more feble and the easyer to correcte and the more he shall dought vs and soner come to obeysaunce wherfore I counsayle that his offre be nat refused for he mekely humyleth hymselfe and other greate lordes of Almayne entreate for hym To these wordes there was no contrary opynyons but all consented by one acorde Than the bysshoppes of Coloygne and of Liege were called to their counsayle who had ben chyefe entreatours in this busynes and to them it was declared fro poynte to poynte and frome clause to clause what thynges the duke of Iulyers shulde swere and seale to do if he wolde haue his landes saued and to be in reste Fyrst that he shulde go to his sonne the duke of Guerles and shewe hym playnely his foly and the great outrage that he had done to sende to defye so puyssauÌ„t a prince as the frenche kynge and specially by suche fell defyaunce out of the style of ryght or reason and to cause him to come to reason and mercy And if he wolde nat thus do but abyde styll in his opynyon through feble wytte and counsayle than the duke of Iulyers to swere and seale to renounce hym fro all ayde or socoure that he myght do and to become his enemy as other be and to suffre suche as shall be apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to abyde there all this wynter to lye in garysons in the countrey of Iulyers to make frounter warre agaynst the duke of Guerles and there to be well entreated and receyued THese two prelates were called to the kinges counsayle to the entente that they shulde shewe to the duke of Iulyers these artycles and so they dyd And than the duke sawe well howe that it behoued hym to agree or els to haue his landes ouer tynne and wasted wherfore he acorded and sware and sealed to vpholde all the kynges desyre so that his lande shulde nat be ouerron nor exyled and he was contente that his lande shulde vytayle the armye Thus the duke of Iulyers became the frenche kynges man and made relyefe for his lande of Vierson beyng bytwene Bloys and Berrey and supped that nyght at the kynges table Fyrste sate the bysshoppe of Liege and the bysshoppe of Coloygne than the kynge the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Thowrayn the duke of Iuliers and the duke of Burbone THus the duke of Iulyers was in reste and pease by the foresayd meanes and the kynge and his armye were lodged in his countrey the whiche was pleasaunt and plentyfull of all vytayles Than the duke of Iulyers wente towardes the duke of Guerles his sonne But or he came there there was dyuers feates of armes done in the countrey for the almayns who be couetouse oftentymes by night or by daye wolde ieoparde them selfe and sette on the frenche mens lodgynges to kepe them wakynge and somtyme they wanne and some tyme they lost But for one almayne that was taken there were euer four frenchmen taken And on a daye the constable of Fraunce and the lorde Coucy the duke of Lorayne the marshall of Blainuill sir Iohan of Vien syr Iohan de la Tremoyle a four thousande men of armes came before a towne in Guerles called Renconge shewed them selfe before it in good ordre of batayle The same tyme the duke of Guerles was within the towne and praysed moche their demeanour but he made none issue out for he had nat men ynowe wherof he was ryght sore dyspleased Thus the frenche men were there in good ordre of batayle the space of four houres and whan they sawe that none wolde issue out they departed and returned to their lodgynges The same euenynge about the duke of Berreys lodgyng certayne knyghtes and squyers drewe togyther to the entent to ryde forthe in the mornynge in to the lande of their enemies to seke some aduenture and promysed eche other to stycke togyther lyke bretherne They were in nombre aboute a hundred speares But whan the mornynge came all their purpose was broken for there was a squyer of Auuergne called Godinos a valyaunt man of armes he pertayned to the lorde of Alegre whan he sawe that they had refused his company and wolde nat desyre hym to go with them he was sore dyspleased and brake his mynde to a nother sorte of companyons so that they were to the nombre of thyrty speares They tode forthe togyther and rode all that mornynge and coulde fynde none adventure And whan Godynos sawe that they shulde retourne without doynge of any feate he was sore dyspleased and sayde to his company Syrs ryde on fayre and easely and I with my page wyll ryde aboute this wode to se if any enbusshe be hydden therin and tary me vpon yonder Mountayne They agreed to hym Thus he and his page rode forthe costynge the wode Whan he had rydden a lytell waye he herde one why stell in the wode and strake his horse with the sportes and came to the syde of the wode and there he founde an almayne guetloys cuttynge of wode Than Godynos toke his glayâ—e and came ryâ—nynge at this man wherof the man was sore abasshed Than Godynos made sygne to hym that
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
at a tyme sealed with my seale sente in to Fraunce whiche came to your knowledge in the whiche letter was contaygned defyaunce pertaynynge to your grace and to your realme with wordes vnreasonable out of the ryght style and vsage that princes and lordes defie eche other the whiche I wyll nat auowe the euer any suche wordes passed out of my mouthe nor by my cōmaundemente any worde touchynge or defamynge your name or signory and syr to veryfye that this myne excuse is of trouthe and that it maye be had out of all suspecte I shall declare the trouthe of euery thynge Syr by reason of the great alyaunce and seruyce that I haue borne to my ryght redouted lorde the Kynge of Englande at his requeste and his counsayls I sente in to Englande four of my knyghtes and delyuered theym my seale to seale to any thynge that they concluded vpon they sealed this letter and nat I for I neuer knewe before the sealynge of that letter what was conteyned therin Syr I requyre your grace accepte this excuse for this is trewe but sir as for the aliaunce and seruyce that I haue made to my lorde the kynge of Englande I wyll neuer breke it nor do contrarye to that he commaundeth me But syr at his request and cōmaundement I wyll defye you or any other whan it shall please hym who so euer they be except myne owne naturall lorde the kynge of Almayne to whome I am made seruaunte by my mouthe spoken and by myne handes in his But syr for the honoure of you consyderynge and in recompensynge the paynes and traueyls that ye haue susteyned in your iourney comynge hyder to knowe the foundacion and trouthe of the defyaunce I shall swere to you and kepe it that I shal neuer make warre agaynst you nor defye you but fyrste ye shall be signyfyed therof an hole yere before And sir me thynke this shulde suffyce you To this deuyse the duke of Guerles sayde I am well contente thus to do in this there in no dyshonour nor blame to me as I thynke THus on this poynte departed the duke of Iulyers from his sonne the duke of Guerles and with him the archebysshoppe of Coloygne and so they returned in to Iulyers and came to Endesker And whan tyme was they wente to the frenche kynge and shewed him all the poyntes and artycles before rehersed and sayd Syr loke what ye wyll do with the duke of guerles for other than this ye shall nat haue of hym The frenche kynge greatly desyred to se the duke of Guerles his cosyn by cause he had put hym to somoche payne wherfore the soner he enclyned to this treatye And the duke of Burgoyn who wolde also that the duches of Brabant and her countrey shulde a byde in rest and peace he toke payne to bringe this creatie to effecte and that the duke of Guerles myght come to speke with the kynge And also there was one thynge that made them the soner agre wynter aproched and the nyghtes began to be longe and colde and also the lordes of Fraunce were enfourmed that Guerles was no countrey to rest in in the tyme of wynter and also dayly they had reporte howe they loste of their men bothe knyghtes and squyers by the synsars almayns who dayly lay in wayte for them So many reasons and consyderacyons were layde and alledged that they fell to acorde and the duke of Guerles aproched and the duke of Iulyers his father the duke of Lorayne and the bysshop of Coloigne brought hym in to the kynges tente where there was with the kynge his thre vncles and his brother the duke of Tourayne the duke of Bare the erle of Marche the erle of saynte Pole the erle dolphyn of Auuergne the lorde Coucy and the constable of Fraunce There the duke of Guerles kneled downe before the kynge and as it was infourmed me the kyng toke hym vp and there valyauntly and wysely he exscused hym selfe of the defyaunce that he had made to the kynge And moreouer he sware that if euer he wolde defye the kynge or make warre to the realme of Fraunce that he wolde gyue the kynge knowlege therof a yere before and the countreys of Guerles and Brabante to be styll in the same case as they be in at that same presēt tyme. Thus the mater concluded bytwene them and the duke of Guerles supped with the kynge the same nyghte at his table he was greatly regarded bycause he had put the kynge to so moche payne and coste This treatie and conclusyon was put in writynge and sealed and whan all was done the lordes toke leaue to departe but or they departed the duke of Guerles demaunded of the kynge that all suche prisoners as the Frenche men had taken in that warre that he myght haue them delyuered franke and free He had his desyre they were delyuered Thanne the kynge demaunded of the duke that all suche prysoners as his men had taken in that voyage shulde be delyuered and rendred agayne Than the duke of Guerles excused hym selfe and sayde Syr that I can not do I am but a poore man and whan I knewe of your commynge I fortifyed my selfe the best I myght with men of warre knyghtes and squyes fro beyonde the ryuer of Ryne and other places and I promysed them that what so euer they wanne in this warre it shulde be their owne wherfore I can take nothinge fro them of that they haue wonne if I wolde I haue nouther puyssaunce nor power to do it for if I wolde shewe rygoure to theym they wolde make warre agaynst me wherfore sir may it please you to lette it passe for I canne nat remedy it The kynge sawe he coulde haue nothyng els he suffred it to passe and imagyned that he and his realme were riche ynough to encrease poore men wherfore he let it passe and spake no mo wordes and at their departure eche of theym well contented other Than it was ordeyned to dyslodge and to retourne the same way they came and than it was sayd that the frenche kynge shulde be at the cytie of Reynes at the feest of all sayntes and there to holde a great feest Thus euery man dyslodged and retourned ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the englysshe army on the see ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell and the knyghtes of Englande beyng on the see by fortune of the wynde came to the Palyce besyde Rochell whose beynge there was signifyed to sir Loys of Xanser and of the departynge of the erle of Arundell Cap. C.l. IN the meane seasone whyle the french kyng was in Guerles the englysshe army was on the see wherof the erle of Arundell was chefe capytayne and some tyme sayled forwarde and somtyme bacwarde as the wynde wolde serue them to seke for aduentures as it is well knowen Always lightly bytwene the feest of saynt Remey and all sayntes is a peryllous season for stormes and wyndes on the see and aboute the same
gouernynge of his vncles euer syth the dethe of the laste kynge his father shulde than take on himselfe the gouernynge and charge of his hole realme and his vncles to cease of the gouernynge for they had ynough to do in other busynesses The kynge as thanne was paste twenty yere of age This was openly publysshed and euery man thought it was resonable The kynge came to Rennes at the feest of all sayntes and there helde a great feest and his vncles with hym And there they had fyrst knowledge that the Kynge of Castyle and the duke of LaÌ„castre were coÌ„cluded vpon a peace and vpon a maryage to be had bytwene the kinges sonne and the dukes doughter Than the frenche kyng sported with the duke of Berrey and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue fayled of your entent a nother is lyke to enioy the wyfe that ye wolde haue had howe say you therto what sayeth your corage The duke of Berrey sayde Syr I saye nothynge but well if I haue fayled there I shall spede in some other place Than the frenche men beganne to murmure vpon this maryage and said this can nat be done without great alyauÌ„ces whiche shal be a thynge greatly preiudycyall in tyme to come to the realme of FrauÌ„ce And suche as considred the botom of the mater said howe that if Castyle Englande and Portugale be all of one alyaunce and accorde these thre realmes what by see and by lande they maye make warre to the realme of Fraunce Wherfore they sayde it were good that the kynge shulde sende and prouyde remedy by tymes consydringe that this vnhappy kyng of Castyle hath made alyauÌ„ce in maner with a deed man For the duke of lancastre is as a man without men and puyssaunce Nor also they sayde howe the kyng of Castyll ought nat to make any aliauÌ„ce with any man with out the counsayle of the Frenche kynge If he do the kynge maye sende hym worde that he wyll make hym as lowe a varlette as he hath made hym a great lorde Lette the kynge make warre agaynste the realme of Castyle and putte out the vnhappy kyng sonne to a bastarde and lette the kyng gyue the realme to his owne brother the duke of Thourayne who as yet hath no great herytage he shall well and sagely gouerne it Howe can or dare this kynge of Castyle make or treate for any peace or alyaunce with the duke of Lancastre without the knowledge or coÌ„sent of the Frenche kynge who hath so moche ayded honoured and auaunsed hym He had loste his realme if the puissaunce and blode royall of Fraunce had nat ben He hath well marchaundysed and yet he wyll marchaundyse But if it be as it is sayd lette hym be shamed and disheryted and lette hym haue suche punysshment that he may well knowe that he hath yuell done THese wordes multiplyed in suche wyse that all thynges consydered The kynge and his vncles and his counsayle determyned to sende in to Castyle to kynge Iohan and to shewe hym on the Frenche kynges behalfe that he be well aduysed and take hede what he dothe And that he be nat so hardy to make any treatie or alyaunce with the Englysshe men nor with the duke of Lancastre in any thyng that shulde be preiudyciall to the Crowne or realme of Fraunce And if he haue done or do or thynketh to do Lette hym be sure that the puyssaunce of Fraunce shall as moche or more sette hym a backe and hynder hym as it hath auaunsed hym before And that the kynge and the realme shall entende to do nothynge elles but to distroye hym Than it was consydred who shulde do this message And it was thought that who soeuer shulde do it ought to be a hardy man well spoken and sagely and valiauntly to declare the kynges pleasure It was thought that a meane and a symple persone ought nat to do that message Than there were thre persones named the lorde of Coucy sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce sir Guye de la Tremoyle Of these thre to take one to go in to Castyle on this voyage And all thynges consydred sir Iohan of Vyenne was apoynted to go Than the kynge and his counsayle sayd vnto hym Admyrall make you redy ye shall go on this voyage and ye shall haue none other letters to the kyng of Castyle but of credence ye are suffycieÌ„tly enstructed of the mater whervpon ye be sente And saye vnto the kynge of Spaygne that he aduyse well and cause to be aduysed And to rede and cause to be reed the alyaunces ordynaunces and ê“myses sworne and sealed bytwene hym and vs and marke well youre aunswere that ye shall haue of hym and of his counsayle and thervpon we shall take our grounde to procede farther The admyrall aunswered and sayd it shal be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kyng and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castyle And howe the Duke of Berrey sente to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Boulonge Cap. C.li. THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce taryed nat long at Paris but made hym quickely redye to departe and tooke his leaue of the kyng and of his vncles and tooke his waye by Burgoyne bycause he wolde go by Auygnone to se the pope and his brother and so he dyde ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke somwhat of Geffray Tete noyre who was enclosed and besieged within the castell of Vandachore But fyrste we wyll speke of the duke of Berrey who had great desyre to mary as he well shewed within that yere Whan he sawe that he had fayled of the duke of Lancasters doughter he was enfourmed that the erle of Boulonge had a fayre doughter named Iane doughter to the lady Elyanour of Comynges howe be it she was nat with her father nor with her moder she was in the countrey of Bierne with the Erle of Foiz her great frende and cosyn She hadde ben there brought vp and nourysshed well entreated the space of nyne yeres in the castell of Ortayes without cost or charge to father or mother The erle often tymes hadde been desyred to haue had her maryed but alwayes the erle aunswered that the damosell was to yonge Specially sir Bernarde brother to the erle of Armynacke hadde desyred to haue her and promysed that if he myght haue her in maryage the warre shulde ende bytwene them for the chalenge of the lande of Byerne But for all those promyses the erle wolde nat agree therto but aunswered euer howe that his cosyn was to yonge but amonge his owne men he wolde saye otherwyse For as sir Espaygne du Lyon shewed me he wolde saye howe they of Armynacke myght well repute hym for a beest if he shulde graunt their desyre seynge it was to his doÌ„mage For if he shulde graunt theym his cosyn in maryage he shulde strength them and enfeble
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌ„trey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌ„che kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌ„ger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌ„de synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌ„te desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He ê“cured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌ„ueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌ„trey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌ„ded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌ„berlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌ„che kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couâ—y and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ„ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌ„tesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌ„phe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deê‘ted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌ„myng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌ„e to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
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
charged suche as were vnder his reule on payne of their lyues that none shulde ryde out to do any domage to his neighbours for he sayde he wolde surely kepe the trewce Olyue Barbe captayne of Ousac dyssymuled the mater sayeng howe he wolde kepe the treuce howe be it as it was shewed me some of his men somtyme wolde ryde forthe secretlye and what they wanne he wolde haue the profyte therof The men of the countreys of Cleremount of Mount Ferant and of Ryon who were goynge in message to the frenche kynge and to the duke of Berrey They sped so in their iourneys that they came to Parys and there founde the kynge the duke of Berrey the duke of Thourayne and the constable of Fraunce sir Olyuer of Clysson They came fyrste to the duke of Berrey and to his counsayle and shewed the cause of their commyng howe Aymergot Marcell made warre and dystroyed the countrey of Auuergne and howe the yuell people daily multyplyed wherfore they desyred for goddessake to haue some remedy sayenge if these yuell people shulde longe contyne we they wolde distroy the countrey of Auuergne and the fronters of Lymosyn Whan these tydynges came to the kynge and to the duke of Berrey they were sore dyspleased for they had thought all had been in peace by reason of the treuce Than the kyng demaunded if they of the garyson of Caluset and Ousac dyd any yuell or nat They aunswered and sayd they complayned of no man but al onely of Aymergot Marcell and of his company who hathe fortifyed the Roche of Vandoys Thanne the kynge and the duke of Berrey aunswered and sayd Syrs ye good people take good herde to your selfes and we shall prouyde shortely a remedy that ye shall well perceyue ▪ retourne to your places and shewe this aunswere to theym that sente you hyther These good men of Auuergne were well content with their aunswere and taryed there two dayes and thanne retourned and toke their leaue specyally of the duke of Berrey and so departed THe frenche kynge and his counsayle forgate nat these tydynges nor the duke of Berrey whome the matter touched greatly bycause he helde great herytages in Auuergne therfore he auaunced the busynesse ye haue herde here before howe the lorde of Coucy was ordayned by the kynge and his coūsayle to be capitayne and to haue the soueraygne rewle of all the countrey fro the see by Rochell vnto the ryuer of Dordone and to Burdeaux on the ryuer of Geron. As than the lorde of Coucy was nat in the countrey He was goynge in the voyage to Barbary with other lordes of Fraunce and of other countreis Howe be it at his departynge he ordayned his cosyn sir Robert of Bethune Vycount of Meaulx to be his lyeutenaunt in the sayde countrey Than the kyng sayde howe it was moost metest that the vycount of Meaulx shulde haue the charge of that voyage to go in to Lāguedocke rather than̄e any other persone He was at Coude on the ryuer of Marne The kynge wrote to hym The messangere founde hym with his wyfe at Counde and there he delyuered his letters fro the Frenche kynge The vycount receyued theym and whane he knewe what they mente he sayde he wolde obey the kynges commaūdement He prepared hym selfe as soone as he myght departed fro Coūde and rode so long that he cae to Parys where he founde the kynge and his counsayle who sayd vnto hym Vycount make you redy assemble the men of warre of your retynue for ye must go in to Auuergne There be of thes pyllers and robbers of whome Aymergotte Mercell is chiefe as we be enfourmed who distroyech and sore traueyleth the good people there Do ye so moche as to driue theym out of that countrey And if ye maye attrap the sayde Aymergotte bring hym to vs and we shall haue great ioye therof It is ordayned that there shal be delyuered to you suche sommes of money at Cleremount that shall suffyce for your men of warre And to go fro hens thider speke to oure treasourers they shall delyuer you for your expenses Make haste for it requyreth dyligence The Vycount aunswered howe he was redy and so went to his lodging And there he wrote letters to knyghtes and squyers in Fraūce and Picardy of his acquayntaunce retynewe that they in all hast shulde mete with hym at Charters and there to make their musters such as he wrote vnto obeyed they loued the Vycount for they helde hym for a good capitayne So they came to the cytie of Charters at their day prefyxed There assembled a two hūdred speares of good men of warre Whan̄e they were assembled they departed fro Charters and tooke the waye towardes Auuergne and so came in to Burbonoys tidynges came in to Auuergne howe socours was cōmyng to them out of Fraunce wherof all the countrey was reioysed IT was nedefull that these men of warre came thyder so soone as they dyde for and they hadde taryed but sixe dayes lengar aymergot Marcell and his bande had thought to haue ouer ronne the playne countrey bytwene Cleremount and Moūtferante and about Ryon to Ganape And if they had made that voyage they hadde done great dommage to the countrey more to the valewe than a hundred thousande frankes for in those marchesse laye the rychesse of Auuergne and no man shulde haue resysted thē for the countrey as than̄e was voyde of any man of warre And also the brute was that Aymergotte Mercelles company was farre mo in nombre than̄e they were in dede Aymergotte was redy to haue made this iourney but tidynges came to hym howe soeuer it was by pylgrimes or by espyes that the vycoūt of Meaulx with a great company was comynge agaynst hym to make hym warre and to putte hym out of his fortresse of the Roche of Vandoys These newes letted his enterprice and kepte hym selfe within his holde and thought they shulde be besieged Than Aymergot Marcell began to dought and repented hym of that he hadde done for he knewe well if that he were takenne there shulde no raunsome go for hym Thanne he sayd to some of his company I am shamed I haue beleued yuell counsayle Couytousnesse shall distroye me without I haue conforte Than̄e they sayde to hym Sir why dought ye thus We haue sene you the hardyest man of armes of all these marchesse We haue a good garyson and well prouyded and we are men of defence and loue as well to defende oure bodyes as ye do to defende yours ye can lese nothynge but we must lese also If by aduenture ye be taken ye shall make your fynaunce accordynge to reason ye haue good ynoughe and we haue nothynge If we be taken it lyeth on our heedes we gette none other remission We shall sell ou◠lyues dere Lette vs defende our selfe aswell as we can be nat abasshed with any thynge that we here or se We thynke we shall natte nede to care for any siege Lette vs warre wisely
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌ„tynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌ„de this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌ„mynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌ„mendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌ„des heritage in these ê‘ties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌ„maunde the vycount of Meaulx to deê‘te fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ„ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ„ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌ„deth on the froÌ„ters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse ê‘teynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌ„ce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌ„don And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌ„sayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌ„don and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌ„sayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌ„ce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌ„ce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ„ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌ„sayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
gentylman of the duke of Lancasters named Herbery went with the better wyll bycause the varlette promysed hym in the behalfe of Aymergot a hundred fraÌ„kes Thus they thre departed and came to Douer and fro thens at a tyde to Calis And whan their horses were vnshypped they toke the waye to Boloygne and so throughe Picardy and went to Parys fro thens in to Auuergne And whan they approched nere to Lymogines and to the couÌ„tre where the roche of VaÌ„doyes was sette They rode about the more secretely to come thyder THus as I haue shewed you thes messangers dyde so moche that they came nere to the roche of vaÌ„doyes Whanne they were nere where the siege laye the squyer and the heraulde thought it for the best nat to entre in to the towne at that present tyme. But they sent the varlet in to the towne sayeng they wolde do well ynough without his company For they sayd if he shulde be sene with them they at the siege wolde suppose that he had ben sente in to Englande for theÌ„ the varlet obeyed in the night he entred in to the towne without dauÌ„ger than Aymergot Marcell Guyot du Sall made hym good chere and had marueyle that he had spedde his iourney in so short a space There be shewed howe he had spedde and howe a squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters and a heraude was come with him with letters fro the kyng and fro the duke of Lancastre bothe to the Vycount of Meaulr and to the duke of Berrey if nede were And why quod Aymergot mercell are they nat come hyder into this castell Sir ê™ the varlet they sayd they two wolde do their message well inough nor they wold haue no man sene in their coÌ„pany that shulde come fro you They are the wyser ê™ Guyot du Sall therby it shall seme that the mater toucheth the kyng of EnglaÌ„de and the duke of Lancastre Sir it is trewe quod the barlet Of those tidynges Aymergot was ioyfull and sayde to the varlet Thou hast well and dilygently spedde thy maters and that in a shorte season I shall well rewarde the for thy labour Thus the squyer and the heraude came streight to the siege and demauÌ„ded for the VycouÌ„tes lodgynge They were brought thyder and there they founde the vycount beholding men castyng the stone than they kneled and saluted hym and he them agayne and demauÌ„ded fro whens they came They answered and said howe they caÌ„e out of Englande sent thyder by their kyng and by the duke of Lancaster ye are welcome ê™ the Vycount what mater hath brought you in to this wylde countrey Sir quod the heraude beholde here this squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters who hath brought to you letters fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre if it please you to rede theÌ„ and bycause I soÌ„what knewe the countrey I am come in his company Than the squyer delyuered his letters and the vycount receyued them and behelde the seales and knewe well they came out of Englande Than he tooke one aparte that coude rede and there he reed the letters fro poynt to poynt two or thre tymes tyll he knewe well what they ment thaÌ„ he studyed regarded well the kyng of Englandes writyng who sayd in his writynge that he had marueyle that he wolde lodge slepe and reste hym with an army of men of warre on his herytage that he dothe daylye all that he can to breke the peace whiche he ought in no wyse to do for it is greatly â—iudiciall to them that haue sette to their seales to the confyrmacion of the peace and the conclusyon of the letter was howe the kyng coÌ„maunded them incontynent after the sight of his letts that he and his company shulde departe and reyse their siege and suffre Aymergot Mercell pesably to enioye the house parteyning to his heritage whiche hath cost hym great goodes the fortifieng These wordes and suche other were enclosed in these letters all to the ayde of Aymergot Marcell in lyke maner as the kynges letters spake the duke of Lancaster sange the same note commaundyng lyke the excellent duke of Acquitayne and of all that duchy And whan the vicount of Meaulx had well aduysed hym selfe he sayde Fayre sirs these tidynges that ye haue brought requyreth counsayle and aduyse I shall take couÌ„sayle and than ye shall be answered Than they were made to driÌ„ke of the vycountes wyne In the meane tyme the vycount toke counsayle for he sent for the lorde of the Towre for sir Guyllyam Butler sir Robert Dolphyn sir Loyes DaÌ„byer and also for the lorde Montaguy and for sir Berat de la Ryuer who was of his house And whan they were all toguyder he renewed the wordes and shewed them the cause why he had sent for them and there caused the letters to be reed before them Whan these lordes herde that they had great marueile how these letters coude be brought out of EnglaÌ„de for as than they had nat layne at the siege past a moneth I shall shewe you quod the vycount what I suppose Aymergot Marcell is a subtell man as soone as he sawe that he shulde be besieged I thynke he sent incoÌ„tynent some messanger in to Englande to attayne these letters the whiche I maye obey if I lyste but I shall answere them shortely But as in that the kyng of England and the duke of Lancastre coÌ„maundeth me to do I wyll nothynge obey their coÌ„maundementes for I am nat bounde to obey theÌ„ but all onelye the Frenche kynge by whose coÌ„maundement I am sent hyder Call forthe the squier and the heraude I shall make them their answere they were brought forthe Than the vycount began to speke as foloweth you Derby and Tomelyn Herbery thus ye be named accordyng to the tenour of your letters and as it apereth ye be sent hyther frothe kynge of Englande fro the duke of Lancastre they are enfourmed I can nat tell howe outher by Aymergot Marcell or by some other that wolde ayde him and hath ben in England in his name howe I am at this present tyme with an army of men of warre lodged on the herytage of the kynge of Englandes and he commaundeth me to departe and reyse my siege and to suffre Aymergot Marcell peasably to enioy this lytell fortresse whiche hathe coste so moche the fortefyenge and also they sende me worde howe I do put my selfe in parell of dyshonorynge in that I shulde consent to breke the peace sealed and confâ—rmed to endure thre yeres bytwene the two kynges and their alyes Fayre sirs I say vnto you that I wyll do nothyng that shall be against the charter of peace I wyll kepe the treuce and do nothynge agaynst it and though I am lodged here it breketh no peace nor treuce I am subget to the frenche kynge who hath sent me hyther and hath admytted me as his marshall of this small armye for it came to the knowledge of the kynge
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
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
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
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
shewed outwardly Thus sir Peter of Craon perceyuered styll in his opynyon and deuysed in his imagynacion by the entysyng of the dyuell who neuer slepeth but waketh and enbraseth their hartes to do yuell that enclyneth to his exortacion Thus the dyuell dayly layde the mater before this knyghtes eyen or he put the mater to execusyon but if he had iustly ymagyned the doutes and parelles and myscheuousnesse that myght fall by his yuell dede reasone and wyse atemperaunce shulde haue caused hym to haue done otherwyse But it is often tymes said that the great desyre that a man hath to haue the execusyon of that thynge or it be fallen often tymes quencheth reason and wysdome therfore often tymes vyces are maysters and vertues vyolate and corrupted and for bycause that specially this syr Peter of Craon had so great affection to the dystructyon of the constable therfore he lyghtly enclyned to the temptacion to do outrage and folly and thought that if he myght slee the constable and returne agayne safely in to Bretayne that no man wolde seke hym there if they dyd he trusted that the duke wolde excuse hym and that if the worste fell that the Frenche kynge came thyder with a great puyssaunce than in a nyght to entre in to a shyppe and so to go to Burdeaux to Bay on or in to Englande and there he thought well he shulde nat be pursewed for he knewe well that the englysshe men hated the constable bycause of the crueltyes that he had doone and consented to be done sythe he was tourned frenche howe be it before that he had done many notable seruyces to the englysshe men as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystory SIr Peter of Craon for to accoÌ„plyssh his desyre had longe studyed in his mynde howe to brynge his purpose to passe and kepte his purpose close and secrete I knowe nat if he shewed it to the duke of Bretayne or nat some thought â—es bycause after the dede done by hym and his company he toke the next way he coude in to Bretayne and tooke for his sauegarde the duke of Bretaygne and also before the dede done he solde his castelles and herytage that he had in Aniou to the duke of Bretaygne and renyed his homage to the frenche kynge and sayd howe he wolde go ouer the see Of all these maters I passe breuely but I shall declare the dede for I syr Iohan Froysart auctour of this hystory whan this vnhappy dede was doone by syr Peter of Craon agaynste syr Olyuer of Clysson I was the same tyme at Paris wherfore I ought to be well enfourmed of the mater acordyng to the enquery that I made therin to knowe the trouthe The same tyme this syr Peter had in the towne of Parys a fayre house standynge in the churche yarde of saynt Iohans as dyuers other lordes had in the cytie for their pleasure In this house there was a keper syr Peter of Craon had sent of his seruauntes to Parys and they prouyded largely in the house with wyne corne flesshe salte and other prouysyons Also he had writen to the keper that he shulde bye certayne armure as cotes of stele gauntletes stoles and other harnesse for .xl men and that doone to sende hym worde therof to thentente that he wolde sende for them and secretly all this do be done The keper who thought none yuell and to obey his maysters coÌ„maundement bought all this marchauÌ„dyse And all this season he was in a castell of his owne in Aniou called Sable and he sent one weke thre or four seruauntes to his house in Parys and so wekely tyll he had there a .xl. and shewed them nothynge for what cause he sent them thyder but he charged them to kepe them selfe close in his howse in any wyse and what so euer they lacked the keper of his house shulde prouyde for it and on a daye I shall shewe you the cause why I sende you thyder before ye shall haue good wages They dyd as he commaunded them and came priuely to Parys and entred in to the house by nyght and in the mornynges for as than the gates of Parys nyght and daye stode open There assembled in that house so many togyther that they were a .xl. companyons hardy men and outragyous Howe be it there were some that if they hadde knowen wherfore they came thyderê they wolde nat haue come there yet they kepte them selfe secrete Than at the feest of Pentecost syr Peter of Craon came to Paris secretly entred into his howse dysguysed lyke a seruaunt Than he called for the porter that kepte the gate and sayd I coÌ„maunde the on payne of thy lyfe let no man woman nor chylde entre in to this house nor none to go out without my coÌ„maundement The porter obeyed as it was reason and so dyd the keper and he coÌ„maunded the kepers wyfe her chyldren to kepe her chambre and nat to issue out therof wherin he dyd wysely for if the woman and chyldren had gone abrode in the streates the comynge thyther of syr Peter Craon had been knowe for chyldren and women naturally are harde to kepe counsayle of that thynge a man wolde haue kepte secrete Thus syr Peter and his company were secretly in his howse tyll the day of the holy sacramente and euery day syr Peter had a brode his spyes that brought him worde of the state of syr Olyuer Clysson and tyll that daye he coulde fynde no tyme to execute his enterprise wherwith he was sore displeased in hym selfe The said day the frenche kynge kepte a feest with open courte with all the lordes that were there Also the quene and the duches of Thourayne were there in great ioy and solace The same day after dyner the yonge lusty knyghtes were armed and iusted valyauntly in the presence of the kynge and of the quene and other ladyes and damosels and contynued tyll it was nere nyght and by the iudgement of the ladyes and harauldes the price was gyuen to syr Gillyam of Flaunders erle of Namure And the kynge made all the lordes and ladyes a great supper and after supper daunced tyll it was one of the clock after mydnyght than euery man departed to their lodgynges some to one place some to another without feare or doute of any thyng Syr Olyuer of Clisson who as than was constable of Fraunce departed fro the kynges place last of all other and had taken his leaue of the kynge and than went through the duke of Thourayns chambre and sayde to hym Syr wyll ye tary here all nyght or els go to your lodgyng of Poullayne This Poullayn was the dukes treasourer and dwelte a lytell besyde the sygne of the Lyon of syluer Than the duke sayde constable I can nat tell as yet whether I do tary here or els go thyder go ye your waye to your lodgynge for it is tyme. Than syr Olyuer toke his leaue of the duke and sayd syr god sende you
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
but they coulde nat be beleued So the two knyghtes remayned styll in prison in dauÌ„ger openly to haue loste their heedes and by all lykelyhode so they had doone if the kynge had nat recouered his helth and by the meane of the duchesse of Berrey who made instante labour for the lorde de la Ryuer And the lorde Clysson was styll in Bretayne and made sore warre agaynst the duke there and the duke agaynst hym whiche warre cost many a mannes lyfe as ye shall here here after in this hystory TRewe it is this sycknesse that the kyng tooke in the voyage towardes Bretayne greatly abated the ioye of the realme of Fraunce and good cause why for whan the heed is sicke the body canne haue no ioye No man durste openly speke therof but kepte it priuy as moche as myght be and it was couertly kept fro the quene for tyll she was delyuered and churched she knewe nothynge therof whiche tyme she had a doughter The physycion mayster Guyllyam who had the chefe charge of healynge of the kynge was styll aboute hym and was ryght dyligent and well acquyted hymselfe wherby he gate bothe honour and profyte for lytell lytell he brought the kynge in good estate and toke away the seuer and the heate and made hym to haue taste and appetyte to eate and drinke slepe rest and knowledge of euery thynge howe be it he was very feble and lytell and lytell he made the Kynge to ryde a huntynge and on hawkynge And whanne tydynges was knowen through Fraunce howe the kynge was well mended and had his memory agayne euery man was ioyfull and thanked god the kyng thus beyng at Crayell desyred to se the quene his wyfe and the Dolphyn his sonne So the quene came thyder to him and the chylde was brought thyder The kynge made them good chere and so lytell and lytell through the helpe of god the kynge recouered his helthe And whan mayster Guyllyam sawe the kynge in so good case he was ryght ioyfull as reasone was for he had done a fayre cure and so delyuered hym to the dukes of Orlyance Berrey Burgoyne and Burbone and sayd My lordes thanked be god the kyng is nowe in good state and helth so I delyuer hym but beware lette no man dysplease hym for as yet his spyrytes be nat fully ferme nor stable but lytell and lytell he shall waxe stronge Reasonable dysporte rest and myrthe shall be moste profytable for hym and trouble hym as lytell as may be with any counsayles for he hath been sharpely handeled with a hote malady Than it was consydred to retaygne this mayster Guylliam and to gyue hym that he shulde be contente with all whiche is the ende that all physicions requyre to haue gyftes and rewardes He was desyred to abyde styll aboute the kynge but he excused himselfe and sayd howe he was an olde impotent man and coulde nat endure the maner of courte wherfore he desyred to returne in to his owne countrey Whan the counsayle sawe he wolde none otherwyse do they gaue him leaue and at his departing gaue him a thousande crownes and retayned hym in wages with four horses whan so euer he wolde resorte to the courte Howe be it I beleue he neuer came there after for whan he retourned to the cytie of Laon there he contynued and dyed a ryche man He lefte behynde hym a .xxx. thousande frankes All his dayes he was one of the greatest nygardes that euer was all his pleasure was to get good and to spende nothynge for in his howse he neuer spente past two souses of Parys in a day but wolde eate and drinke in other mennes howses where as he myght get it With this rodde lyghtly all physicyons are beaten ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the truse whiche was acorded bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. AS ye haue herde here before in the bokes of this hygh and excellent hystory at the request of the ryght hygh and myghty prynce my dere lorde and mayster Guy of Chastellone erle of Blois lorde of Auesnes of Chymay of Beaumont of Streumehont of the Gode I Iohan Froysart preest and chapeleyn to my said lorde and at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay and of Lysle in Flaunders haue enterprised this noble mater treatynge of the aduentures and warres of Fraunce and Englande and other countreys conioyned and a lyed to them as it may apere clerely by the treaties therof made vnto the date of this presente day the whiche excellent materê as longe as I lyue by the helpe of god I shall coÌ„tynue for the more I folowe and labour it the more it pleaseth me As the noble knyght or squyer louynge the feates of armes do perceyuer in the same and be therby experte and made parfyte so in laborynge of this noble mater I delyte and take pleasure ¶ It hath ben here before conteyned in our hystory howe truce was made at Balyngham to endure thre yere bytwene Englande and Fraunce and for that purpose the erle of saynt Poll the lorde of Castell Morant and syr Taupyn of Cauteuell ambassadours of FrauÌ„ce had ben in Englande with the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke for to vnderstande the kinges pleasure and the opynion of the coÌ„mons of Englande for at the comunycacyon and parlyamente at Amyence they were at a poynte of agrement of peace vpon certayne artycles specifyed reseruynge the agrement therto of the coÌ„mons of Englande thus these ambassadours were retourned in to Fraunce and were answered howe that at the feest of saynt Mychell nexte ensuynge there shulde be a Parlyament at Westmynster of the thre estates of Englande at whiche tyme the mater shulde be declared and a full aunswere made Whan tydynges was come in to Englande of the frenche kynges sycknesse that matter was greatly hyndred howe be it kynge Rycharde of Englande and the duke of Lancastre had great affection to haue had peace so that if they might haue had their ententes peace had ben made bytwene Englande and Fraunce But the coÌ„mynalte of Englande desyred warre sayenge howe warre with Fraunce was more conuenyent for them than peace and of that opynyon was one of the kynges vncles Thâ— mas duke of Glocestre erle of Perces and constable of Englande who was welbeloued in the realme he enclyned rather to the warre than to peace And of his opynyon were the yonge gentylmen of the realme suche as desyred feates of armes But his brother the duke of Lancastre bycause he was eldest and of most puissaunce in Englande he thought and said that the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce had endured longe ynoughe and that peace were more mete â–ª for by the warre cristende me was sore febled for the great turke Lamorabaquyn was with greate puyssaunce on the fronters of HuÌ„gery wherfore he sayd it shulde be honorable to all yonge lusty knyghtes and squyers to take their waye thyder and there to exercyse dedes of armes LEtte
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
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
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
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
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌ„ded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌ„e it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌ„ters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌ„sydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌ„sayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌ„che kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ„ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌ„maundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌ„mauÌ„ded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌ„dred crownes of FraÌ„ce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌ„de were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌ„de These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌ„e he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌ„de wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌ„trary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌ„castre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌ„tent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌ„cypall cause was bycause of FlauÌ„ders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌ„ger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌ„t and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌ„ded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ„ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌ„ce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌ„maunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌ„te de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌ„maunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌ„mauÌ„ded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌ„tly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâ—e bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ— and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ— come thyder and howe they had got grauÌ„t of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌ„ce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌ„e I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
was tyll Michelmas that the ê‘lyament at Westmynster shulde begyn And in the meane season great prouision was made at Calais and at Guysnes for the kynge and for other lordes sent fro the portes of Englande on that cost and great prouisyon was had out of Flaunders all came by see to Calais In lykewise for the Frenche kyng and for his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles other prelates and lordes of Fraunce great prouisyon was made at saynt Omers at Ayre at Tyrwyn at Arde at Mountoyre and at all other houses and abbeyes there about there was nothynge spared on bothe parties and specially the abbey of saynte Bertyne was well replenysshed of all thynges to receyue these kynges This ê‘lyament at Westmynster began at Mychelmas and it was ordeyned to endure .xl. dayes But it was abridged for the king wolde nat tary there but .v. dayes wherin he declared the thynges most necessary parteyning to the realme and specially that mater that touched hym selfe and the cause why he caÌ„e fro Calais That done he retourned towardes Calais agayne and with hym his two vncles of Lancastre and Gloucestre and other prelates and lordes of Englande suche as were coÌ„maunded to go with him They spedde them so in their iourney that they came agayne to Calays The duke of yorke taryed styll in Englande and the erle of Derby to gouerne the realme in the kynges absence Whan the kyng of Englande was thus returned to Calais the lordes of Fraunce beyng in Picardy were aduertised therof Than the duke of Burgoyn and the duchesse his wyfe came to saynt Omers and were lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne As sone as the FreÌ„che kyng knewe that the kynge of Englande was come agayne to Calais he sente to hym therle of saynt Poule to shewe hym what order was taken in Fraunce concernyng his maryage whiche the kynge of Englande was gladde to here ThanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre and his sonne Beauforde of Lancastre The duke of Gloucester and Affren his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle mashall erle of Huntyngton the kynges chamberleyne and many other lordes knyghtes squyers and ladyes rode with the Erle of saynt Poule to saynt Omers where they were well receyued of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and thyder came the duke of Bretaigne and had lefte the Frenche kynge at Ayre and his doughter with hym ye maye well knowe all the chere that coude be deuysed was made to the Englysshe lordes and ladyes and other at saynt Omers and the duchesse of Burgoyne made them a great dyner There was the duchesse of LaÌ„castre and her sonne two doughters there was great gyftes gyuen of plate of Golde and syluer nothynge was spared in so moche that the Englysshe men hadde marueyle therof and specially the duke of Glocestre sayd to his couÌ„sayle I se well there is great rychesse in the realme of Fraunce there was moche gyuen to hym to the entente to abate and to molyfie his rancour that he hadde agaynste Fraunce The lordes of Fraunce knewe well that he was alwayes harde to agre to the peace wherfore they shewed hym as moche token of loue and honour as they coude do He toke euer all their gyftes but alwayes the rancour abode styll in his hert for all that euer the Frenche men coulde do they coulde nat molifye his fell stomake for always he made herde answers as they treated for any peace The Frenche men be subtyle yet for all that they coude gette no hold of hym for his wordes and aunswers were alwayes so couert that they wyst nat howe to vnderstaÌ„de them Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe his maner he sayde to his counsayle We lese all that euer we do to this duke of Gloucestour for as longe as he lyueth there shal be no sure peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande For he shall alwayes fynde newe inuencyons and accydentes to engender hate and stryfe bytwene bothe realmes for he enteÌ„deth nor thynketh none other thynge If it were nat the truste that we haue in the kyng of Englande wherby here after to fare the better the kyng shulde nat haue to his wyfe our cosyn of Fraunce WHan the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne the couÌ„tesse of Neuers the countesse of saynt Poule and the other lordes and ladyes of Fraunce hadde greatly feested the lordes and ladyes of Englande than there was coÌ„municacion howe these two kynges shulde mete speke toguyder and howe the lady shulde be delyuered thervpon apoyntment was made and leaue taken on all partes The Englysshe ê‘tie returned to Calis to the kyng shewed what chere they had and what presentes had ben gyuen them These newes pleased well the kyng for he was gladde whan he herde any honour spoken of the Frenche kyng he was so in loue with hym bycause of his doughter whome he trusted to haue to his Quene Than anone after the Frenche kyng came to saynt Omers and was lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne and dislodged all other that were there before and had the duke of Bretayne in his company And than it was ordayned that the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone shulde go to Calis to speke with the kynge of Englande SO they came to Calays and were ioyouslye receyued had as good chere as coulde be deuysed These thre dukes had secrete communycacion with the kynge and his counsayle so that many bothe of Fraunce and of Englande reputed that there was a peace concluded bytwene Fraunce and Englande And in dede it was nere at a poynt and the duke of Gloucester agreed well therto as at that tyme. For the kyng of Englande hadde promysed hym if he wolde agree to the peace to gyue his son Affren the erldome of Rochester in herytauÌ„ce and to make hym spende yerely in reuenewes two thousande pounde sterlyng and to gyue to hym selfe as soone as he came in Englande in redy money fyftie thousande nobles so that by reason of these gyftes the duke of Gloucestours hardnesse was well aleyed So that the lordes of Fraunce sawe well his opinyons were nat so obstynate as they were before for they founde hym than swete and meke WhanÌ„e euery thynge was ordeygned of that they came for they tooke leaue of the kynge and other and retourned to saynt Omers to the Frenche kynge and shewed howe they hadde spedde Than the Frenche kyng wente to the bastyde of Arde and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre and the duke of Bretaygne to the towne of Esque and the duke of Berrey to Balyngham And in euery ê‘te all aboute there were pyght vp Tentes and Pauilyons and all the countrey full of people what of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande The kynge of Englande came to Guysnes and the duke of Lancastre with hym and the duke of Gloucestre to HaÌ„mes Thus on a Fridaye beyng the euyn of Symon and Iude in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and sixtene about tenne
nat indomage vs if ye tary tyll all our hole puyssaunce be togyder Syrs this is the ordre that the kynge and his counsayle hath ordered I muste retourne agayne to the kynge Whan he was deê‘ted the french lordes assembled theÌ„ togyder to knowe what was best for them to do Than it was demaunded of the lorde Coucy what he thought best to be done he answered and said I wolde counsayle to obey the kyng of Hungeryes coÌ„maundement for that ordre semeth to be good And as it was enfourmed me syr Phylippe of Arthoys erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce was nat contented that the aduyse had nat fyrst haue ben demaunded of hym Than he for pride and dispyght helde the contrary opynyon and sayd ye syr ye the kynge of Hungery wolde haue the floure and chiefe honour of this iourney we haue the vowarde he hath graunted it to vs and nowe he wolde take it fro vs agayne beleue hym who wyll for I do nat than he sayd to the knyght that bare his banner in the name of god and saynt George ye shall seme this daye a good knyght Whan the lorde Coucy herde the constable speke these wordes he toke it done of a great presumpcyon Than he loked on syr Iohan of Vyen who bare the standarde of our lady and demauÌ„ded of hym what he thought best to be doone Syr quod he where as wyse reasone canne nat be herde than pride muste reygne and sythe that the erle of Ewe wyll nedes set on we must nedes folowe howe be it we shulde be the stronger and if our puyssauÌ„ce were hole togyther Thus as they deuysed in the felde styll the turkes aproched the two wynges eche of .lx. thousande men beganne to aproche and to close and had the chrysten men bytwene them so that if they wolde haue reculed they coulde nat for they were closed in with the sarazyns the wynges were so thicke Than dyuers knyghtes that were well expert in armes sawe well the iourney shulde be agaynst them howe be it they auaunced and folowed the baner of our lady borne by the valyaunt knight syr IohnÌ„ of Vien Euery knyght of Fraunce was in his cote armure that euery man semed to be a kinge they were so fresshly aparelled As it was shewed me whan they began fyrste to fyght with the turkes they were nat past a seuen hundred men Lo beholde the great foly and outrage for if they had taryed for the kynge of Hungery who were threscore thousande men they had been lykely to haue doone a great acte and by them and by their pride all was lost and they receyued suche doÌ„mage that sythe the batayle of Rounseualx where as the .xii. peres of FrauÌ„ce were slayne crystendome receyued nat so great a doÌ„mage howe be it or they were dyscomfyted a great nombre of turkes were slayne for the frenche men dyscomfyted the fyrst batayle of the turkes and had them in chase tyll they came in to a valey where Lamorabaquy was with his hole puyssaunce Than the frenchmen wolde haue retourned to their hoost but they coulde nat for they were closed in on all partes there was a sore batayle the frenche men endured longe Than newes came to the kyng of Hungery howe the frenche men englysshmen and almayns were fyghtyng with the turkes and had broken his coÌ„maundement and counsayle gyuen theÌ„ by his marshall wherwith he was sore dyspleased and nat without good cause Than he sawe well howe he was lykely to lese that iourney Than he said to the great mayster of the Rodes who was by hym Syr we shall this day lese the iourney by reason of the pride of the frenchmen for if they wolde haue beleued me we had been stronge ynough to haue fought with our enemyes and therwith the kynge of Hungerye loked behynde hym and sawe howe his men fled a waye and were discomfyted in them selfe Than he sawe well there was no recouery and suche as were aboute hym cryed and sayd Saue your selfe for if ye be slayne all Hungery is loste ye shall lese the felde this daye by reason of the pride of the frenche men their valyauÌ„tnesse turneth to folyssh hardynes for they shall be all slayne or taken none is lykely to scape therfore syr if ye beleue vs saue youre selfe and scape this daunger THe kynge of Hungery was sore dyspleased whan he sawe howe he had lost the iourney by dysorderyng of the frenche men and sawe no remedy but to flye or els be taken or slayne Great murder there was for in flyenge they were chased and so slayne They of Hungery fledde without ordre and the turkes chased theym howe be it god ayded the kinge of HuÌ„gery and the great mayster of the Rodes for they came to the ryuer of Dunce and founde there a lytell barge parteynynge to the Rodes they entered in to it but with seuen persones and so went of the shore or els they had been slayne or taken for the turkes came to the Ryuer syde and there slewe many a crysten man suche as had folowed the kynge to saue them selfe NOwe lette vs speke of the frenche men and almayns who fought valyauntly Whan the lorde of Mount caurell a ryght valyaunt knyght of Arthoys sawe that the dyscomfyture ranne vpon them he had by hym a sonne of his a yonge man than he sayde to a squyer of his Take here my sonne and leade hym away by yonder wynge whiche is open and saue hym I wyll abyde the aduenture with other of my felowes Whan the chylde herde his father say so he sayd howe he wolde nat departe but the father dyd so moche that perforce the squyer led hym away out of parell and came to the ryuer of Dunce but there the chylde had suche care for his father that he tooke small regarde to hym selfe so that he fell in to the ryuer bytwene two barges and there was drowned without remedy Also syr Wyllyam of Tremoyle fought in that batayle valyauntly and there was slayne and his sonne by him and syr Iohan of Vyen bearynge the baner of our lady was slayne and the baner in his handes Thus all the lordes and knightes of FrauÌ„ce that were there were distroyed by the maner as ye haue herde Syr Iohan of Burgoyne erle of Neuers was so rychely besene and in lykewyse so was syr Guy de la Ryuer and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of Burgoyne that they were taken prisoners And there were two squiers of Picardy ryght valyaunt men called Gyllyam Dewe and the Bourge of Maytequell these two by valyauntnesse two tymes passed through the felde and euer retourned in agayne and dyd marueyls but fynally shere they were slayne To say the trouthe the frenche men and other strauÌ„gers that were there acquyted them selfe valyauntly but the frenchmens pride lost all There was a knyght of Pycardy called syr Iaques of Helley who had dwelte before in Turkey and had serued Lamorabaquy and coude somwhat speke the langage of
cosyn erle of Notyngham and shewed hym his full mynde what he wolde do and haue to be doone The erle marshall who loued the kyng better than the duke of Glocestre dyde kepte the kynges purpose secrete sauiÌ„g to suche as he wolde be ayded by for he coude nat do the kynges pleasure alone On a day the kyng in maner as goyng a huÌ„tynge he rode to Haueryng of Boure a .xx. myle fro London in Essexe and within .xx. myle of Plasshey where the duke of Gloucestre helde his house After dyner the kyng deê‘ted fro haueryng with a small coÌ„pany caÌ„e to Plasshey about .v. a clocke the weder was fayre hote so the kyng caÌ„e sodainly thyder about the tyme that the duke of Gloucestre had supped for he was but a small eater nor satte neuer long at dyner nor at supper whaÌ„ he herde of the kynges coÌ„mynge he went to mete with hym in the myddes of the court so dyde the duchesse her chyldren and they welcomed the kynge and the kynge entred in to the hall so in to a chambre ThaÌ„ a borde was spredde for the kynges supper The kynge satte nat longe And sayd at his fyrst commyng Fayre vncle cause fyue or sixe horses of yours to be sadylled for I wyll praye you to ryde with me to London for to morowe the londoners wyll be before vs. And there wyll be also myne vncles of LaÌ„castre yorke with dyuers other noble men For vpon the londoners requestes I wyll be ordred accordyng to your counsayle and coÌ„maunde your stewarde to folowe you with your trayne to loÌ„don where they shall fynde you the duke who thought none yuell lightly agreed to the kynge And whan the kyng had supped and rysen euery thynge was redy The kynge than toke leaue of the duchesse and of her children and lepte a horsbacke and the duke with hym accompanyed all onely but with seuyn seruauntes thre squyers and foure yeomen and tooke the waye of Bondelay to take the playne waye and to eschewe BreÌ„dwode and London coÌ„mon hyghe waye So they rode a great pace and talked by the way with his vncle and he with hym and so aproched to Stratforde on the ryuer of Thamise Whan the kyng came nere to the busshment that he had layde than he rode fro his vncle a great pace and lefte hym somwhat behynde hym Than sodaynly the erle Marshall with his bande came galopyng after the duke and ouertoke hym and saide Sir I arest you in the kynges name The duke was abasshed with that worde and sawe well he was betrayed and began to call loude after the kyng I can nat tell wheder the kyng herde hym or nat but he turned nat but rode for the rather faster than he dyde before ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of this mater for a season tyll we retourne therto agayne YE haue herde before in this historie howe sir IohnÌ„ of Castell morant and sir Iaques of Helley were sente in to Turkey to Lamorabaquy fro the frenche kyng and fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they had spedde Whan they were retourned in to Fraunce they were welcome to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne to the duches bicause they brought certayne tidynges fro the erle of Neuers and fro the lordes that were there with hym They said to the kyng howe they trusted that Lamorabaquy wolde gladly treat for their rauÌ„soms And that they sayd they knewe by some that were of his priuye couÌ„sayle for they feare lest they shulde dye in prisone bycause they be out of their owne naturall ayre And the Turkes thynke that by their delyuerauÌ„ce they shuld haue great fynaunce for their raunsome By reason of these wordes the kynge the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe studyed nyght and day howe and by what meanes they might haue their sonne heyre delyuered And sayde oftentymes that the iourney and siege before Nicopoly had cost them ouer moche For therby they hadde deed thre bretherne bastarde knyghtes valyaunt men whom they entierly loued The fyrst the Hasell of Flaunders The seconde sir Loyes of Briese And the thyrde sir Iohan of Ipre There was another the yongest who was styll at home To saye the trouthe the duches of Burgoyne couÌ„tesse of Flaunders studyed on her syde howe to delyuer her sonne And so moche they stuyed that at last they founde the meanes to agre with the turkes with moche payne But that was nat sodaynly done for the mater was suche that it reâ—red great leysar and to be gote lytell and lytell In this same season in the cytie of Burse in Turkey dyed the gentyll knyght FrauÌ„ces Anguerant lorde of Coucy erle of Saisoâ—s he was a great lorde in Fraunce for as sir Robert of Deane who was sent by the lady of Coucy was goyng to hym warde he herde by the way howe he was deed that he herd at Vyen in Austriche And so he returned in to Fraunce shewed this to certayne of the lorde Coucies lynage but nat to the good lady his wyfe vntyll suche tyme as the chatellayne of saynt Goubayne was sent to fetche his deed body enbaulmed in to FrauÌ„ce to be buryed in thabbey of Nogent besyde Coucy and there he was receyued by the duchesse of Bare and the bysshop of Leon by dyuers other abbottes and there this geÌ„tyll knight was buryed in the yere of grace a thousaÌ„de thre hundred fourscore and seuyntene YE maye well knowe that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn alwayes ymagyned howe to gette their frendes out of prison in Turkey Sir Dyne of RespoÌ„de was alwayes in their couÌ„sayls and he sayd euer that the marchauÌ„tes venisyaÌ„s and genowayes myght well helpe and ayde in that busynesse For he sayd marchauntes myght go whider they lyst and by them myght well be knowen the dealyng of the turkes and tartaries with the portes and passages of the kynges soudans and miscreantes and specially they resorted to Quaire to Alexandre to DaÌ„mas to Antyoche and in to the great puissaunt cyties of the Sarazins dayly they passe and repasse And daylye marchauntes christened hath entrecours with the sarazins and exchaunge one with a nother their marchaundyse So the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne sought all the frendes and meanes they coulde gette to forther them and as than hadde no desyre to make warre vpon the duke of Myllayne bycause they vnderstode that he was gret with Lamorabaquy On the othersyde kyng Iames if Cypre thought well he shulde haue great thanke of the Frenche kyng and of the duke of Burgoyne if he myght asswage the furour of Lamorabaquy and bringe hym to some good resonable poynt for the redemynge of the lordes of Fraunce suche as he had in prisone And to please them the kynge of Cypre caused a shyppe to be made of fyne golde right noble and riche of the value well to the some of tenne thousande ducates whiche shyppe he sente to Lamorabaquy by his owne
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
sette to write letters and messangers were sente forthe to gyue knowledge to their frendes of their comynge These newes was anone knowen ouer all the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse ordeyned for the state of their sonne as vessell and plate of syluer and golde aparell and stuffe of housholde all this was sent to Venyce on soÌ„mers and the lorde of Angyers and syr Iaques of Helley dyd conuey all this stuffe and so came to Venyce And all the other lordes and knyghtes frendes dyd sende thyder in lyke maner And ye maye beleue well that this was nat dooue without great coste for there was nothynge spared and also they laye at Venyce at great coste and charge for Venyce is one of the derest townes in the world for straungers to lye in Thus these lordes kept their estates there and therle of Neuers was more charged than any other as it was reasone for he was the chiefe there The duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse sette all their ententes for the delyueraunce of their sonne for they desyred greatly to se theym and so dyd many other and the duke sayd that without ayde of his men and good frendes that were in his landes as well in Burgoyne as in Arthoys and in Flaunders he coulde nat tell howe to atteyne to the somme of money that Lamorabaquy shulde haue for his sonnes raunsome and to beare the costes that dayly grewe by that occasyon for though their raunsomes drewe but to two hundred thousande floreyns all thynges consydred their other charges drewe to as moch as they sayde that had the receyte and delyueraunce therof The duke tooke counsayle where this money shulde be reysed for the duke coulde nat breke nor mynysshe his estate nor it was nat his mynde to do Than it was determyned that the ryche men in all his good townes shulde be tared and specyally they of Flaunders bycause they were ryche by reason of their marchaundyse This taracyon was sette forwarde and whan they of Gaunt were called curtesly to the mater they aunswered and sayd that they wolde gladly helpe to ayde their enâ—erytour with the soÌ„me of fyfty thousande florayns In lykewyse they of Bruges and of other good townes in Flaunders were redy to ayde their lorde The duke and duchesse thanked them curtesly in lykewise so dyde they of Arthoise and of Burgoyne Also the Frenche kynge ayded well for his parte And also it had cost hym great riches in sendynge of presentes and knightes in to Hungry and Turkey howbe it he was well contente therwith syth his cosyns and his knyght Bouciquaunt were come to Venyce in suretie THerle of Neuers laye thus styll at Venyce for his enteÌ„t was nat to deê‘te thens tyll euery thynge was payed and discharge For the furnysshing of this fynaunce sir Dyne of Responde toke great payne to the entente to pleace the Frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne In suche busynesse he was subtyle and wyse Thus these Frenche lordes and knyghtes sported them eche with other The same season there felle in Venyce a great mortalyte and it began in the moneth of Auguste and dured without ceassynge tyll saynt Andrewes tyde wherin dyed moche people and there dyed sir Henry of Barc eldest sonne to the duke of Bare and herytoure by his wyfe of all the lorde of Coucyes landes excepte the ladyes dowrye Thus in the same season bothe the ladies of Coucy were widowes and their husbandes deed the whiche was great doÌ„mage His body was enbaulmed and caryed in to Fraunce and buryed in Parys as I beleue and there his obsequy was done solempnely To flye and eschewe fro this deth at Venice the erle of Neuers went and taryed at Trenuse with all his estate and there taryed a four monethes with all his company THus the erle of Neuers beynge at Trenuse It was shewed the kyng of Hungry by them of the Roodes howe the Frenche lordes were agreed with Lamorabaquy to paye for their soÌ„mes two hundred thousande florens Than the kyng sent letters by a bysshoppe and certayne knightes to them of Venice in the fauour of the Frenche knyghtes And also they were charged to saye certayne wordes to therle of Neuers as ye shall here for whan they caÌ„e thider they said to hym Sir we are sent hider fro our souerayne lorde the kyng of Hungry your cosin who saluteth you by vs and here be letters that he hath sente vnto you and he vnderstaÌ„deth howe ye are delyuered fro the handes of the turkes his aduersaries for certayne rauÌ„some the whiche otherwyse ye coude nat haue ben deliuered wherof he is right ioyouse And sir the kynge knoweth well that your treatie coude nat haue ben made without great cost and charge for besyde that ye lost in the batayle your raunsome and other charges hath ben and is dayly great Wherfore sir the kyng sayth if he myght ayde you with any thyng he wolde gladly do it for he thynketh him selfe bounde therto as well by lynage or otherwyse but sir he and his toke suche doÌ„mage at the daye of the batayle before Nichopoly as ye knowe well And also his reuenues of his realme for this yere and the next be in a maner as lost but whaÌ„ he hath recouery therof and is of power he saythe he wyll so purney for you that ye shal be wel content with hym thus to do he is of good wyll And sir to th entent that ye shall gyue credence to his promise and sayeng He hath in the cytie of Venyce of yerely renenewes seuyn thousande ducates And sir he is content that this be solde to the venycience and that of the money that shall ryse therof that ye shulde vse it and ayde your selfe therwith as ye wolde do of your owne goodes And sir of this we shall delyuer quitauÌ„ces to the venicyence we haue authorite so to do this offre greatly pleased the erle of Neuers and his couÌ„sayle and the lorde of Rocheforde answered and said howe the erle and all his coÌ„pany thanked greatly the kynge of Hungry in that he wolde sell or laye to gage his enherytauÌ„ce for to ayde them Sayeng howe his oâ—â—re was nat to be refused nor forgotten desyring to take a lytell counsayle in the mater and so they dyde Within a brefe tyme after it was shewed to the kyng of HuÌ„geries ambassadours in the behalfe of the erle of Neuers that it shulde nat be coÌ„uenyent that the kyng of Hungry shulde sell or ley to pledge his enherytaunces for other mennes causes But if so be the ambassadours wolde do so moche as to shewe to the venicyeÌ„ce that they wolde do so moche as to lende therle of Neuers a certayne soÌ„me of florence to helpe to paye the erles by charges to paye agayne to the priour of saynt IohnÌ„s in Acquitayne the .xxx. thousande florens that he lent to theÌ„ in the isle of the Rodes In thus doyng they saide they wolde highly thanke the kynge of Hungry his counsayle The
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
his herte and sayd he wolde do as they counsayled hym as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and than he sayd to them that kepte hym howe he wolde gladly speke with his cosyn of Lancastre ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Kynge Rycharde of Englande resigned the crowne and the realme in to the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii IT was shewed the duke of Lancastre howe Rycharde of Burdeaux desyred to speke with hym The duke in an euenynge toke a barge and went to the towre by water went to the kynge who receyued hym curtesly and humbled hym selfe greatly as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and sayd Cosyn of Lancastre I regarde and consydre myne estate whiche is as nowe but small I thanke god therof As any more to reygne or to gouerne people or to beare a crowne I thynke it nat and as god helpe me I wolde I were deed by a naturall dethe and that the frenche kinge had agayne his doughter we haue had as yet no gret ioy togyder nor syth I brought her in to Englande I coulde neuer haue the loue of my people as I had before Cosyn all thynges cōsydred I knowe we well I haue greatly trespassed agaynst you and agaynst other noble men of my blodde by dyuers thynges I perceyue I shall neuer haue pardone nor come to peace wherfore with myne owne free and lyberall wyll I wyll resygne to you the herytage of the Crowne of Englande and I requyre you take the gyfte therof with the resignacyon Whan the duke herde that he sayd syr it is conuenyent that parte of the thre estates of the realme be called to these wordes and I haue sent all redy for some noble men prelates and counsaylours of the good townes of Englande and I truste they wyll be here within this thre dayes suffycient of them for you to make a dewe resygnacion before them and by this meanes ye shal greatly apease many men within the realme For to withstande suche enormyties and yuels as haue ben vsed in the realme for faute of iustyce who had no place to reygne I was sent for fro beyond the see and the people wolde crowne me for the renome rynneth through Englande that I haue more ryght to the crowne than ye haue for whan our grauntfather kynge Edwarde the thyrde dyd chose and make you kynge the same was as than shewed hym but he loued so his sonne the prince that none coude breake his purpose nor opinyon but that you shulde be kynge and if ye wolde haue folowed the steppes of your father the prince and haue beleued his counsayle as a good sonne ought to haue done ye myght haue ben styll kyng and haue contynued youre estate but ye haue alwayes done the contrary so that the cōmon renome rynneth through England and in other places that ye were neuer sonne to the prince of Wales but rather sonne to a preest or to a chanon for I haue herde of certayne knightes that were in the Princes howse myne vncle howe that he knew well that his wyfe had nat truely kepte her maryage your mother was cosyn germayne to kynge Edwarde and the kynge beganne to hate her bycause she coulde haue no generacion Also she was the kynges gossyp of two chyldren at the fonte And she that coulde well kepe the prince in her bandon by crafte and subtylte she made the prince to be her husbande and bycause she coulde haue no chylde she douted that the prince shulde be deuorsed fro her she dyd so moch that she was with chylde with you and with another before you as of the fyrst I can nat tell what to iudge but as for you bycause your cōdicyons haue ben sene contrary fro all nobles and prowes of the prince therfore it is sayd that ye be rather sonne to a prest or to a chanon for whan ye were gotten and borne at Burdeaux there were many yonge preestes in the princes house This is the brute in this countrey and your workes haue well folowed the same for ye be alwayes enclyned to the pleasure of the french men and to take with them peace to the confusyon and dy shonoure of the realme of Englande And bycause myne vncle of Gloucestre and the erle of Arundell dyd coūsayle you truly and faythfully to kepe the honour of the realme and to folowe the steppes of your auncestours ye haue traytoursly caused them to dye As for me I haue taken on me to defende your lyfe as longe as I may for pytie and I shall pray the londoners and the herytours of them that ye haue slayne and banysshed to do the same Cosyn I thanke you quod that kynge I truste more in you than in any other It is but ryght that ye so shulde do for if I had nat ben ye had ben taken by the people and deposed with great confusyon and slayne by reasone of your yuell workes Kynge Rycharde herde well all the dukes wordes and wyst nat what to saye agaynst it for he sawe well that force nor argumentes coulde nat auelyle him but rather mekenesse and humilyte wherfore he humbled hym and prayed the duke to saue his lyfe WHan the duke of Lancastre had ben at the towre two houres with kynge Rycharde had shewed hym parte of his fautes than he retourned And the next day he sent forthe mo cōmaundementes in to all parties of the realme to cause noble men and other to come to London His vncle the duke of yorke came to London and the erle of Rutlande his sonne the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Thomas Percy his brother The duke of Lancastre made them good chere Thyder came also great nombre of prelates and abbottes And on a day the duke of Lancastre acompanyed with lordes dukes prelates erles barones and knyghtes and of the notablest men of London of other good townes rode to the Towre and there alyghted Than kynge Rycharde was brought in to the hall aparelled lyke a kynge in his robes of estate his septer in his hande and his crowne on his heed Than he stode vp alone nat holden nor stayed by no man and sayde a loude I haue been kynge of Englande duke of Acquytany and lorde of Irelande aboute xxii yeres whiche sygnory royalte cepter crowne and herytage I clerely resygne here to my cosyn Henry of Lancastre and I desyre hym here in this open presence in entrynge of the same possessyon to take this septour and so delyuered it to the duke who toke it Than kynge Rycharde toke the crowne fro his heed with bothe his handes and set it before hym and sayd Fayre cosyn Henry duke of Lancastre I gyue delyuer you this crowne wherwith I was crowned kyng of Englande and therwith all the right therto dependyng The duke of Lancastre tooke it and the archebysshop of Caunterbury toke it out of the dukes handes this resygnacion thus done the duke of Lancastre called a notary and demaunded to haue
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
¶ The preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knyght lorde Berners Sythe hystorie as I haue in my Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycles declared is the wytnesse of tymes the lyght of trouthe the lyfe of remembrauÌ„ce the maistres of the lyfe the messanger of olde season wherof innumerable coÌ„modyties growen I ne thynke the labours myspente that I at the highe coÌ„maundement of our moost redoughted soueraygne lorde Henry the cyght kyng of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce highe defender of the Christen faythe c. haue eâ—ployed aboute the translacyon of nowe the foure volumes of sir Iohan Froissaâ—t out of Frenche in to our Englysshe tong Certainly nat the bouÌ„tie of the same cronycles in whom are conteygâ—â—d the warres of these parties whiche warres dâ—scâ—yued in Frenche by sir Iohan Froyssaâ—â— ryght oâ—nately as many that haue great vnderstandynge in dyuers tonges in whome warres are written plainly saye for knyghtly feateâ— manhode and humanyte passe ryght moche the warres of farre countreis nor the great pleasure that thy noble countrey menne of Englande toke in redynge the worthy and knightly dedes of their valyaunt auncestours encorageth me halfe so moche as the princely exhorte whiche of all erthely kynges the very worshyppe and 〈◊〉 ouâ— foresaid gracyous soueraygne gaue me He who forthe manyfolde royall vertues in his highnesse fouÌ„de nat of two or thre small realmes 〈◊〉 is worthy to reygne and be kyng ouer the vnyuersall worlde â—elyteth in nothyng 〈◊〉 than to 〈…〉 I sayd the moost famous 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 and subict 〈…〉 ouâ— with all 〈◊〉 So that it â—ought appere to euery mannes â—ight ouer what and howe worthy people has 〈…〉 and nowe his 〈…〉 lyaunt 〈◊〉 contende by vigorous vertue and manhode to folowe yea to passe them if they maye Truely the ymages as they vsed in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp and remembraunce of them that were discended of noble blode he beare halfe the wytnesse that the noble dedes sette out in hystorye done Whiche well appereth by the wordes of the prudent kyng Agesilaus who dying coÌ„maunded that neyther ymage nor picture to his resemblauÌ„ce shulde be made for if I haue sayd he any noble thyng famously done it shall beare wytnesse ynough of me if I haue nought done certainly all the ymages lytell aueylen as who saythe suche thynges inought be made in mynde of them that were but dastardes and neuer dyde worthy dede in all their lyfe Wherfore for the loue and honour that I beare to our moost puissaunt soueraygne and to do pleasure to his subieâ—tes bothe nobles and coÌ„mons I haue endeuored me to translate out of FreÌ„che as sayd is in to Englysshe the four volumes of sir Iohan Froissart and reduced them in to twayne Wherin if I haue erred I praye them that shall defaute fynde to coÌ„syder the greatnesse of the hystorie and my good wyll that aske nothyng elles of them for my great labour but of their curtesy to amende where nede shal be and yet for their so doynge I shall praye to god finally to sende them the blysse of heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knight lord berners deputie of Calais traÌ„slatour of this present cronycle and here after foloweth the table with the chapters as they stande in the boke by order c. ¶ Herafter foloweth the table of this present volume FIrst howe syr Iohan Bourchyer gouernour of Gaunt durynge the truse had newe vitayled the towne of GauÌ„t and howe a maner of people called comporselles dyd moche hurte in the Countrey Capitulo primo ¶ Howe the bridge of Taylbourcke was won by the frenche men and howe the englisshmen fortyfied them selfe agaynst the coÌ„myng of the frenchmen and howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and his rout aryued at â—â—â—nborowe in Scotlande Capi. ii ¶ Howe the frenche men found a wylde countrey of ScotlaÌ„de and were yuell content with the admyrall and howe he pacyfied them with fayre wordes and howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nerehande taken Ardenbourke in Flaunders Cap. iii. ¶ Howe the lorde of saint Albyne and Enguerante zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takynge and howe the quene of Hungery sent ambassadours into Fraunce to marry thetle of Valoyes to her eldest doughter Cap. iiii ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabant wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyere of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng with her nese Isabell of Bauyer and howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Capi. v. ¶ Howe Fraunces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the frenche kynge wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyere and after wente and layde siege to Dan. Fo .vi. ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were behe ded and howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune howe the siege of Dan contynewed longe Cap. vii ¶ Howe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by nyght howe the frenche men toke the towne and destroyed it and also howe the kynge dystroyed the countrey of the foure craftes Capi. viii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge departed oute of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he came to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry and howe the marques of Blanqueforte toke by streÌ„ght to his wyfe the same lady 〈…〉 Cap. ix ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone toke Bertuell in Poictou and also of the great assemble that the kynge of Scottes made to entre in to Englande Cap. x. ¶ Howe the frenche men and scottes was the castell of Vatley and dystroyed dyuers other townes in Northumberlande and howe they withdrewe agayne in to Scotlande whan they knewe that the kynge of Englande was coÌ„mynge on them with a great puyssaunce Capi. xi ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande slewe syr Rycharde Stafforde and howe the erle of Stafforde came to the kynge to demaunde iustyce Capi. xii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande caused to be dystroyed the churche of Mewreus in Scotlande and howe the barones of Scotlande aunswered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuysed to leaue Scotlande and to lette the englysshe men alone Cap. xiii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande toke Edenborowe the chiefe tytle of Scotlande howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to Wales to close in the frenche men and the scottes and what the frenche men and scottes dyd in the sayd countrey Cap. xiiii ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kynge of Englande had thought to haue made into Wales after the frenchmen and scottes and howe the kyng retourned the same way that he came and howe the frenche men scottes determyned to retourne againe into Scotlande Cap. xv ¶ Howe the frenche lordes were in great paryll in scotlande and coude nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer thesee and how they shewed the erles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they founde in that countrey and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi ¶ Howe the admyrall enfourmed the frenche kynge and his counsayle of the state of Scotlande and
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
all men that wolde do any wrong therto reseruyng all onely the frenche kynges persone Than he sette men of warr to watche the wayes and passages where as these robbers pyllars vsed to passe on a daye he toke slewe and drowned of them at Robeston in Tholousin mo than four huÌ„dred wherby he gate great grace and honoure of them of Tholous and of Carcassone of Besyers and Mountpellyer and of other good townes there about so that the renome ran in Fraunce howe they of Languedoke were tourned and had taken to their lorde the erle of Foyz And the duke of Berry who was souerayne there toke therat great displeasure and had therle of Foiz in great hate bycause he medled so farre in the busynesse of Fraunce and wherby he maynteyned them of Tholous styll in their rebellyon agaynst him Than he sente men of warre in to the countre but they were fiersly driuen backe agayne by the erles men so that wheder they wolde or no they were fayne to drawe backe orels they had loste more than they shulde haue wonne With this the duke of Berrey was sore displeased with the erle of Foiz he sayd Howe therle of Foiz was the most presumptuous proudest knight of all the worlde The duke as than coude suffre no good to be spoken of hym howe be it he made hym no warre for the erle of Foiz had alwayes his townes and castelles so well prouyded for that none durste entre in to his lande But whan the duke of Berry came in to Languedocke than he left his rule for he wolde thaÌ„ no lengar exercyse agaynste the duke but the displeasure rested styll after a certayne space But nowe shall I shewe you by what meanes the peace was norisshed bytwene them IT was a ten yere paste that the lady Ellyanour of Comynges as nowe couÌ„tesse of Bouloyne and nere cosyn to therle of Foiz and right enherytour to the countie of Comynges thoughe that the erle of Armynake hadde it in possession She came to Ortaise to therle of Foiz and brought with her a yonge doughter of thre yere of age Th erle her cosyn made her good chere and he demaunded her of her busynesseâ—and wheder she was goynge Sir quod she I am goynge in to Arragon to myne vncle and Aunte the erle of Vrgell and there I purpose to abyde For I haue great displeasure to abyde with my husbande sir Iohan of Boloyne for I thought he wolde haue recouered myne enherytaunce of Comynges fro the erle of Armynake who kepeth it fro me And he hath my suster in prisone and he wyll do no thyng in the mater He is so softe a knight that he wyll do nothynge but take his ease and eate and drinke and to spende that he hath folysshlye and I thynke whan he is erle he wyll take his pleasure more Therfore I wyll no lengar abyde with hym and I haue brought with me my doughter whom I wyll delyuer in to your handes prayenge you to kepe and to norisshe her vp for I trust by reason of her lygnage ye wyll nat fayle thus to do for I haue hoope in you that ye wyll kepe her I had moche payne to gette her awaye out of the countrey and out of the handes of my husbande her father But bycause I take theÌ„ of Armynake myne aduersaries and yoursâ— who wolde gladly steale my doughter awaye bycause she is enherytour of Comynges therfore I haue brought her vnto you Wherfore sir I requyre you fayle me nat at this busynesse And I am sure her father my husbande whan he knoweth that I haue lefte her with you he wyll be right ioyfull â–ª For he hath sayd often tymes to me that this his doughter shulde put hym to great doute And whan the erle had well herde the wordes of the lady Elyanour his cosyn he was right ioyfull And ymagined in him selfe howe that childe after shuld do hym some pleasure as by the meanes of her mother to haue a ferme peace with his enemyes or els to marry her in so highe a place that his ennemyes shulde doute hym therby Than he answered the lady and said Madame and cosyn all that ye desyre I shall do it with right a good wyl for I am bounde therto by lynage and as for your doughter my cosyn I shall kepe her as well as though she were myne owne proper chylde Sir quod she I thanke you Thus the yong doughter of Bouloyne abode with the erle of Foiz at Ortaise and she neuer departed thens sithe and the lady her mother went to Arragon She hath been sithe ones or twyse tose her doughter but she neuer desyred to haue her agayne for therle kepte her as well as if she were his owne chylde And to the purpose as to the meane of the peace that I shewed you the erle ymagined to gette by her the loue agayne of the duke of Berrey And as nowe at this present tyme the duke of Berry hath gret desyre to be marryed and I thynke by that I herde at Auygnon by the Pope who is cosyn germayne to the ladyes father He shewed me howe the duke of Berrey desyreth to haue her in maryage Ah saynt Mary sir quod I howe your wordê be to me right agreable for it hath done me great pleasure all that euer ye haue shewed me whiche shall nat be loste for it shall be putte in remeÌ„braunce and cronycled if god wyll sende me the grace to retourne to the towne of ValenceÌ„nes where as I was borne But sir I am sore displeased of one thynge What is that ê™ he I shall shewe you By my faithe that so hyghe and valyant a prince as the Erle of Foiz is shulde be without laufull issue sir quod the knight if he had one as ones he had he shulde be the most ioyouse prince of the worlde and so wolde be all the couÌ„tre Why sir than quod I is his lande than withoute an heyre Nay sir ê™ he the Vycount of the castell Bone his cosyn germayne is his heyre Is he a valyant man in armes quod I Nay be my faythe sir quod he and therfore the Erle loueth hym nat and thynketh to make his two bastarde soÌ„nes who be right valyant his heyres thynketh to marry them in an highe lygnage for he hath golde and syluer ynough wherby he thynketh to gette theym wyues suche as shall ayde and conforte them Sir quod I it maye well be Howe be it the thyng is nat reasonable that bastardes shulde be made herytours of landes Wherfore nat sir quod he if there lacke good heyres Se you nat howe the spaynierdes haue crowned Henry a bastarde to be kyng and also they of Portyngale crowned a bastarde to their kynge It hath been sene in the worlde in dyuers realmes that bastardes by force hathe reygned Was nat Wyllyam Conquerour bastarde sonne to a duke of Normandy who conquered all Englande and was kynge there so that all the kynges syth are
discended fro hym Sir quod I all this might well be ther is no thyng but that may fall but they of Armynake are right stronge and so therby this countrey shal be euer in warre and stryfe but sir I pray you shewe me the iust cause why the warre first moued bytwene them of Foiz and Armynake I wyll shewe you ê™ the knight I ensure you it is a marueylous warre for as they saye eche of theÌ„ haue cause Sir aunciently about a huÌ„dred yere past there was a lorde in Byerne called Gascone a ryght valyant man in armes is buryed in the freres right solempnely at Ortaise and there ye may se what persone he was of stature and of body for in his lyfe tyme his pycture was made in latyn the whiche is yet there This Gascone lorde of Bierne had two doughters the eldest was maryed to the erle of Armynake that was thanÌ„e and the yongest to the erle of Foiz who as than was nephue to the kyng of Aragon and as yet therle of Foiz beareth his armes for he discended out of Aragon his armes are palle golde and goules And so it fortuned that this lorde of Biern had a gret warre agaynst the kynge of Spayne that was than who came through all Bisquay with a gret nombre of men of warre to entre in to Bierne The lorde Gascone of Bierne whan he was enformed of his comyng he assembled people on all sydes where he might get men of warre wrote letters to his two sonnes in lawe therle of Armynake and therle of Foiz that they shulde come to serue and ayde hym to defende his herytage These letters sene the erle of Foiz as sone as he myght asseÌ„bled his people prayed all his frendes so moche that he had a fyue huÌ„dred knightê and squiers armed and two thousande varlettes with speares dartes pauesses all a fote And so he came in to the countre of Bierne to serue his father who had of hym great ioye And so all they passed the bridge at Ortaise ouer the ryuer lodged bytwene Sanetere and thospytall the kyng of Spayne who had .xx. M. men was lodged nat far thens and ther the lorde Gascon of Bierne therle of foiz taryed for therle of Armynac thought euer that he wolde coÌ„e so taried for hi thre dayes and on the .iiii. day therle of Armynac sent his letters by an haraulde to the lorde Gascoine of Bierne and sente hym worde howe he myght nat come nor howe he hadde nothyng to do to beare armes for the countre of Bierne Whan the lorde Gascoyne herde those tidynges of excusacions and sawe howe heshulde haue none ayde nor conforte of the Erle of Armynake he was sore abasshed and demaunded counsayle of the erle of Foiz and of the other barones of Bierue howe they shulde maynteyne theÌ„ selfe Sir quod the erle of Foiz sithe we be here assembled let vs go and fight with our enemyes this counsayle was taken than they ordayned their people they were a twelfe huÌ„dred men of armes and sixe thousande men a fote The erle of Foiz tooke the first batayle and so came on the kyng of Spaygne and sette on his lodgynges And there was a great batayle and a fierse and slayne mo than ten thousande spayniardê and there therle of Foiz toke prisoners the kynge of Spaygnes sonne and his brother sent them to his father in lawe the lorde Gascoyne of Bierne who was in the areregarde there the spaynyerdes were so disconfyted that the erle of Foiz chased them to the porte saynt Adrian in Bisquay and the kynge of Spayne toke the abbey and dyde on the vesture of a monke or els he had ben taken Than the erle of Foiz retourned to the lorde Gascone of Bierne who made hym good chere as it was reason for he had saued his honour and kepte his countre of Bierne the whiche els was lykely to haue ben loste bycause of this batayle and disconfyture that the erle of Foiz made on the spaygnierdes and for the takyng of the kynges sonne and brother and the lorde of Bierne hadde peace with the spaygnierdes at his owne wyll And whan the lorde Gascoyne was retourned to Ortaise there before all the barons of Foiz and Bierne that were there present Hesayd to his sonne of Foiz Fayre sonne ye are my true and faithfull sonne ye haue saued myne honour and my couÌ„trey The erle of Armynake who hath maryed myne eldest doughter hath ercused hym selfe fro this busynesse and wolde nat come to defeÌ„de myne herytage wherin he shulde haue part Wherfore I saye that suche parte as he shulde haue by reason of my doughter he hath forfait and lost it And here clerely I enheryte you my sonne of Foiz after my dyscease of all the hoole lande and to your heyres for euer And I desyre wyll and commaunde all my subiectes to seale accorde and agre to the same And all answered howe they were well contente so to do Thus by this meanes as I haue shewed you aunciently the erles of Foiz were lordes of the countre of Bierne and bare the crye armes name and had the profyte therof Howe be it for all this they of Arminake had nat their clay me quyte This is the cause of the warre by twene Foiz and Armynake By my faythe sir than quod I ye haue well declared the mater I neuer herde it before And nowe that I knowe it I shall putte it in perpetuall memorie if god gyue me grace to retourne in to my countrey But sir if I durste I wolde fayne demaunde of you one thynge by what insydent the erle of Foiz sonne dyed Thafie the knyght studyed a lytell and sayd Sir the maner of his dethe is right pytuous I wyll nat speke therof Whan ye come to Ortaise ye shall fynde theÌ„ that wyll shewe you if ye demaunde it And than I helde my peace and we rode tyll we came to Morlens ⸪ ⸫ Of the great vertuousnesse and largesse that was in therle of Foiz and the maner of the pytuouse dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Cap. xxvi THe next day we departed and roode to Dyner to MouÌ„tgarbell and so to Ercye there we dranke And by sonne setting we came to Ortaise The knight a lighted at his owne lodgynge I a lyghted at the Mone wher dwelte a squier of the erles Erualton de Pyne who well receyued me bycause I was of Fraunce Sir Spayne of Leon wente to the castell to therle and founde hym in his galarye for he had but dyned a lytell before For the erles vsage was alwayes that it was hyghe noone or he arose out of his bedde and supped euer at mydnight The knight shewed hym howe I was come thider and incontynent I was sente for to my ladgynge for he was the lorde of all the worlde that moost desyred to speke with strauÌ„gers to here tidynges Whan the erle sawe me he made me good chere reteyned me as
So the duches departed to the duke and the frensshe knyghtes dranke and then toke theyr leues and wente to theyr lodgynge and there euery thynge was redy to departe and then they mounted and departed fro Besances and rode the same daye to Noy and there they rested and then rode forth tyll they came to Valeolyue ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the royalme of Castell Ca. lxxix AFter these dedes of armes done as I haue recorded The kynge of Portyngale the duke of Laucastre toke counsayle togyder and determyned to ryde and to entre in to Castell within a shorte space and that the kynge of Portyngale with all his power sholde ryde on the fronters and so to entre in to Castell and the duke and his rowte to entre on the boundes of Galyce and to conquere suche townes and fortresses as were agaynst hym and yf IohnÌ„ of Castell dyd assemble his oost agaynst them to make batayle theÌ„ bothe theyr oostes to drawe togyder It was thought moost necessary to haue theyr oostes a sondre tyll nede were rather then togyder to exchewe sykenes that myght fall to haue the more easyer lodgynge and foragynge in exchewyng of debates dyscordes for englysshmen be hasty prowde in the felde the Portyngales hote dysdaynful can not sustre but it was thought that in a grete iourney of batayle they sholde ryght wel agree togyder this couÌ„sayle was determyned the kynge sayd to the duke syr as soone as I haue knowledge that ye set forwarde I shall doo in lyke case for I and my men be redy they desyre nothynge elles but batayle syr sayd the duke and I shall not longe syr styll it is shewed me howe as yet there be certayne townes in Galyce that rebell agaynst vs I wyll goo and vysyte them and after that I wyll seke out for our enemyes whersoeuer I can fynde them Thus the kynge of Portyngale toke leue of the duke and duches and in lyke wyse so dyd the quene Phelyp and her yonge syster katheryne for it was ordeyned that the yonge lady sholde abyde al the warre season with her syster the quene at the cyte of Porte in Portyngale it was thought she coulde be in ony better kepynge and the duches retourned to saynt Iaques in Galyce so thus euery body departed thyder as they sholde doo the kynge to the cyte of Porte and the duches to the towne of saynt Iaques well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers and the duke taryed at Besances and there aboute and prepayred shortly to set forwarde he was desyrous to departe bycause it was in the ioly lusty moneth of Aprell at whiche season in Galyce the grasse is full growen and all theyr corne and herbes floures and fruytes redy rype the countrey is so hote that in the begynnynge of Iune haruest is past the duke thought the season goodly to set forwarde his army ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speke of the orderynge of the frensshmen and of kynge IohnÌ„ of Castell as well as we haue done of the englysshe men ¶ Howe syr Wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge IohnÌ„ of Castell Ca. lxxx HEre before ye haue herde howe syr Wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac dyd so moche by theyr wyse entreatynge of the erle of Foyze that he suffred them peasybly to passe thrughe his countrey of Byerne to go in to Castel and besyde that the erle gaue them grete rewardes for there were noo knyghtes nor squyers straungers that came to se hym but that he wolde largely rewarde them accordynge to theyr degrees to some a C. floreynes to some CC. floreynes and .xxx. or .xl. so that this sayd fyrst passage of the Frensshe men cost the erle of Foyze as his owne treasourer shewed me the some of a M. frankes besyde horses and other thynges that he gaue to say trouth surely it is grete domage that suche a persone sholde be olde or dye he had no mermosettes aboute hym to say syr take here and gyue this and pynche pyl the people surely he had none suche aboute hym â— he dyd euery thynge on his owne mynde for naturally he had grete wysdome and coulde gyue where nede was and take as it became hym best and by reasan of his larges and grete expences somtyme he trauayled his subiectes for his reuenewes were not suffycyent to bere out his gyftes whiche were yerely .lx. M. frankes the whiche lyke haue not ben sene nor herde of ony other yet he assembled his treasoure for doubte of all aduentures in .xxx. yere .xxx. tymes a C.M. frankes and yet for all that his people alwayes prayde to god for his longe lyfe and I herde it reported howe when he dyed there were in Foyze and in Byerne .x. M. persones that sayd that they wolde gladly haue dyed with hym wherby it is to be thought that they sayd not so without it had ben for grete loue that they had to theyr lorde and surely if they loued hym they dyd but ryght and accordynge to reason for he alwayes maynteyned them in theyr ryght and kepte euer true iustyce for all his laâ—des and the people therin had as grete lyberte and fraunchesse and lyued in as good peas as thoughe they had ben in paradyse terrestre I say not this for flattery nor for fauour nor loue that I bere hym nor for the gyftes that he hath gyuen me but I can well proue all that I haue sayd for I am sure there be a M. knyghtes squyers wyll saye the same NOwe let vs retourne to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and to syr Gaultyer of Passac who were capytaynes and souerayne leders of all the frensshe armye when they were passed the countrey of Bysquey and the pase of Rounceuall whiche cost them .iii. dayes a passynge The mountaynes were so full of snowe for all that it was in the moneth of Aprell yet they and theyr horses hadde moche payne to passe thrughe Then they came towardes Panpylona and there they founde the royalme of Nauare redy open for to suffre them to passe thrughe For the kynge of Nauare wolde not doo no dyspleasure to the kynge of Castell bycause his sone syr Charles of Nauare had to his wyfe as then the kynge of Castelles syster when the peas was made bytwene kynge Henry and the fader of kynge IohnÌ„ of Nauare they made and promysed grete alyaunce togyder whiche they longe kepte for the kynge of Nauare was not able to resyst the kynge of Castell without he had grete alyaunce and comforte of the kynge so Aragon or elles of the kynge of englande THese capytaynes of Fraunce came to Pampylona where the kynge of Nauare was who receyued them ioyfully made them to dyne with hym in his palays after dyner he led them in to his chambre and there comoned with them of dyuers thynges for the kynge there was
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
my mayster and his counsayle by greuous complayntes of the noble men other of the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn howe they had taken great domages and losses by the meanes that Aymergot aduysed a strong place bytwene the couÌ„trâ—â—s which was voyde and nat inhabyted he toke and fortefyed it and hath nat made it a house of peace or solace but a stronge fortresse and a resortynge place for theues robbers and murderers whervpon I am coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be here to defende the countrey and to the entent that suche as be assembled in this forttesse shulde nat multyply in their wickednesse but to punysshe them by suche sentence as apartayneth to their trespace and for that entente I do put to my payne to take them if I can the whiche coÌ„maundemente of my mayster I wyll obey and shall do my deuoyre to acquyte me truly and fro hence I wyll nat departe what so euer coÌ„maundemente I haue tyll I haue the fortresse and them that be within And if Aymergot Marcell wyll say that I am auaunced to breke the peace lette hym come forthe and he shall be fought withall with one that is better than he and shal cause to be proued by dyuers poyntes and artycles that he hym selfe breaketh the peace Sirs all thynges consydred I make you this aunswere ye maye retourne whan it pleace you and whan ye come there as ye wold be say none otherwyse nor no lesse than I haue sayde to you for often tymes reportes nat truely set enfourmeth lordes often tymes otherwyse than the trouthe is in dede Syr quod the squyer we are come hyther for none other purpose but to reporte the trouth of that we here and se and sythe ye wyll none otherwyse do we nede no lenger to abyde here and so toke their leaue And there was gyuen to the haraulde ten frankes for the honour of the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre WHan they were departed they toke the hyghe way to Cleremount and sayd they wolde agayne to Parys whan they were halfe a leage on their way than they began to entre in to their mater and sayd As yet we haue done nothynge it behoueth vs to go to the duke of Berrey in to Auuergne who is lorde of this countrey for he writeth hym selfe duke of Berrey and of Auuergne the by counte of Meaulx dare nat displease the duke if he coÌ„maunde hym to departe and we haue letters fro the kynge our mayster and fro the duke of Lancastre to hym wherfore it is reason that we delyuer them and that we maye knowe his entente They concluded on that purpose and so rode to Cleremounte thydeâ— they were welcome for the haraulde knewe the countrey and whan they were demauÌ„ded what they were they answered that they were messangers sent fro the kynge of Englande and than they demaunded where the duke of Berrey was and it was shewed them that the duke and the duches was in a castell of theirs named the Nonecâ—e The haraulde knewe it well he had been there before Than they departed fro Cleremount and rode to Vyore and fro thens to Nonect There is a hyghe mountayne to passe or one come to the castell Whan they came there the duke of Berrey with many other was sportynge without the gate the harauld was knowen with dyuers Than they were brought to the duke who for the loue of the kynge of Englande and of the duke of Lancastre made them good chere the squyer delyuered his letters to the duke who receyued them and opened and red them at length two tymes ouer Than he studyed a lytell and answered them curtesly and sayde Syrs for the loue of our cosyns in Englande we shall gladly do our power Of the which aunswere the squyer and the haraulde were ryght ioyouse and thought than howe they had sped all their mater but it was nat so as ye shall here after howe be it the duke of Berrey at the begynnynge dyd his deuoyre to haue raysed the siege to please therby the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre who desyred that the siege myght be reysed before the Roche of Vandoys and that the lytell fortresse myght abyde styll to Aymergot Marcell if he haue done any thyng to dysplease the frenche kyng or his couÌ„sayle the kynge of Englande wolde se that there shulde be amendes made And the duke of Berrey bycause he wold acquyte him truely to the englysshe mennes desyres suche as were in his house he wrote incontynente letters well endyghted to the vycount of Meaulâ— and these letters were red or they were sealed before the englysshe men who thought them well ordayned These letters were sente by a notable squyer of the duke of Berreys to the vycount of Meaulx who receyued them and opened them Than the vycount caused them to be redde before suche lordes as were there with hym whyle the messanger was a drinkynge for they made hym good chere for the loue of the duke of Berrey as it was reason Sirs quod the vycounte we shall nat be in rest syth the duke of Berrey wyll beare Aymergot who is the man of the world that this twelue yere hath moste grâ—ued and traueyled the couÌ„trey of Auuergne I had thought that the duke had hated hym greatly but it semeth nay sythe he hath â—rpresly coÌ„maunded that I shulde departe fro hence But by my faythe at this tyme I wyll nat obey this letter but I wyll make excuse by reason of the kynge and his couÌ„sayle who sent me hyder and at my departynge fro Parys he straytly coÌ„maunded me that for any coÌ„maundemente fro any persone and if it were nat fro the kynge kymselfe that I shulde nat departe fro hence tyll I had taken the stronge holde of the Roche of Vandoys and Aymergot therin whiche I wyll do if I canne and nowe the duke of Berrey coÌ„maundeth me the contrary for he chargeth me incontynent his letters sene that I shulde reyse the syege By my faythe I wyll nat do it Syr quod they that were aboute hym ye speke royally and truely and we shall abyde with you but we suppose the occasion that the duke of Berrey writeth thus for Aymergot is that the englyssh squier and the haraulde hath thus desyred him to write we thinke also they haue brought letters to hym fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre as they brought to you this other day ye say well quod the vicounte and I shall knowe it if I came Than the duke of Berreys squier was sent for to haue his answere and the vycount sayd to him Pyer I wyll well that ye knowe that I owe obeysaunce to the duke of Berrey for he is so nere a kynne to the kynge that I dare nat dysplease hym but I and my companyons who haue ben here these fyue wekes at this siege to wyn this fortresse and to take the theues that be within it by the strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge and his
counsayle and we haue great marueyle and good cause why howe my lorde of Berrey dothe commaunde vs and maketh requeste for his enemyes that we shulde reyse our siege by reason of that we say generally that we shal gyue ensample to all theues and robbers suche as wyll ouer ron the realme to do the worst they canne Wherfore Pyer ye shall say to the duke of Berrey fro vs all that we are and shall be redy inclyned to do any thynge that he commaundeth vs to do but as in this case I am so straytely enioyned and cōmaunded by the kyng and his coūsayle to kepe this siege and to contynewe it tyll I haue the fortresse and them within at my pleasure whiche cōmaundemente I dare nat brake and say that surely I wyll obey to no cōmaundement but alonely to the kynges whose subget Iame and by whome I am sente hyther But sir I requyre you shewe me one thynge if ye can who hath made this request for Aymergotte Marcell who hath done so moche yuell and anoyaunce to the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn and nowe he is atrapped lyke as a traytoure shulde be and is nere come to an yuell ende whiche he hathe well deserued for he hath erred and done contrary to his othe Syr quod the squyer there came to my lorde the duke of Berrey two men of Englande an haraulde and another who brought letters to my lorde fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre and they made greate request for Aymergotte I beleue you well quod the vycounte it was Derby the haraulde and a squyer called Herbery they brought me this other daye lyke letters wherfore I suppose that the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre wrote to the duke of Berrey in this mater wherfore shewe to my lorde of Berrey that I desyre him to consydre all thinges well for all these requestes that are come fro the other syde of the see are but desyres purchased by our enemyes to the which no lorde on this syde the see if he loue the honoure and profyte of the realme of Fraunce shulde enclyne nor condyscende Sir quod the squyer I shall forget nothynge of that ye haue shewed me for I loue nat Aymergot I had rather se his punysshmente thanne his delyueraunce So the Squyer departed and rode to Nonecte where he founde the duke of Berrey and dyd his message ryght sagely the conclusyon was that the vycounte of Meaulx sayde surely he wold nat departe fro the siege before the Roche of Vandoys without the kynge sente hym strayte commaundemente so to do With this aunswere the duke of Berrey was nat well contente he had thought that as well his commaundement shulde haue been obeyed specyally in Auuergne WHan the englysshe squyer and Derby the haraulde herde of the answere that was made to the duke of Berrey and howe that the siege was nat raysed they were sory and sawe well they traueyled in vayne than they sayde to the duke Syr what wyll ye counsayle vs to do shall we thus departe frome you without spedynge of any thynge to purpose The kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre haue great truste and affyaunce in you that ye shuld cause this siege to be reysed bycause the Roche of Vandoys is vnder our signoury Syrs quod the duke suffre a season Aymergot Marcell is in a stronge place he nedeth nat to feare takyng without a great vnhappe and shortely I purpose to goo in to Fraunce to the kynge and thanne I wyll speke with the Kynge and his counsayle and for the loue of my cosyns of Englande I shall do the beste I canne to bringe the matter to passe and ye shall go with me and se howe I shall spede With those wordes the Squyer and the haraulde were contente Than the fourth day after the duke departed fro Nonecte and lefte there the duchesse his wyfe with a gret parte of his householde and so the duke rode to Ryon in Auuergne and there he taryed more thanne eyght dayes for the erle of Sanxere and the lorde Rule who were gone to Auignon aboute the dukes busynesse and whan they were come they departed fro Ryon all togyther and toke the waye throughe Burbonoys and at laste came to Bourges in Berrey and there the duke taryed two dayes Than he rode to Mehun on the ryuer of yeure to a castell one of the fayrest houses of the worlde as thanne the duke had newly bylte it and it had coste hym thre hundred thousande frankes There the duke taryed fyftene dayes wherwith the Englysshe messangers were sore troubled howbeit they coude fynde none other remedy The duke as than made lytell force for the delyueraunce of Aymergot I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes So it was the erle of Sanxere and the lorde of Rule who were chefe of the dukes counsayle with syr Peter Mespyn they in fayre maner blamed the duke and sayde howe he hadde nothinge to do to medell with the busynesse of Aymergot sayenge that his lyfe hathe been alwayes dyshonourable and howe that he was but a false palyarte and alwayes agaynste the crowne of Fraunce and had doone many vyllayne dedes and roboryes in Auuergne and in Lymosyn and how that he was no mete parsone to be entreated for wherfore syr quod they suffre the kynge and his counsayle to deale with hym as they lyste These wordes and suche other refrayned the duke of Berrey to speke any further in the mater Howe be it the two englysshe men dyd their best to remembre the duke And the duke dissymulynge aunswered them curtessy and sayde Syrs suffre a season we shall be shortely at Parys but for all his wordes he taryed styll at Mehun more thanne thre wekes deuysynge with his mayster workeman as keruers and paynters for therin he had great fantasy He had a mayster workeman called maister Andrewe as than one of the best worke men of the worlde an Englysshe man borne but he dwelte in Fraunce and in Haynalte a longe season Nowe shall I shewe you what fortuned of Aymergot Marcell and of the roche of Vandoys This Aymergot was a farre castynge man and whan he sawe that that siege was nat reysed he thought well that the kyng of Englandes messangers coude nat spede of their sute than he thought on another turne as to departe thens and to ryde nyght and daye to speke with the capitaynes of Piergourt and Pyerguyse and with Guyot of saint Fayth and Ernalton of saynt Calombe Ernalton of Rostem Iohn̄ of Morsen Pier Danchin and Remonet of Cōpayne and with dyuers other gascoyns and bernoyse in the englysshe garysons and he thought that with his fayre wordes he shuld cause them to assemble togyther and to come in to Auuergne on truste to wynne great botyes and so on a mornyng or in the night to come and reyse the siege before Vandoys and to take there the frenche men prisoners whiche shulde be worthe to them
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