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
be nat delyuered fro the companyons There is as yet the garyson of Lourde where as Peter Arnaulte kepeth vnder the kynge of Englande And also the garyson of Bounteuyll whiche is kepte by sir Iohan of Granley sonne to the Captall of Buse And thoughe it be so that as nowe we haue peace with the erle of Foiz yet it is good to doubte hym for he is cruell and hastye his thought is vnknowen therfore it is good that our landes be nat dyspurueyed Wherfore Brother for these causes other ye shall retourne home and ye shalle here often fro me and I fro you Sir Bernarde lightlye agreed to this purpose The deuyse semed good to hym Nor also he had no great affeccyon to go forthe in that iournay Than at his departynge the erle his brother sayde to hym Brother in youre retournyng ye shall go to our cosyn Raymonde of Thourayne who holdeth lande of the pope in the countie of Venus and maketh warre agaynst hym and my cosyn hath maryed his doughter to the prince of Orenge and shewe hym howe I am desyred of the pope to requyre hym to go with me in this voyage and I shall make hym my companyon in euery thynge and I shall tary for hym at the cytie of Gappe bytwene the mountayns Sir quod Bernarde I shall do your message Thus the two bretherne departed a sondre in the felde and neuer mette to guyder agayne after The erle of Armynake toke the waye to the cytie of Gappe in the lande of Ganos And Bernarde his brother went to the castell of Bolongne where sir Raymonde of Thouraygne was who receyued his cosyn ioyously Than sir Bernarde shewed hym the message that he had to saye fro his brother the erle of Armynacke with as fayre wordes as he coulde deuyse the rather therby to enclyne hym therto Than sir Raymonde aunswered and layd Fayre cosyn or your brother the erle of Armynake be entred farre in to LoÌ„bardy and hath besieged any towne I shall folowe hym but as yet it is to soone for me and my men to go forwarde Write vnto your brother my cosyn that aboute the moneth of Maye I shall folowe hym by the tyme I trust to haue an ende of the war betwene myne vncle pope Clement and the cardinals at Auignon me who as yet wyll do me no ryght and kepeth awaye fro me ê‘force that myne vncle pope Gregorie gaue me they wene to wery me but they shall nat They desyre knyghtes and squyers and gyueth theym pardons to make warre agaynst me but they haue no lyst therto For I canne haue mo men of warre for a thousande Floreyns in one daye than they can haue for all their absolucions in seuyn yere Fayre cosyn quod sir Bernarde that is trewe Kepe on your purpose I wolde nat counsayle you otherwyse And as ye haue aunswered me so shall I write to my brother therle of Armynake So be it quod sir Raymonde Thus they were toguyder all a hole daye ThanÌ„e sir Bernarde departed and passed the ryuer of Rosne at the bridge Saynt Espyrite and so retourned in to Query and in to Rouergue by the mountayns and so came thyder as he wolde be and lefte the erle of Armynake his brother alone with his warre against the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues Or he departed fro Bolonge he wrote to his brother all the newes that he knewe and the answere of sir Raymonde of Thourayne The erle of Armynake receyued the letters in the waye goyng to the cytie of Gappe He redde the letters and so passed forthe and made no great force of the matter WE wyll contynue to speke of the yonge erle of Armynacke and shewe his feate or I speke of any other mater And thus I say The good loue and great affection that he had to conforte his suster brother in lawe her husbande whom the erle of Vertues who called hym selfe lorde of Myllaygne falsely disheryted withoute cause or tytellâ— caused the erle ioyously to passe in his iourney as farre as Pyemount in Lombardy There was two great reasons that caused the erle of Armynake to assemble and to make that iourney at that tyme. The fyrste was that the realme of Fraunce therby was clene rydde of the routes of these companyons that hadde done moche hurte in the reaime and therby the countreys better assured than they were before The seconde reason was to ayde his suster for he had great pytie that she and her husbande shulde lese their herytage wherby they shulde lyue and maynteyne their estate and for these consyderacions he toke on hym this enterprice The capitayns of the companyons sayde one to another Lette vs ryde forthe merily agaynst these lombardê we haue a good quarell and a inste tytell and we haue a good capitayne wherby our warre shal be moche the better And also we shall go in to the best countrey of all the worlde for Lombardy receyueth fro all costes the fatnesse of the worlde and the e lombardes be naturally euer riche and cowardes We shall attayne agaynst theym moche profyte There is none of vs that be capitayns but that shall retourne so ryche that we shall neuer nede to make warre more agaynst any man Thus the companyons de used one with another and whan they came in to a plentuous countrey there they wolde tary a season to refresshe them and their horses In the same season the good abueÌ„turous fought of Englande sir Iohan Hacton was in the marchesse of FloreÌ„ce and made warre agaynst the floreÌ„tyns in the quarell of pope Bonyface of Rome for they were rebell agaynst the popes coÌ„maundement and so were also the Perusyns The erle of Armynake thought that if he might get this Englysshe knyght to take parte with hym he shulde haue a great treasure of hym bycause of his wysedome valyauntnesse The erle wrote to hym signyfieng hym all the hole mater of his enterprice desyringe hym of his ayde Whiche letter was sente by a discrete person to sir Iohan Hacton beyng in the marchesse of Florence and had a two thousande fyghtynge men He receyued the letter and redde it And whan he hadde well vnderstande all the substaunce therof he was ryght ioyfull and aunswered and sayde That his owne warre ones atchyued he wolde do nothyng after tyll he were in the company of the erle of Armynake The messanger sayde Sir ye saye well I requyre you write your mynde to my lorde the erle of Armynake he wyll the better beleue it With ryght a good wyll sir quod the knight it is reason that I so do Than the Englysshe knyght wrote and delyuered the letter to the messangere who retourned and came agayne to his lorde and founde hym as than in the marchesse of Pyneroll where was gret treatie bitwene hym and the Marques of Salues who shulde be alyed with hym to ayde him in his warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues THe tidynges that the erle of
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
erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who had ben as an hostager in Englande and moche in the duke of Lacasters company and loued hym very well He came and humbly saluted the duke of Lancaster Whan the duke sawe him he enbrased hym in great token of loue and spake toguyder a lytell Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne came to them the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy and therle of â—aynt Poule came to the duke of yorke the erle of Huntyngton and to sir Thomas Percye and so â—ode talkyng togyder with amorous wordes tyll they aproched the cytie of Amyence Than the duke of Lancastre rode bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyn Thus they rode all thre in a front makyng honour eche to other tyll they came to the bysshoppes palais where the kynge the duke of Thourayne was There they a lighted and the two dukes ledde the duke of Laâ—castre vp the steres and the other dukes and lordes folowed Than the Frenche lordes came in to the kynges presence made their reuerence and lefte the Englysshe dukes standyng alone Than a lytell they enclined them selfe to the kyng than the kyng caâ—e to them and toke them by the handes lytte them vp and spake swetely to them they to hym and other lordes of Fraunce fell in talkynge with the other lordes of Englande whan they had coÌ„maned a season they toke their leaue of the kyng his brother vncles and departed were conueyed to their lodgynges by the coÌ„stable of Fraunce the lorde Coucy the erle of saynt Poule sir Iohan of Vyenne and other Lordes of the realme of Fraunce Than they toke their leaues deê‘ted agayne to the kyng and the lady of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy was lodged in her fathers lodging all her coÌ„pany IT was ordayned by the freÌ„che kyng his counsayle before thenglysshe lordê came to the cytie of Amyence whiche ordynauÌ„ce was publysshed and proclamed openlye to th entent that no ê‘sone shulde be ignorant therof but euery man to beware of â—re kyng of any artycle in the proclamacion on payne of lefyng of their heedes First that no maner of person make any riot or gyue any riotous wordes to any Englysshman also that no knight nor squier speke or make any chalenge of armes to any englysshman on payne of the kynges highe displeasure they to company with the with swete wordes and goodly behauour in that towne lodgyngê or felde nor that the Frenche pages make any debate nor riotte in any place on payne of dethe And what soeuer any englysshman demauÌ„deth to suâ—â—re them pesably to haue it that no hoâ—t nor vitayler demaunde any money outher for meate or drinke nor for other suche coÌ„men charges Also it was ordayned that no knight nor squyer of Fraunce shuld go by night tyme without torche or torches and that the englysshmen shulde go at their pleasure without any coÌ„trolement that if any freÌ„chman mete any Englysshman in the night in any strete that they shulde swetely gently conuey him or theÌ„ to their lodgyng or to their company Also it was ordayned that in four places of the cyte four watches to be set of a thousande men in euery watche and that if any fyre happe to fall in the nyght by any incydence the watche in no wyse to remoue for no maner of cause but at the so wnynge of a bell all other people to drawe to queÌ„che the fyre Also it was ordayned that no freÌ„ch knight nor squier for no maner of cause shulde presume to speke to the king wtout the kyng fyrst dyde call hym Nor also that the knightes nor squyers of Fraunce shulde talke nor comune toguyder as long as any of the Englysshe men were present But to fynde comunynge and pastyme with theym Also it was ordayned that all hostes and their seruauntes in anywyse shulde nat conuey or hyde any Bowes or Arrowes or any other thynge parteyninge to the Englysshe men without makynge of large amendes without it were gyuen them by the Englysshmen of their curtesy than to take it or els nat All these thynges were determyned by delyberacyon or good counsayle to do the Englysshe men the more honoure for they trusted of a good conclusyon of peace Nighe euery day a fiftene dayes toguyder these lordes were in counsayle and brought nothyng to coÌ„clusyon for their demaundes were greatly different The Frenche men demaunded to haue Calais rased and beaten downe in suche wyse that no persone shulde dwell there after The Englysshe men wolde in no wyse agree to that treatie for it ought to be beleued that Calais was the towne of the worlde that the coÌ„mons of Englande loued best for as longe as they be lordes of Calays They sayde they bare the kayes of Fraunce vnder their gyrdell Thoughe the lordes departed euery daye vnagreed yet they departed a soÌ„der right amiably for euery daye they poynted to were agayne the nexte day bothe parties trustyng at last to coÌ„clude on some good poynt The frenche kyng made thenglysshe men in that space thre notable dyners at his palais In lykewise so dyde the duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule Eche of these made the Englysshe men a great dyner And for euery thyng that the Englysshmen toke in the towne was payd for and clerkes apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to write euery thyng and euery man apoynted for their money to the chambre of accomptes It ought to be knowen that Iohan duke of Lancastre and his brother the duke of yorke for all that they were come thyder on trust of peace yet they had charge of the kyng of Englande and of his counsayle that what soeuer treatie they made in no wise they shulde nouther gyue nor take any maner of thynge MAny were of the opynion that the coÌ„mynaltie of Englande rather enclyned to warre than to peace for in the tyme of good kyng Edwarde the thirde and of his sonÌ„e the prince of Wales they had so many fayre and highe vyctories on the frenche men and so great conquestes with so moche money for raunsomes sellyng and patesynge of townes countreis that they were become marueylous riche for many suche as were no gentylmen of byrthe by reason of their hardynesse and valyaunt aduentures wan and conquered so moche golde and syluer that they became noble and rose to great honour And so such as folowed after wolde folowe the same lyfe how beit after that dayes of the sayd kyng Edwarde and the prince his sonne by the wysdome and highe enterprice of sir Bertram of Clesquy and by the ayde of other good knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce The Englysshmen were than agayne sore put backe The duke of Gloucestre sonne to the sayde kynge Edwarde and vncle as than to kyng Richarde than beyng at Amyence dyuers other lordes knightes and squyers were of
squyer hym selfe had on the syxte And whan they where thus arayed in these sayd cotes and sowed fast in them they semed lyke wylde wode houses full of beare fro the toppe of the heed to the sowle of the foote This deuyse pleased well the frenche kynge and was well content with the squyer for it They were aparelled in these cotes secretly in a chamre that no man knewe therof but such as holpe them Whan syr yuan of Foiz had well aduysed these cores he sayd to the kynge Syr coÌ„maunde straytely that no man aproche nere vs with any torches or fyre for if the fyre fasten in any of these cotes we shall all be brent without remedy the king aunswered and sayd yuan ye speke well and wysely it shall be doone as ye haue deuysed and incontynent sent for an vssher of his chambre coÌ„maundyng him to go in to the chambre where the ladyes dauÌ„sed and to coÌ„maunde all the varlettes holdinge torches to stande vp by the walles and none of them to aproche nere to the wovehouses that shulde come thyder to daunce The vssher dyd the kynges coÌ„maundement whiche was fulfylled Sone after the duke of Orlyance entred in to the hall acompanyed with four knyghtes and syxe torches and knewe nothynge of the kynges coÌ„maundement for the torches nor of the mummery that was coÌ„mynge thyder but thought to be holde the daunsynge and began hym selfe to daunce Therwith the kynge with the fyue other came in they were so dysguysed in flaxe that no man knewe them Fyue of them were fastened one to another The kynge was lose and went before and led the deuyse WHan they entred in to the hall euery man teke so great hede to them that they forgate the torches The kynge departed fro his company and went to the ladyes to sporte with them as youth requyred and so passed by the quene and came to the duchesse of Berrey who toke and helde hym by the arme to knowe what he was but the kyng wolde nat shewe his name Than the duches sayd ye shall nat escape me tyll I knowe your name In this meane season great myschyefe fell on the other and by reason of the duke of Orlyance howe be it it was by ignoraunce and agaynst his wyll for if he had consydred before the mischefe that â—ell he wolde nat haue done as he dyd for all the good in the worlde but he was so desyrous to knowe what personages the fyue were that daunced he put one of the torches that his seruauÌ„tes helde so nere that the heate of the fyre entred in to the flaxe wherin if fyre take there is no remedy and sodaynly was on a bright flame and so eche of them set fyre on other the pytche was so fastened to the lynen clothe and their shyrtes so drye and fyne and so ioynynge to their flesshe that they began to brenne and to cry for helpe None durste come nere theym they that dyd brente their handes by reason of the heate of the pytche One of them called Nanthorillet aduysed hym howe the botry was therby he fled thyder and cast himselfe in to a vessell full of water wherin they rynsed pottes whiche saued hym or els he had ben deed as the other were yet he was sore hurt with the fyre whan the quene herde the crye that they made she douted her of the Kynge for she knewe well that he shulde be one of the syxe wherwith she fell in a sowne and knightes and ladyes came and comforted her a pyteous noyse there was in the hall The duchesse of Berrey delyuered the kynge fro that parell for she dyd caste ouer him the trayne of her gowne and couered him fro the fyre The kynge wolde haue gone fro her Whyder wyll ye go quod she ye se well howe your company brennes What are ye I am the kyng quod he Haste you quod she and gette you in to other apparell that the quene maye se you for she is in great feare of you Therwith the kynge departed out of the hall and in all haste chaunged his apparell and came to the quene And the duchesse of Berrey had somwhat comforted her and had shewed her howe she shulde se the kynge shortely Therwith the kynge came to the quene and as soone as she sawe hym for ioy she enbrased hym and fell in a sowne Than she was borne in to her chambre and the kynge wente with her And the bastarde of Foiz who was all on a fyre cryed euer with a loude voyce saue the kynge saue the kynge Thus was the kynge saued It was happy for hym that he went fro his company for els he had ben deed without remedy This great myscheife fell thus about mydnyght in the hall of saynt Powle in Parys where there was two brente to dethe in the place and other two the bastarde of Foiz and the erle of Iouy borne to their lodgynges and dyed within two dayes after in gret mysery and payne Thus the feest of this maryage brake vp in beuynesse howe be it there was no remedy The faulte was onely in the duke of Orlyaunce and yet he thought none yuell whanne he put downe the torche Than the duke sayde Syrs lette euery man knowe there is no man to blame for this cause but all onely my selfe I ame sory therof If I had thought as moche before it shulde nat haue happened Than the duke of Orlyaunce went to the kynge to excuse hym and the kyng toke his excuse This case fell in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and twelue the tuesday before the feest of Candelmas of whiche fortune great brute spredde abrode in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and in other countreys The dukes of Burgoyne and of Berrey were nat there present at that season They hadde taken their leaue before of the kyng and were gone to their lodginges THe next daye these newes spredde abrode in the cytie and euery manne had merueyle therof and some sayd howe God had sente that token for an ensample and that it was wysedome for the kynge to regarde it and to withdrawe hym selfe fro suche yonge ydell wantonnesse whiche he had vsed ouermoche beynge a kyng The coÌ„mons of the cytie of Parys murmured sayd Beholde the great myshappe and myschiefe that was lykely to haue fallen on the kynge He myght as well haue been brent as other were What shulde haue fallen than of the kynges vncles and of his brother They myght haue ben sure none of them shulde haue scaped the dethe yea and all the knyghtes that myght haue been founde in Parys As soone as the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde of that aduenture they were abasshed and marueyled greatly They lepte on their horses and rode to the kyng and coÌ„forted and counsayled hym whiche was necessary for he was sore troubled and the paryll that he was in was styll in his ymaginacion he shewed his vncles howe his aunt of Berrey had saued hym
had had greatier puissaunce than he had And whan the lorde of Coucy came first vpon the fronters of the ryuer of Geane where the entrees are stronge to conquere if there be made any defence Some lordes of the genowayes suche as fauoured the lorde Coucy and had enformed the duke of Orlyaunce wherby he sente thyder the lorde of Coucy They entreated him amiably and brought hym to their coūtreis and offred to hym their castels The lorde of Coucy who was sage subtyle and ymaginatyfe and knewe right well the nature of the lombardes and genowayes wolde nat trust them ouermoche nor haue to great confydence in their offers and promyses but alwayes wysely he helde them in loue and amyte as longe as he was amonge them and ledde them forthe with fayre wordes and treaties They had many cōmunycacyons in the felde toguyder but neuer in no fortresse and euer the more he comuned with theym the lesse he conquered or gate the genouoys made to him sygne of loue and promysed hym many thynges and wolde haue had hym to haue gone in to the cytie of Gennes or to Porte Vender but the lorde of Coucy durst neuer assure hym in their offers The conclusyon of his voyage was suche that he gate nothynge and whan he sawe that he coulde nat atcheue his busynesse he signyfied his estate to the duke of Orlyance whervpon he was remaunded and so he retourned to Parys and came thyder the same season that all the busynesse was for the iourney goynge in to Hungery The duke of Burgoyne reioysed greatly of his retourne and he and duchesse sente for hym to their house of Arthoyse in sygne of great loue than they sayd to him Syr we trust moche in you we haue caused Iohan our sonne and heyre to take on hym an enterprise in the honour of god and of all christendome and we knowe well that aboue all other knyghtes of Fraunce ye are the moste vsed and expert in all thynges wherfore derely we requyre you that ye wolde be companion with our sonne in this voyage and his chyefe counsaylour wherof we shall thanke you and deserue it to you and yours Than the lorde of Coucy said my lorde you madame your wordes and requestes ought to be to me a cōmaundement in this voyage I shall go if it please god for two causes First for deuocyon to defende the faythe of Ihesu Christ Secondly in that ye do to me somoche honour as to gyue me charge of my lorde Iohan your sonne and I shall acquyte me truely to him to my power howe be it of this dede ye may well dyscharge me and to charge specyally his cosyn and nere kynesman my lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce and his other cosyn the erle of Marche bothe two ought to go with hym in this voyage for they be both nere of his blode Than the duke sayd My lorde of Coucy ye haue moche more sene than these other twayn haue and knowe better the orderynge of an army in straunge countreys than outher our cosyn of Ewe or of March therfore we charge you and praye you to execute our requestes Than he aunswered and sayd my lorde your prayer is to me a cōmaundement and I shall do it sythe it pleaseth you with the ayde and helpe of my lorde Guye of Tremoyle and of my lorde Guillyam his brother and of the admyrall of Fraunce Of this answere the duke and duchesse had great ioye THese lordes prepared them selues to go in this iourney into Hūgery and lordes knyghtes and squyers were desyred to go in their company and many desyred themselfe to go Some were retaygned and some went without maysters and some consyderynge the voyage in to Hungery and fro thence in to Turkey to be ouer longe and chargeable for them beynge nat retaygned waxed colde in their enterpryse For the settynge forwarde of this yonge Iohan of Burgoyne nothynge was spared horse harnesse fresshe clothes riche vessell and plate of golde and syluer and offycers apoynted to do their atendaūce and money delyuered and werke men payed Than all barones knightes and squiers for the honour of Iohn̄ of Burgoyne and also for the auauncement of their bodies enforced them to make them redy The lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys ordeyned hym so puyssauntly that nothynge was spared and wolde go in that voyage as Constable of Fraunce And the frenche kynge who loued him entierlye helped hym moche towarde his charges and so he dyd to the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce The duke of Burgoyne consydered that this voyage of his sonnes shulde coste ouermoche fynaunce and he thought it conuenyent that the state of his sonne shulde be mayntayned and to fynde syluer to mayntayne it withall he foūde out subtelly a backe tayle for by a former tayle all the countreys cyties and fortresses had ben tayled And the said backe tayle mounted in Burgoyne of the chyuallry syxe hundred thousande crownes of golde And agayne the duke made it to be tolde to all knyghtes and ladyes that helde of him in fee yonge and olde that they shulde go in to Hungery in their owne propre persones with his sonne or els to paye a taxe of syluer so they were taxed some at a thousande poūde the other at fyue hundred frankes eche man after his goodes and valure of his landes Ladyes and auncyent knyghtes remembringe the traueyle of their bodyes and were nat shapen nor made to endure suche payne conpoūded and payed at the wyll of the Duke The yonge knyghtes and squyers were forborne payeng of any money but it was said to them that they shulde go with the lorde Iohan at their owne coste and charge and otherwyse nat Of this backe tayle the duke reysed .lx. thousāde crownes and so none was forborne THe tydynges of this voyage spredde abrode and whan it came in to the countrey of Haynalt knyghtes and squyers suche as desyred auauncement spake togyther and sayde A this were a mete voyage for my lorde of Ostrenant who is yonge and for his brother the erle of Neuers and if any of them wente we myght well go in their company The erle of Ostrenant beynge at that tyme at Quesnoy vnderstode what the knyghtes and squyers of his countrey sayde and he thought no lesse thā they dyd and had great affectyon to go in this voyage whan he herde any spekyng of that mater he wolde answere but lytell but dyssymuled the mater but he was in good entencyon to speke with duke Aubert of Bauyer erle of Haynalt and to do as he wolde counsayle hym Within a whyle after the Erle of Ostrenant came in to Hay in Holande where his father was with the duchesse his wyfe Than he sayd to his father my lorde suche tydinges rynneth abrode that my fayre brother of Neuers hathe enterprised this sōmer to go into Hungery and fro thens in to Turkey whereby all lykelyhode great dedes of armes shall be atchyued and syr as at
ye of London ought to feare for by reason of the laste rebellyon ye were in great paryll to haue been all vtterly dystroyed For whan yuell people be vp gouerne iustyce nor reason than hath no place Those wordes apeased greatly the Londoners were contented with the kynges answere and so retourned to the cytie of London And the kynge taryed at Eltham ryght pensyue and full of displeasure by reason of the wordes that he had herde and had stylle about hym his two bretherne and other suche as he trusted beste for he thought hym selfe natte well assured amogne his vncles For he sawe well howe they absented theym selfe fro his Courte and kepte them at home at their owne houses so that he was halfe in doute of them and specially of the duke of Gloucestre And so kepte dayly aboute hym a garde of a thousande archers YT was enformed the kynge of Englande of a suretie that his vncle the duke of Gloucestre and the Erle of Arundell purposed with puissaunce of people to take the kyng and the yong quene and to putte them in to a castell there to be kepte surely in an honest maner with meate drinke other necessaries And also howe there shulde be set four gouernours in the realme as the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke to rewle fro the Temmys northwarde vnto the ryuers of HuÌ„bre and Thyne of Thay ronnyng by the cytie of Warwyke comprehendynge all the signories of Northumberlande and the boundes of Scotlande And the duke of Gloucestre had all the rule of LoÌ„don and of the londoners and of Essexe coÌ„prehendyng all the boundes of the See and thider where as the ryuer of HuÌ„bre entereth in to the see and also of all the portes and hauyns aboue London to Hampton to Cornwall And the erle of Arundell he to haue the rule of the landes mouynge fro London bytwene Sussexe and Kent Arundell Surrey Deuonshyre and Barkeshyre and of all the hole signories bytwene the ryuer of Thamyse and Bristowe the ryuer of Syuerne whiche departeth Englande and Wales And they shall holde and do iustyce and reason to euery man But their entencyons is if they can fynde any reasonable waye to moue agayne and to renewe the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce and that if the FreÌ„che kyng wolde haue agayne his doughter he shulde for sithe she is but eight yeres of age paradueÌ„ture whan she cometh to .xii. yeres she may repente her and refuce her mariage bycause she was maryed in her youth And also it was no reason to dismary her fro the heyr of Bretaygne as it was promised And if whan she cometh to perfyte age that she wyll nat refuce her maryage Than she must abyde by right styll quene of EnglaÌ„de and to haue her dowrye but in no wyse she shulde be crowned Quene And that if the kynge dyed or she came to laufull age than they purpose to sende her agayne in to FrauÌ„ce to her father This was shewed to the king for suche wordes were spoken by dyuers Englysshe men and specially by the londoners who coude nat loue the kynge And they repented them that whan the coÌ„mons of Sussexe Kent and Essexe were vp and came to London in that they dyde breake their purpose for as some of them coÌ„fessed they were in mynde to haue slayne the kyng the erle of Salisbury the erle of Oxenforde and all the kynges counsayle And if they hadde so done by meanes of the rebellyon the londoners thanÌ„e shulde soone haue made a newe heed And by meanes of the duke of Gloucestre to haue founde some person to haue had the crowne and gouernynge of the realme and therby to haue brought the realme into a better case thanÌ„e it was in as than Thus the londoners and suche other of their secte dayly murmured and had many secrete couÌ„sayls All this the kynge was enformed of and moost faute was layde vpon the duke of Gloucestre KIng Richarde was abasshed of tentymes whan he herde sawe suche couert hate and yuell wyll borne against hym Alwayes he made louynge countynaunce to his vncle of Gloucestre and to the loÌ„doners but it aueyled hym nothyng On a daye the kynge sayd to his other two vncles of Lancastre and of yorke Sirs on goddes name I requyre you to gyue me your aduise couÌ„sayls I am dayly enformed of asuretie that your brother myne vncle of Gloucestre the erle of Arundell and their complyces are mynded to take me ê‘force by the agrement of the londoners and purpose to close me in a Castell and to order my fyndynge by certayne porcion my wyfe s in lykewise who is but yonge and to seperate her fro me and to kepe her estate in another place Fayre vncles this is a cruell maner and it ought nat to be suffred as long as I maye withstande it ye haue doone me homage and sworne to be trewe to me in the presence of kynge Edwarde of good memorie my grauÌ„tfather at whiche tyme all the great prelates and lordê of this realme sware to kepe and maynteyn me as their kynge a .xx. yere paste Wherfore fayre vncles for loue and charyte and by the othe and promyse that ye haue made counsayle me trewly as ye are bounde to do For as farre as I can ymagin myne vncle of glocestre enteÌ„deth on none other thing but how he might renewe agayne the warre bitwene Englande and Fraunce And to breake the peace whiche we haue confyrmed bothe you and all other of the realme by sweryng and sealyng and by the same composycion I am ioyned in maryage to the doughter of FrauÌ„ce without thynkyng of any yuell ye knowe well that who soeuer dothe contrary to that he is sworne vnto hath sealed to the same so proued dothe yuell ought to be punisshed therfore bothe in body and goodes And also ye knowe well that I forbeare myne vncle of Gloucestre as moche as I may do and take no regarde to thretnyng whiche myght cost me derely Vncles ye are bounde to couÌ„saile me sithe I demaunde it with reason whan they herde the kyng speke thus sawe well howe the mater sore troubled his mynde and that it touched hym nere and also they know well moche of his sayenge was trewe they sayd Sir suffre and lette the tyme ryn and passe We knowe well our brother of Glocestre hath the moost paryllous heed brayne of any manne in Englande But we knowe well he can do no more than a man maye do if he buylde on the one syde we shall buylde on the other as long as ye wyll be ordred by our couÌ„saile ye shall nat nede to care for our brother He saythe often tymes many thyngê wherof foloweth none effecte He all alone nor they of his counsayle canne nat breke the peace that is taken nor can nat enclose you in any castell We shall neuer suffre that nor to be seperated fro your wyfe For if he saye so and
the kyng and oftentymes talked togider and men of warre before behynde in great nombre and all suche as were of the kynges courte rode toguyder in a company That night they laye about Oxenforde The duke of Lancastre ledde kyng Richarde by no castelles nor good townes for feare of styring of the people but alwayes kepte the feldes Than the duke gaue lycence to a great nombre of his people to departe and sayd Sirs ye maye departe for we haue that we desyre the kynge can nat flye nor scape fro vs we our owne company shall bring hym to London and putte hym in sauegarde in the towre he and all his are my prisoners I may bringe them whider I wyll Therfore sirs go your wayes home tyll ye here other newes They dyde as the duke coÌ„maunded theÌ„ who toke the way to Wyndsore and came thyder and moost parte of the LoÌ„doners retourned to London other to their owne places the duke of LaÌ„castre deê‘ted fro wynsore wolde nat ride by Colbroke but toke the way by Shene so caÌ„e to dyner to Chersay the king had desyred the duke that he shulde nat bringe hym London waye nor through the cytie and therfore they tooke that waye As soone as they had the kynge thus in their handes they sente notable ê‘sones to the yong quene who was at Ledes in Kent And they caÌ„e to the lady Coucy who was seconde persone there next to the quene and sayd to her Madame make you redy for ye must deê‘te hens and at your departyng make no semblant of displeasure before the quene but saye howe your husbande hath sent for you for your doughter also This that we saye loke that you do accomplysshe on payne of your lyfe nor axe ye no questyons no further And ye shal be conueyed to Douer and there haue a shyppe that shall bring you to Boloyne the lady who douted those wordê for she knewe well Englysshemen were cruell and hasty said sirs as god wyll I am redy to do as ye wyll haue me Anone she made her redy and horses were prouyded for her and for her coÌ„pany So all Frenche men and women departed and they were conueyed to Douer at the next tyde they toke shippyng and had good wynde and so arryued at Boloyne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of englande and howe she had all newe ê‘sones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kyng Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC.xlii AS for the state of the quene was so tourned and broken for there was lefte nouther man womon nor chylde of the nacion of FraÌ„ce nor yet of Englande suche as were in any fauour with the kyng Her house was newly furnisshed with ladyes and damoselles and other offycers and seruauntes They were charged all that in no wyse they shuld nat speke of the kynge nat one to another Thus the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro Cherisay and rode to Shene and fro thens in the nyght tyme they conueyed the kyng to the towre of London and suche other knightes and squyers as the kyng wolde The nexte mornyng whan the Londoners knewe that the kynge was in the towre they were gretly reioysed but there was great murmuring among theÌ„ bycause the kyng was conueyed thyder so secretely They were angry that the duke had nat brought hym throughe London openly nat to haue done him honor but shame they hated hym so sore Beholde the opinyon of coÌ„mon people whaÌ„ they be vp agaynst their prince or lorde and specially in Englande amonge them there is no remedy for they are the peryloust people of the worlde and most outragyoust if they be vp and specially the Londoners and in dede they be riche and of a great nombre There was well in LoÌ„don a. xxiiii thousaÌ„de men in harnesse complete and a.xxx. thousande archers and they were hardy hygh of corage the more blode they sawe shedde the lesse they were abasshed ¶ Nowe lette vs somwhat speke of the erle of Rutlande constable of Englande sonne to the duke of yorke who was taryed at Bristowe and the lorde SpeÌ„ser with hym who had his suster to wyfe Whan they knewe that the castell of Flynte was gyuen vp and the kynge taken and brought to London thanÌ„e they thought surely the matters wente nat well for the kynge Therfore they thought no lengar to tary there and gaue leaue to al their men of warre to departe and the erle of Rutlande and the lorde Spenser rode toguyder with their owne seruauntes to Hull in the marchesse of Wales a fayre maÌ„ner of the lorde Spensers there they taryed tyll they herde other tidynges And the duke of yorke laye styll in his castell medled with nothynge of the busynesse of Englande no more he dyde before he toke euer the tyme aworthe as it came howbeit he was sore displeased in his mynde to se suche difference within the realme and bytwene his nephues and blode ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to speke of kynge Richarde WHan the duke of Lancastre had set his cosyn kyng Richard in the towre of London and certayne of his couÌ„saylours and had sette sure kepynge on theÌ„ The fyrst thyng than that the duke he sent for the erle of Warwyke who was banysshed and coÌ„maunded to lye in the ysle of Wyght and discharged hym clene therof secondly the duke of Lancastre sent to therle of Northumberlande and to the lorde Percy his sonne that they shulde come to hym and so they dyde After he enquered and sought out to haue the foure companyons that had strangled his vncle the duke of Gloucestre in the castell of Calais They were so well sought out that they were all taken They were sette in prisone aparte in LoÌ„don than the duke of Lancastre and his couÌ„sayle toke aduyse what shulde be done with kyng Richarde beyng in the towre of LoÌ„don where as kyng Iohan of Fraunce was kept whyle kynge Edwarde wente in to the Realme of FrauÌ„ce Than it was thought that king Rycharde shuld be put fro all his royalte and ioy that he hath lyued in for they sayd the newes of his takynge shulde sprede abrode in to all realmes crystened He had been kynge .xxii. yere and as than they determined to kepe him in prisone Than they regarded what case the realme stode in and dyd put all his dedes in artycles to the nombre of .xxviii. Than the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle went to the towre of London and entred in to the chambre where kynge Rycharde was and without any reuerence makynge to hym there was openly redde all the said artycles to the whiche the kynge made none aunswere for he sawe well all was true that was layde to his charge sauynge he sayd all that I haue doone passed by my counsayle Than he was demaunded what they were that had gyuen couÌ„sayle and by whome he was most ruled he named them in trust therby to haue ben delyuered himselfe in
retourned out of Englande and of the aunswere that was made to hym Cap. lvii ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey departed fro Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was contrary to hym Cap. lviii ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berrey Ca. lix ¶ Howe kynge Charles of Fraunce and the frenche lordes returned yuell content fro sluse and out of Flaunders where as their prouysyons were made to haue gone in to Englande and of the feest that was made at London Cap. lx ¶ Howe we a squier called Iaques le Grise was acused in the parlyament howse at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called Iohan of Carongne and what iudgement was gyuen vpon them and howe they iusted at vttraunce in Paris in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple howe Iaques le Grise was confounded Cap. lxi ¶ Howe the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux was set in prisone in Barcelona Cap. lxi ¶ How a batayle of armes was done in Burdeaux before the seneschall there and dyuers other Cap. lxii ¶ Howe Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to syr Charles of Bloyes was delyuered out of prison by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce Cap. lxxii ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone was chosen to go in to Castyle and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyrall of FlauÌ„ders was token prisoner by the englysshmen Ca. lxxii ¶ Howe the englysshe men aryued and brent dyuers villages Cap. lxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters marshall toke the towne of Rybadane whiche was strongly kept Cap. xliii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sent for the admyrall and marshall and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Cap. lxxiiii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his men rode towardes the cytie of Besances howe the towne made composycion with them Capi. lxxv ¶ Howe the duchesse and her doughter went to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene and howe the towne of Basances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvi ¶ Howe they of Basances that had ben sente to the Kynge of Castyle came home to their towne after it was rendred vp to the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Cap. lxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the realme of Castyle Cap. lxxix ¶ Howe syr WyllmÌ„ of Lygnac and sir Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge Iohan of Castyle Cap. lxxx ¶ Howe a great myschiefe fell in Englande bytwene the gentylmen and coÌ„mons for accompte of suche money as had been reysed of the coÌ„mons Cap. lxxxi ¶ Of the great dyscordes that were in Englande after the breakynge vp of the frenche armye and howe the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the coÌ„mons of the good townes to make acomptes of suche money as was come in to their handes the season that they ruled Cap. lxxxii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of the realme apparelled great prouysions to go in to Englande to wyn townes and castels Cap. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sent for all his lordes and kynghtes to come to counsayle vnto Wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to go and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prisoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce was delyuered at the request of the lorde de la Vale parenge a certayne raunsome and howe the constable delyuered to the duke thre castelles and a towne and payed a huÌ„dred thousande frankes Cap. lxxxv ¶ Howe Writinges were made at the duke of Bretayns deuyse for the constable to rendre his towne and castelles to the duke and to his heyres for euer and how they were delyuered to the duke Cap. lxxxvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge fro the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght displeasaunt and vnto his vncles Cap. lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters men assayled the towne of Aurence and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale brente a towne whan he was departed fro Porte and besieged two castles Cap. lxxxix ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and his host came before Feroule and assauted it and it was won and brought vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxxx ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the constable of Fraunce and of the answere that was made to them Cap. xci ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one acorde and alyaunce agaynst the kynge and his counsayle and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande and of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the offycers appered in the presens of the kynges vncles and coÌ„mons of Englande and howe syr Symon Burle was prisoner in the towre of LoÌ„don and howe syr Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande departed fro London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheeded at London and his nephewe also and howe the duke of Lancastre was dyspleased Cap. xciiii ¶ 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 to make warre agaynst his vncles and agaynst the cyties and townes Cap. xcv ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande made his â—oÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe syr Roberte Tryuylyen was taken at Westmynster and beheeded by the coÌ„maundement of the kynges vncles Cap. xcvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the kynge of the dethe of his knyght and demanunded counsayle theron and howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his menne of warre Capi. xcvii ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande sent thre kynghtes to London to knowe some tydynges and howe the kynges vncles and they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii ¶ Howe the kynges vncles wan the iourney agaynst the duke of Irelande and howe he fledde and dyuers other of his company Cap. xcix ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande and his company fled and howe the kynges vncles were at Oxenforde and howe syr Nycholas Bramble was beheeded and howe the kynge was sent for by the bysshoppe of Cannterbury Capi. C. ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to Westmynster to a generall counsayle
there to be holden Cap. C .i. ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puyssaunce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puissaunce and howe they coulde nat passe the Ryuer of Dierne and howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theym the passage Capi. C .ii. ¶ Howe the tydynges spred abrode that the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of dierne and howe it came to the kynge of Castylles knowledge and howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and tode before vyle Arpent and howe the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmynge of the duke of Burbon Cap. C .iii. ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe an haraulde was sent to the kynge of Castyle and howe thre knyghtes of Englande wente to speake with the kynge of Castyle for a saue conducte for the dukes men to passe thoroughe his countrey Capi. C.iiii. ¶ Howe these three knyghtes optayned a saue conducte of the kynge of Castyle for their people to passe and howe dyuers of the englysshe men dyed in Castyle and howe the Duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Capi. C.v. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande the Duke of Lancasters constable tooke his leaue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the kynge of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe syr Iohan Dambrity court went to Parys to accomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and syr Boucyquant Cap. C .vi. ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone departed fro Auignon to go into Castyle with all his hoost and came to Burgus in Spaygne and there founde the kynge of Castyle And howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tydynge and howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Capi. C .vii. ¶ Howe the erle of Foiz receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great gyftes that he gaue hym and howe syr Willyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passackes company departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynte Phagon Capi. C .viii. ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle and his counsayle were yuell content with syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultier of Passackes company and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C .ix. ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake tooke great payne to treate with the companyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C .x. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage wystenat what to do came for refuge to the archcbysshoppe of Coloygne his vncle who blamed hym and howe ambassadours went to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthalte of Malygnes by whome he hadde a doughter and after maryed agayne in Englande and hadde issue two sonnes and a doughter and howe syr Iohan of Bloyes wedded the eldest doughter of the Erle of Guerles and howe after the countie of Guerles remayned with the erle of Guerles yongest doughter Capi. C .xii. ¶ Howe these castelles of Gauleche Buthe and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iulyers sustayned the Lynfars in his countre who robbed all maner of people and of the great assemble that the duke of Brabante made to go to Iulyers and howe he was dyscomfyced Cap. C .xiii. ¶ Howe the duke of Brabant dyed and howe the duke Guillyam of Guerles treated with the duchesse of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castelles and what aunswere he had and howe he made alyaunce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C .xiiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the frenche kynge complaynynge of the duke of Guerles and howe the kynge and his counsayle were sore busyed with incydentes that fell in the realme of Fraunce as well for the defyaunces of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretayne Cap. C .xv. ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampylona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vanchadore was besieged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the Duchesse of Brabante Cap. C .xvi. ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brent and ryfled the towne of Seaull retourned to their garyson and of the ioye that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse of Brabant made for that dede and howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce dyscomfyted the englysshe men Capi. C .xvii. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce ledde these prisoners to Mount Ferante and howe they of the countrey were gladde whan they herde of this entreprise and howe Geronet and his company were sette to raunsome and delyuered by the money that Perot of Bierne lent hym Cap. C .xviii. ¶ Howe Geronet of Mandurāt with twelue of his company retourned to Mount ferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with four hundred speares wente to Mount Ferante and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other way but in at the gate Cap. C .xix. ¶ Howe Geronet lette in Perot le Bernoys and his company in to the towne of Mount ferant wherof the countrey was a frayde and howe the kynge and his vncles beynge at Parys were therwith sore dyspleased and also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne Cap. C .xx. ¶ Howe Perotte le Bernoys and his company tooke their counsayle and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mount ferant and howe the sayd Perot and his company departed thens by nyght withall their pyllage and prisoners and wente and refresshed them in the towne of Ousac Cap. C .xxi. ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremounte made a skrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of Moūt ferant at the gates of the towne Cap. C .xxii. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloyes sonne and howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge Charles of Fraunce Cap. C .xxiii. ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lancastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenche men recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the Englysshe men that had ben there in that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the Frenche kynge sente for the duke of Irelande Cap. C .xxiiii. ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce wolde nat accorde that the kynge shulde goo in to Almaygne bycause of the incydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons and made alyaūce with the kynge of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C .xxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoyes layde siege to the towne of Graue and howe the Constable of Fraunce tooke saynt Malo and saynte Mathewes and sette there men in garysone and howe the duke of Lancastre was
at Bayon greatly dyscomfyted in that he coulde get no maner of ayde Cap. C .xxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey sente letters to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon and howe the duke sente the copye of the same letters in to Foyze and in to Nauerre to the entent to haue them publysshed in Spayne and howe the duke of Bretaygne demaunded counsayle of his men in all his busynesse Capi. C .xxvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne delyuered vp the thre castelles of syr Olyuer of Clyssons and howe he receyued ioyously the lorde of Coucy and his company ambassadours fro the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre made great chere to syr Helyon of Lignacke seneschall of Xaynton abmassadoure fro the duke of Berrey Cap. C .xxviii. ¶ Nowe the kynge of Castyle sente his ambassadours to the duke of Lancastre to treate for a maryage to be hadde bytwene his sonne and the dukes doughter and howe at the request of the duke of Berrey a truse was made by the duke of Lancastre in the countreys of Tholousyn and Rouergne Cap. C .xxix. ¶ Howe the Dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne departed to go to Bloyes and howe the duke of Bretayne came thyder and howe the dukes dyd so moche that they had hym to Parys in maner agaynst his wyll Capi. C .xxx. ¶ Howe Lewes kynge of Cycyle entred in to Parys in estate royall and howe the duke of Bretayne entred on the nyght of saint Johan the Baptyst the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore and seuyn and of a dede of armes done before the kynge at Moutereau fault yon bytwene a knyght of Englande called syr Thomas Harpyngham and a frenche knyght named syr Johan de Barres Capi. C .xxxi. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretaygne entred in to Parys and came to the castell of Loure to the frenche kynge Cap. C .xxxii. ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell beynge on the see more than a moneth came to the hauen of Maraunt a lytell fro Rochell and howe he sent a messanger to Perot le Bernoys that he and other capytayns shulde kepe the feldes Capi. C .xxxiii. ¶ Howe they of Marroys and Rochelloys were sore afrayde of the Englysshe men that were a lande and howe they of Rochell made ask rymysshe with theym and howe after the englysshe men had pylled the countrey about Maraunt they drewe agayne to the see with their pyllage whiche was great Capi. C .xxxiiii. ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his companyons resorted agayne to their holdes with great pyllage and howe the duke of Guerles coulde haue no ayde of the Englysshe men to reyse the siege before Graue and howe the brabansois made a brige ouer the ryuer of meuse the whiche they of Guerles dyd breake bryn and dystroy as ye shall here after Capi. C .xxxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoys passed the ryuer through the towne of Rauesten ouer the bridge there and so entred into Guerles Than the duke departed fro Nymay with thre hundred speares and came agaynst them and dyscomfyted them bytwene Rauesten and the towne of Graue Cap C .xxxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Guerles after he had discomfyted the brabansoys he went agayne to Nymay and howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge and howe the kynge sent ambassadours to the kynge of Almayne Capi. C .xxxvii. ¶ Howe the frenche kynge gaue leaue to the duke of Bretaygne to retourne in to his countrey and howe the couÌ„trey of Brabant wolde nat consent to the kynges passage nor his army and howe the ambassadours of Fraunce spedde Capi. C .xxxviii. ¶ Howe the erle of Bloys sent to the frenche kinge two hundred speares and howe the duke of Lorayne and the lorde Henry of Bare came to the kynge and howe the dukes of Julyers and of Guerles knewe that the frenche kynge came on them Capi. C .xxxix. ¶ Howe syr Hellyon of Lygnacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey and howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an armye to entre into Englande and of an englyssh squyer who was taken by the scottes who knewe the secretes of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Capi. C .xl. ¶ Howe kyng Richarde yelded hym selfe to the erle of Derby to go to London Cap. Fo. CCC .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Duglas wan the penon of sir Henry Percy at the barryers vpon Newe castell vpon Tyne and howe the scottes brent the castell of Pondlen and howe syr Henry Percy and syr Rafe his brother tooke aduyse to folowe the scottes to conquere agayne the penon that was lost at the skrymysshe Capi. C .xli. ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of Englande and howe she had all newe ê‘sones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kynge Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC .xlii. ¶ Howe sir Henry Percy and his brother with a good nombre of men of armes and archers went after the scottes to wyn agayne his penon that the erle Duglas had won before Newcastell vpoÌ„tyne and howe they assayled the scottes before MouÌ„tberke in their lodgynges Cap. C .xlii. ¶ Howe the erle James Duglas by his valyantnesse encoraged his men who were reculed and in a maner disconfited and in his so doynge he was wounded to dethe Capi. C .xliii. ¶ Howe in this bataile sir Rafe Percy was sore hurte and taken prisoner by a scottiss he knyght Cap. C .xliiii. ¶ Howe the scottes wanne the batayle agayust the Englysshe men besyde Ottebridge and there was taken prisoners sir HeÌ„ry and sir Rafe Percy howe an Englisshe squier wolde nat yelde hym no more wolde a scottysshe squyer and so were slayne bothe and howe the bysshoppe of Durham and his coÌ„pany were disconfyted amonge them selfe Capi. C .xiv. ¶ Howe sir Mathewe Reedman deparred fro the batayle to saue hym selfe and howe sir James Lymsey was taken prisoner by the bysshoppe of Durham and howe after the batayle scurrers were sent forthe to discouer the countrey Cap. C .xlvi. ¶ Howe the scottes departed caryed with them the erle Duglas deed and buryed hym in the abbey of Nimayes and howe sir Archambault Duglas and his company departed fro before Carlyle and retourned in to Scotlande Cap. C .xlvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Jullyers came and excused hym selfe of the defyaunce that his son the duke of Guerles had made to the Frenche kyng and so became his subiette and of dyuers reates of armes done bitwene the freÌ„che men and the almaygnes before Rencongne Cap. C .xlviii. ¶ Howe the duke of Julyers and the archebysshop of Coloygne departed fro the Frenche kyng and wente to Nimaye to the duke of Guerles and howe by their meanes he was reconsyled and brought to peace with the Frenche kynge and with the duchesse of Brabant Cap. C .xlix. ¶ 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 Loyes of
to Venyce and of the ysles they founde by the waye Capi. CC.xxiiii ¶ Howe after the retourne of the lordes of Fraunce the Frenche kynge entended what he myght to sette a concorde and peace in the churche Cap. CC.xxv ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the erle of Arundell and howe the kynges vncles and the Londoners tooke the mater Cap. CC.xxvi ¶ Of the great armye that was made in the cytie of Reynes as well by the Emperoure as of the realme of Fraunce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii ¶ Howe the erle Marshall in Englande apealed by guage of vttraunce therle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre in the presence of the kynge and his counsayle Cap. CC.xxviii ¶ Howe kyng Richarde gaue senteÌ„ce wherby he banysshed out of Englande the erle of Derby forten yere and therle Marshall for euer Cap. CC.xxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro LoÌ„don to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to FlauÌ„ders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ¶ Howe the lorde Guyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt sent to his cosyn the erle of Derby certayne messangers and howe the erle came to Parys and howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bytwene the Frenche kynge and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed and howe the bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent by the sayd kynges to Rome and to Auignon to them that wrote them selfe popes to th entent that they shuld depose themselfe fro their papalytees submytte them to the order of these two kynges Cap. CC.xxxii ¶ Howe the FreÌ„che kyng assembled the prelates and other noble meÌ„ or his realme with the vnyuersyte of Parys to take counsayle howe they shulde order pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xxxiii ¶ Of the answere of the duke of Lancastre to the knight sent to hym fro his sonne therle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Capi. CC.xxxiiii ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of Lancastre was knowen in Fraunce the kynge of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes son Capi. CC.xxxv ¶ Of the treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby the duke of Berreys doughter and howe kyng Richarde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Cap. CC.xxxvi ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii ¶ Howe the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to therle of Derby fro the Londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue hym to retourne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the Frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretayne Cap. CC.xxxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby arryued in Englande and howe he was receyued of the LoÌ„doners Capi. CC.xl. ¶ Howe tidynges caÌ„e to kynges Rycharde or the coÌ„myng of therle of Derby with great puissaunce Capi. CC.xli ¶ Howe kyng Richarde of Englande resined the crowne and the realme in the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii ¶ Of the coronacyon of kynge Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv ¶ Howe newes of the takyng of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the commynge thyder of the lady Coucy and howe the Frenche kynge was displeased Cap. CC.xlvi ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng reysed vp an armye to sende vpon the tronters of EnglaÌ„de Cap. CC.xlviii ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Richarde of Englande and howe the â—reuse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was renewed and also of the deposycion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xlix ¶ Finis ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Bourchier gouernour of Gaunt during the truse had newe vitayled the towne of Gaunt And howe a maner of people called comporsels dyde moche hurte in the countre Capitulo Primo SIr IohnÌ„ Bourchier who had the gouernyng of GauÌ„t vnder kynge Rycharde of Englande the capiteyns of the coÌ„montie of the towne as Peter de Boyes fraÌ„ces Atreman and Peterle Myttre They prouyded surely for the warre and duryng the truse they had greatly vitayled and refresshed the towne with all prouision parteyning to the warre and also the castell of Gauure and other places vnder their rule In the same season there was a coÌ„pany of rutters gadered togyder in the wode of Respayle and there they had fortifyed a house so that it coude nat lightly be wonne They were people chased out of Alos of Grantmount and out of other places in FlauÌ„ders and had lost all that euer they had and wyst nat how to lyue but by robbyng and pillyng wheresoeuer they coude gete it so that there was as than no spekynge but of these pygges of Respayle This woode is bytwene Reguays and Grauntmount Anghien and Lysen they dyde moche hurt in the lordship of A the in the lande of Floberge and of Lyssues and in the lande of Danghien and these pyllers were borne out by them of Gaunt for vnder the coloure of them they dyde moche hurt as in robbynge and sleynge They wolde go in to Heynalte and take men and women in their beddes and leade them to their forteresse and raunsome theÌ„ at their pleasure they made warre to euery man The capitayne of A the who was called Baudrius dela Mocte layde often tymes awayte for them but he coude neuer trappe them they knewe so many shyftes They were so feared in the froÌ„ters of Heynalte and Brabant that none durst go that waye in to the countre THe duke of Burgoyne on the other parte for the warâ— that he loked for he garnysshed and prouided for all his townes in FlaÌ„ders There was capitayne of Bruges the lorde of Guystelles and of Courtrey sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Willyam of Namure As than sir WillmÌ„ of Guystels was lorde of Dan and of Courtray sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Peter of Neyper In lykewise in all the townes on the fronter of Fraunce there were men of warre set by the duke of Burgoyne In the towne of Ardenbourcke there was in garyson sir Guy of Pontaillyer marshall of Burgoyn sir Ryflarte of Flaunders sir Iohan of Ieumont sir Henry of Coynge the lorde of Montigny in Ostrenant the lorde of Longueuall sir Iohan Barnet sir Peter Baylleull Philpot Gany Raoleyn dela Foley and dyuers other These men of armes were two hundred and so they toke aduyse toguyder and were in wyll to ryde in to the foure craftes and distroy that countre for moche vitayle came fro thens in to GauÌ„â— And so on a day they departed and toke that way and the same day that the frenche men were rydden forthe there was rydden forthe out of Gaunt a two thousande men mete for the warre and FrauÌ„ces Arreman was their capitayne And so sodainly they mette with the frenchmen in a village and whan
place with the banner of Flaunders before theym And they wyll crye through the towne the Lyon of FlauÌ„ders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath ê‘doned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌ„e obeyed without we preuent them and putte them out of our iurysdyctions What is best than to do quod sir Iohan Bourchier Than aunswered Peter and sayd It behoueth that to morowe in the mornyng we assemble in harnes all our men in the house de la Vale And than let vs go throughe the towne with the kynge of Englandes baner before vs and lette vs crye also The Lyon of Flaunders kynge of Englande lorde of this countrey and towne of Gaunte And whan we come in to the market place suche as be on our partie wyll drawe to vs and than lette vs flee all the other treatours It is well deuysed ê™ sir Iohan Bourchier lette it so be done ¶ Nowe beholde if god dyde nat moche for these two Roger and Iaques For they were enfourmed of Peter de Boyse deuyse whan they knewe it they were nat abasshed But late in the euenynge they sente to all their frendes that where as they shulde be the nexte daye in the market place by eight of the cloke in any wyse they desyred them to be there by seuyn of the clocke and that they dyde to preuent Peter de Boyse To this poyntment euery man was agreed and on the monday in the mornyng sir Iohan Bourchyer and his company came to the house called de la Vale with hym a threscore and Peter de Boyse came thyder with a xl there they armed theÌ„ in good ordynaunce sette them selfe forwarde And Roger and Iaques assembled their frendes togyder and the moost parte of the aldermen and burgesses of Gaunt came to them Than they toke the erles baner and went through the towne cryeng the foresaid crye and suche as herde the crye and sawe the aldermen of their craftes and the baners of the erle they folowed after and came to the same coÌ„pany And so by seuyn of the clocke they came to the market place and there set theÌ„ selfe in good order with therles baners before them and euer there came mo and mo to them These tidynges came anone to sir Iohn Bourchier and to Peter de Boyse who were assemblynge of their people Than they went forthe with the baners of EnglaÌ„de before them and as they wente they cryed their cryes before deuysed And so they came to the said market place and there araynged them selfe before the other but euer suche as came the moost parte went to the Erles baners so that if a hundred came fourscore went thyder In so moche that all the place was full of men of armes and so they stode eche regardyng other WHan Peter de Boyse sawe howe the aldermen of the craftes drewe to Roger and Iaques he was sore abasshed and douted greatly of his lyfe For he sawe suche as were wont to serue hym flye awaye fro hym and so priuely he stale awaye oute of the prease and hydde hym selfe for feare of dethe And whan Roger and Iaques sawe that nighe all the people drewe to their parte they were right ioyouse and well coÌ„forted and nat without good cause For than they sawe well that the people of Gaunt wolde be in peace with their lorde Than they departed with a certayne of their company with the baners of Flaunders before them and so came to sir Iohan Bourchyer and to the Englysshemen who were nat very sure of their lyues whan they sawe them come towarde them Than Roger demauÌ„ded of sir Iohan Bourchier wher Peter de boyse was and what was his entent and whyder he was their frende or enemy The knight answered and said I thynke Peter de Boyse be here by me and whan he sawe that he was gone he sayd I knowe nat wher he is become I went he had been in my company But as for me I am and wyll be seruaunt to my naturall lorde the kyng of Englande who sende me hyder at your owne desyres if ye well remembre It is true quod they for if ye had nat ben desyred to come hyder by the towne of Gaunte ye shulde haue ben slayne But for the honour of the kynge of Englande who sende you hyder at our request ye shall nat nede to feare nor non of yoâ—s ye shall haue no hurte We shall saue you from all domages and conducte you to the towne of Calayes Wherfore departe to your lodgynges peasably and â—lyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of oure naturall lorde the duke of Burgoyne and wyll make no more warre The knyght was ryght Ioyouse of that aunswere to be so quyte and sayd Sir sythe it wyll be none otherwyse so be it and I thanke you of that ye offre me at this tyme. ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan Dell came to gauÌ„t to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the cytie where and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sent to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Cap. xx THan sir Iohan Bourchier departed peasably fro the place with all thenglissh men and suche Gauntoyse as were in his Companye fledde awaye and hydde theÌ„ selfe And anone after entred in to the towne sir Iohan Delle and came in to the market place with the dukes letters sende thyder by the duke And there they were opyned and reed to all the people whiche gretlye pleased theym Than Fraunces Atreman was sent for fro the castell of Gaure who incoÌ„tynent came to them and agreed to the treatie and sayd it was well And so thervpon sir Iohan Delle was sente agayne to the duke who was as than at Arras shewed hym all the demeanour of the gauntoyse And howe that Peter de Boyse had as than no rule nor audyence in the towne and howe that if he had ben fouÌ„de he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌ„ces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌ„tly and confyrmable to the Peace All these thynges pleased moche the duke and so he sealed a charter of peace and a truse to endure vntyll the firste day of Ianuarye and in the meane season a counsayle to be had for that matter in the cytie of Tourney And all the sir IohnÌ„ Delle brought agayne with hym to Gaunte wherof all the people had great ioye For they shewed than howe they had great desyre to haue peace All this season sir Iohan Bowser and the Englysshe men and Peter de Boyse were styll in Gaunte but there was no man wolde do any thynge after them and Peter de Boyse lyued styll in rest With that he sware that he shulde nat procure nor moue any thynge that shulde cause any warre bytwene the towne and their naturall
lorde And thus was done by the meanes of Fraunces Atreman who spake for hym wherby Peter lyued in reste for they knewe well that Peter alwayes helde with their opynions and was a true and a good capitayne THis truce durynge they of GauÌ„te apoynted theym that shulde go to Tourney to conclude this treatie And FrauÌ„ces Atreman was sent thyder as chiefe bycause he was a man reasonable and well knowen with all lordes and with hym wente Roger Creuyn and Iaques DardeÌ„bourke and they came to Turney in the vtas of saynt Andrewe with a fyftie horse and were all lodged toguyder at the sygne of the Samon in the strete of saynt Brise And the .v. day of Decembre thyder came the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe and the lady of Neuers their doughter they entred into Turney at the gate towarde Lyle And agaynst their entrynge the gauÌ„toyse that were there issued out to mete with theym And whan they sawe the duke they enclyned theym selfe on their horses bare heeded And the duke passed lightely by theym for he made haste to mere with the duchesse of Brabante who was comynge to the cytie by the gate of Malynes and she was lodged in the bysshoppes palays So thus began the treatie bytwene the Duke and the towne of Gaunt and sir Iohan Delle toke great payne to go and come bytwene the ê‘ties and at the desyre of the duches of Bourgoyne of the lady Neuers the duke forgaue all his yuell wyll And the peace was made cryed accorded written and sealed bytwene the parties in maner as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Here after ensueth the tenoure of the letters and charters of peace ⸪ PHilyppe the sonne of FrauÌ„ces duke of Burgoyn erle of Flaunders Artoyse and Palatyne lorde of Selynes erle of Rethell Malynes and Margarete duchesse and countesse of the sayd cositreis To all them that heateth or seyth this present writynge we sende gretynge We wyll that it be knowen that oure welbeloued subiectes aldermen and commons of our good towne of Gaunte hath right humbly requyred our lorde the kyng vs that we shulde haue pytie and mercy on them and to pardone all offences by theym or any for theym done to the kynge or to vs and for pytie and compassyon of our said subiectes by our letters we haue pardoned theÌ„ And also we haue confyrmed their auncyent priuyleges frauncheses customes and vsage in case that they wyll playnly obey the kynge and vs. Whiche pardone they of Gaunte and their parte takers haue receyued right humbly by suche letters messaÌ„gers as they sent to vs in great nombre to Turney and they haue clene tenounsed all debates and warres and with good hartes are returned to true obeysauÌ„ce to the kyng and to vs. Promysyng from hens forthe to be true frendes faith full to the kynge and to vs to the king as their soueraygne lorde to vs as their naturall lorde by reason of Margarete our wyfe as their naturall lady heretour Wherfore the kynge we haue receyued to our grace our said subiectes haue gyuen them letters of ê‘don pure remyssion with restytucyon of their priuyleges customes and vsages the whiche more at large appereth by the content of oure letters After whiche pardons our sayd subiectes haue made to vs dyuers supplycacions the whiche we haue receyued haue caused them by good delyberacyon to be sene vysited examyned by our counsayle the whiche well sene for the coÌ„men ê“fite of all the couÌ„tre to eschue all disceÌ„sions that herafter might fall of our speciall grace by the conteÌ„placion of our good subiectes we haue ordred and determined in maner as foloweth Firste where as they desyre that we shulde confyrme their auÌ„cient priuileges of Tourney Danduarde Grauntmont Meule Teremounde Ruplemount Abste Atharcle Breuelies Douse and of the Chateleyns and playne countrey parteyning to the same townes We haue ordayned that the inhabytauÌ„tes of the sayd townes shulde come to vs briÌ„gyng with them their priuyleges which shal be sene by our couÌ„sayle And that done we shall so do that our said subiectes of GauÌ„t and they of the sayd good townes shall by reason holde them content And if any of the sayde priuyleges be lost by any case fortune or otherwyse we shall make good reformacion therof Also where as they haue desyred for the course of marchaundyse we haue coÌ„sented that they haue all their auncyent course payeng their custome of olde tyme contynewed Also where as they desyre that if any of the inhabytauntes of our towne of Gaunt or any of their adherentes happe to be arrested in tyme to come in any countre out of the countrey of Flaunders for the occasyon of the debates and foresayd discensyons that than we shulde cause theym to be released and to lyue in reste And in that case we haue grauÌ„ted that if any of them be arrested for that cause We shall ayde conforte and defeÌ„de them with our power agaynst any that so shulde trouble them as we be bouÌ„de to defende our good and true subiectes Also they requyre that all suche prisoners as we haue whiche were of their ê‘tie that they shulde be delyuered We haue ordayned do ordayne that all suche prisoners if they be putte to their rauÌ„some that they pay their raunsome and be delyuered payeng also their reasonable expenses So that if any of these prisoners or their frendes or kynne haue in their haÌ„des any fortresses of ours kepyng it agaynst vs First that they delyuer suche forteresses in to oure handes and also in lykewise that they delyuer all suche prisoners as they haue in their handes MOreouer by our habundant grace we haue ordayned and do ordayne that all suche as by the occasions of the debates and discencyons that were laste in oure countrey of FlauÌ„ders and haue ben banisshed out of our good townes of Bruges Ipre the countre of Francke and other townes and places And also all suche as hath ben banysshed by iustyce of the lawe out of Gaunt or put out or iudged without lawe and be absent that all suche be restored and maye retourne and dwell in the sayd towne and all suche as hath taken their parte to be restored agayne at their pleasure to suche places as they came fro whan they entre agayne in to any of the sayd townes that they swere to our offycers to be true to vs and to kepe the peace and suretie of the sayde townes nor that they beare any yuell wyll priuely nor a parte to any of the inhabytauntes of the sayd townes nor to do them any yuell or domage And that all suche as entre in to any towne shall swere to obey the kynge and vs suche as be absent the tyme hereafter lymitted shal be restored to all the fees houses rentes herytages whersoeuer they be Natwithstandyng any forfayture done by them by the occasyon of the sayd discensyons but they to enioye them as in their
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
suche answere that ye shall be contented Sir ye saye well quod they it suffyceth vs. Than they departed and wente to their lodgynges At nyght they were desyred to dyne the nexte daye with the duke So the nexte daye they came to the duke and were well receyued and so wasshed and went to dyner satte downe Firste the bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate and than the duke than the admyrall of Fraunce and thanne sir Iohan de Beulle They hadde a great dyner and were well serued and after dyner they entred in to a counsayle chambre and there they talked of dyuers maters and herde mynstrelsy These lordes of Fraunce thought surely to haue hadde an answere but they hadde none Than wyne and spyces were brought in and so made collasyon and than toke their leaue and departed to their lodgynge The nexte daye they were apoynted to come to the duke and so they dyde and the duke receyued them swetely and at the laste sayd Sirr I knowe well ye looke to be aunswered for by the wordes that I haue herde you saye ye are charged by the kyng and his vncles to bring them an answere Wherfore I say to you that I haue done nothynge to sir Olyuer of Clesquyne wherof I shulde repente me sauynge of one thynge and that is That he hadde so good a markette as to escape a lyue And in that I saued his lyfe was for the loue of his offyce and nat for his persone For he hath done me soo many displeasures that I ought to hate hym deedly And sauynge the displeasure of the kyng and of his vncles and his coūsayle For all the takynge of sir Olyuer I haue nat therby broken their voyage by the see I wyll well excuse my selfe therin for I thought non yuell the daye that I toke hym a man ought to take his ennemy whersoeuer he fynde hym And if he were deed I wolde thynke the Realme of Fraunce to be as well ruled or better than it is by his counsayle And as for his castelles that I holde the whiche he hath delyuered me I am in possessyon of them and so wyll be withoute the puyssaunce of a kynge take them fro me And as for rendringe of his money I aunswere I haue had so moche to do in tyme paste by the meanes of this sir Olyuer of Clysquyn that I ranne in dette gretlye therby and nowe I haue payde them that I was bounde vnto by reason of this dette This was the answere that the duke of Bretaygne made to the kynges ambassadours Than they layde forthe other reasons to enduce the duke to some reasonable waye but all his answeres tourned euer to one conclusyon And whan they sawe none other waye they toke their leaues to departe and the duke gaue them leaue Than̄e they retourned and dyd so moch by their iourneys that they came to Parys to the house of Beautie besyde Wynsentes There was the kyng the quene and thyder came the duke of Berrey and the duke of Bourgoyne hauyng great desyre to knowe what answere the duke of Bretaygne haddemade THe aunswere ye haue herde here before I nede nat to shewe it agayne but the kyng and his counsayle were nat content with the duke of Bretaygne that his ambassadours hadde made no better exployte and they sayde howe the duke was a proude man and a presumptuous and that the mater shulde nat so reste in peace seynge the matter so preiudyciall for the Crowne of Fraunce And the entensyon of the kyng and his counsayle was to make warre agaynste the duke of Bretayne and the duke loked for nothynge elles For he sawe and knewe well howe he had greatly displeased the kyng and his counsell but he hated so mortally the constable that it toke fro hym the good order of reason for he repented hym sore that he had nat putte hym to dethe whan he hadde hym in his daunger Thus the mater contynued a longe season and the duke of Bretayne laye at Wannes and lytell and lytell rode ouer his countrey for he freared greatly embusshmentes He kepte styll in loue and fauour his cyties and good townes and made secrete treaties with the Englysshmen and made his castelles and forteresses to be as well kepte as thoughe he had had opyn warre and was in many imaginacions on the dede he had done Somtyme he wolde say he wolde he had nat taken the constable howe be it he sayd euer to stoppe mennes mouthes that sir Olyuer of Clesquyn had sore dishleased hym so that many a man sayd that elles he wolde neuer haue done it therby he brought his coūtre in feare for it is but a small signorie if a prince be nat feared and douted of his menne for and the worste fall he maye haue peace whan he lyst ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretaygne and let vs somwhat speke of the busynesse that was in the realme of Englāde whiche was in the same season horryble and marueylous ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one accorde and aliaūce agaynst the kyng and his counsaile and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii YE haue herde here before howe the kyng of Englandes vncles the duke of yorke the duke of Gloucestre with therle of Salisbury and the erle of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Notyngham and the archebysshoppe of Caūterbury All these were of one alyaunce and accorde agaynst the kynge and his counsayle for these lordes and other were nat content with the kynges counsayle and sayd among them selfe This duke of Irelande dothe with the kynge what he lyste and with all the realme The kyng wyll nat be counsayled but by vnhappy men and of base lynage and taketh no regarde to the great lordes of his realme As longe as he hath suche counsayle about hym the busynesse of Englande can nat do well for a realme can nat be well gouerned nor a kynge well counsayled by suche vngracious people It is sene a poore man moūted in to gret estate and in fauoure with his mayster often tymes corrupteth distroyeth the people and the realme A man of base lynage canne nat knowe what parteyneth to honoure their desyre is euer to enryche and to haue all thēselfe lyke an Otter in the water whiche coueteth to haue all that he fyndeth Who hath any profyte by that the duke of Irelande is so great with the kyng we knowe full well fro whense he came yet we se that all the realme is ruled by hym and nat by the kynges vncles nor by none of his blode This ought nat to be suffred We knowe well ynoughe that the Erle of Oxenforde had neuer the grace to do any valyaunt dede in this realme his honour wysedome counsayle or gentylnesse is ryght well knowen and that was well knowen ones by sir Iohan Chandos in
vpon tayles aydes vpon aydes so that the realme hath ben more greued with tayles and other subsydies nat accustomed sythe the kynges Coronacyon than in fyftie yere before and it is nat knowen where the richesse is become Wherfore sir maye it please you to prouyde some remedy or elles the mater wyll go yuell for the commons cryeth out theron Than the duke answered and sayde fayre sirs I haue herde you well speke but I alone can nat remedy this mater howe be it I se well ye haue cause to coÌ„playne and so hathe all other people But though I be vncle to the kynge and sonne to a kyng though I shulde speke therof yet nothynge shal be done for all that For the kyng my nephue hath suche couÌ„sayle as nowe about hym whome he beleueth better than hym selfe whiche couÌ„sayle ledeth hym as they lyste But if ye wyll come to the effecte of your desyres it must behoue you to haue of youre accorde and agrement all the cyties and good townes of Englande And also some prelates and noble ê‘sonages of the realme and so come toguyder in to the kynges presens and I my brother shal be there And than ye maye saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir ye were crowned very yonge and yuell ye haue ben counsayled as yet hyther vnto Nor ye haue nat takenne good regarde to the busynesse of this your Realme by reason of the poore and yonge counsayle that ye haue aboute you Wherby the matters of your realme hath hadde but small and yuell effectes as ye haue sene and knowen ryght well For if God haddenat shewed his grace this realme had been loste and distroyed Therfore sir here in the prensens of your vncles we requyre youre grace as humble subiectes ought to desyre their prince that your grace wyll fynde some remedy that this noble Realme of Englande and the noble crowne therof whiche is discended to you from the noble kyng Edwarde the thirde who was the moost nobles kynge that euer was sythe Englande was firste enhabyted that it maye be susteyned in sprosperyte and honour and your people that complayneth to be kepte and maynteyned in their ryght the whiche to do your grace dyde swere the daye of youre Coronacion And that it maye please you to call togyther the thre estates of your Realme prelates and barownes and wysemen of your cyties and good townes and that they may regarde if the gouernyng of your realme that is past be well or nat And sir if they parceyue that it hath been well thanne suche as be in offyce to remaygne styll as longe as it shall please your grace and if they be founde contrarye thauÌ„e they in courtesse maner to be auoyded fro your persone and other notable and dyscrete persones to be sette in to offyce First by your noble aduyse by the consent of my lordes your vncles and noble prelates and barones of your realme And sirs quod the duke of Gloucester whan ye haue made this supplycacion to the kynge he wyll thanne make you some maner of answere If he saye that he wyll take counsayle in the mater than desyre to haue ashorte day And peyse so the mater before hande to putte the kynge and suche marmosettes as be about hym to some feare Saye to hym boldely that the Realme wyll no lengar suffre it and that it is marueyle howe they haue suffred it so longe and I and my brother and the bysshoppe of Caunterburye and the Erle of Salisbury the Erle of Arundell and the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„de wyll be by for without we be present speke no worde therof We are the greatest ê‘sonages of Englande and we shall ayde to susteyne your wordes For all we shall say howe your desyre is but reasonable And whan he hereth vs speke he wyll agre there to or els he dothe amysse and thervpon apoynt a tyme This is the best counsayle I can gyue you Than the Londoners answered and sayde Sir ye counsayle vs nobly But sir it wyll be harde for vs to fynde the kyng and you and all these lordes toguyder in one place Nay nay quod the duke it maye well be done saynt Georges daye is nowe within this syre dayes The kynge wyll be than at wyndsore ye knowe well the duke of Irelande wyll be there and sir Symon Burle and many other and my brother and I and therle of Salisbury shall be there therfore prouyde for yâ— mater ayenst that tyme. Sir quod they it shal be done and so they departed ryght well contente with the duke of Gloucester Than whan saynt Georges daye came the kyng and the quene were at Wyndsore and made there a great feest as his predecessours hadde done before the next daye after the feest of saynt George Thyder came the londoners to the nombre of threscore horse and of yorke as many and many othes of dyuers good townes of Englande they lodged in the towne of Wyndsore The kyng was determyned to departe to place a thre leages thens and whan he knewe of the commyng of the people to speke with hym he wolde the sooner haue ben gone He sayde he wolde in no wyse speke with them But than his vncles and therle of Salisbury sayd sir ye may nat with your honour thus departe The people of youre good townes of Englande are come hyder to speke with you Sir it is necessary that ye here them and to knowe what they demaunde and there after ye maye aunswere them or els take counsayle to aunswere them So thus full sore agaynst the kynges mynde he was fayne to tarye than they came into his presâ—ns in the great hall alowe there was the kynge and bothe his vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshop of Wynchester and the Chaunceler and the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumber lande and dyuers other There this people made their request to the kyng and a burges of London spake for them all named sir Simeon of Subery a sage man and well langaged and there declared well and boldely the effecte of thinformacyon that the duke of Glocester had shewed theÌ„ before as ye haue herde Whan the kyng had herde hym well he sayd Amonge you coÌ„mons of my realme your requestes are great and long they are nat ouer soone to be spedde we shall nat be toguyder agayne a long season and also great parte of my counsayle is nat here present Therfore I saye vnto you gette you home agayne sytte in reste and come nat agayne tyll the feest of Myghelmas without ye be sente for at whiche tyme our parlyament shal be at Westmynster Than come bringe your requestes and we shall shewe it to our counsayle and that is good we shall accepte it and that ought to be refused we shall condempne But sirs thinke nat that we wyll be rewled by our coÌ„mon people that shall neuer be sene as for our gouernynge nor in the gouernaunce of them that rule vnder vs we se nothynge
seasone that he laye at Shene but his counsayle said it myght nat be for his rekenynges were nat clere Than the kynge departed and the duke of Irelande in his company and rode towardes Bristowe and the Quene with other ladyes and damoselles with her ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande departed from London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheded at LoÌ„don and his nephue also and howe the duke of Lancaster was dyspleased Cap. xciiii FOr all that the Kynge departed from the marchesse of London yet the kynges vncles nor their counsayle departed nat but taried styll about London ye haue herde often tymes sayde that if the heed be sicke all the membres can nat be well the malady must first be pourged I saye it bicause this duke of Irelande was so great with the kyng that he ruled hym as he lyste He and sir symon Burle were two of the princypall couÌ„saylours that the kynge had for they hadde a longe season gouerned the kynge and the realme And they were had in suspecte that they hadde gadered richesse without nombre and the renoume ranne in dyuers places that the duke of Irelande and sir Symon Burle had a long season gathered toguyder money and sente it in to Almayne For it was come to the knowledge of the kynges vncles and to the counsaylours of the good cyties and townes of Englande that helde of their partie howe they had sente out of the castell of Douer by see in the night tyme in to Almayne certayne cofers and chestes full of money They sayd it was falsely and felonously done to assemble the rychesse of the realme and to sende it in to other strauÌ„ge couÌ„treys wherby the realme was greatly impouerysshed and the people were soroufull and sayde that golde and syluer was so dere to gette that all marchandyse were as deed and loste and they coulde nat ymagin how it was but by this meanes THese wordes multiplied in suche wise that it was ordayned by the kynges vncles and by the counsayles of the good townes that were anneâ—ed vnto them that ser Symon Burle had deserued punisshment of dethe And also the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury sayd that in the season whan the freÌ„che kyng shulde haue come with his armye in to Englande this sir Symon Burle gaue counsayle that the shrine of saynt ThomÌ„s of CauÌ„terburye shulde haue been taken downe and brought in to Douer castell And the noyse was that he wolde haue had it so to th entent that if he had ben in any daÌ„ger to haue taken and stollen it and conueyed it out of EnglaÌ„d These maters were so layde to his charge that none excuse coulde be herde but on a daye he was brought out of the towre and beheeded lyke a traytour god haue mercy on his soule To write of his shamefull dethe ryght sore displeaseth me howe be it I must nedes do it to folowe the hystorie Greatly I complayne his dethe for whanÌ„e I was yonge I founde hym a gentyll knyght sage and wyse but by this enfortune he dyed HIs nephewe and heyre sir Richarde Burle was with the duke of Lancastre in Galyce the sameseason that this case fell in Englande and one of the most renoumed in all his hoost nexte the Constable for he was as souerayne Marshall of all the hoost and was chiefe of couÌ„sayle with the duke ye may well beleue that whan he knewe of the dethe of his vncle he was sore displeased And also this geÌ„tyll knight sir Richarde Burle dyed in the same iourney on his bedde by reason of sickenesse as many other dyde as ye shall here after at place and tyme conuenyent Whan kynge Rycharde knewe of the dethe of this knyght as he was in the marchesse of Wales he was sore dyspleased and sware howe the mater shulde nat passe sithe they had so put to dethe his knyght without good reason or tytell of right The quene also was sorie and wepte for his dethe bycause he fetched her oute of Almaygne Suche as were of the kynges couÌ„sayle douted greatly as the duke of Irelande sir Nicholas BraÌ„ble sir Thomas Tryuilyen sir IohnÌ„ Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la Poule Also the kyngê vncles had put out of offyce the archebysshoppe yf yorke named Wylliam Neuell brother germayne to the lorde Neuell of NorthuÌ„berlande whiche bysshoppe had longe ben treasourer of all Englande And the duke of Gloucestre had charged hym to medell no more with the busynesse of the realme on payne of his lyfe but that he shulde go to yorke or therabout wheâ— it pleased hym in his benifyce and dwell ther and medell no further And also it was shewed hym howe the honoure of his lynage in that he was a preest excused hym of many great maters sore preiudiciall to his honour And also it was shewed hym that the moost parte of the counsayle of the coÌ„montie wolde haue had him disgrated and putte to dethe in lyke maner as sir Symon Burle was So he departed fro London and wente in to the Northe to dwell on his benifyce with this he all his lynage were sore dyspleased and thought surely that the erle of Northombrelande had brought that mater to passe for all that he was of his lygnage and were neyghbours In to his rome was chosen a right valyant a wyse a sage clerke the archebysshop of Caunterbury who was gretely in the fauour of the kynges vncles He was come of the Mountague and Salysburies and was vncle to the erle of Salysbury there was made of the kynges counsayle by the aduyse of all the comons therle of Salysbury the erle Rycharde of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Deuonshyre the erle of Notyngham the bysshop of Norwyche called sir Henry Spenser the bysshop of Wynchestre chauncellour of Englande abode styll in his offyce and was with the kynges vncles the most renomed man in the counsayle nexte the duke of Gloceste was syr Thomas Mountague archbisshop of CauÌ„terbury and well he was worthy for he was a dyscrete prelate toke grete payne to reforme the royalme and to brynge it in to the ryght waye and that the kynge shulde put from hym the marmosettes that troubled all the royalme often tymes he wolde speke with the duke of yorke in that matter the duke wolde saye to hym syr bysshop I trust the matters shall otherwyse fall lytell and lytell then the kynge my nephewe and the duke of IrelaÌ„de thinketh but it must be done accordynge to reason and to abyde the tyme to be to hasty is no good meane for surely yf we hadde nat perceyued them be tymes they wolde haue brought the kynge and the royal me in suche case that it shulde haue ben at the poynte of lesynge The Frensshe kynge and his counsayle knewe ryght well our dealyng and what case we were in and that caused that frensshe men to auaunce themselfe to haue come hyder so puyssauntly as they wolde haue done to haue
delyuered the castell of Douer to the frenche men And they enformed the people that he caused the frenchmen to come in to FlauÌ„ders and to Sluse whiche was nothyng so And also in the dispyte of the kyng they haue shaÌ„fully slayne sir Robert Triuylien so they wyll do other if they maye atteygne to their ententes Wherfore I saye that it were better for the kyng to vse rygour and puyssauÌ„ce than gentylnesse Euery man knoweth thorough the realme that he is kyng and howe that at Westmynster the noble kyng Edwarde made euery man to be sworne bothe lordes prelates and all the good Townes that after his dyscease they shulde take the kynge here for their soueraygne lorde and the same othe made his thre vncles And it semeth to many as men dare speke that they holde him nat in the state and fourme of a kynge for he may nat do with his owne what he lyst they driue hym to his pensyon and the quene also whiche is a herde thyng for a kyng a quene It shulde seme they wolde shewe that they had no wytte to rule themselfe and that their couÌ„saylours be traytours I saye these thynges are nat to be suffred As for me I hadde rather dye than longe to lyue in this dauÌ„ger or peryll or to se the kynge to be ledde as his vncles wolde haue hym The kynge thanne sayd Surely it pleaseth nat vs. and I saye ye haue counsayled me as honourably as maye be for the honour of vs and our Realme AT this counsayle at Bristo we it was ordayned that the duke of Irelande shulde be soueraygne of all the kynges men of warre suche as he coude get to go to LoÌ„don to knowe the perfyte ententes of the londoners Trustynge that if he myght ones speke with them to â—ourne them to his acorde by reason of suche proftes as he wolde make them in the kynges name And so within a shorte space after the duke of Irelande with a fyftene thousand men deê‘ted fro Bristowe and rode to the cytie of Oxenforde there aboute he lodged and all his people and had baners displayed of the kynges armes and none other to shewe that all he dyde was in the kynges tytell and quarell tydingê came to the kynges vncles that the duke of Irelande aproched towardes LoÌ„don with a .xv. thousande men with the kynges baners displayed And on a daye all the lordes were at counsayle at Westmynstâ—r and had with theÌ„ the chefe of LoÌ„don suche as they trusted best and there they shewed them how the duke of IrelaÌ„de was comyng agaynst them with an armye royall The londoners who were enclyned to their partie sayde sirs let theÌ„ come in the name of god yf the duke of Irelande demauÌ„de of vs batayle he shall haue it incoÌ„tynent we will close no gate we haue for xv M. men nat and they were .xx. The dukes were right ioyfull with that answere incoÌ„tynent they sent out knyghtes squyers and messangers to assemble men of warre togyder fro dyuers ê‘ties suche as were sent for obeyed for so they had sworne and promysed before Men came fro the bysihaprike of CauÌ„terbury Norwiche and out of the couÌ„ties of Arundell and Sussex and of Salisbury and Southampton and out of all the countreis therabout London And so great nombre of people came to LoÌ„don and knewe nat what they shulde do ¶ Howe the duke of Irlande sente thre knyghtes to London to knowe some tydynges And howe the kynges vncles they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii NOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of the duke of Irelande of his couÌ„sell being at Oxford with a .xv. M. men howbeit the most parte of them were come thyder by constraynt rather than of good corage Than the duke of Irlande aduised to knowe thenteÌ„tes of theÌ„ of LoÌ„don to sende sir Nicholas BraÌ„ble sir Peter Golofer and sir Michaell de la Pole to the towre of London to go thyder by water and to set the kynges baners in the hyght of the towre to se what the londoners wolde do These thre knyghtes at the duke of Irlandes request deê‘ted fro OxeÌ„forde the next day they passed the TeÌ„mes at the bridge of Stanes rode to dyner to Shene the kynges place and there taryed tyll it was late fro thens rode to another house of the kyngê called Kenyngton and there they lefte their horses toke botes went downe the water with the tyde passed LoÌ„don bridge so came to the towre was nat knowen for no man was ware of their comynge And there they frouÌ„de redy the capitayne of the towre whom the kynge had sette there before and by hym these knyghtes knewe moche of the dealyng of them of LoÌ„don and of the kynges vncles And the capitayne shewed them howe they were come thyder to lodge in great dauÌ„ger Why so ê™ they We be the kynges seruauÌ„tes and we may well lodge in his house Nat so quod the capitayne All this cytie the counsaile wolde gladly be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the kyng so that he wolde be ruled by his vncles by none other And this that I shewe you is of good wyll for I am bouÌ„de to shew you and to couÌ„saile you to the best of my power but I am in dout to morowe whan day cometh that it be knowen in London that seruauntes of the kynges become hyther ye shall se this towre besieged bothe by lande water by the londoners nat to deê‘te hens tyll they se and knowe who is lodged within it And if ye be founde here ye shal be incontynent presented to the kynges vncles And than ye may well ymagin what ende ye shall come to I thynke they be so sore displeased agaynst the kynges couÌ„sayle and agaynst the duke of IrelaÌ„de that ye be taken ye shall nat escape with your lyues study well vpon these wordes for I assure you they be true ¶ Than these thre knightes who had wende to haue done marueyls were fore abasshed there determyned to tary all night as secrete as they coulde for feare of spyeng And the capitayne promysed to kepe them sure for that nyght and so kept the keyes with hym And in the mornynge these kynghtes had dyuers ymaginacions counsayles to se howe they shulde deale And all thynges coÌ„sydred they durst nat abyde the aduenture to be knowen there they feared greatly to be there beseged And or day came whan the fludde was come they tooke a barge and passed the bridge and went to Kenyngton And whan it was daye they toke their horses and rode to Wyndsore and there taryed all that nyght and the nexte day they rode to OxeÌ„forde and there founde the duke of Irlande his men to whom they shewed all these tidynges howe they durst nat tary at the towre of LoÌ„don the duke was pensyfe of those tidynges wyst
the kyng and there shewe hym what case the busynesse of his realme is in recoÌ„maunde vs to hym shewe hym in our behalfe that he gyue no credence of lyght enformacion agaynst vs He hath beleued some to moche for his owne honour and for the ê“fyte of his realme And saye also to hym that we requyre hym and so do all the good people of London that he wolde come hyder he shal be welcome receyued with gret ioye we shall set such couÌ„saile about hym that he shal be well pleased And we charge you retourne nat agayne withoute hym and desyre hym nat to be displeased thoughe we haue chased awaye a meny of traytours that were about hym for by them his realme was in great paryll of lesynge The bysshop sayd he shulde do ryght well his message and so departed and rodde forthe lyke a great prelate and so came to Bristowe and the kynge was there but with a priuye coÌ„pany For suche as were wont to haue ben of his counsayle were deed and fledde awaye as ye haue herde before The bysshop was in the towne two nightes and a day or the kyng wolde speke with hym He was so soore dyspleased with his vncles for driuynge awaye of the duke of Irelande whome he loued aboue all men and for sleeynge of his knyghtes Finally he was so entysed that he consented that the archbysshop shulde come in to his presens Whan he came before hym he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the kynge and there shewed the kyng euery worde as the kynges vncles had gyuen hym in charge And shewed hym that if it were his pleasure to come to Londou to his palys of Westmynster his vncles and the mooste parte of all his realme wolde be ryght ioyeouse elles they wyll be ryght sorte and yuell displeased And sayde sir Without the comforte ayde and accorde of your vncles and of your lordes knyghtes and prelates and of your good cyties and townes of EnglaÌ„de ye canne nat come to any of youre ententes He spake these wordes boldelye and sayde moreouer Sir ye canne nat reioyse so moche youre ennemyes as to make warre with youre frendes and to kepe youre Realme in warre and myschiefe The yonge kynge by reasone of the bysshoppes wordes beganne to enclyne howe be it the beheedynge of his knyghtes and counsaylours came sore in to his courage So he was in dyuers ymaginacions but finally he refrayned his displeasure by the good meanes of the quene the lady of Boesme and of some other wise knightes that were about hym as sir Rycharde Stoner and other Thanne the kyng sayd to the bysshoppe Well I am content to go to LoÌ„don with you wherof the bisshop was right ioyous and also it was to hym a great honoure that he hadde spedde his iourney so well WIthin a shorte space after the kyng departed lefce the quene styll at Bristowe and so came towardes London with the archbysshoppe in his company and so came to Wyndsore and there the kyng taryed a thre dayes Tidynges came to London howe the kynge was commynge euery manne was gladde Than it was ordayned to mete hym honourablye The daye that he departed fro Wyndsore the way fro Braynforde to London was full of people on horse backe and a foote to mete the kynge And his two vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucester and Iohan sonne to the duke of yorke the erle of Arundell the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes and prelates departed out of London mette with the kyng a two myle fro Braynforde There they receyued hym swetely as they ought to do their soueraygne lorde The kynge who bare yet some displeasure in his herte passed by and made but small countenaunce to theÌ„ and all the waye he talked moost with the bisshop of LoÌ„don at last they came to WestmiÌ„ster The kyng alyghted at his palis whiche was redy apparelled for him There the kyng dranke and toke spyces and his vncles also and other Prelates lordes and knyghtes Than some tooke their leaues The kynges vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterburye with the counsayle taryed styll there with the kyng some in the Palais and some in the abbey and in the towne of westminster to kepe the kynge company and to be nere toguyder co commune of their busynesse there they determyned what shulde be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to westmynster to a generall counsayle there to be holden Cap. C.i. A Generall Parlyament was ordeyned to be holden at Westmynstre and all prelates Erles Barons and knyghtes and the counsayles of all the good townes and cytees of EnglaÌ„de were sent for to be there and all suche as helde of the kyng The archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury shewed to the kynges vncles counsayle that when kynge Rycharde was crowned kynge of Englande and that euery man was sworne and made theyr releues to hym and that whaÌ„ he receyued theyr faythes and homages he was within age and a knyge ought nat to gouerne a royalme tyll he be xxi yeres of age and in the meane season to be gouerned by his vncles or by his nexte kynne and by wyse men The bysshop sayd this bycause the kynge as then was but newlye come to the age of .xxi. yeres wherfore he counsayled that euery man shulde be newe sworne and renewe their releues and euery manne newe to knowledge hym for their soueraygne lorde This counsayle was excepted of the kynges vncles and of all other of the couÌ„sayle And for that entent all prelates and lordes and counsayles of good cyties townes were sent for to come to Westminster at a daye assigned Euery man came thyder none disobeyed so that there was moche people in London and at Westmister And kyng Richarde was in his chapell in the palys rychely apareyled with his crowne on his heed and the archebysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury sang the masse And after masse the bisshoppe made a collasyon And after that the kyngê vncles dyde their homage to the kyng kyssed hym and there they sware and ê“mysed hym faithe and homage for euer And than all other lordes sware and prelates and with their handes ioyned togyder they dyde their homage as it aparteyned and kyst the kynges cheke Some the kyng kyst with good wyll some nat for all were nat in his in warde loue but it behoued hym so to do for he wolde nat go fro the counsayle of his vncles But surely if he might haue had his entent he wolde nat haue done as he dyde but rather haue taken crewell vengeaunce for the deche of sir Symon Burle and other knyghtê that they had putte fro hym and slayne without desert as he thought Than it was ordayned by the couÌ„sayle that the archebysshop of yorke shulde come and pourge hym selfe for he hadde alwayes been of the duke of Irelandes parte agaynst the kynges vncles
and smyled and sayde to a knyght of his Go and make this haraulde good chere he shall be answered to nyght and departe to morowe Than the kynge entred in to his secrete chambre and sent for sir Wyllyam of Lygnac and for sir gaultyer of Passac and red to them the letters and demaunded of them what was beste to do ¶ I shall shewe you the substaunce of the matter Syr Iohan Holande constable of the duke of Lancastres hoost wrote to the kynge of Castyle desyring hym to sende by the herault letters of safecoÌ„ducte for .ii. or thre englysshe knightes to go and come safe to speke and to treat with hym Than these knightes answered sayd sir it were good ye dyde this for than shall you knowe what they demauÌ„de Well quod the kyng me thynke it is good Than there was asafecoÌ„ducte written coÌ„teyninge that sixe knightes might safely go and come at the poyntyng of the constable This was sealed with the kynges great seale sygned with his hande deliuered to the heralt and xx frankes in rewarde Than he returned to AuraÌ„che where the duke the constable were THe herault deliuered the safecoÌ„duct to the coÌ„stable Than the knyghtes were chosen that shulde go sir Mauberyn of Linyere sir ThomÌ„s Morell sir Iohan Dambreticourt these thre knyghtes were charged to go on this message to the kynge of Castile and they deê‘ted assone as they might for some thought long for there were many sicke and lacked phisicions and medicins and also fresshe vitaylles These Englysshe ambassadours passed by the towne of Arpent and there the constable of Castyle sir Olyuer of Clesquy made theÌ„ good chere and made them a supper And the next daye he sent with them a knyght of his of Tyntemache a breton to bring them the more surelyer to the kyng for encouÌ„tryng of the bretons of whom there were many sprede abrode so long they rode that they came to Medenade Campo and there they founde the kynge who had gret desire to know what they wolde whan they were a lyghted at their lodgyng chauÌ„ged refreshed theÌ„ they went to the king who made to theÌ„ gode semblaunt were brought to hiby the knightê of his house Than they delyuered to the kyng letters fro the dukes Constable but none fro hym selfe for as than he wolde nat write to the kynge but they sayd Sir kyng we be sent hyder to you fro the erle of Huntyngdon Constable with the duke of Lancastre A certaynynge you of the great mortalyte and sickenesse that is amonge our men Therfore the constable desyreth you that ye wolde to all suche as desyreth to haue their helthe opyn your cyties and good townes and suffre them to entre to refresshe them and to recouer their helth if they maye And also that suche as haue desyre to passe in to Englande by lande that they maye passe without daunger of you of the kyng of Nauer and of the Frenche kyng but pesably to retourne in to their owne coutreis sir this is the desyre and request that we make vnto you as at this tyme. than the kyng answered and said soberly Sirs we shall take couÌ„sayle and aduise what is good for vs to do than ye shal be answered than the knyghtes sayd sir that suffyceth to vs. ¶ Howe these thre knyghtes obteyned a saueconduct of the kyng of Castyle for their people to passe howe dyuers of theÌ„glysshmen dyed in Castyle howe the duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Cap. C .v. THus they departed fro the kynge at that tyme and went to their lodgynges there taryed all that day the next day tyll none than they went to the kyng Now I shall shewe you what answere the king had of his couÌ„saile This request gretly reioysed the kyng for he sawe well his enemys wolde deê‘te out of his realme he thought in hymselfe he wolde agre therto yet he was couÌ„sayled to the coÌ„trary but he sent for the .ii. freÌ„che capitayns sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WillmÌ„ of Lignac and whan they were come he right sagely shewed theÌ„ the desire reqÌ„st of the coÌ„stable of the Englysshe host and hervpon he demauÌ„ded of them to haue their couÌ„sayle First he desyred sir Water Passacke to speke He was lothe to speke before other of the kynges couÌ„sayle there but he was fayne so to do the kyng so sore desyred hym so by the kynges coÌ„maundement he spake sayde Sir ye are come to the same ende that we haue alwayes said that was that your enemys shulde wast theÌ„ selfe they are nowe disconfyted without any stroke strikyng sir if the said folkes desyre to haue comforte refresshyng in your countre of your gentylnesse ye maye well grauÌ„t it them so that whaÌ„soeuer they recouer their helthe they retourne nat agayne to the Duke nor to the kynge of Portugale but than to deê‘te the streight way in to their owne countreys And that in the Terme of sixe yere they arme them nat agaynst you nor agaynst the realme of Castyle We thynke ye shall gette rightwell a safeconducte for them of the kynge of Fraunce and of the kynge of Nauerre to passe peasably through the realmes Of this answere the kynge was ryght ioyfull for they counsayled hym accordynge to his pleasure for he had nat cared what bargeyn he had made so that he myght haue benquyte of the Englysshmen Than he sayd to sir Water Passacke Sir ye haue well and truely counsayled me I thanke you and I shall do accordyng to your aduise Than the thre Englysshe knyghtes were sent for Whan they were come they entred into the counsayle chaÌ„bre Than the bysshop of Burges chaunceller of Spayne who was well langaged sayd sirs ye knyghtes of EnglaÌ„d perteyning to the duke of LaÌ„castre and sent hyder fro his constable vnderstande that the kyng here of his pytie and gentylnesse wyll shewe to his enemyes all the grace he maye And sirs ye shall retourne to your coÌ„stable and shewe hym fro the kyng of Castyle that he shall make it to be knowen through al his hoost by the sowne of a trumpet that his realme shal be open and redy to receyue all the Englysshmen hole or sicke so that at thentre of euery cyte or towne they laye downe their armure and weapons And there shall they fynde men redy to bring them to their lodgiges And there all their names to be written and delyuered to the capitayne of the towne to th entent they shulde nat retourne agayne in to Galyce nor in to Portugale for no maner of busynesse but to deê‘te in to their own countreis assone as they may And assone as the kyng of Castyle my souerayne lorde hath optayned your safecoÌ„ducte to passe through the realmes of Nauer and Fraunce to go to Calis or to any other porte or hauen at their pleasure outher in to Bretaygne Xaynton Rochell NormaÌ„dy or Picardy Also the kynges pleasure is that all suche knightê
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌ„ducte And of this coÌ„posycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌ„panyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ„ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌ„bre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ„ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌ„castre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deê‘ted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌ„stable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌ„panyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌ„e to Medena de CaÌ„po other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise â—ore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌ„forted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌ„che with the duke of LaÌ„castre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌ„postella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌ„ductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌ„de dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌ„dred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌ„ce his name was sir ThomÌ„s Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌ„ture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ„ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌ„pany Among the freÌ„chmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌ„passion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌ„munyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌ„ce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
sir Launcelotte of Voy and he was called sir IohnÌ„ of Voy but howe he dyed I shall tell you He was in a towne of Castyle called Seghome and laye there in garyson he had an Impostume in his body and he was yonge lusty and tooke no hede therof but on a day lept on a great horse and rode out in to the feldes spurred his horse so that by gambaldyng of the horse the impostume brake in his body and whan he was retourned to his lodgynge he was layde on his bedde sicke and that semed well for the fourthe daye after he dyed wherof his frendes were right soroufull ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe sir Iohan HolaÌ„de the duke of Lancastres constable toke his leue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the king of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe sir Iohan Dambreticourt wente to Parys to acomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and Bouciqualt Cap. C.vi YE maye well knowe that euery man eschewed this sickenesse that was amonge the Englysshmen and fledde therfro asmoche as they myght All this season sir Iohan Holande the dukes constable was still with the duke certayne knightes and squyers seynge the season of warre paste thynkynge to eschewe the peryll of the sickenesse sayd to the constable Sir let vs retourne we wyll go to Bayone or to Burdeux to take fresshe ayre and to esche we this sickenes for whan so euer the duke of Lancastre wyll haue vs agayne lette hym write for vs and we shall soone be with hym whiche were better than to kepe vs here in daunger and parell They called so often on hym that on a day he shewed the duke their murmuraryons Than the duke sayde Syr Iohan I wyll ye retourne and take my men with you and recomende me to my lorde the kyng and to all my bretherne in Englande With right a good wyll sir quod the constable But syr though sycke men haue had great curtesy by the constable of Castyle as in suffering them to entre to a byde there at their case tyll they recouer their helthes yet they maye nat retourne agayne to you in to Castyle nor in to Portugale and if outher they or we take our waye to Calays throughe Fraunce than we must be bounde to beare none armure in syxe yere after against the realme of FrauÌ„ce without the kynge our souerayne lorde be present in propre persone Than the duke sayd Syr Iohan ye knowe well that the frenchemen will take on you and on our men in case they se them in daunger all the vauÌ„tage they can do Therfore I shall shewe you whiche way ye shall passe curtesly through the realme of Castyle And whan ye come in to the entre of Nauarre sende to the kynge he is my cosyn and in tyme past we hadde great alyaunce to guyder whiche are nat as yet broken for sith the warre began bytwene the kyng of Castyle and me we haue amiably written eche to other as cosyns frendes nor no warre hath ben made by see bitwene vs but the freÌ„chmen haue wherfore I thynke he wyll lightly suffre you to passe through his realme whan ye be at saynt Iohan Pie de porte than take the waye to Bisquay and so to Bayon than ye be in our herytage And fro thens ye may go to the cytie of Burdeux without daunger of the frenche men and there refresshe you at your ease And whan ye haue wynde and weder at wyll than ye maye take the see lande in Cornwall or at Hampton or there as the wynde wyll serue you Than sir Iohan said your counsayle shal be fulfylled without any faute IT was nat long after but that the Constable and his company departed and there taryed with the duke and duches no mo but his owne housholde seruauntes And sir Iohan Holande had his wyfe with hym and so came to the cytie of Camores and there he founde the kynge of Castyle sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ of Lignacke who made hym good chere as lordes and knyghtes do whan they mete eche with other And truely the kyng of Castyle was gladde tose the departyng of the Englysshmen for than it semed to hym that his warre was at an ende and thought that there wolde neuer issue agayne out of Englande so many good men of warre in the duke of Lancasters tytell to make warre in Castyle Also he knewe well howe there was great trouble and dyscorde within the realme of Englande Whan the tidynges sprede abrode in Castile in the good cyties and townes where as the Englysshe men lay sicke and were there to seke for their helthe howe that sir Iohan Hollande was â—ome thyder to retourne agayne in to EnglaÌ„de They were ryght gladde therof and so drewe to hym to the entent to retourne with hym As the lorde of Chameulx sir Thomas Percy the lorde Lelynton the lorde of Braseton and dyuers other to the nombre of a thousaÌ„de horses suche as were sicke thought them selfe halfe hole whan they knewe they shulde retourne their voyage paste was so paynfull to them WHan sir Iohan Hollande toke leaue of the kyng of Castyle the kyng gaue to hym and to his coÌ„pany great giftes with mules and mulettes of Spaygne and payde for all their costes And than they rode to saynt Phagons and there refresshed theÌ„ thre dayes and in euery place they were welcome and well receyued For there were knyghtes of the kynges that dyde conducte theym and payde alwayes for their costes So longe they code that they passed Spaygne and came to Naueret where as the batayle had ben before and so to Pauyers and to Groyne and there rested for as than they were nat in certayne if the kynge of Nauerre wolde suffre them to passe throughe his realme or nat Than they sent to hym .ii. knightes sir Peter Bysset and sir Wylliam Norwiche They founde the kynge at Tudela in Nauer and there spake with hym spedde so well that they had grauÌ„t to passe through Nauer payeng for that they shulde take by the way and as soone as these knyghtê were retourned they departed fro Groyne and so came to Pampylona passed the mountains of RouÌ„ceaux and lefte the way in to Bierne and entred in to Bisquay so to go to Bayon at last thyder they came and there sir Iohan Holande taryed a long space with his wyfe and other of the Englysshmen rode to Burdeaux Thus this armye brake vp So it was in the season whyle these warres endured in Castile that that englisshmen kepte the feldes The lorde Bouciqualt the elder of the .ii. bretherne sent by an herault to sir Iohan DaÌ„breticourt desyring to do with hym dedes of armes as thre courses with a 〈◊〉 thre with an axe and thre with a dagger all or 〈…〉 the knight was agreed therto And after that sir Iohan Dambreticourt sent dyuers tymes to accoÌ„plysshe their feate but Bouciqualt came nat forwarde I can not tell what
henedeth nat to tary here for any warre that is apatente for as for Galice the recouery therof shall be but a small mater for vs. Thus they of the kynges counsayle comuned eche with other and further they said If we ones receyue these people they must be payed of their wages if nat they will pyll and robbe all the realme for the comon people all redy begynneth to complayne therfore we thynke it were best to gyue theÌ„ an honest congy to departe This counsayle was vpholden and the kynge well consented there to for he sawe well it was the most proftye for his people and realme for they coulde take no hurte but it shulde be to his domage and preiudice So that one daye in the kynges presence the archebysshop of Burgus to the duke of Burbon before many of the knightes of Fraunce shewed and declared to theym their ententes as ye haue herde before And the duke of Burbon and dyuers other knyghtes of Fraunce who had rather retourne than to a byde there for the countrey was nat mete for their complerions were well contente to retourne and prepared themselfe thervpon and bycause the duke of Burbone was laste that came he retourned first and toke his leaue of the kynge and said howe he wolde returne by the realme of Nauerre There were great gyftes gyuen him or he departed and might haue had more if he wolde haue taken it but he refused euery thynge except mules and mulâ—tteâ— and dogges of Spayne Than it was publisshed that all frenchmen might at their pleasure departe out of Spayne and retourne in to Fraunce but there taryed styll sir Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Spayne and the marshals and a thre hundred speares of bretons poicteuyns and xayngtons Thus the duke of Burbone returned Whan he had taken his congy of the kynge and the quene and of other lordes of Castyle he was conueyed to Groyne and so in to Nauarre And where so euer he came he was welcome and well receyued for the duke of Burbone was gracyous curteyse honorable and well renomed And the kynge of Nauer receyued him louyngly and neuer shewed any maner of yuell wyll towardes the frenche kynge in that he had taken a way fro him his enherytauÌ„ce of the countye of Eureur in Normandy for he sawe well the frenche kyng that was as than nephewe to the duke of Burbon was in no defaute therof for whaÌ„ it was done he was but yonge But swetely he shewed the duke all his busynesse desyringe hym to be a good meane bytwene hym and his cosyn the frenche kynge The duke promysed hym so to be Than the duke departed and passed thorough the realme of Nauer peasably and all other suche as wolde passe and thus they passed the mountayns of Rouseaulx all alonge the countrey of Bastelles and so entred in to Bierne and in to Saluaterra ¶ Howe therle of Foize receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great giftes that he gaue him and how sir willyam of Lygnac and sir Gaultier of Passackes coÌ„pany departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynt Phagon Cap. C.viii. WHan the Erle of Foyz beynge at Ortays vnderstode that the duke of Burbon was at Saluaterra he was glad therof and sente for his knightê to be aboute him And on a day in great araye he rode with a fyue hundred knyghtes and squyers two leages out of Ortays and mette with the duke of Burbon who in lykewyse rode with a great rout of knyghtes and squiers and there they met amyably as great prynces ought to do And whan they had comuned togyther a certayne space as it was shewed me whan I was at Ortays The erle of Foize drewe hym a parte in the felde with all his company and the duke abode styll in a nother parte Than the Erle sente to the duke thre knyghtes named syr Espayne de Lyon sir Peter Capestan and sir Menaunt of Nowalles And whan they came before the duke they sayd Sir here is a present that my lorde the erle of Foiz hath sent to you at your returnynge out of Spayne for he knoweth well ye haue been at great dyspence Therfore syr he dothe gyue you at your entring in to his countrey of Bierne eyght thousande frankes and this mulette and two coursers and two palfreys Syrs quod the duke I thanke the erle of Foyze But as for the floreyns I wyll take none as for the other presente I wyll receyue them with a good wyll thus the florens were refused and the Mules and horses receyued Than the erle of Foyz came to the duke and brought hym in to the towne of Ortays and lodged him in his owne place all other were lodged in the towne the duke was thre dayes in Ortays and had great there with dyners and suppers And there the Erle of Foize shewed the duke a great parte of his estate On the fourthe daye the duke departed and the erle gaue to the knightes and squiers great gyftes As it was shewed me the comynge thyder of the duke of Burbon coste the erle of Foize ten thousande frankes Thus the duke departed and went in to Fraunce and rode by Mountpelyer by the cytie of Puy and by the countye of Forestes wherof he was lorde by the lady his wyfe FOr all the departyng of the duke of Burben as ye haue herde out of Spayne sir Willyam Lignac and sir Gaultier of Passac departed nat so soone nor the companyes to the nombre of a thre thousande speares and syre thousande of other men of warre and lytell and lytell euer they departed They were many out of wages and wery of the warres and so retourned yuell horsed and yuell aparelled all to torne and ragged The metynge with suche people was nothynge profytable for they vnhorsed whome soeuer they met and made warre to all marchauÌ„tes and to men of the churche and to poore people of the countre where any thinge was to gette These rutters sayde howe the warre had vndone them and howe the kynge of Castyle hadde yuell payed theym their wages wherfore they sayde they wolde pay themselfe And surely suche cyties castels and good townes as were nat stronge in Castyle douted them greatly and agaynst them townes and cyties closed their gates for feare of parels for all was hauocke with them without it were well defended Suche knightes and squyers as came by the erle of Foyze to se hym were well receyued and had gyftes and rewardes gyuen them ryght largely As it was shewed the comyng and retournynge of men of warre that passed by therle of Foize for the sayd iourney coste hym the some of .xl. thousande frankes THis season there fell an incydent in the towne of saynt Phagon in Spaygne after the departynge of the duke of Burbone the whiche coste fyue hundred mennes lyues So it was that whan sir Gaultier of Passar and sir Willyam of Lignac entred firste in to Spayne
were departed out of their holdes and whyder he wolde set theÌ„ in any busynesse or nat Than he was answered and it was said to hym Sir the erle of Armynake wolde kepe them in wages occupy them in to Lombardy for as ye knowe well his suster is maryed there and before she had Gascone your sonÌ„e for it is thought there shal be moche a do in Lombardy whervnto the erle of Foiz gaue none answere but fell in to other talkyng howbe it he thought neuerthelesse as it apered afâ— for he haÌ„dled the mater couertly I shall shewe you howe The erle of Armynake for any treatie that he coude do to them that were of the countre of Bierne or of the teneurs of therle of Foiz or suche as owed hym any fauour coude neuer cause any of them to agree to departe out of their garisons Nor wolde nat go nother to the erle of Armynake nor to Bernarde his brother in lawe For therle of Foiz who was full of great prudence consydred that these two lordes of Armynake there cosyns and with the labriciens were puissaunt men and sawe howe they gate them frendes on euery parte he thought they shulde nat be renforsed with them that ought to serue hym And one thynge that was reasonable the Erle of Foiz ymagined sir Espaygne de Leon shewed it me whan I was at Ortays in lykewise so dyde the erle of Compane capitayne of Carlot in Auuergne and also so dyde the Bourge of Englande They sayd howe the erle of Foiz regarded howe he had had open warre with them of Armynake thoughe it were peace bytwene them as than whiche was but a truese the whiche was dyuers tymes renewed bytwene theym Therfore he thought â—hat if the erle of Armynake had all those companyons vnder his gouernaunce his warres shulde be the fayrer So that the armynakes and the labricience with their alyes myght do hym a great displeasure This was the cause that suche as owed fauour to therle of Foiz wolde nat agte to the erle of Armynake Howe be it they made theÌ„ beleue that they wolde but they dyd but dissemble for they brake all their apoyntmeÌ„tes howe be it they rode nat abrode so moche as they dyde before Wherby alwayes the Erle of Armynake thought to haue come to his purpose They that agreed to hym were Perotte de Bernoys who helde the stronge castell of Salucette whiche is chefe and soueraygne of all Auuergne and Lymosyne for their patesyng endured to Rochell And also Guyllyam of saynt Foye who helde the castell of Bonteuyll and also Margote Marcell who helde Loysse before saynt Flour in Auuergne and the Bourge of Compaygne and the Englysshe Bourge who helde Carlotte Margote Marcell sayde he was contente so that he myght haue in lykewise Perotte Bernoys and Geffray Teate Noyre who helde VaÌ„dachore who was souerayne aboue all other But he dyde but mocke and dissemble the mater for he disdayned to fall to any treatie of the erle of Armynakes or of any other For he thought his castell imprignable and well prouyded for seuyn or eyght yeres for he had a passage or two that coude nat be taken fro hym but that he myght issue whan he lyste to refresshe hym selfe and his company This Geffray wrote hym selfe in his saueconductes Geffray Teate Noyre duke of Vandachore erle of Lymosyn lorde and soueraygne of all the capitayns of Auuergne Rouergue and Lymosyn NOw let vs leaue to speke of these maters of farre couÌ„treis tyll we haue cause to returne therto agayne And nowe I wyll speke of matters nerer home as of myne owne nacyon as it hath ben shewed here before whan I treated of the ende of the warre of Flaunders and of the charter of peace that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse dyde gyue and graunt and sealed to them of Gaunt in the good towne and noble cytie of Tourney Therfore nowe to enforce our mater and history we wyll speke nowe of the warres of Guerles and of Brabant And I am quickened so to do bycause that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne to whom the mater greatly touched by the insydentes that gendred therby were fayne to set to their haÌ„des to the same warre and to come to the bottom therof And to contynue at length the true hystorie and mater I saye thus as foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage and wyst nat what to do caÌ„e for refuge to the archebysshoppe of Coleygne his Vncle who blamed hym howe ambassadours wente to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C.xi. ALonge season it was that they of Guerles and they of Brabant had grete hatered toguyder and so dyd the countreis to them adioyninge by reason of certayne bondes one agaynst another And the moost hatered that the brabanders had to the duke of Guerles and to his heyres was for the towne of Graue whiche the dukes of Guerles had holden per force a longe season agaynst the brabansoys For they sayd bycause that the towne of grane stode on that syde of the ryuer of Muese towardes Brabant that the duke of Guerles helde it wrongfully before that tyme dyuers coÌ„munycacions had been and poyntmentes taken howbeit alwayes the guerloys stacke in their hertê Also the guerloys hated the brabaÌ„soys bycause of thre fayre castels that were on that syde the ryuer as Gaulech Buthe Nulle Whiche castelles the duke of BrabaÌ„t helde also peforce And by reasone as in redynge I shall begynne at the duke of Guerles These hatereddes were often tymes renewed bytwene them of Guerles and Brabant And it was supposed by dyuers knightes and squyers that knewe of their dedes of armes that if sir Edwarde of Guerles who was slayne by a marueylous incydent at the batayle of Iulyers by the shote of an archer that was with the duke Vyncelant of Boem duke of Lusenbourge or of Brabante If he had lyued with that that his men had had the vyctorie he hadde come to his entente in gettyng agayne the thre castelles for he was lo valiant a man and so hardy that he wolde haue conquered them agayne ¶ Nowe I wyll declare as I haue promysed how and in what maner these foresayd castelles came in to the signorie of the brabansoys and first I wyll begyn with the dukes of Guerles IN the tyme whan I wrote and ordayned this hystorie there was an Erle of Guerles called Raynolde and bycause that Guerles is no riche countre nor so great as the duchy of Brabant This erle came to his lande a yonge man and had a frewyll to dispende largely and thought full lytell of the ende that myght come after He cared for nothynge but for to accomplysshe his pleasure and haunted iustes and tourneys to his gret cost to gette hym renome And euery yere he spended four tymes as moche as the value of the reuenewes of his landes He borowed of the lombardes in dyuers places he
frendes dyd stoppe it Whan these lordes were come to the duke he was gladd specyally by the comynge of his two cosyns germayns the duke Aubert of Bauiers and the duke Oste his brother for he knewe well that they wolde nat his dyshonoure but rather to gyue hym good couÌ„sayle as they dyd Their counsayle was to shewe you breuely that he shulde sende some honorable persones for the duke of Lusenburge and of Brabant whome he helde in curtoyse prison in his castell of Nideque and so he dyd And whan he was come all those lordes dyd hym great honour as reason was And than they all departed togyder and came to Ayes and toke their lodgynges Than the duke Auberte and his brother and the foresayd prelates who were the meanes of this treatye they sore entreated the emperour and his counsayle and shewed the emperoure howe the duke of Iuliers his cosyn of his owne free wyll was come to se hym and to put hym selfe poorely with out any reseruacyon into his obeysaunce and commaundement and to knowledge hym for his soueraygne and liege lorde These swete and amyable wordes molefyed greatly the emperours ire that he had before Than the emperoure sayd Lette the duke come to me and so he dyde and kneled downe before the emperoure and sayde My ryght redoubted souerayne I beleue well ye are dyspleased with me bycause of your brother in lawe the duke of Brabante whome I haue helde longe in prison for the which cause I submytte my selfe to abyde your ordre and your counsayles To that worde themperour gaue none aunswere but his sonne sir Charles who was called kynge of Boesme aunswered and sayde Duke of Iulyers ye haue ben to outragyous to kepe our vncle so longe in prisone And if it were nat at the desyre of your well be loued cosyns duke Auberte and duke Oste of Bauyers this busynesse wolde haue ben soer layd to your charge than it is for ye haue well deserued to be hyghly punysshed but chaunge your copye so that we haue no cause to renew our yuell wylles agaynste you for ye do it wyll be costly to you Than the duke of Iulyers beynge on his kne before the emperoure where as he sate in his chayre imperiall sayde My ryght redoughted souerayne lorde by your puyssaunt hyghnes I knowledge my selfe to haue trespassed youre maieste in that I with an army came against my cosyn your vycaire of the empyre and in that I haue helde hym as my prisoner I delyuer hym vnto you freely and quyte and I requyre your grace that you nor he beare me any yuell wyll fro hence forthe Than the prelates and the princes there beynge presente to helpe forwarde his wordes sayde Ryght noble prince this suffyseth that your cosyn of Iulyers hath sayd Well quod the emperour we are content and so toke hym vp by the hande And as it was shewed me for the confyrmacion of more loue he kyst the duke on the mouth and also his sonne the kynge of Boesme And than the duke of Brabante was delyuered out of prison and all suche as were prisoners vnder the duke of Iulyers and were nat raunsomed before were delyuered quyte by reason of the composycion of the treatie and this done euery manne retourned to their owne The emperour wente to Prage in Almayne and the duke of Brabant in to Brabante and whanne the duke of Brabante was retourned than he reysed a newe tayle in his couÌ„trey to restore to his knightes parte of their domages ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Brabante dyed and howe the duke Guylliam of Guerles treated with the duches of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castels and what aunswere he had and how he made alyauÌ„ce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C.xiiii ⸪ ⸪ I Am yet wyllynge to treate of this matter more at lengthe to renforce this hystorye and to brynge it to the poynte that I wolde come vnto to declare the trouthe why Charles the frenche kyng came with a great puyssaunce in to Almayne I might haue shewed this before but I haue prolonged it for all thingê though the date and season be paste yet they ought to be shewed in this hystory for whan I knowe that the frenche kynge and the kynge of England began to be besy than I began to wake to procede this hystory more than I dyd before Therfore I saye thus Whan duke Wyncelant was returned in to the countrey clerely delyuered out of person as ye haue herde before Than he was in wyll to vysyte his landes and castels as well in the duchy of Luzenbourge as else where and toke his iourney to the good cytie of Strawesbourge throughe the lande of Fauquemount and behelde the thre castels whiche were the occasion of the duke of Guerles yuell wyll He founde theym stronge and fayre if he loued theÌ„ before he loued them moche better than and caused them to be newly fortyfied and set workemen a worke as masons carpeÌ„ters and dykemakers to amende euery place and at his departynge he set a valyaunt knyght to be soueraygne keper of these thre casteles This knyght was called sir Iohan Grosset who at the dukes commaundemente toke on hym the charge at his parell The duke passed further and vysited his couÌ„trey and at his pleasure retourned agayne in to Brabante for there was his abydynge In this season syr Iohan of Bloâ—s had wedded the olde lady and duches of Guerles for the herytage by right came to hym by the deth of sir Edwarde of Guerles his brother who was slayne as ye haue herde in the batayle of Iulyers But his suster the duches of Iulyers stroue with hym and made chalenge and the moste parte of the knightes and good townes inclyned most to the ladyes parte bycause she had a fayre sonne who was able than to ryde and that was well sene for always he was in the warres so that sir IohnÌ„ de Bloyse nor his wyfe coulde neuer haue peasable possessyon But the chalenge of the ryght of his wyfe and the pursute therof coste hym aboue a hundred thousaÌ„de frankes For the sonne of duke Wyllyam of Iuliers shewed well in his youth that he was noble and hardy and loued dedes of armes for he came of noble ertractyon and so was duke of Guerles and had in mariage the eldest doughter of duke Auberte who had ben wedded before to sir Edward of Guerles but he had neuer carnally coupyled with her for she was to yonge Thus she was maryed to the lorde Willyam of Iulyers and he and she were moche of one age And soo she was styll duches as she was before This yonge duke increased in honour wytte and prowes and in great wyll to hauÌ„te dedes of armes and to augment his herytage And his heâ—e was rather englysshe than frenche and sayd always as yong as he was that he wolde ayde to insteyne the kynge of Englandes quarell for he was nerer of blode to hym than to the Frenche
they were chased tyll they mette with the fote men who in lykewise than fledde and kepte none order and lepte into the Vynes and in to the dykes to saue themselfe The crosbowes that came out of Cleremount kepte better array than their company dyde For they close toguyder toke a vyne yarde and bent their bowes and made vysage of defence and kepte them selfe there tyll all the Englysshe menne were withdrawen backe agayne to Mountferant They of Cleremont lost tweÌ„tie of their men sixe slayne and fourtene taken Thus it fell of that enterprice and all that day euery maÌ„ trussed and made redy to departe the same nyght after and by sixe of the Clocke euery man hadde trussed vp their baggage and laded their horses and sette them selte a foote They past nat a threscore on horsebacke and so sette forwarde in the stretes their somers and caryages they hadde well a foure hundred horse charged with clothes naprie and furres and other thynges necessary They founde in the towne cofes and presses full of stuffe but they lafte them clene voyde They bounde their prisoners two and two toguyder And whan they were all redy and that it was nyght they opyned the gate and issued out They had taryed in Mount feraunt no more but eyghtene houres They sette their cariage before them and thaÌ„ their prisoners and foote men and the capitayns on horsebacke came after them The nyght was darke and the countrey nat aduysed of their departynge wherfore they were nat pursued and about mydnight they came to Ousacke fro whens they came the seconde day before there they rested them It was shewed me that they wanne by the same voyage a hundred thousande frankes besyde their prisoners Sir Peter of Gyache chauncelloure of Fraunce loste for his parte in redy money thyrtie thousande frankes or aboue THe companyons were well counsayled to leaue Mount feraunt in Auuergne so soone as they dyde For if they had taryed there two dayes lengar than they dyde they hadde nat departed without great daunger and paraduenture with losse of their lyues For all the knyghtes and squiers of the countrey gathered toguyder and came thyder with puyssaunce to haue layde siege to the towne and the lordes of the couÌ„trey as ye haue herde before named none taryed behynde And the erle Dolphyn was come within two dayes iourney but than he herde tidynges howe the Englysshmen and gascoyns were departed to their owne forteresses and there the trouthe of the hole mater was shewed hym WhanÌ„e he knewe the trouthe he rode than more at his ease came to saynt Pursayne and fro thens to Moulyns in Burbonoyes And there he fouÌ„de the duches of Burbone his doughter who was sore a frayde of that aduenture Howe be it whan she knewe that the aduentures were gone she was gladde therof for thanne she thought her countrey more surer than it was before By my faythe quod the erle I wolde it had coste me greatly that they had taryed styll at Mount Ferant tyll I had come thyder For if they were there nowe they shulde haue an yuell ende We coulde nat haue had a better enterprise in all Auuergne wherby to haue recouered all the fortresses that they holde It semeth well they are skylfull men of warre that they taryed there no lengar they are gone to their owne holdes with all their pyllage and prisoners Thus the Erle and the duchesse his doughter coÌ„muned toguyder And Perot le Bernoys and Olyue Barbe the Bourge of CoÌ„payne the Bourg angloys Apthon Seguyn and the other capitayns of the fortresses whan they were coÌ„e to Ousacke they departed their botye pyllage and prisoners And some they raunsomed and the other they ledde to their fortresses Some to Carlat and some to Gaslucet All the countre of Auuergne toke better hede to they holdes than they hadde done before Howe be it the erle of Armynake and the erle Dolphyn sente to Perotte le Bernoys sayeng howe falsely and traytourously he had taken and stollen the towne of Mountferant and robbed it and ledde away the prisoners counsaylynge hym to make therof amendes Consydringe howe they were in treatie toguyder â—or a peace Perotte aunswered and sayde Sauyng their graces as for my selfe and seuyn other Capitayns that were with me at the takynge of Mountferant were neuer at no maner of treatie with these Erles nor we toke nat this towne fraudulently nor stale it But I entred in at the gate whiche was opyned redy to receyue me If I and my company hadde been sworne to any treatie we wolde haue kepte it surely But we were neuer of that entencyon nor wyll be In this case the mater stoode and the lordes coude haue none other answere Sir Peter of Gyache was sore displeased for the losse that he hadde And as for them of Mounte ferant recouered them selfe as well as they myght Thus this aduentures fell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey maryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloys sonne And howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yong kyng Charles of Fraunce Cap. C.xxiii IN the yere of our lorde God a thousande thre huÌ„dred fourscore and sixe in the moneth of August Guye the erle of Bloyes and the Lady Mary his wyfe departed fro the towne of Bloyes well acompanyed with knightes and squyes ladyes and damoselles to go in to Berrey and they had with theym their yonge sonne who hadde fyaunced the yere before Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey and the entencyon of the erle of Bloyes and of the couÌ„tesse his wyfe was that whan they shulde come to Burgus in Berrey to ê“cede to the sayd maryage In lykewise it was the entencyon of the duke of Berrey of the duches his wyfe Thus whaÌ„ all these ê‘ties were come togyder than these two chyldren were ioyned togider in mariage in the churche of saynt Stephyn in Burgus by a Cardynall the chauncellour of Berrey and the bysshoppe of Poyters had the yere before ensured theym toguyder It this maryage of Loyes of Bloyes and of the lady Mary of Berrey in the cytie of Burgus was made great feest and tryumphes with iustes turneyes This feest endured eight dayes whaÌ„ this was accomplysshed the erle of Bloyes and the countesse tooke leaue of the duke of Berrey and of the duchesse and so returned to Bloyes and hadde with them their yonge doughter Also in the same yere IohnÌ„ of Berrey sonne to the duke of Berrey called Erle of Mountpensier maryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge of FrauÌ„ce In the same yere that these Maryages were thus made In the tyme of lente the duchesse of Berrey and Mary of Fraunce her doughter and her sonne rode to the towne of Bloyes to se the Erle Bloyes and the countesse and their chyldren They were receyued in to the Castell of Bloyes with great ioye At all these maters I sir
Iohan Froissarte was present And whan they had been there in great Feest thre dayes they departed and toke their way to Poyters but they went by water by the ryuer of Loyre to Amboyse and fro thens in chares and on horsebacke tyll they came to Poytou There the duchesse helde her house moost cōmonly in a good castell and good towne called Chynon In this yere dyed Mary of Fraunce beyng yonge who was wyfe to the erle of Mountpenlier In lykewise soone after dyed the lady Iane of Armynake duchesse of Berrey Thus the duke of Berrey and his sonne were to marry agayne as they dyd but nat ouer soone Of the whiche maryages and specyallye of the dukes I shall shewe you here after whan the mater shall requyre to haue it declared YE haue well herde here before howe the duke of Guerles had defyed the French kyng dispyte fully whiche was spoken o◠sar and nere For as the brute was it was nat done in no curtesse maner but out of the style and vsage of all other defyances Trouthe it is I sawe my selfe certayne writynges in paper the whiche was sayde to be the true copy But bycause I sawe it nat vnderseale nor aproued as such maters ought to be that touche great princes suche as is the Frenche kyng therfore I gaue no greatcredence therto Howe be it it semed well that this defyaunce was displeasaunt to the realme wolde haue it amended And that the duke of Guerles shulde excuse hym of the spytefull wordes that were in the defyaunce The kynges coūsayle wolde in no wyse that the mater shulde rest so for the great lordes of Fraunce sayde Without the kyng founde some remedy they and all the realme shulde be greatly to blame And they sayd howe the kynge was yonge and forwarde and that was well sene in his iourney in Flaunders And if he go nat forwarde nowe to reuenge this dede men wolde speke dyuerslye of the nobles of the realme of Fraunce who shulde counsayle the kynge and are sworne to kepe and defende his honour and to refourme all that is mysordred And to the entent that the kynge nor the realme shulde beare no blame the lorde of Coucy toke payne in the mater And shewed well howe the mater touchedde hym nere He knewe the almayns better thā he dyde any other for he hadde been often in their cōpanyes as well for the chalenge that he made to the duchy of Austryche as for other insydentes that he hadde amonge them THe kynges vncles sawe well howe all the nobles of the Realme were well enclyned to haue the mater redressed and specially the duke of Burgoyne hadde great affectyon therto for the duke of Guerles haryed and pylled the duchesse of Brabantes countrey The whiche enherytaunce shulde retourne to hym after the dethe of the two ladyes who were right aged both the duches and her sustre wherfore he wolde that outher by warre or other meanes that the duke of Guerles were apeased Howe be it fyrst of all it was requisyte to make all the membres of Fraunce one and of one opinyon For it shulde be a farre iourney for the kynge to go out of Fraunce in to Almaygne to conquere landes and countreis The whiche the kynge coulde nat do without he had all his hole puyssaunce with hym for it was nat knowen whyder the almaygnes who be couetous people wolde helpe and assyst the duke of Guerles or nat Also furthermore the duke of Burgoyne and the other noble men of Fraunce sawe well howe the duke of Bretayne was in great differēce with the realme of Fraunce and began marueylously shewed by his dedes that he had as lyue haue warre with the realme of Fraūce as peace And the lordes knewe well howe he prouyded his townes castels cyties with great prouisyon of men vitayls and artillary to defende any siege And besydes that often tymes he wrote in to Englande with louynge treatable wordes to make alyaunce for euer And the Englysshmen were wyllyng therto to the entent that their warre with Fraunce myght be the better for them after Thanne the counsayle of Fraūce wolde nat that there shulde be lefte behynde them suche a myst in Bretaygne but that first it myght be putte a waye by good meanes and condute They thought they wolde nat putte the realme in that doute If the kynge shulde go in to Almaygne and leaue the realme destytute as this the Kynges vncles ymagined They wyste nat howe to stoppe the duke of Bretayne for as than suche as they had sent thyder were retourned as the bysshoppe of Lāgers sir Iohan of Vyen and sir Iohan de Beull They shewed the kyng his vncles howe they had done nothyng to purpose thā the duke of Berry aduysed to sende to Bretayne to entreat with the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes who was a sage persone a treatable Than the duke desyred hym and sayde Fayre cosyn it behoueth that ye go in to Bretaygne to speke with our cosyn the duke there If ye fynde hym harde and highe of wordes chafe nat with hym treate hym swetely and after a good maner And speke sagely to hym and bring hym in to good reason and it may be And shewe hym howe the kynge and I and my brother of Burgoyne wolde nothing to hym but good loue peace And if he wyll abyde and holde with vs we shall alwayes be redy to do hym pleasure also shewe hym that as for the castels that he holdeth of the cōstables how that for a small occasion he hath ceased them But it wolde please hym to rendre them agayne it shulde be greatly to his honour And howe that the kynge shall gyue hym as fayre and as good as they be in any other place where he wyll chose in the realme Good cosyn do so moche as to bringe vs some good tydinges and for any tarieng there departe nat fro him tyll ye bring some mater to passe and haue well in your remembraūce all this busynesse and all his answere and the order of his estate The erle of Stampes answered and sayde Sir all this shal be done right gladly AFter that the erle of Stāpes had this charge fro the duke of Berey to go in to Bretayne to the duke his cosyn He taried nat long but made hymselfe redy and passed by Chartres and through the good countre of Mayne and so came to Anger 's and there founde the quene of Naples who hadde ben wyfe to the duke of Aniou Who was called kyng of Naples of Cicyle of Hierusalem duke of Pole of Calabre and erle of Prouence And in her company her two fayre sonnes Loyes and Charles The lady receyued her cosyn the erle of Stampes ioyfully and there was Iohn̄ of Bretayne who loued nat the duke of Bretayne but he was nat in power to shewe forthe his yuell wyll nor to amende it Whan therle of Stampes had ben there a daye and a night he tooke
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
many metynges to coÌ„mune toguyder as well of the state of Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go as of the duke of Bretaygne whom they coude bring to no reason nor wolde nat obey nor wyste nat whom to sende to hym that he wolde beleue for there hadde ben many valyant men and sage with hym but all that aueyled nothyng for they coude bring nothyng to passe as they desyred wherof the kyng his counsaile was sore troubled For they vnderstode well that the duke of Bretaygne had all that wynter prouyded and fortifyed his townes and castelles and shewed howe by lykehode he hadde rather haue warre than peace and the wysest of the counsayle sayd We speke of goynge in to Almayne but we ought rather to speke of goynge in to Bretaygne and to putte downe the duke there who is so highe mynded that he wyll here no reasone and is alwayes agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce and disdayneth to be obedyent thervnto we shal haue no reason of hym without we force him therto For and if he be suffred he wyll be to presumptuous he feareth no man nor he loueth nor prayseth no man but hym selfe this is a clere case If the kynge go in to Almaygne and leaue his realme bare of men as he muste do if he go thyder The duke of Bretaigne than wyll suffre the Englisshe men to come in to his countrey so entre in to FrauÌ„ce The apparaunce herof is great for there is all redy a great army of archers on the see and they kepe styll on the coste of Bretaygne for if wynde and wether putte theym of yet euer they drawe thyder agayne lyeth there at ancre besemyng taryeng tyll the warre be opyn Wherfore we thynke it were good yet to sende agayne to the duke the bisshoppe of Langers and the erle of saynt Poule for the duke and the erle haue maryed two susters Naye sirs nat so ê™ maister yues who was a very Breton If ye wyll sende to the duke agayne ye can not sende one more agreable to hym than the lorde of Coucy for in lykewyse they haue maryed two susters haue loued marueylously togyder and haue euer written eche to other Fayre brother with the lorde of Coucy sende whom ye wyll well quod the duke of Burgoyne Maister yues sithe ye haue begon name you the rest Sir with right a good wyll sithe it pleaseth you With the lorde of Coucy sende sir Iohan of Vyen and the lorde de la Ryuer These be suche thre lordes as shall bring hym to reason if he wyll euer come to any Thus let it be ê™ the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne than they were apoynted and charged what they shulde saye whervpon they shulde groude their mater and to handell hym by fayre wordes Thus they taryed a certayne space or they departed fro Parys The duke of Bretayne knewe well of their comyng or they deê‘ted fro Parys but he coude nat tell whan And he sawe well the mater touched highlye in that the lorde of Coucy came The duke had many ymaginacyons on that mater and discouered his mynde to certayne of his couÌ„sayle as the lorde of Mountbouchier demaunded counsayle of hym and of other and sayd Sirs I here as the brute roÌ„ueth that the duke of LaÌ„castre shulde mary his doughter in to Fraunce to the duke of Berrey and the mater is so forwarde that sir Helyon of Lignacke is goyng to the duke to Bayon the duke greatly enclyneth to this maryage wherof I haue great marueyle for my fayre brother of Lancastre hath nat written to me therof so that I knowe nothyng of the mater but by heryng saye He was nat accustomed so to do for in all his maters touchyng FrauÌ„ce he was wount to write to me than his couÌ„sayle answered and said Sir if it be thus it must behoue you to chauÌ„ge your purpose or els it shal be greatly to your losse and daunger and bring your couÌ„tre in to warre whiche were good to eschewe For ye nede nat to make warre sythe ye maye be in peace yea and desyred therto Also my lady your wyâ—e is great with chylde the whiche ye ought to regarde The kynge of Nauer can but tytell ayde you for he hath ynoughe to do for hym selfe Also the duke of LaÌ„castre who is a sage and a valyant prince as it is sayd shall mary his doughter to the duke of Berrey This shal be a gret begynnyng to entre in to a treatie of peace bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce or elles a longe truse And by reason therof ye shall se at the ende the kyng of Castell putte out of his realme as they haue kepte hym in and the rather if the duke of Lancastre and the Englysshe men be agreed with hym and also it is of trouthe that the lorde Coucye admyrall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer are coÌ„myng hyder ye maye well knowe that is for some great cause touchynge the kyng who busyeth hym selfe for his coÌ„stable and for his Realme And by lykelyhode the kynge and his vncles wyll knowe presisely what ye wyll do and wheder ye wyll kepe styll your opinyon or nat And if ye kepe styll your purpose it is to be ymagined that the great armye that is prepared for to go in to Guerles shall tourne agaynst you Nowe remembre well what conforte ye are likely to haue yf ye haue warre with Fraunce whiche ye are moost lykely to haue if the duke of Lancaster marry his doughter into FrauÌ„ce as be semyng he wyll for he can nat bestowe her better to recouer her herytage Also ye knowe well that the moost parte of the prelates barons knyghtes and squyers and cyties and good townes are in maner ye agaynst you Therfore sir sithe ye demaunde counsayle of vs We saye that ye had neuer so moche cause to aduyse you as ye haue nowe Therfore putte to your hande to kepe well your herytage whiche hath cost the shedyng of so moche blode sweate and traueyle and refrayne somwhat your yre and hatered We knowe well ye beare great dyspleasure to sir Olyuer Clysson he hath done you many displeasures and ye hym paraduenture may do though he be nat lyke vnto you the FreÌ„che kynge and his vncles wyll maynteygne hym agaynst you for he shall he Constable And if kynge Charles that laste dyed who loued hym so well hadde lyued and ye done as ye haue done We knowe well it shulde rather haue cost the kynge halfe his realme thanne he wolde haue suffred it But kynge Charles his sonne is yonge he taketh nat â—o good hede to all maters nowe as he wolde do tenne yeres here after He cometh on and ye shall go If ye encre in to a newe warre agaynst the Frenche men besyde all that we haue shewed you ye shall do it without our counsayle and without the counsayle of any man that loueth you It behoueth you to dissemule whatsoeuer ye
sore dyspleased of the aduenture that was fallen on their party but the tydynges of Fraunce comforted hym agayne and ordred hym selfe acordynge as he was commaunded NOwe lette vs retourne to the counsayle of Fraunce who had great desyre to go in to Guerles They toke suche dyspleasure with the defyaunce that the duke had sente to the kynge that they nother regarded the begynnynge myddes nor ende and sayd what so euer it coste they wolde make the duke repent his dede and to denye it or els they wold distroy and burne his landes and his fathers also the duke of Iulyers Dukes erles barones knyghtes squyers and all other were warned euery man to be redy acordyng as it apertayned for so longe a voyage And it was ordeyned that one of the marshals of Fraunce shulde abyde styll in the realme that was syr Loys of Porteuyr and he to take hede of the fronters on the other syde of the ryuer of Dordone to the see for in Languedoc bytwne the ryuer of Gyronde dyscendynge to the ryuer of Loyre there was truce had bytwene them And it was ordeyned that the other marshall syr Moton of Blamuyll shulde go with the kyng It was maruayle to thynke of the great prouysyon that the lordes made Fyrste for the kyng and for the dukes of Berrey Burgoyn Tourayne and Burbon at the cyties of Reynes Chalous Troys and in all the coūtreys of Champayne Raynes in the bysshopprike of Laon and Landers And cartes and caryages were taken vp in all partyes It was marueyle to consyder the great aparell that was made for this iourney in to Guerles All this season the duke of Bretaygne was at Parys and coulde nat be delyuered by the kyng who was most parte al that season of Moustreuell Faulte yon But alwayes he had good chere and was alwayes serued with fayre wordes and curteyse and the lordes wolde desyre hym nat to thynke longe for shortly he shulde be delyuered but they shewed hym that the kynge had so moch a do for his vyage in to Almayne that he coulde attende to nothynge els The duke was fayne to suffre for he coulde do none other seyng he was at Parys and he thought he wolde nat departe without the good wyll of the kynge There he laye at great coste and charge WHan the certayne was knowen of this voyage in to Guerles and tayles reysed throughe the realme to paye euery man their wages that shulde serue the kynge Many of the wyse men of the realme as well some of the counsayle as other sayd howe it was a great outrage to counsayle the kyng to go farre of to seke for his enemyes and that he shulde therby put his realme in a great aduenture for the kynge was yonge and greatly in the fauoure of all his people Wherfore it had ben suffycyente for hym to haue suffred one or two of his vncles to haue gone thyder with the constable of Fraunce and a sixe or seuen thousande speares and nat the kyng in propre persone The kynges vncles were of the same oppynyon and often tymes they counsayled the kynge to forbeare his iourney him selfe But whan so euer they spake to hym therof he was dyspleased and wolde saye If any of you go without my company it shall be agaynst my wyll and besyde that ye shall haue no money otherwyse I can nat restrayne you Whan the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde the kynges answere and sawe the great affection that the kynge hadde to go that voyage they aunswered and sayd Syr a goddes name ye shall go and without you we wyll do nothing therfore sir be of good comfort Than the kynges counsayle regarded one thyng the whiche they thought ryght necessary and that was this Bytwene the frenche kynge the kynge of Almayne of longe tyme there had ben ordynaunces made bytwene them and that was that none of them shulde entre with any army in to any of their neyghbours landes nor the frenche kynge to make no warre agaynst the kynge of Almayne nor he agaynst the kynge on payne to ryn in the sentence of holy church and therto they were bounde and solempely sworne the day of their coronacyon to the entente to kepe their realmes in peace and reste wherfore than it was aduysed that if the kyng shulde go this voyage in to Guerles the whiche is holden of the kynge of Almayne that fyrst he and his counsayle shulde suffycyently informe the kyng of Almayne howe the duke of Guerles had shamefully defyed the frenche kynge with fell wordes out of the style and vsage that lordes are wonte to dfye eche other in warre and to the entente to cause the duke to denye his dede and to repente hym The frenche kynge wyll come in to Almayne nat agaynst the kyng of Almayne nor his signory but agaynst his enemye and to seke him out where so euer he can fynde hym To go on this message was charged syr Guy of Hancorte a ryght sage and dyscrete knyght and with hym one of the maysters of the parlyament called mayster yues Orient These two were called before the counsayle and charged to go this voyage to the kynge of Almayne and they were well informed what they shuld do and say thus they departed and toke their waye by Chalous in Champayne and rode with a good trayne lyke notable persons ambassadours fro the Frenche kynge And they founde the lorde of Coucy at Chalous who lay there and retayned knyghtes and squiers of Barre Lorayne and Champayne to go in that voyage with hym in the vowarde He made to these ambassadours good chere and made theym a great dyner at their lodgynge and the nexte daye they departed and rode towardes saynte Menehont and towardes the coūtrey of Lusenburgh there to here certayne tydynges of the kynge of Almayne ¶ How the frenche kyng gaue leaue to the duke of Bretayne to retourne in to his coūtrey and howe the countrey of Brabant wolde nat consente too the kynges passage nor his aremy and howe the ambassadours of Fraunce sped Ca. C .xxxviii. WHyle these frenche ambassadours wente to speke with the kyng of Almayne in the meane tyme the french men lette nat styll to make their prouysions and commaundement gyuen euery manne to be in the felde by the myddes of Auguste in Champayne or there aboute for the kynge wolde be redy by that tyme they wolde nat tary for any aunswere fro the kynge of Almayn Than the frenche kyng and his vncles thought it good that the duke of Bretaygne shulde departe home He was sente for to the kynge to Monstreuell faulte you and there he had good chere of the kyng and of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duke of Tourayne for as than the duke of Berrey was nat there he was in his owne countrey assemblyge men togyder and had sente his cōmaundement in to Poyctou to knyghtes squyers there that they shulde drawe in to the felde The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne
dout ther of Herof the FreÌ„che kyng was right ioyfull howe be it some sayd that wheder the kynge of Almayne wolde or nat the kyng had puissaunce suffycient to do what he wolde without dauÌ„ger for all him than the kyng ordeyned to departe fro Chalous in Champayn so deê‘ted toke his way right to great Pre. Whan the kynge came to great Pre he taried ther a thre dayes he coude make no gret iourneys there was so moche people before hym and behynde and rounde about hym so that he was constrayned to ryde easely to haue good lodgyng and bicause of the great ê“uisyon that folowed after the hoost Fro the first company to the last coÌ„tayned .xxiiii. leages of that countrey styll dayly came people Th erle of great Pre receyued the kynge in to his towne and countre and offred all at the kynges pleasure The kyng was well coÌ„tent with hym therle was apoynted to the vantgard Thyder came to the kyng the duke of Lorayne sir Henry of Bare with a faire company of men of armes The duke of Loraine was ordayned to be with his sonne the lorde of Coucy sir Henry of Bare to abide with the kyng the pioners were sore besyed in the forest of Ardane to cutte downe wode and to make wayes where neuer non was before they had great payne to fyll the valeys to make the waye playne for the caryage to passe There were a thre M. that dyde nothyng els Whan the duches of BrabaÌ„t knewe surely howe the kyng was on his waye and approched the foreste of Ardayne she was therof ryght ioyfull for she thought at that voyage she shulde be well reuenged of the duke of Guerles howe the Frenche kyng shulde bring hym to reason And also his father the duke of Iulyers who had done to her many anoyaunces Than she departed fro Bruselles and in her company the erle of Sammes in Ardain the lorde of Bocelairs and dyuers other and toke her waye to Lusenbourge to se the kynge and to speke with hym She passed the ryuer of Meuse and the ryuer of Huy and at laste came to Basconque and there taryed the kynge for he shulde passe therby and so he dyde For whan he departed Graunt Pre he passed the Ryuer of Meuse at Morsay with all his hoost rode small iourneys Than tidynges came in to the duchy of Iulyers and in to Guerles that the Frenche kynge was coÌ„mynge on them with a hundred thousande men And that he had neuer so moche people toguyder before He was nat so great a company whanne he came to Burboure where he thought the Englysshe army had ben gretter than he founde theym The duke of Iulyers than began to dout but the duke of Guerles made nothing therof but sayde Lette them come the further they come the more weryer shall they be and they and their caryages shall waxe feble and their prouisyons shall waste and wynter shall drawe on and I am in a stronge countrey They shall nat entre at their ease They shall recule backe somtyme otherwise than by the sowne of the trumpettes and it shall behoue them to be alwayes toguyder which they can nat be if they wyll entre in to my couÌ„tre And if they disrought and be out of ordre they shall soone be taken vp wheder they wyll or nat Howe be it to saye the trouthe quod the duke our cosyn of FrauÌ„ce is of a good corage he sheweth and dothe as I shulde do Thus the duke of Guerles deuysed amonge his knyghtes but the duke of Iulyers was sore abasshed for he sawe well the French kynge wolde his lande were but brente and loste Than he toke counsayle of his brother the Archebysshoppe of Colonge and of his cosyn the bysshop Leage sir Arnolde of Hornes howe he shulde do to saue his lande fro brennyng and exylyng These two prelates counsayled hym and sayd how it must nedes behoue hym to huÌ„ble hym selfe to the Frenche kynge and to his vncles The duke sayde he was well content so to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Helion of Lignacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey And howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the Cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an army to entre in to Englande And of an Englysshe squyer Who was takenne by the Scottes who knewe the secretnesse of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Cap. C .xl. THan by the counsayle of the bysshoppe of Trect and by the aduyse of the bysshoppe of Colonge the bysshoppe of Laege was sente to the French kynge to treate for the duke of Iulyers The kynge approched but he passed nat two or thre leages a daye for his trayne was great bytwene Morsay and oure lady of Amount where as the duke of Berey and all his route with mo than fyue hundred speres was lodged Thyder came to the duke of Berrey sir Helyon of Lignacke and sir Wyllyam his brother Sir Wyllyam came fro the siege before Vanchadore for the duke had sente for hym and the duke of Burbone had sente for sir Iohan Boesme launce and they had lefte styll at the siege all their companyes and had lefte for capitaynes sir Iohan Butlere and sir Loyes Dambier And sir Helyon of Lignacke came out of Gascon fro Bayon fro the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey made hym good chere and demaunded tidynges Sir Helyon shewed hym and sayd Sir the kyng of Castyle seketh on the duke of Lancastre to haue peace with hym and treateth sore to haue his sone the prince of Wales to marry with the dukes doughter With that worde the duke of Berrey was pensyfe and sayd Sir Helion yet I shall sende you ones agayne to knowe more certayne and the bysshoppe of Poycters with you but as at this tyme we haue ynoughe to do Also the same weke the lorde of Coucy retourned fro Auygnon and came to the kyng to Ardane euery man was glad of his coÌ„mynge yE haue herde here before howe kynge Richarde of Englande had some trouble He agaynst his vncles and his vncles agaynst hym with other dyuers incydentes as by the duke of Irelande and other and many knyghtes in EnglaÌ„de deed and beheeded and the archebysshop of yorke brother to the lorde Neuell was at a poynte to haue loste his benefyce And by the newe counsaylers about the kyng and by the arch bysshoppe of Caunterbury the lorde Neuell who had ben the chiefe ruler and kepar of the fronters of Northumberlande agayst the scottes fyue yeres togyder was as than put out of wages He had before euery yere sixtene thousande frankes out of the countie of yorke and bysshoprike of Durham And there was sette in his stede the lorde Henry Percye and he hadde to wages by the yere but a .xi. thousande Frankes Wherof other lordes of his lygnage thoughe they were of his kynne yet they hadde therat great enuy and indignacyon one agaynst another And all this knewe ryght
of the kynge to go to Mantuell the kyng sent with her of the greatest men of the courte to a company her Thus she came to Mantuell and dyd so moche that she knewe the trouth where her father was buryed Than he was dygged vp and his bones wasshed and bawmed and wrapped in leade and brought to the cytie of Ciuyll and there receyued with processyon without the cytie and the bones brought in to the cathedrall churche and there reuerently and solēply his obsequy was done and there at was king Iohan and his yonge sonne the prince of Galyce and the most parte of prelates and barons of the realme After the obsequy doone euery man retourned to their owne places The kynge of Castyle wente to the vale of Sory and his son̄e and his yonge wyfe with hym and the duchesse of Lancastre to Medena de Campo a good towne wherof she was lady by reason of the confyrmacyon of the peace there she lay a season ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of them and of Castyle tyll a nother tyme and let vs speke of the maryage of the duke of Berrey and also of other insydentes that folowed THe duke of Berrey who had maryed the lady Iane of Armynake to his first wyfe after she was dysseased he hadde great imagynacyon to be maryed agayne and that he well shewed for whan he sawe howe he had myssed of the duke of Lancastres doughter he than set clerkes to write and sent messangers to therle Gascon of Foiz who had the kepyng of the erle of Boulonges doughter more than the space of nyne yeres And bycause the duke of Berrey coulde nat come to this maryage but by the daunger of the erle of Foize for nother for pope father mother nor frende that the damosell had the erle wolde do nothynge without it were his owne pleasure Than the duke of Berrey desyred effectuously the frēch kynge his nephue and the duke of Burgoyne his brother to helpe and assyst hym in this maryage THe frenche kyng laught and had good sporte at the duke of Berrey his vncle bycause he was olde and so hote in loue and said to him Fayre vncle what shall ye do with a yonge mayde she is nat twelue yere of age and ye be .xl. by my faythe it is great foly for you to thynke therof speke for my cosyn Iohan your sonne he is yonge the mater is more mete for hym than for you syr quod the duke I haue speken all redy for my sonne but the erle of Foize wyll in no wyse agree therto bycause my sonne is of the blode of them of Armynake who be at warre togyder and haue ben longe If the lady be yonge I shall spare her a thre or four yere tyll she be a parfyte woman Well fayre vncle quod the kyng I feare me she wyll nat spare you so longe but seynge ye haue so great affection therto I shall ayde you as moche as I may It was nat longe after but that the kynge ordayned the lorde de la Ryuer and syr Bureau his souerayne chamberlayne to go in that voyage to the erle of Foiz and with them the erle of Dassy And the duke of Burgoyne ordeyned to go thyder on his be halfe the bysshop of Anthune and sir Gylliam of Tremoyle and the duke of Berrey desyred Iohan erle of Sanxer a sage and a valyaunt knyght to go with the other These fyue lordes were apoynted to go to the erle of Foize and to desyre to haue the yonge lady in maryage for the duke of Berrey These lordes departed and apoynted to mete togyder at Auignon with pope Clement about Candelmas they departed and toke the waye to Nysmes and so to Auignon They passed by Mounte pellyer and rode by small iourneys and great exspence and passed by Besyers and came to Carcassone and there they founde sir Loys of Xancere marshall of Fraunce who receyued them with good there and he shewed theym moche of the erle of Foiz estate for he had ben there within two monthes before Than they departed fro Carcassone and wente to Tholous and there rested and than sente messangers to the erle of Foiz to Ortays in Byerne And there began to treate for this maryage but it was farre of for at the begynnynge the Erle of Foyze was colde bycause the duke of Lancastre had sente to hym to haue the same lady for his sonne the lorde Henry erle of Derby By reason of this longe taryenge and delayeng of this treatye it was said and noysed that the maryage shulde nat be And all their aunsweres that they had fro the erle of Foize wickely they sente worde therof to the duke of Berrey who was at Nonnecte in Auuergne And the duke who had none other desyre but to bringe the mater aboute wrote often tymes agayne to them with fresshe messangers desyrynge them nat to cease tyll they had brought the mater to passe And the erle of Foyze who was sage and subtyle sawe well the ardent desyre that the duke of Berrey had and the hoter that he was the colder was he and he handeled the matter so wysely that by the full agrement of all partyes and yet sore desyred therto he hadde thyrty thousande frankes for the charges of the ladyes expenses for suche yeres as she had been with hym if he had more demaūded more he shulde haue had but he dyd it so to haue thanke of the duke of Berrey and that he shulde perceyue that he had done some what for hym WHan this mater was concluded and all partyes agreed thanne the erle of Foiz sente his cosyn the lady to Morleaus accompanyed with fyue hundred speares of whome were capytayns syr Espaigne du Lynn syr Raynolde Guyllam syr Peter Calestan sir Adam of Cacasse sir Manalte of Nonnables and sir Pier of Kees and in the feldes the lady was delyuered to the frenche ambassadours on the behalfe of the duke of Berrey There was syr Loys of Xancere with a fyue hundred speares and other company who receyued the lady and there tooke their leaues and departed They of Foize retourned and the frenche men ledde forthe the lady The duke of Berrey had sente to her chares and chareottes rychely garnysshed and horse hackeneys and aparell for her body and for her heed as fresshe and as ryche as though it had been for the frenche quene Thus they rode forthe and I sir Iohan Froysart auctor of this boke rode in their company for often tymes whan I wolde haue taken leaue of the erle of Foiz he wolde saye to me howe I had no dede to make so great haste and badde me whan I wolde retourne to go in good company so I retourned in this sayde company This yonge duchesse of Berrey for so I wyll name her fro hence forthe and all her company rode so longe that they came nere to Auignon There she rested at a towne called Vile Neufe without the towne of Auignon in a house
and so wente throughe the stretes to the kynges lodgynge called saynt Polle on the ryuer of Sayne with the quene there were mo than a thousande horses And the kyng went fro the palays to the ryuer of Sayne toke there a barge wente by water to his house of saynt Polle And for all that the house was great and large well amended yet the kyng had caused in the great court nere to the gate fro the Ryuer to be made a great halle whiche was couered ouer with clothes of the armes of Normandy And the walles were haÌ„ged with clothes of arras of sondrie hystories In this hall the kynge gaue the ladyes a supper but the quene kepte her chaÌ„bre she was no more sene that nyght The other ladies and the kyng and the lordes daunsed and reuelled all that nyght nerchande tyll it was daye in the mornyng Than euery person departed and went to their lodgynges to slepe for it was good tyme. Nowe I shall shewe you what gyftes and preseÌ„tes they of Parys gaue on the Tuesday before noon to the quene and to the duchesse of Thourayne who was but newly come in to Fraunce oute of Lombardy for she was doughter to the duke of Myllayne and she had the same yere wedded Loyes duke of Thourayne She was named Valentyne she had neuer before ben at Parys therfore the burgesses of Parys gaue her her welcome ON this Tuesday aboute .xii. of the clocke about a .xl. burgesses of Parys of the most notablest persons of the cytie all in one sute of clothynge came to the kynges house of saynt Polle brought a present for the quene through the stretes of Parys The present was in a lytter richely wrought and borne bytwene two strong meÌ„ properly apparelled lyke two auncient sage persones The lytter had a celler of a thynne fyue clothe of sylke so that the iewelles that were in the litter might well be sene through Whan they came to saint Polle first they caÌ„e in to the kynges chambre whiche was redy apparelled to receyue them for alwayes suche as bringeth any thyng are welcome thaÌ„ these burgesses sette downe the lytter on two trestels in the myddes of the chambre Than they kneled downe before the kyng and said Right dere lorde and noble kyng your burgesses of Parys presenteth your grace these iewelles here in this lytter in the welcomyÌ„g of your grace into the gouernauÌ„ce of your realme of Fraunce Than the kyng sayd good men I thaÌ„ke you they are right goodly and riche than the burgesses rose drewe backe therwith toke their leaue Whan they were gone the kynge sayd to sir Wyllyam of Lordes and to Montague who were by hym Sirs let vs go nere to this lytter se these presentes more nerer Than the kynge well regarded them Fyrst there were foure pottes of golde sixe lauers of golde sixe plattes of golde All this vessell wayed a huÌ„dred and fyftie marke of golde In lyke maner a nother sorte of burgesses richely apparelled all in one lyuerey came to the quene and presented her another lytter whiche was borne in to her chambre shewynge howe the good men of Parys dyde recoÌ„mende them to her grace and sent her that present Whiche present was a shippe of golde two great flagoÌ„s of golde two dredge boxes of golde two saltes of golde sixe pottes golde sixe lauers of golde .xii. Lampes of syluer two basons of syluer The soÌ„me was thre hundred marke what golde what syluer This present was brought in a lytter bytwene two men one in semblaunce of a Beare and the other in semblaunce of an Vnycorne The thirde present in lykewise was brought in to the duches of Thourayns chambre by two men fygured in the fourme of two blacke Moores richely apparelled with white towelles about their heedes lyke sarazins The lytter was fayre and riche couered with a fyne clothe of sylke and brought by .xii. burgesses all in one apparell who gaue this present to the sayd duchesse In the whiche presente there was a shippe of golde a great potte of golde two ewers golde two great plattes golde two saltes golde sixe pottes syluer two dosin saucers sylner two dosyn boules syluer SoÌ„me golde and syluer two huÌ„dred markes This present greatly reioysed the duches of Thourayne as it was reason for it was goodly riche and curtesly she thanked them of their gyfte Thus this Tuesdaye these presentes were gyuen to the kyng the quene and to the duchesse of Thourayne It was greatly to be consydred the valeur of these presentes also the puyssaunce of the parisyens For it was shewed me by one who sawe all these pÌ„sentes that they cost the parisiens more than threscore thousande crownes of golde After these presentes this delyuered it was tyme to go to dyner But that daye the kynge and the quene other ladyes dyned in their chambres the soner to haue done For at thre of the clocke at after dyner they shulde drawe in to the felde of saynt Katheryne where as there was ordayned stages and scaffoldes a great nombre for the kynge and the quene and other to beholde the iustes ¶ Nowe shall I name by order the knyghtes that were called the kynges knyghtes of the sonne of golde there were thyrtie of theÌ„ FIrste the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the erle de la Marche sir Iaquemarte of Burbone his brother the lorde Guillyam of Namure sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of FrauÌ„ce syr Iohan of Vien sir Iames of Vien lorde of Espaigny syr Guy of Tremoyle sir Gillyam his brother sir Phylyp of Bare the lorde of Rocheforde bretone the lorde of Raies the lorde Beamond syr Iohan of Barbencon the hazle of FrauÌ„ce the lorde of Tourty norman syr Iohan of Barres the lorde of Nantoyllet the lorde of Rochfoucaâ—t the lord of Garanciers sir Iohan of Harpedante the barone Dinury syr Willyam Marcyell syr Raynolde of Roye syr Geffrey of Caryn syr Charles of Changeet and sir Gylliam of Lignac All these knyghtes were armed and sheldes lyke there in the sonne raye and aboute thre of the clocke they were in the place of saint Kateryne and thyder was come ladyes and damosels And firste the quene came thyder in a chare rychely aparelled and all other ladyes in good ordre and entred into the scaffoldes that were ordeyned for them Than came the frenche kyng redy apparelled to iuste whiche pastyme he loued ryght well he was well accompanyed Than the iustes beganne there were many lordes of dyuers countreys Syr Gyllyam of Heynalt erle of Ostrenant iusted ryght goodly and so dyd suche knyghtes as came with hym as the lorde of Gomminies sir Iohan of Andregenes the lorde of Cautan syr Ausell of Transegynes and sir Clinquart of Hermo all dyde well their deuoyre to the prays of the ladyes Also there iusted well the duke of Irelande who was all that seasone with the frenche kynge Also there iusted well a knyght of
in to the realme of Arragone and to be about him tyll he were maryed The lorde of Coucye wolde nat refuce it but ordayned hym selfe so to do and sayde Ma dame there was no vyage this seuyn yere that I wolde be more gladder to accomplisshe than to go in to the marches of Cicyll Naples wich my lorde your sonne if I had lycence of the kyng my souerayne lorde Sir quod the lady I thaÌ„ke you I se well your good wyll I doute nat but the kyng wyll be content that ye go with my sonne in to Aragon And the quene of Arragon wyll be glad to se you for your doughter hath maryed her brother sir HeÌ„ry of bare The lorde of Coucy agreed to go this voyage Thus the younge kynge of Cicyll tooke his iourney well accompanied whan he had taken his leaue of the Pope and of his mother all wepynge For at the departynge of the mother and the sonne caused their hertes to relente For they shulde departe farre a soÌ„der knewe nat whan to se togyder agayne For it was ordayned that whan the maryage was accomplysshed that the yonge kynge and the yonge Quene shulde take the see at the porte of Barcelone and so to go and arryue at the porte of Naples or as nere as they myght SO longe this yonge kynge Loyes iourneyed that he passed Mountpellyer and Besyers and so came to Narbone where he was receyued ioyfullye of euery man There they refresshed theÌ„ and their horses one day and than departed and wente to Parpygnen the fyrst towne of the realme of Arragon The coÌ„myng of this yonge kynge was well knowen in the court of the kynge of Arragon He sente menne to mete with hym and to conuey him as the vycount of Roâ—uebertyn and sir Raymonde of Baighes So long they rode that they caÌ„e to the cytie of Barcelone where the kynge the Quene and their doughter was There the yonge kyng was noblâ— receyued and specially the quene of Arragon was ryght ioyouse of the coÌ„mynge of the lorde of Coucy and thanked the yonge kynge her sonne that shulde be for bringynge of hym in his company and sayd that all other maters shulde do and atcheue the better This Maryage was confyrmed bytwene these two chyldren but bycause wynter approched they delayed their voyage goyng to the See For in wynter the great Sees are perillous They said they wolde make their prouisyon that wynter to go in to Naples the nexte Marche after The lorde of Coucy beyng in Arragon receyued letters fro the Frenche kynge commaundynge hym to retourne Than he toke his leaue of the kynge of Arragon and of the quene and of the yonge kyng and his wyfe and of all other lordes suche as were there and departed And if he myght haue had leysar he wolde haue retourned by Auignon to haue sene the pope and the olde quene af Naples But he sente to them his excuse and retourned by Auuergne in to Fraunce WHanÌ„e this maryage was made bytwene the yonge kyng Loyes of Cycyll and the doughter of the kynge of Arragon wherby there was great alyaâ—ces bytwene the parties and they of Arragon were bounde to ayde to serue the yong kynge to bringe hym in to the realme of Naples and nat to leaue hym tyll he had the realme pesably of Naples and of Cicyll with the appendauÌ„tes as Paule and Calabre and the cytie of Gaiet the whiche Margarete of Duras helde The aragonoys shulde serue hym as longe as his warre endured with .ii. hundred speares at their coste and charge a thousande crosbowes and a thousande bregandiers Whan the swete tyme of Marche was come and that the wyndes were apealed and the waters swaged of their rages and the wodes reuerduced and that their prouysions were made redy at Barcelone and the galees redy suche as shulde go with the yong kynge Than he and his yonge quene tooke their leaues of the kynge of Aragone and of the quene who wept at their departyng than the quene recoÌ„maunded the yonge quene her doughter to the erle of Roodes a valyaunt knight to sir Raymon of Baighes These two toke the speciall charge natwithstaÌ„dinge that the erle of Vrgell and the erle of Lyne were there in a great company In these galees were a fyftene huÌ„dred speares two thousande crosbowes two thousande of other men of warre with dartes pauesses They wente thus fortifyed and well acompanyed to resyst the better if nede were agaynst their ennemyes And also to resyst all rencouÌ„ters vpon the see for it is a longe waye by the see fro Barcelone to Naples And Margarete of Duras their aduersary myght trouble theÌ„ by the way therfore they thought to go surelye ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of this yonge kyng of Cicyll and speke of other busynesse of the realme of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Frenche kynge had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme howe he went fyrst in to Burgoyne and to Auygnon to se pope Clement Cap. C.lx. AFter this great Feest was accomplisshed that euery lorde and lady were gone home to their owne houses as ye haue herde here before that the FreÌ„che kyng sawe that he had truce with Englande for thre yere he hadde than ymaginacion to go visite his realme specially the vtwarde marchesse of Languedocke For the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercier who were as than chefe of his preuy couÌ„sayle They exhorted hym to go to Auygnon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles who desyred to se hym and also to go to Tholous for they sayd to the kyng Sir a kyng in his youthe ought to visyte his realme and to knowe his people and to lerne how they be gouerned the whiche shulde be greatly to his profyte and the better to be beloued with his subiectes The kyng lyghtly enclyned to their counsayle for he had desyre to traueyle and se newe thynges And the lord de la Ryuer who was but newly come out of those marchesse herde great complayntes of the people of Tholous of Carcassone of Beaucayre and they desired greatly to se the kyng for they had ben sore charged with tayles and aydes by the duke of Berrey by the informacion of a seruaunt of his called Betysache who had pytie of no man He so pylled the people that nothynge was lefte therfore he counsayled the kynge to go thyder to prouyde some remedy And also that the kynge shulde sende for the erle of Foize to come to hym to Tholous The kyng made him redy to go thyder and sente afore all the way that prouisyon shulde be made for his coÌ„myng sente worde therof to his vncle the Duke of Burgoyne and to his auÌ„te the duchesse how he wolde come a longe throughe their countrey and wolde se his cosyns their chyldren and to bring in his company his brother the duke of Thourayne and his vncle of Burbone whiche pleased greatly the
deê‘ted fro Lunell he went to dyner to Moutpellyer it was but thre lytell myles There he was receyued of the burgesses ladyes and damoselles of the towne for they greatly desyred to se the kynge and many riche presentes were gyuen to hym for MouÌ„tpellyer is a puissaunt towne ryche full of marchandise The kynge praysed the towne moche and well consydred their puissauÌ„ce And it was shewed the kyng that the towne hadde ben moche richer before thanne it was at that presente tyme For the duke of Aniou and the duke of Berrey eche of them in their tourne hadde greatlye pylled them The kyng was sorie that the good people had endured so moche doÌ„mage and sayd how he wolde reforme the countre in to a better state Than it was shewed the kynge that the pouertie of that towne was nothyng to that he shulde fynde forwarde For that towne of it selfe hath good meanes of recouerauÌ„ce by reson of the marchandise that is there vsed bothe by lande and by see But in the marchesse of Carcassone Tholous therabout where as the said two dukes had the gouernaunce Loke on what thyng they had puyssaunce to laye on their handes there was nothyng left but all taken away For ye shall fynde the people there so poore that suche as were wont to be riche and puissaunt nowe they are scant able to labour their vynes nor landes It is a great pyte to se them their wyues and chyldren for they haue had euery yere fyue or sixe tayles layde on their shulders and are rauÌ„somed to the thirde or fourthe parte of their substaunce somtyme to all toguyder One tayle coude nat be payde but that another was redy in the necke therof for ser as it is well knowen these two dukes your vncles while they ruled in LaÌ„guedocke they haue leuyed in the countrey fro Vyle Neufe in to Tholousyn rounde about to the ryuer of Garon and retournyng to the ryuer of Dordone the soÌ„me of .xxx. hundred thousande frankes And specially sythe the duke of Aniou departed the duke of Berrey hath done the more doÌ„mage for he founde the playne countrey and coÌ„montie in good case for the duke of Aniou tooke but of the ryche men who had wherwith to paye But the duke of Berrey spared nother poore nor riche for he gadered all before him specially by one of his counsayle his treasourer named Betysache who is of the nacyon of the cytie of Besyers As ye shall here by the complayntes of the people that wyll crye out on hym To these wordes the kyng said As god haue my soule I shall prouyde for this mater or I retourne I shall punisshe the trespasours For I shall make an inquysycion of the seruantes and oâ—nycers of myne vncles suche as had ruled here before in the parcies of Languedocke and suche as haue deserued shal be corrected The kynge taryed at Mount pellyer the space of .xii. dayes for the order of the towne and the pastyme of ladyes and damoselles suche as he fouÌ„de there pleased hym greatly To saye trouthe the kynge as at that tyme was in his lusty youthe and lyght quycke of spyrite He daunsed and caroled amonge the frysco ladyes and damoselles of the towne somtyme all nyght And gaue and made bankettes and suppers largely and wolde gyue to the ladyes and damosels rynges of golde and chaynes to them that he reputed worthy The kynge dyde so moche that he had great laude and prayse And some of them wolde that he had taryed there lengar than he dyd for he kepte reuell daunsyng and solas and euery day it was newe to begyn ¶ ye haue herde oftentymes said howe the sporte of ladies and damosels encorageth the hertes of yonge lusty gentylmen and causeth them to desyre and to seke to gette honour I say this bycause with the kyng there was thre gentylmen of highe enterprice and of great valure and that they well shewed as ye shall here Fyrst there was the yonge sir Boucequant the other sir Raynold of Roy and the thirde the lorde of saynt Pye These thre knyghtes were chamberleyns with the kyng and well beloued with him for they were well worthy They were fresshe and serued hym well in armes and in all other maters These thre beyng at Mountpellier among the ladyes damosels they toke on them to do armes the next somer after And as I was enformed the priÌ„cipall cause that enclyned theÌ„ therto was as I shall shewe you ye knowe well as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystorie howe that in the dayes of kyng Charles there was an Englysshe knyght called sir Peter Courtney a valyaunt knight in armes caÌ„e out of Englande in to FrauÌ„ce to Paris and demauÌ„ded to do armes with sir Guy of Tremoyle in the presence of the kyng or of suche as wolde se them sir Guy wolde nat refuce his offre and in the presence of the kyng and of other lordes they were armed on a daye ran toguyder one course And than the kyng wolde nat suffre them to ryn agayne toguyder wherwith theÌ„glyss he knyght was right yuell content For as he shewed he wolde haue furnysshed his chalenge to the vttraunce but he was apeased with fayre wordê and it was sayde to hym that he had done ynough he ought to be content therwith The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne gaue hym fayre gyftes and presentes Than he retourned agayne towardes Calays And the lorde of Clary who was a friscay and a lusty knyght was charged to conuey hym They rode so longe toguyder that they came to Lucynen where as the countesse of saynt Poule laye suster to kynge Richarde of Englande The lady was ioyfull of the coÌ„mynge thyder of sir Peter Courtney for she hadde maryed fyrste his cosyn the lorde of Courtney but he dyed yonge and after she maryed the erle of saynt Poule The Englisshe men called her madame Courtney and nat Countesse of saynt Poule ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Peter Courteney came in to Fraunce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle And howe the lorde of Clary coÌ„ueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calais Cap. C.lxi. THus as sir Peter of Courtney and the lorde of Clary were at Lucenen in Arthoys with the couÌ„tesse of saynt Paule who was right ioyouse of their commynge And as they deuysed of many thynges the countesse demaunded of sir Peter Courtney what he thought of the state of Fraunce He aunswered and sayd Certaynly madame the states of FrauÌ„ce are well and goodly serued we can nat be so serued in our countrey Sir quod the lady Do the lordes of Fraunce and the maner there contente you Haue they nat made you good chere Surely madame quod he their there contenteth me passynglye well but in the case that I passed the See for they haue but easely acquyted me therin And madame I wyll ye knowe that if the lorde of Clary here present hadde come
nexte day to Besyers where he was goodly receyued for the good men of the towne greatly desyred to se hym and so dyd all the countreys bothe of Pesenas of Cabestan and of Narbone for they were redy to make complayntes to the kynge of the duke of Berreys offycer called Betisache who had pylled the countreys This Betysach fro that tyme the kynge came fro Auignon he rode alwayes in his company but no man shewed hym as they thought for they myght haue gyuen hym warnynge if they had lyste but they draue hym forthe with fayre wordes and suthe promysed hym nothynge but honoure as thought the contrary The kynge entred into Besyers bytwene thre foure at after noone he was met with processyon without the towne with all the clergy and burgesses and ladyes and damoselles as the kynge came rydynge they were a bothe sydes of the waye and dyd their reuerence So he came to the cathedrall churche and there alyghted at the dore where there was an auter made rychely garnysshed with iewelles and relykes There the kynge kneled downe and dyd his prayers and than entred in to the churche with the bysshoppe of Besyers and his vncle the duke of Burbone and other lordes folowed after Thanne the kynge wente to his lodgynge to the Palyce whiche was nat farre thence and his brother the duke of Thourayne and the duke of Burbone with him and the other lordes were lodged abrode in the towne where as they were well and easely lodged for Besyers is a good cytie ⸪ ¶ Of the complayntes made to the kyng by the people of Languedoc in the towne of Besyers agaynst Betysach treasourer to the duke of Berrey of the great extorsyons that he had made and of the confession that he made and of the cruell dethe that he had in the sayde towne Cap. C.lxiii THre dayes the kynge was at Besyets in greate ioye and reuell amonge ladyes and damosels and all that tyme Betysache was nothynge spoken vnto but the enquisirours who weâ— ordeyned by the kynge dyd secretly enquyre of his dedes and they founde by enquest dyuers cases horryble nat to be pardoned The fourth day that the kynge had ben there this Betysache was called before the kynges counsayle in a chambre and there straytely examyned and it was sayd to hym Betysache aunswer wysely to these writynges that ye se here There was shewed hym a greate nombre of bylles of complayntes that were put vp to the kynge agaynst hym makyng mensyon of the errorcyons that he had done to the people All these bylles of complayntes were redde before hym one after another To some he aunswered wysely makynge his excuse and to some he playnly denyed them and sayde I knowe nothynge of those maters laye them to the seneschalles of Beaucayr and of Carcassone and to the chauncellour of Berry it partayneth to theym to aunswere to those matters Howe be it fynally it was shewed him that he muste kepe prysone for a tyme tyll the mater were better examyned He obeyed bycause he myght nat chuse As sone as he was in prison the inquysitours wente to his lodgynge and toke into their handes all suche writyngê and acomptes as they founde there whiche partayned to such maters as he had intermedled with all before and they auewed them at leysure and founde in theym the rekenynges of great soÌ„mes of money suche as had ben raysed and leuyed of the people Than he was demaunded where all that money was become and whether the sommes were trewe or nat he aunswered and sayde as for the soÌ„mes are trewe and the money delyuered to the duke of Berrey and so paste throughe his handes and his treasourers whereof I haue good quyttaunces in my lodgynge in suche a place the whiche quitauÌ„ces were sente for before the counsayle and there they were redde and they agreed with the soÌ„mes of his receyte Than the counsayle and the enquysytours were apeased and Betysache sente agayne to a curtesse prysone Than the counsayle coÌ„muned togyther on that matter and sayd It semeth that Betysache is clere of suche causes as are layde to his charge for the money that hathe been reysed the duke of Berrey hathe had it howe so euer it hath ben spente ALl thinges consydred Betysache excusacyons were lawfull for the duke of Berrey was the moste couetouse man in all the worlde so he myght gette good he cared nat where nor howe he hadde it and whan he had it he wolde bestowe it but symply as many lordes do and haue doone in tymes paste Thus the kynges counsayle sawe no faute in Betysache wherby he shulde lese his lyfe some were of that opynyon and some contrary said Betysach hath done so many cruell dedes and hathe so sore inpouerysshed the people for to acomplysshe the desyre of his lorde the duke of Berrey that the blode of the poore people cryeth out and sayeth howe he hathe deserued dethe For he that is a manne borne of these partyes and counsayler with his maister and seynge the pouerty of the people he ought in good maner to haue shewed the trouth to the duke his mayster and if the duke wolde nat haue herde hym than he shulde haue come to the kynge and to his counsayle and haue shewed theym the pouertie of the people and howe the duke of Berrey had daulte with them than he had ben well excused So Betysache was sente for agayne to the counsayle and straytely examyned where the money that hadde been gathered was become for they founde the soÌ„me of thyrty hundred thousande frankes receyued He answered therto and sayd My lordes it were herde for me to tell where my lorde the duke of Berrey hathe bestowed it Moche he hath layde out on byldynges and reparacyons of castels and houses also he hath bought certayne landes in the countye of Boloygne and in the Countye of Estampes Also he hathe spente moche in byenge of precyous stones and iewelles the whiche ye knowe well he hathe alwayes been desyrous to bye Also he is well stuffed to mayntayne the astate that he hathe alwayes kepte Also he hath gyuen suche gyftes and rewardes to Thybaulte and Morynot and to his seruauÌ„tes aboute him in suche wyse that they be ryche men Well Betysache quod they of the counsayle and ye haue had for your parte to your synguler profyte a hundred thousande frankes My lordes quod he that I haue hadde was by the consente of my lorde the Duke of Berrey for he wolde that his seruauntes shulde become ryche Than the counsayle sayde all with one voyce A Betysach that worde is folysshly spoken that rychesse is nat good nor resonable that is yuell gotten ye shall retourne agayne in to prison and we shall take further aduyse on that ye haue sayd and spoken ye must abyde the pleasure of the kynge to whome we shall shewe all your excusacions My lordes quod he all shall be as god wyll Than he was agayne sette in prisone and there remayned four dayes or he
lordes knewe well but I coude neuer haue knowlege therof Thus he was executed His heed stryken of and his body quartred and the quarters sette at euery gate of Parys To this ende came Aymergotte Marcell As of his wyfe and of his goodes I knewe nat what becaÌ„e further of them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the chrysten lordes and the geno wayes beyng in the ysle of Conymbres at ancre departed thens to go and laye siege to the stronge cytie of Aufryke in Barbary and howe they maynteyned the siege Cap. C.lxxi WHere as I haue spoken at length of the lyfe of Aymergot Mercell it was to furnysshe this hystorie for the condycions bothe of yuell and good ought to be alwayes treated in a hystory and specially whan it toucheth any great feate for ensample of other and to gyue mater and occasyon to do well For if Aymergotte had ledde his lyfe in good vertues he had ben a man of great valure and bycause he dyde the coÌ„trary he came to an yuell ende ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekyng of hym let vs retourne to the hyghe enterprice that the Christen knyghtes of Fraunce and other nacyous dyd in that season in the realme of Aufryke I wyll begyn there as I lefte The sayd lordes assembled in the ysle of Conymbres after they had passed the tempestes and paryls in the Goulfe of Lyon there they taryed eche for other for there were in the cytie of Aufryke a .xxx. thousande In this ysle of Conymbres they were a nyne dayes refresshed them and there the patrons of the galees sayde to the lordes Sirs we be in the lande next aprochyng to the marchesse of Aufryke whider by the grace of god ye are purposed to go and laye liege Wherfore it is behouable to take coâ—sayle eche of other howe we maye entre in to the hauen to take laÌ„de To saue our selfe it is best we senoe formast our lytell shyppes called Brigandyns and let vs tary in the mouthe of the hauyn the first day that we aproche and all the nyght after and the nexte mornynge to take lande by the grace of god at our leysar than lodge our selfes as nere the cytie as we maye without the shotte of their artyllary and let vs sette our crosbowes genouois in order who shal be redy to defende all scirmysshes And we suppose well that whan we shall take ladynge ye haue here iÌ„ your coÌ„panyes many yong squyers who to enhauÌ„ce their honours wyll requyre to haue the order of knighthode In structe them wisely and swetely howe they shall mentayne themselfes And my lordes knowe for trouthe that all we see men shall acquyte vs vnto you well and truely and alwayes shewe you by what maner of order we shall moost greue our enemyes And we shall take payne and study howe the cytie of Aufryke may be won for ofte tymes they haue done vs great doÌ„mage For on that coste it is the chiefe key of Barbary and of the realmes that foloweth First the realme of Aufrike of Mallorques and of Bougy And if god of his grace wyll consent that we maye wyn this cytie of Aufrike all the Sarazyns wyll trymble to the realme of Liby Sury so that all the worlde shall speke therof And by the ayde of other christen realmes ysles marchyng nere to Aufrike we shall always be refreshed with vitayls and newe men for this is a coÌ„mon voâ—age For euery man wyll desyre dayly to do dedes of armes and specially on goddes enemyes and thus in the coÌ„clusion of their processe the patrons said lordes we say nat this by no presuÌ„pcion nor by maner as to teche you what ye shuld do but this that we haue sayd is all onely for loue by humilyte for ye be all noble men sage and valyant can better order euery thyng than we can deuyse and speke Than the lorde of Coucy said sirs your good counsayle aduyse ought gretly to content vs for we se no thyng therin but good And sirs be ye sure that we shall do nothyng without your couÌ„sayle for ye haue brought vs hyder to do dedes of armes THus in the presence of the duke of Burbone the lordes and other couÌ„sayled toguyder in the ysle of Conymbres how they myght aproche the strong towne of Aufryke Whan euery thyng was well aduysed and sette in good order by the admyrall and patrons of the galees that wynde and wether serued them euery lorde entred in to his galee amoÌ„g their owne men hauyng great desyre to encouÌ„tre with their enemyes the sarazyns Than the truÌ„pettes blewe vp at their departyng It was great pleasure to beholde their ores howe they rowed abrode in the see whiche was peasable calme and fayre so that in maner the see shewed her selfe that she had great desyre that the christen men shulde come before the stronge towne of Aufryke The christen nauy was goodly to regarde well ordred and it was great beautie to se the baners and penons of silke with the armes and badges of the lordes and other wauyng with the wynde and shynyng agaynst the sonÌ„e And within an hour of noone the christen men perceyued the hygh towres of the towne of Aufrike the farder they sayled the nerer it shewed to their syghtes wherfore euery man reioysed and good cause why seyng all they desyred to coÌ„e thyder They thought thaÌ„ in a maner their paynes released their voyage accomplysshed Thus as they aproched to thentre of the realme of Aufryke they coÌ„muned deuysed among themselfe and in lyke maner the sarazyns that were within the towne of Aufryke spake and deuysed and were sore abasshed whan they sawe their enemies aproche with suche a nombre of sayles sayde that surely they were lykely to be besieged Howe be it they thought their towne so stroÌ„g with towres and walles with artyllary that therwith they reconforted and toke corage And to gyue warnyng to the countrey as soone as they sawe their enemyes on the See on the hyghe towres They sowned Tymbres and tabours accordynge to their vsage in suche wyse that the men abrode in the countrey drewe toguyder Suche men of Barbary as had ben sente thyder by the kynge of Aufryke and by the kynge of Thunes and Bougy Whan they knewe of the Christen mennes coÌ„mynge by reason of the noyse of the Tymbres and tabours to th entent that they shulde nat entre to farre in to their couÌ„treis Euery man tooke hede to his charge sente certayne of their capitayns to the See syde to se the aprochyng of the Christen men and to beholde their dealyng that nyght Also they prouyded to defende the towres and gates about the hauyn of Aufryke to the entent that by their negligeÌ„ce the towne of Aufryke shulde take no doÌ„mage whiche towne was so strong that it was nat lykely to take great hurte without longe siege And I Iohan Froyssart auctour of this cronycle bycause I was neuer in
a voyage for you thanne to go to Rome with a great puyssaunce of men of armes and pull downe and dystroy that antepaye whome the romayns by force hath created and set in the seate cathedrall of saynt Peter if ye wyll ye maye well accomplysshe this voyage and we suppose ye can nat passe your tyme more honorably And syr ye maye well know that if this antepape and his cardynals knowe ones that ye be mynded to come on them with an army they wyll yelde them self aske mercy The kynge remēbred hym selfe a lytell and sayd howe he wolde do as they had deuysed for surely he said he was moche bounde to pope Clement for the yere past he had ben at Auygnon where as the pope and his cardynals made hym ryght honourable chere and had gyuen more than was demaunded bothe to hym selfe to his brother and to his vncles wherfore the kynge sayd it hadde deserued to haue some recompence and also at his departure fro Auignon he had promysed the pope to helpe to assyst hym in his quarell At that season there was at Parys with the kyng the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne than it was agreed and concluded that the nexte Marche after the kynge shuld departe fro Parys and take the way towardes Sauoy and Lombardy and the erle of Sauoy to sende his cosyn Germayne with hym and the kynge to haue vnder his charge the duke of Tourayne his brother with four thousande speares and the duke of Burgoyne with two thousande speares and the duke of Berrey two thousāde the constable of Fraunce two thousande speares with the bretons raintoners and lowe marches the duke of Burbon a thousāde speares the lorde of saynt Poll and the lorde of Coucy a thousande speares all these men of armes to be payed in hande for thre monethes and so fro terme to terme And whan those tydynges were knowen in Auignon pope Clement and his cardynals were greatly reioysed and thought in a maner their enterprise atcheued Also the kinge was coūsayled nat to leaue the duke of Bretayne behynde hym but to sende and to desyre hym to prepare hym selfe to go with him in this voyage The kyng wrote notably to hym and sent his letters by a man of honour an offycer of armes signyfyenge the duke in his letters the state of this voyage Whan the duke had red these letters he turned hym selfe smyled and called to hym the lorde of Mountboucher and sayd Syr harke and regarde well what the frenche kyng hath written to me he hath enterprised to departe this next Marche with a great puissaunce to go to Rome and to distroy suche as take parte with pope Bonyface As god helpe me his iourney shall tourne to nothynge for in shorte space he shall haue more flax to his dystaffe than he can well spynne I thynke he wyll leaue soone his folyssh thought And also he desyreth me to go with hym with two thousande speares howebeit I wyll honour him as I ought to do and I wyll write to him ioyously bycause he shall be contente and shewe hym howe if he go in this voyage he shall nat go without me seyng it pleaseth him to haue my company howe be it sir of Moūtboucher I say vnto you I wyll nat traueyle a man of myne for all that the kyng hath purposed and sayd nothynge shall there be done in that behalfe The duke of Bretayne wrote goodly letters and swete to the frenche kynge and the officer of armes returned with theym to Parys and delyuered them to the kynge who redde them and was well contented with the aunswere ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the Englysshe knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the frenche kynge fro the kynge of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Cap. C .lxxv. THe wyll and purpose of the frenche kynge none wolde breke for it pleased greatly all the knyghtes squyers of Fraunce bycause they wyst nat where better to enploy their season and euery man prepared towardes that voyage and namely the clergy of all the prouynces of the realme ordayned and graunted a tayle to sende at their costes and charges men of warre with the kynge Howe be it this voyage tourned to nothynge as the duke of Bretayne had sayd before and I shall shewe you by what incidence About the feest of Candelmas came other tydynges to the Frenche kyng and to his counsayle whiche they loked nothynge for Certayne of the kynge of Englandes coūsayle and suche as were of his priuy chambre were sent nobly to Parys to the frenche kyng and they that were chefe of this legacyon was syr Thomas Percy syr Loys Clyfforde and sir Robert Briquet with dyuers other knyghtes in their company but I herde as than no mo named Whan these thre knyghtes were come to Parys to hym than the french kyng was desyrous to knowe what it myght meane that the kynge of Englande dyd sende so hastely of his counsayle to hym These knyghtes of Englande syr Thomas Percy and other alyghted in Parys in the streate called the Crosse at the signe of the castell The frenche kynge as than lay in the castell of Lowere his brother the duke of Tourayne with hym and his other thre vncles in other lodgynges in the cytie and the cōstable syr Olyuer Clysson It was nere hāde noone whan the englysshe men came to Parys and they kept their lodgynge all that day nyght after and the next day aboute nyue of the clocke they lept on their horses ryght honorably and rode to the castell of Loure to the kyng where he with his brother and vncles the Erle of saint Poll the lorde of Coucy the constable of Fraūce sir Iohan of Vien sir Guy de la tremoyle with dyuers other barons of Fraunce were redy to receyue the englysshe ambassadours who alyghted at the gate and entred in and there receyued them the lord de la Ryuer syr Iohan Mercyer sir Lyon of Lignach sir Peter Villers sir Willyam of Tremoyle and syr Marcell there they receyued them honourably and brought theym in to the chambre where the kynge taryed for them Than they dyd of their bonettes and kneled downe syr Thomas Percy hadde the letters of credence that the kynge of Englande had sente to the frenche kynge he delyuered them to the kyng who tooke them and caused the knyghtes to stande vp than they stepe some what backe The kynge opyned the letters and red them and sawe well that they had credence than he called to hym his brother and his vncles and shewed them the letters than his vncles sayd Syr call forthe the knyghtes and here what they wyll say Than they aproched and were cōmaunded to declare their credence than si◠Thomas Percy spake and sayd Dere sir the entencyon of our souerayne lorde the kinge of Englande is that he wolde gladly that suche of his specyall counsayle as his vncles dukes of Lancastre yorke and Glocestre and other prelates of
and lordes of Spaygne drewe toguyder and determyned to crowne the yonge herytoure the prince of Galyce This prince Henry was crowned the nynth yere of his age and his wyfe doughter to the duke of Lancastre was a fyfteene yere of age Thus the dukes doughter by the lady Custaunce was quene of Castyle and lady and heritour to all the landes and seignories that kyng Dompeter kyng Henry and kyng Iohan helde excepte that the duke of Lācastre her father and his wyfe her mother had durynge their lyues whiche was a pensyon of a hundred thousande doreyns by yere And foure of the best erles of Spayne were pledges and dettours for the same Thus the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale bestowed ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the yonge erle of Armynake and of the voyage he made in to Lombardy for the matter requyreth it and we shall leaue to speke of the kynge of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the vyage that he made in to Lombardy And howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of Alexandre Ca. C .lxxvii. IT hath been shewed here before what great of fectyon the yonge Erle of Armynake had to go in to Lombardy with menne of warre to ayde and assyste his suster germayne and his brother in lawe her husbande the lorde Barnabo eldest sonne to the lorde Barnabo whome the duke of Myllayne had caused to be slayne marueylouslye And this duke of Myllayne was erle of Vertues and named Galeas Whose doughter the duke of Orlyaunce hadde to wyfe This sayd lady who was doughter to the olde erle of Armynake and suster to the yonge erle was greatly abasshed and disconforted and had no truste but on her brother She signified to hym all her estate her pouertie and necessyte and dōmage that she suffred And humbly requyred her brother that he wolde helpe to kepe and defende her agaynst the tyraunt the erle of Vertues who wolde disheryte her without any tytell of reason And to the request of his suster the erle of Armynake condiscended and sayde That what soeuer it shulde coste hym he wolde do his deuoyre to ayde his suster And all that he promysed he accōplisshed in dede for he had by the ayde of the erle Dolphyne of Auuergne made dyuers treaties in Auuergne Rouergue Quercy Lymosyn Piergourte Engoulmoys and Agenoyes and had bought certayne fortresses whiche had been kepte by the Englysshe men gascoyns and bretons suche as hadde made warre agaynst the realme of Fraunce vnder colour of the kyng of Englande and all suche as he hadde agreed withall hadde their pardons of the Frenche kyng and besyde that the kyng gaue golde and syluer to be gyuen amonge theym But they were all bounde to the erle of Armynake to go with hym in to Lōbardy to ayde hym in his warres there And euery man shewed hym selfe therto well wyllynge euery man drewe to the ryuer of Rosne and to the ryuer of Sosne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne suffred them in their countreys to take vitaylles at their pleasure for they wolde gladly haue had them clene delyuered out of the countre And in that season vnder the kyng there ruled in the Dolphynry the lorde Engueram Durdyn And the kynge had written to hym commaundyng that these men of warre parteynyng to the erle of Armynake shulde pesably passe throughe the countrey and to haue that they neded for their money WHan the erle of Foiz beynge in Byerne in his castell of Ortays vnderstode howe the erle of Armynake assembled men of warre toguyder he began to muse for he was a man greatly ymaginatife Well he had herde howe the brute was that the erle of Armynake made this assemble to go in to Lōbardy agaynst the lorde of Myllaygne But bycause in tyme past the erle of Armynake and his predecessours before him and his brother Bernarde of Armynake had made hym warre therfore he douted lest the sayde assemble shulde tourne agaynst hym wherfore he thought he wolde nat be vnprouyded but prepared his fortresses with men of warre and made suche prouysion that if he were assayled to resyst it with all his puissaunce But the erle of Armynake nor his brother were nothynge of that purpose but thought surely to vpholde the treuce that was bytwene them and to atcheue his enterprice in to Lombardy There were many knyghtes and squyers Englysshe gascoyns bretons and other that were bounde to serue the erle of Armynake in his warres But if he shulde haue made warre agaynst the erle of Foiz they wolde haue taken the erle of Foiz parte and haue forsaken the erle of Armynake the erle of Foiz was so welbeloued with all men of warre for the wysedome largesse and prowesse that was in hym And whan̄e the duchesse of Thourayne was enfourmed howe therle of Armynake was redy to passe ouer the mountayns to entre in to Lombardy with puissaunce of men of warre to make warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne her father And howe that the Frēche kyng and his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne consented therto bycause they wolde haue their countreis clene auoyded of the cōpanyons and routes of pyllars suche as had often tymes greued sore their coūtreys this lady thought nat to forgette the matter but wrote to her father the duke of Millayne all that she knewe to the entente that he shulde take hede to hym selfe and to his countrey The lorde of Myllayne was well enformed of the busynesse and prouyded for menne of warre where he might gette them and refresshed his townes cyties and castelles with vitayle and other munysiōs of warre and loked surely to haue warre with the erle of Armynake as they hadde in dede ABout the myddes of the moneth of Marche the moost parte of these cōpanyons were assembled toguyder in the marchesse of Auignon all a longe the ryuer of Rosne to the nombre of fyftene thousande horses and passed the ryuer and so entred in to the Dolphynny of Vyen and lodged abrode in the vyllages and some passed forwarde to haue the more easy passage thoroughe the mountayns whiche were peryllous to passe bothe for man and horse The erle of Armynake and his brother with certayne other knyghtes wente to Auygnon to se hym that was called pope Clemente and the cardynalles there And offred their seruyce to the pope to ayde hym agaynst the tyrantes the lombardes for whiche offre they were thanked And whan they had ben there an eight dayes and that great parte of their company were paste forwarde They tooke their leaue of the pope and of the cardynalles and prepared to folowe their men there the two bretherne departed a sondre the erle Iohan of Armynake and sir Bernarde his brother Than the Erle sayde Brother ye shall retourne backe to Armynake and kepe our herytage of Comynges and Armynake For as yet all the fortresses
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
the lady of Dunoyes for her dowrie whiche was assygned to her sixe thousande frankes And furthermore he shulde haue made another sale of all his landes in Heynaulte And the Duke of Thourayne to haue payde for that two hundred thousande frankes Howe be it therin the erle of Bloys reserued to knowe the erle of Heynaltes pleasure therin who was his naturall lorde to whom he owed faythe and homage for those landes Howe be it that kyng and the duke of Thourayn toke that charge on them and to discharge the erle what soeuer shulde fall after Thus or they departed they bounde the erle by promyse and by writynges sealed as they might well and easely do for he had there none of his couÌ„sayle saue Sohier who neuer was at scole nor knewe no letter on the boke Moche after this maner went this marchandise and I haue written this mater as iustely as I coude to th entent that herafter in tyme to come by reason of writyng the trouthe shulde be knowen For the erle Guye of Bloys my lorde mayster as he that was ignorant and yuell counsayled more by his wyfe and varlet Sohier thaÌ„ by any other made this yuell bargayne And whan these maters were concluded and surely made by the kyng the duke of Thourayne and their counsayle than the lordes toke their leaue and retourned in to FrauÌ„ce Great brute was made of these sales in dyuers countries ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spaygne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the frenche kyng and his counsayle for the Vicount of Chastelons busynesse and howe howe he was sette in possession of the countie of Foiz of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii HOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of sir Roger of spaygne and of sir Espaygne du Lyon and shewe how they spedde aft they were retourned fro Tourle to go to Tholous to the bysshop of Noyon and to the lorde de la Ryuer So longe they iourneyd that they came thyder they were welcome for their coÌ„mynge was fore desyred There they shewed their letters and howe they had spedde By semblaunt the bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryuer were ioyouse of that the herytauÌ„ce shulde abyde with the Vycount of Chastellon on suche condycions as is before written Than sir Roger and his coÌ„panyon thought to take some more payne as to ryde to the Vycount of Chastellon and to the counsayls of Foize and of Bierne to se that euery thyng be sette in good order Than they departed fro Tholous and rode to saynt Gracyens the Vicount was nat there but he was at the entre of Berne in a fayre castell called Pau and there they founde hym who was ioyfull of their coÌ„mynge And whan he knewe that the Frenche kyng had gyuen vp his tytell of the byeng of the couÌ„tie of Foiz he was gladder than he was before As for the money that he shulde paye he wyst well ynoughe where to haue it and moche more ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his counsayle and of the kynge of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii I Thynke I haue sufficiently treated of the busynesse of Bierne and of foiz for if I shulde reherse all thynges it wolde requyre long writyng therfore I wyll leaue spekyng therof and create of other maters Thus all thyngê coÌ„cluded the vicount of Chatellon was erle of Foiz and lorde of Berne in lyke maner as the older erle helde it and all suche as ought so to do made homage to hym he departed largely with ser yuan and sir Gracien tholde erles bastarde sones in suche wyse that they were content and payde to the FreÌ„che kyng all suche money as was ê“mised to be payde This mater was nat sone done somer was first well onwarde and the bisshop of Noyon and the lorde de la Ryuer taryed styll at Tholous tyll euery thyng was set in good order accordyng as they were charged Nowe let vs speke of thassemble of the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande in the good cyte of Amyence on the treatie of a peace or of a truce as than beyng the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx .xi. in the myddes of lent great prouision was made ther for these lordê or they caÌ„e thider First for the frenche kyng for his estate and for his thre vncles and also for other great lordes of FrauÌ„ce euery man after his degre for it was said that kyng Richard of EnglaÌ„de shulde be there wherfore many desyred to se him such as had neuer sene him before how beit he came nat there yet he caÌ„e to Douer to th entent to haue passed the see his thre vncles with hym that is to say the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester whan they came to Douer they tooke aduyse whyder it were mete for the kyng to passe the see or nat All thynges consydred the counsayle of Englande was of opinyon that the kyng shuld byde at Douer the duke of Gloceter with him and the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke therle of HuÌ„tyngton therle of Derby sir thomas Percy the bysshops of Durham London and other of the kynges couÌ„saile to passe ouer so they came to Calais And whan the day aproched that they shulde mete at AmyeÌ„ce they deê‘ted fro Calysmo than .xii. C. horse it was a goodly syght to se theÌ„ ryde in good order The frenche kyng had ordayned that after thenglisshmen came out of Calis both goyng abyding returnyng all their costes and charges were borne of the frenche kyngê charge as mete driÌ„ke lodgyng horse mete With the duke of LaÌ„castre the duke of yorke there caÌ„e their cosyn dought to their suster to the lorde Coucy who was a faire yoÌ„g lady called the lady of yrelaÌ„de for she was wedded to the duke of yrelaÌ„de this lady caÌ„e to Amyens to se the lorde her father the lorde Coucy for she had nat sene hym moche before wherfore she hadde great desyre to se hym She came lyke a noble widowe hauyng but small ioye in her co age THe Frenche kyng had ordayned to make the Englysshe men as moche honour as coude be deuysed and to the foure dukes that is to saye The duke of Thourayn the Frenche kynges brother and the dukes of Burbon of Berrey and or Burgoyne lâ—pte on their horses and rode out of the towne to mete with the englisshmen acoÌ„panyed with many other great lordes Fyrst mette with theÌ„ the duke Loys of Thourayn well acoÌ„panyed and honorably receyued his colyns of Englande there coÌ„muned a certayne space with theÌ„ than he toke his leaue and departed agayne with all his company and so rode streight to the cytie to the kynge his brother And the other thre dukes the kynges vncles Berrey Burbone Burgoyne mette with the Englysshe dukes in the felde and made great chere and honorable eche to other that ioye it was to se Than the geÌ„tyll
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
god these be good tydynges and than said Constable be of good chere and care nothynge for there was neuer trespas sorer punysshed than this shall be vpon the traytours that haue done this dede for I take this mater as myne owne The constable with a feble voyce answered Sir god rewarde your grace for your noble vysytacyon Than the kyng toke his leaue and departed and retourned to his lodgynge and in contynent sente for the prouost of Paris and by that tyme that he came it was clere day lyght than the kyng coÌ„maunded hym and sayd Prouost get you men togyther well horsed and pursewe that traytour sir Peter of Craon who thus traytorously hath hurte nygh to the dethe our constable ye can nat do to vs a more acceptable seruyce thanne to pursewe and take hym and bring hym to vs. Than the prouost answered and sayd syr I shall do all that lyeth in my puyssaunce to do Syr canne your grace knowe whiche waye he is gone Enquyre quod the kynge and do your dylygence ¶ Howe in great dylygence the prouost of Parys pursewed syr Peter of Craon Cap. C.lxxxvi AS at that tyme the four souerayne gates of the cytie were euer kepte opyn nyght and day whiche ordynaunce was made euersythe the batayle of Rosebeque where the Frenche kyng disconfited the â—â—mynges and that the parisyeÌ„ce wolde haue rebelled and that the malettes were laide downe to the entent to kepe vnder the parisyence and by the counsayle of sir Olyuer of Clysson all the chaynes in the streates were layde downe and the gates taken of their hokes In this case the cytie was in a ten yere so that euery man myght entre night or daye in to Parys who so lyst Lo it maye be well consydred what fortune is The coÌ„stable gadred the rodde wherwith hym selfe was beaten for if the gates of Parys had ben closed and the chaynes lyfte vp sir Peter of Craon durst neuer haue done that he dyde for if he had â— he coude nat haue gone out of the towne as he dyde But bycause he knewe well he might issue out at all houres that made him execute his yuell purpose Wha he departed fro the Constable he thought surely he had ben slayne howe be it he was nat wherwith he was sore displeased Whan he issue out of Parys it was about one of the clocke after mydnight and passed by the gate saynt Anthony And some sayd he passed the ryuer of Seyne at the bridge of Charenton than toke the waye to Charters and some sayde he issued out of Parys at the gate of saynte Honour vnder Mount marter and passed the ryuer of Seyne at Ponthieur Where so euer he passed he was by eight of the clocke at Charters and suche as were well horsed with hym all folowed hym nat but brake a sondre for lesse suspeciousnesse and for feare of pursute And whan this sir Peter of Craon came first to Parys he had lefte at Charters with one of the chanons there who had ben a seruaunt of his beforetyme a twentte fresshe horses It had ben better for the chanon he had neuer knowen hym how be it of his purpose nor of the executynge therof he knewe nothyng therin Whan sir Peter was retourned to Charters he dranke and chauÌ„ged his horses and dyde of his harnesse and toke the waye to Mayne and rode so fast that he came to a castell of his owne called Sable and there rested hym selfe and sayde he wolde go no further tyll he herde tidynges of sir Olyuer of Clysson and howe the mater went ye maye be sure that the same fryday after the dede was done great brute ran all about the cytie of that dede many blamed greatly sir Peter of Craon The lorde of Coucy as soone as he knewe therof in the mornynge lepte on his horse with eyght persons with hym and rode to the Constables lodgyng to visyte hym for they loued entierlye togyder and called eche other brother in armes his visytacion dyd the CoÌ„stable gret good In lyke maner other lordes acordyng to their tourne came and visyted hym specially the duke of Thourayne who was sore displeased for that dede And the kynge and he sayd bothe howe that sir Peter of Craon had done that dede in dispyte of theym and howe it was a thyng prepensed by false traytours to put the realme to trouble The duke of Berrey who was thanÌ„e was at Parys dissymuled the mater and made no great busynesse in the cause And I sir Iohan Froissarte auctour of this cronycle as I was credably enformed of this aduenture there had ben nothyng done if the duke of Berrey had lyste for if he had wolde he myght well haue broken that enterprise I shall shewe you the reason howe THe same thursday of Corpus Christy day there came to the duke of Berrey a clerke secretorie to sir Peter of Craon and sayde to hym in secrete maner sir I wyll shewe you a thyng in secretnesse whiche is lykely to come to a poore coÌ„clusyon And sir ye are more lykely to remedye it than any other What mater is that ê™ the duke Sir quod he I shall shewe you but I wolde nat be named the bringer oute therof Spare nat quod the duke I shall beare out the mater well ynoughe Well sir quod the Clerke I doubte me greatlye that sir Peter of Craon wyll slee or cause to be murthered the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson for he hath assembled toguyder in to his house within the Churche yarde of saynte Iohanes a great noumbre of menne and hath kepte them there couertly euersyth the feest of Whitsontyde And sir if they shulde do that dede the kynge wyll be sore dyspleapleased and bringe the Realme in to great trouble therfore sir I shewe it to you for sir I am abasshed therof my selfe though I be sir Peters seruaunt and haue made seruyce to hym yet I dare nat consente to this outrage And sir and ye prouyde nat for the mater there is none can do it And sir for goddessake take hede to this that I haue shewed you And sir to eschewe that maye falle I dare nat retourne to hym The duke herde hym well and said Abyde here with me this nyght and to morowe by tymes I shall enforme the kyng therof It is nowe farforthe dayes I wyll nat trouble the kynge therwith but to morowe without faute we shall prouyde for the mater sithe that sir Peter of Craon is in the towne I knewe nat therof before Thus the duke draue of the matter and in the meane tyme this myschiefe felle Than the Prouost with mo thanÌ„e threscore horses issued oute of the cytie at the gate of saynt Honour and folowed the tracke of sir Peter of Craon and came to Ponthieur to passe the ryuer of Seyne demauÌ„ded of the kepar of the bridge if any horses passed that waye that mornynge and he sayd yes howe that there passed about a twelue horse but I sawe
the two dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne wolde haue modered that voiage but they might nat be herde for the kyng had taken suche displeasure with the duke of Bretayn bicause he susteyned sir Peter of craon that no excusacion coulde be taken The same tyme a brute ranne in Fraunce that the quene of Aragon my lady yolant of Bare cosyn germayne to the frenche kynge had in prison in the cytie of Barcylona a knyght that no man knewe his name men supposed it had ben syr Peter of Craon this quene had writen right amyably to the kynge sygnyfyenge hym that the fyfte day of the moneth of Iuly a knyght in good estate and aray came to Barcylona to haue past the sce and had hyred for his money a shyppe as he sayd to haue sayled in to Napoles and bycause we kepe our passages that no straunger shall passe without he be knowen what he is and this knyght wyll nat shewe his name therfore we kepe hym in prisone by the abasshment that we se in him we thynke surely it be the same person ye wold so fayne haue Therfore we write to you therof that ye shulde sende some person hyther suche as knoweth sir Peter of Craon to se if it be he or nat for what so euer he be he shall nat be delyuered tyll we haue aunswere fro you and I wolde that these tydynges might be agreable to you and to your counsayle as knoweth the holy goost who preserue you Writen at Parpygnan the nynth day of Iuly by yolante of Bare quene of Aragon and of Maiolles and lady Sardyne Sardane And on the super scrypcion to the redouted kynge of Fraunce THese tydynges somewhat modered dyuers mennes hartes so that they were nere at the poynte to haue broken their voyage howe be it suche as were sir Olyuer of Clyssons frendes sayde that those tydynges were but fayned tales made and deuysed to breke the kynges voyage sayenge that sir Peter of Craon was in none other prisoneê but with the duke of Bretayne who hath susteyned hym and dothe Of the quene of Aragons lettre the kynge made but lyght sayenge it was but trayson and fables Than the duke of Burgoyne sayd Syr yet at leste to a pease my nese the quene of Aragon and for the delyueraunce of the knight that is there in prisone who petaduenture is nothynge gylty of this trespas sende vnto her that she may be contente with you and with vs. I am content therwith quod the kynge to please you but I beleue surely the traytour syr Peter of Craon is in none other Barcylona nor prisone but aboute the duke of Bretayne and by my faythe that I owe to saint Denyce he shall ones make acompt therof There coulde no man turne the kynge fro the opinyon but that syr Peter of Craon was with the duke of Bretaygne The duke of Bretayne who was well enfourmed of all this busynesse thought hymselfe nat well assured for he sawe well the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne coulde nat bring their purpose aboute for syr Olyuer of Clyssons frendes led the kynge as they lyste Than the duke prouyded for to kepe his townes and garysons howe be it he durst kepe no towne except Wannes Campell Doll Camper Lermyn CoraÌ„tyne and Susement and he wrote to suche knyghtes and squyers as he thought shulde ayde him but they all dissymuled with hym bycause they knewe that the french kyng was so sore displeased with hym and also they thought it was nat a thynge couenable for the duke to susteyne syr Peter of Craon agaynst the constable of FrauÌ„ce as he dyd The duke in a maner repented hym that he had done so moche howe be it his corage and herte was so hygh that he dysdayned to speke it but sayde if the kynge came in to Bretayne as it semed he wolde do at the begynnynge he wolde let hym a lone and thanne shall I se who be my frendes or foos I wyll nat be to hasty to make him warre and whan he weneth to be at most rest than wyll I awake hym if I can nat be a greed with hym by loue Thus the duke deuysed somtyme with his counsayle and thought surely he shulde haue warre howe be it he had nat for the maters tourned otherwyse to his great aduauntage therfore it is an olde prouerbe he is nat poore that is happy This duke was fortunate by reason of apytuous incydence that fell sodaynly on the frenche kynge for otherwyse the duke was nat lykely to haue scaped all dauÌ„gers and to haue lyued in peace as he dyd WHan the Frenche kynge had taryed the space of thre wekes in the cytie of Mans and the knyghtes retourned that he had sent in to Bretayne Than he sayd syth he had herde the dukes answere he wolde no lenger tary there for he sayd the taryenge there greatly displeased him and wolde passe forthe in to Bretaygne to se his enemys that was the duke of Bretaygne who susteyd the traytour syr Peter of Craon The entencyon of the kynge was that if any knyghtes and squyers came agaynst hym or that he founde any townes closed he wolde put downe the duke for euer and set a gouernour in the countrey tyll the dukes chyldren were of lawfull age and than rendre to them the berytage and the duke neuer to haue any parte theof This opinyon the king helde styll and no man coude put hym therfro and thus on a fayre daye aboute ten of the clocke the kynge departed fro the cytie of Mans and had coÌ„maunded his marshalles the nyght before to cause all his at mye bothe before and behynde to dysloge and to drawe to Anger 's and sayde that he wolde nat retourne tyll he had ben in Bretayne and dystroyed the traytours that had put hym to so moche payne and trouble The marshalles dyd the kinges coÌ„maundement The day that the king departed was marueylous hoote for me sonne as than naturally was in his cheife force and to the entent to declare the trouth of euery thyng The same season that the kynge lay at Mans he was sore traueyled with dayly syttynge in counsayle and also he was nat perfytely hole nor had nat ben all that season he was feble in his brayne and heed and dyd eate or drinke but lytell and nygh dayly was in a hoote feuer so that he was gretly anoyed and payned and also for the dyspleasure that he had for the constables hurte he was full of malencoly and his spirytes sore troubled and traueyled and that his physicions spyed well and so dyd his vncles but they coulde nat remedy it for no man durste counsayle hym to breke his voyage in to Bretaygne And as it was enfourmed me as he rode forwarde in the forest of Mans a great sygnifycacyon fell to hym by the whiche if he had doone well he shulde haue called his counsayle aboute hym and well aduysed hymselfe or he had gone any further Sodaynly there came to the
But he sayde he was very sorie for the dethe of the erle of Iouye of sir yuan of Foiz and of sir Charles of Poicters His vncles reconforted hym sayde Sir that is loste canne nat be recouered ye muste forgette the dethe of them and thanke god of the fayre aduenture that is fallen to your owne persone For all the realme of Fraunce by this incydent myght haue ben in great daunger of lesynge For ye maye thynke well that these people of Parys wyll neuer be styll for God knoweth if the mysfortune had fallen on you they wolde haue slayne vs all Theriore sir aparell you in estate royall and lepe on your horse and ryde to our lady in pylgrimage and we shall accompany you and shewe youre selfe to the people for they desyre soore to se you The kynge sayde he wolde so do Than the kynges vncles toke aparte the duke of Orlyaūce and in curtesse maner somwhat blamed hym of his yonge dede that he had done He aunswered and sayde howe he thought to haue done none yuell Than anone 〈◊〉 the kynge and his company lepte on their horses and rode throughe the cytie to apease the people and came to our lady Churche there herde masse and offred and thanne retourned agayne to the house of saynt Poule and lytell and lytell this mater was forgotten and the obsequyes done for the deed bodyes Ah erle Gascoyne of Foiz if this had fortuned in thy lyfe dayes thou shuldest haue had great displeasure and it had been harde to haue peased the for thou louedest hym entierly All lordes and ladyes through the realme of Fraūce and elswhere that herde of this chaunce had great marueyle therof ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals of Rome sent a frere a wyse clerke to the frenche kyng Cap. C. xc.iii POpe Bonyface beyng at Rome with his cardinali es reioysed of this said aduenture bycause the Frenche kyng was agaynst thē The pope sayde it was a token sente fro God to the realme of Fraunce bycause they supported the pope at Auygnon who was proude and presumptuous and neuer had done good in all his lyfe but disceyued the worlde The pope at Rhome and his cardynalles were in counsayle and concluded to sende to the frenche kyng secretely a man of prudence a frere mynor a great clerke and he wisely to preche and to counsayle the kyng to folowe the waye of reason for they said the kyng toke a wrōg waye seynge he was named to be the chiefe kyng of Christendome by whom holy churche ought to be illumyned and ayded Wherfore they charged this frere to go in to Fraūce and delyuered hym instructions of the effecte that he shulde saye and do This was done but it was by leysar for the Frere had farre to go and also knewe nat whether he shulde haue audyence whanne that he cam◠thyder or nat ¶ Nowe lette hym go on his iourney and we shall somwhat speke of the busynesse of Fraunce NAtwithstandyng for all these aduētures the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne and their counsayls lefte nat to pursue to haue distroyed the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercier who were in prisone in the castell of saynt Anthony in the kepyng of the vycount of Archy And it was said that they shulde be put to dethe and delyuered to the prouost of the Chattelet And it was ordayned that as sone as they shulde come in to his handes that they shulde be beheded openly as traytours agaynst the crowne of Fraunce and so they had been if God had nat prouyded for them And at the speciall instaunce and request of the duchesse of Berrey for and she had nat ben their dethe had been hasted specially she prayed for the lorde de la Riuer for by his meanes she was brought in to Fraunce the maryage made bytwene the duke of Berrey and her She sayde on a tyme to the duke her husbande all wepyng Sir that is layd to the lordes de la Ryuer is but a false selaundre and done for enuy And sir Remembre what payne and traueyle he toke to bring vs toguyder ye rewarde hym but smally to cōsent to his dethe Thoughe all his landes and goodes be taken fro hym yet lette hym haue his lyfe For and he dye in this opyn shame I shall neuer haue ioye in my herte Sir I saye nat this of fayned corage but that I say is with all my hole hert wherfore sir I requyre you prouyde for his delyueraunce Whan the duke herde his wyfe speke so effectuously and also knewe well that she sayde but trouthe Than he had pytie and swaged his displeasure and the lorde de la Ryuer had been the sones delyuered and sir Iohan Mercier had nat been for they sought all the wayes that myght be to haue putte hym to dethe whiche they coude nat do without bothe shulde haue dyed THis sir Iohan Mercyer hadde wept so moche in prison that his sight was therby sore febled It they had folowed the duchesse of Burgoyns counsayle they had ben putte to execucyon longe before shamefully without fauour For she hared them bycause they and sir Olyuer of Clysson had counsayled the kynge to go in to Bretaygne to warre agaynst her cosyn the duke Also she sayde that Clysson le Ryuer and Mercyer were causers of the kynges maladye howe be it the kyng was well recouered and in good estate The dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne kepte styll the gouernaūce of the realme of Fraunce for they had great profyte therby They had apoynted suche persones as them pleased to be about the kyng In those dayes the kynge bare the name of a kynge but as touchyng the busynesse parteynynge to the crowne of Fraunce he was but lytell obeyed for the dukes wolde se and knowe howe euery thynge paste The duchesse of Burgoyne was nexte persone to the Quene where with the Duchesse of Orlyaunce was nothynge pleased for she wolde haue hadde the honoure and preemynence And she sayde to suche as were secrete with her What the duchesse of Burgoyne ought in no condycion to go before me nor is nat so nyghe to the crowne as I am My lorde my husbande is brother to the kynge and it myght so fall that he shulde be kynge and I quene I wotte nat why she shulde take on her this honour and put me behynde Thus some enuy was amonge these ladyes ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue speakynge of them and retourne to sir Olyuer of Clysson YE haue herde howe he was sommoned fyftene dayes to apere in the parlyament chambre how certayne knyghtes were sente in to Bretaygne to seke for him as sir Philyppe of Sauoises and other who wente in to Bretaygne and sertched for hym in all places but they founde hym nat for he hydde hym selfe so couertly that they coulde neuer speke with hym for if they hadde they wolde haue rested hym At their retourne in to Fraunce they made relacyon of
they sayd sirs surely it wyll be harde to fynde hym for this daye he is in one place and to morowe in another But if it please you ye maye ryde ouer all the duchy of Bretaygne and sertche ouer all his forteresses and houses none shall be closed agaynst you Whan they sawe they coulde haue none other aunswere they departed thens rode and visyted all the fortresses great and small parteynynge to the lorde Olyuer of Clysson ThanÌ„e they came to Wannes and there founde the duke of Bretaygne and the duchesse who receyued them and there they taryed but halfe a daye and dyscouered nat to the duke the secrete mater that they came thyder for nor also the duke examyned them nothynge of the mater Also they coulde nat se there sir Peter of Craon THus they toke leaue of the duke and of the duchesse and retourned to Parys where they fouÌ„de the kyng and the lordes and there reported to the kynge to the duke of Orlyaunce howe they hadde sought all the places and townes parteynynge to sir Olyuer of Clysson but in no wyse they coulde fynde hym The dukes of Burgoyn and Berrey were right gladde of these newes and wolde nat it had ben otherwise Than anone after proceded the maryage bytwene the lorde Philippe of Arthois and the lady Mary of Berrey and so this lorde Philyppe was Constable of Fraunce and vsed the offyce with all profytes and aduauntages therto belongyng of auncyent ordynauÌ„ces yet the lorde Olyuer of Clysson had nat renounced the offyce nor delyuered vp the Martell whiche is the token of the Constable of Fraunce For he contynued and sayd he wolde abyde styll CoÌ„stable and had done no cause why to lese it nouther to the kynge nor to the realme He knewe well the erle of Ewe was profered to haue the offyce of the Constable and to enioye the profyttes therof by consente of the Kynge and howe he hadde maryed the doughter of the Duke of Berrey the lady Mary He toke but lytell regarde to all this for he knewe hym selfe true to the kynge and to the crowne of Fraunce And knewe well all that was done agaynst hym was through enuy and hatered that the dukes of Burgâ—yne and Berey had against hym Thus the lorde of Clysson lette the mater passe and contynued styll his warre agaynst the duke of Bretayne whiche warre was right fierse and cruell without mercy or pytie The lorde of Clysson rode ofter abrode and layde busshmentes than the duke dyde And all other lordes of Bretayne satte styll wolde nat medyll The duke dyde sende for the lordes of his countrey and they came to speke with hym to knowe his entent than the duke requyred them of their ayde helpe agaynst his ennemy sir Olyuer of Clysson Than the lordes of Bretayne as the vicouÌ„t of Rohan the lorde Dignan the lorde Hermen of Lyon and dyuers other excused them and sayd they knewe no cause why nor they wolde nat make no warre agaynst the lorde Clysson but they said they wolde right gladlye endenour them selfes to bringe them to a peace if they coude Whan the duke sawe he coude haue none other conforte of them and parceyued well howe he lost and was lykely to lese mo men in that warre than sir Olyuer of Clysson than he consented that the sayde lordes shulde go to sir Olyuer of Clysson treate for a peace and to bringe hym vnder saueconducte to Wannes to speke with hym at whiche tyme he sayd he shulde be founde tretable and to agre to all reason And if sir Olyuer had done hym any displeasure that he myght haue amendes accordynge to their aduyse These lordes were well agreed thus to do and so they all thre wente to the lorde Olyuer of Clysson and dyde so moche that they spake with hym as I was enformed in the castell of Ioâ—elyn and shewed him the dukes entent And moreouer to bringe them to a peace for they sawe well warrÌ„ was nat fytting bytwene them but greatly noyed the noble men marchauÌ„tes and coÌ„mons of Bretaygne they sayd to the lorde Olyuer Sir if it wyll please you to go to the duke we shall bynde vs to abide here iÌ„ this castell tyll your retourne And we doute nat ye beynge ones in his presence ye shall fynde him so resonable that peace and good accorde shal be had bitwene you Sir Olyuer sayd Sirs what shall it profyte you if I were deed Thynke you that I knowe nat the duke of Bretayne He is so cruell and so haute that for all his saueconducte or what soeuer he saythe if he sawe me in his preseÌ„ce he wolde neuer cease tyll I were deed and thanÌ„e shulde you dye lykewise for my men here wolde soone slee you without mercy Wherfore it is best that bothe you and I saue our lyues rather than to putte vs in that daunger I shall kepe me fro hym and I can and lette hym kepe hym as well fro me ThanÌ„e the lorde Charles of Dignan sayde Fayre cosyn ye may saye as it please you but we thynke surely thoughe he sawe you he wolde do you no displeasure This that we offre you is of good affection and to bringe you to accorde and we praye you that ye wyll thus do Than the lorde Clysson sayde Sirs I beleue surely ye meane well but I ensure you vpon this assuraunce I shall neuer go to hym But sithe ye medell in the mater bytwene vs we shall nat thynke that I shal be vnresonable I shall tell you what I wyll do Retourne you agayn to the duke and saye that I wyll nat take you for no pledge nor hostage Lette hym sende me his sonne and heyre who is maryed to the doughter of FrauÌ„ce and he shall abyde here in this castell with my men tyll I retourne agayne This way I thynke more surer thaÌ„ the other for if ye shulde abyde here as ye offre Who shulde thanÌ„e entremedell in the busynesse bytwene the duke and me For without a meane we shall neuer come to accorde WHan these lordes of Bretayne sawe they coude haue non other answere they tooke their leaues and retourned to WaÌ„nes to the duke and shewed hym what they had done but in no wyse the duke wolde consente to sende his sonne to the castell of Ioselyn So their warre contynued styll wherby no persone durst ryde abrode and marchaundyse was layde downe thoroughe whiche the people of good townes cyties were sore hindred and poore laborers lette laboringe of the erthe The duchesse of Burgoyn couertly ayded her cosyn the duke of Bretayne with men of armes aswell of Burgoyne as of other places for the duke coude get none of his countrey to take his parte in that quarell agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson They alwayes dissymuled the mater except suche as were of his owne house The duke of Orlyaunce on the other parte loued well the lorde Olyuer of Clyison and secretely so coured hym with men and sente
hym horses Sir Olyuer of Glysson roode ofter abrode than the duke dyde And it fortuned on a day he encountred two squyers of the dukes the one called Berâ—ard the other yuonet they were taken and brought to sir Olyuer who was gladde of them He knewe them well one of them hadde done hym seruyce in tyme past and the other nat but he had done hym displeasure Than sir Olyuer said to yuonet Remembrest thou nat howe in the Castell of Ermyne thou sheweddest me but small curtesy and thou Bernarde haddest pyte on me and dyddest putte of thy gowne and putte it on me whaÌ„ I stode in my doublet on the pauement the whiche kepte me fro colde I wyll nowe yelde thy curtesy to the thy lyfe shal be saued but thou false knaue and traitour yuo net thou myghtest haue done otherwyse thaÌ„ thou dyddest therfore thou shalte repent it and therwith drewe his dagger and strake hym to the herte Another tyme the lorde Clisson rode with thre hundred speares in his coÌ„pany towarde the castell of Alroy where the duke and duchesse of Bretayne were This was aboute Mydsomer and by fortune he encountred a fourtie of the Dukes seruauntes who hadde tyed their horses to the trees and had sickels in their haÌ„des and were cuttyng downe the corne and makynge trusses to cary to their lodgynges lyke forragers Whan the lorde Olyuer came on them they were sore afrayde and the lorde Oliuer said Sirs howe dare ye come in to the feldes to steale and to take awaye poore meÌ„nes corne ye neuer sowed them and yet ye cutte theym downe or they be type ye begyn haruest to soone Leape on your horses and take youre sickels for this tyme I wyll do you no hurt and saye to the duke of Breraygne who is in Alroy that if he wyll come or sende his men to driue me away here he shall fynde me tyll the sonne goynge downe These poore men were gladde they were so delyuered they feared to haue ben slayne So they retourned to the castell of Alroy to yeâ—â—ke and shewed hym what they hadde herde and sene but the duke nor none of his men issued out of the castell Many scrimysshes were made in Bretaygne bytwene the duke and sir Olyuer of Clysson and they of the countre medled nat bytwene them ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of the duke of Bretayne and of sir Oliuer of Clysson and of their warre and speke of the busynesse bytwene Englande FraÌ„ce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bitwene the Frenche kyng the kyng of Englande by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. YE haue herde here before howe the ê‘liameÌ„t was holden in the cytie of Amyence and howe the Englysshe lordes departed and vpon what artycles howe the Frenche kynge sent after in to Englande to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the answere that they hadde of the Englysshmen who were harde to be brought to any peace For it laye nat all onely in the kyng nor in the dukes of Lancastre and yorke for great parte laye in the commens of Englande and archers and other seruyng men they sayd howe they had rather haue warre than peace many yong knightes squiers were of that same opynion for by reason of the warre they had maynteyned their estates howe be it ê‘force they were fayne to obey as the kyng his vncles wolde The duke of LaÌ„castre bycause his .ii. doughters were quenes the one of Spaygne the of Portugale And also bycause he sawe the kynge his nephue enclyned to haue peace he sayd the warre had endured longe ynoughe and sayde he wolde take payne therin so it myght be for the honour of the kyng and the realme On the other partie the duke of Burgoyne dyde all that he myght do to haue peace consydring howe he was greatly charged with the busynesse of Fraunce And that his two nephues the Frenche kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce were yonge of age and of discrecion Also he consydred howe he was enherytour to the duchy of Brabant and thought that if euer Flaunders and Brabant shulde vary agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce with the ayde of Englande as they had other tymes done before that the realme of Fraunce shulde than haue ouer moche to do the duke of Burgoyne was a wyse and a farre castyng prince and depely regarded his busynesses This duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Lancastre tooke great payne to haue a Parlyament agayn to be holden at BalynghmÌ„ whiche was agreed and bothe partyes suffycyently prouyded with full auctorites to conclude a full peace And this counsayle to be holden at Balyngham in the moneth of May than nexte after in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and .xvii. and all suche as shulde be at this assemble were named and apoynted FIrste on the party of kynge Rycharde kinge of Englande were apoynted his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of Gloucestre who were greatly in fauoure with all the coÌ„mons of England and with all such that loued berter to haue warre than peace and with them shulde be the archebysshop of yorke the bysshop of London and other clerkes of the lawe It was apoynted that these lordes shulde come to Calays as they dyd aboute the myddes of Aprill anone after the feest of saynte George holden at the castell of Wyndesore by the kynge and other knyghtes of the ordre of the garter And on the frenche party there was aisygned the dukes of Bertey and Burgoyne to be there and other counsaylours of FrauÌ„ce and it was ordeyned that they shulde come to the towne of Boloyn and the frenche king who as he shewed had great affection to haue peace bytwene EnglaÌ„de and hym sayde to his vncles that he wolde come as nere to the parlyament as he myght wher vpon it was aduysed where the frenche kinge shulde lye the parlyament durynge at Balyngham Somesayd at saynt Omers and some sayd at Thourayne and some at Mutterell or Abuyle But all thynges consydred it was aduysed that the kynge shulde lye at Abuyle bycause the towne was stronge and well fournysshed and there euery man shulde be well lodged Whan this was determyned drousyon was made there for the kynge and he to be lodged in the abbay of saynt Peters an abbay of blacke monkes and thyder came the kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce and their counsayle and the lorde Reynolde of Corby chauncellour of Fraunce The dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne and suche other as were in their coÌ„myssion were at Boloyne And the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre other were at Calays It was goodly to beholde to se the ordre of this parlyament that was holden at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and englysshmen There were tentes and pauylyons pyght vp to refresshe bothe partyes and twyse or thryse a weke the coÌ„myssioners mette there in a fayre tente ordayned for that purpose aboute nyne of
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌ„ce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌ„mage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌ„stable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌ„e inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌ„mage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌ„tage and make good prouisyon for theÌ„ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌ„e we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌ„e I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌ„ged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no ê‘sone The tyme was sore chauÌ„ged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌ„castre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
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
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
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
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌ„de none to with stande me nor none that durst fyght with me in lyke wyse so dyd syr Robert Canoll and sir Hugh Caurell and Thomas of GrauÌ„tsome and syr Phylyppe Gyssarde and yet they had nat the nombre that I had with me and yet they were before Parys and demaunded batayle of the frenche kynge but they coulde neuer be aunswered nor founde any person that sayd any thyng to them and so they rode into Bretayne and so a longe through the realme of Fraunce fro Calais to Burdeaux without hauynge of any batayle or rencountre but I thynke surely who so wolde nowe make any suche iourney they shulde be fought with all for he that calleth hym selfe kynge in Fraunce is yonge hote and of great corage and enterprise he wolde surely fight what ende so euer fell therof and that is the thynge we desyre for we loue nothynge so well as to haue batayle for without it be by batayle and victory vpon the frenche men who be ryche els we shall haue no recouery but suffre with the losse as we haue done euer sythe my nephewe was kyng of Englande This thyng can nat longe endure in this estate but at laste the realme of Englande shall perceyue the mater repente it for the kyng taketh and shall take and reyse great tayles of the marchauntes wherwith they be nat content and yet they can nat tell where the good becometh Thus the kynge enpouereth the realme of Englande and gyueth to one and other largely and there as it is but yuell bestowed and his people vyeth the bargayne whiche shortely wyll growe to a rebellyon within the realme for the people begyn to clater and to murmure therat sayeng howe they wyll no leÌ„ger suffre nor beare it he sayeth to stoppe the peoples rumure that the trewce ones concluded bytwene him Fraunce that than he wyll make a voyage in to Irelande and enploye there his men of armes and archers and there he hath ben but with a small conquest for IrelaÌ„de is no lande of great conquest nor profyte the people they are but rude and yuell and a right poore countrey and inhabytable and looke what is wonne there in one yere is loste in another Laquynay Laquynay quod the duke all that I haue sayde is of trouth THus the duke of Gloucestre deuysed with his knyght with suche wordes and other as it was well knowen after He hated the kynge and coulde speke no good worde of him and though he were with his brother the duke of LaÌ„castre as one of the greatest rulers of the Realme he toke no care therof And whan the kyng dyd sende for him he wolde come at his pleasure and sometyme nat a whyt And whan he came to the kynge he wolde be the laste shulde come and the first that wolde departe and in counsayle what he had ones sayd of his opynion he wolde haue it taken and accepted els he wolde be displeased and somtyme take his leaue and departe to his maner in Essex called Plasshey there was his chiefe abydynge This duke was a great prince and might well spende by yere a threscore thousande ducates he was duke of Gloucestre erle of Essex and of Buckingham and constable of Englande He was of so marueylous condycyons that the kynge douted hym more than any other of his vncles for in his wordes he wolde nat spare nor forbeare the kynge The kynge alwayes was humble and meke to hym and whatsoeuer he wolde demaunde the kynge wolde graunte it hym This duke had caused in EnglaÌ„de to be done many cruell and hasty iugementes for he had caused to be beheeded withoute tytell of any good reasone that noble knyght syr Symon Burle and dyuers other of the kynges counsayle and chased out of Englande the archebysshop of yorke and the duke of Irelande bycause they were so nygh of the kinges counsayle and layde to their charge that they had counsayled the kynge wronge and ledde hym as they lyst and had spente the reuenewes of Englande at their pleasures This duke had two bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke These two were euer about the kynge wherat this duke of Gloucestre hadde great enuy wolde say to dyuers as to suche as he trusted as Robert bysshop of London and to other whan they came to him to Plasshey Frendes my two bretherne ouerchargeth greatly the kynges house it were better they were at home at their owne houses this duke by subtyle couerte wayes drewe to his acorde the londoners for he thought if he might be sure of them he shulde sone haue all the rest of the realme to his acorde This duke had a nephue sonne to the doughter of his elder brother called Lyonell duke of Clarence whiche doughter was maryed into Lombardy to the sonne of syr Galeas duke of Myllayne This duke Lyonell dyed in the cytie of Aste in Piemounte So this duke of Gloucestre wolde gladly haue sene his nephue sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence called Iohan erle of Marche to haue ben kynge of Englande and to haue had his nephue kynge Rycharde deposed for he sayd howe the kynge was nat worthy to holde nor to gouerne the realme of Englande This he wolde say to them that he trusted and he dyd so moch that he caused the erle of Marche to come to his house and than and there he dyscouered to hym all his entent and secretnesse and sayde howe he had determyned to make hym kynge of Englande and kyng Richarde to be put downe and his wyfe also and to be kept in prison dutynge their lyues and so he desyred effectuously the erle to accept his offre and good wyll sayenge howe he wolde do the beste he coulde to bringe it aboute and that he had of his acorde and alyaunce the erle of Arundell and therle of Warwyke and dyuers other prelates and lordes of Englande The erle of Marche was sore abasshed whan he herde the duke his vncle speke suche wordes howe be it lyke a yonge man he dissymuled the mater and aunswered wysely to th entent to please the duke and said howe he wold be glad to be ruled as he wolde haue hym but he sayd he wolde be well aduysed or he accepted suche promisse to sone and wolde take therin aduyse and delyberacyon And whan the duke of Gloucestre sawe the maner of the erle than he desyred him to kepe the mater secrete The erle answered so he wolde do Than therle departed as sone as he coude and so wente in to Irelande to his herytage and after he wolde neuer entende to the dukes treatie but alwayes excused him selfe wysely yet euer he kept the mater secrete for he sawe well the conclusyon shulde nat be good IT was sayd howe the duke of Gloucestre sought all the wayes he coude to set a trouble in Englande and to styrre the
londoners agaynst the kynge So it was the same yere that the truce was made bytwene Englande and Fraunce to endure for thyrty yere and that the kynge was retourned agayne in to Englande with his yonge wyfe than the duke of Gloucestre enfourmed the Londoners and sayd Syrs make ye a request to the kynge and it shall be reasonable desyre that seynge he hath peace with his enemyes that ye may be franke and fre fro all subsydies and aydes that hath ben graunted this twenty yere past affyrmyng howe they were nat graunted but durynge the seasone of the warre for ye syrs quod the duke that be marchauntes are yuell entreated and sore oppressed to pay of euery hundred florens .xiii. and all these goodes are spent in ydlenesse in dauÌ„synge and makynge of feastes and eatynge and drinkynge and all ye pay for wherby ye be sore traueyled and shewe you to the kynge howe ye wolde that the realme of Englande shulde be gouerned acordinge to the auncyent customes and ye may say that whan the kyng hath any nede or the realme or for the honour of the couÌ„trey and for the defence therof howe that ye wyll be redy to ayde it in suche wyse that the kynge and his counsayle shall holde them content Thus by the settynge on of the duke of Gloucestre the Londoners and the counsayles of dyuers other cyties and townes of Englande assembled theym togyther and on a day came to Eltham a seuen myle fro London where the kyng was and whan they came before the Kynge they made a request of all these foresayd thynges and wolde that it shulde haue ben acomplysshed incontynent And whan this request was made there was with the kynge no mo of his vncles but two the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke Than the kynge charged the Duke of Lancastre to make theym an aunswere and than the duke sayd to them syrs the kynges pleasure is that ye departe home euery man to his owne and within a moneth assemble agayne togyder at London or at Westmynster there the kynge wyll be with his counsayle and his nobles prelates and other and they they wyll be redy to here your requestes and loke what shall be thought necessary by his counsayle the kynge wyll graunt it you in suche wyse that ye shall all be well contente This aunswere pleased many of them but nat all for there were some that were of the opinyon of the duke of Gloucestre who wolde haue had a shorter answere but the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke apeased them with fayre swete wordes and so they departed for that tyme. But for all that they left nat their pursute so that the next moneth after they assembled at Westmynster there be ynge the kynge with his counsayle and than there was present the duke of Gloucestre who greatly enclyned to their demaundes but at makinge of the aunswere he spake nat all that he thought in his hert but dissymuled the mater to the entent that the kynge nor his bretherne shulde nat perceyue his mynde Than the duke of Lancastre made the aunswere to the londoners for the kynge and sayd ye syrs of London and other the kynge hath coÌ„maunded me to gyue you a determynable answere to your requestes in his name and his counsayle and by the consent of other prelates and noble men of his realme Sirs ye knowe well to the entent to eschewe all parelles and daungers that myght come to this Realme there was a generall graunt made by you and other of the good cyties and townes of Englande that there shulde be raysed a tayle on the state of marchaundyse in maner and fourme as it hath tynne nowe vpon a syxe yere that was to paye of euery hundred .xiii. and by reason therof the kynge graunted and sealed to you certayne fraunchesses the whiche he is nat in mynde to take fro you but rather to encrease it dayly acordyng to your desertes but where as ye nowe wolde repell agayne that ye ones wyllyngly agreed vnto and graunted therfore here openly he repelyth agayne all suche graces and grauntes as he hath made to you before this tyme. Beholde here all these noble men and prelates haue sworne and promessed to the kynge to ayde and sustayne all thynges lawfully gyuen and graunted therfore syrs considre well that the state of the king is great and chargeable and if it augment in one maner it mynyssheth in another for the rentes and reuene was turneth nat to the kynges profyte as moche as it hath doone in tyme paste the kinge and his counsayle hath ben at great coste and charge sythe the warres renewed bytwene Englande and Fraunce and great charge it hath been to the kynge for suche ambassadours as haue treated bytwene the parties as well here as beyonde the see also the pursuynge of the kynges maryage hath coste gret goodes And though there be nowe peace bytwene the realmes yet the charge is great of kepynge of the garysons in townes and castelles beynge vnder the kynges obeysaunce as well in Gascoyne Burdeloys Bayonois Bygore and the marches of Gyan and Calays also in kepyng the see and the portes and hauens of Englande in lykewyse it is chargeable the kepyng of the fronters of Scotlande whiche may nat be vnprouyded and also the marchesse of Irelande All these thynges and other consernynge the kynges estate and honour of the realme draweth yerely great coste and charge whiche is farre better knowen by the noble men of the realme than by any of you that medeleth but with your marchaundyse Thanke godâ—irs that ye be thus in peace and take hede that none paye without he be worthy and occupye the feate of marchaundyse and as well payeth the straungers as ye do ye be at a freer marte than they of Fraunce or Lombardy or other Realmes whyther as youre marchaundyse repayreth for they be tayled and retayled agayne two or thre tymes in a yere and ye passe by a reasonable ordynaunce sette and assessed vpon your marchaundyse THese wordes or suche lyke spoken by the duke of Lancastre apeased greatly the people who were sette to do yuell by the settynge on of other Thus they departed at that tyme without any other thynge doynge and the moste parte of theym were well content and suche as wolde the contrary made no semblante therof at that tyme. The duke of Gloucestre retourned to his maner of Plasshey and he sawe well as at that tyme he coulde nat brynge his purpose to passe but styll he studyed howe to make trouble in Englande and to fynde the wayes howe to renewe the warre in Fraunce and he had of his acorde his wyfes vncle the Erle of Arundell who desyred nothynge but warre and they had doone so moche that they had drawen to their acorde the erle of Warwyke TTHe kinge of Englande had two bretherne by his mother one called Thomas Erle of Kente and the seconde sir Iohan of Holande a valyaunt knyght who had to his wyfe the
knightes This shyppe was so goodlye fayre that it was great ioye to beholde it the whiche gyfte the soudan toke in gree and sente agayne to the kynge of Cypre the double in value therof All this was anone knowen in FrauÌ„ce by marchauntes that wrote therof to Dyne of Responde to the entente that he shulde shewe it to the Frenche kyng and to the duke of Burgoyn to haue a thanke of the kynge THis kyng of Cypre had good cause thus to do for he was in doute of the frenche kynges displeasure bicause he caused to be slayne murdered by night his brother the valyaunt kynge Peter who dyde moche trouble to the Sarazins toke Saptalye and Alexandre The Sarazins douted hym more than any other kyng or emperour christened bicause of his valyaÌ„tnesse of the whiche dede this sayde kynge Iames sore repented hym selfe and knewe well he had done yuell And after the same dede he fledde out of Cypre or els the Christen men wolde haue slayne hym So he entred in to a galley of Gene beyng at the porte of Nicopossie and so wente to Genes and the genowayes receyued hym And some said that he dyde that foule murdre by the entysement of the genoways for anone after the genouois came with puissaunce of men of warre and galyes and toke the cytie of Famagous and the porte and kepte it with puyssaunce This kynge of Cypre had a fayre yonge sonne The Cyprience crowned this chylde kynge and after his crownyng he lyued nat long but dyed soone after And aft his dethe the genouois with great puyssauÌ„ce brought this Iaques in to Cypre and crowned hym kyng and so he reigned kyng of Cypre And the genowayes alwayes susteyned hym agaynst all men but they wolde neuer rendre vp the Cytie of Famagous nor the porte but helde it styll at the tyme that the auctour wrot this hystorie And to saye the trouthe if the genowayes had nat had it the Turkes had wonne it longe before and all the realme of Cipre had brought it in to their obeysauÌ„ce and by all lykelyhode had subdued the ysles of Rodes and all other ysles enclosed in the See to Venyce but alwayes the genoways and venisyaÌ„s resysted them And whan they sawe that the turkes had wonne the Realme of Armony than they toke the strong towne of Corque in Hermyne on the See syde and so helde it so that and it had nat ben for dout of the passage and straytes of Corque and of Xere before CoÌ„stantyne the noble the turkes had sore entred in to Christendome and vpon the border of the see the whiche shulde haue been great preiudyce to the ysle of Rodes and to the ysles adioynyng Thus by these meanes the fronters of Christen dome were kepte and defended ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to our purpose THis kyng Iaques of Cyper who knewe hym selfe gylcy of the deth of the kynge his brother wherby he had the hatred of all other crysten kynges therfore he dyd as moche as he coude do to get agayne their loue and fauour and tooke it for a great honoure that the frenche kynge wrote fyrst to hym for he douted him most of all and so he had cause for the duke of Burbone by ryght successyon of the lynage of Lusygnan ought to be kynge there and his heyres for thoughe this kynge Iaques was brother to the kyng Peter of Cyper yet he had no ryght to the crowne for he was but a bastarde and all this knewe ryght well the genouoys so that whan he was made kynge there was made a great alyaunce bytwene them confermed nat to be broken and the genouoys to defeÌ„de and kepe him and his heyres agaynst all other and therby they atteygned great sygnories and fraunchesses in the realme of Ciper and all that euer they dyd to the exaltynge of this Iaques kynge of Cyper was alwayes for their owne chiefe auauntage and to be stronge against the venycians and to haunte and erercyse their feate of marchaundyse in to the Sarazyns landes This kinge Iaques as longe as he lyued dyd what he coulde to please the Frenche kynge by the meanes of the genouoys for they wolde in no wyse dysplease hym and therfore the same season this kynge Iaques ordeyned this shyppe of golde to presente Lamorabaquy to haue loue and acquayntauÌ„ce with him whiche gyft was ioyfully receyued and moch praysed with the turkes and it was thought that the lorde Dyne of Rresponde was meanes therof and wrote therin to the genouoys for in this maner and otherwayes he laboured all that he myght for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and of the other lordes of Fraunce WHan the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe sawe that Lamorabaquy began to fall to treatie for the crysten prisoners the newes therof was greatly to their pleasure and apoynted a sage valyaunt knyght of the countie of Flaunders called syr Gylberte of Linrenghen who was souerayne of Flaunders vnder the duke and duchesse And than they sent for syr Iaques of Helley bycause he knewe the wayes and passages and desyred hym to acompany syr Gylberte to treate with Lamorabaquy for the delyueraunce of the crysten prisoners and promysed hym that his payne shulde be well consydred and rewarded Syr Iaques promysed them so to do So these two knyghtes departed and rode so longe that they came in to the realme of Hungery and so drewe to the kynge for they had letters to hym The kyng receyued them ioyously for loue of the frenche kynge and also he knewe well syr Iaques of Helley There they shewed the kyng the cause of their coÌ„mynge out of Fraunce and howe they were sente in to Turkey to treate for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and the other lordes of FrauÌ„ce if Lamorabaquy wolde gyue them the herynge The kynge sayde it was well done to redeme them if they myght be put to raunsome and sayd in the assayenge therof they coulde lese nothynge besydes that the kinge offred them his body and goodes to ayde theym in all maners Wherof these two knyghtes thanked hym To entre in to this treatye with Lamorabaquy or they coulde come therto these knightes had moche payne and made great dâ—â—ygeÌ„ce for fyrst syr Iaques of Helley was fayne to go to Lamorabaquy to requyre a safe conducte for his companyon syr Gylbert to come in to Turkey And whan he had ateyned it than he returned in to Hungery and so they rode than into Turkey The souerayne of Flaunders was receyued of Lamorabaquy and of his men ryght nobly and was herde speke and so lytell and lytell they entred in to their treatie the same tyme there haunted in to Turkey a marchaunt genouoy of the isle of Sio vnder the obeysaunce of the genouoys This marchauÌ„t was named Bartylmew Pologrine and he was well be loued in Turkey and namely with Lamorabaquy Syr Dyne of Responde beynge at Parys to th entent that this treatie myght haue the better
the erle of Derby his sonne and also the duke of yorke and his sonne Iohan erle of Rutlande The kyng loued the erle of Rutlande beyonde measure who dissymuled the dethe of his vncle the duke of Gloucestre shewed howe he wolde gladly se a good peace bytwene the parties said howe he knew well that his vncle dyde wronge oftentymes agaynst the kynge The londoners in lykewyse consydred the great myschiefe that myght fall in Englande by the discencyon bytwene the kynges vncles the kyng and their alyaunces Also they consydred syth the myschefe was fallen of the duke of Gloucestres dethe that there was no recouery therin they knewe well it was bycause the duke of Gloucestre had been to lauesse of his tonge and wolde haue styrred the realme to haue broken the trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce Wherfore suche as were wyse men in the cytie dissymuled the mater and thought it was no tyme to a mende it as than they feared the puyssaūce of Fraunce and lesynge of their marchaundyse Than beganne to treate and went as a meane bytwene the king and the duke of Lancastre who was in many imagynacions for the dethe of his brother troubled him sore Also he sawe howe his nephue kynge Rycharde was alyed by mariage with the frenche kyng Also the duke of Lancastre had .ii. of his doughters out of the lande one quene of Spayne a nother quene of Portugale by whome he thought he shulde haue great ayde if he made warre agaynst his nephue kynge Rycharde All thynges consydred the duke chaunged his courage at the desyre of the londoners and of other prelates of Englande who were meane bytwene the kyng and hym and by their meanes the kynge was agreed with the duke and peace made with that the kinge promysed fro thens forwarde to be gouerned by the duke of Lancastre and to do nothyng but by his counsayle and aduyse whiche promesse the kynge nothynge fulfylled but was counsayled by yonge and wylde coūsayle whiche was to his hurte and great dōmage as ye shall here after in this hystory THus the kyng of Englande had peace with his vncles bycause of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre Than he beganne to reygne more fiersly than he dyd before The kynge went and lay in Essex where as the duke of Gloucestre had the chiefe rule whiche ought to haue pertaygned to Affcen his sonne and heyre but the kynge toke all for the ordynaunce in Englande was the kynge to haue the warde of all herytours chyldren orphelyns vnder the age of .xxi. yeres and than they to haue their herytages Thus the kinge tooke the wardeshyppe of his cosyn the duke of Gloucestres herytour and the kynge toke the possession profyte of all the dukes lande and kepte the chylde with hym And the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters were with the quene The duke of Gloucestr◠by enherytaunce was constable of Englande the kynge toke that offyce fro the right heyre and gaue it to his cosyn the erle of Rutlande The kynge than kept greate state than euer he dyd nor there had nat ben no kynge before in Englande that spente so moche yerely by a hundred thousande nobles as he dyd In lyke wyse the kynge had with hym the heyre of the erle of Arundell who was beheeded at London And bycause a knyght that was belongyng to the duke of Gloucestre called Cerbe spake at a tyme certayne wordes agaynst the kynge and his counsayle he was taken and beheeded Syr Iohan of Quynghay was in great parell but whan he sawe that the maters went so dyuersely as they dyd he dyssymuled as moch as he might and departed fro the duchesse of Gloucestres house and wente and dwelt in other places ¶ In those dayes there was none so great in Englande that durst speake agaynst any thynge that the kyng dyd or wolde do He had counsayle mete for his appetyte who exhorted hym to do what he lyst The kynge kept styll in his wages ten thousande archers night and day that wayted on him for he reputed himselfe nat parfytely sure of his vncles nor of the lygnage of Arundell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made in the cytie of Reyns as well by the emperour as of the realme of Fraūce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii THe same seasone there was a great assēble of gret lordes in the cytie of Reynes what of lordes of the empyre and of Fraunce to the entent to bring the churche to a peace and reste for the frenche kynge dyd so moche that at his request his cosyn the kynge of Almayne came to the cytie of Reynes with his counsayle and bycause they wolde nat haue it brewted that they assembled there all onely for the mater by twent the popes the one at Rome and the other at Auygnon they made it to be noysed that they came thyder to treate for a maryage of the sonne of the marques of Blācquebourge with the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce This Marques was brother to the kynge of Almayne The frenche kyng lay at the archebysshoppes palayes and there was with hym the dukes of Orlyaūce Berrey and Burbon therle of saynt Powle and dyuers other hygh barones and prelates of Fraunce And whan the kinge of Almayne entred in to the cytie all the lordes and prelates and kynge Charles of Nauer who was in lykewyse there went to mete with hym and receyued hym honourably Fyrste they brought hym to our lady churche and after in to the abbey of saynt Remy there the kynge of Almayne laye and his lordes aboute hym And it was ordeyned by the frenche kinge that what so euer the kynge of Almayne spent shulde be at the frenche kynges cost The almayns had euery day delyuered theym ten tonne of herynge for it was in Lent tyme and eyght hundred carpes besyde other fysshes whiche was a great charge WHan the kyng of Almayne came first to the frenche kynge all the lordes went for hym to saynt Remy and so brought him to the kynges palays Whan these two kynges mette they made great honoure eche to other and great reuerence and specyally the frenche kynge for almayns of nature are rude and grose manered without it be to take their profyte therto they be experte and redy ynough All the lordes of Fraunce and of Almayne toke acquayntaunce eche with other with louyng wordes and countinaunce and the frenche kynge made the kynge of Almayne and his company a great dyner at one table there sate fyrst the patryarke of Iherusalem than the king of Almayne the frenche kynge and the kynge of Nauer there sate no mo at that table At the other tables sate the lordes and prelates of Almayne No lorde of Fraūce sate that day but sarued To the kynges borde the meate was brought by the dukes of Berrey of Burbone the erle of saynt Powle and by other great lordes of Fraūce The duke of Orlyaūce set euery man
downe Vessell of golde and syluer ranne plentuously through the palays as though it had ben but of wode or erthe it was a sumptuous dyner And as I was enfourmed the frenche kynge gaue to his cosyn the kyng of Almayne all the vessell and plate of gold and syluer that was serued that day in the palays at the dresser or elswhere and all other hangynges and habylymentes in the hall and chambre whervnto the kynge retrayed after dynner and spyces and wyne taken This gyft was praysed and valewed to two hundred thousande florayns and more ouer there was gyuen to the other almayns great gyftes and goodly presentes of vessell and plate of golde and syluer wherof the straungers that were there had great marueyle of the state and puyssaunce great ryches of the realme of Fraūce These kinges thus abydynge in the cytie of Reynes their counsayles mette togyther dyuers tymes on the maters that they came thyder for as well for the maryage of the duke of Orlyaunces doughter with the Marques of Blancque bourges sonne as for the reformacyon of the churche At laste the maryage was concluded and openly publysshed through the cytie but as for the mater consernynge the popes there was nothynge knowen therof out of the counsayle for all that was concluded in the counsayle was kept secrete Afterwarde I was enfourmed how it was agreed that maister Peter Daylly bysshop of Cambraye shulde go in legacyon fro the frenche kynge and fro the kynge of Almayne to Rome to hym that was called pope Bonyface that he shulde submyt hym selfe to haue a newe electyon of a pope and in lykewyse to the other pope at Auygnon And if so be that any of them wolde nat agree therto to abyde the ordre of these two kynges he to be dysgrated all ryghtes of the churche to be kepte fro hym and the frenche kynge to comprise to his agrement his sonne in lawe the kynge of Englande and the kynge of scottes kynge Henry of Spayne kynge Iohan of Portugale kynge Charles of Nauer and the kyng of Aragon and the kinge of Almayne shulde compryse his brother Loys kynge of Hungery and all the realme of Boesme and Almayne to Pruce And it was ordeyned that whan this bysshop of Cambrey was retourned fro the sōmonyng of these two popes than he to go in to all the sayd realmes their alyes Thus these two kynges sware to holde without varyacyon or let Thus ended their counsayle at that tyme. The kynges and lordes departed amyably and euery man tooke leaue and departed and went home AT this counsayle at Reynes the duke of Burgoyne was nat nor wolde nat be◠for he sayd before that it was but a payne and a thynge loste to gyue any thynge to the almayns for they kepe no promesse nor couenaūt howe be it for all the dukes wordes there was nothynge left for the mater went forthe as ye haue herde And anon after the bysshop of Cambraye made hym redy and tooke his waye to Rome Also the frenche kynge sent a great ambassade in to Englande to se the kyng and the quene and to shewe them of this mater and so they dyd And whan they retourned they shewed the frenche kynge howe the kynge of Englande wolde take the same way that the kynge of Almayne and the Frenche kynge wolde do So they were all concluded if nede were to be as newter Thus this mater stode in this case Kynge Charles of Nauer who was in Fraūce to se the kynge his cosyn trustyng to recouer his herytage of Normandy of the countie of Ewrus the whiche the Frenche kynge had taken fro hym as ye haue herde here before but he coulde nat attayne therto by no meanes what so euer he shewed or sayd And whan the kynge of Nauerre sawe that he lost his payne and labored in vayne he toke the mater in great dyspleasure toke his leaue as sobrely as he coulde nat well contente with the frenche kynge nor with his counsayle and so retourned in to the realme of Nauerre ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue speakynge of them and speke of other accydentes that fell in Englande wherby folowed so great yuell that the lyke hath nat ben written of in this hystory here foloweth the entre and begynnynge of the mater ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle Marshall in Englande apealed by gage of vtteraūce the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre in the presence of the kynge and his counsayle Cap. CC.xxviii KInge Richard of Englande hadde a condycion that if he loued a man he wolde make hym so great and so nere him that it was marueyle to consydre and no man durste speke to the contrary and also he wolde lightly beleue soner than any other kynge of remembrance before hym and suche as were nere aboute hym and in his grace tooke no ensample of other that had ben great with the kyng before them as the duke of Irelande who was put out of Englande and also syr Symon Burle who by reason of suche counsayle as he gaue to the kynge he was beheeded and syr Robert Treuylyan syr Nycholas Bramble and other that had been of the kynges counsayle wherfore they suffred dethe for the duke of Gloucestre dyd all his payne to dystroy them and yet fynally he loste his lyfe as ye haue herde wherof suche as were than aboute the kynge was nothynge sory wherby some that were aboute the kynge rose in to suche pride that it was marueyle and in so moche that they coulde nat coloure nor hyde it and specyally the erle Marshall who was as great in the kynges fauoure as myght be and to the entente to please the kynge and to flatter hym he made the kynge beleue that he was a trewe faythfull and a secrete seruaunt and that he coulde nat endure to here any worde spoken agaynst the kynge and tolde the kynge many thynges to haue the kynges loue howe be it often tymes a man thynketh to be auaunced and is pulled backe and so it fortuned of the erle Marshall I shall shewe you howe ye muste knowe that the erle of Derby and the duke of Gloucestre deed had to their wyues two susters doughters to the erle of Herforde and of Northamton constable of Englande so the chyldren of the erle of Derby and the duke of Gloucestre were cosyn germayns by their mother syde and within a degre as nere of kynne by their fathers syde To say trouth the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre was ryght dyspleasaunt to many great lordes of Englande and often tymes they wolde speke and murmure therat whan they were togyder and the kynge than was so hygh vppon the whele that no man durste speke but the kynge knewe it for he had caused to be spoken abrode in the realme that what so euer he were that spake any word of the duke of Gloucestre or of the erle of Arundell he shulde be reputed as a traytour wherfore the people durst nat speke And on a
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
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
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
accusynge of them as he had doone before tyme trustynge therby to scape and to bringe them in the daunger and payne but that was nat the mynde of them that loued hym nat so as at that tyme they spake no more but departed and the duke of Lancastre went to his lodgynge and suffred the mayre and the men of lawe to procede They went to the Guyldhall where as all the maters of the cytie were determyned and than moche people asseÌ„bled there Whan they sawe the gouernours of the cytie go thyder they thought some iustice shulde be done as there was in dede I shall shewe you howe Fyrste the artycles that were made agaynst the kynge the whiche had been redde before hym in the towre were redde agayne there openly And it was shewed by hym that redde them howe the kynge hymselfe denyed none of them but confessed that he dyd theym by the counsayle of four knightes of his chambre and howe by their counsayle he had put to dethe the duke of Gloucestre and the erle of AruÌ„dell sir Thomas Corbet and other and howe they had longe encyted the kynge to do those dedes whiche dedes they sayd were nat to be forgyuen but demaunded punycion for by them and their couÌ„sayle the iustyce of right was closed vp through all the courtes of Englande Westmynster and other wherby many yuell dedes folowed and companyes and rowtes of theues and murderers rose and assembled togyther in dyuers parties of the realme and robbed marchauntes by the wayes and poore men in their houses by whiche meanes the realme was in great parell to haue ben lost without recouery and it is to be ymagyned that fynally the wolde haue rendred Calais or Guysnes or bothe in to the frenchmennes handes These wordes thus shewed to the people made many to be abasshed and many beganne to murmure and sayd These causes demaunde punycion that all other may take ensample therby and Rycharde of Burdeaur to be deposed for he is nat worthy to beare a crowne but ought to be depriued fro all honour and to be kept all his lyfe in prison with breed and water Though some of the villaynes murmured other said on hygh sir mayre of London and ye other that haue iustyce in your handes to mynyster execute iustyce for we wyll ye spare no man for ye se well the case that ye haue shewed vs demauÌ„deth iustyce in coÌ„tynent for they are iudges vpon their owne dedes Than the mayre and other of the gouernours of the lawe went togyther in to the chambre of iudgement than these four knyghtes were iudged to dye and were iudged to be had to the foote of the towre where as kynge Richarde was that he might se them drawen alonge by the dyke with horses eche after other throughe the cytie in to chepesyde and than there heedes stryken of there and sette vpon London bridge and there bodyes drawen to the gybet and there hanged THis iudgement gyuen they were delyuered to execucyon for the mayre of London and suche as were deputed to the mater wente fro the Guyldhall to the towre and toke out the four knyghtes of the kynges whose names were called sir Bernarde Brokas syr Marelays mayster IohnÌ„ Derby receyuour of Lyncolne and mayster Stell the kynges stewarde Eche of theÌ„ were tyed to two horses in the presence of them that were in the towre and the kynge myght well se it out at the wyndowes wherwith he was sore descomforted for all other that were there with the kynge loked to be in the same case they knewe them of London so cruell Thus these four knyghtes were drawen one after another a longe through the cyte tyll they came in to chepe and there on a fysshers stall their heedes were stryken of and set vpon London bridge and their bodyes drawen by the shulders to the gybet and there hanged vp This iustyce thus doone euery man went to their lodgynges Kynge Rycharde knowyng him selfe taken and in the daunger of the londoners was in great sorowe in his herte and rekened his puyssaunce nothynge for he sawe howe euery man was agaynste hym and if there were any that ought hym any fauour it laye nat than in their powers to do hym any ayde nor they durste nat shewe it Suche as were with the kynge sayde Syr we haue but small trust in our lyues as it may well apere for whan your cosyn of Lancastre came to the castell of Flynte and with your owne good wyll ye yelded you to hym and he promysed that you and twelue of yours shuld be his prisoners and haue no hurte and nowe of those twelue four be executed shamfully we are like to passe the same way The cause is these londoners who hath caused the duke of Lancastre your cosyn to do this dede had hym so sore bounde to them that he muste do as they wyll haue hym God dothe moche for vs if he suffre that we myght dye here our naturall deth and nat a shamfull dethe It is great pytie to thynke on this With those wordes kyng Rycharde began teÌ„derly to wepe and wringe his handes and cursed the houre that euer he was borne rather than to haue suche an ende Suche as were aboute hym had great pytie and recomforted hym as well as they might One of his knyghtes sayd Syr it behoueth you to take comforte we se well and so do you that this worlde is nothyng the fortunes ther of are marueylous and somtyme tourne as well vpon kinges and princes as vpon poore men The frenche kynge whose doughter ye haue maryed canne nat nowe ayde you he is to farre of if ye myght scape this myschefe by dyssimulacyon and saue your lyfe and ours it were a good enterprise peraduenture with in a yere or two there wolde be had some recouery Why ê™ the kynge what wolde ye that I shulde do there is nothynge but I wolde be glad to do it to saue vs therby Syr quod the knyght we se for trouthe that these londoners wyll crowne your cosyn of Lancastre as kynge and for that entent they sent for hym and so haue ayded hym and do it is nat possyble for you to lyue without ye consent that he be crowned kynge wherfore syr we wyll counsayle you to the entent to saue your lyfe and ours that whan your cosyn of Lancastre coÌ„meth to you to demaunde any thynge than with swete and treatable wordes say to hym howe that ye wyll resygne to hym the crowne of Englande and all the ryght that ye haue in the realme clerely and purely in to his handes and howe that ye wyll that he be kynge therby ye shall greatly apease him and the londoners also and desyre hym effectuously to suffre you to lyue and vs also with you or els euery man a parte as it shall please him or els to banisshe vs out of the realme for euer for he that leseth his lyfe leseth all Kynge Rycharde herde those wordes well and fyxed them surelye in
for kynge Rycharde was norysshed amonge them therfore they loued hym and whyle he was kynge if any of Burdeloys came to hym they were well receyued and alwayes the kinge was redy to fulfyll their desyres wherfore they sayd whan they knewe the trouth Ah Richarde gentle kyng ye were as noble a man as euer reigned in any realme this trouble that londoners haue caused for they coulde neuer loue you specyall sythe ye were alyed by maryage with the frenche kyng this myschiefe is so great that we can nat suffre it They haue holden you kynge this .xxii. yere and nowe to condempe you to the dethe for sythe ye be in prison haue crowned the duke of Lancastre they wyll surely put you to deth So they of Burdeloys made great lamentacyons in so moche that the seneschall of Burdeaux a ryght valyaunt knyght of Englande wrote letters therin conteynynge the wordes and lamentacyons of them of the cytie of Burdeaulx of Bayon and of Dax Also he wrote howe they were nere at the poynte to yelde vp their townes to the frenche kyng He sent this lettre by a trusty seruauÌ„t of his by the see who had good wynde and aryued at Cornewayle in EnglaÌ„de and than he rode so longe that he came to London there he fouÌ„de kynge Henry and delyuered his letters whiche were dyrected to the kynge and to the londoners They were opened and reed and the kynge and the londoners tooke counsayle vpon that mater They of London aunswered lyke theym that were nothyng abasshed of that tydynges but sayde as for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche for they can nat lyue in their daunger nor they canne nat suffre the extorcion and pollinge of the frenchmen for vnder vs they lyue franke and free and if the frenche men shulde be lordes ouer them they shulde be taxed and tayled retayled two or thre tymes in a yere the whiche they are nat nowe acustomed vnto whiche shulde be a harde thyng nowe for them to begynne Also these thre cyties are closed in rouÌ„de about with great lordes who are good englysshe and longe haue been as the lorde Pyuiers the lorde Musydent the lorde Duras the lorde Landuras the lorde Copane the lorde Rosem the lorde Logeren and dyuers other barones and knyghtes by whome they shulde haue warre at their handes for they shulde nat issue out of their cities but they shulde be taken For all the seneschalles wrytynge we haue no doute that they shulde become frenche howe be it good it is to sende thyder some valyaunt wyse man that is beloued amonge theym some suche as hath gouerned there or this and that is the lorde Thomas Percy Thus as it was deuysed it was acomplysshed he was desyred to go thyder and to take hede of that couÌ„trey He fulfylled the kynges coÌ„maundement and made hym redy to departe it was about Christmasse at whiche tyme the wyndes be sore and ieoperdous he toke shyppynge in Cornewayle He had with him two hundred men of armes and four hundred archers And with hym was his nephue Hugh Hastynges Thomas Colleuyll Gyllyam Lysle Iohan Graily bastarde sonne to the Captall of Beufz Guillyam Traicton Iohan Danbreticourt and diuers other and also the bysshop of London and mayster Rycharde Doall They taryed tyll it was mydde Marche or they toke the see and or they came to Burdeaux the duke of Burbon was come to the cytie of Dagen to treate with theym of Burdeloys and he dyd so moche by his fayre wordes and good assuraunce that the counsayles of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax were sent to the cytie of Dagen The duke receyued them frendly and gaue them fayre wordes and many promyses and shewed them that if they wolde turne frenche and be vnder the obeysaunce of the frenche kynge what so euer they wolde demaunde shulde be graunted them and sealed perpetually to endure Many thynges they promysed and sware to seale and to kepe for euer They aunswered whan they were retourned agayne in to their cyties they wolde shewe all this to the people and so take counsayle and than gyue answere Thus they departed fro Dagen and fro the duke of Burbon and retourned to their townes and shewed all this to the people but all tourned to nothynge for the comynaltyes of the sayde cyties consydred the busynesse and knewe well howe the realme of Fraunce was vexed and troubled with tayles and fowages and shamfull exaccions all to get money than they sayd if the frenche men gouerne ouer vs they wyll bringe vs to the same vsage yet it is better for vs to be englysshe for they kepe vs franke and free If the londoners haue deposed kynge Rycharde crowned kinge Henry what is that to vs we haue and shall haue alwayes a kynge and we vnderstande that the bysshop of London and syr Thomas Percy shortely wyll be here they shall enfourme vs of the trouthe we haue also more marchaundyse of woll wyne and clothe with the Englysshe men than with the frenchmen let vs be ware we make no treatie wherby we shulde repent vs after Thus the treatie with the frenche men was broken and lefte of Than anone after the bysshop of London and the lorde Percy with their charge of men of warre aryued at Burdeaux wherof moche people were greatly reioysed and some displeased suche as had rather haue been frenche than englysshe All these englysshe lordes were lodged togyther in the abbey of saint Andrewe and whan they sawe their tyme they shewed to the people the state of Englande and the cause why they were sent thyder and they dyd so moche that euery thynge was apeased bothe there and in all other places For harde it was to haue caused them to haue tourned frenche THan it was determyned by the counsayle of Fraunce sithe the kyng was in sycknesse by reason of the displeasure that he toke for the deposyng of his sonne in lawe kynge Rycharde that they shulde sende some notable wyse personage in to Englande to knowe the state of the quene to do this message was apoynted syr Charles de la Brethe and Charles of Hangers who as they were coÌ„maunded departed fro Parys and came to Boloygne and there taryed for they had sent an haraulde to kynge Henry for without assurauÌ„ce they durst nat go for all the truce that was bytwene bothe realmes Kynge Henry who thought hym selfe moche bounde to the Frenche kynge for the chere that he hadde in Fraunce toke counsayle and concluded and so the haraulde was answered that it was the kynges pleasure that they and their company shulde come in to Englande and to come the streyght way to the kyng and nat to ryde out of the way without lycence The haraulde retourned to Boloyne and shewed what he had done wherwith they were content and so shypped their horses and toke the see and aryued at Douer where they founde redy a knyght of the kynges howse â—oho receyued theym they had sene hym before with kyng
shotte on bothe partes so that many were hurte Than the bayly with his great nombre came vpon them without sparynge for he had speciall coÌ„maundement fro kynge Henry that he shulde outher take theÌ„ quicke or deed if he myght ouercome them So finally the Erles menne were fayne to withdrawe in to the houses Than the bayly and his men enuyroned their lodgynges on all partes and specially where the two Erles were made there suche assautes that they entred ê‘force There were many hurte and slayne Th erle of HuÌ„tyngton defended him selfe valyauntly as longe as he myght But there were so many agaynst hym that there he was slayne and with hym the yonge erle of Kente for whom great sorowe was made in dyuers partes of Englande for he was a fayre yonge man and was there in maner agaynst his wyll but his vncle and the erle of Salisbury brought hym therto The men of Suscettour who were fierse agaynst theÌ„ strake of their heedes and sent them by a messanger to the mayre of London therwith to reioyce the kyng and the londoners Th erle of Salisbury and the lorde Spensar came to a lyke conclusyon for certayne knightes squiers of the kynges toke them where they were and strake of their heedes sente them to London many suche as were with them alyed were putte to execucion bothe knyghtes and squyers After that the realme was in good rest and peace ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche kyng reysed vp an army to sende vpon the fronters of Englande Cap. CC .xlviii. WHan easter was come the yere of our lorde god M. four hundred The freÌ„che kyng his brother his vncles his counsaile vnderstode howe certayne Englysshmen of armes and archers shulde passe the see and come to Calais and to Guynes to HaÌ„mes and to those fronters Than there was a coÌ„maundement made throughe Fraunce that euery knight and squyer shulde be redy to leape a hors backe and to go thider as they shulde be sente specially Bolonois and the see syde was well prouyded for The same tyme duke Iohan of Bretayne died behynde hym he lefte two sonnes a doughter The eldest sonÌ„e shulde haue maried the frenche kynges secoÌ„de doughter for he might nat haue theldest bycause she was maryed in to Englande to kynge Richarde This treatie of maryage fyrst for the eldest doughter of Fraunce with the heyre of Bretayne was coÌ„cluded at Tourse in Tourayn but afterwarde by the kinges coÌ„sent and his couÌ„saile to th entent to marry her the more richely that mariage was broken with Bretayne she maried in to Englande And dyuers lordes in Fraunce said feared that no good shulde come therof but than they concluded for the secoÌ„de doughter Than after the dethe of the duke of Bretaine it was aduised that the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce with a certayne noÌ„bre of men of warre shulde drawe to the marches of Bretayne to speke with the bretons with the couÌ„saylours of good townes to know what they wolde do with their heyre to desyre theÌ„ to delyuer him to be kept in the house of FrauÌ„ce The duke of OrlyauÌ„ce dyde acording to this deuyse with a certayne noÌ„bre came to Ponthorson there rested and sente worde of his coÌ„myng to the lordes of Bretaigne Than prelates lordes couÌ„saylours of the good townes in the name of the thre estates of the countre assembled togider were determyned what aunswere to make and so they came to Pounthorson to the duke of Orlyaunce and there they made their answere all after one sorte and that was They said howe that their yonge lorde heyre of Bretayne they wolde kepe hym theÌ„selfes in his owne countre Than the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce seyng it wolde none otherwise be he toke boÌ„des of the grettest lordes in Bretayne suche as had chefe charge of the countre that they shulde delyuer hym to the freÌ„che kyng whaÌ„ the childe shulde come to his age These writynges made and sealed than the duke deê‘ted and returned in to Fraunce and shewed the kyng his brother howe he had spedde IT was well knowen in Englande howe the Frenche kyng hadde furnysshed his garysons cyties good townes castels on the fronters of Picardy and Bolonois and howe the frenchmen had closed so the passagê ouer the water of SoÌ„me that no marchandyse corne nor other thyng shulde nat passe Abuyle nor the marchauÌ„tes of EnglaÌ„de who were wont to go in to FraÌ„ce with their marchauÌ„dise durst no more coÌ„e there nor the frenche marchauÌ„tes durste nat come in to Englande so that the fronters on bothe ê‘ties were in gret ruyne desolacion and yet they made no warrÌ„ togyder for they had no coÌ„mauÌ„dement so to do Than it was said to kyng HeÌ„ry sir aduyse you well it semeth by the Frenchmen they wyll make you warre they make great prouisyon for shyppes at Harflewe and capitayns of their armye is the erle of saynt Poule and sir Charles de la Breth And it were to suppose that if the erles of Huntyngton and of Salysbury were a lyue and all suche as be dedde the Frenchmen than wolde soone passe ouer the see on trust to haue great alyaunce and ayde in Englande But sir as longe as Richarde of Burdeaux is a lyue you nor your realme shal be at no suretie I beleue that ye saye is trewe quod the kyng but as for me I wyll nat cause hym to be slayne for I haue so promysed hym and I wyll kepe my promyse without I ê‘ceyue that he worke trayson agaynst me Well sir â—abqod they of his counsaill it were better for you that he were deed rather than a lyue For as longe as the frenche men knowe that he is lyueng they wyll enforce them to make you warre and wyll hope alwayes to bring him agayne in to his former estate bycause of his wyfe the Frenche kynges doughter The kyng gaue none answere but departed fro them as than and lefte his couÌ„sayle coÌ„munyng togyder the kynge wente and toke a faucon on his haÌ„de and passed ouer that mater ¶ Of the dethe of kyng Richarde of Englande and howe the truse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was reuewed And also of the deposicion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC .xlix. IT was nat longe after that true tidynges ran thoroughe London howe Richarde of Burdeaulx was deed but howe he dyed by what meanes I coulde nat tell whan I wrote this cronycle But this kynge Rycharde deed was layde in a lytter and sette in a chayre couered with blacke Baudkynne and foure horses all blacke in the chayre and two men in blacke leadyng the chayre and four kynghtes all in blacke folowyng Thus the chare departed fro the towre of London and was brought a long throughe London fayre and softely tyll they caÌ„e into chepesyde where as the chefe assembly of LoÌ„don was and there the chare rested the space of two houres thyder came in and out mo than xx M. persons men and women to se hym