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
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
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
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
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
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
eche of them knewe other they sawe well they shuld haue batayle Than the frenchmen valiantly set fote to the erthe and approched their ennemyes and the gauntoyse in lykewise set on them There they beganne to shole and to fight eche with other they were on suche a place that the gauntoyse coude nat passe at their aduauÌ„tage there was a sore batayle and many feates of armes done on bothe partes and dyuers caste to the grounde Sir Riflart of Flaunders was theâ— a good knight and dyd valiantly The knightes and squyers fought valiantly with the gauÌ„toyse so it behoued them to do for there was no raunsome But finally the gauntoyse were of suche nombre that they obteyned the place and the frenchmen were constrayned to lepe on their horses or els they had been all lost for the gauntoyse surmounted them And there was slayne sir IohnÌ„ Varlet sir Peter of Bailleule Bell Forrier Philyppe of Gancy Raolen dela Foley and dyuers other whiche was great domage And the other were fayne to flye and to entre in to ArdcÌ„bourcke or els they had ben deed without recouerie And after this aduenture the vycount of Meaulx was sent in garyson to Ardenbourcke with a certayne nombre of men of armes and they newly repayred the towne and he had with hym a huÌ„dred soeares of good men of armes And as than sir Iohan of Ieumont was great baylye of Flaunders so he had ben two yere before He was greatly douted in all the countre of Flaunders bycause of his valyantnesse And whan he might get any of the gauntoyse there went no raunsome for them For he outher putte them to dethe or els cutte of their handes and fete or putte oute their eyen and sende them home to gyue ensaÌ„ple to the other gauntoyse He was so renoumed in Flaunders to do iustyce without pytie in correctyng the gauntoyse that there was no spekyng in all Flaunders but of hym THus in euery Realme the worlde was in trouble as well bitwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande as Castell and Portyngale for theâ— the warre was newly renewed and the lady of Auiowe who wrote her selfe quene af Naples and of Hierusalem was come to Iuygnon to the pope and there kepte her house and her son Loyes with her who was called kynge of Cecyle the whiche his father hadde conquered The quenes entencyon was to make warre in Prouence without they of that countre wolde take her for their lady and become vnder her obeysauÌ„ce And sir Bernarde de la Salle was entred in to Pronence and made warre there in her quarell The same season the lorde of Coucy was also at Auygnon and had layen a .xv. wekes in his bedde of a hurte that he hadde on his legge with rennyng of a horse And whan he was hole than he oftentymes dyde vyset the quene and recoÌ„forted her the whiche he coulde do rightwell The quene taryed therefor to abyde for the duke of Berrey who was also comynge to Auignon to speke with the pope and to ayde his suster the quene The frenche kyng and his vncles hadde sente in to Prouence sir Loyes of Sanxere marshall of Fraunce with fyue huÌ„dred men of armes to warre in that couÌ„tre without they wolde come to obeysaunce vnder the quene Some submytted themselfe but nat all howe be it the cytie of Marcell and the grettest parte of the countre yelded them to the quene but the cytie of Ayes in Prouence and Tarraston and dyuers knyghtes of the countre wolde nat yelde them to the quene sayeng howe she had no ryght to demaunde the countie of Prouence tyll she were peasably receyued for lady and her sonne as kynge of Pulle and Calabre in Naples and Cecile and whan she hath possession of these than ProueÌ„ce shall obeye her as reason requyreth In those matchesse there made warre for the erle Sir Charles dela Paâ—â—e the erle Conuersaunt and sir Iohan of Luzenbourge his sonne And with me quene at Auignon as chefe of her counsayle was sir Iohan of Baylleule IN the same season there fell in Lombardye a marueylous insydence which was moche spoken of throughe out all the worlde and that was of the Erle of Vertus called sir Galeas and of his brother sir Barnabo the grettest in all Lombardy They had raygned longe and gouerned all LoÌ„bardy lyke two bretherne The one of them ruled nyne cyties and the otehr tenne the cyte of Millayne was gouerned one yet by the one thother yere by the other Whan sir Galeas dyed he left behynde hym a sonne who was than erle of Vertus named like his father sir Galeas but than swaged the loue bitwene him and sir Barnabo his vncle for than sir Galeas doughted hym of sir Barnabo his vncle leest that he wolde take away his laÌ„des fro him lyke as he dyde fro his father For his vncle of olde tyme toke awaye the lande fro their brother sir Mauffe and caused him to dye So thus therle of Vertus douted hym greatly of his vncle howe be it he wrought subtelly to bringe hym selfe insuretie I shall shewe you howe Sir Barnabo had in vsage that all suche landes as he had rule of he raunsomed theÌ„ so greuously and wolde taxe the men two or thre tymes in a yere to paye the halfe or thirde parte of their goodes and none durst saye agaynst hym for feare And sir Galeas erle of Vertus dyde otherwyse for the entent to gete loue he toke none ayde of his men but lyued all onely by his reuenewes And that rule he kept a fyue yere after the dethe of his father so that he had the loue of all Lombardy and euery man said they wolde be gladde to lyue vnder hym And euery man spake yuell of ser Barnabo priuely as they durst bycause he toke so excessyuely of them So finally the Erle of Vertus thought to execute his entent as he that doughted greatly his vncle and as it was sayde he sawe some lykelyhode On a day he sente secretely for suche as he trusted best And to some he shewed his entent but nat to all for feare that his purpose shulde be knowen And so it fortuned that sir Barnabo on a daye rode forthe fro one Castell to another to sporte hym The erle of Vertus his nephewe knewe therof and layde for hym thre busshemeutes to the entent that his vncle shulde nat scape for he must nedes at least passe by one of them The erle coÌ„mauÌ„ded to take hym but nat to slee him without he made great defeÌ„ce So as sir Barnabo roode forthe and thought none yuell nor was in no feare of his nephewe So he fell in the daunger of one of the busshmentes the whiche opyned and approched hym with their speres couched in the rest sir Barnabo had with hym a squyer of Almaygne who came to hym and sayd Sir saue your selfe for yonder company maketh but yuell countenaunce agaynst you they are parteyning to youre nephewe sir Galeas Sir Barnabo aunswered I
refused by vs. For surely sir all suche wordes as ye haue said we dyde speke them A goddes name quod the admyrall let me ones se theÌ„ And so anon after therle Dugles and other barons of ScotlaÌ„de brought thadmyrall vnto a highe mountayne and vnder the hyll there was a passage wherby theÌ„glysshe host must passe on this hyll was thadmyrall with diuers knightê of FrauÌ„ce in his company And there clerely they sawe the Englysshe men and all their puissaunce and ther they nombred them as nere as they coude to be a sire thousande men of armes threscore thousande archers and other Than all thynges coÌ„sydred they sayd howe they were nat of puyssaunce suffycient to fight with the Englysshemen for they passed nat a thousande speares a .xxx. thousande of all other men and but yuell armed Than the admyrall sayd to the etle Duglas and to therle Morette Sirs ye saye but good reason thoughe ye haue no wyll to fight with the Englisshe men Therfore aduyse you what ye wyll do they are stronge ynoughe to ouer ryde all your countrey and to distroy it And sithe ye maye nat fight with them I pray you bring me throughe your countre by some priuye waye in to Englande if it maye be and we shall make them warre in some other parte as they do to vs here Sir ê™ the barones that shall we well do for we knowe dyuers wayes TO thus the admyrall and the barones of Scotlande determyned to forsake Scotlande and to lette the Englyssh men alone and to go entre into Wales and to go to the cytie of Carlyle and there to reuenge them So they lefte the Englysshe men and toke the forestes and mountayns and as they rode throughe out Scotlande they distroyed all as they wente and brent townes vyllages and maners and caused all the men women chyldren of the couÌ„tre to driue all their catayle and to go into that wylde forestes for they knewe well the Englisshe men wolde nat folowe them thyder And the kynge of Scottes wente in to the wylde scottysshe bicause he wes nat iÌ„ good poynt to ryde a warfare and they he taryed all the warre durynge and lette his men alone So the Frenche men and Scottes passed the highe mountayns bytwene NorthumberlaÌ„de and Scotlande and entred in to the lande of Wales and began to brenne villages and dyd moche hurte in the Mombrayes landes And the erle of Notyngham the erle of Stafforde and the barone of Grasoppe and the Mosgrâ—ues landes and so they toke the waye to the cytie of Carlyle ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande toke EdeÌ„borowe the chefe cytie of Scotlande and howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to wales to close in the frenchmen and scottes and what the frenche men the scottes dyde in the sayd countre Cap. xiiii THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce was the erle of Graunt Pre and the lorde of saynt Croix sir Geffray of Charney ser Wyl lyam de Brume sir Iames of Boesme the lorde of Pegny the lorde of Hee s the lorde of Marnell sir Valeran of Rauenall the barone Dâ—â—ery the barone of Fountayns the lorde of Croye sir Brake of Braquemont the lorde of Landury and well a thousande speres of barons knightes of Fraunce And so they and the lordes of Scotlande rode in NorthuÌ„berlande bytwene the mountayns on the fronters of Wales brennyng townes maners and countrees And the kyng of Englande and his vncles with barons and knightes of EnglaÌ„de and their companyes entred in to Scotlande and brent and exyled on their parte And so the kyng came and lodged in Edenborowe the chefe towne in all Scotlande and there taryed fyue dayes and at his departyng it was set a fyre brent vp clene but the castell had no hurt for it was stronge ynough and well kept Whyle the kyng lay at Edenborowe thenglysshmen rode abrode in the countre and dyd moche hurt but they fouÌ„de nother man nor beest abrode for all was withdrawen in to the forestes In the Englysshe hoost were mo than a huÌ„dred thousaÌ„de men and well as many horse wherof they had nede of great prouisyon and they fouÌ„de none in Scotlande but out of Englande there caÌ„e to theÌ„ great plentie bothe by lande and by see Than the kyng departed fro EdeÌ„borowe and rode towarde Estruleyn a good towne wherin there was a great abbey of blacke monkes and moost coÌ„menly the kynges of Scotlande are there buryed The kyng lay in the abbey at their deê‘tyng abbey all was brent Than they passed the ryuer of Taxe whiche ronneth to saint IohnÌ„s towne at the castell of Strulyn there was a great assaute but it wolde nat be wonne yet the towne and all the landes of the lorde Vercy they brent THe entent of the duke of Lancastre and of his bretherne was to passe through Scotlande and to pursue the scottes and frenche men for they knew well they were gone the waye to Wales to go to Carlyle And so they thought to enclose theÌ„ bytwene Englande and Scotlande and to fight with them at their aduauntage This purpose they thought veryly to holde Thenglysshe men spredde abrode in ScotlaÌ„de there was no resystence agaynst theÌ„ for the countre was voyde of all men of warre they were gone in to Englande with the admyrall of Fraunce And so there the Englysshmen brent the towne of saynt IohnÌ„s where as the ryuer of Taxe rynneth and there is a good hauen to sayle thens ouer all the worlde and after they brent the towne of Donde The Englyssh men spared nother abbeys nor minsters but set all on fyre And so they of the vowarde ran to Bredan whiche is a cytie on the see syde It is on thentre of the wylde scottysshe but they dyd no hurte therto howe be it they of the countrey were right sore afrayed They of that cytie thought to haue assaute for they feared leest the kynge of Englande wolde haue come thyder and haue ouer ron all that countre THus in lykewise as the Englysshemen dyde in Scotlande so dyd the frenche men and scottes in Englande in the marchesse of Northumberlande and Wales they brent a great countre as they went out of Northumberlande and entred in to Wales whiche was otherwise called Wynslande and passed by the landes of the lordes of Graystocke and Clyfforde and brent in their voyage dyuers great villages for they were no men of warre in that couÌ„tre as than for they were all with the kyng So they came to the cyte of Catlyle in Wales whiche was well closed with gatê walles dykes It was a place that of auncyent tyme kynge Arthure loued rightwell bycause that there were great woodes and many dedes of armes there was done There laye in Carlyle in garison sir Lewes Clyfforde brother to sir WyllmÌ„ Neuell and with hym sir ThomÌ„s Mosgraue and Dauy Holgraue his sonne and sir Dongorsse and dyuers other of the marchesse and fronters of Wales for the
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
is fayre and standeth in a playne countre amonge the fayre vynes And it is a towne cytie and castell closed with gates and walles and seperated eche fro other Fro the mountayns of Byerne and Catheloyne cometh the fayre ryuer of Lysse whiche ronneth throughe Tarbe and is as clere as a fountayne And a fyue leages thens is the towne of Morlance parteyninge to the erle of Foiz at the entre of the countie of Bierne and vnder the mountayne a site leages fro Tarbe is the towne of Panne whiche also ê‘teyneth to the sayd erle The same tyme that the prince princes was at Tarbe therle of Foiz was at Panne He was there bylding of a fayre castell ioyninge to the towne without on the ryuer of Grane Assone as he knewe the comynge of the prince and princesse beyng at Tarbe He ordayned to go and se theym in great estate with mo than sixe hundred horses and threscore knightes in his company And of his comynge to Tarbe was the prince and priÌ„cesse right ioyouse and made hym good chere and there was the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret and they desyred the price to requyre the erle of Foiz to forgyue therle of Armynake all or els parte of the somme of florens that he ought to haue And the prince who was wyse and sage consyderynge all thynges thought that be might nat do so and sayde Sir erle of Armynake ye were taken by armes in that iourney of batayle and ye dyde putte my cosyn the erle of Foiz in aduenture agaynste you And thoughe fortune were fauourable to hym and agaynst you his valure ought nat than to be made lesse By lyke dedes my lorde my father nor I wolde nat be contente that we shulde be desyred to leaue that we haue wonne by good aduenture at the batayle of Poicters wherof we thanke god WhanÌ„e the erle of Armynake herde that he was a basshed for he fayled of his entente Howe be it yet the lefte nat of so But than he reâ—red the princesse who with a good hert desyred therle of Foiz to gyue her a gyfte Madame quod theâ—le I am but a meane man therfore I can gyue no great gyftes But madame if the thyng that ye desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes I wyll gyue it you with a gladde chere yet the princesse assayed agayne if she coude cause hym to graunt her full desyre But the â—rle was sage and subtell and thought verily that her desyre was to haue hym to forgyue clerely the Erle of Armynake all his dette And than he sayde agayne Madame for a poore knight as I am who buyldeth townes and castelles the gyfte that I haue graunted you ought to suffyce the princesse coude bringe hym no farther whan she sawe that she said Gentyll erle of Foiz the request that I desyre of you is to forgyue clerely the erle of Armynake Madame quod the erle to your request I ought well to condiscendâ— I haue sayd to you that if your desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes that I wolde graunt it you But madame the erle of Armynake oweth me two hundred and fyftie thousande frankes and at your request I forgaue hym therof threscore thousande frankes Thus the mater stode in that case and the erle of Armynake at the request of the princes wan the forgyueng of threscore thousande frankes And anone after the erle of Foiz returned to his owne countre I Sir Iohan Froissarde make narracion of this busynesse bycause whan I was in the countie of Foyz and of Bierne I passed by the couÌ„tie of Bygore and I demaunded and enquered of the newes of that countrey suche as I knewe nat before And it was shewed me howe the prince of wales and of Aquitayne whyle he was at Tarbe he had great wyll to go se the castell of Lourde whiche was a thre leages of nere to the entre of the mountayne And whan he was there and had well aduysed the towne the castell and the couÌ„tre he praysed it greatly aswell for the streÌ„gth of the castell as bycause it stode on the fronter of dyuers countreis For the garysone there might ronne well in to the realme of Arragon in to Catellon and to Barselon Than the priÌ„ce called to hym a knyght of his housholde in whom he had great truste and loued hym entierly and he had serued hym truely and was called sir Pyer Ernalde of the countre of Bierne an experte man of armes and cosyn to the erle of Foiz Than the prince sayde to hym sir Ernalde I instytue and make you Chateleyn and capitayne of Lourde gouernour of the countre of Bygore Loke that ye kepe this castell se well that ye make a good accompte ther of to the kyng my father and to me Sir quod the knyght I thanke you and I shall obserue your coÌ„maundement There he dyde homage to the prince and the prince put hym in possession It is to be knowen that whan the warre began to renewe bytwene Englande FrauÌ„ce as it hath ben shewed before The erle Guy of saynt Poule and sir Hugh of Chatellon mayster of the crosbowes in Fraunce in that tyme beseged the towne of Abuyle and wan it with all the countre of Poitou The same tyme two great barons of Bigore th one called sir Marnalte Barbesan and the lorde Danchyn tourned frenche and toke the towne cytie and castell of Tarbe whiche was but easely kept for the kynge of Englande But styll the castell of Lourde was in the handes of sir Pier Ernalt of Bierne who wolde in no wyse yelde vp the castell but made euer great warre agaynst the realme of FrauÌ„ce and sent for great company of aduenturers in to Bierne and Gascoyne to helpe and to ayde hym to make warre so that he had togyder many good men of armes and he had with hym sixe capitayns euery man fyftie speares vnder hym The first was his brother Iohan of Bierne a right expert squyer and Pier Danchyne of Bygore brother germayne to the lorde Danchyne he wolde neuer tourne frenche Nandon of saynt Colombe Ermalton of mount Ague of saynt Basyll and the Bourge of Carnela These capitayns made dyuers iourneys in to Bygore in to Tholousyn in to Carcassene in to Albygoise For euer assone as they were out of Lourde they were in the lande of their enemyes and somtyme they wolde aduenture thyrtie leages of fro their holde And in their goynge they wolde take nothyng but in their retourne there was nothynge coulde scape theÌ„ Somtyme they brought home so great plentie of beestes prisoners that they wyst nat howe to kepe them Thus they rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„trey excepte the erle of Foiz landes For in his landes they durste nat take a chekyn withoute they payed truely therfore For if they had displeased the erle they coulde nat longe haue endured These companyons of Lourde ranne ouer all the countre at their pleasure
and therle of Foiz howe be it nowe they are in peace But the armynagoise and Labrisience wan but lytell by that warre For on a saynt Nycholas euyn the yere of our lorde a thousande thre huÌ„dred threscore and two Th erle of Foiz toke in batayle therle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret his nephue and all the noble men that were with them and so ledde theÌ„ as prisoners to Ortaise wherby the erle of Foiz hath receyued ten tymes a hundred thousande frankes And it fortuned after that the father of the erle of Armynake nowe lyueng called sir Iohan of Armynake made a iourney toke this towne of Casseres and they had with them a .ii. hundred men of armes and so thought to kepe the towne by strength These tidynges whan they came to the knowledge of the erle of Foiz beynge as thaâ—â—e at Panne He lyke a sage and a valyant knight called to hym two bastard bretherne of his â–ª called â— Arnalt Guyllam and sir Pier de Bierne and sayd to them sirs I wyll ye ryde incontynent to Cassâ—eres I shall sende you men on euery syde and within thre dayes I shal be with you my selfe and let none come out of the towne but that ye fight with theÌ„ for ye shal be stronge ynoughe And whan ye come there cause the men of the countre to bring thyder great plentie of wode busshes and fagottê and choke the gates therwith and than wtout that make stronge barryers for I wyll that they that be within be so enclosed that they issue nat out of the gares I shall cause them to take another way These two knightes dyd his coÌ„mauÌ„dement and so wente to Palamuche all men of warre of Bierne folowed them and so they came before this towne of Casseres they that were within sette lytell by them but they were nat were howe they were enclosed within the towne so that they coulde nat issue oute at any gate And the thirde day the erle of Foiz came thider with fyue huÌ„dred men of armes and as sone as he came he caused barryers to be made rounde about the towne also barriers rouÌ„de about his host bycause they shulde nat be troubled in the night tyme. so in this case they laye longe without any assaut in so moche that vitayle began to fayle them within for thoughe they had wyne great plentie they had nothyng to eate Nor they coulde nat flye awaye by the ryuer for it was as thanÌ„e to depe Than they thought it were better to yelde theÌ„ selfe as prisoners than to dye so shamefully for famyne so fell in treaty Th erle of Foiz agreed to their treatie so that they shulde nat issue oute at no gate but to make a hole in the wall and go out therat to come one by one without armoure so to yelde them as prisoners It behoued theÌ„ to take this waye and so made a hole in the wall and issued oute one by one And there was the erle redy and all his people in order of batayle to receyue them as prisoners and euer as they came out the Erle sent them to dyuers castelles as prisoners and his cosyn sir IohnÌ„ of Armynake sir Bernarde Dalbret and sir Manalt of Barlabason sir RaymoÌ„de de Benache sir Benedicke de la Corneyle and a twentie of the beste personages he ledde with hym to Ortaise and or they departed he had of them two hundred thousande traÌ„keâ— and thus was this hole in the wall made than we wente to our supper And the nexte day we rode a longe by the ryuer of Garon and passed by Palamuche and than we entred in to the lande of the erle of Comynges and Armynake and on the other syde was the ryuer of Garon and the lande of therle of Foiz And as we rode this knight shewed me a stronge towne called Marteras the Toussaâ— ê‘teyninge to therle of Comynges on the other syde of the ryuer on the mouÌ„tayne He shewed me two castelles parteyninge to the erle of Foiz the one called Mountarall and the other Mountclare And as we rode bytwene these townes and castelles a longe by the ryuer of Garon in a fayre medowe this knight sayd to me sir Iohan I haue sene here many fayre scrimysshes and encountrynges bytwene the foizois and armynakes for as than there was no towne nor castell but that was well furnysshed with men of warre so they warred eche vpon other The armynakes agaynst yonder two castelles made a bastyde and kept it with men of warre and dyde moche hurt in the erle of Foiz lande But I shall shewe you howe it fortuned The erle of Foiz on a night sent his brother Peter de Bierne with two huÌ„dred speres and with them a four hundred villayns of the countre charged with fagottê moche wode and busshes and brought it to the bastide and than sette fyre theron and so brent the bastyde and all them that were within without mercy and sithe it was neuer made agayne So in suche deuyses we rode all that day a longe by the ryuer of Garon and what on the one syde and on the other we sawe many fayre castelles and fortresses All that were on our lyfte hande parteyned to therle of Foiz and the other syde parteyned to therle of Armynake And so thus we passed by Montpesac a fayre castell a stroÌ„ge standyng on an highe rocke vnderneth was the towne and the highe way and without the towne a lytell there was a place called ala gardea and a towre bitwene the rocke and the ryuer whiche towre had a gate and a portcolyse of yron sixe men might well kepe this passage agaynst all the worlde for there coulde no man passe but two on a front what for the towre on the one syde the ryuer on the other syde than I sayd to the knyght sir here is a stronge passage and a myghtie countre it is true quod the knight and though thentre be stronge yet the erle of Foiz dyde conquere it ones and he all his passed the same waye with the helpe of the archers of EnglaÌ„de that he had as than in his company and the great desyre that they had to passe in to the countre Come ryde nere me sir quod he I shall shewe you howe it was and so I rode iuste by hym â— and than he sayd Sir on a tyme the Erle of Armynake and the lorde Dalbret with a fyue huÌ„dred men of warre caÌ„e in to the countre of Foiz and to the marches of Pauyers And this was in the begynnynge of August whan men dyd gather in their cornes and the grapes were rype at whiche tyme there was great habundaunce in the countre Than sir Iohan of Armynake and his company lodged before the towne Sauredun a lytell leage fro the cytie of Pauyers And he sente to them of Pauyers that without they wolde bye their cornes and wynes and pay for them they said els they wolde brinne
for they be here in as great ease as we se as though they were at home Sir we saye to you nat in maner of a determynate couÌ„sayle for ye are wyse ynough but we thynke by your highe prudence the best were to chuse as yet to kepe the felde ye maye well kepe it tyll the feest of saint Michaell and paradueÌ„ture by that tyme your enemyes wyll assemble togyder and drawe out in to the felde whan ye take leest hede therto and so thaÌ„ without fayle they shal be fought withall Sir we haue great desyre to wyn soÌ„what for this iourney hath cost vs moche and great payne traueyle bothe to our self and to our horses or we came in to this couÌ„tre Therfore sir it shall nat be the opinyon of our company thus to departe agayne By my faithe quod the kyng ye speke well and truely In this warre other I shall vse fro hens forthe after your counsayle for the kyng my father I also haue founde alwayes in youre countreis great trouthe and faythfulnesse And god haue mercy of sir Bertram of Clesquyes soule for he was a true knyght by whome in his tyme we had many recoueraunses and good iourneys THe wordes and counsails that the kyng had of them of Fraunce and of Bierne were anone knowen among the lordes knightes of Spaygne wherwith they were sore displeased for two causes One bycause it semed to them that their kyng had more trust and coÌ„fydence in straungers than in them who were his liege men and had crowned hym kyng the seconde was in that they of Fraunce counsayled the kyng to kepe styll his warre and they felyng them selfe so wery of the warre so spake among them selfe in dyuers maners nat openlye but priuely They wolde saye the kyng coude make no warre but by the frenchmen and in lykewise no more coude his father so they had great enuy at the frenche men whiche well appered For whan the freÌ„che varlettes went out a forragyng if the spaynisshe forrengers were stronger than they wolde take their forage fro them and beate them and mayme them so that complayntes came therof to the kynge and he blamed therfore his marshall sir Raynolde Lymosyn and sayde Why haue ye nat prouyded for this mater The marshall excused hym and sayde As god might helpe hym he knewe nothynge therof and that he wolde prouyde a remedy fro thens forthe Incontynent he stablysshed men of armes to kepe the feldes that the frenche forreÌ„gers rode at their suretie and also he made a crye and a coÌ„maundement that euery man that had any vitayle or prouision to sell that they shulde bringe it to the felde before saiÌ„t yrayns and they shuld haue a prise reasonable for euery thyng So than the straungers had largely their parte for the kyng ordayned that they shulde be serued before all other wherof the spanyardes had great dispyte So it was the same weke that the kyng of Castell departed fro the siege of Lixbone thre great shyppes of men of warre and Englysshe archers aryued at Lixbone they were to the noÌ„bre of fyue hundred one other And the thirde parte of them were of the coÌ„panyons aduenturers hauyng no wages of no man some were of Calys of Chierburge of Brest in Bretayne of Mortaygne in Poytou They had herde of the warre bytwene Castell and Portyngale they came to Burdeux and ther assembled and sayd Let vs go at aduenture in to Portyngale we shall fynde them there that wyll receyue vs and sette vs awarke Sir Iohan Harpedan who as than was marshall of Burdeux counsayled theÌ„ greatly therto for he wolde nat they shulde abyde in burdeloys for they might ther haue done more hurte than good bycause they were companyons aduenturers and had nothyng to lese Of them that arryued at Lixbon I can nat name all There were thre squyers englysshe that were their capitayns One was called Northbery and another Morbery and the thirde Huguelyn of Harcerell And there were none of them paste the age of fyftie yere and good men of armes well vsed in the feates of warâ— Of the comyng of these Englysshe men they of Lixbone were right gladde and so was the kyng of Portyngale who wolde se theÌ„ and so they went to the palays where the kyng was who made them great chere And demauÌ„ded of them if the duke of Lancastre had sent them thyder Sir quod Northbery it is a longe season sythe he had any knowledge of vs or we of hym Sir we be men of dyuers sortes sekynge for aduentures here be some are come to serue you fro the towne of Calays By my faythe quod the kynge you and they bothe are right hartely welcome your comyng dothe me great good and ioye and shortely I shall sette you a warke We haue ben here inclosed a gret season so that we be wery therof but nowe we wyll be at large in the felde as well as our enemyes hath been Sir quod they we desyre nothynge els and sir we desyre you that shortely we maye se youre enemyes The kynge made them a dyner in his palays at Lixbone and coÌ„maunded that they shulde all be lodged in the cytie at their ease and to be payed for their wages for thre monethes Than the kyng set his clerkes awarke and made letters and sente theÌ„ ouer all his realme coÌ„maundynge euery man able to beare harnesse to drawe to Lixbone ALl suche as these letters came vnto obeyed nat for many abode styll iÌ„ their houses for thre partes of the Realme dissymuled with the kynge and with theym of Lixbone bycause they had crowned kynge a bastarde and spake great wordê ther agaynst priuely And bycause of the great trouble and dyffereÌ„ce that the kynge of Castell and his couÌ„sayle sawe in the realme of Portyngale made hym to auaunce hym selfe to the entent to haue conquered the countre Sayenge howe all shulde be wonne with one dayes iourney of batayle and that yf they of Lixbone might be ouerthrowen the resydue of the countrey wolde nat be sorie of it but put out of the realme that mayster Denyce or elles slee hym and than it shulde be a lande of conquest for hym for his wyfe was ryght enherytoure yet with a good wyll kynge Iohan of Castell wolde haue lefte the warre but his people wolde nat suffre him for they euer gaue hym corage Sayeng how his quarell and cause was iuste And whan the kynge of Portyngale sawe that his commaundement was nat obserued and that moche of his people disobeyed to serue hym he was right pensyue and malencolyous He called to hym suche as he trusted best of Lixbone and of the knyghtes of his house who dyde their payne to crowne hym and also they had serued kyng Ferant As sir Iohan Radygos and sir IohnÌ„ Teatedore the lorde of Siegere and sir GoÌ„me of Tabeston Ambrise Condricho and Peter his brother ser Ouges of Nauaret a knyght of Castell who was tourned Portyngaloyes
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
but right iustyce Than a seuyn of them all with one voyce answered and sayde Right redouted souerayne sayng your gracyous displeasure as for iustyce in your realme is right feble your grace knoweth nat all nor canne nat knowe your grace nouther demaundeth for it nor enquereth therfore and suche as be of your couÌ„sayle forbere to shewe it you bycause of their owne profyte For sir it is no iustyce to cutte of heedes handes and fete suche maner of punysshmentes be nat laudable But sir good iustice is to kepe your people in ryght and to sette suche wayes and order as they myght lyue in peace that they shulde haue none occasyon to grudge or to make any commosyon And sir we saye that ye sette vs to longe a daye as to Mighelmas sir we may be neuer so well eased as nowe Wherfore sir we saye all by one assente that we wyll haue accompte and that shortely of them that hath gouerned your realme sythe your Coronacyon And we wyll knowe Where youre Reuenewes is become with all the taxes tayles and subsydies this nyne yeres paste and wheron they haue been bestowed If suche as are your treasourers make a good accompte or nere thervnto we shall be ryght ioyouse and suffre them to gouerne styll And if they can nat acquyte them selfe therin trewly they shal be refourmed by youre deputyes establysshed to that purpose as my lordes your vncles other With those wordes the kynge behelde his vncles helde his peace to se what they wolde saye Than sir Thomas duke of Gloucester sayde Sir in the request and prayer of these good people the commons of your realme I se nothynge therin but ryght and reasone Sir quod the duke of yorke it is of trouthe and so sayde all the other prelates and barons that were there present Than the duke of Gloucester sayde agayne Sir it is but reason that ye knowe where your good is become The kyng sawe well howe they were all of one accorde and sawe howe this chafe Marmosettes durst speke no worde for there were to many gret men agaynst them Well quod the kyng I am content Lette them be rydde awaye for sommer season cometh on and huntynge tyme whervnto we wyll nowe entende Than the kynge sayd to the people Sirs wolde ye haue this mater shortely dispatched yea sir quod they and that humbly we beseche your grace And also we beseche all my lordes here and specyally my lordes your vncles to be there at We are content quod they for the apeysyng of all parties as well for the kynge as for the Realme for oure parte lyeth therin Than they sayde agayne We desyre also the reuerende father in god the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshoppe of Lyncolne and the bysshoppe of Wynchester to be there They aunswered and sayde they were content so to be Than agayn they desyred all other lordes to be there that were there present as the erle of Salisbury and the Erle of Northumberlande sir Reynolde Cobham sir Guy Brian sir IohnÌ„ Felton sir Mathewe Gourney and moreouer they sayd they wolde ordayne that of euery good cytie and towne in Englande there shulde be a thre or four notable persons and they shulde determyne for all the hole coÌ„montie of Englande Than this mater was determyned and to assemble the vtas of saint George at Westmynster And there all the treasourers collectours and offycers of the kynges to be there and to make there accomptes before these sayd lordes The kyng was content therwith and was brought to it by fayrenesse and nat byfore by the desyre of his vncles and other lordes It semed to hym behouable to knowe where his treasoure was become Thus amiably euery man deê‘ted fro Wyndsore and the lordes went to London the treasourers and other offycers were sende for throughout the realme to come with their full accomptes on payne of dishonourynge losse of all that they had and lyfe ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the officers appered in the presence of the kynges vncles commens of EnglaÌ„de and howe sir Simon Burle was prisoner iÌ„ the toure of London and howe sir Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii THe day prefixed came that all ê‘tes apered at westmynster suche as shulde make their accomptes apered before the kynges vncles and suche other prelates and lordes with other as were assigned to here theÌ„ This accompte endured more than a moneth and some there were that made their accomptes nother good nor honourable suche were punisshed bothe by their bodyes and by their goodes sir Symon Burle was cast in arerage of .ii. C. and l. M. frankes bycause he was one of the gouernours in the kynges youthe And he was demaunded where this good was bestowed he excused hym selfe by the bysshop of yorke sir Wylliam Neuell sayeng howe he dyde nothyng but by their counsayle and by the kynges chamberleyns ser Robert Tryuilyen sir Robert Beauchampe sir Iohn Salisbury sir Nycholas Braule sir Peter Goufer and other And whan they were demauÌ„ded therof before the counsaile they denyed the mater layd all the faute in hym And the duke of Irelande sayd to hym priuely bytwene them two Sir Symon I vnderstande ye shal be arested and sette in prison and holde there tyll ye haue payed the soÌ„me that is demaunded nothyng shal be abated Go your waye whether soeuer they sende you I shall rightwell make your peace thoughe they had all sworne the contrary I ought to receyue of the constable of FrauÌ„ce threscore M. frankes for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to saynt Charles of Bloys the whiche soÌ„me ye knowe well is owyng to me I shall present the counsayle therwith at this tyme. And fynally the kyng is our soueraigne lorde he shall pardon and forgyue it you clerely for the profet ought to be his and no mannes els Syr ê™ sir Symon Burle if I thought nat that ye shulde helpe agaynst the kynge and to beare out my dedes I wolde departe out of Englande and go in to Almayne and to the kyng of Beame for thyder I coulde be welcome and so let the mater rynne a season tyll the worlde be better apeased Than the duke sayde I shall neuer fayle you we are companyons and all of one sect ye shall take day to pay their demauÌ„de I knowe well ye maye pay and ye lyste in redy money more than a hundred thousande frankes ye nede nat feare the dethe ye shall nat be brought to that poynte ye shall se the mater otherwise chaunge before the feast of saynt Michell whan I haue the kyng ones at my wyll wherof I ame sure For all that he dothe now at this tyme is by force and agaynst his wyll We muste apease these cursed londoners and lay downe this slaunder brute that is nowe raysed agaynst vs and ours SIr Symon Burle had a lytell truste on the wordes of the duke of Irelande and so came before the lordes
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
shall fynde the countrey wasted and pylled and the more forewarde that they go the lesse sustynauÌ„ce shall they fynde And therfore syr at the begynnynge to eschewe all inconuenyentes all lytell hooldes were beaten downe and maners churches suche as men of the couÌ„trey wold haue put in their goodes and this was wysely done or els nowe your enemyes shuld haue founde places to haue rested in and as nowe they shall fynde nothyng without they brynge it with theym but heate and the sonne on their heedes the whiche shall burne and slee them And sir all your townes cyties and castelles are well garnysshed and prouyded for with good men of armes artyllery and vytayles I thynke they shal be skrymysshed withall for that is the lyfe and norysshynge of men of warre and their passe tyme for they ryde aboute all the worlde to seke aduentures Therfore sir be nothynge abasshed for we truste in this besynes we shall haue no great domage The kynge by reason of these knyghtes wordes was greatly recoÌ„forted for he perceyued well they shewed him the trouth and reason NOwe let vs speke of the duke of Lancastre of the kyng of Portugale who were in the feldes in the countrey of Campe. They wolde gladly haue bene in some towne to haue refresshed theym For their foragers wheâ— so euer they went coude fynde no thing and for feare of encountrynges they rode nat but in great companyes And somtyme whan they sawe a village on a hyll or on the playne than they reioysed and wolde say Go we thyder for there we shal be all ryche and well prouyded And thyder they wolde ryde in great haste And whan they were there they founde no thynge but bare walles the howses broken downe and nother catte nor dogge cocke nor hen man woman nor childe there it was wasted before by the frenchemen Thus they loste their tyme and their horses were leane and feble by reason of their poore norisshyng They were happy whan they founde any pasture and some were so feble that they coulde go no further but dyed for great heate and pouertie ye and also some of the great men dyed and were sore dyspleased with hoote feuers had nat wherwith to refresshe them and some tyme by sodeyn coldee that toke them sleping in the nyght In this case they were in and specyally in the duke of Lancastres hoost for the englisshmen were of a febler complexion than the portugaloys for they coulde well endure the payne for they he harde and accustomed to the ayre of Castyle In this case as I haue shewed you the englisshmen were in and many dyed and namely suche as had but smale prouisyon for them selfe SIr Richarde Burle ser Thomas Moreaulr sir Thomas Percy the lorde Fitzwater syr Mabetyne of Linyers sir IohnÌ„ Dam breticourt Thyrrey and Guyllyam of Souuayne and with theym a two hundred horse men knyghtes and squyers suche as wolde auaunce theym selfe and desyringe dedes of armes It a tyme mounted on their horses the beste they hadde to the entente to ryde to Vyle Arpente to awake the freÌ„chmen that were therin for they had herde surely howe sir Dlyuer of Clysson was within that towne who was constable of Castyle and with hym a great nombre of good men of armes These lordê with their company rode forthe in a morenynge and came to a lytell ryuer that ranne before the towne and passed ouer The larome rose in the towne and brute that the englysshe men were come to the barryers Thanne knyghtes and squiers armed them quickely and came to the coÌ„stables lodginge and their varlettes sadled their horses and brought theÌ„ to their maisters the constable wolde nat by his wyll haue suffered them to haue issued out agaynste the englysshmen but he coulde nat let them their corages were so fierse And so they issued out well horsed and in good ordre Firste issued sir Iohan of Barres the vicounte of Barlier sir Iohan of BrakemouÌ„t sir Pyer of Wyllannes sir Tristam de la gayll and dyuers other with great desyre to fyght agaynst the englisshmen And whan the englysshmen had made their course before the towne than they passed agayne the ryuer where as they had paste and drewe to gyther on the sandes and fayre and easely with drewe fro the ryuer a thre bowshottes Than the frenche knightes came cryeng their cryes euery manne his speare on the thyghe And whan the Englysshmen sawe them sodeynly they tourned with their speares in the restes There was a sore rencouÌ„tre and dyuers ouer throwen on the sandes on bothe parties And whan that course was done they lefte nat so but skrymysshed to gyther but the powder of the subtyle sandes rose vp so thycke that one of them coulde natse a nother nor knowe eche other so that themselfe nor their horses could skant drawe their brethes their mouthes were so full of dust So that therby eche party was fayne to withdrawe by their cries Thus they departed and no manne slayne nor greatly hurte And bycause of this course that the englysshe knyghtes made they paste that daye but one leage fro the towne of Arpente and so retourned to their lodgynges and sycknesse toke them heate colde and feuers The duke of Lancastre wyste nat what to saye nor do for he sawe well howe his men fell sicke dayly and lay in their beddes And he was hymselfe soo wery and heuy that gladly he wolde haue layen in his bedde and it had nat ben for discoragynge of his people And on a day he spake with the kynge of Portugale and demaunded counsayle of hym desyringe hym to gyue his beste aduyse what was beste to do for he feared great mortalyte to fall in his host than the kyng sayd Syr it semeth well howe that the spaynyardes nor freÌ„chmen wyll nat fyght with vs at this time they purpose to suffre vs to waste our selfes and our prouysions Why sir quod the duke and what wyll ye than couÌ„sayle vs to do I shall shewe you ê™ the kyng Portugale as for this season whyle the sonne is so hoote that ye and your people drawe againe in to Galyce and let euery man refressh him selfe and at Marche or Aprill than come to the felde agayne and do so moch that newe ayde and comfortemaye come to you oute of Englande by one of your bretherne A realme is nat so soone wonne and specyally to agree with the ayre nat acustomed before Let your men go and passe their tyme in suche townes and forteresses as ye haue in Galyce vnder your obeysaunce This may well be quod the duke but than maye fortune to fall as I shall shewe you that is Whan our enemyes seeth that we be departed one fro another you into Portugale I into Galyce at saynt Iaques or at Colongne Than the kynge of Spayne wyll ryde with great puyssaunce for I haue herde that he hathe foure thousande speares frenchmen and bretons and he shall fynde as many mo in
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
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
their companyes spredde abrode in to dyuerse places in the countrey and aboute the towne of saynte Phagon whiche was a good plentuous countrey There were many of the bretons poicteuyns and augenyns of rainton and men of the lowe countreys And whan they entred fyrste in to saynt Phagon they entred by syxe ten fyftene and twenty so that at laste there were mo than fyue hundred of one and other maysters and seruauntes and euer as they came they lodged them selfe and pilled and robbed their hostes and brake vp cofers cupbordes and wolde take what they foūde And whan the citezyns sawe their demeanoure to the entent that there shulde no mo entre whan these straungers were at their reste they cryed alarum in the towne and the spanyardes were redy for the same all the day before And so they entred in to the lodginges where the straungers were and as they were founde they were slayne without pytie or mercye and happy were they that were saued the same nyght there were slayne mo thanne fyue hundred The nexte mornyng these tydinges came to the capytayns that were comynge to the same towne warde than they drewe them togyder to take counsayle And the capitayns determyned that it was no tyme than to be reuenged for if they dyde they shulde fynde all other townes and cyties against them wherof their enemyes wold be right ioyous but they sayde that whan their voyage shulde haue an ende that in their retourning they wolde thanke them accordynge to their desertes So they passed forwarde and spake nothynge therof but they thought the more NOwe than so it happend that whan euery man returned except suche as were styll abydinge with the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson and specially those of the lowe countreys whan they came togyder they sayd eche to other Nowe lette vs paye for our welcome that we had at saynt Phagon Lette vs quyte them at our departyng To this they were all agreed and so gathered togyder to the sōme of a thousande fightynge men and they aproched saynt Phagon entred in to the towne without any mystruste that they of the cytie had to them for they trusted all thynges had ben forgoten The straungers cryed alarum in a hūdred places and cryed slee the villayns of the towne and take all that they haue for they haue well deserued it Thanne these bretons and other entred in to the howses where they thought to wyn moste and brake vp cofers and slewe the mē downe in euery place They slewe the same day mo than foure hundred and the towne robbed and spoyled and more than halfe brente whiche was great domage Thus these rutters were reuenged for the dethe of their companyons and than they departed fro saynte Phagon ¶ Howe the kyng of Castell and his counsayle were yuell contente with sir Willyam of Lignac and syr Gaultier of Passackes cōpany and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C.ix. TIdynges came to the king of Castyle howe these companyons had robbed and pylled the good towne of saynt Phagon slayne the cytezyns to the nobre of a four hūdred and nigh brent the towne And it was sayd that if the englysshe men had wonne it with assaute they wolde nat haue daulte so cruelly as they dyd The same tyme the two knyghtes were present with the kynge and they were greatly reproued by the kyng and his counsayle They excused them and sayd as god might be their helpes they knewe nothynge therof but they sayd they had herde howe they were nat contente with them of that towne bycause whan they entred firste in to the realme and came to saynte Phagon there were certayne of their company slayne which grudge by lyklyhode they haue borne euer sythe in their hertes It behoued the kyng of Castyle to let this mater passe for it wolde haue coste hym ouer moche to haue hadde it amended But he bare nat so good wyll to the capytayns after as he dyd before and that was well sene for whan they departed and toke leaue of the kyng to retourne in to Fraūce if he had ben pleased with them it ought to be supposed they shulde haue been better payed of their wages than they were For the duke of Burbone that came laste and was firste that departed he and his company had all the chere and well rewarded Thus these people issued out of Castyle by dyuerse wayes some by Bisquay some by Aragon Suche as were noble and honeste knyghtes and squyers and lyued well and kepte good rule they departed pore and yuell horsed and suche as were hardy and aduentured to robbe and pylle they were well horsed and well furnisshed with gold and syluer and their males full of baggage Thus it falleth in suche aduentures some wyn and some lese The kyng of Castyle was ioyfull whan he sawe he was clene delyuered of suche people NOwe let vs somwhat speke of the duke of Lancastre who laye sicke in his bed in the towne of saynt Iames and the duches his wyfe with hym and his doughter Katheryn It is to be thought that the duke day and nyght was nat without anoyaūce for he sawe his busynes in a harde parte and many of his good knyghtes deed suche as he with moche payne had brought with him out of Englāde Nor there was none that wolde treate for any composicyon to be had bytwene hym and the kynge of Castyle nor that he wolde take the duches his wyfe for enheritour of Castell nor gyue her any parte there of But he herde his men saye that they were enfourmed by pylgrymes that came to saynt Iaques oute of Flaunders Brabant Heynaulte and other countreis as they came throughe the realme of Spaygne They herde the men of warre saye to them Sirs ye shall go to saynt Iaques and there ye shall fynde the duke of Lācastre who kepeth his chambre for feare of the lyght of the sonne Recōmaunde vs to hym and demaunde of hym in oure behalfe if we haue made hym fayre warre or that he be cōtent with vs or nat The Englisshmen were wont to say that we coude better daūce than make warre But nowe is the tyme come that they rest and synge and we kepe the feldes and our fronters in suche wyse that we lese nothing nor take any domage Suche tales were tolde to the duke he toke all in worthe for he had none other remedy And as soone as he myght ryde he departed and the duches and his doughter fro saynt Iaques For the kyng of Portugale had sente for hym by the erle of Noware his constable with a fyue hūdred speares and with hym sir Iohn̄ Ferant the Ponase of Congue Ageas Coylle Venase Martyn de Malo Galope Ferrant sir Aulde Perre I can Nedighes de Fay Gannes de Falues all barons Thus they departed fro Compostella so rode tyll they came to the cytie of Porte There the kynge the quene of Portugale made them
the lorde of Graunt and with hym a foure hundred speares but they came to late for they knewe nat the daye of the busynesse that I shall shewe you wherwith they were sore dyspleased whanne they herde that the mater was done without them The duke of Brabant beinge at Trect herde but lytell newes of his enemyes Than he departed fro Trect the wednysdaye and wente and lodged in the lande of his enemyes and there lay all that nyght and the thursday tyll he herde certayne tydynges It was shewed hym by his corours that his enemyes were abrode Than he rode forwarde and coÌ„maunded to burne in the duke of Iuliers land and the thursday toke his lodginge betymes And the vowarde kept the erle Guy of Ligney erle of saynt Pole and sir Valeran his sonne who as than was but yong of a sixtene yere of age and there he was made knyght The duke of Iuliers came the same thursday and lay nere one to another and by all lyklyhode the almaynes knewe the demeanour of the brabansoys better than they dyd theirs for on the fridaye betymes whan the duke of Brabant had herd masse and that all were in the felde thought nat to haue fought so soone Than came redy the duke of Iuliers and sir Edwarde of Guerles well mounted with a great batayle Than one sayd to the duke of Brabante syr beholde yoÌ„der your enemys put your helmes on your heedes in the name of god and saynt George Of that worde the duke had great ioye The same day he had by him four squiers of great price worthy to serue an hyghe prince and to be aboute hym for they had sene many dedes of armes they were called Iohan de Valcon Baudwyn of Beauforde Gyrarde of Byes and Roulande of Colongne Aboute the duke were the bruselloys some a horsebacke with their varlettes behynde them with botelles of wyne trussed at their sadelles and pastyes of samonde troutes and elys wraped in towels These horsemen greatly combred the place so that there was such prease that no man coude styrre Than Gyrarde of Biâ—â— said to the duke siâ— coÌ„maunde these horses to a voyde the place they shall greatly let vs we can nat se aboute vs nor haue knoledge of your reregarde nor vowarde nor of your marshall sir Roberte of Namure So let it be quod the duke I commaunde so Than Gyrarde toke his glayue in his handes and so dyd his companyons and began to stryke on their helmes and on their horses so that a none the place was voyded of them for no man was glad to haue his horse slaine or hurte Than the duke of Iuliers and ê“ Edwarde of Guerles their company came on theym and founde the erle of saynt Poule and his sonne in the vowarde and dasshed in so fersely amonge them that anone they were broken and discomfited and there were many slayne taken and hurte that was the batayle that had moste to do There was slayne Guy the erle of saynte Poule and sir Valeran his sonne taken The batayle tourned to a herde parte for the duke of Brabante and for them that were with him for of men of honour there were but a fewe saued but outher they were slayne or taken The duke of Brabante was taken and syr Roberte of Namure and syr Loys of Namure his brother and sir Willyam of Namure sonne to the erle of Namure and many other Also on the duke of Iulyers parte there were some slaine and hurte but ye know well it is a generall rule the great losse euer resteth on them that be disconfyted howe be it for all the domage the duke of Brabante had in that iourney yet they hadde one great poynte of remedy comforte for sir Edwarde of Guerles was wounded to dethe And this I saye bycause it was the opinyon of dyuerse that if he had lyued he wolde haue rydden so forwarde that with puyssauÌ„ce he wolde haue come to Bruselles and conquered all the couÌ„treye for none wolde haue resysted hym He was hardy and fierse and hated the brabansoys bycause of the thre castels that they helde agaynst hym This iourney and victory had the duke of Iulyers in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred and a leuen on saynt Bartylmewes euyn on a fridaye THe duches of Brabant purchased her frendes and had counsayle of Charles the frenche kyng who was nephue to the duke of BrabaÌ„t an all his bretherne for they were chyldren of his suster she was counsayled by the kynge to go to the kynge of Almayne emperoure brother to the duke of Brabante for whose sake the duke her husbande had taken all that domage The lady dyd so and came to Conualence on the ryuer of the Ryne there founde the Emperoure And there wysely she made her complaynte The emperoure herde her well the whiche he was bouÌ„de vnto by dyuerse reasons The one bycause the duke was his brother and another bycause he had institude hym to be his vycare and souerayne regarder of the Languefryde he comforted the lady and sayd that at the next soÌ„mer he wolde fynde some remedy The lady retourned into Brabante well comforted And the emperour sir Charles of Boesme slept nat his busynes but waked the mater as ye shall here For as soone as wynter was past he aproched to the noble cytie of Coloyne there made his prouysion in suche wyse as though he wolde go to conquere a realme of defence and wrote to his dukes erles that helde of hym and commaunded them at the thyrde day of Iune they shulde be with hym at Ayes with fyfty horse a pece on payne of lesyng of their landes and specially he coÌ„maunded thre as duke Auberte erle of Haynalte that he shulde come to Ayes with fyfty horse and so he dyd Whanne these lordes were come there was moche people And than syr Charles his sonne sayde that he wolde go and entre in to the landes of duke Iulyers destroy it bycause of the great outrage that he had done as in enteryng in to the felde with an army against the emperours vycaire his brother this senteÌ„ce was gyuen by playne iudgement in the emperours chambre Than to that mater regarded the archebysshoppe of Treues the archbysshoppe of Coloyne the byssop of Marauce the bysshoppe of Liege the duke Aubert of Bauier the duke Oste his brother and diuerse other barons of Almayne that thought to dystroy the landes of so valyaunt a knyght as was the duke of Iulyers shulde be yuell done and also he was nere of their kynne They sayde it were better fyrste to sende for hym that he myght come to obeysaunce That apoyntment was holden for the best for the loue of bothe partyes Than duke Auberte and his brother came to Iuliers and found there the duke who was abasshed and wyste nat what counsayle to beleue for it had ben shewed him that the assemble that the emperour had made was to come on hym without his
vs a blanke and let vs go home and warme vs it is paste a leuen of the clocke The yonge man coueted the money and toke it and they departed fro their watche and wente to their owne houses Than Geronet and his company watched at their hostes dore to se whan the watch men shulde retourne Than they sawe whan the yonge man came fro the watche and the watche men with hym Than Geronet sayde the mater goeth well this is lyke to be a good nyght for vs euery manne in the towne is as nowe gone to bedde the watche is paste we nede to take no care for that And on the other parte I am sure Perotte le Bernoys and his company are rydynge hyder warde as fast as they may And in dede the same tyme they were comynge and came nere to Cleremounte and mette with Aymergotte Marcell with a hundred speres capytayne of the fortresse of Alose besyde saint Floure whan eche of them knewe other they made good chere and demaunded eche other whyder they wolde and what they sought in that countrey Amergot aunswered and said I come fro my fortresse of Alose and ame goynge to Carlate In the name of god sayd two of the capytaynes the Bourge Angloys and the Bourge Compaigne Sir we be here wolde ye any thynge speke wyth vs yea quod Amerigot ye haue certayne prysoners of the countre of Dolphyn of Auuergne and ye knowe well we be in treatynge togyther by the meanes of the erle of Armynake wherfore we wold gladly make an exchaunge with certayne prisoners that I haue in my garyson I am sore desyred thus to do by the coūtes of Dolphyn who is a right good lady and is well worthy to be done pleasure vnto than the Bourge of Compaigne sayd Aymergotte ye are greatly bounde to do some pleasure to that lady for within this thre yere ye hadde of her syluer thre hundred frankes for the redemynge of the castell of Mercyer But syr I pray you where is therle Dolphyn at this season Syr quod the other it is shewed me that he is in Fraunce comunynge vpon the treatie that ye know that we be in hande with the erle of Armynake and with erle Dolphyn Than Perot le Bernoys sayde Sir leaue thir comunynge and come on with vs and it shall be for your profyte and ye shall haue parte of our botye Sir quod Aymergot and whyder go you than By my fayth sir quod Perot we go streyght to Mount ferante for this nyght the towne shall be yelden to me than Aymerygot sayd syr this is yuell done that ye go aboute for ye knowe well we be in treatie with the erle of Armynake and with this coūtrey wherfore all townes and castels rekeneth themselfe halfe assured wherfore we shall be greatly blamed thus to do and ye shall breke out treatye By my faythe quod Perot as for me I wyll agre to no treatye as longe as I maye kepe the feldes it behoueth companyons to lyue come on your way with vs for ye shall haue nothynge to do at Carlat for here be the companyons of that fortresse and suche as be left behynd wyll nat suffre you to entre till their company come home Well ser quod Aymerigot with you wyll I nat go but I wyll returne agayne in to my fortresse syth the mater is thus Thus they de parted one fro a nother Perot helde the waye to Mountferant and whan they were vnder Cleremount there they rested them and imagyned on a newe enterprise specially certayne of the gascoyns who knewe nat of the enterprise of Geronet Than they sayd to the capytayns Sirs beholde here this cytie of Cleremonte the whiche is a ryche cytie and rather more prignable than Mount ferant we haue ladders here let vs scale it we shall haue more profyte here than at Mount ferante To this poynte they were nere a greed but thanne the chefe capytayns sayd Sirs Cleremonte is a puissant towne and well peopled and the men well harnessed if they be ones moued they wyl assemble togyther and put theym selfe to defēce it is no doute but we shulde haue no great aduaunatage by them And if we shulde be reculed perforce and our horse taken or loste we shulde yuell escape for we be farre fro home and if the coūtrey than shulde ryse and pursue vs we shulde be in great daunger we thynke it were better to go on forthe and folowe our fyrst enterprise for the sekynge of a newe enterprise per aduenture myght cost vs dere THis counsayle was taken and so rode forthe without makynge of any noyse so that aboute .xi. of the clocke they were nere to Mount ferant Whan they sawe the towne they stode styll a thre bowe shot of fro the towne Than Perotte sayde beholde here is Mount ferant our company that went before are with in the towne kepe you all styll here close to gyder and I wyll go downe this valaye to se if I may se or here any newes of Geronet who hathe brought vs to this enterpryse and departe nat tyll I come to you agayne sir quod they go your waye we shall abyde you here Therwith Perot departed four with hym The wether was so darke that no man coulde se an acre brede fro hym and also it rayned blewe and snewe that it was a meruaylouse yuell wether Geronet was as than on the walles and taryed to here some newes He loked dowe ouer the walles and as he thought he sawe the shadowe of some men goynge a long by the dyke syde than he began a lytle to why stell softely And whā they without herde that they came nerer to the wall for the dykes on that syde hadde no water Than Geronet demaūded who was there without Perot knew his voyce and sayd I am Perot le Bernoys Geronet art thou there yea sir quod he I am here Make you redy and aproche your men for I shall lette you in here in to the towne for all tho within the towne be a slepe in their beddes What quod Perot shulde we entre here where as ye stande god kepe me fro that I wyll nat entre there if I entre I wyll entre in at the gate and at none other place No wyll quod Geronette and I assure you that lyeth nat in my power to do but syr bring your ladders hyder and spare nat sckale for I assure you there is none shall let you Well quod Perot thou haste promysed to lette me in to the towne but surely I wyll nat entre without it be by the gate Well quod Geronet and I can nat a mende it for I can nat lette you in at the gate it is faste shytte and the kepers be within but they be a slepe Whyle they were at this stryfe certayne of Geronettes cōpany within went vp downe vpon the walles to se if they myght here any noyse A lytell there by there was a poore house at the foote of
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
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
departed fro the cytie of Tholous with a fyue hundred horse and rode so longe that he came to Tarbe in Bygore and fro thence to Morloys in Bierne And the erle of Foiz who was signyfied of his comyng was ioyfull and coÌ„maunded all his offycers that the towne of Ortays shulde be well aparelled to receyue him for he sayd the marshals comynge pleased hym ryght well lodgynges for his men were made redy and the erle rode out in to the feldes to mete with hym and mothan thre hundred horses and there receyued hym with good chere And he was at Ortays a syre dayes and the marshall sayd to the erle howe the frenche kynge had great affection to se the countrey of Languedoc and to se hym Than the erle aunswered and sayd Syr the kynge shall be ryght welcome and gladde I wolde be to se hym yea but sir quod the marshall it is the kynges entension at his comyng playnely to knowe whether ye wyll holde you frenche or englissh for alwayes ye haue dissymuled out the warre for ye wolde neuer arme you for no desyre A sir quod the erle I thanke you in that ye haue shewed me somoche For syr though I wolde neuer arme me nor take no parte there hath been good cause why As for the warre bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce I haue nothynge to do therwith I holde my countrey of Bierne of no man but of good and the sworde What haue I to do to put my selfe in seruytude or in dyspleasure of one kynge or other yet I knowe well myne aduersaryes of Armynake haue done that in them is to bring me in the indyngnacion of bothe partyes for or the prince of Wales wente in to Spayne by the informacyon of the erle of Armynake the prince wolde haue made me warre he was so sore moued therto that he had done so and sir Iohan Chandos had nat broken his purpose but I thanke god alwayes I haue borne my selfe as mekely and as curteyssy as I coulde and shall do as longe as I lyue and whan I am deed let the maters go as they wyll Thus the erle of Foyze and the marshall passed the tyme togyder And at their departure the erle gaue hym a fayre courser a fayre mule and a nother good horse all thre togyther rychely sadylled and aparelled And he gaue to syr Roberte of Challus and to syr Rycharde Dolphyn to eche of them two huÌ„dred frankes and to fyue other squyers to eche of them fifty frankes Than the marshall toke leaue to departe to Tholous And I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme and wolde haue departed fro Ortays with hym but the Erle of Foyze wolde nat suffre me and sayd I shulde nat as than departe So it behoued me to byde his pleasure Sir Loys departed fro Ortays and rode to Tarbe and the lorde Dolphyn of Bygore conueyed him and sir Peter of Calestan one of the erle of Foiz knyghtes ABoute the same season there was at Burdeaux a dede of armes done before the duke of Lancastre by fyue englisshmen of his owne house and fyue frenche menne some of theym were of the marshall of Fraunce house Fyrst by ser Pecton Dallagnie a gascone englyssh agaynst sir Mores Mannigmente frenche Seconde bytwene sir Aragon Raymon englysshe agaynst the bastarde of Chauigny Frenche The thyrde bytwene Loys Malapus capytayne of Agremortes frenche agaynst Iaquemyn Corne de Cerfe englysshe Fourthe bytwene Archambalte de Villyers frenche and the sonne of the lorde of Chaumonte gascone englysshe The fyfte by Willyam Foucalt frenche against the brother of the lorde of Chaumont englysshe And to se these armes acomplysshed dyuers knyghtes and squiers of Bierne of therle of Foiz house toke their way towarde Burdeaux I wente with them in company bytwene Ortars and Burdeaux is but .xxiiii. myle There we sawe the sayde armes done before saynte Andrews in the presence of the duke of Lancastre and the duches their doughter and other ladyes and damosels of the couÌ„trey These knightes were nat all armed at ones but euery man by hym selfe with his felowe aparte their armes were thre courses with a speare thre strokes with a sworde thre with an are and thre with a dagger and all a horsehacke And this they dyd in thre dayes and none of all tenne hurte but sir Raymon slewe the bastardes horse wherwith the duke of Lancastre was sore dysplesed and blamed greatly the knight bicause he bare his staffe so lowe and the duke gaue the bastarde one of his horses Whan this was accomplysshed euery man deê‘ted to their owne houses AN one after the duchesse of Lancastre ordayned to goo in to Castyle and to leade with her Katheryne her doughter who shulde haue in maryage the kynge of Castyls sonne And the duchesse entente was fyrste or she wolde entre in to Castyle to go to Mantuell where somtyme was the batayle bytwene kynge don Peter her father agaynste kynge Henry of Castyle and of sir Bertram of Clesquyn And there she purposed to make iuste enquiry where the kynge her father lay buryed and to dygge vp his bones and to haue them to the cytie of Cyuill and there to bury theym agayne rychly as it appertayned to a kynge In the begynnynge of Marche whanne the sonne beganne to mount and the dayes to encrease than the duches of Lancastre was redy with her doughter and so departed fro Burdeaux and went to Bayon and there the duke of Lancastre toke leaue of her and he retourned to Burdeaux And the ladyes rode forthe to Dape and there she was well receyued for the cyte of Dape was vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande There she rested two dayes and than passed throughe the countrey of Basquence and passed by the passe of Rouceualx and entred in to Nauerre and came to Panpilona and there founde the kyng of Nauer and the quene who receyued the duchesse honourably The quene of Nauer was suster to the kynge of Castyle The duches and her doughter were a monethe passynge throughe the realme of Nauer for they taryed with the Kynge and with the quene a certayne space and their costes and charges were borne and payed for Than they entred in to Spaygne and at the entre of the realme they founde of the kynge of Castyls seruauntes redy there to receyue theym acordynge as they were commaunded And than the yonge prince was called prince of Galyce ¶ Howe the duches of Lancastre departed fro the kynge of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to brynge her fathers bones to Ciuyll and howe the frenche kynge sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the maryage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with the doughter of the erle of Boloyne Cap. C.lv. WHan all these matters were renewed and the maryage confyrmed than the duchesse of Lancastre lefte her doughter with the king with her yonge husbande that shulde mary her who was of the age of eight yeres the duches toke leaue
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 other two hundred crownes of golde And to the heraudes and offycers of armes other two hundred crownes so that euery man praysed the larges of the erle of Foiz The fourthe daye after the erle came to the kynges palais well acompanyed with lordes and knyghtes of Byerne and of Foiz to se the kynge and to do as he was requyred that is to saye to do his homage for the countie of Foiz with the appendauntes reseruyng the lande of Bierne Before that secretely there had been great treaties bytwene the kynge and the erle of Foiz by meanes of the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Mercier and the bysshoppe of Noyon who was newly come thyder fro Auygnon It was sayd that the erle desyred of the kyng that his sonne Iobbayne of Foiz myght after the erles discease enheryte the countie of Foiz By that the erle whan soeuer he dyed shulde leaue to the kyng a huÌ„dred thousande frankes in money And sir Gasyon his brother to haue the land of Ayre in Bierne with the Cytie and the Mounte of Marcen and all other landes that the Erle of Foiz hadde bought in Bierne shulde retourne to the herytauÌ„ce of the vycount of Castyllon These assygnementes were in debate and in dyfference bytwene the erle and the barones and knightes of his countrey Some sayde he coude nat do thus with a generall consent of all Byerne and Foize And bycause that the meane homage of the countie of Foize was dewe to the Frenche kyng therfore the kyng sayde to the Erle and to the barons of Foiz Sirs I holde in my handes the homage of the lande of Foiz and if it be so in our dayes that the lande of Foiz be vacant by the dethe of our cosyn the erle of Foiz than we shall so determyne and apoynt by the aduise of good counsayle that Iobbayns of Foiz and all other men of the couÌ„tie of Foiz shall holde theÌ„ content Those wordes well coÌ„tented therle of Foiz and the other lordes and knyghtes of Foiz that were there present These ordynaunces written and sealed the erle toke his leaue of the kynge and of all other great lordes but that daye he dyned with the kyng than went to his lodgyng The nexte day he departed fro Tholous and lefte his furriers behynde hym to paye for euery thyng The erle passed the ryuer of Gyronde by the bridge of Tholous and retourned in to his countrey by the mount of Marsen and so to Ortayes Than he gaue leaue to euery man to departe sauyng his ordynarye It was shewed me and I beleue it well that the coÌ„mynge of the frenche kyng in to LaÌ„guedocke in to Tholous in to those marchesse cost the erle of Foize more than threscore thousande frankes The erle was so lyberall that whatsoeuer it cost hym he payde it wyllyngly ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the feate and couenaunt that was don bytwene the kyng and the duke of Thourayn his brother whiche of them shulde sonest come to parys fro MonÌ„tpellyer whiche is a huÌ„dred and fyftie leages a sondre eche of them but with one knyght Cap. C.lxv. THe Frenche kynge being at Tholous he ordred all his businesse and remoued renewed seneschales and officers and reformed the countrey in to good estate so that euery maÌ„ was well contented And on a day the kyng present his brother his vncle of Burbone the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and Gascoyne to th entent to haue a perpetuall memorie gaue to his cosyn germayne sir Charles de la Brethe for the augmentacion of his honour two quarters of armes of FrauÌ„ce with floure delyces for a fore the lordes de la Brethe bare alwayes in their armes a felde of goules playne without any other thyng nowe they be quartred with the armes of FrauÌ„ce whiche thyng the lorde de la Brethe toke for a great gyfte whiche lorde made the same daye a great dyner whiche cost hym more than a thousande frankes and he gaue to heraudes mynstrels .ii. hundred frankes Anone after it was ordayned that the kyng shulde departe fro Thoulous to retourne in to Fraunce euery man made hym redy and toke leaue of the kynge the bysshop of Tholous the seneschall the burgesses and lordes and damoselles of the towne The kynge deê‘ted rode that nyght to the newe castell of Alroy and so forwarde euery daye so that he came to MouÌ„tpellyer where he was ioyfully receyued there taryed thre dayes for the ladyes and damosels there pleased hym moche Than he had gret defyre to returne to Paris to se the quene on a daye as he coÌ„muned in sporte with his brother of Thourayne he sayd Fayre brother I wolde that you and I were at Paris and all our estate here styll as it is for I haue great desyre to se the quene and your fayre suster of Thourayne than the duke sayde Sir we can nat be there with wysshing it is a farre iourney hens that is true ê™ the kyng yet I thynke I might besoone there I wolde ye ê™ the duke with helpe of good horses for so coude I be but my horse must beare me well quod the kyng laye a wager you and I who shall be there sonest I am content ê™ the duke for he was euer redy to wyn money of the kyng The wager was layde bitwene the kynge the duke that who soeuer of theÌ„ twayne came sonest to Paris shulde wyn fyue thousande fraÌ„kes of other to departe the nexte day all at one hour eche of them to take but one knight or seruauÌ„t with them there was no man that durst breke their wager the nexte day they departed as it was ordayned The lorde of GaraÌ„ciers rode with the kyng and the lorde of Viefuyll was with the duke of Thourayn thus these four rode night day lyke yong lusty galaÌ„tes they chauÌ„ged many horses thus they rode in post the duke of burbone retourned by Puy in Auuergne rode to se his grauÌ„tfather by the way therle Dolphyn of Auergne the countesse their chyldren of whoÌ„ there were to the noÌ„bre of eight what soÌ„nes what doughters all bretherne susters to the duches of Burbone his wife but that was by reason of two maryages Thus the frenche kyng and his brother the duke of Thourayne rode in great hast eche of theÌ„ to wyn the wager CoÌ„syder well the great payne of these two great riche lordes youthe lybertie of corage made theÌ„ to do that enterprice their estates abode behynde The frenche kynge made it foure dayes a halfe or he came to Paris and the duke of Thourayne no more but four dayes a quarter of a day they folowed eche other so nere the duke wan the wager by reason that the frenche kynge rested himself about .viii. of the clocke at Trois in ChaÌ„payne and the duke toke a barge in the ryuer of Seyne and went a longe the ryuer to Melyn and there toke his horse rode so tyll 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
Armynackes Squyer brought to hym fro sir Iohan Hacton and of the Wordes that were written within the letter The Erle was greatly reioysed and sayd that he trusted to make suche warre to the duke of Myllayne that he wolde bring hym to reason or elles to dye in the payne Whan all his company were passed the straytes of the mountayns and were in the good countrey of Piemounte nere Thouraygne Than they rode abrode and dyde moche hurte in the vyllages suche as coude nat holde agaynst them Than the erle layde sige before Aste in Pyemount entended to rary there for sir IohnÌ„ Hacton Prouisyon came to them fro all partes and also the companyons wan certayne small holdes and toke the vitayls that was within them The countre of Pyneroll and the landes of the Marques Mount feraunt were opyned and apparelled to delyuer vytayles other thynges nercessary for the hoost bothe for men and horse And also great prouisyon came to them out of the Dolphyne and out of the countie of Sauoy Many folkes greatly enclyned to the erle of Armynake bycause they sawe his quarell was good iust and also bycause the erle of Vertues had caused to be slayne his owne vncle sir Bernabo for enuy to sette agayne the lordes of Lombardy in to their herytages and disheryted his cosyn germayns wherof many great lordes thoughe they spake but lytell therof yet they hadde great pytie of the case Whyle the erle laye thus at siege before Aste he herde tidynges of sir IohnÌ„ Hacton wherof he was greatlye reioysed The tidynges was that the florentynes were come to the popes mercye and also the Venisyens And howe that the sayd sir IohnÌ„ shulde haue threscore thousande Floreyns for hym and his company And that money ones payde receyued and delyuered where as it shulde be departed than he promysed with a fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigans a fote to come in to the fronter of GeÌ„nes and to passe ouer the ryuer wheder their ennemeys wolde or natte and so to come to the erle of Armynake where soeuer he shulde be These tidynges greatlye reioysed the erle of Armynake and all his company for the ayde of this sir IohnÌ„ Hacton was right pleasaunt Than the erle of Armynake was counsailed to deê‘te thens and to go and laye siege before a great cytie called Alexandre at the entryng of LoÌ„bardy and whanÌ„e they had won that than to go to Bresuell whiche was also a good cytie and a fayre THus the erle of Armynake and his company layde siege before the cyte of Alexaundre standyng in a fayre countrey and a playne at the departyng out of Pyemount and at the entrynge of Lombardy and the way to go to the ryuer of GeÌ„nes These men of warre passed the ryuer of Thesyn and lodge at their ease at large for the countrey was good and plesaunt there aboute The Lorde Galeas lorde of Myllayne and erle of Vertues was as than in a towne called the cytie of Pauy and daylye herde tidynges what his enemyes dyde but he had marueyle of one thynge howe therle of Armynake coude gette the rychesse to pay wages to so many men of warre as he hadde brought with hym but his counsayle answered hym and sayde Sir haue no marueyle therof for the men that he hath be suche companyons that desyreth to wynne and to ryde at aduenture They haue vsed longe to ouerron the realme of FrauÌ„ce and to take holdes and garysons in the countrey so that the countrey coude neuer be delyuered of them And so it is that nowe of late the duke of Berrey and the Dolphyn of Auuergne to whose couÌ„treys these rutters dyde moche doÌ„mage for they kepte them there against the lordes wylles and ouer ranne the best parte of their he rytages and made theym warre And they caused the Erle of Armynake to treate with these companyons so that the Frenche kyng shulde suffre theÌ„ to come in to this your coutrey to make warre And therby and by meanes of certayne money gyuen to them they are auoyded oute of all the forteresses in the countrey And also besyde that the Frenche kynge hath ê‘doned all suche as made warre agaynst hym on the coÌ„dycion that they shulde serue the erle of Armynake in his warres all that they coude get shulde be their owne They demaunde none other wages And suche be named men of armes amonge theym with a fyue or sixe horses that if they were in their owne countreys they wolde go a foote and be but as poore men It is great parell and ieopardy to fyght agaynst suche men also lightly they be all good men of warre Wherfore sir the best counsayle that we can gyue you is to kepe your townes and fortresses they be stronge and well prouyded for and your ennemyes haue none artyllary nor engyns for the saute to be regarded They maye well come to the barryers of your townes and scrimysshe other doÌ„mage they can do none And this appereth well for they haue ben in your couÌ„trey this two monethes as yet haue taken no fortresse lytell nor gret Sir let them alone and they shall wery theÌ„ selfe and be distroyed at the ende so ye fyght nat with them And whan they haue distroyed the playne countre and haue no more to lyue by They shall than be fayne to returne for famyne without any other yuell fortune fall on them in the meane tyme. And it shall be well done that your men of warre in your fortresses kepe toguyder to ayde eche other in tyme of nede And sir sende to suche places as ye thynke your enemyes wyll besiege to resyst theÌ„ for townes men haue but small defeÌ„ce for they be nat so vsed nor accustomed to warre nouther to assaut nor to defende as men of armes knightes and squyers be who are norisshed brought vp therin sir sende your men of warre to the cytie of Alexandre Therby ye shall haue double profyte your cytie shal be defended and your people shall loue you the better whan they se ye do ayde and confort them And sir therto ye be bouÌ„de sithe ye haue gouernaunce ouer them that they paye to you their rentes subsydies aydes that ye haue demaunded of them dyuers tymes your enemyes can nat be so strong in the felde before Alexaundre that the towne shulde be closed in rounde about they haue no suche nombre to do it wherfore your men shall entre in to the towne at their case And whan they of the towne shall se them selâ— e refresshed with your men of warre they shall haue the more corage and loue you moche the better and shall putte out of their hertes all maner of treatie with your ennemyes To this counsaile the lorde of Mayllayne greed and incontynent he assembled toguyder his men of warre a fyue hundred speares And he made capitayne of theÌ„ an auncient knight called sir Iaques of Byerne an expert man of armes and they rode through the couÌ„trey priuely
and so on a nyght they entred in to the towne of Alexaundre They of the towne were greatly reioysed of their coÌ„myng and good cause why Bycause the erle of Armynake sawe no menne styrynge in the towne Therfore thre dayes toguyder they sauted scrimysshed at the barriers and yet with the small nombre that were there the armynakê were so well resysted that they wan nothyng Whan sir Iaques de la Byerne and his company were entred in to the strong cyte of Alexaundre and were lodged and refresshed the gouernour of the cytie and other came to vysite theÌ„ in their lodgynge Than sir Iaques demaunded of them the state of the cyte and the demeanour of their enemyes to take couÌ„sayle thervpon The anncient men and most sagest answered and sayd Sir sithe the erle of Armynake hath layde siege before vs euery daye we haue had assautes scrimysshes before our barryers Well sirs ê™ the knyght to morowe we shall se what they wyll do They knowe nat of my coÌ„myng I wyll make a secrete issue and lye in an enbusshe for them Ah sir quod they ye haue nede to be ware what ye do for they are a sixtene thousande horses and if they discouer you in the felde without any bataile they shall reyse suche a dust with their horses agaynst you and your company that ye shal be clene disconfit among your selfe Well quod the knyghtes to mo owe we shall se howe the mater shall go We must do some feate of armes sithe we become hyder Than euery man retourned to their lodging and the knight gaue know ledge to his coÌ„pany howe that the next mornyng secretely he wolde issue out of the cytie and lye in a buishment in the feldes and coÌ„maunded euery man to be redy THe nexte mornyng sir Iaques dela Bierne armed hym and all his company and issued out secretely and with hym a ioure hundred halfe a myle outs of the towne and assembled in a valey and caused other two hundred to abyde at the barriers And coÌ„maunded them that if their enemyes came to assayle them that they shulde make but faynt defence and recule backe thy derwarde where as they wolde lye in the busshement The daye was fayre and clere and the erle of Armynake who was yong and lusty after he had herde masse in his pauilyon armed hym and displayed his penon toke with hym but a hundred men thynking that no man shulde encountre hym And so came with his company before the barryers lytell and lytell some folowed hym and some satte styll sayd What nede we to arme vs whan we come to the barryers we shall se no man there and so satte styll eatyng and drinkyng and therle of Armynake went to scrimysshe before the barryers and there began to scrimysshe one with another within a shorte season the defenders beganne to recule lytell and lytell tyll they came to their enbusshe Whan sir Iaques de la Bierne sawe his enemyes coÌ„e before hym he discouered hymselfe and set on the acmynagoys who valyauntly defeÌ„ded themselfe for alwayes lytell and lytell socour came to them there was many a feate of armes done It was on saynte Christofers daye and the daye was so hoote that suche as were in their harnes thought verily they had ben in a furnes the wether was so faynt with out wynde so that the lustyest they had moche a do to do any feate of armes The partye of Myllayne were thre agaynst one The duste and the powder was so great that they coulde scante se one a nother and specially they of the erle of Armynakes parte There fell to the erle a great aduenture he was so oppressed with heate that he was so feble that he coulde scant helpe him selfe so that he drewe aparte out on the one syde of the felde and no man with him and there founde a lytell ryuer whan he felte the ayre of the water he thought he was in paradyse and sate downe alone besyde the water and with moche payne dyd of his basenet and sate bareheded and wasshed his face and dranke of the water wherby he was worse than he was before for the coldnesse of the water coled so his blode that he was faynter thanne he was before and fell in a paluesy so that he lost the strength of his body and speche and his men had loste hym there were many taken After a knight of the duke of Millayns fouÌ„de the erle of Armynake Whan he sawe hym he had meruayle what he was he parceyued wel he was a knyght a man of honour Than the knight said Sir who be you yelde you ye are my prysoner The erle vnderstode hym nat nor he coulde nat speke but he helde vp his hande and made token to yelde hym The knyght wolde haue hadde hym to ryse but he coulde nat The knyght taryed styll with him whyle other dyd fyght in the whiche batayle many a feate of armes was done WHan syr Iaques de la Bierne who was a sage knyght sawe howe the iourney was good for his party and howe that a gret nombre of his enemyes were taken and slayne and also sawe well that his owne men world â—ery and that his enemyes began to multyply with fresshe men than he reculed towarde the cytie skrymysshynge and defendynge The knyght that had taken the erle of Armynake thought nat to leaue hym behynde for he thought surely he was some man of honoure and desyred his company to ayde hym to beare his prisoner in to the towne promysynge them to haue parte of his raunsome They dyd so and with moche payne brought him in to the cyte and was vnarmed and layde in a bedde Than syr Iaques de la Bierne entred in to the cytie and toke his lodgynge and vnarmed hym and refresshed him and his company And whan the erle of Armynacke was myst in the hoost without they were sore dysmayed and wyst nat what to say nor do and some came to the place where the batayle had ben to seke for hym and returned agayne clene dyscomfyted The knyght that had taken the erle of Armynake had great desyre to know what man his prisoner was and came to another squyer that was in lykewyse taken prisoner a gascon desyringe his mayster to suffre hym to go with hym to his lodgynge so they went togyder The lombarde knyght led the squyer of Fraunce in to a chambre and brought hym to the bedde where the erle of Armynake lay sore complaynyng and caused torches to be lyghted vp and than said to the french squyer Sir knowe you nat this man The squyer regarded hym well sayd I knowe hym well for I ought so to do it is our capitayne the erle of Armynake With the whiche wordes the lombarde was ioyfull but the Erle was so sycke that he vnderstode nothynge that was sayd to hym Than his mayster sayd go we hence let hym rest Thus they left him and the same nyght he dyed
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
shewed outwardly Thus sir Peter of Craon perceyuered styll in his opynyon and deuysed in his imagynacion by the entysyng of the dyuell who neuer slepeth but waketh and enbraseth their hartes to do yuell that enclyneth to his exortacion Thus the dyuell dayly layde the mater before this knyghtes eyen or he put the mater to execusyon but if he had iustly ymagyned the doutes and parelles and myscheuousnesse that myght fall by his yuell dede reasone and wyse atemperaunce shulde haue caused hym to haue done otherwyse But it is often tymes said that the great desyre that a man hath to haue the execusyon of that thynge or it be fallen often tymes quencheth reason and wysdome therfore often tymes vyces are maysters and vertues vyolate and corrupted and for bycause that specially this syr Peter of Craon had so great affection to the dystructyon of the constable therfore he lyghtly enclyned to the temptacion to do outrage and folly and thought that if he myght slee the constable and returne agayne safely in to Bretayne that no man wolde seke hym there if they dyd he trusted that the duke wolde excuse hym and that if the worste fell that the Frenche kynge came thyder with a great puyssaunce than in a nyght to entre in to a shyppe and so to go to Burdeaux to Bay on or in to Englande and there he thought well he shulde nat be pursewed for he knewe well that the englysshe men hated the constable bycause of the crueltyes that he had doone and consented to be done sythe he was tourned frenche howe be it before that he had done many notable seruyces to the englysshe men as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystory SIr Peter of Craon for to accoÌ„plyssh his desyre had longe studyed in his mynde howe to brynge his purpose to passe and kepte his purpose close and secrete I knowe nat if he shewed it to the duke of Bretayne or nat some thought â—es bycause after the dede done by hym and his company he toke the next way he coude in to Bretayne and tooke for his sauegarde the duke of Bretaygne and also before the dede done he solde his castelles and herytage that he had in Aniou to the duke of Bretaygne and renyed his homage to the frenche kynge and sayd howe he wolde go ouer the see Of all these maters I passe breuely but I shall declare the dede for I syr Iohan Froysart auctour of this hystory whan this vnhappy dede was doone by syr Peter of Craon agaynste syr Olyuer of Clysson I was the same tyme at Paris wherfore I ought to be well enfourmed of the mater acordyng to the enquery that I made therin to knowe the trouthe The same tyme this syr Peter had in the towne of Parys a fayre house standynge in the churche yarde of saynt Iohans as dyuers other lordes had in the cytie for their pleasure In this house there was a keper syr Peter of Craon had sent of his seruauntes to Parys and they prouyded largely in the house with wyne corne flesshe salte and other prouysyons Also he had writen to the keper that he shulde bye certayne armure as cotes of stele gauntletes stoles and other harnesse for .xl men and that doone to sende hym worde therof to thentente that he wolde sende for them and secretly all this do be done The keper who thought none yuell and to obey his maysters coÌ„maundement bought all this marchauÌ„dyse And all this season he was in a castell of his owne in Aniou called Sable and he sent one weke thre or four seruauntes to his house in Parys and so wekely tyll he had there a .xl. and shewed them nothynge for what cause he sent them thyder but he charged them to kepe them selfe close in his howse in any wyse and what so euer they lacked the keper of his house shulde prouyde for it and on a daye I shall shewe you the cause why I sende you thyder before ye shall haue good wages They dyd as he commaunded them and came priuely to Parys and entred in to the house by nyght and in the mornynges for as than the gates of Parys nyght and daye stode open There assembled in that house so many togyther that they were a .xl. companyons hardy men and outragyous Howe be it there were some that if they hadde knowen wherfore they came thyderê they wolde nat haue come there yet they kepte them selfe secrete Than at the feest of Pentecost syr Peter of Craon came to Paris secretly entred into his howse dysguysed lyke a seruaunt Than he called for the porter that kepte the gate and sayd I coÌ„maunde the on payne of thy lyfe let no man woman nor chylde entre in to this house nor none to go out without my coÌ„maundement The porter obeyed as it was reason and so dyd the keper and he coÌ„maunded the kepers wyfe her chyldren to kepe her chambre and nat to issue out therof wherin he dyd wysely for if the woman and chyldren had gone abrode in the streates the comynge thyther of syr Peter Craon had been knowe for chyldren and women naturally are harde to kepe counsayle of that thynge a man wolde haue kepte secrete Thus syr Peter and his company were secretly in his howse tyll the day of the holy sacramente and euery day syr Peter had a brode his spyes that brought him worde of the state of syr Olyuer Clysson and tyll that daye he coulde fynde no tyme to execute his enterprise wherwith he was sore displeased in hym selfe The said day the frenche kynge kepte a feest with open courte with all the lordes that were there Also the quene and the duches of Thourayne were there in great ioy and solace The same day after dyner the yonge lusty knyghtes were armed and iusted valyauntly in the presence of the kynge and of the quene and other ladyes and damosels and contynued tyll it was nere nyght and by the iudgement of the ladyes and harauldes the price was gyuen to syr Gillyam of Flaunders erle of Namure And the kynge made all the lordes and ladyes a great supper and after supper daunced tyll it was one of the clock after mydnyght than euery man departed to their lodgynges some to one place some to another without feare or doute of any thyng Syr Olyuer of Clisson who as than was constable of Fraunce departed fro the kynges place last of all other and had taken his leaue of the kynge and than went through the duke of Thourayns chambre and sayde to hym Syr wyll ye tary here all nyght or els go to your lodgyng of Poullayne This Poullayn was the dukes treasourer and dwelte a lytell besyde the sygne of the Lyon of syluer Than the duke sayde constable I can nat tell as yet whether I do tary here or els go thyder go ye your waye to your lodgynge for it is tyme. Than syr Olyuer toke his leaue of the duke and sayd syr god sende you
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
by their good wylles howe be it they hadde made their assemble and to saue their honour they obeyed and folowed WHan the Frenche kyng hadde rested hym a fyftene dayes at saynt Germayns and that his armye was assembled than he departed and passed the ryuer of Seyne and toke the waye to Charters and so to Annens a good towne and a castell parteyning to the lorde de la Ryuer as herytage of his wyues With the kynge was his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the duke of Burbone The lorde de la Ryreceyued the kynge honorably and there taryed thre dayes and than rode to Charters where as Montague was bysshoppe The kynge was lodged in the bysshoppe palais and the two dukes And the seconde day after thyder came the duke of Berrey and the erle of Marche in his coÌ„pany And the fourh daye thider caÌ„e the duke of Burgoyne wher of the kynge was ryght ioyfull and people came dayle and the kyng sayd he wolde nat retourne to Parys tyll he hadde brought the duke of Bretayne to reason who so often tymes had put hym to payne and trouble The kynges counsayle hadde so sette hym on that warre that the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne wolde gladly haue modered the mater but they coulde nat be herde wherwith they were sore displeased so were suche as were of their couÌ„sayls and they said eche to other that surely the mater coude nat long endure in that state for it is full lykely that the kynge and the realme shall haue some busynesse to do sithe the kyng refuseth the counsaile of his vncles and leaneth to other at his pleasure who be nothyng lyke to theÌ„ Whan the kyng had taried at Charters a seuyn dayes than he departed and toke the waye to Mans and his men folowed some fro farre partes as out of Arthois Beamoys Vermandois and Picardy and some said one to another Ah this duke of Bretayne maketh vs to haue moche to do putteth vs to great payne and traueyle He hath been alwayes harde highe herted agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce nor he neuer loued nor honored it And his cosyn the erle of Flaunders and the duchesse of Burgone who haue alwayes borne hym and as yet do had nat ben he had ben distroyed long a go for euersyth the lorde Clysson tourned Frenche he neuer loued him Surelye by an likelyâ— â—de he is â—â—â—yable of this dede for he hath alwayes 〈◊〉 sir Peter of Craon agaynst the kyng and agaynst the Constable Than other sayde Lette the kyng alone for as at this tyme he hath the mater so at his hert that he wyll bring the duke to reason or he retourne That is trewe ê™ other if there be no trayson But we feare that all suche as go with the kyng be nat enemies to the duke as it may be well 〈◊〉 if we durst speke it by some tokens For there be some that nyght and daye do what they can to couÌ„sayle the kynge to breke his voyage whiche so troubleth the kyng that he can scant gette hym selfe any helthe or recouery of his laste sickenesse Thus knightes and squiers deuised among theÌ„ selfe as they rode in their couÌ„treys Styll the kyng aproched to the cytie of Mans and there the kynge lodged in the castell and his lordes in the cytie and his men of warre abrode in the countrey There the kyng taried a thre wickes for he was sore vexed with the feuer and his phisicions sayde to his brother and to his vncles My lordes we ensure you ye do yuell to traueyle the kyng for he is in no good state to ryde rest were farre better for hym for sythe he came fro the cytie of Amyens he hath nat ben in so good helthe as he was before They shewed this to the kynge but he had so great affection to go in this iourney that he wolde nother beleue them nor yet his phisycions but sayde howe he founde more ease in trauelyng than in restyng Therfore who so euer counsayle me the contrary shall nat please me nor he loueth me nat Other answere they coulde nat haue of the kyng Euery day the kyng wolde sytte in the myddes of his counsayle tyll it was noon to th entent that none shulde laye any lette of his iourney Thus the kyng being at Mans and somwhat to acomplysshe the desyers of his vncles He sent four notable knightes to the duke of Bretayne as sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Varensiers the lorde of Castell morant and sir TaÌ„pyne of Cautenâ—l chateleyne of Gysors and they were charged to shewe the duke howe the kyng and his counsaile reputed that he dyde great offence to susteyne the kynges enemy and the realmes and to make amendes that he shulde seÌ„de sir Peter of Craon to Mans to the kyng wherby meanes shulde be fouÌ„de that he shulde take no doÌ„mage nor his countrey for all the kynges voyage Thus they deê‘ted fro Man 's with a .xl. speres passed through the cyte of Angiers and at last came before the cytie of Nauntes and entred and there sounde the duke who made them good chere and on a daye made them a dyner and than they dyde their message and declared the kynges entent and his counsayls whervnto the duke answered wisely and sagely said Howe it shulde be harde for hym to delyuer sir Peter of Craon and sayd as god myght helpe hym in all his busynesse he knewe nat where he was Wherfore he desyred them in that case to holde hym excused But he sayde he had well herde of hym a yere past that he loued nat sir Olyuer of Clysson but wolde make him mortall warre to his power what soeuer ende came therof And at that tyme I demaunded of hym if he had gyuen sir Olyuer knowledge therof and he sayd he had vtterly defyed and wolde slee hym if he coude outher by daye or by nyght where soeuer he coude fynde hym Of his dedes I knowe no further wherfore I haue marueyle that the kynge wyll make warre agaynst me for his cause for as to the couynauntes of maryage bytwene our chyldren by the grace of God shall nat be broken on my parte wherfore I haue done nothynge to hym nor to his counsaile that he shulde make warre agaynst me This was the aunswere that the duke made to the Frenche kynges messangers and so whan they hadde taryed a daye at Nauntes than they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Mans to the kyng who thought longe tyll he herde their aunswere and as ye haue herde before they declared it to the kyng and his couÌ„sayle The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne were well coÌ„tent with the answere and sayd it was reasonable but the kyng by reason of suche enformacion as he had sayde the contrary and sayd sithe he was so forewarde in his iourney he wolde nat returne agayne in to Fraunce nor to Parys tyll he had brought the duke of Bretayne to reason Gladly
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
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
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
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌ„ded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ— that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâ—tendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌ„myssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌ„t of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌ„ce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌ„maundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌ„dement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌ„maundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
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
in this warre that he wanne more than he lost He toke two tymes all the dukes vessell and plate of golde and syluer and dyuers other iewelles wherof he hadde great profyte The conclusyon of the warre and hate bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson was thus The duke of Bretayne lyke a great lorde as he was sawe well he coude nat come to his entent of sir Olyuer of Clysson and that he had ouer many frendes in Bretayne for sauyng their alegiauÌ„ce to the duchy of Bretayne All the bretons knyghtes squyers prelates and men of the good Cyties and good townes enclyned more to the lorde Clysson than to the duke And the highe barons dissymuled and had aunswered the duke that they wolde nat entremedle them with that warre but sayde they wolde gladly sette a peace and accorde bytwene theÌ„ Also the duke of Orlyaunce specially conforted couertly in many maner of wayes sir Olyuer of Clysson and he was alwayes ioyous whan he herde of his good spede in any of his entreprices The duke of Bretaygne who was a subtyle prince and ymaginatyfe and had endured moche payne duryng this warre and sawe well he was nat very well beloued with his owne people as the chyldren of the lorde Charles of Bretayne were the one called Charles of Bloyes who was slayne at the batayle of Alroy and IohnÌ„ of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and of Lymogines who had to wyfe the doughter of sir Olyuer of Clisson and the lorde Henry of Bretayne his brother and their suster the quene of Naples and of Hierusalem Also the duke sawe that he began to waxe olde that his chyldren were but yonge and ê‘ceyued well he had no frendes in FrauÌ„ce except the duke of Burgoyne the duches his wyfe And he sawe well his chyldren shulde haue as fewe for by their mothers syde they came were issued of the membres and braunches of Nauer whiche generacion was nat ouermoche loued in Fraunce for the great myscheues that kynge Charles of Nauerre father to the duchesse of Bretayne had done in tyme past in Fraunce wherof the remembraunce as than endured And the duke sawe that if he dyed in that estate bothe with sir Olyuer of Clisson and with the erle of Ponthieur he than douted that his chyldren that were so yonge shulde haue ouer many great enemyes and also he sawe that the alyaunce bytwene hym and Englande began to waxe colde For he was enformed that the kynge of Englande shulde haue to wyfe the doughter of FrauÌ„ce thesame lady that was promysed to hym for his sonne and heyre The duke dyde cast all these doutes ThanÌ„e all thynges consydered he ymagined to breke his herte without dissimulacion and make a ferme peace with sir Olyuer of Clysson with Iohan of Bretayne And wolde putte hym selfe at their pleasure to make amendes for all wrathes forfaytes and doÌ„mages that euer they dyde to hym or to his men duryng the warre He wolde desyre nothynge but that they shulde take hym for duke of Bretayne and his children after hym accordyng to the artycles of the peace before made bytwene hym and the chyldren of sir Charles of Bloyes whiche charter of peace he wolde nat breke nor any artycle comprised therin And also to kepe and vpholde euery thyng that he had promysed to IohnÌ„ of Bloyes his cosyn erle of PoÌ„-Ponthieur And if he hadde nat his parte of the herytage of Bretayne suffycient he wolde putte the ordring therof without any dissymulacion to the vicount of Rohan and to the lordes of Dignan of Leon of Lauall and of Beaumont and of the lorde IohnÌ„ of Harpeden Whan the duke of Bretayne had aduysed in hym selfe all this purpose without makynge of any man of his counsayle He called to hym his secratorie and in a chabre they two alone he caused hym to write a letter to sir Olyuer of Clysson as swetely amiably as coude be deuysed desyring hym that they might speke toguyder secretely on trust to haue good peace bytwene theÌ„ Whan this Letter was made deuysed and sealed Than he toke a secrete person coÌ„maundyng hym to go to the castell of Iosselyn and saye I do sende the to speke with my cosyn sir Olyuer of Clysson and salute hym fro me and delyuer hym this letter and bring agayne an answere And on payne of thy lyâ—e kepe this secrete and shewe no creature whider thou gost nor who dothe sende the. He tooke his iourney and spedde hym so well that he caÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn The porters had marueyle whan they herde hym saye that he cae fro the duke of speke with their maister they wente and shewed their lorde therof Than he coÌ„maunded that the messanger shulde coÌ„e to hym and so he dyde And well and wisely declared his message and delyuered his letter sealed with the dukes seale whiche sir Olyuer knewe ryght well and opyned reed the letter two or thre tymes the better to vnderstande it And in the redyng he had great marueyle of the swete wordes cretable and amyable that was comprised in the letter He studyed a season and at last sayd howe he wolde take aduyse and write agayne sir Olyuers men hadde great marueyle of this for before he had forborne no man of the dukes but outher he was slayne or putte in prisone ThanÌ„e sir Olyuer wente in to his lecrete chambre and began to muse and ymagyn vpon these newes At last he apesed his yuell wyll in that the duke humyled hymselfe so moche towardes him and that he wrote so swetely yet he thought in hym selfe to proue the duke further or he aduentured hym selfe to go to the duke for he thought if he toke any hurte no man wolde bewayle hym if he lost hym selfe by folly Than he wrote a letter to the duke ryght swete and tretable but the conclusyon was that yf he wolde haue hym to come speke with hym that he shuld sende his sonÌ„e and heyre to lye in hostage for hym tyll his retourne This letter was delyuered to the dukes varlet who retourned therwith to Wannes where the duke was there delyuered his letter The duke reed it and studyed a lytell and sayd I shall do it to the entence to treate louyngly with hym Than theÌ„ duke wrote a letter to the vycount of Rohan who was at the castell of Cayre Whan the vycount sawe the dukes letter he came incontynent to Wannes Than the duke shewed all his purpose and entencyon sayd Vycount you and the lorde of Mountbursier shall leade my sonÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn and leaue hym there and bringe with you the lorde Olyuer Clysson for I wyll agree and make peace with hym The vicouÌ„t sayd it shulde be done gladly So they toke the dukes sonne and heyre who was about the age of eight yere and ledde hym to the castell Iosselyn to the lorde Olyuer Clysson who receyued them ryght honorably And whan he sawe the chylde and the good affection
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
all and ye se well howe fortune is agaynst vs and how we be in daunger of this kynge therfore to saue our lyues make vs rather greater than we be in dede and shewe the kyng that we be suche men able to pay great raunsomes syrs quod he so shall I do for I am boūde therto than this knight retourned to Lamorabaquy and to his counsayle and syd howe those knyghtes whiche he hadde spoken with were of the greatest men in all Fraunce and were of the Kynges lyngage and said they were able to pay great raunsomes Than Lamorabaquy sayd howe their lyues shulde be saued and all other prisoners to be slayne and hewen all to peces in example of all other Than the kynge shewed hym selfe before all the people that were there assembled to whome they all made lowe reuerence They made a lane for hym to passe thorough euery man with his sworde naked in his hande and so came thyder where the sayd lordes of Fraunce stode togyther Than the king wolde se the correction of the other whiche thynge the sarazyns were desyrous to do THan they were all brought before Lamorabaquy naked in their shyrtes and he behelde them a lytell and than tourned fro them warde and made a sygne that they shuld be all slayne and so they were brought through the sarazyns that had redy naked swordes in their handes and so slayne and hewen all to peces without mercy This cruell iustyce dyd Lamorabaquy that daye by the whiche mo than thre hūdred gentlemen of dyuers nacyons were tourmented slayne for the loue of god on whose soules Iesu haue mercy Amonge other was slayne syr Henry Dantoigne of Heynalt and so it was the lord Boucyquante marshall of Fraunce was one of theym that was brought naked before the kynge and had ben slayne with other and the erle of Neuers had nat espyed hym As sone as he sawe hym he went streyght to the kynge and kneled downe and desyred hym effectuously to respyte fro the dethe that knyght syr Boucyquant sayenge howe he was a great man in Fraūce and able to pay a great raunsome Lamorabaquy condyscended to the request of the erle of Neuers and so syr Boucyquant was sette amonge them that shulde be saued Thus cruell iustyce was done that day vpon the crysten men and bycause that Lamorabaquy wolde that his vyctory shulde be knowen in Fraunce he apoynted out thre of the frenche knyghtes to come before hym wher of syr Iaques of Helley was one Than the kyng demaūded of the erle of Neuers whiche of tho thre knyghtes he wolde chose to sende in to Fraunce to the kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne his father Than the erle of Neuers sayd syr and it please you I wolde that this knyght syr Iaques of Helley shulde go thyder fro you and fro vs. So syr Iaques taryed with Lamorabaquy and the other two knyghtes delyuered to dethe and so slayne whiche was pytie Than Lamorabaquy was well apeased of his furoute and vnderstode howe the kyng of Hungery was scaped away a lyue Than he determyned to retourne in to Turkey to a cytie called Burse and so he dyd and thyder all the prisoners were brought and than his army departed and specyally suche as were of farre coūtreys as Tartary Perce Mede Sury Alerandre and of Lecto than syr Iaques Helley was delyuered to retourne in to Fraunce and he was cōmaunded to retourne throughe Lombardy and to recommaunde Lamorabaquy to the duke of Myllayne and also he was streyghtly cōmaunded that in euery place as he passed to manyfest and publisshe the victory that Lamorabaquy had vpon the crysten men The Erle of Neuers wrote to the frenche kynge for hym selfe and all his company to his father the duke of Burgoyne and to the duchesse his mother Whan this knyght had his charge as well by writyng as by credence he departed and toke his way towardes Fraunce Or he departed he was sworne and promysed as soone as he had done his message in Fraūce incontynent to retourne agayne thyder whiche othe and promesse he acōplysshed lyke a trewe knight Nowe we wyll leaue speakynge at this tyme of Lamorabaquy and of the lordes of Fraūce prisoners and we wyll speke of other maters that fell the same season ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the pouertie and mysery that the crysten knightes of Fraunce and other nacyons endured in the commynge home to their countreys Cap. CC.xviii AFter this great dyscōfyture that the turkes had vpon the cristen men suche Knyghtes as could saue them selfe dyd The same mondaye there was a thre hundred knyghtes squyers that were gone a foragynge and were nat at the batayle for whan they knewe by them that fledde that the batayle was doone they had no desyre to retourne agayne to their lodginges but fledde as well as they myght and toke dyuers wayes to flye fro the turkes Ther fled bothe frenchmen englisshmen almayns scottes Flemynges and of other nacyons and they came in to a countrey ioynynge to Hungery called Blacquy it was a countrey replenysshed with dyuers people they were conquered vpon the turkes and tourned perforce to the crysten faythe The kepers of the portes townes and castels suffered these crysten men to entre and to lodge but the nexte mornynge at their departure they tooke fro these knyghtes and squyers all that they had and gaue them poore cotes and a lytell slyuer to passe therwith one dayes iourney This grace they shewed to the gentlemen And as for other yeomen varlettes they were spoyled all naked and sore beaten and yuell entreated without pytie So they passed through the coūtrey of Blacquy in great pouerte and through Hūgery they coude scant get breed for goddessake nor lordgyng at nyght they endured this daunger in passynge tyll they came to Vyen in Austrich There they were receyued more swetely and refresshed and newe cladde and so throughe the realme of Boesme For if they hadde founde the Almaygnes so harde they had neuer tourned agayne but rather dyed for colde and hunger Euery man that herde them tell of that aduenture hadde pytie on them So finally they came in to Fraunce to Paris and there shewed their aduentures At the begynnynge they coude nat be beleued Some in Parys sayde It is pytie these vnthriftes be vnhanged or drowned for tellyng of suche lies Howe be it these tidynges dayly multiplyed with resortyng of newe men Whan the frenche kynge vnderstode that these newes dayly renewed they were nothyng pleasaunt to hym for it was a great dōmage of the losse of the noble men of his blode and of other good knyghtes and squyers of the realme of Fraūce Than he cōmaunded no man to be so hardye to speke any more of that mater tyll he were better enfourmed of the certentie and cōmaunded that all suche as were come oute of Hungery shulde be taken and put in prisone tyll the trouth were knowen So there were many putte in to prison And the kyng hadde
his people were right ioyfull for they loued hym and so came conforted hym and sayde Sir though ye haue hadde doÌ„mage at this tyme another tyme ye shall right well recouer it Thus the kynge bare his doÌ„mage as well as he myght On the other parte Lamorabaquy retourned in to his countre came to a towne called Burse and thyder were all the prisoners brought there sette vnder sure kepynge They were nothyng there at their ease The heate of the countrey and dyette sore chaunged them for they hadde ben vsed before to swete and delycate metes and drinkes and had their owne cookes and offycers that dyde prepare their meates accordynge to their dyettes there in Turkey they were sarued all contrarye with grose meates flesshe yuell sodden and dressed They had spyces ynough bredde made of mylke clene fro the nature of FrauÌ„ce They had wyne and that was with great daunger Thoughe they were all great lordes they were but smally regarded there The turkes had as lyue they had been sicke as hole and deed as a lyue they wolde they had ben all putte to execusyon So these prisoners conforted eche other within themselfe for they sawe none other remedy so some of theÌ„ their nature chaunged and fell in to sickenesse He that made the best chere and countynaunce was the Erle of Neuers and that he dyde to conforte his companyons also sir Bouciquant and the erle of Marche and sir Henry of Bare were of good conforte and tooke euery thynge paciently Sayeng that the honours in armes nor the glorie or this worlde coude nat be hadde without payne and somtyme with metyng of harde aduentures For they said that there was neuer so valyaunt and happy that had alwayes euery thyng as they wysshed They sayde they were bounde to thanke god that he hadde saued their lyues consydringe the displeasure that Lamorabaquy and his counsayle were in for the losse of their men for it was ones determyned that we shulde all generally haue been putte to dethe Than Bouciquaunt sayd I ought aboue all other to thanke god of my lyfe for I was at the poynt to haue beÌ„ hewen all to peces as other of my company were but at the request of my lorde here the erle of Neuers I was saued This aduenture call I good and sithe god hath delyuered vs fro this paryll he wyll and it please hym delyuer vs fro a greatter for we be his soudyers for his sake we haue this payne For by reason that sir Iaques of Helley is gone in to Fraunce I trust within a yere we shall haue good comforte and be delyuered The matter can not abyde thus The Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn wyll nat forgette vs but by some meanes raunsomed and delyuered THus sir Boucyquaunt reconforted hym selfe and tooke euery thyng in good pacyence but the lorde Coucy coude take no coÌ„forte whiche was marueyle for before that tyme he was a lorde of great wysdome and of great coniorte neuer was abasshed but beyng thus in prison in Burse in Turkey he was more disconforted than any other and in more malencoly And sayd he was sure he shulde neuer retourne in to FrauÌ„ce Sir Henry of Bare conforted hym as moche as he myght and blamed hym of his disconforte sayeng howe he ought to gyue conforte to all other Howe be it the same sir Henry was sore abasshed in hym selfe oftentymes remembred his wyfe and wolde wepe pituously And in lykewise so dyd sir Philyppe of Arthoise erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce Sir Guye of Tremoyle was of good conforte and so was the erle of Marche Lamorabaquy was content somtyme that they shulde haue some pastyme somtyme he wolde go hym selfe and se them and iangle and bourde with them right graciously and wolde that they shulde se parte of his estate puyssaunce ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue somwhat to speke of them and speke of sir Iaques of Helley and sir IohnÌ„ of Castell Morant who were bothe ryding towardes Hungry SIr Iaques of Helley taryed in the cytie of Bode in Hungry about a ten or .xii. dayes abydinge for sir Iohan of Castell morant And whan he was coÌ„e sir Iaques was ioyfull for he was desyrous to passe forthe in to Turkey to acquyte hym of his faythe and promyse and to se the erle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce and to comforte them Whan the kynge of Hungry sawe sir IohnÌ„ of Castelmorant he made him good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge he vnderstode that the frenche kyng had sent by hym gret preseÌ„tes iowels to lamorabaâ— wherwith he was sore displeased in his mynde but he dissymuled the mater and kepte it couert tyll sir Iohan Heley was departed in to Turkey warde but he said to suche of his priuye counsayle as he discouered the mater vnto Howe that the miscreant dogge his aduersary Lamorabaquy shulde haue no preseÌ„tes out of Fraunce nor fro no place els if it laye in his power to lette it Sir IohnÌ„ Helley was departed and promysed to gette of Lamorabaquy a saueconducte for sir Iohan Morant to passe in to Turkey and repasse So long he trauâ—yled with guydes that he came in to Turkey to the cytie of Burse but as than Lamorabaquy was in another cytie called Poly. And where so euer he went the prisoners were caryed with hym excepte the lorde Coucy who taryed styll at Burse for he coude nat endure to ryde he was so sicke and with hym taryed a cosyn of his of Grece a right valyant barone discended of the lynage of the dukes of Austriche who was called Mathelyn Whan sir Iaques was come to Poley Lamorabaquy was gladde to se hym bycause he was come out of Fraunce Than sir Iaques right humbly said to him Right dere redouted sir beholde here your prisoner to the best of my power I haue don your message the ye gaue me in charge to do Than Lamorabaquy sayd thou arte welcoÌ„e Thou hast trewly acquyted thy selâ—e therfore I acquyte the of thy raunsome prison so that thou mayst go retourne tary at thy pleasure wherof sir Iaques right huÌ„bly thaÌ„ked hym Than he shewed howe the frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne had sente a knyght of honoure embassade to hym with credeÌ„ce and had brought with hym certayne presentes of pleasure fro the Frenche kyng Lamorabaquy demaunded what they were and if he had sene them or nat The knyght aunswered sir I haue nat sene them but the knyght that hath the charge to do the message is at Bode in Hungry And sir I am come before to shewe you therof to haue a saueconducte for the sayd knyght to come and to retourne safely Than Lamorabaquy sayd We wyll that he haue one as thou wylte deuyse wherof the knyght thanked hym So they departed as at that tyme. Another tyme sir Iaques spake with Lamorabaquy kneled downe before hym and humbly requyred that he myght se
the lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce for he had dyuers thynges to saye to them out of their countre Lamorabaquy studyed a lytell or he aunswered and at laste sayd Thou shalte speke with one of them but with no mo and so sent for the erle of Neuers alone and whan he was come sir Helley kneled downe to hym Th erle was glad to se hym and demaunded howe the frenche kynge and the duke his father the duches his mother dyde The knyght shewed hym all that he knewe and all that he was charged to saye to hym howe be it they had nat so good leysar to talke togyder as they wolde haue had for Lamorabaquyes men that were there present badde them haue done for they sayd they had other thynges to do than to stande there and wayte vpon them Than sir Iaques demaunded of the Erle howe all the other lordes of Fraunce dyde The Erle said they were all in good case except the lorde of Coucy who was somwhat diseased and was at the cytie of Burse Than sir Iaques shewed hym howe sir Iohan of Castell morant was come out of Fraunce fro the kyng and fro the duke of Burgoyne in ambassade to Lamorabaquy and to asswage his yre he hath sent hym ryche iewelles and presentes but he is at Bode in Hungry with the kyng there and I am come before for a sauecoÌ„duct for hym to come and go the whiche Lamorabaquy hath graunted And I thynke I shall retourne to hym shortely Herof therle was right ioyous but he durst make no semblant for feare of the Turkes but said sir Iaques I vnderstande by you that ye are quyte of your raunsome and prison and that ye maye retourne whan it pleaseth you in to FrauÌ„ce whan ye come there I praye you shewe the kyng and my father that we all desyre them to treate as shortely as maye be for our delyueraunce by some marchauntes genowayes or venisyons and agree at the fyrst worde to that Lomorabaquy shall desyre for our rauÌ„some for if they shulde make long treatie with hym we shal be lost for euer for I vnderstaÌ„de Lamorabaquy is trewe of his worde curtesse and shorte in all his maters so he be taken at the poynt Thus the erle of Neuers and sir Iaques departed Whan the saueconducte was redy it was delyuered to sir Iaques Than he toke his leaue of Lamorabaquy and of other of his courte of his aquayntaunce and rode so longe by his iourneys that he arryued at Bode in Hungry Than he drewe to sir Iohan Moraunt who thought longe for hym Than sir Iaques sayd sir I haue brought you a saueconducte to go in to Turkey and all youre company and to retourne agayne at your pleasure I am gladde therof ê™ the knyght Lette vs go to the kyng of Hungry and shewe hym therof and than to morowe betymes lette vs departe for I haue taryed here longe ynoughe Than they bothe togyder wente to the kyng in to his chambre and shewed hym all the mater The kynge than answered and sayde Sir Iohan Moraunt and ye Helly ye be welcome ye shall go at youre pleasure for the loue of my cosyns of Fraunce to whom I wolde be gladde to do pleasure and to you also ye maye go come throughe my realme at your pleasure and also in to Turkey if ye please But as for your presentes that you sir Iohan haue brought out of FrauÌ„ce I wyll nat agree that ye shall conuey them to that hell hounde Lamorabaquye He shall neuer be enryched therwith It shulde tourne to our great shame and rebuke if he shulde make his auauut that bycause he hath had victorie on vs and hath in daunger and prison certayne lordes of FraÌ„ce that for feare therof there shulde be sente to hym riche presentes as for the GerfaucoÌ„s I care nat for for foules flye lightly oute of one countre in to another they are soone gyuen and soone lost But as for riche hangynges of arras are thynges to be sene and to endure for euer Wherfore sir Iohan Morant if ye wyll passe in to Turkey with your ger faucoÌ„s go whan it please you but as for any other thyng ye shall haue non with you thaÌ„ the knyght aunswered and sayd Certaynly sir it shulde nat be myne honour nor pleasaÌ„t to the Frenche kynge nor to the lordes that haue sente me hyder without I myght accoÌ„plysshe my voyage as I haue in charge well quod the kynge ye shall haue none other waye of me at this tyme. So the kynge went fro them and lefte the two knightê spekynge toguyder They were sore troubled with the abusyon on the kynge of Hungery Than they counsayled toguyder what was best for them to do Than they determyned to sende hastye messangers to the freÌ„che kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne sithe they sawe they coulde haue none other remedy they wrote letters to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne that they shulde ê“uyde for the mater They sente their letters by poste to make the more hast and taryed styll them selfes at Bode with the kyng of Hungry abyding the retourne of their messanger THis messanger spedde so well and made suche dilygence that he came to Parys and there founde the kyng and the duke of Burgoyn and there shewed his leâ—â—s and they were reed at length with the whiche they were nothynge pleased and had marueyle that the kyng of Hungry wolde nat suffre his presentes to passe throughe his countre in to Turkey The duke of Berrey excused the kynge of Hungry and sayde howe he had good cause to do as he dyde for it is a thyng to humbly done for the kynge to sende suche presentes to an hethan thyng the duke of Burgoyne bycause the mater touched hym he was of the contrary opinyon and said it was a thyng reasonable so to do sith that fortune hath ben so fauorable to him to haue the vyctorie in suche a batayle and hath hadde the kyng of Hungry in chase and hath taken prisoners all suche noble men as were agaynst hym in that iourney wherfore the freÌ„des of those prisoners may well fynde the meanes howe to comforte them for their delyueraunce This dukes wordes were vp holden with the kynge and with dyuers of his counsayle Than the kynge demaunded of his vncle of Berrey Sayeng fayre vncle if Lamorabaquy the soudan or any other hethan kynge sende you a ruby or a ryche iewell wheder wyll ye receyne it or nat Sir quod he I wolde take aduyse Than that kyng sayd It passeth nat yet tenne yere sythe the soudan sente you a ruby whiche cost twentie thousande frankes So the kynge of Hungries dede was nat susteygned but it was sayd that he had yuell done to stoppe the goyng of these presentes and that it shulde rather hynder the prisoners than auaunce theÌ„ Than the kyng was couÌ„sayled to write to the kyng of Hungry amyable letters desyringe hym nat to stoppe his knyght but suffre him to passe in to
se what condycyon her husbande the lorde of Coucy was in The knyght sayd for her sake he was content to go thyder to bringe the certaynte of his estate Thus he made him redy and fiue persones with him Other ladyes in Fraunce sent in lyke wyse to knowe what case their husbandes were in YE haue herde here before howe the kynge of Hungery wolde in no wyse consent that sir Morant shulde passe into Turkey with the frenche kynges presentes and in this opynion the kynge longe contynued whiche was right dyspleasaunt to sir Morant and to syr Helley but they coude nat amende it And so it happed that the great mayster of the Rodes came in to Hungery to the cytie of Bode to whome the kyng made good chere wherto he was bounde for the daye of the batayle the kynge had ben slayne or taken and he had nat ben and there he founde these two knyghtes of Fraunce They came to him and shewed hym howe the kynge wolde nat suffre them to passe in to Turkey with suche presentes as the frenche kynge had sent to Lamorabaquy wherof he had meruayle sayde howe he wolde speke to the kynge therin and that they shulde well knowe and so he dyd and shewed to the kyng suche reasons that he tourned the kynges opynion and so than they had leaue to passe in to Turkey with all their presentes and so they passed forthe vnder sure safe conduct and came to Lamorabaquy who receyued theym and their gyftes ryght honorably after their vsage and made great ioye of the presentes The knyghtes for all that spake but ones all onely with the erle of Neuers at good leysare and at their departynge the erle sayde to them Syrs I requyre you recommaunde me to my lorde my father and to my lady my mother and to my lorde of Berrey and specyally to the kynge and salute fro me all my other frendes and desyre them that if Lamorabaquy wyll set vs to raunsome that by meanes of marchauntes or otherwyse our raunsomes may be quyckly payed and we delyuered for by longe taryenge we shall lese for in the begynnyng we were but .viii. prisoners and nowe we be .xvi. whiche is in all .xxiiii. and we shall nat be delyuered without we be delyuered all at ones and as soone all as one for Lamorabaquy hath so promysed and surely he wyll nat be founde false of his worde syr Morant and syr Helley aunswered and sayd howe his cōmaundement shulde be doone to the whiche he was bounde So they departed and retourned in to Hungery and by the way they encountred the messanger that was sent in to Fraunce to the kynge bringynge a gayne letters fro the frenche kynge to the kyng of Hungery Than this messanger retourned agayne with theym for he had no more to do whan he sawe them retourne and had done their voyage into Turkey and so retourned all togyther in to Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to dystroye kynge Rycharde of Englande his nephue Cap. CC.xxii IT is long syth I spake of the duke of Gloucestre yongest sonne to the kynge of England Edwarde the thyrde I had no tyme to speke of him tyll nowe and bycause his herte coude neuer loue the frenche men therfore of the losse that the frenche men had in Turkey he was rather gladde than sory The same seasone he had a knyght with hym called syr Iohan Laquyquay chiefe of his counsayle as it was knowen after he sayde to his lorde Syr the fumes and pride of the frenche men are well a bated by reasone of their iourney in to Hungery and Turkey they be so full of pride and brages that they canne come to no good conclusion of any enterprise that they take in hande That is trewe quod the duke and that apered right well duryng the warre in the dayes of the kynge my father and of my brother the prince of Wales for as than they coulde neuer atayne to any iourney agaynst the Englysshe men therfore I canne nat tell why we shulde haue trewce with them for if the warre were open and by reason of our good tytell togyther we shulde nowe make them better warre than euer was made before for as nowe all the floure of chyualry of Fraunce is outher taken or slayne and the men of Englande desyre to haue warre rather than peace for they canne better lyue in warre than peace for in lyenge styll is none aduauntage and I swere by god if I may lyue two yere in good helth the war◠shal be renewed I wyll nother spare for trewce respyte nor assuraunce for in tyme paste the Frenche men haue kept no promesse with vs but haue falsely and craftely taken away the herytage of the duchy of Acquytayn whiche was gyuen and delyuered by agrement of good treatie of peace to the kynge my father whiche often tymes I haue shewed to the counsayle of Fraunce whan we met and comuned togyther in the fronter of the marchesse of Calays but alwayes they florysshed their entētes with so swete wordes that myne opynion was nat regarded nor belyued nouther by the kynge my nephewe nor by my bretherne but if there were a good heed kynge of Englande that desyred the warre as well as I do and wolde put to his payne to recouer his herytage whiche craftely and falsely hath been taken fro hym without any good tytle of reasone he shulde fynde in Englande a hundred thousande archers and syxe thousande men of armes redy aparelled to serue him and to passe the see and to put their goodes and lyues in aduenture in his seruyce But it is nat so there is no suche Kynge in Englande as nowe that loueth any dedes of armes if there were he wolde shewe hym selfe in Fraunce there was neuer so good tyme to make warre in Fraūce as now for who soeuer goeth nowe shal be fought withall whiche is all the desyre that englysshmen haue in trust of wynnyng as they had in tyme paste in the dayes of good kynge Edwarde my father in my brothers dayes the prince of Wales I am the yongest of all the bretherne of Englande but if I may be beleued I shall be the fyrst e that shall renewe the warre and trust to recouer the wronges that the frenchmen haue done to vs and dayly do and all by the symple slouthfulnesse that is a monge vs and specyally our heed the kynge my nephue who wyll nowe alye hymselfe by maryage to the frenche kinges doughter this is no token that he wyll make warre his eyen be to heuy he careth for nothyng but for meate and drinke and reste and dalyenge with ladyes and damoselles This is no lyfe for men of warre that wyll deserue to haue honour by prowes of dedes of armes yet I remembre me of the last iourney that I made into Fraunce I thynke I had in my company but two thou sande speares and eyght thousande archers and so passed
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
sette to write letters and messangers were sente forthe to gyue knowledge to their frendes of their comynge These newes was anone knowen ouer all the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse ordeyned for the state of their sonne as vessell and plate of syluer and golde aparell and stuffe of housholde all this was sent to Venyce on soÌ„mers and the lorde of Angyers and syr Iaques of Helley dyd conuey all this stuffe and so came to Venyce And all the other lordes and knyghtes frendes dyd sende thyder in lyke maner And ye maye beleue well that this was nat dooue without great coste for there was nothynge spared and also they laye at Venyce at great coste and charge for Venyce is one of the derest townes in the world for straungers to lye in Thus these lordes kept their estates there and therle of Neuers was more charged than any other as it was reasone for he was the chiefe there The duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse sette all their ententes for the delyueraunce of their sonne for they desyred greatly to se theym and so dyd many other and the duke sayd that without ayde of his men and good frendes that were in his landes as well in Burgoyne as in Arthoys and in Flaunders he coulde nat tell howe to atteyne to the somme of money that Lamorabaquy shulde haue for his sonnes raunsome and to beare the costes that dayly grewe by that occasyon for though their raunsomes drewe but to two hundred thousande floreyns all thynges consydred their other charges drewe to as moch as they sayde that had the receyte and delyueraunce therof The duke tooke counsayle where this money shulde be reysed for the duke coulde nat breke nor mynysshe his estate nor it was nat his mynde to do Than it was determyned that the ryche men in all his good townes shulde be tared and specyally they of Flaunders bycause they were ryche by reason of their marchaundyse This taracyon was sette forwarde and whan they of Gaunt were called curtesly to the mater they aunswered and sayd that they wolde gladly helpe to ayde their enâ—erytour with the soÌ„me of fyfty thousande florayns In lykewyse they of Bruges and of other good townes in Flaunders were redy to ayde their lorde The duke and duchesse thanked them curtesly in lykewise so dyde they of Arthoise and of Burgoyne Also the Frenche kynge ayded well for his parte And also it had cost hym great riches in sendynge of presentes and knightes in to Hungry and Turkey howbe it he was well contente therwith syth his cosyns and his knyght Bouciquaunt were come to Venyce in suretie THerle of Neuers laye thus styll at Venyce for his enteÌ„t was nat to deê‘te thens tyll euery thynge was payed and discharge For the furnysshing of this fynaunce sir Dyne of Responde toke great payne to the entente to pleace the Frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne In suche busynesse he was subtyle and wyse Thus these Frenche lordes and knyghtes sported them eche with other The same season there felle in Venyce a great mortalyte and it began in the moneth of Auguste and dured without ceassynge tyll saynt Andrewes tyde wherin dyed moche people and there dyed sir Henry of Barc eldest sonne to the duke of Bare and herytoure by his wyfe of all the lorde of Coucyes landes excepte the ladyes dowrye Thus in the same season bothe the ladies of Coucy were widowes and their husbandes deed the whiche was great doÌ„mage His body was enbaulmed and caryed in to Fraunce and buryed in Parys as I beleue and there his obsequy was done solempnely To flye and eschewe fro this deth at Venice the erle of Neuers went and taryed at Trenuse with all his estate and there taryed a four monethes with all his company THus the erle of Neuers beynge at Trenuse It was shewed the kyng of Hungry by them of the Roodes howe the Frenche lordes were agreed with Lamorabaquy to paye for their soÌ„mes two hundred thousande florens Than the kyng sent letters by a bysshoppe and certayne knightes to them of Venice in the fauour of the Frenche knyghtes And also they were charged to saye certayne wordes to therle of Neuers as ye shall here for whan they caÌ„e thider they said to hym Sir we are sent hider fro our souerayne lorde the kyng of Hungry your cosin who saluteth you by vs and here be letters that he hath sente vnto you and he vnderstaÌ„deth howe ye are delyuered fro the handes of the turkes his aduersaries for certayne rauÌ„some the whiche otherwyse ye coude nat haue ben deliuered wherof he is right ioyouse And sir the kynge knoweth well that your treatie coude nat haue ben made without great cost and charge for besyde that ye lost in the batayle your raunsome and other charges hath ben and is dayly great Wherfore sir the kyng sayth if he myght ayde you with any thyng he wolde gladly do it for he thynketh him selfe bounde therto as well by lynage or otherwyse but sir he and his toke suche doÌ„mage at the daye of the batayle before Nichopoly as ye knowe well And also his reuenues of his realme for this yere and the next be in a maner as lost but whaÌ„ he hath recouery therof and is of power he saythe he wyll so purney for you that ye shal be wel content with hym thus to do he is of good wyll And sir to th entent that ye shall gyue credence to his promise and sayeng He hath in the cytie of Venyce of yerely renenewes seuyn thousande ducates And sir he is content that this be solde to the venycience and that of the money that shall ryse therof that ye shulde vse it and ayde your selfe therwith as ye wolde do of your owne goodes And sir of this we shall delyuer quitauÌ„ces to the venicyence we haue authorite so to do this offre greatly pleased the erle of Neuers and his couÌ„sayle and the lorde of Rocheforde answered and said howe the erle and all his coÌ„pany thanked greatly the kynge of Hungry in that he wolde sell or laye to gage his enherytauÌ„ce for to ayde them Sayeng howe his oâ—â—re was nat to be refused nor forgotten desyring to take a lytell counsayle in the mater and so they dyde Within a brefe tyme after it was shewed to the kyng of HuÌ„geries ambassadours in the behalfe of the erle of Neuers that it shulde nat be coÌ„uenyent that the kyng of Hungry shulde sell or ley to pledge his enherytaunces for other mennes causes But if so be the ambassadours wolde do so moche as to shewe to the venicyeÌ„ce that they wolde do so moche as to lende therle of Neuers a certayne soÌ„me of florence to helpe to paye the erles by charges to paye agayne to the priour of saynt IohnÌ„s in Acquitayne the .xxx. thousande florens that he lent to theÌ„ in the isle of the Rodes In thus doyng they saide they wolde highly thanke the kynge of Hungry his counsayle The
quod the kyng why shulde they nat We wyll se their dedes of armes Paraduenture we shall knowe therby that we knowe nat as yet shulde be right necessary to knowe to the entente we shulde prouyde for it For there is none so great in Englande but if he displease me I shall cause hym to make me amendes For if I shulde any thynge submytte me to my subiettes they wolde soone ouercome me And I knowe for certaygne that some of theym of my blode haue hadde dyuers treatyse toguyder agaynste me and myne estate and the moost princypall of theÌ„ was the duke of Gloucestre For in all Englande was natte a worse hedde agaynst me than he was Nowe I shall haue peace fro hense forwarde for I shall do well ynough with all the other But sirs I praye you shewe me why ye make this demauÌ„de to me Sir quod they we are bounde to counsayle you And sir we often tymes here wordes spoken that ye canne nat here For sir ye be in youre chambre and we abrode in the couÌ„trey or in London where many thynges be spoken whiche greatlye toucheth you and vs also Sir it were tyme to prouyde remedye and so ye muste do Sir we counsayle you for the best Howe so quod the Kynge Speke further and spare natte for I wyll do euery thynge parteynyng to reason and minyster Iustyce in my realme Sir quod they the renoume ronneth through out Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is the soueraygne cytie of youre Realme They saye ye are cause of this enterprice bytwene these two lordes and that ye haue sette the erle Marshall to fyght with the erle of Derby THe Londoners and dyuers other noble men and prelates of the realme saye Howe ye take the ryght waye to distroye your lygnage and the realme of Englande Whiche thynge they saye they wyll natte suffre And if the Londoners rise agaynste you with suche noble men as wyll take their parte ye shall be of no puyssauÌ„ce to resyst theym And also they haue you in a marueylous suspecte bycause ye be alyed by maryage with the Frenche kynge wherby ye be the worse beloued of all youre people And sir knowe for certayne that if ye suffre these two Erles to come in to the place to do batayle ye shall nat be lorde of the felde but the Londoners and suche lordes of their ê‘te wyll rule the felde for the loue and fauoure that they beare to the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall is soore hated and specially the Londouers wolde he were slayne And thre partes of the people of Englande saye that whan ye harde that wordes fyrst bytwene these two erles that ye shulde haue done otherwyse than ye dyd and that ye shulde haue broken the quarell and haue sayd Sirs ye are bothe my cosyns and lyegmen therfore I commaunde you to kepe the peace fro hens forthe And shulde haue taken the Erle of Derby by the hande and haue ledde hym in to youre chambre and haue shewed hym some signe of loue And bycause ye dyde nat thus the brute ronneth that ye beare fauour to the erle Marshalles partie and are agaynst the erle of Derby Sir consyder well these wordes that we shewe you for they be trewe Sir ye had neuer more nede of good counsayle than ye haue nowe Whan the kynge herde these wordes he chaunged countynauÌ„ce the wordes were so quickely spoken Therwith the kynge tourned fro them and leaned out at a wyndowe and studyed a certayne space and than he tourned agayne to them that had spoken to hym who were the archebysshoppe of yorke and the Erles of Salisbury of Huntingdon his bretherne and thre other knightes of his chambre than he sayde to them Sirs I haue well herde you and if I shulde refuce your counsayle I were greatly to blame Wherfore sirs consyder what is beste for me to do Sir quod one of theym that spake for all The matter that we haue spoken of is ryght peryllous ye muste dissymule the mater if ye wyll haue youre honour saued and to make peace And sir ye ought rather to entertayne the generaltie of your realme than the ydell wordes of two knyghtes But sir the brute thoroughe out all the Realme of Englande is howe the erle Marshall hathe greatlye trespassed and hath renewed to many yuell thinges and daylye reneweth and the realme taketh all his wordes in vayne and saith how that by his ydell words he wolde reise a ê“cesse agaynst the erle of Derby and to bringe the lande in to trouble First They say it were better that he abode the payne and the erle of Derby to be quyte Sir we thynke that or they shulde arme theÌ„ to mete togyder that ye shulde sende to them cause theÌ„ to be bounde to abyde youre ordynaunce in this enterprise And whan they be furely bounde to abyde youre sentence than ye maye gyue theym this Iudgemente That within fyftene dayes after the erle Marshall to auoyde the realme without any truste euer to retourne agayne And therle of Derby in lykewyse to auoyde the realme and to be banysshed for tenne yere And whan he shall departe the realme to please the people withall release foure yere of the tenne and so let hym be banysshed for sixe yere without pardone This is the counsayle sir that we wyll gyue you For sir in no wyse let them be armed one agaynst another for the inconuenyentes that maye fall therby The kynge studyed a lytell and sayde Sirs ye counsayle me trewly and I shall folowe youre counsayle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde gaue sentence wherby he banysshed out of Englande therle of Derby for .x. yere and the erle Marshall for euer Capi. CC.xxix ANone after that this couÌ„sayle was gyuen to the kynge he assembled great nombre of prelates grete lordes of Englande and they came to hym to ElthaÌ„ there was his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke The erles of Northumberlande of Salysbury and of Huntyngton Than the kynge sente for the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall and sette eche of them in a seuerall chaÌ„bre The kynge shewed howe he wolde be a meane bytwene them and howe their wordes hadde greatly displeased hym and that they were suche that ought nat lyghtly to be pardoned Wherfore he wolde in all poyntes they shulde submytte them selfe and to abyde his ordynaunce in that behalfe Than he ordayned the constable of Englande and foure other great lordes to go to the erle of Derby and to therle Marshall to take their bondes to abyde the kynges ordynaunce These lordes came to the sayd erles and shewed them the kynges pleasure and how the kynge wolde take the matter on hym So they bounde them selfe to abyde the kynges order Than the kynge sayde I ordaygne and commaunde that the erle Marshall bycause he hath brought this Realme in to this trouble by reason of his wordes wherin he canne nat make profe That he ordayne
Erle to abyde at Parys and to kepe there his house to pay for euery thyng that he or his men shulde take To this request the Frenche kynge and his vncles lightly agreed and shewed that they were right ioyfull of his cōmynge and said howe they were ryght sorie of the erles trouble These messangers returned to Calais and fouude the erle redy there The frēche kynge sent sir Charles of Hangers to open all the cyties and townes bytwene Calais and Paris to receyue therle and his cōpany Thus the erle of Derby departed fro Calays and toke the waye to Amyence and in euery place he was well receyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde Guillyam erle of Ostrenaunt sente to his cosyn therle of Derby certayne messangers and howe therle came to Paris howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi THe erle of Ostrenaūt beyng at Quesnoy assone as he knewe that his Cosyn the erle of Derby was passed the See and was come to Calais He ordayned sir Auncell of Trassagetes and sir Fierebras of Vertayne to ride to Calais and to desyre the erle of Derby to come in to Heynaulte to sporte hym and to abyde there a season promysynge hym to haue good chere These two knyghtes departed fro Quesnoy and rode to Cambrey and to Bapames for they herde newes that the erle was departed fro Calais and hadde taken the waye to Amayēce and so to go to Parys These two knyghtes mette hym by the waye They spake with hym and dyde their message so that the Erle thanked them and also his cosyn that had sent them to him and than he excused hym selfe and sayd howe he had made his prouisyon to go in to Fraunce as at that tyme to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns of Fraunce but he wolde nat renounce the curtesy that his cosyn of Heynalt had shewed hym Than these two knightes departed and retourned and shewed therle of Ostrenaunt what they had sene and done And therle of Derby and his company rode so long that he aproched nere to Parys Whā the kyng and the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles knewe that the erle of Derby came to Paris he prepared his chābers in his place of saynt Poule richely to receyue therle and caused all lordes to issue out of the cytie to receyue hym and the kyng taryed at the house of saynt Poule First mette hym the duke of Berrey and the duke of Orlyaūce and than the duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Burbon and other noble prelates lordes knightes At the metyng there was frendly chere and so in good order they entred in to Paris with great ioye The same daye one great mysfortune fell there was a squyer named Boniface mounted on a great coursar whiche horse rose vpright vpon his hynder fete and fell backewarde and the squyers hedde lyght vpon the stones that his hedde cloue a sonder and so dyed of whose dethe the duke of Orlyaunce was ryght sorie for he loued hym entierly and so dyde the lorde of Coucy in his dayes for he brought hym in to Frūce out of Lombardy THus they came to the house ofsaynt Poule where the kynge was who receyued the erle nobly and therle was sage and wyse and knewe moch of that parteyned to honour He made his reuerēce and acquaynted hym with the kynge after good maner so moche that he greatly pleased the kynge and for good loue he gaue the erle his deuyse to weare the whiche the erle receyued ioyfully The wordes that were bitwene them I can nat tell but all was well And after takyng of spyce and wyne the erle toke leaue of the kyng and than went to the quene in the same house and she made hym ioyouse chere Than after the erle departed and toke his horse to go to his lodgyng and so was conueyed thyder Thus passed the tyme and the lordes of Fraunce dyde often tymes kepe hym company and caused hym to passe the tyme with sportes and otherwyse to the entent he shulde thynke the season the shorter bycause he was out of his owne nacion ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of the erle of Derby and somwhat speke of the ordynaunce of the Churche of the two popes Benedic beyng at Auignon and Bonyface at Rome ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bitwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed And howe the bysshoppe of Cābrey was sent by the sayd kynge to Rome and to Auygnon to thē that wrote them selfe popes to th ētent that they shulde depose thēselfe fro their papalytes and submyt thē to the order of these two kynges Capi. CC .xxxii. YE haue herde here before howe that kyng of Almaȳne and the kyng of Fraunce the lordes of thempire and their coūsails had ben at the cytie of Reynes and there they had dyuers secrete counsayls and their entencion was to bring the churche in to a parfyte vnite for to folowe the way that the churche helde as than The errour was to great And also ye haue herde howe mayster Peter de Ailly bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent in legacion to Rome to speke with pope Boniface he spedde hym so in his iourney that he came to Foūdes and there foūde pope Boniface and to hym he delyuered his letters of credence dyrected fro the kynges of Almaygne and of Fraunce The pope receyued them and the bysshoppe right mekelye The pope knewe well parte of his message Than the bysshoppe declared the cause of his cōmynge Whan the pope hadde well herde hym he sayde Howe the answere laye nat all onely in hym but also in all the cardy nalles that had chosen hym pope but he said whan he hadde spoken with them by delyberate counsayle than he wolde make suche answere that he trusted to content them This aunswere was suffycient for that tyme. The bysshoppe dyned that daye in the popes palyce and certayne Cardynalles with hym Than after the pope departed fro Foundes and went to Rome and there the pope assembled a conuocacion of the cardynalles in his palyce besyde saynt Peters churche In this consistorie there were none but the pope and his cardynalles And there the pope shewed the request that the kynge of Almaygne and the Frenche kyng had made hym by the bysshoppe of Cambrey there he demaunded coūsaile what answere he shuld make there were than̄e many reasons alleged for it semed right contrary to the cardinalles to put downe that they hadde made they sayde it shulde be greatly to their shame and rebuke Than they said to the pope Holy father to cause these kynges to be in a good hope that ye wyll obey to the ye must sōwhat dissymule y◠mater and saye howe ye wyll gladly obey to all thynge that the kynge of Almaygne the kyng of Hungry and the kyng of Englande wyll counsayle you vnto So that he that is in Auignon who writeth hym selfe pope Benedic whom the Frenche kyng
hym selfe The nexte day be tymes the bell sowned to the consistory and than there was a conuocacyon of all the cardynalles that were at Iuygnon They all assembled at the palays and entred in to the consistory and thyder was called the bysshop of Cambraye who in laten shewed at length his message and the cause of his cōmyng thyder Whan he had sayd than he was aunswered howe the pope shulde take counsayle to answere and in the meane tyme he to departe out of the house so he dyd and in the meane season Benedic and his cardynalles counsayled togyder and were longe debatynge of the mater and many thought it herde and a contrary mater to put downe that they had created than the cardynall of Amyence spake and sayd Lordes whether we wyll or nat it must behoue vs to obey the Frenche kynge and the kinge of Almayne sythe they be conioyned togyder for without thē we can nat lyue howe be it we shulde do well ynough with the kyng of Almayne if the frenche kynge wolde take our parte but it is otherwyse for he cōmaundeth vs to obey or els he wyll stoppe fro vs the fruites of our benefyces without the whiche we can nat lyue Trewe it is holy father that we haue created you as pope on the condycion that to your power ye shuld ayde to refourme the churche and to bring it in to parfyte vnyon and this ye haue alwayes sayd and mayntayned therfore syr aunswere atemperately and in suche maner as we may prayse you for syr ye ought better to know your owne corage than we Than dyuers other of the cardynalles sayd syr the cardynall of Amyence sayeth well and wysely wherfore syr we pray you all in generall that ye wyll speke and shewe vs what ye wyll do Than Benedyc aunswered and said The vnyon of the churche I desyre and I haue taken great payne therin but syth god of his deuyue grace hathe prouyded for me the papalyte and that ye haue chosen me therto as longe as I lyue I wyll be pope and I wyll nat depose my selfe nouther for kyng duke erle nor other treatie nor by no processe nor meanes but that I wyll abyde pope Than the cardynals rose vp all togyder with great murmurynge some sayd he had spoken well and some sayd contrary Thus they dyffered and were in dyscorde The most parte departed out of the consystory and toke no leaue of the pope and retourned to their lodgynges Some suche as were in this popes fauour taryed styll with hym Whan the bysshoppe of Cambray sawe howe they departed in suche maner he knewe well they acorded nat well and therwith auaunced hym selfe and entred in to the consystory and so came to the Pope whyle he sate styll in his see and without doynge of any great reuerence sayde Syr gyue me myne aunswere sythe ye haue had your counsayle aboute you ye ought to gyue me myne aunswere that I may retourne This pope Benedic who was in great dyspleasure for the wordes that the cardynall of Amyence had spoken sayd Bysshoppe of Cambray I haue counsayle of dyuers of my bretherne the cardynals who hath created me in to the dignyte papall and haue receyued all the solemynytyes therto belongyng and am writen and named pope by all my subgiettes and as pope I wyll abyde as longe as I lyue I wyll nat do the contrary to dye in the payne for I haue doone no cause why to lese it and saye to our sonne of Fraunce that hyther vnto I haue taken him as a good catholyke prince but nowe bysynister meanes if he wyll entre in to great errour he wyll repente it I praye you to say to hym fro me that he be well aduysed howe he enclyneth to any thinge that shulde trouble his conscyence Therwith this Benedic rose out of his chayre and went in to his chambre and certayne cardynalles with hym and the bysshoppe of Cambray retourned to his lodgynge and dyned sobrely and than after toke his horse and passed the bridge of Rone and came to vile Nefe and at nyght lay at Baignoulx whiche partaygned to the Realme of Fraunce and he vnderstode that syr Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce was come to porte saynt Andrewe a nyne leages fro Auygnon The nexte day thyder came the bysshoppe of Cambray and shewed hym the aunswere of Benedic Whan the marshall vnderstode that this pope Benedic wolde nat obey the kynge his maysters ordynaunce he sayd to the bysshop syr ye are best to retourne in to Fraunce ye haue no more to do here and I shall execute that I am cōmaunded to do by the kynge and his vncles The next daye the bysshoppe departed and toke the way to Albenoys and to Pyne and the marshall set clerkes awarke to write and sente for knyghtes squyers and men of warre through all the countrey of Viurays of Vyuieres and Auuergne to Mount pellyer for he had cōmyssyon so to do by the king and also he sent to the seneschall of Beaucayre that he shulde close all the passages as well by the ryuer of Rone as by lande to the entent that nothynge shulde entre in to Auignon He wente hym selfe to the pownte saynt Esperyte and closed there the passage ouer the ryuer of Rone that nothynge shulde entre that way in to Auygnon Thus the marshall daily gathered men of warre and many came to serue hym some for obeysaunce and some to pyll and robbe theym of Auygnon There came to hym syr Raymonde of Thourayne and the lorde de la Both the lorde of Tornon the lorde of Monclaue and the lorde Duses so that the marshall had a great nombre of men Than the marshall sent an haraulde to defye pope Benedic in his palays and all the cardynals that wolde take his parte This was harde tydynges to the cardynals and to them in the cytie of Auygnon for they knewe well they coulde nat longe susteyne the warre agaynst the puyssaunce of the Frenche kynge than they determyned to go and speake with the pope and so they dyd and shewed hym howe they coulde nat nor wolde nat susteyne the warre agaynst the frenche kynge for they sayd they must lyue and haue their marchaundyse to go as well by lande as by ryuer This Benedyc aunswered folysshly and sayd syrs your cytie is stronge and well prouyded I wyll sende for men of warre to Gennes and in to other places and to my sonne the kynge of Aragon that he come and serue me whiche I am sure he wyll do for he is bounde therto for two causes he is of my lygnage and also he ought to be obeysant to the pope Sirs ye are abasshed of to lytell a cause go your wayes and kepe and defende your towne and I shall kepe my palays Other aunswere the cardynals and the men of the cytie coulde nat haue of this Benedyc So euery man retourned home This Benedic had of longe tyme purueyed his palays with wyne corne larde oyle and of all
archebysshoppe of Caunterbury hathe well doone his deuoyre seynge he hath brought hym in to Englande Than they dyd chose certayne men to go abrode to publysshe the erles cōmynge to lordes knyghtes and squyers suche as were of their party and mo than fyue hundred of the londoners tooke their horses and they had so great desyre to go forthe that they were lothe to tarye one for a nother The erle of Derby taryed nat longe at Plummouth but the nexte daye as soone as their horses were vnshypped they rode towardes London And all that season sir Peter of Craon and the bretons were styll with the erle The mayre of London they that hadde the gouernyng of the cytie were the fyrst that mette the erle in the feldes and humbly receyued him and euer as they rode forwarde they mette more people The fyrst daye they cāe and laye at Guyldforde a fyue and twentie myle fro Lōdon The next day a great nombre of the men women and chyldren of London and the clergy came to mete with the erle they had suche desyre to se hym And whan they cāe in to his sight they cried welcome noble erle of Derby duke of Lancastre God sende you ioye welthe and prosperyte Sithe ye wente out of Englande the realme hath ben in no prosperyte Nowe we truste ye shall bringe vs in to a reasonable estate for we haue lyued in great displeasaunce and desolacyon by the meanes of Richarde of Burdeaux and his counsayle and specially he ought moost chefe to be blamed For a kyng that shulde gouerne a Realme and people ought to haue suche discrecyon to knowe gode and yuell asondre otherwise he is nat worthy to gouerne a Realme And this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done contrary whiche shal be well knowen and proued vpon him with suche wordes and other the people brought the erle to London The mayre rode cheke and cheke by hym whiche was great pleasure for the people to se and the mayre sometyme sayde to the erle Sir beholde howe the people reioyse of your cōmyng That is trewe quod the erle And alwayes as he rode he enclyned his heed to the people on euery syde Thus the Erle was brought on his lodgynge and euery man departed tyll after dyner Than the mayre and the notable men of the cite and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes prelates bysshoppes and abbottes suche as were in London cam to se the the erle Also the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters came to se therle who were his cosyn germayns Affren their brother was with kynge Richarde more for feare than̄e for loue With these ladyes was the countesse of Arundell and her chyldren and also the countesse of Warwyke with dyuers other ladyes suche as were at London The people of London were so ioyfull of the erles cōmyng that there was no more workynge in London that daye than and it had ben Easter daye TO come to a conclusyon of this busynesse The people toke coūsayle and aduyse to ryde agaynst the kynge whom the Londoners named Richard of Burdeaux kynge without tytell or honour for the vyllaynes of London hadde the kyng in suche hate that it was payne for them to here spekynge of hym but to his cōdempnacion and distruction for they hadde treated the erle of Derby to be their kynge and he was moche ordred by their counsayle The erle of Derby toke on hym to be kyng and so to endure for euer he and his heyres and therto the Londoners dyde swere and seale And promysed that all the resydue of the realme shulde do the same so solempnely that there shulde neuer questyon be made therof after Also they promysed hym to aide and to assyste hym alwayes These promyses and boundes ones taken and concluded than it was ordayned that .xii. hundred men of London well armed shulde ryde with the erle towardes Bristowe and to do so moche that Richarde of Burdeaux myght be taken and brought to London and than to take aduyse what shulde be done with hym and to be iudged by the lawe and by the thre estates of the realme Also it was ordayned to make the lesse brute and sclaundre that the men of warre of Bretaygne suche as were come thyder with the erle shulde be retourned home agayne For it was sayde howe they hadde men ynoughe to do their dedes without them so that the erle had all the bretons before hym and thanked them of their seruyce that they hadde done hym and gaue them great rewardes so that they were well content and so retourned to Plūmouthe to the shyppes and so in to Bretayne ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the erle of Derby who ordayned to ryde to Bristowe THe erle of Derby was cheife of that armye as reason was for it touched hym most nerest Thus he departed fro London and as he rode the countrey fell in to hym Tidynges cāe in to the kynges host of the cōmyng of the erle of Derby and of the Londoners many knyghtes squyers and other knewe it or the kynge hadde knowledge therof but they durst nat speke therof Whan the tidynges spredde more abrode suche as were next the kyng were in great feare for they knewe well the kynge and they bothe were lykely to fall in paryll bycause they hadde so many ennemyes in the realme and suche were thā their ennemyes that hadde made good face before For many knightes squyers and other suche as hadde serued the kyng before departed fro the courte without any lycence Some wente home to their owne houses some toke the nexte waye they coude streight to the erle of Derby to serue hym As soone as Affren of Gloucestre and Rycharde son̄e to the erle of Arundell knewe that the Erle of Derby and the Londoners were cōmynge they gote their men toguyder and departed and rode streyght to the erle of Derby whome they founde beyonde Oxenforde at a towne called Soucetour Th erle of Derby hadde great ioye whan̄e he sawe his cosyns and demaunded of the state of the kynge and howe they were departed fro hym They aunswered and sayde Sir at our departynge we spake nat with hym For as soone as we knewe of your commynge we lepte on our horses and departed to come to serue you and to ayde to reuenge the dethe of our fathers whome Richarde of Burdeaulx hathe caused to be slayne Sirs quod the erle ye be ryght welcome ye shall ayde me and I shall helpe you For it is behouable that oure cosyn Rycharde of Burdeaux be brought to London so haue I promysed to the Londoners and I wyll kepe my promyse for therto they wyll ayde me And we haue men ynowe to fyght with hym if nede be And if he wyll haue batayle he shall haue it ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe tidynges came to kyng Richarde of the cōmynge of the erle of Derby with great puyssaunce Cap. CC.xli IT was sayd to the kynge whan the mater coude no lengar be hydde Sir aduyse you well ye
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
cytte of Carlyle was chiefe cytie of all that countre and it was nede full for good men of warre to be theâ— for whan the admyrall of Fraunce came thyder he assayled the cytie by great force the whiche assaute was cruell and fierse So thus before the cytie there were many noble dedes of armes done ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kyng of EnglaÌ„d had thought to haue made in to wales after the frenche men and scottes And howe the kynge retourned the same waye that he came and howe the frenche men and scottes determyned to retourne agayne in to ScotlaÌ„de Cap. xv THe kyng of Englandes vncles knewe well what waye the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and the scottes helde said how they thought it for the best to folowe theym and to serche tyll they myght fynde them and so to fight with them Sayeng howe they coude in no wyse escape them In this purpose was the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and dyuers other of the great barons of Englande and the moost parte of the coÌ„mons of the hoost And as than all their prouisyon was come as well by lande as by see and the kynge also was agreed to the same purpose and than on a night the erle of Oxenforde who was as than chiefe of counsayle with the kynge bare all the rule the kyng trusted no man so moche He turned the kyng cleue fro his purpose I can nat shewe you for what cause but the enformed the kyng as it was knowen after and said sir What thynke ye to do Wyll ye folowe the way that your vncles hath counsayled Sir knowe for trouth that if ye do so ye shall neuer returne agayne For sir the duke of LaÌ„castre desyreth none other thynge but that ye were deed that he might be kyng Howe durst he couÌ„sayle yor grace to go this wynter season in to a strange countrey Sir I wolde nat counsayle you to passe the mouÌ„tayns of Northumberlande for there be mo than .xxx. streightes and passages that if ye were closed in them ye shulde neuer come out agayne without daunger of the scottes Sir putte nat youre selfe in to that daunger what soeuer they saye to you If the duke of Lancastre wyll go lette hym go and haue the charge therof but by my counsayle ye shall nat go Sir ye haue done ynough for this one tyme. youre father was neuer so farre within Scotlande nor yet Kynge Edwarde youre graunt father Therfore sir this oughte to contente you and saue youre owne persone ye be yonge and lusty And suche there be that sheweth you sayre semblant and loueth you but lâ—tell The kynge gaue suche audyence to the sayeng of this erle that it went neuer out of his mynde as ye shall herafter THe next mornyng the lordes of Englande and their people ordred them selfe to deê‘te out of ScotlaÌ„de and to folowe their ennemyes to fight with them as it was concluded the night before Than the duke of Lancastre came to the king his nephue nat knowyng of the trouble and chaunge of his purpose â–ª and the kynge beyng in his malencoly assone as he sawe hym he sayd in great yre Certesse vncle of LaÌ„castre ye shall nat attayne as yet to your entent Thynke you for all your wordes that we wyll lese our selfe folisshely I wyll nat beleue you nor yet your couÌ„sayle for I se therby more domage than profyte to vs and to our people For if ye wyll make this voyage do it and ye lyste but as for me I wyll nat For I wyll retourne into Englande the nexte waye and all suche as loue vs wyll folowe vs. Than the duke of Lancastre sayd Sir I shall folowe you for ye haue neuer a man in your company that loueth you so well as I do also my bretherne And if there be any man wyll saye except your persone that I wolde any thynge otherwyse than well to you or to your people here is my guage to the coÌ„trarie So there was none that wolde speke any worde And the kynge helde his peace and spake to other of his seruauntes of other maters and orderyng hymselfe to returne into Englande the same way that he came and the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro the kynge right sore troubled in his mynde and returned to his coÌ„pany and made newe ordynauÌ„ce for in the morning they had thought to haue folowed the frenchmen in to the marches of Wales but they dyde nat so for they retourned the next waye in to Englande Lo thus ye may se howe thetle of OxeÌ„forde who was great with the kyng brake all this voyage and dyuers of the great lordes sayd that the kyng was yuell counsayled Seynge that all the prouisyon was come For they sayd they might well haue folowed the scottes in to Wales For in their so doyng they shulde euer haue drawen in to Englande warde And some ê‘sons that were wery of payne and trauell said howe that all thynges coÌ„sidred they were better to retourne than to go any further Sayeng howe a great ê“uision must be had to scrue suche an host howe it was yuell to passe the mountayns that wynter season wherby they sayd they might rather lese than wynne THus in his season brake vp the iorney and army of Englande and the kynge and his lordes retourned in to Englande the same way they came but they hadde distroyed the moost parte of the realme of Scotlande These tidynges came to the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and to the scottes than they tooke counsayle what was best for them to do and so concluded to retourne agayne in to Scotlande for their vitails began to fayle and they were in a poore countrey for they had distroyed the marches of Carlyle and the landes of the barone of Clyfforde the lorde Maubray and the bysshoprike of Carlyle but the cytie they coude nat wynne And the frenche men sayd howe they had brent and distroyed in the bysshorike of Dyrhame Carlyle that was better worthe than all the townes in Scotlande So the frenchmen and scottes retourned in to Scotlande the same waye they came And whan they came into ScotlaÌ„de they founde the countrey distroyed but the people of the countre dyde sette but lytell therby and said howe with thre or four poles shortely they wolde make agayne their houses for they had saued moche of their catayle in the forestes But all that the frenche men tooke they were fayne to paye truely therfore and dere The frenche men were often in great daunger for the scottes and they were at many debates for vitayle And the scotes sayd howe the frenche men dyde them more demage than the Englysshe men had done when it was demaunded of them why so they answered and sayde howe the frenche men as they rode abrode they beate downe desoyled their cornes as whete barley and otes and wolde nat kepe the highe wayes but rather ryde throughe the corne Of whiche demages they said they