¶ The preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knyght lorde Berners Sythe hystorie as I haue in my Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycles declared is the wytnesse of tymes the lyght of trouthe the lyfe of remembrauÌce the maistres of the lyfe the messanger of olde season wherof innumerable coÌmodyties growen I ne thynke the labours myspente that I at the highe coÌmaundement of our moost redoughted soueraygne lorde Henry the cyght kyng of Englande and of FrauÌce highe defender of the Christen faythe c. haue eâployed aboute the translacyon of nowe the foure volumes of sir Iohan Froissaât out of Frenche in to our Englysshe tong Certainly nat the bouÌtie of the same cronycles in whom are conteygââd the warres of these parties whiche warres dâscâyued in Frenche by sir Iohan Froyssaââ ryght oânately as many that haue great vnderstandynge in dyuers tonges in whome warres are written plainly saye for knyghtly feateâ manhode and humanyte passe ryght moche the warres of farre countreis nor the great pleasure that thy noble countrey menne of Englande toke in redynge the worthy and knightly dedes of their valyaunt auncestours encorageth me halfe so moche as the princely exhorte whiche of all erthely kynges the very worshyppe and ãâã ouâ foresaid gracyous soueraygne gaue me He who forthe manyfolde royall vertues in his highnesse fouÌde nat of two or thre small realmes ãâã is worthy to reygne and be kyng ouer the vnyuersall worlde âelyteth in nothyng ãâã than to ãâ¦ã I sayd the moost famous ãâã of his ãâã and subict ãâ¦ã ouâ with all ãâã So that it âought appere to euery mannes âight ouer what and howe worthy people has ãâ¦ã and nowe his ãâ¦ã lyaunt ãâã contende by vigorous vertue and manhode to folowe yea to passe them if they maye Truely the ymages as they vsed in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp and remembraunce of them that were discended of noble blode he beare halfe the wytnesse that the noble dedes sette out in hystorye done Whiche well appereth by the wordes of the prudent kyng Agesilaus who dying coÌmaunded that neyther ymage nor picture to his resemblauÌce shulde be made for if I haue sayd he any noble thyng famously done it shall beare wytnesse ynough of me if I haue nought done certainly all the ymages lytell aueylen as who saythe suche thynges inought be made in mynde of them that were but dastardes and neuer dyde worthy dede in all their lyfe Wherfore for the loue and honour that I beare to our moost puissaunt soueraygne and to do pleasure to his subieâtes bothe nobles and coÌmons I haue endeuored me to translate out of FreÌche as sayd is in to Englysshe the four volumes of sir Iohan Froissart and reduced them in to twayne Wherin if I haue erred I praye them that shall defaute fynde to coÌsyder the greatnesse of the hystorie and my good wyll that aske nothyng elles of them for my great labour but of their curtesy to amende where nede shal be and yet for their so doynge I shall praye to god finally to sende them the blysse of heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knight lord berners deputie of Calais traÌslatour of this present cronycle and here after foloweth the table with the chapters as they stande in the boke by order c. ¶ Herafter foloweth the table of this present volume FIrst howe syr Iohan Bourchyer gouernour of Gaunt durynge the truse had newe vitayled the towne of GauÌt and howe a maner of people called comporselles dyd moche hurte in the Countrey Capitulo primo ¶ Howe the bridge of Taylbourcke was won by the frenche men and howe the englisshmen fortyfied them selfe agaynst the coÌmyng of the frenchmen and howe the admyrall of FrauÌce and his rout aryued at ââânborowe in Scotlande Capi. ii ¶ Howe the frenche men found a wylde countrey of ScotlaÌde and were yuell content with the admyrall and howe he pacyfied them with fayre wordes and howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nerehande taken Ardenbourke in Flaunders Cap. iii. ¶ Howe the lorde of saint Albyne and Enguerante zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takynge and howe the quene of Hungery sent ambassadours into Fraunce to marry thetle of Valoyes to her eldest doughter Cap. iiii ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabant wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyere of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng with her nese Isabell of Bauyer and howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Capi. v. ¶ Howe Fraunces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the frenche kynge wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyere and after wente and layde siege to Dan. Fo .vi. ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were behe ded and howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune howe the siege of Dan contynewed longe Cap. vii ¶ Howe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by nyght howe the frenche men toke the towne and destroyed it and also howe the kynge dystroyed the countrey of the foure craftes Capi. viii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge departed oute of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he came to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry and howe the marques of Blanqueforte toke by streÌght to his wyfe the same lady ãâ¦ã Cap. ix ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone toke Bertuell in Poictou and also of the great assemble that the kynge of Scottes made to entre in to Englande Cap. x. ¶ Howe the frenche men and scottes was the castell of Vatley and dystroyed dyuers other townes in Northumberlande and howe they withdrewe agayne in to Scotlande whan they knewe that the kynge of Englande was coÌmynge on them with a great puyssaunce Capi. xi ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande slewe syr Rycharde Stafforde and howe the erle of Stafforde came to the kynge to demaunde iustyce Capi. xii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande caused to be dystroyed the churche of Mewreus in Scotlande and howe the barones of Scotlande aunswered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuysed to leaue Scotlande and to lette the englysshe men alone Cap. xiii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande toke Edenborowe the chiefe tytle of Scotlande howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to Wales to close in the frenche men and the scottes and what the frenche men and scottes dyd in the sayd countrey Cap. xiiii ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kynge of Englande had thought to haue made into Wales after the frenchmen and scottes and howe the kyng retourned the same way that he came and howe the frenche men scottes determyned to retourne againe into Scotlande Cap. xv ¶ Howe the frenche lordes were in great paryll in scotlande and coude nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer thesee and how they shewed the erles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they founde in that countrey and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi ¶ Howe the admyrall enfourmed the frenche kynge and his counsayle of the state of Scotlande and
howe the duke of Burgoyne had great desyre to cause the frenche kynge to make a iourney in to Englande Cap. xvii ¶ Howe by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt entred to ãâã with the duke of Buâgoyne for peace howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what answere the duke gaue vnto them Ca. xviii ¶ Howe these two ãâ¦ã burgesses assembled their frendes to acomplyâââ their enterprise and sent syr Iohan Delle ãâ¦ã letters of peace Cap. âii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Delle came to Gaunt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the eytie were and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sente to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Capi. xx ¶ Howe sir Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and went to the erle of Foyzland the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi ¶ Howe the prince of Wales and the princesse came to Tarbe and of the request that the countesse of Armynake mad to the prince and princesse and howe the countrey of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap. xxii ¶ Of the warres that the duke of âniou made agaynst the englysshe men and howe he recouered the Castell of Maluoysyn in Bygore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to the Erle of Foize Cap. xxiii ¶ Howe the garyson castell of Lourde was caste downe and discomfyted by the great dylygence that the erle of Foiz made Ca. xxiiii ¶ Howe the peace was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and the erle of foyz and of the begynnynge of the warre that was bytwene the erle of Foiz the erle of Armynake Ca. xxv ¶ Of the great vertuousnesse and larges that was in the erle of Foize and the maner of the pytuous dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Capi. xxvi ¶ Howe syr Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bysquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii ¶ Of the great soleÌpnyte that the erle of Foiz made at the fyest of saynte Nycholas and the tale that the ââstot of Manlyon shewed to sir Iohan Froââârt Cap. xxviii ¶ Howe dyuers capytayns englysshe and other were dyscomfyted before the Towne of Saxere by the frenche men Cap. xxix ¶ Howe a Squyer called Lymosyn tourned frenche and howe he caused Loyes Rambalt his coÌpany on in armes to be taken Ca. xxx ¶ Of the state or ordynauÌce of the erle of Foiz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle dommage and outrage that was done therto Cap. xxxi ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle left the siege of âââbone and howe they of saynt prayne ãâ¦ã selfe Cap. xxxii ¶ ãâ¦ã batayle that was at ãâ¦ã kinge of Castyle and kynge ãâã of Portugale Cap. xxxiii ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordred them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the frenche knyghtes and gascons suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloyes were slayne by their maysters and none escaped Cap. xxxv ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle all his great batayle were discomfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberothe Capi. xxxvi ¶ Howe a spiryte called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a longe tyme and brought him euer tidynges from all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretayne and howe that dyuers englyssh forââesses aboute the countrey of Tholous were recouered and tourned frenche Cap. xxxviii ¶ Howe the castelles of Conuall of Bygorâ and of Nesuyll were taken all they ãâã taken slayne and hanged Cap. xxââ ¶ Howe the kinge of Cypres was slaynâ ãâã murthered in his bedde by his owne broâââ by exortacyon and corruptyon of the in ãâ¦ã for the bountye and hardynesse that ãâ¦ã hym Cap. ãâã ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony waâ ãâ¦ã and howe .lx. M. turkes were ãâ¦ã distroyed in the realme of Hungry Ca. ãâã ¶ Howe pope Vrbane pope Clement were at gret discorde togyder and howe the cristen kynges were in varyaunce for their lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Cap. xlii ¶ Howe they of Portugale sent out messangers in to Englande to shewe tydynges of their countrey to the kynge of Englande and to the great lordes there Cap. xliii ¶ Howe Laurens Fongase ambassadour fro the kynge of Portugale in to Englande shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the discorde that was bytwene the realmes of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xliiii ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberothe bytwene the kynges of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xlv ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had aunswere of the kynge of Englande and great gyftes and howe they tooke their leaue and went into their countreys Cap. xlvi ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre assayled the lordes knightes and squyers that were in the bastydes before Brest in Bretayne and howe they defended them selfe Cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his hoost whasie they had soiourned a moneth at Colongne than they departed and rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Cap. xlviii ¶ Of the great apparell and prouyson that generally was made in the realme of Fraunce by the kynge there and by his counsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande and also of the deth of Fraunces Atreman Cap. lii ¶ Howe the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre whan he knewe that he was arryued at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the socours that the kynge of Castyle sent for into FrauÌce and howe the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the Englysshe men Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌcastres marshall and his men assayled the towne of Vieclope in Galyce whiche yelded by coÌposycion and of the ambassadours that the duke sent to the kynge of Portyngale Cap. li. ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded theym to the duke of Lancastre and howe the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and tâke possessyon therof Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and the duchesse helde them at saynte Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frenche knyghtes gaue to the kynge of Castyle Cap. lxii ¶ Of the great apparell of shyppes and galeys that the Frenche men made on the see to passe in to Englande Cap. liii ¶ Howe the frenche kinge and his vncles arryued at Sluse in Flaunders Cap. liiii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge taryed at Sluse with his great hoost to the entent to entre in to Englande Cap. lv ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Caunterburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he atchyued great hate Cap. lv ¶ Howe the kynge of Armonye passed in to Englande in truste to fynde some meanes of peace or good appoyntment bytwene the kynge of Englande and the frenche kyng Cap. lvi ¶ Howe the kinge of Armony
there to be holden Cap. C .i. ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puyssaunce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puissaunce and howe they coulde nat passe the Ryuer of Dierne and howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theym the passage Capi. C .ii. ¶ Howe the tydynges spred abrode that the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of dierne and howe it came to the kynge of Castylles knowledge and howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and tode before vyle Arpent and howe the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the coÌmynge of the duke of Burbon Cap. C .iii. ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe an haraulde was sent to the kynge of Castyle and howe thre knyghtes of Englande wente to speake with the kynge of Castyle for a saue conducte for the dukes men to passe thoroughe his countrey Capi. C.iiii. ¶ Howe these three knyghtes optayned a saue conducte of the kynge of Castyle for their people to passe and howe dyuers of the englysshe men dyed in Castyle and howe the Duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Capi. C.v. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande the Duke of Lancasters constable tooke his leaue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the kynge of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe syr Iohan Dambrity court went to Parys to accomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and syr Boucyquant Cap. C .vi. ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone departed fro Auignon to go into Castyle with all his hoost and came to Burgus in Spaygne and there founde the kynge of Castyle And howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tydynge and howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Capi. C .vii. ¶ Howe the erle of Foiz receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great gyftes that he gaue hym and howe syr Willyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passackes company departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynte Phagon Capi. C .viii. ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle and his counsayle were yuell content with syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultier of Passackes company and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C .ix. ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake tooke great payne to treate with the companyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C .x. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage wystenat what to do came for refuge to the archcbysshoppe of Coloygne his vncle who blamed hym and howe ambassadours went to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthalte of Malygnes by whome he hadde a doughter and after maryed agayne in Englande and hadde issue two sonnes and a doughter and howe syr Iohan of Bloyes wedded the eldest doughter of the Erle of Guerles and howe after the countie of Guerles remayned with the erle of Guerles yongest doughter Capi. C .xii. ¶ Howe these castelles of Gauleche Buthe and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iulyers sustayned the Lynfars in his countre who robbed all maner of people and of the great assemble that the duke of Brabante made to go to Iulyers and howe he was dyscomfyced Cap. C .xiii. ¶ Howe the duke of Brabant dyed and howe the duke Guillyam of Guerles treated with the duchesse of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castelles and what aunswere he had and howe he made alyaunce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C .xiiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the frenche kynge complaynynge of the duke of Guerles and howe the kynge and his counsayle were sore busyed with incydentes that fell in the realme of Fraunce as well for the defyaunces of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretayne Cap. C .xv. ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampylona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vanchadore was besieged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the Duchesse of Brabante Cap. C .xvi. ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brent and ryfled the towne of Seaull retourned to their garyson and of the ioye that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse of Brabant made for that dede and howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce dyscomfyted the englysshe men Capi. C .xvii. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce ledde these prisoners to Mount Ferante and howe they of the countrey were gladde whan they herde of this entreprise and howe Geronet and his company were sette to raunsome and delyuered by the money that Perot of Bierne lent hym Cap. C .xviii. ¶ Howe Geronet of ManduraÌt with twelue of his company retourned to Mount ferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with four hundred speares wente to Mount Ferante and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other way but in at the gate Cap. C .xix. ¶ Howe Geronet lette in Perot le Bernoys and his company in to the towne of Mount ferant wherof the countrey was a frayde and howe the kynge and his vncles beynge at Parys were therwith sore dyspleased and also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne Cap. C .xx. ¶ Howe Perotte le Bernoys and his company tooke their counsayle and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mount ferant and howe the sayd Perot and his company departed thens by nyght withall their pyllage and prisoners and wente and refresshed them in the towne of Ousac Cap. C .xxi. ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremounte made a skrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of MouÌt ferant at the gates of the towne Cap. C .xxii. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloyes sonne and howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge Charles of Fraunce Cap. C .xxiii. ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lancastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenche men recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the Englysshe men that had ben there in that warre defamed and spake yuell of the couÌtrey of Galyce and howe the Frenche kynge sente for the duke of Irelande Cap. C .xxiiii. ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce wolde nat accorde that the kynge shulde goo in to Almaygne bycause of the incydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons and made alyauÌce with the kynge of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C .xxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoyes layde siege to the towne of Graue and howe the Constable of Fraunce tooke saynt Malo and saynte Mathewes and sette there men in garysone and howe the duke of Lancastre was
Xancere and of the departyng of the erle of Arundell Cap. C .l. ¶ Howe the admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kynge and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castile and howe the duke of Berrey sent to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Bolonge Cap C .li. ¶ Howe Geffray Tete Noyre dyde chose a capitayne ouer his company and howe he made his testament and so dyed And howe the duke of Guerles departed fro his countrey to go in to Pruce and of the incydence that fell to hym in the lande of the duke of Stulpe where he was taken prisoner and disconfyted Cap. C .lii. ¶ Howe sir Johan of Vyen dyde his message to kyng Johan of Castyle fro the frenkynge and his counsayle and what answers the kynge of Castyle made to hym Capi. C .liii. ¶ Howe sir Loyes of Xancere went to se the erle of Foize at Orthays and howe before the duke of LaÌcastre at Burdeux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue Frenche men and fyue Englysshe men and howe the duchesse of Lancastre went with her doughter in to Castyle to kyng JohnÌ Cap. c .liiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Lancastre departed fro the kyng of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to bring her fathers bones to Ciuyle howe the Frenche kyng sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the mariage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with therie of Boloyns doughter Cap. C .lv. ¶ Howe certaygne wyse men treated for a peace to endure for thre yere bytwene FrauÌce and Englande and all their alyes aswell on the one parte as on the other by laÌde and by see Cap. C .lvi. ¶ Of the ordynaunce of the entre of quene Isabell in to the towne of Paris Ca. c .lvii. ¶ Howe the lorde of Castell morant whom therle of saynt Poule had lefte behynde him in Englande retourned in to Fraunce with the charter of the truse sealed by kynge Richarde his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C .lviii. ¶ The maryage of kynge Loyes sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Arragone and howe he went with the quene of Naples his mother to Auignon to se pope Clement Cap. C .lix. ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme and howe he went fyrste in to Burgoyne and to Auignone to se pope Clement Cap. c.lx. ¶ Howe sir Peter Courtney caÌe in to FrauÌce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle and howe the lorde of Clary conueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calis Cap. c.lxi ¶ Howe the iustes at saynt Inguelyert otherwyse called Sandyngfelde were enterprised by sir Raynolde of Roye the yonge sir BouciquauÌt and the lorde of saynt Pye Capi. C .lxii. ¶ Of the complayntes made to the Frenche kynge by the people of Languedocke in the towne of Besyers agaynst Beusache treasourer to the duke of Berrey of the great extorcyons that he had made and of his contessyon and of the cruell dethe that he hadde in the sayd towne Cap. C.lxiii ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng beynge at Tholous sent for the erle of Foize who came thyder and dyd homage to the kyng for the couÌtie of Foize Cap. C.lxiiii ¶ Of the feate and couynauÌt that was done bytwene the kynge and the duke of Thoutayne his brother whiche of them shulde sonest come to Parys fro Mountpellyer whiche is a hundred and fyftie leages a sonder eche of them but with one knight Capi. C .lxv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope Vrbayne of Rome called the Antepape howe pope Clement wrote to the Frenche kyng and to his vncles and to the vnyuersite and of the electyon of pope Bonyface by the cardynals of Rome Capi. C .lxvi. ¶ Of the yeldynge vp and takynge of the stronge castell of Vanchadore in Lymosyn of olde parteyninge to sir Geffray Teate Noyre Cap. C.lxvii ¶ Of the dedes of armes at saynt Ingylbertes continewyng thyrtie dayes agaynst all coÌmers of the realme of Englande other countreis euery manne thre courses Capi. C .lxviii. ¶ Of the enterprise and voyage of the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of the duke of Burbone who was as chiefe of that armye at the request of the genouoys to go in to Barbary to besiege the stronge towne of Affryke Cap. C.lxix ¶ Of a capitayne a robber and a pyller of the countre called Aymergot Marcell who helde a strong castell in the marchesse of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandoys and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meauix and of the takyng therof and howe Aymergot was taken and brought to Parys Capi. C .lxx. ¶ Howe the Christen lordes and the genoââys beyng in the ysle of Conymbres at ancre departed thens to go and lay siege to the strong cytie of Affryke in Barbary howe they maynteyned the siege Cap. C.lxxi ¶ Howe after this aduenture and doÌmage that fell to the christen men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Affryke that so many knyghtes and squyers were deed they maynteygned them selfe more wiselyer after than they dyde before and contynued their siege a longe season after Cap. c.lxxii ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in London whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the siege before the towne of Affryke agaynst the sarasyns and howe this feest was publisshed in dyuers countreis landes Cap. C.lxxiii ¶ Howe and by what indydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Affryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man recourned to their owne countreis Cap. c.lxxiiii ¶ Of thenglyss he knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the Frenche kyng fro the kyng of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Capi. C.lxxv ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Iohan of Castyle and of the crownynge of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C.lxxvi ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the voyege that he made in to Lombardy howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of AlexaÌdre Cap. c.lxxvii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon fell in the Frenche kynges displeasure and in the Duke of Thourayns and after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastellon sonne to therle Guye of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix ¶ Of the sodayne dethe of the erle Gascone of Foize and howe the erle of Chastellon caÌe to his enherytaunce Cap. C.lxxx ¶ Howe the treatie of peace renewed at Towers in Thourayne bytwene the Frenche kynge and the duke of Bretayne and of the maryage of the doughter of Fraunce to the sonne of Bretayne and of Iohan of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and the doughter of the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxxi ¶ Howe the erle of Bloyes Mary of Namure his wyfe solde the countie
of Bloyes and all their landes to the duke of Thourayn the frenche kynges brother Capi. C .lxxxii. ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spayne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the Vycount of Chastellons busynesse and howe he was set in possessyon in the countie of Foize and of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his couÌsayle and of the kyng of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon throughe yuell wyll by subtile crafte beate downe sir Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Cap. C.lxxxv ¶ Howe in great dilygence the Prouost of Parys pursued sir Peter of Craon Capi. C .lxxxvi. ¶ Of the great armye and voyage that the Frenche kyng purposed to make in to Bretayngne agaynst the duke bycause he susteyned sir Peter of Craonne and howe in that voyage the kyng fell sicke wherby the voyage brake Cap. C.lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayne brother to the Frenche kynge resigned the Duchy of Thouraynge in to the kynges handes and howe by exchaunge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌce and so euer after he was called the duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii for .viii. Fo. CC.xxxiii ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and of Berrey vncles to the Frenche kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme and howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kyng bâ fore Cap. C.lxxxix ¶ Howe sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce departed out of Parys after the answere that the duke of Burgoyne had made hym and went to Mount le Henry and âââthens in to Bretayne Cap. C.xc. ¶ Howe the treatise whiche was accorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. ¶ Of the aduenture of a Daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodhouses wherin the Frenche kynge was in paryll of dethe Cap. C.xcii ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals or Rome sente a Frere a wyse clerke to the Frenche kyng Cap. C.xciii ¶ Howe the mariage was treased of the lorde Philyppe of Arthoyes erle of Ewel and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berrey and howe he was admytted coÌstable of Fraunce Cap. C.xciiii ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of EnglaÌde by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope ClemeÌt at Auâgnon and of the electyon of pope Benedic Capi. C.xcvi ¶ Of a clerke named maister Iohan of Warennes Cap. C.xcvii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquitayner and howe the kynge prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acouitayne Cap. C.xcviii ¶ Of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme and Emperour of Almayne Cap. C.xcix ¶ Howe sir Iohn Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to the kyng Capi. CC ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquitayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sente in to EnglaÌde to the kynge and his couÌsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌtrey of Aequitayne Cap. CC.i. ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kynge Richarde had made in Irelande howe he brought to his obeysaunce foure kynges of that countray Cap. CC.ii. ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sent in to FrauÌce to treate of the âââryage bytwene the lady Isabell the Frenche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louynge aunswere they hadde Cap. CC.iii ¶ Of a souper named Robert the ãâã howe he was sent to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham and howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Riuer and sir IohnÌ le Mercier and howe they were putte out of prisone Capi. CC.v ¶ Of the peace that was had bytwene the duke of Bretaynge and syr Olyuer of Clysson Cap. CC.vi. ¶ Howe the kynge of Hungery worte to the Frenche kynge the state of the great Turke and howe Iohan of Burgoyne eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chiefe heed of the armye that went thyder Fo .cc.lxiii. ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenaunt enterprised to go in to Fryse Cap. cc.vii ¶ Of the iudgement made in the Parlyament for the quene of Naples agaynste sir Peter of Craon Cap. CC.ix. ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage taken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande and Isabell eldest doughter to the Frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges Sarasyns to ayde hym with men of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyaunt sarasyns Came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. ¶ Howe the lorde of Eoucy and other lordes of the christen men about a .xv. hundred speares disconfyted a fyue thousande Turkes durynge the the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. ¶ Howe the peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce contynewed and of the maryage of the kyng of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii ¶ Howe the erle of Heynaulte and the Erle of Ostrenaunt his sonne made a great armye of men of armes knightes and squyets to go in to Fryse Cap. CC.xiiii ¶ Of the armye that the Frenche kyng sent in to Fryse in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Poule and the lorde Charles de la Brethe were capitayns Cap. CC.xv ¶ Howe the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his tent bytwene Arde and Calais Cap. CC.xvi. ¶ Howe the siege before Nicopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and how the Frenche men were discoÌfyted and howe the hungaryons fledde Cap. CC.xvii ¶ Of the pouertie and misery that the christen knightes of Fraunce and other nacions endured in the coÌmynge home to their countreis Cap. CC.xviii ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kynges house Cap. CC.xix ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was hadde in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Capi. CC.xx. ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn the duches his wyfe tooke great dilygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the Erle of Neuers their sânne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi ¶ Howe the Duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to distroy kynge Richarde of Englande his nephewe Cap. CC.xxii ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre was taken by the erle Marshall by the coÌmaundement of the kynge Cap. CC.xxiii ¶ Howe the lordes of FrauÌce retourned by see
to Venyce and of the ysles they founde by the waye Capi. CC.xxiiii ¶ Howe after the retourne of the lordes of Fraunce the Frenche kynge entended what he myght to sette a concorde and peace in the churche Cap. CC.xxv ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the erle of Arundell and howe the kynges vncles and the Londoners tooke the mater Cap. CC.xxvi ¶ Of the great armye that was made in the cytie of Reynes as well by the Emperoure as of the realme of Fraunce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii ¶ Howe the erle Marshall in Englande apealed by guage of vttraunce therle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre in the presence of the kynge and his counsayle Cap. CC.xxviii ¶ Howe kyng Richarde gaue senteÌce wherby he banysshed out of Englande the erle of Derby forten yere and therle Marshall for euer Cap. CC.xxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro LoÌdon to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to FlauÌders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ¶ Howe the lorde Guyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt sent to his cosyn the erle of Derby certayne messangers and howe the erle came to Parys and howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bytwene the Frenche kynge and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed and howe the bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent by the sayd kynges to Rome and to Auignon to them that wrote them selfe popes to th entent that they shuld depose themselfe fro their papalytees submytte them to the order of these two kynges Cap. CC.xxxii ¶ Howe the FreÌche kyng assembled the prelates and other noble meÌ or his realme with the vnyuersyte of Parys to take counsayle howe they shulde order pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xxxiii ¶ Of the answere of the duke of Lancastre to the knight sent to hym fro his sonne therle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Capi. CC.xxxiiii ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of Lancastre was knowen in Fraunce the kynge of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes son Capi. CC.xxxv ¶ Of the treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby the duke of Berreys doughter and howe kyng Richarde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Cap. CC.xxxvi ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii ¶ Howe the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to therle of Derby fro the Londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue hym to retourne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the Frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretayne Cap. CC.xxxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby arryued in Englande and howe he was receyued of the LoÌdoners Capi. CC.xl. ¶ Howe tidynges caÌe to kynges Rycharde or the coÌmyng of therle of Derby with great puissaunce Capi. CC.xli ¶ Howe kyng Richarde of Englande resined the crowne and the realme in the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii ¶ Of the coronacyon of kynge Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv ¶ Howe newes of the takyng of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the commynge thyder of the lady Coucy and howe the Frenche kynge was displeased Cap. CC.xlvi ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng reysed vp an armye to sende vpon the tronters of EnglaÌde Cap. CC.xlviii ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Richarde of Englande and howe the âreuse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was renewed and also of the deposycion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xlix ¶ Finis ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ Bourchier gouernour of Gaunt during the truse had newe vitayled the towne of Gaunt And howe a maner of people called comporsels dyde moche hurte in the countre Capitulo Primo SIr IohnÌ Bourchier who had the gouernyng of GauÌt vnder kynge Rycharde of Englande the capiteyns of the coÌmontie of the towne as Peter de Boyes fraÌces Atreman and Peterle Myttre They prouyded surely for the warre and duryng the truse they had greatly vitayled and refresshed the towne with all prouision parteyning to the warre and also the castell of Gauure and other places vnder their rule In the same season there was a coÌpany of rutters gadered togyder in the wode of Respayle and there they had fortifyed a house so that it coude nat lightly be wonne They were people chased out of Alos of Grantmount and out of other places in FlauÌders and had lost all that euer they had and wyst nat how to lyue but by robbyng and pillyng wheresoeuer they coude gete it so that there was as than no spekynge but of these pygges of Respayle This woode is bytwene Reguays and Grauntmount Anghien and Lysen they dyde moche hurt in the lordship of A the in the lande of Floberge and of Lyssues and in the lande of Danghien and these pyllers were borne out by them of Gaunt for vnder the coloure of them they dyde moche hurt as in robbynge and sleynge They wolde go in to Heynalte and take men and women in their beddes and leade them to their forteresse and raunsome theÌ at their pleasure they made warre to euery man The capitayne of A the who was called Baudrius dela Mocte layde often tymes awayte for them but he coude neuer trappe them they knewe so many shyftes They were so feared in the froÌters of Heynalte and Brabant that none durst go that waye in to the countre THe duke of Burgoyne on the other parte for the warâ that he loked for he garnysshed and prouided for all his townes in FlaÌders There was capitayne of Bruges the lorde of Guystelles and of Courtrey sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Willyam of Namure As than sir WillmÌ of Guystels was lorde of Dan and of Courtray sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Peter of Neyper In lykewise in all the townes on the fronter of Fraunce there were men of warre set by the duke of Burgoyne In the towne of Ardenbourcke there was in garyson sir Guy of Pontaillyer marshall of Burgoyn sir Ryflarte of Flaunders sir Iohan of Ieumont sir Henry of Coynge the lorde of Montigny in Ostrenant the lorde of Longueuall sir Iohan Barnet sir Peter Baylleull Philpot Gany Raoleyn dela Foley and dyuers other These men of armes were two hundred and so they toke aduyse toguyder and were in wyll to ryde in to the foure craftes and distroy that countre for moche vitayle came fro thens in to GauÌâ And so on a day they departed and toke that way and the same day that the frenche men were rydden forthe there was rydden forthe out of Gaunt a two thousande men mete for the warre and FrauÌces Arreman was their capitayne And so sodainly they mette with the frenchmen in a village and whan
ensample So the capitayne retourned and incontynent strake of all their heedes This was the conclusion of that busynesse Than the duke of Burgoyne cast in his aduyse to fynde some meanes to entreat his cosyn sir William of Namure to haue of hym the towne of Sluse by exchaunge for other landes and to ioyne that towne to the countie of Flaunders And this was moche by thaduyse of sir Guy de la Tremoyle who had the sormer before soiourned in Sluse with a certayne nombre of men of warre _wHanÌe sir Wylliam of Namure herde first spekynge of that matter he was marueylously displeased for the towne of Sluse with the apendauntes and profytes of the see was a fayre and a profitable herytage it was fallen to him by his auncestours wherfore he loued it the better Howe be it the duke of Burgoyne lay so sore on hym therfore that there was no remedy but to make the exchaunge For the dukes entensyon was to make there a stronge castell to subdue all comes and goers by the see entryng in to the hauen of Sluse and to kepe it with meÌ of warre so that none shulde entre by the see in those marchesse without their daunger and to make a towre so highe to se troeÌtie leages in to the see So thus breuely this sir wylliam of Namure was so sore desyred by the duke of Burgoyne and his counsayle that he was contente to exchaunge Sluse for the landes of Bethune whiche is a fayre and a great herytage in that countrey he to haue that to hym and to his heyres for euer And so than incontynent the duke of Burgoyn sette worke men a worke to make the Castell of Sluse ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the siege of Danne THere was nere euery daye an assaute dyuers scrimysshes at the gates barriers so that dyuers were hurt and slayne day lye The frenchmen coude nat well come to the walles bycause of the dykes were full of myre for if it had ben rayny wether the hoost shulde haue had moche a do and shulde haue ben fayne to haue dislodged wheder they wolde or nat But by the space of a moneth that the siege endured it neuer rayned and they had vitayle ynoughe Howe be it bycause of the yuell ayre the stynkynge of deed beestes horses the ayre was so corrupte that dyuers knightes squyers were therby sore sicke so that dyuers went to refresshe them at Bruges and other places to forsake the yuell ayre _tHe kynge hym selfe went and laye at Marles howe be it his tentes were styll pight vp in the felde The entent of FrauÌces Atreman was to holde styll the towne tyll socours came out of Englande to reyse the siege and surely they of Gaunte had sende in to Englande for rescue and surely the kyng of Englandes vncles had come ouer the see sufficiently garnysshed with men of warre and at tillarye to haue reysed the siege but that they were lette bycause of the admyralles beyng in Scotlande with acertayne nombre of men of armes And also it was sayde in the realme of Englande that the constable of FrauÌce shulde come after in to Scotlande with a great puissanÌce for to make warre into Englande wherby the gauntoyse were nat resrued Wher fore it behoued them within the towne of Dan to make an yuell bargayne ⸪ ¶ Nowe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by night and howe the frenche men toke the towne and distroyed it And also howe the kynge distroyed the countre of the foure craftes Cap. viii THe .xxvii. day of August the towne of Dan was won For whan Fraunces Atreman parceyued that he had no socour and that his artillary began to fayle than he was som what disconforted in hymselfe and sayd to them of his couÌsayle Sirs I wyll that we of Gaunt go our wayes and lette vs shewe this one to another secretely for if they of the towne knewe of our deêtyng to saue them selfe their wyues and chyldren Paraduenture they wyll make a shrewdemar chaundyse for vs. yea and delyuer vs to oure enemyes so that they may be in rest and peace and that shulde coste vs oure lyues but I shall kepe theym well therfro Wherfore let vs kepe vs all toguyder and let vs go about the towne to vysite the watche and lette vs cause the men and women of the towne to go in to the mynster makynge theym to beleue that to morowe next we shall haue a great assaute and bicause we would that they shulde haue no domage therfore we wyll haue them in suretie in the churche out of the waye And we shall saye to the watchemen that we wyll go out and make a scrymysshe with the hoost And whan we be in the feldes lette vs ryde on the spurres to Gaunte They of his counsayle sayd Sir ye haue well sayd so lette it be And so euery man ordayned them selfe as they had purposed and in the euenyng they trussed redy all their goodes suche as they might cary awaye and put all women and children and other prisoners in to the mynster and specially all ladyes and geÌtyl women Sayeng to them Fayre ladyes we shall haue to morowe in the mornyng a great assaute and we wolde nat that ye shulde be abasshed or take any domage So thus they lefte them in the churche and at the first hour of the night the gauntoise went and dyde visyte the watche and on the walles there were none but they of the towne Than Fraunces Atreman sayde to them Sirs make this night good watche depart nat fro the walles for any thyng ye here orse for in the mornyng we shall haue an assaut but yet first this night I wyll awake the hoost his wordes were well beleued euery man went he had sayd trouthe Whan he had ordayned euery thynge accordynge to his mynde than he caused a gate to be opyned and so he all his company issued out he was nat halfe a leage fro the towne but it was day light Than they of the towne parceyued well that Fraunces Atremen and all his company were gone Than they thought them selfe desceyued than the thefe of the towne began to entreate with the men of the kynges that were there as prisoners sayeng to theym howe they had slayne Fraunces Atreman the same night _wHan dyuers of the towne of Dan vnderstode howe FrauÌces Atreman and his coÌpany were gone and howe the gate was opyn they ran out of the towne that best might whan this was knowen in thoost the bretons and burgonyons desyring to wyn mounted on their horses and fell in the chase pursued the gauntoise tyll they caÌe within two leages of Gaunte So in the chase there were many slayne and taken mo than fyue hundred but of them were but fewe gauÌtoise but moost of Danne that fledde out of the towne In the meane season the towne was assayled where was made no defence So the frenche men entred on euery syde by ladders
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 ScotlaÌde brought thadmyrall vnto a highe mountayne and vnder the hyll there was a passage wherby theÌglysshe host must passe on this hyll was thadmyrall with diuers knightê of FrauÌce 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 coÌsydred 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 couÌtre 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 NorthumberlaÌde 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 Mosgrâues landes and so they toke the waye to the cytie of Carlyle ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande toke EdeÌborowe 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 FrauÌce 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 Dââery 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 NorthuÌberlande 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 EnglaÌde 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 fouÌde nother man nor beest abrode for all was withdrawen in to the forestes In the Englysshe hoost were mo than a huÌdred thousaÌde men and well as many horse wherof they had nede of great prouisyon and they fouÌde none in Scotlande but out of Englande there caÌe to theÌ great plentie bothe by lande and by see Than the kyng departed fro EdeÌborowe and rode towarde Estruleyn a good towne wherin there was a great abbey of blacke monkes and moost coÌmenly the kynges of Scotlande are there buryed The kyng lay in the abbey at their deêtyng abbey all was brent Than they passed the ryuer of Taxe whiche ronneth to saint IohnÌs 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 ScotlaÌde 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 IohnÌs 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 couÌtre 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 ThomÌs 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 FlauÌders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath êdoned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌe 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 coÌpany 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 EnglaÌde 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 coÌforted 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 demauÌded 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 yoâs 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 âlyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌce 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 gauÌt 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 incoÌtynent 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 fouÌde he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌtly 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
all men that wolde do any wrong therto reseruyng all onely the frenche kynges persone Than he sette men of warr to watche the wayes and passages where as these robbers pyllars vsed to passe on a daye he toke slewe and drowned of them at Robeston in Tholousin mo than four huÌdred wherby he gate great grace and honoure of them of Tholous and of Carcassone of Besyers and Mountpellyer and of other good townes there about so that the renome ran in Fraunce howe they of Languedoke were tourned and had taken to their lorde the erle of Foyz And the duke of Berry who was souerayne there toke therat great displeasure and had therle of Foiz in great hate bycause he medled so farre in the busynesse of Fraunce and wherby he maynteyned them of Tholous styll in their rebellyon agaynst him Than he sente men of warre in to the countre but they were fiersly driuen backe agayne by the erles men so that wheder they wolde or no they were fayne to drawe backe orels they had loste more than they shulde haue wonne With this the duke of Berrey was sore displeased with the erle of Foiz he sayd Howe therle of Foiz was the most presumptuous proudest knight of all the worlde The duke as than coude suffre no good to be spoken of hym howe be it he made hym no warre for the erle of Foiz had alwayes his townes and castelles so well prouyded for that none durste entre in to his lande But whan the duke of Berry came in to Languedocke than he left his rule for he wolde thaÌ no lengar exercyse agaynste the duke but the displeasure rested styll after a certayne space But nowe shall I shewe you by what meanes the peace was norisshed bytwene them IT was a ten yere paste that the lady Ellyanour of Comynges as nowe couÌtesse of Bouloyne and nere cosyn to therle of Foiz and right enherytour to the countie of Comynges thoughe that the erle of Armynake hadde it in possession She came to Ortaise to therle of Foiz and brought with her a yonge doughter of thre yere of age Th erle her cosyn made her good chere and he demaunded her of her busynesseâand wheder she was goynge Sir quod she I am goynge in to Arragon to myne vncle and Aunte the erle of Vrgell and there I purpose to abyde For I haue great displeasure to abyde with my husbande sir Iohan of Boloyne for I thought he wolde haue recouered myne enherytaunce of Comynges fro the erle of Armynake who kepeth it fro me And he hath my suster in prisone and he wyll do no thyng in the mater He is so softe a knight that he wyll do nothynge but take his ease and eate and drinke and to spende that he hath folysshlye and I thynke whan he is erle he wyll take his pleasure more Therfore I wyll no lengar abyde with hym and I haue brought with me my doughter whom I wyll delyuer in to your handes prayenge you to kepe and to norisshe her vp for I trust by reason of her lygnage ye wyll nat fayle thus to do for I haue hoope in you that ye wyll kepe her I had moche payne to gette her awaye out of the countrey and out of the handes of my husbande her father But bycause I take theÌ of Armynake myne aduersaries and yoursâ who wolde gladly steale my doughter awaye bycause she is enherytour of Comynges therfore I haue brought her vnto you Wherfore sir I requyre you fayle me nat at this busynesse And I am sure her father my husbande whan he knoweth that I haue lefte her with you he wyll be right ioyfull ⪠For he hath sayd often tymes to me that this his doughter shulde put hym to great doute And whan the erle had well herde the wordes of the lady Elyanour his cosyn he was right ioyfull And ymagined in him selfe howe that childe after shuld do hym some pleasure as by the meanes of her mother to haue a ferme peace with his enemyes or els to marry her in so highe a place that his ennemyes shulde doute hym therby Than he answered the lady and said Madame and cosyn all that ye desyre I shall do it with right a good wyl for I am bounde therto by lynage and as for your doughter my cosyn I shall kepe her as well as though she were myne owne proper chylde Sir quod she I thanke you Thus the yong doughter of Bouloyne abode with the erle of Foiz at Ortaise and she neuer departed thens sithe and the lady her mother went to Arragon She hath been sithe ones or twyse tose her doughter but she neuer desyred to haue her agayne for therle kepte her as well as if she were his owne chylde And to the purpose as to the meane of the peace that I shewed you the erle ymagined to gette by her the loue agayne of the duke of Berrey And as nowe at this present tyme the duke of Berry hath gret desyre to be marryed and I thynke by that I herde at Auygnon by the Pope who is cosyn germayne to the ladyes father He shewed me howe the duke of Berrey desyreth to haue her in maryage Ah saynt Mary sir quod I howe your wordê be to me right agreable for it hath done me great pleasure all that euer ye haue shewed me whiche shall nat be loste for it shall be putte in remeÌbraunce and cronycled if god wyll sende me the grace to retourne to the towne of ValenceÌnes where as I was borne But sir I am sore displeased of one thynge What is that ê he I shall shewe you By my faithe that so hyghe and valyant a prince as the Erle of Foiz is shulde be without laufull issue sir quod the knight if he had one as ones he had he shulde be the most ioyouse prince of the worlde and so wolde be all the couÌtre Why sir than quod I is his lande than withoute an heyre Nay sir ê he the Vycount of the castell Bone his cosyn germayne is his heyre Is he a valyant man in armes quod I Nay be my faythe sir quod he and therfore the Erle loueth hym nat and thynketh to make his two bastarde soÌnes who be right valyant his heyres thynketh to marry them in an highe lygnage for he hath golde and syluer ynough wherby he thynketh to gette theym wyues suche as shall ayde and conforte them Sir quod I it maye well be Howe be it the thyng is nat reasonable that bastardes shulde be made herytours of landes Wherfore nat sir quod he if there lacke good heyres Se you nat howe the spaynierdes haue crowned Henry a bastarde to be kyng and also they of Portyngale crowned a bastarde to their kynge It hath been sene in the worlde in dyuers realmes that bastardes by force hathe reygned Was nat Wyllyam Conquerour bastarde sonne to a duke of Normandy who conquered all Englande and was kynge there so that all the kynges syth are
squyer than he began to saye thus The first tyme that I bare armure was vnder the captall of Beufz at the batayle of Poyters and as it was my happe I had that daye thre prisoners a knight two squiers of whoÌe I had one with another four E. thousande fraÌkes The next yere after I was in Pruce with the erle of Foyz and the Captall his sonne vnder whom I was our retourne at Meulx in Brye we founde the duchesse of Normandy that was than and the duchesse of Orlyance a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles who were closed in and besieged by them of the Iaquery and if god had nat helped theÌ they had ben enforsed defouled for they were of great puissance and in noÌbre mo than ten thousande and the ladyes were alone and so we in the ayde of those ladyes dyd sette on theÌ and there were slayne of the Iaquery mo than sixe thousande and they rebelled neuer sythe at that tyme it was truse bytwene Fraunce and Englande but the kyng of Nauar made warre in his owne quarell agaynst the frenche kyng and Regent the erle of Foiz retourned in to his owne countre but my maister the captall and I other abode styll with the kyng of Nauar for his wages than we other that ayded vs made great way in FrauÌce and specially in Picardy and toke many townes and castelles in the bysshoprike these of Beauuoise and Amyens and as than we were lordes of the feldes and ryuers conquered great fynance And whan the truse fayled bytwene Englande and Fraunce than the ãâã of Nauarre seased his warre and toke a peace bytwene the Regent and hym Than the kyng of Englande with a great puyssance passed the see and came and layde siege to the towne of Remus Than the kyng of EnglaÌde sent for my maister who was at Cleremont in Beamoysin and there made warre for the kynge agaynst all the countrey Than we came to the kyng of Englande and to his chyldren than ââod the squyer to me Sir Iohan I thynke ye knowe all redy all that mater and howe the kyng of Englande wedded his wife and howe he came before Charters and howe the peace was made there bytwene these two kynges That is true sir quod I in writyng I haue it and the contynue of all the treaties Than the Bastot of Manlyon spake agayne and sayde whan this peace was thus made bitwene these two kynges It was ordayned that all men of warre and companyoÌs shulde a voyde leaue their fortresses and castels that they helde than all maner of men of warre and poore companyons drewe toguyder and the capitayns tooke counsayle what they shulde do And than they sayde Thoughe these two kynges haue taken peace toguyder yet we muste lyue Than they wente in to Burgoyne there were capitayns of all nacyons Englysshe Gascons Spany ardes Naueâoâse Almayns Scottes and of all maner of nacyons and there I was as a capitayne and there we fouÌde in Burgoyne and about the ryuer of Loyre of our coÌpany a .xii. thousande of one and other And in the same coÌpany ther were a thre or four thousaÌde of good and chosen men of warre and as subtell in all dedes of armes as might be and apte to aduise a batayle and to take their aduantage and as hardy to scale and assayle towne or castell and that was well sene at the bataile of Brinay wher as we ouerthrue the coÌstable of frauÌce therle of Forestz and two thousande speares knightê and squiers This vataile dyd great profite to the coÌpanyons for before they were but poore and than they were all riche by reason of good prisoners townes and castels that they wan in the bisshoprike of Lâon on the ryuer of Rone and whan they had âhe êont saynt Esprite they departed their warre made warr to the pope and to the cardynalles who coude nat be quyte of them nor had nat ben tyll they founde another remedy The pope sent in to LoÌbardy for the Marques of MouÌtferant a right valyant knight who had warre with the lorde of Myllayne WhaÌ he was come to Auignon the pope and the cardynals spake to hym in suche wyse that he entreted with the capitayns Englysshe gascons and almayns for threscore thousande fraÌkes that the pope and cardynals shulde pay to certayne of these capitayns and to their coÌpanyes as sir Iohan Hastourde a valyant englysshe knyght sir Robert Briquet Carsnell nandon le bagerant the bourge Camus dyuers other so than went in to LoÌbardy and gaue vp the pouÌt saynt Esprite of all their routes they toke but the .vi. parte but we taried be hynde sir Seguin of Bateâoile sir JohnÌ ioell sir James PlaÌchyn sir JohnÌ Aymery the burge of Piergourt Espiot Loys RaÌbalt Lymosyn Iaques tryturell I dyuers other we kepte styll lay at saynt Clement at Barell at Terrare at Brinay at the pont saynt Denys at thospitall of Ortifart for we had mo than .xl fortresses houses in the conutreis of forestz Velay base Burgoyn on the ryuer of Loyre and we rauÌsomed all the couÌtre they coude nat be quyte of vs nother for payng well nor otherwise in a night we toke the fortresse of Charite and there we abode a yere a halfe all was ours fro Charite to Puy in Auuergne sir Seguyn of Batefoile had lefte his garison of anse helde Bride in Auuerne wherby he had gret profite what there in the couÌtre to the value of a C.M. frankes on the ryuer of Loyre to Orlians the ryuer of Dalyer was all ours the archprest who was capitayne of Neuars was good frenche coude nat remedy the countre but in that he knewe many of the coÌpanyoÌs and so by his desyre soÌtyme the lesse hurte was done the archprest dyd the same tyme moche good in Neuernoise for he caused the cite of Neuers to be closed els it had been ouerron robbed diuers tymes for we had in those marches townes castelles mo than .xxvi. There was neyther knight nor squyer nor riche man with out he were agreed with vs that durst loke out of his house And this warre we made in the tytell of the kyng of Nauar. ¶ Howe dyuers capitayns englisshe and other were discoÌfited before the towne of SaÌxere by the frenchmen IN the same season fell the batayle of Cocherell where the captall of Beufz was capitayne for the kyng of Nauar dyuers knightes and squyers of our company went to hym sir Iaques Planchyn sir Iohan Ioell went to serue hym with two hundred speares The same season I kept a castell called the Becke Dalyer nere to Charyte goyng toward Barbanoise and I had vnder me a .xl. speares and I made in the countre mylles greatly to my profyte about saynt Purcyn and saynt Peter de moustier whan I herde howe the captall my mayster was in Constantyne
was slayne Goussalenas of Merlo Alue Porie marshall of the oost a good knyght Radigos Perriere IohnÌ Iames of Salues IohnÌ Radigo cosyn to the kynge of Ammoudesque Radigo Radiges Valeroâceaux mendignes of valconseaux Then the duke of Lancastre began to laughe Laurence Fongase demaunded sayd syr why do you laughe Why sayd the duke there is good cause why I neuer herde so straunge names as I haue herde you reherce Syrsayd he by my fayth all these names we haue in our countrey more straunger I byleue you well sayd the duke But Laurence what became of the kynge of Castell after this dyscomfyture made he ony recouery or dyd he close hymselfe in ony of his townes or dyd the kynge of Portyngale folowe hym the nexte day Nay surely syr sayd Laurence we folowed them no furder but abode styl in the same place where that felde was all nyght the nexte daye tyll noone then we retourned to the castell of Alerne a .ii. lytel legges fro Iuberoth so fro thens to Connymbres the kynge of Castel went to saynt yrayne there toke a barge .xiiii. w e hym rowed to a greteshyp and so wente by the see to Sybyll where the quene was his men wente some one way some another lyke people dysmayde with out recouery for they lost moche of theyr domage they are not lyke to recouer it of a grete soason wtout it be by the puyssauÌce of the frensshe kynge bycause the kynge of Portyngale his counsayle knowe well that the Castellyans wyll pourchace ayde out of Fraunce bycause they be alyened togyder Therfore we be sent in to this countrey to the kynge of Englande to you then the duke sayd Laurence ye shal not departe hens tyl ye bere with you good tidinges But I pray you shewe me of the other encountrynge that your men had in the felde of Sybyll as ye spake of ryght nowe for I wolde gladly here of dedes of armes thoughe I be no good knyght myselfe syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyll I shall shewe you AFter the fayre honourable iourney the kynge IohnÌ of Portyngale had at the Cabase of Iuberoth that he was retourned with grete tryumphe to the cyte of Lyxbone that there was no tydynges of ony newe assembly of the Castellyans or Frensshmen but helde theÌ in garysons Then the kynge of Castel departed fro Sybyl the quene his wyfe with hym wente to Burgus in Castell so our men theyrs made warre togyder by garysons so on a tyme the erle of Nauare constable of Portyngale entred in to Castell in to the feldes of Sybyl with .xl. speres came before a towne called Valewyde within whiche there was a CC. men of armes of castell the erle of Nauare came to the baryeres shewed wel howe he demaunded batayle of theÌ within who made no semblauÌt to yssue out howbeit they armed theÌ when our men had ben there as longe as it pleased theÌ theÌ they retourned they had not ryden past a legge of that couÌtrey but that they saw theÌ of the garyson of Valewyde come galopyng after them the capytaynes of theÌ was Diogenes of Padillo an experte man of armes the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Galyce when our men saw theÌ so comynge they lyghted on fote and delyuered theyr horses to theyr pages the Spanyardes who were a grete nombre wolde haue set on the pages varlettes to haue taken theyr horses fro them some sayd let vs wyn theyr horses we can not do them a gretter dyspleasure nor put theÌ to more payne then to make them retourne on foote then the mayster of saynt Iaques sayd naye let vs not do so for if we wyn the maysters we shal soone haue the horses let vs alyght a fote fight with theÌ they shall not endure agaynst vs thus whyle the Castellyans were arguynge our meÌ passed oure a lytell water that was behynde theÌ there toke a grete grouÌde fortefyed it made semblaunt as though they caryed nothyng for theyr horses when the Castellyans sawe that they were passed the water then they repented theÌ that they had not set on soner theÌ they dyd howbeit they thought soone to ouercome our men so came on them began to cast dartes when the Castellyans had enployed al theyr artyllery had no mo dartes to cast had soo contynued theyr assaulte fro noone tyll it was nere nyght When our men sawe that theyr enemyes had spente all theyr artyllery then the erle of Nauare made his baner to passe the water all his company so dasshed in amonge the Castellyans who anone begaÌ to open for they weresore trauayled weryed chased in theyr harneys so that they coulde not helpe themselfe but were all ouerthrowne dyscomfyted the mayster oesaynt Iaques slayne mo then .lx. with hym the other fled so they saued theyr horses wan many other fro the Castellyans How say you syr had not our meÌ that day a fayre aduenture yes by my faythe sayd the duke of Lancastre ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had answere of the kynge of Englande and grete gyftes howe they toke theyr leue and wente in to theyr countreys Ca. xlvi And syr bycause of suche rencountres dedes of armes that our men haue had on theyr enemyes syth the eleceyon of kyng IohnÌ of Portyngale the Portyngales are entred in to grete ioy most comonly say the god is for them theyr ryght syr they say not moche amys to say the god is with theÌ for in euery thynge as touchyng ony dede of armes lytell or moche euer syth the dethe of kynge Ferrant they haue had the vyctory the erle of Foys that nowe is one of the gretest lordes of the worlde full of hyghe prudence as we knowe by them of his countrey he sayd that fortune was with vs of Portyngale yf the knyghtes of Byerne had byleued hym whaÌ he departed out of his couutrey they sholde not haue armed themselfe agaynst the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is a wyse and a dyscrete man fereth god loueth holy chyrche exalteth it as moche as he may and is often tymes in his oratory on his knees in herynge of deuyne seruyce he hath ordeyned that for what so euer busynes it be that none speke to hym tyll he be out of his oratory and is a grete clerke taketh lytell hede of ony grete sermones and specyally he wyll haue iustyce kepte in all his royalme and poore men maynteyned in theyr ryght Thus syr at your request I haue shewed you the maner of our countrey and all that I knowe of the kynge and all his counsayle and by theÌ I was coÌmaunded at my departyng fro them to shewe you euery thynge that I knewe Wherfore syr it maye please you that I
euery thyng be auoyded in to the good townes in to stronge castelles bytwene this the feest of all sayntes elles let it be forfayte abandoÌ tt to your meÌ of warre who so euer can catche it or at the furchest by the feest of saynt Andrewe it were better your owne meÌ had the profyte ther of rather then your enemyes syr sende specyally certayne persones of your counsayle to the frensshe kyng certefyeng hym what case you your countrey is in thus syr sende to the kyng his vncles the duke of Berrey the duke of Borgoyne shewyng theÌ surely that by all lykelyhode in this nexte somer ye shal haue the grettest war that euer was made in spayne other by the prynce or by ony other syr wryte pyteous letters desyrynge the kynge his vncles to coÌforte you in this your grete nede with some good meÌ of armes to resyst your enemyes to kepe defâde your royalme there is grete alyaunces all redy bytwene the frensshe kynge you in lykewyse was by hym your fader syr surely in no wyse the frensshe kyng the noble royalme of frauÌce whiche may do more in dede theÌ englande Portyngale ioyned togyder in this case wyll not fayle you for wheÌ the freÌsshe kyng his couÌsayle be iustly enfourmed of euery thynge ye shal wel perceyue they wyl take suche regarde therto that ye shal take but lytell domage by this war for knightes squyers of frauÌce desyring to auaunce theyr dedes with a lytell worde or coÌmauÌdement wyll drawe in to these partyes to fynde dedes of armes for as nowe they wote not where to employ theyr tyme better for frauÌce flauÌders as now be accorded whiche hath ben at war a long season also there is a truce bytwene frauÌce englaÌde as beyonde the ryuer of Loyre to endure to the feest of saynt IohnÌ baptyst therfore syr ye shal se knyghtes squyers of frauÌce come hyder in good nombres as well to fynde dedes of armes as to se this couÌtrey to mete the englysshmeÌ but syr we couÌsayle you for your êfyre that al these smal holdes chyrches mynsters steples abrode in the couÌtrey let theÌ de put downe if ye thynke to haue ioy of the resydue theÌ the kyng of Castel sayd syrs ye couÌsayle me truely thus wyll I do fro hence forwarde theÌ without takyng of ony further couÌsayle he coÌmaunded al suche holdes as were of no grete strength to be beten downe abandoned to the frensshe knyghtes al that they founde in theÌ to se that it were done as they had deuysed syrsayd they that is wel sayd syr we shal se it accoÌplysshed shal helpe to saue all the resydue this worde that the kyng of Castel sayd to theÌ of frauÌce the auctorite that he gaue to theÌ was wel worth to theÌ CC.M. frankes of profyte specyally to theÌ that came fyrst in to Castell wheÌ the duke of LaÌcastre aryued at coulongne Thus thrughout al the royalme of Castel al smal holdes chyrches steples suche as were not sufficyent to be kepte were put downe all the goodes in theÌ abandoned to the meÌ of warre so the people of the countrey were atrapped begyled suche as had fortefyed suche places put in theÌ theyr goodes as wyne cornâ flesshe other thiÌges thynkyng there to haue kepte theÌ sure but it fell the coÌtrary for knyghtes squyers sente thyder theyr meÌ toke al brought suche prouysyon as they fouÌde there to theyr maysters lodgynges but as for golde syluer suche as they fouÌde suche money as they made the vylaynes to pay for theyr owne goodes that money neuer came to no knowledge for that they kepte styll in theyr purses some of the poore coÌpanyons suche as were more subtyl theÌ other moost aduentured therby wan moost often tymes suche as cometh fro theyr owne howses moost porest in suche cases be sonest mouÌted on good horses genettes .v. or .vi. in theyr stable gyrdelles of chaynes of golde syluer a M. or .ii. M. frankes in theyr purse wheÌ they were in theyr owne couÌtrey were fayne to go a fote or on a nagge thus the coÌpanyons that came fyrst in to Castel wan moche ryches the poore meÌ of the couÌtrey payde for al for they were robbed ryfled with theyr owne meÌ for they wolde not that theyr enemyes sholde haue had ony êfyte therof when these tydynges came in to frauÌce to other coÌpanyons how the pore knyghtes squyers that were gone in to Castell were made so ryche they were the more eger to go out of theyr houses to draw in to spayne coÌsideryng how they myght there as well pyll robbe on theyr frendes as on theyr enemyes ¶ Of the grete apparell prouysyon that generally was made in the royalme of frauÌce by the kyng there by his couÌsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande also of the dethe of Frauncis Atreman Ca. lii THe frensshe kyng his counsayle were wel enfourmed of the voyage that the duke of LaÌcastre sholde make in to Castel or he departed for the voyce flewe quyckely that the royalme of Castel sholde haue moche a do that somer to fynde some remedy theragaynst the duke of Burgoyne made so lyghtly peas with the gauÌtoâ se to the entente to ayde the necessyte of the kyng of Castel wherto the frensshe kyng the royal me of frauÌce were bounde for dyuers reasons for by the kyng of Castel his men shyppes on the see the busynes of the royalme of fraunce were in good state also besyde that the yonge kynge Charles of frauÌce had grete affeccyon to go with an army in to the royalme of englande all knytes squyers of frauÌce were well agreed therto specyally his vncle the duke of Burgoyne the constable of fraunce for al that he had to his wyfe the syster of kyng Rycharde of englande also the lorde of Coucy these lordes the most parte of the chyualry of frauÌce sayd why sholde we not ones go into Englande to se the countrey the people there teche them the way as they haue done in fraunce so in the yere of our lorde M. CCC.lxxx.vi what to the entente to breke the duke of Lancastres voyage to cause hym to retourne out of Castel to gyue feare to the englysshmeÌ grete ordenauuÌce for that voyage was made in trauÌce taxes tallages set allysed in cytees good townes in the playne countrey that in a C. yere before there was none suche sene also grete apparel made by the see al yâ somer tyll the moneth of septembre they dyd no thyng elles on yâ see coost but grynde corne bake bysket at Tournay lysle doway arras Amyas bethune saynt omers in all the townes aboute Sluse for the frensshe kynges entencyon
so he lepte on his horse a xx with hym and toke his penon before hym and rode out of the castell a grete galop to come to the Castellyans who as then were drawen in to a busshment and had made one of theyr company to ryde forthe on a genet and when syr IohnÌ Ferrant saw the geneture he sayd to a squyer of his galop forth thy genet assaye to speke with yonder geneture then the squyer galopped forth and folowed hym nere euer lykely to take hym for he fled but softely before hym to the entente to brynge hym in to the busshment when he was nere them the busshment brake out at hym then he tourned quyckely his backe and they that chased hym cryed Castell and syr IohnÌ Ferrant beynge vnder his penon seynge his squyer retourned in suche hast sayd they that chase my squyer be none of our company they be castellyans set on them crye Portyngale for I wyll fyght with them then he toke his spere ranne at them the fyrst that he met withall wente to the erthe and the seconde also of .xxv. Castellyans that were there x. of them lay shortely on the grounde and the other chased and some were ouertaken slayne and hurte and all this I was glad to se for I saw my delyueraunce and in a shorte season I was lefte all alone then I came to the knyght and saluted hym and as soone as he saw me he knewe me and demaunded of me fro whens I came what I dyd there then I shewed hym all myne aduenture and how the Castellyans chased me and toke me well sayd he and what knowe you of the kynge of Portyngale by my fayth syr sayd I to morowe he shall haue batayle at Iuberoth agaynst the kynge of Castel for he sente me in to this countrey to gyue warnynge therof to the knyghtes and squyers that knoweth it not to the entente that they sholde resorte to hym to morow sayd he ye truely syr sayd I and yf ye byleue not me demaunde of these Castellyans that ye haue taken then he demaunded of them tydynges they sayd howe surely the nexte day there sholde be batayle bytwene the .ii. kynges of whiche tydynges he was ryght glad and sayd openly to the Castellyans syrs for the good tydynges that ye shewe me I quyte you of your raunsomes departe when ye wyl so ye acquyte this squyer so thus he caused me to be quyted fro them and so they departed we yâ same day retourned to âonte then he made hym redy and departed thens at mydnyght I in his company and fro thens to the Cabase of Iuberoth whiche was a .vi. myles of that countrey and to eschewe encountrynges we rode somwhat out of our waye in the mornynge we herde that there sholde be batayle the same daye or we sawe the batayles when we approched the batayles were raynged in the feldes the kynge of Castell on the one partye the kynge of Portyngale on the other and at the fyrst we knewe not whiche were Castellyans and whiche were Portyngales tyll at the last syr IohnÌ Ferrant Partelere sayd I byleue surely the gretter oost be the Castellyans then we rode forth fayre easely tyl we came nere and then we sawe well it was the Castillyans and I trowe some of the gascoynes brake out agaynst vs then syr IohnÌ Ferrant sayd let vs auaunce forthe we se yonder our enemyes comyng on vs theÌ we strake our horses with the spurres rode cryenge Portyngale they folowed vs then when our company of portyngules sawe vs they came forth and rescued vs and for al that the batayles brake not theyr aray and so syr IohnÌ Ferrant came to the kynge and acquyted hym that day with the best Thus syr I haue shewed you howe he dyd me grete courtesye for he delyuered me out of pryson and I had not ben at the batayle and he had not ben Therfore syr dyd he not me a goodly pleasure yes truely sayd syr IohnÌ Dambrych courte and also by you he knew of the batayle that is true sayd the squyer then they rode forth tyll they had ouertaken theyr companuy came the same day to Connymbres ANd of the comynge of these Englysshe knyghtes the kynge of Portyngale was ryght ioyfull coÌmaunded that they sholde be well lodged at theyr ease and when they were redy then Martyn of Coygne Ferrant Martyn Merle and the englysshe knyghtes wente to the kynge who receyued them ioyously theÌ the Englysshmen dyd theyr message presented the kynge with the Fawcons and greyhouÌdes of the whiche the kynge had grete ioy for he loued houndes and hawkes then they thanked the kynge on the dukes parte for the goodly mules that he had sente to the duke and to the duches then he sayd that was but a small present another tyme I wyll sende them gretter gyftes this was but for aquayntaunce of loue as lordes ought to do one to another to nourysshe loue and amyte then wyne and spyces were brought and the knyghtes of Englande dranke and so toke theyr leue for that tyme retourned to theyr lodgynges to souper the nexte day they dyned at the kynges palace and the lorde Poynynges and syr IohnÌ Bancell sate at the kynges table and syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourt syr IohnÌ Soultyer sate at another table with the barons of that countrey suche as were there and there was Laurence Fongase a squyer of honoure of the kynges who knewe ryght well all the knyghtes and squyers of Englande for he had sene them in Englande he made them the best chere he coulde they were well serued at this dyner and after dyner they were brought in to the counsayle chambre Then the englysshe knyghtes began to speke to the kynge and to .ii. erles that were there present the erle of Angose and the erle of Nauare and sayd syr and it lyke your grace besyde all the recommendacyons that the duke of Lancastre hath sente vnto you he gaue vs in charge to say to you that he desyreth sore to se you then the kynge sayd and I as glad to se hym and I requyre you that shortely we may se and speke togyder syr sayd the erles it were good that it were so for tyll ye be togyder ye shal not loue parfytely and then ye may take aduyse togyder howe ye may maynteyne your warres agaynst the kynge of Castel syr this is true sayd the knyghtes of englande then sayd the kynge let it be done shortely for if the duke desyre to se me in lyke wyse I desyre to se hym so then they fell in other talkynge for then the kyng charged his counsayle to agre and assygne a certayne daye when they sholde mete togyder and to assure the englysshe knyghtes therof and so they dyd it was agreed that the kynge of Portyngale sholde come to a cyte in his countrey called the Porte and that the duke of Lancastre sholde ryde
doughters and as sone as they be wedded ye shal se bothe theyr puyssaunces ioyne togyder entre in to my royalme so gyue me to moche to do Then the frensshe knyghtes answered to comforte the kynge and sayd syr take no thought therfore for yf the englysshmen wyn on the one syde they lese on the other for we know surely that the frensshe kynge with mo then a. C.M. men of warre is as nowe in the royalme of Englande dystroyeth and conquereth the countrey and when they haue done brought al Englande in subieccyon then the frensshe kynge wyl take agayne the se or somer be past aryue at coulogne in galyce wyn agayne more in a moneth then ye haue lost in a hole yere the duke of Lancastre shal so be inclosed that he shal be fayne to fle in to portyngale so ye shal take vengeauÌce of your enemyes for syr know surely that if the busynes offrauÌce had not ben so grete as it is for the voyage in to englande ye sholde haue had here or this .iii. or .iiii. M. speres of frensshmen for the frensshe kynge his vncles couÌsayle haue grete affeccyon to coÌforte ayde you to brynge your warres to an ende syr care not though the englysshmen nowe kepe the feldes wyn a lytel of your countrey Surely syr or it be the feest of saynt IohnÌ baptyst they shal al be dryuen away the kyng toke these wor for good toke coÌforte in theÌ the frensshe knyghtes sayd nothyng but as they thought was true for they reputed surely as then the frensshe kynge to be aryued in Englande so it was brewted in all Spayne Galyce and Portyngale surely the fourth parte of the tydynges that the englysshmen herde of pylgrymes merchauntes comynge fro flaunders was not shewed to the duke of Lancastre also the kynge of Portyngale for al that he wrote often tymes to the duke yet he somwhat dyssymuled was not ouer hasty to sende for the lady Phylyp to be his wyfe for his counsayle sayd to hym syr surely there is tydynges come out of Fraunce out of flaunders that the royalme of Englande is in a grete aduenture to be dystroyed and yf that be so what sholde it auayle you the comforte of the duke of Lancastre or to wedde his doughter it sholde nothyng auayle you wherfore couertly he delayed his busynes to the entente to se the ende of that matter howbeit by letters messagers he reteyned styll the duke in loue fauoure Nowe let vs leue a season to speke of the busynesses of Castell and Portyngale and let vs treate of the matters of fraunce ¶ Of the grete apparell of shyppes galeys that the frensshmen made on the see to passe in to EnglaÌde Ca. liii THe apparel of shyppes galeys and vesselles that the frensshe kyng made to passe in to EnglaÌde was so grete and sumptuous that the eldest man thaÌ lyuyng neuer saw nor herde of the lyke the knyghtes and squyers reioysed when they departed fro theyr houses to go with the frensshe kynge in to Englande sayd nowe let vs go on these cursed Englysshmen who haue done so many euylles persecucyons in fraunce nowe shall we be reuenged for our faders bretherne and kynsmen whom they haue slayne and dyscomfyted surely it was more then .xii. wekes a doynge the pourueynge of suche prouysyons as the frensshe lordes made it was so grete that it was meruayle to consyder it it was sayd in all flaunders the kynge cometh to morowe and also men came thyder out of Gascoyne armynacke Comynges Tholowsyn and fro al the lymyttes of fraunce and all came lodged in flaunders and Artoys and when it came to the myddes of August that the voyage sholde approche and to the entente to make them of farre countreys to make the more hast to gyue ensample that the kynge toke his voyage with grete desyre the kynge toke his leue of the quene his wyfe and of quene Blaunche and of the duches of Orlyaunce and of the other ladyes of fraunce herde masse solemply in our Ladyes chyrche in Paris his entencyon was neuer to retourne agayne to Paris tyll he had ben fyrst in Englande so the kynge rode to Senlyse but al that season the duke of Berrey was styll in his couÌtrey of Berre howbeit prouysyon was made in Flaunders at sluse for hym as it was done for other also the duke of Borgoyne was in his countrey so then he toke leue of the duches of his chyldren determyned to take his leue of his grete aunte the duches of Brabant so he departed out of Borgoyne rode in grete estate the admyrall of fraunce in his company syr Guy of Tremoyle so they came to Bruzelles there founde the duches other ladyes who receyued hym with grete honour .ii. dayes he taryed there with them then toke his leue fro thens he rode to Mons in Heynalte and there he founde his doughter the lady of Ostrenant duke Aubert his sone syr wyllyam of Heynalte erle of Oftrenant who receyued the duke with grete ioy so brought hym to Valencennes the duke was lodged in the erles palace duke Aubert in the lodgynge of Vycongnet the lady of Ostrenant fro thens the duke rode to Doway so to Arras there he founde the duches his wyfe taryenge for hym Then the frensshe kynge came to Compaygne so to Noyon fro thens to Perone to Bapalmes so to Arras dayly there came downe people fro all partes so grete nombre that the couÌtrey was clene eten vp nothyng was lefte abrode in the countrey but it was taken wtout payenge of ony thynge so that the poore comon people that had gadered togyder theyr cornes had nothynge lefte them but strawe yf they spake therof they were beten or slayne theyr waters were fysshed theyr houses beten downe for fyer wood yf the englysshemen had aryued in the countrey they coulde not nor wolde not haue done so grete dystruccyon nor hurte then the frensshmen themselfe dyd they sayd to the poore men syrs we haue as nowe no syluer to pay but when we retourne we shal haue ynoughe then ye shall be clerely payde but the poore people when they saw theyr goodes taken spente away and durst not speke theragaynst they cursed bytwene theyr tethe sayenge go in to Englande or to the deuyll neuer retourne agayne ¶ Howe the frensshe kynge and his vncles aryued at Sluse in flaunders Ca. liiii THe frensshe kynge came to Lysle in flaunders his two vncles with hym the duke of Borgoyne and the duke of Borbon for as theÌ the duke of Berrey was behynde in his owne couÌtrey and ordeyned for his busynes with the kynge at Lysle there was the duke of Bare the duke of Lorayne the erle of Armynacke the erle
of Sauoy the erle Dalphyn of Awuergne the erle of Geneue the erle of saynt Poule the erle of Ewe the erle of Longueuyle and other grete lordes of Fraunce in suche nombre that I can neuer name them all it was sayd there sholde passe in to Englande .xx. M. knyghtes squyers whiche to say trouth is a fayre company also .xx. M. crosse bowes with the Geneways and besyde them other .xx. M. of other men of warre and as then syr Olyuer Clysson was in Bretayne and ordeyned therfore his busynes and nauye and sholde brynge with hym the closure of the felde made of tymbre whiche they ordeyned to be set vp euery nyght when they were ones in Englande and with syr Olyuer Clysson constable of Fraunce sholde come out of Bretayne the best knyghtes squyers therin as the vycount of Rohan the lorde or Rays the lorde of Beawmanoyre the lorde de la Vale the lorde of Rochforte the lorde of Malestroyt syr IohnÌ of Malestroyte and a .v. C. speres Brerons chosen men of warre for it was the constables entencyon that no maÌ sholde entre in to englande without he were a maÌ of armes chosen he gaue charge to the admyral sayng take hede ye charge not our shyppes with varlettes and boyes for they shall do vs more domage then profyte so that .ii. or .iii. knyghtes without they were grete maysters thoughe they hyred shyppes for theyr money yet they sholde haue but one horse ouer one varlet to say trouthe they ordeyned al theyr busynesses in good ordre and it was the opynyon of dyuers that yf they myght aryue all togyder in Englande where as they entended to lande that was at Orwell hauen howe they sholde sore abasshe the countrey so they sholde without doubte for the grete lordes spyrytuall and temporall and the people of the good townes were in grete doubte but the comons poore companyons cared nothynge therfore no more dyd pore knyghtes and squyers for they desyred the warre outher to wynne or to lose all and they sayd one to another god hath sent to vs a good season syth the frensshe kynge wyll come in to this couÌtrey he is a valyaunt kyng we thynke this CCC yere passed there was not in fraunce a kyng of that courage as he is of he maketh his men good meÌ of warre blessyd maye he be syth he wyll come to vysyte vs for nowe we shall dye or elles be ryche it can be none otherwyse ¶ Howe the frensshe kynge taryed at Sluse with his grete oost to the entente to entre in to Englande Ca. iv IF the apparell for this voyage was grete and sumptuous in Flaunders and at Sluse in lykewyse was it in EnglaÌde I haue shewed you somwhat therof here before wherfore I passe it ouer breuely yf the taxes and tallages were grete in fraunce in lykewyse they were in englande so that many a man sorowed longe after but bycause the comons sawe it was nedefull sayd it is not agaynst reason thoughe we be taxed nowe to gyue of our goodes to knyghtes and squyers to defende theyr herytages and ours There was raysed the same tyme in Englande for the defence of the countrey more then .ii. mylyons of floreyns and receyuours therof were the archebysshop of yorke broder to the lorde Neuell the erle of Oxenforde syr Nycholas Branbre syr Myghell Polle syr Symon Burle syr Peter Gauloufer syr Robert Tryuylyen syr IohnÌ Beauchamp Syr IohnÌ Salysbury and other of the kynges pryuy counsayle as for the kynges vncles there was nothynge done by them nor they wolde not medle therwith nor brynge the royalme in trouble but they toke good hede to maynteyne the honoure of the royalme to kepe the passages portes for they byleued surely to haue yâ same yere the frensshe kyng with his puyssauÌce to aryue in Englande so these sayd lordes and knyghtes receyued the taxes and dyd what they lyst the chefe of them he that had moost profyte was the erle of oxenforde for by hym euery thynge was done and without hym nothyng done so that after wheÌ theyr busynesses were passed the people made trouble to knowe where the money became and some of the cytees good townes of Englande wolde haue accomptes therof with the ayde of the kynges vncles as ye shal here after when tyme shall be to speke therof for it shall not be forgotten out of the hystory ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Cauntorburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he acheued grete hate Ca. lv SIr Symon Burle was capytayne of the castel of Douer and he herde often tymes newes out of Calays by the fysshers for they kepte styll theyr custome of fysshynge Somtyme before Boloyne before the porte of Whytsande and when other frensshe fysshers met with them they wolde tel eche other tydynges somtyme more then they knewe for the fysshers of the see what soo euer warre was bytwene Englande and Fraunce they dyd no hurte one to another but were as frendes aydynge eche other and bought solde eche with other fysshe if one sped better then another for yf they sholde haue made war one with another there durst none haue gone a fysshynge wtout conduyte of men of warre thus syr Symon Burle vnderstode by the fysshers that surely the frensshe kynge wolde passe ouer in to Englande and take landyng at Douer and at Sandwytche syr Symon byleued wel those wordes and thought it was true and so dyd all englande so on a daye he came to Cauntorbury and wente to the abbaye and there they demaunded of hym tydynges and he shewed as moche as he knewe and by his wordes he shewed that saynt Thomas shryne whiche is goodly and ryche was not there in surety bycause the towne was not stronge and he sayd that if the frensshemen sholde come thyder whiche by all lykelyhode they wolde do for Couetyse of wynnynge the robbers pyllers wolde robbe that towne and abbey chyrche and all they wyll cary awaye with them the shryne yf they fynde it here wherfore I wolde counsayle and aduyse you to cary it to the castell of Douer there it shal be in suretye thoughe al englande were lost then the abbot and all the couent toke his counsayle though he ment well in grete dyspyte and dyspleasure sayenge syr Symon wyll ye depose our chyrche fro our sygnory yt ye be afrayde make yourselfe sure for thoughe ye close yourselfe with in the castell of Douer forfere yet the frensshmen shall not be so hardy to come hyder to vs and so Symon Burle multyplyed so moche inwardes in maynteynynge his request the the comons of the countrey were sore displeased with hym and reputed hym not profytable for that countrey and ryght well they shewed after theyr dyspleasure as ye shall here in the story So syr Symon Burley wente to Douer agayne THe frensshe kynge came to Lysle to
shewe that the iourney pleased hym and to approche the soner to his passage so the kyng approched and it was sayd in Flaunders and in Actoys they shall take shyppyng outher on Satterday monday or tuysday so that in euery day in yâ weke it was sayd he sholde departe to morowe or the nexte day after and his broder the duke of Tourayne the bysshop of Beawuoys chauncellour of Fraunce dyuers other grete lordes toke theyr leue of the kyng at Lysl and they retourned to Parys it was shewed me howe the kynge had gyuen the gouernyng of the royalme to his broder the duke of Tourayne tyll his retourne agayne with the ayde of dyuers other lordes of Fraunce suche as were not ordeyned to go in to Englande as the erle of Bloys and other yet all the season the duke of Berry was behynde came but fayre easely for he had no grete appetyte to go in to Englande his longe taryeng was dyspleasauÌt to the kynge to the duke of Burgoyne and to the other lordes they wolde gladly he had ben come styll grete prouysyon was made whiche was costly and dere a thynge not worth a franke was solde for .iiii. howebeit for all that money was not spared for euery man desyred to be well stuffed of euery thynge in maner of enuy euery maÌ to be better appoynted then other and thoughe the grete lordes were well payde theyr wages other poore companyons bought the bergayne for they were owynge for a monethes wages and yet coulde gete nothynge the treasourer of the warres and clarkes of the chambre of accomptes sayd syrs abyde tyll the nexte weke and then ye shall be payde and soo they were answered wekely yf ony payment were made to them it was but for .viii. dayes and were owynge .viii. wekes soo that some when they sawe the maner of dealynge howe they were soo euyll payde they were sore dyspleased and sayd surely this voyage shall be but of small effecte for by all lykelyhode when the money is gadered of the taxes then they wyl breke this iourney and retourne home agayne in to theyr owne countreys suche as dyd cast suche doubtes prouided therafter were wyse but the poore knyghtes and companyons suche as were reâeyned by the grete lordes spente all that they had euery thynge was so dere in Flaunders that harde it was to gete outher brede or drynke or yf they wolde sell theyr wages or armure there was no money to gete yf ony were bought it was dere there was soo moche people aboute Dan Bruges and Ardenbrughe and specyally at Sluse for when the kynge came thyder they wyst not where to lodge the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Concy the dolphyn of Auuergne the lorde Dantoygne and dyuers other lordes of fraunce to lye more at theyr case lodgynge at Bruges somtyme went to Sluse to the kynge to know when they sholde departe and euer it was sayd to them within .iii. or .iiii. dayes or when the duke of Berrey is come and that we haue wynde to strue vs so euer the tyme passed and the day shortened and began to be foule and colde and the nyghtes longe wherwith dyuers of the lordes were not contente to tary so longe and also theyr prouysyons mynysshed ¶ Howe the kyng of Armony passed in to Englande in trust to fynde some meane of peas or good appoyntment bytwene the kyng of Englande and the kynge of Fraunce Ca. lvi THus in abydynge for the duke of Berrey and for the constable who were behynde then kynge Lyon of Armony who was in frauÌce and had assygned hym by the kynge .vi. M. frankes by the yere to maynteyne his estate he toke on hym for a good entente to go in to Englande to speke with the kyng there and his counsayle to se if he myght fynde ony maner of peas to be had bytwene the two royalmes of Englande and frauÌce and so he departed fro his lodgynge of saynt Albeyne besyde saynt Denyee alonely with his owne company and with no grete apparel Soo he rode to Boloyne and there he toke a shyp and so sayled forth tyll he came to Douer and there he founde the erle of Cambrydge the erle of Buckyngham and mo then a C. meÌ of armes and a .ii. M. archers who laye there to kepe that passage for the brute ranne that the frensshmen sholde lande there or at Sandwyche and the kynge laye at London and parte of his counsayle with hym and dayly herde tydynges fro all the portes of Englande when the kynge of Armony was aryued at Douer he had there good chere bycause he was a strauÌger and so he came to the kynges vncles there who swetely receyued hym and at tyme conuenyent they demaunded of hym fro whens he came and whether he wolde the kyng answered and sayd that in trust of goodnes he was come thyder to se the kynge of Englande his counsayle to treate for peas bytwene englande and Fraunce for he sayd that he thought the warre was not mete for he sayd by reason of warre bytwene these .ii. royalmes whiche hath endured so longe the sarazyns Iewes and turkes are waxed proude for there is none that maketh them ony warre and by occasyon therof I haue lost my lande and royalme and am not lyke to recouer it agayne without there were ferme peas in all crystendome and I wolde gladly shewe the matter that toucheth all crystendome to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle as I haue done to the frensshe kyng then the kynges vncles demaunded of hym yf the frensshe kynge had sent hym thyder or noo he answered and sayd nay there is noo man that sent me but I am come hyder by myne owne mocyon to se yf the kynge of englande and his counsayle wolde ony thynge leane to ony treatye of peas then he was demaunded where the frensshe kynge was he answered I byleue he be at Sluse I sawe hym not syth I toke leue of hym at Senlyze then he was demaunded howe he coulde make ony treatye of peas and had no charge so to do and syr yf ye be conuayed to the kynge our nephewe and to his counsayle and the frensshe kynge in the meane season entre with his puyssannce in to Englande ye may happen therby to receyue grete blame and your persone to be in grete ieoperdy with them of the countrey then the kynge answered and sayd I am in suretye of the frensshe kynge for I haue sente to hym desyrynge that tyll I retourne agayne not to remoue fro Sluse I repute hym so noble and soo well aduysed that he wyll graunt my desyre and that he wyll not entre in to the see tyl I be come agayne to hym Wherfore syrs I praye you in the instaunce of loue and yeas to conuey me to speke with the kynge for I desyre gretely to se hym or elles ye that be his vncles yf ye haue auctoryte to gyue me answere
to all my demaundes then the erle of Buckyngham sayd syr kynge of Armony we be ordeyned here to kepe defende this passage and the fronters of Englande by the kynge and his counsayle and we haue no charge to medle ony further with the busynes of the royalme without we be otherwyse commaunded by the kyng but syth ye be come for a good entente in to this countrey ye be ryght welcome but syr as for ony ferme answere ye can haue none of vs for as nowe we be not of the couÌsayle but we shall conuey you to the kynge wtout peryll or domage the kynge thanked them and sayd I desyre nothynge elles but to se the kynge and to speke with hym ¶ Howe the kynge of Amony retourned out of Englande of the answere that was made to hym Ca. lvii WHen the kynge of Armony was refresshed at Douer a day and had spoken with the kynges vncles at good leysure then he departed towarde London with a good conduyte that the lordes appoynted to hym for fere of ony rencountres so longe he rode that he came to London and in his rydynge thrughe London he was well regarded bycause he was a strauÌger and he had good chere made hym and soo was brought to the kynge who laye in the ryall at the quenes warderobe and his counsayle were in London at theyr lodgynges the Londonners were fore fortefyenge of theyr cyte When the comynge of the kynge of Armony was knowen the kynges counsayle drewe to the kyng to here what tydynges the kyng brought in that troublous season when the kynge of Armony was come in to the kynges presence he made his salutacyon and then began his processe on the state howe he was come out of Fraunce pryncypally to se the kynge of Englande whome he had neuer sene before and sayd howe he was ryght ioyous to be in his presence trustynge that some goodnes sholde come therby and there he shewed by his wordes that to withstande the grete pestylence that was lykely to be in englande therfore he was come of his owne good wyl to do some good therin if he myght not sent fro the frensshe kynge wyllynge to set some accorde and peas bytwene ye. ii royalmes englande and fraunce many fayre plesaunt wordes the kynge of Armony spake to that kynge of Englande and to his counsayle then he was shortly answered thus syr kyng ye be welcome in to this royalme for the kynge our souerayne lorde all we are glad to se you here but syr we saye that the kynge hath not here all his counsayle but shortely they shall be here and then ye shall be answered the kynge of Armony was contente therwith and so retourned to his lodgynge with in .iiii. dayes after the kynge was counsayled I thynke he had sente to his vncles to knowe theyr ententes but they were not present at the answere gyuynge to go to the palays of Westmynstre and his counsayle with hym suche as were aboute hym and to sende for the kynge of Armony to come thyder and when he was come in to the presence of the kynge of Englande and his counsayle the kynge sate downe and the kynge of Armony by hym and then the prelates and other of his counsayle there the kynge of Armony rehersed agayne his requeites that he made and also shewed wysely howe all crysteÌdome was sore decayed and feblysshed by occasyon of the warres bytwene Englande FrauÌce and howe that al the knyghtes and squyers of bothe royalmes entended to nothynge elles but alwayes to be on the one parte or of the other Wherby the empyre of Constantynoble leseth and is lyke to lese for before this warre the knyghtes and squyers were wonte to aduenture themselfe also the kynge of Armony shewed that by occasyon of this war he had lost his royalme of Armony wherfore he desyred for goddes sake that there myght be some treatye of peas had bytwene the .ii. royalmes of Englande Fraunce To these wordes answered the archebysshop of Cauntorbury for he had charge so to do and he sayd syr kynge of Armony it is not the maner nor neuer was sene bytwene .ii. suche enemyes as the kynge of Englande and the Frensshe kynge that the kynge my souerayne lorde sholde be requyred of peas and to entre his landes with a puyssaunt army Wherfore syr we say to you that yf it please you ye maye retourne to the Frensshe kynge and cause hym and all his puyssaunce to retourne backe in to theyr owne countreys and when euery man is at home then yf it please you ye maye retourne agayne hyder and then we shall gladly entende to your treatye This was all the answere the kynge of Armony coulde gete there and so he dyned with the kynge of Englande and hadde as grete honoure as coulde be deuysed and the kynge offered hym many grete gyftes of golde and syluer but he wolde take noone though he had nede therof but alonely a rynge to the value of a C. frankes After dyner he toke his leue and retourned vnto his lodgynge and the nexte daye departed and was in two dayes at Douer and there toke his leue of suche lordes as were there and so toke the see in a passagere and aryued at Calays fro thens wente to Sluse and there he spake with the frensshe kynge and with his vncles and shewed them howe he hadde ben in Englande and what answere he had The frensshe kynge and his vncles toke no regarde to his sayenge but sente hym agayne backe in to fraunce for theyr full entencyon was to entre in to Englande as soone as they myght haue wynde and wether And the duke of Berre and the constable came to them the wynde was sore contrary to them for therwith they coulde neuer entre in to Englande but the wynde was good to goo in to Scotlande ¶ Howe the duke of Berre departed from Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was coÌtrary to hym Ca. lviii THus the duke of Berre herde masse in our Lady chyrche in Parys and there toke his leue sayd how he wolde neuer entre there agayne tyll he hadde ben in Englande howbeit for all his wordes he thought the contrary for he had no desyre therto for the wynter season was sore come on and all the waye as he came he had letters fro the kynge and fro the duke of Borgoyne in hastynge of hym certefyenge hym howe they taryed for noo thynge elles but for his comynge Soo the duke of Berre rode alwayes forwarde but it was but by small iourneys ¶ And the constable of Fraunce departed fro the cyte of Lentryngyet standynge on the see syde in Bretayne with grete nombre of men of armes and prouyson he had a .lxxii. shyppes and with hym he hadde the closure of the felde made of tymbre the constable and his company had good wynde at the begynnynge but when they
approched nere to Englande the wynde rose fyerse and grete and at the entre of margate at Tames mouthe the wynde was soo grete that whether they wolde or not theyr shyppes departed soo that .xx. abode not togyder and some were dryuen perforce into Tames and there were taken by the englyssh men and specyally there was taken .iii. or iiii shyppes laden with parte of the closure of tymbre ordeyned to close in the felde and certayne maysters carpenters and artficers with them and so they were brought to London wherof the kynge had grete ioye and so hadde all the Londonners and .vii. of the constables shyppes were dryuen with the wynde with all the prouysyon and taken in zelande and the constable and other lordes with grete payne came to Sluse to the frensshe kynge OF the constables comynge and his company the frensshe kynge was ryght ioyfull and the kynge sayd to hym ¶ Syr constable when shall we departe certaynly we haue grete desyre to se Englande wherfore I praye you auaunce forth all our busynes in hasty maner and let vs entre in to the see shortely myne vncle the duke of Berre wyll be here with vs within these two dayes he is at Lysle Syr sayd the constable we can not departe tyll the wynde serue vs for the wynde is so sore agaynst vs and soo straynable that the maryners saye they haue herde none suche of a grete season before Constable sayd the kynge I haue ben in my vessell and it pleaseth me gretely the ayre of the see I byleue I shall be a good maryner for the see dyd me no hurte in the name of god sayd the constable it hath done hurte to me for syr we were in grete peryll comynge fro Brytayne hyder the kynge demaunded hywe soo Then the constable sayd by fortune of the see and grete wyndes that rose agaynst vs in the fronters of Englande and syr we haue lost of our shyppes and men wherof I am ryght sory yf I myght amende it but syr it is without remedy for this tyme. Thus the kynge and the Constable deuysed togyder in wordes and alwayes the tyme passed and the wynter approched and the lordes laye there in grete colde and peryll THe flemynges gladly wolde not haue hadde them retourne agayne thrughe theyr countrey and they sayd one to another why the deuyll dothe not the frensshe kynge passe ouer in to Englande why taryeth he so longe in this countrey are we not in pouertye ynoughe thoughe the frensshe men make vs no poorer we thynke they wyll not passe in to Englande this yere for the royalme of Englande is not so easy to be wonne englysshmeÌ be not of the condycyon of frensshemen what wyl they do in Englande when the englysshmeÌ were in Fraunce ouer rode theyr countreys theÌ they hyd themselfe in theyr fortresses fled before them as the larke dothe before the hawke and in the towne of Bruges where as moost resorte was of the frensshmen they murmured were redy for waggyng of a rysshe to make debate and stryfe and al began by the frensshe lakeys who had beten and hurte some of the flemynges so that yf the honest men of the towne had not armed them and drawen in to the market place to appease the ryot there had not a lorde knyght nor squyer of Fraunce haue scaped vnslayne for the comon people of the towne bare a grudge in theyr myndes for the batayle of Rosebeque where theyr faders brâther ne and frendes were slayne by the frensshmen god sent thyder at that tyme for the frensshmen the lorde of Guystell who as then was at Bruges when he vnderstode howe the comons wente to harneys he fered all sholde be lost without remedy howbeit he lepte on his hors with v. or .vi. with hym and rode into the stretes as he met with ony armed goynge to the marget place warde he sayd to them syrs whether goo you wyll you lose yourselfe haue ye not had warre youghe so that ye haue moche a do to gete your lyuynge retourne in to your houses there is nothynge to do ye may put yourselfe and your towne in suche ieoperdy that all shall be lost do you not knowe how the frenssh kynge and all his puyssaunce and armye is here in this countrey soo with fayre wordes he appeased theym and caused theym to retourne in to theyr houses whiche hadde not so lyghtly haue ben done yf he had not ben there the frensshmen there were in suche fere that they closed themselfe in theyr lodgynges there to abyde theyr aduenture ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berre Ca. lix SO fynally the duke of Berre came to Sluse to the kynge and the kynge sayd to hym a fayre vncle how gretely I haue desyred to se you why haue you taryed so long we had ben as nowe in Englande and fought with our enemyes if ye had ben come the duke began to smyle and to exscuse hymselfe and shewed not incontynent what laye in his harte fyrst he thought he wolde se what prouysyon and ordenaunce was made and to se the nauey that was named so goodly Soo they were there a .vii. dayes that euery daye it was sayd we shall departe to morowe howbeit surely the wynde was soo contrary that in no wyse they coulde sayle in to Englande wynter was well on it was past saynt Andrewes tyde it was no good season for so many noble men to take the see and many of theyr shyppes were redy crossed in a redynes to departe some were in theyr shyppes to be the formost sholde passe as syr Robert and syr Phylyp Artoys syr Henry of bare syr Peter of Nauare and dyuers other Then the kynges couÌtayle drewe togyder to se howe they sholde perceyuer in theyr iourney but the duke of Berre brake all and shewed so many reasons reasonable that suche as had moost desyre to goo were gretely dyscouraged he sayd it was a grete foly to counsayle the frensshe kynge who in a maner was but a chylde to take the see in that season of the yere and to go fyght with suche people as we knowe not theyr condycyon nor the way thyder and as it is sayd it is an euyll couÌtrey to make warre in for thoughe we were al there a lande yet they wolde not fyght with vs but when they lyst and we dare not then leue our prouysyon behynde vs for yf we do it wyl be lost and they that wyl make suche a voyage so ferre of hath nede to begyn in the harte of the yere and not in wynter call all the maryners togyder and loke yf they wyl not saye that my wordes be good for thoughe we be as nowe a thousande and .v. hundred shyppes yet or we come there we shal not be .iii. hundred then be holde what peryll we sholde put ourselfe in I saye it not bycause I wolde haue the
Englande the good quene Phylyp whos seruaunt I was in myne yongth she was of ryghtfull gouernacyon cosyn germayne to the lorde Charles of Bloys she dyd put to her payne for his delyuerauce howbeit the counsayle of Englande wolde not that he sholde be delyuered the duke Henry of Lancastre sayd and other lordes of englande that yf he were out of pryson by hym myght be made many grete recoueraunces for the royalme of Fraunce for kynge Phylyp as then frensshe kyng was his vncles and they affyrmed that as longe as he were kepte in pryson theyr warre in to Fraunce sholde be the easyer howbeit for all those wordes that was shewed to the kynge by the good meanes of the noble and good quene he was set to his fynaunce to paye CC.M. nobles whiche was as then a grete some to be payde for lordes as then lyued in another maner theÌ they do nowe for as nowe men may pay more then theyr predecessours myght haue done for nowe they tayle theyr people at theyr pleasure and before they lyued but on theyr rentes and reuenues for as nowe the duchy of Bretayne wtin a yere or two is able to pay to helpe theyr lorde .ii. M. nobles or more The lorde Charles of Bloys layde to the kynge of Englande his .ii. sones in pledge for the sayd some afterwarde the lorde Charles of Bloys had so moche to do in pursuyng his warre for the duchy of Bretayne and to pay his souldyours and to kepe his estate alwayes hopynge to come to a good ende of his warre so that he was not able to quyte out his sones out of Englande for the holy man in pursuynge of his herytage dyed as a saynt in a batayle in Bretayne before aulroy by the ayde of the Englysshe men who were agaynst hym when he was deed yet the warre ended not but then kynge Charles of fraunce who in his lyfe doubted gretly the fortunes of the warres when he sawe that the erle Mountforde the Englysshe men seased not but styll wente forwarde wanne townes fortresses in Bretayne he fered that yf the erle Mountforde myght come to his entente of the duchy of Bretayne that he wolde not holde nor do homage to hym for he had promysed his alleageaunce to the kynge of englande who ayded alwaye hadde done to maynteyne his warre then he treted with the erle Mountforde his counsayle as it hath ben shewed here before wherfore I wyll speke no more therof but the erle of MouÌtforde abode as duke of Bretayne with that he sholde do homage and holde soueraynte or the crowne of fraunce and by the same trety the duke sholde ayde helpe to gete delyuered out of pryson in englande his .ii. cosyns sones to the lorde Charles of Bloys whiche artycle he neuer dyd accomplysshe for alwayes he doubted that yf they retourned they wolde put hym to some busynes for the duchy of Bretayne fered lest they of Bretayne wolde receyue them as theyr lordes for they more enclyned to theÌ then to hym wherfore he wolde not speke for theyr delyueraunce Thus these .ii. chyldren abode so longe in Englande in pryson somtyme in the kepynge of the lorde Roger Beawchamp and the lady Sybyll his wyfe and somtyme with syr Thomas Dambrychcourte on a tyme the yonger Guy of Bretayne dyed then IohnÌ of Bretayne abode styll in pryson alone he was often tymes sad of his beynge in pryson but he coulde not ameÌde it And often tymes when he remembred the losse of his yonge dayes as he that was of the moost noble generacyon of the worlde was lykely to lese he wolde often tymes wepe and wysshed hymselfe rather deed then a lyue for a .xxxv. yeres or theraboute he had ben in the daunger of his enemyes in Englande and coulde se noo maner of meanes of his delyueraunce for his frendes and kynne drewe of fro hym and the some that he laye for was so grete that he wyst not how it sholde be payde without god helped hym and the duke of Anioy for all his puyssaunce and prosperyte and that he had wedded his syster germayne by whom he had .ii. fayre sones Loys Charles for all this he dyd nothynge for hym Now shall I shew you howe this IohnÌ of Bretayne was delyuered ¶ Howe IohnÌ of Bretayne sone to syr Charles of Bloys was delyuered out of pryson by the meanes of Olyuer of Clysson the constable of Fraunce Ca. lxxii IT hathe ben shewed here before in this hystory how the erle of BuckynghaÌ made a voyage thrughe the royalme of Fraunce came in to Bretayne the duke of Bretayne had desyred hym so to doo bycause parte of his countrey wolde not be vnder his obeysaunce there the erle of Buckyngham his company lay al yâ wynter the begynnyng of somer ãâã in grete pouerte before Nantes Wennes tyll it was Maye then he retourned in to englande when the erle Thomas of Buckyngham his company laye before Wennes in lodgynges without There were dyuers skyrmysshes bytwene the englysshment frensshmen thyder came Olyuer ClyuÌon constabable of Fraunce to se the warre that was there made to speke with the englysshe knyghtes for he knewe them well for in his yongth he was brought vp amonge theÌ in Englande soo he made good company with them in diuers maners as noble men of armes wyll do eche to other as frensshmen and englysshmeÌ haue alwayes done as then he had good cause so to do for he entended a purpose whiche touched hym ryght nere but he wolde dyscouer his entente to noo man lyuynge but alonely to a squyer that was there who had alwayes before serued the lorde Charles of bloys for yf the constable had dyscouered his entente to ouy man he had ben out of all hope to haue sped brought aboute his purpose whiche by the grace of god he atteyned vnto The constable coulde in no wyse loue the duke of Bretayne nor he hym longe tyme or they shewed it And where as he sawe IohnÌ of Bretayne in pryson in englande he had therof grete pyte wheÌ he sawe the duke of Bretayne in possessyon of the herytage of Bretayne when he thought that he was in moost loue with the duke then he sayd syr why do ye not put to your payne that your cosyn IohnÌ of Bretayne were out of the kyng of Englandes pryson syr ye are bounde therto by othe promyse for syr when all the countrey of Bretayne was in treaty with you the prelates noble men good townes the cyte of Nantes Archebysshop of Reynes syr IohnÌ Craon syr Boncequalte as then marshall of fraunce âreted with you for the peas before Compercorentync than there ye sware that ye sholde do your full puyssaunce to delyuer your cosynes out of pryson syr ye haue done nothynge in that matter Wherfore be you sure the countrey of Bretayne loueth you the lesse oweth you the
smaller fauoure the duke to his demauÌde dyssymuled sayd holde your peas syr Olyuer where shalde I gete .iii. or .iiii. M. frankes that is demaunded for theyr raunsomes Syr sayd the constable yf the countrey of Bretayne sawe that you were wel wyllynge to the matter they wolde be contente to pay a taxe âa fowage to delyuer the pryson ers who are lyke to dye in prison without god helpe them sy-Olyuer sayd the duke as for my countrey of bretayne shall not be taxed for me my cosynes haue grete prynces of theyr lygnage as the frenssh kynge and the duke of Anioy they may helpe to delyuer them for they haue alwayes susteyned the warre agaynst me and when I sware to ayde to theyr delyueraunce myne entencyon was none otherwyse but that the frensshe kynge or theyr kynsmen sholde pay theyr raunsomes the constable coulde gete of the duke none other answere thus as I haue begon to shewe you The constable sawe clerely howe the erle of buâkyngham the barons knyghtes of englande suche as hadde ben with hym in the voyage thrughe fraunce so in to Bretayne were nothynge contente with the duke of Bretayne bycause he wolde not open his townes to them lyke as he had promysed when he departed out of Englande but whyles the englysshmen lay before wennes in the subbarbes of Nanibont they endured grete pouerte for they hadde nothynge to ete and theyr horses dyed for fawte of foode The englysshmen were fayne to gather the thystelles in the feldes braye them in a morter tempre it with water and make ther of a paast so bake it to ete suche pouerte they endured and they sayd amonge themselfe the duke doth not acquyte hymselfe nobly agaynst vs syth we haue put hyÌ in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne and yf we sholde do well we sholde take it fro hym agayne and gete out of pryson IohnÌ of Bretayne his aduersary make hym duke the countrey loueth hym better then he that is now duke We can not better be reuenged of hym nor soner to cause hym to lese the duchy of Bretayne the constable of fraunce knewe ryght well what wordes sore murmuracyons the englysshmen had amonge themselfe agaynst the duke of Bretayne wherwith he was nothynge dyspleased for euery euyll worde that they spake he wolde it had ben .xii. Howbeit he made therof no semblaunt no more dyd a squyer of Bretayne to whome he had broken his mynde to go in to englande on his message this squyer was called Rollant and so it was that syr IohnÌ of Harleton capytayne of Chyerbourge was with the constable at the castel Iosselyn vnder saufconduyte and there the constable made hym good chere and to his company and kepte the englysshmen as good company as he coulde the rather therby to gete theyr good wylles then the constable squyer auaunced forth spake to syr IohnÌ Harleton before the constable sayd syr IohnÌ ye sholde do me a grete pleasure to do one thynge for me whiche shall cost you nothynge syr sayd yâ knyght for the loue of the constable though it be to my cost I am contente to do that I can for you what is that I sholde do syr sayd the squyer that I myght be assured to go in to Englande to semyne olde mayster IohnÌ of Bretayne the grettest desyre that I haue in this worlde is to se hym by my fayth sayd syr IohnÌ harlton it shal not be let for me but that ye shal go as soone as I am retourned to Chyerbourge I wyll go in to englande ye shal go with me I shal bryng you thyder for your request is not to be refused syr sayd the squyer I thanke you and I repute it for a grete curtoysy Thus this squyer wente with syr IohnÌ Harlton to Chyerbourg and when he had made euery thyng redy he departed and entred in to the see with IohnÌ Rollant in his company so came to London and brought the squyer to the castell where as IohnÌ of Bretayne was who knewe hym not at the fyrst metynge at the last he called hym to his remembraunce so spake togyder there he shewed IohnÌ of Bretayne howe that the constable of fraunce dyd wolde do his payne for his delyueraunce howe can that be sayd IohnÌ of Bretayne syr sayd yâ squyer I shall shewe you my lorde the constable hath a doughter to mary so that yf ye wyll swere promyse when ye be retourned in to Bretayne to take her to your wyfe he wyll delyuer you out of englande he hath founde well the meanes how syr howe say you wyll ye do thus ye truely sayd he ye shall retourne to the constable say in my name howe there is nothynge I may doo to be delyuered but I wyll do it as for his doughter gladly I wyll take her to my wyfe thus the squyer IohnÌ of Bretayne departed passed out of englande retourned in to Bretayne recorded to the constable all that he had sene harde the coÌstable who desyred the aduauncement of his doughter as to be maried so highly as to IohnÌ of Bretayne was not neglygent in his busynes studyed for a meane in Englande to brynge aboute his purpose without he had founde out a meanes as he dyd he sholde neuer haue come to his purpose whiche was to gete the erle of Oxenforde on his parte who was most pryuy with the kynge of Englande as then but this matter was not shortly brought to passe for as longe as the duke of Lancastre was in englande and before his iourney in to spayne there was no dyscouerynge to the kynge of the tretye for delyueraunce of IohnÌ of Bretayne for when the erle of Buckyngham retourned out of Bretayne the renome ran thrughe al the royalme how the duke of Bretayne had falsely acquyted hym selfe to the Englysshmen wherfore was spoken all the euyll that coulde be deuysed then IohnÌ of Bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and to his vncles then it was sayd to hym IohnÌ of Bretayne yf ye wyll releue holde the duchy of Bretayne of the kynge of Englande ye shall be delyuered out of pryson and set in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne shall be ryght hyghly maryed in this countrey as ye ought to be for the duke of Lancastre woâde haue gyuen hym to his doughter Phylyp in maryage who was after quene of Portyngale IohnÌ of Bretayne answered that he wolde neuer agree to that tretye nor neuer wolde be enemye nor contrary to the crowne of Fraunce he sayd he was contente to take the duke of LaÌcastres doughter in maryage soo he myght be delyuered out of pryson out of englande wheÌ they sawe he wolde do none otherwyse he was set agayne in pryson and after the erle or Oxenforde whom we called duke of Irelande sawe that the duke of Lancastre was gone out of englande in to Castell and
that the tretye of the maryage of his doughter with Iohn of Bretayne was passed for the duke of Lancastre had his doughter with hym in to Castell then he thought to ratrete the kyng of englande to gyue hym in rewarde for suche seruyce as he had done and entended to do IohnÌ of Brtayne for yf he coulde gete hym of the kyng he was agreed with the constable of Fraunce to haue for his raunsome at two paymentes .vi. score M. fraÌkes the fyrst .lx. M. to be payde as sone as IohnÌ of Bretayne were sent delyuered in to the towne of Boloyne and the other .lx. M. to be payde at Parys whersoeuer he wolde haue it delyuered the duke of Irelande coueted these floreyns and dyd so moche with the kynge of englande that the kynge gaue hym IohnÌ of Bretayne clerely wherof many in Englande had grete meruayle but they that lyst to speke wolde speke there was none other thynge the duke of Irelande caused hym to be delyuered in to Boloyne and there the constable had made redy euery thynge for hym dnd so he rode to Parys and there founde the kynge and other lordes of his lygnage who made hym good chere and the constable also who brought hym in to Bretayne and there Iohan of Bretayne wedded his doughter as he had promysed and when the duke of Bretayne knewe that IohnÌ of Bretayne was retourned in to Fraunce and clene delyuered out of Englande by the ayde and purchase to the constable of Fraunce then he had the coÌstable in double hatred sayd what weneth syr Olyuer of Clesson to put me out of myne herytage he sheweth wel the tokens therof he hath delyuered out pryson IohnÌ of Bretayne and hath gyuen hym his doughter in marriage whiche thynges are to me ryght dyspleasaunt surely that shall I well shewe ones on a daye howe he hath not wel done peraduenture wheÌ he taketh leest hede therof he sayd truely for he shewed it quyckely or the yere passed as ye shall here after in the story But fyrst we wyll speke of the busynes of Castell and Portyngale and of an armye on the see that the englysshmen made to come to Sluse HEre before ye haue herde how the frensshe kynges armye by the see to haue gone in to englande was broken vp in the same season not by the frensshe kynges good wyll for alway he shewed good courage to haue passed in to Englande and when he sawe howe the iourney brake he was more dyspleased then ony other and all the fawte was layde vpon the duke of Berre howbeit it was to be thought that he saw more depelyer in the matter then ony other in his counsayllynge to leue the iourney was for the honoure and profyte of the royalme of fraunce ⪠for who soo euer enterprysed to doo a thynge ought to regarde what ende may come therof and the duke of Berre had ben before so longe in englande in hostage for the kyng his fader had ben so coÌuersaunt among the englyssh men had sene so moche of the countrey that he knewe by reason what effecte the goynge in to englande sholde haue come to the cause moost exscusable not to go was bycause wynter was so farre ronne But then it was sayd that the constable of fraunce the nexte somer sholde goo in to englande with a .vi. M. men of armes and as many crosse bowes for it was thought by hymselfe sayd howe that nombre was sufficy to fyght with the englysshe men by reason the constable ought to haue knowen it for he had ben nourysshed there in his yonge dayes wheÌ these lordes were retourned in to Fraunce theÌ it was determyned to sende socours in to Castell to ayde the kynge there agaynst the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre for it was thought that shortely there sholde be some dedes of armes for the englysshmen kepte the felde And it was consydered that they coulde sende noo men of warre thyder without grete cost and charge for the iourney was ferre of there was but lytell money in the kynges treasoury nor in treasourers handes for the some of money that had ben gadered of the people before in the royalme was spente wasted wherfore they studyed howe to gete more and soo a newe tayle and taxe was deuysed to ryn thrughout all the royalme of Fraunce to be payde incontynent without delay noysynge howe it was for the comfortynge of the kynge of Spayne and to dryue the englysshmen out of his royalme This tayle was publysshed in euery place and the kynges commyssyoners sente in to euery good towne and Cyte who sayd to the gouernours of the townes Syrs thus moche your towne is taxed at the whiche ye must pay incontynent then the rulers sayd syrs we shall gather this some and then sende it to Parys nay syrs not so sayd the commyssaryes we wyl not abyde so longe we wyll do otherwyse then so and commaunded in the kynges name a .x. or xii of the best of the towne to goo to pryson without they payde the some without ony longer delay the honest men fered the pryson and the kynges dyspleasure wherfore they drewe them togyder and payde the money incontynente and recouered it agayne of the poore meÌ thus they dyd in euery good towne so that there were so many tayles and taxes one after and ther for the fyrst was scante payde when another began thus in that season the noble royal me of fraunce was gouerned and the poore people ouer ledde So that many auoyded out of theyr townes and forsoke theyr herytages and houses for they were fayne to sell all that they had and some wente to dwell in Haynalte and in to the bysshopryche of Lyege where as there ranne no taxe nor tayllage ¶ Howe the duke of Borbon was chosen to goo in to Castell and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyral of flaunders was taken prysoner by the Englysshe men Ca. lxxii THen yt was deuysed what capytaynes sholde go in to Spayne Fyrst they apoynted the gentyll duke of borbone that he sholde be souerayne capytayne aboue all other or he departed there was apoynted .ii. other capytaynes to be in the vowarde and the duke of Borbon in the rerewarde with .ii. M. speres knyghtes squyers these .ii. capytaynes that sholde be in the vowarde were syr Wellyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer hf Passac these .ii. lordes when they knewe that they sholde be the capytaynes of certayne men of armes to go in to Castel they prepayred theÌ selfe for that iourney then knyghtes and squyers were sente for all aboute the royalme of fraunce to go to Castell and the passages were opened as well in Nauare as in Aragon thenne knyghtes and squyers departed fro Bretayne Poycton Aniowe Mayne Torayne Bloys Orleaunce Beause pycardy borgoyne berre Awuergne fro all the boundes of the royal me of fraunce euery man toke theyr way to go in to Castell
and salutacyons when he was iustly enfourmed of the departynge of the frensshe kynge fro Sluse then he called his counsayle and sayd syr ye knowe well howe the duke of Lancastre is in Galyce and the duches our cosyne with hym and it is not vnknowen to you howe he was here and had counsayle togyder and howe it was agreed that I sholde haue his doughter in maryage so it is I wyll perceyuer in the same estate and wyll demaunde her honourably as it is reason and apertenent to suche a prynce as the duke of Lancastre is to me as kynge of Portyngale I wyll make that lady quene of Portyngale syr sayd they of his counsayle ye doo in this accordynge to reason for ye haue so sworne promysed well sayd the kynge then let vs sende for her to the duke then there was appoynted the archebysshop of Braschez and syr IohnÌ Radyghen of Sar to go an that ambassade they were sente for to the kynge and so they toke on them that voyage with them they had a. CC. speres ¶ Nowe let vs speke of the syege that syr Thomas Moreaus marshall of the duke of Lancastres cost had layde before the towne of Rybadane and shewe what became theron I Byleue that they of Rybadane thought to haue ben comforted by kynge Iohn of Castell and by the knyghtes of Fraunce who lay in the towne of Valcolyue or elles they wolde neuer haue endured soo longe for I haue meruayle howe suche a sorte of vyllaynes coulde endure agaynst suche a sloure of archers men of armes and were not abasshed for euery day they had assaulte and it was sayd to syr Thomas Moreaus in maner of counsayle by the moost valyaunt knyghtes of his company syr leue this towne here then an euyl fyer may bâenne it and let vs go further in to the countrey to Maynes to Noye or to Besances alwayes we may retourne agayne when we lyst by my fayth sayd syr Thomas that shall neuer be sayd that vyllaynes haue dyscomfyted vs I wyll not departe hens thoughe I sholde tary here .ii. monethes without yâ duke sende for me Thus the marshalles mynde oppynyon was to kepe styll there his syege the kynge of Castell who laye at Valeolyue and had sente specyally for ayde in to Fraunce he harde dayly howe they of Rybadane defended themselfe valyauntly wolde not yelde in the name of god sayd the Barroys of Barrers it gretely dyspeaseth me that we sent not thyder our frenssh men they wolde gretely haue recomforted the men of that towne and also I am not contente that I am not at the syege for then at the leest I sholde haue the honoure as these vyllaynes haue nowe surely yf I had knowen the trouthe of the strength of that towne I wolde haue refresshed it and haue put myselfe at aduenture therin as well god sholde haue sente me the grace to haue defended the towne as these vyllaynes do Thus he deuysed in the kynges presence and before the frensshe knyghtes who desyred dedes of armes Then it was sayd to the kynge syr sende a. C. speres in to these townes of Noye of Calongne for who so hath those ii castelles hath the .ii. sydes of the lande of Galyce and to go thyder dyuers dyd present theÌselfe before the kynge as syr Trystram of Roy and syr Raynolde his broder syr Aulberte of Braquemont syr TrystraÌ of Galle syr IohnÌ of castell Morant syr Barroys of Barrers The kynge herde them well was contente with theyr offres and sayd fayre syrs I thanke you of your good wylles howbeit ye maye not all go some of you must abyde styll with me for aduentures that may fall but at this presente tyme I desyre the Barroys of Barrers to take on hym that charge yf it please hym the knyght was ryght glad of that iourney for he thought he had lyen there to longe and sayd to the kynge syr I thanke your grace shall kepe defende it to my power and shall not departe thens tyll ye sende for me so be it a goodes name sayd the kynge we thynke to here shortely some tydynges out of fraunce as then the knyghtes knewe not of the frensshe kynges departynge fro Sluse but the kynge knewe it well ynoughe for the duke of Borbon had wryten to hym of all the busynes in fraunce howe he was apoynted to come in to Castell with .iii. M. speres and before hym to open the passages sholde come .iii. M. speres vnder the gydynge of syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac the frensshe knyghtes desyred the kyng to shewe them some tydynges out of Fraunce with a good wyll sayd the kynge THen the kynge sayd syrs surely the duke of Borbon is chosen pryncypal capytayne to come in to this countrey for the frenssh kynge and his counsayle hath apoynted hym to come with .vi. thousande speres knyghtes and squyers and also two valyaunte knyghtes are chosen capytaynes for to come before hym as syr Wyllyam Lygnac as syr Gaultyer of Passac they shall come fyrst with a .iii. M. speres as for the voyage by the see in Englande is broken vp for this season tyll the constable of Fraunce and the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Concy with .iiii. M. speres shall goo in to Englande this nexte Maye Howe saye you syrs to this sayd the kynge syr sayd they these be ryche tydynges we can haue no better for this nexte somer dedes of armes shal be wel shewed in your countrey yf there be .vi. M. apoynted there wyll come .ix. M. we shall surely fyght with the englysshmen they kepe as nowe the felde but we shal close them togyder or it be mydsomer syr these knyghtes that come are ryght valyaunt and specyally the duke of Borbon and the other are proued knyghtes and worthy to be gouernours of meÌ of armes anone was spred abrode in the towne of Valeolyue and abrode in Castell the grete comforte and ayde that sholde come out of Fraunce by the fyrst daye of Maye wherof knyghtes and squyers were ryght ioyous THus the Barroys of Barres departed with a .l. speres and rode to the castell of Noye tydynges came to the duke of Lancastres marshall howe the frensshmen were a brode rydynge with a .l. speres to come to reyse the syege before Rybadane When the marshal harde those tydynges he byleued it lyghtly for they that shewed hym therof affyrmed it to be true saynge how they had sene them ryde ouer the ryuer of Dorne toke theyr lodgyng at the towne of Arpent Then the marshal was in doubte toke couÌsayle determyned to sende worde therof to the duke of Lancastre his lorde and so he dyd and he sente syr IohnÌ Dambrecycourt and a heraulde who knewe all the wayes in Galyce and then the marshall made euer good watche and spyal for he doubted to be ascryed in the nyght halfe the dost watched euery nyght whyle the other slepte syr
nyght at Ercyell and the nexte nyght at Tarbe he rode that daye a grete iourney and then he determyned to sende fro thens to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and soo he dyd aduertysynge hym howe he had spedde with the erle of Foyze and desyrynge hym to come on forwarde with all theyr companyes and shewynge hym howe the countrey of Byerne and all the good townes sholde be open payenge trewely for that they take or elles not ¶ This messagere dydde soo moche that he came to Thoulouse and dydde his message and delyuered his letters ¶ And when syr wyllyam hadde redde the contynewe hereof he made it to be knowen to all his company that they sholde set on forwarde soo that as soone as they entred ony parte of the erle of Foyze lande to pay for euery thynge that they sholde take elles theyr capytaynes to answere for euery thynge this was cryed by the sounde of a trompet fro lodgynge to lodgynge to the entente that euery man sholde knowe it then euery man dyslodged out of the marches of Tholouse Carcassone Lymous and of Marbon and so entred in to Bygore and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac toke his hors and rode to Tarbe to syr Gaultyer his companyon and there made good chere togyder and theyr bandes and rowâes passed by and assembled togyder in Bygore to ryde in company thrughe the countrey of Byerne to passe at Ortays the ryuer of Gaure whiche renneth to Bayon AT the yssuynge out of the countrey of Byerne is the entre of the countrey of Bâsquey in the whiche countrey as then the kyng of englande helde grete landes in the bysshopryches of Burdeaus Bayon there were a .lxxx. townes with steples that helde of the kynge of englande when they vnderstode of the passage of these frensshmen thrugh theyr countrey they were in doubte of ouer rynnynge brennynge exylynge for as then there were no men of war of theyr partye in all that countrey to defende theyr fronters the sage men drewe togyder sente to trete with the frensshe capytaynes and to bye theyr peas then they sent to Ortays .iiii. men hauynge auctoryte to make theyr peas These .iiii. men met by the way with a squyer of the erle of Foyze called Ernalton du Pyn shewed hym all theyr matter desyrynge hym to helpe theÌ to speke with syr Gaultyer of Passac and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac when they came to Ortays whiche sholde be within .iii. or .iiii. dayes after and to helpe to ayde to make theyr peas he answered that he wolde do so with a good wyll The nyght that the capytaynes came to Ortays they were lodged at the same squyers house and there he ayded them of Bysquey to make theyr apoyntment and they to pay .ii. M. frankes and theyr countrey saued fro brennynge and robbynge the erle of Foyze gaue a dyuer to these capytaynes and to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac a fayre courser the nexte daye they passed to Sameterre and entred in to the countrey of Bysquey whiche was redemed they toke vytayles where as they myght gete it and so passed thrughe the countrey without doyng of ony other domage so came to saynt IohnÌs de Pye of Porte at the entre of Nauare ¶ Howe syr IohnÌ Holande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Ca. lxxviii Here before ye haue herde howe the towne of Besaâces was put in composycyon with the duke of Lancastre and howe it was yelden vp to hym for the kynge of Castell dyd comforte it nothynge and howe the duches of Lancastre and her doughter came to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale to se the kynge the quene there and howe the kynge and the lordes there receyued them ioyfully as it was reason and thus whyle the duke of Lancastre soiourned in the towne of Besances tydynges came thyder fro Valeolyue brought by an heraulde of fraunce who demaunded where was the lodgynge of syr IohnÌ Holande and so he was brought thyder then he kneled downe before hym and delyuered hym a letter and sayd syr I am an offycer of armes sent hyder to you fro syr Raynolde du Roy who saluteth you yf it please you to rede your letter then syr IohnÌ sayd with ryght a good wyll and thou arte ryght welcome and opened his letter and redde it wherin was conteyned howe syr Raynolde du Roy desyred hym in the way of amours and for the loue of his lady to delyuer hym of his chalenge iii. courses with a spere .iii. strokes with a sworde iii. with a dagger and .iii. with an axe that if it wolde please hym to come to Valeolyue he wolde prouyde for hym .lx. horse a sure saufcoÌduyte yf not he wolde come to Besances with .xxx. horses so that he wolde gete for hym a saufcondyte of the duke of Lancanstre When syr IohnÌ Holande had red these letters he began to smyle behelde the heraulde sayd frende thou arte welcome thou hast brought me tydynges that pleaseth me ryght wel I accepte his desyre thou shalte obyde here in my house with my company to morowe thou shalte haue answere where our armes shal be accomplysshed outher in Galyce or in Castell syr sayd the heraulde as it pleaseth god you ¶ The heraulde was there at his ease and syr IohnÌ wente to the duke and founde hym talkynge with the marshall then he shewed them his tydynges and the letters Well sayd the duke and haue ye accepted his desyre ye truely syr sayd he and I desyre nothynge so moche as dedes of armes and the knyght hath desyred me but nowe syr where shall it be your pleasure that we doo our armes the duke studyed a lytell and then sayd I wyll that they be done in this towne make a saufconduyte for hym as it shall please you and I shall seale it In the name of god sayd syr IohnÌ that is well sayd the saufcondyte was wryten for hym .xxx. knyghtes and squyers to come saufe and go saufe then syr IohnÌ Holande delyuered it to the heraulde and gaue hym a mantell furred with myneuer and .xii. aungell nobles The heraulde toke his leue and retourned to Valeolyue to his mayster and there shewed howe he had sped and delyuered the saufconduyte on the other parte tydynges came to the cyte of Porte to the kynge of Portyngale and to the ladyes there howe that these dedes of armes sholde be done at Besances Well sayd the kynge I wyll be therat and the quene my wyfe with other ladyes and damoyselles the duches of Lancastre who was as then there thanked the kynge in that she sholde at her retourne be accompanyed with the kynge and with the quene it was not longe after but the tyme approched Then the kynge of Portyngale the quene the duches and her other doughter with other ladyes and damoyselles rode âorth in grete aray towarde Besances when the duke of
ben good lorde vnto me and I haue hadde moche profyte by hym who was nephewe and nexte to the erle Loys of Bloys broder germayne to saynt Charles of Bloys and as longe as he lyued he was duke of Bretayne Truely I saye not this for no cause but all onely to declare the trouthe And also the gentyll prynce and erle that hathe caused me to wryte this story wolde in no wyse that I sholde swarue from the trouth NOwe to retourne to our purpose ye knowe well as longe as duke Iohan of Bretayne lyued he coulde neuer attayne to haue all his men in euery poynte to agree to his oppynyons And he sore fered them lest at the last they sholde haue taken hym and put hym in pryson in Fraunce Wherfore he departed out of Bretayne and wente in to Englande with all his householde and the lady his wyfe Iahan of Holande doughter somtyme of the good knyght syr Thomas Holande and thus a season he became seruaunt to kynge Rycharde of Englande and afterwarde he wente in to Flaunders to the erle of Bloys who was his cosyn germayne there taryed more then a yere and an halfe ¶ Fynally they of his owne countrey sente for hym and soo by good accorde thyder he wente ¶ And when he came in to his countrey there were certayne townes closed styl agaynst hym and rebelled and specyally the cyte of Nauntes But all his lordes knyghtes and prelates were all of his accorde excepte the lordes before rehersed and to haue the sygnory of them and to gete the fauoure and good wyll of the good townes and Cytyes and to put the Frensshe kynge in more fere bycause he wolde ouerpresse them with taxes and subsydyes as they dyd in Fraunce and in Pycardye whiche they wolde not suffre in Bretayne Therfore he sente vnto the kynge of Englande for socoure and ayde of men of warre and archers promysynge that yf the kynge of Englande wolde come in too Bretayne or elles one of his vncles with a grete puyssaunce of men of armes and of archers howe that his countrey of Bretayne sholde be opened redy to receyue hym and his company ¶ The kynge of Englande and his counsayle were gladde of those tydynges thought them good and concluded to sende thyder theÌ prouysyon was made and thyder was sente the erle of Buckyngham with .iii. M. men of armes and .viii. M. archers who aryued at Calays and passed throughe the royalme of Fraunce without ony resystence as it hathe ben shewed here before demaundynge noo thynge but batayle and so they came in to Bretayne trustynge to haue founde the countrey redy open for them to receyue and to refresshe them for âârely they had made a longe voyage Howbeit they founde it contrary dysposed for the duke of Bretayne was soo ledde by his men and so wysely entreated that they made a peas bytwene hym and the yonge Charles kynge as then in fraunce but with kynge Charles his fader he coulde neuer haue peas he hated hym soo sore The duke of Borgoyne who was one of the chese gouernours in the royalme of Fraunce ayded gretely to make this peas he was so desyred by the lady his wyfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was nere of theyr lygnage soo he was fayne to breke all his promyses with the Englysshmen for he coulde not be suffred to accomplysshe his couenaunt for the Bretons wolde not consent to yelde them to the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce they sayd they were neuer of that oppynyon nor neuer wolde be so that it behoued the Englysshmen to take theyr lodgynges in the marches of wannes where they suffered as moche pouerte as euer dyd men for one tyme and specyally theyr horses dyed for hungre and pouerte and soo in the tyme of somer they departed out of Bretayne as euyl contente with the duke of Bretayne as myght be and not without a cause And specyally the erle of Buckyngham and the barons of Englande that were in his company and when they were retourned in to Englande they made grete complayntes to the kynge and to the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle And then it was deuysed and ordeyned that IohnÌ of Bretayne sholde be delyuered and to brynge hym with puyssaunce in to Bretayne to make warre there agaynst the duke of Bretayne and the Englysshe men sayd howe syr IohnÌ of Mountforde knewe well howe they had put hym in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne for without vs he hadde neuer come therto And nowe to play vs this tourne to cause vs to trauayle our bodyes and to spende the kynges treasoure it behoueth vs to shewe hym his fawtes And we can not better be reuenged then to delyuer his aduersary and to brynge hym in to Bretayne For all the countrey wyll delyuer hym townes Cytees and fortresses and put the other duke clene that thus hathe mocked and dysceyued vs. ¶ Thus the Englysshe counsayle were all of one accorde and then IohnÌ of bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and there it was shewed hym howe they wolde make hym duke of Bretayne and recouer for hym all his herytage of Bretayne And he sholde haue to his wyfe the lady Phylyp of Lancastre so that he wolde holde the duchy of Bretayne in fayth and homage of the kynge of Englande the whiche poynte he vtterly refused But to take the dukes doughter in maryage he was contente But to swere to be agaynst the crowne of fraunce in noo wyse he wolde consente but rather to abyde in pryson all his lyfe WHen the kynge and his counsayle sawe that they withdrewe the grace that they hadde thought to haue shewed to hym and thenne he was delyuered in to the kepynge of syr Iohan Dambretycourte as ye haue herde before I haue made as nowe relacyon of all these matters bycause of the incydentes that folowed after and appered by the duke of Bretayne for the duke knewe well howe he was gretely out of the fauoure of the noble men of the royalme of Englande and also of the comons there And he ymagened that the hatred that they bare to hym was for the voyage that the erle of Buckyngham hadde made thrughe Fraunce to come in to Bretayne wenynge to haue founde the duke there and countrey open agaynst them as the duke of Bretayne hadde promysed whiche the Englysshe men founde contrary ¶ Also he sawe well howe the kynge of Englande hadde not wryten vnto hym soo amyably as he hadde done often tymes before And specyally as he hadde done before the erle of Buckynghams voyage ¶ And also he doubted that the kynge of Englande sholde delyuer Iohan of Bretayne to the entente to make hym warre ¶ Thenne the duke cast his ymagynacyon how he myght fynde remedy in this matter and to brynge it in to a good poynte And to doo his entente soo secretly that the Englysshe men sholde be well content and pleased with hym For he knewe well the man in the
remedy that other Realmes shulde take ensample by his realme NOwe sirs I reporte me if I haue nat good cause to saye the the realme of Englande in this season was in great paryll and aduenture to haue ben lost without recouery For the kynge was moued agaynst his vncles and agaynst a great parte of all the great lordes of the realme and they agaynst hym And the cytes and good townes one against another And the prelates hadde great indignacyon one agaynst another so that none coude remedy it but alonely god Whan the duke of Irelande sawe that he had the agrement of the kyng and of the moost ête of theÌ of the couÌtrey of Wales than he came to the kyng sayd sir if ye wyll instytute make me your lieutenaunt I shall take a .xii. or a fyftene thousaÌde men with me and go to the marchesse of London or to Oxenforde your cyte and myne and there we wyll shewe our puyssaunce agaynst these Londoners your vncles who haue so great indignacyon agaynst you They haue putte to dethe some of your counsayle And sir outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse we shall bringe them to reason The kynge sayde he was content Sayeng I wyll and ordayne you to be the cheife souerayne of my Realme and to reyse vp men where ye can gette theym and leade them wheder ye thynke best to augment our sygnorie and realme And to the entent that euery man shall clerely se that the hoole Realme parteyneth to me I wyll that ye beare with you my banners and standerdes and other abylmetes of warre suche as I wolde beare my selfe in batayle And I thynke that if the people se my banners displayed they shall take corage and hardynesse to susteyne my quarell And I wyll ye punysshe suche rebelles as wyll nat obey you in suche wyse as all other maye take ensample by them I beleue all suche as shall se my banners waue in the wynde shall put them selfe vnder them and shal be afrayde to disobey our coÌmauÌdement These wordes greatly reioysed the duke of Irelande ¶ oHwe the kyng of Englande made his soÌmons to drawe towardes London and howe sir Robert Tryuylyen was taken at westmynster and beheeded by the commaundement of the kynges vncles Capi. xcvi THe kyng made his assemble in the countrey of Wales and about the froÌters of Bristowe a longe the ryuer of Syuerne Dyuers lordes and knightes were sende for some excused them selfe laufully and some came at the kynges commauÌdement howe be it they douted leste great yuell shulde come of that enterprice In this meane season the kynge and the duke of Irelande had a secrete counsayle bytwene them and determyned to seÌde some of their men in to the marchesse of London to se and to knowe howe the kynges vncles dyd and what they purposed to do they studyed whome they myght sende in that busynesse to knowe the trouthe than a knyght cosyn to the duke of Irelande and of his couÌsayle called sir Robert Tryuilyen sayd sir ye make doute whome to sende that is trusty to London For the loue of you I shall take on me to do that iourney wherof the Duke thanked hym and lykewise so dyde the kyng Therwith this sir Robert Tryuilyen departed from Bristowe disguysed in maner of a poore marchaunt vpon a lytell Nagge and so came to London and tooke his lodgynge where he was vnknowen so taryed there a certayne space and lerned what he coulde At last he vnderstode that the kynges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande wolde kepe a secrete Parlyament at Westmynster wherfore he thought to go and lye there to lerne what shulde be doone there And so he came and lodged at Westmynster the same daye that their counsaile began and lodged in an alâhouse right ouer agaynst the palys gate and there he was in a chambre lokyng out at a wyndowe downe in to the courte there he myght se them that went in and out to the couÌsaile and he knewe nerehaÌde euery man but none knewe hym bycause of his apparel At last on a day asquyer of the duke of Gloucesters knewe hym for he had often tymes ben in his coÌpany And assone as sir Robert Triuylien sawe him he knewe him well and withdrewe hym selfe out of the wyndowe The squyer had suspecious therof and sayd to hym selfe Me thynke I se yonder sir Robert Triuylen and to th entent to knowe the trouthe he entred in to the lodgyng and said to the wife Dame who is that that is aboue in the chambre is he alone or with coÌpany Sir quod she I can nat shewe you but he hath been here a longe space Therwith the squier went vp the better to aduyse hym and saluted hym and sawe well it was true but he fayned hymselfe and tourned his tale and sayde God saue you good man I pray you be nat myscontented for I toke you for a farmour of myne in Essere for ye are lyke hym Sir quod he I am of Kente and a farmour of sir Iohan of Hollandes and there be men of the bysshop of CauÌterburyes that wolde do me wrong and I am come hyther to complayne to the couÌsayle Well quod the squier if ye come in to the palys I wyll helpe to make your waye that ye shall speke with the lordes of the counsayle Sir I thanke your ê he and I shall nat refuce your ayde THan the squyer called for a potte of ale and dranke with him and payed for it and badde hym farwell and departed and neuer seased tyll he came to the couÌsayle chambre dore and called the vssher to open the dore Than the vssher demauÌded what he wolde bycause the lordes were in counsayle He answered and sayd I wolde speke with my lorde and mayster the duke of Gloucester for a mater that ryght nere toucheth hym and all the counsayle Thanne the vssher let hym in and whan he came before his mayster he sayde Sir I haue brought you great tidynges What be they quod the duke Sir quod the squyer I wyll speke a loude for it toucheth you and all my lordes here present I haue sene sir Robert Triuylyen disguysed in a vyllayns habytte in an alehouse here without the gate Triuylien quod the duke yea truely sir quod the squier ye shall haue hym or ye go to dyner if you please I am contente quod the duke and he shall shewe vs some newes of his mayster the duke of Irelande Go thy waye fetche hym but loke that thou be stronge ynoughe so to do that thou fayle nat The squier went forthe and toke foure sergiauntes with hym and sayd Sirs folowe me a farre of and as soone as I make to you a sygne and that I laye my hande on a man that I go for Take hym and lette hym nat escape Therwith the squyer entredde in to the house where Tryuylien was and went vp in to the chambre and as soone as he sawe hym he sayd Triuylien ye
his owne countrey And also the duke of Burbon vncle to the frenche kyng cometh after with two M. speares and assone as he cometh he wyll set forwarde so that we be than at home in oure countreys or we can assemble togyder agayne as we be nowe out enemyes shall do vs great domage Thanne the kynge sayde Well than lette vs kepe styll the feldes in the name of god as for my men be fresshe ynough and are of good mynde to abyde the aduenture and I with them THus they determyned to abyde the coÌmynge of the duke of Burbon to se if they shulde be fought withall thanne or nat for they all demauÌded nothinge but batayle The tyme went euer forwarde and the sonne mounted and the dayes chafed meruaylously for it was aboute mydsomer whan the sonne was in his strength and specially in Spayne and Granade and in the farre countreyes of Septentryon Nor after Aprell there fell no rayne nor swetnes fro Heuyn wherby euery thynge was brente on the erthe The englissh men eate grapes whan they myght get them and dranke of the hote wynes and the more they dranke the more they were set a fyre and therby brente their lyuers and longes for that dyete was contrary to their nature Englyssh men are norisshed with good metes and with ale which kepeth their bodyes in temper and there the nyghtes were hoote bycause of the great heate in the day and the mornyng meruaylously colde whiche dysceyued them For in the nyght they coulde suffre no thynge on them and so slepte all naked and in the mornynge colde toke them or they were waxe and that caste them in to feuers and flyxes without remedy And as well dyed great men as meane people ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe a haraulte was sente to the kinge of Castyle and howe thre knightes of Englande went to speke with the king of Castyle for a saueconduct for the dukes men to passe through his couÌtrey Cap. C.iiii. BEholde nowe and se howe fortune tourned ye maye well beleue that the duke of Lancastre beynge in the realme of Castyle coulde neuer haue loste by batayle nor his men dyscomfetted nor loste his men as he dyd in that voyage by reason of sycknes And hym selfe also nygh deed And sir Iohan Holande who was constable of the hoost whan he sawe his frendes and men thus infected with this malady without remedy and herynge the complayntê of one and other sayeng eche to other Ah the duke of Lancastre hath brought vs to dye in Spaygne cursed be this voyage He wyll neuer haue Englysshman more to come out of Englande to serue hym He spurneth agaynst the pricke he wolde his men shulde kepe the countrey whan it is wonne And whan his men be all deed who shall thanne kepe it He sheweth nat that he can any skyll of the warre sythe he seeth that none cometh agaynst vs to fight in batayle why dothe he nat drawe than into Portugale or into some other place than he shulde nat haue the domage nor losse that he heth for thus we shall all dye without any strokes Whan sir Iohan Holande herde and vnderstode these wordes for the honoure and loue of his lorde the duke of Lancastre whose doughter he had maryed he came to the duke and sayd quickly to him Sir it must behoue you to take newe and shorte counsayle your people be in a harde case and lykely to dye by syckenesse if nede shulde fortune they are nat able to ayde you they be wery and in a harde case and their horses deed so that noble men and other are so discoraged that they are nat lyke to do you any good seruyce at this tyme. Than sayd the duke And what is beste than to do I wyll beleue counsaile for it is reason Syr quod the constable Me thynke it were beste ye gaue lycence to euery man to departe where as they thynke beste and your selfe to drawe outher into Portugale or into Galice for ye are nat in the case to ryde forewarde That is trewe quod the duke and so I wyll do Saye you to them howe I do gyue them leaue to departe whyder it please theÌ outher in to Castyle or in to Fraunce so they make no false treaty with our enemyes for I se well for this season our warre is paste And paye euery man their wages and rewarde theym for their costes Syr quod the constable this shall be done SIr Iohan Holande made it be knowen by a trumpet in euery lodgyng the entencion of the duke of Lancastre howe he dyd gyue lycence to euery man to departe whyder they lyst and that euery capytayne shulde speke with the constable and they shulde be so payed that they shulde be content This tydynges reioysed some suche as desyred to departe to chaunge the ayre Than the barones and knyghtes of Englande toke counsayle howe they myght retourne in to Englande it was thought impossyble for them to retourne by the see for they had no shyppes redy and were farre fro any porte And also their men were so sicke with feuers and flixes that there were many deed and so sicke that they coude nat endure the trauayle on the see So all thynges consydered they thought it best to repayre home thorough the realme of Fraunce Than some sayde howe maye that be for we be enemyes too all the realmes that we muste passe through First through Spayne for we haue made theym open warre The kynge of Nauer in lykewyse is ioyned in this warre with the kynge of Castyle also the kynge of Aragone for he is alyed with the frenche kynge and also he hath done to vs a great dyspite he hath take and layd in prison at Barselona the archebyhop of Burdeaux who wente thyder to demaunde the arerages that the realme of Aragonoweth to the kynge of Englande our soueraygne lorde And to sende to the frenche kyng it is harde for vs to do it is farre of and peraduenture whan oure messanger cometh to the kynge he is yonge and peraduenture his counsayle wyll do nothynge for vs. for sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce hateth vs mortally for he wyll say that the duke of Bretayn his great aduersary wyll become englissh Than some other that were of great wysdome and imaginacyon said All thinges consydred we thinke it best to assay the kyng of Castyle we thynke he wyll lyghtly condyscende to suffre vs to passe through his countrey peasably and to gette a saueconduete fro the kynges of Fraunce Aragon and Nauer THis counsayle was taken kepte and herde and a Haraulde called Derby was sente forthe to the kynge of Castyle with letters This haraulde rode forthe and came to Medena de campo and there he founde the kynge of Castyle and than he kneled downe and delyuered his letters And the kynge opened them and redde them they were written in frenche Whan he hadde well vnderstande them he turned hym
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 safecoÌducte 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 demauÌde Well quod the kyng me thynke it is good Than there was asafecoÌducte written coÌteyninge 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 AuraÌche where the duke the constable were THe herault deliuered the safecoÌduct to the coÌstable Than the knyghtes were chosen that shulde go sir Mauberyn of Linyere sir ThomÌs Morell sir Iohan Dambreticourt these thre knyghtes were charged to go on this message to the kynge of Castile and they deêted 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 encouÌtryng 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 chauÌged 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 couÌsayle 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 theÌglysshmen 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 couÌsaile This request gretly reioysed the kyng for he sawe well his enemys wolde deête out of his realme he thought in hymselfe he wolde agre therto yet he was couÌsayled to the coÌtrary but he sent for the .ii. freÌche capitayns sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WillmÌ of Lignac and whan they were come he right sagely shewed theÌ the desire reqÌst of the coÌstable of the Englysshe host and hervpon he demauÌded of them to haue their couÌsayle First he desyred sir Water Passacke to speke He was lothe to speke before other of the kynges couÌsayle there but he was fayne so to do the kyng so sore desyred hym so by the kynges coÌmaundement 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 grauÌt it them so that whaÌsoeuer they recouer their helthe they retourne nat agayne to the Duke nor to the kynge of Portugale but than to deête 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 chaÌbre Than the bysshop of Burges chaunceller of Spayne who was well langaged sayd sirs ye knyghtes of EnglaÌd perteyning to the duke of LaÌcastre 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 coÌstable 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 deête in to their own countreis assone as they may And assone as the kyng of Castyle my souerayne lorde hath optayned your safecoÌducte 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 NormaÌdy or Picardy Also the kynges pleasure is that all suche knightê
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌducte And of this coÌposycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌpanyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌbre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌcastre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deêted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌstable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌpanyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌe to Medena de CaÌpo other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise âore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌforted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌche with the duke of LaÌcastre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌpostella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌde dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌdred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌce his name was sir ThomÌs Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌpany Among the freÌchmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌpassion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌmunyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
was the cause nor I wyll nat say but that he was a tight good knight and mete to haue done a greatter feate in armes than that was And whan sir Iohan DaÌbreticourt was come to Bayone in the company of sir Iohan HolaÌde he was in dyuers ymaginacions on his chaleÌge and thought that honorably he might nat departe out of those partes seyng he was chalenged to do dedes of armes had graunted therto without he fulfylled the same for if he returned in to England wtout doyng of any thyng he thought that the frenchmen wolde saye that he deêted for feare Than he toke couÌsayle of sir IohnÌ HolaÌde and of other what were best for him to do He was counsayled to take the waye through FrauÌce with the safeconducte that the duke of Burbon had gotte hym so to go to Parys and there to demaunde for sir Bouciqualt or els by the way therby at lest his honour shulde be excused This counsayle the knight beleued folowed the same and so deêted fro Bayon and entred in to Biern so came to Artoys there founde therle of Foiz who made hym good chere at his deêtyng the erle gaue hym .ii. C. Florens and a good horse Than he rode forthe through Byern entred in to the couÌtre of Bigore and so in to Tholousin in to Carcassynois and in his coÌpany was Wylliam of Souuayne other squiers of Heynault retournyng in to their countreis So longe he rode that he came to Parys at that tyme the kyng was in Normandy and sir Boucikalt as it was shewed hym was in Aragon Than sir IohnÌ Dambreticourt to acquyte his enterprice preseÌted hym selfe before certayne of the great barons of Fraunce beyng at Parys and shewed theÌ howe he was come thyder to acquite hymself of his chalenge And whan he hadde taryed there .viii. dayes he deêted came to Calais and they of Heynault in to their owne countreis Thus lytell and litell the army that went into Spayne and into Portugale brake vp ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone deêted fro Auygnon to go in to Castyle with all his host and came to Burgus in Spayne and there fouÌde the kyng of Castyle and howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tidynges howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Cap. C.vii. IT ought to be supposed that the duke Loys of Burbon who was at the begynnyng of this enterprise and armye in to Castyle ordaynedde to be as chefe was well enformed howe the maters went If he had knowen that it shuld haue ben so he wolde haue made the more haste for it was long or he entred in to Spaygne for he toke a longe waye by Auignon to se hym that wrote hymself pope Clement and there taryed a long space whan he departed he rode to Mountpelyer there taryed a fyue dayes and also at Besyers Carcassone Narbone and Parpinyon and than entred in to the realme of Aragon tose the yonge kynge there and his cosyn the quene yolant of Bare and so rode to Baselona and there founde the kyng and the quene his cosyn and a great nombre of the lordes of the countrey that were come thyder to sest hym and so they dyde and whan he had ben there a sixe dayes he went to ValeÌcensia the great and there he herde sure tidynges howe the Englysshe armye was withdrawen and passed homewarde and howe that sir Iohan Hollande was in Nauer goyng hoÌwarde with a great parte of his coÌpany and howe there had ben a great dethe among them And also he herde howe his cosyn the duke of Lancastre laye sicke in Compostella in Galyce and in dyuers places it was sayde howe he was deed Howe be it though there were as thanne but lytell to do in Spaygne yet he thought to passe further and sende worde of his comyng to the kyng of Castile who was ryght gladde therof and to mete with hym came to Burgus in Spayne and there prouyded greatly for his receyuynge suche as were there with hym of FrauÌce were ryght gladde to se the duke of Burbone Thus the duke passed Valencensia and Saragosa all the portes and entred in to Spayne and came to Burgus and there he was well receyued there was sir Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Castyle and sir Wylliam of Lignacke sir Gaultier of Passacke sir Iohan of Barres sir Iohan sir Raynolde of Roy and dyuers other knyghtes of Fraunce who lefte their garysons to come and se the duke of Burbone for there was as than no doute of the Englysshmen nor of the portugalois for they were all withdrawen And the Englysshmen forsoke their garysons that they had won in Galyce for they knewe well they coude nat resyst the army of Fraunce seyng their compaignyons were departed dyuers wayes as ye haue herde before TIdinges came in to Galyce howe the duke of Burbon was coÌe in to Spaigne and had brought with hym great noÌbre of knyghtes of FrauÌce brute and noyse was more thanne it was in dede by the one halfe The coÌmons were in great dout that the duke of Burbon wolde haue entred there with great force and puissaunce but that the duke of LaÌcastre was there amonge them who greatly conforted them Tidynges came to the duke of Lancastre howe that his cosyn the duke of Burbone was come in to Spayne and was at Burgus with the kynge and incontynent he sent worde therof to the kynge of Portugale desyring hym to gather agayne toguyder his people for he knewe nat what the frenche men wolde do seyng the Englysshe men were auoyded the couÌtrey The kyng of Portugale by reason of suche alyaunce as was bytwene them he consented and departed fro Lirbone and came to Conymbres and there made his soÌmons through out his realme euery man to be redy And than he came to the cytie of Porte to drawe nere to the countrey of Galyce and to his father in lawe the duke of Lancastre who was nat as than in good poynte to ryde for the sickenesse that he had howe beit he began to amende Nowe let vs speke of the duke of Burbon who was with the kyng of Castyle who made hym as good chere as he coude and all other prelates and lordes of the realme And many counsayles there was bytwene them to determyne what they shulde do outher to ryde in to Galyce or els to returne The kyng of Castyle and they of his counsayle sawe clerely howe the mater shulde beste be for their profyte and sayd eche to other whan they were togyder By reason of these frenchmen our landes are wasted and dystroyed though they be come to kepe it we haue taken by them great domage wherfore we thinke it shulde be good to thaÌke the duke of Borbon for the payne and trauayle that he hathe endured in cominge hyder and lette vs desyre hym louyngly to with drawe his men of warre seynge
frendes dyd stoppe it Whan these lordes were come to the duke he was gladd specyally by the comynge of his two cosyns germayns the duke Aubert of Bauiers and the duke Oste his brother for he knewe well that they wolde nat his dyshonoure but rather to gyue hym good couÌsayle as they dyd Their counsayle was to shewe you breuely that he shulde sende some honorable persones for the duke of Lusenburge and of Brabant whome he helde in curtoyse prison in his castell of Nideque and so he dyd And whan he was come all those lordes dyd hym great honour as reason was And than they all departed togyder and came to Ayes and toke their lodgynges Than the duke Auberte and his brother and the foresayd prelates who were the meanes of this treatye they sore entreated the emperour and his counsayle and shewed the emperoure howe the duke of Iuliers his cosyn of his owne free wyll was come to se hym and to put hym selfe poorely with out any reseruacyon into his obeysaunce and commaundement and to knowledge hym for his soueraygne and liege lorde These swete and amyable wordes molefyed greatly the emperours ire that he had before Than the emperoure sayd Lette the duke come to me and so he dyde and kneled downe before the emperoure and sayde My ryght redoubted souerayne I beleue well ye are dyspleased with me bycause of your brother in lawe the duke of Brabante whome I haue helde longe in prison for the which cause I submytte my selfe to abyde your ordre and your counsayles To that worde themperour gaue none aunswere but his sonne sir Charles who was called kynge of Boesme aunswered and sayde Duke of Iulyers ye haue ben to outragyous to kepe our vncle so longe in prisone And if it were nat at the desyre of your well be loued cosyns duke Auberte and duke Oste of Bauyers this busynesse wolde haue ben soer layd to your charge than it is for ye haue well deserued to be hyghly punysshed but chaunge your copye so that we haue no cause to renew our yuell wylles agaynste you for ye do it wyll be costly to you Than the duke of Iulyers beynge on his kne before the emperoure where as he sate in his chayre imperiall sayde My ryght redoughted souerayne lorde by your puyssaunt hyghnes I knowledge my selfe to haue trespassed youre maieste in that I with an army came against my cosyn your vycaire of the empyre and in that I haue helde hym as my prisoner I delyuer hym vnto you freely and quyte and I requyre your grace that you nor he beare me any yuell wyll fro hence forthe Than the prelates and the princes there beynge presente to helpe forwarde his wordes sayde Ryght noble prince this suffyseth that your cosyn of Iulyers hath sayd Well quod the emperour we are content and so toke hym vp by the hande And as it was shewed me for the confyrmacion of more loue he kyst the duke on the mouth and also his sonne the kynge of Boesme And than the duke of Brabante was delyuered out of prison and all suche as were prisoners vnder the duke of Iulyers and were nat raunsomed before were delyuered quyte by reason of the composycion of the treatie and this done euery manne retourned to their owne The emperour wente to Prage in Almayne and the duke of Brabant in to Brabante and whanne the duke of Brabante was retourned than he reysed a newe tayle in his couÌtrey to restore to his knightes parte of their domages ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Brabante dyed and howe the duke Guylliam of Guerles treated with the duches of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castels and what aunswere he had and how he made alyauÌce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C.xiiii ⸪ ⸪ I Am yet wyllynge to treate of this matter more at lengthe to renforce this hystorye and to brynge it to the poynte that I wolde come vnto to declare the trouthe why Charles the frenche kyng came with a great puyssaunce in to Almayne I might haue shewed this before but I haue prolonged it for all thingê though the date and season be paste yet they ought to be shewed in this hystory for whan I knowe that the frenche kynge and the kynge of England began to be besy than I began to wake to procede this hystory more than I dyd before Therfore I saye thus Whan duke Wyncelant was returned in to the countrey clerely delyuered out of person as ye haue herde before Than he was in wyll to vysyte his landes and castels as well in the duchy of Luzenbourge as else where and toke his iourney to the good cytie of Strawesbourge throughe the lande of Fauquemount and behelde the thre castels whiche were the occasion of the duke of Guerles yuell wyll He founde theym stronge and fayre if he loued theÌ before he loued them moche better than and caused them to be newly fortyfied and set workemen a worke as masons carpeÌters and dykemakers to amende euery place and at his departynge he set a valyaunt knyght to be soueraygne keper of these thre casteles This knyght was called sir Iohan Grosset who at the dukes commaundemente toke on hym the charge at his parell The duke passed further and vysited his couÌtrey and at his pleasure retourned agayne in to Brabante for there was his abydynge In this season syr Iohan of Bloâs had wedded the olde lady and duches of Guerles for the herytage by right came to hym by the deth of sir Edwarde of Guerles his brother who was slayne as ye haue herde in the batayle of Iulyers But his suster the duches of Iulyers stroue with hym and made chalenge and the moste parte of the knightes and good townes inclyned most to the ladyes parte bycause she had a fayre sonne who was able than to ryde and that was well sene for always he was in the warres so that sir IohnÌ de Bloyse nor his wyfe coulde neuer haue peasable possessyon But the chalenge of the ryght of his wyfe and the pursute therof coste hym aboue a hundred thousaÌde frankes For the sonne of duke Wyllyam of Iuliers shewed well in his youth that he was noble and hardy and loued dedes of armes for he came of noble ertractyon and so was duke of Guerles and had in mariage the eldest doughter of duke Auberte who had ben wedded before to sir Edward of Guerles but he had neuer carnally coupyled with her for she was to yonge Thus she was maryed to the lorde Willyam of Iulyers and he and she were moche of one age And soo she was styll duches as she was before This yonge duke increased in honour wytte and prowes and in great wyll to hauÌte dedes of armes and to augment his herytage And his heâe was rather englysshe than frenche and sayd always as yong as he was that he wolde ayde to insteyne the kynge of Englandes quarell for he was nerer of blode to hym than to the Frenche
kyng It was shewed hym dyuerse tymes howe the brabansoys dyd him great wronge to kepe fro hym the thre castels Than he aunswered and sayd Let vs suffre a senson euery thynge muste haue his turne It is no season as yet for me to awake for our cosyn of Brabante hathe many great frendes and he is a sage knight but a tyme may come that I shall a wake Thus the mater stode a season tyll god toke oute of this lyfe duke Wyncelante who dyed duke of Boesme duke of Lusenbourge and of Brabante as it hath ben conteyned before in this hystory By the dethe of this duke the duches of Brabant loste moche Than the yonge duke of Guerles who was ryght valyaunt and lykely to dysplease his enemyes and thought than to get and recouer agayne his thre castelles bycause of the debate that was and had ben bytwene Brabante and his vncle the lorde Edwarde of Guerles Than he sente to treate with the duches of Brabant to delyuer his castelles for the somme of money that they laye in pledge for always affyrmynge howe they laye but in guage The lady answered the messangers how she was in possessyon of them and helde them as her owne ryght and enherytaunce But bycause she wolde the duke shulde be a good neyghbour to Brabaunte that he shulde leaue and gyue vp the towne of Graue the whiche he helde in the duchy of Brabant Whan the duke of Guerles had herde this aunswere he was nothynge well contente and thought great dispyte therof And thought and ymagined many thynges and couertly he treated with the knyght called sir Iohan of Grosselotte chiefe capitayne of the sayde castelles to assaye if he coude gette them of hym by byeng for money or otherwyse The knyght who was trewe and sage wolde in no wyse harken therto And sente to the duke desyringe hym to speke no more therof For to dye therfore there shuld neuer faut be founde in hym nor that he wolde consente to do any trayson to his naturall lady And whan the duke of Guerles sawe that as I was enfourmed he dyde so moche to sir Raynolde of Dyscouorte that he toke for a small occasyon a displeasure agaynst the knyght So that on a daye he was mette with all in the feldes and there slayne wherwith the duchesse of Brabante was sore displeased and so was all the countre and the castelles were putte in other kepynge by the agrement of the duches and of the counsayle of Brabant THus the matters stode certayne yeres and euer there norisshed couert hate what for the towne of Graue on the one parte and for the thre castelles on the other parte Bytwene the duke of Guerles and the duches of Brabant and their countreis and they of the fronter of Guerles bare alwayes yuell wyll couerlly against them of Brabant suche as marched nere to them and dyd euer to them as moche dyspleasure as they coude do and specially suche as were in the towne of Graue And bytwene the dukes woode and the towne of Graue there was but four leages and a playne countrey and fayre feldes to ryde in And they of Guerles dyde alwayes there as great dispyte to the brabansoys as they myght And the mater went so forwarde that the duke of Guerles passed the see and went in to Englande to sekyng Rycharde his cosyn and his other cosins as the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke the duke of Glocestre and other great barons of Englande He had there good chere for they desyred to se hym to haue his acquayntaunce for the Englysshe men knewe well that this dukes herte corage ymaginacion and affection was rather Englysshe than Frenche In this vyage he made great alyaunce with the kynge of Englande and bycause at that tyme he helde nothynge of the kynge of Englande wherby he shulde beare hym faythe homage or seruyce Therfore kyng Richarde gaue hym in pencyon out of his coffers a thousande marke by yere And was counsayled to assaye to gette his right fro the duches of Brabant and was promysed to haue aide of the Englysshe men in suche wyse that he shulde take no domage And by this meanes he sware to be true and faithfull to the kyng and to the realme of Englande And whan this alyaunce was made he tooke his leaue of the kynge and of his cosyns and other barons of Englande And retourned in to his owne countrey of Guerles and shewed the duke of Iulyers all that he hadde done and howe he shulde haue ayde and helpe of the Englysshe men And the duke of Iulyers who by experyence of his age knewe farther than the duke his sonne dyde made no countynaunce of no great ioye but sayd Sonne Wyllyam ye haue done so moche that bothe you and I maye fortune to repent youre goyng in to EnglaÌde Do ye nat knowe howe puyssaunt the duke of Burgoyne is no duke more myghtie than he And he loketh for the herytage of Brabant Howe maye ye resyst agaynst so puyssauÌt a lorde Howe may I resyst quod the duke of Guerles to the duke of Iulyers his father The rychee myghtier that he is the better it is to make warre agaynste hym I hadde rather to haue a do with a ryche man that hath great possessioÌs and herytage than with hym that hath nothynge to lese for there is nothynge to be coÌquered For one Buffet that I shall receyue I wyll gyue sire And also the kynge of Almayne is alyed with the kyng of Englande If nede be I shalle haue ayde of hym Well quod the duke of Iuliers Wylliam my fayre sonne I feare me ye wyll playe the fole your wysshes and enterprises are more lyke to be vnacomplysshed than atchyued I shall shewe you why the duke of Iulyers spake somwhat agaynste the wyll of his sonne the duke of Guerles and made dout in his enterprise Kynge Charles of Fraunce laste discessed before this season that I speke of he dyde as moche as he coulde alwayes to gette hym frendes on all partes for it stode hym in hande so to do for all that he coude nat do so moche as to make resysteÌce against his ennemyes Howe be it he dyde as moche as he coude by gyftes and fayre promyses to sytte in rest and to haue ayde so that he gate hym selfe many frendes in the Empyre and other places So that whan the duke of Iulyers was quyte delyuered oute of prisone and was come to the duke of Brabant The kynge and he were great frendes toguyder and by the ordynauÌce the Emperour of Rome dyde sette The duke of Iulyers wente to Parys to se the kynge and there he was nobly receyued and great gyftes gyuen to hym and to his knyghtes And than he made relefe to the kynge for the signorie of Vyerson whiche parteyned to the couÌtie of Bloys whiche lande laye bytwene Bloys and Berrey and was worthe by yere a fyue hundred pounde of money curraunt in Fraunce And there
duke of Bretaygne sawe howe his excuses coude nat be taken nor herde sayde Well sirs if I go to Parys it shal be greatlye agaynst my wyll and to my preiudyce For whan I come there I shall fynde and se daylye before me sir Olyuer of Clyssone whom I can nat loue nor neuer dyde nor he me who shall attempte me with rygorous wordes My lordes regarde well what inconuenyentes shall ensue of my goynge thyder Sir ê the duke of Burgoyne fayre cosyn haue ye no dout therin for we shall swere solempnely to you that withoute it shall be your owne pleasure ye shall nouther se nor speke with the Constable nor with Iohan of Mountforde as longe as ye shall be there Of this sir ye shall be sure but ye shall se the kynge who desyreth to se you and other lordes knyghtes and squyers of Fraunce who shall make you good chere And whanne ye haue done that ye loke for ye shall retourne agayne without peryll or dommage Wherto shulde I make longe processe So moche the duke of Bretayne was desyred with faire wordes that he consented to go to Parys on the promyse that the Constable nor Iohan of Mountforde shulde nat come in his preseÌce the whiche the dukes sware faythfully to vpholde and thervpon he êmysed to go to Parys A fyue dayes these dukes were at Bloyes and eche of them feested other ryght nobly and the couÌtesse and her chyldren in lyke maner And whan euery thyng was accomplysshed the two dukes toke leaue of the duke of Bretaygne and retourned to Parys But sir Wylliam of Heynaulte retourned nat to Parys with the duke of Burgoyne his faire father but rode first with the countesse of Bloyes who made hym right good chere and taryed there a thre dayes than toke his leaue and retourned in to Fraunce by the Castell Dune and Bonyuall ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Lewes kyng of Cycyle entred in to Parys in estate royall and howe the duke of Bretayne entred on the nyght of saynt IohnÌ the Baptyst The yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore seuyn and of a dede of armes doone before the kyng at Mountereau faulte you bytwene a knyght of Englande called sir ThomÌs Harpingham and a frenche knyght named sir IohnÌ de Barres Cap. C.xxxi THe duke of Bretaygne rode to Boygency on the ryuer of Loyre there he ordered his businesse to go to Parys The same tyme before the duke of Bretaygne entered in to Parys there entred the quene of Cycyll and of Hierusalem somtyme wyfe to the Duke of Aniou who was called kynge of those countreis and also of Naples and with her was her yonge sonne Lewes who was as thanne in all Fraunce named kynge of all the said landes And in their company was Iohan of Bretaygne brother to the lady She sente worde before of her coÌmynge to the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne aduertysyng theÌ howe she brought in her company her yonge son Lewes their nephue desyring to knowe whether he shulde entre into Paris as a kynge or elles symply as Lewes of Aniou The two dukes sente her worde aduisynge and couÌsayling her that he shulde entre as kyng of Naples of Cycyle and of Hierusalem And sente her worde that thoughe he were nat as thanne in possessyon of the Realmes yet they wolde entyse the Frenche kyng that he shulde ayde hym to conquere them for so they sware to do to their brother kyng Lois After this maner the lady prepared for her selfe and came and entred in to Parys and made her sonne to ryde throughe the hyghe stretes by saynt Iaques so to his lodgynge in grene in estate royall accompanyed with Dukes erles and prelates a great nombre There the lady taryed with her sonne and thanne wente to se the kynge at his castell of Loure abydinge there the commynge of the duke of Bretaygne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Bretaygne entred in to Parys and came to the castell of Loure to the Frenche kynge Cap. C.xxxii WHan the duke of Bretayne aproched nere to Parys he rested one nyght at the quenes Bourge and the nexte daye he entred in to Paris great lokyng for hym was in Paris bycause he had before putte in daunger the Constable of Fraunce and had ben sente for dyuers tymes and wolde neuer come tyll than Men spake therof dyuersly and on a sondaye beynge Mydsomer daye at tenne of the clocke afore noone the duke of Bretaygne entred the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre huÌdred fourscore and eight in to Parys at hell gate and passed a long the strete of the Harpe and ouer the bridge saynt Michell and so before the palais well accompanyed with lordes and knyghtes There was sir Wyllyam of Heynaulre erle of Ostrenaunt his faire brother Iohan of Burgoyne and before him roode sir Wyllyam of Namure Thus he came to the Castelle of Loure and there alyghted as he rode throughe the stretes he was greatelye regarded of the common people And whan the duke was a lyghted and entred in at the gate he remembred what he shulde do and saye And before hym was the lorde of Coucy the erle of Sauoy sir IohnÌ of Vyen sir Guye de la Tremoyle sir IohnÌ of Vernayle the erle of Meauir sir Iohan of Voye sir Iohan of Barres and nere to hym was sir Wyllyam of Namure Iohan of Burgoyne and the erle of Ostrenaunte And behynde hym the lorde Mountforde of Bretayne and the lorde of Malestroyt they were of his kynne and priuy couÌsayle there was great preace to se hym and the halle but lytell and the boordes were couered for the kynge to go to dyner And the kynge stoode there redy before the table and his .iii. vncles besyde hym dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone As soone as the duke was entred euery man made place so that the duke myght se the kynge Firste he made one curtesy and so passed forthe a renne or .xii. paces Than he made the seconde curtesy and rose agayne and so passed forthe tyll he came before the kynge Than the thirde tyme he kneled downe bare heeded and saluted the kyng and sayd Sir I am come to se your grace god maynteyne youre prosperyte I thanke you sir quod the kyng and we haue great desyre to se you We shall se and speke with you at more leysar and therwith toke hym vp by the armes Than the duke enclyned hym self to all the other princes eche after other than he stode styll before the kynge without spekynge of any worde The kyng sore behelde hym Thanne the Stewardes and offycers came forthe with water and the kyng wasshed and the duke of Bretaygne putte his hande to the bason and to the towell And whan the kyng was sette the duke toke his leaue of the kyng and of his vncles and the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule with other lordes conueyed hym in to the court where his horses were and there
mounted and so returned to his lodgynge in the strete of that Harpe and none taryed with hym of them that conueyed hym but suche as came with hym out of Bretaygne to Parys AFter all this the duke of Bretaygne spake at leysar with the kynge his vncles so that euery man was well contente with hym and he tooke well euery thynge that had ben promysed to hym for he sawe nouther the constable nor IohnÌ of Bretayne Whan the lordes sawe that euery thyng was in good state and that they neded nat to doute the duke of Bretaygne seynge they had hym at Paris for they thought he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had done in maner euery thyng as the kynge wolde than it was thought good tyme to ordeyne forth for the voyage in to Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go to subdue the duke of Guerles who had so shamfully defied the kyng the whiche coÌsydred was nat thoght good to be suffred Than it was ordayned that the lorde of Coucy shulde drawe to the marches of Rennes and Chalous in Champayn and to regarde for the kynges passage that waye and to moue the knyghtes squyers in Bare and in Lorayne to go with him whyder he wolde lede them nat spekynge of the kyng but bearyng them in hande that he wolde go to recouer his ryght in Austryche The lorde of Coucy thus departed fro Parys and wente to Chalous in Champayne and there taryed a moneth and retaygned on all partes knyghtes and squyers iÌ Bare and in Lorayne in Champaygne and in Retheloys And the FreÌche kyng departed fro Parys whan he had coÌmuned with the duke of Bretaygne of dyuers maters and nat fully accomplysshed For the sute in the courte of Fraunce is longe whan they lyste and right well they canne foode forthe the people to make theym spende moche and bringe lytell to effecte The kynge came to Moustreau on faulte you in the marchesse of Brie and Gastenoys and there he helde his courte and of ten tymes chased hartes and other wylde beestes in the forest of Brie The same seasone there was a dede of armes done there bitwene an Englisshe knight who was there with the duke of Irelande called sir ThomÌs Harpyngham and sir Iohan of Barres wherof great brute was made in Fraunce and other places Their chalenge was fyue courses with a speare fyue strokes with the sworde fyue with a daggar and fyue with the axe and if any of their weapons brake than they to gette newe tyll their chalenge were accoÌplysshed These two knyghtes on a day lept on their horses well armed as appertayned The kynge and all other lordes beyng present and moche people and ranne toguyder foure courses ryght valiauntly and as me thought the vsage was thanÌe their Helmes were tyed but with a lace to the entente the speare shulde take no holde the fyrst course sir Iohan of Barres strake the Englysshe knyght on the targe in suche wyse that he bare hym ouer the horse crope so that he laye stonyed on the grounde and moche payne to releue Than they perfourmed forthe all the reste of their chalenge in so goodly maner that the kyng and all the other were well coÌtent with them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell beyng on the see more than a moneth came to the hauyn of Marante a lytell fro Rochell And howe he sent a messaÌgere to Perotte le Bernoys that he and other capitayns shulde kepe the feldes Cap. C.xxxiii IT is long sythe I made any mencyon of the Englysshe armye on the see wherof Rycharde Erle of Arundell was capitayne and with hym many knyghtes squyers and archers of Englande I shall nowe somwhat speke of hym for the mater requyreth it yE haue herde here before of the treatie that the kyng of Englande made with the duke of Bretaygne This nauy on the see all this season laye euer coostynge the fronters of Bretaygne and NormaÌdy if ioynde and wether draue theÌ thens they euer came thyder agayne And they had in their flete some small vesselles called Balyngers who wente euer and scoured the see The flete had layne at ancre more than a moneth agaynst the ysle of Breshatte in Bretayne And there they herde tidynges howe the duke of Bretaygne was gone to Bloyes to speke with the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne And howe they were so agreed that the duke was gone to Parys And the renoeranne throughe Bretaygne howe the duke hadde good chere of the Frenche kynge and was welcome to hym and to all his cousayle at Parys and shulde nat departe thens tyll the maters were in good estate Whanne the erle of AruÌdell herde those tidynges he was pensyue and wente to counsayle what was best to do whyder they were best to drawe to enploye their season Than they determyned to drawe to Rochellois though they had no castelles there yet they hadde men ynowe there to kepe the Felde and to abyde all the puyssaunce of Xaynton and of Poyctou so that they shulde signify their estate in to Auuergne and in to Lymosynne so that they myght sende to passe throughe Bretaygne As than the treuse was nat confyrmed on the ryuer of Loyre but they were a treatynge to begynne the fyrste daye of Auguste And sir Helyon of Lignacke was goyng or coÌmyng as the erle of Arundell ymagined outher to the duke of Lancastre to Bayone or elles retournynge in to Fraunce They hadde in their nauye a Breton bretonaunt of the nacyon of Wannes seruaunt to sir Wyllyam Helmon who coude speke well foure maner of languages That is to saye Bretysshe Englysshe Spaynysshe and Frenche and gaue hym in commaundement to go a lande and sayde to hym Go thou the moost preuyest wayes thou canste thou knowest all the preuy wayes of the countrey and gette the to the garyson of Chaluset and haue vs all recommaunded to Perotte le Bernoys and shewe hym fro vs that he sette forthe a company of men of armes suche as be in garysons forthe kynge of Englande and make warre in his tytell thou shalte beare no letters for feare of takynge Thou mayest go lyke a marchaunt of Rochell to by wynes and saye to Perot that he reyse vp these men of warre and kepe the couÌtreys of Berrey Auuergne and Lymosyn in doute and kepe the feldes for we shall lande in Rocelloyes and shall make there suche warre that it shal be herde of and well knowen The Breton sayde he shulde do his message if he hadde no great lette by the waye He was set a lande on the sandes and as he that knewe all the countrey of Bretayne went of from all the great townes and passed by the countrey of Poyctou and entred in to Lymosyn and so came to Chalucet wherof Perot le Bernoys was capitayne The messangere came to the barryers and gaue knowledge of his coÌmynge to them of the garyson After he had ben examyned at the gate he was lette in and so
apostumed wherfore he was counsayled to declare his wyll to make hym redy to god ward thaÌ he made his testament First he caused to come before hym all the soueraygne companyons of the garyson suche as were best expert in armes Than he sate vp in his bedde and sayd sirs and derely beloued companyons I knowe well I am in great daunger of dethe we haue a long season ben toguyder kepte good company I haue ben your maister and true capitayne to my power Wherfore I wolde gladly in my lyfe dayes se that ye hadde another capitayne that trewly shulde acquyte hym to you all and to kepe this fortresse for I shall leaue it well prouyded of euery thynge necessary parteyning to a castell of warre bothe of wyne vitaylles and artyllary and other thynges requysyte Wherfore I demaunde of you all in generall if ye be aduysed of any capitayne or capitayns metely to be chosen to gouerne you and this castell as men of warre aduenturers ought to do for suche hath ben alwayes the warre that I haue vsed I haue made warre moche vnder the shadowe of the kyng of Englandes quarell I haue alwayes be desyrous to be there as somwhat was to be gotton so alwayes companyons adueÌturers ought to do suche as desyre feates of armes to aduenture them selfe Here in these fronters is a good countrey and frutefull and great profyte to be goton therin thoughe the Frenche men nowe besiege vs it wyll nat endure alwayes the siege and their bastydes wyll breke one day Sirs answere me to my demaunde Haue ye chosen any capitayne amonge you The companyons stode styll and gaue none aunswere and whan he sawe that they spake nat he beganne to speke agayne with swete wordes and sayd Sirs I thynke surely of this my demaunde ye haue thought before but lytell Wherfore sirs as I haue layne here in my bedde I haue thought and deuysed for you Sir quod they we beleue it well and it shal be more agreable to vs that it cometh of you rather than of vs. And sir shewe it vs if it please you Sirs quod he I shall declare it to you and name hym that I meane ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Geffray Teate noyre dyde chose a capitayne ouer his company and howe he made his testament so dyed And howe the duke of guerles departed fro his countre to go in to Pruce and of the incydence that fell to him in the lande of the duke of Stulpe where he was taken prisosoner and discoÌfyted Cap. C .lii. FAyre sirs quod Geffray I knowe well ye haue alwayes serued and honoured me as men ought to serue their soueraygne and capitayne and I shall be the gladder if ye wyll agre to haue to your capitayne one that is discended of my bloode Beholde here Aleyne Rour my cosyn and Peter his brother who are men of armes and of my blode I reâre you to make Aleyne youre capitayne and to swere to hym faythe obeysaunce loue and loyalte here in my presence and also to his brother Howe be it I wyll that Aleyne haue the souerayne charge Sir quod they we are well content for ye haue ryght well chosen There all the companyons made theym seruyaunt to Aleyne Roux and to Peter his brother Whan all that was done than Geffraye spake agayne and sayde Nowe sirs ye haue obeyed to my pleasure I canne you great thanke wherfore sirs I wyll ye haue parte of that ye haue holpen to conquere I saye vnto you that in yonder chest that ye se stande yonder therin is to the some of .xxx. thousande frankes I wyll gyue them accordynge to my conscyence Wyll ye all be content to fulfyll my testament howe saye ye Sir quod they we be right well contente to fulfyll your commaundement ThanÌe firste quod he I wyll and gyue to the Chapell of saynt George here in this Castell for the reparacious therof a thousande and fyue hundred frankes And I gyue to my louer who hath truely serued me two thousaÌde and fyue hundred frankes And also I gyue to Aleyne Roux your newe capitayne foure thousande frankes Also to the varlettes of my chambre I gyue fyue huÌdred frankes To myne offycers I gyue a thousande and fyue hundred frankes The rest I gyue and bequeth as I shall shewe you ye be vpon a thyrtie companyons all of one sorte ye ought to be bretherne and all of one alyaunce withoute debate ryotte or stryfe amonge you All this that I haue shewed you ye shall fynde in yonder Cheste I wyll that ye departe all the resydue equally and truely bitwene you thyr tie And if ye be nat thus contente but that the deuyll wyll set debate bytwene you than beholde yonder is a stronge axe breke vp the coffer and gette it who can to those wordes euery man answered and said Sir and dere maister we are and shal be all of one accorde Sir we haue so moche loued douted you the we wyll breke no cofer nor breke no poynt of that ye haue ordayned and commaunded Thus Geffray Teate Noyre made his testament and lyued nat past two dayes after and was buryed in the chapell of saint George within the castell His wyll was accomplysshed and the .xxx. thousande frankes deuyded as he had ordayned And Aleyne Roux and Peter Roux his brother were capytayns of the castell of VaÌchadore All this season the siege styll endured but there were but fewe scrimysshes made Howbeit whan the dethe of Geffray Teate noyre was knowen in Auuergne and Lymosyn the knyghtes squyers there were ryght ioyfull therof and douted lesse than they dyde before For this Geffray in his tyme was sore douted for he was a good and a sage capitayne and expert in all warre NOwe lette vs retourne to the duke of Guerles and shewe what fell to hym in this season bycause I haue spoken of hym before For by his meanes the Frenche kyng his vncles and his brother other nobles of Fraunce came to the entre of the countrey of Guerles and the kyng deêted thens and the duke hauyng no great domage And whan the duke of Guerles sawe that all the meÌ of warre were departed and that he was apeased with the duches of Brabant and with all his enemyes by reason of the composicion that was made as to rendre vp the towne of Graue vpon certayne poyntes and artycles ordayned bytwene the duke of Burgone the duches of Brabant and the duke of Guerles Than he thought to then tent to employ his season to go in to Pruce He made hym redy and gate hym company of knyghtes and squyers of his owne countrey and other places And about the vtas of saynt Martyn he rode forthe throughe Almaygne and in euery place where as he passed he had good chere And so longe he rode that he came to the lande of Pruce I knowe nat by what insydence Certayne men layde in wayte on hym and in the feldes set on him or he was ware
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 coÌmaunded 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 FrauÌce 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 huÌdred 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 couÌtrey 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 deêted 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
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌtrey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌche kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌde synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌte desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He êcured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌtrey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌberlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌche kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couây and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌtesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌphe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deêted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌmyng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌe to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
four tymes aboute in the syght of all the people and there was openly red and publysshed all their dedes and thaÌ beheeded and quartered their quarters sent to the four chefe gates of the cytie Thus Alayne and Peter Rour lost shamfully their lyues the castell of Vanchadore ¶ Of the dedes of armes at saint Ingylvertes contynuyng thyrty dayes agaynste all coÌmers of the realme of Englande and other countreys euery man thre courses Ca. C.lxviii IN this seasone and in the meane tyme that the truese was thus bytwenene Englande and Fraunce bothe by lande and by see though the kinges and their subgiettes helde well the peace yet was there certayne pyllers robbers in Auuergne who made warre to the poore men on bothe sydes the ryuer of Dordone but the capytayns that had gyueÌ vp their fortresses by reason of that treatie dyssymuled the matter By reason of their dissymulacion the couÌtrey of Auuergne receyued great domage so that the complaintes therof came to Parys Than the french kyng was counsayled to sende to the kynge of Englande signyfyenge hym of the state of these robbes that made warre thus in the countrey vnder coloure of their patesynge the which ought nat to be done I thinke the king of Englande excused hym selfe of the mater And to prouyde therfore the same season the thre fore sayd knyghtes that is to say the yonge Bouciquant Raynolde of Roy the lorde of saint Pye who had enterprised to do armes about the marches of Calays nere to saynte Ingilbertes made them redy to a coÌplysshe their desyre to fulfyll their promesse the right of armes for it was openly declared publysshed and specyally in the realme of Englande in the which realme there were knyghtes squyers quyckened to the mater and were in gret imagynacioÌs to knowe what they might best do Some said it shuld be greatly to their blame and reproche such an enterprise taken so nere to Calays without they passed the see loke on those knightes that shulde do armes there Suche as spake most of the mater was first syr Iohan of Holande erle of Huntyngdon who had great desyre to go thyder also sir Iohan courtney sir Iohan Traicton sir Iohan Golouffer syr Iohan Russell syr Thomas Shyrborne syr Willyam Clyfton sir Willyam Clynton sir WillymÌ Taylboys sir Godfrey Seta syr Willyam hacquenay syr Iohan Vobeas syr Iohan Dambretycourt syr Henry Beamond and dyuers other mo than a huÌdred knightes and squters all these sayd Let vs prouyde to go to Calays for the knightes of Fraunce hath nat ordayned that sporte so nere our marches but to the entent to se vs there and surely they haue done well and do lyke good companions and we shall nat fayle them at their busynes This matter was so published abrode in Englande that many suche as had no desyre to do dedes of armes theym selfe yet they sayd they wolde be there to loke on them that shulde Suche as thought to be there sent afore to Calays to make prouysion to kepe their astate and sente ouer their horse and harnes bothe for peace and warre Whan the day aproched sir IohnÌ HolaÌde brother to the kyng of EnglaÌde fyrst passed the see mo than .lx. knightes squiers with hym aryued at Calys there toke vp their lodgyngê At thentryng in of the ioly fresshe moueth of May these thre yong knyghtes of FrauÌce suche as shulde do dedê of armes at saynt Ingilbertê thus first they caÌe to Boloyne taryed there a season than came to thabbay of same Ingilbertê Than they vnderstode how there were a great noÌbre of knyghtes squyers coÌe out of Englande to Calays wherof they were ryght ioyfull And to the entent that the brute shulde coÌe to Calays they ordayned in a fayre playne bytwene Calays and saynt Ingilbertes thre fressh grene pauilyoÌs to be pyght vp and at the entre of euery pauylyon there hanged two sheldes with the armes of the knightes one shelde of peace another of warre and it was ordayned that suche as shulde ryn do dedes of armes shulde touche one of the sheldes or cause to be touched whiche as pleaseth them and he shulde be delyuered acordyng to his desyre to speke of this mater I shall shew you The .xxi. day of the moneth of May acordyng as it had ben publisshed these thre freÌch knyghtes were redy in the place to furnysshe their interprice And the same day knightes squyers issued out of Calays suche as wolde iust and also suche other as had pleasure to regarde that sporte and they came to the sayde place apoynted and drewe all on the one parte The place to iust in was farre grene playne Syr Iohan Holande first sente to touche the sheld of warre of sir Boucyquant who incontynent issued out of his pauylyon redy mounted with shelde speare These two knightes drewe fro other a certayne space and whan eche of them had well aduysed other they spurred their horses came togyther rudely and Boucyquante strake the erle of Huntyngton through the shelde and the spearcheed glente ouer his arme dyd hym no hurt and so they passed forthe and tourned and rested at their pase This course was greatly praysed The seconde course they met without any hurte do ynge and the thyrde course their horses refused and wolde nat cope The erle of Huntyngton who had gret desyre to iust and was somwhat chafed came to his place abydynge that sir Boucyquant shulde take his speare but he dyd nat for he shewed that he wolde no more tynne that day agaynst therle And whan the erle sawe that he sent his squyer to touche the shelde of warre of the lorde of saynt Pye And he that wolde nat refuse issued out of his pauylion and toke his horse shelde and speare And whan the erle sawe that he was redy spurred his horse and saynt Pye in lykewyse they couched their speares but at the metyng their horses crossed but with the crossynge of their speares the erle was vnhelmed Than he retourned to his men and incontynent he was rehelmed and toke his speare and saynt Pye his and than ran agayne and met eche other with their speares in the myddes of their sheldes so that nere hande they were bothe borne downe to their erthe but they gryped fast their horses with their legges and so saued them selfes and retourned to their places and toke their brethes Syr Iohan Holande who had great affection to do honorably toke agayne his speare spurred his horse and whan the lorde of saynt Pye sawe hym comyng he dasshed forth his horse to encountre hym eche of them strake other on their helmes that the spre flasshed out With that ataynt the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed and so they passed forthe and came agayne to their owne places This course was greatly praysed and both frenche and englysshe sayd that those thre knyghtes the erle of Huntyngton sir Bouciquant and the
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌtynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌde this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌcastre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌmynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌmendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌdes heritage in these êties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌmaunde the vycount of Meaulx to deête fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌdeth on the froÌters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse êteynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌdon And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌsayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌdon and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌsayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌsayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
gentylman of the duke of Lancasters named Herbery went with the better wyll bycause the varlette promysed hym in the behalfe of Aymergot a hundred fraÌkes Thus they thre departed and came to Douer and fro thens at a tyde to Calis And whan their horses were vnshypped they toke the waye to Boloygne and so throughe Picardy and went to Parys fro thens in to Auuergne And whan they approched nere to Lymogines and to the couÌtre where the roche of VaÌdoyes was sette They rode about the more secretely to come thyder THus as I haue shewed you thes messangers dyde so moche that they came nere to the roche of vaÌdoyes Whanne they were nere where the siege laye the squyer and the heraulde thought it for the best nat to entre in to the towne at that present tyme. But they sent the varlet in to the towne sayeng they wolde do well ynough without his company For they sayd if he shulde be sene with them they at the siege wolde suppose that he had ben sente in to Englande for theÌ the varlet obeyed in the night he entred in to the towne without dauÌger than Aymergot Marcell Guyot du Sall made hym good chere and had marueyle that he had spedde his iourney in so short a space There be shewed howe he had spedde and howe a squier of the duke of LaÌcasters and a heraude was come with him with letters fro the kyng and fro the duke of Lancastre bothe to the Vycount of Meaulr and to the duke of Berrey if nede were And why quod Aymergot mercell are they nat come hyder into this castell Sir ê the varlet they sayd they two wolde do their message well inough nor they wold haue no man sene in their coÌpany that shulde come fro you They are the wyser ê Guyot du Sall therby it shall seme that the mater toucheth the kyng of EnglaÌde and the duke of Lancastre Sir it is trewe quod the barlet Of those tidynges Aymergot was ioyfull and sayde to the varlet Thou hast well and dilygently spedde thy maters and that in a shorte season I shall well rewarde the for thy labour Thus the squyer and the heraude came streight to the siege and demauÌded for the VycouÌtes lodgynge They were brought thyder and there they founde the vycount beholding men castyng the stone than they kneled and saluted hym and he them agayne and demauÌded fro whens they came They answered and said howe they caÌe out of Englande sent thyder by their kyng and by the duke of Lancaster ye are welcome ê the Vycount what mater hath brought you in to this wylde countrey Sir quod the heraude beholde here this squier of the duke of LaÌcasters who hath brought to you letters fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre if it please you to rede theÌ and bycause I soÌwhat knewe the countrey I am come in his company Than the squyer delyuered his letters and the vycount receyued them and behelde the seales and knewe well they came out of Englande Than he tooke one aparte that coude rede and there he reed the letters fro poynt to poynt two or thre tymes tyll he knewe well what they ment thaÌ he studyed regarded well the kyng of Englandes writyng who sayd in his writynge that he had marueyle that he wolde lodge slepe and reste hym with an army of men of warre on his herytage that he dothe daylye all that he can to breke the peace whiche he ought in no wyse to do for it is greatly âiudiciall to them that haue sette to their seales to the confyrmacion of the peace and the conclusyon of the letter was howe the kyng coÌmaunded them incontynent after the sight of his letts that he and his company shulde departe and reyse their siege and suffre Aymergot Mercell pesably to enioye the house parteyning to his heritage whiche hath cost hym great goodes the fortifieng These wordes and suche other were enclosed in these letters all to the ayde of Aymergot Marcell in lyke maner as the kynges letters spake the duke of Lancaster sange the same note commaundyng lyke the excellent duke of Acquitayne and of all that duchy And whan the vicount of Meaulx had well aduysed hym selfe he sayde Fayre sirs these tidynges that ye haue brought requyreth counsayle and aduyse I shall take couÌsayle and than ye shall be answered Than they were made to driÌke of the vycountes wyne In the meane tyme the vycount toke counsayle for he sent for the lorde of the Towre for sir Guyllyam Butler sir Robert Dolphyn sir Loyes DaÌbyer and also for the lorde Montaguy and for sir Berat de la Ryuer who was of his house And whan they were all toguyder he renewed the wordes and shewed them the cause why he had sent for them and there caused the letters to be reed before them Whan these lordes herde that they had great marueile how these letters coude be brought out of EnglaÌde for as than they had nat layne at the siege past a moneth I shall shewe you quod the vycount what I suppose Aymergot Marcell is a subtell man as soone as he sawe that he shulde be besieged I thynke he sent incoÌtynent some messanger in to Englande to attayne these letters the whiche I maye obey if I lyste but I shall answere them shortely But as in that the kyng of England and the duke of Lancastre coÌmaundeth me to do I wyll nothynge obey their coÌmaundementes for I am nat bounde to obey theÌ but all onelye the Frenche kynge by whose coÌmaundement I am sent hyder Call forthe the squier and the heraude I shall make them their answere they were brought forthe Than the vycount began to speke as foloweth you Derby and Tomelyn Herbery thus ye be named accordyng to the tenour of your letters and as it apereth ye be sent hyther frothe kynge of Englande fro the duke of Lancastre they are enfourmed I can nat tell howe outher by Aymergot Marcell or by some other that wolde ayde him and hath ben in England in his name howe I am at this present tyme with an army of men of warre lodged on the herytage of the kynge of Englandes and he commaundeth me to departe and reyse my siege and to suffre Aymergot Marcell peasably to enioy this lytell fortresse whiche hathe coste so moche the fortefyenge and also they sende me worde howe I do put my selfe in parell of dyshonorynge in that I shulde consent to breke the peace sealed and confârmed to endure thre yeres bytwene the two kynges and their alyes Fayre sirs I say vnto you that I wyll do nothyng that shall be against the charter of peace I wyll kepe the treuce and do nothynge agaynst it and though I am lodged here it breketh no peace nor treuce I am subget to the frenche kynge who hath sent me hyther and hath admytted me as his marshall of this small armye for it came to the knowledge of the kynge
syr Geffrey of the chapell the lorde of Pierbuffier the lorde of Bonet sir Robert of Hanges sir Stephyn Sanxere sir Aubert de la mote sir Alaine of Champayn ser Geffrey Fresiers ser Rafe of Couffan the lorde of Bourke artysion sir Iohan of Crey bastarde sir Bertram de Sanache syr Pyncharde of Morlayne sir Trystram his brother syr Ayme of Cousay ser Ayme of Tourmay sir Foukes of Stanfours sir Iohan of Chateuas all these were knightê And there dyed of squiers Foucans of Liege Iohan of Isles Blondelet of Areton IohnÌ de la Mote BouÌberis floridas of Roque the lorde of Belles brother to Willyam Fondragay Water of Cauforus Iohan Morillen Pier of Malnes Gyllot Villaine IohnÌ of Lound IohnÌ Perier Iohan menne Iohan of Lauay and Willyam of Parke There dyed mo than a .lx. knightes and squyers whiche wysely to consyder was a great losse And if the lorde of Coucy had ben beleued this had nat fortuned for and they had kepte their lodgynges as they dyd before they had receyued no suche domage ¶ How after this aduenture and domage that fell to the crysten men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Aufryke that so many knightes squyers were deed they mayntayned them selfe more wysely after than they dyd before and coÌtynued their siege a longe season after Cap. C.lxxii OF this foresaid aduenture the knightes and squiers of the host were sore displeased and abasshed euery man bewayled his freÌdes at nyght they drewe to their lodginges and made gretter watche than they had made before for dout of the sarazyns they passed that nyght without any other doÌmage Of this aduenture the sarazins knewe nothyng for if they had knowen what case the Christen men had been in they might haue done them great doÌmage but alwayes they feared the Christen men They durst neuer adueÌture to auauÌce theÌ selfe but by scrimysshing castynge of their dartes They that were moost renomed in armes of their partie was Agadyngore of Olyferne for he loued the doughter of the kyng of Thunes wherby he was moost fresshest and ioly in dedes of armes Thus contynued the siege before the towne of Aufryke In the realme of Fraunce Englande and in suche countreys as these knightes came fro they herde no maner of tidynges of them wherof their frendes were sore abasshed wyst nat what to saye nor thynke In dyuers places bothe in Englande Heynalte and in FrauÌce there were processyoÌs made to pray to god for the êsperite of these christen men Thentencion of the christen men beyng at the siege was to abyde there tyll they had coÌquered the town of Affrike outher by force famyne or treatie The kyng of Cicyll wolde gladly it had ben so so wolde all other xpÌen yles adioynyng for this towne of Affrike was their vtter enemye and specially the genouoys toke great payne to serue the lordes to their pleasure to th eÌtent they shulde nat be anoyed by reason of their long siege To speke proêly it was a marueylous enterprice came of an highe corage of the christen knightes and squyers and specially the Frenchmen who for all the losse of their knightes and squiers pouertie that they endured yet they coÌtynued styll the siege at their great costes chargê without ayde or coÌforte And the genouoys who were the first setters on that enterprice began than to faynt and dissymule for as the bruteran than they wolde haue ben gladde to haue made a treatie with the Sarazyns and to haue lefte the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of other Christen countreys styll in that busynesse as I shall shewe you here after as it was enformed me ¶ Nowe at this present tyme lette vs leaue to speke of this siege of Aufryke and speke of a fest that the kynge of Englande made the same season in London ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in LoÌdon whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the sege before the towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns And howe this feest was publisshe in dyuers countreis and landes Cap. C.lxxiii YE haue herde before in this hystorie what a feest was holdeÌ at Paris whaÌ quene Isabell of Fraunce made there her first entre of the whiche feest tidynges sprede abrode in to euery couÌtre Than kynge âicharde of Englande his thre vncles âââyng of this goodly fest at Paris by the reportes of suche knyghtes squyers of their owne as had ben at the same fest Ordayned a great fest to be holden at the cyte of LoÌdon where there shulde be iustes .lx. knyghtes to abyde all coÌmers and with theÌ .lx. ladyes fresshely apparelled to kepe theÌ company these knightes to iust two dayes besyde sonday the chalenge to begyn the next sonday after the fest of saint Michaell As than in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC fourscore ten whiche sonday the said .lx. knightes .lx. ladyes at two of the clocke at after noon shuld issue oute of the towre of London and so to coÌe a long the cytie through Chepe and so to Smyth elde and that daye .xii. knightes to be there redy to abyde all knyghtê strauÌgers suche as wolde iust This soÌday was called the sonday of the fest of chalenge And on the moÌday next after the sayd .lx. knightes to be in the same place redy to iuste to abyde all coÌmers curtesly to ron with rokettes and to the best doer of the out syde shulde be gyuen hym for a price a riche crowne of golde and the best doer of the in syde duely examyned by the ladyes in the quenes chambre shulde haue for a price a riche gyrdell of golde And the tuesday folowynge the knightes shulde be agayne in the same place and to abyde all maner of squyers strauÌgers and other suche as wolde iust with rokettes and the best iuster on the out syde shulde haue for his price a courser sadled and the chiefe doer of the in syde shulde haue a faucon the maner of this fest was thus ordayned and deuised and herauldes were charged to crye and publysshe this feest in Englande in Scotlande in Almayne in FlauÌders in Brabant in Heynalt and in Fraunce the heraldes departed some hider and some thider These tidyngê sprede abrode into dyuers couÌtreys The heraudes had daye and tyme suffycient Knightes and squiers in dyuers couÌtreys apparelled them selfes to be at this feest some to se the maner of Englande and some to iuste Whan these tidynges came in to Heynalt sir Wyllyam of Heynault erle of Ostrenaunt who was yonge and lyberall and desyrous to iuste Purposed in hym selfe to go to the feest in EnglaÌde to se and to honour his cosyns kyng Rycharde of Englande and his vncles whome he had neuer sene before He hadde great desyre to be aquaynted with them and desyred other knightes and squyers to kepe hym coÌpany and specially the lorde of Gomegynes bycause he was well acquaynted with
Englysshe men for he had ben dyuers tymes amonge them Thanne sir Wyllyam of Haynaulte purposed whyle he made his prouisyon to go in to Hollande to se his father Auberte erle of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande to the entente to speke with hym and to take leaue to go in to Englande He deêted fro Quesnoy in Haynault and rode tyll he came to Haye in Hollande where the erle his father was at that tyme. and there he shewed his father his purpose that he was in to go in to Englande to se the countrey his cosyns whom he had neuer sene Than therle his father answered and sayd Wyllyam my fayre son ye haue nothyng to do in EnglaÌde for nowe ye be by couenaunt of maryage alyed to the realme of Fraunce and your suster to be maryed to the duke of Burgoyne wherfore ye nede nat to seke none other alyaunce Dere father quod he I wyll nat go in to Englande to make any alyauÌce I do it but to feest and make myrthe with my cosins there whom as yet I neuer sawe bycause the feest whiche shal be holden at London is publisshed abrode wherfore syth I am signifyed therof shulde nat go thyder it shulde be sayd I were proude presuptuous wher fore in the sauynge of myne honoure I wyll go thider therfore dere father I requyre you agree therto Sonne quod he do as ye lyste but I thynke surely it were better that ye taryed at home Whan the erle of Ostrenaunt sawe that his wordes contented nat his father he wolde speke no more therof but fell in other coÌmunicacion But he thought well ynough what he wolde do and so dayly sent his prouisyon towardes Calais Gomegynes the heraulde was sente in to Englande fro therle of Ostrenaunt to gyue knowlege to kynge Rycharde and to his vncles howe that he wolde come honorably to his feest at London Of those tidynges the kynge and his vncles were ryght ioyouse and gaue to the heraulde great giftes whiche after stode hym in great stede For after in the ende of his dayes he fell blynde I can nat tell if god were displeased with hym or nat in his dayes he lyued marueylously wherfore in his olde dayes and that he hadde loste his syght there were but fewe that were sorte therof Thus the erle of Ostrenaunt departed from Haye in Hollande and toke leaue of his father and so retourned to Quesnoy in Heynaulte to the couÌtesse his wyfe THis noble feest wherof I make meÌcyon was publysshed and cryed in dyuers places wherby knyghtes squyers and other aduaunsed them selfes to go thyder The erle Walleran of saynt Pole who as than had to his wyfe kyng Richarde of Englandes suster He prepared greatly to go in to Englande and so came to Calys And also the erle Ostrenaunt departed fro Heynaulte well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers and so passed throughe the countrey of Arthoys and came also to Calis and there he founde the erle of saynt Poule and the shyppes passagers of Douer were there redy and whan the shippes were charged and the wynde good these lordes tooke the see howe be it as it was shewed me and I thynke it true that therle of saynt Poule passed first in to Englande before the erle of Ostrenaunt And whan he came to London he founde there the kyng and his brother in lawe sir Iohan Hollande and other lordes and knyghtes of Englande who receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌded of hym tidynges of the realme of Fraunce He aunswered well wysely Than therle of Ostrenaunt passed ouer on a thursdaye and so caÌe to Cauterbury and on the friday he visyted saint Thomas shrine and offred there in the mornyng and laye there all that daye the nexte day rode to Rochester And bycause he had so gret a company and cariages he rode but small iourneys to ease his horse And on the sondaye he rode to dyner to Dertforde after dyuer to London to be at the feest whiche began the same sonday ON the sonday nexte after the feest of saynt Michaell this feest and tryuÌphe shulde begyn and that daye to be done in Smythfelde iustes called the chalenge So the same sonday about thre of the clocke at after noone there issued out of the towre of London first threscore coursers apparelled for the Iustes and on euery one a squier of honour ridyng a softe pase Than issued out threscore ladyes of honour mounted on fayre palfreys ridyng on the one syde richely apparelled and euery lady ledde a knight with a cheyne of syluer which knightes were apparelled to iust Thus they cam ridynge a longe the stretes of London with great nombre of trumpettes and other mynstrelles And so came to Smythfelde where the quene of Englande and other ladies and damoselles were redy in chaÌbres richely adorned to se the iustes and the king was with the quene And whan the ladyes that ledde the knyghtes were come to the place they were taken downe fro their palfreys they mouÌted vp in to chambres redy aparelled for theÌ Than the squiers of honour alighted fro the coursers the knightes in good order mouÌted on them than their helmes were sette on and made redy at all poyntes Than thyder came the erle of saynt Poule nobly accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers all armed with harnesse for the iustes to begynne the feest whiche incontynent beganne and there iusted all knyghtes straungers suche as wolde and hadde leysar and space for the nyght came on Thus these iustes of chaleng began and coÌtynued tyll it was night Than knyghtes and ladyes withdrue them selfes the quene was lodged besyde Poules in the bysshoppes palace and there was the supper prepared The same euennynge came therle of Ostrenaunt to the kyng who was nobly receyued ¶ Nowe for these iustes on the sonday For the aunswerer without The erle Walleran of saynt Poule had the price And of the chalengers the erle of Huntyngdon There was goodly dauÌsyng in the quenes lodgyng in the presence of the kynge and his vncles and other barons of Englande and ladyes and damoselles contynuyng tyll it was daye whiche was tyme for euery persone to drawe to their lodgynges except the kyng and the quene who lay there in the Bysshoppes Palays for there they laye all the feestes and iustes duryng ON the nexte day whiche was mondaye ye myght haue sene in dyuers places of the cytie of London squyers and varlettes goynge aboute with harnesse and doynge of other busynesse of their maisters After noon kynge Richarde came to the place all armed richely apparelled accompanyed with Dukes erles lordes and knyghtes He was one of the inner partie Than the quene well accompanyed with ladyes and damosels came to the place where the iustes shulde be and mounted in to chaÌbres and scaffoldes ordayned for theÌ Than came in to the felde the erle of Ostrenaunte well accoÌpanyed with knyghtes of his couÌtrey and all were redy to iuste Than came the
attaygne to the herytage of Bretaygne of the whiche he is without and shall be for I haue chyldren sonne and doughter that shall succede after me Secondely he beareth the ermyns whiche are the armes of Bretaygne but of trouthe to do me dyspleasure withall sir Olyuer clysson mayntayneth him in that opinyon and as longe as he is in that case I wyllagre to no treatie with the kynge As for warre I wyll make none to the kyng bycause he is my naturall lorde but if by yuell informacyon the kyng make me warre I shall defende me he shall fynde me in myne owne countre all this I wyll that the kyng knowe THus the treatie bytwene the kynge and the duke of Bretayne contynued rygorously for the duke was lorde and mayster of his counsayle but the frenche kynge was nat so of his but was ruled by syr Olyuer Clisson and the Begue of Vyllains syr Iohan Mercyer and by syr Willyam of Montague the duke of Burgoyne who had clere vnderstandyng of euery thynge suffred the duke of Bretaygnes reasons and defences to be sayde in place and couertly he susteyned them and had the duke of Berrey of his opynyon for he hated inwardly them of the kynges priuy chambre bycause they had dystroyed his treasourer Betysache shamfully by iustyce at Besyers as ye haue herde here before but he suffred it for he sawe no tyme to be reuenged In this dyfference the duke of Bretaygne taryed at Towrs thre monethes that their treatie coulde come to no good conclusyon and were at the poynte to haue departed and the kynge was in wyll that as soone as he was retourned in to Fraunce to make a great assemble to make warre the next somer after in to Bretayne agaynst the duke suche of his acorde to leaue all other busines but the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne the lorde Coucy therle of saint Poll sir Guy of Tremoile the chanceller of FrauÌce and dyuers other prelates high barons of FrauÌce suche as were there ymagined to withstaÌde this rigorous rebellioÌs spake togider and said to the kyng sir we that be the iouerayn lordes piers of your realme and be nere of your lygnage we shulde haue a treatie this next lent for a peace to be had at AmieÌce with thenglysshmen Wherfore sir ye had nede to make haste leaue this yuell wyll bytwene you and the duke of Bretayne for if the duke deête hens without any agrement made bytwene you thenglysshmen wyll be the harder in all their treaties for they wyll thynke theÌ to be ayded and coÌforted by the duke of Bretayne and by his countrey for the duke hath thenglisshmen at his hande whan he wyll if we haue warre atones bothe with the Englysshmen bretons as we haue had or this they wyll put vs to great payne These lordê dyde so moche with the kyng his couÌsayle that at last they founde a meane bytwene the kyng the duke I shewe you what it was surely without the same meanes had ben founde they shulde haue come to no conclusion of good acorde So it was the frenche kyng had a doughter the duke of Bretaine had a sonne there was a maryage made bytwene this sonÌe this dought In lykewise IohnÌ of Bretayne had a sonÌe by the dought of sir Olyuer of Clysson the duke of Bretayne had a doughter and it was thought to make sure peace that the mariage bytwene theÌ two were necessary These maryages were agreed concluded howbeit for all these alyaunces yet IohnÌ of Bretayne shulde leaue the armes of Bretayne beare them of Chastellon bycause he was extracte by his mother syde of a duke of Bretayne for his mother was doughter to a duke of Bretaygne therfore he was alowed to bere in his armes a bordet of ermyne with thre labels goules on the heed of a scochyn of ermyns Thus he bare these deuises euery thynge was apesed So the duke of Bretayne gate the loue of the kyng of his vncles and dyned with the kyng and so IohnÌ of Bretayne was erle of Ponâhieuts And thus shewed great loue togyder by meanes of these mariages howe be it the duke in no wyse wolde se nor speke with sir Olyuer of Clysson he had suche displeasure to hym howebeit sir Olyuer made lyght therof for he hated the duke also with all his puissauÌce These mariages thus acorded the lordes sworne and bounde to fulfyll theÌ whan the chyldren shulde be soÌwhat of more age Than these lordes determyned to departe fro Tourse to drawe to Parys for the tyme aproched that they shulde be at Amyence personally The frenche kyng his brother his vncles and his couÌsayle to mere there with the kyng of Englande his vncles and counsayle who shulde be there So the duke of Bretayne toke leaue of the Frenche kyng and of his brother vncles and of suche other as he loued best and so deêted fro Tourse went in to his owne couÌtre and in lykewise so dyd all other lordê The duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the lorde Coucy taryed there styll I shall shewe you why ¶ Howe therle of Bloys and Mary of Namure his wyfe solde the countie of Bloys all their landes to the duke of Thourayne the frenche kynges brother Cap. C.lxxxii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Loys of Bloys sonÌe to therle Guy of bloys died whan he was yonge in the towne of Beauniont in Heynalt wher by the lady Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey was a widowe therby she lost her welthe of this worlde for the chylde was a gret enheritour if he had lyued he had ben a great lorde I speke of it bycause it shulde be knowen in tyme to come thenheritauÌce to whome it went out of the right lyne and by what maner therle of Blois Mary of Namure his wyfe were nat in the case to engeÌdre children togider for by great driÌkyng moche eatynge of wete delycate meates they were ouergrowen with fatnesse so that the erle coude nat ryde but was alwayes caried in a lytter fro one place to another or whan he wolde go a huntyng or haukyng whiche sporte was gretly vsed with the lordê of FrauÌce The same season whyle the Frenche kynge was at Tourse the duke of Thourayne had an ymaginacion whiche he brought to effect as I shall shewe you The duke of Thourayne knewe well he had moche rychesse lying by hym paraduenture a myllion of Floreyns whiche had by reason of his mariage with the lady Valentyne of Myllayne doughter to the erle of Vertus He wyst nat howe to enploy these flornes Than he remeÌbred howe the erle Guy of Bloys had great herytagê and that after his dethe they were likely to go to dyuers êsones The erldome of Bloys shulde retourne to Iohan of Bretayne for he was the erles cosyn germayne and the landes of Heynault shulde go to the
had spedde and they shewed hym all the hole processe and vpon what poynte they departed wherof the kynge was gladde for he shewed to be glad to haue peace In lyke maner the englyssh dukes whan they came to Calays they wrote to the kynge of Englande all the poyntes and artycles of that treatye And shortly they had agayne a good aunswere coÌmaundynge them to procede for a peace sayenge the warre had contynewed longe ynoughe and that crystendome therby was sore doÌmaged Thus at the daye prefyxed these dukes mette agayne at Balyngham and with the frenche lordes came the kynge of Armony to shewe to the lordes of Englande his busynesse and necessyte He was well knowen with the duke of Gloucestre for he had ben in Englande whan the frenche army was ordeyned at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande The duke of Glocestre the same tyme receyued the kynge of Armony and made hym good chere at a fayre place of his in Esser called Plasshey At Balyngham also the Dukes of Englande made the kynge of Armony good chere and was glad to here hym speke And they aunswered hym that gladly they wolde ayde hym wherof the kynge was ryght ioyfull Many thynges were treated in this parlyament And all this season the cardynall of Line lay at Abbeuyle who was sente thyder in legacyon by hym that called hym selfe pope Clemente for maters concernyng the churche The frenche dukes at this assemble at Balyngham wolde haue had certayne artycles comprised in their treatie concernynge the churche and susteynynge the opynyons of this pope Clemente Robert of Geneue But whan the Englysshe dukes harde that they sayd to their cosyns of Fraunce Cosyns and ye wyll that we shall fall to any poynte of conclusion speke no more of that cardynall we haue nothyng to do with hym his matter is a busynes without profyte or effecte we are determyned vpon a pope to whom we wyll obey we wyll here no spekyng agaynste hym if the other medle any thynge with vs we shall departe and god hence and leaue all togytder After that tyme there was no mo wordes of that cardynall he taried styll at Abbcuyle Than these lordes proceded in their treaties the duke of Lancastre was well enclyned to haue peace The Frenche kynge the yere before hadde sore desyred hym to be a good meane to entreate for a peace and so he promysed to do howbeit his brother the duke of Gloucestre was hard to agree for he layde forthe the frenchemens dysceytes and colored wordes that they vsed alwayes in their writynges sayenge howe the frenche men wolde alwayes wrestell with their armes dyscouered whiche was euer perceyued On a daye there came a squyer of honour a frenche man called Robert the hermyte to the duke of Gloucestre he was one of the frenche kynges priuy chambre whether he was sente to the duke of Glocestre or came on his owne heed I can nat tell but as the duke shewed me in Englande at Plasshey this squyer sayd to him Syr for the loue of god be nat agaynst this treatie of peace for ye se howe the lordes of Fraunce do their dyligence to bringe it aboute ye shall do an almesse dede for the warre hath to longe endured and sythe that bothe kynges are content to haue peace all their subgiettes ought to obey therto Than the duke answered hym as he sayd Roberte I am nat agaynst it nor wyll nat be but ye frenche men amonge you ye haue so many coloured wordes so darke and obscure to our vnderstandynge so that whan ye wyll it is warre and whan ye lyst it is peace thus haue ye ledde vs vnto this presente daye But if the kynge my soueraygne lorde had beleued me and suche other of his realme as are bouÌde to serue hym peace shulde neuer haue been bytwene Englande and Fraunce tyll restytucyon had ben made to vs of all that is taken fro vs without cause by subtylte and crafte as god and all the worlde knoweth But sythe the kynge my souerayne lorde enclyneth to the peace it is reasone that we agree to the same and therfore if we make a peace acordyng to the desyres of bothe kynges sythe we be here assembled let it be well holden on your syde for it shall be well kepte on our partye And thus the duke shewed me that this Roberte the Hermyte departed fro hym and went to his company And so these lordes contynewed styll their treatie I Wyll make no further processe but come to conclusyon These foure dukes that were at this assemble and had full power aâd auctorite of their kynges to take a treââce and to make a peace They dyd so in suche wyse that generall voyce and ãâã through the towne of Abbeuyle that a peace was taken vpon certayne artycles bytwene the two kynges their alyes and consyderates But I sir Iohan Froyssart auctour of this hystory beynge the same tyme in Abbeââyle coulde nat lerne the certaynte of the artycles comprised in that peace Howe be it I knewe that a peace was taken to endure four yeres to be kepte ferme and stable bothe by see and by lande And it was concluded and agreed that within the sayde space of the four yere shulde be delyuered to the kynge of Englande for euer and perpetually to all kinges of Englande and to his coÌmyssioners all the landes and sygnories in the countrey of Languedoâ and to be as of the demayne and herytage of the crowne of Englande And this doone and accomplysshed it was agreed by the same ordynaunce that certayne capitayns and their men that helde some holdes and fortresses in the Realme of Fraunce shulde aduoyde and departe all suche as made warre and do make any warre vnder the shadowe and coloure of the kyng of Englande and the Englysshe men of what nacyon so euer they were To all these artycles these lordes that were as than at Balyngham were bounde in writynges sygned and sealed and the copyes therof sent to bothe kynges Than the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sent an harauld called Marche with letters to the Kynge of Englande shewynge and declarynge all the hole processe ordynaunce concluded in their treatie vpon the forme of peace Thus this haraulde departed with his letters and rode to Calys and passed ouer to Deuer and rode forthe tyll he came to the kynge who was at a manoure of his owne besyde London Whan he came in the kynges presence he delyuered his letters And whan the Kynge had redde them he was ryght ioyouse and gaue to the haraulde for his good tydynges bryngynge great giftes as the same haraulde shewed me after at leysare as I rode with hym in to the Realme of Englande These foure dukes of Fraunce and of Englande were styll at Balyngham and soiourned there in fayre tentes and pauylyons and well and dylygently perused and examyned the artycles of their treatie and wolde passe nor seale to none tyll all darke and obscure wordes were clerely declared and made
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌde to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌcastre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌcastre was well coÌtent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌberlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâes done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌdaunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌs Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌmage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌstable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌe inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌmage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌtage and make good prouisyon for theÌ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌe we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌe I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no êsone The tyme was sore chauÌged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌcastre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâsayle 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 couÌtrey 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 coÌmyssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌsayle 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 amoÌge 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 quytaÌce Than aunswered the coÌmyssioners 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 WhanÌe they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌmyssion 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 coÌmyssioners 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 ââsynesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌsayle 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 cytâes townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌde 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 coÌmaundement 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 couÌsaylours 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 demauÌded 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 eâtendeth 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 coÌmyssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌt 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 coÌmaundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌce 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 coÌmaundement 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 commauÌdement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌmaundement 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
horse and rode to London and the erle of Derby abode styll with the lordes that daye and the nexte daye Thus they of Acquytayne coulde haue none expedicyon nor delyueraunce I Haue delyght to write this mater at length bycause to enfourme you of the trouthe for I that am auctour of this hystory was presente in all these maters and this valyaunt knyght syr Rycharde Surye shewed me euery thynge And so it was that on the sonday folowynge all suche as had ben there were departed and all their counsaylours except the duke of yorke who abode styll about the kynge and the lorde Thomas Percy and syr Rycharde Sury shewed my busynesse to the kynge Than the kynge desyred to se my booke that I had brought for hym So he sawe it in his chambre for I had layde it there redy on his bedde Whanne the Kynge opened it it pleased hym well for it was fayre enlumyned and written and couered with crymson veluet with ten botons of syluer and gylte and Roses of golde in the myddes with two great clapses gylte rychely wrought Than the kyng demaunded me wherof it treated and I shewed hym howe it treated of maters of loue wherof the kynge was gladde and loked in it and reed it in many places for he coulde speke and rede Frenche very well And he tooke it to a knyght of his chambre named sir Rycharde Creadon to beare it in to his secrete chambre And the same sonday I fell in acquayntaunce with a Squyer of Englande called Henry Castyde an honest man and a wyse and coude well speke Frenche He coÌpanyed with me bicause he sawe the kyng and other lordes made me good chere and also he had sene the boke that I gaue to the kynge Also sir Richarde Sury had shewed hym howe I was a maker of hystories Than he sayd to me as here after foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kyng Richarde had made in IrlaÌde and howe he brought in to his obeysaunce four kynges of that couÌtrey Cap. CC.ii. SIr Iohan quod he haue ye nat founde in the kynges courte sythe ye came hyder no man that hath tolde you of the voyage that the kyng made but late in to Irlande and in what maner the foure kynges of Irelande are come in to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande And I aunswered no. Than shall I shewe you ê the squyer to the entent that ye maye putte it in perpetuall memorie whan ye retourne in to your owne countrey and haue leysar therto I was reioysed of his wordes and thanked hym Than he began thus and sayd Sir Iohan it is nat in memorie that euer any kyng of Englande made suche appareyle and prouision for any iourney to make warre agaynst the yrisshmen nor suche a nombre of men of armes nor archers The kyng was a nyne monethes in the marchesse of Irelande to his great cost charge to the realme for they bare all his expeÌses And the marchauÌtes cyties and good townes of the realme thought it well bestowed whan they sawe the kynge retourne home agayne with honour The nombre that he had thyder getylmen and archers were foure thousande knyghtes and .xxx. thousande archers well payde wekely that euery manne was well pleased but I shewe you bycause ye shulde knowe the tronthe Irelande is one of the yuell countreis of the worlde to make warre vpon or to bring vnder subiection For it is closed strongely and wyldely with highe forestes and great waters and maresshes and places inhabytable It is harde to entre to do them of the countrey any doÌmage nor ye shall fynde no towne nor persone to speke with all For the men drawe to the woodes and dwell in caues and small cotagê vnder trees and among busshes and hedges lyke wylde sauage beestes And whan they knowe that any man maketh warre agaynst theÌ and is entred in to their couÌtreis than they drawe toguyder to the straytes and passages and defende it so that no man can entre in to theÌ And whan they se their tyme they wyll sone take their aduauntage on their enemyes for they knowe the countrey and are lyght people For a man of armes beyng neuer so well horsed and ron as fast as he can the yrisshe men wyll ryn a fote as faste as he and ouertake hym yea and leape vp vpon his horse behynde hym and drawe hym fro his horse for they are stronge men in the armes and haue sharpe weapons with large blades with two edges after the maner of darte heedes wherwith they wyll slee their enemy they repute nat a man deed tyll they haue cutte his throte and opyn his bely and taken out his herte and cary it awaye with theÌ some saye suche as knowe their nature that they do eate it and haue great delyte therin they take no man to raunsome And whanÌe they se at any encountre that they be ouermatched than they wyll departe a sonder and go and hyde theym selfe in busshes wodes hedges and caues so that no man shall finde theym Also syr Wylliam of Wyndsore who hath moste vsed the warres in those parties of any other englysshe man yet he coulde neuer lerne the maner of the countrey nor knowe their condycions They be herde people and of rude engen and wytte and of dyuers frequentacyons and vsage they sette nothyng by iolyte nor fresshe apparell nor by noblenesse for though their rleame be soueraynly gouerned by kynges wherof they haue plentie yet they wyll take no knowledge of gentylnesse but wyll contynewe in their rudenesse acordynge as they are brought vp Trouthe it is that foure of the princypall kynges and moste puyssaunt after the maner of the countrey are come to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande by loue and fayrenesse and nat by batayle nor constraynte The erle of Ormonde who marcheth vpon them hath taken great payne and hath so treated with them that they came to Duuelyn to the kynge and submytted them to hym to be vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande wherfore the kyng and all the realme reputeth this for a great and an honourable dede and thynketh this voyage well be stowed for kynge Edwarde of good memory dyd neuer so moche vpon them as kynge Rycharde dyde in this voyage The honour is great but the profite is but lytell For though they be kynges yet no man can deuyse nor speke of ruder personages I Shall shewe you somwhat of their rudenesse to the entente it maye be ensample agayne people of other nacyons I knowe it well for I haue proued it by them selues For whan they were at Duuelyn I hadde the gouernaunce of them about a moneth by the kynges commauudement and his counsayle to th entent that I shulde lerne them to vse them selfe accordyng to the vsage of Englande bycause I coulde speke their language as well as Frenche or Englysshe for in my youthe I was brought vp amonge theym I was with the erle of Ormonde
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thaÌ 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 theÌ to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst theÌ 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 whanÌe 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 ThanÌe 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 stroÌge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the geÌtylman 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 WyllmÌ 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 ThanÌe it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes haÌdes 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 IrelaÌde 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 coÌtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle coÌmaunded me to gyue attendauÌce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of EnglaÌde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of EnglaÌde 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 couÌtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause theÌ 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 coÌmen 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 obeysauÌce 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 couÌtre 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 theÌ to ryde after our vsage Andon a
tyme I demaunded theÌ of their beleue wherwith they were nat content and sayd howe they beleued on god and on the trynite aswell as we Than I demauÌded on what pope was their affection The aunswered me on hym of Rome ThanÌe I demaunded if they wolde nat gladly receyue the order of knyghthode and that the kyng of Englande shulde make theÌ knyghtes accordynge to the vsage of FrauÌce and Englande and other countreis they aunswered howe they were knyghtes all redye and that suffyced for theym I asked where they were made knyghtes and howe and whan They answered that in the age of seuyn yere they were made knyghtes in Irelande And that a kynge maketh his sonne a knyght and if the sonne haue no father alyue than the nexte of his blode maye make hym knyght And thanÌe this yonge knyght shall begyn to iuste with small speares suche as they maye beare with their case and rynne agaynst a shelde sette on a stake in the felde and the more speares that he breaketh the more he shal be honoured I knewe their maner well ynough though I dyde demauÌde it But than I sayd that the knighthode that they had taken in their youthe suffyced nat to the kynge of Englande But I sayde he shulde gyue theym after another maner They demaunded howe I aunswered that it shulde be in the holy churche whiche was the moost worthyest place Than they enclyned somewhat to my wordes Within two dayes after the erle of Ormonde came to theÌ who coude right well speke the langage for some of his landes laye in those parties He was sente to them by the kynge and his couÌsayle They all honoured hym and he them Than he fell in swete communycacion with them and he demaunded of them howe they lyked me They aunswered and sayde well for he hath well shewed vs the vsage of this countrey wherfore we ought to thanke him and so we do This aunswere pleased well the erle of Ormonde Than he entred lytell and lytell to speke of the order of chiualry whiche the kyng wolde they shulde receyue He shewed it them fro poynt to poynt howe they shulde behaue them selfe and what parteygned to knyghthode The erles wordes pleased moche these four kynges whose names were these Fyrst the great Ancle kyng of Mecte The seconde Brine of ThomoÌde kynge of Thomonde The thyrde Arthure of Mackequemur kynge of Lynster The fourthe Conhue kyng of Cheueno Darpe They were made knightes by kyng Richarde of Englande in the Cathedrall churche of Duuelyn dedycate of saynt Iohan Baptyst It was done on our lady day in Marche as than it fell on a Thursday These four kynges watched all the night before in the churche and the nexte daye at highe masse tyme with great soleÌpnyte they were made knightes and with them sir Thomas Orphen sir Ioatas Pado and sir Iohan Pado his cosyn These kynges sate that day at the table with kyng Rycharde They were regarded of many folkes bicause there behauyng was straunge to the maner of Englande and other countreis and euer naturally men desyre to se newelties Than I sir IohnÌ Froissart sayde Henry I beleue you well I wolde it had cost me largely that I had been there And surely this yere past I hadde come hyder and it hadde nat been for that I herde of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande whiche dyde lette me But one thynge I wolde desyre of you to knowe howe these four kynges of Irelande came so soone to the kynge of Englandes obeysaunce whan kynge Edwarde the kynges graunfather who was so valyaunt a prince and so redouted ouer all coude neuer subdue them nor putte them vnder and yet he had alwayes warre with theÌ and in that they are subdued nowe ye sayd it was by treatie and by the grace of god In dede the grace of god is good who so can haue it it is moche worthe But it is sene nowe a dayes that erthely princes getteth lytell wtout it be by puissauÌce I desyre to know this for whan I shall coÌe in to Heynalt of which countrey I am of I shal be examyned of this and many other thynges bothe by duke Aubert of Bauier erle of Heynalte of Holande and of zelande and also by his sonne WyllmÌ of Bauyere who writeth hym selfe lorde of Frese whiche is a great countrey and a puissaunt whiche couÌtrey the sayd duke and his sonne claymeth to haue by ryght successyon and so dyde their predecessours before them but the Fresons wolde neuer fall to any reason nor come vnder obeysauÌce nor as yet do nat vnto this day than answered sir Henry Christall sayd Sir Iohan to shewe you the very trouth I can nat but as many a one saythe it is to suppose that the great puissauÌce that the kyng had ouer with him and taryed there in their countrey nyne monethes and euery man well payed abasshed the yrisshe men Also the see was closed fro them on all partes wherby their lyueÌges and marchauÌdises myght nat entre in to their countreys thoughe they that dwell farre within the realme cared lytell for it for they knowe natte what marchaundyse meaneth nor they lyue but grosely and rudely like vnto beestes yet suche as lyueth on the marchesse of England and by the See coost vse feate of marchaundyse with vs and in to other places Kynge Edwarde of noble memorie in his tyme had to answere so many warres what in FrauÌce Bretayne Gascone and Scotlande so that his people were deuyded in dyuers places sore occupyed wherfore he coude nat sende no great nombre in to Irelande But whan the Irysshmen sawe the great nombre of men of warre that kyng Rycharde hadde in Irelande this laste iourney The yrisshmen aduysed them selfe and came to obeysauÌce And in dede of olde tyme there was a kyng in EnglaÌde named Edwarde who is a saynt and canonysed and honoured through all this realme In his tyme he subdued the Danes disconfyted them by batayle on the See thre tymes And this saint Edwarde kyng of Englande lorde of Irelande and of Acquitayn the yrisshmen loued and dredde hym moche more than any other kyng of Englande that had been before And therfore our souerayne lorde kyng Richarde this yere past whan he was in Irelande in all his armories and deuyses he lefte the beryng of the armes of Englande as the lybardes flour delyces quarterly and bare the armes of this saynt Edwarde that is a crosse patent golde and goules with four white martenettes in the felde wherof it was said the yrisshmen were well pleased and the soner they enclyned to hym For of trouthe the predecessours of these four kynges obeyed with faithe and homage to the sayd kyng Edwarde and they repute kynge Richarde a good man and of good coÌscience and so they haue done to hym faithe homage as they ought to do and in like maner as their predecessours soÌtyme dyde to saynt Edwarde Thus I haue shewed you
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌe it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌsydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌsayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌmaundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌmauÌded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌdred crownes of FraÌce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌde were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌde These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌe he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌde wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌtrary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌcastre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌtent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌcypall cause was bycause of FlauÌders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
swete and amyable letters to the freÌche king by a notable ambassade a bysshop and .ii. knightes of Hungry In the same letters was coÌteyned a great parte of the state and doyng of the great turke and how that he had sent worde to the kynge of Hungry that he wolde come and fight with hym in the myddes of his realme and wolde go fro thens to the cytie of Rome and wolde make his horse to eare otes vpon the high auter of saynt Peter and there to holde his see imperyall and wolde bringe the emperour of Constantyne the noble in his coÌpany and all the great barons of the realme of Grece and eche of theÌ to kepe styll their owne lawe for he desyred nothynge but the tytell and signorie Thus the kyng of HuÌgry in his letters prayed the Frenche kyng to entende to ayde and socour him and that this businesse in farre couÌtreis might he publisshed abrode to th entent that all knightes and squyers myght prouyde to come in to Hungry to resyst agaynst Lamorabaquy the great turke to th entent that Christendome shulde nat be violated by him and that his pride and bost myght be abated In these letters were conteygned many wordes of great loue as kynges cosyns write eche to other in case of necessyte And they were sente by suffycient personages who dyde so moche that the Frenche kynge enclyned his hert therto and was the gladder to sette forwarde the treatie of the mariage of his doughter to the kynge of Englande Than anone these newes of Hungry were publysshed abrode and written in to many countreis to moue the hertes of gentylmen knightes and squiers suche as wolde auaunce them to get honour The same season that these newes were brought to the kyng there was at Parys the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse and Iohan of Burgoyne their sonne heyre erle of Neuers who as than was no knyght and the lorde Guye of Tremoyle the lorde Wyllyam his brother and many lordes and other of the realme of Fraunce Than the duke of Burgoyne enclyned sore to this viage and specially that his sonÌe shulde enterprice the sayd voyage so he myght be chefe heed leader of the army that shulde go in that viage This Iohan of Burgoyne was but a yonge man of the age of .xxii. yeres Wyse curtesse tretable humble and welbeloued of knyghtes and squyers of Burgone and of other nacyons suche as knewe hym He had to wyfe the doughter of duke Aubert of Bauier erle of Heynalte Hollande and zelaÌde a good lady wyse and deuout and had two chyldren full lykely to come to great maryages One shewed this Iohan of Burgoyne howe the Frenche kyng wolde sende hym in this voyage in to Hungry to se what he wolde saye Than he sayd if it pleace the kynge and the duke my father to sende me as chiefe of this armye it shall please me ryght well for I haue great desyre to auaunce my selfe well sir quod they ye were best to speke with the duke youre father that he maye speke to the kynge for without his good wyll ye can do nothynge IT was nat long after but that this Iohan of Burgoyne spake to his father prayeng hym humbly to consent that he myght go in this voyage in to Hungry and at the same tyme there was by hym sir Guye and sir Wyllyam of Tremoyle and other they said to the duke Sir this request that your sonne maketh is but resonable for it is tyme he take the order of knighthode and more nobly he can nat take it than in goyng the iourney agaynst the enemyes of holy Churche And it the kynge wyll sende any personage in that voyage he can nat sende a more honorable man thanÌe his owne cosyn germayne your sonne and ye shall se many knyghtes go with hym as well for their owne auauÌcementes as for your loue Than the duke said well so be it I shall nat lette the good wyll of my sonne I shall speke to the kyng therin and shall se what answere he wyll make And anone after the duke spake to the kynge therin and the kynge incontynent enclyned therto and sayd howe it shulde be well done that he went and we wyll that he shall go and we wyll make hym as chefe of that iourney Than the tidyngê was shewed throughe all Parys and without that Iohan of Burgoyne with a great company of knyghtes shulde go in to Hungry to se the puyssaunce of the great Turke and that iourney atchyued thanne the Christen men to go to ConstaÌtyne the noble and to passe ouer the arme or saynt George and so to entre in to Surrey and to delyuer Hierusalem out of the panyms handes Than awaked suche knyghtes and squyers as desyred aduauncement Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe that his sonne shulde go in this voyage and that he shulde be chiefe of the army he honored than the more the ambassadours of Hungry who whan they sawe the kynges good wyll the dukes the Frenchmens they were gladde and toke their leaue of the kynge and of the other lordes of Fraunce and so retourned to their countrey and made relacyon to the kyng of Hungry howe they had spedde wherwith the kynge was greatly reioysed and made great prouisyon agaynst the coÌmynge of the Frenche men and sent these ambassadours to his brother the kyng of Almaigne to open his passages and also to his cosyn the duke of Austriche for throughe the straytes of Austryche he muste nedes passe And by all the wayes he caused great prouisyon of vitayle to be ordayned And also he wrote letters to the great mayster of Pruce and to the Rhodes Certifyeng them of the coÌmyng of Iohan of Burgoyne with a thousande knyghtes and squiers of valyant men to the entent to entre in to Turkey and to resyst the great bost of kyng Basant called the great turke IN this season the lorde Coucy was come to Parys and was but newlye retourned fro a voyage where he hadde ben a hole yere whiche was on the fronters of GeÌnes And there were certayne great men genowayes that had enformed the duke of Orlyaunce that the hoole Duchy of Geane desyred to haue to their chiefe lorde some noble persone discended of the lynage of the flour delyce And for as moche as the duke of Orlyaunce had wedded the doughter of the lorde of Myllaygne and that the lande and duchy of Geane shulde be ryght mete for hym at the duke of Orlyaunce instaunce the lorde of Coucy with thre huÌdred speares and fyue huÌdred cros bowes passed ouer in to Sauoye and to Pyemont by the accorde and consent of the erle of Sauoye and came in to Aste in Pyemont by the consent of the lorde of Myllayne and came to a cytie called Alexandria and so came to the fronters marchesse of the genowayes and there fell in treatie with them to know more playnly their enteÌcyons for êforce he coulde do nothyng without he
he was in wyl to do dedes of armes and that the turkes were on the felde haue gyuen knowlege before he assayled his enemyes to his hed capitayne the lorde Iohan of Burgoyne that he myght haue had the renome and honour of that enterprise Besemynge the erle of Ewe spake those wordes by enuy that he had to the lorde of Coucy for all that voyage he had no loue to him bycause he sawe howe the lorde of Coucy had the loue fauour of all his company and of other strauÌgers whiche he deserued ryght well to haue for he was ryght nere of the frenche Kynges blode and bare in his armes floure de lyces and also he was coÌstable of Fraunce Thus there engendred a great hate and yuell wyll couertly bytwene the erle of Ewe and the lorde Coucy whiche hatred at last apered clerely wherby great myschefe fell the same seasone vpon the crysten men as ye shall here after ¶ Nowe we we shall leaue to speke any more at this tyme of this mater and retourne to speke of the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the peace bytwen Englande and FrauÌce contynued and of the maryage of the kynge of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii YE haue herde here before of the mariage of the french kynges doughter with the kynge of England the whiche tyme aproched nere and bothe parties well wyllynge excepte duke Thomas of Gloucestre he was nothynge ioyfull therof for he sawe well that by that maryage there shulde be great confyderacyons and alyaunces bytwene the two kynges and their Realmes to lyue in peace whiche he was lothe to se for he desyred rather to haue warre The same season the duke had aboute hym a knyght called syr Iohan Baquegay a secrete man and he set alwayes the duke to haue warre The same seasone also the duke of Guerles came in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles and offred hym selfe to do any lawfull seruyce to the kynge that he myght do he was bounde therto by faythe and homage and he wolde gladly that the kynge shulde haue had watre rather than peace This duke and the duke of Lancastre had great coÌmunycacyon togyder of the voyage that the erle of Haynalt and the erle of Ostenaunt his sonne wolde make in to Frese The same tyme Fyerebrase of Vertayne was in Englande sente thyder fro the erle of Ostrenant to gette men of armes and archers to go in that voyage to Frese The erle of Derby was desyred to go in that voyage in aydinge of his cosyns of Heynalt The gentle erle hadde therto good affectyon and sayde howe he wolde ryght gladly go in that voyage so that it pleased the kynge and his father Whan the duke of Guerles came fyrst in to Englande the Duke of Lancastre demaunded of him what he thought of that voyage in to Frese He aunswered and sayd that it was a parylous voyage and the Frese was a countrey nat lyghtly to be wonne sayenge howe in tymes past there had been dyuers erles of Holande and Heynalte that haue claymed their right there and gone thyder to haue put them in subiectyon but they haue always lost their lyues there affyrmynge howe the fresons are people without honour and haue no mercy they prayse nor loue no lorde in the worlde they be so proude and also their countrey is stronge for they be enuyroned with the see and closed in with isses rockes and marysshes no man can tell howe to gouerne them but them selfe I haue ben desyred to go in that voyage but I wyll nat and I counsayle my cosyn your sonne the erle of Derby nat to entre in to that voyage it is no iourney for hym I thynke my fayre brother of Ostrenant wyll go for he hath great desyre therto and wyll haue a bande of haynowayes with hym it shall be an aduenture if euer they retourne Whiche wordes caused the Duke of Lancastre to thynke that his sonne shulde nat go in that voyage and so shewed his sonne his entente and badde hym delaye that mater for the kynge nor he wolde nat that he shulde go Thus the duke of Guerles dyd lette the ayde that the erle of Haynalte shulde haue had of the erle of Derby Many thought it was nat well counsayled nor yet for none of their honours The duke of Guetles all his lyfe naturally was Enuyous presumptuous and prouÌde yet for all that Fierebrase of Vertayn lette nat his sute to gette ayde and dyd so his dyligence that he gate knightes and squyers and a two hundred archers But the erle of Derby excused himselfe whiche excuse he was fayne to take in gree and sawe well that his wyll was good to go if the kynge and his father had nat been Than the kynge for the auauncement of his cosyns of Haynalte made to be ordeyned in the ryuer of Thamyse vesselles and shyppes for the men that shulde go in that voyage to Frese to aryue at Encuse a towne in the countie of Haynalt at the entre in to Holande This towne standeth on the see within twelue leages by water of the realme of Frese THe same season was sente in to Englande fro the frenche kynge the erle Valeran of saynt Powle with certayne artycles concernynge the treatie of the peace and with him was sent Robert the Hermyte whome the kynge of Englande was gladde to here speke The erle of saint Powle founde the kynge of Englande and his bretherne the erles of Brenne and of Huntyngdon and the duke of Lancastre the kynges vncles at the manour of Eltham The kynge receyued him ioyously and herde well his message and sayd to hym a parte Fayre brother of saynt Powle as to the treatie of peace bytwene me and my fayre father of Fraunce I am right well enclyned therto but I all alone canne nat promote that mater True it is my bretherne and my two vncles of LaÌcastre and yorke enclyne ryght well therto but I haue another vncle the duke of Gloucestre who is ryght paryllous and a marneylous man he letteth it as moche as he can and dothe what he canne to drawe the Londoners to his opynyon I feare me to make a rebellyon in my realme and that he shulde reyse the people agaynst me whiche is a great paryll for if the people of Englande ryse agayne agaynst me and haue myne vncle of Gloucestre on their parte and suche other barones and knyghtes of the realme as be of his opynion my realme were loste without remedy for myne vncle of Gloucestre is so secerte that no man canne knowe his mynde Syr quod the erle of saint Powle it behoueth you to wynne hym with fayre swete and louynge wordes and gyue hym great gyftes if he demaunde any thyng graunt it him this is the way wherby ye shall wynne him ye must flatter hym tyll the peace be made and that ye haue your wyfe brought hyther to you and that doone than ye maye take other counsayle
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 dauÌsynge 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 couÌtrey 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 coÌmaunded 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 godâirs 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
shulde nat be for their welthe but to their great doÌmage for the kynge was sore enformed against them Whan they had this warnynge they stopped their coÌmyng to the kyng and nat without good cause For they were shewed that if they came they shulde be in ieopardye of their lyues Whan the kynges counsayle sawe that therle and his sonÌe came nat they sayd to the kyng Sir nowe ye maye se whyder we dyde enforme you of the trouthe or nat ye maye se therle and his sonne disdayneth to serue you for they wyll nat come at youre coÌmaundement and that shall ye se if ye sende for them And I shall sende for them quod the kyng Than letters were written sente by notable messangers to therle to the lorde Henry Percy his son The content of the letters was that incontynent without delaye vpon the sight of those letters that they shulde come to the kyng and do their duetie as they were bounde to do These messangers iourneyed so longe that they came to fayre castell of the erles standyng on the fronter of Scotlande The messanger acquyted hym well in doynge of his message as he was coÌmauÌded Th erle reed his letters at length and than shewed them to his sonne Than they toke aduise to make the messanger good chere and to write agayn to the kynge in excusynge of them selfes howe they coulde nat come out of their countrey as at that tyme and howe that the kyng had men ynowe to acoÌplysshe his iourney besyde them The messangers retourned to the kynge and delyuered the erles lettre The kynge redde it the whiche answere was nothynge pleasaunt to the kynge nor to his counsayle and thanne for this cause and for other thynges that were layde to the Erles charge and to his sonnes they were openly banysshed the realme of Englande tyll the kyng dyd repeale them agayne This was publysshed through out all the cyties and good townes of Englande and specyally in London wherof the londoners had great marueyle nor they coulde nat knowe iustly for what cause it was for the erle and his sonne were reputed for noble and as valyaunt men as any within the realme Some sayd it coÌmeth by some of the kynges counsayle that hateth them whiche counsayle wyll distroy the kyng at last peraduenture the erle and his sonne haue spoken some wordes vpon the kynge and his counsayle for the yuell gouernynge of the realme coulde nat be herde though they said the trouth and for their true sayeng nowe they be punisshed but we thinke herafter they wyll be punysshed that nowe iudge them Thus the londoners and other spake of this mater The erle had a brother a valiaunt knight sir Thomas percy who had of a longe tyme done many noble seruyces to the kynge of Englande whan the erle knewe that he and his sonne were banysshed the realme he toke it for an vnreasonable punysshment without cause Than he sente for all his frendes in the countrey suche as he coulde get togyther for many of his lygnage were with the kynge to go in to Irelande The erle toke counsayle of them what was best to do sythe the kynge had banysshed hym without cause Than he was counsayled to sende in to the realme of Scotlande and to desyre the king there that he and his sonne might abyde peasably in Scotlande tyll the kynge of Englande were apeased of his dyspleasure Thus therle sent to kynge Robert of Scotlande and the kyng the erle Archambalt Duglas and the other lordes of Scotlande condiscendyd lyghtly to the erles desyre sent the erle worde howe they shulde be gladly receyued and also if they neded of fyue or syre hundred speares if they were signyfied of the tyme they shulde be redy to serue them This message pleased greatly the erle and his lygnage and so the erle taryed styll in his countrey amonge his frendes for kynge Rycharde and his counsayle had so moche to do in sorte season after that they had no layser to do any dyspleasure to the erle nor to his sonne as ye shall here after in this hystory KInge Rycharde thus beynge aboute Bristowe than the state generally of all men in Englande began to murmure and to ryse one agaynst another and mynystrynge of iustyce was clene stopped vp in all courtes of Englande wherof the valyaunt men and prelates who loued reste and peace and were glad to paye their duetyes were greatly abasshed for there rose in the realme companyes in dyuers rowtes kepynge the feldes and hygh wayes so that marchauntes durste nat ryde abrode to excercyse their marchaundyse for doute of robbynge and no man knewe to whome to coÌplayne to do them ryght reasone and iustyce whiche thynges were ryght preiudyciall and dyspleasaunt to the good people of Englande for it was contrary to their accustomable vsage for all people laborers and marchauntes in Englande were wonte to lyue in rest and peace and to occupy their marchaundyse peasably and the laborers to labour their landes quyetly and than it was contrary for whan marchauntes rode fro towne to towne with their marchaundyse and had outher golde or syluer in their purces it was taken fro them and fro other men and labourers out of their houses these companyons wolde take whete ootes bufes muttons porkes the pore men durste speke no worde these yuell dedes dayly multyplyed so that great complayntes and lamentacyons were made therof through out the realme and the good people sayde the tyme is chaunged vpon vs fro good to yuell euer sythe the dethe of good kynge Edwarde the thyrde in whose dayes iustyce was well kepte and mynystred In his dayes there was no man so hardy in Englande to take a hen or a chekyn or a shepe without he had payed trewly for it and nowâ a dayes all that we haue is taken fro vs and yet we dare nat speke these thinges canne nat longe endure but that Englande is lykely to be loste without recouery We haue a kynge nowe that wyll do nothyng he entendeth but to ydelnesse and to acomplysshe his pleasure and by that he sheweth he careth nat howe euery thynge gothe so he maye haue his wyll it were tyme to prouyde for remedy or els out enemyes wyll reioyse mocke vs our kynge hath sette his brother the erle of Huntyngdon at Calais therby peraduenture may be made some yuell treatie and bargayne for the towne of Calays with the frenche men and rendre in to their handes that thynge that is most necessary for the realme of Englande for if Calays were rendred to the Frenche men Englande was neuer so abasshed as it shulde be than and good cause why for than shulde be lost the chiefe key of Englande THus multyplyed the lamentacyons and murmurynge in Englande and the prelates and other ryche men of the realme came to London to dwell there to be in the better suretie They of the lygnages of suche lordes as the kynge had put to dethe and banisshed
brent and rased downe for they sawe well that it was nat to be kept seyng that it was so farr in Englande as it was Than the admyrall scottes rode towarde Auwike in the lande of the lorde Percy lodged there about brent certayne villages and so came to another castell of therle of NorthuÌberlandes standyng on the see syde but they assayled it nat for they knew well they shulde lese their payne And so they rode all about that fronter halfwaye bytwene Berwyke Newcastell on the ryuer of Tyne and there they vnderstode howe that the duke of LaÌcastre therle of NorthuÌberlande the erle of Notingham the lorde Neuell and the barons of those marches of NorthuÌberlande of the bysshoprikes of yorke Dyrham were comynge on them with a great power Whan thadmyrall of Fraunce knewe therof he was right ioy full and so were all the barons of FrauÌce that were in his coÌpany for they desyred to haue batayle but the scottes cared Iytell therfore there they were counsayled to returne againe towarde Berwyke bycause of their prouisyon that folowed them also to be nere their owne couÌtre and there to abyde for their ennemyes So thadmyrall beleued theÌ and returned towarde Berwyke wherof sir Thomas Redman was capitayne with hym right good men of armes So the french men and scottes lay before the towne but assayled it nat so passed by the next day and toke the waye to Burbourcke to retourne to their owne countrees Tidynges was brought anon in to EnglaÌde howe the freÌchmen scottes were in Northum berlaÌde distroyed and brent the couÌtre The kynge of Englande knewe rightwell before of their comynge wherfore the lordes were redy in the felde toke their way towarde the scottes Thenglysshmen had made that somer the grettest prouisyon that euer they made to go in to Scotlande bothe by lande water They had a .xxvi. vessels on the fee charged with êuision costyng the froÌters of Englande redy to entre in to euery hauen of Scotland And the kyng caÌe him selfe acoÌpanyed with his vncles therle of CaÌbridge sir ThoinÌs Holand Ther was also therle of Salisbury therle of AtuÌdell the yong erle of Penbroke the yong lorde SpeÌsar therle of Stafforde therle Mysien so many barons knightes that they were four M. speres besyde them that were before with the duke of LaÌcastre therle of NorthuÌberlaÌde therle therle of NotynghmÌ the lorde Lucy the lorde Neuell The lordes barons that were on before pursuyng the scottes were a two M. speares .xv. M. archers And the kynge the lordes were fyftie M. archers besyde varlettes The kyng folowed the duke of Lancastre so fast that he and all his host came in to the marches about yorke for on the way tidynges caÌe to the kyng howe that his people that were before were likely to fight with the scottes in the marches of NorthuÌberlande therfore he made the gretter hast so the kyng caÌe at last to sait IohnÌs of Beuerley in the marches of DyrhinÌ And ther tidynges came to the kyng how that the scottes were returned in to their owne countre so all the men of warre lodged about in the marches of NorthuÌberland ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of an adueÌture that fell in theÌglysshe hoost wherby that voyage was broken mortall warre bytwene certayne of the lordes ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ Hollande slewe sir Rycharde Stafforde howe therle of Stafforde came to the kyng to demaunde iustyce Cap. xii IN the marches of sait IohnÌ of Beuerley in the dyoces of yorke The kynge of England was lodged with a great nombre of erles barons and knightes for euery man lay as nere the kyng as they might and specially his two vncles ser Thomas Holande erle of Lien and sir Iohan Holande his brother In the kynges company there was a knyght of Boesme was come to se the quene of Englande and for loue of the quene the kyng and the lordes made hym good chere His name was sir Myles he was a fresshe lustye knight after the vsage of Almaygne And so it fortuned besyde a vyllage nere to sait Iohans of Beuerley that there fell wordes bitwene this knight two squyers of sir Iohan of Hollandes brother to the kynge and to the wordes there came two archers of sir Iohan Staffordes The wordes so multiplyed that the two archers toke parte with the straunger and blamed the two squyers sayng Sirs yedo wroÌge to medyll with this knight for ye knowe he is belongyng to the quene and of her countre ye ought rather to support him than otherwise Than one of the squyers sayd What enuyous knaue Hast thou to do thoughe I blame hym for his folly What haue I to do quod the archer I haue right well to do therwith for he is companyon to my mayster Therfore I wyll nat be in the place to suffre hym to receyue any villany yea quod the squyer if I thought thou woldest ayde hym agaynste me I wolde put this swerd through thy body made couÌtnauÌce as thoughe he wolde haue stryken him The archer stepped backe with his bowe whiche was redy bente And sette an arowe therin and drewe it vp and shotte agaynst the squyer that the arowe pearsed thoroughe body hart and so fell downe deed Whan the other squyer sawe his felowe deed he fledde awaye and sir Myles retourned to his lodgynge The two archers went to their maister and shewed hym all the aduenture Sir Richarde Stafforde sayde Thou hast done right yuell Sir quod the archer I coude do none otherwise without I wolde haue been slayne my selfe and I had rather haue slayne hym thaÌ he shulde haue slayne me Well quod sir Rycharde Go thy waye that thou be nat founde and I shall entreate for thy peace with sir Iohan of Holande by my father or by some other So the archer deêted TIdynges anone was brought to sir Iohan of Holande that an archer of sir Richarde Staffordes had slayne a squyer of his that man that he loued best in all the worlde and it was shewed hym the maner howe And that it was for the cause of sir Myles the strauÌger Whan sir Iohan of Holande was well enfourmed of this aduenture he was ryght sore displeased and sayd I shall neuer eate nor drike tyll it be reuenged Than he lepte on his horse and toke certayne of his men with hym and departed fro his owne lodgynge It was as than right late and so rode in to the feldes and enquered Where sir Myles was lodged It was shewed hym he was lodged in the reregarde with the erle of Deuurynters and therle of Stafforde Than sir Iohan Hollande toke the waye thyder warde and sought to fynde sir Myles And as he and his men rode vp downe amonge the hedges and busshes in a straite waye he mette at aduenture with sir Richarde Stafforde and bicause it was night he demauÌded who was there I am
the other a bocher the one called Roger de Creuyn and the other Iaques Dardenbourke âI these two persones the matter was first set a warke and with theÌ a wyse knight of Flaunders called sir Iohan Delle who tooke great payne therin But he nor all the knyghtes in FlauÌders coude neuer haue brought it to passe and it had nat ben by the meanes of these two persons This knight sir Iohan Delle was welbeloued in the towne of Gaunt and came and wente at his pleasure without any suspection These two forsayd êsons had great displeasure of this debateâ and spake priuely togyder therof And Roger said to Iaques Wyll there be no remedy fouÌde bytwene the towne of Gaunte in the whiche we were borne and is nowe in a harde case the duke of Burgoyn our naturall lorde It were a great almes dede to make a peaceâ they that so coude do shulde haue thanke of god great prayse of the worlde for by that meanes the trouble shulde be ceased for euer ye saye trouthe ê Iaques But it is a harde thynge to bringe about for Peter de Boyse is a paryllous man there is none dare speke of peace for feare of hiÌ Well ê Roger yet it can nat be alwayes thus at last it must nedes haue an ende Shewe me quod Iaques by what meanes it myght be I wyll gladly here you Than quod Roger ye be the chefe of all the bochery and moost beloued and dradde ye might secretely shewe your corage and entent to them that be your freÌdes and as ye se howe they enclyne ye maye speke further lytell and lytell And on the other syde I that am a maryner and beloued with all maner of men and I knowe some of their coragê howe that the warre displeaseth them for they haue great domage therby And I shall shewe my mynde to some who shall drawe other to the same purpose And if we maye gette these two craftes of our accorde the other craftes other good people suche as desyreth peace wyllnsone euclyne to vs. Well quod Iaques and I shall speke gladly to theÌ of my crafte and speke you to yours And as they deuysed so it was done ryght secretely and wisely so that by the grace of the Holygost Iaques Dardenboure fouÌde all tho of the bochery well enclyned to his wyll And Roger on his part by meanes of his fayre language founde the maryners ryght well agreed therto for their crafte was nere loste for lacke of vsage Hus these two wyse men shewed eche to other howe they founde their people disposed to haue peace Than they said howe they must haue some other sage persone to shewe all this matter to their lorde At last they remembred them of a knight called sir Iohan Dell and so they went to hym and discouered to hym all their ententes secretly and sayd Sir we haue laboured so moche to theÌ of our craftes that they be well enclyned to haue peace so that our lorde the duke of burgoyn wolde pardon them and to graunt vs our auÌcyent fraunchesses according to the tenours of our charters and bulles Than this sir Iohan sayd I shall gladly go and entreate hym And so this knight went out of the towne to the duke who was in FrauÌce with the kyng and he shewed hym all the forsaid mater dyd so moche with his fayre langage that the duke enclyned to here what he wolde saye And for the desyre that the duke had to make a voyage in to Englande the lightlyer he condiscended to haue peace with them of Gaunt And also his counsayle sir Guy de la Tremoyle and sir Iohan de Vyen and the constable and the lorde Coucy counsayled him to take peace with theÌ than the duke answered and sayd to sir IohnÌ Delle I am content to do in this mater as ye wyll deuyse and so retourne ye agayne to theÌ that sent you hyder And the duke demaunded of hym if Fraunces Atreman were a counsayle of this treatie or nat Sir quod he I thynke he knoweth nothynge therof he kepeth the Castell of Gaure and I knowe nat if they that sent me hider wolde that he shulde knowe it or nat Tell theÌ quod the duke that they speke hardely with him in the mater for I thynke he wyll nat be agaynst me for as I vnderstaÌde he desireth gretly to be at peace with me as the duke coÌmaunded so this knyght dyd and retourned to Gaunt brought these good tidyngê And than he went to the castell of Gaure to speke with Fraunces Atreman and discouered all his entent secretely to him And whan Fraunces had a lytell studyed merely he said And if my lorde the duke wyll pardon them of Gaunt and vpholde their frauncheses I shall nat be rebell agaynst hym but be right diligent to haue peace Than this knight departed fro hym and went agayne in to Fraunce to the duke and shewed hym all the mater The duke herde hym gladly and wrot letters open close sealed with his seale to theÌ of GauÌte And this knyght with those letters retourned in to Flaunders so came to GauÌt but he shewed nat the letters as than but he êmysed Roger and Iaques to accoÌplysshe their ententes Beholde nowe what êell this knight and they were in For if sir Iohan Bourchier and Peter de Boyse had knowen of the mater all the worlde shulde nat haue saued their lyues ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe these two foresayd burgesses assembled their frendes to accomplysshe their enterprise and sente sir Iohan Delle for the dukes letters of peace Cap. xix THanÌe Roger and Iaques said to sir IohnÌ Dell Sir ye shall come on monday nexte comyng in to this towne at nyne of the clocke and bringe with you the dukes letters and shewe them openly to the coÌmons of Gaunte wherby they shall gyue the more credence for by that houre we wyll be lordes of the towne or elles slayne in the quarell Well quod sir Iohan be it as ye saye and so ended their couÌsayle for that tyme And sir Iohan Delle went out of the towne to accomplysshe his purpose These other two wysemen studyed howe to bringe aboute their purpose and so spake with some of their frendes and aldermen of the craftes so that they had a great nombre of their accorde And determyned that on the nexte monday at nyne of the clocke they shulde departe out of their houses with the banner of FlauÌders before them Cryeng the Lyon of FlauÌders the lorde of the countrey hath gyuen peace to the good towne of Gaunte and hath pardoned clerely all trespasses For all this mater was sagely haÌdeled yet it came to the knowlege of Peter de Boise And as soone as he knewe therof he went streight to sir Iohan Bourchyer who was soueraygne capitayne there vnder the kyng of Englande and sayd to hym Roger Creuyn and Iaques DardeÌbourke wyll be to morowe by nyne of the clocke in the market
was made chefe ruler of all the meane Craftes in the towne of Gaunte whiche also was a great and a profytable offyce ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ Froyssart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and wente to the erle of Foiz and the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi IT is longe nowe sith I made any mencion of the busynesses of farre Countreis for the busynesses nerer home hath ben so fresshe that I lafte all other maters to write therof Howe be it all this season valyant men desyring to auauÌce them selfe on the realme of Castell and Portyngale In Gascoyne in Rouergue in Quercy in Lymosyn and in Bygore Euery day they ymagined by what subteltie they coulde gette one of another by dedes of armes or by stealyng of townes castels fortresses And therfore I IohnÌ Froyssart who haue taken on me to cronycle this present hystorie at the reqÌst of the highe renomed prince sir Guy of Chatellon erle of Bloyse lorde of Dauesnes Beauuoys Destonhon of la Guede my souerayne mayster good lorde CoÌsydring in my selfe howe there was no great dedes of armes likely towarde in the parties of Picardy or FlauÌders Seyng the peace was made bytwene the duke and them of Gaunt And it greatly anoyed me to be ydell for I knewe well that after my deth this noble and highe hystorie shulde haue his course wherin dyuers noble men shulde haue great pleasure and delyte And as yet I thaÌke god I haue vnderstandyng and remembrauÌce of all thynges passed and my wyt quicke and sharpe ynough to conceyue all thinges shewed vnto me touchyng my princypall mater my body as yet able to endure and to suffre payne All thynges coÌsydred I thought I wolde nat lette to pursue my sayde first purpose And to ââtent to knowe the trouthe of dedes done in ãâã countrieâ I founde occasion to go to the ââghe and mighty prince Gascone erle of Foiz and of Byerne for I knewe well that if I might haue that grace to come in to his house and to be there at leysar I coude nat be so well enformed to my purpose in none other place of the worlde for thyder resorted all maner of knightes and straÌge squyers for the great noblenes of the sayd erle and as I ymagined so I dyd And shewed to my redoubted lorde the Erle of Bloyes myne entent and he gaue me letters of recoÌmendacions to therle of Foiz And so rong I tode without parell or domage that I caÌe to his house called Ortaise in the couÌtre of Berne on saynt Katheryns day the yere of grace M. thre hundred fourscore and eight And the sayd erle as soone as he sawe me he made me good chere and smylyng sayd howe he knewe me yet he neuer sawe me before but he had often herde spekyng of me and so he reteyned me in his house to my great ease with the helpe of the letters of credence that I brought vnto hym so that I might tary there at my pleasure there I was enfourmed of the busynesse of the realmes of Castyle Portyngale Nauar and Aragon yea and of the realme of Englande couÌtre of Burbonoyse and Galcoyne And the erle him selfe if I dyd demaunde any thyng of him he dyde shewe me all that he knewe Sayenge to me howe thy storie that I had begon shulde hereafter be more praysed than any other and the reason he sayd why was this Howe that .l. yere passed there had been done more marueylous dedes of armes in the worlde than in thre hundred yere before that Thus was I in the court of the erle of Foiz well cherysshed and at my pleasure it was the thyng that I moost desyred to knewe newes as touchyng my mater And I had at my wyll lordes knightes squiers euer to enforme me and also the gentle erle hym self I shall nowe declare in fayre langage all that I was enfourmed of to encrease therby my mater and to gyue ensample to theÌ that lyste to auaunce them selfe Here before I haue recounted great dedes of armes takynge and sautynge townes and castelles and batayles and harde encountrynges and yet here after ye shall here of many mo the whiche by the grace of god I shall make iust narracion ye haue herde here before that whan the lorde Edmonde sonne to the kynge of Englande erle of Cambridge was deerted fro the realme of Portingale and had take shypping at Lustbourke and howe he had made câuânant that Iohan to recouer our herytage So thus we become byder paradueÌture nat so many as ye wrote for but suche as I haue here be of suche good wylles that they dare well abyde the aduenture of batayle agaynst all those that be nowe present with the erle of Tryslmate and surely we shall nat be content with you without we haue batayle Suche wordes or lyke the Erle of Cambridge shewed to the kyng of Portingale or he departed the whiche kyng herde theÌ well howe be it he neuer durste gyue batayle on the playne of Saluence whafic he was before the spaynierdes nor they of the countre wolde nat gyue hym counsayle therto but sayde to hym Sir the puyssaunce of the kyng of Castell is as nowe so great and that by fortune or mysad âenture that ye lese the âelde ye lese than youre realme for euer Wherfore it were better ye suffred than to do a thyng wherby ye shulde haue domage and parell And whan tâe erle of Cambridge sawe it wolde be none otherwyse Here tourned to Lusenborne and aparelled his shyppes and toke leaue of the kyng of Portyngale and so toke the see with his company wolde nat leaue Iohan his sonne in Portingale with the kyng nor with the lady that he shulde mary with all The chylde was but yonge and so thus the erle reteurned in to Englande Thus was the dealyng as than of the iourney in Portyngale THe erle of Cambridge retourned in to Englande on the maner as ye haue her de before and shewed his brother the Duke of Lancastre all the dealynge of kynge Ferant of Portyngale The duke was sorie therof for he sawe thereby that his conquest of Castell was farre of and also kyng Richarde of Englande had abouth hâm câuÌsayle that were nat after his apetyte and specially theâle of Orâforde who was chefe in the kinges fauour This erle dyd set as great trouble bytwene the kyng and his vncles as he might and said oftentymes to the kyng sir âfye wyll folowe the myndes of your vncles the duke of Lancastre the crle of Cambridge it shall well cost all the treasure in Englande about their warre in Spayne and yet they shall ceÌquere nothyng It were better for you to kepe your owne people and your money than to spende it abrode where as ye can gette no profyte and kepe and defende your owne he rytage wherin ye haue warâe on all sydes as well by Fraunce as by Scotlande rather than to enploy your tyme in
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 êteyneth 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 priÌcesse 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 WhanÌe 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 reâred the princesse who with a good hert desyred therle of Foiz to gyue her a gyfte Madame quod theâle 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 ârle 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 couÌtie 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 couÌtre he praysed it greatly aswell for the streÌgth 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 priÌce 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 coÌmaundement 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 FrauÌce 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 FrauÌce 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 rauÌsomed all the couÌtrey 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 huÌdred 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 thaââe at Panne He lyke a sage and a valyant knight called to hym two bastard bretherne of his ⪠called â Arnalt Guyllam and sir Pier de Bierne and sayd to them sirs I wyll ye ryde incontynent to Cassâeres 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 coÌmauÌdement 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 huÌdred men of armes and as sone as he came he caused barryers to be made rounde about the towne also barriers rouÌde 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 thanÌe 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 RaymoÌde 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 traÌkeâ 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 êteyninge to therle of Comynges on the other syde of the ryuer on the mouÌtayne 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 huÌdred 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 stroÌge 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 EnglaÌde 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 huÌdred men of warre caÌe 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
armes to be taken Cap. xxx THan agayne I demaunded of hym where Rambalt an expert squier and a great capitayne of meÌ of Warr was becoÌe bycause I sawe him ones in Auignon in great aray I shall shewe you quod the Bastot of Manlyon In tyme past whan sir Seguyn of Batefoyle helde Bride in Velay a ten myle fro Puy in Auuergne and that he had made warre in the countre conquered moche than he retourned in to Gascon gaue to Loyes RaÌbalt to another coÌpanyon of his called Lymosin Bride Anse on the water of SoÌme the countre as than was so desolate full of coÌpanyons in euery corner that noue durst go out of their houses bitwene Bride in Auuerne Anse is more than .xxvi. myle a couÌtre full of mouÌtayns and whan Loyes Rambalt wolde ryde for his pleasure fro Bride to Anse he rode without doute or feare for he helde dyuers fortresses in the countie of Forestes and therabout wher he refresshed hym For as thaÌ the gentylmen of Auuergne of Forestz of Velaye and the fronters were sore traueyled and ouer layde with the warre they were so taken and raunsomed that they doughted the warre For there was none of the great lordes of FrauÌce that sente any men of warre in to the couÌtre for the frenche kynge was yonge and had moche a do in dyuers êtes of the realme for in euery parte the companyoÌs and companyes rode and dyd moche hurte so that the realme coude nat be quyte of theÌ And also dyuers of the lordes of Fraunce were in Englande in hostage and in the meane season their countreys men were pylled and robbed and had no remedy for the men of the countre were without corage to defende themselfe And so it was that Rambalte and Lymosin who were companyons in armes fell out I shall shewe you howe LOyes Rambalte had at Bride a fayre woman to his louer whome he loued parfitely and whan he rode fro bride to Anse he coÌmaunded Lymosin to take good hede to her And Lymosin who was his companyon in armes and in whome he moost trusted he toke so good hede to the damosell that he had his pleasure of her whan he lyste so that Loyes Rambalte was enfourmed therof and he coude suffre it no lengar So that he toke suche a hate agaynst his companyon that he caused hym to be taken by his seruauntes made hym to be driuen all naked saue a breche about the towne and beaten with scourges and truÌpettê to be blowen before him And at certayne places his dede to be openly cryed than banisshed the towne lyke a treatour and in a symple cote putte out This dispyte dyd Loyes Rambalte to Lymosin whiche dispyte Lymosin toke greuously and sayd Howe he wolde be reueÌged if euer it laye in his power as he was anone after And this Lymosin whyle he was in prosperite in ridyng bytwene Bride and Anse he euer forbare the landes of the lorde of Voult dwellyng on the ryuer of Rone for he had serued him in his youthe Than he thought to go to hym and to crye hym mercy to desyre hym to make his peace in FrauÌce and so in his cote a fote he went to Voulte for he he knewe ryght well the way and so went in to a house whan he sawe his tyme he wente to the castell and the porter wolde nat suffre hym to entre but at last he spake so fayre that the porter dyde lette him in and coÌmaunded hym to go no farther in wtout he were coÌmaunded and he obeyed Whan the lorde was vp he went downe in to the court to sporte hym and so came to the gate Than Lymosin felle downe on his knees and sayde sir do ye nat knowe me by my faithe quod the lorde no He thought lytell it shulde haue been Lymosin and whan he had well aduysed hym he sayd Thou resemblest well Lymosin who was ones my seruaunt Sir quod he â Lymosyn I am and your seruaunt than he cryed him mercy for all thynges paste before and shewed hym fro poynt to poynt all his busynesse and howe Loyes Rambalte had dalte with hym at the ende Than the lorde sayd Lymosyn Is it as tho sayest and that thou wylte becoÌe good frenche I shall make thy peace By my faith sir quod he I neuer dyde so moche hurte to the realme of FrauÌce but I shall do agayne more êfyte therto that wolde I se gladly quod the lorde of Voult the lorde kept him in his house tyll he had made his peace in euery place and whaÌ Lymosin myght in suretie ryde than the lorde of Voult armed hym and brought hym to the seneshall of Velay and acquaynted hym there and ther he was examyned of the state of bride and of Loyes Rambalte and whan he rydeth what waye he taketh and than he sayd Whan Loyes rydeth he hath nat with him past a .xxx. or a .xl. speares and the wayes that he kepeth I knowe them by harte For with hym without hym I haue rydden them ofte tymes And sir if ye wyll sende forthe a company of men of armes on ieopardy of my heed ye shall haue him within fyftene dayes The capitayns ther toke hede to his sayeng and sent out spyes and Rambaulte was spyed as he was rydinge fro Bride to Anse besyde Lion on the ryuer of Rone Whan Lymosin knewe it he shewed it to the lorde of Voult and sayd Sir Loyes RaÌbalte is nowe at Anse and at his retournyng I shall bring you to a streight wher as he must nedes passe by Than the lorde of Voult made an assemble and was capitayne hymselfe and sente for the bayly of Velay the lorde of Mountelan sir Gerarde of Salyers and his sonne sir PlaÌseart of Vernet the lorde of Newcastell for other men of armes therabout so that he was a thre C. speares and they all assembled at Nonnay and by the couÌsaile of Lymosin they made two busshmentes the vicouÌt of Polygnac the lorde of Chalencon had the rule of the one and the lorde Voulte and the lorde of Mount Clan had the guydynge of the other busshment and with them sir Loyes of Tornon and the lorde of Salyers and they hadde equally deuyded their company The firste company kepte the pase nere to saynt Rambart in Forestes wher as Loyes Rambalte shulde passe the ryuer of Loyre or els he muste haue gone by Guyde or Pynne And whan Loyes Rambalt had done that he came for to Anse he departed with a .xl. speares and thought nat to haue any rencounter and douted nothynge of Lymosin it was the leest thought he had And lightely euer the way that he rode outwarde he wolde nat come homewarde And as he came outwarde he caÌe by saynt Rambalte and at his retourne he toke another waye toke the mountayns aboue Lyon and aboue Vyenne and vnder the Burge Darlentall And rode streyght towarde the Mounastier a thre lytell myle fro Puye
of Englande or out of Hungry or some other place and yesterdaye I came thens and suche thynges are fallen or suche other So thus the lorde of Corasse knewe by Orthon euery thynge that was done in any parte of the worlde And in this case he contynued a fyue yere and coude nat kepe his owne counsayle but at laste discouered it to the erle of Foiz I shall shewe you howe THe firste yere the lorde of Corasse came on a daye to Orthayse to the erle of Foiz and sayd to hym sir suche thynges are done in EnglaÌde or in Scotlande or in Almaygne or in any other countrey and euer the erle of Foiz founde his sayeng true and had great marueyle howe he shulde knowe suche thyngê so shortly And on a tyme therle of Foiz examyned hym so straitly that the lorde of Corase shewed hym all toguyder howe he knewe it and howe he came to hym firste Whan the Erle of Foiz herde that he was ioyfull and sayd Sir of Corasse kepe hym well in your loue I wolde I hadd suche a messangere He costeth you nothynge and ye knowe by hym euery thynge that is done in the worlde The knight answered and sayd sir that is true Thus the lorde of Corasse was serued with Orthon a long season I can nat saye if this Orthone hadde any mo maysters or nat But euery weke twyse or thrise he wolde come and vysite the lorde of Corasse and wolde shewe hym suche tidynges of any thyng that was fallen fro whens he came And euer the lorde of Corasse whan he knewe any thynge he wrote therof euer to the Erle of Foiz who had great ioy therof for he was the lorde of the worlde that moost desyred to here newes out of straunge places And on a tyme the lorde of Corasse was with the erle of Foiz and the erle demaunded of hym and said Sir of Corasse dyd ye euer as yet se your messangere Naye surely sir quod the knyght nor I neuer desyred it That is marueyle quod the Erle if I were as well acquaynted with hym as ye be I wolde haue desyred to haue sene hi wherfore I praye you desyre it of hym than to tell me whet forme and facyon he is of I haue herde you say howe he speketh as good gascone as outher you or I. Truely sir quod the knight so it is he speketh as well and as fayre as any of vs bothe do And surely sir sithe ye counsayle me I shall do my payne to se hym I can And so on a night as he lay in his bedde with the lady his wyfe who was so enured to here Orthon that she was no more afrayde of hym Than came Orthon and pulled the lord by the eare who was fast a slepe and therwith he awoke and asked who was theâ I am here quod Orthon Than he demauÌded fro whens comest thou nowe I come ê Orthon fro Prage in Boesme Howe farre is that hens quod the knyght A threscore dayes iourney quod Orthone and arte thou come thens so soone quod the knight ye truely quod Orthon I came as fast as the wynde or faster hast thou than wynges quod the knight Nay truely ê he Howe canste thou than flye so faste quod the knyght ye haue nothyng to do to knowe that quod Orthone No quod the knight I wolde gladly se the to knowe what forme thou arte of Well ê Orthon ye haue nothing to do to knowe it sufficeth you to here me I to shewe you tidyngê In faythe ê the knyght I wolde loue the moche better and I myght se the ones Well ê Orthone sir sithe ye haue so great desyre to seme the firste thynge that ye se to morowe whan yt ryse out of your bedde the same shal be I. that is sufficient quod the lorde Go thy way I gyue the leaue to departe for this nyght And the next mornynge the lorde rose and the lady his wyfe was so afrayd that she durst nat ryse but fayned her selfe sicke sayd she wolde nat ryse Her husbande wolde haue had her to haue rysen sir quod she than I shall se Orthone I wolde nat se him by my good wyll Well ê the knight I wolde gladly se hym and so he arose fayre and easely out of his bedde sat downe on his bedde syde wenyng to haue sene orthon in his owne êperforme but he sawe nothyng wherby he might saye Loyonder is Orthon So that daye passed and the nexte night came and whan the knyght was in his bedde orthon came and began to speke as he was accustomed Go thy waye quod the knight thou arte but alyer Thou promysest that I shulde haue sene the and it was nat so No quod he I shewed my selfe to the. that is nat so ê the lorde why ê Orthon whaÌ ye rose out of your bedde sawe you nothynge Than the lorde studyed a lytell and aduysed hymselfe well yes truely quod the knyght nowe I remembre me as I satte on my beddes syde thynkynge on the I sawe two strawes on the pauement tumblyng one vpon another That same was I ê Orthone in to that fourme I dyde put my selfe as than That is nat ynoughe to me quod the lorde I praye the putte thy selfe in to some other fourme that I maye better se and knowe the. Well ê Orthon ye wyll do so moche that ye wyll lese me and I go fro you for ye desyre to moch of me Naye quod the knyght thou shalte nat go fro me let me se the ones and I wyll desyre no more Well quod Orthone ye shall se me to morowe take hede the firste thynge that ye se after ye be out of your chaÌbre it shal be I. Well quod the knight I am than coÌtent go thy way lette me slepe And so Orthone departed and the nexte mornynge the lorde a rose and yssued out of his chambre and went to a wyndowe loked downe in to the courte of the castell and caste about his eyen And the firste thynge he sawe was a Sowe the greattest that euer he sawe and she semed to be so leane and yuell fauoured that there was nothyng on her but the skynne the bones with long eares and a longe leane snout The lorde of Corasse had marueyle of that leane Sowe and was wery of the sight of her and coÌmaunded his men to fetche his houndes and sayd Lette the dogges hunt her to dethe and deuoure her His seruauntes opyned the kenelles and lette out his houndes and dyde sette them on this sowe And at the laste the sowe made a great crye and loked vp to the lorde of Corasse as he loked out at a wyndowe and so sodaynely vanysshed awaye no man wyste howe Than the lorde of Corasse entred in to his chambre right pensyue than he remembred hym of Orthon his messangere and sayd I repent me that I sette my houÌdes on hym It is an aduenture and euer I here any more of hym for he sayd
his counsayle was to take the see at Sluse so to entre in to englande to distroy the countrey they that were ryche men in the royalme of frauÌce to the ayde of this voyage were taxed tayled to the .iii. .iii. parte oâ theyr goodes many payde more theÌ they were worth besyde to accoÌplysshe the payment for men of warre FRo Spayne fro the porte of sybyll to Pruce there was no grete shyp on the see that the frensshmen coulde lay theyr handes on nor vnder theyr owne obeysaunce but were reteyned for the frensshe kynge his men prouysyon came fro al partyes aryued in flaunders both wyne salte flesshe hay in tonnes otes ony on s bysket floure egges in pypes of al maner of thynges that coulde be deuysed so that in tyme to come it coulde not be byleued but by theÌ that sawe it lordes knyghtes squyers men of war were wryten vnto desyred to come serue the kyng in his iourney as out of Sauoy Almayne fro yâ sone goynge downe to the lande of the erle of Amynacke so these lordes of farre countreys as the erle of Sauoy was reteyned with .v. C. speres also the erle of armynacke the dolphyn of Awuergne these lordes thoughe they were of farre couÌtreys knew not what ende this warre sholde come to yet they made theyr êuysyons so grete costly that it was gret meruayle to thynke therof it was wonder to consyder fro whens all suche prouysyon came what by lande by see in to flauÌders as to bruges to dan to Sluse so there was sent for in to HolaÌde zelande meldebourge zerechyel dourdrest stonehone to all other townes on the see coost to the ryuers entryng in to the see for al maner of shyppes that coulde do ony seruyce al were brought to Sluse but the holanders the zelanders sayd to theÌ that reteyned theÌ yf ye wyâ haue our seruyce pay vs our wages clerely or elles we wyl go to no parte so they were payde wherin they dyd wysely I trowe syth god created the worlde there was neuer sene so many grete shyppes togyder as was that yere at sluse at Blanquerge âor in the moneth of septeÌbre in the sayd yere they were nobred a .xii. C. lxxx.vii shyppes at Sluse there mastes semed in the se lyke a grete wood the coÌstable of Fraunce shyp was apparelled at Lentregmer in bretaygne also the coÌstable caused to be made in bretaygne of tymbre a closure of a towne or lyke a parke that wheÌ they had takeÌ lande in englade to close in theyr felde to lodge theriÌ more at theyr case wtout waking or skries wheÌsoeuer they sholde remoue theyr felde yâ closure was so made that they myght take it a sonder in peces a grete nombre of carpeÌters other receyned in wages to atende thereon I herde not that the duke of bretaygne made ony prouysyoÌ to go in this iourney nor the duke of Tourayne the kynges yonger broder nor the erle of Bloys al myght not go for some must abyde behynde to kepe the royalme WHo so had ben yâ seasoÌ at bruges at dan or at sluse sene the busynes there in chargynge of shyppes with hay sackyng of bysket ladyng in of onyons peson benes barley candelles hosen shoos spurres knyues daggers axes of war axes to hew wtal mattockes nayles beddes couches horseshoos pottes paÌnes caÌdelstyckes al maner of necessaryes for kechyn botery al other oââyces of euery thyng that coulde be thought of necessary to serue maÌ horse al was had in to shyppes in one thyng or other who so euer had sene it if he had ben seke I thynke he wolde clene haue forgoten al the payne the coÌpanyons of frauÌce rekened none otherwyse amonge theÌselfe wheÌ they spake togyder but that the royalme of englaÌde sholde clene haue ben lost exyled wtout recouery al the men women chyldreÌ therin slayne taken caryed in to frauÌce in seruytude OF this grete apparel thus made to come in to englande the kyng of englaÌde his couÌsayle were wel enfourmed therof it was surely affyrmed that the fensshmeÌ wolde come thyder for so they had surely sworne it was no meruayle though this grete apparel somwhat at the begynnyng abasshed the englysshmeÌ also yâ matter was shewed moche more then it was in dede also that englysshmen were in no sure cerâaynte whether this preparacyon was to come in to Englande or elles to lay syege to Caleys bothe by lande by see for the englysshmeÌ knewe wel that of all the townes in the worlde the frensshmen most desyred to haue caleys wherfore the kyng of englande sent to Caleys grete prouisyon of whete other cornes salte flesshe fysshe wyne bere other thynges and thyder was sent syr Thomas HolaÌde erle of kente syr Hughe Caurell syr wyllyaÌ Helman syr Dangouses syr water of Vurnes syr Water paulle syr WyllyaÌ Toucet syr Loys of Mountalban syr Colars of DaÌbrychcourte .v. C. men of armes .v. C. archers the erle Rycharde of AruÌdel syr Henry spenser were ordeyned to kepe the see with .xl. greteshyppes wel decked with men of armes archers to the nombre of CCC men of armes .vi. C. archers ON the other syde it was sayd in dyuers places in fraunce in haynalte in pycardy that the freÌsshe armye that was thus apparelled in flauders was nother to go in to englande nor to Calays but rather to retourne al the matter set on the towne of Gaunte as it was enfourmed the towne of Gaunte yâ same season doubted gretely that all the apparell was for to come on theÌ but they were in a wronge byleue for the duke of Borgoyne theyr lorde wolde nothyng to theÌ but good rest peas thoughe that Frauncis Atreman were slayne anone after the makyng of the peas at Tournay for of his deth the duke was nothyng to blame nor the duke had none euyll wyl to hym though in the season of war he dyd many feates of armes for the towne agayÌst the duke as it hath ben declared more playnly here before for though he came to an euyl ende it was his owne defaulte for if he had byleued Peter du boys it had ben otherwyse with hym for when the peas was made bytwene the duke of Borgoyne them of Gaunt when he retourned fro Tournay to Gaunt that Peter du boys made hym redy to go in to Englande with syr IohnÌ Bourser then Peter sayd to hym FrauÌcis what wyll ye do wyl ye go in to Englande with vs then he sayd he wolde abyde styll in Gaunt why sayd Peter thynke you to abyde here in peas there is grete hatred agaynst you me I wyll abyde for nothynge here it is not to tryst in the comontye ye haue herde how they of Gaunt slue murdred the valyaunt Iaques of Artuell
englande suche lyght companyons in comfortynge of themselfe of them that were abasshed sayd let these frensshmen come there shall not one tayle of them retourne agayne in to fraunce suche persones as were in det cared not for the payment therof were gretely reioysed of the comynge of the frensshmen wolde say to theyr credytours when they demaunded theyr det syrs holde you styll they forge in FrauÌce new floreyns wherwith ye shall be payde and in the trust therof they lyued and spente largely and wheÌ they myght not be trusted they wolde say what wolde ye haue of vs It were better for you that we sholde spende frely the goodes of this royalme rather theÌ the frensshmen sholde fynde it haue it and so by that meanes there was spente in outrage in Englande a M. pouÌde sterlynge IN this season the kyng of englaÌde was in the marches walles with hym the erle of Oxenforde by whom euery thynge was done in englaÌde wtout hym nothyng done chefe of the kynges couÌsayle were syr Symon Burle syr Nicholas braule syr Robert tauylyon syr Robert beauchamp syr IohnÌ salwen syr mychel de la polle also there was named the bysshop of Norwyche syr wyllyaÌ Neuell broder to the lorde Neuel al these as it was sayd dyd with the kyng what they lyst as for the kynges vncles the erle of Cambrydge the erle of BuckynghaÌ coulde do nothyng wtout it were agreable to the other before sayd this trouble differeÌce amoÌge theÌselfe was well knowen in frauÌce whiche gretly auaunced theyr iourney they wolde haue had the duke of LaÌcastre to haue withdraweÌ his iourney out of Castell but he toke no hede therof to let his voyage wheÌ the lordes of englaÌde the prelates the people of the good townes cytees comons of the royalme were iustly credybly enfourmed how the frensshe kyng was redy to come in to englande to dystroy it then they drew togider to couÌsayle theÌ the kyng was wryten vnto by his vncles that he sholde come to LondoÌ certefyeng hym how the comons of his royalme were not coÌtent with hyÌ nor his counsayle the kyng his counsayle wolde not refuse the goyng thyder but so departed for the marches of wales where they had ben long the quene also so came to Wyndesore there taryed a certayne dayes then the kyng lefte there the quene so went to Westmynstre to his palace and there taryed thyder came to hym al suche as had to do there they toke couÌsayle how they sholde be demeaned agaynst this iourney of the frensshe kyng then the erle of Salysbury who was a ryght valyaunt prudent knyght sayd before the kyng his vncles before al the prelates lordes of englande that were there pÌsent syr my souerayn lorde al ye my lordes other it ought not to be meruayled of our aduersary the frensshe kyng wyll come ryn vpoÌ vs for syth the deth of the last noble puyssaunt kyng Edward of noble memory this royalme here hath ben in gret adueÌture to haue ben lost dystroyed with the vyllaynes of yâ same also it is well knowen in fraunce how we be not al of one accorde wherfore this trouble appereth the whiche is not lytel for he is but a foole that fereth not his enemyes as longe as the royalme of Englande was in vnyte the kyng with his people they with hym theÌ we prospered reygned vyctoryously nor we sawe nor founde none that dyd vs ony grete wronge wherfore it is now nedeful neuer more nede apperd in englande that we coÌferme ourselfe to rest loue vnyte if we thynke to come to ony honour that we ordeyne at the portes hauens of englande suche prouysyon defence that our countrey receyue no blame nor domage THis noble royalme of Englande hath ben a loâgâ season in tryuÌphaunt floure euery man knoweth well a thynge that is in floure hath more nede to be wel kepte theÌ wheÌ it is tourned to parfyte fruyte therfore we ought to se coÌsyder how this royalme is in his flourysshynge floure for within this .xl. yeres knyghtes squyers therof bothe within the royalme wtout haue had more honoure then ony other nacyoÌ therfore let vs put to our paynes that as long as we lyue we may kepe this honour theÌ euery maÌ sayd that it were good that it wereso The erle of salysburies wordes were wel herde accepted as the wordes counsayle of a noble valyaunt sage knyght all that was sayd by hym deuysed among theÌ I wyl not long rest theron for I thynke not to know al but I know wel that the towne of Caleys was kepte as I sayd before they ordeyned to kepe the hauyns portes where as they supposed that the frensshmeÌ wolde aryue the erle of salysbury bycause parte of his lande marched nere to the yle of wyght whiche is ryght oueragaynst Normandy the couÌtrey of âaulx therfore he was set there with his meÌ archers of yâ countrey the erle of deuynshyre to be at Hampton with CC. men of armes .vi. C. archers to kepe the hauyn the erle of NorthuÌbrelande at Rye with CC. meÌ of armes .vi. C. archers the erle of CaÌbrydge at douer with .v. C. meÌ o farmes .xii. C archers his broder the erle of BuckynghaÌ at SaÌdwyche with .vi. C. meÌ of armes .xii. C. archers the erle of stafforde the erle of penbroke were sent to Or wel hauyn with .v. C. meÌ of armes .xii. C. archers syr henry percy faulx percy were at yarmouth with .iii. C. meÌ of armes .vi. C. archers syr Symon burle was capytayne of Douer caââel al the hauyns portes bytwene the ryuer of Humbre Cornewal were refresshed with meÌ of war archers on the mouÌtaynes hylles costyng the see on the fronters agaynst flauÌders frauÌce were set watche meÌ watchers in dyuers maners I caÌ not tel how they had empty pypes fylled with saÌde one set on another on the hyght of theÌ were places for meÌ to syr on whiche nyght day kepte watche lokynge in to the see they were charged that yf they saw the frensshe nauy aproche towarde the laÌde theÌ to make fyers alofte on the hylles to styre the couÌtrey to drawe to the coost where the fyers apered it was ordeyned that they sholde suffre the frensshe kyng peasybly to take lande al his to suffre hym to entre in to the laÌde a .iii. or .iiii dayes so theÌ fyrst to go to the see where he landed to fyght with the shyppes to wyn them yf they colde to dystroy theÌ take al theyr prouysyon thâââ folow the frensshâeÌ not incoÌtyneÌt to fyght with theÌ but to hary theÌ to kepe theÌ wakynge to kepe theÌ fro
the assaulte we wolde yelde vs to you in the name of the duke of Lancastre of my lady CustauÌce lyke maner as other townes in Galyce haue done and shall do and yf ye well haue ony prouysyon out of our towne ye shall haue ryght courteysly to refresshe you but with an army there shall none entre This is the treaty that we wyll desyre the marshall then answered sayd I am agreed to vpholde all that ye demaunde but I wyll ordeyne you a good capytayne to defende you and to counsayle you in all your busynes then they answered sayd wel syr we are content therwith so the assaulte seased the marshall syr you Fythwaren the lorde âalbot syr IohnÌ Aburnell the lorde Popnynges syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourre certayne other knyghtes entred in to the towne to refresshe them and there taryed al the day they that were without had brede wyne other vytayles ynoughe out of the towne thus after the takynge of the towne of Dyghos in Galyce that the lordes were well refresshed then the marshall set there a capytayne asquyer of Englande called thomas Albery a sage man a valyaunt and .xii. archers with hym and then the marshall departed and entred in to the couÌtrey of Galyce costynge Spayne and the mountaynes of Castell to come to a grete towne called Bayon in the Maroll when they were a ii myle thens they lodged and the nexte day in good aâaye they came nere to the towne then deuyded them in two bataylles and sent an heâaulte of armes to them of the towne to knowe what they wolde do and whyder they wolde come to obeysaunce without assaylynge or no The heraulte came to the barryers and there founde a grete nombre of the vyllaynes euyll harneysed and sayd to them in theyr language the heraulte was of Portyngale and was called Connymbres syrs among you in this towne what thynge thynke you to doo wyll ye be assayled or elles yelde you be vnder the obey âaunce of my lorde the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the marshall hath sent me hyder to knowe what ye wyll do then the men of the towne drewe to counsayle and began to murmure and sayd one to another what shall we do yelde ourselfe symply or defende vs then an auncyent man who had sene moo then many other sayd syrs it is nedeful to take shorte counsayle the englysshmen do vs grete courtesy syth they suffre vs to take counsayle ye se well there appereth none ayde fro no parte to comforte vs also the kynge of Castell knoweth wel what case we stande in and hath done euer syth the duke of Lancastre aryued fyrst at Coulongne and he prouydeth nothynge for vs nor is not aboute to prouyde yf we suffre to be assayled it is of trouth this towne is grete in cyrcute of small defence it wyl be harde for vs to attende to euery place the englysshmen are subtyll in warre and wyll do moche payne to wyn vs in tryâ of pyllage for they be couetous and so be all men of warre and this towne is reputed to be more rycher then it is in deed wherfore I wolde counsayle you for the best to put ourselfe and towne vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of the duches let vs not be so rebel to cause our selfe to be taken perforce syth we maye come to peas by a meane this is the counsayle that I gyue you then al the other answered and sayd we wyl do thus we byleue you for ye are a maÌ in this towne of grete parage and may do moche And we desyre you to make the answere to the heraulte with a good wyll sayd he but it were reason ye gaue the heraulte a rewarde he wyll do vs the more courtesye reporte good of vs to the lordes that sente hym hyder ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded them to the duke of Lancastre and how the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and toke possessyon therof Ca. liii THen this auÌcyent maÌ came to the heraulte sayd Syr retourne to your maysters that sente you hyder saye to them fro vs that we wyl amyably put vs vnder the obeysaunce of my lorde the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches his wyfe in lyke maner fourme as other townes in Galyce haue done and wyll do and we pray you to be our frende and we wyll gyue you .xx. moryskes of golde when the heraulte herde hym say so he sayd where be the floreyns there they dyd gyue them to hym and so he retourned to his lordes then the marshal demauÌded of hym what tydynges what saye yonder vyllaynes wyll they be assayled nay truely syr sayd the heraulte they haue no wyll therto but haue sayd to me that ye sholde come thyder they wyll amyably receyue you and put themselfe clerely vnder the obeysaunce of my lorde the duke of my lady the duches as other townes haue done well sayd the marshall so be it it is better for vs this treaty then the saulte at the leest our men shall not be hurte Then the marshall with all his company came to the towne lyghted on foote at the barryers he founde moche people of the towne but all theyr armure was not worth .x. frankes there they were to see the Engglysshmen and there was the auncyent man to make theyr treatye as soone as the heraulte sawe hym he sayd vnto the duke ¶ Syr speke vnto yonder auncyent man who maketh courtesye to you for he hathe the auctoryte of the towne in his handes then the marshall stepte forth and sayd syr what saye you what wyll ye do wyll ye yelde you to my lorde of Lancastre and to my lady as to your souerayne lorde and lady ye syr sayd he we yelde vs to you in the name of them and put this towne vnder theyr obeysaunce as other townes in Galyce haue done and yf it please you to entre in to the towne ye shall be welcome paynge for prouysyon yf ye take ony wel sayd the marshall it suffyseth we wyll nothyng but obeysaunce loue of the countrey but ye shall swere that yf the kyng of Castel come hyderor sende hyder that ye kepe you agaynst hyÌ his alyes then they answered sayd syr we wyl swere it with good wyll yf he come hyder with puyssaunce or sende we shal close our towne agaynst hym sende you worde therof and yf be stronger than he we wyll abyde styll vnder you for ye shall fynde in vs no maner offrawde That is ynoughe sayd the marshal I aske no better or it be a yere to an ende the matter shal be determyned for the herytage and crowne of Castell of Spayne of Cordewayne of Galyce and of Syuyll shal abyde with hym that is strongest for there shall be sene in these countreys or the ende of August many dedes of armes done as grete an armye
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâwyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of âur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌdynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ without to syr IohnÌ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre and they were agaynst hym and all this varyaunce dyd ryse by the meanes of the duke of Irelande who bare all the chefe rule aboute the kynge and the comons of Englande in dyuers cytees knewe well of this dyscorde they that were sage men reputed it for a grete euyl and fered that moche trouble sholde growe therby but suche as were lyght persones made noo rekenynge therof some sayenge that it was for enuye that the kynges vncles hadde agaynst the kynge theyr nephewe and bycause they sawe howe the crowne of Englande began to growe farre of frome them and some other sayd how the kynge was but yonge and byleued yonge counsayle and howe that it were better for hym to byleue hys vncles who mente noo thynge to hym but al honoure and proâyte nor to the royalme of Englande rather then to be ruled by the prowde duke of Irelande who neuer sawe ony thynge perteynynge to honoure nor neuer was in ony batayle Thus euery man dyffered from other in the royalme of Englande Whiche trybulacyons were well knowen in Fraunce wherfore they made this grete prouysyon to goo thyder with all theyr puyssaunce thynkynge to doo a grete feate on the other syde the prelates of englande were in hatred one with another as the archebysshop of Cauntorbury who was of the Neuelles blood with the archebysshop of yorke And yet they were countrey men borne but they hated mortally eche other bycause the lorde Neuell hadde the rule and gouernaunce of Northumbrelande and soo to the marches of Skotlande aboue the erle of Northumbrelande and his chyldren the lorde Henry and the lorde Raffe of Percy whiche rule the lorde Neuelles broder had gotten hym for he was one of the chefe aboute the kynge with the duke of Irelande ¶ Of the grete dyscordes that were in Englande after the brekynge vp of the Frensshe armye armye and how the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the comons of the good townes to make accomptes of suche money as was come in to theyr handes the season that they ruled Ca. lxxxii AS sone as the englysshmen knewe that the voyage by the see that the frensshmen sholde haue made beynge at Sluse was dasshed and broken Then in Englande began dyuers murmuracyons in sundry places and suche as loued euyll rule rather then good sayd Where be nowe these grete entrepryses and these valyaunt men of englande that were in the dayes of kynge Edwarde the thyrde and with the prynce his sone we were wonte to go in to Fraunce and put backe our enemyes in suche maner that none durst make batayle with vs yf they dydde they were soone dyscomfyted O What a dede was that when the noble kynge Edwarde aryued in Normandy and in Constantyne and passed thrugh the royalme of Fraunce and what goodly entrepryse he acheued in his waye and after at Cressy he dyscomfyted kynge Phylyp and all the puyssaunce of Fraunce and or he retourned he wan the towne of Calays But as nowe the knyghtes and men of warre in Englande doo none suche feates ¶ Also the prynce of Wales sone to this noble kynge dyd he not take the Frensshe kynge IohnÌ and dyscomfyted his pyssaunce at Poycters with a smal nombre of people agaynste the people that kynge IohnÌ hadde In those dayes Englande was fered and doubted and were spoken of thrughe al the worlde for the floure of chyualry but as nowe no man speketh of vs for nowe there is noo warre made but at poore mennes purses therto euery man is enclyned in Fraunce as nowe the kynge there is but a chylde and yet he hath done more agaynst vs then ony of his predecessours And also he shewed grete courage to haue come in to Englande the lette therof was not by hym but by his men The tyme hath ben sene that yf suche an apparell of shyppes had ben made at Sluse they sholde haue ben foughten withall in theyr owne hauen and nowe the noble men of Englande are ioyfull when they maye sytre at rest and suffre them in peas but yet for all that they suffre not poore men to be in rest but put them to busynes to paye money The tyme hath ben that grete conquestes haue ben done in fraunce without payenge of ony money but suche ryches as hath ben gotten there it hath ben spred abrode in the royalme where is become the grete fynaunces and tayles that hath ben gadered in this royalme with the kynges rentes and accostomed reuenues outher they haue lost it or taken fro them it is behouable that it be knowen howe the royalme of Englande is gouerned and howe the kynge is ledde it were not good that it sholde be longe or it were knowen for this royalme of Englande is not soo ryche nor so puyssaunt to bere lyke charges as the royalme of Fraunce dothe ¶ Also it appereth wel that we in this royalme of englande are febled of wyttes and of grace We were wonte to knowe euery thynge that was done in Fraunce a thre or foure monethes or the case fell wherby we myght conuenyently make prouysyon and resystence but as nowe we knowe noo thynge But the Frensshe men knoweth all our secretes and counsayles we cannot tell in whome is the fawte it wyll be knowen vpon a daye There be some preuy traytours and it were better it were knowen betymes then to late for it maye be knowen soo laâe that it wyll be past remedy THus dyuersely men talked in Englande as well knyghtes and squyers as the comons soo that the royalme laye in a harde case and grete peryll And the grete assembly that the kyng and his vncles and his counsayle hadde made with grete expence in dyuers maners to resyst the frensshe kynge beynge a Sluse redy to entre in to Englande suche knyghtes and squyers and other as were in a redynes wolde as then be payde of theyr wages and so for that entente there was a parlyamente somoned to be holden at London by the nobles prelates and comons of Englonde and pryncypally it was ordeyned that there sholde be reysed a grete tayle and subsydye thrughe out the royalme of Englande the ryche to bere out the poore This parlyament was remoued to westmynstre and thyder came all suche as were sente for and many moo to here tydynges ¶ There was the kynge and his two vncles Edmunde and Thomas with many other nobles of the royalme And amonge other thynges yt was sayd that in the kynges treasoure there was substaunce skante to maynteyne the kynges estate soberly Wherfore they of his counsayle sayd howe there must be leuyed a subsydye thrughe out all the royalme of Englande yf suche costes and charges sholde be payde as hathe ben done for the defence of the royalme of englande agaynst the frensshe men To this agreed well they of the bysshopryche of Norwyche and also the archebysshopryche of Cauntorbury and the countye of Essex the countye of Hampton and
Warwykeshyre and the lande of the erle of Salysbury they agreed soner then they of ferther countreys as they of the north and marches of Wales and of Cornewall al these rebelled and sayd We haue not sene none of our enemyes come in to this countrey why sholde we be greued and haue done no fawte yes yes sayd some let the bysshop of yorke be spoken withall and the kynges counsayle and the duke of Irelande who hathe .lx. thousande frankes of the constable of fraunce for the redempcyon of Iohan of Bretayne this money ought to be tourned to the comon profyte of all Englande ye and speke with syr Symon Burle Syr Wyllyam Helmen Syr Thomas Branbe Syr Robert Tryuylyen and syr Iohan Beauchampe who haue gouerned the kynge and the royalme yf they make a good accompte of that they haue receyued and delyuer it the comons shall sytte in rest and euery thynge payde as it ought to be ¶ When these wordes came abrode and to the herynge of the kynges vncles they were ryght gladde therof for that made well for them for al those before named were agaynste them Nor they coulde bere noo rule in the courte for them Wherfore they ayded the people in theyr oppynyons and sayd These good men that thus speketh are well counsayled in that they desyre to haue accompte and wyll not paye ony more money For surely outher in the kynges treasure or elles in theyr purses that gouerne hym there must nedes be grete treasure Thus by lytell and lytell multyplyed these wordes and the people beganne to waxe bolde to deny to paye ony more money by reason that they sawe the kynges vncles of theyr accorde and susteyned them ¶ And the archebysshop of Cauntorbury the erle of Salysbury the erle of Northumbrelande and dyuers other lordes of Englande put of this taxe for that tyme and deferred theyr counsayle to Myghelmasse after at whiche tyme they promysed to retourne agayne but the knyghtes and squyers suche as had thought to haue had money for the arrerages of theyr wages hadde noo thynge Wherfore they were in dyspleasure with the kynge and his counsayle They were apeased as well as myght be euery man departed the kynge toke no leue of his vncles nor they of hym THen the kynge was counsayled to drawe in to the marches of Wales and there to tary tyll he herde other tydynges and soo he was contente to doo and departed fro London without leue takynge of ony man and toke with hym all his counsayle excepte the archebysshop of yorke who wente backe in to his ââne countrey whiche was happy for hym for I thynke yf he hadde ben with the other he sholde haue ben serued as they were as ye shall here after But it is requysyte that I speke as well of Fraunce as of Englande for the matter requyreth it ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce and dyuers other lordes and squyers of the royalme apparelled grete prouysyons to go in to Englande to wynne townes and castelles Ca. lxxxiii ANd when season of somer was come and the ioly moneth of Maye in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC foure score and .vii. In the same season that the duke of Lancastre was in Galyce and conquered there and that the kynge of Portyngale with grete puyssaunce rode abrode in Castell without ony withstandynge Thenne was it ordeyned in Fraunce as ye haue herde before howe the constable of Fraunce with one army and the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and syr Iohan of Vyen with another armye the one at Lentrygnyer in Bretayne and the other at Harflewe in Normandy sholde the same season make a voyage in to englande with a .vi. thousande men of armes and two thousande crosse bowes and .vi. thousande other men of warre and it was ordeyned that none sholde passe the see to goo in to Englande without he were well armed and prouysyon of vytayles for the space of thre monethes with other prouysyon of hay ootes for theyr horses a daye was prefyxed amonge the capytaynes when they sholde departe and were determyned to lande in englande in two hauens at Douer and at Orwell thus the daye approched of theyr departure At Lentrygnyer prouysyon was made and put in to the shyppes for them that sholde passe from thens and in lyke wyse was done at Harflewe and euery man of war was payde theyr wages for .xv. dayes This iourney was soo farre forwarde that it was thought it coulde not haue ben broken ¶ Nor also it brake not by noo cause of the capytaynes that were ordeyned to goo in that voyage But it brake by another incydent and by a meruayllous matter that fell in Bretayne wherwith the Frensshe kynge and his counsayle were soore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it wherfore it behoued them wysely to dyssymule the matter for it was no tyme then to remedy it ¶ Also other tydynges came vnto the Frensshe kynge out of the partyes of Almayne as I shall shewe you hereafter when tyme and place shall requyre it But fyrst we wyll speke of the matters of Bretayne before them of Almayne for they of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed thoughe other cost more YF I sholde saye that suche matters fell in that season and not open clerely the mater whiche was grete peryllous and horryble it myght be a cronycle but nâo hystory I myght let it ouerpasse yf I lyst but I wyll not doo soo I shall declare the case syth god hathe gyuen me the knowledge therof and tyme and leysure to cronycle the matter at lengthe ¶ ye haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe syr IohnÌ of Mountforde named duke of Bretayne and surely so he was by conquest and not by ryght lyne howbeit alwayes he maynteyned the warre and oppynyon of the kynge of Englande and of his chydren agaynst the frensshe kynge Also he had good cause soo to doo on his partye for without the ayde of englande he hadde not atteyned as he dyd nother before Alroy nor in other places Also ye haue herde here before howe the duke of Bretayne coulde not haue his entente of all the nobles of his countrey nor of all the good townes specyally of syr Bertram of Clesquy as longe as he lyued nor of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce nor of the lordes de la Vale and of Beawmanoyre nor the lorde of Rase of Dygnant the vycount of Rohan nor of the lorde of Rochforde for whereas these lordes enclyned nyghe all Bretayne folowed They were contente to take parte with theyr lorde the duke agaynst all maner of men excepte agaynst the crowne of Fraunce And surely I can not se nor ymagyne by what waye but that the Bretons pryncypally regarded euer the honoure of Fraunce it maye well appere by that that is wrytten here before in this hystory I saye not this by noo corrupcyon nor fauoure that I haue to the erle Guy of Bloys who hath
aduenturers of all nacions For all the countre on bothe sydes of the ryuer of Loyre were replenysshed with them For the warre bytwene FrauÌce and Englande was newly renewed so that all maner of theues and robbers entred in to this countrey for here they assembled and fortifyed theÌ selfe to conquere the castell of Beauforde in the valey that ye sawe but late was in their handes and all the countrey about Thus to come to my purpose the Englysshmen gascoyns had in their handes the towne and castell of Prinulley and had gretly fortifyed it And they helde also other smalle forteresses a longe by the ryuer of Loyre And whan so euer they wolde ryde they were to the nombre bytwene a thousande and eyght hundred fightynge men Than sir Bertram sir Iohan of Beull and the lorde of Mailly other knyghtes of this countrey sette their ymaginacions howe they myght delyuer the couÌtrey of these people and gathered toguyder a fyue huÌdred speares and had spyes and knewe whan the Englysshe men wolde ryde and were in purpose to come before Samure For the capytayns of all their fortresses were assembled to guyder at Prinully whiche is a lytell here before vs. The frenchmen rode and passed the water that ye se here by vs and layde theÌselfe in a busshment in a wode a lytell here besyde on our ryght hande And in the mornynge at the sonne risynge the Englysshe men and other departed from Prinully and they were a nyne hundred men And whanne oure men sawe them they knewe well they must fyght and there they coÌmuned toguyder what crye they shulde call on that daye Some wolde haue cryed the crye of sir Bertrame but he wolde in no wyse agre therto And more ouer he sayd that he wolde displaye no baner that day but that he wolde fyght vnder the baner of sir Iohan de Beull Than our ennemyes came in to this medowe where as I lyghted right nowe and as soone as they were entred we brake out of our busshement and entred in to the medowe And as soone as they sawe vs they a lyghted a fote and we in lykewise and so entred eche within other theâ was sore foynynge eche agaynst other dyuers of bothe parties ouerthrowen Thus our batayle endured a longe space without knowyng who shulde haue the vyctorie but to saye the trouth we were all chosen men of armes and many of our ennemyes were but yuell armed and were but theues and robbers Howbeit they founde vs worke ynoughe and oure handes full But than sir Moris Cresiquede and sir Geffray Richone sir Geffray Caresnell and Morsonase folowed sir Bertam at the spurres They came and refresshed vs with a threscore speares of good men of armes they russhed in with their horses and brake oure ennemyes so a brode that they coude nat asseÌble toguyder agayne And whanne the capytayus of these pyllers sawe that the iourney wente agaynst them they tooke their horses nat all for there abode in the felde a thre hundred slayne and taken and the chase endured to saynt Mors on the ryuer of Loyre there they entred in to a bastell sir Robert Sem Robert Herne Richarde Gylle and Iacomyne Clerke These foure saued them selfe and passed ouer the ryuer of Loyre and so entred in to foure fortresses that their men helde on that syde the ryuer but they taryed nat longe there but rode in to Auuergne and Lymosyn THus by this iourney all the couÌtre here aboute was delyuered for the robbers nor they assembled nomore toguyder after Therfore I saye that ser Bertram the constable was a valyaunt man and profitable for the realme of Fraunce sir quod I it is trewe he was a valyaunt man and so is sir Olyuer of Clesquyn and whan I named hym Clesquyn the knight smyled And I demaunded of hym where at he smyled sir quod he I shall shewe you bycause ye name hym Clesquyn for that is nat his right name nor neuer was thoughe euery man call hym so yet all we of Bretayne call hym the same And ser Bertram while he lyued wolde gladly haue hadde it refourmed but he coude nat amende it for the worde is redyer to falle on a mannes tonge than his right name Than I desyred hym of his courtesy to shewe me if there were any great difference bytwene his names Nay sir quod he there is no great difference but where he is called Clesquyn he shulde be named Glaye aquyne And I shall shewe you as I haue herde it reported howe that name came to hym and it is of trouthe For ye shall fynde it written in the auncyent cronycles of Bretaygne The wordes of this knight greatly pleased me and I said to hym Sir ye shall do me great pleasure to shewe me the mater and I shall neuer forgete it for sir Bertram was so valyaunt a knyght that his dedes ought to be put in remembraunce That is true ê the knyght and I shall shewe you Thus sir Wyllyam of Aunsiens began his tale In the season whan Charles the great raigned in Fraunce who conquered and augmeÌted the faythe and was Emperour of Rome and kyng of Fraunce and of Almaygne and lyeth at Ayes the chapell This kynge Charles as we rede and fynde in the auncyent crony cles For ye knowe well that all the knowlege in the worlde is knowen by writyng for we haue nothyng to sounde vpon trouthe nor to aproue it but by scripture this kyng Charles was in Spayne diuers tymes and at one tyme he was styll there a .ix. yere without retournyng in to Fraunce but styll went forthe on his conquest In the same season theâ was a kyng sarazyn called Aquyn he was kyng of Bougie in Barbary right ouer agaynst spaigne for Spaygne is a great countrey begynnyng at saynt IohnÌs Pie du porte for the realme of Arragon and Nauer of Bisquay of Portugale of CoÌnymbres of Lixbone of Ciuyle of Tollet of Cordwayne and of Lyon All these be inclosed within Spayne other And this great kyng Charlemayne coÌquerid all these countreis And in this season that the kyng taryed there so longe this kyng Aquyn of Bougy in Barbary assembled his meÌ and came by see in to Bretaygne and arryued at the porte of Wannes and he hadde there with hym his wyfe and chyldren and there he conquered and went forwarde Kynge Charles was well enfourmed of this viage and howe kynge Aquyn prospered in Bretayne but for all that he wolde nat breke his vyage sayd Lette hym alone in Bretaygne it shal be but a small mater to delyuer the countrey of hym and of his Whan we haue ones âubdued his countrey here and brought it in to the holy faythe This kynge Aquyn buylded a towre by the See syde nat farre of fro Wannes a goodly and a fayre towre and it was called Glaye And there this kynge Aquyn lay moche And whan kyng Charles had accomplisshed his vyage and acquyted all Galyce and Spaygne from
all the myscreantes and the kynges Sarazyns deed and slayne and all the lande tourned to the Christen faythe than he retourned in to Bretaygne and on a daye hadde a great batayle agaynst this kynge Aquyne and nyghe all the myscreantes slayne And so this kynge Aquyne fledde in to the castell of Glaye and there he hadde redy at the foote of the towre a shyppe and therin he entred and his wyfe and his chyldren But he and his wyfe made suche haste he was so nere chased that they hadde no leysar to take with them a yong sonne that laye and slepte in the towre of a yere olde Thus the kynge and his wyfe departed by the see and this chylde was founde in the towre of Glaye and was brought to kynge Charlemaygne who was right ioyouse of hym and said howe the chylde shulde be baptysed and so he was and Rouland Olyuer helde hym ouer the fonte and was named Olyuer And the kyng gaue him all the landes that his father Aquyn had conquered This chylde whan he came to the age of a man was a good knight and his men called hym sir Olyuer de Glaye aquyn bycause he was founde in the towre of Glaye some to the kynge Aquyn Thus I haue shewed you the firste fouudacyon of sir Bertram of Clesquyn who shulde be called Glaye aquyne And sir Bertram in his dayes after the puttynge out of kynge DoÌpeter of Castyle and had crowned kyng Henry sayde howe he wolde go in to Bougy to demauÌde his herytage And without fayle so he had done for kyng Henry had lent hym men and shyppes to go in to Bougye with a great armye if a great lette had nat broken his voyage And that was whanÌe the prince of Wales made warre vpon the sayde kynge Henry and dyde put hym downe and by puissaunce dyde sette in to Castyle agayne DoÌpeter And than at the batayle of Marres sir Bertram was taken prisonner by sir Iohan Chandos and was sette to raunsome at a huÌdred thousande frankes And at another tyme he was also taken at the batayle of Alroy and raunsomed agayne at a hundred thousande Frankes So thus sir Bertrams purpose was brokenne for the warres bytwene Englande and Fraunce was renewed So that they hadde ynoughe to do Thus he was lynially discended fro the kynge of Bougy named Aquyne whose kyngdome is in Barbarye Thus I haue shewed you the ryght discente of sir Bertram of Clesquyn I thanked hym and so we came to the towne of Prinulley ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the coÌstable of FrauÌce and of the aunswere that was made to them Cap. xci IF I had ben as longe in coÌpany with this knight sir Guyllyam of Aunsens as I was with sir Espayn de Leon whaÌ I rode with hym fro the cyte of Pauyers to Ortayes in Byerne Or elles as long as I had ben with sir IohnÌ Ferant Pertelette of Portyngale He wolde haue shewed me many thyngê but it was nat so for after dyner whan we had rydden a .ii. leages we came to a forked waye the one way was right to Towres in Towrayne whether as I supposed to ryde the other waye was to Maylle whether the knyght was determyned to ryde So at this waye we brake company takyng leaue eche at other but bytwene Prinulley and our departynge he shewed me many thynges and specially of the busynesse in Bretayne and howe the bysshoppe of Langers was sent in the stede of the bysshoppe of Beawuoys who dyed by the waye and how the bysshoppe of Langers with sir Iohan de Bowyll and other came to the duke of Bretayne and of the answere that they had and on the informacyon of this knyght I toke my foundacion and haue written as foloweth _yE haue herde here be fore howe these ambassadours departed fro Parys fro the kyng and his counsaye well in structed what they shulde saye and do and so long they rode by their iourneys that they aryued at Nauntes Than they demaunded where the duke was it was shewed theÌ howe he was about the marchesse of waÌnes wheâ as most accustomably he lay They rode thyder and so came to the cytie of Wannes it is but .xx. myles bytwene The duke was in the castell called le Mote than they came before the duke who by semblant made to theÌ good and swete recule The bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate began to speke and to make his preposicyon well and sagely and sayde Sir duke we are here sente to you fro the kynge our maister and fro his vncles the duke of Berrey and of Burgoyne to shewe vnto you howe they haue great marueyle in that the voiage that they wolde haue made in to Englande is by your meanes broken and haue taken and raunsomed the Constable of Fraunce at so highe a rauÌsome that they are ryght sorie therof And moreouer ye wyll haue thre of his castelles in Bretaygne the whiche shal be a great anoyauÌce to all the resydue of the couÌtre if they shuloe be holde agaynst them with the ayde of the towne of Iugone the whiche is pertaynynge to the Constables herytage Therfore we are charged to shewe you and we saye vnto you as messangers fro the kynge our mayster and from his vncles that ye rendre agayne to the coÌstable of FrauÌce his herytage that ye with holde from hym and sette hym agayne in peasable possessyon accordyng vnto ryght in lyke maner as they were before whan they were delyuered you perforce and by none other ryght nor tytell that ye haue to them And also that ye restore agayne entierlye all the money that ye haue hadde of hym And this is the commaundement of the kynge and his counsayle that ye come êsonally to Parys or where as it shall please the kyng to assygne you there to make your excuse And we repute hym so benygne and pacyent with that ye be of the blode royall that he wyll here your excuse And if he be nat reasonable the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne wyll so temper hym that ye shal be frendes and cosyn to the kynge as by reason ye ought to be Than the bysshoppÌ tourned hym to sir Iohan of Beull and said Sir is nat this the kynges pleasure and he sayde yes and so dyde sir Iohan de Vyen At these wordes there were no mo present but they foure WHan the duke of Bretaine had herde the bysshoppe of Langers speke he studyed a lytell and good cause why for it was a great matter and at the laste he sayde Sirs I haue well vnderstande your wordes and it is good reasone that I so do bycause ye be sent from the kyng and his vncles Wherfore in their behalfe I wyll do you all the honour and reuerence that I can do I am bounde therto but your demauÌde and request requyreth counsayle Wherfore I shall take counsayle with myne and make you
dystroyed vs. ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde too make warre agaynst his vncles agaynst the cytees and townes Ca. xcv IN lyke maner as the kinges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande beynge at London deuysed of the busynesse of EnglaÌde to reforme it to bring it into good estate So on the other syde the duke of Irelande and his counsayle ymagined nyght and daye howe they myght contynue in their estates and to condeÌpne the kynges vncles as ye shall hereafter Whanne kyng Richarde was come to Bristowe the quene with hym they kepte them selfe in the Castell there and men that were farre of beleued that the kyng laye there for sauour of the duke of Irelande who said that he wolde go in to Irelande and it was sayd that the kyng wolde se hym dispatched It was agreed by the generall couÌsaile that if he wolde go in to Irelande he shulde haue at the coste of the realme fyue huÌdred men of armes and fyftene hundred archers and that he shulde abide there thre yere and to be well and trewly payde Howe be it the duke had no great wyll to make that vyage for he sawe well the kyng was yonge and as than he myght rule as he lyst Therfore he feared if he shulde go farre of that the loue and the fauour that he was in with the kynge shulde asswage Also besyde that he was in suche loue with one of the quenes damoselles called Lancegrone that in no wyse he coude leaue the syght of her She was a fayre and a pleasaunt vamosell and was come with the quene out of the realme of Beame This duke loued her so entierlye that he wolde gladly be deuorsed fro his owne wife who was doughter to the lorde of Coucy and dyde sende for that entente to Rome to pope Vrbayne All the good people of the realme had marueyle therof and dispreysed hym greatly for that the good lady was doughtÌ to the doughter of good kyng Edwarde of the good quene Philyppe The duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre toke that dede in great dispyte but for all their hate the duke of Irelande set lytell therby for he was so blynded with louynge of this damosell that he promysed to be deuorsed and to mary her He douted nat the popes graunt so that he myght gette the kynges and the quenes good wyll for he reputed his wyfe that he had freÌche brought vp in Fraunce and so was her father the lorde of Coucy and he had made warre agaynst pope Vrbayne in the tytell of pope ClemeÌt wherfore pope Vrbayne loued nat that blode Therfore he sayde the pope wolde enclyne the lyghtlyer to his deuorse This mater the duke dyde putte forthe and promysed to LaÌcegrone to mary her This duke had a mother a wydowe called the olde countesse of Oxenforde she agreed nat to the opynion of her sonne but blamed hym greatly of his folye and sayde Howe god wolde be sore displeased with hym and paye hym one day for all and thanÌe it wolde be to late to repente and she toke the duchesse to her and kept her styll in her estate And suche as ought the ladye any good wyll gaue her great thankes therfore THus I haue shewed you parte of the busynesse of Englande that fell in this season And yet I shalle procede further as I was enfourmed ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande was aboute the kynge in the marches of Wales and nyght and daye ymagyned on none other thynge but howe he myght bringe about his entent And so serued the kynge and the quene with fayre wordes to please theym and caused all other knyghtes and squyers there about to come to Bustowe to se the kyng and the quene and made them great sporte in huntyng the kynge suffred hym to do what he lyste The same season that the kynge laye at Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne in the marches of Wales The duke of Irelande tooke great payne to ryde in and out and specially in to Wales and sayd to suche as wolde here hym gentylmen or other Howe the kynges vncles to haue the soueraygntie of the realme hadde dismyssed out of the kynges couÌsayle noble valyaunt and sage personnages As the archebysshoppe of yorke the bysshoppe of Dyrhame the bysshoppe of London sir Mychaell de la Poule sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Salisbury sir Robert Tryuilyen sir Iohan Beauchampe hym selfe and hadde putte to dethe a valyaunt knyght sir Symon Burle So that and they multiplye in their estate they wyll distroye all Englande This duke of Irelande dyde so moche and preached so to the people and to the knyghtes and squyers of Wales and of the countreis there aboute that the moost parte beleued hym And on a daye they came ingenerall to the kynge to Bristowe and demauÌded of hym if that it were his pleasure as the duke of Irelande hadde shewed theym The kynge aunswered and sayd yea truely And prayed and commaunded them as they loued hym to beleue hym and sayd he wolde auowe all that he shulde do affyrmyng how he thought his vncles were to hygh mynded so that he feared leste they wolde surmounte hym and take awaye his realme from hym And they of the marches of Wales alwayes loued the prince of Wales father to the kyng For by the tidynges they herde out of the marches of London they thought iustely that the kyng and the duke of Irelande had good cause And so demaunded of the kynge what his pleasure was to do The kynge aunswered and sayd howe he wolde gladly that the loÌdoners that hadde done hym so great trespasses that they were corrected and brought to reason his vncles in lykewise They of Wales sayd they were bounde to obey their kyng nor they ought no fayth nor homage to no man but to hym for he was their kynge soueraygne lorde Wherfore they sayde they were redy to go whyder soeuer the kyng dyd commaunde them The kynge was well coÌtente with that aunswere and in lykewise so was the duke of Irelande Whan the Duke sawe that the kyng wolde shewe that the busynesse was parteynynge to hym selfe and that he hadde so good desyre to distroye his aduersaries and to bringe theym to reason He hadde therof great ioye and sayde to theÌ of his counsayle We can nat do better than to retourne to London and shewe our puissaunce And so to do outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse to bring the LoÌdoners to their accorde and to be obeysaunt to the kynges commaundement Alwayes they enfourmed the kynge howe that it was a great losse to a realme whan there be many heedes chefe gouernours and howe there coude no good come therby and the kynge affyrmed the same and sayde howe he wolde no lenger suffre it but that he wolde fynde suche
are nat come in to this countre for no goodnesse My lorde the duke of Gloucester coÌmauÌdeth that ye come and speke with hym The knyght wolde haue excused hym selfe sayde I am nat Triuylien I am a fermour of sir Iohan of Hollandes Nay naye quod the squyer your body is Triuylien but your habytte is nat And therwith he made token to the sergiauntes that they shulde take him Than they went vp in to the chambre toke hym and so brought hym to the palays ye may be sure there was great prease to se hym for he was well knowen Of his takyng the duke of Gloucestre was ryght ioyefull and wolde se hym And whan he was in his presens the duke sayd Triuylien What thinge make you here in his countre Where is the kyng where lefte you hym Triuylien whaÌ he saw that he was so well knowen and that none excusacion coude aueyle hym sayd sir the kynge sente me hyther to lerne tidynges and he is at Bristowe and hunteth along the ryuer of Syuerne What quod the duke ye are nat coÌe lyke a wyse man but rather lyke a spye yf ye wolde haue come to haue lerned tidynges ye shulde haue come in the state of a knyght Sir quod Triuylien if I haue trespassed I are pardone for I was caused this to do Well sir quod the duke and where is your mayster the duke of Irelande Sir quod he of a trouth he is with the kyng it is shewed vs here quod the duke that he assembleth moche people and the kynge for hym Wheder wyll he lede that people Sir quod he it is to go in to Ireland In to Irelande quod the duke of Gloucester yea sir truely quod Triuylien And than the duke studyed a lytell and sayde A Triuylen Triuylien youre busynesse is nouther fayre nor good ye haue done great folly to come in to this countre for ye are nat beloued here and that shall well be sene you and suche other of your affinyte haue done great displeasures to my brother and to me and ye haue troubled to your power and with youre yuell counsayle the kyng and dyuers other nobles of the realme Also ye haue moued certayne good townes agaynst vs. Nowe is the daye come that ye shall haue your payment for he that dothe well by reason shulde fynde it Thynke on youre busynesse for I wyll nother eate nor drinke tyll ye be deed That worde greatlye abasshed Triuylen for gladlye there is no man wolde here of his ende He wolde fayne haue excused hym selfe with fayre language in lowly humblyng hym self for he coude do nothyng to apease the duke for he was so enfourmed of hym and of other of the duke of Irelandes secte that nothyng aueyled hym Where to shulde I make lengar the mater sir Robert Triuylien was delyuered to the hangman and so ledde out of Westmynster and there beheeded and after haÌged on a gibet Thus ended sir Robert Triuylien ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe tidynges came to the kyng of the dethe of his knight demauÌded counsayle theron And howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his men of warre Capi. xcvii SHortely these tidyngê came to kynge Richarde to the duke of Irelande beyng at Bristowe howe sir Roberte Tryuylyen was shamefully putte to dethe The kyng toke that mater in great dispite and sayd and sware that the mater shulde nat rest in that case And howe that his vncles had done yuell without tytle or reason to put to dethe his men and knyghtes and suche as had truely serued hym and his father the prince Wherby he sayde it semed that they wolde take fro hym the crown of Englande and that the mater touched hym nere Than the archbysshope of yorke who was souerayne of his counsaile and had ben longe said Sir ye demaunde couÌsayle and I shall gyue you counsayle your vncles and suche as ben of their accorde erreth greatly agaynst you for it semeth by theÌ they wolde shewe howe ye be couÌsailed but by traytors They wolde haue none to beate any rule but them selfe It is great parell for all the realme for if the coÌmons shulde ryse and rebell gret myschefe shulde fall in Englande if the lordes and great men be nat frendes toguyder and all one Wherfore sir I counsayle you fynde remedy with puissauÌce ye are as now here in a countrey well peopled and named Sende out your coÌmaundement to all suche as are bouÌde to serue you gentylmen and other And whan they be all assembled sende them in to the marchesse of London make your generall capitayne the duke of IrelaÌde who gladly wyll take on hym the charge and let no baner nor penon be borne but all onely yours to shewe therby that the matter toucheth no man but you and all the countrey in goyng thyder wyll tourne and take parte with you and drawe to your baners and parauenture the landoners wyll take your parte for they hate you nat for ye dyde them neuer displeasure All the hurte ye haue had your vncles haue caused it Sir here is sir Nicholas Bramble who hath ben mayre of LoÌdon and ye made hym knyght for suche seruyce as he dyde you on a daye who knoweth and ought to knowe the maner of them of LoÌdon for he was borne ther and it can nat be but that he hath good freÌdes there Therfore sir desire his couÌsail in this mater that toucheth you so nere For sir by yuell enformacyon rumoure of the people ye maye lese your signorye Than the kynge spake to sir Nicholas Bramble and requyred hym to speke And at the kynges request sir Nycholas sayd Sir and it lyke your grace and all my lordê here present I shall speke gladly after the lytell knowledge that I haue Fyrst I saye I can nat beleue but that the moost ête of the londoners oweth loue and fauour to the kyng that here is for perfitely they loued the prince his father and that they well shewed whan the villayns rebelled for accordyng to the trouthe if they hadde taken parte with the villayns they had distroyed the kyng and the realme And moreouer the kynges vncles haue as nowe a good tyme for they disport them selfe among them and enforme the people as they lyfte for there is none to saye agaynst them They haue put me out and all the kynges of fycers and haue put in them of their affynite and haue sente the kynge hyder to one of the borders of his realme There can no good be ymagined of this nor it can nat be knowen perâârely what they entende it is a herde mater but by that they shewe they wolde putte the kyng out of his realme for they go all by puyssaunce and the kynge dothe all by gentylnesse They haue put to dethe that gentyll knyght sir Symon Burle who hath doone the kyng moche fayre seruyce in the realme of Englade and in other places They layde great falsenesse in hym that he shulde haue
and had no mynde to returne to the towne of Oxenforde but withdrewe thens as moche as they myght _wHan the duke of Gloucester sawe the the demeanour of his enemyes and sawe howe they fledde he hadde remorse in his conscieÌce wolde nat do the yuell he myght haue done for he knewe well that many of them that were there presente were there rather by constraynt and by insytacion of the duke of Irelande than for any good loue Therfore he sayd to his men Sirs the the iourney is ours I charge euery man on payne of dethe that ye slee no man without he make defence and if ye gete any knightes or squyers bring them to me His coÌmaundement was done so that there were but fewe slayne without it were in the prease as they rode one ouer another In the chase there was taken lytell sir Iohan Beauchampe and sir Iohan Salisbury and they were presented to the duke of Glocester who was right ioyous of them Than the duke tooke the waye to Oxenforde and gaue leaue to all his men of warre to retourne to their owne houses thanked them of the seruyce they had done to hym and to his brother and sayd to the mayre of London and his company Sirs departe you all home agayne wherof they were all gladde Thus departed that armye ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande his company fledde and howe the kynges vncles were at Oxenforde And howe sir Nycholas BraÌble was beheeded howe the kynge was sent for by the bysshop of Caunterbury Capi. C. HOwe shall I shewe what became of the duke of Irelande and of sir Peter Golofer and sir Michaell de la Pole As I shewed before they saued theÌselfe as it was nedefull for theÌ for if they hadde ben taken they had suffred dethe without mercy I can nat saye if they went to the kyng or nat if they dyde they taried nat long but departed the realme of EnglaÌde assone as they coude as I haue herde reported they rode through Wales toke shypping at Carleon and sayled in to Scotlande came to Edenborowe and there they toke another shyppe sayled costyng Friselande and the yle of Theseley and the couÌtre of Hollande and so came and arryued at the towne of Dondrest Than were they gladde and as I was enformed the duke of IrelaÌde had long before coÌueyed by loÌbardes moche golde syluer to Brugê for feare of all casueltes for though he was great with the kyng yet always he douted the kynges vncles the coÌmons of the realme Wherfore he made prouisyon before hande of money to ayde hym whan nede were and as it was shewed me the threscore thousande frankes that he had receyued for the redempcyon of the chyldren of Bretayne and specially for IohnÌ of Bretayne for Guy was deed Whiche money as it was sayde he founde redy there at his coÌmynge and he shulde receyue more In thre yere other threscore thousande frankes Wherfore he was nat abasshed for he had substauÌce suffycient for a longe space And whan duke Aubert of Bauyer who had Haynalte Holande and zelande in gouernaunce vnder the erle Willyam his brother who as than was lyuynge Whan he vnderstode that the duke of Irelande was come as a fugetyue out of Englande in to the towne of Dordrest He studyed and imagyned a lytell and thought he shulde nat longe abyde there seynge that he was fledde out of Englande and had the yuell wyll of his cosyn germayns to whome he bare his loue and fauour And also he consydred howe the duke of Irelande had dalte but yuell with his cosyn germayen the lady Isabell of Englande who had been lady of Coucy Wherfore he commaunded the duke of Irelande bycause he hadde displeased his cosyns of Englande and had broken his laufull mariage and wolde mary another wyfe That he shulde departe out of that countrey and gette hym another lodgynge And that he shulde nat be suffred to abyde in no towne of that countrey Whan the duke herde that he douted that he shulde be taken and delyuered in to the handes of his enemyes And he humyled hym selfe greatly to them that were sente to hym and sayde he wolde gladly obey the duke Aubertes commaundement And so payed and trussed and entred in to a vessell and all his on the ryuer of Mornegue And dyd so moche by water and by lande that he came to Berette whiche towne pertayned to the bysshoppe of Trece There he was well receyued And there he taryed tyll he harde other tydinges Nowe let vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of Englande AFter the endynge of this iourney that the kynges vncles had agaynste the duke of IrelaÌde besyde Oxenforde and that euery man was gone home The bysshoppe of Caunterbury and the two dukes taryed styll at Oxenforde I can nat tell howe long And there was beheededde the lytell Beauchampe and sir Iohan of Salisbury After that iustyce the two dukes retourned to LoÌdon and there taryed a season to here some tidynges fro the kynge and they coulde here none but that he was at Bristowe Thanne the lordes at Westmynster by the instigacion of the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury determyned that it shulde be honourable for them to sende to the kynge to Bristowe and to shewe hym amyably that he hath ben a certayne spape agaynst the moost parte of his realme who loued hym better and are gladder to kepe his honour than suche marmosettes as he hath beleued by whom his realme hath ben in great trouble and peryll In this meane season was brought to LoÌdon sir Nycholas Bramble who was taken in Wales as he fledde from the iourney to haue saued hym selfe of whose takynge the kynges vncles were right ioyfull and sayde howe they wolde make no stoore of hym but he shulde go the same waye as the other hadde done before he coude neuer excuse hymselfe but that he must dye He was beheeded without London his dethe was sore complayned of some men of London for he hadde been mayre of London before and had well gouerned his offyce and dyde one day great honour to the kyng whan he slewe with his owne handes Lyster wherby all the rebelles were disconfyted and for that good seruyce the kynge made hym knyght But in the maner as I haue shewed you he was beheeded by reason of the ouermoche beleuynge of the duke of Irelande AFter the dethe of sir Nicholas Bramble the kynges vncles sawe that all suche as they hated and wolde haue oute of the kynges counsayle were deed and fledde a waye Than they thought the kynge and the realme shulde be brought in to good order for thoughe they had slayne some of the kynges counsayle and chased theym awaye yet they coude nat take awaye the signorie of the kyng but thought to rule the realme in good forme to the honour of the kynge and his realme Than they sayd to the bysshop of CauÌterbury Sir ye shall go lyke your selfe to Bristowe to
Whan that bysshop of yorke herde of this he douted hym selfe for he knewe well he was nat in the fauour of the kynges vncles Therfore he sente his excuse by a nephue of his sonne to the lorde Neuell and he came to London and came first to the kynge and shewed hym his vncles excuse dyde his homage in the bysshoppes behalfe The kyng toke it well for he loued hym better than the bysshoppe of Caunterbury and so he hym selfe excused the bysshoppe or elles it had ben yuell with him but for the kynges loue they forbare hym toke his excuse and so he taryed styll in his bysshoprike a longe space and durste nat lye at yorke but taryed at New castell on the ryuer of Tyne nere to his brother the lorde Neuell and his cosyns In this estate was at that tyme the busynesse of Englande and so of a longe space the kyng was nat mayster ouer his counsayle but his vncles and other bare all the rule Nowe we wyll leaue to treat of the maters of EnglaÌde and speke of the busynesse of the kyng of Castyle and of the kynge of Portyngale and of their warres ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puissanÌce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puyssaunce howe they coude nat passe the ryuer of Derne howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theÌ the passage Cap. C.ii. IT is reason sythe the mater so requyreth that I retourne agayne to the duke of LaÌcastres iourney and howe he êceyuered al this season in Galyce I shall begyn there as I lefte for I haue great desyre to make an ende of that storie Whan the duke of Lancastre had won and conquered the towne and castell of Dauranche in Galyce and brought it vnder his obeysaunce and refresshed hym there foure dayes for there he founde well wherwith Than the fyfthe day he departed and sayde he wolde go to the castell of Noy and so he dyde and lay four dayes in a fayre medowe alonge a ryuer syde But the grounde was dried vp by reason of the heate of the sonne and the water corrupted so that their horses wolde nat drinke therof and suche as dyde dyed Thanne it was ordayned to dislodge thens and to tourne agayne to Auranch for sir Richarde Burle and sir Thomas Morryaulx marshalles of the hoost sayd it was nat possyble to get the strong rastell of Noy but by longe siege by great wysedome and dispence and moche artillary And also tydinges came to the duke of Lancastre that the kynge of Portugale approched with all his hoost to the nombre of a thousande speares and tenne thousande able men So that the two hoostes togyder were lykely to do a great dede for the duke of Lancastre hadde a fyftene hundred speares knightes and squiers and a sixe thousande archers These tydinges reioysed greatly the duke of Lancastre and so dislodged fro Noy and wente agayne to Auranche in Galyce and the duke sente for the duchesse his wyfe and the other ladyes and damoselles for the duke sayd he wolde abyde there for the kynge of Portugale and so he dyde _yE shall knowe that whan kyng Iohan of Portugale and his marshalles had take the towne of Feroullê they rode and aproched Auranch to come to the duke of LaÌcastre And in their way they founde the towne of Padrone whiche rebelled against theÌ but at their first comyng they yelded them to the kynges obeysaunce The kynge taryed there and in the marches there about a fyftene dayes and wasted greatlye the countrey of vitayls yet they had great plentie comyng dayly fro Portugale Thus these two great hoostes were in Galyce and greatly impouerysshed the countre and the dayes waxed so hote that no man coude styrre after nyne of the clocke without he wolde be brent with the sonne The duke of LaÌcastre and the duchesse were at Aurache and their men abrode in the countrey in great pouerie for lacke of vitayls for theÌ selfe and for their horses Nothynge that was good or swete coulde growe out of the grounde it was so drie and brent with the soÌne and that grewe was lytell worthe for the season was so hote that all was brent And the Englysshe men if they wolde haue any thynge for them selfs or ⪠for their horses it behoued them or their seruauntes to go a forragyng a .xii. sixtene or twentie myles of which was great payne and daunger And the Englysshmen founde the wynes there so stronge hoote and brynning that it corrupted their heedes and dried their bowelles and brente their lightes and lyuers they had no remedy for they coude fynde but lytell good waters to temper their wynes nor to refresshe them whiche was coÌtrary to their natures For Englysshe men in their owne couÌtreis are swetely norisshed and there they were breÌt both within with out they endured great pouertie The great lordes wanted of that they were accustomed vnto in their owne countreis _wHan the knyghtes and squyers and other of Englande sawe the daunger and myschefe that they were in and were likely to be what for lacke of vytayle and heate of the sonne whiche dayly encreased Than they began to murmure and to saye in the host in dyuers places We feare our iourney wyll come to a smal effect ende We lye to long in one place that is true sayd other There is two thynges greatly contrarye for vs. We leade in our company women and wyues who desyreth nothyng but rest for one dayes iourney by their wylles they wolde reste fyftene This distroyeth vs and wyll do for as soone as we came to Coulongne if we had gone forwarde we had spedde well and brought the countre to good obeysaunce for none wolde haue ben agaynst vs. But the longe taryeng hath enforced our ennemyes for nowe they haue prouyded them of men of warre out of Fraunce And by theÌ their townes cyties and passages be kepte and closed agaynst vs. Thus they disconfyted vs withoute batayle They nede nat to fyght with vs for the realme of Spayne is nat so pleasaunt a lande to traueyle in as is Fraunce or Englande wherin are good villages fayre couÌtreis and swete ryuers faire medowes and attemperate ayre for menne of warre and here is all the contrarye What ment oure lorde the duke of Lancastre if he thought to wynne this countrey to leade in his company women and chyldren This is a great let and without reason for it is knowen in all Spaygne and els where that he and his bretherne are the true enherytours of the countrey at leest their wyfes doughters to kyng Don Peter As for doyng of any conquest or tournyng of any townes the women do lytell therin THus as I haue shewed you the people langled in the duke of Lancasters hoost one to another Than tidynges came to the duke that the kyng of Portugale aproched nere wherof he was ioyfull And whan the kynge was within two leages the duke with his knyghtes
good chere And anone after the kyng and the quene deêted and wente to Conymbres a dayes iourney fro thens and the duke taryed there a.ii. monethes In the meane season he ordayned for all his busynesse and hadde galyes of the kyng and they were apparelled had with hym the mayster patrone of Portungale named Alphons Brecart And whan they sawe good tyme to take the see the duke and all his entred in to their vesselles and disacred and toke the see were within a day and a halfe of Bayon whiche was more than threscore and. ãâã leages of And there the duke toke laÌdynge and founde nat there sir Iohan Hollande nor the other Englysshe men for they were departed and gone to Burdeux there toke shippyng and so in to Englande The duke taryed at Bayon a longe space and lyued there of the reuenewes of Bayon Burdeux and of the lande of Acquitayne of all that was vnder the obeysaunce of kyng Richarde of Englande for he had commissyon suffycient to receyue the profytes of all those landes and was called duke and gouernour of them ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke a season of the duke of Lancastre and of the Englysshmen and let vs treat of other maters ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake toke great payne to treate with the coÌpanyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C.x. IN this reason the erle of Armynake was in Auuergne was intreatyng of the companyons suche as laye in fortresses in garyson In Auuergne Quersy Lymosen This erle hadde great desyre to cause these capitayns to departe out of the realme of Fraunce and to leaue suche holdes as they were in for these laÌdes were sore oppressed by them and greatly impouerisshed And so he was in coÌmunycacion with them all except Geffray Teate Noyre who helde Wenchadore agaynst the erle of Armynake These sayd capitayns shulde receyue at one payment two hundred and .l. thousande fraÌkes And to paye this soÌme the sayde landes were bounde for they were glad to be delyuered of these people for otherwise they coude nat labour the erthe nor occupy their feate of marchaundise nor do any thyng for feare of these pyllers without they were patesed by them And the charge of their patesyng drewe well yerely to the soÌme that they shulde pay to haue them delyuered And thoughe these countreis had warre with the Englysshmen yet there were amonge them but fewe of the nacyon of Englande But there were Gascoyns bretons almayns foyzons and men of dyuers countreis who were gathered toguyder to do yuell dedes And whan the coÌposycions of the redempcion was made and agreed they excepted Geffray Teate noyre and his forterers for he wolde do nothynge for them Than the erle of Armynake prayed the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who was a great capitayne that he shulde treate with the sayd Geffray and that he wolde do so moche to go in to Fraunce to the kyng and his couÌsayle the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyn who as than had the gouernyng of the realme to haue their counsayle and assystence For without their aduyse agrement they durst reyse vp no tayle in the countrey The Erle Dolphyn of Auuergne at the request of the erle of Armynake toke his iourney to Paris as than the kynge was nat there he was at Roane Thyder rode the erle and there shewed all the mater to the kynge and his counsayle but he was nat shortely dispatched for they douted the treatie of these people said Sir erle Dolphyn we knowe well that the erle of Armynake and you wolde right gladlye the honour and profyte of the realme for your partes lyeth therin ye haue fayre landes there But we doute greatly that whan these capitayns gascoyns bernoyes other be payed suche somes of money as the composicyon requyreth wherby the countre shulde be enpouerisshed that than within thre or four monethes after they shulde retourne againe and make worse warre than they dyd before and entre agayne in to these fortresses than the erle of Dolphyn answered and sayd sirs it is our ententes the tayle cessed and gadered that the money shall nat passe out of Cleremonde or Ryon tyll we be certifyed and in suretie of these people Well quod the dukes we are content that the money be leuyed and put in sure kepyng in some place in the same countre for at the leest it shall serue to make them warre if they wyll nat come to some amyable treatie And that the erle of Armynake and you the bysshoppe of Cleremonde and the bisshoppe of Puy take ye the charge of this mater and do so as it may be for your honour and profite to the couÌtre With right a good wyll sir quod the erle and so deêted fro the kyng and his vncles fro Roane and founde the erle of Armynake his brother at Cleremont in Auuergne with many lordes of the countre taryenge there vpon his commyng and there he shewed worde for worde that he had with the freÌche kyng and his vncles and the doutes that were made in the mater And howe it was their ententes that the tayle shulde be gadered and the money ther of gadered toguyder and putte in suretie in some certayne place tyll the very entente of these pyllers might be knowen who kepeth castels and garisons agaynst the realme the same is our entencion quod the erle of Armynake and sithe it pleaseth the kynge and his counsayle we shall go further in the mater but for the more suretie it must behoue vs to haue a good and a sure truse with theÌ for all the countrey tyll the tayle be cessed and gadered Than there were ambassadours assigned by the erle of Armynake to go and speke with Perot le Bernoys and Amergot Marcell These two were as souerayns of the fortresse that they helde on that syde the ryuer of Durdone and also to speke with the Borge of Compaigne with Bernarde of the Isles with Olyuer Barbe abton with Seghewe the lorde of Laenplayre and dyuers other All these capitayns acorded nat togyder for that the one wolde the other wolde nat I shal shewe you the reason why THey were of dyuers opinyons and of dyuers countreis They of Armynake suche as were vnder the obeysaunce of the Erle of Armynake were soone agreed but all the other wolde nat be ruled by hym for the chefe company of them and suche as were most renomed to vse grete robbery and pillery were of Bierne and of the countie of Foiz Howbeit I saye nat but that the erle of Foiz wolde the honour of the realme of Fraunce But whan he herde first howe the erle of Armynake dyde treate with them for suche fortresses as they helde in Auuergne in Quercy and in Lymosyn as he that desyred to knowe the hole substauÌce of the mater Demaunded of them that enfourmed hym therof what the erle of Armynake was mynded to do with the men that were in the garysons whan they
gather to gyder my power and people who haue good myndes to make warre into Castyle so we shall make a good warre somtyme one countrey wynneth and a nother leseth The duke of Lancastre thanked the kynge of Portugale of his good comforte and offre Howe beit for all that the kyng was the dukes sonne in lawe and had maryed his doughter and that he sayde was of a good wyll yet for all that the duke discouered nat all his corage for he knewe well Englande was in trouble and great debate a monge the lordes and howe the lordes hadde maters yno we to attende vnto as well for the kepynge of the fronters agaynst Scotlande as for to treate with the duke of Bretaygne And the kyng knewe well that whan the duke came out of Englande there was a do to sette forwarde his armye wherfore he thought it shulde be harde to get any newe ayde thence seinge the realme at so many great charges all redy and also he thought well that suche englysshmen as were retourned wolde no more come thyder agayne but thought rather that they shulde dyscorage other to come the duke considered all these maters in his mynde and whan he had ben a season at the cytie of Porte with the kynge of Portugale than on a daye he sayd Syr it shulde be for my profyte to retourne to Bayon and to the marches of Burdeaulx for dyuerse reasons He sawe well his beynge in Portugale coulde do him lytell aduauÌtage for there he was nat on his herytage that he desyred but he sayde his goynge in to the archebysshoppriche of Burdeaux and of Aulose and so to retourne by Bygore and so by the lande of the lombrisience of the countie of Foyze and countie of Armynake and so by Garonne Dordone and entrynge in to Pier gourte and Querchyn Rochelloys Xayntone Cristynge Poictou Auuergne and Lymosyn wherin were many garysons and castels holden of the englisshe parte who wolde all make warre for his sake Wherfore he sayd it were better for hym to be amonge theym to counsaile and encorage them than to be in any other place And also he sayde howe Portugale was farre of to here any newes out of Englande and also he knewe well that the englyssh men wolde be lothe to come thyder bycause of the long voyage by see and also he knewe well that shyppes of Spaygne of Galyce and of Castyle were goynge and comynge on the see in and out to Flaunders with their marchandyses whiche was also great daunger for encountrynge of them All these thynges consydred the duke of Lancastre prepared for his departynge and had shyppes apoynted hym by the kynge and a patrone called Alphons Bretat Whan these galyes were redy and the wynde good the duke and the duches and her doughter toke leaue of the kynge of Portugale and of the quene and so toke shyppynge and entred on the see abydynge goddes pleasure and wyndes They had wynde and wether at pleasure so that they aryued at Bayon of whose comynge they of the countrey were ioyfull desyringe sore to se them Whan the duke and the duches and their doughter were aryued at Bayon Tydynges therof spredde abrode and they of Burdeloys were ryght ioyfull therof Than sir Iohan of Harpdame senesshall of Burdeaux and the senesshall of the landes came thyder to se the duke and so dyd other gentlemen of the countrey as the lorde of Mucydente the lorde of Duras the lorde of Rosem the lorde of Landuras the lorde Lespare the lorde of Newechasteaur and other knyghtes and squyers of the countrey Thus they came dayly some at one tyme some at another all they offred hym their seruyce as they ought to do to their lord Thus the duke taryed at Bayon and often tymes sente in to Englande to the kynge his nephewe and to his other bretherne But for all his writynge he was nothynge comforted nother with men of armes nor archers for as the worlde wente than the dukes busynesse was lytell taken hede vnto nor lorde knyght nor squyer to make any hast to auaunce forwarde to the ayde of the duke of Lancastre for suche as had ben in Portugale made suche reporte through the realme of Englande that no man had corage to auaunce thyder but euery man said the voyage in to Castyle is to farre of fro vs. It is more profytable for vs to haue warre with Fraunce for that is a good swete countrey and temperate and good lodgynges and fayre swete ryuers And in Castyle there is no thynge but harde rockes and Mountaynes whiche are nat good to eate and an vntemperate ayre and troubled ryuers and dyuerse meates and stronge wynes hote and poore people rude and yuell arayed farre of fro our maner wherfore it were folly to go thyder for if we entre in to any great cytie or towne there wenynge to fynde maruayles we shall fynde nothynge but wyne larde and empty cofers This is contrarye to the realme of Fraunce for there whan it is fortune to wyn any towne or cytie we fynde suche rychesse that we be a basshed therof and it is good to make warre where we may haue profyte let vs aduenture there and leaue the vnhappy warre of Castyle and Portugale where is no thynge but pouuertye and domage Thus the englysshe men sayde in Englande suche as had been in Castyle so that the lordes perceyued well howe that voyage was out of the fauoure of the englysshe men Also the realme was in trouble and the iustyce of Triuylyen and outher but newly done and the duke of Irelande departed out of the Realme and kynge Rycharde came to the guydynge of newe counsayle the whiche he hadde nat well lerned So by reason of suche insydentes the matters abode in harde case for the duke of Lancastre beynge in the cytie of Bayon where he helde all that season ALl these busynesses as well in Castyle and Portugale as in Englande and of the departyng of the duke of Irelande was well knowen with the frenche kynge and his counsayle Than to haue more parfyte knowledge it was ordayned by the frenche kynge and by his vncles to sende to Trecte to the duke of Irelande where as he was and to gyue hym a sure saueconduct to come into Fraunce and to tarye there as longe as bothe partyes were pleased It was behouable to sende for hym by specyall messangers and sure wrytyng fro the kyng or els the duke of Irelande wolde nat haue come there for he knewe well that he was out of the loue and fauoure of the lorde Coucy who was a great baron in the realme of Fraunce and was of a great lynage He had no cause to loue hym as ye haue herde before for acordynge to the trouthe the duke had nat well acquyted hymselfe to his wyfe who was doughter to the lorde Coucy And certaynly it was the principall thing that toke awaye the good renome of his honour bothe in Fraunce and in other places And in lykewyse he
Graue and how the brabansoys made a bridge ouer the ryuer of Meuse the whiche they of Guerles dyde breke brinne and dystroy as ye shall here after Cap. C.xxxv. THe same seasone that the Englysshe armye was at Marant Perot le Bernoyes and his route to the noÌbre of four hundred speres were abrode and passed by Lymosyn and came to Berrey And on a daye they tooke all the marchauntes that were in the towne of Blake in Berrey on the whiche daye there was a great fayre wherby they had great profite and good prisoners and than passed further and came to Selles in Berrey and pylled and robbed the towne Thus Perot and his companyons rode abrode in the countre and dyde great doÌmage for there was none that came agaynst them The countrey was sore a frayde on bothe sydes the ryuer of Loyre vnto the couÌtie of Bloys and of Thourayne They coude nat ymagin what these two armyes were purposed to do some sayde they shulde mete togider but they dyd nat for the army on the see drewe agayne to the see and Perot in lykewise to his fortresse WhaÌ they had pylled and wonne great richesse in the countrey euery man wente to their owne fortresse to saue that they had gotte There was none other dede of armes done that season in Auuergne and Lymosyn ThanÌe began the truce on that syde the ryuer of Loyre the whiche shulde endure to the moneth of Marche But styll the siege endured before Vandachore by sir Wylliam of Lignacke sir Iohan Boesme Launce sir Iohan Butlere and other For sir Geffray Teate noyre was so proude and cruell that he sette nouther by truce nor peace and all on the truste of the strength of his fortresses ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue speakyng of the siege of Vandachore and shewe here after what ende it toke and speke nowe of Brabaunte and of Guerles yE knowe well as it hath ben coÌteyned here before in this hystorie the duchesse of Brabant was determyned to make warre agaynst the duke of guerles and caused the siege to coÌtynue before the towne of Graue with a great puyssaunce of knyghtes and squyers and other men of the good townes of Brabante and their entencion was nat to departe thens tyll they had the towne of Graue at their wyll And the duchesse to shewe that the mater touched her nere the laye at ãâã a four leages thens The hoost was plentifull of euery thynge They were often tymes refresshed with newe prouisyon coÌmyng fro dyuers partes aswell by see by fresshe water by the ryuer of Muse as by the lande of Brabant This siege long endured and they had there great ingyns be sore the towne to caste in great stones whiche dyde great domage And besyde that to enfecte the people within they caste in to the towne all deed careyne and the wether was hote the whiche greatly anoyed them within The clere ayre was sore corrupted with the yuell ayre Somtyme the knyghtes and squyers of Brabant wolde come to the barryers and scrimysshe with them of the towne and there were many feates of armes done For there were men in the towne sette there by the duke of Guerles that were redye to shewe forthe their prowes whan tyme was The duke of Guerles lay at Nimay coude nat remedy the mater nor reyse the siege nor yet fight with his enemyes for he had no puissaunce therto But he hadde sente in to Englande certifyeng what case he stode in trustynge to haue had socours fro thens but he had none For at that tyme there was moche trouble in Englande For there was sette a newe counsayle about the kynge by the meanes of his vncles and tharchbysshop of CauÌterbury About the feest of saynt Iohan the Baptyst there was a couÌsayle in Englande to knowe if there shulde be sente any ayde of men of armes archers to the duke of Guerles or nat But euery thyng consydred they thought it best naye For renome ran in Englande howe the Frenche kyng made a gret assemble but no manne knewe whyther they shulde drawe The Englysshe men by ymaginacyon douted that they wolde coÌe to Caâââs On the othersyde they douted the scottes wherfore they wolde nat sende their men of armes and archers out of the realme Also they knewe howe there were many menne of warre on the see wherfore it was coÌuenyent to kepe their owne realme Therfore the noble men of Englande sayd Lette the duke of Guerles alone he is ryght valyant and is iÌ a stronge countre he wyll do well ynoughe agaynst the brabansoys Also he shal be conforted by the almayns if nede be for they be alyed with hym and his neyghbours They haue bene with hym or this agaynst the Frenche men Thus the maters wente in Englande but they within the towne of Graue endured the payne with sautes and sore scrimisshing They of Brabante deuysed whyle they laye at the siege to make a bridge of tymbre ouer the ryuer of Meuse therby to entre in to the duchy of Guerles And to ouer ronne the couÌtrey and to kepe that no vitayle shulde come to the towne of Graue And therby to besege it bothe before and behynde and on all partes to kepe it fro vitayling for they had men ynowe so to do They sette many carpentars a worke with all dilygence and they dyde so moche that their worke was so forwarde that the bridge was nere ouer the water within a speares cast The duke of Guerles had perfite knowledge of the makyng of this bridge and dyde lette them alone tyll it was nyghe made But whan he sawe it was nerehande fynisshed than he came before it with gonnes and other artillarye And shotte fyre to the bridge in suche wise that the bridge was brente and broken and the brabansoys loste all their labour wherwith they were sore displeased and than toke counsayle what was best for them to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the brabansoys passed the ryuer throughe the towne of Rauesten ouer the bridge there and so entred in to Guerles Than the duke departed fro Nimay with thre hundred speares and came agaynst theÌ and disconfyted them bytwene Rauesten and the towne of Graue Cap C.xxxvi A Thre lytell leages fro the towne of Graue is the castell of Rauesten parteyninge to the lorde of Bourne who was subiecte and helde of the duchy of Brabant He was desyred by the duchesse counsayle by other lordes and knyghtes that he shulde open the towne of Rauesten and suffre their hoste to passe throughe to entre in to the countrey of Guerles And at their desyres he was content The duke of Guerles lyenge at Nymay was surely infourmed by suche spyall as he had howe the lorde of Bourne wolde gyue his enemyes fre passage to entre into his countrey through the towne of Rauesten wherof he was pensyue and maleÌcolyous for he sawe well he had nat men ynowe to resyste the puysaunce of Brabante for they were well a .xl. thousande menne
wanne the penon of syr Henry Percyes wherwith he was sore dyspleased and so were all the englysshmen and the erle Duglas sayd to sir Henry Perey syr I shall beare this token of your prowes in to Scotlande and shall sette it on hyghe on my castell of Alquest that it may be sene farre of Syr quod sir Henry ye maye be sure ye shall nat passe the boundes of this countrey tyll ye be met withall in such wyse that ye shall make none auaunte therof Well syr ê the erle Duglas come this nyght to my lodgynge and seke for your penon I shall sette it before my lodgynge and se if ye wyll come to take it away As than it was late and the scottes withdrewe to their lodginges and refresshed them with such as they had they had fleshe ynough They made that nyght good watche for they thought surely to be a waked for the wordes they hadde spoken but they were nat For syr Henry Percy was counsayled nat soo to do The nexte day the scottes dyslodged and returned towardes their owne countrey and so came to a castell and a towne called Pouclan wherof ser Haymon of Alphell was lorde who was a ryght good knyght There the scottes rested for they came thyder by tymes and vnderstode that the knyght was in his Castell Than they ordeyned to assayle the castell and gaue a great assaute so that by force of armes they wan it and the knyght within it Than the towne and castell was brent and fro thens the Scottes wente to the towne and castell of Combur and eyght englysshe myle fro Newe castell and there lodged That day they made none assaut but the next mornyng they blewe their hornes and made redy to assayle the castell whiche was stronge for it stode in the maresse That daye they assauted tyll they were wery and dyd nothynge Than they sowned the retrayte and retourned to their lodgyng Than the lordes drewe to counsayle to determyne what they shulde do The moste parte were of the acorde that the next day they shuld dyssoge without gyuynge of any assaute and to drawe fayre and easly towardes Carlyle but therle Duglas brake that counsayle and sayd in dispyte of sir Henry Percy who sayd he wolde come and wynne agayne his penon let vs nat departe hence for two or thre dayes lette vs assayle this castell it is prignable we shall haue double honour and than lette vs se if he wyll come and fetche his penon he shall be well defended Euery man acorded to his sayeng what for their honour and for the loue of hym Also they lodged there at their ease for there was none that troubled theym they made many lodgynges of bowes and great herbes and fortityed their campe sagely with the maresse that was therby and their caryages were sette at the entre in to the maresses and had all their beestes within the maresse Than they aparelled for to saute the next day this was their entensyon NOwe lette vs speke of sir Henry Percy and of sir Rafe his brother and shewe some what that they dyd They were sore dyspleased that therle Duglas had wonne the penon of their armes also it touched gretly their honours if they dyd nat as syr Henry Percy sayd he wolde For he had sayd to the erle Duglas that he shulde nat cary his penon out of Englande and also he had openly spoken it be fore all the knyghtes and squiers that were at Newcastell The englysshmen there thought surely that therle Duglas bande was but the scottes vangarde and that their hoost was lefte behynde The knyghtes of the countrey suche as were well experte in armes spake agaynst sir Henry Percyes opinyon and sayd to hym Syr there fortuneth in warre often tymes many losses if the Erle Duglas haue wonne your penon he bought it dere for he came to the gate to seke it and was well beaten Another day ye shall wynne as moche of hym or more Syr we saye this bycause we knowe well all the power of Scotlande is abrode in the feldes and if we issue out and be nat men ynowe to fyght with them and peraduenture they haue made this skrimysshe with vs to the entent to drawe vs out of the towne and the nombre that they be of as it is sayd aboue xl thousande men they maye soone inclose vs and do with vs what they wyll yet it were better to lese a penon than two or thre hundred knyghtes and squyers and put all our countrey in aduenture These wordes refrayned syr Henry and his brother for they wolde do nothynge agaynst counsayle Than tydynges came to theym by suche as had sene the Scottes and sene all their demeanoure and what waye they toke and where they rested ¶ Howe syr Henry Percy and his brother with a good nombre of men of armes and archers went after the scottes to wynne agayne his penon that the erle Duglas hadde wonne before Newcastell vpon Tyne and howe they assailed the scottes before Mountberke in their lodgynges Cap. C.xlii. IT was shewed to sir Henry Percy to his broder and to the other knightes and squyers that were there by suche as had folowed the scottes fro Newecastell and had well aduysed their doynge who said to sir Henry and to syr Rafe Syrs we haue folowed the scottes priuely and haue discouered all the countrey The scottes be at Pountclan and haue taken syr Haymon Alphell in his owne castell fro thence they be gone to Ottenburge and there they laye this nyght what they wyll do to morowe we knowe nat They are ordayned to abyde there and sirs surely their great hoost is nat with them for in all they passe nat there a thre thousaÌde men Whan sir Henry herde that he was ioyfull and sayd Syrs let vs leape on our horses for by the faythe Iowe to god and to my lorde my father I wyll go seke for my penon and dyslodge theym this same nyght Knyghtes and squiers that herde him agreed therto and were ioyous and euery man made hym redy The same euenynge the bysshop of Durham came thyder with a good company for he herde at Durham howe the scottes were before Newcastell and howe that the lorde Percies sonnes with other lordes and knightes shulde fight with the scottes Therfore the bysshoppe of Dutham to come to the reskewe had assembled vp all the countrey and so was comynge to Newcastell But sir Henry Percy wolde nat abyde his comynge for he had with hym syre hundred speares knightes and squiers and an eight thousande fotemen they thought that sufficyent nombre to fyght with the scottes if they were nat but thre hundred speares thre thousande of other Thus they departed fro Newcastell after dyner and set forth in good ordre and toke the same way as the scottes had gone and rode to Ottebourge a seuen lytell leages fro thence and fayre way but they coulde nat ryde faste bycause of their fotemen And whan the scottes had
supped and some layde downe to their rest and were wery of trauaylynge and sautynge of the castell all that day and thought to ryse erly in the mornyng in cole of the day to gyue a newe assaute Therwith sodenly the englysshmen came on them and entred in to the lodginges wenyng it had ben the maisters lodgynges and therin were but varlettes and seruauntes Than the englysshmen cryed Percy Percy and entred into the lodgynges and ye knowe well where suche affray is noyse is sone reysed and it fortuned well for the scottes for whan they sawe the englysshmen came to wake them than the lordes sente a certayne of their seruauntes of fotemen to skrymysshe with the englysshmen at the entre of the lodgynges and in the meane tyme they armed and aparelled them euery man vnder his baner vnder his capytaynes penon The night was farre on but the mone shone so bryght as and it had ben in a maner daye it was in the moneth of August and the wether fayre and temperate THus the scottes were drawen to gyder and without any noyse departed fro their lodgynges went aboute a lytell mountayne whiche was greatly for their aduauntage for all the day before they had well aduysed the place and sayd amonge them selfe If the englysshemen come on vs sodaynly than we wyll do thus thus for it is a ioperdous thyng in the nyght if men of warre entre into our lodgynges if they do than we wyll drawe to suche a place therby outher we shall wyn or lese Whan the englysshmen entred in to the felde at the first they soone ouercame the varlettes and as they entred further in alwayes they fouÌde newe men to besy them and to skrymysshe with them Than sodaynly came the scottes fro aboute the mountayne and sette on the englysshmen or they were ware and cryed their cryes wherof the englysshe menne were sore astonyed Than they cryed Percy and the other partye cryed Duglas There began a cruell batayle and at the fyrst encountre many were ouerthrowen of bothe partyes And bycause the englisshmen were a great nombre and greatly desyred to vanquysshe their enemyes and rested at their pas and greatly dyd put a backe the scottes so that the scottes were nere dyscomfyted Than the erle Iames Duglas who was yonge stronge and of great desyre to gette prayse and grace and was wyllynge to deserue to haue it and cared for no payne nor trauayle came forthe with his baner and cryed Duglas Duglas And sir Henry Percy and syr Rafe his brother who had great indygnacion agaynst the erle Duglas bycause he had wonne the penon of their armes at the barryers before Newcastell came to that parte and cryed Percy their two baners mette and their menne there was a sore fyght The englysshmen were so stronge and fought so valyauntly that they reculed the scottes backe There were two valiaunt knightes of scottes vnder the baner of the erle Duglas called syr Patryke of Helborne and syr Patryke his sonne they acquyted them selfe that day valy auntly the erles baner had ben won and they had nat ben they defended it so valyauntly and in the rescuynge therof dyd suche feates of armes that it was greatly to their recommendacyon and to their heyres for euer after IT was shewed me by suche as had been at the same batayle as well by knyghtes and squyers of Englande as of Scotlande at the house of the erle of Foiz for anone after this batayle was done I met at Ortays two squyers of Englande called Iohan of Newecastell and Iohan of Cauteron also whan I retourned fro Auignon I founde also there a knyght and a squyer of Scotlande I knewe them and they knewe me bysuche tokens as I shewed them of their countrey for I auctor of this boke in my youthe had rydden nygh ouer all the realme of Scotland and I was as than a fyftene dayes in the house of erle wyllyam Duglas father to the same erle Iames of whome I spake of nowe In a castell a fyue leages fro Edenboro win the countrey of Alquest the same tyme I sawe there this Erle Iames a fayre yonge chylde and a suster of his called the lady Blaunche and I was enfourmed by bothe these parties how this batayle was as sore a batayle fought as lyghtly hath been harde of before of suche a nombre and I beleue it well for englysshmen on the one partye and scottes on the other party are good men of warre for whan they mete there is a harde sight without sparynge there is no hoo bytwene them as longe as speares swordes ares or dagers wyll endure but lay on eche vpon other and whan they be well beaten and that the one parte hath optaygned the victory they than glorifye so in their dedes of armeâ and are so ioyfull that suche as be taken they shall be raunsomed or they go out of the âelde so that shortely eche of them is so contente with other that at their deparrynge curtoysly they wyll saye god thanke you But in fyghtynge one with another there is no playe nor sparynge and this is trewe and that shall well apere by this sayd rencountec for it was as valyauntly foughten as coulde be deuysed as ye shall here ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle Iames Duglas by his valyaÌtnesse incouraged his men who were reculed and in a maner discomfyted and in his so doynge he was wounded to dethe Cap. C.xliii KNyghtes and Squyers were of good corage on bothe parties to fyght valyauntly cowardes there had no place but hardynes rayned with goodly feates of armes for knyghtes and squiers were so ioyned to gyder at hande strokes that archers had no place of nother party There the scottes shewed great hardynesse and feught meryly with great desyre of honour the englysshmen were thre to one howe be it I say nat but englysshmen dyd nobly acquyte them selfe for euer the englysshmen had rather ben slayne or taken in the place than to flye Thus as I haue sayd the baners of Duglas and Percy and their men were met eche against other enuyous who shulde wynne the honoure of that iourney At the begynnynge the englysshemen were so stronge that they âeculed backe their enemyes Than the Erle Duglas who was of great harte and hygh of enterprise seynge his men recule backe than to recouer the place and to shewe knightly valure he toke his are in bothe his handes and entred so in to the prease that he made hym selfe waye in suche wyse that none durste aproche nere hym and he was so well armed that he bare well of suche strokes as he receyued thus he wente euer forwarde lyke a hardy Hector wyllynge a lone to conquere the felde and to dyscomfyte his enemyes But at laste he was encountred with thre speares all at ones the one strake hym on the shulder the other on the breste and the stroke glented downe to his bely and the thyrde strake hym in the thye and sore
we saye howe ye be right hertely welcome The kyng hath well herde and vnderstaÌde what ye haue sayd ye shall haue shortely and aunswere within a day or two suche as shall coÌtente you that is suffycient quod sir Iohan of Vyen and so tooke his leaue of the kynge and of his counsayle and wente to his lodgynge And it was shewed me howe he taryed there more than seuen dayes without hauynge of any answere he sawe nothynge but dyssymulacion wherwith he was sore dyspleased for all that tyme he coulde nat se the kyng for he kept hym close in his chambre And whan syr Iohan of Vien sawe that he coulde haue none other exployte in his busynes he spake on a daye to some of the kynges counsayle and sayd Syrs surely I wyll departe without aunswere They douted leste he wolde do as he sayd and surely so he had done and they had nat called hym on a day and made him his aunswere as they dyd Than it was sayd to hym howe he might well shewe the frenche kynge and suche as had sent hym thyder that they shulde haue the kinge of Castyle nor his counsayle in no maner of suspecte for they had nat done nor wolde nat do any thynge with the kynge of Englande that shulde breke or adnychilate in any maner of wayes the alyaunces that hath been sworne and sealed bytwene Fraunce Castyle howe be it thoughe the kynge of Castyle mary his sonne to the doughter of the duke of LaÌcastre therby to make a fynall peace for the chalenge that the duke maketh to the realme of Castyle by ryght of his wyfe and generally all the realme counsayleth the kynge there to though he assent wyll do it yet the frenche kyng nor his counsayle ought nat to be dyspleased there with for alwayes the kyng of Castyle and his men wyll be conioyned alyed with the french kynge and with the realme of Fraunce This was the substaunce of the answere that sir Iohan of Vien brought in to FrauÌce fro the knig of Castyle who proceded sorthe with the duke of Lancastre in his maryage made an amyable peace togyther by meanes of messengers that wente bytwene them for the duke laye in the marchesse of Burdeaulx and came thyder fro Bayon and the duches and her doughter where as they were receyued with great ioye for they were greatly desyred there And fro Burdeaux they wente to Lyborne WHan trewe and certayne tydynges was come into the erle of Foiz house howe the Kynge of Castyle was agreed with the duke of Lancastre and shulde mary his sonne with the dukes doughter and to gyue great landes in Castyle and greate nombre of floreyns about a two hundred thousande nobles wherof the erle had great marueyle This I knowe well for I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme. Than the erle of Foiz sayd Ah this kynge of Castyle is vnhappy for he hath made peace with a deed man for I knowe well the duke of Lancastre is in that case and in suche daunger that he can nat helpe hym selfe But the kynge of Castyle hathe mette with a sage and a valyaunte prince of the duke of Lancastre for he hath valyauntly borne hym selfe all the warre season NOwe lette vs somwhat speke of the army on the see So it was that aboute the feest of Crystmas the erle of Arundell who had ben a longe season on the see costynge the fronters of Bretaygne and of Rochell Xaynton and of Normandy and so passed before Karenten but a fore that they tooke lande at Chirbroke and wolde haue done there some dedes of armes And the same season there were souerayne capytayns in the towne and garyson of Karentyne the lorde of Hambre and the lorde of Coucy and with them a great nombre of knyghtes and squyers of NormaÌdy Whan the erle of Arundell knewe howe the towne of Karentyne was so well prouyded and furnysshed with good men of warre than he passed forthe for he sawe well in assautinge therof he myght rather lese than wyn Than he came to a nother towne therby called Toraguy and assayled it and toke it perforce and pylled it and wanne there great rychesse and toke with theym many prisoners and than came before the good towne of Bayeux and came to the barryers and there they made a skrymysshe and none assaute Than the englysshmen passed the watches of saynte Clemente and dyd great domage in the countrey for they taryed there a fyftene dayes and no man encountred them the marshall of Blannâuille was in Normandy but he knewe nat of their comynge if he had he wolde haue prouyded for the mater And whan the englysshe men had done their enterprise and done great domage to the countrey of Normandy asmoche as a huÌdred thousande frankes came vnto Than they drewe backe and passed agayne the watches and retourned to Chyrbroke and dyd put all their conquest in suretye and sauegarde in to their shyppes And whan they had wynde wether and their shyppes charged than they entred and dysancred and toke the see and retourned in to Englande aryued at Hampton Thus the army of the erle of Arundell on the see concluded in that season ¶ Howe syr Loys of Xancere wente to se the erle of Foize at Ortays and howe before the duke of Lancastre at Burdeaux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue frenchmen and fyue englysshe men and howe the duches of Lancastre wente with her doughter in to Castyle to kynge Iohan. Cap. C.liiii IN this seasoÌ sir Loys of Xancer marshall of FrauÌce was in Languedoc in the marches of Tholouse and Carcassone and he knewe well of the treatye that was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and therle of Foiz for the maryage of the duke of Bowlonges doughter whome the duke of Berrey wolde haue though the damosell were right yonge Than the marshall had affection to go se the erle of Foyz as I was enfourmed by his men at Ortays for whan he came thyder he founde me there He came at the sendynge of the frenche kynge and I shall shewe you why wherfore The frenche kyng was as thaÌ yonge and had desyre to trauayle and he had neuer ben as than in Languedoc whiche is a great countrey and full of cyties townes and casteles and as than nygh all dystroyed and wasted for the duke of Berry and his counsayle who had the gouernauÌce of that countrey had greatly enpouerysshed and pylled the countrey by tayles and great oppressyons the complayntes wherof came to the kynges eares by reason that he was newly entred in to the domynacion of his Realme And the kynge sayde he wolde go in to Languedoc to vysite that countrey and also to go and se the pope whome he had neuer sene before and also in that voyage he sayd he wolde se the erle of Foiz of whome he had herde so moche honour and larges spokeÌ of Thus the marshall went forthe on his waye and
of pope Clement who had humbly written to hym But whan they caÌe to saint Poules they were nat answered the kynge dissymuled the mater with theÌ so that they were yuell coÌtent Finally the kyng contented theÌ sayeng howe shortely they shulde here other newes and so they dyd for the cardinals of Rome entred in to the coÌclaue and made a newe pope the cardynall or Naples a noble and a valyant clerke He was called Bonyface Whan the Frenche kyng and his couÌsayle herde therof they were pensyue for than they well ymagined howe that the cysme was lykely to endure longe Than the duke of Burgoyne sayde to the kyng Sir nowe regarde wheder your writynges hadde nat ben loste or no. It is nowe fallen as I sayd Fayre vncle quod the kyng ye saye trouthe ThanÌe graces were opyned to all clerkes at Rome by Bonyface and all promyses certifyed there of suche as were vnder his obeysauÌce and suche as wolde receyue suche graces wente towardes Rome And whan they approched the marchesse of Danconne they rode in great paryll For sir Bernarde de la Salle who kepte the fronters there made warre to the Romains in the quarell of pope Clement toke suche clerkes as paste by and dyde them moche trouble and many slayne and loste ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekynge of these popes and tourne to other maters ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the yelding vp and takyng of the stronge castell of Vanchadore in Lymosyn of olde parteyning to syr Geffcay Tete Noyre Cap. C .lxvii. YE haue herde here before howe sir Geffray Tete Noyre who had ben longe capitayns of the castell of Vanchadore in Lymosyn raigned valiauntly and howe he helde his fortresse agaynst all men as longe as he lyued And in his lyfe dayes had paâesed the couÌtrey more than .xxx. my to long about hym also ye haue herde howe he dyed and by what incydence And howe on his dethe bedde he ordayned his .ii. nephues Alayne Roux Peter Roux to be capitayns of that castell of VaÌchadore after his dethe and caused in his presence all the companyons of that garison to swere faythe trouthe and homage seruyce and trewe obeysaunce to the sayd two capitayns And after the dethe of this Geffraye Tete Noyre these two bretherne raigned there a certayne space held alwayes the couÌtrey in warre and in composycion of patesyng And bycause that castell parteyned to the herytage of the duke of Berrey for he had bought it of the erle of MouÌt pensyer and his sonne Iohan of Berey bare his name therby therfore the duke was sore displeased that it was out of his handes but he coude nat amende it yet he had layd siege therto dyuers tymes by bastides and none otherwyse but they within sette lytell therby for they wolde issue out and ryde abrode in the countrey at their pleasure This Alayne nor Peter wolde in no wyse obey any peace or truce that was taken bytwene EnglaÌde and Fraunce They sayde they were nat bounde to obey but wolde make warre at their pleasure wherby the countreis of Auuergne and Lymosyn were sore traueyled And the duke of Berrey to resyst them caused sir Wyllyam Butler a gentyll knyght of Auuergne sir Iohan Boesme Launce and sir Loyes DaÌbier with dyuers other knightê and squyers of Auuergne and Lymosyn to laye siege by bastydes to the castell of Vanchadore laye there at the cost of the countrey There they laye a louge season SO it fell the same season as it was shewed me Alayn and Peter Roux toke their aduyce toguyder and denysed to attrappe to take by crafte sir Wyllyam Butler and sir Iohan Boesme Launce who hadde done them dyuers displeasures These two bretherne ymagined bytwene theÌ and sayde one to another Howe they wolde secretely say howe they wolde yelde vp their fortresse for a certayne soÌme of floreyns And to say howe they are wery and wyll kepe the garison no lengar but to retourne in to their owne countreis To the whiche deuyse they sayde surely the duke of Berrey wyll gladly leane vnto Also they deuysed to demaunde no more but tenne thousande fraÌkes bycause that somme myght soone be made And also they sayde they wolde haue agayne their money and the two knyghtes also prisoners by reason of a busshment that they wolde laye in a great towre Beholde nowe what a folisshe ymaginacion these two Bretons were of to betray these two knyghtes and to haue their money if any iuell came to them therby it ought nat to be coÌplayned Vpon this determynacion they putte out of the castell one of their varlettes and sayde to hym Go thy waye to the FreÌche bastydes and suffre them to take the. ThaÌ requyre to be brought to sir Wyllyam Butler and to sir Iohan Boesme Launce Than delyuer them this letter fro vs and demaunde for an answere for the mater toucheth vs and them also greatly The varlet sayd it shulde be done for he thought none yuell and so went to the Frenche bastides And whan he came nere to the bastydes he was demauÌded what he wolde he answered and sayd he wolde gladly speke with sir Wyllyam Butler or with sir Iohan Boesme LauÌce He was brought to them for as than they were toguyder Whan he sawe them he made his reuerence and drewe them aparte and delyuered to them the letter that Alayne and Peter Roux had sente them Of that tydinges they had great marueyle and so toke the letter and reed it and therin they founde how that Alayne Peter Roux wolde speke with them for their profite Whan they herde that they had more marueyle thanÌe they had before douted of trayson Howe be it they sent them worde that if they wolde come out of the castell and speke with them without they wolde assure them to entre agayne in to their fortresse without daunger or trouble This was the answere that the varlet brought to their maister Thanne Alayne and Peter roux said we thynke we may be sure ynough by these wordes sythe their faythes and seales be at the writyng they are true knyghtes and also we shall speke with them for a treatie whervnto we thynke they wyll gladly entende The nexte mornynge they opynned a wycket ioynyng to the gate aueyled downe a planche borde hangyng by two chaynes and issued out and stode on the planche than sir Wyllyam Butler and sir Iohan Boesme LauÌce came thyder and lyghted of their horses and made their menne to drawe abacke Than the two capitayns within said Sirs may we surely come out and speke with you ye surely quod the knyghtes shall we be as sure agayne of your parte without trayson ye sir surely quod they without doute Than Alayne and Peter Roux passed the bridge came to theÌ so they four were toguyder with out other company Than the two Frenche knightes said Sirs howe saye you What coÌmunycacion wyll ye haue with vs Are ye in mynde to yelde vp your Castell to
Englande called Nycholas Leau he touched the Shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye he was redy to answere the first course they strake eche other so sore on the sheldes that if their staues had nat broken it had ben to their great doÌmage but they helde theÌ selfes well fro fallyng The secoÌde cope they attaynted eche other on the helmes that the fyre flewe oute for their strokes crossed and so passed by The thyrde was a goodly course for they strake eche other so euin in the sight of their helmes that eche of them vnhelmed other so clerely that their helmes flewe in to the felde ouer their horse cropes the iusters ceased for that daye for there was none Englisshe man that offred to iust any more that day Than the erle of Huntyngdon and the erle Marshall and the lorde Clyfforde the lorde Beamont sir Iohan Clynton sir Iohan Dambretycourt sir Peter Shyrborne and all other knyghtes that had iusted those four dayes with the french knightes thanked them greatly of their pastaunce and said syrs all suche as wolde iuste of our partie haue accomplisshed their desyres wherfore nowe we wyll take leaue of you we wyll returne to Calays and so in to Englande And we knowe well that who so euer wyll iust with you shall fynde you here these thyrty dayes acordynge to the tenoure of your chalenge and we ones come into Englande such knightes as desyre to do dedes of armes we shall desyre them to come to vysite you The thre knyghtes thanked them and sayd They shall be right hertely welcome and we shall delyuer them acordynge to the ryght of armes as we haue done you and more ouer we thanke you of the curtesy that ye haue shewed to vs. Thus in curtes maner the englysshe men departed fro saynte Ingilbertes and rode to Calays where they taryed nat longe for the saturdaye after they toke shyppynge sayled to Douer and was there by noone and the sondaye they rode to Rochester and the nexte day to London and so euery man to his owne The thre frenche knyghtes kepte styll their place at saynt Ingylbertes The frenche kinge and the lorde of Garancyers who had ben there all that season was vnknowen whan the englysshe men were departed they neuer seased rydynge tyll they came to Crayll on the ryuer of Oyse where the quene was at that tyme. After that the Englysshe men came in to Englande I herde nat that any mo came ouer to do any dedes of armes at saynte Ingylbertes howe be it the thre frenche knyghtes helde styll their place tyll their thyrty dayes were accomplysshed and than at their leysar they retourned euery manne and came to Parys to se the kyng and the duke of Thourayne and other lordes that were at Parys at that tyme who made them good chere as reason requyred for they had valyauntly borne them selfe wherby they atcheued gret honour of the kyng and of the realme of Fraunce ⸪ ¶ Of the enterpryse and voyage of the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of the duke of Burbone who was chefe of that army at the requeste of the genouoys to go in to Barbary to besiege the strong towne of Auffryke Cap. C.lxix I Shall nowe declare the maner of an hygh and noble enterprise that was done in this seasoÌ by knightes of FrauÌce of England of other countreys in the realme of Barbary Syth I haue concluded the armes that was doone at saynt Ingylbertes nowe wyll I shewe of other maters for to me it is great pleasure to declare them for if pleasure had nat inclyned me to write and to enquyre for the trouthe of many matters I had neuer come to an ende as I haue done Nowe sayeth the texte of the mater that I wyll procede on that in this season newes spredde abrode in Fraunce and in dyuers other couÌtreys that the genouoys wolde make an army to go in to Barbary with gret prouysion as well of bysquet as fresshe water and wyneger with gales and vesselles for all knyghtes and squyers that wolde go in that voyage the cause that moued them thus to do I shall shewe you Of alonge tyme the affrycans had made warre by see on the fronters of the genouoys and pylled and robbed their Ilandes suche as were obeysant to them and also the ryuer of Genes lay euer in parell and daunger of them of Auffryke whiche was a stronge towne on the parties garnysshed with gates towres and hyghe and thycke walles depe dykes And lyke as the stronge towne of Calays is the key wherby who soeuer is lord therof may entre into the realme of Fraunce or in to Flaunders at his pleasure and maye by see or by lande sodenly inuade with great puyssaunce do many great feates In lyke wyse by comparyson this towne of Auffryke is the key of the barbaryns and of the realme of Auffryke and of the realmes of Bougne and Thunes and of other realmes of the infydeles in those parties This towne dyd moch dyspleasure to the genouoys who are greate marchauntes and by them of Aufryke they were often tymes taken on the see as they went or returned fro their feate of marchaundyses Than the genouoys who were ryche puyssaunt bothe by lande and by see hauyng great sygnories they regarded the dedes of the affrycans and also consydred the complayntes of suche isles as were vnder their obeysaunce as the isle Dable the isle of Syre the isle of Guerse the isle of Bostan the isle of Gorgennem and vnto the Gulfe of Lyon to the isles of Sardonne and Finisse and vnto the isle of Mayllorke whiche thre isles be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Aragon Than the genouoys by comon acorde agreed to sende in to the frenche courte and to offre to all knightes and squiers that wolde go with them to be siege this towne of Aufryke to fynde them galees and other vessels charged with bysquet swete water and wyneger at their coste and charge so that one of the frenche kynges vncles or els his brother the duke of Thourayn who was yonge and lusty and lykely to conquere honour shulde be capytayne generall And the genouoys furthermore promised .xii. thousande crosbowes genouoys well furnysshed and eyght thousande of other with speares and pauesses at their cost charge This the genouoys dyde bycause they knewe that there was a trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yere wherfore they supposed that knyghtes and iÌquyers as well of FrauÌce as of Englande wolde be glad to be doynge in some parte WHan tydynges came first into FrauÌce of this voyage the knightes and squiers of the countrey were right ioyfull and the messangers fro Genne were aunswered that they shulde nat departe tyll they were well herde and so to haue socour their request was so reasonable as to the augmentynge of the crysten faythe Thus they were caused to tary a season at Parys There to debate that mater and to se who shulde be chefe
alwayes he had auaunsed his sonne of Ostrenaunt towardes the kyng and his couÌsaile This mater was nat forgotten but incontinent the Frenche kyng wrote sharpe letters to therle of OstrenauÌt who was at quesnoy in Heynaulte coÌmaundyng hym to come to Parys to do his homage before the kynge and the other peeres of Fraunce for the coutie of Ostrenaut or els the kyng wolde take it fro hym and make hym warre Whan the erle had well ouersene these letters and parceyued howe that the Frenche kyng and his counsayle were displeased with hym to make his answere he assembled his counsayle as the lorde of Fountayns the lorde of Gomegynes sir Wyllyam of Hermes the lorde of Trassegnies the bayly of Heynaulte the lorde of Sancelles sir Rase of Montigny the abbot of Crispyne Iohan Sulbart Iaquemart Barrier of Valencennes These wysemen counsayled togider what answere might be made to the kynges letters There were many reasons alleged at last all thynges consydred they thought it for the best to write to the Frenche kynge and to his counsayle to take a daye to answere clerely to all maner of demaundes by the mouthe of certayne credyble êsons and none by writyng And in the meane season they sente certayne notable personages to the erle of Heynaulte and duke Aubert of HolaÌde to haue their couÌsayles what answere to make Thus they dyde They wrote swetely and courtesly to the kynge and to his counsayle so that with those fyrst letters the kyng and his couÌsayle was well content Than therle and his couÌsayle sent in to Hollande the lorde of Trassegines and the lorde of Sancelles Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier They rode to the erle of Heynault and shewed hym the state of the countie or Heynault and the letters that the Frenche kyng hadde sent to his sonne the erle of Ostrenaunt the erle of Heynaulte had marueyle of that mater and said Sirs I thought neuer otherwyse but that it shulde come thus to passe Wyllyam my sonÌe had nothyng to do to go in to EnglaÌde I haue delyuered hym the rule and gouernaunce of the couÌtie of Heynaulte he might haue done vsed hym selfe accordyng to the counsayle of the countrey Sirs I shall tell you what ye shall do Go to my fayre cosyn the duke of Burgoyn for it lyeth well in his power to regarde and to sette an order in all thynges demaunded by the Frenche kynge I canne gyue you no better counsayle With this answere they departed out of Hollande and came in to Heynault and there shewed what answere they had wherwith the erle his counsayle were content There was assigned to go in to FrauÌce to the duke of Burgoyne the lorde of Trassegnies sir WyllmÌ of Hermyes sir Rase of Montigny Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier To shewe and declare all the processe and sute that they made at the Frenche courte shulde be ouer longe to resyte But finally all thynges concluded for all that the duke of Burgoyne coude do there was non other remedy but that the erle of Ostrenaunt must come personally to Parys and to knowe his homage due to the Frenche kyng for the countie of Ostrenaunt or els surely to haue warre The lorde of coucy sir Olyuer of Clysson toke great payne for the erles sake but sir IohnÌ Mercier and the lorde de la Ryuer labored on the contrarye syde as moche as they might ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke any more of this mater and retourne to speke of the lordes knyghtes of Fraunce who were at the siege before the strong towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe and by what incydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Aufryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man retourned to their owne countreis Cap. C.lxxiiii YE haue herde here before howe the christen men had besieged the stronge towne of Aufryke by lande by see Settyng all their ententes howe to conquere it for they thought if they might wyn it the brute therof shulde sounde to their great honours and prayse and howe they myght there kepe them selfe toguyder and to resyst agaynst their ennemyes sayenge howe they shulde alwayes haue conforte of the Christen men and specially of the Frenche kyng who was yong and desyrous of dedes of armes consydring howe he had truce with the Englysshmen for two yeres to coÌe the sarazyns feared the same wherfore dayly they made prouysyon for the towne and refresshed alwaies their towne with newe fressh men hardy aduenturers accordynge to their vsage Thus the season passed on and after the christen men hadde suffred the great losse of their companyons with lytell wynnynge or aduauntage on their partye all their hole hoost were in a maner dyscomforted for they coulde nat se howe to be reuenged Than many of theym beganne to murmure sayenge we lye here all in vayne as for the skrymysshes that we make therby shall we neuer wyn the Towne of Auffryke for if we slee any of them for eche of them they wyll gette agayne ten other They be in their owne countrey they haue vytayles and prouysyons at their pleasure and that we haue is with great dauÌger and parell What shall we thynke to do if we lye here all this wynter longe and colde nyghtes we shal be morfounded and frosen to dethe Thus we shall be in a herde case by dyuers wayes first in wynter no man dare take the see for the cruell and tyrryble wyndes and tempestes of the see for the sees and tempestes are more fierser in wynter than in somer and if we shulde lacke vytayles but eight dayes togyther and that the see wolde suffre none to come to vs we were all deed and lost without remedy Secondly though it were so that we had vytayles and all thynges necessary with out daunger yet howe coulde our watche endure the payne and traueyle contynually to watche euery night the parell and aduenture is ouer herde for vs to beare for our enemyes who be in their owne countrey and knowe the countrey may come by nyght and assayle vs to their great aduauntage and do vs great domage as they haue done all redy Thyrdly if for faute of good ayre of swete fresshe meates wherwith we haue been norysshed that mortalyte hap to fall in our hoost we shall dye euery man fro other for we haue no remedy to resyst agaynst it Also furthermore if the genouoys turne agaynst vs which are rude people and traytours they may be nyght tyme entre in to their shyppes so leue vs here to pay for the scotte All these doutes are to be consydred by our capytaynes who lye at their ease and regarde nat the case we be in ⪠and also some of the genouoys spared nat to speke and sayd in raylynge to the crysten men What men of armes be ye frenche men whan we departed fro Genne we thought that within fyftene dayes that ye had layen at siege before the towne of Aufryke ye shulde haue conquered
but they coulde nat be beleued So the two knyghtes remayned styll in prison in dauÌger openly to haue loste their heedes and by all lykelyhode so they had doone if the kynge had nat recouered his helth and by the meane of the duchesse of Berrey who made instante labour for the lorde de la Ryuer And the lorde Clysson was styll in Bretayne and made sore warre agaynst the duke there and the duke agaynst hym whiche warre cost many a mannes lyfe as ye shall here here after in this hystory TRewe it is this sycknesse that the kyng tooke in the voyage towardes Bretayne greatly abated the ioye of the realme of Fraunce and good cause why for whan the heed is sicke the body canne haue no ioye No man durste openly speke therof but kepte it priuy as moche as myght be and it was couertly kept fro the quene for tyll she was delyuered and churched she knewe nothynge therof whiche tyme she had a doughter The physycion mayster Guyllyam who had the chefe charge of healynge of the kynge was styll aboute hym and was ryght dyligent and well acquyted hymselfe wherby he gate bothe honour and profyte for lytell lytell he brought the kynge in good estate and toke away the seuer and the heate and made hym to haue taste and appetyte to eate and drinke slepe rest and knowledge of euery thynge howe be it he was very feble and lytell and lytell he made the Kynge to ryde a huntynge and on hawkynge And whanne tydynges was knowen through Fraunce howe the kynge was well mended and had his memory agayne euery man was ioyfull and thanked god the kyng thus beyng at Crayell desyred to se the quene his wyfe and the Dolphyn his sonne So the quene came thyder to him and the chylde was brought thyder The kynge made them good chere and so lytell and lytell through the helpe of god the kynge recouered his helthe And whan mayster Guyllyam sawe the kynge in so good case he was ryght ioyfull as reasone was for he had done a fayre cure and so delyuered hym to the dukes of Orlyance Berrey Burgoyne and Burbone and sayd My lordes thanked be god the kyng is nowe in good state and helth so I delyuer hym but beware lette no man dysplease hym for as yet his spyrytes be nat fully ferme nor stable but lytell and lytell he shall waxe stronge Reasonable dysporte rest and myrthe shall be moste profytable for hym and trouble hym as lytell as may be with any counsayles for he hath been sharpely handeled with a hote malady Than it was consydred to retaygne this mayster Guylliam and to gyue hym that he shulde be contente with all whiche is the ende that all physicions requyre to haue gyftes and rewardes He was desyred to abyde styll aboute the kynge but he excused himselfe and sayd howe he was an olde impotent man and coulde nat endure the maner of courte wherfore he desyred to returne in to his owne countrey Whan the counsayle sawe he wolde none otherwyse do they gaue him leaue and at his departing gaue him a thousande crownes and retayned hym in wages with four horses whan so euer he wolde resorte to the courte Howe be it I beleue he neuer came there after for whan he retourned to the cytie of Laon there he contynued and dyed a ryche man He lefte behynde hym a .xxx. thousande frankes All his dayes he was one of the greatest nygardes that euer was all his pleasure was to get good and to spende nothynge for in his howse he neuer spente past two souses of Parys in a day but wolde eate and drinke in other mennes howses where as he myght get it With this rodde lyghtly all physicyons are beaten ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the truse whiche was acorded bytwene Englande and FrauÌce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. AS ye haue herde here before in the bokes of this hygh and excellent hystory at the request of the ryght hygh and myghty prynce my dere lorde and mayster Guy of Chastellone erle of Blois lorde of Auesnes of Chymay of Beaumont of Streumehont of the Gode I Iohan Froysart preest and chapeleyn to my said lorde and at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay and of Lysle in Flaunders haue enterprised this noble mater treatynge of the aduentures and warres of Fraunce and Englande and other countreys conioyned and a lyed to them as it may apere clerely by the treaties therof made vnto the date of this presente day the whiche excellent materê as longe as I lyue by the helpe of god I shall coÌtynue for the more I folowe and labour it the more it pleaseth me As the noble knyght or squyer louynge the feates of armes do perceyuer in the same and be therby experte and made parfyte so in laborynge of this noble mater I delyte and take pleasure ¶ It hath ben here before conteyned in our hystory howe truce was made at Balyngham to endure thre yere bytwene Englande and Fraunce and for that purpose the erle of saynt Poll the lorde of Castell Morant and syr Taupyn of Cauteuell ambassadours of FrauÌce had ben in Englande with the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke for to vnderstande the kinges pleasure and the opynion of the coÌmons of Englande for at the comunycacyon and parlyamente at Amyence they were at a poynte of agrement of peace vpon certayne artycles specifyed reseruynge the agrement therto of the coÌmons of Englande thus these ambassadours were retourned in to Fraunce and were answered howe that at the feest of saynt Mychell nexte ensuynge there shulde be a Parlyament at Westmynster of the thre estates of Englande at whiche tyme the mater shulde be declared and a full aunswere made Whan tydynges was come in to Englande of the frenche kynges sycknesse that matter was greatly hyndred howe be it kynge Rycharde of Englande and the duke of Lancastre had great affection to haue had peace so that if they might haue had their ententes peace had ben made bytwene Englande and Fraunce But the coÌmynalte of Englande desyred warre sayenge howe warre with Fraunce was more conuenyent for them than peace and of that opynyon was one of the kynges vncles Thâ mas duke of Glocestre erle of Perces and constable of Englande who was welbeloued in the realme he enclyned rather to the warre than to peace And of his opynyon were the yonge gentylmen of the realme suche as desyred feates of armes But his brother the duke of Lancastre bycause he was eldest and of most puissaunce in Englande he thought and said that the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce had endured longe ynoughe and that peace were more mete ⪠for by the warre cristende me was sore febled for the great turke Lamorabaquyn was with greate puyssaunce on the fronters of HuÌgery wherfore he sayd it shulde be honorable to all yonge lusty knyghtes and squyers to take their waye thyder and there to exercyse dedes of armes LEtte
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌmaunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌmune and ought to be debated by coÌmune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌmune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâtham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
discended fro hym Sir quod I all this might well be ther is no thyng but that may fall but they of Armynake are right stronge and so therby this countrey shal be euer in warre and stryfe but sir I pray you shewe me the iust cause why the warre first moued bytwene them of Foiz and Armynake I wyll shewe you ê the knight I ensure you it is a marueylous warre for as they saye eche of theÌ haue cause Sir aunciently about a huÌdred yere past there was a lorde in Byerne called Gascone a ryght valyant man in armes is buryed in the freres right solempnely at Ortaise and there ye may se what persone he was of stature and of body for in his lyfe tyme his pycture was made in latyn the whiche is yet there This Gascone lorde of Bierne had two doughters the eldest was maryed to the erle of Armynake that was thanÌe and the yongest to the erle of Foiz who as than was nephue to the kyng of Aragon and as yet therle of Foiz beareth his armes for he discended out of Aragon his armes are palle golde and goules And so it fortuned that this lorde of Biern had a gret warre agaynst the kynge of Spayne that was than who came through all Bisquay with a gret nombre of men of warre to entre in to Bierne The lorde Gascone of Bierne whan he was enformed of his comyng he assembled people on all sydes where he might get men of warre wrote letters to his two sonnes in lawe therle of Armynake and therle of Foiz that they shulde come to serue and ayde hym to defende his herytage These letters sene the erle of Foiz as sone as he myght asseÌbled his people prayed all his frendes so moche that he had a fyue huÌdred knightê and squiers armed and two thousande varlettes with speares dartes pauesses all a fote And so he came in to the countre of Bierne to serue his father who had of hym great ioye And so all they passed the bridge at Ortaise ouer the ryuer lodged bytwene Sanetere and thospytall the kyng of Spayne who had .xx. M. men was lodged nat far thens and ther the lorde Gascon of Bierne therle of foiz taryed for therle of Armynac thought euer that he wolde coÌe so taried for hi thre dayes and on the .iiii. day therle of Armynac sent his letters by an haraulde to the lorde Gascoine of Bierne and sente hym worde howe he myght nat come nor howe he hadde nothyng to do to beare armes for the countre of Bierne Whan the lorde Gascoyne herde those tidynges of excusacions and sawe howe heshulde haue none ayde nor conforte of the Erle of Armynake he was sore abasshed and demaunded counsayle of the erle of Foiz and of the other barones of Bierue howe they shulde maynteyne theÌ selfe Sir quod the erle of Foiz sithe we be here assembled let vs go and fight with our enemyes this counsayle was taken than they ordayned their people they were a twelfe huÌdred men of armes and sixe thousande men a fote The erle of Foiz tooke the first batayle and so came on the kyng of Spaygne and sette on his lodgynges And there was a great batayle and a fierse and slayne mo than ten thousande spayniardê and there therle of Foiz toke prisoners the kynge of Spaygnes sonne and his brother sent them to his father in lawe the lorde Gascoyne of Bierne who was in the areregarde there the spaynyerdes were so disconfyted that the erle of Foiz chased them to the porte saynt Adrian in Bisquay and the kynge of Spayne toke the abbey and dyde on the vesture of a monke or els he had ben taken Than the erle of Foiz retourned to the lorde Gascone of Bierne who made hym good chere as it was reason for he had saued his honour and kepte his countre of Bierne the whiche els was lykely to haue ben loste bycause of this batayle and disconfyture that the erle of Foiz made on the spaygnierdes and for the takyng of the kynges sonne and brother and the lorde of Bierne hadde peace with the spaygnierdes at his owne wyll And whan the lorde Gascoyne was retourned to Ortaise there before all the barons of Foiz and Bierne that were there present Hesayd to his sonne of Foiz Fayre sonne ye are my true and faithfull sonne ye haue saued myne honour and my couÌtrey The erle of Armynake who hath maryed myne eldest doughter hath ercused hym selfe fro this busynesse and wolde nat come to defeÌde myne herytage wherin he shulde haue part Wherfore I saye that suche parte as he shulde haue by reason of my doughter he hath forfait and lost it And here clerely I enheryte you my sonne of Foiz after my dyscease of all the hoole lande and to your heyres for euer And I desyre wyll and commaunde all my subiectes to seale accorde and agre to the same And all answered howe they were well contente so to do Thus by this meanes as I haue shewed you aunciently the erles of Foiz were lordes of the countre of Bierne and bare the crye armes name and had the profyte therof Howe be it for all this they of Arminake had nat their clay me quyte This is the cause of the warre by twene Foiz and Armynake By my faythe sir than quod I ye haue well declared the mater I neuer herde it before And nowe that I knowe it I shall putte it in perpetuall memorie if god gyue me grace to retourne in to my countrey But sir if I durste I wolde fayne demaunde of you one thynge by what insydent the erle of Foiz sonne dyed Thafie the knyght studyed a lytell and sayd Sir the maner of his dethe is right pytuous I wyll nat speke therof Whan ye come to Ortaise ye shall fynde theÌ that wyll shewe you if ye demaunde it And than I helde my peace and we rode tyll we came to Morlens ⸪ ⸫ Of the great vertuousnesse and largesse that was in therle of Foiz and the maner of the pytuouse dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Cap. xxvi THe next day we departed and roode to Dyner to MouÌtgarbell and so to Ercye there we dranke And by sonne setting we came to Ortaise The knight a lighted at his owne lodgynge I a lyghted at the Mone wher dwelte a squier of the erles Erualton de Pyne who well receyued me bycause I was of Fraunce Sir Spayne of Leon wente to the castell to therle and founde hym in his galarye for he had but dyned a lytell before For the erles vsage was alwayes that it was hyghe noone or he arose out of his bedde and supped euer at mydnight The knight shewed hym howe I was come thider and incontynent I was sente for to my ladgynge for he was the lorde of all the worlde that moost desyred to speke with strauÌgers to here tidynges Whan the erle sawe me he made me good chere reteyned me as
his leaue departed and rode to Chasteaulx and iourneyed so long that he came to the cite of NauÌtes and there refresshed hym And than he demauÌded where the duke was and it was shewed hym howe he was in the marches of WeÌnes therefouÌde the duke who receyued him ioyously for they were nere cosyns togider The erle of Stampes who right well coude acquyte hymselfe amonge great princes and ladyes for he had been brought vp amonge theym in his youthe acquytedde hym selfe right sagely with the duke And shewed nat the princypall affectyon of his corage at his fyrste commynge but dissymuled two or thre dayes and whan he sawe his tyme he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the duke the rather therby to drawe hym to his entent and than sayd Sir and my right dere cosyn ye ought nat to marueyle thoughe I am come so farre of to se you for greatlye I haue desyred it And than notably he shewed hym the charge that he hadde to saye to hym on the behalfe of the duke of Berrey of the whiche wordes the duke made light And for resolucion of answere at that tyme the duke sayde Cosyn we knowe well this that ye haue sayde is trewe I shall remembre me and ye shall abyde here with vs as long as it shall please you for your comyng dothe vs great pleasure Other aunswere the erle coulde nat haue as at that tyme. The erle taryed there a fyftene dayes and the duke shewed hym gret loue and shewed hym the fayre castell of Ermyn whiche was nere to Wannes the whiche the duke had newely made and there he toke parte of his pastauÌce And alwayes whanne he sawe a conuenyente tyme he shewed swetely and sagely the cause of his comyng And euer the duke aunswered hym so couertly that the erle coulde haue no suretie in any aunswere to make any restytucion of a hundred thousand frankes nor of the castels that he helde of the constables the whiche yet at the ende he dyd and that was without request of any persone whan it was leste loked for as I shall shewe you hereafter as I was enfourmed Whan the erle Stampes sawe that he laye there in vayne than he thought to take his leaue and to retourne in to Fraunce and so he dyd The duke gaue hym leaue and at his departynge gaue hym a fayre whyte palfrey aparelled and it had ben for a kynge and gaue hym a fayre rynge with a stone well worthe a thousande frankes Thus the erle departed and retourned by Anger 's and there founde the quene of Napoles and Iohan of Bretayne who greatly desyred to here tydynges and sayd Fayre cosyn I thynke ye haue sped well for ye haue taryed longe out Than the erle shewed parte of his busynesse but fynally howe he had spedde nothynge Whan he had taryed there a day he departed and went to Towrs and at last came in to Berrey and founde the duke at Mehyn a castell of his whiche he had newly made and had workemen dayly theron Whan the duke of Berrey sawe the erle of Stampes he made hym good chere and demaunded tydinges of Bretayne There he declared fro poynt to poynte all that he had sente and herde and sayde howe in no wyse he coulde breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose The duke of Berrey passed the mater lyghtly whan he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And so retourned in to Fraunce to the king and to the duke of Burgoyne his brother and shewed theym howe he had sente in to Bretaygne to the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes and declared in euery poynt howe he had spedde Thus the mater rested whan they sawe none other remedy ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of LaÌcastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenchmen recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the englisshmen that had ben there iÌ that warre defamed and spake yuell of the couÌtrey of Galyce and howe the frenche kynge sent for the duke of Irelande Ca. C.xxiiii IT hath been resyted here before in this hystory howe the englisshmen dyd in Galyce howe the duke and the duchesse and his doughter came to the Porte of Portyngale and there taryed a season with kynge Iohan of Portugale and with the yonge quene doughter to the duke of Lancastre as ye haue herde here before It anoyed greatly the duke and nat without a cause in that he had done nothynge for his profyte all that season in Castyle but that he hadde done was to his great domage his men deed of sykenes of the best of his company knyghtes and squyers And suche conquest as he hadde made with great payne and cost he sawe well it shulde besoone recouered agayne by the kynge of castell And in dede so it was for as sone as he was departed and entred in to Portugale and that the spanyardes and knyghtes of Fraunce suche as were taryed there with syr Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Castyle sawe that the duke of Lancastre was departed and that in maner all his englysshe men were departed fro hym Than they sette forwarde to reconquere agayne all that had ben loste of the realme of Castyle the whiche was sone done for they of the townes castels cyties in Galyce had rather to haue ben vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Castyle than vnder the duke of Lancaster without he had been able to haue kepte the felde to haue defended the countrey For they of Castyle Lombardy and of Italy of vsage euer they saye Lyue he that is strongest and he that wynneth All that euer the duke of Lancastre had wonne fro the feast of Easter to the begynnynge of Iuly all was wonne agayne and refresshed with newe frenchmen and men of Castyle and the englysshmen that were left there by the duke in garysons who thought to haue taryed there peasably all the wynter were sone put out outher by fayre meanes or perforce and some slayne suche as wolde nat yelde vp and some returned by sauecoÌducte to passe by Portugale so to Bayon or to Burdeaux And of all this the duke of Lancastre was well aduertysed he beynge in the cytie of Porte in Portugale but he coude nat remedy it whiche was ryghtsore dypleasaunte to his herte It is nat to be beleued the contrary for the more noble valyaunt and sage that a man is displeasures to hym be the more bytter and paynefull howe be it the duke wolde say often tymes and bare out a good face If we haue lost this yere by the grace of god a nother season shall be for vs. the fortunes of this worlde are meruaylous they can nat be always permanente Also the kynge of Portugale gaue hym alwayes good comforte and sayde Syr ye may abyde here and kepe your astate and wryte to youre bretherne and frendes in Englande that they maye sende you this nexte Marche a fyue or syre hundred speares and two thousande archers and I shall