of armes done and there syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere fought with an axe ryght valyauntly and so dyd his .ii. companyons on the other partye the Spanyardes fought ryght valyauntly Thus they fought the space of .iii. houres whiche was meruayle that meÌ„ coulde endure so longe in theyr armure fyghtynge but the grete dysyre that eyther partye had to wynne honoure caused them to endure the more payne and syr surely Spanyardes and Portyngales are harde men in batayle specyally when they se it is of necessyte thus they fought longe that no maÌ„ knewe who had the better theyr batayle was so egall And syr thanked be god there was nother baner nor penon on our syde that day ouerthrowen but fynally theyr syde began to open and were beten downe on euery syde so that the dyscomfyture fell on them then theyr pages fled awaye to saue themselfe and of the .vii. capytaynes that were there present there scaped away but one that was the meanes of his page who brought hym his horse he dyd his mayster good seruyce that day and that was Adyentall Cassel all the other .vi. were slayne for there was neuer a man taken to raunsome Thus syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere his company obtayned the vyctory of theyr enemyes who were thre agaynst two and this was on a tuysday in the moneth of Octobre nere to Treutouse in the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and .iiii. ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberoth bytwene the kynge of Castel and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. xlv ANd after this dyscomfyture on our enemyes our men mounted on theyr horses and there we delyuered suche prysoners as the Castellyans had taken before also gaue them suche pyllage as theyr enemyes had gotten excepte the beestes whiche were in nombre an .viii. hundreth all those we draue in to the garyson of Treutouse for vatayllynge of the towne as it was reason there we were receyued with grete ioye they wyst not what chere to make vs bycause we had delyuered yâ— couÌ„trey of theyr enemyes rescued that they had lost wherby we had grete prayse thrughe all the townes of Portyngale syr in the same yere our men had another fayre iourney on theyr enemyes in the felde of Sybylle but syr fyrst I shall shewe you the moost happyest iourney that the kynge of Portyngale had or ony kynge before hym in CC. yere before whiche was done within .iiii monethes before that that kynge sente vs hyther our enemyes were .iiii. agaynst one of good men of warre and of hyghe empryse wherfore our iourney ought to be the more praysed But syr I thinke ye haue herde therof al redy wherfore I thynke best to speke not therof nay sayd the duke ye shall not leue so ye shall shewe me the hole processe for I wolde gladly here you speke therof yet of trouthe I haue an heraulte here with me called Derby who was there at the batayle as he sayth and he shewed me that suche Englysshe men as were there dyd meruaylles in armes and more by his reporte theÌ„ I bileue was of trouth for there was no grete nombre of them wherby ony grete feate sholde be done by them for my broder the erle of Cambrydge when he came out of Portyngale brought agayne with hym suche Englysshmen as wente thyder But there be many of these Heraultes be suche lyers that they wyll exalte suche as they lyst beyonde measure But for all that the noblenes of them that be good is not lost nor enpayred thoughe it be not shewed by them Therfore it is good to knowe it by the reporte of other that knoweth it ¶ Syr sayd Laurence of all the straungers that were at the batayle of Iuberoth with the kynge of Portyngale there passed not a two hundred men Englysshe Gascoynes and Almaynes and the grettest capytaynes that were there of the straungers were two Gascoynes and one of Almayne of the duchy of Guerles The Gascoynes were called syr Wyllyam of mountferrant and Bernardon and the Almayne Albert of EnglysshmeÌ„ there were a certayne archers but I herde none named but .ii. squyers Northbery and Hartecell and they were called to counsayle with the kynge and other lordes before the batayle Well sayd the duke prosede forthe tell me of that iourney howe it was fought I requyre you syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyl for syr to shewe you other howe it was I am sente hyther fro the kynge my mayster THen Laurence Fongase renewed his tale and spake of the busynes of Iuberoth and sayd thus syr ye haue herde by me also by other that after the coronacyon of the kynge of Portyngale at Connymbres that kyng of Castell who had raysed his syege fro Lyxbone for the dethe of pestylence that fell in his â—ost and so wente to yrayne and it was sayd howe it greued hym sore when he was enfourmed of the coronacyon of my redoubted lorde kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale for the kynge of Castell claymed and yet dothe ryght in the herytage and crowne of Portyngale by the tytle of his wyfe doughter to kynge Ferrant whiche we denyed and yet do for suche cause as I haue shewed you before so thus the kynge of Castell was counsayled to sende for meÌ„ of war where he myght gete them and specyally in to Fraunce for the frensshmen had alwayes ayded hym susteyned his quarell and the kynge his fader in lykewyse and it was sayd to hym by his counsayle ye nede nothynge but one iourney agaynst them of Portyngale for by puyssaunce if ye may kepe the felde and fyght with them theÌ„ ye shal come to your entente for there is grete varyaunce all redy in Portyngale as ye se and perceyue well for there is here with you of the noblest persones of the royalme and they haue submytted theÌ„selfe vnder your obeysaunce whiche thynge gretely furdereth your warre if ye auaunce yourselfe with puyssauÌ„ce to fyght to this bastaÌ„rde of portyngale whom that comons haue crowned to theyr kynge or he gete ayde of the Englysshemen ye are lyke to ouerthrowe hym and yf ye wynne the iourney all the royalme is yours for it is no grete matter to wyn it after soo by suche counsayle and other thynges IohnÌ„ of Castell auaunced hym selfe to sende letters messageres in to Fraunce Poictou Bretayne Normandy Borgon in to dyuers other places where as he thought to haue men of armes knyghtes squyres for his money or for loue or suche as helde ony thynge of hym and specyally there came many knyghtes squyres to hym out of Byerne and so on a daye as he was at saynt yrayne he auewed his people to the nombre of .vi. or vii.c speres .xxx. M. spanyardes all on horsoacke all hauynge desyre to do vs domage TIdynges came in to Portyngale to the kynge and to the lordes there to them of the good townes and cytees suche as were of
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 Englāde 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 puyssaūt 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 possessiōs and herytage than with hym that hath nothynge to lese for there is nothynge to be cōquered 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 resystēce 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 ordynaūce 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 coūtie 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
and had passed the dykes with moche payne And whan they were within they had wende to haue won gret riches but they fouÌ„de there nothyng but poore people men women chyldren and great plentie of good wynes and so for dispyte and displeasure they sette fyre in the towne so that it was nighe all brent wherof the kynge and the duke of Burgone was sore displeased but they coude nat amende it Howe be it the ladyes gentyl women with moche payne were saued fro hurt of their bodyes or losse of their goods AFter the takyng of Dan the kyng was counsayled to dissodge and so the king went and lodged a two leages fro Gaunte at a towne called Artulle and whyles the kyng lay there his men of armes rode in the countrey of the four craftes distroyed all the countre bycause in tyme past the gauntoysehad chiefe coÌ„fort euer fro them Therefore they brent downe towres churches and houses and chased the men women and chyldren in to the woodes Whan the FreÌ„chmen had done that distruction than it was ordayned to go and lay siege to the castell of Gaure and than after to Gaunte but all that tourned to nothyng for tidynges came to the kynge beyng at Artuelle fro the quene of Hungry by the bysshop of Wasselure the sayd quenes ambassadour with dyuers knightes squyers in his company and they brought letters of credence certifyeng how the said quene was comyng in to Fraunce to fetche Lewes of Fraunce erle of Valoys to haue hym in to HuÌ„gry to her doughter Whom sir Iohan la Parson had wedded by procuracion in the name of the erle of Valoyes These tidynges pleased greatly the kynge and his counsayle and so it was thought that for the honoure of the yonge Lewes erle of Valois that they shulde returne in to Fraunce and thought they hadde done ynoughe for that season in the countre of FlauÌ„ders ¶ Nowe the frenche kyng departed out of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he caÌ„e to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry howe the Marques of Blanquefort toke by streÌ„gth to his wyfe the same lady enherytoure of Hungry Cap. ix THan the frenche kyng departed fro Artuell the. xii day of Septembre gaue leaue to all men of warre to retourne to their owne houses of the whiche deê‘tynge the Gauntoyse were ryght gladde Than the kyng went to Craye where the quene his wyfe was for whan he went fro Amyens to FlauÌ„ders he sent her thyder to kepe her estate and so he taried they certen dayes and so the kyng wente to Parys and the quene to Boyse de Vyncens And they the kyng his counsayle entended for the ordring of the yong erle of Valoyes for he wolde that he shulde go nobly in to HuÌ„gry where as they toke hym for kyng But the mater chaunged otherwyse mashorte season after in the realme of Hungry as ye shall here after It is of trouthe that the quene of HuÌ„gry mother to the yonge lady whome the erle of Valoys had wedded by ê“euracion as ye haue herde before had all her enteÌ„t to make that if god be pleased they wolde make suche a voyage that shulde be to their honour and ê“fyte The kyng than sent out his coÌ„maundement to assemble his power and so at the day assigned he had redy a .xxx. thousande men all on horse backe and as they came they lodged accordynge to the vsage of their countrey I thynke nat all at their ease SIr Iohan de Vyen who had great desyre to ryde and to enploye his tyme in to Englande to do some great enterprise Whan he sawe the scottes were come he sayd Sirs nowe it is tyme to ryde we haue lyen to long styll so than the settyng for warde was publysshed to euery man thaÌ„ they toke their waye to Rosebourcke In this iourney the kyng was nat he abode styll at EdeÌ„borow but all his sonnes were in the army The thou sande complete harnesse that the Frenche men brought with theÌ„ was delyuered to the knightes of Scotlande and of Norwiche who were before but yuell harnessed of the whiche harnesse they had great ioye And so they rode towarde Northumberlande And so longe they rode that they came to the abbey of Mauues there they lodged all about the ryuer of Tymbre and the nexte day they caÌ„e to Morlane and than before Roseboucke The kepar of Roseboure vnder the lorde MoÌ„tagu was a knight called sir Edwarde Clyfforde The admyrall of Fraunce and the scottes taryed and behelde well the castell and all thynges considred they sawe well to assayle it shulde lytell aucyle them for the castell was stronge and well furnysshed with artillary And so than they passed by and drewe a long the ryuer syde aprochyng to Berwyke And so long they rode that they came to two towres right strong whiche were kept by two knightes the Father and the sonne bothe were called sir Iohan Strande Aboute these towres were fayre landes and a fayre place the whiche incontynent were brent the two towres assayled Ther was many feates of armes shewed and dyuers scottes hurte with shotte and cast of stones Finally the towres were wonne and the knightes within by playne assaut yet they defended theÌ„ as longe as they might endure ⸪ ¶ Howe the frenchemen and scottes wanne the castell of Varley and distroyed diuers other townes in Nor thumberlande and howe they with drewe agayne in to ScotlaÌ„de whan they knewe that the kyng of EnglaÌ„de came on them with a great puyssaunce Cap. xi AFter the conquest of thes two towres than they went to another castel called Varley parteyning to the herytage of sir Iohn Montagu and Capitayne there vnder hym was sir Iohan of Lussenborne who had there with hym his wyfe his chyldren and all his good He knewe well before that the scottes wolde come thyder therfore he had purneyed the castel to the best of his power to abyde the assaute So about this castell taryed all the armye This castell stode in a fayre countre by a fayre ryuer whiche cometh out of Tymbre and ronneth in to the see So on a day there was a great assaut and the frenche men bare theÌ„ well the same day moche better than the scottes dyd for they entred in to the dykes and passed through with moche payne There was many feates of armes done what by them aboue and them beneth The frenche men mouÌ„ted vp by ladders and fought hande to hande with daggars on the walles Sir Iohan LusseÌ„borne dyd quyte hym selfe lyke a valyant knight and fought with the frenche men hande to hande on the ladders At this assaute there was slayne a knight of Almaygne called sir Bleres Gastelayne whiche was great domage There were many hurt that day but finally there was so moche people and thassaute so well contynued that the castell was wonne and the knight his wyfe and chyldren taken a .xl. other prisoners And than the castell was
is fayre and standeth in a playne countre amonge the fayre vynes And it is a towne cytie and castell closed with gates and walles and seperated eche fro other Fro the mountayns of Byerne and Catheloyne cometh the fayre ryuer of Lysse whiche ronneth throughe Tarbe and is as clere as a fountayne And a fyue leages thens is the towne of Morlance parteyninge to the erle of Foiz at the entre of the countie of Bierne and vnder the mountayne a site leages fro Tarbe is the towne of Panne whiche also ê‘teyneth to the sayd erle The same tyme that the prince princes was at Tarbe therle of Foiz was at Panne He was there bylding of a fayre castell ioyninge to the towne without on the ryuer of Grane Assone as he knewe the comynge of the prince and princesse beyng at Tarbe He ordayned to go and se theym in great estate with mo than sixe hundred horses and threscore knightes in his company And of his comynge to Tarbe was the prince and priÌ„cesse right ioyouse and made hym good chere and there was the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret and they desyred the price to requyre the erle of Foiz to forgyue therle of Armynake all or els parte of the somme of florens that he ought to haue And the prince who was wyse and sage consyderynge all thynges thought that be might nat do so and sayde Sir erle of Armynake ye were taken by armes in that iourney of batayle and ye dyde putte my cosyn the erle of Foiz in aduenture agaynste you And thoughe fortune were fauourable to hym and agaynst you his valure ought nat than to be made lesse By lyke dedes my lorde my father nor I wolde nat be contente that we shulde be desyred to leaue that we haue wonne by good aduenture at the batayle of Poicters wherof we thanke god WhanÌ„e the erle of Armynake herde that he was a basshed for he fayled of his entente Howe be it yet the lefte nat of so But than he reâ—red the princesse who with a good hert desyred therle of Foiz to gyue her a gyfte Madame quod theâ—le I am but a meane man therfore I can gyue no great gyftes But madame if the thyng that ye desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes I wyll gyue it you with a gladde chere yet the princesse assayed agayne if she coude cause hym to graunt her full desyre But the â—rle was sage and subtell and thought verily that her desyre was to haue hym to forgyue clerely the Erle of Armynake all his dette And than he sayde agayne Madame for a poore knight as I am who buyldeth townes and castelles the gyfte that I haue graunted you ought to suffyce the princesse coude bringe hym no farther whan she sawe that she said Gentyll erle of Foiz the request that I desyre of you is to forgyue clerely the erle of Armynake Madame quod the erle to your request I ought well to condiscendâ— I haue sayd to you that if your desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes that I wolde graunt it you But madame the erle of Armynake oweth me two hundred and fyftie thousande frankes and at your request I forgaue hym therof threscore thousande frankes Thus the mater stode in that case and the erle of Armynake at the request of the princes wan the forgyueng of threscore thousande frankes And anone after the erle of Foiz returned to his owne countre I Sir Iohan Froissarde make narracion of this busynesse bycause whan I was in the countie of Foyz and of Bierne I passed by the couÌ„tie of Bygore and I demaunded and enquered of the newes of that countrey suche as I knewe nat before And it was shewed me howe the prince of wales and of Aquitayne whyle he was at Tarbe he had great wyll to go se the castell of Lourde whiche was a thre leages of nere to the entre of the mountayne And whan he was there and had well aduysed the towne the castell and the couÌ„tre he praysed it greatly aswell for the streÌ„gth of the castell as bycause it stode on the fronter of dyuers countreis For the garysone there might ronne well in to the realme of Arragon in to Catellon and to Barselon Than the priÌ„ce called to hym a knyght of his housholde in whom he had great truste and loued hym entierly and he had serued hym truely and was called sir Pyer Ernalde of the countre of Bierne an experte man of armes and cosyn to the erle of Foiz Than the prince sayde to hym sir Ernalde I instytue and make you Chateleyn and capitayne of Lourde gouernour of the countre of Bygore Loke that ye kepe this castell se well that ye make a good accompte ther of to the kyng my father and to me Sir quod the knyght I thanke you and I shall obserue your coÌ„maundement There he dyde homage to the prince and the prince put hym in possession It is to be knowen that whan the warre began to renewe bytwene Englande FrauÌ„ce as it hath ben shewed before The erle Guy of saynt Poule and sir Hugh of Chatellon mayster of the crosbowes in Fraunce in that tyme beseged the towne of Abuyle and wan it with all the countre of Poitou The same tyme two great barons of Bigore th one called sir Marnalte Barbesan and the lorde Danchyn tourned frenche and toke the towne cytie and castell of Tarbe whiche was but easely kept for the kynge of Englande But styll the castell of Lourde was in the handes of sir Pier Ernalt of Bierne who wolde in no wyse yelde vp the castell but made euer great warre agaynst the realme of FrauÌ„ce and sent for great company of aduenturers in to Bierne and Gascoyne to helpe and to ayde hym to make warre so that he had togyder many good men of armes and he had with hym sixe capitayns euery man fyftie speares vnder hym The first was his brother Iohan of Bierne a right expert squyer and Pier Danchyne of Bygore brother germayne to the lorde Danchyne he wolde neuer tourne frenche Nandon of saynt Colombe Ermalton of mount Ague of saynt Basyll and the Bourge of Carnela These capitayns made dyuers iourneys in to Bygore in to Tholousyn in to Carcassene in to Albygoise For euer assone as they were out of Lourde they were in the lande of their enemyes and somtyme they wolde aduenture thyrtie leages of fro their holde And in their goynge they wolde take nothyng but in their retourne there was nothynge coulde scape theÌ„ Somtyme they brought home so great plentie of beestes prisoners that they wyst nat howe to kepe them Thus they rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„trey excepte the erle of Foiz landes For in his landes they durste nat take a chekyn withoute they payed truely therfore For if they had displeased the erle they coulde nat longe haue endured These companyons of Lourde ranne ouer all the countre at their pleasure
I rode nat farre fro theym Thus the cytie of Tarbe was in great doute so that they were fayne to make couynaunt with theÌ„ And bytwene Tarbe and Lourde there was a great vyllage and a good abbey called Gynors who in lykewise were fayne to agre with them Also on the other parte on the ryuer of Lysse there was a great towne called Bagueres they of that towne had a harde season for they were so haryed by the garyson of Maluoysen standynge on a hylle and the ryuer of Lysse rynnyng vnderneth vnto a walled towne called Turney in to the whiche towne they of Lourde and of Maluoysen hadde euer their recourse to the whiche towne they dyde no hurte bycause they had their resorte thyder And they of the towne had euer a good market of their pyllage and so dissymuled euer with them whiche they were fayne to do or elles they coulde nat haue lyued for they had no ayde nor socoure of any persone the capitayne of Maluoysen was a gascoyne his name was Remonet de Lespe an experte man of armes He and his company they of Lourde rauÌ„somed as well the marchauntes of Aragon and Catheloyne as of Fraunce without they agreed with them In the season that I enterprised to go se the erle of Foiz and to se the dyuersities of the couÌ„treys where as I had neuer ben before Whan I departed fro Carcassene I lefte the waye to Tholous and wente to Monterorall and so to Fonges than to Bell and than to the first towne of therle of Foiz and than to Masters and so to the castell of Sanredyn And than I caÌ„e to the good cytie of Pauyers ê‘teyning to the erle of foiz and there I taryed abydinge for some company goyng in to the countre of Byerne where the erle was And whan I had taryed there a thre dayes in great pleasure for that cytie was deleetable staÌ„dyng among the fayre vynes and enuyroned with a fayre ryuer large clere called Liege And on a day it so fortuned that thyder came a knyght of the erle of Foiz fro Auignon warde called sir Espaenge de Lion a valyant an experte man of armes about the age of .l. yeres And so I gate me in to his company and he was greatly desyrous to here of the maters of Fraunce so we were a sixe dayes in our iourney or we came to Ortayse And this knyght euery day after he had sayd his prayers moost parte all the day after he toke his pastyme with me in demaundyng of tidynges and also whan I demauÌ„ded any thyng of hym he wolde answere me to my purpose And whan we departed fro Pauyers we past by the mouÌ„t of Cesse whiche was an yuell passage and so we came to the towne castell of Ortayse whiche was frenche but we passed by it and so came to dyner to a castell of theâ—le of Foiz halfe a leage thens called Carlat standynge highe on a mountayne and after dyner the knight sayd to me sir let vs ryde toguyder fayre easely we haue but two leages to ryde to our lodgyng so I was content to do than the knight said we haue this day passed by the castell of Ortayse which dothe moche domage in this countre Peter Danchyn kepeth it and bath taken and stollen out of the realme of FraÌ„ce more than threscore thousande fraÌ„kes than I demauÌ„ded how that might be I shall shewe you quod the knight On our lady day in August there is euer a great fayre and all the couÌ„tre resorteth thyder for there is moche marchaÌ„dise That day Pier Danchyn and his coÌ„panions of Lourde had taken their aduyse were determyned to get this towne and castell And so they sent two simple varlettê by semyng to the sayd towne in the moneth of Maye to get them selfe some seruyce in the towne so they dyde and were reteyned with two maisters they dyde right dilygent seruyce to their maysters And so went in and out on their maisters busynesseâ— without any suspeciousnes of theÌ„ so on our lady day in August ther were many marchantes strangers of Foiz of Bierne of FrauÌ„ce And as ye knowe well whan machantes do mete that sawe nat togyder long before they wyll make good chere togyder so in the same houses where as these two varlettê were iÌ„ seruice were many marchantes drinkyng and makyng good chere their ostes with them by apoyntment about midnight Pier DaÌ„chin and his coÌ„pany caÌ„e to Ortaise enbusshed theÌ„selfe in a wode whiche passed throughe And so they sent sixe varlettê to the towne with .ii. ladders they passed the dykes came to the walles and reared vp their ladders the other .ii. varlettes that were in seruice in the towne dyd ayde theÌ„ while their maysts sat makyng good chere so these sayd varlettes dyde put theÌ„ selfe in aduenture and one of the said two varlettes brought the other sixe to the gate within wher there was two men kepyng the keys than this varlet said to the other sixe sirs â–ª kepe your selfe here priuy close and styrre nat tyll ye here me whistle I trust to make the porters to open the gate of their warde they haue the keyes of the great gate therfore assone as they haue opyned their warde I wyll whystle Than steppe forthe slee the porters I knowe well ynoughe the keyes of the gate for I haue oft tymes helped to kepe the gate with my maister as they deuysed so they dyd so the varlet went to the gate and sawe herde howe the porters were driÌ„kyng within their warde than he called theÌ„ by their names said sirs open yor dore I haue brought you of the best wyne that euer you dranke which my maister hath sent you to the entent you shulde kepe your watche the better And they who knewe right well the varlet beleued that he had said trouthe opyned the dore and than he whistled thother sixe stept forthe and entred in at the dore there they slewe the porters so priuely that none knewe therof thaÌ„ they toke the keyes went and opyned the gate and let downe the bridge easely that none knewe therof Than they blewe a blast in a horne so that they that were enbusshed mouÌ„ted on their horses came on the spurres entred on the bridge come in to the towne so toke all the men of the towne syttyng driÌ„kyng orâ—ls in their beddes Thus was Ortayse taken by Pier Danchin of Bigore by his coÌ„panyons of Lourde than I demauÌ„ded of the knight howe they gat the castell I shall shewe you ê™ he The same tyme that Ortaise was thus taken the capiten of the castell by his yuell aduenture was in the towne supped with certayne marchauntes of Carcassen and was there taken among other and in the next mornyng Pier DaÌ„chyn brought him before the castell wher as his wyfe chyldren were made theÌ„ beleue that he wolde
you but nat as nowe for the mater is ouer longe and we are nere the towne as ye se Therwith I left the knight in peace and so we came to Tarbe and toke oure lodgynge at the Starre and there taryed all that day for it was a towne of great easement bothe for man and horse with good hay otes and a fayre ryuer THe nexte day after masse we mounted a horsbacke and departed fro Tarbe came to a towne called Iorre whiche valyantlye alwayes helde agaynst them of Lourde so we passed by the towne withoute and than entred in to the countrey of Bierne Than the knight stode styll and sayd Sir beholde here is Bierne and we stode in a crosse waye The knight aduysed bym whiche waye to take outher to Morlens or to Panne At laste we toke the way to Morlens ridynge ouer the lauÌ„des of Bierne whiche were right playne Thafie I demaunded of hym if the towne of Panne were nere vs and he sayde yes and so he shewed me the steple Howe be it the distauÌ„ce was farther of than it semed for it was anyuel way to ryde bycause of the myres to theÌ„ that knewe nat the countre and nat farre thens was the castell of Lourde and I demaunded who was as than capitayne there He sayd that as than the seneschall of Bigore was capitayne there admytted by the kynge of Englande brother to ser Peter of Bierne as ye haue herde before That is trewe sir quod I But dyde he neuer after go to se the erle of Foiz He answered and sayd Sithe the dethe of his brother he neuer came there but other of his company hath ben often with the erle as Peter Dauchyn Erualton of Restue Erualton of saynt Colome and other Sir quod I hath the erle of Foiz made any amendes for the dethe of that knight or sorie for his dethe yes truely sir quod he he was right sorie for his dethe but as for amendes I knowe of none without it be by secrete penauÌ„ce masses or prayers He hathe with hym the same knightes sonne called Iohan of Byerne a gracyous squyer the erle loueth hym right well Ah sir quod I the duke of Aniowe who that wolde so fayne haue the castell of Lourde ought to be well content with the erle of Foyz whan he slewe suche a knight his owne cosyn for to accomplysshe his desyre By my faythe sir quod he so he was For anone after that the duke came to the Frenche kyng the kynge sent in to this countre sir Roger of Spaygne and a presydent of the parlyament chambre of Parys and letters sealed makyng mencion howe the kynge dyde gyue to the erle of Foiz the couÌ„tie of Bygore duryng his lyfe to holde the same of the crowne of Fraunce The Erle thanked greatly the kyng for the great loue that he shewed him and for that great gyfte without any request makynge But for all that the sayd sir Roger of Spaygne coude doâ— saye or shewe the erle in no wyse wolde take the gyfte but he toke the castell of Maluoysin bycause it was a fre lande For that castell and the purteynauÌ„ce holdeth of no man but of God and also auncyently it parteyneth to his enherytaunce The frenche kyng by the meanes of the duke of Aniowe dyd gyue it hym And the erle sware and ê“mysed to take it on a condycion that he shuld neuer sette man there that shulde do any yuell to the realme of Fraunce and so he dyde For suche as were ther feared as moche thenglisshe men as any other Frenche garysons in Gascoyne but the Bernoyse durst nat tonne in to the countre of Foyz ⸪ Howe the peace was made bitwene the duke of Berry and therle of Foiz and of the begynninge of the warre that was bitwene therle of Foiz and the erle of Armynake Cap. xxv ALl these maters that sir Espayne de Leon shewed me right well coÌ„tented me euery nyght assoone as we were at our lodgynges I wrote euer alâ—â—hat I herde in the day the better therby to haue theÌ„ in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce for writyng is the best remeÌ„brauÌ„ce that may beâ— so we rode the sayd mornyng to Morlens but are we came there I said sir I haue forget to demauÌ„de of you whan ye shewed me the aduentures of Foiz dyde dissymule with the duke of Berrey who had to wyues the doughter and suster of therle of Armynake and wheder that the duke of Berry made him any warre howe he dyd Howe he dyd quod the knight I shall shewe you In tyme past the duke of Berrey wolde him as moche yuell as he coude ymagyn but as nowe by meanes whiche ye shall hereof whan ye come to Ortaise they be accorded Why sir ê™ I was there any cause why the duke shulde be displeased with hym As helpe me god ê™ the knight non but I shal shewe you the cause Whan Charles the frenche kyng father to kyng Charles that nowe is was dyssessed the realme of FrauÌ„ce was deuyded in two partes as in the gouernyng therof For the duke of Aniou who entended to go in to Italy as he dyd he gaue vs the rule than his two bretherne the duke of Berry and the duke of Burgoyne had the rule The duke of Berry had the gouernynge of Languedocke and the duke of Burgoyne ruled Languedoyle and Picardy Whan they of Languedocke vnderstode that the duke of Berry had the gouernyng ouer them they were sore abasshed and specially they of Tholous for they knewe well that the duke was a sore taker of golde and syluer and a sore oppressar of the people Also ther was in Carcassone and in Rouergue bretons and tholousins whiche the duke of Aniou had left in the couÌ„tre and they robbed pylled the brute ran that the duke of Berry maynteyned them to th eÌ„tent to ouer maister the good townes but in this season that I speke of the duke of Berrey was nat in the couÌ„tre there he was with the kyng in FlauÌ„ders They of Tholous who be great and puissant parceyued howe the frenche kyng was yonge and was greatly busyed in Flaunders for the ayde of his vncle the duke of Burgoyn And they sawe well howe they were dayly robbed and pilled by the britons and other so that they wyste nat what to do Than they sent and treated with the erle of Foiz desyring hym for a certayne soÌ„me of money that they offred hym euery moneth to be payed that he wolde take on him the gouernynge of Tholous and of the couÌ„tre of Tholousin and also he was desyred of other townes in lykewise they desyred hym bycause they knewe hym for a iuste man and a rightwyse in iustyce redouted of his enemyes and fortunate in all his businesse and also they of Tholous loued hym for he had been euer to them a good neyghbour Thus he toke on him the charge and the gouernynge and sware to maynteyne and kepe the countre in their ryght agaynst
discended fro hym Sir quod I all this might well be ther is no thyng but that may fall but they of Armynake are right stronge and so therby this countrey shal be euer in warre and stryfe but sir I pray you shewe me the iust cause why the warre first moued bytwene them of Foiz and Armynake I wyll shewe you ê™ the knight I ensure you it is a marueylous warre for as they saye eche of theÌ„ haue cause Sir aunciently about a huÌ„dred yere past there was a lorde in Byerne called Gascone a ryght valyant man in armes is buryed in the freres right solempnely at Ortaise and there ye may se what persone he was of stature and of body for in his lyfe tyme his pycture was made in latyn the whiche is yet there This Gascone lorde of Bierne had two doughters the eldest was maryed to the erle of Armynake that was thanÌ„e and the yongest to the erle of Foiz who as than was nephue to the kyng of Aragon and as yet therle of Foiz beareth his armes for he discended out of Aragon his armes are palle golde and goules And so it fortuned that this lorde of Biern had a gret warre agaynst the kynge of Spayne that was than who came through all Bisquay with a gret nombre of men of warre to entre in to Bierne The lorde Gascone of Bierne whan he was enformed of his comyng he assembled people on all sydes where he might get men of warre wrote letters to his two sonnes in lawe therle of Armynake and therle of Foiz that they shulde come to serue and ayde hym to defende his herytage These letters sene the erle of Foiz as sone as he myght asseÌ„bled his people prayed all his frendes so moche that he had a fyue huÌ„dred knightê and squiers armed and two thousande varlettes with speares dartes pauesses all a fote And so he came in to the countre of Bierne to serue his father who had of hym great ioye And so all they passed the bridge at Ortaise ouer the ryuer lodged bytwene Sanetere and thospytall the kyng of Spayne who had .xx. M. men was lodged nat far thens and ther the lorde Gascon of Bierne therle of foiz taryed for therle of Armynac thought euer that he wolde coÌ„e so taried for hi thre dayes and on the .iiii. day therle of Armynac sent his letters by an haraulde to the lorde Gascoine of Bierne and sente hym worde howe he myght nat come nor howe he hadde nothyng to do to beare armes for the countre of Bierne Whan the lorde Gascoyne herde those tidynges of excusacions and sawe howe heshulde haue none ayde nor conforte of the Erle of Armynake he was sore abasshed and demaunded counsayle of the erle of Foiz and of the other barones of Bierue howe they shulde maynteyne theÌ„ selfe Sir quod the erle of Foiz sithe we be here assembled let vs go and fight with our enemyes this counsayle was taken than they ordayned their people they were a twelfe huÌ„dred men of armes and sixe thousande men a fote The erle of Foiz tooke the first batayle and so came on the kyng of Spaygne and sette on his lodgynges And there was a great batayle and a fierse and slayne mo than ten thousande spayniardê and there therle of Foiz toke prisoners the kynge of Spaygnes sonne and his brother sent them to his father in lawe the lorde Gascoyne of Bierne who was in the areregarde there the spaynyerdes were so disconfyted that the erle of Foiz chased them to the porte saynt Adrian in Bisquay and the kynge of Spayne toke the abbey and dyde on the vesture of a monke or els he had ben taken Than the erle of Foiz retourned to the lorde Gascone of Bierne who made hym good chere as it was reason for he had saued his honour and kepte his countre of Bierne the whiche els was lykely to haue ben loste bycause of this batayle and disconfyture that the erle of Foiz made on the spaygnierdes and for the takyng of the kynges sonne and brother and the lorde of Bierne hadde peace with the spaygnierdes at his owne wyll And whan the lorde Gascoyne was retourned to Ortaise there before all the barons of Foiz and Bierne that were there present Hesayd to his sonne of Foiz Fayre sonne ye are my true and faithfull sonne ye haue saued myne honour and my couÌ„trey The erle of Armynake who hath maryed myne eldest doughter hath ercused hym selfe fro this busynesse and wolde nat come to defeÌ„de myne herytage wherin he shulde haue part Wherfore I saye that suche parte as he shulde haue by reason of my doughter he hath forfait and lost it And here clerely I enheryte you my sonne of Foiz after my dyscease of all the hoole lande and to your heyres for euer And I desyre wyll and commaunde all my subiectes to seale accorde and agre to the same And all answered howe they were well contente so to do Thus by this meanes as I haue shewed you aunciently the erles of Foiz were lordes of the countre of Bierne and bare the crye armes name and had the profyte therof Howe be it for all this they of Arminake had nat their clay me quyte This is the cause of the warre by twene Foiz and Armynake By my faythe sir than quod I ye haue well declared the mater I neuer herde it before And nowe that I knowe it I shall putte it in perpetuall memorie if god gyue me grace to retourne in to my countrey But sir if I durste I wolde fayne demaunde of you one thynge by what insydent the erle of Foiz sonne dyed Thafie the knyght studyed a lytell and sayd Sir the maner of his dethe is right pytuous I wyll nat speke therof Whan ye come to Ortaise ye shall fynde theÌ„ that wyll shewe you if ye demaunde it And than I helde my peace and we rode tyll we came to Morlens ⸪ ⸫ Of the great vertuousnesse and largesse that was in therle of Foiz and the maner of the pytuouse dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Cap. xxvi THe next day we departed and roode to Dyner to MouÌ„tgarbell and so to Ercye there we dranke And by sonne setting we came to Ortaise The knight a lighted at his owne lodgynge I a lyghted at the Mone wher dwelte a squier of the erles Erualton de Pyne who well receyued me bycause I was of Fraunce Sir Spayne of Leon wente to the castell to therle and founde hym in his galarye for he had but dyned a lytell before For the erles vsage was alwayes that it was hyghe noone or he arose out of his bedde and supped euer at mydnight The knight shewed hym howe I was come thider and incontynent I was sente for to my ladgynge for he was the lorde of all the worlde that moost desyred to speke with strauÌ„gers to here tidynges Whan the erle sawe me he made me good chere reteyned me as
archers and euery man payed for a quarter of a yere Howe be it they reserued that yf any accydent touchynge the realme of EnglaÌ„de by the meanes of FrauÌ„ce or Scotlande shulde happen to falle before their departure in to Portingale than to tary The duke agreed therto sythe he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And than as ye haue herde before whanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre was redy with all his men at Hampton to take his voyage in to Portyngale that the ambassadurs were retourned and had brought worde in to Portyngale howe the duke of Lancastre was comyng with suche a nombre of men of warre Than the portyngalois had great ioye So it fortuned than that a lette fell in Englande whiche taryed the duke of Lancastre for a season for the admyrall of Fraunce sir Iohan of Vien with a thousande speares of good men of armes toke shippyng at Scluse and sayled in to Scotlande and made warre in to Englande so that all the realme came to resyst theÌ„ All this is shewed here before in this hystorie wherfore I nede nat to speke therof agayne but I wyll speke of the siege of Lixbone and of the kynge of Spayne of whome I shall make true relacyon accordynge as I was enformed Kynge don Iohan of Castell beyng at siege before Lixbone tidynges came in to his hoost by marchauntes of his countrey that came fro Flaunders howe the duke of Lancastre with a great nombre of men of warre were comynge thyderwarde to reyse the siege theâ— These tidynges were well beleued for the spanyardes knewe well howe the duke of Lancastre wolde do his payne and dilygence to make warre on the realme of Castell bycause he claymed part therof by the ryght of his wyfe howe be it the kyng helde styll his siege and he had sent messangers and letters to haue ayde out of FrauÌ„ce and specially he sent in to the couÌ„tre of Bierne and in to the lande of the erle of Foiz And out of Byerne there issued in a four dayes respyte a thre hundred speares of chosen men of armes and there was come to Ortaise out of the realme of FrauÌ„ce to go into Castell to serue the king there Sir Iohan of Rue burgonyon and sir Geffray Richon breton sir Geffray de Partenay and eche of theÌ„ had a company by them selfe Than they of Bierne made theÌ„ redy as the lorde of Lynguasshe a great barone companyon to the erle of Foiz and sir Peter Lyer sir Iohan de Lespres the lorde of Bordes sir Bertrande of Baruge the lorde of Moriage sir Raymonde Dansac sir IohnÌ„ of Salagre sir Monan of Saruen sir Pyer of Robier sir Stephyn of Valentyne and sir Raymonde of Rarasse sir Peter of Hanefan sir Ogert of domesson and dyuers other And sir Espayngnolet of Spaygne eldest sonne to sir Roger of Spaygne cosyn of lygnage and armes to the erle of Foiz he went in the company of them of Bierne These lordes and knightes of Bierne made their assemble at Ortaise and therabout and it was shewed me by them that sawe them deê‘te fro Ortaise howe that they were the best armed and apoynted company that wente out of Byerne many a daye before And whan the erle of Foiz sawe surely howe they wolde deê‘te to go in to Spaygne thoughe at the begynnynge he somwhat consented therto and that they shulde receyue the kyng of Castelles wages yet he was angry and soroufull of their departyng for he sawe well that his countre was sore febled therby Than he sent sir Espaygne de Leon and sir Cabestan to these sayd lordes knightes and squyers desyringe them to come toguyder to his castell of Ortaise to the entent to gyue theym a dyuer to their farewell The knightes obeyed as it was reason and came to Ortaise to se the erle who receyued them with gladde chere and after masse caused theÌ„ all to come to him in to his secrete chambre and than in maner of counsayle he said to them sirs it is than your ententes to deê‘te out of my countre and to leaue in my handes the warre with the erle of Armynake and ye to go make warre for the kyng of Spayne This departure toucheth me right nere Sir quod they we muste nedes go for to that entent we haue receyued the kyng of Castels wages And sir the warre bytwene Spayne Portyngale ones atchyued than we shall retourne agayne in sauegarde atchyued ê™ therle nay nat so soone for as nowe it dothe but begyn for there is a newe kynge in Portyngale and he hath sent for ayde in to Englande therfore this warre is likely to endure a long season ye to kepe the felde for ye shall nat be fought with tyll the duke of Lancastre and his coÌ„pany be come thyder and so ye shall derely bye the wages ye haue receyued Sir ê™ they sythe we haue done so moche we must nedes parforme our voyage Well god spede you quod the erle let vs go to dyner it is tyme. and than therle with these lordes and knightê went in to his hall and there the tables were There they had a great dyner at great leaser and was serued with euery thyng that to that day ê‘teyned And after dyner therle ledde with hym all this coÌ„pany in to the galarye than he entred in to comunyng with them and sayd Fayre lordê and frendes it shall greue me to se your departynge out of my countre nat for that I am dyspleased with your auauncementes honours for in all cases I wolde gladly augment and exalte your honours profyte But I haue great pytie of you for ye are the chefe flour of chiualry of my countre of Bierne and ye thus to go in to a straunge countre I wolde couÌ„sayle you yet agayne to leaue this voyage and to let the kynge of Castell and the kynge of Portyngale make their warre bytwene theym selfe for ye are nat bounde none otherwyse Sir ê™ they sauynge your displeasure we can nat do thus And sir ye knowe more than ye speke of We haue taken wages and gyftes of the kyng of Castell wherfore we must nedes deserue it Well quod therle yespeke well but I shall shewe you what shall come of this vyage Outher ye shall retourne so poore and so naked that lyfe shall straÌ„gle you or els ye shal be all slayne or taken The knightes began to laughe and sayd Sir we must abyde the aduenture Than therle fell in other talkyng and lefte that in rest and that than he shewed them in maner of communycasion all the nature of the Spanyardes howe they be sluttysshe and lousy and enuyous of other mennes welthe Wherfore quod he I reed you take good counsayle and than he demaunded for wyne and spyce and he made euery maÌ„ drinke and than toke euery man by the hande and badde them farewell and departed fro theÌ„ and went in to his chambre And at the fote of the castell the knightes mouÌ„ted on their
was slayne Goussalenas of Merlo Alue Porie marshall of the oost a good knyght Radigos Perriere IohnÌ„ Iames of Salues IohnÌ„ Radigo cosyn to the kynge of Ammoudesque Radigo Radiges Valeroâ—ceaux mendignes of valconseaux Then the duke of Lancastre began to laughe Laurence Fongase demaunded sayd syr why do you laughe Why sayd the duke there is good cause why I neuer herde so straunge names as I haue herde you reherce Syrsayd he by my fayth all these names we haue in our countrey more straunger I byleue you well sayd the duke But Laurence what became of the kynge of Castell after this dyscomfyture made he ony recouery or dyd he close hymselfe in ony of his townes or dyd the kynge of Portyngale folowe hym the nexte day Nay surely syr sayd Laurence we folowed them no furder but abode styl in the same place where that felde was all nyght the nexte daye tyll noone then we retourned to the castell of Alerne a .ii. lytel legges fro Iuberoth so fro thens to Connymbres the kynge of Castel went to saynt yrayne there toke a barge .xiiii. w e hym rowed to a greteshyp and so wente by the see to Sybyll where the quene was his men wente some one way some another lyke people dysmayde with out recouery for they lost moche of theyr domage they are not lyke to recouer it of a grete soason wtout it be by the puyssauÌ„ce of the frensshe kynge bycause the kynge of Portyngale his counsayle knowe well that the Castellyans wyll pourchace ayde out of Fraunce bycause they be alyened togyder Therfore we be sent in to this countrey to the kynge of Englande to you then the duke sayd Laurence ye shal not departe hens tyl ye bere with you good tidinges But I pray you shewe me of the other encountrynge that your men had in the felde of Sybyll as ye spake of ryght nowe for I wolde gladly here of dedes of armes thoughe I be no good knyght myselfe syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyll I shall shewe you AFter the fayre honourable iourney the kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale had at the Cabase of Iuberoth that he was retourned with grete tryumphe to the cyte of Lyxbone that there was no tydynges of ony newe assembly of the Castellyans or Frensshmen but helde theÌ„ in garysons Then the kynge of Castel departed fro Sybyl the quene his wyfe with hym wente to Burgus in Castell so our men theyrs made warre togyder by garysons so on a tyme the erle of Nauare constable of Portyngale entred in to Castell in to the feldes of Sybyl with .xl. speres came before a towne called Valewyde within whiche there was a CC. men of armes of castell the erle of Nauare came to the baryeres shewed wel howe he demaunded batayle of theÌ„ within who made no semblauÌ„t to yssue out howbeit they armed theÌ„ when our men had ben there as longe as it pleased theÌ„ theÌ„ they retourned they had not ryden past a legge of that couÌ„trey but that they saw theÌ„ of the garyson of Valewyde come galopyng after them the capytaynes of theÌ„ was Diogenes of Padillo an experte man of armes the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Galyce when our men saw theÌ„ so comynge they lyghted on fote and delyuered theyr horses to theyr pages the Spanyardes who were a grete nombre wolde haue set on the pages varlettes to haue taken theyr horses fro them some sayd let vs wyn theyr horses we can not do them a gretter dyspleasure nor put theÌ„ to more payne then to make them retourne on foote then the mayster of saynt Iaques sayd naye let vs not do so for if we wyn the maysters we shal soone haue the horses let vs alyght a fote fight with theÌ„ they shall not endure agaynst vs thus whyle the Castellyans were arguynge our meÌ„ passed oure a lytell water that was behynde theÌ„ there toke a grete grouÌ„de fortefyed it made semblaunt as though they caryed nothyng for theyr horses when the Castellyans sawe that they were passed the water then they repented theÌ„ that they had not set on soner theÌ„ they dyd howbeit they thought soone to ouercome our men so came on them began to cast dartes when the Castellyans had enployed al theyr artyllery had no mo dartes to cast had soo contynued theyr assaulte fro noone tyll it was nere nyght When our men sawe that theyr enemyes had spente all theyr artyllery then the erle of Nauare made his baner to passe the water all his company so dasshed in amonge the Castellyans who anone begaÌ„ to open for they weresore trauayled weryed chased in theyr harneys so that they coulde not helpe themselfe but were all ouerthrowne dyscomfyted the mayster oesaynt Iaques slayne mo then .lx. with hym the other fled so they saued theyr horses wan many other fro the Castellyans How say you syr had not our meÌ„ that day a fayre aduenture yes by my faythe sayd the duke of Lancastre ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had answere of the kynge of Englande and grete gyftes howe they toke theyr leue and wente in to theyr countreys Ca. xlvi And syr bycause of suche rencountres dedes of armes that our men haue had on theyr enemyes syth the eleceyon of kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale the Portyngales are entred in to grete ioy most comonly say the god is for them theyr ryght syr they say not moche amys to say the god is with theÌ„ for in euery thynge as touchyng ony dede of armes lytell or moche euer syth the dethe of kynge Ferrant they haue had the vyctory the erle of Foys that nowe is one of the gretest lordes of the worlde full of hyghe prudence as we knowe by them of his countrey he sayd that fortune was with vs of Portyngale yf the knyghtes of Byerne had byleued hym whaÌ„ he departed out of his couutrey they sholde not haue armed themselfe agaynst the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is a wyse and a dyscrete man fereth god loueth holy chyrche exalteth it as moche as he may and is often tymes in his oratory on his knees in herynge of deuyne seruyce he hath ordeyned that for what so euer busynes it be that none speke to hym tyll he be out of his oratory and is a grete clerke taketh lytell hede of ony grete sermones and specyally he wyll haue iustyce kepte in all his royalme and poore men maynteyned in theyr ryght Thus syr at your request I haue shewed you the maner of our countrey and all that I knowe of the kynge and all his counsayle and by theÌ„ I was coÌ„maunded at my departyng fro them to shewe you euery thynge that I knewe Wherfore syr it maye please you that I
appere in Castell as hathe ben sene there this C. yere past well sayd the auncyent man let it be as it wyll be and let the ryght go to the ryght we in this countrey of Galyce dare well abyde the aduenture then the rebelles were brought forth they of the towne sware to gouerne theyr towne well truely as subiectes sholde do to theyr souerayne lorde and lady and to knowledge the duke of Lancastre and his wyfe for theyr lorde and lady as other townes in Galyce had done and the marshall in theyr names receyued theyr othes and sware agayne to kepe and maynteyne them in peas and good iustyce ANd whē al this matter was done sworne and promyse then they opened theyr gates barryers euery man entred who wolde lodged all abrode in the towne were the re a .iiii. dayes to refresshe them theyr horses to abyde for a fayre season for in .iiii. dayes before in neuer seased raynynge wherfore they were loth to departe for the ryuers were waxed so grete that no man coulde passe without grete daunger also in that season they aduysed thēselfe whyder they wolde go to Bezanses or to Rybadane another stronge towne wherin were the moost prowdest people and moost traytours of al the countrey of Galyce on the fyrst day the marshal departed fro the towne of Bayon in Marol when they were in the feldes they founde the ryuers withdrawen wherof they were ryght ioyful then they rode forth towardes Rybadane had with them grete caryage and moche prouysyon rode all in peas there were none that stopped them of theyr way for there were no lordes of Galyce that styred so they rode tyll they came nereto the towne then lodged them vnder the olyues in a fayre playne within halfe a legge of the towne there determyned to sende theyr heraulte to speke with them of Rybadane the marshall had well herde howe they were the falsest people of the merueylest condycyons that were in all the royalme as grete a royalme as it was for they dyd neuer set by the kynge nor no mā elles but helde alonely of thē selfe for theyr towne was strong so the heraulte was sent to them to knowe theyr entencyons And when he came thyder the barryers were closed and the gate also then he began to call and to knocke but noo man wolde answere hym yet he sawe men go vp and downe on the garettes of the gate walles but for nothyng that he coulde do there was no creature wolde speke one worde to hym so there he stode callynge makynge of sygnes more then an houre then he sayd to hymselfe when he sawe he coulde haue there nothynge elles I trowe these men of Rybadane haue spoken with them of Bayon and are dyspleased that they gaue me xx floreynes and dyd so lytell therfore nowe they wyll make me bye it dere I fere they wolde haue me tary here tyll it were late and then take and hange me and so therwith retourned to the marshall who demaunded what tydynges whyder they wolde be assayled or yelde as other townes had done syr sayd the heraulte surely I can not tell they be so prowde that for ony cryenge callynge that I coulde make there was none that wolde gyue me ony answere then syr Iohn̄ Abaurell sayd sawest thou no persone there peraduenture they be fled awaye for fere of vs fled away sayd the heraulte syr sauynge your grace they thynke scorne therof for or ye haue that towne they wyll put you to more payne then all the other townes in Galyce syr knowe for trouthe therin be men ynowe for I sawe grete nombre of thē called to thē on hyghe sayd syrs I am an heraulte sent to speke with you therfore here me but they helde theyr peas and loked on me and laughed A sayd the marshall the false vyllaynes shall well be chastysed for I wyll not departe thens tyll I haue brought them to obeysaunce with out my lorde the duke of Lancastre communde me the contrary let vs ete and drynke and then go to the assaulte for I wyll se them a lytell nerer syth the vyllaynes be so prowde and it was done as the marshall ordeyned ANd when they had eten dronken they lepte on theyr horses and sown̄ted theyr trompettes makynge grete noyes and within a whyle they came before the towne and some knyghtes and squyers ran before the barryers but there they founde no body but ouer the gate there were many crosse bowes and they began to shote and dyd hurte dyuers horses then the englysshe archers araynged them before the barryers and on the dykes began to shote agaynst the crosse bowes so there was a sore assaulte whiche longe endured true it is the towne of Rybadane is ryght stronge it coulde not be wonne on the one syde for it standeth on a rocke so that no man can mounte therto on the other syde where the saulte cōtynued was playne groūde but there were grete dykes drye without ony water but they were euyll to mounte vpō knyghtes and squyers auayled downe then began to mounte agayne with targes and pauaises ouer theyr heedes for defence of stones that were cast downe the archers were raynged alonge on the dykes who shot so hooly togyder that the defendauntes durst not appere abrode that daye there was a grete assaulte dyuers hurte bothe within and without and at nyght they sowned the retrayte Then the saulte seased the englysshmen drewe to theyr lodgynges and toke theyr case dressed them that were hurte and the same daye Thyrty of Sonnayne was stryken with a quarell in the arme so that in a moneth after he coulde not ayde hymselfe with that arme but bare it in a towell ¶ Hoowe the duke of Lancastre the Duches helde them at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frensshe knyghtes gaue vnto the kynge of Castell Ca. lii THe same season that the duke of Laucastres marshal rode abrode in the coūtrey of Galyce made the coūtrey to tourne to the obeysaunce of the duke duches who lay at the towne of compostella otherwyse called saynt Iames in galyce oftē tymes they herde tydynges fro the kynge of Portyngale the kynge fro them for they sente wrote eche to other wekely on the other party kyng Iohn̄ of Castell lay that season at Valeolyue and the knyghtes of fraunce with hym with whom he spake often tymes of his busynes demaūded of them counsayle and somtyme he sayd to thē Syrs I haue grete meruayle that there cometh no more ayde to me out of fraūce for I lese my countrey and am lyke to lose without I fynde some other remedy the englysshmen kepeth the feldes I knowe well that the duke of Lancastre and the kynge of Portyngale haue ben togyder and myne aduersary the kynge of Portyngale shall haue in maryage one of the dukes
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 rowâ—es 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 Bâ—squey 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 IohnÌ„s 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 Besaâ—ces 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 saufcoÌ„duyte 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 â—orth in grete aray towarde Besances when the duke of
are nat come in to this countre for no goodnesse My lorde the duke of Gloucester coÌ„mauÌ„deth 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 coÌ„e 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 haÌ„ged on a gibet Thus ended sir Robert Triuylien ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe tidynges came to the kyng of the dethe of his knight demauÌ„ded 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 couÌ„sayle 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 couÌ„sailed 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 coÌ„mons 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 puissauÌ„ce ye are as now here in a countrey well peopled and named Sende out your coÌ„maundement to all suche as are bouÌ„de 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 IrelaÌ„de 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 LoÌ„don 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 LoÌ„don for he was borne ther and it can nat be but that he hath good freÌ„des there Therfore sir desire his couÌ„sail 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 ê‘te 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 perâ—â—rely 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
delyuered the castell of Douer to the frenche men And they enformed the people that he caused the frenchmen to come in to FlauÌ„ders and to Sluse whiche was nothyng so And also in the dispyte of the kyng they haue shaÌ„fully slayne sir Robert Triuylien so they wyll do other if they maye atteygne to their ententes Wherfore I saye that it were better for the kyng to vse rygour and puyssauÌ„ce than gentylnesse Euery man knoweth thorough the realme that he is kyng and howe that at Westmynster the noble kyng Edwarde made euery man to be sworne bothe lordes prelates and all the good Townes that after his dyscease they shulde take the kynge here for their soueraygne lorde and the same othe made his thre vncles And it semeth to many as men dare speke that they holde him nat in the state and fourme of a kynge for he may nat do with his owne what he lyst they driue hym to his pensyon and the quene also whiche is a herde thyng for a kyng a quene It shulde seme they wolde shewe that they had no wytte to rule themselfe and that their couÌ„saylours be traytours I saye these thynges are nat to be suffred As for me I hadde rather dye than longe to lyue in this dauÌ„ger or peryll or to se the kynge to be ledde as his vncles wolde haue hym The kynge thanne sayd Surely it pleaseth nat vs. and I saye ye haue counsayled me as honourably as maye be for the honour of vs and our Realme AT this counsayle at Bristo we it was ordayned that the duke of Irelande shulde be soueraygne of all the kynges men of warre suche as he coude get to go to LoÌ„don to knowe the perfyte ententes of the londoners Trustynge that if he myght ones speke with them to â—ourne them to his acorde by reason of suche proftes as he wolde make them in the kynges name And so within a shorte space after the duke of Irelande with a fyftene thousand men deê‘ted fro Bristowe and rode to the cytie of Oxenforde there aboute he lodged and all his people and had baners displayed of the kynges armes and none other to shewe that all he dyde was in the kynges tytell and quarell tydingê came to the kynges vncles that the duke of Irelande aproched towardes LoÌ„don with a .xv. thousande men with the kynges baners displayed And on a daye all the lordes were at counsayle at Westmynstâ—r and had with theÌ„ the chefe of LoÌ„don suche as they trusted best and there they shewed them how the duke of IrelaÌ„de was comyng agaynst them with an armye royall The londoners who were enclyned to their partie sayde sirs let theÌ„ come in the name of god yf the duke of Irelande demauÌ„de of vs batayle he shall haue it incoÌ„tynent we will close no gate we haue for xv M. men nat and they were .xx. The dukes were right ioyfull with that answere incoÌ„tynent they sent out knyghtes squyers and messangers to assemble men of warre togyder fro dyuers ê‘ties suche as were sent for obeyed for so they had sworne and promysed before Men came fro the bysihaprike of CauÌ„terbury Norwiche and out of the couÌ„ties of Arundell and Sussex and of Salisbury and Southampton and out of all the countreis therabout London And so great nombre of people came to LoÌ„don and knewe nat what they shulde do ¶ Howe the duke of Irlande sente thre knyghtes to London to knowe some tydynges And howe the kynges vncles they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii NOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of the duke of Irelande of his couÌ„sell being at Oxford with a .xv. M. men howbeit the most parte of them were come thyder by constraynt rather than of good corage Than the duke of Irlande aduised to knowe thenteÌ„tes of theÌ„ of LoÌ„don to sende sir Nicholas BraÌ„ble sir Peter Golofer and sir Michaell de la Pole to the towre of London to go thyder by water and to set the kynges baners in the hyght of the towre to se what the londoners wolde do These thre knyghtes at the duke of Irlandes request deê‘ted fro OxeÌ„forde the next day they passed the TeÌ„mes at the bridge of Stanes rode to dyner to Shene the kynges place and there taryed tyll it was late fro thens rode to another house of the kyngê called Kenyngton and there they lefte their horses toke botes went downe the water with the tyde passed LoÌ„don bridge so came to the towre was nat knowen for no man was ware of their comynge And there they frouÌ„de redy the capitayne of the towre whom the kynge had sette there before and by hym these knyghtes knewe moche of the dealyng of them of LoÌ„don and of the kynges vncles And the capitayne shewed them howe they were come thyder to lodge in great dauÌ„ger Why so ê™ they We be the kynges seruauÌ„tes and we may well lodge in his house Nat so quod the capitayne All this cytie the counsaile wolde gladly be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the kyng so that he wolde be ruled by his vncles by none other And this that I shewe you is of good wyll for I am bouÌ„de to shew you and to couÌ„saile you to the best of my power but I am in dout to morowe whan day cometh that it be knowen in London that seruauntes of the kynges become hyther ye shall se this towre besieged bothe by lande water by the londoners nat to deê‘te hens tyll they se and knowe who is lodged within it And if ye be founde here ye shal be incontynent presented to the kynges vncles And than ye may well ymagin what ende ye shall come to I thynke they be so sore displeased agaynst the kynges couÌ„sayle and agaynst the duke of IrelaÌ„de that ye be taken ye shall nat escape with your lyues study well vpon these wordes for I assure you they be true ¶ Than these thre knightes who had wende to haue done marueyls were fore abasshed there determyned to tary all night as secrete as they coulde for feare of spyeng And the capitayne promysed to kepe them sure for that nyght and so kept the keyes with hym And in the mornynge these kynghtes had dyuers ymaginacions counsayles to se howe they shulde deale And all thynges coÌ„sydred they durst nat abyde the aduenture to be knowen there they feared greatly to be there beseged And or day came whan the fludde was come they tooke a barge and passed the bridge and went to Kenyngton And whan it was daye they toke their horses and rode to Wyndsore and there taryed all that nyght and the nexte day they rode to OxeÌ„forde and there founde the duke of Irlande his men to whom they shewed all these tidynges howe they durst nat tary at the towre of LoÌ„don the duke was pensyfe of those tidynges wyst
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 EnglaÌ„de 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 puissanÌ„ce 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 LaÌ„castres iourney and howe he ê‘ceyuered 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 LaÌ„castre 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 LaÌ„castre 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 soÌ„ne 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 â–ª 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 coÌ„trary to their natures For Englysshe men in their owne couÌ„treis are swetely norisshed and there they were breÌ„t 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 couÌ„treis 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
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 coÌ„mynge of the duke of Burbon to se if they shulde be fought withall thanne or nat for they all demauÌ„ded 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 couÌ„trey 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
good chere And anone after the kyng and the quene deê‘ted 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. 〈◊〉 leages of And there the duke toke laÌ„dynge 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 coÌ„panyons 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 laÌ„des were sore oppressed by them and greatly impouerisshed And so he was in coÌ„munycacion 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 fraÌ„kes And to paye this soÌ„me 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 soÌ„me 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 coÌ„posycions 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 couÌ„sayle 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 couÌ„tre With right a good wyll sir quod the erle and so deê‘ted 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 freÌ„che 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 substauÌ„ce 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
had fayre herytage and had the language of that countre And he neuer had wyll to mary in FrauÌ„ce layde his eare glad lye to this treatie and sawe well he myght therby haue great possessioÌ„s in the marches that he loued beste And also the knyghtes of Hollande that were of his counsayle counsayled hym therto So he accepted that maryage but first or he wolde conclude he sayd he wolde ryde in to Heynault and Quesnoy to speke with his cosyn the duke Auberte to se what counsayle he wolde gyue hym But to saye trouthe duke Aubert wyst nat what to counsayle hym And if he dyd he made no semblaunt therof but dissymuled the mater a lytell So that sir IohnÌ„ of Bloyes wolde no lengar tarye to haue his counsayle But toke his horse and retourned as soone as he coude in to Guerles and wedded this lady and dyd put her in possession of the countre But some there were that wolde nat receyue hym to their lorde nor her to their lady For the moost parte of the knyghtes and squiers and good townes of the countre helde with the duchesse of Iulyers for that lady hadde fayre chyldren wherfore they of Guerles loued her the better THus sir IohnÌ„ of Bloys had his wyfe and possessyons whiche cost hym moche after For the erle Loys his brother dyed And than he was erle of Bloyes lorde Dauenes in Heynault and had all the landes in Hollande and zelande had in the sayd couÌ„ties great herytage alwayes his couÌ„sayle counsayled hym to pursue for his ryght that he ought to haue by his wife in Guerles so he dyde to his power But the almayns are so couetous they wolde make no warre for hym no lengar than his money endured and the chalenge that he made to the duchy of Guerles dyd him neuer ê“fyte but great domage Than dyed this gentyll knight sir Iohan of Bloyes in the castell and towne of Eslone Houe the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and one in the moneth of Iune and was buryed in the freres at Valencenes besyde sir Iohan of Heynault his And than was his brother sir Guy of Bloyes erle and helde all the landes by ryght successyon that his two bretherne had helde aswell in Fraunce Picardy Heynalt Hollande and zelande as in the countie of Bloyes I Knowe nat howe many yeres after the lady dyed who had ben wyfe to therle IohnÌ„ of Bloys her suster the duches of Iuliers abode pesably duches of guerles It was ordayned by thaccorde of the countre and at the request of the knightes good townes of the duchy of Guerles that they shulde take to their lorde sir WillmÌ„ of Iuliers eldest son to the duke of Iuliers for the laÌ„de came to hym rightfully by succession of his vncles and by reason therof duke Aubert and the duches his wyfe gaue hym there doughter in maryage who before had ben maried to sir Edward of Guerles Thus the lady was doughter of Heynault and duches of Guerles and whan she maried the duke of Guerles sonne to the duke of Iulyers they were bothe of one age wherfore the maryage was the more agreable This yong duke of Guerles helde hym in his owne countrey and thelder he waxed the more he loued dedes of armes as iustes and tourneys and alwayes the duke was rather Englysshe than treÌ„che and that he shewed well as long as he lyued And alwayes he bare in his mynde the yuell wyll that his predecessours had to the duchy of Brabant alwayes he sought occasion how he might make warre there for two reasoÌ„s the one bycause he was alyed by faythe and homage to kyng Richarde of Englande the other was bycause Wyncelant of Boesme duke of LuseÌ„burge and of Brabant had bought of therle of Mors a great lorde in Almayne the thre foresaid castelles the whiche I shall name agayne to quicken the mater Gaulech Buch and Nulle on the othersyde of the ryuer of Muse in the lande of Falquemount whiche castels aunciently ê‘teyned to the duke of guerles and was enherytour to theÌ„ And therfore the yoÌ„g duke WillmÌ„ of Iuliers duke of guerles was sore displeased that he might nat recouer his herytage as long as duke Wyncelant of BrabaÌ„t lyued he spake no worde therof Nowe shall I shewe you howe it fortuned to th entent the mater shulde be the clerer to be vnderstanded ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe these castelles of Gaulech Bâ—th and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iuliers susteyned the linfars in his couÌ„tre Who robbed all maner of people And of the great assemble that the duke of Brabant made to go to Iulyers and howe he was discoÌ„fyted Cap. C.xiii. SO it was that duke Reynolde of Guerles cosyn germayne to the prince of Guerles and his brother had before that enguaged the threfor said castels for a soÌ„me of florens to an high baron of Almayn called therle of Mors. This erle helde these castels a season and whan he saw that he coude nat get his money that he had lende on them He was sore displeased and sent suffycient soÌ„ monynge to the duke Raynolde of Guerles The duke made no compte therof for he had nat wherwith to redeme them agayne the erle of Mors sawe that he came to the duke of Brabant treated with hym to haue agayn his money for the sayde castelles The duke herde hym well bycause the castels marched on the lande of FaulquemouÌ„t of the whiche laÌ„de he was lorde for the duke was glad to encrese his enheritauÌ„ce as he that thought wel to ouer lyue the lady Iane duches of Brabant his wife soe he gate iÌ„ to his possession the said thre castelles And in the first he set the lorde of Kalle to be as chefe souerayne and whan this duke of Guerles was deed than sir Edwarde of Guerles toke on hym the herytage and sent to the duke of Brabant ambassadors desyring hym that he might haue agayne the thre castelles for the money that was payde for theÌ„ The duke wolde make no suche bargayne but denyed it With whiche answere sir Edwarde of Guerles was nat content dalte hardely with the wydowe the lady Isabell of Brabant yonger suster to the duches whiche lady had wedded the duke Raynolde of Guerles but thus he troubled her for her dowrie The lady wente in to Brabant and complayned her to the duke of Brabant her brother and to the duchesse howe that sir Edwarde of Guerles dyde her great wronge iniury And bycause there was a grudge bytwene the Brabansoys and the guerloys for the lande and towne of Grance whiche was in Brabant on that syde the ryuer of Muese Therfore the duke and the brabansoys were more enclyned to ayde the lady and on a day there were assembled togyder at the callyng of the duke of Brabant a great noÌ„bre of men of warre a .xii. hundred speares And sir Edwarde of Guerles made his assemble on
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 Iohn̄ 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 cōsydred 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 ī Bare and in Lorayne in Champaygne and in Retheloys And the Frēche kyng departed fro Parys whan he had cōmuned 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 Thom̄s 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 accōplysshed 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 than̄e 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 cōtent 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 messāgere 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 Normādy if ioynde and wether draue thē 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 Arūdell 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 cōmyng 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 coūtreys 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 cōmynge to them of the garyson After he had ben examyned at the gate he was lette in and so
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 noÌ„bre 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 doÌ„mage for there was none that came agaynst them The countrey was sore a frayde on bothe sydes the ryuer of Loyre vnto the couÌ„tie 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 ThanÌ„e 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 coÌ„teyned here before in this hystorie the duchesse of Brabant was determyned to make warre agaynst the duke of guerles and caused the siege to coÌ„tynue 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 〈◊〉 a four leages thens The hoost was plentifull of euery thynge They were often tymes refresshed with newe prouisyon coÌ„myng 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 CauÌ„terbury About the feest of saynt Iohan the Baptyst there was a couÌ„sayle 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 coÌ„e to Caâ—â—â—s 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 coÌ„uenyent 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 couÌ„trey 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 maleÌ„colyous for he sawe well he had nat men ynowe to resyste the puysaunce of Brabante for they were well a .xl. thousande menne
gouernynge of his vncles euer syth the dethe of the laste kynge his father shulde than take on himselfe the gouernynge and charge of his hole realme and his vncles to cease of the gouernynge for they had ynough to do in other busynesses The kynge as thanne was paste twenty yere of age This was openly publysshed and euery man thought it was resonable The kynge came to Rennes at the feest of all sayntes and there helde a great feest and his vncles with hym And there they had fyrst knowledge that the Kynge of Castyle and the duke of LaÌ„castre were coÌ„cluded vpon a peace and vpon a maryage to be had bytwene the kinges sonne and the dukes doughter Than the frenche kyng sported with the duke of Berrey and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue fayled of your entent a nother is lyke to enioy the wyfe that ye wolde haue had howe say you therto what sayeth your corage The duke of Berrey sayde Syr I saye nothynge but well if I haue fayled there I shall spede in some other place Than the frenche men beganne to murmure vpon this maryage and said this can nat be done without great alyauÌ„ces whiche shal be a thynge greatly preiudycyall in tyme to come to the realme of FrauÌ„ce And suche as considred the botom of the mater said howe that if Castyle Englande and Portugale be all of one alyaunce and accorde these thre realmes what by see and by lande they maye make warre to the realme of Fraunce Wherfore they sayde it were good that the kynge shulde sende and prouyde remedy by tymes consydringe that this vnhappy kyng of Castyle hath made alyauÌ„ce in maner with a deed man For the duke of lancastre is as a man without men and puyssaunce Nor also they sayde howe the kyng of Castyll ought nat to make any aliauÌ„ce with any man with out the counsayle of the Frenche kynge If he do the kynge maye sende hym worde that he wyll make hym as lowe a varlette as he hath made hym a great lorde Lette the kynge make warre agaynste the realme of Castyle and putte out the vnhappy kyng sonne to a bastarde and lette the kyng gyue the realme to his owne brother the duke of Thourayne who as yet hath no great herytage he shall well and sagely gouerne it Howe can or dare this kynge of Castyle make or treate for any peace or alyaunce with the duke of Lancastre without the knowledge or coÌ„sent of the Frenche kynge who hath so moche ayded honoured and auaunsed hym He had loste his realme if the puissaunce and blode royall of Fraunce had nat ben He hath well marchaundysed and yet he wyll marchaundyse But if it be as it is sayd lette hym be shamed and disheryted and lette hym haue suche punysshment that he may well knowe that he hath yuell done THese wordes multiplyed in suche wyse that all thynges consydered The kynge and his vncles and his counsayle determyned to sende in to Castyle to kynge Iohan and to shewe hym on the Frenche kynges behalfe that he be well aduysed and take hede what he dothe And that he be nat so hardy to make any treatie or alyaunce with the Englysshe men nor with the duke of Lancastre in any thyng that shulde be preiudyciall to the Crowne or realme of Fraunce And if he haue done or do or thynketh to do Lette hym be sure that the puyssaunce of Fraunce shall as moche or more sette hym a backe and hynder hym as it hath auaunsed hym before And that the kynge and the realme shall entende to do nothynge elles but to distroye hym Than it was consydred who shulde do this message And it was thought that who soeuer shulde do it ought to be a hardy man well spoken and sagely and valiauntly to declare the kynges pleasure It was thought that a meane and a symple persone ought nat to do that message Than there were thre persones named the lorde of Coucy sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce sir Guye de la Tremoyle Of these thre to take one to go in to Castyle on this voyage And all thynges consydred sir Iohan of Vyenne was apoynted to go Than the kynge and his counsayle sayd vnto hym Admyrall make you redy ye shall go on this voyage and ye shall haue none other letters to the kyng of Castyle but of credence ye are suffycieÌ„tly enstructed of the mater whervpon ye be sente And saye vnto the kynge of Spaygne that he aduyse well and cause to be aduysed And to rede and cause to be reed the alyaunces ordynaunces and ê“myses sworne and sealed bytwene hym and vs and marke well youre aunswere that ye shall haue of hym and of his counsayle and thervpon we shall take our grounde to procede farther The admyrall aunswered and sayd it shal be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kyng and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castyle And howe the Duke of Berrey sente to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Boulonge Cap. C.li. THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce taryed nat long at Paris but made hym quickely redye to departe and tooke his leaue of the kyng and of his vncles and tooke his waye by Burgoyne bycause he wolde go by Auygnone to se the pope and his brother and so he dyde ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke somwhat of Geffray Tete noyre who was enclosed and besieged within the castell of Vandachore But fyrste we wyll speke of the duke of Berrey who had great desyre to mary as he well shewed within that yere Whan he sawe that he had fayled of the duke of Lancasters doughter he was enfourmed that the erle of Boulonge had a fayre doughter named Iane doughter to the lady Elyanour of Comynges howe be it she was nat with her father nor with her moder she was in the countrey of Bierne with the Erle of Foiz her great frende and cosyn She hadde ben there brought vp and nourysshed well entreated the space of nyne yeres in the castell of Ortayes without cost or charge to father or mother The erle often tymes hadde been desyred to haue had her maryed but alwayes the erle aunswered that the damosell was to yonge Specially sir Bernarde brother to the erle of Armynacke hadde desyred to haue her and promysed that if he myght haue her in maryage the warre shulde ende bytwene them for the chalenge of the lande of Byerne But for all those promyses the erle wolde nat agree therto but aunswered euer howe that his cosyn was to yonge but amonge his owne men he wolde saye otherwyse For as sir Espaygne du Lyon shewed me he wolde saye howe they of Armynacke myght well repute hym for a beest if he shulde graunt their desyre seynge it was to his doÌ„mage For if he shulde graunt theym his cosyn in maryage he shulde strength them and enfeble
Armynackes Squyer brought to hym fro sir Iohan Hacton and of the Wordes that were written within the letter The Erle was greatly reioysed and sayd that he trusted to make suche warre to the duke of Myllayne that he wolde bring hym to reason or elles to dye in the payne Whan all his company were passed the straytes of the mountayns and were in the good countrey of Piemounte nere Thouraygne Than they rode abrode and dyde moche hurte in the vyllages suche as coude nat holde agaynst them Than the erle layde sige before Aste in Pyemount entended to rary there for sir IohnÌ„ Hacton Prouisyon came to them fro all partes and also the companyons wan certayne small holdes and toke the vitayls that was within them The countre of Pyneroll and the landes of the Marques Mount feraunt were opyned and apparelled to delyuer vytayles other thynges nercessary for the hoost bothe for men and horse And also great prouisyon came to them out of the Dolphyne and out of the countie of Sauoy Many folkes greatly enclyned to the erle of Armynake bycause they sawe his quarell was good iust and also bycause the erle of Vertues had caused to be slayne his owne vncle sir Bernabo for enuy to sette agayne the lordes of Lombardy in to their herytages and disheryted his cosyn germayns wherof many great lordes thoughe they spake but lytell therof yet they hadde great pytie of the case Whyle the erle laye thus at siege before Aste he herde tidynges of sir IohnÌ„ Hacton wherof he was greatlye reioysed The tidynges was that the florentynes were come to the popes mercye and also the Venisyens And howe that the sayd sir IohnÌ„ shulde haue threscore thousande Floreyns for hym and his company And that money ones payde receyued and delyuered where as it shulde be departed than he promysed with a fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigans a fote to come in to the fronter of GeÌ„nes and to passe ouer the ryuer wheder their ennemeys wolde or natte and so to come to the erle of Armynake where soeuer he shulde be These tidynges greatlye reioysed the erle of Armynake and all his company for the ayde of this sir IohnÌ„ Hacton was right pleasaunt Than the erle of Armynake was counsailed to deê‘te thens and to go and laye siege before a great cytie called Alexandre at the entryng of LoÌ„bardy and whanÌ„e they had won that than to go to Bresuell whiche was also a good cytie and a fayre THus the erle of Armynake and his company layde siege before the cyte of Alexaundre standyng in a fayre countrey and a playne at the departyng out of Pyemount and at the entrynge of Lombardy and the way to go to the ryuer of GeÌ„nes These men of warre passed the ryuer of Thesyn and lodge at their ease at large for the countrey was good and plesaunt there aboute The Lorde Galeas lorde of Myllayne and erle of Vertues was as than in a towne called the cytie of Pauy and daylye herde tidynges what his enemyes dyde but he had marueyle of one thynge howe therle of Armynake coude gette the rychesse to pay wages to so many men of warre as he hadde brought with hym but his counsayle answered hym and sayde Sir haue no marueyle therof for the men that he hath be suche companyons that desyreth to wynne and to ryde at aduenture They haue vsed longe to ouerron the realme of FrauÌ„ce and to take holdes and garysons in the countrey so that the countrey coude neuer be delyuered of them And so it is that nowe of late the duke of Berrey and the Dolphyn of Auuergne to whose couÌ„treys these rutters dyde moche doÌ„mage for they kepte them there against the lordes wylles and ouer ranne the best parte of their he rytages and made theym warre And they caused the Erle of Armynake to treate with these companyons so that the Frenche kyng shulde suffre theÌ„ to come in to this your coutrey to make warre And therby and by meanes of certayne money gyuen to them they are auoyded oute of all the forteresses in the countrey And also besyde that the Frenche kynge hath ê‘doned all suche as made warre agaynst hym on the coÌ„dycion that they shulde serue the erle of Armynake in his warres all that they coude get shulde be their owne They demaunde none other wages And suche be named men of armes amonge theym with a fyue or sixe horses that if they were in their owne countreys they wolde go a foote and be but as poore men It is great parell and ieopardy to fyght agaynst suche men also lightly they be all good men of warre Wherfore sir the best counsayle that we can gyue you is to kepe your townes and fortresses they be stronge and well prouyded for and your ennemyes haue none artyllary nor engyns for the saute to be regarded They maye well come to the barryers of your townes and scrimysshe other doÌ„mage they can do none And this appereth well for they haue ben in your couÌ„trey this two monethes as yet haue taken no fortresse lytell nor gret Sir let them alone and they shall wery theÌ„ selfe and be distroyed at the ende so ye fyght nat with them And whan they haue distroyed the playne countre and haue no more to lyue by They shall than be fayne to returne for famyne without any other yuell fortune fall on them in the meane tyme. And it shall be well done that your men of warre in your fortresses kepe toguyder to ayde eche other in tyme of nede And sir sende to suche places as ye thynke your enemyes wyll besiege to resyst theÌ„ for townes men haue but small defeÌ„ce for they be nat so vsed nor accustomed to warre nouther to assaut nor to defende as men of armes knightes and squyers be who are norisshed brought vp therin sir sende your men of warre to the cytie of Alexandre Therby ye shall haue double profyte your cytie shal be defended and your people shall loue you the better whan they se ye do ayde and confort them And sir therto ye be bouÌ„de sithe ye haue gouernaunce ouer them that they paye to you their rentes subsydies aydes that ye haue demaunded of them dyuers tymes your enemyes can nat be so strong in the felde before Alexaundre that the towne shulde be closed in rounde about they haue no suche nombre to do it wherfore your men shall entre in to the towne at their case And whan they of the towne shall se them selâ— e refresshed with your men of warre they shall haue the more corage and loue you moche the better and shall putte out of their hertes all maner of treatie with your ennemyes To this counsaile the lorde of Mayllayne greed and incontynent he assembled toguyder his men of warre a fyue hundred speares And he made capitayne of theÌ„ an auncient knight called sir Iaques of Byerne an expert man of armes and they rode through the couÌ„trey priuely
erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who had ben as an hostager in Englande and moche in the duke of Lacasters company and loued hym very well He came and humbly saluted the duke of Lancaster Whan the duke sawe him he enbrased hym in great token of loue and spake toguyder a lytell Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne came to them the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy and therle of â—aynt Poule came to the duke of yorke the erle of Huntyngton and to sir Thomas Percye and so â—ode talkyng togyder with amorous wordes tyll they aproched the cytie of Amyence Than the duke of Lancastre rode bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyn Thus they rode all thre in a front makyng honour eche to other tyll they came to the bysshoppes palais where the kynge the duke of Thourayne was There they a lighted and the two dukes ledde the duke of Laâ—castre vp the steres and the other dukes and lordes folowed Than the Frenche lordes came in to the kynges presence made their reuerence and lefte the Englysshe dukes standyng alone Than a lytell they enclined them selfe to the kyng than the kyng caâ—e to them and toke them by the handes lytte them vp and spake swetely to them they to hym and other lordes of Fraunce fell in talkynge with the other lordes of Englande whan they had coÌ„maned a season they toke their leaue of the kyng his brother vncles and departed were conueyed to their lodgynges by the coÌ„stable of Fraunce the lorde Coucy the erle of saynt Poule sir Iohan of Vyenne and other Lordes of the realme of Fraunce Than they toke their leaues deê‘ted agayne to the kyng and the lady of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy was lodged in her fathers lodging all her coÌ„pany IT was ordayned by the freÌ„che kyng his counsayle before thenglysshe lordê came to the cytie of Amyence whiche ordynauÌ„ce was publysshed and proclamed openlye to th entent that no ê‘sone shulde be ignorant therof but euery man to beware of â—re kyng of any artycle in the proclamacion on payne of lefyng of their heedes First that no maner of person make any riot or gyue any riotous wordes to any Englysshman also that no knight nor squier speke or make any chalenge of armes to any englysshman on payne of the kynges highe displeasure they to company with the with swete wordes and goodly behauour in that towne lodgyngê or felde nor that the Frenche pages make any debate nor riotte in any place on payne of dethe And what soeuer any englysshman demauÌ„deth to suâ—â—re them pesably to haue it that no hoâ—t nor vitayler demaunde any money outher for meate or drinke nor for other suche coÌ„men charges Also it was ordayned that no knight nor squyer of Fraunce shuld go by night tyme without torche or torches and that the englysshmen shulde go at their pleasure without any coÌ„trolement that if any freÌ„chman mete any Englysshman in the night in any strete that they shulde swetely gently conuey him or theÌ„ to their lodgyng or to their company Also it was ordayned that in four places of the cyte four watches to be set of a thousande men in euery watche and that if any fyre happe to fall in the nyght by any incydence the watche in no wyse to remoue for no maner of cause but at the so wnynge of a bell all other people to drawe to queÌ„che the fyre Also it was ordayned that no freÌ„ch knight nor squier for no maner of cause shulde presume to speke to the king wtout the kyng fyrst dyde call hym Nor also that the knightes nor squyers of Fraunce shulde talke nor comune toguyder as long as any of the Englysshe men were present But to fynde comunynge and pastyme with theym Also it was ordayned that all hostes and their seruauntes in anywyse shulde nat conuey or hyde any Bowes or Arrowes or any other thynge parteyninge to the Englysshe men without makynge of large amendes without it were gyuen them by the Englysshmen of their curtesy than to take it or els nat All these thynges were determyned by delyberacyon or good counsayle to do the Englysshe men the more honoure for they trusted of a good conclusyon of peace Nighe euery day a fiftene dayes toguyder these lordes were in counsayle and brought nothyng to coÌ„clusyon for their demaundes were greatly different The Frenche men demaunded to haue Calais rased and beaten downe in suche wyse that no persone shulde dwell there after The Englysshe men wolde in no wyse agree to that treatie for it ought to be beleued that Calais was the towne of the worlde that the coÌ„mons of Englande loued best for as longe as they be lordes of Calays They sayde they bare the kayes of Fraunce vnder their gyrdell Thoughe the lordes departed euery daye vnagreed yet they departed a soÌ„der right amiably for euery daye they poynted to were agayne the nexte day bothe parties trustyng at last to coÌ„clude on some good poynt The frenche kyng made thenglysshe men in that space thre notable dyners at his palais In lykewise so dyde the duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule Eche of these made the Englysshe men a great dyner And for euery thyng that the Englysshmen toke in the towne was payd for and clerkes apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to write euery thyng and euery man apoynted for their money to the chambre of accomptes It ought to be knowen that Iohan duke of Lancastre and his brother the duke of yorke for all that they were come thyder on trust of peace yet they had charge of the kyng of Englande and of his counsayle that what soeuer treatie they made in no wise they shulde nouther gyue nor take any maner of thynge MAny were of the opynion that the coÌ„mynaltie of Englande rather enclyned to warre than to peace for in the tyme of good kyng Edwarde the thirde and of his sonÌ„e the prince of Wales they had so many fayre and highe vyctories on the frenche men and so great conquestes with so moche money for raunsomes sellyng and patesynge of townes countreis that they were become marueylous riche for many suche as were no gentylmen of byrthe by reason of their hardynesse and valyaunt aduentures wan and conquered so moche golde and syluer that they became noble and rose to great honour And so such as folowed after wolde folowe the same lyfe how beit after that dayes of the sayd kyng Edwarde and the prince his sonne by the wysdome and highe enterprice of sir Bertram of Clesquy and by the ayde of other good knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce The Englysshmen were than agayne sore put backe The duke of Gloucestre sonne to the sayde kynge Edwarde and vncle as than to kyng Richarde than beyng at Amyence dyuers other lordes knightes and squyers were of
Iherusalem and shall delyuer it fro the handes of the Sodayne and the enemyes of god for at the soÌ„mer nexte commynge the Frenche kynge and the kynge of Englande who wyll conioyne togyther shall reyse vp a great nombre of men of armes and of archers and shall fynde the passages open to receyue them than nothyng shall abyde before vs but all shall be conquered and put in oure obeysaunce whan we shall go all togyther Thus deuysed the Frenche men that were in the realme of Hungery WHan the moneth of May was come trustynge to here tydynges of Lamorabaquy the greate Turke the kynge of Hungery sent to the passages of the ryuer of Dunce and sent through out his realme to assemble his puissaunce togyder and the lordes of the Rodes came to hym strongly and all the moneth of May they taryed for the comyng of the sarazyns but no tydynges coulde be herde of them Than the kynge of Hungery sente suche as knewe the countrey beyonde the ryuer of Dunce to serche to haue soÌ„me tydynges of the great turke Suche as wente sertched all the countrey beyonde the Brase of saynt George and to the marches of Alexaundre of Damas and Antyoche but they coulde here no newes of Lamorabaquy nor of none army towarde Than they retourned and shewed the king what they had herde and sene Than the kynge assembled his counsayle and called the lordes of Fraunce who desyred to do dedes of armes The kyng shewed them howe he had sente men in to Turkey to haue knowlege what his enemies dyd and howe they coulde here no tydinges of Lamorabaquy nor no lykelyhode of his aprochyng for all the promesse he had made to passe the Dunce and to entre in to HuÌ„gery to sight with the Crysten men or mydde May shulde passe wherfore the kynge demaunded what counsayle they wolde gyue hym to do Than the lorde of Coucy for all the other sayd Syr though Lamorabaquy come nat forwarde acordynge to his promesse and maketh but a â—ape therof yet that ought nat to lette vs to do dedes of armes and to pursue our enemyes seynge we be assembled to that purpose Thus all the frenchmen almayns and other straungers shewed well howe they had great desyre to seke out Lamorabaquy to fyght with him whiche was to their great honour The lorde of Coucyes wordes were affyrmed by all the straungers it was all their opynyons howe they coulde enploye their season and tyme no better Than it was ordeyned by the kynge and by his marshalles that euery man shulde prepare hymselfe to be redy to sette forwarde at a daye assygned whiche was the vtas of saynt Iohan the baptyst Than offycers and other seruauntes aparelled for their maisters all thynges necessary and the Frenche men thynkynge to be fresshe and gay spared nouther Golde nor syluer Their departure fro Bode the soueraygne cytie of Hungery was goodly to regarde The constable of Hungery had the vowarde with a great nombre of hungaryons and almayns with him bycause he knewe the countreys And nexte after hym rode the frenche menne with the constable of Fraunce the erle de la Marche the lorde of Coucy syr Henry and syr Phylyppe of Bare and dyuers other And with the kynge rode the great lordes of his countrey as reasone was and besyde the kyng rode Iohan of Burgoyne often tymes deuysed with the kyng They were in the felde a threscore thousande horse they hadde but fewe a foote sauynge suche as were folowers The company of the crysten men were noble and well ordred and of Hungery there were many crosebowes a horsebacke the army iourneyed so longe that they came to the ryuer of Dunce and passed ouer in shyppes and barges and suche bridges as they had ordeyned for that purpose It was eight dayes or they were all passed ouer and as they passed they lodged theym euery company taryenge for other This ryuer of Dunce departeth the realmes of Hungery and Turkey a sonder WHan the christen men were all ouer and nothynge taryed behynde and were in the froÌ„ters of Turkey they greatlye reioysed and desyred greatly to do dedes of armes There they toke counsayle and determyned to go and ley siege to a towne in Turkey called Coniecte And as they ordayned so they dyde besieged it as they myght well do for it stode in a playne countrey and a ryuer ioynynge to it with shyppes theron called Necte the heed coÌ„mynge out of Turkey and fallynge in to the see at the ryuer of Dunce The ryuer of Dunce is a great Ryuer of thre hundred myles in length fro the begynnynge tyll it entre in to the See Whiche were the moost profytable ryuer in all the worlde for the realme of HuÌ„gry if the shyppes that be theron myght issue out therof in to the See but they can nat For in the mouthe therof whan they shulde issue in to the see there is in the ryuer a mouÌ„tayne whiche departeth the ryuer in two ê‘tes and maketh suche brute and noyse that it maye well be herde seuyn myle of and for that cause there is no shyppe that dare aproche nere to it I longe by this ryuer syde there be fayre medowes and pastures wherby all the countrey is well serued and dyuers vynes whiche in seasone make good wynes whiche the Turkes do make and putte in to Goot skynnes and selleth it vnto Christen men For accordyng to their lawe they dare drinke no wyne to be knowen It is defended them on payne of lyfe But they eate the reysynges and they haue other good frutes and spyces wherof they make drinke and vse greatly to drinke Gootes mylke whiche refressheth theym in the hote season Thus the kynge of Hungry and his hoost lodged before the cytie of Coniecte at their ease and pleasure for no manne troubled their siege And whan they came before the Cytie they fouÌ„de the frutes rype the whiche was great pleasure to them They made to this Cytie dyuers assautes and they within defended them selfe trustyng dayly to haue ayde and socour of Lamorabaquy their lorde to reyse the siege with puyssaunce But he dyde nat wherby the Cytie was taken by force of assaute and distroyed with great slaughter of men women and chyldren For the christen men that entred hadde no mercy nor pytie WhanÌ„e this Cytie was thus wonne the kyng of Hungry dislodged and wente forwarde in to Turkey and was determyned to go and ley siege to a great cytie called Nicopoly and as they rode they fouÌ„de in their waye the towne of Quayre and layde siege to it fyftene dayes or it was won but finallye it was won by assaute clene distroyed And so passed forthe and in their waye they founde another towne and a stronge castell called Brehappe and a knyght of Turkey was lorde therof and was within the castell to defende it The kyng and his army were lodged within a myle where was a fayre ryuer and about the towne there was none There the erle of
to sende hym shortely great ayde of the best men of armes of all his signories to resyst agaynst the puissaunce of the kynge of Hungry and the FreÌ„che men And the great turke sente in to all realmes and countreis where as he thought to haue any ayde socour For he consydred and sayd that if the Frenche men conquered Turkey all other realmes adioyning shulde trimble for feare of them and therby their faythe and beleue shulde decaye and become vnder the subiection of the Christen men whiche they had rather dye And thus at the desyres of the Soudan and the great turke many kyngê sarazyns enclyned vnto their desyres as in Perce in Mede and in Trace and also out of the Septentryon and out of the realme of Lecto and to the boundes of Pruce And for asmoch as they were enformed that their enemyes the Christen men were flour of chiualry These kynges sarazins and other lordes of their lawe dyde chuse out among theÌ„ the best traueylynge and experte men of armes in all their countreis This assembly coude nat be sodaynly done nor theirpuruy aunces so soone done The great Turke set hym selfe forwardes in to the felde alwayes abyding for his people that came to hym fro farre couÌ„treis and specially out of Tartary Mede and Perce There assembled many valyant sarazins out of all countreis They were desyrous to proue their strengthes agaynst the Christen men ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the christen men beyng before Nicopolye ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of Coucy other lordes of the christeÌ„men about a .v. hundred speares discoÌ„fited a fyftene thousande turkes duryng the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. THey that were besiege with in the strong towne of Nycopolye defended themselfe right valyantly how be it they were sore abasshed that they herde no tydiÌ„ges for the great turke The Emperour of Constantyne the noble had written vnto theÌ„ that he was in the parties of Alexandre and was nat as than passed the brase saynt George So the crysten men helde their syege styll before Nycopoly They had vytayles plentye and good chepe that came out of Hungery and other marches nere adioynynge And on a day the lorde Coucy and other frenche men tooke pleasure to ryde forthe at aduenture to go se the countrey further in So they departed fro the siege about the nombre of fyue hundred speares and as many crosbowes and archers all horsemen The lorde Coucy was capytayne of that iourney and the lorde Raynolde of Roye and the lorde of saynt Pye in his company the Chateleyne of Beauoyre the lorde of Mount Caurell and the Bourge of Mountquell with dyuers other and they had guydes with theÌ„ suche as knewe the countrey and they had certayne fore ryders well mounted to discouer the couÌ„trey before them The same weke there was an armye of the turkes assembled togyther to the nombre of twenty thousande men for they were enfourmed howe the chrysten men were abrode dystroyenge their countrey in resystence therof they assembled togyder and came to a strayte whiche the crysten men must passe and they wolde entre in to the playne of Turkey and they coude nat well entre no waye And there the turkes taryed a two dayes and coude here no tydynges of the crysten menne and so the thyrde daye they thought to haue retourned Than the crysten mennes foreryders came to Brechault nere where the turkes were and whan the turkes saw them aproche they stode styll close togyther to se the dealynge of the crysten men and made no token nor sygne to skrymysshe with them These crysten men aproched nere to the turkes and sawe well they were a great nombre and yet they coulde nat aduyse them all And whan they had well auewed them they reculed backe and came to the lorde Coucy and shewed hym what they had sene of whiche newes the crysten men were ryght ioyfull and the lorde of Coucy said It is mete that we go and se theym more nerer sythe we become so farre forwarde we shall nat departe without fyghtynge with them if we shulde it shall be to our blame and great rebuke That is true quod all the other knyghtes that herde hym Than euery man prepared hym selfe and his horse and rode towarde the place where the turkes were and bytwene them and the turkes there was a lytell wode whan the crysten men came to the wode syde the lorde of Coucy said to the lorde Raynolde of Roy and to the lorde of saynt Pye Syrs myne aduyse is to the entent to drawe the turkes out of their streÌ„gth that ye two shall take two hundred of our speares and I with the rest wyll abyde here in this wode and ryde ye so nere them that ye may cause them to come out and than retourne you and suffre them to chase you tyll ye be paste vs in this wode and than sodaynly tourne vpon them and we shall close theym in behynde and so we shall haue them at our wyll To this aduyse all the knightes enclyned than two hundred of them that were best horsed rode forthe and the rest who were an eyght hundred enbusshed them selfe couertly in the wode and there taryed The other rode forthe and came to the place where the turkes were Whan they sawe the crysten men come they were ryght ioyouse wenynge there had been no mo and so came out of their holdes in to the playne feldes and whan the crysten men sawe tyme they turned and fled and made the turkes to chase them They were so well horsed that the turkes coulde nat ouertake them and they chased so longe that they passed the wode where as the enbusshement was Whan the turkes were passed the crysten men issued out and cryed our lady be with the lorde of Coucy and so dasshed in behynde them and made great occision The turkes helde them close togyther whan they sawe how they were beset before and behynde and dyd put them selfe to defence as well as they myght but they kept none ordre for they were nat ware of the reregarde And whan they sawe them selfe so sodaynly sette on they were abasshed The Frenche men dyd quyte them selfe lyke valyaunte men of armes and slewe the turkes at their pleasure in their flyenge There were many slayne the chrysten men toke none to mercy happy were they that coulde escape and retourne fro thens as they came And than the cristen men that had done that dede retourned to their hoost before Nycopoly Than tydynges ran ouer all the hoost howe the lorde of Coucy by his wysdome and valyauntnesse had dyscomfyted mo than .xv. thousande turkes Many spake well therof but the erle of Ewe praysed nothing his dede sayenge howe it was doone by pride and howe that he had put the crysten men and specyally his bande in great aduenture and parell sayenge that with an handefull of men he fought folysshely with the route of twenty thousande turkes he shulde rather seynge
¶ The preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knyght lorde Berners Sythe hystorie as I haue in my Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycles declared is the wytnesse of tymes the lyght of trouthe the lyfe of remembrauÌ„ce the maistres of the lyfe the messanger of olde season wherof innumerable coÌ„modyties growen I ne thynke the labours myspente that I at the highe coÌ„maundement of our moost redoughted soueraygne lorde Henry the cyght kyng of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce highe defender of the Christen faythe c. haue eâ—ployed aboute the translacyon of nowe the foure volumes of sir Iohan Froissaâ—t out of Frenche in to our Englysshe tong Certainly nat the bouÌ„tie of the same cronycles in whom are conteygâ—â—d the warres of these parties whiche warres dâ—scâ—yued in Frenche by sir Iohan Froyssaâ—â— ryght oâ—nately as many that haue great vnderstandynge in dyuers tonges in whome warres are written plainly saye for knyghtly feateâ— manhode and humanyte passe ryght moche the warres of farre countreis nor the great pleasure that thy noble countrey menne of Englande toke in redynge the worthy and knightly dedes of their valyaunt auncestours encorageth me halfe so moche as the princely exhorte whiche of all erthely kynges the very worshyppe and 〈◊〉 ouâ— foresaid gracyous soueraygne gaue me He who forthe manyfolde royall vertues in his highnesse fouÌ„de nat of two or thre small realmes 〈◊〉 is worthy to reygne and be kyng ouer the vnyuersall worlde â—elyteth in nothyng 〈◊〉 than to 〈…〉 I sayd the moost famous 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 and subict 〈…〉 ouâ— with all 〈◊〉 So that it â—ought appere to euery mannes â—ight ouer what and howe worthy people has 〈…〉 and nowe his 〈…〉 lyaunt 〈◊〉 contende by vigorous vertue and manhode to folowe yea to passe them if they maye Truely the ymages as they vsed in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp and remembraunce of them that were discended of noble blode he beare halfe the wytnesse that the noble dedes sette out in hystorye done Whiche well appereth by the wordes of the prudent kyng Agesilaus who dying coÌ„maunded that neyther ymage nor picture to his resemblauÌ„ce shulde be made for if I haue sayd he any noble thyng famously done it shall beare wytnesse ynough of me if I haue nought done certainly all the ymages lytell aueylen as who saythe suche thynges inought be made in mynde of them that were but dastardes and neuer dyde worthy dede in all their lyfe Wherfore for the loue and honour that I beare to our moost puissaunt soueraygne and to do pleasure to his subieâ—tes bothe nobles and coÌ„mons I haue endeuored me to translate out of FreÌ„che as sayd is in to Englysshe the four volumes of sir Iohan Froissart and reduced them in to twayne Wherin if I haue erred I praye them that shall defaute fynde to coÌ„syder the greatnesse of the hystorie and my good wyll that aske nothyng elles of them for my great labour but of their curtesy to amende where nede shal be and yet for their so doynge I shall praye to god finally to sende them the blysse of heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knight lord berners deputie of Calais traÌ„slatour of this present cronycle and here after foloweth the table with the chapters as they stande in the boke by order c. ¶ Herafter foloweth the table of this present volume FIrst howe syr Iohan Bourchyer gouernour of Gaunt durynge the truse had newe vitayled the towne of GauÌ„t and howe a maner of people called comporselles dyd moche hurte in the Countrey Capitulo primo ¶ Howe the bridge of Taylbourcke was won by the frenche men and howe the englisshmen fortyfied them selfe agaynst the coÌ„myng of the frenchmen and howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and his rout aryued at â—â—â—nborowe in Scotlande Capi. ii ¶ Howe the frenche men found a wylde countrey of ScotlaÌ„de and were yuell content with the admyrall and howe he pacyfied them with fayre wordes and howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nerehande taken Ardenbourke in Flaunders Cap. iii. ¶ Howe the lorde of saint Albyne and Enguerante zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takynge and howe the quene of Hungery sent ambassadours into Fraunce to marry thetle of Valoyes to her eldest doughter Cap. iiii ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabant wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyere of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng with her nese Isabell of Bauyer and howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Capi. v. ¶ Howe Fraunces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the frenche kynge wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyere and after wente and layde siege to Dan. Fo .vi. ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were behe ded and howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune howe the siege of Dan contynewed longe Cap. vii ¶ Howe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by nyght howe the frenche men toke the towne and destroyed it and also howe the kynge dystroyed the countrey of the foure craftes Capi. viii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge departed oute of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he came to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry and howe the marques of Blanqueforte toke by streÌ„ght to his wyfe the same lady 〈…〉 Cap. ix ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone toke Bertuell in Poictou and also of the great assemble that the kynge of Scottes made to entre in to Englande Cap. x. ¶ Howe the frenche men and scottes was the castell of Vatley and dystroyed dyuers other townes in Northumberlande and howe they withdrewe agayne in to Scotlande whan they knewe that the kynge of Englande was coÌ„mynge on them with a great puyssaunce Capi. xi ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande slewe syr Rycharde Stafforde and howe the erle of Stafforde came to the kynge to demaunde iustyce Capi. xii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande caused to be dystroyed the churche of Mewreus in Scotlande and howe the barones of Scotlande aunswered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuysed to leaue Scotlande and to lette the englysshe men alone Cap. xiii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande toke Edenborowe the chiefe tytle of Scotlande howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to Wales to close in the frenche men and the scottes and what the frenche men and scottes dyd in the sayd countrey Cap. xiiii ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kynge of Englande had thought to haue made into Wales after the frenchmen and scottes and howe the kyng retourned the same way that he came and howe the frenche men scottes determyned to retourne againe into Scotlande Cap. xv ¶ Howe the frenche lordes were in great paryll in scotlande and coude nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer thesee and how they shewed the erles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they founde in that countrey and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi ¶ Howe the admyrall enfourmed the frenche kynge and his counsayle of the state of Scotlande and
howe the duke of Burgoyne had great desyre to cause the frenche kynge to make a iourney in to Englande Cap. xvii ¶ Howe by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt entred to 〈◊〉 with the duke of Buâ—goyne for peace howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what answere the duke gaue vnto them Ca. xviii ¶ Howe these two 〈…〉 burgesses assembled their frendes to acomplyâ—â—â— their enterprise and sent syr Iohan Delle 〈…〉 letters of peace Cap. â—ii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Delle came to Gaunt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the eytie were and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sente to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Capi. xx ¶ Howe sir Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and went to the erle of Foyzland the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi ¶ Howe the prince of Wales and the princesse came to Tarbe and of the request that the countesse of Armynake mad to the prince and princesse and howe the countrey of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap. xxii ¶ Of the warres that the duke of â—niou made agaynst the englysshe men and howe he recouered the Castell of Maluoysyn in Bygore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to the Erle of Foize Cap. xxiii ¶ Howe the garyson castell of Lourde was caste downe and discomfyted by the great dylygence that the erle of Foiz made Ca. xxiiii ¶ Howe the peace was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and the erle of foyz and of the begynnynge of the warre that was bytwene the erle of Foiz the erle of Armynake Ca. xxv ¶ Of the great vertuousnesse and larges that was in the erle of Foize and the maner of the pytuous dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Capi. xxvi ¶ Howe syr Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bysquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii ¶ Of the great soleÌ„pnyte that the erle of Foiz made at the fyest of saynte Nycholas and the tale that the â—â—stot of Manlyon shewed to sir Iohan Froâ—â—â—rt Cap. xxviii ¶ Howe dyuers capytayns englysshe and other were dyscomfyted before the Towne of Saxere by the frenche men Cap. xxix ¶ Howe a Squyer called Lymosyn tourned frenche and howe he caused Loyes Rambalt his coÌ„pany on in armes to be taken Ca. xxx ¶ Of the state or ordynauÌ„ce of the erle of Foiz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle dommage and outrage that was done therto Cap. xxxi ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle left the siege of â—â—â—bone and howe they of saynt prayne 〈…〉 selfe Cap. xxxii ¶ 〈…〉 batayle that was at 〈…〉 kinge of Castyle and kynge 〈◊〉 of Portugale Cap. xxxiii ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordred them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the frenche knyghtes and gascons suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloyes were slayne by their maysters and none escaped Cap. xxxv ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle all his great batayle were discomfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberothe Capi. xxxvi ¶ Howe a spiryte called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a longe tyme and brought him euer tidynges from all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretayne and howe that dyuers englyssh forâ—â—esses aboute the countrey of Tholous were recouered and tourned frenche Cap. xxxviii ¶ Howe the castelles of Conuall of Bygorâ— and of Nesuyll were taken all they 〈◊〉 taken slayne and hanged Cap. xxâ—◠¶ Howe the kinge of Cypres was slayn◠〈◊〉 murthered in his bedde by his owne broâ—â—â— by exortacyon and corruptyon of the in 〈…〉 for the bountye and hardynesse that 〈…〉 hym Cap. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony wa◠〈…〉 and howe .lx. M. turkes were 〈…〉 distroyed in the realme of Hungry Ca. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe pope Vrbane pope Clement were at gret discorde togyder and howe the cristen kynges were in varyaunce for their lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Cap. xlii ¶ Howe they of Portugale sent out messangers in to Englande to shewe tydynges of their countrey to the kynge of Englande and to the great lordes there Cap. xliii ¶ Howe Laurens Fongase ambassadour fro the kynge of Portugale in to Englande shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the discorde that was bytwene the realmes of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xliiii ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberothe bytwene the kynges of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xlv ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had aunswere of the kynge of Englande and great gyftes and howe they tooke their leaue and went into their countreys Cap. xlvi ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre assayled the lordes knightes and squyers that were in the bastydes before Brest in Bretayne and howe they defended them selfe Cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his hoost whasie they had soiourned a moneth at Colongne than they departed and rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Cap. xlviii ¶ Of the great apparell and prouyson that generally was made in the realme of Fraunce by the kynge there and by his counsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande and also of the deth of Fraunces Atreman Cap. lii ¶ Howe the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre whan he knewe that he was arryued at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the socours that the kynge of Castyle sent for into FrauÌ„ce and howe the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the Englysshe men Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„castres marshall and his men assayled the towne of Vieclope in Galyce whiche yelded by coÌ„posycion and of the ambassadours that the duke sent to the kynge of Portyngale Cap. li. ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded theym to the duke of Lancastre and howe the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and tâ—ke possessyon therof Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and the duchesse helde them at saynte Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frenche knyghtes gaue to the kynge of Castyle Cap. lxii ¶ Of the great apparell of shyppes and galeys that the Frenche men made on the see to passe in to Englande Cap. liii ¶ Howe the frenche kinge and his vncles arryued at Sluse in Flaunders Cap. liiii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge taryed at Sluse with his great hoost to the entent to entre in to Englande Cap. lv ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Caunterburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he atchyued great hate Cap. lv ¶ Howe the kynge of Armonye passed in to Englande in truste to fynde some meanes of peace or good appoyntment bytwene the kynge of Englande and the frenche kyng Cap. lvi ¶ Howe the kinge of Armony
there to be holden Cap. C .i. ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puyssaunce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puissaunce and howe they coulde nat passe the Ryuer of Dierne and howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theym the passage Capi. C .ii. ¶ Howe the tydynges spred abrode that the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of dierne and howe it came to the kynge of Castylles knowledge and howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and tode before vyle Arpent and howe the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmynge of the duke of Burbon Cap. C .iii. ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe an haraulde was sent to the kynge of Castyle and howe thre knyghtes of Englande wente to speake with the kynge of Castyle for a saue conducte for the dukes men to passe thoroughe his countrey Capi. C.iiii. ¶ Howe these three knyghtes optayned a saue conducte of the kynge of Castyle for their people to passe and howe dyuers of the englysshe men dyed in Castyle and howe the Duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Capi. C.v. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande the Duke of Lancasters constable tooke his leaue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the kynge of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe syr Iohan Dambrity court went to Parys to accomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and syr Boucyquant Cap. C .vi. ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone departed fro Auignon to go into Castyle with all his hoost and came to Burgus in Spaygne and there founde the kynge of Castyle And howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tydynge and howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Capi. C .vii. ¶ Howe the erle of Foiz receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great gyftes that he gaue hym and howe syr Willyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passackes company departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynte Phagon Capi. C .viii. ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle and his counsayle were yuell content with syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultier of Passackes company and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C .ix. ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake tooke great payne to treate with the companyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C .x. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage wystenat what to do came for refuge to the archcbysshoppe of Coloygne his vncle who blamed hym and howe ambassadours went to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthalte of Malygnes by whome he hadde a doughter and after maryed agayne in Englande and hadde issue two sonnes and a doughter and howe syr Iohan of Bloyes wedded the eldest doughter of the Erle of Guerles and howe after the countie of Guerles remayned with the erle of Guerles yongest doughter Capi. C .xii. ¶ Howe these castelles of Gauleche Buthe and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iulyers sustayned the Lynfars in his countre who robbed all maner of people and of the great assemble that the duke of Brabante made to go to Iulyers and howe he was dyscomfyced Cap. C .xiii. ¶ Howe the duke of Brabant dyed and howe the duke Guillyam of Guerles treated with the duchesse of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castelles and what aunswere he had and howe he made alyaunce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C .xiiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the frenche kynge complaynynge of the duke of Guerles and howe the kynge and his counsayle were sore busyed with incydentes that fell in the realme of Fraunce as well for the defyaunces of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretayne Cap. C .xv. ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampylona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vanchadore was besieged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the Duchesse of Brabante Cap. C .xvi. ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brent and ryfled the towne of Seaull retourned to their garyson and of the ioye that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse of Brabant made for that dede and howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce dyscomfyted the englysshe men Capi. C .xvii. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce ledde these prisoners to Mount Ferante and howe they of the countrey were gladde whan they herde of this entreprise and howe Geronet and his company were sette to raunsome and delyuered by the money that Perot of Bierne lent hym Cap. C .xviii. ¶ Howe Geronet of Mandurāt with twelue of his company retourned to Mount ferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with four hundred speares wente to Mount Ferante and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other way but in at the gate Cap. C .xix. ¶ Howe Geronet lette in Perot le Bernoys and his company in to the towne of Mount ferant wherof the countrey was a frayde and howe the kynge and his vncles beynge at Parys were therwith sore dyspleased and also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne Cap. C .xx. ¶ Howe Perotte le Bernoys and his company tooke their counsayle and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mount ferant and howe the sayd Perot and his company departed thens by nyght withall their pyllage and prisoners and wente and refresshed them in the towne of Ousac Cap. C .xxi. ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremounte made a skrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of Moūt ferant at the gates of the towne Cap. C .xxii. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloyes sonne and howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge Charles of Fraunce Cap. C .xxiii. ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lancastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenche men recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the Englysshe men that had ben there in that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the Frenche kynge sente for the duke of Irelande Cap. C .xxiiii. ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce wolde nat accorde that the kynge shulde goo in to Almaygne bycause of the incydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons and made alyaūce with the kynge of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C .xxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoyes layde siege to the towne of Graue and howe the Constable of Fraunce tooke saynt Malo and saynte Mathewes and sette there men in garysone and howe the duke of Lancastre was
at Bayon greatly dyscomfyted in that he coulde get no maner of ayde Cap. C .xxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey sente letters to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon and howe the duke sente the copye of the same letters in to Foyze and in to Nauerre to the entent to haue them publysshed in Spayne and howe the duke of Bretaygne demaunded counsayle of his men in all his busynesse Capi. C .xxvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne delyuered vp the thre castelles of syr Olyuer of Clyssons and howe he receyued ioyously the lorde of Coucy and his company ambassadours fro the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre made great chere to syr Helyon of Lignacke seneschall of Xaynton abmassadoure fro the duke of Berrey Cap. C .xxviii. ¶ Nowe the kynge of Castyle sente his ambassadours to the duke of Lancastre to treate for a maryage to be hadde bytwene his sonne and the dukes doughter and howe at the request of the duke of Berrey a truse was made by the duke of Lancastre in the countreys of Tholousyn and Rouergne Cap. C .xxix. ¶ Howe the Dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne departed to go to Bloyes and howe the duke of Bretayne came thyder and howe the dukes dyd so moche that they had hym to Parys in maner agaynst his wyll Capi. C .xxx. ¶ Howe Lewes kynge of Cycyle entred in to Parys in estate royall and howe the duke of Bretayne entred on the nyght of saint Johan the Baptyst the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore and seuyn and of a dede of armes done before the kynge at Moutereau fault yon bytwene a knyght of Englande called syr Thomas Harpyngham and a frenche knyght named syr Johan de Barres Capi. C .xxxi. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretaygne entred in to Parys and came to the castell of Loure to the frenche kynge Cap. C .xxxii. ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell beynge on the see more than a moneth came to the hauen of Maraunt a lytell fro Rochell and howe he sent a messanger to Perot le Bernoys that he and other capytayns shulde kepe the feldes Capi. C .xxxiii. ¶ Howe they of Marroys and Rochelloys were sore afrayde of the Englysshe men that were a lande and howe they of Rochell made ask rymysshe with theym and howe after the englysshe men had pylled the countrey about Maraunt they drewe agayne to the see with their pyllage whiche was great Capi. C .xxxiiii. ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his companyons resorted agayne to their holdes with great pyllage and howe the duke of Guerles coulde haue no ayde of the Englysshe men to reyse the siege before Graue and howe the brabansois made a brige ouer the ryuer of meuse the whiche they of Guerles dyd breake bryn and dystroy as ye shall here after Capi. C .xxxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoys passed the ryuer through the towne of Rauesten ouer the bridge there and so entred into Guerles Than the duke departed fro Nymay with thre hundred speares and came agaynst them and dyscomfyted them bytwene Rauesten and the towne of Graue Cap C .xxxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Guerles after he had discomfyted the brabansoys he went agayne to Nymay and howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge and howe the kynge sent ambassadours to the kynge of Almayne Capi. C .xxxvii. ¶ Howe the frenche kynge gaue leaue to the duke of Bretaygne to retourne in to his countrey and howe the couÌ„trey of Brabant wolde nat consent to the kynges passage nor his army and howe the ambassadours of Fraunce spedde Capi. C .xxxviii. ¶ Howe the erle of Bloys sent to the frenche kinge two hundred speares and howe the duke of Lorayne and the lorde Henry of Bare came to the kynge and howe the dukes of Julyers and of Guerles knewe that the frenche kynge came on them Capi. C .xxxix. ¶ Howe syr Hellyon of Lygnacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey and howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an armye to entre into Englande and of an englyssh squyer who was taken by the scottes who knewe the secretes of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Capi. C .xl. ¶ Howe kyng Richarde yelded hym selfe to the erle of Derby to go to London Cap. Fo. CCC .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Duglas wan the penon of sir Henry Percy at the barryers vpon Newe castell vpon Tyne and howe the scottes brent the castell of Pondlen and howe syr Henry Percy and syr Rafe his brother tooke aduyse to folowe the scottes to conquere agayne the penon that was lost at the skrymysshe Capi. C .xli. ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of Englande and howe she had all newe ê‘sones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kynge Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC .xlii. ¶ Howe sir Henry Percy and his brother with a good nombre of men of armes and archers went after the scottes to wyn agayne his penon that the erle Duglas had won before Newcastell vpoÌ„tyne and howe they assayled the scottes before MouÌ„tberke in their lodgynges Cap. C .xlii. ¶ Howe the erle James Duglas by his valyantnesse encoraged his men who were reculed and in a maner disconfited and in his so doynge he was wounded to dethe Capi. C .xliii. ¶ Howe in this bataile sir Rafe Percy was sore hurte and taken prisoner by a scottiss he knyght Cap. C .xliiii. ¶ Howe the scottes wanne the batayle agayust the Englysshe men besyde Ottebridge and there was taken prisoners sir HeÌ„ry and sir Rafe Percy howe an Englisshe squier wolde nat yelde hym no more wolde a scottysshe squyer and so were slayne bothe and howe the bysshoppe of Durham and his coÌ„pany were disconfyted amonge them selfe Capi. C .xiv. ¶ Howe sir Mathewe Reedman deparred fro the batayle to saue hym selfe and howe sir James Lymsey was taken prisoner by the bysshoppe of Durham and howe after the batayle scurrers were sent forthe to discouer the countrey Cap. C .xlvi. ¶ Howe the scottes departed caryed with them the erle Duglas deed and buryed hym in the abbey of Nimayes and howe sir Archambault Duglas and his company departed fro before Carlyle and retourned in to Scotlande Cap. C .xlvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Jullyers came and excused hym selfe of the defyaunce that his son the duke of Guerles had made to the Frenche kyng and so became his subiette and of dyuers reates of armes done bitwene the freÌ„che men and the almaygnes before Rencongne Cap. C .xlviii. ¶ Howe the duke of Julyers and the archebysshop of Coloygne departed fro the Frenche kyng and wente to Nimaye to the duke of Guerles and howe by their meanes he was reconsyled and brought to peace with the Frenche kynge and with the duchesse of Brabant Cap. C .xlix. ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell and the knyghtes of Englande beyng on the see by fortune of the wynde came to the palyce besyde Rochell whose beynge there was signifyed to sir Loyes of
the better This duchesse of Brabant who was a ryght sore ymaginatyue lady shewed many reasons to the kynges vncles and to his counsayle sayenge howe this lady was doughter to a great lorde in Almaygne and the greattest of all the Bauyers And howe that thereby they shulde haue great alyaunce in Almaygne For duke Stephyn she sayde was so great a manne that he myght well breke the purposes of the great lordes of th empyre For he was as great or greatter than the kynge of almaygne the whiche enclyned sonest the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce to parceyuer in that mater Howe be it the matter was handeled right secretely For there were but fewe that knewe therof tyll it were doone And the cause why this was It is the vsage in Fraunce that any lady doughter to any great lorde yf the Kynge shulde mary her firste she shulde be sene and viewed all naked by certayne ladyes therto admytted to knowe if she were proper and mete to brynge forthe chyldren and also bycause this lady was of a farre countre so that if she shulde be pleasaunt to the kyng or nat or elles all were broken for these causes the matter was kepte secrete but the lady about the feest of Penthecost after she was brought to Brabant to the duchesse there who ioyfully receyued her and ordered her accordynge to the vsage of Fraunce And with her in company was duke Frederyke of Bauyer her vncle by whom to saye trouthe the maryage was firste procured by suche wayes as I shall shewe you ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabaunt wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyer of the maryage of the yonge frenche kynge with her nese Isabell of Bauyer And howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Cap. v. WHan that duke Frederyke of Bauier caÌ„e first in to FraÌ„ce to serue the freÌ„che kyng in his iourney that he made in to flaunders and came to the siege of Boutbourcke True it was he was feested and receyued by the kynges vncles bycause he was come so farre of to serue the kynge as out of the couÌ„tre of Bauyer the whiche was more than two hundred leages of This was reputed for a great seruyce and he was alwayes loged nere to the kyng in token of good loue and fauour And whan he departed out of Bauyer he thought surly that there shulde be batayle bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Englande in the marchesse of FlauÌ„ders or of frauÌ„ce for so ranne all the brute in all Almaygne Therfore the kynge and his vncles gaue hym the more thanke And thus as he was with the kyng in that voyage before Burbourke Bergues the kingê vncles curtesly demauÌ„ded on a day of hym if he had any doughters to mary â–ª sayeng howe they lacked a wyfe for the kyng and howe that they had rather the kynge shulde mary in Bauyer rather thanÌ„e in any other place For aunciently the buyers were of the counsayle of Fraunce The duke aunswered and sayd surely I haue no doughter to mary but myne elder brother duke Stephyn of Bauyer hath a right fayre Lady to his doughter Of what age is she of quod the lordes Bytwene xiii and fourtene quod the duke That is all that we desyre quod the kynges vncles Therfore sir whan ye do retourne home in to Bauyer speke to your brother of the mater bring your nese a pylgrimage to saynt IohnÌ„s of Amyence the kyng shal be there if it please hym We drynke he wyll desyre it for he loueth gladly to se fayre thynges and if he wysshe to haue her she shall be quene So this was the first procurement and as at that tyme there was no more done nor sayde The kynge knewe no thynge of these wordes And whanÌ„e this duke Federyke of Bauyer was retourned home he shewed all this mater to duke Stephyn of Bauyer his brother who studyed somewhat at his wordes and at last sayd Fayre brother I beleue well it is as ye saye My doughter shulde be happy if she myght come to so highe an honour as to be frenche quene But Fraunce is very farre of and it is a matter wisely to be regarded to make a Quene I shulde be ryght soore displeased if my doughter shulde be caryed in to FrauÌ„ce for suche a purpose and than sente home agayne yet I had rather mary her at myne ease nerer home This was the aunswere that duke Stephyn gaue to his brother duke Frederyke where with duke Frederyke was well content and wrote all his aunswere to Fraunce to the Kynges vncles and to his vncle duke Auberte and to the Duches of Brabant They hadde went that duke Frederyke had forgoten the matter For they were aboute maryages for the kynge in other places And the kynge was nere agreed to the doughter of the duke of Lorayne for she was a fayre damosell of her age nere to the kyngê age She was of noble and great generacyon of the house of Bloyes Also there was spekyng for the doughter of the Duke of Lancastre who was after quene of Portyngale but there was no coÌ„clusion bycause of the warre Therfore the matter hanged styll in suspence as ye haue herde before The duches of Brabant whaÌ„ she was at Cambâ—ay at the maryages of Burgoyne Heynalte and that the frenche kyng was they and the duke of Burbone and Burgoyn were there Than she moued forthe this maryage of Bauyer for the kyng affirmynge that it was moost profitable and honorable for the kynge bycause of the alyaunce with Almaygne Madame quod the kynges vncles we here nothynge therof Well quod the duchesse I warrant you ye shall here somwhat therof or this somer be paste Her promyse was well fulfylled for she dyde so moche that duke Frederyke vncle to the damosell was so agreed with his brother duke Stephyn that he shulde be conuey the lady in to Fraunce And that it shulde be noysed all the waye that they went a pylgrimage to saiÌ„t Iohans of Amyence Euery man supposed the same for Almayns go the often on pylgrimage it is their vsage _wHan duke Frederyke and his nese the lady Isabell of Bauyer had ben thre dayes at Brusels than they toke leue but it was the duchesse intensyon to be as soone at Amyence or soner than they So than they came in to Heynaulte to Quesnoy where they founde the duke and the duchesse and sir Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and his wyfe There thy were nobly receyued for duke Aubert was her vncle and had great marueyle what brought them in to that countre And than demauÌ„ded why they came thyder Certaynlye quod duke Frederyke I haue had moche payne to bringe the mater to this purpose And so there he shewed hym all the mater and sayd I haue brought my brother in that mynde that I haue brought my nese hyder as ye saye but whan I departed my brother sayd to me Nowe Frederike my fayre brother ye leade with you Isabell my doughter without any sure
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 _wHanÌ„e 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 troeÌ„tie 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 FrauÌ„ces 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 FrauÌ„ce shulde come after in to Scotlande with a great puissanÌ„ce 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 couÌ„sayle 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 deê‘tyng 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 geÌ„tyl 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 FrauÌ„ces Atreman and his coÌ„pany 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 caÌ„e 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 gauÌ„toise 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 ScotlaÌ„de brought thadmyrall vnto a highe mountayne and vnder the hyll there was a passage wherby theÌ„glysshe host must passe on this hyll was thadmyrall with diuers knightê of FrauÌ„ce in his company And there clerely they sawe the Englysshe men and all their puissaunce and ther they nombred them as nere as they coude to be a sire thousande men of armes threscore thousande archers and other Than all thynges coÌ„sydred they sayd howe they were nat of puyssaunce suffycient to fight with the Englysshemen for they passed nat a thousande speares a .xxx. thousande of all other men and but yuell armed Than the admyrall sayd to the etle Duglas and to therle Morette Sirs ye saye but good reason thoughe ye haue no wyll to fight with the Englisshe men Therfore aduyse you what ye wyll do they are stronge ynoughe to ouer ryde all your countrey and to distroy it And sithe ye maye nat fight with them I pray you bring me throughe your countre by some priuye waye in to Englande if it maye be and we shall make them warre in some other parte as they do to vs here Sir ê™ the barones that shall we well do for we knowe dyuers wayes TO thus the admyrall and the barones of Scotlande determyned to forsake Scotlande and to lette the Englyssh men alone and to go entre into Wales and to go to the cytie of Carlyle and there to reuenge them So they lefte the Englysshe men and toke the forestes and mountayns and as they rode throughe out Scotlande they distroyed all as they wente and brent townes vyllages and maners and caused all the men women chyldren of the couÌ„tre to driue all their catayle and to go into that wylde forestes for they knewe well the Englisshe men wolde nat folowe them thyder And the kynge of Scottes wente in to the wylde scottysshe bicause he wes nat iÌ„ good poynt to ryde a warfare and they he taryed all the warre durynge and lette his men alone So the Frenche men and Scottes passed the highe mountayns bytwene NorthumberlaÌ„de and Scotlande and entred in to the lande of Wales and began to brenne villages and dyd moche hurte in the Mombrayes landes And the erle of Notyngham the erle of Stafforde and the barone of Grasoppe and the Mosgrâ—ues landes and so they toke the waye to the cytie of Carlyle ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande toke EdeÌ„borowe the chefe cytie of Scotlande and howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to wales to close in the frenchmen and scottes and what the frenche men the scottes dyde in the sayd countre Cap. xiiii THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce was the erle of Graunt Pre and the lorde of saynt Croix sir Geffray of Charney ser Wyl lyam de Brume sir Iames of Boesme the lorde of Pegny the lorde of Hee s the lorde of Marnell sir Valeran of Rauenall the barone Dâ—â—ery the barone of Fountayns the lorde of Croye sir Brake of Braquemont the lorde of Landury and well a thousande speres of barons knightes of Fraunce And so they and the lordes of Scotlande rode in NorthuÌ„berlande bytwene the mountayns on the fronters of Wales brennyng townes maners and countrees And the kyng of Englande and his vncles with barons and knightes of EnglaÌ„de and their companyes entred in to Scotlande and brent and exyled on their parte And so the kyng came and lodged in Edenborowe the chefe towne in all Scotlande and there taryed fyue dayes and at his departyng it was set a fyre brent vp clene but the castell had no hurt for it was stronge ynough and well kept Whyle the kyng lay at Edenborowe thenglysshmen rode abrode in the countre and dyd moche hurt but they fouÌ„de nother man nor beest abrode for all was withdrawen in to the forestes In the Englysshe hoost were mo than a huÌ„dred thousaÌ„de men and well as many horse wherof they had nede of great prouisyon and they fouÌ„de none in Scotlande but out of Englande there caÌ„e to theÌ„ great plentie bothe by lande and by see Than the kyng departed fro EdeÌ„borowe and rode towarde Estruleyn a good towne wherin there was a great abbey of blacke monkes and moost coÌ„menly the kynges of Scotlande are there buryed The kyng lay in the abbey at their deê‘tyng abbey all was brent Than they passed the ryuer of Taxe whiche ronneth to saint IohnÌ„s towne at the castell of Strulyn there was a great assaute but it wolde nat be wonne yet the towne and all the landes of the lorde Vercy they brent THe entent of the duke of Lancastre and of his bretherne was to passe through Scotlande and to pursue the scottes and frenche men for they knew well they were gone the waye to Wales to go to Carlyle And so they thought to enclose theÌ„ bytwene Englande and Scotlande and to fight with them at their aduauntage This purpose they thought veryly to holde Thenglysshe men spredde abrode in ScotlaÌ„de there was no resystence agaynst theÌ„ for the countre was voyde of all men of warre they were gone in to Englande with the admyrall of Fraunce And so there the Englysshmen brent the towne of saynt IohnÌ„s where as the ryuer of Taxe rynneth and there is a good hauen to sayle thens ouer all the worlde and after they brent the towne of Donde The Englyssh men spared nother abbeys nor minsters but set all on fyre And so they of the vowarde ran to Bredan whiche is a cytie on the see syde It is on thentre of the wylde scottysshe but they dyd no hurte therto howe be it they of the countrey were right sore afrayed They of that cytie thought to haue assaute for they feared leest the kynge of Englande wolde haue come thyder and haue ouer ron all that countre THus in lykewise as the Englysshemen dyde in Scotlande so dyd the frenche men and scottes in Englande in the marchesse of Northumberlande and Wales they brent a great countre as they went out of Northumberlande and entred in to Wales whiche was otherwise called Wynslande and passed by the landes of the lordes of Graystocke and Clyfforde and brent in their voyage dyuers great villages for they were no men of warre in that couÌ„tre as than for they were all with the kyng So they came to the cyte of Catlyle in Wales whiche was well closed with gatê walles dykes It was a place that of auncyent tyme kynge Arthure loued rightwell bycause that there were great woodes and many dedes of armes there was done There laye in Carlyle in garison sir Lewes Clyfforde brother to sir WyllmÌ„ Neuell and with hym sir ThomÌ„s Mosgraue and Dauy Holgraue his sonne and sir Dongorsse and dyuers other of the marchesse and fronters of Wales for the
cytte of Carlyle was chiefe cytie of all that countre and it was nede full for good men of warre to be theâ— for whan the admyrall of Fraunce came thyder he assayled the cytie by great force the whiche assaute was cruell and fierse So thus before the cytie there were many noble dedes of armes done ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kyng of EnglaÌ„d had thought to haue made in to wales after the frenche men and scottes And howe the kynge retourned the same waye that he came and howe the frenche men and scottes determyned to retourne agayne in to ScotlaÌ„de Cap. xv THe kyng of Englandes vncles knewe well what waye the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and the scottes helde said how they thought it for the best to folowe theym and to serche tyll they myght fynde them and so to fight with them Sayeng howe they coude in no wyse escape them In this purpose was the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and dyuers other of the great barons of Englande and the moost parte of the coÌ„mons of the hoost And as than all their prouisyon was come as well by lande as by see and the kynge also was agreed to the same purpose and than on a night the erle of Oxenforde who was as than chiefe of counsayle with the kynge bare all the rule the kyng trusted no man so moche He turned the kyng cleue fro his purpose I can nat shewe you for what cause but the enformed the kyng as it was knowen after and said sir What thynke ye to do Wyll ye folowe the way that your vncles hath counsayled Sir knowe for trouth that if ye do so ye shall neuer returne agayne For sir the duke of LaÌ„castre desyreth none other thynge but that ye were deed that he might be kyng Howe durst he couÌ„sayle yor grace to go this wynter season in to a strange countrey Sir I wolde nat counsayle you to passe the mouÌ„tayns of Northumberlande for there be mo than .xxx. streightes and passages that if ye were closed in them ye shulde neuer come out agayne without daunger of the scottes Sir putte nat youre selfe in to that daunger what soeuer they saye to you If the duke of Lancastre wyll go lette hym go and haue the charge therof but by my counsayle ye shall nat go Sir ye haue done ynough for this one tyme. youre father was neuer so farre within Scotlande nor yet Kynge Edwarde youre graunt father Therfore sir this oughte to contente you and saue youre owne persone ye be yonge and lusty And suche there be that sheweth you sayre semblant and loueth you but lâ—tell The kynge gaue suche audyence to the sayeng of this erle that it went neuer out of his mynde as ye shall herafter THe next mornyng the lordes of Englande and their people ordred them selfe to deê‘te out of ScotlaÌ„de and to folowe their ennemyes to fight with them as it was concluded the night before Than the duke of Lancastre came to the king his nephue nat knowyng of the trouble and chaunge of his purpose â–ª and the kynge beyng in his malencoly assone as he sawe hym he sayd in great yre Certesse vncle of LaÌ„castre ye shall nat attayne as yet to your entent Thynke you for all your wordes that we wyll lese our selfe folisshely I wyll nat beleue you nor yet your couÌ„sayle for I se therby more domage than profyte to vs and to our people For if ye wyll make this voyage do it and ye lyste but as for me I wyll nat For I wyll retourne into Englande the nexte waye and all suche as loue vs wyll folowe vs. Than the duke of Lancastre sayd Sir I shall folowe you for ye haue neuer a man in your company that loueth you so well as I do also my bretherne And if there be any man wyll saye except your persone that I wolde any thynge otherwyse than well to you or to your people here is my guage to the coÌ„trarie So there was none that wolde speke any worde And the kynge helde his peace and spake to other of his seruauntes of other maters and orderyng hymselfe to returne into Englande the same way that he came and the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro the kynge right sore troubled in his mynde and returned to his coÌ„pany and made newe ordynauÌ„ce for in the morning they had thought to haue folowed the frenchmen in to the marches of Wales but they dyde nat so for they retourned the next waye in to Englande Lo thus ye may se howe thetle of OxeÌ„forde who was great with the kyng brake all this voyage and dyuers of the great lordes sayd that the kyng was yuell counsayled Seynge that all the prouisyon was come For they sayd they might well haue folowed the scottes in to Wales For in their so doyng they shulde euer haue drawen in to Englande warde And some ê‘sons that were wery of payne and trauell said howe that all thynges coÌ„sidred they were better to retourne than to go any further Sayeng howe a great ê“uision must be had to scrue suche an host howe it was yuell to passe the mountayns that wynter season wherby they sayd they might rather lese than wynne THus in his season brake vp the iorney and army of Englande and the kynge and his lordes retourned in to Englande the same way they came but they hadde distroyed the moost parte of the realme of Scotlande These tidynges came to the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and to the scottes than they tooke counsayle what was best for them to do and so concluded to retourne agayne in to Scotlande for their vitails began to fayle and they were in a poore countrey for they had distroyed the marches of Carlyle and the landes of the barone of Clyfforde the lorde Maubray and the bysshoprike of Carlyle but the cytie they coude nat wynne And the frenche men sayd howe they had brent and distroyed in the bysshorike of Dyrhame Carlyle that was better worthe than all the townes in Scotlande So the frenchmen and scottes retourned in to Scotlande the same waye they came And whan they came into ScotlaÌ„de they founde the countrey distroyed but the people of the countre dyde sette but lytell therby and said howe with thre or four poles shortely they wolde make agayne their houses for they had saued moche of their catayle in the forestes But all that the frenche men tooke they were fayne to paye truely therfore and dere The frenche men were often in great daunger for the scottes and they were at many debates for vitayle And the scotes sayd howe the frenche men dyde them more demage than the Englysshe men had done when it was demaunded of them why so they answered and sayde howe the frenche men as they rode abrode they beate downe desoyled their cornes as whete barley and otes and wolde nat kepe the highe wayes but rather ryde throughe the corne Of whiche demages they said they
wolde haue of them a trewe recoÌ„pence or they departed out of Scotlande sayde Howe they shulde nother haue shyppe nor maryner to passe theÌ„ ouer the see without their leaue and lyceÌ„ce and dyuers other knightes and squyers complayned that their woodes were cutte downe by the frenche men to make their lodgynges ¶ Howe the Frenche lordes were in great paryll in ScotlaÌ„de and coulde nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer the see howe they shewed therles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they fouÌ„de in that countre and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi WHan the admyrall and his company were returned in to Scotlande and were come to Edenborowe they had endured great payne as than they coude fynde nothing to bye for their money wynes they had but lytell and but small ale or bere and their bredde was of barley or of otes and their horses were deed for hunger and fouÌ„dred for pouertie And whan they wolde haue solde theÌ„ they wyst nat to whom nor ther was none wolde gyue theÌ„ one peny nother for horse nor for harnesse The soudyers shewed to their capitayns howe they were delte with all and they knewe it right well by experyence of them selfe And their men said howe they coude nat long endure in that payne They said that the realme of Scotlande was suche a countre nat to kepe an hoost in wynter and if they shulde abyde there tyll somer they shulde be deed for pouertie And if they shulde departe a sonder and serche for their lyueng abrode iÌ„ the couÌ„tre they douted that the scottes wolde slee them in their beddes The admyrall consydred well all these thynges and sawe clerely how it was likely to be as they sayde howe be it he was in purpose to abyde there all the wynter to sende to the frenche kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne certifyeng them what case they were in and to haue newe prouisyon of money and vitayls and to make a newe fresshe warre agayne the nexte somer to in Englande howe be it he sawe well the yuels of the scottes and consydred the yell of his people Than he gaue leaue to departe all suche as wolde but at their departyng was the mischefe for the lordes coude fynde no passage for theÌ„selfe nor for their men The scottes wolde that such knightes and squyers as were but poore shulde departe to th entent that they might rule the remnant at more ease and sayd to the admyrall Sir lette youre men departe whan they wyll but as for youre selfe ye shall nat departe out of this couÌ„tre tyll we be full satisfied of all suche charges as we haue borne all this season for your army THese tidynges were right harde to the admyrall to the other barons of FrauÌ„ce and shewed all the mater to the erle Duglas and to the erle Morette who besemynge were right sore displeased that they were so hardely dalte with all and said We be right sorie For this dealynge wyll cause that neuer scottysshe knight shall come in to Fraunce to haue good there And so these two erles spake to the other erles barons of Scotlande who said howe they had loste as well as they wherfore dissymule you with them for we wyll be recoÌ„pensed Than these two erles sayd to the admyrall and to the other lordes of FrauÌ„ce howe they coude nat rule the other lordes nor the coÌ„mons Wherfore it behoued them if they purposed to go out of the realme to satisfy the coÌ„mons to restore agayne all their domages And whan the admyrall sawe that it wolde be non otherwise he thought he wolde nat lese the more for the lesse He consydred well howe he was without conforte and closed in with the see and sawe howe the scottes were of a wylde opynion wherfore they were fayne to agre to the scottes entent caused a crye to be made that all maner of persons shulde come to the admyrall of Fraunce proue that any of his men had done theÌ„ any domage and he wolde recoÌ„pence them to the value therof whiche crye apeased the scottes â–ª and so the admyrall became deâ—tour to them all and sayd howe he wolde nat departe out of ScotlaÌ„de tyll all the complaynaÌ„tes were fully satisfyed and payed Than dyuers knightes squiers hadde passage and so retourned some in to FlauÌ„ders and as wynde weder wolde briue them without horse and harnesse ryght poore and feble cursyng the day that euer they came in Scotlande Sayeng howe there were neuer men had so harde a voyage wysshing that the french kyng had peace with Englande one yere or two and so bothe kynges togider to go in to Scotlande vtterly to distroy that realm for euer For they said they neuer sawe so yuell people nor so false traytours nor more folysshe people in feates of warre THe admyrall of Fraunce by theÌ„ that departed first wrote letters to the frenche kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne certifyeng them what case he was in and how the scottes delte with hym that if they wolde haue hym to come home they must sende thyder suche soÌ„mes of money as he was become dettoure for to be payed to the knightes squyers and commens of Scotlande for the scottes sayd playnly that the warre that they made in to Englande at that season was for Fraunce and nat for them selfe therfore all suche domages as they haue taken by that iourney they wolde be fully recompeÌ„sed agayne or he deê‘ted out of scotlande to the whiche he had sworne and agreed The frenche kyng his counsayle were bouÌ„de to redeme agayne the admyrall for they sende hym thyder ThanÌ„e the soÌ„mes of money were ordayned for and the money payed by exchaÌ„ge in the towne of Bruges so that the scottê were contente Than the admyrall departed out of Scotlande whan all thynges was payed and so toke his leaue of the kynge who was in the wylde scottysshe and of the erles Duglas and Morette who conueyeâ— them to the seesyde so he toke shyppynge at Edenborowe and had wynde at wyll and arryued at Sluse in FlauÌ„ders Some knightes and squyers of his company returned nat agayne with hym they thought they wolde se other countrees and so they went in to dyuers partes The moost parte retourned in to Fraunce so poore that they were nat able to get theÌ„ selfe any horse some bought them horses specially the burgonions the caÌ„penoise the barroise and the lorayns ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe the admyrall enformed the frenche kyng and his couÌ„sayle of the state of Scotlande howe the duke of Burgoyne had gret desyre to cause the frenche kyng to make a iorney in to Englande Cap. xvii WHan the admyrall was retourned in to Fraunce to the yonge kynge Charles to the duke of Burgoyne they made hym good chere as it was reason and demauÌ„ded of hym the condycion of the kynge of the lordes of Scotlande He sayd howe the scottes somewhat resembled the Englysshe men
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 auauÌ„ce 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 reqÌ„st 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 CoÌ„sydring in my selfe howe there was no great dedes of armes likely towarde in the parties of Picardy or FlauÌ„ders 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 thaÌ„ke god I haue vnderstandyng and remembrauÌ„ce 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 coÌ„sydred I thought I wolde nat lette to pursue my sayde first purpose And to â—â—tent to knowe the trouthe of dedes done in 〈◊〉 countrieâ— I founde occasion to go to the â—â—ghe 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 straÌ„ge 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 recoÌ„mendacions to therle of Foiz And so rong I tode without parell or domage that I caÌ„e to his house called Ortaise in the couÌ„tre 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 couÌ„tre 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 câ—uâ—nant that Iohan to recouer our herytage So thus we become byder paradueÌ„ture 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 â—enture that ye lese the â—elde 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 tâ—e 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 hâ—m câ—uÌ„sayle that were nat after his apetyte and specially theâ—le of Orâ—forde 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 â—fye 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 ceÌ„quere 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 warâ—e on all sydes as well by Fraunce as by Scotlande rather than to enploy your tyme in
other countreis The yonge kynge enclyned lightely to his wordes for he loued him with all his hart bicause they had been norisshed vp toguyder And this erle had great alyaunces with dyuers lordes and knightes of Englande for he dyde all his maters by the counsayle of sir Symon Burle sir Robert Treuelyen ser Nicholas Brambre sir Iohan Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la pole And also sir Thomas Tryuet and sir Wylliam Helmon were named to be of the same ê‘te so that by the dyffernes and discorde bitwene the kynge and his vncles and the nobles and commons of the realme many yuels came therby in EnglaÌ„de as ye shall here hereafter in this hystorie IT was nat longe after that the erle of Cambridge departed out of Portyngale but that the kynge Feraunt felle sicke and so contynued a hole yere and dyed than he had no mo chyldren but the Quene of Spayne Than kynge Iohan of Castell was enformed of his deth and howe that the realm of Portyngale was fallen in to his haÌ„des and howe that he was ryghtfull heyre thervnto by reason of the dethe of the kynge Sother was dyuers couÌ„sayls kept on that mater and some sayd howe that the Portingales were so harde harted people that they wold nat be had without it were by conquest And in dede whan the portyngales sawe howe they were without a kyng than they determyned by counsayle to sende to a bastarde brother of the kynges a sage and a valyant man called Deuyse but he was a man of relygton and was mayster of the hospytals in all the realme They sayd they had rather be vnder the rule of this maister Denyse than vnder the rule of the kynge of Castell for they reputed hym no bastarde that hath good corage to do well Whan this mayster Denyse vnderstode the coÌ„mens wyll of foure chiefe cyties of Portyngale for they hadde great affectyon to crowne hym kyng wherof he had great ioye and so wrote secretely to his frendes and came to Lurbone whiche is the kay of the realme The people of the towne receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym if they crowned him kyng wheder he wolde be good to theÌ„ or nat and kepe the lande in their fraunchese And he aunswered and sayd he wolde be to theÌ„ as they desyred and that they had neuer a better kynge than he wolde be Than they of Luxbone wrote to Connubres to Pount de portugale and to them of Dourke These were the kayes of the Realme and so they determyned to crowne to their kyng this mayster Denyse who was a sage a valyant man and of good gouernauÌ„ce and was brother to kyng Ferant for they sawe well the realme coude nat be longe without a kyng as well for feare of the spay mardes as of the myscreaÌ„tes of Granado and of Bongie who marched on them So these sayde townes and certayne of the lordes of the lande enclined to him but some of the lordê sayd that it was nat mete a bastarde to be crowned kyng And the people of the good townes said that it shulde be so for of necessyte they must so do sithe they had none other and seyng that he was a valyant and a sage man bothe in wyâ—te and in dedes of armes And they toke ensample by kynge Henry who was crowned kyng of Castell by electyon of the countrey and for the coÌ„mon profyte and that was done kynge Peter beynge a lyue So thus the electyon abode on this maister Denyse and solemynely he was crowned in the Cathedrall churche of Connubres by the accorde and puyssaunce of the coÌ„mons of the realme And there he sware to kepe iustyce to do ryght to his people and to kepe and maynteyne their frauncheses and to lyue and dye with them wherof they hadde great ioye Whan these tidynges came to the hearyng of don Iohan kyng of Castell he was sore displeased therwith and for two causes The one was bycause his wyfe was enheryter there the other bycause the people by election hadde crowned maister Denyse kynge there Wherfore this kyng Iohan toke tytell to make warr and to demauÌ„de of them of Luxbone the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande florens whiche Ferant promysed hym whan he toke his doughter to his wyfe So than he sende the Erle of Terme therle of Ribydea and the bysshoppe of Burges in to Portyngale as his ambassadours to them of Luxbone whan they were at saynt prayne the laste towne of Castell towarde Luxbone Than they sent an haraulde to the kyng and to them of Luxbone to haue a saue conducte to go and come and to furnysshe their voyage whiche was graunted lightly so they came to Luxbone and so the towne assembled their counsayle toguyder and the ambassadours shewed why they were come thyder and finally sayde ye sirs of Luxbone ye ought iustely nat to marueyle if the kyng our souerayne lorde demaundeth of you the soÌ„me of money that ye are bounde for And is nat coÌ„tent that ye haue gyuen the noble crowne of Portyngale to a clerke a man of relygion and a bastarde It is a thynge nat to be suffred for by rightfull election there is non nerer to the crowne thaÌ„ he And also ye haue done this without the assent of the nobles of the realme Wherfore the kyng our maister saythe that ye haue done yuell And without that ye shortely do remedy the make he wyll make you sharpe warâ— To the whiche wordes don Feraunt Gallopes de vyle fois a notable burgesse of the cyte answered and sayd Sirs ye reproche vs greatly for our electyon but your owne election is as moche reprouable for ye crowned in Spaygne a bastarde sonne to a iewe And it is clerely knowen that to the ryghtfull election your kynge hath no right to the realem of Portyngale for the right resteth in the doughters of kyng Peter who be in Englande maryed bothe ConstauÌ„ce and Isabell maryed to the duke of I an castre to therle of Cambridge Wherfore sers ye may departe whan ye wyll and retourne to them that sent you hyder and say that our electyon is good whiche we wyll kepe and other kyng we wyll haue none as long as he lyste to be our kyng And as for the soÌ„me of money that ye demauÌ„de of vs we say we are nothyng bouÌ„de therto take it of them that were bouÌ„de therfore and of suche as had the profyte therof At this answere the kynge of Portyngall was nat presentâ— howbeit he knewe well what shulde be sayd And whaÌ„ these ambassadours sawe they coude haue non other answere they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Cyuell where they lafte the kyng and his couÌ„sayle to whom they shewed all the said answere Than the kyng of Spayne toke couÌ„sayle what was best to do in this mater Than it was determyned that the kyng of Portyngale shulde be desied and howe that the kyng of Spayne had a good
and therle of Foiz howe be it nowe they are in peace But the armynagoise and Labrisience wan but lytell by that warre For on a saynt Nycholas euyn the yere of our lorde a thousande thre huÌ„dred threscore and two Th erle of Foiz toke in batayle therle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret his nephue and all the noble men that were with them and so ledde theÌ„ as prisoners to Ortaise wherby the erle of Foiz hath receyued ten tymes a hundred thousande frankes And it fortuned after that the father of the erle of Armynake nowe lyueng called sir Iohan of Armynake made a iourney toke this towne of Casseres and they had with them a .ii. hundred men of armes and so thought to kepe the towne by strength These tidynges whan they came to the knowledge of the erle of Foiz beynge as thaâ—â—e at Panne He lyke a sage and a valyant knight called to hym two bastard bretherne of his â–ª called â— Arnalt Guyllam and sir Pier de Bierne and sayd to them sirs I wyll ye ryde incontynent to Cassâ—eres I shall sende you men on euery syde and within thre dayes I shal be with you my selfe and let none come out of the towne but that ye fight with theÌ„ for ye shal be stronge ynoughe And whan ye come there cause the men of the countre to bring thyder great plentie of wode busshes and fagottê and choke the gates therwith and than wtout that make stronge barryers for I wyll that they that be within be so enclosed that they issue nat out of the gares I shall cause them to take another way These two knightes dyd his coÌ„mauÌ„dement and so wente to Palamuche all men of warre of Bierne folowed them and so they came before this towne of Casseres they that were within sette lytell by them but they were nat were howe they were enclosed within the towne so that they coulde nat issue oute at any gate And the thirde day the erle of Foiz came thider with fyue huÌ„dred men of armes and as sone as he came he caused barryers to be made rounde about the towne also barriers rouÌ„de about his host bycause they shulde nat be troubled in the night tyme. so in this case they laye longe without any assaut in so moche that vitayle began to fayle them within for thoughe they had wyne great plentie they had nothyng to eate Nor they coulde nat flye awaye by the ryuer for it was as thanÌ„e to depe Than they thought it were better to yelde theÌ„ selfe as prisoners than to dye so shamefully for famyne so fell in treaty Th erle of Foiz agreed to their treatie so that they shulde nat issue oute at no gate but to make a hole in the wall and go out therat to come one by one without armoure so to yelde them as prisoners It behoued theÌ„ to take this waye and so made a hole in the wall and issued oute one by one And there was the erle redy and all his people in order of batayle to receyue them as prisoners and euer as they came out the Erle sent them to dyuers castelles as prisoners and his cosyn sir IohnÌ„ of Armynake sir Bernarde Dalbret and sir Manalt of Barlabason sir RaymoÌ„de de Benache sir Benedicke de la Corneyle and a twentie of the beste personages he ledde with hym to Ortaise and or they departed he had of them two hundred thousande traÌ„keâ— and thus was this hole in the wall made than we wente to our supper And the nexte day we rode a longe by the ryuer of Garon and passed by Palamuche and than we entred in to the lande of the erle of Comynges and Armynake and on the other syde was the ryuer of Garon and the lande of therle of Foiz And as we rode this knight shewed me a stronge towne called Marteras the Toussaâ— ê‘teyninge to therle of Comynges on the other syde of the ryuer on the mouÌ„tayne He shewed me two castelles parteyninge to the erle of Foiz the one called Mountarall and the other Mountclare And as we rode bytwene these townes and castelles a longe by the ryuer of Garon in a fayre medowe this knight sayd to me sir Iohan I haue sene here many fayre scrimysshes and encountrynges bytwene the foizois and armynakes for as than there was no towne nor castell but that was well furnysshed with men of warre so they warred eche vpon other The armynakes agaynst yonder two castelles made a bastyde and kept it with men of warre and dyde moche hurt in the erle of Foiz lande But I shall shewe you howe it fortuned The erle of Foiz on a night sent his brother Peter de Bierne with two huÌ„dred speres and with them a four hundred villayns of the countre charged with fagottê moche wode and busshes and brought it to the bastide and than sette fyre theron and so brent the bastyde and all them that were within without mercy and sithe it was neuer made agayne So in suche deuyses we rode all that day a longe by the ryuer of Garon and what on the one syde and on the other we sawe many fayre castelles and fortresses All that were on our lyfte hande parteyned to therle of Foiz and the other syde parteyned to therle of Armynake And so thus we passed by Montpesac a fayre castell a stroÌ„ge standyng on an highe rocke vnderneth was the towne and the highe way and without the towne a lytell there was a place called ala gardea and a towre bitwene the rocke and the ryuer whiche towre had a gate and a portcolyse of yron sixe men might well kepe this passage agaynst all the worlde for there coulde no man passe but two on a front what for the towre on the one syde the ryuer on the other syde than I sayd to the knyght sir here is a stronge passage and a myghtie countre it is true quod the knight and though thentre be stronge yet the erle of Foiz dyde conquere it ones and he all his passed the same waye with the helpe of the archers of EnglaÌ„de that he had as than in his company and the great desyre that they had to passe in to the countre Come ryde nere me sir quod he I shall shewe you howe it was and so I rode iuste by hym â— and than he sayd Sir on a tyme the Erle of Armynake and the lorde Dalbret with a fyue huÌ„dred men of warre caÌ„e in to the countre of Foiz and to the marches of Pauyers And this was in the begynnynge of August whan men dyd gather in their cornes and the grapes were rype at whiche tyme there was great habundaunce in the countre Than sir Iohan of Armynake and his company lodged before the towne Sauredun a lytell leage fro the cytie of Pauyers And he sente to them of Pauyers that without they wolde bye their cornes and wynes and pay for them they said els they wolde brinne
and distroy all togyder Than they of Pauiers were in great feare for the Erle their lorde was farre of fro them for he was as than in Byerne And so they were fayne to bye their owne cornes and payed for them fyue thousande frankes but they desyred fyftene dayes of respyte whiche was grauÌ„ted them Than the erle of Foiz was enformed of all this buÌ„synesse and he hasted hym as moche as he might and assembled toguyder his men and came sodaynly in to the cytie of Pauyers with .xii. hundred speares And so had fought with sir Iohan of Armynake if he had taryed but he departed and wente in to the countie of Comynges So he had no money of them of Pauyers for they had no leysar to tarye therfore But than therle of Foiz claymed the same some for he sayd he was come and saued their money and corne and had put awaye all their ennemyes And so he had it to paye his men of warre therewith and there he taryed tyll they had inned all their corne and vyntage And so we passed than foreby a castell called Bretytte and also by another castell called Bacelles all parteyninge to the erle of Comynges and as we rode a long by the ryuer I sawe a fayre castell and a great towne I demaunded of the knight what the castell was called and he said it was named Montesplayne parteyninge to a cosyn of the erle of Foiz called sir Roger Despaygne a great barone in the countre and in Tholousyn and as than was seneshall of Carcassoney Than I demaunded of this knight if he were a kynne to sir Charles of Spayne who was constable of Fraunce and he answered and sayde no he is nat of that blode For sir Loyes of Spaygne and this sir Charles that ye speke ofâ—came bothe out of the realme of Spayne were lynially extraught of spayne and of Fraunce by their mothers syde were cosyn germayns to kynge Alphons of Spaygne and I serued in my youthe sir Loyes of Spaygne in the warres of Bretaygne for he was alwayes on the partie of sir Charles of Bloyes agaynst the erle MouÌ„tforde And so we lefte spckynge of that matter and rode to saynte Gouffens a good towne of the Erle of Foiz and the next day we dyned at Monreyle a good stronge towne of the Frenche kynges and sir Roger de Spaygne kepte it And after dyner we rode the waye towardes Lourde and so rode throughe a great launde endurynge a fyftene leages called the laundes Lannâ— de vous wherin were many daungerous passages for theues and yuell doers And in this launde stode the castell of Mesere parteyninge to the erle of Foiz a good leage fro the towne of Tourney the whiche castell the knyght shewed me and sayd Sir beholde yonder is Maluoysen But sir haue ye herde here before howe the duke of Aniou whan he was in this countrey and wente to Lourde What he dyde in this countre howe he layde siege to Lourde and wanne it And also the castell of Gryngalet on the ryuer side that ye se yonder before vs parteyneth to the lorde de la Batte Than I remembred my selfe and said Sir I trowe I neuer herde therof as yet therfore I prayâ— you shewe me the mater But sir I praye you shewe me where is the ryuer of Garon become for I can se it no more ye say trouthe quod the knight it departeth here in thentryng of these mountayns and it groweth and cometh out of a fouÌ„tayne a thre leages hens the way to Chatelomy by a castell called saynt Bea rt the fronter of the realme of Fraunce towarde Aragon And there is as nowe a squyer called Ermalton otherwyse called Bourge de Spaygne He is lorde therof and â—hatelayne of all the couÌ„trey and he is cosyn germayne to sir Roger de Spayne if we se hym I shall shewe you him He is a goodly persone and a good man of armes and he hath done more domage to theym of Lourde than any other knyght or squyer of all the countre and the erle of Foiz loueth him ryghtwell for he is his companyon in armes ¶ I wyll leaue to speke of hym for I thynke at this feest of Christmas ye shall se him in the erle of Foiz house but nowe I shall shewe you of the duke of Aniou howe he came in to this countre and what he dyde Than we rode forthe fayre and easely and he began to saye as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Of the Warr ê that the duke of An â—â—u made agaynst the Englysshmen and howe he recouered the castell of Maluoysen in Bigore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to therle of Foiz Cap .xxiii. ⸪ ⸫ AFter the begynnynge of the warres whanÌ„e they began to wynne on the Englysshe men that they helde in Acquitayne and that sir Olyuer ¶ lesquyn was become freÌ„che He ledde the duke of Aniou in to Bretaygne on the landes of sir Robert Canoll â–ª who was at the sege before Dyriuall as ye haue herde before as I thynke and of the treatie that six Hughe Brâ—ce his cosyn made to the duke of Antou as to reÌ„dre the castell and delyuer good hostages so that the duke of Aniou shulde nat coÌ„e to reyse the siege But whan sir Robert Canoll was within the castell of Dyriuall than he wolde holde no tretie All this is true sir quod I. well quod he but haue you herde of the scrimysshe that was before the castell where aâ— sir Olâ—uer de Clesquyn was wounded Sir I can nat tell you quod I I can nat remembre all Wherfore sir I praye you shewe me of the scrimysshe and of the siege what came therof For paraduentureye knowe it some other wayes than I do and ye shall retourne agayne well ynoughe to your purpose of them of Lourde and of Maluoysen It is true quod the knyght it was so that sir Garses of the castella right valyaunt knight of the countre and good frenche wente to the duke of Aniou to cause hym to come before Beauuosyn The duke had made his sommons to holde his iourney before Dyriuall made this sir Garses for his valyantnesse marshall of his host â–ª and true it is as I herde say that whaÌ„ he sawe that sir Robert Canoll wolde nat kepe the trâ—atie that was made before nor wolde nat delyuer the castell of Dyriuall Than he came to the duke and sayd Sir What shall we do with these hostages It is no faulte in them that the castell is nat gyuen vp it were great pytie that they shulde dye for they be geÌ„tylmen and haue deserued no dethe Than the duke said Were it good than to delyuer them yea truely sir quod the knyght it were great â—ytie otherwyse Well quod the duke do therin as ye lyste Than this sir Garses went to delyuer them and as he wente sir Olyuer Clesquyn mette him demaunded wheder he went and fro whens he came I come fro my lorde the duke of Aniou and am goynge to delyuer
the hostages To delyuer them quod sir Olyuer abyde a lytell and retourne agayne with me to the duke and so they caÌ„e to the duke who was in his lodgynge in a great study sir Olyuer saluted hym and said Sir What is your entent Shall nat these hostages suffre deth By my faythe they shall in the dispyte of ser Robert Canoll sir Byrre who hath falsed their faithe Wherfore ser I wyll ye knowe wtout they dye I shall weare no armure this hole yere after in none of yor watres If they shulde scape thus it were good chepâ— The siege hath coste you threscore M. frankes and newe you wyll shewe grace to your enemies who â—epeth with you nother faythe nor trouthe With those wordes the duke began to chafe and sayd â–ª sir Olyuer do therin as ye thynke best Than quod sir Olyuer I wyll that they lese their lyues there is good cause why sithe they kepe nat their ê“myse Than sir Olyuer departed fro the duke and came to a place before the Castell and sir Garses durst nat speke one worde for them for if he had he shulde haue lost his labour sith sir Olyuer had taken on hym the enterprise than he called the hangman made hym stryke of the heedes of two knyghtes and two squyers whiche was great pytie there were mo than two hundred in the hoâ—st that wepte for them And incontynent sir Robert Canoll opyned a posterne gate and on the brimme of the dykes in dispyte of the frenche men he caused to stryke of the heedes of all the prisoners that he had without any respyte and incentynent opyned the castell gate and lette downe the bridge and issued out and 〈◊〉 to the barryers and scrymysshed with the frenche men And as sir Garses shewed me they was a sore scrimysshe and there sir Olyuer Clâ—squyn was hurt and so returned to his lodgyng There were thre good men of armes two squyers of the countrey of Bâ—erne Bettram de Baruge and Eualton de Payne and they were bothe sore hurt and the next day the duke dislodged and went fro Dyryuall to Tholous to the entente to distroye Lourde for they of Tholous coÌ„playned greatly of the garyson of Lourde ¶ So than the duke went first and layd siege to Maluoysen whiche we maye se yonder before vs and the duke had in his company an viâ—i thousande men of warre besyde the geneuoys and the coÌ„mons of the good townes Capitayne as than of Maluoysen was a squyer of Gascoyne called Raymonde de Lespâ—an experte man of armes Euery day at the barriers there was scrimysshes and goodly feates of armes done the duke laye in yonder fayre medowes bytwene the towne of Turney and the castell by the ryuer syde of Lysse This siege enduryng sir Garses marshall of thoost went with fyue hundred men of armes and two hundred archers and crosbowes and a two thousande of other coÌ„mons and layd siege to the castell of Trygalet whiche we haue lefte here be hynde vs whiche castell a squyer of Gascoyne kepte for the lorde de la Barde for he was his cosyn and was called the Bastot of Manlyon and he had within the castella .xl. companyons and they dyd in that countre suche maystries that none coude go that waye but they were taken prisoners without it were the pylgrimes that wente to saynt Iames with the ayde of a nother fortresse called Nemeluz In these two garysons all the robbers and pyllers of the couÌ„tre assembled And euer they were agaynst the erle of Foiz and also agaynst the erle of Army nake wherfore they cared nat though the duke of Aniou came in to that couÌ„tre And whan sir Garses was come before the castell of Trygalet he coulde nat approche on the one parte for the ryuer and so gaue a great assaute many men hurte bothe within and without with shot and fyue dayes togyder this sir Garses made assautes so that at laste the artillary within began to fayle them and the freÌ„che men ê‘ceyued it very well Than by gentylnesse sir Garses caused the capitayne to come speke with him vnder saue conducte and sayd to hym Bastot I knowe well what case ye be in ye haue no artillary within nor nothyng to defende you fro the sante but speares Knowe for trouthe that if ye be taken by force I can nat saue your lyfe nor none of youre company for the coÌ„mons of the countre wyll slee you all which I wolde be lothe to se for ye are my cosyn Therfore I couÌ„sayle you to yelde vp the fortresse And sythe that I desyre you so to do ye can beare no blame in your so doyng and departe hens wheder as ye lyste for ye haue kepte this castell long ynough Sir quod the squyer I wolde gladly folowe your couÌ„sayle if it were out of dedes of armes for in dede I am your cosyn But sir I can nat yelde vp this fortresse all alone for suche as be within haue as good parte therof as I haue though they holde me for their capitayne Sir I shall go to them and shewe them as ye haue said if they accorde to rendre it vp I shall nat say nay and if they wyll kepe it styll whatsoeuer adueÌ„ture fall I shall take suche parte as they do It is well said quod sir Garses deê‘te whan ye wyll I knowe your entent Than the Bastot of Manlyon retourned to the castell of Trygalet and called all his company toguyder and ther shewed them all the sayeng of sir Garses and so demaunded of them what they thought was best to do And so they counsayled toguyder a longe space some wolde abyde the aduenture and sayd howe they were stronge ynough and some wolde departe and said howe it was a good tyme so to do seynge that they had no more artillary sawe well howe the duke of Aniou was cruell and the coÌ„mons of Thoulous of Carcassonâ—y of other townes there about sore displeased with them for the great domages that they had done to theÌ„ So all thynges consydred they concluded to yelde vp the castell so that they might be safely conducted and all theirs to the castell Culyer the whiche was kepte by some of their companyons on the fronter of Tholousin So thus the capitayne retourned agayne to the host to speke with sir Garses and he agreed to their desyres For he sawe well the castell wolde nat lightely be wonne by assaute without losse of moche people So than they prepared to departe trussed all their baggage for they had moche pyllage they toke with them the best lefte the resydue And sit Garses conueyed theÌ„ to Culyer without daunger Thus the frenche men at that tyme gate this castell Trygalette Than sir Garses dyd gyue the castell to the coÌ„mens of the countre and they dyd rase it downe as ye se so that there was neuer none sithe that wolde reedify it agayne And so fro thens sit Garses wente towarde the
saye that whan the kyng of Cyper was in his countre of Byerne and moued him to haue gone to the voiage of the holy Sepulture He hadde thought the same tyme to haue made suche a iourney that if the frenche kyng or the kyng of Englande had taken that enterprise howe ther shulde haue ben no lorde shulde haue brought suche a company as he wolde haue done and as yet he is of the same mynde and in parte that is one of the causes that he gadereth suche treasure tHe prince of Wales the season that he raigned in the countre of Acquitayne beyng at Burdeux on the ryuer of Geronde thought to haue made hym warre The prince manassyde him for the couÌ„tre of Bierne and wolde haue had hym to haue holde his couÌ„tre of hym and the erle sayd he wolde nat and sayd howe his countre of Bierne was so free a lande that it ought to do homage to no man of the worlde And the prince who at that tyme was great and sore feared said howe he wolde compell hym ê‘force for therle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret who loued nat therle of Foiz bycause of suche victories as he hadde won on them before They tytled the prince euer in his eare and entysed hym to haue made warre agaynst the erle of Foiz but the voiage that the prince made in to Spayne brake his purpose Also sir IohnÌ„ Chandos who was chefe of couÌ„sayle with the Prince was agaynst it that the prince shulde make any watre to the erle The erle of Foiz loued right well sir Iohan Chandos and he hym but the erle douted the prince bycause he was fierse and coragious and therfore he gadered togyder as moche treasure as he coude gette to th entent therwith to defende hym if nede were And so he set great tayles taxes in all his couÌ„tre and in euery towne whiche as yet endureth and shall do as long as he lyueth He had of euery fyre euery yere two fraÌ„kes and the ryche to beare out the poore therby he gadered and yet dothe great riches and the people payeth it with a marueylous good wyll For by reason therof there is nother Englysshe nor frenche nor robbers nor reyuers that dothe them any hurte to the value of one peÌ„ny And so his countre is in sauegarde and iustice truely kepte for in doyng of iustyce he is right cruell he is the moost rightfull lorde that is nowe lyueng And so with these wordes we came to the towne of Turney where as we shulde rest all night So than the knight seased of his talkyng and I remembred well where we lefte agaynst the next day and we were lodged at the signe of the Starre and toke our ease And at supper tyme the capitayne of Maluoysin called sir Raymonde of Lane came to se vs supped with vs and brought with hym four flaggons of the best wyne that I draÌ„ke of in all my iourney those two knightes talked long togider and whan it was late the knight departed and retourned to the castell of Maluoysin and the next mornyng we mounted on out horses and departed fro Tourney passed by a gyde the ryuer of Lysse and rode towarde the cytie of Tarbe entred in to Bigore And we lefte the waye to Lourde to Bagueres and to the castell of Mountgaylliard on the lyfte hande And we rode towarde a vyllage called Teracimytat and dyd coost it and came to a wode in the lande of the lorde of Barbasan and we came nere to a castell called Matheras at the entre of the countre of Layre Than the knight said to me Sir Iohan beholde here the place of Layre and beholde it well aduyse the couÌ„tre which semed to me right straÌ„ge I thought my selfe but as lost ther if I had nat ben in the company with that knight Than I remeÌ„bred the wordes that this knight had shewed me .ii. or thre dayes before of that countre of Layre and of the MeÌ„geant of Lourde Than I sayd to hym Sir ye shewed me the last daye that whan we shulde be in the couÌ„tre of Layre that ye wolde shewe me the maner of the MeÌ„geant of Lourde and howe he dyed It is true sir ê™ the knyght come on ryde by me and I shall shewe you Than I rode nere hym to here his wordes and than he sayde Sir in the season that Peter Danchyne helde the castell and castell of Ortyngas as I haue shewed you before this tyme. They of the garison of Lourde soÌ„tyme rode forthe at aduenture farre fro their garyson howe be it they had nat alwayes the aduauntage for ye maye beholde here the castell of Barbason and the Castell of Martheras wherin there was alwayes many men of warre there and in other garysons as Bagueces Tourney Mountgalyarde Salenges Benache Gorre and Tarbe all frenche townes and garysons And whan these garysons knewe that they of Lourde rode outher towardes Tholous or Carcassone ThaÌ„ they wolde laye busshementes for them and somtyme take fro them of Lourde their praye and pyllage somtyme they scaped without any rencounter And on a tyme it fortuned that Eruaulton of saynt Colombe and the Mengeant of saynte Cornyle and to the nombre of sixscore speares of good men of warre departed fro Lourde about the mouÌ„tayns bytwene these two ryuers Lysse and Lesse and so rode nere to Tholous and at their retournyng they founde in the medowes a great nombre of beestes oxen keen hogges mottons and lambes and also they toke dyuers of the good men of the countre prisoners and so droue all their pray before them Than it was shewed to the capitayne of Tarbe a squyer of Gascoyne called Erualton Bysette an experte man of armes Howe they of the garyson of Lourde were abrode and were comyng homewarde with a great praye than he sente to the lorde of Benache and to Enguerose eldest sonne to sir Raymonde and also to the lorde of Barbason Certifyeng them howe he wolde ryde out agaynst theym of Lourde The knyghtes and squyers of the countrey of Bigore agreed to ryde forthe and assembled to guyder at Tourney and with them ther was the Bourcke of Spaygne who came fro his garyson of saynt Bearte So they were to the nombre of two hundred speares and they had their spyes abrode in the Countrey to knowe what they of Lourde dyde On the other syde they of Lourd had abrode their spies to knowe if any men of warre were abrode to lette them of their enterprise And so moche dyde these that eyther partie knewe what other dyde WhanÌ„e they of Lourde knewe howe they of the frenche garysons were abrode and taryed for them at Tourney Than they were in doute and toke couÌ„sayle what they might best do to saue their pray Than they determyned to departe their company in two The one company to driue before them their praye with all their varlettê and to go couertly by the lane of Bourge and so to passe
was bygge and well made and nat ouer charged with moche flesshe He toke ther with his owne handes the two capitayns the Burge of Coruyle and Perot Palatyne of Bierne and there was slayne a squier of Nauar called FeraÌ„do of Myrando who was an expert man of armes some that were at the busynesse sayd that the Bourge of Spaygne slewe hym and some sayd he was ouercome for heat in his harnesse Finally the praye was rescewed and all taken or slayne that wente therwith ther were but thre saued them selfe and they were varlettesâ— who departed and wente ouer the ryuer of Lysse Thus became of this aduenture They of Lourde neuer loste before so moche as they dyde than They were courtesly raunsomed and dyuers delyuered by exchaunge one for a nother For dyuers of them that fought here at the place of Layre were taken by theÌ„ of Lourd Therfore euery parte were courteyse one to another in raunsomyng of their companyons Ah saynt Mary sir quod I is the Bourge of Spaygne so bygge a man as ye speke of yea sir truely quod he for in all Gascoyne there is none lyke hym in strength of body therfore the erle of Foiz hath hym euer in his company It paste nat a thre yere that he dyde in a sporte a great dede as I shall shewe you So it was on a Christmas day the Erle of Foiz helde a great feest and a plentifull of knightes and squyers as it is his vsage And it was a colde day and the erle dyned in the hall and with hym great company of lordes And after dyner he deê‘ted out of the hall and wente vp in to a galarye of .xxiiii. stayres of heyght in whiche galarye ther was a great Chymney wherin they made fyre whan therle was ther. and at that tyme there was but a small fyre for the erle loued no great fyre how be it he hadde woode ynoughe there about and in Bierne is wode ynoughe The same daye it was a great frost and very colde And whan the erle was in the galarye and sawe the fyre so lytell he sayde to the knightes and squiers about hym Sirs this is but a small fyre the day so colde than Erualton of Spayne went downe the stayres and beneth in the courte he sawe a great meny of Asses laden with woode to serue the house Than he wente and toke one of the grettest Asses with all the Woode and layde hym on his backe and went vp all the stayres in to the galary and dyde cast downe the Asse with all the woode in to the chymney and the Asses fete vpwarde Wherof the erle of Foiz had great ioye and so hadde all they that were there and had marueyle of his strength howe he alone came vp all the stayres with the Asse and the woode in his necke I toke great pleasure in this tale and in other that this knyght sir Espaygne de Leon shewed me wherby I thought my iourney moche the shorter And in shewyng of these maters we passed the pase of Layre and the castell of Martheras where as the batayle was and so we rode nere to the castell of Barbason whiche is stronge fayre and is within a leage of Tarbe whiche we sawe before vs and a fayre waye costyng the ryuer of Lysse comyng fro the mountayns Than we rode fayre and easely at our leysar to refresshe our horses and there he shewed me the ryuer the castell the towne of Mountgalyarde and the waye that laye to Lourde ThanÌ„e it came to my remembraunce to demaunde the knight howe the duke of Aniou whan he was in the countrey and that the castell of Maluoysin was yelded to hiÌ„ came before Lourde and what he dyd there with right a good wyll he shewed me and said Whanne the duke of Aniowe departed frome Maluoysin withall his host he passed ouer the ryuer of Lysse at the bridge of Tourney and wente and lodged at Baguiers where as is a good ryuer goynge to Tarbe for this ryuer of Tourney cometh nat thyder but falleth in to the ryuer of Garon besyde MouÌ„tunllyon and so the duke went and layd siege to Lourde sir Peter Erualton of Bierne and Iohan his brother Peter Danchyn Erualton of Restue Erualton of saynt Colombe and the Mengeant who as than was lyueng and Ferando of Myrando with Olyuer Barbe the Burge of Coruyllacke and the Burge Canuse and certayne other coÌ„panions beyng within Lourde Whan they were well enfourmed of the dukes comynge thyder they fortifyed them and their garyson agaynst hym helde the towne of Lourde for all the sautes that the duke made Whiche fyftene dayes contynually endured and there were many feates of armes done The duke ordayned many Instrumentes of warre for the saute so that finally the towne was wonne but they loste neyther man woman nor good for they were all withdrawen in to the castell For they knewe well at length the towne wolde nat holde for it was closed but with dykes and pales Whan the towne of Lourde was won the Frenche men had great ioye and so lodged in the towne rouÌ„de about the castell whiche was nat prignable without it were with long siege There the duke taryed more than sixe wekes and lost more than he wanne for they without coulde do no hurte to them within for the Castell standeth on a rounde rocke made in suche maner that no man coude aproche it by scalynge nor other wyse but by one entre And there at the barryers were many scrimysshes many feates of armes done and dyuers knightes and squyers of Fraunce were hurte suche as wolde prese to nere Whan the duke sawe howe he coude nat haue his entent to gette the castell of Lourde than he fell in treatie with the capitayne within and offred him moche money to gyue vp the garyson The knight who was of great valyantesse excused hymselfe and said Howe the garyson was nat his but it parteyned to the herytage of the kynge of Englande and sayd Howe he coude nat sell it nor gyue it nor putte it awaye without he shulde be a tray tour whiche in no wyse he wolde be but trewe to his naturall lorde durynge his lyfe moreouer sayd that whan the castell was delyuered hym it was on a condycion whiche he sware solempnely by his faythe in the prince of Wales hande that he shulde kepe the castell of Lourde agaynst all men durynge his lyfe excepte it were agaynst the kyng of Englande The duke coude neuer haue other answere of hym for gyfte nor promyse that he coulde make And whan the duke of Aniou and his couÌ„saile sawe howe they coude haue nothynge els and sawe that they loste their payne they dislodged and at their departynge they clene brent the towne Than the duke of Aniowe drewe backe in coostynge Bierne and rode towarde the Mount Marsen and had knowledge howe the erle of Foiz had fortifyed all his garysons with men of warre wherof he was nothyng
dyscontent but he was displeased in that the knyghtê and squyers of Bierne helde Lourde agaynst hym The erle of Foyz as I haue shewed you here before doughted greatly the duke of Aniowe thoughe the duke dyde hym no hurte But the erle of Arminake and the lorde Dalbret wolde haue had the Duke to haue made hym warre but the duke had no wyll there to But whyle he lodged bytwene Mounte Marsen and the Boce Dalbret he sent to the erle to Ortaise sir Peter of Beule whom the erle receyued honorably and lodged hym in the castell of Ortaise and made hym as good chere as he coude and gaue hym mulettes and coursers to his men great gyftes And he sente by hym to the duke of Aniowe foure coursers and two Allans of Spaygne fayre and good And there were secrete treaties bytwene the erle and this sir Peter of Beule of whiche treaties no man knewe the entent therof of a good space after But after by suche euydent tokens as appered we supposed somewhat and the mater I shall shewe you and by that tyme we shall come to Tarbe ANone after that the duke of Aniou had made his voyage and that he was at Tholous Than the erle of Foiz sende by his letters certayne messangers to Lourde to his cosyn sir Peter Erualton of Bierne desyring hym to come and speke with hym at Ortayse And whan the knyght had reed therles letters and sawe his notable message he had dyuers ymaginacions and wyst nat wheder he might go or abyde All thynges consydred he sayd he wolde go bycause in no wyse he wolde displease the erle And whan he departed fro Lourde he sayd to Iohan of Bierne his brother in the presens of all the companyons of the garyson Brother Iohan the erle of Foyz hath sente for me I can nat tell you why But sythe it is his pleasure to speke with me I wyll go to hym I feare me greatly that I shal be requyred to gyue vp this fortresse of Lourde For the duke of Aniou whan he was in the countrey he costed Bierne and entred nat therin And the erle of Foyz hath longe entended to haue the castell of Maluoysin to the entent to be lorde of the lanede Bourge and of the fronters of Comynges and of Bigore I knowe nat what treatie ther is made bytwene hym and the duke of Aniou But one thynge I saye playnly as longe as I lyue I shall neuer yelde vp the garyson but to myne owne naturall lorde the kyng of EnglaÌ„de Wherfore brother Iohan in case that I stablysshe you in myne absence to be Capitayne here that ye shall swere to me by the faythe of your gentylnesse that ye shall kepe this castell in lyke maner and fourme as I do and that for lyfe or dethe ye fayle nat And Iohan of byerne sware to fulfyll his desyre Than sir Peter Erualton wente to Ortayse and a lyghted at the signe of the Moone And whan he thought it was tyme he wente to the castell of Ortayse to therle who with great ioye receyued hym and made hym syt at his borde and shewed him as great semblant of loue as he coude And after dyner he said Cosyn Peter I haue to speke with you of dyuers thyngê wherfore I wyll that ye departe nat without my leaue The knight an swered and sayd sir I shall nat departe tyll it be your pleasur Than the thirde day after the erle of Foiz said vnto hym in the presens of the vycount of Gousserant his brother and before the lorde DaÌ„chyn of Bigore and dyuers other knightes and squyers The erle sayd a loude that euery man might here hym Peter I sende for you and ye become I wyll ye knowe the duke of Aniou wolde me moche yuell bycause of the garison of Lourde whiche ye kepe for the whiche cause my lande was nere haÌ„de ouerron and good frendes had nat been And it is his opynion and dyuers other of his company that he hateth me bicause as they say howe I maynteyne sustayne yon bycause ye be of Byerne And it is nat mete for me to haue the yuell wyll of so great a prince as the duke of Aniowe is Wherfore I coÌ„maunde you as ye wyll eschewe my displeasure and by the faythe and lignage that ye owe to me that ye yelde vp the garyson of Lourde in to my handes Whan the knyght herde these wordes he was sore abasshed studyed a lytell remembringe what aunswere he might make for he sawe well the Erle spake in good faithe Howe be it all thynges consydred he sayd Sir true it is I owne to you faythe homage for I am a poore knyght of yoâ— blode and of your countrey But as for the castell of Lourde I wyll nat delyuer it to you ye haue sent for me do with me as ye lyst I holde it of the kyng of Englande he sette me there and to none other lyueng wyll I delyuer it Whan the erle of Foyz herde that answere his blode chafed for yre and sayd drawyng out his daggar A treatour sayest thou nay By my heed thou hast nat sayd that for nought and so therwith strake the knight that he wounded hym in fyue places and there was no knyght nor barone that durst steppe bytwene them Than the knyght sayd Ah sit ye do me no gentylnesse to sende for me and slee me And yet for all the strokes that he had with the daggar therle coÌ„mauÌ„ded to cast him in prison downe in to a depe dyke so he was and ther dyed for his woundê were but yuell loked vnto Ah saynt Mary quod I to the knyght Was nat this a great crueltie Whatsoeuer it was ê™ the knyght thus it was Lette one aduyse hym well or he displease him for and he be angry there is no pardon He helde ones his cosyn germayne the vicouÌ„t of Chateau Bein who is his heryter eight monethes in the towre of Ortaise in prison and after rauÌ„somed him at fourtie thousande frankes Why sir quod I hath the erle of Foyz no chyldren No truely sir quod he by any wyfe but he hath two yonge knightes that be his bastardes whom ye shall se and he loueth them as well as hym selfe they be called sir Iohan and sir Gracyen Than I demaunded yf euer he were maryed yea truely quod he and is yet but his wyfe is nat with hym Why sir wher is she Sir quod he she is in Nauar for the kyng there is her cosyn she was doughter to kynge Loyes of Nauar yet than I demaunded if euer the erle had any chyldren yes sir ê™ he he had a fayre sonne who had the fathers harte and all the countrey loued hym for by hym all the countre of Biern was in rest and peace where as it hath ben sith in debate and stryfe for he had maryed the suster of therle of Armynake Sir quod I what became of that sonne and it maye be knowen Sir ê™ he I shall shewe
and he went and came agayne and sayd Sir surely he is deed Than the Erle was sore displeased and made great complaynt for his sonne sayd A Gascone What a poore aducnture is this for the for me In an yuell hour thou wentest to Nauar to se thy mother I shall neuer haue the ioye that I had before Than therle caused his barbour to shaue hym and clothed him selfe in blacke and all his house and with moche sore wepyng the childe was borne to the Freres in Ortaise and there buryed Thus as I haue shewed you the erle of Foyz slewe Gascoyne his sonne but the kynge of Nauar gaue the occasyon of his dethe ¶ Howe sir Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bisquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii WHan I had herde this tale of the dethe of Gascone sonne to the erle of Foyz I hadde great pytie therof for the loue of therle his father whome I founde a lorde of hyghe recoÌ„mendacyon noble lyberall and curtesse And also for loue of the countrey that shulde be in great stryfe tor lacke of an heyre Than I thanked the squyer and so departed fro hym but after I sawe him dyuers tymes in the erles house and talked often tymes with hym And on a tyme I demauÌ„ded of hym of sir Peter of Byerne bastarde brother to therle of Foyz bycause he semed to me a knyght of great valure wheder he were riche and maryed or no. The squyer aunswered sayd Truely he is maryed but his wyfe and chyldren be nat in his company And why sir quod I I shall shewe you quod the squier ¶ This sir Peter of Bierne hathe an vsage that in the night tyme whyle he slepeth he wyll ryse arme hym self and drawe out his swerde and fyght all aboute the house and can nat tell with whome and than gothe to bedde agayne And whan he is wakynge his seruautes do shewe hym howe he dyde And he wolde saye he knewe nothymg therof and howe they lyed soÌ„tyme his seruautes wolde leaue non armure nor swerde in his chaÌ„bre whan he wold thus ryse fynde non armour he wolde make suche a noyse and rumoure as though all the deuylles of helle had ben in his chambre Than I demaunded yf he had great landes by his wyfe yes truely sir quod he But the lady by whom cometh the lande ioyeth of the profytes therof This sir Peter of Bierne hath but the fourthe parte Sir quod I where is his wyfe sir ê™ he she is in Castell with the kynge her cosyn her father was erle of Bisquay and was câ—syn germayne to kyng Dampeter who slewe him and also he wold haue had the lady to haue put her in prisone And he toke the possession of all the lande and as long as he lyued the lady had nothynge there And it was sayd to this lady who was countesse of Bisquay after the dyssease of her father Madame saue youre selfe for kyng Dampeter if he may gette you wyll cause you to dye or els put you in prisone He is so sore displeased with you bycause he sayth ye shulde report and beare wytnesse that he caused the quene his wyfe to dye in her bedde who was suster to the duke of Burbone and suster to the frenche quene your wordes he sayth are beleued rather thanÌ„e another bycause ye were preuy of her chambre And for this cause the lady Florens countesse of Bisquay departed out of her countre with a smalle company as the coÌ„mon vsage is to flye fro dethe as nere as men can So she went in to the countrey of Bascles and passed throughe it and so came hyder to Ortayse to the Erle and shewed hym all her aduenture The erle who had euer pyte of ladyes and damoselles reteyned her and so she abode with the lady of Carase a great lady in his countre As than this sir Peter of byerne his brother was but a yonge knyght and had nat thanne this vsage to ryse a nyghtes as he dothe nowe The erle loued hym well and maryed hym to this lady and recouered her land â–ª And so this sir Peter had by this lady a sonne and a doughter but they be with their mother in Castell who be as yet but yong therfore the lady wolde nat leaue them with their father Ah saynt Mary quod I howe dyde sir Peter of Bierne take this fantasy First that he dare nat slepe alone in his chambre and that whan he is a slepe ryseth thus and maketh all that be synesse they are thynges to be marueyled at By my faithe quod the squyer he hath ben often demaunded therof but he saythe he can nat tell wherof it cometh The first tyme that euer he dyde so was the night after that he had ben on a day a huntynge in the wodes of Bisquay and chased a marueylous great Beare and the beare had slayne four of his houndes and hurt dyuers so that none durst come nere him than this sir Peter toke a swerde of Burdeanx and came in great yre for bycause of his houndes and assayles the beare and fought longe with hym and was in great parell and tooke great payne or he coulde ouercome hym Finally he slewe the beare and than retourned to his lodgyng to the castell of LaÌ„guedon in Bisquay made the beare to be brought with him Euery man had marueyle of the greatnesse of the beest and of the hardnesse of the knight howe he durst assayle the beare And whanÌ„e the countesse of Bisquayes wyfe sawe the beare she fell in a sowne and had great dolour and so she was borne in to her chambre and so all that day the night after and the nexte day she was sore disconforted and wolde nat shewe what she ayled On the thirde dayeshe sayd to her husbande Sir I shall nat be hoole tyll I haue been a pylgrimage at saynt Iames. Sir I praye you gyue me leaue to go thyder and to haue with me my sonne and Adrian my doughter her husbande agreed therto She toke all her golde towels and treasure with her for she thought neuer to retourne agayne wher of her husbande toke no hede So the lady dyde her pylgrimage and made an errande to go and se the kynge of Castell her cosyn and the quene They made her good chere and ther she is yet and wyll nat retourne agayne nor sende her chyldren And so thus the next night that this sir Peter had thus chased the beare and slayne hym while he slept in his bedde this faÌ„tasy toke hym And it was said that the countesse his wyfe knewe well as sone as she sawe the beare that it was the same that her father dyde ones chase And in his chasyng he herde a voyce and sawe nothynge that sayd to him Thou chasest me and I wolde the no hurte therfore thou shalt dye any yuell dethe Of this the lady had remembraunce whan she sawe the beare by that she had herde her father saye
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 whoÌ„e I had one with another four E. thousande fraÌ„kes 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 noÌ„bre 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 〈◊〉 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 EnglaÌ„de 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 â—â—od 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 companyoÌ„s 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 Naueâ—oâ—se Almayns Scottes and of all maner of nacyons and there I was as a capitayne and there we fouÌ„de in Burgoyne and about the ryuer of Loyre of our coÌ„pany a .xii. thousande of one and other And in the same coÌ„pany ther were a thre or four thousaÌ„de 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 coÌ„stable of frauÌ„ce therle of Forestz and two thousande speares knightê and squiers This vataile dyd great profite to the coÌ„panyons 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 Lâ—on on the ryuer of Rone and whan they had â—he ê“ont 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 LoÌ„bardy for the Marques of MouÌ„tferant 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 fraÌ„kes that the pope and cardynals shulde pay to certayne of these capitayns and to their coÌ„panyes 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 LoÌ„bardy and gaue vp the pouÌ„t saynt Esprite of all their routes they toke but the .vi. parte but we taried be hynde sir Seguin of Bateâ—oile sir JohnÌ„ ioell sir James PlaÌ„chyn sir JohnÌ„ Aymery the burge of Piergourt Espiot Loys RaÌ„balt 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 rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„tre 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 couÌ„tre 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 coÌ„panyoÌ„s and so by his desyre soÌ„tyme 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 discoÌ„fited before the towne of SaÌ„xere 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
they had layen longe and nothynge done Than it was commaunded euery man to dislodge and to drawe towarde saynt yrayne Than the spanyardes dyslodged and all other and so came in to the marchesse of saynt yrayne Whan they of saint yrayne knewe howe the kynge of Castell was comyng towarde their towne They ordayned twelfe men the most notablest persons of their towne to mount on their horses so they dyde and rode tyll they came where the kyng was to knowe his pleasure And the kynge was a lighted vnder the shadowe of Olyue trees to refresshe hym for the great heate that was than And this was a two leages fro saynt yrayne there was sir Raynolde Lymosin marshall of the hoost who knewe of their comynge and so he was present by the kynge whan they came and kneled downe and said as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Howe the kyng of Castell lefte the siege of Lixbone and howe they of saynt yrayne excused them selfe Cap. xxxii RIght redouted prince and noble kynge of Castell we are come hyder to youre presens sende fro the poore coÌ„mynaltie of your poore towne bayliwike of saynt yrayne To theÌ„ it is gyuen to vnderstande howe ye be greatly with them displeased And sir wheder it be thus or shal be right redouted sir the faute came nat by them but by reason of the iniuryes and oppressyons that the bretons hath done to theÌ„ suche as were in their towne Sir all their yuell dedes can nat come to knowledge sir we blame nat the maysters squiers nor knightes nor capitens but all onely them that dyded vs hurte For sir these pyllers and robbers bretons haue doone with vs suche dedes that it were marueyle to thynke or to recorde it Sir they helde a season in subiectyon the towne and countre about saynt yrayne so that we herde of theym many great complayntes And sir in the dispyte of vs they wolde breake vp oure cofers and take all that we had and vyolate our wyues our doughters before our faces And whan we spake any worde we were beten maymed or slayne In this pouertie we were a two monethes or more wherfore right redouted noble kynge we besech your grace if we haue displeased you for this cause or for any other that it maye please you that we may haue true iustyce and laufull informacyon and to maynteygne vs in our ryght as ye promysed and sware to vs to kepe vs in our lyberties the first tyme we sware you kynge in the towne of saynt yrayne sir ye shall do great almesse on vs. For sir whan ye be come thyder we truste in you and in your counsayle to be suche noblenesse that the towne of saynt yrayne shal be opyned agaynst your comynge And that it may please yor grace your poore people there cryeng for mercy and complaynynge of their iniuryes and oppressyons done to them That youre royall maiestie and your noble counsayle wyll graunt them grace and remyssyon of that is paste and to remedy their wronges The kyng stode styll a lytell sir Raynolde Lymosin kneled downe and said Dere sir ye haue herde your people of saynt yrayns complaynt shewyng what hath ben don to them Wherfore may it plase you to answere them Raynold quod the kyng we knowe well they had a iuste cause to do as they dyde Go to them and bydde them ryse and go their wayes to saynt yrayne and make redy for my comyng for theâ— we wyll lye this night And also shewe theÌ„ howe they shal be well maynteyned in their right Than sir Raynolde rose and went to theÌ„ and sayd Sirs a ryse the kyng hath well conceyued your sayeng ye desyre but right and iustyce that ye shall haue Go your wayes and apparell as ye ought to do the towne of saynte yrayns agaynst the kynges comyng and do so that he may gyue you thaÌ„ke your maters shall come well to passe by suche meanes as ye shall haue in your ayde Sir quod they we thanke you Than they toke their leaue of the kyng retourned to their towne and shewed all that they had herde of the kyng the answere that sir Raynolde Lymosin made them on the kynges behalfe wherof all they of the towne were gladde Than they apparelled their towne richely agaynst the kyngê comyng and strawed the stretes with fresshe grene herbes So the kyng entred in the euenyng and lodged at the castell called the Lyon and his men in the towne as many as might and the moost ê‘te in the feldes and in the villages therabout Theâ— the kyng was well a moneth and so the mater stode for if they had done more more had they lost ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Of the marueylous batayle that was at Iuberoth bytwene the kynge of Castell and kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale Cap. xxxiii WHyle the kynge of Castell was at saiÌ„t yrayns theâ— come to hym the gascons of Bierne with a fayre coÌ„pany sir Raynolde Lymosin rode to receyue them and welcomed them ryght swetely as he that coulde right well do it and brought theÌ„ to the kyng who had great ioye of their comynge and coÌ„maunded sir Raynolde Lymosin to se them well lodged at their ease and he dyde so that they were contented Thus these busynesses rested the kyng laye styll at saynt yrayns and his people there about The kynge of Castell hadde as than abrode lodged in the feldes and therabout a four thousande men of armes and .xxx. thousande of other And on a daye he called the barones of Fraunce to counsayle to knowe their myndes howe he shulde meÌ„tayne forthe his warre for he had layen at great cost before Liâ—bone and had done nothynge And surely if the gascoins had nat come and encoraged the kynge he had deê‘ted fro saynt yrayns and gone outher to Bergus or into Galice for his people were sore anoyed to lye so longe in the feldes Whan the knyghtes of Fraunce and of Bierne were come before the kynge he sayde Fayre sirs ye be all good men of warre wherfore I wolde haue your couÌ„sayle howe I may maynteyne my warre agaynst the lyxbonoyes and portyngaloyes that haue kepte me here in the felde a yere and yet I haue done nothynge to them I had thought to haue gotte them out of Lixbone to haue fought with them but they wolde in no wyse issue out wherfore my people gyue me counsayle to gyue euery man leaue to departe to their owne houses wherfore I pray you gyue me youre aduyse The knyghtes of Fraunce and of Byerne who were but newely come and desyred armes and as than had nothynge done thynking to deserue their wages that they had receyued aunswered and sayde Sir ye be a puyssant man of landes and lytell costeth you the payne and traueyle of your people and specially sithe they be in their owne countrey We wolde nat saye so moche yf they were in a straunge countre clene without prouysion but as nowe we saye they ought nat to gyue you any suche counsayle
for they be here in as great ease as we se as though they were at home Sir we saye to you nat in maner of a determynate couÌ„sayle for ye are wyse ynough but we thynke by your highe prudence the best were to chuse as yet to kepe the felde ye maye well kepe it tyll the feest of saint Michaell and paradueÌ„ture by that tyme your enemyes wyll assemble togyder and drawe out in to the felde whan ye take leest hede therto and so thaÌ„ without fayle they shal be fought withall Sir we haue great desyre to wyn soÌ„what for this iourney hath cost vs moche and great payne traueyle bothe to our self and to our horses or we came in to this couÌ„tre Therfore sir it shall nat be the opinyon of our company thus to departe agayne By my faithe quod the kyng ye speke well and truely In this warre other I shall vse fro hens forthe after your counsayle for the kyng my father I also haue founde alwayes in youre countreis great trouthe and faythfulnesse And god haue mercy of sir Bertram of Clesquyes soule for he was a true knyght by whome in his tyme we had many recoueraunses and good iourneys THe wordes and counsails that the kyng had of them of Fraunce and of Bierne were anone knowen among the lordes knightes of Spaygne wherwith they were sore displeased for two causes One bycause it semed to them that their kyng had more trust and coÌ„fydence in straungers than in them who were his liege men and had crowned hym kyng the seconde was in that they of Fraunce counsayled the kyng to kepe styll his warre and they felyng them selfe so wery of the warre so spake among them selfe in dyuers maners nat openlye but priuely They wolde saye the kyng coude make no warre but by the frenchmen and in lykewise no more coude his father so they had great enuy at the frenche men whiche well appered For whan the freÌ„che varlettes went out a forragyng if the spaynisshe forrengers were stronger than they wolde take their forage fro them and beate them and mayme them so that complayntes came therof to the kynge and he blamed therfore his marshall sir Raynolde Lymosyn and sayde Why haue ye nat prouyded for this mater The marshall excused hym and sayde As god might helpe hym he knewe nothynge therof and that he wolde prouyde a remedy fro thens forthe Incontynent he stablysshed men of armes to kepe the feldes that the frenche forreÌ„gers rode at their suretie and also he made a crye and a coÌ„maundement that euery man that had any vitayle or prouision to sell that they shulde bringe it to the felde before saiÌ„t yrayns and they shuld haue a prise reasonable for euery thyng So than the straungers had largely their parte for the kyng ordayned that they shulde be serued before all other wherof the spanyardes had great dispyte So it was the same weke that the kyng of Castell departed fro the siege of Lixbone thre great shyppes of men of warre and Englysshe archers aryued at Lixbone they were to the noÌ„bre of fyue hundred one other And the thirde parte of them were of the coÌ„panyons aduenturers hauyng no wages of no man some were of Calys of Chierburge of Brest in Bretayne of Mortaygne in Poytou They had herde of the warre bytwene Castell and Portyngale they came to Burdeux and ther assembled and sayd Let vs go at aduenture in to Portyngale we shall fynde them there that wyll receyue vs and sette vs awarke Sir Iohan Harpedan who as than was marshall of Burdeux counsayled theÌ„ greatly therto for he wolde nat they shulde abyde in burdeloys for they might ther haue done more hurte than good bycause they were companyons aduenturers and had nothyng to lese Of them that arryued at Lixbon I can nat name all There were thre squyers englysshe that were their capitayns One was called Northbery and another Morbery and the thirde Huguelyn of Harcerell And there were none of them paste the age of fyftie yere and good men of armes well vsed in the feates of warâ— Of the comyng of these Englysshe men they of Lixbone were right gladde and so was the kyng of Portyngale who wolde se theÌ„ and so they went to the palays where the kyng was who made them great chere And demauÌ„ded of them if the duke of Lancastre had sent them thyder Sir quod Northbery it is a longe season sythe he had any knowledge of vs or we of hym Sir we be men of dyuers sortes sekynge for aduentures here be some are come to serue you fro the towne of Calays By my faythe quod the kynge you and they bothe are right hartely welcome your comyng dothe me great good and ioye and shortely I shall sette you a warke We haue ben here inclosed a gret season so that we be wery therof but nowe we wyll be at large in the felde as well as our enemyes hath been Sir quod they we desyre nothynge els and sir we desyre you that shortely we maye se youre enemyes The kynge made them a dyner in his palays at Lixbone and coÌ„maunded that they shulde all be lodged in the cytie at their ease and to be payed for their wages for thre monethes Than the kyng set his clerkes awarke and made letters and sente theÌ„ ouer all his realme coÌ„maundynge euery man able to beare harnesse to drawe to Lixbone ALl suche as these letters came vnto obeyed nat for many abode styll iÌ„ their houses for thre partes of the Realme dissymuled with the kynge and with theym of Lixbone bycause they had crowned kynge a bastarde and spake great wordê ther agaynst priuely And bycause of the great trouble and dyffereÌ„ce that the kynge of Castell and his couÌ„sayle sawe in the realme of Portyngale made hym to auaunce hym selfe to the entent to haue conquered the countre Sayenge howe all shulde be wonne with one dayes iourney of batayle and that yf they of Lixbone might be ouerthrowen the resydue of the countrey wolde nat be sorie of it but put out of the realme that mayster Denyce or elles slee hym and than it shulde be a lande of conquest for hym for his wyfe was ryght enherytoure yet with a good wyll kynge Iohan of Castell wolde haue lefte the warre but his people wolde nat suffre him for they euer gaue hym corage Sayeng how his quarell and cause was iuste And whan the kynge of Portyngale sawe that his commaundement was nat obserued and that moche of his people disobeyed to serue hym he was right pensyue and malencolyous He called to hym suche as he trusted best of Lixbone and of the knyghtes of his house who dyde their payne to crowne hym and also they had serued kyng Ferant As sir Iohan Radygos and sir IohnÌ„ Teatedore the lorde of Siegere and sir GoÌ„me of Tabeston Ambrise Condricho and Peter his brother ser Ouges of Nauaret a knyght of Castell who was tourned Portyngaloyes
make a crye to all youre people for euery man hath nat herde you speke coÌ„maundyng on payne of dethe no man to flye And sir if there be any that are faynt harted to abyde the batayle let them come forthe gyue theÌ„ leaue to departe fro the other for one faynt harte may dyscourage two dosyn of good men or els stryke of their heedes in your presens to gyue ensample to other The kyng answered I wyll it be so Than there were two knightes ordayned to go and sertche euery coÌ„pany and to demaunde if any were abasshed to abyde the batayle The messangers reported to the kyng whan they retourned that they coude fynde no man but that was redy to abyde the aduenture of batayle It is so moche the better quod the kyng Than the kyng caused all that wolde be made knightes to come before hym he wolde gyue them the order of knighthod in the name of god of saynt George and as I vnderstaÌ„de ther were made a threscore newe knightê wherof the kyng had great ioye and dyd sette them in the front of the batayle and sayd to theÌ„ sirs the order of knighthode is as noble and highe as any herte can thynke and there is no knight that ought to be a cowarde nor shamefull but ought to be fierse and hardy as a lyon whaÌ„ his helme is on his heed and seyth his ennemyes bycause I wolde ye shulde this day shewe prowes wher it ought to be shewed therfore I ordayne you in the first front of the bataile sirs do so that we maye haue honour and you also otherwyse your spurres are but yuell set on euery knight answered as his tourne fell as he passed by the kynge Sir with the pleasure of god we shall so do to haue your grace and loue Thus the portyng alois ordred them selfe and fortifyed them besyde the churche of Iuberoth in Portyngale That daye there was no Englisshman that wolde be made knight yet they were desyred of the kyng and other but they excused them selfe for that day ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordered them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii NOwe let vs retourne to the kynge don Iohan of Castell and of the knyghtê and squyers of FrauÌ„ce and of Gascone who were ther with him And such as they had sent to aduyse their enemyes retourned agayne and sayd Sir kyng and ye lordes and knightes here present we haue rydded so forwarde that we haue sene oure enemyes And accordyng as we can iuge they be nat paste ten thousande men in all one and other and they be about the mynster of Iuberothe and ther they be rested and sette in order of batayle and there they shall be founde who soeuer wyll seke for them Than the kyng called to hym his counsayle and specially the barons and knightes of Fraunce and demauÌ„ded of them what was best to do They answered and sayd Sir we thynke it were best let them be fought with all incontynent we se nothyng elles For by that is reported they be a frayed in great doute bycause they be so farre of fro any fortresse Lixbone is farre of a sixe leages they can nat ronne thyder with their ease but they shal be ouertaken by the waye without they take the aduauÌ„tage of the night Therfore sir we counsayle sithe ye knowe where they be order your batayls and go and fyght with them whyle your people be of good wyll to do well Than the kyng demaunded of theÌ„ of his owne countre their opinyons as of sir Dangonyes Mendant sir Dygo Parsement Pier Goussart of MouÌ„tdasque and Pier Ferrant of Valesque and of the great mayster of Caletrane They answered the kynge and sayd Sir we haue well harde the knightes of Fraunce howe they wolde haue you hotely to sette on your enemyes Sir we wyll that ye knowe and they also that are we can come to theÌ„ it wyll be nyght for ye se the sonne draweth downe warde and as yet ye haue nat ordred youre batayls Sir therfore we thynke it were good ye taryed tyll the mornynge and lette vs drawe so nere them and laye so good spyall in dyuers places that if they wolde dislodge aboute mydnight and departe than lette vs also dyslodge for they can nat flye nor scape vs the countre is so playne there is no place to hyde them by Lixbone whiche we can nat gette with our ease sir this counsayle we gyne you Than the kyng stode styll a lytell and caste downe his loke to the erthe and after he tourned his regarde on the strauÌ„gers ThaÌ„ the marshall sir Raynolde Lymosin sayd to please the freÌ„chmen in the langage of Spaygne to the entent he might the better be vnderstande of euery man and so turned hym to the spanyardes suche as had gyuen the kyng that counsayle Sayeng and callyng euery man by his name sirs howe can ye be more sage in batayls or more vsed in armes than these valyant knightes be that be here present Howe can ye deuyse any thyng beyond them that shulde be of any valure for they haue done nothyng els all their life dayes but traueyll fro realme to realme to fynde and to do dedes of armes Howe can you or durst you deuise any thyng agaynst their wordes whiche are so noble and so highe for to kepe the honour of the kyng and of his realme wherin ye haue greatter parte than they For ye haue there your herytages and your bodyes and they haue nothyng there but nowe al onely their bodyes whiche they wyll firste and formast put in aduenture and so they haue desyred of the kyng to haue the first batayle and the kyng hath graunted them Than regarde their great and noble courage whan they wyll first of all aduenture theÌ„ selfe for you It shulde seme that ye haue enuy at them that ye wolde that profyte nor honoure shulde come to them whiche ye ought nat to do but to be all of one accorde and wyll And also by you and by youre counsayle the kyng hath ben here in the feldes longe at great cost and charge for hym for all his and layne at siege before Lixbone coude neuer haue the aduenture of batayle tyll nowe with hym that writeth hym selfe kyng of Portyngale wherin he hath no right for he is a bastarde and nat dyspensed with all and now he is in the felde with suche freÌ„des as he hath whiche is no great nombre And if nowe by crafte he shulde agayne withdrawe hym selfe and nat fought with all ye put your selfe than in adueÌ„ture that all the hole hoost shulde ryse on you slee you or els that the kyng shulde repute you for traytours and strike of your heedes and coÌ„fyske all your landes Therfore I se no better way for you than to be styll and let them alone that hath sene more than you in suche busynesses for ye neuer sawe that they haue done nor neuer shall And than the
domage Also in dede the frenchmen sette on to soone but they dyde it to th entent to haue won honoure and to maynteyne the wordes they had spoken before the kyng and also as I was enformed the spaynierdes wolde nat sette on so soone for they loued nat the frenchmen for they had said before Lette them alone they shall finde right well to whoÌ„e to speke these freÌ„chmen ar great vantours and highe mynded also our kyng hath no ê‘fite trust but in theÌ„ and sith the kyng wolde they shulde haue the honour of the iourney let vs suffre them to take it or els we shall haue all at our enteÌ„tes Thus by thse meanes the spanynierdes stode styll in a great batayle and wolde nat go forwarde whiche was right displesant to the kyng but he coude nat ameÌ„de it but the spaynierdes sayd bycause ther was none retourned fro the batayle sir surely these knightes of FrauÌ„ce haue disconfyted your enemyes thonour of this iourney is theirs God gyue grace quod the kyng that it be so Let vs ryde than somwhat forwarde that they rode a crosbowe shotte forwarde and than agayne rested It was a great beautie to se them they were so well mouÌ„ted armed and in the mean season the frenchmen fought and suche as had leysar to a light fought valiaÌ„tly dyuers knightes and squyers of eyther partie dyd many feates of armes one vpon another whan their speares fayled they toke axes and gaue many great strokes on the helmes sleyng and maymynge eche other Who soeuer were in suche case of armes as the frenchmen and portugaloys were at Iuberoth must abyde the aduenture as they dyde without they wolde flye awaye and in flyeng there is more paryll than to abyde the batayle for in flyeng lightly are moost slayne in batayle whan one seith he is ouermatched he yeldeth hym selfe prisoner It can nat be said but that the knightes of Fraunce of Bretayne of Burgoyne and of Byerne but that right valiantly fought but at their first encountre they were hardely handled and all that was by the counsayle of the Englysshmen to fortyfie their place So at this first batyle the portugaloys were stroÌ„ger than their enemyes so they were all taken or slayne but fewe that were saued so that there were at that firste brunt a thousande knightes and squyers taken prisoners wherof the portugaloys were ioyfull and thought as that day to haue no more batayle so made good chere to their prisoners and euery man sayd to their prisoners Sirs be nat abasshed for ye are won by clene feate of armes we shall kepe you good company as we wolde ye shuld do if ye hadde vs in lyke case ye shall come to Lixbone and refresshe you there and shal be at your ease and they thanked theym whan they sawe none other bote so there some were put to their fynaunce incoÌ„tynent and some wolde abyde their aduenture for they ymagined that the kynge of Spaygne with his great armye wolde shortely come and delyuer them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche knightes gascoyns suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloys were slayne of their maysters none escaped Cap. xxxv TIdynges came in to the felde to the kyng of Castyle and to his companye who were aprochynge to Iuberoth by theÌ„ that fledde who caÌ„e cryeng with great feare and sayd sir kyng auaunce your selfe for all they of the vowarde are outher taken or slayne there is no remedy of their delyueraunce without it be by your puyssaunce And whan the kyng of Castyle herde those tidyngê he was sore displeased for he had good cause for it touched hym nere Than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to ryde on and sayd auauÌ„ce for the baners in the name of god and saynt George lette vs ryde to the rescue sithe our men haue nede therof Than the spaynierdes began to ryde a better pase cloose toguyder in good order and by that tyme the sonne was nere downe thaÌ„ some sayd it were best to abyde tyll the mornyng bycause it was so nere night they said they coude make but an easy iourney The kynge wolde they shulde sette on incontynent and layde his reasons and said What shall we leaue our enemyes in rest nowe they be wery to gyue them leysar te refresshe them selfe whosoeuer do gyue that counsayle loueth nat myne honoure Than they rode forthe makyng great noyse brunt with so wnyng of trumpettes tabours to abasshe therwith their enemyes nowe shall I shewe you what the kyng of Portugale dyd and his company AS soone as they had discoÌ„fited the vowarde and taken their prisoners and that they sawe none other batayle comyng wtin their sight yet for all that they wolde put no trust in their first vyctorie Therfore they sent sixe notable persons to go and auiâ—we the couÌ„trey to se if they shulde haue any more to do They that rode forthe came and sawe the kynge of Castelles great batayle comyng to them warde fast approchynge to Iuberothe more than twentie thousande horsmen Than they retourned as fast as they might and sayde all an highe to the people Sirs aduyse you well for as yet we haue done nothyng beholde yonder cometh the kyng of Castyle with his great batayle with mo than twentie thousande men there is none taryed behynde WhaÌ„ they herde those tidynges they toke shorte counsayle whiche was of necessyte Than incontynent they ordayned a pyteous dede for euery man was coÌ„maunded on payne of dethe to slee their prisoners without mercy noble gentyll ryche nor other none except Than the lordes knightes and squyers that were prisoners were in a harde case for there was no prayer that auayled them fro the dethe and so they were slayne some in one place and some in another as they were spredde abrode vnarmed wenyng to haue ben saued but they were nat To say trouth it was great pytie for euery man slewe his prisoner and he that dyd nat other men slewe thâ— in their handes And the portugaloys and the Englysshmen who had gyuen that counsayle sayd it was better to slee than to be slayne For if we kylle them nat whyle we be a fightynge they wyll escape and slee vs for theâ— is no trust in a maÌ„nes enemy thus was slayne by great mischiefe the lorde of Longnache sir Peter of Byerne the lorde of Lespres the lorde of Byâ—rne the lorde of Boordes sir Bertrande of Bergues the lorde of Morayne sir RaymoÌ„de of Douzanche sir Iohan of Fologe sir Manant of Sarenen sir Peter of Salybers sir Stephyn Valentyne sir Raymon Courase sir Peter Hansame and to the nombre of thre hundred squyers of Byerne and of Fraunce sir Iohan of Rue sir Geffray Richon sir Geffray Partenay and diuers other Lo beholde the great yuell aduenture that felle that saturday for they slewe as many good prisoners as wolde well haue ben worthe one with another foure hundred thousande frankes ¶ Howe the kynge of Castell and all his great batayle
wynges with their banners wauyng with the wynde Fayre brother quod the kyng they that all coueteth all leseth It is better we be sure sythe the honour of the vyctorie is ours that god hath sende it vs rather than to putte our selfe in paryll whan it nedeth nat We thaÌ„ke god we haue ynowe to make you all ryche Thus in this case the busynesse rested THus as I haue shewed you felle of the busynesse at Iuberothe where as the kynge of Portugale optayned the vyctorie theâ— were slayne a fyue hundred knightes and as many squyers whiche was great pytie and domage and about a sixe or seuyn thousande of other men god haue mercy on their soules And all that night tyll on the soÌ„day to the hour of prime the kyng of Portugale and his men remoued nat fro the place that they were in nor neuer vnarmed theÌ„ but eate a lytell and draÌ„ke euery man as they stode whiche was brought them fro the vyllage of Iuberothe And on the sonday in the mornyng after the sonne rysinge the kynge caused twelfe knightes to mount on their horses and to ryde forthe to sertche the feldeâ— to se if there were any newe assemble and whan they had â—ydden here and there they retourned and shewed how they founde no body but deed men Well quod the kyng of them we nede nat to doute Than it was publysshed to departe thens and to go to the vyllage of Iube rothe thereto abyde all that day and night tyll monday in the mornynge So thus they departed and lefte the churche of Iuberothe and went to the vyllage and there lodged and taryed out all that sondaye and the nexte nyght And on the monday in the mornyng they couÌ„sayled to drawe towarde Lixbone Than they sowned trumpettes to dislodge and so in gode order they deê‘ted and rode towarde Lixbone and the tuesday the kynge entred into the towne with moche people glorie and tryumphe and was receyued with processyon and so brought to his palays And in ryding through the stretes the people and chyldren made feest and reuerence and cryed with highe voice Lyue the noble kyng of Portugale to whome god hath gyuen that grace to haue vyctorie of the puyssaunt kynge of Castyle and hath disconfyted his enemyes bI this iourney that the kyng of Portugale had of the kyng of Castyle he felle in to suche grace and loue of his countrey and realme of Portugale so that all suche as before the batayle dyd dissimule with hym than came all to hym to Lixbone to do to hym their homage sayeng howe he was well worthy to lyue and howe that god loued hym in that he had disconfyted a more puissauÌ„t kynge than he was himselfe wherfore he was worthy to beare a crowne Thus the kynge gatte the grace of his people and specially of all the commons of the realme ¶ Nowe let vs a lytell speke of the kyng of Castyle who after he was thus disconfyted went to saynt yrayn we pynge and lamentyng for his people and cursyng his harde fortune that so many noble meÌ„ of his owne countre of Fraunce were slayne in the felde THe same tyme that he entred in to saynt yrayne yet he knewe nat the domage that he had but on the soÌ„daye he knewe it for he had sende his haraldê to sertche out the deed bodyes And he thought before that the moost parte of all suche as the harauldes fouÌ„de deed had bene but prisoners saued a lyue but they were nat as it appered than he was so sore displeased and sorie that no man coulde comforte hym Whan he herde the reporte of the harauldes and knewe the certentie of them that were deed Than he sayd and sware that he shulde neuer haue ioye sythe so many noble men were deed in his quarell And after the thirde daye that the kyng had taryed at saynt yrayne there came to him his knight with his bassenet who was called sir Martyn Haren and delyuered the bassenet to the kynge whiche was valued as ye haue herde before And before there had ben herde wordes spoken of hym Some said that falsely he was ronne awaye fro the kynge and wolde neuer retourne agayne Than the knight kneled downe before the kyng and excused hym selfe so largely that the kynge his counsayle were well content with hym Than a fyftene dayes after the kynge of Castyle retourned to Bergus in Spayne and gaue euerye man leaue to deê‘te Than after theâ— was meanes and treaties made bytwene the kynge of Castyle and the kyng of Portugale Than a truce was taken fro the feest of saynt Mychaell to the first day of May bothe by lande and by See And the deed bodyes slayne at Iuberothe were buryed in the churche of Iuberoth and in mother churches there aboute and the bones of dyuers caryed by their seruauÌ„tes in to their owne countreis ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe a spyrite called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a long tyme and brought hym euer tidynges froÌ„ all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii IT is great marueyle to consyder one thynge the whiche was shewed me in therle of Foiz house at Ortayse of hym that enfourmed me of the busynesse at Iuberothe He shewed me one thyng that I haue oftentymes thought on sithe and shall do as longe as I lyue As this squyer tolde me that of trouthe the nexte daye after the bataile was thus fought at Iuberoth the erle of Foiz knewe it wherof I had great marueyle For the sayd sonday monday and tuesday therle was very pensyfe and so sadde of chere that no man coulde here a worde of hym And all the same thre dayes he wolde nat issue out of his chambre nor speke to any man thoughe they were neuer so nere about hym And on the Tuesday at night he called to hym his brother Arnault Guyllyam and sayde to hym with a softe voyce Our men hath had to do wherof I am sorie for it is come of them by their voyage as I sayd or they departed Arnault Guyllyam who was a sage knyght and knewe right well his brothers coÌ„dicions stode styll and gaue none answere And than therle who thought to declare his mynde more plainlye for long he had borne the trouble therof in his herte spake agayne more hygher thanÌ„e he dyd before and sayd By god sir Arnault it is as I saye and shortely ye shall here tidynges therof but the countrey of Bierne this huÌ„dred yere neuer loste suche a losse at no iourney as they haue done nowe in Portugale Dyuers knyghtes and squyers that were there present and herde hym say so stode styll and durst nat speke but remembred his wordes And within a ten dayes after they knewe the trouthe therof by suche as had ben at the busynesse and there they shewed euery thyng as it was fortuned at Iuberothe Than therle renewed agayne his dolour and all the countrey were in sorowe for they had loste their parentes bretherne chyldren and frendes Saynt Mary quod
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 EnglaÌ„de 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 demauÌ„ded 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 ê“performe 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 chaÌ„bre it shal be I. Well quod the knight I am than coÌ„tent 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 coÌ„maunded 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 houÌ„des on hym It is an aduenture and euer I here any more of hym for he sayd
nat be without some dethe and sore hurtyng TO those wordes sir Galtier of paschac sayd I am well coÌ„tent cease the assaut we haue more to do in other places Thus lytell and lytell we shall wynne the castelles that these pyllers holde though they departe nowe with a good market Paraduenture herafter they maye fall agayne in our haÌ„des and than one tyme they shall paye for all euer yuell dedes come to an yuell ende In my dayes I haue hanged and drowned of suche robbers fyue hundred and hereafter they shall come to the fame pricke Than they that went on this treatie came agayne to the barryers to Erualton Batefoyle Than Wylliam said by my faithe Erualton you and all yours maye thaÌ„ke god and sir Hughe of Frodeuyll for he hath made your treatie as ye demaunde ye may departe safely and all yours and beare awaye as moche as ye can and ye shall be safely brought to Lourde Well quod Erualton I am contente sythe it wyll be no better Knowe for trouthe Wylliam I shall departe fro this fortresse sore agaynst my wyll for I haue had great profite therby syth I was taken at the bridge at Turnay besyde Maluoysin by the Burge of spaygne who had of me for my rauÌ„some two thousande frankes To saye trouthe I haue well recouered my self here and euer haue ben here in these fronters whiche I loue well for whan so euer I rode forthe lyghtely I founde some good aueÌ„ture outher by some marchauÌ„t of Robeston of Tholous or of Rodes for the moost parte euer I gatte somwhat Than Wylliam sayd sir I beleue you well but and ye wyll become frenche I vndertake ye shal be clene pardoned and to haue a thousande fraÌ„kes gyuen you and I wyll become youre suretie that ye shal be euer good frenche if ye wyll swere your selfe so to be Sir ê™ Erualton I thanke you but as for that I wyll nat for I wyll be still as yet Englysshe as god helpe me I can nat fynde in my herte to be good frenche Returne to your company and shewe them that this daye we wyll order oure busynesse and to morowe in the mornyng we shall delyuer vp the castell and departe Wherfore se that oure conducte be redy So than ceassed the saute and the frenchemen went to their lodgyngê and so passed the night at their ease they hadde well wherwith and in the mornyng whan euery man was redy in the hoost that they were redy that shulde conducte the coÌ„panyons to the castell of lourde Than sir Hughe Frodeuyll seneschall of Tholous went to take possessyon of the castell and whan he came to the castell he founde Erualton of Batefoyle and his company redy to departe and had trussed all that they wolde cary Than a knight of Lourde called sir Monant of Salenges conueyed theÌ„ safely wheder they wolde Thus the castell of Basse was wonne and a squyer of the countrey had the kepynge therof gyuen hym and of the countrey who was called Bertram of Montesquyen Than these freÌ„chmen went forthe and came to the castell of Pulpuron wherof the lytell Mechyne was souerayne capitayn who had done great domage to the countre therabout wherfore sir Galter of paschac sware by his fathers soule that non ther shuld be take to 〈◊〉 nor rauÌ„some but all to be hanged if he might gette theÌ„ so there 〈◊〉 his siege This castell stode on a rocke a goodly castell to loke on and there sir Gaultier sware neuer to departe thens tyll he hadde them at his pleasure theâ— were many assautes but they wan but lytell for the castell was well defended Well quod sir Galtier I can nat tell howe it wyll be The frenche kynge is ryche ynough to kepe a sege here but as for me I wyll nat departe in one yere without I haue the castell at my pleasure suche as were with hym beleued hym well and ordred them selfe therafter And I shall shewe you howe it fortued Whan the capitayns within sawe surely howe the frenchmen wolde nat deê‘te thens tyll they had the castell what soeuer it cost them Than they douted theÌ„ and aduysed to departe thens wheder the freÌ„chmen wolde or nat which they might well do for they hadde a caue that went out of the castell vnder the grouÌ„de in to a wode halfe a leage of so whan Angerot capiteyne of the castell sawe the dealyng of the frenchmen and knewe howe they had promised nat to deê‘te thens tyll they had the castell outher by famyne or otherwise than he douted and sayd to his companye Sirs I se well sir Gaultier of Paschac hath vs greatly in hatered I feare by longe siege he shulde famysshe vs that to do he nedeth nat but to make a bastyde let it be kept but with a huÌ„dred speares so that none of vs than dare deê‘te Therfore I shall shewe you what we shall do Lette vs take all that we haue and in the nyght we wyll departe by this caue vnder the erthe which is fayre and great and without faut it shall bring vs in to a wode a leage hens than shall we be out of all parell for there is no man in the host that knoweth it They all agreed to his counsayle in a night whan they hadde all trussed than they toke torches and fagottes entred in to the caue whiche was fayre and clere and so they issued out therof in to a wode halfe a leage fro the castell Than theâ— were ynowe that knewe the wayes to other forteresses in Lymosin and in Rouergue and some of them whan they were oute of all parelles toke other wayes and sayd Howe they wolde folowe the warres no lengar Angerot and fyue with hym wente to a towne and a castell in Piergourt called Mountroyall and the lorde therof receyued hym swetely for he all his landes were good englysshe nor he wolde neuer tourne frenche whan other dyd howbeit there were dyuers other of his opynion ⸪ THus they of the garyson of Pulpuron saued them selfe and left no persone be hynde them and were nere theâ— as they wolde be or the frenchmen knewe of their deê‘tynge The thirde day after their departyng the freÌ„chemen ordayned to gyue assaut and they had made an ingyn with four stages and in euery stage there might be twentie cros bowes And whan all was redy they set forthe this ingyn the whiche they named Passe on before to the weykest syde of the castell and the geno ways within the ingyn whan it was there as they wolde haue it there they shotte agaynst the castell no body dyde appere Than anone they parceyued that the castell was voyde bycause no body came to their defeÌ„ce than they ceassed their shot bicause they wolde nat lese their quarelles Than they came downe fro the ingyn came to the capitayns who had marueyle what they ment and than they sayd Sirs without fayle there is no body within the castell Howe knowe
merchaundyse with the kynges broder called Iaquet that he sholde slee the kynge his broder so he dyd for he slewe him in his bed whiche was a fowle dede for bloode to slee so valyaunt a maÌ„ as was the kynge of Cypres who intended and ymagened nyght day on none other thynge but how he myght wynne the holy londe to haue it out of the handes of the infydelles syr Phelyp of Maysyeres chauncellour to Peter of Liesiegnen kynge of Cypres wrote on his tombe as it foloweth the copy wherof is in the chapytre house of the freer Celestynes in Paris Peter of Liesiegnen the .vi. kyng latyne of IherusaleÌ„ after Godfrey of Boloyne kynge of Cypres who by his grete prowes hyghe empryse toke by batayle at his cost these Cytees Alexandrie in Egypte Triple in Surie Layas in Armony Sytalie in Turkye dyuers other Cytees castelles on the infydelles enemyes of the lawe of Ihesu Cryst Animaeius requiescat in pace ¶ And when the Geneuoys who loued hym gretely as it was reason when they knewe of his dethe they prepared .vii. Galyes sente them in to Cypres toke there perforce the cyte of Samagose Iaquet within it ouer ranne the best parte of the royalme wolde haue destroyed the royalme but bycause there were stronge townes fortresses to kepe fronter warre agaynst the turkes therfore they lefte them styl in the mennes handes of the countre excepte the cyte of Samagose whiche they kepte styll fortefyed it but when they wanne it fyrste they had there grete ryches so they ledde with them to Genes this Iaquet who had murdred his broder True it was this kyng of Cypres had a fayre sone whom they maryed crowned kynge put this Iaquet in to strayte pryson wolde not put hym to dethe kepte styll in theyr haÌ„des Samagose I knowe not yf they kepe it as yet or no then within a season after the yonge kynge of Cypres dyed in his bed wherof the Geneuoys were sore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it so the lande was without ony heyre I can not tell who gouerneth it nowe but the same yere that I was in the erle of Foys house it was shewed me by a knyght of Biern the lorde of Valenchyn howe the Geneuoys had a grete parte of the lande helde styl Samagose how they of the countrey had crowned to theyr kynge the sayd Iaquet for lacke of other heyre I can not tell by what meanes he came out of pryson out of the handes of the Geneuoys when the sayd kynge Lyon of Armony came fyrst in to Fraunce the kynge there the lordes made hym good chere as it was reason for he was come thyder out of a farre countre so by hym his was knowen tydynges of the royalme of Grece of the Empyre of Constantyne le noble for he was examyned of the puyssaunce of the Turkes of the Tarcaries who had put hym out of his royalme he answered sayd that the grete TacoÌ„ of Tarcarie had alway made hym warre it was he that had put him out of his royalme theÌ„ he was demauded yf that Tacon of Tartarie were puys saunt ye truely sayd he for by his puyssaunce with the puyssaunce of the sowdan he hath subdued the emperoure of Constantyne le noble kepte the lawes of the Tartaries The kyng answered sayd nay But the Tacon of Tactarie the sowdan haue longe made warre agaynst the Emperour of Constantyne le noble at the last he was fayne to make his ende or elles he coulde haue no peas whiche emperour of CoÌ„stantyne le noble was sone to my lady Mary of Burbon sone to the emperour Hugues of lesiegneÌ„ whiche emperour was fayne to giue his doughter in maryage â—o the sone of the TacoÌ„ of Tarcarie Howbeit the emperour abydeth styll in his cryâ—teÌ„ lawe all is by reason of comyctyon of this maryage TheÌ„ it was demauÌ„ded of hym what the erle Coâ—â—er of Sauoy dyd in that countrey seyng he was so valyaunt a maÌ„ had so grete a puyssaunce then the kynge answered sayd that when the erle of Sauoy was in the empyre of HuÌ„gry made warre agaynst the turkes tartaryes there by his valyauntnes he conquered on the Tartaryes on the Sowdans lande two good townes as Calipole Lobeme lefte men there to kepe them after the retourne of the erle of Sauoy the townes were kepte styll crysteÌ„ as longe as the good kynge of Cypres lyued but as soone as the Sowdan the Tacon of Tartarie knew of his dethe they feared nothynge the Empeof Constantyne le noble but raysed an army of a C.M. horsemen so came ranne before CoÌ„stantyne le noble fro thens they wente besyeged Calipole conquered it perforce slewe all the crysten men that were within it had made so grete warre agaynst the Emperour of CoÌ„stantyne le noble that all his puyssauÌ„ce coulde not resyst theÌ„ but they forbare hym by reason of his doughter whom the sone of the grete tacon coueted to haue in maryage whiche is a harde case for the tyme to come for the offycers of the Tacon be as now in the cyte of Constantyne le noble so that the grekes there lyue vnder theÌ„ by truage yf the kynges crysten put not therto a remedy or at lengthe the matter shall go so euyll that the Turkes Tartaries shall conquere all Grece tourne it to theyr byleue for so they make theyr auauntes they do mocke the popes wherof one is at Rome another at Auignyon They say that the .ii goddes of crystendome warreth eche agaynst other wherby they afferme our lawe to be the more feble the lyghter to be dystroyed condempned they lay therto reason in that they that sholde cxalte the crysten fayth are the fyrst that mynyssheth it dystroy it then it was demauÌ„ded of the kynge of Armony whether that the Sowdan the Tacon of tartarie were .ii. of the grettest prynces amonge the infydelles that were knowen with the Grekes the kynge answered sayd nay surely they be not the gretest for alwayes the turkes are more noble more greter more sage more redoubted in warre as longe as they haue a good heed and gouernour as they haue had this C. yere for thoughe the Tacon of Tartarie holde in subieccyon the Emperoure of Constantyne le noble yet the lorde of Turkey holdeth in lykewyse the TacoÌ„ this lorde of Turkey is called Lamorabaqum to say the trouthe he is a valyaunt maÌ„ in armes a wyse man in his lawe of Lamorabaquin I coÌ„playne me not for he neuer dyd me hurte for he hath alwayes kepte his warre agaynst the Emperoure of Hungery Then the lordes of Fraunce demaunded of hym yf this Lamorabaqum were so grete so feared as he sayd ye truely sayd the kynge of Armony and more then I speke of
thought it had ben golde or precyous stones that Lamorabaquin had sente to hym to drawe hym therby to consente to suffre hym to haue fre passage thrugh his couÌ„trey howbeit he sayd to hymselfe that he wolde neuer be corrupted for no maner of ryches that sholde be presented to hym TheÌ„ these messagers came before the erle sayd syr of Lazaran vnderstaÌ„de we be sente fro the hyghe redoubted lorde souerayne kynge Lamorabaquin lorde of Turkye with the apertenauÌ„ces we say to you on his behalfe that he coÌ„mauÌ„deth you to come to his obey saunce in lyke maner as ye knowe that your neyghbours haue done as the lorde de la Palice the lorde of Haulte lodge the lorde of Satalie haue done to hym homage that ye open to hym the passages of your countrey yf ye thynge to lyue in rest in your so doynge ye shall deserue gretely his grace loue yf ye rebell and disobey we are charged to say to you that our lorde Lamorabaquin wyl brynge in to your couÌ„trey mo meÌ„ of armes then there be graynes of mylle in this sacke therw t they opened the saâ— shewed hym what was wtin it when the erle of Lazaran vnderstode the ambassadoure of LamorabaÌ„quin determyned in hymselfe to answere temporatly wolde not dyscouer his thought sodaynly but sayd close vp the sacke I se ryght wel what is therin I haue well harde what thynge Lamorabaquin demaundeth of me wtin these .iii. dayes I shall make you an aÌ„swere for his request demauÌ„deth couÌ„sayl they answered sayd syr ye speke wel so trustyng to haue anâ—swere they taryed there .iii. dayes Now shall I shewe you what the erle of Lazaran dyd in the space of these .iii. dayes he sent ê“uyded in to the castell mo then .ii. M. capoÌ„s heÌ„nes closed theÌ„ vp in to a house wtout ony maner of mete so that in .iii. dayes they etc no thynge And when the daye came that he wolde answere the ambassadours theÌ„ he sent for them in to a galary lokynge downe in to a courte sayd syrs come hyder and leane here with me I shal shewe you a newe thynge so answere you they knowynge not what he wolde doo leaued downe in a wyndowe by hym then the gates were closed the courte was grete so his men were redy to doo as he had ordeyned then they opened a chambre dore or II. where as all the pollayne were that had eten no mete of .ii. dayes before Then the seruauntes toke the grayne that was in the sacke cast it all aboute before the capons hennes so that within halfe an houre al the corne was eteÌ„ vp clene wolde haue eten more yf they had had it then the erle sayd to the messagers syrs ye haue sene howe this grayne whiche you haue brought hyder from your mayster is clene eten deuoured and brought to no thynge by these pollayne and yet they wolde ere more yf they had it that is truesyr sayd they wherby speke you that I say sayd the erle your answere lyeth therin as by ensaÌ„ple ye haue sene Lamoraba quin sayth that yf I obey hym not he wyl brynge in to my lande men of armes without nombre wherfore say vnto hym fro me I wyl abyde it he shall not brynge so many but they shal be al deuoured as this corne is deuoured by this pollayne WHen the ambassadours harde this an swere they were ryght pensyue so toke theyr leue departed dyde so moche by theyr iourneys that they came to Lamorabaquin shewed hym what the erle sayd saynge by semynge he set but lytell by his manassyng with this answere Lamorabaquin was sore dyspleased sayd howe the matter sholde not rest so but whether the erle wolde or not he wolde entre in to his couÌ„tre in to huÌ„gery how he wolde dystroy the erles countrey by cause he answered hym so presumptuously ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you what the crle dyd for he sawe well he was defyed of Lamorabaquin knew wel he sholde shortely here other tydynges of hym therfore he made prouysyon to defende hym wrote to al knyghtes squyers to other to come to hym to stoppe the entre of Lamorabaquin in to Hungery coÌ„maundynge euery man after the syght of his letters to drawe to hym certefyenge theÌ„ howe Lamorabaquin was as then in the playnes of Haulte loge all suche as the erle sente for obeyed wyllyngly so came to the erle to defende crysten dome dyuers came to hym that were not sente for suche as harde therof to exalte crysten faythe to dystroy the infydelles Also the erle Lazaran caused forestes hyghe trees to be heweÌ„ downe and layde trauers one ouer another wherby the Turkes sholde not fynde out ony newe way then he with all his power came to a certayne passage where as Lamorabaquin sholde passe to entre in to Hungery the erle had with hym a .x. M. men of Hungery x M. crosse bowes dyd set theÌ„ on bothe sides of the way And also he had redy .ii. M. meÌ„ of the countre hauynge grete axes to cut downe the trees when he wolde haue them when al this was done then he sayd to them that were aboute hym syrs without doubte Lamorabaquin wyl come syth he sente me worde he wolde do so therfore syrs quyte yourselfe well valyauntly to kepe defende this passage for yf that Turkes wynne it al Hungery is in grete peryll to be lost we be here in a stronge place one of vs is worth .iiii. of them also we were better to dye with honoure in defendynge our herytages the fayth of Iesu cryst theÌ„ to lyue inshame seruage vnder the dogges infydels thoughe Lamorabaquin be a noble wyse man in his lawe syr sayd they we shal abyde yâ— aduenture with you let the Turkes come when they wyll we shall be redy to receyue them of this ordenaunce passage the Turkes knewe nothyng for the erle of Lazaran for doubte of spyes had set men suche as he trusted as well as hymselfe to kepe the passages that no maÌ„ sholde go to the Turkes nother day nor nyght LAmorabaquin forgate not his entrepryse but sayd how he wolde go vysyte the lande of the erle of Lazaran to his grete domage for he wolde not be reputed for a lyer in that he had promysed so he toke .lx. M. of his meÌ„ set ouer theÌ„ .iiii. capytaynes of his house holde as the duke of Mansyon of Mecque the keper of Danâ—et Alphalorâ— of Samarie the prynce of Corde called Brachyn at theyr departynge he sayd to theÌ„ syrs go your waye with your coÌ„pany ye be suffycyent to open the passages in to HuÌ„gery entre in to the laÌ„de of the erle of Lazaran dystroye it as soone as I may know the ye be there I shal come thyder to you with all the
resydue of my people for I wyl put all Hungery vnder my subiectyon after the royalme of Almayne the enchauntours of my countrey of Egypte saye it is my desteny to be lorde and kynge of all the worlde the place that I wolde moost gladlyest se is Rome for auntyently it was of our enherytauÌ„ce for our predecessours coÌ„quered gouerned it dyuers tymes there I wyll be crowned Galafre of Landas the racon of Tartarye the Sowdan of Babylone shal crowne me then they who were before hym on theyr knees answered sayd syr we shall accomplysshe your desyre coÌ„maundement so they departed with a .lx. M. Turkes amonge whom there were .xx. M. of the moost experte men of warre and best armed of all Turkye they ledde the vowarde So longe they iourneyed that they came in amonge the mountaynes of Lazaryn they founde no let in the entrynge in to yâ— countrey so the vowarde entred in the duke of Mecque the duke of Daniuet ledde them so this vowarde passed the Erle of Lazaryus enbusshement when the erle the Hungeryons sawe theyr tyme they set theyr worke meÌ„ a worke to cut downe trees to stoppe so the wayes that there coulde no mo entre nor they that were comen in to recule they were so closed in that it was not possyble for ony maÌ„ to go ony further so there was thus enclosed a .xxx. M. turkes who we refyersly assayled by the Hungaryons and so handeled on bothe sydes of the way that they were there all slayne not one that skaped the .ii. dukes also slayne some thought to haue saued themselfe in the woodes but they were so chased that they were all slayne then they of the areregarde tourned backe wheÌ„ they saw they coulde not entre for the trees that stopped the way so they retourned to Lamorabaqum shewed hym the grete myschef that was falleÌ„ on his people wherof he was meruayllous sory and dyspleased theÌ„ he called his couÌ„sayle to know what was best for hym to do for he had lost the floure of all his chyualry and so retourned dyd no more at that tyme. WHen the kynge of Armony had shewed all this his owne estate to the frenshe kynge to the barons of FranÌ„ce to his counsayle they had of hym grete pyte and bycause he was come fro so ferre a couÌ„tre as Grece to seke counsayle ayde there bycause he was a kynge chased out of his royalme and had as then no thynge to lyue on to maynteyne his estate ¶ The frensshekynge as yonge as he was sayd we wyl that the kynge of Irmony who is come hyder to se vs in hope to haue some coÌ„forte helpe ayde of vs to kepe his estate as it aperteyneth to hym who is a kyng as wel as we be wheÌ„ we may weshal ayde hym with men of warre helpe to recouer his â—herytauÌ„ce wherto we haue good wyl for we are bounde to exalte the crysten faythe The frensshe kynges wordes were well harde and vnderstande as it was reason there were none that sayd the contrary the kynges vncles counsayle were desyrous to accomplysshe his entent so the kynge of Armony to maynteyne his estate there was assygned to hym a certayne rente reuenues out of the chambre of accomptes so was well truely payde euery moneth his assygnement was a .vi. M. frankes by the yere he had delyuered hym at the fyrst .v. M. fraÌ„kes to prouide for his lodgyng vessel other thynges necessary his lodgynge apoynted at saynt Andon besyde saynt Denyce there to kepe his house Thus the kynge of Armony was reteyned by the Frensshe kyng at his fyrst comynge dayly he encreased not apayred was somtyme with the frensshe kynge and specyally at hyghe feestes ¶ Howe pope Vrban pope ClemeÌ„t were at grete dyscorde togyder and howe the crysten kynges were in varyaunce for theyr lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Ca. xlii THe same season there came to Auâ—gnyon to se the pope Clement syr Othes of Bresnyl to haue money for the warre he had made for hym agaynst the Romayns Bertram of Aâ—gles who wrote hymselfe pope Vrban the vi as it is coÌ„teyned in his hystory here before there syr Othes shewed dyuers thynges to the pope to the Cardynalles wherin he was wel byleued harde but as for money he coulde gete none for the popes chambre was so clene voyded fro golde syluer that the Cardynals coulde not haue the money that perteyned to theyr hattes So this syr Othes of Bresnyll departed fro theÌ„ not wel content At Auygâ—yon there was delyuered hym a M. frankes he set lytell therby wherby pope Clementes warre was sore weked for syr Othes wolde in no wyse medle ony more in the popes warres TheÌ„ Margaret of Duras who was at Gaiecte was aduersary agaynst the quene of Naples wyfe soÌ„tyme to kynge Lewes duke of Aniow She sente for this syr Othes to ayde her in yâ— warre that she made agaynst the Napolytanes and this syr Othes a certayne space exscused hymselfe and dyssymuled and foded forth the tyme as he that wyst not what to do then some of his counsayle dyde put hym in mynde to go to this Margaret of Duras who was enherytoure to Naples to Cycyle to helpe to ayde to defende her heritage to take her to his wyfe for she was contente to mary hym bycause he was of a noble blood of hyghe extraccyon was lorde kynge of the countrey called Daure and some other of his couÌ„sayle counsayled hym contrary saynge how he myght therby come to an euyll ende for the chyldreÌ„ of kynge Lewes of naples who was crowned kynge in the Cyte of Bare thoughe they were but yonge yet they had grete frendes kynsmen specyally the frenlshe kynge theyr cosyne germayne who wyl ayde them theyr moder Iohan duches of Amowe of Mayneal these doubtes some of his counsayle shewed hym wherfore syr Othes forbare a longe season dyssymuled the mater and toke none of bothe partyes The same season the sowdyours of pope Clement enclosed in the Cyte of Peras pope Vrban was besyeged by the lorde of Moctroy a valiaunt knyght of the countye of Genes of Sauoy syr Talebart a knyght of the Rodes and syr Bernarde de la sale And there pope Vrban was sore constrayned on that poynte to haue ben taken for as I was then enformed for the some of .xx. M. frankes a capytayne almayne who had a grete company with hym called the erle Courant wolde haue delyuered pope Vrban in to the handes of pope Clement whervpon syr Bernarde de la sale was sent to Auygnyon to pope Clement for the sayd some of money but the pope nor the Cardynalles there coulde not make the money for the popes courte was so poore that they had no money and
and wordes reprouable of the Spanyardes the Portyngales toke this mayster Denyce basterde broder to kynge Ferant made hym kynge in his broders dayes there was no rekenynge made of hym nor the kynge that the comons wolde neuer haue chosen hym to theyr kynge and forsake his doughter as they dyd Howbeit often tymes this sayd knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Andere sayd to the kynge how that this mayster Denyce his basterde broder had gretely the grace of the comons of the royalme wherfore he sayd it had ben good he had ben put to dethe but kynge Ferant answered and sayd howe the comons sholde neuer haue puyssauÌ„ce to do ony thynge agaynst the wyll of the noble men of his countrey and how that his sone in lawe the kynge of Castell sholde euer be puyssaunt ynough to constrayne them and to chastyce them yf they rebelled after his dyssease Wherfore he sayd there was noo cause to put his bastarde broder to deth nor put hym in pryson sayng how he was his broder and a man of relygyon and had ynoughe to lyue on besyde the crowne of Portyngale and so he was lefte alyue THese foresayd poyntes and artycles be true for I the auctoure of this booke haue ben sufficyently enfourmed therof by the nobles of Portyngale it is a thynge to be meruayled at to make a bastarde a kynge they of Portyngale saye and as yet sayth that the quene of Castel the lady Bâ—autryce doughter to the lady Elynour of Coygne was a bastarde therfore they wolde not take her as quene of Portyngale nor none heyre that came of her the same opynyon the erle of Foys layde to the knyghtes of his countrey when they wente in to Spayne to ayde the kynge of Castel for he had ben suffycyently infourmed in the matter bytwene Portyngale and Castel wherfore he sayd to theÌ„ at theyr departyng Syrs ye haue nothynge to do to busy yourselfe bytwene Castell and Portyngale for the quene of Castell who was doughter to kynge Ferant of Portyngale it is a warre euyll begon there maye moche euyl come to them that be busye in that matter but they answered hym syth they had receyued wages of suche a man as the kynge of Castell was they must nedes go and serue hym and so they wente moost parte of them there dyed as ye haue herde here before NOwe let vs retourne to the busynes of Portyngale For they be not for to be lefte for the grete aduentures that there hathe falleÌ„ And to cronycle al thynges as they haue fallen to the entente that in tyme to come they sholde be founde wryten and regystred yf aduentures were not knowen it were grete domage And by clerkes that auncyently haue wryten and regystred the hystoryes and bookes therby the hystories are knowen there is not so perpetuall a memory as is wrytynge truely I saye to you wyll that they that come after me sholde knowe that for to knowe the trouth of this hystory I haue taken therin grete payne in my dayes and haue serched many royalmes and countreys to knowe the trouthe and haue had acquayntauÌ„ce of many valyaunt meÌ„ and haue sene dyuers bothe of Fraunce of Englonde of Scotlande Castell Portyngale of other landes Duchyes and Countyes suche as they and theyr landes hath ben conioyned in these warres with them I haue spoken and ben instructed and infourmed and I wolde not that ony enquest sholde passe vnknowen syth I knewe it to be true and notable And whyle I was in Byerne with the erle Gaston of Foys I was there enfourmed of dyuers busynesses suche as fell bytwene Castell and Portyngale and when I was retourned agayne in to my countrey in the countye of Heynalte and in the towne of Valencennes and that I had refresshed me there a season then I determyned me to folowe the hystory that I had begon then I aduysed in myne ymagynacyon howe I coulde not suffycyently be instructed by the herynge of them that susteyned the opynyon of the kynge of Castell but that in lykewyse I ought to here the Portyngales as well as the Gascoynes and Spanyardes that I herde in the house of the erle of Foys and in the waye goynge thyder and retournynge I toke noo regarde to the payne or trauayle of my body but so I wente to Bruges in Flaundres to fynde there some of that royalme of Portyngale and of Lyxbone for there were euer some of yâ— countrey beholde if myne aduenture were good or no yf I had sought a season .vii. yere I coulde not haue come to a better poynte then I dyd then for then it was shewed me that if I wolde go to Meldeboure in Selande I sholde fynde there a knyght of Portyngale a valyaunt man and a sage and of the kynge of Portyngales counsayle who was newly come thyder was goynge thens by see in to Pruce howe he coulde iustly and playnly shewe me of the busynes and aduentures of Portyngale for he knewe had ben ouer all the countrey These tydynges reioysynge me and so I wente fro Bruges with one of Portyngale in my company who knewe ryght wel this knyght and so we came to Sluse and there toke the see and dyd so moche by the grace of god that we came to meldeboure and the Portyngales that were in my company aquaynted me with this knyght and I founde hym ryght gracyous sage honourable courtoys amyable and acquayntable so I was with hym .vi. dayes or there aboute And this knyght enfourmed me of all the busynes bytwene the royalme of Castel and Portyngale syth the dethe of kynge Ferant tyll the departynge of that knyght out of that countrey he shewed me euery thynge so playnly and so gracyously that I toke grete pleasure to here hym and to wryte it And when I was enfourmed by hym of all that I desyred to knowe I toke leue of hym and he conueyed me to my shyp so dyd dyuers other ryche merchauntes of his countrey who were come fro Bruges fro other places to se hym in his company there was the sone of Nauarre in Portyngale dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of that royalme but he had the chefe honoure amonge them certaynly by that I coulde se and ymagyne of hym and of his estate he was worthy to haue honour for he was of noble porte and goodly stature and lykely to be a valyaunt man And wheÌ„ I retourne agayne fro Rome in to myne owne countrey I shall busy me to make relacyon of the wordes of this gentyll knyght called syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Porteler and shall cronycle all that hathe fallen in Portyngale and in Castell vnto the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and x. ¶ Howe they of Portyngale sent out messageres in to Englonde to shewe tydynges of theyr couÌ„trey to the kynge of Englonde and to the grete lordes there Ca. xliii HOwe sheweth the hystory that after this mayster Denys kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale had dyscomfyted kynge
Iohn̄ of Castell at that batayle of Iuberoth nere to the abbaye called the Cabbase where as so many noble knyghtes squyers of Fraunce Gascoyne and Byerne were slayne and that the kynge of Portyngale for that fayre vyctoryous iourney was gretely doubted and honoured of the Portyngales was receyued after his vyctory in to Lyxbone with grete glory of al the people there with grete tryumphe was crowned with lawrell as auncyently kynges were wonte to be crowned after they had dyscomfyted ony kyng in batayle and there in Lyxbone was grete feest or the departure of suche knyghtes and squyers as were there and the counsayles of the good townes and cytees of that royalme Then there was a parlyament and a counsayle holden howe they might perceyuer in theyr opinyon on honourably for certayne of the sages of the royalme sayd howe it was necessary for them to se how they myght fortefye themselfe agaynst the kyng of Castel his puyssaunce so that they myght honourably abyde in theyr victory multiply exalte in this parlyament at Lyxbone holdē in the cathedrall chyrche of saynt Dominicke There were many deuyses recyted whiche nede not to be rehersed but the rest and conclusyon of this parlyament was that they sholde sende in to Englonde to the duke of Lancastre who claymed of ryght the enherytaūce of Castell by reason of that lady Constaunce his wyfe eldest doughter to kynge Don Peter of Castell and to wryte to hym that if euer he wolde clayme ony ryght in the royalme of Castell to set forwarde his busynes whiche longe hath hanged in balaunce and in aduenture to be lost that wolde come in to Portyngale with a company of men of armes and archers for as then it was tyme conuenyent for hym so to do Then the erle of Nauarre constable of Portyngale in fayre language sayd Syth we be agreed to sende in to Englonde to the duke of Lancastre by whome we thynke to be ayded whiche is the moost profytablest waye for vs to cause our enemyes to feare vs therfore let vs aduyse in our royalme sage personages notable to do this message to enfourme so the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle to come in to this countrey so stronge as to resyst our enemyes with suche ayde as he shall haue of vs for we may well suppose that the kynge of Castell wyll gete grete ayde of the Frensshe kynge The Frensshe men of warre wote not where better to enploy theyr season for they haue peas with Englonde vnto the feest of saynt Iohn̄ And also the Frensshe men haue ferme peas with that Flemynges who hath occupyed them before dyuers yeres The erle of Nauerres wordes were well accepted and euery mā sayd howe he spake well to the poynte and that so they wolde do Then there were named by sad dely beracyon of counsayle that the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale and Laurence Fongasse a ryght sage and dyscrete squyer who coulde ryght well speke the language of Fraunce howe they sholde goo on this message in to Englonde for they coulde sende none of the counsayle of Portyngale that better coulde doo that message then they Then there were letters wryten in good Frensshe in Latyn to the kynge of Englonde to that duke of Lancastre to his bretherne the erle of Cambrydge and Bokyngham And when these letters were wryten and grosed vp in Frensshe in Latyn then they were redde before that kyng his counsayle there well lyked so sealed delyuered to the grete mayster of saynt Iaques to Laurence Fongase who toke on thē the charge to bere them in to Englonde so they myght passe the daungere of the see encoūteryng of ony enemyes robbers of the see for as wel there were robbers on the see as on the lande So they toke a shyp called the Lyn whiche wolde sayle with all maner of wyndes more surelyer then ony other shyp So on a day they toke theyr leue of the kyng of the archebysshop of Connymbres and of the grete counsayle of Portyngale and wente to the see and sayled towarde Englonde and were .iii. dayes on the see without syght of lande and on the fourthe day they sawe Cornewall THey sped so well by theyr iourneys by the ayde of god and good wynde that they costed Cornewell and that boundes of Englonde and so aryued saufely without peryll in the hauen of Hampton and there cast ancre and so yssued out of theyr shyppe and wente refresshed them in that towne there they were examyned by the baylyffe of Hampton suche other as were kepers of y◠cost of what coūtrey they were fro whens they came whyther they wolde they answered to all theyr demaundes sayd howe they were of the royalme of Portyngale and sente thyder fro theyr kynge and his counsayle then they were welcome and had good chere and when they had refresshed them there and prouyded for horses for them and for theyr seruauntes Then they rode to London by guydes for they knew not the countrey and so were lodged at the sygne of the Fawcon and sente backe agayne theyr horses and it fortuned so well for them that the kynge and his vncles were at Westmynstre wherof they were ioyfull they came to Londō in the fore noone so dyned and after dyner they toke theyr letters wente to the duke of Lancastre to the duches And when that duke the duches knewe of theyr comynge they were ryght ioyfull for they desyred to here tydynges fro Portyngale there had ben shewed thē dyuers tydynges but gretely they dyd nor byleue it bycause they had no letters therof out of y◠countrey Then the grete mayster of saynt Iaques Laurence Fongase entred in to the dukes chambre and the duches there present and because that Laurence Fongase coulde speke frensshe he spake fyrst when he had made his reuerence to the duke and to the duches delyuered them letters fro Portyngale the duke toke his the duches hers and so red theyr letters then the duke sayd to the messageres Syrs ye be ryght welcome into this coutrey and to morowe ye shall go to the kynge we shall do you the ayde we can as it is reason Then the duches drewe Laurence Fongase a parte demaūded of hym tydynges out of Castell Portyngale to euery thynge this Laurence answered Then that duke called for wyne and spyce so they dranke toke theyr leue retourned to theyr lodgynge in the mornyng they wente agayne to the duke who had herde masse and so then they entred in to a barge wente by water to Westmynstre where the kynge and the moost parte of his counsayle was The duke entred in to the counsayle chambre sayd to the kynge Syr here is the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale who hath brought you letters fro the kynge wyl it please you
to se them with a good wyll sayd the kynge Then the .ii. messagers kneled downe before the kynge Laurence Fongase delyuered his letters the kynge toke them and caused them to be redde also they delyuered letters to the erle of Cambrydge to the erle of Bokynghā eche of them redde theyr letters The kyng answered the messageres ryght swetely and sayd ¶ Syrs ye are welcome in to this countrey your comynge dothe vs grete ioy and ye shal not departe without answere suche as shall please you and all your busynes let myne vncles here haue them in remembraunce so they thanked the kynge and departed out of y◠counsayle chambre and wente downe in to the palays abydynge for the duke of Lancastre who taryed tyll it was hyghe noone Then the duke of Lancastre toke his two bretherne with hym to dyner and wente by water and these messageres with thē The erle of Cambrydge knewe ryght well the grete mayster of saynt Iames and Laurence of Fougase for he had sene them before in Portyngale wherfore after dyner he comoned with thē of dyuers thynges in the presence of his other two bretherne and demaunded them of the maryage of Castell and of her that sholde haue ben his doughter in lawe the lady Beautyce To all his demaundes the ambassadours answered wysely and truely wherby the lordes were ryght well contente and pleased TRewe it was that before these ambassadours were comen into Englonde the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had dyuers counsayles togyder for the ryght they claymed by theyr wystes The Erle of Cambrydge as ye haue herde before was not well contente with kynge Ferant of Portyngale nor with the men of warre there for they had lodged .xv. dayes in the feldes before the Castellyans and yet kynge Ferant nor the Portyngales wolde neuer fyght with thē yet the erle the same tyme shewed the kynge his defaulte sayd syr I haue here in my company of poore Englysshe mē a C. speres a M. archers And al we are wyllyng to fyght with our enemyes and to abyde the aduenture that god wyll sende vs but kynge Ferant answered euer that he was not counsayled to fyght wherfore when the Erle saw that he departed thens and toke with hym agayne his sone out of Portyngale and when he was departed then the kynge of Portyngale accorded with kynge Iohn̄ of Castell maryed his doughter to hym to make the peas and this treatye was made by syr Iohn̄ Audre a knyght of portyngale The kynge there had all his trust in hym The kynge of Portyngale demaunded of his doughter whether she had rather haue the kynge of Castel or the erle of Cambrydge sone She answered and sayd howe she loued better Iohn̄ of Englonde then Iohn̄ of Castel The kynge demaunded why she sayd soo she answered bycause Iohn̄ of Englonde was a goodly personage and of her age that was the cause she wolde not haue the kynge of Castell howbeit her fader to haue peas with the Spanyardes made that maryage Also the erle had sayd to the duke of Lancastre his broder that kynge Ferant ones deed he doubted that the comons of the royalme of Portyngale wolde rebell agaynst the lady Beautryce for the moost parte of the royalme For al that theyr kynge had maryed her moder the lady Elyanoure of Coygne yet they helde not the kynges doughter to be borne in lawfull maryage but reputed her as a bastarde and mermured theron whyle the erle was there Wherfore he was the gladder to take away his sone thens The duke of Lancastre to whom y◠matter touched nerer then to the erle of Cambrydge bycause he had maryed the eldest syster heyre to Castell and he had a fayre chylde by the lady Constaunce his wyfe wherfore he euer desyred to be truely and iustly enfourmed of that busynes in those partyes and dyd set his mynde howe he myght exalte and further his tytle he sawe clerely that as then he coulde not haue so good an entre in to Castell as by the royalme of Portyngale specyally seynge howe he was desyred and requyred of the kyng of Portyngale and of the barons and comons of the royalme also consyderynge howe the kynge of Portyngale that was then was a noble sage prynce and valyaunt seynge howe he had dyscomfyted the kynge of Castel in playne batayle and all his puyssaunce Wherby the duke the soner enclyned to go in to Portyngale And also the kynge of Englonde and his counsayle was agreed therto but to the entente to be iustly enfourmed of all the busynes state and condycyon of the countrey of Castell and of the ryght that the lady Beautryce claymed to the crowne of Portyngale and also of the ryght of kynge Iohn̄ of Portyngale whome the comons had crowned to theyr kynge For this entente on a daye the duke made a dyner to these ambassadours of Portyngale in his owne lodging and after dyner he made euery man to departe called these ambassadours to hym ryght amorously and demaunded of them of the busynes of Portyngale and bycause that Laurence Fougase coulde speke Frensshe the duke addressed his wordes vnto hym sayd Laurence I requyre you to shew me from poynte to poynte the conducyon and maner of your londe of Portyngale what hath fallen there and in Castell syth my broder the erle of Cambrydge was there for the kynge of Portyngale hath wryten to me that there is no man in Portyngale that can enforme me more iustly then ye can do and in this ye shall do me a grete pleasure syr sayd y◠squyer I shall fulfyll your pleasure and then began to speke and sayd in this maner Syrsyth the departure of your broder the erle of Cambrydge out of Portyngale there hath fallen grete trouble and dyscencyō in the royalme and in grete aduenture to haue ben lost but thanked be god the busynesses there are as nowe in good poynte and fermely stablysshed but and god had not wrought by his grace the matter had gone euyll and all thrughe the defaulte of kynge Ferrant last dysseased This is the oppynyon of the moost parte of the royalme for kynge Ferrant in his dayes loued sore a lady wyfe to a knyght of his called syr Iohn̄ Laurence of Coygne and bycause of her beautye he wolde haue her by force The lady withstode the kynges desyre as longe as she myght but at the laste he had her and sayd Dame I shall make you quene of Portyngale for thoughe I loue you it is not for your hurte but to exalte you for I wyl mary you Then the lady on her knees wepynge sayd syr sauynge your dyspleasure I can haue none honour to be quene of Portyngale for you knowe and so doth all the worlde that I haue an husbande all redy and haue hadde this .v. yere Elyanoure sayd the kynge make none escuse for I wyll haue none other wyfe but you but I shall quyte
was crowned to put the Portyngales in feare and to shewe howe he hadde ryght to the herytage of Portyngale And so fyrst he came before saynt yrayne whiche was the entre of Portyngale there he rested two dayes they of the towne with the gouernours therof were in grete feare with his comynge bycause of the grete nombre of men of warre that were with hym and soo they yelded vp theyr towne to hym And after he had taken theyr possessyon and lefte men of armes to kepe the towne for feare of rebellyon Then he departed with all his oost and soo wente tyll he came before the towne of Tuy whiche was ryght stronge there he layde his syege and a grete parte of them of Tuy helde with the quene of Castell For the lady Elyanoure had it lymytted to her for her dowry Wherfore lyghtely they yelded them to the kynge of Castell and became his subiectes and was vnder his obeysaunce And when the kynge of Castell hadde taken possessyon there he lefte men of armes to kepe it And when he hadde soo done he passed the ryuer and wente to the towne of Valencennes in Portyngale and thereto layde his syege and he sente his messagere vnto them that were whithin that they sholde yelde them and theyr towne vnto hym And they of Valence answered and sayd let the kynge of Castell passe forth and go to Lixbone and as soone as they myght knowe that he hath wonne that cyte outher by loue feare or perforce that then incontynente they wolde delyuer vp the keyes of theyr towne to hym This answere pleased ryght well the kynge of Castell and so departed fro Valence In lykewise dyd they of another cyte called Serpe whiche was stronge and fayre the kyng thought to haue gone thyder but when he knewe theyr composycyon he was content and came not there but so toke the waye to Lyxbone for he knewe yf he myght subdue that cyte he sholde haue all the resydue of the countrey at his case and where soeuer he wente he had with hym the quene his wyfe to shewe therby to the Portyngales that the ryght was his and that by good and iust cause he wolde conquere his wyâ—â—es herytage THus kyng IohnÌ„ of Castell came with all his oost before Lyxbone and there layde a grete syege shewed wel by his syege that he wolde not departe thens tyll he had the cyte at his pleasure and gretly thretened mayster Denyce who was within the cyte and sayd howe that yf he myght gete hym he sholde dye an euyll dethe and all the rebelles with hym The kynge of Castelles oost was grete for he had moche people for the Spanyardes and Frensshe men that were there closed so the Cyte aboute that none coulde yssue out nor entre with out he were taken or slayne somtyme it fell by skyrmysshes and otherwyse that the Spanyardes toke some Portyngales then the Spanyardes wolde put out theyr eyen or stryke of a fote or an arme or some other membre and so sente them in agayne in to the cyte commauÌ„dynge them to saye that they dyd they dyd in dyspyte of the Lyxbonoys and of theyr mayster Denyce whom they wolde make theyr kynge and also shewe them playnly that we shall holde this syege here so longe that we shall haue them perforce by famyne or otherwyse then they shall all dye an euyll dethe and set fyre on the cyte without mercy or pyre And when the Lyxbonoys toke ony of them they dyd not so for the kynge that nowe is of Portyngale made them to be well kepte at theyr ease so sent them agayne in to the oost without ony hurte or domage of theyr persones wherfore some sayd in the oost that it was done of a grete gentylnes for he rendred good for euyll And syr whyle this syege endured whiche was an hole yere and more euery weke there was one or two skyrmysshes and dedes of armes done some hurte and slayne on the one parte or on the other The kynge of Castell helde as well his syege by water as by lande and had plente of vytaylles for it came to his oost from all partyes out of Castell and on a day it happened at a skyrmysshe that was made at one of the gates syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of coygne who was capytayne of the Cyte yssued out of the barryers with his penon of the armes of Coygne before hym and with hym a good nombre of propre men of warre and at that skirmysshe there was done many a propre feate of armes and many a darte cast By my fayth sayd the duke of Lancastre of all the feates of armes that the Castellyans and they of your countrey dothe vse the castynge of theyr dartes best pleaseth me gladly I wolde se it for as I here say yf they stryke one aryght without he be well armed the darte wyll perce hym thrughe by my fayth syr sayd the squyer ye saye trouthe for I haue sene many a grete stroke gyuen with them whiche at one tyme cost vs derely and was to vs grete dyspleasure for at the sayd skyrmysshe syr IohnÌ„ Laurence of Coygne was stryken with a darte in suche wyse that the heed perced all the plates of his cote of mayle and a iacke stopped with sylke and passed thrughe his body so that he fel downe deed and therwith seased the skyrmysshe bycause of the dethe of that knyght and so was the lady Elyanoure a wydowe in one yere of bothe her husbandes FOr this syr Iohan Laurence of Cygne was made grete mone for he was a valyauÌ„t knyght full of good counsayle after his dethe there was chosen to be capytayne of Lyxbone a cosyne of his a ryght valyaunt maÌ„ called pouuasse of Coyne he made agaynst the Spanyardes thre or foure yssues and dyd to them grete domage ¶ Thus contynued the syege at Lyxbone and surely often tymes they within the towne were sore abasshed for they coulde se no comforte come to them frome ony parte and when they sawe that none came out of Englonde wheron lay all theyr trust TheÌ„ the kynge that nowe is was counsayled to haue taken a shyp and so to haue come hyder in to Englonde for syr IohnÌ„ Vadigothz of passe syr IohnÌ„ Cete Dore and the archedeacon of Lyxbone whom they had sent hyther in to Englonde to the kynge here to you to the erle of Cambrydge your broder for to haue some coÌ„forte ayde when they retourned in to Lyxbone they brought tydynges howe that ye wolde haue comforted them in the name of god sayd the duke all that is of trouthe so had I done and was redy and at the poynte to haue departed but as then the warre of Flaundres and of Gaunte dyd let me for the Gauntoys came hyder for ayde and helpe and so all suche or the moost parte of them that sholde haue gone with me in to Portyngale wente in to Flaundres with the bysshop of Norwyche
syr Henry percy so that letted my iourney in to Portyngale in the name of god sayd the squyer it was thought amonge vs that there was some grete let in Englonde so that you coulde not come hyder howbeit we dyd as well as we myght maynteyned ourselfe valyauntly agaynst the kyng of Castell and all his puyssaunce whiche was no small thynge for he had mo then .lx. M. meÌ„ by see and by lande and thretened to byrne to exyle vs without mercy And syr thus whyle this syege endured an erle of our countrey of Portyngale called the erle of Angouse dyd vs on a day grete socour wherby he attayned grete honoure for he with .xx. Galeys aryued at the porte of Portyngale with a good nombre of men of armes prouysyon so came saylynge by the see before Valence and thrughe the grace of god he came by the kynge of Castelles army as they lay at ancre before Lixbone who were mo then a C. grete vesselles howbeit he dyd his entrepryse so gracyously and had the wynde at so good a poynte that in dyspyte of all his enemyes he entred saufely without peryll with all his galeys in to the hauen of Lyxbone and at his comynge in conquered .iiii. shyppes of his enemyes brought them with hym in to the hauen of whose comynge all that were in Lyxbone were ryght ioyous for it coÌ„forted them gretely By my fayth sayd the duke of Lancastre the erle of Angouse at that tyme dyd you a fayre seruyce But nowe fayre Laurence shewe me howe was this syege raysed and by what maner I wolde gladly here you speke therof syr sayd the squyer I shall shewe you with ryght a good wyll AS I haue shewed you the syege endured more then a yere before Lyxbone the kynge of Castell had sworne and auowed that he wolde not departe frome the syege tyll he had the cyte vnder his obeysaunce without the puyssaunce of a gretter kynge then he was raysed hym therfro by force And truly al thynges consydered the kynge of Castel kepte wel his auowe for the puyssaunce of a gretter kyng then he was raysed hym and caused hym to departe I shall shewe you howe a pestylence mortalyte meruaylous ferefull fell in his oost in suche wyse that meÌ„ dyed sodeynly spekyng one to another there dyed mo then .xx. M. persones wherof the kyng was sore afrayde wherfore it was counsayled hym to departe thens and to drawe to saynt yrayne or to some other parte and breke vp the syege and to gyue leue to his people to departe tyll the pestylence were seased whiche he dyd sore agaynst his wyll bycause he had sworne so solemply to kepe the syege howbeit of necessyte he was fayne to departe Therfore syr we say and hath ben sayd in Portyngale and it is the comon opynyon that god dyd sende that pestylence in to the kyng of Castelles oost to ayde vs and our kynge that nowe is for in the cyte wherin we were closed there dyed nother man nor womaÌ„ of yâ— sykenes this grace god dyd for vs. And when the kynge of Castell dyslodged fro Lyxbone the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is caused all suche as were within the cyte to be armed and to lepe on theyr horses and to folowe the trayne of the kynge of Castelles oost and there we dyd then grete domage for they dyslodged not in good aray wherby they â—ost parte of theyr men promocyon but the kyng of Portyngale made a crye that on payne of dethe no ma to take ony thynge that they founde in the felde nor to brynge ony thyng therof in to the cyte but commaunded euery thynge to be brente to the entent that it sholde brynge no infeccyon in to the cyte So prouysyon euery thynge was conuerted in to flame of fyre howbeit I thynke suche as founde other golde or syluer in money or place brent it not but saued it as well as they myght So thus the kyng of castel wente to saynt prayne at the entre of his countrey there taryed a season sent for more socour in to FrauÌ„ce specyally in to Gascoyne Byerne in to the laÌ„des of the erle of Foys he sent thyder .iii. somers laden with nobles of castel floreyns to gyue in prest to knyghtes squyers for he knewe well otherwyse he sholde not haue them come out of theyr houses And when the barons and knyghtes of the royalme of Portyngale on the partye of the kyng that nowe is sawe howe the kynge of Castell had raysed his syege whiche had endured more then a yere they toke then grete courage so dyd all the comons of the countrey and specyally they of Porte Ewre and Connymbres Then they toke counsayle togyder shortely to crowne to theyr kynge mayster Denyce whom they had chosen and gyuen hym theyr loue sayd how that it was goddes wyll that he sholde be theyr kynge for he had shewed his vertue agaynst the Spanyardes then a commaundement was made thrughout all Portyngale euery maÌ„ to come to CoÌ„mmbres at a certayne daye lymytted to the Coronacyon of mayster Denyce all suche as toke his parte came thyder and accordynge to the puyssaunce of that royalme there was moche people there kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale was crowned by the bysshoppes and prelates of the royalme with grete solempnyte as it aperteyned on trynyte â—ondaye the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxxx and .iiii. In the cathedrall chyrche of CoÌ„nymbres called saynt Maries whiche daye the kyng made newe knyghtes what of his owne countrey as of straungers to the nombre of .lx. There was kepte a grete feest .ii. or .iii. dayes and there the kynge renewed all homages of Erles barons knyghtes and squyers and suche as helde of hym and there the kyng sware to kepe the royalme in ryght and Iustyce and to maynteyne al theyr iurysdyccyons and euery man sware to take hym for theyr kynge and his heyres comynge of hym male or female that to dye in the payne neuer to forsake them thus kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale was crowned kynge WHen the kynge of Castell knewe how the comons of Portyngale had crowned mayster Denyce to theyr kynge had sworne to hym faythe and homage then he was more dyspleased then he was before for he had thought they wolde not haue done it so sodeynly bycause he had many of the nobles of Portyngale with hym then he sayd I se well it behoueth me perforce to conquere that is myne yf I wyll haue it there shall neuer be peace bytwene Castell and Portyngale tyll the Portyngales haue amended that they haue done And so after the kynge was crowned he came to Lyxbone and there taryed toke grete dylygence to set in a good way the busynes of his royalme to gete therby the grace good wyl and loue of his people and sent his knyghtes and men of warre in to dyuers garysons in to townes castelles on the
fronters of Spayne for the kynge of Castell lay at Sybyll The kyng of Portyngale sent in garyson to Trentouse syr Iohn̄ Ferant Perteler an experte man of armes a valyaunt knyght of hyghe entrepryse and with hym syr Martyn Vas of Coygne his broder syr Wyllyā Vas two experte knyghtes they had vnder them CC. speres of good men of warre well horsed to the castell of Lene towarde Iuberoth was sente syr Iohn̄ Radygos with a .l. speres and to the cyte of Valence in Portyngale was sente syr Iohn̄ Iames of Saulles to lye in garyson agaynst the stronge towne of Tuy whiche was as then yelden to the kynge of Castell whē he came towarde Lyxbone and in Tuy there lay in a garyson a grete nombre of men of armes Frensshe and Castellyans and to the cyte of Serpe was sente syr Nondech Radygo a noble knyght with .l. speres but to Porte to Ewre and to Connymbres was sente no men of warre for the kynge thought them stronge ynoughe of themselfe and true and faythfull to hym Thus syr in the same yere that the kyng was thus crowned the garysons were well prouyded for and often tymes there were encountrynges skyrmysshes and assawtes on bothe partyes one tyme our men wanne and another tyme they lost as the aduenture of armes falleth but specyally there was afore encountre by them of the garyson of Treucouse agaynst the Castellyans A Laurence sayd the duke of Lanclastre passe not the matter so breuely but let me knowe howe it was and what was done when they mette in the feldes for I wolde gladly here spekyng of dedes of armes Syr sayd the squyer I shall shewe you what was there done for at the same renconntre I was present bare that day the baner of syr Iohn Ferant Perteler by whom the busynes began for he was as then capytayne of Treutouse THe kynge of Castell had prouyded mē of warre on the fronters of Portyngale who somtyme do to vs domage assembled thē selfe togyder and toke the feldes and somtyme lost and somtyme wanne And so on a season a vii capytaynes of Spanyardes good knyghtes and of hyghe lygnage assembled them togyder with the nombre of .iii. C. speres well horsed hauynge grete desyre to do vs domage as they well shewed for they came and entred in to Portyngale and toke a grete praye and many prysoners and yf they had wolde they myght haue entred agayne in to Castell with out ony encountrynge but they were soo hyghe mynded and prowde that they sayd they wolde goo and se the garyson of Treutouse they of the playne countrey fledde before them soo that tydynges of them came in to Treutouse and when syr Iohn̄ Ferrant Partelere knewe the Castellyans rode abrode he called for his harneys and caused the trompettes to besowned and so awoke all the knyghtes and squyres in the towne euery man armed hym in grete haste and mounted on theyr horses and yssued out of Treutouse and when they were in the feldes they were a CC. so put thēselfe in good ordre and shewed howe they had grete affeccyon to fynde theyr enemyes and demaunded of them that came flyenge in to the towne where theyr enemyes were and they answered and sayd howe they were not farre thens and howe they rode but a softe pace bycause of the grete praye that they caryed with them With those tydynges syr Iohn̄ Ferrant Partelere was ryght ioyous and sayd to his company as to syr Iohn̄ Martyne of Vas syr Wyllyam Vas his broder Syrs I requyre you let vs auaunce forwarde I wyll not entre in to ony towne or Castell in Portyngale tyll I haue sene our enemyes and fyght with them and put to my payne and trauayle to recouer the praye and prysoners that they leede with them and then he sayd to me Laurence dysplay my baner for it is tyme we shall fynde shortely our enemyes then I dyd as he cōmaunded me and so we rode forthe a good pace and at the last we sawe where the dust rose with the horses of our enemyes then we toke the vauntage of the sone and came on them when the Castellyans sawe vs they helde themselfe close togyder and ordred themselfe and set theyr prysoners and pray on theyr one syde we approched so nere togyder that we myght speke to them and they to vs and then we sawe howe they had .iii. baners and .iiii. penons and to our Iudgement a CCC horse Fyrst there was syr Iohn̄ Radigos de Castenans knyght and baron in Castell syr Sylue grefye of Albenes syr Adioutall of Tolet of Cassell syr Iohn̄ Radigo of Eure and Diostenses of Angouse when we were before thē we lyghted on foote and in lykewyse soo dyd they and delyuered theyr horses to pages and varlettes and or we began to cast darces or to doo ony feate of armes the capytaynes spake eche to other I that was there present herde all the wordes that were spoken on bothe partyes for my mayster syr Iohn̄ Ferrant Partelere whose baner I bare was one of the formest and the wordes that were spoken were by hym and to hym Fyrst he demaunded why they rode in Portyngale ledynge away suche prayes and prysoners as they had taken then syr Adioutall of Tolet answered and sayd they wolde ryde as they lyst to punysshe them that be dysobeysaunt to the kynge of Castel to whom the herytage of Portyngale perteyned and by rause they founde them rebelles therfore they sayd they ouer rynne y◠countrey take prayes and prysoners Well syrs sayd syr Iohn̄ Ferrant ye shall not lede them longe for we wyll rescue them ye haue noo ryght to come and to ouer rynne this countrey ye knowe wel ynoughe we haue a kynge all redy who wyll kepe his royalme in ryght and kepe Iustyce punysshe theues and robbers Therfore we saye vnto you in his behalfe all that ye haue taken in the royalme of Portyngale leue it behynde you and departe hens or elles in our ryght iust quarell we wyll fyght with you then the Spanyardes answered the prysoners that we haue taken we wyll not delyuer agayne but as for the other praye we wyll take aduyse Thē the .vii. capytaynes of Castell drewe them togyder and shewed that for all that they were come to se the garyson of Treutouse yet they wolde haue ben glad to haue departed without batayle and when they had counsayled thē they sayd howe they wolde leue theyr pray behynde them but the prysoners they wolde lede with them Nay not so sayd the Portyngales for we wyll ye leue all or elles ye shall haue batayle and so wente togyder and there was a sore batayle for there were on bothe partyes good men of warre and the felde where as they fought was fayre and playne they cast eche at other dartes so sore that who soo euer was stryken without he were wel armed was slayne or sore hurte there were many propre feates
the kynges partye and it was shewed there what nombre and puyssaunce the kynge of Castell was of and howe he was fully determyned to come and lay fyege agayne to Lyxbone then the kynge of Portyngale his counsayle assembled togyder there the most notablest persones of his royalme sayd that the kyng were best to go out of the cyte and to mete with his enemyes rather then to be enclosed in ony cyte or towne in Portyngale for yf they were besyeged they sholde haue moche busynes to defende them theyr cyte and in the meane season the Castellyans myght ryde abrode at theyr ease where as they lyst and conquere townes Cytees Castelles outher by force or by loue and dystroy all the playne countrey and peraduenture at lengthe them within the cyte wherfore they sayd to the kynge Syr yf we go out agaynst them and take a place conuenyent to fyght we thynke this were best and moost profytable for syr we knowe well ye shall not peasybly enioy the crowne of Portyngale wherwith we haue crowned you without it be by batayle and that at the leest ones or twyse to ouerthrowe your aduersary the kynge of Castell and his puyssaunce yf we may dyscomfyte hym then we shal be lordes of the country And yf we be ouercome the royalme is in aduenture but better it were for vs to seke batayle then to be sought on and more honourable it were for vs for syr it hathe ben often tymes sene that the setters an hath auauntage of the defenders therfore syr we wyll counsayle you to sende forthe your letters and messagers to all suche as ye thynke wyll serue you Then the kynge answered and sayd syrs ye speke wel I wyl do as ye haue ordeyned Then the kynge set his clarkes on warke to wryte letters and wrote to euery man that they sholde come to the porte of Portyngale or nere there aboute at a certayne day lymytted howbeit all suche as were wryten vnto came not thyder for as then all the royalme toke not full parte with hym but dyssmuled and taryed to se howe the matters sholde frame at lengthe some were gone out of theyr owne countrey to the kynge of Castell bycause they sayd that the kynge of Castell had more ryght to the crowne of Portyngale then our kynge had howbeit for all that the kynge my souerayne lorde wente to Connymbres and there made his assemble of suche men of warre as he coulde gete and truely he had with hym that choyse men of all Portyngale and of moost auctoryte as of Erles Barons knyghtes squyers also he had a .xxv. hundred speres of squyers and a .xii. M. foote meÌ„ Then he ordeyned a Constable and marshall The constable was the erle of Nauare the marshall syr Alne Perriere bothe ryght sage knyghtes to conduyte men of warre then they departed fro Connymbres and toke the waye to Cabase that is Iuberoth and rode fayre and easely to ease themselfe and theyr horses and that theyr prouysyon myght folowe them in good ordre and they had rore ryders one before to aâ—ewe the demeanynge of the Castellyans at this tyme syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Pertelere was not come to the kynge he was at the garyson of Dorech a .v. legges fro Iuberoth I thynke he knewe not as then that the kynge sholde fyght with his enemyes I Suppose the kynge of Castell was wel enfourmed howe the kynge of Portyngale was comynge to hym warde with his puyssaunce and when he knewe it he had therof grete ioy so had all his men as they shewed anone they determyned to come on agaynst vs and to tyght with vs specyally the gascoynes of Byerne that were there sore desyred to fyght with vs for they desyred to haue the fyrst batayle and so they had and syr Wyllyam of Mounferrant a Gascoyne who was there on our partye sayd surely howe we sholde haue batayle bycause they of Byerne were agaynst vs who euer desyreth nothynge but batayle ¶ Then the kynge of Castell with all his batayle came the nexte daye and lodged at the castell of Lerre a two legges fro Iuberoth and the nexte day we came to the Cabase lodged there and that nyght the kynge of Castel lodged but a lytell legge fro Iuberoth for he knewe well what way we toke and howe we lodged at Iuberoth Syr the Portyngales hath had alwayes greâ—e trust and confydence in god in the good â—ortune of that place of Iuberoth therfore they at that tyme rested there Why sayd the duke haue they so good hope in that place rather then in another syr layd the squyer auncyently the grete Charlemayne who was kyngge of Fraunce and of Almayne Emperoure of Rome who was in his tyme a grete conqueroure at this place of Iuberoth he dyscomfyted .vii. kynges of the mysereauntes and there were slayned of the infydelles a C.M. This syr is auncyently founde in hystoryes and cronycles and by reason of that batayle he conquered Coanymbres all the countrey of Portyngale brought it in to crysten fayth and bycause of the grete victore that he had there agaynst goddes enemyes he founded there an abbaye of blacke monkes and gaue them grete rente in Portyngale in Castell also syr aboute a CC. yere past there was at the same place a grete betayle fayre iourney acheued by a lorde that was at that tyme broder to the kyng of Castell for before that tyme there was neuer kynge in Portyngale it was called the countye of Portyngale and so it was that these .ii. bretherne the kynge of Castell the erle of Portyngale had mortall warre togyder for partycyon of landes so that there coulde be founde no peas bytwene them but mortall warre togyder The matter touched soo moche the erle of Portyngale the Portyngales that they had rather to haue ben deed then to haue ben vnder the subieccyon of the kynge of Castel so they toke a day of batayle there the kynge of Castell was so puyssauÌ„t that he was .x. agaynst one so that he set nothynge by the Portyngales so at the cabase of Iuberoth was theyr batayle ryght cruell fynally the Portyngales obteyned yâ— vyctory the Castellyans dyscomfyted the kynge of Castell taken by whose takynge the erle of Portyngale had peas as he lyst then the boundes were set of the departyng of Castell and Portyngale ANd then bycause the Portyngales saw that god had sente them the vyctory with so smal a nombre agaynst so grete a puyssaunce then they thought to augment theyr lande to make it a royalme so the prelates nobles of the countrey crowned theyr fyrst kynge at Connymbres made hym to ryde thrughout his royalme with a crowne of Lawrell on his heed sygnyfyenge honoure vyctory as aunently kynges were wonte to do so euer syth the royalme hath had a kynge for syr surely rather then the Portyngales wolde be vnder the
myght haue an answere Laurence sayd the duke or this tyme â–ª I haue shewed you and yet agayne I say it that your comynge and these tydynges doth me grete pleasure and ye shall not departe fro me tyll ye be satysfyed of all your requestes well answered in that ye be come for syr sayd the squyer I thanke you then the duke called for wyne spyces so toke theyr leue wente to theyr lodgynge to Arcorch to the house of the Fawcon in London there they were lodged with Thomelyn of Colebrunque ANd it was not longe after but that the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had counsayle togyder of that busynes â–ª of Castell and Portyngale wherof the erle of Cambrydge was well contente for he had ben in that countrey before more then a yere and he was glad to here of the condycyons tytles of the kynge of Portyngale and of the quene of Castell and sayd to his broder syr when kynge Ferrant lyued the Chanon Robsart and syr Wyllyam Wyndesore and dyuers other knyghtes that were there with me shewed me as it is nowe fallen for they sayd how they had herde dyuers of the same couÌ„trey murmure on the quene of Castelles tytle to Portyngale therfore I toke away with me my sone had no grete affeccyon to that maryage In the name of god sayd the duke the squyer that is here of Portyngale hathe declared all the matter and I thynke we can not haue so fayre an entre in to Castell as by Portyngale for the royalme of Aragon is ferre of and also the kynge there and his chyldren haue alwayes ben more fauourable to the frensshe partye thenne to vs Therfore it were not good syth the kynge of Portyngale maketh for vs this good 〈◊〉 to refuse it So on a day for this matter there was a parlyament holden at Westmynstre there it was accorded that the duke of Lancastre sholde haue at the costes of the royalme bitwene a M. .xii. C. speres of chosen men .ii. M. archers a M. of other yomen they were all paydein hande for halfe a yere therwith all the kynges vncles were well contente specyally the duke of Lancastre to whom pryncypally the matter touched as he that sholde be chefe of the armye and to dyspatche these ambassadours of Portyngale the kynge of Englande wrote to the kynge of Portyngale louynge letters conteynyng grete amyte that he wolde bere to Portyngale grete gyftes were gyueÌ„ to the mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale to Laurence Fongase who was alwayes with the duke of Lancastre with the erle of Cambrydge so on a day these ambassadours toke theyr leue of the kyng his couÌ„sayle dyned that daye with the duke of Lancastre the erle of Cambrydge the nexte day they were delyuered as I vn derstode the duke of Lancastre sente letters to the kynge of Portyngale also by credence that he sholde sende a .vii. galeys an .xviii. or .xx. other vesselles to the porte of Brystowe on the fronters of Wales for hym his company to passe in to Portyngale so the ambassadoures departed wente to Hampton there founde theyr shyp that taryed for them so entred in to the see had wynde at theyr wyl so entred in to the hygh Spaynysshe see within .v. dayes they were in the hauen of the porte of Portyngale at whiche tyme the kynge was there and was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge ANd there the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale Laurence Fongase shewed the kynge his counsayle al that they had sene herde in Englande as well of the kynge as of his vncles delyuered theyr letters whiche certefyed al theyr saynges then anone after the kynge of Portyngale Who gretely desyred the ayde out of Englande to the entente to cause his enemyes to haue the more fere determyned with his couÌ„sayle that mayster Alphons Vâ—etat chefe patron mayster of all his shyppes and galeys in Portyngale that he sholde prepayre redy .vii. galeys and .xviii. other grete Chyppes to sayle in to Englande to fetche the duke of Lancastre his coÌ„pany so Alphons was coÌ„maunded thus to do he incontynent dyd so and so on a daye departed fro the porte of Portyngale and in .vi. dayes he arryued at Brystowe at whiche season the lordes of Englande for the moost parte were aboute the marches of Wales for the kynge was there when the duke of Lancastre knewe of the comynge of these shyppes he was ryght ioyfull Then knyghtes squyers and al suche as sholde go with hym were sente for so that in the porte of Brystowe there were CC. vesselles with the flete of Portyngale redy apparelled for the duke and his company and the dukes entencyon was to haue with hym his wyfe his chyldreÌ„ to make with them some good maryages in castel in Portyngale or his retourne agayne in to Englande for he thought not shortely to retourne for he saw the busynes in Englande lykely to be harde and sharpe how the kyng his neuewe was yonge and had aboute hym peryllous counsayle wherfore he was the gladder to be gone or he departed in the presence of his bretherne he ordeyned his sone the lorde Henry erle of Darby his lieutenaunt of all that he had in Englande set aboute hym wyse sad counsayle he was a lusty yonge knyght was sone to the duches of Lancastre the lady Blaunche doughter to quene Phylyp of Englande I neuer sawe .ii. better ladyes nor of more noble condycyon nor neuer shal thoughe I sholde lyue this thousande yeres whiche is impossyble WHen duke IohnÌ„ of Lancastre had ordred all his busynes in Englonde theÌ„ he toke leue of the kyng of his bretherne and so he wente to Brystowe there taryed a .xv. dayes shypped all his horses bagages mo then .ii. M. with hay lytter and fresshe water for them Then the duke entred in to a galey well apparelled had by hym a grete shyp yfnede were for hym for the duches Constaunce his wyfe who wente in this iourney with a good courage for she trusted then to recouer her herytage of Castell and to be quene there or she retourned agayne she had with her a doughter called Katheryne by her fyrst husbande .ii. other doughters Izabel and Phylyp whiche Phylyp was maryed to syr IohnÌ„ Holande who was constable of the oost the marshall was syr Thomas Morâ—aur who had also in maryage one of his doughters howbeit she was a bastarde was moder to the lady mercell damoysel Mary of saynt Hyllary of Hauman admyral of the dukes nauey was syr Thomas Percy also there was syr yon fythwaren the lorde of Lucy syr Henry Beaumond de poumins syr IohnÌ„ of But nuell the lorde Talbot the lorde Basset syr Wyllyam Beaâ—champ syr Wyllyam Wyndefore syr Thomas
the pynet Then they of the busshment brake out on them and cryed Barroys of barres Then the foragers were abasshed for the moost parte of them were vnarmed they had a syxe socore archers who dyd put themselfe in good ordre of defence and began to shote and dyd hurte and wounde men and horses and when theyr shot was past they cast away theyr bowes and fell to other defence with suche wepons as they had some hyd them to saue themselfe what sholde I make longe tale of these Englysshe foragers there were slayne a C C. and the other saued themselfe as wel as they myght in busshes hedges where as horsmen coulde not come to them suche as fled came to Coulongne there shewed how the barroys of barres had ouerthrowen them then they of the oost began to styre and to arme them syr Thomas Moreaux marshal of the oost with a CCCCC mounted on theyr horses with the penon of saynt George set forth with grete desyre to fynde the frensshe men and rode soo longe that they came to the Espynet and there they founde theyr men lyenge deed and no thynge elles for the frensshe men were departed soo they retourned without doynge of ony thyng elles and when they were wtin halfe a myle of theyr oost they sawe where the frensshmen entred in to theyr garyson of Coulongne Wherwith they were sore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it and that day the marshal was sore blamed of some of the oost in that he sente forthe or suffered to go forth ony foragers without sure conduyte consyderynge theyr enemyes beynge lodged so nere them in a sure holde and of suche nombre able to ouerthrowe .v. or a .vi. C. foragers the duke of Lancastre the Constable so blamed hym that he was sore ashamed therof but he excused hymselfe sayd howe they had ben forth more then .x. tymes before had no hurte Well sayd the duke take better hede another tyme for a case may fall in an houre or in a daye that peraduenture shall not fall agayne in an hundreth dayes ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre his oost when they had soiourned a momoneth at Coulongne then they departed rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Ca. xlviii ANd when the duke of LaÌ„castre had soiourned at Coulongne the space of a moneth and more then he was couÌ„sayled to dyslodge theÌ„s to drawe towardes saynt Iames in Galyce where was a better countrey and a more plentyfull for men and horses so he departed and rode in thre batayles Fyrst the marshal with CCC speres .vi. C. archers Then the duke with CCCC spere and all the ladyes and damoyselles in his company and in the arrere garde the constable syr IohnÌ„ Hollande with a CCCC speres .vii. C. archers Thus they rode fayre easely in .iii. batayles and were rydynge thre dayes bytwene Coulongne and saynt Iames The countrey of Galyce was sore afrayde of the dukes comynge thyder for they fered gretely his puyssauÌ„ce The marshall with his vowarde came to Compostelia where the body of saynt Iames lyeth and the towne was closed agaynst hym howbeit there were no men of warre there in garyson but men of the towne that kepte it for there were no frensshmen wolde vndertake to kepe it to the vtteraunce for it was not stronge ynoughe to be kepte agaynst suche men of warre as the duke had brought thyder The marshall of the oost sente thyder an heraulde of armes to knowe theyr ententes what they wolde do the heraulde came to the barryers there fouÌ„de the capytayne of ytwarde called Alphons of sene then the heraulde sayd syr capytayne here a lytel besyde is the duke of Lancastres marshall who hath sent me hyder he wolde gladly speke with you Wel sayd that capytayne it pleseth me wel let hym come hyder we shal speke with hym the heraulde retourned shewed the marshall as they sayd then the marshall with .xx. speres with hym wente thyder fouÌ„de at the barryers the capytayne certayne of the chefe heedes of the towne then the marshal lyghted on fote .iii. with hym the lorde Basset syr WyllyaÌ„ Fremyton then the marshall sayd ye capytayne your men My lorde the duke of LaÌ„castre my lady your lady of Lancastre doughter to kynge Don Peter your lorde kynge hath sent me hyder to speke with you to know what ye wyll do or say outher to receyue them as ye showe do your souerayne lorde lady or elles they to assayle you take you perforce surely knowe for trouth if ye be taken perforce al ye within the towne shall suffre dethe with the swerde to gyue ensample to all other syr sayd the capytayne we wyl not vse vs but by reason we wolde gladly acquyte vs to them that we belonge we know ryght well that my lady CoÌ„stauÌ„ce or Lancastre was doughter to kynge Don Petero of Castelâ—s that if kynge Don Peter had abyden peasybly styl kyng she had ben then ryghtfull enherytoure of Castell but the matter chauÌ„ged otherwyse for al the royalme of Castel abode peasybly to kyngeÌ„ Henry his broder by reason of the batayle that was at NaÌ„tuel so that we al of the countrey sware to holde kynge Henry for our kyng he kepte it as longe as he lyued also we haue sworne to holde kyng IohnÌ„ his sone for our kyng but syr shewe vs what haue they of Coulongne done or sayd to you for it maye be so syth ye haue lyne there more then a moneth that they haue made some maner of treaty with you that is true sayd the marshal we are at a treaty with them or elles they had not scaped as they dyd yet the towne of Coulongne is twyse so stronge as is this towne I shall shew you what treaty they haue made with vs the meÌ„ of the towne haue pryuely made a composycyon withâ— vs saynge how they wyll do euery thyng accordynge as ye do but though ye wyl suffre yourselfe to be assayled and dystroyed yet soo wyll not they do for yf the countrey of Galyce do yelde them to my lorde the duke and to my lady they wyll do in lyke wyse and in this we haue good pledges and suffycyent that is wel sayd sayd the capytayne we in lykewyse wyll holde the same treatye there be in the royalme many mo good cytees townes ryde on forth leue vs in pease we wyll do as they do in that we wyl delyuer you good pledges ostages Nay syr not so sayd the marshall My lorde the duke nor my lady wyl not suffre that for they wyl come lodge here in this towne kepe theyr estates as they sholde do in theyr owne herytage therfore answere vs shortely what ye wyll do outher to yelde or to be assayled taken by force destroyed syr sayd the capytayne gyue vs lytell leysure that we may speke togyder
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 coÌ„forte you in this your grete nede with some good meÌ„ of armes to resyst your enemyes to kepe defâ—de 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 frauÌ„ce whiche may do more in dede theÌ„ englande Portyngale ioyned togyder in this case wyll not fayle you for wheÌ„ the freÌ„sshe kyng his couÌ„sayle 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 frauÌ„ce desyring to auaunce theyr dedes with a lytell worde or coÌ„mauÌ„dement wyll drawe in to these partyes to fynde dedes of armes for as nowe they wote not where to employ theyr tyme better for frauÌ„ce flauÌ„ders as now be accorded whiche hath ben at war a long season also there is a truce bytwene frauÌ„ce englaÌ„de as beyonde the ryuer of Loyre to endure to the feest of saynt IohnÌ„ baptyst therfore syr ye shal se knyghtes squyers of frauÌ„ce come hyder in good nombres as well to fynde dedes of armes as to se this couÌ„trey to mete the englysshmeÌ„ but syr we couÌ„sayle you for your ê“fyre that al these smal holdes chyrches mynsters steples abrode in the couÌ„trey let theÌ„ de put downe if ye thynke to haue ioy of the resydue theÌ„ the kyng of Castel sayd syrs ye couÌ„sayle me truely thus wyll I do fro hence forwarde theÌ„ without takyng of ony further couÌ„sayle he coÌ„maunded 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 accoÌ„plysshed shal helpe to saue all the resydue this worde that the kyng of Castel sayd to theÌ„ of frauÌ„ce 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 LaÌ„castre 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 thiÌ„ges thynkyng there to haue kepte theÌ„ sure but it fell the coÌ„trary for knyghtes squyers sente thyder theyr meÌ„ toke al brought suche prouysyon as they fouÌ„de there to theyr maysters lodgynges but as for golde syluer suche as they fouÌ„de 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 coÌ„panyons 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 mouÌ„ted 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 couÌ„trey were fayne to go a fote or on a nagge thus the coÌ„panyons that came fyrst in to Castel wan moche ryches the poore meÌ„ of the couÌ„trey payde for al for they were robbed ryfled with theyr owne meÌ„ for they wolde not that theyr enemyes sholde haue had ony ê“fyte therof when these tydynges came in to frauÌ„ce to other coÌ„panyons 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 coÌ„sideryng 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 frauÌ„ce by the kyng there by his couÌ„sayle 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 LaÌ„castre 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 gauÌ„toâ— se to the entente to ayde the necessyte of the kyng of Castel wherto the frensshe kyng the royal me of frauÌ„ce 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 frauÌ„ce had grete affeccyon to go with an army in to the royalme of englande all knytes squyers of frauÌ„ce 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 frauÌ„ce 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 ordenauuÌ„ce for that voyage was made in trauÌ„ce 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
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 frauÌ„ce 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 accoÌ„plysshe 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 couÌ„treys knew not what ende this warre sholde come to yet they made theyr ê“uysyons 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 flauÌ„ders as to bruges to dan to Sluse so there was sent for in to HolaÌ„de 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 â—or in the moneth of septeÌ„bre 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 coÌ„stable of Fraunce shyp was apparelled at Lentregmer in bretaygne also the coÌ„stable 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 wheÌ„soeuer they sholde remoue theyr felde yâ— closure was so made that they myght take it a sonder in peces a grete nombre of carpeÌ„ters 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 paÌ„nes caÌ„delstyckes al maner of necessaryes for kechyn botery al other oâ—â—yces 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 coÌ„panyons of frauÌ„ce rekened none otherwyse amonge theÌ„selfe wheÌ„ they spake togyder but that the royalme of englaÌ„de sholde clene haue ben lost exyled wtout recouery al the men women chyldreÌ„ therin slayne taken caryed in to frauÌ„ce in seruytude OF this grete apparel thus made to come in to englande the kyng of englaÌ„de his couÌ„sayle 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 cerâ—aynte 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 HolaÌ„de 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 DaÌ„brychcourte .v. C. men of armes .v. C. archers the erle Rycharde of AruÌ„del 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 freÌ„sshe 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 agayÌ„st 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 FrauÌ„cis 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
goynge a foragynge to dystroy theÌ„ all that were abrode in the countrey so that therby they sholde famysshe theÌ„ this was the opynyon couÌ„sayle in englaÌ„de Rochestre brydge was broken where is a grete ryuer rynnynge fro arundel in to the couÌ„tye of Essex entreth in to the see in to Tamyse agaynst the yle of Tenet this brydge they of LondoÌ„ bet downe to be the more surer where as taxes tallages were grete in frauÌ„ce on the men of the townes in lykewyse they were grete yâ— season in englaÌ„de so that the royalme sorowed it a grete season after but they were glad to pay the sowdyours to be therby defeÌ„ded there were redy in englaÌ„de a C M. archers a.x M. men of armes besyde the grete coÌ„pany the the duke of Lancastre had in to castel of whom now we wyll speke somewhat shew of the aquayntauÌ„ce that was bytwene hym the kyng of Portyngale then I shal retourne to speke agayne of englande for the matter requyreth to speke as wel of the one as of the other ¶ How the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre wheÌ„ he knew that he was aryued at saynt Iames in in Galyce of the socours that the kyng of Castel sent for in to fraunce how the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the englysshe men Ca .liii. YE haue herde before in this hystory how the duke of LaÌ„castre with a fayre coÌ„pany of meÌ„ of armes archers were aryued at Coulongne in Galyce how by coÌ„posycyon the towne not the castel was yelden to hâ— thus they sayd they wolde do as other townes in Galyce dyd so therby they were not assayled theÌ„ the duke his wyfe chyldren came to the towne of saynt Iames called CoÌ„postâ—lia there layeâ— was in purpose to do tyl he herde other tydynges fro the kyng of Portyngale who knewe of a surty that the duke was at saynt Iames wherof he had grete ioy thynkyng that bytwene theÌ„ they sholde make a goodly war in to Castell theÌ„ he wrote letters ryght amyably with grete salutacyons sent theÌ„ by certayne messagers to the duke the duches who receyued the letters ryght ioyously for the duke knew wel he sholde haue gretnede of the kynge of Portyngale for wtout hym or his comforte he saw well he sholde make but smal spede in his busynes in Portyngale or in Castel then the duke gaue to the messagers grete gyftes wrote agayne letters with grete salutacyons amytyes to the kyng of Portyngale certefyeng hym in his letters that he desyred gretely to se speke with hym thus in the meane season the letters messagers wente bytwene the kyng of Portyngale the duke of LaÌ„castre yâ— tyme passed kyng IohnÌ„ of Castel fortefyed hym in al that he myght sent ofâ—e in to frauÌ„ce letters messagers desyryng to haue ayde of meÌ„ of war to defende kepe his royalme of Castel sayng that in the somer folowyng he thought he sholde haue grete war bycause the kynge of Portyngale the englysshmen were ioyned togyder in alyaunce wherby they sholde be stronge ynoughe to ouer ryn the royalme of castel wtout they were withstaÌ„ded the freÌ„sshe kyng his couÌ„sayle wrote agayne to the kynge of Castel byddyng hym to take no thought nor doubte for within yâ— moneth of Ianuary he wolde gyue englaÌ„de so moche a do that they sholde not know what to do sayenge that when they had dystroyed al Englande theÌ„ in the somer they wolde take the see agayne so passe in to Galyce in to portyngale that if the englysshmeÌ„ there the portyngales kept the felde they wolde cause theÌ„ to flee so that within a yere they wolde make an ende of al the warres so the kyng of castel coÌ„teÌ„ted hyÌ„selfe with this aÌ„swere for he saw wel he coulde haue none other as at yâ— tyme so there came none out of FrauÌ„ce to hyÌ„ but suche as were there before for al knyghtes squyers farre nere wente to Parys in to Pycardy so to Lysle to do way to tournay yâ— couÌ„trey .iii. myle of length was ful of meÌ„ of warre yâ— nombre was so grete that suche as had the rule of the nauy sayd that they coulde not passe at the fyrst passage but .xl. M. meÌ„ theÌ„ it was ordeyned aduysed that they sholde suffre no maÌ„ passe without he were a ê“pre maÌ„ of armes that euery knyght sholde haue but one varlet a baron .ii. squyers that no horse sholde passe but all onely for the lordes to execute this there were meÌ„set at Sluse to se that none other sholde passe howbeit there were such a nombre of rascalles in flauÌ„dres theraboute that they ete vp al in the countrey the pore men of the couÌ„trey payde for all theyr charges for they durst not speke agaynst theÌ„ they were worse to the countrey theÌ„ yf englysshmen theyr enemyes had lyen there it was grete doubte that the kynge the lordes ones passed ouer in to EnglaÌ„de suche people to abyde behynde lest they asseÌ„bled togyder dystroy al surely so they had done if the iourney had done amysse Now let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastre ¶ In the meane season whyle the duke of Lancastre the duches his chyldren with his coÌ„pany lay at saynt Iames knyghtes squyers of his coÌ„pany lyued at aduenture where they might catche it on a day syr Thomas Moreaulr marshal of the oost 〈◊〉 hym syr Mauburne of luners syr IohnÌ„ daÌ„brychsourte Tyrry wyllyaÌ„ of Sonnayne a CC. speres .v. C. archers rode forth in to Galyce so came to a walled towne a .vii. myles fro saynt Iames called Ruelles for the vylaynes that dwelte therin wolde not tourne to the duke but were rebell had often tymes ouerthrowen of the dukes foragers as they passed by the barryers of theyr towne for they had broken so the wayes that they coulde not repasse none other way but by theyr barryers when they sawe a vauÌ„tage they wolde yssue out lyke theues dystroy foragers or other that passed by wherof the coÌ„playntes came to the marshal that he sholde prouyde some remedy acordyng to his offyceâ— wherfore he came before this towne of Ruelles the watche of the towne had wel blowen theyr comyng wherby â—hey within closed fast theyr barryers gates so that none abode wtout â—â—so mouÌ„ted vpon the walles the marshal wheÌ„ he saw theyr demeanyng saw well theyâ— wolde abyde the saulte then he sayd to syr IohnÌ„ DaÌ„brychcourte and to Tyrry of Sonnayne syrs take your horses ryde aboute the towne be holde wel where we may best assayle the towne with leest hurtynge of our men so they mounted on theyr horses rode aboute the towne it was of no grete crycute wherfore they retourned agayne the soner had wel aduysed euery
as nowe ynoughe to doo to kepe theÌ„selfe agaynst theyr enemyes as wel frensshmen as Skottes therfore make as good war as ye caÌ„ with suche people as ye haue for trust not of no comforte nor ayde out of Englande outher of men of armes or archers for surely ye are not lyke to haue ony ye were two yeres aboute to gete that ye haue the kynge your nephewe seeth not all thynges he is yonge and byleueth yong counsayle wherby the royalme of Englande lyeth is in peryll grete aduenture wherfore syr approche as soone as ye can to the kynge of Portyngale speke with hym your worde shall do you more profyte then all the letters ye can wryte in .iiii. monethes the duke of Lancastre noted well these wordes knew wel that it was true and that it was truely counsayled then the duke sayd to them that gaue hym that counsayle what wyll you that I sholde do they answered and sayd syr sende to the kynge of Portyngale .v. or .vi. of your knyghtes and at the leest a baron and let them shewe the kynge howe ye haue grete desyre to se hym let them be wyse that ye sende and let theÌ„ fynde the meanes that ye maye speke togyder shortly I am content sayd the duke Then there was sente in to Portyngale fro the duke the lorde poynynges a grete baron of englande and syr IohnÌ„ Abruell syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and syr IohnÌ„ Souster bastarde bretheren to syr IohnÌ„ Holande constable of the oost these departed fro saynt Iames with a C. speres CC. archers ANd on a day when al these letters were made and sealed there came to the duke fro the kynge of Portyngale a knyght and a squyer with .xii. speres called syr Vase Martyne of Cougne and the squyer Ferrant Martyne of Merle they were of the kynges hous nere to his persone they were lodged at theyr ease in the towne of saynt Iames then they were brought to the duke to the duches so presented theyr letters and also they presented to the duke and to the duches and to theyr doughters fayre whyte mules well aumblynge wherof they were glad howbeit for all that the iourney of the englysshmen to the kynge of Portyngale was nor brokeÌ„ but they were stopped for a .iiii. dayes and on the .v. daye departed and this knyght and squyer all togyder in company and the duke sente to the kynge of Portyngale in token of loue .ii. fawcons pelegrynes as good as coulde be deuysed .vi. englysshe greyhoundes good for all maner of beeâ—tes â—o the Portyngales and the Englysshmen rode togyder ouer al the lande of Galyce they were in no fere of the Castellyans for they were ferre ynoughe ofrro them and on the waye as they rode syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourre and Martyn Ferrant of Merle fell in talkynge togyder for before that season the squyer had ben in armes with syr Eustase Dambrychcourte who was vncle to the sayd syr Iohn and was with hym when he dyed at Quarencyne and as they talked togyder they rode behynde theyr company they met an heraulde and a varlet comyng fro Connymbres where the kynge laye was rydynge towarde saynt Iames to the duke of Lancastre this heraulte perceyned to the kynge of Portyngale and was called Connymbres The heraulte had spoken with the lordes and shewed them suche tydynges as he knewe and when Ferrant Martyn of Merle saw hym comynge he sayd to syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte beholde yonder cometh an heraulte of the kynge of Portyngales it is longe syth he was in this countrey I wyl demaunde of hym some tydynges and when they met togyder the squyer sayd a Connymbres where haue you ben so longe it is more then a yere syth I saw you or that ye were in this countrey syr sayd he I haue ben in Englande haue sene the kynge and lordes there and they haue made me ryche with grete gyftes that I haue had of them and fro thens I retourned by the see in to Bretayne was at the maryage of the duke of Bretayne and at the grete feest that he kepte at the cyte of Nauntes aboute a .ii. monethes past he hath wedded the lady Iahan of Nauare and fro thens by the see I went in to Irelande fro thens to the porte in Portyngale and as they talked togyder the squyer behelde a scochyn that the heraulte bare on his brest wherin were graued inamyled the kynge of Portyngales armes and the armes of dyuers other lordes then the squyer set his fynger on one of the armes perteynynge to a knyght of Portyngale and sayd ase here the armes mes of the gentyll knyght syr IohnÌ„ Partelere by my fayth I am glad to se them for they perteyne to a gentyll knyght who on a tyme dyd me grete profyte I ought well to remembre it therwith he toke .iiii. floreyns of golde out of his purse and gaue them to the heraulte who thanked hym and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte behelde well the armes the felde syluer an endenture gooles with .ii. chanders fables and so the heraulte departed then the squyer sayd syr IohnÌ„ saw you neuer this knyght that bare the sayd armes whom I prayse so moche I can not tell sayd syr IohnÌ„ but at the leest I praye you shewe me what was that courtesy that ones he dyd to you I wolde be glad to here it we haue nothynge elles to talke of I am contente sayd the squyer to shewe you for the knyght is well worthy to be spoken of then he began his tale thus SO it fortuned a lytell before the batayle of Iuberoth when the kynge of Portyngale wente fro Connymbres thyderwarde the kynge sente me in to the countrey to warne certayne knyghtes to come to hym to be with hyÌ„ at that iourney so I rode forth but one page with me and as I rode I happened to mete a xxv speres gascoynes and I was not ware tyl I was amonge them then they toke me demaunded whether I wente and I shewed theÌ„ I was rydynge to the castell of Ronte they demaunded what to do and I sayd to go seke syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere to come to the kyng of Portyngale of Iuberoth why sayd they is syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Parteler capytayne of the castel of Ronte is he not all redy with the kyng of Portyngale no surely syrs sayd I but shortely he wyll be there yf he ones knowe the kynges pleasure well sayd they he shall knowe it for we wyll ryde thyder so they toke the waye to the castell of Ronte when they were within the syght of the castell the watche of the castell sayd he saw men of armes approchyng towarde the castell then syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant demaunded fro what parte they were comynge the watche sayd they were comyng towarde the porte A sayd he they be then Castellyans and rydeth at aduenture towarde saynt Irayne I wyl go and loke on them they shall tell me tydynges where the kynge is
the assaulte we wolde yelde vs to you in the name of the duke of Lancastre of my lady CustauÌ„ce 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 â—albot 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 couÌ„trey 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 aâ—aye they came nere to the towne then deuyded them in two bataylles and sent an heâ—aulte 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 â—aunce 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 auÌ„cyent 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 demauÌ„ded 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
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 vengeaūce of your enemyes for syr know surely that if the busynes offraūce 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 coūsayle haue grete affeccyon to cōforte 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 Iohn̄ baptyst they shal al be dryuen away the kyng toke these wor for good toke cōforte in thē 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 Englāde Ca. liii THe apparel of shyppes galeys and vesselles that the frensshe kyng made to passe in to Englāde was so grete and sumptuous that the eldest man thā 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 coūtrey 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 coūtrey 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 thē the duke of Berrey was behynde in his owne coūtrey 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 Iohn̄ of Malestroyte and a .v. C. speres Brerons chosen men of warre for it was the constables entencyon that no mā sholde entre in to englande without he were a mā 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 coūtrey 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 mē 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 Englāde 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 Iohn̄ Beauchamp Syr Iohn̄ 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 y◠same yere the frensshe kyng with his puyssaūce 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 whē 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 dyspleasauÌ„t 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 reâ—eyned 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 frauÌ„ce 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 frauÌ„ce 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 strauÌ„ger 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 coūsayle 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 straūger 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 crystēdome was sore decayed and feblysshed by occasyon of the warres bytwene Englande Fraūce 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 cōtrary 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
iourney lefte but I speke it by waye of counsayle and syth that the moost parte of the royalme enclyneth to this iourney therfore fayre broder of Borgoyne I wolde that you and I sholde go but I wolde not counsayle that the kynge sholde goo for yf ony mysfortune sholde fall it shal be layde to vs well sayd the frensshe kynge who was present at all those wordes yf none wyll go I wyll go Then the lordes began to smyle and sayd the kynge hath a couragyous wyll Howbeit they toke counsayle to deferre that voyage tyll Aprell or May nexte after theyr prouysyons as Bysquet powdred flesshe and wyne sholde be kepte saufely tyll then and there they ordeyned that the lordes and theyr companyes sholde retourne thyder agayne in the moneth of Marche anone this was knowen and so brake the voyage for that season the whicost the royalme of Fraunce a C.M. frankes xxx tyme tolde ¶ Howe kynge Charles of fraunce and the frensshe lordes retourned euyll contente fro Sluse and out of Flaunders where as theyr prouysyons were made to haue gone in to the royalme of Englande and of the feest that was made at London Ca. lx AS ye haue herde before there was made a grete apparell in Fraunce by the kynge there and the lordes with grete cost and charge with shyppes and galayes to passe the see in to englande to make warre there And howe this voyage was broken by wether and bycause that wynter was so nere hande Then it was ordeyned by the counsayle that the kynge and the lordes sholde retourne euery man to his owne home and euery thynge to abyde in the same state vnto the moneth of Marche or Aprell and then euery man to be redy at the kynges commaundement THen there myght well haue ben seene lordes and knyghtes soore dyspleased And specyally suche as were of farre couÌ„treys and had sore trauayled theyr bodyes and spente theyr money in trust to haue had a good season as the erle of Sauoy the erle of Armyâ—ake and the erle Daulphyn of Awuergne and a C. other grete lordes that departed in grete dyspleasure bycause they had not ben in Englande in lykewyse so dyd the frensshe kynge but as thenne he coulde not amende it ¶ So thus departed all maner of people some mery and some gretely dyspleased and angry and the offycers abode styll there behynde for too make shyfte to sell theyr prouysyons for theyr maysters profyte and to take money for them yf they myght but they wyst not to whome nor where for it that coste a hundred frankes was solde for .x. frankes and for lesse money The erle Dalphyn of Awuergne sayd vnto me that by his faythe he hadde there prouysyons the whiche coste hym ten thousande frankes and when he retourned homewarde agayne he lost all togyther and soo sayd many knyghtes and squyers and other people of Fraunce ¶ And when these tydynges were knowen in the royme of Englande some were ryght ioyfull and gladde therof as suche people that doubted the Frensshe mennes commynge And some were angry and dyspleased therwith whiche was suche people as thought to haue some promocyon and profyte by them SO thenne there was made at the cyte of London a grete feest and thyther came all the lordes suche as hadde kepte the portes and passages of the royalme of Englande ¶ And then the kynge helde also a noble feest at westmynstre on Crystmasse day And there were thre dukes made ¶ Fyrste the erle of Cambrydge was made the duke of yorke The erle of Buckyngham his broder was made duke of Glocestre And the thyrde was the erle of Oxenforde and he was made the dâ— of Irelande This feest endured with grete reuelles and tryumphes ¶ So thus the people of the royalme of Englande as they thought themselfe that they hadde escaped a grete peryll and thenne dyuers of them sayd amonge themselfe that they wolde neuer sette more by the Frensshe men and they thought that all the assemble of the Frensshe men that was made at Sluse was but to fere the Englysshe men and to haue caused the duke of Lancastre and his company to retourne agayne out of Spayne ¶ Howe a squyer called Iaques le Grys was accused in the parlyament house at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and what Iugement was gyuen vpon them and howe they Iusted at vtteraunce in Parys in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple And howe Iaques le Grys was confounded Ca. lxi IN this tyme grete brute there was in fraunce and in the lowe marches of a feate of armes that sholde be done at Parys in vtteraunce for soo the matter was Iudged in the parlyament chambre at Parys The whiche plee hadde endured a yere bytwene these two partyes the one was asquyer called Iaques le Grys and the other partye was a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and they were bothe of the lande housholde of the erle Peter of alanson they were welbyloued of theyr lorde and specyally this squyer Iaques le Grys was byloued and trysted with his lorde aboue ony other persone in his courte or housholde and bycause that mortall batayle folowed bytwene them and they beynge bothe of one lordes housholde euery man hadde grete meruayle therof Soo that out of dyuers countreys grete multytude of people came to Parys at the daye of batayle for to se it I shall shewe you the hole matter I as was then enfourmed SOo it was that on a season this knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne toke an entrepryse vpon hym to goo ouer the see for the auauncement of his honoure where vnto he hadde ben longe tyme to accomplysshe ¶ Soo he departed from his lorde the erle of Alanson to doo his voyage And also he toke his leue of his wyfe who as then was reputed a fayre lady and a yonge and he lefte her in a castell of his owne on the marches of Perche otherwyse called Argentuell and so entred in to his voyage and his wyfe laye styll at her castell in a wyse and sage maner ¶ Soo here beganne the matter by the deuylles temptacyon whiche entred in to the body of the squyer Iaques le Grys who was with the erle of Alanson his lorde for he was as one of his counsayle And so he determyned in his mynde to doo an euyll dede whiche he derely bought afterwarde Howbeit the euyll that he dyd coulde neuer be proued in hym nor he wolde neuer confesse it This squyer Iaques le Grys sette his mynde on the wyfe of the foresayd knyght IohnÌ„ of Carongne in the absence of her husbande and he knewe well that she was in the castell of Argentuell but with her owne company and housholde seruauntes ¶ And soo on a mornynge he toke a good hors and departed from Alanson and so rode on the spurres with grete haste tyll he came to the ladyes castell and when he was thyder come the ladyes seruauntes made hym
season that the kynge of Aragon thus dyed there was at Barcelona the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus whome the duke of Lancastre had sente thyder in ambassade I shall shewe yon the cause why ¶ The prynce of wales bycause he was duke and lorde of the countrey of Acquytayne and that all his neyghbours doubted hym as the Frensshe kynge the kynge of Aragon the kynge of Spayne and the kynge of Nauare yea And also kynges that were sarazyns that harde grete spekynge of hym for the good fortune and noble chyualrye that he was of and he hadde a certayne alyaunce and confyderacyon with kynge Peter of Aragon whiche leage was sworne and sealed bytwene them and it was confyrmed by the kynge of Englande fader to the prynce ANd amonge other thynges it was comprysed that the kynge of Englande nor the duke and lorde of Acquytayne sholde make ony warre nor consente to make ony warre agaynst the roayalme of Aragon for the whiche the kynge of Aragon sware and sealed for hym and for his ayres that euery yere he sholde serue the prynce of Acquytayne with the nombre of fyue hundred speres agaynst who so euer he hadde to doo withall or elles to sende vnto hym as moche money as sholde wagâ— fyue hundreth speres ¶ And soo it was that as then there was .x. yeres rynne in aterages that the kynge of Aragon had payde nothyng nor done ony seruyce to the kynge of Englande nor to his deputyes and when the duke of Lancastre wente out of Englande he hadde with hym letters patentes sealed with the grete seale of Englande wherby he was stablysshed to be the kynges Lyeutenaunt in the marches of Burdeaus Bayon and Acquytayne and the kynge gaue hym fall puyssaunce and auctoryroyall to demaunde all ryghtes and due accyons as well of the royalme of Aragon as elles where and wolde that the duke sholde haue yâ— profyte without ony excepcyon and what soo euer he dyd to be ferme and stable so thus wheÌ„ the duke of Lancastre had ben a season in the towne of saynt Iames in Galyce he remembred hymselfe of the busynes of Aragon and perceyued well by reason of his commyssyon howe the kynge of Aragon was sore in his det in a grete some of money longe renne in arerages whiche he thought if he myght gete it sholde gretely ayde hym in his warres of Castell and soo he sente to the archebysshop of Burdeaus and to syr IohnÌ„ Harpedan who was senesshall of all Burdeloys commaundynge theÌ„ bothe or at the leest one of them to go in to Aragon to the kynge there and to shewe hym playnly howe he was in grete arrerages with the kynge of Englande and with the duke of Acquytayne the archebysshoppe and the Senesshall behelde well the duke of Lancastres letters and soo toke counsayle togyder theron and there they determyned that it was best that the Senesshall sholde â—â—ry styll at Burdeaus and the bysshop to take on hym the charge of that voyage and soo he dyd and he came in to Aragon in so euyll a season that the kynge the relaye syke and dyed and after the kynges dethe the archebysshop poursued his cause and folowed the kynges chyldren and the counsayle of the royalme who came to the kynges enterment to the cyte of Barcelona and this bysshop pursued his ambassade so affectuously that he was set in a courtoyse pryson so that he coulde not departe when he wolde when these tydynges came to Burdeaus to the senesshall there he sayd I thought neuer none other wyse for the archebysshop is hasty heedy I thynke nowe it had ben better that I had gone for I wolde haue spoken moore mekely there is a maner thrughout all the worlde howe to demaunde a mannes ryght the senesshall sente these tydynges to the duke of Lancastre in to Galyce who was therwith ryght sore dyspleased and euyll contente with the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle that they had put the archebysshop in to pryson for doynge of his ambassade then the duke of Lancastre wrote to the companyons of the garyson of Lourde that they sholde make warre agaynst them of Barcellona where as the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus was in pryson IOhnÌ„ of Byerne who was capytayne there and senesshall of Bygore Pier Dauchyn Ernalton of Resten Ernalton of saynt Colombe and other of the garyson of Lourde were gretely reioysed when they herde that tydynges and then began to rynne in to the royalme of Aragon to the portes of Barcelona so that no merchaunt durst go abrode ¶ Also in Aragon there was another myschefe for the yonge kynge IohnÌ„ of Aragon wolde haue ben crowned kynge of Aragon but the good townes wolde not consente therto without he sware fyrst solemply that he sholde neuer demaunde tayle taxe nor inposycyon in all the countrey and dyuers other thynges that he sholde swere and put it in wrytynge sealed yf he wolde be crowned kynge whiche thynge semed to hym and to his counsayle to be ryght preiudycyall Wherfore he thretened to make them warre and specyally to them of the cyte of Barcelona for the kynge sayd they were to ryche and to prowde IN the same season there was in Langue docke and on the fronters of Auuergue and of Rouergue to warde Pezanas and the cyte of Duzes a maner of men of armes called the Rowtes they dayly multyplyed to do euyll and .iiii. men of armes were capytaynes who demaunded warre agaynst euery man they cared not agaynst whom theyr names were Peter of Mount fawcon Geffray Chastelyer Hamgue de forge and the goulent They had a foure hundreth men vnder them who ryfled and pylled the countrey where as they were conuersaunt and when they were enfourmed that the archebysshop of Burdeaus was in pryson in Aragon and that the duke of Lancastre was not contente with the Aragonoys and also that the kynge of Aragon was euyll pleased with the good townes of his royalme and countrey And they were of these tydynges gretely reioysed for suche people as they were are rather pleased with euyll dedes then with good They toke counsayle bytwene them determyned to approche to Aragon and to gete some forterers on those fronters thynkynge then that the duke of Aragon or elles some of the good townes wolde entreate with the to theyr profyte So they rode costynge the countrey set theyr myndes to gete yf they myght the castell of Dulcen beynge in the archbysshopryche of Narbone bytwene the royalme of Aragon and Fraunce on the departynge of bothe royalmes they came thyder at suche a poynte and by nyght that they founde it but symply watched nor kepte they dyd soo moche that they wan it were lordes thereof wherby al the countrey was afrayde specyally they of Parpygnen for it was but .iiii. legges thens also they of Lourde gate the same weke a castell in Aragon a .iiii. legges fro Barcelona called the olde castell of Rolbays perteynynge to the countesse of Castell Boze cosyn germayne
to the erle of Foys The lady was gretely abasshed when her castell was so taken she sente to her cosyn the erle of Foys desynge hym for goddes sake to rendre agayne to her the sayd castell whiche they of his coūtrey of Berne had taken fro her the erle sent to her that she sholde not be afrayde for ony thynge certefyenge her that it was taken but alonely to make war agaynst thē of Bercelona who helde in pryson for a smal cause the bysshop of Burdeaus sayenge howe she sholde haue it ryght well agayne without ony domage the lady was well peased with his answere dyssymuled the matter and went and lay at another castell nere to Roqueberton and they of the castell of Rolbays and of Dulcen and of Lourde made sore warre on the fronters of Aragon to say the trouth the kynge there dyssymuled the matter to chastyse therby the good townes that were agaynst hȳ so that the good townes were sore dyspleased with the kynge for they of Barcelona of Perpygnen of other townes coulde not exercyse theyr merchaūdyse but they were taken and raunsomed then they of Barcelona aduysed to delyuer the archebysshop of Burdeaus out of pryson and for his delyeraunce to speke with the kynge as it was reason and soo pryuely by a meane they treated with the kynges broder syr Martyne duke of Blasemont who was gretly in the grace of all the people desyrynge hym to be meane to the kynge his broder that they myght be in peas with them of Lourde of Rolbays he promysed them to do his best to kepe them in his fauoure and he dyd so moche with the kynge his broder that the archebysshop of burdeaus was delyuered out of pryson and sente in to Burdeloys and alone after the erle of Foys dyd so moche that the vycountesse recouered agayne her castel and suche as helde it departed this seruyce dyd the erle of Foys that yere to the duke of Lancastre WHen the kynge of Aragon sawe that the countesse of castell Boze had soo soone agayne recouered her castell he sent for her and she came to hym then the kynge layde to her charge howe she had suffered the englyssh men to entre in to her castell to make warre to his royalme saynge how she had done to hym a grete trespace the lady truely excused her sayd syr as god knoweth by the fayth I owe to you the day and houre that tydynges came to me of the takynge of my castell by the of Lourde I neuer had before no treaty with the englyssh mē but syr incōtynent I sent to my cosyn the erle of Foys prayng hȳ for goddes sake to gete me agayne my castell seynge that they that had gotten it were of his countrey of Byerne and were yssued out of Lourde and the erle sente to me bad me not doubte sayenge how the takyng of it was but to make warre agaynst them of Barcelona wel sayd the kynge proue your wordes by your cosyn the erle of Foys and ye shall enioy peasybly styll your castell with a good wyl syr sayd the lady she sent to her cosyn the erle of Foys who was at Ortays in Byerne prayng hym to apease the matter with the kynge of Aragon The erle then sent letters to the kynge by a knyght of his called syr Cycarte of Saurelyn desyrynge the kynge to suffre his cosyn the vycountes to be in peas and to lyue in rest vnder hym or elles surely he wolde dysplease hym the kynge of Aragon toke the excusacyons in gre and made grete chere to the erles knyght and sayd howe the countesse had but wel donesyth her cosyn the erle of Foys dyd so largely excuse her thus the lady lyued in peas but the merchauntes of Barcelona and of the fronters there aboute were not in no rest for them of Lourde but often tymes were taken and pylled without they were agreed and patesed with them so they had dyuers in Castellon in Aragon In lyke wyse so dyd they of the garyson of Dulcen dyd worse then they dyd before for they were more egre ouer ran the countrey of Aragon then they of Lourde dyd bycause they were poore they cared not whom they toke as well offycers of the kynges squyers as merchauntes soo that the kynges counsayle toke aduyse bycause the good townes murmured sayd howe the kynge dystroyed them and he ought to susteyne them WHen the yonge kynge of Aragon vnderstode that his men murmured spake of hym otherwyse then they sholde do bycause of them of the garyson of Dulcen he was therwith sore dyspleased bycause he was newly fallen to his faders herytage who was so well byloued in his royalme of all his people then he spake to a cosyn of his a grete baron in Aragon syr Raymon of Baghes and sayd syr Raymon I desyre you to ryde to Dulcen and demaunde of them that be there what thyng they desyre of me or of my royalme and trete so with them that they may departe thēs outher by fayrnes or otherwyse The knyght departed and sente to Dulcen an heraulde before hym shewynge them howe he wolde trete with them when Mountfawcon le Goulus and the other capytaynes vnderstode that syr Raymon of Baghes wolde trete with them then they thought at the leest to gete some money and sayd to the heraulde syr saye to your mayster fro vs that he maye come to vs surely for we wyll no hurte to hym The heraulde retourned to syr Raymon who vpon his wordes departed fro Paregant and came to Dulcen and demaūded of them why they taryed there on the fronters of Aragon they answered sayd we abyde here the army of fraunce that sholde go in to Castel to go in cōpany with them A syrs sayd syr Raymon yf ye tary therfore ye shall abyde a grete season The kynge of Aragon wyll not retayne you so longe nor yet the countrey suffre you so longe well syr sayd they if he wyll not enterteyne vs so longe we can not do withall yet we must lyue yf he or the countrey wyll by this our garyson we wyll departe or elles not well sayd syr Raymon what wyll ye desyre to departe they answered .lx. M. frankes we be .iiii. capytanes that is to eche of vs xv M. frankes in the name of god sayd syr Raymon that is money ynoughe I wyll speke with the kynge and so departed and sayd it were better for the comon profyte of the countrey that the kynge payde that money then to take a greter domage and that he sayd to appease them Howbeit he thought the contrary THus he departed fro them gaue them vnderstandynge that they sholde haue as moche as they desyred and more and rode to the kynge to Perpyghnen and shewed hym what these pyllers desyred Well sayd the kynge it is behoueable that the countrey be delyuered of them and that they be payde as theues and brybours sholde be payde
Englande the good quene Phylyp whos seruaunt I was in myne yongth she was of ryghtfull gouernacyon cosyn germayne to the lorde Charles of Bloys she dyd put to her payne for his delyuerauce howbeit the counsayle of Englande wolde not that he sholde be delyuered the duke Henry of Lancastre sayd and other lordes of englande that yf he were out of pryson by hym myght be made many grete recoueraunces for the royalme of Fraunce for kynge Phylyp as then frensshe kyng was his vncles and they affyrmed that as longe as he were kepte in pryson theyr warre in to Fraunce sholde be the easyer howbeit for all those wordes that was shewed to the kynge by the good meanes of the noble and good quene he was set to his fynaunce to paye CC.M. nobles whiche was as then a grete some to be payde for lordes as then lyued in another maner theÌ„ they do nowe for as nowe men may pay more then theyr predecessours myght haue done for nowe they tayle theyr people at theyr pleasure and before they lyued but on theyr rentes and reuenues for as nowe the duchy of Bretayne wtin a yere or two is able to pay to helpe theyr lorde .ii. M. nobles or more The lorde Charles of Bloys layde to the kynge of Englande his .ii. sones in pledge for the sayd some afterwarde the lorde Charles of Bloys had so moche to do in pursuyng his warre for the duchy of Bretayne and to pay his souldyours and to kepe his estate alwayes hopynge to come to a good ende of his warre so that he was not able to quyte out his sones out of Englande for the holy man in pursuynge of his herytage dyed as a saynt in a batayle in Bretayne before aulroy by the ayde of the Englysshe men who were agaynst hym when he was deed yet the warre ended not but then kynge Charles of fraunce who in his lyfe doubted gretly the fortunes of the warres when he sawe that the erle Mountforde the Englysshe men seased not but styll wente forwarde wanne townes fortresses in Bretayne he fered that yf the erle Mountforde myght come to his entente of the duchy of Bretayne that he wolde not holde nor do homage to hym for he had promysed his alleageaunce to the kynge of englande who ayded alwaye hadde done to maynteyne his warre then he treted with the erle Mountforde his counsayle as it hath ben shewed here before wherfore I wyll speke no more therof but the erle of MouÌ„tforde abode as duke of Bretayne with that he sholde do homage and holde soueraynte or the crowne of fraunce and by the same trety the duke sholde ayde helpe to gete delyuered out of pryson in englande his .ii. cosyns sones to the lorde Charles of Bloys whiche artycle he neuer dyd accomplysshe for alwayes he doubted that yf they retourned they wolde put hym to some busynes for the duchy of Bretayne fered lest they of Bretayne wolde receyue them as theyr lordes for they more enclyned to theÌ„ then to hym wherfore he wolde not speke for theyr delyueraunce Thus these .ii. chyldren abode so longe in Englande in pryson somtyme in the kepynge of the lorde Roger Beawchamp and the lady Sybyll his wyfe and somtyme with syr Thomas Dambrychcourte on a tyme the yonger Guy of Bretayne dyed then IohnÌ„ of Bretayne abode styll in pryson alone he was often tymes sad of his beynge in pryson but he coulde not ameÌ„de it And often tymes when he remembred the losse of his yonge dayes as he that was of the moost noble generacyon of the worlde was lykely to lese he wolde often tymes wepe and wysshed hymselfe rather deed then a lyue for a .xxxv. yeres or theraboute he had ben in the daunger of his enemyes in Englande and coulde se noo maner of meanes of his delyueraunce for his frendes and kynne drewe of fro hym and the some that he laye for was so grete that he wyst not how it sholde be payde without god helped hym and the duke of Anioy for all his puyssaunce and prosperyte and that he had wedded his syster germayne by whom he had .ii. fayre sones Loys Charles for all this he dyd nothynge for hym Now shall I shew you howe this IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was delyuered ¶ Howe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sone to syr Charles of Bloys was delyuered out of pryson by the meanes of Olyuer of Clysson the constable of Fraunce Ca. lxxii IT hathe ben shewed here before in this hystory how the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ made a voyage thrughe the royalme of Fraunce came in to Bretayne the duke of Bretayne had desyred hym so to doo bycause parte of his countrey wolde not be vnder his obeysaunce there the erle of Buckyngham his company lay al yâ— wynter the begynnyng of somer 〈◊〉 in grete pouerte before Nantes Wennes tyll it was Maye then he retourned in to englande when the erle Thomas of Buckyngham his company laye before Wennes in lodgynges without There were dyuers skyrmysshes bytwene the englysshment frensshmen thyder came Olyuer ClyuÌ„on constabable of Fraunce to se the warre that was there made to speke with the englysshe knyghtes for he knewe them well for in his yongth he was brought vp amonge theÌ„ in Englande soo he made good company with them in diuers maners as noble men of armes wyll do eche to other as frensshmen and englysshmeÌ„ haue alwayes done as then he had good cause so to do for he entended a purpose whiche touched hym ryght nere but he wolde dyscouer his entente to noo man lyuynge but alonely to a squyer that was there who had alwayes before serued the lorde Charles of bloys for yf the constable had dyscouered his entente to ouy man he had ben out of all hope to haue sped brought aboute his purpose whiche by the grace of god he atteyned vnto The constable coulde in no wyse loue the duke of Bretayne nor he hym longe tyme or they shewed it And where as he sawe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne in pryson in englande he had therof grete pyte wheÌ„ he sawe the duke of Bretayne in possessyon of the herytage of Bretayne when he thought that he was in moost loue with the duke then he sayd syr why do ye not put to your payne that your cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bretayne were out of the kyng of Englandes pryson syr ye are bounde therto by othe promyse for syr when all the countrey of Bretayne was in treaty with you the prelates noble men good townes the cyte of Nantes Archebysshop of Reynes syr IohnÌ„ Craon syr Boncequalte as then marshall of fraunce â—reted with you for the peas before Compercorentync than there ye sware that ye sholde do your full puyssaunce to delyuer your cosynes out of pryson syr ye haue done nothynge in that matter Wherfore be you sure the countrey of Bretayne loueth you the lesse oweth you the
smaller fauoure the duke to his demauÌ„de 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 â—a 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 buâ—kyngham 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 coÌ„stable 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 woâ—de 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 LaÌ„castres 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
harde of those tydynges so that they wyst not what to do other to gyue vp theyr towne and forsake all or elles to entre in to the shyppes that laye there and so defende the hauen surely yf the Englysshmen had knowen the case they were in they had ben lordes of the towne and of the castel or yf they had byleued Peter du Boys for he sore counsayled them that they sholde incontynent haue set on the towne of Sluse they had wonne it yf they had soo done but the englysshmen had no courage therto but sayd it were a grete foly for vs to entre in to the towne of Sluse for then they of Bruges of Dan and of Ardenbourge shall come and besyege vs so peraduenture shall lese al that we haue wonne it is better for vs to kepe it and to make wyse warre then folysshly to lese all thus the englysshmen kepte styll the see but they determyned to brenne the nauye of shyppes that lay at ancre in the hauen of Sluse of suche shyppes as they hadde wonne they toke parte of theÌ„ suche as were most olde and drye and lyghtest and gresed them wel bothe within and without and set fyer on them so lete them go with the wynde and with the tyde in to the hauen to the entente that they sholde haue fastened and set fyer on other shyppes that lay there of Spayne and of other places howbeit as god wolde that fyer dyd noo hurte nor domage to none other shyp ¶ Howe the englysshmen aryued brente dyuers vyllages Ca. lxxiii AFter that the englysshmen dyscomfyted syr IohnÌ„ Bucke as he came fro Rochell wherby they had grete profyte specyally of wyne for they had a .ix. M. tonne of wyne wherby wyne was the derer all the yere after in Flaunders Holande and in Brabande and the better chepe in Englande as it was reason suche are the aduentures of this worlde if one haue domage another hathe profyte Thus styll the englysshe men lay before Sluse at an anâ—râ— somtyme with theyr barkes barges they set a lande on the other syde agaynst Sluse where as there was but a ryuer to passe there they brente a mynstre other townes alonge on the see syde on the dygnes called Torne Hoque Murdequer toke men prysoners in the countrey were there lyenge a .x. dayes layde bysshmentes bytwene Dan Sluse on the way of Coceler there was taken IohnÌ„ of Lannay a man of armes of Tourney who was come thyder with the lorde of Estrynay syr Blanquart of Calomne came theues on the spurres fro Tourney with .xl. speres and also syr Robert Merchaunt a knyght of flaunders who had to his wyfe a bastarde doughter of the erle of flaunders was as then at Bruges when the tydynges spred abrode of the Englysshmen so he departed came to Sluse entred in to the castell whiche he founde in small defence for yf the englysshmen had taken lande at Sluse as they dyd on the other syde of the water they had taken at theyr ease the castell all the towne for suche as sholde haue defended the towne were so abasshed that there was no man toke ony hede of defence then this knyght gaue them harte sayd Ayesyrs and good men of Sluse howe maynteyne you yourselfe by that ye shewe yourselfe dyscomfyted without ony stroke strykynge men of valure of good defence ought not so to do they sholde shewe forth a good vysage as longe as they coulde endure at the leest tyll they were slayne or taken therby they sholde attayne to the grace of god and prayse of the worlde thus sayd this syr Robert when he came to Sluse IN the meane season whyle the englysshmen were before Sluse theraboute al the couÌ„trey to Bruges were afrayde for they were euery day abrode a foragynge a foote for they had no horses somtyme they wolde entre far in to the countrey On a day they brente the towne of Cocesy on the downes a grete vyllage in the way towarde Ardenbourge so to the see syde called Hosebourcke they dyd there what they lyst myght haue done more yf they had knowen what case the countrey was in wheÌ„ they had taryed there at theyr pleasure sawe that no man came agaynst them then they toke theyr shyppes drewe vp sayles so retourned in to Englande with CC.M. frankes of profyte and so came in to Tames streyght to London where as they were receyued with grete ioy for the good wynes of Poycton Xamton that was determyned to haue ben dronken in flaunders in Haynalte Brabant in dyuers other places in pycardy the englysshmen brought all with them in to englande was lorde departed at London in other places of Englande wyne was solde then for .iiii. pens the galon and certayne merchauntes of zerecyell in zelande lost parte of the same wyne but they had restytucyon agayne of all theyr losses for they of zercyell wolde neuer agree to go to make warre in to englande nor wolde suffre none of theyr shyppes to goo in the iourney wherby they atteyned grete loue of the Englysshmen syr IohnÌ„ Bucke was put in pryson curioysly at London he myght go where he lyst but euery nyght to lodge in the cyte he coulde neuer come to his raunsome yet the duke of Borgoyne wolde gladly haue had hym by exchaunge for a bastarde broder of the kynge of Portyngalles whom they of Breuelet had taken on the see comynge to Meldeboure thus syr IohnÌ„ Bucke was prysoner thre yeres in Englande and there dyed ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastres marshal toke the towne of Ribadane whiche was strongly kepte Ca. lxxiiii HOwe yt ys tyme that we retourne to the busynes of Castell Portyngale to speke of the duke of Lancastre beynge in Galyce of suche busynes as fall in that seasoÌ„ whiche were not smal also to shewe what ayde comforte the frensshe kynge sent that tyme in to Castell or elles kynge IohnÌ„ of Spaynes busynes had but easely gone forwarde I say surely yâ— same yere that the duke aryued in his countrey he had lost all his laÌ„de if the ayde of the frensshe kyng had not ben ye know wel that tydynges spredeth euer farre the kynge of Portyngale knewe as soone as the duke of Lancastre or ony other maÌ„ how the frenssh kynges army that lay on the see to haue gone in to Euglande brake theyr iourney for the kyng of Portyngale lay as theÌ„ at the cyte of Porte a stroÌ„ge towne a haue wel vsed by reason of merchauÌ„tes that resorted thyder when he knew of the brekynge of the frensshe kynges army he was glad therof for it had benshewed hym before that all englande was lykely to haue ben lost Wherfore he som what dyssymuled with the duke of Lancastre dryuynge of the takyng of his doughter in maryage but styll he draue hym of with fayre wordes
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâ—wyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of â—ur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌ„dynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌ„ges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ— to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ„ without to syr IohnÌ„ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ„ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
to theyr lodgynge yf it please you to brynge vs thyder with ryght a good wyl sayd the marshal then there yssued out of Besances a .lx. meÌ„ berynge the keyes of theyr towne with them the marshall brought them streyght to the duke shewed hym all theyr ententes the duke receyued theÌ„ delyuered theÌ„ theyr hostages the same day entred in to the cyte of Besances there lodged all his company as many as myght ¶ Howe they of Besances that had ben sente to the kynge of Castell came home to theyr towne after it was rendred vp to the duke of Lancastre Ca. lxxvii AFoure dayes after that Besances was gyuen vp the vi men that were sent to Valeolyue to the kynge of Castell retourned home to theyr towne then it was demauÌ„ded of them why they had taryed so longe they answered howe they myght not do therwith nor amende it saynge howe they had spoken with the kynge who had promysed theÌ„ to take counsayle then to gyue answere whiche answere we taryed on .viii. dayes and as yet they sayd they were retourned without answere then they were asked no moo questyons but they sayd howe the kynge of Castell loked for moche people to come out of fraunce and dyuers were come and lodged abrode in the countrey but the capytaynes as syr WyllyaÌ„ of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac were not as then come but all suche knyghtes and squyers in Spayne that sholde be vnder the guydynge of those .ii. capytaynes were redy apparelled but all suche as were reteyned and apoynted to be vnder the duke of Borbon were styll in theyr owne houses vpon a redynes Thus as ye haue herde here before syr Wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac passed thrughe the royalme of Fraunce and came in to 〈◊〉 they were mo then a. M. speres knyghtes and squyers of al countreys they assembled in Carcassone in Narbonoys and in Thoulousayne and as they came soo they lodged in this good countrey many there were that payde lytell or nothynge for that they toke Tyoynges came to the erle of Foyze beynge at Ortays that men of warre of Fraunce approched nere to his couÌ„trey wolde passe thrughe to go in to Spayne it was sayd to hym syr they pay for nothynge that they take Wherfore all the comon people flyeth before theÌ„ as though they were englysshmen and the capytaynes be at Carcassone and theyr men theraboute and so passeth the ryuer of Garon to Thoulouse and then they wyl entre in to Bygore and so incontynent in to your countrey and if they do then as they haue done all the way they shall do grete euyl in your couÌ„trey of Byerne Therfore syr take good hede what ye wyll do in this hehalfe the erle of Foyze who was soone counsayled in hymselfe sayd I wyll that all my townes and castelles as well in Foyze as in Byerne be prouyded for with men of warre and all the countrey to be in a redynes to entre in to batayle yf nede be I wyll not bye derely the warre of Castell my lanoes be free yf frensshe men wyll passe thrughe they shall pay truely for euery thynge that they take or elles all the passages in my countrey shal be kepte close agaynst them syrs ye syr Arnalte Wyllyam and syr Peter of Byerne I charge you to defende and kepe the countrey these .ii. knyghtes were bastarde bretherne and ryght valyaunt men in armes they toke on them this charge Then in all the erle of Foyze countrey it was ordeyned that euery man sholde haue armure redy as they were wonte to haue or better and to be redy dayly whensoeuer they were commaunded then in Byerne and in Foyze in Thoulouse euery man was redy to entre in to batayle and there was sente to the cyte of Palmes a. C. speres of good men of armes Syr Espayne du Lyon was sent to Sanredun syr Cycart of saynt Lygyer to Maryzes and syr Peter of Byerne was with a. C. speres at Bellpount and at the entre of the erldome of Foyze at saynt Thybaulte on the ryuer of Garon was syr Peter of Calestan and syr Peter Meaus of Noyalles with .l. speres at Polamnuche syr Peter of Toce at the castell of Mesun the bastarde of Esperung at e Morleus syr Arnolde Wyllyam with a. C. speres at Pan syr Guyde de la mote at mounte Marsen syr Raymon of newe castel at Sauuetere syryuayne of Foyze The erles bastardes sone at Mountesquyn syr Veâ—doll of Neuosan syr IohnÌ„ of saynt Marcell at Oron syr Hector de la garde at mounte Garbell IohnÌ„ of Nowe castell at Ertyell and the erle sente to syr IohnÌ„ lane beynge at the castell of Beawuoyson to take good hede to all his fronters and he sent to saynt Gaudes a cosyn of his syr Ernalton of Spayne Breuely there was nother towne nor castel in Foyze nor in Byerne but were refresshed with newe men of war they sayd they were men ynowe to resyst double the nombre of other meÌ„ of armes for they were in all to the nombre of a .xx. M. men of war of chosen men TIdynges came to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac beynge at Thoulouse to syr Gaultyer of Passaâ— beynge at Carcassone howe the erle of Foyze prouyded men of armes and furnysshed euery garyson and the renome ranne that he wolde suffre none to passe thrughe his countrey wherof these .ii. capytaynes were sore abasshed then they apoynted to mete in the myd way to speke togyder at the castell of Daurey howe they sholde do with the erle of Foyze then syr Wyllyam sayd syr Gaultyer to say truly it is grete meruayle that the frensshe kynge his couÌ„sayle haue not wryten to hym to open peasybly his countrey Well syr sayd syr Gaultyer it is necessary that ye go and speke with the erle and shewe hym in curtoys maner that we be sente by the frensshe kynge this way to passe peasybly and to pay for all that we take surely the erle of Foyze is so grete and myghty that yf he lyst we gete noo passage thrughe his countrey then we must passe thrughe Aragon whiche is farre of I can not tell why the erle maketh suche doubtes nor why he soo fortefyeth his garysons nor whether he haue made ony alyaunce with the duke of Lancastre or no. I desyre you go to hym knowe the trouthe ye se howe our men dayly passe in to Bygore I am contente sayd syr Gaultyer and so toke these .ii. capytaynes leue eche of other syr WyllyaÌ„ of Lygnac retourned to Thoulouse and syr Gaultyer with .xl. horse wente and passed the ryuer of Garon at saynt Thybaulte and there he founde syr Menalte of Nouayles who made hym grete chere syr Gaultyer demauÌ„ded of hym where he sholde fynde the erle of Foyze he answered hym at Ortays These .ii. knyghtes were a season togyder and comoned of dyuers matters then syr Gaultyer departed and came to saynt Gaudes and
So the duches departed to the duke and the frensshe knyghtes dranke and then toke theyr leues and wente to theyr lodgynge and there euery thynge was redy to departe and then they mounted and departed fro Besances and rode the same daye to Noy and there they rested and then rode forth tyll they came to Valeolyue ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the royalme of Castell Ca. lxxix AFter these dedes of armes done as I haue recorded The kynge of Portyngale the duke of Laucastre toke counsayle togyder and determyned to ryde and to entre in to Castell within a shorte space and that the kynge of Portyngale with all his power sholde ryde on the fronters and so to entre in to Castell and the duke and his rowte to entre on the boundes of Galyce and to conquere suche townes and fortresses as were agaynst hym and yf IohnÌ„ of Castell dyd assemble his oost agaynst them to make batayle theÌ„ bothe theyr oostes to drawe togyder It was thought moost necessary to haue theyr oostes a sondre tyll nede were rather then togyder to exchewe sykenes that myght fall to haue the more easyer lodgynge and foragynge in exchewyng of debates dyscordes for englysshmen be hasty prowde in the felde the Portyngales hote dysdaynful can not sustre but it was thought that in a grete iourney of batayle they sholde ryght wel agree togyder this couÌ„sayle was determyned the kynge sayd to the duke syr as soone as I haue knowledge that ye set forwarde I shall doo in lyke case for I and my men be redy they desyre nothynge elles but batayle syr sayd the duke and I shall not longe syr styll it is shewed me howe as yet there be certayne townes in Galyce that rebell agaynst vs I wyll goo and vysyte them and after that I wyll seke out for our enemyes whersoeuer I can fynde them Thus the kynge of Portyngale toke leue of the duke and duches and in lyke wyse so dyd the quene Phelyp and her yonge syster katheryne for it was ordeyned that the yonge lady sholde abyde al the warre season with her syster the quene at the cyte of Porte in Portyngale it was thought she coulde be in ony better kepynge and the duches retourned to saynt Iaques in Galyce so thus euery body departed thyder as they sholde doo the kynge to the cyte of Porte and the duches to the towne of saynt Iaques well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers and the duke taryed at Besances and there aboute and prepayred shortly to set forwarde he was desyrous to departe bycause it was in the ioly lusty moneth of Aprell at whiche season in Galyce the grasse is full growen and all theyr corne and herbes floures and fruytes redy rype the countrey is so hote that in the begynnynge of Iune haruest is past the duke thought the season goodly to set forwarde his army ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speke of the orderynge of the frensshmen and of kynge IohnÌ„ of Castell as well as we haue done of the englysshe men ¶ Howe syr Wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge IohnÌ„ of Castell Ca. lxxx HEre before ye haue herde howe syr Wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac dyd so moche by theyr wyse entreatynge of the erle of Foyze that he suffred them peasybly to passe thrughe his countrey of Byerne to go in to Castel and besyde that the erle gaue them grete rewardes for there were noo knyghtes nor squyers straungers that came to se hym but that he wolde largely rewarde them accordynge to theyr degrees to some a C. floreynes to some CC. floreynes and .xxx. or .xl. so that this sayd fyrst passage of the Frensshe men cost the erle of Foyze as his owne treasourer shewed me the some of a M. frankes besyde horses and other thynges that he gaue to say trouth surely it is grete domage that suche a persone sholde be olde or dye he had no mermosettes aboute hym to say syr take here and gyue this and pynche pyl the people surely he had none suche aboute hym â— he dyd euery thynge on his owne mynde for naturally he had grete wysdome and coulde gyue where nede was and take as it became hym best and by reasan of his larges and grete expences somtyme he trauayled his subiectes for his reuenewes were not suffycyent to bere out his gyftes whiche were yerely .lx. M. frankes the whiche lyke haue not ben sene nor herde of ony other yet he assembled his treasoure for doubte of all aduentures in .xxx. yere .xxx. tymes a C.M. frankes and yet for all that his people alwayes prayde to god for his longe lyfe and I herde it reported howe when he dyed there were in Foyze and in Byerne .x. M. persones that sayd that they wolde gladly haue dyed with hym wherby it is to be thought that they sayd not so without it had ben for grete loue that they had to theyr lorde and surely if they loued hym they dyd but ryght and accordynge to reason for he alwayes maynteyned them in theyr ryght and kepte euer true iustyce for all his laâ—des and the people therin had as grete lyberte and fraunchesse and lyued in as good peas as thoughe they had ben in paradyse terrestre I say not this for flattery nor for fauour nor loue that I bere hym nor for the gyftes that he hath gyuen me but I can well proue all that I haue sayd for I am sure there be a M. knyghtes squyers wyll saye the same NOwe let vs retourne to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and to syr Gaultyer of Passac who were capytaynes and souerayne leders of all the frensshe armye when they were passed the countrey of Bysquey and the pase of Rounceuall whiche cost them .iii. dayes a passynge The mountaynes were so full of snowe for all that it was in the moneth of Aprell yet they and theyr horses hadde moche payne to passe thrughe Then they came towardes Panpylona and there they founde the royalme of Nauare redy open for to suffre them to passe thrughe For the kynge of Nauare wolde not doo no dyspleasure to the kynge of Castell bycause his sone syr Charles of Nauare had to his wyfe as then the kynge of Castelles syster when the peas was made bytwene kynge Henry and the fader of kynge IohnÌ„ of Nauare they made and promysed grete alyaunce togyder whiche they longe kepte for the kynge of Nauare was not able to resyst the kynge of Castell without he had grete alyaunce and comforte of the kynge so Aragon or elles of the kynge of englande THese capytaynes of Fraunce came to Pampylona where the kynge of Nauare was who receyued them ioyfully made them to dyne with hym in his palays after dyner he led them in to his chambre and there comoned with them of dyuers thynges for the kynge there was
a wyse man and a subtell well langaged and amonge other thynges he shewed them howe the frensshe kynge and his counsayle had ben dyspleased with hym without a cause and wrongfully had taken fro hym his herytage and landes in Normandy whiche he ought to haue by successyon of his predecessours kynges of fraunce and of Nauare whiche he sayd he coulde not forgete seynge he had taken fro hym in Normandy Languedoc and in the barony of Mountpellyer the some of .lx. M. frankes of yerely reuenues and he sayd he wyst not to whome to complayne to haue ryght but all onely to god syrs sayd the kyng I say not this to you bycause ye sholde addresse my wronges for I knowe well it lyeth not in your power for I thynke the frensshe kynge wyll do but lytell for you in that behalfe for ye be none of his counsayle ye be but knyghtes aduentures and sowdyours to go where soeuer he sende you But I speke this in maner of complaynte to al knyghtes in Fraunce that passe by me then syr Gaultyer of Passac sayd syr your wordes be true yf that you saye that our kynge for all vs wyll nother gyue nor take for surely syr we be not of his counsayle but redy to go where as he wyll sende vs but syr the duke of Borbon who is our souerayne capytayne and vncle to our kynge cometh after vs this same waye outher goynge or retournynge ye maye shewe hym your busynes by hym ye maye be addressed of all your complayntes and syr we praye to god that he may rewarde you of the honour that ye haue done to vs syr we shall shewe your curtoysye to our kyng to his counsayle when we retourne in to fraunce and also to the duke of Borbone who is our chefe capytayne whome we trust to se or we se the kyng and then wyne was brought and they dranke toke theyr leue of the kynge and the kynge rewarded them largely and sente to eche of them to theyr lodgyng goodly horses wherof they had grete ioye THus these men of warre passed thrugh the royalme of Nauare came to Groyne there demaunded where they sholde fynde the kynge of Castell and it was shewed them howe he had lyen at Valeolyue a grete season but as then they sayd they thought he was at Burgus in Spayne there makynge his prouysyon then they toke the way to Burgus and lefte the way to Galyce for that waye was not sure for them for the Englysshe men were sore abrode in the countrey Tydynges came to the kynge of Castell howe socoures came to hym out of fraunce to the nombre of .ii. M. speres wherof he was ryght glad and so departed fro Valeolyue and rode to Burgus with a .vi. M hors Thus these frensshmen of armes came to Burgus and lodged theraboute abrode in the countrey and dayly thyder came men of warre And syr wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac came to the kynge in to his palays who receyued them swetely and thanked them of the payne and grete trauayle that they had taken for his sake as to come thyder to serue hym The knyghtes made theyr reuerence and sayd syr yf we maye do you ony seruyce to please you our paynes shall soone be forgoten but syr it please you to take aduyse howe we shal do outher to ryde agaynst our enemyes or elles to make them warre by garysons tyll suche season as the duke of Borbon be come and syr yf it please you ye maye sende for syr Olyuer of Clysquy we knowe well he is in his countrey and for syr Peter of Vyllaynes the Barroys of Barres Chatell Morant and the other companyons who haue haunted this countrey more then we haue done for they were here longe before vs and then let vs al counsayle togyder and with goddes grace you and your royalme shal haue honoure and profyte Syrs sayd the kynge ye speke wysely and thus shal it be done Then clerkes were set a worke and letters made and messagers sent forthe in to dyuers places to the knyghtes and men of warre there as they were spred abrode in the countrey when they knewe that syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were at Burgus with the kynge they were gretely reioyced therof then these knyghtes and other companyons departed fro theyr garysons and lefte them in sure kepynge and so rode to Burgus in spayne soo that there was a grete nombre of Frensshe men of warre THen the kynge of Castel and his lordes knyghtes of fraunce went to couÌ„sayle togyder to se how they sholde maynteyne theyr warre for they knewe well theyr enemyes rode abrode and kepte the feldes wherfore they thought to prouyde some remedy to the honoure of the kynge and profyte of the royalme of Castell So there were many matters debated in this counsayle and then all theyr people were nombred and it was sayd that of the royalme selfe they myght well brynge togyder a .xxx. M. horses and the men well armed after the vsage of Castell with dartes and Iauelyns and foote men castynge stones out of slynges other .xxx. M. The frensshe knyghtes amonge themselfe consydered al this and sayd one to another this is a grete nombre of people and they were good men of warre but they be lytel worth for we haue sene suche slowfulnes in them that we haue no grete trust to them as it appered as well in the batayle of Marres where the prynce of Wales had the vyctory as 〈◊〉 the batayle of Iuberoth where as the Portyngales and Gascoynes were and alwaye the Spanyardes were dyscomfyted Then the erle of Lune in susteynynge the Castellyans in exscusynge of them sayd syrs as to the batayle of Marres I shall answere you it is of trouthe that syr Bertram of Clysquy a grete nombre of knyghtes of Fraunce were there and fought valyauntly for they were all taken or slayne but ye haue herde and ye know well that agaynst them was the floure of all the chyualry of the worlde bothe in wysdome valyauntnes and prowes the whiche is not nowe with the duke of Laâ—castre the prynce at teh batayle of Marres had .x. M. speres and .vi. M. archers they were suche men that there were a iii. M. of them euery man worth a Rowlande or an Olyuere but the duke of Lancastre hathe none suche he passeth not a .xii. or a .xv. C. speres and a .iiii. M. archers and we be a. vi M. speres nor we shall not fyght agaynst Rowlande nor Olyuer Syr IohnÌ„ Chandos syr Thomas Felton syr Olyuer Clysson syr Hughe Caurel syr Rycharde Pountchardon syr Garsis the lorde of Ryeux and syr Rycharde Dangle I coulde name .v. C. suche that were there they be deed we shall fynde none suche nowe Wherfore the matter is not soo peryllous as it was in tyme past for yf ye wyll byleue me we shall go fyght with them and passe the ryuer of Derne it
worlde whome the Englysshmen hated moost was syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of fraunce For in dede syr Olyuer of Clysson euer studyed nyght and daye howe he myght doo dyspleasure to the Englysshe men and the duke knewe ryght well of the armye that was made to god in to Englande bocke at Harflew and at Lentrygnyer then he sayd vnto hymselfe to the entente to please the Englysshe men and to shewe that he dyd not set moche by the Frensshe men he founde the meanes to breke that voyage not in commaundynge his men of Bretayne on payne of lesynge of theyr herytage not to go in to Englande nor to ayde the frensshe partye this he dyd not but he shewed outwardly that the warre was for hym but he dyd his entrepryse more couertly he caste in his ymagynacyon that he myght not doo more honourably nor more to his profyte then to take the constable of Fraunce prysoner or elles to slee hym therby he knewe well he sholde please the Englysshe men for they hated hym for he thought yf he were out of the waye he cared not for the resydue of his lygnage for he knewe well they were not able to make hym warre for the constable hadde but two doughters the one was maryed vnto IohnÌ„ of Bretayne and the other doughter was maryded vnto the erle of Rohans sone he thought to withstande them wel ynoughe and all his lygnage for yf he hadde slayne hym he sayd he hadde slayne but a baron and that there were none that wolde make hym ony warre for his sake ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sente for all his lordes and knyghtes to come to counsayle vnto wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to goo and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prysoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ON this foresayd ymagynacyon the duke of Bretayne rested and to come to his entente he somoned his counsayle to come to Wannes and desyred all the lordes and knyghtes of Bretayne effectuously for to come thyder and he dyd sende out his letters vnto them and specyally he requyred syr Olyuere of Clysson Constable of Fraunce that he sholde not fayle but for to be there sayenge howe he wolde gladlyer se hym then ony other The constable wolde not exscuse hymselfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was his naturall lorde and was gladde to haue his good wyll and soo he came to Wannes and soo dydde a grete nombre of other lordes of Bretayne ¶ This counsayle was longe and many matters debated therin touchynge the duke and his countrey without ony worde spekynge of the voyage that they were in purpose to make in to Englande The duke dyssymuled the matter This counsayle was in the cyte of wannes in a castell called the Mote ¶ The duke made all the lordes a grete dyner and fedde them with fayre louynge wordes tyll it was nere nyght and then they retourned to theyr lodgynges in to the subbarbes withoute the cyte And the constable of Fraunce to please the knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne he desyred them all the nexte daye to dyne with hym some dyd soo and some departed to theyr owne howses to take leue of theyr wyues parentes for the constable was purposed as soone as hâ— departed thens strayght to goo vnto his nauâ—e at Lentrygnyer the duke of Bretayne knewe it ryght well but spake noo worde therof makynge semblaunte as thoughe he knewe noo thynge Soo this dyner ended where as were the moost parte of the barons of Bretayne and sodaynly vnto them came the duke of Bretayne ryght amorously by semynge but he thought otherwyse in his harte None knewe therof but suche as he hadde dyscouered his mynde vnto As soone as he entred in to the constables lodgynge some sayd beholde here cometh the duke then euery man rose as reason was and swetely receyued hym as they ought for to doo theyr lorde and he delte ryght getylly and he sate downe amonge them and ete and dranke and kepte good company and shewed them more tokens of loue then euer he dydde before and he sayd vnto them fayre lordes my louers and frendes god sende you well to goo and well to come agayne and sende you ioye and that you maye doo suche dedes of armes as maye please you and that it maye be honourable vnto you all and when they herde these swere wordes of the duke they all answered and sayd Syr we thanke you and god rewarde you of your grete kyndnesse that it pleaseth you to come and se vs at our departynge THis same season the duke of Bretayne was makynge of a Castell nere to Wannes called the castell of Ermyne the whiche as then was nere furnysshed and to the entente to attrappe the constable there he sayd vnto hym and vnto the lorde de la vale and to the lorde of Beawmanoyre and to other lordes that were there Syrs I requyre you or ye departe to come and se my newe castell of Armyne ye shall se howe I haue deuysed it and also howe I purpose for to doo ¶ They all agreed vnto hym bycause they sawe hym come soo louyngly amonge them for they thought none euyll And soo the moost parte of them mounted on theyr horses and rode forth with the duke to the castel of Armyne Than the duke the constable the lorde de la vale and the lorde of Beawmanoyre and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes alyghted of theyr horses and entred in to the castell and the duke ledde the constable by the hande fro chambre to chambre and in to euery house of offyce and made them drynke in the seller Then the duke brought them to the chefe towre and at the dore therof he sayd to the constable Syr Olyuere I knowe noo man on this syde the see that knoweth more in buyldynge then ye doo wherfore I praye you mounte vp the stayres and beholde the buyldynge of the towre yf it be well I am contente and yf ony thynge be amysse yt shall be refourmed after your deuyse the constable thynkynge none euyll sayd Syr with ryght a good wyl please it you to goo before and I shall folowe you naye syr sayd the duke goo your waye vp alone and in the meane tyme I wyll talke with the lorde de la vale the constable wente vp the stayres and when he was aboue and paste the fyrste stage there were meÌ„ in a chaÌ„bre layde in a busshment and they opened the dore and some wents downe and dyd shote the dore bynethe and the other wente vp all armed to the constable there they toke and ledde hym in to a chambre and fetered hym with .iii. boltes of yron and sayd to hym Syr pardon vs for we must nedes do that we do we be thus commaunded by our lorde the duke of Bretayne yf the constable were abasshed at that tyme it was no meruayle THe coÌ„stable ought not to haue grete meruayle of the chaunce for after that the dyspleasure
as ye desyre soo that ye bere with you nothynge but that is your owne and not to robbe nor pyll the towne nor that ye haue wonne in the countrey for that may cause ryot to be made bytwene you and our men syr sayd the bastarde we shall cary nothynge with vs but that is our owne and yf ony of our company haue bought ony thynge of ony of the towne are but euyll payde yet we shall make noo ryot therfore I thynke as for mete and drynke syth we came hyder in garyson our men haue payde no thynge as for that sayd the marshall is excepte take all vytayle in aduauntage for soo wyl our men do but I say ye shall cary away no mouables Syr sayd the barstarde we be not soo wyse men but that some of our company wyll take somwhat Well sayd syr Iohan Holande let them passe that is theyr owne is theyr owne we wyl not go so nere them as to serche theyr males soo be it sayd the marshall then there was an abstynence made for that daye and the nexte daye they sholde departe Then the englyssh men went to theyr lodgyng and vnarmed them and toke theyr ease and the Bretons all that daye trussed and gadâ—red togyder grete pyllage that they had wonne before in the countrey of Castell for all was abandened to them soo that therby suche as came fyrste in to that countrey wanne grete good and so in the trussynge of theyr baggage they toke many thynges from the men of the towne as clothe and fethers and other stuffe suche as they founde And when ony of the poore men spake to them sayenge syrs that good ye take is none of yours it is our good ye brought it not hyder then the Bretons wolde say agayne holde your peas ye vyllaynes we haue a commyssyon of the kynge of Castell to paye ourselfe of our wages ye wyll not paye vs and thoughe ye hadde payde vs well and truely yet we must haue newe wages agayne therfore this that we take is our owne THen the nexte daye the marshall lepte on his horse and a .lx. speres in his company and soo came to the barryers of the towne there taryed a space Thenne the capytaynes of the Bretons came thyder and the marshall sayd Syrs be ye redy to depart ye syr sayd they so we may haue conduyte to guyde vs whether wyll you go sayd the marshall to the towne of Arpent sayd they well sayd quod the marshall beholde here them that shall conduyte you thenne he called forthe a knyght of Englande called syr Steuen Stebery and sayd to hym take .x. speres with you and brynge these Bretons to Arpent and retourne you to morowe he dyd as he was commaunded and soo guyded forthe these Bretons with moche baggage And whenne they were al departed thenne the marshall and his company entred in to the towne and the people of the towne made hym grete reuerence for many of them thought it had ben the duke hymselfe when the marshall sawe these Bretons departe with so grete caryage he demaunded of them of the towne yf they hadde taken away ony of theyr goodes or not ye syr truely sayd they and that to a grete substaunce Why dyd you not sayd the marshall shewe me that betymes for I sholde haue caused them to haue rendred it agayne syr sayd they we durst not for they thretened to slee vs yf we spake therof syr they be cursed people there is none of them but he is a stronge thefe it is noo meruayle thoughe they robbe vs for eche of theÌ„ wyll robbe other The marshall smyled and then he sente for the chefe men of the towne and they came before hym then he made them to swere to holde the towne of Aurene of the duke of Lancastre for euer in lyke maner and fourme as the other townes in Galyce hadde doone before ¶ Then he ordeyned newe offycers and toke of euery man theyr faythes and othes and so dranke and retourned to the duke in to the felde vnder the shadowe of the Olyue trees for the hete of the sone whiche was soo excessyue hoote that man nor horse coulde abyde it nor noo man durst ryde a foragynge tyll after the houre of .iii. for the hete THe gretest ymagynacyon that the duke hadde was for that it was shewed hym howe the kynge of Castell was abrode with a grete armye comynge agaynst hym to fyght for he sawe well that he coulde not perfytely come to the chalenge of Castell but by force of batayle and soo he sente oute spyes in to euery coost but thenne it was surely enfourmed hym by his spyes and by pylgrymes that the kynge of Castell made none assembly for to come in to the felde but kepte hymselfe and his men in garysons And also that the duke of Borbon was not as then come in to Castell nor no tydynges there of his comynge Soo when the duke hadde taryed fyue dayes in the marches of Auranches he determyned to goo to Noye and there to assaye by assaulte to passe the brydge ouer the ryuer of Erne ¶ Then the knyght that had conduyted the Bretons to the towne of Arpent retourned agayne And it was demaunded of hym what company of men of warre were there in garyson he sayd howe syr Olyuer of Clesquy was there with a thousande speres Bretons and Frensshemen Then the constable and marshall sayd to the duke syr it were well done we wente and scrymysshed with them peraduenture they wyll yssue out to demaunde dedes of armes For there be some of them hath grete desyre therto I am conâ—ente sayd the duke let vs dyslodge here we take noo profyte then it was ordeyned to dyslodge the nexte mornynge and to goo to Noye and thenne after to Arpent ¶ Nowe 〈…〉 speke of the kyng of Portyngale and of the waye that he toke for to entre in to the royalme of Castell and thenne we shall retourne agayne to the duke of Lancastre ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale brente a towne when he was departed fro Porte and besyeged .ii. castelles Ca. lxxxix THe kynge of Portyngale departed from Porte and lefte there the quene his wyfe and her syster doughter to the duke of Lancastre and to kepe them and the cyte he ordeyned the erle of Nowar to abyde there with a hundred speres of Portyngales and Gascoynes suche as were come to serue hym and then he rode forthe and the fyrst nyght lodged a thre legges from the cyte of Porte and the nexte daye departed in thre batayles a fayre softe pace bycause of his fote men wherof there were a .xii. thousande with all the caryage and after the kynge folowed with a thousande speres there was with hym Don Galoys Ferrant Partecke and Ponnase de Cougne Vas Marten de Cougne bare the kynges baner Also there was IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar and the mayster Denyce called Ferrant Radyghes with other grete barons and knyghtes and the reregarde
shal se the kynge of Portangale and all his oost shortely departe hens without doynge ony domage to vs. ON the fourthe daye the marshall as was deuysed began the scrymysshe with a small company and the horse men laye styll pryuely in theyr busshment and the Bretons within when they sawe theyr enemyes in trust to gete some good prysoner opened theyr gate and lefte it styll open to the entente it sholde be the more redyer at theyr retourne for they trysted not gretely the Galycyens within the towne so they came to the barryers and dyd there as it apperteyned to a scrymysshe then when the marshall sawe his tyme he made sâ—mblaunt as thoughe he and his men hadde ben wery and as halfe dyscomfyted reculed lytell and lytell and when the Bretons saw that they thought to haue wonne all and opened theyr barryers all at ones and yssued out and came out and toke .xxv. prysoners and they hadde so moche haste to gete them in to the towne that they lefte theyr barryers styll open then the marshall made a sygne to the busshement and they brake out a .v. C. horse and came more then a galoppe and entred the barryers and when the Frenishemen and Bretons sawe that they wolde haue reculed to theyr barryers but they coulde not for the Portyngales entred as soone as they in to the towne Thus was the towne wonne and dyuers slayne and the sowdyours that were therein garyson were taken prysoners excepte suche as saued themselfe by another gate and soo yssued in to the feldes and rode to Arpente where as syr Olyuer of Elysquy was and a thouâ—ande speres with hym and there they shewed howe the towne or Feroull was lost THus as I haue shewed you fell of this towne of Feroull in Galyce The Portyngales wanne it and dydde put it vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre in whose tytle they made that warre The kynge of Portyngale was gretely reioyced of that his men hadde done soo well and incontynente he sente worde therof to the duke of Lancastre shewynge hym howe he hadde encreased his herytage for he hadde wonne hym that towne and he trusted to wynne moo The duke was gretely reioyced of those tydynges who was as theÌ„ come before Noy Wherin was the Barroys of Barreys and syr IohnÌ„ of Chatelet Mouraunte and syr Trystram de la Gayle syr Raynolde du Roy syr Wyllyam of Mongteney and dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of Fraunce And when the dukes marshall sawe the castell of Noye he sayd loke as Coulongne is one of the keyes of castell towarde the see soo is this castell of Noye another keye towardes Castell for he is no lorde of Castell without he be lorde of Coulongne and of Noye Lette vs goo loke what company there is there it is shewed me howe the Baroys of Barres an experte man of armes of Fraunce is there I thynke at the entrey of the brydge we shall haue some scrymyssh Syr sayd syr Lamburyne of Luners and syr IohnÌ„ Dambreticourte that wolde we gladly se The vaungarde wherin were a .v. C. speres of good men of armes rode forthe in good ordre and the duke sente parte of his company thyder to make the gretter mustre for he knewe well that his marshall wolde shewe there some dedes of armes WHen the watche of the castell sawe the vowarde approche he sowned alaram Thenne the capytaynes knewe incontynente that the Englysshmen came thyder They armed them and put themselfe in good ordre they were a hundred men of armes and some came to theyr barryers with a .xii. penons But syr Barroys of Barres was moost of reputacyon ¶ And also he hadde the chefe charge and also syr Iohan of Chatell Morant was the nexte And when syr Thomas Moreaus marshall of the oost sawe that he was nere the towne he alyghted a foote and all his company and delyuered theyr horses to theyr pages and so came togyder to the barryers with theyr speres in theyr handes and at euery .vi. paces they rested to kepe themselfe close togyder it was a goodly syght to beholde them and so on a fronte they came to the barryers and there they were receyued valy auntly and I thynke yf they had ben in the playne felde there had ben noo goodlyer dedes of armes done then was done there and yet the barryers was bytwene them and there the marshall without was matched with syr IohnÌ„ of the chateau Morant within and eche of them sore trauayled to hurte eche other but theyr armure was so good that noone of them toke domage and syr Thomas Percy was coped with le Barroys and Mauburyn of Lyuyers with syr wyllyam of Mongteney and syr IohnÌ„ DaÌ„ bretycourte with syr Reynolde of Roy and the lorde Talbot with Trystram de la gayle thus they were matched and scrymysshed togyder with theyr speres and when they were wery they rested and other knyghtes and squyers came scrymysshed in theyr places this scrymysshe endured tyll hyghe noone then archers came to the place but then the gentylmen departed and set crosse bowes to shote agaynst the englysshe archers and spanyarde with dartes and they scrymysshed tyl it was past one of the clocke Then came other yomen and varlettes and soo scrymysshed tyll it was nyght Then the englysshemen retourned and they of the castell retourned in to theyr garyson and made good watche aboute halfe a legge frome the castell of Noye alonge by the ryuers syde the Englysshe men laye the whiche ryuer dydde them grete ease for theyr horses for they had grete lacke of water tyll they came there there they refresshed them a .v. or .vi. dayes and then wente before the towne of Arpente to se the dealynge of the constable of Castell and of the frensshmen and there they herde tydynges of the kynge of Portyngale who laye in the playnes of Feroull and all his oost and was in purpose to come to the towne of Padron in Galyce whiche was in the waye towarde the duke and the Englysshemen and there it was ordeyned that the kynge and the duke sholde mete togyder to comon and determyne howe they sholde perceyuer in theyr warre ¶ They had ben a moneth a brode in the countrey and hadde nere hande brought all Galyce in to theyr obeysaunce and they coulde here no tydynges of the kynge of Castel nor of the frensshe men Wherfore they hadde grete meruayle for it was sayd that the kynge of Castel had somoned his people at Burgus fro all the partyes of the royalme as of Castell Syuell Cordowayne Collede Spayne Lyon Struges Vale olyue and of Sury and that he had .lx. M. men and vi M. speres of pure frensshe men And howe that thyder sholde come the duke of Borbon who as it was sayd was departed out of Fraunce to come thyder therfore the Portyngales and the Englysshmen thought to drawe togyder to be the more stronger and redyer yf theyr enemyes come on them and they byleued these
tydynges to be of trouthe wherfore they were ioyfull for they wolde gladly haue made an ende by batayle for otherwyse they sawe well they coulde not atteyne to theyr desyred entrepryse and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were alwayes aboute the kynge of Castell and euery weke they had tydynges out of Fraunce what busynes there was there and of the departynge of the duke of Borbon and howe he toke in his waye of Auygnyon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles there euer they counsayled the kynge not to fyght tyll the duke of Borbon were come and amonge other tydynges they herde of the duke of Bretayne howe he had taken in the castell of Ermyne the constable of frauÌ„ce and raunsomed at a C.M. frankes and of his .iii. castelles and towne that was delyuered to the duke of Bretayne and howe that therby the iourney and boyage in to Englande was broken they had meruayle of this and to what purpose the duke of Bretayne dyd it they supposed that the counsayle therof came out of Englande THus as I haue sayd before the royalme of Fraunce was brought in to trouble and specyally the kynges vncles were sore moued with the defyaunce that came fro the duke of Guerles for they were fell and rude and out of the course of other defyaunces as I shall shewe you when I declare the matter And also the frenssh kynge and his vncles were sore dyspleased in that the duke of Bretayne had broken theyr voyage in to Englande by the see and he that was chefe of the entrepryse taken that was the constable of fraunce and raunsomed as before is sayd at a C.M. frankes taken fro hym .iii. castelles and a towne whiche was a thynge gretely preiudycyall to the kynge and to the royalme of fraunce howbeit the kynge sonne passed ouer all the matters for he was but yoâ—ge wherfore he regarded it not so sore as though he had ben of perfyte age but suche as were auncyent and wyse sayd that by suche lyke matters the royalme of fraunce hath had moche a do in tyme past as when the kynge of Nauare caused syr Charles of Spayne constable of Fraunce to be slayne for whiche cause kynge IohnÌ„ neuer loued after the kynge of Nauare and toke fro hym all his landes in Normandy Then some other wolde saye yf kynge Charles fader to the kynge that nowe is were a lyue he loued the constable soo well surely he wolde be reuenged and make warre to the duke of Bretayne and to take fro hym all his landes what soo euer it cost hym Thus euery man spake of this dede and sayd it was euyll done then the kynges vncles and the counsayle of the royalme somwhat to satysfye the people who were sore dyspleased with the duke of Bretayne determyned that a prelate .iii. barons sholde be sente to the duke to speke with hym and to here his reasons to commauÌ„de hym to come to Parys to make his exscuse of that he had done thyder sholde go the bysshop of Beawuoys and syr Myles of Dornams a sage and a ryght valyaunt man and well langaged and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Bean syr IohnÌ„ of Beuell and the lorde de la Ryuer who had theyr charge what they sholde saye and do and the bysshoppe of Beawâ—oys toke his waye by Mount le herry where as the constable was for the towne of Castell perteyned to hym kynge Charles had gyuen it to hym and to his heyres And whyle the bysshop was there a sykenes toke hym and so lay in a feuer a .xv. dayes dyed then in his stede was sente the bysshop of Langers and he toke his waye with the other in to Bretayne IT myght be demaunded of me howe I knewe all these matters to speke so proprely of them I answere to all suche that I haue made grete dylygence in my dayes to knowe it and haue serched many royalmes countreys to come to the true knowledge of all the matters conteyned in this hystory wryten and to be wryten for god gaue me the grace to haue the laysure to se in my dayes and to haue the acquayntaunce of all the hyghe and myghty prynces lordes as well in Fraunce as in Englande for for in the yere of our lorde god a M. iiiC.iiii score and .x. I had laboured .xxxvii. yeres and as then I was of the age of .lvii. yeres and in .xxxvii. yeres a man beynge in strength and wel reteyned in euery coost as I was for after my yonge dayes I was in the kynge of englandes courte .v. yeres with the quene And also I was welcome to kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce to kynge Charles his sone myght well lerne many thynges and surely it was alwayes my chefe ymagynacyon and pleasure to enquyre to retayne it by wrytynge and howe I was enfourmed of the takynge of the constable of Fraunce I shall shewe you A yere after this matter fell I rode from the cyte of Angyers to Towres in Towrayne And I laye on a nyght at Beauforte in the vale and the nexte day I met with a knyght of Bretayne called syr Wyllyam Daucemys he was rydynge to se my lady of Mayll in Towrayne his cosyne her chyldren she was newly a wydowe I fell in aquayntaunce with this knyght and founde hym ryght curtoys swete of wordes then I demaunded of hym some tydynges and specyally of the takynge of the constable whiche matter I was glad to here and to knowe the trouth therof and he shewed me sayd howe he had ben at the parlyament at wannes with the lorde of Aucemys his cosyne a grete baron of Bretayne And in lyke maner as syr Espayne de Lyon enfourmed me of all thynges that had fallen in Foyze in Byerne in gascoyne also as syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant parteke shewed me of all the matters of Portyngale and of Castell In lyke maner this knyght shewed me many thynges and more wolde haue done if I had ryden longer in his company Thus bytwene Mounte le herry and Premylly was .iiii. grete leages and we rode but softely and in this way he shewed me many thynges the whiche I bare well in my remembraunce and specyally of the aduentures of Bretayne And thus as we rode that we came nere to Premylly we entred in to a medowe there this knyght rested and sayd A god haue mercy of the soule of the good constable of Fraunce he dydde here ones a goodly iourney and profytable for the royalme vnder the baner of syr IohnÌ„ de Bewell for he was not as then constable but newly come out of Spayne and I demaunded of hym howe it was I shal shewe you sayd he wheÌ„ I am on horsebacke and so we mounted than we rode forthe fayre and easely and as we rode he sayde In the season that I haue shewed you quod this knight this countre here was full of Englysshmen robbers and pyllers of Gascoyne bretons and almayns and
aduenturers of all nacions For all the countre on bothe sydes of the ryuer of Loyre were replenysshed with them For the warre bytwene FrauÌ„ce 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 couÌ„trey of these people and gathered toguyder a fyue huÌ„dred 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 theÌ„selfe 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 coÌ„muned 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 asseÌ„ble 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 couÌ„tre 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 augmeÌ„ted 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 IohnÌ„s Pie du porte for the realme of Arragon and Nauer of Bisquay of Portugale of CoÌ„nymbres of Lixbone of Ciuyle of Tollet of Cordwayne and of Lyon All these be inclosed within Spayne other And this great kyng Charlemayne coÌ„querid 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 â—ubdued 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
remedy that other Realmes shulde take ensample by his realme NOwe sirs I reporte me if I haue nat good cause to saye the the realme of Englande in this season was in great paryll and aduenture to haue ben lost without recouery For the kynge was moued agaynst his vncles and agaynst a great parte of all the great lordes of the realme and they agaynst hym And the cytes and good townes one against another And the prelates hadde great indignacyon one agaynst another so that none coude remedy it but alonely god Whan the duke of Irelande sawe that he had the agrement of the kyng and of the moost ê‘te of theÌ„ of the couÌ„trey of Wales than he came to the kyng sayd sir if ye wyll instytute make me your lieutenaunt I shall take a .xii. or a fyftene thousaÌ„de men with me and go to the marchesse of London or to Oxenforde your cyte and myne and there we wyll shewe our puyssaunce agaynst these Londoners your vncles who haue so great indignacyon agaynst you They haue putte to dethe some of your counsayle And sir outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse we shall bringe them to reason The kynge sayde he was content Sayeng I wyll and ordayne you to be the cheife souerayne of my Realme and to reyse vp men where ye can gette theym and leade them wheder ye thynke best to augment our sygnorie and realme And to the entent that euery man shall clerely se that the hoole Realme parteyneth to me I wyll that ye beare with you my banners and standerdes and other abylmetes of warre suche as I wolde beare my selfe in batayle And I thynke that if the people se my banners displayed they shall take corage and hardynesse to susteyne my quarell And I wyll ye punysshe suche rebelles as wyll nat obey you in suche wyse as all other maye take ensample by them I beleue all suche as shall se my banners waue in the wynde shall put them selfe vnder them and shal be afrayde to disobey our coÌ„mauÌ„dement These wordes greatly reioysed the duke of Irelande ¶ oHwe the kyng of Englande made his soÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe sir Robert Tryuylyen was taken at westmynster and beheeded by the commaundement of the kynges vncles Capi. xcvi THe kyng made his assemble in the countrey of Wales and about the froÌ„ters of Bristowe a longe the ryuer of Syuerne Dyuers lordes and knightes were sende for some excused them selfe laufully and some came at the kynges commauÌ„dement howe be it they douted leste great yuell shulde come of that enterprice In this meane season the kynge and the duke of Irelande had a secrete counsayle bytwene them and determyned to seÌ„de some of their men in to the marchesse of London to se and to knowe howe the kynges vncles dyd and what they purposed to do they studyed whome they myght sende in that busynesse to knowe the trouthe than a knyght cosyn to the duke of Irelande and of his couÌ„sayle called sir Robert Tryuilyen sayd sir ye make doute whome to sende that is trusty to London For the loue of you I shall take on me to do that iourney wherof the Duke thanked hym and lykewise so dyde the kyng Therwith this sir Robert Tryuilyen departed from Bristowe disguysed in maner of a poore marchaunt vpon a lytell Nagge and so came to London and tooke his lodgynge where he was vnknowen so taryed there a certayne space and lerned what he coulde At last he vnderstode that the kynges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande wolde kepe a secrete Parlyament at Westmynster wherfore he thought to go and lye there to lerne what shulde be doone there And so he came and lodged at Westmynster the same daye that their counsaile began and lodged in an alâ—house right ouer agaynst the palys gate and there he was in a chambre lokyng out at a wyndowe downe in to the courte there he myght se them that went in and out to the couÌ„saile and he knewe nerehaÌ„de euery man but none knewe hym bycause of his apparel At last on a day asquyer of the duke of Gloucesters knewe hym for he had often tymes ben in his coÌ„pany And assone as sir Robert Triuylien sawe him he knewe him well and withdrewe hym selfe out of the wyndowe The squyer had suspecious therof and sayd to hym selfe Me thynke I se yonder sir Robert Triuylen and to th entent to knowe the trouthe he entred in to the lodgyng and said to the wife Dame who is that that is aboue in the chambre is he alone or with coÌ„pany Sir quod she I can nat shewe you but he hath been here a longe space Therwith the squier went vp the better to aduyse hym and saluted hym and sawe well it was true but he fayned hymselfe and tourned his tale and sayde God saue you good man I pray you be nat myscontented for I toke you for a farmour of myne in Essere for ye are lyke hym Sir quod he I am of Kente and a farmour of sir Iohan of Hollandes and there be men of the bysshop of CauÌ„terburyes that wolde do me wrong and I am come hyther to complayne to the couÌ„sayle Well quod the squier if ye come in to the palys I wyll helpe to make your waye that ye shall speke with the lordes of the counsayle Sir I thanke your ê™ he and I shall nat refuce your ayde THan the squyer called for a potte of ale and dranke with him and payed for it and badde hym farwell and departed and neuer seased tyll he came to the couÌ„sayle chambre dore and called the vssher to open the dore Than the vssher demauÌ„ded what he wolde bycause the lordes were in counsayle He answered and sayd I wolde speke with my lorde and mayster the duke of Gloucester for a mater that ryght nere toucheth hym and all the counsayle Thanne the vssher let hym in and whan he came before his mayster he sayde Sir I haue brought you great tidynges What be they quod the duke Sir quod the squyer I wyll speke a loude for it toucheth you and all my lordes here present I haue sene sir Robert Triuylyen disguysed in a vyllayns habytte in an alehouse here without the gate Triuylien quod the duke yea truely sir quod the squier ye shall haue hym or ye go to dyner if you please I am contente quod the duke and he shall shewe vs some newes of his mayster the duke of Irelande Go thy waye fetche hym but loke that thou be stronge ynoughe so to do that thou fayle nat The squier went forthe and toke foure sergiauntes with hym and sayd Sirs folowe me a farre of and as soone as I make to you a sygne and that I laye my hande on a man that I go for Take hym and lette hym nat escape Therwith the squyer entredde in to the house where Tryuylien was and went vp in to the chambre and as soone as he sawe hym he sayd Triuylien ye
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 conscieÌ„ce 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 coÌ„maundement 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 BraÌ„ble 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 theÌ„selfe 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 EnglaÌ„de 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 couÌ„tre of Hollande and so came and arryued at the towne of Dondrest Than were they gladde and as I was enformed the duke of IrelaÌ„de had long before coÌ„ueyed by loÌ„bardes 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 coÌ„mons 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 coÌ„mynge and he shulde receyue more In thre yere other threscore thousande frankes Wherfore he was nat abasshed for he had substauÌ„ce 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 IrelaÌ„de 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 LoÌ„don 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 LoÌ„don 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 CauÌ„terbury Sir ye shall go lyke your selfe to Bristowe to
mounted on their horses and rode to mete hym and there they mette amiably and all their companyes The kynges hole hoost was nat there but taryed behynde in the guydyng of sixe great lordes of Portugale as Ponnase of Congne Vase Martyn de merlo Posdiche de asne degouse Salnase de Merlo sir Anlne Perrier marshall and Iohan Radighes Desar and dyuers other and the kyng had with him a thre hundred speares So at Aurāche the kynge and the duke were togyder a fyue dayes and toke counsayle toguyder The fynall conclusyon was that they shulde ryde togyder and enter in to the countrey of Campe and to go to the towne of Arpent where sir Olyuer of Clesquyne constable of Spaygne was but they wyst nat how to passe the ryuer of Derne whiche was fell and orgulous at certayne tymes specially rather in somer than in wynter for whan the snowe and froste melteth on the moūtayns by reason of the sonne than is the ryuer moost depest most dangerous to passe for in wynter it is frosyn than the ryuers are but base and lowe yet for all that they concluded to ryde in to the coūtre of Campe trustyng at some place to fynde some passage This conclusyon was publysshed throughe all their hoostes wherof euery man was ioyfull for they had lyen along space sore oppressed and in great daunger at Auranche ther about and many were sore diseased Thus the kyng of Portugale and that duke of Lācastre departed fro Auranche and rode toguyder but their hostes were seperated in to two partes bycause none of them vnderstode other nor had no maner of aqueyntāce toguyder And also to eschewe riottes or debates that myght haue fallen bytwene them for portugales are hote hastye and in lykewise Englysshmen be dispytefull and fierse Thus they were apoynted by the man hals of bothe hostes to lodge and to forrage in diuers partes and nat toguyder Thus they rode forthe and were of chat puyssaunce able to fyght for a iourney with kynge Iohan of Castell and all his adhenrentes So longe they iourneyed that they came to they ryuer of Derne whiche was nat easy to passe for it was depe and with highe bankes and full of great broken stones so that but at certayne bridges whiche were broken or elles so well kepte that it was in maner impossyble to passe they might nat gette ouer So these two hostes had great ymaginaciōs how they might passe Than so it fell that sir Iohn̄ Holande who was constable of the Englysshe hoost and the marshalles sir Richarde Butle and sir Thomas Moreaulx and their forragers as they rode before they encountred a squier of Castell called Donnage Bangher He knewe well all the passages of the countrey and he knewe where there was one passage that bothe horsmen and fote men might easelye passe the riuer he came ouer at the same passage and was taken and brought to the sayd lordes of whom they were ryght glad And there he was so streitly examyned also by the wordes of the constable who sayde to hym howe he wolde quyte his raūsome and gyue hym a good rewarde if he wolde shewe them where they myght passe surely the ryuer for they sayde they had herde howe there was one sure passage ouer the ryuer The squyer who toke but lyght aduysement and was couetous of the constables offre was gladde to be delyuered out of their handes sayd Sirs I knowe well the passage and I shall shewe it you and shal be your guyde where as ye and all youre menne maye passe without any daunger Of this the constable and marshalles had great ioye so rode forthe toguyder and sent worde of this tydinges to the duke of Lancastre and so folowed the vowarde and the constables and marshalles came to the passage Than the spanysshe squyer entred firste in to the ryuer shewed them the way And whan they sawe the passage so pleasaunt they were ryght ioyfull and so euery man passed ouer And whan the vowarde was ouer they lodged there to gyue knowledge to all other that folowed after Than the constable kepte his promyse with the squyer that was their gyde And so he departed fro them and rode to Medena del campo where the kynge of Castyle lay a good towne in the countrey of Campe. Than the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre came to the passage which was called Plasce ferarde bycause the grauell and sande there was firme and stable and without parell There they and their hoostes passed ouer and the next day the rerewarde and than they all lay in the coūtrey of Campe. Tydinges came to them of Ruelles of Cateseris of Medena of Vyle arpente of saynt Phagon and to other cyties townes and castels of the countrey of Campe and Spayne howe the englysshemen and portugaloyse were passed ouer the ryuer of Derne and had founde the passed wherof euery man had maruayle and sayd This can nat be done without trayson for they shulde neuer haue founde out the passage but if some of the countre had shewed it to them The kynge of castelles lordes knewe how the squier of Castyle had shewed it them and was their guyde Thervpon he was taken and knowledged the trouth as he hadde done Thanne he was iuged to dye and was brought to Vyle arpent and there beheeded ¶ Howe the tydinges spred abrode that the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of Derne howe it came to the kyng of Castels knowlege howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and rode before Vyle arpente and how the king of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmyng of the duke of Burbone Cap. C.iii. WHan the kynge of Castyle knewe howe the kyng of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre were in that feldes with a great puyssance and daily aproched wherof he was sore abasshyd and called to hym syr Gaultyer of Passac and syr Willyam of Lignac and sayde I haue great maruayle of the duke of Borbon that he commeth nat Our enemyes aproche and kepe the feldes and none encoūtreth them they waste our countrey and the people of my realme are yuell contente that we fyght nat with theym Wherfore sirs I requyre you gyue me counsayle what is best to do These two knyghtes who knewe more of dedes of armes than the kyng dyd for they had more vsed it and therfore thyder they were sente oute of Fraunce they sayde Syr surely the duke of Borbon cometh without fayle And whan he cometh we shall take counsayle what we shall do but tyll he come let vs make no countenaunce of batayle Let our enemyes go and come whyder as they lyst lette them kepe the feldes and we shall kepe the townes that be stronge and well prouyded bothe with men and vytayles They shall be in the sonne and in great heate and we shall be in the shadowe in the fresshe ayre They
shall fynde the countrey wasted and pylled and the more forewarde that they go the lesse sustynauÌ„ce shall they fynde And therfore syr at the begynnynge to eschewe all inconuenyentes all lytell hooldes were beaten downe and maners churches suche as men of the couÌ„trey wold haue put in their goodes and this was wysely done or els nowe your enemyes shuld haue founde places to haue rested in and as nowe they shall fynde nothyng without they brynge it with theym but heate and the sonne on their heedes the whiche shall burne and slee them And sir all your townes cyties and castelles are well garnysshed and prouyded for with good men of armes artyllery and vytayles I thynke they shal be skrymysshed withall for that is the lyfe and norysshynge of men of warre and their passe tyme for they ryde aboute all the worlde to seke aduentures Therfore sir be nothynge abasshed for we truste in this besynes we shall haue no great domage The kynge by reason of these knyghtes wordes was greatly recoÌ„forted for he perceyued well they shewed him the trouth and reason NOwe let vs speke of the duke of Lancastre of the kyng of Portugale who were in the feldes in the countrey of Campe. They wolde gladly haue bene in some towne to haue refresshed theym For their foragers wheâ— so euer they went coude fynde no thing and for feare of encountrynges they rode nat but in great companyes And somtyme whan they sawe a village on a hyll or on the playne than they reioysed and wolde say Go we thyder for there we shal be all ryche and well prouyded And thyder they wolde ryde in great haste And whan they were there they founde no thynge but bare walles the howses broken downe and nother catte nor dogge cocke nor hen man woman nor childe there it was wasted before by the frenchemen Thus they loste their tyme and their horses were leane and feble by reason of their poore norisshyng They were happy whan they founde any pasture and some were so feble that they coulde go no further but dyed for great heate and pouertie ye and also some of the great men dyed and were sore dyspleased with hoote feuers had nat wherwith to refresshe them and some tyme by sodeyn coldee that toke them sleping in the nyght In this case they were in and specyally in the duke of Lancastres hoost for the englisshmen were of a febler complexion than the portugaloys for they coulde well endure the payne for they he harde and accustomed to the ayre of Castyle In this case as I haue shewed you the englisshmen were in and many dyed and namely suche as had but smale prouisyon for them selfe SIr Richarde Burle ser Thomas Moreaulr sir Thomas Percy the lorde Fitzwater syr Mabetyne of Linyers sir IohnÌ„ Dam breticourt Thyrrey and Guyllyam of Souuayne and with theym a two hundred horse men knyghtes and squyers suche as wolde auaunce theym selfe and desyringe dedes of armes It a tyme mounted on their horses the beste they hadde to the entente to ryde to Vyle Arpente to awake the freÌ„chmen that were therin for they had herde surely howe sir Dlyuer of Clysson was within that towne who was constable of Castyle and with hym a great nombre of good men of armes These lordê with their company rode forthe in a morenynge and came to a lytell ryuer that ranne before the towne and passed ouer The larome rose in the towne and brute that the englysshe men were come to the barryers Thanne knyghtes and squiers armed them quickely and came to the coÌ„stables lodginge and their varlettes sadled their horses and brought theÌ„ to their maisters the constable wolde nat by his wyll haue suffered them to haue issued out agaynste the englysshmen but he coulde nat let them their corages were so fierse And so they issued out well horsed and in good ordre Firste issued sir Iohan of Barres the vicounte of Barlier sir Iohan of BrakemouÌ„t sir Pyer of Wyllannes sir Tristam de la gayll and dyuers other with great desyre to fyght agaynst the englisshmen And whan the englysshmen had made their course before the towne than they passed agayne the ryuer where as they had paste and drewe to gyther on the sandes and fayre and easely with drewe fro the ryuer a thre bowshottes Than the frenche knightes came cryeng their cryes euery manne his speare on the thyghe And whan the Englysshmen sawe them sodeynly they tourned with their speares in the restes There was a sore rencouÌ„tre and dyuers ouer throwen on the sandes on bothe parties And whan that course was done they lefte nat so but skrymysshed to gyther but the powder of the subtyle sandes rose vp so thycke that one of them coulde natse a nother nor knowe eche other so that themselfe nor their horses could skant drawe their brethes their mouthes were so full of dust So that therby eche party was fayne to withdrawe by their cries Thus they departed and no manne slayne nor greatly hurte And bycause of this course that the englysshe knyghtes made they paste that daye but one leage fro the towne of Arpente and so retourned to their lodgynges and sycknesse toke them heate colde and feuers The duke of Lancastre wyste nat what to saye nor do for he sawe well howe his men fell sicke dayly and lay in their beddes And he was hymselfe soo wery and heuy that gladly he wolde haue layen in his bedde and it had nat ben for discoragynge of his people And on a day he spake with the kynge of Portugale and demaunded counsayle of hym desyringe hym to gyue his beste aduyse what was beste to do for he feared great mortalyte to fall in his host than the kyng sayd Syr it semeth well howe that the spaynyardes nor freÌ„chmen wyll nat fyght with vs at this time they purpose to suffre vs to waste our selfes and our prouysions Why sir quod the duke and what wyll ye than couÌ„sayle vs to do I shall shewe you ê™ the kyng Portugale as for this season whyle the sonne is so hoote that ye and your people drawe againe in to Galyce and let euery man refressh him selfe and at Marche or Aprill than come to the felde agayne and do so moch that newe ayde and comfortemaye come to you oute of Englande by one of your bretherne A realme is nat so soone wonne and specyally to agree with the ayre nat acustomed before Let your men go and passe their tyme in suche townes and forteresses as ye haue in Galyce vnder your obeysaunce This may well be quod the duke but than maye fortune to fall as I shall shewe you that is Whan our enemyes seeth that we be departed one fro another you into Portugale I into Galyce at saynt Iaques or at Colongne Than the kynge of Spayne wyll ryde with great puyssaunce for I haue herde that he hathe foure thousande speares frenchmen and bretons and he shall fynde as many mo in
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌ„ducte And of this coÌ„posycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌ„panyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ„ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌ„bre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ„ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌ„castre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deê‘ted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌ„stable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌ„panyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌ„e to Medena de CaÌ„po other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise â—ore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌ„forted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌ„che with the duke of LaÌ„castre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌ„postella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌ„ductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌ„de dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌ„dred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌ„ce his name was sir ThomÌ„s Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌ„ture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ„ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌ„pany Among the freÌ„chmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌ„passion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌ„munyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌ„ce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
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 DaÌ„breticourt was come to Bayone in the company of sir Iohan HolaÌ„de he was in dyuers ymaginacions on his chaleÌ„ge 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 deê‘ted for feare Than he toke couÌ„sayle of sir IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de and of other what were best for him to do He was counsayled to take the waye through FrauÌ„ce 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 deê‘ted fro Bayon and entred in to Biern so came to Artoys there founde therle of Foiz who made hym good chere at his deê‘tyng the erle gaue hym .ii. C. Florens and a good horse Than he rode forthe through Byern entred in to the couÌ„tre of Bigore and so in to Tholousin in to Carcassynois and in his coÌ„pany 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 preseÌ„ted 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 deê‘ted 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 deê‘ted fro Auygnon to go in to Castyle with all his host and came to Burgus in Spayne and there fouÌ„de 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 ValeÌ„censia 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 hoÌ„warde with a great parte of his coÌ„pany 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 coÌ„e in to Spaigne and had brought with hym great noÌ„bre of knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce brute and noyse was more thanne it was in dede by the one halfe The coÌ„mons were in great dout that the duke of Burbon wolde haue entred there with great force and puissaunce but that the duke of LaÌ„castre 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 couÌ„trey 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 soÌ„mons 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 thaÌ„ke 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
henedeth nat to tary here for any warre that is apatente for as for Galice the recouery therof shall be but a small mater for vs. Thus they of the kynges counsayle comuned eche with other and further they said If we ones receyue these people they must be payed of their wages if nat they will pyll and robbe all the realme for the comon people all redy begynneth to complayne therfore we thynke it were best to gyue theÌ„ an honest congy to departe This counsayle was vpholden and the kynge well consented there to for he sawe well it was the most proftye for his people and realme for they coulde take no hurte but it shulde be to his domage and preiudice So that one daye in the kynges presence the archebysshop of Burgus to the duke of Burbon before many of the knightes of Fraunce shewed and declared to theym their ententes as ye haue herde before And the duke of Burbon and dyuers other knyghtes of Fraunce who had rather retourne than to a byde there for the countrey was nat mete for their complerions were well contente to retourne and prepared themselfe thervpon and bycause the duke of Burbone was laste that came he retourned first and toke his leaue of the kynge and said howe he wolde returne by the realme of Nauerre There were great gyftes gyuen him or he departed and might haue had more if he wolde haue taken it but he refused euery thynge except mules and mulâ—tteâ— and dogges of Spayne Than it was publisshed that all frenchmen might at their pleasure departe out of Spayne and retourne in to Fraunce but there taryed styll sir Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Spayne and the marshals and a thre hundred speares of bretons poicteuyns and xayngtons Thus the duke of Burbone returned Whan he had taken his congy of the kynge and the quene and of other lordes of Castyle he was conueyed to Groyne and so in to Nauarre And where so euer he came he was welcome and well receyued for the duke of Burbone was gracyous curteyse honorable and well renomed And the kynge of Nauer receyued him louyngly and neuer shewed any maner of yuell wyll towardes the frenche kynge in that he had taken a way fro him his enherytauÌ„ce of the countye of Eureur in Normandy for he sawe well the frenche kyng that was as than nephewe to the duke of Burbon was in no defaute therof for whaÌ„ it was done he was but yonge But swetely he shewed the duke all his busynesse desyringe hym to be a good meane bytwene hym and his cosyn the frenche kynge The duke promysed hym so to be Than the duke departed and passed thorough the realme of Nauer peasably and all other suche as wolde passe and thus they passed the mountayns of Rouseaulx all alonge the countrey of Bastelles and so entred in to Bierne and in to Saluaterra ¶ Howe therle of Foize receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great giftes that he gaue him and how sir willyam of Lygnac and sir Gaultier of Passackes coÌ„pany departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynt Phagon Cap. C.viii. WHan the Erle of Foyz beynge at Ortays vnderstode that the duke of Burbon was at Saluaterra he was glad therof and sente for his knightê to be aboute him And on a day in great araye he rode with a fyue hundred knyghtes and squyers two leages out of Ortays and mette with the duke of Burbon who in lykewyse rode with a great rout of knyghtes and squiers and there they met amyably as great prynces ought to do And whan they had comuned togyther a certayne space as it was shewed me whan I was at Ortays The erle of Foize drewe hym a parte in the felde with all his company and the duke abode styll in a nother parte Than the Erle sente to the duke thre knyghtes named syr Espayne de Lyon sir Peter Capestan and sir Menaunt of Nowalles And whan they came before the duke they sayd Sir here is a present that my lorde the erle of Foiz hath sent to you at your returnynge out of Spayne for he knoweth well ye haue been at great dyspence Therfore syr he dothe gyue you at your entring in to his countrey of Bierne eyght thousande frankes and this mulette and two coursers and two palfreys Syrs quod the duke I thanke the erle of Foyze But as for the floreyns I wyll take none as for the other presente I wyll receyue them with a good wyll thus the florens were refused and the Mules and horses receyued Than the erle of Foyz came to the duke and brought hym in to the towne of Ortays and lodged him in his owne place all other were lodged in the towne the duke was thre dayes in Ortays and had great there with dyners and suppers And there the Erle of Foize shewed the duke a great parte of his estate On the fourthe daye the duke departed and the erle gaue to the knightes and squiers great gyftes As it was shewed me the comynge thyder of the duke of Burbon coste the erle of Foize ten thousande frankes Thus the duke departed and went in to Fraunce and rode by Mountpelyer by the cytie of Puy and by the countye of Forestes wherof he was lorde by the lady his wyfe FOr all the departyng of the duke of Burben as ye haue herde out of Spayne sir Willyam Lignac and sir Gaultier of Passac departed nat so soone nor the companyes to the nombre of a thre thousande speares and syre thousande of other men of warre and lytell and lytell euer they departed They were many out of wages and wery of the warres and so retourned yuell horsed and yuell aparelled all to torne and ragged The metynge with suche people was nothynge profytable for they vnhorsed whome soeuer they met and made warre to all marchauÌ„tes and to men of the churche and to poore people of the countre where any thinge was to gette These rutters sayde howe the warre had vndone them and howe the kynge of Castyle hadde yuell payed theym their wages wherfore they sayde they wolde pay themselfe And surely suche cyties castels and good townes as were nat stronge in Castyle douted them greatly and agaynst them townes and cyties closed their gates for feare of parels for all was hauocke with them without it were well defended Suche knightes and squyers as came by the erle of Foyze to se hym were well receyued and had gyftes and rewardes gyuen them ryght largely As it was shewed the comyng and retournynge of men of warre that passed by therle of Foize for the sayd iourney coste hym the some of .xl. thousande frankes THis season there fell an incydent in the towne of saynt Phagon in Spaygne after the departynge of the duke of Burbone the whiche coste fyue hundred mennes lyues So it was that whan sir Gaultier of Passar and sir Willyam of Lignac entred firste in to Spayne
were departed out of their holdes and whyder he wolde set theÌ„ in any busynesse or nat Than he was answered and it was said to hym Sir the erle of Armynake wolde kepe them in wages occupy them in to Lombardy for as ye knowe well his suster is maryed there and before she had Gascone your sonÌ„e for it is thought there shal be moche a do in Lombardy whervnto the erle of Foiz gaue none answere but fell in to other talkyng howbe it he thought neuerthelesse as it apered afâ— for he haÌ„dled the mater couertly I shall shewe you howe The erle of Armynake for any treatie that he coude do to them that were of the countre of Bierne or of the teneurs of therle of Foiz or suche as owed hym any fauour coude neuer cause any of them to agree to departe out of their garisons Nor wolde nat go nother to the erle of Armynake nor to Bernarde his brother in lawe For therle of Foiz who was full of great prudence consydred that these two lordes of Armynake there cosyns and with the labriciens were puissaunt men and sawe howe they gate them frendes on euery parte he thought they shulde nat be renforsed with them that ought to serue hym And one thynge that was reasonable the Erle of Foiz ymagined sir Espaygne de Leon shewed it me whan I was at Ortays in lykewise so dyde the erle of Compane capitayne of Carlot in Auuergne and also so dyde the Bourge of Englande They sayd howe the erle of Foiz regarded howe he had had open warre with them of Armynake thoughe it were peace bytwene them as than whiche was but a truese the whiche was dyuers tymes renewed bytwene theym Therfore he thought â—hat if the erle of Armynake had all those companyons vnder his gouernaunce his warres shulde be the fayrer So that the armynakes and the labricience with their alyes myght do hym a great displeasure This was the cause that suche as owed fauour to therle of Foiz wolde nat agte to the erle of Armynake Howe be it they made theÌ„ beleue that they wolde but they dyd but dissemble for they brake all their apoyntmeÌ„tes howe be it they rode nat abrode so moche as they dyde before Wherby alwayes the Erle of Armynake thought to haue come to his purpose They that agreed to hym were Perotte de Bernoys who helde the stronge castell of Salucette whiche is chefe and soueraygne of all Auuergne and Lymosyne for their patesyng endured to Rochell And also Guyllyam of saynt Foye who helde the castell of Bonteuyll and also Margote Marcell who helde Loysse before saynt Flour in Auuergne and the Bourge of Compaygne and the Englysshe Bourge who helde Carlotte Margote Marcell sayde he was contente so that he myght haue in lykewise Perotte Bernoys and Geffray Teate Noyre who helde VaÌ„dachore who was souerayne aboue all other But he dyde but mocke and dissemble the mater for he disdayned to fall to any treatie of the erle of Armynakes or of any other For he thought his castell imprignable and well prouyded for seuyn or eyght yeres for he had a passage or two that coude nat be taken fro hym but that he myght issue whan he lyste to refresshe hym selfe and his company This Geffray wrote hym selfe in his saueconductes Geffray Teate Noyre duke of Vandachore erle of Lymosyn lorde and soueraygne of all the capitayns of Auuergne Rouergue and Lymosyn NOw let vs leaue to speke of these maters of farre couÌ„treis tyll we haue cause to returne therto agayne And nowe I wyll speke of matters nerer home as of myne owne nacyon as it hath ben shewed here before whan I treated of the ende of the warre of Flaunders and of the charter of peace that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse dyde gyue and graunt and sealed to them of Gaunt in the good towne and noble cytie of Tourney Therfore nowe to enforce our mater and history we wyll speke nowe of the warres of Guerles and of Brabant And I am quickened so to do bycause that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne to whom the mater greatly touched by the insydentes that gendred therby were fayne to set to their haÌ„des to the same warre and to come to the bottom therof And to contynue at length the true hystorie and mater I saye thus as foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage and wyst nat what to do caÌ„e for refuge to the archebysshoppe of Coleygne his Vncle who blamed hym howe ambassadours wente to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C.xi. ALonge season it was that they of Guerles and they of Brabant had grete hatered toguyder and so dyd the countreis to them adioyninge by reason of certayne bondes one agaynst another And the moost hatered that the brabanders had to the duke of Guerles and to his heyres was for the towne of Graue whiche the dukes of Guerles had holden per force a longe season agaynst the brabansoys For they sayd bycause that the towne of grane stode on that syde of the ryuer of Muese towardes Brabant that the duke of Guerles helde it wrongfully before that tyme dyuers coÌ„munycacions had been and poyntmentes taken howbeit alwayes the guerloys stacke in their hertê Also the guerloys hated the brabaÌ„soys bycause of thre fayre castels that were on that syde the ryuer as Gaulech Buthe Nulle Whiche castelles the duke of BrabaÌ„t helde also peforce And by reasone as in redynge I shall begynne at the duke of Guerles These hatereddes were often tymes renewed bytwene them of Guerles and Brabant And it was supposed by dyuers knightes and squyers that knewe of their dedes of armes that if sir Edwarde of Guerles who was slayne by a marueylous incydent at the batayle of Iulyers by the shote of an archer that was with the duke Vyncelant of Boem duke of Lusenbourge or of Brabante If he had lyued with that that his men had had the vyctorie he hadde come to his entente in gettyng agayne the thre castelles for he was lo valiant a man and so hardy that he wolde haue conquered them agayne ¶ Nowe I wyll declare as I haue promysed how and in what maner these foresayd castelles came in to the signorie of the brabansoys and first I wyll begyn with the dukes of Guerles IN the tyme whan I wrote and ordayned this hystorie there was an Erle of Guerles called Raynolde and bycause that Guerles is no riche countre nor so great as the duchy of Brabant This erle came to his lande a yonge man and had a frewyll to dispende largely and thought full lytell of the ende that myght come after He cared for nothynge but for to accomplysshe his pleasure and haunted iustes and tourneys to his gret cost to gette hym renome And euery yere he spended four tymes as moche as the value of the reuenewes of his landes He borowed of the lombardes in dyuers places he
the other parte and were in that case that it was likely to haue had a batayle bytwene them But the duke Aubert the duke of Mours the duke of Iullyers mette togyder by a treatie and so this assemble departed a sondre with out any thyng doyng The same yere the duke Wyncelant of Brabant ouerthrewe the companyons in the coūtrey of Lusenburge who had greatly wasted that lande and putte many to exyle and in the towre of the castell of Lusenburge dyed their souerayne capitayne called the lytell Meslyn And also in the same yere sir Charles of Boesme who as than raigned and was kynge of Almaygne and emperour of Rome instytuted duke Wyncelāt of Boesme and made hym souerayne regarder by an instytucion and ordynaunce called in Almayne Le langue fride that is to say holding the couert and sure wayes So that all maner of people myght go and come and ryde fro towne to towne surely and in sauegarde And the Emperour gaue hym a great parte of the lande and countrey of Dauffay on bothe sydes the ryuer of Ryne to defende hym therin agaynst the lynfars who were a maner of people ryght peryllous and great robbers without pytie And also the Emperour gaue hym the souerayntie of the good riche cytie of Straubourcke and made him Marques of the holy Empyre to augment therby his estate And surely he coulde nat gyue hym to moche for this Duke Wyncelant was lyberall swete courtesse amyable and noble in armes was likely to atchyue many thynges if he hadde lyued long but he dyed in the floure of his youthe Wherof I that haue written this hystorie make great complaynt for hym that he lyued no lengar but tyll he was a .xxiiii. yere of age Thescisme that was in the churche greatly displeased hym and that he shewed me often tymes for I was priue of his acquayntaūce in that in my dayes I traueyled a great parte of the worlde two great princes I knewe and non more hūble nor tretable than they were that was this noble prince one and the other my good mayster the lorde Guy of Bloys who cōmaunded me to make this hystorie These two princes were in my dayes and wereful of humilyte larges and bountie without any malyce They lyued lyberally of their owne without oppressynge their people or reysing vp of any yuell customes in their lādes ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to the pythe of the mater that I haue begone WHan the duke of Iulyers and sir Edwarde of Guerles who called thēselfe bretherne and their hertes good Englisshe for they had ben long alyed with the kyng of Englande and with loue and fauour had alwayes ayded them in their warres Whan they sawe that the duke of Brabant hadde so hygh a signory as to be lorde and souerayne regarder by the Emperonr and was chiefe correctour of all mysdoers and robbers that he founde lyueng by the highe wayes of Almaygne They had therat indygnacion and enuy nat for that he dyde well and helde iustyce and corrected yuell doers but of that he had the souerayne regarde signory ouer lāgue fride whiche was parte in their lande whiche offyce was first instytued that marchautes might pesably passe fro Brabant to Heynault to Flaunders to Fraūce or fro Liege to Coleyne and to other cyties townes and fortresses of Almayne And nother marchauntes nor other coulde nat passe nor entre in to Almayne by the landes and daungers of the duke of Iulyers and the duke of Guerles And soo it was that certayne robbers were in the wayes of Linfars And it were they that had done the vyolence and passynge through the landes of the duke of Iuliers It was shewed me that the duke had lente them horse and castels Great complayntes came to duke Wyncelant of Brabant and of Luzenbourge who as than was at Bruselles howe that the Languefryde wherof he was souerayne regarder and keper was broken violated and howe they that dyde that vyolence and robbed the countrey soiourned and euer retourned in to the duchy of Iulyers The duke of Brabante who as than was yonge and lusty and puyssaunte of lynage and of landes toke in great dispyte the offences that his people had complayned of and said how he wolde fynde some remedy seynge he had in charge to kepe and defende the Languefride He wolde nat that through his neclygence he shulde take any reproche or blame and to conclude his dede and to sette reason in their demaunde and by the counsayle and aduyse that he had he sente to the duke of Iulyers notable persones as the lorde of Vrquon lorde of Bourguenall syr Scelar archedecon of Heynalt Geffrey de la towre great rowter of Brabante and other shewyng to him in wyse and swete maner the offence whiche greatly toucheth and is preiudyciall to the duke of Brabante who is keper and souerayne regarder of the Languefride The duke of Iulyers fayntely excused hym selfe for by that he shewed he had as lefe haue had the warre as the peace so that the duke of Brabantes messangers were nat well cōtent and so toke their leaue of the duke of Iuliers and reiourned and shewed the duke of Brabant all as they had herde and sene Whan the duke herde that he demaūded what was best to do He was aunswered by his coūsayle sayenge sir ye knowe best your selfe Well quod the duke and I saye that it is my entensyon that I wyll nat slepe so in this blame nor that it shall be said that for slouth or faynte hert that I shulde suffre vnder my sauegarde robbers to do vilaynes and robories vnpunysshed I shewe and wyll shewe to my cosyn of Iuliers and to his aydes that this mater toucheth me nere This duke cooled nat his entent but in contynent set clerkes a warke and sent to them that he thought wolde ayde hym Some he prayed and some he commaunded and sente sufficyent knoledge of his mynde to the duke of Iuliers and to his alies bothe these lordes made great preparacion The duke of Iulyers had but lytell ayde but of his brother syr Edwarde of Guerles he greatly cōforted him with men and with frendes These two lordes sent priuely for men farre in to Almayne And bycause that almayns are couetous desyring to wynne and it had bene longe before or they were in any place where they myght get any good aduenture They wolde haue come in more habundaunce and they had nat knowen that they shulde haue had to do agaynste the duke of Brabante The duke of Brabante in great aray departed fro Bruselles and went to Louayne and fro thence to Treete on the ryuer of Muese and there he founde a thousande speares abydinge for hym and always there came menne to hym fro all partyes fro Fraunce fro Flaūders fro Haynalt fro Namure fro Lorayne other countreys so that he had two thousande and fyue hundred speares of good men of warre and also there came to hym out of Burgoyne
the duke of Iulyers sware that he shulde neuer beare armure agaynst the Crowne of Fraunce And so as longe as the kyng lyued he kept his othe For surely as long as kyng Charles lyued he dyde hym no maner of domage nor consented to none to be done to the crowne of Fraunce But whan kyng Charles was deed that Charles his sonne was kynge By reason of the warres of Flaunders as it hath been shewed before in this hystorie And after he tooke his Creacyon at Parys He hadde so moche to do that he coude nat take hede in euery place The duof Iulyers than came nat in to Fraunce nor made no relyefe for the landes of Viersone Wherfore the duke of Berrey who toke hym selfe as soueraygne sayde Howe the relefes parteyned to hym And so ceased the landes and toke the profytes therof and by puyssauÌ„ce putte out fro his ryght the Erle of Bloyes Howe be it the same tyme I sawe them bothe oftentymes togyder and neuer debate made bytwene them for any of the sayd landes nor any yuell wyll shewed There was good cause for theym to be frendes toguyder for Loyes sonne to the erle of Bloyes had in maryage the lady Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey The duke of Iuliers wolde gladlye haue entred in to his herytage but he regarded his sonne who shulde be his heyre Therfore he made but lytell counte of the alyaunce that his sonne the duke of Guerles hadde made in Englande And by this reason he spake the wordes that ye haue herde here before to the duke of Guerles whan he was retourned out of Englande Howe be it the duke of Guerles who was yonge and coragyous toke lytell regarde to his fathers wordes and sayde Sir that I haue done I wyll vpholde for I had rather haue warrÌ„ with the Frenche kynge than peace and rather with hym than with a poore man ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the FreÌ„che kyng complaynyng of the duke of Guerles And howe the kynge his counsayle were sore busyed with insydentes that fell in the realme of FrauÌ„ce as well for the defyances of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretaygne Capi. C.xv. THe duchesse of Brabant beynge at Bruselles was well enformed of all these troubles And howe the duke of Guerles thretned theym of Brabante to make theym warre The duchesse feared the same and sayde Ah god assoyle the soule of my lorde and husbande for if he hadde lyued the Duke of Guerles durst nat haue spoken of any suche matters But nowe bycause I am a woman and aged he wyll make warre agaynst me Than the lady called toguyder her counsaile to knowe what she were best to do for she knewe well the duke was hote hasty and coragyous THe same seasone whyle this ladye was takynge of counsayle with her frendes the Frenche kynge was defyed by the duke of Guerles wherof ranne a great brute throughe all the Realme and in other realmes therto adioynyng They had marueyle of these newes Bycause the duke of Guerles was but a small prince to the regarde of other and but of smalle landes Men spake therof in dyuers maners euery man after his own opynion ThanÌ„e the duchesse counsayle sayde Madame ye haue nede of counsayle And we shall counsayle you to sende to the Frenche kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne be tymes For ye haue herde howe the duke of Guerles hathe defyed the Frenche kynge and all his alyes If he be in purpose to make warre to the realme of Fraunce as the brute ronneth that he wyll bycause the Englysshemen and the almaygnes are of his alyaunce He can haue no better entre in to the realme of FrauÌ„ce than throughe youre countrey Wherfore it is good that the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne be aduertysed therof And that youre castels on the fronters be well fortifyed and garnysshed For there is nat so small an ennemye but he is to be doubted We saye nat that ye shulde haue great nede to seke for any ayde or confore all onely for them of Guerles but it is good to regarde the alyaunces that he maye lightlye gette as well of Englysshe men as of almaygnes who alwayes are couetous and desyreth to make warre to the realme of Fraunce on trust of wynnyng Than the duchesse sayd to her couÌ„sayle sirs ye saye trouthe it shal be as ye haue deuised Than suche as shulde go on that message were apoynted out As the lorde of Bourguenall cheife Stewarde of her house sir Iohan Opeyn a gracyous knyght a clerke and a squyer of honoure The clerke called sir Iohan Grane and the squyer Nycholas de la Monoy All four were of the preuy couÌ„sayle with the duchesse of Brabant They departed fro Bruselles with letters of credeÌ„ce and rode to Parys At that tyme nother the kynge nor the duke of Burgoyne was natte there they were at Rohane in Normandye Than they went fro Parys to Roane where the kynge was WHan these ambassadoures came to Rohane firste they treated with the duke of Burgoyne and he made theÌ„ good chere for he knewe them well they delyuered letters to hym and he receyued and reed them Than whaÌ„ tyme was he brought them to the kynge who for loue of their lady receyued theÌ„ louyngly Than the kyng reed their letters and herde them speke and aunswered and sayde Sirs your wordes and requestes demaundeth counsayle Resorte alwayes to our vncle of Burgoyne he shall here you and dispatche youre busynesse as shortely as maye be Those wordes contented greatly these ambassadours and so went to their lodgynges The kynge and his vncles with other of his counsayle were dayly toguyder in counsaile for dyuers causes and insydentes newe fallen The defyance of the duke of Guerles was nothyng pleasaunt to them nor also they knewe nat what the duke of Bretayne was purposed to do bycause he had taken the constable of Fraunce prisoner and set hym to rauÌ„some to a C.M. frankes and had taken fro him thre castelles a good towne and had greatly fortifyed with men vitayls and artyllary all his garysons and townes had sent dyuers tymes letters and messangers in to Englande to the kyng and to his vncles As for the duke of Lancastre was at that tyme in Galyce The couÌ„sayle of FrauÌ„ce had moche a do to prouyde for euery busynesse wherby it was the lengar or the duches of Brabantes ambassade had their answere Finally the duke of Burgoyn made theÌ„ an answere sayd sirs ye shall retourne to your lady our aunte salute her fro vs and delyuer her these the kynges letters ours shewe her that her businesse is ours and let her nat be abasshed for any thyng for she shal be coÌ„forted in suche wyse that she shall well ê‘ceyue that her countre of Brabant shall take no domage nor reproch This fayre answere contented greatly the ambassadours of Brabant Thus they departed returned to Parys and fro theÌ„s to
This was the ende of the kynge of Nauerre And so the poore men of the countrey were quyte of their taylage and delyuered fro payenge there of to Charles his sonne who was a noble good knyght and a yonge and was kynge of Nauerre and crowned kynge the same seasone that I wrote this hystory anone after the obsequy done of his father in the cytie of Paupylona yE haue well herde here before of the treatyes that hadde ben made in the counties of Armynake and dolphenty in Auuergne and Lymozyn who were enemyes to all their neyghbours Many of them were well content to departe for they thought they had warred and trauelled the realme of Fraunce longe ynoughe thynkynge than to goo and robbe and pyll in other places The duke of Armynake promysed theym to leade them in to Lumbardy But the erle of Foyze who wolde nat lyghtly be dysceyued thought the contrary He helde hym selfe styll to se the ende of that busynesse and euer dylygentely enquyred howe the treatyes wente forwarde in those parties and whan these men of warre shulde departe and whyder they shuld drawe And the men of his countrey sayde that the renome was howe they wolde go and rynne a bowfe a robbynge and pyllynge Thanne the Erle caste downe his heed and sayde Alwayes newes rynne amonge of warre The erle of Armynake Bernarde his brother are yonge and I knowe well they loue me nat nor my countrey These men of warre may happe by his meanes to rynne on me and my countrey howe be it I wyll prouyde there fore in suche wyse that I truste I shall take no domage It is sayd longe prouysion before maketh sure possessyon Thus the erle of Foyze sayde to his counsayle and it was no folysshe imagynacyon as it apered after if I maye atteygne to the tretynge therof yE haue herde here before rehersed how Geffrey Tete noyr breton who hadde longe kepte the garyson of the stronge castell of Vandachor in Lymozyn on the fronter of Auuergne Burbonoys wolde in no wyse departe out of the castell for he helde it as his owne propre enherytaunce and had patysed all the countrey there aboute and vnder their patesyng the people labored in pease and reste Thus this Geffrey kepte the estate of a greate lorde He was a cruell man in his dyspleasure he hadde no more pytye to slee a man than a beest Nowe to come to purpose whan the tydinges spred abrode in Auuergne and Lymozyn of the tayle that was gathered in the countreys to the entente to a voyde out of the countrey these men of warre Than it was brewted that the men of warre in the fortresse of Vandachor shulde departe to gyue vp the fortresse to the duke of Berrey By reason of that tydynges the people were contente to pay this tayle But whan they sawe the contrary for the most hurte that they had was by them of the garyson of Vandachor thought the money that they had payed at the first gatherynge but loste and sayd howe they wolde paye no more crosse nor mayle without they of Vandachor were constreyned to departe out of the countrey These tydynges came to the heâ—yng of the duke of Berrey who had all the soueraygne charge of the countrey of Auuerge Lymozyn and Gelnadan Than the duke and his counsayle sayde Surely these poore men haue good cause to saye so and to be lothe to pay their money for nothinge and more ouer sayde howe he hym selfe and his counsayle were to blame that they layde nat a siege aboute that fortresse to kepe them of that garyson fro issuyng out Thanne the duke of Berrey ordeyned at the cost and charge of the countrey foure hundred speares of good men of armes to besiege Vandachor by bastydes And soueraigne capytaynes of that company was syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Iohan Boesme launce a valyaunt knyght of Burbonoyse These men of armes and knyghtes as nere as they myght layde siege to Vandochor and made baâ—tydes in foure places and by men of the countrey they made great trenches and defence vpon the straytes to stoppe their issuinge out But the capytayne Geffrey set lytell therby for he knewe well his garison was well furnysshed with all maner of thynges thoughe there came no newe vytayle to them in seuen yere Also the castell stode in so strong a place vpon a rocke that it coude take no domage for any assawte And for all this siege and bastydes they within wold often tymes issue out by a preuy posterne whiche opened bytwene two rockes so that they wolde issue out vnder couerte and ryde abrod in the countrey and toke prisoners Other thynge they wolde bringe none to their fortresse they coulde nat bycause of the strayte wayes and stronge mountaynes that they must passe by And this issue coulde nat be stopped fro them for the aley vnder couert endured fro their garyson a seuen or eight leages or they came out in to the feldes and whanne they retourned agayne by that tyme they were entered a thre leages they were as sure there as within their castell This maner they vsed a longe season The siege laye more than a yere before the castell ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekynge of Vandachor tyll a nother season and speke of other newe maters THe duke of Burgoyne forgate nat the promise that he had made to his aunte the duches of Brabante He ordayned a foure huÌ„dred men of armes burgonyons and other and made two knyghtes capytayns the one sir Guylliam of Tremoyle burgonyon the other sir Geruays of Merande almayne And the duke sayd to them sirs ye shall go to your charge on the fronters of Brabant and Guerles there as the duches of Brabante wyll apoynt you and make to her enemyes as good warre as ye canne The knyghtes sayde they shulde do their beste to fulfyll his commaundemente They made them redy and gadred their men and wente forthe as soone as they myght and drewe in to Brabante and sente worde of their comynge to the duches of Brabante and so passed through the lande of Lusenburge And than by the ordynaunce of the marshall of Brabant they were sente in to the thre castels that the duke of Guerles chaleÌ„ged and wolde haue againe bycause they had ben layde but to pledge that is to say Buth Gaulyth Nulle There they helde them in garyson and made good fronter warre somtyme rode abrode to encountre their enemyes The duke of Guerles fortefyed hym selfe agaynste them and furnysshed his townes and castels agaynst them for he sawe well the warre was as than open So it fortuned that syr Willyam of Tremoyle desyringe to auaunce hym selfe to do some thynge that myght sownde to his honoure He set his imagyncion on a day on a towne in Guerles a foure leages fro his fortresse this towne was called Seaulle and he shewed secretely his entensyon to syr Geruays of Merande his companyon who lightly accorded to his mynde So they
gathered their company togyder and departed aboute mydnyght and rode a rounde pase too this towne and had guydes that brought them to Seaule by that tyme it was daylight Than they rested them apoynted what they wolde do And as it was shewed me syr Geruays with .xxx. speares went on before for to wynÌ„e the gate and sir Willyam of Tremoyle to folowe after bycause they feared if they shulde haue rydden all togyder to haue been spyed but they thought how they of the towne shulde thynke none other but that they shulde be a certayne nombre of men of armes sent thyder by the duke of Guerles to refresshe the garyson Thus this knyght sir Geruays with .xxx. speares rode before to the towne of Seaulle In the mornynge they founde men and women goynge to the towne for it was markette day they saluted theym in the langage of Almayne and rode forthe The poore men went surely they had been men of the countrey perteynynge to the duke of Guerles that were rydynge to the garyson Syr Geruays and his company rode forthe tyll they came to the gate and founde it open with a small warde it was so erly that the moste parte of the people were in their beddes They rested there and were lordes of the gate Than incontynent sir Willyam of Tremoyle and his route came galopynge thyder as faste as they myght and entred into the towne cryed their cryes Thus the towne was wonne without any defeÌ„ce for the men of the towne thought full lytle that the freÌ„chmen wolde haue done such an enterprise and the moste parte of theÌ„ were in their beddes ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brente and ryfeled the towne of Seaulle retourned to their garyson and of the ioy that the duke of Burgoyne and the duches of Brabante made for that dede howe sir IohnÌ„ Boesme launce discomfyted the englysshmen Cap. C.xvii THis enterprise was done on the nyght of saynt Marten in wynter and a thre dayes before there came thyder a knyght of EnglaÌ„de with ten speares and .xxx. archers sente by the kynge of Englande This knyght was called syr Guylliam Fykaole Whan the larum began he was rysinge out of his bed He herde that the towne was wonne and demauÌ„ded by whome he was aunswered that it was done by bretons Ah ê™ the knight bretons are yuell people they wyll burne and pyll the towne than departe What crye do they crye syr ê™ they they crye on Tremoyle Than the englysshe knyght closed the castell and helde hym selfe his company within to se if any reskewe came but euery man was so abasshed that they fled hyther thyder The poore people fledde in to the mynster and some auoyded the towne by another gate the frenchmen sette fyre in the towne in dyuerse places howe be it there were many howses of stone and bricke that the fyre coulde nat lighty burne them The moste parte of the towne was brent pylled and robbed so that nothyng was lefte that was good the rychest men of the towne taken prisoners The englysshe knyght was taken at laste For whan he sawe that all was lost he opened the howse that he was in for he douted the fyre whan he sawe the flames and smoke in euery corner of the towne and so came out with his penon before hym and his company archers and other and there valiauntly defended them selfes a longe season But fynally he was taken and yelden prisoner to sir Guylliam of Tremoyle and all his company taken but fewe slayne Whan the frenchemen had done their wylles with the towne of Seaulle in Guerles and their varlettes driuing their pyllage before them they departed for they thought it foly too a byde there and went to their garison fro wheÌ„ce as they came Thus the duke of Guerles had the first buffet and domage wherwith he was sore dyspleased whan he knewe therof and so came thyder with a great nombre of menne of warre and thought well to haue founde there the frenche men but they were gone Than he newe renpayred the towne and furnished it with newe men of warre who were more dilygeÌ„t to kepe the towne thanne they that were there before Thus daily the adueÌ„tures of warre fell some loste one daye and some another The duches of Brabante and all tho of her countrey were gretly reioysed of this aduenture and sir Gillyam of Tremoyle and syr Geruais of Merande atchyued great grace Than they of the countrey sayde that in the nexte sommer folowyng they wolde wynne it agayne Whan the duke of Burgoyne herde these tydinges and howe that his men that were in garyson in Brabant dyd well and valyauntly he was gladde therof and to incorage theym he wrote pleasaunt letters often tymes to syr Guylliam his knyght Thus they taryed there all that wynter kepinge well their fronters defendynge them selfe fro domage And after the castelles and forteresses of Guerles were better taken hede vnto than they were before Nowe shall I shewe you of another enterprise that Perote of Bernois dyde in Auuergne where he gate gret profite and by what meanes he dyd it I shall shewe we you at lenght IT fortuned the same yere and season aboute the tyme of the myddes of Maye a .xl. companyons aduenturers issued out of Caluset the whiche Perot of Bernoys helde This fortresse stode in Lymozyn These companyons rode forthe at aduenture in to Auuergne and a Gascoyne squyer was their capytayne called Geronet Durante an experte man of armes And bycause the countrey was alwayes in doute of the men of warre that were on the fronters of Burbonoys there was a knyght of the duke of Burgoynes called syr Iohan Boesme Launce a gracyouse and an amorous knyght hauynge great corage to auaunce hymselfe Whyle these englysshe men rode a brode he demanÌ„ded what nombre they were of And it was shewed hym howe they were aboute a .xl. speares What quod he it is lytell to regarde for .xl. speares I wyll set as many against them and so departe fro thence as he was as than and went there as his chefe charge was and that was before Vandachor He gate togyder a .xl. or a fifty speares of Lymozyn and Auuergne and Burbonoyse and with hym there was a knyght called sir Loys Dambter and also sir Loys Dabton and the lorde of saynte Obyse And so toke the feldes without kepyng of any high way they knewe the countrey came to a passage where their enemyes muste nedes passe by reasone of the mountaynes and ryuers whiche were greate and depe by occasion of the snowe fallyng fro the mountayns They had nat ben there halfe an hour but that thenglysshment came thyder and was nat ware of that rencountre Than Boesme launce and his coÌ„pany cauched their speares and came agaynst their enemyes and cryed their cryes whan the englisshment sawe howe they must nedes fight they turned their faces to their enemyes defended them selfe There was a sore rencountre
vs a blanke and let vs go home and warme vs it is paste a leuen of the clocke The yonge man coueted the money and toke it and they departed fro their watche and wente to their owne houses Than Geronet and his company watched at their hostes dore to se whan the watch men shulde retourne Than they sawe whan the yonge man came fro the watche and the watche men with hym Than Geronet sayde the mater goeth well this is lyke to be a good nyght for vs euery manne in the towne is as nowe gone to bedde the watche is paste we nede to take no care for that And on the other parte I am sure Perotte le Bernoys and his company are rydynge hyder warde as fast as they may And in dede the same tyme they were comynge and came nere to Cleremounte and mette with Aymergotte Marcell with a hundred speres capytayne of the fortresse of Alose besyde saint Floure whan eche of them knewe other they made good chere and demaunded eche other whyder they wolde and what they sought in that countrey Amergot aunswered and said I come fro my fortresse of Alose and ame goynge to Carlate In the name of god sayd two of the capytaynes the Bourge Angloys and the Bourge Compaigne Sir we be here wolde ye any thynge speke wyth vs yea quod Amerigot ye haue certayne prysoners of the countre of Dolphyn of Auuergne and ye knowe well we be in treatynge togyther by the meanes of the erle of Armynake wherfore we wold gladly make an exchaunge with certayne prisoners that I haue in my garyson I am sore desyred thus to do by the coūtes of Dolphyn who is a right good lady and is well worthy to be done pleasure vnto than the Bourge of Compaigne sayd Aymergotte ye are greatly bounde to do some pleasure to that lady for within this thre yere ye hadde of her syluer thre hundred frankes for the redemynge of the castell of Mercyer But syr I pray you where is therle Dolphyn at this season Syr quod the other it is shewed me that he is in Fraunce comunynge vpon the treatie that ye know that we be in hande with the erle of Armynake and with erle Dolphyn Than Perot le Bernoys sayde Sir leaue thir comunynge and come on with vs and it shall be for your profyte and ye shall haue parte of our botye Sir quod Aymergot and whyder go you than By my fayth sir quod Perot we go streyght to Mount ferante for this nyght the towne shall be yelden to me than Aymerygot sayd syr this is yuell done that ye go aboute for ye knowe well we be in treatie with the erle of Armynake and with this coūtrey wherfore all townes and castels rekeneth themselfe halfe assured wherfore we shall be greatly blamed thus to do and ye shall breke out treatye By my faythe quod Perot as for me I wyll agre to no treatye as longe as I maye kepe the feldes it behoueth companyons to lyue come on your way with vs for ye shall haue nothynge to do at Carlat for here be the companyons of that fortresse and suche as be left behynd wyll nat suffre you to entre till their company come home Well ser quod Aymerigot with you wyll I nat go but I wyll returne agayne in to my fortresse syth the mater is thus Thus they de parted one fro a nother Perot helde the waye to Mountferant and whan they were vnder Cleremount there they rested them and imagyned on a newe enterprise specially certayne of the gascoyns who knewe nat of the enterprise of Geronet Than they sayd to the capytayns Sirs beholde here this cytie of Cleremonte the whiche is a ryche cytie and rather more prignable than Mount ferant we haue ladders here let vs scale it we shall haue more profyte here than at Mount ferante To this poynte they were nere a greed but thanne the chefe capytayns sayd Sirs Cleremonte is a puissant towne and well peopled and the men well harnessed if they be ones moued they wyl assemble togyther and put theym selfe to defēce it is no doute but we shulde haue no great aduaunatage by them And if we shulde be reculed perforce and our horse taken or loste we shulde yuell escape for we be farre fro home and if the coūtrey than shulde ryse and pursue vs we shulde be in great daunger we thynke it were better to go on forthe and folowe our fyrst enterprise for the sekynge of a newe enterprise per aduenture myght cost vs dere THis counsayle was taken and so rode forthe without makynge of any noyse so that aboute .xi. of the clocke they were nere to Mount ferant Whan they sawe the towne they stode styll a thre bowe shot of fro the towne Than Perotte sayde beholde here is Mount ferant our company that went before are with in the towne kepe you all styll here close to gyder and I wyll go downe this valaye to se if I may se or here any newes of Geronet who hathe brought vs to this enterpryse and departe nat tyll I come to you agayne sir quod they go your waye we shall abyde you here Therwith Perot departed four with hym The wether was so darke that no man coulde se an acre brede fro hym and also it rayned blewe and snewe that it was a meruaylouse yuell wether Geronet was as than on the walles and taryed to here some newes He loked dowe ouer the walles and as he thought he sawe the shadowe of some men goynge a long by the dyke syde than he began a lytle to why stell softely And whā they without herde that they came nerer to the wall for the dykes on that syde hadde no water Than Geronet demaūded who was there without Perot knew his voyce and sayd I am Perot le Bernoys Geronet art thou there yea sir quod he I am here Make you redy and aproche your men for I shall lette you in here in to the towne for all tho within the towne be a slepe in their beddes What quod Perot shulde we entre here where as ye stande god kepe me fro that I wyll nat entre there if I entre I wyll entre in at the gate and at none other place No wyll quod Geronette and I assure you that lyeth nat in my power to do but syr bring your ladders hyder and spare nat sckale for I assure you there is none shall let you Well quod Perot thou haste promysed to lette me in to the towne but surely I wyll nat entre without it be by the gate Well quod Geronet and I can nat a mende it for I can nat lette you in at the gate it is faste shytte and the kepers be within but they be a slepe Whyle they were at this stryfe certayne of Geronettes cōpany within went vp downe vpon the walles to se if they myght here any noyse A lytell there by there was a poore house at the foote of
was blamed defamed and hated in Englande as well as in Fraunce Whan the frenche kynge had concluded to sende for the duke of Irelande the lorde of Coucy spake as moche agaynst it as he myght but there were so many reasons layde to hym and also bycause the kyng wolde haue it that he was contente to suffre it The frenche kynge who was but yong desyred greatly to se the duke of Irelande bycause he was reputed to be a good knyght and also bycause it was sayd howe he was so well beloued with the kynge of Englande Thanne he was sente for by a knyght and a clerke a notary of the kynges Whan the Duke of Irelande herde fyrste howe the frenche kynge had sente for hym he had maruayle therof and hadde dyuerse imagynacyons for what entente he shulde be sente for in to Fraunce howe be it fynally he thought the myght go surely in to Fraunce to se the kynge by reason of his saueconducte and to returne agayne at his pleasure Than he departed fro Trecte and rode forthe with theym that the kynge had sent to hym and rode so longe that they came to Paris for as than the kyng was there in his castell of Lowre There the duke was well receyued of the kynge and of his vncles The frenche kynge desyred him to abyde there styll and apoynted hym a place to kepe his house astate in for the duke had ynough so to do for he had conueyed out of Englande good ynough And also the constable of Fraūce ought hym certayne money for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretayne the whiche was nat all payed as than Thus the duke wente whan it pleased hym to se the kynge and hadde good chere and at all feastes iustes and triumphes the duke was alwayes sente for ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Constable of Fraunce wolde nat acorde that the king shulde go in to Almayne bycause of the insydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons made alyaunce with the kyng of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C.xxv YE haue herde before howe the erle de Stampes was sent in to Bretayne by the duke of Berrey thynkynge to haue brought the duke of Bretayne with fayre wordes to his mynde and entensyon But he coulde nat brynge it aboute but retourned agayne without atteynynge any thynge of his purpose wherof they in Fraunce were greatly abasshed and specially suche as were of the kinges coūsayle for they knewe well the kyng had great desyre to go in to Almayne to se the landes of his cosyns the duke of Iulyers and to be reuenged of the hygh wordes and cruell defyaunces of the duke of Guerles The wyse men of the counsayle of Fraunce suche as conceyued well the mater imagyned therin great parell to the realme for they clerely perceyued howe the duke of Bretayne wolde in no wyse condyscende to reason but helde styll his purpose They thought it was greatly preiudycyall to the honoure of the realme of Fraunce for hym to take the constable of Fraunce and to sette hym at raunsome at a hundred thousande frankes and to kepe thre of his castelles and a good towne And also they sawe howe the duke of Bretayne was makynge of great alyaunces with the kynge of Englande and knewe well howe the duke fortifyed greatly his townes and castels in Bretayne and went aboute to get hym frendes in dyuers partyes in so moche that many of the noble menne of Bretayne wyste nat what to do outher to go in to Fraunce or to a byde there styll with the duke and to take his parte agaynst the kynge or the realme of Fraunce the whiche they neuer thought to do for the moste parte of the knyghtes and Squyers of Bretaygne were alwayes good frenche But the counsayle of Fraunce doubted that if the kynge wente out of the realme with his puyssaunce the whiche he muste nedes do if he shulde goo in to Almaygne that than the duke of Bretayne to bring in to his countrey the englysshmen outher at saynte Malowe at saynt Mathewes or at Lamballe or Camperle or Lantriguier at Guerrando or Bownte or at Wennes or on the see coste For the englysshemen coulde nat haue a better entre in to Fraunce than by Bretayne So that they knewe nat the kynges honour saued howe to breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose Some of the kynges counsayle sayde it shall be to the kynges dyshonour if he breke nat the dukes purpose for the duke is nat lorde peasably ouer his owne countrey for we thynke the lordes knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne wyll nat be agaynst vs to mayntayne the dukes opynion therfore in the name of god lette the kynge kepe on his voyage and lette the constable and other lordes a byde in their countreys and defende the Realme This opynyon was well vpholde with many of the kynges counsayle but than some other sayde naye therto and sayde howe the kyng coulde nat well go out of his realme without he had his constable with hym for he is more wyser and hathe more experyence in warre than a great nombre of other Thus they argued Than some other sayd lette two of the kynges vncles go or one of them at the lest and layde it to the duke of Burgoyne that he shulde go with two thousande speares and syre or seuen thousande of other men of warre and sayde it was moste metest for hym to go for that warre touched hym nere bycause it moued by reasone of the duchy of Brabante and that he shulde haue with him them of Brabante of whome he shulde fynde in nombre to the some of seuen hundred speares and .xx. or thurty thousande of other comons of the countrey of Brabante Than a nother sorte sayde sirs your opynyons be nat good for the kyng wyll go he nameth hymselfe the chyefe of this warre for he is defyed wherfore he muste go consydrynge the charge is his it is good that he go for he is yonge and the more he contynueth the warre the better he shall loue it than some other sayd Who is he that is so hardy to counsayle the kynge to go in to Almayne in to so farre a countrey amonge theym that be hyghe and prowed people and great parell it is to entre vpon them And if the kynge were entred yet it were great daunger the retournynge agayne for whan they shall knowe the kynge and all the nobles of Fraunce to be entred in to their countrey they wyll than assemble all togyder and kepe suche a countrey as they knowe and we nat and so they maye do vs great domage for they are couetous people aboue all other And they haue no pytie if they haue the vpper hande and are harde and yuell handelers of their prisoners and putteth them to sondry paynes to compell theym to make their raunsomes the greater and if they haue a lorde or a great man to
their prisoner they make great ioye therof and wyll conuey hym in to Boesme or in to Austryche or in to Xasenne and kepe hym in some castell inhabytable They are people worse than sarazins or paynyms for their excessyue couetousnesse quencheth the knowledge of honoure Lette vs go and put the kynge in daunger amonge these people and if any thynge happen to fall a mysse as the chaunces of fortune are maruaylous what shall be sayde than howe we haue brought the kynge thyder to betray him and to the dystructyon of the realme and nat for the augmentynge therof God defende the realme fro all domage and parell If the kyng go he muste haue parte of his noble men with hym And if mysse fortune fall the realme of Fraunce is loste without recouery Therfore loke wysely if it be good to counsayle the kyng to go that voyage in to Almayne Than some other suche as had wysely coniected all parelles in their imagynacyons sayd In the name of god lette nother the kynge go nor yet sende thyder no puyssaunce For though the duke of Guerles who is but yonge and that youthe of wytte haue made hym to defye the kynge whiche was nat done by no greate wysdome nor good counsayle but rather done by folissh pride of yonge people who wolde flye or they haue wynges And sythe he hathe thus defyed the kynge lette hym alone and suffre hym to pursewe his desyaunce the realme of Fraunce is great if he entre in to the realme in any maner of wyse the kinge shall sone be enfourmed therof and than he shall haue a iuste cause to styre vp his people and to go and fyght agaynste hym where so euer he fynde hym or els to make hym flye or yelde hym in the felde and therby the kynge shall haue more honour and lesse charge than to go in to Guerles for suche as knowe the countrey saye that or we can come to the duke if he lyste we must passe a foure great ryuers the lyste of them as great as the ryuer of Loyre at Namurs or Charite Also they say it is a fowle countrey and yuell lodgynges THe noble men and counsaylouts of Fraunce were thus in dyuers imagynacyons on this voyage that the kynge wolde make in to Almayne and surely it had ben auaunsed the soner forwarde and they had nat douted the venym that myght growe by the occasyon of Bretayne and of the duke there that mater drewe theym a backe And indede they had good cause to doute it for the duke of Bretayne was well infourmed of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles hadde made to the Frenche kynge and howe that the yonge kinge Charles wolde go in to Almayne The duke loked for nothyng els but that the kynge shulde be ones departed out of his Realme of Fraunce he hadde ordeyned and concluded bytwene hym and the englysshe men to suffre the englisshe army to entre in to his countrey And also he had by subtyle meanes drawen to his acorde the moste parte of the good townes of Bretaygne and specyally Nauntes Wennes Rennes Lentriguier Guerrādo Lambale saynte Malo and saynte Mathewe defyn poterne but the noble men he coulde nat gette to his opynyon Than the duke imagyned if the lordes shulde go with the constable of Fraunce in to Almayne thanne his warre and entente shulde the soner come to passe He caused his townes and castels to be well prouyded for with vytayles and artyllary and he shewed well howe he inclyned rather to the warre than to haue pease Also he had great alyaunce with Charles they yonge kyng of Nauerre and the duke promysed hym that if he might come to his entent to haue puyssaunce of men of armes and archers out of Englāde he wolde bringe them streight in to Normandy and recouer fyrst the good townes and castels that kynge Charles of Fraunce vncle to the kynge of Nauerre had taken fro hym by his men as the lorde of Coucy and outher Of this the kynge of Nauer had great trust and by reason therof he helde in humble loue the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon for bytwene theym was great alyaunces And of all this I sawe great apparence as I shall shewe after IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght the seuenth daye of Aprell it was concluded by the kynge of Englande and his counsayle and by his vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre that the erle Rycharde of Arundell shulde be heed and chefe of an army on the see with hym a thousande men of armes and thre thousande archers and to be at Hamton the fyftene day of May and there to fynde his nauy redy apparelled And euery man that was apoynted to go to be there redy at that daye And the kynge of Englande on saynte Georges daye nexte after helde a great feast at his castell of Wyndesore And there were the chefe lordes that shulde go with therle of Arundell and there they toke their leaues of the kynge and of the quene and of all other ladyes and so came to Hampton at their daye apoynted and entred in to their shyppes the twenty day of May whiche was a fayre clere day There was the erle of Arundell the erle of Notyngham the Erle of Deuonshyre syr Thomas Percy the lorde Clifforde sir Iohn̄ of Ware wyke sir Willyam de la Selle the lorde Cameux syr Stephyn de Libery syr Willyam Helman syr Thomas Moreaur syr Iohan Dambreticourt syr Roberte Sere sir Peter Mountbery sir Loys Clombo sir Thomas Coq syr Willyam Pulle and dyuers other They were of good men of armes a thousand speares and aboute a thre thousande archers They had with theym no horses for they trusted if they might come to their ententes to entre in to Bretayne and there to refresshe them where as they shulde fynde horses ynowe at a good price to serue them The daye that they departed fro Hampton was so fayre and peasable that it was meruayle they drewe towardes Normādy nat purposyng to lande in any parte but to passe by the fronters of Normandy and Bretayne tyll they herde other newes They had in their nauy certayne vessels called Ballengers who sayled on before to se if they myght fynde any aduenture in lyke maner as knyghtes do by lande go before the bataylles to dyscouer the coūtrey and enbusshes ¶ Nowe we shall leaue a season of spekynge of this army and speke somwhat of the busynesse of Guerles Brabant and shewe howe the siege was layde to Graue ¶ Howe the brabansoys layde siege to the towne of Graue And howe the constable of Fraunce toke saynte Malo and saynte Mathewes and set there men in garyson and howe the duke of Lancastre was at Bayon greatly dyscomforted in that he coulde gette no maner of ayde Cap. C.xxvi AS it hath been shewed here before of the auncyent dukes of Guerles howe the eldest sonne of the duke of
Guerlâ—s of whome I treat at this present tyme was maryed to the doughter of Berthalce of Malynes therby to bringe him out of daunger and to redeme againe his herytage the whiche was in sore trouble before and the duke of Guerles sonne to the duke of Iulyers to entertayne and to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys as he had cause and iuste tytle Whan he sawe howe he coulde nat gette agayne his thre castels Gauleth Buth and Nulle on the ryuer of Muse pertaynynge to his herytage and to the countrey of Guerles thought than to attrybute the towne of Graue to his herytage for euer this duke had a bastarde doughter maryed to the sonne of the lord Bruke who was enherytour to the towne of Graue So there was an amyable treatye bytwene them as bytwene the fader and the sonne and there the lorde of Bruke gaue the towne and sygnory of Graue to the duke of Guerles in presence of the knyghtes of Guerles and Iuliers and for that cause the duke of Guerles dyd recompence the lorde of Bruke with the landes of Bresde on the ryuer of Lighen in the duchy of Guerles marchyng on the countrey of Holande aboue Brabaunte At this towne of Bresde there was a fayre castell and the towne great and profytable how be it the towne of Graue was better This the duke of Guerles dyd to the entent to haue a iuste tytle to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys The duches of Brabant and the brabansoys said howe the lorde of Bruke had it but to pledge and that they myght quyte it out whan they wolde but the duke of Guerles sayd nayetherto By reason wherof the warre moued So that in the moneth of May the brabansoys came and layde syege to the towne of Graue with many lordes knyghtes and squyers and with the puyssaunce of other good townes in Brabante And thyder they brought engyns springals and other habylimentes of warre They were a .xl. thousande one and other there was skrymysshynge dayly The towne of Graue standeth on the ryuer of Muese on the syde of Brabante and there is a bridge ouer the ryuer to go in to the countrey of Guerles At this siege euery thynge was plenty and as good chepe of euery thynge as though they had been before Brusels Euery day there was skrymysshynge at the barryers of Graue of suche as wolde aduenture them selfe Sometyme they were put a backe and some tyme they droue their enemyes in to their towne as chaunce of aduenture fell The duke of Guerles was well infourmed of this siege He laye a foure leages fro Nymarse and wrote often tymes in to Englande where he trusted to haue socoure by reason of the englysshe army wherof the erle of Arundell was capytayne on the see as sone as wynde and wether wyll serue them to come to Guerles to reyse the syege before Graue The duke of Guerles knewe well that the towne of Graue was strong and well forty fyed so that he thought it coulde nat be wonne by none assaute but outher by trayson or by treatye He trusted theym of Gruae to be sure and faythfull to hym Thus the siege endured longe before Grane And the erle of Arundels army was on the see and tooke no lande but styll kepte on the fronters of Normandy So that the normans fro agaynst Mounte saynte Mychell and downe alonge to Depe to saynt Valery and to Croty were nat well assured wherto they shuld take hede The portes and hauens of Normandy were refresshed by the frenche kynge with good men of armes and crose bowes to resyste agaynste all parelles And by the marshall of Blankewyll was sette in the towne of Carentyne standyge on the see whiche before of olde tyme pertayned to the herytage of kynge Charles of Nauerre the lorde of Ambre and the lorde Coucy two gret lordes of Normandy And the Constable of Fraunce toke the towne of saynte Malo and the towne of saynte Mathews and as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men were on the see they sette men in to those townes in the name of the frenche kyng In this season they thought surely to haue open warre with the duke of Bretayne for the knyghtes and squyers sayde that the armye on the see of the englysshmen were sente thyder for none other purpose but sente for by the duke of Bretayne to lande in his countrey They sayd it was none other lykely for alwayes the shyppes kepte on the coste of Bretaygne without force of wethersome tyme caused them to departe yet alwayes breuely they retourned agayne to the same coste yE haue herde here before howe the duke of LaÌ„castre was departed out of the realmes of Castyle and Portugale the imagynacyons that he had turned hym to great dyspleasure for he sawe well his busynesse was sore troubled and darked as fortune often tymes falleth in sondrie ê‘sons somtyme good somtyme yuell whan it is lest thought on For whan the duke of Lancastre departed out of the realme of Englande acoÌ„panyed with good meÌ„ of armes and archers he thought than to haue sped otherwise than he dyde He sawe and herde howe that in xv dayes he had loste all Galyce whiche was a long season or he had won it the space of xvi wekes And besyde that his men deed sparcled abrode some here and soÌ„e there and hoped of no conforte out of EnglaÌ„de for the Englysshmen were wery of the warre of Spaygne They thought it ouer long and farre of fro them So the duke of Lancastre thought his busynesse in a harde case seyng no comforte he spake lytell but he thought moche more In his ymaginacyon he lyconed his iourney to the voiage that the duke of Aniou made in to the realme of Naples For whan he departed out of the realme of Fraunce he was well furnysshed of all maner of thyng and wente with great richesse puissaunce a great nombre of noble men of armes knightes and sâ—â—uiers at the ende all were slayne and lost Thus the duke of Lancastre reckoned his vâ—yage to come to nothynge by reason of suche disconforte as he had The erle of Foiz Who was in his countre of Bierne and was eight sage and ymaginatyue sayd and accompeed the duke of Lacasters vyage but lost as inrecoueryng of the realme of Castyle whiche he chalenged The duke of Lacastre who was a sage and a wise prince and valyaunt amonge all his disconfytures yet somtyme he toke coÌ„forte to hym selfe I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes He sawe well he had a fayre doughter by the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to done Peter kyng of Castyle in whose right and clayme he made his warre in Castyle He thought thoughe fortune were agaynst hym at that tyme yet it myght tourne good to his doughter who was fayre and yonge for she had ryght to the heritage of Castyle by reason of her mother and thought that some valyaunt man of Fraunce wolde
many metynges to coÌ„mune toguyder as well of the state of Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go as of the duke of Bretaygne whom they coude bring to no reason nor wolde nat obey nor wyste nat whom to sende to hym that he wolde beleue for there hadde ben many valyant men and sage with hym but all that aueyled nothyng for they coude bring nothyng to passe as they desyred wherof the kyng his counsaile was sore troubled For they vnderstode well that the duke of Bretaygne had all that wynter prouyded and fortifyed his townes and castelles and shewed howe by lykehode he hadde rather haue warre than peace and the wysest of the counsayle sayd We speke of goynge in to Almayne but we ought rather to speke of goynge in to Bretaygne and to putte downe the duke there who is so highe mynded that he wyll here no reasone and is alwayes agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce and disdayneth to be obedyent thervnto we shal haue no reason of hym without we force him therto For and if he be suffred he wyll be to presumptuous he feareth no man nor he loueth nor prayseth no man but hym selfe this is a clere case If the kynge go in to Almaygne and leaue his realme bare of men as he muste do if he go thyder The duke of Bretaigne than wyll suffre the Englisshe men to come in to his countrey so entre in to FrauÌ„ce The apparaunce herof is great for there is all redy a great army of archers on the see and they kepe styll on the coste of Bretaygne for if wynde and wether putte theym of yet euer they drawe thyder agayne lyeth there at ancre besemyng taryeng tyll the warre be opyn Wherfore we thynke it were good yet to sende agayne to the duke the bisshoppe of Langers and the erle of saynt Poule for the duke and the erle haue maryed two susters Naye sirs nat so ê™ maister yues who was a very Breton If ye wyll sende to the duke agayne ye can not sende one more agreable to hym than the lorde of Coucy for in lykewyse they haue maryed two susters haue loued marueylously togyder and haue euer written eche to other Fayre brother with the lorde of Coucy sende whom ye wyll well quod the duke of Burgoyne Maister yues sithe ye haue begon name you the rest Sir with right a good wyll sithe it pleaseth you With the lorde of Coucy sende sir Iohan of Vyen and the lorde de la Ryuer These be suche thre lordes as shall bring hym to reason if he wyll euer come to any Thus let it be ê™ the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne than they were apoynted and charged what they shulde saye whervpon they shulde groude their mater and to handell hym by fayre wordes Thus they taryed a certayne space or they departed fro Parys The duke of Bretayne knewe well of their comyng or they deê‘ted fro Parys but he coude nat tell whan And he sawe well the mater touched highlye in that the lorde of Coucy came The duke had many ymaginacyons on that mater and discouered his mynde to certayne of his couÌ„sayle as the lorde of Mountbouchier demaunded counsayle of hym and of other and sayd Sirs I here as the brute roÌ„ueth that the duke of LaÌ„castre shulde mary his doughter in to Fraunce to the duke of Berrey and the mater is so forwarde that sir Helyon of Lignacke is goyng to the duke to Bayon the duke greatly enclyneth to this maryage wherof I haue great marueyle for my fayre brother of Lancastre hath nat written to me therof so that I knowe nothyng of the mater but by heryng saye He was nat accustomed so to do for in all his maters touchyng FrauÌ„ce he was wount to write to me than his couÌ„sayle answered and said Sir if it be thus it must behoue you to chauÌ„ge your purpose or els it shal be greatly to your losse and daunger and bring your couÌ„tre in to warre whiche were good to eschewe For ye nede nat to make warre sythe ye maye be in peace yea and desyred therto Also my lady your wyâ—e is great with chylde the whiche ye ought to regarde The kynge of Nauer can but tytell ayde you for he hath ynoughe to do for hym selfe Also the duke of LaÌ„castre who is a sage and a valyant prince as it is sayd shall mary his doughter to the duke of Berrey This shal be a gret begynnyng to entre in to a treatie of peace bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce or elles a longe truse And by reason therof ye shall se at the ende the kyng of Castell putte out of his realme as they haue kepte hym in and the rather if the duke of Lancastre and the Englysshe men be agreed with hym and also it is of trouthe that the lorde Coucye admyrall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer are coÌ„myng hyder ye maye well knowe that is for some great cause touchynge the kyng who busyeth hym selfe for his coÌ„stable and for his Realme And by lykelyhode the kynge and his vncles wyll knowe presisely what ye wyll do and wheder ye wyll kepe styll your opinyon or nat And if ye kepe styll your purpose it is to be ymagined that the great armye that is prepared for to go in to Guerles shall tourne agaynst you Nowe remembre well what conforte ye are likely to haue yf ye haue warre with Fraunce whiche ye are moost lykely to haue if the duke of Lancaster marry his doughter into FrauÌ„ce as be semyng he wyll for he can nat bestowe her better to recouer her herytage Also ye knowe well that the moost parte of the prelates barons knyghtes and squyers and cyties and good townes are in maner ye agaynst you Therfore sir sithe ye demaunde counsayle of vs We saye that ye had neuer so moche cause to aduyse you as ye haue nowe Therfore putte to your hande to kepe well your herytage whiche hath cost the shedyng of so moche blode sweate and traueyle and refrayne somwhat your yre and hatered We knowe well ye beare great dyspleasure to sir Olyuer Clysson he hath done you many displeasures and ye hym paraduenture may do though he be nat lyke vnto you the FreÌ„che kynge and his vncles wyll maynteygne hym agaynst you for he shall he Constable And if kynge Charles that laste dyed who loued hym so well hadde lyued and ye done as ye haue done We knowe well it shulde rather haue cost the kynge halfe his realme thanne he wolde haue suffred it But kynge Charles his sonne is yonge he taketh nat â—o good hede to all maters nowe as he wolde do tenne yeres here after He cometh on and ye shall go If ye encre in to a newe warre agaynst the Frenche men besyde all that we haue shewed you ye shall do it without our counsayle and without the counsayle of any man that loueth you It behoueth you to dissemule whatsoeuer ye
and after mounted on their horses and rode to the dukes castell called la Mote where they fouÌ„de the duke who came agaynst them and receyued theÌ„ right ioyously and sayd Howe they were all right hertely welcome and toke the lorde of Coucy by the hande and made hym good chere sayde Fayre brother ye be welcome I am gladde to se you in Bretayne I shall shewe you sporte of huntyng at hartes and flyeng with haukes or we deê‘te a soÌ„dre Sir quod the lorde of Coucy I thanke you I and my company shall be gladde to se it There was shewed bytwene them great lykelyhode of loue and the duke brought hym to his chambre sportyng and talkyng of many ydell matters as lordes do often tymes whan they mete and haue nat sene toguyder longe before they wyll fynde many sondrie pastymes and specially I knewe four lordes the best entertayners of all other that euer I knewe That was the duke of Brabant the erle of Foiz the erle of Sauoy and in especiall the lorde of Coucy For accordynge to myne aduyse in all goodly pastymes he was a souerayne maister â— whiche brute he bare amonge all lordes and ladyes in Fraunce in Englande in Almaygne in Lombardy and in all places where as he had ben conuersant And in his tyme he had been sore traueyled sene moche in the worlde and also he was naturally enclyned to be gentyll thus whyle these lordes were mery talkynge toguyder there was brought spyces and wyne and so they dranke and than toke their leaues and retourned to their lodgynges Thus the mater went for the the fyrst day without makyng of any mencyon of any thyng that they were come for NOwe let vs somwhat speke of sir Helyon of Lygnacke whom the duke of Berrey hadde sent to the duke of Lancastre The knyght came to Bayon and a lyghted at his lodgynge and apparelled hymselfe to go and speke with the duke of LaÌ„castre who knewe well of his coÌ„myng and sent right honourably two of his knyghtes to mete with hym and they brought hym to the duke And whan sir Helyon was in the dukes presens he kneled downe and saluted hym as it aperteyned The duke receyued hym right honorably and tooke hym vp in his armes toke hym by the hande and ledde hym in to his chaÌ„bre for he mette hym in the hall Thanne the knyght delyuered his letters fro the duke of Berry The duke reed them and thanne he drewe to sir Helyon and the knight declared to him the cause of his coÌ„myng Than the duke answered right courtesly and sayd Sir ye be right welcome and sayd howe the mater was weyghtie that he was coÌ„e for wherfore it requyred counsaile and delyberacion Thus sir Helyon taryed at Bayon with the duke of Lancastre more than a moneth and alwayes he was serued with fayre wordes And the duke alwayes foded hym forthe and made semblant that he had great affection to treate for this mariage with the duke of Berrey Howe be it the trouthe was coÌ„trary for all that he shewed was but dissymulacion and the cause that he was helde there so long with hym was for none other thing but that the brute therof myght ronne abrode and specially in to the realme of Castyle for there lay all his affection The duke sayde to sir Helyon Sir if I treat with the duke of Berrey to haue my doughter in maryage thanÌ„e he must ioyne with me with all his puysauÌ„ce to encounter myne aduersaries of Spayne If he wyll recouer the heritage of my doughter whom he shulde haue to wyfe Than sir Helyon sayd Sir I haue no charge to confyrme any thynge so forwarde But sir if it please you or I deê‘te ye maye write all your pleasure by me and I shall returne shewe my lorde the duke of Berrey all your entent And I am sure he hath suche affection to the mater he wyll agree to euery thynge that he may do by reason I desyre no more quod the duke of Lancastre Thus sir Helyon of Lygnacke taryed a season at Bayon and had good chere made hym by the dukes coÌ„maundement ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle sente his ambassadours to the duke of LaÌ„castre to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene his sonne and the dukes doughter and howe at the requeste of the duke of Berrey a truse was made by the duke of Lancastre in the countreys of Tholousyn and Rouergne Cap. C .xxix. TIdingê came in to the realme of Castyle in to dyuerse places and specyally to kyng Iohan of Castyle and it was sayde to hym Sir ye knowe nothyng of the treatye that is bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey wolde haue in maryage the lady Katheryne doughter to the duke of Lancastre and to the lady Custance his wyfe And if this maryage take effecte as it is lyke to do it shal be a great alyaunce For the duke of Berrey is nowe as one of the chiefe rulers in the realme of Fraunce and is vncle to the kyng He shal be beleued what soeuer he saye or purpose to do as it is reason wheder is be by meanes of peace or longe truse On the other parte the duke of Lancastre is eldest of all his bretherne that be vncles to the kyng He shall also be beleued for he is sage and puyssauÌ„t and by that it semeth the Englysshmen are wery of the warre This maryage bytwene the Duke of Lancasters doughter and the duke of Berrey is lykely to be a great meane to make a good peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande and than shal we here sticke styll in the warre for the duke of LaÌ„castre wyll folowe and pursue his chalenge of the realme of Castyle and the right that he hath by his wyfe he shall gyue it to his doughter and so than shall we haue warre bothe with Fraunce and Englande These doutes were layde to the kynge of Castyle And at that tyme all the Frenchmen that had serued long in the realme of Castyle were retourned in to Fraunce and the chiefe of the kynge of Castyls counsayle sayd to hym sir take hede to vs. ye neuer had so great nede of good counsayle as ye haue at this presente tyme. For sir a peryllousmyst is lyke to be engendred bytwene you and the duke of LaÌ„castre and that shall come by the meanes of FrauÌ„ce Howe so quod the kyng howe may that be In the name of god sir quod they the brute and renome spredeth throughe all this countrey and els where howe the duke of Berrey shall mary the duke of LaÌ„casters doughter And sir ye maye be sure that shall nat be but by the meanes of a great alyauÌ„ce so that therby here after ye maye be as farre cast behynde by them as ye haue ben auaunced Whan the kyng of Castyle knewe those tidynges he was right pensyue sawe well howe his counsayle shewed hym the trouthe Than he demaunded rounsayle of
nat to hastely his entente but sayd Sirs it wyll be very harde to make peace in that place where as great hatered and warre is resydent and specially with them that be disheryted and kepte from their herytage Sayeng howe he wolde nat leaue the warre withoute he myght haue the crowne of Castyle the whiche he sayde was his right The frere and the bisshoppe sayd Sir bytwene your right and the ryght of the kynge our lorde there is but one meane and we haue founde it if it may please you What waye is that quod the duke Sir quod they it is this ye haue by my lady youre wyfe a feyre yonge lady to marry and the kynge of castile our souerayne lorde hath a feyre yong sonne if they two myght mary toguyder the realme of Castyle shulde be in peace and all that is your right shulde retourne to you sir better can ye nat bestowe your heyre who is disceÌ„ded of the right lyne of Castyle The entent ye arme you fyght aduenture youre selfe and traueyle your body is all onely for the right of your heyre That is trewe ê™ the duke but than I wyll that the costes that I haue susteyned in the pursute there be recompeÌ„sed For I wyll ye knowe it hath cost me and the realme of Englande fyue hundred thousande fraÌ„kes wherof I wolde gladly se som recouerauÌ„ce Sir quod the frere if our treatie be agreable to you we trust to fynde such a meane that the mater shall take good effect Well quod the duke ye be welcome and how soeuer it be or howe soeuer it shal be or I retourne in to Englande outher in to Castyle or in to Fraunce I shall mary my doughter for I haue dyuers offres moued vnto me but maters of so great a weyght are nat lightly coÌ„cluded at the first tyme. For my doughter whome I repute as rightfull enheritour to spayne I wyll knowe him well that shall haue her in maryage that is but reason quod the frere Thus as I haue shewed you this treatie began bytwene the duke of LaÌ„castre and these parties as well of Castyle as of FrauÌ„ce He made euery partie good chere made no full answere but in his ymaginacion the treatie of Spayne the kynges sonne to mary his doughter semed best to his purpose bicause in tyme to come his doughter shulde be quene of Castyle also the duches his wyfe enclyned moost to that treatie ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke of the duke of Lancastre of all these treatyse and retourne to speke of the duke of Bretaygne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne departed to go to Bloys and howe the duke of Bretayne caÌ„ethyder and howe the dukes dyde so moche that they had hym to Parys in maner agaynst his wyll Cap. C.xxx AS I haue shewed you here before the duke of Bretayne made good chere to the French ambassadours and specially to the lorde of Coucy For as I was enformed he was the chiefe that brake the duke fro his purpose by reason of his fayre and swete wordes Howe be it the lorde Iohan of Vyen and the lorde dela Ryuer dyde ryght well their deuoyre but often tymes great princes and lordes wyll soner be entreated by one man rather than by another Moche payne it was to cause the duke of Bretayne to agre to go to the towne of Bloys to mete there the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne but he was brought thyder by fayre wordes And he sayde surely he wolde go no further thanne to the towne of Bloys and the lorde of Couey sayd he desyred nothynge elles These the lordes were with the duke of Bretaynge certayne dayes and than toke their leaues and retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the dukes of Berry and of Burgoyne howe they hadde spedde Thervpon these two dukes made them redy to go to Bloyes to mete there with the duke of Bretaygne and sente thyder before to make prouisyon as apertayned Firste thyder came the duke of Berrey and he was lodged in the Castell and there he founde the countesse her sonne and her doughter They receyued hym honourably The erle Guye of Bloys was as than in his owne countrey at the castell Reygnaulte and made no greate counte of the commynge of the duke of Bretaygne he thought it sufficyent that his wife and chyldren were there Than thyder came the duke of Burgoyne with a goodly trayne and in his company came sir WyllmÌ„ of Heynaulte and his sonne erle of Ostrenante and Iohan of Burgoyne sonne to the duke called erle of Neuers The duke lodged also in the castell and there helde his estate Than after came the duke of Bretaygne with no great trayne other than of his house He passed nat a thre huÌ„dred horses for his enteÌ„cyon was that whan he had ones sene the two dukes and spoken with them to retourne in to his owne countre without goynge any further in to Fraunce But the entente of the other two dukes was otherwise for they said whyder he wolde or nat he shulde go to Parys THe duke of Bretaygne hym selfe lodged in the castell of Bloyes in a chanons house of saynt Sauyour and his men lodged downe in the towne so dyd the other of all the dukes seruauntes but the lordes laye in the castell the whiche was fayre great and stronge one of the fayrest castelles in all the realme of Fraunce There these Dukes made good there togyder and shewed great 〈◊〉 and they thanked the duke of Bretayne of his coÌ„myng to the towne of Bloyes And the duke answered and sayde howe he was come thyder for the loue of them with great payne for he fayned hym selfe nat well at ease Than these two dukes fell in communynge with the duke of Bretayne shewyng hym sithe he was come so farr forwarde that he had done nothyng without he went to Parys to se the kynge who greatly desyred to se hym The duke of Bretaygne began greatlye to excuse hym selfe of that voyage and layde many reasons sayd howe he was nat well at his case to make so longe a iourney nor also he was nat accompanyed therafter Than he was swetely answered that sauyng his displeasure he shulde nede no great trayne to go se his soueraygne lorde and as for his rydinge he shulde lacke nouther chayre nor lytter to labour at his ease For they said he was bounde to do homage to the kynge for as than he had nat done it before The duke sayd excusynge hymselfe that whan the kynge were come to his laufull age and had the hole Realme in his owne gouernaunce than he wolde come to Parys or whyder to shulde please the kynge and than do his homage acordyng to reason The other dukes sayd that the kynge was of age wysdome suffycient to receyue homage and howe that all other lordes of the realme excepte he had done their homage and made reliefe affyrmynge howe the kynge was .xxi. yere of age Whan the
brought before Perotte and dyde well his message wherof Perot had great ioye For he greatly desyred to here tidynges of the army on the see Than he sayd to the Breton thou arte welcome Bothe I and all my companions haue great desyre to ryde forthe abrode and so shall we do and accomplysshe that thou hast shewed vs. THus Perotte le Bernoys made hym prest and sente to Carlate to the Bourge of Champaygne to the capitayne of Ousacke Olyue Barbe and to the capitayn of Aloyse besyde saynt Floure Aymergotte Marcell and to other capitayns a longe the countrey in Auuergne an Lymosyn oesyryng all these to make theÌ„ redy for he wolde ryde oute abrode for he sawe it than a good season for them coÌ„maundynge them to leaue sure men in their garisons tyll their returne These companyons who hadde as great desyre to ryde abrode as Perot for they coulde nat ware ryche withoute some other loste made theÌ„ redy and came to Chalucet where they assembled They were well to the nombre of foure hundred speares they thought themselfe suffycient to do a great feate they knewe no lorde in the countrey as than able to resyste them nor to breke their enterprice for the siege of Vandachore of sir Wyllyam of Lignacke nor of Boesme LauÌ„ce was nat defeated as than Thus they rode forthe and were lordes of the feldes and passed Auuergne on the ryght hande and tooke the ryght waye to Berrey for they knewe well the duke was nat as than there but was in Fraunce with the kyng at MouÌ„tereau or faulte you ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of Perot le Bernoys and of his enterprice and speke of the erle of Arundell and of his armye on the see and shewe howe he perceuered after he was departed fro the cost of Bretayne WHan the erle of Arundell suche lordes as were with hym were departed fro the cost of Bretayne they sayled with good wynd and wether for the tyme was fayre pleasunt and goodly to beholde the shippes on the see They were a sixscore one and other with baners and stremers wauynge in the wynde glytrynge with the lordes armes agaynst the sonne Thus they went saylyng by the see fresshly like a horse newe coÌ„myng out of the stable brayeng and cryeng and fomyng at the mouth The see was so prompt and so agreable to theÌ„ as thoughe by fygure the see shulde haue said to them be mery sirs I am for you and I shall bring you to good porte and hauen without peryll Thus these lordê sayled frontyng Poyctou and Xaynton cast ancre before Rochell in the hauen towarde Marant Than some of their coÌ„pany seyng the fludde coÌ„myng entred or it were full water in to bottes mo than two hundred one and other and arryued nere to the towne of Marant The watche of Marant had spied the Englysshe flete and sawe howe the bottes were commyng to lande warde with the fludde Than he blewe his truÌ„pe and made great noyse to awake the men of the towne to saue them selfe so that many men and women toke their goodes and wente and saued them in the Castell the whiche came well to passe for them or els they had lost all Whan they sawe the Englysshmen come at their he lys they toke that they had and lefte the rest and saued their bodyes The Englysshe archers and other entred in to the towne fell to pyllage therfore they came thyder but lytell they founde there sauyng coffers voyde and emptye all their goodes was withdrawen in to the Castell As for Corne wyne salte becone and other prouision they fouÌ„de ynoughe for there was more than four hundred tonne of wyne in the towne Wherfore they determyned to abyde there a certayne space to kepe that prouisyon It came well to passe for them for they sayde if they shulde departe thens all shulde be withdrawen in to the fortresses and caryed awaye by the ryuer to Fountney as moche as they myght and the reste distroyed They taryed all that night in the towne They came thyder in the euenyng and sente worde to them on the see what case they were in and the cause why they taryed The erle of Arundell and the other lordes sayde howe they had done well This nyght passed The nexte mornynge whan the tyde began to retourne they disancred all their small vesselles and euery man wente in to them and putte all their harnesse in to bottes and barges and lafte their great shippes styll at ancre for they coude nat cum nere to the lande for lacke of water and they laste an hundred men of armes and two hundred archers styll there to kepe their shippes whiche laye at the mouthe of the hauyn thaÌ„ with their smalle vesselles they arryued at Marant and toke lande at their leysar and so lodged all bytwene Marant and the towne of Rochell the whiche was but four leages fro thens Tidynges spredde abrode in the countrey howe the Englysshe men were arryued at Barante a four hundred fightyng men the playne countrey the good townes and castelles were a srayde and made good watche Than they of the vyllages fledde amaye and caryed their goodê in to Forestes and in to other places as shortely as they myght ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe they of Marroys and Rochellois were sore afrayed of the Englysshmen that were a lande how they of Rochell made a serimysshe with them and howe after the Englysshmen had pylled the countrey about Marant they drewe agayne to the see with their pyllage whiche was great Cap. C.xxxiiii IF the Englysshmen had ben furnysshed with horses it had been greatly to their profyte for the countrey as than was vnproâ—â—ded of men of warr namely of suche as were able to haue merre with them True it was the lord of Parteney the lorde of Pons the lorde of Lymers that lorde of Tanyboton sir Geffray of Argenton the lorde of Montendre sir Aymery of Roch chouart the vycont of to wars and dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of Poictou and of Xaynton were as than in the countrey but they were nat toguyder for euery man was in his owne fortresse for they were nat ware of the Englysshe mens commynge thyder If they hadde knowen a moneth before that the Englysshe menne wolde haue ryued there they wolde haue prouyded therfore but they knewe it nat This fell sodaynly wherfore they were the more afrayde and euery man toke hede to kepe his owne the men of the countrey to gette in their cornes for it was about the begynnynge of Auguste Also there was no heed Capitaygne in the countrey to bringe menne toguyder The duke of Berrey who was cheife soueraygne of Poittou was but newely gone to Parys The seneschall of Xaynton was nat in the countrey And the Seneschall of Rochell sir Helyon of Lignacke was nat at Rochell nor in the countrey He was in great busynesse to ryde in and out bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancastre By
these reasons the countrey was the more feble for where there is defaulte of good heedes there must nedes be defaulte in the body and in the fote And he that hath no foote can do nothynge that is worthe Thus these lordes were in feare two wayes They had the Englysshmen armed before them that came fro the see And on the other syde they herde newes fro Berrey and fro Limosyn that Perot le Bernoys rode abrode with fyue or sixe hundred fyghtynge men with hym and was entred in to Berrey So they wyst nat wher to they shulde take hede but euery manne to kepe his owne For the renome wente howe these two hoostes shulde mete toguyder outher in the countrey of Poictou or Xaynton This was the opinyon of dyuers TRue it was that in the towne of Rochell the same season that the Englysshe men were landed at Marant there was two valyāt knyghtes the one called sir Peter of Iouy and the other sir Taylle Pie whome sir Helyon of Lignacke had lefte at Rochell to kepe the towne and countre therabout Whan tidynges came to Rochell how the erle of Arundell and the armye that had ben so longe on the see were a lande and lodged besyde Marant Than these two knightes sayd to thē that were vnder their charge and to the mayre of Rochell and men of the towne sirs it must behoue vs to go and loke on these Englysshe menne It is shewed vs howe they be arryued in these parties I and my companion wyll go and gyue them there welcome for the whiche they shall paye vs or els we them For we shal be blamed if we suffre them to rest in peace sythe we haue the charge of the kepynge of this countre there is one poynte good for vs they haue no horses They are men of the see and we be well mounted We shall sende our crosbowes be fore they shall wake them and shote hurte them and whan they haue done they shall retourne Than the Englysshe men wyll issue out after them a fote and we shall suffre our crosbowes to passe homwarde and than we shall receyue our enemyes at the spere poynt We shall haue of them suche aduaūtage that we shall do them great domage Euery man that herde these knyghtes speke reputed thē for noble valyaunt men and agreed to their counsayle And there assembled toguyder what one and other a twelue hundred The nexte mornynge at the breakyng of the daye euery mā was redy assembled togider and the crosbowes and men a fote issued out and went a great pace to reyse the Englysshmen out of their lodgynges and in the meane season the horsmen made them redy vpon a .iii. hūdred for there were dyuers knyghtes and squyers cōe to Rochell Certainly if by any maner inspyracion thenglysshmen had knowen of their cōmynge that they might haue made an embusshe but of two hundred archers and a hūdred men of armes there had nat one Frenchman retourned agayne Whā they of Rochell came to the Englysshe mens lodgynges it was carely in the morenynge and their watche was retourned to their lodgynges Than the Frenche crosbowes began to shote and entred in among their lodgynges and hurte many The Englysshe men lyeng on the strawe had marueyle of the noyse many were hurte or they knewe that they were Frenche men And whan the crosbowes had shotte euery man a sixe shottes or there about they retourned as it was before apoynted Than aproched the horsmen and entred among the lodgynges therwith the hoost began to styrre and knyghtes and squyers drewe toguyder in to the felde And whan the Frenche men sawe the hoost styrre and drawe toguyder they drewe backe and retourned towarde Rochell a good pace for feare of the shotte of Englysshe men who folowed them nere to Rochell Than the Erle of Arundell with foure hundred men of armes folowed after a great pace euery man his speare in his hande or on his necke The preace of the Frenche fotemen was great at the entrynge in to Rochell and alwayes the two Frenche knyghtes were behynde sette their men forwarde tyll they were within the barriers and euer the Englysshe men folowed in suche wyse that the two Frēche knightes were in great daūger to be taken or slayn They were sore sette at bycause they semed to be the chiefe capitaynes as they were in dede so that sir Peter Iouy hadde his horse slayne vnder hym and with great payne his men saued hym and drewe hym within the barryers And sir Peter Taylle Pye was stryken through the thye with a glayue and with an arrowe throughe the bassenet in to the heed and his horse fell downe deed within the gate At the entrynge in to the towne there were many slayne and hurte mo than .xl. the men of the towne were aboue ouer the gate and caste downe stones and shotte out bombardes so that the Englysshe men durste aproche no nerer Thus wente the first scrimysshe bytwene them of Rochell and the Englysshe men and whan they hadde scrimysshed nere to noone The erle of Arundell sowned the retrayte Than they withdrewe in good order and retourned to their lodgynges vnarmed them and toke their ease they had well wherof they lacked nouther wyne nor flesshe The Englysshe men taryed there about a fyftene dayes abydinge all aduentures But after that they of Rochell issued no more oute to scrmysshe for they sawe well the Englisshe men were wise and valyaunt and also the two capitayns were hurt wherfore the other had good cause to sytte styll in rest The Erle of Arundell sent a thre or four tymes abrode in to the countrey of Rochelloys towarde Bresmure and in to the lande of Towars and dyde great dōmage wherof all the countrey was a frayde The Englysshmen had done a great enterprice if they had ben furnysshed with horsmen in the countre they gatte but sewe for as soone as they herde of their landynge euery man caryed all that they hadde in to the fortresses And whan this army had taryed there a fyftene dayes and were well refresshed sawe that no man came against them and parceyued the wynde good for thē they drewe them in to their shippes and caryed with them moche wyne fresshe flesshe and so entred in to their vesselles and drewe vp their sayles and toke the see and the same daye they mette with .xii. shippes of Bayon goynge in to Englande charged with wynes and other marchaūdises so they ioyned toguyder and made good chere They gaue to the erle of Arundell two peces of Gascoyn wyne Thus they sayled forthe at aduēture ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of Perot le Bernois and of the other capitayns that were in his cōpany howe they drewe agayne in to their fortresses ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his cōpanyons resorted agayne to theyr holdes with great pyllage howe the duke of Guerles coulde haue no ayde of the Englysshe men to reyse the siege before
sore dyspleased of the aduenture that was fallen on their party but the tydynges of Fraunce comforted hym agayne and ordred hym selfe acordynge as he was commaunded NOwe lette vs retourne to the counsayle of Fraunce who had great desyre to go in to Guerles They toke suche dyspleasure with the defyaunce that the duke had sente to the kynge that they nother regarded the begynnynge myddes nor ende and sayd what so euer it coste they wolde make the duke repent his dede and to denye it or els they wold distroy and burne his landes and his fathers also the duke of Iulyers Dukes erles barones knyghtes squyers and all other were warned euery man to be redy acordyng as it apertayned for so longe a voyage And it was ordeyned that one of the marshals of Fraunce shulde abyde styll in the realme that was syr Loys of Porteuyr and he to take hede of the fronters on the other syde of the ryuer of Dordone to the see for in Languedoc bytwne the ryuer of Gyronde dyscendynge to the ryuer of Loyre there was truce had bytwene them And it was ordeyned that the other marshall syr Moton of Blamuyll shulde go with the kyng It was maruayle to thynke of the great prouysyon that the lordes made Fyrste for the kyng and for the dukes of Berrey Burgoyn Tourayne and Burbon at the cyties of Reynes Chalous Troys and in all the coūtreys of Champayne Raynes in the bysshopprike of Laon and Landers And cartes and caryages were taken vp in all partyes It was marueyle to consyder the great aparell that was made for this iourney in to Guerles All this season the duke of Bretaygne was at Parys and coulde nat be delyuered by the kyng who was most parte al that season of Moustreuell Faulte yon But alwayes he had good chere and was alwayes serued with fayre wordes and curteyse and the lordes wolde desyre hym nat to thynke longe for shortly he shulde be delyuered but they shewed hym that the kynge had so moch a do for his vyage in to Almayne that he coulde attende to nothynge els The duke was fayne to suffre for he coulde do none other seyng he was at Parys and he thought he wolde nat departe without the good wyll of the kynge There he laye at great coste and charge WHan the certayne was knowen of this voyage in to Guerles and tayles reysed throughe the realme to paye euery man their wages that shulde serue the kynge Many of the wyse men of the realme as well some of the counsayle as other sayd howe it was a great outrage to counsayle the kyng to go farre of to seke for his enemyes and that he shulde therby put his realme in a great aduenture for the kynge was yonge and greatly in the fauoure of all his people Wherfore it had ben suffycyente for hym to haue suffred one or two of his vncles to haue gone thyder with the constable of Fraunce and a sixe or seuen thousande speares and nat the kyng in propre persone The kynges vncles were of the same oppynyon and often tymes they counsayled the kynge to forbeare his iourney him selfe But whan so euer they spake to hym therof he was dyspleased and wolde saye If any of you go without my company it shall be agaynst my wyll and besyde that ye shall haue no money otherwyse I can nat restrayne you Whan the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde the kynges answere and sawe the great affection that the kynge hadde to go that voyage they aunswered and sayd Syr a goddes name ye shall go and without you we wyll do nothing therfore sir be of good comfort Than the kynges counsayle regarded one thyng the whiche they thought ryght necessary and that was this Bytwene the frenche kynge the kynge of Almayne of longe tyme there had ben ordynaunces made bytwene them and that was that none of them shulde entre with any army in to any of their neyghbours landes nor the frenche kynge to make no warre agaynst the kynge of Almayne nor he agaynst the kynge on payne to ryn in the sentence of holy church and therto they were bounde and solempely sworne the day of their coronacyon to the entente to kepe their realmes in peace and reste wherfore than it was aduysed that if the kyng shulde go this voyage in to Guerles the whiche is holden of the kynge of Almayne that fyrst he and his counsayle shulde suffycyently informe the kyng of Almayne howe the duke of Guerles had shamefully defyed the frenche kynge with fell wordes out of the style and vsage that lordes are wonte to dfye eche other in warre and to the entente to cause the duke to denye his dede and to repente hym The frenche kynge wyll come in to Almayne nat agaynst the kyng of Almayne nor his signory but agaynst his enemye and to seke him out where so euer he can fynde hym To go on this message was charged syr Guy of Hancorte a ryght sage and dyscrete knyght and with hym one of the maysters of the parlyament called mayster yues Orient These two were called before the counsayle and charged to go this voyage to the kynge of Almayne and they were well informed what they shuld do and say thus they departed and toke their waye by Chalous in Champayne and rode with a good trayne lyke notable persons ambassadours fro the Frenche kynge And they founde the lorde of Coucy at Chalous who lay there and retayned knyghtes and squiers of Barre Lorayne and Champayne to go in that voyage with hym in the vowarde He made to these ambassadours good chere and made theym a great dyner at their lodgynge and the nexte daye they departed and rode towardes saynte Menehont and towardes the coūtrey of Lusenburgh there to here certayne tydynges of the kynge of Almayne ¶ How the frenche kyng gaue leaue to the duke of Bretayne to retourne in to his coūtrey and howe the countrey of Brabant wolde nat consente too the kynges passage nor his aremy and howe the ambassadours of Fraunce sped Ca. C .xxxviii. WHyle these frenche ambassadours wente to speke with the kyng of Almayne in the meane tyme the french men lette nat styll to make their prouysions and commaundement gyuen euery manne to be in the felde by the myddes of Auguste in Champayne or there aboute for the kynge wolde be redy by that tyme they wolde nat tary for any aunswere fro the kynge of Almayn Than the frenche kyng and his vncles thought it good that the duke of Bretaygne shulde departe home He was sente for to the kynge to Monstreuell faulte you and there he had good chere of the kyng and of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duke of Tourayne for as than the duke of Berrey was nat there he was in his owne countrey assemblyge men togyder and had sente his cōmaundement in to Poyctou to knyghtes squyers there that they shulde drawe in to the felde The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne
treated amyable the duke of Bretaygne and shewed hym nothyng but loue ye haue herde here before how the duke had rendred agayne to the constable his thre castels and the towne of Iugon but as for the hundred thousande frankes that he had receyued he was lothe to rendre them agayne for he axed alowaunce for suche prouysyons as he had made and fortifyenge of his garysons castels and townes and retayning of men of warre and kepynge theym all the wynter for he thought to haue had warre but the kyng and his counsayle fedde hym with so swete pleasaunte wordes that fynally he was agreed to pay agayne the hundred thousande frankes in fyue yere .xx. thousande euery yere tyll it were paied Than the duke of Bretayne departed ryght amyably and the kynge gaue hym many fayre iouels And so he returned to Parys and there the duke of Burgoyn made hym a great dyner and there they toke leaue eche of other Thanne the duke of Bretaygne payed for all his dyspenses and toke the waye to Estampes rode through Beaulce to Bogency on the ryuer of Loyre and there his men wente on before and passed through the countreys of Bloys Mayne Thourayne Aniou and entred in to Bretayne but the duke hym selfe had redy at BoygeÌ„cy his nauy and there he entred into a fayre shyp and with hym the lorde Mountforde the lorde of Malestroit and so sayled downe the ryuer of Loyre and passed vnder the bridge of Bloys and so went a longe the ryuer to NauÌ„tes in his owne countrey ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretayne and as farre as I coulde here he helde well the couenaunte made bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and dyd nothyng after to be remembred tyll I closed this boke I can nat tell what he wyll do herafter if he do I shall speke therof acordyng as I shall knowe Nowe I wyll retourne to the frenche kynge who prepared for his iourney in to Guerles Whan the lorde of Coucy was coÌ„e to the kyng to Monstreau he shewed the kyng his counsayle howe he had sped and howe that all the knyghtes squyers in Bare in Lourayne in Burgoin to the riuers of Ryne and Some were redy to go with hym the kyng had therof gret ioy sayd by the grace of god he wold the same yerese his cosyns the duke of Iuliers and Guerles Fyrste they determyned whiche way they shulde take for the surest way shortest some sayd that the ryght way was to go by Thyreashe and to passe by the fronter of Haynalt and of Liage to passe through BrabaÌ„t and so to entre in to Guerles and to passe the ryuer of Meuse at Trecte and so to entre into the lande of Iuliers and fro thence in to Guerles Of this determynacion the kynge and his counsayle wrote to the duches of Brabant and to the countrey shewnge them the waye that the french kynge purposed to kepe It pleased ryght well the duches but the countrey wolde nat agre therto but sayd howe the kynge and the freÌ„chmen shulde haue no passage that way for it shulde be greatly to their domage The good townes and the knyghtes of Brabante were of the opynyon and sayd to their lady the duches that if she coÌ„sented to suffre the frenche men to entre into her countrey they wolde neuer ayde nor socoure her agaynst the duke of Guerles but surely they sayd they wolde close their townes and go and defende their landes against the frenchmen sayeng howe they shuld lese more by their passinge through their countrey than if their enemies were in the myddes therof whan the duches parceyued the wylles and ententes of the people aswell knightes as other she sawe no remedy but to dyssymule the mater than she charged sir Iohan Orpen and syr Iohan of Graue and Nycholas de la Money to go in to Fraunce to speke with the frenche kyng with the duke of Burgoyn to excuse the countrey of Brabant that he shuld nat take his voyage that waye for they of the countrey thinke they shuld be sore greued and distroyed if he shulde passe through their countrey and she coÌ„maunded them to saye that as for herselfe she coude be well content therwith and had done all that she coulde that it myght so haue ben They acordynge to their ladyes mynde departed fro Brusels rode towardes Parys and dyd so moche by their iourneys that they came to Moustreau fault yon where the kynge and his vncles were and there was nothynge spoken of but of their goynge in to Guerles The duchesse ambassadours fyrste came to the duke of Burgoyne and shewed him their letters and their message And he at the request of his aunte was meane to the kynge and to his counsayle and also the lorde of Coucy dyd what he myght In so moche that their firste purpose as passynge through Brabant to entre in to Guerles was broken and the duches and the countrey excused Than it was aduysed that they shuld go along the realme whiche way they sayd was moste honourable for the kynge and also for the brabansoys burgonyons sauoysyns and other THan it was coÌ„cluded and such named as shulde go in vowarde There were ordeyned a .xxv. hundred hewers of woodes hedgers dykers to make playne the wayes The frenche men had way good ynough thorough the realme tyll they came to Ardayne Than their good wayes began to fayle than they founde hygh wodes dyuers and sauage and walles rockes mountaynes These pyoners were sente before the vangarde with a thousande speares to aduyse the best passage for the kyng and for the hoost and for their caryage wherof they had a .xii. M. cartes besyde other caryages and they to hewe downe the hygh wodes of Ardane and to make them playn and to make newe wayes where neuer none was before nor no man passed that way Euery man toke great payne to do their dylygence and specyally suche as were aboute the kynge for they had neuer so great affection to go in to FlauÌ„ders as they had than to go into Guerles and the lorde of Coucy was sent to Aâ—â—gnon to hym that called hym selfe pope Clement I knowe nat for what cause the vicount of Meaulx sir Iohan Roy and the lorde de la Bone had the goueruauÌ„ce of his men tyll he retourned agayne Nowe let vs somwhat speke of sir Guy of HaÌ„court of maister yues Orient who were sent to the kynge of Almayne They rode so long that they came to CoÌ„ualence where the kyng was And whan they hadde refresshed theÌ„ they went towardes the kyng who was enformed of their coÌ„myng before and he had great desyre to know what entent they came for He assembled his counsayle than these two lordes came before the kyng of Almayn and curtessy dyd salute hym delyuerd their letters of credeÌ„ce fro the french kyng the kyng toke reed them than regarded theÌ„ said
dout ther of Herof the FreÌ„che kyng was right ioyfull howe be it some sayd that wheder the kynge of Almayne wolde or nat the kyng had puissaunce suffycient to do what he wolde without dauÌ„ger for all him than the kyng ordeyned to departe fro Chalous in Champayn so deê‘ted toke his way right to great Pre. Whan the kynge came to great Pre he taried ther a thre dayes he coude make no gret iourneys there was so moche people before hym and behynde and rounde about hym so that he was constrayned to ryde easely to haue good lodgyng and bicause of the great ê“uisyon that folowed after the hoost Fro the first company to the last coÌ„tayned .xxiiii. leages of that countrey styll dayly came people Th erle of great Pre receyued the kynge in to his towne and countre and offred all at the kynges pleasure The kyng was well coÌ„tent with hym therle was apoynted to the vantgard Thyder came to the kyng the duke of Lorayne sir Henry of Bare with a faire company of men of armes The duke of Loraine was ordayned to be with his sonne the lorde of Coucy sir Henry of Bare to abide with the kyng the pioners were sore besyed in the forest of Ardane to cutte downe wode and to make wayes where neuer non was before they had great payne to fyll the valeys to make the waye playne for the caryage to passe There were a thre M. that dyde nothyng els Whan the duches of BrabaÌ„t knewe surely howe the kyng was on his waye and approched the foreste of Ardayne she was therof ryght ioyfull for she thought at that voyage she shulde be well reuenged of the duke of Guerles howe the Frenche kyng shulde bring hym to reason And also his father the duke of Iulyers who had done to her many anoyaunces Than she departed fro Bruselles and in her company the erle of Sammes in Ardain the lorde of Bocelairs and dyuers other and toke her waye to Lusenbourge to se the kynge and to speke with hym She passed the ryuer of Meuse and the ryuer of Huy and at laste came to Basconque and there taryed the kynge for he shulde passe therby and so he dyde For whan he departed Graunt Pre he passed the Ryuer of Meuse at Morsay with all his hoost rode small iourneys Than tidynges came in to the duchy of Iulyers and in to Guerles that the Frenche kynge was coÌ„mynge on them with a hundred thousande men And that he had neuer so moche people toguyder before He was nat so great a company whanne he came to Burboure where he thought the Englysshe army had ben gretter than he founde theym The duke of Iulyers than began to dout but the duke of Guerles made nothing therof but sayde Lette them come the further they come the more weryer shall they be and they and their caryages shall waxe feble and their prouisyons shall waste and wynter shall drawe on and I am in a stronge countrey They shall nat entre at their ease They shall recule backe somtyme otherwise than by the sowne of the trumpettes and it shall behoue them to be alwayes toguyder which they can nat be if they wyll entre in to my couÌ„tre And if they disrought and be out of ordre they shall soone be taken vp wheder they wyll or nat Howe be it to saye the trouthe quod the duke our cosyn of FrauÌ„ce is of a good corage he sheweth and dothe as I shulde do Thus the duke of Guerles deuysed amonge his knyghtes but the duke of Iulyers was sore abasshed for he sawe well the French kynge wolde his lande were but brente and loste Than he toke counsayle of his brother the Archebysshoppe of Colonge and of his cosyn the bysshop Leage sir Arnolde of Hornes howe he shulde do to saue his lande fro brennyng and exylyng These two prelates counsayled hym and sayd how it must nedes behoue hym to huÌ„ble hym selfe to the Frenche kynge and to his vncles The duke sayde he was well content so to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Helion of Lignacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey And howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the Cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an army to entre in to Englande And of an Englysshe squyer Who was takenne by the Scottes who knewe the secretnesse of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Cap. C .xl. THan by the counsayle of the bysshoppe of Trect and by the aduyse of the bysshoppe of Colonge the bysshoppe of Laege was sente to the French kynge to treate for the duke of Iulyers The kynge approched but he passed nat two or thre leages a daye for his trayne was great bytwene Morsay and oure lady of Amount where as the duke of Berey and all his route with mo than fyue hundred speres was lodged Thyder came to the duke of Berrey sir Helyon of Lignacke and sir Wyllyam his brother Sir Wyllyam came fro the siege before Vanchadore for the duke had sente for hym and the duke of Burbone had sente for sir Iohan Boesme launce and they had lefte styll at the siege all their companyes and had lefte for capitaynes sir Iohan Butlere and sir Loyes Dambier And sir Helyon of Lignacke came out of Gascon fro Bayon fro the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey made hym good chere and demaunded tidynges Sir Helyon shewed hym and sayd Sir the kyng of Castyle seketh on the duke of Lancastre to haue peace with hym and treateth sore to haue his sone the prince of Wales to marry with the dukes doughter With that worde the duke of Berrey was pensyfe and sayd Sir Helion yet I shall sende you ones agayne to knowe more certayne and the bysshoppe of Poycters with you but as at this tyme we haue ynoughe to do Also the same weke the lorde of Coucy retourned fro Auygnon and came to the kyng to Ardane euery man was glad of his coÌ„mynge yE haue herde here before howe kynge Richarde of Englande had some trouble He agaynst his vncles and his vncles agaynst hym with other dyuers incydentes as by the duke of Irelande and other and many knyghtes in EnglaÌ„de deed and beheeded and the archebysshop of yorke brother to the lorde Neuell was at a poynte to haue loste his benefyce And by the newe counsaylers about the kyng and by the arch bysshoppe of Caunterbury the lorde Neuell who had ben the chiefe ruler and kepar of the fronters of Northumberlande agayst the scottes fyue yeres togyder was as than put out of wages He had before euery yere sixtene thousande frankes out of the countie of yorke and bysshoprike of Durham And there was sette in his stede the lorde Henry Percye and he hadde to wages by the yere but a .xi. thousande Frankes Wherof other lordes of his lygnage thoughe they were of his kynne yet they hadde therat great enuy and indignacyon one agaynst another And all this knewe ryght
they be nat of the power so to do nor to fyght with you sythe ye be so great a nombre as it is sayd in Englande that ye be Why quod the erle of Moret what nombre do they repute vs at Sir quod he it is sayd howe ye be a .xl. thousande men and .xii. hundred speares And sir if ye take the waye in to Gales they wyll go by Berwike and so to Donbare to Edenborome or els to Alquest and if ye take nat that waye than they wyll go by Carlyle and in to the mountayns of that countrey Whan the lordes herde that eche of them regarded other Than the Englysshe squyer was putte to the kepyng of the Constable of Gedeours and coÌ„maunded that he shulde be surely kepte than in the same place they wente agayne to counsayle THe lordes of Scotlande were ryght ioyfull of that they knewe surely the entent of their ennemyes and than they demaunded counsayle what waye was best for them to take The moost wysest and best experte in warre spake fyrst and that was sir Archanbas Duglas and therle of Fenne sir Alysander Ramsey sir Iohan Saynt clere and sir Iames Lymsey They sayd for feare of faylynge of our entent we counsayle that we make two armyes to the entente that our ennemyes shall nat knowe whervnto to attende And lette the moost parte of our hoost and caryage go by Carleon in Galles and lette the other company of a thre or four huÌ„dred speares and two thousaÌ„de of other well horsed drawe towardes Newcastell vpon Tyne and passe the ryuer and entre in to the bysshorike of Durham and burne and exyle the countrey We shall make a great breull in Englande or our ennemyes be prouyded And if wese that they do folowe vs as they wyll do Than lette vs drawe all oure companyes toguyder and take a good place and fyght with them We doute nat but we shall haue honoure Than lette vs be reuenged of the dommages they haue done to vs. This counsayle was accepted and ordayned that sir Archanbas Duglas therle of Fenne the erle of Surlancke the erle of Monstres the erle of Mare therle of Astroderne sir Stephyn of Freseyle sir George of Donbare and sirtene other great lordes of Scotlande shulde lede the moost parte of the armye towardes Carlyle And the erle Duglas sir Orge erle of Mare and of Donbare and the erle Iohan of Morette These thre to be capitaynes of thre hundred speares of chosen men and of two thousande other men and archers and they to go towardes Newcastell and entre in to NorthuÌ„berlande Thus these two hoostes departed eche from other eche of them prayenge other that if the Englysshmen folowed any of their armyes nat to fyght with them tyll bothe their armyes were ioyned toguyder Thus in a mornyng they departed fro Gedeours and toke the feldes ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle Duglas wanne the penon of sir Henry Percy at the barryers before Newcastell vpontyne and howe the scottes brente the castell of Pondlen and howe sir Henry Percy and sir Rafe his brother toke aduyse to folowe the scottes to conquere agayne the penone that was lost at the scrimysshe Cap. C .xli. WHanÌ„e the Englysshe lordes sawe that their squier retourned at agayne at the tyme apoynted coud knowe nothynge what the scottes dyd nor what they were purposed to do than they thought well the their squyer was taken The lordê sent eche to other to be redy whan soeuer they shulde here that the scottê were a brode as for their messanger they thought hym but lost ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the erle Duglas and other for they had more to do than they that wente by Carlyle Whan the erles of Duglas of Moret of de la Mare and Donbare departed fro the great hoost they toke their waye thynkyng to passe the water and to entre in to the bysshoprike of Durham and to ryde to the towne and than to retourne brinnyng and exyling the countrey and so to come to Newcastell and to lodge there in the towne in the dispite of all the Englysshe men And as they determyned so so they dyde assaye to putte it in vre for they rode a great pase vnder couert with out doyng of any pyllage by the waye or assautyng of any castell towre or house But so came in to the lorde Percyes lande passed the ryuer of Tyne without any let a thre leages aboue Newcastell nat farre fro Braspathe and at last entred in to the bisshoprike of Durham where they founde a good countrey Than they beganne to make warre to slee people and to brinne vyllages and to do many sore displeasures As at that tyme the erle of Northumberlande and the other lordes and knyghtes of that countrey knewe nothyng of their coÌ„myng Whan tidynges caÌ„e to Newcastell and to Durham that the scottes were abrode and that they myght well se by the fiers and smoke abrode in the countrey The erle sente to Newcastell his two sonnes and sente commaundemente to euery man to drawe to Newcastell sayenge to his sonnes ye shall go to Newcastell and all the countrey shall assemble there and I shall tary at Nymyche whiche is a passage that they muste passe by if we may enclose them we shall spede well Sir Henry Percy and syr Rafe his brother obeyed their fathers coÌ„maundement and came thyder with them of the countrey The scottes rode burnynge and exylynge the countrey that the smoke therof came to Newe castell The scottes came to the gates of Durham and skrymysshed there but they taryed nat longe but returned as they had ordeyned before to do and that they founde by the waye toke and distroyed it Bytwene Durham and Newcastell is but twelue leages englyssh and a good countrey There was no towne without it were closed but it was brente and they repassed the Ryuer of Tyne where they had passed before than came before Newcastell and there rested All the Englysshe knyghtes and squyers of the countrey of yorke and bysshoprike of Durham were asseÌ„bled at Newecastell and thyder came the seneschall of yorke sir Rafe Mombraye syr Rafe Redmayne capytayne of Berwyke sir Roberte Angle syr Thomas Grey sir Thomas Holcon sir Iohan Felton syr Iohan Lyerborne syr Thomas Abyton the baron of Helcon sir Iohan Copuldyke dyuers other so that the towne was so full of people that they wyst nat where to lodge WHan these thre scottysshe erles who were chyefe capytaynes had made their enterprise in the bysshoprike of Durham and had sore ouer rynne the countrey than they retourned to Newcastell and there rested and taryed two dayes and euery day they skrymysshed The erle of Northumberlandes two sonnes were two yonge lusty knyghtes and were euer formaste at the barryers to skrymysshe There were many proper feates of armes done and archyued there was fyghtynge hande to hande Amonge other there fought hande to hande the erle Duglas and sir Henry Percy and by force of armes the erle Duglas
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 thousaÌ„de 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
Mare and Donbare and he greatly praysed the sayd erle for he suffred hym to passe in maner as he desyred hym selfe Thus these men of warre of Scotlande departed and raunsomed their prisoners as soone as they myght ryght curttesly and so retourned lytell and lytell in to their owne countreis And it was shewed me and I beleue it well that the scottes had by reason of that iourney two hundred thousande frankes for raunsomyng of prisoners For sythe the batayle that was before Streuelyne in Scotlande where as sir Robert of Breuce sir Wyllyam Duglas sir Robert Versey sir Symon Freseyle and other scottes chased the Englysshmen thre dayes they neuer had iourney so ê“fytable nor so honorable for theÌ„ as this was Whan tidynges came to the other company of the scottes that were besyde Carlyle howe their company had distressed the Englysshe men besyde Octeburgh they were greatly reioysed displeased in their myndes that they had nat ben there Than they determyned to dislodge and to drawe in to their owne countreys seynge their other company were withdrawen thus they dislodged and entred in to ScotlaÌ„de ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the scottes and of the Englysshe men for this tyme and lette vs retourne to the yonge Charles of Fraunce who with a great people wente in to Almaygne to bringe the duke of Guerles to reason WHan the Frenche kynge and all his armye were paste the ryuer of Muese at the bridge of Morsay they tooke the waye of Ardayn and of Lusenbourgh and alwayes the pyoners were before beatynge woodes and busshes makynge the wayes playne The duke of Iulyers and his countrey greatly douted the comyng of the Frenche kynge For they knewe well they shulde haue the fyrst assault and beare the fyrst burdone and the lande of Iulyers is a playne couÌ„trey In one day the men of warre shuld do moche doÌ„mage there and distroye wast all excepte the castelles and good townes Thus the Frenche kyng entred in to the couÌ„trey of Lusenbourgh and came to an abbey where as Vyncelant somtyme duke of Brabant was buryed there the kyng taryed two dayes Than he departed and toke the waye throughe Basconque and lodged within a leage where as the duches of Brabant laye Sâ—e sent worde of her beyng there to the duke of Burgoyn and he brought her in to the felde to speke with the kynge who receyued her right honourably and there coÌ„muned togyder Than the duches retourned to Basconque and thyder she was conueyed with sir IohnÌ„ of Vyen and sir Guy of Tremoile And the next daye the kyng went forwarde aprochyng to the lande of his enemyes and came to theÌ„ cryng in to Almayne on the fronters of the duchy of Iulyers but or he came so far forwarde Arnolde bisshop of Liege had been with the kyng and had greatly entreated for the duke of Iuliers that the kyng shulde nat be miscontent with hym though he were father to the duke of Guerles for he excused hym of the deflauÌ„ce that his sonne had made affyrmyng how it was nat by his knowlege nor consent Wherfore he sayd it were pytie that the father shulde beare the defaut of the sonne This excuse was nat suffycient to the kyng nor to his vncles For the entent of the kyng and his couÌ„sayle was without the duke of Iulyers wolde come and make other maner of excuse and to yelde hym selfe to the kynges pleasure his countrey shulde be the first that shulde beare the burdone Thanne the bysshoppe of Liege and the lordes of Hasbane and the counsayls of the good townes offred to the kynge and his counsayle holly the bysshoprike of Liege for his armye to passe and repasse payeng for their expenses and to rest and refresshe them there as long as it pleased them The kyng thanked them and so dyde his vncles and wolde nat refuse their offre for he knewe nat what nede he shulde haue after ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Iulyers came and excused hym selfe of the defyauÌ„ce that his sonÌ„e the duke of Guerles had made to the Frenche kyng and so became his subiecte of dyuers feates of armes done bytwene the frenchmen and the almayns before Rencongne Cap. C.xlviii THus the bisshoppe of Liege retourned to the duke of Iullyers and to the archebysshoppe of Coloigne and shewed theÌ„ what he had done and thervpon they toke aduyse The duke of Iuliers had great dout of cryling wastyng of his countrey and sent for the knightes of his countrey to haue their counsayle aduyse and dayly the Frenchmen aproched The lorde of Coucy who was in the vowarde and with hym a thousande speares and the duke of Lorayne with hym and the vicount of Meaulx with two huÌ„dred speares Whan the Frenche men aproched the fronters of Almayne than they rode toguyder in good order and lodged wisely for there were a thre huÌ„dred speares of lynsars almayns beyond the ryuer of Ryne gathered toguyder And they be noted to be the greattest pyllers and robbers of all the worlde And they alwayes pursued and coosted the Frenchmen to fynde them dispurueyed to do them doÌ„mage The Frenche men douted the same and durst neuer go â— forragyng but in great companyes And as I vnderstode sir Boucequant the elder and sir Loyes of Grache were retayned and brought to Nimay these sayd almayns rode alwayes couertly lyke byrdes flyeng in the ayre sekyng for their praye This made the Frenche men wyse and to be well ware Thus whan the Frenche kyng was come so forwarde as to the entre of the duchy of Iulyers The duke of Iulyers who wolde nat lese his countrey beleued the couÌ„sayle of the archebysshoppe of Coloyne and the bysshop of Liege These two entreated for hym to the kynge and brought the mater to that poynt that his laÌ„des were in rest and peace by meanes of suche condycions as foloweth These two prelates dyde so moche that they brought the duke of Iulyers in to the kynges preseÌ„ce and before his vncles the duke of Lorayne and other great lordes of Fraunce of the blode royall And whan he was before the kyng he kneled downe and wisely excused him of the defyauÌ„ce that his sonne had made and sayd howe his sonne was a foole and that he had neuer counsayle of hym to do as he dyde but dyde it of his owne wyll and offred the kyng sayeng Sir to the entent to bring hym to the knowledgynge of reason by your lycence I wyll go to hym and shewe hym his folly as quickely as I can and counsayle hym to coÌ„e and make his excuse before youre grace and your counsayle And if he wyll nat thus do but do agaynst my counsayle I shall abandon to you all the townes and castels in my countrey and to prouyde for men of warre and to make warre against hym tyll ye haue taken hym to mercy Than the kyng regarded his brother his vncles and his couÌ„saile and it semed to hym that this offre
was faire and resonable and so thought dyuers other Than the kyng toke vp the duke of Iulyers who was on his kne whyle he spake to the kyng and sayd to hym Sir we shall take counsayle and aduyse on your promyses and wordes Than the duke rose vp stode styll by the bysshoppes that brought hym thyder Than the kyng and his vncles and suche of his secrete counsayle drewe toguyder and debated this mater long with dyuers opinioÌ„s The duke of Burgoyne to whom principallye the mater touched bicause of the duchy of Brabant wherin he chaleÌ„ged to haue great right of enherytaunce after the dethe of the duches Iane bycause of the lady Margaret his wyfe and also to say the trouthe he was the chiefe causer of the kynges coÌ„myng thyder with all that puissauÌ„ce Wherfore he wolde that euery thyng might be for the best and to th entent that a good peace might be made bitwene all ê‘ties that there shulde be no more occasyon to coÌ„e thyder agayne another tyme bycause the voyage is long and costly for the realme Than he sayd to the kyng Sir and it lyke your grace you my brother of Berrey and to you all I saye that in all thynges yuell begone lyeth great aduyse We here howe our cosyn the duke of Iulyers greatly exscuseth hymselfe and he is so valyant a man and of our blode and we of his that we ought to beleue hym He offereth to the kyng a great thyng his body his countrey his townes and castelles to be at the kynges coÌ„maundemente in case that his sonne the duke of Guerles wyll rebell and come nat to make amendes of the defyaunce that he hath made To speke acordynge to reason it is a great thynge to haue with vs the duke of Iuliers the duke of Guerles shall be the more feble and the easyer to correcte and the more he shall dought vs and soner come to obeysaunce wherfore I counsayle that his offre be nat refused for he mekely humyleth hymselfe and other greate lordes of Almayne entreate for hym To these wordes there was no contrary opynyons but all consented by one acorde Than the bysshoppes of Coloygne and of Liege were called to their counsayle who had ben chyefe entreatours in this busynes and to them it was declared fro poynte to poynte and frome clause to clause what thynges the duke of Iulyers shulde swere and seale to do if he wolde haue his landes saued and to be in reste Fyrst that he shulde go to his sonne the duke of Guerles and shewe hym playnely his foly and the great outrage that he had done to sende to defye so puyssauÌ„t a prince as the frenche kynge and specially by suche fell defyaunce out of the style of ryght or reason and to cause him to come to reason and mercy And if he wolde nat thus do but abyde styll in his opynyon through feble wytte and counsayle than the duke of Iulyers to swere and seale to renounce hym fro all ayde or socoure that he myght do and to become his enemy as other be and to suffre suche as shall be apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to abyde there all this wynter to lye in garysons in the countrey of Iulyers to make frounter warre agaynst the duke of Guerles and there to be well entreated and receyued THese two prelates were called to the kinges counsayle to the entente that they shulde shewe to the duke of Iulyers these artycles and so they dyd And than the duke sawe well howe that it behoued hym to agree or els to haue his landes ouer tynne and wasted wherfore he acorded and sware and sealed to vpholde all the kynges desyre so that his lande shulde nat be ouerron nor exyled and he was contente that his lande shulde vytayle the armye Thus the duke of Iulyers became the frenche kynges man and made relyefe for his lande of Vierson beyng bytwene Bloys and Berrey and supped that nyght at the kynges table Fyrste sate the bysshoppe of Liege and the bysshoppe of Coloygne than the kynge the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Thowrayn the duke of Iuliers and the duke of Burbone THus the duke of Iulyers was in reste and pease by the foresayd meanes and the kynge and his armye were lodged in his countrey the whiche was pleasaunt and plentyfull of all vytayles Than the duke of Iulyers wente towardes the duke of Guerles his sonne But or he came there there was dyuers feates of armes done in the countrey for the almayns who be couetouse oftentymes by night or by daye wolde ieoparde them selfe and sette on the frenche mens lodgynges to kepe them wakynge and somtyme they wanne and some tyme they lost But for one almayne that was taken there were euer four frenchmen taken And on a daye the constable of Fraunce and the lorde Coucy the duke of Lorayne the marshall of Blainuill sir Iohan of Vien syr Iohan de la Tremoyle a four thousande men of armes came before a towne in Guerles called Renconge shewed them selfe before it in good ordre of batayle The same tyme the duke of Guerles was within the towne and praysed moche their demeanour but he made none issue out for he had nat men ynowe wherof he was ryght sore dyspleased Thus the frenche men were there in good ordre of batayle the space of four houres and whan they sawe that none wolde issue out they departed and returned to their lodgynges The same euenynge about the duke of Berreys lodgyng certayne knyghtes and squyers drewe togyther to the entent to ryde forthe in the mornynge in to the lande of their enemies to seke some aduenture and promysed eche other to stycke togyther lyke bretherne They were in nombre aboute a hundred speares But whan the mornynge came all their purpose was broken for there was a squyer of Auuergne called Godinos a valyaunt man of armes he pertayned to the lorde of Alegre whan he sawe that they had refused his company and wolde nat desyre hym to go with them he was sore dyspleased and brake his mynde to a nother sorte of companyons so that they were to the nombre of thyrty speares They tode forthe togyther and rode all that mornynge and coulde fynde none adventure And whan Godynos sawe that they shulde retourne without doynge of any feate he was sore dyspleased and sayde to his company Syrs ryde on fayre and easely and I with my page wyll ryde aboute this wode to se if any enbusshe be hydden therin and tary me vpon yonder Mountayne They agreed to hym Thus he and his page rode forthe costynge the wode Whan he had rydden a lytell waye he herde one why stell in the wode and strake his horse with the sportes and came to the syde of the wode and there he founde an almayne guetloys cuttynge of wode Than Godynos toke his glayâ—e and came ryâ—nynge at this man wherof the man was sore abasshed Than Godynos made sygne to hym that
he shulde go with him and thought that this companyons yet shulde se that he had founde somwhat and thought the same manne shulde do them some seruyce in their lodgynges and so Godynos rode on before on a lowe hackeney and the almayne folowed hym a foote with a hewynge axe on his necke wherwith he had wrought in the wode Godinos page lepte on his maysters courser and bare his bassenette and speare and folowed them halfe slepynge bycause he had rysen so early And the almayn who knewe nat whyder he shuld go nor what they wolde do with hym thought to delyuer hymselfe and came fayre and easely to Godynos and lyfte vp his are and strake hym suche a stroke on the heed that he claue it to the teth and so ouerthrewe hym starke deed the page knewe nat therof tyll he sawe his mayster fall Than the vyllayne fledde in to the wode and saued hymselfe This aduenture fell to Godinos wherwith suche as knewe hym were sore dyspleased and specyally they of Auuergne for he was the man of armes that was moste doughted of the englisshmen in those parties and he that dyd them most domage If he had been in prisone he shulde haue ben quyted out and if it had been for twenty thousande frankes ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the duke of Iulyers ¶ Howe the duke of Iuliers and the archebysshop of Coloygne departed fro the frenche kynge and wente to Nymay to the duke of Guerles and howe by their meanes he was reconsyled and brought to peace with the frenche kynge and with the duches of Brabante Cap. C.xlix YE knowe well as it hathe ben shewed here before howe the duke of Iulyers made his peace with the frenche king by meanes of the bysshoppes that treated in that behalfe and also to saye the trouthe the duke of Lorayne his cosyn toke great payne in the mater And as ye haue herde the duke promysed to go to his sonne the duke of Guerles and to cause hym to come to the kynges mercy or els to make hym warre Thus the duke of Iulyers was fayne to promyse or els all his countrey had ben loste Thus the duke of Iulyers and the archbysshoppe toke their iourney to go in to Guerles and passed the ryuer and came to Nymay where as the duke was who receyued his father with great ioye as he was bounde to do for there is nothynge so nere a man as his father and mother But he was nothynge glad of that he herde howe that the duke his father was agreed with the frenche kynge Than the duke of Iuliers and the bysshop shewed hym at length the hole mater in what case he and his lande stode in He made lytle therof for he was so sore alyed with the kynge of Englande that he wolde nat forsake hym for his herte was good englysshe and so excused hym selfe greatly and sayde to his father syr let me alone I wyll abyde the aduenture and if I take domage by reason of the frenche kynges comynge I am yonge ynough to beare it and to be reuenged herafter on some parte of the realme of Fraunce or vppon my neyghbours the brabansoys there is no lorde canne kepe warre without some domage sometyme lese and sometyme wynne Whan his father the duke of Iulyers herde hym so styffe in his opynyon he was sore dyspleased with him and sayd Sonne Willyam for whome make you youre warre and who be they that shall reuenge your domage Syr quod he the kynge of Englande and his puysaunce and I haue gret maruayle that I here no tydynges of the englysshe army that is on the see for if they were come as they haue promysed me to do I wolde haue wakened the frenche men oftener thanne ones or this tyme. What quod his father do you trust and abyde for the englysshmen they are so besyed in euery quarter that they wote nat to whome to entende The duke of Lancastre our cosyn lyeth at Bayon or at Burdeaux and is retourned out of Spayne in a small ordre and hath lost his men and tyme and he hath sente in to Englande for to haue mo men of armes and archers and he can nat get to the nombre of .xx. speares Also the englysshe men haue had but late in playne batayle a great domage in Northumberlande for all their chyualry aboute Newcastell vpon Tyne were ouerthrowen and slayne and taken so that as nowe the realme of Englande is nat in good quyete nor reste Wherfore it is nat for you to trust at this tyme on the englysshe men for of them ye shall haue no comforte Wherfore I coūsayle you to be ruled by vs and we shall make your peace with the frenche kyng shall do so moche that ye shall nouther receyue shame nor domage Syr quod the duke of Guerles howe may I with myne honoure acorde with the Frenche kynge though I shulde lese all my hole lande go dwell in some other place surely I wyll nat do it I am to sore alyed with the kinge of Englande and also I haue defyed the frenche kynge Thynke you that for feare of hym I shulde reuoke my wordes or breke my seale ye wolde I shulde be dyshonored I requyre you let me alone I shall defende my self right well agaynst them I set lytell by their thretenynges The waters and raynes and colde wethers shall so fight for me or the tyme of Ianyuer come that they shall be so wery that the hardyest of theym shall wysshe them selfe at home in their owne houses THus at the begynnynge of this treatie the duke of Iuliers and the bysshoppe of Coloyne coulde nat breke the duke of Guerles purpose and yet they were with hym a sixe dayes and euery day in counsayle And whan the duke of Iulyers sawe no otherways he began sore to argue against his sonne and sayd Sonne if ye wyll nat byleue me surely I shall dysplease you and as for your enherytaunce of the duchy of Iulyers ye shall neuer haue one foote therof but rather I shall gyue it to a straunger who shall be of puyssaunce to defende it agaynste you ye are but a foole if ye wyll nat beleue my counsayle Whan the duke of Guerles sawe his father inflamed with ire than to apease his displeasure sayd Sir than counsayle me to myne honour and at your desyre I shall leane therto for syr Iowe to you all obeysaunce and wyll do Than the duke of Iulyers sayde Sonne nowe ye speke as ye shulde do and I shall loke for your honoure asmoche as I wolde do for myne owne Than it was deuysed by great delyberacion of counsayle that for to saue the honoure on all parties that the duke of Guerles shulde go to the frenche kynge and to do hym honoure and reuerence as he ought to do to a Kynge and to make his excuse of the defyaunce that he had sente to the kynge and to say after this maner Syr trewe it is there was a letter
tyme there rose suche a tempeste that it sperkled abrode the englysshe nauy in suche wyse that the hardyest marynere there was sore abasshed so that perforce they were constreyned to seke for lande And the erle of Arundell with .xxvii. vesselles with hym whether they wolde or nat were fayne to caste ancre in a lytell hauen called the Palyce a two small leages fro Rochell and the wynde was so streynable on see borde that they coude nat departe thence Whanne tydynges therof came to Rochell they were in great dought at the fyrste leste the englisshmen wolde come on them and do them great domage and closed their gates and helde them shytte a day and a halfe Than other tydynges came to them fro them of Palyce howe the englysshemen were but .xxvii. vesselles and came thyder by force of wynde and wether and taryed for nothynge but to de parte agayne and that the Erle of Arundell was there and the lorde Henry Beamonde sir Willyam Helmen mo than thyrty knyghtes of Englande Than they of Rochell tooke counsayle what thynge was beste for them to do and all thyng consydered they sayd howe they shulde but easly acquyte themselfe if they went nat to skrymysshe with them The same season before the castell of Bouteuyll was syr Loys of Xansere mershall of FrauÌ„ce and had besieged within the fortresse Gylliam of saynt Foye a gascon and with the marshall a great company of Poictoâ— of Xayntone of Piergourt of Rochell and of the lowe marches for all were nat gone in to Almayne with the knig This sir Loys was soueraygne capytayne ouer all the fronters bytwene Mountpellyer and Rochell tyll the retourne of the lorde Coucy They of Rochell sent worde to the marshall of the englysshmens beynge at Palyce Whan he herde therof he was ryght ioyfull and sent to theym that they shulde make redy seuen or eyght galees and to man them forthe for he wolde come by lande and fyght with the Englisshmen They of Rochell dyd as they were commaunded and sir Loys departed fro his siege and brake it vp for he thought it shulde be more honorable for hym to fyght with the erle of Arundell and the englysshe men rather thanne to contyne we styll his siege Thus be wente to Rochell and all knyghtes and squyers folowed hym I can nat tell by what inspyracyon the erle of Arundell had knowledge howe the marshall of Fraunce with a greate puyssaunce of knyghtes and squyers was comynge to fyght with hym at Palyce whiche tydynges were nat very pleasaunte to the erle of Arundell howe be it the wynde was some what layde and the see aueyled Than the erle wayed vp ancres and sayled in to the see in suche good season that if he had taryed longe after he had been enclosed in the hauen and euery man taken for in contynent thyder came the galees of Rochell well manned and furnysshed with artyllery and gonnes and came streyght to the hauen of the Palyce and fouÌ„de the englisshe men departed They pursued after a two leages in the see and shotte gonnes howebeit they durst nat longe folowe for feare of enbusshmentes on the see Than the frenche shippes returned and the marshall of Fraunce was sore dyspleased with theym of Rochell that they sente hym worde so late The erle of Arundell toke the waye by the ryuer of Garon to come to Burdeaux and therby the siege before Bowteuyll was defeated for Gillonet of saynt Foy prouyded his garyson of that he neded in the meane tyme the the marshall went to fyght with the englysshe men NOwe let vs retourne somwhat to speke of the duke of Lancastre howe he was in treatie with the spanyardes and also with the Duke of Berrey for the maryage of his doughter The kynge of Castyle treated with hym for his sonne the prince of Castyle to the entent to haue a peace with the englisshe men Also the duke of Berrey treated to haue the duke of Lancasters doughter for hymselfe for he had great desyre to be maryed And the duke of Lancastre lyke a sage imagynatâ—â—e prince sawe well howe it was more profitable for Englande and for hym to mary his doughter in to Castyle rather than to the duke of Berrey for therby he thought to recouer the herytage of Castyle in tyme to come for his doughter And if he shulde gyue her to the duke of Berrey and the duke fortune to dye his doughter than shulde be but a poore lady to the regarde of other bycause the duke of Berrey had chyldren by his fyrst wyfe who shulde haue all the profyte Also the duchesse of Lancastre enclyned to the kynge of Castyles sonne So that whan sir Helyon of Lignac was departed fro the duke of Lancastre and retourned to the duke of Berrey beynge as that in Almayne than the king of Castyls messaÌ„gers were well herde in suche wyse that their wordes were noted and their offers accepted and the couenaunte made and sworne bytwene Kateryn of Lancastre and the kynge of Castylles sonne and writynges and publike instrumentes and oblygatory bondes made and concluded with out reâ—le or repentaunce So that the duches of LaÌ„castre after euery thyng set in ordre shulde bring her doughter Kateryn in to Castyle All this season the frenche kynge was styll in the fronters of Iulyers concludynge with the duke of Guerles as ye haue herde before and howe they departed And as the frenche men retourned it fortuned on the fronteres of Almayne on a nyght aboute mydnyght as the mone â—hone fayre certayne almayns robbers and pyllers that dyd sette nother by peace nor warre but alwayes sought for their aduauntage some pertaynynge to the lorde of Blaqueneuen and to sir Peter of Conebech they were well horsed and came and aduysed the french hoost and where they might haue most profyte and aduauntage and so passed by the lodgyng of the vycount of Meaulx and sawe no styringe and returned without any noyse makynge outher passynge or retournynge and came agayne to their enbusshe and shewed them what they had sene and foundeâ— and incontynente these almayns came and entred at their aduauntage in to the frenchmens lodgynges and ouerthrewe I can nat tell howe many and toke .xiiii. menne of armes prisoners There was taken the lorde of Viesuile and the lorde of Mountkarell This aduenture the frenche men hadde the same nyght by reason they made but easy watche and were but yuell ordred The next day whan these tydinges were knowen howe the lorde of Viesuille and the lorde of Mountkarell were taken the frenche men were sore displeased and toke better hede after Whan the frenche kynge departed fro the countrey of Iulyers none taryed behynde euery man drewe to their garysons sir Guylliam of Tremoyle and sir Geruays Furrande and all other and the braban soys by the waye euery man wente home And in the retournynge of the frenche men it was ordeyned by great delyberacion of couÌ„sayle that the frenche kynge who had ben vnder the
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 adueÌ„turers 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 discoÌ„fyted 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 reâ—re 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 ThanÌ„e 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 thousaÌ„de 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 huÌ„dred 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 VaÌ„chadore 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 deê‘ted 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
and ouerthewe hym and all his men so that they lost all their horses armure vessell golde and syluer and were all ledde prisoners to a towne and there sware faythe and trouthe to paye their ranÌ„somes and specially the duke of Guerles became prisoner and made promyse to pay his ranÌ„some to a squyer called Arnolde his surname I knowe nat Than the duke and his men were ledde to a stronge towne in the lande of the duke of Stulpe whether the duke was there or nat I was nat enformed therof but whan the great maysters of Pruce herde howe the duke of Guerles was taken as he was commyng in to their countre they were sore displeased therwith and sayd howe the mater shulde nat rest in that case for they to suffrâ— it shulde be greatly to their blame Thaâ—â— they reysed vp men and departed fro CoÌ„nysbredge and came with a great strength of men towardes the towne and castell where as the duke of Guerles was in prison Whan the squyer that had taken the duke was enfourmed of the coÌ„myng of the great mayster of Pruce with suche a puyssaunce doughted greatly and determyned nat to abyde their coÌ„myng to the castell but thought to departe But or his departure he came to the duke of Guerles and sayd to hym Sir duke ye are my prisoner and I am your mayster ye are a geÌ„tylman and a true knight ye haue sworne and gyuen me your faithe where soeuer I go and wyll go ye ought to folowe me I can nat tell if ye haue sente for the great mayster of Pruce or nat he cometh hyder with a great puyssauÌ„ce I thynke nat to abyde hym tary you here if ye lyst I wyll cary with me your faythe and promyse The duke to those wordes gaue none answere and the squyer toke his horse and departed and wente to a place stronge ynoughe And at his deê‘tyng he sayde agayne to the duke Sir ye shall fynde me in suche a place he named hym a stronge castell and oute of all hyghe wayes And whan he was gone the great mayster of Pruce came to the duke of Guerles where as he was for there was none to lette hym and so delyuered the duke out of prison and if he hadde founde the squyer there surely he had been slayne Than the great mayster of Pruce retourned to Connysbredge and the duke of Guerles with hym I Shall shewe you what fell of this busynesse True it was great brute ran in dyuers countreis and specially in Almaygne of the takyng of the duke of Guerles euery man that herde it hadde great marueile therof Thus whan the duke of Guerles was come to Connisbredge and was delyuered as ye haue herde than he remembred hymselfe howe he was bounde by his faythe to the squyer that tooke hym and remembred the wordes that the squier spake at his deê‘tyng than he thought in hym selfe that in no wyse he wolde breke his promyse but truely acquyte his faythe and sayd to the great maister of Pruce that he wolde no lengar tary there but go to the squyer that had his faythe And so determyned to do for any thynge that the great mayster coulde saye or do Nouther dispensacyon absolucyon nor other thyng coude nat cause the duke to absteyne but that he wolde nedes go to the town where as the squyer was whoÌ„e he called his maister euery man that herde therof reputed it for a great valyauntnesse Whan this came to knowledge of his frendes and kynsmen than they treated for his delyueraunce and so he was delyuered by the helpe meanes of the duke of Stulpe who toke great payne in the mater Howe be it the duke of Stulpe or he coÌ„sented that the duke of guerles shulde be delyuered out of daunger and out of his lande wolde in any wyse that the duke of Guerles shulde swere and scale that he and his heyres neuer after that daye nor none other man for hym shulde take any veÌ„geaunce for that mater by waye of dissymulacion or otherwyse Thus he was fayne to do or he departed This aduenture had the duke of Guerles that yere ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce and shewe what he dyde and what he sayd to the kyng of Castyle on the FreÌ„che kynges behalfe ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan of Vyen dyd his message to kynge Iohan of Castyle fro the Frenche kynge and his counsayle and what answere the kynge of Castyle made Cap. C.liii. THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce spedde so in his iourneys that he entred into castyle and demaunded where to fynde the Kynge It was shewed hym howe he was at Burgus he rode thyder and alyghted at his lodgynge and refresshed hym and than made hym redy to go to the kynges palays and he was receyued after the maner of the countrey right honorably for the loue and honoure of the Frenche kyng And he was brought in to the kynges chambre there the kyng receyued hym ioyfully Than he delyuered the kynge his letters The kyng reed them and called his couÌ„sayle a parte and whan they ê‘ceyued by his letters that he had credence than the admyrall was called forthe and was coÌ„maunded to declare the entent of his coÌ„mynge And he who was redy sayd in fayre language Sir kyng and all ye of his couÌ„sayle The frenche kyng hath sente me to you bycause it is come to his knowledge howe ye shall marry your sonne to the duke of Lancasters doughter sir ye knowe well that he is the kyng my maysters aduersary The kyng and his couÌ„sayle haue great marueyle howe ye may here or entende to any treatie in all the worlde for any maryage without their knowledge for they saye and true it is that maryage of chyldren can nat be withoute alyaunce and amyte of peace and loue Sir he sendeth you worde by me that ye be well aduysed what ye haue done or are mynded to do And that in no wyse it be preiudiciall to the kyng nor to the realme of Fraunce nor therby to breke the boundes and alyaunces that hath ben sworne and sealed bytwene kyng Henry your father the prelates and noble cyties of this your realme and the noble kyng and realme of Fraunce Regarde well that they in no wise be broken for if they be and ones openly knowen ye ryn in the churches sentence and to be excommunycate on payne vnpardonable And also to be in the indygnacion of the kynge and of all the nobles of Fraunce and besyde that to haue them your great enemyes Sir this is the coÌ„maundement of the kyng his counsayle that I haue to shewe to you Whan the kyng of Castyle parte of his couÌ„sayle suche as were there had herde the freÌ„ch kynges ambassadour speke so quickely they were abasshed and eche of them loked on other there was none that gaue any answere but satte styll At the laste a busshoppe spake and sayde Sir Iohan ye are newly come in to these partes and the kyng and all
we saye howe ye be right hertely welcome The kyng hath well herde and vnderstaÌ„de what ye haue sayd ye shall haue shortely and aunswere within a day or two suche as shall coÌ„tente 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 LaÌ„castre 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 NormaÌ„dy 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 Blannâ—uille 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 huÌ„dred 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 gouernauÌ„ce 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
doughter to the erle of Boulonge to the duke of Berrey who wedded her in the towne of Ryon in Auuergne as it is conteyned here before in this hystorie for at all these maters I was present wherfore I maye well speke therof And whan I came to Parys I foūde there the gentyll lorde of Coucy a good lorde of myne who had newly maryed a yonge lady doughter to the duke of Lorayne Whiche lorde made me good chere and demaunded of me newes of the countrey of Foiz and Biern and of pope Clement beyng at Auygnon and of the maryage bytwene Berrey and Boulonge and of another great frende of myne and good lorde and mayster therle Beraunt dolphyn of Auuergne And to all his demaūdes I answered all that I knewe so that he was content Than he desyred me to go with hym in to Cambresys to a castell that the kynge had gyuen hym called Creue cure a two leages fro Cābrey and nyne leages fro Valensenes And so I rode in his cōpany And as we rode by the way he shewed me howe the bysshoppe of Bayeux and the erle of saynt Pole and other were at Boloyn sent thyder by the frēche kyng to cōclude the truce howe that for kyng Richarde kynge of Englāde there were at Calys the bysshop of Durham therle of Salisbury with other and howe they had been there the space more thanne a moneth abydynge for the ambassadours of Scotlande who were as than newly come thyder He sayde howe his cosyn the erle of saynt Pole had writen to hym therof and howe the frenche kynge had sente to the kynge of Scottes and to his counsayle that he shulde agree to the truce for the englysshe men wolde consente to no peace without the scottes were comprised in the same Thus we rode tyll we came to Creue cure and there I was with hym thre dayes Thā I toke leaue of hym and went to Valencennes and there I taryed fyftene dayes Than I wente in to Holande to se a gentyll lorde and good mayster of myne the erle of Bloyes and founde hym at Estōchoucke he made me good chere and demaunded of me some tidynges and I shewed him suche as I knewe I taryed with hym a moneth there and at Gede Than I retourned in to Fraunce to knowe the trouthe of the cōclusion that was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce at Balyngham Also I purposed to be at the feest that shulde be at Parys at the entre of the Frenche quene to knowe the trouthe of all these maters I retourned throughe Brabaunt and so came to Parys eyght dayes before the feest began Than I fell in company with the lordes of Fraunce and of Scotlande suche as had ben at the makynge of the truce bytwene Englāde and Fraunce And I fell in acqueyntaūce with sir Guyllyam of Melyn who shewed me all the hole mater and howe the Erle of saynt Pole was passed in to Englande to se kynge Rycharde and to confyrme the truce that was graunted for thre yeres and that he shulde retourne agayne to be at the said gret feest Than I demaūded of the said sir Guillyam what lordes of Scotlande had been at the sayd treatie I demanuded it bycause in my youthe I had ben in Scotlande and serched all the realme to the wylde scottes And while I was there I taried a space in that court of kyng Dauyd of Scotlande there I had acqueyntaūce of the most parte of the lordes knightes of Scotlāde therfore I demaūded who had been there And this sir Melyn answered me and saide howe there had ben the bysshop of Bredon sir Iames and sir Dauyd Lymsay and sir Water of saynt Clere. I bare his sayeng awaye and dyde putte in writynge all that I hadde sene and herde And shall shewe the trouthe what I sawe knewe of this feest and of the fyrst entryng of quene I sabell in to Parys ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ordynaunce of the entre of quene Isabell in to the towne of Parys Cap. Clvii THe sonday the twētie daye of Iune in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred foure score and nyne there was people in Paris and with out suche nombre that it was marueyle to beholde And the same sondaye in the mornyng there was assēble made in the churche of saynte Denyce of noble ladyes of Fraunce suche as shulde accompany the quene and of suche lordes as shulde assyst the quenes lytters other ladyes And there was of the burgesses of Parys twelue hundred an horsebacke raynged in the feldes on bothe sydes of the way aparelled in gownes of one sute of clothe of Baudkyn grene and crymosyn And the olde quene Iane and her doughter duchesse of Orlyance entred fyrste in to Parys one houre before noone in a lytter couered well a companyed with lordes and passed through the hyghe strete of saynte Denyce and so rode to the palays and there taryed for the kynge That day these two ladyes went no further Than the frenche quene and the other ladyes set forwarde as the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayn the duches of Bare the countesse of Neuers the lady of Coucy and other ladyes and damoselles all in good ordre all their lytters were aparelled as richly as myghte be But the duches of Thourayne had no lytter she rode a lone vpon a fayre pal frey rychly aparelled and she rode on the one syde by the quenes lytter and it was assysted with the duke of Thourayne and the duke of Burbone at the fore heed on bothe sydes And in the myddes on bothe sydes the lytter were the duke of Berry and the duke of Burgoyne and at the fete was the lorde Peter of Nauer and therle of Ostrenaunt The quenes lytter was richely apparelled and discouert Than nexte folowed on a ryche apparelled Palfrey the duchesse of Berrey she was assisted with the erle de la Marche and with the erle of Neuers and she rydinge a softe pace bytwene them bothe Than̄e folowed the lytter all discouered and open of the duchesse of Burgoyne and Margarete of Heynalte her doughter coūtesse of Neuers That lytter was assysted with the lorde Henry of Bare and the yonge erle of Namure called sir Guylliam And than the lady of Orlyaunce on a palfrey richely apparelled and the lorde Iames of Burbone and the lorde Philyppe Dartoys assysted the lady of Orlyaunce Than another lytter with the duchesse of Bare and the doughter of the lorde of Coucy Of other ladyes and damoselles that came after in chariottes and palfrayes and knightes that folowed there was no mēcion made And as for sergeauntes and offycers of armes had busynesse ynoughe to do to make way and to breke the preace There was suche people in the stretes that it semed that all the worlde had ben there AT the fyrst gate of saynt Denice entryng in to Parys there was a Heuyn made full of sterres within it yonge chyldren
of bowgery and howe the kynge had sayde howe he shulde be brynte and hanged wherof moche people were right ioyouse for he was sore hated the two knyghtes that were come thyder fro the duke of Berrey were greatly abasshed and wyst nat what to suppose Than syr Peter Mesquyn sayde to the lorde of Nantonelet Syr I feare me Betysache is betrayed peraduenture some persone hath ben with hym secretly in the prisone and hathe borne hym in hande that if he holde that horryble erroure that the churche than shall chalenge hym and so be sente to Auignon to the pope and therby be delyuered Ah fole that he is he is dysceyued for the kyng sayeth he wyll haue hym bothe brente and hanged Lette vs go to the prisone to hym and reforme hym and bringe hym to a nother state for he is farre out of the waye and yuell counsayled They wente strayte to the prisone and desyred the gayler that they might speke with Betysache The gayler excused hymselfe and sayde Syrs ye muste pardone me for I am straytely charged to suffer no manne to speke with hym and also here be four sargeauntes of armes sente by the kynge to kepe hym and we dare nat breke the kinges coÌ„maundement Than the two knyghtes sawe well howe they labored in vayne and howe there was no remedy by all lykelyhode but that Betysache shulde dye than they retourned to their lodgynge and rekened and payed and toke their horses and returned to their lorde the duke of Berrey and shewed hym all the case THe coÌ„clusion of Betysach was suche that the nexte daye 〈◊〉 tenne of the clocke he was taken out of prysone and brought to the bysshoppes palays and there were redy the iudges and offycers spyrituall and the bayly of Besyers brought forthe the prisoner and sayde Beholde syrs here is Betisache whome I delyuer to you for an herytyke and a synnet in boâ—gery and if he had nat ben a clerke he had been iudged or this acordynge to his desertes Than the offycyall demauÌ„ded of Betysach if it were with hym acordynge as he was acused and to confesse the frouth there openly before all the people And Betysache who thought to haue said well and to haue scaped by reason of his confessyon he aunswered and sayde that all was trewe He was demaunded this thre tymes and at euery tyme he confessed it to be trewe before all the people Thus ye maye knowe whether he was dysceyued or nat for iâ— he had made no suche confessyon he had been delyuered for the duke of Berrey had fully auowed all his dedes the whiche he had doone at his commaundemente in the countrey of Langue doc But it was to be supposed that fortune played her tourne with hym for whanne he thought to haue been moste assuredest on the heyght of fortunes whele he was tourned vp so downe fro her whele as she hathe doone a hundred thousande mo sythe the worlde began Than Betysach was delyuered agayne by the spirytuall iudge to the bayly of Besyers who vnder the kinge ruled the temperalte the whiche Betysache without delaye was brought to a place before the palays He was so hasted forwarde that he had no leysure to aunswere nor to saye nay For whan he sawe a fyre redy prepared in the place and sawe that he was in the handes of the hangman he was sore abasshed and sawe well than that he was dysceyued and betrayed Than he cryed out a loude requirynge to be herde but than was no hede taken to his sayenge but the hangeman sayde It is ordeyned that ye shall dye for your yuell warkes hathe brought you to an yuell ende He was hasted forwarde to his dethe and the fyre made redy there was also reysed a payre of galowes and therto tyed a chayne of yron and at the ende therof a coler of yron the whiche was put aboute his necke and than the chaine drawen vp a hye and tyed rounde aboute the galowes Than he cryed and sayde Duke of Berrey they cause me to dye without reason they do me wronge As sone as he was tyed to the galows there was setre rounde aboute drye segge rede and â—agoâ—â—es and fyre put therto and incontynente the faggortes were a fyre Thus Betysache was hanged and brente and the frenche kyng out of his chaumbre myght well se hym if he wolde To this poore ende came Betysache and so the people were reuenged of hym And for to saye the trouthe he had doone many extorcions and domages to the people whyle he had the gouernynge of the countrey of Languedoc ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the frenche kynge beynge at Tholouse sente for the erle of Foiz who came thyder and dyd homage to the kynge for the conntie of Foiz Cap. C.lxiiii AFter this cruell iustyce the french kyng taryed nat longe after at Besiers but departed and toke the way to Carcassone and always sythe his departure fro Auygnon his marshall syr Loys of Xancere rode in his company The kynge rode so longe by his iourneys that he vysited the countreys and kepte nat the right hyghe wayes He was at Cabestan at Narbone at Lymons at Mounte Royall and at Fongaur and than he retourned to Carcassone and there taryed foure dayes Than he rode and passed Vyle Franca Auygnollet and Mongistarte and so came to Tholouse and the burgesses there who greatly desyred to se the kynge receyued hym ioyfully and mette the kyng without the towne all in a lyuery and so with greate solempnyte he was brought to the castell of Thoulouse They of the cytie gaue the kinge many fayre presentes wherwith the kynge was greatly reioysed Whan the kynge had been there thre dayes than he was counsayled to sende for the erle of Foiz who was come out of Byerne in to the countie of Foiz and was in the towne of Nasiers four leages fro Thoulouse for he knew of the kinges state and ordynauÌ„ce The marshall of FrauÌ„ce and the lorde de la Ryuer were apoynted to go for the erle of Foize They departed on a wednysday and laye at a cytie in Tholousyn called Iordayn and the next day they came to Nasyers The erle of Foiz who knewe well of their comynge receyued theym nobly for the loue of the Kynge and also he knewe the lordes well he had sene them before Syr Loys of Xancere had the wordes and said Syr my lorde of Foiz the kynge our soueraygne lorde hath sente vs to you coÌ„maundyng you to come to se hym at Thoulouse or els he wyll traueyle so farre that he wyll come and se you in your owne countrey for he greatly desyreth to se you The erle of Foyze aunswered and sayd Syr Loys I wolde nat the kynge had so great traueyle to me it is more mete I haue it for hym wherfore if it please you ye shall shewe hym that I shall be at Tholouse within foure dayes That is well sayde syr quod they we shall returne and shewe him these tydynges fro you So be it
thought to take but I feare we be taken our capitayn Alayne is dysceyued and we to I feare we shall nat issue out without their congye Thus whan the frenche men sawe howe they were lordes of the castell they were than bolder than before and tooke and put vp agayne their floreyns sayd to Alayne delyuer vs the keyes of this towre for we wyll se what is within The bretons prolonged the mater and sayde Syrs begynne fyrste to serche in outher places and thā returne to this towre The frenchmen answered Alayne ye do but prolōge the mater for we wyll begynne here fyrst and other at ones delyuer the keyes or els thou shalte be slayne with these daggers whan the two bretherne herde that they douted the dethe they fledde fro it as longe as they myght howe be it to saye the trouth it had been more honorable for them to haue been slayne there than to haue taryed any longer for afterwarde they dyed a shamefull dethe as ye shall here And Alayne Roux beyng in this daunger yet practysed another crafte if it wolde haue serued and sayd Syr Willyam and you syr Iohan it is of trouth that within this toure are thirty men in harnesse my brother and I dyd sette them there with moche payne for we knewe well they wolde neuer agree to our apoyntemente therfore we haue closed theym within this towre to be sure of them tyll ye haue the full possessyon of the castell and there ye may haue them and ye wyll they are all good prisoners and delyuer vs our money as ye haue promysed and lette vs go our wayes Whan the french knightes herde that they were somwhat better content than they were before and studyed a lyttell than sir Willm̄ Butler saide how so euer it be or we delyuer our money we wyll haue knowledge of all the keyes of this castell therfore shew vs where they be Whan Alayne sawe it wolde be none otherwyse he sente for them in to his chambre Whan they were brought to the place than it was demaūded whiche keyes serued for the towre Alayne full sore agaynste his wyll shewed forthe the keyes of the great towre Than they opened the towre and founde within the thyrty companions in harnesse hydde priuely within the towre Alayne and his brother were sore abasshed whan they sawe the frenchmen entre into the towre and harde the wordes that sir Willyam Butler sayd whiche were these Syrs issue out fayre easely one by one if nat ye are all but deed we take you as prisoners feare nat the dethe ye shall haue no hurte so ye wyll shewe the trouth of that we shall demaunde of you Whan they sawe the frenche men and vnderstode that they shulde nat be slayne but taken as prisoners they layde downe their weapons and harnesse and yelded them selfes for they sawe well defēce coulde nat aueyle them There the thyrty men were taken and put a parte and examyned and there they iustyfyed the trayson before Alayne and Peter Roux who coulde nat denye it Than the knyghtes of Fraunce sayde to them Syrs it greatly dyspleaseth vs to fynde you in this defaulte we canne nat punysshe the mater the cause is so weighty we shall put it to the discrecyon of the duke of Berrey if he wyll haue pytie on you we shall be gladde therof we trust he wyll for the ioye that he wyll haue for the recoueryng of this castell for it was the place that he most desyred to haue agayne of all the world These wordes somewhat comforted theym They were put in to a chambre vnder sure kepynge and other in to dyuers chambres and towres Than the castell was serched aboue and beneth there they founde great prouysyon and lefte it all there styll and toke away nothynge therof at their departynge and as for golde syluer and harnesse therof was made a boty euery man had his parte and the prisoners the knyghtes had them for their parte THus as I haue shewed the stronge castell of Vanchadore was taken by the frenche men in this season And than syr Wyllyam Butler sette there a capytayne a squyer of Lymosyn a valyaunt man called Pier Mardych and with hym a thyrty speares of good men of warre and they raunsomed their prysoners suche as were worthy to be raunsomed and suche as were great pyllers and robbers and frenchmen borne they strake of their hedes and hanged them vpon gybettes newe made before the castell gate Than the frenche knightes departed to go to Ryon to the duke of Berrey toke with them Alayne and Peter Roux Tydinges sprange abrode howe the stronge castell of Vanchadore was taken wherof the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn those marchesse were greatly reioysed for the castell had been out of the frenche mennes handes more than fyftene yere and durynge that season that garysone had done great domage to the countrey Sir Willyam Butler founde in the castell a yonge squier of Bretayne a fayre yong man named Monadich and was cosyn to Geffray Tetenoyre and he was but newely come thyder to lerne to exercyse dedes of armes He had ben brought vp in an abbaye in Bretayne was come out of the house bycause he wolde be no monke The frenche men wolde haue stryken of his heed among other but sir Willm̄ Butler had pytie on hym and saued his lyfe with that he wolde become frenche and serue hym Thus the frenchmen rode to the duke of Berrey and brake vp their bastydes The men of armes departed and went euery man to their owne and the capytaynes came to Ryon to the duke of Berrey led with them the bretons who desyred thē on the waye that they shulde nat enfourme the duke of Berrey to sore agaynst them the frenchmen promysed to fulfyll their desyre So longe they rode that they came to Ryon and there founde the duke and the duchesse who receyued them with great ioy for he rekened it to be a gret acte the conquering of the castell of Vanchadore and gaue them fayre gyftes presentes Than they demaunded of the duke what his pleasure was shulde be done with Alayne and Peter Roux he answered he wolde take aduyse in that matter and so toke counsayle and there it was determyned that he shulde sende them to the kyng And so they were delyuered to the seneschall of Auuergne and he cōueyed them to Parys and there they were put in prison in the castell of saynte Anthony in the kepynge of the vycount of Affer who as at that tyme had the kepynge of that castell And they had nat ben longe there but that they were delyuered to the prouost of Parys and put in to the chatellet and there iudged to dye as traytours and robbers of the realme of Fraunce Than they were delyuered to the hangman and fast bounde and layde in a carre and brought with trompettes to the place of execucion named the halles and there set on the pillery and turned
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 coÌ„mers 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 couÌ„trey 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 coÌ„plysshe 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 imagynacioÌ„s 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 huÌ„dred 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„ HolaÌ„de brother to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de 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 FrauÌ„ce suche as shulde do dedê of armes at saynt Ingilbertê thus first they caÌ„e to Boloyne taryed there a season than came to thabbay of same Ingilbertê Than they vnderstode how there were a great noÌ„bre of knyghtes squyers coÌ„e out of Englande to Calays wherof they were ryght ioyfull And to the entent that the brute shulde coÌ„e to Calays they ordayned in a fayre playne bytwene Calays and saynt Ingilbertes thre fressh grene pauilyoÌ„s 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 freÌ„ch 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
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 dōmage but they helde thē selfes well fro fallyng The secōde 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 seasō by knightes of Fraūce 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 coūtreys 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 īquyers as well of Fraūce as of Englande wolde be glad to be doynge in some parte WHan tydynges came first into Fraūce 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
castell in the marches of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandois and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meaulx and of the takynge therof and howe Aymerygotte was taken and brought to Parys Cap. C.lxx. IN this season whyle this asseÌ„ble was a making to go in to Barbary for a good entente as to exalte the cristen faythe certayne robbers and pyllers in Auuergne Rouergne and in Lymosyn were of contrary myndes for though the couÌ„treis thought themselfe in suretie by reason of the chartre of the treuce that was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce whiche had ben ê“claymed and publysshed in all fortresses and before all the capitayns that made any warre or helde any fortresses of the englissh parte And an artycle there was that who so euer brake or violated any poynt or artycle comprised in the treaty shuld receyue punyssyon of dethe without hope of any remyssion specially Perot le Bernoys capytayne of Caluset Amergot Marcell Olyue Barbe capytayne of Dousac in the marches of Auuergne were enclosed by name in the charter of the treuse to the entent that if they or any of theirs dyd or consented to do any thynge contrary that they shulde nat ercuse them selfe some of the capytayns that feared to dye a shamfull dethe or to rynne in to the indygnacion of the frenche kynge helde surely all the poyntes of the charter But some dyd nat so whiche they derely bought as ye shall here after ye shall knowe as it hath ben here before rehersed howe Iohan erle of Armynake Bernarde dolphyn of Auuergne and therle Clermounte were in treatie with certayne capytayns that helde fortresses in the said couÌ„treys agaynst the frenche kynge These sayd lordes made suche dylygence that they brought dyuers of these capytayns to composycion and to the sellyng of their fortresses Their treaty and composicyon was that they shulde renounce the warre bytwene Englande Fraunce and durynge the treuce they to go with the erle of Armynake in to Lombardy or whyder as he wolde leade them to ayde hym in his warre a gaynst the lorde Galeas erle of Vertues who had disheryted his cosyn germayns chyldren to his vncle the lorde Barnabo as it hath ben shewed here before and so what to haue their ayde and to auoyde the countrey of these robbers pyllers who had done so moche hurte in the countrey bothe to men and women the sayd erle of Armynake and the erle Dolphyn his cosyn toke gret payne in that mater And at the instant requestes prayers of the good menne of the cyties and townes of the playne countreys aforesayd so that there was a tayle gadred in Auuergne Guynaldan Rouergne Carnosyn and in Lymosyn to the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes so that poore and riche payed somoch that dyuers solde layde to pledge their herytages and were glad so to do to lyue at reste in their countreys And the good men thought by reson of payeng of this money and aduoydyng of the sayd fyue robbers pyllers that they shulde than haue ben quyte for euer of them but it proued nat so in dyuers places specially of Aymergot Marcell and of his men For after that the castell of Aloys was yelden vp and solde by Aymergot Marcell to the erle of Armynake whiche fortresse stode in the herte of all Auuergne this Aymergot was well worthe in redy money a huÌ„dred thousande frankes whiche he had goten by robory pyllage and by raunsominge of men and patesynge of the countrey and he had kept the rule more than ten yere Th erle of Armynake desyred gretly to haue in his company the sayd Aymergot Mercell thought nat to leaue him behynd him for two reasons One was bycause he wolde gladly haue the counsayle aduyse of hym for he was experte and subtyle in all feates of armes both in sautynge sealynge and stealynge of fortresses The seconde reason was the erle feared that if this Aymergot shulde a byde behynde in the countrey thoughe he hadde solde to hym the fortresse of Aloyse and other fortresses yet he might do moche domage in the couÌ„trey of Auuergne and Rouergne wherfore therle made great labour to haue hym But alwayes Aymergot dissymuled the mater and said Whan I se the certayne of the erle of Armynakes departyng than I knowe myne owne wyll is so good that I wyll nat byde behynde Other aunswere the erle coulde nat get of hym The erle of Armynake laye at Commynge and aboute Tholousyn in his countrey and there made his assemble whiche voyage had been more hasted and the voyage in to Auffryke hadde nat been that letted hym a season for dyuers knyghtes and squyers that went in that voyage had promysed hym and this voyage in to Barbary came so sodenly that it hyndred his voyage Whan tydynges was knowen in Fraunce of the treaties that the erle of Armynake had made with the sayde capytayns in Auuergne there was made as moche haste as myght be to pay the money to the capytayns Aymergot Marsell was sore dyspleased with hym selfe in that he had solde and deliuered the stronge castell of Aloyse for he sawe his owne auctorite therby greatly abated and parceyued well howe he was the lesse feared for all the season that he kept it he was doubted and feared and honoured with all men of warre of his parte and had kept a great astate alwayes in the castell of Aloyse The patesynge of countreys that he helde vnder subiection was well worth yerely twenty thousande florayns Whan he remembred all this he was soroufull his tresour he thought he wolde nat mynysshe he was wonte dayly to serche for newe pyllages wherby encresed his profyte and than he sawe that all was closed fro hym Than he sayde and imagyned that to pyll and to robbe all thynge consydered was a good lyfe and so repented hym of his good doing On a tyme he said to his olde companyons Sirs there is no sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men of warre but to vse suche lyfe as we haue done in tyme past What a ioy was it to vs whan we rode forthe at aduenture and somtyme fouÌ„de by the way a ryche priour or marchaunt or a route of mulettes of Mountpellyer of Narbone of Lymons of Fongans of Besyers of Tholous or of Carcassone laden with clothe of Bruselles or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres or laden with spycery fro Bruges fro Damas or fro AlysauÌ„der what so euer we met all was ours or els raunsomed at our pleasures dayly we gate newe money and the vyllaynes of Auuergne and of Lymosyn dayly prouyded and brought to our castell whete mele breed redy baken otes for our horses lytter good wynes beffes and fatte mottons pullayne and wyldefoule we were euer furnysshed as though we had ben kingê whan we rode forth all the couÌ„trey trymbled for feare all was ours goynge or comynge Howe toke we Carlaste I and the Bourge of Compayne and I and Perot of Bernoys tooke
charged suche as were vnder his reule on payne of their lyues that none shulde ryde out to do any domage to his neighbours for he sayde he wolde surely kepe the trewce Olyue Barbe captayne of Ousac dyssymuled the mater sayeng howe he wolde kepe the treuce howe be it as it was shewed me some of his men somtyme wolde ryde forthe secretlye and what they wanne he wolde haue the profyte therof The men of the countreys of Cleremount of Mount Ferant and of Ryon who were goynge in message to the frenche kynge and to the duke of Berrey They sped so in their iourneys that they came to Parys and there founde the kynge the duke of Berrey the duke of Thourayne and the constable of Fraunce sir Olyuer of Clysson They came fyrste to the duke of Berrey and to his counsayle and shewed the cause of their commyng howe Aymergot Marcell made warre and dystroyed the countrey of Auuergne and howe the yuell people daily multyplyed wherfore they desyred for goddessake to haue some remedy sayenge if these yuell people shulde longe contyne we they wolde distroy the countrey of Auuergne and the fronters of Lymosyn Whan these tydynges came to the kynge and to the duke of Berrey they were sore dyspleased for they had thought all had been in peace by reason of the treuce Than the kyng demaunded if they of the garyson of Caluset and Ousac dyd any yuell or nat They aunswered and sayd they complayned of no man but al onely of Aymergot Marcell and of his company who hathe fortifyed the Roche of Vandoys Thanne the kynge and the duke of Berrey aunswered and sayd Syrs ye good people take good herde to your selfes and we shall prouyde shortely a remedy that ye shall well perceyue ▪ retourne to your places and shewe this aunswere to theym that sente you hyther These good men of Auuergne were well content with their aunswere and taryed there two dayes and thanne retourned and toke their leaue specyally of the duke of Berrey and so departed THe frenche kynge and his counsayle forgate nat these tydynges nor the duke of Berrey whome the matter touched greatly bycause he helde great herytages in Auuergne therfore he auaunced the busynesse ye haue herde here before howe the lorde of Coucy was ordayned by the kynge and his coūsayle to be capitayne and to haue the soueraygne rewle of all the countrey fro the see by Rochell vnto the ryuer of Dordone and to Burdeaux on the ryuer of Geron. As than the lorde of Coucy was nat in the countrey He was goynge in the voyage to Barbary with other lordes of Fraunce and of other countreis Howe be it at his departynge he ordayned his cosyn sir Robert of Bethune Vycount of Meaulx to be his lyeutenaunt in the sayde countrey Than the kyng sayde howe it was moost metest that the vycount of Meaulx shulde haue the charge of that voyage to go in to Lāguedocke rather than̄e any other persone He was at Coude on the ryuer of Marne The kynge wrote to hym The messangere founde hym with his wyfe at Counde and there he delyuered his letters fro the Frenche kynge The vycount receyued theym and whane he knewe what they mente he sayde he wolde obey the kynges commaūdement He prepared hym selfe as soone as he myght departed fro Coūde and rode so long that he cae to Parys where he founde the kynge and his counsayle who sayd vnto hym Vycount make you redy assemble the men of warre of your retynue for ye must go in to Auuergne There be of thes pyllers and robbers of whome Aymergotte Mercell is chiefe as we be enfourmed who distroyech and sore traueyleth the good people there Do ye so moche as to driue theym out of that countrey And if ye maye attrap the sayde Aymergotte bring hym to vs and we shall haue great ioye therof It is ordayned that there shal be delyuered to you suche sommes of money at Cleremount that shall suffyce for your men of warre And to go fro hens thider speke to oure treasourers they shall delyuer you for your expenses Make haste for it requyreth dyligence The Vycount aunswered howe he was redy and so went to his lodging And there he wrote letters to knyghtes and squyers in Fraūce and Picardy of his acquayntaunce retynewe that they in all hast shulde mete with hym at Charters and there to make their musters such as he wrote vnto obeyed they loued the Vycount for they helde hym for a good capitayne So they came to the cytie of Charters at their day prefyxed There assembled a two hūdred speares of good men of warre Whan̄e they were assembled they departed fro Charters and tooke the waye towardes Auuergne and so came in to Burbonoys tidynges came in to Auuergne howe socours was cōmyng to them out of Fraunce wherof all the countrey was reioysed IT was nedefull that these men of warre came thyder so soone as they dyde for and they hadde taryed but sixe dayes lengar aymergot Marcell and his bande had thought to haue ouer ronne the playne countrey bytwene Cleremount and Moūtferante and about Ryon to Ganape And if they had made that voyage they hadde done great dommage to the countrey more to the valewe than a hundred thousande frankes for in those marchesse laye the rychesse of Auuergne and no man shulde haue resysted thē for the countrey as than̄e was voyde of any man of warre And also the brute was that Aymergotte Mercelles company was farre mo in nombre than̄e they were in dede Aymergotte was redy to haue made this iourney but tidynges came to hym howe soeuer it was by pylgrimes or by espyes that the vycoūt of Meaulx with a great company was comynge agaynst hym to make hym warre and to putte hym out of his fortresse of the Roche of Vandoys These newes letted his enterprice and kepte hym selfe within his holde and thought they shulde be besieged Than Aymergot Marcell began to dought and repented hym of that he hadde done for he knewe well if that he were takenne there shulde no raunsome go for hym Thanne he sayd to some of his company I am shamed I haue beleued yuell counsayle Couytousnesse shall distroye me without I haue conforte Than̄e they sayde to hym Sir why dought ye thus We haue sene you the hardyest man of armes of all these marchesse We haue a good garyson and well prouyded and we are men of defence and loue as well to defende oure bodyes as ye do to defende yours ye can lese nothynge but we must lese also If by aduenture ye be taken ye shall make your fynaunce accordynge to reason ye haue good ynoughe and we haue nothynge If we be taken it lyeth on our heedes we gette none other remission We shall sell ou◠lyues dere Lette vs defende our selfe aswell as we can be nat abasshed with any thynge that we here or se We thynke we shall natte nede to care for any siege Lette vs warre wisely
my mayster and his counsayle by greuous complayntes of the noble men other of the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn howe they had taken great domages and losses by the meanes that Aymergot aduysed a strong place bytwene the couÌ„trâ—â—s which was voyde and nat inhabyted he toke and fortefyed it and hath nat made it a house of peace or solace but a stronge fortresse and a resortynge place for theues robbers and murderers whervpon I am coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be here to defende the countrey and to the entent that suche as be assembled in this forttesse shulde nat multyply in their wickednesse but to punysshe them by suche sentence as apartayneth to their trespace and for that entente I do put to my payne to take them if I can the whiche coÌ„maundemente of my mayster I wyll obey and shall do my deuoyre to acquyte me truly and fro hence I wyll nat departe what so euer coÌ„maundemente I haue tyll I haue the fortresse and them that be within And if Aymergot Marcell wyll say that I am auaunced to breke the peace lette hym come forthe and he shall be fought withall with one that is better than he and shal cause to be proued by dyuers poyntes and artycles that he hym selfe breaketh the peace Sirs all thynges consydred I make you this aunswere ye maye retourne whan it pleace you and whan ye come there as ye wold be say none otherwyse nor no lesse than I haue sayde to you for often tymes reportes nat truely set enfourmeth lordes often tymes otherwyse than the trouthe is in dede Syr quod the squyer we are come hyther for none other purpose but to reporte the trouth of that we here and se and sythe ye wyll none otherwyse do we nede no lenger to abyde here and so toke their leaue And there was gyuen to the haraulde ten frankes for the honour of the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre WHan they were departed they toke the hyghe way to Cleremount and sayd they wolde agayne to Parys whan they were halfe a leage on their way than they began to entre in to their mater and sayd As yet we haue done nothynge it behoueth vs to go to the duke of Berrey in to Auuergne who is lorde of this countrey for he writeth hym selfe duke of Berrey and of Auuergne the by counte of Meaulx dare nat displease the duke if he coÌ„maunde hym to departe and we haue letters fro the kynge our mayster and fro the duke of Lancastre to hym wherfore it is reason that we delyuer them and that we maye knowe his entente They concluded on that purpose and so rode to Cleremounte thydeâ— they were welcome for the haraulde knewe the countrey and whan they were demauÌ„ded what they were they answered that they were messangers sent fro the kynge of Englande and than they demaunded where the duke of Berrey was and it was shewed them that the duke and the duches was in a castell of theirs named the Nonecâ—e The haraulde knewe it well he had been there before Than they departed fro Cleremount and rode to Vyore and fro thens to Nonect There is a hyghe mountayne to passe or one come to the castell Whan they came there the duke of Berrey with many other was sportynge without the gate the harauld was knowen with dyuers Than they were brought to the duke who for the loue of the kynge of Englande and of the duke of Lancastre made them good chere the squyer delyuered his letters to the duke who receyued them and opened and red them at length two tymes ouer Than he studyed a lytell and answered them curtesly and sayde Syrs for the loue of our cosyns in Englande we shall gladly do our power Of the which aunswere the squyer and the haraulde were ryght ioyouse and thought than howe they had sped all their mater but it was nat so as ye shall here after howe be it the duke of Berrey at the begynnynge dyd his deuoyre to haue raysed the siege to please therby the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre who desyred that the siege myght be reysed before the Roche of Vandoys and that the lytell fortresse myght abyde styll to Aymergot Marcell if he haue done any thyng to dysplease the frenche kyng or his couÌ„sayle the kynge of Englande wolde se that there shulde be amendes made And the duke of Berrey bycause he wold acquyte him truely to the englysshe mennes desyres suche as were in his house he wrote incontynente letters well endyghted to the vycount of Meaulâ— and these letters were red or they were sealed before the englysshe men who thought them well ordayned These letters were sente by a notable squyer of the duke of Berreys to the vycount of Meaulx who receyued them and opened them Than the vycount caused them to be redde before suche lordes as were there with hym whyle the messanger was a drinkynge for they made hym good chere for the loue of the duke of Berrey as it was reason Sirs quod the vycounte we shall nat be in rest syth the duke of Berrey wyll beare Aymergot who is the man of the world that this twelue yere hath moste grâ—ued and traueyled the couÌ„trey of Auuergne I had thought that the duke had hated hym greatly but it semeth nay sythe he hath â—rpresly coÌ„maunded that I shulde departe fro hence But by my faythe at this tyme I wyll nat obey this letter but I wyll make excuse by reason of the kynge and his couÌ„sayle who sent me hyder and at my departynge fro Parys he straytly coÌ„maunded me that for any coÌ„maundemente fro any persone and if it were nat fro the kynge kymselfe that I shulde nat departe fro hence tyll I had taken the stronge holde of the Roche of Vandoys and Aymergot therin whiche I wyll do if I canne and nowe the duke of Berrey coÌ„maundeth me the contrary for he chargeth me incontynent his letters sene that I shulde reyse the syege By my faythe I wyll nat do it Syr quod they that were aboute hym ye speke royally and truely and we shall abyde with you but we suppose the occasion that the duke of Berrey writeth thus for Aymergot is that the englyssh squier and the haraulde hath thus desyred him to write we thinke also they haue brought letters to hym fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre as they brought to you this other day ye say well quod the vicounte and I shall knowe it if I came Than the duke of Berreys squier was sent for to haue his answere and the vycount sayd to him Pyer I wyll well that ye knowe that I owe obeysaunce to the duke of Berrey for he is so nere a kynne to the kynge that I dare nat dysplease hym but I and my companyons who haue ben here these fyue wekes at this siege to wyn this fortresse and to take the theues that be within it by the strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge and his
Than the vycount and the lorde of the towre syr Roberte Dolphyn and other came before the fortresse as nere as they myght aporche and thyder was brought Guyot du Sall and his company Than the vycount spake and sayd to Guyot du Sall. Guyot and all other of your company knowe we for trouthe that incontynent all your heedes shall be stryken of without ye yelde vp the fortresse of the Roche of Vandoys and if ye wyll rendre it vp we shall suffre you to go quyte Nowe aduyse ye well what way ye wyll take other lyfe or deth Of those wordes Guyot his company were sore abasshed at last they thought it was best for them to saue their lyues Than Guyot answered and sayde Syr I shall do the best I canne that the fortresse may be yelden to you Than he came to the barryer and spake with them that were within who rekened themselfes clene dyscomfyted seynge they hadde lost their two maysters and the best of their company As soone as Guyot hadde spoken with theym and declared what case they stode in they agreed to yelde vp the fortresse condicionally that they myght departe with bagge and baggage as moch as they coulde cary and to haue respyte for a moneth to withdrawe them whyther they lyste All this was graunted to them and a sute saueconducte made and sealed Thus the frenche men had the Roche of Vandoys delyuered by reason of their good fortune of their last skrimysshe wherfore it is comenly sayde that all fortunes good and yuell falleth often tymes in armes to them that foloweth warre WHan the Roche of Vandois was yelded vp to the lordes of Fraunce and Auuergnâ— they of the countrey were ryght ioyous therof and the lordes helde well and truely the promesse that they had made to Guyot du Sall â–ª whan they had caryed away as moche as they coulde do than they departed with good assuraunce for a moneth to go whyder it pleased them Than the vycount of Meaulâ— abandoned the Roche of Vandoys to the men of the countrey who incontynente dyd rase it downe in suche wyse that they lefte no wall hele nor house nor stone vpon stone but all was reuersed to the erthe The frenche men that were they in the kinges seruice with the vycount toke their leues of the knyghtes and squyers of Auuergne so they departed and they of Auuergne and Lymosyn went to their owne houses The vycount of Meaulâ— gaue leaue to parte of his company he went to Rochell and lodged at saint Iohans Dangle to kepe there the fronter for in the couÌ„trey there were some pyllers and robbers that ran sometyme in to Xantoigne whan they sawe their aduauntage In the maner and fourme as I haue shewed you the fortresse of the roche of Vandoys was coÌ„quered and rased downe wherof all the countrey was ioyfull for than they were in better suretie than they were before For to say the trouth if it had coÌ„tynued it wolde haue done them many displeasurs Tydynges of this dede came to the knowledge of the duke of Berrey to Cautelon a place of his owne standynge bytwene Charters and Mount le Herrey a nyne leages fro Parys he cared nothing for it for he was as than but colde to are any grace of the kynge for Aymergot Whan Derby the haraulde was infourmed by some of the dukes knyghtes howe the Roche of Vandois was taken beten downe than he sayde to the squyer that came thyder with hym syr ye haue lost a hundred frankes that Aymergot had promysed to you Howe so quod the squier Surely quod the harauld the Roche of Vandoys is gyuen vp and rendred the frenche men haue wonne it therfore lette vs take our leaue of the duke of Berrey and retourne in to Englande we haue nothynge here to do Well quod the squyer sythe it is so I accorde therto Than they toke their leaue of the duke Than the duke wrote to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre and gaue to the haraulde at his departynge .xl. frankes and to the squyer a horse Thus they departed and toke the next waye to Calays and so in to Englande Than tydinges came to Aymergot Marcell where he was purchasyng of frendes to haue reysed the siege before the fortresse of Vandoys that it was gyuen vp Whan he herde therof he demaunded howe it fortuned It was shewed hym howe it was by reason of a skrymysshe and by the issuyng out of his vncle Guyot du Sall vnaduysedly Ah that olde traytour ê™ Aymergot by saynte Marcell if I had hym here nowe I shulde sle hym myne owne handes he hath dyshonoured me and all my companyons At my departynge I straytely enioyned hym that for no maner of assaute or skrymysshe made by the frenchmen he shulde in no wyse open the barryers and he hath done the contrary this domage is nat to be recouered nor I wote nat whether to go they of Caluset and they of Dousac wyll kepe the peace and my companyons be spredde abrode lyke men dyscomfyted they dare neuer assemble agayne togyther and though I had them togyther yet I wote nat whyder to bring them Thus all thynge consydred I am in a harde parte for I haue gretly dyspleased the french kynge the duke of Berrey and the lordes of Auuergne all the people of the countrey for I haue made them warre the peace durynge I had trusted to haue won but I am nowe in a great aduenture to lese nor I wotte nat to whom to resorte to are counsayle I wolde nowe that I and my goodes with my wyfe were in Englande there I shulde be in surety but howe shulde I get thyder and cary all my stufe with me I shulde be robbed twenty tymes or I coulde gette to the see for all the passages in Poictou in Rochell in Fraunce in Normandy and in Pycardy are straytely kept it wyll be harde to scape fro takyng and if I be taken I shall be sente to the Frenche kynge and so I shall be loste and all myne I thynke the surest waye for me were to drawe to Burdeaulr and lytell and lytell to get my good thyder and to abyd there tyll the warre renewe agayne for I haue good hoope that after this treuce warre shall be open agayne bytwene Englande and Fraunce Thus Aymergot Marcell debated the matter in hym selfe he was heuy and sorowfull and wysâ—e nat what waye to take outher to recouersoÌ„e fortresse in Auuergne or els to go to Burdeaux to sende â—or his wire thider and for his goodes lytell and lytell secretely if he hadde done so he had taken the surest waye But he dyde contrary and therby lost all lyfe godes Thus â—ortune payeth the people whan she hath sette theÌ„ on the highest parte of her whele for sodainly she reuerseth them to the lowest parte ensample by this Aymergotte It was sayd he was well worthe a hundred thousande frakes and all was lost on a daye
baye that the sarazyns were commyng to skrymysshe with them wherby euer they aparelled them selfe to resyst them The genouoys called the dogge our ladies dogge The same season that the sarazyns stode styll in a traunce and the ladyes before them this dogge was nâ—t ydell but he made gret brute and ranne bayeng fyrst to the stande watche the lorde of Coucy and sir Henry Dantoigne kept the watche that night Whan euery man herde this dogge make suche brute they rose and armed them redy for they knew well that the sarazyns dyd aproche to awake them and trewe it was that the vyrgyn Mary and her company was before them to defende the crysten men fro all parelles so that they toke that nyght no maner of domage for the sarazyns durst nat aproche but retourned to their lodgynges And after that the crysten men toke better hede to their watche THe sarazyns knyghtes and squyers suche as were in the towne of Aufryke and specially suche as had sene these ladyes were so abasshed that they wyste nat what to thynke and the crysten knightes and squyers that lay at the siege studyed day and nyght howe they myght wyn the towne and they within studyed agayne howe to defende their towne The season was hote and drye for the sonne was in his moste strength as in the moneth of August and the marches of Aufryke are ryght hoote by reason of the sande and also they be nerer to the sonne than we be And the wynes that the crysten men had came fro Pulle and Calabre and they be hote and drye farre fro the nature of the french wynes wherby many fell in to hoote feuers And to consydre acordynge to reason I can nat tell howe the frenche men and other of lowe countreys coulde endure the payne of the hote and grose ayre that they founde there without refresshynge of good swete and fresshe water whiche they lacked there yet they made fountaynes and welles in the sande whiche dyde theym great pleasure for there they foundâ— fressh water how be it often tymes the water was sore chafed by reason of the heate And also often tymes they had great defaute of vytaylles and some season they had ynough comynge fro Cicyll and fro other isles adioynynge Suche as werehole comforted them that were dysseased and suche as had vytayles departed with theym that lacked other wyse they coulde nat haue endured they dalte eche with other lyke bretherne and frendes The lorde of Coucy specyally had the chyefe resorte of gentlemen he coulde behaue hym selfe swetely amonge them moche better than the duke of Burbone for the duke was some what of an high corage proude and presumptuous nor spake nat so swetely nor so humbly to knyghtes squyers and straungers as the lorde of Coucy dyd Moste comenly the duke of Burbone wolde sytte all daye without his tente with his legges acrosse and who so euer wold speke with hym it behoued him to haue a procurer and to make great reuerence He consydred nat the state of poore men so well as the lorde coucy dyd wherfore he was more in the grace and loue of the people thanne the duke of Burbon was And as it was shewed â—e by dyuers knyghtes and squyers straungers that in their opynyons if the lorde Coucy had ben soueraygne capytayne alone they had sped otherwyse than they dyd for by reason of the pride of the duke of Burbon many feates and enterprises were lefte vndone It was the opynyon of many that he kepte hym selfe sure ynough fro takynge THis siege enduringe before the towne of Aufryke whiche contynewed a .lx. dayes and one there was many skrymysshes made on bothe parties â—abrode and at the barryers of the towne It was nedefull for them within to make good defeÌ„ce for against them was the floure of chyualry and squyry The knyghtes aduenturers sayd one to another If we maye get this towne with assaute or otherwyse than we may refresshe our selfes in it all the wynter and at somer some great armye of crysten men wyll come byther for ther by we and they shall haue a goodly entre into the realmes of Barbary Aufryke and Thunes than other dyd say wolde to god it were so for thanne suche as shulde be lodged here shulde lye honorably for dayly they shulde be redy to do dedes of armes They that were within the towne doubted greatly the mater wherfore they tooke great payne to defende them selfes The great heate and brinnynge of the sonne dyd put the crysten men to great payne and traueyle for whan they were in harnesse by reason of the heate it brente them within their armure Marueyle it was that any skaped the dethe by reason of the heate for about the myddes of August the ayre was sore corrupted Besyde that there fell another marueylous incydente whiche if it had longe endured they had ben all deed without stroke So it was that by reason of the great heate and corrupcyon of the ayre there fell amonge them suche a sorte of great flyes that they couered all the hoost for no man wyste howe to defende hym selfe and euery daye a weke togyder they encreased wherof euery man was abasshed howe be it by the grace of god and the vyrgyn Mary to whome euery man auowed them selfe on a day dyd sende a remedy There fell suche an hayle and lyghtenyng fro heuen that it slewe all the sayde flyes And by reason of this hayle the ayre was brought in to a good temperatenesse wherby the knyghtes and squyers were in a better astate than they were before WHo so euer had been in the case that these crysten men were in at that tyme it must haue behoued them to take euery thynge in gree they coulde nat haue had euery thynge with wysshynge nor at their demaunde Whan any fell sicke it behoued them to be well kepte or els they shulde haue dyed but they were come thyder with so good wylles and affection that they purposed honourably to accomplysshe their voyage whiche mynde greatly supported theÌ„ to endure payne and traueyle All thynges that was mete for their complexions they wanted for nothynge came to them out of the realme of Fraunce tydynges nor other nor in Fraunce they knewe no more of them somtyme there came to the army fro the cytie of Barcelone in the realme of Aragon in a galey prouysion wherin was mo orenges and pomegarnettes than any other thynge These frutes yet refresshed greatly the appetytes of the crysten men but whan so euer any galey came to them it retourned nat agayne what for doute of the encouÌ„tryng of the sarazyns on the see as for to abyde there to se the conclusyon of the siege The yonge kynge of Cicyll often tymes sente to the hoost vytaylles for he was the nerte crysten prince adioynynge If the sarazyns had ben of that strength to haue stopped the passage of the see fro them and to haue kepte fro them suche vytayls and prouysions as came to the
armye fro Pule Calabre Naples and Cicyll the crysten men had ben deed without any stroke stryking but they made no warre but by lande nor also they be nat of suche puyssaunce on the see nother in gales nor in other vessels as the genouoys and venysians be For if the sarazyns be on the see it is but by stelthe for they dare nat abyde the crysten men without they haue farre the aduauÌ„tage A galey with crysten men well armed wyll discomfyte four galees of sarazyns Trewe it is the turkes are of greater force and better men of armes outher by lande or by see than any other secte of the myscreantes contrary to our beleue but they dwell farre of fro the lande of Aufryke the affrikans can nat be ayded by theÌ„ The turkes had certayne knowledge howe the towne of Aufryke was besyeged by the crysten men they wysshed them often tymes there THe crysten men studyed howe to do domage to the sarazyns and in lyke wyse so dyd the sarazyns agaynst the chrysten men studyed howe to delyuer their couÌ„trey of them and on a day Agadingor Doliferne Madefer de Thunes Belyns Madages and Brahadyn of Bougy with dyuers other sarazyns deuysed amonge them selfes and sayd Beholde here the crysten men our enemyes who lye here before our faces in our owne countrey and yet we can nat discomfyte them and they are but a handefull of men as to the regarde of vs howe be it we thinke veryly they haue some great confort of some valyaunt men out of their owne countreys for at no maner of skrymyssh that we can make and for all that euer we can do we can take neuer a prisoner for if we myght take one or two of their valyauÌ„t men it shulde be greatly to our honour and by them to knowe their demeanour and puyssaunce and what they purpose to do Syrs ê™ Agadingor let se what counsayle is best in this case as for me I am one of the yongest yet I speke fyrst we are contente therwith quod all the other say what ye wyll Syrs quod he I desyre greatly to do some dede of armes with some crysten man and I thynke veryly if I were matched with one to dyscomfyte hym in playne batayle And syrs if ye wyll do so that we myght fynde a .xx. or .xxx. valyaunt men a monge vs I shall cause and I canne the crysten men to sette forthe as many our quarell is good for they haue no cause of reason to make warre against vs. and I thynke what by reason of our iuste quarell and the good corage that we be of shall gyue vs victory Than Madyfer of Thunes aunswered and sayd Syr in your wordes is nothyng but honour to morowe if ye wyll ryde and be in the former fronte of the batayle with a trucheman with you and make some token that ye wolde speke with some crysten man and than do you so moche as to offre the batayle of .x. of yours agaynst ten of theirs than shall ye here and se what they wyll aunswere and yet howe so euer they answere we may be aduysed what we wyll do at leste the crysten men shall repute vs the more valyaunt They all agreed to that apoyntmente and so passed that nyght the next mornyng they rode forth to skrymysshe with their enemyes and Agadingor formest mounted on his good horse and his trucheman with him The daye was clere and bright and a lytell before the sonne rysynge the sarazyns set them selfe in ordre of batayle The same nyght sir Willyam of Tremoyle had kept the watch on the crysten parte and with hym sir Guy his brother Than the sarazins apered before the cristen men within a thre crosbowe shot and Agadingor had his truchman by him he rode on before all his coÌ„pany and made token to speke with some crysten man on the one wynge of the felde And a gentle squyer called Affrenall seyng the sarazyn and the sygnes that he made rode fro his company sayd Syrs stande styll here and I wyll go and speke with yoÌ„der sarazyn and torne agayne to you he hath a truchman with hym he cometh to speke with some man this squier came to the sarazyn who taryed for him Than the truchman said ye crysten man are a noble man and a man of armes and redy to gyue aunswere to our demaunde I am suche a one quod Affrenall say what it pleace you ye shal be harde and receyued Than quod the trucheman syr beholde here a gentleman and a noble man of ours who demaundeth the batayle to fyght with you hande to hande and if ye wyll haue mo we shall fynde to the nombre of sixe of ours redy to fight with .vi. of yours and the quarell of our men shal be this They say and wyll iustifye that our faythe is better and more of valure than yours for our faythe and lawe hath ben written syth the begynning of the worlde and as for your lawe was fouÌ„de out by one man whome the iewes hanged on a crosse Ahsyr quod Affrenall speke no further of that mater it appertaygneth nat to the to speke or dispute our fayth and lawe but say to this sarazyn that he swere by his fayth and beleue to afferme the batayle let hym bringe to the nombre of .x. all gentlemen of name and armes and within this thre houres I shall bringe as many to try the mater The truth-man resyted those wordes to the sarazyn who be semyng had gret ioy to accept and afferme the batayle Thus they toke this enterprise bytwene them twayne and departed and returned to their owne companyes tydinges herof came to sir Guy of Tremoyle and to syr Willyam his brother and whan they met with Affrenall they demaunded fro whence he came and what he had done with the sarazyn Than Affrenall shewed hym all the hole mater and how that he had taken the batayle wherof the sayd two knightes were ioyfull and sayd Affrenall speke to other for we two shall be of the nombre of the ten syr quod Affrenall as god wyll so be it I trust I shall fynde ynowe that wolde be glad to fyght with the sarazyns Anone after Affrenall mette with the lorde of Thune and shewed hym the aduenture and demauÌ„ded if he wolde be one of the company The lord of Thune wolde nat refuse but gladlye graunted to be one of their company For euery one that Affrenall dyd gette he myght haue goten a C. if he had wolde Sir Boucyquant the yonger syr Helyons of Lingnac syr Iohan Russell englysshe sir Iohan Harpedon Aleys Bodet and Bochet all these accepted the batayle Whan the nombre of ten were accomplisshed euery man drewe to their lodgynge to arme them incontynent to do batayle Whan this was knowen in the hoost and the knyghtes named that had taken on them that enterprise Than all other knyghtes and squyers sayd a these ten knightes were borne in a good houre that haue founde this
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 BouÌ„beris 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 coÌ„tynued 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 freÌ„des 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 doÌ„mage 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 doÌ„mage but alwayes they feared the Christen men They durst neuer adueÌ„ture to auauÌ„ce 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 FrauÌ„ce there were processyoÌ„s made to pray to god for the ê“sperite of these christen men Thentencion of the christen men beyng at the siege was to abyde there tyll they had coÌ„quered the town of Affrike outher by force famyne or treatie The kyng of Cicyll wolde gladly it had ben so so wolde all other xpÌ„en 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 eÌ„tent they shulde nat be anoyed by reason of their long siege To speke proê‘ly 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 coÌ„tynued styll the siege at their great costes chargê without ayde or coÌ„forte 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 LoÌ„don 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 couÌ„tre Than kynge â—icharde of Englande his thre vncles â—â—â—yng 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 LoÌ„don where there shulde be iustes .lx. knyghtes to abyde all coÌ„mers 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 coÌ„e a long the cytie through Chepe and so to Smyth elde and that daye .xii. knightes to be there redy to abyde all knyghtê strauÌ„gers suche as wolde iust This soÌ„day was called the sonday of the fest of chalenge And on the moÌ„day next after the sayd .lx. knightes to be in the same place redy to iuste to abyde all coÌ„mers 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 strauÌ„gers 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 FlauÌ„ders in Brabant in Heynalt and in Fraunce the heraldes departed some hider and some thider These tidyngê sprede abrode into dyuers couÌ„treys The heraudes had daye and tyme suffycient Knightes and squiers in dyuers couÌ„treys 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 EnglaÌ„de 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 coÌ„pany and specially the lorde of Gomegynes bycause he was well acquaynted with
alwayes he had auaunsed his sonne of Ostrenaunt towardes the kyng and his couÌ„saile This mater was nat forgotten but incontinent the Frenche kyng wrote sharpe letters to therle of OstrenauÌ„t who was at quesnoy in Heynaulte coÌ„maundyng 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 ê‘sons and none by writyng And in the meane season they sente certayne notable personages to the erle of Heynaulte and duke Aubert of HolaÌ„de to haue their couÌ„sayles 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 couÌ„sayle was well content Than therle and his couÌ„sayle 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 sonÌ„e had nothyng to do to go in to EnglaÌ„de I haue delyuered hym the rule and gouernaunce of the couÌ„tie 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 coÌ„e 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 dauÌ„ger 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 â–ª 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
be nat delyuered fro the companyons There is as yet the garyson of Lourde where as Peter Arnaulte kepeth vnder the kynge of Englande And also the garyson of Bounteuyll whiche is kepte by sir Iohan of Granley sonne to the Captall of Buse And thoughe it be so that as nowe we haue peace with the erle of Foiz yet it is good to doubte hym for he is cruell and hastye his thought is vnknowen therfore it is good that our landes be nat dyspurueyed Wherfore Brother for these causes other ye shall retourne home and ye shalle here often fro me and I fro you Sir Bernarde lightlye agreed to this purpose The deuyse semed good to hym Nor also he had no great affeccyon to go forthe in that iournay Than at his departynge the erle his brother sayde to hym Brother in youre retournyng ye shall go to our cosyn Raymonde of Thourayne who holdeth lande of the pope in the countie of Venus and maketh warre agaynst hym and my cosyn hath maryed his doughter to the prince of Orenge and shewe hym howe I am desyred of the pope to requyre hym to go with me in this voyage and I shall make hym my companyon in euery thynge and I shall tary for hym at the cytie of Gappe bytwene the mountayns Sir quod Bernarde I shall do your message Thus the two bretherne departed a sondre in the felde and neuer mette to guyder agayne after The erle of Armynake toke the waye to the cytie of Gappe in the lande of Ganos And Bernarde his brother went to the castell of Bolongne where sir Raymonde of Thouraygne was who receyued his cosyn ioyously Than sir Bernarde shewed hym the message that he had to saye fro his brother the erle of Armynacke with as fayre wordes as he coulde deuyse the rather therby to enclyne hym therto Than sir Raymonde aunswered and layd Fayre cosyn or your brother the erle of Armynake be entred farre in to LoÌ„bardy and hath besieged any towne I shall folowe hym but as yet it is to soone for me and my men to go forwarde Write vnto your brother my cosyn that aboute the moneth of Maye I shall folowe hym by the tyme I trust to haue an ende of the war betwene myne vncle pope Clement and the cardinals at Auignon me who as yet wyll do me no ryght and kepeth awaye fro me ê‘force that myne vncle pope Gregorie gaue me they wene to wery me but they shall nat They desyre knyghtes and squyers and gyueth theym pardons to make warre agaynst me but they haue no lyst therto For I canne haue mo men of warre for a thousande Floreyns in one daye than they can haue for all their absolucions in seuyn yere Fayre cosyn quod sir Bernarde that is trewe Kepe on your purpose I wolde nat counsayle you otherwyse And as ye haue aunswered me so shall I write to my brother therle of Armynake So be it quod sir Raymonde Thus they were toguyder all a hole daye ThanÌ„e sir Bernarde departed and passed the ryuer of Rosne at the bridge Saynt Espyrite and so retourned in to Query and in to Rouergue by the mountayns and so came thyder as he wolde be and lefte the erle of Armynake his brother alone with his warre against the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues Or he departed fro Bolonge he wrote to his brother all the newes that he knewe and the answere of sir Raymonde of Thourayne The erle of Armynake receyued the letters in the waye goyng to the cytie of Gappe He redde the letters and so passed forthe and made no great force of the matter WE wyll contynue to speke of the yonge erle of Armynacke and shewe his feate or I speke of any other mater And thus I say The good loue and great affection that he had to conforte his suster brother in lawe her husbande whom the erle of Vertues who called hym selfe lorde of Myllaygne falsely disheryted withoute cause or tytellâ— caused the erle ioyously to passe in his iourney as farre as Pyemount in Lombardy There was two great reasons that caused the erle of Armynake to assemble and to make that iourney at that tyme. The fyrste was that the realme of Fraunce therby was clene rydde of the routes of these companyons that hadde done moche hurte in the reaime and therby the countreys better assured than they were before The seconde reason was to ayde his suster for he had great pytie that she and her husbande shulde lese their herytage wherby they shulde lyue and maynteyne their estate and for these consyderacions he toke on hym this enterprice The capitayns of the companyons sayde one to another Lette vs ryde forthe merily agaynst these lombardê we haue a good quarell and a inste tytell and we haue a good capitayne wherby our warre shal be moche the better And also we shall go in to the best countrey of all the worlde for Lombardy receyueth fro all costes the fatnesse of the worlde and the e lombardes be naturally euer riche and cowardes We shall attayne agaynst theym moche profyte There is none of vs that be capitayns but that shall retourne so ryche that we shall neuer nede to make warre more agaynst any man Thus the companyons de used one with another and whan they came in to a plentuous countrey there they wolde tary a season to refresshe them and their horses In the same season the good abueÌ„turous fought of Englande sir Iohan Hacton was in the marchesse of FloreÌ„ce and made warre agaynst the floreÌ„tyns in the quarell of pope Bonyface of Rome for they were rebell agaynst the popes coÌ„maundement and so were also the Perusyns The erle of Armynake thought that if he might get this Englysshe knyght to take parte with hym he shulde haue a great treasure of hym bycause of his wysedome valyauntnesse The erle wrote to hym signyfieng hym all the hole mater of his enterprice desyringe hym of his ayde Whiche letter was sente by a discrete person to sir Iohan Hacton beyng in the marchesse of Florence and had a two thousande fyghtynge men He receyued the letter and redde it And whan he hadde well vnderstande all the substaunce therof he was ryght ioyfull and aunswered and sayde That his owne warre ones atchyued he wolde do nothyng after tyll he were in the company of the erle of Armynake The messanger sayde Sir ye saye well I requyre you write your mynde to my lorde the erle of Armynake he wyll the better beleue it With ryght a good wyll sir quod the knight it is reason that I so do Than the Englysshe knyght wrote and delyuered the letter to the messangere who retourned and came agayne to his lorde and founde hym as than in the marchesse of Pyneroll where was gret treatie bitwene hym and the Marques of Salues who shulde be alyed with hym to ayde him in his warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues THe tidynges that the erle of
and passed this transitory lyfe The next day whan it was knowen that the erle of Armynake was deed in Alexaunder in his bedde syr Iaques of Bierne wolde nat that his dethe shulde be vnknowen but caused it to be publysshed in the hoost by suche prisoners as he had to se what his enemyes wolde do They of the host were sore dyscomfyted as they well shewed for as than they had no capitayne to drawe vnto for they were but companyons gadred of all partes Than they sayd let vs returne and saue our selfe for we haue lost our tyme. Anon it was knowen in the Cytie howe the armynois were discōfyted and had no capytayne than they armed them and issued out a horsebacke and a foote and set on the hoost cryenge Pauy for the lorde of Myllayne There they were taken and slayne without defence The conquest and botye was great with the companyons that were come thyder with syr Iaques of Bierne the Armynage is yelded them selfe without defence and cast away armure and sledde and were chased lyke beastes Lo what a harde aduenture therle of Armynake and his company bad and where as his entente was to do well it tourned hym to great yuell If he had lyued fyue dayes lenger syr Iohan Acton had come to hym with fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigandyns a foote wherby he myght haue done many feates of armes and all lost by harde aduenture WHan the duke of Myllayn knewe the trouth that his enemyes were slayne and taken and specyally the erle of Armynake slayne he was ioyfull therof and loued syr Iaques de Bierne the better in his herte and made hym soueraygne ouer all his chyualry and made him chefe of his coūsayle The duke of Myllayne to auoyde his countrey of his enemyes gaue to euery prysoner that was a gentylman a horse and to euery other man a florayne and quyted them clene of their raunsomes but at their departynge he caused them to swere that they shulde neuer after arme them agaynst hym Thus these companions departed out of Lombardy and Piemount and entred in to Sauoy and in to the dolpheny and had suche pouertie that it was marueyle for as they passed euery towne was closed agaynst theym Anone euery man had spent his florayn some had pytie of them and dyd gyue them almes for charite and some rebuked and mocked them sayenge Go your wayes seke out your erle of Armynake who is drinkynge at a well before Alexaundre yet they were in more myschiefe whan they came to the ryuer of Rone they had thought lightly to haue passed ouer in to the realme of Fraūce but they dyd nat for the frenche kynge hadde cōmaunded all the passages to be closed and kept agaynst them wherby they fell in great daunger and pouertie After that they coulde neuer assemble togyther agayne Thus the yonge erle of Armynakes army brake a sonder his suster abode styll in as yuell case as she was in before Than the duke of Myllayne sent for a bysshop of his coūtrey and for suche as were most next to the erle of Armynake as had ben there with hym at that iourney and the duke cōmaunded that therles body shulde be baumed and sente to his brother syr Barnarde who was ryght sorowfull of those tydynges and good cause why but there was no remedy Than the erle of Armynake was buryed in the cathedrall churche of Rodays and there he lyeth IT ought to be knowen as it hath ben contayned here before in this history how syr Thomas Percy was sent by kyng Rycharde of Englande in to the realme of Fraūce and shewed well howe he had gret affectyon to haue a ferme peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce and specyally two of the kynge of Englandes vncles as the duke of Lancastre and the duke Edmonde of yorke but the kynges other vncle the duke of Glocestre and constable of Englande wolde in no wyse acorde to haue any peace with the french men without it were to the kynges honoure and theirs and that there myght be rendred agayne all suche cyties townes castels landes and sygnories whiche had been gyuen to the kynge of Englande and to his heyres whiche falsely had ben taken away by the frenchmen without tytell or reasone and besyde that the sōme of four thousande frankes whiche was owyng whan the frenchmen began the warre agayne And of this opynyon was dyuers lordes of Englande sayenge that to the dethe they wolde iustifye the same Many sayd that the duke of Glocestre had good ryght and reason to sustayne that opinyon but they dissymuled the mater couertely bycause they sawe the kynges mynde and affection enclyned greatly to haue peace But the poore knightes and squyers and archers of England rather enclyned to haue warre suche as had susteyned there estates by reason of the warre Consydre well than howe peace loue or acorde might be had bytwene these parties for the frenche men in their treatie demaunded to haue Ealays beaten downe to haue the sygnorie of Guysnes Hammes Marke and Dye all the landes of Froyton and the dependantes of Guysnes vnto the lymyttes of the water of Grauelyng and the frenche kynge offred to delyuer to the crowne of Englāde as moch landes in values in Acquytayn against whiche artycle that duke of Gloucestre helde and said The frenchmen wyll paye vs with our owne for they knowe well ynough howe we haue charters sealed by kynge Iohan all his chyldren that all hole Acquytayn shulde haue been delyuered to vs without any resorte or soueraynte to any man and all that euer they haue doone sythe hath ben by fraude and false engyn and nyght and day entende to no other thyng but to disceyue vs for if Calays and suche landes as they demaunde were delyuered in to their handes they shulde be lordes of all the see coste and than all our conquestes were as nothynge I shall rather neuer agree to peace as long as I lyue ⸫ ⸫ ¶ How syr Peter of Craon fell in the french kynges displeasure and in the duke of Thourayns after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii IN this said seasō there was a knyght of Fraunce of the countrey of Aniou a gentle knight and of noble extraction called syr Pyer of Craon marucylously well beloued and specially with the duke of Thourayne for aboute the duke no thynge was doone but by hym Also this knyght helde a gret astate about the duke of Aniou who was called kynge of Naples Cicyll Iherusalem and also he was ryche Asclaunder was brought vp on hym through the realme of Fraūce howe he had robbed the yonge kynge of Cycyll duke of Aniou for the whiche brute the sayd sir Peter absented him selfe fro the yonge kynge and fro his mather who had ben wyfe to the olde duke of Aniou howe be it he delte so that he was welbeloued with the frenche kynge and with his brother the duke of Thourayne Also the same
ben to vs a great cōforte but we lost you to yong your father hath taryed to short a season with vs. He was but threscore and thre yeres of age He myght haue lyued for any age many a yere lengar It was no great age for suche a prince hauynge euery thyng at his ease and wysshe Ah thou lande of Bierne destytute and without conforte of any noble herytour What shall become of the Thou shalte neuer haue agayne suche another as was this gentyll erle of Foiz With suche lamentacions and wepynges the body of this Noble Erle was borne throughe the towne of Orthayes by eight noble knyghtes The first the Vycounte of Brunyquell and agaynst hym the lorde of Compayne The thirde sir Roger of Spaygne and agaynst hym sir Raymonde of Laysne The fyfthe sir Raymonde de la Mote agaynst hym the lorde of Besache The seuenthe sir Menault of Noualles and agaynst hym Rycharde of saynt George And behynde was sir yuan his bastarde sonne The lorde of Corase The lorde of Barantyne The lorde of Baruge the lorde of Quere and mo than threscore other knyghtes of Byerne who were soone come to the hospytall of Ryone whan they knewe of the Erles dethe Thus he was caryed with open vysage to the freers in Orthayes and there he was enbaumed and layde in leed so lefte vnder good kepynge vnto the day of entierment And nyght and daye withoute cease there was brinnynge aboute his body four and twentie torches borne by eight and fourtie yomen Foure and twentie in the nyght and foure and twentie in the daye ⸪ THe dethe of this noble erle of Foiz was anone knowen in dyuers countreis mo were rather sorie of his dethe than gladde for he had in his dayes giuen suche gyftes so liberally that it coulde nat be eschewed wherfore he was be loued of euery man that knewe hym Pope Clement whan he knewe of his dethe was right soroufull for hym bicause he had taken great payne in fortherynge of the maryage of his cosyn Iane of Boloygne who was duchesse of Berrey The same season there was at Auignon the bysshop of Palmes who durst nat com at his benifyce for a displeasure that the erle of Foize had to hym and yet he was of his lynage The cause was the bysshopp̄ wolde haue exalted his iurisdiction and abated therles for all that therle made hym bysshop Than the pope sente for the bysshoppe to come to his palais and whan he was cōe the pope sayde Sir bysshoppe of Palmes your peace is made the erle of Foiz is deed Of those tidynges the bysshoppe was glad and within a shorte season after he departed fro Auignon and wente to his bysshoprike in to the countrey of Foize Tidynges of the dethe of this erle was anone come into Fraūce to the kynge and to his counsayle The Frenche kyng and his brother and the duke of Burbone were sorie of his dethe bycause of his noblenesse Than the counsayle saide to the kyng Sir the coūtie of Foiz is yours by right successyon seyng the erle of Foiz is deed without heyre of his body laufully begotten no man canne debate with you therin Also they of the countie thynke the same And sir there is one thyng that helpeth gretlye your tytell ye haue lende there on fyftie thousande frankes Sir sende and take possessyon of your guage and kepe it as youre owne enherytaūce For they of the same coūtrey desyre to be vnder youre hande It is a fayre countre and shall come to you to good purpose for it marcheth nere to the Realme of Arragone and also to Chattelone And paraduenture here after ye may happe to haue warre with the kyng of Arragon Than the countie of Foiz shal be a good fronter for therin be many fayre and stronge castelles to kepe in men of warre and to make good garysons The kyng herde well those wordes and anone enclyned to their counsayle and sayde Sirs lette se whome shall we sende on this message Than̄e it was determyned to sende the lorde de la Ryuer bycause he was knowen in that countrey and with hym the bysshoppe of Noyon These two lordes prepared them selfe to go on this legacyon and whan̄e they departed they rode at leysar by small iourneys and toke their waye by Auignon IN this meane season worde was sente to the Vicount of Chastellon beyng in the realme of Arragon of the dethe of his cosyn the erle of Foiz Than he rode tyll he cāe in to Bierne streyght to Orthays They of the towne made hym good chere howe be it they toke him nat as than for their lorde and saide howe all the countrey was nat assembled and that first they must assemble toguyder the prelates lordes and men of the good Townes and to counsayle toguyder what they shulde do Sayeng that is a good coūtrey that holdeth of hym selfe and the lordes that dwelleth therin and hath herytages to be free Than̄e it was aduysed for the best First to make the entierment of the erle Gascone of Foiz at Orthays and to sende for all the nobles of Bierne and of Foize suche as wolde come and than to take counsayle whō they shulde accepte for their lorde Than all barones and prelates and heedes of good townes of Bierne and of Foiz were sent for They of Bierne cāe thyder but they of Foiz refused to come there and sayde they wolde kepe their countrey For they herde saye the Frenche kyng wolde sende thyder to chalēge they countre of Foiz Howe be it the bysshop of Palmes was desyred to come to Orthais bycause of lynage and so he came thyder in good array as to hym apparteyned The day of the obsequy of the gentyll erle Gascon of foiz last erle of that name done in the freres in the towne of Orthays the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and a .xi. on a monday There was moche people of the countrey of Bierne and of other places bothe lordes knightes and other prelates There were four bisshoppes the bysshop of Palmes who sayd the masse and the bysshoppes of Ayre of Auron and of Tenues in Bierne There was a goodly herse and well ordred And duryng the masse tyme there was holden before the aulter by four knightes foure baners with the armes of Foiz of Bierne The first helde sir Raymon of Newcastell The seconde sir Espaygne du Lyon The thirde sir Peter deguier The fourthe sir Menaulte of Noualles sir Roger of Spaygne offred the sworde bytwene the Bourge of Campaigne and Pier of Arnaulte of Bierne capitayne of Lourde The shelde bare the Vicount of Bruniquell bytwene sir Iohan of Newcastell and Iohn̄ of Chanteron The helme offred the lorde of Valētyne and of Bierne bytwene Arnalton of Rostem and Arnalton of saynt Colombe The horse was offred by the lorde of Corase bytwene Arnalton of Spayne and Raymonet of Campaygne This entierment was honorably done accordyng to the vsage of the countre
at Towers in Thourayn bytwene the Frenche kynge and the duke of Bretayne and of the mariage of the doughter of Fraunce to the lonne of Bretayne and of IohnÌ„ of Bretayne erle of Pointhieur and the doughter of the duke of Bretaygne Cap. C.lxxxi YE haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clysson as than constable of Fraunce hated mortally eche other and besyde the hatred that the duke had to syr Olyuer he had gret enuy that he was so great with the kinge and so secrete of his counsayle and gladly he wolde haue troubled hym but he doughted the kynges displeasure and often tymes the duke repented hym that he had nat slayne hym whan he had hym in prisone in the castell of Ermyn for he thought if he had slayne hym than he shulde neuer haue had more trouble by hym The yuell wyll that he had to hym caused hym to be harde mynded to be obedyente to the crowne of Fraunce howe be it he knewe well he dyd yuell therfore he suffred all thynge to passe at aduenture and helde in his loue the englysshe men and prouyded suffycyently his townes and fortresses with artyllery vytayles and sent priuely in to Englande for men of armes and archers dyd set them in his garysons and made to be beleued that he loked to haue warre but his men knâ—we nat with whome howe be it all that euer he dyd was knowen in FrauÌ„ce and many spake largely against him He knewe well that certrayne lordes of Fraunce were nat contente with hym but he dyd set lytell therby but so passed on his tyme. He had great affyaunce in his cosyne the duchesse of Burgoyne as it was reason for he had of her a specyall supporte and ayde for the lady bycause of lygnage loued hym and bycause that the erle of Flaunders her father who was cosyn germayne to the duke had alwayes loued and comforted hym in all his trybulacyons This lady of Burgoyne was a good lady so that the duke her husbande wolde nat gladly displease her and good cause why for the duke by her helde great herytages and had by her fayre chyldren all the realme of Fraunce was bounde to loue her and she had nat ben great dyscensions had moued bytwene the parties for natwithstandynge that the duke of Bretayne had ben at Paris with the french kyng and made to hym homage yet I can nat well say if it was with good herte or no for as sone as the duke was retourned in to Bretaygne there apered in hym but small amendemente he had sworne obeysaunce and to be obedyent to the pope at Auignon but he was nat for rather he dispysed hym in his wordes Nor also he wolde suffre no man to be promoted in his countrey by that popes bulles but helde hym selfe newter in dyuers thynges wolde gyue the benefyces hym selfe No clerke coulde atteygne to any promocyon of any benefyce in his countrey without he had ben well pleased therwith Also any coÌ„mauÌ„dements that came out of the parlyament chambre of Parys he sette nothynge therby The prelates and bysshoppes of Bretayne lost great parte of their iurisdictions by this duke so that great complayntes therof was made in the parlyament of Parys but they hadde small remedy And whan he was sent for to come to Parysê or els to sende thyder some able personages to make aunswere to suche matters as shulde be aledged agaynste hym and whan any of the kynges offycers came in to Bretaygne to somon hym to apere thanne he wolde nat be spoken withall but euer made sondry seues And whan the kinges officers dyd departe againe thens than he wolde say I wyll go to Parys to se what ryght I shall haue there It is nat yet thre yeres sence I was there to se what ryght I shulde haue but I coulde se nor here of no ryght there mynystred the lordes of the parlyament tourne euery thynge as they lyst They reken me very yonge and ignorante to be ledde as they lyst but I wolde they knewe that if all my men of the duchy of Bretaygne were all of one accorde and obedyent to my pleasure as they ought to be I wolde gyue the realme of Fraunce so moche to do that I wolde bringe theym that be vnreasonable to reason and suche as hath done trewly shulde be rewarded acordyngly and suche as haue deserued to haue iustyce shulde haue as they haue deserued and suche as wolde haue right shuld haue it Thus many complayntes were made often tymes to the kynge and suche as were of his secrete counsayle said This duke is ryght presumptuous and proude sythe he wyll be brought to no reason and if he shulde be thus suffred in his lewde opinyon it shulde greatly enfeble the noblenesse of this realme for by hym other lordes shall take ensample to do yuell and therby the iurysdictyon of the realme lytell and lytell shall be loste Than it was deuysed to withstande and to fynde remedy for suche inconuenyentes and to sende swetely to hym to come to Towrs in Thourayne and there to mete with the french kyng and with the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne the bysshop of Charters the bysshoppe of Dothune These four were specyally named bycause the duke loued them best aboue all other lordes of Fraunce excepte the erle of Estampes and the lorde Coucy THus there was sente in to Bretayne to the duke the erle of Estampes and mayster Iue of Noyent They toke great payne and traueyle to moue the duke to mete with the frenche kynge at Towrs they spake so fayre with fresshe coloured wordes armed with reason that the duke agreed to go to Towrs but further he sayd in no wyse he wolde go and also that he shulde nat se his enemy syr Olyuer of Clysson in no wyse All this was acorded agreed or he wolde come to Towrs These ambassadours retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge and his counsayle howe they had spedde They were contente therwith sythe they coulde brynge hym to none other purpose The kynge and his couÌ„sayle made them redy to go to Towrs and to tary there a two or thre monethes for they thought their treatie with the duke of Bretayne shulde nat sone be acomplisshed Thus the frenche kinge the duke of Thourayne his brother the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and Iohan of Burgoyne his sonne the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy the erle of Marche the Erle of saynte Poll and other of the counsaile of FrauÌ„ce came to Towrs in Thourayn Also thyder came the constable of FrauÌ„ce and Iohan of Bretayne his sonne in lawe and their counsayles for they hadde maters there to do And a fyftene dayes after thyder came the duke of Bretayne or he came it was sayd he wolde nat come for he had thre tymes sent to excuse hym selfe sayenge he was speke and coude nat ryde how be it finally
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 FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other prelates high barons of FrauÌ„ce suche as were there ymagined to withstaÌ„de this rigorous rebellioÌ„s 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 AmieÌ„ce 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 deê‘te 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 coÌ„forted 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 couÌ„sayle 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 sonÌ„e this dought In lykewise IohnÌ„ of Bretayne had a sonÌ„e 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 Ponâ—hieuts 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 puissauÌ„ce These mariages thus acorded the lordes sworne and bounde to fulfyll theÌ„ whan the chyldren shulde be soÌ„what 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 couÌ„sayle 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 deê‘ted fro Tourse went in to his owne couÌ„tre 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 sonÌ„e 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 thenheritauÌ„ce 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 engeÌ„dre children togider for by great driÌ„kyng 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 FrauÌ„ce 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 remeÌ„bred howe the erle Guy of Bloys had great herytagê and that after his dethe they were likely to go to dyuers ê‘sones 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
duke Iulyers and to the duke of Lancastre except Chinay whiche shulde go to them of Conflans by homage and the couÌ„tie of Soissons whiche parteyned to therle of Bloys and was auÌ„ciently alyed to hym The lorde of Coucy was enherytour therof by reason of his delyuerauÌ„ce out of prisone in EnglaÌ„d Also the landes of Drages Monny shulde retourne to other heyres And the landes of Holande and zelande shulde retourne to the erle of Heynaulte Thus these fayre heryteges shulde be sparcled abrode this knewe well the lordes of FrauÌ„ce wherfore the duke of Thourayn who had money lyeng by hym thought to bye these laÌ„des if he might haue any resonable bargayne ThaÌ„ he thought to entreate the kyng to moue therle of Blois in this mater and specially at the lest to bye the countie of Bloys whiche was a fayre and a noble countrey and well syttinge for hym for the countie of Bloyes marched on the duchy of Thouraygne and to the Countie of Bloys parteyned many goodly fees This duke of Thourayne rested styll on his purpose seased nat tyll he spake with the kynge his brother the duke of Burbone with the lorde of Coucy bycause he was great with the erle of Blois and had to wyfe the doughter of his cosyn germayne the duke of Loreyne The duke of Thourayne and the other lordes of his affyuite kept this mater secretely fro the duke of Berey I shall shewe you why The lady Mary his dought was endowed in all the countie of Bloys to the soÌ„me of .vi. M. frankes by yere and the duke of Berrey trusted by reason of his doughters dowrie the the countie of Bloys shulde be his after the erles dethe this duke of Berrey was a marueylous couytous prince the duke of Burgoyne in lyke wise trusted the landes of Holande zelande Heynalte to be his bycause that Margarete his eldest dought was maried to Wylliam sonÌ„e to therle of Heynalte wherby he thought outher by bieng or by soÌ„e other incident that chose landes shulde returne to his sonÌ„e erle of Ostrenant otherwyse called IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who as than had maried Margarete eldest doughter to therle of Heynalte Thus the kyng and these said lordes purposed that at their deê‘tyng fro Tourse iii Thourayn to ryde by Blois to se their cosyn therle Guy of Bloys who was an eight myle fro Tourse in a castell of his owne called the Castell morant there to treate of this marchaÌ„dise with hym with his wyfe the lady Mary of Namure who was a couytous lady So it was there was a valiant knight and of great prudence bayly of Blois called sir Raynolde of Sens who had ê‘fyte informacion of all this busynes by what meanes I knowe nat Whan he knewe it he had gret pyte therof for loue of therle his lorde for he thought by reason of his sale of his laÌ„des he shuld be dishonored for euer disherite the true rightfull heyres whiche shulde be damnacion to his soule He thought to lette this mater if he coude so rode fro Blois spake with therle said sir the frenche kynge the duke of Thourayn the duke of Burdon and the lorde Coucy cometh hyder to you that is true ê™ therle why speke you that Sir ê™ he I say it bycause ye shal be requyred to sell your enheritaÌ„ce wherfore ye haue nede to take good aduise therin of those wordê therle had great marueyle said I can nat let men to speke make requestê but or I make any suche bargayne to sell myne enherytauÌ„ce or to disheryte myne heyres to my shame rebuke I shall rather sell or ley to pledge all the plate I haue Well sit ê™ the knight remeÌ„bre well the mater whan tyme is for this that I haue shewed you is without dout Bayly ê™ the erle I am nat so yong nor folysshe to enclyne to any suche treaties thus the bayly deê‘ted fro therle rode againe to Blois for he wolde nat be sene there at the kynges coÌ„mynge Whan the kyng and these said lordes caÌ„e to the castell the erle made them good chere as it was reason The erle and the countesse were right ioyfull that the kyng wolde visyte them in their owne castell Than the kynge to drawe the erle to his loue to bring hym to his entent sayd Fayre cosyn I se well ye be a lorde of our realme garnysshed with honour and larges and haue ben at great cost and to ayde you and somwhat to recoÌ„pence you We wyll you gyue and ayde that shall be well worthe to you twentie thousande fraÌ„kes in the countie of Blois Th erle thanked the kyng of his gyfte but he had neuer profite therof for he had neuer nothyng Than the kynge began to treate the Erle to sell the countie of Bloyes to the duke of Thourayn The kynge and the duke of Burbone spake fyrst and founde therle very colde and tarre of in that mater Than the lordes drewe to the countesse of Bloyes and shewed her so many colored reasons and she hers that after her husbandes dethe she was lyke to be but a poore lady Wherfore they said it were moche better for her to be a ryche lady and a puissaunt of golde and syluer and iewelles than to be poore Sayeng howe she was lykely to ouerlyue her husbade Therfore they desyred her to counsayle her husbande to make this marchaundyse The countesse who was a couytous lady And for loue to haue the floreyns she enclyned to their desyres and she dyd so moche with the helpe of other as the ayde of a varlet of the Erles chambre called Sohier borne at Malygnes sonne to a weyuer of clothes but he was so great with the erle of Bloyes that all thynge was done by hym without hym nothyng done And the erle had gyuen hym in fees and herytagê more than fyue hundred frankes by yere Be holde and consydre what myschefe great lordes be brought vnto by meane of seruauÌ„tes This Sohier had nother wytte nor reason to be greatly alowed but it was alonely the folysshe loue that his maister hadde to hym In lykewise the duke of Berrey the same season had one with hym called Iaques Thybaulte who was of no reputacion yet the duke at dyuers tymes had gyuen hym the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes and yet all was but loste This Sohier coulde nor can nat excuse hym selfe but that if he had lysted he myght well haue broken that marchaÌ„dise that therle his mayster made but to please the kynge the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the couÌ„tesse who was agreed therto by couitousnes of the florens He rowned so in his maisters eare that the Erle wente from his promyse that he had made to his bayly And to there the reuercion of the countie of Bloyes after his discease was solde for the somme of two hundred thousande frankes and the duke of Thouraygne to delyuer to
assēble all the counsayle of Fraunce and ordeyne who shall haue the gouernaūce of the realme the duke of Orlayunce or we That is well sayde quod the duke of Berrey it were good we studyed where were best to haue the kynge to lye that he myght the soner recouer his helth Than it was deuysed that he shulde be brought to the castell of Crayell where is good ayre and a fayre countrey on the ryuer of Oyse whan this was ordeyned than all the men of warre had leaue to departe and were cōmaunded by the marshalles euery man to retourne peasably in to his owne countrey without doynge of any vyolence or domage to the countreys as they shulde passe through and if any dyd their lordes and capytayns to make a mendes And the kynges two vncles and the chauncellour of Fraunce sente anone soundry messangers to the good Cyties and townes of Fraunce that they shuld take good hede to kepe well their townes consyderynge that the kynge was nat well dysposed in his helthe Their cōmaundementes were fulfylled The people of the realme of Fraunce were fore abasshed whan they knew howe the king was fallen sycke and in a fransey and menne spake largely agaynste them that counsayled the kynge to go in to Bretaygne And some other sayde howe the kynge was betrayed by them that bare the duke of Bretaygne and syr Peter Craon agaynst the kyng Men coulde nat be lette but that they wolde speke the mater was so hygh that wordes ranne therof dyuersely Thus fynally the kyng was brought to Crayell and there lefte in the kepynge of his physicyons and of the sayde four knyghtes Than euery man departed And it was commaunded to hyde and to kepe secrete the kynges malady fro the knowledge of the quene for a seasone for as than she was great with chylde and all of her courte were cōmaunded to kepe it secrete on payne of great punysshement Thus the kynge was at Crayell in the marches of Seulis and of Compyen on the ryuer of Oyse and kept by the sayd knyghtes and physycions who gaue hym medicyns but for all that he recouered but lytell helth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and Berrey vncles to the kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kynge before Cap. C.lxxxix IN this seasone there was in the realme of Fraunce a wyse and a sage physicyon the brewte was that there was none lyke hym and he was well be loued with the lorde Coucy he was natyue of his countrey As at that tyme his a bydyng was in the cyte of Laon he was called mayster Guylliam of Harsley Whan he knewe fyrste the kynges malady and by what accydent he fell sycke he sayd as he that thought hym selfe to knowe the kynges compleryon howe this maladye is fallen to the kynge through faute his complexyon holdeth to moche of the moyster of the see these wordes were reported to the lord Coucy who was as than at Paris with the duke of Orlyance and with the kinges vncles for as than the coūsayle of Fraūce the noble men and prelates were at Paris to determyne who shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme as longe as the kyng shulde be in that malady outher his brother the duke of Orlyance or his two vncles or one of thē vpon this cōmunycacion they were a .xv. dayes or they agreed Fynally it was concluded bycause the duke of Orlyaunce was very yonge to take on hym so great a charge that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme and specyally the duke of Burgoyne and that the duches of Burgoyne shulde be aboute the quene and to be as seconde person Thus as I haue sayde before the lorde of Coucy shewed to the kynges vncles the great wysdome and practyse of the sayd physycion mayster Guyllyam Harseley Whan the dukes herde that they sente for hym and so he came to Parys And than the lorde of Couey presented hym to the kynges vncles and sayd My lordes beholde here is mayster Guyllyam Harseley that I shewed you of He is ryght welcome quod the dukes they receyued him and made him good chere and ordeyned hym to go to Crayell to vysyte the kynge and to abyde aboute hym tyll he hadde recouered his helthe Than the sayd mayster at their cōmaundement went to Crayell to the kynge and had the chiefe ouer syght of mynystryng any thynge to the kyng and he sawe well the kynges malady was curable and sawe howe he had taken it by reasone of feblenesse of his herte and heed and through faute therfore he dyd his dylygence to recouer his helthe THe tydynges of the kynges malady spred farre abrode but who so euer was sorye ye maye well knowe the duke of Bretaygne nor syr Peter of Craon wepte neuer a deale nor had no great sorowe Also whan pope Boryface of Rome and his cardynals knowe the trouthe they were right ioyfull and drewe togyther in consistory and sayde howe their greatest enemy the Frenche kynge was beaten with a cruell rodde seyng god had taken fro hym his wytte and sayde howe that influence was sente to hym fro heuen to chastyce hym withall bycause he had so moche susteyned the pope at Auignon therfore this cruell plage was sent to hym to cause the hole realme to be better aduysed therfore they sayd their quarell was the stronger And truely to haue wysely consydred euery thynge it was a great token to haue caused the cardynalles at Auygnon to haue been aduysed but they made but lytell force therof nother to the honour of god nor to the realme for the pope at Auignon and his cardynalles sayde howe by reasone that the kynge was yonge and wolde haue his owne wyll therby he is fallen in to this malady through faute for suche as haue had the rule aboute hym haue nat doone their duetie but haue suffred hym to rynne on the bridell and to ryde nyght and daye excessyuely in traueylynge of his body out of measure therfore suche as hath had the rule ought to be charged therwith and none other for it is through their faulte for if they had ordred hym in his youthe and so contynued by a reasonable regement and haue folowed the counsayle of his vncles this sycknesse had nat fallen to hym nowe Also he hath broken his promesse against reason for he promysed the yere passed and sware by the wordes of a kynge that he wolde so ordayne to dystroy the antepape at Rome and his cardynals and to subdue the sysme of the churche and to sette the maters that be in trouble in good estate whiche is nothynge doone but hathe doone contrary to his promesse wherwith god is dyspleased and to cause hym better to aduyse him selfe he hathe punysshed hym with this cruell rodde And if he retourne to helte as he may well do than it shall behoue vs to sende to him sufficyent legates to shewe hym wysely the defaute and
nat to departe thens tyll they had brought sir Olyuer of Clysson to thē outher quicke or deed These knyghtes dyde as they were cōmaunded they durste do none otherwyse for the two dukes had the admynistracion of the realme So they departed fro Parys with a thre hundred speares but nat all at one tyme but in fyue partes to the entent to be the lesse knowen But god ayded so well the Constable and had so good frendes of some in that company that he had suche warnynge that he toke no dōmage for he and his company departed and rode by couert wayes through woodes and lefte closed townes so that at laste he came surely in to Bretaygne and entred in to a castell of his owne called the castell Ioselyn and there taryed to here other newes For all that the Barrois or Barres and the other knightes in his company lette nat to do their enterprice as they were charged but came to Mount le Heury and entred in to the towne and besieged the castell and taryed there all a nyght wenynge that the Constable hadde ben within but he was gone as ye haue herde and the nexte mornynge they thought to assaute the Castell The seruaūtes within the castell sente out to knowe what they wolde haue or what they demaunded They sayde they wolde haue sir Olyuer of Clysson therfore they were come They answered and said that he was departed thens foure dayes passed and offred to open the gates to sertche for hym the knightes went in to the castell with all their company armed for scare of enbusshement within the castell They sertched highe and lowe and founde for trouthe that he was nat there Than̄e they departed and retourned to Parys and shewed howe they had sped WHan the dukes of Burgoyne Berrey knewe that sir Olyuer Clysson was scaped they were sore displeased and the dukes of Orlyaunce and of Burbone ryght ioyfull Than the duke of Burgoyne sayde It semeth well that he douteth hym selfe seynge he is fledde awaye yet for all that he is so quytte we shall cause hym to come agayne shortely or les he shall lese all that he hath that we can sette our handes on for we haue to laye to his charge dyuers artycles vnresonable whiche requyre iudgement of punisyon and if suche as be great be nat corrected the maters shall nat be equally proporcioned for suche as be but small personages shall grudge and saye they haue wrong to be punysshed and the great to scape therfore iustyce ought to be equall and to spare nother gret nor small wherby any ensample shulde growe Thus the duke of Burgoyn deuysed of sir Olyuer of Clysson who was in Bretaygne in his castell called Ioselyn whiche forteresse was well prouyded for of all thynges necessary Whan the Barrois of Barres was retourned to Parys and had shewed that sir Olyuer of Clysson was departed fro Mount le Heury and gone to the castell of Ioselyn in Bretayne Thā he was cōmaunded to go to Amyence there to take the lorde de la Ryuer The next day he rode with his companye to Amyence a fayre forteresse besyde Charters whiche the lorde de la Ryuer helde by right of his wyfe the lady of Mans. He had greatly amended that castell and was welbeloued of the men of his countrey for he loued alwayes nothyng but trouth Than the dukes cōmissyoners came thyder and dyde as they had in charge and founde the lorde de la Ryuer there and his wyfe his chyldren the knight loked for nothyng els for he might haue ben gone before if he had lyste for he had knowledge that sir Iohan Mercyer and the erle of Ribydewe were in prisone and that the Constable was fledde in to Bretaygne And he was counsayled before by one of his frendes who said to hym Sir saue your selfe for the enuyous do nowe reygne and fortune as nowe is on their sydes He aunswered and sayde Here and els where I am at the pleasure of god If I shulde flye or hyde my selfe I shulde yelde my selfe gyltie where I knowe my selfe clere God hath gyuen me that I haue and he maye take it fro me whan it is his pleasure The wyll of god be fulfylled I haue serued kynge Charles and nowe his sonne well and trewly My seruyce hath ben well knowen with them and they haue greatlye rewarded me And seyng that I haue so truely serued at their cōmaundementes and traueyled for the busynesse of the realme of Frāce I dare well abyde the iudgement of the parlyament chambre in Parys and if they can fynde any faute in my dedes or wordes lette me be punysshed Thus the lorde de la Ryuer sayd to his wyfe and to his coūsayle This he sayd or the dukes cōmyssioners cāe to his castell At laste one shewed hym and sayd Sir here cometh suche men and suche with a great armye Nowe saye you shall we opyn the gates or nat yea quod he what elles they are welcome Therwith he went and mette them and receyued them one after another right honorably Thus they all entred in to the castell of Mans. Than the barroies of Barres whan they were within the hall executed his commaundement and arested the lorde de la Ryuer who obeyed meke lye Thus he was prisoner in his owne castell of Mans. It may well be thought that the good lady his wyfe was sore discōfyted whan she sawe fortune courne her whele agaynst her lorde and husbande and also she douted the conclusyon THus the lorde de la Ryuer was prisoner in his owne Castell of Mains And anone after he was sente for by them that had the gouernaunce bothe of the temporaltie and of the spirytualtie For pope Clement of Auignon had nothyng in the realme of Fraunce but by their meanes The lorde de la Ryuer was brought to Parys and set in prison in the castell of Loure Many men in the realme of Fraunce had great pytie on hym howe be it they durst nat speke but priuely The people cared nat so moche for the trouble of sir Iohan Mercyer as they dyde for the lorde de la Ryuer For he was alway swete curtesse meke pacyent and gencyll to poore men and a good meane always for them that myght nat be herde It was sayde daylye in Paris that these prisoners shulde lese their heedes And a sclaundre ran vpon them howe they were traytours against the crowne of Fraunce and pylled the realme and therby kepte their great portes and estates and made fayre houses castelles buyldynges And other poore knightes and squiers suche as had aduentured their bodyes membres in dedes of armes and serued truelye the realme of Fraunce and had solde and layde to pledge their herytages yet coude nat be payde for that they had serued Nother by the cōstable nor by none of them that were in prisone nor hy Mōtague that was fledde The enuyous condempned and iudged them to dye So by reason of this they
vs wysely consydre the duke of Lancasters wordes who spake them of good entent for he had greatly traueyled in the warres of Fraunce and conquered but lytell and sore traueyled his bodye brent and dystroyed the playne countreys in his waye and after his retourne sone recouered agayn he sawe this warre drewe neuer to nâ—ne â—nde but rather encreased Also he sawe that if fortune shuld turne agaynst the englyssh party that great doÌ„mage therof shulde ensue and parceyued well that the kyng his nephue was enclyned moche rather to the peace than to the warre I Iohan Froysart auctoure of this hystory canne nat well saye whether this dukes opinyon was good or nat but it was shewed me that bycause the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters maryed in higher degree than hymselfe and out of the realme of Englande the one was quene of Spaygne the other Quene of Portugale This caused him gretly to enclyne to the peace for he knew well that the kynge of Spaygnes sonne who had maryed his doughter was as than but yonge and in daunger of his owne subgiettes and knewe well that if he shulde peasably enioye the herytage of Spaygne it was conuenyente that the englysshe men shulde kepe the peace with Fraunce for if the peace shulde be broken by any incydent than the Frenche men myght shortly be reuenged of the realme of Spayne for they had open entrees as well through Aragon and Chathalone as Bierne and Byskay for the lady yolant of Bare was quene of Aragone and she was good frenche and gouerned Aragon Chathalone Bierne and Byskay for the Vycount of Chatellon who was heyre to therle of Foiz had so sworne and promysed the frenche quene wherby the frenche men hadde many fayre entrees in to Spaygne without daunger of the kynge of Nauer who wolde nat wyllyngly dysplease the frenche kynge his cosyn germayne for as than syr Peter of Nauerre his brother was with the frenche kynge who alwayes apeased the frenche kynges ire and dyspleasure whan he had any to his brother the Kynge of Nauer for he was a true frenche man and neuer founde the contrary All these imagynacions the duke of Lancastre had in hym selfe and shewed his mynde to his sonne the erle of Derby though he were but yonge yet he was of great wysdome and lykely to come to great honour whiche erle had thre sonne Iohan Humfrey and Thomas and two doughters by the lady his wyfe doughter and heyre to the Erle constable of Englande erle of Herforde and Northampton by whiche lady he helde great herytage THe conclusyon of the parlyament holden at Westmynster by the thre estates of the realme A trewce was taken by see and by lande bytwene Fraunce and Englande their frendes and alyes to endure fro the feest of saynt Mychell to the feest of saynt Iohan Baptyst nexte after and suche coÌ„myssioners as the frenche kynge had sent to this parlyament were dyspatched and the charter of the truce sent by them sealed whiche treuce was well vpholden on all partyes The Frenche kynge was sore febled by reason of his syckenesse and the physicyon mayster Guyllyam Harselay was as than deed but whan he departed fro Crayell fro the kynge he ordeyned many receytes for the kynge to vse wherby in the wynter season he recouered his helth wherof all his louers and frendes reioysed with the hole coÌ„mynalte of FrauÌ„ce for he was well be loued and so he and the quene came to Parys and helde their householde most parte at saynt Powle and somtyme at Loure and the longe wynter nyghtes they passed the season with daunsynge and carollynge and other reuels and dysportes The quene was acompaned with the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Orlyance and other ladyes The same season the Vycount of Chastellon was come to Parys who was newly entred in to the herytage of the erledome of Foize and of Bierne as ryght heyre and he releued the sayde erledom of Foiz and dyd his homage to the kyng but nat for Bierne for that couÌ„trey helde themselfe of so noble condycion that they helde seruyce to no man lyuynge Howe be it the prince of Wales said to the erle of Foiz that last dyed that he ought to releue of him and to haue his resorte to the Duchy of Acquitayne But alwayes the sayd erle denyed and defended it And it is to be thought that the chalenge that the prince of Wales made thervnto was by the settynge on and mouyng of Iohan erle of Armynake as it hath ben shewed here before in this history wherfore as nowe I wyll ouer passe it Whan this vicount of Chastellon called fro henseforthe erle of Foiz was at Paris with the frenche kyng he had there in his company with hym his cosyn syr yuan of Foize bastarde sonne to the laste Erle of Foize who was a goodly knyght The erle of Foiz or he dyed wolde haue made hym his heyre with a nother of his bastarde sonnes called Gracian who dwelte as than with the kyng of Nauer but the knyghtes of Bierne wolde neuer consent therto therfore the mater rested as it dyd and the erle dyed sodaynly as ye haue herde before Whan the Frenche kynge sawe this yonge knyght syr yuan of Foiz he lyked hym marueylous well also the kynge and he were moche of one age and by reason of the fauour that the kynge bare to this yonge knyght the erle of Foiz had the shorter spede and was delyuered of all his businesse and than departed in to his owne countrey and syr yuan abode styll with the kynge and retayned as one of his knyghtes of his chambre with .xii. horses all other thynges therto belongynge ¶ Of the aduenture of a daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodehowses wherin the Frenche Kynge was in parell of dethe Cap. C.xcii IT fortuned that sone after the retaynmge of this foresayd knyght a maryage was made in the kynges house bytwen a yonge knyght of Vermandoys and one of the quenes gentylwomen and bycause they were bothe of the kynges house the kinges vncles and other lordes ladyes and damoselles made great tryumphe There was the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey and Burgoyne their wyues daunsynge and makynge great ioye The kynge made a great supper to the lordes and ladyes and the quene kepte her estate desirynge euery man to be mery And there was a squyer of Normandy called Hogreymen of Gensay he aduysed to make some pastyme The daye of the maryage whiche was on a tuesday before Candelmas he prouyded for a mummery agaynst nyght He deuysed syxe cotes made of lynen clothe couered with pytche and theron flare lyke heare and had them redy in a chambre The kynge put on one of them and therle of Iouy a yonge lusty knyght another and syr Charles of Poicters the thyrde who was sonne to the erle of Valentenoys and to syr yuan of Foiz another and the sonne of the lord Nanthorillet had on the fyfte and the
their voyage Than it was iudged by the lordes of the parlyament that sir Olyuer of Clysson Constable of Fraunce hadde forfayted landes lyfe and goodes And so iuged hym to be banysshed for euer out of the realme of Fraunce and to lese all his offyces and herytages within the realme And bicause he had nat sente the Martell whiche is the token of the offyce of the Constablery as he was soÌ„moned to do therfore the offyce was vacant and voyde Than the dukes and their counsayls suche as were agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson thought it necessary to prouyde soÌ„e person to occupy the said offyce whiche was so noble and of so gret renome that it might nat long be without a gouernour for the incidentes that myght happe to fall They aduysed that the lorde Coucy was a mete man for it and layde it to hym but he excused him selfe and sayd that in no wyse he wolde medyll therwith he wolde rather forsake the realme of Fraunce Whan they sawe he wolde nat medyll therwith than the dukes toke other aduyse ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the maryage was treated of the lorde Philyp of Arthoys Erle of Ewe and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berey and howe he was admytted Constable of Fraunce Cap. C. xc.iiii IN this same seasone there was a treatie of maryage to be had bytwene the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys the yong wydowe lady of Berrey somtyme called couÌ„tesse of Dunoys and wyfe to Loyes of Bloys The Frenche kynge wolde gladly haue had this maryage auaunsed but the duke of Berrey was natre wyllynge therto for he thought the erldome of Ewe but a small thyng as to the regarde of her fyrste husbande wherfore he thought to mary her more highlyer In dede the lady was beautifull endued with all vertues that shulde aperteyne to a noble lady Howe be it finally the duke of Berrey was lothe to displease the kynge yet he had many offers made hym for his doughter as by the yonge duke of Loreyne by the erle of Armynake by the sonne and heyre of the Erle of Foiz The kynge brake of all these maryages and sayd to his vncle Fayre vncle of Berrey we wyll nat that ye shall putte our cosyn youre doughter come of the Floure delyce in to so farre countreys we shall prouyde for her a mariage mete for we wolde gladly haue her nere vs it is right mete that she be with our aunt your wyfe for they be moche of one age Whan the duke sawe the kynges entente he reâ—rayned hym selfe of makynge of any promyse to any persone for his doughter Also he sawe well that the kynge enclyned his fauour to his cosyn the lorde Philyppe of Arthois who was a yonge lusty knyght and of highe corage and hadde endured many traueyls in armes beyond the see and other places and had atchyued many voyages to his great laude and honour Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne agreed bytwene theÌ„ that if the kynge wolde gyue to their cosyn Philyppe of Arthois the offyce of Constablery of Fraunce whiche as than they reputed voyde by reason of the forfayture of sir Olyuer of Clysson than they to agree at the kynges pleasure in this sayd maryage For the duke of Berrey thought that if he were constable of FrauÌ„ce he shulde than haue suffycient to mentayne his estate On this the two dukes determyned to speke to the kynge and so they dyde and said to hym Sir your counsayle generally are all agreed that the lorde Philyp of Arthoys be preferred to the offyce of constableshyp of Fraunce whiche is nowe voyde For by iugement of your ê‘lyament Olyuer of Clysson hath forfayted the offyce whiche maye nat be long vacant but it shulde be preiudyce to the realme And sir bothe you and we also are bounde to auauÌ„ce and promote our cosyn of Arthoys for he is nere of blode and of lynage to vs. And sir seing the office is voyde we can nat tell where ye shulde better enploy it than on hym He shall right well exercise it he is welbeloued with knyghtes and squiers and he is a man without enuy or couytousnesse These wordes pleased well the kyng who answered said Vncle if it voyde we had rather he had it than another The kyngê vncles sued styll for the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys for the duke of Berrey hated sir Olyuer of Clisson bycause he consented to distroye Betysache his seruaunte And the duke of Burgoyne hated hym bycause he made warre agaynst the duke of Bretaygne and yet the duchesse hated hym worse Finally the kyng assented so that the duke of Berrey wolde agre to the maryage bytwene his doughter the said lorde Philyppe of Arthoys And yet to satisfye the kyng and the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce who bare sir Olyuer of Clysson in that offyce They sente sir Guyllyam of Bourdes and sir Guyllyam Martell bothe knyghtes of the kynges chambre And sir Philyppe of Sauoises a knyght of the duke of Berreys in to Bretaygne to speke with sir Olyuer of Clysson These knyghtes tooke their iourney and rode to Anger 's and there they fouÌ„d the quene of Hierusalem and Iohan of Bretaygne who receyued them right honorably for the honour of the Frenche kynge There they taryed two dayes and demaunded newes of sir Olyuer of Clysson Sayeng they had curtesse letters and message fro the FreÌ„che kyng to hym and fro none other persone And they were aunswered no man coude tell where he was but that he was surely in Bretayne in one of his fortresses But they said he was so flyttyng fro one place to another that it was harde to fynde hym Than these knightes departed and toke leaue of the quene and of her sonne Charles the prince of Thatent and of Iohan of Bretaygne erle of PoÌ„thieu and rode to Rennes And the duke of Bretayne and the duchesse were at Wannes and rode nat lightly forthe out of the towne for he euer douted the busshmentes of his ennemye sir Olyuer of Clysson There was so harde warre made bytwene them that there was no mercy but dethe And thoughe the duke was lorde and souerayne of the countrey yet there was neyther barone knyght nor squyer in Bretaygne that wolde arme them agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson but dissymuled and sayde that their warre touched them nothyng wherfore they satte styll The duke coude haue none other conforte WHanÌ„e these Frenche knyghtes were at Rennes they enquered where to fynde sir Olyuer of Clysson but they coude here no certentie of hym Thanne they were couÌ„sayled to drawe to the castell of Ioselyn where sir Olyuer of Clyssons men receyued them well for the loue of the Frenche kynge Than they demaunded where they myght here of sir Olyuer of Clysson Sayeng they had to speke with hym fro the frenche kynge and from the duke of Orlyaunce and from none other persones But his men coude tell nothyng of hym or els they wolde nat tell But
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌ„ce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌ„mage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌ„stable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌ„e inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌ„mage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌ„tage and make good prouisyon for theÌ„ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌ„e we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌ„e I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌ„ged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no ê‘sone The tyme was sore chauÌ„ged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌ„castre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ„ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâ—sayle of those two great matters the kynge had sente for the moost parte of the prelates and lordes of Englande to be at the feest of Maudelyntyde at a manner of the kynges called Eltham a seuyn Englysshe myles fro London And whan they had taryed at Ledes a four dayes the kyng retourned to Rochester and so to Elthame so I rode forthe in the kynges company ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquytayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sent in to Englande to the kynge and his counsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Acquytayne Cap. CC.i. IN rydynge the waye bytwene Leades and Eltham I demaunded of syr Willyam Lysle and of syr IohnÌ„ of Graily capitayne of Bouteuyll the cause why the king drewe to London warde and why that great counsayle shulde assemble at Eltham They tolde me and specially syr Iohan Graily rehersed to me playnly why the lordes of Gascon were come thyder and the counsaylours of the good townes and cyties thus I was enfourmed by this knight who knewe the trouth for he was often tymes amonge theym they and he were in a maner all of one countrey and fronter he sayde thus Surely whan the Duke of Lancastre came fyrst in to Acquytayne suffycyently fournysshed with charters and wrytinges engrosed and sealed with the great seale of Englande and enrolled and fermely decreed with full accorde of all prelates and lordes of Englande and also by consente of the duke Edmonde of yorke and Erle of Cambridge and of Thomas duke of Gloucestre though the sayd herytages might by succession haue come to them for Kynge Rycharde of Englande their nephue had as than no chyldren and these sayd two dukes were brethern germayns of father and mother to the duke of Lancastre whiche duke anone after he was come in to Acquytayne sente some of his counsayle to the cytie of Burdeaux to shewe to the Mayre counsaylours of the towne the fourme and tenoure of his request and for what cause he was come in to the countrey Whan they herde this they greatly marueyled howe be it they ioyfully receyued the kynges and dukes coÌ„myssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌ„sayle and so they dyd Than after they aunswered and said that the duke of Lancastre sonne to kynge Edwarde who had ben their lorde was welcome amoÌ„ge them and none otherwyse for they sayde they had nat so farre forthe taken counsayle as to receyue hym to their souerayne lorde for they sayd that to kyng Rycharde their soueraygne lorde they had done feaultie and homage and as than he had made them no quytaÌ„ce Than aunswered the coÌ„myssioners and sayd Syrs feare nat but that ye shall haue suffycient dyscharge in that behalfe so ye take the duke to your souerayne lorde for ye shall se by the content of the kinges charters that there shall neuer questyon be made therof in tyme to come WhanÌ„e they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌ„myssion extendeth nat all onely vpon vs but in lykewyse to them of the cytie of Bayon and to the prelates and barones of Gascoyne and to all that be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande ye shall drawe you towardes them and as they do and ordre theÌ„ we shall folowe the same Other aunswere the coÌ„myssioners coulde nat haue at that tyme of them of Burdeauâ— Than they departed and rode to Lyborne where the duke of Lancastre laye WHan the duke herde their aunswers he imagyned in hymselfe that the â—â—synesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌ„sayle to the cytie of Bayon and as they sped in Burdeaux so they dyd there other answere coude they haue none And fynally all the prelates and noble men counsaylours of cytes good townes in Gascoyne vnder the obeysaunce of the kyng of Englande conioyned them togyder and concluded in the forme and manner as I shall shewe you They sayde they wolde gladly receyue the duke of Lancastre in to their cytâ—es townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de so that at his entringes he shulde solemply swere that pesably and in good maner he and his shulde entreat the people with out enforsynge of any thynge and to pay reasonably for euery thynge that they shulde dispende and also to swere that he shulde nat oppresse nor cause to be oppressed the iurysdictyon of the Crowne of Englande by no maner of waye nor accyon The duke aunswered to this and sayd that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people but wolde rather kepe and defende them agaynst all men as his herytage and desyred and requyred theym that the coÌ„maundement of the kynge of Englande myght be obserued and acomplisshed Than the hole countrey by a comune voyce sayd that in no wyse they wolde departe fro the crowne of Englande and that it was nat in the kynge of Englandes power to gyue them away to another lorde nor to put them fro the crowne of Englande These demaundes and denyenges were longe a debatyng bytwene the duke of Lancastre and the lordes and townes of Gascon And whan the duke sawe none other remedy than he made request to the countrey that the prelates and noble men and couÌ„saylours of the good townes shulde sende suffycient personages to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle and howe he wolde sende in lykewyse notable persones of his counsayle and loke what so euer the kyng and his counsayle shulde determyne in that cause he promysed surely to abyde ther by whether it were with hym or agaynst him Than they of Gascon consydred well that his request was reasonable and agreed to do as the duke had desyred Than the duke rode to Burdeaur and was lodged in the abbey of saint Andrewes where he had ben lodged before tyme. Than they of the cytie of Bayon and Dar apoynted suffycient personages to sende in to Englande and the barons of Gascon vnder the kinges obeysaunce sent in lyke wyse Also ye shall knowe that whan the frenche kyng and his vncles vnderstode that the duke of Laucastre was peasably entred in to the cytie of Burdeaux and knewe nat for what entent nor whether he wolde kepe or breake the trewce Than he and his counsayle
determyned to sende to hym to knowe somwhat of his entent There was apoynted to go the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce the lorde Iohan of castell Morante and Iohan Barres of Barroys and they to haue with them a thousande speares Thus they rode forth tyll they came to the cytie of Agen and there taryed Than they sent harauldes and messnagers to Burdeaux to the duke of Lancastre shewynge hym howe they wolde gladly speke with hym The duke made these messangers good chere and wrote agayne to these lordes certifyeng them that where as they had great desyre to speke with hym in lykewyse he had the same to speke with them and bycause they shulde take the lesse payne he promysed to come and mete with them at Bergerate And whan the frenche lordes sawe this letter they gaue credence therto and ordred them there after and as sone as they knewe that the duke was come to Bergerate they departed fro Agen and rode thyder There they were receyued and lodged in the towne and their company in the subbarbes These lordes spake with the Duke and shewed hym their message The duke receyued them swetely and aunswered and sayd howe he wolde be a good a kynde neyghbour to the frenche kyng and the realme and to kepe and mayntayne the trewce taken bytwene the two kynges for he sayde he hym selfe was one of the princypalles that ayded to make and ordayn that truce wherfore he sayd he ought nat nor wold nat breke it therof they myght be well assured The dukes aunswere pleased greatly the lordes of Fraunce Thus the duke and they were louingly togyder and the duke gaue them a great dyner and supper and after they tooke their leaue and the duke retourned to Burdeaux and the frenche men in to Fraunce They founde in their waye the duke of Berrey at the cytie of Poyeters and they shewed hym what they had doone The duke of Berrey thought the duke of Lancasters answere reasonable and so dyd the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and so the mater abode styll in this estate And for this cause quod sir Iohan Graily the duke of Lancastre hath sent hyther in to Englande of his counsayle as syr Wylliam Peâ—reer and syr Peter Clyfton and two clerkes lerned in the lawe as mayster Iohan Huche and mayster Iohan Rychard of Leycettour to treate and to pleate his maters before the kynge and his vncles and for this cause the kynge rydeth to Eltham and shall be there on thursday nexte that shall be Mary maudelyn daye but what shal be done as yet I knowe nat But as I am enfourmed of some englysshe men that knowe somwhat the duke of Gloucestre wyll be princypally of the opynion that his brother the duke of Lancastre shulde abyde styll in Guyen rather than to retourue agayne in to Englande bycause he was so great with the kynge for I ensure you this duke of Gloucestre is a maruaylous mynded man proude and presumptuous he wolde rule all hym selfe and he is so beloued of the comynalte that what so euer he saythe they wyll enclyne to him He caused the valyaunte knyght the lorde Symon Burle and the duke of Irelande the archebysshoppe of yorke and many other knyghtes and other of the kynges counsayle to dye for hatred and yuell wyll durynge the seasone that the duke of Lancastre was beyonde the see in Castyle He is more dred in Englande than beloued NOwe lette this mater passe quod syr IohnÌ„ Graily and I shall shewe you nowe the seconde busynesse that the kynge hathe to do as I am enfourmed The kynges pleasure is to be remaryed and hath sertched ouer all for a wyfe if the duke of Burgoyne or the erle of Haynalte had any doughter to mary the kynge wolde gladly haue had one of them but they haue none but suche as be maryed It hath ben shewed the kyng that the kynge of Nauarre hath bothe suffers and doughters but he wyll nat entende that wayes The duke of Gloucestre hath a doughter able to mary he wolde gladly that the kyng shulde haue had her but the kynge wolde nat for he said she was to nere of his kynne for she is his cosyn germayne The kynge enclyneth moste his mynde to the Frenche kynges doughter wherof all the countrey hath great marueyle that he wolde take his enemyes doughter the kynge is nat the beste beloued Prince of the worlde with his people but he setteth lytell therby he sheweth always how he had rather haue warre with any other realme than with FrauÌ„ce wherfore he wolde haue a good peace bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and their realmes for the kynge wyll often tymes saye that the warre hath endured to longe bytwene them and that many valyaunt men are deed therby on bothe parties wherby the christen faythe is sore mynysshed and febled And it is nat pleasaunt to the realme of Englande that he shulde mary with Fraunce and it hath ben shewed hym that the doughter of Fraunce is ouer yonge and that this fyue or syxe yere she shall nat be able to kepe hym company Therto he hath aunswered and saythe that she shall growe ryght well in age and though he faste a season he shall take it well a worth and shall ordre her in the meane season at his pleasure and after the maner of Englande sayenge also howe he is yet yonge ynough to abyde tyll the lady be of age No man canne breke the kynge out of this purpose and or ye departe ye shall here moche of this matter And thus for these causes the kynge rydeth nowe to Eltham THus this gentle knyght syr Iohan of Graily and I deuysed togyther as we rode bytwene Rochestre and Dertforde this knight was capytayn of Bouteuyle bastarde sonne somtyme to the Captall of Beusz and I herde his wordes gladly and dyd put them in memory And all the way bytwene Leades and Eltham I rode most parte in his company and with syr Wylliam Lysle Thus the kynge came to Eltham on a tuesday and on the wednysday the lordes of all costes began to assemble Thyder came the duke of Gloucestre and the erles of Derby Arundell Northumberlande Kent Rutlande and the erle Marshall and the archebysshoppes of Caunterbury and yorke and the bysshoppes of London and Wynchester And on the thursday aboute the houre of thre they assembled togyther in the kynges chambre in the kynges presence Than the knyghtes of Gascoyne were sent for and the couÌ„saylours of the good townes And also the Duke of Lancastres counsayle was sent for I was nat preseÌ„t nor might nat be suffred there were none but the lordes of the counsayle who debated the mater more than four houres And after dyner I fell in acquayntauÌ„ce with an auncyent knyght whome I knewe in kynge Edwardes dayes and he was as than of kynge Rychardes priuy counsayle he was called syr Rycharde Sury he knewe me anone and yet in .xxiiii. yeres he had nat sene me before whiche was
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
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 coÌ„panyed 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 IrlaÌ„de and howe he brought in to his obeysaunce four kynges of that couÌ„trey 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 expeÌ„ses And the marchauÌ„tes 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 doÌ„mage 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 couÌ„treis 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 whanÌ„e 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 thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
tyme I demaunded thē of their beleue wherwith they were nat content and sayd howe they beleued on god and on the trynite aswell as we Than I demaūded on what pope was their affection The aunswered me on hym of Rome Than̄e I demaunded if they wolde nat gladly receyue the order of knyghthode and that the kyng of Englande shulde make thē knyghtes accordynge to the vsage of Fraūce 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 than̄e 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 demaūde 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 thē 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 coūsayle 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 Thomōde 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 solēpnyte 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 Iohn̄ 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 thē 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 puissaūce I desyre to know this for whan I shall cōe 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 Wyllm̄ of Bauyere who writeth hym selfe lorde of Frese whiche is a great countrey and a puissaunt whiche coūtrey 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 obeysaūce 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 puissaūce 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 lyuēges and marchaūdises 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 Fraūce 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 obeysaūce And in dede of olde tyme there was a kyng in Englāde 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 cōscience and so they haue done to hym faithe homage as they ought to do and in like maner as their predecessours sōtyme dyde to saynt Edwarde Thus I haue shewed you
duke of Gloucestre and so toke leaue of the kynge and of the lordes and came to London and the next day rode fyftene myle fro London to a towne called Brendwode and the next day to Plasshey and there he founde the duke and the Duchesse and their chyldren who ryght goodly receyued hym acordyng to his degre Than Robert delyuered hym his letters sent fro the frenche kyng And whan the duke sawe they were of credence he drewe this Robert a parte and demaunded what credence he had Robert aunswered hym and sayd syr I shall shewe therin to you at good leyser I am nat come to departe agayne so soone Well quod the duke ye be welcome This Robert knewe well ynough that the duke of Gloucestre was a sore dyslymulynge prince and contrary to any peace and thought it harde to breke hym fro his opinyon for he knewe well he was alwaies contrary to the peace whiche was well sene at the treaties at Balyngham for he neuer demaunded but to haue warre yet for all that Robert the Hermyte spared nat to speke to the duke on the forme of peace Alwayes he founde the duke colde in aunswers and sayd the mater lay nat in hym for he had two elder bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke to whome the mater partayned rather than to hym and also that if he wolde consent therto alone peraduenture the other lordes prelates and counsaylours of good townes wolde nat accepte it Well quod Robert the Hermyte for the loue of our lorde Ihesu Christ be ye nat contrarye to the peace for ye maye do moche and also ye se well howe the kyng your nephue enclyneth to the peace and wyll by maryage haue the Frenche kynges doughter by whiche coniunctyon shal be gret alyaunce of peace and loue Than the duke aunswered and sayd What though ye be beleued and herde at this tyme with the kynges and lordes of bothe realmes and that ye haue good audyeÌ„ce with them and with their counsaylours the mater is so hygh and weyghty that it is conuenyent that greater personages than ye shulde meâ—le therwith I haue tolde you and often tymes I haue said that I shall neuer be contrary to the peace so it be to the honoure of the kynge and the Realme of Englande In tyme paste peace was taken bytwene the king our father and our brother the prince of Wales and kinge Iohan of FrauÌ„ce and the frenche party sworne and bounde vppon payne of sentence of the pope and yet it helde nat for the frenchmen fraudulently haue broken all couenauntes haue taken agayne possessyon of all the landes and lordeshyppes that were yelded delyuered at the peace makyng to our sayd souerayne lorde and father and to our predecessours and moreouer of the soÌ„me of .xxx. thousande frankes that the redempcyon mounted vnto there is yet to paye syxe huÌ„dred thousande frankes wherfore such maters to remembre troubleth sore our corages and we and many of this realme marueyle greatly howe the kynge our souerayne lorde leaneth to so yonge aduyse counsayle and regardeth none otherwyse the tyme passed and the tyme present but enclineth to alye hym by maryage with his aduersary and by that alyaunce dysheryte the Crowne of Englande his successours to come of the clayme of Fraunce Ah ryght dere lorde quod Robert our lorde Iesu Christ suffered passyon on the Crosse for vs all synners and pardoned his dethe to them that crucyfied him in lykewyse a man must pardon that wyll come to the glory of heuen and sir all yuell wylles hates and rancoures were pardoned the daye that the peace was made and sealed at Calays by our predecessours and nowe warres haue been a game newly renewed bytwene your men and ours I thynke surely through faulte on bothe parties for whan the prince of Wales duke of Acquytayne was retourned out of Spayne in to Acquytayne there were a certayne maner of people callyng themselfe companyons wherof the moste partye were englysshe men and gascons holdynge of the kynge of Englande and of the prince of Wales These people assembled them togyther and entred in to the realme of Fraunce without any tytell of reason wherby ensued mortall eruell warre greater than was before These companyons called the realme of Fraunce their chambre they were so set to do yuell dedes that they coude nat be resysted And whan the realme of FrauÌ„ce sawe and felte them so harmed by this people and sawe well the lengar they contynewed the more they multyplyed more hurte they dyd than kyng Charles of FrauÌ„ce sonne to kyng Iohan was couÌ„sayled by his subgiettes to resyst subdue suche enemyes outher by warre or otherwyse and many great barons of Gascoyne came to the frenche kyng suche as said they were sore ouerlayde with their lorde the prince of Wales many iniuryes done to theÌ„ whiche they shewed to the frenche kynge they might nat nor Wolde nat suffre no lenger and so they beganne the warre bycause of their resorte to the prince of Wales Than this kynge Charles by counsayle of them and of his subgiettes enhardyed himselfe to the warre with these barones of Gascoyn for to mete against these companyons And in this newe warre many lordes retourned to the frenche kynge and dyuers lordeshyppes cyties townes and castels for the great oppression that the prince of Wales dyd to theÌ„ and consented to be done by his coÌ„myssioners Thus the warre was renewed wherby many great myschyefes haue fallen to the dystruction of moche people and countreys and the faythe of Christ sore febled and decayed the enemyes of god ryssen and coraged and haue all redy conquered moche parte of Grece the emperour of Constantynople hath nat the power to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of the great turke called Basant Lamorabaquyn who hathe conquered the realme of Armony excepte all onely a towne standynge on the see syde called Tourche whiche the venysians and genouoys kepe agaynst the turke and the emperour of Constantyne the noble who is of your blode he was sonne to the emperoure Hugues of Luzignen and of my lady Mary of Burbon cosyn germayne to my lady the quene your mother he shall nat be able of longe to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of this gret turke and if peace maye be had bytwene Englande and Fraunce as I trust by the grace of god it shall be than knyghtes squyers suche as demaunde for dedes of armes for their aduauncement shall drawe them to that parte and shall helpe kynge Lyon of Armony to recouer agayne his herytage and to put out the turkes for surely the warre hath ouerlonge endured bytwene Fraunce and Englande and surely who so euer it be that is or wyll be against the peace shall derely aunswere therto outher quycke or deed Howe knowe you that quod the duke of Gloucestre Syr quod Robert all that I say cometh by dyuyne inspyracyon and by a vysione that came to me vpon the see as I retourned fro Baruchâ—
swete and amyable letters to the freÌ„che king by a notable ambassade a bysshop and .ii. knightes of Hungry In the same letters was coÌ„teyned 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 coÌ„pany 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 HuÌ„gry in his letters prayed the Frenche kyng to entende to ayde and socour him and that this businesse in farre couÌ„treis 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 sonÌ„e 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 zelaÌ„de 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 thanÌ„e his owne cosyn germayne your sonne and ye shall se many knyghtes go with hym as well for their owne auauÌ„cementes 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 ConstaÌ„tyne 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 coÌ„mynge 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 coÌ„myng 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 GeÌ„nes 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 huÌ„dred speares and fyue huÌ„dred 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 enteÌ„cyons for ê‘force he coulde do nothyng without he
had had greatier puissaunce than he had And whan the lorde of Coucy came first vpon the fronters of the ryuer of Geane where the entrees are stronge to conquere if there be made any defence Some lordes of the genowayes suche as fauoured the lorde Coucy and had enformed the duke of Orlyaunce wherby he sente thyder the lorde of Coucy They entreated him amiably and brought hym to their coūtreis and offred to hym their castels The lorde of Coucy who was sage subtyle and ymaginatyfe and knewe right well the nature of the lombardes and genowayes wolde nat trust them ouermoche nor haue to great confydence in their offers and promyses but alwayes wysely he helde them in loue and amyte as longe as he was amonge them and ledde them forthe with fayre wordes and treaties They had many cōmunycacyons in the felde toguyder but neuer in no fortresse and euer the more he comuned with theym the lesse he conquered or gate the genouoys made to him sygne of loue and promysed hym many thynges and wolde haue had hym to haue gone in to the cytie of Gennes or to Porte Vender but the lorde of Coucy durst neuer assure hym in their offers The conclusyon of his voyage was suche that he gate nothynge and whan he sawe that he coulde nat atcheue his busynesse he signyfied his estate to the duke of Orlyance whervpon he was remaunded and so he retourned to Parys and came thyder the same season that all the busynesse was for the iourney goynge in to Hungery The duke of Burgoyne reioysed greatly of his retourne and he and duchesse sente for hym to their house of Arthoyse in sygne of great loue than they sayd to him Syr we trust moche in you we haue caused Iohan our sonne and heyre to take on hym an enterprise in the honour of god and of all christendome and we knowe well that aboue all other knyghtes of Fraunce ye are the moste vsed and expert in all thynges wherfore derely we requyre you that ye wolde be companion with our sonne in this voyage and his chyefe counsaylour wherof we shall thanke you and deserue it to you and yours Than the lorde of Coucy said my lorde you madame your wordes and requestes ought to be to me a cōmaundement in this voyage I shall go if it please god for two causes First for deuocyon to defende the faythe of Ihesu Christ Secondly in that ye do to me somoche honour as to gyue me charge of my lorde Iohan your sonne and I shall acquyte me truely to him to my power howe be it of this dede ye may well dyscharge me and to charge specyally his cosyn and nere kynesman my lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce and his other cosyn the erle of Marche bothe two ought to go with hym in this voyage for they be both nere of his blode Than the duke sayd My lorde of Coucy ye haue moche more sene than these other twayn haue and knowe better the orderynge of an army in straunge countreys than outher our cosyn of Ewe or of March therfore we charge you and praye you to execute our requestes Than he aunswered and sayd my lorde your prayer is to me a cōmaundement and I shall do it sythe it pleaseth you with the ayde and helpe of my lorde Guye of Tremoyle and of my lorde Guillyam his brother and of the admyrall of Fraunce Of this answere the duke and duchesse had great ioye THese lordes prepared them selues to go in this iourney into Hūgery and lordes knyghtes and squyers were desyred to go in their company and many desyred themselfe to go Some were retaygned and some went without maysters and some consyderynge the voyage in to Hungery and fro thence in to Turkey to be ouer longe and chargeable for them beynge nat retaygned waxed colde in their enterpryse For the settynge forwarde of this yonge Iohan of Burgoyne nothynge was spared horse harnesse fresshe clothes riche vessell and plate of golde and syluer and offycers apoynted to do their atendaūce and money delyuered and werke men payed Than all barones knightes and squiers for the honour of Iohn̄ of Burgoyne and also for the auauncement of their bodies enforced them to make them redy The lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys ordeyned hym so puyssauntly that nothynge was spared and wolde go in that voyage as Constable of Fraunce And the frenche kynge who loued him entierlye helped hym moche towarde his charges and so he dyd to the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce The duke of Burgoyne consydered that this voyage of his sonnes shulde coste ouermoche fynaunce and he thought it conuenyent that the state of his sonne shulde be mayntayned and to fynde syluer to mayntayne it withall he foūde out subtelly a backe tayle for by a former tayle all the countreys cyties and fortresses had ben tayled And the said backe tayle mounted in Burgoyne of the chyuallry syxe hundred thousande crownes of golde And agayne the duke made it to be tolde to all knyghtes and ladyes that helde of him in fee yonge and olde that they shulde go in to Hungery in their owne propre persones with his sonne or els to paye a taxe of syluer so they were taxed some at a thousande poūde the other at fyue hundred frankes eche man after his goodes and valure of his landes Ladyes and auncyent knyghtes remembringe the traueyle of their bodyes and were nat shapen nor made to endure suche payne conpoūded and payed at the wyll of the Duke The yonge knyghtes and squyers were forborne payeng of any money but it was said to them that they shulde go with the lorde Iohan at their owne coste and charge and otherwyse nat Of this backe tayle the duke reysed .lx. thousāde crownes and so none was forborne THe tydynges of this voyage spredde abrode and whan it came in to the countrey of Haynalt knyghtes and squyers suche as desyred auauncement spake togyther and sayde A this were a mete voyage for my lorde of Ostrenant who is yonge and for his brother the erle of Neuers and if any of them wente we myght well go in their company The erle of Ostrenant beynge at that tyme at Quesnoy vnderstode what the knyghtes and squyers of his countrey sayde and he thought no lesse thā they dyd and had great affectyon to go in this voyage whan he herde any spekyng of that mater he wolde answere but lytell but dyssymuled the mater but he was in good entencyon to speke with duke Aubert of Bauyer erle of Haynalt and to do as he wolde counsayle hym Within a whyle after the Erle of Ostrenant came in to Hay in Holande where his father was with the duchesse his wyfe Than he sayd to his father my lorde suche tydinges rynneth abrode that my fayre brother of Neuers hathe enterprised this sōmer to go into Hungery and fro thens in to Turkey whereby all lykelyhode great dedes of armes shall be atchyued and syr as at
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
kynge and the realme of Englande and that the Englysshe men myght be in the same case or better in the parties of Gascoyne as they were or the warres renewed agayne And of this matter he wolde often tymes speke with his brother the duke of yorke and drewe hym as moche as he coulde to his opynions for he was but a softe prince but to the Duke of Lancastre his eldest brother he durste nat speke ouer largely for he sawe well he was of the kynges opynion and was well pleased with the Kynges maryage princypally for the loue of his two doughters the quene of Spaygne and the quene of Portugale The same season the duke of Lancastre remaryed agayne the thyrde tyme to a lady doughter to knyght in Haynalte called syr Paon of Ruette he had ben in his tyme with noble quene Phylyp of Englande who was of the nacyon of Haynalt she was called Katheryn and was brought vp in her youthe in the duke of Lancasters howse with the duchesse Blaunce of Lancastre And after the dethe of this lady Blaunce the duke maryed the lady Custaunce of Spaygne and in her dayes the duke kepte to his concubyne this lady Katheryne of Ruet who hadde maryed a knyght of Englande who was as than deed and the duke had by her thre chyldren two sonnes and a doughter the eldest called Iohan otherwyse lorde Beauforde of Lancastre the duke loued hym entyerly the other was called Thomas the duke brought him vp at Asque he was a good clerke and connynge in bothe lawes he was a great iuryst and legyst and was after bysshoppe of Lyncolne The duke of Lancastre for the loue he had to his chyldren he wedded their mother the lady Katheryn of Ruet wherof there was moche marueyle bothe in Englande and in Fraunce for she was but of a base lynage in regarde to the two other wyues And whan the knowledge of the maryage of the duke to this lady Kateryne of Ruet was come to the great ladyes of Englande as the duchesse of Gloucestre the countesse of Derby the countesse of Arundell and other ladyes dyscended of the blode royall of Englande they meruayled moche and layd gret blame to the duke for that dede and sayde howe the duke of Lancastre was greatly to dysprayse to mary his concubyne for by reason therof she shulde be the seconde person in honoure in Englande wherby they sayd the quene shulde be shamefully acompanyed and sayde howe surely they wolde nat come in to no place where she shulde be presente and more ouer they sayde it shulde be a great shame for theym that suche a duchesse come of so base a blode and concubyne to the duke in his other wyfes dayes shulde go and haue the preemynence before them they sayde their hertes shulde breke for sorowe bothe the duke of Gloucestre and the duchesse his wyfe spake of this mater and sayd howe the duke of Lancastre was nat wyse but fowle ouersene to marry his concubyne and sayde they wold neuer do her honoure nor call her suster The duke of yorke passed it ouer lyghtly ynough for he was euer lyghtly resydente aboute the kynge and with the duke of Lancastre The duke of Gloucestre was of a nother maner for he sette by no man though he were yongest brother he was orgulous and presumptuous of maner and therto be enclyned his nature and alwayes agaynst the kynges opynions and his counsaylours Thus this lady Kateryne of Ruet was duchesse of Lancastre and was as the seconde persone in Englande and was moche aboute the kynge as she that knewe moche honour for in her youth and all her dayes she had ben brought vp therin and the Duke loued greatly the chyldren that he had by her and that he shewed well in his lyfe and after his dethe YE haue herde here before howe iugement of the parliament was gyuen agaynst syr Peter of Craon and howe he was condempned in a hundred thousande frankes to be payed to the Quene of Napoles Whan the sayde syr Peter sawe howe he was condempned he was sore abasshed for outher he muste paye the sōme or els abyde styll prisoner Than he was counsayled by the duke of Burgoyne and by the duchesse that he shulde requyre the yonge quene of Englande to be meane for hym to the quene of Napoles that he myght be released oute of prysone fyftene dayes to go abrode in Parys to sewe to his frendes to pay his fynaūce or els to fynd sureties for him tyll he myght go in to Bretaygne to gather amonge his frendes the same sōme So at the desyre of the yonge quene of Englande the quene of Napoles was contente that he shulde go all the day abrode in Paris and at nyght alwayes to yelde hymselfe prisoner in to the castell of Lowre and there to remayne all the night After this rate he went abrode and sewed to many of his blode and frendes but he coulde fynde none that wolde abyde there prisoner for hym the sōme was so great And at the ende of the fyftene dayes he was fayne to returne prisoner bothe day and nyght and was kept streyghter than he was before at his cost and charge NOwe lette vs a lytell speke of the iourney of therle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce and what they dyd the same sōmer in Hungery And after we shall speke of the goynge in to Frese of the erle of Haynalte and the erle of Ostrenaunt The erle of Neuers and his company with many valyaunt men that he had of Fraunce and of other countreys whan they were come in to Hungery in to a great cytie called Bode the kyng of Hungery made them good chere and well they deserued it for they were come farre of to se him The entensyon of the kynge was that or he sette forwarde with his puyssaunce and with the ayde of Fraunce to entre in to the felde to here fyrste some newes fro the great turke called Lamorabaquy who had sent hym worde in the moneth of February that surely he wolde be in Hungery or the ende of the moneth of Maye and that he wolde passe the water of Dunce of whiche message many had great marueyle And some sayde that there is in a manner nothynge but that man maye do it consyderynge that the turke is valyaunt and puyssaūt and desyreth moche dedes of armes therfore sythe he hath said it by all lykelyhode he wyll do it and if he passe nat the Dunce to come hyther to this syde than lette vs passe ouer and entre in to Turkey with puyssaūce for the kynge of Hungery with suche ayde as he hath of straungers shall well make an hundred thousande men and suche a nombre of suche men are well able to conquere all Turkey and to go in to the empyre of Perce and if we may haue one iourney of vyctory vpon the great turke we shall do after what we lyst and shall conquere Surey and all the holy lande of
Neuers was made knight and reysed his banner and with hym were made mo than thre hundred knyghtes all they their companies went before Brehap and besieged it and wan the towne perforce within four dayes but nat the castell it was so strong The lorde of Brehap saued moche of his people byforce of the castell who was called Corbodas a right valyant knyght he had other thre bretherne one named Maladius another Balachius the thirde Rufyn After this towne was won the christen men were before the castell seuyn dayes and made dyuers assautes but they loste more than they wanne The foure knyghtes bretherne that were within shewed well by their defence that they were valyant men Whan the Frenche men hadde consydred well the force of the castell and the valyaunt ordrâ—â—ge of the turkes within and the defence that they made They sawe well thanÌ„e they loste their payne and so dislodged for they had knowledge howe the kyng of Hungry wolde go and laye siege to the stronge towne of Nicopolye Thus the siege before Brehap brake vp and they within the Castell were in peace but the towne was clene brent than the erle of Neuers and all the lordes of FraÌ„ce resorted to the kynges armye ordring theÌ„ selfe to go to Nicopoly WHanÌ„e Corbodas of Brehappe sawe the siege brokenne vp he was right ioyfull and sayde to his coÌ„pany We nede no more to fere this season though my towne be brent and exiled I shall right well recouer it agayne but of one thynge I maruâ—yle greatly and that is â— that I can here no newes fro my lorde the kyng Besant called Lamorabaquy for the last tyme that I sawe hym in the cytie of Nicopoly he sayde vnto me that this May tyme he wolde be in this countrey and had entencyon to passe with a great puyssaunce the brase of saynt George and to go in to HuÌ„gry to fight with the christen men and so he â—ent worde to the kyng of Hungry and yet he hath done nothyng and thervpon they of HuÌ„gry be fortifyed and haue as nowe great socour out of FrauÌ„ce and haue passed the ryuer of Dunce and are entred in to Turkey and haue and do distroye the countre for there is no resistence made against theÌ„ they thinke surely to go and lay siege before Nicopoly The cytie is stronge ynoughe to resyst the siege a longe season if it be well defended kepte We are here â—our bretherne and knyghtes of the lynage of kynge Besant We ought and are bounde to defende his ryght therfore lette vs order oure selfe as I shall shewe you I and my brother Maladyus we shall go to the Cytie of Nicopoly to ayde to helpe and defende it my brother Balachyus shall abyde here to kepe this castell of Brehap and my brother Rufyne shall passe the brase of saynt George and go seke out Lamorabaquy shewe him euery thynge that is past done and aduyse hym for his honoure to enteÌ„de to defende his herytage to come with suche puyssaunce that maye resyst the christen men and to breke their purpose or els he shall lese the realme of Armony whiche he hath conquered and his owne countrey also For by all ymagynacyon the kynge of Hungry and the Christen men are gadered to th entent to do some great enterprice His thre bretherne agreed to his sayeng On this apoyntment they prepared them selfe to departe SO in this season siege was laid before Nicopolye and Corbodas of Brehappe Maladyus his brother came and entred in to Nicopoly wherof they of the cytie were ryght ioyfull and Balachyus abode styll at Brehappe to kepe the castell Rufyn whan he sawe tyme be nyght he passed the Christen army for he knewe well the countre and passed ouer the brase saynt George and â—erched for Lamorabaquy and the same season he was at Quayre with the soudane of Babylone to haue ayde of men of hym Rufyn fouÌ„de this turke there whan kynge Besant sawe hym he had marueyle and thought surely he shulde here some newes out of Turkey ThanÌ„e he demaunded what tidynges sir quod Rufyn all the couÌ„trey desyreth sore to se you there for the kyng of Hungry with puissaunce hath passed the ryuer of Dunce and is entred in to Turkey and hath done great doÌ„mage and hath brent and assayled a fyue or sixe of your closed townes And whan I departed fro Brehappe he was in purpose to go and leye siege to Nicopoly Corbodas and Maladyus my brother with suche men of warre as they haue are enâ—red in to Nicopoly to helpe to defeÌ„de the towne my brother Balachyus is styll at Brehappe to kepe the castell there And sir of suretie there is in the company with the kynge of Hungry the goodlyest armye and best apoynted come out of Fraunce that euer was sene Wherfore sir it behoueth you to assemble your hoost and frendes and retourne in to Turkey to cause your enemyes to retourne agayne ouer the ryuer of DuÌ„ce and ye do it nat with gret puyssauÌ„ce it wyll be harde to bring it about What nombre be they quod Lamorabaquy sir quod he they be mo than a hundred thousande the good lyest men oâ— the worlde and best armed and all on hors backe Lamorabaquy gaue none answere but entred in to the Soudans chaÌ„bre and shewed the Soudane all the hole mater as his knyght had shewed hym than the soudane sayd We must prouyde for it ye shall haue men ynowe to resyst theÌ„ Nedes we must defeÌ„de our lawe and our herytage That is true sir quod Lamorabaquy NOwe my desyres arre come to passe for I haue alwayes desyred none other thynge but that the kynge of Hungry with his puissaunce myght ones come ouer the ryuer of Dunce and entre in to Turkey In the begynnynge I wyll suffre a season but at the ende they shall paye for the scotte Of all this I hadde knowledge four monethes paste by my great Frende the lorde of Myllayne who sente me Go. haukes Gerfaucons and faucons to the nombre of .xii. whiche were the best and fayrest that euer I sawe And with this present he wrote to me by name all the heedes and chiefe capitayns of the barones of Fraunce suche as shulde come to make me warre In the whiche letters was also conteyned that if I might get them in my daunger they shulde be worthe to me a myllyon of floreyns And also howe there shulde be in their company of the lymytees of Fraunce mo than fyue huÌ„dred knightes valyaunt men of armes Also the Duke of Myllaygne wrote that surely they wyll gyue me batayle wherfore I wyll prepare to mete with them by arte aduise and good ordynaunce for they are men of great feate and so valiaunt in armes that they wyll nat flye nor recule they are worthy oâ— thanke to issue out of their owne nacyon by valyauntnesse to fynde dedes of armes And I truste to accoÌ„plysshe their desyres within thre monethes so
THan at last dyed this lorde Galeas and after hym reigned his sonne erle of Vertues named Galeas in great puyssaūce and at the begynnyng of his reigne he gate him great loue in Lombardy and or dred hymselfe after a goodly maner and like a wyse man He put downe all suche yuell customes as his father had reysed in Lōbardy He was so well beloued and of so good renome that euery man sayd well of hym but at laste whan̄e he sawe his tyme he spytted out his venyme whiche he had longe borne in his hert For he made on a day in the feldes a great busshement wherby the lorde Bernabo his vncle was takē who thought none yuell nor knewe nat but that he was welbeloued and in great fauour with his nephue And at his takyng it was sayd to hym One lorde is ynough to reygne in Lombardy he coude haue none other grace for it laye nat in hym as than̄e to make resystence So he was ledde to a castell and there his nephue caused hym to dye but in what maner I can nat shewe you This sir Bernabo had two fayre chyldren of whom the Frenche quene was doughter to one of his doughters whiche was wedded to the duke of Osrtenaunt of Bauyere This Galeas putte in prisone all his vncles chyldren suche as he coulde gette and tooke possessyon of all his vncles seignories and ioyned thē to his owne so reigned in great puyssaunce richesse for he reysed vp suche maters wherby he gathered toguyder great rychesse As Imposycions gabels subsydies dysmes and all other extorcyons wherby he was moche more dreed than beloued He helde the errour and opynyon of his Father that was Howe one shulde nother honoure nor worshyppe god He tooke fro abbeyes and priories moche of their reuenewes and toke them to hym selfe He sayd the monkes were to delyciously norisshed with good wynes and delycious metes By whiche superfluyteis he sayd they coude nat ryse at mydnight nor do their seruyce as they shulde do He sayde saynt Benet helde nat the order of his relygion after that maner And so he said he wolde make them to lyue with egges and small wyne to clere their voyces to syng the higher These lordes in their dayes lyued lyke popes they dyde great dispytes in their tyme to men of holy churche They sette nothyng by the popes curse and specially after the cisme began and that there was two popes that the one cursed the other assoyled The lordes of myllayne dyde but mocke at their doynges and so dyd many other lordes through the worlde The doughter of this lorde Galeas duke of Myllayne was duches of Orl aūce whose condycions were lyke to her fathers and nat to her mothers who was doughter to kyng Iohan of Fraunce This lady was of high mynde enuyous and couytous on the delytes state of this worlde Gladly she wolde haue sene the duke her husbande to haue attaygned to the crowne of Fraunce she had nat cared howe A generall fame and sclaunder ran vpon her that all the infyrmiteis the kyng had whiche no phisycion coude remedye came all by her sortes and artes and the chiefe discouerynge of her workes wherby she was had in great suspecte was this THis duchesse of Orlyaunce named Valantyne had a sonne by the duke her husbande a fayre chylde of the age of the Dolphyn sonne to the kynge On a tyme these two chyldren were playeng toguyder in the duchesse of Orlyaunce chambre and sodaynly there was caste downe an apple full of poyson on the pauement on the same syde that the dolphyn was on to th entent that he shulde haue taken and eaten it But as grace was he dyd nat for the duches son̄e ran after the apple and toke it and ete therof wherwith he was poysoned and dyed nothynge coude saue hym And suche as hadde Charles the yong dolphyn to kepe toke hym thens and he neuer came after in the duches chambre Of this aduēture great brute and murmuracyon ran throughe all the cytie of Parys and in other places Thus it was sayde by her of all the people so that the duke her husbande parceyued it well for brute ranne through Parys that if her husbande dyde nat putte her awaye out of the kynges courte they wolde fetche her awaye byforce and cause her to dye For the people said she wolde enpoyson the kyng and his chyldren and that she hadde enchaunted the kyng for the kyng in all his infyrmyteis wolde nat se the quene nor none other woman but all onlye this duchesse of Orlyaunce Vpon whiche sayeng and for doute therof her husbāde had her awaye and put her out of the house of saynt Poule in Parys and sente her to a castell besyde Parys vpon the waye of Beauoyes called Asynyers And there she was kepte a longe season and neuer wente out of the castell and at last she was sent fro thens to Newcastell on the ryuer of Loyre And the duke of Orlyaunce had great displeasure to her bycause of the aduēture of the dethe of his son but by reason that he had other chyldren by her sōwhat it brake his displeasure These tidynges came to Myllayne and the lorde Galeas was enfourmed howe his doughter was in trouble and in great daunger wherof he was sore displeased with the Frenche kyng and his counsayle Than he sent a suffycient messanger as sir Iaquemont of Weryne and other to Parys to the kyng and his counsayle in excusyng his doughter sayeng that if any persone wolde accuse her of trayson he shulde be fought with all at vttraūce in that quarell Whan these messangers cāe to Parys the kynge was in good helth but he tooke no hede of those messangers nor of their excuse and so they were shortely aunswered nothyng to their pleasure So they retourned in to Lombardy and declared to the duke of Myllayne all that they had sene and done Than the duke was in gretter displeasure than he was before and reputed it a great iniury and than sent his defyaunce to the Frenche kynge and to all the hole Realme of Fraunce And whan his defyaunces were brought to Parys the lordes knightes with the Frenche armye were as than in Hūgry and entred in to Turkey And for the dispyte and hate that the duke of Myllayne had to the Frenche kynge and to some of his counsayle therfore he helde in amyte and alyaunce the great Turke and shewed hym of the secretes of Fraūce ¶ Nowe we shall leaue spekynge of the duke and speke of the great Turke and of the barons of Fraunce and of other Christen knyghtes that were as than in Turkey ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges sarazyns to ayde hym with menne of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyant sarazyns came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. IT was nat longe after but that the great Turke departed fro Quayre fro the Soudan who promysed
ye shall be than of the puyssaunce to oppresse all your rebelles for the frenche kynge if nede be shall ayde you of this ye maye be sure In the name of god ye saye well and thus shall I do THe erle of saynt Powle was lodged at London and often tymes went to Eltham to se the kynge and the duke of Lancastre and had often tymes coÌ„munycacion on this maryage Th erle of saint Poule sayde howe the frenche kynge shulde come to saynt Omers and his vncles and bring with hym his doughter so that the kynge of England wolde come to Calais and so bytwene saynte Omers and Calays the two kynges shulde mete and speke togyther wherby by reason of syght and spekynge togyther shulde encrease loue and amyte and there these two kinges and their vncles shulde speke togyder without any other companye on the forme of the peace and if they conclude nat on some peace yet at leste the trewce myght be relonged to endure for thyrty or .xl. yere bytwene the two realmes and their alies This deuyse semed right good to the kyng and to his counsayle and hervpon the kynge and other lordes sente to Calays to make prouysyon and the kynge desyred his vncle the duke of Gloucestre to go with hym in that iourney and the duches his wyfe and his chyldren and in lyke wyse the Dukes and duchesses of yorke and Lancastre And so whan euery thynge was redy the kynge and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Eltham and rode towardes Caunterbury and after them folowed all other lordes suche as shulde go in this voyage and suche as had been desyred The erle of saynt Powle passed the see fyrst to the entent to aduertyse the Frenche kynge and so passed to Boloyne and so to Paris and there declared to the frenche kynge and to his vncles howe he had spedde wherwith they were well content and so departed fro Paris and lytell and lytell aproched to the cytie of Amyence and the kynge of Englande and his vncles came to Calais with many lordes and ladyes And the duke of Burgoyne one of the frenche kynges vncles came to saynt Omers and by the meanes of the Erle of saynt Powle and Robert the hermyte the duke of Burgoyne came to Calays to se the kynge of Englande and his vncles â–ª where he was nobly receyued and there they couÌ„sayled togyther on certayne artycles of the peace wherto the kynge of Englande lyghtly enclyned and for to say trouth he cared nat what he dyd so he myght haue his wyfe WHan the duke of Burgoyne had ben at Calais two dayes and had coÌ„muned with the kynge of Englande on the artycles of the peace the kynge sayd howe he wolde sende all the processe of the artycles ouer the see in to Englande to beshewed and declared there to the people for he sayde that nouther he nor all the lordes that were there of Englande coulde nat conclude fermely on no peace without the generall consentment of the people of Englande And more ouer the kynge sayde howe that he must fyrst go ouer agayne hym selfe and so retourne and therby make but one iourney That is well said quod the duke of Burgoyne for than at youre retourne euery thynge shall be concluded and perfourmed Thus the duke of Burgoyne and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Calays and retourned to saynt Omers and fro thens to Amyence where they fouÌ„de the kyng and the quene and their doughter who shulde be quene of Englande The same tyme there was the dukes of Bretaygne and of Berrey in great araye And the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes retourned in to Englande and their wyues taryed styll at Calays tyl their retourne ¶ In this meane season the voyage was made in to Frese by them of Haynalte Fyrst the erle of Heynalte Holande and of zelande and his sonne the Erle of Ostrenaunt as ye shall here after in this hystorie ¶ Howe the erle of Heynalt and the erle of Ostrenante his sonne made a great army of men of armes knyghtes and squyers to go in to Frese Cap. CC.xiiii Ye haue herde here before howe duke Auberte of Bauyer and Guylliam his sonne erle of Ostrenant had gret desyre to go in to Frese to conquere that countrey wherof the sayde duke Aubert by ryght succession of herytage shulde be erle and lorde therof and to auaunce the same iourney the erle of Ostrenant had sent Fyerebrace of Vertayne to haue some ayde of the englysshe men who spedde hym so well that kynge Rycharde of Englande for the honour of his cosyns sent certayne men of armes with two hundred archers vnder the guydyng of thre gentlemen one called Cornewayle another Colleuyll knyghtes the thyrde asquyer I knowe nat his name but I was well enfourmed that he was a valyaunt man of armes he hadde his chynne cutte of in a fray a lytell before and he had a chynne made of syluer tyed aboute his heed with a lase of sylke These englysshmen came to Encuse at their tyme prefyxed This duke Aâ—berte and his sonne had a valyaunt man of their couÌ„sayle called Gylliam of Croenbourge who greatly exorted theym to the warre for he hated greatly the fresones and had doone them many dyspyghtes and dyd after as ye shall here Thus the duke Aubert departed fro the Haye in Holande with Gyllyam his sonne erle of Ostrenant and so came in to his countrey of Haynalte to the towne of Monts and there he assembled togyther the thre estates of the countrey and there shewed vnto them the great desyre that he had to go in to Frese and the rightfull occasion that he had so to do and caused there to be openly shewed certayne letters patentes apostolykes and imperyalles ryght noble and autentyke sealed vnder leade lyole and entre by the whiche apered euydently the ryght and tytell that he had to the signory of Frese and than he sayd openly Lordes and valyaunt men my subgettes ye knowe well that euery man ought to kepe and defeÌ„de his herytage and that a man may laufully moue warâ— to recouer his lande and herytage ye knowe also the fresons ought by right to be our subgiettes and they be inobedyent and rebell agaynst vs and our sygnory as people without lawe or faythe and therfore good and dere frendes ye know well that without your ayde bothe with bodyes and goodes we canne nat fournysshe to bringe to execusyon so hygh an enterprise wherfore we desyre you in this busynesse to ayde vs that is to say with money and with men of warre to the entent that these inobedyent fresons maye be subdued and brought to obedyence These wordes or suche lyke spoken by the duke the thre estates by a coÌ„mune acord grauÌ„ted their lordes petycyon and request lyke suche people as greatly desyred and alwayes had done to do obedyent seruyce and pleasure to their lorde and prince And as I was enfourmed they caused him to haue in redy money
the lorde de la Vere and syr Floris de Boesell Floris Dabell the lorde of zenembrige syr Clays de Boysell Phylyp Corteen and dyuers other gentlemen All these and other made them selfes redy in suche wyse that it apered well by their dylygence that they had great desyre to auaunce them selfe to that iourney IN lyke wyse the duke and his sonne went in to Holande and made there lyke requestes to the lordes and good townes as they had done in zelande The holanders were therof ryght ioyouse for of all men they hated the fresons for they were euer at warre togyther specyally on the see and on the borders of their countrey and therfore the lordes of Holande suche as the lorde Tarterell and dyuers other noble men knyghtes and squyers herynge the requestes of their lordes duke Aubert and the erle of Ostrenant they offered themselfe promysynge comforte and ayde to the best of their powers and that they well shewed for incontynent they made them redy and auaunced forwarde In lyke wise dyd the men of the good townes and of the countrey They sent forthe with these lordes a great nombre of crosbowes and morispykes and other men of warre So daylye men asembled at the towne of Encuise and shyppes and vesselles came thyder in suche wyse that the maryners were estemed to the nombre of .xxx. thousande It was sayd that there came out of the towne of Harle .xii. huÌ„dred whiche shyppes were well prouyded of all thynges necessary And of a trouthe if the ladyes and other damoselles were soroufull in Heynalt in lykewise so were they of Hollande and zelande Sir Danyell of Marebbed and Guillyam of Oruenbourge they durst nat apere before the ladyes gentylwomen for they had sore sette forwarde the busynesse for they hadde great wyll and desyre to be reuenged of the Fresons bicause of a batayle that hadde been there before wherin the Erle Wyllyam was pituouslye slayne and lost .xxxiii. cotes of armes of his lynage wherfore these two knyghtes wolde neuer take any treson to mercy nor rauÌ„some So within a certayne space euery man was come to Encuise Fyrst came the Englysshe men and than the henous and their capyten was the seneschall of Iumont and the lorde of Comegynes who was marshall Than came hollanders and zelanders The freÌ„che men came nat so soone So they taryed a .xi. dayes for the Frenche men in whiche season there fell a debate bytwent the hollanders the Englysshe men and if the erle of Ostrenaunt had nat ben all the Englysshmen had ben slayne Whiche stryfe was apesed than the frenchmen came Than there was great ioye made and coÌ„maundement gyuen that euery man shulde entre in to suche shyppes as they were assygned vnto before whiche was done And whan they were all shypped they hoysed vp sayles and sayled forthe the wether was fayre it semed as it was disposed to do theÌ„ pleasure There were so many shippes that if they had beÌ„ araynged one after another they wolde haue stretched fro encuse to the boundes of Condren whiche was in highe Frese where they purposed to arryue as they dyde whiche was .xii. leages by water but they sayled a front right ordinatly ¶ Nowe wyll we leaue spekyng of them and speke of the Fresons who as I was enformed were aduertysed long before of duke Aubertes coÌ„myng with great puyssaunce on them WHan the fresons knewe and vnderstode that they shulde haue warre all the wyse men of the countre asseÌ„bled toguyder to take counsayle and aduyse what they shulde do Whan they had long debated the mater their enteÌ„cion was to fyght with their enemyes as soone as they myght knowe that they were entred in to their countrey sayeng howe they had rather dye as fre Fresons thaÌ„ to be in seruage vnder any kynge or prince or vnder subiectyon And therfore they sayd to dye in the quarell they wolde fight with their enemyes And concluded amonge themselfes to take no man to raunsome howe great soeuer he were Amonge them there was one man farre excedynge in greatnesse aboue all other He was hygher than any other man in that countrey by the heed He was called Iuye Iouer and some called hym the great Fresone This manne was greatly commended in Pruce in Hungery in Turkey in Rodes and in Cypres He hadde done many noble feates of armes so that he was greatlye renomed WhanÌ„e he harde the opynions of the Fresons howe they wolde fight with their enemyes he aunswered and sayde ¶ O ye noble and free Fresons knowe for trouthe there is no chaunce but maye tourne Though by your valyantnesse ye haue or this tyme disconâ—â—ted the heyno wayes the hallanders and the zelanders Knowe for trouthe that suche as come nowe vpon you are people more experte in the warrÌ„ thanne they were before And beleue verily they shall do otherwyse than their predecessours dyde They wyll nat gyue it vp they wyll menteyne their dedes Therfore I wyll counsayle you to sufire them to entre and let vs kepe our forteresses and lette them kepe the feldes where they shall beate them selfes Our countrey is nat to susteyne theÌ„ long We haue many dykes They canne nat go farre in the countrey They canne nat ryde abrode in the Countrey and full yuell they maye go a foote wherby they shal be so werye that they shall waste theym selfes and so retourne agayne The moost they can do is to brenne a tenne or .xii. vyllages whiche shall natte greatly greue vs. They shall be soone made agayne if we shulde fight with them I feare me we be nat stronge ynough to fyght with them at ones for as I am enformed they be to the nombre of an hundred thousande armed heedes Whiche was of a trouthe they were as many or mo To his wordes consented thre other knightes of the Fresons the fyrst named sir Fewe of Dorekerque the seconde sir Gerarde of Canym and the thirde sir Tiny of Walturge but the people wolde in no wyse consente to that deuyse no more wolde other noble men called the Elyns that is to saye the gentylmen or iudges of the causes They replyed so with this great freson that he was coÌ„cluded with them that as soone as they knewe their enemyes entred in to their countre they shulde go and fyght with them They abode all on that opinyon and so made them selfe redy But to saye the trouthe they were but poorelye armed Many had no armure but their cootes of wadmoll and course grose clothe Some armed with lether and some with rustye mayle and some there were ryght well armed THus they armed theym and whan they were redy they wente to their churches and toke the crosses and baners and made thre batayls and in euery batayle ten thousande fyghting men came to a narowe passage well viked nere to the place where their enemyes shulde lande and they sawe well howe their enemyes were come had great desyre to take lande whiche was on saynt
Bartylmewes daye on a sonday in the foresaid yere And whan the Fresons sawe theÌ„ aproche they issued out vpon the dikes a sire thousande to haue lette the landynge of their enemyes Among the fresons ther was a woman apparelled all in blewe who all in a rage went fro the fresons and came nere to the heynowes within the shotte of a bowe Than she tourned her backe towarde the hey nowes and plucked vp her clothes and shewed her bare arse cryeng in her langage sers take this to your welcome As soone as they sawe the leudnesse of this woman they shot at her arowes and quarels so that she was stryken iâ—â—he legges and loynes The arowes came flyeng at her as thycke as snowe Than some lepte out of the shippes in to the water and ran after this folysshe woman with their swerdes and ouertoke her and hewed her in to small peces ThaÌ„ euery man issued out of their vessels and so came agaynst the fresons who receyued them right valyantly and putte them of with longe pykes longe staues bounde with yron To saye the trouthe in takyng of lande there was many dedes of armes done on bothe parties many slayne and sore hurte But biforce of the Englisshe archers and cros bowes of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande They wanne the dyke agaynst the fresons and vpon that dyke they araynged their baners in good order taryeng for their coÌ„pany their reuke was more than halfe a myle longe Than the Fresons that were putte fro the dykes came to their coÌ„pany who were mo than .xxx. thousande closed toguyder in a grounde dyked rounde aboute with a great depe dyke and it was nat so farre of but they myght well se their enemyes wheee they were raynged on the fyrst dyke Thus they contynued tyll all the heynowayes were a lande and all their baggage and certayne tentes reyred vp There they rested them that sondaye and the mondaye aduisynge the Fresons their enemyes In whiche two dayes dyuers scrymisshes were made and on the Tuesday bothe parties were redy Than certayne newe knightes were made and it was ordayned to fight with the fresons Than they auauuced forewarde in good order of batayle and their archers before them and amonge them than sowned trumpettes and clarions and so caÌ„e a fayre pase to passe ouer the dike Than the fresons came to defende the passage and the archers shotte agaynst them fiersly and the fresoÌ„s couered them selfes with targes and with the erthe of the dyke that was bytwene them their enemyes Howe be it they were so nere aproched that certayne of the holanders entred in to the dyke and made bridges with speres and pykes and so with valyant corage began to enuade the fresons who defended their force right valyantly and gaue suche strokes against them that wolde mouÌ„t vp out of the dyke that many were ouerthrowen downe agayne But the Heynowayes Frenche men Englysshe men Hollanders and zelanders were so well armed that the fresons coude do them no doÌ„mage nor hurt but cast them downe to the grounde There were suche noble dedes done and atchyued that it were impossible to shewe it the newe made knyghtes dyde nobly their deuoyre the Fresons defended marueylously They were great and bygge men but they were yuell armed many were barelegged and bare foted In this assaut the lorde Lygne the seneshall of Heynault and the lorde Iumont and dyuers other as they wente aboute this dyke They founde awaye wherby they passed ouer the dyke and so came on the fresons with the poyntes of their speres wherof the Fresons were fore abasshed so that dyuers of them lepte the dyke So perforce the Fresons were fayne to opyn and sparcle abrode here and there In this batayle the great freson was slayne and the other began to flye The chase was horryble and cruell for none was taken to rauÌ„some and specially the holanders slewe all they myght attayne vnto In so moche that suche as were taken by the Heynowes frenche men or Englysshe men the hollanders slewe them in their handes Amonge the hollanders the lorde Wyllyam of Oruenbourge and his two sonnes IohnÌ„ and Henry who were made knyghtes the same mornyng acquyted themselfe maruey lously well and slewe many Fresons for it semed well by them that they loued but litell the fresons Thus finally the Fresons were discoÌ„fyted and the moost parte slayne in the felde but fewe were takenne prisoners and caryed to Haye in Hollande and there were kepte a long season after The lorde of Cundren who was lorde of that couÌ„trey where the felde was was the mondaye before yelden to the duke Aubert and his two sonnes and yet for all that they were in the felde with the fresons The two sonnes were longe after with the duke After this disconfyture they entred in to the countrey of Condren toke townes and fortresses howe be it they coÌ„quered but lytell for the Fresons dyde theÌ„ great doÌ„mage by preuy encouÌ„trynges And whan they shulde take any prisoners they wolde neuer yelde but fought to the dethe sayeng they had rather dye free Fresons than to be vnder the subiectyon of any prince or lorde If any prisoners were taken there coude no raunsome be gotten for them for their frendes wolde nat quyte them out but rather suffre them to dye in prisone They wolde neuer quyte none of their people withoute it were to delyuer man for man And if they sawe that there were none of their people in prisone they wolde slee all their enemyes take no prisoner Thus about the ende of .v. wekes and that the heynous and other had taken and beaten downe certayne townes vyllages and fortresses of no great valure The leason beganne to waxe colde marueylously and rayned nerehaÌ„de euery day and the sees full of tempestes and wyndes The duke Aubert and his sonne consydringe the season purposed to returne in to base Frese fro whens they came and so in to Hollande the more easy to passe the colde wynter So they departed and came to Encuyse there gaue lycence to euery man to deê‘te and specially to the strauÌ„gers and payde theÌ„ truely their wages and thaÌ„ked them of their good ayde and seruyce Thus brake vp the iourney of Frese and had coÌ„quered but lytell all that season But within two yere after the sayd two noble princes assembled agayn the seconde tyme a great armye and wente in to Frese made a great coÌ„quest and dyd there many noble dedes of armes as ye shall here after But as nowe we shall leaue spekyng therof and declare the maner of the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the mariage of the kyng of Englande to the doughter of FraÌ„ce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his Tente by twene Arde Calys Cap. CC.xvi. YE haue herde howe the kyng of Englande was returned fro Calis in to Englande there
And the duke of Bretaygne had offered to go with hym with two thousande speares bretons Great prouysyon was made for this iourney in the Dolphenry of Vyen and in the countie of Sauoy Whan the duke of Bretayne departed fro the frenche kynge to retourne in to his countrey syr Peter of Craon who was condempned to paye to the quene of Iherusalem a hundred thousande frankes and was in prison in the castell of Loure in Parys At the request of the duke of Bretaygne the duke of Burgoyne dyd so moche to the kynge that by his good meanes the duke of Bretaygne had syr Peter of Craon with hym I thynke he promysed to pay the sayd soÌ„me at certayne dayes to the foresayd quene I wyll nowe leaue this mater and speke of the adueÌ„tures of Turkey ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the siege before Nycopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and howe the Frenche men were dyscomfyted howe the hungaryons fled Cap. CC .xvii. YE haue herde here before howe the kynge of Hungery and the lordes of Fraunce were passed the ryuer of Dunce and were entred in to Turkey and all the soÌ„mer after the moneth of Iuly they had done many enterprises and had brought dyuers townes to their subiection for there was none that resysted them and had besieged the towne of Nycopoly and hadde nere brought it to a small estate nigh redy to yelde for they coude here no newes of Lamorabaquy Than the kyng of Hungery said to the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and to other Syrs thanked be god we haue had a fayre seasone we haue dystroyed parte of Turkey I reken this towne of Nycopolyours whan we lyst it is so sore ouerlayde that it canne nat longe holde wherfore all thynges consydred I couÌ„sayle this towne ones won that we go no further at this season we shall drawe agayn ouer the Dunce in to the realme of Hungery where I haue many cyties townes and castelles redy furnysshed to receyue you as reason is seyng ye be come so farre to ayde me to make warre agaynst the turkes whome I haue founde herde and cruell enemyes and this wynter we shall make newe prouysion agaynst the next somer and sende worde to the frenche kyng what case we be in so that this nexte soÌ„mer he maye refresshe vs with newe men and I beleue whan he knoweth what we haue done howe euery thyng standeth he wyll haue great affection to come hyther in his owne person for he is yonge and couragyous and loueth dedes of armes and whether he cometh or nat by the grace of god this next soÌ„mer we shall wynne the realme of Armony and passe the brase of saynt George and so in to Surrey and wynne the portes of Iaphes and Baruth and conquere Iherusalem and all the holy lande and if the sowdan come forewarde we shall fyght with hym for he shall nat departe without batayle THese or lyke wordes sayd the kynge of Hungery to the lordes of Fraunce rekened Nycopoly as their owne howe be it fortune fell otherwyse All that season the kynge Basaach called Lamorabaquy had reysed an army of sarazyns some out of farre countreys as out of Perce many great men of the sarazyns came to ayde Lamorabaquy to dystroy crystendome They were passed the Brase saynt George to the nombre of two huÌ„dred thousande men To say the trouth the chrysten men were nat a certayned what nombre they were of This kynge Basaache and his men aproched nere to Nycopoly by couerte wayes they knewe in feates of warre as moche as myght be and this kynge was a valyaunt man whiche shewed well by reason of his polycy he ordered his bataylles thus All his hoost was in a maner as wynges his men comprised well a great myle of grounde and before the hoost to shewe a face redye in a bande an eyght thousande turkes the two wynges of the batayle were open a forefronte and narowe behynde and Lamorabaquy was in the herte of the batayle thus they rode all in couerte These eyght thousande Turkes were ordeyned to make a face and that as sone as they shulde se the crysten men a ê“che than they to recule lytell and lytell in to the herte of the batayle and than the two wynges whiche were open before the crysten men beyng ones entred bytwene theym to close togyther and ioyne in to one company and than to fyght with their enemyes This was the ordre of their batayle THus in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred fourscore and syxtene the monday before the feest of saynt mychell about ten of the clocke as the kyng of Hungery sate at dyner at the siege of Nycopoly tydynges came to the hoost howe the turkes were comyng and the scoutes that came in shewed howe they had sene the turkes but their reporte was nat trewe for they had nat tydden so forwarde that they had auewed the two wynges nor the batayle behynde they had sene no mo but the fore ryders and bowarde for as soone as they had sene theym they retourned The same seasone the greatest parte of the host were at dyner Than tydynges was brought to the erle of Neuers and to all other ingenerall by their scurers who said Syrs arme you quyckly that ye be nat surprised for the turkes are comynge on you These tydynges greatly reioysed the crysten men suche as desyred to do dedes of armes Than euery man rose fro their dynners and put the tables fro them and demaunded for their harnesse and horses and they were well chafed before with drynkynge of wyne Than euery man drewe in to the felde baners and standerdes dysplayed euery man to his owne baner Than the baner of our lady was dysplayed therwith the valyaunt knyght sir Iohan of Vien admyrall of Fraunce and the frenche men were the fyrst that drewe in to the felde fresshely aparelled makynge small accompte of the turkes but they knewe nat that they were so great a nombre as they were nor that Lamorabaquy was there in his owne persone As these lordes of Fraunce were into the felde there came vnto theym the kynge of Hungeryes marshall in great hast who was a valyaunte knyght called Henry of Ostenlenyhall vpon a good horse with a penon of his armes of syluer a crosse sable ancored called in armure the yron of a mylstone Whan he came before the baner of our lady he stode styll and to the moste parte of the barones of Fraunce he sayd openly Syrs I am sent hyther to you fro the kynge of Hungery and he desireth you by me that ye sat nat on your enemyes vntyll suche tyme as ye haue worde agayne fro him for it ought to be doughted lest our scoutes haue nat brought the certaynte of the nombre of the turkes but within these two houres ye shall here other tydynges for we haue sent other foreryders forth to auewe our enemyes more substancially than the first dyd and syrs ye maye be sure the turkes shall
Turkey whan he sawe the batayle loste he yelded hym selfe and the Sarazyns who are couetous of golde and syluer toke and saued hym Also a lquyer of Tornasys called Iaques du Fay who had before serued the kynge of Tartary called Tauburyn as soone as this Iaques knewe that the frenche men came to make warre in Turkey he toke leaue of the kynge of Tartary and departed and was on the sayd felde and taken prisoner by the kyng of Tartaries men who were there in the ayde of Lamorabaquy for kynge Tauburyn of Tartary had sent to hym great nombre of men of warre THe frenchmen were so richely arayed that they semed lyke kynges wherby they were taken and their lyues saued for sarazyns turkes are couetous they trusted to haue great raunsomes of these that were taken and reputed them greater lordes than they were Sir Iohan of Burgoyn erle of Neuers was taken prisoner In lykewyse were the erles of Ewe and de la Marche the lorde Coucy syr Henry of Bare syr Guy de la Tremoyle Bouciquant and dyuers other And syr Philyp of Bare syr Iohan of Vyen Willyam of Tremoyle and his sonne slayne and dyuers other This batayle endured thre houres fyghtynge and the kinge of Hungery lost all his baggage and all his plate and iowelles and was gladde to saue hym selfe but with seuen persons with him in a lytell barge of the Rodes els he had been taken or slayne without recouery There were mo men slayne in the chase than in the batayle and many drowned happy was he that might scape by any maner of meanes WHan this dyscomfyture was doone and passed and that the turkes suche as were sent thyder by the Sowdan were withdrawen in to their lodginges whiche was in to tentes and pauylyons that they had conquered whiche they founde well replenysshed with wyne and meate redy dressed wherwith they refresshed them and made ioy and reuell lyke suche people as had ateygned vyctorye on their enemyes Than Lamorabaquy with a greate nombre of mynstrelles acordyng to the vsage of their countrey came to the kynge of Hungeryes chefe tent whiche was goodly aparelled and hanged with riche stuffe and there he toke great pleasure and glorifyed in his herte of the wynnyng of that iourney and shanked their god acordynge to their lawe Than he vnarmed hym and to refresshe hym he sate downe on a tapyte of sylke and caused all his great lordes to come to him to iangle and to talke with them He made as great myrthe as myght be and sayd howe he wolde shortely with great puyssaunce passe in to the realme of Hungery and cōquere the countrey and after other countreys vpon the crysten men and to bringe them to his obeysaunce for he sayd he was content that euery man shulde lyue after their owne lawes he desyred nothynge but the signory but he sayd he wolde reygne lyke Alysaunder of Masydone who was twelue yere kynge of all the worlde of whose lynage he sayde he was dyscended All that herde him agreed to his sayenge Than he madethre cōmaundemētes The fyrst was that who so euer had any prisoner crysten to bringe hym forthe the seconde daye after in to his presence the seconde was that all the deed bodyes shulde be vysyted and sertched and such as were likely to be noble men to be layde aparte by them selfe in their raymentes tyll he came thyder hym selfe for he sayd he wolde se them The thyrde was to enquyre iustely if the kyng of Hungery were deed or a lyue All was done as he cōmaunded WHan Lamorabaquy had well refresshed hym than to passe the tyme he went to the place where the felde was to se the deed bodyes for it was shewed hym that he had many of this men slayne and that the batayle had cost hym greatly of the which he had great marueyle and coulde nat byleue it Than he mounted on his horse and a great nombre with him he had with hym two of his bretherne called Basaache and Surbasaach as some people sayd but he wolde nat be knowen of them for he sayd he had no bretherne Whan he came to the place where the batayle was he founde it of trouthe that there were many deed and slayne he sawe that for one crysten man deed he founde .xxx. turkes slayne wherwith he was marueylously dyspleased and openly sayde Here hath been a cruell batayle and marueyloussly defended of the crysten men but I shal make them that be a lyue to bye it derely Than the kynge went to his lodgynge and so passed that nyght in great furour of hert and in the mornyng or he was vp moche people came to his tente to knowe what they shulde do with the chrysten prisoners the renome ranne that they shulde all be put to dethe without mercy Lamorabaquy for all his dyspleasure ordeyned that suche crysten men as were in the batayle in great a ray and lykely to be great men shulde be all sette togyther in one parte for it was shewed hym that they myght well pay great raunsomes Also there were dyuers sarazyns and panyms of Perce of Tartary of Arabye and suryens that had many prisoners by whome they thought to haue great aduauntage as they had in dede they hyd them out of the way so that they came nat to knowledge Amonge other syr Iaques of Helley was brought before Lamorabaquy he that had him durst nat hyde hym no lenger Syr Iaques de Helley was beknowen with some of the kynges seruaūtes who toke hym fro them that had him whiche was happy for hym as ye shall here after for many crysten men were afterwarde cruelly slayne and put to dethe Kynge Basaach had cōmaunded to enquyre whiche were the greatest of the crysten men and that they shulde be set a syde to the entent to saue their lyues So they were tryed out and set a parte Fyrst the lorde Iohan of Burgoyne Erle of Neuers who was chiefe aboue all other and than syr Phylyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe the erle of Marche the lorde Coucy syr Henry of Bare syr Guy of Tremoyle and other to the nombre of eyght persones And Lamorabaquy went to se and to speke with them and beheld them a longe seasone and he coniured these lordes by their faythe and lawe to saye the trouthe if they were the persones that they named them selfe for and they sayde ye And yet to knowe the more certaynte he sente to them the frenche knyght syr Iaques of Helley to knowe them for he had serued Lamorabaquy before therfore he had his lyfe graūted hym He was demaunded if he knewe the frenche knyghtes prysoners He aunswered and said I thynke if Ise them I shall knowe them Than he was cōmaunded to go and auewe theym and to shewe playnely their names He dyd as he was cōmaūded and whan he came to them he shewed them his aduenture and howe he was sente thyder to knowe surely their names Than they sayde Ah syr Iaques ye knowe vs
all and ye se well howe fortune is agaynst vs and how we be in daunger of this kynge therfore to saue our lyues make vs rather greater than we be in dede and shewe the kyng that we be suche men able to pay great raunsomes syrs quod he so shall I do for I am boūde therto than this knight retourned to Lamorabaquy and to his counsayle and syd howe those knyghtes whiche he hadde spoken with were of the greatest men in all Fraunce and were of the Kynges lyngage and said they were able to pay great raunsomes Than Lamorabaquy sayd howe their lyues shulde be saued and all other prisoners to be slayne and hewen all to peces in example of all other Than the kynge shewed hym selfe before all the people that were there assembled to whome they all made lowe reuerence They made a lane for hym to passe thorough euery man with his sworde naked in his hande and so came thyder where the sayd lordes of Fraunce stode togyther Than the king wolde se the correction of the other whiche thynge the sarazyns were desyrous to do THan they were all brought before Lamorabaquy naked in their shyrtes and he behelde them a lytell and than tourned fro them warde and made a sygne that they shuld be all slayne and so they were brought through the sarazyns that had redy naked swordes in their handes and so slayne and hewen all to peces without mercy This cruell iustyce dyd Lamorabaquy that daye by the whiche mo than thre hūdred gentlemen of dyuers nacyons were tourmented slayne for the loue of god on whose soules Iesu haue mercy Amonge other was slayne syr Henry Dantoigne of Heynalt and so it was the lord Boucyquante marshall of Fraunce was one of theym that was brought naked before the kynge and had ben slayne with other and the erle of Neuers had nat espyed hym As sone as he sawe hym he went streyght to the kynge and kneled downe and desyred hym effectuously to respyte fro the dethe that knyght syr Boucyquant sayenge howe he was a great man in Fraūce and able to pay a great raunsome Lamorabaquy condyscended to the request of the erle of Neuers and so syr Boucyquant was sette amonge them that shulde be saued Thus cruell iustyce was done that day vpon the crysten men and bycause that Lamorabaquy wolde that his vyctory shulde be knowen in Fraunce he apoynted out thre of the frenche knyghtes to come before hym wher of syr Iaques of Helley was one Than the kyng demaūded of the erle of Neuers whiche of tho thre knyghtes he wolde chose to sende in to Fraunce to the kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne his father Than the erle of Neuers sayd syr and it please you I wolde that this knyght syr Iaques of Helley shulde go thyder fro you and fro vs. So syr Iaques taryed with Lamorabaquy and the other two knyghtes delyuered to dethe and so slayne whiche was pytie Than Lamorabaquy was well apeased of his furoute and vnderstode howe the kyng of Hungery was scaped away a lyue Than he determyned to retourne in to Turkey to a cytie called Burse and so he dyd and thyder all the prisoners were brought and than his army departed and specyally suche as were of farre coūtreys as Tartary Perce Mede Sury Alerandre and of Lecto than syr Iaques Helley was delyuered to retourne in to Fraunce and he was cōmaunded to retourne throughe Lombardy and to recommaunde Lamorabaquy to the duke of Myllayne and also he was streyghtly cōmaunded that in euery place as he passed to manyfest and publisshe the victory that Lamorabaquy had vpon the crysten men The Erle of Neuers wrote to the frenche kynge for hym selfe and all his company to his father the duke of Burgoyne and to the duchesse his mother Whan this knyght had his charge as well by writyng as by credence he departed and toke his way towardes Fraunce Or he departed he was sworne and promysed as soone as he had done his message in Fraūce incontynent to retourne agayne thyder whiche othe and promesse he acōplysshed lyke a trewe knight Nowe we wyll leaue speakynge at this tyme of Lamorabaquy and of the lordes of Fraūce prisoners and we wyll speke of other maters that fell the same season ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the pouertie and mysery that the crysten knightes of Fraunce and other nacyons endured in the commynge home to their countreys Cap. CC.xviii AFter this great dyscōfyture that the turkes had vpon the cristen men suche Knyghtes as could saue them selfe dyd The same mondaye there was a thre hundred knyghtes squyers that were gone a foragynge and were nat at the batayle for whan they knewe by them that fledde that the batayle was doone they had no desyre to retourne agayne to their lodginges but fledde as well as they myght and toke dyuers wayes to flye fro the turkes Ther fled bothe frenchmen englisshmen almayns scottes Flemynges and of other nacyons and they came in to a countrey ioynynge to Hungery called Blacquy it was a countrey replenysshed with dyuers people they were conquered vpon the turkes and tourned perforce to the crysten faythe The kepers of the portes townes and castels suffered these crysten men to entre and to lodge but the nexte mornynge at their departure they tooke fro these knyghtes and squyers all that they had and gaue them poore cotes and a lytell slyuer to passe therwith one dayes iourney This grace they shewed to the gentlemen And as for other yeomen varlettes they were spoyled all naked and sore beaten and yuell entreated without pytie So they passed through the coūtrey of Blacquy in great pouerte and through Hūgery they coude scant get breed for goddessake nor lordgyng at nyght they endured this daunger in passynge tyll they came to Vyen in Austrich There they were receyued more swetely and refresshed and newe cladde and so throughe the realme of Boesme For if they hadde founde the Almaygnes so harde they had neuer tourned agayne but rather dyed for colde and hunger Euery man that herde them tell of that aduenture hadde pytie on them So finally they came in to Fraunce to Paris and there shewed their aduentures At the begynnynge they coude nat be beleued Some in Parys sayde It is pytie these vnthriftes be vnhanged or drowned for tellyng of suche lies Howe be it these tidynges dayly multiplyed with resortyng of newe men Whan the frenche kynge vnderstode that these newes dayly renewed they were nothyng pleasaunt to hym for it was a great dōmage of the losse of the noble men of his blode and of other good knyghtes and squyers of the realme of Fraūce Than he cōmaunded no man to be so hardye to speke any more of that mater tyll he were better enfourmed of the certentie and cōmaunded that all suche as were come oute of Hungery shulde be taken and put in prisone tyll the trouth were knowen So there were many putte in to prison And the kyng hadde
Turkey with his preseÌ„tes and message Than letters were written sealed and delyuered agayne to the same messaÌ„ger and so he departed to retourne in to HuÌ„gry ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was had in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Cap. CC.xx. YE haue harde here before howe the FreÌ„che kyng lightly euery yere was sore enclyned to fall in to a fraÌ„sey so that there was nother Phisycion nor surgion that coude remedy hym Many said they wolde helpe hym but whanÌ„e it came to the poynt all their labour was in vayne for the kynges sickenesse wolde nat cease nother for prayers nor for medycins tyll it had ron his full course Some of his phisycions and arioles and charmers whan they sawe no remedy than they said surely howe the kynge was poysoned or be wytched by crafte of sorcerye whiche noyse made the lordes other to haue many in suspecte And some of these nigromancers affyrmed that the kynges sickenesse came by reason of sorcery and charmes And to make theÌ„ beleue it was so they sayd they knewe it by the spyrites who had shewed it to them Of these deuins arioles and charmers there were certayne brente at Parys and at Auignon They spake so moche and sayd that the duchesse Valentyne of OrlyauÌ„ce doughter to the duke of Myllayn hadde witched the kynge to the entent to attayne to the crowne of Fraunce They had so sclaundred this lady the brute ran through the realme that she vsed suche craftes of sorcery sayeng that as long as she was about the kyng and that he myght se her the kyng shulde nat ameÌ„de So it behoued this lady to auoyde this sclaunder and to flye fro the paryll therof to departe fro Parys and so she wente to Asyners a fayre Castell nere to Pontoyse ê‘teyning to her husbande the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce And afterwarde she went dwelt at Newcastell on the ryuer of Loyre parteynynge to her husbande who was sore displeased in his hert that suche a brute ran vpon his wyfe howe be it he dissymuled the mater as well as he myght Nor dyd nat absent hym selfe fro the court for he had moche busynesse for the maters of the realme The duke of Myllayne called Galeas was well enformed howe his doughter the duchesse of Orlyaunce was accused wherof he was sore displeased And he sente twyse or thrise ambassadours to the Frenche kyng and his couÌ„sayle and offred to fynde a knyght to fyght at vttrauÌ„ce with any man that wolde accuse his doughter of any trayson And the messaÌ„gers in a maner thretned that the duke wolde make warre in to Fraunce bycause the frenche kyng beyng in good helthe at Balyngham bitwene saynt Omers and Calis said that assone as he were retourned in to FrauÌ„ce he wolde entende to nothyng but to make warre vpon the duke of Myllayne And also the kyng of Englande who as than called hym selfe his sonne bycause he had maryed his doughter promysed to sende hym a thousande speres and sixe thousaÌ„de archers wherof the frenche kyng was right ioyfull Prouisyon was made for the Frenche kyng in the countie of Sauoy in the Dolphenry The kynges mynde was to entre that waye in to Lombardy to make warre on the duke of Myllaygne But that iourney toke none effecte For whan tidynges was brought in to Fraunce of the disconfyture of the batayle before Nicopoly in Turkey and of the dethe and takynge of the lordes of Fraunce The kynge the duke of Burgoyne were so charged and busyed in that behalfe that the iourney in to Lombardy was defected And also they sawe well that the duke of Myllayne was in fauoure with Lamorabaquy so that they durst nat displease hym so lette hym alone ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe toke great dylygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the erle of Neuers their sonne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi THe duke of Burgoyn and the duches studyed all the wayes they coulde deuyse by what maner or tretye they myght gette their sonne out of prysone they knewe well or they coulde haue hym they shulde be fayne to pay for hym a great raunsome they mynisshed their housholde and kept a meaner estate and gathered as moche golde and syluer as they coulde for without that they coulde nat bringe aboute their purpose And they gate theym aquayntauuce with marchauntes venycience and genouoys and suche other for they thought by their meanes they shulde the rather come to their purpose the duke of Burgoyne lay styll at Paris with the kynge his nephue and had the chiefe gouernaunce of the realme wherby his busynesse had the better effecte The same seasone there was at Parys a marchaunt of Turkey who had all the doynge for all other Lombardes he was knowen and spoken of through out all the worlde his name was called Dyne of Responde by hym all exchaunges were made He was in good fauour with the kyng and other lordes before this iourney in Turkey but than after the batayle he was moche more made of Often tymes the duke of Burgoyne demaunded of hym counsayle howe he myght entre in to treatie with Lamorabaquy for the redempcion of his sonne and of the other prisoners in Turkey Sir ê™ this marchauÌ„t lytell and lytell some meanes wyll be founde Syr the marchauntes of Gennes and of other isles are knowen ouer all and occupyeth the trade of marchauÌ„dyse in Quayre in Alexandre in DaÌ„mas in Danuet in Turkey and out in farre countreys hethan for as ye knowe well marchaundyse flyeth ouer all the worlde Syr let the kynge and you write amyably to theym and promesse them great benefytes and profytes if they wolde do for you There is nothynge but it is ouercome with golde and syluer And also syr the kynge of Cyper who hath hadde no warre with the kyng Lamorabaquy he may ryght well ayde you Syr as for me ye may be sure I wyll do what I canne for I am bounde therto It is nat to be marueyled though the duke of Burgoyne and the duches sought out wayes howe they might recouer agayne their sonne for he was their heyre therfore it touched theÌ„ ryght nere The ladyes of Fraunce tooke great sorowe for their husbandes and louers specyally the lady of Coucy coude nat forget her husbande she wepte pytuously nyght and daye and coulde take no comforte The duke of Lorayne and syr Henry her two bretherne came to saint Gobyn to se and to recomforte her as moche as they myght they sayd they wolde sende in to Turkey to knowe howe he dyd for they said they vnderstode howe he had a more gentyll prisone than any of his felowes had The lady Coucy thanked greatly her two bretherne for their counsayle and great comforte Than she desyred sir Robert Den a valyaunt knyght of Cambresys to take the payne to go in to Hungery and in to Turkey to
eâ—pedycionê he wrote letters to this sayde marchaunt of the isle of Sio for they knewe eche other to the entent to please the frenche kynge the duke of Burgoyne and the duches and other ladies in FrauÌ„ce suche as had their husbandes and frendes in prison in Turkey and in trust to be well rewarded for his good wyllâ— be wrote that what so euer ende was made for their redempcyon that he wolde be come â—ettour for the somme of money and that as soone as they were delyuered and come in to the power of the venyciens and that he might be certifyed therof that incontynent he wolde come hym selfe to Venyce and se the raunsomes payed and delyuered By these wordes written by syr Dyne of Responde the sayde marchaunt genouoye enclyned to his desyre and on the truste to be well rewarded of the frenche kynge for he thought to suche a kyng it was good to â—ay â—are And also as I was enfourmed the kynge of Cyper at the desyre of the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne he sente men of his specyciall counsayle in to Turkey And in lykewyse syr Mathelyn and the lorde of Damyne two great barones in Grece and in good fauoure with Lamorabaquy traueyled greatly to auaunce this treatie to th entent to do pleasure to the frenche kynge for without suche meanes the mater shulde neuer haue been brought aboute bycause Turkey is a great couÌ„trey and yuell for men to traueyle in that hath nat ben accustomed therto Whan Lamorabaquy was ones condyscended to entre in to this treatie than it was ordeyned by his counsayle that all the chrysten prisoners shulde be brought togyder in to the cytie of Burse and there to coÌ„clude their treatie So the prisoners were brought thyder who were in nombre a .xxv. but in their commynge thyder the turkes that brought them dyd yuell entreate theym and bete them forwarde for they were but casely horsed they coulde nat go but a pace the turkes â—ete them bycause they sawe they shulde de delyuered wherwith they were sore dyspleased WHan these knightê were thus brought in to the cytie of Burse in Turkey Than they that were sent thyder fro the Frenche kynge and fro the duke of Burgoyne fro the kynge of Cypers and fro the genouoys and venycyens receyued these prisoners geÌ„tylly so that they were more at their case than in the prisone that they were in before howe be it they were kept euer so strayte that they coulde nat haue the thyrde parte of their wylles Lamorabaquy moste specyally herde euer the soueraygne of Flaunders for syr Iaques of Helley hadde enfourmed hym howe he was one of the chyefe of counsayle with the duke of Burgoyne Lamorabaquy was in a Castell besyde Burse and thyther came the sayde messangers As laste it was a greed that these .xxv. prisoners shulde pay the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande ducates for the whiche soÌ„me the lordes of Mathelyn and Damyne in Grece and the marchaunt genouoy of Sio became dettours for the same and taryed in pledge with Lamorabaquy And the erle of Neuers sware and bouÌ„de him selfe to the sayd marchauntes that as sone as he came to Venyce nat to departe thens tyll the money were payed Thus concluded this treatie but or it was all concluded the erle of Ewe was so speke and feble by the alteracyon of the ayre and course meates that he dyed at Loge in Grece where he was kept prisoner wherof all his company were ryght sory but they coulde nat amende it Thus syr Phylyppe of Arthois erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce after he was deed was enbawmed and so brought in to Fraunce and buryed in the churche of saynt Laurence of Ewe Whan Lamorabaquy was contented with the marchaundes bondes for the det of the sayd soÌ„me the soueraygne of Flaunders and sir Iaques of Helley tooke their leaue to retourne in to Fraunce and Lamorabaquy was well contente therwith and ordeyned that these two knightes shuld haue of the soÌ„me that he shuld receyue twenty thousande ducates to be rebated of the hole some For this kyng Basaache consydered the payne and traueyle that they had endured and specyally the soueraygne of Flaunders was greatly in his fauour These two knyghtes thanked the kynge of his gyft than they toke their leaue of hym and afterwarde of the Frenche knyghtes and lordes Whan they were departed fro the kynge they came to the cytie of Burse and than departed and lefte the erle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce styll in the cytie of Burse for they taryed for the lordes of Mathelyn and Damine who shuld come thyder by see to receyue them in to their galees And these two knyghtes toke a galee passenger to sayle to Mathelyn At their departynge fro the porte the wether was fayre and temperate but whanne they were abrode in the see the wynde chaunged and had a marueylous great tempest so that the soueraigne of Flaunders by reason of sore traueyle in that tempest he fell sore sycke on the see and dyed or they came to Mathelyn wherof syr Iaques of Helley was â—ight sory but there was no remedy and so sayled forthe in a galee of Venyce and passed by Rodes and alwayes as he went he publysshed the redempcyon of the lordes of Fraunce wherof they of Rodes were ryght ioyfull At last this knyght came in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge and the other lordes and ladyes howe he had spedde wherof the kynge and other were right ioyfull and thanked the knyght of his traueyle and payne he had taken in that iourney WHan the redempcyon of these lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce was at apoynt than Lamorabaquy thought or they departed to haue them in his company and that they shulde be more at large and better entreated than they were before as it was reason sythe they were no lenger prisoners he thought they shulde se parte of his puyssaunce and state whiche was as it was shewed me marueylous great and sumptuous and kepte moche people dayly aboute hym Thus he sent of the noble men of his house to bring them to his presence to whom he made good chere and had euery thynge delyuered them of the ordinary of his courte acordynge to the vsage of the countrey and euery daye the kynge talked with the erle of Neuers by a truchman and greatly he honoured the erle of Neuers for he sawe well he was lyke to be a great man in Fraunce and sonne to a great lord wherof he was well enfourmed the whiche he founde true by reason of the great sute that was made for their redempcyon and by the great soÌ„me of money that they agreed to paye The erle of Neuers and his company had great marueyle of the great state that he kept he and his people laye euer in the felde for no towne coulde suffyce them The spence of his howseholde and charge of meate and drinke was marueyle to consydre fro whence it shulde come but that
the countrey is so hote that the people be of sobre dyet and vse moche spycery and specyally suger and gotes mylke wherof they haue great haboundaunce the whiche is cōmon drinke of the sarazyns and they haue plenty of bredde made of a grayne called mylle he had euer aboute hym a seuen thousande fawconers and as many hunters So it was on a daye he wente a hawkynge and had a flyght with a fawcon at an Egle in the presence of the erle of Neuers the whiche flyght pleased nat Lamorabaquy wherwith he was sore dyspleased and as it was shewed me for the same faute there was at the poynte a two thousande fauconers to haue loste their heedes bearyng them in hande that they were nat dylygent in kepynge of his hawkes Another tyme in the presence of the erle of Neuers a woman came to complayne to the kynge desyringe to haue ryght and iustyce vpon a seruaunt of his sayenge Syr kynge I come to you as to my soueraygne I complayne me of a seruaunt of your chambre as it is shewed me he is come this same day in to my howse and the mylke of a gote that I had for me and my chyldren he hath dronken it agaynst my wyll and syr I said to him that if he wolde do me that wronge I wolde complayne to you and as soone as I sayde so he gaue me two great blowes wolde nat forbeare for all that I spake in your name therfore syr kynge do me iustyce as ye are sworne to do to all your people The kinge marked well the womans wordes and so caused his seruaunte to come a fore hym and the woman also and than he caused the woman to renewe her complaynt The seruaunt began to excuse hym and sayd that he knewe nothynge of that matter The woman spake wysely and affyrmed her wordes to be trewe Than the kynge sayde woman aduyse the well for if I fynde thy wordes vntrewe thou shalte dye an yuell dethe Syr quod she I am content for if my wordes were nat true what nede me to come in to your presēce do me iustyce I desyre none other thyng Thou shalt haue iustyce quod the kynge for I haue sworne so to do to euery man and woman Than the kynge caused the man to be taken and caused his bely to be opened to se if he had eaten or dronken the mylke or nat and there he founde that he had dronke the mylke for it was nat turned to digestyon And whan the kyng sawe that the womans wordes were trewe he said to her thou haddest good cause to complayne go thy way quyte thou art well reuenged of the trespase that was done to the and she had a good recompence and the man deed This iudgement the lordes of Fraunce sawe and herde ¶ Howe the lordes of Fraunce returned by see to Venyce and of the isles they founde by the waye Cap. CC.xxiiii WHan the Erle of Neuers and the other lordes of Fraūce who had ben taken prisoners at the batayle before Nycopoly in Turkey whan they had sene a season the state and maner of Lamorabaquy and that he was content of euery thynge and vnderstode that the lorde of Mathelyn and the lorde of Damyne and the marchaunt of Sio were come to Burselle in Turkey than he gaue them leaue to departe So they came all togyther before Lamorabaquy excepte the erle of Ewe and the lorde of Coucy who were bothe deed thus they toke their leaue and thanked hym of his curtesies Than Lamorabaquy said to therle by a truch man Iohan I knowe well thou arte a great lorde in thy Countrey and sonne to a great lorde thou art yonge and pe◠aduenture shall beare some blame and shame that this aduenture hath fallen to the in thy fyrste chyualry and to excuse thy selfe of this blame and to recouer thyne honour peraduenture thou wylt assemble a puyssaunce of men and come and make warre agaynst me if I were in doute or feare therof or thou departed I shulde cause the swere by thy lawe and faythe that neuer thou nor none of thy company shulde beare armure or make warre agaynst me but I wyll nother make the nor none of thy company to make any suche othe or promesse but I wyll that whan thou arte retourned and arte at thy pleasure rayse what puyssaunce thou wylte and spare nat but come agaynst me thou shalt fynde me alwayes redy to receyue the and thy company in the felde in playne batayle and this that I say shewe it to whome thy lyste for I am able to do dedes of armes and euer redy to conquere further in to crystendome These hygh wordes the erle of Neuers vnderstode well and so dyd his company they thought on it after as longe as they lyued Than they tooke their leaue and they were conducted with a great nombre vnder the leadynge of Assybaathe and Surbasaache and so delyuered to the lordes of Mathelyn and Damyne who were cause of their delyueraunce and whan their galees were redy they entred and their conducte retourned to their kynge So they sayled tyll they came to the porte of Mathelyn where they were receyued with great ioye THe lady of Mathelyn was ryght honourable and gentle as well assured of her selfe as any lady in Grece for in her youth she had ben brought vp in the emperour of Constantyne the nobles courte with the lady Mary of Burbone where she had lerned moche norture for in Fraunce the lordes and ladyes be more honourable than in many other coūtreys This lady was right ioyouse to se in her house the erle of Neuers and syr Henry of Bare sir Guy of Tremoyle and the other she receyued them ryght honourably with great ioy and dyd what she coude to do them pleasure First she newly aparelled all the lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce with shyrtes gownes and other aparell of fyne damaske acordynge to the vsage of Grece and all other euery man after his degre The lady spared nothyng on them wherfore they gaue her great thanke and greatly praysed her estate and ordre In lykewyse they thāked and praysed the lordes of Mathelyn and of Damyne who made them good chere and honourable Anone tydynges of their delyueraunce was knowen at the Rodes wherof the great mayster of the Roodes and all the knyghtes there were ryght ioyfull and they determyned to arme forth two galees and to sende for theym to come in to the isle of Rodes and so they dyd and in the one galee they sette syr Iaques of Brassemont a burgonyon marshall of the Rodes So longe they sayled and rowed that they aryued at Mathelyn The marshall was well receyued of euery man and of the lady of Mathelyn Than these lordes and other refresshed them there a foure dayes and on the fyfte daye their galees were redy Than the erle of Neuers tooke leaue of the lady of Mathelyn and thanked her greatly and the lordes also and the erle of Neuers
sayd that he was bounde for euer towne them his good wyll The lady answered wysely to them all So they entred in to the Galees in the porte of Mathelyn and had wynde and wether at wyll and sayled so longe that without daunger or doÌ„mage they came and aryued in the isle of the Rodes in the same place where as all galees do aryue coÌ„mynge fro Cyper or fro Barne and fro other partes of the see Orientall There were many of the knyghtes of the Roodes who be or ought to be men of valyaunt corage for they beare the whyte Crosse in signyfieng of the crosse of Christ who dyed and toke payne for the redempcyon of all crysten people and nere hande daily these knightes haue skrymysshes and assawtes to ayde and sustayne the chrysten faythe agaynst the myscreauÌ„tes wherfore these knyghtes ought to be valyaunte men and nourysshed in the warre WHan the erle of Neuers and his company were come in to the isle of Rodes the great mayster and the great priour of Acquytanye who was there receyued the frenche men honourably and offred to lende them golde and syluer to paye their small charges and costes whiche offre the erle of Neuers and his company toke for a great curtesy and hertely thanked them for they had great nede therof â–ª the great priour of Acquytanie a right valyaunt knyght lente to the erle of Neuers a thyrty thousande frankes in redy money and syr Reygnere Potte stewarde with the erle of Neuers and the lorde of Rocheforde of Burgoyne receyued the money I thynke it was generally for them all that euery man shulde haue parte but the erle became dettour for the money Thus they taryed in the Isle of Rodes a good seasone to refresshe theym and to sette euery thynge in good ordre for the ayre was more atteÌ„perate there than wheâ— as they had ben in Turkey And as they taryed thus at Rodes abydynge for the galees of Venyce a syckenesse toke syr Guy of Tremoyle lorde of Seully of whiche sycknesse he dyed there and was buryed in the churche of saynte Iohan in the Rodes and the lordes of Fraunce dyd his obsequy ryght reuerently and were ryght sorye of his dethe but there was no remedy The Erle of Neuers knewe well that the duke of Burgoyne wolde be sore dyspleased of his deth bycause he had always fouÌ„de hym sage and of good counsayle At the laste there aryued the galees of Venyce wherof the frenche men were ryght ioyous Than they tooke their leaue of the lordes of the Rodes Thus departed the erle of Neuers sir Henry of Bare Boucyquante Guillyam of Tremoyle the lorde of Rocheforde and all other The patrones of the galees to do them pleasure were contente to suffre them to refresshe theym in the isles bytwene Venyce and Rodes Fyrste they came to Modon a fyue hundred myle fro the Roodes and there they refresshed them it parteyned to the venycyens ANd fro modon they sayled with wynde and wether at wyll and so came to the isle of Calefo and there refresshed theym And fro thence to the isle of Garre and there taryed and than they came to the isle of Chyfolignie and there landed and founde a great nombre of Ladyes and damosels who had the sygnâ—orite of that isle They receyued the frenche men with great ioye and brought them to passe the tyme aboute the isle whiche is ryght fayre and pleasaunte And suche as knowe the condycions of that isle affyrmeth that the fayry and the nympes be moche conuersaunt there Some of the marchauntes of Venyce and Geane and of other landes suche as haue aryued there and taryed there a seasone to eschewe the daunger of the see haue said that they haue sene some of the fairy there and haue proueâ— their wordes to be trewe The erle of Neuers and his company were right ioyouse of the company of these ladyes and ryght ioyously the ladyes receyued them and sayd howe their coÌ„mynge thyder dyd all the isle great honoure bycause they were noble knyghtes and men of honoure for there hath nat acustomed none other to be conuersaunt amonge them but marchauntes This isle is nat all onely enhabyted with women but there be men amonge them but the women haue the soueraynte and chefe rule there They are worke women in sylke worke and make clothes of sylke so subtelly and so well that there is none lyke them nor the men of the isle canne nat make it but they cary them out to sell where they thynke to haue most profyte and the woman abyde styll in the isle and they honour the men for the sayde cause and they haue the profyte therof The Isle is of that condycion that no man dare aproche it to do there any doÌ„mage for who so euer dothe are perysshed and that hath ben sene and proued and therfore these ladyes endure euer in peace and dought no man Also they are marueylous swete gentle amyable and humble and whan they wyll they speke with the fayry and be in their company WHan the erle of Neuers and his company had refresshed them in this isle of Chyfoligne aboute a fyue dayes than they toke leaue of these ladyes and lefte amonge these ladyes parte of suche as they had that they myght forbeare so that the ladyes gaue them great thanke at their departynge and so they sayled to a lande called Raguse and there they rested And fro thens to Clarence a hundred myle fro Venyce And whyle they were there thyther came a squyer of Haynalt of great recoÌ„mendacyon borne in the towne of Mons he was called Brydoll he came fro the holy scpulcre and fro Quayre and fro saynt Katheryns mounte and whan he came to Clarence the frenchmen made him good chere bycause he was borne in Haynalt for the countesse of Neuers was doughter to the erle of Heynalte and also bycause he had ben in farre countreys and they demaunded of him newes fro those parties and also of the state of the kynge of Cyper He aunswered to euery thynge ryght wysely WHan the erle of Neuers had refresshed hym there a season than he sayled forthe and came to the porte of Parcuse The great galees coude go no further to come to the porte of Venyce Than within a certayne space they tooke other small shyppes passengers and so came to Venyce and there were receyued with great ioye and they thanked god that they were come thyder in sauegarde and out of the handes of the myscreauntes for they were ones in feare neuer to haue come out of their handes Than euery man wente to his logynge which was prepared for them for their commynge thyder was knowen before their seruauntes were come thyder and prepared for them redye agaynst their commyng The erle of Neuers founde there redy parte of his seruauntes sente thyder by the duke of Burgoyne his father and the duches his mother Also there was redy syr Dyne of Responde bycause of their raunsome Than clerkes were
other thinges parteynynge to a fortresse and also he was of his person hygh and cruell and wolde nat be abasshed for a lytell thynge The marshall of Fraunce departed fro pount saynt Spyrite and passed with all his company by the towne of Orenge by consent of the prince of Orenge and so entred in to the countre of Venyce whiche was lande parteygnynge to the churche the whiche anone was ouer rynne and the men of warre passed at the bridge of Sourgnes and so they were lordes of all the ryuer and the marshall taryed in the towne of Sourgnes with a gret nombre of menne of warre to kepe the towne and passage and also the garysone of Noues whiche partayned to the pope Than the marshall went and lodged at saynt Verayne nere to Auignon and his men therabout and dayly came thyder men of warre so that the cytie of Auignon was closed in before and behinde by lande and by the ryuer so that nothynge coulde entre nor issue without leaue for at the towne of Noue without Auygnon whiche partayned to the realme of Fraunce was the seneschall of Beaucayre with fyue hundred men and kepte the entre on that syde and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce with two thousande men was on the other syde of Auignon and he sent to theym of the cytie that without they wolde obey and open their cytie that he wolde burne all their vynes and houses abrode in the countrey aboute to the ryuer of Dureuse That soÌ„monynge greatly abasshed the men and women within the cytie for their herytages laye without Auignon vnto the ryuer of Dureuse Than they went to counsayle without knowledge of the pope and they called to their counsayle certayne cardynals as the cardynall of Amyence of Poictours of Newcastell of Viuyers and dyuers other Than suche as had moste to lose shewed these cardynalles howe the marshall of Fraunce had thretened them to brinne their vynes and their howses and all this had caused the frenche kynge agaynst whome they coulde nat resyste for his puyssaunce was so nere them and all thynges consydred they sayde they were better to obey to the frenche kynge than to holde their paryllous opynyons for of Benedyc they coulde haue no ayde nor comforte and they demaunded of these cardynalles if they wolde ioyne and take their parte The cardynals said they were content to take their wayes for vitayles beganne to fayle theym and also their benefyces were in the realme of Fraunce whiche they sayd they wolde nat wyllyngly lese So they entred in to treatie with the marshall of Fraunce the whiche toke suche effecte that all the men of warre entred in to the cytie of Auignon and it was apoynted to besiege the palays their couynaunt was to do no hurte nor dyspleasure to the cardynalles nor to none of their men nor to the hole body of the towne This to do the marshall promysed So they entred in to Auignon and lodged at their ease and lybertie and than all the passages as well by lande as by water were opened to the entent that all maner of bytayle myght come to the cytie WHen he that wrote him selfe pope Benedyc beynge closed in his palays sawe that the cardynals and the men of the cytie had made a treatie with the marshall of Fraunce without his counsayle or aduyse he was therwith sore dyspleased howe be it he sayd that he wolde nat submytte hym selfe to dye in the payne and so he kepte hym selfe close in his palais which was as stronge a place as any in the worlde and most easyest to be kepte so that it be well vytayled This pope had sent letters to the kynge of Aragone instantly to socoure hym in his nede and to sende him men of warre that he myght be able to resyst the marshall of Fraunce also he sente the kynge worde in his letter that if he coulde get hym thens fro Auignon he wolde go and kepe his see apostolyke in Aragon at Parpygnon or at Barcelone The kynge of Aragon sawe well the popes letters but he made no force of them and sayd to his couÌ„sayle that were aboute hym What weneth this preest that to susteyne hym and his argumentes I shall enterpryse to make warre agaynste the frenche kyng to ayde hym than I might well be reputed a fole Syr quod his counsayle ye say trouthe ye haue no nede to medle in that mater for syr ye may be sure the frenche kynge hath suche counsayle aboute hym that he wolde make no warre agaynst hym without a iuste cause lette the clergy alone for if they purpose to lyue the prelates must obey the great lordes 〈◊〉 whome their rentes and reuenues are they haue longe kept them in peace And also syrâ—he frenche kynge hath writen to you all redy desyringe you to determyne you and your countrey to be newter as he is and wyll be and syr ye were beste so to do for my lady the quene who is the Frenche kynges cosyn germayne is content so to be and so is the moste parte of your realme and the clergy in lykewyse and specyally Catelone and Spayne and syr we thynke it is the best opynion for if all cristen kynges do nat the same the churche shall neuer come to vnyte by reasone of two popes Thus the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle deuysed togyder and pope Benedic was styll in his palays trustynge to haue ayde of the kynge of Aragon but he was dysceyued and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce was with in the cytie of Auygnon and the palays was so kept that none coulde issue out nor entre in They lyued with that store they had for of vytayles they had suffycient for two or thre yere but they lacked woode to make fyre with all and to sethe their meate whiche made theym abasshed Euery weke the marshall herde newes fro the frenche kynge and the kynge fro hym and the kynge coÌ„maunded hym that he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had atchyued his enterprise Thus the pope coude nat issue out of the palays there was suche watche layde on hym THe conclusyon was whan this Benedyc sawe that he was so straytely kepte and that fyre fayled hym and other prouysions dayly dyscreased and sawe that no comforte nor ayde came to hym fro no parte at laste he yelded at the request of certayne of the cardynalles and the treatie was thus that he shulde nat departe out of Auignon tyll there were made an vnyon in the churche and a certayne garde was sette aboute hym and the cardynalles and ryche men of Auignon bounde them selfe to kepe this Benedyc so strayte that they shulde rendre accompte of hym agayne outher quycke or dede Suche cardynals as had their benefyces in Fraunce tooke great payne to make this treatie and composycion for they sayde all with one accorde that they wolde abyde with the frenche kynge Thus this busynesse ended at that tyme and euery man departed and the Marshall went to Parys and anone
haue nede of good Counsayle shortely for the Londoners and other cometh agaynst you with great puissaunce and hath made therle of Derby your cosyn their chefe capitayne they haue gote hym out of FrauÌ„ce This hath nat been done without great treatie Whan the kynge herde that he was sore abasshed and wyste nat what to saye for all his spyrites trymbled For thaÌ„ he saw well the maters were lykely to go yuell agaynst hym without he coude gette puyssauÌ„ce to resyst them Than the kynge sayd Sirs make all our men redy and lende throughe out my realme for ayde For I wyll nat flye before my subiettes Sir quod they the mater gothe yuell for your men do leaue you flye awaye ye haue loste the one halfe and all the rest are sore abasshed and leseth couÌ„tynauÌ„ce Why quod the kyng what wyll ye that I shall do Sir leaue the felde for ye are nat able to kepe it And gette you in to some stronge castell tyll sir Iohan HollaÌ„de your brother come who is aduertysed of all this mater And whanÌ„e he is come he shall fynde some remedy outher biforce of armes or elles by treatie at leest to bring you in to some better case than ye be in at this present tyme. For if ye kepe the felde paraduenture some wyll forsake you and go to hym To this couÌ„saile the kyng agreed At that tyme the erle of Salisbury was nat with the kyng he was in his countre Whan he herde howe the erle of Derby with the Londoners and great puissaunce rode agaynst the kyng He ymagined that the matter was in paryll for hym and for the kynge and for suche as the kyng had ben counsayled by so he sate styll to here other tidynges Also the duke of yorke was nat with the kyng but his sonne the erle of Rutlande was alwayes with the kyng for two causes The one was kyng Richarde loued hym entierly And another was bycause he was constable of Englande therfore by right he ought to be with the kynge Whan the kyng had supped newe tidynges caÌ„e agayne to hym sayeng Sir it is tyme to take aduise howe ye wyll order your selfe your puyssauÌ„ce is nat sufficient agaynst theÌ„ that cometh agaynst you It can nat aueyle you to make batayle agaynst them It behoueth you to passe this daunger by sadde aduyse and good counsayle And by wysedome apease them that be your yuel willers as ye haue done or this tyme and than correcte them after at leysar There is a castell a .xii. myle hens called the castell of Flynte whiche is stronge We counsayle you to go thider and close you within it tyll ye here other newes fro the erle of Huntyngton your brother and for other of your frendes and sende in to Irelande for socours And the freÌ„che kyng your father in lawe whan he knoweth of your nede he wyll conforte you the kyng folowed that counsayle and apoynted them that shulde ride with hym to the castell of Flynt And he ordayned his cosyn erle of Rutlande to tary styll at Bristowe and that they shulde be redy to sette forwarde whan he sent to them and that he was of power to fyght with his enemyes The nexte day the kynge with suche as were of his housholde rode to the castell of Flynte and entred in to the castell without makynge any semblaunt to make any warre but to abide there and to defende the castell if they were assayled ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kyng Richarde yelded him selfe to the erle of Derby to go to London Cap. CC.xli THe erle of Derby the londoners had their spies goyng and coÌ„myng who reported to them al the state of the kyng And also the erle knewe it by suche knyghtes and squyers as daylye came fro the kynges parte to therle who had sure knowledge that the king was gone to the castell of Flynt and had no company with him but such as were of his owne housholde and semed that he wolde no warrÌ„ but to scape that dauÌ„ger by treatie Than therle determyned to ryde thyder and to do so moche to haue the kyng outher biforce or by treatie Than the erle and all his company rode thyder and within two myle of the Castell they founde a great vyllage there the erle taryed and dranke determyned in hym selfe to ryde to the castell of Flynt with two hundred horse and to leaue the rest of his company styll there And he sayde he wolde do what he coude by fayre treatie to entre in to the castell by loue and nat perforce And to bring out the kynge with fayre wordes and to assure hym fro all paryll excepte goynge to London and to promise hym that he shall haue no hurte of his body and to be meane for hym to the Londoners who were nat coÌ„tent with hym Therles deuyse semed good to them that harde it and they sayd to hym Sir beware of dissymulacion This Rycharde of Burdeaux muste be taken outher quycke or deed and all the other traytours that be about hym and of his counsayle and so to be brought to London and sette in the towre the Londoners wyll nat suffre you to do the contrary Than the erle sayde Sirs feare nat but all that is enterprised shall be accomplysshed But if I can gette hym out of the castell with fayre wordes I wyll do it and if I canne nat I shall sende you worde therof and than ye shall come and laye siege about the castell And than we wyll do so moche by force or by assaute that we wyll haue hym quicke or deed for the castell is well prignable to those wordes accorded well the londoners So the erle departed fro the army and rode with two huÌ„dred men to the castell where as the kyng was amoÌ„g his men right sore abasshed The erle came ridyng to the castell gate whiche was faste closed as the case requyred The erle knocked at the gate The porters demauÌ„ded who was there the erle answered I am Henry of Lancastre I come to the kynge to demaunde myne herytage of the duchy of Lancastre shewe the kynge this fro me Sir quod they within we shall do it Incontynent they went in to the hall and in to the â—ongyon where as the kyng was and suche knyghtes about hym as had long tyme couÌ„sayled hym than these newes were shewed to the kyng sayd sir your cosyn of Derby is at the gate who demaÌ„deth of you to be set in possessyon of the duchy of Lancastre his enherytaunce The kynge than regarded suche as were aboute hym demaunded what was best to do They said sir in this request is none yuell ye maye let hym come in to you with .xii. persons in his company and here what he wyll say He is your cosyn and a great lorde of the Realme He maye well make your peace and he wyll for he is greatly beloued in the realme and specially with the Londoners who sente for hym in to FrauÌ„ce They be as nowe the
and assembled men of warre for the great desyre that I had to se hym I departed fro my garyson with a .xii. speares and I fell in company with sir Iohan Ioell sir Iaques Planchyn And without any busynesse or reencounter we came to the captall I thynke sir Iohan ye haue all redy the knowlege what became of that busynesse That is true quod I for there was taken the captall of Beusz and sir Iohan Ioell slayne and sir Iaques Planchyn That is true quod the Bâ—tefoyle of Manlyon there I was also taken howe be it I fortuned metely well ther was a cosyn of myne who was called Bernard of Terryde he dyed after in Portyngale at the batayle of Iuberot this Bernarde who was as than vnder sir Aymenon of Pomyers he toke me and rauÌ„somed me in the felde at a thousande frankes gaue me a good sauecoÌ„ducte to retourne to my garyson of Bec Dalyer assoone as I came to my castell I sent a seruaunt of myne with a thousande frankes to my cosyn to Parys and had my quytaunce for the same The same season sir Iohan Aymery an Englysshe knight and the greattest capitayne that we had rode forthe costyng the ryuer of Loyre to come to Charite and he was encouÌ„tred by abusshment of the lorde RugemoÌ„t and the lorde of Wodnay by some of the archprestes men They were farre stronger than he and so there he was taken and ouerthrowen raunsomed to a .xxx. thousande frankes which he payed incontynent Of his takyng and losse he was sore displeased and sware that he wold neuer entre in to his owne garyson tyll he had won agayne as moche as he had lost Than he assembled togyder a great nombre of companyons and came to Charyte on Loyre and desyred the capitayns ther as Lamyt and Carsnell and the burge of Piergourt and me for I was there as than to sporte me Ther he desyred vs all to ryde forthe with hym We demaunded of hym wheder he wolde ryde By my faythe ê™ he we wyll passe the ryuer of Loyre at saint Thybalte and lette vs scale and assayle the towne castell of SaÌ„xere For quod he I haue sworne and auowed that I wyll nat entre in to no fortresse that I haue tyll I haue sene the chyldren of Sanxere And if we maye gette that garyson and the erles chyldren within IohnÌ„ Loys and Robert Than we shall be well reuenged and therby we shal be lordes of the countre and I thynke we shall lightly come to oure entent for they take no hede of vs and this lyeng styll here dothe vs no maner of ê“fyte That is true sir quod we so all we promysed to ryde with hym and incontynent we made vs redy And so it fortuued the all oure purpose was knowen in the towne of Sanxere The same tyme ther was â–ª there a capitayn a valyant squyer of But goyne of the lowe marchesse called Guyssharte Albygon who toke great hede to kepe well the towne and castell of Sanxer and the chyldren within This sir Guysshart had a moÌ„ke to his brother of the abbey of saynt Thybalt whiche is nere to Sanxere This monke was sent to Charyte on the ryuer of Loyre for his brother to beare a certayn rauÌ„some thider that the townes owed by couynant so we toke no hede to him he knewe all our ententes howe I can nat tell and all our names that were capitaynes there and what nombre we were of and what houre we shulde departe and howe we were determyned to passe the ryuer at the porte of saynt Thybalte And so he retourned and went to Sanxere and shewed his brother all oure myndes Than therle there and his bretherne prouyded for remedy and they sente for knightes squyers of Berry and Burbonoyse and to the capitayns garysons therabout so that they were a foure hundred speares of good men of warre and made abusshment of two hundred speares without the towne of Sanxere in a wode and we knewe nothyng of all this and at the sonne goynge downe we departed fro Charyte and rode a good pase tyll we came to Penly and at the porte there we hadde redy bootes barges to passe vs ouer oure horses And so we paste ouer the ryuer of Loyre as we had ordayned and we were ouer by mydnight and bycause the daye came on we ordayned a hundred speares to abyde there to kepe oure horses and bootes and the remynaunt of vs passed forthe forâ— by the frenche busshment Whan we were paste a quarter of a myle than they brake out of their busshment and rode to them that we had lefte behynde vs at the ryuer syde anone they had disconfyted them and all slayne or taken our horses wonne and the botes arested and than they mounted on our horses and came after vs on the spurres and were as soone in the towne as we They cryed our lady of SaÌ„xere for the erle was there hym selfe with his men and his bretherne sir Loyes and sir Robert had made the busshement So thus we were inclosed on all partes for they a hors backe assoone as they caÌ„e to vs they a lighted afote and assayled vs fiersly And the thynge that moost greued vs was we coude nat enlarge our selfe to fight we were in suche a narowe waye closed on bothe sides with hay hedges and vyngardes also some of our enemyes suche as knewe the couÌ„tre were rydden about and gette in to the vyngardes and dyd hurt vs sore with castyng of stones and we coude nat go backe moche payne to gette to the towne it stode so hygh on a mouÌ„tayne So we were sore traueyled sir IohnÌ„ Aymery was hurt our souerayne capitayn by the haÌ„des of sir Guysshart Albygon who toke hym prisoner had moche a do to saue his lyfe he put hym in to a house in the towne and made hym to be layde on a bedde and sayd to the owner of the house kepe well this prisoner and se his woundes staunched for if he lyue he shall paye me .xx. thousande frankes so sir Guysshart lefte his prisoâ—er and retourned to the batayle and quytte hymselfe lyke a good man of armes there was with the chyldren of SaÌ„xere come thider to their ayde and to the countreis sir Guysshart dalphyn the lorde Marney sir Gerarde and sir Wylliam Burbone the lorde of Cousant the lorde de la Pier the lorde de la Palys the lorde of Neutry the lorde de la coise and the lorde of Syette and dyuers other I say sir to you this was a batayle right fell and cruell we defeÌ„ded our self as long as we might so that on bothe partê there were slayne dyuers persones and many hurte for by that they shewed they had rather haue taken vs a lyue than to slee vs and finally we were all taken Carsayle launt Nandon le bourge de Pyergourt Espyot the burge of Lespare Angerot le mouÌ„t gyse
them and to their heyres to be noted to flye away so shame fully and to seke for their sauegarde nother the right passage of the ryuer nor yet the hygh way to the towne of Rauesten but rather other straunge wayes to flye fro their enemyes In this myschyefe fell that daye the chyualrye of Brabante bytwene the towne of Graue and Rauesten many were slayne and taken For suche as came to raunsome yelded lightly and the almayns were gladde to take them for the profyte that they thought to haue by theym And suche as retourned to the lodgynges before Graue abasshed them that were there lyenge at the syege for they came lyke men clene discomfyted They came flyenge so faste that they lacked brethe so that they coulde skante speke any worde that they sayd was Syrs gette vs all hence for we be all dyscomfyted there is no comeforte Whan they in the hoost vnderstode the trouthe of the mater and sawe their company in that case they were than so a basshed a frayed that they had no leysar nor puyssaunce to take their owne goodes nor to take downe their tentes nor pauylyons nor to trusse horse carte nor wagon but sodaynely departed without byddynge adewe and lefte all behynde They were so a frayde that they made no countenaunce of a bydynge They toke with theym nother vytayle nor caryage but suche as hadde horses lepte on them and fledde a waye towardes the dukes wodde or els towardes Hondan or to the mount saynte Geruays or to Gertras and Dordec They had none other care but to saue them selfe fro their enemyes And if they within the garyson of Graue had soner knowen of the dyscomfetture it had been greatly for their profyte and had slayne or taken many of their enemyes in their flyenge but they knewe it nat tyll it was late howbeit whan they issued out they fouÌ„de great plentye of Tentes and pauylyons and prouysion of engyns gonnes and artyllery which they brought in to their towne at good leysar for there were none to saye them naye Thus brake vp the siege of Graue to the gret domage of all the brabansoys wherof great brute ranne in dyuers countreys howe that a handefull of men dyscomfyted .xl. thousande and reysed the siege there was taken the lorde of Bourguenall and the lorde of Linyer and other to the nombre of seuentene baners they were hanged before the ymage of our lady of Nymay for a perpetuall memory ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Guerles after he had dyscomfyted the brabansoys he wente agayne to Nymaye And howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge and howe the kyng sente ambassadours to the kyng of Almayne Cap. C.xxxvii I Haue great payne to recorde or to wryte of this shamefull dyscomfyture of the brabansoys for blemysshynge of their honoures but bycause I promysed and said in the begynnyng of my boke that if I shall write truely this hystory I must make true relacion of the mater who so euer it do touche Nowe to procede further the yonge duke of Guetles had and optaygned this iourney in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght aboute Mawdlyn tyde in the moneth of Iuly And whanne this dyscomfyture and chase was passed and the felde clene delyuered whiche was done within the space of two houres Than the guerloys assembled togyder in the felde and mad good chere and were ioyfull They had good cause so to be for their good aduenture for they had as many prysoners or mo than they were themselfe in nombre Than their haraudes sought out the deed bodyes of bothe partyes and amonge other there was slayne a yonge man sonne to therle of Namure called Vassyer of Colles lorde of Balaster of whose dethe the duke of Gnerles was sory and sore dyspleased and that he shewed well for greatly he complayned his deth and sayde howe the dethe of a yonge knyght dyspleased hym greatly for he was a ryght lusty knyght pleasaunte and ioly and also the yere before he had ben in Pruse with the duke of Guerles Some counsayled the duke to retourne to the towne of Graue and there to refresshe theym and to brynge thyder their prisoners Naye nat so quod the duke for army departynge fro Nymay I auowed to our lady there that if I spedde well to returne thyder to offre to our lady wherfore I wyll with a mery chere that we all retourne thyder and thanke our lady who hath sent vs the vyctory of our enemyes No man durste saye naye agaynst the dukes mynde And so they rode thyder a good pase it was but two good leages fro thence as the batayle was anone they came thyder Whan tydynges came to Nymay of the trouthe of that busynes men women and children were ioyfull and the clergy issued out and receyued the duke with great ioy and the duke of Guerles incontynent with his knyghtes wente to the churche where the ymage of our lady was in whome the duke had great affyaunce and there in the chapell he was vnarmed of all his peces in to his doublet and gaue all his armure to the churche in the honour of our blessed lady thankynge her of the iourney that he hadde atchyued And there all the penons of the lordes that were taken that day were hanged vp before our lady I canne nat tell if they be there as yet or nat Than the duke went to his lodgynge and so dyd euery manne with their prisoners for they thought surely they shulde well paye for their scot therfore they made good chere GReat brute spred abrode of this duke of Guerles who had thus ouer throwen the brabansoys wherby he was more douted than he was before The duches of Brabante who laye at the dukes wood with her trayne whan she sawe howe yuell the mater wente agaynst her and that the syege of Graue was raysed she was sore displesed and good cause why for it touched her nere Than she sette a garysone at the dukes wood to kepe fronter there and so retourned through Champayne and came to Bruselles and wrote often tymes to the duke of Burgoyne aduertysynge hym of her a state for all her hope of recoueraunce was in hym ye may well knowe and byleue that this discomfyture of the brabansoys was soone knowen in the french kinges courte but they made lytell accoÌ„pte therof syth they sawe the kynge had suche affection to go to Guerles The kynges counsayle wrote to syr Wyllyam of Tremoyle and to sir Geruais of Myrande who were soueraygne capytays of the men of warre that the duke of Burgoyne had sente in to the countrey and to the kepers of the thre castels on the ryuer of Meuse Buth Gaulgeth and Nulle Commaundyng them to kepe well their fronters and nat to make any issue out wherby to take any domage tyll they here more shewynge theym surely howe the kynge in prâ—pre persone shortly wolde go se the duke of Guerles in his owne countrey This sir Willyam was