retourned out of Englande and of the aunswere that was made to hym Cap. lvii ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey departed fro Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was contrary to hym Cap. lviii ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berrey Ca. lix ¶ Howe kynge Charles of Fraunce and the frenche lordes returned yuell content fro sluse and out of Flaunders where as their prouysyons were made to haue gone in to Englande and of the feest that was made at London Cap. lx ¶ Howe we a squier called Iaques le Grise was acused in the parlyament howse at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called Iohan of Carongne and what iudgement was gyuen vpon them and howe they iusted at vttraunce in Paris in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple howe Iaques le Grise was confounded Cap. lxi ¶ Howe the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux was set in prisone in Barcelona Cap. lxi ¶ How a batayle of armes was done in Burdeaux before the seneschall there and dyuers other Cap. lxii ¶ Howe Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to syr Charles of Bloyes was delyuered out of prison by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce Cap. lxxii ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone was chosen to go in to Castyle and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyrall of FlauÌ„ders was token prisoner by the englysshmen Ca. lxxii ¶ Howe the englysshe men aryued and brent dyuers villages Cap. lxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters marshall toke the towne of Rybadane whiche was strongly kept Cap. xliii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sent for the admyrall and marshall and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Cap. lxxiiii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his men rode towardes the cytie of Besances howe the towne made composycion with them Capi. lxxv ¶ Howe the duchesse and her doughter went to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene and howe the towne of Basances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvi ¶ Howe they of Basances that had ben sente to the Kynge of Castyle came home to their towne after it was rendred vp to the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Cap. lxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the realme of Castyle Cap. lxxix ¶ Howe syr WyllmÌ„ of Lygnac and sir Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge Iohan of Castyle Cap. lxxx ¶ Howe a great myschiefe fell in Englande bytwene the gentylmen and coÌ„mons for accompte of suche money as had been reysed of the coÌ„mons Cap. lxxxi ¶ Of the great dyscordes that were in Englande after the breakynge vp of the frenche armye and howe the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the coÌ„mons of the good townes to make acomptes of suche money as was come in to their handes the season that they ruled Cap. lxxxii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of the realme apparelled great prouysions to go in to Englande to wyn townes and castels Cap. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sent for all his lordes and kynghtes to come to counsayle vnto Wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to go and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prisoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce was delyuered at the request of the lorde de la Vale parenge a certayne raunsome and howe the constable delyuered to the duke thre castelles and a towne and payed a huÌ„dred thousande frankes Cap. lxxxv ¶ Howe Writinges were made at the duke of Bretayns deuyse for the constable to rendre his towne and castelles to the duke and to his heyres for euer and how they were delyuered to the duke Cap. lxxxvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge fro the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght displeasaunt and vnto his vncles Cap. lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters men assayled the towne of Aurence and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale brente a towne whan he was departed fro Porte and besieged two castles Cap. lxxxix ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and his host came before Feroule and assauted it and it was won and brought vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxxx ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the constable of Fraunce and of the answere that was made to them Cap. xci ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one acorde and alyaunce agaynst the kynge and his counsayle and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande and of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the offycers appered in the presens of the kynges vncles and coÌ„mons of Englande and howe syr Symon Burle was prisoner in the towre of LoÌ„don and howe syr Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande departed fro London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheeded at London and his nephewe also and howe the duke of Lancastre was dyspleased Cap. xciiii ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde to make warre agaynst his vncles and agaynst the cyties and townes Cap. xcv ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande made his â—oÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe syr Roberte Tryuylyen was taken at Westmynster and beheeded by the coÌ„maundement of the kynges vncles Cap. xcvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the kynge of the dethe of his knyght and demanunded counsayle theron and howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his menne of warre Capi. xcvii ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande sent thre kynghtes to London to knowe some tydynges and howe the kynges vncles and they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii ¶ Howe the kynges vncles wan the iourney agaynst the duke of Irelande and howe he fledde and dyuers other of his company Cap. xcix ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande and his company fled and howe the kynges vncles were at Oxenforde and howe syr Nycholas Bramble was beheeded and howe the kynge was sent for by the bysshoppe of Cannterbury Capi. C. ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to Westmynster to a generall counsayle
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
brent and rased downe for they sawe well that it was nat to be kept seyng that it was so farr in Englande as it was Than the admyrall scottes rode towarde Auwike in the lande of the lorde Percy lodged there about brent certayne villages and so came to another castell of therle of NorthuÌ„berlandes standyng on the see syde but they assayled it nat for they knew well they shulde lese their payne And so they rode all about that fronter halfwaye bytwene Berwyke Newcastell on the ryuer of Tyne and there they vnderstode howe that the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Notingham the lorde Neuell and the barons of those marches of NorthuÌ„berlande of the bysshoprikes of yorke Dyrham were comynge on them with a great power Whan thadmyrall of Fraunce knewe therof he was right ioy full and so were all the barons of FrauÌ„ce that were in his coÌ„pany for they desyred to haue batayle but the scottes cared Iytell therfore there they were counsayled to returne againe towarde Berwyke bycause of their prouisyon that folowed them also to be nere their owne couÌ„tre and there to abyde for their ennemyes So thadmyrall beleued theÌ„ and returned towarde Berwyke wherof sir Thomas Redman was capitayne with hym right good men of armes So the french men and scottes lay before the towne but assayled it nat so passed by the next day and toke the waye to Burbourcke to retourne to their owne countrees Tidynges was brought anon in to EnglaÌ„de howe the freÌ„chmen scottes were in Northum berlaÌ„de distroyed and brent the couÌ„tre The kynge of Englande knewe rightwell before of their comynge wherfore the lordes were redy in the felde toke their way towarde the scottes Thenglysshmen had made that somer the grettest prouisyon that euer they made to go in to Scotlande bothe by lande water They had a .xxvi. vessels on the fee charged with ê“uision costyng the froÌ„ters of Englande redy to entre in to euery hauen of Scotland And the kyng caÌ„e him selfe acoÌ„panyed with his vncles therle of CaÌ„bridge sir ThoinÌ„s Holand Ther was also therle of Salisbury therle of AtuÌ„dell the yong erle of Penbroke the yong lorde SpeÌ„sar therle of Stafforde therle Mysien so many barons knightes that they were four M. speres besyde them that were before with the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de therle therle of NotynghmÌ„ the lorde Lucy the lorde Neuell The lordes barons that were on before pursuyng the scottes were a two M. speares .xv. M. archers And the kynge the lordes were fyftie M. archers besyde varlettes The kyng folowed the duke of Lancastre so fast that he and all his host came in to the marches about yorke for on the way tidynges caÌ„e to the kyng howe that his people that were before were likely to fight with the scottes in the marches of NorthuÌ„berlande therfore he made the gretter hast so the kyng caÌ„e at last to sait IohnÌ„s of Beuerley in the marches of DyrhinÌ„ And ther tidynges came to the kyng how that the scottes were returned in to their owne countre so all the men of warre lodged about in the marches of NorthuÌ„berland ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of an adueÌ„ture that fell in theÌ„glysshe hoost wherby that voyage was broken mortall warre bytwene certayne of the lordes ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Hollande slewe sir Rycharde Stafforde howe therle of Stafforde came to the kyng to demaunde iustyce Cap. xii IN the marches of sait IohnÌ„ of Beuerley in the dyoces of yorke The kynge of England was lodged with a great nombre of erles barons and knightes for euery man lay as nere the kyng as they might and specially his two vncles ser Thomas Holande erle of Lien and sir Iohan Holande his brother In the kynges company there was a knyght of Boesme was come to se the quene of Englande and for loue of the quene the kyng and the lordes made hym good chere His name was sir Myles he was a fresshe lustye knight after the vsage of Almaygne And so it fortuned besyde a vyllage nere to sait Iohans of Beuerley that there fell wordes bitwene this knight two squyers of sir Iohan of Hollandes brother to the kynge and to the wordes there came two archers of sir Iohan Staffordes The wordes so multiplyed that the two archers toke parte with the straunger and blamed the two squyers sayng Sirs yedo wroÌ„ge to medyll with this knight for ye knowe he is belongyng to the quene and of her countre ye ought rather to support him than otherwise Than one of the squyers sayd What enuyous knaue Hast thou to do thoughe I blame hym for his folly What haue I to do quod the archer I haue right well to do therwith for he is companyon to my mayster Therfore I wyll nat be in the place to suffre hym to receyue any villany yea quod the squyer if I thought thou woldest ayde hym agaynste me I wolde put this swerd through thy body made couÌ„tnauÌ„ce as thoughe he wolde haue stryken him The archer stepped backe with his bowe whiche was redy bente And sette an arowe therin and drewe it vp and shotte agaynst the squyer that the arowe pearsed thoroughe body hart and so fell downe deed Whan the other squyer sawe his felowe deed he fledde awaye and sir Myles retourned to his lodgynge The two archers went to their maister and shewed hym all the aduenture Sir Richarde Stafforde sayde Thou hast done right yuell Sir quod the archer I coude do none otherwise without I wolde haue been slayne my selfe and I had rather haue slayne hym thaÌ„ he shulde haue slayne me Well quod sir Rycharde Go thy waye that thou be nat founde and I shall entreate for thy peace with sir Iohan of Holande by my father or by some other So the archer deê‘ted TIdynges anone was brought to sir Iohan of Holande that an archer of sir Richarde Staffordes had slayne a squyer of his that man that he loued best in all the worlde and it was shewed hym the maner howe And that it was for the cause of sir Myles the strauÌ„ger Whan sir Iohan of Holande was well enfourmed of this aduenture he was ryght sore displeased and sayd I shall neuer eate nor drike tyll it be reuenged Than he lepte on his horse and toke certayne of his men with hym and departed fro his owne lodgynge It was as than right late and so rode in to the feldes and enquered Where sir Myles was lodged It was shewed hym he was lodged in the reregarde with the erle of Deuurynters and therle of Stafforde Than sir Iohan Hollande toke the waye thyder warde and sought to fynde sir Myles And as he and his men rode vp downe amonge the hedges and busshes in a straite waye he mette at aduenture with sir Richarde Stafforde and bicause it was night he demauÌ„ded who was there I am
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
Gaunte And moreouer we the sayd duke and duches praye and requyre oure welbeloued Aunte duchesse of Lusenbourcke and of Brabant and our right welbeloued brother the duke Iubert of Bauyer And also the aldermen coÌ„montie and counsayle of Gaunt And also we the duke duchesse of Burgoyne and our aldermen counsayle and coÌ„monties of Gaunt requyre and praye the barones and nobles of the countrey of Flaunders here after folowynge and to all good townes As Bruges Ipre the ferrouer of FraÌ„ke and the good townes of Malynes and Auuers That what for the well of the peace and knowledge of suretie of the foresaid thynges and of eche of them we desyre them to sette to their seales And we Iane by the grace of god duchesse of Lusenbourcke of Brabaunt and of Lancbourcke And we duke Aubert of Bauyere baylye and gouernour of the countrey of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande and of the seignorie of Frise And we Wyllyam eldest sonne of the erle of Namure lorde of Sluse And Hughe lorde daÌ„coyne Chateleyne of Gaunt And IohnÌ„ lorde of Guystelles and of Harues Henry de Bures lorde of Dysqueme we and of Haure Iohan lorde of Gonuseberge and of Ientoyse Arnolde of Iouste lorde of Estornay Philyppe lorde Daxalle Loyse of the Halse bastarde of Flaunders Gyrarde of Rasenhen lorde of Baserode Gaultier lorde of Halme Philyppe of Namure lorde of Eque IohnÌ„ Villayne lorde of saynt Iohans withoute the Chatcllayne of Ipre And Loyse lorde of Lambres knyght And we the borowe maysters and aldermen of Bruges and Ipre We Philyppe of Redehen Mountferant aldermen of MouÌ„tfranke and of Mountamare knight shyrife of terrouer of Franke for and in the name of the sayd Terrouer whiche hath no seale and the commons and counsayls of the townes of Malynes and Auuers Haue by the foresayd prayers and request for the welth of the peace And in wytnes of the trouthe and for more suretie of the sayd thynges and of eche of them we haue putte to the Seales of the sayd townes to this present treatie made at Tourney the eyghtene day of the moneth of Decembre in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fyue AFter the makyng of these present letters and charters of peace and engrosed and Sealed they were publysshed and the duke had the one parte of them and the towne of Gaunt the other parte Than FrauÌ„ces Atreman the coÌ„mons of the towne of GauÌ„t beyng there toke their leaue humbly of the duke and of the duchesse and also of the lady of BrabaÌ„t Thankyng her a thousande tymes of her ayde and helpe in makynge of their peace and offred them selfe euer to be redy to do her seruyce The good lady thanked theÌ„ right swetely and exhorted them euer to kepe fermely the peace and so to styrre the people that they neuer rebell agaynst their lorde and lady So than euery body departed and went home to their owne The duke and duches retourned to Lyle and they of Gaunt returned to their towne Whan Peter de Boise sawe the sure confyrmacion of the peace and that all the people of Gaunt had great ioye therof and were in mynde and wyll neuer to rebell more nor to haue warr he was therof greatly abasshed and had dyuers ymaginacyons Wheder he shulde abyde stylle in Gaunte for all thynges was pardoned by the dukes charter sealed with his seale or elles to departe in to Englande with sir Iohan Bourchier and with the Englysshe men who apparelled them to go And all thynges consydred he thought in hym selfe that he coude nat trust this peace nor to abyde in Gaunte And whan Fraunces Atreman sawe that he wolde nat abyde he sayd to him Peter what thynke ye to do Why do ye feare ye knowe well that by this treatie sealed by the duke that for any thing that is past there shall neuer chalenge be made to you for that Than Peter answered sayd yea in letters written lyeth nat all true ê‘dons Some pardoneth well by mouthe and gyueth writyng therof but yet the hatered remayneth styll in their corages As for me I am a man of the towne of Gaunt of small reputacion and of base lynage to my power I haue susteyned the rightes lyberties fraÌ„cheses of the towne Thynke you that wtin this two or thre yere the people wyll remeÌ„bre it I feare nay There be great lygnages in the towne of Gylbert Mathewes and his bretherne They wyll retourne and they were enemyes to my mayster Iohan Leon gladly I wolde neuer se theym nor the parentes of sir Gylbert Brute nor of sir Symon Becte who were by me slayne wherfore in this case I can nat be sure of my lyfe And as for you Fraunces Atreman wyll you abyde amonge suche a sorte of treatours who haue so falsely broken their othe and promyse to the kynge of Englande I swere to you truely ye wyll repente it for it wyll coste you youre lyfe I can nat saye quod Fraunces but I truste so well in this peace and in the duke and duchesses promyse that I wyll ieoparde to abyde THan Peter de Boyse made a request to the aldermen and counsayle of the towne Sayeng Fayre lordes to my power I haue truely serued the towne of GauÌ„t and haue ben in many an harde aduenture in that be halfe And for all the good seruyce that I haue done In the name of rewarde I aske none other thynge but that I maye be sauely conducted with sir Iohan Bourchier whome ye sende in to Englande This is all that I demaunde And they all aunswered it shulde be done And as for sir Roger Emeryne and Iaques Dardenbourcke by whome this treatie was firste moued they were ryght gladde of his departure and so were dyuers other notable persones in Gaunt suche as loued the peace So thus Peter de Boyse departed frome Gaunte in the company of sir Iohan Bourchier and toke with hym all the substauÌ„ce that he hadde He was well furnysshed of golde syluer and ieowelles And sir Iohan Delle dyde conducte them vnder the dukes salue conducte to the towne of Calais and than the gauntoise retourned Sir Iohan Bourchier and Peter de Boyse as soone as they might they wente in to Englande and came to the kyng and to his vncles and shewed them the dedes of theym of Gaunte The kynge made Peter de Boyse good chere and so dyde the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and gaue hym great thanke in that he was come to them and had abandoned theym of Gaunte to come in to Englande The kyng incontynent retaygned hym gaue hym an hundred marke sterlynge yerely to be payed out of the Staple of the wolles in London Thus Peter de Boyse abode styll in Englande and the good towne of Gaunt in peace And sir Roger Emeryn was made chefe alder man of the flete of Gaunt whiche was a good offyce and of great profyte whan the shyppes myght haue their course with marchaundyse And sir Iaques DardeÌ„bourc
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
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
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
approched nere to Englande the wynde rose fyerse and grete and at the entre of margate at Tames mouthe the wynde was soo grete that whether they wolde or not theyr shyppes departed soo that .xx. abode not togyder and some were dryuen perforce into Tames and there were taken by the englyssh men and specyally there was taken .iii. or iiii shyppes laden with parte of the closure of tymbre ordeyned to close in the felde and certayne maysters carpenters and artficers with them and so they were brought to London wherof the kynge had grete ioye and so hadde all the Londonners and .vii. of the constables shyppes were dryuen with the wynde with all the prouysyon and taken in zelande and the constable and other lordes with grete payne came to Sluse to the frensshe kynge OF the constables comynge and his company the frensshe kynge was ryght ioyfull and the kynge sayd to hym ¶ Syr constable when shall we departe certaynly we haue grete desyre to se Englande wherfore I praye you auaunce forth all our busynes in hasty maner and let vs entre in to the see shortely myne vncle the duke of Berre wyll be here with vs within these two dayes he is at Lysle Syr sayd the constable we can not departe tyll the wynde serue vs for the wynde is so sore agaynst vs and soo straynable that the maryners saye they haue herde none suche of a grete season before Constable sayd the kynge I haue ben in my vessell and it pleaseth me gretely the ayre of the see I byleue I shall be a good maryner for the see dyd me no hurte in the name of god sayd the constable it hath done hurte to me for syr we were in grete peryll comynge fro Brytayne hyder the kynge demaunded hywe soo Then the constable sayd by fortune of the see and grete wyndes that rose agaynst vs in the fronters of Englande and syr we haue lost of our shyppes and men wherof I am ryght sory yf I myght amende it but syr it is without remedy for this tyme. Thus the kynge and the Constable deuysed togyder in wordes and alwayes the tyme passed and the wynter approched and the lordes laye there in grete colde and peryll THe flemynges gladly wolde not haue hadde them retourne agayne thrughe theyr countrey and they sayd one to another why the deuyll dothe not the frensshe kynge passe ouer in to Englande why taryeth he so longe in this countrey are we not in pouertye ynoughe thoughe the frensshe men make vs no poorer we thynke they wyll not passe in to Englande this yere for the royalme of Englande is not so easy to be wonne englysshmeÌ„ be not of the condycyon of frensshemen what wyl they do in Englande when the englysshmeÌ„ were in Fraunce ouer rode theyr countreys theÌ„ they hyd themselfe in theyr fortresses fled before them as the larke dothe before the hawke and in the towne of Bruges where as moost resorte was of the frensshmen they murmured were redy for waggyng of a rysshe to make debate and stryfe and al began by the frensshe lakeys who had beten and hurte some of the flemynges so that yf the honest men of the towne had not armed them and drawen in to the market place to appease the ryot there had not a lorde knyght nor squyer of Fraunce haue scaped vnslayne for the comon people of the towne bare a grudge in theyr myndes for the batayle of Rosebeque where theyr faders brâ—ther ne and frendes were slayne by the frensshmen god sent thyder at that tyme for the frensshmen the lorde of Guystell who as then was at Bruges when he vnderstode howe the comons wente to harneys he fered all sholde be lost without remedy howbeit he lepte on his hors with v. or .vi. with hym and rode into the stretes as he met with ony armed goynge to the marget place warde he sayd to them syrs whether goo you wyll you lose yourselfe haue ye not had warre youghe so that ye haue moche a do to gete your lyuynge retourne in to your houses there is nothynge to do ye may put yourselfe and your towne in suche ieoperdy that all shall be lost do you not knowe how the frenssh kynge and all his puyssaunce and armye is here in this countrey soo with fayre wordes he appeased theym and caused theym to retourne in to theyr houses whiche hadde not so lyghtly haue ben done yf he had not ben there the frensshmen there were in suche fere that they closed themselfe in theyr lodgynges there to abyde theyr aduenture ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berre Ca. lix SO fynally the duke of Berre came to Sluse to the kynge and the kynge sayd to hym a fayre vncle how gretely I haue desyred to se you why haue you taryed so long we had ben as nowe in Englande and fought with our enemyes if ye had ben come the duke began to smyle and to exscuse hymselfe and shewed not incontynent what laye in his harte fyrst he thought he wolde se what prouysyon and ordenaunce was made and to se the nauey that was named so goodly Soo they were there a .vii. dayes that euery daye it was sayd we shall departe to morowe howbeit surely the wynde was soo contrary that in no wyse they coulde sayle in to Englande wynter was well on it was past saynt Andrewes tyde it was no good season for so many noble men to take the see and many of theyr shyppes were redy crossed in a redynes to departe some were in theyr shyppes to be the formost sholde passe as syr Robert and syr Phylyp Artoys syr Henry of bare syr Peter of Nauare and dyuers other Then the kynges couÌ„tayle drewe togyder to se howe they sholde perceyuer in theyr iourney but the duke of Berre brake all and shewed so many reasons reasonable that suche as had moost desyre to goo were gretely dyscouraged he sayd it was a grete foly to counsayle the frensshe kynge who in a maner was but a chylde to take the see in that season of the yere and to go fyght with suche people as we knowe not theyr condycyon nor the way thyder and as it is sayd it is an euyll couÌ„trey to make warre in for thoughe we were al there a lande yet they wolde not fyght with vs but when they lyst and we dare not then leue our prouysyon behynde vs for yf we do it wyl be lost and they that wyl make suche a voyage so ferre of hath nede to begyn in the harte of the yere and not in wynter call all the maryners togyder and loke yf they wyl not saye that my wordes be good for thoughe we be as nowe a thousande and .v. hundred shyppes yet or we come there we shal not be .iii. hundred then be holde what peryll we sholde put ourselfe in I saye it not bycause I wolde haue the
yf I may gete them they shall be hanged other payment gete they none of me but all the dyffyculte is how to gete them out of theyr garyson syr sayd syr Raymon that shall be done ryght well let them alone Well sayd the kynge doo as ye thynke best I wyll medle no more therin but that I wolde they were delyuered out of the countrey then on a day syr Raymon gathered a company togyder of men of armes a .v. hundred speres secretly and made a squyer of Gascoyne capytayne a valyaunt man of armes called Nandon Seghen and layde them in a busshment within a lytell myle of Dulcen sayd to them syrs when they of the garyson yssue out do so that they may all be taken or slayne that the countrey maye be clene ryd of them Then syr Raymon sente to them of Dulcen that they sholde lepe on theyr horses and yssue out and rynne before the towne of Perpyghnen to put the vyllaynes therof in fere elles they wolde not obey nor gyue nothynge They of Dulcen were ryght ioyfull of these tydynges thynkynge that all had ben trouth and so armed them the same day that the busshment was layde for them so departed fro the garyson and rode towarde Perpyghnen and so came to the barryers and made theyr musters and in theyr retournynge thynknge to haue passed surely in peas when they were in the myddes of the way they were sodaynly encountred by Nandon Seghnen his company to the nombre of .v. C. speres so dasshed in amonge them then they saw wel howe they were dysceyued and trapped and then they drewe togyder and fought as longe as they myght endure whiche was not longe for there were many of them were euyll armed and so shortely they were dyscomfyted There was slyne Geffray chastelyer Hauge desorge Guyot Moresque IohnÌ„ de Guenlant many other there was taken Peter of Mountfawcon Amlardan of saynt Iust a .xl. other and brought prysoners to Perpyghnen as they passed thrughe the stretes they of the towne yssued out of theyr houses halowed after them as thoughe they had ben wolues and so they were set in prysones The same season the duke of Berre was come to Carcassone on the fronters of Aragon he came fro Auygnyon fro the pope and there he herde howe they of Dulcen were slayne and taken then he wrote to the kynge of Aragon and to his cosyne yosant of Bare desyrynge them to sende Peter of Mountfawcon and his company who incontynent were delyuered and sente to the duke of Berre that grace that duke dyd to them or elles they had all dyed ¶ Howe a batayle of armes was done at Burdeaus before the lene shall there dyuers other Ca. lxii THe same season there was at Burdeaus a feate of armes done before the seneshall syr IohnÌ„ Harpedon other bytwene the lorde of Rochfoucaulte a frensshmaÌ„ sone to the captall of Buze 〈◊〉 and syr wyllyam of Mountferant an Englysshman to rynne .iii. courses with .iii. speres .iii. strokes with a sworde .iii. with a dagger and .iii. with an axe This dede of armes was done before the lordes and ladyes of the countrey then beynge at Burdeaus The erle of Foys sente thyder knyghtes of his house to serue to counsayle the lorde of Rochfoucaulte sone to his cosyn germayne and also he sent to hym good hoâ—â— harneys spere heedes daggers â–ª wordes aâ—es Howbeit he was ryght wel purueyed of them before on a day these .ii. knyghtes armed them wel accompanyed with grete cheualry on eyther partye The lorde of rochfoncaulte has in his company a CC. knyghtes and squyers all of his lygâ—age and syr wyllyam of Mountferant had as many or mo with hym was the lorde of Rohen the lorde of 〈…〉 lorde Duras the lorde of Curton 〈…〉 of Languras the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Mountcroy at in Pyergourt and all 〈◊〉 of his lyguage ¶ Bycause this feate of 〈◊〉 sholde be done bytwene suche .ii. noble 〈…〉 knyghtes many came thyder 〈◊〉 them farre nere when these two knyghtes were mountedon theyr horses with theyr 〈◊〉 and targes redy apparelled theyr speres were 〈◊〉 them ranne togyder fyersly 〈…〉 eche other on theyr helmes that the 〈…〉 and theyr helmes stryken of theyr heedes in to the felde and so passed forth theyr course bare heeded excepte theyr coyues TheÌ„ all the lordes and ladyes sayd and euery man to other howe they hadde nobly encountred at theyr fyrst metynge then theyr helmes were newe set on and fastened and so they ranne valyauntly theyr .ii. course and also the .iii. breuely al theyr feates were nobly accomplysshed to the grete pleasure of all the lordes and ladyes and other regarders and euery man sayd howe eche of them hadde valyauntly acheued theyr feates and the seneshall of Burdeaus syr IohnÌ„ Harpedon gaue the same daye a supper to them and to al the lordes and ladyes that were there presente And the nexte daye euery man wente to theyr owne herytages the lorde of Rochfoncaulte prepayred hymselfe to go in to Castell for the kynge IohnÌ„ there had sente for hym and the season drewe nere syr wyllyam of Mountferant ordeyned to go in to Portyn gale for the kynge there had also sent for hym IN suche a noble hystory as this is whiche I syr IohnÌ„ Froysart haue pursued hytherto and that god hath sent me that grace to lyue so longe to se so many thynges as I haue done then it were noo reason that I sholde forgete out ony thynge that I haue knowen to be done and bycause that by the warres of Brytayne the .ii. sones of Charles of bloys who of longe season called hymselfe duke of Bretayne by maryage of the lady Iahan of Bretayne who ought to haue ben ryghtful enherytour of Bretayne as it hath ben shewed before in this hystory whose sones were in Englande in hostage for theyr fader as yet I haue made no mencyon of them where they became nor how they came out of pryson and daunger of the kynge of Englande wherin theyr fader the lorde Charles of Bloys had lefte them ye knowe wel and it hath ben wryten here before howe kynge Edwarde of englande to make his warre of frauÌ„ce the fayrer and stronger he alyed hymselfe with the erle of Montforde and alwayes dyd counsayle and ayde hym to his power and dyd soo moche that the erle of Monforde came to his entente and was duke of Bretayne otherwyse he coulde neuer haue come therto for in Bretayne the lorde Charles of Bloys of .vii. he had euer .v. on his party it hath ben shewed before howe in the yere of our lorde a M.CCC and xlvii there was a grete batayle in Bretayne before the Ree doryent where the countesse of Mountfordes party as syr IohnÌ„ of Harcell and other dyscomfyted syr Charles of Bloys and there he was taken prysoner led in to englande where he had good chere for the quene of
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
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
Lancastre knew that the kynge came thyder he toke his hors and many other lordes and yssued out of Besances and met the kynge and the ladyes there the kynge and the duke made grete chere togyder and so entred togyder in to the towne theyr lodgynge appoynted as it aperteyned accordynge to the maner of the countrey and that was not so easye nor large as thoughe they had ben at Parys ABoute a .iii. dayes after that the kynge of Portyngale was come to Besances thyder came syr Reynolde du Roy well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers he hadde a vi score horses and they were all well lodged for the duke of Lancaste hadde prepayred redy theyr lodgynges Then the nexte daye syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Raynolde Roy were armed and mounted on theyr horses soo came to a fayre place redy sanâ—ed where they sholde doo theyr armes and scafoldes redy made for the kynge for the ladyes for the duke other lordes of englande for they were all come thyder to se the dedes of armes of these .ii. knyghtes they came in to the felde as well appoynted as coulde be deuysed there was brought in theyr speres theyr axes and theyr swordes and well horsed and so eche of them a good dystaunce fro other made theyr tournes fryskes fresshly for they knewe well they were regarded euery thynge was ordeyned at theyr desyre and all theyr armes graunted excepte the vtteraunce howbeit no man knewe what sholde fal of theyr bodyes for syth they were thyder come they must nedes mete at the poynte of theyr speres and after that with theyr swordes and then with axes daggers loo what daunger they were in to the entente to exhaulte theyr honoure for theyr lyues lay but in the mysaduenture of one stroke thus they ranne togyder and met as euen as thoughe they hadde rynne by a lyne and strake eche other in the vysoure of theyr helmes so that syr Raynolde du Roy brake his spere in .iiii. peces and the sheuers flewe a grete hyght in to the ayre whiche course was gretely praysed syr IohnÌ„ Holande strake syr Raynolde in lykewyse in the vysoure but the stroke was of no force I shall shewe you why syr Raynolde had the vysoure of his helme made at auauÌ„tage for it was tyed but with a small lase the lase â—rake with yâ— stroke the helme flewe of his heed so that the knyght was bare heeded and so passed forth theyr course and syr IohnÌ„ dyscharged and bare his staffe fresshely then euery man sayd it was a goodly course THen these knyghtes retourned to theyr owne places and syr Raynolde was helmed agayne and had a newe spere and so they ranne togyder agayne they were bothe wel horsed and coulde well guyde theÌ„ they strake eche other on the helmes so that the fyer flewe out the speres brake not but syr raynoldes helme agayne flewe of his heed A sayd the Englysshmen the frenssheman hath auauntage Why is not his helme as fast bocled as syr IohnÌ„ of Holandes is we thynke he dothe wronge let hym set his helme in lyke case as his companyon hathe done his holde your peas syrs sayd the duke of Lancastre let them dele in armes let euery maÌ„ take his aduauntage as he thynketh best yf syr IohnÌ„ Holande thynke that the other knyght haue aduauntage let hym set on his helme in lyke maner but as for me sayd the duke and I were in lyke armes as these .ii. knyghtes be I wolde haue my helme as fast bocled as I coulde and I thynke here be many of the same oppynyon then the englysshe men spake no moo wordes and the ladyes and damoyselles sayd howe the knyghtes had iusted well and goodly and the kynge of Portyngale sayd the same and spake to syr IohnÌ„ Ferant and sayd syr IohnÌ„ in our countrey knyghtes iust not in this goodly maner syr sayd he these knyghtes do iust wel and syr I haue sene or this the frensshmen iust before the kynge your broder when we were at Elyres agaynst the kynge of Castell lyke iustes I sawe there bytwene syr wyllyam Wyndsore and another frensshe knyght but theyr helmes were faster tyed then this knyghtes helme is then the kynge regarded agayne the two knyghtes to se theyr thyrde course THus they ranne togyder the thyrde course and regarded eche other wysely to take theyr aduauntage they myght well so doo for theyr horses serued them at theyr wysshyng and so they strake eche other agayne on the helme in suche wyse that theyr eyen trimbled in theyr heedes and theyr staâ—es brake and agayne syr Raynoldes helme flewe of his heed and so eche other passed forth theyr course and demeaned themselfe fresshly so that euery man sayd howe they had nobly iusted but the englysshmen blamed gretely syr Raynolde du Roy in that his helme was no faster set on his heed but the duke of Lancastre blamed hym nothyng but sayd I thynke hym wyse that can in feates of armes seke his lawfull aduauntage it semeth well that syr Raynolde is not to lerne to iust he knoweth more therin then syr IohnÌ„ doth thoughe he haue borne hymselfe ryght well So thus after theyr courses with theyr speres they toke theyr axes and dyd theyr armes with them and gaue eche other .iii. grete strokes on theyr helmes then they fought with theyr swordes and after with theyr daggers when all was done there was none of them hurte The frensshmen brought syr Raynolde to his lodgynge and the Englysshmen syr IohnÌ„ Holande to his the same day the duke of Lancastre made a dyner to all the frensshmen in his lodgynge and the duches set at the table by the duke and syr Raynolde du Roy bynethe her after dyner they wente in to a counsayle chambre and the duches toke syr Raynolde by the hande and made hym to entre as sone as herselfe and there she comoned with hym and other of the frensshe knyghtes tyll it was tyme to call for drynke then the duches sayd to the frensshe knyghtes syrs I haue meruayle of you that ye do susteyne the wronge oppynyon of a bastarde for ye knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that Henry that was somtyme called kynge of Castel was a bastarde therfore what iust cause haue you to susteyne that quarell and ayde to your power to dysheryte the ryght ayre of Castell for I knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that I and my syster were doughters by lawfull maryage to kyng Peter Wherfore god knoweth what ryght we haue to the royalme of Castell the good lady wheÌ„ she spake of her fader she wepte then syr Raynolde du Roy made his obeysaunce and sayd Madame we knowe ryght well that all is of trouth that ye haue sayd howbeit the kynge our mayster is of the contrary oppynyon agaynst you and we be his subiectes and must make warre at his pleasure and go where as he wyl sende vs We maye not say nay
Warwykeshyre and the lande of the erle of Salysbury they agreed soner then they of ferther countreys as they of the north and marches of Wales and of Cornewall al these rebelled and sayd We haue not sene none of our enemyes come in to this countrey why sholde we be greued and haue done no fawte yes yes sayd some let the bysshop of yorke be spoken withall and the kynges counsayle and the duke of Irelande who hathe .lx. thousande frankes of the constable of fraunce for the redempcyon of Iohan of Bretayne this money ought to be tourned to the comon profyte of all Englande ye and speke with syr Symon Burle Syr Wyllyam Helmen Syr Thomas Branbe Syr Robert Tryuylyen and syr Iohan Beauchampe who haue gouerned the kynge and the royalme yf they make a good accompte of that they haue receyued and delyuer it the comons shall sytte in rest and euery thynge payde as it ought to be ¶ When these wordes came abrode and to the herynge of the kynges vncles they were ryght gladde therof for that made well for them for al those before named were agaynste them Nor they coulde bere noo rule in the courte for them Wherfore they ayded the people in theyr oppynyons and sayd These good men that thus speketh are well counsayled in that they desyre to haue accompte and wyll not paye ony more money For surely outher in the kynges treasure or elles in theyr purses that gouerne hym there must nedes be grete treasure Thus by lytell and lytell multyplyed these wordes and the people beganne to waxe bolde to deny to paye ony more money by reason that they sawe the kynges vncles of theyr accorde and susteyned them ¶ And the archebysshop of Cauntorbury the erle of Salysbury the erle of Northumbrelande and dyuers other lordes of Englande put of this taxe for that tyme and deferred theyr counsayle to Myghelmasse after at whiche tyme they promysed to retourne agayne but the knyghtes and squyers suche as had thought to haue had money for the arrerages of theyr wages hadde noo thynge Wherfore they were in dyspleasure with the kynge and his counsayle They were apeased as well as myght be euery man departed the kynge toke no leue of his vncles nor they of hym THen the kynge was counsayled to drawe in to the marches of Wales and there to tary tyll he herde other tydynges and soo he was contente to doo and departed fro London without leue takynge of ony man and toke with hym all his counsayle excepte the archebysshop of yorke who wente backe in to his â—â—ne countrey whiche was happy for hym for I thynke yf he hadde ben with the other he sholde haue ben serued as they were as ye shall here after But it is requysyte that I speke as well of Fraunce as of Englande for the matter requyreth it ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce and dyuers other lordes and squyers of the royalme apparelled grete prouysyons to go in to Englande to wynne townes and castelles Ca. lxxxiii ANd when season of somer was come and the ioly moneth of Maye in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC foure score and .vii. In the same season that the duke of Lancastre was in Galyce and conquered there and that the kynge of Portyngale with grete puyssaunce rode abrode in Castell without ony withstandynge Thenne was it ordeyned in Fraunce as ye haue herde before howe the constable of Fraunce with one army and the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and syr Iohan of Vyen with another armye the one at Lentrygnyer in Bretayne and the other at Harflewe in Normandy sholde the same season make a voyage in to englande with a .vi. thousande men of armes and two thousande crosse bowes and .vi. thousande other men of warre and it was ordeyned that none sholde passe the see to goo in to Englande without he were well armed and prouysyon of vytayles for the space of thre monethes with other prouysyon of hay ootes for theyr horses a daye was prefyxed amonge the capytaynes when they sholde departe and were determyned to lande in englande in two hauens at Douer and at Orwell thus the daye approched of theyr departure At Lentrygnyer prouysyon was made and put in to the shyppes for them that sholde passe from thens and in lyke wyse was done at Harflewe and euery man of war was payde theyr wages for .xv. dayes This iourney was soo farre forwarde that it was thought it coulde not haue ben broken ¶ Nor also it brake not by noo cause of the capytaynes that were ordeyned to goo in that voyage But it brake by another incydent and by a meruayllous matter that fell in Bretayne wherwith the Frensshe kynge and his counsayle were soore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it wherfore it behoued them wysely to dyssymule the matter for it was no tyme then to remedy it ¶ Also other tydynges came vnto the Frensshe kynge out of the partyes of Almayne as I shall shewe you hereafter when tyme and place shall requyre it But fyrst we wyll speke of the matters of Bretayne before them of Almayne for they of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed thoughe other cost more YF I sholde saye that suche matters fell in that season and not open clerely the mater whiche was grete peryllous and horryble it myght be a cronycle but nâ—o hystory I myght let it ouerpasse yf I lyst but I wyll not doo soo I shall declare the case syth god hathe gyuen me the knowledge therof and tyme and leysure to cronycle the matter at lengthe ¶ ye haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde named duke of Bretayne and surely so he was by conquest and not by ryght lyne howbeit alwayes he maynteyned the warre and oppynyon of the kynge of Englande and of his chydren agaynst the frensshe kynge Also he had good cause soo to doo on his partye for without the ayde of englande he hadde not atteyned as he dyd nother before Alroy nor in other places Also ye haue herde here before howe the duke of Bretayne coulde not haue his entente of all the nobles of his countrey nor of all the good townes specyally of syr Bertram of Clesquy as longe as he lyued nor of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce nor of the lordes de la Vale and of Beawmanoyre nor the lorde of Rase of Dygnant the vycount of Rohan nor of the lorde of Rochforde for whereas these lordes enclyned nyghe all Bretayne folowed They were contente to take parte with theyr lorde the duke agaynst all maner of men excepte agaynst the crowne of Fraunce And surely I can not se nor ymagyne by what waye but that the Bretons pryncypally regarded euer the honoure of Fraunce it maye well appere by that that is wrytten here before in this hystory I saye not this by noo corrupcyon nor fauoure that I haue to the erle Guy of Bloys who hath
suche answere that ye shall be contented Sir ye saye well quod they it suffyceth vs. Than they departed and wente to their lodgynges At nyght they were desyred to dyne the nexte daye with the duke So the nexte daye they came to the duke and were well receyued and so wasshed and went to dyner satte downe Firste the bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate and than the duke than the admyrall of Fraunce and thanne sir Iohan de Beulle They hadde a great dyner and were well serued and after dyner they entred in to a counsayle chambre and there they talked of dyuers maters and herde mynstrelsy These lordes of Fraunce thought surely to haue hadde an answere but they hadde none Than wyne and spyces were brought in and so made collasyon and than toke their leaue and departed to their lodgynge The nexte daye they were apoynted to come to the duke and so they dyde and the duke receyued them swetely and at the laste sayd Sirr I knowe well ye looke to be aunswered for by the wordes that I haue herde you saye ye are charged by the kyng and his vncles to bring them an answere Wherfore I say to you that I haue done nothynge to sir Olyuer of Clesquyne wherof I shulde repente me sauynge of one thynge and that is That he hadde so good a markette as to escape a lyue And in that I saued his lyfe was for the loue of his offyce and nat for his persone For he hath done me soo many displeasures that I ought to hate hym deedly And sauynge the displeasure of the kyng and of his vncles and his coūsayle For all the takynge of sir Olyuer I haue nat therby broken their voyage by the see I wyll well excuse my selfe therin for I thought non yuell the daye that I toke hym a man ought to take his ennemy whersoeuer he fynde hym And if he were deed I wolde thynke the Realme of Fraunce to be as well ruled or better than it is by his counsayle And as for his castelles that I holde the whiche he hath delyuered me I am in possessyon of them and so wyll be withoute the puyssaunce of a kynge take them fro me And as for rendringe of his money I aunswere I haue had so moche to do in tyme paste by the meanes of this sir Olyuer of Clysquyn that I ranne in dette gretlye therby and nowe I haue payde them that I was bounde vnto by reason of this dette This was the answere that the duke of Bretaygne made to the kynges ambassadours Than they layde forthe other reasons to enduce the duke to some reasonable waye but all his answeres tourned euer to one conclusyon And whan they sawe none other waye they toke their leaues to departe and the duke gaue them leaue Than̄e they retourned and dyd so moch by their iourneys that they came to Parys to the house of Beautie besyde Wynsentes There was the kyng the quene and thyder came the duke of Berrey and the duke of Bourgoyne hauyng great desyre to knowe what answere the duke of Bretaygne haddemade THe aunswere ye haue herde here before I nede nat to shewe it agayne but the kyng and his counsayle were nat content with the duke of Bretaygne that his ambassadours hadde made no better exployte and they sayde howe the duke was a proude man and a presumptuous and that the mater shulde nat so reste in peace seynge the matter so preiudyciall for the Crowne of Fraunce And the entensyon of the kyng and his counsayle was to make warre agaynste the duke of Bretayne and the duke loked for nothynge elles For he sawe and knewe well howe he had greatly displeased the kyng and his counsell but he hated so mortally the constable that it toke fro hym the good order of reason for he repented hym sore that he had nat putte hym to dethe whan he hadde hym in his daunger Thus the mater contynued a longe season and the duke of Bretayne laye at Wannes and lytell and lytell rode ouer his countrey for he freared greatly embusshmentes He kepte styll in loue and fauour his cyties and good townes and made secrete treaties with the Englysshmen and made his castelles and forteresses to be as well kepte as thoughe he had had opyn warre and was in many imaginacions on the dede he had done Somtyme he wolde say he wolde he had nat taken the constable howe be it he sayd euer to stoppe mennes mouthes that sir Olyuer of Clesquyn had sore dishleased hym so that many a man sayd that elles he wolde neuer haue done it therby he brought his coūtre in feare for it is but a small signorie if a prince be nat feared and douted of his menne for and the worste fall he maye haue peace whan he lyst ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretaygne and let vs somwhat speke of the busynesse that was in the realme of Englāde whiche was in the same season horryble and marueylous ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one accorde and aliaūce agaynst the kyng and his counsaile and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii YE haue herde here before howe the kyng of Englandes vncles the duke of yorke the duke of Gloucestre with therle of Salisbury and the erle of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Notyngham and the archebysshoppe of Caūterbury All these were of one alyaunce and accorde agaynst the kynge and his counsayle for these lordes and other were nat content with the kynges counsayle and sayd among them selfe This duke of Irelande dothe with the kynge what he lyste and with all the realme The kyng wyll nat be counsayled but by vnhappy men and of base lynage and taketh no regarde to the great lordes of his realme As longe as he hath suche counsayle about hym the busynesse of Englande can nat do well for a realme can nat be well gouerned nor a kynge well counsayled by suche vngracious people It is sene a poore man moūted in to gret estate and in fauoure with his mayster often tymes corrupteth distroyeth the people and the realme A man of base lynage canne nat knowe what parteyneth to honoure their desyre is euer to enryche and to haue all thēselfe lyke an Otter in the water whiche coueteth to haue all that he fyndeth Who hath any profyte by that the duke of Irelande is so great with the kyng we knowe full well fro whense he came yet we se that all the realme is ruled by hym and nat by the kynges vncles nor by none of his blode This ought nat to be suffred We knowe well ynoughe that the Erle of Oxenforde had neuer the grace to do any valyaunt dede in this realme his honour wysedome counsayle or gentylnesse is ryght well knowen and that was well knowen ones by sir Iohan Chandos in
but right iustyce Than a seuyn of them all with one voyce answered and sayde Right redouted souerayne sayng your gracyous displeasure as for iustyce in your realme is right feble your grace knoweth nat all nor canne nat knowe your grace nouther demaundeth for it nor enquereth therfore and suche as be of your couÌ„sayle forbere to shewe it you bycause of their owne profyte For sir it is no iustyce to cutte of heedes handes and fete suche maner of punysshmentes be nat laudable But sir good iustice is to kepe your people in ryght and to sette suche wayes and order as they myght lyue in peace that they shulde haue none occasyon to grudge or to make any commosyon And sir we saye that ye sette vs to longe a daye as to Mighelmas sir we may be neuer so well eased as nowe Wherfore sir we saye all by one assente that we wyll haue accompte and that shortely of them that hath gouerned your realme sythe your Coronacyon And we wyll knowe Where youre Reuenewes is become with all the taxes tayles and subsydies this nyne yeres paste and wheron they haue been bestowed If suche as are your treasourers make a good accompte or nere thervnto we shall be ryght ioyouse and suffre them to gouerne styll And if they can nat acquyte them selfe therin trewly they shal be refourmed by youre deputyes establysshed to that purpose as my lordes your vncles other With those wordes the kynge behelde his vncles helde his peace to se what they wolde saye Than sir Thomas duke of Gloucester sayde Sir in the request and prayer of these good people the commons of your realme I se nothynge therin but ryght and reasone Sir quod the duke of yorke it is of trouthe and so sayde all the other prelates and barons that were there present Than the duke of Gloucester sayde agayne Sir it is but reason that ye knowe where your good is become The kyng sawe well howe they were all of one accorde and sawe howe this chafe Marmosettes durst speke no worde for there were to many gret men agaynst them Well quod the kyng I am content Lette them be rydde awaye for sommer season cometh on and huntynge tyme whervnto we wyll nowe entende Than the kynge sayd to the people Sirs wolde ye haue this mater shortely dispatched yea sir quod they and that humbly we beseche your grace And also we beseche all my lordes here and specyally my lordes your vncles to be there at We are content quod they for the apeysyng of all parties as well for the kynge as for the Realme for oure parte lyeth therin Than they sayde agayne We desyre also the reuerende father in god the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshoppe of Lyncolne and the bysshoppe of Wynchester to be there They aunswered and sayde they were content so to be Than agayn they desyred all other lordes to be there that were there present as the erle of Salisbury and the Erle of Northumberlande sir Reynolde Cobham sir Guy Brian sir IohnÌ„ Felton sir Mathewe Gourney and moreouer they sayd they wolde ordayne that of euery good cytie and towne in Englande there shulde be a thre or four notable persons and they shulde determyne for all the hole coÌ„montie of Englande Than this mater was determyned and to assemble the vtas of saint George at Westmynster And there all the treasourers collectours and offycers of the kynges to be there and to make there accomptes before these sayd lordes The kyng was content therwith and was brought to it by fayrenesse and nat byfore by the desyre of his vncles and other lordes It semed to hym behouable to knowe where his treasoure was become Thus amiably euery man deê‘ted fro Wyndsore and the lordes went to London the treasourers and other offycers were sende for throughout the realme to come with their full accomptes on payne of dishonourynge losse of all that they had and lyfe ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the officers appered in the presence of the kynges vncles commens of EnglaÌ„de and howe sir Simon Burle was prisoner iÌ„ the toure of London and howe sir Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii THe day prefixed came that all ê‘tes apered at westmynster suche as shulde make their accomptes apered before the kynges vncles and suche other prelates and lordes with other as were assigned to here theÌ„ This accompte endured more than a moneth and some there were that made their accomptes nother good nor honourable suche were punisshed bothe by their bodyes and by their goodes sir Symon Burle was cast in arerage of .ii. C. and l. M. frankes bycause he was one of the gouernours in the kynges youthe And he was demaunded where this good was bestowed he excused hym selfe by the bysshop of yorke sir Wylliam Neuell sayeng howe he dyde nothyng but by their counsayle and by the kynges chamberleyns ser Robert Tryuilyen sir Robert Beauchampe sir Iohn Salisbury sir Nycholas Braule sir Peter Goufer and other And whan they were demauÌ„ded therof before the counsaile they denyed the mater layd all the faute in hym And the duke of Irelande sayd to hym priuely bytwene them two Sir Symon I vnderstande ye shal be arested and sette in prison and holde there tyll ye haue payed the soÌ„me that is demaunded nothyng shal be abated Go your waye whether soeuer they sende you I shall rightwell make your peace thoughe they had all sworne the contrary I ought to receyue of the constable of FrauÌ„ce threscore M. frankes for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to saynt Charles of Bloys the whiche soÌ„me ye knowe well is owyng to me I shall present the counsayle therwith at this tyme. And fynally the kyng is our soueraigne lorde he shall pardon and forgyue it you clerely for the profet ought to be his and no mannes els Syr ê™ sir Symon Burle if I thought nat that ye shulde helpe agaynst the kynge and to beare out my dedes I wolde departe out of Englande and go in to Almayne and to the kyng of Beame for thyder I coulde be welcome and so let the mater rynne a season tyll the worlde be better apeased Than the duke sayde I shall neuer fayle you we are companyons and all of one sect ye shall take day to pay their demauÌ„de I knowe well ye maye pay and ye lyste in redy money more than a hundred thousande frankes ye nede nat feare the dethe ye shall nat be brought to that poynte ye shall se the mater otherwise chaunge before the feast of saynt Michell whan I haue the kyng ones at my wyll wherof I ame sure For all that he dothe now at this tyme is by force and agaynst his wyll We muste apease these cursed londoners and lay downe this slaunder brute that is nowe raysed agaynst vs and ours SIr Symon Burle had a lytell truste on the wordes of the duke of Irelande and so came before the lordes
of Englande dukes erles barons and counsayle of the good townes Than it was sayde to hym Sir Symon ye haue alwayes ben a notable knight in the realme of EnglaÌ„de and ye were well beloued with my lorde the prince And ye and the duke of Irelande haue had in a maner the gouernynge of the kyng We haue sene all your maters and well examyned them the whiche be nother good nor faire which gretly displeaseth vs for your owne sake It is clerely determynyd by the hole generall counsayle that ye must go to prison in to the towre of London there to remayne tyll ye haue brought into this chambre the money of the kynges and of the realmes that ye haue gathered the whiche as it apereth by the treasourers rolles draweth to the some of two hundred and fyfty thousande frankes Nowe loke what ye wyll say Than syr Symon was halfe discomforted and said Sirs I shall with a good wyll And also it behoueth me so to do to fulfyll yoâ— coÌ„maundement I shall go where as ye commaunde me But my lordes I require you let me haue a clerke assigned to me that he maye write all suche expenses as I haue layde oute in tyme past in Almayne in Beame in procurynge the kinges maryage And if there be any reast I beseche you let me haue the kynges grace and yours that I may haue reasonable dayes to pay it Sir quod the lordes we are content Thus syr Symon Burle was in prison in the towre of London THan the constable spake of ser Willyam Helmon and of sir Thomas Tryuet for they were nat greatly in the fauour of some of the barones of Englande nor of the commontie of the realme for the vyage that they made in to Flaunders For it was sayd that neuer Englysshmen made so shamefull a vyage The bysshoppe of Norwyche and sir Hughe Caurell that was as than capitayne of Calais were excused layde to the others charge howe they hadde taken money for the gyueng vp of Burbourcke and Grauelyng Some sayd that that dede was trayson they were sent for and sir Wylliam Helmon came but sir Thomas Tryuer was excused I shall shewe you howe ¶ The same weke that he was sente for beyng in his owne house in the Northe ê‘te he rode out into the feldes vpon a yonge horse that he hadde and spurred hym so that the horse ranne awaye with hym ouer busshes and hedges and at laste fell in a dyke and brake his necke and so sir Thomas Triuet dyed whiche was great doÌ„mage and his dethe was greatlye complayned with many good menne of the realme yet for all that his heyres were fayne to paye a certayne somme of Floreyns to the Counsayle to the kynges behoue as they sayde But the chiefe encytyng of those maters came by the kynges vncles and by the generall counsayle of the couÌ„trey as it appered after in Englande For of trouthe thoughe the duke of Gloucestre was the yongest brother in age yet he was moost auncyent in the busynesse of the realme for he drewe to that opinyon that moost of the noble menne and prelates and the commons helde Whan that sir ThemÌ„s Tryuettes coÌ„posicion was made after his dethe by the maner as ye haue herde here before therby the penauÌ„ce of sir Wylliam Helmon was greatly asswaged He entred with the counsayle and by the meanes of the valyantnesse of his body and the good seruyce that he had done dyuers tymes for Englande as well in Bourdeloyes as in Guyen and in Picardye where he was alwayes proued a good knight There was nothynge layde to his reproche but takynge of the money for the delyuerauÌ„ce of Burborcke and Grauelynge Than he excused hymselfe with fayre and swete wordes and made dyuers reasonable reasons sayd My lordes who so euer were in lyke case as we were in that tyme in the garyson of Bourburke I thynke wolde do as we dyd I haue herde sir IohnÌ„ Chandos and sir Gaultier of Manny say dyuers tymes who were right wyse and of gret valure Howe that a man ought of two or iii. wayes chose the best waye and wherby most to endomage his enemyes And thus sir Thomas Tryuet and I beyng in the garysons of Bourburke and Grauelyng and sawe howe we were enclosed on all parties and no conforte aperyng to vs from any parte And parceyued well howe we coulde nat endure many assautes for they that laye about vs were as chosen men of armes as euer I sawe or I trowe any other Englysshemenne For as I knewe iustely by the reporte of our harraude they were at leest a syxtene thousande men of armes knyghtes and squyers and a .xl. thousande of other And we were nat paste a thre hundred speares and as many archers And also our garysone was of suche cyrcuyte that we coude nat enteÌ„de on euery place And that we well ê‘ceyued by an assaut that was made vs on a daye For whyle we were at oure defence on the one parte they caste in fyre on the other parte wherby we were gretly abasshed and that our ennemyes right well parceyued And therfore to saye the trouthe the Frenche kyng and his counsaile wrought by great geÌ„tylnesse seyng the case that we were in to gyue vs trewse For if they had gyuen vs another assaute the nexte daye as they were ordayned to do I thynke they hadde taken vs at their pleasure yet for all this they courtesly treated with vs by the meanes of the duke of Bretayne who tooke great payne in that mater And where as we shulde haue gyuen theym money for our raunsommes if we hadde ben taken as it was lykely they gaue vs money wherby we dyde them dommage and it was in them to haue endomaged vs. We thought we conquered greatly on them whan we had of their money and departed oure selfe safe and withoute trouble and hadde with vs all that we had won in all the warre tyme on the fronters of FlauÌ„ders And my lordes besyde that to pourge me of all blame if there be any ê‘sone in Englande or without knight or Esquyer Except the ê‘sons of my lordes the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester that wyll saye and abyde therby that I haue done any vntrouthe to the kynge my naturall lorde or accuse me of any trayson I am here redye to receyue his gauge and to putte my body in aduenture by dedes of armes to proue the coÌ„trarye as the Iudge therto assigned shall ordayne These wordes and suche other and the valyauntnesse of the knighte excused hym greatlye and saued hym frome the parell of dethe And afterwarde he retourned agayne in to his fourmer estate and was after that a ryght valyaunt knyght and auaunsed in to the kynges Counsayle But as at that tyme sir Symon Burle was nat delyuered out of prisone for the kynges vncles hated hym gretlye and soo dyde all the commontie of Englande The kyâ—ge dyde all that he myght to haue hadde hym delyuered all the
seasone that he laye at Shene but his counsayle said it myght nat be for his rekenynges were nat clere Than the kynge departed and the duke of Irelande in his company and rode towardes Bristowe and the Quene with other ladyes and damoselles with her ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande departed from London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheded at LoÌ„don and his nephue also and howe the duke of Lancaster was dyspleased Cap. xciiii FOr all that the Kynge departed from the marchesse of London yet the kynges vncles nor their counsayle departed nat but taried styll about London ye haue herde often tymes sayde that if the heed be sicke all the membres can nat be well the malady must first be pourged I saye it bicause this duke of Irelande was so great with the kyng that he ruled hym as he lyste He and sir symon Burle were two of the princypall couÌ„saylours that the kynge had for they hadde a longe season gouerned the kynge and the realme And they were had in suspecte that they hadde gadered richesse without nombre and the renoume ranne in dyuers places that the duke of Irelande and sir Symon Burle had a long season gathered toguyder money and sente it in to Almayne For it was come to the knowledge of the kynges vncles and to the counsaylours of the good cyties and townes of Englande that helde of their partie howe they had sente out of the castell of Douer by see in the night tyme in to Almayne certayne cofers and chestes full of money They sayd it was falsely and felonously done to assemble the rychesse of the realme and to sende it in to other strauÌ„ge couÌ„treys wherby the realme was greatly impouerysshed and the people were soroufull and sayde that golde and syluer was so dere to gette that all marchandyse were as deed and loste and they coulde nat ymagin how it was but by this meanes THese wordes multiplied in suche wise that it was ordayned by the kynges vncles and by the counsayles of the good townes that were anneâ—ed vnto them that ser Symon Burle had deserued punisshment of dethe And also the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury sayd that in the season whan the freÌ„che kyng shulde haue come with his armye in to Englande this sir Symon Burle gaue counsayle that the shrine of saynt ThomÌ„s of CauÌ„terburye shulde haue been taken downe and brought in to Douer castell And the noyse was that he wolde haue had it so to th entent that if he had ben in any daÌ„ger to haue taken and stollen it and conueyed it out of EnglaÌ„d These maters were so layde to his charge that none excuse coulde be herde but on a daye he was brought out of the towre and beheeded lyke a traytour god haue mercy on his soule To write of his shamefull dethe ryght sore displeaseth me howe be it I must nedes do it to folowe the hystorie Greatly I complayne his dethe for whanÌ„e I was yonge I founde hym a gentyll knyght sage and wyse but by this enfortune he dyed HIs nephewe and heyre sir Richarde Burle was with the duke of Lancastre in Galyce the sameseason that this case fell in Englande and one of the most renoumed in all his hoost nexte the Constable for he was as souerayne Marshall of all the hoost and was chiefe of couÌ„sayle with the duke ye may well beleue that whan he knewe of the dethe of his vncle he was sore displeased And also this geÌ„tyll knight sir Richarde Burle dyed in the same iourney on his bedde by reason of sickenesse as many other dyde as ye shall here after at place and tyme conuenyent Whan kynge Rycharde knewe of the dethe of this knyght as he was in the marchesse of Wales he was sore dyspleased and sware howe the mater shulde nat passe sithe they had so put to dethe his knyght without good reason or tytell of right The quene also was sorie and wepte for his dethe bycause he fetched her oute of Almaygne Suche as were of the kynges couÌ„sayle douted greatly as the duke of Irelande sir Nicholas BraÌ„ble sir Thomas Tryuilyen sir IohnÌ„ Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la Poule Also the kyngê vncles had put out of offyce the archebysshoppe yf yorke named Wylliam Neuell brother germayne to the lorde Neuell of NorthuÌ„berlande whiche bysshoppe had longe ben treasourer of all Englande And the duke of Gloucestre had charged hym to medell no more with the busynesse of the realme on payne of his lyfe but that he shulde go to yorke or therabout wheâ— it pleased hym in his benifyce and dwell ther and medell no further And also it was shewed hym howe the honoure of his lynage in that he was a preest excused hym of many great maters sore preiudiciall to his honour And also it was shewed hym that the moost parte of the counsayle of the coÌ„montie wolde haue had him disgrated and putte to dethe in lyke maner as sir Symon Burle was So he departed fro London and wente in to the Northe to dwell on his benifyce with this he all his lynage were sore dyspleased and thought surely that the erle of Northombrelande had brought that mater to passe for all that he was of his lygnage and were neyghbours In to his rome was chosen a right valyant a wyse a sage clerke the archebysshop of Caunterbury who was gretely in the fauour of the kynges vncles He was come of the Mountague and Salysburies and was vncle to the erle of Salysbury there was made of the kynges counsayle by the aduyse of all the comons therle of Salysbury the erle Rycharde of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Deuonshyre the erle of Notyngham the bysshop of Norwyche called sir Henry Spenser the bysshop of Wynchestre chauncellour of Englande abode styll in his offyce and was with the kynges vncles the most renomed man in the counsayle nexte the duke of Gloceste was syr Thomas Mountague archbisshop of CauÌ„terbury and well he was worthy for he was a dyscrete prelate toke grete payne to reforme the royalme and to brynge it in to the ryght waye and that the kynge shulde put from hym the marmosettes that troubled all the royalme often tymes he wolde speke with the duke of yorke in that matter the duke wolde saye to hym syr bysshop I trust the matters shall otherwyse fall lytell and lytell then the kynge my nephewe and the duke of IrelaÌ„de thinketh but it must be done accordynge to reason and to abyde the tyme to be to hasty is no good meane for surely yf we hadde nat perceyued them be tymes they wolde haue brought the kynge and the royal me in suche case that it shulde haue ben at the poynte of lesynge The Frensshe kynge and his counsayle knewe ryght well our dealyng and what case we were in and that caused that frensshe men to auaunce themselfe to haue come hyder so puyssauntly as they wolde haue done to haue
the kyng and there shewe hym what case the busynesse of his realme is in recoÌ„maunde vs to hym shewe hym in our behalfe that he gyue no credence of lyght enformacion agaynst vs He hath beleued some to moche for his owne honour and for the ê“fyte of his realme And saye also to hym that we requyre hym and so do all the good people of London that he wolde come hyder he shal be welcome receyued with gret ioye we shall set such couÌ„saile about hym that he shal be well pleased And we charge you retourne nat agayne withoute hym and desyre hym nat to be displeased thoughe we haue chased awaye a meny of traytours that were about hym for by them his realme was in great paryll of lesynge The bysshop sayd he shulde do ryght well his message and so departed and rodde forthe lyke a great prelate and so came to Bristowe and the kynge was there but with a priuye coÌ„pany For suche as were wont to haue ben of his counsayle were deed and fledde awaye as ye haue herde before The bysshop was in the towne two nightes and a day or the kyng wolde speke with hym He was so soore dyspleased with his vncles for driuynge awaye of the duke of Irelande whome he loued aboue all men and for sleeynge of his knyghtes Finally he was so entysed that he consented that the archbysshop shulde come in to his presens Whan he came before hym he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the kynge and there shewed the kyng euery worde as the kynges vncles had gyuen hym in charge And shewed hym that if it were his pleasure to come to Londou to his palys of Westmynster his vncles and the mooste parte of all his realme wolde be ryght ioyeouse elles they wyll be ryght sorte and yuell displeased And sayde sir Without the comforte ayde and accorde of your vncles and of your lordes knyghtes and prelates and of your good cyties and townes of EnglaÌ„de ye canne nat come to any of youre ententes He spake these wordes boldelye and sayde moreouer Sir ye canne nat reioyse so moche youre ennemyes as to make warre with youre frendes and to kepe youre Realme in warre and myschiefe The yonge kynge by reasone of the bysshoppes wordes beganne to enclyne howe be it the beheedynge of his knyghtes and counsaylours came sore in to his courage So he was in dyuers ymaginacions but finally he refrayned his displeasure by the good meanes of the quene the lady of Boesme and of some other wise knightes that were about hym as sir Rycharde Stoner and other Thanne the kyng sayd to the bysshoppe Well I am content to go to LoÌ„don with you wherof the bisshop was right ioyous and also it was to hym a great honoure that he hadde spedde his iourney so well WIthin a shorte space after the kyng departed lefce the quene styll at Bristowe and so came towardes London with the archbysshoppe in his company and so came to Wyndsore and there the kyng taryed a thre dayes Tidynges came to London howe the kynge was commynge euery manne was gladde Than it was ordayned to mete hym honourablye The daye that he departed fro Wyndsore the way fro Braynforde to London was full of people on horse backe and a foote to mete the kynge And his two vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucester and Iohan sonne to the duke of yorke the erle of Arundell the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes and prelates departed out of London mette with the kyng a two myle fro Braynforde There they receyued hym swetely as they ought to do their soueraygne lorde The kynge who bare yet some displeasure in his herte passed by and made but small countenaunce to theÌ„ and all the waye he talked moost with the bisshop of LoÌ„don at last they came to WestmiÌ„ster The kyng alyghted at his palis whiche was redy apparelled for him There the kyng dranke and toke spyces and his vncles also and other Prelates lordes and knyghtes Than some tooke their leaues The kynges vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterburye with the counsayle taryed styll there with the kyng some in the Palais and some in the abbey and in the towne of westminster to kepe the kynge company and to be nere toguyder co commune of their busynesse there they determyned what shulde be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to westmynster to a generall counsayle there to be holden Cap. C.i. A Generall Parlyament was ordeyned to be holden at Westmynstre and all prelates Erles Barons and knyghtes and the counsayles of all the good townes and cytees of EnglaÌ„de were sent for to be there and all suche as helde of the kyng The archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury shewed to the kynges vncles counsayle that when kynge Rycharde was crowned kynge of Englande and that euery man was sworne and made theyr releues to hym and that whaÌ„ he receyued theyr faythes and homages he was within age and a knyge ought nat to gouerne a royalme tyll he be xxi yeres of age and in the meane season to be gouerned by his vncles or by his nexte kynne and by wyse men The bysshop sayd this bycause the kynge as then was but newlye come to the age of .xxi. yeres wherfore he counsayled that euery man shulde be newe sworne and renewe their releues and euery manne newe to knowledge hym for their soueraygne lorde This counsayle was excepted of the kynges vncles and of all other of the couÌ„sayle And for that entent all prelates and lordes and counsayles of good cyties townes were sent for to come to Westminster at a daye assigned Euery man came thyder none disobeyed so that there was moche people in London and at Westmister And kyng Richarde was in his chapell in the palys rychely apareyled with his crowne on his heed and the archebysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury sang the masse And after masse the bisshoppe made a collasyon And after that the kyngê vncles dyde their homage to the kyng kyssed hym and there they sware and ê“mysed hym faithe and homage for euer And than all other lordes sware and prelates and with their handes ioyned togyder they dyde their homage as it aparteyned and kyst the kynges cheke Some the kyng kyst with good wyll some nat for all were nat in his in warde loue but it behoued hym so to do for he wolde nat go fro the counsayle of his vncles But surely if he might haue had his entent he wolde nat haue done as he dyde but rather haue taken crewell vengeaunce for the deche of sir Symon Burle and other knyghtê that they had putte fro hym and slayne without desert as he thought Than it was ordayned by the couÌ„sayle that the archebysshop of yorke shulde come and pourge hym selfe for he hadde alwayes been of the duke of Irelandes parte agaynst the kynges vncles
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌ„ducte And of this coÌ„posycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌ„panyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ„ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌ„bre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ„ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌ„castre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deê‘ted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌ„stable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌ„panyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌ„e to Medena de CaÌ„po other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise â—ore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌ„forted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌ„che with the duke of LaÌ„castre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌ„postella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌ„ductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌ„de dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌ„dred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌ„ce his name was sir ThomÌ„s Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌ„ture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ„ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌ„pany Among the freÌ„chmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌ„passion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌ„munyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌ„ce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
sir Launcelotte of Voy and he was called sir IohnÌ„ of Voy but howe he dyed I shall tell you He was in a towne of Castyle called Seghome and laye there in garyson he had an Impostume in his body and he was yonge lusty and tooke no hede therof but on a day lept on a great horse and rode out in to the feldes spurred his horse so that by gambaldyng of the horse the impostume brake in his body and whan he was retourned to his lodgynge he was layde on his bedde sicke and that semed well for the fourthe daye after he dyed wherof his frendes were right soroufull ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe sir Iohan HolaÌ„de the duke of Lancastres constable toke his leue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the king of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe sir Iohan Dambreticourt wente to Parys to acomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and Bouciqualt Cap. C.vi YE maye well knowe that euery man eschewed this sickenesse that was amonge the Englysshmen and fledde therfro asmoche as they myght All this season sir Iohan Holande the dukes constable was still with the duke certayne knightes and squyers seynge the season of warre paste thynkynge to eschewe the peryll of the sickenesse sayd to the constable Sir let vs retourne we wyll go to Bayone or to Burdeux to take fresshe ayre and to esche we this sickenes for whan so euer the duke of Lancastre wyll haue vs agayne lette hym write for vs and we shall soone be with hym whiche were better than to kepe vs here in daunger and parell They called so often on hym that on a day he shewed the duke their murmuraryons Than the duke sayde Syr Iohan I wyll ye retourne and take my men with you and recomende me to my lorde the kyng and to all my bretherne in Englande With right a good wyll sir quod the constable But syr though sycke men haue had great curtesy by the constable of Castyle as in suffering them to entre to a byde there at their case tyll they recouer their helthes yet they maye nat retourne agayne to you in to Castyle nor in to Portugale and if outher they or we take our waye to Calays throughe Fraunce than we must be bounde to beare none armure in syxe yere after against the realme of FrauÌ„ce without the kynge our souerayne lorde be present in propre persone Than the duke sayd Syr Iohan ye knowe well that the frenchemen will take on you and on our men in case they se them in daunger all the vauÌ„tage they can do Therfore I shall shewe you whiche way ye shall passe curtesly through the realme of Castyle And whan ye come in to the entre of Nauarre sende to the kynge he is my cosyn and in tyme past we hadde great alyaunce to guyder whiche are nat as yet broken for sith the warre began bytwene the kyng of Castyle and me we haue amiably written eche to other as cosyns frendes nor no warre hath ben made by see bitwene vs but the freÌ„chmen haue wherfore I thynke he wyll lightly suffre you to passe through his realme whan ye be at saynt Iohan Pie de porte than take the waye to Bisquay and so to Bayon than ye be in our herytage And fro thens ye may go to the cytie of Burdeux without daunger of the frenche men and there refresshe you at your ease And whan ye haue wynde and weder at wyll than ye maye take the see lande in Cornwall or at Hampton or there as the wynde wyll serue you Than sir Iohan said your counsayle shal be fulfylled without any faute IT was nat long after but that the Constable and his company departed and there taryed with the duke and duches no mo but his owne housholde seruauntes And sir Iohan Holande had his wyfe with hym and so came to the cytie of Camores and there he founde the kynge of Castyle sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ of Lignacke who made hym good chere as lordes and knyghtes do whan they mete eche with other And truely the kyng of Castyle was gladde tose the departyng of the Englysshmen for than it semed to hym that his warre was at an ende and thought that there wolde neuer issue agayne out of Englande so many good men of warre in the duke of Lancasters tytell to make warre in Castyle Also he knewe well howe there was great trouble and dyscorde within the realme of Englande Whan the tidynges sprede abrode in Castile in the good cyties and townes where as the Englysshe men lay sicke and were there to seke for their helthe howe that sir Iohan Hollande was â—ome thyder to retourne agayne in to EnglaÌ„de They were ryght gladde therof and so drewe to hym to the entent to retourne with hym As the lorde of Chameulx sir Thomas Percy the lorde Lelynton the lorde of Braseton and dyuers other to the nombre of a thousaÌ„de horses suche as were sicke thought them selfe halfe hole whan they knewe they shulde retourne their voyage paste was so paynfull to them WHan sir Iohan Hollande toke leaue of the kyng of Castyle the kyng gaue to hym and to his coÌ„pany great giftes with mules and mulettes of Spaygne and payde for all their costes And than they rode to saynt Phagons and there refresshed theÌ„ thre dayes and in euery place they were welcome and well receyued For there were knyghtes of the kynges that dyde conducte theym and payde alwayes for their costes So longe they code that they passed Spaygne and came to Naueret where as the batayle had ben before and so to Pauyers and to Groyne and there rested for as than they were nat in certayne if the kynge of Nauerre wolde suffre them to passe throughe his realme or nat Than they sent to hym .ii. knightes sir Peter Bysset and sir Wylliam Norwiche They founde the kynge at Tudela in Nauer and there spake with hym spedde so well that they had grauÌ„t to passe through Nauer payeng for that they shulde take by the way and as soone as these knyghtê were retourned they departed fro Groyne and so came to Pampylona passed the mountains of RouÌ„ceaux and lefte the way in to Bierne and entred in to Bisquay so to go to Bayon at last thyder they came and there sir Iohan Holande taryed a long space with his wyfe and other of the Englysshmen rode to Burdeaux Thus this armye brake vp So it was in the season whyle these warres endured in Castile that that englisshmen kepte the feldes The lorde Bouciqualt the elder of the .ii. bretherne sent by an herault to sir Iohan DaÌ„breticourt desyring to do with hym dedes of armes as thre courses with a 〈◊〉 thre with an axe and thre with a dagger all or 〈…〉 the knight was agreed therto And after that sir Iohan Dambreticourt sent dyuers tymes to accoÌ„plysshe their feate but Bouciqualt came nat forwarde I can not tell what
at length Than Berthaulte answered as he had deuysed in hym selfe the day before and sayd Fayre lordes I repute my selfe gretly honored my doughâ— also if we might come to so hygh an enâ—prise as the erle of Guerles desyreth And whan a mater is begon it wolde nat be proloÌ„ged I saye this bycause that alyaunce by maryage made bytwene the hyghe prince and redouted lorde the erle of Guerles and Mary my doughter pleaseth me rightwell ye make me request that his landes whiche at this presente tyme are so sore charged and layde to pledge in the handes of certayne lombardes and other by reason of this maryage shulde be quyt and that I shulde rydde hym out of dette And all thynges that are nowe darke I shulde make them clere I thanke god of his puissauÌ„ce that it lyeth in me thus to do I am in good wyll so to do But first or this couenaunt be fully agreed written or sealed that I maye be in suretie without trouble or debate that the chyldren comyng of my doughter maye be enherytours to the Erldome of Guerles as the lymites therof do stretche that if my lorde therle of Guerles fortune to dye before my doughter wtout issue bytwene them that than my doughter may enioye the herytage of Guerles duryng her lyfe and afâ— her dyscease to returne to the rightfull heyre And also I saye if my doughter haue heyre or heyres by my lorde therle and than she fortune to dye thoughe the erle than remacy againe the seconde tyme and haue issue by the seconde wyfe yet for all that my doughters heyre or heyres shall nat be disheryted how be it if it please the erle to remary agayne I am contente that he make his seconde wyfe a dower of all suche landes as he hath beyond the ryuer of Muse marchyng to the bysshoprike of Liege and to the duchy of Brabant and nat to charge the princypall signorie of Guerles And thus if the erles frendes and parentes and suche as be next of blode and haue any chalenge to the signory of Guerles with the good townes of the countrey wyll seale to vpholde these deuyses and couenauÌ„tes than I am coÌ„tent and wyll assent to this maryage ye may nowe answere to this if ye haue any charge so to do Than the knyghtê answered whan they had a lytell counsayled toguyder Than one for them all sayd sir we haue well herde your answere but we haue none auctorite to confyrme nor to graunt so farforthe as ye demaunde But we shall retourne to our lorde therle and to his couÌ„saile and shewe hym your answere and demauÌ„de and shortely ye shall here fro hym agayne Than Berthalte said sirs as god wyll so be it Thus they deê‘ted out of the chambre ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle Raynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthault of Malignes by whoÌ„ he had a doughter and after maried agayne in Englande and had issue two sonnes and a doughter howe sir IohnÌ„ of Bloyes wedded theldest doughter of the erle of Guerles and howe after the couÌ„tie of Guerles remayned with therle of Guerles yongest doughter Cap. C .xii. YE haue well herde all the answers demaundes bytwene the foresaid parties wherfore I speke no more therof But as ye haue herde whan therle of guerles messangers were returned home agayn The erle was hoote in the mater for he sawe well he coude as than do no better thaÌ„ to mary Berthalt of Malygnes doughter he was so riche a man Than the erle and his counsaile made and deuysed writynges sufficient and therle set to his seale and his next freÌ„des and pareÌ„tes in lykewise so dyd other knightes of Guerles and good townes And whan all was confyrmed and done as Berthaulte was content the maryage was made and the erles dettes payde and his Landes clerely quytte out of daunger Than the Erle toke newe counsayle and began a newe lyfe and state if he were called good before he was named better after for than he had well wherwith he lacked nothyng of that Berthault of Malygnes myght ayde hym The erle bare hym to his wyfe ryght honourably for she was a fayre lady good sage deuout prudent but they were nat toguyder past a four yeres but that the lady dyed And she had a doughter called Isabell whan therle of guerles was a wydower he was but yong Than he maryed agayne ryght highly For kynge Edwarde of Englande father to the good kyng Edwarde who beseged Tourney and wanne Ealis he gaue to this erle Raynolde a doughter of his named Isabell and by her this erle had thre chyldren two sonnes one doughter sir Raynolde sir Edwarde and Iane who afterwarde was duches of Guerlers For in lykewise as Bertram of Malignes had ymagined in the begynnyng whan his doughter maryed the erle of Guerles euyn so it fell for there was no trouthe kepte to hym For whan kynge Edwarde of Englande who was vncle to the erle of Guerles chyldren came first in to Almayne to the Emperour Loyes of Bauyers whiche Emperour instytuted kynge Edwarde to be his vycar generall throughe all the marches of the Empyre as it is conteyned in the begynnyng of this boke Than the couÌ„tie of Guerles was made a duchy and the countie of Iulyers was made marques of Iulyers to augment their dignities And to come to our mater the duke Raynolde of Guerles nephue to kynge Edwarde dyed without issue and sir Edward of Guerles was maryed in Heynault and had to wyfe the yongest doughter of duke Aubert but the lady was so yonge that this sir Edwarde neuer touched her carnallye And so this sir Edwarde also dyed withoute issue who was a ryght valyaunt knight He was slayne in the batayle that was bytwene the duke of Brabant and duke Wincelant before Iulyers His suster Iane who was maryed to duke Guylliam of Iulyers had chyldren And she by successyon of her bretherne said and toke vpon her to be heyre to the duchy of Guerles and in lykewyse so dyde her eldest suster by the firste maryage For the two bretherne by the seconde maryage were bothe deed withoute laufull issue Wherfore she sayde she was enherytoure Thus fell the difference bytwene the two susters and some of the countrey wolde haue the one and some the other And the eldest suster was counsayled to mary in to some high lygnage that myght ayde her chalenge and defende her herytage Than there was treatie made by the bysshoppe of Coloygne that was than to the lorde sir Iohan of Bloyes For therle Loyes his brother as than lyued and the bysshoppe sayd that he shulde therby be duke of Guerles For by successyon of the two bretherne deed withoute issue male Therfore by right of mariage the right shuld retourne to her for none other coude chaleÌ„ge any right but she And sir Iohan of Bloyes who alwayes had ben nourisshed brought vp in the parties of Hollande and zelande for there he
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
well the scottes Than the lordes and knyghtes of Scotlande determyned ones agayne to reyse vp an army and to make a iourney in to Englande they sayde it was as than good tyme and houre for they sawe the Englysshmen were nat all of one accorde And where as often tymes past they had receyued great buffettes than they sayd it was good tyme for them to be reuenged And to the entent that their purpose shulde nat be knowen they ordayned a feest to be holden on the fronter of the wylde scottes at a cytie called Berdane where assembled in maner all the lordes of Scotlande At this feest they concluded and made full promyse that in the myddes of August the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore ano eight They shulde mete all with their puyssaunce on the fronters of Gales at a castell in the hyghe forest called Gedeours Thus at that tyme they departed eche fro other And of this couenauÌ„t there was none of them that made their kyng priuy therto For they sayd amonge themselfe their kyng was no manne of warre There came to Gedeours at the day apoynted first the erle Iames Duglas sir Iohan of Morette erle of Marche and or Donbare sir Wyllyam de Fu and sir Stephyn Erle of Monstres sir Aucebauce of Duglas sir Robert Auerceque sir Marke Odremneu sir Wyllyam Lymsey sir Iames his brother Thomas of Berry sir Alysaunder Lymsey the lorde of Sechyn sir Iohan of Sobelas sir Patryke of DoÌ„bare sir IohnÌ„ Senclere sir Patryke of Hoteborne sir Iohan sonne to the lorde Momogomercy sir Adam of glas diuyn sir Wyllyam Reduryn sir Wyllyam Stonacke sir IohnÌ„ of Halpe breton sir Alider and sir Robert Lander sir Stephyn freseyle sir Alysander Ramsey and sir Iohan his brother sir WyllmÌ„ Morbereth sir Maubert Here sir Wylliam of Waleran sir IohnÌ„ Amonstan and Dauy his sonne Robert Colemney and dyuers other knightes and squiers of Scotlande In threscore yere before there was nat assembled toguyder in Scotlande suche a nombre of good meÌ„ they were a .xii. huÌ„dred speares and .xl. thousande men besyde with their archers but iÌ„ tyme of nede the scottes can lytell skyll with their bowes They rather beare axes wherwith they gyue great strokes WHan they were thus mette togyder in the marchesse of Gedeours they were mery and sayd they wolde neuer entre againe in to their owne houses tyll they had ben in Englande and done suche dedes there that it shulde be spoken of .xx. yere after And to the entent to make sure poyntment they assigned a daye to mete at a churche in a fayre lauÌ„de called zedon Tidynges came in to Northumberlande as nothynge can be hydde if men putte to their dilygence to knowe bothe to therle and to his chyldreÌ„ to the seneschall of yorke and to sir Mathue Redman capitayne of Berwike of this gret feest that had ben at Bredane And to theÌ„rent to knowe wherfore it was these lordes sente to sertche couertly by heraudes mynstrels The scottes coude nat do their maters so secrerly but the lordes of EnglaÌ„de knewe howe men rose in scotlaÌ„de how they shulde mete agayne at Gedeours Brute of this came to Newcastell vpontyne And whan the lordes knewe of this euery man toke good hede to his charge and prouyded them selfe redy to assemble if nede were and this they dyde secretly bycause their enterprice shulde nat be broken Euery man helde hym selfe in their owne houses and were determyned to mete toguyder as soone as they knewe that the scottes came forwarde and sayd If the scottes come forthe we shall haue knowlege therof If they drawe towardê Carlyle we shall entre at another parte in to their countrey and we shall do them more dommage than they can do vs for their countrey is all open We maye go where we lyst and our countre is strong and the townes and castelles well closed And the better to knowe the state of the scottes they sent a gentylman of EnglaÌ„de who knewe ryght well the marchesse of Scotlande and specially the forest of Gedeours where the scottes shulde assemble And the Englisshe squyer went so forwarde that without espyeng he came to the churche of zedon where the scottyss he lordes were And he encred in amonge them lyke one of their seruauntes and there he herde and knewe a great parte of thententes of the scottes and at th ende of their counsayle the squyer went to a tree where he hadde tyed his horse and thought to haue fouÌ„de him there but he was gone for a scotte who be great theues had stollen hym awaye He durste nat speke for hym but so went forthe a fote boted and spurted And whan he was gone fro the churche two bowe shotte than there were two scottyss he knyghtes deuysed bytwene them selfe and sayd one to another felowe I haue sene a marueyle beholde yonder a man gothe alone and as I thynke he hath lost his horse for he came by and spake no worde I wene he be none of our company lette vs ryde after hym to proue my sayeng They rode after hym and soone ouertoke hym WhanÌ„e he sawe them coÌ„mynge he wolde gladly haue ben thens They came to hym and demaunded whether he wolde and from whens he came and what he had done with his horse He began to varry in his sayeng and answered nat directely to their purpose They turned hym and sayde he shulde go and speke with their lordes They brought hym again to the churche of zedon and presented hym to the erle Duglas and to other lordes they examyned hym and parceyued well he was an Englysshe man Than they sayde they wolde knowe the trouthe why he came thyder He was yuell wyllynge to shewe the trouthe but they handled hym in suche wise that he was fayne to shewe all the mater for they bare hym in hande withoute he wolde shewe the trouthe incoÌ„tynent he shulde lese his heed and if he wolde shewe the trouthe he shulde haue none yuell There they knew by hym that the lordes of Northumberlande had sente hym thyder to knowe the estate of their entÌ„price and whiche waye they wolde drawe Herof the scottes were right ioyous and wolde nat for a great good but that they had spoken with this squyer Than they demaunded agayne of hym in what parte the Englysshe lordes were and whyder there were any aparence that they wolde assemble toguyder and what wayâ— they wolde take to entre in to Scotlande Outher by the see syde by Berwyke or els by Donbare or els the highe waye by the countie of Monstres towarde Streuelyn The squyer answered and sayde Sirs sithe it behoueth me to say the trouthe I shall Whan I departed from them fro Newcastell there was none aparence of their assemblyng but they be on a redynesse to departe as well to daye as to morowe And as soone as they knowe that ye set forwarde and entre in to Englande they wyll nat come to mete with you for
at a tyme sealed with my seale sente in to Fraunce whiche came to your knowledge in the whiche letter was contaygned defyaunce pertaynynge to your grace and to your realme with wordes vnreasonable out of the ryght style and vsage that princes and lordes defie eche other the whiche I wyll nat auowe the euer any suche wordes passed out of my mouthe nor by my cōmaundemente any worde touchynge or defamynge your name or signory and syr to veryfye that this myne excuse is of trouthe and that it maye be had out of all suspecte I shall declare the trouthe of euery thynge Syr by reason of the great alyaunce and seruyce that I haue borne to my ryght redouted lorde the Kynge of Englande at his requeste and his counsayls I sente in to Englande four of my knyghtes and delyuered theym my seale to seale to any thynge that they concluded vpon they sealed this letter and nat I for I neuer knewe before the sealynge of that letter what was conteyned therin Syr I requyre your grace accepte this excuse for this is trewe but sir as for the aliaunce and seruyce that I haue made to my lorde the kynge of Englande I wyll neuer breke it nor do contrarye to that he commaundeth me But syr at his request and cōmaundement I wyll defye you or any other whan it shall please hym who so euer they be except myne owne naturall lorde the kynge of Almayne to whome I am made seruaunte by my mouthe spoken and by myne handes in his But syr for the honoure of you consyderynge and in recompensynge the paynes and traueyls that ye haue susteyned in your iourney comynge hyder to knowe the foundacion and trouthe of the defyaunce I shall swere to you and kepe it that I shal neuer make warre agaynst you nor defye you but fyrste ye shall be signyfyed therof an hole yere before And sir me thynke this shulde suffyce you To this deuyse the duke of Guerles sayde I am well contente thus to do in this there in no dyshonour nor blame to me as I thynke THus on this poynte departed the duke of Iulyers from his sonne the duke of Guerles and with him the archebysshoppe of Coloygne and so they returned in to Iulyers and came to Endesker And whan tyme was they wente to the frenche kynge and shewed him all the poyntes and artycles before rehersed and sayd Syr loke what ye wyll do with the duke of guerles for other than this ye shall nat haue of hym The frenche kynge greatly desyred to se the duke of Guerles his cosyn by cause he had put hym to somoche payne wherfore the soner he enclyned to this treatye And the duke of Burgoyn who wolde also that the duches of Brabant and her countrey shulde a byde in rest and peace he toke payne to bringe this creatie to effecte and that the duke of Guerles myght come to speke with the kynge And also there was one thynge that made them the soner agre wynter aproched and the nyghtes began to be longe and colde and also the lordes of Fraunce were enfourmed that Guerles was no countrey to rest in in the tyme of wynter and also dayly they had reporte howe they loste of their men bothe knyghtes and squyers by the synsars almayns who dayly lay in wayte for them So many reasons and consyderacyons were layde and alledged that they fell to acorde and the duke of Guerles aproched and the duke of Iulyers his father the duke of Lorayne and the bysshop of Coloigne brought hym in to the kynges tente where there was with the kynge his thre vncles and his brother the duke of Tourayne the duke of Bare the erle of Marche the erle of saynte Pole the erle dolphyn of Auuergne the lorde Coucy and the constable of Fraunce There the duke of Guerles kneled downe before the kynge and as it was infourmed me the kyng toke hym vp and there valyauntly and wysely he exscused hym selfe of the defyaunce that he had made to the kynge And moreouer he sware that if euer he wolde defye the kynge or make warre to the realme of Fraunce that he wolde gyue the kynge knowlege therof a yere before and the countreys of Guerles and Brabante to be styll in the same case as they be in at that same presēt tyme. Thus the mater concluded bytwene them and the duke of Guerles supped with the kynge the same nyghte at his table he was greatly regarded bycause he had put the kynge to so moche payne and coste This treatie and conclusyon was put in writynge and sealed and whan all was done the lordes toke leaue to departe but or they departed the duke of Guerles demaunded of the kynge that all suche prisoners as the Frenche men had taken in that warre that he myght haue them delyuered franke and free He had his desyre they were delyuered Thanne the kynge demaunded of the duke that all suche prysoners as his men had taken in that voyage shulde be delyuered and rendred agayne Than the duke of Guerles excused hym selfe and sayde Syr that I can not do I am but a poore man and whan I knewe of your commynge I fortifyed my selfe the best I myght with men of warre knyghtes and squyes fro beyonde the ryuer of Ryne and other places and I promysed them that what so euer they wanne in this warre it shulde be their owne wherfore I can take nothinge fro them of that they haue wonne if I wolde I haue nouther puyssaunce nor power to do it for if I wolde shewe rygoure to theym they wolde make warre agaynst me wherfore sir may it please you to lette it passe for I canne nat remedy it The kynge sawe he coulde haue nothyng els he suffred it to passe and imagyned that he and his realme were riche ynough to encrease poore men wherfore he let it passe and spake no mo wordes and at their departure eche of theym well contented other Than it was ordeyned to dyslodge and to retourne the same way they came and than it was sayd that the frenche kynge shulde be at the cytie of Reynes at the feest of all sayntes and there to holde a great feest Thus euery man dyslodged and retourned ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the englysshe army on the see ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell and the knyghtes of Englande beyng on the see by fortune of the wynde came to the Palyce besyde Rochell whose beynge there was signifyed to sir Loys of Xanser and of the departynge of the erle of Arundell Cap. C.l. IN the meane seasone whyle the french kyng was in Guerles the englysshe army was on the see wherof the erle of Arundell was chefe capytayne and some tyme sayled forwarde and somtyme bacwarde as the wynde wolde serue them to seke for aduentures as it is well knowen Always lightly bytwene the feest of saynt Remey and all sayntes is a peryllous season for stormes and wyndes on the see and aboute the same
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
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
in to Englande and desyred to haue done armes with any man he shulde nat haue departed or he hadde ben answered at his pleasure But I am serued to the contrary Trewe it was sir Guye dela Tremoyle and I were armed in the felde eche agaynst other and ranne toguyder but one course Than it was shewed me fro the kynge that we shulde do no more sayenge howe we hadde done ynough Wherfore madame I saye and wyll say where soeuer I become that I coulde fynde none to do armes with me and that was nat in my defaute but in the knyghtes of Fraunce The lorde of Clary noted well his wordes and helde his pease with great payne Howe be it he suffred hym bycause he had the charge of the coÌ„ueyaunce of hym Than the countesse sayde Sir ye departed right honorably fro FrauÌ„ce whan ye obeyed to the kynges desyre for ye coude do no more sythe it was his pleasure that ye shulde nat IN coÌ„myng returnyng and doyng as ye haue done none can laye any faute in you All suche as shall here there of on this syde the see or on the other shall repute in you more honour than blame wherfore sir I requyre you be contente therwith Madame quod the knight so I do and shall do I shall neuer take thought for it Thus they lefte that mater and fell in other talkynge There he taryed all that daye and night The nexte mornynge sir Petr Court nay toke his leaue of the Countesse of saynt Poule and she gaue hym at his departynge a lytell chayne of golde and to the lorde of Clary another Thus in the mornynge they departed fro Lucenen and toke the waye to Bouloygne and came thyder and there laye all nyght and the nexte daye rode towardes Margyson to go to Calais BItwene Boloygne and Calays are but seuyn or eight leages and fayre playne waye Whan they came nere to Calais there sir Peter of Courtney sayd to the lorde of Clary Sir we be nowe in the kyng of Englandes lande and ye haue well acquyted you in the conueyaunce of me and of your company I thanke you The lorde of Clary who had displeasure in his hert for the wordes that sir Peter had spoken at Lucenen in the presens of the countesse of saynt Pole and other Whiche wordes he thought he wolde nat suffre to reste in that case for he reputed them to haute and to hyghe agaynst the honoure of the chiualry of Fraunce for he vnderstode hym that he said howe he was come oute of Englande in to Fraunce to do armes and how there were none that wolde aunswere hym Than the lorde of Clary at their leaue takynge sayde Sir Peter ye be nowe in the kynge of Englandes lande and sir I haue conueyed you hyder by the commaundement of the kynge my maister and of the duke of Burgoyne And ye remembre well this laste daye whan we were in the countesse of saynt Poules chambre who made vs good chere ye spake there ouer largely as me thynketh to the great preiudyce blame of the knyghtes of Fraunce For ye sayde howe ye came fro the kynges courte coude fynde none to do armes with you By the whiche wordes maye be vnderstande that there is no knyght in Fraunce that dare do armes or iust with you thre courses with a speare Wherfore sir I wyll that ye knowe that here I offre my selfe thoughe I be one of the moost symplest knyghtes in all Fraunce And saye and iustifye that the realme of Fraunce is nat so voyde of knyghtes but that ye shall well fynde yuowe to do dedes of armes with you And sir if ye lyste ye shall fynde me redy to aunswere you be it incontynente this nyght or to morowe I saye nat this for any hatered that I haue to your persone I do it all onely to maynteyne the honour of our ê‘tie For I wolde nat ye shulde retourne to Calais or in to Englande to make youre auaunt that without stroke stryken ye shulde disconfyte the knyghtes of Fraunce Sir answere me if it please you to my wordes Sir Peter Courtney was soone couÌ„sayled what answere to make and sayde Sir of Clary ye speke well and I accepte your demaunde And I wyll that to morowe in this same place ye be armed at your pleasure and I shall be in lyke wise And than lette vs rynne eche at other thre courses with a speare and therby ye shall wynne agayne the honour of the Frenche courte and ye shall do me a greate pleasure Sir quod the lorde of Clary I ê“myse you I shall nat fayle to be here at the hour ye haue assigned Thus these two knightes promysed eche other to iust The lorde of Clary retourned to Marguysen there prouyded hym of his armure shelde speare and horse He hadde anone all that he lacked for on the fronters of Calays and Boloyne men were soone prouyded There he made his prouisyon as shortely as he myght for he wolde natte that ouer many shulde haue knowen therof In lyke manner sir Peter Courtney whanÌ„e he came to Calays he forgate nat the promyse that he had made But prouyded hym of good armure and of euerye thyng elles As for harnesse he had redy suche as he had caryed with hym out of Englande in to Fraunce As at that tyme sir Iohan Bernes was capitayne of Calays Sir Peter shewed hym the promise that was made bytwene hym and the lorde of Clary Than sir Iohan Bernes sayde howe he wolde accompany hym thyder and other good felowes of Calays The nexte daye these two knightes came to the place apoynted the Englysshe knyght came moche better accompanyed than dyde the Frenche knyght for the capitayne of Calays was with hym Whan they were come togyder there was but fewe wordes bytwene theym They knewe well ynough wherfore they were come they were bothe well armed and horsed and toke their sheldes Than they toke their speares with sharpe heedes well fyled and spurred their horses and ranne toguyder The fyrst course they fayled wherwith they were bothe sore displeased At the seconde iuste they mette so toguyder that the lorde of Clary strake the Englysshe knyght throughe the â—arge and throughe the shulder a handfull and therwith he felle fro his horse to the erthe The Lorde of Clary passed forthe and kepte his course and turned and stode styll for he sawe well howe the Englysshe he knight was vnhorsed howe that many men were about hym He thought surely than that he was hurt for his speare was brokenne in peces Than he rode to them And the Englysshe men came to the lorde of Clary and sayd Sir ye be no courtesse iuster Wherfore quod the lorde of Clary bycause ê™ they ye haue hurt this knightes shulder ye might more curtesly haue iusted sirs ê™ he that curtesy laye nat in me seyng I was apparelled to iuste for the same case or worse myght haue fallen to me aswell as to hym Howe be it sir
I requyre you demaunde of hym or elles wyll I whyder he wyll do any more or â—atte Than sir Iohan Bernes sayde Nay naye sir knyght ye may departe whan ye lyste ye haue done ynough Than the lorde of Clary departed with his company and the Englysshe men ledde sir Peter Courtney to Calays to be healed of his hurtes And the lorde of Clary retourned in to Fraunce thynkynge that he hadde right well done and that he shulde haue had for that dede great laude and prayse But I shall shewe you what fell therof WHan tidynges came to the Frenche kyng and to the duke of burgoyne and to their counsayle howe that the lorde of Clarye had done armes with sir Peter Courtney in retournynge to Calais so that the sayde sir Peter was hurte and in paryll of dethe The kynge and the duke and specially sir Guye of Tremoyle were sore dyspleased with the lorde of Clary and sayde howe he had done at the leest as moche as to lese his landes and to be bannysshed the realme of Fraunce for euer without repele And soÌ„e other suche as wolde hym no good wyll sayde howe he hadde done lyke a false traytoure seynge a straunge knyght vnder the kynges saue garde shulde be requyred by hym to do dedes of armes and by that meanes to be brought to the ieopardye of dethe They sayde suche a dede ought nat to be pardoned The lorde of Clary was sente for he came to the kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne There he was examyned and layde to his charge and demauÌ„ded howe he durste be so outragious to a knyght straunger that was come to the kynges court for good loue and to exalte his honoure to do feates of armes and deê‘ted thens with good loue and ioye And the entente that he shulde nat be troubled by the way in his retournyng was delyuered to hym to conduyt and than at the deê‘tynge of bothe realmes he to be so bolde to do armes with hym in caÌ„pe or iustes mortall without lycence of his soueraygne lorde of whom he holdeth his lande It was shewed hym the trespasse was so great that it was nat to be pardoned but to be punysshed so highely that all other shulde take ensample therby The lorde of Clary whan he herde those wordes he was abasshed for he thought he hadde done well and for to haue had thanke Than he sayde My lordes it is of trouthe sir Peter of Courtney was delyuered to me to conducte and to kepe hym company tyll he came to Calais or to the froÌ„ters therof And of all that I hadde in charge I haue well and truely acquyted my selfe and if nede be I shall proue it by the wytnesse of hym selfe And trewe it was that by the waye whan we came to Lucyen to the countesse of saynt Poule who receyued made vs good chere There sir Peter Courtney hadde certayne wordes as I shall shewe you THe countesse demauÌ„ded of hym and sayde sir Peter of Courtney howe are ye contente with the Lordes of Fraunce and with the maner of FrauÌ„ce he answered courtesly and sayd Madame the maner of Fraunce is ryght noble and goodlye As for the lordes of Fraunce I am right well content with their chere excepte in one thyng and that is with great payne and traueyle and great coste I haue issued oute of EnglaÌ„de to do dedes of armes and so came to the freÌ„che kynges court but there I knew nat with whom to do armes Thus my lordes whan I herde hym saye so in the preseÌ„ce of so noble a lady as the countesse of saynte Poule suster to the kynge of Englande the wordes were right heuy to me to beare how be it I suffred them for that tyme bycause I had the charge of the conueyaunce of hym I neuer made semblaunt therof to hym as longe as we were in company togider within the realme of Fraunce And at our leaue takynge in the marchesse of Calais trewe it is than I layde vnto hym the sayde wordes and sayd howe they were nat courtesly spoken nor honorably For the wordes sounded that the chiualry of Fraunce was so abated that none durst do dedes of armes with him Than I sayd if he wolde abyde therby that I was one of the knightes of Fraunce borne of the nacyon And I sayd I wolde nat that he shulde make his auaunte in Englande that he coude nat fynde in FrauÌ„ce nor by the waye with whome to do armes Therfore I sayde I was redy and desyred to do armes with hym and to fulfylle his pleasure and desyre as to rynne thre courses with a speare the same daye or the nexte Certaynly my lordes I sayde these wordes for the honour of the realme of Fraunce and the chyualry therof And me thonght he had great ioye therof and accepted to do armes with me the nexte day and so dyde I and the nexte day we mette at the same place He was a coÌ„panyed with them of the garyson of Calais And with me there were certayne of the fronters there knyghtes and squyers as the lorde of Mount carell and sir Iohan of Longuyllers There we iusted toguyder as well as we coude and the aduenture of armes fell so that at the seconde course I strake him through the shulder so that he fell to the erthe Than I retourned againe to knowe if he wolde do any more Than the capitayne of Calis said it was sufiycient that was done and that I myght departe whan I lyst And than I retourned I beleued I had ryght well done and well defended the honour of the realme of France and of the knightes therin Thus I haue shewed you the very trouthe of this dede for my well doyng of this ameÌ„des shall folowe I reporte me and wyll abyde the iugement of my lorde the Constable and my lordes the highe marshalles of FrauÌ„ce And besyde that to the voice and discrecion of the knyght hymselfe sir Peter curtney at whose request I dyde these armes And also I reporte me to all knyghtes and squyers of honour bothe of Fraunce and of Englande credably enfourmed of the hole mater WHan the lorde of Clary had shewed the mater and sagely made his excusacioÌ„s as ye haue herde It greatlye aswaged they re and displeasure of thâ—â— that had complayned of hym Howe be it for all his wordes and excusacions he coude nat be delyuered but was coÌ„mytted to prisone there taryed a long season in great daunger of lesyng of all his landes and to be banysshed for euer but the lorde of Coucy and â—he duke of Burbon they labored sore for his delyuerauÌ„ce and with moche payne they made his peace with the ayde of the countesse of saynt Puole before whom the wordes were spoken Than at his deliuerauÌ„ce it was said to hym Sir of Clary ye supposed to haue done ryght well howe be it ye dyde shamefully whanne ye offred to do armes with sir Peter Courtney who was vnder the kyngê saue garde and
lorde of saynte Pye had ryght well done their deuoyrs without any domage eyther to other Agayne the erle desyred for loue of his lady to haue another course but he was refused Than sir Iohan Holand went out of the renke to gyue place to other for he had ronne all his sire courses well and valyauÌ„tly so that he had laude honoure of all partyes Than stept forth a gentle knight of EnglaÌ„de called the erle Marshall he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynolde of Roy who issued out of his pauylyon armed at all peces and toke his horse shelde and speare And whan these two knyghtes were a sonder they spurred their horses came fyersly togyther The first course they fayled by outragyng of their horses wherwith they were sore dyspleased At the .ii. course sir Raynolde was stryken the spere broken the .iii. course eche strake other on their helmes with suche force that the fire slewe out therle Marshall was vnhelmed who passed forthe retourned to his place iusted no more that day for he had don ynough than caÌ„e forth the lorde Clâ—fford a right apt a valyaÌ„t knight of EnglaÌ„de cosyn germayn to sir IohnÌ„ ChaÌ„dos who was a noble valiant knight in his dayes he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Bouciquant incontynent the knight issued out of his pauilyon with shelde and spere These two knightes came rudely togider strake eche other on the helm that the fyre sparcled Their speares brake nat nor the knightes lost no styropes so passed by came to their places made theÌ„ redy to ryn the .ii. course so came togyder wtout any sparing sir BouciquaÌ„t brake his spere but he was vnhelmed yet fell nat they passed forthe came to their places Sir Loyes Clifforde made hym to iust agayne but Bouciquant dyd nat put on agayne his helme that seyng the lorde Clifforde aduysed to ê‘forme his course with another Than he sente his squyer to touche the helde of warre of the lorde of saynt Pye who came forthe redy to iuste They ran toguyder met eche other the lorde Clifforde brake his speare in thre peces on the lorde of saynt Pyes shelde and the lorde of saynt Pye strake the lorde Clyfforde on the helme so that he was dishelmed so passed forche eche of them drewe to their place and the lorde Clyfforde ran no more that day for it was shewed hym howe he had right honorably borne hym selfe that daye Than came forth a noble knight of englaÌ„de called sir HeÌ„ry BeamoÌ„de he caused to be touched sir bouciquantes shelde of warre who was soone redy to answere they ran togyder the lorde BeamoÌ„de crossed Bouciquant strake hym so rudely that he bare hym to therche passed forthe the knight was releued by his men and set agayne on hors backe ran again togyder two other courses without any doÌ„mage thaÌ„ sir Peter Curency who had great desyre to ryn sixe courses caused his squyer to touche all thre sheldes of warre wherof the freÌ„chmen had marueile demaâ—ded what he enteÌ„ded therby he answered that it was his pleasure to ryn with eche knight .ii. courses without he were lette by the way his deâ—yre was graunted Than sir Raynolde du Royran first They came togider with good aduysemeÌ„t howbeit the first course they fayled for their horses refused at the cope wherwith they were sore displeased they railed nat at the ii course but sir Raynold dishelmed the englisshe knyght passed forth retourned to his place held hiÌ„ styl for he had ron his two courses Than the lorde of sair Pye caâ—e forthe to iust ran eche agaynst other brake their speres the .ii. course the lorde of saint Pye strake sir Peter Courtney a crosse sir Pet strake hym on the helme vnhelmed hym so caÌ„e to their owne places than sir Bouciquat to acoÌ„plisshe sir Peters desire came forthe ran met eche other in the myddê of their heldes so rudely that both their horses stakered in the place more hurt there was nat the .ii. course they vnhelmed eche other These .vi. courses done sir Peter Courtney desyred to ryn one course more with one of the thre knightes which as pleased theÌ„ but he was refused it was sayd to him that he had done ynough for the day so he rested Than preced forthe a geÌ„tyl man of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Gouloufer he sent to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde 〈◊〉 Roy who was redy to answere they ran frely togider ataynted eche other of the helmes without dishelmyng or brekyng of their speres so passed by the secoÌ„de course their horses refused to mete the .iii. course they met in their sheldes brake their staues the fourth course they mist the .v. course they vnhelmed eche other retourned to their places Than a valiant knight of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Rolscau who was a well trauelled knight well knowen he touched the shelde of the lord of saint Pye that knight was redy to answere they ran togyder met so rudely that their horses stayed with the cope the .ii. course their horses swarued asyde myst eche other wherof the knightê were displeased the .iii. course they met strake eche other in the viser of their helmes so that they were bothe vnhelmed The englysshe knyght retourned to his coÌ„pany iusted no more Than came forthe sir Peter Shirborne a yong knight touched the sheld of sir Bouciquant the knight was redy ran togider myst by outraging of their horses they taried nat long but ran togider agayne the .ii. course strake eche other in the syght of their helmes sir BouciquaÌ„tes spere brake thenglysshe knyghtê spere helde so that therby sir Boucyquant was vnhelmed so rudely that the blode ran out at his nose so he returned to his pausiyon ran no more that day for it was nere night but sir Peter shirborne wolde nat leue so but wolde ryn out his .iii. course he sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saint Pye who was incoÌ„tynent redy They ran togider tainted eche other on the helmes but their speres grated nat if they had by moost lykelhod they had taken hurte the .ii. course they strake eche other on the sheldes brake their staues in thre peces theÌ„glisshe knight was borne to therthe they ran no more that day for it was nere night Than the englysshmen drewe togider deê‘ted and rode to Calays and there deuysed that nyght of that had ben done that day In lykewise the freÌ„chmen rode to saynt Ingylbertes coÌ„muned deuised of that had ben done the same day The tuesday after masse all suche as shulde iust that day or wolde gyue the lokyng on rode out of Calis came to the place apoynted and the FreÌ„chmen were redy there to receyue theÌ„ the day was fayre and hote Whan thenglysshmen were armed than
sir WyllmÌ„ Clyfron and expert knight of Englande caused his squier to touche the targe of sir Bouciquant IncoÌ„tinent the knight issued out of his pauylion armed at all peces the two knightes came toguider taynted eche other on the shelde and passed by without brekyng of their speares The .ii. course they crossed on their helmes the .iii. course they encountred ech other so on the sheldes that their horses stode styll the .iiii. course was well employed they vnhelmed eche other The englysshe knight ran no more it was said to hym he had done ynough Than on theÌ„glisshe ê‘te came forthe a lusty yong knight called sir Nicholas clynton he touched the lorde of saynt Pies shelde the knight anon was redy they met togider so euyn that eche of theÌ„ brake their speres in iii. peces with suche force that the knight were in dauÌ„ger to haue taken domage but they passed by caÌ„e to their places the .ii. course they tainted eche other on the helmes passed by the iii. course their horses crossed fayled the .iiii course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed the englysshe knight who ran no more that daye for men said he had well valiantly done quited hymselfe how other must haue place to iust ThaÌ„ a kynsman of therle of HuÌ„tingdon caÌ„e forthe called WyllmÌ„ Stamert he caused to touche the shelde of ser Raynold of Roy. they ran togider with frewyll tainted eche other the englysshe knight lost his spere the .ii. courie they met but theÌ„glisshe knight warued aside I can nat tell wheder the faut was in the knight or in the horse but sir Raynolde strake him so rudely on the targe that he sore reuersed so passed by made theÌ„ redy to ryn the third course so tainted eche other on the helmes that the fire sprang out lost both their speres the iiii course they ataynted ech other in the sight of their helmes with that course sir WyllmÌ„ stamert was dishelmed nigh borne to therthe howbeit he fell nat returned to his coÌ„pany ran no more that day Than another squier of EnglaÌ„de caÌ„e forth called LaÌ„castre he sent to touche the shelde of sir Bouâ—iquant they ran togider tainted ech other on the helmes that the fire flewe out marueyle it was that they had nat ben vnhelmed It was nat long tyll they ran the .ii. course but their horses crossed the thirde course they were both vnhelmed and the Englysshe squyer iusted no more that day Than a yonge knight called sir IohnÌ„ Tayl boise iusted with the lorde of saynt Pye and encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes and brake their staues the .ii. course their horses crossed and the iii. course they were bothe vnhelmed the Englisshe knight ran no more that day Than stepte forthe it Godfray of Seca a gentyll knight and a good iuster that was well sene by hym he encouÌ„tred with sir Raynolde du Roy. They came right toguyder mette in their sheldes the speres were good and wolde nat breke so that it made their horses to reeule and than recouered kepte styll their speres and than ran agayne these coude course the ressed in fante of the horses and nat of the knyghtes and they lost bothe their staues they ran agayne the .iii. course The Englysshe knight strake sir Raynolde on the helme that he was vnhelmed and sir Raynolde strake that Englysshe knight on the targe so rudely and with suche strength for he was called one of the best iusters in all the realme of Fraunce Also he lyued in amours with a yong lady whiche aueyled hym in all his businesse that he perced theÌ„glisshmans targe clene through the speare heed entred in to the arme and the spere brake the trouchon stacke styll in the shelde in the knyght arme yet for all that the knight made his turne came to his place fresshly than his coÌ„pany drewe out the trouchyon bounde his arme and sir Raynolde retourned to his coÌ„pany Of that course sir Roynolde du Roy was greatly praysed on bothe ê‘ties for all the hurtyng of the knight for suche is the adueÌ„tures of armes to some good to some yuell Than came forthe an Esquyer of Englande called Balquet and sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saynt Py who was redy to answere They couched their speares ran toguyder the first course they taynted eche other on their helmes and loste their staues they toke their staues agayne and in the aprochyng their horses crossed and so passed by and retourned agayne to their places They taryed nat long but ran eche at other with that course Blaqueâ— strake the lorde of saynt Pye a hye on the helme and gaue hym a sore stroke saynt Pye strake him in the sight of the heelm a sorer stroke so that therwith he was so vnhelmed that the bocle behynde brake and the helme fell to the grouÌ„de Than Blaquet retourned to his copany iusted no more that day And the lorde of saynt Pye sate styll on his horse abyding other comers Than a gentyll knight or Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Bolcas touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was there redy to answere they strake eche other on the shelde that it was marueile they were nat perced for their speres were strong how be it they passed by lost their speares without any other doÌ„mage The .ii. course they taynted on the helmes without any hurte passed by the .iii. course they crossed the .iiii. course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed rude lye sir Iohan Bolcas After that course the englisshe knight ran no more Than a yong knyght of Englande richely armed named Thomelyn Massydone he touched the shelde or warre of sir Bouciquant He was incontynent answered The first course they crossed on the helmes the .ii. course they met and Thomelyn brake his spere in troÌ„chions and Bouciquant strake hym so sore that he bare hym to the erthe ouer his horse backe Than his coÌ„panyon toke hym vp and he iusted no more Than another squier of Englande called Nauerton touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant sayeng howe he wolde reuenge his company whom Bouciquant had ouerthrowen in his pÌ„sence who was redy to answere The first course they strake eche other in the viser of their helmes without any other doÌ„mage the .ii. course they strake eche other in their sheldes so that their horses reculed brake their speares in thre peces Than they retourned to their places toke newe speares and met agayne togyder sir Bouciquant receyued a great stroke on the shelde but he strake Nauerton in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed who ran no more that day for euery man sayde he had well acquyted hym selfe Than another squyer called Sequaqueton an experte man of armes sente to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roye the knyght was redy to answere well mouÌ„ted with shelde speare They mette so rudely that Sequaqueton bare
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌ„tynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌ„de this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌ„mynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌ„mendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌ„des heritage in these ê‘ties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌ„maunde the vycount of Meaulx to deê‘te fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ„ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ„ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌ„deth on the froÌ„ters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse ê‘teynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌ„ce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌ„don And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌ„sayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌ„don and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌ„sayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌ„ce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌ„ce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ„ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌ„sayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
counsayle and we haue great marueyle and good cause why howe my lorde of Berrey dothe commaunde vs and maketh requeste for his enemyes that we shulde reyse our siege by reason of that we say generally that we shal gyue ensample to all theues and robbers suche as wyll ouer ron the realme to do the worst they canne Wherfore Pyer ye shall say to the duke of Berrey fro vs all that we are and shall be redy inclyned to do any thynge that he commaundeth vs to do but as in this case I am so straytely enioyned and cōmaunded by the kyng and his coūsayle to kepe this siege and to contynewe it tyll I haue the fortresse and them within at my pleasure whiche cōmaundemente I dare nat brake and say that surely I wyll obey to no cōmaundement but alonely to the kynges whose subget Iame and by whome I am sente hyther But sir I requyre you shewe me one thynge if ye can who hath made this request for Aymergotte Marcell who hath done so moche yuell and anoyaunce to the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn and nowe he is atrapped lyke as a traytoure shulde be and is nere come to an yuell ende whiche he hathe well deserued for he hath erred and done contrary to his othe Syr quod the squyer there came to my lorde the duke of Berrey two men of Englande an haraulde and another who brought letters to my lorde fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre and they made greate request for Aymergotte I beleue you well quod the vycounte it was Derby the haraulde and a squyer called Herbery they brought me this other daye lyke letters wherfore I suppose that the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre wrote to the duke of Berrey in this mater wherfore shewe to my lorde of Berrey that I desyre him to consydre all thinges well for all these requestes that are come fro the other syde of the see are but desyres purchased by our enemyes to the which no lorde on this syde the see if he loue the honoure and profyte of the realme of Fraunce shulde enclyne nor condyscende Sir quod the squyer I shall forget nothynge of that ye haue shewed me for I loue nat Aymergot I had rather se his punysshmente thanne his delyueraunce So the Squyer departed and rode to Nonecte where he founde the duke of Berrey and dyd his message ryght sagely the conclusyon was that the vycounte of Meaulx sayde surely he wold nat departe fro the siege before the Roche of Vandoys without the kynge sente hym strayte commaundemente so to do With this aunswere the duke of Berrey was nat well contente he had thought that as well his commaundement shulde haue been obeyed specyally in Auuergne WHan the englysshe squyer and Derby the haraulde herde of the answere that was made to the duke of Berrey and howe that the siege was nat raysed they were sory and sawe well they traueyled in vayne than they sayde to the duke Syr what wyll ye counsayle vs to do shall we thus departe frome you without spedynge of any thynge to purpose The kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre haue great truste and affyaunce in you that ye shuld cause this siege to be reysed bycause the Roche of Vandoys is vnder our signoury Syrs quod the duke suffre a season Aymergot Marcell is in a stronge place he nedeth nat to feare takyng without a great vnhappe and shortely I purpose to goo in to Fraunce to the kynge and thanne I wyll speke with the Kynge and his counsayle and for the loue of my cosyns of Englande I shall do the beste I canne to bringe the matter to passe and ye shall go with me and se howe I shall spede With those wordes the Squyer and the haraulde were contente Than the fourth day after the duke departed fro Nonecte and lefte there the duchesse his wyfe with a gret parte of his householde and so the duke rode to Ryon in Auuergne and there he taryed more thanne eyght dayes for the erle of Sanxere and the lorde Rule who were gone to Auignon aboute the dukes busynesse and whan they were come they departed fro Ryon all togyther and toke the waye throughe Burbonoys and at laste came to Bourges in Berrey and there the duke taryed two dayes Than he rode to Mehun on the ryuer of yeure to a castell one of the fayrest houses of the worlde as thanne the duke had newly bylte it and it had coste hym thre hundred thousande frankes There the duke taryed fyftene dayes wherwith the Englysshe messangers were sore troubled howbeit they coude fynde none other remedy The duke as than made lytell force for the delyueraunce of Aymergot I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes So it was the erle of Sanxere and the lorde of Rule who were chefe of the dukes counsayle with syr Peter Mespyn they in fayre maner blamed the duke and sayde howe he hadde nothinge to do to medell with the busynesse of Aymergot sayenge that his lyfe hathe been alwayes dyshonourable and howe that he was but a false palyarte and alwayes agaynste the crowne of Fraunce and had doone many vyllayne dedes and roboryes in Auuergne and in Lymosyn and how that he was no mete parsone to be entreated for wherfore syr quod they suffre the kynge and his counsayle to deale with hym as they lyste These wordes and suche other refrayned the duke of Berrey to speke any further in the mater Howe be it the two englysshe men dyd their best to remembre the duke And the duke dissymulynge aunswered them curtessy and sayde Syrs suffre a season we shall be shortely at Parys but for all his wordes he taryed styll at Mehun more thanne thre wekes deuysynge with his mayster workeman as keruers and paynters for therin he had great fantasy He had a mayster workeman called maister Andrewe as than one of the best worke men of the worlde an Englysshe man borne but he dwelte in Fraunce and in Haynalte a longe season Nowe shall I shewe you what fortuned of Aymergot Marcell and of the roche of Vandoys This Aymergot was a farre castynge man and whan he sawe that that siege was nat reysed he thought well that the kyng of Englandes messangers coude nat spede of their sute than he thought on another turne as to departe thens and to ryde nyght and daye to speke with the capitaynes of Piergourt and Pyerguyse and with Guyot of saint Fayth and Ernalton of saynt Calombe Ernalton of Rostem Iohn̄ of Morsen Pier Danchin and Remonet of Cōpayne and with dyuers other gascoyns and bernoyse in the englysshe garysons and he thought that with his fayre wordes he shuld cause them to assemble togyther and to come in to Auuergne on truste to wynne great botyes and so on a mornyng or in the night to come and reyse the siege before Vandoys and to take there the frenche men prisoners whiche shulde be worthe to them
Englysshe men for he had ben dyuers tymes amonge them Thanne sir Wyllyam of Haynaulte purposed whyle he made his prouisyon to go in to Hollande to se his father Auberte erle of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande to the entente to speke with hym and to take leaue to go in to Englande He deê“ted fro Quesnoy in Haynault and rode tyll he came to Haye in Hollande where the erle his father was at that tyme. and there he shewed his father his purpose that he was in to go in to Englande to se the countrey his cosyns whom he had neuer sene Than therle his father answered and sayd Wyllyam my fayre son ye haue nothyng to do in EnglaÌ„de for nowe ye be by couenaunt of maryage alyed to the realme of Fraunce and your suster to be maryed to the duke of Burgoyne wherfore ye nede nat to seke none other alyaunce Dere father quod he I wyll nat go in to Englande to make any alyauÌ„ce I do it but to feest and make myrthe with my cosins there whom as yet I neuer sawe bycause the feest whiche shal be holden at London is publisshed abrode wherfore syth I am signifyed therof shulde nat go thyder it shulde be sayd I were proude presuptuous wher fore in the sauynge of myne honoure I wyll go thider therfore dere father I requyre you agree therto Sonne quod he do as ye lyste but I thynke surely it were better that ye taryed at home Whan the erle of Ostrenaunt sawe that his wordes contented nat his father he wolde speke no more therof but fell in other coÌ„municacion But he thought well ynough what he wolde do and so dayly sent his prouisyon towardes Calais Gomegynes the heraulde was sente in to Englande fro therle of Ostrenaunt to gyue knowlege to kynge Rycharde and to his vncles howe that he wolde come honorably to his feest at London Of those tidynges the kynge and his vncles were ryght ioyouse and gaue to the heraulde great giftes whiche after stode hym in great stede For after in the ende of his dayes he fell blynde I can nat tell if god were displeased with hym or nat in his dayes he lyued marueylously wherfore in his olde dayes and that he hadde loste his syght there were but fewe that were sorte therof Thus the erle of Ostrenaunt departed from Haye in Hollande and toke leaue of his father and so retourned to Quesnoy in Heynaulte to the couÌ„tesse his wyfe THis noble feest wherof I make meÌ„cyon was publysshed and cryed in dyuers places wherby knyghtes squyers and other aduaunsed them selfes to go thyder The erle Walleran of saynt Pole who as than had to his wyfe kyng Richarde of Englandes suster He prepared greatly to go in to Englande and so came to Calys And also the erle Ostrenaunt departed fro Heynaulte well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers and so passed throughe the countrey of Arthoys and came also to Calis and there he founde the erle of saynt Poule and the shyppes passagers of Douer were there redy and whan the shippes were charged and the wynde good these lordes tooke the see howe be it as it was shewed me and I thynke it true that therle of saynt Poule passed first in to Englande before the erle of Ostrenaunt And whan he came to London he founde there the kyng and his brother in lawe sir Iohan Hollande and other lordes and knyghtes of Englande who receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym tidynges of the realme of Fraunce He aunswered well wysely Than therle of Ostrenaunt passed ouer on a thursdaye and so caÌ„e to Cauterbury and on the friday he visyted saint Thomas shrine and offred there in the mornyng and laye there all that daye the nexte day rode to Rochester And bycause he had so gret a company and cariages he rode but small iourneys to ease his horse And on the sondaye he rode to dyner to Dertforde after dyuer to London to be at the feest whiche began the same sonday ON the sonday nexte after the feest of saynt Michaell this feest and tryuÌ„phe shulde begyn and that daye to be done in Smythfelde iustes called the chalenge So the same sonday about thre of the clocke at after noone there issued out of the towre of London first threscore coursers apparelled for the Iustes and on euery one a squier of honour ridyng a softe pase Than issued out threscore ladyes of honour mounted on fayre palfreys ridyng on the one syde richely apparelled and euery lady ledde a knight with a cheyne of syluer which knightes were apparelled to iust Thus they cam ridynge a longe the stretes of London with great nombre of trumpettes and other mynstrelles And so came to Smythfelde where the quene of Englande and other ladies and damoselles were redy in chaÌ„bres richely adorned to se the iustes and the king was with the quene And whan the ladyes that ledde the knyghtes were come to the place they were taken downe fro their palfreys they mouÌ„ted vp in to chambres redy aparelled for theÌ„ Than the squiers of honour alighted fro the coursers the knightes in good order mouÌ„ted on them than their helmes were sette on and made redy at all poyntes Than thyder came the erle of saynt Poule nobly accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers all armed with harnesse for the iustes to begynne the feest whiche incontynent beganne and there iusted all knyghtes straungers suche as wolde and hadde leysar and space for the nyght came on Thus these iustes of chaleng began and coÌ„tynued tyll it was night Than knyghtes and ladyes withdrue them selfes the quene was lodged besyde Poules in the bysshoppes palace and there was the supper prepared The same euennynge came therle of Ostrenaunt to the kyng who was nobly receyued ¶ Nowe for these iustes on the sonday For the aunswerer without The erle Walleran of saynt Poule had the price And of the chalengers the erle of Huntyngdon There was goodly dauÌ„syng in the quenes lodgyng in the presence of the kynge and his vncles and other barons of Englande and ladyes and damoselles contynuyng tyll it was daye whiche was tyme for euery persone to drawe to their lodgynges except the kyng and the quene who lay there in the Bysshoppes Palays for there they laye all the feestes and iustes duryng ON the nexte day whiche was mondaye ye myght haue sene in dyuers places of the cytie of London squyers and varlettes goynge aboute with harnesse and doynge of other busynesse of their maisters After noon kynge Richarde came to the place all armed richely apparelled accompanyed with Dukes erles lordes and knyghtes He was one of the inner partie Than the quene well accompanyed with ladyes and damosels came to the place where the iustes shulde be and mounted in to chaÌ„bres and scaffoldes ordayned for theÌ„ Than came in to the felde the erle of Ostrenaunte well accoÌ„panyed with knyghtes of his couÌ„trey and all were redy to iuste Than came the
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
a voyage for you thanne to go to Rome with a great puyssaunce of men of armes and pull downe and dystroy that antepaye whome the romayns by force hath created and set in the seate cathedrall of saynt Peter if ye wyll ye maye well accomplysshe this voyage and we suppose ye can nat passe your tyme more honorably And syr ye maye well know that if this antepape and his cardynals knowe ones that ye be mynded to come on them with an army they wyll yelde them self aske mercy The kynge remēbred hym selfe a lytell and sayd howe he wolde do as they had deuysed for surely he said he was moche bounde to pope Clement for the yere past he had ben at Auygnon where as the pope and his cardynals made hym ryght honourable chere and had gyuen more than was demaunded bothe to hym selfe to his brother and to his vncles wherfore the kynge sayd it hadde deserued to haue some recompence and also at his departure fro Auignon he had promysed the pope to helpe to assyst hym in his quarell At that season there was at Parys with the kyng the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne than it was agreed and concluded that the nexte Marche after the kynge shuld departe fro Parys and take the way towardes Sauoy and Lombardy and the erle of Sauoy to sende his cosyn Germayne with hym and the kynge to haue vnder his charge the duke of Tourayne his brother with four thousande speares and the duke of Burgoyne with two thousande speares and the duke of Berrey two thousāde the constable of Fraunce two thousande speares with the bretons raintoners and lowe marches the duke of Burbon a thousāde speares the lorde of saynt Poll and the lorde of Coucy a thousande speares all these men of armes to be payed in hande for thre monethes and so fro terme to terme And whan those tydynges were knowen in Auignon pope Clement and his cardynals were greatly reioysed and thought in a maner their enterprise atcheued Also the kinge was coūsayled nat to leaue the duke of Bretayne behynde hym but to sende and to desyre hym to prepare hym selfe to go with him in this voyage The kyng wrote notably to hym and sent his letters by a man of honour an offycer of armes signyfyenge the duke in his letters the state of this voyage Whan the duke had red these letters he turned hym selfe smyled and called to hym the lorde of Mountboucher and sayd Syr harke and regarde well what the frenche kyng hath written to me he hath enterprised to departe this next Marche with a great puissaunce to go to Rome and to distroy suche as take parte with pope Bonyface As god helpe me his iourney shall tourne to nothynge for in shorte space he shall haue more flax to his dystaffe than he can well spynne I thynke he wyll leaue soone his folyssh thought And also he desyreth me to go with hym with two thousande speares howebeit I wyll honour him as I ought to do and I wyll write to him ioyously bycause he shall be contente and shewe hym howe if he go in this voyage he shall nat go without me seyng it pleaseth him to haue my company howe be it sir of Moūtboucher I say vnto you I wyll nat traueyle a man of myne for all that the kyng hath purposed and sayd nothynge shall there be done in that behalfe The duke of Bretayne wrote goodly letters and swete to the frenche kynge and the officer of armes returned with theym to Parys and delyuered them to the kynge who redde them and was well contented with the aunswere ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the Englysshe knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the frenche kynge fro the kynge of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Cap. C .lxxv. THe wyll and purpose of the frenche kynge none wolde breke for it pleased greatly all the knyghtes squyers of Fraunce bycause they wyst nat where better to enploy their season and euery man prepared towardes that voyage and namely the clergy of all the prouynces of the realme ordayned and graunted a tayle to sende at their costes and charges men of warre with the kynge Howe be it this voyage tourned to nothynge as the duke of Bretayne had sayd before and I shall shewe you by what incidence About the feest of Candelmas came other tydynges to the Frenche kyng and to his counsayle whiche they loked nothynge for Certayne of the kynge of Englandes coūsayle and suche as were of his priuy chambre were sent nobly to Parys to the frenche kyng and they that were chefe of this legacyon was syr Thomas Percy syr Loys Clyfforde and sir Robert Briquet with dyuers other knyghtes in their company but I herde as than no mo named Whan these thre knyghtes were come to Parys to hym than the french kyng was desyrous to knowe what it myght meane that the kynge of Englande dyd sende so hastely of his counsayle to hym These knyghtes of Englande syr Thomas Percy and other alyghted in Parys in the streate called the Crosse at the signe of the castell The frenche kynge as than lay in the castell of Lowere his brother the duke of Tourayne with hym and his other thre vncles in other lodgynges in the cytie and the cōstable syr Olyuer Clysson It was nere hāde noone whan the englysshe men came to Parys and they kept their lodgynge all that day nyght after and the next day aboute nyue of the clocke they lept on their horses ryght honorably and rode to the castell of Loure to the kyng where he with his brother and vncles the Erle of saint Poll the lorde of Coucy the constable of Fraūce sir Iohan of Vien sir Guy de la tremoyle with dyuers other barons of Fraunce were redy to receyue the englysshe ambassadours who alyghted at the gate and entred in and there receyued them the lord de la Ryuer syr Iohan Mercyer sir Lyon of Lignach sir Peter Villers sir Willyam of Tremoyle and syr Marcell there they receyued them honourably and brought theym in to the chambre where the kynge taryed for them Than they dyd of their bonettes and kneled downe syr Thomas Percy hadde the letters of credence that the kynge of Englande had sente to the frenche kynge he delyuered them to the kyng who tooke them and caused the knyghtes to stande vp than they stepe some what backe The kynge opyned the letters and red them and sawe well that they had credence than he called to hym his brother and his vncles and shewed them the letters than his vncles sayd Syr call forthe the knyghtes and here what they wyll say Than they aproched and were cōmaunded to declare their credence than si◠Thomas Percy spake and sayd Dere sir the entencyon of our souerayne lorde the kinge of Englande is that he wolde gladly that suche of his specyall counsayle as his vncles dukes of Lancastre yorke and Glocestre and other prelates of
the lady of Dunoyes for her dowrie whiche was assygned to her sixe thousande frankes And furthermore he shulde haue made another sale of all his landes in Heynaulte And the Duke of Thourayne to haue payde for that two hundred thousande frankes Howe be it therin the erle of Bloys reserued to knowe the erle of Heynaltes pleasure therin who was his naturall lorde to whom he owed faythe and homage for those landes Howe be it that kyng and the duke of Thourayn toke that charge on them and to discharge the erle what soeuer shulde fall after Thus or they departed they bounde the erle by promyse and by writynges sealed as they might well and easely do for he had there none of his couÌ„sayle saue Sohier who neuer was at scole nor knewe no letter on the boke Moche after this maner went this marchandise and I haue written this mater as iustely as I coude to th entent that herafter in tyme to come by reason of writyng the trouthe shulde be knowen For the erle Guye of Bloys my lorde mayster as he that was ignorant and yuell counsayled more by his wyfe and varlet Sohier thaÌ„ by any other made this yuell bargayne And whan these maters were concluded and surely made by the kyng the duke of Thourayne and their counsayle than the lordes toke their leaue and retourned in to FrauÌ„ce Great brute was made of these sales in dyuers countries ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spaygne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the frenche kyng and his counsayle for the Vicount of Chastelons busynesse and howe howe he was sette in possession of the countie of Foiz of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii HOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of sir Roger of spaygne and of sir Espaygne du Lyon and shewe how they spedde aft they were retourned fro Tourle to go to Tholous to the bysshop of Noyon and to the lorde de la Ryuer So longe they iourneyd that they came thyder they were welcome for their coÌ„mynge was fore desyred There they shewed their letters and howe they had spedde By semblaunt the bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryuer were ioyouse of that the herytauÌ„ce shulde abyde with the Vycount of Chastellon on suche condycions as is before written Than sir Roger and his coÌ„panyon thought to take some more payne as to ryde to the Vycount of Chastellon and to the counsayls of Foize and of Bierne to se that euery thyng be sette in good order Than they departed fro Tholous and rode to saynt Gracyens the Vicount was nat there but he was at the entre of Berne in a fayre castell called Pau and there they founde hym who was ioyfull of their coÌ„mynge And whan he knewe that the Frenche kyng had gyuen vp his tytell of the byeng of the couÌ„tie of Foiz he was gladder than he was before As for the money that he shulde paye he wyst well ynoughe where to haue it and moche more ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his counsayle and of the kynge of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii I Thynke I haue sufficiently treated of the busynesse of Bierne and of foiz for if I shulde reherse all thynges it wolde requyre long writyng therfore I wyll leaue spekyng therof and create of other maters Thus all thyngê coÌ„cluded the vicount of Chatellon was erle of Foiz and lorde of Berne in lyke maner as the older erle helde it and all suche as ought so to do made homage to hym he departed largely with ser yuan and sir Gracien tholde erles bastarde sones in suche wyse that they were content and payde to the FreÌ„che kyng all suche money as was ê“mised to be payde This mater was nat sone done somer was first well onwarde and the bisshop of Noyon and the lorde de la Ryuer taryed styll at Tholous tyll euery thyng was set in good order accordyng as they were charged Nowe let vs speke of thassemble of the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande in the good cyte of Amyence on the treatie of a peace or of a truce as than beyng the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx .xi. in the myddes of lent great prouision was made ther for these lordê or they caÌ„e thider First for the frenche kyng for his estate and for his thre vncles and also for other great lordes of FrauÌ„ce euery man after his degre for it was said that kyng Richard of EnglaÌ„de shulde be there wherfore many desyred to se him such as had neuer sene him before how beit he came nat there yet he caÌ„e to Douer to th entent to haue passed the see his thre vncles with hym that is to say the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester whan they came to Douer they tooke aduyse whyder it were mete for the kyng to passe the see or nat All thynges consydred the counsayle of Englande was of opinyon that the kyng shuld byde at Douer the duke of Gloceter with him and the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke therle of HuÌ„tyngton therle of Derby sir thomas Percy the bysshops of Durham London and other of the kynges couÌ„saile to passe ouer so they came to Calais And whan the day aproched that they shulde mete at AmyeÌ„ce they deê‘ted fro Calysmo than .xii. C. horse it was a goodly syght to se theÌ„ ryde in good order The frenche kyng had ordayned that after thenglisshmen came out of Calis both goyng abyding returnyng all their costes and charges were borne of the frenche kyngê charge as mete driÌ„ke lodgyng horse mete With the duke of LaÌ„castre the duke of yorke there caÌ„e their cosyn dought to their suster to the lorde Coucy who was a faire yoÌ„g lady called the lady of yrelaÌ„de for she was wedded to the duke of yrelaÌ„de this lady caÌ„e to Amyens to se the lorde her father the lorde Coucy for she had nat sene hym moche before wherfore she hadde great desyre to se hym She came lyke a noble widowe hauyng but small ioye in her co age THe Frenche kyng had ordayned to make the Englysshe men as moche honour as coude be deuysed and to the foure dukes that is to saye The duke of Thourayn the Frenche kynges brother and the dukes of Burbon of Berrey and or Burgoyne lâ—pte on their horses and rode out of the towne to mete with the englisshmen acoÌ„panyed with many other great lordes Fyrst mette with theÌ„ the duke Loys of Thourayn well acoÌ„panyed and honorably receyued his colyns of Englande there coÌ„muned a certayne space with theÌ„ than he toke his leaue and departed agayne with all his company and so rode streight to the cytie to the kynge his brother And the other thre dukes the kynges vncles Berrey Burbone Burgoyne mette with the Englysshe dukes in the felde and made great chere and honorable eche to other that ioye it was to se Than the geÌ„tyll
for he was greatly in the loue of the realme Than it was shewed to the knightes of Fraunce that they muste go with them to London otherwyse they coulde haue none answere The two knightes obeyed as it was reason Than the kynge toke his way and the lordes with him to London Whan the kynge came to Darfforde he tooke his waye to Eltham and refresshed him there with the quene and than came to Shene and wente agaynst saynte Georges feest to Wyndsore and there the knyghtes of Fraunce were answered but or I shewe you their aunswereê I wyll somewhat speke of the frenche kynge AFter that this assemble and couÌ„sayle had been at Amyence the Frenche kynge for lacke of good gydyng fell sycke of the feuer wherfore he was counsayled to chaunge the ayre So he was layde in a lytter and caryed to Beamoys and there taryed in the bysshops palays tyll he was hole and recouered his brother the duke of Thourayne with him his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burbone there he helde his Easter And after whan the kynge was stronge and myght well ryde he rode to Gysors the entryng in to NormaÌ„dy to haue there the sporte of huntynge for theraboute were many fayre wodes The kyng beynge there sir Bernarde of Armynake who was brother to Iohan of Armynake came to the kynge in good array and the Dolphyn of Auuergne in his company whome he founde at Parys in his waye There the erle of Armynake and the Erle of Rodays made their reliefe and homage to the kynge acordinge to the custome as other lordes of Fraunce made their relyefe for suche landes as they helde in fee of the kynge And whan euery thyng was writen and regestred they toke their leaue and retourned to Paris togyther and fro thence to their countreys to Auuergne and to Languedoc And about the feest of Ascensyon tyde the frenche kynge retourned to Parys in good helthe and lodged at his howse of saynte Poll the whiche was ordeyned for hym and thyder was come the frenche quene and the duches of Thourayne NOwe let vs speke of syr Iohan of Castell Morante and of syr Taupyn of Cantmell who were in Englande taryenge for an answere of the kyng and his counsayle They were at Wyndesore at saynte Georges feest where was the kynge his vncles and other great lordes of Englande There these lordes counsayled togyther on suche promyse as they had made to the frenche kyng and his counsayle at Amyence and determyned to delyuer the two Frenche knyghtes that dayly called on them for an aunswere Than these knyghtes were sente for on a day and it was sayde to them thus Syrs be contente for all thinges consydred ye canne haue of vs no full answere at this tyme for it wolde be harde as nowe to assemble togyther the thre estates of the realme vntyll the feest of Mychelmas at whiche tyme they muste nedes be at the parlyamente at Westmynster and to excuse you we shall write letters for the same purpose at whiche season if you or any other for the partie of FrauÌ„ce wyll traueyle so farre as to come thyder they shall haue a reasonable answere suche as generally the hole counsayle of the thre astates shall agre vnto whan the frenche knyghtes sawe what aunswere they had and coulde haue none other they aunswered and sayd Syr we are contente with that ye haue sayd lette vs haue our letters and we shall retourne Than their letters were delyuered to them and so toke their leaue of the kynge and of other lordes and so came fro Wyndesore to London and made theÌ„ redy to departe The kyng of Englande caused all their cestes and charges to be payed for and conueyed to Douer and there taryed a fyue dayes for lacke of wynde and on the sixte day they departed and aryued at Boloyne and whanne their horses were vnshypped they rode to AmyeÌ„ce by small iourneys so to Paris and there they founde the kynge and his lordes It was aboute the feest of Penthecost Their letters were redde wherby they vnderstode the ordynauÌ„ce of the englysshmen As it was shewed me the kynge nor his counsayle toke lytell regarde to the mater for within a season after they had moche ado in other places ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe syr Peter of craon through yuell wyll by subtyle crafte beate downe syr Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the Kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Ca. C.lxxxv YE haue well herde here before how ser Peter of Craon who was a knyght of great lygnage but he was farre out of the frenche kynges grace and the duke of Thourayns if he dyd somoche to cause them to be displeased with him he dyd yuell ye haue herde also howe he was gone in to Bretayne to the duke who shewed hym that the yuell wyll that the kynge bare hym was by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson It may well be that he was so enfourmed in that he hadde so great hate to the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson for he studyed euer after howe to dystroy hym Thus whyle syr Peter of Craon was with the duke of Bretaygne they wolde often tymes comune togyder and deuise howe they myght bringe syr Olyuer of Clysson to dethe for they sayd that and he were ones deed there was none that wolde greatly reuenge his dethe The duke repeÌ„ted hym that he had nat slayne hym whan he had hym in prisone and wolde as than that it had coste hym a hundred thousande frankes that he had hym agayne at his wyll Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe that the duke had suche hatred to syr Olyuer of Clysson he purposed a marueylous ymaginacien in himselfe for by apparauÌ„ce men shulde gyue iudgement This knyght thought howe so euer it were that he wolde slee the constable and thought to entende to nothynge els tyll he had slayne hym with his owne handes or caused hym to be slayne and afterwarde entreat for peace He douted nothyng IohnÌ„ of Blois nor the sonne of the Vicounte of Rohan who had wedded two of the constables doughters he thought to do well ynough with theym as longe as the duke was on his parte for he sawe well the strengthe and puyssaunce of Bloys was greatly feblysshed for the Erle Guy of Bloys had solde the herytage of Bloys to the duke of Thourayn whiche shulde haue ronne by successyon to therle of Pointhycur Iohan of Bloys wherby he thought that the duke of Thourayne shewed hym but small loue nor alyaunce of lynage to bye away his enherytaunce wherfore this syr Peter thought if syr Olyuer of Clysson were deed sone to apease the kynges yuell wyll and the duke of Thourayns and therby sone to ouercome the lorde de la Ryuer and syr Iohan Mercyer Montagu the Begue of Villayns and syr Iohan of Bulle and other of the Kynges chambre suche as susteyned the constable for he knewe well that the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne loued them nothynge in wardely whatsoeuer they
but they coulde nat be beleued So the two knyghtes remayned styll in prison in dauÌ„ger openly to haue loste their heedes and by all lykelyhode so they had doone if the kynge had nat recouered his helth and by the meane of the duchesse of Berrey who made instante labour for the lorde de la Ryuer And the lorde Clysson was styll in Bretayne and made sore warre agaynst the duke there and the duke agaynst hym whiche warre cost many a mannes lyfe as ye shall here here after in this hystory TRewe it is this sycknesse that the kyng tooke in the voyage towardes Bretayne greatly abated the ioye of the realme of Fraunce and good cause why for whan the heed is sicke the body canne haue no ioye No man durste openly speke therof but kepte it priuy as moche as myght be and it was couertly kept fro the quene for tyll she was delyuered and churched she knewe nothynge therof whiche tyme she had a doughter The physycion mayster Guyllyam who had the chefe charge of healynge of the kynge was styll aboute hym and was ryght dyligent and well acquyted hymselfe wherby he gate bothe honour and profyte for lytell lytell he brought the kynge in good estate and toke away the seuer and the heate and made hym to haue taste and appetyte to eate and drinke slepe rest and knowledge of euery thynge howe be it he was very feble and lytell and lytell he made the Kynge to ryde a huntynge and on hawkynge And whanne tydynges was knowen through Fraunce howe the kynge was well mended and had his memory agayne euery man was ioyfull and thanked god the kyng thus beyng at Crayell desyred to se the quene his wyfe and the Dolphyn his sonne So the quene came thyder to him and the chylde was brought thyder The kynge made them good chere and so lytell and lytell through the helpe of god the kynge recouered his helthe And whan mayster Guyllyam sawe the kynge in so good case he was ryght ioyfull as reasone was for he had done a fayre cure and so delyuered hym to the dukes of Orlyance Berrey Burgoyne and Burbone and sayd My lordes thanked be god the kyng is nowe in good state and helth so I delyuer hym but beware lette no man dysplease hym for as yet his spyrytes be nat fully ferme nor stable but lytell and lytell he shall waxe stronge Reasonable dysporte rest and myrthe shall be moste profytable for hym and trouble hym as lytell as may be with any counsayles for he hath been sharpely handeled with a hote malady Than it was consydred to retaygne this mayster Guylliam and to gyue hym that he shulde be contente with all whiche is the ende that all physicions requyre to haue gyftes and rewardes He was desyred to abyde styll aboute the kynge but he excused himselfe and sayd howe he was an olde impotent man and coulde nat endure the maner of courte wherfore he desyred to returne in to his owne countrey Whan the counsayle sawe he wolde none otherwyse do they gaue him leaue and at his departing gaue him a thousande crownes and retayned hym in wages with four horses whan so euer he wolde resorte to the courte Howe be it I beleue he neuer came there after for whan he retourned to the cytie of Laon there he contynued and dyed a ryche man He lefte behynde hym a .xxx. thousande frankes All his dayes he was one of the greatest nygardes that euer was all his pleasure was to get good and to spende nothynge for in his howse he neuer spente past two souses of Parys in a day but wolde eate and drinke in other mennes howses where as he myght get it With this rodde lyghtly all physicyons are beaten ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the truse whiche was acorded bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. AS ye haue herde here before in the bokes of this hygh and excellent hystory at the request of the ryght hygh and myghty prynce my dere lorde and mayster Guy of Chastellone erle of Blois lorde of Auesnes of Chymay of Beaumont of Streumehont of the Gode I Iohan Froysart preest and chapeleyn to my said lorde and at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay and of Lysle in Flaunders haue enterprised this noble mater treatynge of the aduentures and warres of Fraunce and Englande and other countreys conioyned and a lyed to them as it may apere clerely by the treaties therof made vnto the date of this presente day the whiche excellent materê as longe as I lyue by the helpe of god I shall coÌ„tynue for the more I folowe and labour it the more it pleaseth me As the noble knyght or squyer louynge the feates of armes do perceyuer in the same and be therby experte and made parfyte so in laborynge of this noble mater I delyte and take pleasure ¶ It hath ben here before conteyned in our hystory howe truce was made at Balyngham to endure thre yere bytwene Englande and Fraunce and for that purpose the erle of saynt Poll the lorde of Castell Morant and syr Taupyn of Cauteuell ambassadours of FrauÌ„ce had ben in Englande with the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke for to vnderstande the kinges pleasure and the opynion of the coÌ„mons of Englande for at the comunycacyon and parlyamente at Amyence they were at a poynte of agrement of peace vpon certayne artycles specifyed reseruynge the agrement therto of the coÌ„mons of Englande thus these ambassadours were retourned in to Fraunce and were answered howe that at the feest of saynt Mychell nexte ensuynge there shulde be a Parlyament at Westmynster of the thre estates of Englande at whiche tyme the mater shulde be declared and a full aunswere made Whan tydynges was come in to Englande of the frenche kynges sycknesse that matter was greatly hyndred howe be it kynge Rycharde of Englande and the duke of Lancastre had great affection to haue had peace so that if they might haue had their ententes peace had ben made bytwene Englande and Fraunce But the coÌ„mynalte of Englande desyred warre sayenge howe warre with Fraunce was more conuenyent for them than peace and of that opynyon was one of the kynges vncles Thâ— mas duke of Glocestre erle of Perces and constable of Englande who was welbeloued in the realme he enclyned rather to the warre than to peace And of his opynyon were the yonge gentylmen of the realme suche as desyred feates of armes But his brother the duke of Lancastre bycause he was eldest and of most puissaunce in Englande he thought and said that the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce had endured longe ynoughe and that peace were more mete â–ª for by the warre cristende me was sore febled for the great turke Lamorabaquyn was with greate puyssaunce on the fronters of HuÌ„gery wherfore he sayd it shulde be honorable to all yonge lusty knyghtes and squyers to take their waye thyder and there to exercyse dedes of armes LEtte
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌ„ded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ— that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâ—tendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌ„myssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌ„t of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌ„ce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌ„maundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌ„dement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌ„maundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌ„ded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌ„e it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌ„ters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌ„sydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌ„sayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌ„che kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ„ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌ„maundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌ„mauÌ„ded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌ„dred crownes of FraÌ„ce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌ„de were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌ„de These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌ„e he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌ„de wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌ„trary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌ„castre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌ„tent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌ„cypall cause was bycause of FlauÌ„ders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
euer they founde her for they sayde she was but a yonge chylde of eyght yere of age wherfore they sayd there coulde nat be in her no great wysdome nor prudence howe be it she was indoctryned well ynough and that the lordes founde well whan they sawe her The Erle Marshall beynge on his knees sayde to her Fayre lady by the grace of god ye shall be our lady and quene of Englande Than aunswered the yonge lady well aduysedly without counsayle of any other person Syr quod she and it please god and my lorde my father that I shall be quene of Englande I shall be glad therof for it is shewed me that I shall be than a great lady Than she toke vp the erle Marshall by the hande and ledde him to the quene her mother who had great ioy of the answere that she had made and so were all other that herde it The maner countenaunce and behauoure of this yonge lady pleased greatly the Ambassadours and they sayd amonge them selfe that she was lykely to be a lady of hygh honoure and great goodnesse Thus whan these lordes of Englande had ben at Parys a twenty dayes and their costes and charges payed for by the frenche kynge a reasonable aunswere was gyuen them so that they were put in great hope to bringe aboute that they came for howe be it the frenche men sayd it coulde nat be doone shortly bycause the lady was so yonge and also she was fyansed to the duke of Bretayns eldest sonne wherfore they sayd they must treat to breke that promesse or they coude procede any further in that mater and thervpon the frenche kynge and his counsayle shulde sende into Englande the next lent after to shewe howe the matter wente And whan the dayes begyn to encreace and waxe fayre Than the kynge of Englande to sende agayne in to Fraunce whome it shulde please hym and they shulde be welcome With this aunswere the englysshe men were contented and toke leaue of the quene and of her doughter and of the kynge and of all other and departed fro Paris and toke the same way they came and so retourned to Calays and than in to Englande and the two erles rode in post before their company to bringe tydynges to the kyng ▪ they rode fro Sandwiche to Wynd sore in lesse thanne a daye and an halfe The kynge was ryght ioyouse of their comynge and was well contente with the frenche kynges aunswere He set the mater so to his herte that he toke great pleasure therin and tooke hede to none other thynge but studyed howe he myght bringe it aboute to haue the frenche kinges doughter to wyfe ON the othersyde the Frenche kynge and his counsayle studyed daye and nyght howe they myght make this maryage with Englande to the honour of the realme of Fraunce There were many in the realme of Fraunce that sayd that if they had been called to these treatyes and our wordes herde the kynge of Englande shulde neuer haue the doughter of Fraunce for any maner of peace What good shulde it be for Fraunce seynge the trewce bytwene them endured but for two yere to come and than shall we fall agayne in warre and eche of vs hate other as we haue doone before The dukes of Berrey and Orlyance were of the same opynion and dyuers other lordes of Fraūce But the king the duke of Burgoyne and the chauncellour of Fraunce enclyned to this maryage and gladde to haue peace reseruyng alwayes the honour of the Realme The same tyme there was a squier in Fraunce of the nacyon of Normandy in the countrey of Caulx he had in his dayes ben sore traueyled in farre parties and as than he was newly retourned into Fraūce his name was Robert le menuot but as than he was called Robert the Hermyte he was relygyous and of good lyfe of the age of fyfty yere he had been at the treaties that was holden at Balyngham at whiche tyme he was well herde and howe he entred than in to that treatie I shall shewe you ⸪ ¶ Of a Squyer named Roberte the Hermyte howe he was sente to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii SO it was whan this Roberte the Hermyte returned in to Fraūce out of the parties of Surey and toke shyppyng at Baruch Whyle he was vpon the see a great tempest of wynde rose in suche wyse that they feared to be perysshed and euery man tell to make his prayers to god And at the ende of this tempest and that the wether began to waxe fayre and clere there apered to Robert the Hermyte an ymage more clere than Crystall and sayd thu◠Robert thou shalte issue and escape this parell and all thy company for loue of the for god hath herde thyne orisons and prayers and he sendeth the worde by me that thou shuldest make hast in to Fraunce and go to the kynge and shewe him thyne aduenture and say vnto him that in any wyse he enclyne to haue peace with his aduersary kynge Rycharde of Englande and amonge them that be treaters of the peace preace thou forthe and shewe them thyne aduysyon for thou shalte be herde and say that all suche as be of the contrary opinyon against the peace shall bye it derely in their lyfe tyme in this worlde And therwith the clerenesse and voyce vanysshed away Than Robert abode in a great study but he remembred well what he hadde sene and herde by the deuyne inspyracyon And after this aduenture they had fayre wether and the wynde at their wysshynge and than aryued in the Ryuer of Gennes and there Robert the Hermyte toke leaue of his company and went by lande fro thence tyll he came to Auygnon And the fyrst thynge he dyd he went to the churche of saynt Peter and there foūde a good vertuous man a penytenser and of hym he was cōfessed and shewed hym all his aduenture and demaunded counsayle what was best to do Than his goostly father charged hym in any wyse that he shulde speke nothynge of this mater tyll he had shewed it fyrste to the frenche kynge and loke what counsayle the kynge dyd gyue him so to do This Robert folowed his counsayle and arayed hym selfe in symple habyte all in gray and so poorely departed fro Auygnon and iourneyed so longe that he came to Parys but the kynge was at Abbeuyle and the treatie beganne at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and Englysshe men as ye haue herde before Than this Robert came to Abuyle and drewe to the kynge and a knyght of his acquayntaunce brought him to the kyng whiche knyght was of Normandy and was called sir Willyam Martell he was of the kynges priuy chambre Than Roberte the Hermyte shewed the Kynge all his hole iourney and aduēture The kyng herde hym well and bycause the duke of Burgoyne and syr Raynolde Corby chauncellour of Fraunce who were of the
mountante to the soÌ„me of thyrty thousande pounde besyde the towne of ValenceÌ„nes who in lyke wyse dyd their deuoyre and also in the towne of Monts These thynges thus concluded the valyaunt princes the good duke Auberte and Giullyam his sonne erle of Ostrenant seynge the good wylles of his men was ryght ioyfull whiche was no meruayle for he sawe well that he was well beloued with his subgiettes and shulde be well fournysshed with money Than he had couÌ„sayle to sende to the frenche kyng and to shewe him the enterprise of his voyage and to desyre ayde of hym and thyder was sent two valyaunt and wyse men that is to saye the lorde Lygne and the lorde of Ieumont who were two ryght valyaunt knyghtes and well beloued with the frenche men and specyally the lorde Lygne the kyng had made hym one of his chamberlayns and had hym in good fauoure he spake with the kynge and shewed hym the dukes entent and request to the whiche the kynge and his counsayle fauourably agreed specyally the duke of Burgoyner bycause his doughter was maryed to therle of OstrenaÌ„t wherby he thought that in tyme to come after it shulde be to their profyte and to their heyres howe be it many great lordes and other spake of this iourney in dyuers maners Some sayd to what purpose dothe these heyno wayes desyre the kyng of ayde they haue ben in Englande sought for ayde there Hath nat the erle of Haynalt of late taken on hym the blewe garter to tye his legge withall which is the ordre in Englande it semyth therby he hath no great affectyon to Fraunce Than other that were ryght wyse answered and sayd Syr ye do wronge to say thus though the erle of Ostrenant haue taken the ordre of the garter yet for all that he is nat alyed with the englysshe men but he is fermly alyed with Fraunce Hath nat he in maryage the lady Katheryne doughter to the duke of Burgoyne whiche is a farre greater alyauÌ„ce than is a garter therfore neuer say but that he wyll loue and do pleasure to Fraunce by reason of his maryage rather than to Englande for yâ— garter wherfore the kinge shall do right honourably to ayde hym Thus the frenche men deuysed amonge them selfe and spake in dyuers maners both of that iourney and also of the iourney in to Hungery and in to Turkey agaynst Lamorabaquy and the turkes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the army that the french kyng sente in to Frese in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran Erle of saynt Powle and the lorde Charles de la Brete were capytaynes Cap. CC.xv THe frenche kynge assembled an armye of fyue huÌ„dred speares as well of pycardes as of frenchmen and made capytayns ouer theÌ„ the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Powle the lorde Charles de la Bret who were valyauÌ„t knyghtes and well expert in armes and they were apoynted to leade this company to the towne of Encuse in base Frese wheâ— as the assemble shulde mete and there to take the see to entre in to high Frese as they dyd Whan these two knightes the lorde Lygne and Iumont sawe the kynges good wyll and that these men of warre were dyspatched their wages payed they came to the kynge and thanked him and toke their leaue and retourned in to Heynalt to their lorde the duke Aubert and to the lorde Gillyam his sonne to whome they were right welcome for they had well sped There they shewed the good answere and good chere that they had with gyftes of great presentes whan duke Auberte knewe that the Frenche kynge had sente hym fyue hundred speares than he assembled all his noble men knyghtes squyers and other of Haynalt as the lorde of Vertayne seneschall of Haynalte who was a valyaunt man and greatly renomed in armes the lordes of Lygne and Comygnes who was made marshall and the lordes of Haureth of Nychelet of Lalyne of Hordayne of Chyne of Cantan of Quesnoy of Fleron and IohnÌ„ his brother the lordes of Bouset and of Ieumont who were fresshe knightes on their enemyes also there was Robertle Rour and the lordes of MoÌ„thâ—aulr of FouÌ„tayns of Seuls and of Sars William of Hermes Pynchart his brother the lordes of Lens of verlamont of Ausealr of Trascigmes Octes Seausâ—es Gyrarde his brother the lorde Dyctre and Iohan his brother Bridaulx of Montaguy Damaulx de la powle and Guy his brother the lorde of Mastynge syr Floridas of Villyers who was a valyaunt man and had doone many dedes of armes amonge the turkes and sarazins and sir Eustace of Vertayn Fierebras of Vertayne who was newly come out of Englande syr Rase of Montiquy the lorde of Rorsyn sir Iohan Dandrâ—gntes and Persant his brother dyuers other knightes and squiers All these he assembled at Monts and desyred them to go with hym and euery man to bringe with hym company acordynge to their degrees and that they wolde auaunce them to the towne of Encuse in base frese and theraboute and so to go with hym by seem to hygh Frese about the myddes of August next after there he sayd he wolde â—ary for them for he wolde go thyder before to moue the holanders and zelanders to serue hym in lyke maner Than these sayd knyghtes and esquyers of Haynalt without any contradictyon acorded to his desyre promysinge to do hym seruyce as his trewe subgiettes whiche they fulfylled in dede and dyligently prepared for the same so that by the begynnyng of the moneth of August in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and syxtene they were all redy aparelled and assembled by companies at Anners there to take the water and fro thence to Encuse where the hole assemble shulde mete ¶ Nowe whyle this assemble was thus made in Haynalte it were to be demaunded if the ladyes and gentle women and other were ioyouse of this iourney We ought to say naye for than they sawe their fathers their bretherne their vncles their husbandes and their louers and frendes departe to that peryllous warre for some of them knewe well howe that in tyme paste the haynoways wente with their lorde in to Frese and neuer retourned agayne wherfore they feared leste it shulde hap so than to these as it dyd on their predecessours The duchesse of Brabant had defended all men in the countrey of Brabant no man to be so hardy to go oute of the countrey in that iourney The ladyes and gentlewomen of Haynalt desyred often tymes their frendes and louers to leaue that iourney but they coulde nat lette the mater howe be it they were sore displeased in their myndes with the basterde of Vertayne Fierebrase for they said he was one of the chyefe setters on of that busynesse Thus after that the duke Aubert and Guillyam his sonne had herde the aunswere of his men of Haynalte than he went in to zelande shewynge them his busynesse and they assented to his request by the chiefe settynge on of
thinke it he is foule abused Therfore sir we humbly beseche you to apeace youre selfe euery thyng shall turne well with goddes grace All that a man speketh coÌ„meth nat to effecte nor all that he sayth oftentymes he can nat accoÌ„plysshe Thus the dukes of LaÌ„castre and yorke apeased their nephewe kynge Richarde THese two dukes sawe well that the busynesse of Englande began to be yuell and parceyued that gret hatered encreased dayly bytwene the kyng the duke of Glocestre And to th entent that they wolde nat entremedell bytwene them they departed fro the kynges court with all their company and seruauntes and so toke their leaue of that kyng for a tyme and went to their owne And the duke of Lancastre toke with hym his wyfe the lady Katheryn Ruet who hadde ben in company with the yong quene of Englande and went a huntyng of the dere as the vsage is in Englande and the kynge taryed about London But afterwarde the kynges vncles repented them that they deê‘ted out of the courte for there fell afterwarde suche maters in Englande that all the realme was in trouble the whiche had nat so fortuned if they had ben about the kynge for they wolde haue founde other prouisyon for yâ— mater than they dyde that counsayled the kyng There were none of the kynges seruauntes but that greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and wolde gladly that he had ben deed they had nat cared howe the gentyll knight sir Thomas Percy had ben long souerayne squyer of the kynges house that is in FrauÌ„ce mayster and seneschall for all the state of the kynge passed throughe his handes He than coÌ„sydring the great hatereddes that encresed bitwene the kyng and his vncle of Glocestre and among other great lordes of Englande with whom he was welbeloued Like a sage knight he ymagined that the conclusyons coude nat be good ThaÌ„ he gaue vp his offyce as honorably as he coulde and tooke leaue of the kynge and the kynge gaue hym leaue full sore agaynst his wyll howe be it he made suche excusacions that he departed and another set in his offyce The kyng had as than but yonge counsayle about hym and they greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and oftentymes wolde saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir it is a perylous thyng to serue you for we haue sene suche as haue serued you in tymes paste and suche as were ryght synguler in your fauoure yet they haue had but small guerdone Sir Symon Burle who was a sage valyaunt knight in good fauoure with my lorde your father whome god pardone He had great payne and traueyle for your fyrst maryage yet your vncle the duke of Gloucestour caused hym to dye shamefully his heed to be stryken of lyke a traytour before all the worlde with dyuers other that he hath put to dethe as ye knowe well for all the puissaunce that ye were of ye coude nat saue them And sir we that sarue you nowe looke for the same rewarde For whan your vncle cometh to you the whiche is nat often we dare nat lyfte vp our eyen to loke vpon any persone he loketh so hye ouer vs. he thynketh we do hym moche wroÌ„g that we be so nere about you as we be Wherfore sir knowe for trouthe that as long as he liueth there shall be no peace in Englande nor ye shall do no maÌ„ good Also he thretneth you yor wife to close you vp in a castell there to beholden vnder subiection to lyue by porcion sir ye be a kyng lost if ye take nat good hede to your self as for your wife nedeth nat to care she is yong and doughter to the frenche kynge They dare nat displease her for moche yuell might come therby in EnglaÌ„de your vncle of Gloucestre to th entent to make you to be behated with your people hath sowen dyuers sclauÌ„dorous wordê vpon you throughout LoÌ„don and in other places sayeng howe ye be nat worthy to beare the crowne nor to holde so noble an herytage as is the realme of Englande sythe ye haue taken to your wyfe the doughter of the frenche kyng your aduersary Wherby he saythe ye haue greatly febled the signorie and realme of Englande and hath sore discoraged the hertes of the noble valyant knightes and squiers of the realme who haue alwayes valyantly coÌ„tynued the warre and yet wolde do Thus they saye that ye haue brought the realme in great paryll and aduenture to be lost affyrmyng howe it is pytie that ye haue been suffred to contynue so long as ye haue done Also the Frenchemen bruteth that ye wyll put out of your armes tharmes of FrauÌ„ce wherwith the people are nat conteâ—t hateth you therfore And they thynke it trewe bycause ye were so redy gladde to take a truce they thynke more rather byforce than by loue for the noble men of the realme who haue serued and maynteyned the warres neuer agreed therto Also they saye that ye haue nat dilygently reuisyted nor ouersene the letters patentes gyuen accorded sworne and sealed by kyng Iohan somtyme frenche kyng and by his sonnes the whiche grauÌ„t his children lyueng was nothyng vpholden but craftely broken And the Frenchmen founde cautels and subtelties by wrongefull wayes to renewe agayne that warre And therby toke and vsurped all the right that your predecessurs had in that quarell and hath wonne therby landes and countreis in Acquitany with cyties castelles and townes And all this they saye ye take no hede of but haue loste it thoroughe your neglygence and hath shewed but poore corage and that ye doute your ennemyes and haue nat pursued the accydentes of the mater and the good and iuste quarell that ye had and as yet haue the whiche quarell your predecessours had as longe as they lyued First my lorde your father the prince of Wales and of Acâ—tayne and also good kyng Edwarde your grauÌ„tfather who toke great payne and dilygence to augment their signories Thus sir the londoners saye and so dothe other that a day shall come that ye shall repent you Therfore sir we can no lengar hyde these wordê fro you for they be daylye renewed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Glocestre was taken by the erle marshall by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng Cap. CC.xxiii KIng Richarde of EnglaÌ„d noted well these sayd wordes the which was shewed hym in secretenesse lyke an ymaginatyfe price as he was within a season after that his vncles of LaÌ„castre and of yorke were departed out of the courte than the kynge toke more hardynesse on hym and said to hym selfe That fyrste it were better for hym to distroye another rather than another shulde distroye hym thynkynge that shortely he wolde haue his vncle of Gloucestre in suche case that he wolde be assured of hym that he shulde do hym no displeasure after bycause he coulde nat bring about his purpose alone he dyscouered his mynde to such as he trusted best as to therle marshall his
day the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall communed togyder of dyuers maters at last amonge other they spake of the state of the kynge and of his counsayle suche as he had about hym and beleued them so that at the last the erle of Derby spake certayne wordes whiche he thought for the best wenynge that they shulde neuer haue ben called to rehersall whiche wordes were nouther vylenous nor outragyous for he sayde thus Saint Mary fayre cosyn what thynketh the kynge oure cosyn to do wyll he driue out of Englande all the noble men within a whyle there shal be none left it semeth clerely that he wylleth nat the augmentacyon of his realme The erle marshall gaue none aunswere but dissimuled the mater and toke it that he spake agaynst the kynge and thought in hymselfe that the Erle of Derby was ryght lykely to make great trouble in Englande bycause he was so great with the londoners and the dyuell was redy to styre his brayne and that thynge that shall fall can nat be eschewed SO he thought to shewe this mater to the kynge whan noble mē shulde be presente and on a day to please the kynge he sayde Ryght dere syr I am of youre lygnage and ame your lyege man and marshall of Englande Wherfore sir I am bounde to you by myne Alliegeaunce and othe sworne my handes in yours that I shulde be in no place hearynge any thynge contrarye to your mageste royall and shulde kepe it secrete I ought to be reputed as a false traytour whiche I wyll nat be for I wyll trewly acquyte me agaynst you and all the worlde The kynge loked on hym and demaunded and sayd Why say you these wordes we wyll know it My right redouted souerayne lorde quod the erle Marshall I saye it bycause I canne nat suffre any thynge that shulde be preiudyciall or agaynst your grace syr cause the erle of Derby to come before you and than I shall shewe you more Than the erle of Derby was sente for and the kynge cōmaunded the erle Marshall to stande vp for he was on his knee whyle he spake to the Kynge And whan the erle of Derby was before the kyng who thought none yuell than the erle Marshall sayde Syr erle of Derby I say to you ye haue thought yuell and spoken otherwyse than ye ought to do agaynste your naturall lorde the kynge of Englande whan ye sayde that he was nat worthy to holde lande or realme seynge without lawe or iustyce without counsayle of any of his noble men he distourbeth his Realme and without tytell or good reason putteth out of his realme and dystroyeth them who ought to ayde and susteyne him wherfore here I cast my gage and wyll proue with my body agaynst yours that ye are an yuell false traytour The erle of Derby was sore abasshed with those wordes and stepte backe a lytell and stode styll a season without demaundynge of his Father or of any other what aunswere he shulde make Whan he had studyed a lytell he stept forthe with his cappe in his hande and came before the kynge and the erle Marshall and sayd Erle Marshall I saye thou arte an yuell and a false traytour and that I shall proue my body agaynst thyne and in that quarell here is my gauge Th erle Marshall whan he herde howe he was apealed shewed howe he desyred the batayle With that the erle of Derby aunswered and sayde I sette your wordes at the kynges pleasure and other lordes that be here and I tourne your wordes to a mocke and myne to be true Than eche of these erles drewe to their company and lygnage so that the manner of takynge of wyne and spyces was lette passe for the kyng shewed hym selfe to be right sore displeased and so entred in to his chambre and left his two vncles without and all their chyldren and the erles of Salysbury and Huntyngdon his bretherne Than anone after the kynge sent for his vncles and entred in to his chambre Thanne the kynge demaunded of them what was best to do in this mater Syr quod they cause your constable to come before you and than we shall shewe you our opynyons Than the erle of Rutlande who was constable was sente for and whan he was come than he was commaunded to go to the erle of Derby and to the erle Marshall and to take suretye of theym that they go nat out of the realme of Englande without the kynges lycence The constable dyd as he was cōmaunded and than retourned agayne to the kinges chambre YE maye well knowe this matter greatly troubled the courte and many lordes and knyghtes were sore dyspleased of that aduenture and secretly they greatly blamed the erle Marshall but he made as though he had ser nothyng by the mater his hert was so proude presumptuous Thus the lordes departed for that day The duke of Lācastre what so euer coūtynaunce he made he was sore displeased with these wordes and he thought the kynge shulde nat haue taken the mater as he dyd but shulde rather haue tourned it to nothynge and so thought the moste parte of all the lordes of Englande The erle of Derby went and lay at London and helde his estate at his owne lodgynge and there were pledges for him the duke of Lancastre his father the duke of yorke the Erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes And the erle Marshall was sente to the towre of London and there helde his estate These two lordes made prouysyon for that was necessary for them for their batayle The erle of Derby sent his messangers in to Lombardy to the duke of Myllayne syr Galeas for to haue armure at his pleasure The duke agreed to the erles desyre and caused the knight that the erle had sent thyder whose name was Fraunces to se all the dukes armorye And whan the knyght had chosen suche as he lyked than the duke furthermore for loue of the erle of Derby he sent four of the best armorers that were in Lombardy to the erle in to Englande with the knight to the entent that they shulde arme and make armure acordynge to the erles entente The erle Marshall on his parte sent in to Almayn and in to other places to prouyde him for that iourney The charge of these two lordes was greate but the erle of Derby was at moost charge The erle Marshall whan he beganne that busynesse he thought to haue had more ayde of the kynge than he had for suche as were nere aboute the kynge sayd to him Syr ye haue nothyng to do to medle bytwene these two lordes dyssymule you the mater and let them deale they wyll do well ynough Sir ye knowe well the erle of Derby is well beloued in the realme and specyally with the Londoners and if they se that ye shulde take parte with the erle Marshall ye were lyke to lose their loue therby for euer The kynge vnderstode well their wordes and knew well it was trewe he
whanÌ„e euery thynge is agreed and at peace thanÌ„e we maye well speke treate of maryage but fyrst ye must take possession in the duchy of Lancastre for that is the vsage in Fraunce and in dyuers countreis on this syde the See That if a lorde shall marry by the consent of his soueraygne lorde he must endowe his wyfe and therwith they had spyces and wyne and cessed of that coÌ„munycacion and euery man departed to their owne lodgynges WHan the erle of Derby was coÌ„e to his lodgyng he was sore displeased and nat without a cause Whan he who was reputed one of the trewest knyghtes of the worlde in the preseÌ„ce of the frenche kyng who loued hym well had shewed him many curtesies shuld be reputed as a traytour and that those wordes shulde coÌ„e out of Englande and brought by the erle of Salisburye He was therwith in a great malencoly his counsayle apeased hym as well as they coude sayd Sir he that wyll lyue in this worlde must endure somtyme trouble Confort you for this tyme and be pacient and parauenture herafter ye shall haue great ioye and glorie And sir of al the lordê on this syde the see the frenche kyng loueth you best and we se well he wolde enploye his payne to briÌ„ge you to ioye and sir ye ought to gyue him and his vncles great thaÌ„ke in that they kept this mater secrete tyll the erle of Salisbury was deê‘ted yea sirs quod the erle I thynke it had ben better it had ben shewed me in his presence that I myght haue made a sufficieÌ„t excuse before that kyng and all the lordes thus I shall abyde styll in blame tyll the mater be otherwyse declared Sir quod they all trespasses can nat be amended at the fyrst daye Sir suffre let the tyme ryn we beleue your busynesse in Englande dothe better than ye be ware of The loue that is in the hertes of the people in Englande towardes you with their good prayers by the grace of god shall shortely delyuer you out of all daungers This they sayd to recoÌ„fort their lorde who was sore disconforted and their sayeng was soner trewe than they were ware of ANone it was knowen in Englande howe therle of Salisbury had ben in FrauÌ„ce with the frenche kynge his vncles and borne letters thyder conteynyng howe the erle of Derby was falsely ê‘iured and a traytour Of the whiche dyuers noble men and prelates were sore troubled and were nothynge contente with the erle of Salisbury and said generally that he was soore to blame to take on hym the charge to beare in to Fraunce any suche wordes vpon as trewe a man as lyued A daye wyll come that he shall repent the tyme that euer he spake the worde ye maye well knowe the Londoners were greatly displeased and murmured agaynst the kyng and his counsayle sayd A geÌ„tyll knight erle of Derby great enuy is there agaynst you It is nat suffycient for the kynge and his counsayle to driue you out of the realme but also to accuse you of trayson to putte you to the more shame rebuke Well euery thynge muste haue his tourne Alas quod the people What faulte or trespasse hath your children done that the kynge taketh thus awaye fro theÌ„ their herytage whiche ought to be theirs by ryght successyon This thynge can nat longe abyde in this case without chaunge nor we can nat suffre it Thus anone after the retourne of the erle of Salisbury out of Fraunce kyng Richarde caused a iustes to be cryed and publysshed throughe out his realme to Scotlande to be at Wynsore of .xl. knyghtes and xl squyers agaynst all coÌ„mers And they to be aparelled in grene with a whyte faucon the quene to be there well acoÌ„panied 〈◊〉 a dyes damosels This feest thus holden the quene beyng there iÌ„ gret neblenes but there were but fewe lordes or noble men for mo thaÌ„ .ii. ê‘tes of the lordes knightes other of the realme of Englande had that kyng in suche hatered what for the banysshyng of the erle of Derby and the iniuryes that he had done to his chyldren and for the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre who was slayne in the castell of Calais and for the dethe of the erle of AruÌ„dell who was beheeded at LoÌ„don The kynred of these lordes came nat to this feest nor but fewe other And at the same feest the kynge ordayned to go in to Irelande to enploy his men in that voyage and so he departed and lefte the Quene with her trayne styll at Wyndsore and the kynge rode to Bristowe and there made all his prouysion and he had ten thousande knightes and squiers and ten thousande archers WhanÌ„e the Londoners knewe that the kyng was goyng in that voyage they began to murmure and said amonge themselfe Nowe gothe Richarde of Burdeaux the waye to Bristowe and so in to yrelande whiche wyll be to his distruction He shall neuer retourne agayne with ioye no more than dyde kynge Edwarde the seconde his great grauntfather who was folysshely gouerned by to moche beleuyng of the SpeÌ„sers In lykewise Rycharde of Burdeaulx hath belued so moche yuell counsayle that it can nat be hydden nor suffred any lengar ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii THere were many knightes and squyers in the kynges company that shulde go with hym in to IrelaÌ„de that were nat coÌ„tent with hym and wente in maner with an yuell wyll sayd oftentymes one to another Our kynge gouerneth hym selfe folisshely and beleueth yuell counsayle Suche wordes were so multiplyed that the lorde Henry Percy and sir Henry his sonÌ„e spake certayne wordes whiche came to the kynges knowlege and to his counsayle and it was sayd to the kyng Sir the wordes ought nat to be suffred that the erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e hath spoken for it is to sette your subiettes agaiÌ„st you It must behoue you to correcte all these rebelles one after another wherby they that be greattest shall doute you and take ensample That is trewe quod the kyng but than what is beste to do Sir quod they they be nat here with you but they ought to come whan they become call them before you and than by the erle of Salisbury and by some other as it shall please you lette it be rehersed to them the yuell wordes that they haue spoken against you and your couÌ„sayle ThaÌ„ shall you here what answere they wyll make and thervpon ye maye taken aduyse wheder ye wyll correcte them by prison or other wyse Well sirs quod the kynge ye say well this shal be done The erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e had good frendes in that armye so that some of them knewe the kynges entent And they sent suche worde to the erle and to his sonne that they shulde natte come in the kynges preseÌ„ce nor to go in that iourney For they hadde worde that if they dyde it
Henry in Fraunce wherby they were soner aquaynted so they taryed at Douer tyll their horses were vnshypped and than they rode to Caunterbury And where so euer they bayted or lay their hostes were payed At laste they came to Eltham and there they founde kyng Henry and parte of his counsayle The kinge made them good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge Than they shewed the kyng the cause of their cōmynge The kynge aunswered and sayde Sirs ye shal go to London and there I wyll be within this foure dayes and assemble my counsayle and than ye shall haue aunswere of your demaunde That daye they dyned with the kynge and after dyner they rode to London and the sayde knyght of the kynges styll with them who sawe them well lodged The kinge acordyng to his promyse came to Westmynster these frenche knyghtes had knowlege of the kynges cōmynge thyder and made them redy to go whan they shulde be sent for The kynge had his counsayle with hym and than it was deuysed what answere they shuld haue than they were sent for and than it was shewed them that where as they desyred to se the quene their desyre shulde nat be denyed so that they wolde swere and promesse that nouther they nor none of their menne shulde speke any worde of that was fallen vpon king Rycharde for it was said to them that if they dyd they shulde rynne in great dyspleasure of the people and be in great parell of their lyues The two knightes sayd they wolde in no wyse breake the ordre that they had sette but obey their cōmaundement They sayd whan they had ones sene and spoken with her than they wolde retourne and departe Anon after the erle of Northum berlande brought theym to Haueringe of the bowre to the yonge quene who was there as than and with her the duches of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy and the duchesse of Gloucestre with her doughters and other ladyes and damoselles The quene receyued them swetely and demaūded of them howe the frenche kinge her father dyd and the quene her mother They sayde well and so cōmuned with her a gret season They kepte well their promesse for they spake no worde of kynge Rycharde Than they tooke leaue of the quene and retourned to London Than shortely after they wente to Eltham to the kynge and there dyned and the kyng gaue them fayre presentes and iowelles and ryght amyably they toke their leaue of the kynge who sayd to them Syrs ye may say whan ye come in to Fraunce that the quene of Englande shall haue no hurte nor trouble but shall alwaies kepe her estate as to her belongeth and shall enioy all her right for as yet she shall nat knowe the mutacyons of the worlde Of these wordes spoken of the kynges mouth the two knyghtes were well content and so departed and lay at Dertforde and the next day at Osprynge and so to Caunterbury and than to Douer And all their costes and charges commynge goynge the kynges offycers payed Than they tooke the see and aryued at Boloyne and so to Parys and there founde the kyng and the quene and shewed them all that they had sene and herde ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speake of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne lordes in Englande rose vp with an army to haue delyuered kyng Rycharde and to haue dystroyed kynge Henry and howe they were slayne Cap. CC xivii DIuers questyons and argumētes were made in Englande amonge noble men and counsayls of the good townes that Richarde of Burdeaux was deed slayne wherfore men spake no more of hym for well he had deserued it To these poyntes kyng Henry answered and sayd Nay quod he I haue pytie of his dethe I wyll neuer consent therto To kepe hym in prisone is suffycient I haue warrāted his lyfe and I wyll kepe my promyse suche as wolde haue had hym deed sayd Sir we se well ye haue Pytie on hym but ye do for your selfe a perylous thyng For as long as he is a lyue though he haue willyngly resigned to you the crowne of Englande and that euery man hath receyued you as kyng and haue made to you faythe and homage yet it can nat be but that there be in the Realme some that loued hym as yet do who wolde lightly ryse agaīst you if they might se any lykelyhode of his delyueraunce Also the Frenche kynge is sore displeased for his trouble he wolde soone be reuenged yf he myght and he is of great puyssaunce with suche ayde as he maye fynde in Englande The kynge aunswered and sayde As longe as I se nat the contrary or that the Frenche kyng wyll take no parte agaynst me I wyll kepe my promyse This aunswere that the kynge made had nerehande haue ben to his owne distructyon The erle of Huntyngton sir Iohan of Hollande brother to kyng Richarde who hadde to wyfe kynge Henryes suster coulde nat forgette the aduenture of his brother No more coude the erle of Salisbury and they had at Oxenforde secrete counsayle toguyder And they deuysed how they might delyuer kynge Richarde oute of the towre and distroye kyng Henry bring a trouble agayne in to the realme They deuysed to make a iustes of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers to beholden at Oxenforde and howe they wolde desyre the kyng to be there priuely And whyle he shulde be syttynge at the table to slee hym For they had deuysed to haue hadde men ynowe to haue perfourmed their ententes and they had redy a preest called Maladyn who was a syngar in kynge Rychardes chapell to haue putte hym in the Kynges appareyle for he was lyke kynge Rycharde in fauoure And than they wolde haue made the people to haue beleued that kynge Richarde hadde been delyuered and returned in to his fyrst state and than̄e to haue sente worde of their dede to the Frenche kynge that he shulde incontynent haue sente in to Englande some socoure to them by the erle of saynt Poule or by some other As they had deuysed so they dyde begynne They caused a feest at Oxenforde to be proclaymed of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers well accōpanyed with ladyes and damoselles They hadde also on their partie the yonge erle of Kente nephue to sir Iohan Hollande also another great lorde the lorde Spensar And they beleued to haue hadde on their partie the erle Iohan of Rutlande bycause kynge Henry had put hym out of the offyce of the Cōstable shyppe of Englande but he fayled theym for some sayde by hym they were bewrayed This feest prouyded for thau the erle of Huntyngton came to Wyndsore where the kyng was and humbly made his reuerence as he that thought to haue disceyued the kynge with swete wordes and to haue gote hym to haue come to this feest the whiche to do he desyred the kyng effectuously and the kyng who thought none yuell graunted hym so to do wherof the erle was ryght ioyouse and departed
¶ The preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knyght lorde Berners Sythe hystorie as I haue in my Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycles declared is the wytnesse of tymes the lyght of trouthe the lyfe of remembrauÌ„ce the maistres of the lyfe the messanger of olde season wherof innumerable coÌ„modyties growen I ne thynke the labours myspente that I at the highe coÌ„maundement of our moost redoughted soueraygne lorde Henry the cyght kyng of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce highe defender of the Christen faythe c. haue eâ—ployed aboute the translacyon of nowe the foure volumes of sir Iohan Froissaâ—t out of Frenche in to our Englysshe tong Certainly nat the bouÌ„tie of the same cronycles in whom are conteygâ—â—d the warres of these parties whiche warres dâ—scâ—yued in Frenche by sir Iohan Froyssaâ—â— ryght oâ—nately as many that haue great vnderstandynge in dyuers tonges in whome warres are written plainly saye for knyghtly feateâ— manhode and humanyte passe ryght moche the warres of farre countreis nor the great pleasure that thy noble countrey menne of Englande toke in redynge the worthy and knightly dedes of their valyaunt auncestours encorageth me halfe so moche as the princely exhorte whiche of all erthely kynges the very worshyppe and 〈◊〉 ouâ— foresaid gracyous soueraygne gaue me He who forthe manyfolde royall vertues in his highnesse fouÌ„de nat of two or thre small realmes 〈◊〉 is worthy to reygne and be kyng ouer the vnyuersall worlde â—elyteth in nothyng 〈◊〉 than to 〈…〉 I sayd the moost famous 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 and subict 〈…〉 ouâ— with all 〈◊〉 So that it â—ought appere to euery mannes â—ight ouer what and howe worthy people has 〈…〉 and nowe his 〈…〉 lyaunt 〈◊〉 contende by vigorous vertue and manhode to folowe yea to passe them if they maye Truely the ymages as they vsed in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp and remembraunce of them that were discended of noble blode he beare halfe the wytnesse that the noble dedes sette out in hystorye done Whiche well appereth by the wordes of the prudent kyng Agesilaus who dying coÌ„maunded that neyther ymage nor picture to his resemblauÌ„ce shulde be made for if I haue sayd he any noble thyng famously done it shall beare wytnesse ynough of me if I haue nought done certainly all the ymages lytell aueylen as who saythe suche thynges inought be made in mynde of them that were but dastardes and neuer dyde worthy dede in all their lyfe Wherfore for the loue and honour that I beare to our moost puissaunt soueraygne and to do pleasure to his subieâ—tes bothe nobles and coÌ„mons I haue endeuored me to translate out of FreÌ„che as sayd is in to Englysshe the four volumes of sir Iohan Froissart and reduced them in to twayne Wherin if I haue erred I praye them that shall defaute fynde to coÌ„syder the greatnesse of the hystorie and my good wyll that aske nothyng elles of them for my great labour but of their curtesy to amende where nede shal be and yet for their so doynge I shall praye to god finally to sende them the blysse of heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knight lord berners deputie of Calais traÌ„slatour of this present cronycle and here after foloweth the table with the chapters as they stande in the boke by order c. ¶ Herafter foloweth the table of this present volume FIrst howe syr Iohan Bourchyer gouernour of Gaunt durynge the truse had newe vitayled the towne of GauÌ„t and howe a maner of people called comporselles dyd moche hurte in the Countrey Capitulo primo ¶ Howe the bridge of Taylbourcke was won by the frenche men and howe the englisshmen fortyfied them selfe agaynst the coÌ„myng of the frenchmen and howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and his rout aryued at â—â—â—nborowe in Scotlande Capi. ii ¶ Howe the frenche men found a wylde countrey of ScotlaÌ„de and were yuell content with the admyrall and howe he pacyfied them with fayre wordes and howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nerehande taken Ardenbourke in Flaunders Cap. iii. ¶ Howe the lorde of saint Albyne and Enguerante zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takynge and howe the quene of Hungery sent ambassadours into Fraunce to marry thetle of Valoyes to her eldest doughter Cap. iiii ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabant wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyere of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng with her nese Isabell of Bauyer and howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Capi. v. ¶ Howe Fraunces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the frenche kynge wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyere and after wente and layde siege to Dan. Fo .vi. ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were behe ded and howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune howe the siege of Dan contynewed longe Cap. vii ¶ Howe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by nyght howe the frenche men toke the towne and destroyed it and also howe the kynge dystroyed the countrey of the foure craftes Capi. viii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge departed oute of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he came to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry and howe the marques of Blanqueforte toke by streÌ„ght to his wyfe the same lady 〈…〉 Cap. ix ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone toke Bertuell in Poictou and also of the great assemble that the kynge of Scottes made to entre in to Englande Cap. x. ¶ Howe the frenche men and scottes was the castell of Vatley and dystroyed dyuers other townes in Northumberlande and howe they withdrewe agayne in to Scotlande whan they knewe that the kynge of Englande was coÌ„mynge on them with a great puyssaunce Capi. xi ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande slewe syr Rycharde Stafforde and howe the erle of Stafforde came to the kynge to demaunde iustyce Capi. xii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande caused to be dystroyed the churche of Mewreus in Scotlande and howe the barones of Scotlande aunswered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuysed to leaue Scotlande and to lette the englysshe men alone Cap. xiii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande toke Edenborowe the chiefe tytle of Scotlande howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to Wales to close in the frenche men and the scottes and what the frenche men and scottes dyd in the sayd countrey Cap. xiiii ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kynge of Englande had thought to haue made into Wales after the frenchmen and scottes and howe the kyng retourned the same way that he came and howe the frenche men scottes determyned to retourne againe into Scotlande Cap. xv ¶ Howe the frenche lordes were in great paryll in scotlande and coude nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer thesee and how they shewed the erles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they founde in that countrey and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi ¶ Howe the admyrall enfourmed the frenche kynge and his counsayle of the state of Scotlande and
howe the duke of Burgoyne had great desyre to cause the frenche kynge to make a iourney in to Englande Cap. xvii ¶ Howe by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt entred to 〈◊〉 with the duke of Buâ—goyne for peace howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what answere the duke gaue vnto them Ca. xviii ¶ Howe these two 〈…〉 burgesses assembled their frendes to acomplyâ—â—â— their enterprise and sent syr Iohan Delle 〈…〉 letters of peace Cap. â—ii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Delle came to Gaunt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the eytie were and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sente to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Capi. xx ¶ Howe sir Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and went to the erle of Foyzland the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi ¶ Howe the prince of Wales and the princesse came to Tarbe and of the request that the countesse of Armynake mad to the prince and princesse and howe the countrey of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap. xxii ¶ Of the warres that the duke of â—niou made agaynst the englysshe men and howe he recouered the Castell of Maluoysyn in Bygore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to the Erle of Foize Cap. xxiii ¶ Howe the garyson castell of Lourde was caste downe and discomfyted by the great dylygence that the erle of Foiz made Ca. xxiiii ¶ Howe the peace was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and the erle of foyz and of the begynnynge of the warre that was bytwene the erle of Foiz the erle of Armynake Ca. xxv ¶ Of the great vertuousnesse and larges that was in the erle of Foize and the maner of the pytuous dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Capi. xxvi ¶ Howe syr Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bysquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii ¶ Of the great soleÌ„pnyte that the erle of Foiz made at the fyest of saynte Nycholas and the tale that the â—â—stot of Manlyon shewed to sir Iohan Froâ—â—â—rt Cap. xxviii ¶ Howe dyuers capytayns englysshe and other were dyscomfyted before the Towne of Saxere by the frenche men Cap. xxix ¶ Howe a Squyer called Lymosyn tourned frenche and howe he caused Loyes Rambalt his coÌ„pany on in armes to be taken Ca. xxx ¶ Of the state or ordynauÌ„ce of the erle of Foiz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle dommage and outrage that was done therto Cap. xxxi ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle left the siege of â—â—â—bone and howe they of saynt prayne 〈…〉 selfe Cap. xxxii ¶ 〈…〉 batayle that was at 〈…〉 kinge of Castyle and kynge 〈◊〉 of Portugale Cap. xxxiii ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordred them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the frenche knyghtes and gascons suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloyes were slayne by their maysters and none escaped Cap. xxxv ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle all his great batayle were discomfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberothe Capi. xxxvi ¶ Howe a spiryte called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a longe tyme and brought him euer tidynges from all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretayne and howe that dyuers englyssh forâ—â—esses aboute the countrey of Tholous were recouered and tourned frenche Cap. xxxviii ¶ Howe the castelles of Conuall of Bygorâ— and of Nesuyll were taken all they 〈◊〉 taken slayne and hanged Cap. xxâ—◠¶ Howe the kinge of Cypres was slayn◠〈◊〉 murthered in his bedde by his owne broâ—â—â— by exortacyon and corruptyon of the in 〈…〉 for the bountye and hardynesse that 〈…〉 hym Cap. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony wa◠〈…〉 and howe .lx. M. turkes were 〈…〉 distroyed in the realme of Hungry Ca. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe pope Vrbane pope Clement were at gret discorde togyder and howe the cristen kynges were in varyaunce for their lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Cap. xlii ¶ Howe they of Portugale sent out messangers in to Englande to shewe tydynges of their countrey to the kynge of Englande and to the great lordes there Cap. xliii ¶ Howe Laurens Fongase ambassadour fro the kynge of Portugale in to Englande shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the discorde that was bytwene the realmes of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xliiii ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberothe bytwene the kynges of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xlv ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had aunswere of the kynge of Englande and great gyftes and howe they tooke their leaue and went into their countreys Cap. xlvi ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre assayled the lordes knightes and squyers that were in the bastydes before Brest in Bretayne and howe they defended them selfe Cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his hoost whasie they had soiourned a moneth at Colongne than they departed and rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Cap. xlviii ¶ Of the great apparell and prouyson that generally was made in the realme of Fraunce by the kynge there and by his counsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande and also of the deth of Fraunces Atreman Cap. lii ¶ Howe the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre whan he knewe that he was arryued at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the socours that the kynge of Castyle sent for into FrauÌ„ce and howe the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the Englysshe men Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„castres marshall and his men assayled the towne of Vieclope in Galyce whiche yelded by coÌ„posycion and of the ambassadours that the duke sent to the kynge of Portyngale Cap. li. ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded theym to the duke of Lancastre and howe the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and tâ—ke possessyon therof Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and the duchesse helde them at saynte Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frenche knyghtes gaue to the kynge of Castyle Cap. lxii ¶ Of the great apparell of shyppes and galeys that the Frenche men made on the see to passe in to Englande Cap. liii ¶ Howe the frenche kinge and his vncles arryued at Sluse in Flaunders Cap. liiii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge taryed at Sluse with his great hoost to the entent to entre in to Englande Cap. lv ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Caunterburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he atchyued great hate Cap. lv ¶ Howe the kynge of Armonye passed in to Englande in truste to fynde some meanes of peace or good appoyntment bytwene the kynge of Englande and the frenche kyng Cap. lvi ¶ Howe the kinge of Armony
Xancere and of the departyng of the erle of Arundell Cap. C .l. ¶ Howe the admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kynge and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castile and howe the duke of Berrey sent to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Bolonge Cap C .li. ¶ Howe Geffray Tete Noyre dyde chose a capitayne ouer his company and howe he made his testament and so dyed And howe the duke of Guerles departed fro his countrey to go in to Pruce and of the incydence that fell to hym in the lande of the duke of Stulpe where he was taken prisoner and disconfyted Cap. C .lii. ¶ Howe sir Johan of Vyen dyde his message to kyng Johan of Castyle fro the frenkynge and his counsayle and what answers the kynge of Castyle made to hym Capi. C .liii. ¶ Howe sir Loyes of Xancere went to se the erle of Foize at Orthays and howe before the duke of LaÌ„castre at Burdeux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue Frenche men and fyue Englysshe men and howe the duchesse of Lancastre went with her doughter in to Castyle to kyng JohnÌ„ Cap. c .liiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Lancastre departed fro the kyng of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to bring her fathers bones to Ciuyle howe the Frenche kyng sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the mariage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with therie of Boloyns doughter Cap. C .lv. ¶ Howe certaygne wyse men treated for a peace to endure for thre yere bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande and all their alyes aswell on the one parte as on the other by laÌ„de and by see Cap. C .lvi. ¶ Of the ordynaunce of the entre of quene Isabell in to the towne of Paris Ca. c .lvii. ¶ Howe the lorde of Castell morant whom therle of saynt Poule had lefte behynde him in Englande retourned in to Fraunce with the charter of the truse sealed by kynge Richarde his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C .lviii. ¶ The maryage of kynge Loyes sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Arragone and howe he went with the quene of Naples his mother to Auignon to se pope Clement Cap. C .lix. ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme and howe he went fyrste in to Burgoyne and to Auignone to se pope Clement Cap. c.lx. ¶ Howe sir Peter Courtney caÌ„e in to FrauÌ„ce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle and howe the lorde of Clary conueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calis Cap. c.lxi ¶ Howe the iustes at saynt Inguelyert otherwyse called Sandyngfelde were enterprised by sir Raynolde of Roye the yonge sir BouciquauÌ„t and the lorde of saynt Pye Capi. C .lxii. ¶ Of the complayntes made to the Frenche kynge by the people of Languedocke in the towne of Besyers agaynst Beusache treasourer to the duke of Berrey of the great extorcyons that he had made and of his contessyon and of the cruell dethe that he hadde in the sayd towne Cap. C.lxiii ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng beynge at Tholous sent for the erle of Foize who came thyder and dyd homage to the kyng for the couÌ„tie of Foize Cap. C.lxiiii ¶ Of the feate and couynauÌ„t that was done bytwene the kynge and the duke of Thoutayne his brother whiche of them shulde sonest come to Parys fro Mountpellyer whiche is a hundred and fyftie leages a sonder eche of them but with one knight Capi. C .lxv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope Vrbayne of Rome called the Antepape howe pope Clement wrote to the Frenche kyng and to his vncles and to the vnyuersite and of the electyon of pope Bonyface by the cardynals of Rome Capi. C .lxvi. ¶ Of the yeldynge vp and takynge of the stronge castell of Vanchadore in Lymosyn of olde parteyninge to sir Geffray Teate Noyre Cap. C.lxvii ¶ Of the dedes of armes at saynt Ingylbertes continewyng thyrtie dayes agaynst all coÌ„mers of the realme of Englande other countreis euery manne thre courses Capi. C .lxviii. ¶ Of the enterprise and voyage of the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of the duke of Burbone who was as chiefe of that armye at the request of the genouoys to go in to Barbary to besiege the stronge towne of Affryke Cap. C.lxix ¶ Of a capitayne a robber and a pyller of the countre called Aymergot Marcell who helde a strong castell in the marchesse of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandoys and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meauix and of the takyng therof and howe Aymergot was taken and brought to Parys Capi. C .lxx. ¶ Howe the Christen lordes and the genoâ—â—ys beyng in the ysle of Conymbres at ancre departed thens to go and lay siege to the strong cytie of Affryke in Barbary howe they maynteyned the siege Cap. C.lxxi ¶ Howe after this aduenture and doÌ„mage that fell to the christen men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Affryke that so many knyghtes and squyers were deed they maynteygned them selfe more wiselyer after than they dyde before and contynued their siege a longe season after Cap. c.lxxii ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in London whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the siege before the towne of Affryke agaynst the sarasyns and howe this feest was publisshed in dyuers countreis landes Cap. C.lxxiii ¶ Howe and by what indydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Affryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man recourned to their owne countreis Cap. c.lxxiiii ¶ Of thenglyss he knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the Frenche kyng fro the kyng of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Capi. C.lxxv ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Iohan of Castyle and of the crownynge of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C.lxxvi ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the voyege that he made in to Lombardy howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of AlexaÌ„dre Cap. c.lxxvii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon fell in the Frenche kynges displeasure and in the Duke of Thourayns and after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastellon sonne to therle Guye of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix ¶ Of the sodayne dethe of the erle Gascone of Foize and howe the erle of Chastellon caÌ„e to his enherytaunce Cap. C.lxxx ¶ Howe the treatie of peace renewed at Towers in Thourayne bytwene the Frenche kynge and the duke of Bretayne and of the maryage of the doughter of Fraunce to the sonne of Bretayne and of Iohan of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and the doughter of the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxxi ¶ Howe the erle of Bloyes Mary of Namure his wyfe solde the countie
of Bloyes and all their landes to the duke of Thourayn the frenche kynges brother Capi. C .lxxxii. ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spayne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the Vycount of Chastellons busynesse and howe he was set in possessyon in the countie of Foize and of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle and of the kyng of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon throughe yuell wyll by subtile crafte beate downe sir Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Cap. C.lxxxv ¶ Howe in great dilygence the Prouost of Parys pursued sir Peter of Craon Capi. C .lxxxvi. ¶ Of the great armye and voyage that the Frenche kyng purposed to make in to Bretayngne agaynst the duke bycause he susteyned sir Peter of Craonne and howe in that voyage the kyng fell sicke wherby the voyage brake Cap. C.lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayne brother to the Frenche kynge resigned the Duchy of Thouraynge in to the kynges handes and howe by exchaunge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌ„ce and so euer after he was called the duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii for .viii. Fo. CC.xxxiii ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and of Berrey vncles to the Frenche kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme and howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kyng bâ— fore Cap. C.lxxxix ¶ Howe sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce departed out of Parys after the answere that the duke of Burgoyne had made hym and went to Mount le Henry and â—â—â—thens in to Bretayne Cap. C.xc. ¶ Howe the treatise whiche was accorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. ¶ Of the aduenture of a Daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodhouses wherin the Frenche kynge was in paryll of dethe Cap. C.xcii ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals or Rome sente a Frere a wyse clerke to the Frenche kyng Cap. C.xciii ¶ Howe the mariage was treased of the lorde Philyppe of Arthoyes erle of Ewel and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berrey and howe he was admytted coÌ„stable of Fraunce Cap. C.xciiii ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of EnglaÌ„de by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope ClemeÌ„t at Auâ—gnon and of the electyon of pope Benedic Capi. C.xcvi ¶ Of a clerke named maister Iohan of Warennes Cap. C.xcvii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquitayner and howe the kynge prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acouitayne Cap. C.xcviii ¶ Of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme and Emperour of Almayne Cap. C.xcix ¶ Howe sir Iohn Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to the kyng Capi. CC ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquitayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sente in to EnglaÌ„de to the kynge and his couÌ„sayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Aequitayne Cap. CC.i. ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kynge Richarde had made in Irelande howe he brought to his obeysaunce foure kynges of that countray Cap. CC.ii. ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sent in to FrauÌ„ce to treate of the â—â—â—ryage bytwene the lady Isabell the Frenche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louynge aunswere they hadde Cap. CC.iii ¶ Of a souper named Robert the 〈◊〉 howe he was sent to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham and howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Riuer and sir IohnÌ„ le Mercier and howe they were putte out of prisone Capi. CC.v ¶ Of the peace that was had bytwene the duke of Bretaynge and syr Olyuer of Clysson Cap. CC.vi. ¶ Howe the kynge of Hungery worte to the Frenche kynge the state of the great Turke and howe Iohan of Burgoyne eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chiefe heed of the armye that went thyder Fo .cc.lxiii. ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenaunt enterprised to go in to Fryse Cap. cc.vii ¶ Of the iudgement made in the Parlyament for the quene of Naples agaynste sir Peter of Craon Cap. CC.ix. ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage taken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande and Isabell eldest doughter to the Frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges Sarasyns to ayde hym with men of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyaunt sarasyns Came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. ¶ Howe the lorde of Eoucy and other lordes of the christen men about a .xv. hundred speares disconfyted a fyue thousande Turkes durynge the the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. ¶ Howe the peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce contynewed and of the maryage of the kyng of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii ¶ Howe the erle of Heynaulte and the Erle of Ostrenaunt his sonne made a great armye of men of armes knightes and squyets to go in to Fryse Cap. CC.xiiii ¶ Of the armye that the Frenche kyng sent in to Fryse in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Poule and the lorde Charles de la Brethe were capitayns Cap. CC.xv ¶ Howe the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his tent bytwene Arde and Calais Cap. CC.xvi. ¶ Howe the siege before Nicopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and how the Frenche men were discoÌ„fyted and howe the hungaryons fledde Cap. CC.xvii ¶ Of the pouertie and misery that the christen knightes of Fraunce and other nacions endured in the coÌ„mynge home to their countreis Cap. CC.xviii ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kynges house Cap. CC.xix ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was hadde in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Capi. CC.xx. ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn the duches his wyfe tooke great dilygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the Erle of Neuers their sâ—nne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi ¶ Howe the Duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to distroy kynge Richarde of Englande his nephewe Cap. CC.xxii ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre was taken by the erle Marshall by the coÌ„maundement of the kynge Cap. CC.xxiii ¶ Howe the lordes of FrauÌ„ce retourned by see
language as moche as they myght lyke rude people without hououre as they be All thynges consydered It was to great an armye of so many noble men to come in to Scotlande and knewe no reason why a twentie or thrittie knyghtes of Fraunce had been better than all that nombre of fyue huÌ„dred or a thousande and the cause why is this ¶ In Scotlande ye shall fynde no man light lye of honoure nor gentylnesse They be lyke wylde and sauage people They wyll be with no man acquaynted and are greatly enuyous with the honoure or profyte of any other man and they dought euer to lese that they haue for it is a poore countre And whan the Englysshe men maketh any roode or voyage in to the couÌ„trey as they haue done often before this tyme If they thynke to lyue they muste cause their prouysion and vitayle to folowe theym at their backe for they shall fynde nothyng in that couÌ„trey but with moche payne Nor they shall fynde none yron to showe their horses nor leddar to make harnesse sadelles or bridelles For all suche thynges cometh to them redy made oute of Flaunders And whan that prouisyon fayleth there is none to gette in the countrey Whan the barownes and knightes of Fraunce who were wonte to fynde fayre hostryes halles hanged and goodly castelles and softe beddes to reste in Sawe them selfe in that necessite they began to smyle and said to the admyrall Sir What pleasure hath brought vs hyder We neuer knewe what pouertie ment tyll nowe We fynde nowe the olde sayengê of our fathers and mothers true WhanÌ„e they wolde saye Go your waye and ye lyue long ye shall fynde harde and poore beddes whiche nowe we fynde Therfore lette vs go oure voyage that we be come for Lette vs ryde in to EnglaÌ„de The longe taryenge here in Scotlande is to vs nother honourable nor profytable The admyrall apeased them as well as he myght sayde Sirs it behoueth vs to suffre a lytell and to speke fayre sithe we be in this daunger We haue a great longe waye yet to passe and by Englande we can nat retourne Therfore lette vs take in gree that we fynde We can nat be alwayes at Parys or Dygeon at Beautie or at Chalous It behoueth them that wyll lyue in this worlde thynkynge to haue honoure to suffre somtyme as well pouertie as welth THus sir Iohan of Vien admyrall of Fraunce apeased to his companyons with these wordes and suche other whiche I can nat all reherce They acquaynted them as mothe as they might with the barownes of Scotlande but they were visyted by them but very lytell For as I haue sayde before there is in theÌ„ lytell honour of all people yuell to be aquaynted withall The moost company that the frenche men had was the erle Duglas and the erle Morette These two lordes dyde theym more solace than all the resydue of Scotlande yet there was another thyng that was right harde to the frenchmen For whan they were in Scotlande and wolde ryde they fouÌ„de horses to dere for that that was nat worthe tenne florens they coude nat bye vnder threscore or a huÌ„dred and yet with moche payne to gette any for money and yet whan they had any horses than hadde they nother harnesse sadell nor bridell without they had brought it with them out of FlauÌ„ders In this trouble and daunger were the frenchemen yea and moreouer WhanÌ„e their varlettes went forthe a forragynge and hadde charged their horses with suche as they coulde gette In their retouruynge home the scottes them selfe laye in wayte for theym and all that they had taken from them and they well beten and some slayne so that there was none that durste go a forragynge for feare to be slayne For in a moneth the frenche men loste of their varlettes mo than a hundred For if they went forthe thre or foure toguyder they neuer returned agayne Thus the frenche men were handeled And besyde that the kynge of Scottes was desyred to comeforthe and so were the other lordes knightes and squyers of the realme But they aunswered and sayd Howe they wolde make no warre in to Englande as at that tyme. And that they sayd to th entent that the Frenche men shulde paye well for their comyng For or the kyng wolde come out of the wylde scottysshe to Edenboroughe he demauÌ„ded to haue a great somme of money for hym and for his people And the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce was sayne to promyse and to seale that the kynge shulde haue a certayne somme of money or he and his company auoyded the Realme It he had nat done thus he shulde haue hadde none ayde of the scottes He was fayne to make that marchaundise or elles a worse And yet whan he had made the best accorde and aâ—oyntment that he coude make with theym he hadde by them but lytell profyte nor helpe as ye shall here further in the hystorie ¶ But nowe a lytell I wyll retourne and tell of the aduentures of Flaunders and of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng and howe Ardenbourcke hadde nere been taken by stelthe where as the Vycont of Meaulx and sir IohnÌ„ of Ieumont laye in garyson AFter the disconfyture that sir Ryflarte of Flaunders had made in the lande of the foure craftes with out Gaunt than he came to ArdeÌ„bourcke And thyder was sente in garyson sir Robert of Bethune vycouÌ„t of Meaulx and there he fouÌ„de sir Iohan of Iumont and his company And thyder was sente a .xl. speares knightes and squiers suche as desyred to seke aduentures WhanÌ„e the Vycount was come thider he entended to fortify and repayre the towne in all poyntes Fraunces Atreman and they of Gaunte subtelly ymagyned night and day howe they might anoye and do domage to their enemyes as they shewed rightwell to their neighbours as And warp TeremoÌ„de Ardenbourcke Bruges Danneâ— and Scluse They euer ymagined howe to wynne any of them by crafte And to say the trouth they had suche coÌ„pany as were mete to execute suche dedes So it fortuned about the ende of Maye FrauÌ„ces Atreman and a seuyn thousande with hym departed fro Gaunt to th entent to wynne Ardenbourke by stelth and all the knightê and squyers therin And specially they desyred to haue the capitayne sir Iohan Iumont bycause he had done them many great domages as in takyng and sleyng and puttyng out of their cyen and cuttyng of handes fete and eares of their men So thus on a Wednisdaye aboute the dawnynge of they day they came to ArdeÌ„bourcke and had with them scalynge leddars redy The Vycounte of Meaulx sir Iohan Iumount sir Ryflarte of Flaunders the lorde of Damert sir Tercelette of Montigny and sir Parducas of Pount saint Marke the lorde of Langueuall and sir Iohan his sonne sir Hewe Desnell the lorde de Lalayne sir Reynolde of LoÌ„mye and dyuers other lay slepyng in their beddes on trust of the watche Nowe beholde what adueÌ„ture they were in The watche
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
bicause they be enuyous ouer straÌ„gers And moreouer he sayd that he had rather be erle of Sauoy or erle of Arthoyse than to be kyng of scottes and sayd howe he hadde sene all the power of Scotlande in one daye to gyder as the scottes sayd them selfe and yeche neuer sawe togyder past fyue hundred speares and about a .xxx. thousande other men of warr the whiche nombre agaynst Englisshe archers or agaynst a thousande of other good men of armes coude not longe endure Than the admyrall was demaunded if he had sene the puyssaunce of Englande He answered yea For on a day quod he whan I sawe the scottes flye awaye for feare of the Englysshmen I desyred them to bring me where as I might se and aduyse the Englysshe hoost and so they dyde I was set in a straite passage where as they must nedes passe and to my demyng they were a .ix thousande men of warre And the scottes sayd that it was all the power of England and that there were none abydinge behynde Than the kyng and his counsayle studyed a lytell and at laste sayd It is a great thyng of threscore thousande archers of sixe or seuyn thousande men of armes It maye well be quod the Constable that they may make that nombre but yet I had rather fight with theym at home in their owne marches than with halfe the nombre here and so I herde my maister saye often tymes whan I was yonge By my faithe quod the admyrall if ye had ben there with a great nombre of men of armes as I supposed ye shulde haue beÌ„ I thynke we hadde famysshed all Scotlande Thus the constable and admyrall deuysed toguyder and they sette the duke of Burgoyne in great desyre to make an armye in to EnglaÌ„de ¶ Nowe let vs leaue a lytell to speke of theÌ„ and retourne to the busynesse of Flaunders IT is of trouthe the duke of Burgoyn had ymagined in his mynde to make the nexte Somer folowynge whiche shulde be in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fyue a great army and to moue the frenche kyng as moche as he might to go into Englande And also the constable of FraÌ„ce who was an expert knight and well beloued in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and had ben brought vp in his youthe in the realm of Englande He in lykewise gaue counsayle to the same enterprise and so dyde the lorde dela Tâ—emoyle And bycause that the duke of Berrey was in Poictou and Lymosyn and knewe nothynge of this counsayle the duke of Burgoyne who was chiefe about the kynge he had dyuers ymaginacions he thought well that as long as the warre contynued in FlauÌ„ders the voyage ouer the see in to Englande coude nat well be done Wherfore he was more troubled with them of Gaunte and enclyned rather to their desyres for he knewe well how they were alyed to thenglysshe men And howe they had in Gaunte a knight of Englande called sir Iohan Bourchier sent thyder by kyng Richarde to gouerne the towne and to counsayle theym Howe be it the gauntoyse desyred to haue peace for they were so ouerlayd by the warre that the moost ryche and notablest persones of the towne were nat maisters of their owne goodê for the wylde soudyours gouerned them And the wyse men sawe well that at length it coude nat endure but that they were all in great parell And whan they were toguyder dyuers of ten tymes marueyled howe they had endured so longe as they hadde done they sawe well it was rather by force than by loue For Peter de Boyse alwayes parceyuered in his yuell opynions and domages So that non durst speke before hym of peace for if he knewe any ê‘sone though he were neuer so sage that spake of any treatie of peace incoÌ„tynent he was slayne and murthered without pytie or remedy THis warre that they of Gaunte hadde maynteyned agaynst their lorde therle Loyes of Flaunders and the Duke of Bourgoyne had endured a seuyn yere wherby ther was suche hurte done that it were great marueyle to reherse The turkes paynims and sarasyns sorowed that warre For of trouthe the marchaundyses of eightene realmes arryued lightely at Sluse and had their delyueraunce at Danne or at Bruges whiche was all let by this warre Than beholde and coÌ„sydre if these farre ê‘ties sorowed this warre Moche more ought to be sorie the landes nexte adioynynge therto there was none coude fynde any meane of peace And so firste by the grace of god diuyne inspyracion and by the huÌ„ble prayers of good folkes that god opened their eares had pytie of the poore people of Flaunders And how the peace came by them I shall shewe you fro poynt to poynt as I shewed you before the begynning so shall I declare the endynge The begynnyng of the hatte was by IohnÌ„ de Bare Iohan Piet Gylbert Mathue Iohan Lion and suche other and I desyre you to herken thervnto ¶ How by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt enteredde to treate with the duke of Burgoyne for peace And howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what aunswere the duke gaue vnto them Cap. xviii IN this season in the towne of Gaunt was sir Iohan Bourchyer ruler there vnder the kynge of Englande and Peter de Boyse dyd assyst hym and susteygned all their yuell opinyons Ther were some wysemen right sore displeased with the dysceÌ„cion bytwene their naturall lorde and the towne how be it they durst nat shewe forth the ententes of their hartes but one of them to another as they durst secretely For if Peter de Boyse had knowen that they had made any â—â—blant of peace they shulde haue ben slayne wtout mercy In lyke maner as he and Philyppe Dartuell had slayne sir Symon Becâ—e and sir Gylbert Brute and to kepe the people of GauÌ„t in feare He had caused dyuers to be slayne in that season In that season afore or Fraunces Atremau was putte oute of the towne of Dan by the frenche kyng and had distroyed the couÌ„trey of the foure maysters and that the kynge was returned agayne in to Fraunce as ye haue herde before They of GauÌ„t began to dout and the notable men of the towne supposed that the nexte Somer the frenche kynge wolde retourne agayne and besiege the towne but Peter de Boyse and suche other of his secte made but lyght therof Sayenge howe they wolde gladly se the kynge before their towne for they sayd they had suche alyaunce with the kyng of EnglaÌ„de that they shulde soone be ayded and conforted In this season there was in the towne two valyant men of good lyfe and of good conuersacyon of a meane lygnage nat of the best nor of the worst Whiche ê‘sones were sore displeased to se the discorde bytwene the towne and their naturall lorde howe be it they durste nat speke therof for feare of Peter de Boyse One of them was a maryner
place with the banner of Flaunders before theym And they wyll crye through the towne the Lyon of FlauÌ„ders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath ê‘doned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌ„e obeyed without we preuent them and putte them out of our iurysdyctions What is best than to do quod sir Iohan Bourchier Than aunswered Peter and sayd It behoueth that to morowe in the mornyng we assemble in harnes all our men in the house de la Vale And than let vs go throughe the towne with the kynge of Englandes baner before vs and lette vs crye also The Lyon of Flaunders kynge of Englande lorde of this countrey and towne of Gaunte And whan we come in to the market place suche as be on our partie wyll drawe to vs and than lette vs flee all the other treatours It is well deuysed ê™ sir Iohan Bourchier lette it so be done ¶ Nowe beholde if god dyde nat moche for these two Roger and Iaques For they were enfourmed of Peter de Boyse deuyse whan they knewe it they were nat abasshed But late in the euenynge they sente to all their frendes that where as they shulde be the nexte daye in the market place by eight of the cloke in any wyse they desyred them to be there by seuyn of the clocke and that they dyde to preuent Peter de Boyse To this poyntment euery man was agreed and on the monday in the mornyng sir Iohan Bourchyer and his company came to the house called de la Vale with hym a threscore and Peter de Boyse came thyder with a xl there they armed theÌ„ in good ordynaunce sette them selfe forwarde And Roger and Iaques assembled their frendes togyder and the moost parte of the aldermen and burgesses of Gaunt came to them Than they toke the erles baner and went through the towne cryeng the foresaid crye and suche as herde the crye and sawe the aldermen of their craftes and the baners of the erle they folowed after and came to the same coÌ„pany And so by seuyn of the clocke they came to the market place and there set theÌ„ selfe in good order with therles baners before them and euer there came mo and mo to them These tidynges came anone to sir Iohn Bourchier and to Peter de Boyse who were assemblynge of their people Than they went forthe with the baners of EnglaÌ„de before them and as they wente they cryed their cryes before deuysed And so they came to the said market place and there araynged them selfe before the other but euer suche as came the moost parte went to the Erles baners so that if a hundred came fourscore went thyder In so moche that all the place was full of men of armes and so they stode eche regardyng other WHan Peter de Boyse sawe howe the aldermen of the craftes drewe to Roger and Iaques he was sore abasshed and douted greatly of his lyfe For he sawe suche as were wont to serue hym flye awaye fro hym and so priuely he stale awaye oute of the prease and hydde hym selfe for feare of dethe And whan Roger and Iaques sawe that nighe all the people drewe to their parte they were right ioyouse and well coÌ„forted and nat without good cause For than they sawe well that the people of Gaunt wolde be in peace with their lorde Than they departed with a certayne of their company with the baners of Flaunders before them and so came to sir Iohan Bourchyer and to the Englysshemen who were nat very sure of their lyues whan they sawe them come towarde them Than Roger demauÌ„ded of sir Iohan Bourchier wher Peter de boyse was and what was his entent and whyder he was their frende or enemy The knight answered and said I thynke Peter de Boyse be here by me and whan he sawe that he was gone he sayd I knowe nat wher he is become I went he had been in my company But as for me I am and wyll be seruaunt to my naturall lorde the kyng of Englande who sende me hyder at your owne desyres if ye well remembre It is true quod they for if ye had nat ben desyred to come hyder by the towne of Gaunte ye shulde haue ben slayne But for the honour of the kynge of Englande who sende you hyder at our request ye shall nat nede to feare nor non of yoâ—s ye shall haue no hurte We shall saue you from all domages and conducte you to the towne of Calayes Wherfore departe to your lodgynges peasably and â—lyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of oure naturall lorde the duke of Burgoyne and wyll make no more warre The knyght was ryght Ioyouse of that aunswere to be so quyte and sayd Sir sythe it wyll be none otherwyse so be it and I thanke you of that ye offre me at this tyme. ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan Dell came to gauÌ„t to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the cytie where and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sent to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Cap. xx THan sir Iohan Bourchier departed peasably fro the place with all thenglissh men and suche Gauntoyse as were in his Companye fledde awaye and hydde theÌ„ selfe And anone after entred in to the towne sir Iohan Delle and came in to the market place with the dukes letters sende thyder by the duke And there they were opyned and reed to all the people whiche gretlye pleased theym Than Fraunces Atreman was sent for fro the castell of Gaure who incoÌ„tynent came to them and agreed to the treatie and sayd it was well And so thervpon sir Iohan Delle was sente agayne to the duke who was as than at Arras shewed hym all the demeanour of the gauntoyse And howe that Peter de Boyse had as than no rule nor audyence in the towne and howe that if he had ben fouÌ„de he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌ„ces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌ„tly and confyrmable to the Peace All these thynges pleased moche the duke and so he sealed a charter of peace and a truse to endure vntyll the firste day of Ianuarye and in the meane season a counsayle to be had for that matter in the cytie of Tourney And all the sir IohnÌ„ Delle brought agayne with hym to Gaunte wherof all the people had great ioye For they shewed than howe they had great desyre to haue peace All this season sir Iohan Bowser and the Englysshe men and Peter de Boyse were styll in Gaunte but there was no man wolde do any thynge after them and Peter de Boyse lyued styll in rest With that he sware that he shulde nat procure nor moue any thynge that shulde cause any warre bytwene the towne and their naturall
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
castell Nantylleur standyng on these laundes nere to the castell Lameu And as he wente thyderwarde one shewed hym that the castell Nantylleur was voyde and they departed that kepte it ThanÌ„e sir Garses taryed in the selde deuysed what was best than to do Than the seneshall of No besen sayd sir this castell of Nantylleur is in my bayliwyke and it ought to parteyne to the erle of Foiz I praye you let me haue it and I shall make it to be so kepte on my proper coste and charge that no man that wyll any hurte to the contrarye shall neuer entre therin Sir quod they of Tholous he sayeth well and he is a valyant man it were better he had it than another Well quod sir Garses I am content Thus the castell of NaÌ„tylleur was delyuered to the seneschall of Nobesen who incontynent rode thyder and founde it clene voyde Than he newly fortifyed that was broken and heset therin a capitayne a squyer of the countre called Fortefey saynt Poule than he retourned to the siege of Maluoysen where the duke was and also thyder was come sir Garses all his company and shewed the duke all that he had done This siege endured about a .vi. wekes and nighe euery day there was scrimysshinge at the barryers at laste they withoute stopped their water so that their sesterns began to drie and in sixe wekes their fell nat a droppe of rayne the season was so drie and hote and they wtout had ease ynoughe by reason of the fayre ryuer Whan they wtin sawe what case they were in they were sore abasshed for they sawe well they coude nat long endure Wyne they hadde plentie but fresshe water fayled them ThanÌ„e they aduysed to fall in treatie with the duke so they dyde And Raymonde de lespee purchased a saue conduct to go in to the hoost to speke with the duke and so he dyd and sayd Sir if ye wyll be courtesse to me and to my company I shall render in to youre handes the castell of Maluoysen What curtesy wolde ye quod the duke that I shulde shewe you Departe your waye you and all yours in to your owne couÌ„treis and entre nat in to no forteresse that holdeth agaynst vs for if ye do and if I get you or any of you I shall delyuer you to Ioselyn that shall make your beerdes without any rasoure Sir quod Raymonde if we shall deê‘te shall we haue with vs all our bagges and baggages for that we haue wonne it by armes in great aduenture Than the duke studyed a lytell and sayd I am content that ye bere with you as moche as ye may beare in males and somers and none otherwise And if ye haue any prisoners that ye delyuer them to vs. I am coÌ„tent ê™ Raymonde Thus all they within deê‘ted and yelded vp the castell to the duke of Anto we But Raymonde de lespe tourned and be came frenche and serued the duke of Aniowe longe tyme after and went with him in to Italy and there dyed in ascrimysshe before Naples whan the duke of Aniou the duke of Sauoy made their voyage Howe the garison castell of Lourde was cast downe and disconfyted by the great dilygence that the Erle of Foiz made Cap. xxiiii THus quod the knight the duke of Aniou gatte the castell of Maluoysen wherof he great ioye and made it to be kepte by a knyght of Bygore called sir Cyquart of Luperier after he gaue it to the erle of Foiz who kepeth it yet and wyll do as longe as he lyueth And he hath made capitayne there a knyght of Bygore one of his owne lynage called sir Raymon de Lane and whan the duke of Aniou had the possessyon of Maluoysen and had delyuered his countrey fro the Englysshmen and fro the pyllers of the conntre Than he wente and layd seige before the castell of Lourde Than therle of Foiz douted greatly the duke of Aniou bycause he cam so nere hym and wyste nat what he entended Than therle of Foiz assembled togyder knightes and squyers and sent theÌ„ aboute to dyuers garysons and sette his Brother sir Arnolde Guyllame in the towne of Morlens with two hundred speares in the towne of Panne and sir Peter of Cabeston in to the cite of Lestrade with other two hundred speares and sir Monant of NoÌ„nalles went in to the towne of Hart let with a hundred speares and Arnolde Gehe rell in to the towne of Montgeberell with a huÌ„dred speares sit Foulquant Dortery in to the towne of Sanetere with a hundred speares I Espaygne of Lyon was sente to the Mount Marson with two hundred speares There was no castell in all Bierne but that was well prouyded with men of warre and the erle himselfe laye styll at his Castell of Ortayse by his florens Why sir quod I hath he so great plentie of florens sir quod he at this houre I thynke he hath well to the noÌ„bre of .xxx. tymes a hundred thousande There is no lorde lyuenge as now that is so large and lyberall in gyueng of gyftes as he is Than I demaunded of hym to what maner of people he was so lyberall he answered and said to straungers to knightes and squyers comyng through his countre and to haraldes and mynstrels and to euery man that speketh with hym there is none departeth fro him without some reward for if any refuse his gyfte he is nat content A saynt mary sir ê™ I to what entent kepeth he so moche money wher dothe he get it Is his renenues so great to gader toguyder suche treasure sir I wolde gladly knowe this if it pleased you Well sir ê™ the knight ye shall know it but ye haue demauÌ„ded of metwo thynges First ye haue demauÌ„ded of me to what entent he kepeth suche treasure I shall shewe you Th erle of Foiz alway douteth of the warre that he had with therle of Arminake also for the busynesse of his neighbours the frenche kyng and the kynge of Englande whom he wolde nat wyllingly displease For he hath alwayes dissymuled bytwene them duryng all the wary season vnto this present tyme for he neuer armed hym selfe for any of their parties He hath alwayes been euer in good case with bothe parties I saye to you so ye shall saye youreselfe whanÌ„e ye haue ones knowlege of hym and herde him speke ones knowe the order and state of his house ye shall se that he is at this daye the moost sage prince in the worlde And there is none so great a lorde nother the frenche kyng nor the kyng of Englande that wyll wyllingly haue his yuell wyll as for his other neighbours as the kyng of Arragon or the kyng of Nauer he estemeth them but lytell for he wyll fynde mo men of armes by reason of suche frendes as he hath gote with his giftes and money that he hath in treasure than bothe those kynges can do For I haue herde hym
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
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
armes to be taken Cap. xxx THan agayne I demaunded of hym where Rambalt an expert squier and a great capitayne of meÌ„ of Warr was becoÌ„e bycause I sawe him ones in Auignon in great aray I shall shewe you quod the Bastot of Manlyon In tyme past whan sir Seguyn of Batefoyle helde Bride in Velay a ten myle fro Puy in Auuergne and that he had made warre in the countre conquered moche than he retourned in to Gascon gaue to Loyes RaÌ„balt to another coÌ„panyon of his called Lymosin Bride Anse on the water of SoÌ„me the countre as than was so desolate full of coÌ„panyons in euery corner that noue durst go out of their houses bitwene Bride in Auuerne Anse is more than .xxvi. myle a couÌ„tre full of mouÌ„tayns and whan Loyes Rambalt wolde ryde for his pleasure fro Bride to Anse he rode without doute or feare for he helde dyuers fortresses in the countie of Forestes and therabout wher he refresshed hym For as thaÌ„ the gentylmen of Auuergne of Forestz of Velaye and the fronters were sore traueyled and ouer layde with the warre they were so taken and raunsomed that they doughted the warre For there was none of the great lordes of FrauÌ„ce that sente any men of warre in to the couÌ„tre for the frenche kynge was yonge and had moche a do in dyuers ê‘tes of the realme for in euery parte the companyoÌ„s and companyes rode and dyd moche hurte so that the realme coude nat be quyte of theÌ„ And also dyuers of the lordes of Fraunce were in Englande in hostage and in the meane season their countreys men were pylled and robbed and had no remedy for the men of the countre were without corage to defende themselfe And so it was that Rambalte and Lymosin who were companyons in armes fell out I shall shewe you howe LOyes Rambalte had at Bride a fayre woman to his louer whome he loued parfitely and whan he rode fro bride to Anse he coÌ„maunded Lymosin to take good hede to her And Lymosin who was his companyon in armes and in whome he moost trusted he toke so good hede to the damosell that he had his pleasure of her whan he lyste so that Loyes Rambalte was enfourmed therof and he coude suffre it no lengar So that he toke suche a hate agaynst his companyon that he caused hym to be taken by his seruauntes made hym to be driuen all naked saue a breche about the towne and beaten with scourges and truÌ„pettê to be blowen before him And at certayne places his dede to be openly cryed than banisshed the towne lyke a treatour and in a symple cote putte out This dispyte dyd Loyes Rambalte to Lymosin whiche dispyte Lymosin toke greuously and sayd Howe he wolde be reueÌ„ged if euer it laye in his power as he was anone after And this Lymosin whyle he was in prosperite in ridyng bytwene Bride and Anse he euer forbare the landes of the lorde of Voult dwellyng on the ryuer of Rone for he had serued him in his youthe Than he thought to go to hym and to crye hym mercy to desyre hym to make his peace in FrauÌ„ce and so in his cote a fote he went to Voulte for he he knewe ryght well the way and so went in to a house whan he sawe his tyme he wente to the castell and the porter wolde nat suffre hym to entre but at last he spake so fayre that the porter dyde lette him in and coÌ„maunded hym to go no farther in wtout he were coÌ„maunded and he obeyed Whan the lorde was vp he went downe in to the court to sporte hym and so came to the gate Than Lymosin felle downe on his knees and sayde sir do ye nat knowe me by my faithe quod the lorde no He thought lytell it shulde haue been Lymosin and whan he had well aduysed hym he sayd Thou resemblest well Lymosin who was ones my seruaunt Sir quod he â— Lymosyn I am and your seruaunt than he cryed him mercy for all thynges paste before and shewed hym fro poynt to poynt all his busynesse and howe Loyes Rambalte had dalte with hym at the ende Than the lorde sayd Lymosyn Is it as tho sayest and that thou wylte becoÌ„e good frenche I shall make thy peace By my faith sir quod he I neuer dyde so moche hurte to the realme of FrauÌ„ce but I shall do agayne more ê“fyte therto that wolde I se gladly quod the lorde of Voult the lorde kept him in his house tyll he had made his peace in euery place and whaÌ„ Lymosin myght in suretie ryde than the lorde of Voult armed hym and brought hym to the seneshall of Velay and acquaynted hym there and ther he was examyned of the state of bride and of Loyes Rambalte and whan he rydeth what waye he taketh and than he sayd Whan Loyes rydeth he hath nat with him past a .xxx. or a .xl. speares and the wayes that he kepeth I knowe them by harte For with hym without hym I haue rydden them ofte tymes And sir if ye wyll sende forthe a company of men of armes on ieopardy of my heed ye shall haue him within fyftene dayes The capitayns ther toke hede to his sayeng and sent out spyes and Rambaulte was spyed as he was rydinge fro Bride to Anse besyde Lion on the ryuer of Rone Whan Lymosin knewe it he shewed it to the lorde of Voult and sayd Sir Loyes RaÌ„balte is nowe at Anse and at his retournyng I shall bring you to a streight wher as he must nedes passe by Than the lorde of Voult made an assemble and was capitayne hymselfe and sente for the bayly of Velay the lorde of Mountelan sir Gerarde of Salyers and his sonne sir PlaÌ„seart of Vernet the lorde of Newcastell for other men of armes therabout so that he was a thre C. speares and they all assembled at Nonnay and by the couÌ„saile of Lymosin they made two busshmentes the vicouÌ„t of Polygnac the lorde of Chalencon had the rule of the one and the lorde Voulte and the lorde of Mount Clan had the guydynge of the other busshment and with them sir Loyes of Tornon and the lorde of Salyers and they hadde equally deuyded their company The firste company kepte the pase nere to saynt Rambart in Forestes wher as Loyes Rambalte shulde passe the ryuer of Loyre or els he muste haue gone by Guyde or Pynne And whan Loyes Rambalt had done that he came for to Anse he departed with a .xl. speares and thought nat to haue any rencounter and douted nothynge of Lymosin it was the leest thought he had And lightely euer the way that he rode outwarde he wolde nat come homewarde And as he came outwarde he caÌ„e by saynt Rambalte and at his retourne he toke another waye toke the mountayns aboue Lyon and aboue Vyenne and vnder the Burge Darlentall And rode streyght towarde the Mounastier a thre lytell myle fro Puye
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
drewe towarde the assaulte of the bastyde Then they herde tydynges how the Bretons were departed and had lefte the bastyde voyde then the Englysshmen repented them in that they had not layde a busshment for them wherby they sholde not haue lost so theyr pray Then they brake downe the bastyde set fyre theron Thus by the duke of Lancastre the bastydes were raysed before Brest the same day the duke syr Iohn̄ Holande certayne other lordes wente to se the castell of Brest the ladyes with them there they ete a drāke made chere so wente agayne to theyr lodgynges the nexte day whiche was the .iii. day they refresshed theyr shyppes with fresshe water the .iiii. daye toke shyppynge so departed THe fourthe day after the duke and his company and the maryners toke counsayle togyder whiche waye they sholde drawe and whether they sholde take lande at Lyxbone or at the porte of Portyngale or in Bysquay or at Coulongne and longe they were in counsayle or they were fully determyned Alphons Vietat patron of the galeys of Portyngale was sente for to them and the questyon was demaunded of hym and he answered sayd Syrs for this cause I was sente to you out of Portyngale fro the kynge my mayster and syr knowe for trouthe that where soeuer ye aryue in his countrey ye shall be ryght welcome to hym it shall be ryght ioyfull to hym for gretely he desyreth your comynge and to se you So thus the space of an houre they were at a poynte to haue landed at the porte of Portyngale a .xxx. myle from Lyxbone Howbeit after they chaunged theyr purpose for it was sayd amonge them that it were ferre more honourable for them to lande in the marches of theyr enemyes then in the lande of theyr frendes saynge also that yf theyr enemyes knowe that they be landed on them they shal be the more feared then they rested to take lande at Coulongne in Galyce the maryners set theyr course that way and had wynde and wether at wyll and so after they departed fro Brest the .v. daye they came to the hauen of Coulongne and taryed for the fludde wherfore they sholde not approche nere to the lande NOwe shall I shewe you of the knyghtes of Fraunce as the lorde of Barroys syr Iohn̄ Braquemont syr Iohn̄ of Castell Morant syr Peter of Bellames syr Trystrā and other that were come in pylgrymage to the towne of Compostella where lyeth the body of saynt Iames and whē they had done theyr pylgrymage and offered and were in theyr lodgynges tydynges came to them howe the Englysshe men were on that coost and by lykelyhode to aryue at Coulongne or they coulde vntrusse theyr harneys and discharge theyr mules Then they armed them quyckely and determyned to go thyder to defende the porte castell and towne there and suche as knewe the countrey sayd syrs auaunce forwarde shortely for yf the Englysshe men happen to wynne the towne or Castell of Coulongne they wyll be lordes of all the countrey aboute these knyghtes dyd suche dylygence that they came the same nyght to the towne of Coulongne whiche was a .xiiii. longe myles thens and a coūtrey full wylde to laboure in They came so to the poynte that they entred in to the towne and Castell the same season that the Englysshmen came in to the hauen of theyr comynge they of the towne and castell were ryght ioyfull all that nyght came after them theyr caryages and somers and in the mornyng it was grete beautye to beholde entrynge in to the hauen the galeys and shyppes charged with men and prouysyon and to here the trompettes claryons sounde and the trompettes and claryons of the towne and castell dyd sounde in lykewyse agaynst them thē the Englysshe men knew wel that men of warre were in the towne and Castel Then they yssued out of theyr galeys and shyppes in to the feldes not as then approchynge the towne for they sawe well the towne was stronge and well prouyded of men of warre without the towne there were certayne fissher houses There the Englysshe lordes made theyr lodgynges and soo laye styll a .iiii. dayes doynge none other thynge but dyschargynge of theyr shyppes they had so grete prouysyon theyr horses were set a lande whiche had ben on the see a .xv. dayes sore oppressed what with the furoure of the see and with the nombre of people in euery shyppe yet they had ben well kepte and had haye ootes and fresshe water sufficyent whā euery thynge was voyded out of the galeys and shyppes then it was demaūded of the duke what he wolde haue done with his nauey he answered and sayd I wyll that al the maryners be payde of theyr wages and then let euery man do his owne profyte I gyue them good leue for I wyll that euery man do knowe that I wyll neuer passe agayne the see in to Englonde tyll I haue my full pleasure of the royalme of Castell or elles I wyll dye in the quarell then the maryners were payde so that euery man was contente and so departed when they myght out of the hauen of Coulongne and some wente in to Portyngale and some to Lyxbone and some to Bayon or to Albay in Bretaygne or in to Englande soo that none abode there behynde Thus the duke of Lancastre and his men lodged without Coulongne in suche lytell houses as they founde there and abrode in the feldes in bowers made of grene bowes lyke men of warre ABoute the space of a moneth and more the duke laye at Coulongne and remeued not without it were a huntynge or a hawkynge for the duke other lordes of Englande had brought with them hawkes and houndes for theyr sporte and sparowe hawkes for the ladyes Also they brought with them in the shyppes mylles to grynde corne and ouyns to bake in theyr foragers wente dayly a foragynge where as they thought to spede howbeit they founde no grete plenty of forage for they were lodged in a poore countrey and a deserte Wherfore they were dryuen to go ferre of for forage And also they of the garyson of Coulongne as the barroys of barres who ryght wel coulde take a vauntage of his enemyes if nede were and his other companyons When they sawe the Englysshe foragers ryde forthe so folysshly they thought on a daye to be before thē and to make them pay for all they had before so on a daye they armed them a CC. and rode by guyde in the nyght aboute the woodes and mountaynes and so at the brekyng of the day they came to a wood and to a mountayne called the Espynet and there taryed For it was shewed them howe the Englysshe foragers rode abrode true it was to the nombre of .iii. C. And when these foragers had ben a brode a .ii. dayes and gotten moche forage then they retourned towarde theyr oost and theyr waye laye to passe the pace of
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
englande suche lyght companyons in comfortynge of themselfe of them that were abasshed sayd let these frensshmen come there shall not one tayle of them retourne agayne in to fraunce suche persones as were in det cared not for the payment therof were gretely reioysed of the comynge of the frensshmen wolde say to theyr credytours when they demaunded theyr det syrs holde you styll they forge in FrauÌ„ce new floreyns wherwith ye shall be payde and in the trust therof they lyued and spente largely and wheÌ„ they myght not be trusted they wolde say what wolde ye haue of vs It were better for you that we sholde spende frely the goodes of this royalme rather theÌ„ the frensshmen sholde fynde it haue it and so by that meanes there was spente in outrage in Englande a M. pouÌ„de sterlynge IN this season the kyng of englaÌ„de was in the marches walles with hym the erle of Oxenforde by whom euery thynge was done in englaÌ„de wtout hym nothyng done chefe of the kynges couÌ„sayle were syr Symon Burle syr Nicholas braule syr Robert tauylyon syr Robert beauchamp syr IohnÌ„ salwen syr mychel de la polle also there was named the bysshop of Norwyche syr wyllyaÌ„ Neuell broder to the lorde Neuel al these as it was sayd dyd with the kyng what they lyst as for the kynges vncles the erle of Cambrydge the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ coulde do nothyng wtout it were agreable to the other before sayd this trouble differeÌ„ce amoÌ„ge theÌ„selfe was well knowen in frauÌ„ce whiche gretly auaunced theyr iourney they wolde haue had the duke of LaÌ„castre to haue withdraweÌ„ his iourney out of Castell but he toke no hede therof to let his voyage wheÌ„ the lordes of englaÌ„de the prelates the people of the good townes cytees comons of the royalme were iustly credybly enfourmed how the frensshe kyng was redy to come in to englande to dystroy it then they drew togider to couÌ„sayle theÌ„ the kyng was wryten vnto by his vncles that he sholde come to LondoÌ„ certefyeng hym how the comons of his royalme were not coÌ„tent with hyÌ„ nor his counsayle the kyng his counsayle wolde not refuse the goyng thyder but so departed for the marches of wales where they had ben long the quene also so came to Wyndesore there taryed a certayne dayes then the kyng lefte there the quene so went to Westmynstre to his palace and there taryed thyder came to hym al suche as had to do there they toke couÌ„sayle how they sholde be demeaned agaynst this iourney of the frensshe kyng then the erle of Salysbury who was a ryght valyaunt prudent knyght sayd before the kyng his vncles before al the prelates lordes of englande that were there pÌ„sent syr my souerayn lorde al ye my lordes other it ought not to be meruayled of our aduersary the frensshe kyng wyll come ryn vpoÌ„ vs for syth the deth of the last noble puyssaunt kyng Edward of noble memory this royalme here hath ben in gret adueÌ„ture to haue ben lost dystroyed with the vyllaynes of yâ— same also it is well knowen in fraunce how we be not al of one accorde wherfore this trouble appereth the whiche is not lytel for he is but a foole that fereth not his enemyes as longe as the royalme of Englande was in vnyte the kyng with his people they with hym theÌ„ we prospered reygned vyctoryously nor we sawe nor founde none that dyd vs ony grete wronge wherfore it is now nedeful neuer more nede apperd in englande that we coÌ„ferme ourselfe to rest loue vnyte if we thynke to come to ony honour that we ordeyne at the portes hauens of englande suche prouysyon defence that our countrey receyue no blame nor domage THis noble royalme of Englande hath ben a loâ—gâ— season in tryuÌ„phaunt floure euery man knoweth well a thynge that is in floure hath more nede to be wel kepte theÌ„ wheÌ„ it is tourned to parfyte fruyte therfore we ought to se coÌ„syder how this royalme is in his flourysshynge floure for within this .xl. yeres knyghtes squyers therof bothe within the royalme wtout haue had more honoure then ony other nacyoÌ„ therfore let vs put to our paynes that as long as we lyue we may kepe this honour theÌ„ euery maÌ„ sayd that it were good that it wereso The erle of salysburies wordes were wel herde accepted as the wordes counsayle of a noble valyaunt sage knyght all that was sayd by hym deuysed among theÌ„ I wyl not long rest theron for I thynke not to know al but I know wel that the towne of Caleys was kepte as I sayd before they ordeyned to kepe the hauyns portes where as they supposed that the frensshmeÌ„ wolde aryue the erle of salysbury bycause parte of his lande marched nere to the yle of wyght whiche is ryght oueragaynst Normandy the couÌ„trey of â—aulx therfore he was set there with his meÌ„ archers of yâ— countrey the erle of deuynshyre to be at Hampton with CC. men of armes .vi. C. archers to kepe the hauyn the erle of NorthuÌ„brelande at Rye with CC. meÌ„ of armes .vi. C. archers the erle of CaÌ„brydge at douer with .v. C. meÌ„ o farmes .xii. C archers his broder the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ at SaÌ„dwyche with .vi. C. meÌ„ of armes .xii. C. archers the erle of stafforde the erle of penbroke were sent to Or wel hauyn with .v. C. meÌ„ of armes .xii. C. archers syr henry percy faulx percy were at yarmouth with .iii. C. meÌ„ of armes .vi. C. archers syr Symon burle was capytayne of Douer caâ—â—el al the hauyns portes bytwene the ryuer of Humbre Cornewal were refresshed with meÌ„ of war archers on the mouÌ„taynes hylles costyng the see on the fronters agaynst flauÌ„ders frauÌ„ce were set watche meÌ„ watchers in dyuers maners I caÌ„ not tel how they had empty pypes fylled with saÌ„de one set on another on the hyght of theÌ„ were places for meÌ„ to syr on whiche nyght day kepte watche lokynge in to the see they were charged that yf they saw the frensshe nauy aproche towarde the laÌ„de theÌ„ to make fyers alofte on the hylles to styre the couÌ„trey to drawe to the coost where the fyers apered it was ordeyned that they sholde suffre the frensshe kyng peasybly to take lande al his to suffre hym to entre in to the laÌ„de a .iii. or .iiii dayes so theÌ„ fyrst to go to the see where he landed to fyght with the shyppes to wyn them yf they colde to dystroy theÌ„ take al theyr prouysyon thâ—â—â— folow the frensshâ—eÌ„ not incoÌ„tyneÌ„t to fyght with theÌ„ but to hary theÌ„ to kepe theÌ„ wakynge to kepe theÌ„ fro
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
so he lepte on his horse a xx with hym and toke his penon before hym and rode out of the castell a grete galop to come to the Castellyans who as then were drawen in to a busshment and had made one of theyr company to ryde forthe on a genet and when syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant saw the geneture he sayd to a squyer of his galop forth thy genet assaye to speke with yonder geneture then the squyer galopped forth and folowed hym nere euer lykely to take hym for he fled but softely before hym to the entente to brynge hym in to the busshment when he was nere them the busshment brake out at hym then he tourned quyckely his backe and they that chased hym cryed Castell and syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant beynge vnder his penon seynge his squyer retourned in suche hast sayd they that chase my squyer be none of our company they be castellyans set on them crye Portyngale for I wyll fyght with them then he toke his spere ranne at them the fyrst that he met withall wente to the erthe and the seconde also of .xxv. Castellyans that were there x. of them lay shortely on the grounde and the other chased and some were ouertaken slayne and hurte and all this I was glad to se for I saw my delyueraunce and in a shorte season I was lefte all alone then I came to the knyght and saluted hym and as soone as he saw me he knewe me and demaunded of me fro whens I came what I dyd there then I shewed hym all myne aduenture and how the Castellyans chased me and toke me well sayd he and what knowe you of the kynge of Portyngale by my fayth syr sayd I to morowe he shall haue batayle at Iuberoth agaynst the kynge of Castel for he sente me in to this countrey to gyue warnynge therof to the knyghtes and squyers that knoweth it not to the entente that they sholde resorte to hym to morow sayd he ye truely syr sayd I and yf ye byleue not me demaunde of these Castellyans that ye haue taken then he demaunded of them tydynges they sayd howe surely the nexte day there sholde be batayle bytwene the .ii. kynges of whiche tydynges he was ryght glad and sayd openly to the Castellyans syrs for the good tydynges that ye shewe me I quyte you of your raunsomes departe when ye wyl so ye acquyte this squyer so thus he caused me to be quyted fro them and so they departed we yâ— same day retourned to â—onte then he made hym redy and departed thens at mydnyght I in his company and fro thens to the Cabase of Iuberoth whiche was a .vi. myles of that countrey and to eschewe encountrynges we rode somwhat out of our waye in the mornynge we herde that there sholde be batayle the same daye or we sawe the batayles when we approched the batayles were raynged in the feldes the kynge of Castell on the one partye the kynge of Portyngale on the other and at the fyrst we knewe not whiche were Castellyans and whiche were Portyngales tyll at the last syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere sayd I byleue surely the gretter oost be the Castellyans then we rode forth fayre easely tyl we came nere and then we sawe well it was the Castillyans and I trowe some of the gascoynes brake out agaynst vs then syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant sayd let vs auaunce forthe we se yonder our enemyes comyng on vs theÌ„ we strake our horses with the spurres rode cryenge Portyngale they folowed vs then when our company of portyngules sawe vs they came forth and rescued vs and for al that the batayles brake not theyr aray and so syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant came to the kynge and acquyted hym that day with the best Thus syr I haue shewed you howe he dyd me grete courtesye for he delyuered me out of pryson and I had not ben at the batayle and he had not ben Therfore syr dyd he not me a goodly pleasure yes truely sayd syr IohnÌ„ Dambrych courte and also by you he knew of the batayle that is true sayd the squyer then they rode forth tyll they had ouertaken theyr companuy came the same day to Connymbres ANd of the comynge of these Englysshe knyghtes the kynge of Portyngale was ryght ioyfull coÌ„maunded that they sholde be well lodged at theyr ease and when they were redy then Martyn of Coygne Ferrant Martyn Merle and the englysshe knyghtes wente to the kynge who receyued them ioyously theÌ„ the Englysshmen dyd theyr message presented the kynge with the Fawcons and greyhouÌ„des of the whiche the kynge had grete ioy for he loued houndes and hawkes then they thanked the kynge on the dukes parte for the goodly mules that he had sente to the duke and to the duches then he sayd that was but a small present another tyme I wyll sende them gretter gyftes this was but for aquayntaunce of loue as lordes ought to do one to another to nourysshe loue and amyte then wyne and spyces were brought and the knyghtes of Englande dranke and so toke theyr leue for that tyme retourned to theyr lodgynges to souper the nexte day they dyned at the kynges palace and the lorde Poynynges and syr IohnÌ„ Bancell sate at the kynges table and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourt syr IohnÌ„ Soultyer sate at another table with the barons of that countrey suche as were there and there was Laurence Fongase a squyer of honoure of the kynges who knewe ryght well all the knyghtes and squyers of Englande for he had sene them in Englande he made them the best chere he coulde they were well serued at this dyner and after dyner they were brought in to the counsayle chambre Then the englysshe knyghtes began to speke to the kynge and to .ii. erles that were there present the erle of Angose and the erle of Nauare and sayd syr and it lyke your grace besyde all the recommendacyons that the duke of Lancastre hath sente vnto you he gaue vs in charge to say to you that he desyreth sore to se you then the kynge sayd and I as glad to se hym and I requyre you that shortely we may se and speke togyder syr sayd the erles it were good that it were so for tyll ye be togyder ye shal not loue parfytely and then ye may take aduyse togyder howe ye may maynteyne your warres agaynst the kynge of Castel syr this is true sayd the knyghtes of englande then sayd the kynge let it be done shortely for if the duke desyre to se me in lyke wyse I desyre to se hym so then they fell in other talkynge for then the kyng charged his counsayle to agre and assygne a certayne daye when they sholde mete togyder and to assure the englysshe knyghtes therof and so they dyd it was agreed that the kynge of Portyngale sholde come to a cyte in his countrey called the Porte and that the duke of Lancastre sholde ryde
them prouysyon out of the towne for theyr money thus do if ye can I thȳke they wyll be glad of the obeysaunce for they haue many moo townes to wynne in Galyce wherfore I thynke they wyll the lyghtlyer go hous ye say well syrsayd they we shal do thus syth you counsayle vs to do it so they were determyned on this purpose and so passed y◠nyght as well as they myght and in the mornyng at the sone rysynge they ordeyned certayne mē to go out of the towne instructed and charged what truce they sholde make with the marshal yf they coulde there were .vii. of them they came to the marshall who was redy to retourne to the saulte and kneled downe salutynge hym and sayd syr we be sente hyder to you fro them of the towne of Ponce voyde who haue commaunded vs to say in theyr names that gladly they wyll put themselfe vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches in maner fourme as they of Coulongne hath done and as for prouysyon ye shall haue ynoughe out of the towne payenge courteysly therfore and syr it is the entencyon of them that hathe sente vs hyder that ye sholde not enforce thē ony further nor you nor none other to entre in to the towne with ony army but yf you some of your company wyll entre symply ye shall be welcome The marshall had an englysshman by hym that vnderstode the speche of Galyce he shewed the marshall in Englysshe the wordes that they had spoken The marshall answered and sayd syrs shortely retourne agayne to your towne and cause to come to the barryers suche as sente you hyder to speke there with me I wyl gyue thē assuraūce this day and to morowe the sone rysyng without we be agreed so they departed and wente to theyr towne and founde at the barryers the moost parte of them of the towne there they made relacyon of theyr message sayenge howe incontynent the marshall wolde come to the barryers to speke with them and yf ye be not company ynowe sende for suche mo as ye wyl haue so then all the notablest men of the towne drewe togyder then the marshall with a .xl. speres came thyder and alyghted came to the barryers and sayd thus YE syrs of Ponce voyde ye sente to vs .vii. of your men and I byleue surely ye dyd put your trust in them and they sayd howe ye wolde gladly knowledge my lorde the duke and my lady for your soueraynes in maner and fourme as they of Coulongne hath done but ye wyl not haue none other gouernours but your selfe within the towne I pray you what soueraynte sholde they haue ouer you without they had men set in the towne vnder them elles when ye wyll ye wyll be vnder hym and when ye lyst forsake hym surely it is myne entencyon and al my company to ordeyne you a good capytayne true wyse to gouer you and to mynystre true Iustyce and to put out al offycers set there by the kynge of Castel and yf ye wyll not do thus answere me for we are determyned what we wyll do then they desyred a lytell to take counsayle togyder and so they dyd and then sayd syr we haue good trust in you but we doubte these pyllers robbers for we haue ben sore beten with suche people in tyme past when syr Bettram of Clesquy and the bretons came fyrst in to this countrey for they lifte vs nothynge therfore we fere nay syrs fere not that sayd the marshall there shall noo pyllers robbers entre in to your towne nor ye shall lese nothynge by vs for we desyre noo thynge but obeysaunce and so with those wordes they were accorded then the marshall and certayne of his men entred in to the towne and the oost abode without in tentes and pauylyous and there was sent out of the towne to the lordes .iiii. somers laded with good wyne and as moche brede polayne grete plenty the marshal abode all that day in the towne set offycers there for the duke of Lācastre and he made a capytayne there a Galysyan who had alwayes ben in Englande with the lady Custaunce with whom they of the towne were well contented the nexte day the marshall retourned to the oost THē he determined to go to another towne a .vi. myles thens in Galyce called Dyghos so rode forth thyderwarde when they were wtin .ii. myles they sent a messagere to the towne to know whether they wolde rebel or elles yelde thē as they of Ponce voyde haue done yf not they sholde be saulted the nexte daye they of Dyghos made no care for that message and sayd we care for none assaulte we haue bē assayled or this tyme lost nothynge whē that answere was sayd to the marshall he sayd by saynt George and they shall be fyersly assayled are these vyllaynes so proude to gyue suche an answere so they passed that nyght and toke theyr ease the nexte mornynge at the sone rysyng they dyslodged and soo came before the towne lyghted a foote and set them in ordre to go to the assaulte they within made them redy to defende them theyr towne this towne was not grete but it was stronge and I byleue yf they had had ony good mē of warre in theyr towne the englysshmen had not so soone haue had thē for as sone as they within the towne saw how they were assayled felte the arrowes of the archers of Englande sawe howe dyuers of thē were sore hurte for they were but euyl harney sed then they began to be abasshed and sayd why doo we suffre ourselfe thus to be slayne hurte for the kynge of Castell it were as good for vs to haue to our lorde the duke of Lancastre syth he hath maryed the doughter of kyng Don peter as the sone of kyng Henry we know well yf we be taken perforce we shall all dye we se no comforte fro no parte it is more then a moneth syth we sent to the kynge of Castel to Burgus in Spayne there it was shewed to his counsayle the peryl that we were in for we knewe wel the englysshmen wolde come on vs as they do the kyng then spake to the knyghtes of Fraūce who are of his specyall coūsayle but they gaue hym counsayle to sende noo garyson hyder nor to noo parte of Galyce by semynge the kynge had as leue all Galyce were lost as saued he answered to our messagers syrs retourne to your towne and do the best you can for yourselfe wherby we may well vnderstande that we nede not to suffre ourselfe to be slayne nor taken perforce and therwith the men of the towne came to the gate mounted vp to a wyndowe made sygne to speke to treate they were herde the marshall came thyder demaunded what they wolde they answered sayd syr marshall cause your men to sease
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
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
good chere bycause theyr mayster and he were companyons and felowes togyder and serued bothe one lorde and mayster and as for the lady she thought none euyll in hym for she knewe nothynge of his entente nor wherfore he was come thyther Howbeit swetely she receyued hym and ledde hym in to her chambre and shewed hym parte of her busynes Then this squyer Faques le Grys to accomplysshe his folysshe appetyte desyred the lady that he myghte se the dongeon for he sayd it was a grete parte of his comynge thyder to se it The lady lyghtly graunted hym his desyre and soo she and he wente thyder all alone and nother chamberer nor varlet entred with them for the lady had noo mystrust in hym of ony dyshonoure and as sone as they were entred in to the dongeon Iaques le Grys closed the doore after theym The lady knewe not therof for she wente on before and thought that the wynde had shotte the dore and so when they were togyder thus alone Iaques toke the lady in his armes and enbraced her and dyscouered to her his entent The lady was sore abasshed and wolde gladly haue gone to the dore but she coulde not for he was a bygge man and so layde her downe on the carpeâ— and so by force dyd his pleasure with her and when he had done what he lyst he opened the dore and so departed and the lady sore dyspleased and abasshed of that adueÌ„cure 〈…〉 alone in the donteonbut at the knyghtes departed she sayd wypynge Iaket Iaket ye haue not well done thus to shame me but the blame shall not rest on me but on you yf god suffre my husbande ones to retourne home agayne Soo Iaket toke his horse and departed and rode agayne to his mayster the erle oâ— Alanson and was there at his rysynge aboute .ix. of the clocke and at .iiii. of the clocke moâ—e mornynge he was sene there before I shall shewe you why I speke these wordes bycause of the grete plee that folowed after for the comyssaryes of the parly ament of Parys had the matter in eramynacyon Thus the lady of Carongne abode styl in her castel after this sorowfull deed was done to her and dyscouered the matter to no creature but kepte her sorowe as secrete as she myght for she sawe wel to speke as then therof the myght haue more blame then honoure but she remembred well the day houre and tyme that the dede was doone and soo after the tyme came that the lorde of Caroagne came home from his voyage the lady his wyfe made hym good chere the day passed and the nyght came and the knyght wente to bedde and the lady wolde not wherof the knyght had grete meruayle and often desyred her to come to bedde and euer she blessyd her and walked vp and downe the chambre studyenge and musynge fynally when all her seruauntes were gone to bedde then she came to her husbande and fell downe on her knees and lamentably shewed hym all her aduenture the knyght coulde not byleue her Howbeit the lady 〈◊〉 soo moche that he agreed well that it was so and sayd certaynly lady syth the matter is so as ye shewe me I pardon you but the knyght shall 〈◊〉 or his dede by the aduyse and counsayle of 〈◊〉 frendes and youres And yf your 〈◊〉 be founde vntrue ye shall neuer come in my company The lady euer more and more 〈…〉 that it was true so that night passed The nexte daye the knyght wrote many letters and sente them to all his wyffes frendes and also to his owne soo that in a shorte tyme they were all come and assembled togyder at the castell of Argentuell and when they were all in a chambre then he began to shewe them the cause why he hadde sent for them and there made his wyfe to shewe them all the matter fro poynte to poynte wherof they all hadde grete meruayle so there he demaunded of theÌ„ counsayle and he was counsayled that he sholde drawe to his lorde the erle of Alanson and shewe hym all the matter and soo he dyd and the erle who gretely loued this foresayd Iaques le Grys wolde not byleue hym and soo gaue daye to the partyes to be before hym at a day lymytted And also he commaunded that the lady that hadde appeched Iaques le Grys sholde be there presente for to shewe the more playnly the trouthe of the matter and soo she was with a grete nombre of her lygnage soo the pletynge was grete and longe in the erles presence And Iaques le Grys was accused of his dede by the knyght the lorde of Carongne by relacyon of his wyfe who shewed there the case as it was fallen Iaques le Grys exscused hymselfe sayenge howe he was not gylty therin and the lady layde it sore to his charge and he euer denyed it and hadde meruayle by his wordes why the lady dyd hate hym he proued by them of the erle of Alansons house that the same daye at foure of the clocke in the mornynge he was sene there in his maysters castell and his mayster sayd and affyrmed that at .ix. of the clocke he was with hym at his vp rysynge wherfore the erle sayd it was not possyble for hym to go and come and to do that dede in foure houres and an halfe to ryde .xxiii. myles wherfore the erle sayd to the lady howe she dyd but dreame it wherfore he wolde maynteyne his squyer and commaunded the lady to speke noo more of the matter But the knyght who was of grete courage and well trusted and by leued his wyfe wolde not agree to that oppenyon but soo wente to Parys and shewed the matter there at the parlyament and there appeled Iaques le Grys who appered and answered to his appele and there layde in pledges to accomplysshe the ordenaunce of the parlyament THe plee bytwene them endured more then a yere and an halfe and they coulde not be agreed for the foresayd knyght helde hymselfe sore of the informacyon of his wyfe and bycause the matter was so sore publysshed abrode he sayd he wolde maynteyne his quarell to the dethe wherwith the erle of Alanson was sore dyspleased with the poore knyght often tymes wolde haue had hym slayne but that the matter was in the parlyament so longe theyr plee endured that the parlyament determyned bycause the lady coulde make no proffe agaynst Iaques le Grys but by her owne wordes that there sholde be batayle at vtteraunce bytwene them and soo on a daye prefyxed the knyght and his wyfe and the squyer beynge present Iudgement was gyuen that the nexte mondaye after mortall batayle sholde be done bytwene the knyght and the squyer whiche was in the yere of oure lorde god M.CCC lxxx and .vii. At whiche tyme the frensshe kynge and his lordes were at Sluse to the entente to passe ouer the see in to Englande and when the kynge herde of that matter howe a daye of batayle was taken to be at
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
that the tretye of the maryage of his doughter with Iohn of Bretayne was passed for the duke of Lancastre had his doughter with hym in to Castell then he thought to ratrete the kyng of englande to gyue hym in rewarde for suche seruyce as he had done and entended to do Iohn̄ of Brtayne for yf he coulde gete hym of the kyng he was agreed with the constable of Fraunce to haue for his raunsome at two paymentes .vi. score M. frākes the fyrst .lx. M. to be payde as sone as Iohn̄ of Bretayne were sent delyuered in to the towne of Boloyne and the other .lx. M. to be payde at Parys whersoeuer he wolde haue it delyuered the duke of Irelande coueted these floreyns and dyd so moche with the kynge of englande that the kynge gaue hym Iohn̄ of Bretayne clerely wherof many in Englande had grete meruayle but they that lyst to speke wolde speke there was none other thynge the duke of Irelande caused hym to be delyuered in to Boloyne and there the constable had made redy euery thynge for hym dnd so he rode to Parys and there founde the kynge and other lordes of his lygnage who made hym good chere and the constable also who brought hym in to Bretayne and there Iohan of Bretayne wedded his doughter as he had promysed and when the duke of Bretayne knewe that Iohn̄ of Bretayne was retourned in to Fraunce and clene delyuered out of Englande by the ayde and purchase to the constable of Fraunce then he had the cōstable in double hatred sayd what weneth syr Olyuer of Clesson to put me out of myne herytage he sheweth wel the tokens therof he hath delyuered out pryson Iohn̄ of Bretayne and hath gyuen hym his doughter in marriage whiche thynges are to me ryght dyspleasaunt surely that shall I well shewe ones on a daye howe he hath not wel done peraduenture whē he taketh leest hede therof he sayd truely for he shewed it quyckely or the yere passed as ye shall here after in the story But fyrst we wyll speke of the busynes of Castell and Portyngale and of an armye on the see that the englysshmen made to come to Sluse HEre before ye haue herde how the frensshe kynges armye by the see to haue gone in to englande was broken vp in the same season not by the frensshe kynges good wyll for alway he shewed good courage to haue passed in to Englande and when he sawe howe the iourney brake he was more dyspleased then ony other and all the fawte was layde vpon the duke of Berre howbeit it was to be thought that he saw more depelyer in the matter then ony other in his counsayllynge to leue the iourney was for the honoure and profyte of the royalme of fraunce ▪ for who soo euer enterprysed to doo a thynge ought to regarde what ende may come therof and the duke of Berre had ben before so longe in englande in hostage for the kyng his fader had ben so cōuersaunt among the englyssh men had sene so moche of the countrey that he knewe by reason what effecte the goynge in to englande sholde haue come to the cause moost exscusable not to go was bycause wynter was so farre ronne But then it was sayd that the constable of fraunce the nexte somer sholde goo in to englande with a .vi. M. men of armes and as many crosse bowes for it was thought by hymselfe sayd howe that nombre was sufficy to fyght with the englysshe men by reason the constable ought to haue knowen it for he had ben nourysshed there in his yonge dayes whē these lordes were retourned in to Fraunce thē it was determyned to sende socours in to Castell to ayde the kynge there agaynst the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre for it was thought that shortely there sholde be some dedes of armes for the englysshmen kepte the felde And it was consydered that they coulde sende noo men of warre thyder without grete cost and charge for the iourney was ferre of there was but lytell money in the kynges treasoury nor in treasourers handes for the some of money that had ben gadered of the people before in the royalme was spente wasted wherfore they studyed howe to gete more and soo a newe tayle and taxe was deuysed to ryn thrughout all the royalme of Fraunce to be payde incontynent without delay noysynge howe it was for the comfortynge of the kynge of Spayne and to dryue the englysshmen out of his royalme This tayle was publysshed in euery place and the kynges commyssyoners sente in to euery good towne and Cyte who sayd to the gouernours of the townes Syrs thus moche your towne is taxed at the whiche ye must pay incontynent then the rulers sayd syrs we shall gather this some and then sende it to Parys nay syrs not so sayd the commyssaryes we wyl not abyde so longe we wyll do otherwyse then so and commaunded in the kynges name a .x. or xii of the best of the towne to goo to pryson without they payde the some without ony longer delay the honest men fered the pryson and the kynges dyspleasure wherfore they drewe them togyder and payde the money incontynente and recouered it agayne of the poore mē thus they dyd in euery good towne so that there were so many tayles and taxes one after and ther for the fyrst was scante payde when another began thus in that season the noble royal me of fraunce was gouerned and the poore people ouer ledde So that many auoyded out of theyr townes and forsoke theyr herytages and houses for they were fayne to sell all that they had and some wente to dwell in Haynalte and in to the bysshopryche of Lyege where as there ranne no taxe nor tayllage ¶ Howe the duke of Borbon was chosen to goo in to Castell and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyral of flaunders was taken prysoner by the Englysshe men Ca. lxxii THen yt was deuysed what capytaynes sholde go in to Spayne Fyrst they apoynted the gentyll duke of borbone that he sholde be souerayne capytayne aboue all other or he departed there was apoynted .ii. other capytaynes to be in the vowarde and the duke of Borbon in the rerewarde with .ii. M. speres knyghtes squyers these .ii. capytaynes that sholde be in the vowarde were syr Wellyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer hf Passac these .ii. lordes when they knewe that they sholde be the capytaynes of certayne men of armes to go in to Castel they prepayred thē selfe for that iourney then knyghtes and squyers were sente for all aboute the royalme of fraunce to go to Castell and the passages were opened as well in Nauare as in Aragon thenne knyghtes and squyers departed fro Bretayne Poycton Aniowe Mayne Torayne Bloys Orleaunce Beause pycardy borgoyne berre Awuergne fro all the boundes of the royal me of fraunce euery man toke theyr way to go in to Castell
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
and salutacyons when he was iustly enfourmed of the departynge of the frensshe kynge fro Sluse then he called his counsayle and sayd syr ye knowe well howe the duke of Lancastre is in Galyce and the duches our cosyne with hym and it is not vnknowen to you howe he was here and had counsayle togyder and howe it was agreed that I sholde haue his doughter in maryage so it is I wyll perceyuer in the same estate and wyll demaunde her honourably as it is reason and apertenent to suche a prynce as the duke of Lancastre is to me as kynge of Portyngale I wyll make that lady quene of Portyngale syr sayd they of his counsayle ye doo in this accordynge to reason for ye haue so sworne promysed well sayd the kynge then let vs sende for her to the duke then there was appoynted the archebysshop of Braschez and syr IohnÌ„ Radyghen of Sar to go an that ambassade they were sente for to the kynge and so they toke on them that voyage with them they had a. CC. speres ¶ Nowe let vs speke of the syege that syr Thomas Moreaus marshall of the duke of Lancastres cost had layde before the towne of Rybadane and shewe what became theron I Byleue that they of Rybadane thought to haue ben comforted by kynge Iohn of Castell and by the knyghtes of Fraunce who lay in the towne of Valcolyue or elles they wolde neuer haue endured soo longe for I haue meruayle howe suche a sorte of vyllaynes coulde endure agaynst suche a sloure of archers men of armes and were not abasshed for euery day they had assaulte and it was sayd to syr Thomas Moreaus in maner of counsayle by the moost valyaunt knyghtes of his company syr leue this towne here then an euyl fyer may bâ—enne it and let vs go further in to the countrey to Maynes to Noye or to Besances alwayes we may retourne agayne when we lyst by my fayth sayd syr Thomas that shall neuer be sayd that vyllaynes haue dyscomfyted vs I wyll not departe hens thoughe I sholde tary here .ii. monethes without yâ— duke sende for me Thus the marshalles mynde oppynyon was to kepe styll there his syege the kynge of Castell who laye at Valeolyue and had sente specyally for ayde in to Fraunce he harde dayly howe they of Rybadane defended themselfe valyauntly wolde not yelde in the name of god sayd the Barroys of Barrers it gretely dyspeaseth me that we sent not thyder our frenssh men they wolde gretely haue recomforted the men of that towne and also I am not contente that I am not at the syege for then at the leest I sholde haue the honoure as these vyllaynes haue nowe surely yf I had knowen the trouthe of the strength of that towne I wolde haue refresshed it and haue put myselfe at aduenture therin as well god sholde haue sente me the grace to haue defended the towne as these vyllaynes do Thus he deuysed in the kynges presence and before the frensshe knyghtes who desyred dedes of armes Then it was sayd to the kynge syr sende a. C. speres in to these townes of Noye of Calongne for who so hath those ii castelles hath the .ii. sydes of the lande of Galyce and to go thyder dyuers dyd present theÌ„selfe before the kynge as syr Trystram of Roy and syr Raynolde his broder syr Aulberte of Braquemont syr TrystraÌ„ of Galle syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant syr Barroys of Barrers The kynge herde them well was contente with theyr offres and sayd fayre syrs I thanke you of your good wylles howbeit ye maye not all go some of you must abyde styll with me for aduentures that may fall but at this presente tyme I desyre the Barroys of Barrers to take on hym that charge yf it please hym the knyght was ryght glad of that iourney for he thought he had lyen there to longe and sayd to the kynge syr I thanke your grace shall kepe defende it to my power and shall not departe thens tyll ye sende for me so be it a goodes name sayd the kynge we thynke to here shortely some tydynges out of fraunce as then the knyghtes knewe not of the frensshe kynges departynge fro Sluse but the kynge knewe it well ynoughe for the duke of Borbon had wryten to hym of all the busynes in fraunce howe he was apoynted to come in to Castell with .iii. M. speres and before hym to open the passages sholde come .iii. M. speres vnder the gydynge of syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac the frensshe knyghtes desyred the kyng to shewe them some tydynges out of Fraunce with a good wyll sayd the kynge THen the kynge sayd syrs surely the duke of Borbon is chosen pryncypal capytayne to come in to this countrey for the frenssh kynge and his counsayle hath apoynted hym to come with .vi. thousande speres knyghtes and squyers and also two valyaunte knyghtes are chosen capytaynes for to come before hym as syr Wyllyam Lygnac as syr Gaultyer of Passac they shall come fyrst with a .iii. M. speres as for the voyage by the see in Englande is broken vp for this season tyll the constable of Fraunce and the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Concy with .iiii. M. speres shall goo in to Englande this nexte Maye Howe saye you syrs to this sayd the kynge syr sayd they these be ryche tydynges we can haue no better for this nexte somer dedes of armes shal be wel shewed in your countrey yf there be .vi. M. apoynted there wyll come .ix. M. we shall surely fyght with the englysshmen they kepe as nowe the felde but we shal close them togyder or it be mydsomer syr these knyghtes that come are ryght valyaunt and specyally the duke of Borbon and the other are proued knyghtes and worthy to be gouernours of meÌ„ of armes anone was spred abrode in the towne of Valeolyue and abrode in Castell the grete comforte and ayde that sholde come out of Fraunce by the fyrst daye of Maye wherof knyghtes and squyers were ryght ioyous THus the Barroys of Barres departed with a .l. speres and rode to the castell of Noye tydynges came to the duke of Lancastres marshall howe the frensshmen were a brode rydynge with a .l. speres to come to reyse the syege before Rybadane When the marshal harde those tydynges he byleued it lyghtly for they that shewed hym therof affyrmed it to be true saynge how they had sene them ryde ouer the ryuer of Dorne toke theyr lodgyng at the towne of Arpent Then the marshal was in doubte toke couÌ„sayle determyned to sende worde therof to the duke of Lancastre his lorde and so he dyd and he sente syr IohnÌ„ Dambrecycourt and a heraulde who knewe all the wayes in Galyce and then the marshall made euer good watche and spyal for he doubted to be ascryed in the nyght halfe the dost watched euery nyght whyle the other slepte syr
maye take suche trauayle and sykenes that they maye happen repente them that they haue come soo forwarde for they shall not fynde the ayre soo attemperate there as it is in Englande or in frauÌ„ce nor the wynes so pleasaunt for in Galyce the ryuers be troublous and coolde bycause of the snowes that dyscende downe frome the mountaynes wherby they theyr horses after theyr trauayle all the daye in the hoote sone shall be morfoundred or they be ware they be not made of stele nor yet of yron but at lengthe they shall not endure the hote countrey of Castell they be men as we be Thus I thynke we can not better bete them but to let them go where they lyst they shall fynde nothynge in the playne countreys nor no delectable places to refresshe them for as I vnderstande all the open countrey is all redy dystroyed with our owne men and I alowe well that aduyse for yf it were to doo I wolde counsayle the same syrs yf there be ony here can speke better let hym speke we shall be glad to here hym and this syr Gaultyer and I desyre you all thus to doo then they all answered with one voyce lette this aduyse be admytted we can consyder no better nor more profytable way for the kynge of Castel his royalme SO it was there they concluded that they sholde make no countenaunce of warre tyll the duke of Borbon and all theyr prouysyons were come but that theyr men of warre to be put in to dyuers garysons on the fronters of theyr countrey and suffre the englysshmen and Portyngales to go in and out in to the royalme of Castell at theyr pleasure sayenge howe they coulde not bere awaye the countrey with them when so euer they retourned thus ended the counsayle the kynge of Castel had the same daye all them at dyner with hym in his palays at Burgus in Spayne ryght plentyfull after the vsage of Spayne by the nexte daye at none al the men of armes departed thyder as they were appoynted by theyr capytaynes syr Olyuer Clysquy and the erle of Longueuyle with a thousande speres wente to a stronge towne on the fronter of Galyce called Vyllesaunte and syr Raynolde and syr Trystram of Roye was sente to another garyson a .x. legges fro he fronter of Galyce called Agyllar in the felde with thre hundred speres Syr Peter of Bellysme with two hundred speres wente to Pouelles the vycountâ— of Lune wente to the towne of Marolle syr IohnÌ„ of Barres with thre hundred speres was sente to the castell of Noye within Galyce Syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant and syr Trystram of Iayell and dyuers other were sente to the cyte of Palance And the vycount of Belyer wente to the towne of Rybede and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Braquen and syr Robert of Braquen â–ª ¶ Thus these men of armes were deuyded and syr Olyuer of Clysquy was made theyr constable and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac abode styl with the kynge at Burgus In this case standynge was the busynes of Castell abydynge the comynge of the duke of Borbon who was styll in Fraunce makynge prouysyon for his iourney ¶ Nowe we wyll suffre in rest a season the armye of Castell and of the duke of Lancastre and also of the kynge of Portyngale and when the tyme requyreth we shal retourne ther to agayne And nowe lette vs speke of the aduentures that fell in the same season in Fraunce and in englande the whiche were troublous and peryllous for bothe royalmes and sore dyspleasaunt vnto the kynges and to bothe theyr counsayles ¶ How a grete myscheffe fell in Englande bytwene the gentyll men and comons for accompte of suche money as hadde ben reysed of the comons Ca. lxxxi HEre before ye haue herde howe the Frensshe armye with shyppes on the se that were assembled at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande was dasshed broken vp yet to shewe courage and desyre to goo another season in to englande and that it sholde not be sayd that the Frensshe men were recreaunt to haue made that voyage Therfore it was ordeyned that incontynent at the entre of May and that the see myght be fayre and pleasaunt The constable of Fraunce sholde make a iourney in to englande with .iiii. M. men of armes and .ii. M. crosse bowes and they sholde all assemble togyder at a cyte agaynst the fronter of Cornewall called Lentrygnyer and there to be made all theyr prouysyon and it was ordeyned euery man to haue a horse the more easely to â—yde abrode in Englande for it was thought without horse they coulde make noo warre that sholde auayle them soo there was assembled at this hauen of Lentygnyer a goodly apparell of shyppes barkes Bagengers and galeys wel fournysshed with wynes salte flesshe and bysquet and other thynges so largely that it was suffycyent for them to lyue by a foure or fyue monethes without takynge or byenge of ony thynge in the countrey for the constable and his company knewe well that as soone as the Englysshe men knewe of suche a company of men of warre comynge on them they wolde dystroye theyr owne goodes abrode in the playne countrey rather then we sholde haue ony case therof Therfore the constable made his prouysyon redy on that syde the see Also there was ordeyned another flete of shyppes at the hauen of Harflewe for the lorde of Coucy the lorde of saynt Poule and the admyrall of Fraunce sholde there take shyppynge with two thousande speres in lykewyse to goo in to Englande and as the brute wente all this was done to drawe backe agayne the duke of Lancastre and the duches out of Castell The same season the duke of Borbon was at Parys and thought surely that the duke of Lancastre sholde retourne home agayne in to Englande wherfore he thoughe he sholde haue no thynge to doo to go in to castell nor to trauayle his body so farre forthe So it was determyned that in the Constables armye sholde goo Bretons Augenyms Poyetenyns Manceaus and Xayngrons with knyghtes and squyers of the lowe marches and with the lorde of saynt Poule and with the lorde of Coucy sholde go frensshmen Normans Pycardes and with the duke of Borbon sholde goo two thousande speres of Berrey Auuernake of Lymosyn Borgoyne and of the bace marches Thus in that season the matters were concluded in Fraunce and euery man knewe what he sholde do outher to go in to Englande or in to Castell ANd true it was the royalme of Englande the same tyme was in grete peryll in a gretter ieoperdye then when the vyllaynes of Essex and Kent rebelled agaynst the kynge and the nobles of the royalme at whiche tyme they came vnto London I shall shewe you the reason why at that season all the noble men of the royalme toke one parte togyder with the kynge agaynst the comons but nowe it is not soo the nobles vary amonge themselfe The kynge is agaynst his owne
vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre and they were agaynst hym and all this varyaunce dyd ryse by the meanes of the duke of Irelande who bare all the chefe rule aboute the kynge and the comons of Englande in dyuers cytees knewe well of this dyscorde they that were sage men reputed it for a grete euyl and fered that moche trouble sholde growe therby but suche as were lyght persones made noo rekenynge therof some sayenge that it was for enuye that the kynges vncles hadde agaynst the kynge theyr nephewe and bycause they sawe howe the crowne of Englande began to growe farre of frome them and some other sayd how the kynge was but yonge and byleued yonge counsayle and howe that it were better for hym to byleue hys vncles who mente noo thynge to hym but al honoure and proâ—yte nor to the royalme of Englande rather then to be ruled by the prowde duke of Irelande who neuer sawe ony thynge perteynynge to honoure nor neuer was in ony batayle Thus euery man dyffered from other in the royalme of Englande Whiche trybulacyons were well knowen in Fraunce wherfore they made this grete prouysyon to goo thyder with all theyr puyssaunce thynkynge to doo a grete feate on the other syde the prelates of englande were in hatred one with another as the archebysshop of Cauntorbury who was of the Neuelles blood with the archebysshop of yorke And yet they were countrey men borne but they hated mortally eche other bycause the lorde Neuell hadde the rule and gouernaunce of Northumbrelande and soo to the marches of Skotlande aboue the erle of Northumbrelande and his chyldren the lorde Henry and the lorde Raffe of Percy whiche rule the lorde Neuelles broder had gotten hym for he was one of the chefe aboute the kynge with the duke of Irelande ¶ Of the grete dyscordes that were in Englande after the brekynge vp of the Frensshe armye armye and how the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the comons of the good townes to make accomptes of suche money as was come in to theyr handes the season that they ruled Ca. lxxxii AS sone as the englysshmen knewe that the voyage by the see that the frensshmen sholde haue made beynge at Sluse was dasshed and broken Then in Englande began dyuers murmuracyons in sundry places and suche as loued euyll rule rather then good sayd Where be nowe these grete entrepryses and these valyaunt men of englande that were in the dayes of kynge Edwarde the thyrde and with the prynce his sone we were wonte to go in to Fraunce and put backe our enemyes in suche maner that none durst make batayle with vs yf they dydde they were soone dyscomfyted O What a dede was that when the noble kynge Edwarde aryued in Normandy and in Constantyne and passed thrugh the royalme of Fraunce and what goodly entrepryse he acheued in his waye and after at Cressy he dyscomfyted kynge Phylyp and all the puyssaunce of Fraunce and or he retourned he wan the towne of Calays But as nowe the knyghtes and men of warre in Englande doo none suche feates ¶ Also the prynce of Wales sone to this noble kynge dyd he not take the Frensshe kynge IohnÌ„ and dyscomfyted his pyssaunce at Poycters with a smal nombre of people agaynste the people that kynge IohnÌ„ hadde In those dayes Englande was fered and doubted and were spoken of thrughe al the worlde for the floure of chyualry but as nowe no man speketh of vs for nowe there is noo warre made but at poore mennes purses therto euery man is enclyned in Fraunce as nowe the kynge there is but a chylde and yet he hath done more agaynst vs then ony of his predecessours And also he shewed grete courage to haue come in to Englande the lette therof was not by hym but by his men The tyme hath ben sene that yf suche an apparell of shyppes had ben made at Sluse they sholde haue ben foughten withall in theyr owne hauen and nowe the noble men of Englande are ioyfull when they maye sytre at rest and suffre them in peas but yet for all that they suffre not poore men to be in rest but put them to busynes to paye money The tyme hath ben that grete conquestes haue ben done in fraunce without payenge of ony money but suche ryches as hath ben gotten there it hath ben spred abrode in the royalme where is become the grete fynaunces and tayles that hath ben gadered in this royalme with the kynges rentes and accostomed reuenues outher they haue lost it or taken fro them it is behouable that it be knowen howe the royalme of Englande is gouerned and howe the kynge is ledde it were not good that it sholde be longe or it were knowen for this royalme of Englande is not soo ryche nor so puyssaunt to bere lyke charges as the royalme of Fraunce dothe ¶ Also it appereth wel that we in this royalme of englande are febled of wyttes and of grace We were wonte to knowe euery thynge that was done in Fraunce a thre or foure monethes or the case fell wherby we myght conuenyently make prouysyon and resystence but as nowe we knowe noo thynge But the Frensshe men knoweth all our secretes and counsayles we cannot tell in whome is the fawte it wyll be knowen vpon a daye There be some preuy traytours and it were better it were knowen betymes then to late for it maye be knowen soo laâ—e that it wyll be past remedy THus dyuersely men talked in Englande as well knyghtes and squyers as the comons soo that the royalme laye in a harde case and grete peryll And the grete assembly that the kyng and his vncles and his counsayle hadde made with grete expence in dyuers maners to resyst the frensshe kynge beynge a Sluse redy to entre in to Englande suche knyghtes and squyers and other as were in a redynes wolde as then be payde of theyr wages and so for that entente there was a parlyamente somoned to be holden at London by the nobles prelates and comons of Englonde and pryncypally it was ordeyned that there sholde be reysed a grete tayle and subsydye thrughe out the royalme of Englande the ryche to bere out the poore This parlyament was remoued to westmynstre and thyder came all suche as were sente for and many moo to here tydynges ¶ There was the kynge and his two vncles Edmunde and Thomas with many other nobles of the royalme And amonge other thynges yt was sayd that in the kynges treasoure there was substaunce skante to maynteyne the kynges estate soberly Wherfore they of his counsayle sayd howe there must be leuyed a subsydye thrughe out all the royalme of Englande yf suche costes and charges sholde be payde as hathe ben done for the defence of the royalme of englande agaynst the frensshe men To this agreed well they of the bysshopryche of Norwyche and also the archebysshopryche of Cauntorbury and the countye of Essex the countye of Hampton and
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
fell bytwene the duke and hym for ony letters that the duke coulde wryte to hym or for ony desyre or saufconduyte to come and goo saufely yet for all that the constable wolde neuer come in the dukes presence for he durste not trust hym and nowe he is come to his mysfortune for he founde the duke in grete dyspleasure with hym and that was well shewed and when the lorde de la vale beynge bynethe at the stayre foote sawe the dore closed his blood began to trymble and had grete fere of his broder and behelde the duke who waxed pale and grene as a lefe then he knewe that the matter wente amysse and sayd A syr for goddes sake haue mercy what wyll you do take none euyll wyll agaynst the constable syr sayd the duke take ye your horse and departe ye maye goo when ye wyll I knowe well ynoughe what I haue to do Syr sayd the lorde de la vale I wyll not de parte hens without I haue my broder the constable with me with those wordes there came vnto them the lorde of Beawmanoyre whome the duke also hated and he in lyke wyse demauÌ„ded to haue the constable Then the duke drewe his dagger and came vnto hym and sayd Beawmanoyre wylte thou be in the same poynte as thy mayster is in Syr sayd he I trust my mayster is in good case well sayd the duke I demaunde of the yf thou wylte be in lyke case ye syr sayd he Thenne the duke toke his dagger by the poynte and sayd yf thou wylte be in lyke case it behoueth the to put out one of thyne eyen The lorde of Beawmanoyre sawe well the matter wente not well and sawe the duke waxe pale for angre Then he kneled downe on his knee and sayd Syr I repute soo grete noblenes in you that I trust in god and you that ye wyll doo vs ryght we be at your mercy and we are come hyder at your request we trust ye wyll not dyshonour yourselfâ—e to accomplysshe ony euyll wyll that ye haue to vs it sholde be a straunge nouelte Well sayd the duke come on thy waye for thou shalte haue noo more nor no lesse then he shall haue Soo he was ledde in to another chambre and fetered also with thre payre of yrons If he were abasshed he hadde a grete cause for he perceyued well the duke loued hym but lytell nor the constable also but then he had no remedy AN one tydynges spredde ouer the castell and also the towne howe that the constable of Fraunce and the lorde of Beawmanoyre and also the lorde de la Vale were taken prysoners And howe the lorde de la Vale myght departe when he wolde For the duke demaunded no thynge of hym wherof the people hadde grete meruayle and also grete cause why for euery man sayd howe the duke wolde put them bothe to dethe he hated them so mortally The duke was gretely blamed of all knyghtes and squyers that herde therof and they sayd there was neuer a gretter dyffamacyon on ony prynce then was on the duke of Bretayne seynge that he had desyred the constable to dyne with hym and to se his house and to make hym good chere and soo to take hym prysoner they sayd they neuer herde of case lyke wherfore he was infamed and neuer man more dyshonoured nor therby noo man sholde trust in ony prynce syth the duke had dysceyued these noble men what wyll the frensshe kynge say when he knoweth this for by this his voyage in to Englande is broken there was neuer soo grete a shame ymagyned but nowe the duke sheweth what laye in his harte we tro we there was neuer sene in Bretayne case lyke nor in none other place yf a poore knyght had done suche a dede he were dyshonoured for euer in whom sholde a man trust but in his lorde and the lorde sholde maynteyne hym in his ryght and doo hym Iustyce who shall make correccyon of this dede none but the frensshe kynge nowe the duke sheweth playnly howe he is on the englysshe parte wyll susteyne and holde with the oppynyon of the kynge of Englande syth he hath thus broken the voyage by the see that sholde haue gone in to Englande What shall become nowe of the knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne when they shall here these tydynges nothynge but in contynent come fro theyr houses lay syege to the castell of Armyne and close the duke within there tary tyll they haue taken hym outher deed or quycke and lede hym lyke a false prynce to the frensshe kynge Thus the knyghtes and squyers aboute the marches of Wannes spake and comoned togyder and suche as were come thyder to that counsayle with the sayd lordes they were in grete doubte that the duke wolde put them to dethe then some other sayd as for the lorde de la Vale is in no ieopardy he is soo wyse that he wyll tempre the duke in all his busynes and truely so he dyd for and he had not ben the constable had ben deed the fyrst nyght if he had had a. M. lyues IT ought to be byleued that syr Olyuer of Clysson was not at his case when he saw hymselfe soo taken and attrapped and fetered and kepte with .xxx. persones and hadde noo comforte by them for they knewe not the wyll of theyr lorde soo that he rekened hymselfe but as a deed man and also he hadde noo hope to lyue tyll the nexte daye and surely he was in grete daungere for .iii. tymes he was vnfetered and brought to haue ben beheded or elles drowned and surely so he had ben yf the lorde de la vale had not ben but when this lorde de la vale herde the dukes strayte coÌ„maundement to put hym to dethe he kneled downe before hym lyftynge vp his handes sore wepynge and sayd syr for goddes sake take mercy aduyse you shewe not your cruelte agaynst the constable he hath deserued no dethe syr of your grace that it may please you to shewe me the cause of your dyspleasure agaynst hym and syr I swere vnto you ony trespace that he hath done he shall make you suche amendes with his body and goodes or elles I for hym as ye yourselfe shall demaunde or Iudge syr remembre you howe in your yongth ye .ii. were companyons togyder and brought vp bothe in one house with the duke of Lancastre who was soo gentyll a prynce that there was none lyke hym Also syr remembre howe before his peas was made with the frensshe kynge alwayes he truely serued you he ayded you to recouer your herytage ye haue alwayes founde in hym good comforte and couÌ„sayle yf ye be now moued or enfourmed agaynste hym otherwyse then reason sholde requyre yet he hathe not deserued dethe syr de la vale sayd the duke let me haue my wyll for Olyuer of Clysson hath soo often tymes dyspleased me and nowe is the houre come that I maye shewe hym my dyspleasure
to hym the squyer with his defyauces and so he was brought to Parys and he fered lest he sholde dye but when he came to Parys the kynge and his vncles and the other lordes dyd noo thynge to hym but all courtoysye And the frensshe kynge gaue hym a goblet of syluer weynge .iiii. marke and .l. frankes within it and they gaue hym a saâ—fâ—onduyte to retourne in to his countrey so by reason of these tydynges the courte of fraunce was sore troubled and the frensshe counsayle was sore troubled when the constable of fraunce came and made his complaynte of the duke of Bretayne for they sawe well that trouble expence began to ryse on euery syde and they sawe well howe they must enploy all theyr wyttes to exchewe suche inconuenyentes they thought that the constable who had serued the kyng soo longe in â—launders and other places sholde haue some helpe in that the duke of Bretayne hadde raunsomed hym and taken his castelles without tytle or good reason and specyally the lorde of Coucy and the admyrall was sore dyspleased with it ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastre and to the kynge of Portyngale who were in Galyce and made sore warre agaynst the kynge of Castell ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastres men assayled the towne of Aurene and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Ca. lxxxviii HEre before ye haue herde how dedes of armes were done bytwene syr Iohan Holande and syr Raynolde of Roy in the presence of the kynge of Portyngale and his wyfe and at the kynges departynge he promysed to the duke that as soone as he was retourned to the cyte of Porte that he wolde not tary past .vi. dayes but that his army sholde sette forthe Thenne the duke sente Constaunce his wyfe to the towne of saynt Iames vnder the guydynge of the lorde Fythwater a grete baron of Englande with a hundred speres and two hundred archers and the duke sayd to her Madame ye shall kepe you in the cyte of Compostella and the kynge of Portyngale my sone and our people shall goo in to Castell to seke for our enemyes to fyght with theÌ„ wherso euer we fynde them and nowe it shall be sene yf euer we shall haue ony thynge in the royalme of Castell or not Syr sayd the lady as god wyll so be it thus they departed for that present tyme and syr Thomas Percy and the lorde Fythwaren conueyed the duches with two hundred speres out of all daungers and thenne retourned to the duke who was as then departed fro Besances towardes a towne in Galyce named Aurene whiche rebelled agaynst hym and wolde not obey bycause it was stronge therin a garyson of Bretons who hadde on theyr parelles vndertaken to kepe it and they had well fortefyed it bycause they hadde knowledge that the duke wolde come thyder the marshall of the dukes oost hadde well herde howe they of Aurene in Galyce wolde not obey but dayly fortefyed them he counsayled the constable to goo thyder and soo euery man drewe to that parte and soo came and lodged nere to it the season was fayre aboute the Ascencyon tyme then tentes and pauylyons were pyght vp in the fayre playnes vnder the Olyues and soo laye al that fyrst nyght and the nexte day without gyuyng of ony assaulte thynkynge that the towne wolde haue gyuen vp and in dede the men of the towne wolde gladly haue yelded them But the lordes and capytaynes wolde not suffre theÌ„ who were Bretons and companyons aduenturers two Bretons were capytaynes called the bastoâ— of Alroy and the other the bastarde of Peneforte they were good men of warre and that well appered in that they toke on them to kepe that towne so farre out of all socour agaynst the duke of Lancastre ON the .iii. daye that the Englysshemen were thus lodged aboute the towne and had well regarded howe they myght at theyr aduauntage assayle the towne Thenne the constable the marshall and the admyrall caused theyr trompettes to sounde to the assaulte and then euery man drewe forth in to the felde and there deuyded them in to .iiii. bandes to assayle the towne iii .iiii. partes so in goodly ordre approched the towne and taryed on the dykes wherin there was no water But it was well fortefyed with pales and hedges then the assaulte began iii .iiii. partes Then men of armes and other wente downe in to the dykes with axes in theyr handes and therwith cutte downe the hedges they within cast downe dartes and other thynges that yf they hadde not ben well pauessed there hadde ben many sore hurte and slayne And also on the edge of the dyke the archers shotte so fyersly that they within durste not appere the duke of Lancastre came to beholde the assaulte whiche made it the more fyerser he sate there on horsbacke the space of thre houres he had suche pleasure to regarde theÌ„ at this fyrst assaulte the dykes were clensed of all the thycke hedges soo that men myght goo to the pales then the retrayte was sowned for that day theÌ„ the duke sayd to the marshal syr Thomas our men haue done theyr deuoyre for this daye let them withdrawe and case themselfe syr it shal be done sayd the marshall so the assaulte was seased euery man wente to his lodgynge and the hurte to be dressed and so passed that nyght they had wynes to drynke plentye but they were soo hoote and myghty that it was moche payne to drynke them and suche as dranke of them without water were in that case that they coulde not helpe themselfe the nexte day THe nexte day it was aduysed that they sholde make none assaulte bycause the daye was soo hoote and theyr men soo wery and ouercome with stronge wynes but determyned that the nexte daye after they sholde begyn theyr assaulte at the sone rysynge and to endure tyll .iii. of the clocke at after noone so euery man was coÌ„maunded to take theyr ease tyll they herde the sowne of the marshalles trompet and the same daye the duke of Lancastre herde tydynges of the kynge of Portyngale howe he was departed fro the cyte of Porte and drewe towardes the porte saynt yrayne that waye he was purposed to entre in to Castell and bothe oostes to mete on the ryuer of Derne besyde the towne of perpygnen or elles before the towne of Arpent thus the Portyngales had deuysed if the kynge of Castell and the frensshe men dyd not encountre them before and yf they were lykely so to doo then to drawe togyder soner of these tydynges the duke was ryght ioyous and gaue the messagere for his tydynges .x. nobles ANd in the mornynge whenne it was daye the marshalles trompet began to sowne before the lodgynges to reyse vp euery man then knyghtes and squyers began to make them redy euery man vnder his owne standerde Then the marshall drewe in to the felde and all suche as were ordeyned to goo
tydynges to be of trouthe wherfore they were ioyfull for they wolde gladly haue made an ende by batayle for otherwyse they sawe well they coulde not atteyne to theyr desyred entrepryse and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were alwayes aboute the kynge of Castell and euery weke they had tydynges out of Fraunce what busynes there was there and of the departynge of the duke of Borbon and howe he toke in his waye of Auygnyon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles there euer they counsayled the kynge not to fyght tyll the duke of Borbon were come and amonge other tydynges they herde of the duke of Bretayne howe he had taken in the castell of Ermyne the constable of frauÌ„ce and raunsomed at a C.M. frankes and of his .iii. castelles and towne that was delyuered to the duke of Bretayne and howe that therby the iourney and boyage in to Englande was broken they had meruayle of this and to what purpose the duke of Bretayne dyd it they supposed that the counsayle therof came out of Englande THus as I haue sayd before the royalme of Fraunce was brought in to trouble and specyally the kynges vncles were sore moued with the defyaunce that came fro the duke of Guerles for they were fell and rude and out of the course of other defyaunces as I shall shewe you when I declare the matter And also the frenssh kynge and his vncles were sore dyspleased in that the duke of Bretayne had broken theyr voyage in to Englande by the see and he that was chefe of the entrepryse taken that was the constable of fraunce and raunsomed as before is sayd at a C.M. frankes taken fro hym .iii. castelles and a towne whiche was a thynge gretely preiudycyall to the kynge and to the royalme of fraunce howbeit the kynge sonne passed ouer all the matters for he was but yoâ—ge wherfore he regarded it not so sore as though he had ben of perfyte age but suche as were auncyent and wyse sayd that by suche lyke matters the royalme of fraunce hath had moche a do in tyme past as when the kynge of Nauare caused syr Charles of Spayne constable of Fraunce to be slayne for whiche cause kynge IohnÌ„ neuer loued after the kynge of Nauare and toke fro hym all his landes in Normandy Then some other wolde saye yf kynge Charles fader to the kynge that nowe is were a lyue he loued the constable soo well surely he wolde be reuenged and make warre to the duke of Bretayne and to take fro hym all his landes what soo euer it cost hym Thus euery man spake of this dede and sayd it was euyll done then the kynges vncles and the counsayle of the royalme somwhat to satysfye the people who were sore dyspleased with the duke of Bretayne determyned that a prelate .iii. barons sholde be sente to the duke to speke with hym and to here his reasons to commauÌ„de hym to come to Parys to make his exscuse of that he had done thyder sholde go the bysshop of Beawuoys and syr Myles of Dornams a sage and a ryght valyaunt man and well langaged and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Bean syr IohnÌ„ of Beuell and the lorde de la Ryuer who had theyr charge what they sholde saye and do and the bysshoppe of Beawâ—oys toke his waye by Mount le herry where as the constable was for the towne of Castell perteyned to hym kynge Charles had gyuen it to hym and to his heyres And whyle the bysshop was there a sykenes toke hym and so lay in a feuer a .xv. dayes dyed then in his stede was sente the bysshop of Langers and he toke his waye with the other in to Bretayne IT myght be demaunded of me howe I knewe all these matters to speke so proprely of them I answere to all suche that I haue made grete dylygence in my dayes to knowe it and haue serched many royalmes countreys to come to the true knowledge of all the matters conteyned in this hystory wryten and to be wryten for god gaue me the grace to haue the laysure to se in my dayes and to haue the acquayntaunce of all the hyghe and myghty prynces lordes as well in Fraunce as in Englande for for in the yere of our lorde god a M. iiiC.iiii score and .x. I had laboured .xxxvii. yeres and as then I was of the age of .lvii. yeres and in .xxxvii. yeres a man beynge in strength and wel reteyned in euery coost as I was for after my yonge dayes I was in the kynge of englandes courte .v. yeres with the quene And also I was welcome to kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce to kynge Charles his sone myght well lerne many thynges and surely it was alwayes my chefe ymagynacyon and pleasure to enquyre to retayne it by wrytynge and howe I was enfourmed of the takynge of the constable of Fraunce I shall shewe you A yere after this matter fell I rode from the cyte of Angyers to Towres in Towrayne And I laye on a nyght at Beauforte in the vale and the nexte day I met with a knyght of Bretayne called syr Wyllyam Daucemys he was rydynge to se my lady of Mayll in Towrayne his cosyne her chyldren she was newly a wydowe I fell in aquayntaunce with this knyght and founde hym ryght curtoys swete of wordes then I demaunded of hym some tydynges and specyally of the takynge of the constable whiche matter I was glad to here and to knowe the trouth therof and he shewed me sayd howe he had ben at the parlyament at wannes with the lorde of Aucemys his cosyne a grete baron of Bretayne And in lyke maner as syr Espayne de Lyon enfourmed me of all thynges that had fallen in Foyze in Byerne in gascoyne also as syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant parteke shewed me of all the matters of Portyngale and of Castell In lyke maner this knyght shewed me many thynges and more wolde haue done if I had ryden longer in his company Thus bytwene Mounte le herry and Premylly was .iiii. grete leages and we rode but softely and in this way he shewed me many thynges the whiche I bare well in my remembraunce and specyally of the aduentures of Bretayne And thus as we rode that we came nere to Premylly we entred in to a medowe there this knyght rested and sayd A god haue mercy of the soule of the good constable of Fraunce he dydde here ones a goodly iourney and profytable for the royalme vnder the baner of syr IohnÌ„ de Bewell for he was not as then constable but newly come out of Spayne and I demaunded of hym howe it was I shal shewe you sayd he wheÌ„ I am on horsebacke and so we mounted than we rode forthe fayre and easely and as we rode he sayde In the season that I haue shewed you quod this knight this countre here was full of Englysshmen robbers and pyllers of Gascoyne bretons and almayns and
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌ„ded what mater was that I shall shewe you quod the other knyght for I was there present There was wyne brought on a day into the princes Chambre where as there were many lordes of Englande with hym whan the prince had dronke bicause sir IohnÌ„ Chandos was constable of Acquitayne the prince sente hym his cuppe first to drinke and he toke the cuppe and dranke and made therof none offre firste to the Erle of Oxenforde who was father to this duke of IrelaÌ„de and after that sir Iohan Chandos had dronke a squyer bare the cuppe to the Erle who hadde suche dispyte that sir Iohan Chandos hadde droÌ„ke before hym that he refused the cuppe wolde nat drinke and sayde to the squyer in maner of a mocke Go to thy mayster Chandos and bydde hym drinke Shall I go said the squyer he hath dronke all redy Therfore drinke you sythe he hath offred it to you if ye wyll nat drinke by saynt George I shall cast the drinke in your face Th erle whan he herd that douted that the Squyer wolde do as he sayde and so toke the cuppe and sette it to his mouthe and dranke or at leest made semblant to drinke And sir Iohan Chandos who was nat farre thens sawe well all the mater and helde hym styll tyll the prince was gone from them Than he came to the Erle and sayde Sir Aubery are ye displeased in that I dranke before you I am Constable of this countrey I maye well drinke before you sythe my lorde the Prince and other lordes here are coÌ„tente therwith It is of trouthe ye were at the batayle of Poycters but suche as were there knoweth nat so well as I what ye dyd theâ— I shall declare it ¶ Whanne that my lorde the Prince hadde made his voyage in Languedocke and Carcassone to Narbone and was retourned hyther to this towne of Bourdeaux ye toke on you to go in to Englande What the Kynge sayde to you at your coÌ„mynge I knowe right well yet I was nat there He demaunded of you if ye hadde furnysshed your voyage and what ye had done with his sonne the Prince ye aunswered howe ye had lefte hym in good helth at Bourdeaux Than the kynge sayde What and howe durste ye be so bolde to retourne without hym I commauÌ„ded you and all other whan ye departed that ye shulde nat retourne without hym on payne of all that ye myght forfayte And you this to retourne I straitly commaunde you that within four dayes ye auoyde my realme and retourne agayne to hym For and I fynde you within this my realme the fifth day ye shall lese your lyfe and all your herytage for euer And ye feared the kynges wordes as it was reason and so auoyded the realme and so your adueÌ„ture and fortune was good for truely ye were with my lorde the prince a foure dayes before the batayle of Poicters And so ye hadde the day of the batayle fourtie speares vnder your charge and I had threfore Nowe ye mayese wheder I ought to drinke before you or nat syth I am constable of â— equytaygne The erle of Orenforde was a shamed and wolde gladlye he hadde ben thens at that tyme but he was fayne to suffre and to here those wordes This sir Iohan Chandos sayde to hym in opyn presence Therfore it is nat to be marueyled thoughe this duke of Irelande who is sonne to the sayd erle of Oxenforde be disdaynfull in folowynge the steppes of his father For he taketh vpon hym to rule all Englande aboue the kynges vncles Well quod some other why shulde he nat sythe the kyng wyll haue it so THus the people in the Realme murmured in dyuers places agaynst the duke of Irelande And he dyde one thyng that greatly abated his honour that was he had firste to his wyfe the doughter of the lorde of Coucy the lady Isabell who was a fayre Lady and a good and of more noble blode than he is of But he fell in loue with another damosell of the quenes of Englande an Almaygne borne and dyde so moche with pope Vrbayne at Rome that he was deuorsed fro the doughter of the lorde Coucy without any tytell of reason but by presumpcion and for his synguler appetyte and than wedded the quenes mayde and kynge Rycharde conseÌ„ted there to he was so blynded with this duke of Irelande that if he had sayd sir this is whyte tho it had ben blacke the kyng wolde nat haue sayd the contrarye This dukes mother was greatly displeased with him for that dede and toke in to her coÌ„pany his first wyfe the lady of Coucy The duke dyde yuell and therfore at length yuell came to hym and this was the first princypall cause that he was behated for in Englande euery thyng that turneth to yuell must haue a begynning of yuell This duke of Irelande trusted so moche in the grace and fauour of the kyng that he beleued that no man shulde trouble hym And it was a coÌ„mon renome through EnglaÌ„de that theâ— shulde be a newe taxe raysed through the realme that euery fyre shulde paye a noble and the riche to beare out the poore The kynges vncles knewe well it wolde be a harde mater to bringe about And they had caused certayne wordes to be sowen abrode in the cyties and good townes of Englande as to saye howe the people of Englande were sore greued with tares and talenges and howe there was great rychesse raysed and that the common people wolde haue accomptes of the gouernours therof as the archebysshop of yorke the duke of Irelande sir Symon Burle sir Mychaell de la Pole sir Nycholas BraÌ„ble sir Robert Tryâ—â—lyen ser Peter Golouser sir Iohan Salisbury sir Iohan Beauchampe and the maisters of the Staple of the wolles The commons sayd that if they wolde make a trewe accoÌ„pte there shulde be founde golde and syluer suffycient without raysing of any newe subsydies It is a common vsage none is gladde to pay money nor to opyn their purses if they may lette it THis brute and noyse spredde so a brode in Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is chyefe cytie in the realme that all the coÌ„mons rose and sayde howe they wolde knowe howe the realme was gouerned sayenge howe it was longe syth any accompte was made Firste these londoners drewe theym to syr Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucestre thoughe he were yonger brother than sir Edmonde duke of yorke The common people reputed the duke of Glocestre for a valyant and a sage discrete parson And whan they came before hym they sayde Syr the good cytie of London recoÌ„maundeth them to you and all the people ingenerall requireth you to take vpon you the gouernynge of the realme For they knowe well it is nat vnknowen to you howe the kynge and the realme is gouerned The coÌ„mon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
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
Iohan Froissarte was present And whan they had been there in great Feest thre dayes they departed and toke their way to Poyters but they went by water by the ryuer of Loyre to Amboyse and fro thens in chares and on horsebacke tyll they came to Poytou There the duchesse helde her house moost cōmonly in a good castell and good towne called Chynon In this yere dyed Mary of Fraunce beyng yonge who was wyfe to the erle of Mountpenlier In lykewise soone after dyed the lady Iane of Armynake duchesse of Berrey Thus the duke of Berrey and his sonne were to marry agayne as they dyd but nat ouer soone Of the whiche maryages and specyallye of the dukes I shall shewe you here after whan the mater shall requyre to haue it declared YE haue well herde here before howe the duke of Guerles had defyed the French kyng dispyte fully whiche was spoken o◠sar and nere For as the brute was it was nat done in no curtesse maner but out of the style and vsage of all other defyances Trouthe it is I sawe my selfe certayne writynges in paper the whiche was sayde to be the true copy But bycause I sawe it nat vnderseale nor aproued as such maters ought to be that touche great princes suche as is the Frenche kyng therfore I gaue no greatcredence therto Howe be it it semed well that this defyaunce was displeasaunt to the realme wolde haue it amended And that the duke of Guerles shulde excuse hym of the spytefull wordes that were in the defyaunce The kynges coūsayle wolde in no wyse that the mater shulde rest so for the great lordes of Fraunce sayde Without the kyng founde some remedy they and all the realme shulde be greatly to blame And they sayd howe the kynge was yonge and forwarde and that was well sene in his iourney in Flaunders And if he go nat forwarde nowe to reuenge this dede men wolde speke dyuerslye of the nobles of the realme of Fraunce who shulde counsayle the kynge and are sworne to kepe and defende his honour and to refourme all that is mysordred And to the entent that the kynge nor the realme shulde beare no blame the lorde of Coucy toke payne in the mater And shewed well howe the mater touchedde hym nere He knewe the almayns better thā he dyde any other for he hadde been often in their cōpanyes as well for the chalenge that he made to the duchy of Austryche as for other insydentes that he hadde amonge them THe kynges vncles sawe well howe all the nobles of the Realme were well enclyned to haue the mater redressed and specially the duke of Burgoyne hadde great affectyon therto for the duke of Guerles haryed and pylled the duchesse of Brabantes countrey The whiche enherytaunce shulde retourne to hym after the dethe of the two ladyes who were right aged both the duches and her sustre wherfore he wolde that outher by warre or other meanes that the duke of Guerles were apeased Howe be it fyrst of all it was requisyte to make all the membres of Fraunce one and of one opinyon For it shulde be a farre iourney for the kynge to go out of Fraunce in to Almaygne to conquere landes and countreis The whiche the kynge coulde nat do without he had all his hole puyssaunce with hym for it was nat knowen whyder the almaygnes who be couetous people wolde helpe and assyst the duke of Guerles or nat Also furthermore the duke of Burgoyne and the other noble men of Fraunce sawe well howe the duke of Bretayne was in great differēce with the realme of Fraunce and began marueylously shewed by his dedes that he had as lyue haue warre with the realme of Fraūce as peace And the lordes knewe well howe he prouyded his townes castels cyties with great prouisyon of men vitayls and artillary to defende any siege And besydes that often tymes he wrote in to Englande with louynge treatable wordes to make alyaunce for euer And the Englysshmen were wyllyng therto to the entent that their warre with Fraunce myght be the better for them after Thanne the counsayle of Fraūce wolde nat that there shulde be lefte behynde them suche a myst in Bretaygne but that first it myght be putte a waye by good meanes and condute They thought they wolde nat putte the realme in that doute If the kynge shulde go in to Almaygne and leaue the realme destytute as this the Kynges vncles ymagined They wyste nat howe to stoppe the duke of Bretayne for as than suche as they had sent thyder were retourned as the bysshoppe of Lāgers sir Iohan of Vyen and sir Iohan de Beull They shewed the kyng his vncles howe they had done nothyng to purpose thā the duke of Berry aduysed to sende to Bretayne to entreat with the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes who was a sage persone a treatable Than the duke desyred hym and sayde Fayre cosyn it behoueth that ye go in to Bretaygne to speke with our cosyn the duke there If ye fynde hym harde and highe of wordes chafe nat with hym treate hym swetely and after a good maner And speke sagely to hym and bring hym in to good reason and it may be And shewe hym howe the kynge and I and my brother of Burgoyne wolde nothing to hym but good loue peace And if he wyll abyde and holde with vs we shall alwayes be redy to do hym pleasure also shewe hym that as for the castels that he holdeth of the cōstables how that for a small occasion he hath ceased them But it wolde please hym to rendre them agayne it shulde be greatly to his honour And howe that the kynge shall gyue hym as fayre and as good as they be in any other place where he wyll chose in the realme Good cosyn do so moche as to bringe vs some good tydinges and for any tarieng there departe nat fro him tyll ye bring some mater to passe and haue well in your remembraūce all this busynesse and all his answere and the order of his estate The erle of Stampes answered and sayde Sir all this shal be done right gladly AFter that the erle of Stāpes had this charge fro the duke of Berey to go in to Bretayne to the duke his cosyn He taried nat long but made hymselfe redy and passed by Chartres and through the good countre of Mayne and so came to Anger 's and there founde the quene of Naples who hadde ben wyfe to the duke of Aniou Who was called kyng of Naples of Cicyle of Hierusalem duke of Pole of Calabre and erle of Prouence And in her company her two fayre sonnes Loyes and Charles The lady receyued her cosyn the erle of Stampes ioyfully and there was Iohn̄ of Bretayne who loued nat the duke of Bretayne but he was nat in power to shewe forthe his yuell wyll nor to amende it Whan therle of Stampes had ben there a daye and a night he tooke
gather to gyder my power and people who haue good myndes to make warre into Castyle so we shall make a good warre somtyme one countrey wynneth and a nother leseth The duke of Lancastre thanked the kynge of Portugale of his good comforte and offre Howe beit for all that the kyng was the dukes sonne in lawe and had maryed his doughter and that he sayde was of a good wyll yet for all that the duke discouered nat all his corage for he knewe well Englande was in trouble and great debate a monge the lordes and howe the lordes hadde maters yno we to attende vnto as well for the kepynge of the fronters agaynst Scotlande as for to treate with the duke of Bretaygne And the kyng knewe well that whan the duke came out of Englande there was a do to sette forwarde his armye wherfore he thought it shulde be harde to get any newe ayde thence seinge the realme at so many great charges all redy and also he thought well that suche englysshmen as were retourned wolde no more come thyder agayne but thought rather that they shulde dyscorage other to come the duke considered all these maters in his mynde and whan he had ben a season at the cytie of Porte with the kynge of Portugale than on a daye he sayd Syr it shulde be for my profyte to retourne to Bayon and to the marches of Burdeaulx for dyuerse reasons He sawe well his beynge in Portugale coulde do him lytell aduaūtage for there he was nat on his herytage that he desyred but he sayde his goynge in to the archebysshoppriche of Burdeaux and of Aulose and so to retourne by Bygore and so by the lande of the lombrisience of the countie of Foyze and countie of Armynake and so by Garonne Dordone and entrynge in to Pier gourte and Querchyn Rochelloys Xayntone Cristynge Poictou Auuergne and Lymosyn wherin were many garysons and castels holden of the englisshe parte who wolde all make warre for his sake Wherfore he sayd it were better for hym to be amonge theym to counsaile and encorage them than to be in any other place And also he sayde howe Portugale was farre of to here any newes out of Englande and also he knewe well that the englyssh men wolde be lothe to come thyder bycause of the long voyage by see and also he knewe well that shyppes of Spaygne of Galyce and of Castyle were goynge and comynge on the see in and out to Flaunders with their marchandyses whiche was also great daunger for encountrynge of them All these thynges consydred the duke of Lancastre prepared for his departynge and had shyppes apoynted hym by the kynge and a patrone called Alphons Bretat Whan these galyes were redy and the wynde good the duke and the duches and her doughter toke leaue of the kynge of Portugale and of the quene and so toke shyppynge and entred on the see abydynge goddes pleasure and wyndes They had wynde and wether at pleasure so that they aryued at Bayon of whose comynge they of the countrey were ioyfull desyringe sore to se them Whan the duke and the duches and their doughter were aryued at Bayon Tydynges therof spredde abrode and they of Burdeloys were ryght ioyfull therof Than sir Iohan of Harpdame senesshall of Burdeaux and the senesshall of the landes came thyder to se the duke and so dyd other gentlemen of the countrey as the lorde of Mucydente the lorde of Duras the lorde of Rosem the lorde of Landuras the lorde Lespare the lorde of Newechasteaur and other knyghtes and squyers of the countrey Thus they came dayly some at one tyme some at another all they offred hym their seruyce as they ought to do to their lord Thus the duke taryed at Bayon and often tymes sente in to Englande to the kynge his nephewe and to his other bretherne But for all his writynge he was nothynge comforted nother with men of armes nor archers for as the worlde wente than the dukes busynesse was lytell taken hede vnto nor lorde knyght nor squyer to make any hast to auaunce forwarde to the ayde of the duke of Lancastre for suche as had ben in Portugale made suche reporte through the realme of Englande that no man had corage to auaunce thyder but euery man said the voyage in to Castyle is to farre of fro vs. It is more profytable for vs to haue warre with Fraunce for that is a good swete countrey and temperate and good lodgynges and fayre swete ryuers And in Castyle there is no thynge but harde rockes and Mountaynes whiche are nat good to eate and an vntemperate ayre and troubled ryuers and dyuerse meates and stronge wynes hote and poore people rude and yuell arayed farre of fro our maner wherfore it were folly to go thyder for if we entre in to any great cytie or towne there wenynge to fynde maruayles we shall fynde nothynge but wyne larde and empty cofers This is contrarye to the realme of Fraunce for there whan it is fortune to wyn any towne or cytie we fynde suche rychesse that we be a basshed therof and it is good to make warre where we may haue profyte let vs aduenture there and leaue the vnhappy warre of Castyle and Portugale where is no thynge but pouuertye and domage Thus the englysshe men sayde in Englande suche as had been in Castyle so that the lordes perceyued well howe that voyage was out of the fauoure of the englysshe men Also the realme was in trouble and the iustyce of Triuylyen and outher but newly done and the duke of Irelande departed out of the Realme and kynge Rycharde came to the guydynge of newe counsayle the whiche he hadde nat well lerned So by reason of suche insydentes the matters abode in harde case for the duke of Lancastre beynge in the cytie of Bayon where he helde all that season ALl these busynesses as well in Castyle and Portugale as in Englande and of the departyng of the duke of Irelande was well knowen with the frenche kynge and his counsayle Than to haue more parfyte knowledge it was ordayned by the frenche kynge and by his vncles to sende to Trecte to the duke of Irelande where as he was and to gyue hym a sure saueconduct to come into Fraunce and to tarye there as longe as bothe partyes were pleased It was behouable to sende for hym by specyall messangers and sure wrytyng fro the kyng or els the duke of Irelande wolde nat haue come there for he knewe well that he was out of the loue and fauoure of the lorde Coucy who was a great baron in the realme of Fraunce and was of a great lynage He had no cause to loue hym as ye haue herde before for acordynge to the trouthe the duke had nat well acquyted hymselfe to his wyfe who was doughter to the lorde Coucy And certaynly it was the principall thing that toke awaye the good renome of his honour bothe in Fraunce and in other places And in lykewyse he
their prisoner they make great ioye therof and wyll conuey hym in to Boesme or in to Austryche or in to Xasenne and kepe hym in some castell inhabytable They are people worse than sarazins or paynyms for their excessyue couetousnesse quencheth the knowledge of honoure Lette vs go and put the kynge in daunger amonge these people and if any thynge happen to fall a mysse as the chaunces of fortune are maruaylous what shall be sayde than howe we haue brought the kynge thyder to betray him and to the dystructyon of the realme and nat for the augmentynge therof God defende the realme fro all domage and parell If the kyng go he muste haue parte of his noble men with hym And if mysse fortune fall the realme of Fraunce is loste without recouery Therfore loke wysely if it be good to counsayle the kyng to go that voyage in to Almayne Than some other suche as had wysely coniected all parelles in their imagynacyons sayd In the name of god lette nother the kynge go nor yet sende thyder no puyssaunce For though the duke of Guerles who is but yonge and that youthe of wytte haue made hym to defye the kynge whiche was nat done by no greate wysdome nor good counsayle but rather done by folissh pride of yonge people who wolde flye or they haue wynges And sythe he hathe thus defyed the kynge lette hym alone and suffre hym to pursewe his desyaunce the realme of Fraunce is great if he entre in to the realme in any maner of wyse the kinge shall sone be enfourmed therof and than he shall haue a iuste cause to styre vp his people and to go and fyght agaynste hym where so euer he fynde hym or els to make hym flye or yelde hym in the felde and therby the kynge shall haue more honour and lesse charge than to go in to Guerles for suche as knowe the countrey saye that or we can come to the duke if he lyste we must passe a foure great ryuers the lyste of them as great as the ryuer of Loyre at Namurs or Charite Also they say it is a fowle countrey and yuell lodgynges THe noble men and counsaylouts of Fraunce were thus in dyuers imagynacyons on this voyage that the kynge wolde make in to Almayne and surely it had ben auaunsed the soner forwarde and they had nat douted the venym that myght growe by the occasyon of Bretayne and of the duke there that mater drewe theym a backe And indede they had good cause to doute it for the duke of Bretayne was well infourmed of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles hadde made to the Frenche kynge and howe that the yonge kinge Charles wolde go in to Almayne The duke loked for nothyng els but that the kynge shulde be ones departed out of his Realme of Fraunce he hadde ordeyned and concluded bytwene hym and the englysshe men to suffre the englisshe army to entre in to his countrey And also he had by subtyle meanes drawen to his acorde the moste parte of the good townes of Bretaygne and specyally Nauntes Wennes Rennes Lentriguier Guerrādo Lambale saynte Malo and saynte Mathewe defyn poterne but the noble men he coulde nat gette to his opynyon Than the duke imagyned if the lordes shulde go with the constable of Fraunce in to Almayne thanne his warre and entente shulde the soner come to passe He caused his townes and castels to be well prouyded for with vytayles and artyllary and he shewed well howe he inclyned rather to the warre than to haue pease Also he had great alyaunce with Charles they yonge kyng of Nauerre and the duke promysed hym that if he might come to his entent to haue puyssaunce of men of armes and archers out of Englāde he wolde bringe them streight in to Normandy and recouer fyrst the good townes and castels that kynge Charles of Fraunce vncle to the kynge of Nauerre had taken fro hym by his men as the lorde of Coucy and outher Of this the kynge of Nauer had great trust and by reason therof he helde in humble loue the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon for bytwene theym was great alyaunces And of all this I sawe great apparence as I shall shewe after IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght the seuenth daye of Aprell it was concluded by the kynge of Englande and his counsayle and by his vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre that the erle Rycharde of Arundell shulde be heed and chefe of an army on the see with hym a thousande men of armes and thre thousande archers and to be at Hamton the fyftene day of May and there to fynde his nauy redy apparelled And euery man that was apoynted to go to be there redy at that daye And the kynge of Englande on saynte Georges daye nexte after helde a great feast at his castell of Wyndesore And there were the chefe lordes that shulde go with therle of Arundell and there they toke their leaues of the kynge and of the quene and of all other ladyes and so came to Hampton at their daye apoynted and entred in to their shyppes the twenty day of May whiche was a fayre clere day There was the erle of Arundell the erle of Notyngham the Erle of Deuonshyre syr Thomas Percy the lorde Clifforde sir Iohn̄ of Ware wyke sir Willyam de la Selle the lorde Cameux syr Stephyn de Libery syr Willyam Helman syr Thomas Moreaur syr Iohan Dambreticourt syr Roberte Sere sir Peter Mountbery sir Loys Clombo sir Thomas Coq syr Willyam Pulle and dyuers other They were of good men of armes a thousand speares and aboute a thre thousande archers They had with theym no horses for they trusted if they might come to their ententes to entre in to Bretayne and there to refresshe them where as they shulde fynde horses ynowe at a good price to serue them The daye that they departed fro Hampton was so fayre and peasable that it was meruayle they drewe towardes Normādy nat purposyng to lande in any parte but to passe by the fronters of Normandy and Bretayne tyll they herde other newes They had in their nauy certayne vessels called Ballengers who sayled on before to se if they myght fynde any aduenture in lyke maner as knyghtes do by lande go before the bataylles to dyscouer the coūtrey and enbusshes ¶ Nowe we shall leaue a season of spekynge of this army and speke somwhat of the busynesse of Guerles Brabant and shewe howe the siege was layde to Graue ¶ Howe the brabansoys layde siege to the towne of Graue And howe the constable of Fraunce toke saynte Malo and saynte Mathewes and set there men in garyson and howe the duke of Lancastre was at Bayon greatly dyscomforted in that he coulde gette no maner of ayde Cap. C.xxvi AS it hath been shewed here before of the auncyent dukes of Guerles howe the eldest sonne of the duke of
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
Almayne besyde the Ryne called sir Seruays of Mirando These iustes were well contynued but there were so many knightes that one coulde nat rynne for another and the duste with rynnynge of their horses was so great that it troubled them sore The lorde of Coucy dyd maruelously well These iustes contynued tyll it was nyght than they departed the ladyes brought to their lodgynges The kynge with his company was brought to his lodgynge of saynt Pole and there was a supper for the ladyes with suche haboundauÌ„ce that it were harde to recorde it and the feest and reuell with syngynge and daunsyng tyll the next mornynge the sonne rysinge And the prise of the iustes of the aunswerers that had best done and lengest contynued was gyuen to the frenche kynge by consente of all the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes and of the chalengers the Halze of â—launders bastarde brother to the duchesse of Burgoyne The knightes complayned of the dust so that some said they loste their dedes by reason therof The kynge made prouysion for it he ordeyned mo than two hundred barrelles of mater that watred the place wherby the grouÌ„de was well amended and yet the nexte day they hadde duste ynough and to moche Than the wednysdaye came to Parys the erle of saynte Pole frome oute of Englande he had made great haste to come to these iustes and feest and he had lefte behynde him in Englande sir Iohan of Chatell Morant to bringe the charter of the treuce with hym The erle of saynte Pole was well welcomed of the kynge and of all other lordes and the Quene and all other were glad of his comynge ON the wednysdaye after dyner euery man drew to the felde and the ladyes came thyder in goodly aray as they had done the daye before and mounted vpon their stages Than the iustes began fyersly and was well contynued tyll it was nyght Than euery person retourned and the ladyes had a great supper at saynte Polle Than the pryses were gyuen by consente of the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes of the answerers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of Haynalte called Iohan de Flaron who was come thyder in the company of therle of Ostrenant and of the chalengers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of the duke of Burgoyns called Iohan de Pokerers And agayne the thursdaye iusted knightes squyers all togyther euery man payned hym selfe to do well and it endured tyll nyght And the ladyes supped agayne at saynt Polle and there the prise was gyuen of the vtter partie to sir Charles of Armoyes and of them within to a squyer of the quenes called Lons The frydaye the kynge made a dyner to all the ladyes and damoselles and aboute the ende of the dyner there entred in to the hall the kyng sytting at the table the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayne the couÌ„tes of saynt Polle the lady of Coucy and a great meny of other ladyes and damosels they brought in two knyghtes on horsebacke armed at all peces for the iustes with their speares on their thyes The one was sir Raynold of Roy and the other sir Bouciquant the yonger and there they two iusted goodly togyther Than came thyder other knightes ser Raynold of Troyes syr Gyllyam of Namure syr Charles of Armoyes and the lorde of Garancyers the lorde of Nantoyllet Lardenoys of Ostende and dyuers other all these iusted there the space of two houres before the kynge and the ladyes than they returned to their lodgynges That fryday suche ladyes and damosels as wolde retourne to their owne houses toke their leaues of the kynge of the quene and also suche lordes as wolde departe The kynge and the quene thanked them of the payne they had taken comynge to his feest ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of the Chateau Morante whom the erle of saynte Polle had lefte behynde hym in Englande retourned in to FrauÌ„ce with the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde and his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C.lviii AFter that all these lordes and ladyes were returned fro this greate feest to their owne houses than the lorde of Chastell Morant whome the lorde of saynte Polle had left in England retourned in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and shewed forth the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde of Englande and by his vncles and other to endure thre yere as well by see as by lande and the wordes in the charter sayd That whosoeuer breketh by any maner of coÌ„dicion any poynte or artycle conteyned in that treatie shulde be taken and reputed as traytours and to rynne in a mortall punysyon And bycause that the lorde of Coucy was souerayne capytayne chosen by the kinge and his counsayle to defende and kepe the outwarde marches bytwene the ryuer of Durdone and the see and all the countrey of Iuuergne and Lymosyn The copy of this treatye was delyuered to hym to the entente that he shulde publysshe and shewe it to all them that wolde do any thynge to the contrary And also to the entent that they of Vandachor of Chalusset of Dorbesidousac and of the garysons the made warre for the englysshe tytle shulde haue knowledge of that treuce that they shulde make none excuse if they fell in the payne In lykewyse the marshall of FrauÌ„ce the lorde Loys of Xancer had also the copy therof whiche was ryght nedefull for he was gouernour of the outwarde marches of Languedoc fro the ryuer of Ronne and the bridge of Amyngnon and aboute the countreys and signories apendauÌ„t to the ryuer of Dordone as the couÌ„treys of Beaucaire of Carcassone of Tholous of rouergne of Dagen of Querca of Bygore of Pyergourte and of Lymogines and in these countreys were dyuers garysons that smally regarded or obeyed any peace or truce but alwayes entended to make marre as the castell of Cullyer the stronge castell of Londre in Bygore on the fronters of Byerne they were greatly feared of their neyghbours ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The maryage of king Loys sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Aragone and how he went with the quene of Napoles his mother to Auignon to se pope Clemente Cap. C.lix IN this tyme there was a treatye made of a maryage bytwene Loys of Aniowe sonne to the duke of Aniou who wrote himself kynge of Napoles of Cycyll and Iherusalem and erle of Prouynce and the doughter of kyng Peter of Arragon The quene of Napoles went to Auygnone to se pope Clement and there she founde the lorde of Coucy and had in her company her yonge sonne Loys The lorde of Coucy was ryght ioyous of her coÌ„mynge The quene was receyued ryght honorably of pope Clement and of the cardynalles as she was well worthy for she was a noble woman and a dilygent in all her busynesse There she desyred the lorde of Coucye to helpe to conuey her sonne Loyes
in to the realme of Arragone and to be about him tyll he were maryed The lorde of Coucye wolde nat refuce it but ordayned hym selfe so to do and sayde Ma dame there was no vyage this seuyn yere that I wolde be more gladder to accomplisshe than to go in to the marches of Cicyll Naples wich my lorde your sonne if I had lycence of the kyng my souerayne lorde Sir quod the lady I thaÌ„ke you I se well your good wyll I doute nat but the kyng wyll be content that ye go with my sonne in to Aragon And the quene of Arragon wyll be glad to se you for your doughter hath maryed her brother sir HeÌ„ry of bare The lorde of Coucy agreed to go this voyage Thus the younge kynge of Cicyll tooke his iourney well accompanied whan he had taken his leaue of the Pope and of his mother all wepynge For at the departynge of the mother and the sonne caused their hertes to relente For they shulde departe farre a soÌ„der knewe nat whan to se togyder agayne For it was ordayned that whan the maryage was accomplysshed that the yonge kynge and the yonge Quene shulde take the see at the porte of Barcelone and so to go and arryue at the porte of Naples or as nere as they myght SO longe this yonge kynge Loyes iourneyed that he passed Mountpellyer and Besyers and so came to Narbone where he was receyued ioyfullye of euery man There they refresshed theÌ„ and their horses one day and than departed and wente to Parpygnen the fyrst towne of the realme of Arragon The coÌ„myng of this yonge kynge was well knowen in the court of the kynge of Arragon He sente menne to mete with hym and to conuey him as the vycount of Roâ—uebertyn and sir Raymonde of Baighes So long they rode that they caÌ„e to the cytie of Barcelone where the kynge the Quene and their doughter was There the yonge kyng was noblâ— receyued and specially the quene of Arragon was ryght ioyouse of the coÌ„mynge of the lorde of Coucy and thanked the yonge kynge her sonne that shulde be for bringynge of hym in his company and sayd that all other maters shulde do and atcheue the better This Maryage was confyrmed bytwene these two chyldren but bycause wynter approched they delayed their voyage goyng to the See For in wynter the great Sees are perillous They said they wolde make their prouisyon that wynter to go in to Naples the nexte Marche after The lorde of Coucy beyng in Arragon receyued letters fro the Frenche kynge commaundynge hym to retourne Than he toke his leaue of the kynge of Arragon and of the quene and of the yonge kyng and his wyfe and of all other lordes suche as were there and departed And if he myght haue had leysar he wolde haue retourned by Auignon to haue sene the pope and the olde quene af Naples But he sente to them his excuse and retourned by Auuergne in to Fraunce WHanÌ„e this maryage was made bytwene the yonge kyng Loyes of Cycyll and the doughter of the kynge of Arragon wherby there was great alyaâ—ces bytwene the parties and they of Arragon were bounde to ayde to serue the yong kynge to bringe hym in to the realme of Naples and nat to leaue hym tyll he had the realme pesably of Naples and of Cicyll with the appendauÌ„tes as Paule and Calabre and the cytie of Gaiet the whiche Margarete of Duras helde The aragonoys shulde serue hym as longe as his warre endured with .ii. hundred speares at their coste and charge a thousande crosbowes and a thousande bregandiers Whan the swete tyme of Marche was come and that the wyndes were apealed and the waters swaged of their rages and the wodes reuerduced and that their prouysions were made redy at Barcelone and the galees redy suche as shulde go with the yong kynge Than he and his yonge quene tooke their leaues of the kynge of Aragone and of the quene who wept at their departyng than the quene recoÌ„maunded the yonge quene her doughter to the erle of Roodes a valyaunt knight to sir Raymon of Baighes These two toke the speciall charge natwithstaÌ„dinge that the erle of Vrgell and the erle of Lyne were there in a great company In these galees were a fyftene huÌ„dred speares two thousande crosbowes two thousande of other men of warre with dartes pauesses They wente thus fortifyed and well acompanyed to resyst the better if nede were agaynst their ennemyes And also to resyst all rencouÌ„ters vpon the see for it is a longe waye by the see fro Barcelone to Naples And Margarete of Duras their aduersary myght trouble theÌ„ by the way therfore they thought to go surelye ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of this yonge kyng of Cicyll and speke of other busynesse of the realme of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Frenche kynge had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme howe he went fyrst in to Burgoyne and to Auygnon to se pope Clement Cap. C.lx. AFter this great Feest was accomplisshed that euery lorde and lady were gone home to their owne houses as ye haue herde here before that the FreÌ„che kyng sawe that he had truce with Englande for thre yere he hadde than ymaginacion to go visite his realme specially the vtwarde marchesse of Languedocke For the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercier who were as than chefe of his preuy couÌ„sayle They exhorted hym to go to Auygnon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles who desyred to se hym and also to go to Tholous for they sayd to the kyng Sir a kyng in his youthe ought to visyte his realme and to knowe his people and to lerne how they be gouerned the whiche shulde be greatly to his profyte and the better to be beloued with his subiectes The kyng lyghtly enclyned to their counsayle for he had desyre to traueyle and se newe thynges And the lord de la Ryuer who was but newly come out of those marchesse herde great complayntes of the people of Tholous of Carcassone of Beaucayre and they desired greatly to se the kyng for they had ben sore charged with tayles and aydes by the duke of Berrey by the informacion of a seruaunt of his called Betysache who had pytie of no man He so pylled the people that nothynge was lefte therfore he counsayled the kynge to go thyder to prouyde some remedy And also that the kynge shulde sende for the erle of Foize to come to hym to Tholous The kyng made him redy to go thyder and sente afore all the way that prouisyon shulde be made for his coÌ„myng sente worde therof to his vncle the Duke of Burgoyne and to his auÌ„te the duchesse how he wolde come a longe throughe their countrey and wolde se his cosyns their chyldren and to bring in his company his brother the duke of Thourayne and his vncle of Burbone whiche pleased greatly the
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌ„trey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌ„che kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌ„ger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌ„de synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌ„te desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He ê“cured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌ„ueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌ„trey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌ„ded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌ„berlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌ„che kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couâ—y and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ„ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌ„tesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌ„phe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deê‘ted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌ„myng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌ„e to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
deê‘ted fro Lunell he went to dyner to Moutpellyer it was but thre lytell myles There he was receyued of the burgesses ladyes and damoselles of the towne for they greatly desyred to se the kynge and many riche presentes were gyuen to hym for MouÌ„tpellyer is a puissaunt towne ryche full of marchandise The kynge praysed the towne moche and well consydred their puissauÌ„ce And it was shewed the kyng that the towne hadde ben moche richer before thanne it was at that presente tyme For the duke of Aniou and the duke of Berrey eche of them in their tourne hadde greatlye pylled them The kyng was sorie that the good people had endured so moche doÌ„mage and sayd how he wolde reforme the countre in to a better state Than it was shewed the kynge that the pouertie of that towne was nothyng to that he shulde fynde forwarde For that towne of it selfe hath good meanes of recouerauÌ„ce by reson of the marchandise that is there vsed bothe by lande and by see But in the marchesse of Carcassone Tholous therabout where as the said two dukes had the gouernaunce Loke on what thyng they had puyssaunce to laye on their handes there was nothyng left but all taken away For ye shall fynde the people there so poore that suche as were wont to be riche and puissaunt nowe they are scant able to labour their vynes nor landes It is a great pyte to se them their wyues and chyldren for they haue had euery yere fyue or sixe tayles layde on their shulders and are rauÌ„somed to the thirde or fourthe parte of their substaunce somtyme to all toguyder One tayle coude nat be payde but that another was redy in the necke therof for ser as it is well knowen these two dukes your vncles while they ruled in LaÌ„guedocke they haue leuyed in the countrey fro Vyle Neufe in to Tholousyn rounde about to the ryuer of Garon and retournyng to the ryuer of Dordone the soÌ„me of .xxx. hundred thousande frankes And specially sythe the duke of Aniou departed the duke of Berrey hath done the more doÌ„mage for he founde the playne countrey and coÌ„montie in good case for the duke of Aniou tooke but of the ryche men who had wherwith to paye But the duke of Berrey spared nother poore nor riche for he gadered all before him specially by one of his counsayle his treasourer named Betysache who is of the nacyon of the cytie of Besyers As ye shall here by the complayntes of the people that wyll crye out on hym To these wordes the kyng said As god haue my soule I shall prouyde for this mater or I retourne I shall punisshe the trespasours For I shall make an inquysycion of the seruantes and oâ—nycers of myne vncles suche as had ruled here before in the parcies of Languedocke and suche as haue deserued shal be corrected The kynge taryed at Mount pellyer the space of .xii. dayes for the order of the towne and the pastyme of ladyes and damoselles suche as he fouÌ„de there pleased hym greatly To saye trouthe the kynge as at that tyme was in his lusty youthe and lyght quycke of spyrite He daunsed and caroled amonge the frysco ladyes and damoselles of the towne somtyme all nyght And gaue and made bankettes and suppers largely and wolde gyue to the ladyes and damosels rynges of golde and chaynes to them that he reputed worthy The kynge dyde so moche that he had great laude and prayse And some of them wolde that he had taryed there lengar than he dyd for he kepte reuell daunsyng and solas and euery day it was newe to begyn ¶ ye haue herde oftentymes said howe the sporte of ladies and damosels encorageth the hertes of yonge lusty gentylmen and causeth them to desyre and to seke to gette honour I say this bycause with the kyng there was thre gentylmen of highe enterprice and of great valure and that they well shewed as ye shall here Fyrst there was the yonge sir Boucequant the other sir Raynold of Roy and the thirde the lorde of saynt Pye These thre knyghtes were chamberleyns with the kyng and well beloued with him for they were well worthy They were fresshe and serued hym well in armes and in all other maters These thre beyng at Mountpellier among the ladyes damosels they toke on them to do armes the next somer after And as I was enformed the priÌ„cipall cause that enclyned theÌ„ therto was as I shall shewe you ye knowe well as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystorie howe that in the dayes of kyng Charles there was an Englysshe knyght called sir Peter Courtney a valyaunt knight in armes caÌ„e out of Englande in to FrauÌ„ce to Paris and demauÌ„ded to do armes with sir Guy of Tremoyle in the presence of the kyng or of suche as wolde se them sir Guy wolde nat refuce his offre and in the presence of the kyng and of other lordes they were armed on a daye ran toguyder one course And than the kyng wolde nat suffre them to ryn agayne toguyder wherwith theÌ„glyss he knyght was right yuell content For as he shewed he wolde haue furnysshed his chalenge to the vttraunce but he was apeased with fayre wordê and it was sayde to hym that he had done ynough he ought to be content therwith The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne gaue hym fayre gyftes and presentes Than he retourned agayne towardes Calays And the lorde of Clary who was a friscay and a lusty knyght was charged to conuey hym They rode so longe toguyder that they came to Lucynen where as the countesse of saynt Poule laye suster to kynge Richarde of Englande The lady was ioyfull of the coÌ„mynge thyder of sir Peter Courtney for she hadde maryed fyrste his cosyn the lorde of Courtney but he dyed yonge and after she maryed the erle of saynt Poule The Englisshe men called her madame Courtney and nat Countesse of saynt Poule ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Peter Courteney came in to Fraunce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle And howe the lorde of Clary coÌ„ueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calais Cap. C.lxi. THus as sir Peter of Courtney and the lorde of Clary were at Lucenen in Arthoys with the couÌ„tesse of saynt Paule who was right ioyouse of their commynge And as they deuysed of many thynges the countesse demaunded of sir Peter Courtney what he thought of the state of Fraunce He aunswered and sayd Certaynly madame the states of FrauÌ„ce are well and goodly serued we can nat be so serued in our countrey Sir quod the lady Do the lordes of Fraunce and the maner there contente you Haue they nat made you good chere Surely madame quod he their there contenteth me passynglye well but in the case that I passed the See for they haue but easely acquyted me therin And madame I wyll ye knowe that if the lorde of Clary here present hadde come
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
hym selfe well fro fallynge for he had suche a stroke that he sore reuersed howbeit he releued and passed forthe but he lost his spere The next course they meete rudely on their helmes so that the fyre flasshed out The .iii. course Sequaqueton was vnhelmed so that bothe he his horse were astonyed and retourned to his company and iusted no more that day nor no man els for the night aproched than the Englysshe men retourned to Calys and the freÌ„chmen to saynt Ingylbertes ye may well knowe that Charles the frenche kyng was sore desyrous to be at those iustes he was yonge lyght of spiryte glad to se newe thynges It was shewed me that fro the begynning to thendyng he was there present disgysed as vnknowen so that none knewe hym but the lorde of Garasyers who caÌ„e also with hym as vnknowen and euery day returned to Margison Than on the wednisday the englisshmen rode fro Calais and came to the place of the iustes Than a squier of Englande called IohnÌ„ Sauage sente to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynold of Roy the knight was redy in his pauylion issued out and mouÌ„ted on his horse thaÌ„ they came togider with great randon and strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wise that if their sheldes had nat broken outher one of the men or bothe had ben striken to the grouÌ„de This was a goodly a daungerous course howbeit the knightê toke no doÌ„mage Their speres brake to their haÌ„des the heedê stacke styll in their sheldê euery man fered they had ben hurt so euery ê‘tie caÌ„e to their coÌ„pany whan it was knowen that they had no hurt euery man was ioyfull and sayd howe they had done ynough for that day but those wordes pleased nothyng Iohan Sauage for he sayd he was nat come ouer the see to ryn but one course Those wordê were shewed to sir Raynolde du Roy and he answered sayd It is reason that he be aunswered outher by me or by some of my coÌ„pany Than they toke newe sheldes and speares and ran agayne toguyder â–ª but at the cope their horses crossed and so fayled ech other wherwith they were sore displeased for angre cast awaye their speres toke newe And at the thirde course they taynted eche other in the syght of their helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed euery man praysed that course The englysshe men came to Iohan Sauage said howe he had ryght honorably acquyted hymselfe that daye howe he had done ynough for there were other to ryn He obeyed ran no more and a lyghted of his horse and lept on a small hackeney to so other rynne THan a Squyer of Englande came forthe cosyn to the erle Marshall called Wyllyam Basquenaye He touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant The knyght was redy to answere They came togyder as streyght as they coude deuyse and strake eche other in the syght of the helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed they passed forthe their course fraÌ„ke and frely Anone they were agayne helmed and ran togider and strake eche other on their sheldes and brake their speares withoute any other domage the thirde course they crossed wherwith they were sore displeased The fourthe course WyllmÌ„ Basquenay was agayne vnhelmed so ran no more that daye Than another Englysshe squyer called Scot ran agayne the lorde of saynt Pye the fyrst course they encouÌ„tred so rudely that their horses stakered the speres helde yet they lost their speres Than they made them redy to ryn the seconde course they met in suche wyse that the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed the squier moche praysed for that course Agayne the thirde course they encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes in suche wyse that IohnÌ„ Scot was stryken downe ouer his horse crope thus the lorde of saynt Pye was reueÌ„ged TheÌ„glyssh squyer was releued brought to his coÌ„pany and ran no more that day Than another englysshe squyer called Bernarte Stapleton he touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye they came togider and taynted eche other on their helmes that the fyre flasshed out so passed by without any other doÌ„mage and kepte styll their speres the .ii. course they mette in their sheldes rudely yet they kept their horses so passed forth their course The thirde course they vnhelmed eche other thenglyssh squyer ran no more that daye Than stepte forthe a gentyll knyght of Englande yonge and fresshe a iolly dauÌ„cer and synger called sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell he ran agayne ser Raynold du Roy. At the first course they mette rudely strake eche other on their sheldes but they helde them selfes without fallynge passed forthe their course but they lost their staues The .ii. course they attaynted eche other on their helmes that sparcles of fyre flewe out without other doÌ„mage The .iii. course they crossed and loste their staues the .iiii. course they taynted on their helmes The .v. course they brake their speres on their sheldes and than sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell ran no more that day Than another squyer of EnglaÌ„de called Nicholas Scon a proper man of armes ran agaynst sir BouciquaÌ„t The first course they strake eche other on their helmes a great attaynt the .ii. course they strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wyse that their horses were astonyed and lost their speares the .iii. course they strake eche other on the helmes Nicholas Seon was vnhelmed and ran no more Than another squyer came forthe called IohnÌ„ Marshall ran agaynst sir Bouciquant for he was redy lokyng for nothyng but to iust he toke his speare and couched it in the rest The first course they mette rudelye on their sheldes lost their staues the seconde course they taynted on their helmes the third course they aduysed well eche other and met rudely Iohan Marshall brake his staffe in thre peces sir Boucyquant strake hym on the helme in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed and so returned and ran no more that day Than caÌ„e forthe a lusty yonge knight of Englande who desyred greatly to wyn honour called sir IohnÌ„ Clinton he bare syluer broken with azure a molet syluer in the chefe He touched the shelde of sir Reynold du Roye who was redy to answere and was gladde of the coÌ„mynge of that knyght they came to their places and toke their speares the fyrst course they taynted on the helmes and passed forthe The seconde course they strake eche other on their sheldes and passed by and lost their staues The thirde course they taynted on their Helmes so that the fyre flewe oute the fourthe course they crossed the fythe course was well enployed for eche of them brake their speares The two knyghtes were sore chafed and shewed well howe they had gret desyre to proue their selfes The sixte course eche of theÌ„ vnhelmed other that course was greatly praysed The Englysshe knight ran no more that daye for he had done
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
soueraygne of the armye for that voyage and to whome euery man shulde obey The duke of Thourayne of his owne voluÌ„tary wyll offred hym selfe to go but the kyng and his vncles wolde in no wyse agree therto sayenge howe it was no voyage for hym and they consydred well howe that genouoys desyred outher to haue him or els one of the kynges vncles Than it was agreed that the duke of Burbone vncle to the kynge shulde be souerayne and chefe of that armye shulde haue in his company the lorde of Coucy Whan the ambassadours of Gene were aunswered that it was concluded without fayle that they shulde haue ayde of knightes and squyers of Fraunce and the kynges vncle the duke of Burbone to be souerayne and chefe capytayne wherof these ambassadours were well contente and toke their leaue of the kynge and of his counsayle and retourned in to their owne couÌ„trey Tydinges anon spred abrode in that realme of Fraunce af this voyage into Barbary To some it was plesaunt and to some nat delectable and many that wolde haue gone wente nat There was none that went but on their owne charge and coste No lorde sente any but of their owne seruauntes Also it was ordeyned that none shuld passe of the nacyon of Fraunce without lycence of the kynge for the kynge wolde nat that so many shulde haue gone to leaue the realme destitute of knyghtes and squyers Also it was agreed that no varlettes shulde passe but all gentle men and men of feate defence Also to please all other nacyons knyghtes squiers straungers had fre lyberty to come and to entre into this honorable voyage wherof all knyghtes straungers greatly praysed the frenche kynge and his counsayle for that dede The duke of Burbone who was one of the chefe of the realme sent incontynent his officers to Gennes to make prouysyon acordynge to his astate The gentle erle of Auuergne sent also to Gennes to make his prouysions and the lorde of Coucy was nat behynde Also syr Guy de la Tremoyle and sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce and all other lordes and knightes suche as were ordeyned to go in that voyage sent to make their prouysions euery man after his degre Also so dyd sir Philyppe de Arthoys erle of Eawe and sir Phylip of Bare the lorde of Harcourt sir Henry Dantoinge Also out of Bretayne and Normandy many lordes other aparelled them selfes to go into Barbary Also of Haynalt the lorde of Ligne the lord of Haureth and for theÌ„ of Flaunders there was great ê“uysion made Also the duke of LaÌ„castre had a bastard sonne called Henry of Lancastre he had deuocion to go in the same voyage he prouyded him of good knightes and squyers of Englande that acompanyed hym in that voyage The erle of Foiz sent his bastarde sonne called Iobbayne of Foiz well prouyded with knightes squiers of Bierne Euery man prouyded them selfes nobly and eche for other and about the myddes of May the that were furthest of fro Gene set forwarde to come to Gennes whereas the assemble was apoynted and where as all their galees and vesselles were assembled It was a moneth or they coude all assemble there The genouoys were right ioyfull of their comyng and gaue great presentes to the chiefe lordes the better therby to wynne their loues They were nombred whan they were togyther by the marshals xiiii hundred knyghtes and squyers Than they entred in to the galees and vesselles that were prouyded for them well furnisshed of all thynges necessary Thus they departed fro the porte of Gennes aboute the feest of mydsomer in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and ten GReat pleasure it was to behold their departynge and to se their standardes getorns and penons wanynge in the wynde and shynynge against the sonne and to here the trompettes claryons sownyng in the ayre with other mynstrelsy The fyrste night they lay at ancre at the entryng in to the high see all varlettes horses abode behynde a horse that was worthe fyfty frankes at their departyng was solde for ten frankes for there were many knyghtes and squiers that wyste nat whan they shulde returne they coulde nat haue fyue horses kept at Gennes for a franke a daye and therfore at their departynge they made money of them and that was but lytell There were a huÌ„dred galees garnisshed with men of warre crosbowes pauesses and mo than a C. of other vessels laden with ê“uysion other necessaryes The next day at the breke of the daye they weyed ancres and rowed all that day by force of owers and the nyght folowynge costyng the laÌ„de The thyrde day they came to Portefyn and there cast ancre and taryed there all that night and the next day they came to another porte towne called the porte VeÌ„der and there taryed and refresshed them The next day they passed further into the gret see in the name of god our lady and saynte George firste they founde the isle of Dable and than that isle of Guerfe the isle of Argenen and the isle of Sardyns passed the Gulfe of the Lyon which was a daungerous a doutfull passage but they coulde nat eschewe it the waye that they toke they were there in great parell all to haue ben lost the season was so troublus tempestes so terryble that the wysest maryner that there was coulde gyue no couÌ„saile but to abyde the adueÌ„ture the wyll of god wherby the flete departed a sonder some here and some there they wyst neuer where This tempest endured a day a night whan this teÌ„pest was sest and the wyndes pacifyed than the patrons pylottes set their courses to drawe to the isle of CoÌ„meres a .xxx. myle fro Auffryke and fro the towne thyder as they entented to go For at the goynge out of the Gulfe of Lyon the patrones sayde one to a nother if it fortune that we be driuen a sonder by force of wynde and wether than lette vs drawe to the isle of CoÌ„meres and there lette vs tary eche for other And as they hadde deuysed so they dyd for the fyrst that came thyder taryed tyll the last came and or all coulde assemble there togyder it was a nyne daies This isle of CoÌ„meres is a pleasauÌ„t isle thought it be nat gret There the lordes refresshed theym and thanked god whhan they sawe they had loste none of their company Thanne the lordes and patrons toke counsayle what was best for them to do consyderinge they were so nere the towne of Aufryke ¶ Nowe I wyll leaue to speke of these lordes of Fraunce for a season and speke of other maters that was done in that season in FrauÌ„cel and specyally in the countrey of Auuergne in the marches of the lande of the erle Dolphyn who was forthe in the sayd voyage ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of a capytayne a robber and a pyller of the countrey called Aymergot Marcell who helde a stronge
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
gentylman of the duke of Lancasters named Herbery went with the better wyll bycause the varlette promysed hym in the behalfe of Aymergot a hundred fraÌ„kes Thus they thre departed and came to Douer and fro thens at a tyde to Calis And whan their horses were vnshypped they toke the waye to Boloygne and so throughe Picardy and went to Parys fro thens in to Auuergne And whan they approched nere to Lymogines and to the couÌ„tre where the roche of VaÌ„doyes was sette They rode about the more secretely to come thyder THus as I haue shewed you thes messangers dyde so moche that they came nere to the roche of vaÌ„doyes Whanne they were nere where the siege laye the squyer and the heraulde thought it for the best nat to entre in to the towne at that present tyme. But they sent the varlet in to the towne sayeng they wolde do well ynough without his company For they sayd if he shulde be sene with them they at the siege wolde suppose that he had ben sente in to Englande for theÌ„ the varlet obeyed in the night he entred in to the towne without dauÌ„ger than Aymergot Marcell Guyot du Sall made hym good chere and had marueyle that he had spedde his iourney in so short a space There be shewed howe he had spedde and howe a squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters and a heraude was come with him with letters fro the kyng and fro the duke of Lancastre bothe to the Vycount of Meaulr and to the duke of Berrey if nede were And why quod Aymergot mercell are they nat come hyder into this castell Sir ê™ the varlet they sayd they two wolde do their message well inough nor they wold haue no man sene in their coÌ„pany that shulde come fro you They are the wyser ê™ Guyot du Sall therby it shall seme that the mater toucheth the kyng of EnglaÌ„de and the duke of Lancastre Sir it is trewe quod the barlet Of those tidynges Aymergot was ioyfull and sayde to the varlet Thou hast well and dilygently spedde thy maters and that in a shorte season I shall well rewarde the for thy labour Thus the squyer and the heraude came streight to the siege and demauÌ„ded for the VycouÌ„tes lodgynge They were brought thyder and there they founde the vycount beholding men castyng the stone than they kneled and saluted hym and he them agayne and demauÌ„ded fro whens they came They answered and said howe they caÌ„e out of Englande sent thyder by their kyng and by the duke of Lancaster ye are welcome ê™ the Vycount what mater hath brought you in to this wylde countrey Sir quod the heraude beholde here this squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters who hath brought to you letters fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre if it please you to rede theÌ„ and bycause I soÌ„what knewe the countrey I am come in his company Than the squyer delyuered his letters and the vycount receyued them and behelde the seales and knewe well they came out of Englande Than he tooke one aparte that coude rede and there he reed the letters fro poynt to poynt two or thre tymes tyll he knewe well what they ment thaÌ„ he studyed regarded well the kyng of Englandes writyng who sayd in his writynge that he had marueyle that he wolde lodge slepe and reste hym with an army of men of warre on his herytage that he dothe daylye all that he can to breke the peace whiche he ought in no wyse to do for it is greatly â—iudiciall to them that haue sette to their seales to the confyrmacion of the peace and the conclusyon of the letter was howe the kyng coÌ„maunded them incontynent after the sight of his letts that he and his company shulde departe and reyse their siege and suffre Aymergot Mercell pesably to enioye the house parteyning to his heritage whiche hath cost hym great goodes the fortifieng These wordes and suche other were enclosed in these letters all to the ayde of Aymergot Marcell in lyke maner as the kynges letters spake the duke of Lancaster sange the same note commaundyng lyke the excellent duke of Acquitayne and of all that duchy And whan the vicount of Meaulx had well aduysed hym selfe he sayde Fayre sirs these tidynges that ye haue brought requyreth counsayle and aduyse I shall take couÌ„sayle and than ye shall be answered Than they were made to driÌ„ke of the vycountes wyne In the meane tyme the vycount toke counsayle for he sent for the lorde of the Towre for sir Guyllyam Butler sir Robert Dolphyn sir Loyes DaÌ„byer and also for the lorde Montaguy and for sir Berat de la Ryuer who was of his house And whan they were all toguyder he renewed the wordes and shewed them the cause why he had sent for them and there caused the letters to be reed before them Whan these lordes herde that they had great marueile how these letters coude be brought out of EnglaÌ„de for as than they had nat layne at the siege past a moneth I shall shewe you quod the vycount what I suppose Aymergot Marcell is a subtell man as soone as he sawe that he shulde be besieged I thynke he sent incoÌ„tynent some messanger in to Englande to attayne these letters the whiche I maye obey if I lyste but I shall answere them shortely But as in that the kyng of England and the duke of Lancastre coÌ„maundeth me to do I wyll nothynge obey their coÌ„maundementes for I am nat bounde to obey theÌ„ but all onelye the Frenche kynge by whose coÌ„maundement I am sent hyder Call forthe the squier and the heraude I shall make them their answere they were brought forthe Than the vycount began to speke as foloweth you Derby and Tomelyn Herbery thus ye be named accordyng to the tenour of your letters and as it apereth ye be sent hyther frothe kynge of Englande fro the duke of Lancastre they are enfourmed I can nat tell howe outher by Aymergot Marcell or by some other that wolde ayde him and hath ben in England in his name howe I am at this present tyme with an army of men of warre lodged on the herytage of the kynge of Englandes and he commaundeth me to departe and reyse my siege and to suffre Aymergot Marcell peasably to enioy this lytell fortresse whiche hathe coste so moche the fortefyenge and also they sende me worde howe I do put my selfe in parell of dyshonorynge in that I shulde consent to breke the peace sealed and confâ—rmed to endure thre yeres bytwene the two kynges and their alyes Fayre sirs I say vnto you that I wyll do nothyng that shall be against the charter of peace I wyll kepe the treuce and do nothynge agaynst it and though I am lodged here it breketh no peace nor treuce I am subget to the frenche kynge who hath sent me hyther and hath admytted me as his marshall of this small armye for it came to the knowledge of the kynge
erle of saynt Poule and other knyghtes of Fraunce suche as wolde iuste Than began the iustes euery man payned hym selfe to gette honour Some were stryken down fro their horses These iustes contynued tyll it was nere nyght Than euery ê‘son drewe to their lodgynges knyghtes and ladyes at the hour of supper euery man drewe to the courte There was a goodly supper well ordayned And as that day the price was gyuen to the erle of Ostrenaunt for the best iuster of the vtter partie and well he deserued it The price was gyuen hym by the ladyes lordes and herauldes who were ordained to be iudges And of the inner partie a knyght of Englande called sir Hughe Spenser had the price THe nexte daye Tuesday there was iustes agayne in the same place of all maner of squyers whiche endured tyll it was nyght in the presence of the kyng quene lordes and ladyes Than euery man drewe to their lodgyngê as they had done the dayes before and at supper they retourned to the bysshoppes palais where the kyng the quene and the ladyes were There was a goodly and a costely supper and after great daunsynge contynuynge all nyght The wednisdaye after dyner they iusted in the same place all maner of knightes squyers suche as wolde iuste that was a sore and a rude iustes enduryng tyll nyght and than wtdrue at the hour of supper they resorted where they supped before The Thursdaye the kyng made a supper to all knyghtes and gentylmen straungers and the quene to all ladyes and damoselles Than on the friday the duke of Lancastre made a dyner for all knightes squyers straungers whiche was a goodly dyner And on the Saturdaye the kyng and all the lordes departed fro LoÌ„don to Wyndsore and therle of Ostrenaunt and the erle of saynt Poule with all other knightes and squyers straungers were desyred to acompany the kyng to Wyndsore euery maÌ„ rode as it was reason to the castell of Wyndsore Than there began agayne great feestê with dyners and suppers gyuen by the king and specially the kyng dyde great honour to the erle of Ostrenaunt his cosyn whiche erle was desyred by the kyng and his vncles that he wolde be content to take on hym the order of the garter The erle aunswered howe he wolde take couÌ„sayle in that mater Than he couÌ„sayled with the lorde of Gomegines and with Fierabras of Vertan bastarde who in no wyse wolde discorage nor counsayle hym to refuce the order of the garter So he toke it on hym wherof the knightes and squyers of FrauÌ„ce suche as were there had great marueyle and murmured sore therat among theÌ„ selfe sayeng the erle of Ostrenaunt sheweth well that his courage enclyneth rather to be Englysshe than Frenche whan he taketh on hym the order of the garter and weareth the kynge of Englandes deuyse He sheweth well he regardeth nat the house of Fraunce nor the house of Burgoyne The tyme wyll come he shall repent hym selfe All thynges coÌ„sydred he knoweth nat what he hath done for he was welbeloued with the frenche kynge and with the duke of Thourayne his brother and with all the blode royall in suche wyse that whan he came to Parys or in to any other place to any of them they euer made hym more honour than any other of their cosyns Thus these Frenche men euyll accused hym without cause for that he had done was nothyng contrary nor hurtfull to the realme of Fraunce nor to his cosyns nor frendes in Fraunce For he thought none otherwyse but honour and loue and to pleace his cosyns in Englande and to be therby the rather a good meane bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande if nede were Nor the daye that he toke on hym the order of the garter and his othe euery man maye well vnderstande that he made none alyaunce to do any preiudyce to the realme of Fraunce For that he dyde was but for loue and good company howe be it no man canne let the enuyous to speke yuell WHan they had dauÌ„ced and sported them a certayne â—pace in the castell of Wynsore and that the kyng hadde gyuen many fayre gyttes to the knightes and squyâ—â—â— of honour of the realme of Fraunce and Heynaulte and specially to the yonge erle of Ostrenaunt Than euery man toke leaue of the kynge and of the quene and of other ladyes and damoselles and of the kynges vncles ThanÌ„e the erle of saynt Poule and the Frenche men and the Henowayes and almaygnes departed Thus ended this great feest in the cytie of London and euery man went to their owne Than it fortuned as a none brute ronneth farre of The Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles were enfourmed by suche as hadde ben in Englande at the sayde feest of euery thyng that hadde been done and sayd nothyuge was forgotten but rather more putte to in the exaltyng of yuell dedes than fortheryng of good dedes It was shewed the kyng playnly how the erle of Ostrenaunt had ben in Englande and taken great payne to exalte and to do honoure to the Englysshe men and in helpynge forwarde the feest holden at London and howe he hadde the chiefe prise and honoure of the iustes aboue all other straungers and howe he had spoken so fayre to the Englysh men that he was become the kynge or Englandes man and had made scruyce and alyaunce with hym And taken on hym the order of the Garter in the chapell of saynt George in Wyndsore whiche order was fyrste stablysshed by kynge Edwarde the thirde and his sonne prince of Wales And howe that no man myght entre in to that confrary or company without he make seruyaunt or othe neuer to beare armoure agaynste the crowne of Englande Whiche promyse they sayd the erle of Ostrenaunt had made with oute any reseruacyon with these tidynges the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles were sore troubled and greuously displeased with the erle of Ostrenaunt Than the Frenche kyng sayde Lo sirs ye mayeâ—e what it is to do for hym It is nat yet a yere paste sythe he desyred me that his brother myght be bysshoppe of Cambrey And by these tidynges that gyfte were rather preiudyciall to the realme of Fraunce than auauÌ„cement It hadde been better we had gyuen it to our cosyn of saynt Poule The Heynoways dyd neuer good to vs nor neuer wyll for they be proude presumptuous and to fierse Alwayes they haue owed better good wyll to the Englysshe men than to vs but a daye shall come they shall repent them We wyll sende to the erle of Ostrenaunt coÌ„mauÌ„dynge hym to come to vs to do vs homage for the couÌ„tie of Ostrenaunt or els we shall put hym fro it and annexe it to oure realme They of his counsayle answered and sayde Sir ye haue well deuysed lette it be done as ye haue sayde It maye well be thought that the duke of Burgoyne whose doughter the erle of Ostrenaunt had to his wyfe was nothynge content with those tidynges for
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
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
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
the same opynion that the coÌ„mons were of in Englande and enclyned rather to the warre than to peace to the entent therby to susteyne their estate By the occasion therof the peace was the harder to driue yet the kynge the duke of Lancastre wolde fayne haue hadde peace for by their meanes that metynge at AmyeÌ„ce was apoynted howbeit they wolde nat displease the coÌ„mens of Englande The Englysshe men wolde gladlye haue hadde a peace so they myght be restored agayne to al suche landes as was agreed on at the treaty before Charters and that the Frenche men shulde paye fourtene hundred thousande fraÌ„kes whiche was vnpayed whan the warre began to renewe IN this season thus great coÌ„munycacion there was at the cytie of Amyence on treatie of peace and the lordes that were there on bothe parties toke great payne in the cause It myght well be marueyled why this peace toke none effecte for specialy the duke of Burgoyne dyd what he coude for the Frenche partie and the duke of Lancastre for the Englysshe partie Sauyng the charge that he had whiche he durst nat passe Whan these lordes sawe that they coulde come to no good conclusyon than the frenchemen somwhat to apease and to please the englysshmen and the rather therby to fall to some reason it was offred to them to enjoy styll peasably all that euer they were as than in possessyon of in Acquytayne and nyne dyoces to be quite delyuered without any resorte so that Calays myght be beaten downe And also they offred to paye in thre yere after the somme of .xiiii. hundred thousande frankes Than the duke of Lancastre and the englyssh counsayle answered and sayd Syrs we haue taried here a longe season and haue concluded nothyng nor we canne nat conclude tyll we be retourned in to Englande and than we shall shewe all your desyres and offers to the kyng our souerayne lorde and to the thre estates of the realme and of one thinge be you sure that as moch dyligence as I my brother of yorke can do shall be doone to bringe your desyre to passe except the beatyng downe of Calays we dare nat speke therof for if we dyd we shulde ryn in the indygnacyon and hatred of the most parte of all the realme of Englande and yet were we better to speke no worde therof these wordes somwhat contented the french kynge and his couÌ„sayle and desyred them that whan they were returned into England to do their dyligence in the mater they said they wolde do what they coude for the frenche party sayeng howe the warre had endured ouer longe and many yuell inconuenyentes hath ensued therby in the worlde than it was considred bytwene the parties bycause the truce fayled the next mydsomer after bytwene Englande and Fraunce to contynue it lengar the space of an hole yere bothe by lande and by see bytwene them their alyes and adherentes and therto the lordes of Englande were agreed Than the frenche kynges counsayle desyred to sende two french knightes to go with them into Englande and at their retourne to bringe worde what case they shulde fynde the realme of Englande in The duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke were contente therwith It was shewed me and also the apparaunce was great howe that the frenche kynge desyred greatly to haue peace for as than great brute ranne through Fraunce and other places howe that Lamâ—rabaquyn was entred with great puissaunce of turkes in to the realme of Hungry syr Boucyquant thelder marshall of Fraunce brought those newes and syr Iohan of Charon who were newely retourned fro the partyes of Grece and Turkey wherfore the frenche kynge in his youthe had great affectyon to go in voyage and to go and se the sayd Lamorabaquyn and to recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes had wonne fro the kynge Lyon of Armony who was the same tyme at Amyence and he shewed the cause of his comynge thyder to the duke of Lancastre and to the duke of yorke They knewe hym well for they had sene him before in the realme of Englande He was in Englande to treate for the peace whan the frenche kynge was at Sluse And consyderynge the kynge of Armonyes busynesse at the ende of their parlyamente the frenche kynge sayde to the duke of Lancastre Fayre nephewe if peace maye be had bytwene vs and the kynge of Englande we might than make a voyage in to Tukey comfortyng the kynge of Hungry and the emperour of Constantynople whome Lamorabaquyn dothe moche trouble and let vs recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes kepe We here saye that Lamorabaquyn is a valyaunt man and of great enterprise and agaynst suche persones as are contrary to our beleue and daily dothe trouble and greue vs we ought to enclyne our selfe to defende our crysten faythe wherfore fayre nephewe helpe you to prouyde for this voyage in the realme of Englande The duke of Lancastre promysed to do his deuoyre in that behalfe Thus they toke leaue eche of other THis counsayle at Amyence endured a fyftene dayes than the Englysshe men departed and had with them in writyng the coÌ„clusion of their treatie to shewe to the kynge of Englande and his counsayle Than the duchesse of Irelande departed fro AmyeÌ„ce and toke leaue of her father the lorde of Coucy and retourned with the englysshe lordes And fro that tyme that they departed fro Calais tyll they came thyder agayne they spent nothyng without they lyst for the french kynge made euery thynge to be payed bothe for them selfe and for their horses The duke of Burgoyne than retourned into Archoys to the cytie of Arras and there he founde the duchesse his wyfe who had vysited the countrey of Flaunders The duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey and the duke of Butbone taryed with the kynge and the kinge purposed to go to Beamoys to Gysors to sporte hym there in the waye to Parys With the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke certayne knightes of Fraunce wente in to Englande as syr Iohan of Castell Morante sir Taupyns of Cantmell to bringe aunswere agayne out of England and sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Moncaurell and the lorde of the olde towne conueyed them to Calays and than toke their leaue and the englysshe men passed ouer the see to Deuer and there founde the kynge and the duke of Glocestre taryeng for them Whan the kyng sawe them he had great comunynge with them of the sâ—ate of the parlyamente of Amyence The kynge was well content with that his vncles had done but than the duke of Glocestre who was alwayes harde agaynst the treatie of peace sayd howe there coulde no good conclusyon be taken in this treatye tyll the mater were brought to Westmynster to a generall counsayle of all the thre astates of the realme and than to folowe their aduyses and none otherwyse The duke of Glocesters wordes were well herde no manne wolde saye agaynst hym
were in great daunger and also it was sayd that by their counsaile the kyng toke on hym the iourney in to Bretaygne wherby he fell in to that maladye of Fransey and had gyuen hym drinkes of poyson at their pleasure and howe that the kynges phisycions coude nat be herde nor beleued by reason of them Suche maters were layde to the lorde de la Ryuers charge and to sir Iohan Mercyer that they were delyuered out of the Castell of Loure in to the handes of the prouost of Paris and putte in to the castell of saynt Anthony in the kepyng of the Vicount of Achy who as than was Chateleyne there Whan it was knowen that they were there thā the cōmon brute ran that they shulde be executed to dethe But to saye trouthe there was no cause why to trouble them For suche as hated them coude fynde in their conscyence no cause why they ought to dye But euery daye they were borne in hande and it was sayd to theym Sirs thynke on youre soules for as for your bodyes are but loste for ye are iudged to dye and for to be beheeded In this case they were in Prisone a greate space The Begue of Vyllayns a ryght valyaunt knyght in armes of the countrey of Beance who was in prisone also for the same cause He had suche frendes and was so ayded that he was delyuered out of prison and was clene pardoned of all thynges And suche as were of his lynage as sir Barroys other counsayled hym to go in to Castyle where as he had fayre herytages by reason of his wyfe countesse of Ribydewe and as he was counsayled so he dyede And as soone as he might departed out of Fraunce went in to Castyle and the other two knightes remayned styll in prison in daunger of losyng of their lyues ALl the mouable and vnmouable godes and possessions parteyninge to sir Iohan Mercyer within Parys and without in the realme of Fraunce that myght be layde hande on was taken as goodes forfaite and gyuen to other persons his fayre house of the bridge of Aubumen in the dioces of Laon whiche had cost hym a great good was gyuen to the lorde Coucy with all the appurtenaūce I knowe nat wheder the lorde of Coucy desyred it or nat but sir Iohan Mercier was disheryted he and his heyres for euer Also the lorde de la Ryuer was sore handled Trewe it was all his mouables was taken awaye and suche landes as he had bought reseruynge to the lady of Mans his wyfe all her herytages whiche came by her by father mother Also he had a yonge damosell to his doughter of .x. yere or age who was maryed to a yonge gentylman called Iaques of Chastellon sonne to sir Hugh of Chastellon who had ben before maister of the crosbowes of Fraunce and he was heyre to his father and had fayre herytages and was lykely to enioye more howe be it agaynst the yonge mannes mynde he was dismaryed And maryed agayne to another gentylwoman at the pleasure of the duke of Burgoyne and of the lorde de la Tremoyle who toke on them that quarell more ouer the lorde de la Riuer had a sonne to his heyre whiche sonne was maryed to the doughter of the erle Dampmartyne And the erle had no mo children nor was nat lyke to haue whiche doughter was his heyre And the duke wolde haue broken that maryage haue maryed her vnto an heyre of blode But the erle Dampmartyne lyke a valyaunt knight wolde nat but sayd As long as the lorde de la Ryuers sonne hadde lyfe in his body his doughter shulde haue none other husbande and sayde he wolde putte her herytage in to suche mēnes handes that he trusted suche as wolde wrōgfully haue it shulde nat attayne therto Whan the erles mynde was knowen they let hym alone So that maryage stode styll but the fyrst maryage was broken and pope Clement made a dispensacyon wheder he wolde or nat for as at that tyme the pope had no more puissaunce in Fraunce Than suche as the gouernours wolde consente to The churche was so subiecte what by reason of the Scisme and by them that gouerned Fraunce Many men specially in the realme of Fraūce excused greatly the lorde de la Ryuer but all that wolde nat serue For none durst speke thoughe they sawe the mater neuer so clere Except all onely the valyāt lady Iane of Boloyne duchesse of Berrey Oftentymes the good lady wolde fall on her knees before her husbande holdynge vp her handes and sayeng Ah sir ye suffre to moche the enuyous to enforme you so wrongfullye agaynst the valyaunt knight The lorde de la Ryuer he hath clerely wronge there is none that dare speke for hym but I. And sir I wyll ye knowe that if he dye thus I shall neuer haue ioye in this worlde but I shall alwayes contynue styll in sorowe and heuynesse for he is a trewe and a valyant knight Ah sir ye cōsyder but lytell the fayre seruyce that he hath done to you or this tyme the paynes and traueyle that he hath hadde for you and for me to bring vs togyder in maryage I saye it nat for any thyng of bostyng of my selfe for I am but lytell worthe in comparyson to you But whan ye wolde nedes haue me ye remembre howe harde the erle of Foiz was to you with whom I was brought vp And if the swete wordes and wyse demeanour of the lorde de la Ryuer had nat been I had neuer come in to your company but I had ben rather as nowe in Englāde For the duke of Lācastre wolde haue had me for his sonne the erle of Derby and the erle of Foiz enclyned rather that waye thā to you Right dere sir ye ought to remēbre this for all that I say is true Wherfore I requyre you right hūbly that this gentyll knight who brought me to you haue no dōmage of his body nor of his membres The duke of Berrey who sawe his wyfe fayre and gentyll and loued her with all his hert and also knewe well that all she had sayd was true it molifyed greatly his herte towardes the lorde de la Ryuer and to apease his wyfe because he sawe she spake with good herte sayd vnto her Dame as god helpe me I wolde it had cost me .xx. thousāde frankes on the condycion the lorde de la Ryuer had neuer made forfette to the crowne of Fraunce for before this malady came to the kynge I loued hym entierly and tooke hym for a wyse and a sage knyght but sythe ye desyre so effectuously for hym I wyll do no dyspleasure to hym he shall fare moche the better at your instaunce and for your sake I shall do as moche for hym as my power may extende and rather at your desyre than and all the realme had spoken for hym for surely I se well it is almes to helpe hym and I beleue he hath no aduocate but you Thus
hym horses Sir Olyuer of Glysson roode ofter abrode than the duke dyde And it fortuned on a day he encountred two squyers of the dukes the one called Berâ—ard the other yuonet they were taken and brought to sir Olyuer who was gladde of them He knewe them well one of them hadde done hym seruyce in tyme past and the other nat but he had done hym displeasure Than sir Olyuer said to yuonet Remembrest thou nat howe in the Castell of Ermyne thou sheweddest me but small curtesy and thou Bernarde haddest pyte on me and dyddest putte of thy gowne and putte it on me whaÌ„ I stode in my doublet on the pauement the whiche kepte me fro colde I wyll nowe yelde thy curtesy to the thy lyfe shal be saued but thou false knaue and traitour yuo net thou myghtest haue done otherwyse thaÌ„ thou dyddest therfore thou shalte repent it and therwith drewe his dagger and strake hym to the herte Another tyme the lorde Clisson rode with thre hundred speares in his coÌ„pany towarde the castell of Alroy where the duke and duchesse of Bretayne were This was aboute Mydsomer and by fortune he encountred a fourtie of the Dukes seruauntes who hadde tyed their horses to the trees and had sickels in their haÌ„des and were cuttyng downe the corne and makynge trusses to cary to their lodgynges lyke forragers Whan the lorde Olyuer came on them they were sore afrayde and the lorde Oliuer said Sirs howe dare ye come in to the feldes to steale and to take awaye poore meÌ„nes corne ye neuer sowed them and yet ye cutte theym downe or they be type ye begyn haruest to soone Leape on your horses and take youre sickels for this tyme I wyll do you no hurt and saye to the duke of Breraygne who is in Alroy that if he wyll come or sende his men to driue me away here he shall fynde me tyll the sonne goynge downe These poore men were gladde they were so delyuered they feared to haue ben slayne So they retourned to the castell of Alroy to yeâ—â—ke and shewed hym what they hadde herde and sene but the duke nor none of his men issued out of the castell Many scrimysshes were made in Bretaygne bytwene the duke and sir Olyuer of Clysson and they of the countre medled nat bytwene them ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of the duke of Bretayne and of sir Oliuer of Clysson and of their warre and speke of the busynesse bytwene Englande FraÌ„ce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bitwene the Frenche kyng the kyng of Englande by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. YE haue herde here before howe the ê‘liameÌ„t was holden in the cytie of Amyence and howe the Englysshe lordes departed and vpon what artycles howe the Frenche kynge sent after in to Englande to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the answere that they hadde of the Englysshmen who were harde to be brought to any peace For it laye nat all onely in the kyng nor in the dukes of Lancastre and yorke for great parte laye in the commens of Englande and archers and other seruyng men they sayd howe they had rather haue warre than peace many yong knightes squiers were of that same opynion for by reason of the warre they had maynteyned their estates howe be it ê‘force they were fayne to obey as the kyng his vncles wolde The duke of LaÌ„castre bycause his .ii. doughters were quenes the one of Spaygne the of Portugale And also bycause he sawe the kynge his nephue enclyned to haue peace he sayd the warre had endured longe ynoughe and sayde he wolde take payne therin so it myght be for the honour of the kyng and the realme On the other partie the duke of Burgoyne dyde all that he myght do to haue peace consydring howe he was greatly charged with the busynesse of Fraunce And that his two nephues the Frenche kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce were yonge of age and of discrecion Also he consydred howe he was enherytour to the duchy of Brabant and thought that if euer Flaunders and Brabant shulde vary agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce with the ayde of Englande as they had other tymes done before that the realme of Fraunce shulde than haue ouer moche to do the duke of Burgoyne was a wyse and a farre castyng prince and depely regarded his busynesses This duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Lancastre tooke great payne to haue a Parlyament agayn to be holden at BalynghmÌ„ whiche was agreed and bothe partyes suffycyently prouyded with full auctorites to conclude a full peace And this counsayle to be holden at Balyngham in the moneth of May than nexte after in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and .xvii. and all suche as shulde be at this assemble were named and apoynted FIrste on the party of kynge Rycharde kinge of Englande were apoynted his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of Gloucestre who were greatly in fauoure with all the coÌ„mons of England and with all such that loued berter to haue warre than peace and with them shulde be the archebysshop of yorke the bysshop of London and other clerkes of the lawe It was apoynted that these lordes shulde come to Calays as they dyd aboute the myddes of Aprill anone after the feest of saynte George holden at the castell of Wyndesore by the kynge and other knyghtes of the ordre of the garter And on the frenche party there was aisygned the dukes of Bertey and Burgoyne to be there and other counsaylours of FrauÌ„ce and it was ordeyned that they shulde come to the towne of Boloyn and the frenche king who as he shewed had great affection to haue peace bytwene EnglaÌ„de and hym sayde to his vncles that he wolde come as nere to the parlyament as he myght wher vpon it was aduysed where the frenche kinge shulde lye the parlyament durynge at Balyngham Somesayd at saynt Omers and some sayd at Thourayne and some at Mutterell or Abuyle But all thynges consydred it was aduysed that the kynge shulde lye at Abuyle bycause the towne was stronge and well fournysshed and there euery man shulde be well lodged Whan this was determyned drousyon was made there for the kynge and he to be lodged in the abbay of saynt Peters an abbay of blacke monkes and thyder came the kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce and their counsayle and the lorde Reynolde of Corby chauncellour of Fraunce The dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne and suche other as were in their coÌ„myssion were at Boloyne And the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre other were at Calays It was goodly to beholde to se the ordre of this parlyament that was holden at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and englysshmen There were tentes and pauylyons pyght vp to refresshe bothe partyes and twyse or thryse a weke the coÌ„myssioners mette there in a fayre tente ordayned for that purpose aboute nyne of
the clocke in the fore noone and there coÌ„muned vpon many artycles It whiche tyme I Iohan Froysart auctour of this booke was at Abuyle and desyrous to knowe the effecte of this treatie I enquyred the trouth of suche lordes and other as I thought shulde knowe the certayntie Is it was shewed me whan they entred in to comunycasion and had sene eche others auctoryte and perceyued that they had full power to conclude a peace bothe by lande and see bytwene Fraunce and Englande and all their alyes Than one of the firste demaundes that the frenche men desyred was to haue Calays raced downe in suche maner that there shulde be neuer after any habytacion there Therto the dukes of LaÌ„castre and Gloucestre answered and said how they had no suche auctorite to cause Calays to be beaten downe but that Englande shulde holde it in his demayne and trewe herytage And sayd that if they purposed to entre any further in trâ—atye of peace to seace of that demaunde and to speke no more therof Whan the Dukes 〈◊〉 Berrey and Burgoyne herde their two cosyns of Englande answere so quyckly in that 〈◊〉 they seased to speke any more of that matâ—er for they sawe well their traueyle shulde be but in vayne and so than spake of other matters Than the englysshe men demaunded to haue reâ—â—ytucyon of all suche landes as had been delyuered to kynge Rycharde their soueraygne lorde or to kynge Edwarde the thyrde or to any of their deputies or commyssioners and also to haue fully payed the soÌ„me of florayns that was lefte vnpayed at the tyme whan the warre renewed bytwene England and Fraunce and this the englysshe clerkes and lawyers proued reasonable and lawfull to be had The lordes and chauncelours of Fraunce argued to the contrary and sayd as to retourne all the landes agayne to the gouernynge of the kyng of Englande and his successours was impossyble to be done sayenge howe suche landes cyties townes castels lordeshyppes and homages as the Englysshe men demaunded were gyuen awaye whan the peace was concluded at Bretygny and after confermed and sealed at Calays wherby they were clene put a way fro the kyng of Englande whiche peace grauntes was made in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred threscore and one and thervpon the frenche kyng graunted to suche landes great lyberties by his othe writyng and promesse whiche in no wyse canne be broken agayne nor reuoked wherfore they sayd that if the Englysshemen purposed to haue peace they shulde drawe to some nerer poynt Than by delyberacyon of the foure dukes it was deuysed that the frenche men as well as the englysshmen shulde put all their demaundes in writynge the same to be delyuered to eyther partye that they might be regarded at length on bothe partes and suche as were vnreasonable to be rased and cancelled and such as were good to be vpholden this ordynauÌ„ce semed to all parties good and reasonable Before this ordre was taken the sour dukes had to moche busynesse to do specyally the englysshe men had moche payne to here and to vnderstande the frenche men who were full of subtyle wordes and cloked perswacions and double of vnderstandynge the whiche the frenche men wolde rouine as they lyst to their profyte and aduauntage whiche englysshe men vse nat in their langage for their speche and entent is playne And also the englisshmen were enfourmed that the Frenche men had nat alwayes vpholden the artycles promyses and condycyons ratyfied in the artycles of peace yet the frenchmen wold euer fynde one poynte or other in their writynges by some subtyle cloked worde affermynge that the englysshe men had broken the peace and nat they Wherfore whan the englysshe men sawe or herde in the frenche mens writynges any darke or cloked worde they made it to be examyned by suche as were profoundly lerned in the lawe and if they founde it a mysse they caused it to be canselled and amended to the entent they wolde leaue nothynge in trouble And the englysshmen to excuse themselfe wolde say that frenche men letnynge suche subtylties in their youth muste nedes be more subtyle than they Somtyme suche frowarde wordes bytwene the parties greatly draue of the tyme of treatie The frenche men helde them selfe fre and thought they shulde nat be charged with no suche demaundes as to make restytucy on of all the landes with the apendances pertaynyng to the duchy of Acquytayne with the arerages of that hath ben leuyed syth the warre renewed to the whiche they wolde neuer acorde The frenche men offred to rendre the countre of Terbe and of Bygore and the countye of Piergourt and Pyergyns and the countie of Agen and Agenoys but Kaours Rouer gue Ouercy and Lymosyn they wold in no wyse delyuer nor the countie of Ponthyeur nor of the couÌ„tie of Guysnes more than the englyssh men hadde in their handes at the same tyme. Thus these lordes contynued a fyftene dayes and made no conclusyon but these dukes determyned to sende worde to the two kynges to gyue them knowledge what they had done The frenche dukes rode to Abbeuyle and shewed the kynge all the mater and howe they had desyred their cosins of Englande to write the hole treatie to the kynge of Englande and so they sayd they had promysed to do And as I was enfourmed on the englysshe party the duke of Glocestre was harder to entreat than the duke of Lancastre and bycause the commons of Englande knewe somwhat of his entent therfore they agreed that he shulde be sent to this treatye for they knewe well that nothynge shulde passe hym without it were for the honour of the realme Thus these four dukes amyably departed eche fro other and concluded to mete there agayne the nynth day after Thus these englysshe lordes retourned to Calays and the frenche lordes to Boloyne and so to Abuyle That tyme in Abuyle there was a fayre garden closed with the ryuer of Somme whereas often tymes the frenche kynge passed the tyme. He sayd to his brother of Orlyaunce and to his counsayle that his beynge at Abbeuyle dyd hym moche good in his helthe There was there the same seasone with the kynge the kynge Lyon of Armony newly come thyder out of Grece and out of those marches in to his owne couÌ„trey he durst nat entre for the turkes had conquered itâ— except the stronge towne of Conych standynge on the see syde whiche the geno ways helde and kepte for doute of the turkes for if the turkes had gotten that porte they shulde haue doone moche yuell by the see to the cyprians and to the Rodes and other boundes of crystendome The kyng of Armony wolde gladly haue hadde peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce in trust that all yonge knightes and squyers shulde go in to Grece to helpe to conquere agayne his realme of Armony Whan the frenche kynges vncles were come to Abbeuyle the kynge was gladde and made theym good chere and demaunded howe they
had spedde and they shewed hym all the hole processe and vpon what poynte they departed wherof the kynge was gladde for he shewed to be glad to haue peace In lyke maner the englyssh dukes whan they came to Calays they wrote to the kynge of Englande all the poyntes and artycles of that treatye And shortly they had agayne a good aunswere coÌ„maundynge them to procede for a peace sayenge the warre had contynewed longe ynoughe and that crystendome therby was sore doÌ„maged Thus at the daye prefyxed these dukes mette agayne at Balyngham and with the frenche lordes came the kynge of Armony to shewe to the lordes of Englande his busynesse and necessyte He was well knowen with the duke of Gloucestre for he had ben in Englande whan the frenche army was ordeyned at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande The duke of Glocestre the same tyme receyued the kynge of Armony and made hym good chere at a fayre place of his in Esser called Plasshey At Balyngham also the Dukes of Englande made the kynge of Armony good chere and was glad to here hym speke And they aunswered hym that gladly they wolde ayde hym wherof the kynge was ryght ioyfull Many thynges were treated in this parlyament And all this season the cardynall of Line lay at Abbeuyle who was sente thyder in legacyon by hym that called hym selfe pope Clemente for maters concernyng the churche The frenche dukes at this assemble at Balyngham wolde haue had certayne artycles comprised in their treatie concernynge the churche and susteynynge the opynyons of this pope Clemente Robert of Geneue But whan the Englysshe dukes harde that they sayd to their cosyns of Fraunce Cosyns and ye wyll that we shall fall to any poynte of conclusion speke no more of that cardynall we haue nothyng to do with hym his matter is a busynes without profyte or effecte we are determyned vpon a pope to whom we wyll obey we wyll here no spekyng agaynste hym if the other medle any thynge with vs we shall departe and god hence and leaue all togytder After that tyme there was no mo wordes of that cardynall he taried styll at Abbcuyle Than these lordes proceded in their treaties the duke of Lancastre was well enclyned to haue peace The Frenche kynge the yere before hadde sore desyred hym to be a good meane to entreate for a peace and so he promysed to do howbeit his brother the duke of Gloucestre was hard to agree for he layde forthe the frenchemens dysceytes and colored wordes that they vsed alwayes in their writynges sayenge howe the frenche men wolde alwayes wrestell with their armes dyscouered whiche was euer perceyued On a daye there came a squyer of honour a frenche man called Robert the hermyte to the duke of Gloucestre he was one of the frenche kynges priuy chambre whether he was sente to the duke of Glocestre or came on his owne heed I can nat tell but as the duke shewed me in Englande at Plasshey this squyer sayd to him Syr for the loue of god be nat agaynst this treatie of peace for ye se howe the lordes of Fraunce do their dyligence to bringe it aboute ye shall do an almesse dede for the warre hath to longe endured and sythe that bothe kynges are content to haue peace all their subgiettes ought to obey therto Than the duke answered hym as he sayd Roberte I am nat agaynst it nor wyll nat be but ye frenche men amonge you ye haue so many coloured wordes so darke and obscure to our vnderstandynge so that whan ye wyll it is warre and whan ye lyst it is peace thus haue ye ledde vs vnto this presente daye But if the kynge my soueraygne lorde had beleued me and suche other of his realme as are bouÌ„de to serue hym peace shulde neuer haue been bytwene Englande and Fraunce tyll restytucyon had ben made to vs of all that is taken fro vs without cause by subtylte and crafte as god and all the worlde knoweth But sythe the kynge my souerayne lorde enclyneth to the peace it is reasone that we agree to the same and therfore if we make a peace acordyng to the desyres of bothe kynges sythe we be here assembled let it be well holden on your syde for it shall be well kepte on our partye And thus the duke shewed me that this Roberte the Hermyte departed fro hym and went to his company And so these lordes contynewed styll their treatie I Wyll make no further processe but come to conclusyon These foure dukes that were at this assemble and had full power aâ—d auctorite of their kynges to take a treâ—â—ce and to make a peace They dyd so in suche wyse that generall voyce and 〈◊〉 through the towne of Abbeuyle that a peace was taken vpon certayne artycles bytwene the two kynges their alyes and consyderates But I sir Iohan Froyssart auctour of this hystory beynge the same tyme in Abbeâ—â—yle coulde nat lerne the certaynte of the artycles comprised in that peace Howe be it I knewe that a peace was taken to endure four yeres to be kepte ferme and stable bothe by see and by lande And it was concluded and agreed that within the sayde space of the four yere shulde be delyuered to the kynge of Englande for euer and perpetually to all kinges of Englande and to his coÌ„myssioners all the landes and sygnories in the countrey of Languedoâ— and to be as of the demayne and herytage of the crowne of Englande And this doone and accomplysshed it was agreed by the same ordynaunce that certayne capitayns and their men that helde some holdes and fortresses in the Realme of Fraunce shulde aduoyde and departe all suche as made warre and do make any warre vnder the shadowe and coloure of the kyng of Englande and the Englysshe men of what nacyon so euer they were To all these artycles these lordes that were as than at Balyngham were bounde in writynges sygned and sealed and the copyes therof sent to bothe kynges Than the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sent an harauld called Marche with letters to the Kynge of Englande shewynge and declarynge all the hole processe ordynaunce concluded in their treatie vpon the forme of peace Thus this haraulde departed with his letters and rode to Calys and passed ouer to Deuer and rode forthe tyll he came to the kynge who was at a manoure of his owne besyde London Whan he came in the kynges presence he delyuered his letters And whan the Kynge had redde them he was ryght ioyouse and gaue to the haraulde for his good tydynges bryngynge great giftes as the same haraulde shewed me after at leysare as I rode with hym in to the Realme of Englande These foure dukes of Fraunce and of Englande were styll at Balyngham and soiourned there in fayre tentes and pauylyons and well and dylygently perused and examyned the artycles of their treatie and wolde passe nor seale to none tyll all darke and obscure wordes were clerely declared and made
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
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
the firste all abasshed for if I had sene any auncyent knyght that had ben with kyng Edwarde or with the price I had ben well reconforted and wolde haue gone to hym but I coulde se none suche Than̄e I demaunded for a knyght called sir Rycharde Seury whyder he were a lyue or nat and it was shewed me yes but he was at London Than I thought to go to the lorde Thom̄s Percy great seneschall of Englade who was there with the kyng so I acquaynted me with hym and I founde hym right honorable and gracyous And he offred to present me and my letters to the kynge wherof I was right ioyfull for it behoued me to haue some meanes to bringe me to the presence of suche a prince as the Kynge of Englande was He wente to the kynges Chambre at whiche tyme the kynge was gone to slepe and so he shewed me and badde me retourne to my lodgynge and come agayne and so I dyde And whan I came to the bysshoppes palays I founde the lorde Thomas Percy redy to ryde to Ospring And he counsayled me to make as than no knowledge of my beynge there but to folowe the court and sayd he wolde cause me euer to be well lodged tyl the kyng shulde be at the fayre castell of Ledes in Kent I ordered me after his coūsayle and rode before to Ospring by aduēture I was lodged in an house where was lodged a gentyll knyght of Englande called sir Wyllyam Lysle He was taryed there behynde the kynge bycause he had payne in his heed all the nyght before He was one of the kynges preuy chambre And whan he sawe that I was a straunger and as he thought of the marchesse of Fraūce bycause of my langage We fyll in acquayncaunce toguyder for gentylmen of Englande are curcesse treatable and gladde of acquayntaunce Than he demaunded what I was and what busynesse I had to do in those parties I shewed hym a great parte of my cōmynge thyder and all that the lorde Thomas Percy hadde sayd to me and ordred me to do He than answered and sayde howe I coulde nat haue a better meane and that on the Friday the kyng shulde be at the castell of Ledes And he shewed me that whan I came there I shuld fynde there the duke of yorke the kynges vncle wherof I was ryght gladde bycause I had letters dyrected to hym and also that in his youthe he hadde sene me in the courte of the noble kyng Edwarde his father and with the quene his mother Than on the Friday in the mornyng sir Wylliam Lysle and I rode toguyder and on the waye I demaunded of hym if he had been with the kynge in the voyage in to Irelande He answered me yes Than I demaunded of hym the maner of the Hole that is in Irelande called saynt Patrykes purgatorie if it were trewe that was sayde of it or nat Than he sayde that of a suretie suche a hole there was and that he hym selfe and another knyght of Englande hadde ben there whyle the kynge laye at Duuelyn and sayd howe they entred in to the hoole were closed in at the sonne goynge downe and abode there all nyght and the nexte mornyng issued out agayne at the son risyng Than I demaūded it he had any suche strāge sightes or vysions as was spoken of Than he sayd howe that whan he his felowe were entred and past the gate that was called the purgatorie of saynt Patryke and that they were discended and gone downe thre or four paces discendyng downe as in to a cellar a certayne hoote wapure rose agaynst them and strake so in to their heedes that they were fayne to syt downe on the steres whiche are of stone And after they had sytte there a season they had great desyre to slepe and so fell a slepe and slepte there all nyght Than I demaūded that if in their slepe they knewe where they were or what visyons they had he answered me that in slepyng they entred in to great ymaginacyōs and in marueylous dremes otherwyse than they were wont to haue in their Chambres and in the mornynge they issued out and within a shorte season clene forgate their dreures visyons wherfore he sayde he thought all that mater was but a fantasy Than I lefte spekyng any further of that matter bycause I wolde fayne haue knowen of hym what was done in the voyage in Irelande And I thought as thā to haue demaūded what the kyng had done in that iourney but than company of other knyghtes came and fell in communycacion with hym so that I lefte my purpose for that tyme. Thus we robe to Ledes and thyder came the kyng and all his cōpany and there I founde the lorde Edmonde duke of yorke Than I went to hym and delyuered my letters fro the erle of Heynaulte his cosyn and fro the erle of Ostrenaunt The duke knewe me well and made me good chere and sayde Sir Iohan holde you alwayes nere to vs and we shall shewe you loue and courtesy we are boūde therto for the loue of tyme past and for loue of my lady the olde Quene my mother in whose courte ye were we haue good remembraunce therof Than I thanked hym as reason requyred So I was aduaunsed by reason of hym and sir Thomas Percy and sir William Lysle By their meanes I was brought in to the kynges chambre and in to his presence by meanes of his vncle the duke of yorke Than I delyuered my letters to the kyng and he toke and reed thē at good leysar Than he sayd to me that I was welcome as he that hadde ben and is of the Englysshe courte As on that daye I shewed nat the kynge the boke that I hadde brought for hym he was so sore occupyed with great affayres that I had as than no leysar to present my boke The kyng was sore busyed there in counsayle for two great mightye maters First was in determynynge to sende sufficient messangers as therle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne and the erle Marshall the archbysshoppe of Dublyn the bysshoppe of Ely the lorde Loys Clyssorde the lorde Henry Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spensar and many other ouer the See to Charles the Frenche kynge to treate with hym for a maryage to be hadde bytwene the kyng of Englande and the Frenche kynges eldest doughter named Isabell of the age of eyght yeres The secōde cause was the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Taryde the lorde of Pyntherne the lorde of Newcastell the lorde of Nesque the lorde of Copane and the counsaylours of Burdeux Bayon and of Daxe were come in to Englande and had quickely pursued their mater sythe the kynges retourne out of Irelande to haue an answere of the requestes and processe that they had put forthe to the kyng on the gyfte that the kynge had gyuen to his vncle the duke of Lācastre of the landes seignories lordshippes and baronyes in Acquytayne whiche they verifyed
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ„ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâ—sayle of those two great matters the kynge had sente for the moost parte of the prelates and lordes of Englande to be at the feest of Maudelyntyde at a manner of the kynges called Eltham a seuyn Englysshe myles fro London And whan they had taryed at Ledes a four dayes the kyng retourned to Rochester and so to Elthame so I rode forthe in the kynges company ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquytayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sent in to Englande to the kynge and his counsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Acquytayne Cap. CC.i. IN rydynge the waye bytwene Leades and Eltham I demaunded of syr Willyam Lysle and of syr IohnÌ„ of Graily capitayne of Bouteuyll the cause why the king drewe to London warde and why that great counsayle shulde assemble at Eltham They tolde me and specially syr Iohan Graily rehersed to me playnly why the lordes of Gascon were come thyder and the counsaylours of the good townes and cyties thus I was enfourmed by this knight who knewe the trouth for he was often tymes amonge theym they and he were in a maner all of one countrey and fronter he sayde thus Surely whan the Duke of Lancastre came fyrst in to Acquytayne suffycyently fournysshed with charters and wrytinges engrosed and sealed with the great seale of Englande and enrolled and fermely decreed with full accorde of all prelates and lordes of Englande and also by consente of the duke Edmonde of yorke and Erle of Cambridge and of Thomas duke of Gloucestre though the sayd herytages might by succession haue come to them for Kynge Rycharde of Englande their nephue had as than no chyldren and these sayd two dukes were brethern germayns of father and mother to the duke of Lancastre whiche duke anone after he was come in to Acquytayne sente some of his counsayle to the cytie of Burdeaux to shewe to the Mayre counsaylours of the towne the fourme and tenoure of his request and for what cause he was come in to the countrey Whan they herde this they greatly marueyled howe be it they ioyfully receyued the kynges and dukes coÌ„myssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌ„sayle and so they dyd Than after they aunswered and said that the duke of Lancastre sonne to kynge Edwarde who had ben their lorde was welcome amoÌ„ge them and none otherwyse for they sayde they had nat so farre forthe taken counsayle as to receyue hym to their souerayne lorde for they sayd that to kyng Rycharde their soueraygne lorde they had done feaultie and homage and as than he had made them no quytaÌ„ce Than aunswered the coÌ„myssioners and sayd Syrs feare nat but that ye shall haue suffycient dyscharge in that behalfe so ye take the duke to your souerayne lorde for ye shall se by the content of the kinges charters that there shall neuer questyon be made therof in tyme to come WhanÌ„e they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌ„myssion extendeth nat all onely vpon vs but in lykewyse to them of the cytie of Bayon and to the prelates and barones of Gascoyne and to all that be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande ye shall drawe you towardes them and as they do and ordre theÌ„ we shall folowe the same Other aunswere the coÌ„myssioners coulde nat haue at that tyme of them of Burdeauâ— Than they departed and rode to Lyborne where the duke of Lancastre laye WHan the duke herde their aunswers he imagyned in hymselfe that the â—â—synesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌ„sayle to the cytie of Bayon and as they sped in Burdeaux so they dyd there other answere coude they haue none And fynally all the prelates and noble men counsaylours of cytes good townes in Gascoyne vnder the obeysaunce of the kyng of Englande conioyned them togyder and concluded in the forme and manner as I shall shewe you They sayde they wolde gladly receyue the duke of Lancastre in to their cytâ—es townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de so that at his entringes he shulde solemply swere that pesably and in good maner he and his shulde entreat the people with out enforsynge of any thynge and to pay reasonably for euery thynge that they shulde dispende and also to swere that he shulde nat oppresse nor cause to be oppressed the iurysdictyon of the Crowne of Englande by no maner of waye nor accyon The duke aunswered to this and sayd that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people but wolde rather kepe and defende them agaynst all men as his herytage and desyred and requyred theym that the coÌ„maundement of the kynge of Englande myght be obserued and acomplisshed Than the hole countrey by a comune voyce sayd that in no wyse they wolde departe fro the crowne of Englande and that it was nat in the kynge of Englandes power to gyue them away to another lorde nor to put them fro the crowne of Englande These demaundes and denyenges were longe a debatyng bytwene the duke of Lancastre and the lordes and townes of Gascon And whan the duke sawe none other remedy than he made request to the countrey that the prelates and noble men and couÌ„saylours of the good townes shulde sende suffycient personages to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle and howe he wolde sende in lykewyse notable persones of his counsayle and loke what so euer the kyng and his counsayle shulde determyne in that cause he promysed surely to abyde ther by whether it were with hym or agaynst him Than they of Gascon consydred well that his request was reasonable and agreed to do as the duke had desyred Than the duke rode to Burdeaur and was lodged in the abbey of saint Andrewes where he had ben lodged before tyme. Than they of the cytie of Bayon and Dar apoynted suffycient personages to sende in to Englande and the barons of Gascon vnder the kinges obeysaunce sent in lyke wyse Also ye shall knowe that whan the frenche kyng and his vncles vnderstode that the duke of Laucastre was peasably entred in to the cytie of Burdeaux and knewe nat for what entent nor whether he wolde kepe or breake the trewce Than he and his counsayle
determyned to sende to hym to knowe somwhat of his entent There was apoynted to go the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce the lorde Iohan of castell Morante and Iohan Barres of Barroys and they to haue with them a thousande speares Thus they rode forth tyll they came to the cytie of Agen and there taryed Than they sent harauldes and messnagers to Burdeaux to the duke of Lancastre shewynge hym howe they wolde gladly speke with hym The duke made these messangers good chere and wrote agayne to these lordes certifyeng them that where as they had great desyre to speke with hym in lykewyse he had the same to speke with them and bycause they shulde take the lesse payne he promysed to come and mete with them at Bergerate And whan the frenche lordes sawe this letter they gaue credence therto and ordred them there after and as sone as they knewe that the duke was come to Bergerate they departed fro Agen and rode thyder There they were receyued and lodged in the towne and their company in the subbarbes These lordes spake with the Duke and shewed hym their message The duke receyued them swetely and aunswered and sayd howe he wolde be a good a kynde neyghbour to the frenche kyng and the realme and to kepe and mayntayne the trewce taken bytwene the two kynges for he sayde he hym selfe was one of the princypalles that ayded to make and ordayn that truce wherfore he sayd he ought nat nor wold nat breke it therof they myght be well assured The dukes aunswere pleased greatly the lordes of Fraunce Thus the duke and they were louingly togyder and the duke gaue them a great dyner and supper and after they tooke their leaue and the duke retourned to Burdeaux and the frenche men in to Fraunce They founde in their waye the duke of Berrey at the cytie of Poyeters and they shewed hym what they had doone The duke of Berrey thought the duke of Lancasters answere reasonable and so dyd the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and so the mater abode styll in this estate And for this cause quod sir Iohan Graily the duke of Lancastre hath sent hyther in to Englande of his counsayle as syr Wylliam Peâ—reer and syr Peter Clyfton and two clerkes lerned in the lawe as mayster Iohan Huche and mayster Iohan Rychard of Leycettour to treate and to pleate his maters before the kynge and his vncles and for this cause the kynge rydeth to Eltham and shall be there on thursday nexte that shall be Mary maudelyn daye but what shal be done as yet I knowe nat But as I am enfourmed of some englysshe men that knowe somwhat the duke of Gloucestre wyll be princypally of the opynion that his brother the duke of Lancastre shulde abyde styll in Guyen rather than to retourue agayne in to Englande bycause he was so great with the kynge for I ensure you this duke of Gloucestre is a maruaylous mynded man proude and presumptuous he wolde rule all hym selfe and he is so beloued of the comynalte that what so euer he saythe they wyll enclyne to him He caused the valyaunte knyght the lorde Symon Burle and the duke of Irelande the archebysshoppe of yorke and many other knyghtes and other of the kynges counsayle to dye for hatred and yuell wyll durynge the seasone that the duke of Lancastre was beyonde the see in Castyle He is more dred in Englande than beloued NOwe lette this mater passe quod syr IohnÌ„ Graily and I shall shewe you nowe the seconde busynesse that the kynge hathe to do as I am enfourmed The kynges pleasure is to be remaryed and hath sertched ouer all for a wyfe if the duke of Burgoyne or the erle of Haynalte had any doughter to mary the kynge wolde gladly haue had one of them but they haue none but suche as be maryed It hath ben shewed the kyng that the kynge of Nauarre hath bothe suffers and doughters but he wyll nat entende that wayes The duke of Gloucestre hath a doughter able to mary he wolde gladly that the kyng shulde haue had her but the kynge wolde nat for he said she was to nere of his kynne for she is his cosyn germayne The kynge enclyneth moste his mynde to the Frenche kynges doughter wherof all the countrey hath great marueyle that he wolde take his enemyes doughter the kynge is nat the beste beloued Prince of the worlde with his people but he setteth lytell therby he sheweth always how he had rather haue warre with any other realme than with FrauÌ„ce wherfore he wolde haue a good peace bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and their realmes for the kynge wyll often tymes saye that the warre hath endured to longe bytwene them and that many valyaunt men are deed therby on bothe parties wherby the christen faythe is sore mynysshed and febled And it is nat pleasaunt to the realme of Englande that he shulde mary with Fraunce and it hath ben shewed hym that the doughter of Fraunce is ouer yonge and that this fyue or syxe yere she shall nat be able to kepe hym company Therto he hath aunswered and saythe that she shall growe ryght well in age and though he faste a season he shall take it well a worth and shall ordre her in the meane season at his pleasure and after the maner of Englande sayenge also howe he is yet yonge ynough to abyde tyll the lady be of age No man canne breke the kynge out of this purpose and or ye departe ye shall here moche of this matter And thus for these causes the kynge rydeth nowe to Eltham THus this gentle knyght syr Iohan of Graily and I deuysed togyther as we rode bytwene Rochestre and Dertforde this knight was capytayn of Bouteuyle bastarde sonne somtyme to the Captall of Beusz and I herde his wordes gladly and dyd put them in memory And all the way bytwene Leades and Eltham I rode most parte in his company and with syr Wylliam Lysle Thus the kynge came to Eltham on a tuesday and on the wednysday the lordes of all costes began to assemble Thyder came the duke of Gloucestre and the erles of Derby Arundell Northumberlande Kent Rutlande and the erle Marshall and the archebysshoppes of Caunterbury and yorke and the bysshoppes of London and Wynchester And on the thursday aboute the houre of thre they assembled togyther in the kynges chambre in the kynges presence Than the knyghtes of Gascoyne were sent for and the couÌ„saylours of the good townes And also the Duke of Lancastres counsayle was sent for I was nat preseÌ„t nor might nat be suffred there were none but the lordes of the counsayle who debated the mater more than four houres And after dyner I fell in acquayntauÌ„ce with an auncyent knyght whome I knewe in kynge Edwardes dayes and he was as than of kynge Rychardes priuy counsayle he was called syr Rycharde Sury he knewe me anone and yet in .xxiiii. yeres he had nat sene me before whiche was
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
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
kynges opynyon to haue peace were at Balyngham in the treatie holden there the kynge sayd to Robert Our counsayle as nowe is nat here they be at Balyngham ye shall abyde here with me and whan they be retourned I shall speke with myne vncle of Burgoyne and with our chauncelloure and than we shall do in this mater as they shall aduyse me syr quod this Robert as god wyll so be it THe same weke the Frenche kynges counsayle returned fro Balyngham to Abbeuyle and brought with them the artycles of the maner of the peace whiche the englysshe men had deuysed and the maters were so weyghty that the treatie was put ouer tyll another daye vnto suche tyme as bothe kynges were aduertysed of eche others demaundes and their pleasures therin to be knowen Than on the frenche partie the frenche kynge drewe a parte his vncle of Burgoyne and the chauncellour and shewed them what enfourmacyon Robert the Hermyt had made vnto him and the kynge demaunded of them if it were a thynge lysytte and lawfull to beleue They studyed a lytell and at last sayde Syr we requyre youre grace lette vs se this hermyte and here hym speke and thervpon we wyll take aduyse Than he was sent for Whan he came before the kynge he made his reuerence Thanne the kynge sayd Roberte shewe vs here at length all the hole mater as ye enfourmed me before Sir quod he gladly Than as he that was nothynge abasshed rehersed all the hole mater as ye haue herde before Whan he had doone he departed Than the kynge asked of his vncle what was best to be done Syr quod he the chauncellour and I shall take aduyse agaynst to morowe Well quod the kynge so be it Than the duke and the chauncellour counsayled togyther on this mater They sawe well the kynge greatly enclyned to this Robertes wordes therfore they thought it good to aduyse the kynge to ioyne this Robert in coÌ„myssion with them to go agayne to Balyngham to the treatie of peace for they thought his langage so fayre and so swete that he shulde styrre the hartes of them that shulde here hym speke to haue peace and to shewe the deuyne vysion that he had to the lordes of Englande This they thought lawfull ynough to be done and the nexte day they shewed this to the king And than after whan the duke and the chauncellour wente agayne to Balyngham they had this Roberte with them And whan all the lordes frenche and englysshe were assembled togyder in counsayle than this Robert came before them and there well and wisely he declared all the vysion that he hadde on the see and affermed that it was inspyracyon deuyne sente by god bycause he wolde it shulde be so Some of the lordes of Englande toke good hede to this mater and enclyned therto as the duke of Lancastre the erle of Salysbury the lorde Thomas Percy and other the bysshops of Lyncolne and London but the duke of Gloucestre and the erle of Arundell toke no hede nor set nothynge therby Whan they were in their lodgynges they sayd they were but fantasies and wordes fayned by the frenchmen to abuse them all howe be it they determyned to write to kynge Rycharde the maner and sayenge of this Robert the Hermyte and thervpon sent a knyght called Rycharde Credon to kynge Rychardeê who he founde in Kent at the castell of Leades and delyuered him letters sent fro his ambassadours in the marches of Calays wherin was conteyned the hole sayenge of this Robert The kynge tooke great pleasure in these letters and sayd howe he wolde gladly speke with this Robert the hermyte he beleued this vysion to be of trouthe Than the kyng wrote agayne to the duke of Lancastre and to the erle of Salysbury that if it myght be by any meanes that a good peace myght be taken bytwene hym and the frenche kynge their realmes and alyes for he sayde surely he thought that the warre had ouerlonge endured and that it was tyme to haue peace And ye haue herd here before howe the treaters bare them and how the lordes departed one fro another and howe the treuce was taken to endure for foure yere This was the entent of the lordes of the englyssh party except the duke of Gloucestre for he thought whan so euer he came in to Englande neuer to agree to any peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande He dyssimuled as moche as he might to th entent to please the king and his brother of Lancastre Thus by this meanes Roberte le Hermyte came to knowledge ANd as ye haue herde here before how the erle of Rutlande therle Marshall the archebysshop of Dunelyn the lorde Hugh Spenser the lorde Lewes Clyfforde and other had been sent in to Fraunce to treate for kynge Rychardes maryage and were retourned agayne in to Englande and brought the kynge good tydynges so that the kynge was well pleased as ye haue herde before Than Mychelmas came and the generall couÌ„sayle began suche as englysshe men call the terme wherin all maters be debated and at the begynnynge of the sayd terme the duke of Lancastre returned out of Gascon in to Englande and had nat ben receyued there as he thought he shulde haue been as ye haue herde before So whan the duke of Lancastre was retourned the kyng made hym good chere Tydinges anone came in to Fraunce howe the duke of Lancastre was retourned in to Englande than the frenche kynge and his counsayle determyned to sende Robert the Hermyte into Englande with letters to the kynge who desyred to se hym and that the erle of saynt Poll shulde acquaynte hym with the kyng and with the lordes that they myght here hym speake of the busynesse of Surey and Tartary and of the greate Turke and Turkey where he had ben longe for it was thought that the lordes of Englande wolde gladly here speakyng of suche maters Than this Robert the Hermyte was warned to make hym redy to go in to Englande in coÌ„myssion wherof he greatly reioysed bycause he had neuer been there before So he had letters delyuered hym dyrected to the kyng of Englande and to his vncles Thus Robert departed fro Parys with seuen horses at the cost and charge of the frenche kynge and rode tyll he came to Boloyne and there tooke the see and aryued at Douer and spedde so in his iourneys that he came to Eltham and founde the kynge there and the Duke of Lancastre the erles of Salysbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Thomas Percy and for the honour of the frenche kynge he was well receyued and specyally of the kynge who desyred greatly to se hym Than he delyuered his letters of credence whiche were redde ouer by the kynge and the other lordes The duke of Gloucestre was nat theâ— he was in Essex at a Castell of his called Plasshey Whan this Robert had been with the kynge and with the duke of Lancastre at Eltham a fyue daies he departed thens to gose the
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—
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌ„ger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌ„t and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌ„ded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ„ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌ„ce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌ„maunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌ„te de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌ„maunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌ„mauÌ„ded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌ„tly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâ—e bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ— and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ— come thyder and howe they had got grauÌ„t of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌ„ce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌ„e I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
of Napoles agaynst syr Peter of Craone Cap. CC.ix. THe same seasone that the Englysshe men were at Paris quene Iane duches of Aniowe who wrote her selfe quene of Napoles and of Iherusalem was at Parys and pursued dylygently her busynesse She was a lady of great corage she pleted in parlyament for two causes The fyrst was for the herytage of the countie of Roussey agaynst the Erle of Brayne for Loys the duke of Aniou her lorde husbande had bought it and payed for it to a lady that was couÌ„tesse of Roussey somtyme wyfe to the lorde Loys of Namure but afterwarde she was deuorsed fro hym for a reasonable cause as it was sayde The seconde sute this quene had was agaynst syr Peter of Craon she demaunded of hym the soÌ„me of a hundred thousande frankes whiche she was redy to proue that he had receyued it in the name of his lord and mayster Loys kyng of Napoles Cysyll and Iherusalem her husbande whiche money was delyuered hym to haue payed in to Powell and or it was payed he herde howe his sayd mayster my husbande was deed Than he iourneyed no further but returned agayne in to Fraunce and kept styll the sayd soÌ„me of money to his owne profyte and neuer made acompte to the sayde quene therof nor to her chyldren Loys and Charles but spente and wasted the money in pride and bobbans The quene layde to his charge that for faute of payment of the sayd money the realme of Napoles was loste and conquered by Margarete of Duras and by the heyres of the lorde Charles de la Paix by reason that suche soudyours as her husbande had to mayntayne his warres in Puell Calabre were nat payed their wages wherby many tourned to the Erle of saynt Seuyre and to Margarete of Duras and other departed and lefte the warres All these causes were put in to the Parlyament chambre at Parys where all causes were preposed shewed and demaunded and all the defences and aunsweres herde on all partyes Their plee had endured the space of thre yeres And though syr Peter of Craon were absent fro the parlyament yet his aduocates defended his cause and sayd though he had recyued the sayd soÌ„me in the name of his lorde and mayster yet his mayster was as moche bounde to him as that soÌ„me came to and more for the good seruyce that he had done to him This plee had endured so longe that it was necessary to haue a conclusyon and the lady made importunate sewte to haue iudgement The lordes of the parlyament consydred all thynges and sayd they wolde gyue no iudgement without both parties were present and syr Peter of Craon durste nat well apere in Parys bycause of the Kynges dyspleasure and the duke of Orlyance for the offence that he had doone to syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce and without he were present they wolde gyue no sentence defynityue wher vpon the sayd lady pursewed to set hym clere in Fraunce and by her meanes he was pardoned so that he myght ryde and go where he lyst without any daunger except the sute that was bytwene her and hym for the sayd soÌ„me of money So he was clerely dyscharged of all other charges and lordes ladyes made hym good chere I wote nat whether it were by dissymulacyon or otherwyse thus he was agayne at Parys holdynge as great estate as euer he dyd The same tyme he was apoynted to be one of theym to receyue and bringe the englysshe ambassadours to the kynge for he was a knyght that hadde sene moche and knewe moche honoure Than the daye was prefyxed that the iudgement concernynge the quenes maters shulde be determyned at whiche day there were present in the parlyament great nombre of the lordes of Fraunce to the entent that the maters shulde be the more autentyke There was the quene of Cicyll and Iherusalem and her sonne Charles prince of Thaurent and Iohan of Bloys called Iohan of Bretaygne erle of Ponthyeure and of Lymogynes and the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey Burgoyne and Burhone and the erle of Brayne and the bysshoppe of Laon. And before theym the lady was herde to laye her tytell for the countie of Roussey And on the other parte there was syr Peter of Craon and many of his lygnage Fyrste iudgement was gyuen for the countye of Roussey and that was the herytage was remyssed and iudged in to the handes and possessyon of the erle of Brayne and to the heyres that shulde dyscende of the ryght braunche of Roussey reserued that the quene shulde haue agayne repayed to her all the money that kynge Loys her husbande hadde payed to the countesse of Roussey laste deed Of this iudgement the enherytours of the countie of Roussey to whom the herytage pertayned thanked greatly the lordes of the parliament Than suche as were ordayned to gyue the seconde sentence arose vp and sayde howe that by the sentence of the parlyament sir Peter of Craon ought to pay to the quene of Napoles duchesse of Aniowe the somme of a hundred thousande frankes in redy money or els his body to go to prysone tyll she were contented and satysfyed Of this iudgement the sayde lady thanked the lordes of the parlyamentâ— and in contynent at the coÌ„playnte of the lady handes was layde on him by the kynges commaundement and so was ledde to the castell of Loure and there surely kepte So the lordes departed fro the parlyament Thus these two iudgementes were gyuen by the princypall occasyon of this lady duchesse of Aniou ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage â—aken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande Isabell eldest doughter to the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. THe ambassadours of Englande were with the frenche kynge at Parys a xxii dayes and they had as good chere as coulde be deuysed and their maters tooke suche effecte that it was agreed that the kyng of Englande shuld haue in maryage Isabell the eldest doughter of kynge Charles and by vertue of procuracyon the erle Marshall fyaunced and espoused her in the name of the kinge of Englande and so she was called fro thens forthe quene of Englande And as I was enfourmed it was a goddly syght to se her behauour for all that she was but yonge ryght plesauntly she bare the porte of a quene â–ª Than all this mater concluded the englysshe men tooke their leaue of the frenche kynge and of the quene and of their doughter quene of Englande and of all other lordes and so departed fro Parys and retourned to Calays and so in to Englande The Kynge and other of his opynyon were glad of their retourne But who so euer was gladde of that maryage the duke of Gloucestre vncle to the kynge made no ioye there of for he sawe well that by reasone of that maryage and alyaunce peace shulde be bytwene the kinges and their realmes whiche greued hym without it shulde be greatly to the honour of the
that they shall haue ynoughe to do TO coÌ„sydre these wordes one ought greatly to marueyle that the Lorde Galeas erle of Vertues and Duke of Myllayne who was reputed to be a christen man baptysed and regenerate after the Christen Lawe wolde seke or requyre loue or alyaunce with a kynge myscreant out of our lawe and faythe or to sende hym gyftes and presentes as he dyde euery yere As dogges haukes and fyne lynen clothes whiche are ryght plesaunt to the Sarazins for they haue none but that cometh fro our parties Also the great Turke sent to hym agayne other presentes of ryche clothe of golde and precyous stones wherof the Sarazins haue great plentie But in those dayes the erle of Vertues duke of Myllayne and sir Galeas his father reygned as tyrantes and so helde their signories It is marueyle to thynke of their dedes and fyrste howe they entred and opteygned the signorie of Myllayne So it was there were thre bretherne the lorde Manfres the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo They hadde an vncle who was archebysshoppe of Myllayne And so it fortuned that whan the lorde Charles of Lusenbourge kyng of Boesme and of Almayne emperour of Rome who reigned after kyng Loyes of Bauyer who opteygned to the Empyre byforce for he was neuer taken as Emperour by the churche but excoÌ„munycate and a cursed by pope Innocent who reygned as thanÌ„e For this Loyes of Bauyer went to Rome and made hymselfe to be crowned emperour by a pope and .xii. cardynalles that he made And as soone as he was crowned he made the Almayns to be payed their wages to ouer ryn Rome and to robbe and to pyll it this was the rewarde that the romayns had for receyuyng of hym wherfore he dyed excoÌ„municat and in that sentence The pope and cardynalles that he made without any constreynâ— came after to Auignon and submytted them selfes to pope Innocent who reigned before Vrbayne the fyfthe and there were assoyled of their errours ¶ Nowe to purpose howe the lordes of Myllayne came fyrst to that signorie I shall shewe you howe SO it was the archebysshoppe of Myllayne at a tyme receyued kynge Charles of Boesme emperour in to the cytie of Myllayne nobly and tryumphantlye after the Emperour had been before Axe the Chapell and had accomplysshed there his .xl. dayes accordyng to the vsage in the case parteyning and for the great chere that he made to the Emperour and for a hundred thousande ducates that he lent to the Emperour He made the bysshop vycouÌ„t of Myllayne and his nephewes after hym for euer to holde the lande and signorie of Mylayne free at his wyll vnto the tyme that the Emperour hadde payde agayne at one tyme the sayd soÌ„me of a hundred thousande ducates And so after the bysshoppe dyed and the lorde Manfres his nephue by the accorde of the Emperour and for loue of his vncle was receyued in to the signorie of Myllayne than his two bretherne who as than were nat very riche the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo counsayled toguyder determyned to reigne and to holde the landes of LoÌ„bardy bytwene theÌ„ and to coÌ„ioyne theÌ„ by mariage to some great lordes to maynteyne their estates and to cause men to feare their displeasures And so they caused their brother MaÌ„frese to be slayne by venyme or otherwyse after whose dethe they reygned puissauntly byforce and polycy All their dayes they lyued in good accorde toguyder and departed the cyties of Lombardy bytwene them The lorde Galeas hadde tenne bycause he was the eldest and the lorde Bernabo nyne And the cytie of Myllayne was gouerned one yere by the one brother and another yere by the other brother And to the entent to reigne puissauntly they sought the wayes to gader great rychesse by raysinge vp in possyons subsydies and gabelles and many other yuell customes wherby they gadered great store of golde and syluer and they caused their townes and cyties to be kepte with soudyours straungers as Almaygnes FreÌ„che men Bretons Englysshmen and of all other nacyons excepte their owne countrey men for they hadde no trust nor affiaunce in them for feare of rebellyon agaynst theÌ„ and these soudyours were payed fro moneth to moneth wherby they were so douted and fered of the people that none durste displease them For if any dyd ryse or dyde any thyng agaynst them there was cruell vengeaunce taken vpon them They distroyed many a one in their dayes to gyue ensaÌ„ple to other IN all their signories no man hadde any thynge but atte their pleasure They wolde tayle a ryche man thre or foure tymes in a yere They sayd that loÌ„bardes were ouer proude and presuÌ„ptuous in their richesse wherfore it was behouable to kepe them vnder subiection no man durst saye nay to any thyng that they coÌ„maunded These two bretherne maryed them hyghlye and bought their wyues with the goodê and substaunce of their people The lorde Galeas hadde to wyfe the suster of the good erle of Sauoye named Blaunche payde to the erle for her a hundred thousande ducates The lorde Barnabo maryed hym in Almaygne to the suster of the duke of Bresnyche and payde no lesse money than his brother dyd These two bretherne hadde many chyldren and maryed them highly and richelye to atteyne therby great alyaunces The lorde Galeas had a sone called Galleas and as than the father vnderstode that whaÌ„ kynge Iohan of Fraunce was come out of Englande and put to rauÌ„some to .xxx. C. thousand frankes and they of Fraunce wyst nat howe to reyse the fyrste payment ThanÌ„e he treated with the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle to haue one of his doughters for Galeas his sonne The kynge and his couÌ„sayle entended to this treatie bycause they knewe well this lorde Galeas was grounded in richesse and thus he bought the kyngê doughter for sixe hundred thousande frankes whiche were tourned in payment to the Kynge of Englande And so his sonne maryed kynge Iohans doughter and to hym was gyuen the countie and erldome of Vertues in Champaygne Of that sonne and doughter issued a doughter whiche byforce of golde and syluer was maryed to the seconde sonne of kynge Charles of Fraunce called Loyes duke of Orlyaunce erle of Bloyes and Valoyes The maryage cost the erle of Vertus father to the sayde lady tenne hundred thousaunde frankes And the countie of Bloyes was bought of the erle Guye of Bloyes as it hath ben conteyned here before in this hystorie Thus these lordes Galeas and Barnabo acorded right well toguyder all their lyue dayes they neuer varyed nor their people toguyder therfore they reigned in great puissaunce No man coude haue reason nor right of them Pope cardynalles nor other that made any warre agaynst them sauyng alonely the marques of MouÌ„tferant that was by the meanes of the lorde Iohan Hacon and the Englysshe men with the routes of the companyons whiche Iohan Hacon brought them out of Prouynce in to Lombardy and made there great warre
he was in wyl to do dedes of armes and that the turkes were on the felde haue gyuen knowlege before he assayled his enemyes to his hed capitayne the lorde Iohan of Burgoyne that he myght haue had the renome and honour of that enterprise Besemynge the erle of Ewe spake those wordes by enuy that he had to the lorde of Coucy for all that voyage he had no loue to him bycause he sawe howe the lorde of Coucy had the loue fauour of all his company and of other straūgers whiche he deserued ryght well to haue for he was ryght nere of the frenche Kynges blode and bare in his armes floure de lyces and also he was cōstable of Fraunce Thus there engendred a great hate and yuell wyll couertly bytwene the erle of Ewe and the lorde Coucy whiche hatred at last apered clerely wherby great myschefe fell the same seasone vpon the crysten men as ye shall here after ¶ Nowe we we shall leaue to speke any more at this tyme of this mater and retourne to speke of the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the peace bytwen Englande and Fraūce contynued and of the maryage of the kynge of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii YE haue herde here before of the mariage of the french kynges doughter with the kynge of England the whiche tyme aproched nere and bothe parties well wyllynge excepte duke Thomas of Gloucestre he was nothynge ioyfull therof for he sawe well that by that maryage there shulde be great confyderacyons and alyaunces bytwene the two kynges and their Realmes to lyue in peace whiche he was lothe to se for he desyred rather to haue warre The same season the duke had aboute hym a knyght called syr Iohan Baquegay a secrete man and he set alwayes the duke to haue warre The same seasone also the duke of Guerles came in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles and offred hym selfe to do any lawfull seruyce to the kynge that he myght do he was bounde therto by faythe and homage and he wolde gladly that the kynge shulde haue had watre rather than peace This duke and the duke of Lancastre had great cōmunycacyon togyder of the voyage that the erle of Haynalt and the erle of Ostenaunt his sonne wolde make in to Frese The same tyme Fyerebrase of Vertayne was in Englande sente thyder fro the erle of Ostrenant to gette men of armes and archers to go in that voyage to Frese The erle of Derby was desyred to go in that voyage in aydinge of his cosyns of Heynalt The gentle erle hadde therto good affectyon and sayde howe he wolde ryght gladly go in that voyage so that it pleased the kynge and his father Whan the duke of Guerles came fyrst in to Englande the Duke of Lancastre demaunded of him what he thought of that voyage in to Frese He aunswered and sayd that it was a parylous voyage and the Frese was a countrey nat lyghtly to be wonne sayenge howe in tymes past there had been dyuers erles of Holande and Heynalte that haue claymed their right there and gone thyder to haue put them in subiectyon but they haue always lost their lyues there affyrmynge howe the fresons are people without honour and haue no mercy they prayse nor loue no lorde in the worlde they be so proude and also their countrey is stronge for they be enuyroned with the see and closed in with isses rockes and marysshes no man can tell howe to gouerne them but them selfe I haue ben desyred to go in that voyage but I wyll nat and I counsayle my cosyn your sonne the erle of Derby nat to entre in to that voyage it is no iourney for hym I thynke my fayre brother of Ostrenant wyll go for he hath great desyre therto and wyll haue a bande of haynowayes with hym it shall be an aduenture if euer they retourne Whiche wordes caused the Duke of Lancastre to thynke that his sonne shulde nat go in that voyage and so shewed his sonne his entente and badde hym delaye that mater for the kynge nor he wolde nat that he shulde go Thus the duke of Guerles dyd lette the ayde that the erle of Haynalte shulde haue had of the erle of Derby Many thought it was nat well counsayled nor yet for none of their honours The duke of Guetles all his lyfe naturally was Enuyous presumptuous and proūde yet for all that Fierebrase of Vertayn lette nat his sute to gette ayde and dyd so his dyligence that he gate knightes and squyers and a two hundred archers But the erle of Derby excused himselfe whiche excuse he was fayne to take in gree and sawe well that his wyll was good to go if the kynge and his father had nat been Than the kynge for the auauncement of his cosyns of Haynalte made to be ordeyned in the ryuer of Thamyse vesselles and shyppes for the men that shulde go in that voyage to Frese to aryue at Encuse a towne in the countie of Haynalt at the entre in to Holande This towne standeth on the see within twelue leages by water of the realme of Frese THe same season was sente in to Englande fro the frenche kynge the erle Valeran of saynt Powle with certayne artycles concernynge the treatie of the peace and with him was sent Robert the Hermyte whome the kynge of Englande was gladde to here speke The erle of saint Powle founde the kynge of Englande and his bretherne the erles of Brenne and of Huntyngdon and the duke of Lancastre the kynges vncles at the manour of Eltham The kynge receyued him ioyously and herde well his message and sayd to hym a parte Fayre brother of saynt Powle as to the treatie of peace bytwene me and my fayre father of Fraunce I am right well enclyned therto but I all alone canne nat promote that mater True it is my bretherne and my two vncles of Lācastre and yorke enclyne ryght well therto but I haue another vncle the duke of Gloucestre who is ryght paryllous and a marneylous man he letteth it as moche as he can and dothe what he canne to drawe the Londoners to his opynyon I feare me to make a rebellyon in my realme and that he shulde reyse the people agaynst me whiche is a great paryll for if the people of Englande ryse agayne agaynst me and haue myne vncle of Gloucestre on their parte and suche other barones and knyghtes of the realme as be of his opynion my realme were loste without remedy for myne vncle of Gloucestre is so secerte that no man canne knowe his mynde Syr quod the erle of saint Powle it behoueth you to wynne hym with fayre swete and louynge wordes and gyue hym great gyftes if he demaunde any thyng graunt it him this is the way wherby ye shall wynne him ye must flatter hym tyll the peace be made and that ye haue your wyfe brought hyther to you and that doone than ye maye take other counsayle
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
was tyll Michelmas that the ê‘lyament at Westmynster shulde begyn And in the meane season great prouision was made at Calais and at Guysnes for the kynge and for other lordes sent fro the portes of Englande on that cost and great prouisyon was had out of Flaunders all came by see to Calais In lykewise for the Frenche kyng and for his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles other prelates and lordes of Fraunce great prouisyon was made at saynt Omers at Ayre at Tyrwyn at Arde at Mountoyre and at all other houses and abbeyes there about there was nothynge spared on bothe parties and specially the abbey of saynte Bertyne was well replenysshed of all thynges to receyue these kynges This ê‘lyament at Westmynster began at Mychelmas and it was ordeyned to endure .xl. dayes But it was abridged for the king wolde nat tary there but .v. dayes wherin he declared the thynges most necessary parteyning to the realme and specially that mater that touched hym selfe and the cause why he caÌ„e fro Calais That done he retourned towardes Calais agayne and with hym his two vncles of Lancastre and Gloucestre and other prelates and lordes of Englande suche as were coÌ„maunded to go with him They spedde them so in their iourney that they came agayne to Calays The duke of yorke taryed styll in Englande and the erle of Derby to gouerne the realme in the kynges absence Whan the kyng of Englande was thus returned to Calais the lordes of Fraunce beyng in Picardy were aduertised therof Than the duke of Burgoyn and the duchesse his wyfe came to saynt Omers and were lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne As sone as the FreÌ„che kyng knewe that the kynge of Englande was come agayne to Calais he sente to hym therle of saynt Poule to shewe hym what order was taken in Fraunce concernyng his maryage whiche the kynge of Englande was gladde to here ThanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre and his sonne Beauforde of Lancastre The duke of Gloucester and Affren his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle mashall erle of Huntyngton the kynges chamberleyne and many other lordes knyghtes squyers and ladyes rode with the Erle of saynt Poule to saynt Omers where they were well receyued of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and thyder came the duke of Bretaigne and had lefte the Frenche kynge at Ayre and his doughter with hym ye maye well knowe all the chere that coude be deuysed was made to the Englysshe lordes and ladyes and other at saynt Omers and the duchesse of Burgoyne made them a great dyner There was the duchesse of LaÌ„castre and her sonne two doughters there was great gyftes gyuen of plate of Golde and syluer nothynge was spared in so moche that the Englysshe men hadde marueyle therof and specially the duke of Glocestre sayd to his couÌ„sayle I se well there is great rychesse in the realme of Fraunce there was moche gyuen to hym to the entente to abate and to molyfie his rancour that he hadde agaynste Fraunce The lordes of Fraunce knewe well that he was alwayes harde to agre to the peace wherfore they shewed hym as moche token of loue and honour as they coude do He toke euer all their gyftes but alwayes the rancour abode styll in his hert for all that euer the Frenche men coulde do they coulde nat molifye his fell stomake for always he made herde answers as they treated for any peace The Frenche men be subtyle yet for all that they coude gette no hold of hym for his wordes and aunswers were alwayes so couert that they wyst nat howe to vnderstaÌ„de them Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe his maner he sayde to his counsayle We lese all that euer we do to this duke of Gloucestour for as longe as he lyueth there shal be no sure peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande For he shall alwayes fynde newe inuencyons and accydentes to engender hate and stryfe bytwene bothe realmes for he enteÌ„deth nor thynketh none other thynge If it were nat the truste that we haue in the kyng of Englande wherby here after to fare the better the kyng shulde nat haue to his wyfe our cosyn of Fraunce WHan the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne the couÌ„tesse of Neuers the countesse of saynt Poule and the other lordes and ladyes of Fraunce hadde greatly feested the lordes and ladyes of Englande than there was coÌ„municacion howe these two kynges shulde mete speke toguyder and howe the lady shulde be delyuered thervpon apoyntment was made and leaue taken on all partes The Englysshe ê‘tie returned to Calis to the kyng shewed what chere they had and what presentes had ben gyuen them These newes pleased well the kyng for he was gladde whan he herde any honour spoken of the Frenche kyng he was so in loue with hym bycause of his doughter whome he trusted to haue to his Quene Than anone after the Frenche kyng came to saynt Omers and was lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne and dislodged all other that were there before and had the duke of Bretayne in his company And than it was ordayned that the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone shulde go to Calis to speke with the kynge of Englande SO they came to Calays and were ioyouslye receyued had as good chere as coulde be deuysed These thre dukes had secrete communycacion with the kynge and his counsayle so that many bothe of Fraunce and of Englande reputed that there was a peace concluded bytwene Fraunce and Englande And in dede it was nere at a poynt and the duke of Gloucester agreed well therto as at that tyme. For the kyng of Englande hadde promysed hym if he wolde agree to the peace to gyue his son Affren the erldome of Rochester in herytauÌ„ce and to make hym spende yerely in reuenewes two thousande pounde sterlyng and to gyue to hym selfe as soone as he came in Englande in redy money fyftie thousande nobles so that by reason of these gyftes the duke of Gloucestours hardnesse was well aleyed So that the lordes of Fraunce sawe well his opinyons were nat so obstynate as they were before for they founde hym than swete and meke WhanÌ„e euery thynge was ordeygned of that they came for they tooke leaue of the kynge and other and retourned to saynt Omers to the Frenche kynge and shewed howe they hadde spedde Than the Frenche kyng wente to the bastyde of Arde and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre and the duke of Bretaygne to the towne of Esque and the duke of Berrey to Balyngham And in euery ê‘te all aboute there were pyght vp Tentes and Pauilyons and all the countrey full of people what of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande The kynge of Englande came to Guysnes and the duke of Lancastre with hym and the duke of Gloucestre to HaÌ„mes Thus on a Fridaye beyng the euyn of Symon and Iude in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and sixtene about tenne
of the clocke in the forenoone The two Kynges departed oute of their tentes the which were pyght nat farre asondre and came a foote the one to the other and met at a certayne place that was apoynted And on the one syde there was araynged four hundred knyghtes of Fraunce armed with their swerdes in their hādes And on the other parte foure hundred Englysshe knyghtes in lyke maner So the two kynges passed through them The dukes of Lācastre and of Gloucestre ledde the Frenche kynge and the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne ledde the kynge of Englande Thus they came foreby the sayd eight hundred knightes And whan the two kynges came iust toguyder all the eyght hundred knyghtes kneled downe to the grounde and many of them wepte for ioye Thus the two kynges mette toguyder bareheeded and a lytell enclyned and tooke eche other by the handes Than the Frenche kynge ledde the kynge of Englande in to his tente whiche was noble and ryche and the four dukes tooke eche other by the handes and folowed the two kynges And other knyghtes after the Frenche men on the one syde and the Englysshe men on the other syde And so they stode regardyng eche other in good and humble maner tyll all was done Than̄e it was ordayned that on the same place where as the two kynges tooke eche other by the hande that there shulde be made and founded a chapell in the honoure of our Lady and shulde be called our lady of Grace I can nat tell whether it were made or nat SO the two kynges hande in hāde entred in to the Frenche kynges tente Than the foure dukes kneled downe before the kynges and they reysed them vp so talked toguyder Than the two kynges wente a lytell a parte and talked a certayne space In the meane tyme wyne and spyces were brought The duke of Berrey serued the Frenche kynge of spyce and the duke of Burgoyne of wyne And the dukes of Lācastre Glocester serued the kyng of Englād thā other knightes squiers serued all other prelates lordes so that euery man wtin the tent hadde parte and in the meane tyme the two kynges cōmuned toguyder This busynesse done and paste the two kynges tooke leaue eche of other and so retourned to their tentes and tooke their horses and rode towardes Calais The kyng to Guysnes the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucester to Hāmes and the other to Calais The Frenche kyng rode to Cordre and the duke of Orlyaunce with hym the duke of Berrey to Dornam and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre So there was no more done that daye all their tentes stode styll in the feldes THan on the Saturdaye on the feest of saynt Symon and Iude aboute a .xi. of the clocke the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes cāe to the Frenche kyng in to his tent they were receyued right honorably and euery manne talked with his felowe merily Than tables were sette vp and the two kynges sat at one table alone the Frenche kynge on the ryght hande The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone serued the two kynges thā the duke of Burbone caste forthe many iestyng wordes to make the kynges to laughe and suche as were before the table For this duke was a mery man and sayd openly addressynge his wordes to the kynge of Englāde Sir quod he ye ought to make good chere for ye haue all that ye desyre ye haue your wife or shall haue her deliuered to you Than the Frenche kyng sayd Burbonoys We wolde that our doughter were of the age that our cosyn of saynt Poule is on the condicyon that it cost me a great good than she shulde take my sonne with the better good wyll The kynge of Englande herde well those wordes and answered spekyng to the duke of Burbone bycause the Frēche kyng hadde compared his doughter to the erle of saynt Poules doughter and sayd Sir the age that my wyfe that shall be is of pleaseth you right well we loue nat so moche her herytage than I do the loue of you of our realmes For we two beyng of one accorde there is no kynge christen nor other that are able to anoye vs. This dyner thus done in the Frenche kynges tent and after wyne and spyces taken than the yonge quene was brought forthe a companyed with a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles and there she was delyuered to the kyng of Englande Whan that was done euery man toke their leaue to departe The yonge quene was sette in a ryche lytter and there wente no mo frenche ladyes with her but the lady of Coucy There were the ladyes of Englande the duchesses of Lancastre of yorke and of Gloucestre of Irelande the lady of Namure the lady Poynynges and a great nombre of other ladies who receyued the quene with great ioye Thus the kyng of Englande and the yonge quene and his company rode to Calais the same nyght and the frenche kyng and his cōpany to saynt Omers Than the Tuesdaye after whiche was Alhalowen day the kyng of Englande maryed the sayd lady Isabell of Fraūce in the churche of saynt Nicholas in Calais the archebysshop of Caūterbury wedded theym at whiche tyme there was a great feest and great largesse The Thursdaye after there came to Calais the dukes of Orlyaunce and of Burbone to se the kynge and the quene And on the friday they tooke their leaue and departed and rode to saynt Omers to the Frenche kyng And the same day in the mornyng the kyng and the quene toke their shyppe and hadde fayre passage they were ouer within thre houres the kynge laye in the castell of Douer and the nexte daye to Rochestre than to Dartforde and so to Eltham Than̄e all lordes and ladyes toke their leaue and a fiftene dayes after the quene was brought to the cytie of London accompanyed with many lordes ladyes and damosels laye the fyrst night at the towre of London and the nexte day cōueyed along throughe the cytie with great solempnyte to the kynges palais of Westmynster and ther the kyng was before redy to receyue her the same daye the londoners gaue to the quene great presentes Than was there ordayned a great iustes to be holden in the cytie of Lōdon of .xl. knyghtes and squyers chalēgers to be holden at Candelmas nexte after whiche was delyuered to the Herauldes to publysshe on bothe sydes of the realme to Scotlande And whan the Frenche kyng was cōe to Parys after the maryage of his doughter and euery lorde departed home there ranne than a great brute through the realme howe the frenche kyng was in purpose at the begynnynge of Marche to go with a great army in to Lombardy to dystroye the lorde Galeas duke of Mylayne the kyng had suche displeasure agaynst hym that no man coulde tourne hym but that he wolde make that voyage and the kyng of Englande had promysed to sende hym syxe thousande archers
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌ„de none to with stande me nor none that durst fyght with me in lyke wyse so dyd syr Robert Canoll and sir Hugh Caurell and Thomas of GrauÌ„tsome and syr Phylyppe Gyssarde and yet they had nat the nombre that I had with me and yet they were before Parys and demaunded batayle of the frenche kynge but they coulde neuer be aunswered nor founde any person that sayd any thyng to them and so they rode into Bretayne and so a longe through the realme of Fraunce fro Calais to Burdeaux without hauynge of any batayle or rencountre but I thynke surely who so wolde nowe make any suche iourney they shulde be fought with all for he that calleth hym selfe kynge in Fraunce is yonge hote and of great corage and enterprise he wolde surely fight what ende so euer fell therof and that is the thynge we desyre for we loue nothynge so well as to haue batayle for without it be by batayle and victory vpon the frenche men who be ryche els we shall haue no recouery but suffre with the losse as we haue done euer sythe my nephewe was kyng of Englande This thyng can nat longe endure in this estate but at laste the realme of Englande shall perceyue the mater repente it for the kyng taketh and shall take and reyse great tayles of the marchauntes wherwith they be nat content and yet they can nat tell where the good becometh Thus the kynge enpouereth the realme of Englande and gyueth to one and other largely and there as it is but yuell bestowed and his people vyeth the bargayne whiche shortely wyll growe to a rebellyon within the realme for the people begyn to clater and to murmure therat sayeng howe they wyll no leÌ„ger suffre nor beare it he sayeth to stoppe the peoples rumure that the trewce ones concluded bytwene him Fraunce that than he wyll make a voyage in to Irelande and enploye there his men of armes and archers and there he hath ben but with a small conquest for IrelaÌ„de is no lande of great conquest nor profyte the people they are but rude and yuell and a right poore countrey and inhabytable and looke what is wonne there in one yere is loste in another Laquynay Laquynay quod the duke all that I haue sayde is of trouth THus the duke of Gloucestre deuysed with his knyght with suche wordes and other as it was well knowen after He hated the kynge and coulde speke no good worde of him and though he were with his brother the duke of LaÌ„castre as one of the greatest rulers of the Realme he toke no care therof And whan the kyng dyd sende for him he wolde come at his pleasure and sometyme nat a whyt And whan he came to the kynge he wolde be the laste shulde come and the first that wolde departe and in counsayle what he had ones sayd of his opynion he wolde haue it taken and accepted els he wolde be displeased and somtyme take his leaue and departe to his maner in Essex called Plasshey there was his chiefe abydynge This duke was a great prince and might well spende by yere a threscore thousande ducates he was duke of Gloucestre erle of Essex and of Buckingham and constable of Englande He was of so marueylous condycyons that the kynge douted hym more than any other of his vncles for in his wordes he wolde nat spare nor forbeare the kynge The kynge alwayes was humble and meke to hym and whatsoeuer he wolde demaunde the kynge wolde graunte it hym This duke had caused in EnglaÌ„de to be done many cruell and hasty iugementes for he had caused to be beheeded withoute tytell of any good reasone that noble knyght syr Symon Burle and dyuers other of the kynges counsayle and chased out of Englande the archebysshop of yorke and the duke of Irelande bycause they were so nygh of the kinges counsayle and layde to their charge that they had counsayled the kynge wronge and ledde hym as they lyst and had spente the reuenewes of Englande at their pleasures This duke had two bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke These two were euer about the kynge wherat this duke of Gloucestre hadde great enuy wolde say to dyuers as to suche as he trusted as Robert bysshop of London and to other whan they came to him to Plasshey Frendes my two bretherne ouerchargeth greatly the kynges house it were better they were at home at their owne houses this duke by subtyle couerte wayes drewe to his acorde the londoners for he thought if he might be sure of them he shulde sone haue all the rest of the realme to his acorde This duke had a nephue sonne to the doughter of his elder brother called Lyonell duke of Clarence whiche doughter was maryed into Lombardy to the sonne of syr Galeas duke of Myllayne This duke Lyonell dyed in the cytie of Aste in Piemounte So this duke of Gloucestre wolde gladly haue sene his nephue sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence called Iohan erle of Marche to haue ben kynge of Englande and to haue had his nephue kynge Rycharde deposed for he sayd howe the kynge was nat worthy to holde nor to gouerne the realme of Englande This he wolde say to them that he trusted and he dyd so moch that he caused the erle of Marche to come to his house and than and there he dyscouered to hym all his entent and secretnesse and sayde howe he had determyned to make hym kynge of Englande and kyng Richarde to be put downe and his wyfe also and to be kept in prison dutynge their lyues and so he desyred effectuously the erle to accept his offre and good wyll sayenge howe he wolde do the beste he coulde to bringe it aboute and that he had of his acorde and alyaunce the erle of Arundell and therle of Warwyke and dyuers other prelates and lordes of Englande The erle of Marche was sore abasshed whan he herde the duke his vncle speke suche wordes howe be it lyke a yonge man he dissymuled the mater and aunswered wysely to th entent to please the duke and said howe he wold be glad to be ruled as he wolde haue hym but he sayd he wolde be well aduysed or he accepted suche promisse to sone and wolde take therin aduyse and delyberacyon And whan the duke of Gloucestre sawe the maner of the erle than he desyred him to kepe the mater secrete The erle answered so he wolde do Than therle departed as sone as he coude and so wente in to Irelande to his herytage and after he wolde neuer entende to the dukes treatie but alwayes excused him selfe wysely yet euer he kept the mater secrete for he sawe well the conclusyon shulde nat be good IT was sayd howe the duke of Gloucestre sought all the wayes he coude to set a trouble in Englande and to styrre the
pope Clement yet he had neuer ferme beleue on hym But the prelates of the realme of Fraunce and specially Guy of Roy archebysshoppe of Reyns the archebysshoppes of Sens and of Roen and the bysshoppe of Ostune they had brought the duke to beleue on pope Clement ThanÌ„e it was aduysed by the kynges secrete couÌ„sayle that if they purposed to bringe the Churche to rest and peace to haue the accorde of Almayne Than was there sente suffycient ambassadours and clerkes of bothe lawes as maister Philyppe of Playes was one in to Almayne to the kyng of Boesme and of Almayne who wrote hym selfe kyng of Romayns This mater went so forwarde that a day was sette that the kyng of Almayne and his counsaile and the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle shulde mete ê‘sonally at the cyte of Reynes This mater was done secretely bicause the prelates cardynalles archebysshoppes and bysshoppes shulde nat breke their purpose that they were about They made it be noysed that the metyng of these two kynges and their counsayls at Reynes was for non other purpose but to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene the sonne of the marques of Blanquebourge brother to the kyng of Almayne and the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce And so by reason and vnder colour of that mater they wolde common of other In this same seasone dyed at Nesues in Heynaulte the lorde Guye of Chastellone erle of Bloyes and brought to ValenceÌ„nes and buryed at saynt Fraunces in the Freres mynours in a chapell called the Chapell of Orthais he had done moche coste in the closynge of the sayd Freres and whan he dyed he was so in dette that the countesse Mary of Namure forsoke al his goodes and durst nat take on her the admynistracyon of his testament but retourned to her dowrie of the lande of Chinay and of Beaumonde his other herytages went to the heyres The duke of Orlyaunce hadde the countie of Blois for he had payed whyle the erle Guye lyued two hundred thousande crownes of FrauÌ„ce and the landes of Hollande zelande Heynaulte wente to the duke Aubert of Bauyere erle of Heynaulte And the lande of Dauesnes of Landrecier and of Lonnon in terreasse fell to Iohan of Bloyes called IohnÌ„ of Bretaygne And if the erle had nat solde the countie of Blois the sayd Iohan of Bretaygne shulde haue been his heyre therof Consydre what a doÌ„mage a lorde or any other may do to his heyre by gyueng credeÌ„ce to yuell counsayle god forgyue hym ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the busynesse of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the exle of AruÌ„dell and howe the kynges vncles and the londoners toke the mater Capi. CC.xxvi YE haue herde here before of the couert hates that was bytwene kynge Rycharde of Englande and his vncle Thomas duke of Gloucestre whiche the kynge wolde beare no lengar but sayd and also was counsayled rather to distroye another man than hymselfe And ye haue herde howe the kyng was at Plasshey by crafte and coloure brought hym out of his owne house to London And by the waye about .x. or a .xi. of the cloke in the nyght therle marshall arested hym in the kynges name And for all that he cryed after the Kynge yet the kynge made a deafe eare and rode on before and so the same nyght the kynge laye at the towre of London but the duke of Gloucecestre was otherwise lodged For byforce he was put in to a Barge and out of the barge in to a shyppe that laye in the Thamise and the erle marshall with hym and all his company And dyde so moche that the nexte day by night they came to Calais without knoledge of any man excepte the kynges offycers of the sayd towne yE maye well knowe whanÌ„e the takynge of the duke was knowen at Plaâ—hey by the duchesse and her chyldren they were sore troubled and abasshed and thought well that the matter went nat well The duchesse demaunded couÌ„saile what was best to do of sir Iohan Laquyham The knight answered that it was best to sende to his bretherne the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke that they myght fynde some meanes to apeace the kynges dyspleasure For he sayde he thought that the kyng wolde nat displease them The duchesse dyd as the knyght counsayled her and she sente incontynent messangers to these two dukes who were farre a sondre who whanne they herde therof were sored displeased and sente worde agayne to the duchesse that she shuld be of good coÌ„forte For they sayd they knew well the kyng wolde nat entreat hym but by laufull iudgement for otherwise they coude nat suffre it but as thanne they knewe natte where he was The Duchesse and her chyldren were somwhat conforted with their answere The kynge the nexte daye wente fro the towre of London to Eltham and there taryed The same night was brought to the towre of London as prisoners the erle of Arundell and the Erle of Warwyke wherof they of the cytie of London had great marueyle and made therof great murmurynge but none durst saye nay agaynst the kynges pleasure But all maner of people knightes squyers burgesses of good cyties townes of EnglaÌ„de said We haue very well suffred the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke bretherne to the duke of Gloucestre They maye prouyde for this whanne it please theÌ„ We thynke they wolde well haue prouyded for the mater if that they hadde knowen the kynges entent agaynst their brother of Glocestre but bycause they were nat dilygent in the cause the matter is come yuell and lyke to haue an yuell conclusyon WHan the duke of Glocestre was brought to the castell of Calys than he feared hym selfe greatlye said to the erle Marshall For what cause am I brought out of Englande hyder to Calais Me thynke ye holde me as a prisoner Lette me go abrode and se the fortresse aboute Sir quod the marshall that ye desyre I dare nat do it for I haue the charge vpon you on payne of my lyfe The kynge my soueraygne lorde is a lytell myscontente with you Wherfore ye muste take pacyence here for a seasone tyll I here other newes and that shal be shortely by goddes grace For sir as helpe me God I am right sorie for your trouble if I myght remedy it But sir ye knowe well I am sworne to the kynge wherfore I must obey and so wyll I do for sauynge of myne honoure The duke coude haue none other aunswere But by that he sawe he feared greatly his lyfe And on a daye he desyred a preest that sange masse before hym that he myght be coÌ„fessed And so he was at good leysar before the sacrament with deuout herte and cryed God mercy and was sore repentaunt of all his synnes And in dede it was tyme so for hym so to do for his dethe was nerer to hym than he was ware of For as I was enfourmed whan
he hadde dyned and was aboute to haue wasshen his handes There came in to the chambre foure men and caste sodaynlye a towell aboute the dukes necke two at the one ende and two at the other and drewe so sore that he fell to the Erthe and so they strangled hym and closed his eyen whan he was deed they dispoyled hym and bare hym to his beed and layde hym bytwene the shetes all naked and his heed on a softe pyllowe and couered with clothes furred And than they yssued out of the chambre in to the hall well determyned what they wolde saye and sayde openly Howe a palueysye hadde taken the duke of Gloucestre the same night sodaynly and so dyed These wordes anon were abrode in the towne of Calais Some beleued theym and some natte Within two dayes that the duke was thus deed the erle marshall appareled hym selfe in blacke bycause he was his nere cosyn and were many other knyghtes and squyers that were in Calays His dethe was sooner knowen in Fraunce and in Flaunders than in EnglaÌ„d The Frenche men were gladde therof For there was a coÌ„mon brute that there shulde be no good peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande as long as he lyued And in all treaties bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande he was euermore harder and obstynaier thanÌ„e any other of his bretherne wherfore they cared nat for his dethe In lykewise many men in Englande bothe knyghtes squyers and other officers of the kynges who were in feare of hym bycause of his crueltie All suche were gladde of his dethe They toke to recorde his cruell dedes by the duke of IrelaÌ„de whom he had exyled out of Englande Also of the deth of that valyant knight sir Symon Burle and of sir Robert Triuylien sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Standysshe dyuers other The dukes dethe was but lytell regarded in Englande excepte but with suche as were of his opinyon Thus this duke dyed in Calais his body was enbaumed and seared in leed and couered and so sente by See in to Englande And the Shyppe that caryed hym arryued at the Castell of Hadley vpon Thamyse syde and fro thens caryed by chariot symply to his owne place at Plasshey and there buryed in the Churche Whiche the sayde duke hadde founded in the honoure of the hooly Trynite wherin were twelue Chanonnes to synge diuyne seruyce YE maye well knowe that the duchesse of Gloucestre and Affren his sonne and his two susters were sore discoÌ„fyted whan they sawe the duke brought thyther deed The duchesse had double sorowe for Richarde erle of Arundell her vncle was be heeded openly by the kynges coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in Chepesyde there was no lorde durst speke to the contrary the kynge beyng presente at the same iustyce doynge It was done by the erle Marshall who hadde to wyfe the doughter of the sayde erle of Arundell and yet he bounde his eyen hym selfe The erle of Warwyke was in great daunger to be beheeded but the erle of Salisbury who was in the kynges fauour desyred the kynge for his lyfe and so dyde dyuers other barons prelates in Englande The kynge enclyned to their requestes so that he myght be banysshed and putte in suche a place as he shulde natte come fro for the kyng wolde nat clerely forgyue hym He sayde he had well deserued to dye bycause he was of counsayle with the duke of Gloucestre and with the erle of Arundell to haue brokeÌ„ the peace and truce taken bitwene Fraunce Englande For the whiche artycle the kyng sayd they had deserued to dye for the peace was taken bytwene the ê‘ties on suche coÌ„dycion that who so euer dyde breake it shulde be worthy to dye The erle of Salisbury who had ben the erle of Warwykes companyon dyuers tymes in excusyng of him said Howe he was an olde man and was desyred by the duke of Gloucestre by his fayre wordes Wherfore he sayd that he dyde was natte of his owne mocyon but by theirs Affyrming howe there was neuer none of the Beauchampes that euer dyd trayson agaynst the crowne of Englande Thus the erle of Warwyke for pytie was respyted fro dethe He was banysshed in to the ysle of Wyght And it was sayde to hym Erle of Warwyke ye haue deserued to dye as well as the erle of Arundell but for the great seruyce that ye haue done in tyme past to kynge Edwarde and to the prince his sonne and to the crowne of Englande aswell on this syde the see as byonde hath done you great ayde for the kyng hath pyte on you and hath grauÌ„ted you your lyfe But it is ordayned by iudgement that ye shall go in to the ysle of Wight and lyue there as longe as ye can and shall haue suffycient of your owne to maynteyne there your estate soberly but ye maye neuer departe thens The erle toke this punysshement a worthe and thaÌ„ked the kyng and his counsayle for sauyng of his lyfe and so made hym redy to go thyder at the daye apoynted In the whiche ysle was space sufficient for a lorde to kepe his estate enuyroned with the See Thus passed forthe these Iudgementes in Englande at that season whiche multiplyed dayly worse worse as ye shall here after WHan the dethe of the duke of gloucestre was knoweÌ„ by the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke incoÌ„tinent they knewe well that the kynge their nephue had caused hym to be slayne and murdered at Calays As than these two dukes were nat toguyder eche of theÌ„ were at their owne plates They wrote eche to other to knowe what were best to do and so they came to London For they knewe well that the londoners were nat content with the dethe of the duke their brother Whan they mette there toguyder they tooke couÌ„sayle and sayd Suche dedes ought nat to be suffred as to putte to dethe so hyghe a priÌ„ce as was their brother for ydell wordes and false reportes For they sayd though he spake oftentymes of the breakyng of the peace yet he neuer brake it And bytwene sayenge and doyng is great difference for by reason of wordes he ought nat to deserue dethe by suche cruell punycion these two dukes were in the case to haue put all Englande to great trouble and there were ynowe redy to counsayle them therto and specially them of the erle of Arundelles lynage and of the erle of Staffordes whiche was a great kynred in Englande The kyng as than was at ElthaÌ„ and had sente for all suche as helde of hym in chiefe And he had redy assembled toguyder about London in Kent and Essexe mo than ten thousande archers And sir Iohan Hollande his brother was with hym and therle Marshall and the erle of Salisbury and a great nombre of lordes and knyghtes the kyng sent to theÌ„ of London that they shulde nat receyue the duke of Lancastre They answered and sayd They knewe no cause that the duke hadde done why they shulde refuce hym The duke of Lancastre was at LoÌ„don and
downe Vessell of golde and syluer ranne plentuously through the palays as though it had ben but of wode or erthe it was a sumptuous dyner And as I was enfourmed the frenche kynge gaue to his cosyn the kyng of Almayne all the vessell and plate of gold and syluer that was serued that day in the palays at the dresser or elswhere and all other hangynges and habylymentes in the hall and chambre whervnto the kynge retrayed after dynner and spyces and wyne taken This gyft was praysed and valewed to two hundred thousande florayns and more ouer there was gyuen to the other almayns great gyftes and goodly presentes of vessell and plate of golde and syluer wherof the straungers that were there had great marueyle of the state and puyssaunce great ryches of the realme of Fraūce These kinges thus abydynge in the cytie of Reynes their counsayles mette togyther dyuers tymes on the maters that they came thyder for as well for the maryage of the duke of Orlyaunces doughter with the Marques of Blancque bourges sonne as for the reformacyon of the churche At laste the maryage was concluded and openly publysshed through the cytie but as for the mater consernynge the popes there was nothynge knowen therof out of the counsayle for all that was concluded in the counsayle was kept secrete Afterwarde I was enfourmed how it was agreed that maister Peter Daylly bysshop of Cambraye shulde go in legacyon fro the frenche kynge and fro the kynge of Almayne to Rome to hym that was called pope Bonyface that he shulde submyt hym selfe to haue a newe electyon of a pope and in lykewyse to the other pope at Auygnon And if so be that any of them wolde nat agree therto to abyde the ordre of these two kynges he to be dysgrated all ryghtes of the churche to be kepte fro hym and the frenche kynge to comprise to his agrement his sonne in lawe the kynge of Englande and the kynge of scottes kynge Henry of Spayne kynge Iohan of Portugale kynge Charles of Nauer and the kyng of Aragon and the kinge of Almayne shulde compryse his brother Loys kynge of Hungery and all the realme of Boesme and Almayne to Pruce And it was ordeyned that whan this bysshop of Cambrey was retourned fro the sōmonyng of these two popes than he to go in to all the sayd realmes their alyes Thus these two kynges sware to holde without varyacyon or let Thus ended their counsayle at that tyme. The kynges and lordes departed amyably and euery man tooke leaue and departed and went home AT this counsayle at Reynes the duke of Burgoyne was nat nor wolde nat be◠for he sayd before that it was but a payne and a thynge loste to gyue any thynge to the almayns for they kepe no promesse nor couenaūt howe be it for all the dukes wordes there was nothynge left for the mater went forthe as ye haue herde And anon after the bysshop of Cambraye made hym redy and tooke his waye to Rome Also the frenche kynge sent a great ambassade in to Englande to se the kyng and the quene and to shewe them of this mater and so they dyd And whan they retourned they shewed the frenche kynge howe the kynge of Englande wolde take the same way that the kynge of Almayne and the Frenche kynge wolde do So they were all concluded if nede were to be as newter Thus this mater stode in this case Kynge Charles of Nauer who was in Fraūce to se the kynge his cosyn trustyng to recouer his herytage of Normandy of the countie of Ewrus the whiche the Frenche kynge had taken fro hym as ye haue herde here before but he coulde nat attayne therto by no meanes what so euer he shewed or sayd And whan the kynge of Nauerre sawe that he lost his payne and labored in vayne he toke the mater in great dyspleasure toke his leaue as sobrely as he coulde nat well contente with the frenche kynge nor with his counsayle and so retourned in to the realme of Nauerre ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue speakynge of them and speke of other accydentes that fell in Englande wherby folowed so great yuell that the lyke hath nat ben written of in this hystory here foloweth the entre and begynnynge of the mater ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle Marshall in Englande apealed by gage of vtteraūce the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre in the presence of the kynge and his counsayle Cap. CC.xxviii KInge Richard of Englande hadde a condycion that if he loued a man he wolde make hym so great and so nere him that it was marueyle to consydre and no man durste speke to the contrary and also he wolde lightly beleue soner than any other kynge of remembrance before hym and suche as were nere aboute hym and in his grace tooke no ensample of other that had ben great with the kyng before them as the duke of Irelande who was put out of Englande and also syr Symon Burle who by reason of suche counsayle as he gaue to the kynge he was beheeded and syr Robert Treuylyan syr Nycholas Bramble and other that had been of the kynges counsayle wherfore they suffred dethe for the duke of Gloucestre dyd all his payne to dystroy them and yet fynally he loste his lyfe as ye haue herde wherof suche as were than aboute the kynge was nothynge sory wherby some that were aboute the kynge rose in to suche pride that it was marueyle and in so moche that they coulde nat coloure nor hyde it and specyally the erle Marshall who was as great in the kynges fauoure as myght be and to the entente to please the kynge and to flatter hym he made the kynge beleue that he was a trewe faythfull and a secrete seruaunt and that he coulde nat endure to here any worde spoken agaynst the kynge and tolde the kynge many thynges to haue the kynges loue howe be it often tymes a man thynketh to be auaunced and is pulled backe and so it fortuned of the erle Marshall I shall shewe you howe ye muste knowe that the erle of Derby and the duke of Gloucestre deed had to their wyues two susters doughters to the erle of Herforde and of Northamton constable of Englande so the chyldren of the erle of Derby and the duke of Gloucestre were cosyn germayns by their mother syde and within a degre as nere of kynne by their fathers syde To say trouth the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre was ryght dyspleasaunt to many great lordes of Englande and often tymes they wolde speke and murmure therat whan they were togyder and the kynge than was so hygh vppon the whele that no man durste speke but the kynge knewe it for he had caused to be spoken abrode in the realme that what so euer he were that spake any word of the duke of Gloucestre or of the erle of Arundell he shulde be reputed as a traytour wherfore the people durst nat speke And on a
than dissymuled the mater as moche as he coulde and suffred them to make their prouysyon where they lyst THe newes spredde abrode in dyuers countreys of the defyaunce bytwene the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall Many men spake therof in dyuers maners and specyally in Fraunce They sayd lette theym alone the knyghtes of Englande are ouer proude at length they wyll dystroy eche other for it is the worste nacyon in the worlde vnder the sonne for in that realme dwelleth the moste presumptuous people that canne be Other there were that spake more so berly and sayde that the kynge of Englande shewed no wysdome nor was nat well counsayled whanne for wylde wordes he to suffre suche two noble men of his blode to enterprise armes in defyaunce he shulde rather whan he herde the wordes fyrste haue sayde to them bothe ye are two lordes of my blode and lygnage wherfore I cōmaunde you bothe to be in peace and lette nouther hate nor rancoure engendre bytwene you but be frendes louers and cosyns togyther and if this lande canne nat contente you go in to what countrey ye wyll and seke aduentures of armes there If the kynge had sayde those wordes and apeased these lordes thus than he had done wysely The duke of Lancastre was sore dyspleased in his mynde to se the kynge his nephewe mysse vse hym selfe in dyuers thynges as he dyd he consydred the tyme to come lyke a sage prince and somtyme sayd to suche as he trusted best Our nephue the kynge of Englande wyll shame all or he cease he beleueth to lyghtly yuell counsayle who shall distroy hym and symply if he lyue longe he wyll lese his realme and that hath been goten with moche coste and trauayle by our predecessours and by vs he suffreth to engendre in this realme bytwene the noble men hate and dyscorde by whom he shulde be serued and honoured and this lande kepte and douted He hath caused my brother to dye whiche is one thynge to be noted and the erle of Arundell bycause they shewed hym trouthe but he wolde nat here them nor none other that wolde coūsayle hym agaynst his appetyte He canne nat better dystroye his realme than to put trouble and hatred bytwene the noble men and good townes the frenche men are right subtyle for one myschiefe that falleth amonge vs they wolde it were ten for otherwyse they canne nat recouer their dōmages nor come to their ententes but by our owne meanes and dyscorde bytwene our selfe And wese dayly that all realmes deuyded are dystroyed it hath been sene by the realme of Fraunce Spayne Naples and by landes of the churche as we maye se dayly by the two popes whiche is and shall be to their dystructyon also it hath been sene by the countrey of Flaunders howe by their owne meanes they are distroyed Also presently it is sene by the lande of Frece with whome our cosyns of Haynalt are in warre and howe the frenche men amonge theym selfe are dystroyed in lykewyse amonge ourselfe without god prouyde for vs we shall dystroy our selfe the apparaunce therof sheweth greatly Nowe the kynge suffereth that my sonne and heyre shall do batayle for a thynge of nought and I that am his father maye nat speake to the contrary for myne owne honoure and for my sonnes for my sonne hathe the body of a knyght mete to entre in to armes agaynst the erle Marshall howe be it take the best therof they shall neuer loue agayne togyder as they dyd before Thus said the duke of Lancastre ALl the seasone that these two lordes dyd prouyde to do dedes of armes at vtteraunce the duke of Lancastre came neuer at the kyng nor but lytell at his sonne and that he dyd for a polycy for the Duke knewe well that his sonne was marueylously well beloued in Englande both with noble men and with other and specyally with the londoners for they had promysed and sayd to hym Syr be ye of good comforte in this busynesse for howesoeuer the matter tourne ye shall scape with honour whether the kynge wyll or nat or all the Marmosettes aboute hym for we knowe well this mater is made and conueyed by enuy to the entente to driue you out of the realme bycause ye be well beloued with many men and if so be that ye departe in trouble ye shall entre agayne with ioye for ye ought rather to rule than Rycharde of Burdeaulx for they that wyll seke out the profoundenesse of the mater maye well knowe fro whence ye came and fro whence he came wherby they maye knowe that ye be more nerer to the crowne of Englande than Rycharde of Burdeaulx though we haue made to hym faythe and homage and haue helde hym for our kyng more thanne this twenty yere but that was by fauour and purchase of his grauntfather good kynge Edwarde who douted of this poynte that we nowe speke of and on a tyme great question was made bytwene kyng Edwarde your grauntfather by youre father syde and duke Henry of Lancastre your grauntfather by your mother syde the Lady Blaunche of Lancastre but the lordes of Englande that than reygned apeased the matter for kynge Edwarde was so valyaunt a man and so happy in all his enterprises that he had the loue of all his people poore and riche nor also your grauntfather of Lancastre wolde nothynge to the Kynge but well and good and serued the kynge in his tyme nobly and trewly so that he is as yet to be recommaunded These maters well consydred by kynge Rycharde he myght well repente hym that he is no better gouerned than he is Suche wordes these londoners spake thoughe they knewe but lytell of the trouth that they spake was of a synguler fauoure The erle of Derby receyued their wordes well a worthe and dayly prepared for the batayle and he desyred his frendes to be at that iourney and so euery man prepared hymselfe accordynge to the Erles desyre THe kynge all the season that these two lordes prepared for their batayle he had many ymagynacyons whether he shuld suffre them to fyght or nat Thoughe he were kynge of Englande and more douted than any other kynge before hym yet nyght and daye he kept about hym a garde of two thousande archers who were payed their wages wekely for the kynge trusted nat greatly in theym that were nexte of his blode excepte his brother the erle of Huntyngton and the erle of Salisbury and the erle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne sonne to the duke of yorke who was well in the kynges fauoure and certayne knyghtes of his chambre as for all other he cared lytell for Whan the day aproched that these two lordes shulde do their dedes of armes as they hadde promysed and had euery thynge redy prepared Than on a daye certayne of the kynges counsayle came to the kynge and demaunded what was his entencyon that these two lordes shulde do and sayde Sir wyll ye suffre theym to fyght ye truelye
quod the kyng why shulde they nat We wyll se their dedes of armes Paraduenture we shall knowe therby that we knowe nat as yet shulde be right necessary to knowe to the entente we shulde prouyde for it For there is none so great in Englande but if he displease me I shall cause hym to make me amendes For if I shulde any thynge submytte me to my subiettes they wolde soone ouercome me And I knowe for certaygne that some of theym of my blode haue hadde dyuers treatyse toguyder agaynste me and myne estate and the moost princypall of theÌ„ was the duke of Gloucestre For in all Englande was natte a worse hedde agaynst me than he was Nowe I shall haue peace fro hense forwarde for I shall do well ynough with all the other But sirs I praye you shewe me why ye make this demauÌ„de to me Sir quod they we are bounde to counsayle you And sir we often tymes here wordes spoken that ye canne nat here For sir ye be in youre chambre and we abrode in the couÌ„trey or in London where many thynges be spoken whiche greatlye toucheth you and vs also Sir it were tyme to prouyde remedye and so ye muste do Sir we counsayle you for the best Howe so quod the Kynge Speke further and spare natte for I wyll do euery thynge parteynyng to reason and minyster Iustyce in my realme Sir quod they the renoume ronneth through out Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is the soueraygne cytie of youre Realme They saye ye are cause of this enterprice bytwene these two lordes and that ye haue sette the erle Marshall to fyght with the erle of Derby THe Londoners and dyuers other noble men and prelates of the realme saye Howe ye take the ryght waye to distroye your lygnage and the realme of Englande Whiche thynge they saye they wyll natte suffre And if the Londoners rise agaynste you with suche noble men as wyll take their parte ye shall be of no puyssauÌ„ce to resyst theym And also they haue you in a marueylous suspecte bycause ye be alyed by maryage with the Frenche kynge wherby ye be the worse beloued of all youre people And sir knowe for certayne that if ye suffre these two Erles to come in to the place to do batayle ye shall nat be lorde of the felde but the Londoners and suche lordes of their ê‘te wyll rule the felde for the loue and fauoure that they beare to the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall is soore hated and specially the Londouers wolde he were slayne And thre partes of the people of Englande saye that whan ye harde that wordes fyrst bytwene these two erles that ye shulde haue done otherwyse than ye dyd and that ye shulde haue broken the quarell and haue sayd Sirs ye are bothe my cosyns and lyegmen therfore I commaunde you to kepe the peace fro hens forthe And shulde haue taken the Erle of Derby by the hande and haue ledde hym in to youre chambre and haue shewed hym some signe of loue And bycause ye dyde nat thus the brute ronneth that ye beare fauour to the erle Marshalles partie and are agaynst the erle of Derby Sir consyder well these wordes that we shewe you for they be trewe Sir ye had neuer more nede of good counsayle than ye haue nowe Whan the kynge herde these wordes he chaunged countynauÌ„ce the wordes were so quickely spoken Therwith the kynge tourned fro them and leaned out at a wyndowe and studyed a certayne space and than he tourned agayne to them that had spoken to hym who were the archebysshoppe of yorke and the Erles of Salisbury of Huntingdon his bretherne and thre other knightes of his chambre than he sayde to them Sirs I haue well herde you and if I shulde refuce your counsayle I were greatly to blame Wherfore sirs consyder what is beste for me to do Sir quod one of theym that spake for all The matter that we haue spoken of is ryght peryllous ye muste dissymule the mater if ye wyll haue youre honour saued and to make peace And sir ye ought rather to entertayne the generaltie of your realme than the ydell wordes of two knyghtes But sir the brute thoroughe out all the Realme of Englande is howe the erle Marshall hathe greatlye trespassed and hath renewed to many yuell thinges and daylye reneweth and the realme taketh all his wordes in vayne and saith how that by his ydell words he wolde reise a ê“cesse agaynst the erle of Derby and to bringe the lande in to trouble First They say it were better that he abode the payne and the erle of Derby to be quyte Sir we thynke that or they shulde arme theÌ„ to mete togyder that ye shulde sende to them cause theÌ„ to be bounde to abyde youre ordynaunce in this enterprise And whan they be furely bounde to abyde youre sentence than ye maye gyue theym this Iudgemente That within fyftene dayes after the erle Marshall to auoyde the realme without any truste euer to retourne agayne And therle of Derby in lykewyse to auoyde the realme and to be banysshed for tenne yere And whan he shall departe the realme to please the people withall release foure yere of the tenne and so let hym be banysshed for sixe yere without pardone This is the counsayle sir that we wyll gyue you For sir in no wyse let them be armed one agaynst another for the inconuenyentes that maye fall therby The kynge studyed a lytell and sayde Sirs ye counsayle me trewly and I shall folowe youre counsayle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde gaue sentence wherby he banysshed out of Englande therle of Derby for .x. yere and the erle Marshall for euer Capi. CC.xxix ANone after that this couÌ„sayle was gyuen to the kynge he assembled great nombre of prelates grete lordes of Englande and they came to hym to ElthaÌ„ there was his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke The erles of Northumberlande of Salysbury and of Huntyngton Than the kynge sente for the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall and sette eche of them in a seuerall chaÌ„bre The kynge shewed howe he wolde be a meane bytwene them and howe their wordes hadde greatly displeased hym and that they were suche that ought nat lyghtly to be pardoned Wherfore he wolde in all poyntes they shulde submytte them selfe and to abyde his ordynaunce in that behalfe Than he ordayned the constable of Englande and foure other great lordes to go to the erle of Derby and to therle Marshall to take their bondes to abyde the kynges ordynaunce These lordes came to the sayd erles and shewed them the kynges pleasure and how the kynge wolde take the matter on hym So they bounde them selfe to abyde the kynges order Than the kynge sayde I ordaygne and commaunde that the erle Marshall bycause he hath brought this Realme in to this trouble by reason of his wordes wherin he canne nat make profe That he ordayne
that the duke his father had on hym a paryllous sycknesse whiche shuld be his dethe these wordes gretly letted the erle to take on hym any maner of voyage but so taryed styll at Parys and often tymes he went and sawe the frenche kyng the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles and alwayes they made hym good chere so that he was moche bounde to them and he sayde to the kynge Syr ye do me so moche honoure and curtesy and shewe me so great sygne of loue that I knowe nat in all my lyfe dayes howe to deserue it but if euer I come in Englande my lady that quene your doughter to my power shall haue my seruyce I thanke you cosyn quod the kynge So it fell that aboute the feest of Crystmasse duke Iohan of Lancastre who lyued in great dyspleasure what bycause the Kynge had banysshed his sonne out of the realme for so litell a cause and also bycause of the yuell gouernynge of the realme by his nephewe kynge Rycharde for he sawe well that if he longe percepuered were suffred to contynewe the realme was lykely to be vtterly loste With these ymagynacyons and other the duke fell sycke wheron he dyed whose dethe was greatly sorowed of all his frendes and louers The kyng by that he shewed toke no great care for his dethe but sone he was forgotten Than certayne of the noble men of Englande sawe well howe the realme feblysshed sythe the duke of Lancastre was deed and the duke of Gloucestre his brother slayne and the erle of Arundell and the erle of Derby banysshed who ought than to be duke of Lancastre by ryght succession Than some sayde Nowe we shall se what the kynge wyll do it is tyme nowe that he repeale home agayne his cosyn of Derby and to pardone hym his yuell wyll though he haue no cause to be dyspleased with hym it were tyme he came and entred in to his landes as duke of Lancastre Suche wordes ranne a brode in the Realme in dyuers places and specyally in the cytie of London where the erle of Derby was a hundred tymes better beloued thanne the kynge howe be it for all the wordes and murmuryng that the kyng and his counsayle knewe of yet he dyd nothynge therafter but clene the contrary He was yuell counsayled for if he had incontynent after the dethe of the duke of Lancastre sente for the erle of Derby and at his coÌ„mynge haue frendely welcomed hym home and haue called hym duke of Lancastre and haue taken hym as greatest personage in Englande nexte hym selfe and haue sayde howe he wolde be gouerned in all poyntes after his aduyse and counsayle and to do nothynge without his aduyse than the kynge had done well and lykely to haue contynued his estate as kynge of Englande and had nat receyued the yuell fortune that fell to hym shortly after as ye shall here after ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of LaÌ„castre was knowen in Fraunce the kyng of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes sonÌ„e Cap. CC .xxxv. TIdynges of the duke of Lancasters dethe came in to Fraunce kyng Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de in maner of ioye wrote therof to the frenche kyng and nat to his cosyn therle of Derby howe be it the erle knewe it as soone as the Frenche kynge or soner by suche men as he had in Englande Than the erle apparelled hym and all his men in blacke and caused his obsequy to be done right honorably at the whiche was the Frenche kyng and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and all the kynges vncles with a great nombre of prelates and great lordes of Fraunce For the erle of Derby was welbeloued with euery maÌ„ and many were right sorie of his trouble for he was a pleasaunt knight and an honest ê‘son curtesse and swete meke to euery man and euery man that sawe hym said howe the kyng of Englande was nat well counsayled that he repealed hym nat home agayne And truely to saye trouthe if the kynge of Englande had wysely regarded the mater and had ben well counsayled the mater had nat tourned agaynst hym as it dyde For the erle of Derby after the dethe of his father was right enherytoure to be duke of Lancastre and to haue been the seconde persone of the realme and by whom all the busynesse of the realme shulde chiefely haue passed Also the kynge and his counsayle ought to haue consydred howe often tymes the people of Englande hadde styrred and murmured agaynst hym and shulde haue knowen howe he was nat very welbeloued of the people nor of some knightes other and how that in the duke of Gloucesters dayes he was often tymes in daunger of his persone As whan the Londoners and the counsaylles of dyuers good townes in Englande caÌ„e to hym to Eltham and there made their requestes that all subsidies and ayes gyuen and graunted within twentie yere shulde haue ben frustrate and fordone or els they were determyned by the consent of the duke of Gloucestre and other noble men of the Realme to haue taken the kynge and to haue sette another to haue reygned in his place and to haue putte the kyng and the Quene in to a place and so to haue hadde meate and drinke as long as they had lyued In somoche that the duke of Gloucester hadde desyred a nephewe of his sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence who was called Iohan erle of Marche That he wolde haue taken on hym the charge and gouernyng of the realme and that they wolde haue made hym kyng But the same erle excused hym selfe honestly therfro All these thynges were apeased and layde downe by the wyse sadde meanes and prudence of the sayde duke of Lancastre father to this sayd erle of Derby IF kyng Richarde had wysely consydred all these mats he had reigned in gretter ê“sperite than euer he did before Kyng Richarde knewe all this well ynough and so by yuell counsayle the kynge caused by colour of loue the duke of Gloucestre to be taken and ledde to Calays where he was strangled and murdered Wherof great brute was throughe out all the realme with great grudge and murmuracyons so that it was at the poynt to haue deposed the sayde kyng Richarde Howe be it the duke of Lancastre lyke a sage and a prudent price for all that the duke of Gloucestre was his brother and that the murderyng of hym touched hym nere to his herte All thynges consyred and that he coude nat recouer agayne his brother wisely and amiably he apeased all these maters And the kynge his nephue more feared in EnglaÌ„de than he was before All this the kynge ought to haue consydred and specially howe therle of Derby was better beloued with the people than any other man within the realme All these thyngê wysely coÌ„sidred after the dethe of the duke rf LaÌ„castre the kyng shulde
haue repealed therle of Derby agayne in to the Realme but the kyng had no mynde so to do for he dyd clene the contrary for incontynent he sente his offycers in to all the duke of Lācasters landes and toke the profites therof to hym selfe and sayd that as longe as therle of Derby stode as a banysshed man that he nor none of his shulde receyue any reuenues of any landes within the realme of Englande And moreouer wherof the kyng was greatly blamed of suche as loued the erle and his chyldren The kyng gaue awaye landes parteynynge to the herytage of the duchy of Lancastre to some of his seruauntes suche as asked them for the whiche cause many knyghtes other in Englande spake and said The kyng sheweth well that he oweth no good wyll to his cosyn the erle of Derby sythe he wyll nat repeale hym home agayne and suffre his landes to be gyuen awaye where as therle and his chyldren shulde be great membres in Englande a good staffe for the kyng to leane by But he dothe the contrary for he driueth hym awaye so wyll kepe hym in this daūger and worse if he coude For he hath taken to hym selfe his heritage and causeth his offycers to medell with the dukes landes as thoughe they were his owne And if that poore tenauntes complayne of the iniuryes done to them in their lordes absence they can nat be harde there is none that wyll do them right Also it is but a small token of loue that the kyng beareth to the erle of Derby and to his chyldren for their herytage of Lācastre whiche shulde come to thē by right enherytaūce discended fro their grandame the lady Blanche doughter to duke Henry of Lancastre The kyng gyueth parte therof away where as it pleaseth hym suche landes as shulde fall to them by the right of the lady their mother who was doughter to the erle of Herforde and Northampton and cōstable of Englande The kynge gyueth parte therof at his pleasure This is to moche done agaīst all ryght and reason and to the displeasure of all the noble men of Englande this can nat longe endure vnamended Thus the prelates noble men and commons in Englāde cōmuned and murmured IN lykewise in the realme of Frāce suche men of honour as herde spekynge of this mater and hadde sene erle of Derby at Parys hadde great marueyle therof and sayd one to another As we thynke the kynge of Englande hath takenne to great a displeasure with his cosyn the erle of Derby who is the greattest man in Englad next hym selfe He is a gracious knyght curtesse meke and tretable and a man good to be spoken vnto The kyng of Englande knoweth some other thynge by hym than we do or elles the kynge is yuell counsayled And it is marueyle that the Frenche kynge and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles do nat attemper the mater for the erle is daylye amonge theym They shulde fynde best prouisyon in this case for the kynge of Englande wyll do more for thē than for any men bicause he hath maried the Frenche kynges doughter But sythe they do nothynge therin it is best we holde oure peace and lette it passe As for the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles thought nothyng but good They honoured and loued greatly the erle of Derby and desyred moche his company and they sawe well he was a wydower and to marry and that the duke of Berry hadde a doughter a wydowe of two husbandes she was but yonge of a xxiii yere of age was named Mary Her fyrst husbāde was Loys of Bloys who died yonge and her secōde husbande was the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe who died in his retourne in Hungry as ye haue herde here before This maryage was at apoynt to haue concluded for they in Fraūce knewe well that the duke of Lancastre was a great enherytoure in Englande and the Frenche kynge was well pleased therwith bycause his doughter was Quene of Englande for he thought that the company of those two ladyes togyder shulde be great pleasure to thē bothe sythe they were so nere of blode And therby the two realmes of Fraunce and Englande shulde be the surer conioyned toguyder in loue and peace whiche was trewe if it might haue been accomplysshed but kyng Richarde of Englande his coūsayle brake all that mater for the fortunes of this world whiche are marueylous nor a thynge that shall be canne nat be eschewed The whiche fortune of this kynge Richarde was so marueylous that it is harde to thynke theron The kynge myght well haue remedyed the mater if he had wolde but that that shall be shal be I shall shewe you what I Iohan Froissarte auctour of this hystorie Herde whan̄e I was but yonge in Englande in a place called Bertamstede whiche as at that tyme parteyned to the price of Wales father to this sayde kynge Rycharde it was in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred thre score and two And bycause the same tyme the prince and the princes shulde departe out of Englande to go in to Acq̄tayne to kepe their estate there Kyng Edwarde his father and quene Phillyppe my maistres and Lyon duke of Clarence Iohan duke of Lancastre the lorde Edmonde who was after Erle of Cambridge and duke of yorke their chyldren were come to the said maner place to se the prince and princes or they departed And as than I was of the age of .xxiiii. yere and one of my said lady the quenes clerkes of her chambre And as I satte on a benche I herde a knyght talkyng and deuysinge among dyuers ladyes and damoselles of the Quenes and sayde to them There is a booke in this countrey called the Brust many men saye it is of marueylous prophycies But accordynge to that booke the realme and crowne of Englande shulde nat retourne to the price of Wales nor yet to the duke of Clarence nor that they shulde be kynges of England though they were sonnes to kyng Edwarde but this knyght sayd that accordyng to that boke the crowne of Englande shulde come to the house of Lancastre The same season whan this knyght spake these wordes this sayd Hēry erle of Derby was nat borne nor yet seuyn yere after but yet in my dayes the same wordes tooke effecte for I sawe after the same Henry erle of Derby kynge of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berries doughter and howe kyng Rycharde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Capi. CC .xxxvi. AS soone as kyng Rycharde kyng of Englande herde of the treatie of the maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berryes doughter that the parties were nerehāde accorded he toke those newes to great dyspleasure and sayd to the erle of Salisbury in whom he had great affyaunce ye must or dayne you to go in
the realme they were gladde of all this and wolde that more trouble had ben in the realme and the cytezins of Lōdon who were ryche and lyued by their marchaundyse as well coraunt by see as by lande and kepte therby great estate and by ensample of them all the remnaūt of the realme lyghtly folowed they sawe well that as great myschiefe was lykely to folowe in the realme as was sometyme in kynge Edwarde the secondes dayes whan the lorde Spencer caused the kynge to put out of the realme the quene Isabell and Edward her sonne and wolde haue distroyed them and wyste nat why and so were out of the Realme more than thre yere but fynally whan the men in Englande and specyally the londoners sawe howe that the kynge was so asotted on this syr Hugh spenser they prouyded for a remedy for they sente secretly to the quene Isabell that if she coulde get thre hundred men of warre to come in to Englande she shulde fynde the greatest parte of the realme and the londoners redy to receyue her and to put her in possessyon of the realme whervpon the quene founde the lorde Iohan of Haynalt lorde of Beaumont and of Chynay and brother to the erle Guillyam of Haynalte who what for loue and pytie toke on him the vyage to brynge the quene and her sonne in to Englande with four hundred men of warre and so aryued in Englande and by the ayde of the londoners the quene atchyued her enterprise for without their ayde it wolde haue ben hard to haue come to passe and so kynge Edwarde was taken at the castell of Bristowe and set in prisone in the castell of Berkley and suche as fauoured him slayne and put to execusion and Edwarde his sonne crowned kynge at Westmynster All this the londoners ryght well remembred for they that were yonge herde this reported of their elders and some founde it in writynge and they sayd secretly one to a nother Our fathers and antecessours of olde tyme prouyded for these greate mischiefes and we thinke there was neuer greater cause than nowe at this present tyme for suffer this kyng Rycharde to haue his wyll and he wyll waste and dystroy all for sythe he was kynge there hath nat been in Englande suche prosperyte as was before he sheweth nat that the prince of Wales shulde be his father for if he had he wolde haue folowed his condicions and haue taken great pleasure in his prowes and nat to lyue in reste and ease as he dothe for he loueth nothynge but sporte and ydelnesse with ladyes and to be alwayes in their company and to beleue men of small reputacyon and to gather great rychesse and distroy the realme whiche thynges ought nat to be suffred And bycause that valyaunt man the duke of Gloucestre sawe clerely that the maters in Englande went nat as they shulde do by right and sawe howe dayly it was worse and worse and bycause he spake playnely therof the traytours that be about the kinge caused hym to be murthered and in lykewyse the good erle of Arundell and haue driuen out of the realme that valyaunt yonge knight Henry of Lancastre erle of Derby by whome the realme myght and ought to be counsayled and susteyned and by his four sonnes that he hath And yet for more crueltie besyde the dōmage that they cause the father to suffre out of the realme they dysenheryte the chyldren and the herytage that was their auntes the lady dame Blanche of Lancastre is dayly gyuen awaye to them that are nat worthy to haue theym And also bycause the erle of Northumberlande and his sonne the lorde Henry Percy haue somwhat spoken acordynge to reasone kynge Rycharde hath banysshed them it is well apparaūt that with in a shorte tyme there shall neuer a valyaunt man be lefte in the realme wherfore all wyll rynne to nought without remedy be founde shortely and we thynke the best remedy were to sende for the erle of Derby who leseth his season in Fraunce and whan he is come lette hym haue the gouernaunce of the realme that he may refourme all yuell and bringe it in to good state and lette them be punysshed that haue deserued and let Richarde of Burdeaux be taken and sette in the towre of London and all his fautes put in writynge in artycles of the whiche there wyll be founde a great nombre and by that tyme they be examined it shall be sene clerely that he is nat worthy to beare a crowne nor to kepe a realme for his owne de des shall confounde hym ¶ Howe the archebysshop of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to the erle of Derby fro the londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue him to returne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii THus the londoners cōmunded togyder and nat al onely they but also in dyuers other places of the realme but the chyefe murmuracyon that the people were in was by the first set rynge on of them of London for the cōmons of London were as chefe and by them lyghtly all other cōmons wold be ruled and vpon the myschiefe that they sawe apparaunt in Englande they had dyuers secrete counsayles to gyther and with them certayne prelates and other knyghtes of the realme and they concluded to sende in to Fraunce for the erle of Derby and were determyned whan he were come to shewe hym the yuell gouernynge of kynge Rycharde and to put to hym the crowne and gouernynge of the realme of Englande and so to make hym kynge and his heyres for euer so that he wyll kepe the realme in all good vsages Than it was thought that he that shulde go in that message must be a wyse man and of good credence for they thought it shulde be a great mater to gette the erle of Derby out of Fraūce for they said that for any symple wordes of a meane messanger or for any letters he wolde gyue no faythe there to but rather thynke it shulde be to betraye hym Than the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury a man of honoure and prudence was desyred to do that message who for the cōmon profyte of the realme acorded to go at their desyres and ordeyned for his departure so wysely that none knewe therof but suche as ought to knowe it and so he toke a shyppe at London and but seuen all onely with hym and so past without any parell and came to Sluse in Flaunders and fro thens to Ardenbourge and so to Gaunte to And warpe to A the in Brabant to Conde and so to Valencennes and there toke his lodgynge at the signe of the Swanne in the market place and there taryed a thre dayes and refressed himselfe He rode nat lyke no bysshop but lyke a monke pylgryme and dyscouered to no man what he was nor what he entended to do The fourth day he departed and toke a man to be his guyde to Parys sayenge howe he wolde go a pylgrymage to saint More He dyd so moch that he came
the kyng and oftentymes talked togider and men of warre before behynde in great nombre and all suche as were of the kynges courte rode toguyder in a company That night they laye about Oxenforde The duke of Lancastre ledde kyng Richarde by no castelles nor good townes for feare of styring of the people but alwayes kepte the feldes Than the duke gaue lycence to a great nombre of his people to departe and sayd Sirs ye maye departe for we haue that we desyre the kynge can nat flye nor scape fro vs we our owne company shall bring hym to London and putte hym in sauegarde in the towre he and all his are my prisoners I may bringe them whider I wyll Therfore sirs go your wayes home tyll ye here other newes They dyde as the duke coÌ„maunded theÌ„ who toke the way to Wyndsore and came thyder and moost parte of the LoÌ„doners retourned to London other to their owne places the duke of LaÌ„castre deê‘ted fro wynsore wolde nat ride by Colbroke but toke the way by Shene so caÌ„e to dyner to Chersay the king had desyred the duke that he shulde nat bringe hym London waye nor through the cytie and therfore they tooke that waye As soone as they had the kynge thus in their handes they sente notable ê‘sones to the yong quene who was at Ledes in Kent And they caÌ„e to the lady Coucy who was seconde persone there next to the quene and sayd to her Madame make you redy for ye must deê‘te hens and at your departyng make no semblant of displeasure before the quene but saye howe your husbande hath sent for you for your doughter also This that we saye loke that you do accomplysshe on payne of your lyfe nor axe ye no questyons no further And ye shal be conueyed to Douer and there haue a shyppe that shall bring you to Boloyne the lady who douted those wordê for she knewe well Englysshemen were cruell and hasty said sirs as god wyll I am redy to do as ye wyll haue me Anone she made her redy and horses were prouyded for her and for her coÌ„pany So all Frenche men and women departed and they were conueyed to Douer at the next tyde they toke shippyng and had good wynde and so arryued at Boloyne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of englande and howe she had all newe ê‘sones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kyng Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC.xlii AS for the state of the quene was so tourned and broken for there was lefte nouther man womon nor chylde of the nacion of FraÌ„ce nor yet of Englande suche as were in any fauour with the kyng Her house was newly furnisshed with ladyes and damoselles and other offycers and seruauntes They were charged all that in no wyse they shuld nat speke of the kynge nat one to another Thus the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro Cherisay and rode to Shene and fro thens in the nyght tyme they conueyed the kyng to the towre of London and suche other knightes and squyers as the kyng wolde The nexte mornyng whan the Londoners knewe that the kynge was in the towre they were gretly reioysed but there was great murmuring among theÌ„ bycause the kyng was conueyed thyder so secretely They were angry that the duke had nat brought hym throughe London openly nat to haue done him honor but shame they hated hym so sore Beholde the opinyon of coÌ„mon people whaÌ„ they be vp agaynst their prince or lorde and specially in Englande amonge them there is no remedy for they are the peryloust people of the worlde and most outragyoust if they be vp and specially the Londoners and in dede they be riche and of a great nombre There was well in LoÌ„don a. xxiiii thousaÌ„de men in harnesse complete and a.xxx. thousande archers and they were hardy hygh of corage the more blode they sawe shedde the lesse they were abasshed ¶ Nowe lette vs somwhat speke of the erle of Rutlande constable of Englande sonne to the duke of yorke who was taryed at Bristowe and the lorde SpeÌ„ser with hym who had his suster to wyfe Whan they knewe that the castell of Flynte was gyuen vp and the kynge taken and brought to London thanÌ„e they thought surely the matters wente nat well for the kynge Therfore they thought no lengar to tary there and gaue leaue to al their men of warre to departe and the erle of Rutlande and the lorde Spenser rode toguyder with their owne seruauntes to Hull in the marchesse of Wales a fayre maÌ„ner of the lorde Spensers there they taryed tyll they herde other tidynges And the duke of yorke laye styll in his castell medled with nothynge of the busynesse of Englande no more he dyde before he toke euer the tyme aworthe as it came howbeit he was sore displeased in his mynde to se suche difference within the realme and bytwene his nephues and blode ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to speke of kynge Richarde WHan the duke of Lancastre had set his cosyn kyng Richard in the towre of London and certayne of his couÌ„saylours and had sette sure kepynge on theÌ„ The fyrst thyng than that the duke he sent for the erle of Warwyke who was banysshed and coÌ„maunded to lye in the ysle of Wyght and discharged hym clene therof secondly the duke of Lancastre sent to therle of Northumberlande and to the lorde Percy his sonne that they shulde come to hym and so they dyde After he enquered and sought out to haue the foure companyons that had strangled his vncle the duke of Gloucestre in the castell of Calais They were so well sought out that they were all taken They were sette in prisone aparte in LoÌ„don than the duke of Lancastre and his couÌ„sayle toke aduyse what shulde be done with kyng Richarde beyng in the towre of LoÌ„don where as kyng Iohan of Fraunce was kept whyle kynge Edwarde wente in to the Realme of FrauÌ„ce Than it was thought that king Rycharde shuld be put fro all his royalte and ioy that he hath lyued in for they sayd the newes of his takynge shulde sprede abrode in to all realmes crystened He had been kynge .xxii. yere and as than they determined to kepe him in prisone Than they regarded what case the realme stode in and dyd put all his dedes in artycles to the nombre of .xxviii. Than the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle went to the towre of London and entred in to the chambre where kynge Rycharde was and without any reuerence makynge to hym there was openly redde all the said artycles to the whiche the kynge made none aunswere for he sawe well all was true that was layde to his charge sauynge he sayd all that I haue doone passed by my counsayle Than he was demaunded what they were that had gyuen couÌ„sayle and by whome he was most ruled he named them in trust therby to haue ben delyuered himselfe in
letters and wytnesse of all the prelates and lordes there beynge present Than Rycharde of Burdeaux retourned agayne in to the chambre fro whence he came Than the duke of Lancastre and all other lept on their horses and the crowne and ceptour were put in a cofer and conueyed to the abbey of Westmynster and there kept in the treasory And euery man wente to their lodgynges and abode tyll the day of parliament and counsayle shulde be at the palays of Westmynster ¶ Of the coronacyon of kyng Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore nynetene the last daye of septembre on a tuysday began a parlyament at Westmynster holden by Henry duke of Lancastre at whiche tyme there was assembled prelates and clergy of the realme of Englande a great nombre and also dukes erles and barones and of euery towne a certayne Thus the people assembled at Westmynster there beynge presente the duke of Lancastre and there the same duke chalenged the realme of Englande and desyred to be kynge by thre reasones Fyrst by conquest secondly bycause he was heyre And thyrdly bycause Rycharde of Burdeaur had resygned the Realme in to his handes by his free wyll in the presence of certayne dukes erles prelates and barones in the hall within the towre of London These thre causes shewed the duke of Lancastre requyred all the people there present as well one as other to shewe their myndes and ententes in that behalfe Than all the people with one voyce sayd that their wylles was to haue him kynge and howe they wolde haue none other but hym Than the duke agayne sayd to the people Sirs is this your myndes and they all with one voyce sayde ye ye And than the duke sate downe in the syege royall whiche seate was reysed vp in the hall and couered with a clothe of estate so that euery man myght well se hym sytte And than the people lyfted vp their handes a hygh promysing hym their faythe and allegyaunce Thanne the parlyament coÌ„cluded and the day was taken for his coronacyon of saynt Edwardes day the monday the .xiii. day of Octobre at whiche tyme the saturday before his coronacyon he departed fro Westmynster and rode to the towre of London with a great nombre and that night all suche squyers as shulde be made knyghtes the nexte day watched who were to the nombre of .xlvi. Euery squier had his owne bayne by him selfe and the next day the duke of Lancastre made theym all knyghtes at the masse tyme. Than had they longe cotes with strayte sleues furred with mynyuer lyke prelates with whyte laces hangynge on their shuldes And after dyner the duke departed fro the towre to Westmynster rode all the way bareheeded and aboute his necke the lyuery of Fraunce He was acompanyed with the prince his sonne and syxe dukes syxe erles and .xviii. barons and in all knyghtes and squyers a nyne hundred horse Than the kynge had on a shorte cote of clothe of golde after the maner of Almayne and he was mounted on a whyte couâ—ser and the garter on his left legge Thus the duke rode through London with a great nombre of lordes euery lordes seruaunt in their maysters lyuery All the but gesses lombardes marchauntes in London and euery craft with their lyuerey and deuyse Thus he was conueyed to Westmynster He was in nombre a syxe thousaÌ„de horse and the streates hanged as he passed by and the same day and the next there were in London rynnynge seuen cundyttes with wyne whyte and reed That nyght the duke was bayned and the next mornynge he was confessed and herde thre masses as he was acustomed to do and than all the prelates and clergy came fro Westmynster churche to the palays to fetche the kynge with procession and so he went to the churche a procession and all the lordes with hym in their robes of scarlet furred with menyuer barred of their shulders acordynge to their degrees and ouer the kynge was borne a clothe of estate of blewe with four belles of golde and it was borne by four burgesses of the portes as Douer and other And on euery syde of him he had a sword borne the one the sworde of the churche and the other the sworde of iustyce The sworde of the church his sonne the prince dyd beare and the sworde of iustyce therle of Northumberlande dyd beare for he was as than constable of Englande for the erle of Rutlande was deposed fro that offyce and the erle of Westmerlande who was marshall of Englande bare the ceptour Thus they entred in to the churche about nyne of the clocke and in the myddes of the churche there was an hygh scaffolde all couered with reed and in the myddes therof there was a chayre Royall couered with clothe of golde Than the kyng sate downe in that chayre and so sate in estate royall sauynge he had nat on the crowne but sate bare heeded Than at four corners of the scaff olde the archebysshop of Caunterbury shewed vnto the people howe god had sent them a man to be their kyng and demaunded if they were content that he shulde be consecrated and crowned as their kynge And they all with one voyce sayd yea helde vp their handes promysynge him faythe and obeysaunce Than the kynge rose and wente downe the scaffolde to the hygh auter to be sacred at whiche consecracyon there were two archbysshoppes and ten bysshops and before the aulter theâ— he was dispoyled out of all his vestures of estate there he was anoynted in vi places on the heed on the brest on the two shulders behynde and on the handes Than a bonet was ser on his heed and whyle he was anoyntynge the clergy sange the latyny and suche seruyce as they synge at the halowing of the fonte Than that kinge was aparelled lyke a prelate of the churche â–ª with a cope of reed sylke and a payre of spurres with a poynte without a rowell Than the sworde of iustyce was drawen out of the shethe and halowed and than it was taken to the kyng who dyd put it agayne in to the sheth than the archebysshop of Caunterbury dyd gyrde the sworde about hym than saynt Edwardes crowne was brought forthe whiche is close aboue and blessed and than the archebysshop dyd sette it on the kynges heed After masse the kyng departed out of the churche in the same estate and went to his palays and there was a fountayne that ranne by dyuers braunches whyte wyne and reed Than the kyng entred in to the hall and so in to a priuy chamber and after came out agayne to dyner At the fyrst table sate the kynge At the seconde the fyue peres of the realme at the thyrde the valaunt men of London at the fourth the newe made knightes At the fyft the knyghtes and squiers of honour And by the kyng stode
the prince holdynge the sworde of the churche and on the other syde the Constable with the sworde of iustyce and a lytell aboue the marshall with the ceptour and at that kynges borde sate two archbysshops and .xvii. bysshoppes And in the myddes of the dyner there came in a knight who was called Dinereth all armed vpon a good horse rychely aparelled and had a knyght before hym bearyng his speare and his sworde by his syde and his dagger The knyght toke the kyng a lybell the whiche was red Therin was conteyned that there were outher knight squyer or any other geÌ„tylman that wold say that kyng Henry was nat right full kyng he was there redy to fyght with him in that quarell before the kynge or where as it shulde please hym to apoynte that byll was cryed by an haraulde in syxe places of the hall and in the towne There was none that wolde chalenge hym Whan the kynge had dyned he toke wyne spyces in the hall and than went in to his chambre Than euery man departed and went to their lodginges thus the day passed of kynge Henryes coronacyon with great ioy and feest whiche endured all the next day The erle of Salysbury was nat at this soleÌ„pnyte for he was in sure prison and the kinges couÌ„sayle and dyuers other noble men and the londoners wolde that his heed shulde haue ben stryken of openly in chepe for said he had well deserued it for bearynge of letters and credeÌ„ce fro Rycharde of Burdeaux to the frenche kyng and there to reporte openly that kyng Henry was a false traytoure whiche faute they sayd ought nat to be ê‘doned Kyng Henry was more gentyll than so for he had some pytie on hym for therle excused hym and sayd that he dyd was by the kynges coÌ„maundement by the settyng on of the four knyghtes that were beheeded Kinge Henry beleued well the erles wordes but his couÌ„sayle wolde nat beleue it but said and so dyd the londoners that he shulde dye bycause he had deserued deth Thus the erle of Salysbury was in prison in great daunger of his lyfe And syr Iohan Holande erle of Huntyngdon capytayne of Calais was well enfourmed of the hole mater and howe his brother kyng Rychard was taken and in prisone in the towre of London and had resygned his crowne and all howe Henry of Lancastre was kinge of Englande This erle of Huntyngdon what so euer dyspleasure he had for the trouble of his brother yet wysely he consydred the tyme and aduentures and sawe well that he was nat able to with stande all the power and puyssaunce of the realme Also the countesse his wyfe who was cosyn germayne to kynge Henry sayd Syr it must behoue you to passe your displeasure pacyently wysely and do nat that thynge wherby ye shall haue doÌ„mage for the kyng may do you moche good and ye se that all the realme enclyneth to hym if ye shewe any dyspleasure to hym warde ye are but lost wherfore syr I requyre you and I couÌ„sayle you to dyssimule the matter for as well kynge Henry nowe is your brother as kyng Richarde was therfore syr stycke and leane to him and ye shall fynde hym your good louer for there was neuer a rycher kynge in Englande than he is he may do to you to your chyldren great good The erle herde well the wordes of his wyfe and beleued her and enclyned hym to kynge Henry and offred hym humble obeysaunce and promysed hym faythe and trouthe The kyng receyued hym and had great ioy therof and he dyd so moche with meanes of his freÌ„des that therle of Salysbury was taken to grace and his excusacyons accepted and was clene pardoned ¶ How newes of the taking of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the coÌ„myng thyder of the lady of Coucy and howe the frenche kynge was dyspleased Cap. CC.xlvi WHan the lady of Coucy was aryued at Bouloyne she hasted her to go to Parys Great murmurynge there was in Fraunce of the sodayne incidentes that were fall in EnglaÌ„de they knewe somwhat by marchauÌ„tes of Bruges but whan the lady of Coucy aryued than the trouth was knowen She went firste to her husbandes house as it was reason Anon the frenche kynge herde worde howe the lady of Coucy was come to Parys Than the kynge sent for the lorde of Coucy who had ben all nyght with his wyfe Whan he was come the kynge demauÌ„ded of the state of kynge Rycharde of Englande and of the quene his doughter The lorde durst nat hyde the trouth fro hym but shewed hym playnely euery thynge as his wyfe had shewed hym whiche newes were sore dyspleasaunt to the frenche kynge for he knewe well the englysshmen were sore harde men to apease and so with dyspleasure the frenche kynge retourned agayne in to his olde sicknes of fransey wherof the nobles of that realme were sore displeased but they coude nat amende it Than the duke of Burgoyn said I thought neuer otherwyse for it was a maryage without good reasone the whiche I sayd playnly ynough whan the mater was fyrst spokeÌ„ of but as than I coulde nat be herde for I knewe well the londoners neuer loued parfytely kynge Rycharde All this myschefe is engendred by the duke of Gloucestre it is tyme nowe to take hede what the englisshmen wyll do sythe they haue taken their kyng and put him in prison by all lykelyhode they wyll put hym to dethe for they neuer loued him bycause be loued no warre but peace they wyll crowne to their kynge the duke of Lancastre he shall so bynde hym selfe to them that whether he wyll or nat he shall do all that they wyll sayd moreouer nowe shall be sene what they of Burdeaux wyll do for there he was borne and was well be loued with them and also with them of Bayon of Dax and in all the lymytes of Burdeloys it were good that that constable of FrauÌ„ce sir Loys of Sanxere were signyfyed of this mater and that he drewe hym to that fronters there with him syr Raynolde of Barroys of Barreys and other barones and prelates and to treate with them and my brother the duke of Berrey to go in to Poictou to drawe to the fronters of Xaintes of Blaues and of mirebell wherby if they of Burdeaux wyll any thynge entende to our treaties that they may be receyued for nowe shall we haue them or neuer As he deuysed it was ordeyned the whiche was a substanciall deuyce for whan they of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax vnderstode that their kynge Rycharde was taken and sette in the towre of London and duke Henry of Lancastre crowned kyng they had gret marueyle therof and in the begynnyng wolde nat beleue it but lytle lytle they knewe the trouth therof Than the sayd thre townes were closed and no man suffred to issue out nor to entre in they were sore troubled and sorowfull and specyally the cytie of Burdeaux
for kynge Rycharde was norysshed amonge them therfore they loued hym and whyle he was kynge if any of Burdeloys came to hym they were well receyued and alwayes the kinge was redy to fulfyll their desyres wherfore they sayd whan they knewe the trouth Ah Richarde gentle kyng ye were as noble a man as euer reigned in any realme this trouble that londoners haue caused for they coulde neuer loue you specyall sythe ye were alyed by maryage with the frenche kyng this myschiefe is so great that we can nat suffre it They haue holden you kynge this .xxii. yere and nowe to condempe you to the dethe for sythe ye be in prison haue crowned the duke of Lancastre they wyll surely put you to deth So they of Burdeloys made great lamentacyons in so moche that the seneschall of Burdeaux a ryght valyaunt knyght of Englande wrote letters therin conteynynge the wordes and lamentacyons of them of the cytie of Burdeaulx of Bayon and of Dax Also he wrote howe they were nere at the poynte to yelde vp their townes to the frenche kyng He sent this lettre by a trusty seruauÌ„t of his by the see who had good wynde and aryued at Cornewayle in EnglaÌ„de and than he rode so longe that he came to London there he fouÌ„de kynge Henry and delyuered his letters whiche were dyrected to the kynge and to the londoners They were opened and reed and the kynge and the londoners tooke counsayle vpon that mater They of London aunswered lyke theym that were nothyng abasshed of that tydynges but sayde as for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche for they can nat lyue in their daunger nor they canne nat suffre the extorcion and pollinge of the frenchmen for vnder vs they lyue franke and free and if the frenche men shulde be lordes ouer them they shulde be taxed and tayled retayled two or thre tymes in a yere the whiche they are nat nowe acustomed vnto whiche shulde be a harde thyng nowe for them to begynne Also these thre cyties are closed in rouÌ„de about with great lordes who are good englysshe and longe haue been as the lorde Pyuiers the lorde Musydent the lorde Duras the lorde Landuras the lorde Copane the lorde Rosem the lorde Logeren and dyuers other barones and knyghtes by whome they shulde haue warre at their handes for they shulde nat issue out of their cities but they shulde be taken For all the seneschalles wrytynge we haue no doute that they shulde become frenche howe be it good it is to sende thyder some valyaunt wyse man that is beloued amonge theym some suche as hath gouerned there or this and that is the lorde Thomas Percy Thus as it was deuysed it was acomplysshed he was desyred to go thyder and to take hede of that couÌ„trey He fulfylled the kynges coÌ„maundement and made hym redy to departe it was about Christmasse at whiche tyme the wyndes be sore and ieoperdous he toke shyppynge in Cornewayle He had with him two hundred men of armes and four hundred archers And with hym was his nephue Hugh Hastynges Thomas Colleuyll Gyllyam Lysle Iohan Graily bastarde sonne to the Captall of Beufz Guillyam Traicton Iohan Danbreticourt and diuers other and also the bysshop of London and mayster Rycharde Doall They taryed tyll it was mydde Marche or they toke the see and or they came to Burdeaux the duke of Burbon was come to the cytie of Dagen to treate with theym of Burdeloys and he dyd so moche by his fayre wordes and good assuraunce that the counsayles of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax were sent to the cytie of Dagen The duke receyued them frendly and gaue them fayre wordes and many promyses and shewed them that if they wolde turne frenche and be vnder the obeysaunce of the frenche kynge what so euer they wolde demaunde shulde be graunted them and sealed perpetually to endure Many thynges they promysed and sware to seale and to kepe for euer They aunswered whan they were retourned agayne in to their cyties they wolde shewe all this to the people and so take counsayle and than gyue answere Thus they departed fro Dagen and fro the duke of Burbon and retourned to their townes and shewed all this to the people but all tourned to nothynge for the comynaltyes of the sayde cyties consydred the busynesse and knewe well howe the realme of Fraunce was vexed and troubled with tayles and fowages and shamfull exaccions all to get money than they sayd if the frenche men gouerne ouer vs they wyll bringe vs to the same vsage yet it is better for vs to be englysshe for they kepe vs franke and free If the londoners haue deposed kynge Rycharde crowned kinge Henry what is that to vs we haue and shall haue alwayes a kynge and we vnderstande that the bysshop of London and syr Thomas Percy shortely wyll be here they shall enfourme vs of the trouthe we haue also more marchaundyse of woll wyne and clothe with the Englysshe men than with the frenchmen let vs be ware we make no treatie wherby we shulde repent vs after Thus the treatie with the frenche men was broken and lefte of Than anone after the bysshop of London and the lorde Percy with their charge of men of warre aryued at Burdeaux wherof moche people were greatly reioysed and some displeased suche as had rather haue been frenche than englysshe All these englysshe lordes were lodged togyther in the abbey of saint Andrewe and whan they sawe their tyme they shewed to the people the state of Englande and the cause why they were sent thyder and they dyd so moche that euery thynge was apeased bothe there and in all other places For harde it was to haue caused them to haue tourned frenche THan it was determyned by the counsayle of Fraunce sithe the kyng was in sycknesse by reason of the displeasure that he toke for the deposyng of his sonne in lawe kynge Rycharde that they shulde sende some notable wyse personage in to Englande to knowe the state of the quene to do this message was apoynted syr Charles de la Brethe and Charles of Hangers who as they were coÌ„maunded departed fro Parys and came to Boloygne and there taryed for they had sent an haraulde to kynge Henry for without assurauÌ„ce they durst nat go for all the truce that was bytwene bothe realmes Kynge Henry who thought hym selfe moche bounde to the Frenche kynge for the chere that he hadde in Fraunce toke counsayle and concluded and so the haraulde was answered that it was the kynges pleasure that they and their company shulde come in to Englande and to come the streyght way to the kyng and nat to ryde out of the way without lycence The haraulde retourned to Boloyne and shewed what he had done wherwith they were content and so shypped their horses and toke the see and aryued at Douer where they founde redy a knyght of the kynges howse â—oho receyued theym they had sene hym before with kyng
where as he laye his hedde on a blacke quisshen his visage open some had on hym pytie soÌ„e none but sayd he had long a go deserued dethe Now coÌ„syder well ye great lordes kynges dukes erles baroÌ„s prelates all men or great lynage puissauce se beholde how the fortunes of this worlde are marueylous turne diuersly This kyng Richarde reigned kynge of EnglaÌ„de .xxii. yere in great prosperite holdyng great estate signorie There was neuer before any kyng of Englande that spente so moche in his house as he dyd by a. C.M. florens euery yere For I sir IohnÌ„ Froissart chanon treasourer of Chinay knewe it wel for I was in his court more tha a quarter of a yere togider he made me good chere bycause that in my youthe I was clerke seruauÌ„t to the noble kynge Edwarde the thirde his grautfather with my lady Philyp of Heynault quene of EnglaÌ„de his grandame and whan I deê‘ted fro hym it was at Wynsore and at my departynge the kyng sent me by a knight of his called sir IohnÌ„ Golofer a gob let or syluer gylte weyeng two marke of siluer within it a C. nobles by the which I am as yet the better and shal be as long as I lyue wherfore I am bouÌ„de to praye to God for his soule with moche sorowe I write of his dethe But bicause I haue coÌ„tynued this historie therfore I write therof to folowe it In my tyme I haue sene two thingê though they differ yet they be true I was in the cytie of Burdeux sytting at the table whaÌ„ kyng Richarde was borne the whiche was on a tuisday about .x. of the clocke The same tyme there caÌ„e there as I was sir Richarde PouÌ„tcardon marshall as than of Acâ—tayne he said to me Froissart write put in memorie that as nowe my lady pricesse is brought abeed with a fayre son on this twelfe daye that is the day of the thre kynges and he is son to a kynges son shal be a kyng This geÌ„tyll knight said trouthe for he was kynge of Englande xxii yere But whan this knyght sayd these wordes he knewe full lytell what shulde be his conclusyon And the same tyme that kynge Richarde was borne his father the prince was in Galyce the whiche kyng Dompeter had gyuen him and he was there to coÌ„quere the realme Vpon these thyngê I haue greatlye ymagined sythe for the fyrst yere that I caÌ„e in to EnglaÌ„de in to the seruyce of quene Philyppe Kynge Edwarde and the quene and all their chyldren were as than at Barcamstede a maner of the prince of Wales be yonde London The kynge and the Quene were came thyder to take leaue of their sofie the prince and the priÌ„cesse who were goyng in to Acquitayne And there I herde an auÌ„cient knyght deuyse amonge the ladyes and sayde There is a booke whiche is called le Brust and it deuyseth that the prince of Wales eldest son to the king nor the duke of Clarence nor the duke of Glocestre shuld neuer be kyng of EnglaÌ„de but the realme crowne shuld returne to the house of Lacastre There I Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle coÌ„sydring all these thynges I say these two knyghtes sir Richarde Pountcardon sir Bartylmewe of Bruels layd bothe trouthe For I sawe and so dyde all the worlde Rycharde of Burdeaux .xxii. yere kyng of Englande and after the crowne retourned to the house of Lancastre And that was whan kyng HeÌ„ry was kyng the which he had neuer ben if Richarde of Burdeaux had dalte amyably with hym for the Londoners made hym kyng bycause they had pytie on hym and on his chyldren Thus whan kynge Richarde had layne two houres in the chare in Chepe syde than they draue the chayre forwarde And whan the foure knyghtes that folowed the chare a sote were without London they lept than on their horses whiche were there redy for them And so they rode tyll they caÌ„e to a vyllage called Langle a .xxx. myle from LoÌ„don and there this kyng Richarde was buryed god haue mercy on his soule Tydinges spredde abrode howe kyng Richarde was deed he taryed euery daye for it for euery man myght well consydre that he shulde neuer come out of prisone a lyue His dethe was long kepte and hydde fro his wyfe The Frenche kynge and his counsayle were well enformed of all this and the knightes and squyers desyred nothyng but the warre that they myght ryde vpon the fronters Howe be it the counsayls as well of the one realme as of the other toke their aduyse and thought it best to vpholde styll the truse that was taken before they thought it more ê“fitable than the warre And a newe treatie was deuysed to be in the marches of Calais bycause the freÌ„che kyng was nat in good case nor had nat been sythe he knewe of the trouble that kyng Richarde was in And yet his sickenesse doubled whaÌ„ he knewe that he was deed so that the duke of Burgoyne had the chefe rule of the realme And he came to saynt Omers to Burbourâ— where the duke of Burbone was sir Charles de la Brest and Charles of Hangeers Iohan of Castell Morant and of prelates the patriarke of Ierusalem and the bysshoppes of Paris and of Beauoyes And on the Englysshe partie there was the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Rutlande the erle of Deuonshyre and the lorde Henry Percy the erles sonne and yuan of Fitzwaren and prelates there were the bysshoppes of Wynchester and of Ely The frenche men demauÌ„ded to haue agayne delyuered the yong quene of Englande but the Englysshe men wolde in no wyse delyuer her but sayd she shulde lyue styll in EnglaÌ„de vpon her dowrie and that though she had lost her husbande they wolde prouyde for her another that shulde be fayre yong gentyll with whom she shuld be better pleased than with Richard of Burdeaux for he was olde and this shuld be the prince of Wales eldest sofie to kyng Henry To this the Frenchmen wolde nat agre for they wolde nat consent therto without liceÌ„ce of the kyng her father who as than was nat in good poynt for he was farrÌ„ out of the way no medysyn coude helpe hym So that mater was layde aparte and the treatie of truse went forwarde in suche wyse that by coÌ„sent of bothe parties they sware and were bouÌ„de to kepe the truse .xxvi. yere more to the four yeres that it had endured the whiche in all was .xxx. yere accordynge to the fyrst couenauÌ„t and vpon this writynges were made and sealed by procuracyons of bothe kyngê this done euery man returned to their own countreis ¶ I haue nat as yet shewed you what became of therle Marshall by whom fyrst all these trybulacyons began in the realme of Englande but nowe I shall shewe you He was at Venyce and whaÌ„ he knewe that kyng Henry was kyng and kynge Rycharde taken deed He toke therof so great displeasure and sorowe that he layde hym downe on his bedde and fell in a fransy and so dyed Suche mischeuousnesse fell in those dayes vpon great lordes of Englande ¶ And in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande four hundred one lesse Pope Benedic at Auignon who had ben susteyned long by the Frenche men was as than deposed And in lykewise so was the kynge of Almaygne for his yuell dedes For the clectours of the Empyre and all the dukes and barons of Almaygne rose agaynst hym and sente hym in to Boesme where as he was kyng and they chose another a valyaunt and a wyseman to be kyng of Almayne and he was one of the Bauyers and was called Robert of Heleberge And he came to Coloygne where he was crowned with the crowne of Almayne for they of Ayes wolde nat open their towne to hym nor the duke of Guerles wolde nat be vnder his obeysaunce This newe kynge of Almaygne promysed to bring the churche to a vnyte and peace Howe be it the FreÌ„che kynge and his counsayle treated with the legeoys who helde with the pope at Rhome And they dyde so moche by the meanes of sir Baudwyn of Mount Iardyne who gouerned a great parte of the bysshoprike of Liege who was a knyght of the Frenche kynges so that by his meanes at the desyre of the freÌ„che kyng the countrey of Liege tourned to become neuter so that the Legeois sente to Rome for all the clergy that were there of their countrey to come by a certayne day or els to lese all their benefyces in the countre Whan they herde that they returned fro Rome and caÌ„e to Liege And pope Bonyface who lost moche by that transmutacion sente a legate in to Almaygne to preche amonge them to cause them to retourne agayne to his parte but the legate durst nat passe Coloigne and sent letters to Liege Whanne those letters were reed the messanger was aunswered that on payne of drownyng he shulde no more comeon suche message For they sayd as many messanger as cometh with any suche message shal be drowned in the ryuer of Moeuze Finis totius Froissart ¶ Thus endeth the thirde and fourthe boke of sir IohnÌ„ Froissart of the cronycles of Englande FrauÌ„ce Spayne Portyngale Scotlande Bretaygne Flaunders and other places adioynynge Translated out of Frenche in to maternall Englysshe by IohnÌ„ Bourchier knyght lorde Berners deputie generall of the kynges towne of Calais and marches of the same At the hyghe commaundement of our moost redouted souerayne lorde kyng henry the eight kyng of Englande and of Fraunce and hyghe defender of the christen faythe c. The whiche two bokes be coÌ„pyled in to one volume fynysshed in the sayd towne of Calais the .x. day of marche in the .xvi. yere of our said souerayne lordes raigne Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Rycharde Pynson printer to the kynges moost noble grace And ended the last day of August the yere of our lorde god M.D.xxv. ¶ Cum priuylegio a rege in dulto
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