perfyte Nowe in the same season there happed to fall a great lette and trouble in this matter wherby all was nyghe at a poynte to haue been broken and made voyde and it is reason I tell you the cause to the entent that the hystory be playne and trewe YE haue herde here before how the frenche kyng had great pleasure to lye at Abbeuyle and also to be nere to here dayly howe the treatie wente forwarde at Balyngham And whan the four dukes were at a poynt as ye haue herde at the conclusyon of the mater the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sayd howe that it was the entensyon of kynge Rycharde kynge of Englande and his counsayle that pope Bonyface beynge at Rome whome the Romayns almayns hungaryons lumbardes venysyans and all the nacyons of the worlde chrystened helde to one pope and he that named hym selfe Clement degraded and condeÌ„pned that they shulde desyre the frenche kynge to take the same way Whan the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne vnderstode those wordes the duke of Burgoyne to the entent somewhat to please his cosyns of Englande and to the entente that their treatie of peace shulde nat be hyndred therby sayd Fayre cosyns we desyre you to haue some respyte to take counsayle vpon that mater whiche was graunted them And thervpon they toke counsayle and than aunswered and the Duke of Burgoyne spake and sayd Fayre cosyns the mater and questyon of the two popes is nat couenable to be moued nor spoken of here amonge vs and we marueyle why ye put this mater in coÌ„munycacion for at the fyrst begynnyng of our treatie ye refused to se or to speke with the Legate de la Lyne who is as yet in Abbeuyle wherfore we rest vs on that Whan the cardynalles at Rome dyd chose pope Vrbayne and after his dyscease pope Bonyface none of our party nor yet of yours were called to that electyon and in lykewyse we saye of Clement who is at Auygnon We saye nat agaynst but that it were great almes to a pease theym and to vny the churche who so myght entende to do it but lette vs leaue that mater and lette the vnyuersitees and clerkes determyne it and whan all our busynesse is concluded and a ferme peace ratifyed than by the counsayle of our cosyn the kynge of Almayne we shall entende therto gladly on our partye and in lykewyse do you on your partie With this aunswere the dukes of Englande were well content for it semed to them reasonable Than they aunswered and sayde Fayre cosyns ye haue sayde very well we are content with the same Thus that mater rested Than there fell a nother great lette and trouble for the frenche kynge who had layne at the towne of Abuyle a great season bycause of the great disportes pleasure and pastyme that he fouÌ„de there sodaynly he fell agayne in to his maladye of fransy in lyke maner as he had ben the yere before He that fyrst perceyued it was syr Willyam Martell a knyght of Normandy who was alwayes nere to the kynges persone in his priuy chambre The same seasone the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne were at Boloyne or at Balyngham vpon th ende of their parlyament and they had in a manerall concluded for that seasone And as soone as the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce brother to the kynge knewe of this chaunce of the kynges sycknesse and that he had sene hym he sente a secrete squyer of his named Bonyface to his vncles to Boloyne aduertisynge them secretly of the kynges dysease Whanne the dukes knewe that they were ryght sorye and departed for they had all redy taken their leaues of their cosyns of Englande who were also departed to Calays and taryed there to here tydynges fro the kyng of Nauerte and fro the duke of Bretaygne for they hadde moued in their treatie that the castell of Chyerbourge standynge on the seesyde vpon the close of Constantyne in Normandy whiche the kynge of Englande had in gawge and in kepynge as I was enfourmed for the soÌ„me of threscore thousande nobles of Englande that the frenche kynge shulde paye the sayd somme and the castell to retourne to the Kynge of Nauerre and also the stronge castell of Brest that the englysshe men helde shulde retourne to the duke of Bretaygne The dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne abode nat the conclusyon of that matter but came to Abbeuyle and founde the kynge in ryght yuell estate of his helthe where of they were sory The kynges sycknesse was kepte secrete as longe as it myght be but it was nat very longe for suche aduentures are soone spredde abrode Thus all the lordes that had been in Abbeuyle departed one after another euery man home to his owne howse Than it was determyned that the kynge shulde be caryed in an horse lytter to the castell of Crayll vpon Oyse where he had been before Thyder he was conueyed by nyght tyme and the daye tyme he rested for the heate of the sonne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Orlyaunce rode to Crayell with the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne rode in to Arthoys and in to Flaunders vysitynge his countreys and founde the duchesse his wyfe at the castell of Hedyn As than there was no mo wordes spoken of the lorde de la Ryuer nor of syr Iohan Mercyer they were as than all forgoten no man spake of their greuaunce nor of their delyueraunce This seconde malady that Charles the frenche kynge was fallen in dyd put away greatly the speakynge of the people The wyse and sage men of Fraunce feared before greatly this chaunce for they sawe the kynge was lykely to fall in to that malady by reason of the great excesse that he had vsed in tymes paste and through the feblenesse of his heed mayster WillmÌ„ of Harsley was as than newly deed and suche as were nere about the kyng coude nat tell where to haue a good sure phisicyon to wayt vpon the kyng howbeit they that were about him dyd the best they coude deuise ¶ Of the dethe of pope Clement at Auygnon and of the lectyon of pope Benedic Cap. C.xcvi IN that tyme in the moneth of Septembre passed out of this worlde at Auygnon Roberte of Geneue named pope Clement and it came by hym as he had alwayes said before whan any man spake of the peace and vnyâ—n of the church he wolde say alwayes howe he wolde dye pope and so he dyd in maner as ye haue herde here before wrongfully or ryghtfully I wyll nat determyne Than the Cardynalles there were sore abasshed and studyed whome they myght chose to be pope The same tyme the Frenche kynge retourned agayne to his helth wherof all suche as loued him had great ioye and specyally the good quene who had gyuen moche almesse and done many pylgrymages for the kynge and caused generall processyons to be made in Parys As I was enfourmed the cardynals at Auygnon dyd electe and chose to be pope the cardynall de la
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
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
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
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
layde it on a trenchour of bredde and called to him a dogge and gaue it hym to eate and assoone as the dogge had eaten the first morsell he tourned his eyen in his heed and dyed incontynentâ— And whanÌ„e the erle sawe that he was sore displeased also he had good cause and so rose fro the table and toke his knife and wolde haue stryken his son Than the knightes and squyers ran bytwene them and said Sir for goddes sake haue mercy and be nat so hastye Be well enformed first of the mater or ye do any yuell to your chylde And the first worde that therle said was A gascone treatour for to encrease thyne herytage that shulde come to the I haue had warre and hatered of the Frenche kyng of the kyng of EnglaÌ„de of the kyng of Spayne of the kyng of Nauar and of the kyng of Arragon and as yet I haue borne all their malesses and nowe thou woldest murther me it moueth of an yuell nature but first thou shalt dye with this stroke and so stept forthe with his knife wolde haue slayne him but than all the knightes and squyers kneled downe before hym wepynge and sayd Ah sir haue mercy for goddes sake â—â—ee nat Gascone your sonne remeÌ„bre ye haue dâ— more chyldren Sir cause hym to be kepte take good enformacion of the mater Paradnenfure he knewe nat what he bare and paraduenture is nothyng gyltie of the dede Well quod the erle incontynent put hym in prisone and let hym be so kepte that I may haue a reconyng of hym Than the chylde was put in to the towre the erle toke a great many of them that serued his sonne and some of them departed and as yet the bysshoppe of Lascalle is at Pan out of the countre for he was had in suspect and so were dyuers other Th erle cansed to be put to dethe a fyftene right horribly and the cause that the erle layde to them was he sayde It coulde be none otherwyse but that they knewe of the chyldes secretes wherfore they ought to haue shewed it to hym and to haue said Sir Gascone your sonne beareth a purse at his bosome Bycause they dyde nat thus they dyed horribly wherof it was great pytie for some of theÌ„ were as fresshe and as ioly squyers as were any in all the couÌ„tre for euer the erle was serued with good men This thynge touched the erle nere to the herte and that he well shewed For on a day he assembled at Ortaise all the nobles and prelates of Foiz and of Bierne and all the notable persons of his countrey And whan they were all assembled he shewed theym wherfore he sente for theÌ„ as howe he had fouÌ„de his sonne in this defaute For the whiche he fayd his entent was to putte hym to dethe as he had well deserued Than all the people answered to that case with one voyce and sayde Sir sauynge your grace we wyll nat that Gascoyne shulde dye he is your heyre and ye haue no mo And whan the erle herde the people howe they desyred for his sonne he soÌ„what refrayned his yre Than he thought to chastyce hym in prisone a moneth or two and than to sende hym on some voyage for two or thre yere tyll he might somwhat forget his yuell wyll and that the chylde might be of greatter age of more knowledge Than he gaue leaue to all the people to depart but they of Foiz wolde nat departe fro Ortaise tyll the erle shulde assure them that Gascoyne shulde nat dye they loued the chylde so well Than the erle promysed them but he sayd he wolde kepe hym in prisone a certayne space to chastice hym And so vpon this promyse euery man departed and Gascone abode styll in prisone These tidynges spredde abrode in to dyuers places and at that tyme pope Gregorie the .xi. was at Auygnon Than he sente the cardynall of Amyens in legacion in to Byerne to haue come to therle of Foiz for that businesse by that tyme he came to Besiers he herde suche tidynges that he neded nat to go any further for that mater for there he herde howe Gascon sonne to the erle of Foyz was deed Sythe I haue shewed you so moche nowe shall I shewe you howe he dyed THe erle of Foyz caused his sonne to be kepte in a darke chambre in the towre of Ortayse a tenne dayes lytell dyde he eate or drinke yet he had ynoughe brought hym euery daye but whan he sawe it he wolde go therfro and sette lytell therby And some sayd that all the meate that had been brought hym stode hole and entier the day of his dethe wherfore it was great marueyle that he lyued so longe for dyuers reasons The erle caused hym to be kepte in the chambre alone withoute any company outher to couÌ„sayle or conforte hym And all that season the chylde laye in his clothes as he came in and he argued in him selfe and was full of malencoly and cursed the tyme that euer he was borne and engendred to come to suche an ende The same day that he dyed they that serued hym of meate drinke whan they came to hym they sayde Gascone here is meate for you he made no care therof and sayde Sette it downe there He that serued hym regarded and sawe in the prison all the meate stande hole as it had been brought hym before And so departed and closed the chambre dore and went to the erle and sayd Sir for goddes sake haue mercy on your sonne Gascone for he is nere famysshed in prisone there he lyeth I thynke he neuer dyde eate any thynge sythe he came in to prisone for I haue sene there this daye all that euer I brought hym before lyeng toguyder in a corner Of those wordes the Erle was sore dyspleased and withoute any worde spekyng went out of his chambre and came to the prisone where his some was and in anyuell houre He had the same tyme a lytell knyfe in his hande to pare withall his nayles He opyned the prisone dore and came to his sonne and had the lytell knyfe in his hande nat an ynche out of his hande And in great dyspleasure he thruste his hande to his sonnes throte and the poynt of the knife a lytell entred in to his throte in to a certayne vayne and sayd Ah treatour Why doest nat thou eate thy meate And therwith the Erle departed without any more doynge or sayeng and went in to his owne chambre The chylde was abasshed and afrayed of the comynge of his father and also was feble of fastynge and the poynt of the knyfe a lytell entred in to a vayne of his throte so fell downe sodaynly and dyed The erle was scante in his chambre but the kepar of the chylde came to hym and sayd Sir Gascone your sonne is deed Deed quod the Erle yea truely sir quod he The erle wolde nat beleue it but sente thyder a squyer that was by him
archers and euery man payed for a quarter of a yere Howe be it they reserued that yf any accydent touchynge the realme of EnglaÌ„de by the meanes of FrauÌ„ce or Scotlande shulde happen to falle before their departure in to Portingale than to tary The duke agreed therto sythe he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And than as ye haue herde before whanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre was redy with all his men at Hampton to take his voyage in to Portyngale that the ambassadurs were retourned and had brought worde in to Portyngale howe the duke of Lancastre was comyng with suche a nombre of men of warre Than the portyngalois had great ioye So it fortuned than that a lette fell in Englande whiche taryed the duke of Lancastre for a season for the admyrall of Fraunce sir Iohan of Vien with a thousande speares of good men of armes toke shippyng at Scluse and sayled in to Scotlande and made warre in to Englande so that all the realme came to resyst theÌ„ All this is shewed here before in this hystorie wherfore I nede nat to speke therof agayne but I wyll speke of the siege of Lixbone and of the kynge of Spayne of whome I shall make true relacyon accordynge as I was enformed Kynge don Iohan of Castell beyng at siege before Lixbone tidynges came in to his hoost by marchauntes of his countrey that came fro Flaunders howe the duke of Lancastre with a great nombre of men of warre were comynge thyderwarde to reyse the siege theâ— These tidynges were well beleued for the spanyardes knewe well howe the duke of Lancastre wolde do his payne and dilygence to make warre on the realme of Castell bycause he claymed part therof by the ryght of his wyfe howe be it the kyng helde styll his siege and he had sent messangers and letters to haue ayde out of FrauÌ„ce and specially he sent in to the couÌ„tre of Bierne and in to the lande of the erle of Foiz And out of Byerne there issued in a four dayes respyte a thre hundred speares of chosen men of armes and there was come to Ortaise out of the realme of FrauÌ„ce to go into Castell to serue the king there Sir Iohan of Rue burgonyon and sir Geffray Richon breton sir Geffray de Partenay and eche of theÌ„ had a company by them selfe Than they of Bierne made theÌ„ redy as the lorde of Lynguasshe a great barone companyon to the erle of Foiz and sir Peter Lyer sir Iohan de Lespres the lorde of Bordes sir Bertrande of Baruge the lorde of Moriage sir Raymonde Dansac sir IohnÌ„ of Salagre sir Monan of Saruen sir Pyer of Robier sir Stephyn of Valentyne and sir Raymonde of Rarasse sir Peter of Hanefan sir Ogert of domesson and dyuers other And sir Espayngnolet of Spaygne eldest sonne to sir Roger of Spaygne cosyn of lygnage and armes to the erle of Foiz he went in the company of them of Bierne These lordes and knightes of Bierne made their assemble at Ortaise and therabout and it was shewed me by them that sawe them deê‘te fro Ortaise howe that they were the best armed and apoynted company that wente out of Byerne many a daye before And whan the erle of Foiz sawe surely howe they wolde deê‘te to go in to Spaygne thoughe at the begynnynge he somwhat consented therto and that they shulde receyue the kyng of Castelles wages yet he was angry and soroufull of their departyng for he sawe well that his countre was sore febled therby Than he sent sir Espaygne de Leon and sir Cabestan to these sayd lordes knightes and squyers desyringe them to come toguyder to his castell of Ortaise to the entent to gyue theym a dyuer to their farewell The knightes obeyed as it was reason and came to Ortaise to se the erle who receyued them with gladde chere and after masse caused theÌ„ all to come to him in to his secrete chambre and than in maner of counsayle he said to them sirs it is than your ententes to deê‘te out of my countre and to leaue in my handes the warre with the erle of Armynake and ye to go make warre for the kyng of Spayne This departure toucheth me right nere Sir quod they we muste nedes go for to that entent we haue receyued the kyng of Castels wages And sir the warre bytwene Spayne Portyngale ones atchyued than we shall retourne agayne in sauegarde atchyued ê™ therle nay nat so soone for as nowe it dothe but begyn for there is a newe kynge in Portyngale and he hath sent for ayde in to Englande therfore this warre is likely to endure a long season ye to kepe the felde for ye shall nat be fought with tyll the duke of Lancastre and his coÌ„pany be come thyder and so ye shall derely bye the wages ye haue receyued Sir ê™ they sythe we haue done so moche we must nedes parforme our voyage Well god spede you quod the erle let vs go to dyner it is tyme. and than therle with these lordes and knightê went in to his hall and there the tables were There they had a great dyner at great leaser and was serued with euery thyng that to that day ê‘teyned And after dyner therle ledde with hym all this coÌ„pany in to the galarye than he entred in to comunyng with them and sayd Fayre lordê and frendes it shall greue me to se your departynge out of my countre nat for that I am dyspleased with your auauncementes honours for in all cases I wolde gladly augment and exalte your honours profyte But I haue great pytie of you for ye are the chefe flour of chiualry of my countre of Bierne and ye thus to go in to a straunge countre I wolde couÌ„sayle you yet agayne to leaue this voyage and to let the kynge of Castell and the kynge of Portyngale make their warre bytwene theym selfe for ye are nat bounde none otherwyse Sir ê™ they sauynge your displeasure we can nat do thus And sir ye knowe more than ye speke of We haue taken wages and gyftes of the kyng of Castell wherfore we must nedes deserue it Well quod therle yespeke well but I shall shewe you what shall come of this vyage Outher ye shall retourne so poore and so naked that lyfe shall straÌ„gle you or els ye shal be all slayne or taken The knightes began to laughe and sayd Sir we must abyde the aduenture Than therle fell in other talkyng and lefte that in rest and that than he shewed them in maner of communycasion all the nature of the Spanyardes howe they be sluttysshe and lousy and enuyous of other mennes welthe Wherfore quod he I reed you take good counsayle and than he demaunded for wyne and spyce and he made euery maÌ„ drinke and than toke euery man by the hande and badde them farewell and departed fro theÌ„ and went in to his chambre And at the fote of the castell the knightes mouÌ„ted on their
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
vpon tayles aydes vpon aydes so that the realme hath ben more greued with tayles and other subsydies nat accustomed sythe the kynges Coronacyon than in fyftie yere before and it is nat knowen where the richesse is become Wherfore sir maye it please you to prouyde some remedy or elles the mater wyll go yuell for the commons cryeth out theron Than the duke answered and sayde fayre sirs I haue herde you well speke but I alone can nat remedy this mater howe be it I se well ye haue cause to coÌ„playne and so hathe all other people But though I be vncle to the kynge and sonne to a kyng though I shulde speke therof yet nothynge shal be done for all that For the kyng my nephue hath suche couÌ„sayle as nowe about hym whome he beleueth better than hym selfe whiche couÌ„sayle ledeth hym as they lyste But if ye wyll come to the effecte of your desyres it must behoue you to haue of youre accorde and agrement all the cyties and good townes of Englande And also some prelates and noble ê‘sonages of the realme and so come toguyder in to the kynges presens and I my brother shal be there And than ye maye saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir ye were crowned very yonge and yuell ye haue ben counsayled as yet hyther vnto Nor ye haue nat takenne good regarde to the busynesse of this your Realme by reason of the poore and yonge counsayle that ye haue aboute you Wherby the matters of your realme hath hadde but small and yuell effectes as ye haue sene and knowen ryght well For if God haddenat shewed his grace this realme had been loste and distroyed Therfore sir here in the prensens of your vncles we requyre youre grace as humble subiectes ought to desyre their prince that your grace wyll fynde some remedy that this noble Realme of Englande and the noble crowne therof whiche is discended to you from the noble kyng Edwarde the thirde who was the moost nobles kynge that euer was sythe Englande was firste enhabyted that it maye be susteyned in sprosperyte and honour and your people that complayneth to be kepte and maynteyned in their ryght the whiche to do your grace dyde swere the daye of youre Coronacion And that it maye please you to call togyther the thre estates of your Realme prelates and barownes and wysemen of your cyties and good townes and that they may regarde if the gouernyng of your realme that is past be well or nat And sir if they parceyue that it hath been well thanne suche as be in offyce to remaygne styll as longe as it shall please your grace and if they be founde contrarye thauÌ„e they in courtesse maner to be auoyded fro your persone and other notable and dyscrete persones to be sette in to offyce First by your noble aduyse by the consent of my lordes your vncles and noble prelates and barones of your realme And sirs quod the duke of Gloucester whan ye haue made this supplycacion to the kynge he wyll thanne make you some maner of answere If he saye that he wyll take counsayle in the mater than desyre to haue ashorte day And peyse so the mater before hande to putte the kynge and suche marmosettes as be about hym to some feare Saye to hym boldely that the Realme wyll no lengar suffre it and that it is marueyle howe they haue suffred it so longe and I and my brother and the bysshoppe of Caunterburye and the Erle of Salisbury the Erle of Arundell and the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„de wyll be by for without we be present speke no worde therof We are the greatest ê‘sonages of Englande and we shall ayde to susteyne your wordes For all we shall say howe your desyre is but reasonable And whan he hereth vs speke he wyll agre there to or els he dothe amysse and thervpon apoynt a tyme This is the best counsayle I can gyue you Than the Londoners answered and sayde Sir ye counsayle vs nobly But sir it wyll be harde for vs to fynde the kyng and you and all these lordes toguyder in one place Nay nay quod the duke it maye well be done saynt Georges daye is nowe within this syre dayes The kynge wyll be than at wyndsore ye knowe well the duke of Irelande wyll be there and sir Symon Burle and many other and my brother and I and therle of Salisbury shall be there therfore prouyde for yâ— mater ayenst that tyme. Sir quod they it shal be done and so they departed ryght well contente with the duke of Gloucester Than whan saynt Georges daye came the kyng and the quene were at Wyndsore and made there a great feest as his predecessours hadde done before the next daye after the feest of saynt George Thyder came the londoners to the nombre of threscore horse and of yorke as many and many othes of dyuers good townes of Englande they lodged in the towne of Wyndsore The kyng was determyned to departe to place a thre leages thens and whan he knewe of the commyng of the people to speke with hym he wolde the sooner haue ben gone He sayde he wolde in no wyse speke with them But than his vncles and therle of Salisbury sayd sir ye may nat with your honour thus departe The people of youre good townes of Englande are come hyder to speke with you Sir it is necessary that ye here them and to knowe what they demaunde and there after ye maye aunswere them or els take counsayle to aunswere them So thus full sore agaynst the kynges mynde he was fayne to tarye than they came into his presâ—ns in the great hall alowe there was the kynge and bothe his vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshop of Wynchester and the Chaunceler and the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumber lande and dyuers other There this people made their request to the kyng and a burges of London spake for them all named sir Simeon of Subery a sage man and well langaged and there declared well and boldely the effecte of thinformacyon that the duke of Glocester had shewed theÌ„ before as ye haue herde Whan the kyng had herde hym well he sayd Amonge you coÌ„mons of my realme your requestes are great and long they are nat ouer soone to be spedde we shall nat be toguyder agayne a long season and also great parte of my counsayle is nat here present Therfore I saye vnto you gette you home agayne sytte in reste and come nat agayne tyll the feest of Myghelmas without ye be sente for at whiche tyme our parlyament shal be at Westmynster Than come bringe your requestes and we shall shewe it to our counsayle and that is good we shall accepte it and that ought to be refused we shall condempne But sirs thinke nat that we wyll be rewled by our coÌ„mon people that shall neuer be sene as for our gouernynge nor in the gouernaunce of them that rule vnder vs we se nothynge
remedy that other Realmes shulde take ensample by his realme NOwe sirs I reporte me if I haue nat good cause to saye the the realme of Englande in this season was in great paryll and aduenture to haue ben lost without recouery For the kynge was moued agaynst his vncles and agaynst a great parte of all the great lordes of the realme and they agaynst hym And the cytes and good townes one against another And the prelates hadde great indignacyon one agaynst another so that none coude remedy it but alonely god Whan the duke of Irelande sawe that he had the agrement of the kyng and of the moost ê‘te of theÌ„ of the couÌ„trey of Wales than he came to the kyng sayd sir if ye wyll instytute make me your lieutenaunt I shall take a .xii. or a fyftene thousaÌ„de men with me and go to the marchesse of London or to Oxenforde your cyte and myne and there we wyll shewe our puyssaunce agaynst these Londoners your vncles who haue so great indignacyon agaynst you They haue putte to dethe some of your counsayle And sir outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse we shall bringe them to reason The kynge sayde he was content Sayeng I wyll and ordayne you to be the cheife souerayne of my Realme and to reyse vp men where ye can gette theym and leade them wheder ye thynke best to augment our sygnorie and realme And to the entent that euery man shall clerely se that the hoole Realme parteyneth to me I wyll that ye beare with you my banners and standerdes and other abylmetes of warre suche as I wolde beare my selfe in batayle And I thynke that if the people se my banners displayed they shall take corage and hardynesse to susteyne my quarell And I wyll ye punysshe suche rebelles as wyll nat obey you in suche wyse as all other maye take ensample by them I beleue all suche as shall se my banners waue in the wynde shall put them selfe vnder them and shal be afrayde to disobey our coÌ„mauÌ„dement These wordes greatly reioysed the duke of Irelande ¶ oHwe the kyng of Englande made his soÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe sir Robert Tryuylyen was taken at westmynster and beheeded by the commaundement of the kynges vncles Capi. xcvi THe kyng made his assemble in the countrey of Wales and about the froÌ„ters of Bristowe a longe the ryuer of Syuerne Dyuers lordes and knightes were sende for some excused them selfe laufully and some came at the kynges commauÌ„dement howe be it they douted leste great yuell shulde come of that enterprice In this meane season the kynge and the duke of Irelande had a secrete counsayle bytwene them and determyned to seÌ„de some of their men in to the marchesse of London to se and to knowe howe the kynges vncles dyd and what they purposed to do they studyed whome they myght sende in that busynesse to knowe the trouthe than a knyght cosyn to the duke of Irelande and of his couÌ„sayle called sir Robert Tryuilyen sayd sir ye make doute whome to sende that is trusty to London For the loue of you I shall take on me to do that iourney wherof the Duke thanked hym and lykewise so dyde the kyng Therwith this sir Robert Tryuilyen departed from Bristowe disguysed in maner of a poore marchaunt vpon a lytell Nagge and so came to London and tooke his lodgynge where he was vnknowen so taryed there a certayne space and lerned what he coulde At last he vnderstode that the kynges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande wolde kepe a secrete Parlyament at Westmynster wherfore he thought to go and lye there to lerne what shulde be doone there And so he came and lodged at Westmynster the same daye that their counsaile began and lodged in an alâ—house right ouer agaynst the palys gate and there he was in a chambre lokyng out at a wyndowe downe in to the courte there he myght se them that went in and out to the couÌ„saile and he knewe nerehaÌ„de euery man but none knewe hym bycause of his apparel At last on a day asquyer of the duke of Gloucesters knewe hym for he had often tymes ben in his coÌ„pany And assone as sir Robert Triuylien sawe him he knewe him well and withdrewe hym selfe out of the wyndowe The squyer had suspecious therof and sayd to hym selfe Me thynke I se yonder sir Robert Triuylen and to th entent to knowe the trouthe he entred in to the lodgyng and said to the wife Dame who is that that is aboue in the chambre is he alone or with coÌ„pany Sir quod she I can nat shewe you but he hath been here a longe space Therwith the squier went vp the better to aduyse hym and saluted hym and sawe well it was true but he fayned hymselfe and tourned his tale and sayde God saue you good man I pray you be nat myscontented for I toke you for a farmour of myne in Essere for ye are lyke hym Sir quod he I am of Kente and a farmour of sir Iohan of Hollandes and there be men of the bysshop of CauÌ„terburyes that wolde do me wrong and I am come hyther to complayne to the couÌ„sayle Well quod the squier if ye come in to the palys I wyll helpe to make your waye that ye shall speke with the lordes of the counsayle Sir I thanke your ê™ he and I shall nat refuce your ayde THan the squyer called for a potte of ale and dranke with him and payed for it and badde hym farwell and departed and neuer seased tyll he came to the couÌ„sayle chambre dore and called the vssher to open the dore Than the vssher demauÌ„ded what he wolde bycause the lordes were in counsayle He answered and sayd I wolde speke with my lorde and mayster the duke of Gloucester for a mater that ryght nere toucheth hym and all the counsayle Thanne the vssher let hym in and whan he came before his mayster he sayde Sir I haue brought you great tidynges What be they quod the duke Sir quod the squyer I wyll speke a loude for it toucheth you and all my lordes here present I haue sene sir Robert Triuylyen disguysed in a vyllayns habytte in an alehouse here without the gate Triuylien quod the duke yea truely sir quod the squier ye shall haue hym or ye go to dyner if you please I am contente quod the duke and he shall shewe vs some newes of his mayster the duke of Irelande Go thy waye fetche hym but loke that thou be stronge ynoughe so to do that thou fayle nat The squier went forthe and toke foure sergiauntes with hym and sayd Sirs folowe me a farre of and as soone as I make to you a sygne and that I laye my hande on a man that I go for Take hym and lette hym nat escape Therwith the squyer entredde in to the house where Tryuylien was and went vp in to the chambre and as soone as he sawe hym he sayd Triuylien ye
the duke of Iulyers sware that he shulde neuer beare armure agaynst the Crowne of Fraunce And so as longe as the kyng lyued he kept his othe For surely as long as kyng Charles lyued he dyde hym no maner of domage nor consented to none to be done to the crowne of Fraunce But whan kyng Charles was deed that Charles his sonne was kynge By reason of the warres of Flaunders as it hath been shewed before in this hystorie And after he tooke his Creacyon at Parys He hadde so moche to do that he coude nat take hede in euery place The duof Iulyers than came nat in to Fraunce nor made no relyefe for the landes of Viersone Wherfore the duke of Berrey who toke hym selfe as soueraygne sayde Howe the relefes parteyned to hym And so ceased the landes and toke the profytes therof and by puyssauÌ„ce putte out fro his ryght the Erle of Bloyes Howe be it the same tyme I sawe them bothe oftentymes togyder and neuer debate made bytwene them for any of the sayd landes nor any yuell wyll shewed There was good cause for theym to be frendes toguyder for Loyes sonne to the erle of Bloyes had in maryage the lady Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey The duke of Iuliers wolde gladlye haue entred in to his herytage but he regarded his sonne who shulde be his heyre Therfore he made but lytell counte of the alyaunce that his sonne the duke of Guerles hadde made in Englande And by this reason he spake the wordes that ye haue herde here before to the duke of Guerles whan he was retourned out of Englande Howe be it the duke of Guerles who was yonge and coragyous toke lytell regarde to his fathers wordes and sayde Sir that I haue done I wyll vpholde for I had rather haue warrÌ„ with the Frenche kynge than peace and rather with hym than with a poore man ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the FreÌ„che kyng complaynyng of the duke of Guerles And howe the kynge his counsayle were sore busyed with insydentes that fell in the realme of FrauÌ„ce as well for the defyances of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretaygne Capi. C.xv. THe duchesse of Brabant beynge at Bruselles was well enformed of all these troubles And howe the duke of Guerles thretned theym of Brabante to make theym warre The duchesse feared the same and sayde Ah god assoyle the soule of my lorde and husbande for if he hadde lyued the Duke of Guerles durst nat haue spoken of any suche matters But nowe bycause I am a woman and aged he wyll make warre agaynst me Than the lady called toguyder her counsaile to knowe what she were best to do for she knewe well the duke was hote hasty and coragyous THe same seasone whyle this ladye was takynge of counsayle with her frendes the Frenche kynge was defyed by the duke of Guerles wherof ranne a great brute throughe all the Realme and in other realmes therto adioynyng They had marueyle of these newes Bycause the duke of Guerles was but a small prince to the regarde of other and but of smalle landes Men spake therof in dyuers maners euery man after his own opynion ThanÌ„e the duchesse counsayle sayde Madame ye haue nede of counsayle And we shall counsayle you to sende to the Frenche kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne be tymes For ye haue herde howe the duke of Guerles hathe defyed the Frenche kynge and all his alyes If he be in purpose to make warre to the realme of Fraunce as the brute ronneth that he wyll bycause the Englysshemen and the almaygnes are of his alyaunce He can haue no better entre in to the realme of FrauÌ„ce than throughe youre countrey Wherfore it is good that the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne be aduertysed therof And that youre castels on the fronters be well fortifyed and garnysshed For there is nat so small an ennemye but he is to be doubted We saye nat that ye shulde haue great nede to seke for any ayde or confore all onely for them of Guerles but it is good to regarde the alyaunces that he maye lightlye gette as well of Englysshe men as of almaygnes who alwayes are couetous and desyreth to make warre to the realme of Fraunce on trust of wynnyng Than the duchesse sayd to her couÌ„sayle sirs ye saye trouthe it shal be as ye haue deuised Than suche as shulde go on that message were apoynted out As the lorde of Bourguenall cheife Stewarde of her house sir Iohan Opeyn a gracyous knyght a clerke and a squyer of honoure The clerke called sir Iohan Grane and the squyer Nycholas de la Monoy All four were of the preuy couÌ„sayle with the duchesse of Brabant They departed fro Bruselles with letters of credeÌ„ce and rode to Parys At that tyme nother the kynge nor the duke of Burgoyne was natte there they were at Rohane in Normandye Than they went fro Parys to Roane where the kynge was WHan these ambassadoures came to Rohane firste they treated with the duke of Burgoyne and he made theÌ„ good chere for he knewe them well they delyuered letters to hym and he receyued and reed them Than whaÌ„ tyme was he brought them to the kynge who for loue of their lady receyued theÌ„ louyngly Than the kyng reed their letters and herde them speke and aunswered and sayde Sirs your wordes and requestes demaundeth counsayle Resorte alwayes to our vncle of Burgoyne he shall here you and dispatche youre busynesse as shortely as maye be Those wordes contented greatly these ambassadours and so went to their lodgynges The kynge and his vncles with other of his counsayle were dayly toguyder in counsaile for dyuers causes and insydentes newe fallen The defyance of the duke of Guerles was nothyng pleasaunt to them nor also they knewe nat what the duke of Bretayne was purposed to do bycause he had taken the constable of Fraunce prisoner and set hym to rauÌ„some to a C.M. frankes and had taken fro him thre castelles a good towne and had greatly fortifyed with men vitayls and artyllary all his garysons and townes had sent dyuers tymes letters and messangers in to Englande to the kyng and to his vncles As for the duke of Lancastre was at that tyme in Galyce The couÌ„sayle of FrauÌ„ce had moche a do to prouyde for euery busynesse wherby it was the lengar or the duches of Brabantes ambassade had their answere Finally the duke of Burgoyn made theÌ„ an answere sayd sirs ye shall retourne to your lady our aunte salute her fro vs and delyuer her these the kynges letters ours shewe her that her businesse is ours and let her nat be abasshed for any thyng for she shal be coÌ„forted in suche wyse that she shall well ê‘ceyue that her countre of Brabant shall take no domage nor reproch This fayre answere contented greatly the ambassadours of Brabant Thus they departed returned to Parys and fro theÌ„s to
be gladde to couet to haue her in maryage as well for the right that she hadde to the realme of Castyle as for her hyghe lynage For it myght well be sayde that her extraction was of the hyghest lynage of Christendome Wherfore the duke of LaÌ„castre wolde gladly haue had some treatie of mariage with some noble maÌ„ of Fraunce He knewe well the FreÌ„che kyng had a yong brother called the duke of Towrayne who he thought shulde be able to recouer his doughters ryght in Castyle For he knewe well that the puyssaunce of Fraunce helde in his aduersaries in the herytage of Castile wherfore he thought that if they wolde take his parte they myght lightly putte his doughter in possessyon of the realme of Castyle if he myght marry her to the Frenche kynges brother ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey sent letters to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon and howe the duke sent the copye of the same letters in to Foiz in to Nauer to th entent to haue them publysshed in Spayne And howe the duke of Bretayn demauÌ„ded couÌ„sayle of his men in all his busynesse Cap. C.xxvii ON this ymaginacyon rested the duke of Lancastre nat all onely on the duke of Towrayne but also on the duke of Berrey For as ye haue herde here before the duke of Berrey and his sonne were wodowers bothe their wyues deed This mater I the auctour of this boke knewe of suretie for the same tyme I was on the fronters of Berrey Poitou in the countie of Bloys with the right honorable lorde Guy erle of Bloys by whom and at his desyre I folowed the coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of this historie The duke of Berrey set all his entencion and pleasure to be agayne maryed And ofteÌ„ tymes he wolde say among his men howe that a lorde was lytell worthe without a lady nor another maÌ„ with out a wyfe Than some of his couÌ„sayle sayd to hym Sir marry agayne your son therby your house shal be the more ioyfull Asirs ê™ the duke my sonne is yong Why sir ê™ they haue ye nat sene howe the Erle of Bloyes hath maryed his sonne who is as yonge as he to your doughter That is trouthe quod the duke let se name a wyfe for him sir quod they we shall name the duke of Lancasters doughter With that worde the duke studyed a season and gaue none answere and ymagined sore and than to suche as were of his secrete counsayle he sayd ye speke to mary Iohan my sonne to my cosyn the duke of Lancasters doughter by saynt Denyce ye haue well deuysed but she shulde be a good wyfe for our selfe and shortely I shall write to our cosyn the duke of Lancastre He is at Bayone as I am enformed I wolde sende hym worde howe I shall sende shortely to hym some of my counsayle to treate of this maryage But I saye nat for my sonne I shall marry hym in some other place Whan his couÌ„sayle herde hym saye so they smyled Than the duke demaunded wherat they smiled Sir ê™ they we laught at that ye had rather haue a good tourne your selfe than your sonne shulde by my faythe ê™ the duke and good reason why For my fayre cosyn of Lancastre wyll nat so soone agre to my sonne as to my selfe Than incontynent letters were written in to highe Gascoyne to Bayon to the duke of LaÌ„castre and sente by honourable messangers Whan they came to the duke they delyuered their letters The duke toke and reed theÌ„ and whan he had well parceyued theffecte of the mater he was right ioyfull and made good chere to the messaÌ„gers and shewed that he was well content therwith and wrote agayne by them other letters ryght amiably Certifyeng the duke of Berrey howe he was right ioyfull of his letters These messangers returned and fouÌ„de their lorde in Poitou preparyng hym selfe to go in to Fraunce for the FreÌ„che kyng and the duke of Burgoyne had sent for hym for to coÌ„mune of the state of Bretayne Than he oppned the letters that his cosyn the duke of Lancastre had sente hym and had ioye of the answere thought surely to pursue the matter to effecte but he myght nat leaue his voyage in to Fraunce and so went thyder as shortely as he coulde Thanne he wrote to a knyght of his called sir Helyon of Lignacke who as than was seneschall of Rochell and of the countre of Rocheloys CoÌ„maundyng hym that incouâ—ynent on the sight of his letters he to sette all thyng there in good order and than to come to hym to Parys withoute fayle Whan sir Helyon of Lignac who was at Rochell vnderstode those tidynges parceyued by the duke of Berreys letters howe he was sent for in all hast he made hym redy and in his absence he made two capitayns at Rochell two valyaunt men to be gouerners of all Rocheloys They were of the countre of Becaulse the one called sir Peter of yon the other sir Peter of Tayllepy This done sir Helyon tooke his waye in to Fraunce the shortest way he coude for he knewe nat what the duke wolde do with hym that he sente for hym so hastely NOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon and had great ymaginacions of that busynesse that his cosyn the duke of Berrey had written to hym of First he wolde nat that it shulde be hydden but rather publysshed abrode to the entent that his ennemyes shulde knowe it specially in the house of kynge Iohan of Castyle And so the duke of Lancastre wrote to dyuers and sent them the copye of the duke of Berreys letters Shewynge by his writyng that he had great affectyon to treate of the maryage bytwene his doughter and the duke of Berry First he sent his letters to the erle of Foiz bycause he knewe well that to the erles house prepared all maner of gentylmen knightes and squyers as well coÌ„myng goynge to the kyng of Spayne as on pylgrimage to saynt Iames. Also he wrote to the kyng of Nauer who had to his wyfe the kyng of Castels suster and had by her many chyldren to th entent that the brute therof shulde the better be certifyed in the kyng of Castels court rather than by flyeng wordes also the duke wrote of his mater to the kyng of Portugale but he wrote no worde therof iÌ„ to England to the kyng nor to his bretherne for he knewe well he shulde haue no thanke for his enterprice as they were nat content in dede as ye shall here after whan the mater requyreth it In the meane season we shall speke of other maters as of the duke of Bretayne the mater lyeth there after WHan the duke of Berrey was come into Fraunce to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne his brother and to other of his counsayle As the bysshoppe of Langers the bysshoppe of Laon the lorde of Coucy and other barons of FrauÌ„ce than beyng thereof the kynges secrete counsayle They had
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
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
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
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
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
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
horse and rode to London and the erle of Derby abode styll with the lordes that daye and the nexte daye Thus they of Acquytayne coulde haue none expedicyon nor delyueraunce I Haue delyght to write this mater at length bycause to enfourme you of the trouthe for I that am auctour of this hystory was presente in all these maters and this valyaunt knyght syr Rycharde Surye shewed me euery thynge And so it was that on the sonday folowynge all suche as had ben there were departed and all their counsaylours except the duke of yorke who abode styll about the kynge and the lorde Thomas Percy and syr Rycharde Sury shewed my busynesse to the kynge Than the kynge desyred to se my booke that I had brought for hym So he sawe it in his chambre for I had layde it there redy on his bedde Whanne the Kynge opened it it pleased hym well for it was fayre enlumyned and written and couered with crymson veluet with ten botons of syluer and gylte and Roses of golde in the myddes with two great clapses gylte rychely wrought Than the kyng demaunded me wherof it treated and I shewed hym howe it treated of maters of loue wherof the kynge was gladde and loked in it and reed it in many places for he coulde speke and rede Frenche very well And he tooke it to a knyght of his chambre named sir Rycharde Creadon to beare it in to his secrete chambre And the same sonday I fell in acquayntaunce with a Squyer of Englande called Henry Castyde an honest man and a wyse and coude well speke Frenche He coÌ„panyed with me bicause he sawe the kyng and other lordes made me good chere and also he had sene the boke that I gaue to the kynge Also sir Richarde Sury had shewed hym howe I was a maker of hystories Than he sayd to me as here after foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kyng Richarde had made in IrlaÌ„de and howe he brought in to his obeysaunce four kynges of that couÌ„trey Cap. CC.ii. SIr Iohan quod he haue ye nat founde in the kynges courte sythe ye came hyder no man that hath tolde you of the voyage that the kyng made but late in to Irlande and in what maner the foure kynges of Irelande are come in to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande And I aunswered no. Than shall I shewe you ê™ the squyer to the entent that ye maye putte it in perpetuall memorie whan ye retourne in to your owne countrey and haue leysar therto I was reioysed of his wordes and thanked hym Than he began thus and sayd Sir Iohan it is nat in memorie that euer any kyng of Englande made suche appareyle and prouision for any iourney to make warre agaynst the yrisshmen nor suche a nombre of men of armes nor archers The kyng was a nyne monethes in the marchesse of Irelande to his great cost charge to the realme for they bare all his expeÌ„ses And the marchauÌ„tes cyties and good townes of the realme thought it well bestowed whan they sawe the kynge retourne home agayne with honour The nombre that he had thyder getylmen and archers were foure thousande knyghtes and .xxx. thousande archers well payde wekely that euery manne was well pleased but I shewe you bycause ye shulde knowe the tronthe Irelande is one of the yuell countreis of the worlde to make warre vpon or to bring vnder subiection For it is closed strongely and wyldely with highe forestes and great waters and maresshes and places inhabytable It is harde to entre to do them of the countrey any doÌ„mage nor ye shall fynde no towne nor persone to speke with all For the men drawe to the woodes and dwell in caues and small cotagê vnder trees and among busshes and hedges lyke wylde sauage beestes And whan they knowe that any man maketh warre agaynst theÌ„ and is entred in to their couÌ„treis than they drawe toguyder to the straytes and passages and defende it so that no man can entre in to theÌ„ And whan they se their tyme they wyll sone take their aduauntage on their enemyes for they knowe the countrey and are lyght people For a man of armes beyng neuer so well horsed and ron as fast as he can the yrisshe men wyll ryn a fote as faste as he and ouertake hym yea and leape vp vpon his horse behynde hym and drawe hym fro his horse for they are stronge men in the armes and haue sharpe weapons with large blades with two edges after the maner of darte heedes wherwith they wyll slee their enemy they repute nat a man deed tyll they haue cutte his throte and opyn his bely and taken out his herte and cary it awaye with theÌ„ some saye suche as knowe their nature that they do eate it and haue great delyte therin they take no man to raunsome And whanÌ„e they se at any encountre that they be ouermatched than they wyll departe a sonder and go and hyde theym selfe in busshes wodes hedges and caues so that no man shall finde theym Also syr Wylliam of Wyndsore who hath moste vsed the warres in those parties of any other englysshe man yet he coulde neuer lerne the maner of the countrey nor knowe their condycions They be herde people and of rude engen and wytte and of dyuers frequentacyons and vsage they sette nothyng by iolyte nor fresshe apparell nor by noblenesse for though their rleame be soueraynly gouerned by kynges wherof they haue plentie yet they wyll take no knowledge of gentylnesse but wyll contynewe in their rudenesse acordynge as they are brought vp Trouthe it is that foure of the princypall kynges and moste puyssaunt after the maner of the countrey are come to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande by loue and fayrenesse and nat by batayle nor constraynte The erle of Ormonde who marcheth vpon them hath taken great payne and hath so treated with them that they came to Duuelyn to the kynge and submytted them to hym to be vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande wherfore the kyng and all the realme reputeth this for a great and an honourable dede and thynketh this voyage well be stowed for kynge Edwarde of good memory dyd neuer so moche vpon them as kynge Rycharde dyde in this voyage The honour is great but the profite is but lytell For though they be kynges yet no man can deuyse nor speke of ruder personages I Shall shewe you somwhat of their rudenesse to the entente it maye be ensample agayne people of other nacyons I knowe it well for I haue proued it by them selues For whan they were at Duuelyn I hadde the gouernaunce of them about a moneth by the kynges commauudement and his counsayle to th entent that I shulde lerne them to vse them selfe accordyng to the vsage of Englande bycause I coulde speke their language as well as Frenche or Englysshe for in my youthe I was brought vp amonge theym I was with the erle of Ormonde
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
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
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
se what condycyon her husbande the lorde of Coucy was in The knyght sayd for her sake he was content to go thyder to bringe the certaynte of his estate Thus he made him redy and fiue persones with him Other ladyes in Fraunce sent in lyke wyse to knowe what case their husbandes were in YE haue herde here before howe the kynge of Hungery wolde in no wyse consent that sir Morant shulde passe into Turkey with the frenche kynges presentes and in this opynion the kynge longe contynued whiche was right dyspleasaunt to sir Morant and to syr Helley but they coude nat amende it And so it happed that the great mayster of the Rodes came in to Hungery to the cytie of Bode to whome the kyng made good chere wherto he was bounde for the daye of the batayle the kynge had ben slayne or taken and he had nat ben and there he founde these two knyghtes of Fraunce They came to him and shewed hym howe the kynge wolde nat suffre them to passe in to Turkey with suche presentes as the frenche kynge had sent to Lamorabaquy wherof he had meruayle sayde howe he wolde speke to the kynge therin and that they shulde well knowe and so he dyd and shewed to the kyng suche reasons that he tourned the kynges opynion and so than they had leaue to passe in to Turkey with all their presentes and so they passed forthe vnder sure safe conduct and came to Lamorabaquy who receyued theym and their gyftes ryght honorably after their vsage and made great ioye of the presentes The knyghtes for all that spake but ones all onely with the erle of Neuers at good leysare and at their departynge the erle sayde to them Syrs I requyre you recommaunde me to my lorde my father and to my lady my mother and to my lorde of Berrey and specyally to the kynge and salute fro me all my other frendes and desyre them that if Lamorabaquy wyll set vs to raunsome that by meanes of marchauntes or otherwyse our raunsomes may be quyckly payed and we delyuered for by longe taryenge we shall lese for in the begynnyng we were but .viii. prisoners and nowe we be .xvi. whiche is in all .xxiiii. and we shall nat be delyuered without we be delyuered all at ones and as soone all as one for Lamorabaquy hath so promysed and surely he wyll nat be founde false of his worde syr Morant and syr Helley aunswered and sayd howe his cōmaundement shulde be doone to the whiche he was bounde So they departed and retourned in to Hungery and by the way they encountred the messanger that was sent in to Fraunce to the kynge bringynge a gayne letters fro the frenche kynge to the kyng of Hungery Than this messanger retourned agayne with theym for he had no more to do whan he sawe them retourne and had done their voyage into Turkey and so retourned all togyther in to Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to dystroye kynge Rycharde of Englande his nephue Cap. CC.xxii IT is long syth I spake of the duke of Gloucestre yongest sonne to the kynge of England Edwarde the thyrde I had no tyme to speke of him tyll nowe and bycause his herte coude neuer loue the frenche men therfore of the losse that the frenche men had in Turkey he was rather gladde than sory The same seasone he had a knyght with hym called syr Iohan Laquyquay chiefe of his counsayle as it was knowen after he sayde to his lorde Syr the fumes and pride of the frenche men are well a bated by reasone of their iourney in to Hungery and Turkey they be so full of pride and brages that they canne come to no good conclusion of any enterprise that they take in hande That is trewe quod the duke and that apered right well duryng the warre in the dayes of the kynge my father and of my brother the prince of Wales for as than they coulde neuer atayne to any iourney agaynst the Englysshe men therfore I canne nat tell why we shulde haue trewce with them for if the warre were open and by reason of our good tytell togyther we shulde nowe make them better warre than euer was made before for as nowe all the floure of chyualry of Fraunce is outher taken or slayne and the men of Englande desyre to haue warre rather than peace for they canne better lyue in warre than peace for in lyenge styll is none aduauntage and I swere by god if I may lyue two yere in good helth the war◠shal be renewed I wyll nother spare for trewce respyte nor assuraunce for in tyme paste the Frenche men haue kept no promesse with vs but haue falsely and craftely taken away the herytage of the duchy of Acquytayn whiche was gyuen and delyuered by agrement of good treatie of peace to the kynge my father whiche often tymes I haue shewed to the counsayle of Fraunce whan we met and comuned togyther in the fronter of the marchesse of Calays but alwayes they florysshed their entētes with so swete wordes that myne opynion was nat regarded nor belyued nouther by the kynge my nephewe nor by my bretherne but if there were a good heed kynge of Englande that desyred the warre as well as I do and wolde put to his payne to recouer his herytage whiche craftely and falsely hath been taken fro hym without any good tytle of reasone he shulde fynde in Englande a hundred thousande archers and syxe thousande men of armes redy aparelled to serue him and to passe the see and to put their goodes and lyues in aduenture in his seruyce But it is nat so there is no suche Kynge in Englande as nowe that loueth any dedes of armes if there were he wolde shewe hym selfe in Fraunce there was neuer so good tyme to make warre in Fraūce as now for who soeuer goeth nowe shal be fought withall whiche is all the desyre that englysshmen haue in trust of wynnyng as they had in tyme paste in the dayes of good kynge Edwarde my father in my brothers dayes the prince of Wales I am the yongest of all the bretherne of Englande but if I may be beleued I shall be the fyrst e that shall renewe the warre and trust to recouer the wronges that the frenchmen haue done to vs and dayly do and all by the symple slouthfulnesse that is a monge vs and specyally our heed the kynge my nephue who wyll nowe alye hymselfe by maryage to the frenche kinges doughter this is no token that he wyll make warre his eyen be to heuy he careth for nothyng but for meate and drinke and reste and dalyenge with ladyes and damoselles This is no lyfe for men of warre that wyll deserue to haue honour by prowes of dedes of armes yet I remembre me of the last iourney that I made into Fraunce I thynke I had in my company but two thou sande speares and eyght thousande archers and so passed
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌ„de none to with stande me nor none that durst fyght with me in lyke wyse so dyd syr Robert Canoll and sir Hugh Caurell and Thomas of GrauÌ„tsome and syr Phylyppe Gyssarde and yet they had nat the nombre that I had with me and yet they were before Parys and demaunded batayle of the frenche kynge but they coulde neuer be aunswered nor founde any person that sayd any thyng to them and so they rode into Bretayne and so a longe through the realme of Fraunce fro Calais to Burdeaux without hauynge of any batayle or rencountre but I thynke surely who so wolde nowe make any suche iourney they shulde be fought with all for he that calleth hym selfe kynge in Fraunce is yonge hote and of great corage and enterprise he wolde surely fight what ende so euer fell therof and that is the thynge we desyre for we loue nothynge so well as to haue batayle for without it be by batayle and victory vpon the frenche men who be ryche els we shall haue no recouery but suffre with the losse as we haue done euer sythe my nephewe was kyng of Englande This thyng can nat longe endure in this estate but at laste the realme of Englande shall perceyue the mater repente it for the kyng taketh and shall take and reyse great tayles of the marchauntes wherwith they be nat content and yet they can nat tell where the good becometh Thus the kynge enpouereth the realme of Englande and gyueth to one and other largely and there as it is but yuell bestowed and his people vyeth the bargayne whiche shortely wyll growe to a rebellyon within the realme for the people begyn to clater and to murmure therat sayeng howe they wyll no leÌ„ger suffre nor beare it he sayeth to stoppe the peoples rumure that the trewce ones concluded bytwene him Fraunce that than he wyll make a voyage in to Irelande and enploye there his men of armes and archers and there he hath ben but with a small conquest for IrelaÌ„de is no lande of great conquest nor profyte the people they are but rude and yuell and a right poore countrey and inhabytable and looke what is wonne there in one yere is loste in another Laquynay Laquynay quod the duke all that I haue sayde is of trouth THus the duke of Gloucestre deuysed with his knyght with suche wordes and other as it was well knowen after He hated the kynge and coulde speke no good worde of him and though he were with his brother the duke of LaÌ„castre as one of the greatest rulers of the Realme he toke no care therof And whan the kyng dyd sende for him he wolde come at his pleasure and sometyme nat a whyt And whan he came to the kynge he wolde be the laste shulde come and the first that wolde departe and in counsayle what he had ones sayd of his opynion he wolde haue it taken and accepted els he wolde be displeased and somtyme take his leaue and departe to his maner in Essex called Plasshey there was his chiefe abydynge This duke was a great prince and might well spende by yere a threscore thousande ducates he was duke of Gloucestre erle of Essex and of Buckingham and constable of Englande He was of so marueylous condycyons that the kynge douted hym more than any other of his vncles for in his wordes he wolde nat spare nor forbeare the kynge The kynge alwayes was humble and meke to hym and whatsoeuer he wolde demaunde the kynge wolde graunte it hym This duke had caused in EnglaÌ„de to be done many cruell and hasty iugementes for he had caused to be beheeded withoute tytell of any good reasone that noble knyght syr Symon Burle and dyuers other of the kynges counsayle and chased out of Englande the archebysshop of yorke and the duke of Irelande bycause they were so nygh of the kinges counsayle and layde to their charge that they had counsayled the kynge wronge and ledde hym as they lyst and had spente the reuenewes of Englande at their pleasures This duke had two bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke These two were euer about the kynge wherat this duke of Gloucestre hadde great enuy wolde say to dyuers as to suche as he trusted as Robert bysshop of London and to other whan they came to him to Plasshey Frendes my two bretherne ouerchargeth greatly the kynges house it were better they were at home at their owne houses this duke by subtyle couerte wayes drewe to his acorde the londoners for he thought if he might be sure of them he shulde sone haue all the rest of the realme to his acorde This duke had a nephue sonne to the doughter of his elder brother called Lyonell duke of Clarence whiche doughter was maryed into Lombardy to the sonne of syr Galeas duke of Myllayne This duke Lyonell dyed in the cytie of Aste in Piemounte So this duke of Gloucestre wolde gladly haue sene his nephue sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence called Iohan erle of Marche to haue ben kynge of Englande and to haue had his nephue kynge Rycharde deposed for he sayd howe the kynge was nat worthy to holde nor to gouerne the realme of Englande This he wolde say to them that he trusted and he dyd so moch that he caused the erle of Marche to come to his house and than and there he dyscouered to hym all his entent and secretnesse and sayde howe he had determyned to make hym kynge of Englande and kyng Richarde to be put downe and his wyfe also and to be kept in prison dutynge their lyues and so he desyred effectuously the erle to accept his offre and good wyll sayenge howe he wolde do the beste he coulde to bringe it aboute and that he had of his acorde and alyaunce the erle of Arundell and therle of Warwyke and dyuers other prelates and lordes of Englande The erle of Marche was sore abasshed whan he herde the duke his vncle speke suche wordes howe be it lyke a yonge man he dissymuled the mater and aunswered wysely to th entent to please the duke and said howe he wold be glad to be ruled as he wolde haue hym but he sayd he wolde be well aduysed or he accepted suche promisse to sone and wolde take therin aduyse and delyberacyon And whan the duke of Gloucestre sawe the maner of the erle than he desyred him to kepe the mater secrete The erle answered so he wolde do Than therle departed as sone as he coude and so wente in to Irelande to his herytage and after he wolde neuer entende to the dukes treatie but alwayes excused him selfe wysely yet euer he kept the mater secrete for he sawe well the conclusyon shulde nat be good IT was sayd howe the duke of Gloucestre sought all the wayes he coude to set a trouble in Englande and to styrre the
doughter of the duke of Lācastre he was erle of Huntyngdon and chamberlayne with the kynge it was he that slewe the sonne of Rycharde erle of stafforde as ye haue herde here before in this hystorie The sayde Rycharde erle of Stafforde had a squyer to his sonne who was with the duke of Gloucestre This erle of Huntyngdon moste cōmonly was euer in the courte with the kynge his brother and he knewe more of the dealynge of the duke of Gloucestre than any other dyd for couertely and wysely he made enquery and also he douted greatly the duke for he knewe he was fell and sodayne and hyghe mynded and sawe howe he kept his enemye aboute hym for the dethe of the yonge Stafforde and the peace therof was neuer made but the grudge therof contynued styll The kynge loued well his brother and bare him against euery man and the kynge sawe well howe his vncle the duke of Gloucestre was euer contrary to hym and was euer about to conspyre agaynst him and to styrre the realme to rebellyon so the kynge and his brother of Holande wolde often tymes comune togyther The same seasone the frenche kyng had sent the erle of saynt Powle in to Englande to se the kyng and his doughter the quene and to norisshe loue for the truce was made in suche maner and cōdycion that their subgiettes myght repayre eche to other in dyspyte of all their yuell wyllers the kynge and the erle of Huntyngdon made them good chere as well for the honoure of the Frenche kynge as for that he had wedded their suffer At that tyme the Dukes of Lancastre nor of yorke were nat with the kynge for they began somwhat to dissymule for they sawe well that the people in Englande beganne to murmure in dyuers places on the state and rewle that the kynge kept and that the maters were lykely to go yuell They thought they wolde nat be at the kinges cōmaundement nor at the peoples And all this came by reasone of the duke of Gloucestre and his company The kynge of Englande spared nat to shewe therle of saint Powle the state that Englande stode in and howe he founde alwayes his vncle the duke of Gloucestre harde and rebell agaynst hym and shewed hym all thynge that he knewe Whan the erle of saynt powle herde the kynge say in that wyse he had great marueyle therof and sayde howe it ought nat to be suffred and sayd Syr if ye suffre this they wyll dystroy you it is sayd in Fraūce howe the duke of Gloucestre entendeth to nothynge but to breake the peace and to renewe the warre agayne and that lytell and litell he draweth the hertes of yonge men of the realme to his parte for they desyre rather warre than peace so that the auncyent wyse men if the warre beganne to styrre they shulde nat be herde nor beleued for reason right nor iustyce hath no place nor audyence where as yuell reygneth therfore prouyde therfore rather betymes than to late it were better ye had theym in daunger than they you These wordes of the erle of saynte Powle entered greatly in to the kynges hert and made hym sore to muse and after that the erle of saynt Powle was retourned in to Fraunce the kyng of Englande shewed all this mater to his brother the erle of Huntyngdon who said to the kynge Syr my fayre brother of saynt Powle hath shewed you the trouth therfore take good aduyse in this mater ANd as I was enfourmed aboute a moneth after that the erle of saynte Powle had ben in Englande and retourned in to Fraunce a paryllous fame and renome ranne vpon the kynge in Englande and in a maner there was a generall brewte that the erle of saynt Powles cōmynge in to Englande was to treate with the the kynge that the frenche men myght haue Calayes in to their handes This brute greatly troubled and moued the people in Englāde in so moche that certayne of London roode to Plasshey to the duke of Gloucestre and shewed hym of that matter The duke apeased nat their wordes but rather augmented it more and more Sayenge howe he coulde nat do therwith But sayd he was sure that the frēche men wolde it hadde coste theym all their kynges doughters so that they might haue Calais at their pleasure This answere set the Londoners a fyre and sayde howe they wolde speke with the kynge and shewe hym howe the realme was nat cōtent Well quod the duke shewe it hym in good maner and make doute that the people wyll nat be contente And marke well what answere he maketh and shewe me therof the nexte tyme I speke with you and thervpon I shall gyue you counsayle what ye shall do farther It maye well be that there be some false traytours counsayleth the Kynge to the same There is the erle Marshall who is Capytayne of Calays who hath been two tymes in Fraūce and taryed at Parys and he was one of the chiefe procurers in the treatie for the kynges maryage with the doughter of Fraunce And these Frenche men are ryght subtyle and can driue their purpose a farre of and lytell and lytell pursue their ententes and wyll gyue largely to bringe about their purpose ACordynge to the dukes counsayle the Londoners on a daye wente to Eltham to the kynge at whiche tyme there was the kynges two bretherne the erle of Kent and therle of Huntyngdon the erle of Salisbury and the archebysshoppes of Caūterbury and of Duuelyn his confessour the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Lysle Richarde Credon Iohan Boulofer and dyuers other knyghtes of the kynges chambre There these londoners right wisely shewed the kynge their ententes in a meke hūble maner and sayde howe the brute ranne that the kynge was about to delyuer vp Calais into the Frenche mennes handes The kyng had great marueile of these newes for it touched hym nere to the hert But right sagely he dissymuled the mater for that tyme and apesed the Londoners and sayd howe all that noise was wronge for it was nothyng so But for trouthe he said the erle of saynt Poule was come in to Englande for none other entente but to sporte hym and was sent thider by the Frenche kynge to se hym and the quene his wyfe Other marchaundyse the kynge sayde there was none bytwene them and that the kynge sware by the faythe that he owed to god and to the crowne of Englāde and said howe he had great marueyle wherof suche wordes shulde ryse Than̄e the erle of Salisbury sayde Sirs ye good men of London Go home to youre houses and be well assured that the kynge and his Counsayle wyll do nor entende to do any thynge but that that shal be for the honour and profite of this his realme of Englande And who so euer hath fyrst brought vp these wordes are yuell coūsayled and shewe well howe they wolde gladly haue this realme in trouble to haue the people to ryse agaynst the kyng whiche thynge
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
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
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
him selfe to auoide this realme of Englande and goo dwell in what place he lyste out therof And that he be banysshed in suche wyse that he neuer retourne agayne And also I ordayne that the erle of Derby our cosyn bycause he hathe displeased vs and that he is the chiefe cause of the banysshment of therle Marshall That within this fyftene dayes he auoyde the Realme of Englande and to be banysshed for tenne yeres without retournynge excepte we repeale hym agayne the whiche shall alwayes lye in our pleasure THis sentence greatly contented the lordes that were there present and they sayde the erle of Derby maye well ynoughe go and sporte hym out of the realme for two or thre yeres He is yonge ynoughe Thoughe he haue been sore traueyled in his dayes in farre countries as in to Pruce and to the holy Sepulchre to Cayre and to saynt Katheryns mount So he may do yet goo some other voyages to passe the tyme if he lyste he knoweth wyll ynoughe whider to go he hath two susters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale He maye well passe the tyme with them and also as nowe there is no warre Whan he cometh in to Spaygne he maye moue theym to make warre vpon the Sarazyns and to make a voyage in to Granade wherby he maye better employe his tyme than abydynge in Englande or elles he maye goo in to Heynaulte to his brother and cosyn the Erle of Ostrenaunt who wyll receyue hym with great ioye and retaygne hym sor he hathe warre with the Fresons and in Haynaulte he maye dayly here newes out of Englande and fro his children He can natte go amysse goo where he wyll And the kynge maye repeale hym agayne by good meanes whan it shall please hym for he is one of the fayrest floures in his garlande He shall nat be longe absente if the kynge purpose to haue the loue of his people But the erle Marshalle is in a farre worse case for he is banysshed without hope for euer to retourne agayne And to saye the trouthe he hath well deserued it for all this myschiefe is come by hym and by his wordes Thus dyuers knyghtes and squyers of Englande talked toguyder one with another the same daye that the kynge gaue the sayde iugemēt ⸪ ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro London to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to Flaunders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ⸪ ⸪ WHan these two Erles sawe what sentence the kynge had gyuen theym they were ryght sore pensyue and good cause why The erle Marshall sore repented him of that he had said and done For whan he began the mater he thought otherwyse to haue ben borne out by the kyng than he was For if he hadde knowen as moche before he wolde neuer haue begon the matter Whan he sawe there was no remedy he made hym redy and made his exchaung fro London to Bruges and so cāe to Calays where as he had been capitayne and there toke his leaue and so went to Bruges and there taryed a fyftene dayes than to Gaunt and so to Maynges and finally to Colloigne ¶ Lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke or the erle of Derby who prepared hym selfe in lykewise to departe out of Englande accordyng to the kynges sentēce Whan his daye of departure aproched he came to Eltham to the kynge where as the duke of Lācastre his father was and the duke of yorke with them the erle of Northumlande and sir Henry Percy his sonne with a great nombre of other knyghtes and squyers of Englande suche as loued hym And were soore displeased of the fortune that he must auoyde the realme These lordes came thyder to se what ende the kynge wolde make in the mater of whose cōmyng the kynge made semblaunt to be right ioyfull and made them great chere and helde a great court Also there was the erle of Salisbury and the erle of Huntyngton brother to the kyng who hadde to his wyfe the duke of Lancastres doughter and suster to the erle of Derby These two lordes came to therle of Derby I knowe nat if they dissymuled or nat At the erles departynge the kynge humyled hym greatly to his cosyn of Derby and said As Godde helpe me it right greatly displeaseth me the wordes that hath been bytwene you and the Erle Marshalle But the sentence that I haue gyuen is for the beste and for to apease therby the people who greatly murmured on this matter Wherfore cosyn yet to ease you somwhat of your payne I release my Iudgement fro tenne yere to syxe yere Cosyn take this a worthe and ordyne you therafter The erle answered and sayd Sir I thāke your grace and whan it shall please you ye shall do me more grace All the lordes that were there were well contented with the kynge as for that tyme. Than euery man departed and some went to London with the erle of Derby The Erle made all his prouisyon at Douer to passe to Calays And the erle beyng at London or his departure was counsayled by his father for to go streight to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns in Fraunce And accordynge to his fathers counsayle so he dyde or elles he wolde haue gone to the erle of Ostrenaunt his brother and cosyn Whan the Erle departed fro London there were in the stretes mo thanne fourtie thousande men wepyng and cryeng after hym that it was pytie to here And sōe said O gentyll erle of Derby shall we thus leaue you This Realme shall neuer be in ioye tyll ye retourne agayne But the daye of retourne is very longe for enuy falsehed and trayson hath putte you out of this Realme where as ye ought to abyde rather thā many other For ye are of suche lynage and of so noble blode that none ought to be compared to you And gentyll erle why shalle we leaue you ye neuer dyde nor thought yuell THus men women pituously spake He was nat conueyed out of the cytie with instrumentes but with lamentable wepynges And some sayd secretelye Cōsyder the order of these people what displeasure they take for a small occasyon Who so euer wolde styrre the Londoners to ryse agaynst the kyng he might than go seke further flye out of the realme rather than the erle of Derby but it is as nowe no tyme sithe the duke of Lācastre his father suffreth if we must nedes suffre it The mayre of Lōdon and a great nombre of the chiefe burgesses accompanyed therle of Derby out of the cytie Some rode to Dartforde and some to Douer and sawe hym take shippyng than they retourned And the erle of Derby or he came to Calais he hadde sent a knyght and an heraulde to the Frenche kyng and to his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and to the kynges vncles the dukes of Berrey of Burbon and of Burgoyn to knowe the kynges pleasure if he wolde suffre the
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
to Fraunce with letters of credence to our father in lawe the Frenche kynge and to our frendes his brother vncles And shewe them fro vs that in no wyse they conclude any treatie or alyaunce of maryage with suche a traytour as is the erle of Derby who wolde betray his naturall souerayne lorde And for the remynaunt of the mater ye are wyse ynough do so therin that I maye can you thanke and that the maryage maye be broken The erle of Salisbury sayde Sir I shall do ryght well your cōmaundement But sir if it myght be broken by some other meanes or by some other persone I requyre youre grace it maye so be Sir quod the kynge excuse you natte for I wyll and also I praye you do this message whatsoeuer shall fall therof I shall sustayne you Well sir quod the erle sithe ye cōmaunde me so specially and that I se the mater toucheth you nere I shall do it thoughe I be lothe therto ye shall go quod the kynge and make haste or this alyaunce be concluded Than the Erle prepared for his departure The letters of Credence written and sealed he departed fro the kynge who was at that tyme at Leades and the Quene also The erle made haste and came to Douer and so toke the See and arryued at Calays and there founde the erle of Huntyngton who was capitayne of Calais and brother to the kynge The Erle shewed vnto hym all his busynesse and so taryed nat longe at Calays but roode to Amyence and so to Parys and all they waye that he rode he hadde good chere and was lodged at the whyte horse And whan he had chaūged him he wente to the kynge and to the quene and to that other lordes and delyuered his letters of credence Whan the kyng had reed the letters he toke the erle aparte and demaunded what was his credence The erle at length shewed his charge and named the Erle of Derby traytour agaynst his naturall lorde Whan the Frenche kyng herde those wordes he was in great displeasure for he loued so the erle of Derby that he wolde here none yuell spoken of him and toke the letters of credence agayne to the erle of Salisbury and sayd Erle we beleue you well ynoughe but our sonne of Englande is to sore moued agaynst oure cosyn of Derby and we marueyle greatly that his yuell wyll contyneweth so longe for we thynke he shulde be the better furnysshed if he were about hym and to be nexte of his counsayle Sir quod the erle of Salisbury I do but as I am cōmaunded That is trewe quod the kyng we are nat displeased with you paraduenture our sonne of Englande knoweth more than we do do your message as ye were charged and so he dyde and to the duke of Berrey also The duke gaue none aunswere therto but wente to the kyng and demaunded of hym what newes he hadde out of Englande The kynge shewed hym all as the erle of Salisburye had sayde Vpon those newes the kyng and his vncles assembled togyder secretely than the Frenche kynge sayd The kynge of Englande by lykelyhode douteth greatly therle of Derby or elles paraduēture he knoweth suche thynges as we knowe nat nor can nat come to oure knowledge And we ought rather to owe our fauoure to the kynge of Englande than̄e to the erle of Derby sythe the kynge is ioyned with vs by maryage And he wyll take it in great disdayne sythe we be enfourmed of his pleasure if we shulde do the contrary and marry the erle of Derby to the countesse of Ewe It behoueth vs rather to dissymule kepe these newes secrete tyll the erle of Salisbury be retourned Vpon this peynt the kyng and his vncles rested WHan the erle of Salisbury had done his message he tooke his leaue and departed The Frenche kynge was more displeased with his cōmyng than ioyfull for he delyuered agayne the erle of Salysbury his letters of credence and wolde nat kepe them he loued so well the erle of Derby who knewe of the erle of Salysburies beynge at Parys but he sawe hym nat for he was departed without spekyng with him and retourned to Calays and to in to Englande and shewed the kynge of Englande howe he hadde spedde Whan the erle or Derby knewe that the erle of Salisbury was departed fro Parys without spekynge with hym in his mynde he was soore displeased and thought the matter went nat well than his counsayle sayde to hym Sir shortely ye shall parceyue some other maters that ye haue nat herde of as yet thoughe it be kepte priuye fro you These Frenchmen are wyse and close It maye be so that the kyng of Englande and suche as be of his secte are displeased with that the Frenche kyng maketh you so good chere as he dothe And paraduēture it is spoken in Englande howe ye shulde mary the duke of Berryes doughter whiche pleaseth nat the kynge of Englande and therfore he wyll do what he can to breke that maryage and if it be so ye shall shortly here therof LOoke as they ymagined so it was for within a moneth after the erle of Salisbury was departed fro Parys suche of therle of Derbies parte as had the treatie of the sayde maryage in hande They spake agayne of the mater to the duke of Berryes counsayle who had their charge what they shulde answere They sayd sirs Whan my lorde the erle of Derby is in the kynges presence and the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles presente than lette my lorde the erle of Derby speke hym selfe for we can saye no more to the mater Th erle of Derby who thought none yuell but thought those wordes hadde ben spoken to the entent to haue proched nerer to the poynt for the kynge and his counsayle made hym as good chere thanne as euer they dyde before The Erle thought to speke in the mater whan he sawe conuenyent tyme. And on a daye whan̄e he sawe the kyng and the lordes togyder he began to speke of this maryage Than the duof Burgoyne who hadde the charge to aunswere hym sayde Cosyn of Derby we haue nothynge to do to gyue in maryage ouer cosyn to a traytour With that woorde the erle of Derby was greatly abasshed chaūged colour sayd Sir I am here in the kynges presence I wyll answere to this I was neuer traytour nor neuer thought trayson if there be any persone that wyll charge me with trayson I am redy to answere nowe or whā it shall please the kynge here beyng present Nay cosyn quod the kyng I beleue ye shall fynde no man in Fraunce that wyll chalenge your honoure for the wordes that myne vncle hath spoken came out of Englande than the erle kneled downe and sayd Sir I beleue it well But god defende me and all my frendes and confounde all myne ennemyes The Frenche kynge toke vp the erle sayd Cosyn apeace your selfe euery thynge shall tourne to the best And
thyder where as the erle of Derby was at a place called vyncetour besyde Parys Whan the erle of Derby sawe the bysshop of Caunterbury cōmynge to him his herte and spyrites reioysed and so dyd all suche as were aboute him for he thought well than to here some newes oute of Englande The bysshoppe shewed nat as than the cause of his cōmynge but dissymuled bycause euery man shuld nat knowe his entent and therfore to couer his busynesse he sayd openly he was come on pylgrymage to saynt Mors. All suche as were aboute the erle thought it had ben so Whan the bysshop sawe his tyme he toke a parte the erle of Derby alone in to a chambre and closed the dore to them Than the bysshop shewed the erle the debylyte of the realme of Englande and of the desolacyon therof and howe iustyce had no place to reygne for faute of a good kinge and howe certayne valyaunt men and prelates with the londoners and other ingenerall had deuised a remedy and for that cause he was sente thyder to hym to desyre him to retourne in to Englande and they wolde make hym kynge bycause that Rycharde of Burdeaulx had doone and consented to be done so many yuell dedes that all the people sorowed it and are redy to ryse agaynst hym and therfore syr nowe is the tyme or neuer for you to seke for your delyueraūce and profyte and for the welth of your chyldren for if ye entende nat to helpe your selfe and theym also none other wyll for Rycharde of Burdeaux gyueth to them of his chambre to other dayly parte of your enherytaūce and of your chyldrens of the whiche many valyaunt men and the londoners were sore dyspleased therwith if they coude amended it but they durst neuer speke tyll nowe But bycause the kynge hath yuell vsed hym selfe agaynst you and agaynst your vncle the duke of Gloucestre who was taken by nyght and conueyed to Calays and there murdered and the erle of Arundell beheeded without tytell of any good reason and the erle of Warwyke exyled and you banysshed and thus the realme of Englande is nere dysheryted of all noble men by whome the realme shulde be susteyned And also the kynge hath banysshed the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Percy his sonne bycause they spake somewhat agaynst the kynges gouernaunce and his counsayle Thus they dayly encrease in doynge yuell and none dare speke agaynst it great parte of the realme haue pytie therof and therfore they desyre you to slepe no lenger but to take leaue of that frenche kynge and retourne in to Englande there shall you be receyued with ioy and all this that I haue sayd they wyll fyrmely vpholde for they desyre to haue none other kynge but you ye are so well beloued in the realme WHan the erle had herde the bysshops wordes at length he was nat hasty in gyuenge of aunswere but leaned out at a wyndowe lokynge downe in to a gardeyne and studyed a certayne space and had many imagynacions at last he tourned hym to the archebysshop and sayd Syr your wordes causeth me to study Lothe I wolde be to take on me this enterprise and lothe I wolde be to leaue it for I knowe well that it wyll be longe or I canne retourne in to Englande without it be by the same meanes as ye haue declared Lothe I wolde be to enclyne to your wordes for the Frenche kynge here and the frenchmen do to me and haue done wyll do if I lyst here to tary all the honour and curtesye that I canne desyre And if so be by reasone of your wordes and promesse of the londoners my good frendes that I shulde apply and agree to their wylles and desyre and that therby kynge Rycharde shulde be taken and dystroyed I shulde in that case beare great blame wherof I wolde be tyght lothe if any other meanes might be founde Sir quod the bysshoppe I am sent hyther to you in hope of all goodnesse call to you your counsayle and shewe them what I haue sayd and I shall also shewe them the cause of my cōmynge and I thynke they wyll nat counsayle you to the contrary That shall I do quod the erle for suche a weyghty mater requyreth counsayle Than the erle called to hym his counsayle suche as he trusted best Whan they were before hym than the erle caused the bysshop to shewe them all the mater and the cause of his commynge thyder Than the erle demaūded counsayle what was beste for hym to do They all aunswered with one voyce syr god hathe taken pytie of you howe so euer ye do refuse nat this bargayne for ye shal neuer haue a better and surely who so euer wyll enquyre of your lygnage and fro whence ye dyscended ye are of the ryght stocke and generacyon of saynt Edwarde somtyme kynge of Englande syr thanke the londoners your good frendes who wyll helpe to delyuer you out of daunger and haue pytie on your chyldren and of the desolacyon of the realme of Englande and syr remembre well what wrōges and iniuryes this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done to you and dothe dayly for whan the maryage bytwene you and the countesse of Ewe was nere at a poynte dyd nat the erle of Salysbury breke it and called you traytoure in the presence of the frenche kynge and other lordes whiche wordes are nat to be pardoned but ye ought to desyre howe to be reuenged Sir if ye wyll nat helpe yourselfe who shulde helpe you syr take good aduyse herin ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretaygne Cap. CC.xxxix WHanne the erle herde his coūsaylours so ernestly counsayle him his spyrites opened and sayd Syrs I wyll do as ye wyll haue me for to haue your counsayle was the entente that I sent for you Syr quod they ye saye well and syr we counsayle you trewly to our power and as the matter requyreth Than as secretly as they coude they ordeyned for their departure Than it was deuysed howe they might passe the see or any knowledge therof shulde come in to Englande They deuysed that of two wayes they muste take one outher to go into Haynalte and in to Holande and there take the see at Dordright or els to go in to Bretaygne to the duke and there to take the see and so to lande at Plummouth or where as god wolde in Englande All thynges consydred they sayd the best way shulde be by Bretaygne and than they sayd to the erle syr go and take your leaue of the frenche kynge and thanke hym of the curtesy that he hath shewed vnto you and take leaue of the duke of Orlyance and of the kynges vncles and other and thanke theym all of the good chere they haue made you and desyre of the kinge to haue conducte to go in to Bretaygne sayenge that ye wyll go se the duke your cosyn to tary there a
accusynge of them as he had doone before tyme trustynge therby to scape and to bringe them in the daunger and payne but that was nat the mynde of them that loued hym nat so as at that tyme they spake no more but departed and the duke of Lancastre went to his lodgynge and suffred the mayre and the men of lawe to procede They went to the Guyldhall where as all the maters of the cytie were determyned and than moche people asseÌ„bled there Whan they sawe the gouernours of the cytie go thyder they thought some iustice shulde be done as there was in dede I shall shewe you howe Fyrste the artycles that were made agaynst the kynge the whiche had been redde before hym in the towre were redde agayne there openly And it was shewed by hym that redde them howe the kynge hymselfe denyed none of them but confessed that he dyd theym by the counsayle of four knightes of his chambre and howe by their counsayle he had put to dethe the duke of Gloucestre and the erle of AruÌ„dell sir Thomas Corbet and other and howe they had longe encyted the kynge to do those dedes whiche dedes they sayd were nat to be forgyuen but demaunded punycion for by them and their couÌ„sayle the iustyce of right was closed vp through all the courtes of Englande Westmynster and other wherby many yuell dedes folowed and companyes and rowtes of theues and murderers rose and assembled togyther in dyuers parties of the realme and robbed marchauntes by the wayes and poore men in their houses by whiche meanes the realme was in great parell to haue ben lost without recouery and it is to be ymagyned that fynally the wolde haue rendred Calais or Guysnes or bothe in to the frenchmennes handes These wordes thus shewed to the people made many to be abasshed and many beganne to murmure and sayd These causes demaunde punycion that all other may take ensample therby and Rycharde of Burdeaur to be deposed for he is nat worthy to beare a crowne but ought to be depriued fro all honour and to be kept all his lyfe in prison with breed and water Though some of the villaynes murmured other said on hygh sir mayre of London and ye other that haue iustyce in your handes to mynyster execute iustyce for we wyll ye spare no man for ye se well the case that ye haue shewed vs demauÌ„deth iustyce in coÌ„tynent for they are iudges vpon their owne dedes Than the mayre and other of the gouernours of the lawe went togyther in to the chambre of iudgement than these four knyghtes were iudged to dye and were iudged to be had to the foote of the towre where as kynge Richarde was that he might se them drawen alonge by the dyke with horses eche after other throughe the cytie in to chepesyde and than there heedes stryken of there and sette vpon London bridge and there bodyes drawen to the gybet and there hanged THis iudgement gyuen they were delyuered to execucyon for the mayre of London and suche as were deputed to the mater wente fro the Guyldhall to the towre and toke out the four knyghtes of the kynges whose names were called sir Bernarde Brokas syr Marelays mayster IohnÌ„ Derby receyuour of Lyncolne and mayster Stell the kynges stewarde Eche of theÌ„ were tyed to two horses in the presence of them that were in the towre and the kynge myght well se it out at the wyndowes wherwith he was sore descomforted for all other that were there with the kynge loked to be in the same case they knewe them of London so cruell Thus these four knyghtes were drawen one after another a longe through the cyte tyll they came in to chepe and there on a fysshers stall their heedes were stryken of and set vpon London bridge and their bodyes drawen by the shulders to the gybet and there hanged vp This iustyce thus doone euery man went to their lodgynges Kynge Rycharde knowyng him selfe taken and in the daunger of the londoners was in great sorowe in his herte and rekened his puyssaunce nothynge for he sawe howe euery man was agaynste hym and if there were any that ought hym any fauour it laye nat than in their powers to do hym any ayde nor they durste nat shewe it Suche as were with the kynge sayde Syr we haue but small trust in our lyues as it may well apere for whan your cosyn of Lancastre came to the castell of Flynte and with your owne good wyll ye yelded you to hym and he promysed that you and twelue of yours shuld be his prisoners and haue no hurte and nowe of those twelue four be executed shamfully we are like to passe the same way The cause is these londoners who hath caused the duke of Lancastre your cosyn to do this dede had hym so sore bounde to them that he muste do as they wyll haue hym God dothe moche for vs if he suffre that we myght dye here our naturall deth and nat a shamfull dethe It is great pytie to thynke on this With those wordes kyng Rycharde began teÌ„derly to wepe and wringe his handes and cursed the houre that euer he was borne rather than to haue suche an ende Suche as were aboute hym had great pytie and recomforted hym as well as they might One of his knyghtes sayd Syr it behoueth you to take comforte we se well and so do you that this worlde is nothyng the fortunes ther of are marueylous and somtyme tourne as well vpon kinges and princes as vpon poore men The frenche kynge whose doughter ye haue maryed canne nat nowe ayde you he is to farre of if ye myght scape this myschefe by dyssimulacyon and saue your lyfe and ours it were a good enterprise peraduenture with in a yere or two there wolde be had some recouery Why ê™ the kynge what wolde ye that I shulde do there is nothynge but I wolde be glad to do it to saue vs therby Syr quod the knyght we se for trouthe that these londoners wyll crowne your cosyn of Lancastre as kynge and for that entent they sent for hym and so haue ayded hym and do it is nat possyble for you to lyue without ye consent that he be crowned kynge wherfore syr we wyll counsayle you to the entent to saue your lyfe and ours that whan your cosyn of Lancastre coÌ„meth to you to demaunde any thynge than with swete and treatable wordes say to hym howe that ye wyll resygne to hym the crowne of Englande and all the ryght that ye haue in the realme clerely and purely in to his handes and howe that ye wyll that he be kynge therby ye shall greatly apease him and the londoners also and desyre hym effectuously to suffre you to lyue and vs also with you or els euery man a parte as it shall please him or els to banisshe vs out of the realme for euer for he that leseth his lyfe leseth all Kynge Rycharde herde those wordes well and fyxed them surelye in
his herte and sayd he wolde do as they counsayled hym as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and than he sayd to them that kepte hym howe he wolde gladly speke with his cosyn of Lancastre ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Kynge Rycharde of Englande resigned the crowne and the realme in to the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii IT was shewed the duke of Lancastre howe Rycharde of Burdeaux desyred to speke with hym The duke in an euenynge toke a barge and went to the towre by water went to the kynge who receyued hym curtesly and humbled hym selfe greatly as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and sayd Cosyn of Lancastre I regarde and consydre myne estate whiche is as nowe but small I thanke god therof As any more to reygne or to gouerne people or to beare a crowne I thynke it nat and as god helpe me I wolde I were deed by a naturall dethe and that the frenche kinge had agayne his doughter we haue had as yet no gret ioy togyder nor syth I brought her in to Englande I coulde neuer haue the loue of my people as I had before Cosyn all thynges cōsydred I knowe we well I haue greatly trespassed agaynst you and agaynst other noble men of my blodde by dyuers thynges I perceyue I shall neuer haue pardone nor come to peace wherfore with myne owne free and lyberall wyll I wyll resygne to you the herytage of the Crowne of Englande and I requyre you take the gyfte therof with the resignacyon Whan the duke herde that he sayd syr it is conuenyent that parte of the thre estates of the realme be called to these wordes and I haue sent all redy for some noble men prelates and counsaylours of the good townes of Englande and I truste they wyll be here within this thre dayes suffycient of them for you to make a dewe resygnacion before them and by this meanes ye shal greatly apease many men within the realme For to withstande suche enormyties and yuels as haue ben vsed in the realme for faute of iustyce who had no place to reygne I was sent for fro beyond the see and the people wolde crowne me for the renome rynneth through Englande that I haue more ryght to the crowne than ye haue for whan our grauntfather kynge Edwarde the thyrde dyd chose and make you kynge the same was as than shewed hym but he loued so his sonne the prince that none coude breake his purpose nor opinyon but that you shulde be kynge and if ye wolde haue folowed the steppes of your father the prince and haue beleued his counsayle as a good sonne ought to haue done ye myght haue ben styll kyng and haue contynued youre estate but ye haue alwayes done the contrary so that the cōmon renome rynneth through England and in other places that ye were neuer sonne to the prince of Wales but rather sonne to a preest or to a chanon for I haue herde of certayne knightes that were in the Princes howse myne vncle howe that he knew well that his wyfe had nat truely kepte her maryage your mother was cosyn germayne to kynge Edwarde and the kynge beganne to hate her bycause she coulde haue no generacion Also she was the kynges gossyp of two chyldren at the fonte And she that coulde well kepe the prince in her bandon by crafte and subtylte she made the prince to be her husbande and bycause she coulde haue no chylde she douted that the prince shulde be deuorsed fro her she dyd so moch that she was with chylde with you and with another before you as of the fyrst I can nat tell what to iudge but as for you bycause your cōdicyons haue ben sene contrary fro all nobles and prowes of the prince therfore it is sayd that ye be rather sonne to a prest or to a chanon for whan ye were gotten and borne at Burdeaux there were many yonge preestes in the princes house This is the brute in this countrey and your workes haue well folowed the same for ye be alwayes enclyned to the pleasure of the french men and to take with them peace to the confusyon and dy shonoure of the realme of Englande And bycause myne vncle of Gloucestre and the erle of Arundell dyd coūsayle you truly and faythfully to kepe the honour of the realme and to folowe the steppes of your auncestours ye haue traytoursly caused them to dye As for me I haue taken on me to defende your lyfe as longe as I may for pytie and I shall pray the londoners and the herytours of them that ye haue slayne and banysshed to do the same Cosyn I thanke you quod that kynge I truste more in you than in any other It is but ryght that ye so shulde do for if I had nat ben ye had ben taken by the people and deposed with great confusyon and slayne by reasone of your yuell workes Kynge Rycharde herde well all the dukes wordes and wyst nat what to saye agaynst it for he sawe well that force nor argumentes coulde nat auelyle him but rather mekenesse and humilyte wherfore he humbled hym and prayed the duke to saue his lyfe WHan the duke of Lancastre had ben at the towre two houres with kynge Rycharde had shewed hym parte of his fautes than he retourned And the next day he sent forthe mo cōmaundementes in to all parties of the realme to cause noble men and other to come to London His vncle the duke of yorke came to London and the erle of Rutlande his sonne the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Thomas Percy his brother The duke of Lancastre made them good chere Thyder came also great nombre of prelates and abbottes And on a day the duke of Lancastre acompanyed with lordes dukes prelates erles barones and knyghtes and of the notablest men of London of other good townes rode to the Towre and there alyghted Than kynge Rycharde was brought in to the hall aparelled lyke a kynge in his robes of estate his septer in his hande and his crowne on his heed Than he stode vp alone nat holden nor stayed by no man and sayde a loude I haue been kynge of Englande duke of Acquytany and lorde of Irelande aboute xxii yeres whiche sygnory royalte cepter crowne and herytage I clerely resygne here to my cosyn Henry of Lancastre and I desyre hym here in this open presence in entrynge of the same possessyon to take this septour and so delyuered it to the duke who toke it Than kynge Rycharde toke the crowne fro his heed with bothe his handes and set it before hym and sayd Fayre cosyn Henry duke of Lancastre I gyue delyuer you this crowne wherwith I was crowned kyng of Englande and therwith all the right therto dependyng The duke of Lancastre tooke it and the archebysshop of Caunterbury toke it out of the dukes handes this resygnacion thus done the duke of Lancastre called a notary and demaunded to haue
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
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
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