you from your husbande or I mary you The lady coulde gete none other wordes of the kynge and she shewed all the matter to her husbande and when that knyght knewe therof he was sory and maleneolyous and regarded and studyed what were best for hym to do and sayd to hymselfe I wyll not thus leue my wyfe howbeit he doubted the kynge and wente out of the royalme of Portyngale into Castell to kynge Henry who receyued hym and reteyned hym to be of his house as longe as he lyued and soo dothe kynge IohnÌ that nowe is Thus the kynge of Portyngale to accomplysshe his folysshe pleasure sente for the knyght and for the lady but the knyght was goone Then the kynge sente for the bysshophe of Connymbres who was as then chauncelloure of Portyngale and of the kynges counsayle and the kynge shewed hym his entent how he wolde wedde Elyanoure of Coygne and the bysshop fered the kynge bycause he knewe hym of an hyghe and a fyerce condycyon therfore he durst not saye contrary to the kynges pleasure and also syr IohnÌ Ferant Audere who was chefe of counsayle with the kynge to please the kynge ayd to the bysshop Syr ye may wed them wel ynoughe ones the kynge shal make recompence for all so the bysshop wedded them this lady was crowned quene so reputed in al the grete Cytees in Portyngale and had as moche honoure and reuerence as euer hadde ony other quene in the royalme of Portyngale and the kynge had by her a doughter who as nowe is quene of Castell True it was that whyle kynge Ferant lyued he sente on a day to Lyxbone for all the prelates and noble men of the countrey and for the counsayles of the Cytees portes and townes of Portyngale and this was or your broder the erle of Cambrydge came in to Portyngale and there the kynge made euery man to swere and to promyse that after his dyssease they sholde take his doughter the lady Beautryce Who was as then but fyue yeres of aege for herytoure of the royalme of Portyngale euery man sware whether they wolde or not Howbeit the moost parte of them that were there knewe ryght well that she was but a bastarde and borne in aduoutrye for her moders husbande was styll lyuynge called syr IohnÌ Laurence of Coygne who lyued in Castell with the kynge there as longe as kynge Ferant of Portyngale lyued and lenger how bert syr I thynke surely yf the kynges doughter had ben a sone that all the comonaltye of Portyngale wolde soner haue agreed to hym theÌ to his doughter For to her they sayd they wolde neuer agree but had rather dye then to be vnder the subiectyon of the royalme of Castell ¶ For as yet the royalme of Portyngale and the royalme of Castell neuer loued parfytely togyder But hathe often tymes haryed and made warre eche with other In lykewyse as the royalme of Scotlande dothe with that royalme of Englonde THen the duke of Lancastre demaunded of Laurence Fongase where kynge IohnÌ that nowe is broder to kynge Ferrant was in kynge Ferrantes dayes Syr sayd the squyer he was in the royalme of Portyngale in a house of relygyon wherin be knyghtes of an ordre in whyte habytes with a reed crosse and he was souerayne of that house and was called mayster Deuyce The kynge set lytell by his broder but made hym ruler of that house of Denyce nor also kynge IohnÌ that nowe is medled nothynge with the busynes of the royalme nor thought nothyng of the crowne therof For yf kynge Ferrant of Portyngale had thought ony thynge of that is fallen syth he loued his lady Elyanoure the lady Beautryce her doughter he wolde haue slayne his broder who is nowe kynge but bycause he sawe that he kepte his house with the bretherne of his ordre so mekely and duely he had no suspecte in hym but so let hym lyue in peas And syr as for the dyssencyon that is nowe bytwe-Portyngale and Castell surely syr to saye the trouthe therin the Spanyardes are cause ther of Why so sayd the duke I shall shewe you sayd the squyer The Castellyans when they sawe that kynge Ferrant had maryed his doughter to theyr kynge then they began to be prowde and began to speke grete wordes whiche sore greueo the Portyngales for the Spanyardes wolde say Oye Portyngales rude people lyke beestes The tyme nowe is come that we shall haue a good market of you for ye haue ben and shall be ours we shall deuyde and set you in companyes as we do the Iues who dwelleth by truage vnder vs ye shall be our subiectes with other venymous wordes often tymes they sayd thus when they met the Portyngales And whyle kynge Ferrant lyued had maryed his doughter in to Castell they engendred suche an hate that they murmured and sayd it were better to be deed theÌ to be vnder the daunger and subieccyon of the Castellyans and so kynge Ferrant fell syke whiche endured a hole yere And when he was deed and buryed in the chyrche of saynt Fraunce a relygyous house of freers in the cyte of Lyxbone Then the cytees good townes and castelles in Portyngale closed theyr gates they sente for the kynge that nowe is to Lyxbone who knewe ryght well the ententes of the .iii. other cytees as Connymbres Porte and Eure. Then they sayd Mayster Deuyce so he was called as then We wyll make you kynge of this royalme thoughe ye be a bastarde but we say that your cosyn the lady Beautryce quene of Castell is borne rather a basterde than you for as yet lyueth her moders fyrst husbande And syth it is so that the crowne of Portyngale is fallen in two wayes we wyll take for vs the moost profytable and also the moost parte of the royalme enclyneth to make you our kynge and that the crowne of Portyngale shall not go to a woman nor we wyll not be vnder the subieccyon of the kynge of Castell nor of the Castellyans we had rather ye sholde take all that we haue to ayde and to maynteyne vs and our fraunches theÌ the Castellyans sholde be maysters ouer vs wherfore syr receyue our gyfte for we wyl it shal be thus then this mayster Denyce who is as nowe kynge wolde not receyue theyr offre at the fyrst nor seconde request but answered and sayd Good people I knowe well of good affeccyon and entyer loue ye offre me the crowne of Portyngale whiche is a grete thynge and where as ye saye that I haue as grete ryght or more to the crowne as my coâyn the quene of Castell In lykewyse I thynke the same for true it is she is a basterde for as yet lyueth her moders husbande and is in Castel but there is one poynte ye all alone can not do this matter it behoueth that al the nobles or grete parte of them agre therto theÌ they of Lyxbone answered and sayd syr we haue ynowe We knowe all redy
ordayned that if the newe were nat trewe that they shulde be all drowned and putte to dethe ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kyngê house Capi. CC.xix SO it was on ChristeÌmas daye sir Iaques of Helley about the houre of noone entred in to Parys and so toke his lodgynge and demaunded where the kyng was and it was shewed hym that he was at saynt Poules on the ryuer of Seyn Than he went thyder There was with the kyng the duke of Orlyaunce his brother the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone and therle of saynt Poule and dyuers other noble men of the realme of Fraunce as the vsage was for suche noble men to be with the kynge at suche highe feestes So sir Iaques of Helley entred in to the court boted and spurred As than he was nat be knowen for he had of long tyme hauÌted farre countreis He dyd so moche that he came to the kynges chambre and sayd howe he came fro Lamorabaquy oute of Turkey and hadde ben at the batayle before Nicopolye where the Christen men had lost the iourney And sayd he hadde letters fro the erle of Neuers and fro other lordes of Fraunce suche as were prisoners than he was brought to the kynge He kneled downe and wisely declared his message as well fro Lamorabaquy as fro the erle of Neuers and other lordes of Fraunce prisoners in Turkey the kynge gaue hym audyence and was swetely examyned of all the hole mater and to euery thyng he answered so discretely that the kyng was well content with hym and was ryght soroufull for the doÌmage that the kyng of Hugry and they had susteyned Howe be it they were gladde that the kyng of Hungery was scaped without dethe or prisonment for they sayde he shulde recouer ryght well agayne the losse and doÌmage that he had receyued at that tyme. Also they were ryght ioyfull that the erle of Neuers and the other lordes were escaped the dethe and were but as prisoners And they sade there was no doute but they shulde be raunsomed and delyuered For sir Iaques of Helley sayd there was no doute but that Lamorabaquy wolde within the yere put them to rauÌsome for he loued golde and richesse And that sir Iaques sayd he knewe well bicause he had long ben conuersaunt in Turkey and serued Lamorabaquyes father more than thre yere Thus the kynge ryght well receyued this knyght and so dyde all other lordes suche as were there And euery man sayd he was happy in this worlde to be in suche a batayle and to haue the acquayntaunce of suche a hethan kynge as Lamorabaquy was sayenge it was an honoure for him and for all his lynage than the kyng coÌmaunded all suche as were in prison to be delyuered wherof they were gladde THus these newes that sir Iaques of Helley had brought spredde anone a brode in Fraunce and in other places many were right soroufull for the losse of their fathers bretherne husbandes chyldren and nat without good cause and specially the gret ladyes of Fraunce as the duchesse of Burgoyne for her sonne the erle of Neuers and her doughter Margarete of Heynault was soroufull for the erle her husbande In lykewyse was dolorous Mary of Berrey countesse of Ewe for her husbande the lorde Philyppe of Arthoise constable of Fraunce And in lykewise so was the countesse of Marche the lady of Coucy and her dought of Bare the lady of Sully and many other ladyes as well of Fraunce as of other places And whan they had wepte ynoughe than they reconforted them selfe in that they were natte slayne but prisouers But suche as knewe their husbaÌdes fathers bretherne chyldren and freÌdes deed their lameÌtacions endured long in FrauÌce The duke of Burgon made moche of this knyght sir Iaques of Helley who had brought hym worde that his sonne was a lyue and gaue hym many ryche gyftes and reteyned hym as one of his knyghtes with two hundred pounde of reuenewes yerely duryng his lyfe The Frenche kyng all other lordes gaue largely to this knight ThaÌ he shewed howe he must nedes returne agayne to Lamorabaquy for that was his promyse at his departynge for he stoode but as prisoner and sayd howe he hadde nat retourned but to do this message fro Lamorabaquy The kynge and other thought it but resonable that he shulde kepe his promyse Than the kynge and other wrote to these prisoners And it was concluded by counsayle that the Frenche kyng shulde sende a knight of honour to Lamorabaquy to th entent that he myght retourne agayne to bring newe tydynges in what case the prisoners were in There was apoynted to go in this voyage sir IohnÌ of Castell morant who was a wyse knyght and well languaged Than it was demaunded of sir Iaques what iowelles or presentes the kynge myght best sende to Lamorabaquy and that shulde best please him to the entent that the prisoners shulde be the better entreated The knight answered that Lamorabaquy toke gret pleasure in clothes of arras made of olde auncyent hystories And also he sayd he had great delyte in these whyte Faucons called Gerfaucons Also he sayd that fyne lynnen clothes and fyne scarlettes were moche made of there for of clothe of golde and sylke they hadde plentie This pleased well the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgonoe whose myndes were sette to please Lamorabaquy Thus a .xii. dayes sir Iaques of Helley taryed at Parys and euery man was gladde to here hym reporte of the aduentures of Turkey and of the maner of Lamorabaquy WHan he deêted to retourne the kynge sayd to hym Sir Iaques take your way and make but small iourneys at your ease I thynke ye wyll returne by Lombardy speke with the duke of Myllayne for there is great amyte bytwene hym and Lamorabaquy But whiche waye so euer ye go we wyll that sir Iohan of Castell Morant abyde in Hungry tyll ye haue gote hym a saueconducte to go to Lamorabaquy with suche presentes as we shall sende hym to the entent that he shulde be the more fauorable to the prisoners Sir quod he all this shal be done So he departed and tooke the same waye he came Anone after his departure the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne dyde prepare for these presentes and sir Iohan of Castell Morant dispatched and had his charge He had with hym sixe soÌmers laden with preseÌtes two of them with clothes of arras of the goodlyest that coude be gote wrought with the storie of Alexandre of his lyfe and conquestes ryght pleasaunt to beholde other two soÌmers were charged with fyne scarlettes whyte reed And also with moche payne the kynge gate of these whyte gerfaucons Thus sir Iohan of Castell morant departed fro Parys with his presentes and charge a fyftene dayes after that sir Iaques of Helley was departed In this mean season the kynge of Hungry retourned in to his couÌtre wherof all
of his house wher me was bycause I had brought with me a boke whiche I made at the conteÌplacion of Vmslance of Boesme duke of Luzenbourge and of Brabant Whiche boke was called the Melyader conteyninge all the songes baladdes rundeaux and vyrelayes whiche the gentyll duke had made in his tyme whiche by imagynacyon I had gadered toguyder whiche boke the erle of Foiz was gladde to se And euery night after supper I reed theron to hym and whyle I reed there was none durst speke any worde bycause he wolde I shulde be well vnderstande wherin he tooke great solace And whan it came to any mater of questyon than he wolde speke to me nat in Gascoyne but in good and fayre frenche And of his estate and house I shall somewhat recorde for I taryed thereso long that I might well parceyue and knowe moche This erle Gascone of Foiz with whom I was at that tyme he was of a fyftie yere of age and nyne and I say I haue in my tyme sene many knightes kynges princes other but I neuer sawe none lyke hym of personage nor of so fayre forme nor so well made His vysage fayre sanguyne smylyng his eyen gray and amorous where as he lyst to set his regarde in euery thyng he was so parfite that he can nat be praised to moche He loued that ought to be beloued hated that ought to be hated He was a wyse knyght of highe enterprise and of good counsayle he neuer had myscreant with hym He sayd many orisons euery daye a nocturne of the psalter matyns of our lady of the holy goost and of the crosse and dirige euery day he gaue fyue florens in small money at his gate to poore folkes for the loue of god he was large and courtesse in gyftes He coulde ryght well take where it parteyned to hym and to delyuer agayne where as he ought He loued houÌdes of all beestes wynter and somer He loued huntyng he neuer loued folly outrage nor foly larges Euery moneth he wolde knowe what he spended He tooke in his countre to receyue his reuenewes and to serue him notable êsons that is to saye .xii. receyuouts and euer fro .ii. monethes to two monethes two of them shulde serue for his receyte For at the two monethes ende he wolde change and put other two in to that offyce and one that he trusted best shulde be his comptroller and to hym all other shulde accompt and the comptroller shulde accoÌpt to hym by rolles and bokes written and thaccoÌptes to remayne styll with therle he had certeyne cofers in his chambre out of the whiche ofte tymes he wolde take money to gyue to lordê knyghtes and squyers suche as came to hym for none shulde departe fro him without some gift and yet dayly multiplyed his treasure to resyst the adueÌtures and fortunes that he douted He was of good and easy acquayntance with euery man and amorously wolde speke to theÌ He was shorte in counsayle and answers He had four secretaries and at his risyng they must euer be redy at his hande without any callynge And whan any letter were delyuered him and that he had reed it than he wolde calle them to write agayne or els for some other thynge In this estate therle of Foiz lyued at mydnight whan he came out of his chambre in to the hall to supper he had euer before hym .xii. torches brennyng borne by .xii. varlettes standyng before his table all supper they gaue a gret light and the hall euer full of knightes and squyers many other tables dressed to suppe who wolde There was none shulde speke to hym at his table but if he were called his meate was lightlye wylde soule the legges and wyngê alonely and in the day he dyd but lytell eate and drike He had great pleasure in armony of instrumeÌtes he coude do it right well hym selfe he wolde haue songes song before him he wolde gladlye se conseytes and fantesies at his table And whan he had sene it than he wolde sende it to the other tables bruely all this I consydred aduised And or I came to his court I had ben in many courtes of kynges dukes princes erles and great ladyes but I was neuer in none that so well liked me nor ther was none more reioysed dedes of armes than the erle dyde There was sene in his hall chaÌbre and court knightes and squyers of honour goyng vp downe and talkyng of armes and of amours All honour ther was founde all maner of tidyngê of euery realme and countre ther might be herde for out of euery couÌtre there was resort for the valyantnesse of this erle Ther I was enfourmed of the moost parte of the dedes of armes that was done in Spayne in Portyngale in Aragon in Nauar in Englande in Scotlande and in the fronters and lymitacions of LaÌgue docke For I sawe come thyder to therle while I was there knightes and squyers of all nacyons And so I was enformed by them by the erle him selfe of all thynges that I demauÌded Ther I enqÌred howe Gascon therles son died for ser Espayn of Leon wolde nat shewe me any thing therof somoch I enqÌred that an auÌcient squyer a notable maÌshewed the mater to me began thus True it is quod he that the erle of Foiz and my lady of Foiz his wife agreeth nat well toguyder nor haue nat done of a long season And the discorde bytwene theÌ first moued by the kyng of Nauar who was brother to the lady For the kyng of Nauar pledged him selfe for the lorde Dalbret whom the erle of Foiz had in prisone for the soÌme of fyftie thousande frankes And the erle of Foiz who knewe that the kyng of Nauarr was craftie malycious in the beginnyng wolde nat trust hym wherw t the countesse of Foiz had great displeasur and indignacyon agaynst the erle her husbande sayd to hym Sir ye repute but small honour in the kyng of Nauar my brother whaÌ ye wyll nat trust hym for fyftie M. frankes thoughe ye haue no more of the armynakes nor of the labrisyence than ye haue it ought to suffyce also ser ye knowe well ye shulde assigne out my dower whiche mouÌteth to fyftie thousande fraÌkes whiche ye shulde put in to the haÌdes of my brother the kyng of Nauarr Wherfore sir ye can nat be yuell payed Dame quod he ye saye trouthe but if I thought that the kyng of Nauarr wolde stoppe the payment for that cause the lorde Dalbret shulde neuer haue gone oute of Ortayse and so I shulde haue ben payed to the last penny And sithe ye desyre it I wyll do it nat for the loue of you but for the loue of my sonne So by these wordes and by the kyng of Nauars oblygacion who became dettoure to the erle of Foiz the lorde Dalbret was delyuered quyte and became frenche was maryed in FrauÌce to the suffer of the duke
squyer than he began to saye thus The first tyme that I bare armure was vnder the captall of Beufz at the batayle of Poyters and as it was my happe I had that daye thre prisoners a knight two squiers of whoÌe I had one with another four E. thousande fraÌkes The next yere after I was in Pruce with the erle of Foyz and the Captall his sonne vnder whom I was our retourne at Meulx in Brye we founde the duchesse of Normandy that was than and the duchesse of Orlyance a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles who were closed in and besieged by them of the Iaquery and if god had nat helped theÌ they had ben enforsed defouled for they were of great puissance and in noÌbre mo than ten thousande and the ladyes were alone and so we in the ayde of those ladyes dyd sette on theÌ and there were slayne of the Iaquery mo than sixe thousande and they rebelled neuer sythe at that tyme it was truse bytwene Fraunce and Englande but the kyng of Nauar made warre in his owne quarell agaynst the frenche kyng and Regent the erle of Foiz retourned in to his owne countre but my maister the captall and I other abode styll with the kyng of Nauar for his wages than we other that ayded vs made great way in FrauÌce and specially in Picardy and toke many townes and castelles in the bysshoprike these of Beauuoise and Amyens and as than we were lordes of the feldes and ryuers conquered great fynance And whan the truse fayled bytwene Englande and Fraunce than the ãâã of Nauarre seased his warre and toke a peace bytwene the Regent and hym Than the kyng of Englande with a great puyssance passed the see and came and layde siege to the towne of Remus Than the kyng of EnglaÌde sent for my maister who was at Cleremont in Beamoysin and there made warre for the kynge agaynst all the countrey Than we came to the kyng of Englande and to his chyldren than ââod the squyer to me Sir Iohan I thynke ye knowe all redy all that mater and howe the kyng of Englande wedded his wife and howe he came before Charters and howe the peace was made there bytwene these two kynges That is true sir quod I in writyng I haue it and the contynue of all the treaties Than the Bastot of Manlyon spake agayne and sayde whan this peace was thus made bitwene these two kynges It was ordayned that all men of warre and companyoÌs shulde a voyde leaue their fortresses and castels that they helde than all maner of men of warre and poore companyons drewe toguyder and the capitayns tooke counsayle what they shulde do And than they sayde Thoughe these two kynges haue taken peace toguyder yet we muste lyue Than they wente in to Burgoyne there were capitayns of all nacyons Englysshe Gascons Spany ardes Naueâoâse Almayns Scottes and of all maner of nacyons and there I was as a capitayne and there we fouÌde in Burgoyne and about the ryuer of Loyre of our coÌpany a .xii. thousande of one and other And in the same coÌpany ther were a thre or four thousaÌde of good and chosen men of warre and as subtell in all dedes of armes as might be and apte to aduise a batayle and to take their aduantage and as hardy to scale and assayle towne or castell and that was well sene at the bataile of Brinay wher as we ouerthrue the coÌstable of frauÌce therle of Forestz and two thousande speares knightê and squiers This vataile dyd great profite to the coÌpanyons for before they were but poore and than they were all riche by reason of good prisoners townes and castels that they wan in the bisshoprike of Lâon on the ryuer of Rone and whan they had âhe êont saynt Esprite they departed their warre made warr to the pope and to the cardynalles who coude nat be quyte of them nor had nat ben tyll they founde another remedy The pope sent in to LoÌbardy for the Marques of MouÌtferant a right valyant knight who had warre with the lorde of Myllayne WhaÌ he was come to Auignon the pope and the cardynals spake to hym in suche wyse that he entreted with the capitayns Englysshe gascons and almayns for threscore thousande fraÌkes that the pope and cardynals shulde pay to certayne of these capitayns and to their coÌpanyes as sir Iohan Hastourde a valyant englysshe knyght sir Robert Briquet Carsnell nandon le bagerant the bourge Camus dyuers other so than went in to LoÌbardy and gaue vp the pouÌt saynt Esprite of all their routes they toke but the .vi. parte but we taried be hynde sir Seguin of Bateâoile sir JohnÌ ioell sir James PlaÌchyn sir JohnÌ Aymery the burge of Piergourt Espiot Loys RaÌbalt Lymosyn Iaques tryturell I dyuers other we kepte styll lay at saynt Clement at Barell at Terrare at Brinay at the pont saynt Denys at thospitall of Ortifart for we had mo than .xl fortresses houses in the conutreis of forestz Velay base Burgoyn on the ryuer of Loyre and we rauÌsomed all the couÌtre they coude nat be quyte of vs nother for payng well nor otherwise in a night we toke the fortresse of Charite and there we abode a yere a halfe all was ours fro Charite to Puy in Auuergne sir Seguyn of Batefoile had lefte his garison of anse helde Bride in Auuerne wherby he had gret profite what there in the couÌtre to the value of a C.M. frankes on the ryuer of Loyre to Orlians the ryuer of Dalyer was all ours the archprest who was capitayne of Neuars was good frenche coude nat remedy the countre but in that he knewe many of the coÌpanyoÌs and so by his desyre soÌtyme the lesse hurte was done the archprest dyd the same tyme moche good in Neuernoise for he caused the cite of Neuers to be closed els it had been ouerron robbed diuers tymes for we had in those marches townes castelles mo than .xxvi. There was neyther knight nor squyer nor riche man with out he were agreed with vs that durst loke out of his house And this warre we made in the tytell of the kyng of Nauar. ¶ Howe dyuers capitayns englisshe and other were discoÌfited before the towne of SaÌxere by the frenchmen IN the same season fell the batayle of Cocherell where the captall of Beufz was capitayne for the kyng of Nauar dyuers knightes and squyers of our company went to hym sir Iaques Planchyn sir Iohan Ioell went to serue hym with two hundred speares The same season I kept a castell called the Becke Dalyer nere to Charyte goyng toward Barbanoise and I had vnder me a .xl. speares and I made in the countre mylles greatly to my profyte about saynt Purcyn and saynt Peter de moustier whan I herde howe the captall my mayster was in Constantyne
for they be here in as great ease as we se as though they were at home Sir we saye to you nat in maner of a determynate couÌsayle for ye are wyse ynough but we thynke by your highe prudence the best were to chuse as yet to kepe the felde ye maye well kepe it tyll the feest of saint Michaell and paradueÌture by that tyme your enemyes wyll assemble togyder and drawe out in to the felde whan ye take leest hede therto and so thaÌ without fayle they shal be fought withall Sir we haue great desyre to wyn soÌwhat for this iourney hath cost vs moche and great payne traueyle bothe to our self and to our horses or we came in to this couÌtre Therfore sir it shall nat be the opinyon of our company thus to departe agayne By my faithe quod the kyng ye speke well and truely In this warre other I shall vse fro hens forthe after your counsayle for the kyng my father I also haue founde alwayes in youre countreis great trouthe and faythfulnesse And god haue mercy of sir Bertram of Clesquyes soule for he was a true knyght by whome in his tyme we had many recoueraunses and good iourneys THe wordes and counsails that the kyng had of them of Fraunce and of Bierne were anone knowen among the lordes knightes of Spaygne wherwith they were sore displeased for two causes One bycause it semed to them that their kyng had more trust and coÌfydence in straungers than in them who were his liege men and had crowned hym kyng the seconde was in that they of Fraunce counsayled the kyng to kepe styll his warre and they felyng them selfe so wery of the warre so spake among them selfe in dyuers maners nat openlye but priuely They wolde saye the kyng coude make no warre but by the frenchmen and in lykewise no more coude his father so they had great enuy at the frenche men whiche well appered For whan the freÌche varlettes went out a forragyng if the spaynisshe forrengers were stronger than they wolde take their forage fro them and beate them and mayme them so that complayntes came therof to the kynge and he blamed therfore his marshall sir Raynolde Lymosyn and sayde Why haue ye nat prouyded for this mater The marshall excused hym and sayde As god might helpe hym he knewe nothynge therof and that he wolde prouyde a remedy fro thens forthe Incontynent he stablysshed men of armes to kepe the feldes that the frenche forreÌgers rode at their suretie and also he made a crye and a coÌmaundement that euery man that had any vitayle or prouision to sell that they shulde bringe it to the felde before saiÌt yrayns and they shuld haue a prise reasonable for euery thyng So than the straungers had largely their parte for the kyng ordayned that they shulde be serued before all other wherof the spanyardes had great dispyte So it was the same weke that the kyng of Castell departed fro the siege of Lixbone thre great shyppes of men of warre and Englysshe archers aryued at Lixbone they were to the noÌbre of fyue hundred one other And the thirde parte of them were of the coÌpanyons aduenturers hauyng no wages of no man some were of Calys of Chierburge of Brest in Bretayne of Mortaygne in Poytou They had herde of the warre bytwene Castell and Portyngale they came to Burdeux and ther assembled and sayd Let vs go at aduenture in to Portyngale we shall fynde them there that wyll receyue vs and sette vs awarke Sir Iohan Harpedan who as than was marshall of Burdeux counsayled theÌ greatly therto for he wolde nat they shulde abyde in burdeloys for they might ther haue done more hurte than good bycause they were companyons aduenturers and had nothyng to lese Of them that arryued at Lixbon I can nat name all There were thre squyers englysshe that were their capitayns One was called Northbery and another Morbery and the thirde Huguelyn of Harcerell And there were none of them paste the age of fyftie yere and good men of armes well vsed in the feates of warâ Of the comyng of these Englysshe men they of Lixbone were right gladde and so was the kyng of Portyngale who wolde se theÌ and so they went to the palays where the kyng was who made them great chere And demauÌded of them if the duke of Lancastre had sent them thyder Sir quod Northbery it is a longe season sythe he had any knowledge of vs or we of hym Sir we be men of dyuers sortes sekynge for aduentures here be some are come to serue you fro the towne of Calays By my faythe quod the kynge you and they bothe are right hartely welcome your comyng dothe me great good and ioye and shortely I shall sette you a warke We haue ben here inclosed a gret season so that we be wery therof but nowe we wyll be at large in the felde as well as our enemyes hath been Sir quod they we desyre nothynge els and sir we desyre you that shortely we maye se youre enemyes The kynge made them a dyner in his palays at Lixbone and coÌmaunded that they shulde all be lodged in the cytie at their ease and to be payed for their wages for thre monethes Than the kyng set his clerkes awarke and made letters and sente theÌ ouer all his realme coÌmaundynge euery man able to beare harnesse to drawe to Lixbone ALl suche as these letters came vnto obeyed nat for many abode styll iÌ their houses for thre partes of the Realme dissymuled with the kynge and with theym of Lixbone bycause they had crowned kynge a bastarde and spake great wordê ther agaynst priuely And bycause of the great trouble and dyffereÌce that the kynge of Castell and his couÌsayle sawe in the realme of Portyngale made hym to auaunce hym selfe to the entent to haue conquered the countre Sayenge howe all shulde be wonne with one dayes iourney of batayle and that yf they of Lixbone might be ouerthrowen the resydue of the countrey wolde nat be sorie of it but put out of the realme that mayster Denyce or elles slee hym and than it shulde be a lande of conquest for hym for his wyfe was ryght enherytoure yet with a good wyll kynge Iohan of Castell wolde haue lefte the warre but his people wolde nat suffre him for they euer gaue hym corage Sayeng how his quarell and cause was iuste And whan the kynge of Portyngale sawe that his commaundement was nat obserued and that moche of his people disobeyed to serue hym he was right pensyue and malencolyous He called to hym suche as he trusted best of Lixbone and of the knyghtes of his house who dyde their payne to crowne hym and also they had serued kyng Ferant As sir Iohan Radygos and sir IohnÌ Teatedore the lorde of Siegere and sir GoÌme of Tabeston Ambrise Condricho and Peter his brother ser Ouges of Nauaret a knyght of Castell who was tourned Portyngaloyes
were discoÌfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberoth Cap. xxxvi WHan the lixbonoise englysshe and Portugaloyse had delyuered the place and slayne all their prisoners neuer a one scaped without he were before conueyed to the vyllage of Iuberoth where as all their caryages were Than they drewe all togyder with a feirse wyll on the same place where as they were first assayled as than the sonne was goyng downe Than the kyng of Castell in a puyssant array with his baners and penons dysplayed and mounted on their horses well couered came on cryeng Castell began to entre in to the place that was fortified and there they were receyued with speres and axes and at the first comyng the shotte of arowes greued sore their horses so that many therby were slayne and ouerthrowen And all that season the kyng of Castell nor his men knewe nat of the myschiefe that was fallen to the vowarde nat how they were all slayne but he beleued they had ben styll prisoners thynkynge to recouer them agayne as ye haue herde There was a harde batayle and a fyerse and many a man caste to the erthe the portugalois had no suche aduauÌtage but and they had nat fought valiantly they had ben loste and discoÌfyted that saued theÌ was their enemyes coude nat come on theym but by one narowe waye There the kyng of Portyngale lyghted a fote and toke an axe in his hande and dyd marueylous in armes and beate downe a thre or four with his owne handes so that he was feared that none durst aproche nere him I shall shew some parte of the coÌdycions of the spaniardes TRewe it is at their first settyng on they are fierse and coragyous and of great aduauntage and hyghe mynded if they haue auauntage They fight well a hors backe but as soone as they haue caste two or thre dartes and gyuen a stroke with their swerde and se that their enemyes be nat discoÌfyted therwith than they feare and turne their horses and flye awaye to saue them selfe that best maye And at this bataile of Iuberoth they vsed the same playe for they fouÌde their enemyes harde and strong and as fresshe in the batayle as though they had done nothynge of all the daye before wherof they had marueyle and also that they harde no tidynges of the vowarde nor where they were become There the spayniardê that euenyng were in the harde fortune of batayle and perylous for them for as many as entred into their strength were by valyantnesse and feates of armes all slayne They toke no man to rauÌsom whatsoeuer he were noble or other so the Lixbonoys had ordayned for they wolde nat be charged with prisoners Theâ were slayne of them of Castell suche as foloweth Sir Dangonnes Nendreche sir Digo Persement sir don Peter of Rosermont sir Mare of Versaux the great maister of Calestrane his brother who was that daye made knight called sir Dygomor sir Peter Goussart of moÌdesque don Peter Goussart of Sonuyll don Iohan Radigo of Rousell and a threscore baronnes and knightes of Spaygne At the batayle of Naders where the prince of Wales disconfyted kyng don Henry of Castell there were nat slayne so many noble men of Castell as there was at this batayle of Iuberoth whiche was the yere of grace a thousande thre huÌdred fourscore and fyue on a saturday on oure lady day in August Whan the kyng of Castell vnderstode and sawe howe his menne were thus disconfyted and howe that his vowarde was clene disconfyted without recouery and that sir Raynalt Lymosin was deed who was his marshall sawe howe all his noble chiualty were lost as well of his owne realme as of Fraunce elles where suche as were come thider to serue him with their good wylles He was than sore displeased and wyste nat what counsayle to take for he sawe his meÌ began to flye on euery syde and he herde howe some sayd to hym sir deête hens it is tyme the mater is in a herde case ye can nat alone disconfyte your enemyes nor recouer your domages your people flyeth all about euery man intendeth to saue hym selfe Sir saue youre selfe and ye do wysely if fortune be this day agaynst you another tyme it shall be better The kynge of Castyle beleued couÌsayle than chaunged his horse mounted on a fresshe courser strong and light wheron no man had rydden before of all daye Than the kyng strake the horse with his spurres and tourned his backe towarde his enemyes and toke the waye towarde saynt yrayne whyder all suche as wolde saue themselfe fledde The same tyme the kyng of Castell hadde a knight of his house who bare his bassenet whervpon there was a sercle of golde and stones valued to twentie thousande frankes It was ordayned or they went out of saynt yrayne that this knight shulde beare it tyll they came to the busynesse and than to delyuer it to the kynge to weare on his heed but this knight dyd nat so For whan they came to the ioyninge of the batayle the prease was so great that this knyght coude nat coÌe to the kynge nor also he was nat called for wherfore he aproched nat to the kyng And whan he sawe howe his coÌpany were discomfyted and that the portugaloys optayned the vyctorie and sawe howe euery man fledde on euery syde he feared than the lesyng of such a riche iowell and set than the bassenet on his owne heed and so fledde but he toke nat the way to saynt yrayne but toke another waye to the towne of Arpent Thus some fledde this way and some that waye lyke people sore disconfyted and abasshed but the moost parte fledde to saynt yrayne and that euenynge thyder came the kyng sore abasshed AT this disconfyture of the spaynierdes at Iuberothe where the Portugaloys and lixbonoys optayned the place theâ was a great slaughter of men and it had ben gretter if they had folowed in the chase but thenglissh men whan they sawe the spaygniardes tourne their backes they sayd to the kyng of Portugale and to his men Sirs demaunde for yoâ horses and folowe the chase and all they that be fledde shal be outher taken or slayne Naye nat so quod the kynge it suffyceth that we haue done oure men be wery and sore traueyled and it is nere hande night we shall nat knowe whyder to go And thoughe they flye yet they be a great nombre and paraduenture they do it to drawe vs out of our strength and so to haue vs at their ease Let vs this daye kepe them that be deed and to morowe take other counsayle By my faythe sir quod Hartesell an Englysshman the deed bodyes are easy to be kept they shall neuer do vs any hurte nor we shall haue of them no profyte We haue slayne many good prisoners and we be straungers and are come farre of to serue you therfore we wolde fayne wynne somwhat of these calues that flye without
merchaundyse with the kynges broder called Iaquet that he sholde slee the kynge his broder so he dyd for he slewe him in his bed whiche was a fowle dede for bloode to slee so valyaunt a maÌ as was the kynge of Cypres who intended and ymagened nyght day on none other thynge but how he myght wynne the holy londe to haue it out of the handes of the infydelles syr Phelyp of Maysyeres chauncellour to Peter of Liesiegnen kynge of Cypres wrote on his tombe as it foloweth the copy wherof is in the chapytre house of the freer Celestynes in Paris Peter of Liesiegnen the .vi. kyng latyne of IherusaleÌ after Godfrey of Boloyne kynge of Cypres who by his grete prowes hyghe empryse toke by batayle at his cost these Cytees Alexandrie in Egypte Triple in Surie Layas in Armony Sytalie in Turkye dyuers other Cytees castelles on the infydelles enemyes of the lawe of Ihesu Cryst Animaeius requiescat in pace ¶ And when the Geneuoys who loued hym gretely as it was reason when they knewe of his dethe they prepared .vii. Galyes sente them in to Cypres toke there perforce the cyte of Samagose Iaquet within it ouer ranne the best parte of the royalme wolde haue destroyed the royalme but bycause there were stronge townes fortresses to kepe fronter warre agaynst the turkes therfore they lefte them styl in the mennes handes of the countre excepte the cyte of Samagose whiche they kepte styll fortefyed it but when they wanne it fyrste they had there grete ryches so they ledde with them to Genes this Iaquet who had murdred his broder True it was this kyng of Cypres had a fayre sone whom they maryed crowned kynge put this Iaquet in to strayte pryson wolde not put hym to dethe kepte styll in theyr haÌdes Samagose I knowe not yf they kepe it as yet or no then within a season after the yonge kynge of Cypres dyed in his bed wherof the Geneuoys were sore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it so the lande was without ony heyre I can not tell who gouerneth it nowe but the same yere that I was in the erle of Foys house it was shewed me by a knyght of Biern the lorde of Valenchyn howe the Geneuoys had a grete parte of the lande helde styl Samagose how they of the countrey had crowned to theyr kynge the sayd Iaquet for lacke of other heyre I can not tell by what meanes he came out of pryson out of the handes of the Geneuoys when the sayd kynge Lyon of Armony came fyrst in to Fraunce the kynge there the lordes made hym good chere as it was reason for he was come thyder out of a farre countre so by hym his was knowen tydynges of the royalme of Grece of the Empyre of Constantyne le noble for he was examyned of the puyssaunce of the Turkes of the Tarcaries who had put hym out of his royalme he answered sayd that the grete TacoÌ of Tarcarie had alway made hym warre it was he that had put him out of his royalme theÌ he was demauded yf that Tacon of Tartarie were puys saunt ye truely sayd he for by his puyssaunce with the puyssaunce of the sowdan he hath subdued the emperoure of Constantyne le noble kepte the lawes of the Tartaries The kyng answered sayd nay But the Tacon of Tactarie the sowdan haue longe made warre agaynst the Emperour of Constantyne le noble at the last he was fayne to make his ende or elles he coulde haue no peas whiche emperour of CoÌstantyne le noble was sone to my lady Mary of Burbon sone to the emperour Hugues of lesiegneÌ whiche emperour was fayne to giue his doughter in maryage âo the sone of the TacoÌ of Tarcarie Howbeit the emperour abydeth styll in his cryâteÌ lawe all is by reason of comyctyon of this maryage TheÌ it was demauÌded of hym what the erle Coââer of Sauoy dyd in that countrey seyng he was so valyaunt a maÌ had so grete a puyssaunce then the kynge answered sayd that when the erle of Sauoy was in the empyre of HuÌgry made warre agaynst the turkes tartaryes there by his valyauntnes he conquered on the Tartaryes on the Sowdans lande two good townes as Calipole Lobeme lefte men there to kepe them after the retourne of the erle of Sauoy the townes were kepte styll crysteÌ as longe as the good kynge of Cypres lyued but as soone as the Sowdan the Tacon of Tartarie knew of his dethe they feared nothynge the Empeof Constantyne le noble but raysed an army of a C.M. horsemen so came ranne before CoÌstantyne le noble fro thens they wente besyeged Calipole conquered it perforce slewe all the crysten men that were within it had made so grete warre agaynst the Emperour of CoÌstantyne le noble that all his puyssauÌce coulde not resyst theÌ but they forbare hym by reason of his doughter whom the sone of the grete tacon coueted to haue in maryage whiche is a harde case for the tyme to come for the offycers of the Tacon be as now in the cyte of Constantyne le noble so that the grekes there lyue vnder theÌ by truage yf the kynges crysten put not therto a remedy or at lengthe the matter shall go so euyll that the Turkes Tartaries shall conquere all Grece tourne it to theyr byleue for so they make theyr auauntes they do mocke the popes wherof one is at Rome another at Auignyon They say that the .ii goddes of crystendome warreth eche agaynst other wherby they afferme our lawe to be the more feble the lyghter to be dystroyed condempned they lay therto reason in that they that sholde cxalte the crysten fayth are the fyrst that mynyssheth it dystroy it then it was demauÌded of the kynge of Armony whether that the Sowdan the Tacon of tartarie were .ii. of the grettest prynces amonge the infydelles that were knowen with the Grekes the kynge answered sayd nay surely they be not the gretest for alwayes the turkes are more noble more greter more sage more redoubted in warre as longe as they haue a good heed and gouernour as they haue had this C. yere for thoughe the Tacon of Tartarie holde in subieccyon the Emperoure of Constantyne le noble yet the lorde of Turkey holdeth in lykewyse the TacoÌ this lorde of Turkey is called Lamorabaqum to say the trouthe he is a valyaunt maÌ in armes a wyse man in his lawe of Lamorabaquin I coÌplayne me not for he neuer dyd me hurte for he hath alwayes kepte his warre agaynst the Emperoure of Hungery Then the lordes of Fraunce demaunded of hym yf this Lamorabaqum were so grete so feared as he sayd ye truely sayd the kynge of Armony and more then I speke of
syr Henry percy so that letted my iourney in to Portyngale in the name of god sayd the squyer it was thought amonge vs that there was some grete let in Englonde so that you coulde not come hyder howbeit we dyd as well as we myght maynteyned ourselfe valyauntly agaynst the kyng of Castell and all his puyssaunce whiche was no small thynge for he had mo then .lx. M. meÌ by see and by lande and thretened to byrne to exyle vs without mercy And syr thus whyle this syege endured an erle of our countrey of Portyngale called the erle of Angouse dyd vs on a day grete socour wherby he attayned grete honoure for he with .xx. Galeys aryued at the porte of Portyngale with a good nombre of men of armes prouysyon so came saylynge by the see before Valence and thrughe the grace of god he came by the kynge of Castelles army as they lay at ancre before Lixbone who were mo then a C. grete vesselles howbeit he dyd his entrepryse so gracyously and had the wynde at so good a poynte that in dyspyte of all his enemyes he entred saufely without peryll with all his galeys in to the hauen of Lyxbone and at his comynge in conquered .iiii. shyppes of his enemyes brought them with hym in to the hauen of whose comynge all that were in Lyxbone were ryght ioyous for it coÌforted them gretely By my fayth sayd the duke of Lancastre the erle of Angouse at that tyme dyd you a fayre seruyce But nowe fayre Laurence shewe me howe was this syege raysed and by what maner I wolde gladly here you speke therof syr sayd the squyer I shall shewe you with ryght a good wyll AS I haue shewed you the syege endured more then a yere before Lyxbone the kynge of Castell had sworne and auowed that he wolde not departe frome the syege tyll he had the cyte vnder his obeysaunce without the puyssaunce of a gretter kynge then he was raysed hym therfro by force And truly al thynges consydered the kynge of Castel kepte wel his auowe for the puyssaunce of a gretter kyng then he was raysed hym and caused hym to departe I shall shewe you howe a pestylence mortalyte meruaylous ferefull fell in his oost in suche wyse that meÌ dyed sodeynly spekyng one to another there dyed mo then .xx. M. persones wherof the kyng was sore afrayde wherfore it was counsayled hym to departe thens and to drawe to saynt yrayne or to some other parte and breke vp the syege and to gyue leue to his people to departe tyll the pestylence were seased whiche he dyd sore agaynst his wyll bycause he had sworne so solemply to kepe the syege howbeit of necessyte he was fayne to departe Therfore syr we say and hath ben sayd in Portyngale and it is the comon opynyon that god dyd sende that pestylence in to the kyng of Castelles oost to ayde vs and our kynge that nowe is for in the cyte wherin we were closed there dyed nother man nor womaÌ of yâ sykenes this grace god dyd for vs. And when the kynge of Castell dyslodged fro Lyxbone the kynge of Portyngale that nowe is caused all suche as were within the cyte to be armed and to lepe on theyr horses and to folowe the trayne of the kynge of Castelles oost and there we dyd then grete domage for they dyslodged not in good aray wherby they âost parte of theyr men promocyon but the kyng of Portyngale made a crye that on payne of dethe no ma to take ony thynge that they founde in the felde nor to brynge ony thyng therof in to the cyte but commaunded euery thynge to be brente to the entent that it sholde brynge no infeccyon in to the cyte So prouysyon euery thynge was conuerted in to flame of fyre howbeit I thynke suche as founde other golde or syluer in money or place brent it not but saued it as well as they myght So thus the kyng of castel wente to saynt prayne at the entre of his countrey there taryed a season sent for more socour in to FrauÌce specyally in to Gascoyne Byerne in to the laÌdes of the erle of Foys he sent thyder .iii. somers laden with nobles of castel floreyns to gyue in prest to knyghtes squyers for he knewe well otherwyse he sholde not haue them come out of theyr houses And when the barons and knyghtes of the royalme of Portyngale on the partye of the kyng that nowe is sawe howe the kynge of Castell had raysed his syege whiche had endured more then a yere they toke then grete courage so dyd all the comons of the countrey and specyally they of Porte Ewre and Connymbres Then they toke counsayle togyder shortely to crowne to theyr kynge mayster Denyce whom they had chosen and gyuen hym theyr loue sayd how that it was goddes wyll that he sholde be theyr kynge for he had shewed his vertue agaynst the Spanyardes then a commaundement was made thrughout all Portyngale euery maÌ to come to CoÌmmbres at a certayne daye lymytted to the Coronacyon of mayster Denyce all suche as toke his parte came thyder and accordynge to the puyssaunce of that royalme there was moche people there kynge IohnÌ of Portyngale was crowned by the bysshoppes and prelates of the royalme with grete solempnyte as it aperteyned on trynyte âondaye the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.lxxx and .iiii. In the cathedrall chyrche of CoÌnymbres called saynt Maries whiche daye the kyng made newe knyghtes what of his owne countrey as of straungers to the nombre of .lx. There was kepte a grete feest .ii. or .iii. dayes and there the kynge renewed all homages of Erles barons knyghtes and squyers and suche as helde of hym and there the kyng sware to kepe the royalme in ryght and Iustyce and to maynteyne al theyr iurysdyccyons and euery man sware to take hym for theyr kynge and his heyres comynge of hym male or female that to dye in the payne neuer to forsake them thus kynge IohnÌ of Portyngale was crowned kynge WHen the kynge of Castell knewe how the comons of Portyngale had crowned mayster Denyce to theyr kynge had sworne to hym faythe and homage then he was more dyspleased then he was before for he had thought they wolde not haue done it so sodeynly bycause he had many of the nobles of Portyngale with hym then he sayd I se well it behoueth me perforce to conquere that is myne yf I wyll haue it there shall neuer be peace bytwene Castell and Portyngale tyll the Portyngales haue amended that they haue done And so after the kynge was crowned he came to Lyxbone and there taryed toke grete dylygence to set in a good way the busynes of his royalme to gete therby the grace good wyl and loue of his people and sent his knyghtes and men of warre in to dyuers garysons in to townes castelles on the
alonge by the frontere of Galyce so there at the partyng of bothe royalmes to mete and speke togyder so on that conclusyon the messagers departed and retourned towarde Galyce rode as they came tyll they came to saynt Iames and there shewed to the duke and the duches howe they had sped of whiche tydynges the duke was ioyfull and so he had cause for his busynes began then to approche ANd when the season came that the duke of Lancastre sholde departe fro saynt Iames he lefte there styll his marshall and al his company excepte .iii. C. speres and .vi. C. archers and syr IohnÌ holande who had wedded his eldest doughter with hym and many other knyghtes and squyers and the duke rode the fronters of Galyce and approched nere to Portyngale and the kynge who laye at the Porte knewe well of his comynge and so departed with .vi. hundreth speres and came to the fronters of Portyngale and lodged at a towne called Mouson the last towne of Portyngale on on that syde and the duke of Lancastre came to another towne the fyrst towne of galyce ioynyng to Portyngale called Margasse and bytwene Mouson and Margasse there was a ryuer and fayre medowes and a grete playne a brydge called the mor brydge on a thursday in the mornynge the kyng of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre with all theyr companyes met togyder there was a goodly and a louyng metynge and there were lodgynges made in the feldes of the kynges syde and thyder went the duke of Lancastre to dyner whiche dyner was well ordred there sate at the kynges table the bysshop of Connymbres the bysshop of Porte the archebysshop of Bargus in Portyngale the duke of Lancastre and a lytell byneth late syr IohnÌ of holande and syr Henry beamonde of Englande and there were plentye of mynstrelles and so were in sporte tyll it was nyght that daye the kynge of Portyngale was apparelled all in whyte with a reed crosse of saynt George for that is the habyte of the house called Mouson otherwyse called Denyce in Portyngale of the whiche ordre the kynge was and or he was crowned was called mayster therof But euer after he bare styll that deuyse in the honoure of god and saynt George and all his men were arayed in whyte and reed then wheÌ it began to be late they retourned to theyr lodgynges tyll the nexte daye The kynge wente to Mouson and the duke to Margasse and bytwene bothe there was no more but the medowe and the ryuer to passe then on the fryday wheÌ they had herde masse they toke theyr horses so rode agayne to mor brydge and there they met agayne there they had goodly lodgynge made The kyng and the duke had theyr chambres hanged with tapyceryes and curteynes as well as and the kynge had ben at Lyxbone and the duke at London and before dyner they counsayled togyder on the state of theyr busynes howe they sholde maynteyne theyr war when they sholde set forth then it was determyned that all the wynter the kynge sholde tary in his owne countrey the duke at saynt Iames to let theyr marshal dele and in marche the kyng and the duke theyr men to assemble togyder and to go and fyght with the kyng of castel where soeuer he sholde be as theÌ for they sayd they sholde be Englysshe and Portyngales togyder a .xxx. thousande and when al this was concluded then the kynges counsayle comoned amonge themselfe for a maryage for theyr kynge for it was tyme and the royalme wolde that he were maryed to his honoure profyte and for to haue good alyaunces in tyme to come and they sayd they knewe not as then where he sholde mary more to his profyte nor to the welthe of his comons then in the house of Lancastre and this they shewed to the duke and when he sawe the kynges entencyon and howe that he was in the kynges daunger seynge he was come out of Englande in to the fronters of Portyngale to demaunde his herytage of Castell then he answered smylynge sayd to the kynge who was there presente syr I haue in the towne of saynt Iames two doughters I wyll gyue you one of them whome it pleaseth you to chose Syr sende thyder your counsayle and I shal sende her to you syr sayd the kynge I thanke you ye offre me more then I desyre as for my cosyn Katheryne I wyll leue her styll with you but as for Phylyp your doughter her I demaunde and wyl wedde her and make her quene of Portyngale and so brake vp theyr counsayle and wente to dyner and sate as they dyd the daye before they were serued notably accordynge to the vsage of the countrey and after dyner the duke retourned to Margasse and the kynge to Mouson THe saterday after masse they met agayne at the sayd place and that daye the duke of Lancastre made the dyner for the kynge of Portyngale and his company and there were chambres and halles hanged with arras enbrowdery as rychely as thoughe they had ben at London and the Portyngales praysed moche the Englysshe maner and at that dyner there were thre archebysshoppes and .vii. bysshoppes syttynge at the hyghe table The bysshop of Lyxbone the bysshop of Porte and the bysshop of Connymbres the archebysshop of Bargus and other and the kynge sate in the myddes of the table and the duke a lytell bynethe hym and bynethe the duke the erle of Nauare and the erle of Angosse and at another table sate fyrst the mayster Denyce then the grete mayster of saynt Iames in Portyngale and the pryour of saynt IohnÌs then Don galopes percler IohnÌ Ferrant his sone the ponnayse of Congne and Vas Martyn of Congne the Podych of Senede Vas Martyn of merle albarons the abbot of the cabase of Iuberoth the abbot of saynt mary of Eure syr Alue Perere marshall of Portyngale IohnÌ Radygosdesar and dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of Portyngale for there sate that daye no Englysshmen for all knyghtes and squyers of englande serued there were many mynstrelles the duke gaue them a C. nobles and the herauldes as moche after dyner when all thynges was accomplysshed they toke leue amyably eche of other tyll another season the kynge retourned to Porte and the duke to Margaâse and toke his way in to Galyce and the erle of Nauare conueyed the duke with a C. speres tyll he was out of all daunger and then the erle toke his leue and retourned in to Portyngale the duke rode to saynt Iames in Galyce MOche desyred the duches of Lancastre the retourne of the duke her husbande to here tydynges what conclusyons were takeÌ And so the duke was well welcomed home as it was reason and the duches demaunded of hym howe he lyked the kynge of Portyngale by my fayth sayd the duke he is a gracyous man is of body and maners lyke
doughters and as sone as they be wedded ye shal se bothe theyr puyssaunces ioyne togyder entre in to my royalme so gyue me to moche to do Then the frensshe knyghtes answered to comforte the kynge and sayd syr take no thought therfore for yf the englysshmen wyn on the one syde they lese on the other for we know surely that the frensshe kynge with mo then a. C.M. men of warre is as nowe in the royalme of Englande dystroyeth and conquereth the countrey and when they haue done brought al Englande in subieccyon then the frensshe kynge wyl take agayne the se or somer be past aryue at coulogne in galyce wyn agayne more in a moneth then ye haue lost in a hole yere the duke of Lancastre shal so be inclosed that he shal be fayne to fle in to portyngale so ye shal take vengeauÌce of your enemyes for syr know surely that if the busynes offrauÌce had not ben so grete as it is for the voyage in to englande ye sholde haue had here or this .iii. or .iiii. M. speres of frensshmen for the frensshe kynge his vncles couÌsayle haue grete affeccyon to coÌforte ayde you to brynge your warres to an ende syr care not though the englysshmen nowe kepe the feldes wyn a lytel of your countrey Surely syr or it be the feest of saynt IohnÌ baptyst they shal al be dryuen away the kyng toke these wor for good toke coÌforte in theÌ the frensshe knyghtes sayd nothyng but as they thought was true for they reputed surely as then the frensshe kynge to be aryued in Englande so it was brewted in all Spayne Galyce and Portyngale surely the fourth parte of the tydynges that the englysshmen herde of pylgrymes merchauntes comynge fro flaunders was not shewed to the duke of Lancastre also the kynge of Portyngale for al that he wrote often tymes to the duke yet he somwhat dyssymuled was not ouer hasty to sende for the lady Phylyp to be his wyfe for his counsayle sayd to hym syr surely there is tydynges come out of Fraunce out of flaunders that the royalme of Englande is in a grete aduenture to be dystroyed and yf that be so what sholde it auayle you the comforte of the duke of Lancastre or to wedde his doughter it sholde nothyng auayle you wherfore couertly he delayed his busynes to the entente to se the ende of that matter howbeit by letters messagers he reteyned styll the duke in loue fauoure Nowe let vs leue a season to speke of the busynesses of Castell and Portyngale and let vs treate of the matters of fraunce ¶ Of the grete apparell of shyppes galeys that the frensshmen made on the see to passe in to EnglaÌde Ca. liii THe apparel of shyppes galeys and vesselles that the frensshe kyng made to passe in to EnglaÌde was so grete and sumptuous that the eldest man thaÌ lyuyng neuer saw nor herde of the lyke the knyghtes and squyers reioysed when they departed fro theyr houses to go with the frensshe kynge in to Englande sayd nowe let vs go on these cursed Englysshmen who haue done so many euylles persecucyons in fraunce nowe shall we be reuenged for our faders bretherne and kynsmen whom they haue slayne and dyscomfyted surely it was more then .xii. wekes a doynge the pourueynge of suche prouysyons as the frensshe lordes made it was so grete that it was meruayle to consyder it it was sayd in all flaunders the kynge cometh to morowe and also men came thyder out of Gascoyne armynacke Comynges Tholowsyn and fro al the lymyttes of fraunce and all came lodged in flaunders and Artoys and when it came to the myddes of August that the voyage sholde approche and to the entente to make them of farre countreys to make the more hast to gyue ensample that the kynge toke his voyage with grete desyre the kynge toke his leue of the quene his wyfe and of quene Blaunche and of the duches of Orlyaunce and of the other ladyes of fraunce herde masse solemply in our Ladyes chyrche in Paris his entencyon was neuer to retourne agayne to Paris tyll he had ben fyrst in Englande so the kynge rode to Senlyse but al that season the duke of Berrey was styll in his couÌtrey of Berre howbeit prouysyon was made in Flaunders at sluse for hym as it was done for other also the duke of Borgoyne was in his countrey so then he toke leue of the duches of his chyldren determyned to take his leue of his grete aunte the duches of Brabant so he departed out of Borgoyne rode in grete estate the admyrall of fraunce in his company syr Guy of Tremoyle so they came to Bruzelles there founde the duches other ladyes who receyued hym with grete honour .ii. dayes he taryed there with them then toke his leue fro thens he rode to Mons in Heynalte and there he founde his doughter the lady of Ostrenant duke Aubert his sone syr wyllyam of Heynalte erle of Oftrenant who receyued the duke with grete ioy so brought hym to Valencennes the duke was lodged in the erles palace duke Aubert in the lodgynge of Vycongnet the lady of Ostrenant fro thens the duke rode to Doway so to Arras there he founde the duches his wyfe taryenge for hym Then the frensshe kynge came to Compaygne so to Noyon fro thens to Perone to Bapalmes so to Arras dayly there came downe people fro all partes so grete nombre that the couÌtrey was clene eten vp nothyng was lefte abrode in the countrey but it was taken wtout payenge of ony thynge so that the poore comon people that had gadered togyder theyr cornes had nothynge lefte them but strawe yf they spake therof they were beten or slayne theyr waters were fysshed theyr houses beten downe for fyer wood yf the englysshemen had aryued in the countrey they coulde not nor wolde not haue done so grete dystruccyon nor hurte then the frensshmen themselfe dyd they sayd to the poore men syrs we haue as nowe no syluer to pay but when we retourne we shal haue ynoughe then ye shall be clerely payde but the poore people when they saw theyr goodes taken spente away and durst not speke theragaynst they cursed bytwene theyr tethe sayenge go in to Englande or to the deuyll neuer retourne agayne ¶ Howe the frensshe kynge and his vncles aryued at Sluse in flaunders Ca. liiii THe frensshe kynge came to Lysle in flaunders his two vncles with hym the duke of Borgoyne and the duke of Borbon for as theÌ the duke of Berrey was behynde in his owne couÌtrey and ordeyned for his busynes with the kynge at Lysle there was the duke of Bare the duke of Lorayne the erle of Armynacke the erle
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 LaÌcastre wolde gladly haue had some treatie of mariage with some noble maÌ of Fraunce He knewe well the FreÌche 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 demauÌded couÌsayle 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 coÌtynuauÌce 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 couÌsayle 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 couÌsayle 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 LaÌcastre 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 messaÌgers 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 fouÌde their lorde in Poitou preparyng hym selfe to go in to Fraunce for the FreÌche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne had sent for hym for to coÌmune 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 CoÌmaundyng hym that incouâynent 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 soÌwhat 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 coÌmyng 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 FrauÌce than beyng thereof the kynges secrete counsayle They had
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌtrey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌche kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌde synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌte desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He êcured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌtrey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌberlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌche kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couây and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌtesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌphe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deêted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌmyng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌe to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
ê he howe be it ye shall abyde here all this daye and refresshe your selfes and to morowe ye shall departe they obeyed and taryed that daye and the nyght at their pleasure and the erle deuysed with theym sagely craftely for he was a man by reason of his fayre langage to drawe out by one meanes or other the secretes of on s herte The nexte daye they toke leaue eche of other and rode so long that the same day they came to Tholouse and founde the kinge playenge at chesse with his vncle the duke of Burbone Than the kynge demaunded of them alowde and sayde Syrs howe saye you wyll the erle come or no. yes sir quod the lorde de la Ryuer he hath gret affection to se your grace he wyll be here with you within these foure dayes Well quod the kynge and we wyll gladly se hym The two knightes departed fro the kynge and lefte hym playeng went to their supper and to reste them for they had rydden that daye a great iourney The erle of Foiz who was at Nasyers remembred well the voyage that he had to do He made hym redy and sente before to Tholous for his êuisyon acordingly He had sent in to Bierne for knightes and squiers for mo than two hundred to serue and to accompany hym that voiage THe daye that the erle of Foiz had apoynted he entred in to the Cytie of Tholous with mo than syxe hundred horses and well acompanyed with knyghtes and squyers There was with hym BoÌnuquell and sir IohaÌ his brother sir Roger of Spaygne his cosyn the lorde of Courase the lorde of ValeÌtyne the lorde of quare the lorde of Burnge sir Espaygne du Lyon the lorde of Roquepayre the lorde of Lane the lorde of Besache the lorde of Perle sir Peter of Cabestayne sir Monaunt of Nonnalles sir Richarde de la Meete sir Arnolde of saynt Basyll and dyuers other Sir Peter of Byerne and sir Arnolde his two bretherne and his two bastarde sonnes sir Iobbayne and sir Gracyen of Foiz The entencion of the erle was to enherite those two his sonnes in to the moost parte of all the lande of Bierne Of the whiche lande he myght do therwith at his pleasure for he helde it fraÌke and free holdynge of no man but of Godde Thus the erle toke his lodgynge at the Freers preachers There he kept his house and his men lay as nere there about as myght be The burgesses of Tholous made him great chere for they loued him well for alwayes he had been their good neyghbour curtesse and tretable For he neuer suffred any of his coÌpany to do them any displeasure nor vyoleÌce wherfore they loued hym moche the better They gaue him many fayre pÌsentes of wyne and other thynges so that he was well contente He entred in to Tholous whan it was nere nyght The nexte daye about ten of the clocke he toke his horse suche other of his company as pleased hym mo than two hundred knyghtes and squyers men of honour And in that estate he rode a long through the stretes to the Castell where the kynge was Than he a lyghted in the fyrst court entryng in to the castell Than the erle mouÌted vp the greces in to the great hall The freÌche kyng was come out of his chambre in to the hall and there taryed for the Erle and had great desyre to se hym for his great valure and renome that ran on hym Th erle of Foiz who was a goodly prince and of a formall stature beare heeded entred in to the hall And whan he sawe the kynge and other lordes of FrauÌce the kynges brother his vncle he made his reuerence to the kyng and to none other and kneled downe on his one knee than he a rose and passed forthe and at the thirde tyme he kneled nere to the kynge The kyng toke hym by the hande and enbrased him and toke hym vp and sayde Erle of Foiz my fayre cosyn ye be right welcome your coÌmyng greatlye reioyceth vs. Sir quod the erle I thaÌke your grace that it please you to say so There the kynge and the Erle talked toguyder the whiche wordes I herde nat all ThanÌe the kynge went to dyner At the kynges table at the vpper ende sate the archbisshop of Tholous than the kynge and his vncle the duke of Burbone than nexte the erle of Foiz than sir IohnÌ of Burbone erle of Marche and of Vandone At that table sate no mo At the seconde table satte sir Iohan de la Brethe erle of Harcourte sir Philyppe of Bare foure knightes of the erle of Foiz And at another table there sate the marshall sir Loyes of sanxere sir Roger of Spayne and eyght other knightes of the erles This was a great dyner and well stuffed of all thynges and after dyner and grace sayd they toke other pastymes in a great chaÌbre and heryng of instrumentes wherin the erle of Foiz greatly delyted ThanÌe wyne and spyces was brought The erle of Harecourt serued the kynge of his spyce plate And sir Gerrarde de la pyerserued the duke of Burbone And sir Monnaunt of Nonnalles serued the erle of Foiz Thus about four of the clocke the erle tooke leaue of the kyng and of the other lordes He issued out of the hall and in the courte were his hourses redy and his men The erle mouÌted and all suche as accompanyed hym and so retourned to his lodgynge and was well contente with the chere that hadde ben made to hym and his and praysed it moche to his knightes TThus bytwene the Frenche Kynge and the Erle Gascoyne of Foize beynge at Tholous There was dyuers treaties and apoyntmentes of loue and the marshall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer dyde their payne to helpe it forwarde The erle of Foiz made a dyner to the duke of thou rayne and to the duke of Burbone to therle de la Marche and to other great Lordes of Fraunce This dyner was great and sumptuous and syttyng at the tables mo than .ii. hundred knightes And or the dyner was fullye ended the Frenche kyng who had dyned in the castell and with hym sir Charles de la Brethe and sir Philyppe of Bare and his two cosyn germayns Than the kyng sayde Go we thyder and so he dyde but with .xii. in his company The erle of Foiz was greatlye reioysed in that it pleased the kyng to coÌe to his lodgyng and so was all the company There was sporte after dyner of wrestlyng and castynge the barre the stone the darte bytwene the Frenche men and the Gascoyns Thus they passed the tyme tyll it was nerehande nyght Than the kynge and the other lordes retourned The erle of Foiz gaue the same daye to the kynges knightes and squyers and to the duke of Thourayne and to the duke of Burbone mo thaÌ threscore coursers palfrayes and mulettes all with whyte sadels redy drest to apoynt Also he gaue to the kynges mynstrelles
Than he said to the truchman cause the lordes to swere on their lawe to vpholde all that ye sayd and than shall I aunswere you to all that I shal be examyned of as farre forth as I knowe The trucheman shewed this to the lordes and they made faythfull promesse by their fayth to fullfyll their promesse Than the varlet sayd nowe demaund what ye wyll and I shall answere Than firste he was demaunded of whence he was He answered and sayd he was of Portnances Than they demaunded of hym of the feates of the frenche men that had been at the siege He named to them dyuers for he hadde kepte often tymes coÌpany with harauldes by whome he had lerned dyuers of their names Than they desyred to knowe the occasion why they departed so sodaynely fro the siege wher to he answered wysely and sayd As for that I can nat tell but by supposynge and acordyng as I haue herde spoken in our host as for me I was neuer a counsayle with the lordes but as the brute went the frenchmen were in doute of the genouoys that they shulde betray them and the genouoys denyed it and sayd they neuer thought it nor neuer wolde and blamed the frenchmen that they shulde so slaunder them Also it was sayd that parte of the occasyon of their departure was bycause the wynter druenere and they were afrayde of taking of suche domage as they had receyued before what domage was that quod the lordes Syrs ê he the same daye that ten of our men shulde haue fought with ten of yours they lost about a .lx. knightes and squiers of name and armes the genouoys sayd for that cause they departed They beleued well the varlet of whiche newes the lordes sarazyns had great ioye They enquered of hym no further but vphelde to him all their promesses so he retourned to Portnances and to Geane and shewed all this aduenture and what he had said and herde and he receyued no blame therof Than the sarazyns sayd amonge them selfe they shulde nat nede to care for the frenche men nor for the genouoys of a longe season after and said howe before the towne of Aufryke they had taken no profyte howe be it they sayde they wolde take better hede to their portes and hauens and the see costes of their Realmes and specyally to the straytes of Marroke they set sure watche that the genouoys nor venysians shulde nat passe that wayes in to Englande nor in to Flaunders with their marchaundyses without payenge of a great trybute and yet that to be by greate grace and lycence Thus the sarazyns assembled and alyed them togythers of dyuers realmes as of Aufryke Thunes Bogy Martoke Belmaryn Tremessyans Granade all agreed togyder to kepe straytly their portes and passages and to sette galees armed on the see to a great nombre to the entent to be lordes and maisters of the see and all this they dyd for the great hatred that they had to the frenchmen and genouoys bycause they had ben at the siege before Aufryke thus they dyd great trouble to the goers and commers on the see so that moche yuell and myschefe grewe therby for by meanes that the sarazyns were thus lordes of the see suche marchaundyses as came fro DaÌmas fro Cayrel fro Alexaunder fro Venyce fro Naples and fro Geane were in that season so dere in Flaunders and so scarce that many thynges coulde nat be gotte nouther for golde no syluer and specially all spycery was wonderfull dere and gayson YE haue herd here before howe the crysten men departed for the siege of Aufryke They all passed the see but all aryued nat at one porte for some were so sore tourmented on the see that they retourned in great daunger howe be it some of theym returned to Geane Processyons were made in FrauÌce for their good spede for there was no tydynges herde of them The lady of Coucy the lady of Sulley the lady Dolphyn of Auuergne and other ladyes of FrauÌce who had their husbandes in this voyage were in great sorowe as longe as the voyage endured and whan tydynges came howe they were passed the see they were ryght ioyfull The duke of Burbone and the lorde of Coucy retourned priuely and lefte behynde them all their caryage and trayne and so they came to Parys aboute saynte Martyns tyde in wynter The frenche kynge was ioyouse of their comynge as it was reason and demaunded of them tydinges of Barbary and of their voyage they shewed al that they knewe and had herde and sene The kynge and the duke of Thourayne were glad to here them speke Than the kyng sayd if we can bringe it aboute to make peace in the churche and bytwene vs and EnglaÌde we shall gladly make a voyage with an army royall in to those parties to exalte the crysten fayth and to confounde the infydels and to acquyte the dedes of our predecessours as kyng Ppilyp and kinge Iohan for they bothe eche after other tooke on them the crossey to haue gone to the holy lande and they had gone thyder if the warres had nat fallen in their realme In lyke wyse we wolde gladly make suche a voyage Thus the Frenche kynge comuned with these lordes and so the day passed and lytell and lytell men came home fro their voyage and the kynge helde hym selfe that season most comenly at Parys somtyme at the castell of Lowre and a nother tyme in the howse of saynt Powle where the quene most comenly laye So it fell in the same season aboute the feest of saynt Andrewe and that all knyghtes and squyers were retourned fro their voyage into Barbary wherof all that worlde spake than in the frenche kynges court there was a mocyon moued for a newe iourney to be made thyder And bycause that the frenche kynge had gret affection to dedes of armes he was counsayled and exorted therto and it was sayde to hym Syr ye haue deuocyon and great ymagynacion to go ouer the see to fyght agaynst the infydels and to conquere the holy lande That is trewe quod the kynge my thought nyght and day is on none other thyng and as I was enfourmed it was the lord of Tremoyle and sir Iohan Mercier that had these wordes to the king for they owed their fauour to pope Clement beynge at Auignon and loke what they two sayd the kyng wolde agre to them for they were most speciall in fauour Than they sayd to the kynge Syr ye can nat with good conscience take on you this voyage with out first the church be all one syr begyn first at the heed than your enterprise shall take good conclusyon Why quod the kynge where wolde ye haue me to begyn Syr quod they at this present tyme ye be nat charged with any great busynesse ye haue treuce with the englysshe men for a longe space wherfore syr if it please you this peace durynge ye myght make a goodly voyage and syr we can se no better nor more honourable
vs wysely consydre the duke of Lancasters wordes who spake them of good entent for he had greatly traueyled in the warres of Fraunce and conquered but lytell and sore traueyled his bodye brent and dystroyed the playne countreys in his waye and after his retourne sone recouered agayn he sawe this warre drewe neuer to nâne ânde but rather encreased Also he sawe that if fortune shuld turne agaynst the englyssh party that great doÌmage therof shulde ensue and parceyued well that the kyng his nephue was enclyned moche rather to the peace than to the warre I Iohan Froysart auctoure of this hystory canne nat well saye whether this dukes opinyon was good or nat but it was shewed me that bycause the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters maryed in higher degree than hymselfe and out of the realme of Englande the one was quene of Spaygne the other Quene of Portugale This caused him gretly to enclyne to the peace for he knew well that the kynge of Spaygnes sonne who had maryed his doughter was as than but yonge and in daunger of his owne subgiettes and knewe well that if he shulde peasably enioye the herytage of Spaygne it was conuenyente that the englysshe men shulde kepe the peace with Fraunce for if the peace shulde be broken by any incydent than the Frenche men myght shortly be reuenged of the realme of Spayne for they had open entrees as well through Aragon and Chathalone as Bierne and Byskay for the lady yolant of Bare was quene of Aragone and she was good frenche and gouerned Aragon Chathalone Bierne and Byskay for the Vycount of Chatellon who was heyre to therle of Foiz had so sworne and promysed the frenche quene wherby the frenche men hadde many fayre entrees in to Spaygne without daunger of the kynge of Nauer who wolde nat wyllyngly dysplease the frenche kynge his cosyn germayne for as than syr Peter of Nauerre his brother was with the frenche kynge who alwayes apeased the frenche kynges ire and dyspleasure whan he had any to his brother the Kynge of Nauer for he was a true frenche man and neuer founde the contrary All these imagynacions the duke of Lancastre had in hym selfe and shewed his mynde to his sonne the erle of Derby though he were but yonge yet he was of great wysdome and lykely to come to great honour whiche erle had thre sonne Iohan Humfrey and Thomas and two doughters by the lady his wyfe doughter and heyre to the Erle constable of Englande erle of Herforde and Northampton by whiche lady he helde great herytage THe conclusyon of the parlyament holden at Westmynster by the thre estates of the realme A trewce was taken by see and by lande bytwene Fraunce and Englande their frendes and alyes to endure fro the feest of saynt Mychell to the feest of saynt Iohan Baptyst nexte after and suche coÌmyssioners as the frenche kynge had sent to this parlyament were dyspatched and the charter of the truce sent by them sealed whiche treuce was well vpholden on all partyes The Frenche kynge was sore febled by reason of his syckenesse and the physicyon mayster Guyllyam Harselay was as than deed but whan he departed fro Crayell fro the kynge he ordeyned many receytes for the kynge to vse wherby in the wynter season he recouered his helth wherof all his louers and frendes reioysed with the hole coÌmynalte of FrauÌce for he was well be loued and so he and the quene came to Parys and helde their householde most parte at saynt Powle and somtyme at Loure and the longe wynter nyghtes they passed the season with daunsynge and carollynge and other reuels and dysportes The quene was acompaned with the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Orlyance and other ladyes The same season the Vycount of Chastellon was come to Parys who was newly entred in to the herytage of the erledome of Foize and of Bierne as ryght heyre and he releued the sayde erledom of Foiz and dyd his homage to the kyng but nat for Bierne for that couÌtrey helde themselfe of so noble condycion that they helde seruyce to no man lyuynge Howe be it the prince of Wales said to the erle of Foiz that last dyed that he ought to releue of him and to haue his resorte to the Duchy of Acquitayne But alwayes the sayd erle denyed and defended it And it is to be thought that the chalenge that the prince of Wales made thervnto was by the settynge on and mouyng of Iohan erle of Armynake as it hath ben shewed here before in this history wherfore as nowe I wyll ouer passe it Whan this vicount of Chastellon called fro henseforthe erle of Foiz was at Paris with the frenche kyng he had there in his company with hym his cosyn syr yuan of Foize bastarde sonne to the laste Erle of Foize who was a goodly knyght The erle of Foiz or he dyed wolde haue made hym his heyre with a nother of his bastarde sonnes called Gracian who dwelte as than with the kyng of Nauer but the knyghtes of Bierne wolde neuer consent therto therfore the mater rested as it dyd and the erle dyed sodaynly as ye haue herde before Whan the Frenche kynge sawe this yonge knyght syr yuan of Foiz he lyked hym marueylous well also the kynge and he were moche of one age and by reason of the fauour that the kynge bare to this yonge knyght the erle of Foiz had the shorter spede and was delyuered of all his businesse and than departed in to his owne countrey and syr yuan abode styll with the kynge and retayned as one of his knyghtes of his chambre with .xii. horses all other thynges therto belongynge ¶ Of the aduenture of a daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodehowses wherin the Frenche Kynge was in parell of dethe Cap. C.xcii IT fortuned that sone after the retaynmge of this foresayd knyght a maryage was made in the kynges house bytwen a yonge knyght of Vermandoys and one of the quenes gentylwomen and bycause they were bothe of the kynges house the kinges vncles and other lordes ladyes and damoselles made great tryumphe There was the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey and Burgoyne their wyues daunsynge and makynge great ioye The kynge made a great supper to the lordes and ladyes and the quene kepte her estate desirynge euery man to be mery And there was a squyer of Normandy called Hogreymen of Gensay he aduysed to make some pastyme The daye of the maryage whiche was on a tuesday before Candelmas he prouyded for a mummery agaynst nyght He deuysed syxe cotes made of lynen clothe couered with pytche and theron flare lyke heare and had them redy in a chambre The kynge put on one of them and therle of Iouy a yonge lusty knyght another and syr Charles of Poicters the thyrde who was sonne to the erle of Valentenoys and to syr yuan of Foiz another and the sonne of the lord Nanthorillet had on the fyfte and the
the firste all abasshed for if I had sene any auncyent knyght that had ben with kyng Edwarde or with the price I had ben well reconforted and wolde haue gone to hym but I coulde se none suche ThanÌe I demaunded for a knyght called sir Rycharde Seury whyder he were a lyue or nat and it was shewed me yes but he was at London Than I thought to go to the lorde ThomÌs Percy great seneschall of Englade who was there with the kyng so I acquaynted me with hym and I founde hym right honorable and gracyous And he offred to present me and my letters to the kynge wherof I was right ioyfull for it behoued me to haue some meanes to bringe me to the presence of suche a prince as the Kynge of Englande was He wente to the kynges Chambre at whiche tyme the kynge was gone to slepe and so he shewed me and badde me retourne to my lodgynge and come agayne and so I dyde And whan I came to the bysshoppes palays I founde the lorde Thomas Percy redy to ryde to Ospring And he counsayled me to make as than no knowledge of my beynge there but to folowe the court and sayd he wolde cause me euer to be well lodged tyl the kyng shulde be at the fayre castell of Ledes in Kent I ordered me after his couÌsayle and rode before to Ospring by adueÌture I was lodged in an house where was lodged a gentyll knyght of Englande called sir Wyllyam Lysle He was taryed there behynde the kynge bycause he had payne in his heed all the nyght before He was one of the kynges preuy chambre And whan he sawe that I was a straunger and as he thought of the marchesse of FrauÌce bycause of my langage We fyll in acquayncaunce toguyder for gentylmen of Englande are curcesse treatable and gladde of acquayntaunce Than he demaunded what I was and what busynesse I had to do in those parties I shewed hym a great parte of my coÌmynge thyder and all that the lorde Thomas Percy hadde sayd to me and ordred me to do He than answered and sayde howe I coulde nat haue a better meane and that on the Friday the kyng shulde be at the castell of Ledes And he shewed me that whan I came there I shuld fynde there the duke of yorke the kynges vncle wherof I was ryght gladde bycause I had letters dyrected to hym and also that in his youthe he hadde sene me in the courte of the noble kyng Edwarde his father and with the quene his mother Than on the Friday in the mornyng sir Wylliam Lysle and I rode toguyder and on the waye I demaunded of hym if he had been with the kynge in the voyage in to Irelande He answered me yes Than I demaunded of hym the maner of the Hole that is in Irelande called saynt Patrykes purgatorie if it were trewe that was sayde of it or nat Than he sayde that of a suretie suche a hole there was and that he hym selfe and another knyght of Englande hadde ben there whyle the kynge laye at Duuelyn and sayd howe they entred in to the hoole were closed in at the sonne goynge downe and abode there all nyght and the nexte mornyng issued out agayne at the son risyng Than I demauÌded it he had any suche straÌge sightes or vysions as was spoken of Than he sayd howe that whan he his felowe were entred and past the gate that was called the purgatorie of saynt Patryke and that they were discended and gone downe thre or four paces discendyng downe as in to a cellar a certayne hoote wapure rose agaynst them and strake so in to their heedes that they were fayne to syt downe on the steres whiche are of stone And after they had sytte there a season they had great desyre to slepe and so fell a slepe and slepte there all nyght Than I demauÌded that if in their slepe they knewe where they were or what visyons they had he answered me that in slepyng they entred in to great ymaginacyoÌs and in marueylous dremes otherwyse than they were wont to haue in their Chambres and in the mornynge they issued out and within a shorte season clene forgate their dreures visyons wherfore he sayde he thought all that mater was but a fantasy Than I lefte spekyng any further of that matter bycause I wolde fayne haue knowen of hym what was done in the voyage in Irelande And I thought as thaÌ to haue demauÌded what the kyng had done in that iourney but than company of other knyghtes came and fell in communycacion with hym so that I lefte my purpose for that tyme. Thus we robe to Ledes and thyder came the kyng and all his coÌpany and there I founde the lorde Edmonde duke of yorke Than I went to hym and delyuered my letters fro the erle of Heynaulte his cosyn and fro the erle of Ostrenaunt The duke knewe me well and made me good chere and sayde Sir Iohan holde you alwayes nere to vs and we shall shewe you loue and courtesy we are bouÌde therto for the loue of tyme past and for loue of my lady the olde Quene my mother in whose courte ye were we haue good remembraunce therof Than I thanked hym as reason requyred So I was aduaunsed by reason of hym and sir Thomas Percy and sir William Lysle By their meanes I was brought in to the kynges chambre and in to his presence by meanes of his vncle the duke of yorke Than I delyuered my letters to the kyng and he toke and reed theÌ at good leysar Than he sayd to me that I was welcome as he that hadde ben and is of the Englysshe courte As on that daye I shewed nat the kynge the boke that I hadde brought for hym he was so sore occupyed with great affayres that I had as than no leysar to present my boke The kyng was sore busyed there in counsayle for two great mightye maters First was in determynynge to sende sufficient messangers as therle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne and the erle Marshall the archbysshoppe of Dublyn the bysshoppe of Ely the lorde Loys Clyssorde the lorde Henry Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spensar and many other ouer the See to Charles the Frenche kynge to treate with hym for a maryage to be hadde bytwene the kyng of Englande and the Frenche kynges eldest doughter named Isabell of the age of eyght yeres The secoÌde cause was the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Taryde the lorde of Pyntherne the lorde of Newcastell the lorde of Nesque the lorde of Copane and the counsaylours of Burdeux Bayon and of Daxe were come in to Englande and had quickely pursued their mater sythe the kynges retourne out of Irelande to haue an answere of the requestes and processe that they had put forthe to the kyng on the gyfte that the kynge had gyuen to his vncle the duke of LaÌcastre of the landes seignories lordshippes and baronyes in Acquytayne whiche they verifyed
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâtendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌmyssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌt of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌmaundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌmaundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌdement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌmaundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌde and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌtrey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌmauÌded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌtrey and the ryuer of Rynâââ many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌtrey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌt made in the parlyament for the quene
thinke it he is foule abused Therfore sir we humbly beseche you to apeace youre selfe euery thyng shall turne well with goddes grace All that a man speketh coÌmeth nat to effecte nor all that he sayth oftentymes he can nat accoÌplysshe Thus the dukes of LaÌcastre and yorke apeased their nephewe kynge Richarde THese two dukes sawe well that the busynesse of Englande began to be yuell and parceyued that gret hatered encreased dayly bytwene the kyng the duke of Glocestre And to th entent that they wolde nat entremedell bytwene them they departed fro the kynges court with all their company and seruauntes and so toke their leaue of that kyng for a tyme and went to their owne And the duke of Lancastre toke with hym his wyfe the lady Katheryn Ruet who hadde ben in company with the yong quene of Englande and went a huntyng of the dere as the vsage is in Englande and the kynge taryed about London But afterwarde the kynges vncles repented them that they deêted out of the courte for there fell afterwarde suche maters in Englande that all the realme was in trouble the whiche had nat so fortuned if they had ben about the kynge for they wolde haue founde other prouisyon for yâ mater than they dyde that counsayled the kyng There were none of the kynges seruauntes but that greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and wolde gladly that he had ben deed they had nat cared howe the gentyll knight sir Thomas Percy had ben long souerayne squyer of the kynges house that is in FrauÌce mayster and seneschall for all the state of the kynge passed throughe his handes He than coÌsydring the great hatereddes that encresed bitwene the kyng and his vncle of Glocestre and among other great lordes of Englande with whom he was welbeloued Like a sage knight he ymagined that the conclusyons coude nat be good ThaÌ he gaue vp his offyce as honorably as he coulde and tooke leaue of the kynge and the kynge gaue hym leaue full sore agaynst his wyll howe be it he made suche excusacions that he departed and another set in his offyce The kyng had as than but yonge counsayle about hym and they greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and oftentymes wolde saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir it is a perylous thyng to serue you for we haue sene suche as haue serued you in tymes paste and suche as were ryght synguler in your fauoure yet they haue had but small guerdone Sir Symon Burle who was a sage valyaunt knight in good fauoure with my lorde your father whome god pardone He had great payne and traueyle for your fyrst maryage yet your vncle the duke of Gloucestour caused hym to dye shamefully his heed to be stryken of lyke a traytour before all the worlde with dyuers other that he hath put to dethe as ye knowe well for all the puissaunce that ye were of ye coude nat saue them And sir we that sarue you nowe looke for the same rewarde For whan your vncle cometh to you the whiche is nat often we dare nat lyfte vp our eyen to loke vpon any persone he loketh so hye ouer vs. he thynketh we do hym moche wroÌg that we be so nere about you as we be Wherfore sir knowe for trouthe that as long as he liueth there shall be no peace in Englande nor ye shall do no maÌ good Also he thretneth you yor wife to close you vp in a castell there to beholden vnder subiection to lyue by porcion sir ye be a kyng lost if ye take nat good hede to your self as for your wife nedeth nat to care she is yong and doughter to the frenche kynge They dare nat displease her for moche yuell might come therby in EnglaÌde your vncle of Gloucestre to th entent to make you to be behated with your people hath sowen dyuers sclauÌdorous wordê vpon you throughout LoÌdon and in other places sayeng howe ye be nat worthy to beare the crowne nor to holde so noble an herytage as is the realme of Englande sythe ye haue taken to your wyfe the doughter of the frenche kyng your aduersary Wherby he saythe ye haue greatly febled the signorie and realme of Englande and hath sore discoraged the hertes of the noble valyant knightes and squiers of the realme who haue alwayes valyantly coÌtynued the warre and yet wolde do Thus they saye that ye haue brought the realme in great paryll and aduenture to be lost affyrmyng howe it is pytie that ye haue been suffred to contynue so long as ye haue done Also the Frenchemen bruteth that ye wyll put out of your armes tharmes of FrauÌce wherwith the people are nat conteât hateth you therfore And they thynke it trewe bycause ye were so redy gladde to take a truce they thynke more rather byforce than by loue for the noble men of the realme who haue serued and maynteyned the warres neuer agreed therto Also they saye that ye haue nat dilygently reuisyted nor ouersene the letters patentes gyuen accorded sworne and sealed by kyng Iohan somtyme frenche kyng and by his sonnes the whiche grauÌt his children lyueng was nothyng vpholden but craftely broken And the Frenchmen founde cautels and subtelties by wrongefull wayes to renewe agayne that warre And therby toke and vsurped all the right that your predecessurs had in that quarell and hath wonne therby landes and countreis in Acquitany with cyties castelles and townes And all this they saye ye take no hede of but haue loste it thoroughe your neglygence and hath shewed but poore corage and that ye doute your ennemyes and haue nat pursued the accydentes of the mater and the good and iuste quarell that ye had and as yet haue the whiche quarell your predecessours had as longe as they lyued First my lorde your father the prince of Wales and of Acâtayne and also good kyng Edwarde your grauÌtfather who toke great payne and dilygence to augment their signories Thus sir the londoners saye and so dothe other that a day shall come that ye shall repent you Therfore sir we can no lengar hyde these wordê fro you for they be daylye renewed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Glocestre was taken by the erle marshall by the coÌmaundement of the kyng Cap. CC.xxiii KIng Richarde of EnglaÌd noted well these sayd wordes the which was shewed hym in secretenesse lyke an ymaginatyfe price as he was within a season after that his vncles of LaÌcastre and of yorke were departed out of the courte than the kynge toke more hardynesse on hym and said to hym selfe That fyrste it were better for hym to distroye another rather than another shulde distroye hym thynkynge that shortely he wolde haue his vncle of Gloucestre in suche case that he wolde be assured of hym that he shulde do hym no displeasure after bycause he coulde nat bring about his purpose alone he dyscouered his mynde to such as he trusted best as to therle marshall his
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 LaÌcasters 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 dauÌger 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 LaÌcastre whiche shulde come to theÌ by right enherytauÌce 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 coÌstable of Englande The kynge gyueth parte therof at his pleasure This is to moche done agaiÌst 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 EnglaÌde coÌmuned and murmured IN lykewise in the realme of FraÌce 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 theÌ 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 husbaÌde was Loys of Bloys who died yonge and her secoÌde 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 FrauÌce 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 theÌ 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 couÌsayle 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 whanÌe 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 AcqÌtayne 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 HeÌry 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 nerehaÌde 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
whanÌe euery thynge is agreed and at peace thanÌe 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 coÌmunycacion and euery man departed to their owne lodgynges WHan the erle of Derby was coÌe 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 preseÌce of the frenche kyng who loued hym well had shewed him many curtesies shuld be reputed as a traytour and that those wordes shulde coÌe 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 briÌge you to ioye and sir ye ought to gyue him and his vncles great thaÌke in that they kept this mater secrete tyll the erle of Salisbury was deêted 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 sufficieÌt 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 recoÌfort 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 FrauÌce with the frenche kynge his vncles and borne letters thyder conteynyng howe the erle of Derby was falsely êiured 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 geÌtyll 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 coÌmers And they to be aparelled in grene with a whyte faucon the quene to be there well acoÌpanied ãâã 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. êtes 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 AruÌdell who was beheeded at LoÌdon 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 WhanÌe 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 SpeÌsers 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 IrelaÌde that were nat coÌtent 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 sonÌe 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 sonÌe hath spoken for it is to sette your subiettes agaiÌst 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 couÌsayle 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 sonÌe 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 preseÌce nor to go in that iourney For they hadde worde that if they dyde it
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 coÌsydred 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 coÌmon 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 coÌdicyons 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 couÌsayle 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 coÌmaundementes 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
for kynge Rycharde was norysshed amonge them therfore they loued hym and whyle he was kynge if any of Burdeloys came to hym they were well receyued and alwayes the kinge was redy to fulfyll their desyres wherfore they sayd whan they knewe the trouth Ah Richarde gentle kyng ye were as noble a man as euer reigned in any realme this trouble that londoners haue caused for they coulde neuer loue you specyall sythe ye were alyed by maryage with the frenche kyng this myschiefe is so great that we can nat suffre it They haue holden you kynge this .xxii. yere and nowe to condempe you to the dethe for sythe ye be in prison haue crowned the duke of Lancastre they wyll surely put you to deth So they of Burdeloys made great lamentacyons in so moche that the seneschall of Burdeaux a ryght valyaunt knyght of Englande wrote letters therin conteynynge the wordes and lamentacyons of them of the cytie of Burdeaulx of Bayon and of Dax Also he wrote howe they were nere at the poynte to yelde vp their townes to the frenche kyng He sent this lettre by a trusty seruauÌt of his by the see who had good wynde and aryued at Cornewayle in EnglaÌde and than he rode so longe that he came to London there he fouÌde kynge Henry and delyuered his letters whiche were dyrected to the kynge and to the londoners They were opened and reed and the kynge and the londoners tooke counsayle vpon that mater They of London aunswered lyke theym that were nothyng abasshed of that tydynges but sayde as for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche for they can nat lyue in their daunger nor they canne nat suffre the extorcion and pollinge of the frenchmen for vnder vs they lyue franke and free and if the frenche men shulde be lordes ouer them they shulde be taxed and tayled retayled two or thre tymes in a yere the whiche they are nat nowe acustomed vnto whiche shulde be a harde thyng nowe for them to begynne Also these thre cyties are closed in rouÌde about with great lordes who are good englysshe and longe haue been as the lorde Pyuiers the lorde Musydent the lorde Duras the lorde Landuras the lorde Copane the lorde Rosem the lorde Logeren and dyuers other barones and knyghtes by whome they shulde haue warre at their handes for they shulde nat issue out of their cities but they shulde be taken For all the seneschalles wrytynge we haue no doute that they shulde become frenche howe be it good it is to sende thyder some valyaunt wyse man that is beloued amonge theym some suche as hath gouerned there or this and that is the lorde Thomas Percy Thus as it was deuysed it was acomplysshed he was desyred to go thyder and to take hede of that couÌtrey He fulfylled the kynges coÌmaundement and made hym redy to departe it was about Christmasse at whiche tyme the wyndes be sore and ieoperdous he toke shyppynge in Cornewayle He had with him two hundred men of armes and four hundred archers And with hym was his nephue Hugh Hastynges Thomas Colleuyll Gyllyam Lysle Iohan Graily bastarde sonne to the Captall of Beufz Guillyam Traicton Iohan Danbreticourt and diuers other and also the bysshop of London and mayster Rycharde Doall They taryed tyll it was mydde Marche or they toke the see and or they came to Burdeaux the duke of Burbon was come to the cytie of Dagen to treate with theym of Burdeloys and he dyd so moche by his fayre wordes and good assuraunce that the counsayles of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax were sent to the cytie of Dagen The duke receyued them frendly and gaue them fayre wordes and many promyses and shewed them that if they wolde turne frenche and be vnder the obeysaunce of the frenche kynge what so euer they wolde demaunde shulde be graunted them and sealed perpetually to endure Many thynges they promysed and sware to seale and to kepe for euer They aunswered whan they were retourned agayne in to their cyties they wolde shewe all this to the people and so take counsayle and than gyue answere Thus they departed fro Dagen and fro the duke of Burbon and retourned to their townes and shewed all this to the people but all tourned to nothynge for the comynaltyes of the sayde cyties consydred the busynesse and knewe well howe the realme of Fraunce was vexed and troubled with tayles and fowages and shamfull exaccions all to get money than they sayd if the frenche men gouerne ouer vs they wyll bringe vs to the same vsage yet it is better for vs to be englysshe for they kepe vs franke and free If the londoners haue deposed kynge Rycharde crowned kinge Henry what is that to vs we haue and shall haue alwayes a kynge and we vnderstande that the bysshop of London and syr Thomas Percy shortely wyll be here they shall enfourme vs of the trouthe we haue also more marchaundyse of woll wyne and clothe with the Englysshe men than with the frenchmen let vs be ware we make no treatie wherby we shulde repent vs after Thus the treatie with the frenche men was broken and lefte of Than anone after the bysshop of London and the lorde Percy with their charge of men of warre aryued at Burdeaux wherof moche people were greatly reioysed and some displeased suche as had rather haue been frenche than englysshe All these englysshe lordes were lodged togyther in the abbey of saint Andrewe and whan they sawe their tyme they shewed to the people the state of Englande and the cause why they were sent thyder and they dyd so moche that euery thynge was apeased bothe there and in all other places For harde it was to haue caused them to haue tourned frenche THan it was determyned by the counsayle of Fraunce sithe the kyng was in sycknesse by reason of the displeasure that he toke for the deposyng of his sonne in lawe kynge Rycharde that they shulde sende some notable wyse personage in to Englande to knowe the state of the quene to do this message was apoynted syr Charles de la Brethe and Charles of Hangers who as they were coÌmaunded departed fro Parys and came to Boloygne and there taryed for they had sent an haraulde to kynge Henry for without assurauÌce they durst nat go for all the truce that was bytwene bothe realmes Kynge Henry who thought hym selfe moche bounde to the Frenche kynge for the chere that he hadde in Fraunce toke counsayle and concluded and so the haraulde was answered that it was the kynges pleasure that they and their company shulde come in to Englande and to come the streyght way to the kyng and nat to ryde out of the way without lycence The haraulde retourned to Boloyne and shewed what he had done wherwith they were content and so shypped their horses and toke the see and aryued at Douer where they founde redy a knyght of the kynges howse âoho receyued theym they had sene hym before with kyng
where as he laye his hedde on a blacke quisshen his visage open some had on hym pytie soÌe none but sayd he had long a go deserued dethe Now coÌsyder well ye great lordes kynges dukes erles baroÌs prelates all men or great lynage puissauce se beholde how the fortunes of this worlde are marueylous turne diuersly This kyng Richarde reigned kynge of EnglaÌde .xxii. yere in great prosperite holdyng great estate signorie There was neuer before any kyng of Englande that spente so moche in his house as he dyd by a. C.M. florens euery yere For I sir IohnÌ Froissart chanon treasourer of Chinay knewe it wel for I was in his court more tha a quarter of a yere togider he made me good chere bycause that in my youthe I was clerke seruauÌt to the noble kynge Edwarde the thirde his grautfather with my lady Philyp of Heynault quene of EnglaÌde his grandame and whan I deêted fro hym it was at Wynsore and at my departynge the kyng sent me by a knight of his called sir IohnÌ Golofer a gob let or syluer gylte weyeng two marke of siluer within it a C. nobles by the which I am as yet the better and shal be as long as I lyue wherfore I am bouÌde to praye to God for his soule with moche sorowe I write of his dethe But bicause I haue coÌtynued this historie therfore I write therof to folowe it In my tyme I haue sene two thingê though they differ yet they be true I was in the cytie of Burdeux sytting at the table whaÌ kyng Richarde was borne the whiche was on a tuisday about .x. of the clocke The same tyme there caÌe there as I was sir Richarde PouÌtcardon marshall as than of Acâtayne he said to me Froissart write put in memorie that as nowe my lady pricesse is brought abeed with a fayre son on this twelfe daye that is the day of the thre kynges and he is son to a kynges son shal be a kyng This geÌtyll knight said trouthe for he was kynge of Englande xxii yere But whan this knyght sayd these wordes he knewe full lytell what shulde be his conclusyon And the same tyme that kynge Richarde was borne his father the prince was in Galyce the whiche kyng Dompeter had gyuen him and he was there to coÌquere the realme Vpon these thyngê I haue greatlye ymagined sythe for the fyrst yere that I caÌe in to EnglaÌde in to the seruyce of quene Philyppe Kynge Edwarde and the quene and all their chyldren were as than at Barcamstede a maner of the prince of Wales be yonde London The kynge and the Quene were came thyder to take leaue of their sofie the prince and the priÌcesse who were goyng in to Acquitayne And there I herde an auÌcient knyght deuyse amonge the ladyes and sayde There is a booke whiche is called le Brust and it deuyseth that the prince of Wales eldest son to the king nor the duke of Clarence nor the duke of Glocestre shuld neuer be kyng of EnglaÌde but the realme crowne shuld returne to the house of Lacastre There I Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle coÌsydring all these thynges I say these two knyghtes sir Richarde Pountcardon sir Bartylmewe of Bruels layd bothe trouthe For I sawe and so dyde all the worlde Rycharde of Burdeaux .xxii. yere kyng of Englande and after the crowne retourned to the house of Lancastre And that was whan kyng HeÌry was kyng the which he had neuer ben if Richarde of Burdeaux had dalte amyably with hym for the Londoners made hym kyng bycause they had pytie on hym and on his chyldren Thus whan kynge Richarde had layne two houres in the chare in Chepe syde than they draue the chayre forwarde And whan the foure knyghtes that folowed the chare a sote were without London they lept than on their horses whiche were there redy for them And so they rode tyll they caÌe to a vyllage called Langle a .xxx. myle from LoÌdon and there this kyng Richarde was buryed god haue mercy on his soule Tydinges spredde abrode howe kyng Richarde was deed he taryed euery daye for it for euery man myght well consydre that he shulde neuer come out of prisone a lyue His dethe was long kepte and hydde fro his wyfe The Frenche kynge and his counsayle were well enformed of all this and the knightes and squyers desyred nothyng but the warre that they myght ryde vpon the fronters Howe be it the counsayls as well of the one realme as of the other toke their aduyse and thought it best to vpholde styll the truse that was taken before they thought it more êfitable than the warre And a newe treatie was deuysed to be in the marches of Calais bycause the freÌche kyng was nat in good case nor had nat been sythe he knewe of the trouble that kyng Richarde was in And yet his sickenesse doubled whaÌ he knewe that he was deed so that the duke of Burgoyne had the chefe rule of the realme And he came to saynt Omers to Burbourâ where the duke of Burbone was sir Charles de la Brest and Charles of Hangeers Iohan of Castell Morant and of prelates the patriarke of Ierusalem and the bysshoppes of Paris and of Beauoyes And on the Englysshe partie there was the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Rutlande the erle of Deuonshyre and the lorde Henry Percy the erles sonne and yuan of Fitzwaren and prelates there were the bysshoppes of Wynchester and of Ely The frenche men demauÌded to haue agayne delyuered the yong quene of Englande but the Englysshe men wolde in no wyse delyuer her but sayd she shulde lyue styll in EnglaÌde vpon her dowrie and that though she had lost her husbande they wolde prouyde for her another that shulde be fayre yong gentyll with whom she shuld be better pleased than with Richard of Burdeaux for he was olde and this shuld be the prince of Wales eldest sofie to kyng Henry To this the Frenchmen wolde nat agre for they wolde nat consent therto without liceÌce of the kyng her father who as than was nat in good poynt for he was farrÌ out of the way no medysyn coude helpe hym So that mater was layde aparte and the treatie of truse went forwarde in suche wyse that by coÌsent of bothe parties they sware and were bouÌde to kepe the truse .xxvi. yere more to the four yeres that it had endured the whiche in all was .xxx. yere accordynge to the fyrst couenauÌt and vpon this writynges were made and sealed by procuracyons of bothe kyngê this done euery man returned to their own countreis ¶ I haue nat as yet shewed you what became of therle Marshall by whom fyrst all these trybulacyons began in the realme of Englande but nowe I shall shewe you He was at Venyce and whaÌ he knewe that kyng Henry was kyng and kynge Rycharde taken deed He toke therof so great displeasure and sorowe that he layde hym downe on his bedde and fell in a fransy and so dyed Suche mischeuousnesse fell in those dayes vpon great lordes of Englande ¶ And in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande four hundred one lesse Pope Benedic at Auignon who had ben susteyned long by the Frenche men was as than deposed And in lykewise so was the kynge of Almaygne for his yuell dedes For the clectours of the Empyre and all the dukes and barons of Almaygne rose agaynst hym and sente hym in to Boesme where as he was kyng and they chose another a valyaunt and a wyseman to be kyng of Almayne and he was one of the Bauyers and was called Robert of Heleberge And he came to Coloygne where he was crowned with the crowne of Almayne for they of Ayes wolde nat open their towne to hym nor the duke of Guerles wolde nat be vnder his obeysaunce This newe kynge of Almaygne promysed to bring the churche to a vnyte and peace Howe be it the FreÌche kynge and his counsayle treated with the legeoys who helde with the pope at Rhome And they dyde so moche by the meanes of sir Baudwyn of Mount Iardyne who gouerned a great parte of the bysshoprike of Liege who was a knyght of the Frenche kynges so that by his meanes at the desyre of the freÌche kyng the countrey of Liege tourned to become neuter so that the Legeois sente to Rome for all the clergy that were there of their countrey to come by a certayne day or els to lese all their benefyces in the countre Whan they herde that they returned fro Rome and caÌe to Liege And pope Bonyface who lost moche by that transmutacion sente a legate in to Almaygne to preche amonge them to cause them to retourne agayne to his parte but the legate durst nat passe Coloigne and sent letters to Liege Whanne those letters were reed the messanger was aunswered that on payne of drownyng he shulde no more comeon suche message For they sayd as many messanger as cometh with any suche message shal be drowned in the ryuer of Moeuze Finis totius Froissart ¶ Thus endeth the thirde and fourthe boke of sir IohnÌ Froissart of the cronycles of Englande FrauÌce Spayne Portyngale Scotlande Bretaygne Flaunders and other places adioynynge Translated out of Frenche in to maternall Englysshe by IohnÌ Bourchier knyght lorde Berners deputie generall of the kynges towne of Calais and marches of the same At the hyghe commaundement of our moost redouted souerayne lorde kyng henry the eight kyng of Englande and of Fraunce and hyghe defender of the christen faythe c. The whiche two bokes be coÌpyled in to one volume fynysshed in the sayd towne of Calais the .x. day of marche in the .xvi. yere of our said souerayne lordes raigne Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Rycharde Pynson printer to the kynges moost noble grace And ended the last day of August the yere of our lorde god M.D.xxv. ¶ Cum priuylegio a rege in dulto
of Bloyes and all their landes to the duke of Thourayn the frenche kynges brother Capi. C .lxxxii. ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spayne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the Vycount of Chastellons busynesse and howe he was set in possessyon in the countie of Foize and of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his couÌsayle and of the kyng of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon throughe yuell wyll by subtile crafte beate downe sir Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Cap. C.lxxxv ¶ Howe in great dilygence the Prouost of Parys pursued sir Peter of Craon Capi. C .lxxxvi. ¶ Of the great armye and voyage that the Frenche kyng purposed to make in to Bretayngne agaynst the duke bycause he susteyned sir Peter of Craonne and howe in that voyage the kyng fell sicke wherby the voyage brake Cap. C.lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayne brother to the Frenche kynge resigned the Duchy of Thouraynge in to the kynges handes and howe by exchaunge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌce and so euer after he was called the duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii for .viii. Fo. CC.xxxiii ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and of Berrey vncles to the Frenche kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme and howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kyng bâ fore Cap. C.lxxxix ¶ Howe sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce departed out of Parys after the answere that the duke of Burgoyne had made hym and went to Mount le Henry and âââthens in to Bretayne Cap. C.xc. ¶ Howe the treatise whiche was accorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. ¶ Of the aduenture of a Daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodhouses wherin the Frenche kynge was in paryll of dethe Cap. C.xcii ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals or Rome sente a Frere a wyse clerke to the Frenche kyng Cap. C.xciii ¶ Howe the mariage was treased of the lorde Philyppe of Arthoyes erle of Ewel and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berrey and howe he was admytted coÌstable of Fraunce Cap. C.xciiii ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of EnglaÌde by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope ClemeÌt at Auâgnon and of the electyon of pope Benedic Capi. C.xcvi ¶ Of a clerke named maister Iohan of Warennes Cap. C.xcvii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquitayner and howe the kynge prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acouitayne Cap. C.xcviii ¶ Of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme and Emperour of Almayne Cap. C.xcix ¶ Howe sir Iohn Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to the kyng Capi. CC ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquitayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sente in to EnglaÌde to the kynge and his couÌsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌtrey of Aequitayne Cap. CC.i. ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kynge Richarde had made in Irelande howe he brought to his obeysaunce foure kynges of that countray Cap. CC.ii. ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sent in to FrauÌce to treate of the âââryage bytwene the lady Isabell the Frenche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louynge aunswere they hadde Cap. CC.iii ¶ Of a souper named Robert the ãâã howe he was sent to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham and howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Riuer and sir IohnÌ le Mercier and howe they were putte out of prisone Capi. CC.v ¶ Of the peace that was had bytwene the duke of Bretaynge and syr Olyuer of Clysson Cap. CC.vi. ¶ Howe the kynge of Hungery worte to the Frenche kynge the state of the great Turke and howe Iohan of Burgoyne eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chiefe heed of the armye that went thyder Fo .cc.lxiii. ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenaunt enterprised to go in to Fryse Cap. cc.vii ¶ Of the iudgement made in the Parlyament for the quene of Naples agaynste sir Peter of Craon Cap. CC.ix. ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage taken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande and Isabell eldest doughter to the Frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges Sarasyns to ayde hym with men of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyaunt sarasyns Came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. ¶ Howe the lorde of Eoucy and other lordes of the christen men about a .xv. hundred speares disconfyted a fyue thousande Turkes durynge the the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. ¶ Howe the peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce contynewed and of the maryage of the kyng of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii ¶ Howe the erle of Heynaulte and the Erle of Ostrenaunt his sonne made a great armye of men of armes knightes and squyets to go in to Fryse Cap. CC.xiiii ¶ Of the armye that the Frenche kyng sent in to Fryse in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Poule and the lorde Charles de la Brethe were capitayns Cap. CC.xv ¶ Howe the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his tent bytwene Arde and Calais Cap. CC.xvi. ¶ Howe the siege before Nicopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and how the Frenche men were discoÌfyted and howe the hungaryons fledde Cap. CC.xvii ¶ Of the pouertie and misery that the christen knightes of Fraunce and other nacions endured in the coÌmynge home to their countreis Cap. CC.xviii ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kynges house Cap. CC.xix ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was hadde in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Capi. CC.xx. ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn the duches his wyfe tooke great dilygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the Erle of Neuers their sânne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi ¶ Howe the Duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to distroy kynge Richarde of Englande his nephewe Cap. CC.xxii ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre was taken by the erle Marshall by the coÌmaundement of the kynge Cap. CC.xxiii ¶ Howe the lordes of FrauÌce retourned by see
eche of them knewe other they sawe well they shuld haue batayle Than the frenchmen valiantly set fote to the erthe and approched their ennemyes and the gauntoyse in lykewise set on them There they beganne to shole and to fight eche with other they were on suche a place that the gauntoyse coude nat passe at their aduauÌtage there was a sore batayle and many feates of armes done on bothe partes and dyuers caste to the grounde Sir Riflart of Flaunders was theâ a good knight and dyd valiantly The knightes and squyers fought valiantly with the gauÌtoyse so it behoued them to do for there was no raunsome But finally the gauntoyse were of suche nombre that they obteyned the place and the frenchmen were constrayned to lepe on their horses or els they had been all lost for the gauntoyse surmounted them And there was slayne sir IohnÌ Varlet sir Peter of Bailleule Bell Forrier Philyppe of Gancy Raolen dela Foley and dyuers other whiche was great domage And the other were fayne to flye and to entre in to ArdcÌbourcke or els they had ben deed without recouerie And after this aduenture the vycount of Meaulx was sent in garyson to Ardenbourcke with a certayne nombre of men of armes and they newly repayred the towne and he had with hym a huÌdred soeares of good men of armes And as than sir Iohan of Ieumont was great baylye of Flaunders so he had ben two yere before He was greatly douted in all the countre of Flaunders bycause of his valyantnesse And whan he might get any of the gauntoyse there went no raunsome for them For he outher putte them to dethe or els cutte of their handes and fete or putte oute their eyen and sende them home to gyue ensaÌple to the other gauntoyse He was so renoumed in Flaunders to do iustyce without pytie in correctyng the gauntoyse that there was no spekyng in all Flaunders but of hym THus in euery Realme the worlde was in trouble as well bitwene FrauÌce and Englande as Castell and Portyngale for theâ the warre was newly renewed and the lady of Auiowe who wrote her selfe quene af Naples and of Hierusalem was come to Iuygnon to the pope and there kepte her house and her son Loyes with her who was called kynge of Cecyle the whiche his father hadde conquered The quenes entencyon was to make warre in Prouence without they of that countre wolde take her for their lady and become vnder her obeysauÌce And sir Bernarde de la Salle was entred in to Pronence and made warre there in her quarell The same season the lorde of Coucy was also at Auygnon and had layen a .xv. wekes in his bedde of a hurte that he hadde on his legge with rennyng of a horse And whan he was hole than he oftentymes dyde vyset the quene and recoÌforted her the whiche he coulde do rightwell The quene taryed therefor to abyde for the duke of Berrey who was also comynge to Auignon to speke with the pope and to ayde his suster the quene The frenche kyng and his vncles hadde sente in to Prouence sir Loyes of Sanxere marshall of Fraunce with fyue huÌdred men of armes to warre in that couÌtre without they wolde come to obeysaunce vnder the quene Some submytted themselfe but nat all howe be it the cytie of Marcell and the grettest parte of the countre yelded them to the quene but the cytie of Ayes in Prouence and Tarraston and dyuers knyghtes of the countre wolde nat yelde them to the quene sayeng howe she had no ryght to demaunde the countie of Prouence tyll she were peasably receyued for lady and her sonne as kynge of Pulle and Calabre in Naples and Cecile and whan she hath possession of these than ProueÌce shall obeye her as reason requyreth In those matchesse there made warre for the erle Sir Charles dela Paââe the erle Conuersaunt and sir Iohan of Luzenbourge his sonne And with me quene at Auignon as chefe of her counsayle was sir Iohan of Baylleule IN the same season there fell in Lombardye a marueylous insydence which was moche spoken of throughe out all the worlde and that was of the Erle of Vertus called sir Galeas and of his brother sir Barnabo the grettest in all Lombardy They had raygned longe and gouerned all LoÌbardy lyke two bretherne The one of them ruled nyne cyties and the otehr tenne the cyte of Millayne was gouerned one yet by the one thother yere by the other Whan sir Galeas dyed he left behynde hym a sonne who was than erle of Vertus named like his father sir Galeas but than swaged the loue bitwene him and sir Barnabo his vncle for than sir Galeas doughted hym of sir Barnabo his vncle leest that he wolde take away his laÌdes fro him lyke as he dyde fro his father For his vncle of olde tyme toke awaye the lande fro their brother sir Mauffe and caused him to dye So thus therle of Vertus douted hym greatly of his vncle howe be it he wrought subtelly to bringe hym selfe insuretie I shall shewe you howe Sir Barnabo had in vsage that all suche landes as he had rule of he raunsomed theÌ so greuously and wolde taxe the men two or thre tymes in a yere to paye the halfe or thirde parte of their goodes and none durst saye agaynst hym for feare And sir Galeas erle of Vertus dyde otherwyse for the entent to gete loue he toke none ayde of his men but lyued all onely by his reuenewes And that rule he kept a fyue yere after the dethe of his father so that he had the loue of all Lombardy and euery man said they wolde be gladde to lyue vnder hym And euery man spake yuell of ser Barnabo priuely as they durst bycause he toke so excessyuely of them So finally the Erle of Vertus thought to execute his entent as he that doughted greatly his vncle and as it was sayde he sawe some lykelyhode On a day he sente secretely for suche as he trusted best And to some he shewed his entent but nat to all for feare that his purpose shulde be knowen And so it fortuned that sir Barnabo on a daye rode forthe fro one Castell to another to sporte hym The erle of Vertus his nephewe knewe therof and layde for hym thre busshemeutes to the entent that his vncle shulde nat scape for he must nedes at least passe by one of them The erle coÌmauÌded to take hym but nat to slee him without he made great defeÌce So as sir Barnabo roode forthe and thought none yuell nor was in no feare of his nephewe So he fell in the daunger of one of the busshmentes the whiche opyned and approched hym with their speres couched in the rest sir Barnabo had with hym a squyer of Almaygne who came to hym and sayd Sir saue your selfe for yonder company maketh but yuell countenaunce agaynst you they are parteyning to youre nephewe sir Galeas Sir Barnabo aunswered I
there a seuyn knightes wyues who were come thyder to se the lady of Guystelles she was redy to lye downe a chylde beed Thus after they had pilled the towne and slayne all suche as wolde nat take their parte than they went to repayre the towne agayne Whanne they of Bruges herde therof they werefore displeased and nat without a cause and armed them And with baner displayed came before the towne of Dan and began to scrimysshe and to assayle the towne but all was for nought they lost more than thei wan so retourned agayne to Bruges Whan these tidynges came to Gaunt they were greatlye reioysed and reputed that enterprise for a noble dede and FrauÌces Atreman for a valyant man ¶ Nowe let vs returne to the frenche kynges weddyng _wHan the duches Margarete of Heynaulte who had the yonge lady in her kepynge Whan she sawe the day was come she apparelled the lady honestly and to them came the duches of Burgoyne and the duches of Brabant accompanyed with many ladyes and damosels These thre ladies coÌueyed the lady Isabell of Bauiers in a chayre rychelye couered with a crowne on her heed worthe the richesse of a realme whiche the kynge had sent her before and the bysshoppe of the same place dyde wedde them in the presens of all the lordes and ladyes After the masse and solempnyte finysshed the kyng and all they went to dyner whiche was great and sumptuous and erles and barownes serued the kynge in ryche array Thus the day coÌtynued in great sporte tyll it was night than the kyng went to bedde with his newe wyfe So the feest endured tyll the wednisday after Than tidynges came to the kynge and his counsayle howe Fraunces Atreman had wonne the towne of Danne also there came an haraude from the duke of Burbone brought letters to the kyng signifyeng hym howe Taylbourcke was wonne and turned frenche and howe the duke of Burbone his coÌpany was goyng to ley siege to Vertuell and howe they had in Poyctou Xaynton and Limosyn recoÌquered sixe forteresses These tidynges somwhat reioysed the court and sette at nought the lesyng of Danne sauyng that it was coÌcluded that the kyng shulde do no thing tyll he had ben in Flaunders and won agayne Danne and to entre so farre in to the four craftes out of the whiche all the venym issued that he shulde leaue no house standynge but to dystroy all Than messangers were sent ouer all the realme of Fraunce coÌmauÌdynge all men of warre to be by the first day of August in the marchesse of Picardy to ley siege to Dan. These tidynges spredde abrode in the realme of Fraunce and euery knight and squyer made them redy to come to the kyng as they were coÌmaunded The same day duke Federyke of Bauyer and duke Aubert and all the barony toke leue of the kyng and euery man retourned home to their owne lefte with the kyng the lady Isabell of Bauyer as than the frenche quene THe frenche kyng who had made his coÌmaundement throughe all his realme sayd howe he wolde neuer come in Parys tyll he had ben before the towne of Danne And so the .xxv. day of Iuly he departed fro Amyence with the constable and dyuers other lordes of his house and went to Arras where he taryed but one night and the next day he went to Lan in Atthoyse and dayly men of warre came to hym fro all êtes and so at last he came to Iprso that by the firste day of August he was before Dan and laye so nere to it that the gonne shot passed ouer his heed A thre dayes after came to the kynge Wylliam of Neynaulte who was ryght welcome to the kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne So there they layde a goodly siege about Dan and therin was enclosed FrauÌces Atreman who bare him selfe valiantly for euery day there was outher scrimyshe or assaut without it were truse The lorde of Clary who was mayster of the ordynaunce with the lorde of Coucy was striken with a quarell out of the towne of whiche stroke he dyed whiche was great domage for he was a noble knight To the siege of Danne there came men oute of the good townes of Flaunders as Ipre Bruges and out of Franke. At this siege were beyond a hundred thousande men The kyng laye bytwene Dan and Gaunte and capitayne of the Flemmynges was the lorde of saynt Pye and the lorde of Guystels with a .xxv. speares and laye myddes amonge them for feare of discencion ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were beheeded howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune and howe the siege of Danne contynewed longe Cap. vii AT an assault there was made knyght by the kynge Wylliam of Heynalte that day he reared vp his baner and quytte hym selfe lyke a good knight But at that assaute the Frenche men loste more than they wanne for Fraunces Atreman had with hym certayne archers of Englande who greatly greued the assaylantes Also he had great plentie of artillary for whan the towne was wonne it was well furnyssed And also he caused moche to be brought fro GauÌt whan he knewe that he shulde haue siege layde to the towne In the same season whyle the siege laye thus before Danne some of the greattest of the towne of Sluse suche as than bare moost rule in the towne were so wrapped with treason that they wolde haue deliuered the towne to the kinges enemyes and to haue murdred their capitayne and his company in their beddes and to haue set fyre in the kynges nauy that lay there at ancre laded with prouisyon for the kynge Before he wente to Danne he was in purpose to haue gone in to Scotlande after his admyrall And also these treators had thought to haue broken downe the see bankes therby to haue drowned the greattest parte of the kyngê hoost Of all this they had made marchaundise with them of GauÌte and all these treasons shuld haue ben done in one night but ther was a good man in the towne as he was in an hostry herde all this treason that they were purposed to do And incontynent he went to the capitayne and shewed hym the mater and named to hym certayne of them that had thus conspyred the treason Whan the capitayne herde that he sore marueyled and toke a threscore speares of his company and wente fro house to house of the treatours and so toke and sette them in dyuers prisons in sure kepynge Than he toke his horse and rode to the kyng and so came to his tente before hym and the duke of Burgoyne he shewed all the mater howe the towne of Sluse was likely to haue ben lost and all the kynges host likely to haue been in the water to the brestes wherof the kyng and the lordes had great marueyle And than the capitayne was coÌmaunded that he shulde retourne to Sluse and incontynent to stryke of all their heedes withoute any respyte therby all other to take
and had passed the dykes with moche payne And whan they were within they had wende to haue won gret riches but they fouÌde there nothyng but poore people men women chyldren and great plentie of good wynes and so for dispyte and displeasure they sette fyre in the towne so that it was nighe all brent wherof the kynge and the duke of Burgone was sore displeased but they coude nat amende it Howe be it the ladyes gentyl women with moche payne were saued fro hurt of their bodyes or losse of their goods AFter the takyng of Dan the kyng was counsayled to dissodge and so the king went and lodged a two leages fro Gaunte at a towne called Artulle and whyles the kyng lay there his men of armes rode in the countrey of the four craftes distroyed all the countre bycause in tyme past the gauntoysehad chiefe coÌfort euer fro them Therefore they brent downe towres churches and houses and chased the men women and chyldren in to the woodes Whan the FreÌchmen had done that distruction than it was ordayned to go and lay siege to the castell of Gaure and than after to Gaunte but all that tourned to nothyng for tidynges came to the kynge beyng at Artuelle fro the quene of Hungry by the bysshop of Wasselure the sayd quenes ambassadour with dyuers knightes squyers in his company and they brought letters of credence certifyeng how the said quene was comyng in to Fraunce to fetche Lewes of Fraunce erle of Valoys to haue hym in to HuÌgry to her doughter Whom sir Iohan la Parson had wedded by procuracion in the name of the erle of Valoyes These tidynges pleased greatly the kynge and his counsayle and so it was thought that for the honoure of the yonge Lewes erle of Valois that they shulde returne in to Fraunce and thought they hadde done ynoughe for that season in the countre of FlauÌders ¶ Nowe the frenche kyng departed out of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he caÌe to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry howe the Marques of Blanquefort toke by streÌgth to his wyfe the same lady enherytoure of Hungry Cap. ix THan the frenche kyng departed fro Artuell the. xii day of Septembre gaue leaue to all men of warre to retourne to their owne houses of the whiche deêtynge the Gauntoyse were ryght gladde Than the kyng went to Craye where the quene his wyfe was for whan he went fro Amyens to FlauÌders he sent her thyder to kepe her estate and so he taried they certen dayes and so the kyng wente to Parys and the quene to Boyse de Vyncens And they the kyng his counsayle entended for the ordring of the yong erle of Valoyes for he wolde that he shulde go nobly in to HuÌgry where as they toke hym for kyng But the mater chaunged otherwyse mashorte season after in the realme of Hungry as ye shall here after It is of trouthe that the quene of HuÌgry mother to the yonge lady whome the erle of Valoys had wedded by êeuracion as ye haue herde before had all her enteÌt to make that if god be pleased they wolde make suche a voyage that shulde be to their honour and êfyte The kyng than sent out his coÌmaundement to assemble his power and so at the day assigned he had redy a .xxx. thousande men all on horse backe and as they came they lodged accordynge to the vsage of their countrey I thynke nat all at their ease SIr Iohan de Vyen who had great desyre to ryde and to enploye his tyme in to Englande to do some great enterprise Whan he sawe the scottes were come he sayd Sirs nowe it is tyme to ryde we haue lyen to long styll so than the settyng for warde was publysshed to euery man thaÌ they toke their waye to Rosebourcke In this iourney the kyng was nat he abode styll at EdeÌborow but all his sonnes were in the army The thou sande complete harnesse that the Frenche men brought with theÌ was delyuered to the knightes of Scotlande and of Norwiche who were before but yuell harnessed of the whiche harnesse they had great ioye And so they rode towarde Northumberlande And so longe they rode that they came to the abbey of Mauues there they lodged all about the ryuer of Tymbre and the nexte day they caÌe to Morlane and than before Roseboucke The kepar of Roseboure vnder the lorde MoÌtagu was a knight called sir Edwarde Clyfforde The admyrall of Fraunce and the scottes taryed and behelde well the castell and all thynges considred they sawe well to assayle it shulde lytell aucyle them for the castell was stronge and well furnysshed with artillary And so than they passed by and drewe a long the ryuer syde aprochyng to Berwyke And so long they rode that they came to two towres right strong whiche were kept by two knightes the Father and the sonne bothe were called sir Iohan Strande Aboute these towres were fayre landes and a fayre place the whiche incontynent were brent the two towres assayled Ther was many feates of armes shewed and dyuers scottes hurte with shotte and cast of stones Finally the towres were wonne and the knightes within by playne assaut yet they defended theÌ as longe as they might endure ⸪ ¶ Howe the frenchemen and scottes wanne the castell of Varley and distroyed diuers other townes in Nor thumberlande and howe they with drewe agayne in to ScotlaÌde whan they knewe that the kyng of EnglaÌde came on them with a great puyssaunce Cap. xi AFter the conquest of thes two towres than they went to another castel called Varley parteyning to the herytage of sir Iohn Montagu and Capitayne there vnder hym was sir Iohan of Lussenborne who had there with hym his wyfe his chyldren and all his good He knewe well before that the scottes wolde come thyder therfore he had purneyed the castel to the best of his power to abyde the assaute So about this castell taryed all the armye This castell stode in a fayre countre by a fayre ryuer whiche cometh out of Tymbre and ronneth in to the see So on a day there was a great assaut and the frenche men bare theÌ well the same day moche better than the scottes dyd for they entred in to the dykes and passed through with moche payne There was many feates of armes done what by them aboue and them beneth The frenche men mouÌted vp by ladders and fought hande to hande with daggars on the walles Sir Iohan LusseÌborne dyd quyte hym selfe lyke a valyant knight and fought with the frenche men hande to hande on the ladders At this assaute there was slayne a knight of Almaygne called sir Bleres Gastelayne whiche was great domage There were many hurt that day but finally there was so moche people and thassaute so well contynued that the castell was wonne and the knight his wyfe and chyldren taken a .xl. other prisoners And than the castell was
place with the banner of Flaunders before theym And they wyll crye through the towne the Lyon of FlauÌders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath êdoned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌe obeyed without we preuent them and putte them out of our iurysdyctions What is best than to do quod sir Iohan Bourchier Than aunswered Peter and sayd It behoueth that to morowe in the mornyng we assemble in harnes all our men in the house de la Vale And than let vs go throughe the towne with the kynge of Englandes baner before vs and lette vs crye also The Lyon of Flaunders kynge of Englande lorde of this countrey and towne of Gaunte And whan we come in to the market place suche as be on our partie wyll drawe to vs and than lette vs flee all the other treatours It is well deuysed ê sir Iohan Bourchier lette it so be done ¶ Nowe beholde if god dyde nat moche for these two Roger and Iaques For they were enfourmed of Peter de Boyse deuyse whan they knewe it they were nat abasshed But late in the euenynge they sente to all their frendes that where as they shulde be the nexte daye in the market place by eight of the cloke in any wyse they desyred them to be there by seuyn of the clocke and that they dyde to preuent Peter de Boyse To this poyntment euery man was agreed and on the monday in the mornyng sir Iohan Bourchyer and his company came to the house called de la Vale with hym a threscore and Peter de Boyse came thyder with a xl there they armed theÌ in good ordynaunce sette them selfe forwarde And Roger and Iaques assembled their frendes togyder and the moost parte of the aldermen and burgesses of Gaunt came to them Than they toke the erles baner and went through the towne cryeng the foresaid crye and suche as herde the crye and sawe the aldermen of their craftes and the baners of the erle they folowed after and came to the same coÌpany And so by seuyn of the clocke they came to the market place and there set theÌ selfe in good order with therles baners before them and euer there came mo and mo to them These tidynges came anone to sir Iohn Bourchier and to Peter de Boyse who were assemblynge of their people Than they went forthe with the baners of EnglaÌde before them and as they wente they cryed their cryes before deuysed And so they came to the said market place and there araynged them selfe before the other but euer suche as came the moost parte went to the Erles baners so that if a hundred came fourscore went thyder In so moche that all the place was full of men of armes and so they stode eche regardyng other WHan Peter de Boyse sawe howe the aldermen of the craftes drewe to Roger and Iaques he was sore abasshed and douted greatly of his lyfe For he sawe suche as were wont to serue hym flye awaye fro hym and so priuely he stale awaye oute of the prease and hydde hym selfe for feare of dethe And whan Roger and Iaques sawe that nighe all the people drewe to their parte they were right ioyouse and well coÌforted and nat without good cause For than they sawe well that the people of Gaunt wolde be in peace with their lorde Than they departed with a certayne of their company with the baners of Flaunders before them and so came to sir Iohan Bourchyer and to the Englysshemen who were nat very sure of their lyues whan they sawe them come towarde them Than Roger demauÌded of sir Iohan Bourchier wher Peter de boyse was and what was his entent and whyder he was their frende or enemy The knight answered and said I thynke Peter de Boyse be here by me and whan he sawe that he was gone he sayd I knowe nat wher he is become I went he had been in my company But as for me I am and wyll be seruaunt to my naturall lorde the kyng of Englande who sende me hyder at your owne desyres if ye well remembre It is true quod they for if ye had nat ben desyred to come hyder by the towne of Gaunte ye shulde haue ben slayne But for the honour of the kynge of Englande who sende you hyder at our request ye shall nat nede to feare nor non of yoâs ye shall haue no hurte We shall saue you from all domages and conducte you to the towne of Calayes Wherfore departe to your lodgynges peasably and âlyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌce of oure naturall lorde the duke of Burgoyne and wyll make no more warre The knyght was ryght Ioyouse of that aunswere to be so quyte and sayd Sir sythe it wyll be none otherwyse so be it and I thanke you of that ye offre me at this tyme. ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan Dell came to gauÌt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the cytie where and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sent to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Cap. xx THan sir Iohan Bourchier departed peasably fro the place with all thenglissh men and suche Gauntoyse as were in his Companye fledde awaye and hydde theÌ selfe And anone after entred in to the towne sir Iohan Delle and came in to the market place with the dukes letters sende thyder by the duke And there they were opyned and reed to all the people whiche gretlye pleased theym Than Fraunces Atreman was sent for fro the castell of Gaure who incoÌtynent came to them and agreed to the treatie and sayd it was well And so thervpon sir Iohan Delle was sente agayne to the duke who was as than at Arras shewed hym all the demeanour of the gauntoyse And howe that Peter de Boyse had as than no rule nor audyence in the towne and howe that if he had ben fouÌde he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌtly and confyrmable to the Peace All these thynges pleased moche the duke and so he sealed a charter of peace and a truse to endure vntyll the firste day of Ianuarye and in the meane season a counsayle to be had for that matter in the cytie of Tourney And all the sir IohnÌ Delle brought agayne with hym to Gaunte wherof all the people had great ioye For they shewed than howe they had great desyre to haue peace All this season sir Iohan Bowser and the Englysshe men and Peter de Boyse were styll in Gaunte but there was no man wolde do any thynge after them and Peter de Boyse lyued styll in rest With that he sware that he shulde nat procure nor moue any thynge that shulde cause any warre bytwene the towne and their naturall
castell Nantylleur standyng on these laundes nere to the castell Lameu And as he wente thyderwarde one shewed hym that the castell Nantylleur was voyde and they departed that kepte it ThanÌe sir Garses taryed in the selde deuysed what was best than to do Than the seneshall of No besen sayd sir this castell of Nantylleur is in my bayliwyke and it ought to parteyne to the erle of Foiz I praye you let me haue it and I shall make it to be so kepte on my proper coste and charge that no man that wyll any hurte to the contrarye shall neuer entre therin Sir quod they of Tholous he sayeth well and he is a valyant man it were better he had it than another Well quod sir Garses I am content Thus the castell of NaÌtylleur was delyuered to the seneschall of Nobesen who incontynent rode thyder and founde it clene voyde Than he newly fortifyed that was broken and heset therin a capitayne a squyer of the countre called Fortefey saynt Poule than he retourned to the siege of Maluoysen where the duke was and also thyder was come sir Garses all his company and shewed the duke all that he had done This siege endured about a .vi. wekes and nighe euery day there was scrimysshinge at the barryers at laste they withoute stopped their water so that their sesterns began to drie and in sixe wekes their fell nat a droppe of rayne the season was so drie and hote and they wtout had ease ynoughe by reason of the fayre ryuer Whan they wtin sawe what case they were in they were sore abasshed for they sawe well they coude nat long endure Wyne they hadde plentie but fresshe water fayled them ThanÌe they aduysed to fall in treatie with the duke so they dyde And Raymonde de lespee purchased a saue conduct to go in to the hoost to speke with the duke and so he dyd and sayd Sir if ye wyll be courtesse to me and to my company I shall render in to youre handes the castell of Maluoysen What curtesy wolde ye quod the duke that I shulde shewe you Departe your waye you and all yours in to your owne couÌtreis and entre nat in to no forteresse that holdeth agaynst vs for if ye do and if I get you or any of you I shall delyuer you to Ioselyn that shall make your beerdes without any rasoure Sir quod Raymonde if we shall deête shall we haue with vs all our bagges and baggages for that we haue wonne it by armes in great aduenture Than the duke studyed a lytell and sayd I am content that ye bere with you as moche as ye may beare in males and somers and none otherwise And if ye haue any prisoners that ye delyuer them to vs. I am coÌtent ê Raymonde Thus all they within deêted and yelded vp the castell to the duke of Anto we But Raymonde de lespe tourned and be came frenche and serued the duke of Aniowe longe tyme after and went with him in to Italy and there dyed in ascrimysshe before Naples whan the duke of Aniou the duke of Sauoy made their voyage Howe the garison castell of Lourde was cast downe and disconfyted by the great dilygence that the Erle of Foiz made Cap. xxiiii THus quod the knight the duke of Aniou gatte the castell of Maluoysen wherof he great ioye and made it to be kepte by a knyght of Bygore called sir Cyquart of Luperier after he gaue it to the erle of Foiz who kepeth it yet and wyll do as longe as he lyueth And he hath made capitayne there a knyght of Bygore one of his owne lynage called sir Raymon de Lane and whan the duke of Aniou had the possessyon of Maluoysen and had delyuered his countrey fro the Englysshmen and fro the pyllers of the conntre Than he wente and layd seige before the castell of Lourde Than therle of Foiz douted greatly the duke of Aniou bycause he cam so nere hym and wyste nat what he entended Than therle of Foiz assembled togyder knightes and squyers and sent theÌ aboute to dyuers garysons and sette his Brother sir Arnolde Guyllame in the towne of Morlens with two hundred speares in the towne of Panne and sir Peter of Cabeston in to the cite of Lestrade with other two hundred speares and sir Monant of NoÌnalles went in to the towne of Hart let with a hundred speares and Arnolde Gehe rell in to the towne of Montgeberell with a huÌdred speares sit Foulquant Dortery in to the towne of Sanetere with a hundred speares I Espaygne of Lyon was sente to the Mount Marson with two hundred speares There was no castell in all Bierne but that was well prouyded with men of warre and the erle himselfe laye styll at his Castell of Ortayse by his florens Why sir quod I hath he so great plentie of florens sir quod he at this houre I thynke he hath well to the noÌbre of .xxx. tymes a hundred thousande There is no lorde lyuenge as now that is so large and lyberall in gyueng of gyftes as he is Than I demaunded of hym to what maner of people he was so lyberall he answered and said to straungers to knightes and squyers comyng through his countre and to haraldes and mynstrels and to euery man that speketh with hym there is none departeth fro him without some reward for if any refuse his gyfte he is nat content A saynt mary sir ê I to what entent kepeth he so moche money wher dothe he get it Is his renenues so great to gader toguyder suche treasure sir I wolde gladly knowe this if it pleased you Well sir ê the knight ye shall know it but ye haue demauÌded of metwo thynges First ye haue demauÌded of me to what entent he kepeth suche treasure I shall shewe you Th erle of Foiz alway douteth of the warre that he had with therle of Arminake also for the busynesse of his neighbours the frenche kyng and the kynge of Englande whom he wolde nat wyllingly displease For he hath alwayes dissymuled bytwene them duryng all the wary season vnto this present tyme for he neuer armed hym selfe for any of their parties He hath alwayes been euer in good case with bothe parties I saye to you so ye shall saye youreselfe whanÌe ye haue ones knowlege of hym and herde him speke ones knowe the order and state of his house ye shall se that he is at this daye the moost sage prince in the worlde And there is none so great a lorde nother the frenche kyng nor the kyng of Englande that wyll wyllingly haue his yuell wyll as for his other neighbours as the kyng of Arragon or the kyng of Nauer he estemeth them but lytell for he wyll fynde mo men of armes by reason of suche frendes as he hath gote with his giftes and money that he hath in treasure than bothe those kynges can do For I haue herde hym
and he went and came agayne and sayd Sir surely he is deed Than the Erle was sore displeased and made great complaynt for his sonne sayd A Gascone What a poore aducnture is this for the for me In an yuell hour thou wentest to Nauar to se thy mother I shall neuer haue the ioye that I had before Than therle caused his barbour to shaue hym and clothed him selfe in blacke and all his house and with moche sore wepyng the childe was borne to the Freres in Ortaise and there buryed Thus as I haue shewed you the erle of Foyz slewe Gascoyne his sonne but the kynge of Nauar gaue the occasyon of his dethe ¶ Howe sir Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bisquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii WHan I had herde this tale of the dethe of Gascone sonne to the erle of Foyz I hadde great pytie therof for the loue of therle his father whome I founde a lorde of hyghe recoÌmendacyon noble lyberall and curtesse And also for loue of the countrey that shulde be in great stryfe tor lacke of an heyre Than I thanked the squyer and so departed fro hym but after I sawe him dyuers tymes in the erles house and talked often tymes with hym And on a tyme I demauÌded of hym of sir Peter of Byerne bastarde brother to therle of Foyz bycause he semed to me a knyght of great valure wheder he were riche and maryed or no. The squyer aunswered sayd Truely he is maryed but his wyfe and chyldren be nat in his company And why sir quod I I shall shewe you quod the squier ¶ This sir Peter of Bierne hathe an vsage that in the night tyme whyle he slepeth he wyll ryse arme hym self and drawe out his swerde and fyght all aboute the house and can nat tell with whome and than gothe to bedde agayne And whan he is wakynge his seruautes do shewe hym howe he dyde And he wolde saye he knewe nothymg therof and howe they lyed soÌtyme his seruautes wolde leaue non armure nor swerde in his chaÌbre whan he wold thus ryse fynde non armour he wolde make suche a noyse and rumoure as though all the deuylles of helle had ben in his chambre Than I demaunded yf he had great landes by his wyfe yes truely sir quod he But the lady by whom cometh the lande ioyeth of the profytes therof This sir Peter of Bierne hath but the fourthe parte Sir quod I where is his wyfe sir ê he she is in Castell with the kynge her cosyn her father was erle of Bisquay and was câsyn germayne to kyng Dampeter who slewe him and also he wold haue had the lady to haue put her in prisone And he toke the possession of all the lande and as long as he lyued the lady had nothynge there And it was sayd to this lady who was countesse of Bisquay after the dyssease of her father Madame saue youre selfe for kyng Dampeter if he may gette you wyll cause you to dye or els put you in prisone He is so sore displeased with you bycause he sayth ye shulde report and beare wytnesse that he caused the quene his wyfe to dye in her bedde who was suster to the duke of Burbone and suster to the frenche quene your wordes he sayth are beleued rather thanÌe another bycause ye were preuy of her chambre And for this cause the lady Florens countesse of Bisquay departed out of her countre with a smalle company as the coÌmon vsage is to flye fro dethe as nere as men can So she went in to the countrey of Bascles and passed throughe it and so came hyder to Ortayse to the Erle and shewed hym all her aduenture The erle who had euer pyte of ladyes and damoselles reteyned her and so she abode with the lady of Carase a great lady in his countre As than this sir Peter of byerne his brother was but a yonge knyght and had nat thanne this vsage to ryse a nyghtes as he dothe nowe The erle loued hym well and maryed hym to this lady and recouered her land ⪠And so this sir Peter had by this lady a sonne and a doughter but they be with their mother in Castell who be as yet but yong therfore the lady wolde nat leaue them with their father Ah saynt Mary quod I howe dyde sir Peter of Bierne take this fantasy First that he dare nat slepe alone in his chambre and that whan he is a slepe ryseth thus and maketh all that be synesse they are thynges to be marueyled at By my faithe quod the squyer he hath ben often demaunded therof but he saythe he can nat tell wherof it cometh The first tyme that euer he dyde so was the night after that he had ben on a day a huntynge in the wodes of Bisquay and chased a marueylous great Beare and the beare had slayne four of his houndes and hurt dyuers so that none durst come nere him than this sir Peter toke a swerde of Burdeanx and came in great yre for bycause of his houndes and assayles the beare and fought longe with hym and was in great parell and tooke great payne or he coulde ouercome hym Finally he slewe the beare and than retourned to his lodgyng to the castell of LaÌguedon in Bisquay made the beare to be brought with him Euery man had marueyle of the greatnesse of the beest and of the hardnesse of the knight howe he durst assayle the beare And whanÌe the countesse of Bisquayes wyfe sawe the beare she fell in a sowne and had great dolour and so she was borne in to her chambre and so all that day the night after and the nexte day she was sore disconforted and wolde nat shewe what she ayled On the thirde dayeshe sayd to her husbande Sir I shall nat be hoole tyll I haue been a pylgrimage at saynt Iames. Sir I praye you gyue me leaue to go thyder and to haue with me my sonne and Adrian my doughter her husbande agreed therto She toke all her golde towels and treasure with her for she thought neuer to retourne agayne wher of her husbande toke no hede So the lady dyde her pylgrimage and made an errande to go and se the kynge of Castell her cosyn and the quene They made her good chere and ther she is yet and wyll nat retourne agayne nor sende her chyldren And so thus the next night that this sir Peter had thus chased the beare and slayne hym while he slept in his bedde this faÌtasy toke hym And it was said that the countesse his wyfe knewe well as sone as she sawe the beare that it was the same that her father dyde ones chase And in his chasyng he herde a voyce and sawe nothynge that sayd to him Thou chasest me and I wolde the no hurte therfore thou shalt dye any yuell dethe Of this the lady had remembraunce whan she sawe the beare by that she had herde her father saye
resydue of my people for I wyl put all Hungery vnder my subiectyon after the royalme of Almayne the enchauntours of my countrey of Egypte saye it is my desteny to be lorde and kynge of all the worlde the place that I wolde moost gladlyest se is Rome for auntyently it was of our enherytauÌce for our predecessours coÌquered gouerned it dyuers tymes there I wyll be crowned Galafre of Landas the racon of Tartarye the Sowdan of Babylone shal crowne me then they who were before hym on theyr knees answered sayd syr we shall accomplysshe your desyre coÌmaundement so they departed with a .lx. M. Turkes amonge whom there were .xx. M. of the moost experte men of warre and best armed of all Turkye they ledde the vowarde So longe they iourneyed that they came in amonge the mountaynes of Lazaryn they founde no let in the entrynge in to yâ countrey so the vowarde entred in the duke of Mecque the duke of Daniuet ledde them so this vowarde passed the Erle of Lazaryus enbusshement when the erle the Hungeryons sawe theyr tyme they set theyr worke meÌ a worke to cut downe trees to stoppe so the wayes that there coulde no mo entre nor they that were comen in to recule they were so closed in that it was not possyble for ony maÌ to go ony further so there was thus enclosed a .xxx. M. turkes who we refyersly assayled by the Hungaryons and so handeled on bothe sydes of the way that they were there all slayne not one that skaped the .ii. dukes also slayne some thought to haue saued themselfe in the woodes but they were so chased that they were all slayne then they of the areregarde tourned backe wheÌ they saw they coulde not entre for the trees that stopped the way so they retourned to Lamorabaqum shewed hym the grete myschef that was falleÌ on his people wherof he was meruayllous sory and dyspleased theÌ he called his couÌsayle to know what was best for hym to do for he had lost the floure of all his chyualry and so retourned dyd no more at that tyme. WHen the kynge of Armony had shewed all this his owne estate to the frenshe kynge to the barons of FranÌce to his counsayle they had of hym grete pyte and bycause he was come fro so ferre a couÌtre as Grece to seke counsayle ayde there bycause he was a kynge chased out of his royalme and had as then no thynge to lyue on to maynteyne his estate ¶ The frensshekynge as yonge as he was sayd we wyl that the kynge of Irmony who is come hyder to se vs in hope to haue some coÌforte helpe ayde of vs to kepe his estate as it aperteyneth to hym who is a kyng as wel as we be wheÌ we may weshal ayde hym with men of warre helpe to recouer his âherytauÌce wherto we haue good wyl for we are bounde to exalte the crysten faythe The frensshe kynges wordes were well harde and vnderstande as it was reason there were none that sayd the contrary the kynges vncles counsayle were desyrous to accomplysshe his entent so the kynge of Armony to maynteyne his estate there was assygned to hym a certayne rente reuenues out of the chambre of accomptes so was well truely payde euery moneth his assygnement was a .vi. M. frankes by the yere he had delyuered hym at the fyrst .v. M. fraÌkes to prouide for his lodgyng vessel other thynges necessary his lodgynge apoynted at saynt Andon besyde saynt Denyce there to kepe his house Thus the kynge of Armony was reteyned by the Frensshe kyng at his fyrst comynge dayly he encreased not apayred was somtyme with the frensshe kynge and specyally at hyghe feestes ¶ Howe pope Vrban pope ClemeÌt were at grete dyscorde togyder and howe the crysten kynges were in varyaunce for theyr lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Ca. xlii THe same season there came to Auâgnyon to se the pope Clement syr Othes of Bresnyl to haue money for the warre he had made for hym agaynst the Romayns Bertram of Aâgles who wrote hymselfe pope Vrban the vi as it is coÌteyned in his hystory here before there syr Othes shewed dyuers thynges to the pope to the Cardynalles wherin he was wel byleued harde but as for money he coulde gete none for the popes chambre was so clene voyded fro golde syluer that the Cardynals coulde not haue the money that perteyned to theyr hattes So this syr Othes of Bresnyll departed fro theÌ not wel content At Auygâyon there was delyuered hym a M. frankes he set lytell therby wherby pope Clementes warre was sore weked for syr Othes wolde in no wyse medle ony more in the popes warres TheÌ Margaret of Duras who was at Gaiecte was aduersary agaynst the quene of Naples wyfe soÌtyme to kynge Lewes duke of Aniow She sente for this syr Othes to ayde her in yâ warre that she made agaynst the Napolytanes and this syr Othes a certayne space exscused hymselfe and dyssymuled and foded forth the tyme as he that wyst not what to do then some of his counsayle dyde put hym in mynde to go to this Margaret of Duras who was enherytoure to Naples to Cycyle to helpe to ayde to defende her heritage to take her to his wyfe for she was contente to mary hym bycause he was of a noble blood of hyghe extraccyon was lorde kynge of the countrey called Daure and some other of his couÌsayle counsayled hym contrary saynge how he myght therby come to an euyll ende for the chyldreÌ of kynge Lewes of naples who was crowned kynge in the Cyte of Bare thoughe they were but yonge yet they had grete frendes kynsmen specyally the frenlshe kynge theyr cosyne germayne who wyl ayde them theyr moder Iohan duches of Amowe of Mayneal these doubtes some of his counsayle shewed hym wherfore syr Othes forbare a longe season dyssymuled the mater and toke none of bothe partyes The same season the sowdyours of pope Clement enclosed in the Cyte of Peras pope Vrban was besyeged by the lorde of Moctroy a valiaunt knyght of the countye of Genes of Sauoy syr Talebart a knyght of the Rodes and syr Bernarde de la sale And there pope Vrban was sore constrayned on that poynte to haue ben taken for as I was then enformed for the some of .xx. M. frankes a capytayne almayne who had a grete company with hym called the erle Courant wolde haue delyuered pope Vrban in to the handes of pope Clement whervpon syr Bernarde de la sale was sent to Auygnyon to pope Clement for the sayd some of money but the pope nor the Cardynalles there coulde not make the money for the popes courte was so poore that they had no money and
so syr Bernarde de la sale retourned euyll content to the syege of Pruce and so then they dyssymuled the matter and the Prucyens in lykewyse and also this erle Courant and so pope Vrban yssued out of Pruce out of peryll and wente to Rome and abode there I Knowe ryght well that in tyme to come there wolde be had moche of these thynges howe the churche sholde fall in suche troubles endure so longe but it was a plage sent fro god for the clargy to aduyse to consydre well theyr grete estate superfluyte that they were in but many dyde sette lytell therby for they were so blynded with pryde that eche one thought to be as good as another wherfore it wente euyll yf our fayth had not ben confyrmed in the handes grace of the holy goost who ânlumyned the harte of them that were gone out of the ryght way helde them ferme in vnyte elles our fayth had be gretely defourmed but the grete lordes of the erthe at the begynnyng dyd nothynge but laughe at the chyrche tyl I Cronycled these Cronycles in the yere of our lorde Ihesu Cryst M.CCC.lxxx and .x. moche of the comon people meruayled howe the grete lordes as the Frensshe kynge the kynge of Almayne and other kynges and prynces of crystendome dyd prouyde no remedy in that case There was one thynge reasonable to appease the comon people to escuse the hyghe prynces kynges dukes Erles other lordes As by ensample the yolke of the egge can not be without the whyte nor the whyte with out the yolke no more maye the Clergy the lordes be one without another for the lordes are gouerned by the Clergy or they coulde not lyue but as beestes the Clergy were not the Clergy counsayleth and exhorteth the lordes to do as they do And I say surely I haue ben in my tyme in dyuers partyes of the worlde what for to accomplysshe my pleasure and to se noueltyes in the worlde and to haue knowledge of the conquestes aduentures wryten in this boke And truely the season that I wente thus aboute in the worlde I coulde lyghtly se no grete lorde but that he had a marmoset or of the Clergy or a boy of symple lygnage mounted vp to honoure by reason of theyr Iangelyng raylynge excepte the erle of Foys for he had neuer none suche for he was naturally sage for his wysdome was better than ony that coulde be gyuen hym yet I say not that suche lordes as are ruled by suche marmosettes be fooles but rather more then fooles for they be sore blynded yet they haue two eyen whan the knowledge came fyrst to the frensshe kynge Charles of the dyfference bytwene these two popes he dyd put the matter on the Clergy whiche way he sholde take them they of the clergy of Fraunce determyned toke pope Clement for the moost surest parte and to the Frensshe opynyon acorded the kynge of Castel and the kynge of Scottes bycause all the season that the scysme was thus in the chyrche Fraunce Castell Scotlande were ioyned togyder by alyaunce the kynge of Englonde the kynge of Portyngale were of the contrary oppynyoÌ agaynst theyr enemyes the erle of Flaundres neuer inclined in his courage to pope ClemeÌt that he sholde be ryght pope bycause VrbaÌ was fyrst chosen at Rome who was archebysshop of Bare This Clement beynge Cardynall of Geane wrote lettres vnto the noble Erle of Flaunders howe there was a pope chosen by due electyon at Rome named Vrban wherfore he wolde not byleue after on that Clement as longe as he lyned he was of that opynyon so was the kynge of Almayne and all the Empyre and also the kynge of Hungry Thus then I put in wrytynge the state and dyfferences that I had sene in my dayes in the worlde and in the chyrche it was no meruayle thoughe the lordes of the worlde suffered dyssymuled the matter This brought to my remembraunce howe that when I was but yonge and pope Innocent caygned in Auygnyon he helde in pryson a freer mynoure called freer IohnÌ Roche Tayllad this clerke as it was sayd I haue herde it pryuely in dyuers places he shewed aledged dyuers auctorytes of the incydentes and fortunes that fell after in his dayes in the royalme of Fraunce And also he spake of the takynge of kynge IohnÌ and shewed certayne thynges reasonable howe the chyrche sholde suffre moche for the grete superfluytes that he sawe in them and while he was in prison it was shewed me what he sayd to the Cardynall of Ostie called Dearras and to the Cardynall of Auxere who wente to vysyte hym and to argue with hym theÌ he layde to them an ensample as hereafter ye shall here LOrdes sayd this freer there was ones a fowle appered in this worlde without ony fethers when al other fowles knew that he was borne they came to se hym bicause he was so fayre and pleasaunt to beholde Then they ymagyned amonge them what they myght do for this byrde for without fethers they knewe well he coulde not lyue and they sayd they wolde he sholde lyue bycause he was so fayre theÌ euery fowle there gaue hym of theyr fethers and the fayrer byrde the mo fethers he gaue hym so that then he was a fayre byrde a well fethered and began to fle And the byrdes that had gyuen hym of theyr fethers wheÌ they sawe hym flee they toke grete pleasure wheÌ this byrde sawe hymselfe so well fethered and that all other fowles honoured hym he began to ware prowde and toke no regarde of them that had made hym but pycked and spurred at them and was contrary to them Then the other byrdes drewe togyder and demaunded eche other what was best to be done with this byrde that they had made vp of nought now so dysdayneth them then the Pecocke sayd he is gretly beautyed by reason of my fethers I wyl take them agayne fro hym in the name of good sayd the Fawcon so wyll I haue myne and so sayd al the other byrdes And then they began to take agayne fro hym al the fethers that they had gyuen hym And wheÌ this byrde saw that he humbled hymselfe knowledged of the welth and honour that he had not of hymselfe but of them for he knewe that he came in to the worlde naked and bare and the fethers that he had they myght wel take fro hym agayne wheÌ they lyst then he cryed them mercy and sayd that he wolde amende hymselfe and noo more be prowde so then agayne these gentyll byrdes had pyte on hym fethered hym agayne sayd to hym we wolde gladly se the fâe amoÌge vs so thou wylte be humble as thou oughtest to be but knowe surely If thou be ony more prowde and dysdaynous we wyll take from thou all thy fethers and set the as we founde thou fyrst ¶ Thus sayd the
euery thyng be auoyded in to the good townes in to stronge castelles bytwene this the feest of all sayntes elles let it be forfayte abandoÌ tt to your meÌ of warre who so euer can catche it or at the furchest by the feest of saynt Andrewe it were better your owne meÌ had the profyte ther of rather then your enemyes syr sende specyally certayne persones of your counsayle to the frensshe kyng certefyeng hym what case you your countrey is in thus syr sende to the kyng his vncles the duke of Berrey the duke of Borgoyne shewyng theÌ surely that by all lykelyhode in this nexte somer ye shal haue the grettest war that euer was made in spayne other by the prynce or by ony other syr wryte pyteous letters desyrynge the kynge his vncles to coÌforte you in this your grete nede with some good meÌ of armes to resyst your enemyes to kepe defâde your royalme there is grete alyaunces all redy bytwene the frensshe kynge you in lykewyse was by hym your fader syr surely in no wyse the frensshe kyng the noble royalme of frauÌce whiche may do more in dede theÌ englande Portyngale ioyned togyder in this case wyll not fayle you for wheÌ the freÌsshe kyng his couÌsayle be iustly enfourmed of euery thynge ye shal wel perceyue they wyl take suche regarde therto that ye shal take but lytell domage by this war for knightes squyers of frauÌce desyring to auaunce theyr dedes with a lytell worde or coÌmauÌdement wyll drawe in to these partyes to fynde dedes of armes for as nowe they wote not where to employ theyr tyme better for frauÌce flauÌders as now be accorded whiche hath ben at war a long season also there is a truce bytwene frauÌce englaÌde as beyonde the ryuer of Loyre to endure to the feest of saynt IohnÌ baptyst therfore syr ye shal se knyghtes squyers of frauÌce come hyder in good nombres as well to fynde dedes of armes as to se this couÌtrey to mete the englysshmeÌ but syr we couÌsayle you for your êfyre that al these smal holdes chyrches mynsters steples abrode in the couÌtrey let theÌ de put downe if ye thynke to haue ioy of the resydue theÌ the kyng of Castel sayd syrs ye couÌsayle me truely thus wyll I do fro hence forwarde theÌ without takyng of ony further couÌsayle he coÌmaunded al suche holdes as were of no grete strength to be beten downe abandoned to the frensshe knyghtes al that they founde in theÌ to se that it were done as they had deuysed syrsayd they that is wel sayd syr we shal se it accoÌplysshed shal helpe to saue all the resydue this worde that the kyng of Castel sayd to theÌ of frauÌce the auctorite that he gaue to theÌ was wel worth to theÌ CC.M. frankes of profyte specyally to theÌ that came fyrst in to Castell wheÌ the duke of LaÌcastre aryued at coulongne Thus thrughout al the royalme of Castel al smal holdes chyrches steples suche as were not sufficyent to be kepte were put downe all the goodes in theÌ abandoned to the meÌ of warre so the people of the countrey were atrapped begyled suche as had fortefyed suche places put in theÌ theyr goodes as wyne cornâ flesshe other thiÌges thynkyng there to haue kepte theÌ sure but it fell the coÌtrary for knyghtes squyers sente thyder theyr meÌ toke al brought suche prouysyon as they fouÌde there to theyr maysters lodgynges but as for golde syluer suche as they fouÌde suche money as they made the vylaynes to pay for theyr owne goodes that money neuer came to no knowledge for that they kepte styll in theyr purses some of the poore coÌpanyons suche as were more subtyl theÌ other moost aduentured therby wan moost often tymes suche as cometh fro theyr owne howses moost porest in suche cases be sonest mouÌted on good horses genettes .v. or .vi. in theyr stable gyrdelles of chaynes of golde syluer a M. or .ii. M. frankes in theyr purse wheÌ they were in theyr owne couÌtrey were fayne to go a fote or on a nagge thus the coÌpanyons that came fyrst in to Castel wan moche ryches the poore meÌ of the couÌtrey payde for al for they were robbed ryfled with theyr owne meÌ for they wolde not that theyr enemyes sholde haue had ony êfyte therof when these tydynges came in to frauÌce to other coÌpanyons how the pore knyghtes squyers that were gone in to Castell were made so ryche they were the more eger to go out of theyr houses to draw in to spayne coÌsideryng how they myght there as well pyll robbe on theyr frendes as on theyr enemyes ¶ Of the grete apparell prouysyon that generally was made in the royalme of frauÌce by the kyng there by his couÌsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande also of the dethe of Frauncis Atreman Ca. lii THe frensshe kyng his counsayle were wel enfourmed of the voyage that the duke of LaÌcastre sholde make in to Castel or he departed for the voyce flewe quyckely that the royalme of Castel sholde haue moche a do that somer to fynde some remedy theragaynst the duke of Burgoyne made so lyghtly peas with the gauÌtoâ se to the entente to ayde the necessyte of the kyng of Castel wherto the frensshe kyng the royal me of frauÌce were bounde for dyuers reasons for by the kyng of Castel his men shyppes on the see the busynes of the royalme of fraunce were in good state also besyde that the yonge kynge Charles of frauÌce had grete affeccyon to go with an army in to the royalme of englande all knytes squyers of frauÌce were well agreed therto specyally his vncle the duke of Burgoyne the constable of fraunce for al that he had to his wyfe the syster of kyng Rycharde of englande also the lorde of Coucy these lordes the most parte of the chyualry of frauÌce sayd why sholde we not ones go into Englande to se the countrey the people there teche them the way as they haue done in fraunce so in the yere of our lorde M. CCC.lxxx.vi what to the entente to breke the duke of Lancastres voyage to cause hym to retourne out of Castel to gyue feare to the englysshmeÌ grete ordenauuÌce for that voyage was made in trauÌce taxes tallages set allysed in cytees good townes in the playne countrey that in a C. yere before there was none suche sene also grete apparel made by the see al yâ somer tyll the moneth of septembre they dyd no thyng elles on yâ see coost but grynde corne bake bysket at Tournay lysle doway arras Amyas bethune saynt omers in all the townes aboute Sluse for the frensshe kynges entencyon
as nowe ynoughe to doo to kepe theÌselfe agaynst theyr enemyes as wel frensshmen as Skottes therfore make as good war as ye caÌ with suche people as ye haue for trust not of no comforte nor ayde out of Englande outher of men of armes or archers for surely ye are not lyke to haue ony ye were two yeres aboute to gete that ye haue the kynge your nephewe seeth not all thynges he is yonge and byleueth yong counsayle wherby the royalme of Englande lyeth is in peryll grete aduenture wherfore syr approche as soone as ye can to the kynge of Portyngale speke with hym your worde shall do you more profyte then all the letters ye can wryte in .iiii. monethes the duke of Lancastre noted well these wordes knew wel that it was true and that it was truely counsayled then the duke sayd to them that gaue hym that counsayle what wyll you that I sholde do they answered and sayd syr sende to the kynge of Portyngale .v. or .vi. of your knyghtes and at the leest a baron and let them shewe the kynge howe ye haue grete desyre to se hym let them be wyse that ye sende and let theÌ fynde the meanes that ye maye speke togyder shortly I am content sayd the duke Then there was sente in to Portyngale fro the duke the lorde poynynges a grete baron of englande and syr IohnÌ Abruell syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourte and syr IohnÌ Souster bastarde bretheren to syr IohnÌ Holande constable of the oost these departed fro saynt Iames with a C. speres CC. archers ANd on a day when al these letters were made and sealed there came to the duke fro the kynge of Portyngale a knyght and a squyer with .xii. speres called syr Vase Martyne of Cougne and the squyer Ferrant Martyne of Merle they were of the kynges hous nere to his persone they were lodged at theyr ease in the towne of saynt Iames then they were brought to the duke to the duches so presented theyr letters and also they presented to the duke and to the duches and to theyr doughters fayre whyte mules well aumblynge wherof they were glad howbeit for all that the iourney of the englysshmen to the kynge of Portyngale was nor brokeÌ but they were stopped for a .iiii. dayes and on the .v. daye departed and this knyght and squyer all togyder in company and the duke sente to the kynge of Portyngale in token of loue .ii. fawcons pelegrynes as good as coulde be deuysed .vi. englysshe greyhoundes good for all maner of beeâtes âo the Portyngales and the Englysshmen rode togyder ouer al the lande of Galyce they were in no fere of the Castellyans for they were ferre ynoughe ofrro them and on the waye as they rode syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourre and Martyn Ferrant of Merle fell in talkynge togyder for before that season the squyer had ben in armes with syr Eustase Dambrychcourte who was vncle to the sayd syr Iohn and was with hym when he dyed at Quarencyne and as they talked togyder they rode behynde theyr company they met an heraulde and a varlet comyng fro Connymbres where the kynge laye was rydynge towarde saynt Iames to the duke of Lancastre this heraulte perceyned to the kynge of Portyngale and was called Connymbres The heraulte had spoken with the lordes and shewed them suche tydynges as he knewe and when Ferrant Martyn of Merle saw hym comynge he sayd to syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourte beholde yonder cometh an heraulte of the kynge of Portyngales it is longe syth he was in this countrey I wyl demaunde of hym some tydynges and when they met togyder the squyer sayd a Connymbres where haue you ben so longe it is more then a yere syth I saw you or that ye were in this countrey syr sayd he I haue ben in Englande haue sene the kynge and lordes there and they haue made me ryche with grete gyftes that I haue had of them and fro thens I retourned by the see in to Bretayne was at the maryage of the duke of Bretayne and at the grete feest that he kepte at the cyte of Nauntes aboute a .ii. monethes past he hath wedded the lady Iahan of Nauare and fro thens by the see I went in to Irelande fro thens to the porte in Portyngale and as they talked togyder the squyer behelde a scochyn that the heraulte bare on his brest wherin were graued inamyled the kynge of Portyngales armes and the armes of dyuers other lordes then the squyer set his fynger on one of the armes perteynynge to a knyght of Portyngale and sayd ase here the armes mes of the gentyll knyght syr IohnÌ Partelere by my fayth I am glad to se them for they perteyne to a gentyll knyght who on a tyme dyd me grete profyte I ought well to remembre it therwith he toke .iiii. floreyns of golde out of his purse and gaue them to the heraulte who thanked hym and syr IohnÌ Dambrychcourte behelde well the armes the felde syluer an endenture gooles with .ii. chanders fables and so the heraulte departed then the squyer sayd syr IohnÌ saw you neuer this knyght that bare the sayd armes whom I prayse so moche I can not tell sayd syr IohnÌ but at the leest I praye you shewe me what was that courtesy that ones he dyd to you I wolde be glad to here it we haue nothynge elles to talke of I am contente sayd the squyer to shewe you for the knyght is well worthy to be spoken of then he began his tale thus SO it fortuned a lytell before the batayle of Iuberoth when the kynge of Portyngale wente fro Connymbres thyderwarde the kynge sente me in to the countrey to warne certayne knyghtes to come to hym to be with hyÌ at that iourney so I rode forth but one page with me and as I rode I happened to mete a xxv speres gascoynes and I was not ware tyl I was amonge them then they toke me demaunded whether I wente and I shewed theÌ I was rydynge to the castell of Ronte they demaunded what to do and I sayd to go seke syr IohnÌ Ferrant Partelere to come to the kyng of Portyngale of Iuberoth why sayd they is syr IohnÌ Ferrant Parteler capytayne of the castel of Ronte is he not all redy with the kyng of Portyngale no surely syrs sayd I but shortely he wyll be there yf he ones knowe the kynges pleasure well sayd they he shall knowe it for we wyll ryde thyder so they toke the waye to the castell of Ronte when they were within the syght of the castell the watche of the castell sayd he saw men of armes approchyng towarde the castell then syr IohnÌ Ferrant demaunded fro what parte they were comynge the watche sayd they were comyng towarde the porte A sayd he they be then Castellyans and rydeth at aduenture towarde saynt Irayne I wyl go and loke on them they shall tell me tydynges where the kynge is
approched nere to Englande the wynde rose fyerse and grete and at the entre of margate at Tames mouthe the wynde was soo grete that whether they wolde or not theyr shyppes departed soo that .xx. abode not togyder and some were dryuen perforce into Tames and there were taken by the englyssh men and specyally there was taken .iii. or iiii shyppes laden with parte of the closure of tymbre ordeyned to close in the felde and certayne maysters carpenters and artficers with them and so they were brought to London wherof the kynge had grete ioye and so hadde all the Londonners and .vii. of the constables shyppes were dryuen with the wynde with all the prouysyon and taken in zelande and the constable and other lordes with grete payne came to Sluse to the frensshe kynge OF the constables comynge and his company the frensshe kynge was ryght ioyfull and the kynge sayd to hym ¶ Syr constable when shall we departe certaynly we haue grete desyre to se Englande wherfore I praye you auaunce forth all our busynes in hasty maner and let vs entre in to the see shortely myne vncle the duke of Berre wyll be here with vs within these two dayes he is at Lysle Syr sayd the constable we can not departe tyll the wynde serue vs for the wynde is so sore agaynst vs and soo straynable that the maryners saye they haue herde none suche of a grete season before Constable sayd the kynge I haue ben in my vessell and it pleaseth me gretely the ayre of the see I byleue I shall be a good maryner for the see dyd me no hurte in the name of god sayd the constable it hath done hurte to me for syr we were in grete peryll comynge fro Brytayne hyder the kynge demaunded hywe soo Then the constable sayd by fortune of the see and grete wyndes that rose agaynst vs in the fronters of Englande and syr we haue lost of our shyppes and men wherof I am ryght sory yf I myght amende it but syr it is without remedy for this tyme. Thus the kynge and the Constable deuysed togyder in wordes and alwayes the tyme passed and the wynter approched and the lordes laye there in grete colde and peryll THe flemynges gladly wolde not haue hadde them retourne agayne thrughe theyr countrey and they sayd one to another why the deuyll dothe not the frensshe kynge passe ouer in to Englande why taryeth he so longe in this countrey are we not in pouertye ynoughe thoughe the frensshe men make vs no poorer we thynke they wyll not passe in to Englande this yere for the royalme of Englande is not so easy to be wonne englysshmeÌ be not of the condycyon of frensshemen what wyl they do in Englande when the englysshmeÌ were in Fraunce ouer rode theyr countreys theÌ they hyd themselfe in theyr fortresses fled before them as the larke dothe before the hawke and in the towne of Bruges where as moost resorte was of the frensshmen they murmured were redy for waggyng of a rysshe to make debate and stryfe and al began by the frensshe lakeys who had beten and hurte some of the flemynges so that yf the honest men of the towne had not armed them and drawen in to the market place to appease the ryot there had not a lorde knyght nor squyer of Fraunce haue scaped vnslayne for the comon people of the towne bare a grudge in theyr myndes for the batayle of Rosebeque where theyr faders brâther ne and frendes were slayne by the frensshmen god sent thyder at that tyme for the frensshmen the lorde of Guystell who as then was at Bruges when he vnderstode howe the comons wente to harneys he fered all sholde be lost without remedy howbeit he lepte on his hors with v. or .vi. with hym and rode into the stretes as he met with ony armed goynge to the marget place warde he sayd to them syrs whether goo you wyll you lose yourselfe haue ye not had warre youghe so that ye haue moche a do to gete your lyuynge retourne in to your houses there is nothynge to do ye may put yourselfe and your towne in suche ieoperdy that all shall be lost do you not knowe how the frenssh kynge and all his puyssaunce and armye is here in this countrey soo with fayre wordes he appeased theym and caused theym to retourne in to theyr houses whiche hadde not so lyghtly haue ben done yf he had not ben there the frensshmen there were in suche fere that they closed themselfe in theyr lodgynges there to abyde theyr aduenture ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berre Ca. lix SO fynally the duke of Berre came to Sluse to the kynge and the kynge sayd to hym a fayre vncle how gretely I haue desyred to se you why haue you taryed so long we had ben as nowe in Englande and fought with our enemyes if ye had ben come the duke began to smyle and to exscuse hymselfe and shewed not incontynent what laye in his harte fyrst he thought he wolde se what prouysyon and ordenaunce was made and to se the nauey that was named so goodly Soo they were there a .vii. dayes that euery daye it was sayd we shall departe to morowe howbeit surely the wynde was soo contrary that in no wyse they coulde sayle in to Englande wynter was well on it was past saynt Andrewes tyde it was no good season for so many noble men to take the see and many of theyr shyppes were redy crossed in a redynes to departe some were in theyr shyppes to be the formost sholde passe as syr Robert and syr Phylyp Artoys syr Henry of bare syr Peter of Nauare and dyuers other Then the kynges couÌtayle drewe togyder to se howe they sholde perceyuer in theyr iourney but the duke of Berre brake all and shewed so many reasons reasonable that suche as had moost desyre to goo were gretely dyscouraged he sayd it was a grete foly to counsayle the frensshe kynge who in a maner was but a chylde to take the see in that season of the yere and to go fyght with suche people as we knowe not theyr condycyon nor the way thyder and as it is sayd it is an euyll couÌtrey to make warre in for thoughe we were al there a lande yet they wolde not fyght with vs but when they lyst and we dare not then leue our prouysyon behynde vs for yf we do it wyl be lost and they that wyl make suche a voyage so ferre of hath nede to begyn in the harte of the yere and not in wynter call all the maryners togyder and loke yf they wyl not saye that my wordes be good for thoughe we be as nowe a thousande and .v. hundred shyppes yet or we come there we shal not be .iii. hundred then be holde what peryll we sholde put ourselfe in I saye it not bycause I wolde haue the
fell bytwene the duke and hym for ony letters that the duke coulde wryte to hym or for ony desyre or saufconduyte to come and goo saufely yet for all that the constable wolde neuer come in the dukes presence for he durste not trust hym and nowe he is come to his mysfortune for he founde the duke in grete dyspleasure with hym and that was well shewed and when the lorde de la vale beynge bynethe at the stayre foote sawe the dore closed his blood began to trymble and had grete fere of his broder and behelde the duke who waxed pale and grene as a lefe then he knewe that the matter wente amysse and sayd A syr for goddes sake haue mercy what wyll you do take none euyll wyll agaynst the constable syr sayd the duke take ye your horse and departe ye maye goo when ye wyll I knowe well ynoughe what I haue to do Syr sayd the lorde de la vale I wyll not de parte hens without I haue my broder the constable with me with those wordes there came vnto them the lorde of Beawmanoyre whome the duke also hated and he in lyke wyse demauÌded to haue the constable Then the duke drewe his dagger and came vnto hym and sayd Beawmanoyre wylte thou be in the same poynte as thy mayster is in Syr sayd he I trust my mayster is in good case well sayd the duke I demaunde of the yf thou wylte be in lyke case ye syr sayd he Thenne the duke toke his dagger by the poynte and sayd yf thou wylte be in lyke case it behoueth the to put out one of thyne eyen The lorde of Beawmanoyre sawe well the matter wente not well and sawe the duke waxe pale for angre Then he kneled downe on his knee and sayd Syr I repute soo grete noblenes in you that I trust in god and you that ye wyll doo vs ryght we be at your mercy and we are come hyder at your request we trust ye wyll not dyshonour yourselfâe to accomplysshe ony euyll wyll that ye haue to vs it sholde be a straunge nouelte Well sayd the duke come on thy waye for thou shalte haue noo more nor no lesse then he shall haue Soo he was ledde in to another chambre and fetered also with thre payre of yrons If he were abasshed he hadde a grete cause for he perceyued well the duke loued hym but lytell nor the constable also but then he had no remedy AN one tydynges spredde ouer the castell and also the towne howe that the constable of Fraunce and the lorde of Beawmanoyre and also the lorde de la Vale were taken prysoners And howe the lorde de la Vale myght departe when he wolde For the duke demaunded no thynge of hym wherof the people hadde grete meruayle and also grete cause why for euery man sayd howe the duke wolde put them bothe to dethe he hated them so mortally The duke was gretely blamed of all knyghtes and squyers that herde therof and they sayd there was neuer a gretter dyffamacyon on ony prynce then was on the duke of Bretayne seynge that he had desyred the constable to dyne with hym and to se his house and to make hym good chere and soo to take hym prysoner they sayd they neuer herde of case lyke wherfore he was infamed and neuer man more dyshonoured nor therby noo man sholde trust in ony prynce syth the duke had dysceyued these noble men what wyll the frensshe kynge say when he knoweth this for by this his voyage in to Englande is broken there was neuer soo grete a shame ymagyned but nowe the duke sheweth what laye in his harte we tro we there was neuer sene in Bretayne case lyke nor in none other place yf a poore knyght had done suche a dede he were dyshonoured for euer in whom sholde a man trust but in his lorde and the lorde sholde maynteyne hym in his ryght and doo hym Iustyce who shall make correccyon of this dede none but the frensshe kynge nowe the duke sheweth playnly howe he is on the englysshe parte wyll susteyne and holde with the oppynyon of the kynge of Englande syth he hath thus broken the voyage by the see that sholde haue gone in to Englande What shall become nowe of the knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne when they shall here these tydynges nothynge but in contynent come fro theyr houses lay syege to the castell of Armyne and close the duke within there tary tyll they haue taken hym outher deed or quycke and lede hym lyke a false prynce to the frensshe kynge Thus the knyghtes and squyers aboute the marches of Wannes spake and comoned togyder and suche as were come thyder to that counsayle with the sayd lordes they were in grete doubte that the duke wolde put them to dethe then some other sayd as for the lorde de la Vale is in no ieopardy he is soo wyse that he wyll tempre the duke in all his busynes and truely so he dyd for and he had not ben the constable had ben deed the fyrst nyght if he had had a. M. lyues IT ought to be byleued that syr Olyuer of Clysson was not at his case when he saw hymselfe soo taken and attrapped and fetered and kepte with .xxx. persones and hadde noo comforte by them for they knewe not the wyll of theyr lorde soo that he rekened hymselfe but as a deed man and also he hadde noo hope to lyue tyll the nexte daye and surely he was in grete daungere for .iii. tymes he was vnfetered and brought to haue ben beheded or elles drowned and surely so he had ben yf the lorde de la vale had not ben but when this lorde de la vale herde the dukes strayte coÌmaundement to put hym to dethe he kneled downe before hym lyftynge vp his handes sore wepynge and sayd syr for goddes sake take mercy aduyse you shewe not your cruelte agaynst the constable he hath deserued no dethe syr of your grace that it may please you to shewe me the cause of your dyspleasure agaynst hym and syr I swere vnto you ony trespace that he hath done he shall make you suche amendes with his body and goodes or elles I for hym as ye yourselfe shall demaunde or Iudge syr remembre you howe in your yongth ye .ii. were companyons togyder and brought vp bothe in one house with the duke of Lancastre who was soo gentyll a prynce that there was none lyke hym Also syr remembre howe before his peas was made with the frensshe kynge alwayes he truely serued you he ayded you to recouer your herytage ye haue alwayes founde in hym good comforte and couÌsayle yf ye be now moued or enfourmed agaynste hym otherwyse then reason sholde requyre yet he hathe not deserued dethe syr de la vale sayd the duke let me haue my wyll for Olyuer of Clysson hath soo often tymes dyspleased me and nowe is the houre come that I maye shewe hym my dyspleasure
Nowe our season and voyage by the see is lost and broken A constable what myshap is fallen to you what counsayle hath dysceyued you the counsayle the was made and assembled at Wannes was made for none other entente but to atrappe you ye were wonte to be of the oppynyon that yf the duke had sente for you and hadde made you a. M. assuraunces yet ye wolde not haue gone nor come at his commaundement ye doubted hym so sore and nowe ye wente symply at his desyre euery man thrughe the duchy of Bretayne complayned for the constable and wyst not what to do nor say and all knyghtes and squyers sayd what do we here why do we not go and enclose the duke in his castel of Ermyne and yf he haue slayne the constable serue hym in lyke maner yf he kepe hym in pryson let vs doo soo that we maye haue hym agayne there fell neuer suche a myschefe in Bretayne thus one other sayd But there were none that styred forwarde but taryed to here other newes Thus tydynges spred abrode soo that within two dayes it was at Parys wherwith the kynge and his vncles the duke of Berrey and the duke of Borgoyne had grete meruayle as then the duke of Borbon was gone to Aupgnyon to go in to Castell and had sene the pope Clement on his way these tydynges came to hym as he was at Lyon sure le Rone and with hym the erle of Sauoy ANd the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and admyrall of fraunce beynge at Harflewe redy to haue entred in to the see towarde theyr voyage when they herde howe the duke of Bretayne hadde taken the constable of fraunce prysoner in his castell of Ermyne and the lorde de la vale and the lorde of Beawmanoyre with hym And they that brought those tydynges sayd howe the bruyte ranne in Bretayne howe the duke of Bretayne hadde putte to dethe the constable of Fraunce and the lorde of Beawmanoyre These were harde tydynges to these lordes and they sayd Nowe our voyage is broken lette vs gyue leue to all our men of warre to departe and let vs goo to Parys to the kynge and se what he wyll do then the admyrall sayd it is good we do soo but let not our men departe peraduenture the kynge wyll sende them to some other parte may happen in to Castell for the duke of Borbon is goynge thyder or elles peraduenture he wyl sende them in to Bretayne to make warre agaynst the duke thynke you that the frensshe kynge wyl suffre the matter thus to ouerpas Nay surely for the kyng shal receyue by this bergayne domage to the some of .ii. C. M. floreynes besyde the losse and hurte that is done to his constable yf he scape the lyfe was there euer case lyke Thus the kynge to breke his voyage who was in good mynde to haue done domage to his enemyes Let vs tary here styll a .ii. or .iii. dayes and peraduenture we shall here some other tydynges out of fraunce or out of Bretayne ¶ Howe wrytynges were made at the duke of Bretaynes deuyse for the constable to rendre his towne and castelles to the duke and to his heyres for euer and howe they were delyuered to the duke Ca. lxxxvi HOwe let vs speke a lytell of the duke of Bretayne who when he hadde slepte rose and made hym redy then he sente for the lorde de la vale who came to hym there they were togyder a longe space Fynally letters were wryten accordynge to the dukes wyll makynge mencyon that the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson renounced clene his tytle for euer of the sayd towne and castell and yelded them purely to the duke of Bretayne and to his heyres for euer and that these wrytynges sholde be permanent without ony repell and then the lorde of Beawmanoyre was ordeyned by the constable to goo to these castelles and to cause them that had the rule of them to departe thens and to put in possessyon the dukes men and besyde that to leuy in redy money a C.M. frankes to pay to the duke When all this was concluded the gates of the castell was opened and the lorde of Beawmanoyre yssued our charged and ordeyned by the constable to accomplysshe all these ordeynaunces and he was desyred to make al the dylygence that myght be And with hym wente seruauntes of the dukes noysed as they wente howe the constable was sure of his lyfe âand was put to raunsome all suche as loued hym knyghtes and squyers were glad therof and so therby sate styll for they were determyned to haue gone and layde syege to the castell of Ermyne and haue closed the duke therin they neuer dyd thynge that they wolde haue ben gladder of So these tydynges ranne abrode with the wynde so that the lordes and knyghtes beyng at Harflewe herde therof and had certayne knowledge that the constable had ben deed and the lorde de la vale had not ben they sayd as for the delyueraunce of his towne and castelles he shall recouer them agayne or elles other at tyme leysure the frensshe kynge hath ynowe for hym yf he nede Nowe we maye departe fro hens our voyage is broken let vs gyue our men leue to departe and let vs goo to Parys and lerne tydynges there for we here saye that all suche as were at Lentrygnyer are countermaunded the whiche is a sygne that we shal go no where at this season thus they gaue lycence to al theyr men of warre to departe and themselfe departed towarde Parys where the kynge was THe lorde of Beawmanoyre dyd so moche that within .iiii. dayes he had set the duke of Bretaynes seruauntes in possessyon of the foresayd castelles and towne of Iugon and after he payde the C.M. frankes for the constables raunsome there as the duke commaunded when all was done the lorde de la vale sayd to the duke syre haue nowe that you demaunded the C.M. frankes the towne of Iugon the castell of Boureke and the whyte castell of Iosselyn therfore syr nowe delyuer me the constable I am contente sayd the duke let hym goo when he wyll I gyue hym leue thus the constable was delyuered and he and the lorde de la vale departed fro the castell of Ermyne when they were abrode in the feldes the constable made no longe taryenge in Bretayne but mounted on a good horse and his page on another and so rode that within two dayes he came to Paris and alyghted at his owne howse and then wente to the castel of Lowre to the kynge his vncles the duke of Berrey and of Borgoyne his men folowed after hym at theyr leysure the kynge knewe of his delyueraunce but he knewe not that he was so nere and was glad when he herde therof and caused the chambre dores to be set open agaynst hym and so he came in to the kynges presence kneled downe before hym and sayd Ryght redoubted lorde your
ledde the constable of Portyntyngale the erle of Angouse and the erle of Escall the lytell Dan de Mondest Radygo Radyghes of Vale Conseaulx Auge Saluage of Geneue Iohan Ansale of Popelan and other lordes and knyghtes to the nombre of fyue hundred speres Thus they rode forth and tooke the waye to saynt yrayne by small iourneyes for they toke theyr lodgynge euer by thre of the clocke and so came to the cabase of Iuberoth and there taryed .ii. dayes and from thens at two iourneys they rode to Aurach in Portyngale and there rested other .ii. dayes and then they came to saynt yrayne there lodged the towne was lefte voyde euer syth the batayle of Iuberoth the people were drawen in to Castel exepte the castelles wherin were Bretons and Poyctenyns in garyson The kynge of Portyngale determyned that bothe the castelles sholde be assayled for he thought with his honoure he myght not passe by without shewynge of some dedes of armes for the Castellyans hadde wonne the castelles therfore he thought to assaye for to wynne them agayne The kynge hadde brought with hym from the cyte of Porte certayne engynes for he knewe well he sholde haue some assaultes in his waye THus the kynge of Portyngale and his men lodged in the matches of saynt yrayne whiche was the entre in to the royalme of Castell all a longe by the ryuer of Pese rynnynge to Syuyll the grete By this foresayd ryuer myght well be brought in to the oost all maner of thynges frome Lyxbone and frome Porte and soo they were a thyrty thousande one and other The constable his rowte with halfe of the comonte laye before the castell Perrade in to the eest parte aboute the other castell in the west parte called Tayllydon lay the marshall and his company in the castell Perrade was capytayne a knyght of Bretayne called syr Moreys Fouchance an experte man of armes and in the castell Tayllydon was syr Iaques of Mountmellyer a knyght of Poyctou and eche of them hadde a .l. speres the syege thus lay a .xv. dayes without doynge of ony thynge sauynge there were engynes reysed vp And they dydde cast .x. or .xii. tymes a daye grete stones agaynst the walles but lytell hurte they dyd but on the couerynge of the houses for the houses within were well vawted with stone so that the engynes nor spryngalles dyd the men but small domage When the kynge sawe that the castelles wolde not be wonne and that his men began to waxewery he determyned then to dyslodge and to entre in to Galyce and to approche nerer to the duke of Lancastres oost to the entente that they myght determyne togyder what waye were best for them to take Soo on a day they dyslodged and trussed and departed fro saynt yrayne at whiche tyme they brente the towne in suche wyse that there was not a place lefte vnbrente able to lodge in horse when they of the castell sawe them departe they were ryght ioyous and sowned theyr trompettes and made grete chere and melody tyll they were all paste that daye the oost wente and lodged at Pount Ferraunt in Galyce and the nexte daye in the vale saynt Katheryne and on the .iii. day they came before Feroull in Galyce a stronge towne holdynge on the kynge of Castelles parte and there they rested ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and his oost came before Feroull and assaulted it and it was wonne and brought vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Ca. lxxxx WHen the kynge of Portyngale and his men were before Feroull they founde there a good countrey and the constable and marshall sayd it sholde be assaulted affyrmynge howe it was preygnable they were two dayes without ony assaulte gyuynge trustynge they wolde haue gyuen it vp but they dyd not for within were Bretons and Borgonyons that sayd they wolde defende it by the thyrde daye the engynes were reysed vp and the marshall sowned his trompettes to the assaulte then euery man made hym redy to approche the towne and they within wheÌ they herde the trompettes blowe to the assaulte they drewe euery man to theyr defence and women caryed and brought stoones to caste for in Castell and Galyce women be of grete defence and of grete courage in maner as grete as the men the Portyngales came to the dykes whiche were depe but there was no water in them then they boldely entred in to the dykes and clymed vp agayne on the other syde but they had moche a doo sauynge they were well pauessed for they on the walles caste downe stoones and hurte many and caused them to reeule also ther was good castynge of dartes bothe outwarde and inwarde Thus the assaulte endured tyll it was thre of the clocke and the men were fore chaced for the sone was hoote and they in the dykes hadde none eyre nor wynde so that they thought they perysshed for hete soo that therby the assaulte seased and all that season the engynes dydde caste in to the towne at aduenture thenne the marshall counsayled noo moore to assaulte the towne but styll to let the engynes caste and to scrymysshe at the barryers and to shewe some dedes of armes and so as he deuysed it was doone and dayly scrymysshes made And they within often tymes were closed with out the gate bytwene the barryers and the gate for to scrymysshe moore at theyr ease ¶ And whenne the marshall of Portyngale sawe theyr maner he deuysed theron and sayd to syr IohnÌ Ferrant I se well the sowdyours within at some season are closed bytwene the gate and the barryers let vs take a .v. or .vi. C. of our men laye a bysshment with a fewe persones let vs scrymysshe a whyle then withdrawe lytell lytell and we shall se that they wyll yssue oute on truste to wynne some what of vs thenne let vs tourne agayne sodaynely to the barryers and busye them somewhat and thenne our enbusshe of horse men sodeynly to come on them And when they se that they wyll forsake theyr barryers and open the gates to entre and soo peraduenture we may entre with them and at the leest yf they within open not the gate they that be without shal be al oures that is true syr sayd syr IohnÌ Ferrant Well sayd the marshall who was called syr Alue Perreer do you the one feate and I shall doo the other goo you and syr Martyne de Marlo and Pomas de Congne and kepe the enbusshe and I shall go and make the scrymysshe it perteyneth to myne offyce as they deuysed so they dyd there were appoynted out .v. C. horse men for to kepe the enbusshe so of .iii. dayes they made noo scrymysshe wherby they within of the garyson hadde meruayle and sayd to the galycyens within the towne loye vnhappy people ye wolde haue gyuen vp this towne at theyr fyrste comynge and we had not ben We haue gretely preserued the honoure of your towne for ye
suche answere that ye shall be contented Sir ye saye well quod they it suffyceth vs. Than they departed and wente to their lodgynges At nyght they were desyred to dyne the nexte daye with the duke So the nexte daye they came to the duke and were well receyued and so wasshed and went to dyner satte downe Firste the bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate and than the duke than the admyrall of Fraunce and thanne sir Iohan de Beulle They hadde a great dyner and were well serued and after dyner they entred in to a counsayle chambre and there they talked of dyuers maters and herde mynstrelsy These lordes of Fraunce thought surely to haue hadde an answere but they hadde none Than wyne and spyces were brought in and so made collasyon and than toke their leaue and departed to their lodgynge The nexte daye they were apoynted to come to the duke and so they dyde and the duke receyued them swetely and at the laste sayd Sirr I knowe well ye looke to be aunswered for by the wordes that I haue herde you saye ye are charged by the kyng and his vncles to bring them an answere Wherfore I say to you that I haue done nothynge to sir Olyuer of Clesquyne wherof I shulde repente me sauynge of one thynge and that is That he hadde so good a markette as to escape a lyue And in that I saued his lyfe was for the loue of his offyce and nat for his persone For he hath done me soo many displeasures that I ought to hate hym deedly And sauynge the displeasure of the kyng and of his vncles and his couÌsayle For all the takynge of sir Olyuer I haue nat therby broken their voyage by the see I wyll well excuse my selfe therin for I thought non yuell the daye that I toke hym a man ought to take his ennemy whersoeuer he fynde hym And if he were deed I wolde thynke the Realme of Fraunce to be as well ruled or better than it is by his counsayle And as for his castelles that I holde the whiche he hath delyuered me I am in possessyon of them and so wyll be withoute the puyssaunce of a kynge take them fro me And as for rendringe of his money I aunswere I haue had so moche to do in tyme paste by the meanes of this sir Olyuer of Clysquyn that I ranne in dette gretlye therby and nowe I haue payde them that I was bounde vnto by reason of this dette This was the answere that the duke of Bretaygne made to the kynges ambassadours Than they layde forthe other reasons to enduce the duke to some reasonable waye but all his answeres tourned euer to one conclusyon And whan they sawe none other waye they toke their leaues to departe and the duke gaue them leaue ThanÌe they retourned and dyd so moch by their iourneys that they came to Parys to the house of Beautie besyde Wynsentes There was the kyng the quene and thyder came the duke of Berrey and the duke of Bourgoyne hauyng great desyre to knowe what answere the duke of Bretaygne haddemade THe aunswere ye haue herde here before I nede nat to shewe it agayne but the kyng and his counsayle were nat content with the duke of Bretaygne that his ambassadours hadde made no better exployte and they sayde howe the duke was a proude man and a presumptuous and that the mater shulde nat so reste in peace seynge the matter so preiudyciall for the Crowne of Fraunce And the entensyon of the kyng and his counsayle was to make warre agaynste the duke of Bretayne and the duke loked for nothynge elles For he sawe and knewe well howe he had greatly displeased the kyng and his counsell but he hated so mortally the constable that it toke fro hym the good order of reason for he repented hym sore that he had nat putte hym to dethe whan he hadde hym in his daunger Thus the mater contynued a longe season and the duke of Bretayne laye at Wannes and lytell and lytell rode ouer his countrey for he freared greatly embusshmentes He kepte styll in loue and fauour his cyties and good townes and made secrete treaties with the Englysshmen and made his castelles and forteresses to be as well kepte as thoughe he had had opyn warre and was in many imaginacions on the dede he had done Somtyme he wolde say he wolde he had nat taken the constable howe be it he sayd euer to stoppe mennes mouthes that sir Olyuer of Clesquyn had sore dishleased hym so that many a man sayd that elles he wolde neuer haue done it therby he brought his couÌtre in feare for it is but a small signorie if a prince be nat feared and douted of his menne for and the worste fall he maye haue peace whan he lyst ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretaygne and let vs somwhat speke of the busynesse that was in the realme of EnglaÌde whiche was in the same season horryble and marueylous ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one accorde and aliauÌce agaynst the kyng and his counsaile and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii YE haue herde here before howe the kyng of Englandes vncles the duke of yorke the duke of Gloucestre with therle of Salisbury and the erle of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Notyngham and the archebysshoppe of CauÌterbury All these were of one alyaunce and accorde agaynst the kynge and his counsayle for these lordes and other were nat content with the kynges counsayle and sayd among them selfe This duke of Irelande dothe with the kynge what he lyste and with all the realme The kyng wyll nat be counsayled but by vnhappy men and of base lynage and taketh no regarde to the great lordes of his realme As longe as he hath suche counsayle about hym the busynesse of Englande can nat do well for a realme can nat be well gouerned nor a kynge well counsayled by suche vngracious people It is sene a poore man mouÌted in to gret estate and in fauoure with his mayster often tymes corrupteth distroyeth the people and the realme A man of base lynage canne nat knowe what parteyneth to honoure their desyre is euer to enryche and to haue all theÌselfe lyke an Otter in the water whiche coueteth to haue all that he fyndeth Who hath any profyte by that the duke of Irelande is so great with the kyng we knowe full well fro whense he came yet we se that all the realme is ruled by hym and nat by the kynges vncles nor by none of his blode This ought nat to be suffred We knowe well ynoughe that the Erle of Oxenforde had neuer the grace to do any valyaunt dede in this realme his honour wysedome counsayle or gentylnesse is ryght well knowen and that was well knowen ones by sir Iohan Chandos in
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌded 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 IrelaÌde 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 droÌke 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 coÌtente 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 coÌmynge 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 commauÌded 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 adueÌture 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 conseÌted 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 coÌpany 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 coÌmon renome through EnglaÌde 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 BraÌble sir Robert Tryââlyen 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 accoÌpte 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 coÌmons 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 recoÌmaundeth 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 coÌmon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
delyuered the castell of Douer to the frenche men And they enformed the people that he caused the frenchmen to come in to FlauÌders and to Sluse whiche was nothyng so And also in the dispyte of the kyng they haue shaÌfully slayne sir Robert Triuylien so they wyll do other if they maye atteygne to their ententes Wherfore I saye that it were better for the kyng to vse rygour and puyssauÌce than gentylnesse Euery man knoweth thorough the realme that he is kyng and howe that at Westmynster the noble kyng Edwarde made euery man to be sworne bothe lordes prelates and all the good Townes that after his dyscease they shulde take the kynge here for their soueraygne lorde and the same othe made his thre vncles And it semeth to many as men dare speke that they holde him nat in the state and fourme of a kynge for he may nat do with his owne what he lyst they driue hym to his pensyon and the quene also whiche is a herde thyng for a kyng a quene It shulde seme they wolde shewe that they had no wytte to rule themselfe and that their couÌsaylours be traytours I saye these thynges are nat to be suffred As for me I hadde rather dye than longe to lyue in this dauÌger or peryll or to se the kynge to be ledde as his vncles wolde haue hym The kynge thanne sayd Surely it pleaseth nat vs. and I saye ye haue counsayled me as honourably as maye be for the honour of vs and our Realme AT this counsayle at Bristo we it was ordayned that the duke of Irelande shulde be soueraygne of all the kynges men of warre suche as he coude get to go to LoÌdon to knowe the perfyte ententes of the londoners Trustynge that if he myght ones speke with them to âourne them to his acorde by reason of suche proftes as he wolde make them in the kynges name And so within a shorte space after the duke of Irelande with a fyftene thousand men deêted fro Bristowe and rode to the cytie of Oxenforde there aboute he lodged and all his people and had baners displayed of the kynges armes and none other to shewe that all he dyde was in the kynges tytell and quarell tydingê came to the kynges vncles that the duke of Irelande aproched towardes LoÌdon with a .xv. thousande men with the kynges baners displayed And on a daye all the lordes were at counsayle at Westmynstâr and had with theÌ the chefe of LoÌdon suche as they trusted best and there they shewed them how the duke of IrelaÌde was comyng agaynst them with an armye royall The londoners who were enclyned to their partie sayde sirs let theÌ come in the name of god yf the duke of Irelande demauÌde of vs batayle he shall haue it incoÌtynent we will close no gate we haue for xv M. men nat and they were .xx. The dukes were right ioyfull with that answere incoÌtynent they sent out knyghtes squyers and messangers to assemble men of warre togyder fro dyuers êties suche as were sent for obeyed for so they had sworne and promysed before Men came fro the bysihaprike of CauÌterbury Norwiche and out of the couÌties of Arundell and Sussex and of Salisbury and Southampton and out of all the countreis therabout London And so great nombre of people came to LoÌdon and knewe nat what they shulde do ¶ Howe the duke of Irlande sente thre knyghtes to London to knowe some tydynges And howe the kynges vncles they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii NOwe let vs soÌwhat speke of the duke of Irelande of his couÌsell being at Oxford with a .xv. M. men howbeit the most parte of them were come thyder by constraynt rather than of good corage Than the duke of Irlande aduised to knowe thenteÌtes of theÌ of LoÌdon to sende sir Nicholas BraÌble sir Peter Golofer and sir Michaell de la Pole to the towre of London to go thyder by water and to set the kynges baners in the hyght of the towre to se what the londoners wolde do These thre knyghtes at the duke of Irlandes request deêted fro OxeÌforde the next day they passed the TeÌmes at the bridge of Stanes rode to dyner to Shene the kynges place and there taryed tyll it was late fro thens rode to another house of the kyngê called Kenyngton and there they lefte their horses toke botes went downe the water with the tyde passed LoÌdon bridge so came to the towre was nat knowen for no man was ware of their comynge And there they frouÌde redy the capitayne of the towre whom the kynge had sette there before and by hym these knyghtes knewe moche of the dealyng of them of LoÌdon and of the kynges vncles And the capitayne shewed them howe they were come thyder to lodge in great dauÌger Why so ê they We be the kynges seruauÌtes and we may well lodge in his house Nat so quod the capitayne All this cytie the counsaile wolde gladly be vnder the obeysauÌce of the kyng so that he wolde be ruled by his vncles by none other And this that I shewe you is of good wyll for I am bouÌde to shew you and to couÌsaile you to the best of my power but I am in dout to morowe whan day cometh that it be knowen in London that seruauntes of the kynges become hyther ye shall se this towre besieged bothe by lande water by the londoners nat to deête hens tyll they se and knowe who is lodged within it And if ye be founde here ye shal be incontynent presented to the kynges vncles And than ye may well ymagin what ende ye shall come to I thynke they be so sore displeased agaynst the kynges couÌsayle and agaynst the duke of IrelaÌde that ye be taken ye shall nat escape with your lyues study well vpon these wordes for I assure you they be true ¶ Than these thre knightes who had wende to haue done marueyls were fore abasshed there determyned to tary all night as secrete as they coulde for feare of spyeng And the capitayne promysed to kepe them sure for that nyght and so kept the keyes with hym And in the mornynge these kynghtes had dyuers ymaginacions counsayles to se howe they shulde deale And all thynges coÌsydred they durst nat abyde the aduenture to be knowen there they feared greatly to be there beseged And or day came whan the fludde was come they tooke a barge and passed the bridge and went to Kenyngton And whan it was daye they toke their horses and rode to Wyndsore and there taryed all that nyght and the nexte day they rode to OxeÌforde and there founde the duke of Irlande his men to whom they shewed all these tidynges howe they durst nat tary at the towre of LoÌdon the duke was pensyfe of those tidynges wyst
and smyled and sayde to a knyght of his Go and make this haraulde good chere he shall be answered to nyght and departe to morowe Than the kynge entred in to his secrete chambre and sent for sir Wyllyam of Lygnac and for sir gaultyer of Passac and red to them the letters and demaunded of them what was beste to do ¶ I shall shewe you the substaunce of the matter Syr Iohan Holande constable of the duke of Lancastres hoost wrote to the kynge of Castyle desyring hym to sende by the herault letters of safecoÌducte for .ii. or thre englysshe knightes to go and come safe to speke and to treat with hym Than these knightes answered sayd sir it were good ye dyde this for than shall you knowe what they demauÌde Well quod the kyng me thynke it is good Than there was asafecoÌducte written coÌteyninge that sixe knightes might safely go and come at the poyntyng of the constable This was sealed with the kynges great seale sygned with his hande deliuered to the heralt and xx frankes in rewarde Than he returned to AuraÌche where the duke the constable were THe herault deliuered the safecoÌduct to the coÌstable Than the knyghtes were chosen that shulde go sir Mauberyn of Linyere sir ThomÌs Morell sir Iohan Dambreticourt these thre knyghtes were charged to go on this message to the kynge of Castile and they deêted assone as they might for some thought long for there were many sicke and lacked phisicions and medicins and also fresshe vitaylles These Englysshe ambassadours passed by the towne of Arpent and there the constable of Castyle sir Olyuer of Clesquy made theÌ good chere and made them a supper And the next daye he sent with them a knyght of his of Tyntemache a breton to bring them the more surelyer to the kyng for encouÌtryng of the bretons of whom there were many sprede abrode so long they rode that they came to Medenade Campo and there they founde the kynge who had gret desire to know what they wolde whan they were a lyghted at their lodgyng chauÌged refreshed theÌ they went to the king who made to theÌ gode semblaunt were brought to hiby the knightê of his house Than they delyuered to the kyng letters fro the dukes Constable but none fro hym selfe for as than he wolde nat write to the kynge but they sayd Sir kyng we be sent hyder to you fro the erle of Huntyngdon Constable with the duke of Lancastre A certaynynge you of the great mortalyte and sickenesse that is amonge our men Therfore the constable desyreth you that ye wolde to all suche as desyreth to haue their helthe opyn your cyties and good townes and suffre them to entre to refresshe them and to recouer their helth if they maye And also that suche as haue desyre to passe in to Englande by lande that they maye passe without daunger of you of the kyng of Nauer and of the Frenche kyng but pesably to retourne in to their owne coutreis sir this is the desyre and request that we make vnto you as at this tyme. than the kyng answered and said soberly Sirs we shall take couÌsayle and aduise what is good for vs to do than ye shal be answered than the knyghtes sayd sir that suffyceth to vs. ¶ Howe these thre knyghtes obteyned a saueconduct of the kyng of Castyle for their people to passe howe dyuers of theÌglysshmen dyed in Castyle howe the duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Cap. C .v. THus they departed fro the kynge at that tyme and went to their lodgynges there taryed all that day the next day tyll none than they went to the kyng Now I shall shewe you what answere the king had of his couÌsaile This request gretly reioysed the kyng for he sawe well his enemys wolde deête out of his realme he thought in hymselfe he wolde agre therto yet he was couÌsayled to the coÌtrary but he sent for the .ii. freÌche capitayns sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WillmÌ of Lignac and whan they were come he right sagely shewed theÌ the desire reqÌst of the coÌstable of the Englysshe host and hervpon he demauÌded of them to haue their couÌsayle First he desyred sir Water Passacke to speke He was lothe to speke before other of the kynges couÌsayle there but he was fayne so to do the kyng so sore desyred hym so by the kynges coÌmaundement he spake sayde Sir ye are come to the same ende that we haue alwayes said that was that your enemys shulde wast theÌ selfe they are nowe disconfyted without any stroke strikyng sir if the said folkes desyre to haue comforte refresshyng in your countre of your gentylnesse ye maye well grauÌt it them so that whaÌsoeuer they recouer their helthe they retourne nat agayne to the Duke nor to the kynge of Portugale but than to deête the streight way in to their owne countreys And that in the Terme of sixe yere they arme them nat agaynst you nor agaynst the realme of Castyle We thynke ye shall gette rightwell a safeconducte for them of the kynge of Fraunce and of the kynge of Nauerre to passe peasably through the realmes Of this answere the kynge was ryght ioyfull for they counsayled hym accordynge to his pleasure for he had nat cared what bargeyn he had made so that he myght haue benquyte of the Englysshmen Than he sayd to sir Water Passacke Sir ye haue well and truely counsayled me I thanke you and I shall do accordyng to your aduise Than the thre Englysshe knyghtes were sent for Whan they were come they entred into the counsayle chaÌbre Than the bysshop of Burges chaunceller of Spayne who was well langaged sayd sirs ye knyghtes of EnglaÌd perteyning to the duke of LaÌcastre and sent hyder fro his constable vnderstande that the kyng here of his pytie and gentylnesse wyll shewe to his enemyes all the grace he maye And sirs ye shall retourne to your coÌstable and shewe hym fro the kyng of Castyle that he shall make it to be knowen through al his hoost by the sowne of a trumpet that his realme shal be open and redy to receyue all the Englysshmen hole or sicke so that at thentre of euery cyte or towne they laye downe their armure and weapons And there shall they fynde men redy to bring them to their lodgiges And there all their names to be written and delyuered to the capitayne of the towne to th entent they shulde nat retourne agayne in to Galyce nor in to Portugale for no maner of busynesse but to deête in to their own countreis assone as they may And assone as the kyng of Castyle my souerayne lorde hath optayned your safecoÌducte to passe through the realmes of Nauer and Fraunce to go to Calis or to any other porte or hauen at their pleasure outher in to Bretaygne Xaynton Rochell NormaÌdy or Picardy Also the kynges pleasure is that all suche knightê
Brusels made relacion of their aunswere as ye haue herde before wherwith the duches was well content THe same season newes were sprede abrode of holy saynt Peter of Lusenbourge cardynall whose body dyde myracles in the cytie of Auygnon This holy cardynall was sonne to the Erle Guye of sant Poule who dyed in the batayle of Iulyers This holy Cardynall in his tyme was a good man noble holy deuoute of lyfe dyde many dedes pleasauÌt to god He was swete courtesse meke and a mayde of body A great almesse man in gyaynge to poore people He kept nothynge to hym selfe of the goodes of the Churche but his bare lyueng The moost parte of the day and of the nyght he was in his prayers allwayes he fledde fro the vanyties and superfluyties of the worlde so that in his yonge dayes god called hym to his company And anone after his discesse he dyde great myracles and ordayned to be buryed amonge the poore people All his dayes he vsed humylyte and was buryed in the chapell of saynt Mychaell The Pope and the cardynalles whan they sawe the myracles that his body dyde daylye encrease and multiplye They wrote to the Frenche kynge and speciallye to his brother the Erle Valeranne of saynt Poule desyringe hym to come to Auygnon The Erle wolde nat excuse hym but wente thyder and there gaue goodlye Lampes of syluer to hange before his aulter and hadde great marueyle of the great beleue and visytacion that the people made there dayly ⪠and for to se hym I wente thyder fro the countie of Foize and daylye his workes encreased and it was sayde that he shulde be canonised I can nat tell what fell after ¶ Nowe that I haue shewed you of his dethe I shall shewe you of the dethe of another for I haue nat spoken of the dethe of a kyng of whome great mencyon hath been made of in this hystorie Howe be it the dyde many dedes vnresonable for by hym and his meanes the realme of FrauÌce had moche to do in his tyme. This was by the kyng of Nauer ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampilona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe VaÌchadore was beseged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the duchesse of Brabant Capi. C.xvi. IT is sayd and it is of trouthe that there is nothyng more certayne than dethe I saye it bycause that kynge of Nauer whan he dyed thought full lytell that he had been so nere to his ende as he was If he had knowen therof paraduenture he wolde haue taken better hede than he dyde He was in the cytie of PaÌpylona in Nauerre He ymagined howe he wolde reyse a great taylage in his realme to the soÌme of two hundred thousande florens and he sente for his counsayle and said howe he wolde haue this money reysed His counsayle durste nat saye nay for he was a cruell prynce Than the moste notable persones of other cyties and townes in his realme were sente for to come to Panpylona They came thyder for they durst nat disobey Whan they were come all togyther in to the kynges palays the kynge hym selfe declared forthe the mater why they were sent for He was a king ryght subtyle sage and well langaged and at the conclusion sayde howe towardes his nedes he must haue the soÌme of CC.M. florens to be reysed of his subiectes After this maner the riche to pay .x. frankes the meane to be cessed at fyue frankes and all other at one franke This request abasshed greatly the people for the yere before there had ben a batayle in Nauer by reason wherof a tayle was raysed to the somme of hundred thousande floreyns And besyde that he maryed his doughter the lady Iane to duke Iohan of Bretaygne and a great parte of that money as thaÌ nat payde and vngadered Whan the kynge hadde made his demaunde he desyred to haue an answere Than they requyred to take counsayle and to speke toguyder The king gaue them respite .xv. dayes than the chefe of them to make answere The brute of this taylage spredde abrode through Nauerre and euery man was a basshed therof At the .xv. dayes ende the moste notable persones of the good cyties and townes returned to Panpilona to the nombre of a threscore persones who had charge to aunswere for all the hole realme The kynge was present at their answere makyng whiche was done in a fayre garden farre of fro any people and closed aboute with hygh walles Than they aunswered all with one accorde and shewed the pouerte of the realme and alleged howe the former tayle was nat as than all leuyed nor gadred wherfore they besought him for goddessake to haue pytie of them for they sayd surely the realme was nat able to beare it and whan the king sawe that he coude nat easely attayne to his purpose he was sore dyspleased and departed fro them and sayd Sirs ye are yuell counsayled take counsayle agayne and speke yet agayne togyder And so he went in to his chambre and his counsayle with hym Than all these good persones were togyder in this garden faste closed in with hygh walles and the kynge commaunded in no wyse to suffer them to issue out to haue but lytell meate nor drinke Than they were there in great doute of their lyues and there was none that durste speke for them and so it was supposed that by constreynt he had his desyre for he strake of a thre of their heedes suche as were moste contrary to his entente to â gyue feare and ensample to other Than there fell a straunge insydence by a marueylous sodayne adueÌture the whiche god sent lyke a myracle I shall shewe you how as I was enfourmed in the countie of Foize at Ortays at the erles house by men of Panpylona it past nat a thre or four dayes iourney thence It was shewed me howe this kynge of Nauer in his dayes loued well women and at the same tyme he had a fayre damosell to his louer for he was a wydower a longe season On a nyght he laye with her a space and than retourned to his chambre in a feuer and sayd to his seruauntes Dresse my bedde for I wyll rest me a season and so went to his bed and trymbled for colde and coulde take no heate He was an aged man aboute a threscore yere of age and of vsage his bedde was wont to be chased with a bason with hote coles to make hym swete whiche often tymes he vsed and dyd hym no hurte At this tyme his seruauÌtes dyd the same but outher as god wolde or the deuyll a burnynge flame toke in the shetes in suche maner that or he coulde be reskewed he was brente to the bowels he was so wrapped bytwene the shetes So that he lyued fyftene dayes after in great payne and mysery inso moche that physyke nor surgery coulde helpe hym but that he dyed
sir Guy shewe forthe your charge the knyght spake ryght sagely by great leysar shewed the kyng his couÌsaile how the frenche kyng with his army royall wyll come in to the froÌters of Almayne nat to make any warre agaynst hym but agaynst his enemy the duke of Guerles who had highly defied the kyng their maister with shamfull wordes out of the style of all other defyauÌces the whiche the frenche kyng nor his couÌsaile can in no wyse suffre Wherfore sir ê they the kyng requyreth you as ye be a noble king of his blode and he of yours as all the worlde knoweth that ye wyll nat sustayne ayde nor mentayne the pride of this duke but ye to holde the aliances and coÌfyrmacions soÌtyme done sworne bytwene thempire of Almayne the realme of FrauÌce the whiche he wyll fermly kepe on his ête Than the kyng answered said sir Guy we are enformed that our cosyn the freÌche kyng wyll assemble togider great noÌbre of people He neded nat for so smal a mater to assemble suche people to spende so moche to seke his ennemy so farr of for if he had desired me with lesse trauayle I coude well haue caused the duke of Guerles to hame coÌe to mercy reason sir ê the knight we thanke you that it pleaseth you to say so but the kyng our maister regardeth but lytell his expenses nor trauell of his men but he regardeth his honour to this his couÌsaile is agreed syth that you nor your couÌsayle is nat myscontent with our maister who wyll in no wyse violate nor breke the ordinauÌces confirmacioÌs of olde tyme made bitwene the two realmes of FrauÌce almain but kepe mentayne it on the paynes the is ordayned therfore sir we be sent nowe to you Well ê the kyng I beleue you well as for our cosyn the frenche kyng shal be welcome in to these êtes as forme I thynke nat to styrre Ther with the messaÌgers were ryght ioyous thought they had sped very well thaÌ they desyred to haue letts agayne the kyng said they shulde haue That day they taryed dyned with the kynge had good chere after dyner they wente to their lodgynges Wherto shulde I make long êcesse they sped so well that they had letters suche answere as pleased theÌ well Than they toke leaue of the kyng of Almayne retourned the same way they came Nowe let vs speke of the freÌche kyng ¶ Howe therle of Bloys sent to the frenche kyng .ii. C. speares the duke of Loraine and the lorde Henry of Bare came to the kyng And howe the dukes of Iullyers and Guerles knewe that the Frenche kyng came on them Cap. C .xxxix. TO accoÌplyshe this vyage euery lorde in FrauÌce aêelled theÌ selfe of euery thyng nedefull the lordê knightes squiers other men of warre departed fro thir owne places as well fro Auergne couergne quercy lymosyn poytou xaynton as fro Bretayne normaÌdy aniou tourayn chaÌpayn and fro all the lymitacioÌs of the realme of FraÌce Fewest men came out of fardest couÌtreis and the most noÌbre out of Burgoyn picardy bare lorayne bicause they of the body of FrauÌce were in the waye therfore they were best trauelled It was ordayned by the kyng his couÌsayle that no man shulde take any thyg in the couÌtre wtout payeng therfore to theÌcent that the pore men shulde nat be greued but for all that ordinauÌce the whiche was well knowen and sprede abrode vpon payne of great punissyon yet the men of warre ofte tymes sore trauelled the couÌtries as they passed through they coude nat absteyne for they were but yuell payde of their wages and they must nedes lyue That was their excuse whan they were blamed for their pyllage by the constable marshalles or capitaynes The erle of Bloyes was sente vnto to sende two hundred speares of chosen men and was promysed well to be payde I can nat saye howe he was dalte with all but he sente to serue the kynge two hundred speares out of the countie of Bloyes And capitayns of them was the lorde of Vyenne sir Guyllyam of saynt Martyne sir Wyllyam of Chaumont and the lorde Montigny these foure had the gouernaunce of the erle of Bloys bande They drewe lytell and lytell towardes ChaÌpayne thyder they were ordayned to go Than the Frenche kynge departed from Moustreau Faulte yon and tooke the waye to Chalous in Champayne As than the duke of Berrey was nat come for or his departyng he loked to here tidynges fro sir Helyon of Lignacke whom he had sente to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon to haue to his wyfe the dukes doghter as ye haue herde before But he had her nat For the duke of Lancastre dissymuled with hym and helde styll the knyght with hym at Bayon He treated with two parties but he rather enclyned to the kynge of Castyle than to the duke of Berrey and in lyke wyse so dyde the lady Custaunce his wyfe The duke made good chere to bothe parties to the entent to enflame them the soner to the maryage of his doughter The kyng of Castyls messangers sore traueyled in treatyng of this maryage They rested nat to ryde in and out bytwene the parties They offered great gyftes to those messangers but they of fred nothynge to sir Helyon of Lignacke Whan it was knowen in the realme of FrauÌce that the kyng was at Chalous on his waye towardes the duchy of Guerles than euery man departed fro their houses and drewe after the kyng Than came the duke of Berrey and lodged at Espinay and the duke of Burbone at another place the erle of Marche the erle Dolphyn of Auergne the erle of saynt Pole and the erle of Tourayne And with the kynge was the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Lorayne the duke of Tourayne the constable of Fraunce sir Guye of Tremoile sir Iohan of Beull And the countrey about Chalous and Raynes more than .xii. leages all about was clene eaten vp with the men of warre As than the lorde of Coucy was nat retourned fro the pope Than retourned sir Wyllyam of HaÌcourt and mayster yues Orient and founde the kynge and his vncles at Chalous The kyng was ioyouse of their coÌmyng and demaunded tidynges They shewed the kyng what they had founde done and sayd howe the kynge of Almaygne had made them good chere and said to the kyng Sir whan the kyng had reed the copye of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles had sent to you bothe he and his couÌsayle were yuell coÌtent therwith and sayd howe it was done by great presuÌpcyon and pride And we can parceyue none other but he and his couÌsaile is well content with your enterprice and ye shall haue no let by hym the kynge is well content to vpholde and maynteyne the auncient alyauÌces that is bytwene the empyre and FrauÌce he saythe ye shall haue no
we saye howe ye be right hertely welcome The kyng hath well herde and vnderstaÌde what ye haue sayd ye shall haue shortely and aunswere within a day or two suche as shall coÌtente you that is suffycient quod sir Iohan of Vyen and so tooke his leaue of the kynge and of his counsayle and wente to his lodgynge And it was shewed me howe he taryed there more than seuen dayes without hauynge of any answere he sawe nothynge but dyssymulacion wherwith he was sore dyspleased for all that tyme he coulde nat se the kyng for he kept hym close in his chambre And whan syr Iohan of Vien sawe that he coulde haue none other exployte in his busynes he spake on a daye to some of the kynges counsayle and sayd Syrs surely I wyll departe without aunswere They douted leste he wolde do as he sayd and surely so he had done and they had nat called hym on a day and made him his aunswere as they dyd Than it was sayd to hym howe he might well shewe the frenche kynge and suche as had sent hym thyder that they shulde haue the kinge of Castyle nor his counsayle in no maner of suspecte for they had nat done nor wolde nat do any thynge with the kynge of Englande that shulde breke or adnychilate in any maner of wayes the alyaunces that hath been sworne and sealed bytwene Fraunce Castyle howe be it thoughe the kynge of Castyle mary his sonne to the doughter of the duke of LaÌcastre therby to make a fynall peace for the chalenge that the duke maketh to the realme of Castyle by ryght of his wyfe and generally all the realme counsayleth the kynge there to though he assent wyll do it yet the frenche kyng nor his counsayle ought nat to be dyspleased there with for alwayes the kyng of Castyle and his men wyll be conioyned alyed with the french kynge and with the realme of Fraunce This was the substaunce of the answere that sir Iohan of Vien brought in to FrauÌce fro the knig of Castyle who proceded sorthe with the duke of Lancastre in his maryage made an amyable peace togyther by meanes of messengers that wente bytwene them for the duke laye in the marchesse of Burdeaulx and came thyder fro Bayon and the duches and her doughter where as they were receyued with great ioye for they were greatly desyred there And fro Burdeaux they wente to Lyborne WHan trewe and certayne tydynges was come into the erle of Foiz house howe the Kynge of Castyle was agreed with the duke of Lancastre and shulde mary his sonne with the dukes doughter and to gyue great landes in Castyle and greate nombre of floreyns about a two hundred thousande nobles wherof the erle had great marueyle This I knowe well for I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme. Than the erle of Foiz sayd Ah this kynge of Castyle is vnhappy for he hath made peace with a deed man for I knowe well the duke of Lancastre is in that case and in suche daunger that he can nat helpe hym selfe But the kynge of Castyle hathe mette with a sage and a valyaunte prince of the duke of Lancastre for he hath valyauntly borne hym selfe all the warre season NOwe lette vs somwhat speke of the army on the see So it was that aboute the feest of Crystmas the erle of Arundell who had ben a longe season on the see costynge the fronters of Bretaygne and of Rochell Xaynton and of Normandy and so passed before Karenten but a fore that they tooke lande at Chirbroke and wolde haue done there some dedes of armes And the same season there were souerayne capytayns in the towne and garyson of Karentyne the lorde of Hambre and the lorde of Coucy and with them a great nombre of knyghtes and squyers of NormaÌdy Whan the erle of Arundell knewe howe the towne of Karentyne was so well prouyded and furnysshed with good men of warre than he passed forthe for he sawe well in assautinge therof he myght rather lese than wyn Than he came to a nother towne therby called Toraguy and assayled it and toke it perforce and pylled it and wanne there great rychesse and toke with theym many prisoners and than came before the good towne of Bayeux and came to the barryers and there they made a skrymysshe and none assaute Than the englysshmen passed the watches of saynte Clemente and dyd great domage in the countrey for they taryed there a fyftene dayes and no man encountred them the marshall of Blannâuille was in Normandy but he knewe nat of their comynge if he had he wolde haue prouyded for the mater And whan the englysshe men had done their enterprise and done great domage to the countrey of Normandy asmoche as a huÌdred thousande frankes came vnto Than they drewe backe and passed agayne the watches and retourned to Chyrbroke and dyd put all their conquest in suretye and sauegarde in to their shyppes And whan they had wynde wether and their shyppes charged than they entred and dysancred and toke the see and retourned in to Englande aryued at Hampton Thus the army of the erle of Arundell on the see concluded in that season ¶ Howe syr Loys of Xancere wente to se the erle of Foize at Ortays and howe before the duke of Lancastre at Burdeaux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue frenchmen and fyue englysshe men and howe the duches of Lancastre wente with her doughter in to Castyle to kynge Iohan. Cap. C.liiii IN this seasoÌ sir Loys of Xancer marshall of FrauÌce was in Languedoc in the marches of Tholouse and Carcassone and he knewe well of the treatye that was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and therle of Foiz for the maryage of the duke of Bowlonges doughter whome the duke of Berrey wolde haue though the damosell were right yonge Than the marshall had affection to go se the erle of Foyz as I was enfourmed by his men at Ortays for whan he came thyder he founde me there He came at the sendynge of the frenche kynge and I shall shewe you why wherfore The frenche kyng was as thaÌ yonge and had desyre to trauayle and he had neuer ben as than in Languedoc whiche is a great countrey and full of cyties townes and casteles and as than nygh all dystroyed and wasted for the duke of Berry and his counsayle who had the gouernauÌce of that countrey had greatly enpouerysshed and pylled the countrey by tayles and great oppressyons the complayntes wherof came to the kynges eares by reason that he was newly entred in to the domynacion of his Realme And the kynge sayde he wolde go in to Languedoc to vysite that countrey and also to go and se the pope whome he had neuer sene before and also in that voyage he sayd he wolde se the erle of Foiz of whome he had herde so moche honour and larges spokeÌ of Thus the marshall went forthe on his waye and
departed fro the cytie of Tholous with a fyue hundred horse and rode so longe that he came to Tarbe in Bygore and fro thence to Morloys in Bierne And the erle of Foiz who was signyfied of his comyng was ioyfull and coÌmaunded all his offycers that the towne of Ortays shulde be well aparelled to receyue him for he sayd the marshals comynge pleased hym ryght well lodgynges for his men were made redy and the erle rode out in to the feldes to mete with hym and mothan thre hundred horses and there receyued hym with good chere And he was at Ortays a syre dayes and the marshall sayd to the erle howe the frenche kynge had great affection to se the countrey of Languedoc and to se hym Than the erle aunswered and sayd Syr the kynge shall be ryght welcome and gladde I wolde be to se hym yea but sir quod the marshall it is the kynges entension at his comyng playnely to knowe whether ye wyll holde you frenche or englissh for alwayes ye haue dissymuled out the warre for ye wolde neuer arme you for no desyre A sir quod the erle I thanke you in that ye haue shewed me somoche For syr though I wolde neuer arme me nor take no parte there hath been good cause why As for the warre bytwene Englande and FrauÌce I haue nothynge to do therwith I holde my countrey of Bierne of no man but of good and the sworde What haue I to do to put my selfe in seruytude or in dyspleasure of one kynge or other yet I knowe well myne aduersaryes of Armynake haue done that in them is to bring me in the indyngnacion of bothe partyes for or the prince of Wales wente in to Spayne by the informacyon of the erle of Armynake the prince wolde haue made me warre he was so sore moued therto that he had done so and sir Iohan Chandos had nat broken his purpose but I thanke god alwayes I haue borne my selfe as mekely and as curteyssy as I coulde and shall do as longe as I lyue and whan I am deed let the maters go as they wyll Thus the erle of Foyze and the marshall passed the tyme togyder And at their departure the erle gaue hym a fayre courser a fayre mule and a nother good horse all thre togyther rychely sadylled and aparelled And he gaue to syr Roberte of Challus and to syr Rycharde Dolphyn to eche of them two huÌdred frankes and to fyue other squyers to eche of them fifty frankes Than the marshall toke leaue to departe to Tholous And I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme and wolde haue departed fro Ortays with hym but the Erle of Foyze wolde nat suffre me and sayd I shulde nat as than departe So it behoued me to byde his pleasure Sir Loys departed fro Ortays and rode to Tarbe and the lorde Dolphyn of Bygore conueyed him and sir Peter of Calestan one of the erle of Foiz knyghtes ABoute the same season there was at Burdeaux a dede of armes done before the duke of Lancastre by fyue englisshmen of his owne house and fyue frenche menne some of theym were of the marshall of Fraunce house Fyrst by ser Pecton Dallagnie a gascone englyssh agaynst sir Mores Mannigmente frenche Seconde bytwene sir Aragon Raymon englysshe agaynst the bastarde of Chauigny Frenche The thyrde bytwene Loys Malapus capytayne of Agremortes frenche agaynst Iaquemyn Corne de Cerfe englysshe Fourthe bytwene Archambalte de Villyers frenche and the sonne of the lorde of Chaumonte gascone englysshe The fyfte by Willyam Foucalt frenche against the brother of the lorde of Chaumont englysshe And to se these armes acomplysshed dyuers knyghtes and squiers of Bierne of therle of Foiz house toke their way towarde Burdeaux I wente with them in company bytwene Ortars and Burdeaux is but .xxiiii. myle There we sawe the sayde armes done before saynte Andrews in the presence of the duke of Lancastre and the duches their doughter and other ladyes and damosels of the couÌtrey These knightes were nat all armed at ones but euery man by hym selfe with his felowe aparte their armes were thre courses with a speare thre strokes with a sworde thre with an are and thre with a dagger and all a horsehacke And this they dyd in thre dayes and none of all tenne hurte but sir Raymon slewe the bastardes horse wherwith the duke of Lancastre was sore dysplesed and blamed greatly the knight bicause he bare his staffe so lowe and the duke gaue the bastarde one of his horses Whan this was accomplysshed euery man deêted to their owne houses AN one after the duchesse of Lancastre ordayned to goo in to Castyle and to leade with her Katheryne her doughter who shulde haue in maryage the kynge of Castyls sonne And the duchesse entente was fyrste or she wolde entre in to Castyle to go to Mantuell where somtyme was the batayle bytwene kynge don Peter her father agaynste kynge Henry of Castyle and of sir Bertram of Clesquyn And there she purposed to make iuste enquiry where the kynge her father lay buryed and to dygge vp his bones and to haue them to the cytie of Cyuill and there to bury theym agayne rychly as it appertayned to a kynge In the begynnynge of Marche whanne the sonne beganne to mount and the dayes to encrease than the duches of Lancastre was redy with her doughter and so departed fro Burdeaux and went to Bayon and there the duke of Lancastre toke leaue of her and he retourned to Burdeaux And the ladyes rode forthe to Dape and there she was well receyued for the cyte of Dape was vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande There she rested two dayes and than passed throughe the countrey of Basquence and passed by the passe of Rouceualx and entred in to Nauerre and came to Panpilona and there founde the kyng of Nauer and the quene who receyued the duchesse honourably The quene of Nauer was suster to the kynge of Castyle The duches and her doughter were a monethe passynge throughe the realme of Nauer for they taryed with the Kynge and with the quene a certayne space and their costes and charges were borne and payed for Than they entred in to Spaygne and at the entre of the realme they founde of the kynge of Castyls seruauntes redy there to receyue theym acordynge as they were commaunded And than the yonge prince was called prince of Galyce ¶ Howe the duches of Lancastre departed fro the kynge of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to brynge her fathers bones to Ciuyll and howe the frenche kynge sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the maryage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with the doughter of the erle of Boloyne Cap. C.lv. WHan all these matters were renewed and the maryage confyrmed than the duchesse of Lancastre lefte her doughter with the king with her yonge husbande that shulde mary her who was of the age of eight yeres the duches toke leaue
and so wente throughe the stretes to the kynges lodgynge called saynt Polle on the ryuer of Sayne with the quene there were mo than a thousande horses And the kyng went fro the palays to the ryuer of Sayne toke there a barge wente by water to his house of saynt Polle And for all that the house was great and large well amended yet the kyng had caused in the great court nere to the gate fro the Ryuer to be made a great halle whiche was couered ouer with clothes of the armes of Normandy And the walles were haÌged with clothes of arras of sondrie hystories In this hall the kynge gaue the ladyes a supper but the quene kepte her chaÌbre she was no more sene that nyght The other ladies and the kyng and the lordes daunsed and reuelled all that nyght nerchande tyll it was daye in the mornyng Than euery person departed and went to their lodgynges to slepe for it was good tyme. Nowe I shall shewe you what gyftes and preseÌtes they of Parys gaue on the Tuesday before noon to the quene and to the duchesse of Thourayne who was but newly come in to Fraunce oute of Lombardy for she was doughter to the duke of Myllayne and she had the same yere wedded Loyes duke of Thourayne She was named Valentyne she had neuer before ben at Parys therfore the burgesses of Parys gaue her her welcome ON this Tuesday aboute .xii. of the clocke about a .xl. burgesses of Parys of the most notablest persons of the cytie all in one sute of clothynge came to the kynges house of saynt Polle brought a present for the quene through the stretes of Parys The present was in a lytter richely wrought and borne bytwene two strong meÌ properly apparelled lyke two auncient sage persones The lytter had a celler of a thynne fyue clothe of sylke so that the iewelles that were in the litter might well be sene through Whan they came to saint Polle first they caÌe in to the kynges chambre whiche was redy apparelled to receyue them for alwayes suche as bringeth any thyng are welcome thaÌ these burgesses sette downe the lytter on two trestels in the myddes of the chambre Than they kneled downe before the kyng and said Right dere lorde and noble kyng your burgesses of Parys presenteth your grace these iewelles here in this lytter in the welcomyÌg of your grace into the gouernauÌce of your realme of Fraunce Than the kyng sayd good men I thaÌke you they are right goodly and riche than the burgesses rose drewe backe therwith toke their leaue Whan they were gone the kynge sayd to sir Wyllyam of Lordes and to Montague who were by hym Sirs let vs go nere to this lytter se these presentes more nerer Than the kynge well regarded them Fyrst there were foure pottes of golde sixe lauers of golde sixe plattes of golde All this vessell wayed a huÌdred and fyftie marke of golde In lyke maner a nother sorte of burgesses richely apparelled all in one lyuerey came to the quene and presented her another lytter whiche was borne in to her chambre shewynge howe the good men of Parys dyde recoÌmende them to her grace and sent her that present Whiche present was a shippe of golde two great flagoÌs of golde two dredge boxes of golde two saltes of golde sixe pottes golde sixe lauers of golde .xii. Lampes of syluer two basons of syluer The soÌme was thre hundred marke what golde what syluer This present was brought in a lytter bytwene two men one in semblaunce of a Beare and the other in semblaunce of an Vnycorne The thirde present in lykewise was brought in to the duches of Thourayns chambre by two men fygured in the fourme of two blacke Moores richely apparelled with white towelles about their heedes lyke sarazins The lytter was fayre and riche couered with a fyne clothe of sylke and brought by .xii. burgesses all in one apparell who gaue this present to the sayd duchesse In the whiche presente there was a shippe of golde a great potte of golde two ewers golde two great plattes golde two saltes golde sixe pottes syluer two dosin saucers sylner two dosyn boules syluer SoÌme golde and syluer two huÌdred markes This present greatly reioysed the duches of Thourayne as it was reason for it was goodly riche and curtesly she thanked them of their gyfte Thus this Tuesdaye these presentes were gyuen to the kyng the quene and to the duchesse of Thourayne It was greatly to be consydred the valeur of these presentes also the puyssaunce of the parisyens For it was shewed me by one who sawe all these pÌsentes that they cost the parisiens more than threscore thousande crownes of golde After these presentes this delyuered it was tyme to go to dyner But that daye the kynge and the quene other ladyes dyned in their chambres the soner to haue done For at thre of the clocke at after dyner they shulde drawe in to the felde of saynt Katheryne where as there was ordayned stages and scaffoldes a great nombre for the kynge and the quene and other to beholde the iustes ¶ Nowe shall I name by order the knyghtes that were called the kynges knyghtes of the sonne of golde there were thyrtie of theÌ FIrste the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the erle de la Marche sir Iaquemarte of Burbone his brother the lorde Guillyam of Namure sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of FrauÌce syr Iohan of Vien sir Iames of Vien lorde of Espaigny syr Guy of Tremoyle sir Gillyam his brother sir Phylyp of Bare the lorde of Rocheforde bretone the lorde of Raies the lorde Beamond syr Iohan of Barbencon the hazle of FrauÌce the lorde of Tourty norman syr Iohan of Barres the lorde of Nantoyllet the lorde of Rochfoucaât the lord of Garanciers sir Iohan of Harpedante the barone Dinury syr Willyam Marcyell syr Raynolde of Roye syr Geffrey of Caryn syr Charles of Changeet and sir Gylliam of Lignac All these knyghtes were armed and sheldes lyke there in the sonne raye and aboute thre of the clocke they were in the place of saint Kateryne and thyder was come ladyes and damosels And firste the quene came thyder in a chare rychely aparelled and all other ladyes in good ordre and entred into the scaffoldes that were ordeyned for them Than came the frenche kyng redy apparelled to iuste whiche pastyme he loued ryght well he was well accompanyed Than the iustes beganne there were many lordes of dyuers countreys Syr Gyllyam of Heynalt erle of Ostrenant iusted ryght goodly and so dyd suche knyghtes as came with hym as the lorde of Gomminies sir Iohan of Andregenes the lorde of Cautan syr Ausell of Transegynes and sir Clinquart of Hermo all dyde well their deuoyre to the prays of the ladyes Also there iusted well the duke of Irelande who was all that seasone with the frenche kynge Also there iusted well a knyght of
Almayne besyde the Ryne called sir Seruays of Mirando These iustes were well contynued but there were so many knightes that one coulde nat rynne for another and the duste with rynnynge of their horses was so great that it troubled them sore The lorde of Coucy dyd maruelously well These iustes contynued tyll it was nyght than they departed the ladyes brought to their lodgynges The kynge with his company was brought to his lodgynge of saynt Pole and there was a supper for the ladyes with suche haboundauÌce that it were harde to recorde it and the feest and reuell with syngynge and daunsyng tyll the next mornynge the sonne rysinge And the prise of the iustes of the aunswerers that had best done and lengest contynued was gyuen to the frenche kynge by consente of all the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes and of the chalengers the Halze of âlaunders bastarde brother to the duchesse of Burgoyne The knightes complayned of the dust so that some said they loste their dedes by reason therof The kynge made prouysion for it he ordeyned mo than two hundred barrelles of mater that watred the place wherby the grouÌde was well amended and yet the nexte day they hadde duste ynough and to moche Than the wednysdaye came to Parys the erle of saynte Pole frome oute of Englande he had made great haste to come to these iustes and feest and he had lefte behynde him in Englande sir Iohan of Chatell Morant to bringe the charter of the treuce with hym The erle of saynte Pole was well welcomed of the kynge and of all other lordes and the Quene and all other were glad of his comynge ON the wednysdaye after dyner euery man drew to the felde and the ladyes came thyder in goodly aray as they had done the daye before and mounted vpon their stages Than the iustes began fyersly and was well contynued tyll it was nyght Than euery person retourned and the ladyes had a great supper at saynte Polle Than the pryses were gyuen by consente of the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes of the answerers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of Haynalte called Iohan de Flaron who was come thyder in the company of therle of Ostrenant and of the chalengers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of the duke of Burgoyns called Iohan de Pokerers And agayne the thursdaye iusted knightes squyers all togyther euery man payned hym selfe to do well and it endured tyll nyght And the ladyes supped agayne at saynt Polle and there the prise was gyuen of the vtter partie to sir Charles of Armoyes and of them within to a squyer of the quenes called Lons The frydaye the kynge made a dyner to all the ladyes and damoselles and aboute the ende of the dyner there entred in to the hall the kyng sytting at the table the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayne the couÌtes of saynt Polle the lady of Coucy and a great meny of other ladyes and damosels they brought in two knyghtes on horsebacke armed at all peces for the iustes with their speares on their thyes The one was sir Raynold of Roy and the other sir Bouciquant the yonger and there they two iusted goodly togyther Than came thyder other knightes ser Raynold of Troyes syr Gyllyam of Namure syr Charles of Armoyes and the lorde of Garancyers the lorde of Nantoyllet Lardenoys of Ostende and dyuers other all these iusted there the space of two houres before the kynge and the ladyes than they returned to their lodgynges That fryday suche ladyes and damosels as wolde retourne to their owne houses toke their leaues of the kynge of the quene and also suche lordes as wolde departe The kynge and the quene thanked them of the payne they had taken comynge to his feest ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of the Chateau Morante whom the erle of saynte Polle had lefte behynde hym in Englande retourned in to FrauÌce with the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde and his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C.lviii AFter that all these lordes and ladyes were returned fro this greate feest to their owne houses than the lorde of Chastell Morant whome the lorde of saynte Polle had left in England retourned in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and shewed forth the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde of Englande and by his vncles and other to endure thre yere as well by see as by lande and the wordes in the charter sayd That whosoeuer breketh by any maner of coÌdicion any poynte or artycle conteyned in that treatie shulde be taken and reputed as traytours and to rynne in a mortall punysyon And bycause that the lorde of Coucy was souerayne capytayne chosen by the kinge and his counsayle to defende and kepe the outwarde marches bytwene the ryuer of Durdone and the see and all the countrey of Iuuergne and Lymosyn The copy of this treatye was delyuered to hym to the entente that he shulde publysshe and shewe it to all them that wolde do any thynge to the contrary And also to the entent that they of Vandachor of Chalusset of Dorbesidousac and of the garysons the made warre for the englysshe tytle shulde haue knowledge of that treuce that they shulde make none excuse if they fell in the payne In lykewyse the marshall of FrauÌce the lorde Loys of Xancer had also the copy therof whiche was ryght nedefull for he was gouernour of the outwarde marches of Languedoc fro the ryuer of Ronne and the bridge of Amyngnon and aboute the countreys and signories apendauÌt to the ryuer of Dordone as the couÌtreys of Beaucaire of Carcassone of Tholous of rouergne of Dagen of Querca of Bygore of Pyergourte and of Lymogines and in these countreys were dyuers garysons that smally regarded or obeyed any peace or truce but alwayes entended to make marre as the castell of Cullyer the stronge castell of Londre in Bygore on the fronters of Byerne they were greatly feared of their neyghbours ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The maryage of king Loys sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Aragone and how he went with the quene of Napoles his mother to Auignon to se pope Clemente Cap. C.lix IN this tyme there was a treatye made of a maryage bytwene Loys of Aniowe sonne to the duke of Aniou who wrote himself kynge of Napoles of Cycyll and Iherusalem and erle of Prouynce and the doughter of kyng Peter of Arragon The quene of Napoles went to Auygnone to se pope Clement and there she founde the lorde of Coucy and had in her company her yonge sonne Loys The lorde of Coucy was ryght ioyous of her coÌmynge The quene was receyued ryght honorably of pope Clement and of the cardynalles as she was well worthy for she was a noble woman and a dilygent in all her busynesse There she desyred the lorde of Coucye to helpe to conuey her sonne Loyes
in to the realme of Arragone and to be about him tyll he were maryed The lorde of Coucye wolde nat refuce it but ordayned hym selfe so to do and sayde Ma dame there was no vyage this seuyn yere that I wolde be more gladder to accomplisshe than to go in to the marches of Cicyll Naples wich my lorde your sonne if I had lycence of the kyng my souerayne lorde Sir quod the lady I thaÌke you I se well your good wyll I doute nat but the kyng wyll be content that ye go with my sonne in to Aragon And the quene of Arragon wyll be glad to se you for your doughter hath maryed her brother sir HeÌry of bare The lorde of Coucy agreed to go this voyage Thus the younge kynge of Cicyll tooke his iourney well accompanied whan he had taken his leaue of the Pope and of his mother all wepynge For at the departynge of the mother and the sonne caused their hertes to relente For they shulde departe farre a soÌder knewe nat whan to se togyder agayne For it was ordayned that whan the maryage was accomplysshed that the yonge kynge and the yonge Quene shulde take the see at the porte of Barcelone and so to go and arryue at the porte of Naples or as nere as they myght SO longe this yonge kynge Loyes iourneyed that he passed Mountpellyer and Besyers and so came to Narbone where he was receyued ioyfullye of euery man There they refresshed theÌ and their horses one day and than departed and wente to Parpygnen the fyrst towne of the realme of Arragon The coÌmyng of this yonge kynge was well knowen in the court of the kynge of Arragon He sente menne to mete with hym and to conuey him as the vycount of Roâuebertyn and sir Raymonde of Baighes So long they rode that they caÌe to the cytie of Barcelone where the kynge the Quene and their doughter was There the yonge kyng was noblâ receyued and specially the quene of Arragon was ryght ioyouse of the coÌmynge of the lorde of Coucy and thanked the yonge kynge her sonne that shulde be for bringynge of hym in his company and sayd that all other maters shulde do and atcheue the better This Maryage was confyrmed bytwene these two chyldren but bycause wynter approched they delayed their voyage goyng to the See For in wynter the great Sees are perillous They said they wolde make their prouisyon that wynter to go in to Naples the nexte Marche after The lorde of Coucy beyng in Arragon receyued letters fro the Frenche kynge commaundynge hym to retourne Than he toke his leaue of the kynge of Arragon and of the quene and of the yonge kyng and his wyfe and of all other lordes suche as were there and departed And if he myght haue had leysar he wolde haue retourned by Auignon to haue sene the pope and the olde quene af Naples But he sente to them his excuse and retourned by Auuergne in to Fraunce WHanÌe this maryage was made bytwene the yonge kyng Loyes of Cycyll and the doughter of the kynge of Arragon wherby there was great alyaâces bytwene the parties and they of Arragon were bounde to ayde to serue the yong kynge to bringe hym in to the realme of Naples and nat to leaue hym tyll he had the realme pesably of Naples and of Cicyll with the appendauÌtes as Paule and Calabre and the cytie of Gaiet the whiche Margarete of Duras helde The aragonoys shulde serue hym as longe as his warre endured with .ii. hundred speares at their coste and charge a thousande crosbowes and a thousande bregandiers Whan the swete tyme of Marche was come and that the wyndes were apealed and the waters swaged of their rages and the wodes reuerduced and that their prouysions were made redy at Barcelone and the galees redy suche as shulde go with the yong kynge Than he and his yonge quene tooke their leaues of the kynge of Aragone and of the quene who wept at their departyng than the quene recoÌmaunded the yonge quene her doughter to the erle of Roodes a valyaunt knight to sir Raymon of Baighes These two toke the speciall charge natwithstaÌdinge that the erle of Vrgell and the erle of Lyne were there in a great company In these galees were a fyftene huÌdred speares two thousande crosbowes two thousande of other men of warre with dartes pauesses They wente thus fortifyed and well acompanyed to resyst the better if nede were agaynst their ennemyes And also to resyst all rencouÌters vpon the see for it is a longe waye by the see fro Barcelone to Naples And Margarete of Duras their aduersary myght trouble theÌ by the way therfore they thought to go surelye ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of this yonge kyng of Cicyll and speke of other busynesse of the realme of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Frenche kynge had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme howe he went fyrst in to Burgoyne and to Auygnon to se pope Clement Cap. C.lx. AFter this great Feest was accomplisshed that euery lorde and lady were gone home to their owne houses as ye haue herde here before that the FreÌche kyng sawe that he had truce with Englande for thre yere he hadde than ymaginacion to go visite his realme specially the vtwarde marchesse of Languedocke For the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercier who were as than chefe of his preuy couÌsayle They exhorted hym to go to Auygnon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles who desyred to se hym and also to go to Tholous for they sayd to the kyng Sir a kyng in his youthe ought to visyte his realme and to knowe his people and to lerne how they be gouerned the whiche shulde be greatly to his profyte and the better to be beloued with his subiectes The kyng lyghtly enclyned to their counsayle for he had desyre to traueyle and se newe thynges And the lord de la Ryuer who was but newly come out of those marchesse herde great complayntes of the people of Tholous of Carcassone of Beaucayre and they desired greatly to se the kyng for they had ben sore charged with tayles and aydes by the duke of Berrey by the informacion of a seruaunt of his called Betysache who had pytie of no man He so pylled the people that nothynge was lefte therfore he counsayled the kynge to go thyder to prouyde some remedy And also that the kynge shulde sende for the erle of Foize to come to hym to Tholous The kyng made him redy to go thyder and sente afore all the way that prouisyon shulde be made for his coÌmyng sente worde therof to his vncle the Duke of Burgoyne and to his auÌte the duchesse how he wolde come a longe throughe their countrey and wolde se his cosyns their chyldren and to bring in his company his brother the duke of Thourayne and his vncle of Burbone whiche pleased greatly the
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌtynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌde this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌcastre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌmynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌmendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌdes heritage in these êties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌmaunde the vycount of Meaulx to deête fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌdeth on the froÌters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse êteynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌdon And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌsayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌdon and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌsayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌsayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
gentylman of the duke of Lancasters named Herbery went with the better wyll bycause the varlette promysed hym in the behalfe of Aymergot a hundred fraÌkes Thus they thre departed and came to Douer and fro thens at a tyde to Calis And whan their horses were vnshypped they toke the waye to Boloygne and so throughe Picardy and went to Parys fro thens in to Auuergne And whan they approched nere to Lymogines and to the couÌtre where the roche of VaÌdoyes was sette They rode about the more secretely to come thyder THus as I haue shewed you thes messangers dyde so moche that they came nere to the roche of vaÌdoyes Whanne they were nere where the siege laye the squyer and the heraulde thought it for the best nat to entre in to the towne at that present tyme. But they sent the varlet in to the towne sayeng they wolde do well ynough without his company For they sayd if he shulde be sene with them they at the siege wolde suppose that he had ben sente in to Englande for theÌ the varlet obeyed in the night he entred in to the towne without dauÌger than Aymergot Marcell Guyot du Sall made hym good chere and had marueyle that he had spedde his iourney in so short a space There be shewed howe he had spedde and howe a squier of the duke of LaÌcasters and a heraude was come with him with letters fro the kyng and fro the duke of Lancastre bothe to the Vycount of Meaulr and to the duke of Berrey if nede were And why quod Aymergot mercell are they nat come hyder into this castell Sir ê the varlet they sayd they two wolde do their message well inough nor they wold haue no man sene in their coÌpany that shulde come fro you They are the wyser ê Guyot du Sall therby it shall seme that the mater toucheth the kyng of EnglaÌde and the duke of Lancastre Sir it is trewe quod the barlet Of those tidynges Aymergot was ioyfull and sayde to the varlet Thou hast well and dilygently spedde thy maters and that in a shorte season I shall well rewarde the for thy labour Thus the squyer and the heraude came streight to the siege and demauÌded for the VycouÌtes lodgynge They were brought thyder and there they founde the vycount beholding men castyng the stone than they kneled and saluted hym and he them agayne and demauÌded fro whens they came They answered and said howe they caÌe out of Englande sent thyder by their kyng and by the duke of Lancaster ye are welcome ê the Vycount what mater hath brought you in to this wylde countrey Sir quod the heraude beholde here this squier of the duke of LaÌcasters who hath brought to you letters fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre if it please you to rede theÌ and bycause I soÌwhat knewe the countrey I am come in his company Than the squyer delyuered his letters and the vycount receyued them and behelde the seales and knewe well they came out of Englande Than he tooke one aparte that coude rede and there he reed the letters fro poynt to poynt two or thre tymes tyll he knewe well what they ment thaÌ he studyed regarded well the kyng of Englandes writyng who sayd in his writynge that he had marueyle that he wolde lodge slepe and reste hym with an army of men of warre on his herytage that he dothe daylye all that he can to breke the peace whiche he ought in no wyse to do for it is greatly âiudiciall to them that haue sette to their seales to the confyrmacion of the peace and the conclusyon of the letter was howe the kyng coÌmaunded them incontynent after the sight of his letts that he and his company shulde departe and reyse their siege and suffre Aymergot Mercell pesably to enioye the house parteyning to his heritage whiche hath cost hym great goodes the fortifieng These wordes and suche other were enclosed in these letters all to the ayde of Aymergot Marcell in lyke maner as the kynges letters spake the duke of Lancaster sange the same note commaundyng lyke the excellent duke of Acquitayne and of all that duchy And whan the vicount of Meaulx had well aduysed hym selfe he sayde Fayre sirs these tidynges that ye haue brought requyreth counsayle and aduyse I shall take couÌsayle and than ye shall be answered Than they were made to driÌke of the vycountes wyne In the meane tyme the vycount toke counsayle for he sent for the lorde of the Towre for sir Guyllyam Butler sir Robert Dolphyn sir Loyes DaÌbyer and also for the lorde Montaguy and for sir Berat de la Ryuer who was of his house And whan they were all toguyder he renewed the wordes and shewed them the cause why he had sent for them and there caused the letters to be reed before them Whan these lordes herde that they had great marueile how these letters coude be brought out of EnglaÌde for as than they had nat layne at the siege past a moneth I shall shewe you quod the vycount what I suppose Aymergot Marcell is a subtell man as soone as he sawe that he shulde be besieged I thynke he sent incoÌtynent some messanger in to Englande to attayne these letters the whiche I maye obey if I lyste but I shall answere them shortely But as in that the kyng of England and the duke of Lancastre coÌmaundeth me to do I wyll nothynge obey their coÌmaundementes for I am nat bounde to obey theÌ but all onelye the Frenche kynge by whose coÌmaundement I am sent hyder Call forthe the squier and the heraude I shall make them their answere they were brought forthe Than the vycount began to speke as foloweth you Derby and Tomelyn Herbery thus ye be named accordyng to the tenour of your letters and as it apereth ye be sent hyther frothe kynge of Englande fro the duke of Lancastre they are enfourmed I can nat tell howe outher by Aymergot Marcell or by some other that wolde ayde him and hath ben in England in his name howe I am at this present tyme with an army of men of warre lodged on the herytage of the kynge of Englandes and he commaundeth me to departe and reyse my siege and to suffre Aymergot Marcell peasably to enioy this lytell fortresse whiche hathe coste so moche the fortefyenge and also they sende me worde howe I do put my selfe in parell of dyshonorynge in that I shulde consent to breke the peace sealed and confârmed to endure thre yeres bytwene the two kynges and their alyes Fayre sirs I say vnto you that I wyll do nothyng that shall be against the charter of peace I wyll kepe the treuce and do nothynge agaynst it and though I am lodged here it breketh no peace nor treuce I am subget to the frenche kynge who hath sent me hyther and hath admytted me as his marshall of this small armye for it came to the knowledge of the kynge
Than the vycount and the lorde of the towre syr Roberte Dolphyn and other came before the fortresse as nere as they myght aporche and thyder was brought Guyot du Sall and his company Than the vycount spake and sayd to Guyot du Sall. Guyot and all other of your company knowe we for trouthe that incontynent all your heedes shall be stryken of without ye yelde vp the fortresse of the Roche of Vandoys and if ye wyll rendre it vp we shall suffre you to go quyte Nowe aduyse ye well what way ye wyll take other lyfe or deth Of those wordes Guyot his company were sore abasshed at last they thought it was best for them to saue their lyues Than Guyot answered and sayde Syr I shall do the best I canne that the fortresse may be yelden to you Than he came to the barryer and spake with them that were within who rekened themselfes clene dyscomfyted seynge they hadde lost their two maysters and the best of their company As soone as Guyot hadde spoken with theym and declared what case they stode in they agreed to yelde vp the fortresse condicionally that they myght departe with bagge and baggage as moch as they coulde cary and to haue respyte for a moneth to withdrawe them whyther they lyste All this was graunted to them and a sute saueconducte made and sealed Thus the frenche men had the Roche of Vandoys delyuered by reason of their good fortune of their last skrimysshe wherfore it is comenly sayde that all fortunes good and yuell falleth often tymes in armes to them that foloweth warre WHan the Roche of Vandois was yelded vp to the lordes of Fraunce and Auuergnâ they of the countrey were ryght ioyous therof and the lordes helde well and truely the promesse that they had made to Guyot du Sall ⪠whan they had caryed away as moche as they coulde do than they departed with good assuraunce for a moneth to go whyder it pleased them Than the vycount of Meaulâ abandoned the Roche of Vandoys to the men of the countrey who incontynente dyd rase it downe in suche wyse that they lefte no wall hele nor house nor stone vpon stone but all was reuersed to the erthe The frenche men that were they in the kinges seruice with the vycount toke their leues of the knyghtes and squyers of Auuergne so they departed and they of Auuergne and Lymosyn went to their owne houses The vycount of Meaulâ gaue leaue to parte of his company he went to Rochell and lodged at saint Iohans Dangle to kepe there the fronter for in the couÌtrey there were some pyllers and robbers that ran sometyme in to Xantoigne whan they sawe their aduauntage In the maner and fourme as I haue shewed you the fortresse of the roche of Vandoys was coÌquered and rased downe wherof all the countrey was ioyfull for than they were in better suretie than they were before For to say the trouth if it had coÌtynued it wolde haue done them many displeasurs Tydynges of this dede came to the knowledge of the duke of Berrey to Cautelon a place of his owne standynge bytwene Charters and Mount le Herrey a nyne leages fro Parys he cared nothing for it for he was as than but colde to are any grace of the kynge for Aymergot Whan Derby the haraulde was infourmed by some of the dukes knyghtes howe the Roche of Vandois was taken beten downe than he sayde to the squyer that came thyder with hym syr ye haue lost a hundred frankes that Aymergot had promysed to you Howe so quod the squier Surely quod the harauld the Roche of Vandoys is gyuen vp and rendred the frenche men haue wonne it therfore lette vs take our leaue of the duke of Berrey and retourne in to Englande we haue nothynge here to do Well quod the squyer sythe it is so I accorde therto Than they toke their leaue of the duke Than the duke wrote to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre and gaue to the haraulde at his departynge .xl. frankes and to the squyer a horse Thus they departed and toke the next waye to Calays and so in to Englande Than tydinges came to Aymergot Marcell where he was purchasyng of frendes to haue reysed the siege before the fortresse of Vandoys that it was gyuen vp Whan he herde therof he demaunded howe it fortuned It was shewed hym howe it was by reason of a skrymysshe and by the issuyng out of his vncle Guyot du Sall vnaduysedly Ah that olde traytour ê Aymergot by saynte Marcell if I had hym here nowe I shulde sle hym myne owne handes he hath dyshonoured me and all my companyons At my departynge I straytely enioyned hym that for no maner of assaute or skrymysshe made by the frenchmen he shulde in no wyse open the barryers and he hath done the contrary this domage is nat to be recouered nor I wote nat whether to go they of Caluset and they of Dousac wyll kepe the peace and my companyons be spredde abrode lyke men dyscomfyted they dare neuer assemble agayne togyther and though I had them togyther yet I wote nat whyder to bring them Thus all thynge consydred I am in a harde parte for I haue gretly dyspleased the french kynge the duke of Berrey and the lordes of Auuergne all the people of the countrey for I haue made them warre the peace durynge I had trusted to haue won but I am nowe in a great aduenture to lese nor I wotte nat to whom to resorte to are counsayle I wolde nowe that I and my goodes with my wyfe were in Englande there I shulde be in surety but howe shulde I get thyder and cary all my stufe with me I shulde be robbed twenty tymes or I coulde gette to the see for all the passages in Poictou in Rochell in Fraunce in Normandy and in Pycardy are straytely kept it wyll be harde to scape fro takyng and if I be taken I shall be sente to the Frenche kynge and so I shall be loste and all myne I thynke the surest waye for me were to drawe to Burdeaulr and lytell and lytell to get my good thyder and to abyd there tyll the warre renewe agayne for I haue good hoope that after this treuce warre shall be open agayne bytwene Englande and Fraunce Thus Aymergot Marcell debated the matter in hym selfe he was heuy and sorowfull and wysâe nat what waye to take outher to recouersoÌe fortresse in Auuergne or els to go to Burdeaux to sende âor his wire thider and for his goodes lytell and lytell secretely if he hadde done so he had taken the surest waye But he dyde contrary and therby lost all lyfe godes Thus âortune payeth the people whan she hath sette theÌ on the highest parte of her whele for sodainly she reuerseth them to the lowest parte ensample by this Aymergotte It was sayd he was well worthe a hundred thousande frakes and all was lost on a daye
erle of saynt Poule and other knyghtes of Fraunce suche as wolde iuste Than began the iustes euery man payned hym selfe to gette honour Some were stryken down fro their horses These iustes contynued tyll it was nere nyght Than euery êson drewe to their lodgynges knyghtes and ladyes at the hour of supper euery man drewe to the courte There was a goodly supper well ordayned And as that day the price was gyuen to the erle of Ostrenaunt for the best iuster of the vtter partie and well he deserued it The price was gyuen hym by the ladyes lordes and herauldes who were ordained to be iudges And of the inner partie a knyght of Englande called sir Hughe Spenser had the price THe nexte daye Tuesday there was iustes agayne in the same place of all maner of squyers whiche endured tyll it was nyght in the presence of the kyng quene lordes and ladyes Than euery man drewe to their lodgyngê as they had done the dayes before and at supper they retourned to the bysshoppes palais where the kyng the quene and the ladyes were There was a goodly and a costely supper and after great daunsynge contynuynge all nyght The wednisdaye after dyner they iusted in the same place all maner of knightes squyers suche as wolde iuste that was a sore and a rude iustes enduryng tyll nyght and than wtdrue at the hour of supper they resorted where they supped before The Thursdaye the kyng made a supper to all knyghtes and gentylmen straungers and the quene to all ladyes and damoselles Than on the friday the duke of Lancastre made a dyner for all knightes squyers straungers whiche was a goodly dyner And on the Saturdaye the kyng and all the lordes departed fro LoÌdon to Wyndsore and therle of Ostrenaunt and the erle of saynt Poule with all other knightes and squyers straungers were desyred to acompany the kyng to Wyndsore euery maÌ rode as it was reason to the castell of Wyndsore Than there began agayne great feestê with dyners and suppers gyuen by the king and specially the kyng dyde great honour to the erle of Ostrenaunt his cosyn whiche erle was desyred by the kyng and his vncles that he wolde be content to take on hym the order of the garter The erle aunswered howe he wolde take couÌsayle in that mater Than he couÌsayled with the lorde of Gomegines and with Fierabras of Vertan bastarde who in no wyse wolde discorage nor counsayle hym to refuce the order of the garter So he toke it on hym wherof the knightes and squyers of FrauÌce suche as were there had great marueyle and murmured sore therat among theÌ selfe sayeng the erle of Ostrenaunt sheweth well that his courage enclyneth rather to be Englysshe than Frenche whan he taketh on hym the order of the garter and weareth the kynge of Englandes deuyse He sheweth well he regardeth nat the house of Fraunce nor the house of Burgoyne The tyme wyll come he shall repent hym selfe All thynges coÌsydred he knoweth nat what he hath done for he was welbeloued with the frenche kynge and with the duke of Thourayne his brother and with all the blode royall in suche wyse that whan he came to Parys or in to any other place to any of them they euer made hym more honour than any other of their cosyns Thus these Frenche men euyll accused hym without cause for that he had done was nothyng contrary nor hurtfull to the realme of Fraunce nor to his cosyns nor frendes in Fraunce For he thought none otherwyse but honour and loue and to pleace his cosyns in Englande and to be therby the rather a good meane bytwene FrauÌce and Englande if nede were Nor the daye that he toke on hym the order of the garter and his othe euery man maye well vnderstande that he made none alyaunce to do any preiudyce to the realme of Fraunce For that he dyde was but for loue and good company howe be it no man canne let the enuyous to speke yuell WHan they had dauÌced and sported them a certayne âpace in the castell of Wynsore and that the kyng hadde gyuen many fayre gyttes to the knightes and squyâââ of honour of the realme of Fraunce and Heynaulte and specially to the yonge erle of Ostrenaunt Than euery man toke leaue of the kynge and of the quene and of other ladyes and damoselles and of the kynges vncles ThanÌe the erle of saynt Poule and the Frenche men and the Henowayes and almaygnes departed Thus ended this great feest in the cytie of London and euery man went to their owne Than it fortuned as a none brute ronneth farre of The Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles were enfourmed by suche as hadde ben in Englande at the sayde feest of euery thyng that hadde been done and sayd nothyuge was forgotten but rather more putte to in the exaltyng of yuell dedes than fortheryng of good dedes It was shewed the kyng playnly how the erle of Ostrenaunt had ben in Englande and taken great payne to exalte and to do honoure to the Englysshe men and in helpynge forwarde the feest holden at London and howe he hadde the chiefe prise and honoure of the iustes aboue all other straungers and howe he had spoken so fayre to the Englysh men that he was become the kynge or Englandes man and had made scruyce and alyaunce with hym And taken on hym the order of the Garter in the chapell of saynt George in Wyndsore whiche order was fyrste stablysshed by kynge Edwarde the thirde and his sonne prince of Wales And howe that no man myght entre in to that confrary or company without he make seruyaunt or othe neuer to beare armoure agaynste the crowne of Englande Whiche promyse they sayd the erle of Ostrenaunt had made with oute any reseruacyon with these tidynges the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles were sore troubled and greuously displeased with the erle of Ostrenaunt Than the Frenche kyng sayde Lo sirs ye mayeâe what it is to do for hym It is nat yet a yere paste sythe he desyred me that his brother myght be bysshoppe of Cambrey And by these tidynges that gyfte were rather preiudyciall to the realme of Fraunce than auauÌcement It hadde been better we had gyuen it to our cosyn of saynt Poule The Heynoways dyd neuer good to vs nor neuer wyll for they be proude presumptuous and to fierse Alwayes they haue owed better good wyll to the Englysshe men than to vs but a daye shall come they shall repent them We wyll sende to the erle of Ostrenaunt coÌmauÌdynge hym to come to vs to do vs homage for the couÌtie of Ostrenaunt or els we shall put hym fro it and annexe it to oure realme They of his counsayle answered and sayde Sir ye haue well deuysed lette it be done as ye haue sayde It maye well be thought that the duke of Burgoyne whose doughter the erle of Ostrenaunt had to his wyfe was nothynge content with those tidynges for
than but pacyentely suffred howe be it he thought the more and at nyght came to his wyfe to supper shewed her more token of loue than euer he dyd befor and he dyd somoche with fayre wordes that the duchesse shewed him all the matter and howe that she knewe it by syr Peter of Craon than the duke spake no more at that tyme. that nyght passed and the nexte day about nyne of the clocke he toke his horse and rode fro the howse of saynte Poll to the castell of Lowre where he founde the kynge his brother heryng of masse The kyng swetelye receyued hym for he loued hym entyerly and the kynge sawe well by the dukes maner that he had some dyspleasure in his mynde and said Ah fayre brother what is the mater it semeth ye be troubled Syr quod he good cause why Wherfore quod the kynge I praye you shewe me The duke who wolde hyde no thynge fro the kynge shewed hym all the hole mater and complayned greatly agaynst syr Peter of Craon and sayd Syr by the faythe that Iowe to god and to you if it were nat for your honoure I wolde slee hym We shall do well ynough quod the kynge he shall be warned by our counsayle to auoyde our house and seruyce and in lykewyse cause him to auoyde your house and company I am well content with this ê the duke The same day the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercyer sayd vnto syr Peter of Craon on the kynges behalfe that he shulde auoyde the kynges courte and seruyce and go where he lyste In lykewyse syr Iohan of Buell and the lord of Dernaulx seneschall of Thourayne gaue hym lyke commaundement on the duke of Thourayns behalfe Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe this he was abasshed and tooke it in great dyspyte and coude nat ymagyn why it shulde be And trewe it was he desyred to come in to the kinges presence and the dukes to know the cause of their dyspleasure But he was aunswered that nother the kynge nor the duke wolde nat here hym speke Whan he sawe none other remedy he apparelled hym selfe and departed out of Parys in great displeasure in his hert and so rode into Aniou to a castell of his owne called Sable and taryed there a season fore troubled in his mynde He sawe well he was chased out of the frenche courte and out of the house of Thourayn and also out of the house of the quene of Naples and Iherusalem than whan he parceyued these thre howses closed fro hym he thought to go to the duke of Bretaygne his cosyn and to shewe hym all his aduentures so he dyd and rode in to Bretayne and founde the duke at Wannes who made hym good chere and knewe somwhat before of his trouble And than this syr Peter shewed hym all the case Whan the duke of Bretaygne had well herde all the mater he sayde Fayre cosyn recomforte your selfe all this is surely brought aboute by syr Olyuer of Clysson THis rote and foundacyon of hatred multyplyed greatly after as ye shall here in this hystory Syr Peter of Craon taryed so longe with the duke of Bretaygne that he forgate Fraunce for the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and the kynges counsayle were agaynste hym and also they were nat contente with the duke of Bretayne in that he kepte sir Peter Craon in his house As for the duke of Bretaygne cared nat greatly neyther for the good wyll nor yuell wyll of the Frenche kynge he prouyded suffyciently for his cyties townes and castelles in suche wyse that he loued as well warre as peace And all that euer he dyd was well knowen in Fraunce and with the kinges counsayle and suche as were nexte aboute the kynge reputed the duke of Bretaygne prowde and presumptuous and thretened him greatly but the duke dyde sette lytell therby and sayde that he wolde make warre agaynst the erle of Pointhieur in a iuste quarell for the erle of Pointhyeur our cosyn wryteth and nameth hym selfe Iohan of Bretayne as though he were herytour of this countrey I wyll he be called Iohan for that is his name and erle of Pointhieur and I wyll he put out of his armes the Ermyns and write himselfe Iohan of Bloys or of Chatellon and none other and if he wyll nat do thus I shall cause him to do it and take fro hym his lande for he holdeth it by faythe and homage of vs as for the herytage of Bretaygne he hathe nothynge to do therwith so that it shulde returne to him for I haue bothe sonnes and doughters that shall be myne heyres Let hym purchase hym landes in some other place for as of this he hath fayled Thus often tymes the duke of Bretayne wolde deuyse with sir Peter of Craon who wolde nat replye agaynst his pleasure but rather dyd further it and all for the yuell wyll that he bare to the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and to the counsayle of Fraunce ⸪ ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekynge of this mater and treate a lytell of another pytuous mater concernynge the erle Guy of Bloys of whom mencyon is made here before in this hystory ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastelone sonne to the erle Guy of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix IT hath been shewed here before in this hystory whanÌe I spake of the alyauÌce and maryage of Lois of Chatellon sonne to the erle of Bloys maryed to the lady Marye doughter to duke Iohan of Berrey and at the confyrmacyon of this maryage the duke of Berrey prouyded greatly for his doughter for she was assigned for her dowry in the couÌtie of Bloys the somme of syxe thousande pounde money corante in Fraunce to be payed in florayns if the foresayd Loys of Bloys dyed before his wyfe than all the countie of Blois to be bouÌde to pay these foresayd syre thousande frankes And so it fortuned that about the feest of saint Iohan the Baptyste in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and a leuen this yonge Loys of Bloys sonne to the erle Guy departed fro his father fro the castell of Moltyz in Bloys to go in to Haynalt to se his mother and wyfe and whan he came to Beaumonte in Haynault he fell sycke of a feuer by reason that he had rydden great iourneys and the season was boote and he was but yuell kepte and but tendre of age as of xiiii yeres by whiche syckenes he dyed with out helpe for the physycions coulde nat put a way his hote feuer ye maye well knowe that the father and mother were ryght soroufull whan they knewe of the dethe of thier sonne and heyre In lykewyse so was his wyfe the yonge lady of Berrey who loued hym entierly and thought her selfe hyghtly maryed specyally the trouble of the father was right gret for he ymagyned that the duke of Berrey was ryght couetouse and feared leste he wolde entre in to the countie of Bloys
for he was greatly in the loue of the realme Than it was shewed to the knightes of Fraunce that they muste go with them to London otherwyse they coulde haue none answere The two knightes obeyed as it was reason Than the kynge toke his way and the lordes with him to London Whan the kynge came to Darfforde he tooke his waye to Eltham and refresshed him there with the quene and than came to Shene and wente agaynst saynte Georges feest to Wyndsore and there the knyghtes of Fraunce were answered but or I shewe you their aunswereê I wyll somewhat speke of the frenche kynge AFter that this assemble and couÌsayle had been at Amyence the Frenche kynge for lacke of good gydyng fell sycke of the feuer wherfore he was counsayled to chaunge the ayre So he was layde in a lytter and caryed to Beamoys and there taryed in the bysshops palays tyll he was hole and recouered his brother the duke of Thourayne with him his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burbone there he helde his Easter And after whan the kynge was stronge and myght well ryde he rode to Gysors the entryng in to NormaÌdy to haue there the sporte of huntynge for theraboute were many fayre wodes The kyng beynge there sir Bernarde of Armynake who was brother to Iohan of Armynake came to the kynge in good array and the Dolphyn of Auuergne in his company whome he founde at Parys in his waye There the erle of Armynake and the Erle of Rodays made their reliefe and homage to the kynge acordinge to the custome as other lordes of Fraunce made their relyefe for suche landes as they helde in fee of the kynge And whan euery thyng was writen and regestred they toke their leaue and retourned to Paris togyther and fro thence to their countreys to Auuergne and to Languedoc And about the feest of Ascensyon tyde the frenche kynge retourned to Parys in good helthe and lodged at his howse of saynte Poll the whiche was ordeyned for hym and thyder was come the frenche quene and the duches of Thourayne NOwe let vs speke of syr Iohan of Castell Morante and of syr Taupyn of Cantmell who were in Englande taryenge for an answere of the kyng and his counsayle They were at Wyndesore at saynte Georges feest where was the kynge his vncles and other great lordes of Englande There these lordes counsayled togyther on suche promyse as they had made to the frenche kyng and his counsayle at Amyence and determyned to delyuer the two Frenche knyghtes that dayly called on them for an aunswere Than these knyghtes were sente for on a day and it was sayde to them thus Syrs be contente for all thinges consydred ye canne haue of vs no full answere at this tyme for it wolde be harde as nowe to assemble togyther the thre estates of the realme vntyll the feest of Mychelmas at whiche tyme they muste nedes be at the parlyamente at Westmynster and to excuse you we shall write letters for the same purpose at whiche season if you or any other for the partie of FrauÌce wyll traueyle so farre as to come thyder they shall haue a reasonable answere suche as generally the hole counsayle of the thre astates shall agre vnto whan the frenche knyghtes sawe what aunswere they had and coulde haue none other they aunswered and sayd Syr we are contente with that ye haue sayd lette vs haue our letters and we shall retourne Than their letters were delyuered to them and so toke their leaue of the kynge and of other lordes and so came fro Wyndesore to London and made theÌ redy to departe The kyng of Englande caused all their cestes and charges to be payed for and conueyed to Douer and there taryed a fyue dayes for lacke of wynde and on the sixte day they departed and aryued at Boloyne and whanne their horses were vnshypped they rode to AmyeÌce by small iourneys so to Paris and there they founde the kynge and his lordes It was aboute the feest of Penthecost Their letters were redde wherby they vnderstode the ordynauÌce of the englysshmen As it was shewed me the kynge nor his counsayle toke lytell regarde to the mater for within a season after they had moche ado in other places ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe syr Peter of craon through yuell wyll by subtyle crafte beate downe syr Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the Kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Ca. C.lxxxv YE haue well herde here before how ser Peter of Craon who was a knyght of great lygnage but he was farre out of the frenche kynges grace and the duke of Thourayns if he dyd somoche to cause them to be displeased with him he dyd yuell ye haue herde also howe he was gone in to Bretayne to the duke who shewed hym that the yuell wyll that the kynge bare hym was by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson It may well be that he was so enfourmed in that he hadde so great hate to the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson for he studyed euer after howe to dystroy hym Thus whyle syr Peter of Craon was with the duke of Bretaygne they wolde often tymes comune togyder and deuise howe they myght bringe syr Olyuer of Clysson to dethe for they sayd that and he were ones deed there was none that wolde greatly reuenge his dethe The duke repeÌted hym that he had nat slayne hym whan he had hym in prisone and wolde as than that it had coste hym a hundred thousande frankes that he had hym agayne at his wyll Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe that the duke had suche hatred to syr Olyuer of Clysson he purposed a marueylous ymaginacien in himselfe for by apparauÌce men shulde gyue iudgement This knyght thought howe so euer it were that he wolde slee the constable and thought to entende to nothynge els tyll he had slayne hym with his owne handes or caused hym to be slayne and afterwarde entreat for peace He douted nothyng IohnÌ of Blois nor the sonne of the Vicounte of Rohan who had wedded two of the constables doughters he thought to do well ynough with theym as longe as the duke was on his parte for he sawe well the strengthe and puyssaunce of Bloys was greatly feblysshed for the Erle Guy of Bloys had solde the herytage of Bloys to the duke of Thourayn whiche shulde haue ronne by successyon to therle of Pointhycur Iohan of Bloys wherby he thought that the duke of Thourayne shewed hym but small loue nor alyaunce of lynage to bye away his enherytaunce wherfore this syr Peter thought if syr Olyuer of Clysson were deed sone to apease the kynges yuell wyll and the duke of Thourayns and therby sone to ouercome the lorde de la Ryuer and syr Iohan Mercyer Montagu the Begue of Villayns and syr Iohan of Bulle and other of the Kynges chambre suche as susteyned the constable for he knewe well that the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne loued them nothynge in wardely whatsoeuer they
good nyght and so departed and in the streate he founde his seruauntes and his horse an eyght persones and two torches Than he rode forthe to entre in to the hygh streate of saynt Kateryns SIr Peter of Craon had the same night layde good spyall on ser Olyuer of Clisson and knewe well that he was bydden behynde his company with the kynge and that his horse taryed at the kynges gate for hym Than he mouÌted on his horse and all his company well armed couertly and there past nat sire of his company that knew his entent and whan he came in to saynte Katheryns streate there he taryed and abode priuely for the constables coÌmyng And as sone as the constable was issued out of the streate of saynt Powle and came in to the hyghe streate and his torches besyde hym and came rydynge talkyng with a squyer of his sayenge To morowe I must haue at dyner with me the duke of Thourayne the lorde Coucy syr Iohan of Vyen syr Charles Dangers the barone of Vrey and dyuers other wherfore speke to my stewarde that they lacke nothynge And sayeng of those wordes syr Peter Craon and his company came on hym and at the first they strake out the torches And whan the constable herde the russhynge of the horses behynde hym no thought it had been the duke of Thourayne that had folowed and sported with hym and sayde Ah syr it is yuell doone but I pardon you ye are yonge and full of play and sporte With those wordes syr Peter of Craon drewe out his swerde and said slee the constable slee hym for he shall dye What arte thou quod Clysson that spekest those wordes I am Peter of Craon thyne enemye thou hast so often tymes dyspleased me that nowe thou shalte make ameÌdes and therwith strake at the constable and syr Peters men drewe oute their swordes and strake at the constable who had no wepon but a shorte knyfe of two foote of length and defended hym selfe as well as he myght and his men were without armure and sone put a brode fro their mayster Than syr Peters men sayd shall we slee them all yea quod sir Peter all suche as make any defence Their defence was but small for they were but eight persones and without armure Sir Peter demaunded nothynge but the dethe of the constable some that were there whan they knewe it was the constable they gaue him but faynte strokes for a thynge doone by trayson is doone cowardly without any hardynesse The constable defended hymselfe valyauntly with that wepyn that he had howe be it his defence hadde vayled hym but lytell and the great grace of god had nat ben Styll he sate on his horse tyll he had a full stroke on the heed with whiche stroke he fell fro his horse ryght agaynst a bakers dore who was vp and busy to bake breed and had left his dore halfe open whiche was happy for the constable for as he fell fro his horse he fell agaynste the dore and the dore opened and he fell in at the dore and they that were a horsebacke coulde nat entre after hym the dore was to lowe and to lytell God shewed great grace to the constable for if he had fallen in the streates as he dyde in at the dore or if the dore had been shytte he had ben slayn without remedy but they that were a horsebacke durste nat alyght and also they thought and so dyd syr Peter that on the stroke that he had on the heed that at laste it shulde be his dethes wounde Than syr Peter sayd go we hence we haue done ynough for if he be nat deed he wyll dye on the stroke that he hathe on the heed for it was a great stroke Therwith they departed and rode a waye a good pace to the gate of saynte Anthony and rode out therat for as than the gate was open and had ben ten yere sythe the frenche kynge retourned fro the batayle of Rosebeque and that the sayd constable put downe the malles of Parys and punysshed them for their rebellyons THus syr Olyuer of Clysson was lefte in this case as a man halfe deed and more in the bakers house who was sore abasshed whan he knewe it was the constable as for his men had lytell hurte for syr Peter and his men loked for nothynge but to haue slayne the constable Than syr Olyuers men assembled togyther and entred in to the bakers house and there founde their it mayster sore hurte on the heed and the blode rennynge downe by his vysage wherwith they were sore abasshed and good cause why there they made great complayntes fyrste they feared he had ben deed Anone tydinges hereof came to the kynges lodgynge and it was sayde to the kyng as he was goynge to his bedde Ah syr we canne nat hyde fro you the great myschiefe that is nowe sodenly fallen in Parys What myschefe is that quod the kynge Syr quod they your constable syr Olyuer of Clisson is slayne Slayne quod the kynge and howe so and who hath done that dede Syr quod they we canne nat tell but this myschefe is fallen on hym here by in the streate of saynt Kateryn Well quod the kynge light vp your torches I wyll go se hym Torches anone were lyghted vp The kynge put on a cloke and his slyppers on his fete Than suche as kept watche the same nyght went forthe with the kynge and suche as were a bed herde of these tydyngê rose vp in hast and folowed the kyng who was gone forthe with a small company for the kynge taryed for no manne but wente forthe with theym of his chambre with torches before him and behynde him and had no mo chamberlayns with hym but sir Gaultier Martell and syr IohnÌ of Lygnac Thus the king came to the bakers house and entred and certayne torches taryed without Than the kynge founde his constable nere deed as it was shewed him but nat fully deed and his men had taken of all his geare to se his woundes howe he was hurte And the fyrst worde that the hynge sayd was Constable howe is it with you Dere syr ê he ryght febly Who hath brought you in this case quod the kyng Syr quod he Peter of Craon and his company traytoursly and without defence Constable quod the kynge there was neuer dede so derely bought as this shall be Than physycions and surgeons were sent for on all partes and whan they came the kyng sayd to his owne surgyons Syrs looke what case my constable is in and shewe me the trouthe for I am sory of his hurte Than they serched his woundes in euery parte Than the kynge demaunded of them and sayd Syrs howe saye you is he in any parell of dethe They all answered and sayd syr surely there is no ieoperdy of dethe in hym but that within these .xv. dayes he shall be able to ryde With that aunswere the kynge was ryght ioyous and sayd thanked be
god these be good tydynges and than said Constable be of good chere and care nothynge for there was neuer trespas sorer punysshed than this shall be vpon the traytours that haue done this dede for I take this mater as myne owne The constable with a feble voyce answered Sir god rewarde your grace for your noble vysytacyon Than the kyng toke his leaue and departed and retourned to his lodgynge and in contynent sente for the prouost of Paris and by that tyme that he came it was clere day lyght than the kyng coÌmaunded hym and sayd Prouost get you men togyther well horsed and pursewe that traytour sir Peter of Craon who thus traytorously hath hurte nygh to the dethe our constable ye can nat do to vs a more acceptable seruyce thanne to pursewe and take hym and bring hym to vs. Than the prouost answered and sayd syr I shall do all that lyeth in my puyssaunce to do Syr canne your grace knowe whiche waye he is gone Enquyre quod the kynge and do your dylygence ¶ Howe in great dylygence the prouost of Parys pursewed syr Peter of Craon Cap. C.lxxxvi AS at that tyme the four souerayne gates of the cytie were euer kepte opyn nyght and day whiche ordynaunce was made euersythe the batayle of Rosebeque where the Frenche kyng disconfited the ââmynges and that the parisyeÌce wolde haue rebelled and that the malettes were laide downe to the entent to kepe vnder the parisyence and by the counsayle of sir Olyuer of Clysson all the chaynes in the streates were layde downe and the gates taken of their hokes In this case the cytie was in a ten yere so that euery man myght entre night or daye in to Parys who so lyst Lo it maye be well consydred what fortune is The coÌstable gadred the rodde wherwith hym selfe was beaten for if the gates of Parys had ben closed and the chaynes lyfte vp sir Peter of Craon durst neuer haue done that he dyde for if he had â he coude nat haue gone out of the towne as he dyde But bycause he knewe well he might issue out at all houres that made him execute his yuell purpose Wha he departed fro the Constable he thought surely he had ben slayne howe be it he was nat wherwith he was sore displeased Whan he issue out of Parys it was about one of the clocke after mydnight and passed by the gate saynt Anthony And some sayd he passed the ryuer of Seyne at the bridge of Charenton than toke the waye to Charters and some sayde he issued out of Parys at the gate of saynte Honour vnder Mount marter and passed the ryuer of Seyne at Ponthieur Where so euer he passed he was by eight of the clocke at Charters and suche as were well horsed with hym all folowed hym nat but brake a sondre for lesse suspeciousnesse and for feare of pursute And whan this sir Peter of Craon came first to Parys he had lefte at Charters with one of the chanons there who had ben a seruaunt of his beforetyme a twentte fresshe horses It had ben better for the chanon he had neuer knowen hym how be it of his purpose nor of the executynge therof he knewe nothyng therin Whan sir Peter was retourned to Charters he dranke and chauÌged his horses and dyde of his harnesse and toke the waye to Mayne and rode so fast that he came to a castell of his owne called Sable and there rested hym selfe and sayde he wolde go no further tyll he herde tidynges of sir Olyuer of Clysson and howe the mater went ye maye be sure that the same fryday after the dede was done great brute ran all about the cytie of that dede many blamed greatly sir Peter of Craon The lorde of Coucy as soone as he knewe therof in the mornynge lepte on his horse with eyght persons with hym and rode to the Constables lodgyng to visyte hym for they loued entierlye togyder and called eche other brother in armes his visytacion dyd the CoÌstable gret good In lyke maner other lordes acordyng to their tourne came and visyted hym specially the duke of Thourayne who was sore displeased for that dede And the kynge and he sayd bothe howe that sir Peter of Craon had done that dede in dispyte of theym and howe it was a thyng prepensed by false traytours to put the realme to trouble The duke of Berrey who was thanÌe was at Parys dissymuled the mater and made no great busynesse in the cause And I sir Iohan Froissarte auctour of this cronycle as I was credably enformed of this aduenture there had ben nothyng done if the duke of Berrey had lyste for if he had wolde he myght well haue broken that enterprise I shall shewe you the reason howe THe same thursday of Corpus Christy day there came to the duke of Berrey a clerke secretorie to sir Peter of Craon and sayde to hym in secrete maner sir I wyll shewe you a thyng in secretnesse whiche is lykely to come to a poore coÌclusyon And sir ye are more lykely to remedye it than any other What mater is that ê the duke Sir quod he I shall shewe you but I wolde nat be named the bringer oute therof Spare nat quod the duke I shall beare out the mater well ynoughe Well sir quod the Clerke I doubte me greatlye that sir Peter of Craon wyll slee or cause to be murthered the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson for he hath assembled toguyder in to his house within the Churche yarde of saynte Iohanes a great noumbre of menne and hath kepte them there couertly euersyth the feest of Whitsontyde And sir if they shulde do that dede the kynge wyll be sore dyspleapleased and bringe the Realme in to great trouble therfore sir I shewe it to you for sir I am abasshed therof my selfe though I be sir Peters seruaunt and haue made seruyce to hym yet I dare nat consente to this outrage And sir and ye prouyde nat for the mater there is none can do it And sir for goddessake take hede to this that I haue shewed you And sir to eschewe that maye falle I dare nat retourne to hym The duke herde hym well and said Abyde here with me this nyght and to morowe by tymes I shall enforme the kyng therof It is nowe farforthe dayes I wyll nat trouble the kynge therwith but to morowe without faute we shall prouyde for the mater sithe that sir Peter of Craon is in the towne I knewe nat therof before Thus the duke draue of the matter and in the meane tyme this myschiefe felle Than the Prouost with mo thanÌe threscore horses issued oute of the cytie at the gate of saynt Honour and folowed the tracke of sir Peter of Craon and came to Ponthieur to passe the ryuer of Seyne demauÌded of the kepar of the bridge if any horses passed that waye that mornynge and he sayd yes howe that there passed about a twelue horse but I sawe
dissymuled the mater and sayd Sir as it shall please you but ye must haue also my brother of Burgoyne with you We wyll haue hym with vs quod the kyng for without hym we wyll make no voyage We wyll go in to Bretayne with suche an armye able to resyst all our ennemyes We maye se nowe openly that this duke loueth nor setteth by vs but lytell He is proude and presumptuous and we shall entende to nothynge tyll we haue brought hym to reasone Thus the Frenche kyng deuised with the duke of Berrey and manysshed greatly the duke of Bretayne and his assysters The duke of Berrey acorded to all his sayeng but he dissymuled for he thought the contrary THe Frenche kyng hadde great affection to be reuenged of the dispyte that was done to his coÌstable wherfore he prepared hym selfe to go in to Bretayne and fyrst to go in to Aniou to distroye and beate downe sir Peter of Craons castel les for all that the duke of Bretayne sayd he had bought them yet the kyng and his counsayle sayd it was no poynt of the dukes heritage but that the duke sayde so to excuse and to susteyne sir Peter of Craon wherfore personally he was in the kynges indignacyon yet in the same season a treatie of maryage was had bytwene the duke of Bretaygnes sonÌe and the kynges doughter IN the meane season whyle this voyage was thus ordred great brute therof spoken throughe all Frauce There retourned to Paris the bysshoppe of Noyon and the lorde de la Ryuer fro Foize and Bierne and there shewed the kyng and his counsayle howe they had spedde They were well herde but the voyage in to Bretayne busyed so the kyng and his counsayle that they had no leysar to enteÌde to any other mater And the kynge wolde gladly that the constable had ben hole that he might be able to ryde and or the kyng went fro Parys he coÌmaunded to be beaten downe sir Peter of CraoÌs house that stode in the churche yarde of saynt Iohans and than the kynge dyde gyue the grouÌde to make a churche yarde of to burye in deed bodyes The Frenche kyng made his prouisyon in the waye to Aniou to Mayne to Bretayne and in to Thourayne on the ryuer of Loyre to the entent to go in to Bretayne none durst speke the contrary REnome was throughout all Paris and it was well knowen that sir Olyuer of Clisson coÌstable of FrauÌce whan he laye thus sicke of his hurtê made his testament to the entente that his heyres shulde knowe the trouthe of euery thyng that he had and where it was His heyres were two doughters the one was maryed to Iohan of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur It was he that sir Olyuer had quytte out of prisone in EnglaÌde and payde for hym sixscore thou sande frankes to the duke of Irelande as it hath ben shewed here before in this hystorie And his seconde doughter was or shulde be vicouÌtes of Rohan by reason of her husbaÌde The somme of the testament mounted to the soÌme of seuyntene hundred thousande frankes besyde his heritage Euery man that herde therof had great marueyle howe he shulde gather toguider suche richesse and specially the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne their counsayls had great marueyle therof and spake largely sayd What the deuyll howe maye it be that the constable hath gadered to guider so many floreyns and suche mouable goodes the kyng hym selfe hath nat so moche It maye well be beleued and knowen that he hath nat won all this by no iust meanes Thus the mater passed but suche as loued hym nat thought neuerthelesse Thus all suche as the kynge had written vnto prepared them selfe to go with hym in to Bretaygne This voiage pleased nothynge the duke of Burgoyn he sayd this was a warre without reason and that the conclusion ther of coulde take no good ende nor the realme of Fraunce nor the duchy of Bretayne nor the lordes knightes and squyers in theÌ had nothynge to do with the warre bytwene sir Olyuer of Clysson and sir Peter of Craon What nede they quod he to take payne or traueyle to make warre in their quarelles We shulde rather suffre them and their owne meÌ to greue and make warre eche vpon other The duke of Berrey was of the same opinyon but they coude nat be herde nor beleued for the kyng was couÌsayled contrary to their opinyons by suche as the kyng loued better than them These dukes coude nat tell howe to breke that enterprice and whan they sawe none other remedy they obeyed But that was slouthfully howe be it by the promocyon of the duke of Burgoyne the erle of Ostrenaunt was written vnto by the kynge to go with hym in this iourney with thre huÌdred speares The erle who loued dedes of armes prouyded hym to go with the kynge and whanÌe he was redy and had assembled toguyder his company to his great cost and charge Than he was countermaunded agayne and that in no wyse he shulde styrre ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayn brother to the kyng resigned the duchy of Thourayne in to the kynges handes and howe by exchauÌge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌce and so euer after he was called duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii IN the same season that the kyng was thus nighe redy to departe out of Parys to shewe that he toke that busynesse as to hym selfe there was an exchauÌge made of landes gretly to the profyte of the duke of Thourayne for he resygned in to the kynges handes the duchy of Thourayne and the kyng gaue hym the duchy of Orliaunce in lyke maner as auÌciently duke Philyp of Orlyaunce helde it whiche was four tymes better in value than the other was so thus fro hens forthe in this hystorie I shall name hym that was duke of Thourayne duke of OrlyauÌce ¶ Whan sir Olyuer of Clysson was all hole and that he might ryde the Frenche kyng was right ioyfull and said howe he wolde tary no lengar and so on an euenyng he toke his leaue of the quene Isabell his wyfe and of the newe duchesse of Orlyaunce and of all other ladyes and damoselles and so dyde the duke of OrlauÌce in lykewise Than they departed and rode to supper to MoÌtague and the duke of Burbone the erle of Namure and the lorde of Coucy with hym There the kyng laye dyned there after dyner they departed and laye all night at saynt Germayns and there laye a seuyn dayes and as than the kyng was somwhat diseased and his phisicions wolde haue had hym to haue rested hym selfe but the kyng was so wyllyng in his iourney that he sayde howe he was moche better at his ease than he was in dede whiche he dyde to gyue corage to his men to set forwarde for as thaÌ his two vncles the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne were behynde shewed well by their maner that the same iourney greued them nor they wolde nat haue gone
kynge a poore man bare heeded bare legged and bare footed and on his body a poore whyte cote he semed rather to be a foole than wyse and boldely sodaynly he toke the brydell of the kynges horse in his handes and stopped the horse and sayd Syr kyng tyde no further forward for thou arte betrayed Those wordes entred into the kynges heed wherby he was worse dysposed in his helthe than he was before so that his herte his blode was moued Than the kinges seruauntes strake so the poore man that he lette the kynges horse go and made no more of his wordes than of a fooles spekyng whiche was foly as dyuers men sayde for at the leste they shulde haue better examyned the man and to haue sene if he had ben a naturall foole or no and to haue knowen fro whence he came but they dyde nat so but lefte hym behynde he was neuer sene after to any mannes knowledge but suche as were nere to the Kynge herde hym speke these wordes The kynge passed forthe and aboute twelue of the clocke the kynge passed out of the forest and came in to a great playne all sandy the sonne also was in his heyght shone bright whose rayes were marueylously hote wherby the horses were sore chafed and all suche persons as were armed were sore oppressed with heat The knyghtes rode togyther by companyes some here and some there and the kynge rode somwhat a parte bycause of the duste and the duke of Berrey and the Duke of Burgoyne rode on his lefte hande talkynge togyther an acre brede of lande of fro the kynge Other lordes as the erle of Marche sir Iaques of Burbone syr Charles de la Brethe syr Phylyppe Darthoys sir Henry and sir Phylip of Bare syr Peter of Nauer and other knyghtes rode by companyes the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy syr Charles Dangers the baron Dyuiry dyuers other rode on before the kynge and nat in his company and they deuised and talked togyther and toke no hede of that fell sodaynly on the chefe personage of the company whiche was on the kynges owne persone therfore the workes of god are marueylous and his scourges are cruell and are to be douted of all creatures There hath been sene in the olde testament and also in the newe many fygures and examples therof We rede howe Nabugodonosor kynge of Assyryens who reygned a season in suche tryumphant glory that there was none lyke hym and sodaynly in his greatest force and glory the souerayne kynge out lorde god kynge of Heuen and of erthe fourmer and ordeyner of all thynges a parelled this sayd kynge in suche wyse that he lost his wytte and reygne and was seuen yers in that estate and lyued by acornes and mast that fell fro the Okes and other wylde appels and frutes and hadde tast but as a bore or a swyne and after he had endured this penauÌce god restored hym agayne to his memory and wytte And than he sayde to Danyell the prophet that there was none other god but the god of Israell Nowe the father the sonne and the holy goost thre persones in one god hath ben is and euer shall be as puissaunt to shewe his warkes as euer he was wherfore no man shulde marueyle of any thyng that he dothe Nowe to the purpose why I speke all these wordes A great influence fro heuen fell the sayd daye vpon the frenche kynge and as dyuers sayd it was his owne faute for acordynge to the dysposicyon of his body and the state that he was in and the warnyng that his physicyons dyd gyue hym he shulde nat haue rydden in suche a hoote day at that houre but rather in the mornynge and in the euenynge in the fresshe ayre wherfore it was a shame to them that were nere aboute hym to suffre or to couÌsayle hym to do as he dyd Thus as the frenche kynge rode vpon a fayre playne in the heate of the Sonne whiche was as than of a marueylous heyght and the kynge had on a âacâe couered with blacke veluet whiche sore chafed hym and on his heed a syngle bonet of scarlet and a chapelet of great perles whiche the quene had gyuen hym at his departure and he had a page that rode behynde him beatynge on his heed a chapewe of Montaban bright and clere shynynge agaynst the sonne and behynde that page rode a nother bearing the kynges speare paynted redde and frynged with sylke with a sharpe heed of stele the lord de la Ryuer had brought a dosyn of them with hym fro Tholouse and that was one of them he had gyuen the hole dosyn to the king and the kynge had gyuen thre of theym to his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and thre to the duke of Burbon And as they rode thus forth the page that bare the speare whether it were by neclygence or that he fell a slepe he lette the speare fall on the other pages heed that rode before hym and the heed of the speare made a great classhe on the bright chapewe of stele The kynge who rode but a fore them with the noyse sodaynly started and his herte trymbled and in to his imagynacion ranne the inpressyon of the wordes of the man that stopped his horse in the forest of Mans and it ran in to his thought that his enemyes ranne after hym to slee and distroy him and with that abusyon he fell out of his wytte by feblenesse of his heed dasshed his spores to his horse and drewe out he sworde and tourned to his pages hauynge no knowledge of any man wenynge in hymselfe to be in a batayle inclosed with his enemyes and lyfte vp his sworde to stryke he cared nat where and cryed and sayd On on vpon these traytours Whan the pages sawe the kynge so inflamed with Ire they tooke good hede to themselfe as it was tyme. They thought the kynge had ben dyspleased bycause the speare fell downe thanne they stepte away fro the kynge The duke of Orleaunce was nat as thanÌe farre of fro the kynge The kynge came to hym with his naked sworde in his hande The kynge was as than in suche a fransey and his herte so feble that he nother knewe brother nor vncle Whan the duke of Orlyaunce sawe the kynge commynge on hym with his sworde naked in his haâde âhe was abasshed and wolde nat abyde hym he wyste nat what he mente he dasshed his spurres to his horse and rode awaye and the kynge after hym The duke of Burgoyne who rode a lytell waye of fro the kynge whan he herde the russhyng of the horses and herde the pages crye he regarded that waye and sawe howe the kynge with his naked sworde chased his brother the duke of Orlyaunce he was sore abasshed sayd Out harowe what myschife is this the kynge is nat in his ryght mynde god helpe hym Flye away nephewe flye away for the kynge wolde slee you The duke of Orlyance was nat well assured
squyer hym selfe had on the syxte And whan they where thus arayed in these sayd cotes and sowed fast in them they semed lyke wylde wode houses full of beare fro the toppe of the heed to the sowle of the foote This deuyse pleased well the frenche kynge and was well content with the squyer for it They were aparelled in these cotes secretly in a chamre that no man knewe therof but such as holpe them Whan syr yuan of Foiz had well aduysed these cores he sayd to the kynge Syr coÌmaunde straytely that no man aproche nere vs with any torches or fyre for if the fyre fasten in any of these cotes we shall all be brent without remedy the king aunswered and sayd yuan ye speke well and wysely it shall be doone as ye haue deuysed and incontynent sent for an vssher of his chambre coÌmaundyng him to go in to the chambre where the ladyes dauÌsed and to coÌmaunde all the varlettes holdinge torches to stande vp by the walles and none of them to aproche nere to the wovehouses that shulde come thyder to daunce The vssher dyd the kynges coÌmaundement whiche was fulfylled Sone after the duke of Orlyance entred in to the hall acompanyed with four knyghtes and syxe torches and knewe nothynge of the kynges coÌmaundement for the torches nor of the mummery that was coÌmynge thyder but thought to be holde the daunsynge and began hym selfe to daunce Therwith the kynge with the fyue other came in they were so dysguysed in flaxe that no man knewe them Fyue of them were fastened one to another The kynge was lose and went before and led the deuyse WHan they entred in to the hall euery man teke so great hede to them that they forgate the torches The kynge departed fro his company and went to the ladyes to sporte with them as youth requyred and so passed by the quene and came to the duchesse of Berrey who toke and helde hym by the arme to knowe what he was but the kyng wolde nat shewe his name Than the duches sayd ye shall nat escape me tyll I knowe your name In this meane season great myschyefe fell on the other and by reason of the duke of Orlyance howe be it it was by ignoraunce and agaynst his wyll for if he had consydred before the mischefe that âell he wolde nat haue done as he dyd for all the good in the worlde but he was so desyrous to knowe what personages the fyue were that daunced he put one of the torches that his seruauÌtes helde so nere that the heate of the fyre entred in to the flaxe wherin if fyre take there is no remedy and sodaynly was on a bright flame and so eche of them set fyre on other the pytche was so fastened to the lynen clothe and their shyrtes so drye and fyne and so ioynynge to their flesshe that they began to brenne and to cry for helpe None durste come nere theym they that dyd brente their handes by reason of the heate of the pytche One of them called Nanthorillet aduysed hym howe the botry was therby he fled thyder and cast himselfe in to a vessell full of water wherin they rynsed pottes whiche saued hym or els he had ben deed as the other were yet he was sore hurt with the fyre whan the quene herde the crye that they made she douted her of the Kynge for she knewe well that he shulde be one of the syxe wherwith she fell in a sowne and knightes and ladyes came and comforted her a pyteous noyse there was in the hall The duchesse of Berrey delyuered the kynge fro that parell for she dyd caste ouer him the trayne of her gowne and couered him fro the fyre The kynge wolde haue gone fro her Whyder wyll ye go quod she ye se well howe your company brennes What are ye I am the kyng quod he Haste you quod she and gette you in to other apparell that the quene maye se you for she is in great feare of you Therwith the kynge departed out of the hall and in all haste chaunged his apparell and came to the quene And the duchesse of Berrey had somwhat comforted her and had shewed her howe she shulde se the kynge shortely Therwith the kynge came to the quene and as soone as she sawe hym for ioy she enbrased hym and fell in a sowne Than she was borne in to her chambre and the kynge wente with her And the bastarde of Foiz who was all on a fyre cryed euer with a loude voyce saue the kynge saue the kynge Thus was the kynge saued It was happy for hym that he went fro his company for els he had ben deed without remedy This great myscheife fell thus about mydnyght in the hall of saynt Powle in Parys where there was two brente to dethe in the place and other two the bastarde of Foiz and the erle of Iouy borne to their lodgynges and dyed within two dayes after in gret mysery and payne Thus the feest of this maryage brake vp in beuynesse howe be it there was no remedy The faulte was onely in the duke of Orlyaunce and yet he thought none yuell whanne he put downe the torche Than the duke sayde Syrs lette euery man knowe there is no man to blame for this cause but all onely my selfe I ame sory therof If I had thought as moche before it shulde nat haue happened Than the duke of Orlyaunce went to the kynge to excuse hym and the kyng toke his excuse This case fell in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and twelue the tuesday before the feest of Candelmas of whiche fortune great brute spredde abrode in the realme of FrauÌce and in other countreys The dukes of Burgoyne and of Berrey were nat there present at that season They hadde taken their leaue before of the kyng and were gone to their lodginges THe next daye these newes spredde abrode in the cytie and euery manne had merueyle therof and some sayd howe God had sente that token for an ensample and that it was wysedome for the kynge to regarde it and to withdrawe hym selfe fro suche yonge ydell wantonnesse whiche he had vsed ouermoche beynge a kyng The coÌmons of the cytie of Parys murmured sayd Beholde the great myshappe and myschiefe that was lykely to haue fallen on the kynge He myght as well haue been brent as other were What shulde haue fallen than of the kynges vncles and of his brother They myght haue ben sure none of them shulde haue scaped the dethe yea and all the knyghtes that myght haue been founde in Parys As soone as the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde of that aduenture they were abasshed and marueyled greatly They lepte on their horses and rode to the kyng and coÌforted and counsayled hym whiche was necessary for he was sore troubled and the paryll that he was in was styll in his ymaginacion he shewed his vncles howe his aunt of Berrey had saued hym
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 condeÌpned 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 coÌmunycacion 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 fouÌde 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 OrlyauÌce 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 soÌme 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 vnyân 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
tyme I demaunded theÌ of their beleue wherwith they were nat content and sayd howe they beleued on god and on the trynite aswell as we Than I demauÌded on what pope was their affection The aunswered me on hym of Rome ThanÌe I demaunded if they wolde nat gladly receyue the order of knyghthode and that the kyng of Englande shulde make theÌ knyghtes accordynge to the vsage of FrauÌce and Englande and other countreis they aunswered howe they were knyghtes all redye and that suffyced for theym I asked where they were made knyghtes and howe and whan They answered that in the age of seuyn yere they were made knyghtes in Irelande And that a kynge maketh his sonne a knyght and if the sonne haue no father alyue than the nexte of his blode maye make hym knyght And thanÌe this yonge knyght shall begyn to iuste with small speares suche as they maye beare with their case and rynne agaynst a shelde sette on a stake in the felde and the more speares that he breaketh the more he shal be honoured I knewe their maner well ynough though I dyde demauÌde it But than I sayd that the knighthode that they had taken in their youthe suffyced nat to the kynge of Englande But I sayde he shulde gyue theym after another maner They demaunded howe I aunswered that it shulde be in the holy churche whiche was the moost worthyest place Than they enclyned somewhat to my wordes Within two dayes after the erle of Ormonde came to theÌ who coude right well speke the langage for some of his landes laye in those parties He was sente to them by the kynge and his couÌsayle They all honoured hym and he them Than he fell in swete communycacion with them and he demaunded of them howe they lyked me They aunswered and sayde well for he hath well shewed vs the vsage of this countrey wherfore we ought to thanke him and so we do This aunswere pleased well the erle of Ormonde Than he entred lytell and lytell to speke of the order of chiualry whiche the kyng wolde they shulde receyue He shewed it them fro poynt to poynt howe they shulde behaue them selfe and what parteygned to knyghthode The erles wordes pleased moche these four kynges whose names were these Fyrst the great Ancle kyng of Mecte The seconde Brine of ThomoÌde kynge of Thomonde The thyrde Arthure of Mackequemur kynge of Lynster The fourthe Conhue kyng of Cheueno Darpe They were made knightes by kyng Richarde of Englande in the Cathedrall churche of Duuelyn dedycate of saynt Iohan Baptyst It was done on our lady day in Marche as than it fell on a Thursday These four kynges watched all the night before in the churche and the nexte daye at highe masse tyme with great soleÌpnyte they were made knightes and with them sir Thomas Orphen sir Ioatas Pado and sir Iohan Pado his cosyn These kynges sate that day at the table with kyng Rycharde They were regarded of many folkes bicause there behauyng was straunge to the maner of Englande and other countreis and euer naturally men desyre to se newelties Than I sir IohnÌ Froissart sayde Henry I beleue you well I wolde it had cost me largely that I had been there And surely this yere past I hadde come hyder and it hadde nat been for that I herde of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande whiche dyde lette me But one thynge I wolde desyre of you to knowe howe these four kynges of Irelande came so soone to the kynge of Englandes obeysaunce whan kynge Edwarde the kynges graunfather who was so valyaunt a prince and so redouted ouer all coude neuer subdue them nor putte them vnder and yet he had alwayes warre with theÌ and in that they are subdued nowe ye sayd it was by treatie and by the grace of god In dede the grace of god is good who so can haue it it is moche worthe But it is sene nowe a dayes that erthely princes getteth lytell wtout it be by puissauÌce I desyre to know this for whan I shall coÌe in to Heynalt of which countrey I am of I shal be examyned of this and many other thynges bothe by duke Aubert of Bauier erle of Heynalte of Holande and of zelande and also by his sonne WyllmÌ of Bauyere who writeth hym selfe lorde of Frese whiche is a great countrey and a puissaunt whiche couÌtrey the sayd duke and his sonne claymeth to haue by ryght successyon and so dyde their predecessours before them but the Fresons wolde neuer fall to any reason nor come vnder obeysauÌce nor as yet do nat vnto this day than answered sir Henry Christall sayd Sir Iohan to shewe you the very trouth I can nat but as many a one saythe it is to suppose that the great puissauÌce that the kyng had ouer with him and taryed there in their countrey nyne monethes and euery man well payed abasshed the yrisshe men Also the see was closed fro them on all partes wherby their lyueÌges and marchauÌdises myght nat entre in to their countreys thoughe they that dwell farre within the realme cared lytell for it for they knowe natte what marchaundyse meaneth nor they lyue but grosely and rudely like vnto beestes yet suche as lyueth on the marchesse of England and by the See coost vse feate of marchaundyse with vs and in to other places Kynge Edwarde of noble memorie in his tyme had to answere so many warres what in FrauÌce Bretayne Gascone and Scotlande so that his people were deuyded in dyuers places sore occupyed wherfore he coude nat sende no great nombre in to Irelande But whan the Irysshmen sawe the great nombre of men of warre that kyng Rycharde hadde in Irelande this laste iourney The yrisshmen aduysed them selfe and came to obeysauÌce And in dede of olde tyme there was a kyng in EnglaÌde named Edwarde who is a saynt and canonysed and honoured through all this realme In his tyme he subdued the Danes disconfyted them by batayle on the See thre tymes And this saint Edwarde kyng of Englande lorde of Irelande and of Acquitayn the yrisshmen loued and dredde hym moche more than any other kyng of Englande that had been before And therfore our souerayne lorde kyng Richarde this yere past whan he was in Irelande in all his armories and deuyses he lefte the beryng of the armes of Englande as the lybardes flour delyces quarterly and bare the armes of this saynt Edwarde that is a crosse patent golde and goules with four white martenettes in the felde wherof it was said the yrisshmen were well pleased and the soner they enclyned to hym For of trouthe the predecessours of these four kynges obeyed with faithe and homage to the sayd kyng Edwarde and they repute kynge Richarde a good man and of good coÌscience and so they haue done to hym faithe homage as they ought to do and in like maner as their predecessours soÌtyme dyde to saynt Edwarde Thus I haue shewed you
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌe it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌsydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌsayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌmaundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌmauÌded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌdred crownes of FraÌce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌde were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌde These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌe he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌde wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌtrary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌcastre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌtent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌcypall cause was bycause of FlauÌders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌt and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌmaunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌte de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌmaunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌmauÌded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌtly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâe bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ come thyder and howe they had got grauÌt of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌe I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
of the duke he humyled and apesed his herte greatlye and with that the knyghtes tolde hym and sayd sir ye se the good wyll of the duke he hath spoken nothyng but his hert dothe agre to the same I se it well quod sir Olyuer and for that I se and êceyue his good wyll I shall put me so farforthe that I shall yelde me vnder his obeysaunce And it semeth ye be ryght nere to hym seynge he putteth his affiaunce and trust in you to delyuer you his heyre to bringe to me to lye in hostage tyll I be retourned I wotte nat if he haue shewed you what he hath written to me sygned and sealed with his seale The lordes answered and said Sir he hath well tolde vs that he hath ryght great desyre to come to a peace and accorde with you In this ye maye right well beleue vs we be of your blode ThanÌe sir Olyuer went for the letters that the duke had sent hym and reed them Sir quod they all that is conteyned in this letter he hath said vnto vs and vpon the same estate he hath sent vs hyder Than sir Olyuer ordaygned hym to departe with the sayd lordes and toke the dukes sonne agayne with them and said howe they shulde bringe agayne the chylde to his father sayeng that he trusted right well his êmyse coÌsydring that he had proued hym so farre and that he had shewed suche humilyte He douted nat but that his herte was in vnyte So they came to Wannes The duke had apoynted that sir Olyuer shulde tary at a Freres without the towne of Wannes and there the duke shulde come and speke with hym as it was ordayned so it was done and whan the duke sawe that sir Olyuer had brought agayne his sonne and heyre he reputed if for a great curtesy and was well content therwt. Thus the duke and sir Olyuer mette in the Freres and there they two alone entred in to a chambre and coÌmuned toguyder a season and after issued out through a gardeyn and came to the ryuer syde and there they entred in to a bote and fro thens entred in to a shyppe that laye at ancre And so whan they were farre of fro all people they coÌmuned a longe season toguyder What their wordes were I knowe nat but their dealynge was as I shall shewe you THeir men had went they hadde been styll in the Freres but as it was shewed me they were thus in the shyppe more than two houres there made a good peace bytwene them and sware faythe and trouth eche to other without dissymulacyon Than they called agayne the boteman he brought them agayne where he had them and so entred agayne by the gardeyne syde in to the Freres Than anone after the duke caÌe out and ledde sir Olyuer of Clysson by the hande and so went in to the towne of Wannes and in to the castell called le Mote Of this peace euery man was greatly reioysed and to se them so amiably togyder and so was all the countrey At the makyng of this peace IohnÌ of Bloyes erle of Ponthieur lost nat for his reuenewes was therby augmented of tweÌtie thousande crownes of golde by yere for euer to hym and to his heyres And at this peace a maryage was ordayned for the duke of Bretaynes doughters to confyrme the better the loue and alyaunces bytwene them great newes ran through Fraunce and Englande of this peace ye haue herde here before howe sir Peter of Craon fell in the frenche kynges displeasure and of the duke of Orlyaunce bycause of sir Olyuer of Clysson in that he wolde haue slayne hym on a nyght as he went to his house warde howe the duke of Bretayne susteyned hym in his house by whiche occasyon the freÌche kyng wolde haue made warrÌ agaynst the duke if the sickenesse that tooke hym had nat been by whiche incydentes the kynges army brake vp also ye haue herde howe the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne bare great displeasure to all suche as counsayled the kyng therto As sir Olyuer of clysson the lorde de la Ryuer the lorde Iohan le Mercyer Montague and other who afterwarde endured therby great prisonment howe the two dukes had the gouernauÌce of the realme as long as the kynge was in his sickenesse also it hath ben shewed what mortall warre was bytwene the duke of Bretaygne and sir Olyuer of Clysson also howe the lordes de la Ryuer sir Iohan Mercyer and Montague were delyuered out of prisone whiche Montague had nat so moche trouble as the other had for as soone as the kyng was returned to his helth he toke MoÌtague agayne about hym made his excuse So by reason of these soÌdrie sickenesses that the kyng had dyuers tymes gretly troubled the realme of FrauÌce and moche abated the kynges puissaunce so that he had nat euery thyng done accordyuge to his wyll In this season sir Peter of Craon was nothyng displeased with the kynges sickenesse nor with the trouble that they of his counsayle hadde howe be it than he made sute to retourne agayne in to the kynges fauour and loue and the duke of Burgoyne and the lorde Guy of Tremoyle were his aduocates to treate for hym And lightly his peace had been made and the duke of Orlyaunce had nat ben for he letted all that treatie for as longe as the hate eudured bytwene sir Olyuer Clysson the duke of Bretaygne sir Peter of Craon coude come to no peace nor accorde but whaÌ it was surely knowen that there was a peas made bytwene the duke and sir Olyuer thaÌ the quarell agaynst sir Peter of Craon was molyfied and well apeased The same season quene Iane of Naples and Hierusalem and duches of Aniou had a plee in parlyament agaynst sir Peter of Craon for the soÌme of a. C.M. fraÌkes this lady lay styll at Paris the better to entende to her busynesse sir Peter of Craon that sawe hym selfe in that daÌger and that he was in sute in the êlyament and knewe nat howe his busynesse shulde passe outher with hym or agaynst hym for the ladyes partie was strong and had good profe of whom he had receyued the money in the dayes of kyng Loyes her husbaÌde All these thynges coÌsydred he ymagyned that it was nat easy for him to beare and also he knewe well he was in hate with the frenche kyng with the duke of Orlyaunce but the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne coÌforted and ayded hym asmoche as they myght He gate suche grace that he was at Paris secretly in the house of Arthoys with the duches of Burgoyne ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of hym at this tyme. ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Hungry wrote to the Frenche kynge the state of the great turke and howe IohnÌ of Burgoyn eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chefe and heed of the army that went thider Cap. CC.vi. IN this sayd season HeÌry kyng of HuÌgry sent
was tyll Michelmas that the êlyament at Westmynster shulde begyn And in the meane season great prouision was made at Calais and at Guysnes for the kynge and for other lordes sent fro the portes of Englande on that cost and great prouisyon was had out of Flaunders all came by see to Calais In lykewise for the Frenche kyng and for his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles other prelates and lordes of Fraunce great prouisyon was made at saynt Omers at Ayre at Tyrwyn at Arde at Mountoyre and at all other houses and abbeyes there about there was nothynge spared on bothe parties and specially the abbey of saynte Bertyne was well replenysshed of all thynges to receyue these kynges This êlyament at Westmynster began at Mychelmas and it was ordeyned to endure .xl. dayes But it was abridged for the king wolde nat tary there but .v. dayes wherin he declared the thynges most necessary parteyning to the realme and specially that mater that touched hym selfe and the cause why he caÌe fro Calais That done he retourned towardes Calais agayne and with hym his two vncles of Lancastre and Gloucestre and other prelates and lordes of Englande suche as were coÌmaunded to go with him They spedde them so in their iourney that they came agayne to Calays The duke of yorke taryed styll in Englande and the erle of Derby to gouerne the realme in the kynges absence Whan the kyng of Englande was thus returned to Calais the lordes of Fraunce beyng in Picardy were aduertised therof Than the duke of Burgoyn and the duchesse his wyfe came to saynt Omers and were lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne As sone as the FreÌche kyng knewe that the kynge of Englande was come agayne to Calais he sente to hym therle of saynt Poule to shewe hym what order was taken in Fraunce concernyng his maryage whiche the kynge of Englande was gladde to here ThanÌe the duke of Lancastre and his sonne Beauforde of Lancastre The duke of Gloucester and Affren his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle mashall erle of Huntyngton the kynges chamberleyne and many other lordes knyghtes squyers and ladyes rode with the Erle of saynt Poule to saynt Omers where they were well receyued of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and thyder came the duke of Bretaigne and had lefte the Frenche kynge at Ayre and his doughter with hym ye maye well knowe all the chere that coude be deuysed was made to the Englysshe lordes and ladyes and other at saynt Omers and the duchesse of Burgoyne made them a great dyner There was the duchesse of LaÌcastre and her sonne two doughters there was great gyftes gyuen of plate of Golde and syluer nothynge was spared in so moche that the Englysshe men hadde marueyle therof and specially the duke of Glocestre sayd to his couÌsayle I se well there is great rychesse in the realme of Fraunce there was moche gyuen to hym to the entente to abate and to molyfie his rancour that he hadde agaynste Fraunce The lordes of Fraunce knewe well that he was alwayes harde to agre to the peace wherfore they shewed hym as moche token of loue and honour as they coude do He toke euer all their gyftes but alwayes the rancour abode styll in his hert for all that euer the Frenche men coulde do they coulde nat molifye his fell stomake for always he made herde answers as they treated for any peace The Frenche men be subtyle yet for all that they coude gette no hold of hym for his wordes and aunswers were alwayes so couert that they wyst nat howe to vnderstaÌde them Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe his maner he sayde to his counsayle We lese all that euer we do to this duke of Gloucestour for as longe as he lyueth there shal be no sure peace bytwene FrauÌce and Englande For he shall alwayes fynde newe inuencyons and accydentes to engender hate and stryfe bytwene bothe realmes for he enteÌdeth nor thynketh none other thynge If it were nat the truste that we haue in the kyng of Englande wherby here after to fare the better the kyng shulde nat haue to his wyfe our cosyn of Fraunce WHan the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne the couÌtesse of Neuers the countesse of saynt Poule and the other lordes and ladyes of Fraunce hadde greatly feested the lordes and ladyes of Englande than there was coÌmunicacion howe these two kynges shulde mete speke toguyder and howe the lady shulde be delyuered thervpon apoyntment was made and leaue taken on all partes The Englysshe êtie returned to Calis to the kyng shewed what chere they had and what presentes had ben gyuen them These newes pleased well the kyng for he was gladde whan he herde any honour spoken of the Frenche kyng he was so in loue with hym bycause of his doughter whome he trusted to haue to his Quene Than anone after the Frenche kyng came to saynt Omers and was lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne and dislodged all other that were there before and had the duke of Bretayne in his company And than it was ordayned that the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone shulde go to Calis to speke with the kynge of Englande SO they came to Calays and were ioyouslye receyued had as good chere as coulde be deuysed These thre dukes had secrete communycacion with the kynge and his counsayle so that many bothe of Fraunce and of Englande reputed that there was a peace concluded bytwene Fraunce and Englande And in dede it was nere at a poynt and the duke of Gloucester agreed well therto as at that tyme. For the kyng of Englande hadde promysed hym if he wolde agree to the peace to gyue his son Affren the erldome of Rochester in herytauÌce and to make hym spende yerely in reuenewes two thousande pounde sterlyng and to gyue to hym selfe as soone as he came in Englande in redy money fyftie thousande nobles so that by reason of these gyftes the duke of Gloucestours hardnesse was well aleyed So that the lordes of Fraunce sawe well his opinyons were nat so obstynate as they were before for they founde hym than swete and meke WhanÌe euery thynge was ordeygned of that they came for they tooke leaue of the kynge and other and retourned to saynt Omers to the Frenche kynge and shewed howe they hadde spedde Than the Frenche kyng wente to the bastyde of Arde and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre and the duke of Bretaygne to the towne of Esque and the duke of Berrey to Balyngham And in euery ête all aboute there were pyght vp Tentes and Pauilyons and all the countrey full of people what of FrauÌce and of Englande The kynge of Englande came to Guysnes and the duke of Lancastre with hym and the duke of Gloucestre to HaÌmes Thus on a Fridaye beyng the euyn of Symon and Iude in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and sixtene about tenne
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌde 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 GrauÌtsome 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 leÌger 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 IrelaÌde 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 LaÌcastre 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 EnglaÌde 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 LaÌcastre 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 coÌmonly 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 coÌdycion 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 coÌmaundement 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 FrauÌce 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 coÌmynge 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 EnglaÌde 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 freÌche 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 coÌtent 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 FrauÌce 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 CauÌterbury 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 huÌble 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 EnglaÌde and said howe he had great marueyle wherof suche wordes shulde ryse ThanÌe 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 couÌsayled and shewe well howe they wolde gladly haue this realme in trouble to haue the people to ryse agaynst the kyng whiche thynge
ye of London ought to feare for by reason of the laste rebellyon ye were in great paryll to haue been all vtterly dystroyed For whan yuell people be vp gouerne iustyce nor reason than hath no place Those wordes apeased greatly the Londoners were contented with the kynges answere and so retourned to the cytie of London And the kynge taryed at Eltham ryght pensyue and full of displeasure by reason of the wordes that he had herde and had stylle about hym his two bretherne and other suche as he trusted beste for he thought hym selfe natte well assured amogne his vncles For he sawe well howe they absented theym selfe fro his Courte and kepte them at home at their owne houses so that he was halfe in doute of them and specially of the duke of Gloucestre And so kepte dayly aboute hym a garde of a thousande archers YT was enformed the kynge of Englande of a suretie that his vncle the duke of Gloucestre and the Erle of Arundell purposed with puissaunce of people to take the kyng and the yong quene and to putte them in to a castell there to be kepte surely in an honest maner with meate drinke other necessaries And also howe there shulde be set four gouernours in the realme as the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke to rewle fro the Temmys northwarde vnto the ryuers of HuÌbre and Thyne of Thay ronnyng by the cytie of Warwyke comprehendynge all the signories of Northumberlande and the boundes of Scotlande And the duke of Gloucestre had all the rule of LoÌdon and of the londoners and of Essexe coÌprehendyng all the boundes of the See and thider where as the ryuer of HuÌbre entereth in to the see and also of all the portes and hauyns aboue London to Hampton to Cornwall And the erle of Arundell he to haue the rule of the landes mouynge fro London bytwene Sussexe and Kent Arundell Surrey Deuonshyre and Barkeshyre and of all the hole signories bytwene the ryuer of Thamyse and Bristowe the ryuer of Syuerne whiche departeth Englande and Wales And they shall holde and do iustyce and reason to euery man But their entencyons is if they can fynde any reasonable waye to moue agayne and to renewe the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce and that if the FreÌche kyng wolde haue agayne his doughter he shulde for sithe she is but eight yeres of age paradueÌture whan she cometh to .xii. yeres she may repente her and refuce her mariage bycause she was maryed in her youth And also it was no reason to dismary her fro the heyr of Bretaygne as it was promised And if whan she cometh to perfyte age that she wyll nat refuce her maryage Than she must abyde by right styll quene of EnglaÌde and to haue her dowrye but in no wyse she shulde be crowned Quene And that if the kynge dyed or she came to laufull age than they purpose to sende her agayne in to FrauÌce to her father This was shewed to the king for suche wordes were spoken by dyuers Englysshe men and specially by the londoners who coude nat loue the kynge And they repented them that whan the coÌmons of Sussexe Kent and Essexe were vp and came to London in that they dyde breake their purpose for as some of them coÌfessed they were in mynde to haue slayne the kyng the erle of Salisbury the erle of Oxenforde and all the kynges counsayle And if they hadde so done by meanes of the rebellyon the londoners thanÌe shulde soone haue made a newe heed And by meanes of the duke of Gloucestre to haue founde some person to haue had the crowne and gouernynge of the realme and therby to haue brought the realme into a better case thanÌe it was in as than Thus the londoners and suche other of their secte dayly murmured and had many secrete couÌsayls All this the kynge was enformed of and moost faute was layde vpon the duke of Gloucestre KIng Richarde was abasshed of tentymes whan he herde sawe suche couert hate and yuell wyll borne against hym Alwayes he made louynge countynaunce to his vncle of Gloucestre and to the loÌdoners but it aueyled hym nothyng On a daye the kynge sayd to his other two vncles of Lancastre and of yorke Sirs on goddes name I requyre you to gyue me your aduise couÌsayls I am dayly enformed of asuretie that your brother myne vncle of Gloucestre the erle of Arundell and their complyces are mynded to take me êforce by the agrement of the londoners and purpose to close me in a Castell and to order my fyndynge by certayne porcion my wyfe s in lykewise who is but yonge and to seperate her fro me and to kepe her estate in another place Fayre vncles this is a cruell maner and it ought nat to be suffred as long as I maye withstande it ye haue doone me homage and sworne to be trewe to me in the presence of kynge Edwarde of good memorie my grauÌtfather at whiche tyme all the great prelates and lordê of this realme sware to kepe and maynteyn me as their kynge a .xx. yere paste Wherfore fayre vncles for loue and charyte and by the othe and promyse that ye haue made counsayle me trewly as ye are bounde to do For as farre as I can ymagin myne vncle of glocestre enteÌdeth on none other thing but how he might renewe agayne the warre bitwene Englande and Fraunce And to breake the peace whiche we haue confyrmed bothe you and all other of the realme by sweryng and sealyng and by the same composycion I am ioyned in maryage to the doughter of FrauÌce without thynkyng of any yuell ye knowe well that who soeuer dothe contrary to that he is sworne vnto hath sealed to the same so proued dothe yuell ought to be punisshed therfore bothe in body and goodes And also ye knowe well that I forbeare myne vncle of Gloucestre as moche as I may do and take no regarde to thretnyng whiche myght cost me derely Vncles ye are bounde to couÌsaile me sithe I demaunde it with reason whan they herde the kyng speke thus sawe well howe the mater sore troubled his mynde and that it touched hym nere and also they know well moche of his sayenge was trewe they sayd Sir suffre and lette the tyme ryn and passe We knowe well our brother of Glocestre hath the moost paryllous heed brayne of any manne in Englande But we knowe well he can do no more than a man maye do if he buylde on the one syde we shall buylde on the other as long as ye wyll be ordred by our couÌsaile ye shall nat nede to care for our brother He saythe often tymes many thyngê wherof foloweth none effecte He all alone nor they of his counsayle canne nat breke the peace that is taken nor can nat enclose you in any castell We shall neuer suffre that nor to be seperated fro your wyfe For if he saye so and
cosyn erle of Notyngham and shewed hym his full mynde what he wolde do and haue to be doone The erle marshall who loued the kyng better than the duke of Glocestre dyde kepte the kynges purpose secrete sauiÌg to suche as he wolde be ayded by for he coude nat do the kynges pleasure alone On a day the kyng in maner as goyng a huÌtynge he rode to Haueryng of Boure a .xx. myle fro London in Essexe and within .xx. myle of Plasshey where the duke of Gloucestre helde his house After dyner the kyng deêted fro haueryng with a small coÌpany caÌe to Plasshey about .v. a clocke the weder was fayre hote so the kyng caÌe sodainly thyder about the tyme that the duke of Gloucestre had supped for he was but a small eater nor satte neuer long at dyner nor at supper whaÌ he herde of the kynges coÌmynge he went to mete with hym in the myddes of the court so dyde the duchesse her chyldren and they welcomed the kynge and the kynge entred in to the hall so in to a chambre ThaÌ a borde was spredde for the kynges supper The kynge satte nat longe And sayd at his fyrst commyng Fayre vncle cause fyue or sixe horses of yours to be sadylled for I wyll praye you to ryde with me to London for to morowe the londoners wyll be before vs. And there wyll be also myne vncles of LaÌcastre yorke with dyuers other noble men For vpon the londoners requestes I wyll be ordred accordyng to your counsayle and coÌmaunde your stewarde to folowe you with your trayne to loÌdon where they shall fynde you the duke who thought none yuell lightly agreed to the kynge And whan the kyng had supped and rysen euery thynge was redy The kynge than toke leaue of the duchesse and of her children and lepte a horsbacke and the duke with hym accompanyed all onely but with seuyn seruauntes thre squyers and foure yeomen and tooke the waye of Bondelay to take the playne waye and to eschewe BreÌdwode and London coÌmon hyghe waye So they rode a great pace and talked by the way with his vncle and he with hym and so aproched to Stratforde on the ryuer of Thamise Whan the kyng came nere to the busshment that he had layde than he rode fro his vncle a great pace and lefte hym somwhat behynde hym Than sodaynly the erle Marshall with his bande came galopyng after the duke and ouertoke hym and saide Sir I arest you in the kynges name The duke was abasshed with that worde and sawe well he was betrayed and began to call loude after the kyng I can nat tell wheder the kyng herde hym or nat but he turned nat but rode for the rather faster than he dyde before ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of this mater for a season tyll we retourne therto agayne YE haue herde before in this historie howe sir IohnÌ of Castell morant and sir Iaques of Helley were sente in to Turkey to Lamorabaquy fro the frenche kyng and fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they had spedde Whan they were retourned in to Fraunce they were welcome to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne to the duches bicause they brought certayne tidynges fro the erle of Neuers and fro the lordes that were there with hym They said to the kyng howe they trusted that Lamorabaquy wolde gladly treat for their rauÌsoms And that they sayd they knewe by some that were of his priuye couÌsayle for they feare lest they shulde dye in prisone bycause they be out of their owne naturall ayre And the Turkes thynke that by their delyuerauÌce they shuld haue great fynaunce for their raunsome By reason of these wordes the kynge the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe studyed nyght and day howe and by what meanes they might haue their sonne heyre delyuered And sayde oftentymes that the iourney and siege before Nicopoly had cost them ouer moche For therby they hadde deed thre bretherne bastarde knyghtes valyaunt men whom they entierly loued The fyrst the Hasell of Flaunders The seconde sir Loyes of Briese And the thyrde sir Iohan of Ipre There was another the yongest who was styll at home To saye the trouthe the duches of Burgoyne couÌtesse of Flaunders studyed on her syde howe to delyuer her sonne And so moche they stuyed that at last they founde the meanes to agre with the turkes with moche payne But that was nat sodaynly done for the mater was suche that it reâred great leysar and to be gote lytell and lytell In this same season in the cytie of Burse in Turkey dyed the gentyll knyght FrauÌces Anguerant lorde of Coucy erle of Saisoâs he was a great lorde in Fraunce for as sir Robert of Deane who was sent by the lady of Coucy was goyng to hym warde he herde by the way howe he was deed that he herd at Vyen in Austriche And so he returned in to Fraunce shewed this to certayne of the lorde Coucies lynage but nat to the good lady his wyfe vntyll suche tyme as the chatellayne of saynt Goubayne was sent to fetche his deed body enbaulmed in to FrauÌce to be buryed in thabbey of Nogent besyde Coucy and there he was receyued by the duchesse of Bare and the bysshop of Leon by dyuers other abbottes and there this geÌtyll knight was buryed in the yere of grace a thousaÌde thre hundred fourscore and seuyntene YE maye well knowe that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn alwayes ymagyned howe to gette their frendes out of prison in Turkey Sir Dyne of RespoÌde was alwayes in their couÌsayls and he sayd euer that the marchauÌtes venisyaÌs and genowayes myght well helpe and ayde in that busynesse For he sayd marchauntes myght go whider they lyst and by them myght well be knowen the dealyng of the turkes and tartaries with the portes and passages of the kynges soudans and miscreantes and specially they resorted to Quaire to Alexandre to DaÌmas to Antyoche and in to the great puissaunt cyties of the Sarazins dayly they passe and repasse And daylye marchauntes christened hath entrecours with the sarazins and exchaunge one with a nother their marchaundyse So the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne sought all the frendes and meanes they coulde gette to forther them and as than hadde no desyre to make warre vpon the duke of Myllayne bycause they vnderstode that he was gret with Lamorabaquy On the othersyde kyng Iames if Cypre thought well he shulde haue great thanke of the Frenche kyng and of the duke of Burgoyne if he myght asswage the furour of Lamorabaquy and bringe hym to some good resonable poynt for the redemynge of the lordes of Fraunce suche as he had in prisone And to please them the kynge of Cypre caused a shyppe to be made of fyne golde right noble and riche of the value well to the some of tenne thousande ducates whiche shyppe he sente to Lamorabaquy by his owne
eâpedycionê he wrote letters to this sayde marchaunt of the isle of Sio for they knewe eche other to the entent to please the frenche kynge the duke of Burgoyne and the duches and other ladies in FrauÌce suche as had their husbandes and frendes in prison in Turkey and in trust to be well rewarded for his good wyllâ be wrote that what so euer ende was made for their redempcyon that he wolde be come âettour for the somme of money and that as soone as they were delyuered and come in to the power of the venyciens and that he might be certifyed therof that incontynent he wolde come hym selfe to Venyce and se the raunsomes payed and delyuered By these wordes written by syr Dyne of Responde the sayde marchaunt genouoye enclyned to his desyre and on the truste to be well rewarded of the frenche kynge for he thought to suche a kyng it was good to âay âare And also as I was enfourmed the kynge of Cyper at the desyre of the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne he sente men of his specyciall counsayle in to Turkey And in lykewyse syr Mathelyn and the lorde of Damyne two great barones in Grece and in good fauoure with Lamorabaquy traueyled greatly to auaunce this treatie to th entent to do pleasure to the frenche kynge for without suche meanes the mater shulde neuer haue been brought aboute bycause Turkey is a great couÌtrey and yuell for men to traueyle in that hath nat ben accustomed therto Whan Lamorabaquy was ones condyscended to entre in to this treatie than it was ordeyned by his counsayle that all the chrysten prisoners shulde be brought togyder in to the cytie of Burse and there to coÌclude their treatie So the prisoners were brought thyder who were in nombre a .xxv. but in their commynge thyder the turkes that brought them dyd yuell entreate theym and bete them forwarde for they were but casely horsed they coulde nat go but a pace the turkes âete them bycause they sawe they shulde de delyuered wherwith they were sore dyspleased WHan these knightê were thus brought in to the cytie of Burse in Turkey Than they that were sent thyder fro the Frenche kynge and fro the duke of Burgoyne fro the kynge of Cypers and fro the genouoys and venycyens receyued these prisoners geÌtylly so that they were more at their case than in the prisone that they were in before howe be it they were kept euer so strayte that they coulde nat haue the thyrde parte of their wylles Lamorabaquy moste specyally herde euer the soueraygne of Flaunders for syr Iaques of Helley hadde enfourmed hym howe he was one of the chyefe of counsayle with the duke of Burgoyne Lamorabaquy was in a Castell besyde Burse and thyther came the sayde messangers As laste it was a greed that these .xxv. prisoners shulde pay the soÌme of two hundred thousande ducates for the whiche soÌme the lordes of Mathelyn and Damyne in Grece and the marchaunt genouoy of Sio became dettours for the same and taryed in pledge with Lamorabaquy And the erle of Neuers sware and bouÌde him selfe to the sayd marchauntes that as sone as he came to Venyce nat to departe thens tyll the money were payed Thus concluded this treatie but or it was all concluded the erle of Ewe was so speke and feble by the alteracyon of the ayre and course meates that he dyed at Loge in Grece where he was kept prisoner wherof all his company were ryght sory but they coulde nat amende it Thus syr Phylyppe of Arthois erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce after he was deed was enbawmed and so brought in to Fraunce and buryed in the churche of saynt Laurence of Ewe Whan Lamorabaquy was contented with the marchaundes bondes for the det of the sayd soÌme the soueraygne of Flaunders and sir Iaques of Helley tooke their leaue to retourne in to Fraunce and Lamorabaquy was well contente therwith and ordeyned that these two knightes shuld haue of the soÌme that he shuld receyue twenty thousande ducates to be rebated of the hole some For this kyng Basaache consydered the payne and traueyle that they had endured and specyally the soueraygne of Flaunders was greatly in his fauour These two knyghtes thanked the kynge of his gyft than they toke their leaue of hym and afterwarde of the Frenche knyghtes and lordes Whan they were departed fro the kynge they came to the cytie of Burse and than departed and lefte the erle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce styll in the cytie of Burse for they taryed for the lordes of Mathelyn and Damine who shuld come thyder by see to receyue them in to their galees And these two knyghtes toke a galee passenger to sayle to Mathelyn At their departynge fro the porte the wether was fayre and temperate but whanne they were abrode in the see the wynde chaunged and had a marueylous great tempest so that the soueraigne of Flaunders by reason of sore traueyle in that tempest he fell sore sycke on the see and dyed or they came to Mathelyn wherof syr Iaques of Helley was âight sory but there was no remedy and so sayled forthe in a galee of Venyce and passed by Rodes and alwayes as he went he publysshed the redempcyon of the lordes of Fraunce wherof they of Rodes were ryght ioyfull At last this knyght came in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge and the other lordes and ladyes howe he had spedde wherof the kynge and other were right ioyfull and thanked the knyght of his traueyle and payne he had taken in that iourney WHan the redempcyon of these lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce was at apoynt than Lamorabaquy thought or they departed to haue them in his company and that they shulde be more at large and better entreated than they were before as it was reason sythe they were no lenger prisoners he thought they shulde se parte of his puyssaunce and state whiche was as it was shewed me marueylous great and sumptuous and kepte moche people dayly aboute hym Thus he sent of the noble men of his house to bring them to his presence to whom he made good chere and had euery thynge delyuered them of the ordinary of his courte acordynge to the vsage of the countrey and euery daye the kynge talked with the erle of Neuers by a truchman and greatly he honoured the erle of Neuers for he sawe well he was lyke to be a great man in Fraunce and sonne to a great lord wherof he was well enfourmed the whiche he founde true by reason of the great sute that was made for their redempcyon and by the great soÌme of money that they agreed to paye The erle of Neuers and his company had great marueyle of the great state that he kept he and his people laye euer in the felde for no towne coulde suffyce them The spence of his howseholde and charge of meate and drinke was marueyle to consydre fro whence it shulde come but that
pope Clement yet he had neuer ferme beleue on hym But the prelates of the realme of Fraunce and specially Guy of Roy archebysshoppe of Reyns the archebysshoppes of Sens and of Roen and the bysshoppe of Ostune they had brought the duke to beleue on pope Clement ThanÌe it was aduysed by the kynges secrete couÌsayle that if they purposed to bringe the Churche to rest and peace to haue the accorde of Almayne Than was there sente suffycient ambassadours and clerkes of bothe lawes as maister Philyppe of Playes was one in to Almayne to the kyng of Boesme and of Almayne who wrote hym selfe kyng of Romayns This mater went so forwarde that a day was sette that the kyng of Almayne and his counsaile and the FreÌche kyng and his couÌsayle shulde mete êsonally at the cyte of Reynes This mater was done secretely bicause the prelates cardynalles archebysshoppes and bysshoppes shulde nat breke their purpose that they were about They made it be noysed that the metyng of these two kynges and their counsayls at Reynes was for non other purpose but to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene the sonne of the marques of Blanquebourge brother to the kyng of Almayne and the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce And so by reason and vnder colour of that mater they wolde common of other In this same seasone dyed at Nesues in Heynaulte the lorde Guye of Chastellone erle of Bloyes and brought to ValenceÌnes and buryed at saynt Fraunces in the Freres mynours in a chapell called the Chapell of Orthais he had done moche coste in the closynge of the sayd Freres and whan he dyed he was so in dette that the countesse Mary of Namure forsoke al his goodes and durst nat take on her the admynistracyon of his testament but retourned to her dowrie of the lande of Chinay and of Beaumonde his other herytages went to the heyres The duke of Orlyaunce hadde the countie of Blois for he had payed whyle the erle Guye lyued two hundred thousande crownes of FrauÌce and the landes of Hollande zelande Heynaulte wente to the duke Aubert of Bauyere erle of Heynaulte And the lande of Dauesnes of Landrecier and of Lonnon in terreasse fell to Iohan of Bloyes called IohnÌ of Bretaygne And if the erle had nat solde the countie of Blois the sayd Iohan of Bretaygne shulde haue been his heyre therof Consydre what a doÌmage a lorde or any other may do to his heyre by gyueng credeÌce to yuell counsayle god forgyue hym ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the busynesse of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the exle of AruÌdell and howe the kynges vncles and the londoners toke the mater Capi. CC.xxvi YE haue herde here before of the couert hates that was bytwene kynge Rycharde of Englande and his vncle Thomas duke of Gloucestre whiche the kynge wolde beare no lengar but sayd and also was counsayled rather to distroye another man than hymselfe And ye haue herde howe the kyng was at Plasshey by crafte and coloure brought hym out of his owne house to London And by the waye about .x. or a .xi. of the cloke in the nyght therle marshall arested hym in the kynges name And for all that he cryed after the Kynge yet the kynge made a deafe eare and rode on before and so the same nyght the kynge laye at the towre of London but the duke of Gloucecestre was otherwise lodged For byforce he was put in to a Barge and out of the barge in to a shyppe that laye in the Thamise and the erle marshall with hym and all his company And dyde so moche that the nexte day by night they came to Calais without knoledge of any man excepte the kynges offycers of the sayd towne yE maye well knowe whanÌe the takynge of the duke was knowen at Plaâhey by the duchesse and her chyldren they were sore troubled and abasshed and thought well that the matter went nat well The duchesse demaunded couÌsaile what was best to do of sir Iohan Laquyham The knight answered that it was best to sende to his bretherne the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke that they myght fynde some meanes to apeace the kynges dyspleasure For he sayde he thought that the kyng wolde nat displease them The duchesse dyd as the knyght counsayled her and she sente incontynent messangers to these two dukes who were farre a sondre who whanne they herde therof were sored displeased and sente worde agayne to the duchesse that she shuld be of good coÌforte For they sayd they knew well the kyng wolde nat entreat hym but by laufull iudgement for otherwise they coude nat suffre it but as thanne they knewe natte where he was The Duchesse and her chyldren were somwhat conforted with their answere The kynge the nexte daye wente fro the towre of London to Eltham and there taryed The same night was brought to the towre of London as prisoners the erle of Arundell and the Erle of Warwyke wherof they of the cytie of London had great marueyle and made therof great murmurynge but none durst saye nay agaynst the kynges pleasure But all maner of people knightes squyers burgesses of good cyties townes of EnglaÌde said We haue very well suffred the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke bretherne to the duke of Gloucestre They maye prouyde for this whanne it please theÌ We thynke they wolde well haue prouyded for the mater if that they hadde knowen the kynges entent agaynst their brother of Glocestre but bycause they were nat dilygent in the cause the matter is come yuell and lyke to haue an yuell conclusyon WHan the duke of Glocestre was brought to the castell of Calys than he feared hym selfe greatlye said to the erle Marshall For what cause am I brought out of Englande hyder to Calais Me thynke ye holde me as a prisoner Lette me go abrode and se the fortresse aboute Sir quod the marshall that ye desyre I dare nat do it for I haue the charge vpon you on payne of my lyfe The kynge my soueraygne lorde is a lytell myscontente with you Wherfore ye muste take pacyence here for a seasone tyll I here other newes and that shal be shortely by goddes grace For sir as helpe me God I am right sorie for your trouble if I myght remedy it But sir ye knowe well I am sworne to the kynge wherfore I must obey and so wyll I do for sauynge of myne honoure The duke coude haue none other aunswere But by that he sawe he feared greatly his lyfe And on a daye he desyred a preest that sange masse before hym that he myght be coÌfessed And so he was at good leysar before the sacrament with deuout herte and cryed God mercy and was sore repentaunt of all his synnes And in dede it was tyme so for hym so to do for his dethe was nerer to hym than he was ware of For as I was enfourmed whan
the erle of Derby his sonne and also the duke of yorke and his sonne Iohan erle of Rutlande The kyng loued the erle of Rutlande beyonde measure who dissymuled the dethe of his vncle the duke of Gloucestre shewed howe he wolde gladly se a good peace bytwene the parties said howe he knew well that his vncle dyde wronge oftentymes agaynst the kynge The londoners in lykewyse consydred the great myschiefe that myght fall in Englande by the discencyon bytwene the kynges vncles the kyng and their alyaunces Also they consydred syth the myschefe was fallen of the duke of Gloucestres dethe that there was no recouery therin they knewe well it was bycause the duke of Gloucestre had been to lauesse of his tonge and wolde haue styrred the realme to haue broken the trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce Wherfore suche as were wyse men in the cytie dissymuled the mater and thought it was no tyme to a mende it as than they feared the puyssauÌce of Fraunce and lesynge of their marchaundyse Than beganne to treate and went as a meane bytwene the king and the duke of Lancastre who was in many imagynacions for the dethe of his brother troubled him sore Also he sawe howe his nephue kynge Rycharde was alyed by mariage with the frenche kyng Also the duke of Lancastre had .ii. of his doughters out of the lande one quene of Spayne a nother quene of Portugale by whome he thought he shulde haue great ayde if he made warre agaynst his nephue kynge Rycharde All thynges consydred the duke chaunged his courage at the desyre of the londoners and of other prelates of Englande who were meane bytwene the kyng and hym and by their meanes the kynge was agreed with the duke and peace made with that the kinge promysed fro thens forwarde to be gouerned by the duke of Lancastre and to do nothyng but by his counsayle and aduyse whiche promesse the kynge nothynge fulfylled but was counsayled by yonge and wylde couÌsayle whiche was to his hurte and great doÌmage as ye shall here after in this hystory THus the kyng of Englande had peace with his vncles bycause of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre Than he beganne to reygne more fiersly than he dyd before The kynge went and lay in Essex where as the duke of Gloucestre had the chiefe rule whiche ought to haue pertaygned to Affcen his sonne and heyre but the kynge toke all for the ordynaunce in Englande was the kynge to haue the warde of all herytours chyldren orphelyns vnder the age of .xxi. yeres and than they to haue their herytages Thus the kinge tooke the wardeshyppe of his cosyn the duke of Gloucestres herytour and the kynge toke the possession profyte of all the dukes lande and kepte the chylde with hym And the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters were with the quene The duke of Gloucestrâ by enherytaunce was constable of Englande the kynge toke that offyce fro the right heyre and gaue it to his cosyn the erle of Rutlande The kynge than kept greate state than euer he dyd nor there had nat ben no kynge before in Englande that spente so moche yerely by a hundred thousande nobles as he dyd In lyke wyse the kynge had with hym the heyre of the erle of Arundell who was beheeded at London And bycause a knyght that was belongyng to the duke of Gloucestre called Cerbe spake at a tyme certayne wordes agaynst the kynge and his counsayle he was taken and beheeded Syr Iohan of Quynghay was in great parell but whan he sawe that the maters went so dyuersely as they dyd he dyssymuled as moch as he might and departed fro the duchesse of Gloucestres house and wente and dwelt in other places ¶ In those dayes there was none so great in Englande that durst speake agaynst any thynge that the kyng dyd or wolde do He had counsayle mete for his appetyte who exhorted hym to do what he lyst The kynge kept styll in his wages ten thousande archers night and day that wayted on him for he reputed himselfe nat parfytely sure of his vncles nor of the lygnage of Arundell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made in the cytie of Reyns as well by the emperour as of the realme of FrauÌce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii THe same seasone there was a great asseÌble of gret lordes in the cytie of Reynes what of lordes of the empyre and of Fraunce to the entent to bring the churche to a peace and reste for the frenche kynge dyd so moche that at his request his cosyn the kynge of Almayne came to the cytie of Reynes with his counsayle and bycause they wolde nat haue it brewted that they assembled there all onely for the mater by twent the popes the one at Rome and the other at Auygnon they made it to be noysed that they came thyder to treate for a maryage of the sonne of the marques of BlaÌcquebourge with the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce This Marques was brother to the kynge of Almayne The frenche kyng lay at the archebysshoppes palayes and there was with hym the dukes of OrlyauÌce Berrey and Burbon therle of saynt Powle and dyuers other hygh barones and prelates of Fraunce And whan the kinge of Almayne entred in to the cytie all the lordes and prelates and kynge Charles of Nauer who was in lykewyse there went to mete with hym and receyued hym honourably Fyrste they brought hym to our lady churche and after in to the abbey of saynt Remy there the kynge of Almayne laye and his lordes aboute hym And it was ordeyned by the frenche kinge that what so euer the kynge of Almayne spent shulde be at the frenche kynges cost The almayns had euery day delyuered theym ten tonne of herynge for it was in Lent tyme and eyght hundred carpes besyde other fysshes whiche was a great charge WHan the kyng of Almayne came first to the frenche kynge all the lordes went for hym to saynt Remy and so brought him to the kynges palays Whan these two kynges mette they made great honoure eche to other and great reuerence and specyally the frenche kynge for almayns of nature are rude and grose manered without it be to take their profyte therto they be experte and redy ynough All the lordes of Fraunce and of Almayne toke acquayntaunce eche with other with louyng wordes and countinaunce and the frenche kynge made the kynge of Almayne and his company a great dyner at one table there sate fyrst the patryarke of Iherusalem than the king of Almayne the frenche kynge and the kynge of Nauer there sate no mo at that table At the other tables sate the lordes and prelates of Almayne No lorde of FrauÌce sate that day but sarued To the kynges borde the meate was brought by the dukes of Berrey of Burbone the erle of saynt Powle and by other great lordes of FrauÌce The duke of OrlyauÌce set euery man
Erle to abyde at Parys and to kepe there his house to pay for euery thyng that he or his men shulde take To this request the Frenche kynge and his vncles lightly agreed and shewed that they were right ioyfull of his coÌmynge and said howe they were ryght sorie of the erles trouble These messangers returned to Calais and fouude the erle redy there The freÌche kynge sent sir Charles of Hangers to open all the cyties and townes bytwene Calais and Paris to receyue therle and his coÌpany Thus the erle of Derby departed fro Calays and toke the waye to Amyence and in euery place he was well receyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde Guillyam erle of Ostrenaunt sente to his cosyn therle of Derby certayne messangers and howe therle came to Paris howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi THe erle of OstrenauÌt beyng at Quesnoy assone as he knewe that his Cosyn the erle of Derby was passed the See and was come to Calais He ordayned sir Auncell of Trassagetes and sir Fierebras of Vertayne to ride to Calais and to desyre the erle of Derby to come in to Heynaulte to sporte hym and to abyde there a season promysynge hym to haue good chere These two knyghtes departed fro Quesnoy and rode to Cambrey and to Bapames for they herde newes that the erle was departed fro Calais and hadde taken the waye to AmayeÌce and so to go to Parys These two knyghtes mette hym by the waye They spake with hym and dyde their message so that the Erle thanked them and also his cosyn that had sent them to him and than he excused hym selfe and sayd howe he had made his prouisyon to go in to Fraunce as at that tyme to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns of Fraunce but he wolde nat renounce the curtesy that his cosyn of Heynalt had shewed hym Than these two knightes departed and retourned and shewed therle of Ostrenaunt what they had sene and done And therle of Derby and his company rode so long that he aproched nere to Parys WhaÌ the kyng and the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles knewe that the erle of Derby came to Paris he prepared his chaÌbers in his place of saynt Poule richely to receyue therle and caused all lordes to issue out of the cytie to receyue hym and the kyng taryed at the house of saynt Poule First mette hym the duke of Berrey and the duke of OrlyauÌce and than the duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Burbon and other noble prelates lordes knightes At the metyng there was frendly chere and so in good order they entred in to Paris with great ioye The same daye one great mysfortune fell there was a squyer named Boniface mounted on a great coursar whiche horse rose vpright vpon his hynder fete and fell backewarde and the squyers hedde lyght vpon the stones that his hedde cloue a sonder and so dyed of whose dethe the duke of Orlyaunce was ryght sorie for he loued hym entierly and so dyde the lorde of Coucy in his dayes for he brought hym in to FruÌce out of Lombardy THus they came to the house ofsaynt Poule where the kynge was who receyued the erle nobly and therle was sage and wyse and knewe moch of that parteyned to honour He made his reuereÌce and acquaynted hym with the kynge after good maner so moche that he greatly pleased the kynge and for good loue he gaue the erle his deuyse to weare the whiche the erle receyued ioyfully The wordes that were bitwene them I can nat tell but all was well And after takyng of spyce and wyne the erle toke leaue of the kyng and than went to the quene in the same house and she made hym ioyouse chere Than after the erle departed and toke his horse to go to his lodgyng and so was conueyed thyder Thus passed the tyme and the lordes of Fraunce dyde often tymes kepe hym company and caused hym to passe the tyme with sportes and otherwyse to the entent he shulde thynke the season the shorter bycause he was out of his owne nacion ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of the erle of Derby and somwhat speke of the ordynaunce of the Churche of the two popes Benedic beyng at Auignon and Bonyface at Rome ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bitwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed And howe the bysshoppe of CaÌbrey was sent by the sayd kynge to Rome and to Auygnon to theÌ that wrote them selfe popes to th eÌtent that they shulde depose theÌselfe fro their papalytes and submyt theÌ to the order of these two kynges Capi. CC .xxxii. YE haue herde here before howe that kyng of AlmayÌne and the kyng of Fraunce the lordes of thempire and their couÌsails had ben at the cytie of Reynes and there they had dyuers secrete counsayls and their entencion was to bring the churche in to a parfyte vnite for to folowe the way that the churche helde as than The errour was to great And also ye haue herde howe mayster Peter de Ailly bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent in legacion to Rome to speke with pope Boniface he spedde hym so in his iourney that he came to FouÌdes and there fouÌde pope Boniface and to hym he delyuered his letters of credence dyrected fro the kynges of Almaygne and of Fraunce The pope receyued them and the bysshoppe right mekelye The pope knewe well parte of his message Than the bysshoppe declared the cause of his coÌmynge Whan the pope hadde well herde hym he sayde Howe the answere laye nat all onely in hym but also in all the cardy nalles that had chosen hym pope but he said whan he hadde spoken with them by delyberate counsayle than he wolde make suche answere that he trusted to content them This aunswere was suffycient for that tyme. The bysshoppe dyned that daye in the popes palyce and certayne Cardynalles with hym Than after the pope departed fro Foundes and went to Rome and there the pope assembled a conuocacion of the cardynalles in his palyce besyde saynt Peters churche In this consistorie there were none but the pope and his cardynalles And there the pope shewed the request that the kynge of Almaygne and the Frenche kyng had made hym by the bysshoppe of Cambrey there he demaunded couÌsaile what answere he shuld make there were thanÌe many reasons alleged for it semed right contrary to the cardinalles to put downe that they hadde made they sayde it shulde be greatly to their shame and rebuke Than they said to the pope Holy father to cause these kynges to be in a good hope that ye wyll obey to the ye must soÌwhat dissymule yâ mater and saye howe ye wyll gladly obey to all thynge that the kynge of Almaygne the kyng of Hungry and the kyng of Englande wyll counsayle you vnto So that he that is in Auignon who writeth hym selfe pope Benedic whom the Frenche kyng
and the frenchmen vpholde in his errour that he depose hym of the name of papalyte And thaÌ wher so euer it shall please the sayde kynges to apoynt a coÌclaue ye wyll be redy and all your bretherne the cardynalles This counsayle pleased well pope Boniface This was the speciall and generall aunswere that the bysshoppe of Cambrey had And whan the Romayns vnderstode that the kynges of Almaygne and of Fraunce had sente to their pope their ambassade to haue him to leaue his papalyte anone there multiplyed great murmuracion through the cytie of Rome And the Romayns douted greatly to lese the popes siege whiche was yerely to them a gret profyte For all pardons that shulde be two yere after the vantage therof shulde growe to the cytie of Rome and agaynst that pardone they had made great prouisyon wherfore they douted lest it shulde haue ben loste whiche shulde greatly haue ben to their preiudyce Than the moost notablest persones in Rome assembled togyder and came to the Pope and shewed hym more signe of loue than euer they hadde done before and sayd Holy father ye are the trewe pope therfore lese nat your herytage and patrimony of the churche the whiche was saynt Peters take neuer counsayle to the contrarye but abyde styll as pope For who soeuer be agaiÌst you we shall abyde with you and ieoparde oure bodyes and goodes to defende you in youre right The pope aunswered and sayd My welbeloued chyldren be of good confort and be well assured that I wyll abyde as pope for any treatie of kynge or kynges to the contrary Thus the Romayns were contented and apeased and retourned to their houses The popes answere was alwayes to the bysshoppe of Cambrey that whaÌ he parceyued clerely that Benedic deposed hymselfe than he said he wolde be ordred by the sayde kynges So the bysshoppe retourned and came in to Almaygne and founde the kyng at CoÌualence and there he shewed the answere that he had at Rome Than the kyng of Almaygne sayde Well Shewe all this to our brother and cosyn the Frenche kynge and as he ordreth hym selfe so shall I order me and all the empyre But as farre as I can se he must begyn fyrst And whan he hath putte downe his pope than we shall putte downe ours Than the bysshoppe departed fro the kyng and rode tyll he caÌe to Parys wher he fouÌde the Frenche kyng And there the bysshoppe shewed his aunswere whiche was kepte secrete tyll the kyng had assembled toguyder more noÌbre of noble men and prelates of his realme by whome he wolde be counsayled howe he shulde êcede further ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng asseÌbled the prelates and other noble men of his realme with the Vniuersyte of Paris to take counsayle howe they shulde order pope Benedic at Auygnon Cap. CC.xxxiii WHan the frenche kyng had herde the aunswere of Pope Bonyface at Rome and howe the kynge of Almayne in lykewyse aunswered how that first pope Benedyc muste be put dowue that done than he wolde make a conuocacyon of prelates and noble men of his realme and come to Parys There were certayne prelates in Fraunce as the archebysshop of Reins syr Guy of Roye and the archebyssoppes of Rone and Sens and the bysshoppes of Parys of Beauoys and of Anxex they had sore susteyned the opynyons of pope Benedyc at Auygnon and specyally of Clement bycause he was auaunced by their meanes These syxe prelates were nat called to the kynge in this counsayle but other prelates and the vnyuersyte of Parys And whan the bysshop of Cambray had shewed before them all howe he had spedde at Rome and the aunswere that pope Bonyface and his cardynals had made hym and the aunswere of the kynge of Almayne than they entred in to counsayle and it was a greed that the vnyuersite shulde haue the greattest voyce Than it was determyned by the vnyuersite that the kyng shuld sende syr Bouciquant his marshall in to the partyes of Auignon and to do so moche by treatie or otherwyse that Benedic shulde leaue his papalyte and to ordeyne hym selfe in all poyntes by the kyng and his counsayle and that the churche in all the lymytacions in the realme of FrauÌce shulde be as newter tyll the churche were brought in to parfyte vnyte and that doone than euery thynge to returne to the true right This counsayle was thought good and was accepted of the kynge and all other Than the marshall of Fraunce and the bysshop of Cambray were ordeyned to go to Auignon They departed fro Parys and rode tyll they came to Lyons on the ryuer of Rosne and theâ they two departed a soÌdre for it was ordeyned that the marshall shulde tary ther styll tyll he herd tydynges fro the bysshoppe who rode forthe and so came to Auygnon There were some of the cardynalles that knewe well wherfore he came but they dissymuled the mater to knowe what pope Benedic wolde say whan the bysshop of Cambraye had refresshed hym at his lodgynge had chaunged his apparell than he wente to the popes palayes and whan he came in the popes presence he made his reuerence but nat in such wyse as he ought to haue doone if he had taken hym as pope as other men dyd and yet he made hym bysshoppe of Cambray but that promocyon he had by the meanes of the lordes of Fraunce Than the bysshoppe of Cambray who was well langaged bothe in laten and in frenche spake and shewed howe he was sent thyder fro the french kynge and fro the kynge of Almayne and so beganne his proces and whan the bysshoppe came to the vtteraunce of the mater howe the pope shulde resygne and depose hymselfe fro the papall dygnyte and that he that was at Rome shulde do likewyse With those wordes the pope beganne to chaunge colour and lyfte vp his voyce and sayd I haue endured great payne traueyle for the churche and by good election I was created pope and nowe to depose my selfe that shall I neuer do during my lyfe and I wyll that the frenche kynge knowe that for all his ordynauÌce I wyll do nothynge therafter but I wyll kepe my name and papalyte tyll I dye Syr quod the bysshoppe of Cambray sauyng your grace I toke you for more prudent than I nowe fynde you fyrste demauÌde counsayle of your bretherne the cardynalles and than make aunswere for you alone can nat make no resystence agaynst them if they agree to this opynyon nor ye are nat able to resyste the puyssaunce of the kynges of Fraunce and Almayne Than two cardynalles that were there such as the pope had made before they parceyuynge the mater nat lykely to do well rose and sayd to the pope Holy father the bysshoppe of Cambray speketh well syr we desyre you do herin after his couÌsayle Well quod the pope I am contente So they departed for that tyme and the bysshop went to his lodgynge and went nat to se any cardynals but dyssymuled
other thinges parteynynge to a fortresse and also he was of his person hygh and cruell and wolde nat be abasshed for a lytell thynge The marshall of Fraunce departed fro pount saynt Spyrite and passed with all his company by the towne of Orenge by consent of the prince of Orenge and so entred in to the countre of Venyce whiche was lande parteygnynge to the churche the whiche anone was ouer rynne and the men of warre passed at the bridge of Sourgnes and so they were lordes of all the ryuer and the marshall taryed in the towne of Sourgnes with a gret nombre of menne of warre to kepe the towne and passage and also the garysone of Noues whiche partayned to the pope Than the marshall went and lodged at saynt Verayne nere to Auignon and his men therabout and dayly came thyder men of warre so that the cytie of Auignon was closed in before and behinde by lande and by the ryuer so that nothynge coulde entre nor issue without leaue for at the towne of Noue without Auygnon whiche partayned to the realme of Fraunce was the seneschall of Beaucayre with fyue hundred men and kepte the entre on that syde and the marshall of FrauÌce with two thousande men was on the other syde of Auignon and he sent to theym of the cytie that without they wolde obey and open their cytie that he wolde burne all their vynes and houses abrode in the countrey aboute to the ryuer of Dureuse That soÌmonynge greatly abasshed the men and women within the cytie for their herytages laye without Auignon vnto the ryuer of Dureuse Than they went to counsayle without knowledge of the pope and they called to their counsayle certayne cardynals as the cardynall of Amyence of Poictours of Newcastell of Viuyers and dyuers other Than suche as had moste to lose shewed these cardynalles howe the marshall of Fraunce had thretened them to brinne their vynes and their howses and all this had caused the frenche kynge agaynst whome they coulde nat resyste for his puyssaunce was so nere them and all thynges consydred they sayde they were better to obey to the frenche kynge than to holde their paryllous opynyons for of Benedyc they coulde haue no ayde nor comforte and they demaunded of these cardynalles if they wolde ioyne and take their parte The cardynals said they were content to take their wayes for vitayles beganne to fayle theym and also their benefyces were in the realme of Fraunce whiche they sayd they wolde nat wyllyngly lese So they entred in to treatie with the marshall of Fraunce the whiche toke suche effecte that all the men of warre entred in to the cytie of Auignon and it was apoynted to besiege the palays their couynaunt was to do no hurte nor dyspleasure to the cardynalles nor to none of their men nor to the hole body of the towne This to do the marshall promysed So they entred in to Auignon and lodged at their ease and lybertie and than all the passages as well by lande as by water were opened to the entent that all maner of bytayle myght come to the cytie WHen he that wrote him selfe pope Benedyc beynge closed in his palays sawe that the cardynals and the men of the cytie had made a treatie with the marshall of Fraunce without his counsayle or aduyse he was therwith sore dyspleased howe be it he sayd that he wolde nat submytte hym selfe to dye in the payne and so he kepte hym selfe close in his palais which was as stronge a place as any in the worlde and most easyest to be kepte so that it be well vytayled This pope had sent letters to the kynge of Aragone instantly to socoure hym in his nede and to sende him men of warre that he myght be able to resyst the marshall of Fraunce also he sente the kynge worde in his letter that if he coulde get hym thens fro Auignon he wolde go and kepe his see apostolyke in Aragon at Parpygnon or at Barcelone The kynge of Aragon sawe well the popes letters but he made no force of them and sayd to his couÌsayle that were aboute hym What weneth this preest that to susteyne hym and his argumentes I shall enterpryse to make warre agaynste the frenche kyng to ayde hym than I might well be reputed a fole Syr quod his counsayle ye say trouthe ye haue no nede to medle in that mater for syr ye may be sure the frenche kynge hath suche counsayle aboute hym that he wolde make no warre agaynst hym without a iuste cause lette the clergy alone for if they purpose to lyue the prelates must obey the great lordes ãâã whome their rentes and reuenues are they haue longe kept them in peace And also syrâhe frenche kynge hath writen to you all redy desyringe you to determyne you and your countrey to be newter as he is and wyll be and syr ye were beste so to do for my lady the quene who is the Frenche kynges cosyn germayne is content so to be and so is the moste parte of your realme and the clergy in lykewyse and specyally Catelone and Spayne and syr we thynke it is the best opynion for if all cristen kynges do nat the same the churche shall neuer come to vnyte by reasone of two popes Thus the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle deuysed togyder and pope Benedic was styll in his palays trustynge to haue ayde of the kynge of Aragon but he was dysceyued and the marshall of FrauÌce was with in the cytie of Auygnon and the palays was so kept that none coulde issue out nor entre in They lyued with that store they had for of vytayles they had suffycient for two or thre yere but they lacked woode to make fyre with all and to sethe their meate whiche made theym abasshed Euery weke the marshall herde newes fro the frenche kynge and the kynge fro hym and the kynge coÌmaunded hym that he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had atchyued his enterprise Thus the pope coude nat issue out of the palays there was suche watche layde on hym THe conclusyon was whan this Benedyc sawe that he was so straytely kepte and that fyre fayled hym and other prouysions dayly dyscreased and sawe that no comforte nor ayde came to hym fro no parte at laste he yelded at the request of certayne of the cardynalles and the treatie was thus that he shulde nat departe out of Auignon tyll there were made an vnyon in the churche and a certayne garde was sette aboute hym and the cardynalles and ryche men of Auignon bounde them selfe to kepe this Benedyc so strayte that they shulde rendre accompte of hym agayne outher quycke or dede Suche cardynals as had their benefyces in Fraunce tooke great payne to make this treatie and composycion for they sayde all with one accorde that they wolde abyde with the frenche kynge Thus this busynesse ended at that tyme and euery man departed and the Marshall went to Parys and anone
after he ordeyned him to go in to the realme of Hungery for the kynge of Hungery had written to the frenche kynge howe Lamorabaquy assembled great puyssaunce of men of warre of turkes arabyes tartaryes and suryens and of dyuers other of his secte to fyght with hym The erle of Derby the same season beynge at Paris in the house of Clyssone nere to the temple was wyllynge to go in to Hungery whiche shulde be the lesse coste to the Frenche kynge for he had euery weke redy payed him fyue hundred crownes of golde and the erle thought hym selfe moche bounde to the frenche kynge for that grace and whan that tydynges came fro the kynge of Hungery in to Fraunce the erle of Derby entended well to that mater and thought in hym selfe that voyage to be ryght honourable for hym to passe his tyme there wherby he shulde the lightlyer forget the tyme of his trouble and spake to them of his specyall counsayle and they counsayled hym to go in that voyage so that he knewe fyrst the duke of Lancastre his fathers pleasure in that behalfe Than the erle one of his knyghtes called Dinorth in to Englande to knowe his fathers pleasure This knyght came in to Englande and founde the duke of Lancastre at a Castell a twenty myle fro London called Hertforde There he shewed hym his sonnes entente And whan the duke vnderstode the mynde of the erle his sonne and the good wyll that he had to go in to Hungery to passe the tyme of his banyssment he was ryght well content and sayd to the knyght syr ye be welcome your wordes and my sonnes lettre requyreth counsayleâ ye shall rest you here with vs a season and in the meane whyle we shall take aduyse and in the whyle ye may go and se my sonnes chyldren for ye muste beare tydynges of them to their father Syr quod the knyght ye say true So this knyght syr Dynorth taryed a season in Englande NOwe had the frenche kinge good occasyon to write to the kynge of Almayne and to his couÌsayle in what case he had brought pope Benedic and the cardynalles The kynge than sent thyder a noble ambassade as the patryarke of Iherusalem syr Charles of Hangers and other knightes and they founde the kynge at Strawbourgh and dyd their message wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were well content and sayd howe they wolde determyne on that matter but they said they wolde gladly that the kyng of Englande shulde take the same waye the whiche they feared shulde be herde to do with this aunswere the ambassadours retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge what they had doone and sene The frenche kynge than to th entent to bring his purpose to passe sente agayne in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and the messangers shewed the kynge the cause of their coÌmynge The kynge gaue good herynge to the mater but as than he had nat the prelates of the realme nor the clergy with hym nor were nat so plyable to folowe his pleasure as they in Fraunce to folowe the pleasure of their kynge and this he shewed to the frenche kynges messangers howe be it he sayde he wolde do his deuoyre and so he dyd And so the messangers returned in to FrauÌce and kynge Rycharde on a daye at Westmynster assembled all his prelates and clergy of Englande and whan they were there the kynge shewed wysely the dyfference that was in the churche and howe the frenche kynge by delyberacyon and aduyse of counsayle and by consent of the vnyuersite of Parys and other clerkes he was determyned to be newter and in lykewyse so are the kynges of Spaygne of Scotlande of Aragone and of Nauer and howe that all Almayne Boesme and Italy were of the same opynyon In lykewyse the kynge of Englande desyred that his realme shuld folowe the same Whan the prelates and the clergy who knewe nothynge why they were sent for herde that mater they had great marueyle and were sore abasshed some stode styll and spake no worde and some began to murmure and sayde Our kynge is become frenche he entendeth to nothynge but to dyshonour and distroy vs but he shal nat What wolde he bringe vs out of our beleue he maye do so moche that he shall haue yuell therof let vs nat folowe this opynion sythe the frenche kynge taketh that waye lette hym holde hym selfe newter and let vs holde styll our beleue and lette no man put it fro vs without there be greater apparaunce of a surer foundacyon than we se as yet Whan kyng Rycharde sawe the dyfference and murmurynge of the clergy he caused the bysshoppe of London to demaunde of all the clergy what was best to do They all aunswered that the matter was so great that therin requyred great counsayle and delyberacyon and so they departed and euery man went to his lodgynge And whan the londoners knewe the cause of that assemble and the request that the kynge had made they were than sore troubled agaynst the kyng for the people of Englande were so fermely set on the beleuynge on the pope at Rome that they wolde nat leaue it and sayde howe that Rycharde of Burdeaulx wolde distroy them all if he be let alone his herte is so frenche that he canne nat hyde it but a daye wyll come to paye for all that he shall repente hym and all suche as gyue hym suche counsayle What so euer the kynge sayd to haue his people newter they wolde in no wyse agree therto And the frenche kynge was nat well content with his sonne kynge Rycharde in that he had nat incontynent caused his realme to haue been newter but to saye the trouth the kynge was nat to blame therin And also suche accydentes fell soone after the whiche were so great and horryble that the lyke hath nat ben sene in all this hystorye vpon no kynge crysten except of noble kynge Peter of Lusygnen kyng of Cyper and Iherusalem whome his owne brother and the cypriens martyred ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the aunswere of the Duke of Lancastre to the knyght sent to hym fro his sonne the erle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Cap. CC .xxxiiii. WHan sir Dinorth Whom the erle of Derby had sente in to Englande to his father the duke of Lancastre and had his answere of the duke and had vysyted all the erles landes and had sene his chyldren four sonnes and two doughters than he toke his leaue and retourne in to Fraunce His aunswere was howe that the duke wolde nat counsayle the erle his sonne to go in to Hungery but whan he was wery of beynge in FrauÌce than rather to go in to Castell to the kynge there and to his suster and if he lyste to go further than to go and vysite his other suster the quene of Portugale The erle redde his fathers letters two tymes ouer and studyed theron a season and syr Dinorth shewed him that the physicions and surgyons in Englande sayd surely howe
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 coÌmaundement 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 coÌmaunde 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 chauÌged 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 coÌmaunded 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 paradueÌture 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 thanÌe 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 coÌmyng 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 paradueÌture 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 whanÌe 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 chauÌged 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 whaÌ 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
the kyng and oftentymes talked togider and men of warre before behynde in great nombre and all suche as were of the kynges courte rode toguyder in a company That night they laye about Oxenforde The duke of Lancastre ledde kyng Richarde by no castelles nor good townes for feare of styring of the people but alwayes kepte the feldes Than the duke gaue lycence to a great nombre of his people to departe and sayd Sirs ye maye departe for we haue that we desyre the kynge can nat flye nor scape fro vs we our owne company shall bring hym to London and putte hym in sauegarde in the towre he and all his are my prisoners I may bringe them whider I wyll Therfore sirs go your wayes home tyll ye here other newes They dyde as the duke coÌmaunded theÌ who toke the way to Wyndsore and came thyder and moost parte of the LoÌdoners retourned to London other to their owne places the duke of LaÌcastre deêted fro wynsore wolde nat ride by Colbroke but toke the way by Shene so caÌe to dyner to Chersay the king had desyred the duke that he shulde nat bringe hym London waye nor through the cytie and therfore they tooke that waye As soone as they had the kynge thus in their handes they sente notable êsones to the yong quene who was at Ledes in Kent And they caÌe to the lady Coucy who was seconde persone there next to the quene and sayd to her Madame make you redy for ye must deête hens and at your departyng make no semblant of displeasure before the quene but saye howe your husbande hath sent for you for your doughter also This that we saye loke that you do accomplysshe on payne of your lyfe nor axe ye no questyons no further And ye shal be conueyed to Douer and there haue a shyppe that shall bring you to Boloyne the lady who douted those wordê for she knewe well Englysshemen were cruell and hasty said sirs as god wyll I am redy to do as ye wyll haue me Anone she made her redy and horses were prouyded for her and for her coÌpany So all Frenche men and women departed and they were conueyed to Douer at the next tyde they toke shippyng and had good wynde and so arryued at Boloyne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of englande and howe she had all newe êsones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kyng Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC.xlii AS for the state of the quene was so tourned and broken for there was lefte nouther man womon nor chylde of the nacion of FraÌce nor yet of Englande suche as were in any fauour with the kyng Her house was newly furnisshed with ladyes and damoselles and other offycers and seruauntes They were charged all that in no wyse they shuld nat speke of the kynge nat one to another Thus the duke of LaÌcastre departed fro Cherisay and rode to Shene and fro thens in the nyght tyme they conueyed the kyng to the towre of London and suche other knightes and squyers as the kyng wolde The nexte mornyng whan the Londoners knewe that the kynge was in the towre they were gretly reioysed but there was great murmuring among theÌ bycause the kyng was conueyed thyder so secretely They were angry that the duke had nat brought hym throughe London openly nat to haue done him honor but shame they hated hym so sore Beholde the opinyon of coÌmon people whaÌ they be vp agaynst their prince or lorde and specially in Englande amonge them there is no remedy for they are the peryloust people of the worlde and most outragyoust if they be vp and specially the Londoners and in dede they be riche and of a great nombre There was well in LoÌdon a. xxiiii thousaÌde men in harnesse complete and a.xxx. thousande archers and they were hardy hygh of corage the more blode they sawe shedde the lesse they were abasshed ¶ Nowe lette vs somwhat speke of the erle of Rutlande constable of Englande sonne to the duke of yorke who was taryed at Bristowe and the lorde SpeÌser with hym who had his suster to wyfe Whan they knewe that the castell of Flynte was gyuen vp and the kynge taken and brought to London thanÌe they thought surely the matters wente nat well for the kynge Therfore they thought no lengar to tary there and gaue leaue to al their men of warre to departe and the erle of Rutlande and the lorde Spenser rode toguyder with their owne seruauntes to Hull in the marchesse of Wales a fayre maÌner of the lorde Spensers there they taryed tyll they herde other tidynges And the duke of yorke laye styll in his castell medled with nothynge of the busynesse of Englande no more he dyde before he toke euer the tyme aworthe as it came howbeit he was sore displeased in his mynde to se suche difference within the realme and bytwene his nephues and blode ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to speke of kynge Richarde WHan the duke of Lancastre had set his cosyn kyng Richard in the towre of London and certayne of his couÌsaylours and had sette sure kepynge on theÌ The fyrst thyng than that the duke he sent for the erle of Warwyke who was banysshed and coÌmaunded to lye in the ysle of Wyght and discharged hym clene therof secondly the duke of Lancastre sent to therle of Northumberlande and to the lorde Percy his sonne that they shulde come to hym and so they dyde After he enquered and sought out to haue the foure companyons that had strangled his vncle the duke of Gloucestre in the castell of Calais They were so well sought out that they were all taken They were sette in prisone aparte in LoÌdon than the duke of Lancastre and his couÌsayle toke aduyse what shulde be done with kyng Richarde beyng in the towre of LoÌdon where as kyng Iohan of Fraunce was kept whyle kynge Edwarde wente in to the Realme of FrauÌce Than it was thought that king Rycharde shuld be put fro all his royalte and ioy that he hath lyued in for they sayd the newes of his takynge shulde sprede abrode in to all realmes crystened He had been kynge .xxii. yere and as than they determined to kepe him in prisone Than they regarded what case the realme stode in and dyd put all his dedes in artycles to the nombre of .xxviii. Than the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle went to the towre of London and entred in to the chambre where kynge Rycharde was and without any reuerence makynge to hym there was openly redde all the said artycles to the whiche the kynge made none aunswere for he sawe well all was true that was layde to his charge sauynge he sayd all that I haue doone passed by my counsayle Than he was demaunded what they were that had gyuen couÌsayle and by whome he was most ruled he named them in trust therby to haue ben delyuered himselfe in
letters and wytnesse of all the prelates and lordes there beynge present Than Rycharde of Burdeaux retourned agayne in to the chambre fro whence he came Than the duke of Lancastre and all other lept on their horses and the crowne and ceptour were put in a cofer and conueyed to the abbey of Westmynster and there kept in the treasory And euery man wente to their lodgynges and abode tyll the day of parliament and counsayle shulde be at the palays of Westmynster ¶ Of the coronacyon of kyng Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore nynetene the last daye of septembre on a tuysday began a parlyament at Westmynster holden by Henry duke of Lancastre at whiche tyme there was assembled prelates and clergy of the realme of Englande a great nombre and also dukes erles and barones and of euery towne a certayne Thus the people assembled at Westmynster there beynge presente the duke of Lancastre and there the same duke chalenged the realme of Englande and desyred to be kynge by thre reasones Fyrst by conquest secondly bycause he was heyre And thyrdly bycause Rycharde of Burdeaur had resygned the Realme in to his handes by his free wyll in the presence of certayne dukes erles prelates and barones in the hall within the towre of London These thre causes shewed the duke of Lancastre requyred all the people there present as well one as other to shewe their myndes and ententes in that behalfe Than all the people with one voyce sayd that their wylles was to haue him kynge and howe they wolde haue none other but hym Than the duke agayne sayd to the people Sirs is this your myndes and they all with one voyce sayde ye ye And than the duke sate downe in the syege royall whiche seate was reysed vp in the hall and couered with a clothe of estate so that euery man myght well se hym sytte And than the people lyfted vp their handes a hygh promysing hym their faythe and allegyaunce Thanne the parlyament coÌcluded and the day was taken for his coronacyon of saynt Edwardes day the monday the .xiii. day of Octobre at whiche tyme the saturday before his coronacyon he departed fro Westmynster and rode to the towre of London with a great nombre and that night all suche squyers as shulde be made knyghtes the nexte day watched who were to the nombre of .xlvi. Euery squier had his owne bayne by him selfe and the next day the duke of Lancastre made theym all knyghtes at the masse tyme. Than had they longe cotes with strayte sleues furred with mynyuer lyke prelates with whyte laces hangynge on their shuldes And after dyner the duke departed fro the towre to Westmynster rode all the way bareheeded and aboute his necke the lyuery of Fraunce He was acompanyed with the prince his sonne and syxe dukes syxe erles and .xviii. barons and in all knyghtes and squyers a nyne hundred horse Than the kynge had on a shorte cote of clothe of golde after the maner of Almayne and he was mounted on a whyte couâser and the garter on his left legge Thus the duke rode through London with a great nombre of lordes euery lordes seruaunt in their maysters lyuery All the but gesses lombardes marchauntes in London and euery craft with their lyuerey and deuyse Thus he was conueyed to Westmynster He was in nombre a syxe thousaÌde horse and the streates hanged as he passed by and the same day and the next there were in London rynnynge seuen cundyttes with wyne whyte and reed That nyght the duke was bayned and the next mornynge he was confessed and herde thre masses as he was acustomed to do and than all the prelates and clergy came fro Westmynster churche to the palays to fetche the kynge with procession and so he went to the churche a procession and all the lordes with hym in their robes of scarlet furred with menyuer barred of their shulders acordynge to their degrees and ouer the kynge was borne a clothe of estate of blewe with four belles of golde and it was borne by four burgesses of the portes as Douer and other And on euery syde of him he had a sword borne the one the sworde of the churche and the other the sworde of iustyce The sworde of the church his sonne the prince dyd beare and the sworde of iustyce therle of Northumberlande dyd beare for he was as than constable of Englande for the erle of Rutlande was deposed fro that offyce and the erle of Westmerlande who was marshall of Englande bare the ceptour Thus they entred in to the churche about nyne of the clocke and in the myddes of the churche there was an hygh scaffolde all couered with reed and in the myddes therof there was a chayre Royall couered with clothe of golde Than the kyng sate downe in that chayre and so sate in estate royall sauynge he had nat on the crowne but sate bare heeded Than at four corners of the scaff olde the archebysshop of Caunterbury shewed vnto the people howe god had sent them a man to be their kyng and demaunded if they were content that he shulde be consecrated and crowned as their kynge And they all with one voyce sayd yea helde vp their handes promysynge him faythe and obeysaunce Than the kynge rose and wente downe the scaffolde to the hygh auter to be sacred at whiche consecracyon there were two archbysshoppes and ten bysshops and before the aulter theâ he was dispoyled out of all his vestures of estate there he was anoynted in vi places on the heed on the brest on the two shulders behynde and on the handes Than a bonet was ser on his heed and whyle he was anoyntynge the clergy sange the latyny and suche seruyce as they synge at the halowing of the fonte Than that kinge was aparelled lyke a prelate of the churche ⪠with a cope of reed sylke and a payre of spurres with a poynte without a rowell Than the sworde of iustyce was drawen out of the shethe and halowed and than it was taken to the kyng who dyd put it agayne in to the sheth than the archebysshop of Caunterbury dyd gyrde the sworde about hym than saynt Edwardes crowne was brought forthe whiche is close aboue and blessed and than the archebysshop dyd sette it on the kynges heed After masse the kyng departed out of the churche in the same estate and went to his palays and there was a fountayne that ranne by dyuers braunches whyte wyne and reed Than the kyng entred in to the hall and so in to a priuy chamber and after came out agayne to dyner At the fyrst table sate the kynge At the seconde the fyue peres of the realme at the thyrde the valaunt men of London at the fourth the newe made knightes At the fyft the knyghtes and squiers of honour And by the kyng stode
the prince holdynge the sworde of the churche and on the other syde the Constable with the sworde of iustyce and a lytell aboue the marshall with the ceptour and at that kynges borde sate two archbysshops and .xvii. bysshoppes And in the myddes of the dyner there came in a knight who was called Dinereth all armed vpon a good horse rychely aparelled and had a knyght before hym bearyng his speare and his sworde by his syde and his dagger The knyght toke the kyng a lybell the whiche was red Therin was conteyned that there were outher knight squyer or any other geÌtylman 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 soleÌpnyte for he was in sure prison and the kinges couÌsayle 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 credeÌce 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 êdoned 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 coÌmaundement by the settyng on of the four knyghtes that were beheeded Kinge Henry beleued well the erles wordes but his couÌsayle 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 doÌmage 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 couÌsayle 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 freÌdes 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 coÌmyng 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 EnglaÌde they knewe somwhat by marchauÌtes 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 demauÌded 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 FrauÌce 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
fro the kynge and toke his leaue and layde to the Chanon Robsarde Sir appareyle you to come to our feest I promyse the if I mete the there in the felde I shall gyue the a fayre encountre with my speare Than sir Iohan Robsarde sayd Sir it the kyng come to your feest ye shall nat fayle to fynde me there Than the Erle strake his hande in his and thanked hym and so passed forthe Dyuers knightes and squyers prepared theÌ selfes to be at that feest All the armorers in London were lette a worke to trymme men in their harnesse for the Iustes Suche as were of the kynges counsayle sayde to hym Sir ye haue nothynge to do there ye shall nat come there by our aduyse We haue herde certayne wordes in murmuryng the whiche are nat very pleasaunt nor agreable We shall knowe more shortely The kynge beleued their counsaile and so came nat at that feest nor none of his knyghtes nor but tâwe came thyther of suche as they wolde haue slayne WHan the erle of Salisbury the erle of HuÌtyngton and the erle of Kente and the lorde Spensar sawe that they hadde fayled of their entente and that they coude nat haue the kyng as they wolde than they counsayled toguyder and sayde Lette vs go to Wynsore and styrre vp the countre and we shall putte Madalyn in estate royall and ryde with hym And make the people beleue that it is kynge Rycharde who is delyuered cut of prisone all suche as shall se hym wyll beleue it all suche as here therof and thus we shall distroy our ennemyes As they deuysed so they dyde and assembled toguyder so that they were a fyue hundred men one and other And they dyd putte this Madalyn in appareyle royall made hym to ryde with theym and so rode towardes Wyndsore where kynge Henry was Godde dyde ayde kynge Henry for tidynges came to hym howe the sayd lordes were coÌmynge with a great nombre to Wynsore to slee hym and howe they were men ynowe to wynne the castell and howe they had made Madalyn in vesture lyke a kyng to ryde with theÌ and made the people beleue that kynge Rycharde was delyuered and moche people beleueth it And some saye they haue sene him and beleue verily that it is he Wherfore sir gette you hens incontynent and ryde to LoÌdon for they are coÌmynge streyght hyder The kynge beleued their counsayle And so he and all his men lepte on their horses and departed fro Wyndsore and rode towardes London And the kynge was nat farre gone but that these lordes came to Wyndsore and entred in at the gates of the castell for there was none to saye theym naye Thanne they wente sertchynge fro Chambre to chambre and in the Chanons houses wenyng to fynde the kynge but they fayled Whanne they sawe it wolde nat be they were right sore displeased and than departed fro Wynsore and lay that nyght at Colebroke and they made moche people to go with them what byforce and by treatie Sayeng howe kynge Rycharde was in their company some beleued it and some nat Kyng Henry who douted of trayson hasted hym in his iourney and caÌe to the towre of London by a secrete waye Than he went to Richarde of Burdeux and sayd I haue saued your lyfe with moche payne and nowe ye wolde murder me by your brother and other but this enterprice shal be yuell for you Richarde of Burdeaux excused hym greatly and sayd As god myght helpe hym and saue his soule he knewe nothynge therof nor he wolde neuer desire other astate than he was in Thus the mater stode ThaÌ kyng Henry sent for the mayre of London for other of his speciall frendes and than he shewed them all the mater as it was The loÌdoners had great marueyle therof and said Sir ye must sende for your men and go agaynst them be tymes or they multiply any further We haue made you kynge so ye shall contynue who soeuer haue enuy therat ThaÌ letters were written in hast and messangers sent forthe in to all partes The kyng wrote to his constable the erle of NorthumberlaÌde and to his marshall the erle of WestmerlaÌde and to all other knyghtes and squyers in to Essexe and in to other places where as he thought to haue ayde of men suche as herde therof caÌe to the kyng as fast as they might THan the erles of Huntyngton and of Salisbury and other of their affynyte toke couÌsayle and aduyse to drawe towardes London for they sayde it coude nat be none otherwyse but that some of the Londoners loued kynge Rycharde all such they said wolde coÌe to take their ête Than they departed fro Colbroke and went and lodged at Braynforde a seuyn myle fro London but there was neuer a loÌdoner that came to them but drewe all in to their cytie Whan these lordes sawe that the nexte mornynge they tooke the waye to saynt Albons and there lodged and taries there a day and fro thens they went to Barcamstede Thus they went about the countre styll made to be reported that this Madalyn was kyng Richarde and so came to a good towne called Suscettour where there was a baylye sette there by kynge Henry who had the kepyng of the towne and the countrey there about Whan these lordes were come to Suscettour they lodged there one nyght in reste peace for the bayly was nat stroÌg ynough to fyght with theÌ therfore he dissymuled as well as he myght And the nexte mornynge the erle of Salisbury and the lorde Spensar departed fro the erle of Huntyngton and fro the erle of Kent sayd howe they wolde ride further to get to turne mo men to their opinyon to go se the lorde Bercley to ryde a long by the ryuer of Syuerne They were yuell counsayled whan they departed one fro another for they were so moche the weaker The erle of Huntyngton began to treate with the bayly with the men of Suscettour and shewed them howe kynge Richarde was delyuered howe that the loÌdonets had delyuered hym and that he shulde be there within two dayes after The bayly who had assembled a good nombre of them of the countrey sayde that the contrarye was trewe howe that he had suche tidynges fro kyng Henry and fro the londoners that he wolde execute their coÌmaundement Whan therle of HuÌtyngton herde those wordes he chaunged colour sawe well he was disceyued Than he entred in to his lodging and armed hym and caused his meÌ to do the same and thought to coÌquere those villayns by batayle and to sette the towne a fyre therby to abasshe the people The baylye of the towne on the other parte hasted hym and assembled all his men in a certayne place and he was with archers and other a two thousande men and the lordes had nat past a thre hundred men Howe be it they came oute of their lodgynges and began the batayle and archers