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A68075 An epitome of Frossard: or, A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his chronicle, chiefly concerning the state of England and France Wherin the famous warres and conquests of king Edward the third, with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince, and other his sonnes, both in Fraunce, Spaine, and Portugall, are compendiously described. ... Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane, and translated into English, by P. Golding.; Chroniques. English. Abridgments Froissart, Jean, 1338?-1410?.; Sleidanus, Johannes, 1506-1556.; Golding, Arthur, 1536-1606.; Golding, Per., attributed name. 1608 (1608) STC 11399; ESTC S105661 150,748 216

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it should come to the push to haue warres for the matter Flaunders was able to withstand the vttermost that Fraunce could doe Neuertheles the duke of Britaine shortly after of his owne accord departed into England and the minds and affections of his people began to incline more fauourably towardes him then in former times they had done It is declared before how the Cardinals after the death of Pope Gregorie to pacify the tumult of the Romanes had through feare and compulsion chosen Vrbane the sixt Now because this Vrbane by reason of his pride and insolency was misliked of all men the Cardinals by generall consent proceeded to a new election and chose Robert bishop of Cambrey called afterwards by the name of Clement There remained at that time in the territory of the Romanes one Robert Budaeus a m●n honourably descended in the country of Britaine and a stout warriour hauing twoo thousand of his country men vnder his command Him did Pope Clement sollicite for the maintenance of his quarrell who nothing misliking the motion was secretly conveyed with his men into the Castle from thence to worke disturbance to the Romanes On the other side the Romanes oftentimes sent the Germane and Italian souldiers whome they had waged in their defence against these Britons and they handled the matter in such sort that their enemies wearied with their often and continuall assaultes were at length constrained to yeeld vp the Castle vppon no other conditions but only the sauing of their liues Robert their captaine who was not present at the dooing hereof but lay encamped without the Citie when he heard these tydings waighted oportunitie till such time as he vnderstood by his espialles that the Romanes should assemble together in the Castle to consult of their affaires then taking his way through secret passages and vnder the euenings couert entring closely into the Citie euen at the fittest time that could be wished for his purpose he assayled the Romanes as they came out of the counsell house vnarmed and suspecting no such matter of whome he made a terrible slaughter and killed many of the principall men and cheefe Citizens amongst them After the accomplishment of which misch●efe he returned againe to his campe at leysure When the French King vnderstood that a newe Pope was created he called a conuocation of certaine estates chiefly of diuines demaunding their opinion whether of the two Popes ought in this diuersitie to be acknowledged Their censures for the most part as happeneth in such cases were variable and different The Lords of the spiritualty with the Kings brothers and many of the diuines were of opinion that Cleoment ought to be receiued This determination pleased the King well and was immediately proclaymed through the whole kingdom that a certainty might generally be knowne for his subiects to trust vnto Of the same iudgement were the King of Spaine the Earle of Savoy the Duke of Millaine and the Queene of Naples Charles of Boheme the Emperour dissembled his minde notwithstanding the greater parte of the Empire tooke parte with Pope Vrbane The Scottish King also inclined to Clement Lewis Earle of Flaunders affirmed boldly that open iniurie was offered to Vrbane the Henaulters stood newter adhering neither to the one nor the other Pope Clement the better to confirme his cause directed the Cardinall of Poytiers into Fraunce and the countries adioyning to publish in all places where he came how Vrbane had beene by force and violence vtterly against the willes of the Cardinalles intruded into the papacie It was an easie matter to perswade the French men who had already giuen sentence on his side The Earles of Henault and Barband omitted not to giue him all honourable and curteous entertainment but for aught else there was nothing to be obtayned at their handes The Earle of Flaunders had sent him word long before that he had no desire to talke with him for he accounted Vrbane as chiefe shepheard of the Lords flock and intended neuer to forsake him Moreouer Pope Clement sent to Avinion to haue his Court prepared and furnished with all things necessary against his comming About this time the Queene of Naples resorted to the Pope to treate with him of very important affaires and thus stood the case Lewis of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Calabria lying vpon his death bed caused this his daughter to come before him addressed his speech to her in this manner Thou art now my deare daughter to enter vpon the inheritance of a most flourishing estate I doubt not but many princes will be forward to desire thee in marriage in respect of this thy goodly and glorious heritage Therefore if thou wilt follow thy fathers counsell match thy selfe to a Prince that is rich and powerfull whose puissance may be able to defend both thee and thy possessions And if it happen that thou haste no issue then make conueyance of all thy patrimony according to the direction of the Pope then being This my father Robert enioyned me at his death and this to discharge my selfe of that duetie I likewise giue in charge to thee againe When the father had discoursed much more to this effect the daughter deuoutly promised in the presence of many that she would not faile in her duety for the performance of his commaund After her fathers deceasse she was marryed to Andrew the brother of Lewis the King of Hungary but of this marriage proceeded no issue be reason that her husband dyed very young Afterward she matcht her selfe to Charles prince of Tarent and by him had only one daughter Against this Charles the King of Hungary moued warres and subdewed from him the countries of Apulia and Calabria Charles himselfe being likewise taken prisoner in battell and carryed away into Hungary where he ended his life After him she marryed to the King of Maiorica and sent Ambassadours into Fraunce to Lewis of Navarre of whome we haue formerly made mention for the concluding of a match betweene him and her daughter Who taking his iourney for the same intent deceassed by the way before he could attaine the accomplishment of his purpose The King of Maiorica in hope to recover his fathers inheritance prepared to make sharp warres vpon the King of Arragon by whome it was with-holden from him His wife desirous to retaine him still at home disswaded him all she could from his intended enterprise alleadging how he already enioyed a kingdom large and flourishing sufficient of it selfe to maintaine plēty euen with superfluitie but she could not preuaile Therefore giving place to his resolution at his departure she earnestly exhorted him that he should open all his estate to Charles King of Fraunce who was a wise and prudent prince and declaring to him his iniuries receiued dispose all his proceedings according to his direction But the King of Maiorica expecting I know not what greater helpes otherwhere required ayde of Prince Edward the king of Englands sonne who
indeede faithfully promised him what he was able to performe Now during his absence vppon these occasions his wife sent a messenger to the French King requesting him that out of his royall curtesie he would be a meanes to procure her a match for her daughter such a one as both for the nobilitie of his birth and the worthinesse of his person were fitting for her estate to the intent that so ample rich possessions might not at any time fall into the hands of straungers The frēch king moued with her reasonable petition sent a kinsman of of his vnto whome she willingly espoused her daughter The King of Maiorica as is shewed before ended his life in the pursute of his enterprise After his death the Queen marryed againe the fourth time Whereat the King of Hungaries nephew named Charles conceiuing great offence made warres vpon the new king and besieging him in a certaine castle vppon the sea coast at the winning therof which was by composition he tooke both him and her prisoners and with them also her daughter and her husband which vnfortunate payre it fortuned soone after to exchange this life for a better The king and his wife were both released vppon condition that they should surrender Apulia and Calabria Which when Charles had once gotten into his possession thenceforth establishing his estate augmenting his puissance by ioyning in league with the princes round about him he gaped also for the kingdomes of Naples Sicill and Province The Queene therefore fearing and in a manner foreseeing that assoone as she were dead Charles would with all his forces inuade those dominions repayred to the Pope discoursing to him the whole state of her affayres and withall beseeching him that he would receiue her into his protection Hereupon by a franke and free graunt she conueyed Naples Sicill Calabria Apulia Province absolutely to the Pope to bestow them all vppon whomsoeuer he pleased hereafter The Pope accepted this donatiō of hers very thankfully caused instruments of the same made in forme of lawe to be publikely recorded Not long after the Pope at his comming to Auinion bestowed all those seignioryes vppon the Duke of Aniow which came thither from Tholous to visite him and this graunt was confirmed to him and to his heyres for euer The men of Bruges endeauoured with great labour and cost to drawe the riuer Lisa from Gaunt to their towne for effecting thereof kept well nere fiue hundreth men at worke The Gauntoyes being certifyed of their proceedings began to make some stirre and to shew themselues discontent with the matter There was at that time in Gaunt a meruailous factious fellowe and very popular called Iohn Lyon one that applyed his whole studie and industry to incense the people against their Prince His counsell being demaunded by the commons in this matter with a set speech and composed countenance he made answere to this effect That in truth this attempt of the men of Bruges was not to be tollerated but withall that an auncient custome of the cittie very laudable though at that time growne out of vse was necessary to be renued namely that all such as were desirous of the auncient libertie should we are white cappes For sayd he the Gauntoyes haue had many and those very notable priueledges aboue others which by little and little were now worne out of date and vtterly extinguished to the great wrong preiudice of the citizens and if they would be so contented still it would come to passe in the end that euen those that remayned should be taken from them That the cittie of Gaunt had in times past so flourished that men of great account held themselues well appayd and thought no small honour if eyther by desert reward or fauour they might obtaine to be made free denizens of the citty but now the world was so chaunged that no man no not for benefite commoditie profered him would much desire to be admitted into their societie With these and such like speeches he exceedingly stirred vp their mindes and easily drew the worser sorte of people to followe him Euery man betooke him to his white cap and one day amongst the rest assembling themselues together they tooke armes went forth to destroy the labourers of Bruges But they hauing incling thereof left their worke vnfinished and prouided for their safety by flight Another matter which greatly exaggerated their displeasure was this The Gauntoys would haue had a townesman of theirs set at liberty whom the Earle had caused to be apprehended exclayming that therby their priuiledges were violated And therfore when they had sent their messenger to the Sheriffe and could not obtaine his deliuerance they made meanes to the Earle to get him released The Earle promised he would willingly afforde them that pleasure adding further that he would doe nothing whereby their liberties might any way be infringed and moreouer that he would giue commandement to the men of Bruges wholy to surceasse from their attempted enterprise and to fill vp all those ditches which they had digged and cut out already Desiring onely in the meane time that they would leaue of that fashion of wearing white cappes as a thing that ministred perpetuall matter of faction and sedition When this answere was brought to the Gauntoyes it greatly alienated their affections from the Earle especially being so exasperated and prouoked against him by Lyon the author of this insurrection who perswaded them confidently that if this custome might be abollished it were the next way to reduce them againe into their old subiection and seruitude Now although the Earle of Flaunders entreated his people faire to lay aside their cappes yet neuerthelesse he sent some two hundred men to haue entred vnlookt for into the citie who surprising Lyon and certaine others should haue conveyd them from the people and committed them to prison But this matter could not be so couertly handled but Lyon gat knowledge thereof and had leasure both to call the people together and to exhort them with vehement perswasions that if euer they would fight for the maintenance of their liberty they should now presently make proofe of their valour Hereupon hauing some fower hundred of his faction about him he proceeded to the market place where encountring the gouernor of the towne he snatcht the Earles ensigne out of his hands and tearing it in peaces trode it vnder his feete killing the gouernor himselfe from whome he tooke it What should I tell you how mightily the Earles patience was moued with this villany The citizens twownedwellers which were of honester mindes and better discretion foreseing that all things tended to a sorrowfull issue consulted amongst themselues and sent certaine of their principall men to make sute to the Earle for pardon of their offence The Earle at the first receyued them somwhat roughly but afterward least by seueritie out of season the mischiefe might haue growne greater he was content
AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ❧ Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
Duke of Braband then William the Duke of Iuliers sonne holding the seigniory of Gelders in right of his mother claymed againe from the dutchesse of Braband these Castles which his vnckle Edward in his life time had challenged before The restitution wherof being denyed ministred newe occasion whereby the olde grudge was againe reuiued And because Braband at that time was in league with Fraunce and the Duke of Burgoine the French kings brother was next heyre to the widdowe the Duke of Gelders who studyed all the displeasure he could against the house of Fraunce to the intent to shewe his loue towards the English nation passed ouer the seas and contracted great alliance with King Richard receiuing from him a pension of foure thousand franks as hath bene before declared and afterward at his returne defied the French king and professed open enmitie against the Brabanders in so much that the Duke of Burgoigne vppon aduertisement from the widdowe of his daily incursions was constraimed to send thither certaine companies of horsemen for defence of the frontyers Mention is made before of the Duke of Lancaster who by reason of great plague and mortality in his army was forced to discharge his soldiers and returne to the king of Portingale Now when the Spanyards and French men sawe their enemies dispersed they easily recouered all that was lost the Englishmen which remained in garrisons being either expelled by force or dismissed by composition The king of Portugall perswaded his father in lawe to send for a new supply out of England But the Duke considering how it was farre of and that the state of England was at that time greatly encombred made speedy prouision for his departure and sayled as we haue shewed you to Bayon from whence he wrote diuerse letters both to the King and to his brothers for succour But the Englishmens minds were so alienated from the wars of Portingall by reason of the great miseries they endured there that scarce any man could be found which would enter his name to goe vppon that voyage Besides this the troubles seditions and executions which had bene lately in the realme before remayned still so fresh in euery mans memory as they had no leysure to intend to forreine affaires The French king vnderstanding how the world went in England to the intent to make vse of his aduersaries ill fortune vpon great hopes and large promises allured the Duke of Ireland out of the Neatherlands into Fraunce Charles king of Nauarre about this time sessing his people at a subsidy of two hundred thousand franks assembled the burgesses of his townes at Pampelone the chiefe Citty of his kingdome and when he saw that they stucke vppon the matter he shut them vp in a certaine court enclosed about with high walles threatning that if they concluded not the sooner he would handle them according to their deserts But in the meane while happened a wonderfull accident After he had left them in this angry moode he gaue himselfe to sleepe and because he was aged his seruants were accustomed to burne a perfume about him to prouoke him to sweat Now it fortuned by what negligence or mischaunce at that time I know not that some sparke of fire caught hold of the bed which by little and little encreasing and gathering strength at last brake forth in a burning siame about him by means whereof the wretched king being alone and not able by reason of his age to helpe himselfe nor to winde out of the linnen which entangled him was almost consumed in the flames before any could come to his rescue Many Lords of Fraunce which were much displeased that the Duke of Gelders had made defiance to their king in such proud termes contrary to the custome of other Princes were of opinion that if he should escape cleerely away withall it might perhaps hereafter be imputed as a blame and reproch to them which were now of the kings counsell The king was forwarde enough to haue taken a course of reuenge but in regard the Duke of Britaine attempted new troubles solliciting the English to be partakers of his proceedings the enterprise which both himselfe and many other desired could not then be performed The Duke of Berry sent one priuately in his owne name to deale with the Duke of Britaine in friendly manner to drawe him to some reasonable agreement but it was in vaine and that made the French men in greater feare and suspition For they considered what perill it might be to the realme if the King as he desired him selfe and was perswaded by others should now addresse himselfe into Germany when the Duke of Britaine shewed so small affection to peace as he seemd altogether desirous of warre attending but for opportunity to discouer his intention When they had long varied in opinions some thinking such indignity was in no wise to be taken at so meane a Lords hands as the Duke of Gelders that the King now in his youth was to be enured to armes others opposing against this counsell the present state of the kingdome the charge of the warres and the fiercenesse of the Germanes at length it was agreed to contemne the Duke of Gelders as a young man whom rather heate of youth then any aduised iudgement had moued to that action and if he proceeded to make warres as he had threatned that then it should be more honour for the king to aduance his forces against him But by all means it was thought necessarie to fall to agrement with the Duke of Britaine For he as we said before seemed openly to practise with the King of England and already certaine English ships scowred the Seas betweene Normandy and Britaine which notwithstanding they did no harme to Fraunce yet because they still houe●ed about that coast the French men alwaies mistrusted the worst For these causes many thought it the fittest course by warr to chastize the Dukes presumption But the Kings Vncles and some others of sadder discretion who alwaies held the successe of warre vncertaine were of a contrary opinion For it was easie to coniecture that the warres with England would be renewed vppon this occasion which was the onely thing that the Duke of Britaine desired Commissioners were therefore directed vnto him to make a peaceable conclusion of the matter Whereof the Duke beeing informed before their comming consulted of his affaires at large His counsell with weighty reasons perswaded him that hee should desist from his course and restrayning his affections submitte himselfe to the French King whose puissance was such as hee had restored great Lords yea and Princes to their honour and estates and had driuen others againe to whome he bare displeasure out of their seigniories and dominions Therefore their best aduise was that he should of his owne accord restore againe to the Constable the castles which he had lately taken from him For it would be more honourable for him to deliuer them now willingly then hereafter
repayd the money also that he had taken from the Constable the King would not by any meanes omit the present occasion of accomplishing his purpose And first he sent ambassadors to the emperour to acquaint him with the causes of this warre for so it be hooued him in regard of certaine couenants and articles made formerly betwixt the Emperour and him It was thought best to passe the army through Braband and the Dutchesse her selfe was well contented it should be so but all the people besides stoode stowtly against it and were readie to defend their frontires from admitting such a multitude as being once receiued would doe no lesse harme and annoyance to the country than if their enemies should waste and spoile it Moreouer they threatned the Dutchesse that if she gratified the Frenchmen in this behalfe they would neuer take armes against the duke of Gelders Then she aduise dly excused her selfe to the King imputing the blame to her people and beseeching him not to take anie offence at her deniall Therefore taking his iourney through Champaigne hee sent three thousand before to make way through the forrest of Ardenne which otherwise he could not haue passed Moreouer he sent vnto the Emperour a coppie of the Letter which the duke of Gelders would haue had carried into France when he made his defiance When the Emperour had seene that despightful and vnreuerent manner of writing he gaue answer to the ambassadors in such sort as might wel assure thē he would be no hindrance to the Frenchmens proceedings Who hewing their passage through the forrest of Arden entred into the territorie of Lutzemburge and when they approched neere the country of Liege the Bishoppe whose name was Arnold of the house of the Earles of Horne moued by the Archbishop of Colen made intercession to the King for the duke of Iuliers whose seigniory was like to be the first that should haue tasted the violence of that warre The King was not much against his request so the duke himselfe would come and shew how the matters which he alleaged for his excuse were iust and reasonable The duke being brought to the Kings presence protested that hee neither counselled his sonne to make that defiance nor had anie knowledge thereof before the letters were sent And for confirmation of his innocencie in this case promised that hee would perswade with his sonne to make his purgation aduisedly before the King and desire him of pardon which thing if hee could not effect hee would set open all his townes to the King that by meanes thereof hee might accomplish his warres with more aduantage This condition was accepted and the rather by the duke of Burgoigns perswasion The duke of Iuliers therfore accompanied with the Archbishop of Collen resorted to his sonne and ye will not beleeue what trauell and endeuour hee vsed to alter his obstinate minde For all his discourse sauoured of nothing but meere fiercenesse and contempt of the King whose puissance he perswaded himselfe that he should be able to withstand through the helpe of the English At length after many rebukes and sharp threatnings with milde speeches and gentle intreaties now and then intermingled betweene being forced as it were by assault hee condiscended to his father Then the duke drew him a forme of excuse to this effect that whatsoeuer hee had doone in this matter was by counsell and procurement of the King of England When the French King had seene the duke of Gelders and heard what hee had spoken for himselfe his mindeseemed to relent with a singular kinde of affection for hee not onely pardoned his fault but from thenceforth beganne to loue him and that much more earnestly than if he had neuer offended him When the Scottish men vnderstoode that discord was hatching in England and by continuance of time had gathered greater strength being daily more and more augmented to the intent to reuenge olde iniuries without acquainting the King with their purpose they assembled to the number of fortie thousand men They thought likewise to haue concealed it from their enemies by a pollicie but they were deceiued For the English hauing intelligence thereof made preparation to with stand them It came to a pitched field and neuer was battell fought with greater force betweene them The Scottish army being diuided in two partes came not with equall puissance to the encounter because they were separated one farre from an other neuerthelesse they went away with victory After the French mens departure the Duke of Gelders being one that tooke no pleasure in case and idlenesse raysed certaine forces and tooke his iourney towards Prussia It happened that as he passed through Germany hee was taken prisoner But the Lordes of Prussia rescued him againe by force and caused the party which had taken him to flie for his owne safety lest hee should haue fallen into the like mi●fortune himselfe Now although he were set free by the helpe of his friends and as hee lost his libertie by the lawe of Armes so hee had recouered it by the same meanes againe yet bicause he would keepe faith with his enemy he came at a certaine time to a place appointed and compounded for his ransome The Duke of Lancaster as we shewed before kept the duke of Berry still a suter in great exspectation and yet he was all the while more affected to the Spaniard Amongst other doubts which he cast this was one that if the Duke of Berry should fortune to die his daughter should then remaine but a poore Lady in respect of her other sisters for the duke had children by his first wife which doubtlesse would goe away with the greatest part of his estate When the French King vnderstoode how the King of Spaine had put in a barre against the duke of Berrios proceedings hee was wonderfully offended so was the whole Counsell of Fraunce who knew well how highly Spaine was bound to the Kings of Fraunce for great benefites receiued many ages together For by the ayde of Charles the sift Henry the bastard being set in possession of the kingdome left the same after his decease to his sonne Iohn now raigning yet not in such sort that he was able to defend it against the English men and their confederates the Portingales if hee had not beene vpholden by the succour of the French men This ingratitude therefore being generally taken in very ill part Ambassadours were addressed to the King of Spaine with this message That he should take good aduisement and consider well with himselfe what hee did and with whome he contracted freindship sieldome any marriages were made but there passed leagues and confederacies betweene the parties There were yet extant counterpanes of the allyance between Henrie his father and his posterity on the one part and the Kings of Fraunce on the other Against the couenants whereof it were not good to transgresse if he did that he should thinke no wronge done him by the