of all the formest company syr wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac were leders to exalte theyr honoure they departed in good araye all theyr companyes in good ordre THus whyles these knyghtes squyers of the royalme of fraunce prepayred theÌ„ to goo in to Castell suche as were fyrst redy fyrst departed specyally they that were of farre countreys for there were many that desyred dedes of armes the same season the englysshmen were on the see bytwene Englande Flaunders wherof Rycharde erle of Arundell was admyral in his coÌ„pany the erle of deuonshyre the erle of NotynghaÌ„ the bysshop of Norwyche they were a .v. C. men of armes M. archers they had lyen at ancre a grete season abydyng some adueÌ„ture often tymes refresshed theÌ„ on the cost of englande aboute the yles of Cornewall bretayne NormaÌ„dy they were sore dyspleased in that the flete of flaunders was scaped fro theÌ„ were gone to rochell specyally that the coÌ„stable of fraunce was gone fro Lentrygner to sluse passed by Calays met not with hym for gladly they wolde haue fought with hym yet the constable had as many shyppes as they but they passed by theÌ„ by reason of the wynde the fludde that they had in the nyght tyme the englysshe nauy lay at ancre before Mergate at the Tames mouthe towarde Sandwyche abydynge theyr aduenture specyally abydyng for the shyppes that were gone to Rochell for they thought they wolde shortly retourne so they dyd for when the merchauntes of flaunders of rochel of Haynalte other places who for doubte of the englysshmen were conioyned togyder departed out of flauders they ê“mysed eche other to go to retourne togyder to take eche others parte when they had all done theyr busynes in Rochel in the couÌ„trey of Xainton had charged theyr shyppes with wynes then as soone as they had good wynde they dysancred departed out of the hauen of Rochell toke theyr way by the see to goo in to flaunders to Sluse fro whens they departed they sayled so longe that they passed the rase saynt Mathewe in Bretayne without peryll or domage so costed base Bretayne theÌ„ nor mandy so came ryght ouer the Tames mouth where as the englysshe nauy lay the flemynges perceyued where they laye they in the hyghe shyppes sayd to theyr coÌ„pany syrs aduyse you wel we shall be met by the englysshe armye they they haue perceyued vs they wyl take the aduauÌ„tage of the wynde tyde we shal haue batayle or it be nyght that tydynges pleased not well al partyes specyally the merchauntes of flauÌ„ders of Haynalte of other countreys who had theyr merchauÌ„dyse there abrode they wolde gladly haue ben thens yf they myght Howbeit syth they sawe no remedy but fyght they ordred theÌ„ selfe therto they were crosse bowes and other meÌ„ harneysed defensably arayed mo theÌ„ .vii. C amonge theÌ„ there was a valyaunt knyght of flaunders who was theyr capytayne was as then admyrall of the see set there by the duke of Borbone called syr IohnÌ„ Bucke ryght sage hardy in armes had done before grete domage on the see to the englyghmen this syr IohnÌ„ Bucke set euery thyng in good ordre decked his shyppes wel wysely as he that coulde ryght wel do it sayd syrs be not abasshed we are meÌ„ ynowe to fyght with the englysshe army the wynde wyl serue vs that euer as we be fyghtyng we shal aproche nerer nerer to Sluse we shall coost flaundres some toke good coÌ„forte with those wordes some not so they put theÌ„selfe in good ordre defence made redy theyr crosse bowes gonues THe englysshe shyppes aproched they had certayne galays fournysshed with archers they came formest rowynge with owers and gaue the fyrst assaulte and archers shotte fyersly and lost moche of theyr shotte for the flemynges couered them vnder the deckes wold not apere but draue euer forth with the wynde and wheÌ„ they were out of the englysshe archers shot then they dyd let fly theyr quarelles wher with they hurted many then approched the grete shyppes of Englande the erle of Arundel with his company the bysshop of Norwyche with his so the other lordes they russhed in amonge the flemynges shyppes them of Rochell yet the flemynges crosse bowes defended theÌ„ selfe ryght valyauÌ„tly for theyr patron syr IohnÌ„ Bucke dyd euer comforte theÌ„ he was in a gret strong shyp wherin he had .iii. gonnes shotynso grete stones that where soeuer they lyghted they dyd grete domage euer as they fought they drewe lytell lytell towarde flaunders some lytell shyppes with theyr merchauntes toke the coostes of Flaunders the lowe water therby saued them for the grete shyppes coulde not folow them for lacke of water thus on the se there was a harde batayle shyppes broken sunken on bothe partyes for out of the toppes they cast downe grete barres of yron where as they wente to the botom this was an harde batayle well fought for it endured a .iii. or .iiii. houres when the day fayled they withdrewe eche fro other cast ancre there rested all nyght dressed theyr hurte men when the fludde came they dysancred drewe vp sayles and retourned agayne to the batayle with the englysshmen was Peter du Boys of Gaunt with a certayne archers maryners who made the flemynges moche a do for he had ben a maryner wherfore he knewe the arte of the see he was fore dyspleased that the flemynges merchauntes endured so longe alwayes the englysshmen wanne aduauntage of the flemynges so came bytwene Blanqueberg Sluse agaynst Gagant there was the dyscomfyture for they were not socoured by no creature nor also at that tyme there were noo shyppes at Sluse nor men of warre true it was there was a squyer a man of armes at Sluse called Arnolde the mayre when he harde howe there was batayle on the see bytwene the armye of Englande them of Flaunders he toke a barke of his owne and entred therin and with hym a certayne men of Sluse and twenty crosse bowes and rowed by force tyll he came to the batayle but that was at the poynte of the dyscomfyture for by that tyme the englysshmen were seased of the moost parte of the flemysshe shyppes and had taken syr IohnÌ„ Bucke theyr capytayne his shyp all that were within it and when this Arnolde the mayre sawe the maner of that batayle he made his crosse bowes to shote .iii. tymes then retourned and was chased into the hauen of Sluse but the englysshmennes shyppes were so grete that they coulde not approche so nere the lande as the barke dyd and therby he saued hymselfe and his company THe men of the towne of Sluse were sore abasshed when they
their prisoner they make great ioye therof and wyll conuey hym in to Boesme or in to Austryche or in to Xasenne and kepe hym in some castell inhabytable They are people worse than sarazins or paynyms for their excessyue couetousnesse quencheth the knowledge of honoure Lette vs go and put the kynge in daunger amonge these people and if any thynge happen to fall a mysse as the chaunces of fortune are maruaylous what shall be sayde than howe we haue brought the kynge thyder to betray him and to the dystructyon of the realme and nat for the augmentynge therof God defende the realme fro all domage and parell If the kyng go he muste haue parte of his noble men with hym And if mysse fortune fall the realme of Fraunce is loste without recouery Therfore loke wysely if it be good to counsayle the kyng to go that voyage in to Almayne Than some other suche as had wysely coniected all parelles in their imagynacyons sayd In the name of god lette nother the kynge go nor yet sende thyder no puyssaunce For though the duke of Guerles who is but yonge and that youthe of wytte haue made hym to defye the kynge whiche was nat done by no greate wysdome nor good counsayle but rather done by folissh pride of yonge people who wolde flye or they haue wynges And sythe he hathe thus defyed the kynge lette hym alone and suffre hym to pursewe his desyaunce the realme of Fraunce is great if he entre in to the realme in any maner of wyse the kinge shall sone be enfourmed therof and than he shall haue a iuste cause to styre vp his people and to go and fyght agaynste hym where so euer he fynde hym or els to make hym flye or yelde hym in the felde and therby the kynge shall haue more honour and lesse charge than to go in to Guerles for suche as knowe the countrey saye that or we can come to the duke if he lyste we must passe a foure great ryuers the lyste of them as great as the ryuer of Loyre at Namurs or Charite Also they say it is a fowle countrey and yuell lodgynges THe noble men and counsaylouts of Fraunce were thus in dyuers imagynacyons on this voyage that the kynge wolde make in to Almayne and surely it had ben auaunsed the soner forwarde and they had nat douted the venym that myght growe by the occasyon of Bretayne and of the duke there that mater drewe theym a backe And indede they had good cause to doute it for the duke of Bretayne was well infourmed of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles hadde made to the Frenche kynge and howe that the yonge kinge Charles wolde go in to Almayne The duke loked for nothyng els but that the kynge shulde be ones departed out of his Realme of Fraunce he hadde ordeyned and concluded bytwene hym and the englysshe men to suffre the englisshe army to entre in to his countrey And also he had by subtyle meanes drawen to his acorde the moste parte of the good townes of Bretaygne and specyally Nauntes Wennes Rennes Lentriguier Guerrādo Lambale saynte Malo and saynte Mathewe defyn poterne but the noble men he coulde nat gette to his opynyon Than the duke imagyned if the lordes shulde go with the constable of Fraunce in to Almayne thanne his warre and entente shulde the soner come to passe He caused his townes and castels to be well prouyded for with vytayles and artyllary and he shewed well howe he inclyned rather to the warre than to haue pease Also he had great alyaunce with Charles they yonge kyng of Nauerre and the duke promysed hym that if he might come to his entent to haue puyssaunce of men of armes and archers out of Englāde he wolde bringe them streight in to Normandy and recouer fyrst the good townes and castels that kynge Charles of Fraunce vncle to the kynge of Nauerre had taken fro hym by his men as the lorde of Coucy and outher Of this the kynge of Nauer had great trust and by reason therof he helde in humble loue the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon for bytwene theym was great alyaunces And of all this I sawe great apparence as I shall shewe after IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght the seuenth daye of Aprell it was concluded by the kynge of Englande and his counsayle and by his vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre that the erle Rycharde of Arundell shulde be heed and chefe of an army on the see with hym a thousande men of armes and thre thousande archers and to be at Hamton the fyftene day of May and there to fynde his nauy redy apparelled And euery man that was apoynted to go to be there redy at that daye And the kynge of Englande on saynte Georges daye nexte after helde a great feast at his castell of Wyndesore And there were the chefe lordes that shulde go with therle of Arundell and there they toke their leaues of the kynge and of the quene and of all other ladyes and so came to Hampton at their daye apoynted and entred in to their shyppes the twenty day of May whiche was a fayre clere day There was the erle of Arundell the erle of Notyngham the Erle of Deuonshyre syr Thomas Percy the lorde Clifforde sir Iohn̄ of Ware wyke sir Willyam de la Selle the lorde Cameux syr Stephyn de Libery syr Willyam Helman syr Thomas Moreaur syr Iohan Dambreticourt syr Roberte Sere sir Peter Mountbery sir Loys Clombo sir Thomas Coq syr Willyam Pulle and dyuers other They were of good men of armes a thousand speares and aboute a thre thousande archers They had with theym no horses for they trusted if they might come to their ententes to entre in to Bretayne and there to refresshe them where as they shulde fynde horses ynowe at a good price to serue them The daye that they departed fro Hampton was so fayre and peasable that it was meruayle they drewe towardes Normādy nat purposyng to lande in any parte but to passe by the fronters of Normandy and Bretayne tyll they herde other newes They had in their nauy certayne vessels called Ballengers who sayled on before to se if they myght fynde any aduenture in lyke maner as knyghtes do by lande go before the bataylles to dyscouer the coūtrey and enbusshes ¶ Nowe we shall leaue a season of spekynge of this army and speke somwhat of the busynesse of Guerles Brabant and shewe howe the siege was layde to Graue ¶ Howe the brabansoys layde siege to the towne of Graue And howe the constable of Fraunce toke saynte Malo and saynte Mathewes and set there men in garyson and howe the duke of Lancastre was at Bayon greatly dyscomforted in that he coulde gette no maner of ayde Cap. C.xxvi AS it hath been shewed here before of the auncyent dukes of Guerles howe the eldest sonne of the duke of
brent and rased downe for they sawe well that it was nat to be kept seyng that it was so farr in Englande as it was Than the admyrall scottes rode towarde Auwike in the lande of the lorde Percy lodged there about brent certayne villages and so came to another castell of therle of NorthuÌ„berlandes standyng on the see syde but they assayled it nat for they knew well they shulde lese their payne And so they rode all about that fronter halfwaye bytwene Berwyke Newcastell on the ryuer of Tyne and there they vnderstode howe that the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Notingham the lorde Neuell and the barons of those marches of NorthuÌ„berlande of the bysshoprikes of yorke Dyrham were comynge on them with a great power Whan thadmyrall of Fraunce knewe therof he was right ioy full and so were all the barons of FrauÌ„ce that were in his coÌ„pany for they desyred to haue batayle but the scottes cared Iytell therfore there they were counsayled to returne againe towarde Berwyke bycause of their prouisyon that folowed them also to be nere their owne couÌ„tre and there to abyde for their ennemyes So thadmyrall beleued theÌ„ and returned towarde Berwyke wherof sir Thomas Redman was capitayne with hym right good men of armes So the french men and scottes lay before the towne but assayled it nat so passed by the next day and toke the waye to Burbourcke to retourne to their owne countrees Tidynges was brought anon in to EnglaÌ„de howe the freÌ„chmen scottes were in Northum berlaÌ„de distroyed and brent the couÌ„tre The kynge of Englande knewe rightwell before of their comynge wherfore the lordes were redy in the felde toke their way towarde the scottes Thenglysshmen had made that somer the grettest prouisyon that euer they made to go in to Scotlande bothe by lande water They had a .xxvi. vessels on the fee charged with ê“uision costyng the froÌ„ters of Englande redy to entre in to euery hauen of Scotland And the kyng caÌ„e him selfe acoÌ„panyed with his vncles therle of CaÌ„bridge sir ThoinÌ„s Holand Ther was also therle of Salisbury therle of AtuÌ„dell the yong erle of Penbroke the yong lorde SpeÌ„sar therle of Stafforde therle Mysien so many barons knightes that they were four M. speres besyde them that were before with the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de therle therle of NotynghmÌ„ the lorde Lucy the lorde Neuell The lordes barons that were on before pursuyng the scottes were a two M. speares .xv. M. archers And the kynge the lordes were fyftie M. archers besyde varlettes The kyng folowed the duke of Lancastre so fast that he and all his host came in to the marches about yorke for on the way tidynges caÌ„e to the kyng howe that his people that were before were likely to fight with the scottes in the marches of NorthuÌ„berlande therfore he made the gretter hast so the kyng caÌ„e at last to sait IohnÌ„s of Beuerley in the marches of DyrhinÌ„ And ther tidynges came to the kyng how that the scottes were returned in to their owne countre so all the men of warre lodged about in the marches of NorthuÌ„berland ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of an adueÌ„ture that fell in theÌ„glysshe hoost wherby that voyage was broken mortall warre bytwene certayne of the lordes ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Hollande slewe sir Rycharde Stafforde howe therle of Stafforde came to the kyng to demaunde iustyce Cap. xii IN the marches of sait IohnÌ„ of Beuerley in the dyoces of yorke The kynge of England was lodged with a great nombre of erles barons and knightes for euery man lay as nere the kyng as they might and specially his two vncles ser Thomas Holande erle of Lien and sir Iohan Holande his brother In the kynges company there was a knyght of Boesme was come to se the quene of Englande and for loue of the quene the kyng and the lordes made hym good chere His name was sir Myles he was a fresshe lustye knight after the vsage of Almaygne And so it fortuned besyde a vyllage nere to sait Iohans of Beuerley that there fell wordes bitwene this knight two squyers of sir Iohan of Hollandes brother to the kynge and to the wordes there came two archers of sir Iohan Staffordes The wordes so multiplyed that the two archers toke parte with the straunger and blamed the two squyers sayng Sirs yedo wroÌ„ge to medyll with this knight for ye knowe he is belongyng to the quene and of her countre ye ought rather to support him than otherwise Than one of the squyers sayd What enuyous knaue Hast thou to do thoughe I blame hym for his folly What haue I to do quod the archer I haue right well to do therwith for he is companyon to my mayster Therfore I wyll nat be in the place to suffre hym to receyue any villany yea quod the squyer if I thought thou woldest ayde hym agaynste me I wolde put this swerd through thy body made couÌ„tnauÌ„ce as thoughe he wolde haue stryken him The archer stepped backe with his bowe whiche was redy bente And sette an arowe therin and drewe it vp and shotte agaynst the squyer that the arowe pearsed thoroughe body hart and so fell downe deed Whan the other squyer sawe his felowe deed he fledde awaye and sir Myles retourned to his lodgynge The two archers went to their maister and shewed hym all the aduenture Sir Richarde Stafforde sayde Thou hast done right yuell Sir quod the archer I coude do none otherwise without I wolde haue been slayne my selfe and I had rather haue slayne hym thaÌ„ he shulde haue slayne me Well quod sir Rycharde Go thy waye that thou be nat founde and I shall entreate for thy peace with sir Iohan of Holande by my father or by some other So the archer deê‘ted TIdynges anone was brought to sir Iohan of Holande that an archer of sir Richarde Staffordes had slayne a squyer of his that man that he loued best in all the worlde and it was shewed hym the maner howe And that it was for the cause of sir Myles the strauÌ„ger Whan sir Iohan of Holande was well enfourmed of this aduenture he was ryght sore displeased and sayd I shall neuer eate nor drike tyll it be reuenged Than he lepte on his horse and toke certayne of his men with hym and departed fro his owne lodgynge It was as than right late and so rode in to the feldes and enquered Where sir Myles was lodged It was shewed hym he was lodged in the reregarde with the erle of Deuurynters and therle of Stafforde Than sir Iohan Hollande toke the waye thyder warde and sought to fynde sir Myles And as he and his men rode vp downe amonge the hedges and busshes in a straite waye he mette at aduenture with sir Richarde Stafforde and bicause it was night he demauÌ„ded who was there I am
archers and euery man payed for a quarter of a yere Howe be it they reserued that yf any accydent touchynge the realme of EnglaÌ„de by the meanes of FrauÌ„ce or Scotlande shulde happen to falle before their departure in to Portingale than to tary The duke agreed therto sythe he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And than as ye haue herde before whanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre was redy with all his men at Hampton to take his voyage in to Portyngale that the ambassadurs were retourned and had brought worde in to Portyngale howe the duke of Lancastre was comyng with suche a nombre of men of warre Than the portyngalois had great ioye So it fortuned than that a lette fell in Englande whiche taryed the duke of Lancastre for a season for the admyrall of Fraunce sir Iohan of Vien with a thousande speares of good men of armes toke shippyng at Scluse and sayled in to Scotlande and made warre in to Englande so that all the realme came to resyst theÌ„ All this is shewed here before in this hystorie wherfore I nede nat to speke therof agayne but I wyll speke of the siege of Lixbone and of the kynge of Spayne of whome I shall make true relacyon accordynge as I was enformed Kynge don Iohan of Castell beyng at siege before Lixbone tidynges came in to his hoost by marchauntes of his countrey that came fro Flaunders howe the duke of Lancastre with a great nombre of men of warre were comynge thyderwarde to reyse the siege theâ— These tidynges were well beleued for the spanyardes knewe well howe the duke of Lancastre wolde do his payne and dilygence to make warre on the realme of Castell bycause he claymed part therof by the ryght of his wyfe howe be it the kyng helde styll his siege and he had sent messangers and letters to haue ayde out of FrauÌ„ce and specially he sent in to the couÌ„tre of Bierne and in to the lande of the erle of Foiz And out of Byerne there issued in a four dayes respyte a thre hundred speares of chosen men of armes and there was come to Ortaise out of the realme of FrauÌ„ce to go into Castell to serue the king there Sir Iohan of Rue burgonyon and sir Geffray Richon breton sir Geffray de Partenay and eche of theÌ„ had a company by them selfe Than they of Bierne made theÌ„ redy as the lorde of Lynguasshe a great barone companyon to the erle of Foiz and sir Peter Lyer sir Iohan de Lespres the lorde of Bordes sir Bertrande of Baruge the lorde of Moriage sir Raymonde Dansac sir IohnÌ„ of Salagre sir Monan of Saruen sir Pyer of Robier sir Stephyn of Valentyne and sir Raymonde of Rarasse sir Peter of Hanefan sir Ogert of domesson and dyuers other And sir Espayngnolet of Spaygne eldest sonne to sir Roger of Spaygne cosyn of lygnage and armes to the erle of Foiz he went in the company of them of Bierne These lordes and knightes of Bierne made their assemble at Ortaise and therabout and it was shewed me by them that sawe them deê‘te fro Ortaise howe that they were the best armed and apoynted company that wente out of Byerne many a daye before And whan the erle of Foiz sawe surely howe they wolde deê‘te to go in to Spaygne thoughe at the begynnynge he somwhat consented therto and that they shulde receyue the kyng of Castelles wages yet he was angry and soroufull of their departyng for he sawe well that his countre was sore febled therby Than he sent sir Espaygne de Leon and sir Cabestan to these sayd lordes knightes and squyers desyringe them to come toguyder to his castell of Ortaise to the entent to gyue theym a dyuer to their farewell The knightes obeyed as it was reason and came to Ortaise to se the erle who receyued them with gladde chere and after masse caused theÌ„ all to come to him in to his secrete chambre and than in maner of counsayle he said to them sirs it is than your ententes to deê‘te out of my countre and to leaue in my handes the warre with the erle of Armynake and ye to go make warre for the kyng of Spayne This departure toucheth me right nere Sir quod they we muste nedes go for to that entent we haue receyued the kyng of Castels wages And sir the warre bytwene Spayne Portyngale ones atchyued than we shall retourne agayne in sauegarde atchyued ê™ therle nay nat so soone for as nowe it dothe but begyn for there is a newe kynge in Portyngale and he hath sent for ayde in to Englande therfore this warre is likely to endure a long season ye to kepe the felde for ye shall nat be fought with tyll the duke of Lancastre and his coÌ„pany be come thyder and so ye shall derely bye the wages ye haue receyued Sir ê™ they sythe we haue done so moche we must nedes parforme our voyage Well god spede you quod the erle let vs go to dyner it is tyme. and than therle with these lordes and knightê went in to his hall and there the tables were There they had a great dyner at great leaser and was serued with euery thyng that to that day ê‘teyned And after dyner therle ledde with hym all this coÌ„pany in to the galarye than he entred in to comunyng with them and sayd Fayre lordê and frendes it shall greue me to se your departynge out of my countre nat for that I am dyspleased with your auauncementes honours for in all cases I wolde gladly augment and exalte your honours profyte But I haue great pytie of you for ye are the chefe flour of chiualry of my countre of Bierne and ye thus to go in to a straunge countre I wolde couÌ„sayle you yet agayne to leaue this voyage and to let the kynge of Castell and the kynge of Portyngale make their warre bytwene theym selfe for ye are nat bounde none otherwyse Sir ê™ they sauynge your displeasure we can nat do thus And sir ye knowe more than ye speke of We haue taken wages and gyftes of the kyng of Castell wherfore we must nedes deserue it Well quod therle yespeke well but I shall shewe you what shall come of this vyage Outher ye shall retourne so poore and so naked that lyfe shall straÌ„gle you or els ye shal be all slayne or taken The knightes began to laughe and sayd Sir we must abyde the aduenture Than therle fell in other talkyng and lefte that in rest and that than he shewed them in maner of communycasion all the nature of the Spanyardes howe they be sluttysshe and lousy and enuyous of other mennes welthe Wherfore quod he I reed you take good counsayle and than he demaunded for wyne and spyce and he made euery maÌ„ drinke and than toke euery man by the hande and badde them farewell and departed fro theÌ„ and went in to his chambre And at the fote of the castell the knightes mouÌ„ted on their
of Sauoy the erle Dalphyn of Awuergne the erle of Geneue the erle of saynt Poule the erle of Ewe the erle of Longueuyle and other grete lordes of Fraunce in suche nombre that I can neuer name them all it was sayd there sholde passe in to Englande .xx. M. knyghtes squyers whiche to say trouth is a fayre company also .xx. M. crosse bowes with the Geneways and besyde them other .xx. M. of other men of warre and as then syr Olyuer Clysson was in Bretayne and ordeyned therfore his busynes and nauye and sholde brynge with hym the closure of the felde made of tymbre whiche they ordeyned to be set vp euery nyght when they were ones in Englande and with syr Olyuer Clysson constable of Fraunce sholde come out of Bretayne the best knyghtes squyers therin as the vycount of Rohan the lorde or Rays the lorde of Beawmanoyre the lorde de la Vale the lorde of Rochforte the lorde of Malestroyt syr Iohn̄ of Malestroyte and a .v. C. speres Brerons chosen men of warre for it was the constables entencyon that no mā sholde entre in to englande without he were a mā of armes chosen he gaue charge to the admyral sayng take hede ye charge not our shyppes with varlettes and boyes for they shall do vs more domage then profyte so that .ii. or .iii. knyghtes without they were grete maysters thoughe they hyred shyppes for theyr money yet they sholde haue but one horse ouer one varlet to say trouthe they ordeyned al theyr busynesses in good ordre and it was the opynyon of dyuers that yf they myght aryue all togyder in Englande where as they entended to lande that was at Orwell hauen howe they sholde sore abasshe the countrey so they sholde without doubte for the grete lordes spyrytuall and temporall and the people of the good townes were in grete doubte but the comons poore companyons cared nothynge therfore no more dyd pore knyghtes and squyers for they desyred the warre outher to wynne or to lose all and they sayd one to another god hath sent to vs a good season syth the frensshe kynge wyll come in to this coūtrey he is a valyaunt kyng we thynke this CCC yere passed there was not in fraunce a kyng of that courage as he is of he maketh his men good mē of warre blessyd maye he be syth he wyll come to vysyte vs for nowe we shall dye or elles be ryche it can be none otherwyse ¶ Howe the frensshe kynge taryed at Sluse with his grete oost to the entente to entre in to Englande Ca. iv IF the apparell for this voyage was grete and sumptuous in Flaunders and at Sluse in lykewyse was it in Englāde I haue shewed you somwhat therof here before wherfore I passe it ouer breuely yf the taxes and tallages were grete in fraunce in lykewyse they were in englande so that many a man sorowed longe after but bycause the comons sawe it was nedefull sayd it is not agaynst reason thoughe we be taxed nowe to gyue of our goodes to knyghtes and squyers to defende theyr herytages and ours There was raysed the same tyme in Englande for the defence of the countrey more then .ii. mylyons of floreyns and receyuours therof were the archebysshop of yorke broder to the lorde Neuell the erle of Oxenforde syr Nycholas Branbre syr Myghell Polle syr Symon Burle syr Peter Gauloufer syr Robert Tryuylyen syr Iohn̄ Beauchamp Syr Iohn̄ Salysbury and other of the kynges pryuy counsayle as for the kynges vncles there was nothynge done by them nor they wolde not medle therwith nor brynge the royalme in trouble but they toke good hede to maynteyne the honoure of the royalme to kepe the passages portes for they byleued surely to haue y◠same yere the frensshe kyng with his puyssaūce to aryue in Englande so these sayd lordes and knyghtes receyued the taxes and dyd what they lyst the chefe of them he that had moost profyte was the erle of oxenforde for by hym euery thynge was done and without hym nothyng done so that after whē theyr busynesses were passed the people made trouble to knowe where the money became and some of the cytees good townes of Englande wolde haue accomptes therof with the ayde of the kynges vncles as ye shal here after when tyme shall be to speke therof for it shall not be forgotten out of the hystory ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Cauntorburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he acheued grete hate Ca. lv SIr Symon Burle was capytayne of the castel of Douer and he herde often tymes newes out of Calays by the fysshers for they kepte styll theyr custome of fysshynge Somtyme before Boloyne before the porte of Whytsande and when other frensshe fysshers met with them they wolde tel eche other tydynges somtyme more then they knewe for the fysshers of the see what soo euer warre was bytwene Englande and Fraunce they dyd no hurte one to another but were as frendes aydynge eche other and bought solde eche with other fysshe if one sped better then another for yf they sholde haue made war one with another there durst none haue gone a fysshynge wtout conduyte of men of warre thus syr Symon Burle vnderstode by the fysshers that surely the frensshe kynge wolde passe ouer in to Englande and take landyng at Douer and at Sandwytche syr Symon byleued wel those wordes and thought it was true and so dyd all englande so on a daye he came to Cauntorbury and wente to the abbaye and there they demaunded of hym tydynges and he shewed as moche as he knewe and by his wordes he shewed that saynt Thomas shryne whiche is goodly and ryche was not there in surety bycause the towne was not stronge and he sayd that if the frensshemen sholde come thyder whiche by all lykelyhode they wolde do for Couetyse of wynnynge the robbers pyllers wolde robbe that towne and abbey chyrche and all they wyll cary awaye with them the shryne yf they fynde it here wherfore I wolde counsayle and aduyse you to cary it to the castell of Douer there it shal be in suretye thoughe al englande were lost then the abbot and all the couent toke his counsayle though he ment well in grete dyspyte and dyspleasure sayenge syr Symon wyll ye depose our chyrche fro our sygnory yt ye be afrayde make yourselfe sure for thoughe ye close yourselfe with in the castell of Douer forfere yet the frensshmen shall not be so hardy to come hyder to vs and so Symon Burle multyplyed so moche inwardes in maynteynynge his request the the comons of the countrey were sore displeased with hym and reputed hym not profytable for that countrey and ryght well they shewed after theyr dyspleasure as ye shall here in the story So syr Symon Burley wente to Douer agayne THe frensshe kynge came to Lysle to
Parys the kynge sayd he wolde se that batayle bytwene the knyght and the squyer the duke of Berre the duke of Borgoyne the duke of Borbone and the constable of Fraunce who had also grete desyre to se that batayle sayd to the kynge syr it is good reason that ye be there and that it be done in your presence then the kynge sent to Parys comaundynge that the iourney batayle bytwene the squyer and the knyght sholde be relonged tyl his comynge to Parys and so his coÌ„maundement was obeyed SO the kynge then retourned fro Sluse and helde the feest of Crystmas at Arras and the duke of Borgoyne at Lysle And in the meane season all other men of warre passed and retourned in to Fraunce euery man to his place as it was ordeyned by the marshalles but the grete lordes retourned to Parys to se the sayd batayle Thus the kynge and his vncles and the constable came to Parys Then the lystes were made in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple there was soo moche people that it was meruayle to beholde and on the one syde of the lystes there was made grete scaffoldes that the lordes myght the better se the batayle of the .ii. champyons and so they bothe came to the felde armed at all peaces and there eche of them was set in theyr chayre the erle of saynt Poule gouerned IohnÌ„ of Carongne and the erle of Alansons company with Iaques le Grys and when the knyght entred in to the felde he came to his wyfe who was there syttynge in a chayre couered in blacke and he sayd to her thus Dame by your enformacyon and in your quarell I do put my lyfe in aduenture as to fyght with Iaques le Grys ye knowe if the cause be iust and true syr sayd the lady it is as I haue sayd wherfore ye maye fyght surely the cause is good and true with those wordes the knyghte kyssed the lady and toke her by the hande and then blessyd hym and soo entred in to the felde the lady sate styll in the blacke chayre in her prayers to god and to the vyrgyne Mary humbly prayenge them by theyr specyall grace to sende her husbande the vyctory accordynge to the ryght he was in this lady was in grete heuynes â—or she was not sure of her lyfe for yf her husbande sholde haue ben dyscomfyted she was Iudged without remedy to be brente and her husbande hanged I can not say whether she repented her or not that the matter was so forwarde that bothe she and her husbande were in grete peryll howbeit fynally she must as then abyde the aduenture Then these two champyons were set one agaynst another and so mounted on theyr horses and behaued them nobly for they knewe what perteyned to deades of armes there were many lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce that were come thyder to se that batayle the two champyons iusted at theyr fyrst metyng but none of them dyd hurte other And after the Iustes they lyghted on foote to perfourme theyr batayle and soo fought valyauntly And fyrst IohnÌ„ of Carongne was hurte in the thyghe wherby al his frendes were in grete fere but after that he fought so valyauntly that he bette downe his aduersary to the erthe and threst his swerde in his body and soo slewe hym in the felde and then he demaunded yf he had done his deuoyre or not and they answered that he hadde valyauntly acheued his batayle Then Iaques le Grys was delyuered to the hangman of Parys and he drewe hym to the gybet of Mountfawcon and there hanged hym vp Then IohnÌ„ of Carongne came before the kynge and kneled downe and the kynge made hym to stande vp before hym and the same daye the kynge caused to be delyuered to hym a thousande frankes and reteyned hym to be of his chambre with a pencyon of .ii. hundred pounde by the yere durynge the terme of his lyfe then he thanked the kynge and the lordes and went to his wyfe and kyssed her and then they wente togyder to the chyrche of our Lady in Parys and made theyr offerynge and then retourned to theyr lodgynges then this syr IohnÌ„ of Carongue taryed not longe in Fraunce but wente with syr IohnÌ„ Boucequant syr IohnÌ„ of Bordes syr Loys Grat all these wente to se and vysyte the holy sepulture and to se Lamorabaquyn of whome in those dayes there was moche spekynge and with them wente Robonet of Bolowne a squyer of honoure with the Frensshe kynge who in his dayes made many voyages aboute in the worlde ¶ How the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus was sette in pryson in Barcelona Ca. lxi THe same season aboute Candelmas kynge Peter of Aragon fell syke in his bed and when he sawe that he sholde dye he caused his two sones to come before hyÌ„ IohnÌ„ the elder and Martyne duke of Blasmont in Aragon and sayd to them fayre sones I leue you in good poynte and all the busynes of the royalme standeth well and clere kepe peas and loue bytwene you and kepe fayth and honoure eche to other ye shall doo the better as for the feates of the chyrche accordynge to my conscyence and for the moost sure way I haue alwayes holden the new tralyte bytwene the .ii. popes and so I wolde ye sholde do tyl the determynacyon bytwene them apere more clerely The two sones answered sayd syr gladly we shall obey that ye commaunde ordeyne as it is reason thus in this case dyed kynge Peter of Aragon who had ben a ryght valyaunt prynce in his dayes and gretely had augmented the crowne and royalme of Aragon and had conquered the royalme of Mayiorke and had anexed it to his owne crowne and he was buryed in the good cyte of Barcelona there he lyeth and when his dethe was knowen in Auygnyon with pope Clement his Cardynalles they wrote incotynent to the frensshe kynge and to his vncles to the duke of Barre and to the duches who was of theyr oppynyon and they were fader and moder to the yonge quene that sholde be in Aragon the lady yolent and also they wrote to her that all these sholde styre and moue the yonge kynge of Aragon to be of theyr opynyon the frensshe kynge the duke of Berre and the duke of Borgoyne sente in to Aragon in legacyon a cardynall to preche and to styre the yonge kynge his broder and the people of that royalme of Aragon to take the oppynyon of Clement the Cardynall dydde soo moche with the ayde of the lady yolent of Barre as then quene of Aragon who gladly enclyned to that way bycause she was so instantly requyred therto by her fader and moder and by the frensshe kynge and dukes of Berre and Burgoyne her cosyns soo that she brought the kynge and the royalme to be of the oppynyon of pope Clement Howbeit the kynge wolde haue ben styl a newter as his fader was IN the same
suche answere that ye shall be contented Sir ye saye well quod they it suffyceth vs. Than they departed and wente to their lodgynges At nyght they were desyred to dyne the nexte daye with the duke So the nexte daye they came to the duke and were well receyued and so wasshed and went to dyner satte downe Firste the bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate and than the duke than the admyrall of Fraunce and thanne sir Iohan de Beulle They hadde a great dyner and were well serued and after dyner they entred in to a counsayle chambre and there they talked of dyuers maters and herde mynstrelsy These lordes of Fraunce thought surely to haue hadde an answere but they hadde none Than wyne and spyces were brought in and so made collasyon and than toke their leaue and departed to their lodgynge The nexte daye they were apoynted to come to the duke and so they dyde and the duke receyued them swetely and at the laste sayd Sirr I knowe well ye looke to be aunswered for by the wordes that I haue herde you saye ye are charged by the kyng and his vncles to bring them an answere Wherfore I say to you that I haue done nothynge to sir Olyuer of Clesquyne wherof I shulde repente me sauynge of one thynge and that is That he hadde so good a markette as to escape a lyue And in that I saued his lyfe was for the loue of his offyce and nat for his persone For he hath done me soo many displeasures that I ought to hate hym deedly And sauynge the displeasure of the kyng and of his vncles and his coūsayle For all the takynge of sir Olyuer I haue nat therby broken their voyage by the see I wyll well excuse my selfe therin for I thought non yuell the daye that I toke hym a man ought to take his ennemy whersoeuer he fynde hym And if he were deed I wolde thynke the Realme of Fraunce to be as well ruled or better than it is by his counsayle And as for his castelles that I holde the whiche he hath delyuered me I am in possessyon of them and so wyll be withoute the puyssaunce of a kynge take them fro me And as for rendringe of his money I aunswere I haue had so moche to do in tyme paste by the meanes of this sir Olyuer of Clysquyn that I ranne in dette gretlye therby and nowe I haue payde them that I was bounde vnto by reason of this dette This was the answere that the duke of Bretaygne made to the kynges ambassadours Than they layde forthe other reasons to enduce the duke to some reasonable waye but all his answeres tourned euer to one conclusyon And whan they sawe none other waye they toke their leaues to departe and the duke gaue them leaue Than̄e they retourned and dyd so moch by their iourneys that they came to Parys to the house of Beautie besyde Wynsentes There was the kyng the quene and thyder came the duke of Berrey and the duke of Bourgoyne hauyng great desyre to knowe what answere the duke of Bretaygne haddemade THe aunswere ye haue herde here before I nede nat to shewe it agayne but the kyng and his counsayle were nat content with the duke of Bretaygne that his ambassadours hadde made no better exployte and they sayde howe the duke was a proude man and a presumptuous and that the mater shulde nat so reste in peace seynge the matter so preiudyciall for the Crowne of Fraunce And the entensyon of the kyng and his counsayle was to make warre agaynste the duke of Bretayne and the duke loked for nothynge elles For he sawe and knewe well howe he had greatly displeased the kyng and his counsell but he hated so mortally the constable that it toke fro hym the good order of reason for he repented hym sore that he had nat putte hym to dethe whan he hadde hym in his daunger Thus the mater contynued a longe season and the duke of Bretayne laye at Wannes and lytell and lytell rode ouer his countrey for he freared greatly embusshmentes He kepte styll in loue and fauour his cyties and good townes and made secrete treaties with the Englysshmen and made his castelles and forteresses to be as well kepte as thoughe he had had opyn warre and was in many imaginacions on the dede he had done Somtyme he wolde say he wolde he had nat taken the constable howe be it he sayd euer to stoppe mennes mouthes that sir Olyuer of Clesquyn had sore dishleased hym so that many a man sayd that elles he wolde neuer haue done it therby he brought his coūtre in feare for it is but a small signorie if a prince be nat feared and douted of his menne for and the worste fall he maye haue peace whan he lyst ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretaygne and let vs somwhat speke of the busynesse that was in the realme of Englāde whiche was in the same season horryble and marueylous ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one accorde and aliaūce agaynst the kyng and his counsaile and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii YE haue herde here before howe the kyng of Englandes vncles the duke of yorke the duke of Gloucestre with therle of Salisbury and the erle of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Notyngham and the archebysshoppe of Caūterbury All these were of one alyaunce and accorde agaynst the kynge and his counsayle for these lordes and other were nat content with the kynges counsayle and sayd among them selfe This duke of Irelande dothe with the kynge what he lyste and with all the realme The kyng wyll nat be counsayled but by vnhappy men and of base lynage and taketh no regarde to the great lordes of his realme As longe as he hath suche counsayle about hym the busynesse of Englande can nat do well for a realme can nat be well gouerned nor a kynge well counsayled by suche vngracious people It is sene a poore man moūted in to gret estate and in fauoure with his mayster often tymes corrupteth distroyeth the people and the realme A man of base lynage canne nat knowe what parteyneth to honoure their desyre is euer to enryche and to haue all thēselfe lyke an Otter in the water whiche coueteth to haue all that he fyndeth Who hath any profyte by that the duke of Irelande is so great with the kyng we knowe full well fro whense he came yet we se that all the realme is ruled by hym and nat by the kynges vncles nor by none of his blode This ought nat to be suffred We knowe well ynoughe that the Erle of Oxenforde had neuer the grace to do any valyaunt dede in this realme his honour wysedome counsayle or gentylnesse is ryght well knowen and that was well knowen ones by sir Iohan Chandos in
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌ„ded what mater was that I shall shewe you quod the other knyght for I was there present There was wyne brought on a day into the princes Chambre where as there were many lordes of Englande with hym whan the prince had dronke bicause sir IohnÌ„ Chandos was constable of Acquitayne the prince sente hym his cuppe first to drinke and he toke the cuppe and dranke and made therof none offre firste to the Erle of Oxenforde who was father to this duke of IrelaÌ„de and after that sir Iohan Chandos had dronke a squyer bare the cuppe to the Erle who hadde suche dispyte that sir Iohan Chandos hadde droÌ„ke before hym that he refused the cuppe wolde nat drinke and sayde to the squyer in maner of a mocke Go to thy mayster Chandos and bydde hym drinke Shall I go said the squyer he hath dronke all redy Therfore drinke you sythe he hath offred it to you if ye wyll nat drinke by saynt George I shall cast the drinke in your face Th erle whan he herd that douted that the Squyer wolde do as he sayde and so toke the cuppe and sette it to his mouthe and dranke or at leest made semblant to drinke And sir Iohan Chandos who was nat farre thens sawe well all the mater and helde hym styll tyll the prince was gone from them Than he came to the Erle and sayde Sir Aubery are ye displeased in that I dranke before you I am Constable of this countrey I maye well drinke before you sythe my lorde the Prince and other lordes here are coÌ„tente therwith It is of trouthe ye were at the batayle of Poycters but suche as were there knoweth nat so well as I what ye dyd theâ— I shall declare it ¶ Whanne that my lorde the Prince hadde made his voyage in Languedocke and Carcassone to Narbone and was retourned hyther to this towne of Bourdeaux ye toke on you to go in to Englande What the Kynge sayde to you at your coÌ„mynge I knowe right well yet I was nat there He demaunded of you if ye hadde furnysshed your voyage and what ye had done with his sonne the Prince ye aunswered howe ye had lefte hym in good helth at Bourdeaux Than the kynge sayde What and howe durste ye be so bolde to retourne without hym I commauÌ„ded you and all other whan ye departed that ye shulde nat retourne without hym on payne of all that ye myght forfayte And you this to retourne I straitly commaunde you that within four dayes ye auoyde my realme and retourne agayne to hym For and I fynde you within this my realme the fifth day ye shall lese your lyfe and all your herytage for euer And ye feared the kynges wordes as it was reason and so auoyded the realme and so your adueÌ„ture and fortune was good for truely ye were with my lorde the prince a foure dayes before the batayle of Poicters And so ye hadde the day of the batayle fourtie speares vnder your charge and I had threfore Nowe ye mayese wheder I ought to drinke before you or nat syth I am constable of â— equytaygne The erle of Orenforde was a shamed and wolde gladlye he hadde ben thens at that tyme but he was fayne to suffre and to here those wordes This sir Iohan Chandos sayde to hym in opyn presence Therfore it is nat to be marueyled thoughe this duke of Irelande who is sonne to the sayd erle of Oxenforde be disdaynfull in folowynge the steppes of his father For he taketh vpon hym to rule all Englande aboue the kynges vncles Well quod some other why shulde he nat sythe the kyng wyll haue it so THus the people in the Realme murmured in dyuers places agaynst the duke of Irelande And he dyde one thyng that greatly abated his honour that was he had firste to his wyfe the doughter of the lorde of Coucy the lady Isabell who was a fayre Lady and a good and of more noble blode than he is of But he fell in loue with another damosell of the quenes of Englande an Almaygne borne and dyde so moche with pope Vrbayne at Rome that he was deuorsed fro the doughter of the lorde Coucy without any tytell of reason but by presumpcion and for his synguler appetyte and than wedded the quenes mayde and kynge Rycharde conseÌ„ted there to he was so blynded with this duke of Irelande that if he had sayd sir this is whyte tho it had ben blacke the kyng wolde nat haue sayd the contrarye This dukes mother was greatly displeased with him for that dede and toke in to her coÌ„pany his first wyfe the lady of Coucy The duke dyde yuell and therfore at length yuell came to hym and this was the first princypall cause that he was behated for in Englande euery thyng that turneth to yuell must haue a begynning of yuell This duke of Irelande trusted so moche in the grace and fauour of the kyng that he beleued that no man shulde trouble hym And it was a coÌ„mon renome through EnglaÌ„de that theâ— shulde be a newe taxe raysed through the realme that euery fyre shulde paye a noble and the riche to beare out the poore The kynges vncles knewe well it wolde be a harde mater to bringe about And they had caused certayne wordes to be sowen abrode in the cyties and good townes of Englande as to saye howe the people of Englande were sore greued with tares and talenges and howe there was great rychesse raysed and that the common people wolde haue accomptes of the gouernours therof as the archebysshop of yorke the duke of Irelande sir Symon Burle sir Mychaell de la Pole sir Nycholas BraÌ„ble sir Robert Tryâ—â—lyen ser Peter Golouser sir Iohan Salisbury sir Iohan Beauchampe and the maisters of the Staple of the wolles The commons sayd that if they wolde make a trewe accoÌ„pte there shulde be founde golde and syluer suffycient without raysing of any newe subsydies It is a common vsage none is gladde to pay money nor to opyn their purses if they may lette it THis brute and noyse spredde so a brode in Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is chyefe cytie in the realme that all the coÌ„mons rose and sayde howe they wolde knowe howe the realme was gouerned sayenge howe it was longe syth any accompte was made Firste these londoners drewe theym to syr Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucestre thoughe he were yonger brother than sir Edmonde duke of yorke The common people reputed the duke of Glocestre for a valyant and a sage discrete parson And whan they came before hym they sayde Syr the good cytie of London recoÌ„maundeth them to you and all the people ingenerall requireth you to take vpon you the gouernynge of the realme For they knowe well it is nat vnknowen to you howe the kynge and the realme is gouerned The coÌ„mon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
but right iustyce Than a seuyn of them all with one voyce answered and sayde Right redouted souerayne sayng your gracyous displeasure as for iustyce in your realme is right feble your grace knoweth nat all nor canne nat knowe your grace nouther demaundeth for it nor enquereth therfore and suche as be of your couÌ„sayle forbere to shewe it you bycause of their owne profyte For sir it is no iustyce to cutte of heedes handes and fete suche maner of punysshmentes be nat laudable But sir good iustice is to kepe your people in ryght and to sette suche wayes and order as they myght lyue in peace that they shulde haue none occasyon to grudge or to make any commosyon And sir we saye that ye sette vs to longe a daye as to Mighelmas sir we may be neuer so well eased as nowe Wherfore sir we saye all by one assente that we wyll haue accompte and that shortely of them that hath gouerned your realme sythe your Coronacyon And we wyll knowe Where youre Reuenewes is become with all the taxes tayles and subsydies this nyne yeres paste and wheron they haue been bestowed If suche as are your treasourers make a good accompte or nere thervnto we shall be ryght ioyouse and suffre them to gouerne styll And if they can nat acquyte them selfe therin trewly they shal be refourmed by youre deputyes establysshed to that purpose as my lordes your vncles other With those wordes the kynge behelde his vncles helde his peace to se what they wolde saye Than sir Thomas duke of Gloucester sayde Sir in the request and prayer of these good people the commons of your realme I se nothynge therin but ryght and reasone Sir quod the duke of yorke it is of trouthe and so sayde all the other prelates and barons that were there present Than the duke of Gloucester sayde agayne Sir it is but reason that ye knowe where your good is become The kyng sawe well howe they were all of one accorde and sawe howe this chafe Marmosettes durst speke no worde for there were to many gret men agaynst them Well quod the kyng I am content Lette them be rydde awaye for sommer season cometh on and huntynge tyme whervnto we wyll nowe entende Than the kynge sayd to the people Sirs wolde ye haue this mater shortely dispatched yea sir quod they and that humbly we beseche your grace And also we beseche all my lordes here and specyally my lordes your vncles to be there at We are content quod they for the apeysyng of all parties as well for the kynge as for the Realme for oure parte lyeth therin Than they sayde agayne We desyre also the reuerende father in god the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshoppe of Lyncolne and the bysshoppe of Wynchester to be there They aunswered and sayde they were content so to be Than agayn they desyred all other lordes to be there that were there present as the erle of Salisbury and the Erle of Northumberlande sir Reynolde Cobham sir Guy Brian sir IohnÌ„ Felton sir Mathewe Gourney and moreouer they sayd they wolde ordayne that of euery good cytie and towne in Englande there shulde be a thre or four notable persons and they shulde determyne for all the hole coÌ„montie of Englande Than this mater was determyned and to assemble the vtas of saint George at Westmynster And there all the treasourers collectours and offycers of the kynges to be there and to make there accomptes before these sayd lordes The kyng was content therwith and was brought to it by fayrenesse and nat byfore by the desyre of his vncles and other lordes It semed to hym behouable to knowe where his treasoure was become Thus amiably euery man deê‘ted fro Wyndsore and the lordes went to London the treasourers and other offycers were sende for throughout the realme to come with their full accomptes on payne of dishonourynge losse of all that they had and lyfe ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the officers appered in the presence of the kynges vncles commens of EnglaÌ„de and howe sir Simon Burle was prisoner iÌ„ the toure of London and howe sir Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii THe day prefixed came that all ê‘tes apered at westmynster suche as shulde make their accomptes apered before the kynges vncles and suche other prelates and lordes with other as were assigned to here theÌ„ This accompte endured more than a moneth and some there were that made their accomptes nother good nor honourable suche were punisshed bothe by their bodyes and by their goodes sir Symon Burle was cast in arerage of .ii. C. and l. M. frankes bycause he was one of the gouernours in the kynges youthe And he was demaunded where this good was bestowed he excused hym selfe by the bysshop of yorke sir Wylliam Neuell sayeng howe he dyde nothyng but by their counsayle and by the kynges chamberleyns ser Robert Tryuilyen sir Robert Beauchampe sir Iohn Salisbury sir Nycholas Braule sir Peter Goufer and other And whan they were demauÌ„ded therof before the counsaile they denyed the mater layd all the faute in hym And the duke of Irelande sayd to hym priuely bytwene them two Sir Symon I vnderstande ye shal be arested and sette in prison and holde there tyll ye haue payed the soÌ„me that is demaunded nothyng shal be abated Go your waye whether soeuer they sende you I shall rightwell make your peace thoughe they had all sworne the contrary I ought to receyue of the constable of FrauÌ„ce threscore M. frankes for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to saynt Charles of Bloys the whiche soÌ„me ye knowe well is owyng to me I shall present the counsayle therwith at this tyme. And fynally the kyng is our soueraigne lorde he shall pardon and forgyue it you clerely for the profet ought to be his and no mannes els Syr ê™ sir Symon Burle if I thought nat that ye shulde helpe agaynst the kynge and to beare out my dedes I wolde departe out of Englande and go in to Almayne and to the kyng of Beame for thyder I coulde be welcome and so let the mater rynne a season tyll the worlde be better apeased Than the duke sayde I shall neuer fayle you we are companyons and all of one sect ye shall take day to pay their demauÌ„de I knowe well ye maye pay and ye lyste in redy money more than a hundred thousande frankes ye nede nat feare the dethe ye shall nat be brought to that poynte ye shall se the mater otherwise chaunge before the feast of saynt Michell whan I haue the kyng ones at my wyll wherof I ame sure For all that he dothe now at this tyme is by force and agaynst his wyll We muste apease these cursed londoners and lay downe this slaunder brute that is nowe raysed agaynst vs and ours SIr Symon Burle had a lytell truste on the wordes of the duke of Irelande and so came before the lordes
nat what to say nor do for he knewe well all the people that he had assembled there were nat all of one corage wherfore he wyst nat wheder it were better to retourne to the kyng or to abide there He toke counsayle with his knyghtes fynally their couÌ„sayle rested that sythe the kyng had ordayned hym to be Constable ouer all his people and to correcte and to punysshe all rebelles that he shulde kepe the felde for if he shulde do otherwyse it shulde be to his great blame and rebuke and to bring him in to the indignacion of the kyng and to shewe that his quarell were nother good nor right And also they said that it was better for him to dye with honour and to abyde the aduenture than to shewe any false corage but they counsayled hym to sende worde what case he was in to the kyng to Bristowe As yet they sayd blessed be god they kepte the feldes and none to recouÌ„tre them So thus the duke sent to the kyng desyring hym to sende hym more ayde which the kyng dyde daylye Tidynges came to the kynges vncles being at LoÌ„don that the duke of Irlande with his company were in the marchesse of Oxenforde There they toke counsayle what was best for them to do There was with the kynges vncles the archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Salysbury the Erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of EnglaÌ„nde and the rulers of London There it was ordayned by the duke of Gloucester that without delay they shulde issue out in to the feldes that the mayre of London shulde putte in to harnesse all the people in euery warde suche as wolde ayde them Sayeng surely howe they wolde go and fyght with the duke of Irlande whersoeuer they coude fynde hym the mayre of London was as than a man of armes He toke chosen men bytwene the age of twentie yeres and .xl. And the lordes were a thousande men of armes They departed fro London and went and lodged at Braynford and there about and the nexte daye at Colebroke and dayly the nombre encreased and so toke the waye to Redyng to passe the temmes there aboute for the bridges bytwene Wyndsore and Stanes were broken by the coÌ„maundement of the duke of Irelande So long they iourneyed that they aproched nere to Oxenforde tidynges therof a none came to the duke of Irelande than he beganne to dout and toke counsayle Than he was couÌ„sayled to take the feldes and to put his people in order of batayle and to display that kynges baners sayeng by the grace of god and saynt George the iourney shulde be his As it was deuysed so it was doone Than they sowned their trumpettes and euery man armed hym and issued out of Oxenforde in order of batayle with the kynges baners displayed the day was fayre clere and a pleasaunt season ⸪ ⸪ ¶ How the kynges vncles wan the iourney agaynst the duke of IrelaÌ„de and howe he fledde dyuers other of his company Cap. xcix TIdinges came to the duke of Gloucester beyng within thre leages of Oxenforde by a ryuer syde whiche falleth in to the teÌ„mes a lytell besyde Oxenforde howe that the duke of Irelande was drawen in to the feldes in order of batayle wherof the duke of Gloucester had great ioye sayde howe he wolde fyght with hym if he myght passe the ryuer Than trumpettes sowned the dislodging and ordered them selfe redy to fyght They were within two leages of their ennemyes sertched to passe the ryuer and sente oute people to sertche the depnesse of the water and they fouÌ„de the ryuer in suche apoynt than in .xxx. yeres before it was nat so base And so the scurers passed at their ease and rode and aduysed the maner of their ennemyes and than retourned to the duke of Gloucester and sayd Sir god and the ryuer is this daye on your parte for the ryuer is so lowe that it is nat to the horse bely And sir we haue sene the maner of the duke of IrelaÌ„de they be redy raynged in the felde in good maner We can nat saye if the kyng be there or no but the kyngê baners be there with the armes of Englande and of Fraunce and none other Well ê™ the duke a goddes name so be it of that armes I and my brother haue parte auauÌ„ce forward in the name of god and saynt George let vs gose theÌ„ nerer Than euery man rode forthe with great courage whan they knewe they myght passe the ryuer at their ease so shortlye all their hoost passed the ryuer TIdynges came to the duke of IrelaÌ„d howe the kynges vncles were passed the ryuer of TeÌ„mes how they shulde haue batayle brefely Than the duke of Irelande was abasshed for he knewe well if he were taken the duke of Glocester wolde cause hym to dye shamefully that nouther golde nor syluer shulde raunsome hym Than he sayde to sir Peter Golofer to sir Mychaell Pole sirs surely my corage beareth yuell agaynst this iourney nor I dare nat abyde the bataile agaynst the kynges vncles for if they take me I shall dye shamefully Howe the deuyll is it that they be passed the ryuer of TeÌ„mes It is but a poore token for vs. Why sir quod the two knyghtes what wyll ye do I wyll saue myself and you also quod the duke and the rest saue them who can Well sir quod the knyghtes than lette vs drawe our selfe out a syde on a wynge and so we shall haue two strynges on our bowe We shall se howe our men do if they do well than we shall abyde for the honour of the kyng who hath sent vs hither if they be discoÌ„fited we shall take that feldes take the aduauntage by flyeng saue our selfe where we may This couÌ„sayle was holden good Than the duke and these two knyghtes rode a long their batayle made good vysage and sayd Sirs kepe your batayls in good order and by the grace of god and saynt George we shall haue this daye a fayre iourney for the ryght is ours it is the kynges quarell therfore we shall spede the better Thus they rode vp and downe dissymulynge at laste they gette them selfe out of the prease and so came to one of the corners of the batayle and made a wynge and therwith there came on the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre and other lordes with their baners displayed makyng great noyse with trumpettes And as soone as the duke of Irelandes company sawe them coÌ„mynge in so good order and so fiersly They were so abaâ—shed that they helde none arraye but tourned their backes and fledde For the noyse ran howe the duke of Irelande and his couÌ„sayle were â—edde and gone And so than euerye man fledde some hyther and thyder they wyste nat whyder without makynge of any defence And the duke of Irelande and the two knyghtes of his counsayle fledde biforce of their horses
the kyng and there shewe hym what case the busynesse of his realme is in recoÌ„maunde vs to hym shewe hym in our behalfe that he gyue no credence of lyght enformacion agaynst vs He hath beleued some to moche for his owne honour and for the ê“fyte of his realme And saye also to hym that we requyre hym and so do all the good people of London that he wolde come hyder he shal be welcome receyued with gret ioye we shall set such couÌ„saile about hym that he shal be well pleased And we charge you retourne nat agayne withoute hym and desyre hym nat to be displeased thoughe we haue chased awaye a meny of traytours that were about hym for by them his realme was in great paryll of lesynge The bysshop sayd he shulde do ryght well his message and so departed and rodde forthe lyke a great prelate and so came to Bristowe and the kynge was there but with a priuye coÌ„pany For suche as were wont to haue ben of his counsayle were deed and fledde awaye as ye haue herde before The bysshop was in the towne two nightes and a day or the kyng wolde speke with hym He was so soore dyspleased with his vncles for driuynge awaye of the duke of Irelande whome he loued aboue all men and for sleeynge of his knyghtes Finally he was so entysed that he consented that the archbysshop shulde come in to his presens Whan he came before hym he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the kynge and there shewed the kyng euery worde as the kynges vncles had gyuen hym in charge And shewed hym that if it were his pleasure to come to Londou to his palys of Westmynster his vncles and the mooste parte of all his realme wolde be ryght ioyeouse elles they wyll be ryght sorte and yuell displeased And sayde sir Without the comforte ayde and accorde of your vncles and of your lordes knyghtes and prelates and of your good cyties and townes of EnglaÌ„de ye canne nat come to any of youre ententes He spake these wordes boldelye and sayde moreouer Sir ye canne nat reioyse so moche youre ennemyes as to make warre with youre frendes and to kepe youre Realme in warre and myschiefe The yonge kynge by reasone of the bysshoppes wordes beganne to enclyne howe be it the beheedynge of his knyghtes and counsaylours came sore in to his courage So he was in dyuers ymaginacions but finally he refrayned his displeasure by the good meanes of the quene the lady of Boesme and of some other wise knightes that were about hym as sir Rycharde Stoner and other Thanne the kyng sayd to the bysshoppe Well I am content to go to LoÌ„don with you wherof the bisshop was right ioyous and also it was to hym a great honoure that he hadde spedde his iourney so well WIthin a shorte space after the kyng departed lefce the quene styll at Bristowe and so came towardes London with the archbysshoppe in his company and so came to Wyndsore and there the kyng taryed a thre dayes Tidynges came to London howe the kynge was commynge euery manne was gladde Than it was ordayned to mete hym honourablye The daye that he departed fro Wyndsore the way fro Braynforde to London was full of people on horse backe and a foote to mete the kynge And his two vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucester and Iohan sonne to the duke of yorke the erle of Arundell the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes and prelates departed out of London mette with the kyng a two myle fro Braynforde There they receyued hym swetely as they ought to do their soueraygne lorde The kynge who bare yet some displeasure in his herte passed by and made but small countenaunce to theÌ„ and all the waye he talked moost with the bisshop of LoÌ„don at last they came to WestmiÌ„ster The kyng alyghted at his palis whiche was redy apparelled for him There the kyng dranke and toke spyces and his vncles also and other Prelates lordes and knyghtes Than some tooke their leaues The kynges vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterburye with the counsayle taryed styll there with the kyng some in the Palais and some in the abbey and in the towne of westminster to kepe the kynge company and to be nere toguyder co commune of their busynesse there they determyned what shulde be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to westmynster to a generall counsayle there to be holden Cap. C.i. A Generall Parlyament was ordeyned to be holden at Westmynstre and all prelates Erles Barons and knyghtes and the counsayles of all the good townes and cytees of EnglaÌ„de were sent for to be there and all suche as helde of the kyng The archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury shewed to the kynges vncles counsayle that when kynge Rycharde was crowned kynge of Englande and that euery man was sworne and made theyr releues to hym and that whaÌ„ he receyued theyr faythes and homages he was within age and a knyge ought nat to gouerne a royalme tyll he be xxi yeres of age and in the meane season to be gouerned by his vncles or by his nexte kynne and by wyse men The bysshop sayd this bycause the kynge as then was but newlye come to the age of .xxi. yeres wherfore he counsayled that euery man shulde be newe sworne and renewe their releues and euery manne newe to knowledge hym for their soueraygne lorde This counsayle was excepted of the kynges vncles and of all other of the couÌ„sayle And for that entent all prelates and lordes and counsayles of good cyties townes were sent for to come to Westminster at a daye assigned Euery man came thyder none disobeyed so that there was moche people in London and at Westmister And kyng Richarde was in his chapell in the palys rychely apareyled with his crowne on his heed and the archebysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury sang the masse And after masse the bisshoppe made a collasyon And after that the kyngê vncles dyde their homage to the kyng kyssed hym and there they sware and ê“mysed hym faithe and homage for euer And than all other lordes sware and prelates and with their handes ioyned togyder they dyde their homage as it aparteyned and kyst the kynges cheke Some the kyng kyst with good wyll some nat for all were nat in his in warde loue but it behoued hym so to do for he wolde nat go fro the counsayle of his vncles But surely if he might haue had his entent he wolde nat haue done as he dyde but rather haue taken crewell vengeaunce for the deche of sir Symon Burle and other knyghtê that they had putte fro hym and slayne without desert as he thought Than it was ordayned by the couÌ„sayle that the archebysshop of yorke shulde come and pourge hym selfe for he hadde alwayes been of the duke of Irelandes parte agaynst the kynges vncles
duke of Bretaygne sawe howe his excuses coude nat be taken nor herde sayde Well sirs if I go to Parys it shal be greatlye agaynst my wyll and to my preiudyce For whan I come there I shall fynde and se daylye before me sir Olyuer of Clyssone whom I can nat loue nor neuer dyde nor he me who shall attempte me with rygorous wordes My lordes regarde well what inconuenyentes shall ensue of my goynge thyder Sir ê™ the duke of Burgoyne fayre cosyn haue ye no dout therin for we shall swere solempnely to you that withoute it shall be your owne pleasure ye shall nouther se nor speke with the Constable nor with Iohan of Mountforde as longe as ye shall be there Of this sir ye shall be sure but ye shall se the kynge who desyreth to se you and other lordes knyghtes and squyers of Fraunce who shall make you good chere And whanne ye haue done that ye loke for ye shall retourne agayne without peryll or dommage Wherto shulde I make longe processe So moche the duke of Bretayne was desyred with faire wordes that he consented to go to Parys on the promyse that the Constable nor Iohan of Mountforde shulde nat come in his preseÌ„ce the whiche the dukes sware faythfully to vpholde and thervpon he ê“mysed to go to Parys A fyue dayes these dukes were at Bloyes and eche of them feested other ryght nobly and the couÌ„tesse and her chyldren in lyke maner And whan euery thyng was accomplysshed the two dukes toke leaue of the duke of Bretaygne and retourned to Parys But sir Wylliam of Heynaulte retourned nat to Parys with the duke of Burgoyne his faire father but rode first with the countesse of Bloyes who made hym right good chere and taryed there a thre dayes than toke his leaue and retourned in to Fraunce by the Castell Dune and Bonyuall ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Lewes kyng of Cycyle entred in to Parys in estate royall and howe the duke of Bretayne entred on the nyght of saynt IohnÌ„ the Baptyst The yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore seuyn and of a dede of armes doone before the kyng at Mountereau faulte you bytwene a knyght of Englande called sir ThomÌ„s Harpingham and a frenche knyght named sir IohnÌ„ de Barres Cap. C.xxxi THe duke of Bretaygne rode to Boygency on the ryuer of Loyre there he ordered his businesse to go to Parys The same tyme before the duke of Bretaygne entered in to Parys there entred the quene of Cycyll and of Hierusalem somtyme wyfe to the Duke of Aniou who was called kynge of those countreis and also of Naples and with her was her yonge sonne Lewes who was as thanne in all Fraunce named kynge of all the said landes And in their company was Iohan of Bretaygne brother to the lady She sente worde before of her coÌ„mynge to the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne aduertysyng theÌ„ howe she brought in her company her yonge son Lewes their nephue desyring to knowe whether he shulde entre into Paris as a kynge or elles symply as Lewes of Aniou The two dukes sente her worde aduisynge and couÌ„sayling her that he shulde entre as kyng of Naples of Cycyle and of Hierusalem And sente her worde that thoughe he were nat as thanne in possessyon of the Realmes yet they wolde entyse the Frenche kyng that he shulde ayde hym to conquere them for so they sware to do to their brother kyng Lois After this maner the lady prepared for her selfe and came and entred in to Parys and made her sonne to ryde throughe the hyghe stretes by saynt Iaques so to his lodgynge in grene in estate royall accompanyed with Dukes erles and prelates a great nombre There the lady taryed with her sonne and thanne wente to se the kynge at his castell of Loure abydinge there the commynge of the duke of Bretaygne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Bretaygne entred in to Parys and came to the castell of Loure to the Frenche kynge Cap. C.xxxii WHan the duke of Bretayne aproched nere to Parys he rested one nyght at the quenes Bourge and the nexte daye he entred in to Paris great lokyng for hym was in Paris bycause he had before putte in daunger the Constable of Fraunce and had ben sente for dyuers tymes and wolde neuer come tyll than Men spake therof dyuersly and on a sondaye beynge Mydsomer daye at tenne of the clocke afore noone the duke of Bretaygne entred the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred fourscore and eight in to Parys at hell gate and passed a long the strete of the Harpe and ouer the bridge saynt Michell and so before the palais well accompanyed with lordes and knyghtes There was sir Wyllyam of Heynaulre erle of Ostrenaunt his faire brother Iohan of Burgoyne and before him roode sir Wyllyam of Namure Thus he came to the Castelle of Loure and there alyghted as he rode throughe the stretes he was greatelye regarded of the common people And whan the duke was a lyghted and entred in at the gate he remembred what he shulde do and saye And before hym was the lorde of Coucy the erle of Sauoy sir IohnÌ„ of Vyen sir Guye de la Tremoyle sir IohnÌ„ of Vernayle the erle of Meauir sir Iohan of Voye sir Iohan of Barres and nere to hym was sir Wyllyam of Namure Iohan of Burgoyne and the erle of Ostrenaunte And behynde hym the lorde Mountforde of Bretayne and the lorde of Malestroyt they were of his kynne and priuy couÌ„sayle there was great preace to se hym and the halle but lytell and the boordes were couered for the kynge to go to dyner And the kynge stoode there redy before the table and his .iii. vncles besyde hym dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone As soone as the duke was entred euery man made place so that the duke myght se the kynge Firste he made one curtesy and so passed forthe a renne or .xii. paces Than he made the seconde curtesy and rose agayne and so passed forthe tyll he came before the kynge Than the thirde tyme he kneled downe bare heeded and saluted the kyng and sayd Sir I am come to se your grace god maynteyne youre prosperyte I thanke you sir quod the kyng and we haue great desyre to se you We shall se and speke with you at more leysar and therwith toke hym vp by the armes Than the duke enclyned hym self to all the other princes eche after other than he stode styll before the kynge without spekynge of any worde The kyng sore behelde hym Thanne the Stewardes and offycers came forthe with water and the kyng wasshed and the duke of Bretaygne putte his hande to the bason and to the towell And whan the kyng was sette the duke toke his leaue of the kyng and of his vncles and the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule with other lordes conueyed hym in to the court where his horses were and there
brought before Perotte and dyde well his message wherof Perot had great ioye For he greatly desyred to here tidynges of the army on the see Than he sayd to the Breton thou arte welcome Bothe I and all my companions haue great desyre to ryde forthe abrode and so shall we do and accomplysshe that thou hast shewed vs. THus Perotte le Bernoys made hym prest and sente to Carlate to the Bourge of Champaygne to the capitayne of Ousacke Olyue Barbe and to the capitayn of Aloyse besyde saynt Floure Aymergotte Marcell and to other capitayns a longe the countrey in Auuergne an Lymosyn oesyryng all these to make theÌ„ redy for he wolde ryde oute abrode for he sawe it than a good season for them coÌ„maundynge them to leaue sure men in their garisons tyll their returne These companyons who hadde as great desyre to ryde abrode as Perot for they coulde nat ware ryche withoute some other loste made theÌ„ redy and came to Chalucet where they assembled They were well to the nombre of foure hundred speares they thought themselfe suffycient to do a great feate they knewe no lorde in the countrey as than able to resyste them nor to breke their enterprice for the siege of Vandachore of sir Wyllyam of Lignacke nor of Boesme LauÌ„ce was nat defeated as than Thus they rode forthe and were lordes of the feldes and passed Auuergne on the ryght hande and tooke the ryght waye to Berrey for they knewe well the duke was nat as than there but was in Fraunce with the kyng at MouÌ„tereau or faulte you ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of Perot le Bernoys and of his enterprice and speke of the erle of Arundell and of his armye on the see and shewe howe he perceuered after he was departed fro the cost of Bretayne WHan the erle of Arundell suche lordes as were with hym were departed fro the cost of Bretayne they sayled with good wynd and wether for the tyme was fayre pleasunt and goodly to beholde the shippes on the see They were a sixscore one and other with baners and stremers wauynge in the wynde glytrynge with the lordes armes agaynst the sonne Thus they went saylyng by the see fresshly like a horse newe coÌ„myng out of the stable brayeng and cryeng and fomyng at the mouth The see was so prompt and so agreable to theÌ„ as thoughe by fygure the see shulde haue said to them be mery sirs I am for you and I shall bring you to good porte and hauen without peryll Thus these lordê sayled frontyng Poyctou and Xaynton cast ancre before Rochell in the hauen towarde Marant Than some of their coÌ„pany seyng the fludde coÌ„myng entred or it were full water in to bottes mo than two hundred one and other and arryued nere to the towne of Marant The watche of Marant had spied the Englysshe flete and sawe howe the bottes were commyng to lande warde with the fludde Than he blewe his truÌ„pe and made great noyse to awake the men of the towne to saue them selfe so that many men and women toke their goodes and wente and saued them in the Castell the whiche came well to passe for them or els they had lost all Whan they sawe the Englysshmen come at their he lys they toke that they had and lefte the rest and saued their bodyes The Englysshe archers and other entred in to the towne fell to pyllage therfore they came thyder but lytell they founde there sauyng coffers voyde and emptye all their goodes was withdrawen in to the Castell As for Corne wyne salte becone and other prouision they fouÌ„de ynoughe for there was more than four hundred tonne of wyne in the towne Wherfore they determyned to abyde there a certayne space to kepe that prouisyon It came well to passe for them for they sayde if they shulde departe thens all shulde be withdrawen in to the fortresses and caryed awaye by the ryuer to Fountney as moche as they myght and the reste distroyed They taryed all that night in the towne They came thyder in the euenyng and sente worde to them on the see what case they were in and the cause why they taryed The erle of Arundell and the other lordes sayde howe they had done well This nyght passed The nexte mornynge whan the tyde began to retourne they disancred all their small vesselles and euery man wente in to them and putte all their harnesse in to bottes and barges and lafte their great shippes styll at ancre for they coude nat cum nere to the lande for lacke of water and they laste an hundred men of armes and two hundred archers styll there to kepe their shippes whiche laye at the mouthe of the hauyn thaÌ„ with their smalle vesselles they arryued at Marant and toke lande at their leysar and so lodged all bytwene Marant and the towne of Rochell the whiche was but four leages fro thens Tidynges spredde abrode in the countrey howe the Englysshe men were arryued at Barante a four hundred fightyng men the playne countrey the good townes and castelles were a srayde and made good watche Than they of the vyllages fledde amaye and caryed their goodê in to Forestes and in to other places as shortely as they myght ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe they of Marroys and Rochellois were sore afrayed of the Englysshmen that were a lande how they of Rochell made a serimysshe with them and howe after the Englysshmen had pylled the countrey about Marant they drewe agayne to the see with their pyllage whiche was great Cap. C.xxxiiii IF the Englysshmen had ben furnysshed with horses it had been greatly to their profyte for the countrey as than was vnproâ—â—ded of men of warr namely of suche as were able to haue merre with them True it was the lord of Parteney the lorde of Pons the lorde of Lymers that lorde of Tanyboton sir Geffray of Argenton the lorde of Montendre sir Aymery of Roch chouart the vycont of to wars and dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of Poictou and of Xaynton were as than in the countrey but they were nat toguyder for euery man was in his owne fortresse for they were nat ware of the Englysshe mens commynge thyder If they hadde knowen a moneth before that the Englysshe menne wolde haue ryued there they wolde haue prouyded therfore but they knewe it nat This fell sodaynly wherfore they were the more afrayde and euery man toke hede to kepe his owne the men of the countrey to gette in their cornes for it was about the begynnynge of Auguste Also there was no heed Capitaygne in the countrey to bringe menne toguyder The duke of Berrey who was cheife soueraygne of Poittou was but newely gone to Parys The seneschall of Xaynton was nat in the countrey And the Seneschall of Rochell sir Helyon of Lignacke was nat at Rochell nor in the countrey He was in great busynesse to ryde in and out bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancastre By
tyme there rose suche a tempeste that it sperkled abrode the englysshe nauy in suche wyse that the hardyest marynere there was sore abasshed so that perforce they were constreyned to seke for lande And the erle of Arundell with .xxvii. vesselles with hym whether they wolde or nat were fayne to caste ancre in a lytell hauen called the Palyce a two small leages fro Rochell and the wynde was so streynable on see borde that they coude nat departe thence Whanne tydynges therof came to Rochell they were in great dought at the fyrste leste the englisshmen wolde come on them and do them great domage and closed their gates and helde them shytte a day and a halfe Than other tydynges came to them fro them of Palyce howe the englysshemen were but .xxvii. vesselles and came thyder by force of wynde and wether and taryed for nothynge but to de parte agayne and that the Erle of Arundell was there and the lorde Henry Beamonde sir Willyam Helmen mo than thyrty knyghtes of Englande Than they of Rochell tooke counsayle what thynge was beste for them to do and all thyng consydered they sayd howe they shulde but easly acquyte themselfe if they went nat to skrymysshe with them The same season before the castell of Bouteuyll was syr Loys of Xansere mershall of FrauÌ„ce and had besieged within the fortresse Gylliam of saynt Foye a gascon and with the marshall a great company of Poictoâ— of Xayntone of Piergourt of Rochell and of the lowe marches for all were nat gone in to Almayne with the knig This sir Loys was soueraygne capytayne ouer all the fronters bytwene Mountpellyer and Rochell tyll the retourne of the lorde Coucy They of Rochell sent worde to the marshall of the englysshmens beynge at Palyce Whan he herde therof he was ryght ioyfull and sent to theym that they shulde make redy seuen or eyght galees and to man them forthe for he wolde come by lande and fyght with the Englisshmen They of Rochell dyd as they were commaunded and sir Loys departed fro his siege and brake it vp for he thought it shulde be more honorable for hym to fyght with the erle of Arundell and the englysshe men rather thanne to contyne we styll his siege Thus be wente to Rochell and all knyghtes and squyers folowed hym I can nat tell by what inspyracyon the erle of Arundell had knowledge howe the marshall of Fraunce with a greate puyssaunce of knyghtes and squyers was comynge to fyght with hym at Palyce whiche tydynges were nat very pleasaunte to the erle of Arundell howe be it the wynde was some what layde and the see aueyled Than the erle wayed vp ancres and sayled in to the see in suche good season that if he had taryed longe after he had been enclosed in the hauen and euery man taken for in contynent thyder came the galees of Rochell well manned and furnysshed with artyllery and gonnes and came streyght to the hauen of the Palyce and fouÌ„de the englisshe men departed They pursued after a two leages in the see and shotte gonnes howebeit they durst nat longe folowe for feare of enbusshmentes on the see Than the frenche shippes returned and the marshall of Fraunce was sore dyspleased with theym of Rochell that they sente hym worde so late The erle of Arundell toke the waye by the ryuer of Garon to come to Burdeaux and therby the siege before Bowteuyll was defeated for Gillonet of saynt Foy prouyded his garyson of that he neded in the meane tyme the the marshall went to fyght with the englysshe men NOwe let vs retourne somwhat to speke of the duke of Lancastre howe he was in treatie with the spanyardes and also with the Duke of Berrey for the maryage of his doughter The kynge of Castyle treated with hym for his sonne the prince of Castyle to the entent to haue a peace with the englisshe men Also the duke of Berrey treated to haue the duke of Lancasters doughter for hymselfe for he had great desyre to be maryed And the duke of Lancastre lyke a sage imagynatâ—â—e prince sawe well howe it was more profitable for Englande and for hym to mary his doughter in to Castyle rather than to the duke of Berrey for therby he thought to recouer the herytage of Castyle in tyme to come for his doughter And if he shulde gyue her to the duke of Berrey and the duke fortune to dye his doughter than shulde be but a poore lady to the regarde of other bycause the duke of Berrey had chyldren by his fyrst wyfe who shulde haue all the profyte Also the duchesse of Lancastre enclyned to the kynge of Castyles sonne So that whan sir Helyon of Lignac was departed fro the duke of Lancastre and retourned to the duke of Berrey beynge as that in Almayne than the king of Castyls messaÌ„gers were well herde in suche wyse that their wordes were noted and their offers accepted and the couenaunte made and sworne bytwene Kateryn of Lancastre and the kynge of Castylles sonne and writynges and publike instrumentes and oblygatory bondes made and concluded with out reâ—le or repentaunce So that the duches of LaÌ„castre after euery thyng set in ordre shulde bring her doughter Kateryn in to Castyle All this season the frenche kynge was styll in the fronters of Iulyers concludynge with the duke of Guerles as ye haue herde before and howe they departed And as the frenche men retourned it fortuned on the fronteres of Almayne on a nyght aboute mydnyght as the mone â—hone fayre certayne almayns robbers and pyllers that dyd sette nother by peace nor warre but alwayes sought for their aduauntage some pertaynynge to the lorde of Blaqueneuen and to sir Peter of Conebech they were well horsed and came and aduysed the french hoost and where they might haue most profyte and aduauntage and so passed by the lodgyng of the vycount of Meaulx and sawe no styringe and returned without any noyse makynge outher passynge or retournynge and came agayne to their enbusshe and shewed them what they had sene and foundeâ— and incontynente these almayns came and entred at their aduauntage in to the frenchmens lodgynges and ouerthrewe I can nat tell howe many and toke .xiiii. menne of armes prisoners There was taken the lorde of Viesuile and the lorde of Mountkarell This aduenture the frenche men hadde the same nyght by reason they made but easy watche and were but yuell ordred The next day whan these tydinges were knowen howe the lorde of Viesuille and the lorde of Mountkarell were taken the frenche men were sore displeased and toke better hede after Whan the frenche kynge departed fro the countrey of Iulyers none taryed behynde euery man drewe to their garysons sir Guylliam of Tremoyle and sir Geruays Furrande and all other and the braban soys by the waye euery man wente home And in the retournynge of the frenche men it was ordeyned by great delyberacion of couÌ„sayle that the frenche kynge who had ben vnder the
alwayes he had auaunsed his sonne of Ostrenaunt towardes the kyng and his couÌ„saile This mater was nat forgotten but incontinent the Frenche kyng wrote sharpe letters to therle of OstrenauÌ„t who was at quesnoy in Heynaulte coÌ„maundyng hym to come to Parys to do his homage before the kynge and the other peeres of Fraunce for the coutie of Ostrenaut or els the kyng wolde take it fro hym and make hym warre Whan the erle had well ouersene these letters and parceyued howe that the Frenche kyng and his counsayle were displeased with hym to make his answere he assembled his counsayle as the lorde of Fountayns the lorde of Gomegynes sir Wyllyam of Hermes the lorde of Trassegnies the bayly of Heynaulte the lorde of Sancelles sir Rase of Montigny the abbot of Crispyne Iohan Sulbart Iaquemart Barrier of Valencennes These wysemen counsayled togider what answere might be made to the kynges letters There were many reasons alleged at last all thynges consydred they thought it for the best to write to the Frenche kynge and to his counsayle to take a daye to answere clerely to all maner of demaundes by the mouthe of certayne credyble ê‘sons and none by writyng And in the meane season they sente certayne notable personages to the erle of Heynaulte and duke Aubert of HolaÌ„de to haue their couÌ„sayles what answere to make Thus they dyde They wrote swetely and courtesly to the kynge and to his counsayle so that with those fyrst letters the kyng and his couÌ„sayle was well content Than therle and his couÌ„sayle sent in to Hollande the lorde of Trassegines and the lorde of Sancelles Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier They rode to the erle of Heynault and shewed hym the state of the countie or Heynault and the letters that the Frenche kyng hadde sent to his sonne the erle of Ostrenaunt the erle of Heynaulte had marueyle of that mater and said Sirs I thought neuer otherwyse but that it shulde come thus to passe Wyllyam my sonÌ„e had nothyng to do to go in to EnglaÌ„de I haue delyuered hym the rule and gouernaunce of the couÌ„tie of Heynaulte he might haue done vsed hym selfe accordyng to the counsayle of the countrey Sirs I shall tell you what ye shall do Go to my fayre cosyn the duke of Burgoyn for it lyeth well in his power to regarde and to sette an order in all thynges demaunded by the Frenche kynge I canne gyue you no better counsayle With this answere they departed out of Hollande and came in to Heynault and there shewed what answere they had wherwith the erle his counsayle were content There was assigned to go in to FrauÌ„ce to the duke of Burgoyne the lorde of Trassegnies sir WyllmÌ„ of Hermyes sir Rase of Montigny Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier To shewe and declare all the processe and sute that they made at the Frenche courte shulde be ouer longe to resyte But finally all thynges concluded for all that the duke of Burgoyne coude do there was non other remedy but that the erle of Ostrenaunt must come personally to Parys and to knowe his homage due to the Frenche kyng for the countie of Ostrenaunt or els surely to haue warre The lorde of coucy sir Olyuer of Clysson toke great payne for the erles sake but sir IohnÌ„ Mercier and the lorde de la Ryuer labored on the contrarye syde as moche as they might ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke any more of this mater and retourne to speke of the lordes knyghtes of Fraunce who were at the siege before the strong towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe and by what incydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Aufryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man retourned to their owne countreis Cap. C.lxxiiii YE haue herde here before howe the christen men had besieged the stronge towne of Aufryke by lande by see Settyng all their ententes howe to conquere it for they thought if they might wyn it the brute therof shulde sounde to their great honours and prayse and howe they myght there kepe them selfe toguyder and to resyst agaynst their ennemyes sayenge howe they shulde alwayes haue conforte of the Christen men and specially of the Frenche kyng who was yong and desyrous of dedes of armes consydring howe he had truce with the Englysshmen for two yeres to coÌ„e the sarazyns feared the same wherfore dayly they made prouysyon for the towne and refresshed alwaies their towne with newe fressh men hardy aduenturers accordynge to their vsage Thus the season passed on and after the christen men hadde suffred the great losse of their companyons with lytell wynnynge or aduauntage on their partye all their hole hoost were in a maner dyscomforted for they coulde nat se howe to be reuenged Than many of theym beganne to murmure sayenge we lye here all in vayne as for the skrymysshes that we make therby shall we neuer wyn the Towne of Auffryke for if we slee any of them for eche of them they wyll gette agayne ten other They be in their owne countrey they haue vytayles and prouysyons at their pleasure and that we haue is with great dauÌ„ger and parell What shall we thynke to do if we lye here all this wynter longe and colde nyghtes we shal be morfounded and frosen to dethe Thus we shall be in a herde case by dyuers wayes first in wynter no man dare take the see for the cruell and tyrryble wyndes and tempestes of the see for the sees and tempestes are more fierser in wynter than in somer and if we shulde lacke vytayles but eight dayes togyther and that the see wolde suffre none to come to vs we were all deed and lost without remedy Secondly though it were so that we had vytayles and all thynges necessary with out daunger yet howe coulde our watche endure the payne and traueyle contynually to watche euery night the parell and aduenture is ouer herde for vs to beare for our enemyes who be in their owne countrey and knowe the countrey may come by nyght and assayle vs to their great aduauntage and do vs great domage as they haue done all redy Thyrdly if for faute of good ayre of swete fresshe meates wherwith we haue been norysshed that mortalyte hap to fall in our hoost we shall dye euery man fro other for we haue no remedy to resyst agaynst it Also furthermore if the genouoys turne agaynst vs which are rude people and traytours they may be nyght tyme entre in to their shyppes so leue vs here to pay for the scotte All these doutes are to be consydred by our capytaynes who lye at their ease and regarde nat the case we be in â–ª and also some of the genouoys spared nat to speke and sayd in raylynge to the crysten men What men of armes be ye frenche men whan we departed fro Genne we thought that within fyftene dayes that ye had layen at siege before the towne of Aufryke ye shulde haue conquered
Armynackes Squyer brought to hym fro sir Iohan Hacton and of the Wordes that were written within the letter The Erle was greatly reioysed and sayd that he trusted to make suche warre to the duke of Myllayne that he wolde bring hym to reason or elles to dye in the payne Whan all his company were passed the straytes of the mountayns and were in the good countrey of Piemounte nere Thouraygne Than they rode abrode and dyde moche hurte in the vyllages suche as coude nat holde agaynst them Than the erle layde sige before Aste in Pyemount entended to rary there for sir IohnÌ„ Hacton Prouisyon came to them fro all partes and also the companyons wan certayne small holdes and toke the vitayls that was within them The countre of Pyneroll and the landes of the Marques Mount feraunt were opyned and apparelled to delyuer vytayles other thynges nercessary for the hoost bothe for men and horse And also great prouisyon came to them out of the Dolphyne and out of the countie of Sauoy Many folkes greatly enclyned to the erle of Armynake bycause they sawe his quarell was good iust and also bycause the erle of Vertues had caused to be slayne his owne vncle sir Bernabo for enuy to sette agayne the lordes of Lombardy in to their herytages and disheryted his cosyn germayns wherof many great lordes thoughe they spake but lytell therof yet they hadde great pytie of the case Whyle the erle laye thus at siege before Aste he herde tidynges of sir IohnÌ„ Hacton wherof he was greatlye reioysed The tidynges was that the florentynes were come to the popes mercye and also the Venisyens And howe that the sayd sir IohnÌ„ shulde haue threscore thousande Floreyns for hym and his company And that money ones payde receyued and delyuered where as it shulde be departed than he promysed with a fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigans a fote to come in to the fronter of GeÌ„nes and to passe ouer the ryuer wheder their ennemeys wolde or natte and so to come to the erle of Armynake where soeuer he shulde be These tidynges greatlye reioysed the erle of Armynake and all his company for the ayde of this sir IohnÌ„ Hacton was right pleasaunt Than the erle of Armynake was counsailed to deê‘te thens and to go and laye siege before a great cytie called Alexandre at the entryng of LoÌ„bardy and whanÌ„e they had won that than to go to Bresuell whiche was also a good cytie and a fayre THus the erle of Armynake and his company layde siege before the cyte of Alexaundre standyng in a fayre countrey and a playne at the departyng out of Pyemount and at the entrynge of Lombardy and the way to go to the ryuer of GeÌ„nes These men of warre passed the ryuer of Thesyn and lodge at their ease at large for the countrey was good and plesaunt there aboute The Lorde Galeas lorde of Myllayne and erle of Vertues was as than in a towne called the cytie of Pauy and daylye herde tidynges what his enemyes dyde but he had marueyle of one thynge howe therle of Armynake coude gette the rychesse to pay wages to so many men of warre as he hadde brought with hym but his counsayle answered hym and sayde Sir haue no marueyle therof for the men that he hath be suche companyons that desyreth to wynne and to ryde at aduenture They haue vsed longe to ouerron the realme of FrauÌ„ce and to take holdes and garysons in the countrey so that the countrey coude neuer be delyuered of them And so it is that nowe of late the duke of Berrey and the Dolphyn of Auuergne to whose couÌ„treys these rutters dyde moche doÌ„mage for they kepte them there against the lordes wylles and ouer ranne the best parte of their he rytages and made theym warre And they caused the Erle of Armynake to treate with these companyons so that the Frenche kyng shulde suffre theÌ„ to come in to this your coutrey to make warre And therby and by meanes of certayne money gyuen to them they are auoyded oute of all the forteresses in the countrey And also besyde that the Frenche kynge hath ê‘doned all suche as made warre agaynst hym on the coÌ„dycion that they shulde serue the erle of Armynake in his warres all that they coude get shulde be their owne They demaunde none other wages And suche be named men of armes amonge theym with a fyue or sixe horses that if they were in their owne countreys they wolde go a foote and be but as poore men It is great parell and ieopardy to fyght agaynst suche men also lightly they be all good men of warre Wherfore sir the best counsayle that we can gyue you is to kepe your townes and fortresses they be stronge and well prouyded for and your ennemyes haue none artyllary nor engyns for the saute to be regarded They maye well come to the barryers of your townes and scrimysshe other doÌ„mage they can do none And this appereth well for they haue ben in your couÌ„trey this two monethes as yet haue taken no fortresse lytell nor gret Sir let them alone and they shall wery theÌ„ selfe and be distroyed at the ende so ye fyght nat with them And whan they haue distroyed the playne countre and haue no more to lyue by They shall than be fayne to returne for famyne without any other yuell fortune fall on them in the meane tyme. And it shall be well done that your men of warre in your fortresses kepe toguyder to ayde eche other in tyme of nede And sir sende to suche places as ye thynke your enemyes wyll besiege to resyst theÌ„ for townes men haue but small defeÌ„ce for they be nat so vsed nor accustomed to warre nouther to assaut nor to defende as men of armes knightes and squyers be who are norisshed brought vp therin sir sende your men of warre to the cytie of Alexandre Therby ye shall haue double profyte your cytie shal be defended and your people shall loue you the better whan they se ye do ayde and confort them And sir therto ye be bouÌ„de sithe ye haue gouernaunce ouer them that they paye to you their rentes subsydies aydes that ye haue demaunded of them dyuers tymes your enemyes can nat be so strong in the felde before Alexaundre that the towne shulde be closed in rounde about they haue no suche nombre to do it wherfore your men shall entre in to the towne at their case And whan they of the towne shall se them selâ— e refresshed with your men of warre they shall haue the more corage and loue you moche the better and shall putte out of their hertes all maner of treatie with your ennemyes To this counsaile the lorde of Mayllayne greed and incontynent he assembled toguyder his men of warre a fyue hundred speares And he made capitayne of theÌ„ an auncient knight called sir Iaques of Byerne an expert man of armes and they rode through the couÌ„trey priuely
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
in this warre that he wanne more than he lost He toke two tymes all the dukes vessell and plate of golde and syluer and dyuers other iewelles wherof he hadde great profyte The conclusyon of the warre and hate bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson was thus The duke of Bretayne lyke a great lorde as he was sawe well he coude nat come to his entent of sir Olyuer of Clysson and that he had ouer many frendes in Bretayne for sauyng their alegiauÌ„ce to the duchy of Bretayne All the bretons knyghtes squyers prelates and men of the good Cyties and good townes enclyned more to the lorde Clysson than to the duke And the highe barons dissymuled and had aunswered the duke that they wolde nat entremedle them with that warre but sayde they wolde gladly sette a peace and accorde bytwene theÌ„ Also the duke of Orlyaunce specially conforted couertly in many maner of wayes sir Olyuer of Clysson and he was alwayes ioyous whan he herde of his good spede in any of his entreprices The duke of Bretaygne who was a subtyle prince and ymaginatyfe and had endured moche payne duryng this warre and sawe well he was nat very well beloued with his owne people as the chyldren of the lorde Charles of Bretayne were the one called Charles of Bloyes who was slayne at the batayle of Alroy and IohnÌ„ of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and of Lymogines who had to wyfe the doughter of sir Olyuer of Clisson and the lorde Henry of Bretayne his brother and their suster the quene of Naples and of Hierusalem Also the duke sawe that he began to waxe olde that his chyldren were but yonge and ê‘ceyued well he had no frendes in FrauÌ„ce except the duke of Burgoyne the duches his wyfe And he sawe well his chyldren shulde haue as fewe for by their mothers syde they came were issued of the membres and braunches of Nauer whiche generacion was nat ouermoche loued in Fraunce for the great myscheues that kynge Charles of Nauerre father to the duchesse of Bretayne had done in tyme past in Fraunce wherof the remembraunce as than endured And the duke sawe that if he dyed in that estate bothe with sir Olyuer of Clisson and with the erle of Ponthieur he than douted that his chyldren that were so yonge shulde haue ouer many great enemyes and also he sawe that the alyaunce bytwene hym and Englande began to waxe colde For he was enformed that the kynge of Englande shulde haue to wyfe the doughter of FrauÌ„ce thesame lady that was promysed to hym for his sonne and heyre The duke dyde cast all these doutes ThanÌ„e all thynges consydered he ymagined to breke his herte without dissimulacion and make a ferme peace with sir Olyuer of Clysson with Iohan of Bretayne And wolde putte hym selfe at their pleasure to make amendes for all wrathes forfaytes and doÌ„mages that euer they dyde to hym or to his men duryng the warre He wolde desyre nothynge but that they shulde take hym for duke of Bretayne and his children after hym accordyng to the artycles of the peace before made bytwene hym and the chyldren of sir Charles of Bloyes whiche charter of peace he wolde nat breke nor any artycle comprised therin And also to kepe and vpholde euery thyng that he had promysed to IohnÌ„ of Bloyes his cosyn erle of PoÌ„-Ponthieur And if he hadde nat his parte of the herytage of Bretayne suffycient he wolde putte the ordring therof without any dissymulacion to the vicount of Rohan and to the lordes of Dignan of Leon of Lauall and of Beaumont and of the lorde IohnÌ„ of Harpeden Whan the duke of Bretayne had aduysed in hym selfe all this purpose without makynge of any man of his counsayle He called to hym his secratorie and in a chabre they two alone he caused hym to write a letter to sir Olyuer of Clysson as swetely amiably as coude be deuysed desyring hym that they might speke toguyder secretely on trust to haue good peace bytwene theÌ„ Whan this Letter was made deuysed and sealed Than he toke a secrete person coÌ„maundyng hym to go to the castell of Iosselyn and saye I do sende the to speke with my cosyn sir Olyuer of Clysson and salute hym fro me and delyuer hym this letter and bring agayne an answere And on payne of thy lyâ—e kepe this secrete and shewe no creature whider thou gost nor who dothe sende the. He tooke his iourney and spedde hym so well that he caÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn The porters had marueyle whan they herde hym saye that he cae fro the duke of speke with their maister they wente and shewed their lorde therof Than he coÌ„maunded that the messanger shulde coÌ„e to hym and so he dyde And well and wisely declared his message and delyuered his letter sealed with the dukes seale whiche sir Olyuer knewe ryght well and opyned reed the letter two or thre tymes the better to vnderstande it And in the redyng he had great marueyle of the swete wordes cretable and amyable that was comprised in the letter He studyed a season and at last sayd howe he wolde take aduyse and write agayne sir Olyuers men hadde great marueyle of this for before he had forborne no man of the dukes but outher he was slayne or putte in prisone ThanÌ„e sir Olyuer wente in to his lecrete chambre and began to muse and ymagyn vpon these newes At last he apesed his yuell wyll in that the duke humyled hymselfe so moche towardes him and that he wrote so swetely yet he thought in hym selfe to proue the duke further or he aduentured hym selfe to go to the duke for he thought if he toke any hurte no man wolde bewayle hym if he lost hym selfe by folly Than he wrote a letter to the duke ryght swete and tretable but the conclusyon was that yf he wolde haue hym to come speke with hym that he shuld sende his sonÌ„e and heyre to lye in hostage for hym tyll his retourne This letter was delyuered to the dukes varlet who retourned therwith to Wannes where the duke was there delyuered his letter The duke reed it and studyed a lytell and sayd I shall do it to the entence to treate louyngly with hym Than theÌ„ duke wrote a letter to the vycount of Rohan who was at the castell of Cayre Whan the vycount sawe the dukes letter he came incontynent to Wannes Than the duke shewed all his purpose and entencyon sayd Vycount you and the lorde of Mountbursier shall leade my sonÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn and leaue hym there and bringe with you the lorde Olyuer Clysson for I wyll agree and make peace with hym The vicouÌ„t sayd it shulde be done gladly So they toke the dukes sonne and heyre who was about the age of eight yere and ledde hym to the castell Iosselyn to the lorde Olyuer Clysson who receyued them ryght honorably And whan he sawe the chylde and the good affection
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌ„de none to with stande me nor none that durst fyght with me in lyke wyse so dyd syr Robert Canoll and sir Hugh Caurell and Thomas of GrauÌ„tsome and syr Phylyppe Gyssarde and yet they had nat the nombre that I had with me and yet they were before Parys and demaunded batayle of the frenche kynge but they coulde neuer be aunswered nor founde any person that sayd any thyng to them and so they rode into Bretayne and so a longe through the realme of Fraunce fro Calais to Burdeaux without hauynge of any batayle or rencountre but I thynke surely who so wolde nowe make any suche iourney they shulde be fought with all for he that calleth hym selfe kynge in Fraunce is yonge hote and of great corage and enterprise he wolde surely fight what ende so euer fell therof and that is the thynge we desyre for we loue nothynge so well as to haue batayle for without it be by batayle and victory vpon the frenche men who be ryche els we shall haue no recouery but suffre with the losse as we haue done euer sythe my nephewe was kyng of Englande This thyng can nat longe endure in this estate but at laste the realme of Englande shall perceyue the mater repente it for the kyng taketh and shall take and reyse great tayles of the marchauntes wherwith they be nat content and yet they can nat tell where the good becometh Thus the kynge enpouereth the realme of Englande and gyueth to one and other largely and there as it is but yuell bestowed and his people vyeth the bargayne whiche shortely wyll growe to a rebellyon within the realme for the people begyn to clater and to murmure therat sayeng howe they wyll no leÌ„ger suffre nor beare it he sayeth to stoppe the peoples rumure that the trewce ones concluded bytwene him Fraunce that than he wyll make a voyage in to Irelande and enploye there his men of armes and archers and there he hath ben but with a small conquest for IrelaÌ„de is no lande of great conquest nor profyte the people they are but rude and yuell and a right poore countrey and inhabytable and looke what is wonne there in one yere is loste in another Laquynay Laquynay quod the duke all that I haue sayde is of trouth THus the duke of Gloucestre deuysed with his knyght with suche wordes and other as it was well knowen after He hated the kynge and coulde speke no good worde of him and though he were with his brother the duke of LaÌ„castre as one of the greatest rulers of the Realme he toke no care therof And whan the kyng dyd sende for him he wolde come at his pleasure and sometyme nat a whyt And whan he came to the kynge he wolde be the laste shulde come and the first that wolde departe and in counsayle what he had ones sayd of his opynion he wolde haue it taken and accepted els he wolde be displeased and somtyme take his leaue and departe to his maner in Essex called Plasshey there was his chiefe abydynge This duke was a great prince and might well spende by yere a threscore thousande ducates he was duke of Gloucestre erle of Essex and of Buckingham and constable of Englande He was of so marueylous condycyons that the kynge douted hym more than any other of his vncles for in his wordes he wolde nat spare nor forbeare the kynge The kynge alwayes was humble and meke to hym and whatsoeuer he wolde demaunde the kynge wolde graunte it hym This duke had caused in EnglaÌ„de to be done many cruell and hasty iugementes for he had caused to be beheeded withoute tytell of any good reasone that noble knyght syr Symon Burle and dyuers other of the kynges counsayle and chased out of Englande the archebysshop of yorke and the duke of Irelande bycause they were so nygh of the kinges counsayle and layde to their charge that they had counsayled the kynge wronge and ledde hym as they lyst and had spente the reuenewes of Englande at their pleasures This duke had two bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke These two were euer about the kynge wherat this duke of Gloucestre hadde great enuy wolde say to dyuers as to suche as he trusted as Robert bysshop of London and to other whan they came to him to Plasshey Frendes my two bretherne ouerchargeth greatly the kynges house it were better they were at home at their owne houses this duke by subtyle couerte wayes drewe to his acorde the londoners for he thought if he might be sure of them he shulde sone haue all the rest of the realme to his acorde This duke had a nephue sonne to the doughter of his elder brother called Lyonell duke of Clarence whiche doughter was maryed into Lombardy to the sonne of syr Galeas duke of Myllayne This duke Lyonell dyed in the cytie of Aste in Piemounte So this duke of Gloucestre wolde gladly haue sene his nephue sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence called Iohan erle of Marche to haue ben kynge of Englande and to haue had his nephue kynge Rycharde deposed for he sayd howe the kynge was nat worthy to holde nor to gouerne the realme of Englande This he wolde say to them that he trusted and he dyd so moch that he caused the erle of Marche to come to his house and than and there he dyscouered to hym all his entent and secretnesse and sayde howe he had determyned to make hym kynge of Englande and kyng Richarde to be put downe and his wyfe also and to be kept in prison dutynge their lyues and so he desyred effectuously the erle to accept his offre and good wyll sayenge howe he wolde do the beste he coulde to bringe it aboute and that he had of his acorde and alyaunce the erle of Arundell and therle of Warwyke and dyuers other prelates and lordes of Englande The erle of Marche was sore abasshed whan he herde the duke his vncle speke suche wordes howe be it lyke a yonge man he dissymuled the mater and aunswered wysely to th entent to please the duke and said howe he wold be glad to be ruled as he wolde haue hym but he sayd he wolde be well aduysed or he accepted suche promisse to sone and wolde take therin aduyse and delyberacyon And whan the duke of Gloucestre sawe the maner of the erle than he desyred him to kepe the mater secrete The erle answered so he wolde do Than therle departed as sone as he coude and so wente in to Irelande to his herytage and after he wolde neuer entende to the dukes treatie but alwayes excused him selfe wysely yet euer he kept the mater secrete for he sawe well the conclusyon shulde nat be good IT was sayd howe the duke of Gloucestre sought all the wayes he coude to set a trouble in Englande and to styrre the
he hadde dyned and was aboute to haue wasshen his handes There came in to the chambre foure men and caste sodaynlye a towell aboute the dukes necke two at the one ende and two at the other and drewe so sore that he fell to the Erthe and so they strangled hym and closed his eyen whan he was deed they dispoyled hym and bare hym to his beed and layde hym bytwene the shetes all naked and his heed on a softe pyllowe and couered with clothes furred And than they yssued out of the chambre in to the hall well determyned what they wolde saye and sayde openly Howe a palueysye hadde taken the duke of Gloucestre the same night sodaynly and so dyed These wordes anon were abrode in the towne of Calais Some beleued theym and some natte Within two dayes that the duke was thus deed the erle marshall appareled hym selfe in blacke bycause he was his nere cosyn and were many other knyghtes and squyers that were in Calays His dethe was sooner knowen in Fraunce and in Flaunders than in EnglaÌ„d The Frenche men were gladde therof For there was a coÌ„mon brute that there shulde be no good peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande as long as he lyued And in all treaties bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande he was euermore harder and obstynaier thanÌ„e any other of his bretherne wherfore they cared nat for his dethe In lykewise many men in Englande bothe knyghtes squyers and other officers of the kynges who were in feare of hym bycause of his crueltie All suche were gladde of his dethe They toke to recorde his cruell dedes by the duke of IrelaÌ„de whom he had exyled out of Englande Also of the deth of that valyant knight sir Symon Burle and of sir Robert Triuylien sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Standysshe dyuers other The dukes dethe was but lytell regarded in Englande excepte but with suche as were of his opinyon Thus this duke dyed in Calais his body was enbaumed and seared in leed and couered and so sente by See in to Englande And the Shyppe that caryed hym arryued at the Castell of Hadley vpon Thamyse syde and fro thens caryed by chariot symply to his owne place at Plasshey and there buryed in the Churche Whiche the sayde duke hadde founded in the honoure of the hooly Trynite wherin were twelue Chanonnes to synge diuyne seruyce YE maye well knowe that the duchesse of Gloucestre and Affren his sonne and his two susters were sore discoÌ„fyted whan they sawe the duke brought thyther deed The duchesse had double sorowe for Richarde erle of Arundell her vncle was be heeded openly by the kynges coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in Chepesyde there was no lorde durst speke to the contrary the kynge beyng presente at the same iustyce doynge It was done by the erle Marshall who hadde to wyfe the doughter of the sayde erle of Arundell and yet he bounde his eyen hym selfe The erle of Warwyke was in great daunger to be beheeded but the erle of Salisbury who was in the kynges fauour desyred the kynge for his lyfe and so dyde dyuers other barons prelates in Englande The kynge enclyned to their requestes so that he myght be banysshed and putte in suche a place as he shulde natte come fro for the kyng wolde nat clerely forgyue hym He sayde he had well deserued to dye bycause he was of counsayle with the duke of Gloucestre and with the erle of Arundell to haue brokeÌ„ the peace and truce taken bitwene Fraunce Englande For the whiche artycle the kyng sayd they had deserued to dye for the peace was taken bytwene the ê‘ties on suche coÌ„dycion that who so euer dyde breake it shulde be worthy to dye The erle of Salisbury who had ben the erle of Warwykes companyon dyuers tymes in excusyng of him said Howe he was an olde man and was desyred by the duke of Gloucestre by his fayre wordes Wherfore he sayd that he dyde was natte of his owne mocyon but by theirs Affyrming howe there was neuer none of the Beauchampes that euer dyd trayson agaynst the crowne of Englande Thus the erle of Warwyke for pytie was respyted fro dethe He was banysshed in to the ysle of Wyght And it was sayde to hym Erle of Warwyke ye haue deserued to dye as well as the erle of Arundell but for the great seruyce that ye haue done in tyme past to kynge Edwarde and to the prince his sonne and to the crowne of Englande aswell on this syde the see as byonde hath done you great ayde for the kyng hath pyte on you and hath grauÌ„ted you your lyfe But it is ordayned by iudgement that ye shall go in to the ysle of Wight and lyue there as longe as ye can and shall haue suffycient of your owne to maynteyne there your estate soberly but ye maye neuer departe thens The erle toke this punysshement a worthe and thaÌ„ked the kyng and his counsayle for sauyng of his lyfe and so made hym redy to go thyder at the daye apoynted In the whiche ysle was space sufficient for a lorde to kepe his estate enuyroned with the See Thus passed forthe these Iudgementes in Englande at that season whiche multiplyed dayly worse worse as ye shall here after WHan the dethe of the duke of gloucestre was knoweÌ„ by the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke incoÌ„tinent they knewe well that the kynge their nephue had caused hym to be slayne and murdered at Calays As than these two dukes were nat toguyder eche of theÌ„ were at their owne plates They wrote eche to other to knowe what were best to do and so they came to London For they knewe well that the londoners were nat content with the dethe of the duke their brother Whan they mette there toguyder they tooke couÌ„sayle and sayd Suche dedes ought nat to be suffred as to putte to dethe so hyghe a priÌ„ce as was their brother for ydell wordes and false reportes For they sayd though he spake oftentymes of the breakyng of the peace yet he neuer brake it And bytwene sayenge and doyng is great difference for by reason of wordes he ought nat to deserue dethe by suche cruell punycion these two dukes were in the case to haue put all Englande to great trouble and there were ynowe redy to counsayle them therto and specially them of the erle of Arundelles lynage and of the erle of Staffordes whiche was a great kynred in Englande The kyng as than was at ElthaÌ„ and had sente for all suche as helde of hym in chiefe And he had redy assembled toguyder about London in Kent and Essexe mo than ten thousande archers And sir Iohan Hollande his brother was with hym and therle Marshall and the erle of Salisbury and a great nombre of lordes and knyghtes the kyng sent to theÌ„ of London that they shulde nat receyue the duke of Lancastre They answered and sayd They knewe no cause that the duke hadde done why they shulde refuce hym The duke of Lancastre was at LoÌ„don and
whanÌ„e euery thynge is agreed and at peace thanÌ„e we maye well speke treate of maryage but fyrst ye must take possession in the duchy of Lancastre for that is the vsage in Fraunce and in dyuers countreis on this syde the See That if a lorde shall marry by the consent of his soueraygne lorde he must endowe his wyfe and therwith they had spyces and wyne and cessed of that coÌ„munycacion and euery man departed to their owne lodgynges WHan the erle of Derby was coÌ„e to his lodgyng he was sore displeased and nat without a cause Whan he who was reputed one of the trewest knyghtes of the worlde in the preseÌ„ce of the frenche kyng who loued hym well had shewed him many curtesies shuld be reputed as a traytour and that those wordes shulde coÌ„e out of Englande and brought by the erle of Salisburye He was therwith in a great malencoly his counsayle apeased hym as well as they coude sayd Sir he that wyll lyue in this worlde must endure somtyme trouble Confort you for this tyme and be pacient and parauenture herafter ye shall haue great ioye and glorie And sir of al the lordê on this syde the see the frenche kyng loueth you best and we se well he wolde enploye his payne to briÌ„ge you to ioye and sir ye ought to gyue him and his vncles great thaÌ„ke in that they kept this mater secrete tyll the erle of Salisbury was deê‘ted yea sirs quod the erle I thynke it had ben better it had ben shewed me in his presence that I myght haue made a sufficieÌ„t excuse before that kyng and all the lordes thus I shall abyde styll in blame tyll the mater be otherwyse declared Sir quod they all trespasses can nat be amended at the fyrst daye Sir suffre let the tyme ryn we beleue your busynesse in Englande dothe better than ye be ware of The loue that is in the hertes of the people in Englande towardes you with their good prayers by the grace of god shall shortely delyuer you out of all daungers This they sayd to recoÌ„fort their lorde who was sore disconforted and their sayeng was soner trewe than they were ware of ANone it was knowen in Englande howe therle of Salisbury had ben in FrauÌ„ce with the frenche kynge his vncles and borne letters thyder conteynyng howe the erle of Derby was falsely ê‘iured and a traytour Of the whiche dyuers noble men and prelates were sore troubled and were nothynge contente with the erle of Salisbury and said generally that he was soore to blame to take on hym the charge to beare in to Fraunce any suche wordes vpon as trewe a man as lyued A daye wyll come that he shall repent the tyme that euer he spake the worde ye maye well knowe the Londoners were greatly displeased and murmured agaynst the kyng and his counsayle sayd A geÌ„tyll knight erle of Derby great enuy is there agaynst you It is nat suffycient for the kynge and his counsayle to driue you out of the realme but also to accuse you of trayson to putte you to the more shame rebuke Well euery thynge muste haue his tourne Alas quod the people What faulte or trespasse hath your children done that the kynge taketh thus awaye fro theÌ„ their herytage whiche ought to be theirs by ryght successyon This thynge can nat longe abyde in this case without chaunge nor we can nat suffre it Thus anone after the retourne of the erle of Salisbury out of Fraunce kyng Richarde caused a iustes to be cryed and publysshed throughe out his realme to Scotlande to be at Wynsore of .xl. knyghtes and xl squyers agaynst all coÌ„mers And they to be aparelled in grene with a whyte faucon the quene to be there well acoÌ„panied 〈◊〉 a dyes damosels This feest thus holden the quene beyng there iÌ„ gret neblenes but there were but fewe lordes or noble men for mo thaÌ„ .ii. ê‘tes of the lordes knightes other of the realme of Englande had that kyng in suche hatered what for the banysshyng of the erle of Derby and the iniuryes that he had done to his chyldren and for the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre who was slayne in the castell of Calais and for the dethe of the erle of AruÌ„dell who was beheeded at LoÌ„don The kynred of these lordes came nat to this feest nor but fewe other And at the same feest the kynge ordayned to go in to Irelande to enploy his men in that voyage and so he departed and lefte the Quene with her trayne styll at Wyndsore and the kynge rode to Bristowe and there made all his prouysion and he had ten thousande knightes and squiers and ten thousande archers WhanÌ„e the Londoners knewe that the kyng was goyng in that voyage they began to murmure and said amonge themselfe Nowe gothe Richarde of Burdeaux the waye to Bristowe and so in to yrelande whiche wyll be to his distruction He shall neuer retourne agayne with ioye no more than dyde kynge Edwarde the seconde his great grauntfather who was folysshely gouerned by to moche beleuyng of the SpeÌ„sers In lykewise Rycharde of Burdeaulx hath belued so moche yuell counsayle that it can nat be hydden nor suffred any lengar ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii THere were many knightes and squyers in the kynges company that shulde go with hym in to IrelaÌ„de that were nat coÌ„tent with hym and wente in maner with an yuell wyll sayd oftentymes one to another Our kynge gouerneth hym selfe folisshely and beleueth yuell counsayle Suche wordes were so multiplyed that the lorde Henry Percy and sir Henry his sonÌ„e spake certayne wordes whiche came to the kynges knowlege and to his counsayle and it was sayd to the kyng Sir the wordes ought nat to be suffred that the erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e hath spoken for it is to sette your subiettes agaiÌ„st you It must behoue you to correcte all these rebelles one after another wherby they that be greattest shall doute you and take ensample That is trewe quod the kyng but than what is beste to do Sir quod they they be nat here with you but they ought to come whan they become call them before you and than by the erle of Salisbury and by some other as it shall please you lette it be rehersed to them the yuell wordes that they haue spoken against you and your couÌ„sayle ThaÌ„ shall you here what answere they wyll make and thervpon ye maye taken aduyse wheder ye wyll correcte them by prison or other wyse Well sirs quod the kynge ye say well this shal be done The erle of Northumberlande and his sonÌ„e had good frendes in that armye so that some of them knewe the kynges entent And they sent suche worde to the erle and to his sonne that they shulde natte come in the kynges preseÌ„ce nor to go in that iourney For they hadde worde that if they dyde it
thyder where as the erle of Derby was at a place called vyncetour besyde Parys Whan the erle of Derby sawe the bysshop of Caunterbury cōmynge to him his herte and spyrites reioysed and so dyd all suche as were aboute him for he thought well than to here some newes oute of Englande The bysshoppe shewed nat as than the cause of his cōmynge but dissymuled bycause euery man shuld nat knowe his entent and therfore to couer his busynesse he sayd openly he was come on pylgrymage to saynt Mors. All suche as were aboute the erle thought it had ben so Whan the bysshop sawe his tyme he toke a parte the erle of Derby alone in to a chambre and closed the dore to them Than the bysshop shewed the erle the debylyte of the realme of Englande and of the desolacyon therof and howe iustyce had no place to reygne for faute of a good kinge and howe certayne valyaunt men and prelates with the londoners and other ingenerall had deuised a remedy and for that cause he was sente thyder to hym to desyre him to retourne in to Englande and they wolde make hym kynge bycause that Rycharde of Burdeaulx had doone and consented to be done so many yuell dedes that all the people sorowed it and are redy to ryse agaynst hym and therfore syr nowe is the tyme or neuer for you to seke for your delyueraūce and profyte and for the welth of your chyldren for if ye entende nat to helpe your selfe and theym also none other wyll for Rycharde of Burdeaux gyueth to them of his chambre to other dayly parte of your enherytaūce and of your chyldrens of the whiche many valyaunt men and the londoners were sore dyspleased therwith if they coude amended it but they durst neuer speke tyll nowe But bycause the kynge hath yuell vsed hym selfe agaynst you and agaynst your vncle the duke of Gloucestre who was taken by nyght and conueyed to Calays and there murdered and the erle of Arundell beheeded without tytell of any good reason and the erle of Warwyke exyled and you banysshed and thus the realme of Englande is nere dysheryted of all noble men by whome the realme shulde be susteyned And also the kynge hath banysshed the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Percy his sonne bycause they spake somewhat agaynst the kynges gouernaunce and his counsayle Thus they dayly encrease in doynge yuell and none dare speke agaynst it great parte of the realme haue pytie therof and therfore they desyre you to slepe no lenger but to take leaue of that frenche kynge and retourne in to Englande there shall you be receyued with ioy and all this that I haue sayd they wyll fyrmely vpholde for they desyre to haue none other kynge but you ye are so well beloued in the realme WHan the erle had herde the bysshops wordes at length he was nat hasty in gyuenge of aunswere but leaned out at a wyndowe lokynge downe in to a gardeyne and studyed a certayne space and had many imagynacions at last he tourned hym to the archebysshop and sayd Syr your wordes causeth me to study Lothe I wolde be to take on me this enterprise and lothe I wolde be to leaue it for I knowe well that it wyll be longe or I canne retourne in to Englande without it be by the same meanes as ye haue declared Lothe I wolde be to enclyne to your wordes for the Frenche kynge here and the frenchmen do to me and haue done wyll do if I lyst here to tary all the honour and curtesye that I canne desyre And if so be by reasone of your wordes and promesse of the londoners my good frendes that I shulde apply and agree to their wylles and desyre and that therby kynge Rycharde shulde be taken and dystroyed I shulde in that case beare great blame wherof I wolde be tyght lothe if any other meanes might be founde Sir quod the bysshoppe I am sent hyther to you in hope of all goodnesse call to you your counsayle and shewe them what I haue sayd and I shall also shewe them the cause of my cōmynge and I thynke they wyll nat counsayle you to the contrary That shall I do quod the erle for suche a weyghty mater requyreth counsayle Than the erle called to hym his counsayle suche as he trusted best Whan they were before hym than the erle caused the bysshop to shewe them all the mater and the cause of his commynge thyder Than the erle demaūded counsayle what was beste for hym to do They all aunswered with one voyce syr god hathe taken pytie of you howe so euer ye do refuse nat this bargayne for ye shal neuer haue a better and surely who so euer wyll enquyre of your lygnage and fro whence ye dyscended ye are of the ryght stocke and generacyon of saynt Edwarde somtyme kynge of Englande syr thanke the londoners your good frendes who wyll helpe to delyuer you out of daunger and haue pytie on your chyldren and of the desolacyon of the realme of Englande and syr remembre well what wrōges and iniuryes this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done to you and dothe dayly for whan the maryage bytwene you and the countesse of Ewe was nere at a poynte dyd nat the erle of Salysbury breke it and called you traytoure in the presence of the frenche kynge and other lordes whiche wordes are nat to be pardoned but ye ought to desyre howe to be reuenged Sir if ye wyll nat helpe yourselfe who shulde helpe you syr take good aduyse herin ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretaygne Cap. CC.xxxix WHanne the erle herde his coūsaylours so ernestly counsayle him his spyrites opened and sayd Syrs I wyll do as ye wyll haue me for to haue your counsayle was the entente that I sent for you Syr quod they ye saye well and syr we counsayle you trewly to our power and as the matter requyreth Than as secretly as they coude they ordeyned for their departure Than it was deuysed howe they might passe the see or any knowledge therof shulde come in to Englande They deuysed that of two wayes they muste take one outher to go into Haynalte and in to Holande and there take the see at Dordright or els to go in to Bretaygne to the duke and there to take the see and so to lande at Plummouth or where as god wolde in Englande All thynges consydred they sayd the best way shulde be by Bretaygne and than they sayd to the erle syr go and take your leaue of the frenche kynge and thanke hym of the curtesy that he hath shewed vnto you and take leaue of the duke of Orlyance and of the kynges vncles and other and thanke theym all of the good chere they haue made you and desyre of the kinge to haue conducte to go in to Bretaygne sayenge that ye wyll go se the duke your cosyn to tary there a
of Bloyes and all their landes to the duke of Thourayn the frenche kynges brother Capi. C .lxxxii. ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spayne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the Vycount of Chastellons busynesse and howe he was set in possessyon in the countie of Foize and of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle and of the kyng of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon throughe yuell wyll by subtile crafte beate downe sir Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Cap. C.lxxxv ¶ Howe in great dilygence the Prouost of Parys pursued sir Peter of Craon Capi. C .lxxxvi. ¶ Of the great armye and voyage that the Frenche kyng purposed to make in to Bretayngne agaynst the duke bycause he susteyned sir Peter of Craonne and howe in that voyage the kyng fell sicke wherby the voyage brake Cap. C.lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayne brother to the Frenche kynge resigned the Duchy of Thouraynge in to the kynges handes and howe by exchaunge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌ„ce and so euer after he was called the duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii for .viii. Fo. CC.xxxiii ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and of Berrey vncles to the Frenche kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme and howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kyng bâ— fore Cap. C.lxxxix ¶ Howe sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce departed out of Parys after the answere that the duke of Burgoyne had made hym and went to Mount le Henry and â—â—â—thens in to Bretayne Cap. C.xc. ¶ Howe the treatise whiche was accorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. ¶ Of the aduenture of a Daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodhouses wherin the Frenche kynge was in paryll of dethe Cap. C.xcii ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals or Rome sente a Frere a wyse clerke to the Frenche kyng Cap. C.xciii ¶ Howe the mariage was treased of the lorde Philyppe of Arthoyes erle of Ewel and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berrey and howe he was admytted coÌ„stable of Fraunce Cap. C.xciiii ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of EnglaÌ„de by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope ClemeÌ„t at Auâ—gnon and of the electyon of pope Benedic Capi. C.xcvi ¶ Of a clerke named maister Iohan of Warennes Cap. C.xcvii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquitayner and howe the kynge prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acouitayne Cap. C.xcviii ¶ Of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme and Emperour of Almayne Cap. C.xcix ¶ Howe sir Iohn Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to the kyng Capi. CC ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquitayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sente in to EnglaÌ„de to the kynge and his couÌ„sayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Aequitayne Cap. CC.i. ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kynge Richarde had made in Irelande howe he brought to his obeysaunce foure kynges of that countray Cap. CC.ii. ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sent in to FrauÌ„ce to treate of the â—â—â—ryage bytwene the lady Isabell the Frenche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louynge aunswere they hadde Cap. CC.iii ¶ Of a souper named Robert the 〈◊〉 howe he was sent to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham and howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Riuer and sir IohnÌ„ le Mercier and howe they were putte out of prisone Capi. CC.v ¶ Of the peace that was had bytwene the duke of Bretaynge and syr Olyuer of Clysson Cap. CC.vi. ¶ Howe the kynge of Hungery worte to the Frenche kynge the state of the great Turke and howe Iohan of Burgoyne eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chiefe heed of the armye that went thyder Fo .cc.lxiii. ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenaunt enterprised to go in to Fryse Cap. cc.vii ¶ Of the iudgement made in the Parlyament for the quene of Naples agaynste sir Peter of Craon Cap. CC.ix. ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage taken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande and Isabell eldest doughter to the Frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges Sarasyns to ayde hym with men of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyaunt sarasyns Came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. ¶ Howe the lorde of Eoucy and other lordes of the christen men about a .xv. hundred speares disconfyted a fyue thousande Turkes durynge the the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. ¶ Howe the peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce contynewed and of the maryage of the kyng of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii ¶ Howe the erle of Heynaulte and the Erle of Ostrenaunt his sonne made a great armye of men of armes knightes and squyets to go in to Fryse Cap. CC.xiiii ¶ Of the armye that the Frenche kyng sent in to Fryse in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Poule and the lorde Charles de la Brethe were capitayns Cap. CC.xv ¶ Howe the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his tent bytwene Arde and Calais Cap. CC.xvi. ¶ Howe the siege before Nicopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and how the Frenche men were discoÌ„fyted and howe the hungaryons fledde Cap. CC.xvii ¶ Of the pouertie and misery that the christen knightes of Fraunce and other nacions endured in the coÌ„mynge home to their countreis Cap. CC.xviii ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kynges house Cap. CC.xix ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was hadde in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Capi. CC.xx. ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn the duches his wyfe tooke great dilygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the Erle of Neuers their sâ—nne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi ¶ Howe the Duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to distroy kynge Richarde of Englande his nephewe Cap. CC.xxii ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre was taken by the erle Marshall by the coÌ„maundement of the kynge Cap. CC.xxiii ¶ Howe the lordes of FrauÌ„ce retourned by see
of armes theâ— done the Geneuoys and crosbowes that were in the shyppes shotte so rudely and so hole toguyder at them on the bridge that none of them durste scantely shewe any defence What shulde I make longe tale By force of assault the bridge on the ryuer was wonne and all that were fouÌ„de theron slayne and drowned none scaped thus the french men had the bridge of Taylbourc their siege was the easyer It was but thre leages fro faynt IohnÌ„s Dangle and two leages fro Xauntes in the best countre of the worlde OF the losse of Tayllebourke they within Dynaudon other were sore dismayed as they had good cause for they had lost therby the passage of the ryuer howe be it yet they wolde nat yelde them They thought theÌ„selfe in a stronge place and trusted on some rescue fro Burdeaux For it was shewed in all those fronters and englysshe forteresses that the duke of Lancastre or elles the erle of Buckyngham with two thousande men of armes four thousande archers shulde come to Burdeaux to fyght with the frenche men and to reyse all their siege Of this they greatly trusted but it fortuned otherwyse as I shall shewe you It was ordayned in Englande that the Duke of Lancastre and sit Iohan Hollande brother to the kynge Sir Thomas Percy six Thomas Tryuet the lorde Fitz water six Wylliam wyndesore sit IohnÌ„ Fitzwaren and other barons knightes and squyers with a thousande speares and thre thousande archers shulde haue gone to Burdeaux to haue ben there all the somer and to haue refresshed Mortayne Boutuyll and other fortresses in Gascoyne and LaÌ„guedocke and to fight with the Frenche men if they founde them in the countrey And after that they had taryed there a season than to haue gone fro thens in to Castell to Bayon and to Nauarre For they were in treatie with the kyng of Nauer This was ymagined in EnglaÌ„de but all tourned to nought for whan they knewe the certaynte that the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce with a thousande speares of chosen knightes and squyers were come in to Scotlande Than they chaunged their purpose and durst sende none of their men oute of the realme for they doughted greatly the dedes of the frenche men and Scottes ioyned toguyder Also the same tyme there ranne a voyce through all Englande howe they shulde be the same Somer assayled with the frenchmen in thre ê‘tes One by Bretaygne for the duke there was become frenche And another by Normandye for the whiche as it was sayd The constable of FraÌ„ce made his prouisyon at Harflewe and Depe and so a longe the Scesyde to saynt Valeries and to Crotoy And the thirde by the Scottes so that for dought of this they wolde suffre no knightes nor squyers to go out of Englande but made prouisyon to defende their hauyns portes of the see The same season the Erle of Arundell Richarde was admyrall of the See and was on the See with a thre or fourescore great shyppes furnysshed with men of armes and archers And he hadde small shippes that ranne in and oute and viewed the boundes of the yles of Normandy to knowe tidynges ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Burbone and of the siege of Tayllebourcke where as he laye a nyne wekes let vs shewe howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce toke lande in the realme of Scotlande and what chere they had made to them at their firste lodgynge _tHe Frenche army that went in to scotlande had wynde at wyll It was in the monethe of Maye whan the waters be peaseable and meke and the ayre softe and swete First they costed FlaÌ„ders Holande zelande and Frise and at last aproched to the sight of Scotlande But are they aryued theâ— fell an harde aduenture to a yonge knyght of Fraunce a proper man of armes called sir Aubert DaÌ„gyers The knyght was yong and of haute courage and to shewe his strength and lyghtnesse of body he lepte vp clene armed on the walle of the shyppe and in the lightynge his fete slypped and so fell ouer the borde in to the see so that he coulde nat be holpen For incoÌ„tynent he sanke downe bycause of the weight of his harnes also the ship sayled euer forthe Of this knightes aduenture all the barownes and knyghtes were sore dyspleased but there was no remedy And so longe they sayled that they arryued at Edenborowe the chiefe towne in Scotlande And wheâ— as the kyng in tyme of peace moost coÌ„menly laye And as soone as the erle Duglas and the Erle Morette knewe of their coÌ„mynge they wente to the hauyn and mette with them and receyued them swetely Sayeng howe they were right welcome in to that countrey And the barons of Scotlande knewe ryght well sir Geffray de Charney for he had been the somer before two monethes in their company sir Geffray acquaynted them with the Admyrall and the other knyghtes of Fraunce As at that tyme the kynge of Scottes was nat there for he was in the wylde scottysshe But it was shewed these knightâ— howe the kyng wolde be there shortly wherwith they were well content and so were lodged there about in the vyllages For Edenborough thoughe the kynge kepte there his chefe resydence and that it is Parys in ScotlaÌ„de yet it is nat lyke Tourney or ValenceÌ„nes for in all the towne there is nat foure thousande houses Therfore it behoued these lordes and knyghtes to be lodged about in vyllages As at Donfer Me lyne Castell DoÌ„bare Aluest and suche other Anone tidynges sprange about in Scotlande that a great nombre of men of armes of FrauÌ„ce were come into their countre Some therat dyde murmure and grudge and sayde Who the deuyll hath sente for theym What do they here Can nat we maynteyne our warre with Englande well ynoughe withoute their helpe We shall do no good as longe as they be with vs Let it be shewed vnto them that they may retourne agayne And that we be stronge ynough in Scotlande to maynteyne our warre without theym And therfore we wyll none of their company They vnderstande nat vs nor we them therfore we can nat speke toguyder They wyll anone ryffle and eate vp all that euer we haue in this countrey They shall doo vs more dispytes and domages than thoughe the Englysshe men shulde fyght with vs. For thoughe the Englysshe men brinne our houses we care lytell therfore We shall make them agayne chepe ynough We axe but thre dayes to make them agayne if we maye geate foure or fyue stakes and bowes to couer them ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the Frenche men founde a wylde countrey of Scotlande and were yuell content with thadmyrall and howe he pacifyed theÌ„ with fayre wordes And howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nere hande taken Ardenbourcke in FlauÌ„ders Cap. iii. THus the scottes sayde in Scotlande at the comynge of the frenchmen thyder for they dyde sette nothynge by them but hated them in their courage and diframed theym in their
the other a bocher the one called Roger de Creuyn and the other Iaques Dardenbourke â—I these two persones the matter was first set a warke and with theÌ„ a wyse knight of Flaunders called sir Iohan Delle who tooke great payne therin But he nor all the knyghtes in FlauÌ„ders coude neuer haue brought it to passe and it had nat ben by the meanes of these two persons This knight sir Iohan Delle was welbeloued in the towne of Gaunt and came and wente at his pleasure without any suspection These two forsayd ê‘sons had great displeasure of this debateâ— and spake priuely togyder therof And Roger said to Iaques Wyll there be no remedy fouÌ„de bytwene the towne of Gaunte in the whiche we were borne and is nowe in a harde case the duke of Burgoyn our naturall lorde It were a great almes dede to make a peaceâ— they that so coude do shulde haue thanke of god great prayse of the worlde for by that meanes the trouble shulde be ceased for euer ye saye trouthe ê™ Iaques But it is a harde thynge to bringe about for Peter de Boyse is a paryllous man there is none dare speke of peace for feare of hiÌ„ Well ê™ Roger yet it can nat be alwayes thus at last it must nedes haue an ende Shewe me quod Iaques by what meanes it myght be I wyll gladly here you Than quod Roger ye be the chefe of all the bochery and moost beloued and dradde ye might secretely shewe your corage and entent to them that be your freÌ„des and as ye se howe they enclyne ye maye speke further lytell and lytell And on the other syde I that am a maryner and beloued with all maner of men and I knowe some of their coragê howe that the warre displeaseth them for they haue great domage therby And I shall shewe my mynde to some who shall drawe other to the same purpose And if we maye gette these two craftes of our accorde the other craftes other good people suche as desyreth peace wyllnsone euclyne to vs. Well quod Iaques and I shall speke gladly to theÌ„ of my crafte and speke you to yours And as they deuysed so it was done ryght secretely and wisely so that by the grace of the Holygost Iaques Dardenboure fouÌ„de all tho of the bochery well enclyned to his wyll And Roger on his part by meanes of his fayre language founde the maryners ryght well agreed therto for their crafte was nere loste for lacke of vsage Hus these two wyse men shewed eche to other howe they founde their people disposed to haue peace Than they said howe they must haue some other sage persone to shewe all this matter to their lorde At last they remembred them of a knight called sir Iohan Dell and so they went to hym and discouered to hym all their ententes secretly and sayd Sir we haue laboured so moche to theÌ„ of our craftes that they be well enclyned to haue peace so that our lorde the duke of burgoyn wolde pardon them and to graunt vs our auÌ„cyent fraunchesses according to the tenours of our charters and bulles Than this sir Iohan sayd I shall gladly go and entreate hym And so this knight went out of the towne to the duke who was in FrauÌ„ce with the kyng and he shewed hym all the forsaid mater dyd so moche with his fayre langage that the duke enclyned to here what he wolde saye And for the desyre that the duke had to make a voyage in to Englande the lightlyer he condiscended to haue peace with them of Gaunt And also his counsayle sir Guy de la Tremoyle and sir Iohan de Vyen and the constable and the lorde Coucy counsayled him to take peace with theÌ„ than the duke answered and sayd to sir IohnÌ„ Delle I am content to do in this mater as ye wyll deuyse and so retourne ye agayne to theÌ„ that sent you hyder And the duke demaunded of hym if Fraunces Atreman were a counsayle of this treatie or nat Sir quod he I thynke he knoweth nothynge therof he kepeth the Castell of Gaure and I knowe nat if they that sent me hider wolde that he shulde knowe it or nat Tell theÌ„ quod the duke that they speke hardely with him in the mater for I thynke he wyll nat be agaynst me for as I vnderstaÌ„de he desireth gretly to be at peace with me as the duke coÌ„maunded so this knyght dyd and retourned to Gaunt brought these good tidyngê And than he went to the castell of Gaure to speke with Fraunces Atreman and discouered all his entent secretely to him And whan Fraunces had a lytell studyed merely he said And if my lorde the duke wyll pardon them of Gaunt and vpholde their frauncheses I shall nat be rebell agaynst hym but be right diligent to haue peace Than this knight departed fro hym and went agayne in to Fraunce to the duke and shewed hym all the mater The duke herde hym gladly and wrot letters open close sealed with his seale to theÌ„ of GauÌ„te And this knyght with those letters retourned in to Flaunders so came to GauÌ„t but he shewed nat the letters as than but he ê“mysed Roger and Iaques to accoÌ„plysshe their ententes Beholde nowe what ê‘ell this knight and they were in For if sir Iohan Bourchier and Peter de Boyse had knowen of the mater all the worlde shulde nat haue saued their lyues ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe these two foresayd burgesses assembled their frendes to accomplysshe their enterprise and sente sir Iohan Delle for the dukes letters of peace Cap. xix THanÌ„e Roger and Iaques said to sir IohnÌ„ Dell Sir ye shall come on monday nexte comyng in to this towne at nyne of the clocke and bringe with you the dukes letters and shewe them openly to the coÌ„mons of Gaunte wherby they shall gyue the more credence for by that houre we wyll be lordes of the towne or elles slayne in the quarell Well quod sir Iohan be it as ye saye and so ended their couÌ„sayle for that tyme And sir Iohan Delle went out of the towne to accomplysshe his purpose These other two wysemen studyed howe to bringe aboute their purpose and so spake with some of their frendes and aldermen of the craftes so that they had a great nombre of their accorde And determyned that on the nexte monday at nyne of the clocke they shulde departe out of their houses with the banner of FlauÌ„ders before them Cryeng the Lyon of FlauÌ„ders the lorde of the countrey hath gyuen peace to the good towne of Gaunte and hath pardoned clerely all trespasses For all this mater was sagely haÌ„deled yet it came to the knowlege of Peter de Boise And as soone as he knewe therof he went streight to sir Iohan Bourchyer who was soueraygne capitayne there vnder the kyng of Englande and sayd to hym Roger Creuyn and Iaques DardeÌ„bourke wyll be to morowe by nyne of the clocke in the market
Gaunte And moreouer we the sayd duke and duches praye and requyre oure welbeloued Aunte duchesse of Lusenbourcke and of Brabant and our right welbeloued brother the duke Iubert of Bauyer And also the aldermen coÌ„montie and counsayle of Gaunt And also we the duke duchesse of Burgoyne and our aldermen counsayle and coÌ„monties of Gaunt requyre and praye the barones and nobles of the countrey of Flaunders here after folowynge and to all good townes As Bruges Ipre the ferrouer of FraÌ„ke and the good townes of Malynes and Auuers That what for the well of the peace and knowledge of suretie of the foresaid thynges and of eche of them we desyre them to sette to their seales And we Iane by the grace of god duchesse of Lusenbourcke of Brabaunt and of Lancbourcke And we duke Aubert of Bauyere baylye and gouernour of the countrey of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande and of the seignorie of Frise And we Wyllyam eldest sonne of the erle of Namure lorde of Sluse And Hughe lorde daÌ„coyne Chateleyne of Gaunt And IohnÌ„ lorde of Guystelles and of Harues Henry de Bures lorde of Dysqueme we and of Haure Iohan lorde of Gonuseberge and of Ientoyse Arnolde of Iouste lorde of Estornay Philyppe lorde Daxalle Loyse of the Halse bastarde of Flaunders Gyrarde of Rasenhen lorde of Baserode Gaultier lorde of Halme Philyppe of Namure lorde of Eque IohnÌ„ Villayne lorde of saynt Iohans withoute the Chatcllayne of Ipre And Loyse lorde of Lambres knyght And we the borowe maysters and aldermen of Bruges and Ipre We Philyppe of Redehen Mountferant aldermen of MouÌ„tfranke and of Mountamare knight shyrife of terrouer of Franke for and in the name of the sayd Terrouer whiche hath no seale and the commons and counsayls of the townes of Malynes and Auuers Haue by the foresayd prayers and request for the welth of the peace And in wytnes of the trouthe and for more suretie of the sayd thynges and of eche of them we haue putte to the Seales of the sayd townes to this present treatie made at Tourney the eyghtene day of the moneth of Decembre in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fyue AFter the makyng of these present letters and charters of peace and engrosed and Sealed they were publysshed and the duke had the one parte of them and the towne of Gaunt the other parte Than FrauÌ„ces Atreman the coÌ„mons of the towne of GauÌ„t beyng there toke their leaue humbly of the duke and of the duchesse and also of the lady of BrabaÌ„t Thankyng her a thousande tymes of her ayde and helpe in makynge of their peace and offred them selfe euer to be redy to do her seruyce The good lady thanked theÌ„ right swetely and exhorted them euer to kepe fermely the peace and so to styrre the people that they neuer rebell agaynst their lorde and lady So than euery body departed and went home to their owne The duke and duches retourned to Lyle and they of Gaunt returned to their towne Whan Peter de Boise sawe the sure confyrmacion of the peace and that all the people of Gaunt had great ioye therof and were in mynde and wyll neuer to rebell more nor to haue warr he was therof greatly abasshed and had dyuers ymaginacyons Wheder he shulde abyde stylle in Gaunte for all thynges was pardoned by the dukes charter sealed with his seale or elles to departe in to Englande with sir Iohan Bourchier and with the Englysshe men who apparelled them to go And all thynges consydred he thought in hym selfe that he coude nat trust this peace nor to abyde in Gaunte And whan Fraunces Atreman sawe that he wolde nat abyde he sayd to him Peter what thynke ye to do Why do ye feare ye knowe well that by this treatie sealed by the duke that for any thing that is past there shall neuer chalenge be made to you for that Than Peter answered sayd yea in letters written lyeth nat all true ê‘dons Some pardoneth well by mouthe and gyueth writyng therof but yet the hatered remayneth styll in their corages As for me I am a man of the towne of Gaunt of small reputacion and of base lynage to my power I haue susteyned the rightes lyberties fraÌ„cheses of the towne Thynke you that wtin this two or thre yere the people wyll remeÌ„bre it I feare nay There be great lygnages in the towne of Gylbert Mathewes and his bretherne They wyll retourne and they were enemyes to my mayster Iohan Leon gladly I wolde neuer se theym nor the parentes of sir Gylbert Brute nor of sir Symon Becte who were by me slayne wherfore in this case I can nat be sure of my lyfe And as for you Fraunces Atreman wyll you abyde amonge suche a sorte of treatours who haue so falsely broken their othe and promyse to the kynge of Englande I swere to you truely ye wyll repente it for it wyll coste you youre lyfe I can nat saye quod Fraunces but I truste so well in this peace and in the duke and duchesses promyse that I wyll ieoparde to abyde THan Peter de Boyse made a request to the aldermen and counsayle of the towne Sayeng Fayre lordes to my power I haue truely serued the towne of GauÌ„t and haue ben in many an harde aduenture in that be halfe And for all the good seruyce that I haue done In the name of rewarde I aske none other thynge but that I maye be sauely conducted with sir Iohan Bourchier whome ye sende in to Englande This is all that I demaunde And they all aunswered it shulde be done And as for sir Roger Emeryne and Iaques Dardenbourcke by whome this treatie was firste moued they were ryght gladde of his departure and so were dyuers other notable persones in Gaunt suche as loued the peace So thus Peter de Boyse departed frome Gaunte in the company of sir Iohan Bourchier and toke with hym all the substauÌ„ce that he hadde He was well furnysshed of golde syluer and ieowelles And sir Iohan Delle dyde conducte them vnder the dukes salue conducte to the towne of Calais and than the gauntoise retourned Sir Iohan Bourchier and Peter de Boyse as soone as they might they wente in to Englande and came to the kyng and to his vncles and shewed them the dedes of theym of Gaunte The kynge made Peter de Boyse good chere and so dyde the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and gaue hym great thanke in that he was come to them and had abandoned theym of Gaunte to come in to Englande The kyng incontynent retaygned hym gaue hym an hundred marke sterlynge yerely to be payed out of the Staple of the wolles in London Thus Peter de Boyse abode styll in Englande and the good towne of Gaunt in peace And sir Roger Emeryn was made chefe alder man of the flete of Gaunt whiche was a good offyce and of great profyte whan the shyppes myght haue their course with marchaundyse And sir Iaques DardeÌ„bourc
Philyppe of Roe Peter of Corthue the Pesat of Palyuiers the bourge of Darusen all our capitaynsâ— and I my selfe and we were brought to the castell of SaÌ„xere Neuer before in the realme of Fraunce the companyons lost so moche as they dyde at that iourney howe be it Guysshart Albygon loste his prisoner by neglygence he bledde so sore that he dyedâ— for defaute of lokyng vnto Thus ended Iohan Aymery by this iourney that was thus done besyde Sanxere Charyte was delyuered all the garysons therabout by composycion that we shulde be quyte out of prison and so we had saue conducte to departe out of the countre whider we lyst And it fortuned as than for vs that the same season sir Bertram of Clesquy the lorde of Beayne sir Arnolde Dandrehen and the erle of Marche they toke their voiage to go in to Spaygne to ayde the kyng Dampeter but first I was in Bretayne at the bataile of Alroy vnder sir Hughe Caurell and there I recouered my losse for the iourney was ours and I had to my ê‘te good prisoners by whom I had two M. frankes Than I went with ten speares with sir Hugh Caurell in to Spayne and there helped to put kyng Dampeter out of his realme And than whan the alyances were made bytwene the kyng Dampeter and the prince of Wales and that he wolde abyde in Castell I was there in the company of sir Hugh Caurell and I retourned with hym in to Acquitayne Than the warre renewed bytwene the frenche kyng and the prince than we had moche a do for we had sore warre and many capitayns englysshe and Gascoyns were slayne and yet I thaÌ„ke god I am a lyue Ther dyed sir Robert Briquet bytwene the lande of the duke of Orliance and the countre of Bloyse in a place called Oliuet and there he all his company were ouerthrowen by asquyer of Heynalt a valyant man of armes a good capitayne called Alars Doustienes surnamed Barbason for he was of that lynage He was as than gouernoure of Bloys and kepar of all the countre sette there by the lordes therof as Loys IohnÌ„ and Guy So it was his fortune to encouÌ„tre with sir Robert Briquet sir Robert Cheney they and all their coÌ„pany were slayne for ther were non taken to raunsome and at the batayle of Nyorthe in Xayntaine Carsnell was slayne by sir Bertram of Clesquy and a seuyn C. englyssh men were slayne there at saint Seuere were slayne other englysshe capitayns as Rychard Elys and Richarde Helyn I knewe but fewe expert my selfe but that were slayne I haue hold fronter made warre for the kyng of EnglaÌ„de for myne herytage lyeth in Burdelois Somtyme I haue been so ouerthrowen and pulled downe that I had nat wherwith to lepe a hors backe And another tyme I haue been riche ynough whan good fortunes came in a season I and Raymonet de la Pee were companions togyder and we had in Tholousyn on the froÌ„ters of Bygore The castell of Maluoysin the castell of Trygalet and the castell of VaÌ„teulx whiche as than dyde vs great profyte ThanÌ„e the duke of Anion toke them fro vs byforce of puyssaunce but than Raymonet de Pee tourned Frenche and I abyde styll good englisshe and shall do whyle I lyue True it was whan I had loste the castell of Trygalet and was coÌ„ducted to the castell Cuyllet and that the duke was gone backe agayne in to Fraunce I determyned to do somwhat outher to gette some profyte or els to lose all or to dye in the payne I caused by spyall the towne castell of Thury in Albygo is to be well a viewed whiche castell after aueyled to me what by good fortunes and â—atesfyeng of the countrey a hundred thousande frankes I shall shewe you howe I wanne it WIthout the towne there is a fayre fouÌ„tayne and of vsage euery mornynge the women of the towne wolde come thyder with pottes and other vesselles on their heedes to fetche of the clere water ther Than I toke fyftie coÌ„panyons of the garyson of Cuillet and we rode all a daye throughe wodes busshes and the nexte night about mydnight I sette a busshment nere to Thury and I and a sixe other all onely dyde on vs womens aray and with pottes in our handes And so we caÌ„e to a medowe right nere to the towne and hydde ourselfe behynde great cockes of hay that were there standyng for it was about the feest of saiÌ„t Iohan whan they make hay whan the hour came that the gate was opyned to lette the women go out for water we seuyn toke our pottê and fylled them at the fountayne and wente towarde the towne oure faces wrapped in kerchers so that we coude nat be knowen the women that we mette goyng for water said to vs. Ah saynt Mary gosseppes ye were vp be tymes We aunswered in their lauguage with a faynt voyce that is true And so paste by them and came to the gate and we founde no body there but a souter dressynge forthe of his baggage Than one of vs blewe a horne to drawe thyder out coÌ„pany out of the busshment The souter toke no hede but whan he harde the horne blowe he demauÌ„ded of theÌ„ What is this Who was that blewe the horne One answered and sayd It was a preest wente into the feldes Ah that is true quod the souter it was sir FrauÌ„ces our preest gladly he gothe a mornyngê to seke for an Hare Than our company came and we entred in to the towne where we fouÌ„de no man to drawe his swerde to make any defence thus I toke the towne and castell of Thury wherby I haue had great profite yerely more than the castell of Trygalet with the appurtenauÌ„ce is worthe But as nowe I wote nat what to do for I am in a treatie with therle of Armynake and with the dolphyn of Auuergne who hath expresse authoritie by the Frenche kyng to bye all townes and fortresses of the companyons such as they holde in their handes whersoeuer they be outher in Auuergne Rouergâ—e Lymosyn Quercy Pyergourt Albegois Agen of all suche as hath or dothe make any warre in the kyng of Englandes tytell and many are departed and haue rendred their fortresses I can nat tell if I wyll rendre myne or nat With that worde sayd the Burge of Compayne Cosyn it is true For of Carlat whiche I holde in Auuergne I am coÌ„e hyder to here some tidynges For sir Loys of Sanxere marshall of FraÌ„ce wyll be here shortely he is as nowe at Tarbe as I haue herde of suche as come thens with these wordes they called for wyne and dranke Than the Bastot sayd to me sir Iohan are ye well enformed of my lyfe yet I haue had other adueÌ„tures whiche I haue nat shewed nor wyll nat speke of all sir ê™ I I haue well herde you ¶ Howe a squyer called Limosin turned frenche howe he caused Loys Rambalt his companyon in
sone and after they put the agayne fro it as it is clerely conteyned in this hystory by the good wyt aduyce of kynge Charles sone to kynge IohnÌ„ he drewe to his loue by fayre meanes grete gyftes the grettest lordes of all Gascoyne as the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret The prynce lost them by pryde for I Iohan Froysarde who wrote this hystory the same season that I was at Buroeaus that the prynce wente in to Spayne the Englysshe meÌ„ were so prowde that they set nothyng by ony nacyon but by theyr owne for the gentylmen of Gascoyne of Acquitayne suche as lost theyr goodes in the warre yet they coulde gete no maner of offyce in theyr counâ—rees for the Englysshemen sayd they were not worthy nor able to haue ony wherwith they were sore grudged in theyr myndes and when they myght they shewed it for bycause of the hardnes that the Erle of Armynacke the lorde Dalbret founde in the prince they forsoke hym became Frensshe so dyde dyuers other knyghtes squyers of Gascoyne kynge Phylyp of FrauÌ„ce kynge IohnÌ„ his sone had lost theÌ„ by pryde hyghe mynde in lyke wyse so dyde the prince kynge Charles wynne them by fayrnes by larges and humylyte for so wolde Gascoynes be delte withall kynge Charles to the entente that the loue of these lordes sholde the longer contynewe he made a maryage bytwene the syster of the lady Isabell of Burbon the lorde Dalbret bytwene them were fayre chyldren for this cause the loue endured the longer on a tyme at Paris where as I was I herde the lorde Dalbret speke a worde whiche I well noted but I byleue he spake it but in sporte howbeit he spake it in grete sadnes to a knyght of Brytayne who had serued hym before for the knyght had demaunded hym of the busynes of his countrey howe he was contente to be frensshe he answered and sayd I thanke god I do metely well howbeit I had more money my meÌ„ also wheÌ„ we made war for the kynge of Englonde then we haue now for when we rode forthe at aduenture we fouÌ„de euer some ryche merchaunt other of Tholous Condon or Bergerath lyghtely there was no day but we gate cuer some good pray Then we were fresshe Ioly nowe we be as deed then the knyght began to laughe and sayd truely this is a lyfe of Gascoynes lyghtly they wolde euer haue other meÌ„nes domage Therfore I that harde these wordes say as I thought that the lorde Dalbret repented hym in that he was become frensshe as the lorde of Musydent Gascoyne who was taken at the batayle of Anneâ— sware in to the handes of the duke of Aniow that he wolde come to Parys and become frensshe euer after so he came to Paris kynge Charles made hym good chere but for all that euer the kynge dyd the lorde of Musydent departed agayne fro Parys without ony leue wente in to his couÌ„trey became agayne Englysshe brake all the promyses that he had made with the duke of Aniow In lykewyse so dyde the lorde of Rousen the lorde of Duras the lorde of Languerant Suche is the nacyon of Gascoyne they be not stable for they loue yet the Englysshe men better then the frensshemeÌ„ for theyr warre agaynst the Frensshe men were more profytabe for them then agaynst the Englysshe men this is the pryncypall incydent that moost inclyneth them therto ¶ Howe the kynge of Cypres was slayne and murdred in his bedde by his owne broder by exhortacyon and corrupcyon of the infydelles for the bountye hardnes that was in hym Capitulum .xl. IN this same season there came other tydynges iÌ„ to frauÌ„cefor thâ—der came kyng LyoÌ„ of Armony not with no grete company but as a man chased out of his royalme wherof he was kynge by the turkes al his royalme was wonne excepte one castel standynge on the see called Courthe whiche was kepte by the Genâ—uoys bycause that castell was the key yssue entre by the see to go to Alexandria in to the Sowdans londe for these Geneuoys gothe a marchaundyse by the meanes of truage that they pay in to Rude in to Prester IohnÌ„s londe and in euery place they are welcome bycause of the golde syluer that they brought thyder for other merchauÌ„dy se that they exchaunge in Alexandria in Cayr in Damas in other places amonge the Sara syns for in suche maner the worlde is gouerued for that is not in one countrey is in another therby euery thynge is knowen the Geneuoys be those that furthest doth aduenture theyr merchauÌ„dyse They be lordes of the portes of the se aboue the VenisiaÌ„s more feared doubted amonge the sarasyns theÌ„ ony other people on the see they be valyaunt men of grete entrepryse A Galy well furnysshed of the Geneuoys dare well assay .iiii. Galeys of the Sarasyns The turke Tartaryes sholde do moche domage to crystendome yf the Geneuoys were not bycause they be renomed to be chefe lordes of the see marchynge on infydelles therfore they haue euer .l. Galeys grete shyppes rynnynge on the see to defende the Iles as the I le of Cypres the I le of Rodes the Ile dostye all the boundes of the see Grece vnto Turkye they haue the towne castel of Pere stoÌ„dynge on the see before Constantyne le noble whiche is kepte at theyr cost charge .iii. or iiii tymes euery yere it is refresshed with that that is necessary the Tartaryes Turkes haue dyuers tymes assayed to gete it but they coulde neuer attayne therto for they haue euer lost there more then they haue wonne for the castell of Pere stondeth on a rocke there is but one entre whiche the Geneuoys gretely dyde fortefye Also the Geneuoys haue the towne castell of Iason whiche is ryght noble a grete profyte to them to other nere countres of crystendome for yf Pere Iason Stycye Rodes were not with the ayde of the Geneuoys the infydelles wolde soone come to Gaiet yea to Naples to the porte of Cornet to Rome but the sayd garysons whiche alwayes be well prouyded for with men of warre Geneuoys with the shyppes galeys are euer redy to defende them wherfore the Turkes dare not aduenture on that partyes but that they do is on the fronters of Constantyne le noble towarde Hungery yf the noble kynge of Cypres Peter of Liesieguen who was so noble valynnt a prynce had conquered the grete cyte of AlexaÌ„drie Satalye yf he had lyued longer he wolde haue gyuen the Sowdan Turkes so moche a do that syth Godfrey of Boloyns dayes they had neuer so moche that ryght wel knewe the Turkes Tartaryes infydelles suche as knewe his prowes hygh dedes therfore to haue hym dystroyed they made
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 â—nlumyned 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 ClemeÌ„t 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 fâ—e amoÌ„ge 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
freer Iohn̄ the Cardynalles that were in his presence Syrs thus shall it fall on you of the chyrche for the Emperour of Rome and of Almayne and the other kynges crystened hyghe prynces of the worlde haue gyuen you the goodes possessyons ryches to the entente to serue god and ye spende it in pryde and superfluyte ¶ ye rede not the lyfe of saynt Syluester pope of Rome after saynt Peter ymagyne and consyder howe the Emperour Cōstantyne gaue hym fyrst the dysmes of the chyrche and on what condycyon Saynt Syluester rode nother with CC. nor CCC horse abrode in the worlde but he helde hymselfe symply closed in Rome and lyued soberly with them of the chyrche when the aungell of god shewed hym how the Emperour Coustātyne who was as then but an infydell sholde fende for hym in lykewyse the Emperour had it by reuelacyon of an aungell that Syluester sholde shewe hym the way of helthe for he was syke of the lypper so that his fless he fell in peces whē Syluester came before hym he shewed hym the way of baptyme so crystened hym and incontynent he was hole for the whiche the Emperoure Constantyne byleued in god and all his Empyre and gaue to Syluester to the chyrche all the dysmes for before the Emperoure of Rome helde them and besyde that gaue hym many fayre gyftes grete sygnyoryes augmentynge out fayth and the chyrche but it was his entencyon that the goodes and syguyoryes that he had gyuē hym that he sholde gouerne it humbly and truely and not to spēde it in pompe and pryde but nowe a dayes they of the chyrche do the contrary wherwith god is dyspleased and hereafter wyll be more dyspleased so that the grete lordes of the erthe wyll ware colde in theyr deuocyons and not be so lyberall in gyuynge ony thynge to the chirche But rather to be redy to take fro it that was gyuen before and I thynke it wyll not be longe or this besene ¶ Thus this freer Iohn̄ of Roche tayllayd whome the cardynalles helde in pryson in Auignyon shewed to them these wordes and dyuers other wherof the cardynalles were abasshed and wolde gladly haue put hym to dethe yf they myght haue founde ony iust cause agaynst hym But they coulde fynde none so suffred hym to lyue but they durst not let hym out of pryson for he shewed his matters so parfyte and layde for hym hyghe scryptures that peraduenture he myght haue made many in the worlde to haue arred Howbeit suche as toke more hede to his sayenge then I dyde sawe many thynges fall after accordynge as he sayd and wrote in pryson all that he sayd he wolde proue by the apocalyps the true prowes wherwith he armed hymselfe who saued hym fro brennynge and also some of the Cardynalles had pyte on hym and wolde not do theyr vttermoost to hym NOwe let vs leue to speke of these narracyons and retourne to our pryncypall matter hystory of Spayne of Portyngale of Fraunce and of Englonde and recorde the fortunes that fell in that season whiche be not to be forgotten ¶ ye haue herde here before howe kynge Iohn otherwyse called mayster denyce of portyngale bastarde broder to kyng Don Ferant was in possessyon of the royalme of Portyngale by the helpe all onely of .iiii. Cytees in Portyngale But as for the nobles and knyghtes of the royalme of Portyngale at the begynnynge acquyted them truely to kynge Don Peter to kynge Iohn̄ of Castell and to his wyfe the lady Beatryce yet thoughe some helde the opynyon of that lady neuerthelesse other named her a bastarde for she was doughter to a lady in Portyngale called Elynoure who had as then her fyrst husbande on lyue a knyght of that countre syr Iohn̄ Laurence of Coygne and the kynge of Portyngale had taken her fro hym and the kynge maryed her and put her husbande out of Portyngale who wente and dwelled with the kynge of Castell for he durst not dwell in Portyngale for fere of the kynge who helde his wyse yet he was of hyghe lygnage These thynges are to be meruaylled at For kynge Ferant of Portyngale reputed his doughter as lawfully begotten for he had a dyspensacyon of pope Vrban the .vi. And then the peas was made bytwene the .ii. kynges of Castell Portyngale that a knyght of the royalme of Portyngale called syr Iohn̄ Ferant Andere who was chefe of counsayle with the kynge of Portyngale treated of peas and made the mariage bytwene kynge Ferant of Portyngalles doughter and kynge Iohn̄ of Castell who was as thē a wyddower and had maryed before the doughter of Don Peter kynge of Aragon thoughe the kynge of Castell his counsayle dyd cast all these doubtes and howe they fered lest the kynge of Portingales doughter sholde not be taken as heyre of Portyngale after her faders dysseas but to put in suretye therof the kynge of Castell the kynge of Portyngale caused dyuers of the chefe lordes of Portyngale to swere that after the kynges dysseas to take her as theyr lady to tourne the royalme of Portyngale to the kynge of Castel Also the kynge of Portyngale had bounde certayne good townes to the kynge of Castel to take hym as theyr kynge on the payne of forfayture of .ii. thousande frankes thoughe this knyght Iohan Ferant Andere dyde his busynes for a good entente to make peas concorde bytwene Castell and Portyngale at the instaunce of his lorde yet the comons of Lyrbone slewe hym and chase to theyr kynge this mayster Deuyce for they sayd they wolde not be vnder the subiectyon of them of Castell they hated them so moche for they coulde neuer loue togyder also they sayd that the crowne of Portyngale myght not go to a woman and that the quene of Castell was not true herytour but a bastarde worse then a bastarde for kynge Ferantes lyuynges and after his dethe Iohan Ferant of Coygne lyued who was husbande to that ladyes moder and therfore they chase this mayster Denyce and was crowned by these .iiii. Cytees Lyrbone Vyc Eure and the porte of Portyngale they sayd they wolde haue a kynge amonge them one of the chefe incydentes that moued the comons to be agaynst the kynge of Castell was as I shall shewe you The Spanyardes whom I call Castellyans when the maryage was made bytwene them and Portyngale and that the kynge of Portyngale had graunted that after his dysseas the royalme sholde go to the kyng of Castell euer when the Spanyardes mette ony of the Portyngales they wolde mocke thē and say syrs whether ye wyll or not nowe ye shall come to our daunger we shall holde you vnder subiectyon and seruage and kepe you lyke slaues and Iues and do with you as we lyst they wolde answere saye they trusted that sholde neuer be neuer to be vnder subiectyon of ony other man lyuyng excepte god and for suche causes
and wordes reprouable of the Spanyardes the Portyngales toke this mayster Denyce basterde broder to kynge Ferant made hym kynge in his broders dayes there was no rekenynge made of hym nor the kynge that the comons wolde neuer haue chosen hym to theyr kynge and forsake his doughter as they dyd Howbeit often tymes this sayd knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Andere sayd to the kynge how that this mayster Denyce his basterde broder had gretely the grace of the comons of the royalme wherfore he sayd it had ben good he had ben put to dethe but kynge Ferant answered and sayd howe the comons sholde neuer haue puyssauÌ„ce to do ony thynge agaynst the wyll of the noble men of his countrey and how that his sone in lawe the kynge of Castell sholde euer be puyssaunt ynough to constrayne them and to chastyce them yf they rebelled after his dyssease Wherfore he sayd there was noo cause to put his bastarde broder to deth nor put hym in pryson sayng how he was his broder and a man of relygyon and had ynoughe to lyue on besyde the crowne of Portyngale and so he was lefte alyue THese foresayd poyntes and artycles be true for I the auctoure of this booke haue ben sufficyently enfourmed therof by the nobles of Portyngale it is a thynge to be meruayled at to make a bastarde a kynge they of Portyngale saye and as yet sayth that the quene of Castel the lady Bâ—autryce doughter to the lady Elynour of Coygne was a bastarde therfore they wolde not take her as quene of Portyngale nor none heyre that came of her the same opynyon the erle of Foys layde to the knyghtes of his countrey when they wente in to Spayne to ayde the kynge of Castel for he had ben suffycyently infourmed in the matter bytwene Portyngale and Castel wherfore he sayd to theÌ„ at theyr departyng Syrs ye haue nothynge to do to busy yourselfe bytwene Castell and Portyngale for the quene of Castell who was doughter to kynge Ferant of Portyngale it is a warre euyll begon there maye moche euyl come to them that be busye in that matter but they answered hym syth they had receyued wages of suche a man as the kynge of Castell was they must nedes go and serue hym and so they wente moost parte of them there dyed as ye haue herde here before NOwe let vs retourne to the busynes of Portyngale For they be not for to be lefte for the grete aduentures that there hathe falleÌ„ And to cronycle al thynges as they haue fallen to the entente that in tyme to come they sholde be founde wryten and regystred yf aduentures were not knowen it were grete domage And by clerkes that auncyently haue wryten and regystred the hystoryes and bookes therby the hystories are knowen there is not so perpetuall a memory as is wrytynge truely I saye to you wyll that they that come after me sholde knowe that for to knowe the trouth of this hystory I haue taken therin grete payne in my dayes and haue serched many royalmes and countreys to knowe the trouthe and haue had acquayntauÌ„ce of many valyaunt meÌ„ and haue sene dyuers bothe of Fraunce of Englonde of Scotlande Castell Portyngale of other landes Duchyes and Countyes suche as they and theyr landes hath ben conioyned in these warres with them I haue spoken and ben instructed and infourmed and I wolde not that ony enquest sholde passe vnknowen syth I knewe it to be true and notable And whyle I was in Byerne with the erle Gaston of Foys I was there enfourmed of dyuers busynesses suche as fell bytwene Castell and Portyngale and when I was retourned agayne in to my countrey in the countye of Heynalte and in the towne of Valencennes and that I had refresshed me there a season then I determyned me to folowe the hystory that I had begon then I aduysed in myne ymagynacyon howe I coulde not suffycyently be instructed by the herynge of them that susteyned the opynyon of the kynge of Castell but that in lykewyse I ought to here the Portyngales as well as the Gascoynes and Spanyardes that I herde in the house of the erle of Foys and in the waye goynge thyder and retournynge I toke noo regarde to the payne or trauayle of my body but so I wente to Bruges in Flaundres to fynde there some of that royalme of Portyngale and of Lyxbone for there were euer some of yâ— countrey beholde if myne aduenture were good or no yf I had sought a season .vii. yere I coulde not haue come to a better poynte then I dyd then for then it was shewed me that if I wolde go to Meldeboure in Selande I sholde fynde there a knyght of Portyngale a valyaunt man and a sage and of the kynge of Portyngales counsayle who was newly come thyder was goynge thens by see in to Pruce howe he coulde iustly and playnly shewe me of the busynes and aduentures of Portyngale for he knewe had ben ouer all the countrey These tydynges reioysynge me and so I wente fro Bruges with one of Portyngale in my company who knewe ryght wel this knyght and so we came to Sluse and there toke the see and dyd so moche by the grace of god that we came to meldeboure and the Portyngales that were in my company aquaynted me with this knyght and I founde hym ryght gracyous sage honourable courtoys amyable and acquayntable so I was with hym .vi. dayes or there aboute And this knyght enfourmed me of all the busynes bytwene the royalme of Castel and Portyngale syth the dethe of kynge Ferant tyll the departynge of that knyght out of that countrey he shewed me euery thynge so playnly and so gracyously that I toke grete pleasure to here hym and to wryte it And when I was enfourmed by hym of all that I desyred to knowe I toke leue of hym and he conueyed me to my shyp so dyd dyuers other ryche merchauntes of his countrey who were come fro Bruges fro other places to se hym in his company there was the sone of Nauarre in Portyngale dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of that royalme but he had the chefe honoure amonge them certaynly by that I coulde se and ymagyne of hym and of his estate he was worthy to haue honour for he was of noble porte and goodly stature and lykely to be a valyaunt man And wheÌ„ I retourne agayne fro Rome in to myne owne countrey I shall busy me to make relacyon of the wordes of this gentyll knyght called syr IohnÌ„ Ferant Porteler and shall cronycle all that hathe fallen in Portyngale and in Castell vnto the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and x. ¶ Howe they of Portyngale sent out messageres in to Englonde to shewe tydynges of theyr couÌ„trey to the kynge of Englonde and to the grete lordes there Ca. xliii HOwe sheweth the hystory that after this mayster Denys kyng IohnÌ„ of Portyngale had dyscomfyted kynge
of armes done and there syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere fought with an axe ryght valyauntly and so dyd his .ii. companyons on the other partye the Spanyardes fought ryght valyauntly Thus they fought the space of .iii. houres whiche was meruayle that meÌ„ coulde endure so longe in theyr armure fyghtynge but the grete dysyre that eyther partye had to wynne honoure caused them to endure the more payne and syr surely Spanyardes and Portyngales are harde men in batayle specyally when they se it is of necessyte thus they fought longe that no maÌ„ knewe who had the better theyr batayle was so egall And syr thanked be god there was nother baner nor penon on our syde that day ouerthrowen but fynally theyr syde began to open and were beten downe on euery syde so that the dyscomfyture fell on them then theyr pages fled awaye to saue themselfe and of the .vii. capytaynes that were there present there scaped away but one that was the meanes of his page who brought hym his horse he dyd his mayster good seruyce that day and that was Adyentall Cassel all the other .vi. were slayne for there was neuer a man taken to raunsome Thus syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere his company obtayned the vyctory of theyr enemyes who were thre agaynst two and this was on a tuysday in the moneth of Octobre nere to Treutouse in the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx and .iiii. ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberoth bytwene the kynge of Castel and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. xlv ANd after this dyscomfyture on our enemyes our men mounted on theyr horses and there we delyuered suche prysoners as the Castellyans had taken before also gaue them suche pyllage as theyr enemyes had gotten excepte the beestes whiche were in nombre an .viii. hundreth all those we draue in to the garyson of Treutouse for vatayllynge of the towne as it was reason there we were receyued with grete ioye they wyst not what chere to make vs bycause we had delyuered yâ— couÌ„trey of theyr enemyes rescued that they had lost wherby we had grete prayse thrughe all the townes of Portyngale syr in the same yere our men had another fayre iourney on theyr enemyes in the felde of Sybylle but syr fyrst I shall shewe you the moost happyest iourney that the kynge of Portyngale had or ony kynge before hym in CC. yere before whiche was done within .iiii monethes before that that kynge sente vs hyther our enemyes were .iiii. agaynst one of good men of warre and of hyghe empryse wherfore our iourney ought to be the more praysed But syr I thinke ye haue herde therof al redy wherfore I thynke best to speke not therof nay sayd the duke ye shall not leue so ye shall shewe me the hole processe for I wolde gladly here you speke therof yet of trouthe I haue an heraulte here with me called Derby who was there at the batayle as he sayth and he shewed me that suche Englysshe men as were there dyd meruaylles in armes and more by his reporte theÌ„ I bileue was of trouth for there was no grete nombre of them wherby ony grete feate sholde be done by them for my broder the erle of Cambrydge when he came out of Portyngale brought agayne with hym suche Englysshmen as wente thyder But there be many of these Heraultes be suche lyers that they wyll exalte suche as they lyst beyonde measure But for all that the noblenes of them that be good is not lost nor enpayred thoughe it be not shewed by them Therfore it is good to knowe it by the reporte of other that knoweth it ¶ Syr sayd Laurence of all the straungers that were at the batayle of Iuberoth with the kynge of Portyngale there passed not a two hundred men Englysshe Gascoynes and Almaynes and the grettest capytaynes that were there of the straungers were two Gascoynes and one of Almayne of the duchy of Guerles The Gascoynes were called syr Wyllyam of mountferrant and Bernardon and the Almayne Albert of EnglysshmeÌ„ there were a certayne archers but I herde none named but .ii. squyers Northbery and Hartecell and they were called to counsayle with the kynge and other lordes before the batayle Well sayd the duke prosede forthe tell me of that iourney howe it was fought I requyre you syr sayd the squyer with ryght a good wyl for syr to shewe you other howe it was I am sente hyther fro the kynge my mayster THen Laurence Fongase renewed his tale and spake of the busynes of Iuberoth and sayd thus syr ye haue herde by me also by other that after the coronacyon of the kynge of Portyngale at Connymbres that kyng of Castell who had raysed his syege fro Lyxbone for the dethe of pestylence that fell in his â—ost and so wente to yrayne and it was sayd howe it greued hym sore when he was enfourmed of the coronacyon of my redoubted lorde kynge IohnÌ„ of Portyngale for the kynge of Castell claymed and yet dothe ryght in the herytage and crowne of Portyngale by the tytle of his wyfe doughter to kynge Ferrant whiche we denyed and yet do for suche cause as I haue shewed you before so thus the kynge of Castell was counsayled to sende for meÌ„ of war where he myght gete them and specyally in to Fraunce for the frensshmen had alwayes ayded hym susteyned his quarell and the kynge his fader in lykewyse and it was sayd to hym by his counsayle ye nede nothynge but one iourney agaynst them of Portyngale for by puyssaunce if ye may kepe the felde and fyght with them theÌ„ ye shal come to your entente for there is grete varyaunce all redy in Portyngale as ye se and perceyue well for there is here with you of the noblest persones of the royalme and they haue submytted theÌ„selfe vnder your obeysaunce whiche thynge gretely furdereth your warre if ye auaunce yourselfe with puyssauÌ„ce to fyght to this bastaÌ„rde of portyngale whom that comons haue crowned to theyr kynge or he gete ayde of the Englysshemen ye are lyke to ouerthrowe hym and yf ye wynne the iourney all the royalme is yours for it is no grete matter to wyn it after soo by suche counsayle and other thynges IohnÌ„ of Castell auaunced hym selfe to sende letters messageres in to Fraunce Poictou Bretayne Normandy Borgon in to dyuers other places where as he thought to haue men of armes knyghtes squyres for his money or for loue or suche as helde ony thynge of hym and specyally there came many knyghtes squyres to hym out of Byerne and so on a daye as he was at saynt yrayne he auewed his people to the nombre of .vi. or vii.c speres .xxx. M. spanyardes all on horsoacke all hauynge desyre to do vs domage TIdynges came in to Portyngale to the kynge and to the lordes there to them of the good townes and cytees suche as were of
subieccyon of the Castellyans they wolde take one or other that were ferre of fro the blood of the kynge of Portyngale the kynge were deed without yssue male syr when the kynge of portyngale that nowe is came to the place of Iuberoth all these matters were shewed hym thus whyles that the constable and marshall were orderynge of theyr batayles there came to the kynge syr Iohn Ferrant Partelere who came the same morenynge fro his garyson of Dorech brought with hym .lx. speres the kynge had grete ioye of his comynge when all our bataylles were ordeyned that we abode for nothynge but for our enemyes that our fore ryders were sente forth to aspye theyr dealynge the kynge then my souerayne lorde came in amonge his men caused fylence to be made then he sayd syrs ye haue crowned me kynge shewe nowe your trouth faythfulnes for syth I am so forwarde specyally in this place of Iuberoth I shal neuer retourne agayne in to Portyngale without I fyght with myne enemyes then euery man answered and sayd syr we shall all abyde with you knowe for trouthe we shall not flye this daye TThus the batayles approched for the Castellyans had grete desyre to fynde vs to fyght as they well shewed we sente forthe our fore ryders to se knowe what our enemyes dyd they taryed fro vs more then .iii. houres that we herde no tydynges of theÌ„ so that we thought we had lost them howbeit at the last they retourned brought vs sure worde of them what nombre they were of by all lykelyhode they shewed vs howe theyr vowarde were a .vii. M. men of armes armed capa pee as fresshe as well horsed as coulde be deuysed in the kynge of Castelles rerewarde there were a .xxx. M. horse of good men of armes And when our kynge and his company knewe the nombre of theyr enemyes howe that theyr vowarde were a .ii. legges before the kynge for the Gascoynes straungers were not well of accorde with the Castellyans then we determyned to kepe vs close togyder in our strength to make .ii. wynges to our batayle our men of armes wherof we had but .ii. M. CCCCC speres to be bytwene the .ii. wynges syr there myght well haue ben sene good ordre of batayle people well recomforted then it was coÌ„maunded by the kyng on payne of dethe that no man take that daye no prysoner this was determyned amonge vs for the best for as the lordes capytaynes sayd if we sholde entende to take prysoners it sholde deceyue vs make vs take no hede of that we sholde do for it was sayd that it were better for vs to fyght wel then to take hede of takynge of prysoners to sel our lyues derely as good people ought to do This worde was vpholden obserued then our enemyes came before vs close togyder lyke good men of warre then alyghted on foote trymmed theyr harneys let theyr horses go so came approched vs fyersly surely there was the floure of chyualry and that they shewed well bytwene vs and them there was a lytâ—ell dyke no gretter but that a knyght armed myght well passe ouer howbeit to vs it was a lyâ—tell aduauntage for in the passynge ther of our mâ—en that were on bothe wynges with theyr dartes dâ—yd hurte mayme dyuers dyd sore trouble them when they were ouer the dyke then they assembled them agaynst vs for they thought that the kynge of Castell with his grete batayle had folowed them at hande but it was not so for they were all dyscomfyted slayne or the kynge of Castell came nere hande vs I shal shewe you by what meanes they were closed in bytwene vs the comons of our countrey who layde on behynde them with axes other wepons without sparynge our men of armes who were fresshe came on agaynst theÌ„ caused theÌ„ to recule backe to fall in the dyke one vpon another syr al this was done in lesse then halfe an houre there was slayne in the felde of men of armes mo then .iiii. M. none taken to rauÌ„some for wheÌ„ ony knyght or spere of ours wolde haue taken ony prysoner other of theyr coÌ„pany wolde slee theÌ„ in theyr haÌ„des THus clerely without recouery the vowarde of our enemyes were dyscomfyted then came the kynge of Castel with his batayle wherin he had .xxx. M. men well horsed but when they approched it was nere nyght they knewe nothynge what myschefe was fallen on theyr vowarde then they came mustred themselfe before vs a CCCCC of theÌ„ lepte with theyr horses ouer the dike but syr al suche as passed ouer neuer repassed agayne for there was slayne a grete parte of the noble men suche as desyred feates of armes a grete nombre of the barons knyghtes of Portyngale suche as were there with the kynge of Castell agaynst vs when our people sawe our enemyes so dyscomfyted then we passed ouer the dyke for m .xl. places the dyke was stopped with deed meÌ„ toke our horses folowed the chase but that was not ferre for it was nyght we wolde not folysshly go ferre for doubte of busshmeÌ„tes nor also we were not so well horsed as the Castellyans for surely yf we had they had receyued more domage then they dyd the kynge of Castell taken or slayne but the nyght came on so darke saued hym and many other syr I shall shewe you the names of the moost parte of the noble men of Fraunce Gascoynes Portyngales that dyed in the felde at the batayle of Iuberoth FIrst the erle Don IohnÌ„ Alphons Serole of Portyngale the grete pryour of saynt IohnÌ„s in Portyngale Don Dilgaures his broder Ange Saluace of Geneue Don IohnÌ„ Ausalle syr dangoues Medrich dricho Persement Peter Resermant Lugares of Versaunt the grete mayster of Calestrane his broder called Don Dygo Dygares Peter Goussart of Seball IohnÌ„ Radigo of Herriers the grete mayster of saynt Iaques And of Fresshmen syr IohnÌ„ of Rys syr Ieffrey Ricon syr Godfrey Pertenay syr Espaynolet of Spayne syr Reynolde of Solyere a knyght called Lymosyn marshall of the kynge of Castelles oost of gascoyns of Bierne the lorde of Bierne the lorde of Mortan the lorde of Bryngoles syr Raymonde Durach syr Bertram of Varuge syr IohnÌ„ of Asolgme syr Raymonde of Valentyne syr Adam of mourase syr menuent of Sarement syr Peter of Sarembiere dyuers other mo then .xii. C. knyghtes squyers all gentyll men Nowe syr I shall shewe you the names of them that were slayne on our party Fyrst the erle of Nauare coÌ„stable of Portyngale Galopes Porteke Peter Porteke Agalype ferrant Porteke his broder PoÌ„nase of Coygne Egeas Toille of Podich Dassue vasse martyne of mielx his sone vasse martyne who was stryken with a darte clene thrughe his body Also there
myght haue an answere Laurence sayd the duke or this tyme â–ª I haue shewed you and yet agayne I say it that your comynge and these tydynges doth me grete pleasure and ye shall not departe fro me tyll ye be satysfyed of all your requestes well answered in that ye be come for syr sayd the squyer I thanke you then the duke called for wyne spyces so toke theyr leue wente to theyr lodgynge to Arcorch to the house of the Fawcon in London there they were lodged with Thomelyn of Colebrunque ANd it was not longe after but that the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had counsayle togyder of that busynes â–ª of Castell and Portyngale wherof the erle of Cambrydge was well contente for he had ben in that countrey before more then a yere and he was glad to here of the condycyons tytles of the kynge of Portyngale and of the quene of Castell and sayd to his broder syr when kynge Ferrant lyued the Chanon Robsart and syr Wyllyam Wyndesore and dyuers other knyghtes that were there with me shewed me as it is nowe fallen for they sayd how they had herde dyuers of the same couÌ„trey murmure on the quene of Castelles tytle to Portyngale therfore I toke away with me my sone had no grete affeccyon to that maryage In the name of god sayd the duke the squyer that is here of Portyngale hathe declared all the matter and I thynke we can not haue so fayre an entre in to Castell as by Portyngale for the royalme of Aragon is ferre of and also the kynge there and his chyldren haue alwayes ben more fauourable to the frensshe partye thenne to vs Therfore it were not good syth the kynge of Portyngale maketh for vs this good 〈◊〉 to refuse it So on a day for this matter there was a parlyament holden at Westmynstre there it was accorded that the duke of Lancastre sholde haue at the costes of the royalme bitwene a M. .xii. C. speres of chosen men .ii. M. archers a M. of other yomen they were all paydein hande for halfe a yere therwith all the kynges vncles were well contente specyally the duke of Lancastre to whom pryncypally the matter touched as he that sholde be chefe of the armye and to dyspatche these ambassadours of Portyngale the kynge of Englande wrote to the kynge of Portyngale louynge letters conteynyng grete amyte that he wolde bere to Portyngale grete gyftes were gyueÌ„ to the mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale to Laurence Fongase who was alwayes with the duke of Lancastre with the erle of Cambrydge so on a day these ambassadours toke theyr leue of the kyng his couÌ„sayle dyned that daye with the duke of Lancastre the erle of Cambrydge the nexte day they were delyuered as I vn derstode the duke of Lancastre sente letters to the kynge of Portyngale also by credence that he sholde sende a .vii. galeys an .xviii. or .xx. other vesselles to the porte of Brystowe on the fronters of Wales for hym his company to passe in to Portyngale so the ambassadoures departed wente to Hampton there founde theyr shyp that taryed for them so entred in to the see had wynde at theyr wyl so entred in to the hygh Spaynysshe see within .v. dayes they were in the hauen of the porte of Portyngale at whiche tyme the kynge was there and was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge ANd there the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale Laurence Fongase shewed the kynge his counsayle al that they had sene herde in Englande as well of the kynge as of his vncles delyuered theyr letters whiche certefyed al theyr saynges then anone after the kynge of Portyngale Who gretely desyred the ayde out of Englande to the entente to cause his enemyes to haue the more fere determyned with his couÌ„sayle that mayster Alphons Vâ—etat chefe patron mayster of all his shyppes and galeys in Portyngale that he sholde prepayre redy .vii. galeys and .xviii. other grete Chyppes to sayle in to Englande to fetche the duke of Lancastre his coÌ„pany so Alphons was coÌ„maunded thus to do he incontynent dyd so and so on a daye departed fro the porte of Portyngale and in .vi. dayes he arryued at Brystowe at whiche season the lordes of Englande for the moost parte were aboute the marches of Wales for the kynge was there when the duke of Lancastre knewe of the comynge of these shyppes he was ryght ioyfull Then knyghtes squyers and al suche as sholde go with hym were sente for so that in the porte of Brystowe there were CC. vesselles with the flete of Portyngale redy apparelled for the duke and his company and the dukes entencyon was to haue with hym his wyfe his chyldreÌ„ to make with them some good maryages in castel in Portyngale or his retourne agayne in to Englande for he thought not shortely to retourne for he saw the busynes in Englande lykely to be harde and sharpe how the kyng his neuewe was yonge and had aboute hym peryllous counsayle wherfore he was the gladder to be gone or he departed in the presence of his bretherne he ordeyned his sone the lorde Henry erle of Darby his lieutenaunt of all that he had in Englande set aboute hym wyse sad counsayle he was a lusty yonge knyght was sone to the duches of Lancastre the lady Blaunche doughter to quene Phylyp of Englande I neuer sawe .ii. better ladyes nor of more noble condycyon nor neuer shal thoughe I sholde lyue this thousande yeres whiche is impossyble WHen duke IohnÌ„ of Lancastre had ordred all his busynes in Englonde theÌ„ he toke leue of the kyng of his bretherne and so he wente to Brystowe there taryed a .xv. dayes shypped all his horses bagages mo then .ii. M. with hay lytter and fresshe water for them Then the duke entred in to a galey well apparelled had by hym a grete shyp yfnede were for hym for the duches Constaunce his wyfe who wente in this iourney with a good courage for she trusted then to recouer her herytage of Castell and to be quene there or she retourned agayne she had with her a doughter called Katheryne by her fyrst husbande .ii. other doughters Izabel and Phylyp whiche Phylyp was maryed to syr IohnÌ„ Holande who was constable of the oost the marshall was syr Thomas Morâ—aur who had also in maryage one of his doughters howbeit she was a bastarde was moder to the lady mercell damoysel Mary of saynt Hyllary of Hauman admyral of the dukes nauey was syr Thomas Percy also there was syr yon fythwaren the lorde of Lucy syr Henry Beaumond de poumins syr IohnÌ„ of But nuell the lorde Talbot the lorde Basset syr Wyllyam Beaâ—champ syr Wyllyam Wyndefore syr Thomas
Tracon syr Hughe Spenser the lorde Wylloughby the lorde Braston syr wyllyaÌ„ Fermiton sir IohnÌ„ Dambricourt syr Hughe Hastynges syr Thomas Wancestre syr Mauburyn Liniers syr Loys of Rochestre syr IohnÌ„ Soustre syr Phylyp Tacyel syr IohnÌ„ Bouboufer syr Robert Clycon syr Nycholas Trenton Hugyn of Caurele Dauyd Houlegiax Thomas Allerey Hobequyn Beaucestre and dyuers other all with penons besyde the barons they were a M. speres of knyghtes and squyers of good men of armes and .ii. M. archers and a M. of other tawle yomeÌ„ they had a fayre season as in the moneth of May whiche is lyghtly pleasaunt and peasyble and so they sayled coostynge the Ile of wyght and Gernsey tyll they came open on the coost of Normandy they were CC. sayles it was a grete beautye to se the galeys glyde on the see approchynge the lande full of men of armes and arches sekynge for some aduentures for it was sayd to them that the armye of Normandy was on the see and truely so they were tyll the Englysshe flete appered before the boundes of Ouarentyne but they knewe by theyr balengers that the armye of Englande was comynge and therfore they withdrewe themselfe in to the hauen of Harflewe THere is lyghtely nothynge but that it is knowen and specyally of dedes of armes for lordes knyghtes and squyers wyl gladly talke togyder therof When the dyscomfyture was at Iuberoth where as the kynge of Castell toke suche losse as ye haue herde tydynges therof came in to Franuce as it was reason for there were many there that had lost at the batayle theyr frendes and kynsmen and as then there was no warre so lykely to be as in Castell also they herde true reporte howe the duke of Lancastre claymed as his ryght enherytaunce the herytage of Castell and howe he had raysed in Englonde a grete armye to the entente to drawe in to Castell or in to Portyngale so then knyghtes squyers of the low marches to auaunce theyr honoure drewe sente eche to other to determyne howe they myght best drawe in to Castell some couÌ„sayled to go thyder by lande to eschewe the perylles of the see also to scape fro the encountrynge of the Englysshe nauye some sayd nay therto for they sayd the passage by lande was ouer longe And also they thought that the kynge of Nauare was not clerely fauourable to the frensshe partye for the frensshmen he loued but smally togyder for it was sayd true it was the frensshe men had taken fro hym all his enherytauÌ„ce in NormaÌ„dy howbeit I can not tell yf his quarel were iust or not so thus these coÌ„panyoÌ„s doubted gretely the perylles that myyght fall by goynge by lande as well for the kynge of Nauare as for other they thought they sholde neuer come there by the way thrugh Aragon so at last they concluded to go to Rochell as they dyd there to take these there they rygged an .xviii vesselles toke but fewe horses with them wheÌ„ they were all redy had wynde at theyr wyll they entred in to theyr vesselles so sayled towarde Bayon for that waye or nere therto they must nedes passe in that company there was the lorde of Coursey syr IohnÌ„ Handoy the vycouÌ„t of Verliere syr Peter of Vellamines syr Guy of Baueux syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant the lorof saynt Liger syr Iames of Fougeres the lorof Bellannes syr Trystram of Langurant the lorde Bartoys of Barres dyuers other so that they were a CCC knyghtes squyers of chosen men desyrynge armes thus they sayled by the see had wynde and wether as they wolde wysshe so aryued without peryl or domage at the porte of saynt Andrewe in Bysquay in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxxx .vi. the .xiiii day of the moneth of May. WHen these knyghtes squyers of FrauÌ„ were aryued at saynt Andrewes there they refresshed them .ii. dayes in that space they drew out of theyr shyppes theyr horses bagages then they set forthe demaunded where they sholde fynde the kynge of Castell it was shewed them howe they sholde fynde hym in the cyte of Burgus in Spayne where as theÌ„ he had a grete counsayle for the busynes of his royalme These knyghtes squyers toke theyr way to Burgus so came thyder the kynge of Castell was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge demauÌ„ded of them tydynges of Fraunce what way they came thyder They answered howe they came by the see fro Rochel how it was sayd in frauÌ„ce that the duke of Lancastre had a grete army of meÌ„ of armes archers to come the same season in to Castel or elles in to Portyngale also how the kynge of Portyngale had sent a noÌ„bre of galeys other shyppes in to EnglaÌ„de for hym of these tydynges the kyng of Spayne was more pensyue theÌ„ he was before how be it he made no semblaunt but well he thought he sholde haue sore warre in that season how be it he made good chere to these knyghtes and squyers of Fraunce thanked them gretely of theyr comynge And then he sayd to syr Robert of Braquemont and to syr IohnÌ„ his broder Syrs when ye departed fro me the yere that is past I desyred you that when soeuer ye retourned agayne hyder that ye sholde brynge with you tenyse balles of Parys for vs to play togyder how be it it had ben better I hadde charged you to haue brought good baâ—senetes good harneys for I thynke we shall fynde the season well to enploye them Syr sayd the knyght we haue brought of bothe syr alwayes we can not be armed nor alwayes play Thus the kynge of Castell made them ryght good chere then they had affeccyon to god on pylgrymage to saynt Iames syth they were in the countrey and some of them had auowed so to do so they rode all togyder for company and trussed with them all theyr harneys as thought they sholde haue gone to batayle they dyd wysely in theyr so doynge for it stode them in good stede or they retourned agayne as ye shall here after Nowe let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastres armye who were on the coost of Normandy IN lyke maner as by coÌ„paryson as fawcons pelegrynes that haue stande and â—ested longe on the perche hath grete desyre to flye abrode In lyke maner the knyghtes and squyers of Englonde desyred to fynde dedes of armes to auaunce themselfe and sayd eche to other Why do ye not aryue go se the boundes portes of Normandy there be knyghtes and squyers to awake vs and to fyght with vs these wordes multyplyed that it came to the dukes eyres and the duke or he departed out of Englonde knewe that syr IohnÌ„ of Malestroyt and the lorde of Cambor Morfonac and a grete nombre of knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne lay at the syege in bastydes before the castell of Brest by the commaundement of the constable of
drewe towarde the assaulte of the bastyde Then they herde tydynges how the Bretons were departed and had lefte the bastyde voyde then the Englysshmen repented them in that they had not layde a busshment for them wherby they sholde not haue lost so theyr pray Then they brake downe the bastyde set fyre theron Thus by the duke of Lancastre the bastydes were raysed before Brest the same day the duke syr Iohn̄ Holande certayne other lordes wente to se the castell of Brest the ladyes with them there they ete a drāke made chere so wente agayne to theyr lodgynges the nexte day whiche was the .iii. day they refresshed theyr shyppes with fresshe water the .iiii. daye toke shyppynge so departed THe fourthe day after the duke and his company and the maryners toke counsayle togyder whiche waye they sholde drawe and whether they sholde take lande at Lyxbone or at the porte of Portyngale or in Bysquay or at Coulongne and longe they were in counsayle or they were fully determyned Alphons Vietat patron of the galeys of Portyngale was sente for to them and the questyon was demaunded of hym and he answered sayd Syrs for this cause I was sente to you out of Portyngale fro the kynge my mayster and syr knowe for trouthe that where soeuer ye aryue in his countrey ye shall be ryght welcome to hym it shall be ryght ioyfull to hym for gretely he desyreth your comynge and to se you So thus the space of an houre they were at a poynte to haue landed at the porte of Portyngale a .xxx. myle from Lyxbone Howbeit after they chaunged theyr purpose for it was sayd amonge them that it were ferre more honourable for them to lande in the marches of theyr enemyes then in the lande of theyr frendes saynge also that yf theyr enemyes knowe that they be landed on them they shal be the more feared then they rested to take lande at Coulongne in Galyce the maryners set theyr course that way and had wynde and wether at wyll and so after they departed fro Brest the .v. daye they came to the hauen of Coulongne and taryed for the fludde wherfore they sholde not approche nere to the lande NOwe shall I shewe you of the knyghtes of Fraunce as the lorde of Barroys syr Iohn̄ Braquemont syr Iohn̄ of Castell Morant syr Peter of Bellames syr Trystrā and other that were come in pylgrymage to the towne of Compostella where lyeth the body of saynt Iames and whē they had done theyr pylgrymage and offered and were in theyr lodgynges tydynges came to them howe the Englysshe men were on that coost and by lykelyhode to aryue at Coulongne or they coulde vntrusse theyr harneys and discharge theyr mules Then they armed them quyckely and determyned to go thyder to defende the porte castell and towne there and suche as knewe the countrey sayd syrs auaunce forwarde shortely for yf the Englysshe men happen to wynne the towne or Castell of Coulongne they wyll be lordes of all the countrey aboute these knyghtes dyd suche dylygence that they came the same nyght to the towne of Coulongne whiche was a .xiiii. longe myles thens and a coūtrey full wylde to laboure in They came so to the poynte that they entred in to the towne and Castell the same season that the Englysshmen came in to the hauen of theyr comynge they of the towne and castell were ryght ioyfull all that nyght came after them theyr caryages and somers and in the mornyng it was grete beautye to beholde entrynge in to the hauen the galeys and shyppes charged with men and prouysyon and to here the trompettes claryons sounde and the trompettes and claryons of the towne and castell dyd sounde in lykewyse agaynst them thē the Englysshe men knew wel that men of warre were in the towne and Castel Then they yssued out of theyr galeys and shyppes in to the feldes not as then approchynge the towne for they sawe well the towne was stronge and well prouyded of men of warre without the towne there were certayne fissher houses There the Englysshe lordes made theyr lodgynges and soo laye styll a .iiii. dayes doynge none other thynge but dyschargynge of theyr shyppes they had so grete prouysyon theyr horses were set a lande whiche had ben on the see a .xv. dayes sore oppressed what with the furoure of the see and with the nombre of people in euery shyppe yet they had ben well kepte and had haye ootes and fresshe water sufficyent whā euery thynge was voyded out of the galeys and shyppes then it was demaūded of the duke what he wolde haue done with his nauey he answered and sayd I wyll that al the maryners be payde of theyr wages and then let euery man do his owne profyte I gyue them good leue for I wyll that euery man do knowe that I wyll neuer passe agayne the see in to Englonde tyll I haue my full pleasure of the royalme of Castell or elles I wyll dye in the quarell then the maryners were payde so that euery man was contente and so departed when they myght out of the hauen of Coulongne and some wente in to Portyngale and some to Lyxbone and some to Bayon or to Albay in Bretaygne or in to Englande soo that none abode there behynde Thus the duke of Lancastre and his men lodged without Coulongne in suche lytell houses as they founde there and abrode in the feldes in bowers made of grene bowes lyke men of warre ABoute the space of a moneth and more the duke laye at Coulongne and remeued not without it were a huntynge or a hawkynge for the duke other lordes of Englande had brought with them hawkes and houndes for theyr sporte and sparowe hawkes for the ladyes Also they brought with them in the shyppes mylles to grynde corne and ouyns to bake in theyr foragers wente dayly a foragynge where as they thought to spede howbeit they founde no grete plenty of forage for they were lodged in a poore countrey and a deserte Wherfore they were dryuen to go ferre of for forage And also they of the garyson of Coulongne as the barroys of barres who ryght wel coulde take a vauntage of his enemyes if nede were and his other companyons When they sawe the Englysshe foragers ryde forthe so folysshly they thought on a daye to be before thē and to make them pay for all they had before so on a daye they armed them a CC. and rode by guyde in the nyght aboute the woodes and mountaynes and so at the brekyng of the day they came to a wood and to a mountayne called the Espynet and there taryed For it was shewed them howe the Englysshe foragers rode abrode true it was to the nombre of .iii. C. And when these foragers had ben a brode a .ii. dayes and gotten moche forage then they retourned towarde theyr oost and theyr waye laye to passe the pace of
we shal answere you shortely I am contente sayd the marshall then the capytayne entred in to the towne and caused euery man to come before hym Then wysely he shewed to them frome poynte to poynte as ye haue harde before and fynally they agreed to receyue the duke and the duches peasybly as theyr lorde lady and to abyde in theyr towne as longe as it pleased them without the puyssaunce of kynge IohnÌ„ dyd dryue them thens and also that wheÌ„ they had taryed there as it pleased them a yere or .ii. longer or shorter and that when they departed out of the countrey without they lefte there a suffycyent garyson to defende them fro theyr enemyes elles they to rendre it agayne to kynge IohnÌ„ or to his marshall yf they were soo commaunded and so they to be quyte of theyr fayth and promyse then made This treatye the marshall syr Thomas Moreaur accepted sayd how they sayd as they ought to do that the duke and the duches desyred nothynge elles of them Then the marshall retourned to his men so to the duke who taryed for hym in the feldes there he shewed the duke this trety wher with the duke was content soo in good ordre of batayle the duke rode to the towne of saynt Iames. WIthin .ii. lytell frensshe myles of saynt Iames in Galyce there came in processyon all the clergy of yâ— towne with crosses relykes meÌ„ women chyldren tomete with the duke the duches the men of the towne brought the keys with theÌ„ whiche they preseÌ„ted to the duke to the duches with theyr good wylles by all semblaunt I can not say if they dyd it with theyr good hartes or no there they kneled downe receyued theyr lorde lady they entred in to the towne of saynt Iames the fyrst voyage they made they wente to the chyrche all theyr chyldren made theyr prayers offrynge with grete giftes it was shewed me that the duke the duches theyr .ii. doughters Phylyp katheryn were lodged in an abbay there kept theyr house the other lordes as syr IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de syr Thomas moreaux theyr wyues lodged in yâ— towne al other barons knightes lodged abrode in the felde in houses bowres of bowes for there were ynowe in the couÌ„trey they fouÌ„de there flesshe strong wyne ynough whereof the Englysshe archers draÌ„ke so moche that they were ofte tymes droÌ„ken wherby they had the feuers or elles in the mornyng theyr hedes were so cuyl that they coulde not helpe theÌ„ selfe all the day after ANd wheÌ„ the Barroys of barres IohnÌ„ of Castel morant the other knyghtes squyers as were in the castel of CouloÌ„gne herde how the duke duches were entred peasybly in to saynt Iames that they were there receyued theÌ„ they toke couÌ„sayle togyder what was best for theÌ„ to do sayd it was but foly to tary ther ony lenger for here we can haue no good adueÌ„ture let vs go to Burgus to the kynge se what he wyl do it can be none otherwyse but that he wyll go agaynst these Englysshmen for yf he suffre theÌ„ to lodge thus in rest by lytell lytell they shall coÌ„quere be lordes of Castell wherfore it is more honourable for vs to go thyder theÌ„ to abyde here this couÌ„sayle they helde for the best so they made theÌ„ redy to departe trussed that they had so yssued out of the castell of Coulongne toke theyr leue of them that they fouÌ„de there when they entred fyrst they toke gydes suche as knew yâ— couÌ„trey elles they had ben encouÌ„tred so they rode thrugh Bysquay costyng Galyce so came to Lyon in spayne as then the kynge the quene were there the kynge there welcomed the frensshe knyghtes as it was reason demaunded of theÌ„ tydynges howbeit he knew ynoughe al redy they shewed hym how they entred in to coulongne the same tyme that the englysshmen entred in to the hauen how the englysshmen fouÌ„de in the hauen .vii. galeys other vesselles of Bysquay laden with wynes whiche the englysshmen had to theyr profyte the merchauntes had sone solde it ye sayd the kynge so it goth by the warre they were not wyse to tary when they knew the army of Englonde on these they myght haue gone in to some other quarter syr sayd the knyghtes they were come thyder in trust of saufegarde for they sayd the wynes other marchaundyse that they had sholde go in to flaundres for they had her de wel by the maryners of saynt Andrewes that the englysshmen were on the see on the boundes coost of Bysquay true it is yâ— kynge of Portyngale sent to theÌ„ galeys gret shyppes thyn kynge how they wolde haue landed at the porte of Portyngale or at Lyxbone but they dyd the coÌ„trary as it appered for they entred in to Galyce by Coulongne Well syrs sayd the kynge among you knyghtes of frauÌ„ce who knoweth more of dedes of armes theÌ„ meÌ„ of this couÌ„trey for ye haue more haunted vsed the warre theÌ„ they haue how thynke you by the englysshmeÌ„ how haue they borne theÌ„selfe al this season syr sayd they they haue borne themselfe lyke good meÌ„ of warre for they be so close pryuy that harde it is to knowe what they entende to do but supposyng we thynke the duke of LaÌ„castre wyl abyde all this nexte wynter in saynt Iames towne his people theraboute ouer rynne the couÌ„trey of Galyce wyn the small holdes gete vytayles prouysyons tyl somer come by lykelyhode there shall be some treatye made bytwene hym the kynge of Portyngale or elles neuer there is one poynte that causeth vs to byleue that some alyaunces shal be coÌ„cluded bytwene theÌ„ that is the duke hath brought out of EnglaÌ„de with hym al his doughters maryed to mary he hath .ii. to mary we thynke the kyng of Portyngale your aduersary shal haue one of them wel sayd the kyng what thynge were best for me me to do syr sayd the knyght we shal shew you cause al your townes castels on yeâ—ronâ—er of galyce to be wel kepte suche as be of streÌ„gth suche as be of no strength cause theÌ„ to be beten downe it is shewed vs how men of the couÌ„trey do fortefy minsters chyrches steples bryng in to theÌ„ al theyr goodes syr surely this shal be the losse confusyon of your royalme for wheÌ„ the englysshmen ryde abrode these small holdes chyrches steples shal holde no while agaynst theÌ„ but they shal be refresshed nourysshed with suche prouysyon as they shall fynde in them whiche shal helpe to furteth them to wynne all the resydue therfore syr we say that ye do wel cause al suche holdes to be beten downe now why le ye haue leysure make a crye that wtout
be wel won by assaulte theÌ„ they lyghted on fote seÌ„t theyr horses backe by theyr varlettes and deuyded themselfe in .iiii. partes and made themselfe redy lyke men of warre syr Thomas Moreaulx had the guydynge of one company these conde had syr yon Fythwaren the thyrde syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and the fourthe had another knyght and euery partye had foure score men of armes and a .vii. score archers Then they approched to the towne and wente downe in to the dykes for therin was no water and then mounted vp agayne on the other syde well pauessed and the archers stode on yâ— syde of the dyke and shot so fyersly that none durst appere at theyr defence howbeit for all theyr shot they within defended themselfe valyauntly for they were a grete nombre within they cast out dartes with longe fethers sharpe heddes so rudely that who so euer was fully stryken with theÌ„ without they were well armed they were outher slayne or sore hurte howbeit knyghtes squyres to auaunce theÌ„selfe came to the fote of the walles for al the stones that fel on theyr basenettes on theyr bodyes the .ii. squyers of Haynalte Tyrrye and GyllyaÌ„ of Sonnayne dyd dyuers goodly fetes of armes and made a grete hole thrughe the wall with suche helpe as they hadde and â—ought sore hande to hande with them within and these .ii. bretherne wan a .vii. dartes that were cast at them thrughe yâ— hole they pulled them out of theyr enemyes handes these .ii. brotherne were vnder yâ— standarde of the lorde Fyth waren on the other parte syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte shewed valyauntnes lyke a noble knyght he had at the foote of the walle his penon pytched in the erthe by hym and he had a pykeaxe in his hande myned therwith to the best of his power to breke the wall it ought to be meruayled howe these vylaynes were not abasshed to se themsefe soo assayled on al partes howbeit they coulde not so longe endure but that they had many handes to defende themselfe withal but at the last they aduysed them When they sawe that the assaulte seased not to yelde themselfe Then the baylyffe of the towne who had caused them so longe to contynue came and sayd to the marshall syr cause your assaulte to sease for the men of this towne wyll treate with you well sayd the marshall I am contente Then he caused an heraulde to ryde aboute the towne who sayd to euery man syrs sease your assaulte tyl ye here the marshalles trompet blowe agayne to the assaulte for he is in treaty with them of the towne and with those wordes they seased rested them some of them had nede therof for they were very wery with assaylynge Then they of the towne entred in to theyr treaty and sayd howe they wolde yelde themselfe lyues goodes saued as they of other townes had done in Galyce Naye sayd the marshall ye shall not scape so good chepe as other haue done for ye haue put vs in moche payne and hurte dyuers of our men and we se clerely that ye can not longe endure agaynst vs Wherfore it must be houe you to bye your pease and our loue or elles we wyll retourne agayne to the assaulte and wynne you perforce Why syr sayd the baylyffe what raunsome wyl ye aske of vs in goddes name sayd the marshall .x. M. frankes ye aske to grete a some syr sayd the baylyffe I shal yf it please you cause you to haue .ii. M. frankes for syr this towne is but poore and hathe ben sore charged with taxes Nay sayd the marshal we wyl not of that we wyl gyue you respyte to take couÌ„sayle togyder for as for .iii. or .iiii. M. frankes ye shall nor scape for al is ours yf we lyst and also I am blamed of my company to make ony treaty with you Therfore shortely determyne you outher to do it or to leue it Then the baylyffe wente in to the towne and called euery man before hym and sayd Syrs what wyll ye do if we suffre ony mo assaultes the Englysshe men wyll conquere vs perforce so we shall all dye lese al our goodes they demaunded of vs .x. M. frankes I haue offred them .ii. M. I knowe well it is ouer lytell for they wyl neuer agree therto therfore we must exalte the raunsome a .ii. or .iii. M. frankes more Then they of the towne who doubted to lose all that they had theyr lyues also sayd baylyffe forsake not to marchaundyse with them for rather then we wyl be ony more assayled we wyl pay .iiii. M. frankes than sayd the baylyffe that is well sayd yet I wyll treate with them then he came agayne to the marshall and as I vnderstande theyr pease was made by paynge of vi M. frankes Then the gates were set open and euery man entred and were lodged where they lyst and taryed there .ii. dayes the marshall delyuered the towne to yon Fythwaren with CC. speres and CCCC archers and there he lay in garyson more then .viii. monethes but the raunsome of the towne wente to the duke of Lancasters profyte the marshall had a M. frankes ANd after that the towne of Vyleclope was yelden vp to the dukes marshall then he retourned to saynt Iames to the duke for the duke wolde haue hym aboute hym and sometyme he rode to the fronters of Castell Spayne to gyue fere to the frensshe men but as longe as the Englysshemen kepte the felde in Galyce there were none that came agaynst them for the kynge of Castell was counsayled not to ryde forth with ony oost but to kepe warre by garysons and to abyde forsocours out of Fraunce Then the duke of Lancastre was couÌ„sayled and it was sayd to hym how that it were good that he and the kynge of Portyngale myght speke togyder sayenge also syr the wrytynge that rynneth thus bytwene you is good but that is not ynoughe for the frensshe men be subtyle and se ferther in theyr busynes theÌ„ ony other people yf couertly they happen to make a treaty with the kynge of Portyngale also the kynge of Castell hathe aboute hym and of his couÌ„sayle dyuers lordes in Portyngale as we be infourmed so peraduenture by theyr meanes they myght make a pease by mariage or otherwyse so that then by hym ye sholde haue noo comforte what sholde fall then ye sholde be then in worse case then euer ye were for theÌ„ the Castellyans wolde set lytell by vs the Castellyans are the moost subtylest people of the worlde trowe you that the kynge of Portyngale wolde not be contente to be at rest of this busynes yf the kynge of Castell wolde suffre hym to be kynge of Portyngale all his lyfe and after hym the kyng of castel syr it is to be doubted thoughe he haue sente for you so or ye coulde tourne backe agayne we myght be ouerthrowen and also syr ye know the state of Englande whiche hath
as nowe ynoughe to doo to kepe theÌ„selfe agaynst theyr enemyes as wel frensshmen as Skottes therfore make as good war as ye caÌ„ with suche people as ye haue for trust not of no comforte nor ayde out of Englande outher of men of armes or archers for surely ye are not lyke to haue ony ye were two yeres aboute to gete that ye haue the kynge your nephewe seeth not all thynges he is yonge and byleueth yong counsayle wherby the royalme of Englande lyeth is in peryll grete aduenture wherfore syr approche as soone as ye can to the kynge of Portyngale speke with hym your worde shall do you more profyte then all the letters ye can wryte in .iiii. monethes the duke of Lancastre noted well these wordes knew wel that it was true and that it was truely counsayled then the duke sayd to them that gaue hym that counsayle what wyll you that I sholde do they answered and sayd syr sende to the kynge of Portyngale .v. or .vi. of your knyghtes and at the leest a baron and let them shewe the kynge howe ye haue grete desyre to se hym let them be wyse that ye sende and let theÌ„ fynde the meanes that ye maye speke togyder shortly I am content sayd the duke Then there was sente in to Portyngale fro the duke the lorde poynynges a grete baron of englande and syr IohnÌ„ Abruell syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and syr IohnÌ„ Souster bastarde bretheren to syr IohnÌ„ Holande constable of the oost these departed fro saynt Iames with a C. speres CC. archers ANd on a day when al these letters were made and sealed there came to the duke fro the kynge of Portyngale a knyght and a squyer with .xii. speres called syr Vase Martyne of Cougne and the squyer Ferrant Martyne of Merle they were of the kynges hous nere to his persone they were lodged at theyr ease in the towne of saynt Iames then they were brought to the duke to the duches so presented theyr letters and also they presented to the duke and to the duches and to theyr doughters fayre whyte mules well aumblynge wherof they were glad howbeit for all that the iourney of the englysshmen to the kynge of Portyngale was nor brokeÌ„ but they were stopped for a .iiii. dayes and on the .v. daye departed and this knyght and squyer all togyder in company and the duke sente to the kynge of Portyngale in token of loue .ii. fawcons pelegrynes as good as coulde be deuysed .vi. englysshe greyhoundes good for all maner of beeâ—tes â—o the Portyngales and the Englysshmen rode togyder ouer al the lande of Galyce they were in no fere of the Castellyans for they were ferre ynoughe ofrro them and on the waye as they rode syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourre and Martyn Ferrant of Merle fell in talkynge togyder for before that season the squyer had ben in armes with syr Eustase Dambrychcourte who was vncle to the sayd syr Iohn and was with hym when he dyed at Quarencyne and as they talked togyder they rode behynde theyr company they met an heraulde and a varlet comyng fro Connymbres where the kynge laye was rydynge towarde saynt Iames to the duke of Lancastre this heraulte perceyned to the kynge of Portyngale and was called Connymbres The heraulte had spoken with the lordes and shewed them suche tydynges as he knewe and when Ferrant Martyn of Merle saw hym comynge he sayd to syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte beholde yonder cometh an heraulte of the kynge of Portyngales it is longe syth he was in this countrey I wyl demaunde of hym some tydynges and when they met togyder the squyer sayd a Connymbres where haue you ben so longe it is more then a yere syth I saw you or that ye were in this countrey syr sayd he I haue ben in Englande haue sene the kynge and lordes there and they haue made me ryche with grete gyftes that I haue had of them and fro thens I retourned by the see in to Bretayne was at the maryage of the duke of Bretayne and at the grete feest that he kepte at the cyte of Nauntes aboute a .ii. monethes past he hath wedded the lady Iahan of Nauare and fro thens by the see I went in to Irelande fro thens to the porte in Portyngale and as they talked togyder the squyer behelde a scochyn that the heraulte bare on his brest wherin were graued inamyled the kynge of Portyngales armes and the armes of dyuers other lordes then the squyer set his fynger on one of the armes perteynynge to a knyght of Portyngale and sayd ase here the armes mes of the gentyll knyght syr IohnÌ„ Partelere by my fayth I am glad to se them for they perteyne to a gentyll knyght who on a tyme dyd me grete profyte I ought well to remembre it therwith he toke .iiii. floreyns of golde out of his purse and gaue them to the heraulte who thanked hym and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte behelde well the armes the felde syluer an endenture gooles with .ii. chanders fables and so the heraulte departed then the squyer sayd syr IohnÌ„ saw you neuer this knyght that bare the sayd armes whom I prayse so moche I can not tell sayd syr IohnÌ„ but at the leest I praye you shewe me what was that courtesy that ones he dyd to you I wolde be glad to here it we haue nothynge elles to talke of I am contente sayd the squyer to shewe you for the knyght is well worthy to be spoken of then he began his tale thus SO it fortuned a lytell before the batayle of Iuberoth when the kynge of Portyngale wente fro Connymbres thyderwarde the kynge sente me in to the countrey to warne certayne knyghtes to come to hym to be with hyÌ„ at that iourney so I rode forth but one page with me and as I rode I happened to mete a xxv speres gascoynes and I was not ware tyl I was amonge them then they toke me demaunded whether I wente and I shewed theÌ„ I was rydynge to the castell of Ronte they demaunded what to do and I sayd to go seke syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere to come to the kyng of Portyngale of Iuberoth why sayd they is syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Parteler capytayne of the castel of Ronte is he not all redy with the kyng of Portyngale no surely syrs sayd I but shortely he wyll be there yf he ones knowe the kynges pleasure well sayd they he shall knowe it for we wyll ryde thyder so they toke the waye to the castell of Ronte when they were within the syght of the castell the watche of the castell sayd he saw men of armes approchyng towarde the castell then syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant demaunded fro what parte they were comynge the watche sayd they were comyng towarde the porte A sayd he they be then Castellyans and rydeth at aduenture towarde saynt Irayne I wyl go and loke on them they shall tell me tydynges where the kynge is
so he lepte on his horse a xx with hym and toke his penon before hym and rode out of the castell a grete galop to come to the Castellyans who as then were drawen in to a busshment and had made one of theyr company to ryde forthe on a genet and when syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant saw the geneture he sayd to a squyer of his galop forth thy genet assaye to speke with yonder geneture then the squyer galopped forth and folowed hym nere euer lykely to take hym for he fled but softely before hym to the entente to brynge hym in to the busshment when he was nere them the busshment brake out at hym then he tourned quyckely his backe and they that chased hym cryed Castell and syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant beynge vnder his penon seynge his squyer retourned in suche hast sayd they that chase my squyer be none of our company they be castellyans set on them crye Portyngale for I wyll fyght with them then he toke his spere ranne at them the fyrst that he met withall wente to the erthe and the seconde also of .xxv. Castellyans that were there x. of them lay shortely on the grounde and the other chased and some were ouertaken slayne and hurte and all this I was glad to se for I saw my delyueraunce and in a shorte season I was lefte all alone then I came to the knyght and saluted hym and as soone as he saw me he knewe me and demaunded of me fro whens I came what I dyd there then I shewed hym all myne aduenture and how the Castellyans chased me and toke me well sayd he and what knowe you of the kynge of Portyngale by my fayth syr sayd I to morowe he shall haue batayle at Iuberoth agaynst the kynge of Castel for he sente me in to this countrey to gyue warnynge therof to the knyghtes and squyers that knoweth it not to the entente that they sholde resorte to hym to morow sayd he ye truely syr sayd I and yf ye byleue not me demaunde of these Castellyans that ye haue taken then he demaunded of them tydynges they sayd howe surely the nexte day there sholde be batayle bytwene the .ii. kynges of whiche tydynges he was ryght glad and sayd openly to the Castellyans syrs for the good tydynges that ye shewe me I quyte you of your raunsomes departe when ye wyl so ye acquyte this squyer so thus he caused me to be quyted fro them and so they departed we yâ— same day retourned to â—onte then he made hym redy and departed thens at mydnyght I in his company and fro thens to the Cabase of Iuberoth whiche was a .vi. myles of that countrey and to eschewe encountrynges we rode somwhat out of our waye in the mornynge we herde that there sholde be batayle the same daye or we sawe the batayles when we approched the batayles were raynged in the feldes the kynge of Castell on the one partye the kynge of Portyngale on the other and at the fyrst we knewe not whiche were Castellyans and whiche were Portyngales tyll at the last syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Partelere sayd I byleue surely the gretter oost be the Castellyans then we rode forth fayre easely tyl we came nere and then we sawe well it was the Castillyans and I trowe some of the gascoynes brake out agaynst vs then syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant sayd let vs auaunce forthe we se yonder our enemyes comyng on vs theÌ„ we strake our horses with the spurres rode cryenge Portyngale they folowed vs then when our company of portyngules sawe vs they came forth and rescued vs and for al that the batayles brake not theyr aray and so syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant came to the kynge and acquyted hym that day with the best Thus syr I haue shewed you howe he dyd me grete courtesye for he delyuered me out of pryson and I had not ben at the batayle and he had not ben Therfore syr dyd he not me a goodly pleasure yes truely sayd syr IohnÌ„ Dambrych courte and also by you he knew of the batayle that is true sayd the squyer then they rode forth tyll they had ouertaken theyr companuy came the same day to Connymbres ANd of the comynge of these Englysshe knyghtes the kynge of Portyngale was ryght ioyfull coÌ„maunded that they sholde be well lodged at theyr ease and when they were redy then Martyn of Coygne Ferrant Martyn Merle and the englysshe knyghtes wente to the kynge who receyued them ioyously theÌ„ the Englysshmen dyd theyr message presented the kynge with the Fawcons and greyhouÌ„des of the whiche the kynge had grete ioy for he loued houndes and hawkes then they thanked the kynge on the dukes parte for the goodly mules that he had sente to the duke and to the duches then he sayd that was but a small present another tyme I wyll sende them gretter gyftes this was but for aquayntaunce of loue as lordes ought to do one to another to nourysshe loue and amyte then wyne and spyces were brought and the knyghtes of Englande dranke and so toke theyr leue for that tyme retourned to theyr lodgynges to souper the nexte day they dyned at the kynges palace and the lorde Poynynges and syr IohnÌ„ Bancell sate at the kynges table and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourt syr IohnÌ„ Soultyer sate at another table with the barons of that countrey suche as were there and there was Laurence Fongase a squyer of honoure of the kynges who knewe ryght well all the knyghtes and squyers of Englande for he had sene them in Englande he made them the best chere he coulde they were well serued at this dyner and after dyner they were brought in to the counsayle chambre Then the englysshe knyghtes began to speke to the kynge and to .ii. erles that were there present the erle of Angose and the erle of Nauare and sayd syr and it lyke your grace besyde all the recommendacyons that the duke of Lancastre hath sente vnto you he gaue vs in charge to say to you that he desyreth sore to se you then the kynge sayd and I as glad to se hym and I requyre you that shortely we may se and speke togyder syr sayd the erles it were good that it were so for tyll ye be togyder ye shal not loue parfytely and then ye may take aduyse togyder howe ye may maynteyne your warres agaynst the kynge of Castel syr this is true sayd the knyghtes of englande then sayd the kynge let it be done shortely for if the duke desyre to se me in lyke wyse I desyre to se hym so then they fell in other talkynge for then the kyng charged his counsayle to agre and assygne a certayne daye when they sholde mete togyder and to assure the englysshe knyghtes therof and so they dyd it was agreed that the kynge of Portyngale sholde come to a cyte in his countrey called the Porte and that the duke of Lancastre sholde ryde
the assaulte we wolde yelde vs to you in the name of the duke of Lancastre of my lady CustauÌ„ce lyke maner as other townes in Galyce haue done and shall do and yf ye well haue ony prouysyon out of our towne ye shall haue ryght courteysly to refresshe you but with an army there shall none entre This is the treaty that we wyll desyre the marshall then answered sayd I am agreed to vpholde all that ye demaunde but I wyll ordeyne you a good capytayne to defende you and to counsayle you in all your busynes then they answered sayd wel syr we are content therwith so the assaulte seased the marshall syr you Fythwaren the lorde â—albot syr IohnÌ„ Aburnell the lorde Popnynges syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourre certayne other knyghtes entred in to the towne to refresshe them and there taryed al the day they that were without had brede wyne other vytayles ynoughe out of the towne thus after the takynge of the towne of Dyghos in Galyce that the lordes were well refresshed then the marshall set there a capytayne asquyer of Englande called thomas Albery a sage man a valyaunt and .xii. archers with hym and then the marshall departed and entred in to the couÌ„trey of Galyce costynge Spayne and the mountaynes of Castell to come to a grete towne called Bayon in the Maroll when they were a ii myle thens they lodged and the nexte day in good aâ—aye they came nere to the towne then deuyded them in two bataylles and sent an heâ—aulte of armes to them of the towne to knowe what they wolde do and whyder they wolde come to obeysaunce without assaylynge or no The heraulte came to the barryers and there founde a grete nombre of the vyllaynes euyll harneysed and sayd to them in theyr language the heraulte was of Portyngale and was called Connymbres syrs among you in this towne what thynge thynke you to doo wyll ye be assayled or elles yelde you be vnder the obey â—aunce of my lorde the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the marshall hath sent me hyder to knowe what ye wyll do then the men of the towne drewe to counsayle and began to murmure and sayd one to another what shall we do yelde ourselfe symply or defende vs then an auncyent man who had sene moo then many other sayd syrs it is nedeful to take shorte counsayle the englysshmen do vs grete courtesy syth they suffre vs to take counsayle ye se well there appereth none ayde fro no parte to comforte vs also the kynge of Castell knoweth wel what case we stande in and hath done euer syth the duke of Lancastre aryued fyrst at Coulongne and he prouydeth nothynge for vs nor is not aboute to prouyde yf we suffre to be assayled it is of trouth this towne is grete in cyrcute of small defence it wyl be harde for vs to attende to euery place the englysshmen are subtyll in warre and wyll do moche payne to wyn vs in tryâ— of pyllage for they be couetous and so be all men of warre and this towne is reputed to be more rycher then it is in deed wherfore I wolde counsayle you for the best to put ourselfe and towne vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of the duches let vs not be so rebel to cause our selfe to be taken perforce syth we maye come to peas by a meane this is the counsayle that I gyue you then al the other answered and sayd we wyl do thus we byleue you for ye are a maÌ„ in this towne of grete parage and may do moche And we desyre you to make the answere to the heraulte with a good wyll sayd he but it were reason ye gaue the heraulte a rewarde he wyll do vs the more courtesye reporte good of vs to the lordes that sente hym hyder ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded them to the duke of Lancastre and how the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and toke possessyon therof Ca. liii THen this auÌ„cyent maÌ„ came to the heraulte sayd Syr retourne to your maysters that sente you hyder saye to them fro vs that we wyl amyably put vs vnder the obeysaunce of my lorde the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches his wyfe in lyke maner fourme as other townes in Galyce haue done and wyll do and we pray you to be our frende and we wyll gyue you .xx. moryskes of golde when the heraulte herde hym say so he sayd where be the floreyns there they dyd gyue them to hym and so he retourned to his lordes then the marshal demauÌ„ded of hym what tydynges what saye yonder vyllaynes wyll they be assayled nay truely syr sayd the heraulte they haue no wyll therto but haue sayd to me that ye sholde come thyder they wyll amyably receyue you and put themselfe clerely vnder the obeysaunce of my lorde the duke of my lady the duches as other townes haue done well sayd the marshall so be it it is better for vs this treaty then the saulte at the leest our men shall not be hurte Then the marshall with all his company came to the towne lyghted on foote at the barryers he founde moche people of the towne but all theyr armure was not worth .x. frankes there they were to see the Engglysshmen and there was the auncyent man to make theyr treatye as soone as the heraulte sawe hym he sayd vnto the duke ¶ Syr speke vnto yonder auncyent man who maketh courtesye to you for he hathe the auctoryte of the towne in his handes then the marshall stepte forth and sayd syr what saye you what wyll ye do wyll ye yelde you to my lorde of Lancastre and to my lady as to your souerayne lorde and lady ye syr sayd he we yelde vs to you in the name of them and put this towne vnder theyr obeysaunce as other townes in Galyce haue done and yf it please you to entre in to the towne ye shall be welcome paynge for prouysyon yf ye take ony wel sayd the marshall it suffyseth we wyll nothyng but obeysaunce loue of the countrey but ye shall swere that yf the kyng of Castel come hyderor sende hyder that ye kepe you agaynst hyÌ„ his alyes then they answered sayd syr we wyl swere it with good wyll yf he come hyder with puyssaunce or sende we shal close our towne agaynst hym sende you worde therof and yf be stronger than he we wyll abyde styll vnder you for ye shall fynde in vs no maner offrawde That is ynoughe sayd the marshal I aske no better or it be a yere to an ende the matter shal be determyned for the herytage and crowne of Castell of Spayne of Cordewayne of Galyce and of Syuyll shal abyde with hym that is strongest for there shall be sene in these countreys or the ende of August many dedes of armes done as grete an armye
iourney lefte but I speke it by waye of counsayle and syth that the moost parte of the royalme enclyneth to this iourney therfore fayre broder of Borgoyne I wolde that you and I sholde go but I wolde not counsayle that the kynge sholde goo for yf ony mysfortune sholde fall it shal be layde to vs well sayd the frensshe kynge who was present at all those wordes yf none wyll go I wyll go Then the lordes began to smyle and sayd the kynge hath a couragyous wyll Howbeit they toke counsayle to deferre that voyage tyll Aprell or May nexte after theyr prouysyons as Bysquet powdred flesshe and wyne sholde be kepte saufely tyll then and there they ordeyned that the lordes and theyr companyes sholde retourne thyder agayne in the moneth of Marche anone this was knowen and so brake the voyage for that season the whicost the royalme of Fraunce a C.M. frankes xxx tyme tolde ¶ Howe kynge Charles of fraunce and the frensshe lordes retourned euyll contente fro Sluse and out of Flaunders where as theyr prouysyons were made to haue gone in to the royalme of Englande and of the feest that was made at London Ca. lx AS ye haue herde before there was made a grete apparell in Fraunce by the kynge there and the lordes with grete cost and charge with shyppes and galayes to passe the see in to englande to make warre there And howe this voyage was broken by wether and bycause that wynter was so nere hande Then it was ordeyned by the counsayle that the kynge and the lordes sholde retourne euery man to his owne home and euery thynge to abyde in the same state vnto the moneth of Marche or Aprell and then euery man to be redy at the kynges commaundement THen there myght well haue ben seene lordes and knyghtes soore dyspleased And specyally suche as were of farre couÌ„treys and had sore trauayled theyr bodyes and spente theyr money in trust to haue had a good season as the erle of Sauoy the erle of Armyâ—ake and the erle Daulphyn of Awuergne and a C. other grete lordes that departed in grete dyspleasure bycause they had not ben in Englande in lykewyse so dyd the frensshe kynge but as thenne he coulde not amende it ¶ So thus departed all maner of people some mery and some gretely dyspleased and angry and the offycers abode styll there behynde for too make shyfte to sell theyr prouysyons for theyr maysters profyte and to take money for them yf they myght but they wyst not to whome nor where for it that coste a hundred frankes was solde for .x. frankes and for lesse money The erle Dalphyn of Awuergne sayd vnto me that by his faythe he hadde there prouysyons the whiche coste hym ten thousande frankes and when he retourned homewarde agayne he lost all togyther and soo sayd many knyghtes and squyers and other people of Fraunce ¶ And when these tydynges were knowen in the royme of Englande some were ryght ioyfull and gladde therof as suche people that doubted the Frensshe mennes commynge And some were angry and dyspleased therwith whiche was suche people as thought to haue some promocyon and profyte by them SO thenne there was made at the cyte of London a grete feest and thyther came all the lordes suche as hadde kepte the portes and passages of the royalme of Englande ¶ And then the kynge helde also a noble feest at westmynstre on Crystmasse day And there were thre dukes made ¶ Fyrste the erle of Cambrydge was made the duke of yorke The erle of Buckyngham his broder was made duke of Glocestre And the thyrde was the erle of Oxenforde and he was made the dâ— of Irelande This feest endured with grete reuelles and tryumphes ¶ So thus the people of the royalme of Englande as they thought themselfe that they hadde escaped a grete peryll and thenne dyuers of them sayd amonge themselfe that they wolde neuer sette more by the Frensshe men and they thought that all the assemble of the Frensshe men that was made at Sluse was but to fere the Englysshe men and to haue caused the duke of Lancastre and his company to retourne agayne out of Spayne ¶ Howe a squyer called Iaques le Grys was accused in the parlyament house at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and what Iugement was gyuen vpon them and howe they Iusted at vtteraunce in Parys in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple And howe Iaques le Grys was confounded Ca. lxi IN this tyme grete brute there was in fraunce and in the lowe marches of a feate of armes that sholde be done at Parys in vtteraunce for soo the matter was Iudged in the parlyament chambre at Parys The whiche plee hadde endured a yere bytwene these two partyes the one was asquyer called Iaques le Grys and the other partye was a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and they were bothe of the lande housholde of the erle Peter of alanson they were welbyloued of theyr lorde and specyally this squyer Iaques le Grys was byloued and trysted with his lorde aboue ony other persone in his courte or housholde and bycause that mortall batayle folowed bytwene them and they beynge bothe of one lordes housholde euery man hadde grete meruayle therof Soo that out of dyuers countreys grete multytude of people came to Parys at the daye of batayle for to se it I shall shewe you the hole matter I as was then enfourmed SOo it was that on a season this knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne toke an entrepryse vpon hym to goo ouer the see for the auauncement of his honoure where vnto he hadde ben longe tyme to accomplysshe ¶ Soo he departed from his lorde the erle of Alanson to doo his voyage And also he toke his leue of his wyfe who as then was reputed a fayre lady and a yonge and he lefte her in a castell of his owne on the marches of Perche otherwyse called Argentuell and so entred in to his voyage and his wyfe laye styll at her castell in a wyse and sage maner ¶ Soo here beganne the matter by the deuylles temptacyon whiche entred in to the body of the squyer Iaques le Grys who was with the erle of Alanson his lorde for he was as one of his counsayle And so he determyned in his mynde to doo an euyll dede whiche he derely bought afterwarde Howbeit the euyll that he dyd coulde neuer be proued in hym nor he wolde neuer confesse it This squyer Iaques le Grys sette his mynde on the wyfe of the foresayd knyght IohnÌ„ of Carongne in the absence of her husbande and he knewe well that she was in the castell of Argentuell but with her owne company and housholde seruauntes ¶ And soo on a mornynge he toke a good hors and departed from Alanson and so rode on the spurres with grete haste tyll he came to the ladyes castell and when he was thyder come the ladyes seruauntes made hym
yf I may gete them they shall be hanged other payment gete they none of me but all the dyffyculte is how to gete them out of theyr garyson syr sayd syr Raymon that shall be done ryght well let them alone Well sayd the kynge doo as ye thynke best I wyll medle no more therin but that I wolde they were delyuered out of the countrey then on a day syr Raymon gathered a company togyder of men of armes a .v. hundred speres secretly and made a squyer of Gascoyne capytayne a valyaunt man of armes called Nandon Seghen and layde them in a busshment within a lytell myle of Dulcen sayd to them syrs when they of the garyson yssue out do so that they may all be taken or slayne that the countrey maye be clene ryd of them Then syr Raymon sente to them of Dulcen that they sholde lepe on theyr horses and yssue out and rynne before the towne of Perpyghnen to put the vyllaynes therof in fere elles they wolde not obey nor gyue nothynge They of Dulcen were ryght ioyfull of these tydynges thynkynge that all had ben trouth and so armed them the same day that the busshment was layde for them so departed fro the garyson and rode towarde Perpyghnen and so came to the barryers and made theyr musters and in theyr retournynge thynknge to haue passed surely in peas when they were in the myddes of the way they were sodaynly encountred by Nandon Seghnen his company to the nombre of .v. C. speres so dasshed in amonge them then they saw wel howe they were dysceyued and trapped and then they drewe togyder and fought as longe as they myght endure whiche was not longe for there were many of them were euyll armed and so shortely they were dyscomfyted There was slyne Geffray chastelyer Hauge desorge Guyot Moresque IohnÌ„ de Guenlant many other there was taken Peter of Mountfawcon Amlardan of saynt Iust a .xl. other and brought prysoners to Perpyghnen as they passed thrughe the stretes they of the towne yssued out of theyr houses halowed after them as thoughe they had ben wolues and so they were set in prysones The same season the duke of Berre was come to Carcassone on the fronters of Aragon he came fro Auygnyon fro the pope and there he herde howe they of Dulcen were slayne and taken then he wrote to the kynge of Aragon and to his cosyne yosant of Bare desyrynge them to sende Peter of Mountfawcon and his company who incontynent were delyuered and sente to the duke of Berre that grace that duke dyd to them or elles they had all dyed ¶ Howe a batayle of armes was done at Burdeaus before the lene shall there dyuers other Ca. lxii THe same season there was at Burdeaus a feate of armes done before the seneshall syr IohnÌ„ Harpedon other bytwene the lorde of Rochfoucaulte a frensshmaÌ„ sone to the captall of Buze 〈◊〉 and syr wyllyam of Mountferant an Englysshman to rynne .iii. courses with .iii. speres .iii. strokes with a sworde .iii. with a dagger and .iii. with an axe This dede of armes was done before the lordes and ladyes of the countrey then beynge at Burdeaus The erle of Foys sente thyder knyghtes of his house to serue to counsayle the lorde of Rochfoucaulte sone to his cosyn germayne and also he sent to hym good hoâ—â— harneys spere heedes daggers â–ª wordes aâ—es Howbeit he was ryght wel purueyed of them before on a day these .ii. knyghtes armed them wel accompanyed with grete cheualry on eyther partye The lorde of rochfoncaulte has in his company a CC. knyghtes and squyers all of his lygâ—age and syr wyllyam of Mountferant had as many or mo with hym was the lorde of Rohen the lorde of 〈…〉 lorde Duras the lorde of Curton 〈…〉 of Languras the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Mountcroy at in Pyergourt and all 〈◊〉 of his lyguage ¶ Bycause this feate of 〈◊〉 sholde be done bytwene suche .ii. noble 〈…〉 knyghtes many came thyder 〈◊〉 them farre nere when these two knyghtes were mountedon theyr horses with theyr 〈◊〉 and targes redy apparelled theyr speres were 〈◊〉 them ranne togyder fyersly 〈…〉 eche other on theyr helmes that the 〈…〉 and theyr helmes stryken of theyr heedes in to the felde and so passed forth theyr course bare heeded excepte theyr coyues TheÌ„ all the lordes and ladyes sayd and euery man to other howe they hadde nobly encountred at theyr fyrst metynge then theyr helmes were newe set on and fastened and so they ranne valyauntly theyr .ii. course and also the .iii. breuely al theyr feates were nobly accomplysshed to the grete pleasure of all the lordes and ladyes and other regarders and euery man sayd howe eche of them hadde valyauntly acheued theyr feates and the seneshall of Burdeaus syr IohnÌ„ Harpedon gaue the same daye a supper to them and to al the lordes and ladyes that were there presente And the nexte daye euery man wente to theyr owne herytages the lorde of Rochfoncaulte prepayred hymselfe to go in to Castell for the kynge IohnÌ„ there had sente for hym and the season drewe nere syr wyllyam of Mountferant ordeyned to go in to Portyn gale for the kynge there had also sent for hym IN suche a noble hystory as this is whiche I syr IohnÌ„ Froysart haue pursued hytherto and that god hath sent me that grace to lyue so longe to se so many thynges as I haue done then it were noo reason that I sholde forgete out ony thynge that I haue knowen to be done and bycause that by the warres of Brytayne the .ii. sones of Charles of bloys who of longe season called hymselfe duke of Bretayne by maryage of the lady Iahan of Bretayne who ought to haue ben ryghtful enherytour of Bretayne as it hath ben shewed before in this hystory whose sones were in Englande in hostage for theyr fader as yet I haue made no mencyon of them where they became nor how they came out of pryson and daunger of the kynge of Englande wherin theyr fader the lorde Charles of Bloys had lefte them ye knowe wel and it hath ben wryten here before howe kynge Edwarde of englande to make his warre of frauÌ„ce the fayrer and stronger he alyed hymselfe with the erle of Montforde and alwayes dyd counsayle and ayde hym to his power and dyd soo moche that the erle of Monforde came to his entente and was duke of Bretayne otherwyse he coulde neuer haue come therto for in Bretayne the lorde Charles of Bloys of .vii. he had euer .v. on his party it hath ben shewed before howe in the yere of our lorde a M.CCC and xlvii there was a grete batayle in Bretayne before the Ree doryent where the countesse of Mountfordes party as syr IohnÌ„ of Harcell and other dyscomfyted syr Charles of Bloys and there he was taken prysoner led in to englande where he had good chere for the quene of
Englande the good quene Phylyp whos seruaunt I was in myne yongth she was of ryghtfull gouernacyon cosyn germayne to the lorde Charles of Bloys she dyd put to her payne for his delyuerauce howbeit the counsayle of Englande wolde not that he sholde be delyuered the duke Henry of Lancastre sayd and other lordes of englande that yf he were out of pryson by hym myght be made many grete recoueraunces for the royalme of Fraunce for kynge Phylyp as then frensshe kyng was his vncles and they affyrmed that as longe as he were kepte in pryson theyr warre in to Fraunce sholde be the easyer howbeit for all those wordes that was shewed to the kynge by the good meanes of the noble and good quene he was set to his fynaunce to paye CC.M. nobles whiche was as then a grete some to be payde for lordes as then lyued in another maner theÌ„ they do nowe for as nowe men may pay more then theyr predecessours myght haue done for nowe they tayle theyr people at theyr pleasure and before they lyued but on theyr rentes and reuenues for as nowe the duchy of Bretayne wtin a yere or two is able to pay to helpe theyr lorde .ii. M. nobles or more The lorde Charles of Bloys layde to the kynge of Englande his .ii. sones in pledge for the sayd some afterwarde the lorde Charles of Bloys had so moche to do in pursuyng his warre for the duchy of Bretayne and to pay his souldyours and to kepe his estate alwayes hopynge to come to a good ende of his warre so that he was not able to quyte out his sones out of Englande for the holy man in pursuynge of his herytage dyed as a saynt in a batayle in Bretayne before aulroy by the ayde of the Englysshe men who were agaynst hym when he was deed yet the warre ended not but then kynge Charles of fraunce who in his lyfe doubted gretly the fortunes of the warres when he sawe that the erle Mountforde the Englysshe men seased not but styll wente forwarde wanne townes fortresses in Bretayne he fered that yf the erle Mountforde myght come to his entente of the duchy of Bretayne that he wolde not holde nor do homage to hym for he had promysed his alleageaunce to the kynge of englande who ayded alwaye hadde done to maynteyne his warre then he treted with the erle Mountforde his counsayle as it hath ben shewed here before wherfore I wyll speke no more therof but the erle of MouÌ„tforde abode as duke of Bretayne with that he sholde do homage and holde soueraynte or the crowne of fraunce and by the same trety the duke sholde ayde helpe to gete delyuered out of pryson in englande his .ii. cosyns sones to the lorde Charles of Bloys whiche artycle he neuer dyd accomplysshe for alwayes he doubted that yf they retourned they wolde put hym to some busynes for the duchy of Bretayne fered lest they of Bretayne wolde receyue them as theyr lordes for they more enclyned to theÌ„ then to hym wherfore he wolde not speke for theyr delyueraunce Thus these .ii. chyldren abode so longe in Englande in pryson somtyme in the kepynge of the lorde Roger Beawchamp and the lady Sybyll his wyfe and somtyme with syr Thomas Dambrychcourte on a tyme the yonger Guy of Bretayne dyed then IohnÌ„ of Bretayne abode styll in pryson alone he was often tymes sad of his beynge in pryson but he coulde not ameÌ„de it And often tymes when he remembred the losse of his yonge dayes as he that was of the moost noble generacyon of the worlde was lykely to lese he wolde often tymes wepe and wysshed hymselfe rather deed then a lyue for a .xxxv. yeres or theraboute he had ben in the daunger of his enemyes in Englande and coulde se noo maner of meanes of his delyueraunce for his frendes and kynne drewe of fro hym and the some that he laye for was so grete that he wyst not how it sholde be payde without god helped hym and the duke of Anioy for all his puyssaunce and prosperyte and that he had wedded his syster germayne by whom he had .ii. fayre sones Loys Charles for all this he dyd nothynge for hym Now shall I shew you howe this IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was delyuered ¶ Howe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sone to syr Charles of Bloys was delyuered out of pryson by the meanes of Olyuer of Clysson the constable of Fraunce Ca. lxxii IT hathe ben shewed here before in this hystory how the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ made a voyage thrughe the royalme of Fraunce came in to Bretayne the duke of Bretayne had desyred hym so to doo bycause parte of his countrey wolde not be vnder his obeysaunce there the erle of Buckyngham his company lay al yâ— wynter the begynnyng of somer 〈◊〉 in grete pouerte before Nantes Wennes tyll it was Maye then he retourned in to englande when the erle Thomas of Buckyngham his company laye before Wennes in lodgynges without There were dyuers skyrmysshes bytwene the englysshment frensshmen thyder came Olyuer ClyuÌ„on constabable of Fraunce to se the warre that was there made to speke with the englysshe knyghtes for he knewe them well for in his yongth he was brought vp amonge theÌ„ in Englande soo he made good company with them in diuers maners as noble men of armes wyll do eche to other as frensshmen and englysshmeÌ„ haue alwayes done as then he had good cause so to do for he entended a purpose whiche touched hym ryght nere but he wolde dyscouer his entente to noo man lyuynge but alonely to a squyer that was there who had alwayes before serued the lorde Charles of bloys for yf the constable had dyscouered his entente to ouy man he had ben out of all hope to haue sped brought aboute his purpose whiche by the grace of god he atteyned vnto The constable coulde in no wyse loue the duke of Bretayne nor he hym longe tyme or they shewed it And where as he sawe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne in pryson in englande he had therof grete pyte wheÌ„ he sawe the duke of Bretayne in possessyon of the herytage of Bretayne when he thought that he was in moost loue with the duke then he sayd syr why do ye not put to your payne that your cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bretayne were out of the kyng of Englandes pryson syr ye are bounde therto by othe promyse for syr when all the countrey of Bretayne was in treaty with you the prelates noble men good townes the cyte of Nantes Archebysshop of Reynes syr IohnÌ„ Craon syr Boncequalte as then marshall of fraunce â—reted with you for the peas before Compercorentync than there ye sware that ye sholde do your full puyssaunce to delyuer your cosynes out of pryson syr ye haue done nothynge in that matter Wherfore be you sure the countrey of Bretayne loueth you the lesse oweth you the
that the tretye of the maryage of his doughter with Iohn of Bretayne was passed for the duke of Lancastre had his doughter with hym in to Castell then he thought to ratrete the kyng of englande to gyue hym in rewarde for suche seruyce as he had done and entended to do Iohn̄ of Brtayne for yf he coulde gete hym of the kyng he was agreed with the constable of Fraunce to haue for his raunsome at two paymentes .vi. score M. frākes the fyrst .lx. M. to be payde as sone as Iohn̄ of Bretayne were sent delyuered in to the towne of Boloyne and the other .lx. M. to be payde at Parys whersoeuer he wolde haue it delyuered the duke of Irelande coueted these floreyns and dyd so moche with the kynge of englande that the kynge gaue hym Iohn̄ of Bretayne clerely wherof many in Englande had grete meruayle but they that lyst to speke wolde speke there was none other thynge the duke of Irelande caused hym to be delyuered in to Boloyne and there the constable had made redy euery thynge for hym dnd so he rode to Parys and there founde the kynge and other lordes of his lygnage who made hym good chere and the constable also who brought hym in to Bretayne and there Iohan of Bretayne wedded his doughter as he had promysed and when the duke of Bretayne knewe that Iohn̄ of Bretayne was retourned in to Fraunce and clene delyuered out of Englande by the ayde and purchase to the constable of Fraunce then he had the cōstable in double hatred sayd what weneth syr Olyuer of Clesson to put me out of myne herytage he sheweth wel the tokens therof he hath delyuered out pryson Iohn̄ of Bretayne and hath gyuen hym his doughter in marriage whiche thynges are to me ryght dyspleasaunt surely that shall I well shewe ones on a daye howe he hath not wel done peraduenture whē he taketh leest hede therof he sayd truely for he shewed it quyckely or the yere passed as ye shall here after in the story But fyrst we wyll speke of the busynes of Castell and Portyngale and of an armye on the see that the englysshmen made to come to Sluse HEre before ye haue herde how the frensshe kynges armye by the see to haue gone in to englande was broken vp in the same season not by the frensshe kynges good wyll for alway he shewed good courage to haue passed in to Englande and when he sawe howe the iourney brake he was more dyspleased then ony other and all the fawte was layde vpon the duke of Berre howbeit it was to be thought that he saw more depelyer in the matter then ony other in his counsayllynge to leue the iourney was for the honoure and profyte of the royalme of fraunce ▪ for who soo euer enterprysed to doo a thynge ought to regarde what ende may come therof and the duke of Berre had ben before so longe in englande in hostage for the kyng his fader had ben so cōuersaunt among the englyssh men had sene so moche of the countrey that he knewe by reason what effecte the goynge in to englande sholde haue come to the cause moost exscusable not to go was bycause wynter was so farre ronne But then it was sayd that the constable of fraunce the nexte somer sholde goo in to englande with a .vi. M. men of armes and as many crosse bowes for it was thought by hymselfe sayd howe that nombre was sufficy to fyght with the englysshe men by reason the constable ought to haue knowen it for he had ben nourysshed there in his yonge dayes whē these lordes were retourned in to Fraunce thē it was determyned to sende socours in to Castell to ayde the kynge there agaynst the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre for it was thought that shortely there sholde be some dedes of armes for the englysshmen kepte the felde And it was consydered that they coulde sende noo men of warre thyder without grete cost and charge for the iourney was ferre of there was but lytell money in the kynges treasoury nor in treasourers handes for the some of money that had ben gadered of the people before in the royalme was spente wasted wherfore they studyed howe to gete more and soo a newe tayle and taxe was deuysed to ryn thrughout all the royalme of Fraunce to be payde incontynent without delay noysynge howe it was for the comfortynge of the kynge of Spayne and to dryue the englysshmen out of his royalme This tayle was publysshed in euery place and the kynges commyssyoners sente in to euery good towne and Cyte who sayd to the gouernours of the townes Syrs thus moche your towne is taxed at the whiche ye must pay incontynent then the rulers sayd syrs we shall gather this some and then sende it to Parys nay syrs not so sayd the commyssaryes we wyl not abyde so longe we wyll do otherwyse then so and commaunded in the kynges name a .x. or xii of the best of the towne to goo to pryson without they payde the some without ony longer delay the honest men fered the pryson and the kynges dyspleasure wherfore they drewe them togyder and payde the money incontynente and recouered it agayne of the poore mē thus they dyd in euery good towne so that there were so many tayles and taxes one after and ther for the fyrst was scante payde when another began thus in that season the noble royal me of fraunce was gouerned and the poore people ouer ledde So that many auoyded out of theyr townes and forsoke theyr herytages and houses for they were fayne to sell all that they had and some wente to dwell in Haynalte and in to the bysshopryche of Lyege where as there ranne no taxe nor tayllage ¶ Howe the duke of Borbon was chosen to goo in to Castell and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyral of flaunders was taken prysoner by the Englysshe men Ca. lxxii THen yt was deuysed what capytaynes sholde go in to Spayne Fyrst they apoynted the gentyll duke of borbone that he sholde be souerayne capytayne aboue all other or he departed there was apoynted .ii. other capytaynes to be in the vowarde and the duke of Borbon in the rerewarde with .ii. M. speres knyghtes squyers these .ii. capytaynes that sholde be in the vowarde were syr Wellyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer hf Passac these .ii. lordes when they knewe that they sholde be the capytaynes of certayne men of armes to go in to Castel they prepayred thē selfe for that iourney then knyghtes and squyers were sente for all aboute the royalme of fraunce to go to Castell and the passages were opened as well in Nauare as in Aragon thenne knyghtes and squyers departed fro Bretayne Poycton Aniowe Mayne Torayne Bloys Orleaunce Beause pycardy borgoyne berre Awuergne fro all the boundes of the royal me of fraunce euery man toke theyr way to go in to Castell
and salutacyons when he was iustly enfourmed of the departynge of the frensshe kynge fro Sluse then he called his counsayle and sayd syr ye knowe well howe the duke of Lancastre is in Galyce and the duches our cosyne with hym and it is not vnknowen to you howe he was here and had counsayle togyder and howe it was agreed that I sholde haue his doughter in maryage so it is I wyll perceyuer in the same estate and wyll demaunde her honourably as it is reason and apertenent to suche a prynce as the duke of Lancastre is to me as kynge of Portyngale I wyll make that lady quene of Portyngale syr sayd they of his counsayle ye doo in this accordynge to reason for ye haue so sworne promysed well sayd the kynge then let vs sende for her to the duke then there was appoynted the archebysshop of Braschez and syr IohnÌ„ Radyghen of Sar to go an that ambassade they were sente for to the kynge and so they toke on them that voyage with them they had a. CC. speres ¶ Nowe let vs speke of the syege that syr Thomas Moreaus marshall of the duke of Lancastres cost had layde before the towne of Rybadane and shewe what became theron I Byleue that they of Rybadane thought to haue ben comforted by kynge Iohn of Castell and by the knyghtes of Fraunce who lay in the towne of Valcolyue or elles they wolde neuer haue endured soo longe for I haue meruayle howe suche a sorte of vyllaynes coulde endure agaynst suche a sloure of archers men of armes and were not abasshed for euery day they had assaulte and it was sayd to syr Thomas Moreaus in maner of counsayle by the moost valyaunt knyghtes of his company syr leue this towne here then an euyl fyer may bâ—enne it and let vs go further in to the countrey to Maynes to Noye or to Besances alwayes we may retourne agayne when we lyst by my fayth sayd syr Thomas that shall neuer be sayd that vyllaynes haue dyscomfyted vs I wyll not departe hens thoughe I sholde tary here .ii. monethes without yâ— duke sende for me Thus the marshalles mynde oppynyon was to kepe styll there his syege the kynge of Castell who laye at Valeolyue and had sente specyally for ayde in to Fraunce he harde dayly howe they of Rybadane defended themselfe valyauntly wolde not yelde in the name of god sayd the Barroys of Barrers it gretely dyspeaseth me that we sent not thyder our frenssh men they wolde gretely haue recomforted the men of that towne and also I am not contente that I am not at the syege for then at the leest I sholde haue the honoure as these vyllaynes haue nowe surely yf I had knowen the trouthe of the strength of that towne I wolde haue refresshed it and haue put myselfe at aduenture therin as well god sholde haue sente me the grace to haue defended the towne as these vyllaynes do Thus he deuysed in the kynges presence and before the frensshe knyghtes who desyred dedes of armes Then it was sayd to the kynge syr sende a. C. speres in to these townes of Noye of Calongne for who so hath those ii castelles hath the .ii. sydes of the lande of Galyce and to go thyder dyuers dyd present theÌ„selfe before the kynge as syr Trystram of Roy and syr Raynolde his broder syr Aulberte of Braquemont syr TrystraÌ„ of Galle syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant syr Barroys of Barrers The kynge herde them well was contente with theyr offres and sayd fayre syrs I thanke you of your good wylles howbeit ye maye not all go some of you must abyde styll with me for aduentures that may fall but at this presente tyme I desyre the Barroys of Barrers to take on hym that charge yf it please hym the knyght was ryght glad of that iourney for he thought he had lyen there to longe and sayd to the kynge syr I thanke your grace shall kepe defende it to my power and shall not departe thens tyll ye sende for me so be it a goodes name sayd the kynge we thynke to here shortely some tydynges out of fraunce as then the knyghtes knewe not of the frensshe kynges departynge fro Sluse but the kynge knewe it well ynoughe for the duke of Borbon had wryten to hym of all the busynes in fraunce howe he was apoynted to come in to Castell with .iii. M. speres and before hym to open the passages sholde come .iii. M. speres vnder the gydynge of syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac the frensshe knyghtes desyred the kyng to shewe them some tydynges out of Fraunce with a good wyll sayd the kynge THen the kynge sayd syrs surely the duke of Borbon is chosen pryncypal capytayne to come in to this countrey for the frenssh kynge and his counsayle hath apoynted hym to come with .vi. thousande speres knyghtes and squyers and also two valyaunte knyghtes are chosen capytaynes for to come before hym as syr Wyllyam Lygnac as syr Gaultyer of Passac they shall come fyrst with a .iii. M. speres as for the voyage by the see in Englande is broken vp for this season tyll the constable of Fraunce and the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Concy with .iiii. M. speres shall goo in to Englande this nexte Maye Howe saye you syrs to this sayd the kynge syr sayd they these be ryche tydynges we can haue no better for this nexte somer dedes of armes shal be wel shewed in your countrey yf there be .vi. M. apoynted there wyll come .ix. M. we shall surely fyght with the englysshmen they kepe as nowe the felde but we shal close them togyder or it be mydsomer syr these knyghtes that come are ryght valyaunt and specyally the duke of Borbon and the other are proued knyghtes and worthy to be gouernours of meÌ„ of armes anone was spred abrode in the towne of Valeolyue and abrode in Castell the grete comforte and ayde that sholde come out of Fraunce by the fyrst daye of Maye wherof knyghtes and squyers were ryght ioyous THus the Barroys of Barres departed with a .l. speres and rode to the castell of Noye tydynges came to the duke of Lancastres marshall howe the frensshmen were a brode rydynge with a .l. speres to come to reyse the syege before Rybadane When the marshal harde those tydynges he byleued it lyghtly for they that shewed hym therof affyrmed it to be true saynge how they had sene them ryde ouer the ryuer of Dorne toke theyr lodgyng at the towne of Arpent Then the marshal was in doubte toke couÌ„sayle determyned to sende worde therof to the duke of Lancastre his lorde and so he dyd and he sente syr IohnÌ„ Dambrecycourt and a heraulde who knewe all the wayes in Galyce and then the marshall made euer good watche and spyal for he doubted to be ascryed in the nyght halfe the dost watched euery nyght whyle the other slepte syr
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâ—wyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of â—ur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌ„dynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌ„ges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ— to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ„ without to syr IohnÌ„ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ„ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
squyers that Iusted WIth suche tryumphes Iustes sportes as ye haue harde the quene of Portyngale was receyued at her fyrst comynge in the cyte of Porte and these feestes endured more then .x. dayes and the kynge gaue grete gyftes to all the straungers so that they were well contente Then the knyghtes of Englande toke theyr leue of the kynge and of the quene and retourned to the cyte of saynt Iames to the duke and duches who of them demaunded tydynges they shewed all that they had sene and harde and howe the kynge of Portyngale and the quene dyd commaunde them to them and sayd syr the last worde that the kynge sayd to vs was howe he desyreth you to drawe in to the felde when it please you for in lykewyse so wyl he do and drawe in to Castell These be good tydynges sayd the duke Thus aboute a .xv. dayes after the constable and admyral were retourned fro the kynge of Portyngales maryage the duke of Lancastre prepayred for his iourney to go and conquere castells and townes in Galyce for as then the duke was not lorde of all the townes in the countrey and it was ordeyned that when the duke sholde departe fro saynt Iames that the duches and her doughter Katheryne sholde in lykewyse departe and goo to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale to se the kynge and the yonge quene theyr doughter and the towne of saynt Iames was delyuered to the kepynge of an englysshe knyght called syr Loys Clyfforde and .xxx. speres with hym an C. archers ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his men rode towardes the cyte of Besances and howe the towne made composycyon with them Ca. lxxv THus the duke Lancastre departed and all his mē and suche as were ordeyned to abyde in garyson abode and the duke and the duches rode towardes Besances one of the last townes bytwene Galyce and Portyngale the ryght waye to Porte and to Connymbres and bycause the duches of Lancastre and her doughter sholde go to se the kynge of Portyngale therfore they helde that way when they of Besances knewe that the duke was comynge on them with all his oost then they drewe to counsayle and were of many oppynyons Fynally they determyned for the best and sent to the duke and duches .vi. of the chefe of the towne to desyre and trete for an abstynence of warre for .viii. dayes in the meane seaseon they to sende to the kynge of Castell shewynge hym without he came soo stronge to fyght with the duke to yelde vp theyr towne without ony other meane Then there departed fro Besances .vi. men rode to mete with that englysshmen Fyrst they encountred with the vowarde whiche the marshall led There they were stopped and demaunded what they were and what they wolde they answered how they were of Besances and that by appoyntemente of the towne they were charged to goo and speke with the duke the marshall sayd to syr Iohn̄ Soustre syr go and brynge these men to the duke in saufgarde for fere lest our archers do slee them and then he sayd to them syrs goo your wayes this knyght shal be your guyde so they rode forthe and at the last founde out the duke and duches and her doughter and syr Iohn̄ Holande syr Thomas Percy dyuers other with them sportynge them vnder the shadowe of the fayre Olyue trees they behelde wel syr Iohn̄ Soustre comynge to themwarde Then syr Iohn̄ Holande demaunded of hym and sayd syr Iohn̄ are those your prysoners nay syr sayd he they be no prysoners they are men of Besances sent by the mershall to speke with my lorde the duke as I thynke they wyll make some tretye the duke and the duches herde al those wordes Then syr Iohn̄ Soustre sayd to them ye good men auaunce forth beholde here your lorde lady ▪ Then these .vi. men kneled downe sayd My ryght redoubted lorde and lady the comonaltye of the towne of Besances haue sente vs to your presence syr they vnderstande howe ye are comynge or sendynge your armye agaynst thē they desyre of your specyal grace to forbere them these .ix. dayes and in the meane season they wyll sende to the kynge of Castell to the towne of Valcolyue and shewe hym what daūger they be in and syr without there come with in these .ix. dayes suche socoure to them as to fyght with you they wyll yelde them vnto your obeysaunce and yf ye lacke ony prouysyon of vytayles or ony other thynge in the meane season ye shall haue out of the towne for your money at your pleasure for you for all your men Therwith the duke stode styll and spake noo worde and suffred the duches to speke bycause it was in her countrey then she behelde the duke and sayd syr what say you madame sayd he and what say you ye are herytoure her that I haue is by you therfore ye shall make them answere wel syr sayd she me thynke it were good to receyue them as they haue demaunded for I byleue the kynge of Castell hathe as nowe noo grete desyre so shortly to fyght with you I can not tell sayd the duke wolde to god he wolde come shortely to batayle then we sholde be the soner delyuered I wolde it sholde be within .vi. dayes wherfore as ye haue deuysed I am contente it so be then the duches tourned her towarde the .vi. men and sayd syrs departe when ye lyst your matter is sped soo that ye delyuer in hostage to our marshall .xii. of the best of your towne for suretye to vpholde this tretye well madame sayd they we are contente syr Iohn̄ Soustre was commaunded to shewe this tretye to the marshal and so he dyd wherwith the mershall was well contente and the .vi. men retourned to Besances and shewed howe they had sped then .xii. men of the moost notablest of the towne were chosen out and sente to the marshall Thus the towne of Besances was in rest and peas by the foresayd tretye Then they of the towne sente the same .vi. men that wente to the duke to the kynge of Castell and his counsayle The kynge as then knewe nothynge of that composycyon nor howe the englysshe men were before Besances IN the meane season that these syxe men were goynge to the kynge of Castell the duke ordeyned that the duches and her doughter Katheryne sholde goo to the cyte of Porte to se the kynge of Portyngale and the yonge quene her doughter and at theyr departynge the duke sayd to the duches ¶ Madame Costaunce salute fro me the kynge and the quene my daughter and all other lordes of Portyngale shewe them suche tydynges as ye know and howe they of Besances be at composycyon with me and as yet I knowe not wheron they grounde themselfe nor whether that our aduersary Iohn̄ of Trystmor haue made them to make this tretye or wyl come and fyght with vs or no I knowe well they
loke for grete comforte to come to them out of fraunce and suche as desyre dedes of armes and aduauncement of honoure wyl come as soone as they can wherfore it behoueth me alwaye to be redy and to abyde batayle this ye may shewe to the kynge of Portyngale and to his counsayle and yf I se that I shall haue ony thynge to do I shall shortely sende the kynge worde therof Wherfore saye that I desyre hym to be redy to ayde and to defende our ryght and his in lyke maner as we haue promysed and sworne togyder and madame when ye retourne agayne to me leue our doughter katheryne there styll with the quene her syster she can not be in better kepynge syr sayd the lady all this shall be doone Then the duches and her doughter and all other ladyes and damoyselles toke theyr leue and departed syr Thomas Percy the admyral accompanyed them and syr non Fythwaren and the lorde Talbot and the lorde IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and syr Namburyne of Lyuyers and a hundred speres and two hundred archers and soo came to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale ¶ Howe the duches and her doughter wente to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene And howe the towne of Besances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Ca. lxxvi WHenne the kynge of Portyngale vnderstode that the duches of Lancastre and her doughter were comynge to hym warde he was therof ryght ioyfull and sente to receyue them of the grettest meÌ„ of his courte The erle of Angoses and the erle of Nouayre syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Perteke syr Vas Martyne of Marlo syr Egeas Colle and a .xx. other knyghtes who mette with the duches a two grete legges of and ioyfully receyued them and the duches made frendly chere to al the lordes and knyghtes bothe with wordes countenaunce Thus they came to the cyte of Porte and all the ladyes and damoyselles were lodged in the palays and the kynge came and met with the ladyes kyssed them all then after came the quene who receyued the duches her mooer and her syster ryght honourably as she that coulde ryght wel do it all the kynges courte were ryght ioyfull of the comynge of these ladyes and damoyselles I wyll not speke of all theyr acquayntauÌ„ces and good chere for I was not there present I knowe nothynge but by the reporte of that gently knyght syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant Perteke who was there present and he enfourmed me of all that I know in that matter and of many other There the duches deuysed with the kynge of Portyngale when she sawe her tyme shewed hym all the wordes that the duke her husbande had gyuen her in charge to shewe The kynge answered her ryght sagely and sayd Fayre lady and cosyn I am all redy yf the kynge of Castell come forth in to the feldes within .iii. dayes I shal haue râ—dy iil M. speres they be redy in the felde on the fronters of Castell and also I haue redy .xx. M. of the comons of my royal me who be not to be refused for they dydde me good seruyce on a day at the batayle of Iuberoth Syr sayd the lady ye speke well I thanke you therof And syr yf ony thyngs happen to fall to my lorde and husbande he wyll incontynente sygnyfye you therof with these wordes other the kynge the duches deuysed togyder ¶ Nowe let vs tourne to them of Besances shewe howe they sped WHen these .vi. men of Besances were before the kynge of Castel they kneled downe and sayd Ryght redoubted lorde may it please you to vnderstande that we be sent hyder fro your towne of Besances who are by force in composycyon with the duke of Lancastre and with the duches hath obteyned a sufferaunce of warre for .ix. dayes soo that yf ye come or sende suche a strength able to resyst the duches puyssaunce then the towne to abyde styll vnder your obeysaunce elles they are bouÌ„de haue layde hostage to delyuer vp the towne to the duke of Lancastre wherfore maye it please your grace to gyue vs answere what we shall do in this case The kynge answered and sayd syrs we shall take aduyse and then gyue you answere therwith the kynge departed fro them and entred in to his secret chambre I cannot tell what counsayle he toke nor howe the matter wente but these .vi. men were there .viii. dayes and had no maner of answere nor sawe no more the kynge Soo the day came that the towne sholde be gyuen vp as theÌ„ theyr messagers were not retourned agayne Then the duke of Lancastre sent to Besances his marshall the .x. day to speke with them and to coÌ„maunde them to rendre vp theyr towne or elles to stryke of the heedes of the hostages the marshall came to Besances to the barryers and there spake with them of the towne and sayd ye syrs of Besances take hede what I saye My lorde the duke of Lancastre hath sente me to you to demaunde why ye haue not brought to hym the keyes of your towne and submyt you to be vnder his obeysaunce as ye ought to be the .ix. dayes be past as ye knowe well and yf ye wyll not thus do your hostages shall lese theyr heedes here before you and after we shall assayle you and take you perforce and then ye shall all dye without mercy lyke theÌ„ of Rybadane wheÌ„ the men of Besances herde those tydynges they gretly doubted and also fered to lese theyr frendes that were in hostage with the duke sayd to the marshall syr my lorde the duke hath good cause to say and do as ye haue reported but syr as yet we here no tydynges fro our men whom we sente to the kynge of Castel for the same cause we wote not what is become of them Syrs sayd the marshall peraduenture they are kepte there styll for the tydynges they haue brought to the kynge of Castell whiche are not very plesaunt to hym to here but my lorde the duke wyl abyde no longer wherfore aduyse you to make me shorte answere elles shortely ye shall haue assaulte then they spake agayne and sayd syr we requyre you let vs assemble togyder in the towne to take aduyse and then we shal answere you I am content sayd the marshall then they retourned in to the towne and by the blastes of trompettes in euery strete they assembled to gather in the market place then they declared to all the comonte all the foresayd wordes and so fynally they accorded to rendre vp theyr towne to saue theyr estates that were in pryson then they retourned to the marshall sayd syr in al your demaundes we can fynde nothynge but as reason requyreth we are content to receyue my lorde the duke and my lady the duches in to this towne to put theÌ„ in possessyon therof and syr here be the keyes and we shall goo with you to theÌ„
nyght at Ercyell and the nexte nyght at Tarbe he rode that daye a grete iourney and then he determyned to sende fro thens to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and soo he dyd aduertysynge hym howe he had spedde with the erle of Foyze and desyrynge hym to come on forwarde with all theyr companyes and shewynge hym howe the countrey of Byerne and all the good townes sholde be open payenge trewely for that they take or elles not ¶ This messagere dydde soo moche that he came to Thoulouse and dydde his message and delyuered his letters ¶ And when syr wyllyam hadde redde the contynewe hereof he made it to be knowen to all his company that they sholde set on forwarde soo that as soone as they entred ony parte of the erle of Foyze lande to pay for euery thynge that they sholde take elles theyr capytaynes to answere for euery thynge this was cryed by the sounde of a trompet fro lodgynge to lodgynge to the entente that euery man sholde knowe it then euery man dyslodged out of the marches of Tholouse Carcassone Lymous and of Marbon and so entred in to Bygore and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac toke his hors and rode to Tarbe to syr Gaultyer his companyon and there made good chere togyder and theyr bandes and rowâ—es passed by and assembled togyder in Bygore to ryde in company thrughe the countrey of Byerne to passe at Ortays the ryuer of Gaure whiche renneth to Bayon AT the yssuynge out of the countrey of Byerne is the entre of the countrey of Bâ—squey in the whiche countrey as then the kyng of englande helde grete landes in the bysshopryches of Burdeaus Bayon there were a .lxxx. townes with steples that helde of the kynge of englande when they vnderstode of the passage of these frensshmen thrugh theyr countrey they were in doubte of ouer rynnynge brennynge exylynge for as then there were no men of war of theyr partye in all that countrey to defende theyr fronters the sage men drewe togyder sente to trete with the frensshe capytaynes and to bye theyr peas then they sent to Ortays .iiii. men hauynge auctoryte to make theyr peas These .iiii. men met by the way with a squyer of the erle of Foyze called Ernalton du Pyn shewed hym all theyr matter desyrynge hym to helpe theÌ„ to speke with syr Gaultyer of Passac and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac when they came to Ortays whiche sholde be within .iii. or .iiii. dayes after and to helpe to ayde to make theyr peas he answered that he wolde do so with a good wyll The nyght that the capytaynes came to Ortays they were lodged at the same squyers house and there he ayded them of Bysquey to make theyr apoyntment and they to pay .ii. M. frankes and theyr countrey saued fro brennynge and robbynge the erle of Foyze gaue a dyuer to these capytaynes and to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac a fayre courser the nexte daye they passed to Sameterre and entred in to the countrey of Bysquey whiche was redemed they toke vytayles where as they myght gete it and so passed thrughe the countrey without doyng of ony other domage so came to saynt IohnÌ„s de Pye of Porte at the entre of Nauare ¶ Howe syr IohnÌ„ Holande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Ca. lxxviii Here before ye haue herde howe the towne of Besaâ—ces was put in composycyon with the duke of Lancastre and howe it was yelden vp to hym for the kynge of Castell dyd comforte it nothynge and howe the duches of Lancastre and her doughter came to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale to se the kynge the quene there and howe the kynge and the lordes there receyued them ioyfully as it was reason and thus whyle the duke of Lancastre soiourned in the towne of Besances tydynges came thyder fro Valeolyue brought by an heraulde of fraunce who demaunded where was the lodgynge of syr IohnÌ„ Holande and so he was brought thyder then he kneled downe before hym and delyuered hym a letter and sayd syr I am an offycer of armes sent hyder to you fro syr Raynolde du Roy who saluteth you yf it please you to rede your letter then syr IohnÌ„ sayd with ryght a good wyll and thou arte ryght welcome and opened his letter and redde it wherin was conteyned howe syr Raynolde du Roy desyred hym in the way of amours and for the loue of his lady to delyuer hym of his chalenge iii. courses with a spere .iii. strokes with a sworde iii. with a dagger and .iii. with an axe that if it wolde please hym to come to Valeolyue he wolde prouyde for hym .lx. horse a sure saufcoÌ„duyte yf not he wolde come to Besances with .xxx. horses so that he wolde gete for hym a saufcondyte of the duke of Lancanstre When syr IohnÌ„ Holande had red these letters he began to smyle behelde the heraulde sayd frende thou arte welcome thou hast brought me tydynges that pleaseth me ryght wel I accepte his desyre thou shalte obyde here in my house with my company to morowe thou shalte haue answere where our armes shal be accomplysshed outher in Galyce or in Castell syr sayd the heraulde as it pleaseth god you ¶ The heraulde was there at his ease and syr IohnÌ„ wente to the duke and founde hym talkynge with the marshall then he shewed them his tydynges and the letters Well sayd the duke and haue ye accepted his desyre ye truely syr sayd he and I desyre nothynge so moche as dedes of armes and the knyght hath desyred me but nowe syr where shall it be your pleasure that we doo our armes the duke studyed a lytell and then sayd I wyll that they be done in this towne make a saufconduyte for hym as it shall please you and I shall seale it In the name of god sayd syr IohnÌ„ that is well sayd the saufcondyte was wryten for hym .xxx. knyghtes and squyers to come saufe and go saufe then syr IohnÌ„ Holande delyuered it to the heraulde and gaue hym a mantell furred with myneuer and .xii. aungell nobles The heraulde toke his leue and retourned to Valeolyue to his mayster and there shewed howe he had sped and delyuered the saufconduyte on the other parte tydynges came to the cyte of Porte to the kynge of Portyngale and to the ladyes there howe that these dedes of armes sholde be done at Besances Well sayd the kynge I wyll be therat and the quene my wyfe with other ladyes and damoyselles the duches of Lancastre who was as then there thanked the kynge in that she sholde at her retourne be accompanyed with the kynge and with the quene it was not longe after but the tyme approched Then the kynge of Portyngale the quene the duches and her other doughter with other ladyes and damoyselles rode â—orth in grete aray towarde Besances when the duke of
tydynges to be of trouthe wherfore they were ioyfull for they wolde gladly haue made an ende by batayle for otherwyse they sawe well they coulde not atteyne to theyr desyred entrepryse and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were alwayes aboute the kynge of Castell and euery weke they had tydynges out of Fraunce what busynes there was there and of the departynge of the duke of Borbon and howe he toke in his waye of Auygnyon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles there euer they counsayled the kynge not to fyght tyll the duke of Borbon were come and amonge other tydynges they herde of the duke of Bretayne howe he had taken in the castell of Ermyne the constable of frauÌ„ce and raunsomed at a C.M. frankes and of his .iii. castelles and towne that was delyuered to the duke of Bretayne and howe that therby the iourney and boyage in to Englande was broken they had meruayle of this and to what purpose the duke of Bretayne dyd it they supposed that the counsayle therof came out of Englande THus as I haue sayd before the royalme of Fraunce was brought in to trouble and specyally the kynges vncles were sore moued with the defyaunce that came fro the duke of Guerles for they were fell and rude and out of the course of other defyaunces as I shall shewe you when I declare the matter And also the frenssh kynge and his vncles were sore dyspleased in that the duke of Bretayne had broken theyr voyage in to Englande by the see and he that was chefe of the entrepryse taken that was the constable of fraunce and raunsomed as before is sayd at a C.M. frankes taken fro hym .iii. castelles and a towne whiche was a thynge gretely preiudycyall to the kynge and to the royalme of fraunce howbeit the kynge sonne passed ouer all the matters for he was but yoâ—ge wherfore he regarded it not so sore as though he had ben of perfyte age but suche as were auncyent and wyse sayd that by suche lyke matters the royalme of fraunce hath had moche a do in tyme past as when the kynge of Nauare caused syr Charles of Spayne constable of Fraunce to be slayne for whiche cause kynge IohnÌ„ neuer loued after the kynge of Nauare and toke fro hym all his landes in Normandy Then some other wolde saye yf kynge Charles fader to the kynge that nowe is were a lyue he loued the constable soo well surely he wolde be reuenged and make warre to the duke of Bretayne and to take fro hym all his landes what soo euer it cost hym Thus euery man spake of this dede and sayd it was euyll done then the kynges vncles and the counsayle of the royalme somwhat to satysfye the people who were sore dyspleased with the duke of Bretayne determyned that a prelate .iii. barons sholde be sente to the duke to speke with hym and to here his reasons to commauÌ„de hym to come to Parys to make his exscuse of that he had done thyder sholde go the bysshop of Beawuoys and syr Myles of Dornams a sage and a ryght valyaunt man and well langaged and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Bean syr IohnÌ„ of Beuell and the lorde de la Ryuer who had theyr charge what they sholde saye and do and the bysshoppe of Beawâ—oys toke his waye by Mount le herry where as the constable was for the towne of Castell perteyned to hym kynge Charles had gyuen it to hym and to his heyres And whyle the bysshop was there a sykenes toke hym and so lay in a feuer a .xv. dayes dyed then in his stede was sente the bysshop of Langers and he toke his waye with the other in to Bretayne IT myght be demaunded of me howe I knewe all these matters to speke so proprely of them I answere to all suche that I haue made grete dylygence in my dayes to knowe it and haue serched many royalmes countreys to come to the true knowledge of all the matters conteyned in this hystory wryten and to be wryten for god gaue me the grace to haue the laysure to se in my dayes and to haue the acquayntaunce of all the hyghe and myghty prynces lordes as well in Fraunce as in Englande for for in the yere of our lorde god a M. iiiC.iiii score and .x. I had laboured .xxxvii. yeres and as then I was of the age of .lvii. yeres and in .xxxvii. yeres a man beynge in strength and wel reteyned in euery coost as I was for after my yonge dayes I was in the kynge of englandes courte .v. yeres with the quene And also I was welcome to kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce to kynge Charles his sone myght well lerne many thynges and surely it was alwayes my chefe ymagynacyon and pleasure to enquyre to retayne it by wrytynge and howe I was enfourmed of the takynge of the constable of Fraunce I shall shewe you A yere after this matter fell I rode from the cyte of Angyers to Towres in Towrayne And I laye on a nyght at Beauforte in the vale and the nexte day I met with a knyght of Bretayne called syr Wyllyam Daucemys he was rydynge to se my lady of Mayll in Towrayne his cosyne her chyldren she was newly a wydowe I fell in aquayntaunce with this knyght and founde hym ryght curtoys swete of wordes then I demaunded of hym some tydynges and specyally of the takynge of the constable whiche matter I was glad to here and to knowe the trouth therof and he shewed me sayd howe he had ben at the parlyament at wannes with the lorde of Aucemys his cosyne a grete baron of Bretayne And in lyke maner as syr Espayne de Lyon enfourmed me of all thynges that had fallen in Foyze in Byerne in gascoyne also as syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant parteke shewed me of all the matters of Portyngale and of Castell In lyke maner this knyght shewed me many thynges and more wolde haue done if I had ryden longer in his company Thus bytwene Mounte le herry and Premylly was .iiii. grete leages and we rode but softely and in this way he shewed me many thynges the whiche I bare well in my remembraunce and specyally of the aduentures of Bretayne And thus as we rode that we came nere to Premylly we entred in to a medowe there this knyght rested and sayd A god haue mercy of the soule of the good constable of Fraunce he dydde here ones a goodly iourney and profytable for the royalme vnder the baner of syr IohnÌ„ de Bewell for he was not as then constable but newly come out of Spayne and I demaunded of hym howe it was I shal shewe you sayd he wheÌ„ I am on horsebacke and so we mounted than we rode forthe fayre and easely and as we rode he sayde In the season that I haue shewed you quod this knight this countre here was full of Englysshmen robbers and pyllers of Gascoyne bretons and almayns and
of Englande dukes erles barons and counsayle of the good townes Than it was sayde to hym Sir Symon ye haue alwayes ben a notable knight in the realme of EnglaÌ„de and ye were well beloued with my lorde the prince And ye and the duke of Irelande haue had in a maner the gouernynge of the kyng We haue sene all your maters and well examyned them the whiche be nother good nor faire which gretly displeaseth vs for your owne sake It is clerely determynyd by the hole generall counsayle that ye must go to prison in to the towre of London there to remayne tyll ye haue brought into this chambre the money of the kynges and of the realmes that ye haue gathered the whiche as it apereth by the treasourers rolles draweth to the some of two hundred and fyfty thousande frankes Nowe loke what ye wyll say Than syr Symon was halfe discomforted and said Sirs I shall with a good wyll And also it behoueth me so to do to fulfyll yoâ— coÌ„maundement I shall go where as ye commaunde me But my lordes I require you let me haue a clerke assigned to me that he maye write all suche expenses as I haue layde oute in tyme past in Almayne in Beame in procurynge the kinges maryage And if there be any reast I beseche you let me haue the kynges grace and yours that I may haue reasonable dayes to pay it Sir quod the lordes we are content Thus syr Symon Burle was in prison in the towre of London THan the constable spake of ser Willyam Helmon and of sir Thomas Tryuet for they were nat greatly in the fauour of some of the barones of Englande nor of the commontie of the realme for the vyage that they made in to Flaunders For it was sayd that neuer Englysshmen made so shamefull a vyage The bysshoppe of Norwyche and sir Hughe Caurell that was as than capitayne of Calais were excused layde to the others charge howe they hadde taken money for the gyueng vp of Burbourcke and Grauelyng Some sayd that that dede was trayson they were sent for and sir Wylliam Helmon came but sir Thomas Tryuer was excused I shall shewe you howe ¶ The same weke that he was sente for beyng in his owne house in the Northe ê‘te he rode out into the feldes vpon a yonge horse that he hadde and spurred hym so that the horse ranne awaye with hym ouer busshes and hedges and at laste fell in a dyke and brake his necke and so sir Thomas Triuet dyed whiche was great doÌ„mage and his dethe was greatlye complayned with many good menne of the realme yet for all that his heyres were fayne to paye a certayne somme of Floreyns to the Counsayle to the kynges behoue as they sayde But the chiefe encytyng of those maters came by the kynges vncles and by the generall counsayle of the couÌ„trey as it appered after in Englande For of trouthe thoughe the duke of Gloucestre was the yongest brother in age yet he was moost auncyent in the busynesse of the realme for he drewe to that opinyon that moost of the noble menne and prelates and the commons helde Whan that sir ThemÌ„s Tryuettes coÌ„posicion was made after his dethe by the maner as ye haue herde here before therby the penauÌ„ce of sir Wylliam Helmon was greatly asswaged He entred with the counsayle and by the meanes of the valyantnesse of his body and the good seruyce that he had done dyuers tymes for Englande as well in Bourdeloyes as in Guyen and in Picardye where he was alwayes proued a good knight There was nothynge layde to his reproche but takynge of the money for the delyuerauÌ„ce of Burborcke and Grauelynge Than he excused hymselfe with fayre and swete wordes and made dyuers reasonable reasons sayd My lordes who so euer were in lyke case as we were in that tyme in the garyson of Bourburke I thynke wolde do as we dyd I haue herde sir IohnÌ„ Chandos and sir Gaultier of Manny say dyuers tymes who were right wyse and of gret valure Howe that a man ought of two or iii. wayes chose the best waye and wherby most to endomage his enemyes And thus sir Thomas Tryuet and I beyng in the garysons of Bourburke and Grauelyng and sawe howe we were enclosed on all parties and no conforte aperyng to vs from any parte And parceyued well howe we coulde nat endure many assautes for they that laye about vs were as chosen men of armes as euer I sawe or I trowe any other Englysshemenne For as I knewe iustely by the reporte of our harraude they were at leest a syxtene thousande men of armes knyghtes and squyers and a .xl. thousande of other And we were nat paste a thre hundred speares and as many archers And also our garysone was of suche cyrcuyte that we coude nat enteÌ„de on euery place And that we well ê‘ceyued by an assaut that was made vs on a daye For whyle we were at oure defence on the one parte they caste in fyre on the other parte wherby we were gretly abasshed and that our ennemyes right well parceyued And therfore to saye the trouthe the Frenche kyng and his counsaile wrought by great geÌ„tylnesse seyng the case that we were in to gyue vs trewse For if they had gyuen vs another assaute the nexte daye as they were ordayned to do I thynke they hadde taken vs at their pleasure yet for all this they courtesly treated with vs by the meanes of the duke of Bretayne who tooke great payne in that mater And where as we shulde haue gyuen theym money for our raunsommes if we hadde ben taken as it was lykely they gaue vs money wherby we dyde them dommage and it was in them to haue endomaged vs. We thought we conquered greatly on them whan we had of their money and departed oure selfe safe and withoute trouble and hadde with vs all that we had won in all the warre tyme on the fronters of FlauÌ„ders And my lordes besyde that to pourge me of all blame if there be any ê‘sone in Englande or without knight or Esquyer Except the ê‘sons of my lordes the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester that wyll saye and abyde therby that I haue done any vntrouthe to the kynge my naturall lorde or accuse me of any trayson I am here redye to receyue his gauge and to putte my body in aduenture by dedes of armes to proue the coÌ„trarye as the Iudge therto assigned shall ordayne These wordes and suche other and the valyauntnesse of the knighte excused hym greatlye and saued hym frome the parell of dethe And afterwarde he retourned agayne in to his fourmer estate and was after that a ryght valyaunt knyght and auaunsed in to the kynges Counsayle But as at that tyme sir Symon Burle was nat delyuered out of prisone for the kynges vncles hated hym gretlye and soo dyde all the commontie of Englande The kyâ—ge dyde all that he myght to haue hadde hym delyuered all the
shall fynde the countrey wasted and pylled and the more forewarde that they go the lesse sustynauÌ„ce shall they fynde And therfore syr at the begynnynge to eschewe all inconuenyentes all lytell hooldes were beaten downe and maners churches suche as men of the couÌ„trey wold haue put in their goodes and this was wysely done or els nowe your enemyes shuld haue founde places to haue rested in and as nowe they shall fynde nothyng without they brynge it with theym but heate and the sonne on their heedes the whiche shall burne and slee them And sir all your townes cyties and castelles are well garnysshed and prouyded for with good men of armes artyllery and vytayles I thynke they shal be skrymysshed withall for that is the lyfe and norysshynge of men of warre and their passe tyme for they ryde aboute all the worlde to seke aduentures Therfore sir be nothynge abasshed for we truste in this besynes we shall haue no great domage The kynge by reason of these knyghtes wordes was greatly recoÌ„forted for he perceyued well they shewed him the trouth and reason NOwe let vs speke of the duke of Lancastre of the kyng of Portugale who were in the feldes in the countrey of Campe. They wolde gladly haue bene in some towne to haue refresshed theym For their foragers wheâ— so euer they went coude fynde no thing and for feare of encountrynges they rode nat but in great companyes And somtyme whan they sawe a village on a hyll or on the playne than they reioysed and wolde say Go we thyder for there we shal be all ryche and well prouyded And thyder they wolde ryde in great haste And whan they were there they founde no thynge but bare walles the howses broken downe and nother catte nor dogge cocke nor hen man woman nor childe there it was wasted before by the frenchemen Thus they loste their tyme and their horses were leane and feble by reason of their poore norisshyng They were happy whan they founde any pasture and some were so feble that they coulde go no further but dyed for great heate and pouertie ye and also some of the great men dyed and were sore dyspleased with hoote feuers had nat wherwith to refresshe them and some tyme by sodeyn coldee that toke them sleping in the nyght In this case they were in and specyally in the duke of Lancastres hoost for the englisshmen were of a febler complexion than the portugaloys for they coulde well endure the payne for they he harde and accustomed to the ayre of Castyle In this case as I haue shewed you the englisshmen were in and many dyed and namely suche as had but smale prouisyon for them selfe SIr Richarde Burle ser Thomas Moreaulr sir Thomas Percy the lorde Fitzwater syr Mabetyne of Linyers sir IohnÌ„ Dam breticourt Thyrrey and Guyllyam of Souuayne and with theym a two hundred horse men knyghtes and squyers suche as wolde auaunce theym selfe and desyringe dedes of armes It a tyme mounted on their horses the beste they hadde to the entente to ryde to Vyle Arpente to awake the freÌ„chmen that were therin for they had herde surely howe sir Dlyuer of Clysson was within that towne who was constable of Castyle and with hym a great nombre of good men of armes These lordê with their company rode forthe in a morenynge and came to a lytell ryuer that ranne before the towne and passed ouer The larome rose in the towne and brute that the englysshe men were come to the barryers Thanne knyghtes and squiers armed them quickely and came to the coÌ„stables lodginge and their varlettes sadled their horses and brought theÌ„ to their maisters the constable wolde nat by his wyll haue suffered them to haue issued out agaynste the englysshmen but he coulde nat let them their corages were so fierse And so they issued out well horsed and in good ordre Firste issued sir Iohan of Barres the vicounte of Barlier sir Iohan of BrakemouÌ„t sir Pyer of Wyllannes sir Tristam de la gayll and dyuers other with great desyre to fyght agaynst the englisshmen And whan the englysshmen had made their course before the towne than they passed agayne the ryuer where as they had paste and drewe to gyther on the sandes and fayre and easely with drewe fro the ryuer a thre bowshottes Than the frenche knightes came cryeng their cryes euery manne his speare on the thyghe And whan the Englysshmen sawe them sodeynly they tourned with their speares in the restes There was a sore rencouÌ„tre and dyuers ouer throwen on the sandes on bothe parties And whan that course was done they lefte nat so but skrymysshed to gyther but the powder of the subtyle sandes rose vp so thycke that one of them coulde natse a nother nor knowe eche other so that themselfe nor their horses could skant drawe their brethes their mouthes were so full of dust So that therby eche party was fayne to withdrawe by their cries Thus they departed and no manne slayne nor greatly hurte And bycause of this course that the englysshe knyghtes made they paste that daye but one leage fro the towne of Arpente and so retourned to their lodgynges and sycknesse toke them heate colde and feuers The duke of Lancastre wyste nat what to saye nor do for he sawe well howe his men fell sicke dayly and lay in their beddes And he was hymselfe soo wery and heuy that gladly he wolde haue layen in his bedde and it had nat ben for discoragynge of his people And on a day he spake with the kynge of Portugale and demaunded counsayle of hym desyringe hym to gyue his beste aduyse what was beste to do for he feared great mortalyte to fall in his host than the kyng sayd Syr it semeth well howe that the spaynyardes nor freÌ„chmen wyll nat fyght with vs at this time they purpose to suffre vs to waste our selfes and our prouysions Why sir quod the duke and what wyll ye than couÌ„sayle vs to do I shall shewe you ê™ the kyng Portugale as for this season whyle the sonne is so hoote that ye and your people drawe againe in to Galyce and let euery man refressh him selfe and at Marche or Aprill than come to the felde agayne and do so moch that newe ayde and comfortemaye come to you oute of Englande by one of your bretherne A realme is nat so soone wonne and specyally to agree with the ayre nat acustomed before Let your men go and passe their tyme in suche townes and forteresses as ye haue in Galyce vnder your obeysaunce This may well be quod the duke but than maye fortune to fall as I shall shewe you that is Whan our enemyes seeth that we be departed one fro another you into Portugale I into Galyce at saynt Iaques or at Colongne Than the kynge of Spayne wyll ryde with great puyssaunce for I haue herde that he hathe foure thousande speares frenchmen and bretons and he shall fynde as many mo in
had fayre herytage and had the language of that countre And he neuer had wyll to mary in FrauÌ„ce layde his eare glad lye to this treatie and sawe well he myght therby haue great possessioÌ„s in the marches that he loued beste And also the knyghtes of Hollande that were of his counsayle counsayled hym therto So he accepted that maryage but first or he wolde conclude he sayd he wolde ryde in to Heynault and Quesnoy to speke with his cosyn the duke Auberte to se what counsayle he wolde gyue hym But to saye trouthe duke Aubert wyst nat what to counsayle hym And if he dyd he made no semblaunt therof but dissymuled the mater a lytell So that sir IohnÌ„ of Bloyes wolde no lengar tarye to haue his counsayle But toke his horse and retourned as soone as he coude in to Guerles and wedded this lady and dyd put her in possession of the countre But some there were that wolde nat receyue hym to their lorde nor her to their lady For the moost parte of the knyghtes and squiers and good townes of the countre helde with the duchesse of Iulyers for that lady hadde fayre chyldren wherfore they of Guerles loued her the better THus sir IohnÌ„ of Bloys had his wyfe and possessyons whiche cost hym moche after For the erle Loys his brother dyed And than he was erle of Bloyes lorde Dauenes in Heynault and had all the landes in Hollande and zelande had in the sayd couÌ„ties great herytage alwayes his couÌ„sayle counsayled hym to pursue for his ryght that he ought to haue by his wife in Guerles so he dyde to his power But the almayns are so couetous they wolde make no warre for hym no lengar than his money endured and the chalenge that he made to the duchy of Guerles dyd him neuer ê“fyte but great domage Than dyed this gentyll knight sir Iohan of Bloyes in the castell and towne of Eslone Houe the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and one in the moneth of Iune and was buryed in the freres at Valencenes besyde sir Iohan of Heynault his And than was his brother sir Guy of Bloyes erle and helde all the landes by ryght successyon that his two bretherne had helde aswell in Fraunce Picardy Heynalt Hollande and zelande as in the countie of Bloyes I Knowe nat howe many yeres after the lady dyed who had ben wyfe to therle IohnÌ„ of Bloys her suster the duches of Iuliers abode pesably duches of guerles It was ordayned by thaccorde of the countre and at the request of the knightes good townes of the duchy of Guerles that they shulde take to their lorde sir WillmÌ„ of Iuliers eldest son to the duke of Iuliers for the laÌ„de came to hym rightfully by succession of his vncles and by reason therof duke Aubert and the duches his wyfe gaue hym there doughter in maryage who before had ben maried to sir Edward of Guerles Thus the lady was doughter of Heynault and duches of Guerles and whan she maried the duke of Guerles sonne to the duke of Iulyers they were bothe of one age wherfore the maryage was the more agreable This yong duke of Guerles helde hym in his owne countrey and thelder he waxed the more he loued dedes of armes as iustes and tourneys and alwayes the duke was rather Englysshe than treÌ„che and that he shewed well as long as he lyued And alwayes he bare in his mynde the yuell wyll that his predecessours had to the duchy of Brabant alwayes he sought occasion how he might make warre there for two reasoÌ„s the one bycause he was alyed by faythe and homage to kyng Richarde of Englande the other was bycause Wyncelant of Boesme duke of LuseÌ„burge and of Brabant had bought of therle of Mors a great lorde in Almayne the thre foresaid castelles the whiche I shall name agayne to quicken the mater Gaulech Buch and Nulle on the othersyde of the ryuer of Muse in the lande of Falquemount whiche castels aunciently ê‘teyned to the duke of guerles and was enherytour to theÌ„ And therfore the yoÌ„g duke WillmÌ„ of Iuliers duke of guerles was sore displeased that he might nat recouer his herytage as long as duke Wyncelant of BrabaÌ„t lyued he spake no worde therof Nowe shall I shewe you howe it fortuned to th entent the mater shulde be the clerer to be vnderstanded ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe these castelles of Gaulech Bâ—th and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iuliers susteyned the linfars in his couÌ„tre Who robbed all maner of people And of the great assemble that the duke of Brabant made to go to Iulyers and howe he was discoÌ„fyted Cap. C.xiii. SO it was that duke Reynolde of Guerles cosyn germayne to the prince of Guerles and his brother had before that enguaged the threfor said castels for a soÌ„me of florens to an high baron of Almayn called therle of Mors. This erle helde these castels a season and whan he saw that he coude nat get his money that he had lende on them He was sore displeased and sent suffycient soÌ„ monynge to the duke Raynolde of Guerles The duke made no compte therof for he had nat wherwith to redeme them agayne the erle of Mors sawe that he came to the duke of Brabant treated with hym to haue agayn his money for the sayde castelles The duke herde hym well bycause the castels marched on the lande of FaulquemouÌ„t of the whiche laÌ„de he was lorde for the duke was glad to encrese his enheritauÌ„ce as he that thought wel to ouer lyue the lady Iane duches of Brabant his wife soe he gate iÌ„ to his possession the said thre castelles And in the first he set the lorde of Kalle to be as chefe souerayne and whan this duke of Guerles was deed than sir Edwarde of Guerles toke on hym the herytage and sent to the duke of Brabant ambassadors desyring hym that he might haue agayne the thre castelles for the money that was payde for theÌ„ The duke wolde make no suche bargayne but denyed it With whiche answere sir Edwarde of Guerles was nat content dalte hardely with the wydowe the lady Isabell of Brabant yonger suster to the duches whiche lady had wedded the duke Raynolde of Guerles but thus he troubled her for her dowrie The lady wente in to Brabant and complayned her to the duke of Brabant her brother and to the duchesse howe that sir Edwarde of Guerles dyde her great wronge iniury And bycause there was a grudge bytwene the Brabansoys and the guerloys for the lande and towne of Grance whiche was in Brabant on that syde the ryuer of Muese Therfore the duke and the brabansoys were more enclyned to ayde the lady and on a day there were assembled togyder at the callyng of the duke of Brabant a great noÌ„bre of men of warre a .xii. hundred speares And sir Edwarde of Guerles made his assemble on
well the scottes Than the lordes and knyghtes of Scotlande determyned ones agayne to reyse vp an army and to make a iourney in to Englande they sayde it was as than good tyme and houre for they sawe the Englysshmen were nat all of one accorde And where as often tymes past they had receyued great buffettes than they sayd it was good tyme for them to be reuenged And to the entent that their purpose shulde nat be knowen they ordayned a feest to be holden on the fronter of the wylde scottes at a cytie called Berdane where assembled in maner all the lordes of Scotlande At this feest they concluded and made full promyse that in the myddes of August the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore ano eight They shulde mete all with their puyssaunce on the fronters of Gales at a castell in the hyghe forest called Gedeours Thus at that tyme they departed eche fro other And of this couenauÌ„t there was none of them that made their kyng priuy therto For they sayd amonge themselfe their kyng was no manne of warre There came to Gedeours at the day apoynted first the erle Iames Duglas sir Iohan of Morette erle of Marche and or Donbare sir Wyllyam de Fu and sir Stephyn Erle of Monstres sir Aucebauce of Duglas sir Robert Auerceque sir Marke Odremneu sir Wyllyam Lymsey sir Iames his brother Thomas of Berry sir Alysaunder Lymsey the lorde of Sechyn sir Iohan of Sobelas sir Patryke of DoÌ„bare sir IohnÌ„ Senclere sir Patryke of Hoteborne sir Iohan sonne to the lorde Momogomercy sir Adam of glas diuyn sir Wyllyam Reduryn sir Wyllyam Stonacke sir IohnÌ„ of Halpe breton sir Alider and sir Robert Lander sir Stephyn freseyle sir Alysander Ramsey and sir Iohan his brother sir WyllmÌ„ Morbereth sir Maubert Here sir Wylliam of Waleran sir IohnÌ„ Amonstan and Dauy his sonne Robert Colemney and dyuers other knightes and squiers of Scotlande In threscore yere before there was nat assembled toguyder in Scotlande suche a nombre of good meÌ„ they were a .xii. huÌ„dred speares and .xl. thousande men besyde with their archers but iÌ„ tyme of nede the scottes can lytell skyll with their bowes They rather beare axes wherwith they gyue great strokes WHan they were thus mette togyder in the marchesse of Gedeours they were mery and sayd they wolde neuer entre againe in to their owne houses tyll they had ben in Englande and done suche dedes there that it shulde be spoken of .xx. yere after And to the entent to make sure poyntment they assigned a daye to mete at a churche in a fayre lauÌ„de called zedon Tidynges came in to Northumberlande as nothynge can be hydde if men putte to their dilygence to knowe bothe to therle and to his chyldreÌ„ to the seneschall of yorke and to sir Mathue Redman capitayne of Berwike of this gret feest that had ben at Bredane And to theÌ„rent to knowe wherfore it was these lordes sente to sertche couertly by heraudes mynstrels The scottes coude nat do their maters so secrerly but the lordes of EnglaÌ„de knewe howe men rose in scotlaÌ„de how they shulde mete agayne at Gedeours Brute of this came to Newcastell vpontyne And whan the lordes knewe of this euery man toke good hede to his charge and prouyded them selfe redy to assemble if nede were and this they dyde secretly bycause their enterprice shulde nat be broken Euery man helde hym selfe in their owne houses and were determyned to mete toguyder as soone as they knewe that the scottes came forwarde and sayd If the scottes come forthe we shall haue knowlege therof If they drawe towardê Carlyle we shall entre at another parte in to their countrey and we shall do them more dommage than they can do vs for their countrey is all open We maye go where we lyst and our countre is strong and the townes and castelles well closed And the better to knowe the state of the scottes they sent a gentylman of EnglaÌ„de who knewe ryght well the marchesse of Scotlande and specially the forest of Gedeours where the scottes shulde assemble And the Englisshe squyer went so forwarde that without espyeng he came to the churche of zedon where the scottyss he lordes were And he encred in amonge them lyke one of their seruauntes and there he herde and knewe a great parte of thententes of the scottes and at th ende of their counsayle the squyer went to a tree where he hadde tyed his horse and thought to haue fouÌ„de him there but he was gone for a scotte who be great theues had stollen hym awaye He durste nat speke for hym but so went forthe a fote boted and spurted And whan he was gone fro the churche two bowe shotte than there were two scottyss he knyghtes deuysed bytwene them selfe and sayd one to another felowe I haue sene a marueyle beholde yonder a man gothe alone and as I thynke he hath lost his horse for he came by and spake no worde I wene he be none of our company lette vs ryde after hym to proue my sayeng They rode after hym and soone ouertoke hym WhanÌ„e he sawe them coÌ„mynge he wolde gladly haue ben thens They came to hym and demaunded whether he wolde and from whens he came and what he had done with his horse He began to varry in his sayeng and answered nat directely to their purpose They turned hym and sayde he shulde go and speke with their lordes They brought hym again to the churche of zedon and presented hym to the erle Duglas and to other lordes they examyned hym and parceyued well he was an Englysshe man Than they sayde they wolde knowe the trouthe why he came thyder He was yuell wyllynge to shewe the trouthe but they handled hym in suche wise that he was fayne to shewe all the mater for they bare hym in hande withoute he wolde shewe the trouthe incoÌ„tynent he shulde lese his heed and if he wolde shewe the trouthe he shulde haue none yuell There they knew by hym that the lordes of Northumberlande had sente hym thyder to knowe the estate of their entÌ„price and whiche waye they wolde drawe Herof the scottes were right ioyous and wolde nat for a great good but that they had spoken with this squyer Than they demaunded agayne of hym in what parte the Englysshe lordes were and whyder there were any aparence that they wolde assemble toguyder and what wayâ— they wolde take to entre in to Scotlande Outher by the see syde by Berwyke or els by Donbare or els the highe waye by the countie of Monstres towarde Streuelyn The squyer answered and sayde Sirs sithe it behoueth me to say the trouthe I shall Whan I departed from them fro Newcastell there was none aparence of their assemblyng but they be on a redynesse to departe as well to daye as to morowe And as soone as they knowe that ye set forwarde and entre in to Englande they wyll nat come to mete with you for
lorde of saynte Pye had ryght well done their deuoyrs without any domage eyther to other Agayne the erle desyred for loue of his lady to haue another course but he was refused Than sir Iohan Holand went out of the renke to gyue place to other for he had ronne all his sire courses well and valyauÌ„tly so that he had laude honoure of all partyes Than stept forth a gentle knight of EnglaÌ„de called the erle Marshall he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynolde of Roy who issued out of his pauylyon armed at all peces and toke his horse shelde and speare And whan these two knyghtes were a sonder they spurred their horses came fyersly togyther The first course they fayled by outragyng of their horses wherwith they were sore dyspleased At the .ii. course sir Raynolde was stryken the spere broken the .iii. course eche strake other on their helmes with suche force that the fire slewe out therle Marshall was vnhelmed who passed forthe retourned to his place iusted no more that day for he had don ynough than caÌ„e forth the lorde Clâ—fford a right apt a valyaÌ„t knight of EnglaÌ„de cosyn germayn to sir IohnÌ„ ChaÌ„dos who was a noble valiant knight in his dayes he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Bouciquant incontynent the knight issued out of his pauilyon with shelde and spere These two knightes came rudely togider strake eche other on the helm that the fyre sparcled Their speares brake nat nor the knightes lost no styropes so passed by came to their places made theÌ„ redy to ryn the .ii. course so came togyder wtout any sparing sir BouciquaÌ„t brake his spere but he was vnhelmed yet fell nat they passed forthe came to their places Sir Loyes Clifforde made hym to iust agayne but Bouciquant dyd nat put on agayne his helme that seyng the lorde Clifforde aduysed to ê‘forme his course with another Than he sente his squyer to touche the helde of warre of the lorde of saynt Pye who came forthe redy to iuste They ran toguyder met eche other the lorde Clifforde brake his speare in thre peces on the lorde of saynt Pyes shelde and the lorde of saynt Pye strake the lorde Clyfforde on the helme so that he was dishelmed so passed forche eche of them drewe to their place and the lorde Clyfforde ran no more that day for it was shewed hym howe he had right honorably borne hym selfe that daye Than came forth a noble knight of englaÌ„de called sir HeÌ„ry BeamoÌ„de he caused to be touched sir bouciquantes shelde of warre who was soone redy to answere they ran togyder the lorde BeamoÌ„de crossed Bouciquant strake hym so rudely that he bare hym to therche passed forthe the knight was releued by his men and set agayne on hors backe ran again togyder two other courses without any doÌ„mage thaÌ„ sir Peter Curency who had great desyre to ryn sixe courses caused his squyer to touche all thre sheldes of warre wherof the freÌ„chmen had marueile demaâ—ded what he enteÌ„ded therby he answered that it was his pleasure to ryn with eche knight .ii. courses without he were lette by the way his deâ—yre was graunted Than sir Raynolde du Royran first They came togider with good aduysemeÌ„t howbeit the first course they fayled for their horses refused at the cope wherwith they were sore displeased they railed nat at the ii course but sir Raynold dishelmed the englisshe knyght passed forth retourned to his place held hiÌ„ styl for he had ron his two courses Than the lorde of sair Pye caâ—e forthe to iust ran eche agaynst other brake their speres the .ii. course the lorde of saint Pye strake sir Peter Courtney a crosse sir Pet strake hym on the helme vnhelmed hym so caÌ„e to their owne places than sir Bouciquat to acoÌ„plisshe sir Peters desire came forthe ran met eche other in the myddê of their heldes so rudely that both their horses stakered in the place more hurt there was nat the .ii. course they vnhelmed eche other These .vi. courses done sir Peter Courtney desyred to ryn one course more with one of the thre knightes which as pleased theÌ„ but he was refused it was sayd to him that he had done ynough for the day so he rested Than preced forthe a geÌ„tyl man of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Gouloufer he sent to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde 〈◊〉 Roy who was redy to answere they ran frely togider ataynted eche other of the helmes without dishelmyng or brekyng of their speres so passed by the secoÌ„de course their horses refused to mete the .iii. course they met in their sheldes brake their staues the fourth course they mist the .v. course they vnhelmed eche other retourned to their places Than a valiant knight of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Rolscau who was a well trauelled knight well knowen he touched the shelde of the lord of saint Pye that knight was redy to answere they ran togyder met so rudely that their horses stayed with the cope the .ii. course their horses swarued asyde myst eche other wherof the knightê were displeased the .iii. course they met strake eche other in the viser of their helmes so that they were bothe vnhelmed The englysshe knyght retourned to his coÌ„pany iusted no more Than came forthe sir Peter Shirborne a yong knight touched the sheld of sir Bouciquant the knight was redy ran togider myst by outraging of their horses they taried nat long but ran togider agayne the .ii. course strake eche other in the syght of their helmes sir BouciquaÌ„tes spere brake thenglysshe knyghtê spere helde so that therby sir Boucyquant was vnhelmed so rudely that the blode ran out at his nose so he returned to his pausiyon ran no more that day for it was nere night but sir Peter shirborne wolde nat leue so but wolde ryn out his .iii. course he sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saint Pye who was incoÌ„tynent redy They ran togider tainted eche other on the helmes but their speres grated nat if they had by moost lykelhod they had taken hurte the .ii. course they strake eche other on the sheldes brake their staues in thre peces theÌ„glisshe knight was borne to therthe they ran no more that day for it was nere night Than the englysshmen drewe togider deê‘ted and rode to Calays and there deuysed that nyght of that had ben done that day In lykewise the freÌ„chmen rode to saynt Ingylbertes coÌ„muned deuised of that had ben done the same day The tuesday after masse all suche as shulde iust that day or wolde gyue the lokyng on rode out of Calis came to the place apoynted and the FreÌ„chmen were redy there to receyue theÌ„ the day was fayre and hote Whan thenglysshmen were armed than
sir WyllmÌ„ Clyfron and expert knight of Englande caused his squier to touche the targe of sir Bouciquant IncoÌ„tinent the knight issued out of his pauylion armed at all peces the two knightes came toguider taynted eche other on the shelde and passed by without brekyng of their speares The .ii. course they crossed on their helmes the .iii. course they encountred ech other so on the sheldes that their horses stode styll the .iiii. course was well employed they vnhelmed eche other The englysshe knight ran no more it was said to hym he had done ynough Than on theÌ„glisshe ê‘te came forthe a lusty yong knight called sir Nicholas clynton he touched the lorde of saynt Pies shelde the knight anon was redy they met togider so euyn that eche of theÌ„ brake their speres in iii. peces with suche force that the knight were in dauÌ„ger to haue taken domage but they passed by caÌ„e to their places the .ii. course they tainted eche other on the helmes passed by the iii. course their horses crossed fayled the .iiii course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed the englysshe knight who ran no more that daye for men said he had well valiantly done quited hymselfe how other must haue place to iust ThaÌ„ a kynsman of therle of HuÌ„tingdon caÌ„e forthe called WyllmÌ„ Stamert he caused to touche the shelde of ser Raynold of Roy. they ran togider with frewyll tainted eche other the englysshe knight lost his spere the .ii. courie they met but theÌ„glisshe knight warued aside I can nat tell wheder the faut was in the knight or in the horse but sir Raynolde strake him so rudely on the targe that he sore reuersed so passed by made theÌ„ redy to ryn the third course so tainted eche other on the helmes that the fire sprang out lost both their speres the iiii course they ataynted ech other in the sight of their helmes with that course sir WyllmÌ„ stamert was dishelmed nigh borne to therthe howbeit he fell nat returned to his coÌ„pany ran no more that day Than another squier of EnglaÌ„de caÌ„e forth called LaÌ„castre he sent to touche the shelde of sir Bouâ—iquant they ran togider tainted ech other on the helmes that the fire flewe out marueyle it was that they had nat ben vnhelmed It was nat long tyll they ran the .ii. course but their horses crossed the thirde course they were both vnhelmed and the Englysshe squyer iusted no more that day Than a yonge knight called sir IohnÌ„ Tayl boise iusted with the lorde of saynt Pye and encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes and brake their staues the .ii. course their horses crossed and the iii. course they were bothe vnhelmed the Englisshe knight ran no more that day Than stepte forthe it Godfray of Seca a gentyll knight and a good iuster that was well sene by hym he encouÌ„tred with sir Raynolde du Roy. They came right toguyder mette in their sheldes the speres were good and wolde nat breke so that it made their horses to reeule and than recouered kepte styll their speres and than ran agayne these coude course the ressed in fante of the horses and nat of the knyghtes and they lost bothe their staues they ran agayne the .iii. course The Englysshe knight strake sir Raynolde on the helme that he was vnhelmed and sir Raynolde strake that Englysshe knight on the targe so rudely and with suche strength for he was called one of the best iusters in all the realme of Fraunce Also he lyued in amours with a yong lady whiche aueyled hym in all his businesse that he perced theÌ„glisshmans targe clene through the speare heed entred in to the arme and the spere brake the trouchon stacke styll in the shelde in the knyght arme yet for all that the knight made his turne came to his place fresshly than his coÌ„pany drewe out the trouchyon bounde his arme and sir Raynolde retourned to his coÌ„pany Of that course sir Roynolde du Roy was greatly praysed on bothe ê‘ties for all the hurtyng of the knight for suche is the adueÌ„tures of armes to some good to some yuell Than came forthe an Esquyer of Englande called Balquet and sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saynt Py who was redy to answere They couched their speares ran toguyder the first course they taynted eche other on their helmes and loste their staues they toke their staues agayne and in the aprochyng their horses crossed and so passed by and retourned agayne to their places They taryed nat long but ran eche at other with that course Blaqueâ— strake the lorde of saynt Pye a hye on the helme and gaue hym a sore stroke saynt Pye strake him in the sight of the heelm a sorer stroke so that therwith he was so vnhelmed that the bocle behynde brake and the helme fell to the grouÌ„de Than Blaquet retourned to his copany iusted no more that day And the lorde of saynt Pye sate styll on his horse abyding other comers Than a gentyll knight or Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Bolcas touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was there redy to answere they strake eche other on the shelde that it was marueile they were nat perced for their speres were strong how be it they passed by lost their speares without any other doÌ„mage The .ii. course they taynted on the helmes without any hurte passed by the .iii. course they crossed the .iiii. course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed rude lye sir Iohan Bolcas After that course the englisshe knight ran no more Than a yong knyght of Englande richely armed named Thomelyn Massydone he touched the shelde or warre of sir Bouciquant He was incontynent answered The first course they crossed on the helmes the .ii. course they met and Thomelyn brake his spere in troÌ„chions and Bouciquant strake hym so sore that he bare hym to the erthe ouer his horse backe Than his coÌ„panyon toke hym vp and he iusted no more Than another squier of Englande called Nauerton touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant sayeng howe he wolde reuenge his company whom Bouciquant had ouerthrowen in his pÌ„sence who was redy to answere The first course they strake eche other in the viser of their helmes without any other doÌ„mage the .ii. course they strake eche other in their sheldes so that their horses reculed brake their speares in thre peces Than they retourned to their places toke newe speares and met agayne togyder sir Bouciquant receyued a great stroke on the shelde but he strake Nauerton in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed who ran no more that day for euery man sayde he had well acquyted hym selfe Than another squyer called Sequaqueton an experte man of armes sente to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roye the knyght was redy to answere well mouÌ„ted with shelde speare They mette so rudely that Sequaqueton bare
hym selfe well fro fallynge for he had suche a stroke that he sore reuersed howbeit he releued and passed forthe but he lost his spere The next course they meete rudely on their helmes so that the fyre flasshed out The .iii. course Sequaqueton was vnhelmed so that bothe he his horse were astonyed and retourned to his company and iusted no more that day nor no man els for the night aproched than the Englysshe men retourned to Calys and the freÌ„chmen to saynt Ingylbertes ye may well knowe that Charles the frenche kyng was sore desyrous to be at those iustes he was yonge lyght of spiryte glad to se newe thynges It was shewed me that fro the begynning to thendyng he was there present disgysed as vnknowen so that none knewe hym but the lorde of Garasyers who caÌ„e also with hym as vnknowen and euery day returned to Margison Than on the wednisday the englisshmen rode fro Calais and came to the place of the iustes Than a squier of Englande called IohnÌ„ Sauage sente to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynold of Roy the knight was redy in his pauylion issued out and mouÌ„ted on his horse thaÌ„ they came togider with great randon and strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wise that if their sheldes had nat broken outher one of the men or bothe had ben striken to the grouÌ„de This was a goodly a daungerous course howbeit the knightê toke no doÌ„mage Their speres brake to their haÌ„des the heedê stacke styll in their sheldê euery man fered they had ben hurt so euery ê‘tie caÌ„e to their coÌ„pany whan it was knowen that they had no hurt euery man was ioyfull and sayd howe they had done ynough for that day but those wordes pleased nothyng Iohan Sauage for he sayd he was nat come ouer the see to ryn but one course Those wordê were shewed to sir Raynolde du Roy and he answered sayd It is reason that he be aunswered outher by me or by some of my coÌ„pany Than they toke newe sheldes and speares and ran agayne toguyder â–ª but at the cope their horses crossed and so fayled ech other wherwith they were sore displeased for angre cast awaye their speres toke newe And at the thirde course they taynted eche other in the syght of their helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed euery man praysed that course The englysshe men came to Iohan Sauage said howe he had ryght honorably acquyted hymselfe that daye howe he had done ynough for there were other to ryn He obeyed ran no more and a lyghted of his horse and lept on a small hackeney to so other rynne THan a Squyer of Englande came forthe cosyn to the erle Marshall called Wyllyam Basquenaye He touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant The knyght was redy to answere They came togyder as streyght as they coude deuyse and strake eche other in the syght of the helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed they passed forthe their course fraÌ„ke and frely Anone they were agayne helmed and ran togider and strake eche other on their sheldes and brake their speares withoute any other domage the thirde course they crossed wherwith they were sore displeased The fourthe course WyllmÌ„ Basquenay was agayne vnhelmed so ran no more that daye Than another Englysshe squyer called Scot ran agayne the lorde of saynt Pye the fyrst course they encouÌ„tred so rudely that their horses stakered the speres helde yet they lost their speres Than they made them redy to ryn the seconde course they met in suche wyse that the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed the squier moche praysed for that course Agayne the thirde course they encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes in suche wyse that IohnÌ„ Scot was stryken downe ouer his horse crope thus the lorde of saynt Pye was reueÌ„ged TheÌ„glyssh squyer was releued brought to his coÌ„pany and ran no more that day Than another englysshe squyer called Bernarte Stapleton he touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye they came togider and taynted eche other on their helmes that the fyre flasshed out so passed by without any other doÌ„mage and kepte styll their speres the .ii. course they mette in their sheldes rudely yet they kept their horses so passed forth their course The thirde course they vnhelmed eche other thenglyssh squyer ran no more that daye Than stepte forthe a gentyll knyght of Englande yonge and fresshe a iolly dauÌ„cer and synger called sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell he ran agayne ser Raynold du Roy. At the first course they mette rudely strake eche other on their sheldes but they helde them selfes without fallynge passed forthe their course but they lost their staues The .ii. course they attaynted eche other on their helmes that sparcles of fyre flewe out without other doÌ„mage The .iii. course they crossed and loste their staues the .iiii. course they taynted on their helmes The .v. course they brake their speres on their sheldes and than sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell ran no more that day Than another squyer of EnglaÌ„de called Nicholas Scon a proper man of armes ran agaynst sir BouciquaÌ„t The first course they strake eche other on their helmes a great attaynt the .ii. course they strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wyse that their horses were astonyed and lost their speares the .iii. course they strake eche other on the helmes Nicholas Seon was vnhelmed and ran no more Than another squyer came forthe called IohnÌ„ Marshall ran agaynst sir Bouciquant for he was redy lokyng for nothyng but to iust he toke his speare and couched it in the rest The first course they mette rudelye on their sheldes lost their staues the seconde course they taynted on their helmes the third course they aduysed well eche other and met rudely Iohan Marshall brake his staffe in thre peces sir Boucyquant strake hym on the helme in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed and so returned and ran no more that day Than caÌ„e forthe a lusty yonge knight of Englande who desyred greatly to wyn honour called sir IohnÌ„ Clinton he bare syluer broken with azure a molet syluer in the chefe He touched the shelde of sir Reynold du Roye who was redy to answere and was gladde of the coÌ„mynge of that knyght they came to their places and toke their speares the fyrst course they taynted on the helmes and passed forthe The seconde course they strake eche other on their sheldes and passed by and lost their staues The thirde course they taynted on their Helmes so that the fyre flewe oute the fourthe course they crossed the fythe course was well enployed for eche of them brake their speares The two knyghtes were sore chafed and shewed well howe they had gret desyre to proue their selfes The sixte course eche of theÌ„ vnhelmed other that course was greatly praysed The Englysshe knight ran no more that daye for he had done
ynoughe Thanne Roger Leau another Englysshe squyer auaunced forthe He bare syluer and sables quarterly in the myddes a crosse goules he touched the shelde of the lorde of sait Pye The first course they encountred so rudely that their horses were astonied for their speares helde The seconde course they taynted on their helmes and passed forthe At the thirde course Roger Leau was vnhelmed ranne no more THan auauÌ„sed forthe a ryght gentyll knight of the nacyon of Heynaulte in the marchesse of Ostrenaunt but fro his youthe he had been brought vp in the courte of the noble kynge Edwarde of Englande This knyght was called sir Iohan Dambrety court he was brother to the good knyght sir Eustace He bare in his armure partie Golde and Ermyne He touched the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roye The fyrste course they taynted on their helmes that the fyre folowed The secoÌ„de course they entred so rudely that it was marueyle howe they scaped without doÌ„mage for eche of theÌ„ were noble Iusters and feared nother payne nor dethe The thirde course sir Raynolde du Roye was rudely vnhelmed and sir Iohan Dambretycourt passed forthe his turne and came agayne to his place And sir Raynolde du Roye retourned to his company and shewed howe he wolde no more iuste that daye Than the Englysshe knight desyring to iust more sent to touche the shelde of sir Boucyquant They ran toguyder so fiersly strake eche other in their sheldes that it was marueyle they had nat ben pearced throughe the seconde course they taynted on their helmes and passed forthe and lost their speares The thirde course they mette so rudely that eche of theÌ„ was vnhelmed Than the Englysshe men drewe toguyder and sawe that it was nerehande nyght toke their leaues and deê‘ted towarde Calais That nyght there was none other coÌ„munynge but of the iustes that hadde ben done that day The Frenche men wente to Margyson and deuysed there at their pleasure ON the thursdaye the fourthe day of the weke the Englysshe men being at Calais assembled togider all suche as had nat Iusted were come ouer the see for that entent They coÌ„cluded to returne agayne to saynte Ingylbertes to do armes so they mouÌ„ted on their horses and rode out of Calays and came to the place where as the iustes shulde be done There was redy the thre knightes of Fraunce in their pauylions and suche other as shulde serue them Fyrst there came in to the place a knight to EnglaÌ„de called sir Godfray Eustace he touched the shelde of sir Boucyquant who incontyuent issued out of his pauylion redy to answere The knyghtes aduysed eche other and ran toguyder and taynted on their helmes and passed forthe their course and kept styll their staues The seconde course they strake eche other in the myddes of their sheldes their speares brake without any doÌ„mage and passed forthe and came agayne to their places The thirde course eche vnhelmed other the Englysshe knight iusted no more for it was sayd to hym he had right valyauntly acquyted hym selfe and also that he must suffre other to iuste Than an Englysshe squier came forthe to iuste called Alayne Borowe he touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye the knyght was redy to answere The fyrste course they taynted on their helmes that the fyre flewe out they passed forthe their course and returned agayne to their places the seconde course they brake bothe their staues The .iii. course they vnhelmed eche other The Englyssh man ran no more for it behoued other to iust after Than another Englysshe squyer called Scrope touched the shelde of sir Bouecyquant The fyrste course they crossed The seconde course they taynted on their helmes The thirde course Scrope was ouerthrowen thaÌ„ he was releued and brought to his company and ran no more THan a knyght of Behaygne one of the quene of Englandes knyghtes called Herchaunce who bare in his armes syluer thre Gryffens fete sable armed azure He was demaunded with whome he wolde iuste he answered with Bouciquant Than they made them redy and ran toguyder but the knyght of Behaygne made a forfaite wherof he was greatly blamed that he demeaned his course so yuell The Englysshe men sawe well howe he had forfaite his armure and horse if the Frenche men wolde Of this course there was great coÌ„munycacyon bytwene the parties but finally it was pardoned the better to please the Englysshe men Than HerchauÌ„ce requyred agayne to iuste one course he was demaunded against whome he wolde ryn He sente to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roy and he was redy to answere The fyrst course they mette in the myddes of their sheldes and sir Raynolde du Roye who was one of best iusters in the realme of FrauÌ„ce strake thother knight clene fro his horse in suche wyse that menne thought he had been deed Herchaunce with moche payne was releued and broght to his company The Englisshe men were nat displeased in that he was ouerthrowen bicause he ran the fyrste course so vngoodly So he ran no more that daye THan came in a squyer of Englande called Robert Storborne he touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was redy to answere The fyrst course they taynted on their helmes The secoÌ„de course they strake in their sheldes and lost their speares The thirde course eche vnhelmed other the Englysshe squyer ran no more Than IohnÌ„ Morlande touched the shelde of ser Raynold du Roy who was redy to answere The first course they taynted on their helmes The seconde course they encountred eche other that their horses were astonyed and loste bothe their staues The thirde course Iohan Morlande was stryken to the grounde he was releued and iusted no more Thanne another squyer called Iohan Moten he touched the shelde of Bouciquant the knyght was redy The first course they taynted passed forthe the seconde course they taynted on their helmes and lost their staues The thirde course Iohan Moton was vnhelmed He ranne on more that daye but gaue place to other Than Iaqueuyne Scrope touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was redy mounted The fyrst course their horses crossed wherwith they were sore displeased The seconde course they taynted on their helmes that the fyre flewe out and lost their speres The thirde course Iaqueuyne Scrope brake his speare but the lorde of saynt Pye strake hym so rudely that he fell ouer his horse crope to the erthe he was releued and ranne no more that daye Than another squier caÌ„e forthe called Guyllyam Maquelee He ran agaynst sir Boucyquaunt who was redy to answere The firste course they taynted on their helmes that the fyre flewe out the course was praysed of euery partie The seconde course they strake eche other in the sheldes loste their staues The thirde course they vnhelmed eche other so that bothe sate bareheeded in their coyfes They ran no more that daye for they had done yough Than another Squyer of
syr Geffrey of the chapell the lorde of Pierbuffier the lorde of Bonet sir Robert of Hanges sir Stephyn Sanxere sir Aubert de la mote sir Alaine of Champayn ser Geffrey Fresiers ser Rafe of Couffan the lorde of Bourke artysion sir Iohan of Crey bastarde sir Bertram de Sanache syr Pyncharde of Morlayne sir Trystram his brother syr Ayme of Cousay ser Ayme of Tourmay sir Foukes of Stanfours sir Iohan of Chateuas all these were knightê And there dyed of squiers Foucans of Liege Iohan of Isles Blondelet of Areton IohnÌ„ de la Mote BouÌ„beris floridas of Roque the lorde of Belles brother to Willyam Fondragay Water of Cauforus Iohan Morillen Pier of Malnes Gyllot Villaine IohnÌ„ of Lound IohnÌ„ Perier Iohan menne Iohan of Lauay and Willyam of Parke There dyed mo than a .lx. knightes and squyers whiche wysely to consyder was a great losse And if the lorde of Coucy had ben beleued this had nat fortuned for and they had kepte their lodgynges as they dyd before they had receyued no suche domage ¶ How after this aduenture and domage that fell to the crysten men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Aufryke that so many knightes squyers were deed they mayntayned them selfe more wysely after than they dyd before and coÌ„tynued their siege a longe season after Cap. C.lxxii OF this foresaid aduenture the knightes and squiers of the host were sore displeased and abasshed euery man bewayled his freÌ„des at nyght they drewe to their lodginges and made gretter watche than they had made before for dout of the sarazyns they passed that nyght without any other doÌ„mage Of this aduenture the sarazins knewe nothyng for if they had knowen what case the Christen men had been in they might haue done them great doÌ„mage but alwayes they feared the Christen men They durst neuer adueÌ„ture to auauÌ„ce theÌ„ selfe but by scrimysshing castynge of their dartes They that were moost renomed in armes of their partie was Agadyngore of Olyferne for he loued the doughter of the kyng of Thunes wherby he was moost fresshest and ioly in dedes of armes Thus contynued the siege before the towne of Aufryke In the realme of Fraunce Englande and in suche countreys as these knightes came fro they herde no maner of tidynges of them wherof their frendes were sore abasshed wyst nat what to saye nor thynke In dyuers places bothe in Englande Heynalte and in FrauÌ„ce there were processyoÌ„s made to pray to god for the ê“sperite of these christen men Thentencion of the christen men beyng at the siege was to abyde there tyll they had coÌ„quered the town of Affrike outher by force famyne or treatie The kyng of Cicyll wolde gladly it had ben so so wolde all other xpÌ„en yles adioynyng for this towne of Affrike was their vtter enemye and specially the genouoys toke great payne to serue the lordes to their pleasure to th eÌ„tent they shulde nat be anoyed by reason of their long siege To speke proê‘ly it was a marueylous enterprice came of an highe corage of the christen knightes and squyers and specially the Frenchmen who for all the losse of their knightes and squiers pouertie that they endured yet they coÌ„tynued styll the siege at their great costes chargê without ayde or coÌ„forte And the genouoys who were the first setters on that enterprice began than to faynt and dissymule for as the bruteran than they wolde haue ben gladde to haue made a treatie with the Sarazyns and to haue lefte the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of other Christen countreys styll in that busynesse as I shall shewe you here after as it was enformed me ¶ Nowe at this present tyme lette vs leaue to speke of this siege of Aufryke and speke of a fest that the kynge of Englande made the same season in London ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in LoÌ„don whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the sege before the towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns And howe this feest was publisshe in dyuers countreis and landes Cap. C.lxxiii YE haue herde before in this hystorie what a feest was holdeÌ„ at Paris whaÌ„ quene Isabell of Fraunce made there her first entre of the whiche feest tidynges sprede abrode in to euery couÌ„tre Than kynge â—icharde of Englande his thre vncles â—â—â—yng of this goodly fest at Paris by the reportes of suche knyghtes squyers of their owne as had ben at the same fest Ordayned a great fest to be holden at the cyte of LoÌ„don where there shulde be iustes .lx. knyghtes to abyde all coÌ„mers and with theÌ„ .lx. ladyes fresshely apparelled to kepe theÌ„ company these knightes to iust two dayes besyde sonday the chalenge to begyn the next sonday after the fest of saint Michaell As than in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC fourscore ten whiche sonday the said .lx. knightes .lx. ladyes at two of the clocke at after noon shuld issue oute of the towre of London and so to coÌ„e a long the cytie through Chepe and so to Smyth elde and that daye .xii. knightes to be there redy to abyde all knyghtê strauÌ„gers suche as wolde iust This soÌ„day was called the sonday of the fest of chalenge And on the moÌ„day next after the sayd .lx. knightes to be in the same place redy to iuste to abyde all coÌ„mers curtesly to ron with rokettes and to the best doer of the out syde shulde be gyuen hym for a price a riche crowne of golde and the best doer of the in syde duely examyned by the ladyes in the quenes chambre shulde haue for a price a riche gyrdell of golde And the tuesday folowynge the knightes shulde be agayne in the same place and to abyde all maner of squyers strauÌ„gers and other suche as wolde iust with rokettes and the best iuster on the out syde shulde haue for his price a courser sadled and the chiefe doer of the in syde shulde haue a faucon the maner of this fest was thus ordayned and deuised and herauldes were charged to crye and publysshe this feest in Englande in Scotlande in Almayne in FlauÌ„ders in Brabant in Heynalt and in Fraunce the heraldes departed some hider and some thider These tidyngê sprede abrode into dyuers couÌ„treys The heraudes had daye and tyme suffycient Knightes and squiers in dyuers couÌ„treys apparelled them selfes to be at this feest some to se the maner of Englande and some to iuste Whan these tidynges came in to Heynalt sir Wyllyam of Heynault erle of Ostrenaunt who was yonge and lyberall and desyrous to iuste Purposed in hym selfe to go to the feest in EnglaÌ„de to se and to honour his cosyns kyng Rycharde of Englande and his vncles whome he had neuer sene before He hadde great desyre to be aquaynted with them and desyred other knightes and squyers to kepe hym coÌ„pany and specially the lorde of Gomegynes bycause he was well acquaynted with
of him selfe and fledde awaye as faste as his horse myght beare hym and knyghtes and squyers folowed after euery man began to drawe thyder Such as were farre of thought they had chafed an hare or a wolfe tyll at last they herd that the Kynge was nat well in his mynde The duke of Orlyance saued himselfe Than men of armes came all aboute the kynge and suffred hym to wery hym selfe and the more that he traueyled the febler he was and whan he strake at any man they wolde fall downe before the stroke At this matter there was no hurte but many ouerthrowen for there was none that made any defence Fynally whan the kyng was well â—eryed and his horse sore chafed with swâ—te and great heate a knyght of Normandy one of the kynges chamber â—aynes whome the kynge loued very well called Gyllyam Martellâ— he came behynde the kyng sodaynely and tooke hym in his armes and helde hym styll Than all other aproched and toke the sworde out of his handes and tooke hym downe fro his horse and dyd of his â—acke thre refresshe hym Than came his brother and his 〈◊〉 vncles but he had clene lost the knowledge of them and rolled his eyen in his heed marueylously and spake to no man The lordes of his blode were sore abasshed and wyste nat what to sayd or do Than the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne sayde it behoueth vs to recourne to Mans this voyage is doone for this tyme. They sayde nat as moche as they thought but they shewed it ryght well after whan they came to Parys to suche as they loued nat as ye shall here after REasonably to consydre all thinges acordynge to the trouthe it was great pytie that the french kyng who as at that tyme was reputed for the moste noble and puyssaunt kynge in all crystendome fell so sodaynly out of his mynde with out remedy but as god wolde than the kynge was layde in a horse lyttoure and so brought backe agayne to the Cytie of Mans. Than the marshalles gaue knowledge to all the armye that they shulde retourne and howe that the voyage was broken as at that tyme. some had knowledge why and some nat The nyght that the kynge came to Mans the physicyons had moche a do with hym and the lordes of the blode royall had great trouble Euery man spake than in dyuerâ— maners some sayd that suche as hadde the rule aboute the kynge had poysoned hym to brynge the Realme of Fraunce in to shame and trouble These wordes multyplyed in suche wyse that the duke of Orlyance and his vncles and other lordes of the blode royall noted them and spake togyther and sayde Howe saye you syrs haue ye nat herde these wordes and howe menne do murmure in dyuets places vpon theym that hath had the gouernaunce of the kynge some saythe he shulde be poysoned lette vs sertche howe this maye be knowen Than some of them sayde howe it shulde be best knowen by the physycyons they ought to knowe it for they are acquaynted with his complexcyon The physicyons were sent for and examyned They answered howe the kyng of longe tyme had engendred the same malady for we knewe well the wekenes of his brayne wold sore trouble hym and at laste shewe it selfe we haue sayde as moche before this tyme. Than the duke of Burgoyne sayde Syrs it is trewe and therin ye dyd well acquyte your selfe but he wolde neyther beleue you nor vs his affeciyon was so sore sette vpon this voyage it was deuysed in an yuell tyme. This voyage hathe dyshonoured vs all It had been better that Clysson and all those of his affynyte had ben deed many a daye agone rather than the kynge to haue taken this malady These tydynges shall sprede abrode in many places and seyng that he is but a yonge man the blame shall be layde in vs that be his vncles and of his blode men wyll saye that we shulde otherwyse haue counsayled hym Thus we shall be laide in the faute without cause but sirs quod the duke yesterday whan he wente to dyner were ye with hym The physicyons aunswered and sayd yes Dyd he eate his meate well quod the duke No certaynly quod they he dyd eate and drinke but lytle but sate and mused And who gaue hym drinke last quod the duke Syr quod they we canne nat tell you that for as soone as the table was taken vp we departed and made vs redy to ryde but his chamberlayns or butlers canne tell that best Than Robert de Tulles a squyer of Pycardy was sent for and demauÌ„ded who gaue the kynge drinke laste Syrs quod he syr Robert of Lygnac Than he was sent for Than he was enquyred where he had the wyne that the kynge dranke last of in his chambre whan he wente to his horse Syr quod he here is Roberte of Tulles and I we toke the saye in the presence of the kinge That is trewe quod Roberte of Tulles ye nede nat doute therin nor haue no suspeciousnesse for as yet there is of the same wyne in the flagons wherof we wyll drinke and assaye before you Than the duke of Berrey sayd this nede nat for surely the kynge is nat poysoned his malady procedeth of yuell counsayle it is no tyme to speke of this mater nowe let all alone tyll another season ⸪ THus after this maner these lordes departed eche fro other that nyght and went to their lodgyage Than the kynges vncles had ordeyned four knyghtes of honour to wayte aboute the kynge as syr Raynolde du Royêsyr Raynolde of Toye the lorde Grauseers sir Gyllyam of Marte and the kynges vncles sent coÌ„maundement to the lorde dela Ryuer and to syr IohnÌ„ Mercyer to Montagu to the Begu of Vyllayns to syr Gullyam of Bordes and to syr Helyon of Lygnac that they shulde in no wyse come aboute the kynge tyll he were in better estate The nexte daye the kynges vncles came to se the kynge and founde hym ryght feble Than they demaunded what rest he had taken that nyght They were answered but small rest That is poore newes quod the duke of Burgoyn And than to them came the duke of Orlyance and so went all togyder to the kynge and demaunded of hym howe he dyd He gaue none aunswere and loked straungely on them and had loste clene the knowledge of them These lordes were sore abasshed and comuned togyder and sayde We haue no more here to do the kyng is in an herde case we do him more trouble than ayde or good Lette vs recoÌ„maunde hym to his chaumberlayns and physicyons they canne best take hede to hym lette vs go study howe the realme maye be gouerned or els thinges wyll go amysse Than the duke of Burgoyne sayd to the duke of Berrey Fayre brother it is best we drawe to Parys and ordayne to haue the kynge easely brought thyder for better we shall take hede on hym there than here in these partyes whan we be there let vs
Line To speke truely this cardynall was an holy manne and of good lyfe This electyon was made condycionally that if the frenche kynge and his counsayle were content therwith or els nat Nowe regarde and considre the great subiectyon that the churche was in In that where the churche shulde be free they submytted them to be vnder suche as shulde haue ben ordred by theym Thus this cardynall de la Lyne was chosen pope and named Benedic He gaue generall graces to all clerkes that wolde come to Auignon And by the couÌ„sayle of his bretherne the cardynalles he wrote of the creacyon of his papalyte to the Frenche kynge But as I was enfourmed the kynge toke lytell regarde therto for as than he was nat determyned whether he shulde take hym for very pope or nat and ther vpon the kynge sent for the greatest clerkes of the vnyuersyte of Paris to haue their aduyse and counsayle Than mayster Iohan of Gygâ—neourte and mayster Pyer Placyous who were in prudence and lernyng the greatest clerkes in Parys sayde to the kynge in the name of all the hole vnyuersyte howe that the cysme of the churche corrupted the crysten fayth and howe that it myght nat long endure in that estate without all crystendome shulde repent it and rynne in great daunger and specially the prelates and preestes of the churche They of the vnyuersyte were determyned to sende no rolles to Auygnon for any clerkes to haue any graces of this Pope Benedyc The frenche kynge sawe well their opynyons were reasonable and wolde haue none of his clerkes enrolled to seke for the popes graces tyll the mater were better determyned Thus that mater abode styll in that estate Howe be it the duke of Berrey exalted greatly this pope Benedic and sent his roll wherby moche people were purueyed of graces of this Benedic The duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse dyssymuled the mater with the kinge and so dyd the duke of Orlyaunce with many other great lordes of Fraunce and some for fauoure helde them to this pope Benedyc who denyed no man his graces to the entent that his courte at Auygnon shulde be full and to haue the more reputacyon The duke of Bretaygne folowed the frenche kynges opinyon for he was before tyme so abused by the enformacyon of his cosyn the erle of Flaunders that his herte wolde neuer enclyne to beleue on Pope Clemente though the clerkes of Bretaygne beleued and helde hym for pope So whan any promocyon was voyde in Fraunce the kynge promoted his clerkes without gyuynge any knowledge therof to this pope Benedic wherwith he and his cardynalles at Auygnon were sore abasshed and douted leste the frenche kynge wolde restrayne suche rentes and profytes as they were wonte to haue of the benefytes gyuen in the realme of Fraunce Than they determyned to sende a legate in to Fraunce to speke with the Kynge and his counsayle to knowe howe he wolde ordre hym agaynst the churche and to shewe hym howe that he that is chosen pope is vnder this condycyon that if he be pleased than he to abyde styll as pope or els they to put hym out of his papalyte and the cardynals to entre agayne in to conclaue and chose one after the kynges pleasure At this tyme was come to Paris and was about the kynge the freer mynour a meke man who was sente in to Fraunce by pope Bonyface of Rome The frenche kynge herde gladly this freers prechynge Than came in to Fraunce the legate fro Auygnon who was a great and a subtyle clerke and well langaged Than the hole vnyuersyte counsayled the kynge and sayde howe it were well done that eyther Bonyface or els Benedyc to be put out of thâ— is papalyte and all his cardynalles to be putte out of their cardynalyties And in stede of them to be chosyn good clerkes wyfemen and of good conscyence as well of Almayne and Fraunce as of other nacyons And they to be sette toguyder by good delyberacyon and counsayle without fauour or yuell wyll to sette the churche therby at one poynt with one pope They sayde they sawe well there was none other waye to bringe it to a good conclusyon bycause pride and enuy so reygned in the worlde that the princes and lordes eche helde their owne partie This preposycion that the vnyuersite hadde made before the kynge pleased right well the kynge and the dukes of Orlyaunce of Surgoyne And the kyng sayd he wolde write and sende messangers to the kynge of Almaygne and of Boâ—sme and of Hungry and to the kyng of Englande And he thought hym selfe sure ynough of the kynges of Castyle of Nauer of Aragon of Cicyle of Naples of ScotlaÌ„de that they wolde obey to suche a pope as he and his Realme obeyed vnto And vpon this the frenche kyng sente his letters messangers to these sayde kynges There was good leysar in doing of this bothe in goyng and coÌ„myng agayne with answere and in that meane tyme there passed out of this worlde at Parys the noble clerke maysters Iohan of Gygencourt of whose dethe the kynge and the lordes and the hole vniuersyte were right sorie for he laste nat his felowe behynde him and he had in his dayes taken great payne to reforme the churche and to haue brought it in to a perfyte vnyte ¶ Of a clerke named mayster IohnÌ„ of warennes Capi. C.xcvii THe same season there was a great clerke at Auignone bothe of Scyence and of prudence doctor in the lawes auditor of the palais of the casion of RaÌ„nes called maister Iohan of warennes And by reason of suche seruice as he had done to pope Clement to other he was greatly auauÌ„ted and promoted with benefices and he was at that poynt to be a bysshop or a cardynall he had been chapelayne with one at Auygnone called saynte Peter of Lusenbourge The same maister Iohan WareÌ„nes for all his promocions he resigned theÌ„ all and retayned to hymselfe but a small lyueng and that was the sextenty of our lady churche in Renes worthe by yere if he be resydent a C. frankes in absence but .xxx. and so deê‘ted fro Auignon came to dwell nere to Renes in a village called saint Ley. there he ledde an holy lyfe preched the worde of god and exalted moche the pope at Auygnon and condeÌ„pned in his wordes the pope at Rome He was visited of moche people of all countreis that came to se hym and to se the holy lyfe that he ledde He fasted euery day Some people sayd that the cardynals at Auignon by crafte and subtylte hadde sent hym thider to exalte and to colour their opinyon or els he was come thider to shewe his holy lyfe He wolde in no wyse be called the holy man of saynt Ley but the audytor He had alwayes in his coÌ„pany his mother He sayd masse euery daye deuoutly and all that was gyuen him he wolde gyue it agayne for god dessake He wolde aske nothyng of
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
mountante to the soÌ„me of thyrty thousande pounde besyde the towne of ValenceÌ„nes who in lyke wyse dyd their deuoyre and also in the towne of Monts These thynges thus concluded the valyaunt princes the good duke Auberte and Giullyam his sonne erle of Ostrenant seynge the good wylles of his men was ryght ioyfull whiche was no meruayle for he sawe well that he was well beloued with his subgiettes and shulde be well fournysshed with money Than he had couÌ„sayle to sende to the frenche kyng and to shewe him the enterprise of his voyage and to desyre ayde of hym and thyder was sent two valyaunt and wyse men that is to saye the lorde Lygne and the lorde of Ieumont who were two ryght valyaunt knyghtes and well beloued with the frenche men and specyally the lorde Lygne the kyng had made hym one of his chamberlayns and had hym in good fauoure he spake with the kynge and shewed hym the dukes entent and request to the whiche the kynge and his counsayle fauourably agreed specyally the duke of Burgoyner bycause his doughter was maryed to therle of OstrenaÌ„t wherby he thought that in tyme to come after it shulde be to their profyte and to their heyres howe be it many great lordes and other spake of this iourney in dyuers maners Some sayd to what purpose dothe these heyno wayes desyre the kyng of ayde they haue ben in Englande sought for ayde there Hath nat the erle of Haynalt of late taken on hym the blewe garter to tye his legge withall which is the ordre in Englande it semyth therby he hath no great affectyon to Fraunce Than other that were ryght wyse answered and sayd Syr ye do wronge to say thus though the erle of Ostrenant haue taken the ordre of the garter yet for all that he is nat alyed with the englysshe men but he is fermly alyed with Fraunce Hath nat he in maryage the lady Katheryne doughter to the duke of Burgoyne whiche is a farre greater alyauÌ„ce than is a garter therfore neuer say but that he wyll loue and do pleasure to Fraunce by reason of his maryage rather than to Englande for yâ— garter wherfore the kinge shall do right honourably to ayde hym Thus the frenche men deuysed amonge them selfe and spake in dyuers maners both of that iourney and also of the iourney in to Hungery and in to Turkey agaynst Lamorabaquy and the turkes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the army that the french kyng sente in to Frese in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran Erle of saynt Powle and the lorde Charles de la Brete were capytaynes Cap. CC.xv THe frenche kynge assembled an armye of fyue huÌ„dred speares as well of pycardes as of frenchmen and made capytayns ouer theÌ„ the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Powle the lorde Charles de la Bret who were valyauÌ„t knyghtes and well expert in armes and they were apoynted to leade this company to the towne of Encuse in base Frese wheâ— as the assemble shulde mete and there to take the see to entre in to high Frese as they dyd Whan these two knightes the lorde Lygne and Iumont sawe the kynges good wyll and that these men of warre were dyspatched their wages payed they came to the kynge and thanked him and toke their leaue and retourned in to Heynalt to their lorde the duke Aubert and to the lorde Gillyam his sonne to whome they were right welcome for they had well sped There they shewed the good answere and good chere that they had with gyftes of great presentes whan duke Auberte knewe that the Frenche kynge had sente hym fyue hundred speares than he assembled all his noble men knyghtes squyers and other of Haynalt as the lorde of Vertayne seneschall of Haynalte who was a valyaunt man and greatly renomed in armes the lordes of Lygne and Comygnes who was made marshall and the lordes of Haureth of Nychelet of Lalyne of Hordayne of Chyne of Cantan of Quesnoy of Fleron and IohnÌ„ his brother the lordes of Bouset and of Ieumont who were fresshe knightes on their enemyes also there was Robertle Rour and the lordes of MoÌ„thâ—aulr of FouÌ„tayns of Seuls and of Sars William of Hermes Pynchart his brother the lordes of Lens of verlamont of Ausealr of Trascigmes Octes Seausâ—es Gyrarde his brother the lorde Dyctre and Iohan his brother Bridaulx of Montaguy Damaulx de la powle and Guy his brother the lorde of Mastynge syr Floridas of Villyers who was a valyaunt man and had doone many dedes of armes amonge the turkes and sarazins and sir Eustace of Vertayn Fierebras of Vertayne who was newly come out of Englande syr Rase of Montiquy the lorde of Rorsyn sir Iohan Dandrâ—gntes and Persant his brother dyuers other knightes and squiers All these he assembled at Monts and desyred them to go with hym and euery man to bringe with hym company acordynge to their degrees and that they wolde auaunce them to the towne of Encuse in base frese and theraboute and so to go with hym by seem to hygh Frese about the myddes of August next after there he sayd he wolde â—ary for them for he wolde go thyder before to moue the holanders and zelanders to serue hym in lyke maner Than these sayd knyghtes and esquyers of Haynalt without any contradictyon acorded to his desyre promysinge to do hym seruyce as his trewe subgiettes whiche they fulfylled in dede and dyligently prepared for the same so that by the begynnyng of the moneth of August in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and syxtene they were all redy aparelled and assembled by companies at Anners there to take the water and fro thence to Encuse where the hole assemble shulde mete ¶ Nowe whyle this assemble was thus made in Haynalte it were to be demaunded if the ladyes and gentle women and other were ioyouse of this iourney We ought to say naye for than they sawe their fathers their bretherne their vncles their husbandes and their louers and frendes departe to that peryllous warre for some of them knewe well howe that in tyme paste the haynoways wente with their lorde in to Frese and neuer retourned agayne wherfore they feared leste it shulde hap so than to these as it dyd on their predecessours The duchesse of Brabant had defended all men in the countrey of Brabant no man to be so hardy to go oute of the countrey in that iourney The ladyes and gentlewomen of Haynalt desyred often tymes their frendes and louers to leaue that iourney but they coulde nat lette the mater howe be it they were sore displeased in their myndes with the basterde of Vertayne Fierebrase for they said he was one of the chyefe setters on of that busynesse Thus after that the duke Aubert and Guillyam his sonne had herde the aunswere of his men of Haynalte than he went in to zelande shewynge them his busynesse and they assented to his request by the chiefe settynge on of
Bartylmewes daye on a sonday in the foresaid yere And whan the Fresons sawe theÌ„ aproche they issued out vpon the dikes a sire thousande to haue lette the landynge of their enemyes Among the fresons ther was a woman apparelled all in blewe who all in a rage went fro the fresons and came nere to the heynowes within the shotte of a bowe Than she tourned her backe towarde the hey nowes and plucked vp her clothes and shewed her bare arse cryeng in her langage sers take this to your welcome As soone as they sawe the leudnesse of this woman they shot at her arowes and quarels so that she was stryken iâ—â—he legges and loynes The arowes came flyeng at her as thycke as snowe Than some lepte out of the shippes in to the water and ran after this folysshe woman with their swerdes and ouertoke her and hewed her in to small peces ThaÌ„ euery man issued out of their vessels and so came agaynst the fresons who receyued them right valyantly and putte them of with longe pykes longe staues bounde with yron To saye the trouthe in takyng of lande there was many dedes of armes done on bothe parties many slayne and sore hurte But biforce of the Englisshe archers and cros bowes of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande They wanne the dyke agaynst the fresons and vpon that dyke they araynged their baners in good order taryeng for their coÌ„pany their reuke was more than halfe a myle longe Than the Fresons that were putte fro the dykes came to their coÌ„pany who were mo than .xxx. thousande closed toguyder in a grounde dyked rounde aboute with a great depe dyke and it was nat so farre of but they myght well se their enemyes wheee they were raynged on the fyrst dyke Thus they contynued tyll all the heynowayes were a lande and all their baggage and certayne tentes reyred vp There they rested them that sondaye and the mondaye aduisynge the Fresons their enemyes In whiche two dayes dyuers scrymisshes were made and on the Tuesday bothe parties were redy Than certayne newe knightes were made and it was ordayned to fight with the fresons Than they auauuced forewarde in good order of batayle and their archers before them and amonge them than sowned trumpettes and clarions and so caÌ„e a fayre pase to passe ouer the dike Than the fresons came to defende the passage and the archers shotte agaynst them fiersly and the fresoÌ„s couered them selfes with targes and with the erthe of the dyke that was bytwene them their enemyes Howe be it they were so nere aproched that certayne of the holanders entred in to the dyke and made bridges with speres and pykes and so with valyant corage began to enuade the fresons who defended their force right valyantly and gaue suche strokes against them that wolde mouÌ„t vp out of the dyke that many were ouerthrowen downe agayne But the Heynowayes Frenche men Englysshe men Hollanders and zelanders were so well armed that the fresons coude do them no doÌ„mage nor hurt but cast them downe to the grounde There were suche noble dedes done and atchyued that it were impossible to shewe it the newe made knyghtes dyde nobly their deuoyre the Fresons defended marueylously They were great and bygge men but they were yuell armed many were barelegged and bare foted In this assaut the lorde Lygne the seneshall of Heynault and the lorde Iumont and dyuers other as they wente aboute this dyke They founde awaye wherby they passed ouer the dyke and so came on the fresons with the poyntes of their speres wherof the Fresons were fore abasshed so that dyuers of them lepte the dyke So perforce the Fresons were fayne to opyn and sparcle abrode here and there In this batayle the great freson was slayne and the other began to flye The chase was horryble and cruell for none was taken to rauÌ„some and specially the holanders slewe all they myght attayne vnto In so moche that suche as were taken by the Heynowes frenche men or Englysshe men the hollanders slewe them in their handes Amonge the hollanders the lorde Wyllyam of Oruenbourge and his two sonnes IohnÌ„ and Henry who were made knyghtes the same mornyng acquyted themselfe maruey lously well and slewe many Fresons for it semed well by them that they loued but litell the fresons Thus finally the Fresons were discoÌ„fyted and the moost parte slayne in the felde but fewe were takenne prisoners and caryed to Haye in Hollande and there were kepte a long season after The lorde of Cundren who was lorde of that couÌ„trey where the felde was was the mondaye before yelden to the duke Aubert and his two sonnes and yet for all that they were in the felde with the fresons The two sonnes were longe after with the duke After this disconfyture they entred in to the countrey of Condren toke townes and fortresses howe be it they coÌ„quered but lytell for the Fresons dyde theÌ„ great doÌ„mage by preuy encouÌ„trynges And whan they shulde take any prisoners they wolde neuer yelde but fought to the dethe sayeng they had rather dye free Fresons than to be vnder the subiectyon of any prince or lorde If any prisoners were taken there coude no raunsome be gotten for them for their frendes wolde nat quyte them out but rather suffre them to dye in prisone They wolde neuer quyte none of their people withoute it were to delyuer man for man And if they sawe that there were none of their people in prisone they wolde slee all their enemyes take no prisoner Thus about the ende of .v. wekes and that the heynous and other had taken and beaten downe certayne townes vyllages and fortresses of no great valure The leason beganne to waxe colde marueylously and rayned nerehaÌ„de euery day and the sees full of tempestes and wyndes The duke Aubert and his sonne consydringe the season purposed to returne in to base Frese fro whens they came and so in to Hollande the more easy to passe the colde wynter So they departed and came to Encuyse there gaue lycence to euery man to deê‘te and specially to the strauÌ„gers and payde theÌ„ truely their wages and thaÌ„ked them of their good ayde and seruyce Thus brake vp the iourney of Frese and had coÌ„quered but lytell all that season But within two yere after the sayd two noble princes assembled agayn the seconde tyme a great armye and wente in to Frese made a great coÌ„quest and dyd there many noble dedes of armes as ye shall here after But as nowe we shall leaue spekyng therof and declare the maner of the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the mariage of the kyng of Englande to the doughter of FraÌ„ce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his Tente by twene Arde Calys Cap. CC.xvi. YE haue herde howe the kyng of Englande was returned fro Calis in to Englande there
his people were right ioyfull for they loued hym and so came conforted hym and sayde Sir though ye haue hadde doÌ„mage at this tyme another tyme ye shall right well recouer it Thus the kynge bare his doÌ„mage as well as he myght On the other parte Lamorabaquy retourned in to his countre came to a towne called Burse and thyder were all the prisoners brought there sette vnder sure kepynge They were nothyng there at their ease The heate of the countrey and dyette sore chaunged them for they hadde ben vsed before to swete and delycate metes and drinkes and had their owne cookes and offycers that dyde prepare their meates accordynge to their dyettes there in Turkey they were sarued all contrarye with grose meates flesshe yuell sodden and dressed They had spyces ynough bredde made of mylke clene fro the nature of FrauÌ„ce They had wyne and that was with great daunger Thoughe they were all great lordes they were but smally regarded there The turkes had as lyue they had been sicke as hole and deed as a lyue they wolde they had ben all putte to execusyon So these prisoners conforted eche other within themselfe for they sawe none other remedy so some of theÌ„ their nature chaunged and fell in to sickenesse He that made the best chere and countynaunce was the Erle of Neuers and that he dyde to conforte his companyons also sir Bouciquant and the erle of Marche and sir Henry of Bare were of good conforte and tooke euery thynge paciently Sayeng that the honours in armes nor the glorie or this worlde coude nat be hadde without payne and somtyme with metyng of harde aduentures For they said that there was neuer so valyaunt and happy that had alwayes euery thyng as they wysshed They sayde they were bounde to thanke god that he hadde saued their lyues consydringe the displeasure that Lamorabaquy and his counsayle were in for the losse of their men for it was ones determyned that we shulde all generally haue been putte to dethe Than Bouciquaunt sayd I ought aboue all other to thanke god of my lyfe for I was at the poynt to haue beÌ„ hewen all to peces as other of my company were but at the request of my lorde here the erle of Neuers I was saued This aduenture call I good and sithe god hath delyuered vs fro this paryll he wyll and it please hym delyuer vs fro a greatter for we be his soudyers for his sake we haue this payne For by reason that sir Iaques of Helley is gone in to Fraunce I trust within a yere we shall haue good comforte and be delyuered The matter can not abyde thus The Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn wyll nat forgette vs but by some meanes raunsomed and delyuered THus sir Boucyquaunt reconforted hym selfe and tooke euery thyng in good pacyence but the lorde Coucy coude take no coÌ„forte whiche was marueyle for before that tyme he was a lorde of great wysdome and of great coniorte neuer was abasshed but beyng thus in prison in Burse in Turkey he was more disconforted than any other and in more malencoly And sayd he was sure he shulde neuer retourne in to FrauÌ„ce Sir Henry of Bare conforted hym as moche as he myght and blamed hym of his disconforte sayeng howe he ought to gyue conforte to all other Howe be it the same sir Henry was sore abasshed in hym selfe oftentymes remembred his wyfe and wolde wepe pituously And in lykewise so dyd sir Philyppe of Arthoise erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce Sir Guye of Tremoyle was of good conforte and so was the erle of Marche Lamorabaquy was content somtyme that they shulde haue some pastyme somtyme he wolde go hym selfe and se them and iangle and bourde with them right graciously and wolde that they shulde se parte of his estate puyssaunce ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue somwhat to speke of them and speke of sir Iaques of Helley and sir IohnÌ„ of Castell Morant who were bothe ryding towardes Hungry SIr Iaques of Helley taryed in the cytie of Bode in Hungry about a ten or .xii. dayes abydinge for sir Iohan of Castell morant And whan he was coÌ„e sir Iaques was ioyfull for he was desyrous to passe forthe in to Turkey to acquyte hym of his faythe and promyse and to se the erle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce and to comforte them Whan the kynge of Hungry sawe sir IohnÌ„ of Castelmorant he made him good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge he vnderstode that the frenche kyng had sent by hym gret preseÌ„tes iowels to lamorabaâ— wherwith he was sore displeased in his mynde but he dissymuled the mater and kepte it couert tyll sir Iohan Heley was departed in to Turkey warde but he said to suche of his priuye counsayle as he discouered the mater vnto Howe that the miscreant dogge his aduersary Lamorabaquy shulde haue no preseÌ„tes out of Fraunce nor fro no place els if it laye in his power to lette it Sir IohnÌ„ Helley was departed and promysed to gette of Lamorabaquy a saueconducte for sir Iohan Morant to passe in to Turkey and repasse So long he trauâ—yled with guydes that he came in to Turkey to the cytie of Burse but as than Lamorabaquy was in another cytie called Poly. And where so euer he went the prisoners were caryed with hym excepte the lorde Coucy who taryed styll at Burse for he coude nat endure to ryde he was so sicke and with hym taryed a cosyn of his of Grece a right valyant barone discended of the lynage of the dukes of Austriche who was called Mathelyn Whan sir Iaques was come to Poley Lamorabaquy was gladde to se hym bycause he was come out of Fraunce Than sir Iaques right humbly said to him Right dere redouted sir beholde here your prisoner to the best of my power I haue don your message the ye gaue me in charge to do Than Lamorabaquy sayd thou arte welcoÌ„e Thou hast trewly acquyted thy selâ—e therfore I acquyte the of thy raunsome prison so that thou mayst go retourne tary at thy pleasure wherof sir Iaques right huÌ„bly thaÌ„ked hym Than he shewed howe the frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne had sente a knyght of honoure embassade to hym with credeÌ„ce and had brought with hym certayne presentes of pleasure fro the Frenche kyng Lamorabaquy demaunded what they were and if he had sene them or nat The knyght aunswered sir I haue nat sene them but the knyght that hath the charge to do the message is at Bode in Hungry And sir I am come before to shewe you therof to haue a saueconducte for the sayd knyght to come and to retourne safely Than Lamorabaquy sayd We wyll that he haue one as thou wylte deuyse wherof the knyght thanked hym So they departed as at that tyme. Another tyme sir Iaques spake with Lamorabaquy kneled downe before hym and humbly requyred that he myght se
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 puyssaūce 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 coūsayle whiche was to his hurte and great dōmage 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 Gloucestr◠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 Fraūce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii THe same seasone there was a great assēble 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 Blācquebourge 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 Orlyaūce 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 Fraūce 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 Fraūce The duke of Orlyaūce set euery man