at length Than Berthaulte answered as he had deuysed in hym selfe the day before and sayd Fayre lordes I repute my selfe gretly honored my doughâ— also if we might come to so hygh an enâ—prise as the erle of Guerles desyreth And whan a mater is begon it wolde nat be proloÌ„ged I saye this bycause that alyaunce by maryage made bytwene the hyghe prince and redouted lorde the erle of Guerles and Mary my doughter pleaseth me rightwell ye make me request that his landes whiche at this presente tyme are so sore charged and layde to pledge in the handes of certayne lombardes and other by reason of this maryage shulde be quyt and that I shulde rydde hym out of dette And all thynges that are nowe darke I shulde make them clere I thanke god of his puissauÌ„ce that it lyeth in me thus to do I am in good wyll so to do But first or this couenaunt be fully agreed written or sealed that I maye be in suretie without trouble or debate that the chyldren comyng of my doughter maye be enherytours to the Erldome of Guerles as the lymites therof do stretche that if my lorde therle of Guerles fortune to dye before my doughter wtout issue bytwene them that than my doughter may enioye the herytage of Guerles duryng her lyfe and afâ— her dyscease to returne to the rightfull heyre And also I saye if my doughter haue heyre or heyres by my lorde therle and than she fortune to dye thoughe the erle than remacy againe the seconde tyme and haue issue by the seconde wyfe yet for all that my doughters heyre or heyres shall nat be disheryted how be it if it please the erle to remary agayne I am contente that he make his seconde wyfe a dower of all suche landes as he hath beyond the ryuer of Muse marchyng to the bysshoprike of Liege and to the duchy of Brabant and nat to charge the princypall signorie of Guerles And thus if the erles frendes and parentes and suche as be next of blode and haue any chalenge to the signory of Guerles with the good townes of the countrey wyll seale to vpholde these deuyses and couenauÌ„tes than I am coÌ„tent and wyll assent to this maryage ye may nowe answere to this if ye haue any charge so to do Than the knyghtê answered whan they had a lytell counsayled toguyder Than one for them all sayd sir we haue well herde your answere but we haue none auctorite to confyrme nor to graunt so farforthe as ye demaunde But we shall retourne to our lorde therle and to his couÌ„saile and shewe hym your answere and demauÌ„de and shortely ye shall here fro hym agayne Than Berthalte said sirs as god wyll so be it Thus they deê‘ted out of the chambre ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle Raynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthault of Malignes by whoÌ„ he had a doughter and after maried agayne in Englande and had issue two sonnes and a doughter howe sir IohnÌ„ of Bloyes wedded theldest doughter of the erle of Guerles and howe after the couÌ„tie of Guerles remayned with therle of Guerles yongest doughter Cap. C .xii. YE haue well herde all the answers demaundes bytwene the foresaid parties wherfore I speke no more therof But as ye haue herde whan therle of guerles messangers were returned home agayn The erle was hoote in the mater for he sawe well he coude as than do no better thaÌ„ to mary Berthalt of Malygnes doughter he was so riche a man Than the erle and his counsaile made and deuysed writynges sufficient and therle set to his seale and his next freÌ„des and pareÌ„tes in lykewise so dyd other knightes of Guerles and good townes And whan all was confyrmed and done as Berthaulte was content the maryage was made and the erles dettes payde and his Landes clerely quytte out of daunger Than the Erle toke newe counsayle and began a newe lyfe and state if he were called good before he was named better after for than he had well wherwith he lacked nothyng of that Berthault of Malygnes myght ayde hym The erle bare hym to his wyfe ryght honourably for she was a fayre lady good sage deuout prudent but they were nat toguyder past a four yeres but that the lady dyed And she had a doughter called Isabell whan therle of guerles was a wydower he was but yong Than he maryed agayne ryght highly For kynge Edwarde of Englande father to the good kyng Edwarde who beseged Tourney and wanne Ealis he gaue to this erle Raynolde a doughter of his named Isabell and by her this erle had thre chyldren two sonnes one doughter sir Raynolde sir Edwarde and Iane who afterwarde was duches of Guerlers For in lykewise as Bertram of Malignes had ymagined in the begynnyng whan his doughter maryed the erle of Guerles euyn so it fell for there was no trouthe kepte to hym For whan kynge Edwarde of Englande who was vncle to the erle of Guerles chyldren came first in to Almayne to the Emperour Loyes of Bauyers whiche Emperour instytuted kynge Edwarde to be his vycar generall throughe all the marches of the Empyre as it is conteyned in the begynnyng of this boke Than the couÌ„tie of Guerles was made a duchy and the countie of Iulyers was made marques of Iulyers to augment their dignities And to come to our mater the duke Raynolde of Guerles nephue to kynge Edwarde dyed without issue and sir Edward of Guerles was maryed in Heynault and had to wyfe the yongest doughter of duke Aubert but the lady was so yonge that this sir Edwarde neuer touched her carnallye And so this sir Edwarde also dyed withoute issue who was a ryght valyaunt knight He was slayne in the batayle that was bytwene the duke of Brabant and duke Wincelant before Iulyers His suster Iane who was maryed to duke Guylliam of Iulyers had chyldren And she by successyon of her bretherne said and toke vpon her to be heyre to the duchy of Guerles and in lykewyse so dyde her eldest suster by the firste maryage For the two bretherne by the seconde maryage were bothe deed withoute laufull issue Wherfore she sayde she was enherytoure Thus fell the difference bytwene the two susters and some of the countrey wolde haue the one and some the other And the eldest suster was counsayled to mary in to some high lygnage that myght ayde her chalenge and defende her herytage Than there was treatie made by the bysshoppe of Coloygne that was than to the lorde sir Iohan of Bloyes For therle Loyes his brother as than lyued and the bysshoppe sayd that he shulde therby be duke of Guerles For by successyon of the two bretherne deed withoute issue male Therfore by right of mariage the right shuld retourne to her for none other coude chaleÌ„ge any right but she And sir Iohan of Bloyes who alwayes had ben nourisshed brought vp in the parties of Hollande and zelande for there he
were in great daunger and also it was sayd that by their counsaile the kyng toke on hym the iourney in to Bretaygne wherby he fell in to that maladye of Fransey and had gyuen hym drinkes of poyson at their pleasure and howe that the kynges phisycions coude nat be herde nor beleued by reason of them Suche maters were layde to the lorde de la Ryuers charge and to sir Iohan Mercyer that they were delyuered out of the Castell of Loure in to the handes of the prouost of Paris and putte in to the castell of saynt Anthony in the kepyng of the Vicount of Achy who as than was Chateleyne there Whan it was knowen that they were there thā the cōmon brute ran that they shulde be executed to dethe But to saye trouthe there was no cause why to trouble them For suche as hated them coude fynde in their conscyence no cause why they ought to dye But euery daye they were borne in hande and it was sayd to theym Sirs thynke on youre soules for as for your bodyes are but loste for ye are iudged to dye and for to be beheeded In this case they were in Prisone a greate space The Begue of Vyllayns a ryght valyaunt knyght in armes of the countrey of Beance who was in prisone also for the same cause He had suche frendes and was so ayded that he was delyuered out of prison and was clene pardoned of all thynges And suche as were of his lynage as sir Barroys other counsayled hym to go in to Castyle where as he had fayre herytages by reason of his wyfe countesse of Ribydewe and as he was counsayled so he dyede And as soone as he might departed out of Fraunce went in to Castyle and the other two knightes remayned styll in prison in daunger of losyng of their lyues ALl the mouable and vnmouable godes and possessions parteyninge to sir Iohan Mercyer within Parys and without in the realme of Fraunce that myght be layde hande on was taken as goodes forfaite and gyuen to other persons his fayre house of the bridge of Aubumen in the dioces of Laon whiche had cost hym a great good was gyuen to the lorde Coucy with all the appurtenaūce I knowe nat wheder the lorde of Coucy desyred it or nat but sir Iohan Mercier was disheryted he and his heyres for euer Also the lorde de la Ryuer was sore handled Trewe it was all his mouables was taken awaye and suche landes as he had bought reseruynge to the lady of Mans his wyfe all her herytages whiche came by her by father mother Also he had a yonge damosell to his doughter of .x. yere or age who was maryed to a yonge gentylman called Iaques of Chastellon sonne to sir Hugh of Chastellon who had ben before maister of the crosbowes of Fraunce and he was heyre to his father and had fayre herytages and was lykely to enioye more howe be it agaynst the yonge mannes mynde he was dismaryed And maryed agayne to another gentylwoman at the pleasure of the duke of Burgoyne and of the lorde de la Tremoyle who toke on them that quarell more ouer the lorde de la Riuer had a sonne to his heyre whiche sonne was maryed to the doughter of the erle Dampmartyne And the erle had no mo children nor was nat lyke to haue whiche doughter was his heyre And the duke wolde haue broken that maryage haue maryed her vnto an heyre of blode But the erle Dampmartyne lyke a valyaunt knight wolde nat but sayd As long as the lorde de la Ryuers sonne hadde lyfe in his body his doughter shulde haue none other husbande and sayde he wolde putte her herytage in to suche mēnes handes that he trusted suche as wolde wrōgfully haue it shulde nat attayne therto Whan the erles mynde was knowen they let hym alone So that maryage stode styll but the fyrst maryage was broken and pope Clement made a dispensacyon wheder he wolde or nat for as at that tyme the pope had no more puissaunce in Fraunce Than suche as the gouernours wolde consente to The churche was so subiecte what by reason of the Scisme and by them that gouerned Fraunce Many men specially in the realme of Fraūce excused greatly the lorde de la Ryuer but all that wolde nat serue For none durst speke thoughe they sawe the mater neuer so clere Except all onely the valyāt lady Iane of Boloyne duchesse of Berrey Oftentymes the good lady wolde fall on her knees before her husbande holdynge vp her handes and sayeng Ah sir ye suffre to moche the enuyous to enforme you so wrongfullye agaynst the valyaunt knight The lorde de la Ryuer he hath clerely wronge there is none that dare speke for hym but I. And sir I wyll ye knowe that if he dye thus I shall neuer haue ioye in this worlde but I shall alwayes contynue styll in sorowe and heuynesse for he is a trewe and a valyant knight Ah sir ye cōsyder but lytell the fayre seruyce that he hath done to you or this tyme the paynes and traueyle that he hath hadde for you and for me to bring vs togyder in maryage I saye it nat for any thyng of bostyng of my selfe for I am but lytell worthe in comparyson to you But whan ye wolde nedes haue me ye remembre howe harde the erle of Foiz was to you with whom I was brought vp And if the swete wordes and wyse demeanour of the lorde de la Ryuer had nat been I had neuer come in to your company but I had ben rather as nowe in Englāde For the duke of Lācastre wolde haue had me for his sonne the erle of Derby and the erle of Foiz enclyned rather that waye thā to you Right dere sir ye ought to remēbre this for all that I say is true Wherfore I requyre you right hūbly that this gentyll knight who brought me to you haue no dōmage of his body nor of his membres The duke of Berrey who sawe his wyfe fayre and gentyll and loued her with all his hert and also knewe well that all she had sayd was true it molifyed greatly his herte towardes the lorde de la Ryuer and to apease his wyfe because he sawe she spake with good herte sayd vnto her Dame as god helpe me I wolde it had cost me .xx. thousāde frankes on the condycion the lorde de la Ryuer had neuer made forfette to the crowne of Fraunce for before this malady came to the kynge I loued hym entierly and tooke hym for a wyse and a sage knyght but sythe ye desyre so effectuously for hym I wyll do no dyspleasure to hym he shall fare moche the better at your instaunce and for your sake I shall do as moche for hym as my power may extende and rather at your desyre than and all the realme had spoken for hym for surely I se well it is almes to helpe hym and I beleue he hath no aduocate but you Thus
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
shotte on bothe partes so that many were hurte Than the bayly with his great nombre came vpon them without sparynge for he had speciall coÌ„maundement fro kynge Henry that he shulde outher take theÌ„ quicke or deed if he myght ouercome them So finally the Erles menne were fayne to withdrawe in to the houses Than the bayly and his men enuyroned their lodgynges on all partes and specially where the two Erles were made there suche assautes that they entred ê‘force There were many hurte and slayne Th erle of HuÌ„tyngton defended him selfe valyauntly as longe as he myght But there were so many agaynst hym that there he was slayne and with hym the yonge erle of Kente for whom great sorowe was made in dyuers partes of Englande for he was a fayre yonge man and was there in maner agaynst his wyll but his vncle and the erle of Salisbury brought hym therto The men of Suscettour who were fierse agaynst theÌ„ strake of their heedes and sent them by a messanger to the mayre of London therwith to reioyce the kyng and the londoners Th erle of Salisbury and the lorde Spensar came to a lyke conclusyon for certayne knightes squiers of the kynges toke them where they were and strake of their heedes sente them to London many suche as were with them alyed were putte to execucion bothe knyghtes and squyers After that the realme was in good rest and peace ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche kyng reysed vp an army to sende vpon the fronters of Englande Cap. CC .xlviii. WHan easter was come the yere of our lorde god M. four hundred The freÌ„che kyng his brother his vncles his counsaile vnderstode howe certayne Englysshmen of armes and archers shulde passe the see and come to Calais and to Guynes to HaÌ„mes and to those fronters Than there was a coÌ„maundement made throughe Fraunce that euery knight and squyer shulde be redy to leape a hors backe and to go thider as they shulde be sente specially Bolonois and the see syde was well prouyded for The same tyme duke Iohan of Bretayne died behynde hym he lefte two sonnes a doughter The eldest sonÌ„e shulde haue maried the frenche kynges secoÌ„de doughter for he might nat haue theldest bycause she was maryed in to Englande to kynge Richarde This treatie of maryage fyrst for the eldest doughter of Fraunce with the heyre of Bretayne was coÌ„cluded at Tourse in Tourayn but afterwarde by the kinges coÌ„sent and his couÌ„saile to th entent to marry her the more richely that mariage was broken with Bretayne she maried in to Englande And dyuers lordes in Fraunce said feared that no good shulde come therof but than they concluded for the secoÌ„de doughter Than after the dethe of the duke of Bretaine it was aduised that the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce with a certayne noÌ„bre of men of warre shulde drawe to the marches of Bretayne to speke with the bretons with the couÌ„saylours of good townes to know what they wolde do with their heyre to desyre theÌ„ to delyuer him to be kept in the house of FrauÌ„ce The duke of OrlyauÌ„ce dyde acording to this deuyse with a certayne noÌ„bre came to Ponthorson there rested and sente worde of his coÌ„myng to the lordes of Bretaigne Than prelates lordes couÌ„saylours of the good townes in the name of the thre estates of the countre assembled togider were determyned what aunswere to make and so they came to Pounthorson to the duke of Orlyaunce and there they made their answere all after one sorte and that was They said howe that their yonge lorde heyre of Bretayne they wolde kepe hym theÌ„selfes in his owne countre Than the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce seyng it wolde none otherwise be he toke boÌ„des of the grettest lordes in Bretayne suche as had chefe charge of the countre that they shulde delyuer hym to the freÌ„che kyng whaÌ„ the childe shulde come to his age These writynges made and sealed than the duke deê‘ted and returned in to Fraunce and shewed the kyng his brother howe he had spedde IT was well knowen in Englande howe the Frenche kyng hadde furnysshed his garysons cyties good townes castels on the fronters of Picardy and Bolonois and howe the frenchmen had closed so the passagê ouer the water of SoÌ„me that no marchandyse corne nor other thyng shulde nat passe Abuyle nor the marchauÌ„tes of EnglaÌ„de who were wont to go in to FraÌ„ce with their marchauÌ„dise durst no more coÌ„e there nor the frenche marchauÌ„tes durste nat come in to Englande so that the fronters on bothe ê‘ties were in gret ruyne desolacion and yet they made no warrÌ„ togyder for they had no coÌ„mauÌ„dement so to do Than it was said to kyng HeÌ„ry sir aduyse you well it semeth by the Frenchmen they wyll make you warre they make great prouisyon for shyppes at Harflewe and capitayns of their armye is the erle of saynt Poule and sir Charles de la Breth And it were to suppose that if the erles of Huntyngton and of Salysbury were a lyue and all suche as be dedde the Frenchmen than wolde soone passe ouer the see on trust to haue great alyaunce and ayde in Englande But sir as longe as Richarde of Burdeaux is a lyue you nor your realme shal be at no suretie I beleue that ye saye is trewe quod the kyng but as for me I wyll nat cause hym to be slayne for I haue so promysed hym and I wyll kepe my promyse without I ê‘ceyue that he worke trayson agaynst me Well sir â—abqod they of his counsaill it were better for you that he were deed rather than a lyue For as longe as the frenche men knowe that he is lyueng they wyll enforce them to make you warre and wyll hope alwayes to bring him agayne in to his former estate bycause of his wyfe the Frenche kynges doughter The kyng gaue none answere but departed fro them as than and lefte his couÌ„sayle coÌ„munyng togyder the kynge wente and toke a faucon on his haÌ„de and passed ouer that mater ¶ Of the dethe of kyng Richarde of Englande and howe the truse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was reuewed And also of the deposicion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC .xlix. IT was nat longe after that true tidynges ran thoroughe London howe Richarde of Burdeaulx was deed but howe he dyed by what meanes I coulde nat tell whan I wrote this cronycle But this kynge Rycharde deed was layde in a lytter and sette in a chayre couered with blacke Baudkynne and foure horses all blacke in the chayre and two men in blacke leadyng the chayre and four kynghtes all in blacke folowyng Thus the chare departed fro the towre of London and was brought a long throughe London fayre and softely tyll they caÌ„e into chepesyde where as the chefe assembly of LoÌ„don was and there the chare rested the space of two houres thyder came in and out mo than xx M. persons men and women to se hym
the better This duchesse of Brabant who was a ryght sore ymaginatyue lady shewed many reasons to the kynges vncles and to his counsayle sayenge howe this lady was doughter to a great lorde in Almaygne and the greattest of all the Bauyers And howe that thereby they shulde haue great alyaunce in Almaygne For duke Stephyn she sayde was so great a manne that he myght well breke the purposes of the great lordes of th empyre For he was as great or greatter than the kynge of almaygne the whiche enclyned sonest the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce to parceyuer in that mater Howe be it the matter was handeled right secretely For there were but fewe that knewe therof tyll it were doone And the cause why this was It is the vsage in Fraunce that any lady doughter to any great lorde yf the Kynge shulde mary her firste she shulde be sene and viewed all naked by certayne ladyes therto admytted to knowe if she were proper and mete to brynge forthe chyldren and also bycause this lady was of a farre countre so that if she shulde be pleasaunt to the kyng or nat or elles all were broken for these causes the matter was kepte secrete but the lady about the feest of Penthecost after she was brought to Brabant to the duchesse there who ioyfully receyued her and ordered her accordynge to the vsage of Fraunce And with her in company was duke Frederyke of Bauyer her vncle by whom to saye trouthe the maryage was firste procured by suche wayes as I shall shewe you ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabaunt wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyer of the maryage of the yonge frenche kynge with her nese Isabell of Bauyer And howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Cap. v. WHan that duke Frederyke of Bauier caÌ„e first in to FraÌ„ce to serue the freÌ„che kyng in his iourney that he made in to flaunders and came to the siege of Boutbourcke True it was he was feested and receyued by the kynges vncles bycause he was come so farre of to serue the kynge as out of the couÌ„tre of Bauyer the whiche was more than two hundred leages of This was reputed for a great seruyce and he was alwayes loged nere to the kyng in token of good loue and fauour And whan he departed out of Bauyer he thought surly that there shulde be batayle bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Englande in the marchesse of FlauÌ„ders or of frauÌ„ce for so ranne all the brute in all Almaygne Therfore the kynge and his vncles gaue hym the more thanke And thus as he was with the kyng in that voyage before Burbourke Bergues the kingê vncles curtesly demauÌ„ded on a day of hym if he had any doughters to mary â–ª sayeng howe they lacked a wyfe for the kyng and howe that they had rather the kynge shulde mary in Bauyer rather thanÌ„e in any other place For aunciently the buyers were of the counsayle of Fraunce The duke aunswered and sayd surely I haue no doughter to mary but myne elder brother duke Stephyn of Bauyer hath a right fayre Lady to his doughter Of what age is she of quod the lordes Bytwene xiii and fourtene quod the duke That is all that we desyre quod the kynges vncles Therfore sir whan ye do retourne home in to Bauyer speke to your brother of the mater bring your nese a pylgrimage to saynt IohnÌ„s of Amyence the kyng shal be there if it please hym We drynke he wyll desyre it for he loueth gladly to se fayre thynges and if he wysshe to haue her she shall be quene So this was the first procurement and as at that tyme there was no more done nor sayde The kynge knewe no thynge of these wordes And whanÌ„e this duke Federyke of Bauyer was retourned home he shewed all this mater to duke Stephyn of Bauyer his brother who studyed somewhat at his wordes and at last sayd Fayre brother I beleue well it is as ye saye My doughter shulde be happy if she myght come to so highe an honour as to be frenche quene But Fraunce is very farre of and it is a matter wisely to be regarded to make a Quene I shulde be ryght soore displeased if my doughter shulde be caryed in to FrauÌ„ce for suche a purpose and than sente home agayne yet I had rather mary her at myne ease nerer home This was the aunswere that duke Stephyn gaue to his brother duke Frederyke where with duke Frederyke was well content and wrote all his aunswere to Fraunce to the Kynges vncles and to his vncle duke Auberte and to the Duches of Brabant They hadde went that duke Frederyke had forgoten the matter For they were aboute maryages for the kynge in other places And the kynge was nere agreed to the doughter of the duke of Lorayne for she was a fayre damosell of her age nere to the kyngê age She was of noble and great generacyon of the house of Bloyes Also there was spekyng for the doughter of the Duke of Lancastre who was after quene of Portyngale but there was no coÌ„clusion bycause of the warre Therfore the matter hanged styll in suspence as ye haue herde before The duches of Brabant whaÌ„ she was at Cambâ—ay at the maryages of Burgoyne Heynalte and that the frenche kyng was they and the duke of Burbone and Burgoyn were there Than she moued forthe this maryage of Bauyer for the kyng affirmynge that it was moost profitable and honorable for the kynge bycause of the alyaunce with Almaygne Madame quod the kynges vncles we here nothynge therof Well quod the duchesse I warrant you ye shall here somwhat therof or this somer be paste Her promyse was well fulfylled for she dyde so moche that duke Frederyke vncle to the damosell was so agreed with his brother duke Stephyn that he shulde be conuey the lady in to Fraunce And that it shulde be noysed all the waye that they went a pylgrimage to saiÌ„t Iohans of Amyence Euery man supposed the same for Almayns go the often on pylgrimage it is their vsage _wHan duke Frederyke and his nese the lady Isabell of Bauyer had ben thre dayes at Brusels than they toke leue but it was the duchesse intensyon to be as soone at Amyence or soner than they So than they came in to Heynaulte to Quesnoy where they founde the duke and the duchesse and sir Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and his wyfe There thy were nobly receyued for duke Aubert was her vncle and had great marueyle what brought them in to that countre And than demauÌ„ded why they came thyder Certaynlye quod duke Frederyke I haue had moche payne to bringe the mater to this purpose And so there he shewed hym all the mater and sayd I haue brought my brother in that mynde that I haue brought my nese hyder as ye saye but whan I departed my brother sayd to me Nowe Frederike my fayre brother ye leade with you Isabell my doughter without any sure
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
dystroyed vs. ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde too make warre agaynst his vncles agaynst the cytees and townes Ca. xcv IN lyke maner as the kinges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande beynge at London deuysed of the busynesse of Englāde to reforme it to bring it into good estate So on the other syde the duke of Irelande and his counsayle ymagined nyght and daye howe they myght contynue in their estates and to condēpne the kynges vncles as ye shall hereafter Whanne kyng Richarde was come to Bristowe the quene with hym they kepte them selfe in the Castell there and men that were farre of beleued that the kyng laye there for sauour of the duke of Irelande who said that he wolde go in to Irelande and it was sayd that the kyng wolde se hym dispatched It was agreed by the generall coūsaile that if he wolde go in to Irelande he shulde haue at the coste of the realme fyue hūdred men of armes and fyftene hundred archers and that he shulde abide there thre yere and to be well and trewly payde Howe be it the duke had no great wyll to make that vyage for he sawe well the kyng was yonge and as than he myght rule as he lyst Therfore he feared if he shulde go farre of that the loue and the fauour that he was in with the kynge shulde asswage Also besyde that he was in suche loue with one of the quenes damoselles called Lancegrone that in no wyse he coude leaue the syght of her She was a fayre and a pleasaunt vamosell and was come with the quene out of the realme of Beame This duke loued her so entierlye that he wolde gladly be deuorsed fro his owne wife who was doughter to the lorde of Coucy and dyde sende for that entente to Rome to pope Vrbayne All the good people of the realme had marueyle therof and dispreysed hym greatly for that the good lady was dought̄ to the doughter of good kyng Edwarde of the good quene Philyppe The duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre toke that dede in great dispyte but for all their hate the duke of Irelande set lytell therby for he was so blynded with louynge of this damosell that he promysed to be deuorsed and to mary her He douted nat the popes graunt so that he myght gette the kynges and the quenes good wyll for he reputed his wyfe that he had frēche brought vp in Fraunce and so was her father the lorde of Coucy and he had made warre agaynst pope Vrbayne in the tytell of pope Clemēt wherfore pope Vrbayne loued nat that blode Therfore he sayde the pope wolde enclyne the lyghtlyer to his deuorse This mater the duke dyde putte forthe and promysed to Lācegrone to mary her This duke had a mother a wydowe called the olde countesse of Oxenforde she agreed nat to the opynion of her sonne but blamed hym greatly of his folye and sayde Howe god wolde be sore displeased with hym and paye hym one day for all and than̄e it wolde be to late to repente and she toke the duchesse to her and kept her styll in her estate And suche as ought the ladye any good wyll gaue her great thankes therfore THus I haue shewed you parte of the busynesse of Englande that fell in this season And yet I shalle procede further as I was enfourmed ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande was aboute the kynge in the marches of Wales and nyght and daye ymagyned on none other thynge but howe he myght bringe about his entent And so serued the kynge and the quene with fayre wordes to please theym and caused all other knyghtes and squyers there about to come to Bustowe to se the kyng and the quene and made them great sporte in huntyng the kynge suffred hym to do what he lyste The same season that the kynge laye at Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne in the marches of Wales The duke of Irelande tooke great payne to ryde in and out and specially in to Wales and sayd to suche as wolde here hym gentylmen or other Howe the kynges vncles to haue the soueraygntie of the realme hadde dismyssed out of the kynges coūsayle noble valyaunt and sage personnages As the archebysshoppe of yorke the bysshoppe of Dyrhame the bysshoppe of London sir Mychaell de la Poule sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Salisbury sir Robert Tryuilyen sir Iohan Beauchampe hym selfe and hadde putte to dethe a valyaunt knyght sir Symon Burle So that and they multiplye in their estate they wyll distroye all Englande This duke of Irelande dyde so moche and preached so to the people and to the knyghtes and squyers of Wales and of the countreis there aboute that the moost parte beleued hym And on a daye they came ingenerall to the kynge to Bristowe and demaūded of hym if that it were his pleasure as the duke of Irelande hadde shewed theym The kynge aunswered and sayd yea truely And prayed and commaunded them as they loued hym to beleue hym and sayd he wolde auowe all that he shulde do affyrmyng how he thought his vncles were to hygh mynded so that he feared leste they wolde surmounte hym and take awaye his realme from hym And they of the marches of Wales alwayes loued the prince of Wales father to the kyng For by the tidynges they herde out of the marches of London they thought iustely that the kyng and the duke of Irelande had good cause And so demaunded of the kynge what his pleasure was to do The kynge aunswered and sayd howe he wolde gladly that the lōdoners that hadde done hym so great trespasses that they were corrected and brought to reason his vncles in lykewise They of Wales sayd they were bounde to obey their kyng nor they ought no fayth nor homage to no man but to hym for he was their kynge soueraygne lorde Wherfore they sayde they were redy to go whyder soeuer the kyng dyd commaunde them The kynge was well cōtente with that aunswere and in lykewise so was the duke of Irelande Whan the Duke sawe that the kyng wolde shewe that the busynesse was parteynynge to hym selfe and that he hadde so good desyre to distroye his aduersaries and to bringe theym to reason He hadde therof great ioye and sayde to thē of his counsayle We can nat do better than to retourne to London and shewe our puissaunce And so to do outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse to bring the Lōdoners to their accorde and to be obeysaunt to the kynges commaundement Alwayes they enfourmed the kynge howe that it was a great losse to a realme whan there be many heedes chefe gouernours and howe there coude no good come therby and the kynge affyrmed the same and sayde howe he wolde no lenger suffre it but that he wolde fynde suche
they were chased tyll they mette with the fote men who in lykewise than fledde and kepte none order and lepte into the Vynes and in to the dykes to saue themselfe The crosbowes that came out of Cleremount kepte better array than their company dyde For they close toguyder toke a vyne yarde and bent their bowes and made vysage of defence and kepte them selfe there tyll all the Englysshe menne were withdrawen backe agayne to Mountferant They of Cleremont lost tweÌ„tie of their men sixe slayne and fourtene taken Thus it fell of that enterprice and all that day euery maÌ„ trussed and made redy to departe the same nyght after and by sixe of the Clocke euery man hadde trussed vp their baggage and laded their horses and sette them selte a foote They past nat a threscore on horsebacke and so sette forwarde in the stretes their somers and caryages they hadde well a foure hundred horse charged with clothes naprie and furres and other thynges necessary They founde in the towne cofes and presses full of stuffe but they lafte them clene voyde They bounde their prisoners two and two toguyder And whan they were all redy and that it was nyght they opyned the gate and issued out They had taryed in Mount feraunt no more but eyghtene houres They sette their cariage before them and thaÌ„ their prisoners and foote men and the capitayns on horsebacke came after them The nyght was darke and the countrey nat aduysed of their departynge wherfore they were nat pursued and about mydnight they came to Ousacke fro whens they came the seconde day before there they rested them It was shewed me that they wanne by the same voyage a hundred thousande frankes besyde their prisoners Sir Peter of Gyache chauncelloure of Fraunce loste for his parte in redy money thyrtie thousande frankes or aboue THe companyons were well counsayled to leaue Mount feraunt in Auuergne so soone as they dyde For if they had taryed there two dayes lengar than they dyde they hadde nat departed without great daunger and paraduenture with losse of their lyues For all the knyghtes and squiers of the countrey gathered toguyder and came thyder with puyssaunce to haue layde siege to the towne and the lordes of the couÌ„trey as ye haue herde before named none taryed behynde And the erle Dolphyn was come within two dayes iourney but than he herde tidynges howe the Englysshmen and gascoyns were departed to their owne forteresses and there the trouthe of the hole mater was shewed hym WhanÌ„e he knewe the trouthe he rode than more at his ease came to saynt Pursayne and fro thens to Moulyns in Burbonoyes And there he fouÌ„de the duches of Burbone his doughter who was sore a frayde of that aduenture Howe be it whan she knewe that the aduentures were gone she was gladde therof for thanne she thought her countrey more surer than it was before By my faythe quod the erle I wolde it had coste me greatly that they had taryed styll at Mount Ferant tyll I had come thyder For if they were there nowe they shulde haue an yuell ende We coulde nat haue had a better enterprise in all Auuergne wherby to haue recouered all the fortresses that they holde It semeth well they are skylfull men of warre that they taryed there no lengar they are gone to their owne holdes with all their pyllage and prisoners Thus the Erle and the duchesse his doughter coÌ„muned toguyder And Perot le Bernoys and Olyue Barbe the Bourge of CoÌ„payne the Bourg angloys Apthon Seguyn and the other capitayns of the fortresses whan they were coÌ„e to Ousacke they departed their botye pyllage and prisoners And some they raunsomed and the other they ledde to their fortresses Some to Carlat and some to Gaslucet All the countre of Auuergne toke better hede to they holdes than they hadde done before Howe be it the erle of Armynake and the erle Dolphyn sente to Perotte le Bernoys sayeng howe falsely and traytourously he had taken and stollen the towne of Mountferant and robbed it and ledde away the prisoners counsaylynge hym to make therof amendes Consydringe howe they were in treatie toguyder â—or a peace Perotte aunswered and sayde Sauyng their graces as for my selfe and seuyn other Capitayns that were with me at the takynge of Mountferant were neuer at no maner of treatie with these Erles nor we toke nat this towne fraudulently nor stale it But I entred in at the gate whiche was opyned redy to receyue me If I and my company hadde been sworne to any treatie we wolde haue kepte it surely But we were neuer of that entencyon nor wyll be In this case the mater stoode and the lordes coude haue none other answere Sir Peter of Gyache was sore displeased for the losse that he hadde And as for them of Mounte ferant recouered them selfe as well as they myght Thus this aduentures fell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey maryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloys sonne And howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yong kyng Charles of Fraunce Cap. C.xxiii IN the yere of our lorde God a thousande thre huÌ„dred fourscore and sixe in the moneth of August Guye the erle of Bloyes and the Lady Mary his wyfe departed fro the towne of Bloyes well acompanyed with knightes and squyes ladyes and damoselles to go in to Berrey and they had with theym their yonge sonne who hadde fyaunced the yere before Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey and the entencyon of the erle of Bloyes and of the couÌ„tesse his wyfe was that whan they shulde come to Burgus in Berrey to ê“cede to the sayd maryage In lykewise it was the entencyon of the duke of Berrey of the duches his wyfe Thus whaÌ„ all these ê‘ties were come togyder than these two chyldren were ioyned togider in mariage in the churche of saynt Stephyn in Burgus by a Cardynall the chauncellour of Berrey and the bysshoppe of Poyters had the yere before ensured theym toguyder It this maryage of Loyes of Bloyes and of the lady Mary of Berrey in the cytie of Burgus was made great feest and tryumphes with iustes turneyes This feest endured eight dayes whaÌ„ this was accomplysshed the erle of Bloyes and the countesse tooke leaue of the duke of Berrey and of the duchesse and so returned to Bloyes and hadde with them their yonge doughter Also in the same yere IohnÌ„ of Berrey sonne to the duke of Berrey called Erle of Mountpensier maryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge of FrauÌ„ce In the same yere that these Maryages were thus made In the tyme of lente the duchesse of Berrey and Mary of Fraunce her doughter and her sonne rode to the towne of Bloyes to se the Erle Bloyes and the countesse and their chyldren They were receyued in to the Castell of Bloyes with great ioye At all these maters I sir
nat to hastely his entente but sayd Sirs it wyll be very harde to make peace in that place where as great hatered and warre is resydent and specially with them that be disheryted and kepte from their herytage Sayeng howe he wolde nat leaue the warre withoute he myght haue the crowne of Castyle the whiche he sayde was his right The frere and the bisshoppe sayd Sir bytwene your right and the ryght of the kynge our lorde there is but one meane and we haue founde it if it may please you What waye is that quod the duke Sir quod they it is this ye haue by my lady youre wyfe a feyre yonge lady to marry and the kynge of castile our souerayne lorde hath a feyre yong sonne if they two myght mary toguyder the realme of Castyle shulde be in peace and all that is your right shulde retourne to you sir better can ye nat bestowe your heyre who is disceÌ„ded of the right lyne of Castyle The entent ye arme you fyght aduenture youre selfe and traueyle your body is all onely for the right of your heyre That is trewe ê™ the duke but than I wyll that the costes that I haue susteyned in the pursute there be recompeÌ„sed For I wyll ye knowe it hath cost me and the realme of Englande fyue hundred thousande fraÌ„kes wherof I wolde gladly se som recouerauÌ„ce Sir quod the frere if our treatie be agreable to you we trust to fynde such a meane that the mater shall take good effect Well quod the duke ye be welcome and how soeuer it be or howe soeuer it shal be or I retourne in to Englande outher in to Castyle or in to Fraunce I shall mary my doughter for I haue dyuers offres moued vnto me but maters of so great a weyght are nat lightly coÌ„cluded at the first tyme. For my doughter whome I repute as rightfull enheritour to spayne I wyll knowe him well that shall haue her in maryage that is but reason quod the frere Thus as I haue shewed you this treatie began bytwene the duke of LaÌ„castre and these parties as well of Castyle as of FrauÌ„ce He made euery partie good chere made no full answere but in his ymaginacion the treatie of Spayne the kynges sonne to mary his doughter semed best to his purpose bicause in tyme to come his doughter shulde be quene of Castyle also the duches his wyfe enclyned moost to that treatie ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke of the duke of Lancastre of all these treatyse and retourne to speke of the duke of Bretaygne ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne departed to go to Bloys and howe the duke of Bretayne caÌ„ethyder and howe the dukes dyde so moche that they had hym to Parys in maner agaynst his wyll Cap. C.xxx AS I haue shewed you here before the duke of Bretayne made good chere to the French ambassadours and specially to the lorde of Coucy For as I was enformed he was the chiefe that brake the duke fro his purpose by reason of his fayre and swete wordes Howe be it the lorde Iohan of Vyen and the lorde dela Ryuer dyde ryght well their deuoyre but often tymes great princes and lordes wyll soner be entreated by one man rather than by another Moche payne it was to cause the duke of Bretayne to agre to go to the towne of Bloys to mete there the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne but he was brought thyder by fayre wordes And he sayde surely he wolde go no further thanne to the towne of Bloys and the lorde of Couey sayd he desyred nothynge elles These the lordes were with the duke of Bretaynge certayne dayes and than toke their leaues and retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the dukes of Berry and of Burgoyne howe they hadde spedde Thervpon these two dukes made them redy to go to Bloyes to mete there with the duke of Bretaygne and sente thyder before to make prouisyon as apertayned Firste thyder came the duke of Berrey and he was lodged in the Castell and there he founde the countesse her sonne and her doughter They receyued hym honourably The erle Guye of Bloys was as than in his owne countrey at the castell Reygnaulte and made no greate counte of the commynge of the duke of Bretaygne he thought it sufficyent that his wife and chyldren were there Than thyder came the duke of Burgoyne with a goodly trayne and in his company came sir WyllmÌ„ of Heynaulte and his sonne erle of Ostrenante and Iohan of Burgoyne sonne to the duke called erle of Neuers The duke lodged also in the castell and there helde his estate Than after came the duke of Bretaygne with no great trayne other than of his house He passed nat a thre huÌ„dred horses for his enteÌ„cyon was that whan he had ones sene the two dukes and spoken with them to retourne in to his owne countre without goynge any further in to Fraunce But the entente of the other two dukes was otherwise for they said whyder he wolde or nat he shulde go to Parys THe duke of Bretaygne hym selfe lodged in the castell of Bloyes in a chanons house of saynt Sauyour and his men lodged downe in the towne so dyd the other of all the dukes seruauntes but the lordes laye in the castell the whiche was fayre great and stronge one of the fayrest castelles in all the realme of Fraunce There these Dukes made good there togyder and shewed great 〈◊〉 and they thanked the duke of Bretayne of his coÌ„myng to the towne of Bloyes And the duke answered and sayde howe he was come thyder for the loue of them with great payne for he fayned hym selfe nat well at ease Than these two dukes fell in communynge with the duke of Bretayne shewyng hym sithe he was come so farr forwarde that he had done nothyng without he went to Parys to se the kynge who greatly desyred to se hym The duke of Bretaygne began greatlye to excuse hym selfe of that voyage and layde many reasons sayd howe he was nat well at his case to make so longe a iourney nor also he was nat accompanyed therafter Than he was swetely answered that sauyng his displeasure he shulde nede no great trayne to go se his soueraygne lorde and as for his rydinge he shulde lacke nouther chayre nor lytter to labour at his ease For they said he was bounde to do homage to the kynge for as than he had nat done it before The duke sayd excusynge hymselfe that whan the kynge were come to his laufull age and had the hole Realme in his owne gouernaunce than he wolde come to Parys or whyder to shulde please the kynge and than do his homage acordyng to reason The other dukes sayd that the kynge was of age wysdome suffycient to receyue homage and howe that all other lordes of the realme excepte he had done their homage and made reliefe affyrmynge howe the kynge was .xxi. yere of age Whan the
doughter to the erle of Boulonge to the duke of Berrey who wedded her in the towne of Ryon in Auuergne as it is conteyned here before in this hystorie for at all these maters I was present wherfore I maye well speke therof And whan I came to Parys I foūde there the gentyll lorde of Coucy a good lorde of myne who had newly maryed a yonge lady doughter to the duke of Lorayne Whiche lorde made me good chere and demaunded of me newes of the countrey of Foiz and Biern and of pope Clement beyng at Auygnon and of the maryage bytwene Berrey and Boulonge and of another great frende of myne and good lorde and mayster therle Beraunt dolphyn of Auuergne And to all his demaūdes I answered all that I knewe so that he was content Than he desyred me to go with hym in to Cambresys to a castell that the kynge had gyuen hym called Creue cure a two leages fro Cābrey and nyne leages fro Valensenes And so I rode in his cōpany And as we rode by the way he shewed me howe the bysshoppe of Bayeux and the erle of saynt Pole and other were at Boloyn sent thyder by the frēche kyng to cōclude the truce howe that for kyng Richarde kynge of Englāde there were at Calys the bysshop of Durham therle of Salisbury with other and howe they had been there the space more thanne a moneth abydynge for the ambassadours of Scotlande who were as than newly come thyder He sayde howe his cosyn the erle of saynt Pole had writen to hym therof and howe the frenche kynge had sente to the kynge of Scottes and to his counsayle that he shulde agree to the truce for the englysshe men wolde consente to no peace without the scottes were comprised in the same Thus we rode tyll we came to Creue cure and there I was with hym thre dayes Thā I toke leaue of hym and went to Valencennes and there I taryed fyftene dayes Than I wente in to Holande to se a gentyll lorde and good mayster of myne the erle of Bloyes and founde hym at Estōchoucke he made me good chere and demaunded of me some tidynges and I shewed him suche as I knewe I taryed with hym a moneth there and at Gede Than I retourned in to Fraunce to knowe the trouthe of the cōclusion that was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce at Balyngham Also I purposed to be at the feest that shulde be at Parys at the entre of the Frenche quene to knowe the trouthe of all these maters I retourned throughe Brabaunt and so came to Parys eyght dayes before the feest began Than I fell in company with the lordes of Fraunce and of Scotlande suche as had ben at the makynge of the truce bytwene Englāde and Fraunce And I fell in acqueyntaūce with sir Guyllyam of Melyn who shewed me all the hole mater and howe the Erle of saynt Pole was passed in to Englande to se kynge Rycharde and to confyrme the truce that was graunted for thre yeres and that he shulde retourne agayne to be at the said gret feest Than I demaūded of the said sir Guillyam what lordes of Scotlande had been at the sayd treatie I demanuded it bycause in my youthe I had ben in Scotlande and serched all the realme to the wylde scottes And while I was there I taried a space in that court of kyng Dauyd of Scotlande there I had acqueyntaūce of the most parte of the lordes knightes of Scotlāde therfore I demaūded who had been there And this sir Melyn answered me and saide howe there had ben the bysshop of Bredon sir Iames and sir Dauyd Lymsay and sir Water of saynt Clere. I bare his sayeng awaye and dyde putte in writynge all that I hadde sene and herde And shall shewe the trouthe what I sawe knewe of this feest and of the fyrst entryng of quene I sabell in to Parys ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ordynaunce of the entre of quene Isabell in to the towne of Parys Cap. Clvii THe sonday the twētie daye of Iune in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred foure score and nyne there was people in Paris and with out suche nombre that it was marueyle to beholde And the same sondaye in the mornyng there was assēble made in the churche of saynte Denyce of noble ladyes of Fraunce suche as shulde accompany the quene and of suche lordes as shulde assyst the quenes lytters other ladyes And there was of the burgesses of Parys twelue hundred an horsebacke raynged in the feldes on bothe sydes of the way aparelled in gownes of one sute of clothe of Baudkyn grene and crymosyn And the olde quene Iane and her doughter duchesse of Orlyance entred fyrste in to Parys one houre before noone in a lytter couered well a companyed with lordes and passed through the hyghe strete of saynte Denyce and so rode to the palays and there taryed for the kynge That day these two ladyes went no further Than the frenche quene and the other ladyes set forwarde as the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayn the duches of Bare the countesse of Neuers the lady of Coucy and other ladyes and damoselles all in good ordre all their lytters were aparelled as richly as myghte be But the duches of Thourayne had no lytter she rode a lone vpon a fayre pal frey rychly aparelled and she rode on the one syde by the quenes lytter and it was assysted with the duke of Thourayne and the duke of Burbone at the fore heed on bothe sydes And in the myddes on bothe sydes the lytter were the duke of Berry and the duke of Burgoyne and at the fete was the lorde Peter of Nauer and therle of Ostrenaunt The quenes lytter was richely apparelled and discouert Than nexte folowed on a ryche apparelled Palfrey the duchesse of Berrey she was assisted with the erle de la Marche and with the erle of Neuers and she rydinge a softe pace bytwene them bothe Than̄e folowed the lytter all discouered and open of the duchesse of Burgoyne and Margarete of Heynalte her doughter coūtesse of Neuers That lytter was assysted with the lorde Henry of Bare and the yonge erle of Namure called sir Guylliam And than the lady of Orlyaunce on a palfrey richely apparelled and the lorde Iames of Burbone and the lorde Philyppe Dartoys assysted the lady of Orlyaunce Than another lytter with the duchesse of Bare and the doughter of the lorde of Coucy Of other ladyes and damoselles that came after in chariottes and palfrayes and knightes that folowed there was no mēcion made And as for sergeauntes and offycers of armes had busynesse ynoughe to do to make way and to breke the preace There was suche people in the stretes that it semed that all the worlde had ben there AT the fyrst gate of saynt Denice entryng in to Parys there was a Heuyn made full of sterres within it yonge chyldren
in to the realme of Arragone and to be about him tyll he were maryed The lorde of Coucye wolde nat refuce it but ordayned hym selfe so to do and sayde Ma dame there was no vyage this seuyn yere that I wolde be more gladder to accomplisshe than to go in to the marches of Cicyll Naples wich my lorde your sonne if I had lycence of the kyng my souerayne lorde Sir quod the lady I thaÌ„ke you I se well your good wyll I doute nat but the kyng wyll be content that ye go with my sonne in to Aragon And the quene of Arragon wyll be glad to se you for your doughter hath maryed her brother sir HeÌ„ry of bare The lorde of Coucy agreed to go this voyage Thus the younge kynge of Cicyll tooke his iourney well accompanied whan he had taken his leaue of the Pope and of his mother all wepynge For at the departynge of the mother and the sonne caused their hertes to relente For they shulde departe farre a soÌ„der knewe nat whan to se togyder agayne For it was ordayned that whan the maryage was accomplysshed that the yonge kynge and the yonge Quene shulde take the see at the porte of Barcelone and so to go and arryue at the porte of Naples or as nere as they myght SO longe this yonge kynge Loyes iourneyed that he passed Mountpellyer and Besyers and so came to Narbone where he was receyued ioyfullye of euery man There they refresshed theÌ„ and their horses one day and than departed and wente to Parpygnen the fyrst towne of the realme of Arragon The coÌ„myng of this yonge kynge was well knowen in the court of the kynge of Arragon He sente menne to mete with hym and to conuey him as the vycount of Roâ—uebertyn and sir Raymonde of Baighes So long they rode that they caÌ„e to the cytie of Barcelone where the kynge the Quene and their doughter was There the yonge kyng was noblâ— receyued and specially the quene of Arragon was ryght ioyouse of the coÌ„mynge of the lorde of Coucy and thanked the yonge kynge her sonne that shulde be for bringynge of hym in his company and sayd that all other maters shulde do and atcheue the better This Maryage was confyrmed bytwene these two chyldren but bycause wynter approched they delayed their voyage goyng to the See For in wynter the great Sees are perillous They said they wolde make their prouisyon that wynter to go in to Naples the nexte Marche after The lorde of Coucy beyng in Arragon receyued letters fro the Frenche kynge commaundynge hym to retourne Than he toke his leaue of the kynge of Arragon and of the quene and of the yonge kyng and his wyfe and of all other lordes suche as were there and departed And if he myght haue had leysar he wolde haue retourned by Auignon to haue sene the pope and the olde quene af Naples But he sente to them his excuse and retourned by Auuergne in to Fraunce WHanÌ„e this maryage was made bytwene the yonge kyng Loyes of Cycyll and the doughter of the kynge of Arragon wherby there was great alyaâ—ces bytwene the parties and they of Arragon were bounde to ayde to serue the yong kynge to bringe hym in to the realme of Naples and nat to leaue hym tyll he had the realme pesably of Naples and of Cicyll with the appendauÌ„tes as Paule and Calabre and the cytie of Gaiet the whiche Margarete of Duras helde The aragonoys shulde serue hym as longe as his warre endured with .ii. hundred speares at their coste and charge a thousande crosbowes and a thousande bregandiers Whan the swete tyme of Marche was come and that the wyndes were apealed and the waters swaged of their rages and the wodes reuerduced and that their prouysions were made redy at Barcelone and the galees redy suche as shulde go with the yong kynge Than he and his yonge quene tooke their leaues of the kynge of Aragone and of the quene who wept at their departyng than the quene recoÌ„maunded the yonge quene her doughter to the erle of Roodes a valyaunt knight to sir Raymon of Baighes These two toke the speciall charge natwithstaÌ„dinge that the erle of Vrgell and the erle of Lyne were there in a great company In these galees were a fyftene huÌ„dred speares two thousande crosbowes two thousande of other men of warre with dartes pauesses They wente thus fortifyed and well acompanyed to resyst the better if nede were agaynst their ennemyes And also to resyst all rencouÌ„ters vpon the see for it is a longe waye by the see fro Barcelone to Naples And Margarete of Duras their aduersary myght trouble theÌ„ by the way therfore they thought to go surelye ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of this yonge kyng of Cicyll and speke of other busynesse of the realme of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Frenche kynge had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme howe he went fyrst in to Burgoyne and to Auygnon to se pope Clement Cap. C.lx. AFter this great Feest was accomplisshed that euery lorde and lady were gone home to their owne houses as ye haue herde here before that the FreÌ„che kyng sawe that he had truce with Englande for thre yere he hadde than ymaginacion to go visite his realme specially the vtwarde marchesse of Languedocke For the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercier who were as than chefe of his preuy couÌ„sayle They exhorted hym to go to Auygnon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles who desyred to se hym and also to go to Tholous for they sayd to the kyng Sir a kyng in his youthe ought to visyte his realme and to knowe his people and to lerne how they be gouerned the whiche shulde be greatly to his profyte and the better to be beloued with his subiectes The kyng lyghtly enclyned to their counsayle for he had desyre to traueyle and se newe thynges And the lord de la Ryuer who was but newly come out of those marchesse herde great complayntes of the people of Tholous of Carcassone of Beaucayre and they desired greatly to se the kyng for they had ben sore charged with tayles and aydes by the duke of Berrey by the informacion of a seruaunt of his called Betysache who had pytie of no man He so pylled the people that nothynge was lefte therfore he counsayled the kynge to go thyder to prouyde some remedy And also that the kynge shulde sende for the erle of Foize to come to hym to Tholous The kyng made him redy to go thyder and sente afore all the way that prouisyon shulde be made for his coÌ„myng sente worde therof to his vncle the Duke of Burgoyne and to his auÌ„te the duchesse how he wolde come a longe throughe their countrey and wolde se his cosyns their chyldren and to bring in his company his brother the duke of Thourayne and his vncle of Burbone whiche pleased greatly the
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌ„ded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌ„e it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌ„ters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌ„sydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌ„sayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌ„che kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ„ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌ„maundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌ„mauÌ„ded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌ„dred crownes of FraÌ„ce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌ„de were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌ„de These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌ„e he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌ„de wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌ„trary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌ„castre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌ„tent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌ„cypall cause was bycause of FlauÌ„ders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
that had watched all nyght was as than departed and their reliefe nat come as than The same season Fraunces Atreman the gauÌ„toise with their ladders were redy come in to the dikes so caÌ„e to the walles dressed vp their ladders and began to mount The same season by adueÌ„ture there was walkynge within the wall the lorde of saynt Albyne and with hym a squyer of Picardy named Enguerant zeÌ„dequyn a picarde with a morespike I thynke they had ben of the watche the same night was nat as than departed To say the trouthe and they had nat ben Ardenbourcke had been taken and all the knightes in their beddes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of saynt Albyne Enouerant zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takyng how the quene of Hungry sente ambassadours in to Fraunce to mary therle of Voloyes to her eldest doughter Capi. iiii WHan sir Gousseaux of saynt Martyne and Enguerant zendequen sawe howe the gauntoyse mounted vp the walles by ladders and they saw wher ther was one puttynge his legge ouer the wall to haue entred in to the towne â–ª they were thaÌ„ sore abasshed but yet nat so moche but that they toke conforte to them selfe For they sawe well if they fledde the towne were lost without recouery â–ª for they parceyued well that theyr entryng was bytwene the departyng of the watche and the comynge of the reliefe Than Enguerant sayd to the mores pyke Seppe on forwarde Beholde yonder the gauntoyse are entrynge helpe to defende vs or elles the towne is loste And so they thre went to the same place where as they sawe the gauntoyse entrynge and the Pycarde with the mores pyke strake hym that was entrynge ouer the wall suche a stroke that he hare hym clene fro the wall and ladder and so fell downe in to the dyke therwith the watche arose sawe howe there were in the dykes and there aboute a great batayle of the gauntoyse ThanÌ„e he sowned his trumpette Treason treason Therwith the towne styrred euery man oute of their beddes harkened to the crye and sawe howe the gaunte is wolde haue stollen their towne Than they armed them as fast as they might howe be it for all this the gauntoyse dyde all their best to haue entred in to their towne And the sayde thre persones valyantly defended the walles more than the space of halfe an hour agaynst all the comers the whiche turned to their great prayse ThanÌ„e the other lordes and knightes came thyder in good array as the Vycount of Meaulx with his bauer before hym sir Iohan of Ieumont his penon before hym and sir Ryflarte of Flaunders and other and they founde the knight the squyer and the mores pyke fightynge and defendynge the walles ThanÌ„e they cryed their cryes to the rescue And whan Fraunces Atreman and the gauntoyse parceyued the matter and howe they hadde fayled of their ententes they withdrewe themselfe fayre and casely and reculed their people and so departed and retourned in to the rule of the four craftes And so than they of the garyson of Ardenbourke toke more hede to the kepyng of the towne than they dyde before and they honoured greatly among them the foresaid thre persones for and they had nat been the towne had ben loste and all their throtes cutte _yE haue herde here before howe the duke of Aniou who called hym selfe kynge of Naples of Cecyle and of Hierusalem made warre thre yeres In Pule Calabre and in Naples agaynst sir Charles dela Paix and in the makynge of that warre he dyed and in lykewise so dyde sir Charles dela Paix Some sayd he was slayne in the realme of Hungry by the consentment of the quene for after the dethe of the kyng of Hungry bycause this sir Charles was sonne to the kynges brother therfore he maynteyned that the Realme shulde fall to hym For his vncle the kynge of Hungry after his dethe lefte behynde hym but doughters So therfore the quene feared leest he wolde disheryte her doughters And therfore as it was sayd she caused this sir Charles dela Paix to be slayne of whose dethe ther was had great marueyle so therby the quene was sore enforsed and of her yonge sonne the kyng beyng at Auignon so they made wary in Prouence the kynge of Hungry lyuenge The barons and prelates of Hungry couÌ„sayled hym to gyue Margarete his eldest doughter whiche was likely to be a great enheritour to Loyes of Fraunce erle of Valoyes sonne brother to the frenche kynge bycause they thought he shulde than abyde among them in HuÌ„gry And whan the kynge was deed they sent ambassadours in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his vncles shewyng howe the quene of Hungry wolde haue for her eldest doughter the erle of Valoyes This request semed to the kynge and to his vncles and to the barons of Fraunce to be right noble and profitable excepte one thynge They thought therby that the erle of Valoyes shulde be very farre of fro his owne nacion Howe be it all thynges consydred they thought it a noble and a right profitable thyng for the erle of Valoyes to be kyng of Hungry the whiche is one of the grettest realmes in crystendome So these ambassadours were gretly feested and nobly receyued and to theÌ„ gyuen many great gyftes And so agayne with them there went to HuÌ„gry other ambass out of FrauÌ„ce As the bysshop of Maylleretê and sir IohnÌ„ la Parson who by ê“curacyon generall whan they were come in to HuÌ„gry he wedded in the name of the erle of Valoyes the lady Margarete and thanne the bysshoppe retourned in to FrauÌ„ce And also sir Iohan Parson who had wedded the lady and lyen by her a bedde curtesly accordynge to the custome in suche matters requyred And of this whan he came in to Fraunce he shewed letters patentes publyke instrumentes so that they of FrauÌ„ce were well content And so longe after the erle of Valoys wrote hymselfe kyng of Hungry ALso ye haue herde how the duke of burgoyne and the duke Aubert of Bauier lorde of Heynalte Hollande zelande Frise had maryed their chyldren at Cambray toguyder At which maryage the frenche kyng was with great tryumphe Some sayde howe the same tyme that the frenche kynge and his vncles the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone and the duke Aubert were there at Cambray the lady of Burgoyne the lady of Brabant and the lady of Heynalte Howe that by the procurement of the duchesse of Brabante there was secretely a treatie of maryage moued bytwene the yonge kyng Charles of FrauÌ„ce and the lady Isabell doughter to duke Stephyn of Bauyer For kyng Charles of Fraunce that laste dyed before in his dethe bedde he ordayned that Charles his sonne shulde be maryed in to Almaygne if they sawe any place coÌ„uenyent wherby the almayns shulde be alyed to FrauÌ„ce For he sawe well howe the kyng of Englande was maryed to the kyng of Almaynes suster wherby he spedde moche
estate For if the frenche kyng wyll refuse her than is she shamed for euer therfore aduyse you well For if the matter come nat well to passe ye shall haue me your enemy for euer Therfore fayre vncle ye maye se what daunger I haue putte my selfe in Than duke Aubert sayd fayre nephue be nat dismayde for by the pleasure of god she shal be the frenche quene and thanÌ„e shall ye be quyte haue the loue of duke Stephyn your brother THus they taryed at Quesnoy the space of thre wekes and the duchesse who was sage endoctryned the yonge damosell of Bauyer in maner and in countenaunce and chauÌ„ged her appayrell for she was but simplye arrayed after the state of Fraunce Thanne she arrayed her as thoughe she had ben her owne doughter And whan euery thyng was redy the duches and the damoselle rode forthe tyll they came to Amience And by that tyme was come thyder the duches of Burgoyne and of Brabant and also the frenche kynge and his counsayle The lorde de la Ryuer and sit Guy de la Tremoyle Barownes and knightê issued out of Amyence to mete and receyue them of Heynalte Thus they were brought in to Amyence and had moche honoure done to them and the lordes and ladyes eche of theym dyde vysite other louyngly But with moche payne the kynge might slepe for the inwarde desyre that he had to se her that shulde be his wyfe And he demauÌ„ded of the lorde de la Ryuer whan he shulde se her of those wordes the ladies had great sporte so that the Fridaye whan the damosell was redy the thre duchesses ledde the damosell to the kynge and than she kneled downe but the kynge toke her vp by the haÌ„de and behelde her well by whiche regarde loue entred in to his herre Than the constable of Fraunce sayd to the lor-Coucy Sir by my faythe this ladye shall abyde with vs I se well by the kyng for his eyes gothe neuer from her So whan they had ben with the kynge certayne space the ladyes toke leaue of the kyng and went to their lodgynges as yet they knewe nat the kynges intencyon Than the duke of Burgoyn charged the lorde de la Ryuer to enquere of the kyng his mynde who dyde so right dilygently sayeng Sir it lyke youre grace howe lyke you this yonge lady Shall she abyde with vs yea truely ê™ the kynge she right well pleaseth vs. Therfore shew vnto myne vncle of Burgoyne that she maye be delyucred to vs. Whan the lorde de la Ryuer herde hym saye so he incontynent shewed it to the duke of Burgoyne And he streight waye went and shewed it to the ladyes wherof they had great ioye and cryed No well thus the lordes and ladyes were in great ioye the kynges vncles were in mynde to haue had the maryage at Arras but it pleased nat the kyng to go soo farre Therfore he desyred his vncle that it might be done ther. Well quod the duke in a good hour be it so let it be THan the duke of Burgoyne the constable the lorde de la Ryuer and the lorde de la Tremoyle and dyuers other in his company went to the lady of Heynault and fouÌ„de her with her nese by her There he shewed theÌ„ these tidynges how the kyng had broken their purpose as the mariage to be had at Aras sayeng howe the matter touched the kyng so nere wherfore to morowe next we must heale him of his sicknesse the duches began to smyle And so than they departed eche fro other with great ioye and solce The same saturday at night Fraunces Atreman and the gauntoyse with a seuyn thousande with hym wente out of the laÌ„des of the foure craftes after he had fayled of takynge of Ardenbourke and he promysed to them of Gaunt at his departynge that he wolde neuer retourne in to Gaunt tyll he had won some good towne for the gauntoyse dyd what they might to putte the frenche men to suche busynesse that they shulde sende no more companye in to Scotlande to the admyrall to make warre agaynst the Englysshmen for ther was a coÌ„mon brute that the Constable and dyuers other men of arme certayne cros bowes of Gene shulde entre into the see go in to Scotlande to reconforte their men that were ther allredy makyng warre agaynst Englande FraÌ„ces Atreman who was a proper man of armes issued the sayd saturday out of the quarter called the foure craftes and all night he went costyng Bruges trustyng to haue wonne it but it wolde nat be Whan he sawe that he fayled there he wente to Danne and there his spyes mette with hym and sayde Sir it were good ye went to Danne for sir Roger of Guystelles who is capitayne there is nat nowe in the towne and true it was he was goone to Bruges wenyng that the towne of Dan had ben strong ynoughe for their defence but he was disceyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe FrauÌ„ces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the french king wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyer and after went and layde siege to Danne WHanÌ„e Fraunces Atreman knewe by his espyes that sir Roger of Guystels was nat in Dan he deuyded his company in two and tooke hym selfe the lesse nombre sayd Sirs go you yonder wayes to suche a gate and whasie ye here me blowe go to the barryers backe theÌ„ downe I and my coÌ„pany shall bete downe the gate for it wyll be ouer long or we entre by ladders the towne shal be ours I put no dout It was done as he ordayned so wente with the lesse noÌ„bre And so the first went with ladders in to the dykes They founde no withstandyng and passed the myre and dressed vp their ladders and so entred in to the towne and came to the gate sownynge their hornes without any daunger for the good men of the towne were in their beddes this was the .xvii. day of Iuly thus they came to the gate and brake the barriers they without brake downe the barriers there so that euery man entred Than they of the towne began to styre but that was to late for they were taken in their houses as many as were founde in harnesse and at defence were slayne with out mercy Thus the good towne of Dan was taken wherein was founde great richesse and specially the sellers full of Maluesey and wyne Granade And it was shewed me howe there was great richesse there of theÌ„ of Bruges whiche they had brought thyder for feare that they had of rebellyon of the coÌ„mon people ERauÌ„ces Atreman whan he sawe that he was lorde of Dan he was greatly reioysed and sayd Nowe haue I well kept my promyse with them of Gaunte This towne shall serue vs well to maister Bruges Sluse Ardenbourcke Than incontynent he made a crye that no man shulde be so hardy to touche or do any displeasure to any lady or geÌ„tylwoman in the towne There was the same tyme
discended fro hym Sir quod I all this might well be ther is no thyng but that may fall but they of Armynake are right stronge and so therby this countrey shal be euer in warre and stryfe but sir I pray you shewe me the iust cause why the warre first moued bytwene them of Foiz and Armynake I wyll shewe you ê™ the knight I ensure you it is a marueylous warre for as they saye eche of theÌ„ haue cause Sir aunciently about a huÌ„dred yere past there was a lorde in Byerne called Gascone a ryght valyant man in armes is buryed in the freres right solempnely at Ortaise and there ye may se what persone he was of stature and of body for in his lyfe tyme his pycture was made in latyn the whiche is yet there This Gascone lorde of Bierne had two doughters the eldest was maryed to the erle of Armynake that was thanÌ„e and the yongest to the erle of Foiz who as than was nephue to the kyng of Aragon and as yet therle of Foiz beareth his armes for he discended out of Aragon his armes are palle golde and goules And so it fortuned that this lorde of Biern had a gret warre agaynst the kynge of Spayne that was than who came through all Bisquay with a gret nombre of men of warre to entre in to Bierne The lorde Gascone of Bierne whan he was enformed of his comyng he assembled people on all sydes where he might get men of warre wrote letters to his two sonnes in lawe therle of Armynake and therle of Foiz that they shulde come to serue and ayde hym to defende his herytage These letters sene the erle of Foiz as sone as he myght asseÌ„bled his people prayed all his frendes so moche that he had a fyue huÌ„dred knightê and squiers armed and two thousande varlettes with speares dartes pauesses all a fote And so he came in to the countre of Bierne to serue his father who had of hym great ioye And so all they passed the bridge at Ortaise ouer the ryuer lodged bytwene Sanetere and thospytall the kyng of Spayne who had .xx. M. men was lodged nat far thens and ther the lorde Gascon of Bierne therle of foiz taryed for therle of Armynac thought euer that he wolde coÌ„e so taried for hi thre dayes and on the .iiii. day therle of Armynac sent his letters by an haraulde to the lorde Gascoine of Bierne and sente hym worde howe he myght nat come nor howe he hadde nothyng to do to beare armes for the countre of Bierne Whan the lorde Gascoyne herde those tidynges of excusacions and sawe howe heshulde haue none ayde nor conforte of the Erle of Armynake he was sore abasshed and demaunded counsayle of the erle of Foiz and of the other barones of Bierue howe they shulde maynteyne theÌ„ selfe Sir quod the erle of Foiz sithe we be here assembled let vs go and fight with our enemyes this counsayle was taken than they ordayned their people they were a twelfe huÌ„dred men of armes and sixe thousande men a fote The erle of Foiz tooke the first batayle and so came on the kyng of Spaygne and sette on his lodgynges And there was a great batayle and a fierse and slayne mo than ten thousande spayniardê and there therle of Foiz toke prisoners the kynge of Spaygnes sonne and his brother sent them to his father in lawe the lorde Gascoyne of Bierne who was in the areregarde there the spaynyerdes were so disconfyted that the erle of Foiz chased them to the porte saynt Adrian in Bisquay and the kynge of Spayne toke the abbey and dyde on the vesture of a monke or els he had ben taken Than the erle of Foiz retourned to the lorde Gascone of Bierne who made hym good chere as it was reason for he had saued his honour and kepte his countre of Bierne the whiche els was lykely to haue ben loste bycause of this batayle and disconfyture that the erle of Foiz made on the spaygnierdes and for the takyng of the kynges sonne and brother and the lorde of Bierne hadde peace with the spaygnierdes at his owne wyll And whan the lorde Gascoyne was retourned to Ortaise there before all the barons of Foiz and Bierne that were there present Hesayd to his sonne of Foiz Fayre sonne ye are my true and faithfull sonne ye haue saued myne honour and my couÌ„trey The erle of Armynake who hath maryed myne eldest doughter hath ercused hym selfe fro this busynesse and wolde nat come to defeÌ„de myne herytage wherin he shulde haue part Wherfore I saye that suche parte as he shulde haue by reason of my doughter he hath forfait and lost it And here clerely I enheryte you my sonne of Foiz after my dyscease of all the hoole lande and to your heyres for euer And I desyre wyll and commaunde all my subiectes to seale accorde and agre to the same And all answered howe they were well contente so to do Thus by this meanes as I haue shewed you aunciently the erles of Foiz were lordes of the countre of Bierne and bare the crye armes name and had the profyte therof Howe be it for all this they of Arminake had nat their clay me quyte This is the cause of the warre by twene Foiz and Armynake By my faythe sir than quod I ye haue well declared the mater I neuer herde it before And nowe that I knowe it I shall putte it in perpetuall memorie if god gyue me grace to retourne in to my countrey But sir if I durste I wolde fayne demaunde of you one thynge by what insydent the erle of Foiz sonne dyed Thafie the knyght studyed a lytell and sayd Sir the maner of his dethe is right pytuous I wyll nat speke therof Whan ye come to Ortaise ye shall fynde theÌ„ that wyll shewe you if ye demaunde it And than I helde my peace and we rode tyll we came to Morlens ⸪ ⸫ Of the great vertuousnesse and largesse that was in therle of Foiz and the maner of the pytuouse dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Cap. xxvi THe next day we departed and roode to Dyner to MouÌ„tgarbell and so to Ercye there we dranke And by sonne setting we came to Ortaise The knight a lighted at his owne lodgynge I a lyghted at the Mone wher dwelte a squier of the erles Erualton de Pyne who well receyued me bycause I was of Fraunce Sir Spayne of Leon wente to the castell to therle and founde hym in his galarye for he had but dyned a lytell before For the erles vsage was alwayes that it was hyghe noone or he arose out of his bedde and supped euer at mydnight The knight shewed hym howe I was come thider and incontynent I was sente for to my ladgynge for he was the lorde of all the worlde that moost desyred to speke with strauÌ„gers to here tidynges Whan the erle sawe me he made me good chere reteyned me as
of his house wher me was bycause I had brought with me a boke whiche I made at the conteÌ„placion of Vmslance of Boesme duke of Luzenbourge and of Brabant Whiche boke was called the Melyader conteyninge all the songes baladdes rundeaux and vyrelayes whiche the gentyll duke had made in his tyme whiche by imagynacyon I had gadered toguyder whiche boke the erle of Foiz was gladde to se And euery night after supper I reed theron to hym and whyle I reed there was none durst speke any worde bycause he wolde I shulde be well vnderstande wherin he tooke great solace And whan it came to any mater of questyon than he wolde speke to me nat in Gascoyne but in good and fayre frenche And of his estate and house I shall somewhat recorde for I taryed thereso long that I might well parceyue and knowe moche This erle Gascone of Foiz with whom I was at that tyme he was of a fyftie yere of age and nyne and I say I haue in my tyme sene many knightes kynges princes other but I neuer sawe none lyke hym of personage nor of so fayre forme nor so well made His vysage fayre sanguyne smylyng his eyen gray and amorous where as he lyst to set his regarde in euery thyng he was so parfite that he can nat be praised to moche He loued that ought to be beloued hated that ought to be hated He was a wyse knyght of highe enterprise and of good counsayle he neuer had myscreant with hym He sayd many orisons euery daye a nocturne of the psalter matyns of our lady of the holy goost and of the crosse and dirige euery day he gaue fyue florens in small money at his gate to poore folkes for the loue of god he was large and courtesse in gyftes He coulde ryght well take where it parteyned to hym and to delyuer agayne where as he ought He loued houÌ„des of all beestes wynter and somer He loued huntyng he neuer loued folly outrage nor foly larges Euery moneth he wolde knowe what he spended He tooke in his countre to receyue his reuenewes and to serue him notable ê‘sons that is to saye .xii. receyuouts and euer fro .ii. monethes to two monethes two of them shulde serue for his receyte For at the two monethes ende he wolde change and put other two in to that offyce and one that he trusted best shulde be his comptroller and to hym all other shulde accompt and the comptroller shulde accoÌ„pt to hym by rolles and bokes written and thaccoÌ„ptes to remayne styll with therle he had certeyne cofers in his chambre out of the whiche ofte tymes he wolde take money to gyue to lordê knyghtes and squyers suche as came to hym for none shulde departe fro him without some gift and yet dayly multiplyed his treasure to resyst the adueÌ„tures and fortunes that he douted He was of good and easy acquayntance with euery man and amorously wolde speke to theÌ„ He was shorte in counsayle and answers He had four secretaries and at his risyng they must euer be redy at his hande without any callynge And whan any letter were delyuered him and that he had reed it than he wolde calle them to write agayne or els for some other thynge In this estate therle of Foiz lyued at mydnight whan he came out of his chambre in to the hall to supper he had euer before hym .xii. torches brennyng borne by .xii. varlettes standyng before his table all supper they gaue a gret light and the hall euer full of knightes and squyers many other tables dressed to suppe who wolde There was none shulde speke to hym at his table but if he were called his meate was lightlye wylde soule the legges and wyngê alonely and in the day he dyd but lytell eate and drike He had great pleasure in armony of instrumeÌ„tes he coude do it right well hym selfe he wolde haue songes song before him he wolde gladlye se conseytes and fantesies at his table And whan he had sene it than he wolde sende it to the other tables bruely all this I consydred aduised And or I came to his court I had ben in many courtes of kynges dukes princes erles and great ladyes but I was neuer in none that so well liked me nor ther was none more reioysed dedes of armes than the erle dyde There was sene in his hall chaÌ„bre and court knightes and squyers of honour goyng vp downe and talkyng of armes and of amours All honour ther was founde all maner of tidyngê of euery realme and countre ther might be herde for out of euery couÌ„tre there was resort for the valyantnesse of this erle Ther I was enfourmed of the moost parte of the dedes of armes that was done in Spayne in Portyngale in Aragon in Nauar in Englande in Scotlande and in the fronters and lymitacions of LaÌ„gue docke For I sawe come thyder to therle while I was there knightes and squyers of all nacyons And so I was enformed by them by the erle him selfe of all thynges that I demauÌ„ded Ther I enqÌ„red howe Gascon therles son died for ser Espayn of Leon wolde nat shewe me any thing therof somoch I enqÌ„red that an auÌ„cient squyer a notable maÌ„shewed the mater to me began thus True it is quod he that the erle of Foiz and my lady of Foiz his wife agreeth nat well toguyder nor haue nat done of a long season And the discorde bytwene theÌ„ first moued by the kyng of Nauar who was brother to the lady For the kyng of Nauar pledged him selfe for the lorde Dalbret whom the erle of Foiz had in prisone for the soÌ„me of fyftie thousande frankes And the erle of Foiz who knewe that the kyng of Nauarr was craftie malycious in the beginnyng wolde nat trust hym wherw t the countesse of Foiz had great displeasur and indignacyon agaynst the erle her husbande sayd to hym Sir ye repute but small honour in the kyng of Nauar my brother whaÌ„ ye wyll nat trust hym for fyftie M. frankes thoughe ye haue no more of the armynakes nor of the labrisyence than ye haue it ought to suffyce also ser ye knowe well ye shulde assigne out my dower whiche mouÌ„teth to fyftie thousande fraÌ„kes whiche ye shulde put in to the haÌ„des of my brother the kyng of Nauarr Wherfore sir ye can nat be yuell payed Dame quod he ye saye trouthe but if I thought that the kyng of Nauarr wolde stoppe the payment for that cause the lorde Dalbret shulde neuer haue gone oute of Ortayse and so I shulde haue ben payed to the last penny And sithe ye desyre it I wyll do it nat for the loue of you but for the loue of my sonne So by these wordes and by the kyng of Nauars oblygacion who became dettoure to the erle of Foiz the lorde Dalbret was delyuered quyte and became frenche was maryed in FrauÌ„ce to the suffer of the duke
of Burbone and payed at his ease to the king of Nauar the soÌ„me of fyftie thousande frankes for his raunsome For the whiche soÌ„me the kyng was bouÌ„de to therle of Foiz but he wolde nat sende it to the erle Than the erle of Foiz sayd to his wyfe Dame ye must go in to Nauarre to the kynge youre brother and shewe hym howe I am nat well content with hym that he wyll nat sende me that he hath receyued of myne the lady answered howe she was redy to go at his coÌ„mauÌ„dement And so she departed and rode to Panpylone to the kynge her brother who receyued her with moche ioye the lady dyd her message fro poynt to poynt Than the kyng answered fayre suster the soÌ„me of money is yours therle shulde gyue it for your dowre it shall neuer go out of the realme of Nauarr sithe I haue it in possessyon Ah sir quod the lady by this ye shall sette great hate bytwene therle my husbande you if ye holde your purpose I dare nat retoure agayne in to the countie of Foiz for my husbande wyll slee me he wyll saye I haue disceyued him I can nat tell quod the kyng what ye wyll do outher tarye or deê‘te but as for the money I wyll nat departe fro it it parteyneth to me to kepe it for you but it shal neuer go out of Nauer the countesse coude haue none other answere of the kyng her brother And so she taryed styll in Nauar and durst nat retourne agayne The erle of Foiz whan he sawe the dealynge of the kynge of Nauar he began to hate his wyfe and was yuell content with her howe be it she was in no faute but that she returned nat agayne whan she hadde done her message but she durst nat for she knewe well therle her husbaÌ„de was cruell where he toke displeasure Thus the mater standeth The erles sonne called Gascone grewe and waxed goodly was maryed to the doughter of therle of Armynake a fayre lady suster to therle that nowe is The lorde Bertrande of Armynake and by the contuÌ„ctyon of that maryage ther shulde haue ben peace bytwene Foiz Armynake The chylde was a fyftene or sixtene yere of age and resembled rightwell to his father On a tyme he desyred to go into Nauar to se his mother and his vncle the kynge of Nauarr whiche was in anyuell hour for hym for all this countre Whan he was come in to Nauarre he had there good there and taryed with his mother a certayne space and than toke his leaue but for all that he coude do he coude nat gette his mother out of Nauer to haue gone with hym in to Foiz for she demannded if the erle had coÌ„maunded hym so to do or no and he answered that whan he departed therle spake nothyng therof Therfore the lady durst nat go thider but so taryed styll Than the chylde wente to Panpylone to take his leaue of the kyng his vncle The kyng made hym great chere and taryed hym there a ten dayes and gaue to him great giftes and to his men also the last gyfte that the kyng gaue hym was his dethe I shall shewe you howe Whan this geÌ„tylman shulde depte the kyng drewe hym a parte in to his chambre and gaue hym a lytell purse full of poudre which poudre was suche that if any creature lyueng dyd ete therof he shulde incoÌ„tynent dye without remedye Than the kynge sayd Gascone fayre nephue ye shall do as I shall shewe to you ye se howe the erle of Foiz your father wrongfully hath your mother my suster in gret hate wher of I am sore displeased and so ought ye to be Howe be it to performe all the mater and that your father shulde loue agayne your mother to that entent ye shall take a lytell of this powder and put it on some meate that your father maye eate it but beware that no man se you as soone as he hath eaten it he shall entende to nothynge but to haue agayne his wyfe and so to loue her euer after whiche ye ought greatly to desyre And of this that I shewe you let no man knowe but kepe it secrete or els ye lese all the dede The chylde who thought all that the kyng sayd to hym had ben true sayde Sir it shal be done as ye haue deuysed and so departed fro Panpylone and retourned to Ortayse the erle his father made hym good chere demaunded tidynges of the kyng of Nauar and what gyftes he had gyuen him And the chylde shewed hym howe he had gyuen hym dyuers and shewed hym all excepte the purse with the pouder Ofte tymes this yong Gascone yuan his bastarde brother laye toguyder for they loued toguyder lyke bretherne and were lyke arrayed and apparelled for they were nere of a greatnesse and of one age And it happened on a tyme as their clothes laye toguyder on their beddes yuan sawe a purse at Gascons cote sayd What thyng is this that ye beare euer about you Wherof Gascoyne had no ioye and sayd yuan gyue me my cote ye haue nothyng to do therwith and all that day after Gascone was pensyue And it fortuned a thre dayes after as god wolde that the erle shulde be saued Gascone and his brother yuan fell out toguyder playeng at tennes and Gascone gaue hym a blowe and the chylde wente in to his fathers chambre and wepte and the erle as than hadde herde masse And whan the erle sawe him wepe he said Sonne yuan What aylest thou Sir quod he Gascone hath beaten me but he were more worthy to be beaten than I. Why so quod therle and incontynent suspected some thyng By my faithe sir ê™ he sithe he retourned out of Nauar he beareth priuely at his brest a purse full of pouder I wote nat what it is nor what he wyll do therwith But he hath sayde to me ones or twyse that my lady his mother shulde shortely be agayne in your grace and better be loued than euer she was Peace quod the erle and speke no more and shewe this to no man lyuenge Sir quod he no more I shall Than the erle entred in to ymaginacyonâ— and so came to the houre of his dyner and wasshed and sat downe at his table in the hall Gascone his son was vsed to sette downe all his seruyce and to gyue the sayes And whan he had sette downe the first course the erle cast his eyen on hym sawe the strynges of the purse hangyng at his bosome Than his blode chauÌ„ged said Gascone coÌ„e byder I wyll speke with the in thyne eare The chylde came to him and the erle toke hym by the bosome and founde out the purse with his knyfe cut it fro his bosome the chylde was abasshed stode styll and spake no worde and loked as pale as asshes for feare began to trymble The erle of Foiz opyned the purse and toke of the pouder and
to se them with a good wyll sayd the kynge Then the .ii. messagers kneled downe before the kynge Laurence Fongase delyuered his letters the kynge toke them and caused them to be redde also they delyuered letters to the erle of Cambrydge to the erle of Bokynghā eche of them redde theyr letters The kyng answered the messageres ryght swetely and sayd ¶ Syrs ye are welcome in to this countrey your comynge dothe vs grete ioy and ye shal not departe without answere suche as shall please you and all your busynes let myne vncles here haue them in remembraunce so they thanked the kynge and departed out of y◠counsayle chambre and wente downe in to the palays abydynge for the duke of Lancastre who taryed tyll it was hyghe noone Then the duke of Lancastre toke his two bretherne with hym to dyner and wente by water and these messageres with thē The erle of Cambrydge knewe ryght well the grete mayster of saynt Iames and Laurence of Fougase for he had sene them before in Portyngale wherfore after dyner he comoned with thē of dyuers thynges in the presence of his other two bretherne and demaunded them of the maryage of Castell and of her that sholde haue ben his doughter in lawe the lady Beautyce To all his demaundes the ambassadours answered wysely and truely wherby the lordes were ryght well contente and pleased TRewe it was that before these ambassadours were comen into Englonde the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had dyuers counsayles togyder for the ryght they claymed by theyr wystes The Erle of Cambrydge as ye haue herde before was not well contente with kynge Ferant of Portyngale nor with the men of warre there for they had lodged .xv. dayes in the feldes before the Castellyans and yet kynge Ferant nor the Portyngales wolde neuer fyght with thē yet the erle the same tyme shewed the kynge his defaulte sayd syr I haue here in my company of poore Englysshe mē a C. speres a M. archers And al we are wyllyng to fyght with our enemyes and to abyde the aduenture that god wyll sende vs but kynge Ferant answered euer that he was not counsayled to fyght wherfore when the Erle saw that he departed thens and toke with hym agayne his sone out of Portyngale and when he was departed then the kynge of Portyngale accorded with kynge Iohn̄ of Castell maryed his doughter to hym to make the peas and this treatye was made by syr Iohn̄ Audre a knyght of portyngale The kynge there had all his trust in hym The kynge of Portyngale demaunded of his doughter whether she had rather haue the kynge of Castel or the erle of Cambrydge sone She answered and sayd howe she loued better Iohn̄ of Englonde then Iohn̄ of Castel The kynge demaunded why she sayd soo she answered bycause Iohn̄ of Englonde was a goodly personage and of her age that was the cause she wolde not haue the kynge of Castell howbeit her fader to haue peas with the Spanyardes made that maryage Also the erle had sayd to the duke of Lancastre his broder that kynge Ferant ones deed he doubted that the comons of the royalme of Portyngale wolde rebell agaynst the lady Beautryce for the moost parte of the royalme For al that theyr kynge had maryed her moder the lady Elyanoure of Coygne yet they helde not the kynges doughter to be borne in lawfull maryage but reputed her as a bastarde and mermured theron whyle the erle was there Wherfore he was the gladder to take away his sone thens The duke of Lancastre to whom y◠matter touched nerer then to the erle of Cambrydge bycause he had maryed the eldest syster heyre to Castell and he had a fayre chylde by the lady Constaunce his wyfe wherfore he euer desyred to be truely and iustly enfourmed of that busynes in those partyes and dyd set his mynde howe he myght exalte and further his tytle he sawe clerely that as then he coulde not haue so good an entre in to Castell as by the royalme of Portyngale specyally seynge howe he was desyred and requyred of the kyng of Portyngale and of the barons and comons of the royalme also consyderynge howe the kynge of Portyngale that was then was a noble sage prynce and valyaunt seynge howe he had dyscomfyted the kynge of Castel in playne batayle and all his puyssaunce Wherby the duke the soner enclyned to go in to Portyngale And also the kynge of Englonde and his counsayle was agreed therto but to the entente to be iustly enfourmed of all the busynes state and condycyon of the countrey of Castell and of the ryght that the lady Beautryce claymed to the crowne of Portyngale and also of the ryght of kynge Iohn̄ of Portyngale whome the comons had crowned to theyr kynge For this entente on a daye the duke made a dyner to these ambassadours of Portyngale in his owne lodging and after dyner he made euery man to departe called these ambassadours to hym ryght amorously and demaunded of them of the busynes of Portyngale and bycause that Laurence Fougase coulde speke Frensshe the duke addressed his wordes vnto hym sayd Laurence I requyre you to shew me from poynte to poynte the conducyon and maner of your londe of Portyngale what hath fallen there and in Castell syth my broder the erle of Cambrydge was there for the kynge of Portyngale hath wryten to me that there is no man in Portyngale that can enforme me more iustly then ye can do and in this ye shall do me a grete pleasure syr sayd y◠squyer I shall fulfyll your pleasure and then began to speke and sayd in this maner Syrsyth the departure of your broder the erle of Cambrydge out of Portyngale there hath fallen grete trouble and dyscencyō in the royalme and in grete aduenture to haue ben lost but thanked be god the busynesses there are as nowe in good poynte and fermely stablysshed but and god had not wrought by his grace the matter had gone euyll and all thrughe the defaulte of kynge Ferrant last dysseased This is the oppynyon of the moost parte of the royalme for kynge Ferrant in his dayes loued sore a lady wyfe to a knyght of his called syr Iohn̄ Laurence of Coygne and bycause of her beautye he wolde haue her by force The lady withstode the kynges desyre as longe as she myght but at the laste he had her and sayd Dame I shall make you quene of Portyngale for thoughe I loue you it is not for your hurte but to exalte you for I wyl mary you Then the lady on her knees wepynge sayd syr sauynge your dyspleasure I can haue none honour to be quene of Portyngale for you knowe and so doth all the worlde that I haue an husbande all redy and haue hadde this .v. yere Elyanoure sayd the kynge make none escuse for I wyll haue none other wyfe but you but I shall quyte
the pynet Then they of the busshment brake out on them and cryed Barroys of barres Then the foragers were abasshed for the moost parte of them were vnarmed they had a syxe socore archers who dyd put themselfe in good ordre of defence and began to shote and dyd hurte and wounde men and horses and when theyr shot was past they cast away theyr bowes and fell to other defence with suche wepons as they had some hyd them to saue themselfe what sholde I make longe tale of these Englysshe foragers there were slayne a C C. and the other saued themselfe as wel as they myght in busshes hedges where as horsmen coulde not come to them suche as fled came to Coulongne there shewed how the barroys of barres had ouerthrowen them then they of the oost began to styre and to arme them syr Thomas Moreaux marshal of the oost with a CCCCC mounted on theyr horses with the penon of saynt George set forth with grete desyre to fynde the frensshe men and rode soo longe that they came to the Espynet and there they founde theyr men lyenge deed and no thynge elles for the frensshe men were departed soo they retourned without doynge of ony thyng elles and when they were wtin halfe a myle of theyr oost they sawe where the frensshmen entred in to theyr garyson of Coulongne Wherwith they were sore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it and that day the marshal was sore blamed of some of the oost in that he sente forthe or suffered to go forth ony foragers without sure conduyte consyderynge theyr enemyes beynge lodged so nere them in a sure holde and of suche nombre able to ouerthrowe .v. or a .vi. C. foragers the duke of Lancastre the Constable so blamed hym that he was sore ashamed therof but he excused hymselfe sayd howe they had ben forth more then .x. tymes before had no hurte Well sayd the duke take better hede another tyme for a case may fall in an houre or in a daye that peraduenture shall not fall agayne in an hundreth dayes ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre his oost when they had soiourned a momoneth at Coulongne then they departed rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Ca. xlviii ANd when the duke of LaÌ„castre had soiourned at Coulongne the space of a moneth and more then he was couÌ„sayled to dyslodge theÌ„s to drawe towardes saynt Iames in Galyce where was a better countrey and a more plentyfull for men and horses so he departed and rode in thre batayles Fyrst the marshal with CCC speres .vi. C. archers Then the duke with CCCC spere and all the ladyes and damoyselles in his company and in the arrere garde the constable syr IohnÌ„ Hollande with a CCCC speres .vii. C. archers Thus they rode fayre easely in .iii. batayles and were rydynge thre dayes bytwene Coulongne and saynt Iames The countrey of Galyce was sore afrayde of the dukes comynge thyder for they fered gretely his puyssauÌ„ce The marshall with his vowarde came to Compostelia where the body of saynt Iames lyeth and the towne was closed agaynst hym howbeit there were no men of warre there in garyson but men of the towne that kepte it for there were no frensshmen wolde vndertake to kepe it to the vtteraunce for it was not stronge ynoughe to be kepte agaynst suche men of warre as the duke had brought thyder The marshall of the oost sente thyder an heraulde of armes to knowe theyr ententes what they wolde do the heraulde came to the barryers there fouÌ„de the capytayne of ytwarde called Alphons of sene then the heraulde sayd syr capytayne here a lytel besyde is the duke of Lancastres marshall who hath sent me hyder he wolde gladly speke with you Wel sayd that capytayne it pleseth me wel let hym come hyder we shal speke with hym the heraulde retourned shewed the marshall as they sayd then the marshall with .xx. speres with hym wente thyder fouÌ„de at the barryers the capytayne certayne of the chefe heedes of the towne then the marshal lyghted on fote .iii. with hym the lorde Basset syr WyllyaÌ„ Fremyton then the marshall sayd ye capytayne your men My lorde the duke of LaÌ„castre my lady your lady of Lancastre doughter to kynge Don Peter your lorde kynge hath sent me hyder to speke with you to know what ye wyll do or say outher to receyue them as ye showe do your souerayne lorde lady or elles they to assayle you take you perforce surely knowe for trouth if ye be taken perforce al ye within the towne shall suffre dethe with the swerde to gyue ensample to all other syr sayd the capytayne we wyl not vse vs but by reason we wolde gladly acquyte vs to them that we belonge we know ryght well that my lady CoÌ„stauÌ„ce or Lancastre was doughter to kynge Don Petero of Castelâ—s that if kynge Don Peter had abyden peasybly styl kyng she had ben then ryghtfull enherytoure of Castell but the matter chauÌ„ged otherwyse for al the royalme of Castel abode peasybly to kyngeÌ„ Henry his broder by reason of the batayle that was at NaÌ„tuel so that we al of the countrey sware to holde kynge Henry for our kyng he kepte it as longe as he lyued also we haue sworne to holde kyng IohnÌ„ his sone for our kyng but syr shewe vs what haue they of Coulongne done or sayd to you for it maye be so syth ye haue lyne there more then a moneth that they haue made some maner of treaty with you that is true sayd the marshal we are at a treaty with them or elles they had not scaped as they dyd yet the towne of Coulongne is twyse so stronge as is this towne I shall shew you what treaty they haue made with vs the meÌ„ of the towne haue pryuely made a composycyon withâ— vs saynge how they wyll do euery thyng accordynge as ye do but though ye wyl suffre yourselfe to be assayled and dystroyed yet soo wyll not they do for yf the countrey of Galyce do yelde them to my lorde the duke and to my lady they wyll do in lyke wyse and in this we haue good pledges and suffycyent that is wel sayd sayd the capytayne we in lykewyse wyll holde the same treatye there be in the royalme many mo good cytees townes ryde on forth leue vs in pease we wyll do as they do in that we wyl delyuer you good pledges ostages Nay syr not so sayd the marshall My lorde the duke nor my lady wyl not suffre that for they wyl come lodge here in this towne kepe theyr estates as they sholde do in theyr owne herytage therfore answere vs shortely what ye wyll do outher to yelde or to be assayled taken by force destroyed syr sayd the capytayne gyue vs lytell leysure that we may speke togyder
them prouysyon out of the towne for theyr money thus do if ye can I thȳke they wyll be glad of the obeysaunce for they haue many moo townes to wynne in Galyce wherfore I thynke they wyll the lyghtlyer go hous ye say well syrsayd they we shal do thus syth you counsayle vs to do it so they were determyned on this purpose and so passed y◠nyght as well as they myght and in the mornyng at the sone rysynge they ordeyned certayne mē to go out of the towne instructed and charged what truce they sholde make with the marshal yf they coulde there were .vii. of them they came to the marshall who was redy to retourne to the saulte and kneled downe salutynge hym and sayd syr we be sente hyder to you fro them of the towne of Ponce voyde who haue commaunded vs to say in theyr names that gladly they wyll put themselfe vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches in maner fourme as they of Coulongne hath done and as for prouysyon ye shall haue ynoughe out of the towne payenge courteysly therfore and syr it is the entencyon of them that hathe sente vs hyder that ye sholde not enforce thē ony further nor you nor none other to entre in to the towne with ony army but yf you some of your company wyll entre symply ye shall be welcome The marshall had an englysshman by hym that vnderstode the speche of Galyce he shewed the marshall in Englysshe the wordes that they had spoken The marshall answered and sayd syrs shortely retourne agayne to your towne and cause to come to the barryers suche as sente you hyder to speke there with me I wyl gyue thē assuraūce this day and to morowe the sone rysyng without we be agreed so they departed and wente to theyr towne and founde at the barryers the moost parte of them of the towne there they made relacyon of theyr message sayenge howe incontynent the marshall wolde come to the barryers to speke with them and yf ye be not company ynowe sende for suche mo as ye wyl haue so then all the notablest men of the towne drewe togyder then the marshall with a .xl. speres came thyder and alyghted came to the barryers and sayd thus YE syrs of Ponce voyde ye sente to vs .vii. of your men and I byleue surely ye dyd put your trust in them and they sayd howe ye wolde gladly knowledge my lorde the duke and my lady for your soueraynes in maner and fourme as they of Coulongne hath done but ye wyl not haue none other gouernours but your selfe within the towne I pray you what soueraynte sholde they haue ouer you without they had men set in the towne vnder them elles when ye wyll ye wyll be vnder hym and when ye lyst forsake hym surely it is myne entencyon and al my company to ordeyne you a good capytayne true wyse to gouer you and to mynystre true Iustyce and to put out al offycers set there by the kynge of Castel and yf ye wyll not do thus answere me for we are determyned what we wyll do then they desyred a lytell to take counsayle togyder and so they dyd and then sayd syr we haue good trust in you but we doubte these pyllers robbers for we haue ben sore beten with suche people in tyme past when syr Bettram of Clesquy and the bretons came fyrst in to this countrey for they lifte vs nothynge therfore we fere nay syrs fere not that sayd the marshall there shall noo pyllers robbers entre in to your towne nor ye shall lese nothynge by vs for we desyre noo thynge but obeysaunce and so with those wordes they were accorded then the marshall and certayne of his men entred in to the towne and the oost abode without in tentes and pauylyous and there was sent out of the towne to the lordes .iiii. somers laded with good wyne and as moche brede polayne grete plenty the marshal abode all that day in the towne set offycers there for the duke of Lācastre and he made a capytayne there a Galysyan who had alwayes ben in Englande with the lady Custaunce with whom they of the towne were well contented the nexte day the marshall retourned to the oost THē he determined to go to another towne a .vi. myles thens in Galyce called Dyghos so rode forth thyderwarde when they were wtin .ii. myles they sent a messagere to the towne to know whether they wolde rebel or elles yelde thē as they of Ponce voyde haue done yf not they sholde be saulted the nexte daye they of Dyghos made no care for that message and sayd we care for none assaulte we haue bē assayled or this tyme lost nothynge whē that answere was sayd to the marshall he sayd by saynt George and they shall be fyersly assayled are these vyllaynes so proude to gyue suche an answere so they passed that nyght and toke theyr ease the nexte mornynge at the sone rysyng they dyslodged and soo came before the towne lyghted a foote and set them in ordre to go to the assaulte they within made them redy to defende them theyr towne this towne was not grete but it was stronge and I byleue yf they had had ony good mē of warre in theyr towne the englysshmen had not so soone haue had thē for as sone as they within the towne saw how they were assayled felte the arrowes of the archers of Englande sawe howe dyuers of thē were sore hurte for they were but euyl harney sed then they began to be abasshed and sayd why doo we suffre ourselfe thus to be slayne hurte for the kynge of Castell it were as good for vs to haue to our lorde the duke of Lancastre syth he hath maryed the doughter of kyng Don peter as the sone of kyng Henry we know well yf we be taken perforce we shall all dye we se no comforte fro no parte it is more then a moneth syth we sent to the kynge of Castel to Burgus in Spayne there it was shewed to his counsayle the peryl that we were in for we knewe wel the englysshmen wolde come on vs as they do the kyng then spake to the knyghtes of Fraūce who are of his specyall coūsayle but they gaue hym counsayle to sende noo garyson hyder nor to noo parte of Galyce by semynge the kynge had as leue all Galyce were lost as saued he answered to our messagers syrs retourne to your towne and do the best you can for yourselfe wherby we may well vnderstande that we nede not to suffre ourselfe to be slayne nor taken perforce and therwith the men of the towne came to the gate mounted vp to a wyndowe made sygne to speke to treate they were herde the marshall came thyder demaunded what they wolde they answered sayd syr marshall cause your men to sease
smaller fauoure the duke to his demauÌ„de dyssymuled sayd holde your peas syr Olyuer where shalde I gete .iii. or .iiii. M. frankes that is demaunded for theyr raunsomes Syr sayd the constable yf the countrey of Bretayne sawe that you were wel wyllynge to the matter they wolde be contente to pay a taxe â—a fowage to delyuer the pryson ers who are lyke to dye in prison without god helpe them sy-Olyuer sayd the duke as for my countrey of bretayne shall not be taxed for me my cosynes haue grete prynces of theyr lygnage as the frenssh kynge and the duke of Anioy they may helpe to delyuer them for they haue alwayes susteyned the warre agaynst me and when I sware to ayde to theyr delyueraunce myne entencyon was none otherwyse but that the frensshe kynge or theyr kynsmen sholde pay theyr raunsomes the constable coulde gete of the duke none other answere thus as I haue begon to shewe you The constable sawe clerely howe the erle of buâ—kyngham the barons knyghtes of englande suche as hadde ben with hym in the voyage thrughe fraunce so in to Bretayne were nothynge contente with the duke of Bretayne bycause he wolde not open his townes to them lyke as he had promysed when he departed out of Englande but whyles the englysshmen lay before wennes in the subbarbes of Nanibont they endured grete pouerte for they hadde nothynge to ete and theyr horses dyed for fawte of foode The englysshmen were fayne to gather the thystelles in the feldes braye them in a morter tempre it with water and make ther of a paast so bake it to ete suche pouerte they endured and they sayd amonge themselfe the duke doth not acquyte hymselfe nobly agaynst vs syth we haue put hyÌ„ in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne and yf we sholde do well we sholde take it fro hym agayne and gete out of pryson IohnÌ„ of Bretayne his aduersary make hym duke the countrey loueth hym better then he that is now duke We can not better be reuenged of hym nor soner to cause hym to lese the duchy of Bretayne the constable of fraunce knewe ryght well what wordes sore murmuracyons the englysshmen had amonge themselfe agaynst the duke of Bretayne wherwith he was nothynge dyspleased for euery euyll worde that they spake he wolde it had ben .xii. Howbeit he made therof no semblaunt no more dyd a squyer of Bretayne to whome he had broken his mynde to go in to englande on his message this squyer was called Rollant and so it was that syr IohnÌ„ of Harleton capytayne of Chyerbourge was with the constable at the castel Iosselyn vnder saufconduyte and there the constable made hym good chere and to his company and kepte the englysshmen as good company as he coulde the rather therby to gete theyr good wylles then the constable squyer auaunced forth spake to syr IohnÌ„ Harleton before the constable sayd syr IohnÌ„ ye sholde do me a grete pleasure to do one thynge for me whiche shall cost you nothynge syr sayd yâ— knyght for the loue of the constable though it be to my cost I am contente to do that I can for you what is that I sholde do syr sayd the squyer that I myght be assured to go in to Englande to semyne olde mayster IohnÌ„ of Bretayne the grettest desyre that I haue in this worlde is to se hym by my fayth sayd syr IohnÌ„ harlton it shal not be let for me but that ye shal go as soone as I am retourned to Chyerbourge I wyll go in to englande ye shal go with me I shal bryng you thyder for your request is not to be refused syr sayd the squyer I thanke you and I repute it for a grete curtoysy Thus this squyer wente with syr IohnÌ„ Harlton to Chyerbourg and when he had made euery thyng redy he departed and entred in to the see with IohnÌ„ Rollant in his company so came to London and brought the squyer to the castell where as IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was who knewe hym not at the fyrst metynge at the last he called hym to his remembraunce so spake togyder there he shewed IohnÌ„ of Bretayne howe that the constable of fraunce dyd wolde do his payne for his delyueraunce howe can that be sayd IohnÌ„ of Bretayne syr sayd yâ— squyer I shall shewe you my lorde the constable hath a doughter to mary so that yf ye wyll swere promyse when ye be retourned in to Bretayne to take her to your wyfe he wyll delyuer you out of englande he hath founde well the meanes how syr howe say you wyll ye do thus ye truely sayd he ye shall retourne to the constable say in my name howe there is nothynge I may doo to be delyuered but I wyll do it as for his doughter gladly I wyll take her to my wyfe thus the squyer IohnÌ„ of Bretayne departed passed out of englande retourned in to Bretayne recorded to the constable all that he had sene harde the coÌ„stable who desyred the aduauncement of his doughter as to be maried so highly as to IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was not neglygent in his busynes studyed for a meane in Englande to brynge aboute his purpose without he had founde out a meanes as he dyd he sholde neuer haue come to his purpose whiche was to gete the erle of Oxenforde on his parte who was most pryuy with the kynge of Englande as then but this matter was not shortly brought to passe for as longe as the duke of Lancastre was in englande and before his iourney in to spayne there was no dyscouerynge to the kynge of the tretye for delyueraunce of IohnÌ„ of Bretayne for when the erle of Buckyngham retourned out of Bretayne the renome ran thrughe al the royalme how the duke of Bretayne had falsely acquyted hym selfe to the Englysshmen wherfore was spoken all the euyll that coulde be deuysed then IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and to his vncles then it was sayd to hym IohnÌ„ of Bretayne yf ye wyll releue holde the duchy of Bretayne of the kynge of Englande ye shall be delyuered out of pryson and set in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne shall be ryght hyghly maryed in this countrey as ye ought to be for the duke of Lancastre woâ—de haue gyuen hym to his doughter Phylyp in maryage who was after quene of Portyngale IohnÌ„ of Bretayne answered that he wolde neuer agree to that tretye nor neuer wolde be enemye nor contrary to the crowne of Fraunce he sayd he was contente to take the duke of LaÌ„castres doughter in maryage soo he myght be delyuered out of pryson out of englande wheÌ„ they sawe he wolde do none otherwyse he was set agayne in pryson and after the erle or Oxenforde whom we called duke of Irelande sawe that the duke of Lancastre was gone out of englande in to Castell and
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâ—wyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of â—ur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌ„dynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌ„ges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ— to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ„ without to syr IohnÌ„ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ„ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
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
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
his owne countrey And also the duke of Burbon vncle to the frenche kyng cometh after with two M. speares and assone as he cometh he wyll set forwarde so that we be than at home in oure countreys or we can assemble togyder agayne as we be nowe out enemyes shall do vs great domage Thanne the kynge sayde Well than lette vs kepe styll the feldes in the name of god as for my men be fresshe ynough and are of good mynde to abyde the aduenture and I with them THus they determyned to abyde the coÌ„mynge of the duke of Burbon to se if they shulde be fought withall thanne or nat for they all demauÌ„ded nothinge but batayle The tyme went euer forwarde and the sonne mounted and the dayes chafed meruaylously for it was aboute mydsomer whan the sonne was in his strength and specially in Spayne and Granade and in the farre countreyes of Septentryon Nor after Aprell there fell no rayne nor swetnes fro Heuyn wherby euery thynge was brente on the erthe The englissh men eate grapes whan they myght get them and dranke of the hote wynes and the more they dranke the more they were set a fyre and therby brente their lyuers and longes for that dyete was contrary to their nature Englyssh men are norisshed with good metes and with ale which kepeth their bodyes in temper and there the nyghtes were hoote bycause of the great heate in the day and the mornyng meruaylously colde whiche dysceyued them For in the nyght they coulde suffre no thynge on them and so slepte all naked and in the mornynge colde toke them or they were waxe and that caste them in to feuers and flyxes without remedy And as well dyed great men as meane people ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe a haraulte was sente to the kinge of Castyle and howe thre knightes of Englande went to speke with the king of Castyle for a saueconduct for the dukes men to passe through his couÌ„trey Cap. C.iiii. BEholde nowe and se howe fortune tourned ye maye well beleue that the duke of Lancastre beynge in the realme of Castyle coulde neuer haue loste by batayle nor his men dyscomfetted nor loste his men as he dyd in that voyage by reason of sycknes And hym selfe also nygh deed And sir Iohan Holande who was constable of the hoost whan he sawe his frendes and men thus infected with this malady without remedy and herynge the complayntê of one and other sayeng eche to other Ah the duke of Lancastre hath brought vs to dye in Spaygne cursed be this voyage He wyll neuer haue Englysshman more to come out of Englande to serue hym He spurneth agaynst the pricke he wolde his men shulde kepe the countrey whan it is wonne And whan his men be all deed who shall thanne kepe it He sheweth nat that he can any skyll of the warre sythe he seeth that none cometh agaynst vs to fight in batayle why dothe he nat drawe than into Portugale or into some other place than he shulde nat haue the domage nor losse that he heth for thus we shall all dye without any strokes Whan sir Iohan Holande herde and vnderstode these wordes for the honoure and loue of his lorde the duke of Lancastre whose doughter he had maryed he came to the duke and sayd quickly to him Sir it must behoue you to take newe and shorte counsayle your people be in a harde case and lykely to dye by syckenesse if nede shulde fortune they are nat able to ayde you they be wery and in a harde case and their horses deed so that noble men and other are so discoraged that they are nat lyke to do you any good seruyce at this tyme. Than sayd the duke And what is beste than to do I wyll beleue counsaile for it is reason Syr quod the constable Me thynke it were beste ye gaue lycence to euery man to departe where as they thynke beste and your selfe to drawe outher into Portugale or into Galice for ye are nat in the case to ryde forewarde That is trewe quod the duke and so I wyll do Saye you to them howe I do gyue them leaue to departe whyder it please theÌ„ outher in to Castyle or in to Fraunce so they make no false treaty with our enemyes for I se well for this season our warre is paste And paye euery man their wages and rewarde theym for their costes Syr quod the constable this shall be done SIr Iohan Holande made it be knowen by a trumpet in euery lodgyng the entencion of the duke of Lancastre howe he dyd gyue lycence to euery man to departe whyder they lyst and that euery capytayne shulde speke with the constable and they shulde be so payed that they shulde be content This tydynges reioysed some suche as desyred to departe to chaunge the ayre Than the barones and knyghtes of Englande toke counsayle howe they myght retourne in to Englande it was thought impossyble for them to retourne by the see for they had no shyppes redy and were farre fro any porte And also their men were so sicke with feuers and flixes that there were many deed and so sicke that they coude nat endure the trauayle on the see So all thynges consydered they thought it best to repayre home thorough the realme of Fraunce Than some sayde howe maye that be for we be enemyes too all the realmes that we muste passe through First through Spayne for we haue made theym open warre The kynge of Nauer in lykewyse is ioyned in this warre with the kynge of Castyle also the kynge of Aragone for he is alyed with the frenche kynge and also he hath done to vs a great dyspite he hath take and layd in prison at Barselona the archebyhop of Burdeaux who wente thyder to demaunde the arerages that the realme of Aragonoweth to the kynge of Englande our soueraygne lorde And to sende to the frenche kyng it is harde for vs to do it is farre of and peraduenture whan oure messanger cometh to the kynge he is yonge and peraduenture his counsayle wyll do nothynge for vs. for sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce hateth vs mortally for he wyll say that the duke of Bretayn his great aduersary wyll become englissh Than some other that were of great wysdome and imaginacyon said All thinges consydred we thinke it best to assay the kyng of Castyle we thynke he wyll lyghtly condyscende to suffre vs to passe through his countrey peasably and to gette a saueconduete fro the kynges of Fraunce Aragon and Nauer THis counsayle was taken kepte and herde and a Haraulde called Derby was sente forthe to the kynge of Castyle with letters This haraulde rode forthe and came to Medena de campo and there he founde the kynge of Castyle and than he kneled downe and delyuered his letters And the kynge opened them and redde them they were written in frenche Whan he hadde well vnderstande them he turned hym
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
frendes dyd stoppe it Whan these lordes were come to the duke he was gladd specyally by the comynge of his two cosyns germayns the duke Aubert of Bauiers and the duke Oste his brother for he knewe well that they wolde nat his dyshonoure but rather to gyue hym good couÌ„sayle as they dyd Their counsayle was to shewe you breuely that he shulde sende some honorable persones for the duke of Lusenburge and of Brabant whome he helde in curtoyse prison in his castell of Nideque and so he dyd And whan he was come all those lordes dyd hym great honour as reason was And than they all departed togyder and came to Ayes and toke their lodgynges Than the duke Auberte and his brother and the foresayd prelates who were the meanes of this treatye they sore entreated the emperour and his counsayle and shewed the emperoure howe the duke of Iuliers his cosyn of his owne free wyll was come to se hym and to put hym selfe poorely with out any reseruacyon into his obeysaunce and commaundement and to knowledge hym for his soueraygne and liege lorde These swete and amyable wordes molefyed greatly the emperours ire that he had before Than the emperoure sayd Lette the duke come to me and so he dyde and kneled downe before the emperoure and sayde My ryght redoubted souerayne I beleue well ye are dyspleased with me bycause of your brother in lawe the duke of Brabante whome I haue helde longe in prison for the which cause I submytte my selfe to abyde your ordre and your counsayles To that worde themperour gaue none aunswere but his sonne sir Charles who was called kynge of Boesme aunswered and sayde Duke of Iulyers ye haue ben to outragyous to kepe our vncle so longe in prisone And if it were nat at the desyre of your well be loued cosyns duke Auberte and duke Oste of Bauyers this busynesse wolde haue ben soer layd to your charge than it is for ye haue well deserued to be hyghly punysshed but chaunge your copye so that we haue no cause to renew our yuell wylles agaynste you for ye do it wyll be costly to you Than the duke of Iulyers beynge on his kne before the emperoure where as he sate in his chayre imperiall sayde My ryght redoughted souerayne lorde by your puyssaunt hyghnes I knowledge my selfe to haue trespassed youre maieste in that I with an army came against my cosyn your vycaire of the empyre and in that I haue helde hym as my prisoner I delyuer hym vnto you freely and quyte and I requyre your grace that you nor he beare me any yuell wyll fro hence forthe Than the prelates and the princes there beynge presente to helpe forwarde his wordes sayde Ryght noble prince this suffyseth that your cosyn of Iulyers hath sayd Well quod the emperour we are content and so toke hym vp by the hande And as it was shewed me for the confyrmacion of more loue he kyst the duke on the mouth and also his sonne the kynge of Boesme And than the duke of Brabante was delyuered out of prison and all suche as were prisoners vnder the duke of Iulyers and were nat raunsomed before were delyuered quyte by reason of the composycion of the treatie and this done euery manne retourned to their owne The emperour wente to Prage in Almayne and the duke of Brabant in to Brabante and whanne the duke of Brabante was retourned than he reysed a newe tayle in his couÌ„trey to restore to his knightes parte of their domages ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Brabante dyed and howe the duke Guylliam of Guerles treated with the duches of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castels and what aunswere he had and how he made alyauÌ„ce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C.xiiii ⸪ ⸪ I Am yet wyllynge to treate of this matter more at lengthe to renforce this hystorye and to brynge it to the poynte that I wolde come vnto to declare the trouthe why Charles the frenche kyng came with a great puyssaunce in to Almayne I might haue shewed this before but I haue prolonged it for all thingê though the date and season be paste yet they ought to be shewed in this hystory for whan I knowe that the frenche kynge and the kynge of England began to be besy than I began to wake to procede this hystory more than I dyd before Therfore I saye thus Whan duke Wyncelant was returned in to the countrey clerely delyuered out of person as ye haue herde before Than he was in wyll to vysyte his landes and castels as well in the duchy of Luzenbourge as else where and toke his iourney to the good cytie of Strawesbourge throughe the lande of Fauquemount and behelde the thre castels whiche were the occasion of the duke of Guerles yuell wyll He founde theym stronge and fayre if he loued theÌ„ before he loued them moche better than and caused them to be newly fortyfied and set workemen a worke as masons carpeÌ„ters and dykemakers to amende euery place and at his departynge he set a valyaunt knyght to be soueraygne keper of these thre casteles This knyght was called sir Iohan Grosset who at the dukes commaundemente toke on hym the charge at his parell The duke passed further and vysited his couÌ„trey and at his pleasure retourned agayne in to Brabante for there was his abydynge In this season syr Iohan of Bloâ—s had wedded the olde lady and duches of Guerles for the herytage by right came to hym by the deth of sir Edwarde of Guerles his brother who was slayne as ye haue herde in the batayle of Iulyers But his suster the duches of Iulyers stroue with hym and made chalenge and the moste parte of the knightes and good townes inclyned most to the ladyes parte bycause she had a fayre sonne who was able than to ryde and that was well sene for always he was in the warres so that sir IohnÌ„ de Bloyse nor his wyfe coulde neuer haue peasable possessyon But the chalenge of the ryght of his wyfe and the pursute therof coste hym aboue a hundred thousaÌ„de frankes For the sonne of duke Wyllyam of Iuliers shewed well in his youth that he was noble and hardy and loued dedes of armes for he came of noble ertractyon and so was duke of Guerles and had in mariage the eldest doughter of duke Auberte who had ben wedded before to sir Edward of Guerles but he had neuer carnally coupyled with her for she was to yonge Thus she was maryed to the lorde Willyam of Iulyers and he and she were moche of one age And soo she was styll duches as she was before This yonge duke increased in honour wytte and prowes and in great wyll to hauÌ„te dedes of armes and to augment his herytage And his heâ—e was rather englysshe than frenche and sayd always as yong as he was that he wolde ayde to insteyne the kynge of Englandes quarell for he was nerer of blode to hym than to the Frenche
gather to gyder my power and people who haue good myndes to make warre into Castyle so we shall make a good warre somtyme one countrey wynneth and a nother leseth The duke of Lancastre thanked the kynge of Portugale of his good comforte and offre Howe beit for all that the kyng was the dukes sonne in lawe and had maryed his doughter and that he sayde was of a good wyll yet for all that the duke discouered nat all his corage for he knewe well Englande was in trouble and great debate a monge the lordes and howe the lordes hadde maters yno we to attende vnto as well for the kepynge of the fronters agaynst Scotlande as for to treate with the duke of Bretaygne And the kyng knewe well that whan the duke came out of Englande there was a do to sette forwarde his armye wherfore he thought it shulde be harde to get any newe ayde thence seinge the realme at so many great charges all redy and also he thought well that suche englysshmen as were retourned wolde no more come thyder agayne but thought rather that they shulde dyscorage other to come the duke considered all these maters in his mynde and whan he had ben a season at the cytie of Porte with the kynge of Portugale than on a daye he sayd Syr it shulde be for my profyte to retourne to Bayon and to the marches of Burdeaulx for dyuerse reasons He sawe well his beynge in Portugale coulde do him lytell aduaūtage for there he was nat on his herytage that he desyred but he sayde his goynge in to the archebysshoppriche of Burdeaux and of Aulose and so to retourne by Bygore and so by the lande of the lombrisience of the countie of Foyze and countie of Armynake and so by Garonne Dordone and entrynge in to Pier gourte and Querchyn Rochelloys Xayntone Cristynge Poictou Auuergne and Lymosyn wherin were many garysons and castels holden of the englisshe parte who wolde all make warre for his sake Wherfore he sayd it were better for hym to be amonge theym to counsaile and encorage them than to be in any other place And also he sayde howe Portugale was farre of to here any newes out of Englande and also he knewe well that the englyssh men wolde be lothe to come thyder bycause of the long voyage by see and also he knewe well that shyppes of Spaygne of Galyce and of Castyle were goynge and comynge on the see in and out to Flaunders with their marchandyses whiche was also great daunger for encountrynge of them All these thynges consydred the duke of Lancastre prepared for his departynge and had shyppes apoynted hym by the kynge and a patrone called Alphons Bretat Whan these galyes were redy and the wynde good the duke and the duches and her doughter toke leaue of the kynge of Portugale and of the quene and so toke shyppynge and entred on the see abydynge goddes pleasure and wyndes They had wynde and wether at pleasure so that they aryued at Bayon of whose comynge they of the countrey were ioyfull desyringe sore to se them Whan the duke and the duches and their doughter were aryued at Bayon Tydynges therof spredde abrode and they of Burdeloys were ryght ioyfull therof Than sir Iohan of Harpdame senesshall of Burdeaux and the senesshall of the landes came thyder to se the duke and so dyd other gentlemen of the countrey as the lorde of Mucydente the lorde of Duras the lorde of Rosem the lorde of Landuras the lorde Lespare the lorde of Newechasteaur and other knyghtes and squyers of the countrey Thus they came dayly some at one tyme some at another all they offred hym their seruyce as they ought to do to their lord Thus the duke taryed at Bayon and often tymes sente in to Englande to the kynge his nephewe and to his other bretherne But for all his writynge he was nothynge comforted nother with men of armes nor archers for as the worlde wente than the dukes busynesse was lytell taken hede vnto nor lorde knyght nor squyer to make any hast to auaunce forwarde to the ayde of the duke of Lancastre for suche as had ben in Portugale made suche reporte through the realme of Englande that no man had corage to auaunce thyder but euery man said the voyage in to Castyle is to farre of fro vs. It is more profytable for vs to haue warre with Fraunce for that is a good swete countrey and temperate and good lodgynges and fayre swete ryuers And in Castyle there is no thynge but harde rockes and Mountaynes whiche are nat good to eate and an vntemperate ayre and troubled ryuers and dyuerse meates and stronge wynes hote and poore people rude and yuell arayed farre of fro our maner wherfore it were folly to go thyder for if we entre in to any great cytie or towne there wenynge to fynde maruayles we shall fynde nothynge but wyne larde and empty cofers This is contrarye to the realme of Fraunce for there whan it is fortune to wyn any towne or cytie we fynde suche rychesse that we be a basshed therof and it is good to make warre where we may haue profyte let vs aduenture there and leaue the vnhappy warre of Castyle and Portugale where is no thynge but pouuertye and domage Thus the englysshe men sayde in Englande suche as had been in Castyle so that the lordes perceyued well howe that voyage was out of the fauoure of the englysshe men Also the realme was in trouble and the iustyce of Triuylyen and outher but newly done and the duke of Irelande departed out of the Realme and kynge Rycharde came to the guydynge of newe counsayle the whiche he hadde nat well lerned So by reason of suche insydentes the matters abode in harde case for the duke of Lancastre beynge in the cytie of Bayon where he helde all that season ALl these busynesses as well in Castyle and Portugale as in Englande and of the departyng of the duke of Irelande was well knowen with the frenche kynge and his counsayle Than to haue more parfyte knowledge it was ordayned by the frenche kynge and by his vncles to sende to Trecte to the duke of Irelande where as he was and to gyue hym a sure saueconduct to come into Fraunce and to tarye there as longe as bothe partyes were pleased It was behouable to sende for hym by specyall messangers and sure wrytyng fro the kyng or els the duke of Irelande wolde nat haue come there for he knewe well that he was out of the loue and fauoure of the lorde Coucy who was a great baron in the realme of Fraunce and was of a great lynage He had no cause to loue hym as ye haue herde before for acordynge to the trouthe the duke had nat well acquyted hymselfe to his wyfe who was doughter to the lorde Coucy And certaynly it was the principall thing that toke awaye the good renome of his honour bothe in Fraunce and in other places And in lykewyse he
Guerlâ—s of whome I treat at this present tyme was maryed to the doughter of Berthalce of Malynes therby to bringe him out of daunger and to redeme againe his herytage the whiche was in sore trouble before and the duke of Guerles sonne to the duke of Iulyers to entertayne and to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys as he had cause and iuste tytle Whan he sawe howe he coulde nat gette agayne his thre castels Gauleth Buth and Nulle on the ryuer of Muse pertaynynge to his herytage and to the countrey of Guerles thought than to attrybute the towne of Graue to his herytage for euer this duke had a bastarde doughter maryed to the sonne of the lord Bruke who was enherytour to the towne of Graue So there was an amyable treatye bytwene them as bytwene the fader and the sonne and there the lorde of Bruke gaue the towne and sygnory of Graue to the duke of Guerles in presence of the knyghtes of Guerles and Iuliers and for that cause the duke of Guerles dyd recompence the lorde of Bruke with the landes of Bresde on the ryuer of Lighen in the duchy of Guerles marchyng on the countrey of Holande aboue Brabaunte At this towne of Bresde there was a fayre castell and the towne great and profytable how be it the towne of Graue was better This the duke of Guerles dyd to the entent to haue a iuste tytle to kepe the towne of Graue agaynst the brabansoys The duches of Brabant and the brabansoys said howe the lorde of Bruke had it but to pledge and that they myght quyte it out whan they wolde but the duke of Guerles sayd nayetherto By reason wherof the warre moued So that in the moneth of May the brabansoys came and layde syege to the towne of Graue with many lordes knyghtes and squyers and with the puyssaunce of other good townes in Brabante And thyder they brought engyns springals and other habylimentes of warre They were a .xl. thousande one and other there was skrymysshynge dayly The towne of Graue standeth on the ryuer of Muese on the syde of Brabante and there is a bridge ouer the ryuer to go in to the countrey of Guerles At this siege euery thynge was plenty and as good chepe of euery thynge as though they had been before Brusels Euery day there was skrymysshynge at the barryers of Graue of suche as wolde aduenture them selfe Sometyme they were put a backe and some tyme they droue their enemyes in to their towne as chaunce of aduenture fell The duke of Guerles was well infourmed of this siege He laye a foure leages fro Nymarse and wrote often tymes in to Englande where he trusted to haue socoure by reason of the englysshe army wherof the erle of Arundell was capytayne on the see as sone as wynde and wether wyll serue them to come to Guerles to reyse the syege before Graue The duke of Guerles knewe well that the towne of Graue was strong and well forty fyed so that he thought it coulde nat be wonne by none assaute but outher by trayson or by treatye He trusted theym of Gruae to be sure and faythfull to hym Thus the siege endured longe before Grane And the erle of Arundels army was on the see and tooke no lande but styll kepte on the fronters of Normandy So that the normans fro agaynst Mounte saynte Mychell and downe alonge to Depe to saynt Valery and to Croty were nat well assured wherto they shuld take hede The portes and hauens of Normandy were refresshed by the frenche kynge with good men of armes and crose bowes to resyste agaynste all parelles And by the marshall of Blankewyll was sette in the towne of Carentyne standyge on the see whiche before of olde tyme pertayned to the herytage of kynge Charles of Nauerre the lorde of Ambre and the lorde Coucy two gret lordes of Normandy And the Constable of Fraunce toke the towne of saynte Malo and the towne of saynte Mathews and as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men were on the see they sette men in to those townes in the name of the frenche kyng In this season they thought surely to haue open warre with the duke of Bretayne for the knyghtes and squyers sayde that the armye on the see of the englysshmen were sente thyder for none other purpose but sente for by the duke of Bretayne to lande in his countrey They sayd it was none other lykely for alwayes the shyppes kepte on the coste of Bretaygne without force of wethersome tyme caused them to departe yet alwayes breuely they retourned agayne to the same coste yE haue herde here before howe the duke of LaÌ„castre was departed out of the realmes of Castyle and Portugale the imagynacyons that he had turned hym to great dyspleasure for he sawe well his busynesse was sore troubled and darked as fortune often tymes falleth in sondrie ê‘sons somtyme good somtyme yuell whan it is lest thought on For whan the duke of Lancastre departed out of the realme of Englande acoÌ„panyed with good meÌ„ of armes and archers he thought than to haue sped otherwise than he dyde He sawe and herde howe that in xv dayes he had loste all Galyce whiche was a long season or he had won it the space of xvi wekes And besyde that his men deed sparcled abrode some here and soÌ„e there and hoped of no conforte out of EnglaÌ„de for the Englysshmen were wery of the warre of Spaygne They thought it ouer long and farre of fro them So the duke of Lancastre thought his busynesse in a harde case seyng no comforte he spake lytell but he thought moche more In his ymaginacyon he lyconed his iourney to the voiage that the duke of Aniou made in to the realme of Naples For whan he departed out of the realme of Fraunce he was well furnysshed of all maner of thyng and wente with great richesse puissaunce a great nombre of noble men of armes knightes and sâ—â—uiers at the ende all were slayne and lost Thus the duke of Lancastre reckoned his vâ—yage to come to nothynge by reason of suche disconforte as he had The erle of Foiz Who was in his countre of Bierne and was eight sage and ymaginatyue sayd and accompeed the duke of Lacasters vyage but lost as inrecoueryng of the realme of Castyle whiche he chalenged The duke of Lacastre who was a sage and a wise prince and valyaunt amonge all his disconfytures yet somtyme he toke coÌ„forte to hym selfe I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes He sawe well he had a fayre doughter by the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to done Peter kyng of Castyle in whose right and clayme he made his warre in Castyle He thought thoughe fortune were agaynst hym at that tyme yet it myght tourne good to his doughter who was fayre and yonge for she had ryght to the heritage of Castyle by reason of her mother and thought that some valyaunt man of Fraunce wolde
be gladde to couet to haue her in maryage as well for the right that she hadde to the realme of Castyle as for her hyghe lynage For it myght well be sayde that her extraction was of the hyghest lynage of Christendome Wherfore the duke of LaÌ„castre wolde gladly haue had some treatie of mariage with some noble maÌ„ of Fraunce He knewe well the FreÌ„che kyng had a yong brother called the duke of Towrayne who he thought shulde be able to recouer his doughters ryght in Castyle For he knewe well that the puyssaunce of Fraunce helde in his aduersaries in the herytage of Castile wherfore he thought that if they wolde take his parte they myght lightly putte his doughter in possessyon of the realme of Castyle if he myght marry her to the Frenche kynges brother ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey sent letters to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon and howe the duke sent the copye of the same letters in to Foiz in to Nauer to th entent to haue them publysshed in Spayne And howe the duke of Bretayn demauÌ„ded couÌ„sayle of his men in all his busynesse Cap. C.xxvii ON this ymaginacyon rested the duke of Lancastre nat all onely on the duke of Towrayne but also on the duke of Berrey For as ye haue herde here before the duke of Berrey and his sonne were wodowers bothe their wyues deed This mater I the auctour of this boke knewe of suretie for the same tyme I was on the fronters of Berrey Poitou in the countie of Bloys with the right honorable lorde Guy erle of Bloys by whom and at his desyre I folowed the coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce of this historie The duke of Berrey set all his entencion and pleasure to be agayne maryed And ofteÌ„ tymes he wolde say among his men howe that a lorde was lytell worthe without a lady nor another maÌ„ with out a wyfe Than some of his couÌ„sayle sayd to hym Sir marry agayne your son therby your house shal be the more ioyfull Asirs ê™ the duke my sonne is yong Why sir ê™ they haue ye nat sene howe the Erle of Bloyes hath maryed his sonne who is as yonge as he to your doughter That is trouthe quod the duke let se name a wyfe for him sir quod they we shall name the duke of Lancasters doughter With that worde the duke studyed a season and gaue none answere and ymagined sore and than to suche as were of his secrete counsayle he sayd ye speke to mary Iohan my sonne to my cosyn the duke of Lancasters doughter by saynt Denyce ye haue well deuysed but she shulde be a good wyfe for our selfe and shortely I shall write to our cosyn the duke of Lancastre He is at Bayone as I am enformed I wolde sende hym worde howe I shall sende shortely to hym some of my counsayle to treate of this maryage But I saye nat for my sonne I shall marry hym in some other place Whan his couÌ„sayle herde hym saye so they smyled Than the duke demaunded wherat they smiled Sir ê™ they we laught at that ye had rather haue a good tourne your selfe than your sonne shulde by my faythe ê™ the duke and good reason why For my fayre cosyn of Lancastre wyll nat so soone agre to my sonne as to my selfe Than incontynent letters were written in to highe Gascoyne to Bayon to the duke of LaÌ„castre and sente by honourable messangers Whan they came to the duke they delyuered their letters The duke toke and reed theÌ„ and whan he had well parceyued theffecte of the mater he was right ioyfull and made good chere to the messaÌ„gers and shewed that he was well content therwith and wrote agayne by them other letters ryght amiably Certifyeng the duke of Berrey howe he was right ioyfull of his letters These messangers returned and fouÌ„de their lorde in Poitou preparyng hym selfe to go in to Fraunce for the FreÌ„che kyng and the duke of Burgoyne had sent for hym for to coÌ„mune of the state of Bretayne Than he oppned the letters that his cosyn the duke of Lancastre had sente hym and had ioye of the answere thought surely to pursue the matter to effecte but he myght nat leaue his voyage in to Fraunce and so went thyder as shortely as he coulde Thanne he wrote to a knyght of his called sir Helyon of Lignacke who as than was seneschall of Rochell and of the countre of Rocheloys CoÌ„maundyng hym that incouâ—ynent on the sight of his letters he to sette all thyng there in good order and than to come to hym to Parys withoute fayle Whan sir Helyon of Lignac who was at Rochell vnderstode those tidynges parceyued by the duke of Berreys letters howe he was sent for in all hast he made hym redy and in his absence he made two capitayns at Rochell two valyaunt men to be gouerners of all Rocheloys They were of the countre of Becaulse the one called sir Peter of yon the other sir Peter of Tayllepy This done sir Helyon tooke his waye in to Fraunce the shortest way he coude for he knewe nat what the duke wolde do with hym that he sente for hym so hastely NOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon and had great ymaginacions of that busynesse that his cosyn the duke of Berrey had written to hym of First he wolde nat that it shulde be hydden but rather publysshed abrode to the entent that his ennemyes shulde knowe it specially in the house of kynge Iohan of Castyle And so the duke of Lancastre wrote to dyuers and sent them the copye of the duke of Berreys letters Shewynge by his writyng that he had great affectyon to treate of the maryage bytwene his doughter and the duke of Berry First he sent his letters to the erle of Foiz bycause he knewe well that to the erles house prepared all maner of gentylmen knightes and squyers as well coÌ„myng goynge to the kyng of Spayne as on pylgrimage to saynt Iames. Also he wrote to the kyng of Nauer who had to his wyfe the kyng of Castels suster and had by her many chyldren to th entent that the brute therof shulde the better be certifyed in the kyng of Castels court rather than by flyeng wordes also the duke wrote of his mater to the kyng of Portugale but he wrote no worde therof iÌ„ to England to the kyng nor to his bretherne for he knewe well he shulde haue no thanke for his enterprice as they were nat content in dede as ye shall here after whan the mater requyreth it In the meane season we shall speke of other maters as of the duke of Bretayne the mater lyeth there after WHan the duke of Berrey was come into Fraunce to the kyng and to the duke of Burgoyne his brother and to other of his counsayle As the bysshoppe of Langers the bysshoppe of Laon the lorde of Coucy and other barons of FrauÌ„ce than beyng thereof the kynges secrete counsayle They had
many metynges to coÌ„mune toguyder as well of the state of Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go as of the duke of Bretaygne whom they coude bring to no reason nor wolde nat obey nor wyste nat whom to sende to hym that he wolde beleue for there hadde ben many valyant men and sage with hym but all that aueyled nothyng for they coude bring nothyng to passe as they desyred wherof the kyng his counsaile was sore troubled For they vnderstode well that the duke of Bretaygne had all that wynter prouyded and fortifyed his townes and castelles and shewed howe by lykehode he hadde rather haue warre than peace and the wysest of the counsayle sayd We speke of goynge in to Almayne but we ought rather to speke of goynge in to Bretaygne and to putte downe the duke there who is so highe mynded that he wyll here no reasone and is alwayes agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce and disdayneth to be obedyent thervnto we shal haue no reason of hym without we force him therto For and if he be suffred he wyll be to presumptuous he feareth no man nor he loueth nor prayseth no man but hym selfe this is a clere case If the kynge go in to Almaygne and leaue his realme bare of men as he muste do if he go thyder The duke of Bretaigne than wyll suffre the Englisshe men to come in to his countrey so entre in to FrauÌ„ce The apparaunce herof is great for there is all redy a great army of archers on the see and they kepe styll on the coste of Bretaygne for if wynde and wether putte theym of yet euer they drawe thyder agayne lyeth there at ancre besemyng taryeng tyll the warre be opyn Wherfore we thynke it were good yet to sende agayne to the duke the bisshoppe of Langers and the erle of saynt Poule for the duke and the erle haue maryed two susters Naye sirs nat so ê™ maister yues who was a very Breton If ye wyll sende to the duke agayne ye can not sende one more agreable to hym than the lorde of Coucy for in lykewyse they haue maryed two susters haue loued marueylously togyder and haue euer written eche to other Fayre brother with the lorde of Coucy sende whom ye wyll well quod the duke of Burgoyne Maister yues sithe ye haue begon name you the rest Sir with right a good wyll sithe it pleaseth you With the lorde of Coucy sende sir Iohan of Vyen and the lorde de la Ryuer These be suche thre lordes as shall bring hym to reason if he wyll euer come to any Thus let it be ê™ the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne than they were apoynted and charged what they shulde saye whervpon they shulde groude their mater and to handell hym by fayre wordes Thus they taryed a certayne space or they departed fro Parys The duke of Bretayne knewe well of their comyng or they deê‘ted fro Parys but he coude nat tell whan And he sawe well the mater touched highlye in that the lorde of Coucy came The duke had many ymaginacyons on that mater and discouered his mynde to certayne of his couÌ„sayle as the lorde of Mountbouchier demaunded counsayle of hym and of other and sayd Sirs I here as the brute roÌ„ueth that the duke of LaÌ„castre shulde mary his doughter in to Fraunce to the duke of Berrey and the mater is so forwarde that sir Helyon of Lignacke is goyng to the duke to Bayon the duke greatly enclyneth to this maryage wherof I haue great marueyle for my fayre brother of Lancastre hath nat written to me therof so that I knowe nothyng of the mater but by heryng saye He was nat accustomed so to do for in all his maters touchyng FrauÌ„ce he was wount to write to me than his couÌ„sayle answered and said Sir if it be thus it must behoue you to chauÌ„ge your purpose or els it shal be greatly to your losse and daunger and bring your couÌ„tre in to warre whiche were good to eschewe For ye nede nat to make warre sythe ye maye be in peace yea and desyred therto Also my lady your wyâ—e is great with chylde the whiche ye ought to regarde The kynge of Nauer can but tytell ayde you for he hath ynoughe to do for hym selfe Also the duke of LaÌ„castre who is a sage and a valyant prince as it is sayd shall mary his doughter to the duke of Berrey This shal be a gret begynnyng to entre in to a treatie of peace bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce or elles a longe truse And by reason therof ye shall se at the ende the kyng of Castell putte out of his realme as they haue kepte hym in and the rather if the duke of Lancastre and the Englysshe men be agreed with hym and also it is of trouthe that the lorde Coucye admyrall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer are coÌ„myng hyder ye maye well knowe that is for some great cause touchynge the kyng who busyeth hym selfe for his coÌ„stable and for his Realme And by lykelyhode the kynge and his vncles wyll knowe presisely what ye wyll do and wheder ye wyll kepe styll your opinyon or nat And if ye kepe styll your purpose it is to be ymagined that the great armye that is prepared for to go in to Guerles shall tourne agaynst you Nowe remembre well what conforte ye are likely to haue yf ye haue warre with Fraunce whiche ye are moost lykely to haue if the duke of Lancaster marry his doughter into FrauÌ„ce as be semyng he wyll for he can nat bestowe her better to recouer her herytage Also ye knowe well that the moost parte of the prelates barons knyghtes and squyers and cyties and good townes are in maner ye agaynst you Therfore sir sithe ye demaunde counsayle of vs We saye that ye had neuer so moche cause to aduyse you as ye haue nowe Therfore putte to your hande to kepe well your herytage whiche hath cost the shedyng of so moche blode sweate and traueyle and refrayne somwhat your yre and hatered We knowe well ye beare great dyspleasure to sir Olyuer Clysson he hath done you many displeasures and ye hym paraduenture may do though he be nat lyke vnto you the FreÌ„che kynge and his vncles wyll maynteygne hym agaynst you for he shall he Constable And if kynge Charles that laste dyed who loued hym so well hadde lyued and ye done as ye haue done We knowe well it shulde rather haue cost the kynge halfe his realme thanne he wolde haue suffred it But kynge Charles his sonne is yonge he taketh nat â—o good hede to all maters nowe as he wolde do tenne yeres here after He cometh on and ye shall go If ye encre in to a newe warre agaynst the Frenche men besyde all that we haue shewed you ye shall do it without our counsayle and without the counsayle of any man that loueth you It behoueth you to dissemule whatsoeuer ye
and after mounted on their horses and rode to the dukes castell called la Mote where they fouÌ„de the duke who came agaynst them and receyued theÌ„ right ioyously and sayd Howe they were all right hertely welcome and toke the lorde of Coucy by the hande and made hym good chere sayde Fayre brother ye be welcome I am gladde to se you in Bretayne I shall shewe you sporte of huntyng at hartes and flyeng with haukes or we deê‘te a soÌ„dre Sir quod the lorde of Coucy I thanke you I and my company shall be gladde to se it There was shewed bytwene them great lykelyhode of loue and the duke brought hym to his chambre sportyng and talkyng of many ydell matters as lordes do often tymes whan they mete and haue nat sene toguyder longe before they wyll fynde many sondrie pastymes and specially I knewe four lordes the best entertayners of all other that euer I knewe That was the duke of Brabant the erle of Foiz the erle of Sauoy and in especiall the lorde of Coucy For accordynge to myne aduyse in all goodly pastymes he was a souerayne maister â— whiche brute he bare amonge all lordes and ladyes in Fraunce in Englande in Almaygne in Lombardy and in all places where as he had ben conuersant And in his tyme he had been sore traueyled sene moche in the worlde and also he was naturally enclyned to be gentyll thus whyle these lordes were mery talkynge toguyder there was brought spyces and wyne and so they dranke and than toke their leaues and retourned to their lodgynges Thus the mater went for the the fyrst day without makyng of any mencyon of any thyng that they were come for NOwe let vs somwhat speke of sir Helyon of Lygnacke whom the duke of Berrey hadde sent to the duke of Lancastre The knyght came to Bayon and a lyghted at his lodgynge and apparelled hymselfe to go and speke with the duke of LaÌ„castre who knewe well of his coÌ„myng and sent right honourably two of his knyghtes to mete with hym and they brought hym to the duke And whan sir Helyon was in the dukes presens he kneled downe and saluted hym as it aperteyned The duke receyued hym right honorably and tooke hym vp in his armes toke hym by the hande and ledde hym in to his chaÌ„bre for he mette hym in the hall Thanne the knyght delyuered his letters fro the duke of Berry The duke reed them and thanne he drewe to sir Helyon and the knight declared to him the cause of his coÌ„myng Than the duke answered right courtesly and sayd Sir ye be right welcome and sayd howe the mater was weyghtie that he was coÌ„e for wherfore it requyred counsaile and delyberacion Thus sir Helyon taryed at Bayon with the duke of Lancastre more than a moneth and alwayes he was serued with fayre wordes And the duke alwayes foded hym forthe and made semblant that he had great affection to treate for this mariage with the duke of Berrey Howe be it the trouthe was coÌ„trary for all that he shewed was but dissymulacion and the cause that he was helde there so long with hym was for none other thing but that the brute therof myght ronne abrode and specially in to the realme of Castyle for there lay all his affection The duke sayde to sir Helyon Sir if I treat with the duke of Berrey to haue my doughter in maryage thanÌ„e he must ioyne with me with all his puysauÌ„ce to encounter myne aduersaries of Spayne If he wyll recouer the heritage of my doughter whom he shulde haue to wyfe Than sir Helyon sayd Sir I haue no charge to confyrme any thynge so forwarde But sir if it please you or I deê‘te ye maye write all your pleasure by me and I shall returne shewe my lorde the duke of Berrey all your entent And I am sure he hath suche affection to the mater he wyll agree to euery thynge that he may do by reason I desyre no more quod the duke of Lancastre Thus sir Helyon of Lygnacke taryed a season at Bayon and had good chere made hym by the dukes coÌ„maundement ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle sente his ambassadours to the duke of LaÌ„castre to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene his sonne and the dukes doughter and howe at the requeste of the duke of Berrey a truse was made by the duke of Lancastre in the countreys of Tholousyn and Rouergne Cap. C .xxix. TIdingê came in to the realme of Castyle in to dyuerse places and specyally to kyng Iohan of Castyle and it was sayde to hym Sir ye knowe nothyng of the treatye that is bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey wolde haue in maryage the lady Katheryne doughter to the duke of Lancastre and to the lady Custance his wyfe And if this maryage take effecte as it is lyke to do it shal be a great alyaunce For the duke of Berrey is nowe as one of the chiefe rulers in the realme of Fraunce and is vncle to the kyng He shal be beleued what soeuer he saye or purpose to do as it is reason wheder is be by meanes of peace or longe truse On the other parte the duke of Lancastre is eldest of all his bretherne that be vncles to the kyng He shall also be beleued for he is sage and puyssauÌ„t and by that it semeth the Englysshmen are wery of the warre This maryage bytwene the Duke of Lancasters doughter and the duke of Berrey is lykely to be a great meane to make a good peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande and than shal we here sticke styll in the warre for the duke of LaÌ„castre wyll folowe and pursue his chalenge of the realme of Castyle and the right that he hath by his wyfe he shall gyue it to his doughter and so than shall we haue warre bothe with Fraunce and Englande These doutes were layde to the kynge of Castyle And at that tyme all the Frenchmen that had serued long in the realme of Castyle were retourned in to Fraunce and the chiefe of the kynge of Castyls counsayle sayd to hym sir take hede to vs. ye neuer had so great nede of good counsayle as ye haue at this presente tyme. For sir a peryllousmyst is lyke to be engendred bytwene you and the duke of LaÌ„castre and that shall come by the meanes of FrauÌ„ce Howe so quod the kyng howe may that be In the name of god sir quod they the brute and renome spredeth throughe all this countrey and els where howe the duke of Berrey shall mary the duke of LaÌ„casters doughter And sir ye maye be sure that shall nat be but by the meanes of a great alyauÌ„ce so that therby here after ye maye be as farre cast behynde by them as ye haue ben auaunced Whan the kyng of Castyle knewe those tidynges he was right pensyue sawe well howe his counsayle shewed hym the trouthe Than he demaunded rounsayle of
dout ther of Herof the FreÌ„che kyng was right ioyfull howe be it some sayd that wheder the kynge of Almayne wolde or nat the kyng had puissaunce suffycient to do what he wolde without dauÌ„ger for all him than the kyng ordeyned to departe fro Chalous in Champayn so deê‘ted toke his way right to great Pre. Whan the kynge came to great Pre he taried ther a thre dayes he coude make no gret iourneys there was so moche people before hym and behynde and rounde about hym so that he was constrayned to ryde easely to haue good lodgyng and bicause of the great ê“uisyon that folowed after the hoost Fro the first company to the last coÌ„tayned .xxiiii. leages of that countrey styll dayly came people Th erle of great Pre receyued the kynge in to his towne and countre and offred all at the kynges pleasure The kyng was well coÌ„tent with hym therle was apoynted to the vantgard Thyder came to the kyng the duke of Lorayne sir Henry of Bare with a faire company of men of armes The duke of Loraine was ordayned to be with his sonne the lorde of Coucy sir Henry of Bare to abide with the kyng the pioners were sore besyed in the forest of Ardane to cutte downe wode and to make wayes where neuer non was before they had great payne to fyll the valeys to make the waye playne for the caryage to passe There were a thre M. that dyde nothyng els Whan the duches of BrabaÌ„t knewe surely howe the kyng was on his waye and approched the foreste of Ardayne she was therof ryght ioyfull for she thought at that voyage she shulde be well reuenged of the duke of Guerles howe the Frenche kyng shulde bring hym to reason And also his father the duke of Iulyers who had done to her many anoyaunces Than she departed fro Bruselles and in her company the erle of Sammes in Ardain the lorde of Bocelairs and dyuers other and toke her waye to Lusenbourge to se the kynge and to speke with hym She passed the ryuer of Meuse and the ryuer of Huy and at laste came to Basconque and there taryed the kynge for he shulde passe therby and so he dyde For whan he departed Graunt Pre he passed the Ryuer of Meuse at Morsay with all his hoost rode small iourneys Than tidynges came in to the duchy of Iulyers and in to Guerles that the Frenche kynge was coÌ„mynge on them with a hundred thousande men And that he had neuer so moche people toguyder before He was nat so great a company whanne he came to Burboure where he thought the Englysshe army had ben gretter than he founde theym The duke of Iulyers than began to dout but the duke of Guerles made nothing therof but sayde Lette them come the further they come the more weryer shall they be and they and their caryages shall waxe feble and their prouisyons shall waste and wynter shall drawe on and I am in a stronge countrey They shall nat entre at their ease They shall recule backe somtyme otherwise than by the sowne of the trumpettes and it shall behoue them to be alwayes toguyder which they can nat be if they wyll entre in to my couÌ„tre And if they disrought and be out of ordre they shall soone be taken vp wheder they wyll or nat Howe be it to saye the trouthe quod the duke our cosyn of FrauÌ„ce is of a good corage he sheweth and dothe as I shulde do Thus the duke of Guerles deuysed amonge his knyghtes but the duke of Iulyers was sore abasshed for he sawe well the French kynge wolde his lande were but brente and loste Than he toke counsayle of his brother the Archebysshoppe of Colonge and of his cosyn the bysshop Leage sir Arnolde of Hornes howe he shulde do to saue his lande fro brennyng and exylyng These two prelates counsayled hym and sayd how it must nedes behoue hym to huÌ„ble hym selfe to the Frenche kynge and to his vncles The duke sayde he was well content so to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Helion of Lignacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey And howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the Cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an army to entre in to Englande And of an Englysshe squyer Who was takenne by the Scottes who knewe the secretnesse of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Cap. C .xl. THan by the counsayle of the bysshoppe of Trect and by the aduyse of the bysshoppe of Colonge the bysshoppe of Laege was sente to the French kynge to treate for the duke of Iulyers The kynge approched but he passed nat two or thre leages a daye for his trayne was great bytwene Morsay and oure lady of Amount where as the duke of Berey and all his route with mo than fyue hundred speres was lodged Thyder came to the duke of Berrey sir Helyon of Lignacke and sir Wyllyam his brother Sir Wyllyam came fro the siege before Vanchadore for the duke had sente for hym and the duke of Burbone had sente for sir Iohan Boesme launce and they had lefte styll at the siege all their companyes and had lefte for capitaynes sir Iohan Butlere and sir Loyes Dambier And sir Helyon of Lignacke came out of Gascon fro Bayon fro the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey made hym good chere and demaunded tidynges Sir Helyon shewed hym and sayd Sir the kyng of Castyle seketh on the duke of Lancastre to haue peace with hym and treateth sore to haue his sone the prince of Wales to marry with the dukes doughter With that worde the duke of Berrey was pensyfe and sayd Sir Helion yet I shall sende you ones agayne to knowe more certayne and the bysshoppe of Poycters with you but as at this tyme we haue ynoughe to do Also the same weke the lorde of Coucy retourned fro Auygnon and came to the kyng to Ardane euery man was glad of his coÌ„mynge yE haue herde here before howe kynge Richarde of Englande had some trouble He agaynst his vncles and his vncles agaynst hym with other dyuers incydentes as by the duke of Irelande and other and many knyghtes in EnglaÌ„de deed and beheeded and the archebysshop of yorke brother to the lorde Neuell was at a poynte to haue loste his benefyce And by the newe counsaylers about the kyng and by the arch bysshoppe of Caunterbury the lorde Neuell who had ben the chiefe ruler and kepar of the fronters of Northumberlande agayst the scottes fyue yeres togyder was as than put out of wages He had before euery yere sixtene thousande frankes out of the countie of yorke and bysshoprike of Durham And there was sette in his stede the lorde Henry Percye and he hadde to wages by the yere but a .xi. thousande Frankes Wherof other lordes of his lygnage thoughe they were of his kynne yet they hadde therat great enuy and indignacyon one agaynst another And all this knewe ryght
hym selfe Sayeng howe they of Armynake helde by force and nat of right the countie of Comynges the whiche herytage is by his mother and aunte to my cosyn of Boloyne I wyll well they knowe I shall mary her in so stronge a place and puissaunt to make warre with them for the herytage of Comynges For as nowe there is none to answere but a deed man THus whan the erle of Armynacke sir Bernarde his brother sawe that they coulde nat come to their purpose as long as her aunte lyued Than they sayde to the duke of Berrey that this lady shulde be a fayre maryage for IohnÌ„ of Berrey his sonne And by their settynge on the duke sente suffycient and noble messangers in to Byerne to the erle of Foiz Desyringe hym that all yuell wyll might be sette aparte and euery thynge pardoned of tymes paste and that he myght haue the damosell of Boulonge for Iohan his sonne in maryage So that the erle of Boulonge father to the damosell dyde therto agree and assent Th erle of Foiz made good chere to these aÌ„bassadors but he excused hym for that maryage sayd howe the lady his cosyn was to yonge And also he sayde howe that whan the countesse of Boulonge her mother delyuered her in to his charge She caused hym to swere that he shulde neuer mary her in no place withher knowledge and consent And in no wyse he sayde he myght nor wolde nat breake his promyse nor othe and he sayd none ought to desyre hym thervnto This excuse the Erle made for he knewe well that his cosyn of Comynges who was with the erle of Vrgell her brother in the realme of Arragon wolde nat agree thervnto Thus the ambassadors of the duke of Berrey retourned without any thyng doyng to their purpose And whan they were gone as sir Espaygne du Lyon shewed me the erle sayde ah The duke of Berrey and his couÌ„sayle myght well repute me for an ignorant whan he wolde haue me to enforce myne ennemyes Iohan of Berry is cosyn germayn to myne aduersaries of Armynake that bargayne shall I neuer make I shall rather mary her in to Englande It hath been spoken of to sir Henry of Lancastre erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre If I thought nat greatly to displease the Frenche kynge there shulde none other haue her but he as yet I knowe nat what I wyll do for I shall rather mary her at my pleasure than they of Armynake shulde haue her agaynste my wyll In me it lyeth to do or to leaue I nede nat to trouble my selfe in the mater Whan the duke of Berrey knewe the certeÌ„lie that the duke of LaÌ„castre shulde mary his doughter to the king of Castyls sonÌ„e that he coude nat breke that maryage in no wyse he was a .v. or sixe dayes so pensyue that none about hym durst demauÌ„de what he ayled at last he declared his entent to theÌ„ of his counsaile than they said to hym sir if ye haue fayled of the duke of Lancasters doughter ye maye recouer another as great and as good as she is howe be it she is very yonge for your age Wherfore we can nat tell if the erle of Foiz wyll refuce it for that cause who hath the lady in his gouernaunce Ah quod the duke that is the doughter of the Erle of Boulonge the erle of Foiz hath refused Iohan of Berrey howe be it in the name of god let vs yet assaye Than the duke wrote to the Erle of Foiz signifyeng hym ryght swetely that he wolde sende to hym four lordes as therle of Xancere the lorde de la Ryuer sir Guy de la Tremoyle and the Vycount Dassey to treate with hym to haue for hym selfe in maryage the doughter of Boulonge beyng vnder his kepyng so it maye be to his pleasure and desyred the erle to sende hym an answere in writyng the hole of his mynde to th entent that his messangers shulde nat traueyle in vayne nor lese there payne The erle of Foiz receyued the messaÌ„gers that brought the writtynge ryght amyably and wrote agayne by them to the duke of Berrey sayeng howe he was right gladde of those tidynges wolde be redy to receyue the sayd lordes outher in Foiz or in Byerne so that the Erle of Boulonge and the couÌ„tesse father and mother to the lady be agreed thervnto And at their retourne whan the duke of Berey herde his answere he was right ioyfull and all that wynter styll he pursued what here there that he myght attayne to this maryage the nexte somer after He coude nat bring his purpose aboute shortely for he knewe well the erle of Foiz was no man lightly to be wonne for he was sure he shulde haue many delays wherfore the duke thought to worke wysely sent specyall messangers to pope Clement who was cosyn and nere a kyn to the damosell of BouloÌ„ge The pope was right ioyouse whaÌ„ he knewe that his cosyn might to highly be maryed as to the duke of Berrey vncle to the FreÌ„che kyng Than the pope wrote to therle of Foiz signifyeng hym right honorably aduysinge hym that he shulde nat vary fro the treatie of that maryage for therby their lynage shulde be enhaunsed Thus the erle of Foiz receyued letters fro all parties he answered them all for right well he coude dissimule in suche busynesse He helde all the parties in good loue and fauour bothe the pope and the duke of Berrey yet there was nat the wysest of theÌ„ bothe nor of their counfayls that coude knowe perfitely what the erle of Foiz thought surely to do ¶ Nowe lette vs somwhat leaue speakyng of this mater and retourne to the siege of Vanchadore ye haue herde here before in this hystorie how sir WyllmÌ„ Lignac and sir IohnÌ„ Boemlaunce dyuers other knightes and squiers of Auuergne and Limosin had besieged the castell of VaÌ„chadore and Geffray Tete noyre within But they coude nat wyn it by no maner of assaut for they within were prouyded of all thynges necessary for .vii. yere though they had no refresshyng They without ofte tymes wolde come out of their bastydes and scrimysshe Durynge the siege many feates of armes were done dyuers hurt on bothe ê‘tes And so it fortuned at a scrimysshe Geffray Tete noyre was there hym selfe auauÌ„sed so forwarde that he was striken through the bassenet in to the heed with a quarell so that he was fayne to kepe his bedde wherw t all his company was sore displeased and the season that he lay there was no scrimysshiÌ„g of this hurt if he had ben well kept he might sone haue ben hole but he kept hym selfe but yuell and specially fro lechery the whiche he derely bought for it cost hym his lyfe but or he died he knewe well before there was no remedy but dethe For it was playnly shewed hym by reason of his yuell rule He was in ieoê‘dy of dethe for his hed
myght be And he bare styll in his haÌ„des the two brinnynge caÌ„delles so that it myght well be sene ouer all Parys and two myle without Parys He was suche a tombler that his lyghtnesse was greatlye praysed And before the churche of our lady the bysshoppe of Parys was reuested with the armes of our lorde Iesa Christ with all the colledge and great noÌ„bre of other of the clergy There the Quene a lyghted out of her lytter and was takenne downe by the four dukes that is to saye the duke Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Thourayne and the duke of Burbone and all other ladyes in lykewise taken downe by theym that were their assysters bothe out of their lytters and fro their horses and in good order So they entred in to the churche The bysshoppe and the clergy before theÌ„ syngyng in the honour of god and of our blessed lady the quene was ledde assysted and brought vp to the hyghe auter and there she kneled downe and sayde her prayers suche as pleased her and offred to the tresorie of our lady four clothes of clothe of golde and the goodly crowne that the angelles dyde set on her heed and than incontynent sir IohnÌ„ de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer delyuered the bysshoppe of Parys a more rycher crowne And the bysshoppe and the four dukes dyde sette it on the quenes heed ThanÌ„e they retourned agayne through the churche and the quene and the ladyes sette agayne in their lytters as they were before There were mo than fyue huÌ„dred torches brinnyng for it was late Thus they were brought to the palays of Parys where the kynge the olde quene and the duchesse of Orlyaunce her doughter were There the quene and the ladyes lyghted fro their lytters and eche of theym brought in to seuerall chambres and the lordes went to their lodgynges after the daunsynge was paste THe nexte daye Monday the kynge made them all a dyner at his palis And at the houre of the high masse the quene was ledde with the foresayd foure dukes in to the holy chapell and there in the masse season the quene was sacred anoynted as a Quene ought to be And the archebysshoppe of Roane dyde the obseruaunce who was called sir Wyllyam of Vyar After the masse songe solempnely the kynge and the quene retourned in to their chaÌ„bres and all other ladies suche as had chambres in the palays Than anone after the kyng and the quene retourned in to the halle and all other ladyes The great table of Marble that alwayes standeth styll in the halle was made lengar with a great plaunche borde of Oke of foure inches thycke whiche borde was richelye couered And aboue the great table agaynste one of the Pyllers was the Kynges dressyng borde standynge full of vessell of golde and syluer whiche was greatly couered of many that sawe it Before the table a longe discendyng downe there were barryers made of wode with thre alyes there were sergeauntes and vsshers a great nombre kepynge the entrees to the entente that none shulde entre but suche as were seruytours of the table for the hall was so full of people that a man coulde nat tourne hym but with moche payne Mynstrelles a great nombre plesauntly played euery man after his facultie Than the kyng and the prelates and the quene and the ladyes wasshed sate downe at the tables At the kynges table sate downe as chiefe the bysshoppe of Noyan than the bysshoppe of Langers than the kynge and by the kynge the archebysshoppe of Rohan The kynge satte in a surcote of scarlette furred with armyns a ryche crowne of golde on his heed Than the quene and by her the kyng of Armyne than the duches of Berry than the duches of Burgoyne and the duches of Thourayne Than the lady of Neuers and the good damosell of Bare than the lady of Coucy and Mary of Harecourt Mo there sate nat at the highe table sauynge beneth all satte the lady of Sailly wyfe to sir Guye of Tremoyle And at two other tables a longe downe the hall sate mo than fyue huÌ„dred ladyes and damosels The prease was so great that it was great payne to serue theÌ„ with their messes whiche were great and no table I haue nat to do to make great ê“cesse therof I shall so what speke of the pastymes that were made bitwene the messes the whiche had been great pleasure for the kyng to haue sene if he had taryed out the hole dyner FIrste in the myddes of the palays there was a castell made of tymbre xl fote longe and twentie fore brode with foure towres in euery quarter one and one in the myddes hygher than the other This Castell was fygured for the cytie of Troye and the towre in the myddes for the palays of ylion And there were penoÌ„s with the armes of the Troyans as of kyng Priamus Hector his sonne and his other chyldren And also the armes of suche other kynges and princes as were enclosed in Troye with kynge Priam. This castell went vpon wheles the whiche myght be tourned euery waye properly This castell came to assayle another sorte that was therby in a pauilyon whiche also wente vpon wheles so softely couertly that the mouynge therof coude nat be parceyued and there was the armes or the kynges of Grece and of other suche as were at the siege Also there was a shyppe properlye deuysed wherin myght well be a huÌ„dred men of armes and all moued by the crafte of wheles bothe the Castell Pauilyon ship They of the Pauilyon and of the Shyppe assayled euer the castell and they within the Castell made great defence But this sporce endure nat longe for the preace of the people was so sore about them that no man coulde styrre The people were sore chafed with the heate and putte to moche payne And there was a table by the parlyament chambre dore where at satte many ladyes and damoselles It was by reason of the preace ouerthrowen to the erthe and the ladyes caused sodainly to ryse without order and sore chafed with the preace and heate that was in the palays The quene herselfe was at the poynt to haue been sore displeased Perforce a backe doore was broken vp to gette fresshe ayre The ladye of Coucy was sore diseased WhanÌ„e the kynge sawe this mater he commaunded to cease and the tables in great hast to be taken vp to let the ladyes and damoselles at large They lefte takynge of wyne and spyces and wente to their chambres Than some of the ladyes taryed styll in the Palays and some wente in to the towne to their lodgynges to be the more at their ease for with preace and with heate they had been sore greued The lady Coucy wente to her lodgynge helde her there tyll it was late THan about fyue of the clocke the Frenche Quene accompanyed with the foresayd duchesses departed fro the palays of Parys and toke their lytters all open
Almayne besyde the Ryne called sir Seruays of Mirando These iustes were well contynued but there were so many knightes that one coulde nat rynne for another and the duste with rynnynge of their horses was so great that it troubled them sore The lorde of Coucy dyd maruelously well These iustes contynued tyll it was nyght than they departed the ladyes brought to their lodgynges The kynge with his company was brought to his lodgynge of saynt Pole and there was a supper for the ladyes with suche haboundauÌ„ce that it were harde to recorde it and the feest and reuell with syngynge and daunsyng tyll the next mornynge the sonne rysinge And the prise of the iustes of the aunswerers that had best done and lengest contynued was gyuen to the frenche kynge by consente of all the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes and of the chalengers the Halze of â—launders bastarde brother to the duchesse of Burgoyne The knightes complayned of the dust so that some said they loste their dedes by reason therof The kynge made prouysion for it he ordeyned mo than two hundred barrelles of mater that watred the place wherby the grouÌ„de was well amended and yet the nexte day they hadde duste ynough and to moche Than the wednysdaye came to Parys the erle of saynte Pole frome oute of Englande he had made great haste to come to these iustes and feest and he had lefte behynde him in Englande sir Iohan of Chatell Morant to bringe the charter of the treuce with hym The erle of saynte Pole was well welcomed of the kynge and of all other lordes and the Quene and all other were glad of his comynge ON the wednysdaye after dyner euery man drew to the felde and the ladyes came thyder in goodly aray as they had done the daye before and mounted vpon their stages Than the iustes began fyersly and was well contynued tyll it was nyght Than euery person retourned and the ladyes had a great supper at saynte Polle Than the pryses were gyuen by consente of the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes of the answerers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of Haynalte called Iohan de Flaron who was come thyder in the company of therle of Ostrenant and of the chalengers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of the duke of Burgoyns called Iohan de Pokerers And agayne the thursdaye iusted knightes squyers all togyther euery man payned hym selfe to do well and it endured tyll nyght And the ladyes supped agayne at saynt Polle and there the prise was gyuen of the vtter partie to sir Charles of Armoyes and of them within to a squyer of the quenes called Lons The frydaye the kynge made a dyner to all the ladyes and damoselles and aboute the ende of the dyner there entred in to the hall the kyng sytting at the table the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayne the couÌ„tes of saynt Polle the lady of Coucy and a great meny of other ladyes and damosels they brought in two knyghtes on horsebacke armed at all peces for the iustes with their speares on their thyes The one was sir Raynold of Roy and the other sir Bouciquant the yonger and there they two iusted goodly togyther Than came thyder other knightes ser Raynold of Troyes syr Gyllyam of Namure syr Charles of Armoyes and the lorde of Garancyers the lorde of Nantoyllet Lardenoys of Ostende and dyuers other all these iusted there the space of two houres before the kynge and the ladyes than they returned to their lodgynges That fryday suche ladyes and damosels as wolde retourne to their owne houses toke their leaues of the kynge of the quene and also suche lordes as wolde departe The kynge and the quene thanked them of the payne they had taken comynge to his feest ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of the Chateau Morante whom the erle of saynte Polle had lefte behynde hym in Englande retourned in to FrauÌ„ce with the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde and his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C.lviii AFter that all these lordes and ladyes were returned fro this greate feest to their owne houses than the lorde of Chastell Morant whome the lorde of saynte Polle had left in England retourned in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and shewed forth the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde of Englande and by his vncles and other to endure thre yere as well by see as by lande and the wordes in the charter sayd That whosoeuer breketh by any maner of coÌ„dicion any poynte or artycle conteyned in that treatie shulde be taken and reputed as traytours and to rynne in a mortall punysyon And bycause that the lorde of Coucy was souerayne capytayne chosen by the kinge and his counsayle to defende and kepe the outwarde marches bytwene the ryuer of Durdone and the see and all the countrey of Iuuergne and Lymosyn The copy of this treatye was delyuered to hym to the entente that he shulde publysshe and shewe it to all them that wolde do any thynge to the contrary And also to the entent that they of Vandachor of Chalusset of Dorbesidousac and of the garysons the made warre for the englysshe tytle shulde haue knowledge of that treuce that they shulde make none excuse if they fell in the payne In lykewyse the marshall of FrauÌ„ce the lorde Loys of Xancer had also the copy therof whiche was ryght nedefull for he was gouernour of the outwarde marches of Languedoc fro the ryuer of Ronne and the bridge of Amyngnon and aboute the countreys and signories apendauÌ„t to the ryuer of Dordone as the couÌ„treys of Beaucaire of Carcassone of Tholous of rouergne of Dagen of Querca of Bygore of Pyergourte and of Lymogines and in these countreys were dyuers garysons that smally regarded or obeyed any peace or truce but alwayes entended to make marre as the castell of Cullyer the stronge castell of Londre in Bygore on the fronters of Byerne they were greatly feared of their neyghbours ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The maryage of king Loys sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Aragone and how he went with the quene of Napoles his mother to Auignon to se pope Clemente Cap. C.lix IN this tyme there was a treatye made of a maryage bytwene Loys of Aniowe sonne to the duke of Aniou who wrote himself kynge of Napoles of Cycyll and Iherusalem and erle of Prouynce and the doughter of kyng Peter of Arragon The quene of Napoles went to Auygnone to se pope Clement and there she founde the lorde of Coucy and had in her company her yonge sonne Loys The lorde of Coucy was ryght ioyous of her coÌ„mynge The quene was receyued ryght honorably of pope Clement and of the cardynalles as she was well worthy for she was a noble woman and a dilygent in all her busynesse There she desyred the lorde of Coucye to helpe to conuey her sonne Loyes
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌ„trey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌ„che kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌ„ger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌ„de synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌ„te desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He ê“cured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌ„ueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌ„trey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌ„ded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌ„berlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌ„che kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couâ—y and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ„ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌ„tesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌ„phe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deê‘ted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌ„myng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌ„e to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
deê‘ted fro Lunell he went to dyner to Moutpellyer it was but thre lytell myles There he was receyued of the burgesses ladyes and damoselles of the towne for they greatly desyred to se the kynge and many riche presentes were gyuen to hym for MouÌ„tpellyer is a puissaunt towne ryche full of marchandise The kynge praysed the towne moche and well consydred their puissauÌ„ce And it was shewed the kyng that the towne hadde ben moche richer before thanne it was at that presente tyme For the duke of Aniou and the duke of Berrey eche of them in their tourne hadde greatlye pylled them The kyng was sorie that the good people had endured so moche doÌ„mage and sayd how he wolde reforme the countre in to a better state Than it was shewed the kynge that the pouertie of that towne was nothyng to that he shulde fynde forwarde For that towne of it selfe hath good meanes of recouerauÌ„ce by reson of the marchandise that is there vsed bothe by lande and by see But in the marchesse of Carcassone Tholous therabout where as the said two dukes had the gouernaunce Loke on what thyng they had puyssaunce to laye on their handes there was nothyng left but all taken away For ye shall fynde the people there so poore that suche as were wont to be riche and puissaunt nowe they are scant able to labour their vynes nor landes It is a great pyte to se them their wyues and chyldren for they haue had euery yere fyue or sixe tayles layde on their shulders and are rauÌ„somed to the thirde or fourthe parte of their substaunce somtyme to all toguyder One tayle coude nat be payde but that another was redy in the necke therof for ser as it is well knowen these two dukes your vncles while they ruled in LaÌ„guedocke they haue leuyed in the countrey fro Vyle Neufe in to Tholousyn rounde about to the ryuer of Garon and retournyng to the ryuer of Dordone the soÌ„me of .xxx. hundred thousande frankes And specially sythe the duke of Aniou departed the duke of Berrey hath done the more doÌ„mage for he founde the playne countrey and coÌ„montie in good case for the duke of Aniou tooke but of the ryche men who had wherwith to paye But the duke of Berrey spared nother poore nor riche for he gadered all before him specially by one of his counsayle his treasourer named Betysache who is of the nacyon of the cytie of Besyers As ye shall here by the complayntes of the people that wyll crye out on hym To these wordes the kyng said As god haue my soule I shall prouyde for this mater or I retourne I shall punisshe the trespasours For I shall make an inquysycion of the seruantes and oâ—nycers of myne vncles suche as had ruled here before in the parcies of Languedocke and suche as haue deserued shal be corrected The kynge taryed at Mount pellyer the space of .xii. dayes for the order of the towne and the pastyme of ladyes and damoselles suche as he fouÌ„de there pleased hym greatly To saye trouthe the kynge as at that tyme was in his lusty youthe and lyght quycke of spyrite He daunsed and caroled amonge the frysco ladyes and damoselles of the towne somtyme all nyght And gaue and made bankettes and suppers largely and wolde gyue to the ladyes and damosels rynges of golde and chaynes to them that he reputed worthy The kynge dyde so moche that he had great laude and prayse And some of them wolde that he had taryed there lengar than he dyd for he kepte reuell daunsyng and solas and euery day it was newe to begyn ¶ ye haue herde oftentymes said howe the sporte of ladies and damosels encorageth the hertes of yonge lusty gentylmen and causeth them to desyre and to seke to gette honour I say this bycause with the kyng there was thre gentylmen of highe enterprice and of great valure and that they well shewed as ye shall here Fyrst there was the yonge sir Boucequant the other sir Raynold of Roy and the thirde the lorde of saynt Pye These thre knyghtes were chamberleyns with the kyng and well beloued with him for they were well worthy They were fresshe and serued hym well in armes and in all other maters These thre beyng at Mountpellier among the ladyes damosels they toke on them to do armes the next somer after And as I was enformed the priÌ„cipall cause that enclyned theÌ„ therto was as I shall shewe you ye knowe well as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystorie howe that in the dayes of kyng Charles there was an Englysshe knyght called sir Peter Courtney a valyaunt knight in armes caÌ„e out of Englande in to FrauÌ„ce to Paris and demauÌ„ded to do armes with sir Guy of Tremoyle in the presence of the kyng or of suche as wolde se them sir Guy wolde nat refuce his offre and in the presence of the kyng and of other lordes they were armed on a daye ran toguyder one course And than the kyng wolde nat suffre them to ryn agayne toguyder wherwith theÌ„glyss he knyght was right yuell content For as he shewed he wolde haue furnysshed his chalenge to the vttraunce but he was apeased with fayre wordê and it was sayde to hym that he had done ynough he ought to be content therwith The kynge and the duke of Burgoyne gaue hym fayre gyftes and presentes Than he retourned agayne towardes Calays And the lorde of Clary who was a friscay and a lusty knyght was charged to conuey hym They rode so longe toguyder that they came to Lucynen where as the countesse of saynt Poule laye suster to kynge Richarde of Englande The lady was ioyfull of the coÌ„mynge thyder of sir Peter Courtney for she hadde maryed fyrste his cosyn the lorde of Courtney but he dyed yonge and after she maryed the erle of saynt Poule The Englisshe men called her madame Courtney and nat Countesse of saynt Poule ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Peter Courteney came in to Fraunce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle And howe the lorde of Clary coÌ„ueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calais Cap. C.lxi. THus as sir Peter of Courtney and the lorde of Clary were at Lucenen in Arthoys with the couÌ„tesse of saynt Paule who was right ioyouse of their commynge And as they deuysed of many thynges the countesse demaunded of sir Peter Courtney what he thought of the state of Fraunce He aunswered and sayd Certaynly madame the states of FrauÌ„ce are well and goodly serued we can nat be so serued in our countrey Sir quod the lady Do the lordes of Fraunce and the maner there contente you Haue they nat made you good chere Surely madame quod he their there contenteth me passynglye well but in the case that I passed the See for they haue but easely acquyted me therin And madame I wyll ye knowe that if the lorde of Clary here present hadde come
Englande suche as his specyall 〈…〉 might come in to your presence and to your counsayle as shortely as myght be to treate for a maner of peace so that it he and you togyther myght couenably and resonably be conâ—oyned and meanes sounde to haue a conclusyon of peace he wold be therof right ioyfull and for that entente he wolde nouther spare his owne payne and laboure nor yet none of his men nother to come hym selfe or to sende suffyciente persones ouer thesee to the cytie of Amyence or to any other place assigned And syr we be come hyder for this entente to knowe your pleasure in this behalfe Than the kynge aunswered and sayde Syr Thomas Percy you and all your company are ryght hertely welcome and of youre comynge and wordes we are ryght ioyfull ye shall â—ary here in Paris a season and we wyll speke with our counsayle and make you suche a couenable answere or ye depart that it shall suffyce you With this answere the englysshe men were well content Than it was nere dyner tyme and the englysshe men were desyred to tary to dyne And so the lorde of Coucy brought them in to a chambre and the lorde de la Ryuer There they dyned at their layser and after dyâ—er they retourned in to the kynges chambre and there had wyne and spyces and thanne toke their leaue of the kynge and wente to their lodgynge THe comynge of syr Thomas Percy and his company in to FrauÌ„ce and the tydynges that they brought pleased greatly the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and dyuers of his counsayle but nat allâ— and specially suche as ayded to sustayne pope Clementes quarell for they sawe well by these tydynges that if the frenche kynge enclyned to this treatie that it shulde greatly let hynder the voyage that was mynded to go to Rome to distroy pope Bonyfacâ— and his cardynals or els to bringe them to the beleue of pope Clemente But the mater of treatie of peace was so â—egh and touched so moche the welthe and prefyte all crystendome so that no persone durst speke against it The duke of Burgoyn and his counsayle with the kynge and his brother and the duke of Burbone were all of one acorde The kyng made good chere to ser Thomas Percy to the englysshmen but amonge them there was one knyght called sir Robert Briquet wheme the frenche kynge loued nat he was a frenche man borne but alwayes he helde him selfe outher naueroys or englysshe and as than he was one of the king of Englandes priuy chambre The frenche kynge dissymuled with hym sagely for whan he spake to theym alwayes the kynge wolde tourne his selfe to syr Thomas Percy or els to syr Loys Clyfforde and sayd Syrs we wolde gladly se this peace to be had bytwene vs and our aduersary the kynge of Englande for the quarell and warre hath to longe endured bytwene vs. and one thinge I wyll ye knowe that it shall nat be hyndred on out parte though it be gretly to our cost Sir quod they the kyng our souerayne lorde who hath sent vs hyther hathe great affection to haue peace and saythe that it shall nat be let on his parte and hath marueyle that the warre and dyscensyon bytwene your landes hath endured so longe and that no good amyable meanes hathe been had or this tyme. Than the frenche kynge answered and sayd we shall se the good affection that he hath thervnto THese englysshemen taryed at Parys vi dayes and euery day dyned with one of the dukes of Fraunce and in the meane season it was determyned that the frenche kynge his vncles and his priuy counsayle shulde be at Amyence by the myddes of Marche next after there to abyde the coming of the kynge of Englande his vncles and his counsayle if they wolde come thyder And the englysshe knyghtes sayd they made no doute but at the lest the kynge of Englandes vncles shulde be at the day assigned at Amyence this was the conclusyon of this treatie The daye before that they shulde departe out of Parys the kynge came to the palays where his vncles were and there he made a dynner to the Englyssh knightes and caused sir Thomas Percy to sytte at his borde and called hym cosyn by reason of the Northumberlandes blode at which dyner there was gyuen to sir Thomas Percy and to the englyssh knightes and squiers great gyftes and fayre iewels but in the gyunge of them they ouer slypte syr Robert Briquet and syr Peter Villers chefe steward with the frenche kynge delyuered the gyftes and be said to syr Robert Briquet Sir whan ye haue done suche seruyce to the kynge my maister as shall please hym he is ryche and puisaunt ynough to rewarde you With whiche wordê sir Robert Briquet was sore abasshed and parceyued well therby that the kyng loued hym nat but he was fayne to suffre it after dyner mynstels began to play that pastyme ones past sir Thoms Percy caÌ„e to the kyng sayd Sir I and my company haue great marueyle of one thing that ye haue made vs so good chere and gyuen vs so great gyftes that sir Robert Briquet hath nothynge who is a knight of our maisters preuy chambre Sir we desyre to knowe the cause why therto answered the frenche kyng and sayd Sir Thomas the knyght that ye speke of syth ye wyll knowe that mater he hath no nede to be in batayle agaynst me for if he were taken prisoner his raunsome shulde soone be payde and therwith the kyng entred in to other coÌ„munycacion Than wyne and spyces were brought forthe and so tooke leaue retourned to their lodgynge and made a reconyng and payde for euery thyng The nexte daye they departed spedde so in their iourneys that they arryued in EnglaÌ„de and shewed the kyng and his vncles howe they had spedde and greatly praysed the freÌ„che kyng and the chere that he had made them shewed of the gyftes and iewels that he had gyuen them ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue a lytell to speke of the Englysshe men and some what shewe of kyng Iohan of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of kyng IohnÌ„ of Castyle and of the crownyng of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C .lxxvi. YE haue herde here before in this hystorie how peace was made bytwene the kynge of Castyle and the duke of Lancastre who chalenged to haue ryght to the realme of Castyle by reason of the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to kyng DoÌ„peter And by meanes of a fayre doughter that the duke of Lancastre had by the sayde lady Custaunce the peace was made and confyrmed For the sayde kynge Iohan of Castyle had a sonne to his heyre called Henry who was prince of Galyce This Henry was maryed to the duke of Lancasters Doughter wherby good peace was made bytwene Englande and Castyle and within two yeres after this maryage kynge Iohan of Castyle dyed and was buryed in Burgus in Spaygne Anone after his dethe the prelates
attaygne to the herytage of Bretaygne of the whiche he is without and shall be for I haue chyldren sonne and doughter that shall succede after me Secondely he beareth the ermyns whiche are the armes of Bretaygne but of trouthe to do me dyspleasure withall sir Olyuer clysson mayntayneth him in that opinyon and as longe as he is in that case I wyllagre to no treatie with the kynge As for warre I wyll make none to the kyng bycause he is my naturall lorde but if by yuell informacyon the kyng make me warre I shall defende me he shall fynde me in myne owne countre all this I wyll that the kyng knowe THus the treatie bytwene the kynge and the duke of Bretayne contynued rygorously for the duke was lorde and mayster of his counsayle but the frenche kynge was nat so of his but was ruled by syr Olyuer Clisson and the Begue of Vyllains syr Iohan Mercyer and by syr Willyam of Montague the duke of Burgoyne who had clere vnderstandyng of euery thynge suffred the duke of Bretaygnes reasons and defences to be sayde in place and couertly he susteyned them and had the duke of Berrey of his opynyon for he hated inwardly them of the kynges priuy chambre bycause they had dystroyed his treasourer Betysache shamfully by iustyce at Besyers as ye haue herde here before but he suffred it for he sawe no tyme to be reuenged In this dyfference the duke of Bretaygne taryed at Towrs thre monethes that their treatie coulde come to no good conclusyon and were at the poynte to haue departed and the kynge was in wyll that as soone as he was retourned in to Fraunce to make a great assemble to make warre the next somer after in to Bretayne agaynst the duke suche of his acorde to leaue all other busines but the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne the lorde Coucy therle of saint Poll sir Guy of Tremoile the chanceller of FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other prelates high barons of FrauÌ„ce suche as were there ymagined to withstaÌ„de this rigorous rebellioÌ„s spake togider and said to the kyng sir we that be the iouerayn lordes piers of your realme and be nere of your lygnage we shulde haue a treatie this next lent for a peace to be had at AmieÌ„ce with thenglysshmen Wherfore sir ye had nede to make haste leaue this yuell wyll bytwene you and the duke of Bretayne for if the duke deê‘te hens without any agrement made bytwene you thenglysshmen wyll be the harder in all their treaties for they wyll thynke theÌ„ to be ayded and coÌ„forted by the duke of Bretayne and by his countrey for the duke hath thenglisshmen at his hande whan he wyll if we haue warre atones bothe with the Englysshmen bretons as we haue had or this they wyll put vs to great payne These lordê dyde so moche with the kyng his couÌ„sayle that at last they founde a meane bytwene the kyng the duke I shewe you what it was surely without the same meanes had ben founde they shulde haue come to no conclusion of good acorde So it was the frenche kyng had a doughter the duke of Bretaine had a sonne there was a maryage made bytwene this sonÌ„e this dought In lykewise IohnÌ„ of Bretayne had a sonÌ„e by the dought of sir Olyuer of Clysson the duke of Bretayne had a doughter and it was thought to make sure peace that the mariage bytwene theÌ„ two were necessary These maryages were agreed concluded howbeit for all these alyaunces yet IohnÌ„ of Bretayne shulde leaue the armes of Bretayne beare them of Chastellon bycause he was extracte by his mother syde of a duke of Bretayne for his mother was doughter to a duke of Bretaygne therfore he was alowed to bere in his armes a bordet of ermyne with thre labels goules on the heed of a scochyn of ermyns Thus he bare these deuises euery thynge was apesed So the duke of Bretayne gate the loue of the kyng of his vncles and dyned with the kyng and so IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was erle of Ponâ—hieuts And thus shewed great loue togyder by meanes of these mariages howe be it the duke in no wyse wolde se nor speke with sir Olyuer of Clysson he had suche displeasure to hym howebeit sir Olyuer made lyght therof for he hated the duke also with all his puissauÌ„ce These mariages thus acorded the lordes sworne and bounde to fulfyll theÌ„ whan the chyldren shulde be soÌ„what of more age Than these lordes determyned to departe fro Tourse to drawe to Parys for the tyme aproched that they shulde be at Amyence personally The frenche kyng his brother his vncles and his couÌ„sayle to mere there with the kyng of Englande his vncles and counsayle who shulde be there So the duke of Bretayne toke leaue of the Frenche kyng and of his brother vncles and of suche other as he loued best and so deê‘ted fro Tourse went in to his owne couÌ„tre and in lykewise so dyd all other lordê The duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the lorde Coucy taryed there styll I shall shewe you why ¶ Howe therle of Bloys and Mary of Namure his wyfe solde the countie of Bloys all their landes to the duke of Thourayne the frenche kynges brother Cap. C.lxxxii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Loys of Bloys sonÌ„e to therle Guy of bloys died whan he was yonge in the towne of Beauniont in Heynalt wher by the lady Mary doughter to the duke of Berrey was a widowe therby she lost her welthe of this worlde for the chylde was a gret enheritour if he had lyued he had ben a great lorde I speke of it bycause it shulde be knowen in tyme to come thenheritauÌ„ce to whome it went out of the right lyne and by what maner therle of Blois Mary of Namure his wyfe were nat in the case to engeÌ„dre children togider for by great driÌ„kyng moche eatynge of wete delycate meates they were ouergrowen with fatnesse so that the erle coude nat ryde but was alwayes caried in a lytter fro one place to another or whan he wolde go a huntyng or haukyng whiche sporte was gretly vsed with the lordê of FrauÌ„ce The same season whyle the Frenche kynge was at Tourse the duke of Thourayne had an ymaginacion whiche he brought to effect as I shall shewe you The duke of Thourayne knewe well he had moche rychesse lying by hym paraduenture a myllion of Floreyns whiche had by reason of his mariage with the lady Valentyne of Myllayne doughter to the erle of Vertus He wyst nat howe to enploy these flornes Than he remeÌ„bred howe the erle Guy of Bloys had great herytagê and that after his dethe they were likely to go to dyuers ê‘sones The erldome of Bloys shulde retourne to Iohan of Bretayne for he was the erles cosyn germayne and the landes of Heynault shulde go to the
duke Iulyers and to the duke of Lancastre except Chinay whiche shulde go to them of Conflans by homage and the couÌ„tie of Soissons whiche parteyned to therle of Bloys and was auÌ„ciently alyed to hym The lorde of Coucy was enherytour therof by reason of his delyuerauÌ„ce out of prisone in EnglaÌ„d Also the landes of Drages Monny shulde retourne to other heyres And the landes of Holande and zelande shulde retourne to the erle of Heynaulte Thus these fayre heryteges shulde be sparcled abrode this knewe well the lordes of FrauÌ„ce wherfore the duke of Thourayn who had money lyeng by hym thought to bye these laÌ„des if he might haue any resonable bargayne ThaÌ„ he thought to entreate the kyng to moue therle of Blois in this mater and specially at the lest to bye the countie of Bloys whiche was a fayre and a noble countrey and well syttinge for hym for the countie of Bloyes marched on the duchy of Thouraygne and to the Countie of Bloys parteyned many goodly fees This duke of Thourayne rested styll on his purpose seased nat tyll he spake with the kynge his brother the duke of Burbone with the lorde of Coucy bycause he was great with the erle of Blois and had to wyfe the doughter of his cosyn germayne the duke of Loreyne The duke of Thourayne and the other lordes of his affyuite kept this mater secretely fro the duke of Berey I shall shewe you why The lady Mary his dought was endowed in all the countie of Bloys to the soÌ„me of .vi. M. frankes by yere and the duke of Berrey trusted by reason of his doughters dowrie the the countie of Bloys shulde be his after the erles dethe this duke of Berrey was a marueylous couytous prince the duke of Burgoyne in lyke wise trusted the landes of Holande zelande Heynalte to be his bycause that Margarete his eldest dought was maried to Wylliam sonÌ„e to therle of Heynalte wherby he thought outher by bieng or by soÌ„e other incident that chose landes shulde returne to his sonÌ„e erle of Ostrenant otherwyse called IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who as than had maried Margarete eldest doughter to therle of Heynalte Thus the kyng and these said lordes purposed that at their deê‘tyng fro Tourse iii Thourayn to ryde by Blois to se their cosyn therle Guy of Bloys who was an eight myle fro Tourse in a castell of his owne called the Castell morant there to treate of this marchaÌ„dise with hym with his wyfe the lady Mary of Namure who was a couytous lady So it was there was a valiant knight and of great prudence bayly of Blois called sir Raynolde of Sens who had ê‘fyte informacion of all this busynes by what meanes I knowe nat Whan he knewe it he had gret pyte therof for loue of therle his lorde for he thought by reason of his sale of his laÌ„des he shuld be dishonored for euer disherite the true rightfull heyres whiche shulde be damnacion to his soule He thought to lette this mater if he coude so rode fro Blois spake with therle said sir the frenche kynge the duke of Thourayn the duke of Burdon and the lorde Coucy cometh hyder to you that is true ê™ therle why speke you that Sir ê™ he I say it bycause ye shal be requyred to sell your enheritaÌ„ce wherfore ye haue nede to take good aduise therin of those wordê therle had great marueyle said I can nat let men to speke make requestê but or I make any suche bargayne to sell myne enherytauÌ„ce or to disheryte myne heyres to my shame rebuke I shall rather sell or ley to pledge all the plate I haue Well sit ê™ the knight remeÌ„bre well the mater whan tyme is for this that I haue shewed you is without dout Bayly ê™ the erle I am nat so yong nor folysshe to enclyne to any suche treaties thus the bayly deê‘ted fro therle rode againe to Blois for he wolde nat be sene there at the kynges coÌ„mynge Whan the kyng and these said lordes caÌ„e to the castell the erle made them good chere as it was reason The erle and the countesse were right ioyfull that the kyng wolde visyte them in their owne castell Than the kynge to drawe the erle to his loue to bring hym to his entent sayd Fayre cosyn I se well ye be a lorde of our realme garnysshed with honour and larges and haue ben at great cost and to ayde you and somwhat to recoÌ„pence you We wyll you gyue and ayde that shall be well worthe to you twentie thousande fraÌ„kes in the countie of Blois Th erle thanked the kyng of his gyfte but he had neuer profite therof for he had neuer nothyng Than the kynge began to treate the Erle to sell the countie of Bloyes to the duke of Thourayn The kynge and the duke of Burbone spake fyrst and founde therle very colde and tarre of in that mater Than the lordes drewe to the countesse of Bloyes and shewed her so many colored reasons and she hers that after her husbandes dethe she was lyke to be but a poore lady Wherfore they said it were moche better for her to be a ryche lady and a puissaunt of golde and syluer and iewelles than to be poore Sayeng howe she was lykely to ouerlyue her husbade Therfore they desyred her to counsayle her husbande to make this marchaundyse The countesse who was a couytous lady And for loue to haue the floreyns she enclyned to their desyres and she dyd so moche with the helpe of other as the ayde of a varlet of the Erles chambre called Sohier borne at Malygnes sonne to a weyuer of clothes but he was so great with the erle of Bloyes that all thynge was done by hym without hym nothyng done And the erle had gyuen hym in fees and herytagê more than fyue hundred frankes by yere Be holde and consydre what myschefe great lordes be brought vnto by meane of seruauÌ„tes This Sohier had nother wytte nor reason to be greatly alowed but it was alonely the folysshe loue that his maister hadde to hym In lykewise the duke of Berrey the same season had one with hym called Iaques Thybaulte who was of no reputacion yet the duke at dyuers tymes had gyuen hym the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes and yet all was but loste This Sohier coulde nor can nat excuse hym selfe but that if he had lysted he myght well haue broken that marchaÌ„dise that therle his mayster made but to please the kynge the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the couÌ„tesse who was agreed therto by couitousnes of the florens He rowned so in his maisters eare that the Erle wente from his promyse that he had made to his bayly And to there the reuercion of the countie of Bloyes after his discease was solde for the somme of two hundred thousande frankes and the duke of Thouraygne to delyuer to
erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who had ben as an hostager in Englande and moche in the duke of Lacasters company and loued hym very well He came and humbly saluted the duke of Lancaster Whan the duke sawe him he enbrased hym in great token of loue and spake toguyder a lytell Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne came to them the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy and therle of â—aynt Poule came to the duke of yorke the erle of Huntyngton and to sir Thomas Percye and so â—ode talkyng togyder with amorous wordes tyll they aproched the cytie of Amyence Than the duke of Lancastre rode bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyn Thus they rode all thre in a front makyng honour eche to other tyll they came to the bysshoppes palais where the kynge the duke of Thourayne was There they a lighted and the two dukes ledde the duke of Laâ—castre vp the steres and the other dukes and lordes folowed Than the Frenche lordes came in to the kynges presence made their reuerence and lefte the Englysshe dukes standyng alone Than a lytell they enclined them selfe to the kyng than the kyng caâ—e to them and toke them by the handes lytte them vp and spake swetely to them they to hym and other lordes of Fraunce fell in talkynge with the other lordes of Englande whan they had coÌ„maned a season they toke their leaue of the kyng his brother vncles and departed were conueyed to their lodgynges by the coÌ„stable of Fraunce the lorde Coucy the erle of saynt Poule sir Iohan of Vyenne and other Lordes of the realme of Fraunce Than they toke their leaues deê‘ted agayne to the kyng and the lady of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy was lodged in her fathers lodging all her coÌ„pany IT was ordayned by the freÌ„che kyng his counsayle before thenglysshe lordê came to the cytie of Amyence whiche ordynauÌ„ce was publysshed and proclamed openlye to th entent that no ê‘sone shulde be ignorant therof but euery man to beware of â—re kyng of any artycle in the proclamacion on payne of lefyng of their heedes First that no maner of person make any riot or gyue any riotous wordes to any Englysshman also that no knight nor squier speke or make any chalenge of armes to any englysshman on payne of the kynges highe displeasure they to company with the with swete wordes and goodly behauour in that towne lodgyngê or felde nor that the Frenche pages make any debate nor riotte in any place on payne of dethe And what soeuer any englysshman demauÌ„deth to suâ—â—re them pesably to haue it that no hoâ—t nor vitayler demaunde any money outher for meate or drinke nor for other suche coÌ„men charges Also it was ordayned that no knight nor squyer of Fraunce shuld go by night tyme without torche or torches and that the englysshmen shulde go at their pleasure without any coÌ„trolement that if any freÌ„chman mete any Englysshman in the night in any strete that they shulde swetely gently conuey him or theÌ„ to their lodgyng or to their company Also it was ordayned that in four places of the cyte four watches to be set of a thousande men in euery watche and that if any fyre happe to fall in the nyght by any incydence the watche in no wyse to remoue for no maner of cause but at the so wnynge of a bell all other people to drawe to queÌ„che the fyre Also it was ordayned that no freÌ„ch knight nor squier for no maner of cause shulde presume to speke to the king wtout the kyng fyrst dyde call hym Nor also that the knightes nor squyers of Fraunce shulde talke nor comune toguyder as long as any of the Englysshe men were present But to fynde comunynge and pastyme with theym Also it was ordayned that all hostes and their seruauntes in anywyse shulde nat conuey or hyde any Bowes or Arrowes or any other thynge parteyninge to the Englysshe men without makynge of large amendes without it were gyuen them by the Englysshmen of their curtesy than to take it or els nat All these thynges were determyned by delyberacyon or good counsayle to do the Englysshe men the more honoure for they trusted of a good conclusyon of peace Nighe euery day a fiftene dayes toguyder these lordes were in counsayle and brought nothyng to coÌ„clusyon for their demaundes were greatly different The Frenche men demaunded to haue Calais rased and beaten downe in suche wyse that no persone shulde dwell there after The Englysshe men wolde in no wyse agree to that treatie for it ought to be beleued that Calais was the towne of the worlde that the coÌ„mons of Englande loued best for as longe as they be lordes of Calays They sayde they bare the kayes of Fraunce vnder their gyrdell Thoughe the lordes departed euery daye vnagreed yet they departed a soÌ„der right amiably for euery daye they poynted to were agayne the nexte day bothe parties trustyng at last to coÌ„clude on some good poynt The frenche kyng made thenglysshe men in that space thre notable dyners at his palais In lykewise so dyde the duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the erle of saynt Poule Eche of these made the Englysshe men a great dyner And for euery thyng that the Englysshmen toke in the towne was payd for and clerkes apoynted by the kynge and his counsayle to write euery thyng and euery man apoynted for their money to the chambre of accomptes It ought to be knowen that Iohan duke of Lancastre and his brother the duke of yorke for all that they were come thyder on trust of peace yet they had charge of the kyng of Englande and of his counsayle that what soeuer treatie they made in no wise they shulde nouther gyue nor take any maner of thynge MAny were of the opynion that the coÌ„mynaltie of Englande rather enclyned to warre than to peace for in the tyme of good kyng Edwarde the thirde and of his sonÌ„e the prince of Wales they had so many fayre and highe vyctories on the frenche men and so great conquestes with so moche money for raunsomes sellyng and patesynge of townes countreis that they were become marueylous riche for many suche as were no gentylmen of byrthe by reason of their hardynesse and valyaunt aduentures wan and conquered so moche golde and syluer that they became noble and rose to great honour And so such as folowed after wolde folowe the same lyfe how beit after that dayes of the sayd kyng Edwarde and the prince his sonne by the wysdome and highe enterprice of sir Bertram of Clesquy and by the ayde of other good knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce The Englysshmen were than agayne sore put backe The duke of Gloucestre sonne to the sayde kynge Edwarde and vncle as than to kyng Richarde than beyng at Amyence dyuers other lordes knightes and squyers were of
dissymuled the mater and sayd Sir as it shall please you but ye must haue also my brother of Burgoyne with you We wyll haue hym with vs quod the kyng for without hym we wyll make no voyage We wyll go in to Bretayne with suche an armye able to resyst all our ennemyes We maye se nowe openly that this duke loueth nor setteth by vs but lytell He is proude and presumptuous and we shall entende to nothynge tyll we haue brought hym to reasone Thus the Frenche kyng deuised with the duke of Berrey and manysshed greatly the duke of Bretayne and his assysters The duke of Berrey acorded to all his sayeng but he dissymuled for he thought the contrary THe Frenche kyng hadde great affection to be reuenged of the dispyte that was done to his coÌ„stable wherfore he prepared hym selfe to go in to Bretayne and fyrst to go in to Aniou to distroye and beate downe sir Peter of Craons castel les for all that the duke of Bretayne sayd he had bought them yet the kyng and his counsayle sayd it was no poynt of the dukes heritage but that the duke sayde so to excuse and to susteyne sir Peter of Craon wherfore personally he was in the kynges indignacyon yet in the same season a treatie of maryage was had bytwene the duke of Bretaygnes sonÌ„e and the kynges doughter IN the meane season whyle this voyage was thus ordred great brute therof spoken throughe all Frauce There retourned to Paris the bysshoppe of Noyon and the lorde de la Ryuer fro Foize and Bierne and there shewed the kyng and his counsayle howe they had spedde They were well herde but the voyage in to Bretayne busyed so the kyng and his counsayle that they had no leysar to enteÌ„de to any other mater And the kynge wolde gladly that the constable had ben hole that he might be able to ryde and or the kyng went fro Parys he coÌ„maunded to be beaten downe sir Peter of CraoÌ„s house that stode in the churche yarde of saynt Iohans and than the kynge dyde gyue the grouÌ„de to make a churche yarde of to burye in deed bodyes The Frenche kyng made his prouisyon in the waye to Aniou to Mayne to Bretayne and in to Thourayne on the ryuer of Loyre to the entent to go in to Bretayne none durst speke the contrary REnome was throughout all Paris and it was well knowen that sir Olyuer of Clisson coÌ„stable of FrauÌ„ce whan he laye thus sicke of his hurtê made his testament to the entente that his heyres shulde knowe the trouthe of euery thyng that he had and where it was His heyres were two doughters the one was maryed to Iohan of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur It was he that sir Olyuer had quytte out of prisone in EnglaÌ„de and payde for hym sixscore thou sande frankes to the duke of Irelande as it hath ben shewed here before in this hystorie And his seconde doughter was or shulde be vicouÌ„tes of Rohan by reason of her husbaÌ„de The somme of the testament mounted to the soÌ„me of seuyntene hundred thousande frankes besyde his heritage Euery man that herde therof had great marueyle howe he shulde gather toguider suche richesse and specially the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne their counsayls had great marueyle therof and spake largely sayd What the deuyll howe maye it be that the constable hath gadered to guider so many floreyns and suche mouable goodes the kyng hym selfe hath nat so moche It maye well be beleued and knowen that he hath nat won all this by no iust meanes Thus the mater passed but suche as loued hym nat thought neuerthelesse Thus all suche as the kynge had written vnto prepared them selfe to go with hym in to Bretaygne This voiage pleased nothynge the duke of Burgoyn he sayd this was a warre without reason and that the conclusion ther of coulde take no good ende nor the realme of Fraunce nor the duchy of Bretayne nor the lordes knightes and squyers in theÌ„ had nothynge to do with the warre bytwene sir Olyuer of Clysson and sir Peter of Craon What nede they quod he to take payne or traueyle to make warre in their quarelles We shulde rather suffre them and their owne meÌ„ to greue and make warre eche vpon other The duke of Berrey was of the same opinyon but they coude nat be herde nor beleued for the kyng was couÌ„sayled contrary to their opinyons by suche as the kyng loued better than them These dukes coude nat tell howe to breke that enterprice and whan they sawe none other remedy they obeyed But that was slouthfully howe be it by the promocyon of the duke of Burgoyne the erle of Ostrenaunt was written vnto by the kynge to go with hym in this iourney with thre huÌ„dred speares The erle who loued dedes of armes prouyded hym to go with the kynge and whanÌ„e he was redy and had assembled toguyder his company to his great cost and charge Than he was countermaunded agayne and that in no wyse he shulde styrre ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayn brother to the kyng resigned the duchy of Thourayne in to the kynges handes and howe by exchauÌ„ge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌ„ce and so euer after he was called duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii IN the same season that the kyng was thus nighe redy to departe out of Parys to shewe that he toke that busynesse as to hym selfe there was an exchauÌ„ge made of landes gretly to the profyte of the duke of Thourayne for he resygned in to the kynges handes the duchy of Thourayne and the kyng gaue hym the duchy of Orliaunce in lyke maner as auÌ„ciently duke Philyp of Orlyaunce helde it whiche was four tymes better in value than the other was so thus fro hens forthe in this hystorie I shall name hym that was duke of Thourayne duke of OrlyauÌ„ce ¶ Whan sir Olyuer of Clysson was all hole and that he might ryde the Frenche kyng was right ioyfull and said howe he wolde tary no lengar and so on an euenyng he toke his leaue of the quene Isabell his wyfe and of the newe duchesse of Orlyaunce and of all other ladyes and damoselles and so dyde the duke of OrlauÌ„ce in lykewise Than they departed and rode to supper to MoÌ„tague and the duke of Burbone the erle of Namure and the lorde of Coucy with hym There the kyng laye dyned there after dyner they departed and laye all night at saynt Germayns and there laye a seuyn dayes and as than the kyng was somwhat diseased and his phisicions wolde haue had hym to haue rested hym selfe but the kyng was so wyllyng in his iourney that he sayde howe he was moche better at his ease than he was in dede whiche he dyde to gyue corage to his men to set forwarde for as thaÌ„ his two vncles the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne were behynde shewed well by their maner that the same iourney greued them nor they wolde nat haue gone
their voyage Than it was iudged by the lordes of the parlyament that sir Olyuer of Clysson Constable of Fraunce hadde forfayted landes lyfe and goodes And so iuged hym to be banysshed for euer out of the realme of Fraunce and to lese all his offyces and herytages within the realme And bicause he had nat sente the Martell whiche is the token of the offyce of the Constablery as he was soÌ„moned to do therfore the offyce was vacant and voyde Than the dukes and their counsayls suche as were agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson thought it necessary to prouyde soÌ„e person to occupy the said offyce whiche was so noble and of so gret renome that it might nat long be without a gouernour for the incidentes that myght happe to fall They aduysed that the lorde Coucy was a mete man for it and layde it to hym but he excused him selfe and sayd that in no wyse he wolde medyll therwith he wolde rather forsake the realme of Fraunce Whan they sawe he wolde nat medyll therwith than the dukes toke other aduyse ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the maryage was treated of the lorde Philyp of Arthoys Erle of Ewe and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berey and howe he was admytted Constable of Fraunce Cap. C. xc.iiii IN this same seasone there was a treatie of maryage to be had bytwene the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys the yong wydowe lady of Berrey somtyme called couÌ„tesse of Dunoys and wyfe to Loyes of Bloys The Frenche kynge wolde gladly haue had this maryage auaunsed but the duke of Berrey was natre wyllynge therto for he thought the erldome of Ewe but a small thyng as to the regarde of her fyrste husbande wherfore he thought to mary her more highlyer In dede the lady was beautifull endued with all vertues that shulde aperteyne to a noble lady Howe be it finally the duke of Berrey was lothe to displease the kynge yet he had many offers made hym for his doughter as by the yonge duke of Loreyne by the erle of Armynake by the sonne and heyre of the Erle of Foiz The kynge brake of all these maryages and sayd to his vncle Fayre vncle of Berrey we wyll nat that ye shall putte our cosyn youre doughter come of the Floure delyce in to so farre countreys we shall prouyde for her a mariage mete for we wolde gladly haue her nere vs it is right mete that she be with our aunt your wyfe for they be moche of one age Whan the duke sawe the kynges entente he reâ—rayned hym selfe of makynge of any promyse to any persone for his doughter Also he sawe well that the kynge enclyned his fauour to his cosyn the lorde Philyppe of Arthois who was a yonge lusty knyght and of highe corage and hadde endured many traueyls in armes beyond the see and other places and had atchyued many voyages to his great laude and honour Than the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne agreed bytwene theÌ„ that if the kynge wolde gyue to their cosyn Philyppe of Arthois the offyce of Constablery of Fraunce whiche as than they reputed voyde by reason of the forfayture of sir Olyuer of Clysson than they to agree at the kynges pleasure in this sayd maryage For the duke of Berrey thought that if he were constable of FrauÌ„ce he shulde than haue suffycient to mentayne his estate On this the two dukes determyned to speke to the kynge and so they dyde and said to hym Sir your counsayle generally are all agreed that the lorde Philyp of Arthoys be preferred to the offyce of constableshyp of Fraunce whiche is nowe voyde For by iugement of your ê‘lyament Olyuer of Clysson hath forfayted the offyce whiche maye nat be long vacant but it shulde be preiudyce to the realme And sir bothe you and we also are bounde to auauÌ„ce and promote our cosyn of Arthoys for he is nere of blode and of lynage to vs. And sir seing the office is voyde we can nat tell where ye shulde better enploy it than on hym He shall right well exercise it he is welbeloued with knyghtes and squiers and he is a man without enuy or couytousnesse These wordes pleased well the kyng who answered said Vncle if it voyde we had rather he had it than another The kyngê vncles sued styll for the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys for the duke of Berrey hated sir Olyuer of Clisson bycause he consented to distroye Betysache his seruaunte And the duke of Burgoyne hated hym bycause he made warre agaynst the duke of Bretaygne and yet the duchesse hated hym worse Finally the kyng assented so that the duke of Berrey wolde agre to the maryage bytwene his doughter the said lorde Philyppe of Arthoys And yet to satisfye the kyng and the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce who bare sir Olyuer of Clysson in that offyce They sente sir Guyllyam of Bourdes and sir Guyllyam Martell bothe knyghtes of the kynges chambre And sir Philyppe of Sauoises a knyght of the duke of Berreys in to Bretaygne to speke with sir Olyuer of Clysson These knyghtes tooke their iourney and rode to Anger 's and there they fouÌ„d the quene of Hierusalem and Iohan of Bretaygne who receyued them right honorably for the honour of the Frenche kynge There they taryed two dayes and demaunded newes of sir Olyuer of Clysson Sayeng they had curtesse letters and message fro the FreÌ„che kyng to hym and fro none other persone And they were aunswered no man coude tell where he was but that he was surely in Bretayne in one of his fortresses But they said he was so flyttyng fro one place to another that it was harde to fynde hym Than these knightes departed and toke leaue of the quene and of her sonne Charles the prince of Thatent and of Iohan of Bretaygne erle of PoÌ„thieu and rode to Rennes And the duke of Bretayne and the duchesse were at Wannes and rode nat lightly forthe out of the towne for he euer douted the busshmentes of his ennemye sir Olyuer of Clysson There was so harde warre made bytwene them that there was no mercy but dethe And thoughe the duke was lorde and souerayne of the countrey yet there was neyther barone knyght nor squyer in Bretaygne that wolde arme them agaynst sir Olyuer of Clysson but dissymuled and sayde that their warre touched them nothyng wherfore they satte styll The duke coude haue none other conforte WHanÌ„e these Frenche knyghtes were at Rennes they enquered where to fynde sir Olyuer of Clysson but they coude here no certentie of hym Thanne they were couÌ„sayled to drawe to the castell of Ioselyn where sir Olyuer of Clyssons men receyued them well for the loue of the Frenche kynge Than they demaunded where they myght here of sir Olyuer of Clysson Sayeng they had to speke with hym fro the frenche kynge and from the duke of Orlyaunce and from none other persones But his men coude tell nothyng of hym or els they wolde nat tell But
the firste all abasshed for if I had sene any auncyent knyght that had ben with kyng Edwarde or with the price I had ben well reconforted and wolde haue gone to hym but I coulde se none suche Than̄e I demaunded for a knyght called sir Rycharde Seury whyder he were a lyue or nat and it was shewed me yes but he was at London Than I thought to go to the lorde Thom̄s Percy great seneschall of Englade who was there with the kyng so I acquaynted me with hym and I founde hym right honorable and gracyous And he offred to present me and my letters to the kynge wherof I was right ioyfull for it behoued me to haue some meanes to bringe me to the presence of suche a prince as the Kynge of Englande was He wente to the kynges Chambre at whiche tyme the kynge was gone to slepe and so he shewed me and badde me retourne to my lodgynge and come agayne and so I dyde And whan I came to the bysshoppes palays I founde the lorde Thomas Percy redy to ryde to Ospring And he counsayled me to make as than no knowledge of my beynge there but to folowe the court and sayd he wolde cause me euer to be well lodged tyl the kyng shulde be at the fayre castell of Ledes in Kent I ordered me after his coūsayle and rode before to Ospring by aduēture I was lodged in an house where was lodged a gentyll knyght of Englande called sir Wyllyam Lysle He was taryed there behynde the kynge bycause he had payne in his heed all the nyght before He was one of the kynges preuy chambre And whan he sawe that I was a straunger and as he thought of the marchesse of Fraūce bycause of my langage We fyll in acquayncaunce toguyder for gentylmen of Englande are curcesse treatable and gladde of acquayntaunce Than he demaunded what I was and what busynesse I had to do in those parties I shewed hym a great parte of my cōmynge thyder and all that the lorde Thomas Percy hadde sayd to me and ordred me to do He than answered and sayde howe I coulde nat haue a better meane and that on the Friday the kyng shulde be at the castell of Ledes And he shewed me that whan I came there I shuld fynde there the duke of yorke the kynges vncle wherof I was ryght gladde bycause I had letters dyrected to hym and also that in his youthe he hadde sene me in the courte of the noble kyng Edwarde his father and with the quene his mother Than on the Friday in the mornyng sir Wylliam Lysle and I rode toguyder and on the waye I demaunded of hym if he had been with the kynge in the voyage in to Irelande He answered me yes Than I demaunded of hym the maner of the Hole that is in Irelande called saynt Patrykes purgatorie if it were trewe that was sayde of it or nat Than he sayde that of a suretie suche a hole there was and that he hym selfe and another knyght of Englande hadde ben there whyle the kynge laye at Duuelyn and sayd howe they entred in to the hoole were closed in at the sonne goynge downe and abode there all nyght and the nexte mornyng issued out agayne at the son risyng Than I demaūded it he had any suche strāge sightes or vysions as was spoken of Than he sayd howe that whan he his felowe were entred and past the gate that was called the purgatorie of saynt Patryke and that they were discended and gone downe thre or four paces discendyng downe as in to a cellar a certayne hoote wapure rose agaynst them and strake so in to their heedes that they were fayne to syt downe on the steres whiche are of stone And after they had sytte there a season they had great desyre to slepe and so fell a slepe and slepte there all nyght Than I demaūded that if in their slepe they knewe where they were or what visyons they had he answered me that in slepyng they entred in to great ymaginacyōs and in marueylous dremes otherwyse than they were wont to haue in their Chambres and in the mornynge they issued out and within a shorte season clene forgate their dreures visyons wherfore he sayde he thought all that mater was but a fantasy Than I lefte spekyng any further of that matter bycause I wolde fayne haue knowen of hym what was done in the voyage in Irelande And I thought as thā to haue demaūded what the kyng had done in that iourney but than company of other knyghtes came and fell in communycacion with hym so that I lefte my purpose for that tyme. Thus we robe to Ledes and thyder came the kyng and all his cōpany and there I founde the lorde Edmonde duke of yorke Than I went to hym and delyuered my letters fro the erle of Heynaulte his cosyn and fro the erle of Ostrenaunt The duke knewe me well and made me good chere and sayde Sir Iohan holde you alwayes nere to vs and we shall shewe you loue and courtesy we are boūde therto for the loue of tyme past and for loue of my lady the olde Quene my mother in whose courte ye were we haue good remembraunce therof Than I thanked hym as reason requyred So I was aduaunsed by reason of hym and sir Thomas Percy and sir William Lysle By their meanes I was brought in to the kynges chambre and in to his presence by meanes of his vncle the duke of yorke Than I delyuered my letters to the kyng and he toke and reed thē at good leysar Than he sayd to me that I was welcome as he that hadde ben and is of the Englysshe courte As on that daye I shewed nat the kynge the boke that I hadde brought for hym he was so sore occupyed with great affayres that I had as than no leysar to present my boke The kyng was sore busyed there in counsayle for two great mightye maters First was in determynynge to sende sufficient messangers as therle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne and the erle Marshall the archbysshoppe of Dublyn the bysshoppe of Ely the lorde Loys Clyssorde the lorde Henry Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spensar and many other ouer the See to Charles the Frenche kynge to treate with hym for a maryage to be hadde bytwene the kyng of Englande and the Frenche kynges eldest doughter named Isabell of the age of eyght yeres The secōde cause was the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Taryde the lorde of Pyntherne the lorde of Newcastell the lorde of Nesque the lorde of Copane and the counsaylours of Burdeux Bayon and of Daxe were come in to Englande and had quickely pursued their mater sythe the kynges retourne out of Irelande to haue an answere of the requestes and processe that they had put forthe to the kyng on the gyfte that the kynge had gyuen to his vncle the duke of Lācastre of the landes seignories lordshippes and baronyes in Acquytayne whiche they verifyed
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
duke of Gloucestre and so toke leaue of the kynge and of the lordes and came to London and the next day rode fyftene myle fro London to a towne called Brendwode and the next day to Plasshey and there he founde the duke and the Duchesse and their chyldren who ryght goodly receyued hym acordyng to his degre Than Robert delyuered hym his letters sent fro the frenche kyng And whan the duke sawe they were of credence he drewe this Robert a parte and demaunded what credence he had Robert aunswered hym and sayd syr I shall shewe therin to you at good leyser I am nat come to departe agayne so soone Well quod the duke ye be welcome This Robert knewe well ynough that the duke of Gloucestre was a sore dyslymulynge prince and contrary to any peace and thought it harde to breke hym fro his opinyon for he knewe well he was alwaies contrary to the peace whiche was well sene at the treaties at Balyngham for he neuer demaunded but to haue warre yet for all that Robert the Hermyte spared nat to speke to the duke on the forme of peace Alwayes he founde the duke colde in aunswers and sayd the mater lay nat in hym for he had two elder bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke to whome the mater partayned rather than to hym and also that if he wolde consent therto alone peraduenture the other lordes prelates and counsaylours of good townes wolde nat accepte it Well quod Robert the Hermyte for the loue of our lorde Ihesu Christ be ye nat contrarye to the peace for ye maye do moche and also ye se well howe the kyng your nephue enclyneth to the peace and wyll by maryage haue the Frenche kynges doughter by whiche coniunctyon shal be gret alyaunce of peace and loue Than the duke aunswered and sayd What though ye be beleued and herde at this tyme with the kynges and lordes of bothe realmes and that ye haue good audyeÌ„ce with them and with their counsaylours the mater is so hygh and weyghty that it is conuenyent that greater personages than ye shulde meâ—le therwith I haue tolde you and often tymes I haue said that I shall neuer be contrary to the peace so it be to the honoure of the kynge and the Realme of Englande In tyme paste peace was taken bytwene the king our father and our brother the prince of Wales and kinge Iohan of FrauÌ„ce and the frenche party sworne and bounde vppon payne of sentence of the pope and yet it helde nat for the frenchmen fraudulently haue broken all couenauntes haue taken agayne possessyon of all the landes and lordeshyppes that were yelded delyuered at the peace makyng to our sayd souerayne lorde and father and to our predecessours and moreouer of the soÌ„me of .xxx. thousande frankes that the redempcyon mounted vnto there is yet to paye syxe huÌ„dred thousande frankes wherfore such maters to remembre troubleth sore our corages and we and many of this realme marueyle greatly howe the kynge our souerayne lorde leaneth to so yonge aduyse counsayle and regardeth none otherwyse the tyme passed and the tyme present but enclineth to alye hym by maryage with his aduersary and by that alyaunce dysheryte the Crowne of Englande his successours to come of the clayme of Fraunce Ah ryght dere lorde quod Robert our lorde Iesu Christ suffered passyon on the Crosse for vs all synners and pardoned his dethe to them that crucyfied him in lykewyse a man must pardon that wyll come to the glory of heuen and sir all yuell wylles hates and rancoures were pardoned the daye that the peace was made and sealed at Calays by our predecessours and nowe warres haue been a game newly renewed bytwene your men and ours I thynke surely through faulte on bothe parties for whan the prince of Wales duke of Acquytayne was retourned out of Spayne in to Acquytayne there were a certayne maner of people callyng themselfe companyons wherof the moste partye were englysshe men and gascons holdynge of the kynge of Englande and of the prince of Wales These people assembled them togyther and entred in to the realme of Fraunce without any tytell of reason wherby ensued mortall eruell warre greater than was before These companyons called the realme of Fraunce their chambre they were so set to do yuell dedes that they coude nat be resysted And whan the realme of FrauÌ„ce sawe and felte them so harmed by this people and sawe well the lengar they contynewed the more they multyplyed more hurte they dyd than kyng Charles of FrauÌ„ce sonne to kyng Iohan was couÌ„sayled by his subgiettes to resyst subdue suche enemyes outher by warre or otherwyse and many great barons of Gascoyne came to the frenche kyng suche as said they were sore ouerlayde with their lorde the prince of Wales many iniuryes done to theÌ„ whiche they shewed to the frenche kynge they might nat nor Wolde nat suffre no lenger and so they beganne the warre bycause of their resorte to the prince of Wales Than this kynge Charles by counsayle of them and of his subgiettes enhardyed himselfe to the warre with these barones of Gascoyn for to mete against these companyons And in this newe warre many lordes retourned to the frenche kynge and dyuers lordeshyppes cyties townes and castels for the great oppression that the prince of Wales dyd to theÌ„ and consented to be done by his coÌ„myssioners Thus the warre was renewed wherby many great myschyefes haue fallen to the dystruction of moche people and countreys and the faythe of Christ sore febled and decayed the enemyes of god ryssen and coraged and haue all redy conquered moche parte of Grece the emperour of Constantynople hath nat the power to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of the great turke called Basant Lamorabaquyn who hathe conquered the realme of Armony excepte all onely a towne standynge on the see syde called Tourche whiche the venysians and genouoys kepe agaynst the turke and the emperour of Constantyne the noble who is of your blode he was sonne to the emperoure Hugues of Luzignen and of my lady Mary of Burbon cosyn germayne to my lady the quene your mother he shall nat be able of longe to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of this gret turke and if peace maye be had bytwene Englande and Fraunce as I trust by the grace of god it shall be than knyghtes squyers suche as demaunde for dedes of armes for their aduauncement shall drawe them to that parte and shall helpe kynge Lyon of Armony to recouer agayne his herytage and to put out the turkes for surely the warre hath ouerlonge endured bytwene Fraunce and Englande and surely who so euer it be that is or wyll be against the peace shall derely aunswere therto outher quycke or deed Howe knowe you that quod the duke of Gloucestre Syr quod Robert all that I say cometh by dyuyne inspyracyon and by a vysione that came to me vpon the see as I retourned fro Baruchâ—
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌ„ger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌ„t and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌ„ded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ„ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌ„ce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌ„maunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌ„te de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌ„maunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌ„mauÌ„ded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌ„tly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâ—e bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ— and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ— come thyder and howe they had got grauÌ„t of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌ„ce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌ„e I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
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
swete and amyable letters to the freÌ„che king by a notable ambassade a bysshop and .ii. knightes of Hungry In the same letters was coÌ„teyned a great parte of the state and doyng of the great turke and how that he had sent worde to the kynge of Hungry that he wolde come and fight with hym in the myddes of his realme and wolde go fro thens to the cytie of Rome and wolde make his horse to eare otes vpon the high auter of saynt Peter and there to holde his see imperyall and wolde bringe the emperour of Constantyne the noble in his coÌ„pany and all the great barons of the realme of Grece and eche of theÌ„ to kepe styll their owne lawe for he desyred nothynge but the tytell and signorie Thus the kyng of HuÌ„gry in his letters prayed the Frenche kyng to entende to ayde and socour him and that this businesse in farre couÌ„treis might he publisshed abrode to th entent that all knightes and squyers myght prouyde to come in to Hungry to resyst agaynst Lamorabaquy the great turke to th entent that Christendome shulde nat be violated by him and that his pride and bost myght be abated In these letters were conteygned many wordes of great loue as kynges cosyns write eche to other in case of necessyte And they were sente by suffycient personages who dyde so moche that the Frenche kynge enclyned his hert therto and was the gladder to sette forwarde the treatie of the mariage of his doughter to the kynge of Englande Than anone these newes of Hungry were publysshed abrode and written in to many countreis to moue the hertes of gentylmen knightes and squiers suche as wolde auaunce them to get honour The same season that these newes were brought to the kyng there was at Parys the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse and Iohan of Burgoyne their sonne heyre erle of Neuers who as than was no knyght and the lorde Guye of Tremoyle the lorde Wyllyam his brother and many lordes and other of the realme of Fraunce Than the duke of Burgoyne enclyned sore to this viage and specially that his sonÌ„e shulde enterprice the sayd voyage so he myght be chefe heed leader of the army that shulde go in that viage This Iohan of Burgoyne was but a yonge man of the age of .xxii. yeres Wyse curtesse tretable humble and welbeloued of knyghtes and squyers of Burgone and of other nacyons suche as knewe hym He had to wyfe the doughter of duke Aubert of Bauier erle of Heynalte Hollande and zelaÌ„de a good lady wyse and deuout and had two chyldren full lykely to come to great maryages One shewed this Iohan of Burgoyne howe the Frenche kyng wolde sende hym in this voyage in to Hungry to se what he wolde saye Than he sayd if it pleace the kynge and the duke my father to sende me as chiefe of this armye it shall please me ryght well for I haue great desyre to auaunce my selfe well sir quod they ye were best to speke with the duke youre father that he maye speke to the kynge for without his good wyll ye can do nothynge IT was nat long after but that this Iohan of Burgoyne spake to his father prayeng hym humbly to consent that he myght go in this voyage in to Hungry and at the same tyme there was by hym sir Guye and sir Wyllyam of Tremoyle and other they said to the duke Sir this request that your sonne maketh is but resonable for it is tyme he take the order of knighthode and more nobly he can nat take it than in goyng the iourney agaynst the enemyes of holy Churche And it the kynge wyll sende any personage in that voyage he can nat sende a more honorable man thanÌ„e his owne cosyn germayne your sonne and ye shall se many knyghtes go with hym as well for their owne auauÌ„cementes as for your loue Than the duke said well so be it I shall nat lette the good wyll of my sonne I shall speke to the kyng therin and shall se what answere he wyll make And anone after the duke spake to the kynge therin and the kynge incontynent enclyned therto and sayd howe it shulde be well done that he went and we wyll that he shall go and we wyll make hym as chefe of that iourney Than the tidyngê was shewed throughe all Parys and without that Iohan of Burgoyne with a great company of knyghtes shulde go in to Hungry to se the puyssaunce of the great Turke and that iourney atchyued thanne the Christen men to go to ConstaÌ„tyne the noble and to passe ouer the arme or saynt George and so to entre in to Surrey and to delyuer Hierusalem out of the panyms handes Than awaked suche knyghtes and squyers as desyred aduauncement Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe that his sonne shulde go in this voyage and that he shulde be chiefe of the army he honored than the more the ambassadours of Hungry who whan they sawe the kynges good wyll the dukes the Frenchmens they were gladde and toke their leaue of the kynge and of the other lordes of Fraunce and so retourned to their countrey and made relacyon to the kyng of Hungry howe they had spedde wherwith the kynge was greatly reioysed and made great prouisyon agaynst the coÌ„mynge of the Frenche men and sent these ambassadours to his brother the kyng of Almaigne to open his passages and also to his cosyn the duke of Austriche for throughe the straytes of Austryche he muste nedes passe And by all the wayes he caused great prouisyon of vitayle to be ordayned And also he wrote letters to the great mayster of Pruce and to the Rhodes Certifyeng them of the coÌ„myng of Iohan of Burgoyne with a thousande knyghtes and squiers of valyant men to the entent to entre in to Turkey and to resyst the great bost of kyng Basant called the great turke IN this season the lorde Coucy was come to Parys and was but newlye retourned fro a voyage where he hadde ben a hole yere whiche was on the fronters of GeÌ„nes And there were certayne great men genowayes that had enformed the duke of Orlyaunce that the hoole Duchy of Geane desyred to haue to their chiefe lorde some noble persone discended of the lynage of the flour delyce And for as moche as the duke of Orlyaunce had wedded the doughter of the lorde of Myllaygne and that the lande and duchy of Geane shulde be ryght mete for hym at the duke of Orlyaunce instaunce the lorde of Coucy with thre huÌ„dred speares and fyue huÌ„dred cros bowes passed ouer in to Sauoye and to Pyemont by the accorde and consent of the erle of Sauoye and came in to Aste in Pyemont by the consent of the lorde of Myllayne and came to a cytie called Alexandria and so came to the fronters marchesse of the genowayes and there fell in treatie with them to know more playnly their enteÌ„cyons for ê‘force he coulde do nothyng without he
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
of Napoles agaynst syr Peter of Craone Cap. CC.ix. THe same seasone that the Englysshe men were at Paris quene Iane duches of Aniowe who wrote her selfe quene of Napoles and of Iherusalem was at Parys and pursued dylygently her busynesse She was a lady of great corage she pleted in parlyament for two causes The fyrst was for the herytage of the countie of Roussey agaynst the Erle of Brayne for Loys the duke of Aniou her lorde husbande had bought it and payed for it to a lady that was couÌ„tesse of Roussey somtyme wyfe to the lorde Loys of Namure but afterwarde she was deuorsed fro hym for a reasonable cause as it was sayde The seconde sute this quene had was agaynst syr Peter of Craon she demaunded of hym the soÌ„me of a hundred thousande frankes whiche she was redy to proue that he had receyued it in the name of his lord and mayster Loys kyng of Napoles Cysyll and Iherusalem her husbande whiche money was delyuered hym to haue payed in to Powell and or it was payed he herde howe his sayd mayster my husbande was deed Than he iourneyed no further but returned agayne in to Fraunce and kept styll the sayd soÌ„me of money to his owne profyte and neuer made acompte to the sayde quene therof nor to her chyldren Loys and Charles but spente and wasted the money in pride and bobbans The quene layde to his charge that for faute of payment of the sayd money the realme of Napoles was loste and conquered by Margarete of Duras and by the heyres of the lorde Charles de la Paix by reason that suche soudyours as her husbande had to mayntayne his warres in Puell Calabre were nat payed their wages wherby many tourned to the Erle of saynt Seuyre and to Margarete of Duras and other departed and lefte the warres All these causes were put in to the Parlyament chambre at Parys where all causes were preposed shewed and demaunded and all the defences and aunsweres herde on all partyes Their plee had endured the space of thre yeres And though syr Peter of Craon were absent fro the parlyament yet his aduocates defended his cause and sayd though he had recyued the sayd soÌ„me in the name of his lorde and mayster yet his mayster was as moche bounde to him as that soÌ„me came to and more for the good seruyce that he had done to him This plee had endured so longe that it was necessary to haue a conclusyon and the lady made importunate sewte to haue iudgement The lordes of the parlyament consydred all thynges and sayd they wolde gyue no iudgement without both parties were present and syr Peter of Craon durste nat well apere in Parys bycause of the Kynges dyspleasure and the duke of Orlyance for the offence that he had doone to syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce and without he were present they wolde gyue no sentence defynityue wher vpon the sayd lady pursewed to set hym clere in Fraunce and by her meanes he was pardoned so that he myght ryde and go where he lyst without any daunger except the sute that was bytwene her and hym for the sayd soÌ„me of money So he was clerely dyscharged of all other charges and lordes ladyes made hym good chere I wote nat whether it were by dissymulacyon or otherwyse thus he was agayne at Parys holdynge as great estate as euer he dyd The same tyme he was apoynted to be one of theym to receyue and bringe the englysshe ambassadours to the kynge for he was a knyght that hadde sene moche and knewe moche honoure Than the daye was prefyxed that the iudgement concernynge the quenes maters shulde be determyned at whiche day there were present in the parlyament great nombre of the lordes of Fraunce to the entent that the maters shulde be the more autentyke There was the quene of Cicyll and Iherusalem and her sonne Charles prince of Thaurent and Iohan of Bloys called Iohan of Bretaygne erle of Ponthyeure and of Lymogynes and the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey Burgoyne and Burhone and the erle of Brayne and the bysshoppe of Laon. And before theym the lady was herde to laye her tytell for the countie of Roussey And on the other parte there was syr Peter of Craon and many of his lygnage Fyrste iudgement was gyuen for the countye of Roussey and that was the herytage was remyssed and iudged in to the handes and possessyon of the erle of Brayne and to the heyres that shulde dyscende of the ryght braunche of Roussey reserued that the quene shulde haue agayne repayed to her all the money that kynge Loys her husbande hadde payed to the countesse of Roussey laste deed Of this iudgement the enherytours of the countie of Roussey to whom the herytage pertayned thanked greatly the lordes of the parliament Than suche as were ordayned to gyue the seconde sentence arose vp and sayde howe that by the sentence of the parlyament sir Peter of Craon ought to pay to the quene of Napoles duchesse of Aniowe the somme of a hundred thousande frankes in redy money or els his body to go to prysone tyll she were contented and satysfyed Of this iudgement the sayde lady thanked the lordes of the parlyamentâ— and in contynent at the coÌ„playnte of the lady handes was layde on him by the kynges commaundement and so was ledde to the castell of Loure and there surely kepte So the lordes departed fro the parlyament Thus these two iudgementes were gyuen by the princypall occasyon of this lady duchesse of Aniou ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage â—aken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande Isabell eldest doughter to the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. THe ambassadours of Englande were with the frenche kynge at Parys a xxii dayes and they had as good chere as coulde be deuysed and their maters tooke suche effecte that it was agreed that the kyng of Englande shuld haue in maryage Isabell the eldest doughter of kynge Charles and by vertue of procuracyon the erle Marshall fyaunced and espoused her in the name of the kinge of Englande and so she was called fro thens forthe quene of Englande And as I was enfourmed it was a goddly syght to se her behauour for all that she was but yonge ryght plesauntly she bare the porte of a quene â–ª Than all this mater concluded the englysshe men tooke their leaue of the frenche kynge and of the quene and of their doughter quene of Englande and of all other lordes and so departed fro Parys and retourned to Calays and so in to Englande The Kynge and other of his opynyon were glad of their retourne But who so euer was gladde of that maryage the duke of Gloucestre vncle to the kynge made no ioye there of for he sawe well that by reasone of that maryage and alyaunce peace shulde be bytwene the kinges and their realmes whiche greued hym without it shulde be greatly to the honour of the
kynge and the realme of Englande and that the Englysshe men myght be in the same case or better in the parties of Gascoyne as they were or the warres renewed agayne And of this matter he wolde often tymes speke with his brother the duke of yorke and drewe hym as moche as he coulde to his opynions for he was but a softe prince but to the Duke of Lancastre his eldest brother he durste nat speke ouer largely for he sawe well he was of the kynges opynion and was well pleased with the Kynges maryage princypally for the loue of his two doughters the quene of Spaygne and the quene of Portugale The same season the duke of Lancastre remaryed agayne the thyrde tyme to a lady doughter to knyght in Haynalte called syr Paon of Ruette he had ben in his tyme with noble quene Phylyp of Englande who was of the nacyon of Haynalt she was called Katheryn and was brought vp in her youthe in the duke of Lancasters howse with the duchesse Blaunce of Lancastre And after the dethe of this lady Blaunce the duke maryed the lady Custaunce of Spaygne and in her dayes the duke kepte to his concubyne this lady Katheryne of Ruet who hadde maryed a knyght of Englande who was as than deed and the duke had by her thre chyldren two sonnes and a doughter the eldest called Iohan otherwyse lorde Beauforde of Lancastre the duke loued hym entyerly the other was called Thomas the duke brought him vp at Asque he was a good clerke and connynge in bothe lawes he was a great iuryst and legyst and was after bysshoppe of Lyncolne The duke of Lancastre for the loue he had to his chyldren he wedded their mother the lady Katheryn of Ruet wherof there was moche marueyle bothe in Englande and in Fraunce for she was but of a base lynage in regarde to the two other wyues And whan the knowledge of the maryage of the duke to this lady Kateryne of Ruet was come to the great ladyes of Englande as the duchesse of Gloucestre the countesse of Derby the countesse of Arundell and other ladyes dyscended of the blode royall of Englande they meruayled moche and layd gret blame to the duke for that dede and sayde howe the duke of Lancastre was greatly to dysprayse to mary his concubyne for by reason therof she shulde be the seconde person in honoure in Englande wherby they sayd the quene shulde be shamefully acompanyed and sayde howe surely they wolde nat come in to no place where she shulde be presente and more ouer they sayde it shulde be a great shame for theym that suche a duchesse come of so base a blode and concubyne to the duke in his other wyfes dayes shulde go and haue the preemynence before them they sayde their hertes shulde breke for sorowe bothe the duke of Gloucestre and the duchesse his wyfe spake of this mater and sayd howe the duke of Lancastre was nat wyse but fowle ouersene to marry his concubyne and sayde they wold neuer do her honoure nor call her suster The duke of yorke passed it ouer lyghtly ynough for he was euer lyghtly resydente aboute the kynge and with the duke of Lancastre The duke of Gloucestre was of a nother maner for he sette by no man though he were yongest brother he was orgulous and presumptuous of maner and therto be enclyned his nature and alwayes agaynst the kynges opynions and his counsaylours Thus this lady Kateryne of Ruet was duchesse of Lancastre and was as the seconde persone in Englande and was moche aboute the kynge as she that knewe moche honour for in her youth and all her dayes she had ben brought vp therin and the Duke loued greatly the chyldren that he had by her and that he shewed well in his lyfe and after his dethe YE haue herde here before howe iugement of the parliament was gyuen agaynst syr Peter of Craon and howe he was condempned in a hundred thousande frankes to be payed to the Quene of Napoles Whan the sayde syr Peter sawe howe he was condempned he was sore abasshed for outher he muste paye the sōme or els abyde styll prisoner Than he was counsayled by the duke of Burgoyne and by the duchesse that he shulde requyre the yonge quene of Englande to be meane for hym to the quene of Napoles that he myght be released oute of prysone fyftene dayes to go abrode in Parys to sewe to his frendes to pay his fynaūce or els to fynd sureties for him tyll he myght go in to Bretaygne to gather amonge his frendes the same sōme So at the desyre of the yonge quene of Englande the quene of Napoles was contente that he shulde go all the day abrode in Paris and at nyght alwayes to yelde hymselfe prisoner in to the castell of Lowre and there to remayne all the night After this rate he went abrode and sewed to many of his blode and frendes but he coulde fynde none that wolde abyde there prisoner for hym the sōme was so great And at the ende of the fyftene dayes he was fayne to returne prisoner bothe day and nyght and was kept streyghter than he was before at his cost and charge NOwe lette vs a lytell speke of the iourney of therle of Neuers and the lordes of Fraunce and what they dyd the same sōmer in Hungery And after we shall speke of the goynge in to Frese of the erle of Haynalte and the erle of Ostrenaunt The erle of Neuers and his company with many valyaunt men that he had of Fraunce and of other countreys whan they were come in to Hungery in to a great cytie called Bode the kyng of Hungery made them good chere and well they deserued it for they were come farre of to se him The entensyon of the kynge was that or he sette forwarde with his puyssaunce and with the ayde of Fraunce to entre in to the felde to here fyrste some newes fro the great turke called Lamorabaquy who had sent hym worde in the moneth of February that surely he wolde be in Hungery or the ende of the moneth of Maye and that he wolde passe the water of Dunce of whiche message many had great marueyle And some sayde that there is in a manner nothynge but that man maye do it consyderynge that the turke is valyaunt and puyssaūt and desyreth moche dedes of armes therfore sythe he hath said it by all lykelyhode he wyll do it and if he passe nat the Dunce to come hyther to this syde than lette vs passe ouer and entre in to Turkey with puyssaūce for the kynge of Hungery with suche ayde as he hath of straungers shall well make an hundred thousande men and suche a nombre of suche men are well able to conquere all Turkey and to go in to the empyre of Perce and if we may haue one iourney of vyctory vpon the great turke we shall do after what we lyst and shall conquere Surey and all the holy lande of
that they shall haue ynoughe to do TO coÌ„sydre these wordes one ought greatly to marueyle that the Lorde Galeas erle of Vertues and Duke of Myllayne who was reputed to be a christen man baptysed and regenerate after the Christen Lawe wolde seke or requyre loue or alyaunce with a kynge myscreant out of our lawe and faythe or to sende hym gyftes and presentes as he dyde euery yere As dogges haukes and fyne lynen clothes whiche are ryght plesaunt to the Sarazins for they haue none but that cometh fro our parties Also the great Turke sent to hym agayne other presentes of ryche clothe of golde and precyous stones wherof the Sarazins haue great plentie But in those dayes the erle of Vertues duke of Myllayne and sir Galeas his father reygned as tyrantes and so helde their signories It is marueyle to thynke of their dedes and fyrste howe they entred and opteygned the signorie of Myllayne So it was there were thre bretherne the lorde Manfres the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo They hadde an vncle who was archebysshoppe of Myllayne And so it fortuned that whan the lorde Charles of Lusenbourge kyng of Boesme and of Almayne emperour of Rome who reigned after kyng Loyes of Bauyer who opteygned to the Empyre byforce for he was neuer taken as Emperour by the churche but excoÌ„munycate and a cursed by pope Innocent who reygned as thanÌ„e For this Loyes of Bauyer went to Rome and made hymselfe to be crowned emperour by a pope and .xii. cardynalles that he made And as soone as he was crowned he made the Almayns to be payed their wages to ouer ryn Rome and to robbe and to pyll it this was the rewarde that the romayns had for receyuyng of hym wherfore he dyed excoÌ„municat and in that sentence The pope and cardynalles that he made without any constreynâ— came after to Auignon and submytted them selfes to pope Innocent who reigned before Vrbayne the fyfthe and there were assoyled of their errours ¶ Nowe to purpose howe the lordes of Myllayne came fyrst to that signorie I shall shewe you howe SO it was the archebysshoppe of Myllayne at a tyme receyued kynge Charles of Boesme emperour in to the cytie of Myllayne nobly and tryumphantlye after the Emperour had been before Axe the Chapell and had accomplysshed there his .xl. dayes accordyng to the vsage in the case parteyning and for the great chere that he made to the Emperour and for a hundred thousande ducates that he lent to the Emperour He made the bysshop vycouÌ„t of Myllayne and his nephewes after hym for euer to holde the lande and signorie of Mylayne free at his wyll vnto the tyme that the Emperour hadde payde agayne at one tyme the sayd soÌ„me of a hundred thousande ducates And so after the bysshoppe dyed and the lorde Manfres his nephue by the accorde of the Emperour and for loue of his vncle was receyued in to the signorie of Myllayne than his two bretherne who as than were nat very riche the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo counsayled toguyder determyned to reigne and to holde the landes of LoÌ„bardy bytwene theÌ„ and to coÌ„ioyne theÌ„ by mariage to some great lordes to maynteyne their estates and to cause men to feare their displeasures And so they caused their brother MaÌ„frese to be slayne by venyme or otherwyse after whose dethe they reygned puissauntly byforce and polycy All their dayes they lyued in good accorde toguyder and departed the cyties of Lombardy bytwene them The lorde Galeas hadde tenne bycause he was the eldest and the lorde Bernabo nyne And the cytie of Myllayne was gouerned one yere by the one brother and another yere by the other brother And to the entent to reigne puissauntly they sought the wayes to gader great rychesse by raysinge vp in possyons subsydies and gabelles and many other yuell customes wherby they gadered great store of golde and syluer and they caused their townes and cyties to be kepte with soudyours straungers as Almaygnes FreÌ„che men Bretons Englysshmen and of all other nacyons excepte their owne countrey men for they hadde no trust nor affiaunce in them for feare of rebellyon agaynst theÌ„ and these soudyours were payed fro moneth to moneth wherby they were so douted and fered of the people that none durste displease them For if any dyd ryse or dyde any thyng agaynst them there was cruell vengeaunce taken vpon them They distroyed many a one in their dayes to gyue ensaÌ„ple to other IN all their signories no man hadde any thynge but atte their pleasure They wolde tayle a ryche man thre or foure tymes in a yere They sayd that loÌ„bardes were ouer proude and presuÌ„ptuous in their richesse wherfore it was behouable to kepe them vnder subiection no man durst saye nay to any thyng that they coÌ„maunded These two bretherne maryed them hyghlye and bought their wyues with the goodê and substaunce of their people The lorde Galeas hadde to wyfe the suster of the good erle of Sauoye named Blaunche payde to the erle for her a hundred thousande ducates The lorde Barnabo maryed hym in Almaygne to the suster of the duke of Bresnyche and payde no lesse money than his brother dyd These two bretherne hadde many chyldren and maryed them highly and richelye to atteyne therby great alyaunces The lorde Galeas had a sone called Galleas and as than the father vnderstode that whaÌ„ kynge Iohan of Fraunce was come out of Englande and put to rauÌ„some to .xxx. C. thousand frankes and they of Fraunce wyst nat howe to reyse the fyrste payment ThanÌ„e he treated with the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle to haue one of his doughters for Galeas his sonne The kynge and his couÌ„sayle entended to this treatie bycause they knewe well this lorde Galeas was grounded in richesse and thus he bought the kyngê doughter for sixe hundred thousande frankes whiche were tourned in payment to the Kynge of Englande And so his sonne maryed kynge Iohans doughter and to hym was gyuen the countie and erldome of Vertues in Champaygne Of that sonne and doughter issued a doughter whiche byforce of golde and syluer was maryed to the seconde sonne of kynge Charles of Fraunce called Loyes duke of Orlyaunce erle of Bloyes and Valoyes The maryage cost the erle of Vertus father to the sayde lady tenne hundred thousaunde frankes And the countie of Bloyes was bought of the erle Guye of Bloyes as it hath ben conteyned here before in this hystorie Thus these lordes Galeas and Barnabo acorded right well toguyder all their lyue dayes they neuer varyed nor their people toguyder therfore they reigned in great puissaunce No man coude haue reason nor right of them Pope cardynalles nor other that made any warre agaynst them sauyng alonely the marques of MouÌ„tferant that was by the meanes of the lorde Iohan Hacon and the Englysshe men with the routes of the companyons whiche Iohan Hacon brought them out of Prouynce in to Lombardy and made there great warre
THan at last dyed this lorde Galeas and after hym reigned his sonne erle of Vertues named Galeas in great puyssaūce and at the begynnyng of his reigne he gate him great loue in Lombardy and or dred hymselfe after a goodly maner and like a wyse man He put downe all suche yuell customes as his father had reysed in Lōbardy He was so well beloued and of so good renome that euery man sayd well of hym but at laste whan̄e he sawe his tyme he spytted out his venyme whiche he had longe borne in his hert For he made on a day in the feldes a great busshement wherby the lorde Bernabo his vncle was takē who thought none yuell nor knewe nat but that he was welbeloued and in great fauour with his nephue And at his takyng it was sayd to hym One lorde is ynough to reygne in Lombardy he coude haue none other grace for it laye nat in hym as than̄e to make resystence So he was ledde to a castell and there his nephue caused hym to dye but in what maner I can nat shewe you This sir Bernabo had two fayre chyldren of whom the Frenche quene was doughter to one of his doughters whiche was wedded to the duke of Osrtenaunt of Bauyere This Galeas putte in prisone all his vncles chyldren suche as he coulde gette and tooke possessyon of all his vncles seignories and ioyned thē to his owne so reigned in great puyssaunce richesse for he reysed vp suche maters wherby he gathered toguyder great rychesse As Imposycions gabels subsydies dysmes and all other extorcyons wherby he was moche more dreed than beloued He helde the errour and opynyon of his Father that was Howe one shulde nother honoure nor worshyppe god He tooke fro abbeyes and priories moche of their reuenewes and toke them to hym selfe He sayd the monkes were to delyciously norisshed with good wynes and delycious metes By whiche superfluyteis he sayd they coude nat ryse at mydnight nor do their seruyce as they shulde do He sayde saynt Benet helde nat the order of his relygion after that maner And so he said he wolde make them to lyue with egges and small wyne to clere their voyces to syng the higher These lordes in their dayes lyued lyke popes they dyde great dispytes in their tyme to men of holy churche They sette nothyng by the popes curse and specially after the cisme began and that there was two popes that the one cursed the other assoyled The lordes of myllayne dyde but mocke at their doynges and so dyd many other lordes through the worlde The doughter of this lorde Galeas duke of Myllayne was duches of Orl aūce whose condycions were lyke to her fathers and nat to her mothers who was doughter to kyng Iohan of Fraunce This lady was of high mynde enuyous and couytous on the delytes state of this worlde Gladly she wolde haue sene the duke her husbande to haue attaygned to the crowne of Fraunce she had nat cared howe A generall fame and sclaunder ran vpon her that all the infyrmiteis the kyng had whiche no phisycion coude remedye came all by her sortes and artes and the chiefe discouerynge of her workes wherby she was had in great suspecte was this THis duchesse of Orlyaunce named Valantyne had a sonne by the duke her husbande a fayre chylde of the age of the Dolphyn sonne to the kynge On a tyme these two chyldren were playeng toguyder in the duchesse of Orlyaunce chambre and sodaynly there was caste downe an apple full of poyson on the pauement on the same syde that the dolphyn was on to th entent that he shulde haue taken and eaten it But as grace was he dyd nat for the duches son̄e ran after the apple and toke it and ete therof wherwith he was poysoned and dyed nothynge coude saue hym And suche as hadde Charles the yong dolphyn to kepe toke hym thens and he neuer came after in the duches chambre Of this aduēture great brute and murmuracyon ran throughe all the cytie of Parys and in other places Thus it was sayde by her of all the people so that the duke her husbande parceyued it well for brute ranne through Parys that if her husbande dyde nat putte her awaye out of the kynges courte they wolde fetche her awaye byforce and cause her to dye For the people said she wolde enpoyson the kyng and his chyldren and that she hadde enchaunted the kyng for the kyng in all his infyrmyteis wolde nat se the quene nor none other woman but all onlye this duchesse of Orlyaunce Vpon whiche sayeng and for doute therof her husbāde had her awaye and put her out of the house of saynt Poule in Parys and sente her to a castell besyde Parys vpon the waye of Beauoyes called Asynyers And there she was kepte a longe season and neuer wente out of the castell and at last she was sent fro thens to Newcastell on the ryuer of Loyre And the duke of Orlyaunce had great displeasure to her bycause of the aduēture of the dethe of his son but by reason that he had other chyldren by her sōwhat it brake his displeasure These tidynges came to Myllayne and the lorde Galeas was enfourmed howe his doughter was in trouble and in great daunger wherof he was sore displeased with the Frenche kyng and his counsayle Than he sent a suffycient messanger as sir Iaquemont of Weryne and other to Parys to the kyng and his counsayle in excusyng his doughter sayeng that if any persone wolde accuse her of trayson he shulde be fought with all at vttraūce in that quarell Whan these messangers cāe to Parys the kynge was in good helth but he tooke no hede of those messangers nor of their excuse and so they were shortely aunswered nothyng to their pleasure So they retourned in to Lombardy and declared to the duke of Myllayne all that they had sene and done Than the duke was in gretter displeasure than he was before and reputed it a great iniury and than sent his defyaunce to the Frenche kynge and to all the hole Realme of Fraunce And whan his defyaunces were brought to Parys the lordes knightes with the Frenche armye were as than in Hūgry and entred in to Turkey And for the dispyte and hate that the duke of Myllayne had to the Frenche kynge and to some of his counsayle therfore he helde in amyte and alyaunce the great Turke and shewed hym of the secretes of Fraūce ¶ Nowe we shall leaue spekynge of the duke and speke of the great Turke and of the barons of Fraunce and of other Christen knyghtes that were as than in Turkey ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges sarazyns to ayde hym with menne of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyant sarazyns came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. IT was nat longe after but that the great Turke departed fro Quayre fro the Soudan who promysed
ye shall be than of the puyssaunce to oppresse all your rebelles for the frenche kynge if nede be shall ayde you of this ye maye be sure In the name of god ye saye well and thus shall I do THe erle of saynt Powle was lodged at London and often tymes went to Eltham to se the kynge and the duke of Lancastre and had often tymes coÌ„munycacion on this maryage Th erle of saint Poule sayde howe the frenche kynge shulde come to saynt Omers and his vncles and bring with hym his doughter so that the kynge of England wolde come to Calais and so bytwene saynte Omers and Calays the two kynges shulde mete and speke togyther wherby by reason of syght and spekynge togyther shulde encrease loue and amyte and there these two kinges and their vncles shulde speke togyder without any other companye on the forme of the peace and if they conclude nat on some peace yet at leste the trewce myght be relonged to endure for thyrty or .xl. yere bytwene the two realmes and their alies This deuyse semed right good to the kyng and to his counsayle and hervpon the kynge and other lordes sente to Calays to make prouysyon and the kynge desyred his vncle the duke of Gloucestre to go with hym in that iourney and the duches his wyfe and his chyldren and in lyke wyse the Dukes and duchesses of yorke and Lancastre And so whan euery thynge was redy the kynge and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Eltham and rode towardes Caunterbury and after them folowed all other lordes suche as shulde go in this voyage and suche as had been desyred The erle of saynt Powle passed the see fyrst to the entent to aduertyse the Frenche kynge and so passed to Boloyne and so to Paris and there declared to the frenche kynge and to his vncles howe he had spedde wherwith they were well content and so departed fro Paris and lytell and lytell aproched to the cytie of Amyence and the kynge of Englande and his vncles came to Calais with many lordes and ladyes And the duke of Burgoyne one of the frenche kynges vncles came to saynt Omers and by the meanes of the Erle of saynt Powle and Robert the hermyte the duke of Burgoyne came to Calays to se the kynge of Englande and his vncles â–ª where he was nobly receyued and there they couÌ„sayled togyther on certayne artycles of the peace wherto the kynge of Englande lyghtly enclyned and for to say trouth he cared nat what he dyd so he myght haue his wyfe WHan the duke of Burgoyne had ben at Calais two dayes and had coÌ„muned with the kynge of Englande on the artycles of the peace the kynge sayd howe he wolde sende all the processe of the artycles ouer the see in to Englande to beshewed and declared there to the people for he sayde that nouther he nor all the lordes that were there of Englande coulde nat conclude fermely on no peace without the generall consentment of the people of Englande And more ouer the kynge sayde howe that he must fyrst go ouer agayne hym selfe and so retourne and therby make but one iourney That is well said quod the duke of Burgoyne for than at youre retourne euery thynge shall be concluded and perfourmed Thus the duke of Burgoyne and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Calays and retourned to saynt Omers and fro thens to Amyence where they fouÌ„de the kyng and the quene and their doughter who shulde be quene of Englande The same tyme there was the dukes of Bretaygne and of Berrey in great araye And the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes retourned in to Englande and their wyues taryed styll at Calays tyl their retourne ¶ In this meane season the voyage was made in to Frese by them of Haynalte Fyrst the erle of Heynalte Holande and of zelande and his sonne the Erle of Ostrenaunt as ye shall here after in this hystorie ¶ Howe the erle of Heynalt and the erle of Ostrenante his sonne made a great army of men of armes knyghtes and squyers to go in to Frese Cap. CC.xiiii Ye haue herde here before howe duke Auberte of Bauyer and Guylliam his sonne erle of Ostrenant had gret desyre to go in to Frese to conquere that countrey wherof the sayde duke Aubert by ryght succession of herytage shulde be erle and lorde therof and to auaunce the same iourney the erle of Ostrenant had sent Fyerebrace of Vertayne to haue some ayde of the englysshe men who spedde hym so well that kynge Rycharde of Englande for the honour of his cosyns sent certayne men of armes with two hundred archers vnder the guydyng of thre gentlemen one called Cornewayle another Colleuyll knyghtes the thyrde asquyer I knowe nat his name but I was well enfourmed that he was a valyaunt man of armes he hadde his chynne cutte of in a fray a lytell before and he had a chynne made of syluer tyed aboute his heed with a lase of sylke These englysshmen came to Encuse at their tyme prefyxed This duke Aâ—berte and his sonne had a valyaunt man of their couÌ„sayle called Gylliam of Croenbourge who greatly exorted theym to the warre for he hated greatly the fresones and had doone them many dyspyghtes and dyd after as ye shall here Thus the duke Aubert departed fro the Haye in Holande with Gyllyam his sonne erle of Ostrenant and so came in to his countrey of Haynalte to the towne of Monts and there he assembled togyther the thre estates of the countrey and there shewed vnto them the great desyre that he had to go in to Frese and the rightfull occasion that he had so to do and caused there to be openly shewed certayne letters patentes apostolykes and imperyalles ryght noble and autentyke sealed vnder leade lyole and entre by the whiche apered euydently the ryght and tytell that he had to the signory of Frese and than he sayd openly Lordes and valyaunt men my subgettes ye knowe well that euery man ought to kepe and defeÌ„de his herytage and that a man may laufully moue warâ— to recouer his lande and herytage ye knowe also the fresons ought by right to be our subgiettes and they be inobedyent and rebell agaynst vs and our sygnory as people without lawe or faythe and therfore good and dere frendes ye know well that without your ayde bothe with bodyes and goodes we canne nat fournysshe to bringe to execusyon so hygh an enterprise wherfore we desyre you in this busynesse to ayde vs that is to say with money and with men of warre to the entent that these inobedyent fresons maye be subdued and brought to obedyence These wordes or suche lyke spoken by the duke the thre estates by a coÌ„mune acord grauÌ„ted their lordes petycyon and request lyke suche people as greatly desyred and alwayes had done to do obedyent seruyce and pleasure to their lorde and prince And as I was enfourmed they caused him to haue in redy money
was tyll Michelmas that the ê‘lyament at Westmynster shulde begyn And in the meane season great prouision was made at Calais and at Guysnes for the kynge and for other lordes sent fro the portes of Englande on that cost and great prouisyon was had out of Flaunders all came by see to Calais In lykewise for the Frenche kyng and for his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles other prelates and lordes of Fraunce great prouisyon was made at saynt Omers at Ayre at Tyrwyn at Arde at Mountoyre and at all other houses and abbeyes there about there was nothynge spared on bothe parties and specially the abbey of saynte Bertyne was well replenysshed of all thynges to receyue these kynges This ê‘lyament at Westmynster began at Mychelmas and it was ordeyned to endure .xl. dayes But it was abridged for the king wolde nat tary there but .v. dayes wherin he declared the thynges most necessary parteyning to the realme and specially that mater that touched hym selfe and the cause why he caÌ„e fro Calais That done he retourned towardes Calais agayne and with hym his two vncles of Lancastre and Gloucestre and other prelates and lordes of Englande suche as were coÌ„maunded to go with him They spedde them so in their iourney that they came agayne to Calays The duke of yorke taryed styll in Englande and the erle of Derby to gouerne the realme in the kynges absence Whan the kyng of Englande was thus returned to Calais the lordes of Fraunce beyng in Picardy were aduertised therof Than the duke of Burgoyn and the duchesse his wyfe came to saynt Omers and were lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne As sone as the FreÌ„che kyng knewe that the kynge of Englande was come agayne to Calais he sente to hym therle of saynt Poule to shewe hym what order was taken in Fraunce concernyng his maryage whiche the kynge of Englande was gladde to here ThanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre and his sonne Beauforde of Lancastre The duke of Gloucester and Affren his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle mashall erle of Huntyngton the kynges chamberleyne and many other lordes knyghtes squyers and ladyes rode with the Erle of saynt Poule to saynt Omers where they were well receyued of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and thyder came the duke of Bretaigne and had lefte the Frenche kynge at Ayre and his doughter with hym ye maye well knowe all the chere that coude be deuysed was made to the Englysshe lordes and ladyes and other at saynt Omers and the duchesse of Burgoyne made them a great dyner There was the duchesse of LaÌ„castre and her sonne two doughters there was great gyftes gyuen of plate of Golde and syluer nothynge was spared in so moche that the Englysshe men hadde marueyle therof and specially the duke of Glocestre sayd to his couÌ„sayle I se well there is great rychesse in the realme of Fraunce there was moche gyuen to hym to the entente to abate and to molyfie his rancour that he hadde agaynste Fraunce The lordes of Fraunce knewe well that he was alwayes harde to agre to the peace wherfore they shewed hym as moche token of loue and honour as they coude do He toke euer all their gyftes but alwayes the rancour abode styll in his hert for all that euer the Frenche men coulde do they coulde nat molifye his fell stomake for always he made herde answers as they treated for any peace The Frenche men be subtyle yet for all that they coude gette no hold of hym for his wordes and aunswers were alwayes so couert that they wyst nat howe to vnderstaÌ„de them Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe his maner he sayde to his counsayle We lese all that euer we do to this duke of Gloucestour for as longe as he lyueth there shal be no sure peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande For he shall alwayes fynde newe inuencyons and accydentes to engender hate and stryfe bytwene bothe realmes for he enteÌ„deth nor thynketh none other thynge If it were nat the truste that we haue in the kyng of Englande wherby here after to fare the better the kyng shulde nat haue to his wyfe our cosyn of Fraunce WHan the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne the couÌ„tesse of Neuers the countesse of saynt Poule and the other lordes and ladyes of Fraunce hadde greatly feested the lordes and ladyes of Englande than there was coÌ„municacion howe these two kynges shulde mete speke toguyder and howe the lady shulde be delyuered thervpon apoyntment was made and leaue taken on all partes The Englysshe ê‘tie returned to Calis to the kyng shewed what chere they had and what presentes had ben gyuen them These newes pleased well the kyng for he was gladde whan he herde any honour spoken of the Frenche kyng he was so in loue with hym bycause of his doughter whome he trusted to haue to his Quene Than anone after the Frenche kyng came to saynt Omers and was lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne and dislodged all other that were there before and had the duke of Bretayne in his company And than it was ordayned that the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone shulde go to Calis to speke with the kynge of Englande SO they came to Calays and were ioyouslye receyued had as good chere as coulde be deuysed These thre dukes had secrete communycacion with the kynge and his counsayle so that many bothe of Fraunce and of Englande reputed that there was a peace concluded bytwene Fraunce and Englande And in dede it was nere at a poynt and the duke of Gloucester agreed well therto as at that tyme. For the kyng of Englande hadde promysed hym if he wolde agree to the peace to gyue his son Affren the erldome of Rochester in herytauÌ„ce and to make hym spende yerely in reuenewes two thousande pounde sterlyng and to gyue to hym selfe as soone as he came in Englande in redy money fyftie thousande nobles so that by reason of these gyftes the duke of Gloucestours hardnesse was well aleyed So that the lordes of Fraunce sawe well his opinyons were nat so obstynate as they were before for they founde hym than swete and meke WhanÌ„e euery thynge was ordeygned of that they came for they tooke leaue of the kynge and other and retourned to saynt Omers to the Frenche kynge and shewed howe they hadde spedde Than the Frenche kyng wente to the bastyde of Arde and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre and the duke of Bretaygne to the towne of Esque and the duke of Berrey to Balyngham And in euery ê‘te all aboute there were pyght vp Tentes and Pauilyons and all the countrey full of people what of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande The kynge of Englande came to Guysnes and the duke of Lancastre with hym and the duke of Gloucestre to HaÌ„mes Thus on a Fridaye beyng the euyn of Symon and Iude in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and sixtene about tenne
of the clocke in the forenoone The two Kynges departed oute of their tentes the which were pyght nat farre asondre and came a foote the one to the other and met at a certayne place that was apoynted And on the one syde there was araynged four hundred knyghtes of Fraunce armed with their swerdes in their hādes And on the other parte foure hundred Englysshe knyghtes in lyke maner So the two kynges passed through them The dukes of Lācastre and of Gloucestre ledde the Frenche kynge and the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne ledde the kynge of Englande Thus they came foreby the sayd eight hundred knightes And whan the two kynges came iust toguyder all the eyght hundred knyghtes kneled downe to the grounde and many of them wepte for ioye Thus the two kynges mette toguyder bareheeded and a lytell enclyned and tooke eche other by the handes Than the Frenche kynge ledde the kynge of Englande in to his tente whiche was noble and ryche and the four dukes tooke eche other by the handes and folowed the two kynges And other knyghtes after the Frenche men on the one syde and the Englysshe men on the other syde And so they stode regardyng eche other in good and humble maner tyll all was done Than̄e it was ordayned that on the same place where as the two kynges tooke eche other by the hande that there shulde be made and founded a chapell in the honoure of our Lady and shulde be called our lady of Grace I can nat tell whether it were made or nat SO the two kynges hande in hāde entred in to the Frenche kynges tente Than the foure dukes kneled downe before the kynges and they reysed them vp so talked toguyder Than the two kynges wente a lytell a parte and talked a certayne space In the meane tyme wyne and spyces were brought The duke of Berrey serued the Frenche kynge of spyce and the duke of Burgoyne of wyne And the dukes of Lācastre Glocester serued the kyng of Englād thā other knightes squiers serued all other prelates lordes so that euery man wtin the tent hadde parte and in the meane tyme the two kynges cōmuned toguyder This busynesse done and paste the two kynges tooke leaue eche of other and so retourned to their tentes and tooke their horses and rode towardes Calais The kyng to Guysnes the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucester to Hāmes and the other to Calais The Frenche kyng rode to Cordre and the duke of Orlyaunce with hym the duke of Berrey to Dornam and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre So there was no more done that daye all their tentes stode styll in the feldes THan on the Saturdaye on the feest of saynt Symon and Iude aboute a .xi. of the clocke the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes cāe to the Frenche kyng in to his tent they were receyued right honorably and euery manne talked with his felowe merily Than tables were sette vp and the two kynges sat at one table alone the Frenche kynge on the ryght hande The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone serued the two kynges thā the duke of Burbone caste forthe many iestyng wordes to make the kynges to laughe and suche as were before the table For this duke was a mery man and sayd openly addressynge his wordes to the kynge of Englāde Sir quod he ye ought to make good chere for ye haue all that ye desyre ye haue your wife or shall haue her deliuered to you Than the Frenche kyng sayd Burbonoys We wolde that our doughter were of the age that our cosyn of saynt Poule is on the condicyon that it cost me a great good than she shulde take my sonne with the better good wyll The kynge of Englande herde well those wordes and answered spekyng to the duke of Burbone bycause the Frēche kyng hadde compared his doughter to the erle of saynt Poules doughter and sayd Sir the age that my wyfe that shall be is of pleaseth you right well we loue nat so moche her herytage than I do the loue of you of our realmes For we two beyng of one accorde there is no kynge christen nor other that are able to anoye vs. This dyner thus done in the Frenche kynges tent and after wyne and spyces taken than the yonge quene was brought forthe a companyed with a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles and there she was delyuered to the kyng of Englande Whan that was done euery man toke their leaue to departe The yonge quene was sette in a ryche lytter and there wente no mo frenche ladyes with her but the lady of Coucy There were the ladyes of Englande the duchesses of Lancastre of yorke and of Gloucestre of Irelande the lady of Namure the lady Poynynges and a great nombre of other ladies who receyued the quene with great ioye Thus the kyng of Englande and the yonge quene and his company rode to Calais the same nyght and the frenche kyng and his cōpany to saynt Omers Than the Tuesdaye after whiche was Alhalowen day the kyng of Englande maryed the sayd lady Isabell of Fraūce in the churche of saynt Nicholas in Calais the archebysshop of Caūterbury wedded theym at whiche tyme there was a great feest and great largesse The Thursdaye after there came to Calais the dukes of Orlyaunce and of Burbone to se the kynge and the quene And on the friday they tooke their leaue and departed and rode to saynt Omers to the Frenche kyng And the same day in the mornyng the kyng and the quene toke their shyppe and hadde fayre passage they were ouer within thre houres the kynge laye in the castell of Douer and the nexte daye to Rochestre than to Dartforde and so to Eltham Than̄e all lordes and ladyes toke their leaue and a fiftene dayes after the quene was brought to the cytie of London accompanyed with many lordes ladyes and damosels laye the fyrst night at the towre of London and the nexte day cōueyed along throughe the cytie with great solempnyte to the kynges palais of Westmynster and ther the kyng was before redy to receyue her the same daye the londoners gaue to the quene great presentes Than was there ordayned a great iustes to be holden in the cytie of Lōdon of .xl. knyghtes and squyers chalēgers to be holden at Candelmas nexte after whiche was delyuered to the Herauldes to publysshe on bothe sydes of the realme to Scotlande And whan the Frenche kyng was cōe to Parys after the maryage of his doughter and euery lorde departed home there ranne than a great brute through the realme howe the frenche kyng was in purpose at the begynnynge of Marche to go with a great army in to Lombardy to dystroye the lorde Galeas duke of Mylayne the kyng had suche displeasure agaynst hym that no man coulde tourne hym but that he wolde make that voyage and the kyng of Englande had promysed to sende hym syxe thousande archers
ordayned that if the newe were nat trewe that they shulde be all drowned and putte to dethe ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kyngê house Capi. CC.xix SO it was on ChristeÌ„mas daye sir Iaques of Helley about the houre of noone entred in to Parys and so toke his lodgynge and demaunded where the kyng was and it was shewed hym that he was at saynt Poules on the ryuer of Seyn Than he went thyder There was with the kyng the duke of Orlyaunce his brother the duke of Berrey the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbone and therle of saynt Poule and dyuers other noble men of the realme of Fraunce as the vsage was for suche noble men to be with the kynge at suche highe feestes So sir Iaques of Helley entred in to the court boted and spurred As than he was nat be knowen for he had of long tyme hauÌ„ted farre countreis He dyd so moche that he came to the kynges chambre and sayd howe he came fro Lamorabaquy oute of Turkey and hadde ben at the batayle before Nicopolye where the Christen men had lost the iourney And sayd he hadde letters fro the erle of Neuers and fro other lordes of Fraunce suche as were prisoners than he was brought to the kynge He kneled downe and wisely declared his message as well fro Lamorabaquy as fro the erle of Neuers and other lordes of Fraunce prisoners in Turkey the kynge gaue hym audyence and was swetely examyned of all the hole mater and to euery thyng he answered so discretely that the kyng was well content with hym and was ryght soroufull for the doÌ„mage that the kyng of Hugry and they had susteyned Howe be it they were gladde that the kyng of Hungery was scaped without dethe or prisonment for they sayde he shulde recouer ryght well agayne the losse and doÌ„mage that he had receyued at that tyme. Also they were ryght ioyfull that the erle of Neuers and the other lordes were escaped the dethe and were but as prisoners And they sade there was no doute but they shulde be raunsomed and delyuered For sir Iaques of Helley sayd there was no doute but that Lamorabaquy wolde within the yere put them to rauÌ„some for he loued golde and richesse And that sir Iaques sayd he knewe well bicause he had long ben conuersaunt in Turkey and serued Lamorabaquyes father more than thre yere Thus the kynge ryght well receyued this knyght and so dyde all other lordes suche as were there And euery man sayd he was happy in this worlde to be in suche a batayle and to haue the acquayntaunce of suche a hethan kynge as Lamorabaquy was sayenge it was an honoure for him and for all his lynage than the kyng coÌ„maunded all suche as were in prison to be delyuered wherof they were gladde THus these newes that sir Iaques of Helley had brought spredde anone a brode in Fraunce and in other places many were right soroufull for the losse of their fathers bretherne husbandes chyldren and nat without good cause and specially the gret ladyes of Fraunce as the duchesse of Burgoyne for her sonne the erle of Neuers and her doughter Margarete of Heynault was soroufull for the erle her husbande In lykewyse was dolorous Mary of Berrey countesse of Ewe for her husbande the lorde Philyppe of Arthoise constable of Fraunce And in lykewise so was the countesse of Marche the lady of Coucy and her dought of Bare the lady of Sully and many other ladyes as well of Fraunce as of other places And whan they had wepte ynoughe than they reconforted them selfe in that they were natte slayne but prisouers But suche as knewe their husbaÌ„des fathers bretherne chyldren and freÌ„des deed their lameÌ„tacions endured long in FrauÌ„ce The duke of Burgon made moche of this knyght sir Iaques of Helley who had brought hym worde that his sonne was a lyue and gaue hym many ryche gyftes and reteyned hym as one of his knyghtes with two hundred pounde of reuenewes yerely duryng his lyfe The Frenche kyng all other lordes gaue largely to this knight ThaÌ„ he shewed howe he must nedes returne agayne to Lamorabaquy for that was his promyse at his departynge for he stoode but as prisoner and sayd howe he hadde nat retourned but to do this message fro Lamorabaquy The kynge and other thought it but resonable that he shulde kepe his promyse Than the kynge and other wrote to these prisoners And it was concluded by counsayle that the Frenche kyng shulde sende a knight of honour to Lamorabaquy to th entent that he myght retourne agayne to bring newe tydynges in what case the prisoners were in There was apoynted to go in this voyage sir IohnÌ„ of Castell morant who was a wyse knyght and well languaged Than it was demaunded of sir Iaques what iowelles or presentes the kynge myght best sende to Lamorabaquy and that shulde best please him to the entent that the prisoners shulde be the better entreated The knight answered that Lamorabaquy toke gret pleasure in clothes of arras made of olde auncyent hystories And also he sayd he had great delyte in these whyte Faucons called Gerfaucons Also he sayd that fyne lynnen clothes and fyne scarlettes were moche made of there for of clothe of golde and sylke they hadde plentie This pleased well the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgonoe whose myndes were sette to please Lamorabaquy Thus a .xii. dayes sir Iaques of Helley taryed at Parys and euery man was gladde to here hym reporte of the aduentures of Turkey and of the maner of Lamorabaquy WHan he deê‘ted to retourne the kynge sayd to hym Sir Iaques take your way and make but small iourneys at your ease I thynke ye wyll returne by Lombardy speke with the duke of Myllayne for there is great amyte bytwene hym and Lamorabaquy But whiche waye so euer ye go we wyll that sir Iohan of Castell Morant abyde in Hungry tyll ye haue gote hym a saueconducte to go to Lamorabaquy with suche presentes as we shall sende hym to the entent that he shulde be the more fauorable to the prisoners Sir quod he all this shal be done So he departed and tooke the same waye he came Anone after his departure the kynge and the duke of Burgoyne dyde prepare for these presentes and sir Iohan of Castell Morant dispatched and had his charge He had with hym sixe soÌ„mers laden with preseÌ„tes two of them with clothes of arras of the goodlyest that coude be gote wrought with the storie of Alexandre of his lyfe and conquestes ryght pleasaunt to beholde other two soÌ„mers were charged with fyne scarlettes whyte reed And also with moche payne the kynge gate of these whyte gerfaucons Thus sir Iohan of Castell morant departed fro Parys with his presentes and charge a fyftene dayes after that sir Iaques of Helley was departed In this mean season the kynge of Hungry retourned in to his couÌ„tre wherof all
pope Clement yet he had neuer ferme beleue on hym But the prelates of the realme of Fraunce and specially Guy of Roy archebysshoppe of Reyns the archebysshoppes of Sens and of Roen and the bysshoppe of Ostune they had brought the duke to beleue on pope Clement ThanÌ„e it was aduysed by the kynges secrete couÌ„sayle that if they purposed to bringe the Churche to rest and peace to haue the accorde of Almayne Than was there sente suffycient ambassadours and clerkes of bothe lawes as maister Philyppe of Playes was one in to Almayne to the kyng of Boesme and of Almayne who wrote hym selfe kyng of Romayns This mater went so forwarde that a day was sette that the kyng of Almayne and his counsaile and the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle shulde mete ê‘sonally at the cyte of Reynes This mater was done secretely bicause the prelates cardynalles archebysshoppes and bysshoppes shulde nat breke their purpose that they were about They made it be noysed that the metyng of these two kynges and their counsayls at Reynes was for non other purpose but to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene the sonne of the marques of Blanquebourge brother to the kyng of Almayne and the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce And so by reason and vnder colour of that mater they wolde common of other In this same seasone dyed at Nesues in Heynaulte the lorde Guye of Chastellone erle of Bloyes and brought to ValenceÌ„nes and buryed at saynt Fraunces in the Freres mynours in a chapell called the Chapell of Orthais he had done moche coste in the closynge of the sayd Freres and whan he dyed he was so in dette that the countesse Mary of Namure forsoke al his goodes and durst nat take on her the admynistracyon of his testament but retourned to her dowrie of the lande of Chinay and of Beaumonde his other herytages went to the heyres The duke of Orlyaunce hadde the countie of Blois for he had payed whyle the erle Guye lyued two hundred thousande crownes of FrauÌ„ce and the landes of Hollande zelande Heynaulte wente to the duke Aubert of Bauyere erle of Heynaulte And the lande of Dauesnes of Landrecier and of Lonnon in terreasse fell to Iohan of Bloyes called IohnÌ„ of Bretaygne And if the erle had nat solde the countie of Blois the sayd Iohan of Bretaygne shulde haue been his heyre therof Consydre what a doÌ„mage a lorde or any other may do to his heyre by gyueng credeÌ„ce to yuell counsayle god forgyue hym ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the busynesse of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the exle of AruÌ„dell and howe the kynges vncles and the londoners toke the mater Capi. CC.xxvi YE haue herde here before of the couert hates that was bytwene kynge Rycharde of Englande and his vncle Thomas duke of Gloucestre whiche the kynge wolde beare no lengar but sayd and also was counsayled rather to distroye another man than hymselfe And ye haue herde howe the kyng was at Plasshey by crafte and coloure brought hym out of his owne house to London And by the waye about .x. or a .xi. of the cloke in the nyght therle marshall arested hym in the kynges name And for all that he cryed after the Kynge yet the kynge made a deafe eare and rode on before and so the same nyght the kynge laye at the towre of London but the duke of Gloucecestre was otherwise lodged For byforce he was put in to a Barge and out of the barge in to a shyppe that laye in the Thamise and the erle marshall with hym and all his company And dyde so moche that the nexte day by night they came to Calais without knoledge of any man excepte the kynges offycers of the sayd towne yE maye well knowe whanÌ„e the takynge of the duke was knowen at Plaâ—hey by the duchesse and her chyldren they were sore troubled and abasshed and thought well that the matter went nat well The duchesse demaunded couÌ„saile what was best to do of sir Iohan Laquyham The knight answered that it was best to sende to his bretherne the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke that they myght fynde some meanes to apeace the kynges dyspleasure For he sayde he thought that the kyng wolde nat displease them The duchesse dyd as the knyght counsayled her and she sente incontynent messangers to these two dukes who were farre a sondre who whanne they herde therof were sored displeased and sente worde agayne to the duchesse that she shuld be of good coÌ„forte For they sayd they knew well the kyng wolde nat entreat hym but by laufull iudgement for otherwise they coude nat suffre it but as thanne they knewe natte where he was The Duchesse and her chyldren were somwhat conforted with their answere The kynge the nexte daye wente fro the towre of London to Eltham and there taryed The same night was brought to the towre of London as prisoners the erle of Arundell and the Erle of Warwyke wherof they of the cytie of London had great marueyle and made therof great murmurynge but none durst saye nay agaynst the kynges pleasure But all maner of people knightes squyers burgesses of good cyties townes of EnglaÌ„de said We haue very well suffred the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke bretherne to the duke of Gloucestre They maye prouyde for this whanne it please theÌ„ We thynke they wolde well haue prouyded for the mater if that they hadde knowen the kynges entent agaynst their brother of Glocestre but bycause they were nat dilygent in the cause the matter is come yuell and lyke to haue an yuell conclusyon WHan the duke of Glocestre was brought to the castell of Calys than he feared hym selfe greatlye said to the erle Marshall For what cause am I brought out of Englande hyder to Calais Me thynke ye holde me as a prisoner Lette me go abrode and se the fortresse aboute Sir quod the marshall that ye desyre I dare nat do it for I haue the charge vpon you on payne of my lyfe The kynge my soueraygne lorde is a lytell myscontente with you Wherfore ye muste take pacyence here for a seasone tyll I here other newes and that shal be shortely by goddes grace For sir as helpe me God I am right sorie for your trouble if I myght remedy it But sir ye knowe well I am sworne to the kynge wherfore I must obey and so wyll I do for sauynge of myne honoure The duke coude haue none other aunswere But by that he sawe he feared greatly his lyfe And on a daye he desyred a preest that sange masse before hym that he myght be coÌ„fessed And so he was at good leysar before the sacrament with deuout herte and cryed God mercy and was sore repentaunt of all his synnes And in dede it was tyme so for hym so to do for his dethe was nerer to hym than he was ware of For as I was enfourmed whan
him selfe to auoide this realme of Englande and goo dwell in what place he lyste out therof And that he be banysshed in suche wyse that he neuer retourne agayne And also I ordayne that the erle of Derby our cosyn bycause he hathe displeased vs and that he is the chiefe cause of the banysshment of therle Marshall That within this fyftene dayes he auoyde the Realme of Englande and to be banysshed for tenne yeres without retournynge excepte we repeale hym agayne the whiche shall alwayes lye in our pleasure THis sentence greatly contented the lordes that were there present and they sayde the erle of Derby maye well ynoughe go and sporte hym out of the realme for two or thre yeres He is yonge ynoughe Thoughe he haue been sore traueyled in his dayes in farre countries as in to Pruce and to the holy Sepulchre to Cayre and to saynt Katheryns mount So he may do yet goo some other voyages to passe the tyme if he lyste he knoweth wyll ynoughe whider to go he hath two susters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale He maye well passe the tyme with them and also as nowe there is no warre Whan he cometh in to Spaygne he maye moue theym to make warre vpon the Sarazyns and to make a voyage in to Granade wherby he maye better employe his tyme than abydynge in Englande or elles he maye goo in to Heynaulte to his brother and cosyn the Erle of Ostrenaunt who wyll receyue hym with great ioye and retaygne hym sor he hathe warre with the Fresons and in Haynaulte he maye dayly here newes out of Englande and fro his children He can natte go amysse goo where he wyll And the kynge maye repeale hym agayne by good meanes whan it shall please hym for he is one of the fayrest floures in his garlande He shall nat be longe absente if the kynge purpose to haue the loue of his people But the erle Marshalle is in a farre worse case for he is banysshed without hope for euer to retourne agayne And to saye the trouthe he hath well deserued it for all this myschiefe is come by hym and by his wordes Thus dyuers knyghtes and squyers of Englande talked toguyder one with another the same daye that the kynge gaue the sayde iugemēt ⸪ ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro London to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to Flaunders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ⸪ ⸪ WHan these two Erles sawe what sentence the kynge had gyuen theym they were ryght sore pensyue and good cause why The erle Marshall sore repented him of that he had said and done For whan he began the mater he thought otherwyse to haue ben borne out by the kyng than he was For if he hadde knowen as moche before he wolde neuer haue begon the matter Whan he sawe there was no remedy he made hym redy and made his exchaung fro London to Bruges and so cāe to Calays where as he had been capitayne and there toke his leaue and so went to Bruges and there taryed a fyftene dayes than to Gaunt and so to Maynges and finally to Colloigne ¶ Lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke or the erle of Derby who prepared hym selfe in lykewise to departe out of Englande accordyng to the kynges sentēce Whan his daye of departure aproched he came to Eltham to the kynge where as the duke of Lācastre his father was and the duke of yorke with them the erle of Northumlande and sir Henry Percy his sonne with a great nombre of other knyghtes and squyers of Englande suche as loued hym And were soore displeased of the fortune that he must auoyde the realme These lordes came thyder to se what ende the kynge wolde make in the mater of whose cōmyng the kynge made semblaunt to be right ioyfull and made them great chere and helde a great court Also there was the erle of Salisbury and the erle of Huntyngton brother to the kyng who hadde to his wyfe the duke of Lancastres doughter and suster to the erle of Derby These two lordes came to therle of Derby I knowe nat if they dissymuled or nat At the erles departynge the kynge humyled hym greatly to his cosyn of Derby and said As Godde helpe me it right greatly displeaseth me the wordes that hath been bytwene you and the Erle Marshalle But the sentence that I haue gyuen is for the beste and for to apease therby the people who greatly murmured on this matter Wherfore cosyn yet to ease you somwhat of your payne I release my Iudgement fro tenne yere to syxe yere Cosyn take this a worthe and ordyne you therafter The erle answered and sayd Sir I thāke your grace and whan it shall please you ye shall do me more grace All the lordes that were there were well contented with the kynge as for that tyme. Than euery man departed and some went to London with the erle of Derby The Erle made all his prouisyon at Douer to passe to Calays And the erle beyng at London or his departure was counsayled by his father for to go streight to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns in Fraunce And accordynge to his fathers counsayle so he dyde or elles he wolde haue gone to the erle of Ostrenaunt his brother and cosyn Whan the Erle departed fro London there were in the stretes mo thanne fourtie thousande men wepyng and cryeng after hym that it was pytie to here And sōe said O gentyll erle of Derby shall we thus leaue you This Realme shall neuer be in ioye tyll ye retourne agayne But the daye of retourne is very longe for enuy falsehed and trayson hath putte you out of this Realme where as ye ought to abyde rather thā many other For ye are of suche lynage and of so noble blode that none ought to be compared to you And gentyll erle why shalle we leaue you ye neuer dyde nor thought yuell THus men women pituously spake He was nat conueyed out of the cytie with instrumentes but with lamentable wepynges And some sayd secretelye Cōsyder the order of these people what displeasure they take for a small occasyon Who so euer wolde styrre the Londoners to ryse agaynst the kyng he might than go seke further flye out of the realme rather than the erle of Derby but it is as nowe no tyme sithe the duke of Lācastre his father suffreth if we must nedes suffre it The mayre of Lōdon and a great nombre of the chiefe burgesses accompanyed therle of Derby out of the cytie Some rode to Dartforde and some to Douer and sawe hym take shippyng than they retourned And the erle of Derby or he came to Calais he hadde sent a knyght and an heraulde to the Frenche kyng and to his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and to the kynges vncles the dukes of Berrey of Burbon and of Burgoyn to knowe the kynges pleasure if he wolde suffre the
haue repealed therle of Derby agayne in to the Realme but the kyng had no mynde so to do for he dyd clene the contrary for incontynent he sente his offycers in to all the duke of Lācasters landes and toke the profites therof to hym selfe and sayd that as longe as therle of Derby stode as a banysshed man that he nor none of his shulde receyue any reuenues of any landes within the realme of Englande And moreouer wherof the kyng was greatly blamed of suche as loued the erle and his chyldren The kyng gaue awaye landes parteynynge to the herytage of the duchy of Lancastre to some of his seruauntes suche as asked them for the whiche cause many knyghtes other in Englande spake and said The kyng sheweth well that he oweth no good wyll to his cosyn the erle of Derby sythe he wyll nat repeale hym home agayne and suffre his landes to be gyuen awaye where as therle and his chyldren shulde be great membres in Englande a good staffe for the kyng to leane by But he dothe the contrary for he driueth hym awaye so wyll kepe hym in this daūger and worse if he coude For he hath taken to hym selfe his heritage and causeth his offycers to medell with the dukes landes as thoughe they were his owne And if that poore tenauntes complayne of the iniuryes done to them in their lordes absence they can nat be harde there is none that wyll do them right Also it is but a small token of loue that the kyng beareth to the erle of Derby and to his chyldren for their herytage of Lācastre whiche shulde come to thē by right enherytaūce discended fro their grandame the lady Blanche doughter to duke Henry of Lancastre The kyng gyueth parte therof away where as it pleaseth hym suche landes as shulde fall to them by the right of the lady their mother who was doughter to the erle of Herforde and Northampton and cōstable of Englande The kynge gyueth parte therof at his pleasure This is to moche done agaīst all ryght and reason and to the displeasure of all the noble men of Englande this can nat longe endure vnamended Thus the prelates noble men and commons in Englāde cōmuned and murmured IN lykewise in the realme of Frāce suche men of honour as herde spekynge of this mater and hadde sene erle of Derby at Parys hadde great marueyle therof and sayd one to another As we thynke the kynge of Englande hath takenne to great a displeasure with his cosyn the erle of Derby who is the greattest man in Englad next hym selfe He is a gracious knyght curtesse meke and tretable and a man good to be spoken vnto The kyng of Englande knoweth some other thynge by hym than we do or elles the kynge is yuell counsayled And it is marueyle that the Frenche kynge and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles do nat attemper the mater for the erle is daylye amonge theym They shulde fynde best prouisyon in this case for the kynge of Englande wyll do more for thē than for any men bicause he hath maried the Frenche kynges doughter But sythe they do nothynge therin it is best we holde oure peace and lette it passe As for the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles thought nothyng but good They honoured and loued greatly the erle of Derby and desyred moche his company and they sawe well he was a wydower and to marry and that the duke of Berry hadde a doughter a wydowe of two husbandes she was but yonge of a xxiii yere of age was named Mary Her fyrst husbāde was Loys of Bloys who died yonge and her secōde husbande was the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe who died in his retourne in Hungry as ye haue herde here before This maryage was at apoynt to haue concluded for they in Fraūce knewe well that the duke of Lancastre was a great enherytoure in Englande and the Frenche kynge was well pleased therwith bycause his doughter was Quene of Englande for he thought that the company of those two ladyes togyder shulde be great pleasure to thē bothe sythe they were so nere of blode And therby the two realmes of Fraunce and Englande shulde be the surer conioyned toguyder in loue and peace whiche was trewe if it might haue been accomplysshed but kyng Richarde of Englande his coūsayle brake all that mater for the fortunes of this world whiche are marueylous nor a thynge that shall be canne nat be eschewed The whiche fortune of this kynge Richarde was so marueylous that it is harde to thynke theron The kynge myght well haue remedyed the mater if he had wolde but that that shall be shal be I shall shewe you what I Iohan Froissarte auctour of this hystorie Herde whan̄e I was but yonge in Englande in a place called Bertamstede whiche as at that tyme parteyned to the price of Wales father to this sayde kynge Rycharde it was in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred thre score and two And bycause the same tyme the prince and the princes shulde departe out of Englande to go in to Acq̄tayne to kepe their estate there Kyng Edwarde his father and quene Phillyppe my maistres and Lyon duke of Clarence Iohan duke of Lancastre the lorde Edmonde who was after Erle of Cambridge and duke of yorke their chyldren were come to the said maner place to se the prince and princes or they departed And as than I was of the age of .xxiiii. yere and one of my said lady the quenes clerkes of her chambre And as I satte on a benche I herde a knyght talkyng and deuysinge among dyuers ladyes and damoselles of the Quenes and sayde to them There is a booke in this countrey called the Brust many men saye it is of marueylous prophycies But accordynge to that booke the realme and crowne of Englande shulde nat retourne to the price of Wales nor yet to the duke of Clarence nor that they shulde be kynges of England though they were sonnes to kyng Edwarde but this knyght sayd that accordyng to that boke the crowne of Englande shulde come to the house of Lancastre The same season whan this knyght spake these wordes this sayd Hēry erle of Derby was nat borne nor yet seuyn yere after but yet in my dayes the same wordes tooke effecte for I sawe after the same Henry erle of Derby kynge of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berries doughter and howe kyng Rycharde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Capi. CC .xxxvi. AS soone as kyng Rycharde kyng of Englande herde of the treatie of the maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berryes doughter that the parties were nerehāde accorded he toke those newes to great dyspleasure and sayd to the erle of Salisbury in whom he had great affyaunce ye must or dayne you to go in
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
season with hym The erle acorded to their counsayle and whan he was redy he wente to Parys to the kynge as he was acustomed to do for euer whan he came there was no dore closed agaynst him At this last tyme he spake wysely to the kynge and shewed hym howe he wolde go and sporte hym a season in Bretayne and to se the duke whome he called his vncle for he had had to his wyfe his fathers suster doughter to Kynge Edwarde The frenche kynge thought nothyng but well and so gaue hym lyghtly leaue Than the erle desyred to haue conducte to bringe hym thyder He graunted his desyre So to make shorte the Erle ordeyned all his busynesse by great wysdome and toke his leaue of all the lordes of Fraunce suche as were there as than and he gaue great gyftes to the kynges offycers and to offycers of armes and to mynstrelles and in the howse of Clysson he made a supper to all suche as wolde come to hym And the nexte daye he toke his horse and departed fro Parys and issued out at the gate of saynt Iaques and toke the way to Estampes A knight of Beawsey dyd guyde hym called syr Guy of Baygneux So longe they rode that they came to Blois and there they taryed an .viii. dayes for the erle had sente a knyght and his haraulde in to Bretayne to sygnyfie the duke of his cōmynge as reason was WHan duke Iohan of Bretaygne knewe that his nephewe the erle of Derby was cōmynge thyder he was therof ryght ioyfull for he loued alwayes the Duke of Lancastre and all his bretherne and sayde to the knight that brought him worde who was called Gillyam de la Pierre Sir why dothe our nephewe tary by the way that he cometh nat hyther streyght The knyght excused the erle as well as he myght Well quod the duke I sawe no man this seuen yere that I wolde be gladder to se than my nephewe the erle of Derby retourne to hym cause hym to come for he shall fynde my countrey redy open to receyue hym Of that aunswere the knyght was gladde and retourned as shortely as he coulde and came to Bloys and shewed the erle and his counsayle the dukes aunswere The next day they rode forthe and had payed for euery thynge and in the erle of Derbyes company was syr Peter of Craon who was banysshed out of the realme of Fraunce and all his castelles rentes and reuenues seased for the sōme of a hundred thousande frankes iudged to the duchesse of Aniou quene of Napoles by proces of the lawe Thus the erle of Derby came to Nauntes and there founde the duke who receyued him nobly and all his company Than syr Guy le Bayneux retourned in to Fraunce and the erle taryed with the Duke of Bretaygne who made hym as good chere as coulde be deuysed And all this seasone the bysshoppe of Caunterbury was styll with the erle and his coūsayle The duke spared nothynge vpon the erle nor vpon his men but shewed them all the loue of the worlde and yet the duke knewe well the dyspleasure that kynge Rycharde had agaynste the erle wherof he had pytie Whan the erle consydred the dukes good wyll and fauoure he dyscouered to hym parte of his busynesse as touchynge the duchy of Lancastre and suche herytages as the duke his father had in possessyon whan he dyed and desyringe therin to haue the dukes counsayle sayenge that he was nat repealed agayne by the kynge but gyueth dayly away parte of his enherytaunces wherby he shewed the duke that many noble men and prelates in Englande were nat well contente with the kynge and the realme therby in great dyfference In so moche that dyuers noble men and the londoners had sent to hym to haue hym to come in to Englande promysynge that they wolde make his peace with the kynge and set hym in his herytage Whan the duke herde that he sayd Fayre nephue where as be many wayes the best ought to be chosen By the kynge ye are in a harde case ye demaunde counsayle and I wyll counsayle you to gyue credence to your frendes in Englande the londoners are myghty and puyssaunt they and by the ayde of other prelates lordes and knyghtes of the realme shall bringe the kynge to agre to their desyres and nephewe I shall ayde you with spyppes and with men of warre to resyste the daungers vpon the see Of that offre the erle thanked the duke of Bretayne ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby aryued in Englande and howe he was receyued of the londoners Cap. CC.xl. THus the duke of Bretaygne and the erle of Derby were louyngely concluded togyder and the erle taryed there a certayne space made as though he wold haue taryed styll there and in the meane seasone the erle made his prouysyon at Wannes And whan all thynge was redy the duke and the erle came thyder and whan the wynd serued the erle of Derby and his company tooke the see he had with hym thre shyppes of warre to conducte hym in to Englande and the further they sayled the better wynde they had so that within two dayes and two nyghtes they aryed at Plūmouth in Englande and issued out of their shyppes and entred in to the towne lytell and lytell the bayly of Plūmouthe who had charge of the towne vnder the kynge had great marueyle whanne he sawe so moche people and men of warre entre in to the towne But the bysshop of Caunterbury apeased him and sayd howe they were menne of warre that wolde do no harme in the realme of Englande sent thyder by the duke of Bretaygne to serue the kynge and the realme Therwith the bayly was contente and the erle of Derby kept hym selfe so priuy in a chaumbre that none of the towne knewe hym Than the bysshoppe of Caunterbury wrote letters sygned with his hande to London sygnyfienge the cōmynge of the erle of Derby and sente them by a suffycyent man in post who tooke fresshe horses by the waye and came to London the same daye at night and passed ouer the bridge and so came to the mayres lodgynge who as than was a bedde and as sone as the mayre knewe that a messāger was come fro the bysshop of Caunterbury he rose out of his bedde and made the messanger to entre in to his chambre who delyuered hym a lettre fro the bysshoppe of Caunterbury The mayre redde it and reioysed greatly of those newes and incontynent he sente of his seruauntes fro house to howse princypally to suche as were of counsayle of sendynge for the Erle of Derby They were all gladde of that tydynges and in contynent there assembled togyther of the moste notablest men of the cytie to the nombre of two hundred they spake togyder and helde no longe counsayle for the case required it nat but they sayd lette vs apparell our selfe and go and receyue the duke of Lancastre saythe we agreed to sende for hym the
the prince holdynge the sworde of the churche and on the other syde the Constable with the sworde of iustyce and a lytell aboue the marshall with the ceptour and at that kynges borde sate two archbysshops and .xvii. bysshoppes And in the myddes of the dyner there came in a knight who was called Dinereth all armed vpon a good horse rychely aparelled and had a knyght before hym bearyng his speare and his sworde by his syde and his dagger The knyght toke the kyng a lybell the whiche was red Therin was conteyned that there were outher knight squyer or any other geÌ„tylman that wold say that kyng Henry was nat right full kyng he was there redy to fyght with him in that quarell before the kynge or where as it shulde please hym to apoynte that byll was cryed by an haraulde in syxe places of the hall and in the towne There was none that wolde chalenge hym Whan the kynge had dyned he toke wyne spyces in the hall and than went in to his chambre Than euery man departed and went to their lodginges thus the day passed of kynge Henryes coronacyon with great ioy and feest whiche endured all the next day The erle of Salysbury was nat at this soleÌ„pnyte for he was in sure prison and the kinges couÌ„sayle and dyuers other noble men and the londoners wolde that his heed shulde haue ben stryken of openly in chepe for said he had well deserued it for bearynge of letters and credeÌ„ce fro Rycharde of Burdeaux to the frenche kyng and there to reporte openly that kyng Henry was a false traytoure whiche faute they sayd ought nat to be ê‘doned Kyng Henry was more gentyll than so for he had some pytie on hym for therle excused hym and sayd that he dyd was by the kynges coÌ„maundement by the settyng on of the four knyghtes that were beheeded Kinge Henry beleued well the erles wordes but his couÌ„sayle wolde nat beleue it but said and so dyd the londoners that he shulde dye bycause he had deserued deth Thus the erle of Salysbury was in prison in great daunger of his lyfe And syr Iohan Holande erle of Huntyngdon capytayne of Calais was well enfourmed of the hole mater and howe his brother kyng Rychard was taken and in prisone in the towre of London and had resygned his crowne and all howe Henry of Lancastre was kinge of Englande This erle of Huntyngdon what so euer dyspleasure he had for the trouble of his brother yet wysely he consydred the tyme and aduentures and sawe well that he was nat able to with stande all the power and puyssaunce of the realme Also the countesse his wyfe who was cosyn germayne to kynge Henry sayd Syr it must behoue you to passe your displeasure pacyently wysely and do nat that thynge wherby ye shall haue doÌ„mage for the kyng may do you moche good and ye se that all the realme enclyneth to hym if ye shewe any dyspleasure to hym warde ye are but lost wherfore syr I requyre you and I couÌ„sayle you to dyssimule the matter for as well kynge Henry nowe is your brother as kyng Richarde was therfore syr stycke and leane to him and ye shall fynde hym your good louer for there was neuer a rycher kynge in Englande than he is he may do to you to your chyldren great good The erle herde well the wordes of his wyfe and beleued her and enclyned hym to kynge Henry and offred hym humble obeysaunce and promysed hym faythe and trouthe The kyng receyued hym and had great ioy therof and he dyd so moche with meanes of his freÌ„des that therle of Salysbury was taken to grace and his excusacyons accepted and was clene pardoned ¶ How newes of the taking of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the coÌ„myng thyder of the lady of Coucy and howe the frenche kynge was dyspleased Cap. CC.xlvi WHan the lady of Coucy was aryued at Bouloyne she hasted her to go to Parys Great murmurynge there was in Fraunce of the sodayne incidentes that were fall in EnglaÌ„de they knewe somwhat by marchauÌ„tes of Bruges but whan the lady of Coucy aryued than the trouth was knowen She went firste to her husbandes house as it was reason Anon the frenche kynge herde worde howe the lady of Coucy was come to Parys Than the kynge sent for the lorde of Coucy who had ben all nyght with his wyfe Whan he was come the kynge demauÌ„ded of the state of kynge Rycharde of Englande and of the quene his doughter The lorde durst nat hyde the trouth fro hym but shewed hym playnely euery thynge as his wyfe had shewed hym whiche newes were sore dyspleasaunt to the frenche kynge for he knewe well the englysshmen were sore harde men to apease and so with dyspleasure the frenche kynge retourned agayne in to his olde sicknes of fransey wherof the nobles of that realme were sore displeased but they coude nat amende it Than the duke of Burgoyn said I thought neuer otherwyse for it was a maryage without good reasone the whiche I sayd playnly ynough whan the mater was fyrst spokeÌ„ of but as than I coulde nat be herde for I knewe well the londoners neuer loued parfytely kynge Rycharde All this myschefe is engendred by the duke of Gloucestre it is tyme nowe to take hede what the englisshmen wyll do sythe they haue taken their kyng and put him in prison by all lykelyhode they wyll put hym to dethe for they neuer loued him bycause be loued no warre but peace they wyll crowne to their kynge the duke of Lancastre he shall so bynde hym selfe to them that whether he wyll or nat he shall do all that they wyll sayd moreouer nowe shall be sene what they of Burdeaux wyll do for there he was borne and was well be loued with them and also with them of Bayon of Dax and in all the lymytes of Burdeloys it were good that that constable of FrauÌ„ce sir Loys of Sanxere were signyfyed of this mater and that he drewe hym to that fronters there with him syr Raynolde of Barroys of Barreys and other barones and prelates and to treate with them and my brother the duke of Berrey to go in to Poictou to drawe to the fronters of Xaintes of Blaues and of mirebell wherby if they of Burdeaux wyll any thynge entende to our treaties that they may be receyued for nowe shall we haue them or neuer As he deuysed it was ordeyned the whiche was a substanciall deuyce for whan they of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax vnderstode that their kynge Rycharde was taken and sette in the towre of London and duke Henry of Lancastre crowned kyng they had gret marueyle therof and in the begynnyng wolde nat beleue it but lytle lytle they knewe the trouth therof Than the sayd thre townes were closed and no man suffred to issue out nor to entre in they were sore troubled and sorowfull and specyally the cytie of Burdeaux
Henry in Fraunce wherby they were soner aquaynted so they taryed at Douer tyll their horses were vnshypped and than they rode to Caunterbury And where so euer they bayted or lay their hostes were payed At laste they came to Eltham and there they founde kyng Henry and parte of his counsayle The kinge made them good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge Than they shewed the kyng the cause of their cōmynge The kynge aunswered and sayde Sirs ye shal go to London and there I wyll be within this foure dayes and assemble my counsayle and than ye shall haue aunswere of your demaunde That daye they dyned with the kynge and after dyner they rode to London and the sayde knyght of the kynges styll with them who sawe them well lodged The kinge acordyng to his promyse came to Westmynster these frenche knyghtes had knowlege of the kynges cōmynge thyder and made them redy to go whan they shulde be sent for The kynge had his counsayle with hym and than it was deuysed what answere they shuld haue than they were sent for and than it was shewed them that where as they desyred to se the quene their desyre shulde nat be denyed so that they wolde swere and promesse that nouther they nor none of their menne shulde speke any worde of that was fallen vpon king Rycharde for it was said to them that if they dyd they shulde rynne in great dyspleasure of the people and be in great parell of their lyues The two knightes sayd they wolde in no wyse breake the ordre that they had sette but obey their cōmaundement They sayd whan they had ones sene and spoken with her than they wolde retourne and departe Anon after the erle of Northum berlande brought theym to Haueringe of the bowre to the yonge quene who was there as than and with her the duches of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy and the duchesse of Gloucestre with her doughters and other ladyes and damoselles The quene receyued them swetely and demaūded of them howe the frenche kinge her father dyd and the quene her mother They sayde well and so cōmuned with her a gret season They kepte well their promesse for they spake no worde of kynge Rycharde Than they tooke leaue of the quene and retourned to London Than shortely after they wente to Eltham to the kynge and there dyned and the kyng gaue them fayre presentes and iowelles and ryght amyably they toke their leaue of the kynge who sayd to them Syrs ye may say whan ye come in to Fraunce that the quene of Englande shall haue no hurte nor trouble but shall alwaies kepe her estate as to her belongeth and shall enioy all her right for as yet she shall nat knowe the mutacyons of the worlde Of these wordes spoken of the kynges mouth the two knyghtes were well content and so departed and lay at Dertforde and the next day at Osprynge and so to Caunterbury and than to Douer And all their costes and charges commynge goynge the kynges offycers payed Than they tooke the see and aryued at Boloyne and so to Parys and there founde the kyng and the quene and shewed them all that they had sene and herde ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speake of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne lordes in Englande rose vp with an army to haue delyuered kyng Rycharde and to haue dystroyed kynge Henry and howe they were slayne Cap. CC xivii DIuers questyons and argumētes were made in Englande amonge noble men and counsayls of the good townes that Richarde of Burdeaux was deed slayne wherfore men spake no more of hym for well he had deserued it To these poyntes kyng Henry answered and sayd Nay quod he I haue pytie of his dethe I wyll neuer consent therto To kepe hym in prisone is suffycient I haue warrāted his lyfe and I wyll kepe my promyse suche as wolde haue had hym deed sayd Sir we se well ye haue Pytie on hym but ye do for your selfe a perylous thyng For as long as he is a lyue though he haue willyngly resigned to you the crowne of Englande and that euery man hath receyued you as kyng and haue made to you faythe and homage yet it can nat be but that there be in the Realme some that loued hym as yet do who wolde lightly ryse agaīst you if they might se any lykelyhode of his delyueraunce Also the Frenche kynge is sore displeased for his trouble he wolde soone be reuenged yf he myght and he is of great puyssaunce with suche ayde as he maye fynde in Englande The kynge aunswered and sayde As longe as I se nat the contrary or that the Frenche kyng wyll take no parte agaynst me I wyll kepe my promyse This aunswere that the kynge made had nerehande haue ben to his owne distructyon The erle of Huntyngton sir Iohan of Hollande brother to kyng Richarde who hadde to wyfe kynge Henryes suster coulde nat forgette the aduenture of his brother No more coude the erle of Salisbury and they had at Oxenforde secrete counsayle toguyder And they deuysed how they might delyuer kynge Richarde oute of the towre and distroye kyng Henry bring a trouble agayne in to the realme They deuysed to make a iustes of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers to beholden at Oxenforde and howe they wolde desyre the kyng to be there priuely And whyle he shulde be syttynge at the table to slee hym For they had deuysed to haue hadde men ynowe to haue perfourmed their ententes and they had redy a preest called Maladyn who was a syngar in kynge Rychardes chapell to haue putte hym in the Kynges appareyle for he was lyke kynge Rycharde in fauoure And than they wolde haue made the people to haue beleued that kynge Richarde hadde been delyuered and returned in to his fyrst state and than̄e to haue sente worde of their dede to the Frenche kynge that he shulde incontynent haue sente in to Englande some socoure to them by the erle of saynt Poule or by some other As they had deuysed so they dyde begynne They caused a feest at Oxenforde to be proclaymed of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers well accōpanyed with ladyes and damoselles They hadde also on their partie the yonge erle of Kente nephue to sir Iohan Hollande also another great lorde the lorde Spensar And they beleued to haue hadde on their partie the erle Iohan of Rutlande bycause kynge Henry had put hym out of the offyce of the Cōstable shyppe of Englande but he fayled theym for some sayde by hym they were bewrayed This feest prouyded for thau the erle of Huntyngton came to Wyndsore where the kyng was and humbly made his reuerence as he that thought to haue disceyued the kynge with swete wordes and to haue gote hym to haue come to this feest the whiche to do he desyred the kyng effectuously and the kyng who thought none yuell graunted hym so to do wherof the erle was ryght ioyouse and departed
Lancastre knew that the kynge came thyder he toke his hors and many other lordes and yssued out of Besances and met the kynge and the ladyes there the kynge and the duke made grete chere togyder and so entred togyder in to the towne theyr lodgynge appoynted as it aperteyned accordynge to the maner of the countrey and that was not so easye nor large as thoughe they had ben at Parys ABoute a .iii. dayes after that the kynge of Portyngale was come to Besances thyder came syr Reynolde du Roy well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers he hadde a vi score horses and they were all well lodged for the duke of Lancaste hadde prepayred redy theyr lodgynges Then the nexte daye syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Raynolde Roy were armed and mounted on theyr horses soo came to a fayre place redy sanâ—ed where they sholde doo theyr armes and scafoldes redy made for the kynge for the ladyes for the duke other lordes of englande for they were all come thyder to se the dedes of armes of these .ii. knyghtes they came in to the felde as well appoynted as coulde be deuysed there was brought in theyr speres theyr axes and theyr swordes and well horsed and so eche of them a good dystaunce fro other made theyr tournes fryskes fresshly for they knewe well they were regarded euery thynge was ordeyned at theyr desyre and all theyr armes graunted excepte the vtteraunce howbeit no man knewe what sholde fal of theyr bodyes for syth they were thyder come they must nedes mete at the poynte of theyr speres and after that with theyr swordes and then with axes daggers loo what daunger they were in to the entente to exhaulte theyr honoure for theyr lyues lay but in the mysaduenture of one stroke thus they ranne togyder and met as euen as thoughe they hadde rynne by a lyne and strake eche other in the vysoure of theyr helmes so that syr Raynolde du Roy brake his spere in .iiii. peces and the sheuers flewe a grete hyght in to the ayre whiche course was gretely praysed syr IohnÌ„ Holande strake syr Raynolde in lykewyse in the vysoure but the stroke was of no force I shall shewe you why syr Raynolde had the vysoure of his helme made at auauÌ„tage for it was tyed but with a small lase the lase â—rake with yâ— stroke the helme flewe of his heed so that the knyght was bare heeded and so passed forth theyr course and syr IohnÌ„ dyscharged and bare his staffe fresshely then euery man sayd it was a goodly course THen these knyghtes retourned to theyr owne places and syr Raynolde was helmed agayne and had a newe spere and so they ranne togyder agayne they were bothe wel horsed and coulde well guyde theÌ„ they strake eche other on the helmes so that the fyer flewe out the speres brake not but syr raynoldes helme agayne flewe of his heed A sayd the Englysshmen the frenssheman hath auauntage Why is not his helme as fast bocled as syr IohnÌ„ of Holandes is we thynke he dothe wronge let hym set his helme in lyke case as his companyon hathe done his holde your peas syrs sayd the duke of Lancastre let them dele in armes let euery maÌ„ take his aduauntage as he thynketh best yf syr IohnÌ„ Holande thynke that the other knyght haue aduauntage let hym set on his helme in lyke maner but as for me sayd the duke and I were in lyke armes as these .ii. knyghtes be I wolde haue my helme as fast bocled as I coulde and I thynke here be many of the same oppynyon then the englysshe men spake no moo wordes and the ladyes and damoyselles sayd howe the knyghtes had iusted well and goodly and the kynge of Portyngale sayd the same and spake to syr IohnÌ„ Ferant and sayd syr IohnÌ„ in our countrey knyghtes iust not in this goodly maner syr sayd he these knyghtes do iust wel and syr I haue sene or this the frensshmen iust before the kynge your broder when we were at Elyres agaynst the kynge of Castell lyke iustes I sawe there bytwene syr wyllyam Wyndsore and another frensshe knyght but theyr helmes were faster tyed then this knyghtes helme is then the kynge regarded agayne the two knyghtes to se theyr thyrde course THus they ranne togyder the thyrde course and regarded eche other wysely to take theyr aduauntage they myght well so doo for theyr horses serued them at theyr wysshyng and so they strake eche other agayne on the helme in suche wyse that theyr eyen trimbled in theyr heedes and theyr staâ—es brake and agayne syr Raynoldes helme flewe of his heed and so eche other passed forth theyr course and demeaned themselfe fresshly so that euery man sayd howe they had nobly iusted but the englysshmen blamed gretely syr Raynolde du Roy in that his helme was no faster set on his heed but the duke of Lancastre blamed hym nothyng but sayd I thynke hym wyse that can in feates of armes seke his lawfull aduauntage it semeth well that syr Raynolde is not to lerne to iust he knoweth more therin then syr IohnÌ„ doth thoughe he haue borne hymselfe ryght well So thus after theyr courses with theyr speres they toke theyr axes and dyd theyr armes with them and gaue eche other .iii. grete strokes on theyr helmes then they fought with theyr swordes and after with theyr daggers when all was done there was none of them hurte The frensshmen brought syr Raynolde to his lodgynge and the Englysshmen syr IohnÌ„ Holande to his the same day the duke of Lancastre made a dyner to all the frensshmen in his lodgynge and the duches set at the table by the duke and syr Raynolde du Roy bynethe her after dyner they wente in to a counsayle chambre and the duches toke syr Raynolde by the hande and made hym to entre as sone as herselfe and there she comoned with hym and other of the frensshe knyghtes tyll it was tyme to call for drynke then the duches sayd to the frensshe knyghtes syrs I haue meruayle of you that ye do susteyne the wronge oppynyon of a bastarde for ye knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that Henry that was somtyme called kynge of Castel was a bastarde therfore what iust cause haue you to susteyne that quarell and ayde to your power to dysheryte the ryght ayre of Castell for I knowe well and soo dothe all the worlde that I and my syster were doughters by lawfull maryage to kyng Peter Wherfore god knoweth what ryght we haue to the royalme of Castell the good lady wheÌ„ she spake of her fader she wepte then syr Raynolde du Roy made his obeysaunce and sayd Madame we knowe ryght well that all is of trouth that ye haue sayd howbeit the kynge our mayster is of the contrary oppynyon agaynst you and we be his subiectes and must make warre at his pleasure and go where as he wyl sende vs We maye not say nay
and lordes of Spaygne drewe toguyder and determyned to crowne the yonge herytoure the prince of Galyce This prince Henry was crowned the nynth yere of his age and his wyfe doughter to the duke of Lancastre was a fyfteene yere of age Thus the dukes doughter by the lady Custaunce was quene of Castyle and lady and heritour to all the landes and seignories that kyng Dompeter kyng Henry and kyng Iohan helde excepte that the duke of Lācastre her father and his wyfe her mother had durynge their lyues whiche was a pensyon of a hundred thousande doreyns by yere And foure of the best erles of Spayne were pledges and dettours for the same Thus the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale bestowed ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the yonge erle of Armynake and of the voyage he made in to Lombardy for the matter requyreth it and we shall leaue to speke of the kynge of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the vyage that he made in to Lombardy And howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of Alexandre Ca. C .lxxvii. IT hath been shewed here before what great of fectyon the yonge Erle of Armynake had to go in to Lombardy with menne of warre to ayde and assyste his suster germayne and his brother in lawe her husbande the lorde Barnabo eldest sonne to the lorde Barnabo whome the duke of Myllayne had caused to be slayne marueylouslye And this duke of Myllayne was erle of Vertues and named Galeas Whose doughter the duke of Orlyaunce hadde to wyfe This sayd lady who was doughter to the olde erle of Armynake and suster to the yonge erle was greatly abasshed and disconforted and had no truste but on her brother She signified to hym all her estate her pouertie and necessyte and dōmage that she suffred And humbly requyred her brother that he wolde helpe to kepe and defende her agaynst the tyraunt the erle of Vertues who wolde disheryte her without any tytell of reason And to the request of his suster the erle of Armynake condiscended and sayde That what soeuer it shulde coste hym he wolde do his deuoyre to ayde his suster And all that he promysed he accōplisshed in dede for he had by the ayde of the erle Dolphyne of Auuergne made dyuers treaties in Auuergne Rouergue Quercy Lymosyn Piergourte Engoulmoys and Agenoyes and had bought certayne fortresses whiche had been kepte by the Englysshe men gascoyns and bretons suche as hadde made warre agaynst the realme of Fraunce vnder colour of the kyng of Englande and all suche as he hadde agreed withall hadde their pardons of the Frenche kyng and besyde that the kyng gaue golde and syluer to be gyuen amonge theym But they were all bounde to the erle of Armynake to go with hym in to Lōbardy to ayde hym in his warres there And euery man shewed hym selfe therto well wyllynge euery man drewe to the ryuer of Rosne and to the ryuer of Sosne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne suffred them in their countreys to take vitaylles at their pleasure for they wolde gladly haue had them clene delyuered out of the countre And in that season vnder the kyng there ruled in the Dolphynry the lorde Engueram Durdyn And the kynge had written to hym commaundyng that these men of warre parteynyng to the erle of Armynake shulde pesably passe throughe the countrey and to haue that they neded for their money WHan the erle of Foiz beynge in Byerne in his castell of Ortays vnderstode howe the erle of Armynake assembled men of warre toguyder he began to muse for he was a man greatly ymaginatife Well he had herde howe the brute was that the erle of Armynake made this assemble to go in to Lōbardy agaynst the lorde of Myllaygne But bycause in tyme past the erle of Armynake and his predecessours before him and his brother Bernarde of Armynake had made hym warre therfore he douted lest the sayde assemble shulde tourne agaynst hym wherfore he thought he wolde nat be vnprouyded but prepared his fortresses with men of warre and made suche prouysion that if he were assayled to resyst it with all his puissaunce But the erle of Armynake nor his brother were nothynge of that purpose but thought surely to vpholde the treuce that was bytwene them and to atcheue his enterprice in to Lombardy There were many knyghtes and squyers Englysshe gascoyns bretons and other that were bounde to serue the erle of Armynake in his warres But if he shulde haue made warre agaynst the erle of Foiz they wolde haue taken the erle of Foiz parte and haue forsaken the erle of Armynake the erle of Foiz was so welbeloued with all men of warre for the wysedome largesse and prowesse that was in hym And whan̄e the duchesse of Thourayne was enfourmed howe therle of Armynake was redy to passe ouer the mountayns to entre in to Lombardy with puissaunce of men of warre to make warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne her father And howe that the Frēche kyng and his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne consented therto bycause they wolde haue their countreis clene auoyded of the cōpanyons and routes of pyllars suche as had often tymes greued sore their coūtreys this lady thought nat to forgette the matter but wrote to her father the duke of Millayne all that she knewe to the entente that he shulde take hede to hym selfe and to his countrey The lorde of Myllayne was well enformed of the busynesse and prouyded for menne of warre where he might gette them and refresshed his townes cyties and castelles with vitayle and other munysiōs of warre and loked surely to haue warre with the erle of Armynake as they hadde in dede ABout the myddes of the moneth of Marche the moost parte of these cōpanyons were assembled toguyder in the marchesse of Auignon all a longe the ryuer of Rosne to the nombre of fyftene thousande horses and passed the ryuer and so entred in to the Dolphynny of Vyen and lodged abrode in the vyllages and some passed forwarde to haue the more easy passage thoroughe the mountayns whiche were peryllous to passe bothe for man and horse The erle of Armynake and his brother with certayne other knyghtes wente to Auygnon to se hym that was called pope Clemente and the cardynalles there And offred their seruyce to the pope to ayde hym agaynst the tyrantes the lombardes for whiche offre they were thanked And whan they had ben there an eight dayes and that great parte of their company were paste forwarde They tooke their leaue of the pope and of the cardynalles and prepared to folowe their men there the two bretherne departed a sondre the erle Iohan of Armynake and sir Bernarde his brother Than the Erle sayde Brother ye shall retourne backe to Armynake and kepe our herytage of Comynges and Armynake For as yet all the fortresses