and sayde JohnÌ„ howe is it with you woll you yelde your selfe sir 〈◊〉 he I am nat so yet determyned but sir I wold desyre you in the honoure of our lady whose day shal be to morowe that ye wolde graunt a truse to endure all onely but to morowe so that you nor we none to greue other but to be in peace yâ— day The duke sayde I am content and so they departed the nere day which was Candelmas day â–ª JohnÌ„ Norwiche and his company armed them and trussed all that they had to bere away Than they opyned their gate and yssued oute than they of the hoost began to styrre than the captayne rode on before to them and sayd sirs beware do no hurt to none of vs â–ª for we woll do none we haue trusâ— for this day all onely agreed by the duke your caiptayne If ye knowe it nat go and demaunde of hym for by reason of this trewse we may ryde this day whyther we woll The duke was demanded what was his pleasure in that mater the duke answered and sayde let them depart whyder they woll a goddesname for we can nat let them for I woll kepe that I haue promysed Thus JohnÌ„ Norwych departed and all his company and passed the french hoost without any damage and went to Aguyllon And whan the knightes ther knewe howe he had saued hymselfe and his company they sayde he had begyled his ennemyes â–ª by a good subtyltie The next day after they of the cytie of Angolesme went to counsayle and determyned to yelde vp the towne to the duke they sent to hym into the hoost certayne messangers who at last spedde so well that the duke toke theÌ„ to mercy and pardoned them all his yuell wyll and so entred into the cytie and into the castell and toke homage of the cytizens and made captayne ther Antony Uyllers and set a hundred soudyers with hym than the duke went to the castell of Damassâ—ne where he helde siege .xv. dayes and euery day assaut finally it was won and all that were within slayn The duke gaue that castell and the landes therto â–ª to a squyer of Beausse called the Bourge of Mulle than the duke came to Thomyus on the ryuer of Garon and there lay at siege a certayne space at laste they within yelded vp their goodes and lyues saued and to be sauely conducted to Burdeaur So the strangers departed but they of yâ— towne came vnder the obeysaunce of the duke the duke taryed aboute the ryuer of Garon tyll it was past Ester And than he went to port saynt Mary on the same ryuer and there were a two hundred englysshmen that kept the towne and the passage and was well fortisyed but it was taken with assaut and all they within than ther were set newe captayns and men of warr and newe repayred the towne and thanne the duke went to Aguyllone ¶ Howe the duke of Normandy layd siege to Aguyllon with a hundred thousande men Cap. C .xx. THe duke of NormaÌ„dy and these lordes of Fraunce dyd somoche that they came to the castell of Aguyllone there they layde their siege aboute the fayre medowes along by yâ— ryuer able to bere shyppes euery lorde amonge his owne company â–ª and euery constable by hym selfe as it was ordayned by the marshals This sege endured tyll the feest of saynt Remy ther were well C. thousande men of warr a horse backe and a fote they made lightly euery day two or thre assautê and moost coÌ„menly fro the mornyng tyll it was nere nyght without ceasynge for euer there caÌ„e newe assauters that wolde nat suffre them with in to rest the lordes of Fraunce sawe well they coude nat well come to the froÌ„ters without they passed the ryuer the which was large and depe Than the duke coÌ„maunded that a bridge shuld be made whatsoeuer it coste to passe the ryuer there were sette a warke mo than thre hundred workemen who dyde worke day and nyght Whan the knyghtê within sawe this brige more than halfe made ouer the ryuer they decked thre shyppes and entred into theym a certayne And so caÌ„e on the workemen and chased them away with their defenders and ther they brake all to peaces that had ben longe a makynge WhanÌ„e the frenche lordes sawe that than they apayrelled other shyppes to resyst agaynst their shyppes and than the workemen beganne agayne to worke on the bridge on trust of their defenders And whan they had worked halfe a day more sir Gaultier of Manny and his company entred into a shyppe and came on the workemen and made them to leaue warke to recule backe and brake agayn all that they had made This besynesse was nygh euery day but at last the frenchmen kept so well their workemen that the bridge was made perforce And thanne the lordes and all their army passed ouer in maner of bataylle and they assawtedde the castell a hole day togyder without ceasyng but nothynge they wanne And at nyght they retourned to their lodgynges and they within amended all that was broken for they had with them worke men ynoughe The next day the frenchmen deuyded their assauters into foure partes yâ— first to begynne in the mornyng and to contynue tyll nyne the seconde tyll noon they thyrde to euyn song tyme and the fourth tyll night After that maner they assayled the castell sire dayes togyder howe be it they within were nat so sore traueyled but alwayes they defended themselfe so valyantly that they without wanne nothynge but onely the bridge without the castell ThanÌ„e the frenchmen toke other counsayle they sende to Tholouz for eyght great engyns and they made there foure gretter and they made all xii to cast day and nyght agaynst yâ— castell but they within were so well ê‘auysshed that neuer a ston of their engyns dyde they many hurt It brake somwhat the coueryng of some houses they wtin had also great engyns the which brake downe all the engyns without for in a shorte space they brake all to pecys sixe of the greattest of theÌ„ without Duryng this siege often tymes ser Water of Manny yssued out with a hundred or sire score coÌ„panyons and went on that syde the ryuer a foragynge and retourned agayne with great prayes in the syght of them without On a day the lorde Charles of MomoreÌ„cy marshall of the host rode forthe with a fyue hundred with hym and whanÌ„e he retourned he draue before hym a great nombre of beestes that he had get togyder in the countrey to refresshe thoost with vytayle And by aduenture he encountred with sir Gaultier of Manny there was bytwene theÌ„ a great fight and many ouerthrowen hurte slayne the frenchemen were fyue agaynst one tidynges therof came vnto Aguyllon than euery man that myght yssued out Th erle of Penbroke first of all and his company and whan he came he founde sir Gaultier of MaÌ„ny a fote enclosed with his ennemyes and dyde meruayls in armes In contynent
and achyued by yâ— warres of FraÌ„ce and Ingland shuld notably be inregisterd and put in perpetuall memory wherby the prewe and hardy may haue ensample to in courage them in theyr well doyng I syr JohnÌ„ Froissart wyll treat and recorde an hystory of great louage and preyse But or I begyn I require the sauyour of all the worlde who of nothyng created al thynges that he wyll gyue me suche grace and vnderstandyng that I may coÌ„tinue and ê‘ euer in suche wyse that who so this proces redeth or hereth may take pastauÌ„ce pleasure and ensample It is sayd of trouth that al buyldynges are masoned and wroughte of dyuerse stones and all great tyuers are gurged assembled of diuers surges and sprynges of water In lyke wyse all sciences are extraught and coÌ„piled of diuerse clerkes of that one wryteth another parauenture is ignorant But by the famous wrytyng of auncient auctours all thyngis ben knowen in one place or other Than to attaygne to the mater that I haue entreprised I wyll begyn Fyrst by the grace of god and of the blessed virgyn ourlady saynt Mary from whom all comfort consolation procedeth and wyll take my foundation out of the true cronicles somtyme coÌ„pyled by the right reuerend discrete and sage maister JohnÌ„ la Bele somtyme Chanon in saint LaÌ„bartis of Liege who with good herte and due diligence dyd his true deuoure in wrytyng this noble cronicle and dyd contynue it all his lyf dayes in folowyng the trouth as nere as he myght to his great charge coste in sekyng to haue the perfight knowledge therof He was also in his lyf dayes Welbeloued of the secret counsayle with the lorde sir JohnÌ„ of Haynaulte who is often remembred as reason requyreth here after in this boke For of many fayre and noble auentures he was chief causer And by whose meanes the sayd ser JohnÌ„ la Bele myght well knowe and here of many dyuers noble dedes The whiche here after shal be declared Trouth it is that I who haue entreprised this boke to ordeyne for pleasure and pastaunce to the whiche alwayes I haue ben inclyned and for that intent I haue folowed and frequented the company of dyuerse noble and great lordes as well in Fraunce Juglande and Scotland as in diuerse other countries and haue had knowledge by them And alwayes to my power iustly haue inquired for the trouth of the dedis of warre and auentures that haue fallen and specially syth the great batell of Poyters where as the noble kynge JohnÌ„ of France was takyn prisoner as before that tyme I was but of a yonge age or vnderstandyng Ho we be it I toke on me assoone as I came from scole to wryte and recite the sayd boke and bare the same compyled into Ingland and presented the volume therof to my lady Philypp of Heynaulte noble quene of Ingland who right amyably receyued it to my great profite auauÌ„cemeÌ„t And it may be so that the same boke is nat as yet eramyned nor corrected so iustely as suche a case requyreth For featis of armes derely bought achyued the honour therof ought to be gyuen truly deuided to them that by promes and hard trauayle haue deserued it Therfore to acquyte me in that bihalf and in folowyng the trouth as nere as I can I JohnÌ„ Froissart haue entreprysed this hystory on the forsaid ordynauÌ„ce and true fundacion at the instauÌ„ce and request of a dere lord of myn ser Robert of Namure knyght lord of Bewfort To whom entierly I owe loue and obeysyunce and god graunt me to do that thyng that may be to his pleasure Amen ¶ here spekethe the auctour of suche as were most valiant knyghtis to be made mencion of in this boke ¶ ap .ii. ALl noble hertis to encorage and to shewe them ensample and mater of honour I ser JohnÌ„ Froissart begynne to speke after the true report relation of my master JohnÌ„ la Bele somtyme Chanon of saynt Lambertis of Liege afâ—ermyng thus howe that many noble ê‘sons haue oft tymes spoke of the warres of France and of Ingland and ê‘auenture knewe nat iuslely the trouth therof nor the true occasions of the fyrst mouyngis of suche warres nor howe the warre at length contynued But now I trust ye shall here reported the true fouÌ„dation of the cause and to th entent that I wyll nat forget myuysshe or abrydge the hystory â—any thyng for defaute of laÌ„gage but rather I wyll multiply and encrease it as ner as I can folowynge the trouth from poynt to poynt in spekyng and the wyng all the aueÌ„tures sith the natiuite of the noble kyng Edward the .iii. Who reigned kyng of England and achyued many perilous auentures and dyuers great batelles addressed and other featis of armes of great proWes syth the yere of oure Lorde god M. CCC .xxvi. that this noble kyng was crowned in Ingland for generally suche as were with hym in his batels and happy fortunate auentures or with his peple in his absence ought ryght well to be takyn and reputed for valiant and worthy of renowne and though there were great plenty of sondrye parsonages that ought to be praysed and reputed as soueraignes yet among other and pryncipally ought to be renowmed the noble propre ê‘sone of the forsaid gentyll kyng Also the prynce of Walys his son the duke of Lancastre ser Reignold lorde Cobham syr Gualtier of Manny of Heynaulte knyght syr JohnÌ„ Chandos syr Fulque of Harle and dyuers other of whom is made mencion hereafter in this present boke bicause of theyr valyant prowes for in all batels that they were in most coÌ„monly they had euer the renowne both by land and by se accordyng to the trouth They in all theyr dedis were so valyant that they ought to be reputed as soueraignes in all chyualry yet for all that suche other as were in theyr companye ought nat to be of the lesse value or lesse set by Also in FrauÌ„ce in yâ— tyme there were fouÌ„de many good knyghtis stronge and well expert in featis of armes For the realme of Fraunce was nat so discomfited but that alwayes ther were people sufficient to fyght withall and the kyng Philyppe of Uaioyes was a ryght hardy and a valiant knyght And also kyng JohnÌ„ his soÌ„ne Charles the kyng of Behaigne the erle of AlaÌ„son the erle of Foyz syr Saâ—â—tre syr Arnold Dangle the lordes of Beamon the father and the sonne and dyuerse other the whiche I caÌ„ nat theyr names of whom hereafter ryght well shall be made mencion in tyme and place coÌ„uenient to say the trouth and to maynteigne the same all suche as in cruel batels haue ben seen abydyng to the discomfeture sufficiently doyng theyr deuour may wel be reputed for valyant and hardy what soeuer was theyr aduenture ¶ Here the mater speketh of some of the predecessours of kyng Edwarde of Ingland Cap. iii. FIrst the better to entre into the mater of this honorable
this assemble it was abuysed the the realme coud nat long endure without a h 〈…〉 and a chief lord Than they put in wrytynge all the dediss of the kyng who was in prison and all that he hadde done by euyll counsell and all his vsagess and euyll behauyngis and how euyll he had gouerned his realme the whiche wass â—edd openly in playn audience to th entent that the noble sagis of the realme might take therof good aduyce 〈◊〉 to fall at acorde how the realme shuld be gouerned from thensforth and whan all the casess and dedis that the kyng had done coÌ„sented to and all his behauyng and vsagis were red and wel vndest and. The harone and knyghtis and al yâ— couÌ„sels of the realme drew them aparte to couÌ„sell and the most part of them accorded and namely the great lordes and nobles with the burgesses of yâ— good townes accordyng as they had hard say and knew them selfe the most parte of his dedis Wherfore they coÌ„cluded that suche a man was nat worthy to be a kyng nor to bere a crowne roy all nor to haue the name of a kyng But they all accorded that Edward his eldeste son who was ther present was ryghful heyre shuld be crowned kyng in stede of his father so that he wold take good counsell sage and true about hym so that the realme from thensforth myght be better gouerned than it was before that the olde kyng his father shuld be well and honestly kept as long as he lyued accordyng to his astate and thus as it was agreed by all the nobles so it was accomplysshed and than was crowned with a crowne roy all at the palaice of WestmÌ„ beside London the yong kyng Edward the .iii. who in his bayes after was rightfortunate happy in armes This coronacion wass in the yere of our lorde M. CCC .xxvi. on christymas day and as than the yong kyng was about the age of xvi and they held the fest tyl the coÌ„uercion of sayut Paule folo wyng and in the mean tyme greatly was fested sir JohnÌ„ of Heynaulte and all the princis and nobles of his couÌ„tre and was gyuen to hym and to his company many ryche Jewels And so he and his company in great feast and solas both with lordis and ladyes taried tyll the .xii. day And than ser JohnÌ„ of Heynault hard tydyngis how 〈◊〉 the kyng of Bayghan and the erle of Heynault his brother and other great plenty of lordis of FrauÌ„ce had ordeyned to be at Conde at a great feast turney that was there cryed Than wold sir JohnÌ„ of Heynaulte no longer abyde for no prayer so great desire he had to be at the said tourney and to se the erle his brother and other lordis of hys countrey and specially the ryght noble kyng in larges the gentyll Charles kyng of Bayghan whaÌ„ the yong kyng Edward the quene his mother and the baroÌ„s saw that he wold no longer tary and that theyr request coude nat auaile they gaue hym leue sore agaynst theyr wyls and the kyng by the couÌ„sell of the quene his mother dyd gyue hym CCCC markis steâ—lyng is of 〈◊〉 heritable to hold of hym in fee to be payed euery yere in the towne of Bruges And also dyd gyue to Philyp of Chastaulre his chief esquyer his soueraigne counsellour C. marke of rent yerely to be payed at the sayd place and also delyuered hym moche money to pay therwith the costis of hym and of his company tyl he come 〈◊〉 to his owne countre and caused hym to be conducted with many noble knyghtis to Douer ther delyuered hym all his passage free And to the ladyes that were come into Ingland with the quene and namely to the countesse of GarreÌ„nes who was suster to the erle of hare and to dyuerse other ladyes and damozels ther were gyuen many feyre and ryche iewels at theyr departyng And whan ser JohnÌ„ of Heynaulte was departed fro the yong kyng Edward and all his company and wer come to Douer they entred encontyneÌ„t into theyr shippes to passe the see to the entent to come be tymes to the sayd tourney and ther weÌ„t with hym .xv. yong lusty knyghtê of Ingland to go to this tourney with hym and to acqueynt them with the straunge lordis and knyghtê that shuld be ther and they had great honour of all the company that turneyd at that tyme at Conde ¶ Howe that kyng Robert de Breux of Scotland defyed kyng Edward Cap. xv AFter that syr John of Heynault was departed fro kyng Edward he and yâ— quene his mother gouerned the realme by the counselle of the Erle of Kent vncle to the kyng And by the counsell of syr Roger Mortymer who had great laÌ„des in Ingland to the suÌ„me of vu C .li. of rent yerely And they both were â—anisshed and chased out of InglaÌ„d with 〈◊〉 quene as ye haue hard before Also they vsed moche after the couÌ„sell of ser Thomas wage and by the aduyse of other who were reputed for the most sagest of the realme How be it ther were some hadd enuy therat the whiche neuer dyed in Ingland and also it reigneth and wyl reigne in dyuers other countres Thus passed â—orth the wynter and the lent season tyll Easter and than the kyng and the quene and all the realme was in good peace all this season Than â—o it fortuned that kyng Robert of Scotland who had ben rygh hardy had suffered moche trauaile agaynst Inglisshmen and ofteÌ„ tymes he had ben chased and discomâ—eted in the tyme of kyng Edward the fyrst grauÌ„dfather to this yong kyng Edward the .iii. he was as than become very olde auncient and sicke as it was sayd of the great euyll and malady Whan he knewe thaduâ—tures that was fallen in Ingland howe that the olde kyng Edwarde the .ii. Was taken and deposed downe fro his regalley and his crowne and certayne of his couÌ„sellours behedded and put to distruction as ye haue hard here before Than he bethought hy that he wolde defye the yonge kyng Edward the .iii. bicause he was yong and that the barons of the realme were nat all of one accorde as it was said therfore he the better to spede in his purpose to conquere part of Ingland And so about Easter in the yere of our lorde M. CCC .xxvii. he sent his defyauÌ„ce to the yong kyng Edward the .iii. to all the realme sendyng them Worde howe that he wolde entre into the realme of Ingland and brenne before hym as he had done before tyme at suche seson as the discomfeture was at the castell of Estermelin where as the Inglisshmen receyued great daÌ„mage Whan the kyng of Ingland and his counsell perceyued that they were defyed they caused it to be knoweÌ„ ouer all the realme and commauÌ„ded that all the nobles and all other shuld be redy appareled euery maÌ„ after his estate and that they shulde be by Ascen â—â—on day next
vp and became vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande the captayne sir Hewe Bastefoll became seruant to the erle with other that were within vpon certayne wages that they hadde Thenglysshmen that had lyeâ— longe before the Ryoll more than nyne wekes had made in the meane space two belfâ—oys of great tymbre with .iii. stages euery belfroy oâ— fouâ— great whelys and the sydes towardes the towne were couered with cure boly to defende them fro fyre and fro shotte And into euery stage ther were â—oynted C. archers by strength of men these two belfroyes were brought to the walles of the towne for they had so fylled the dykes that they myght well be brought iust to the walles The archers in these stages shotte so holly togâ—der that none durst apere at their defence without they were well pauysshed and bytwene these two belfroys ther were a. CC. men with pycaxes to myne the walles and so they brake through the walles ThauÌ„e the burgesses of the towne came to one of the gates to speke with some lorde of the hoost whan the erle of Derby knewe therof he sent to them sir Gaultier of Manny and the baron of Stafforde and whan they caÌ„e ther they founde that they of the towne wolde yelâ—e them their lyues and goodes saued Sir Agoâ—s de Bans who was captayne within knewe that the people of the towne wolde yelde vp he went into the castell with his coÌ„pany of soudyers and whyle they of the towne were entretyâ—g he conueyed out of the â—owne gret quantyte of wyne other prouisyon and than closed the castell gates sayd howe he wolde nat yelde vp so soâ—e The foresayd two lordes retourned to therle of Derby shewyng hym howe they of the towne wolde yelde themself and the towne their lyues and goodes saued thauÌ„e therle sende to knowe howe the captayne wolde do with the castell aâ—â— it was brought worde agayne to hym howe he wolde nat yelde Than therle â—â—udyeâ— a lytell â–ª sayde well go take them of the towne to mercy for by the towne we shall haue the castell thauÌ„e these lordes went agayne to them of the towne and receyued them to mercy so that they shulde go out into the felde and delyuer therle of Derby the kayes of the towne sayenge sir fro heusforth we knowlege our selfe subgettes and obey saunt to the king of Englande And so they dyd and sware that they shulde gyue no comforte to them of the castell but to greue them to the best of their powers than therle coÌ„maunded that no man shulde do any hurt to the towne of Ryoll nor to none of them within Than therle entred into the towne and laydsiege rounde about the castell as nere as he might and rered vp all his engyns the which caste nyght and day agaynst the walles but they dyde lytell hurt the walles were so stronge of harde stone it was sayd that of olde tyme it had ben wrought by the handes of the sarasyns who made ther warkes so strongely that ther is none such nowe a bayes WhaÌ„ the erle sawe that he coulde do no good with his engyns he caused theym to cease than he called to hym his myners to thyntent that they shuld make a myne vnder all the walles the whiche was nat sone made ¶ Howe sir water of Manny founde in the towne of the Ryoll the sepulcre of his father Ca. C .x. WHyle this siege endured and that the myners were a worke the lorde Gaultier of Manny remembred how 〈◊〉 his fader was stayne goynge a pylgrimage to sait James And howe he harde in his youth howe he shulde be buryed in the Ryoll or there about thauÌ„e he made it to be enquered in the towne ys there were any manne coude shewe hym his fathers tombe he shulde haue a hundred crownes for his labour And there was an aged man came to sir Gaultier and sayd sir I thynke I caâ—â—e brynge you nere to the place wher your father was buryed thanne the lorde of Manny sayde if your wordes be trewe I shall kepe couenaunt and more ¶ Nowe ye shall here the maner howe the lorde Gaultiers father was slayne it was trewe that somtyme ther was a bysshoppe in Cambresis a Goscoyne borne of the house of Myrpoyse And so it fortuned that in his dayes ther was at a tyme a great tournayeng before Cambrey wher as there were .v. C. knyghtê on both parties and ther was a knyght gascoyne â—ourneyed with the lorde of Manny father to sir Gaultier this knyght of Gascoyne was so sore hurt and beaten that he had neuer helth after but dyed this knyght was of kynne to the sayde by sthoâ—â—e Wherfore the lorde of Manny was in his 〈◊〉 and of all his lynage a two or thre yere after certayne good men laboured to make peace bytwene theÌ„ and so they dyd And for a mendes the lorde of Manny was bounde to go a pylgrimage to saynt James and so he went thyder warde and as he came foreby the towne of Ryoll the same season therle Charles of Ualoyes brother to kynge Philyppe lay at siege before the Ryoll the whiche as than was englysshe and dyuers other townes and cyties than pertayning to the kynge of Englande father to the kynge that layed siege to Tourney So that the lorde of Manny after the retournyng of his pylgrimage he came to se therle of Uaâ—oys who was ther as kyng and as the lorde of Many went at night to his lodgyng he was watched by the way by certayne of theÌ„ of the lynage of hym that the lorde of MaÌ„ny had made his pylgrimage for And so wtout therles lodgyng he was slayne and murdred and no man knewe who dyd it howe be it they of that lynage were helde suspect in the mater but they were so stronge and made suche excuses that the mater past for ther was none that wold pursue the lorde of Mannes quarell Than therle of Ualoyes caused hym to be buryed in a lytell chapell in the felde the which as than was without the towne of Ryoll and whan therle of Ualoyes had wonne the towne than the walles were made more larger so that the chapell was within the towne Thus was sir Gaulter of MaÌ„nes fader slayne and this olde man remeÌ„bred all this mater for he was present whan he was buryed ThanÌ„e sir Gaultier of Manny went with this gode aged man to the place wher as his father was buryed and ther they founde a lytell tombe of marble ouer hym the which his seruauntes layd on hym after he was buryed ThanÌ„e the olde man sayd sir surely vnder this tombe lyeth your father than the lorde of Manny redde the scripture on the tombe the whiche was in latyn and ther he founde that the olde man had sayd trouth and gaue hym his rewarde And wtin two dayes after he made the tombe to be raysed and the bones of his father to be taken vp and put in a â—ofer and after dyd sende
Roy wherof they with 〈◊〉 the towne wer sore abasshed whan they saw theyr ennemyes so nere them The most parte 〈◊〉 them were vnarmed and spred abrode in the village so that they â—oude nat drawe together But there the frenchemen toke theym in theyr 〈◊〉 The chaâ—oâ—ne Robersart had ma 〈…〉 prisonners bycause he was knowen by his baner Some there were that fledde into a littell stronge howse enuyroned with water standynge at the townes ende And some of theym sayd howe it was best for them to kepe it affirmynge howe the house was strenge ynough to kepe tyl they might send worde what case they wer in to the kynge of Englande beyng at the siege of Reinnes nat doubtynge but that he woll than incontinent sende them some ayde Than some other sayd that so doynge was no suerte for theym seynge howe theyr ennemyes were rounde about them Thus they were in stryfe among them selfe what they myght do In the mean space theder came the lorde of roy and sayd to them sâ—rs yelde vp your selfe for and we assaile you ye are all but deed for incoÌ„â—ynent we shall take you per force So that by those workes and other the moost hardyest of them were abasshed and so they yelded theymselfe prysoners theyr lyues saued allouly they were all sent as prisoners to the castell of Coucy and to other frenche garysons This aduenture fell in the yere of our lorde M. CCC lix Wherof the kyng of Englande whan he knew it was sore displeased but he coude nat amend it as at that tyme. Nowe let vs returne to the siege of Reâ—nnes and speke of an aduenture yâ— fell to syr Bertilmewe of Brennes who had besieged the towne and castell of Comercy within was Capitayne a knyght of Champaygne called syr Henry Denoyr THe siege durynge before Reyns the lordes of the ost were lodged abrode in the couÌ„trey to lie the more at theyr ease and to kepe the wayes that no prouysion shulde entre into the citie And amonge other syr Bertilmewe de Bonnes with his Company of speares and archers were lodged nere to Comercy a strong castell parteynynge to the arâ—hebysshoppe of Reynes The whiche bysshop had made there a stronge garyson so that this castell doubted none assaute for therâ— was a square touâ—e thick walled and fensably fournisshed for the warre Syr Bartilmewe de Bonnes layde siege therto and sawe well howe he coulde nat wynne it by assaute he set a warke a certayne numbre of miners gaue them good wages they begaÌ„ to werk night day dyd so moche that they myned farre vnder the great towre and as they went they sette vp proppes so that they within knewe nothyng therof And whan the myners had made an ende so that the towre was 〈◊〉 to fall whaÌ„ they â—yst â–ª they came to ser Bar 〈…〉 and sayd Syr we haue so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the great towte shall fall whan it pleaseth you Well quoâ— the knyght ye haue well done â—o no more tyll I commaunâ—e you Than he toke Johsi de Guyltell with hym and went to castell and madesigne that he wold speke with some of them within Than syr Henry Denoyr capitayne there cameto the batâ—â—mentes of the yâ— walles demaunded what he wolde haue I woll sayd syr Bartilmewe that ye yeâ—â— york and all yours orels ye are all deed without remedy Howe so quod syr Henry and began to smyle we are prouyded of all thynges and ye wolde haue vs to yelde symply the whiche We woll nat do Well quod for Bartilmewe and ye knewe what case ye stande in ye wolde â—â—continent yelde vp withoute any 〈◊〉 wordes Why quod syr Henry what case be we in 〈◊〉 out quod the englysshe knyght and I shall shewe you and ye shall haue assurance to entre agayn if ye lyste Than syr Henry and .iiii. with hyâ—â— issued out and came to syr Bar 〈…〉 and to Johsi â—e Guyltelles and they brought hym to the myne and there shewed hym how the great toure stode but on stages of tymbre Whan the knyght sawe the parell that he was in and hys company he sayd Syr it is 〈◊〉 and this that ye haue done to me is of your great 〈◊〉 We yelde vs to your pleasure There syr Bartilme we toke them as his prisoners and made euery maÌ„ to come out of the castell and al theyr goodes and than he set â—yer into the myne and brent the stages and than the toure claue a souder and fell to the erthe Lo◠〈◊〉 syr 〈…〉 mewe to ser Henry beholde nowe yf I 〈◊〉 truth or nat Syr it is truesayd ser Hery we are your prisoners at your pleasure and thanke you of your courtesye for 〈◊〉 other than vs in this case we shulde nat haue been so delte with all Thus they of the garison of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taken prisoners and the caâ—tell 〈◊〉 THe kynge of Englande laâ—e at the siege of Reinnes more than .vii. weekes but he made none assaute for he knew well he shuld but haue lost his payne And whan he ha◠〈◊〉 there so longe that he was werâ— and that hys men coulde fynde no more forage abrode and lost their horses and beganne to laâ—ke 〈◊〉 They on a bay departed in good 〈◊〉 and tâ—â—e the waye to Chaloâ—s in Champaygne and 〈◊〉 by Chalons 〈◊〉 so went to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—nged at Mery on the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all his 〈…〉 the whiche is called .viii. leages And while the kynge laye at Mery his Counstable with the â—awarde went to saynt Florentyne Where syâ— Edwarde of Rency was capitayne Ther was a great assaute but no good they dyd Than the kynge came thither and lodged ther about the â—yuer of Mouson And than they departed and came to Tonnerre and toke the towne by assaute but nat yâ— castell In the whiche towne the englysshemen founde beyonde in M. 〈◊〉 of myne the whiche was necessary for the 〈◊〉 And within the Castell was the lorde Fyennes Constable of Fraunce with a great nombre of men of warre ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande as he went wasted and distroyed the countrey and howe he came to Aguilloâ— and there taried And of the great prouysyon that came after his â—ost The CC. 〈◊〉 Chapitre THe kynge of Englande and his oost â—ested at 〈◊〉 the space of .v. dayes 〈◊〉 of that good wynes they fouÌ„de there and ofteÌ„ tymes assayled the castell but therin were goode men of armes as syr Baudwyn â—â—neken maisteâ— of the crosbowes whan the kynge had well refresshed his oost in Tonuer he departed passed the ryuer of Armencon and lefte the waye to Aussetre on the ryght hande and toke the waye to Noyers to the entent to entre into Borgoyn and to be theâ— all the lente tyme. So they passed by Noyers without any assaute for he had the lorde therof prisoneâ— euer syth the bataâ—le of Poicters And so the kynge went to a towne called Moâ—t royall and so from thense to Aguillon on
surely he sayd wherso euer they met he wolde fyght with theÌ„ And whan these tidynges came to yâ— capten of Euâ—euâ— named 〈◊〉 Leger Dorgery than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded euery man yâ— was able to ryde a horse shulde go out of the cyte drawe to yâ— Captall so ther deê‘ted out of the towne â—â—o than sixscore all yong men of the naâ—yon of yâ— towne So yâ— wednysday the Captall lodged by noone on a mouÌ„tayne his coÌ„pany about him the frenchmen 〈…〉 de forwarde to fynde theÌ„ tyll they caÌ„e to a ryuer called in that countre Iton the which ran towarde Eureux and it springeth nere to Couches there they lodged yâ— wednâ—sday in a fayre medowe a longe by that ryuersyde so the next morâ—yug bothe partyes sent out their câ—â— rous to se if they coude here any tidynges eche of other so eche of theÌ„ made report that they were within two leages togyder Than yâ— naueroyse rode as Faucon led theÌ„ the same way he came fro theÌ„ and so about noone they came into the way to Cocherell there they sawe yâ— frenchmen before theÌ„ in ordeâ—yng of theyr â—aâ—els ther was great noÌ„bre of baner◠〈◊〉 â—enoÌ„s so yâ— they semed to be double the â—ombre yâ— they were in dede Than the naueroyse rested them without a lytell wode that was there than the capitayns drue togyder ordred their batayls First they made thre batayls well and proply all a fote sent all their caryages and pages in to yâ— lytell wode and they set sir JohnÌ„ Jonell inthe first batayle withall the men of armes archers of Englande The seconde batayle ledde the captall of Beusm and in his batayle were 〈◊〉 iiii C. fightynge men one other and 〈◊〉 hym was the lorde of Saulx of Nauer a yong lusty knight the lorde Wyllâ—â— of Grauyll and ser Peter of Sankeuyll The third batell was ledde by thre knyghtes that is to say the lorde of Bascles of Maâ—nell the lorde Bertram of Franke and the lorde Sansâ—loâ—yns they were a .iiii. huÌ„dred And whan they had ordeyned their batayls than they toke the vauÌ„tage of a lytle hyll ther besyde on their right hand bytwene them and the wode And so on the fronte of that hyll they aranged them selfe before their enemyes and they sette the captals baner on a busshe of thornes and set a .lx. men of armes about it to defende it fro their enemyes And yâ— they dyde to th entent that yf they were sparkeled abrode they shulde drawe to the standarde and so determyned nat to dyscende downe fro the mouÌ„tayne for no maner of cause but to let their enemyes come to theÌ„ if they wolde fight with theÌ„ ¶ Howe by the polesy and counsell of sir Bertram of Clesquy the nauâ—â—oise dysceÌ„ded downe fro the mouÌ„tayne to fight with the freÌ„chmen and how the captall was taken Cap. CC .xxi. THus as ye haue herbe the naueroyse englysshmen were arenged on yâ— mouÌ„tayne whyle the freÌ„chmen ordred their batayls wher of they made thre and a rere garde The first had sir Bertram of Clesquy with all his bretons and he was ordeyned to reâ—coâ— the captals batayle The seconde had therle of Aucerr and with hym there was the vycount Beamond and the lorde Baudwyâ—â—enekyn maister of the cros bowes with theÌ„ were freÌ„chmen pycardê and normayns as sir Edwarde of Rency sir Ingram of Heâ—yn sir Loys of â—enekerques and dyuers other good kynghtâ— and squyers The thirde batayle had the archpreest and the burgonyons and with hym the lorde of Chalons the lorde Beauâ—eâ— the lorde JohnÌ„ of Uyen and dyuers other and this batayle was assigned to assemble agaynst the bâ—scle of Marnell and his rout And the bataylâ— whiche was the reregarde were all gascoyns wherof sir Aymon of Pomyers the lorde Sul dyche ofâ—e strade the lorde perducas Dalbreth and the lorde Peteton of Curton were soueray gâ—e capitayns Than these gascoyne knightes aduysed well the behauynge of the captall and howe his standarde was set on a busshe kept with a certayne nombre than they sayd that it behoued them whaÌ„ their batayls were assembled togyder that they shulde endeuoure theÌ„selfe to coÌ„quere the captals standerde sayeng howe it they might get it their enemyes shulde be sone discoÌ„fyted also these gascons auysed theÌ„ on another ordynaunce the which was to theÌ„ that day right ê“fitable The lordes of FrauÌ„ce wer along space togyder in couÌ„sell howe they shulde maynâ—tene themselfe for they sawe well that their enemyes had a great auauntage Than the gascons spake a worde the which was well herde they said sirs we knowe well that the captall is as worthy a knight as can be founde in any lande for as long as he is able to fight he shall do vs great domage let vs ordayne .xxx. a horsbacke of the best men of armes that be in our company and let the .xxx. take hede to nothyng but to addresse themselfe to the captall whyle we eâ—tend to coÌ„quere his standerd by yâ— might of their horses let them breke yâ— preaâ— so that they may come to the captall and than take hym cary hym out of the felde for with out that be done we shal haue no ende of our batayle for if he may be taken by this meanes the iourney shal be ours his people wyll be so sore abasshed of his takyng Than the knightes of Fraunce and of Bretayne acorded lyghtly to yâ—â—euyce and sayd it was good counsell so they wolde do Than among theÌ„ they chose out xxx of the best men of armes among them mounted on .xxx. of the best horses in all the coÌ„pany and they drewe them a syde in the felde well determyned of that they shulde do and all the resydue taryed in the felde a fote in good array ¶ Whan they of FrauÌ„ce had well ordred their batayls that euery man knewe what he shuld do than ther was a comonyng amoÌ„g theÌ„ what shulde be their crye yâ— day and to what banâ—â— they shulde drawe to And so they were determyned to cry our lady of Aucerr and to makâ— their capitayne that day cherle of Aucerr but the erle wolde in no wyse agree therto to take that charge on hym but excused himselfe right graciously saying lordê I thanke you of the honour that ye wolde put me to but surely as for me I wyll nat therof for I am ouer yong to haue suche a charge or honor for this is the first iorney that euer I was at therfore ye shall take another here be many good knightê as sir Bertram of Clesquy tharchprest the maister of the crosbose the lorde Loys of Chalon the lorde Aymon of pomyers sir Edwarde of ReÌ„cy These haue ben in many great iorneys they knowe howe to order suche a mater better than I can therfore I pray you holde me excused Than the knyghtes regarded eche other sayd to hym a noble erle of Aucer ye ar
wne and alwayes and in euery place he had reuerence done to hym lyke a kynge And thanÌ„e he gaue to the knightes straungers suche as came with hym into the realme of Castell great gyftes and riche iewels so largely that euery man reputed him for a lyberall and an honourable lorde And comonly the normayns frenchmen and bretons sayde that in hym was all lyberalite and howe he was well worthy to lyue and to reygne ouer a great realme and so he dyde a season right puyssantly and in great prosperyte Thus the bastarde of Spayne came to the seignory of the realme of Castell he made his two bretherne Dancyle and Sances eche of theym an erle with great reuenewes and profyte Thus this HeÌ„ry was kyng of Castell of Galyce of Cyuyll of Tollette and of Lyssebone vnto suche season as yâ— puyssaunce of Wales and Acquitayne put him out therof and set agayne kynge Dampeter into the possessyon and signory of the forsayd realmes as ye shall here after in this hystorie WHan that this kynge Henry sawe hymselfe in this estate and that euery man obeyed hym and reputed hym for their kyng and lorde and sawe nothynge lykely to the coÌ„trary of his desyre Than he ymagined and caste his aduyce to exalte his name and to enploy the nombre of suche companyoÌ„s as were come to serue hym out of the realme of Fraunce to make a voyage on the kyng of Granade wherof he spake to dyuers knightes who were well agreed therto And alwayes this king HeÌ„ry helde styll about hym the princes knightes as sir Eustace DaÌ„bretycourt sir Hugh Caurell and other And shewed theym great token and signe of loue in trust that they shulde ayde and serue hym in his voyage to Grenade whyder he hoped to go And anone after his coronacyon there departed fro hym the moost parte of the knightes of Fraunce and he gaue them great gyftes at their departynge And so than retourned the erle of Marche sir Arnolde DaÌ„drehen the lorde Beauieou and dyuers other but sir Bertram of Clysquy taryed styll in Castell with the kynge and sir Olyuer of Manny and the Bretons with certayne nombre of the companyons And so than sir Bertram of Clesquy was made coÌ„stable of all the realme of castell by the acorde of kyng Henry and all the lordes of the couÌ„tre Nowe let vs speke of kyng Dampeter howe he maynteyned hymselfe ¶ Howe kynge Dampeter requyred the prince of wales to ayde hym agaynst his brother Cap. CC .xxxi. VE haue Well herde how kyng Dampeter was driuen into the casteil of ColoÌ„gne on the see with him his wyfe his two doughters and Domferrant of Castres with hym all onely So that in the meane season that his brother the bastarde by puyssance of the me of warre that he had gote out of Fraunce conquered Castell and that all the countre yelded theÌ„ to him as ye haue herd before He was right â—ore afrayed and nat well assured in the castell of Colongne for he douted greatly his brother the bastarde for he knewe well that yf he had knowledge of his beyng there he wolde come with puyssaunce and besege hym wherfore he thought he wolde nat abyde that parell Therfore he departed in a nyght and toke a shyppe and his wyfe his two doughters and DomferraÌ„t of Castres and all the golde syluer and sowelles that they had but the wynde was to him so contrary that he coude nat drawe fro the cost and so was fayne to entre agayne into the fortresse of Colongne Than the king Dampeter demaunded of DoÌ„ferrant his knight howe he shulde maynteyne hym selfe complayninge of fortune that was to hym so contrary Sir ê™ the knight or ye deê‘te fro hens it were good the ye dyde send to your cosyn the prince of Wales to knowe yf he wolde receyue you or nat and for pytic somwhat to tendre your nede and necessyte for dyuers wayes he is bounde therto by reason of the great alyaunces that the kyng his father and yours had toguyder The prince of Wales is so noble and so gentyll of bloode and of courage that whan he knoweth your trybulacion I thynke verely he wyll take therof great compassyon And if he wyll ayde to set you agayne in your realme there is none that can do it so well in all the worlde he is so fered redouted â–ª and beloned with all men of warre And sir ye are here in a good stronge forteresse to kepe a season tyll ye here other tidynges out of Acquitayne To this couÌ„sayle acorded lightly the kyng DaÌ„peter ThaÌ„ he wrote letters right pyteous and amyable and a knyght with two squyers were desyred to do this message and so they toke on them that iourney and entred into the see and sayled so long that they arryued at Bayon the whiche cytie helde of the kyng of Englande Than they demaunded tidynges of the prince and it was shewed them howe he was at Burdeaur Than they toke their horses and rode so longe that they came to Burde aux and ther toke their lodgynge and anone after they weÌ„t to the abbey of saynt Andrewes where the prince was And there these messangers shewed howe they were come out of Castell and were spanyardes and messangers fro kyng DaÌ„peter of Castell And whan the prince knewe therof he sayde he wolde se theym and knowe what they wolde haue And so they cam and kneled downe and saluted hym acordynge to their vsage and recommaunded the kynge their mayster to hym and delyuered their letters The prince toke vp the messaÌ„gers and receyued their letters and opyned and reed them at good leyser wherin he founde howe pyteously kynge Dampeter wrote signifyeng to hym all his pouertie and myschiefe and howe that his brother the bastarde by puissaunce and by the great amyties that he had purchased First of the pope of the frenche kyng and of the kyng of Aragon and by the helpe of the coÌ„panyons had put hym out fro the herytage of the realme of Castell Wherfore he desyred the prince for goddessake and by the waye of pytie that he wolde entend to prouyde for him some counsell and remedy wherin he shulde achyue grace of god and of all the worlde For it is nat the ryght way of a true crysten kyng to diâ—â—herpt a right full heyre and to enheryte by puyssaunce of tyranny a bastard And the prince who was a valyant knight and a sage closed the letters in his handes and sayd to the messangers Sirs ye be right welcome to me fro my cosyn the kyng of Castell ye shall tary a space here with vs and are ye departe ye shall haue an aunswere Than the princes knightes who knewe ryghtwell what they had to do ledde to their logynges the spaynisshe knight and the two squyers and the prince who taryed styll in his chambre mused greatly on those tidynges And thanne sent for sir JohnÌ„ Chandos and for sir ThomÌ„s Phelton two of the chefe of his counsayle for
sent yâ— moost parte of his men in to garysons suche as he had coÌ„quered and he made souerayne and kepar of theÌ„ sir Olyuer of MaÌ„ny his nephue Than he rode forthe so long by his iourneys that he caÌ„e to Parys wher he founde the kyng great noÌ„bre of lordes of his couÌ„sayle who receyued him right ioyously and dyde him great reuerence And ther the kynge shewed him howe he his couÌ„sayle had chosen him to be constable of FraÌ„ce Than he excused him selfe right sagely and sayd Sir I am nat worthy I am but a poore knight as in regarde of your other great lord valyant men in Fraunce though it be so that fortune hath a lytell auaunsed me Thanne the kynge sayde Sir it is for nothynge that ye excuse you It behoueth you to take it for it is so ordayned determyned by all the counsayle of Fraunce the whiche in no wyse I wyll breke Than sir Bertram excused him self agayne by another way and sayd Right dere sir and noble kynge I may nat nor dare nat withsay yoâ— noble pleasure Howe be it sir it is of trouthe yâ— I am but a poore man and to lowe of blode to come to the offyce of constable of Fraunce the whiche is so great and so noble an offyce For it is conuenyent that he that wyll exercyse and acquyte him selfe well in that offyce must commauÌ„de as well and rather the great men than the small personages And sir beholde here my lordes your bretherne your nephues and your cosyns who hath charge of many men of warr in your hoost and iourneys Sir howe durst I than be so bolde as to commaunde them certaynly sir enuy is so great that I ought to fere it Therfore sir I requyre your grace pardon me and gyue this office to some other yâ— wolde gladlyer haue it thaÌ„ I and that may better execute the office Than the kynge answered and sayde Sir Bertram excuse you nat by that way for I haue nother brother cosyn nor nephue erle nor barowne in my realme but that shall obey you And yf any do the contrary I shall so angre hym that he shall parceyue well my displeasur Therfore sir take ioyously the office I requyre you Sir Bertram sawe well that any excusacyons that he coude make shulde nat auayle Than finally he accorded to the opinyon of the kynge ryght sore agaynst his wyll So than with great ioye sir Bertram of Clesquy was made constable of Fraunce and farther to his aduauncement the kyng caused hym to sytte at his table and shewed all the tokens of loue that he coulde deuyse And gaue hym with the offyce dyuers gyftes and great landes and herytage to him and to his heyres for euer To this promocyon dyde helpe greatly the duke of Aniou ¶ Howe sir BertraÌ„ of Clesquy and the lorde of Clysson disconfyted at the bridge of Bolayne certayne of sir Robert Canols company Cap. CC .lxxxv. ANone after that sir Bertram was stablysshed coÌ„stable of France he sayd to the kyng Sir and it lyke your grace I wyll go and ryde agaynst sir Robert Canolle who is in the marches of Aniou and Mayne Those wordes pleased well the kyng who said Sir take with you whom it shall please you as ye thynke best all shall obey you Than the constable purueyed for that iourney and gathered togyder men of armes bretons and other And so deê‘ted fro the kyng and rode towardes Mayne and had with him in his coÌ„pany the lorde Clysson and so he cam to the cytie of Mans and ther made his garyson and the lorde of Clysson in another towne nere therto and they were aboute the nombre of fyue hundred speares And sir Robert Canoll and his company was styll in the countre howe be it they were nat all of one opinyon for there was an englysshe knyght amonge them called sir Johan Maystrude who agreed nat to their myndes for alwayes he counsayled agaynst that iourney Sayeng howe they lost their tyme and traueyled theym selfe without conqueryng of any thyng This knight hadde a great company with hym Sir Robert Canoll and sir Alayne Boucquesell were lodged nere to Mans. Sir Thomas of Grantson ser Gylbert Gifforde sir Geffray Oursell and sir Wyllyam Mesuyll all these with a great company were behynde the other And whan ser Robert Canoll and ser Alayne Boucquesell knewe that the constable of Fraunce and the lorde of Clysson were come in to the countre they were therof right ioyfull And ser Robert Canoll said these tidynges be good for vs let vs drawe togyder and take our aduantage Surely ser Bertram of Clesquy for the noueltie of his newe offyce is come to loke on vs. We haue rydden ouer a great part of the realme of France and as yet we haue founde no maner of aduentur Lette vs sende our myndes and ententes to sir Hugh Caurell who is at saynt Mors on Loir to sir Robert Briquet to sir Bertram Ceyn and to other capitayns of the companyons suche as are nere aboute vs and desyre theym to come to vs incontynent I thynke they wyll be gladde to coÌ„e And yf that we may ouerthrowe this newe constable and the lorde of Clysson who is so great an enemy vnto vs. It shall be to vs great honoure and profyte Bytwene sir Robert Canoll and sir Alayne BoucqÌ„sell ther was no maner of discorde but alwayes they folowed one counsayle Than incontynent they sente letters and messangers secretely vnto sir Hugh Caurell to sir Robert Briquet and to other desyring them to come forthe to th entent to fight with the frenchmen In lyke wise they sent to sir ThomÌ„s Grantson to sir Gylbert gyf forde and to sir Geffray Dursell and to other to mete with them at a certayne place in trust to fight with the frenchmen as they ryde ALl these knightes and capitayns apparelled themselfe to kepe this apoyntmeÌ„t and so toke forth their iourney to come to their company and they were to the nombre of two hundred speares Sir Robert Canoll sent nat so secretly to his companyons but that sir Bertram of Clesquy had knowledge therof And whan they were well enformed of their ententê they armed them in the nyght season and deê‘ted with their company out of their garyson The same proper night sir Thomas Grantson was departed out of his lodgynge with sir Geffray Dursell sir Gylbert Gyfforde ser Wyllyam de Mesuyll and other And so they came toward sir Robtt Canoll wher as they thoght to fynde him Howbeit their way was shorted for at a place called the palse of the Pount Uolant the frenchmen they met togyder sodenly The freÌ„chmen were four hundred speares and theÌ„glysshmen two huÌ„dred speares Ther was a ferse batayle and well fought and it long endured for assoone as they met they lighted all a fote and came rudely eche against other and so fought with speares and swerdes right valyantly Howbeit the place abode with the freÌ„chmen and they obteyned
they shulde neuer haue peace but that it shulde cost them their lyues This dought and feare caused them to be of that opinyon and to kepe styll the warre agaynst the erle and the gentylmen of Flaunders also this feare gaue them courage to kepe warre and as their aduentures fell ye shall here after in the story THe erle of FlauÌ„ders beyng at Lâ—â—e harde dayly newes fro the them of Gaunt and howe they brent and beate downe gentylmens howses wherwith he was sore displeased and sayd howe he wolde take suche vengeance on them that he wolde bryng all Gaunt vnder flame of fyre and the rebelles within it Than the erle to be the more stronger agaynst them sent for all his barons of Flaunders and abandoned his countrey to them to resyte agaynste the whyte hattes and apoynted two gentylmen to be their captayns that is to say the Galoys of Mamynes and Peter Destreueles These two with their coÌ„panies bare with them the erles baner and so about a thre wekes they lay bytwene And warpe and Courtrey on the ryuer of Lys and dyde great domage to them of GauÌ„t And whan Rase of Harsell herde therof he yssued oute of Gaunte with all the whyte hattes and came to Douse and there he hadde thought to haue founde the erles company but the men of armes whan they knewe of the gauÌ„toyse comyng they withdrewe towarde Tourney and so taryed in the towne And the gauntoyse lay a great season about Orches Danne and Uorlam so that the marchantes durst nat go bytwene Doway and Tourney for feare of them And it was than sayd howe the gauÌ„toise wolde go and lay siege to Lyle and therle with in the towne They alyed them selfe with them of Bruges and Ipre and they had Grantmont and Courtray of their acorde But Brugê and Ipre varyed and were nat agreed with yâ— craftes for they sayde it shulde be a great folly for them to â—ay siege so farre of as Lysle and how that the erle might haue great alyaunce ayde of the frenche kyng as he hath had before these doutes and other stopped the good townes of FlauÌ„ders for makyng of any warre or layeng of any siege in that season And for th eÌ„tent that the erle shulde haue no helpe nor ayde of the freÌ„che kyng nor of the duke of Burgoyne his son They sent messangers and meke letters to the kyng desyring hym for goddes sake that he shulde gyue no counsayle nor ayde to therle of FlaÌ„ders to their domage or hurte For they wolde nothing but peace loue obeysance and seruice to their lorde Wherfore they sayde their lorde dyde great wrong so to traueyle and greue theÌ„ And all that euer they dyd was to sustayne the frauÌ„chesse and lyberties the whiche their lorde wolde take fro them in his crueltie The kyng som what enclyned to them without any semblant makyng In lykewise so dyd the duke of Aniou his brother for all that the erle of Flaunders was their cosyn yet he was nat greatly in their fauours bycause of the duke of Bretayne whome he kepte with hym in his countrey agaynst their wylles a longe season Wherfore they tooke no great hede to his busynesse No more dyde pope Clement for he sayd that god had sent therle of FlauÌ„ders that rodde and punysshment bycause he was his enemy helde with pope Urbane agaynst him THe same season the good knight and coÌ„stable of Fraunce sir Bertram of Clesquy was in Auuerne with a great noÌ„bre of men of armes And lay at sege before New castell of Raudone a thre leages fro the cytie of Pye in Auuergne and had closed in the castell nyne englysshemen and gascoyns enemyes to the realme of Fraunce Who were yssued out of Lymosyn where as were many forteresses The coÌ„stable gaue many sore assautes to the castell and sware that he wolde neuer departe thens tyll he had the castell at his pleasure But than a great sickenesse tooke hym and so lay in his bedde but for all that the siege brake nat vp for his men were more angrye than they were before Of this sickenesse sir Bertram dyed whiche was great domage to his frendes and to the realme of Fraunce and he was borne to the freers in Pye and ther he was one night and fro â—hens he was caryed to saynt Denyse in FrauÌ„ce and there he was layde in sepulture nere to the tombe of kynge Charles whiche the kynge had made for hym in his dayes and so he laye at the kynges fete And there his obsequy was done right honorably as though he hadde ben the kynges sonne And there was all the kyngê bretherne and notable persones of the realme of Fraunce Thus by the dethe of sir Bertram of Clesquy the office of the constable shyppe of Fraunce was voyde Than it was ordayned and aduysed who shulde be constable There were named dyuers great barons of Fraunce and specially the lorde Clysson and the lorde of Coucy The kyng wolde that the lorde Coucy shulde haue had the offyce and that he shulde be regent of all Picardy and the kyng gaue him all the lande of Mortayne the which was a fayre herytage lyeng bytwne Tourney and Ualencennes And sir James Uerchyne was put out therof who was constable of Heynalt He helde it by succession of his father who had ben lorde therof a great season before The lorde of Coucy was in great fauour with the frenche kyng and the kyng wolde haue hadde hym constable of Fraunce but the gentyll knight excused hym selfe by dyuers reasons and wolde nat take it on him and sayd Howe sir Olyuer Clysson was more worthy then he was to haue it for he was a worthy knyght hardye and beloued and knowen amonge the bretons Soo thus the mater abode a longe season than sir Bertrams men returned in to Fraunce for the castell yelded vp the same day that ser Bertram dyed and they of the garison went in to Lymosyn to the garyson of Uentadore Whan the freÌ„ che kyng sawe the coÌ„stables men he gaue them great gyftes ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke of them shewe howe sir Thomas erle of Buckyngham yongest sonne of kyng Edwarde the thyrde made a great armye of men of armes archers and passed with his hoost throughe the realme of Fraunce and went in to Bretayne ¶ Of the erle of Buckyngham yongest sonne to kyng Edwarde the .iii. who passed with a great armye thorough the realme of Fraunce to go in to Bretayne to the duke there Cap. CCC .lx. VE haue herde here before howe that whan the duke of Bretayne departed out of Englande kyng Richard and his vncles had promysed hym to sende men of armes and archers to ayde hym The kyng kept his promyse but yuell fortune came therof for sir Johan Arundell was sent thyder with two hundred men of armes and they had suche fortune that they were nyghe all perysshed in the see by tempest Sir Hughe Caurell sir Thomas Tryuet were saued
specially of arowes for they fell so thicke in the stretes that none durst go without they were well armed or pauessed This assaut endured tyll it was night Than theÌ„glysshmen and flemynges that hadde assauted all the day in two batayls retourned to their lodgynges right wery and sore traueyled and in lykewyse so were they of the towne of Ipre wHan the englysshmen and flemynges that lay at the siege before Ipre sawe howe they coulde nat wynne the towne and howe they lost moche of their artyllary Than they aduysed to make a great nombre of fagottes and to cast them in to the dykes with strawe and erthe to fyll vp the dykes to the entent that they might come to the walles to fight hande to hande with them of the towne and to vndermyne the walles thinkynge therby to coÌ„quere it So ther were sette men a warke to fell downe wode and make fagottes and to bring them to the dyke This was nat so soone done nor their warke accomplysshed but the frenche kynge who had great desyre to reyse the siege and to fight with the Englysshmen auaunsed forthe his busynesse and departed fro CoÌ„paygne so came to Arras And than passed forth the constable of Fraunce with a great nombre of lordes ordayned for the vowarde and loged in Arthoise The duke of Bretayne came with two thousande speres who had great desyre to confort the erle of Flaunders his cosyn And he was greatly bounde so to do for he had founde hym euer redy aparelled in tyme past in all his busynesse Thus lordes aproched bothe farre and nere Than came the Erle of Sauoy and therle of Genesue with seuyn hundred speares of pure sauosyns The duke Frederyke of Bauyere came forwarde in to Heynalte and was at Qeusnoy and refresshed him with his vncle the duke Aubert and with his aunt the duches Margarete with his cosyns the duke of Lorayne and the duke of Bare and so fro thens he came in to Arthoise Sir Wyllyam of Namur who had nat bene in none of the foresayd warres for the erle had excused hym He came than to serue the kyng and the duke of Burgoyne with two huÌ„dred speares of good men of warr and so passed by Heynalte and came and lodged at Tornesys Lordes came fro euery parte right strongly with so good wyll to serue the kyngâ— that it was marueyle to consyder Th erle Guy of Bloyse had assembled his men at LaÌ„drechis but his men coude nat tell if he were able or coude endure the payne to ryde with the kyng in yâ— army So he was brought in an horselytter to Beaumont in Heynalte there he was better at ease the ayre was better for hym there than at LaÌ„dreches Howe be it he was sore sicke and feble yet he purueyed his men to serue the kyng So his coÌ„pany and the lorde of MoÌ„tigny the lorde of Useryn sir Uyllaynes of saynt Martyne sir Ualleraunce of Oustyen capitayne of Remorentyne and other knightes and squiers auaunsed forwarde to serue the kynge tIdynges came to the siege before Jpre to the bysshoppe of Norwyche to sir Hugh Caurell and to the englysshmen Howe the frenche kynge was comynge to them with mo than twentie thousande men of armes knightes and squiers and mo than thre score thousande of other people These wordes so multyplyed in the hoost tyll at last they fouÌ„de it trewe In the beginnyng they wolde scant beleue it But than it was said playnly howe yâ— king wolde come fight with theÌ„ as they lay at their siege And they had marueyle whan they knewe howe the duke of bretayne was coming agaynst them Than they toke counsayle togyder to determyne what they shulde do And all thynges consydered they sawe well howe they were of no puyssauÌ„ce to abyde the kyng Than they sayd it was best that Peter de Boyse Peter de Myrt and the gauntoyse shulde returne to the towne of Gaunt and the englysshmen to Bergues and to Burborke And so to abyde in their garysons without that some puyssaunce come out of Englande as kyng Richarde him selfe to passe the see or els some of his vncles thervpon to take better aduyse This couÌ„sayle was vpholden euery man dyslodged they of Gaunt drewe to their towne and the englisshemen went towarde Bergues and Burbourke and so entred in to suche garysons as they had before conquered The same day that the Englysshmen departed from the siege there came to them sir Thomas Percy sonne to the erle of Northumberlande He came out of Spruce and whan he was a lytell fro thens it was shewed hym for certayne that the freÌ„che kyng and the kyng of Englande shulde fight togyder in the marchesse of Flaunders or Arthoyse puyssaunce agaynst puyssauÌ„ce Wherof the knight had great ioye and hadde great desyre to be at that iourney He was as thanÌ„e .xl. dayes iourney from thens but he made suche hast that he rode it in fourtene dayes but he left all his people and baggage behynde hym And he rode so fast without chaungyng of his horse and with hym no mo but his page that he came to the towne of Gaunt in the sayd space whiche tourned to hym a great valyantnesse ¶ Howe the duke Frederyke of Bauyer aryued in the freÌ„che kyngê hoost and howe therle Guy of Bloyse and his men caÌ„e to Arras and howe the kynges vowarde toke Cassell Cap. CCCC .xxxvii. TIdynges caÌ„e to the frenche kyng as he lay at Arras howe the englysshmen were departed fro the siege and the gauntoyse in lykewise and euery man deê‘ted to theyr holdes ThaÌ„ the kyng was counsailed to make hast and to folowe them to th entent they shulde nat scape And so he departed fro Arras and went to Mount saynt Eloy a fayre abbey and there he taryed foure dayes abyding tyll the duke of Berry was come styll people gadered thider fro all parties and than it was reported by the constable and marshals and by sir Guyss harde erle Dolphyn mayster of the cros bowes howe that the kyng had ther mo than a hundred thousande men Than the kyng departed fro MouÌ„t saynt Eloy and toke his way to saynt Omers and caÌ„e to Ayre wherof the vycount of Meaulx was capitayne And there the kyng taryed two dayes and alwayes styll aproched men of warre and the constable and they of the vowarde were on before and loged at the towne of mount Cassell And so the kynge came to saynt Omers and there abode and taryed for his people that came from all ê‘ties And whanÌ„e duke Frederyke of Bauyers came to the hoost the great barownes of FrauÌ„ce went and mette with hym to do hym honour bycause he came fro so farre a countrey to serue the kynge The kyng made hym great chere gaue hym great thankes for his comynge and lodged hym all the voiage after as nere to his person as myght be In the kynges hoost there were to the noÌ„bre of thre thousand horses wherfore it was greatly
to bringe the treaty toguyder So moche she dyd alegynge and she wynge so good reasons specially to the duke and duches of Burgoyn that finally they went through and concluded that yâ— sonne and doughter of the duke of Burgoyne shulde be maryed to the sonne and doughter of the duke Aubert of Bauiers And yâ— let of the mater fyue dayes before was for a mater that the duke of Burgoyns couÌ„sayle feared for they vnderstod that duke Aubert had nat bene in trewe possession of Heynalt but in possibylite therof for as than lyued erle Willyam of Haynault his brother and lay sore sycke at Ouesnoy the whiche erle myght recouer and ouerlyue duke Aubert his brother and if he so dyd they thought clerely and feared greatly that his other bretherne shulde haue the gouernynge of Haynault and the chyldren of duke Aubert to be put clene out For this dought they made a delay in this maryage the space of fyue dayes tyll at last it was clerely knowen that duke Aubert hadde no mo bretherne but the Erle of Haynault so that he coulde nat put the herytage fro duke Aubertes chyldren WhanÌ„e these thynges were knowen there was thanÌ„e no lenger delay but these maryages were sworne couenaunted that WillymÌ„ of Haynalt shulde haue in maryage Margaret of Burgoyne And Johan of Burgoyne to haue to his wyfe Margarete of Haynault and that all these shulde retourne to Cambray â—o parforme the solempnisacion of these maryages at the vtas of Ester than next after In the â—ere of our lorde a thousande thre hundred four â—ore and fyue ¶ Hâ—we the frenche kynge the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and of Heynalt made their â—rouisyon to be at CaÌ„bray And of â—â—nessage of the duke of Lancastre 〈…〉 it to the erle of Haynalt and of the 〈…〉 yages of the chyldren of Haynalt a 〈…〉 Burgoyne â—p CCCC .l. THus euery man departed fro Cambray the duke of Burgoyne returned in to Fraunce to the king and the duches his wyfe returned to Arras the duke Aubert and the duches his wyfe retourned to the towne of Ouesnoy in Haynalt And the lady of Brabant in to her countrey Than warkmen were sette awarke to make redy lodgynges in the cytie of Cambray and men were sent thyder to make prouisyon so great and so costly that it was marueyle to consydre This feast was cryed publysshed abrode to be holden at Cambray the weke after the vtas of Easter Whan the frenche kyng was enfourmed of this besynes he sayd he wolde be at the maryages of his cosyns And so he seÌ„t to CaÌ„bray the stewardes of his howse to make prouisyon for him acordyng The bysshopes palays was taken vp for the duke of Burgoyne and his prouysion made there howbeit they were fayne to delyuer it vp for yâ— kyng Than carpenters and masons were set a warke in the palays to make it after astate royall whiche warke as yet apereth for before this feast it was nat in remembrauÌ„ce of man nor harde of two hundred yere before so great a feast and solempnyte as was than aê‘elled For the lordes to make theÌ„ fresshe and gorgious to exalte their estates spared no more money than it had fallen fro the clowdes and euery man helped other Tidynges of these mariages came to Englande the duke of Lancastre who alwayes hoped that Willyam of Haynalt shulde haue had to his wyfe his doughter at leest he was borne so in hande â–ª he was right pensyue and sore troubled with those newes And whanÌ„e he had well ymagined to knowe the trouthe therof he sent certayne persons of his howse to GauÌ„t to speke wiâ—h duke Auberte And whanÌ„e these messangers came to Gaunt there they fouÌ„de sir JohnÌ„ Bourchier and the aldermen of Gaunt Peter du Boyse and Fraunses Atreman who made them right good chere And so ther they taryed two dayes and fro thence they went to Mons in Heynalt and so to Quesnoy and there they came to the duke and he and the duches and his children receyued them goodly for the honour of the duke of Lancastre and made them good chere And in lykewise so dyd the lorde of Gouuighen Than the mayster of the byenge of the wolles of Englande spake first after he hadde de lyuered his letters of credence recoÌ„maunded the duke of Lancastre to the duke Auberte his cosyn And than he spake of other thynges as he was charged to do And amonge other thynges he demaunded of duke Auberte as I was enfourmed if it were his entent to perceyuer in the maryage with yâ— chyldren of the duke of Burgoyne With those wordes the duke a lytell chaunged colour and sayd ye sir truely by my faythe wherfore do you demaunde Sir 〈◊〉 he I demaunde it bycause the duke of Lancastre hathe alwayes hoped vntyll this tyme that my lady Philyp his doughter shuld haue had my lorde Willyam your sonne ThanÌ„e the duke sayd coÌ„panyon say to my cosyn yâ— whan soeuer he mary his chyldren I shall nat marueyle nor be dismayed therat â–ª no more he hath to do to take any care for the maryenge of any of my children nor whether I wyll mary them or nat nor whan nor to whome This was the answere yâ— thenglisshmen had of duke Aubert So thus they toke theie leaue departed and went the same nyght to Ualencennes and the next day to Gaunt Of them I can tell no more but I thynke they retourned in to Englande WHan Easter came as than acounted a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fyue yeres of our lorde the freÌ„che king the duke of Burgoyne the duke of Burbon the duke Aubert the duches his wyfe the duches of Brabant the duches of Burgoyne sir Willyam and sir JohnÌ„ of Namure came to Cambray The kynge went to yâ— palys that was his lodgynge euery man drewe to their lodgynges ye may well beleue and knowe that where the frenche kyng was and where as there was many noble princes great ladyes there was great and noble chiualry The king entred the monday at none and all lordê and ladyes met him without the towne and so he was conueyed with trompettes and great plenty of mynstrels And so brought to the palys The same monday in the presence and before all the great lordes was renewed the couenauntes of maryages and WillmÌ„ Dorset shulde haue the countye of Ostrenant the lady Margaret his wyfe was endowed with the lande of Acque in Brabant And yâ— duke of Burgoyn gaue his doughter a hundred thousande frankes Thus they made their porcyons The tuysday at the hour of Masse they were wedded in the cathedrale churche of our lady of Cambray with great solempnyte The bysshoppe of Cambray dyd the obseruaunce who was called Johan Borne of Brucels At the dyner ther was shewed moche noblenes The kyng caused the two lordes and the two ladyes newly maryed to syt at his table and other lordê serued There sate at dyner the constable of Fraunce the marshall of FrauÌ„ce sir