tydynges to be of trouthe wherfore they were ioyfull for they wolde gladly haue made an ende by batayle for otherwyse they sawe well they coulde not atteyne to theyr desyred entrepryse and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac were alwayes aboute the kynge of Castell and euery weke they had tydynges out of Fraunce what busynes there was there and of the departynge of the duke of Borbon and howe he toke in his waye of Auygnyon to se pope Clement and the cardynalles there euer they counsayled the kynge not to fyght tyll the duke of Borbon were come and amonge other tydynges they herde of the duke of Bretayne howe he had taken in the castell of Ermyne the constable of frauÌ„ce and raunsomed at a C.M. frankes and of his .iii. castelles and towne that was delyuered to the duke of Bretayne and howe that therby the iourney and boyage in to Englande was broken they had meruayle of this and to what purpose the duke of Bretayne dyd it they supposed that the counsayle therof came out of Englande THus as I haue sayd before the royalme of Fraunce was brought in to trouble and specyally the kynges vncles were sore moued with the defyaunce that came fro the duke of Guerles for they were fell and rude and out of the course of other defyaunces as I shall shewe you when I declare the matter And also the frenssh kynge and his vncles were sore dyspleased in that the duke of Bretayne had broken theyr voyage in to Englande by the see and he that was chefe of the entrepryse taken that was the constable of fraunce and raunsomed as before is sayd at a C.M. frankes taken fro hym .iii. castelles and a towne whiche was a thynge gretely preiudycyall to the kynge and to the royalme of fraunce howbeit the kynge sonne passed ouer all the matters for he was but yoâ—ge wherfore he regarded it not so sore as though he had ben of perfyte age but suche as were auncyent and wyse sayd that by suche lyke matters the royalme of fraunce hath had moche a do in tyme past as when the kynge of Nauare caused syr Charles of Spayne constable of Fraunce to be slayne for whiche cause kynge IohnÌ„ neuer loued after the kynge of Nauare and toke fro hym all his landes in Normandy Then some other wolde saye yf kynge Charles fader to the kynge that nowe is were a lyue he loued the constable soo well surely he wolde be reuenged and make warre to the duke of Bretayne and to take fro hym all his landes what soo euer it cost hym Thus euery man spake of this dede and sayd it was euyll done then the kynges vncles and the counsayle of the royalme somwhat to satysfye the people who were sore dyspleased with the duke of Bretayne determyned that a prelate .iii. barons sholde be sente to the duke to speke with hym and to here his reasons to commauÌ„de hym to come to Parys to make his exscuse of that he had done thyder sholde go the bysshop of Beawuoys and syr Myles of Dornams a sage and a ryght valyaunt man and well langaged and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Bean syr IohnÌ„ of Beuell and the lorde de la Ryuer who had theyr charge what they sholde saye and do and the bysshoppe of Beawâ—oys toke his waye by Mount le herry where as the constable was for the towne of Castell perteyned to hym kynge Charles had gyuen it to hym and to his heyres And whyle the bysshop was there a sykenes toke hym and so lay in a feuer a .xv. dayes dyed then in his stede was sente the bysshop of Langers and he toke his waye with the other in to Bretayne IT myght be demaunded of me howe I knewe all these matters to speke so proprely of them I answere to all suche that I haue made grete dylygence in my dayes to knowe it and haue serched many royalmes countreys to come to the true knowledge of all the matters conteyned in this hystory wryten and to be wryten for god gaue me the grace to haue the laysure to se in my dayes and to haue the acquayntaunce of all the hyghe and myghty prynces lordes as well in Fraunce as in Englande for for in the yere of our lorde god a M. iiiC.iiii score and .x. I had laboured .xxxvii. yeres and as then I was of the age of .lvii. yeres and in .xxxvii. yeres a man beynge in strength and wel reteyned in euery coost as I was for after my yonge dayes I was in the kynge of englandes courte .v. yeres with the quene And also I was welcome to kynge IohnÌ„ of Fraunce to kynge Charles his sone myght well lerne many thynges and surely it was alwayes my chefe ymagynacyon and pleasure to enquyre to retayne it by wrytynge and howe I was enfourmed of the takynge of the constable of Fraunce I shall shewe you A yere after this matter fell I rode from the cyte of Angyers to Towres in Towrayne And I laye on a nyght at Beauforte in the vale and the nexte day I met with a knyght of Bretayne called syr Wyllyam Daucemys he was rydynge to se my lady of Mayll in Towrayne his cosyne her chyldren she was newly a wydowe I fell in aquayntaunce with this knyght and founde hym ryght curtoys swete of wordes then I demaunded of hym some tydynges and specyally of the takynge of the constable whiche matter I was glad to here and to knowe the trouth therof and he shewed me sayd howe he had ben at the parlyament at wannes with the lorde of Aucemys his cosyne a grete baron of Bretayne And in lyke maner as syr Espayne de Lyon enfourmed me of all thynges that had fallen in Foyze in Byerne in gascoyne also as syr IohnÌ„ Ferrant parteke shewed me of all the matters of Portyngale and of Castell In lyke maner this knyght shewed me many thynges and more wolde haue done if I had ryden longer in his company Thus bytwene Mounte le herry and Premylly was .iiii. grete leages and we rode but softely and in this way he shewed me many thynges the whiche I bare well in my remembraunce and specyally of the aduentures of Bretayne And thus as we rode that we came nere to Premylly we entred in to a medowe there this knyght rested and sayd A god haue mercy of the soule of the good constable of Fraunce he dydde here ones a goodly iourney and profytable for the royalme vnder the baner of syr IohnÌ„ de Bewell for he was not as then constable but newly come out of Spayne and I demaunded of hym howe it was I shal shewe you sayd he wheÌ„ I am on horsebacke and so we mounted than we rode forthe fayre and easely and as we rode he sayde In the season that I haue shewed you quod this knight this countre here was full of Englysshmen robbers and pyllers of Gascoyne bretons and almayns and
them and to their heyres to be noted to flye away so shame fully and to seke for their sauegarde nother the right passage of the ryuer nor yet the hygh way to the towne of Rauesten but rather other straunge wayes to flye fro their enemyes In this myschyefe fell that daye the chyualrye of Brabante bytwene the towne of Graue and Rauesten many were slayne and taken For suche as came to raunsome yelded lightly and the almayns were gladde to take them for the profyte that they thought to haue by theym And suche as retourned to the lodgynges before Graue abasshed them that were there lyenge at the syege for they came lyke men clene discomfyted They came flyenge so faste that they lacked brethe so that they coulde skante speke any worde that they sayd was Syrs gette vs all hence for we be all dyscomfyted there is no comeforte Whan they in the hoost vnderstode the trouthe of the mater and sawe their company in that case they were than so a basshed a frayed that they had no leysar nor puyssaunce to take their owne goodes nor to take downe their tentes nor pauylyons nor to trusse horse carte nor wagon but sodaynely departed without byddynge adewe and lefte all behynde They were so a frayde that they made no countenaunce of a bydynge They toke with theym nother vytayle nor caryage but suche as hadde horses lepte on them and fledde a waye towardes the dukes wodde or els towardes Hondan or to the mount saynte Geruays or to Gertras and Dordec They had none other care but to saue them selfe fro their enemyes And if they within the garyson of Graue had soner knowen of the dyscomfetture it had been greatly for their profyte and had slayne or taken many of their enemyes in their flyenge but they knewe it nat tyll it was late howbeit whan they issued out they fouÌ„de great plentye of Tentes and pauylyons and prouysion of engyns gonnes and artyllery which they brought in to their towne at good leysar for there were none to saye them naye Thus brake vp the siege of Graue to the gret domage of all the brabansoys wherof great brute ranne in dyuers countreys howe that a handefull of men dyscomfyted .xl. thousande and reysed the siege there was taken the lorde of Bourguenall and the lorde of Linyer and other to the nombre of seuentene baners they were hanged before the ymage of our lady of Nymay for a perpetuall memory ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Guerles after he had dyscomfyted the brabansoys he wente agayne to Nymaye And howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge and howe the kyng sente ambassadours to the kyng of Almayne Cap. C.xxxvii I Haue great payne to recorde or to wryte of this shamefull dyscomfyture of the brabansoys for blemysshynge of their honoures but bycause I promysed and said in the begynnyng of my boke that if I shall write truely this hystory I must make true relacion of the mater who so euer it do touche Nowe to procede further the yonge duke of Guetles had and optaygned this iourney in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght aboute Mawdlyn tyde in the moneth of Iuly And whanne this dyscomfyture and chase was passed and the felde clene delyuered whiche was done within the space of two houres Than the guerloys assembled togyder in the felde and mad good chere and were ioyfull They had good cause so to be for their good aduenture for they had as many prysoners or mo than they were themselfe in nombre Than their haraudes sought out the deed bodyes of bothe partyes and amonge other there was slayne a yonge man sonne to therle of Namure called Vassyer of Colles lorde of Balaster of whose dethe the duke of Gnerles was sory and sore dyspleased and that he shewed well for greatly he complayned his deth and sayde howe the dethe of a yonge knyght dyspleased hym greatly for he was a ryght lusty knyght pleasaunte and ioly and also the yere before he had ben in Pruse with the duke of Guerles Some counsayled the duke to retourne to the towne of Graue and there to refresshe theym and to brynge thyder their prisoners Naye nat so quod the duke for army departynge fro Nymay I auowed to our lady there that if I spedde well to returne thyder to offre to our lady wherfore I wyll with a mery chere that we all retourne thyder and thanke our lady who hath sent vs the vyctory of our enemyes No man durste saye naye agaynst the dukes mynde And so they rode thyder a good pase it was but two good leages fro thence as the batayle was anone they came thyder Whan tydynges came to Nymay of the trouthe of that busynes men women and children were ioyfull and the clergy issued out and receyued the duke with great ioy and the duke of Guerles incontynent with his knyghtes wente to the churche where the ymage of our lady was in whome the duke had great affyaunce and there in the chapell he was vnarmed of all his peces in to his doublet and gaue all his armure to the churche in the honour of our blessed lady thankynge her of the iourney that he hadde atchyued And there all the penons of the lordes that were taken that day were hanged vp before our lady I canne nat tell if they be there as yet or nat Than the duke went to his lodgynge and so dyd euery manne with their prisoners for they thought surely they shulde well paye for their scot therfore they made good chere GReat brute spred abrode of this duke of Guerles who had thus ouer throwen the brabansoys wherby he was more douted than he was before The duches of Brabante who laye at the dukes wood with her trayne whan she sawe howe yuell the mater wente agaynst her and that the syege of Graue was raysed she was sore displesed and good cause why for it touched her nere Than she sette a garysone at the dukes wood to kepe fronter there and so retourned through Champayne and came to Bruselles and wrote often tymes to the duke of Burgoyne aduertysynge hym of her a state for all her hope of recoueraunce was in hym ye may well knowe and byleue that this discomfyture of the brabansoys was soone knowen in the french kinges courte but they made lytell accoÌ„pte therof syth they sawe the kynge had suche affection to go to Guerles The kynges counsayle wrote to syr Wyllyam of Tremoyle and to sir Geruais of Myrande who were soueraygne capytays of the men of warre that the duke of Burgoyne had sente in to the countrey and to the kepers of the thre castels on the ryuer of Meuse Buth Gaulgeth and Nulle Commaundyng them to kepe well their fronters and nat to make any issue out wherby to take any domage tyll they here more shewynge theym surely howe the kynge in prâ—pre persone shortly wolde go se the duke of Guerles in his owne countrey This sir Willyam was
deliuered to you to conducte to Calays by the kynges coÌ„maundement ye dyde a great outrage whan ye renewed the wordes the whiche were spoken but in sport before the couÌ„tesse of saynt Poule Or ye had done it ye ought to haue returned to the kyng and haue shewed hym the wordes that shulde haue sowned agaynst the honour of the knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce than what couÌ„sayle the king had gyuen you ye ought to haue folowed bycause ye dyde nat thus ye haue hadde this payne Beware better another tyme thaÌ„ke the lorde of Burbone and the lorde of Coucy of your delyueraunce for they haue sore labored for you also the lady of sayut Poule Quod the lorde of Clary my lordes I thaÌ„ke you all howe be it I thought I hadde done well Thus he departed ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe the iustes at saynt Inguelyert otherwise called SaÌ„dyngfelde were enterprised By sir Reynolde of Roy the yonge sir Boucyquant and the lorde of saynt Pye Cap. C.lxii. THe Frenche kyng lay at the good towne of mouÌ„tpellyer in gret myrthe and sport and at a banket that the kynge made to the Ladies and damoselles of the towne There was rehersed all this sayd mater of the lorde of Clary and of sir Peter Courtney True it was I began to speke of thre valyaunt knightes of the yonge sir Bauciquaunt sir Reynolde of Roy and the lorde of saynt Pye The whiche thre enterprised to do dedes of armes in the fronter besyde Calais in the tyme of Somer nexte after abyding all knightes squiers straungers the terme of .xxx. dayes who soeuer wolde iuste with theÌ„ in iustes of peace or of warre and bicause thenterprice of these thre knyghtes semed to the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle to be an high enterprice There it was said to them that they shulde putte it in writyng bycause the kyng wolde se thartycles therof that if they were to hygh or to outragyous that the kyng might amende them bycause the king nor his counsayle wolde nat susteyne any thynge that shulde be vnresonable These thre knyghtes answered and said It is but reasone that we do thus it shall be done Than they toke a clerke and caused him to write as foloweth FOr the great desyre that we haue to come to the knowledge of noble gentlemen knightes and squiers straungers as well of the realme of Fraunce as els whereof farre countreys we shall be at saynt Ingylbertes in the marches of Calays the twenty day of the moneth of May nexte commyng and there contynewe thyrty dayes complete the frydayes onely excepte and to delyuer all maner of knyghtes and squyers gentlemen straungers of any maner of nacyon whatsoeuer they be that wyll come thyder for the breakynge of fyue speares outher sharpe or rokettes at their pleasure And without our lodgynges shall be the sheldes of our armes both on the sheldes of peace and of warre and who so euer wyll iust lette hym come or sende the day before and with a rod touche whiche shelde he please if he touche the shelde of warre the nexte daye he shall iust with whiche of the thre he wyll and if he touche the sheld of peace he shall haue the iustes of peace and of warre So that who soeuer touche any of the sheldes shew or cause to be shewed their name to suche as shal be there lymyted by vs to receyue their names and all suche knightes straungers as wyll iuste to bringe some noble man on their partye who shall be instructed by vs what ought to be done in this case And we requyre all knyghtes and squyers strauÌ„gers that wyll come and iuste that they thynke nor ymagyn in vs that we do this for any pride hatred or yuell wyll but all onely we do it to haue their honorable company and acquayntaunce the whiche with our entier hartes we desyre Nor none of our sheldes shall be couered with yron nor steell nor none of theirs that wyll come to iust with vs without any maner of fraudes aduauntage or male engyn but euery thynge to be ordered by them that shall be coÌ„mytted by eyther parte to gouerne the iustes And bycause that all gentlemen noble knyghtes and squiers to whom this shall come to knowlege in that it shulde be reputed ferme and stable we haue sealed this present writynge with the seales of our armes written at Mountpellier the twenty daye of Nouembre in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and nyne and signed thus Raynolde du Roy Boucyquant saynte Pye OF the high courage and enterprise of these thre knyghtes the french kynge was ryght ioyefull therof and or the mater went forwarde euery thynge was well examyned and sene that no faulte shulde be therin founde Some of the kinges counsayle thought it was nat reasonable that these armes shulde be doone so nere to Calays for the englysshe men might take it for a presumpcyon the whiche wolde be eschewed bycause of the treuce that is taken bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce to endure for thre yere wherfore they sayde there ought nothynge to be wrytten nor doone that shulde be occasyon of any dyscensyon to be had bytwene the realmes The kynges couÌ„sayle rested on this mater a hole day and wyste nat what to do they wolde faynt haue broken it Suche as were sage sayde it were nat good alwayes to consente to the purpose of yonge people for often tymes therby maye growe incydentes rather yuell thanne good Howe be it the kynge who was yonge inclyned greatly to these knyghtes and sayd Lette them do their enterprise they are yonge and coragyous they haue promysed sworne to do it before the ladyes of Mountpellyer we wyll that the mater go forwarde let them purse we their enterprise Whanne euery man sawe that it was the kynges pleasure there were none durste say agaynst it wherfore the knyghtes were ryght ioyfull And so it was concluded and agreed that the matter shulde go forwarde as the knightes had written and sealed than the kynge sent for the thre knyghtes into his chambre aparte and said to them Syrs in all your doynge regarde wysely the honour of vs and of our realme and to mayntayne your astate spare nothynge for we shall nat fayle you for the expence of ten thousande frankes The thre knyghtes kneled downe before the kynge and thanked his grace THus the frenche kynge toke his sporte in the good towne of Mountpellyer a fyftene dayes moste parte with ladyes and damosels And the kynge and his counsayle had parfytely regarded the busynesse and necessyties of the towne for princypally he was come thyder for the same cause and by the aduyse of his counsayle euery thynge was well refourmed and brouggt to good astate and their oppressyons do one awaye wherby the good people had been sore traueyled Than the kynge toke his leaue of the ladyes and damoselles and in a mornynge he departed and wente to dyner to Alâ—pyam and at nyght lay at Vbere the
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
for the Emperour of CoÌ„stantyne le noble the Emperoure of HuÌ„gery feareth hym in lykewyse doth the Sowdan of Babylon the Tacon of Tartarie as I haue herde say of the Tartaryes that Tacon wolde or this tyme further haue put vnder the Emperoure of Constantyne le noble but for doubte of Lamorabaqum the Tacon knoweth hym his nature so well for as sone as he knoweth one gretter then hymselfe he wyll neuer haue ioy tyl he haue put hym vnder Wherfore the Tacon wyll not do to CoÌ„stantyne le noble that he myght well do yf he wolde then he was demaunded yf this Lamorabaquin had ony grete power of men the kynge sayd ye surely for in .xxx. yere where soeuer he wente he had euer in his company a C.M. horses alwayes lodged in the feldes and neuer entreth in to ony towne for his garde he hath euer .xx. M. turkes â— whereso euer he goeth he hath his fader with hym he hymselfe is of a .lx. yere of age his fader .lxxx. .x. he loueth moche the frenshe language suche as cometh thens he desyreth to se all the grete lordes of the worlde the frensshe kynge his estate ordre one speke to hym of Fraunce he is well content Then the kynge was demauÌ„ded why the Lamorabaqum suffred the Tacon in peas syth he was so grete an Emperour bycause sayd the kynge that the Tacon feareth hym dare make hym no warre also there be certayne townes portes in Tartarie that yerely payeth trybute to Lamorabaquin also they are al of one lawe they wyl not lyghtly dystroy theyr owne lawe he meruayleth gretely of the warre amonge crysteÌ„ meÌ„ howe eche of them dystroyeth other wherfore he is often in mynde to come in to crysteÌ„dome to wyn all before hym I wolde he had won my laÌ„de rather theÌ„ the Tacon for it had ben better for me he was demauÌ„ded why he answeswered sayd Lamorabaquin is a lorde of noble coÌ„dycyon yf he were .xxx. yere yonger he were lykely to make grete coÌ„questes where as he wolde employ his warre for when he hath wonne a countrey towne or sygnory he desyreth nothynge but truage leueth styll euery man in his owne byleue he putteth neuer no maÌ„ fro his herytage he desyreth nothynge but the souerayne domynacyon Wherfore I saye yf he had conquered the royalme of Armony as the Tartaries haue suffered me in peas my royalme styll in our owne byleue by knowled gynge hym as my souerayne as other grete lordes do that marche nere hym as the Grekes Tracyens who take hym for theyr souerayne lorde wherby they are out of doubte of the soueraynte of the Sowdan of the Tacon of Tartarie the lorde of Satalie the lorde dela Palice the lorde of Hawlte lodge these .iii. lordes theyr landes are in peas by reason of a truage that they pay to Lamorabaquin ther is no Turke nor Tartarien that dare do theÌ„ ony wronge or domage then it was demauÌ„ded of the kynge of Armony yf his lande were so clerely lost that it myght not be recouered agayne truely sayd the kynge it is without recouery without the puyssaunce of crystendome come thyder stronger theÌ„ the Turkes Tartaries for as I haue sayd the ferther they come forwarde more they are lykely to coÌ„quere for excepte one towne called Courth whiche is the fyrst towne of the royalme of Armony is as yet in the crysten mennes handes al the resydue of the royalme is in the infydels handes where as the chyrches were wonte to be there they set vp theyr ydolles theyr mawmettes then it was demaunded if the towne of Courth were stronge ye truely sayd the kynge it wyll not be wonne without it be by loÌ„ge syege or elles betrayed for it standeth nere to the see in a drye place bytwene .ii. rockes whiche caÌ„ not be approched for yf that Turkes or Tartaries had it in theyr haÌ„des another good towne not ferre thens called Adelphe all Grece were dystroyed Hungery sholde haue moche a do Then it was demaunded yf Hungery marched nere to Tartarie to the Turkes the kynge sayd ye truely nerer to the Turkes Lamorabaquin then to ony other then the lordes sayd it is grete meruayle the Lamorabaquin suffereth hym to be in rest syth he marcheth soo nere to Hungery he beynge so valyaunt a man so grete a conquerour In the name of god sayd the kynge of Armony or this tyme he hath studyed as moche as he myght how to haue done domage to the royalme of Hungery yf an incydent had not ben or this he had ben farre in the countrey of Hungery he was demaunded what incydent it was the kynge sayd I shal shewe you ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony was examyned howe .xxx. M. Turkes were slayne dystroyed in the royalme of Hungery Ca. xli WHen Lamordbaquin saw that all the lordes that marched nere to hym fered doubted hiÌ„ what for his coÌ„questes prowes how that al the bouÌ„des of the see to huÌ„gery obeyed to hym also he saw wel how the valyaunt kyng of Hungery Frederycke was deed how the royalme was fallen to a womaÌ„ wherfore he aduysed hym to conquere that royalme so made a grete somons in Turkye and suche as he sente for came to hym so theÌ„ this Lamorabaquin went forthe lodged in the playnes of Satalie bytwene Palice Haulte lodge to gyue more feare to his enemyes his entencyoÌ„ was to entre in to the royalme of HuÌ„gery bycause that Hungery is a royalme couÌ„trey closed enâ—yronned with hygh rockes mouÌ„taynes wherby it is the stronger theÌ„ he sente before hym his ambassadours heraldes with a mulet charged with wylle he coÌ„maunded theÌ„ to go in to Hungery to the erle of Lazaran whose laÌ„des lyeth by twene the mountaynes of Melcabe of Robee whiche way he purposed his army sholde pas to shewe hym how he coÌ„maunded hym yf he thynke to lyue in rest and to haue his lande in peas that he obey to vs in lykewyse as the lorde of Palice the lorde of Satalie the lorde of Haulte lodge hath done that he open gyue vs fre passage thrughe his landes yf he say sâ—ay be rebell agaynst vs then shewe hym on our behalfe that I shall brynge as many men to dystroy his couÌ„trey as there be graynes of mylle in the sacke The ambassadours departed wel iÌ„structed of that they sholde do so rode by theyr iourneys tyll they came in to Hungery in to the lande of the erle Lazaran souÌ„de hym in a castell of his called Archforme the erle lyke a sage lorde receyued these ambassadours right swetely made theÌ„ good chere but he had meruayle when he sawe entre in to his courte the mule charged with a sacke wyst not what it was he
so syr Bernarde de la sale retourned euyll content to the syege of Pruce and so then they dyssymuled the matter and the Prucyens in lykewyse and also this erle Courant and so pope Vrban yssued out of Pruce out of peryll and wente to Rome and abode there I Knowe ryght well that in tyme to come there wolde be had moche of these thynges howe the churche sholde fall in suche troubles endure so longe but it was a plage sent fro god for the clargy to aduyse to consydre well theyr grete estate superfluyte that they were in but many dyde sette lytell therby for they were so blynded with pryde that eche one thought to be as good as another wherfore it wente euyll yf our fayth had not ben confyrmed in the handes grace of the holy goost who â—nlumyned the harte of them that were gone out of the ryght way helde them ferme in vnyte elles our fayth had be gretely defourmed but the grete lordes of the erthe at the begynnyng dyd nothynge but laughe at the chyrche tyl I Cronycled these Cronycles in the yere of our lorde Ihesu Cryst M.CCC.lxxx and .x. moche of the comon people meruayled howe the grete lordes as the Frensshe kynge the kynge of Almayne and other kynges and prynces of crystendome dyd prouyde no remedy in that case There was one thynge reasonable to appease the comon people to escuse the hyghe prynces kynges dukes Erles other lordes As by ensample the yolke of the egge can not be without the whyte nor the whyte with out the yolke no more maye the Clergy the lordes be one without another for the lordes are gouerned by the Clergy or they coulde not lyue but as beestes the Clergy were not the Clergy counsayleth and exhorteth the lordes to do as they do And I say surely I haue ben in my tyme in dyuers partyes of the worlde what for to accomplysshe my pleasure and to se noueltyes in the worlde and to haue knowledge of the conquestes aduentures wryten in this boke And truely the season that I wente thus aboute in the worlde I coulde lyghtly se no grete lorde but that he had a marmoset or of the Clergy or a boy of symple lygnage mounted vp to honoure by reason of theyr Iangelyng raylynge excepte the erle of Foys for he had neuer none suche for he was naturally sage for his wysdome was better than ony that coulde be gyuen hym yet I say not that suche lordes as are ruled by suche marmosettes be fooles but rather more then fooles for they be sore blynded yet they haue two eyen whan the knowledge came fyrst to the frensshe kynge Charles of the dyfference bytwene these two popes he dyd put the matter on the Clergy whiche way he sholde take them they of the clergy of Fraunce determyned toke pope Clement for the moost surest parte and to the Frensshe opynyon acorded the kynge of Castel and the kynge of Scottes bycause all the season that the scysme was thus in the chyrche Fraunce Castell Scotlande were ioyned togyder by alyaunce the kynge of Englonde the kynge of Portyngale were of the contrary oppynyoÌ„ agaynst theyr enemyes the erle of Flaundres neuer inclined in his courage to pope ClemeÌ„t that he sholde be ryght pope bycause VrbaÌ„ was fyrst chosen at Rome who was archebysshop of Bare This Clement beynge Cardynall of Geane wrote lettres vnto the noble Erle of Flaunders howe there was a pope chosen by due electyon at Rome named Vrban wherfore he wolde not byleue after on that Clement as longe as he lyned he was of that opynyon so was the kynge of Almayne and all the Empyre and also the kynge of Hungry Thus then I put in wrytynge the state and dyfferences that I had sene in my dayes in the worlde and in the chyrche it was no meruayle thoughe the lordes of the worlde suffered dyssymuled the matter This brought to my remembraunce howe that when I was but yonge and pope Innocent caygned in Auygnyon he helde in pryson a freer mynoure called freer IohnÌ„ Roche Tayllad this clerke as it was sayd I haue herde it pryuely in dyuers places he shewed aledged dyuers auctorytes of the incydentes and fortunes that fell after in his dayes in the royalme of Fraunce And also he spake of the takynge of kynge IohnÌ„ and shewed certayne thynges reasonable howe the chyrche sholde suffre moche for the grete superfluytes that he sawe in them and while he was in prison it was shewed me what he sayd to the Cardynall of Ostie called Dearras and to the Cardynall of Auxere who wente to vysyte hym and to argue with hym theÌ„ he layde to them an ensample as hereafter ye shall here LOrdes sayd this freer there was ones a fowle appered in this worlde without ony fethers when al other fowles knew that he was borne they came to se hym bicause he was so fayre and pleasaunt to beholde Then they ymagyned amonge them what they myght do for this byrde for without fethers they knewe well he coulde not lyue and they sayd they wolde he sholde lyue bycause he was so fayre theÌ„ euery fowle there gaue hym of theyr fethers and the fayrer byrde the mo fethers he gaue hym so that then he was a fayre byrde a well fethered and began to fle And the byrdes that had gyuen hym of theyr fethers wheÌ„ they sawe hym flee they toke grete pleasure wheÌ„ this byrde sawe hymselfe so well fethered and that all other fowles honoured hym he began to ware prowde and toke no regarde of them that had made hym but pycked and spurred at them and was contrary to them Then the other byrdes drewe togyder and demaunded eche other what was best to be done with this byrde that they had made vp of nought now so dysdayneth them then the Pecocke sayd he is gretly beautyed by reason of my fethers I wyl take them agayne fro hym in the name of good sayd the Fawcon so wyll I haue myne and so sayd al the other byrdes And then they began to take agayne fro hym al the fethers that they had gyuen hym And wheÌ„ this byrde saw that he humbled hymselfe knowledged of the welth and honour that he had not of hymselfe but of them for he knewe that he came in to the worlde naked and bare and the fethers that he had they myght wel take fro hym agayne wheÌ„ they lyst then he cryed them mercy and sayd that he wolde amende hymselfe and noo more be prowde so then agayne these gentyll byrdes had pyte on hym fethered hym agayne sayd to hym we wolde gladly se the fâ—e amoÌ„ge vs so thou wylte be humble as thou oughtest to be but knowe surely If thou be ony more prowde and dysdaynous we wyll take from thou all thy fethers and set the as we founde thou fyrst ¶ Thus sayd the
who had done so moche good to the towne bothe in counsayle in armes for a lytell cause the vyllaynes slue hym the honest men of the towne dyd not saue hym but rather dyssymuled was glad of his dethe in lykewyse Frauncis wyll they do with you me yf I abyde here but as for me I wyll not tary therfore adue ¶ Why sayd Frauncis the duke of Borgoyne hath pardoned all thynges hath reteyned me yf I wyll to go with hym to be as a squyer of his stable with .iiii. horses he also syr Guy of Tremoyll sheweth me grete sygne of loue In the name of god sayd Peter du boys I speke not of my lorde the duke of Borgoyne nor of his knyghtes I thynke they wyll kepe well the peas but I speke of the comons of Gaunt there be some that ye haue not alwayes pleased remembre ye not of the lorde of Sargelles whom ye made to be slayne other knowe for trouth that these passed hatredes wyl contynue in theyr hartes yf ye abyde amonge thē yet it were better for you to go dwell with the duke of Borgoyne Well sayd Frauncis I shal take aduyse but in to Englande I wyl not go Thus Frauncis Atreman abode styll peterdu boys wente with syr Iohn̄ Bourser anone after that the peas was cryed publysshed in all the partyes of Flaunders then there was made a crye that none sholde bere ony armure or sworde after hym Frauncis Atremā who was styll in Gaunt had kepte a grete estate the warre durynge thought to contynue somwhat his honestye euer where he went he had a .iii. or .iiii. seruauntes waytynge on hym armed beryng swordes other wepons on thē when this crye was made in the dukes name he thought it sholde not rynne on hym nor none of his seruauntes he thought hymselfe soo well in fauoure with them of the towne but he was deceyued for within a .vii. or .viii. dayes after the cry was proclamed the dukes baylyffe came personally to hym sayd Fraūcis ye put my lorde the dukes offycers in grete suspecte why do you go aboute in the towne in harneys your seruauntes beryng swordes wepons of defence as thoughe it were in y◠tyme of war whiche pleaseth not vs Wherfore we cōmaunde you in the dukes name to lay them downe Frauncis who thought none euyll in that he dyd but to maynteyne his estate answered sayd syr baylyffe I wyll obey as it is reason and I thanke god I hate no persone nor wolde not that ony sholde haue ony hurte for my sake howbe it I had thought to haue had that aduaūtage in the towne of Gaunt that I myght haue had my seruaūtes were theyr swordes after me Nay sayd the baylyffe not so for suche of the towne as ye haue done seruyce vnto speke theragaynste haue meruayle therof demaunde of me why I do suffre it they saye it semeth that I wolde renewe agayne the olde warre whiche they wyll not suffre Wherfore Fraūcis I pray you do so that I here no more therof for yf ye wyll not obey I must repute you as an enemy to my lorde the duke to my lady of borgoyne so the baylyffe departed fro hym frauncis wente to his lodgynge caused his seruauntes to lay downe all theyr armure so entred in to suche a fantasye that moost parte after he wente in the towne all alone or but one with hȳ chylde or seruaunt So it was on a daye there was a feest kepte without the towne of Gaunt in the abbey of saynt Peters Frauncis Atre man wente thyder and but one seruaunt with hym without armure or wepyn he was spyed poursued with a bastarde sone of the lorde of Harzelles whom he had caused to be slayne be fore wherfore thē his sone thought to be reuenged of his faders deth this bastarde was prouyded for the matter poursued Frauncis tyl he came out of the towne farre fro ony company and cryed on hym and sayd A thou Frauncis Atremā thou shalte dye thou caused my fader to be slayne and I shall slee the as Fraūcis tourned hym the bastarde strake hym on the heed with his sworde so weyghty a stroke that he claue his heed to the tethe and so fell downe deed to the erthe the bastarde wente his way fayre and easely no man poursued hym so this Frauncis Atreman was wel worthy to dye in that he wolde not byleue Peter du Boys and when tydynges came in to englande that Peter du boys knew therof he toke but smal thought for hym sayd or I departed fro Graunt I well aduysed hym let vs se nowe who wyll amende it not they that duryng the warre dyd gretely honoure hym for suche doubtes I byleued syr Iohn̄ Bourser came in to englande NOwe let vs retourne to the prouisyons that were made at this season at Dan at Sluse it is not had in remembraūce of mā nor by wrytynge neuer none lyke sene nor herde of Golde syluer was no more spared then thoughe it had rayned out of the clowdes or scomed out of the see the grete lordes of fraunce sent theyr seruauntes to Sluse to apparell make redy theyr prouysyons shyppes and to furnysshe them of euery thynge nedefull the kynge hymselfe as yonge as he was had more wyl to this iourney then ony other that he alwayed shewed to the ende therof euery mā helped to make prouysyō for other to garnysshe theyr shyppes to paynte them with theyr armes paynters had as then a good season for they wan had what soeuer they desyred yet there coulde not ynow be gotē for money they made baners penons standerdes of sylke soo goodly that it was meruayle to beholde thē also they paynted theyr mastes of theyr shippes fro the one ende to the other glyteryng with golde deuyses armes specyally it was shewed me that the lorde Guy of tremoyle garnysshed his shyp rychely the payntynges that were made cost more then .ii. M. frankes whatsoeuer ony lorde coulde deuyse for theyr pleasure made in shyppes the pore people of the royalme payde for al for the tallages were there so grete to fournysshe this voyage that they that were most ryche sorewed for it and the poore fled for it ALl that euer was done in Fraunce in flaūders and other places for this voyage was wel knowen in Englande it was made moche gretter then it was in dede wherof the people in dyuers places of the royalme were sore abasshed there were made generall processyons in euery good towne cyte by prelates men of the chyrche .iii. tymes euery weke whiche were made in grete deuocyon with the hartes with holy prayers orysons to god to delyuer them fro y◠peryll howbeit there were in englande a C.M. that desyred hartely that the frensshmen myght come aryue in
were departed out of their holdes and whyder he wolde set theÌ„ in any busynesse or nat Than he was answered and it was said to hym Sir the erle of Armynake wolde kepe them in wages occupy them in to Lombardy for as ye knowe well his suster is maryed there and before she had Gascone your sonÌ„e for it is thought there shal be moche a do in Lombardy whervnto the erle of Foiz gaue none answere but fell in to other talkyng howbe it he thought neuerthelesse as it apered afâ— for he haÌ„dled the mater couertly I shall shewe you howe The erle of Armynake for any treatie that he coude do to them that were of the countre of Bierne or of the teneurs of therle of Foiz or suche as owed hym any fauour coude neuer cause any of them to agree to departe out of their garisons Nor wolde nat go nother to the erle of Armynake nor to Bernarde his brother in lawe For therle of Foiz who was full of great prudence consydred that these two lordes of Armynake there cosyns and with the labriciens were puissaunt men and sawe howe they gate them frendes on euery parte he thought they shulde nat be renforsed with them that ought to serue hym And one thynge that was reasonable the Erle of Foiz ymagined sir Espaygne de Leon shewed it me whan I was at Ortays in lykewise so dyde the erle of Compane capitayne of Carlot in Auuergne and also so dyde the Bourge of Englande They sayd howe the erle of Foiz regarded howe he had had open warre with them of Armynake thoughe it were peace bytwene them as than whiche was but a truese the whiche was dyuers tymes renewed bytwene theym Therfore he thought â—hat if the erle of Armynake had all those companyons vnder his gouernaunce his warres shulde be the fayrer So that the armynakes and the labricience with their alyes myght do hym a great displeasure This was the cause that suche as owed fauour to therle of Foiz wolde nat agte to the erle of Armynake Howe be it they made theÌ„ beleue that they wolde but they dyd but dissemble for they brake all their apoyntmeÌ„tes howe be it they rode nat abrode so moche as they dyde before Wherby alwayes the Erle of Armynake thought to haue come to his purpose They that agreed to hym were Perotte de Bernoys who helde the stronge castell of Salucette whiche is chefe and soueraygne of all Auuergne and Lymosyne for their patesyng endured to Rochell And also Guyllyam of saynt Foye who helde the castell of Bonteuyll and also Margote Marcell who helde Loysse before saynt Flour in Auuergne and the Bourge of Compaygne and the Englysshe Bourge who helde Carlotte Margote Marcell sayde he was contente so that he myght haue in lykewise Perotte Bernoys and Geffray Teate Noyre who helde VaÌ„dachore who was souerayne aboue all other But he dyde but mocke and dissemble the mater for he disdayned to fall to any treatie of the erle of Armynakes or of any other For he thought his castell imprignable and well prouyded for seuyn or eyght yeres for he had a passage or two that coude nat be taken fro hym but that he myght issue whan he lyste to refresshe hym selfe and his company This Geffray wrote hym selfe in his saueconductes Geffray Teate Noyre duke of Vandachore erle of Lymosyn lorde and soueraygne of all the capitayns of Auuergne Rouergue and Lymosyn NOw let vs leaue to speke of these maters of farre couÌ„treis tyll we haue cause to returne therto agayne And nowe I wyll speke of matters nerer home as of myne owne nacyon as it hath ben shewed here before whan I treated of the ende of the warre of Flaunders and of the charter of peace that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse dyde gyue and graunt and sealed to them of Gaunt in the good towne and noble cytie of Tourney Therfore nowe to enforce our mater and history we wyll speke nowe of the warres of Guerles and of Brabant And I am quickened so to do bycause that the Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyne to whom the mater greatly touched by the insydentes that gendred therby were fayne to set to their haÌ„des to the same warre and to come to the bottom therof And to contynue at length the true hystorie and mater I saye thus as foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage and wyst nat what to do caÌ„e for refuge to the archebysshoppe of Coleygne his Vncle who blamed hym howe ambassadours wente to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C.xi. ALonge season it was that they of Guerles and they of Brabant had grete hatered toguyder and so dyd the countreis to them adioyninge by reason of certayne bondes one agaynst another And the moost hatered that the brabanders had to the duke of Guerles and to his heyres was for the towne of Graue whiche the dukes of Guerles had holden per force a longe season agaynst the brabansoys For they sayd bycause that the towne of grane stode on that syde of the ryuer of Muese towardes Brabant that the duke of Guerles helde it wrongfully before that tyme dyuers coÌ„munycacions had been and poyntmentes taken howbeit alwayes the guerloys stacke in their hertê Also the guerloys hated the brabaÌ„soys bycause of thre fayre castels that were on that syde the ryuer as Gaulech Buthe Nulle Whiche castelles the duke of BrabaÌ„t helde also peforce And by reasone as in redynge I shall begynne at the duke of Guerles These hatereddes were often tymes renewed bytwene them of Guerles and Brabant And it was supposed by dyuers knightes and squyers that knewe of their dedes of armes that if sir Edwarde of Guerles who was slayne by a marueylous incydent at the batayle of Iulyers by the shote of an archer that was with the duke Vyncelant of Boem duke of Lusenbourge or of Brabante If he had lyued with that that his men had had the vyctorie he hadde come to his entente in gettyng agayne the thre castelles for he was lo valiant a man and so hardy that he wolde haue conquered them agayne ¶ Nowe I wyll declare as I haue promysed how and in what maner these foresayd castelles came in to the signorie of the brabansoys and first I wyll begyn with the dukes of Guerles IN the tyme whan I wrote and ordayned this hystorie there was an Erle of Guerles called Raynolde and bycause that Guerles is no riche countre nor so great as the duchy of Brabant This erle came to his lande a yonge man and had a frewyll to dispende largely and thought full lytell of the ende that myght come after He cared for nothynge but for to accomplysshe his pleasure and haunted iustes and tourneys to his gret cost to gette hym renome And euery yere he spended four tymes as moche as the value of the reuenewes of his landes He borowed of the lombardes in dyuers places he
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
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
and other two hundred crownes of golde And to the heraudes and offycers of armes other two hundred crownes so that euery man praysed the larges of the erle of Foiz The fourthe daye after the erle came to the kynges palais well acompanyed with lordes and knyghtes of Byerne and of Foiz to se the kynge and to do as he was requyred that is to saye to do his homage for the countie of Foiz with the appendauntes reseruyng the lande of Bierne Before that secretely there had been great treaties bytwene the kynge and the erle of Foiz by meanes of the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Mercier and the bysshoppe of Noyon who was newly come thyder fro Auygnon It was sayd that the erle desyred of the kyng that his sonne Iobbayne of Foiz myght after the erles discease enheryte the countie of Foiz By that the erle whan soeuer he dyed shulde leaue to the kyng a huÌ„dred thousande frankes in money And sir Gasyon his brother to haue the land of Ayre in Bierne with the Cytie and the Mounte of Marcen and all other landes that the Erle of Foiz hadde bought in Bierne shulde retourne to the herytauÌ„ce of the vycount of Castyllon These assygnementes were in debate and in dyfference bytwene the erle and the barones and knightes of his countrey Some sayde he coude nat do thus with a generall consent of all Byerne and Foize And bycause that the meane homage of the countie of Foize was dewe to the Frenche kyng therfore the kyng sayde to the Erle and to the barons of Foiz Sirs I holde in my handes the homage of the lande of Foiz and if it be so in our dayes that the lande of Foiz be vacant by the dethe of our cosyn the erle of Foiz than we shall so determyne and apoynt by the aduise of good counsayle that Iobbayns of Foiz and all other men of the couÌ„tie of Foiz shall holde theÌ„ content Those wordes well coÌ„tented therle of Foiz and the other lordes and knyghtes of Foiz that were there present These ordynaunces written and sealed the erle toke his leaue of the kynge and of all other great lordes but that daye he dyned with the kyng than went to his lodgyng The nexte day he departed fro Tholous and lefte his furriers behynde hym to paye for euery thyng The erle passed the ryuer of Gyronde by the bridge of Tholous and retourned in to his countrey by the mount of Marsen and so to Ortayes Than he gaue leaue to euery man to departe sauyng his ordynarye It was shewed me and I beleue it well that the coÌ„mynge of the frenche kyng in to LaÌ„guedocke in to Tholous in to those marchesse cost the erle of Foize more than threscore thousande frankes The erle was so lyberall that whatsoeuer it cost hym he payde it wyllyngly ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the feate and couenaunt that was don bytwene the kyng and the duke of Thourayn his brother whiche of them shulde sonest come to parys fro MonÌ„tpellyer whiche is a huÌ„dred and fyftie leages a sondre eche of them but with one knyght Cap. C.lxv. THe Frenche kynge being at Tholous he ordred all his businesse and remoued renewed seneschales and officers and reformed the countrey in to good estate so that euery maÌ„ was well contented And on a day the kyng present his brother his vncle of Burbone the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and Gascoyne to th entent to haue a perpetuall memorie gaue to his cosyn germayne sir Charles de la Brethe for the augmentacion of his honour two quarters of armes of FrauÌ„ce with floure delyces for a fore the lordes de la Brethe bare alwayes in their armes a felde of goules playne without any other thyng nowe they be quartred with the armes of FrauÌ„ce whiche thyng the lorde de la Brethe toke for a great gyfte whiche lorde made the same daye a great dyner whiche cost hym more than a thousande frankes and he gaue to heraudes mynstrels .ii. hundred frankes Anone after it was ordayned that the kyng shulde departe fro Thoulous to retourne in to Fraunce euery man made hym redy and toke leaue of the kynge the bysshop of Tholous the seneschall the burgesses and lordes and damoselles of the towne The kynge deê‘ted rode that nyght to the newe castell of Alroy and so forwarde euery daye so that he came to MouÌ„tpellyer where he was ioyfully receyued there taryed thre dayes for the ladyes and damosels there pleased hym moche Than he had gret defyre to returne to Paris to se the quene on a daye as he coÌ„muned in sporte with his brother of Thourayne he sayd Fayre brother I wolde that you and I were at Paris and all our estate here styll as it is for I haue great desyre to se the quene and your fayre suster of Thourayne than the duke sayde Sir we can nat be there with wysshing it is a farre iourney hens that is true ê™ the kyng yet I thynke I might besoone there I wolde ye ê™ the duke with helpe of good horses for so coude I be but my horse must beare me well quod the kyng laye a wager you and I who shall be there sonest I am content ê™ the duke for he was euer redy to wyn money of the kyng The wager was layde bitwene the kynge the duke that who soeuer of theÌ„ twayne came sonest to Paris shulde wyn fyue thousande fraÌ„kes of other to departe the nexte day all at one hour eche of them to take but one knight or seruauÌ„t with them there was no man that durst breke their wager the nexte day they departed as it was ordayned The lorde of GaraÌ„ciers rode with the kyng and the lorde of Viefuyll was with the duke of Thourayn thus these four rode night day lyke yong lusty galaÌ„tes they chauÌ„ged many horses thus they rode in post the duke of burbone retourned by Puy in Auuergne rode to se his grauÌ„tfather by the way therle Dolphyn of Auergne the countesse their chyldren of whoÌ„ there were to the noÌ„bre of eight what soÌ„nes what doughters all bretherne susters to the duches of Burbone his wife but that was by reason of two maryages Thus the frenche kyng and his brother the duke of Thourayne rode in great hast eche of theÌ„ to wyn the wager CoÌ„syder well the great payne of these two great riche lordes youthe lybertie of corage made theÌ„ to do that enterprice their estates abode behynde The frenche kynge made it foure dayes a halfe or he came to Paris and the duke of Thourayne no more but four dayes a quarter of a day they folowed eche other so nere the duke wan the wager by reason that the frenche kynge rested himself about .viii. of the clocke at Trois in ChaÌ„payne and the duke toke a barge in the ryuer of Seyne and went a longe the ryuer to Melyn and there toke his horse rode so tyll he
the lady of Dunoyes for her dowrie whiche was assygned to her sixe thousande frankes And furthermore he shulde haue made another sale of all his landes in Heynaulte And the Duke of Thourayne to haue payde for that two hundred thousande frankes Howe be it therin the erle of Bloys reserued to knowe the erle of Heynaltes pleasure therin who was his naturall lorde to whom he owed faythe and homage for those landes Howe be it that kyng and the duke of Thourayn toke that charge on them and to discharge the erle what soeuer shulde fall after Thus or they departed they bounde the erle by promyse and by writynges sealed as they might well and easely do for he had there none of his couÌ„sayle saue Sohier who neuer was at scole nor knewe no letter on the boke Moche after this maner went this marchandise and I haue written this mater as iustely as I coude to th entent that herafter in tyme to come by reason of writyng the trouthe shulde be knowen For the erle Guye of Bloys my lorde mayster as he that was ignorant and yuell counsayled more by his wyfe and varlet Sohier thaÌ„ by any other made this yuell bargayne And whan these maters were concluded and surely made by the kyng the duke of Thourayne and their counsayle than the lordes toke their leaue and retourned in to FrauÌ„ce Great brute was made of these sales in dyuers countries ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spaygne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the frenche kyng and his counsayle for the Vicount of Chastelons busynesse and howe howe he was sette in possession of the countie of Foiz of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii HOwe let vs soÌ„what speke of sir Roger of spaygne and of sir Espaygne du Lyon and shewe how they spedde aft they were retourned fro Tourle to go to Tholous to the bysshop of Noyon and to the lorde de la Ryuer So longe they iourneyd that they came thyder they were welcome for their coÌ„mynge was fore desyred There they shewed their letters and howe they had spedde By semblaunt the bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryuer were ioyouse of that the herytauÌ„ce shulde abyde with the Vycount of Chastellon on suche condycions as is before written Than sir Roger and his coÌ„panyon thought to take some more payne as to ryde to the Vycount of Chastellon and to the counsayls of Foize and of Bierne to se that euery thyng be sette in good order Than they departed fro Tholous and rode to saynt Gracyens the Vicount was nat there but he was at the entre of Berne in a fayre castell called Pau and there they founde hym who was ioyfull of their coÌ„mynge And whan he knewe that the Frenche kyng had gyuen vp his tytell of the byeng of the couÌ„tie of Foiz he was gladder than he was before As for the money that he shulde paye he wyst well ynoughe where to haue it and moche more ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his counsayle and of the kynge of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii I Thynke I haue sufficiently treated of the busynesse of Bierne and of foiz for if I shulde reherse all thynges it wolde requyre long writyng therfore I wyll leaue spekyng therof and create of other maters Thus all thyngê coÌ„cluded the vicount of Chatellon was erle of Foiz and lorde of Berne in lyke maner as the older erle helde it and all suche as ought so to do made homage to hym he departed largely with ser yuan and sir Gracien tholde erles bastarde sones in suche wyse that they were content and payde to the FreÌ„che kyng all suche money as was ê“mised to be payde This mater was nat sone done somer was first well onwarde and the bisshop of Noyon and the lorde de la Ryuer taryed styll at Tholous tyll euery thyng was set in good order accordyng as they were charged Nowe let vs speke of thassemble of the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande in the good cyte of Amyence on the treatie of a peace or of a truce as than beyng the yere of our lorde M.CCC.lxxx .xi. in the myddes of lent great prouision was made ther for these lordê or they caÌ„e thider First for the frenche kyng for his estate and for his thre vncles and also for other great lordes of FrauÌ„ce euery man after his degre for it was said that kyng Richard of EnglaÌ„de shulde be there wherfore many desyred to se him such as had neuer sene him before how beit he came nat there yet he caÌ„e to Douer to th entent to haue passed the see his thre vncles with hym that is to say the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester whan they came to Douer they tooke aduyse whyder it were mete for the kyng to passe the see or nat All thynges consydred the counsayle of Englande was of opinyon that the kyng shuld byde at Douer the duke of Gloceter with him and the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke therle of HuÌ„tyngton therle of Derby sir thomas Percy the bysshops of Durham London and other of the kynges couÌ„saile to passe ouer so they came to Calais And whan the day aproched that they shulde mete at AmyeÌ„ce they deê‘ted fro Calysmo than .xii. C. horse it was a goodly syght to se theÌ„ ryde in good order The frenche kyng had ordayned that after thenglisshmen came out of Calis both goyng abyding returnyng all their costes and charges were borne of the frenche kyngê charge as mete driÌ„ke lodgyng horse mete With the duke of LaÌ„castre the duke of yorke there caÌ„e their cosyn dought to their suster to the lorde Coucy who was a faire yoÌ„g lady called the lady of yrelaÌ„de for she was wedded to the duke of yrelaÌ„de this lady caÌ„e to Amyens to se the lorde her father the lorde Coucy for she had nat sene hym moche before wherfore she hadde great desyre to se hym She came lyke a noble widowe hauyng but small ioye in her co age THe Frenche kyng had ordayned to make the Englysshe men as moche honour as coude be deuysed and to the foure dukes that is to saye The duke of Thourayn the Frenche kynges brother and the dukes of Burbon of Berrey and or Burgoyne lâ—pte on their horses and rode out of the towne to mete with the englisshmen acoÌ„panyed with many other great lordes Fyrst mette with theÌ„ the duke Loys of Thourayn well acoÌ„panyed and honorably receyued his colyns of Englande there coÌ„muned a certayne space with theÌ„ than he toke his leaue and departed agayne with all his company and so rode streight to the cytie to the kynge his brother And the other thre dukes the kynges vncles Berrey Burbone Burgoyne mette with the Englysshe dukes in the felde and made great chere and honorable eche to other that ioye it was to se Than the geÌ„tyll
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
euer they founde her for they sayde she was but a yonge chylde of eyght yere of age wherfore they sayd there coulde nat be in her no great wysdome nor prudence howe be it she was indoctryned well ynough and that the lordes founde well whan they sawe her The Erle Marshall beynge on his knees sayde to her Fayre lady by the grace of god ye shall be our lady and quene of Englande Than aunswered the yonge lady well aduysedly without counsayle of any other person Syr quod she and it please god and my lorde my father that I shall be quene of Englande I shall be glad therof for it is shewed me that I shall be than a great lady Than she toke vp the erle Marshall by the hande and ledde him to the quene her mother who had great ioy of the answere that she had made and so were all other that herde it The maner countenaunce and behauoure of this yonge lady pleased greatly the Ambassadours and they sayd amonge them selfe that she was lykely to be a lady of hygh honoure and great goodnesse Thus whan these lordes of Englande had ben at Parys a twenty dayes and their costes and charges payed for by the frenche kynge a reasonable aunswere was gyuen them so that they were put in great hope to bringe aboute that they came for howe be it the frenche men sayd it coulde nat be doone shortly bycause the lady was so yonge and also she was fyansed to the duke of Bretayns eldest sonne wherfore they sayd they must treat to breke that promesse or they coude procede any further in that mater and thervpon the frenche kynge and his counsayle shulde sende into Englande the next lent after to shewe howe the matter wente And whan the dayes begyn to encreace and waxe fayre Than the kynge of Englande to sende agayne in to Fraunce whome it shulde please hym and they shulde be welcome With this aunswere the englysshe men were contented and toke leaue of the quene and of her doughter and of the kynge and of all other and departed fro Paris and toke the same way they came and so retourned to Calays and than in to Englande and the two erles rode in post before their company to bringe tydynges to the kyng ▪ they rode fro Sandwiche to Wynd sore in lesse thanne a daye and an halfe The kynge was ryght ioyouse of their comynge and was well contente with the frenche kynges aunswere He set the mater so to his herte that he toke great pleasure therin and tooke hede to none other thynge but studyed howe he myght bringe it aboute to haue the frenche kinges doughter to wyfe ON the othersyde the Frenche kynge and his counsayle studyed daye and nyght howe they myght make this maryage with Englande to the honour of the realme of Fraunce There were many in the realme of Fraunce that sayd that if they had been called to these treatyes and our wordes herde the kynge of Englande shulde neuer haue the doughter of Fraunce for any maner of peace What good shulde it be for Fraunce seynge the trewce bytwene them endured but for two yere to come and than shall we fall agayne in warre and eche of vs hate other as we haue doone before The dukes of Berrey and Orlyance were of the same opynion and dyuers other lordes of Fraūce But the king the duke of Burgoyne and the chauncellour of Fraunce enclyned to this maryage and gladde to haue peace reseruyng alwayes the honour of the Realme The same tyme there was a squier in Fraunce of the nacyon of Normandy in the countrey of Caulx he had in his dayes ben sore traueyled in farre parties and as than he was newly retourned into Fraūce his name was Robert le menuot but as than he was called Robert the Hermyte he was relygyous and of good lyfe of the age of fyfty yere he had been at the treaties that was holden at Balyngham at whiche tyme he was well herde and howe he entred than in to that treatie I shall shewe you ⸪ ¶ Of a Squyer named Roberte the Hermyte howe he was sente to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii SO it was whan this Roberte the Hermyte returned in to Fraūce out of the parties of Surey and toke shyppyng at Baruch Whyle he was vpon the see a great tempest of wynde rose in suche wyse that they feared to be perysshed and euery man tell to make his prayers to god And at the ende of this tempest and that the wether began to waxe fayre and clere there apered to Robert the Hermyte an ymage more clere than Crystall and sayd thu◠Robert thou shalte issue and escape this parell and all thy company for loue of the for god hath herde thyne orisons and prayers and he sendeth the worde by me that thou shuldest make hast in to Fraunce and go to the kynge and shewe him thyne aduenture and say vnto him that in any wyse he enclyne to haue peace with his aduersary kynge Rycharde of Englande and amonge them that be treaters of the peace preace thou forthe and shewe them thyne aduysyon for thou shalte be herde and say that all suche as be of the contrary opinyon against the peace shall bye it derely in their lyfe tyme in this worlde And therwith the clerenesse and voyce vanysshed away Than Robert abode in a great study but he remembred well what he hadde sene and herde by the deuyne inspyracyon And after this aduenture they had fayre wether and the wynde at their wysshynge and than aryued in the Ryuer of Gennes and there Robert the Hermyte toke leaue of his company and went by lande fro thence tyll he came to Auygnon And the fyrst thynge he dyd he went to the churche of saynt Peter and there foūde a good vertuous man a penytenser and of hym he was cōfessed and shewed hym all his aduenture and demaunded counsayle what was best to do Than his goostly father charged hym in any wyse that he shulde speke nothynge of this mater tyll he had shewed it fyrste to the frenche kynge and loke what counsayle the kynge dyd gyue him so to do This Robert folowed his counsayle and arayed hym selfe in symple habyte all in gray and so poorely departed fro Auygnon and iourneyed so longe that he came to Parys but the kynge was at Abbeuyle and the treatie beganne at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and Englysshe men as ye haue herde before Than this Robert came to Abuyle and drewe to the kynge and a knyght of his acquayntaunce brought him to the kyng whiche knyght was of Normandy and was called sir Willyam Martell he was of the kynges priuy chambre Than Roberte the Hermyte shewed the Kynge all his hole iourney and aduēture The kyng herde hym well and bycause the duke of Burgoyne and syr Raynolde Corby chauncellour of Fraunce who were of the
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
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
¶ The preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knyght lorde Berners Sythe hystorie as I haue in my Preface vpon the fyrst volume of this cronycles declared is the wytnesse of tymes the lyght of trouthe the lyfe of remembrauÌ„ce the maistres of the lyfe the messanger of olde season wherof innumerable coÌ„modyties growen I ne thynke the labours myspente that I at the highe coÌ„maundement of our moost redoughted soueraygne lorde Henry the cyght kyng of Englande and of FrauÌ„ce highe defender of the Christen faythe c. haue eâ—ployed aboute the translacyon of nowe the foure volumes of sir Iohan Froissaâ—t out of Frenche in to our Englysshe tong Certainly nat the bouÌ„tie of the same cronycles in whom are conteygâ—â—d the warres of these parties whiche warres dâ—scâ—yued in Frenche by sir Iohan Froyssaâ—â— ryght oâ—nately as many that haue great vnderstandynge in dyuers tonges in whome warres are written plainly saye for knyghtly feateâ— manhode and humanyte passe ryght moche the warres of farre countreis nor the great pleasure that thy noble countrey menne of Englande toke in redynge the worthy and knightly dedes of their valyaunt auncestours encorageth me halfe so moche as the princely exhorte whiche of all erthely kynges the very worshyppe and 〈◊〉 ouâ— foresaid gracyous soueraygne gaue me He who forthe manyfolde royall vertues in his highnesse fouÌ„de nat of two or thre small realmes 〈◊〉 is worthy to reygne and be kyng ouer the vnyuersall worlde â—elyteth in nothyng 〈◊〉 than to 〈…〉 I sayd the moost famous 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 and subict 〈…〉 ouâ— with all 〈◊〉 So that it â—ought appere to euery mannes â—ight ouer what and howe worthy people has 〈…〉 and nowe his 〈…〉 lyaunt 〈◊〉 contende by vigorous vertue and manhode to folowe yea to passe them if they maye Truely the ymages as they vsed in olde tyme to erecte in worshyp and remembraunce of them that were discended of noble blode he beare halfe the wytnesse that the noble dedes sette out in hystorye done Whiche well appereth by the wordes of the prudent kyng Agesilaus who dying coÌ„maunded that neyther ymage nor picture to his resemblauÌ„ce shulde be made for if I haue sayd he any noble thyng famously done it shall beare wytnesse ynough of me if I haue nought done certainly all the ymages lytell aueylen as who saythe suche thynges inought be made in mynde of them that were but dastardes and neuer dyde worthy dede in all their lyfe Wherfore for the loue and honour that I beare to our moost puissaunt soueraygne and to do pleasure to his subieâ—tes bothe nobles and coÌ„mons I haue endeuored me to translate out of FreÌ„che as sayd is in to Englysshe the four volumes of sir Iohan Froissart and reduced them in to twayne Wherin if I haue erred I praye them that shall defaute fynde to coÌ„syder the greatnesse of the hystorie and my good wyll that aske nothyng elles of them for my great labour but of their curtesy to amende where nede shal be and yet for their so doynge I shall praye to god finally to sende them the blysse of heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the preface of sir Iohan Bourchier knight lord berners deputie of Calais traÌ„slatour of this present cronycle and here after foloweth the table with the chapters as they stande in the boke by order c. ¶ Herafter foloweth the table of this present volume FIrst howe syr Iohan Bourchyer gouernour of Gaunt durynge the truse had newe vitayled the towne of GauÌ„t and howe a maner of people called comporselles dyd moche hurte in the Countrey Capitulo primo ¶ Howe the bridge of Taylbourcke was won by the frenche men and howe the englisshmen fortyfied them selfe agaynst the coÌ„myng of the frenchmen and howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and his rout aryued at â—â—â—nborowe in Scotlande Capi. ii ¶ Howe the frenche men found a wylde countrey of ScotlaÌ„de and were yuell content with the admyrall and howe he pacyfied them with fayre wordes and howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nerehande taken Ardenbourke in Flaunders Cap. iii. ¶ Howe the lorde of saint Albyne and Enguerante zendequyn saued Ardenbourke fro takynge and howe the quene of Hungery sent ambassadours into Fraunce to marry thetle of Valoyes to her eldest doughter Cap. iiii ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabant wrote to duke Frederyke of Bauyere of the maryage of the yonge frenche kyng with her nese Isabell of Bauyer and howe the duke and the lady came to Quesnoy Capi. v. ¶ Howe Fraunces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the frenche kynge wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyere and after wente and layde siege to Dan. Fo .vi. ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were behe ded and howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune howe the siege of Dan contynewed longe Cap. vii ¶ Howe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by nyght howe the frenche men toke the towne and destroyed it and also howe the kynge dystroyed the countrey of the foure craftes Capi. viii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge departed oute of Flaunders and gaue leaue to his men to departe and howe he came to Parys to treate with the ambassadours of Hungry and howe the marques of Blanqueforte toke by streÌ„ght to his wyfe the same lady 〈…〉 Cap. ix ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone toke Bertuell in Poictou and also of the great assemble that the kynge of Scottes made to entre in to Englande Cap. x. ¶ Howe the frenche men and scottes was the castell of Vatley and dystroyed dyuers other townes in Northumberlande and howe they withdrewe agayne in to Scotlande whan they knewe that the kynge of Englande was coÌ„mynge on them with a great puyssaunce Capi. xi ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande slewe syr Rycharde Stafforde and howe the erle of Stafforde came to the kynge to demaunde iustyce Capi. xii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande caused to be dystroyed the churche of Mewreus in Scotlande and howe the barones of Scotlande aunswered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuysed to leaue Scotlande and to lette the englysshe men alone Cap. xiii ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande toke Edenborowe the chiefe tytle of Scotlande howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to Wales to close in the frenche men and the scottes and what the frenche men and scottes dyd in the sayd countrey Cap. xiiii ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kynge of Englande had thought to haue made into Wales after the frenchmen and scottes and howe the kyng retourned the same way that he came and howe the frenche men scottes determyned to retourne againe into Scotlande Cap. xv ¶ Howe the frenche lordes were in great paryll in scotlande and coude nat fynde the meanes to passe ouer thesee and how they shewed the erles Duglas and Morette the hardnesse that they founde in that countrey and what answere they made to them Cap. xvi ¶ Howe the admyrall enfourmed the frenche kynge and his counsayle of the state of Scotlande and
Xancere and of the departyng of the erle of Arundell Cap. C .l. ¶ Howe the admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kynge and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castile and howe the duke of Berrey sent to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Bolonge Cap C .li. ¶ Howe Geffray Tete Noyre dyde chose a capitayne ouer his company and howe he made his testament and so dyed And howe the duke of Guerles departed fro his countrey to go in to Pruce and of the incydence that fell to hym in the lande of the duke of Stulpe where he was taken prisoner and disconfyted Cap. C .lii. ¶ Howe sir Johan of Vyen dyde his message to kyng Johan of Castyle fro the frenkynge and his counsayle and what answers the kynge of Castyle made to hym Capi. C .liii. ¶ Howe sir Loyes of Xancere went to se the erle of Foize at Orthays and howe before the duke of LaÌ„castre at Burdeux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue Frenche men and fyue Englysshe men and howe the duchesse of Lancastre went with her doughter in to Castyle to kyng JohnÌ„ Cap. c .liiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Lancastre departed fro the kyng of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to bring her fathers bones to Ciuyle howe the Frenche kyng sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the mariage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with therie of Boloyns doughter Cap. C .lv. ¶ Howe certaygne wyse men treated for a peace to endure for thre yere bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande and all their alyes aswell on the one parte as on the other by laÌ„de and by see Cap. C .lvi. ¶ Of the ordynaunce of the entre of quene Isabell in to the towne of Paris Ca. c .lvii. ¶ Howe the lorde of Castell morant whom therle of saynt Poule had lefte behynde him in Englande retourned in to Fraunce with the charter of the truse sealed by kynge Richarde his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C .lviii. ¶ The maryage of kynge Loyes sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Arragone and howe he went with the quene of Naples his mother to Auignon to se pope Clement Cap. C .lix. ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng had desyre to go and visyte the farre partes of his realme and howe he went fyrste in to Burgoyne and to Auignone to se pope Clement Cap. c.lx. ¶ Howe sir Peter Courtney caÌ„e in to FrauÌ„ce to do armes with sir Guye of Tremoyle and howe the lorde of Clary conueyed hym and by what occasyon he dyde armes with hym in the marchesse of Calis Cap. c.lxi ¶ Howe the iustes at saynt Inguelyert otherwyse called Sandyngfelde were enterprised by sir Raynolde of Roye the yonge sir BouciquauÌ„t and the lorde of saynt Pye Capi. C .lxii. ¶ Of the complayntes made to the Frenche kynge by the people of Languedocke in the towne of Besyers agaynst Beusache treasourer to the duke of Berrey of the great extorcyons that he had made and of his contessyon and of the cruell dethe that he hadde in the sayd towne Cap. C.lxiii ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng beynge at Tholous sent for the erle of Foize who came thyder and dyd homage to the kyng for the couÌ„tie of Foize Cap. C.lxiiii ¶ Of the feate and couynauÌ„t that was done bytwene the kynge and the duke of Thoutayne his brother whiche of them shulde sonest come to Parys fro Mountpellyer whiche is a hundred and fyftie leages a sonder eche of them but with one knight Capi. C .lxv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope Vrbayne of Rome called the Antepape howe pope Clement wrote to the Frenche kyng and to his vncles and to the vnyuersite and of the electyon of pope Bonyface by the cardynals of Rome Capi. C .lxvi. ¶ Of the yeldynge vp and takynge of the stronge castell of Vanchadore in Lymosyn of olde parteyninge to sir Geffray Teate Noyre Cap. C.lxvii ¶ Of the dedes of armes at saynt Ingylbertes continewyng thyrtie dayes agaynst all coÌ„mers of the realme of Englande other countreis euery manne thre courses Capi. C .lxviii. ¶ Of the enterprise and voyage of the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of the duke of Burbone who was as chiefe of that armye at the request of the genouoys to go in to Barbary to besiege the stronge towne of Affryke Cap. C.lxix ¶ Of a capitayne a robber and a pyller of the countre called Aymergot Marcell who helde a strong castell in the marchesse of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandoys and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meauix and of the takyng therof and howe Aymergot was taken and brought to Parys Capi. C .lxx. ¶ Howe the Christen lordes and the genoâ—â—ys beyng in the ysle of Conymbres at ancre departed thens to go and lay siege to the strong cytie of Affryke in Barbary howe they maynteyned the siege Cap. C.lxxi ¶ Howe after this aduenture and doÌ„mage that fell to the christen men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Affryke that so many knyghtes and squyers were deed they maynteygned them selfe more wiselyer after than they dyde before and contynued their siege a longe season after Cap. c.lxxii ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in London whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the siege before the towne of Affryke agaynst the sarasyns and howe this feest was publisshed in dyuers countreis landes Cap. C.lxxiii ¶ Howe and by what indydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Affryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man recourned to their owne countreis Cap. c.lxxiiii ¶ Of thenglyss he knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the Frenche kyng fro the kyng of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Capi. C.lxxv ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Iohan of Castyle and of the crownynge of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C.lxxvi ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the voyege that he made in to Lombardy howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of AlexaÌ„dre Cap. c.lxxvii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon fell in the Frenche kynges displeasure and in the Duke of Thourayns and after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastellon sonne to therle Guye of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix ¶ Of the sodayne dethe of the erle Gascone of Foize and howe the erle of Chastellon caÌ„e to his enherytaunce Cap. C.lxxx ¶ Howe the treatie of peace renewed at Towers in Thourayne bytwene the Frenche kynge and the duke of Bretayne and of the maryage of the doughter of Fraunce to the sonne of Bretayne and of Iohan of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and the doughter of the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxxi ¶ Howe the erle of Bloyes Mary of Namure his wyfe solde the countie
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
lorde And thus was done by the meanes of Fraunces Atreman who spake for hym wherby Peter lyued in reste for they knewe well that Peter alwayes helde with their opynions and was a true and a good capitayne THis truce durynge they of GauÌ„te apoynted theym that shulde go to Tourney to conclude this treatie And FrauÌ„ces Atreman was sent thyder as chiefe bycause he was a man reasonable and well knowen with all lordes and with hym wente Roger Creuyn and Iaques DardeÌ„bourke and they came to Turney in the vtas of saynt Andrewe with a fyftie horse and were all lodged toguyder at the sygne of the Samon in the strete of saynt Brise And the .v. day of Decembre thyder came the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe and the lady of Neuers their doughter they entred into Turney at the gate towarde Lyle And agaynst their entrynge the gauÌ„toyse that were there issued out to mete with theym And whan they sawe the duke they enclyned theym selfe on their horses bare heeded And the duke passed lightely by theym for he made haste to mere with the duchesse of Brabante who was comynge to the cytie by the gate of Malynes and she was lodged in the bysshoppes palays So thus began the treatie bytwene the Duke and the towne of Gaunt and sir Iohan Delle toke great payne to go and come bytwene the ê‘ties and at the desyre of the duches of Bourgoyne of the lady Neuers the duke forgaue all his yuell wyll And the peace was made cryed accorded written and sealed bytwene the parties in maner as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Here after ensueth the tenoure of the letters and charters of peace ⸪ PHilyppe the sonne of FrauÌ„ces duke of Burgoyn erle of Flaunders Artoyse and Palatyne lorde of Selynes erle of Rethell Malynes and Margarete duchesse and countesse of the sayd cositreis To all them that heateth or seyth this present writynge we sende gretynge We wyll that it be knowen that oure welbeloued subiectes aldermen and commons of our good towne of Gaunte hath right humbly requyred our lorde the kyng vs that we shulde haue pytie and mercy on them and to pardone all offences by theym or any for theym done to the kynge or to vs and for pytie and compassyon of our said subiectes by our letters we haue pardoned theÌ„ And also we haue confyrmed their auncyent priuyleges frauncheses customes and vsage in case that they wyll playnly obey the kynge and vs. Whiche pardone they of Gaunte and their parte takers haue receyued right humbly by suche letters messaÌ„gers as they sent to vs in great nombre to Turney and they haue clene tenounsed all debates and warres and with good hartes are returned to true obeysauÌ„ce to the kyng and to vs. Promysyng from hens forthe to be true frendes faith full to the kynge and to vs to the king as their soueraygne lorde to vs as their naturall lorde by reason of Margarete our wyfe as their naturall lady heretour Wherfore the kynge we haue receyued to our grace our said subiectes haue gyuen them letters of ê‘don pure remyssion with restytucyon of their priuyleges customes and vsages the whiche more at large appereth by the content of oure letters After whiche pardons our sayd subiectes haue made to vs dyuers supplycacions the whiche we haue receyued haue caused them by good delyberacyon to be sene vysited examyned by our counsayle the whiche well sene for the coÌ„men ê“fite of all the couÌ„tre to eschue all disceÌ„sions that herafter might fall of our speciall grace by the conteÌ„placion of our good subiectes we haue ordred and determined in maner as foloweth Firste where as they desyre that we shulde confyrme their auÌ„cient priuileges of Tourney Danduarde Grauntmont Meule Teremounde Ruplemount Abste Atharcle Breuelies Douse and of the Chateleyns and playne countrey parteyning to the same townes We haue ordayned that the inhabytauÌ„tes of the sayd townes shulde come to vs briÌ„gyng with them their priuyleges which shal be sene by our couÌ„sayle And that done we shall so do that our said subiectes of GauÌ„t and they of the sayd good townes shall by reason holde them content And if any of the sayde priuyleges be lost by any case fortune or otherwyse we shall make good reformacion therof Also where as they haue desyred for the course of marchaundyse we haue coÌ„sented that they haue all their auncyent course payeng their custome of olde tyme contynewed Also where as they desyre that if any of the inhabytauntes of our towne of Gaunt or any of their adherentes happe to be arrested in tyme to come in any countre out of the countrey of Flaunders for the occasyon of the debates and foresayd discensyons that than we shulde cause theym to be released and to lyue in reste And in that case we haue grauÌ„ted that if any of them be arrested for that cause We shall ayde conforte and defeÌ„de them with our power agaynst any that so shulde trouble them as we be bouÌ„de to defende our good and true subiectes Also they requyre that all suche prisoners as we haue whiche were of their ê‘tie that they shulde be delyuered We haue ordayned do ordayne that all suche prisoners if they be putte to their rauÌ„some that they pay their raunsome and be delyuered payeng also their reasonable expenses So that if any of these prisoners or their frendes or kynne haue in their haÌ„des any fortresses of ours kepyng it agaynst vs First that they delyuer suche forteresses in to oure handes and also in lykewise that they delyuer all suche prisoners as they haue in their handes MOreouer by our habundant grace we haue ordayned and do ordayne that all suche as by the occasions of the debates and discencyons that were laste in oure countrey of FlauÌ„ders and haue ben banisshed out of our good townes of Bruges Ipre the countre of Francke and other townes and places And also all suche as hath ben banysshed by iustyce of the lawe out of Gaunt or put out or iudged without lawe and be absent that all suche be restored and maye retourne and dwell in the sayd towne and all suche as hath taken their parte to be restored agayne at their pleasure to suche places as they came fro whan they entre agayne in to any of the sayd townes that they swere to our offycers to be true to vs and to kepe the peace and suretie of the sayde townes nor that they beare any yuell wyll priuely nor a parte to any of the inhabytauntes of the sayd townes nor to do them any yuell or domage And that all suche as entre in to any towne shall swere to obey the kynge and vs suche as be absent the tyme hereafter lymitted shal be restored to all the fees houses rentes herytages whersoeuer they be Natwithstandyng any forfayture done by them by the occasyon of the sayd discensyons but they to enioye them as in their
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
armes to be taken Cap. xxx THan agayne I demaunded of hym where Rambalt an expert squier and a great capitayne of meÌ„ of Warr was becoÌ„e bycause I sawe him ones in Auignon in great aray I shall shewe you quod the Bastot of Manlyon In tyme past whan sir Seguyn of Batefoyle helde Bride in Velay a ten myle fro Puy in Auuergne and that he had made warre in the countre conquered moche than he retourned in to Gascon gaue to Loyes RaÌ„balt to another coÌ„panyon of his called Lymosin Bride Anse on the water of SoÌ„me the countre as than was so desolate full of coÌ„panyons in euery corner that noue durst go out of their houses bitwene Bride in Auuerne Anse is more than .xxvi. myle a couÌ„tre full of mouÌ„tayns and whan Loyes Rambalt wolde ryde for his pleasure fro Bride to Anse he rode without doute or feare for he helde dyuers fortresses in the countie of Forestes and therabout wher he refresshed hym For as thaÌ„ the gentylmen of Auuergne of Forestz of Velaye and the fronters were sore traueyled and ouer layde with the warre they were so taken and raunsomed that they doughted the warre For there was none of the great lordes of FrauÌ„ce that sente any men of warre in to the couÌ„tre for the frenche kynge was yonge and had moche a do in dyuers ê‘tes of the realme for in euery parte the companyoÌ„s and companyes rode and dyd moche hurte so that the realme coude nat be quyte of theÌ„ And also dyuers of the lordes of Fraunce were in Englande in hostage and in the meane season their countreys men were pylled and robbed and had no remedy for the men of the countre were without corage to defende themselfe And so it was that Rambalte and Lymosin who were companyons in armes fell out I shall shewe you howe LOyes Rambalte had at Bride a fayre woman to his louer whome he loued parfitely and whan he rode fro bride to Anse he coÌ„maunded Lymosin to take good hede to her And Lymosin who was his companyon in armes and in whome he moost trusted he toke so good hede to the damosell that he had his pleasure of her whan he lyste so that Loyes Rambalte was enfourmed therof and he coude suffre it no lengar So that he toke suche a hate agaynst his companyon that he caused hym to be taken by his seruauntes made hym to be driuen all naked saue a breche about the towne and beaten with scourges and truÌ„pettê to be blowen before him And at certayne places his dede to be openly cryed than banisshed the towne lyke a treatour and in a symple cote putte out This dispyte dyd Loyes Rambalte to Lymosin whiche dispyte Lymosin toke greuously and sayd Howe he wolde be reueÌ„ged if euer it laye in his power as he was anone after And this Lymosin whyle he was in prosperite in ridyng bytwene Bride and Anse he euer forbare the landes of the lorde of Voult dwellyng on the ryuer of Rone for he had serued him in his youthe Than he thought to go to hym and to crye hym mercy to desyre hym to make his peace in FrauÌ„ce and so in his cote a fote he went to Voulte for he he knewe ryght well the way and so went in to a house whan he sawe his tyme he wente to the castell and the porter wolde nat suffre hym to entre but at last he spake so fayre that the porter dyde lette him in and coÌ„maunded hym to go no farther in wtout he were coÌ„maunded and he obeyed Whan the lorde was vp he went downe in to the court to sporte hym and so came to the gate Than Lymosin felle downe on his knees and sayde sir do ye nat knowe me by my faithe quod the lorde no He thought lytell it shulde haue been Lymosin and whan he had well aduysed hym he sayd Thou resemblest well Lymosin who was ones my seruaunt Sir quod he â— Lymosyn I am and your seruaunt than he cryed him mercy for all thynges paste before and shewed hym fro poynt to poynt all his busynesse and howe Loyes Rambalte had dalte with hym at the ende Than the lorde sayd Lymosyn Is it as tho sayest and that thou wylte becoÌ„e good frenche I shall make thy peace By my faith sir quod he I neuer dyde so moche hurte to the realme of FrauÌ„ce but I shall do agayne more ê“fyte therto that wolde I se gladly quod the lorde of Voult the lorde kept him in his house tyll he had made his peace in euery place and whaÌ„ Lymosin myght in suretie ryde than the lorde of Voult armed hym and brought hym to the seneshall of Velay and acquaynted hym there and ther he was examyned of the state of bride and of Loyes Rambalte and whan he rydeth what waye he taketh and than he sayd Whan Loyes rydeth he hath nat with him past a .xxx. or a .xl. speares and the wayes that he kepeth I knowe them by harte For with hym without hym I haue rydden them ofte tymes And sir if ye wyll sende forthe a company of men of armes on ieopardy of my heed ye shall haue him within fyftene dayes The capitayns ther toke hede to his sayeng and sent out spyes and Rambaulte was spyed as he was rydinge fro Bride to Anse besyde Lion on the ryuer of Rone Whan Lymosin knewe it he shewed it to the lorde of Voult and sayd Sir Loyes RaÌ„balte is nowe at Anse and at his retournyng I shall bring you to a streight wher as he must nedes passe by Than the lorde of Voult made an assemble and was capitayne hymselfe and sente for the bayly of Velay the lorde of Mountelan sir Gerarde of Salyers and his sonne sir PlaÌ„seart of Vernet the lorde of Newcastell for other men of armes therabout so that he was a thre C. speares and they all assembled at Nonnay and by the couÌ„saile of Lymosin they made two busshmentes the vicouÌ„t of Polygnac the lorde of Chalencon had the rule of the one and the lorde Voulte and the lorde of Mount Clan had the guydynge of the other busshment and with them sir Loyes of Tornon and the lorde of Salyers and they hadde equally deuyded their company The firste company kepte the pase nere to saynt Rambart in Forestes wher as Loyes Rambalte shulde passe the ryuer of Loyre or els he muste haue gone by Guyde or Pynne And whan Loyes Rambalt had done that he came for to Anse he departed with a .xl. speares and thought nat to haue any rencounter and douted nothynge of Lymosin it was the leest thought he had And lightely euer the way that he rode outwarde he wolde nat come homewarde And as he came outwarde he caÌ„e by saynt Rambalte and at his retourne he toke another waye toke the mountayns aboue Lyon and aboue Vyenne and vnder the Burge Darlentall And rode streyght towarde the Mounastier a thre lytell myle fro Puye
of Englande or out of Hungry or some other place and yesterdaye I came thens and suche thynges are fallen or suche other So thus the lorde of Corasse knewe by Orthon euery thynge that was done in any parte of the worlde And in this case he contynued a fyue yere and coude nat kepe his owne counsayle but at laste discouered it to the erle of Foiz I shall shewe you howe THe firste yere the lorde of Corasse came on a daye to Orthayse to the erle of Foiz and sayd to hym sir suche thynges are done in EnglaÌ„de or in Scotlande or in Almaygne or in any other countrey and euer the erle of Foiz founde his sayeng true and had great marueyle howe he shulde knowe suche thyngê so shortly And on a tyme therle of Foiz examyned hym so straitly that the lorde of Corase shewed hym all toguyder howe he knewe it and howe he came to hym firste Whan the Erle of Foiz herde that he was ioyfull and sayd Sir of Corasse kepe hym well in your loue I wolde I hadd suche a messangere He costeth you nothynge and ye knowe by hym euery thynge that is done in the worlde The knight answered and sayd sir that is true Thus the lorde of Corasse was serued with Orthon a long season I can nat saye if this Orthone hadde any mo maysters or nat But euery weke twyse or thrise he wolde come and vysite the lorde of Corasse and wolde shewe hym suche tidynges of any thyng that was fallen fro whens he came And euer the lorde of Corasse whan he knewe any thynge he wrote therof euer to the Erle of Foiz who had great ioy therof for he was the lorde of the worlde that moost desyred to here newes out of straunge places And on a tyme the lorde of Corasse was with the erle of Foiz and the erle demaunded of hym and said Sir of Corasse dyd ye euer as yet se your messangere Naye surely sir quod the knyght nor I neuer desyred it That is marueyle quod the Erle if I were as well acquaynted with hym as ye be I wolde haue desyred to haue sene hi wherfore I praye you desyre it of hym than to tell me whet forme and facyon he is of I haue herde you say howe he speketh as good gascone as outher you or I. Truely sir quod the knight so it is he speketh as well and as fayre as any of vs bothe do And surely sir sithe ye counsayle me I shall do my payne to se hym I can And so on a night as he lay in his bedde with the lady his wyfe who was so enured to here Orthon that she was no more afrayde of hym Than came Orthon and pulled the lord by the eare who was fast a slepe and therwith he awoke and asked who was theâ— I am here quod Orthon Than he demauÌ„ded fro whens comest thou nowe I come ê™ Orthon fro Prage in Boesme Howe farre is that hens quod the knyght A threscore dayes iourney quod Orthone and arte thou come thens so soone quod the knight ye truely quod Orthon I came as fast as the wynde or faster hast thou than wynges quod the knight Nay truely ê™ he Howe canste thou than flye so faste quod the knyght ye haue nothyng to do to knowe that quod Orthone No quod the knight I wolde gladly se the to knowe what forme thou arte of Well ê™ Orthon ye haue nothing to do to knowe it sufficeth you to here me I to shewe you tidyngê In faythe ê™ the knyght I wolde loue the moche better and I myght se the ones Well ê™ Orthone sir sithe ye haue so great desyre to seme the firste thynge that ye se to morowe whan yt ryse out of your bedde the same shal be I. that is sufficient quod the lorde Go thy way I gyue the leaue to departe for this nyght And the next mornynge the lorde rose and the lady his wyfe was so afrayd that she durst nat ryse but fayned her selfe sicke sayd she wolde nat ryse Her husbande wolde haue had her to haue rysen sir quod she than I shall se Orthone I wolde nat se him by my good wyll Well ê™ the knight I wolde gladly se hym and so he arose fayre and easely out of his bedde sat downe on his bedde syde wenyng to haue sene orthon in his owne ê“performe but he sawe nothyng wherby he might saye Loyonder is Orthon So that daye passed and the nexte night came and whan the knyght was in his bedde orthon came and began to speke as he was accustomed Go thy waye quod the knight thou arte but alyer Thou promysest that I shulde haue sene the and it was nat so No quod he I shewed my selfe to the. that is nat so ê™ the lorde why ê™ Orthon whaÌ„ ye rose out of your bedde sawe you nothynge Than the lorde studyed a lytell and aduysed hymselfe well yes truely quod the knyght nowe I remembre me as I satte on my beddes syde thynkynge on the I sawe two strawes on the pauement tumblyng one vpon another That same was I ê™ Orthone in to that fourme I dyde put my selfe as than That is nat ynoughe to me quod the lorde I praye the putte thy selfe in to some other fourme that I maye better se and knowe the. Well ê™ Orthon ye wyll do so moche that ye wyll lese me and I go fro you for ye desyre to moch of me Naye quod the knyght thou shalte nat go fro me let me se the ones and I wyll desyre no more Well quod Orthone ye shall se me to morowe take hede the firste thynge that ye se after ye be out of your chaÌ„bre it shal be I. Well quod the knight I am than coÌ„tent go thy way lette me slepe And so Orthone departed and the nexte mornynge the lorde a rose and yssued out of his chambre and went to a wyndowe loked downe in to the courte of the castell and caste about his eyen And the firste thynge he sawe was a Sowe the greattest that euer he sawe and she semed to be so leane and yuell fauoured that there was nothyng on her but the skynne the bones with long eares and a longe leane snout The lorde of Corasse had marueyle of that leane Sowe and was wery of the sight of her and coÌ„maunded his men to fetche his houndes and sayd Lette the dogges hunt her to dethe and deuoure her His seruauntes opyned the kenelles and lette out his houndes and dyde sette them on this sowe And at the laste the sowe made a great crye and loked vp to the lorde of Corasse as he loked out at a wyndowe and so sodaynely vanysshed awaye no man wyste howe Than the lorde of Corasse entred in to his chambre right pensyue than he remembred hym of Orthon his messangere and sayd I repent me that I sette my houÌ„des on hym It is an aduenture and euer I here any more of hym for he sayd
to me often tymes that if I displeased hym I shulde lese hym the lorde said trouthe for neuer after he came in to the castell of Corasse and also the knight dyed the same yere next folowynge Lo sir quod the squyer thus I haue shewed you the lyfe of Orthone and howe a season he serued the lorde of Corasse with newe tidynges It is true sir ê™ I but nowe as to your firste purpose Is the erle of Foiz serued with suche a messangere Surely quod the squier it is the ymaginacion of many that he hath suche messaÌ„gers for theâ— is nothynge done in any place but and he sette his mynde therto he wyll knowe it and whan men thynke leest therof And so dyde he whan the good knightes and squyers of this countrey were slayne in Portugale at Iuberothe Some saythe the knowledge of suche thynges hath done hym moche profyte for and there be but the value of a Spone loste in his house a none he wyll knowe wheâ— it is So thus than I toke leaue of the squyer and went to other coÌ„pany but I bare well awaye his tale ¶ Nowe I wyll leaue to speke of the busynes of Portugale and of Spaygne and speke of the busynesse in Languedocke and in FrauÌ„ce ⸫ ⸪ ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretaygne and howe dyuers englysshe fortresses about the countre of Tholous were recouered and turned frenche Cap. xxxviii IN the season whyle these aduentures thus felle in Castyle and in farâ— marchesse it was ordayned by sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce to make a bastyde before the strong castell of Brest in Bretaygne whiche the Englysshmen helde and had done longe wolde nat departe nother for the frenche kyng nor for the duke of Bretayne to whom the castell shulde partayne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne and the frenche kynges counsayle hadde oftentymes written to the duke of Bretayne desyring hym to putte to his payne and dilygence to gette agayne his enheritauÌ„ce the castell of Brest for it was gretly to his preiudyce to suffre the Englysshmen to enioye it And the duke what for the prayer of the sayde lordes and also bycause he wolde gladly haue had the possession of Brest in his owne haÌ„des On a tyme he layd siege therto but nothyng he wan there and so departed thens sayd howe he coude do nothyng theâ— wherat some knightes squyers murmured and sayde howe the duke dyd but dissimule for suche as were theâ— he tooke theym nat for his frendes nor wolde nat for all the Peace that was made that the castell of Brest shulde be in the frenche kynges handes for if the frenchmen helde it he shulde nat be lorde therof yet he had rather it were in the Englysshe mens handes for the Englysshe men durst nat displease him wherfore all thynges coÌ„sydred the constable of FrauÌ„ce thought that the castell of Breest and the towne were nat mete to be enemy to the realme of Fraunce And thought it nat honorable for the duke nor for the knyghtes of Bretaygne to suffre it as they dyde Therfore he ordayned to laye siege therto with a great nombre of knyghtes and squyers of Bretaygne and he made chiefe capitaynes of them the lorde of Molestroyt the vycount of Barleere Morfane and the lorde of Roche Duraunt These foure valyant men wente and layde siege as nere to Brest as they might and made a bastyde and closed it about with pales and stones and tooke fro Brest all their issues excepte the See whiche was nat in their power to close fro them And often tymes there were scrimysshes and feates of armes done before the barryers for suche as were without desyringe dedes of armes wolde coÌ„e valyantly to the barryers and they within receyued theym as valyantly so that often there were dyuers hurt on bothe ê‘ties There were but fewe dayes but that some dedes of armes were done THe same season there was in the marchesse of Tholousyn a valyant knyght of FrauÌ„ce called sir Galtier Paschac a good capitayne of men of warre he was of the nacyon of Berrey on the fronters of Lymosyn and or his comynge the seneschall of Tholous sir Roger of Spaygne and sir Hugh of Frodeuyll and the seneschall of Carcassone hadde written in to Fraunce to the Constable there of the state of the countre of Tholous and Robestan and howe that dyuers of the companyons aduenturers suche as were yssued out of Lourde and of castell Cuyllet and had made warre for the Englysshmen helde in their handes the fortresses folowyng As saynt Forget the Bassere the Mesuylle Purpuron CoÌ„uall Rochâ—fort Thâ—dos Iulyen Naueret and dyuers other wherby they had so enuyroned the cytie of Tholous that the people coude nat yssue oute to labour their vynes and landes nor go on marchandyse but in great paryll without they had truce or patesed with them And of all these castels the chiefe capitayne was an expert man of warre of Basque called Espaigoullet he dyd many marueylous dedes in armes He toke on a tyme by scalynge the castell of Armayle whyle the lorde therof sir Raymonde was gone to Tholous and he kepte it more than a yere in the meane season whyle he kepte it he caused to be made a myne and a caue whiche went out of the castell in to the feldes And whan the caue was made he closed vp the entre with stones so that it coulde nat be parceyued that any waye was there vnder the yerthe And in the same meane season the lorde Raymonde of Armayle treated with Espayguollet to haue agayne his castell for money Whan the caue was finysshed he agreed with the lorde to delyuer vp the castell for two thousande frankes and he and all his to deê‘te Than the lorde entred agayne in to his castell and repayred it where it was in defaulte And a fyftene dayes after Espaiguollet with his coÌ„pany in a night came to the wode where the yssue of the caue was and entred in to it And so at the hour of mydnight they toke the castell the lorde lyenge in his bedde and raunsomed hym agayne at two thousande frankes than let hym go but Espayguollet kept styll the castell and a good garison whiche after sore traueyled the countrey with other of his alyaunce and company FOr these maner of people that robbed pylled thus in the marches of Tholous of Rouergue and there about vnder the colour of the Englysshmen Therfore thyder was sente sir Gaultier of Paschac with a certayne nombre of men of armes to delyuer the countre fro their enemyes And so he came to Tholous sent for the knyghtes and squyers therabout and wrote to sir Roger of Spaygne seneschall of Carcassone who came to serue hym for sir Gaultier had a coÌ„missyon generall ouer all the offycers of Languedocke and so all suche as were sent for came with suche nombres as they might make Sir Roger of Spayne came with a threscore
resydue of my people for I wyl put all Hungery vnder my subiectyon after the royalme of Almayne the enchauntours of my countrey of Egypte saye it is my desteny to be lorde and kynge of all the worlde the place that I wolde moost gladlyest se is Rome for auntyently it was of our enherytauÌ„ce for our predecessours coÌ„quered gouerned it dyuers tymes there I wyll be crowned Galafre of Landas the racon of Tartarye the Sowdan of Babylone shal crowne me then they who were before hym on theyr knees answered sayd syr we shall accomplysshe your desyre coÌ„maundement so they departed with a .lx. M. Turkes amonge whom there were .xx. M. of the moost experte men of warre and best armed of all Turkye they ledde the vowarde So longe they iourneyed that they came in amonge the mountaynes of Lazaryn they founde no let in the entrynge in to yâ— countrey so the vowarde entred in the duke of Mecque the duke of Daniuet ledde them so this vowarde passed the Erle of Lazaryus enbusshement when the erle the Hungeryons sawe theyr tyme they set theyr worke meÌ„ a worke to cut downe trees to stoppe so the wayes that there coulde no mo entre nor they that were comen in to recule they were so closed in that it was not possyble for ony maÌ„ to go ony further so there was thus enclosed a .xxx. M. turkes who we refyersly assayled by the Hungaryons and so handeled on bothe sydes of the way that they were there all slayne not one that skaped the .ii. dukes also slayne some thought to haue saued themselfe in the woodes but they were so chased that they were all slayne then they of the areregarde tourned backe wheÌ„ they saw they coulde not entre for the trees that stopped the way so they retourned to Lamorabaqum shewed hym the grete myschef that was falleÌ„ on his people wherof he was meruayllous sory and dyspleased theÌ„ he called his couÌ„sayle to know what was best for hym to do for he had lost the floure of all his chyualry and so retourned dyd no more at that tyme. WHen the kynge of Armony had shewed all this his owne estate to the frenshe kynge to the barons of FranÌ„ce to his counsayle they had of hym grete pyte and bycause he was come fro so ferre a couÌ„tre as Grece to seke counsayle ayde there bycause he was a kynge chased out of his royalme and had as then no thynge to lyue on to maynteyne his estate ¶ The frensshekynge as yonge as he was sayd we wyl that the kynge of Irmony who is come hyder to se vs in hope to haue some coÌ„forte helpe ayde of vs to kepe his estate as it aperteyneth to hym who is a kyng as wel as we be wheÌ„ we may weshal ayde hym with men of warre helpe to recouer his â—herytauÌ„ce wherto we haue good wyl for we are bounde to exalte the crysten faythe The frensshe kynges wordes were well harde and vnderstande as it was reason there were none that sayd the contrary the kynges vncles counsayle were desyrous to accomplysshe his entent so the kynge of Armony to maynteyne his estate there was assygned to hym a certayne rente reuenues out of the chambre of accomptes so was well truely payde euery moneth his assygnement was a .vi. M. frankes by the yere he had delyuered hym at the fyrst .v. M. fraÌ„kes to prouide for his lodgyng vessel other thynges necessary his lodgynge apoynted at saynt Andon besyde saynt Denyce there to kepe his house Thus the kynge of Armony was reteyned by the Frensshe kyng at his fyrst comynge dayly he encreased not apayred was somtyme with the frensshe kynge and specyally at hyghe feestes ¶ Howe pope Vrban pope ClemeÌ„t were at grete dyscorde togyder and howe the crysten kynges were in varyaunce for theyr lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Ca. xlii THe same season there came to Auâ—gnyon to se the pope Clement syr Othes of Bresnyl to haue money for the warre he had made for hym agaynst the Romayns Bertram of Aâ—gles who wrote hymselfe pope Vrban the vi as it is coÌ„teyned in his hystory here before there syr Othes shewed dyuers thynges to the pope to the Cardynalles wherin he was wel byleued harde but as for money he coulde gete none for the popes chambre was so clene voyded fro golde syluer that the Cardynals coulde not haue the money that perteyned to theyr hattes So this syr Othes of Bresnyll departed fro theÌ„ not wel content At Auygâ—yon there was delyuered hym a M. frankes he set lytell therby wherby pope Clementes warre was sore weked for syr Othes wolde in no wyse medle ony more in the popes warres TheÌ„ Margaret of Duras who was at Gaiecte was aduersary agaynst the quene of Naples wyfe soÌ„tyme to kynge Lewes duke of Aniow She sente for this syr Othes to ayde her in yâ— warre that she made agaynst the Napolytanes and this syr Othes a certayne space exscused hymselfe and dyssymuled and foded forth the tyme as he that wyst not what to do then some of his counsayle dyde put hym in mynde to go to this Margaret of Duras who was enherytoure to Naples to Cycyle to helpe to ayde to defende her heritage to take her to his wyfe for she was contente to mary hym bycause he was of a noble blood of hyghe extraccyon was lorde kynge of the countrey called Daure and some other of his couÌ„sayle counsayled hym contrary saynge how he myght therby come to an euyll ende for the chyldreÌ„ of kynge Lewes of naples who was crowned kynge in the Cyte of Bare thoughe they were but yonge yet they had grete frendes kynsmen specyally the frenlshe kynge theyr cosyne germayne who wyl ayde them theyr moder Iohan duches of Amowe of Mayneal these doubtes some of his counsayle shewed hym wherfore syr Othes forbare a longe season dyssymuled the mater and toke none of bothe partyes The same season the sowdyours of pope Clement enclosed in the Cyte of Peras pope Vrban was besyeged by the lorde of Moctroy a valiaunt knyght of the countye of Genes of Sauoy syr Talebart a knyght of the Rodes and syr Bernarde de la sale And there pope Vrban was sore constrayned on that poynte to haue ben taken for as I was then enformed for the some of .xx. M. frankes a capytayne almayne who had a grete company with hym called the erle Courant wolde haue delyuered pope Vrban in to the handes of pope Clement whervpon syr Bernarde de la sale was sent to Auygnyon to pope Clement for the sayd some of money but the pope nor the Cardynalles there coulde not make the money for the popes courte was so poore that they had no money and
myght haue an answere Laurence sayd the duke or this tyme â–ª I haue shewed you and yet agayne I say it that your comynge and these tydynges doth me grete pleasure and ye shall not departe fro me tyll ye be satysfyed of all your requestes well answered in that ye be come for syr sayd the squyer I thanke you then the duke called for wyne spyces so toke theyr leue wente to theyr lodgynge to Arcorch to the house of the Fawcon in London there they were lodged with Thomelyn of Colebrunque ANd it was not longe after but that the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had counsayle togyder of that busynes â–ª of Castell and Portyngale wherof the erle of Cambrydge was well contente for he had ben in that countrey before more then a yere and he was glad to here of the condycyons tytles of the kynge of Portyngale and of the quene of Castell and sayd to his broder syr when kynge Ferrant lyued the Chanon Robsart and syr Wyllyam Wyndesore and dyuers other knyghtes that were there with me shewed me as it is nowe fallen for they sayd how they had herde dyuers of the same couÌ„trey murmure on the quene of Castelles tytle to Portyngale therfore I toke away with me my sone had no grete affeccyon to that maryage In the name of god sayd the duke the squyer that is here of Portyngale hathe declared all the matter and I thynke we can not haue so fayre an entre in to Castell as by Portyngale for the royalme of Aragon is ferre of and also the kynge there and his chyldren haue alwayes ben more fauourable to the frensshe partye thenne to vs Therfore it were not good syth the kynge of Portyngale maketh for vs this good 〈◊〉 to refuse it So on a day for this matter there was a parlyament holden at Westmynstre there it was accorded that the duke of Lancastre sholde haue at the costes of the royalme bitwene a M. .xii. C. speres of chosen men .ii. M. archers a M. of other yomen they were all paydein hande for halfe a yere therwith all the kynges vncles were well contente specyally the duke of Lancastre to whom pryncypally the matter touched as he that sholde be chefe of the armye and to dyspatche these ambassadours of Portyngale the kynge of Englande wrote to the kynge of Portyngale louynge letters conteynyng grete amyte that he wolde bere to Portyngale grete gyftes were gyueÌ„ to the mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale to Laurence Fongase who was alwayes with the duke of Lancastre with the erle of Cambrydge so on a day these ambassadours toke theyr leue of the kyng his couÌ„sayle dyned that daye with the duke of Lancastre the erle of Cambrydge the nexte day they were delyuered as I vn derstode the duke of Lancastre sente letters to the kynge of Portyngale also by credence that he sholde sende a .vii. galeys an .xviii. or .xx. other vesselles to the porte of Brystowe on the fronters of Wales for hym his company to passe in to Portyngale so the ambassadoures departed wente to Hampton there founde theyr shyp that taryed for them so entred in to the see had wynde at theyr wyl so entred in to the hygh Spaynysshe see within .v. dayes they were in the hauen of the porte of Portyngale at whiche tyme the kynge was there and was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge ANd there the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale Laurence Fongase shewed the kynge his counsayle al that they had sene herde in Englande as well of the kynge as of his vncles delyuered theyr letters whiche certefyed al theyr saynges then anone after the kynge of Portyngale Who gretely desyred the ayde out of Englande to the entente to cause his enemyes to haue the more fere determyned with his couÌ„sayle that mayster Alphons Vâ—etat chefe patron mayster of all his shyppes and galeys in Portyngale that he sholde prepayre redy .vii. galeys and .xviii. other grete Chyppes to sayle in to Englande to fetche the duke of Lancastre his coÌ„pany so Alphons was coÌ„maunded thus to do he incontynent dyd so and so on a daye departed fro the porte of Portyngale and in .vi. dayes he arryued at Brystowe at whiche season the lordes of Englande for the moost parte were aboute the marches of Wales for the kynge was there when the duke of Lancastre knewe of the comynge of these shyppes he was ryght ioyfull Then knyghtes squyers and al suche as sholde go with hym were sente for so that in the porte of Brystowe there were CC. vesselles with the flete of Portyngale redy apparelled for the duke and his company and the dukes entencyon was to haue with hym his wyfe his chyldreÌ„ to make with them some good maryages in castel in Portyngale or his retourne agayne in to Englande for he thought not shortely to retourne for he saw the busynes in Englande lykely to be harde and sharpe how the kyng his neuewe was yonge and had aboute hym peryllous counsayle wherfore he was the gladder to be gone or he departed in the presence of his bretherne he ordeyned his sone the lorde Henry erle of Darby his lieutenaunt of all that he had in Englande set aboute hym wyse sad counsayle he was a lusty yonge knyght was sone to the duches of Lancastre the lady Blaunche doughter to quene Phylyp of Englande I neuer sawe .ii. better ladyes nor of more noble condycyon nor neuer shal thoughe I sholde lyue this thousande yeres whiche is impossyble WHen duke IohnÌ„ of Lancastre had ordred all his busynes in Englonde theÌ„ he toke leue of the kyng of his bretherne and so he wente to Brystowe there taryed a .xv. dayes shypped all his horses bagages mo then .ii. M. with hay lytter and fresshe water for them Then the duke entred in to a galey well apparelled had by hym a grete shyp yfnede were for hym for the duches Constaunce his wyfe who wente in this iourney with a good courage for she trusted then to recouer her herytage of Castell and to be quene there or she retourned agayne she had with her a doughter called Katheryne by her fyrst husbande .ii. other doughters Izabel and Phylyp whiche Phylyp was maryed to syr IohnÌ„ Holande who was constable of the oost the marshall was syr Thomas Morâ—aur who had also in maryage one of his doughters howbeit she was a bastarde was moder to the lady mercell damoysel Mary of saynt Hyllary of Hauman admyral of the dukes nauey was syr Thomas Percy also there was syr yon fythwaren the lorde of Lucy syr Henry Beaumond de poumins syr IohnÌ„ of But nuell the lorde Talbot the lorde Basset syr Wyllyam Beaâ—champ syr Wyllyam Wyndefore syr Thomas
his counsayle was to take the see at Sluse so to entre in to englande to distroy the countrey they that were ryche men in the royalme of frauÌ„ce to the ayde of this voyage were taxed tayled to the .iii. .iii. parte oâ— theyr goodes many payde more theÌ„ they were worth besyde to accoÌ„plysshe the payment for men of warre FRo Spayne fro the porte of sybyll to Pruce there was no grete shyp on the see that the frensshmen coulde lay theyr handes on nor vnder theyr owne obeysaunce but were reteyned for the frensshe kynge his men prouysyon came fro al partyes aryued in flaunders both wyne salte flesshe hay in tonnes otes ony on s bysket floure egges in pypes of al maner of thynges that coulde be deuysed so that in tyme to come it coulde not be byleued but by theÌ„ that sawe it lordes knyghtes squyers men of war were wryten vnto desyred to come serue the kyng in his iourney as out of Sauoy Almayne fro yâ— sone goynge downe to the lande of the erle of Amynacke so these lordes of farre countreys as the erle of Sauoy was reteyned with .v. C. speres also the erle of armynacke the dolphyn of Awuergne these lordes thoughe they were of farre couÌ„treys knew not what ende this warre sholde come to yet they made theyr ê“uysyons so grete costly that it was gret meruayle to thynke therof it was wonder to consyder fro whens all suche prouysyon came what by lande by see in to flauÌ„ders as to bruges to dan to Sluse so there was sent for in to HolaÌ„de zelande meldebourge zerechyel dourdrest stonehone to all other townes on the see coost to the ryuers entryng in to the see for al maner of shyppes that coulde do ony seruyce al were brought to Sluse but the holanders the zelanders sayd to theÌ„ that reteyned theÌ„ yf ye wyâ— haue our seruyce pay vs our wages clerely or elles we wyl go to no parte so they were payde wherin they dyd wysely I trowe syth god created the worlde there was neuer sene so many grete shyppes togyder as was that yere at sluse at Blanquerge â—or in the moneth of septeÌ„bre in the sayd yere they were nobred a .xii. C. lxxx.vii shyppes at Sluse there mastes semed in the se lyke a grete wood the coÌ„stable of Fraunce shyp was apparelled at Lentregmer in bretaygne also the coÌ„stable caused to be made in bretaygne of tymbre a closure of a towne or lyke a parke that wheÌ„ they had takeÌ„ lande in englade to close in theyr felde to lodge theriÌ„ more at theyr case wtout waking or skries wheÌ„soeuer they sholde remoue theyr felde yâ— closure was so made that they myght take it a sonder in peces a grete nombre of carpeÌ„ters other receyned in wages to atende thereon I herde not that the duke of bretaygne made ony prouysyoÌ„ to go in this iourney nor the duke of Tourayne the kynges yonger broder nor the erle of Bloys al myght not go for some must abyde behynde to kepe the royalme WHo so had ben yâ— seasoÌ„ at bruges at dan or at sluse sene the busynes there in chargynge of shyppes with hay sackyng of bysket ladyng in of onyons peson benes barley candelles hosen shoos spurres knyues daggers axes of war axes to hew wtal mattockes nayles beddes couches horseshoos pottes paÌ„nes caÌ„delstyckes al maner of necessaryes for kechyn botery al other oâ—â—yces of euery thyng that coulde be thought of necessary to serue maÌ„ horse al was had in to shyppes in one thyng or other who so euer had sene it if he had ben seke I thynke he wolde clene haue forgoten al the payne the coÌ„panyons of frauÌ„ce rekened none otherwyse amonge theÌ„selfe wheÌ„ they spake togyder but that the royalme of englaÌ„de sholde clene haue ben lost exyled wtout recouery al the men women chyldreÌ„ therin slayne taken caryed in to frauÌ„ce in seruytude OF this grete apparel thus made to come in to englande the kyng of englaÌ„de his couÌ„sayle were wel enfourmed therof it was surely affyrmed that the fensshmeÌ„ wolde come thyder for so they had surely sworne it was no meruayle though this grete apparel somwhat at the begynnyng abasshed the englysshmeÌ„ also yâ— matter was shewed moche more then it was in dede also that englysshmen were in no sure cerâ—aynte whether this preparacyon was to come in to Englande or elles to lay syege to Caleys bothe by lande by see for the englysshmeÌ„ knewe wel that of all the townes in the worlde the frensshmen most desyred to haue caleys wherfore the kyng of englande sent to Caleys grete prouisyon of whete other cornes salte flesshe fysshe wyne bere other thynges and thyder was sent syr Thomas HolaÌ„de erle of kente syr Hughe Caurell syr wyllyaÌ„ Helman syr Dangouses syr water of Vurnes syr Water paulle syr WyllyaÌ„ Toucet syr Loys of Mountalban syr Colars of DaÌ„brychcourte .v. C. men of armes .v. C. archers the erle Rycharde of AruÌ„del syr Henry spenser were ordeyned to kepe the see with .xl. greteshyppes wel decked with men of armes archers to the nombre of CCC men of armes .vi. C. archers ON the other syde it was sayd in dyuers places in fraunce in haynalte in pycardy that the freÌ„sshe armye that was thus apparelled in flauders was nother to go in to englande nor to Calays but rather to retourne al the matter set on the towne of Gaunte as it was enfourmed the towne of Gaunte yâ— same season doubted gretely that all the apparell was for to come on theÌ„ but they were in a wronge byleue for the duke of Borgoyne theyr lorde wolde nothyng to theÌ„ but good rest peas thoughe that Frauncis Atreman were slayne anone after the makyng of the peas at Tournay for of his deth the duke was nothyng to blame nor the duke had none euyll wyl to hym though in the season of war he dyd many feates of armes for the towne agayÌ„st the duke as it hath ben declared more playnly here before for though he came to an euyl ende it was his owne defaulte for if he had byleued Peter du boys it had ben otherwyse with hym for when the peas was made bytwene the duke of Borgoyne them of Gaunt when he retourned fro Tournay to Gaunt that Peter du boys made hym redy to go in to Englande with syr IohnÌ„ Bourser then Peter sayd to hym FrauÌ„cis what wyll ye do wyl ye go in to Englande with vs then he sayd he wolde abyde styll in Gaunt why sayd Peter thynke you to abyde here in peas there is grete hatred agaynst you me I wyll abyde for nothynge here it is not to tryst in the comontye ye haue herde how they of Gaunt slue murdred the valyaunt Iaques of Artuell
iourney lefte but I speke it by waye of counsayle and syth that the moost parte of the royalme enclyneth to this iourney therfore fayre broder of Borgoyne I wolde that you and I sholde go but I wolde not counsayle that the kynge sholde goo for yf ony mysfortune sholde fall it shal be layde to vs well sayd the frensshe kynge who was present at all those wordes yf none wyll go I wyll go Then the lordes began to smyle and sayd the kynge hath a couragyous wyll Howbeit they toke counsayle to deferre that voyage tyll Aprell or May nexte after theyr prouysyons as Bysquet powdred flesshe and wyne sholde be kepte saufely tyll then and there they ordeyned that the lordes and theyr companyes sholde retourne thyder agayne in the moneth of Marche anone this was knowen and so brake the voyage for that season the whicost the royalme of Fraunce a C.M. frankes xxx tyme tolde ¶ Howe kynge Charles of fraunce and the frensshe lordes retourned euyll contente fro Sluse and out of Flaunders where as theyr prouysyons were made to haue gone in to the royalme of Englande and of the feest that was made at London Ca. lx AS ye haue herde before there was made a grete apparell in Fraunce by the kynge there and the lordes with grete cost and charge with shyppes and galayes to passe the see in to englande to make warre there And howe this voyage was broken by wether and bycause that wynter was so nere hande Then it was ordeyned by the counsayle that the kynge and the lordes sholde retourne euery man to his owne home and euery thynge to abyde in the same state vnto the moneth of Marche or Aprell and then euery man to be redy at the kynges commaundement THen there myght well haue ben seene lordes and knyghtes soore dyspleased And specyally suche as were of farre couÌ„treys and had sore trauayled theyr bodyes and spente theyr money in trust to haue had a good season as the erle of Sauoy the erle of Armyâ—ake and the erle Daulphyn of Awuergne and a C. other grete lordes that departed in grete dyspleasure bycause they had not ben in Englande in lykewyse so dyd the frensshe kynge but as thenne he coulde not amende it ¶ So thus departed all maner of people some mery and some gretely dyspleased and angry and the offycers abode styll there behynde for too make shyfte to sell theyr prouysyons for theyr maysters profyte and to take money for them yf they myght but they wyst not to whome nor where for it that coste a hundred frankes was solde for .x. frankes and for lesse money The erle Dalphyn of Awuergne sayd vnto me that by his faythe he hadde there prouysyons the whiche coste hym ten thousande frankes and when he retourned homewarde agayne he lost all togyther and soo sayd many knyghtes and squyers and other people of Fraunce ¶ And when these tydynges were knowen in the royme of Englande some were ryght ioyfull and gladde therof as suche people that doubted the Frensshe mennes commynge And some were angry and dyspleased therwith whiche was suche people as thought to haue some promocyon and profyte by them SO thenne there was made at the cyte of London a grete feest and thyther came all the lordes suche as hadde kepte the portes and passages of the royalme of Englande ¶ And then the kynge helde also a noble feest at westmynstre on Crystmasse day And there were thre dukes made ¶ Fyrste the erle of Cambrydge was made the duke of yorke The erle of Buckyngham his broder was made duke of Glocestre And the thyrde was the erle of Oxenforde and he was made the dâ— of Irelande This feest endured with grete reuelles and tryumphes ¶ So thus the people of the royalme of Englande as they thought themselfe that they hadde escaped a grete peryll and thenne dyuers of them sayd amonge themselfe that they wolde neuer sette more by the Frensshe men and they thought that all the assemble of the Frensshe men that was made at Sluse was but to fere the Englysshe men and to haue caused the duke of Lancastre and his company to retourne agayne out of Spayne ¶ Howe a squyer called Iaques le Grys was accused in the parlyament house at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and what Iugement was gyuen vpon them and howe they Iusted at vtteraunce in Parys in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple And howe Iaques le Grys was confounded Ca. lxi IN this tyme grete brute there was in fraunce and in the lowe marches of a feate of armes that sholde be done at Parys in vtteraunce for soo the matter was Iudged in the parlyament chambre at Parys The whiche plee hadde endured a yere bytwene these two partyes the one was asquyer called Iaques le Grys and the other partye was a knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne and they were bothe of the lande housholde of the erle Peter of alanson they were welbyloued of theyr lorde and specyally this squyer Iaques le Grys was byloued and trysted with his lorde aboue ony other persone in his courte or housholde and bycause that mortall batayle folowed bytwene them and they beynge bothe of one lordes housholde euery man hadde grete meruayle therof Soo that out of dyuers countreys grete multytude of people came to Parys at the daye of batayle for to se it I shall shewe you the hole matter I as was then enfourmed SOo it was that on a season this knyght called IohnÌ„ of Carongne toke an entrepryse vpon hym to goo ouer the see for the auauncement of his honoure where vnto he hadde ben longe tyme to accomplysshe ¶ Soo he departed from his lorde the erle of Alanson to doo his voyage And also he toke his leue of his wyfe who as then was reputed a fayre lady and a yonge and he lefte her in a castell of his owne on the marches of Perche otherwyse called Argentuell and so entred in to his voyage and his wyfe laye styll at her castell in a wyse and sage maner ¶ Soo here beganne the matter by the deuylles temptacyon whiche entred in to the body of the squyer Iaques le Grys who was with the erle of Alanson his lorde for he was as one of his counsayle And so he determyned in his mynde to doo an euyll dede whiche he derely bought afterwarde Howbeit the euyll that he dyd coulde neuer be proued in hym nor he wolde neuer confesse it This squyer Iaques le Grys sette his mynde on the wyfe of the foresayd knyght IohnÌ„ of Carongne in the absence of her husbande and he knewe well that she was in the castell of Argentuell but with her owne company and housholde seruauntes ¶ And soo on a mornynge he toke a good hors and departed from Alanson and so rode on the spurres with grete haste tyll he came to the ladyes castell and when he was thyder come the ladyes seruauntes made hym
Englande the good quene Phylyp whos seruaunt I was in myne yongth she was of ryghtfull gouernacyon cosyn germayne to the lorde Charles of Bloys she dyd put to her payne for his delyuerauce howbeit the counsayle of Englande wolde not that he sholde be delyuered the duke Henry of Lancastre sayd and other lordes of englande that yf he were out of pryson by hym myght be made many grete recoueraunces for the royalme of Fraunce for kynge Phylyp as then frensshe kyng was his vncles and they affyrmed that as longe as he were kepte in pryson theyr warre in to Fraunce sholde be the easyer howbeit for all those wordes that was shewed to the kynge by the good meanes of the noble and good quene he was set to his fynaunce to paye CC.M. nobles whiche was as then a grete some to be payde for lordes as then lyued in another maner theÌ„ they do nowe for as nowe men may pay more then theyr predecessours myght haue done for nowe they tayle theyr people at theyr pleasure and before they lyued but on theyr rentes and reuenues for as nowe the duchy of Bretayne wtin a yere or two is able to pay to helpe theyr lorde .ii. M. nobles or more The lorde Charles of Bloys layde to the kynge of Englande his .ii. sones in pledge for the sayd some afterwarde the lorde Charles of Bloys had so moche to do in pursuyng his warre for the duchy of Bretayne and to pay his souldyours and to kepe his estate alwayes hopynge to come to a good ende of his warre so that he was not able to quyte out his sones out of Englande for the holy man in pursuynge of his herytage dyed as a saynt in a batayle in Bretayne before aulroy by the ayde of the Englysshe men who were agaynst hym when he was deed yet the warre ended not but then kynge Charles of fraunce who in his lyfe doubted gretly the fortunes of the warres when he sawe that the erle Mountforde the Englysshe men seased not but styll wente forwarde wanne townes fortresses in Bretayne he fered that yf the erle Mountforde myght come to his entente of the duchy of Bretayne that he wolde not holde nor do homage to hym for he had promysed his alleageaunce to the kynge of englande who ayded alwaye hadde done to maynteyne his warre then he treted with the erle Mountforde his counsayle as it hath ben shewed here before wherfore I wyll speke no more therof but the erle of MouÌ„tforde abode as duke of Bretayne with that he sholde do homage and holde soueraynte or the crowne of fraunce and by the same trety the duke sholde ayde helpe to gete delyuered out of pryson in englande his .ii. cosyns sones to the lorde Charles of Bloys whiche artycle he neuer dyd accomplysshe for alwayes he doubted that yf they retourned they wolde put hym to some busynes for the duchy of Bretayne fered lest they of Bretayne wolde receyue them as theyr lordes for they more enclyned to theÌ„ then to hym wherfore he wolde not speke for theyr delyueraunce Thus these .ii. chyldren abode so longe in Englande in pryson somtyme in the kepynge of the lorde Roger Beawchamp and the lady Sybyll his wyfe and somtyme with syr Thomas Dambrychcourte on a tyme the yonger Guy of Bretayne dyed then IohnÌ„ of Bretayne abode styll in pryson alone he was often tymes sad of his beynge in pryson but he coulde not ameÌ„de it And often tymes when he remembred the losse of his yonge dayes as he that was of the moost noble generacyon of the worlde was lykely to lese he wolde often tymes wepe and wysshed hymselfe rather deed then a lyue for a .xxxv. yeres or theraboute he had ben in the daunger of his enemyes in Englande and coulde se noo maner of meanes of his delyueraunce for his frendes and kynne drewe of fro hym and the some that he laye for was so grete that he wyst not how it sholde be payde without god helped hym and the duke of Anioy for all his puyssaunce and prosperyte and that he had wedded his syster germayne by whom he had .ii. fayre sones Loys Charles for all this he dyd nothynge for hym Now shall I shew you howe this IohnÌ„ of Bretayne was delyuered ¶ Howe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sone to syr Charles of Bloys was delyuered out of pryson by the meanes of Olyuer of Clysson the constable of Fraunce Ca. lxxii IT hathe ben shewed here before in this hystory how the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ made a voyage thrughe the royalme of Fraunce came in to Bretayne the duke of Bretayne had desyred hym so to doo bycause parte of his countrey wolde not be vnder his obeysaunce there the erle of Buckyngham his company lay al yâ— wynter the begynnyng of somer 〈◊〉 in grete pouerte before Nantes Wennes tyll it was Maye then he retourned in to englande when the erle Thomas of Buckyngham his company laye before Wennes in lodgynges without There were dyuers skyrmysshes bytwene the englysshment frensshmen thyder came Olyuer ClyuÌ„on constabable of Fraunce to se the warre that was there made to speke with the englysshe knyghtes for he knewe them well for in his yongth he was brought vp amonge theÌ„ in Englande soo he made good company with them in diuers maners as noble men of armes wyll do eche to other as frensshmen and englysshmeÌ„ haue alwayes done as then he had good cause so to do for he entended a purpose whiche touched hym ryght nere but he wolde dyscouer his entente to noo man lyuynge but alonely to a squyer that was there who had alwayes before serued the lorde Charles of bloys for yf the constable had dyscouered his entente to ouy man he had ben out of all hope to haue sped brought aboute his purpose whiche by the grace of god he atteyned vnto The constable coulde in no wyse loue the duke of Bretayne nor he hym longe tyme or they shewed it And where as he sawe IohnÌ„ of Bretayne in pryson in englande he had therof grete pyte wheÌ„ he sawe the duke of Bretayne in possessyon of the herytage of Bretayne when he thought that he was in moost loue with the duke then he sayd syr why do ye not put to your payne that your cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bretayne were out of the kyng of Englandes pryson syr ye are bounde therto by othe promyse for syr when all the countrey of Bretayne was in treaty with you the prelates noble men good townes the cyte of Nantes Archebysshop of Reynes syr IohnÌ„ Craon syr Boncequalte as then marshall of fraunce â—reted with you for the peas before Compercorentync than there ye sware that ye sholde do your full puyssaunce to delyuer your cosynes out of pryson syr ye haue done nothynge in that matter Wherfore be you sure the countrey of Bretayne loueth you the lesse oweth you the
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
of Englande dukes erles barons and counsayle of the good townes Than it was sayde to hym Sir Symon ye haue alwayes ben a notable knight in the realme of EnglaÌ„de and ye were well beloued with my lorde the prince And ye and the duke of Irelande haue had in a maner the gouernynge of the kyng We haue sene all your maters and well examyned them the whiche be nother good nor faire which gretly displeaseth vs for your owne sake It is clerely determynyd by the hole generall counsayle that ye must go to prison in to the towre of London there to remayne tyll ye haue brought into this chambre the money of the kynges and of the realmes that ye haue gathered the whiche as it apereth by the treasourers rolles draweth to the some of two hundred and fyfty thousande frankes Nowe loke what ye wyll say Than syr Symon was halfe discomforted and said Sirs I shall with a good wyll And also it behoueth me so to do to fulfyll yoâ— coÌ„maundement I shall go where as ye commaunde me But my lordes I require you let me haue a clerke assigned to me that he maye write all suche expenses as I haue layde oute in tyme past in Almayne in Beame in procurynge the kinges maryage And if there be any reast I beseche you let me haue the kynges grace and yours that I may haue reasonable dayes to pay it Sir quod the lordes we are content Thus syr Symon Burle was in prison in the towre of London THan the constable spake of ser Willyam Helmon and of sir Thomas Tryuet for they were nat greatly in the fauour of some of the barones of Englande nor of the commontie of the realme for the vyage that they made in to Flaunders For it was sayd that neuer Englysshmen made so shamefull a vyage The bysshoppe of Norwyche and sir Hughe Caurell that was as than capitayne of Calais were excused layde to the others charge howe they hadde taken money for the gyueng vp of Burbourcke and Grauelyng Some sayd that that dede was trayson they were sent for and sir Wylliam Helmon came but sir Thomas Tryuer was excused I shall shewe you howe ¶ The same weke that he was sente for beyng in his owne house in the Northe ê‘te he rode out into the feldes vpon a yonge horse that he hadde and spurred hym so that the horse ranne awaye with hym ouer busshes and hedges and at laste fell in a dyke and brake his necke and so sir Thomas Triuet dyed whiche was great doÌ„mage and his dethe was greatlye complayned with many good menne of the realme yet for all that his heyres were fayne to paye a certayne somme of Floreyns to the Counsayle to the kynges behoue as they sayde But the chiefe encytyng of those maters came by the kynges vncles and by the generall counsayle of the couÌ„trey as it appered after in Englande For of trouthe thoughe the duke of Gloucestre was the yongest brother in age yet he was moost auncyent in the busynesse of the realme for he drewe to that opinyon that moost of the noble menne and prelates and the commons helde Whan that sir ThemÌ„s Tryuettes coÌ„posicion was made after his dethe by the maner as ye haue herde here before therby the penauÌ„ce of sir Wylliam Helmon was greatly asswaged He entred with the counsayle and by the meanes of the valyantnesse of his body and the good seruyce that he had done dyuers tymes for Englande as well in Bourdeloyes as in Guyen and in Picardye where he was alwayes proued a good knight There was nothynge layde to his reproche but takynge of the money for the delyuerauÌ„ce of Burborcke and Grauelynge Than he excused hymselfe with fayre and swete wordes and made dyuers reasonable reasons sayd My lordes who so euer were in lyke case as we were in that tyme in the garyson of Bourburke I thynke wolde do as we dyd I haue herde sir IohnÌ„ Chandos and sir Gaultier of Manny say dyuers tymes who were right wyse and of gret valure Howe that a man ought of two or iii. wayes chose the best waye and wherby most to endomage his enemyes And thus sir Thomas Tryuet and I beyng in the garysons of Bourburke and Grauelyng and sawe howe we were enclosed on all parties and no conforte aperyng to vs from any parte And parceyued well howe we coulde nat endure many assautes for they that laye about vs were as chosen men of armes as euer I sawe or I trowe any other Englysshemenne For as I knewe iustely by the reporte of our harraude they were at leest a syxtene thousande men of armes knyghtes and squyers and a .xl. thousande of other And we were nat paste a thre hundred speares and as many archers And also our garysone was of suche cyrcuyte that we coude nat enteÌ„de on euery place And that we well ê‘ceyued by an assaut that was made vs on a daye For whyle we were at oure defence on the one parte they caste in fyre on the other parte wherby we were gretly abasshed and that our ennemyes right well parceyued And therfore to saye the trouthe the Frenche kyng and his counsaile wrought by great geÌ„tylnesse seyng the case that we were in to gyue vs trewse For if they had gyuen vs another assaute the nexte daye as they were ordayned to do I thynke they hadde taken vs at their pleasure yet for all this they courtesly treated with vs by the meanes of the duke of Bretayne who tooke great payne in that mater And where as we shulde haue gyuen theym money for our raunsommes if we hadde ben taken as it was lykely they gaue vs money wherby we dyde them dommage and it was in them to haue endomaged vs. We thought we conquered greatly on them whan we had of their money and departed oure selfe safe and withoute trouble and hadde with vs all that we had won in all the warre tyme on the fronters of FlauÌ„ders And my lordes besyde that to pourge me of all blame if there be any ê‘sone in Englande or without knight or Esquyer Except the ê‘sons of my lordes the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester that wyll saye and abyde therby that I haue done any vntrouthe to the kynge my naturall lorde or accuse me of any trayson I am here redye to receyue his gauge and to putte my body in aduenture by dedes of armes to proue the coÌ„trarye as the Iudge therto assigned shall ordayne These wordes and suche other and the valyauntnesse of the knighte excused hym greatlye and saued hym frome the parell of dethe And afterwarde he retourned agayne in to his fourmer estate and was after that a ryght valyaunt knyght and auaunsed in to the kynges Counsayle But as at that tyme sir Symon Burle was nat delyuered out of prisone for the kynges vncles hated hym gretlye and soo dyde all the commontie of Englande The kyâ—ge dyde all that he myght to haue hadde hym delyuered all the
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
and smyled and sayde to a knyght of his Go and make this haraulde good chere he shall be answered to nyght and departe to morowe Than the kynge entred in to his secrete chambre and sent for sir Wyllyam of Lygnac and for sir gaultyer of Passac and red to them the letters and demaunded of them what was beste to do ¶ I shall shewe you the substaunce of the matter Syr Iohan Holande constable of the duke of Lancastres hoost wrote to the kynge of Castyle desyring hym to sende by the herault letters of safecoÌ„ducte for .ii. or thre englysshe knightes to go and come safe to speke and to treat with hym Than these knightes answered sayd sir it were good ye dyde this for than shall you knowe what they demauÌ„de Well quod the kyng me thynke it is good Than there was asafecoÌ„ducte written coÌ„teyninge that sixe knightes might safely go and come at the poyntyng of the constable This was sealed with the kynges great seale sygned with his hande deliuered to the heralt and xx frankes in rewarde Than he returned to AuraÌ„che where the duke the constable were THe herault deliuered the safecoÌ„duct to the coÌ„stable Than the knyghtes were chosen that shulde go sir Mauberyn of Linyere sir ThomÌ„s Morell sir Iohan Dambreticourt these thre knyghtes were charged to go on this message to the kynge of Castile and they deê‘ted assone as they might for some thought long for there were many sicke and lacked phisicions and medicins and also fresshe vitaylles These Englysshe ambassadours passed by the towne of Arpent and there the constable of Castyle sir Olyuer of Clesquy made theÌ„ good chere and made them a supper And the next daye he sent with them a knyght of his of Tyntemache a breton to bring them the more surelyer to the kyng for encouÌ„tryng of the bretons of whom there were many sprede abrode so long they rode that they came to Medenade Campo and there they founde the kynge who had gret desire to know what they wolde whan they were a lyghted at their lodgyng chauÌ„ged refreshed theÌ„ they went to the king who made to theÌ„ gode semblaunt were brought to hiby the knightê of his house Than they delyuered to the kyng letters fro the dukes Constable but none fro hym selfe for as than he wolde nat write to the kynge but they sayd Sir kyng we be sent hyder to you fro the erle of Huntyngdon Constable with the duke of Lancastre A certaynynge you of the great mortalyte and sickenesse that is amonge our men Therfore the constable desyreth you that ye wolde to all suche as desyreth to haue their helthe opyn your cyties and good townes and suffre them to entre to refresshe them and to recouer their helth if they maye And also that suche as haue desyre to passe in to Englande by lande that they maye passe without daunger of you of the kyng of Nauer and of the Frenche kyng but pesably to retourne in to their owne coutreis sir this is the desyre and request that we make vnto you as at this tyme. than the kyng answered and said soberly Sirs we shall take couÌ„sayle and aduise what is good for vs to do than ye shal be answered than the knyghtes sayd sir that suffyceth to vs. ¶ Howe these thre knyghtes obteyned a saueconduct of the kyng of Castyle for their people to passe howe dyuers of theÌ„glysshmen dyed in Castyle howe the duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Cap. C .v. THus they departed fro the kynge at that tyme and went to their lodgynges there taryed all that day the next day tyll none than they went to the kyng Now I shall shewe you what answere the king had of his couÌ„saile This request gretly reioysed the kyng for he sawe well his enemys wolde deê‘te out of his realme he thought in hymselfe he wolde agre therto yet he was couÌ„sayled to the coÌ„trary but he sent for the .ii. freÌ„che capitayns sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WillmÌ„ of Lignac and whan they were come he right sagely shewed theÌ„ the desire reqÌ„st of the coÌ„stable of the Englysshe host and hervpon he demauÌ„ded of them to haue their couÌ„sayle First he desyred sir Water Passacke to speke He was lothe to speke before other of the kynges couÌ„sayle there but he was fayne so to do the kyng so sore desyred hym so by the kynges coÌ„maundement he spake sayde Sir ye are come to the same ende that we haue alwayes said that was that your enemys shulde wast theÌ„ selfe they are nowe disconfyted without any stroke strikyng sir if the said folkes desyre to haue comforte refresshyng in your countre of your gentylnesse ye maye well grauÌ„t it them so that whaÌ„soeuer they recouer their helthe they retourne nat agayne to the Duke nor to the kynge of Portugale but than to deê‘te the streight way in to their owne countreys And that in the Terme of sixe yere they arme them nat agaynst you nor agaynst the realme of Castyle We thynke ye shall gette rightwell a safeconducte for them of the kynge of Fraunce and of the kynge of Nauerre to passe peasably through the realmes Of this answere the kynge was ryght ioyfull for they counsayled hym accordynge to his pleasure for he had nat cared what bargeyn he had made so that he myght haue benquyte of the Englysshmen Than he sayd to sir Water Passacke Sir ye haue well and truely counsayled me I thanke you and I shall do accordyng to your aduise Than the thre Englysshe knyghtes were sent for Whan they were come they entred into the counsayle chaÌ„bre Than the bysshop of Burges chaunceller of Spayne who was well langaged sayd sirs ye knyghtes of EnglaÌ„d perteyning to the duke of LaÌ„castre and sent hyder fro his constable vnderstande that the kyng here of his pytie and gentylnesse wyll shewe to his enemyes all the grace he maye And sirs ye shall retourne to your coÌ„stable and shewe hym fro the kyng of Castyle that he shall make it to be knowen through al his hoost by the sowne of a trumpet that his realme shal be open and redy to receyue all the Englysshmen hole or sicke so that at thentre of euery cyte or towne they laye downe their armure and weapons And there shall they fynde men redy to bring them to their lodgiges And there all their names to be written and delyuered to the capitayne of the towne to th entent they shulde nat retourne agayne in to Galyce nor in to Portugale for no maner of busynesse but to deê‘te in to their own countreis assone as they may And assone as the kyng of Castyle my souerayne lorde hath optayned your safecoÌ„ducte to passe through the realmes of Nauer and Fraunce to go to Calis or to any other porte or hauen at their pleasure outher in to Bretaygne Xaynton Rochell NormaÌ„dy or Picardy Also the kynges pleasure is that all suche knightê
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
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
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
Iohan Froissarte was present And whan they had been there in great Feest thre dayes they departed and toke their way to Poyters but they went by water by the ryuer of Loyre to Amboyse and fro thens in chares and on horsebacke tyll they came to Poytou There the duchesse helde her house moost cōmonly in a good castell and good towne called Chynon In this yere dyed Mary of Fraunce beyng yonge who was wyfe to the erle of Mountpenlier In lykewise soone after dyed the lady Iane of Armynake duchesse of Berrey Thus the duke of Berrey and his sonne were to marry agayne as they dyd but nat ouer soone Of the whiche maryages and specyallye of the dukes I shall shewe you here after whan the mater shall requyre to haue it declared YE haue well herde here before howe the duke of Guerles had defyed the French kyng dispyte fully whiche was spoken o◠sar and nere For as the brute was it was nat done in no curtesse maner but out of the style and vsage of all other defyances Trouthe it is I sawe my selfe certayne writynges in paper the whiche was sayde to be the true copy But bycause I sawe it nat vnderseale nor aproued as such maters ought to be that touche great princes suche as is the Frenche kyng therfore I gaue no greatcredence therto Howe be it it semed well that this defyaunce was displeasaunt to the realme wolde haue it amended And that the duke of Guerles shulde excuse hym of the spytefull wordes that were in the defyaunce The kynges coūsayle wolde in no wyse that the mater shulde rest so for the great lordes of Fraunce sayde Without the kyng founde some remedy they and all the realme shulde be greatly to blame And they sayd howe the kynge was yonge and forwarde and that was well sene in his iourney in Flaunders And if he go nat forwarde nowe to reuenge this dede men wolde speke dyuerslye of the nobles of the realme of Fraunce who shulde counsayle the kynge and are sworne to kepe and defende his honour and to refourme all that is mysordred And to the entent that the kynge nor the realme shulde beare no blame the lorde of Coucy toke payne in the mater And shewed well howe the mater touchedde hym nere He knewe the almayns better thā he dyde any other for he hadde been often in their cōpanyes as well for the chalenge that he made to the duchy of Austryche as for other insydentes that he hadde amonge them THe kynges vncles sawe well howe all the nobles of the Realme were well enclyned to haue the mater redressed and specially the duke of Burgoyne hadde great affectyon therto for the duke of Guerles haryed and pylled the duchesse of Brabantes countrey The whiche enherytaunce shulde retourne to hym after the dethe of the two ladyes who were right aged both the duches and her sustre wherfore he wolde that outher by warre or other meanes that the duke of Guerles were apeased Howe be it fyrst of all it was requisyte to make all the membres of Fraunce one and of one opinyon For it shulde be a farre iourney for the kynge to go out of Fraunce in to Almaygne to conquere landes and countreis The whiche the kynge coulde nat do without he had all his hole puyssaunce with hym for it was nat knowen whyder the almaygnes who be couetous people wolde helpe and assyst the duke of Guerles or nat Also furthermore the duke of Burgoyne and the other noble men of Fraunce sawe well howe the duke of Bretayne was in great differēce with the realme of Fraunce and began marueylously shewed by his dedes that he had as lyue haue warre with the realme of Fraūce as peace And the lordes knewe well howe he prouyded his townes castels cyties with great prouisyon of men vitayls and artillary to defende any siege And besydes that often tymes he wrote in to Englande with louynge treatable wordes to make alyaunce for euer And the Englysshmen were wyllyng therto to the entent that their warre with Fraunce myght be the better for them after Thanne the counsayle of Fraūce wolde nat that there shulde be lefte behynde them suche a myst in Bretaygne but that first it myght be putte a waye by good meanes and condute They thought they wolde nat putte the realme in that doute If the kynge shulde go in to Almaygne and leaue the realme destytute as this the Kynges vncles ymagined They wyste nat howe to stoppe the duke of Bretayne for as than suche as they had sent thyder were retourned as the bysshoppe of Lāgers sir Iohan of Vyen and sir Iohan de Beull They shewed the kyng his vncles howe they had done nothyng to purpose thā the duke of Berry aduysed to sende to Bretayne to entreat with the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes who was a sage persone a treatable Than the duke desyred hym and sayde Fayre cosyn it behoueth that ye go in to Bretaygne to speke with our cosyn the duke there If ye fynde hym harde and highe of wordes chafe nat with hym treate hym swetely and after a good maner And speke sagely to hym and bring hym in to good reason and it may be And shewe hym howe the kynge and I and my brother of Burgoyne wolde nothing to hym but good loue peace And if he wyll abyde and holde with vs we shall alwayes be redy to do hym pleasure also shewe hym that as for the castels that he holdeth of the cōstables how that for a small occasion he hath ceased them But it wolde please hym to rendre them agayne it shulde be greatly to his honour And howe that the kynge shall gyue hym as fayre and as good as they be in any other place where he wyll chose in the realme Good cosyn do so moche as to bringe vs some good tydinges and for any tarieng there departe nat fro him tyll ye bring some mater to passe and haue well in your remembraūce all this busynesse and all his answere and the order of his estate The erle of Stampes answered and sayde Sir all this shal be done right gladly AFter that the erle of Stāpes had this charge fro the duke of Berey to go in to Bretayne to the duke his cosyn He taried nat long but made hymselfe redy and passed by Chartres and through the good countre of Mayne and so came to Anger 's and there founde the quene of Naples who hadde ben wyfe to the duke of Aniou Who was called kyng of Naples of Cicyle of Hierusalem duke of Pole of Calabre and erle of Prouence And in her company her two fayre sonnes Loyes and Charles The lady receyued her cosyn the erle of Stampes ioyfully and there was Iohn̄ of Bretayne who loued nat the duke of Bretayne but he was nat in power to shewe forthe his yuell wyll nor to amende it Whan therle of Stampes had ben there a daye and a night he tooke
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
was blamed defamed and hated in Englande as well as in Fraunce Whan the frenche kynge had concluded to sende for the duke of Irelande the lorde of Coucy spake as moche agaynst it as he myght but there were so many reasons layde to hym and also bycause the kyng wolde haue it that he was contente to suffre it The frenche kynge who was but yong desyred greatly to se the duke of Irelande bycause he was reputed to be a good knyght and also bycause it was sayd howe he was so well beloued with the kynge of Englande Thanne he was sente for by a knyght and a clerke a notary of the kynges Whan the Duke of Irelande herde fyrste howe the frenche kynge had sente for hym he had maruayle therof and hadde dyuerse imagynacyons for what entente he shulde be sente for in to Fraunce howe be it fynally he thought the myght go surely in to Fraunce to se the kynge by reason of his saueconducte and to returne agayne at his pleasure Than he departed fro Trecte and rode forthe with theym that the kynge had sent to hym and rode so longe that they came to Paris for as than the kyng was there in his castell of Lowre There the duke was well receyued of the kynge and of his vncles The frenche kynge desyred him to abyde there styll and apoynted hym a place to kepe his house astate in for the duke had ynough so to do for he had conueyed out of Englande good ynough And also the constable of Fraūce ought hym certayne money for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretayne the whiche was nat all payed as than Thus the duke wente whan it pleased hym to se the kynge and hadde good chere and at all feastes iustes and triumphes the duke was alwayes sente for ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Constable of Fraunce wolde nat acorde that the king shulde go in to Almayne bycause of the insydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons made alyaunce with the kyng of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C.xxv YE haue herde before howe the erle de Stampes was sent in to Bretayne by the duke of Berrey thynkynge to haue brought the duke of Bretayne with fayre wordes to his mynde and entensyon But he coulde nat brynge it aboute but retourned agayne without atteynynge any thynge of his purpose wherof they in Fraunce were greatly abasshed and specially suche as were of the kinges coūsayle for they knewe well the kyng had great desyre to go in to Almayne to se the landes of his cosyns the duke of Iulyers and to be reuenged of the hygh wordes and cruell defyaunces of the duke of Guerles The wyse men of the counsayle of Fraunce suche as conceyued well the mater imagyned therin great parell to the realme for they clerely perceyued howe the duke of Bretayne wolde in no wyse condyscende to reason but helde styll his purpose They thought it was greatly preiudycyall to the honoure of the realme of Fraunce for hym to take the constable of Fraunce and to sette hym at raunsome at a hundred thousande frankes and to kepe thre of his castelles and a good towne And also they sawe howe the duke of Bretayne was makynge of great alyaunces with the kynge of Englande and knewe well howe the duke fortifyed greatly his townes and castels in Bretayne and went aboute to get hym frendes in dyuers partyes in so moche that many of the noble menne of Bretayne wyste nat what to do outher to go in to Fraunce or to a byde there styll with the duke and to take his parte agaynst the kynge or the realme of Fraunce the whiche they neuer thought to do for the moste parte of the knyghtes and Squyers of Bretaygne were alwayes good frenche But the counsayle of Fraunce doubted that if the kynge wente out of the realme with his puyssaunce the whiche he muste nedes do if he shulde goo in to Almaygne that than the duke of Bretayne to bring in to his countrey the englysshmen outher at saynte Malowe at saynt Mathewes or at Lamballe or Camperle or Lantriguier at Guerrando or Bownte or at Wennes or on the see coste For the englysshemen coulde nat haue a better entre in to Fraunce than by Bretayne So that they knewe nat the kynges honour saued howe to breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose Some of the kynges counsayle sayde it shall be to the kynges dyshonour if he breke nat the dukes purpose for the duke is nat lorde peasably ouer his owne countrey for we thynke the lordes knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne wyll nat be agaynst vs to mayntayne the dukes opynion therfore in the name of god lette the kynge kepe on his voyage and lette the constable and other lordes a byde in their countreys and defende the Realme This opynyon was well vpholde with many of the kynges counsayle but than some other sayde naye therto and sayde howe the kyng coulde nat well go out of his realme without he had his constable with hym for he is more wyser and hathe more experyence in warre than a great nombre of other Thus they argued Than some other sayd lette two of the kynges vncles go or one of them at the lest and layde it to the duke of Burgoyne that he shulde go with two thousande speares and syre or seuen thousande of other men of warre and sayde it was moste metest for hym to go for that warre touched hym nere bycause it moued by reasone of the duchy of Brabante and that he shulde haue with him them of Brabante of whome he shulde fynde in nombre to the some of seuen hundred speares and .xx. or thurty thousande of other comons of the countrey of Brabante Than a nother sorte sayde sirs your opynyons be nat good for the kyng wyll go he nameth hymselfe the chyefe of this warre for he is defyed wherfore he muste go consydrynge the charge is his it is good that he go for he is yonge and the more he contynueth the warre the better he shall loue it than some other sayd Who is he that is so hardy to counsayle the kynge to go in to Almayne in to so farre a countrey amonge theym that be hyghe and prowed people and great parell it is to entre vpon them And if the kynge were entred yet it were great daunger the retournynge agayne for whan they shall knowe the kynge and all the nobles of Fraunce to be entred in to their countrey they wyll than assemble all togyder and kepe suche a countrey as they knowe and we nat and so they maye do vs great domage for they are couetous people aboue all other And they haue no pytie if they haue the vpper hande and are harde and yuell handelers of their prisoners and putteth them to sondry paynes to compell theym to make their raunsomes the greater and if they haue a lorde or a great man to
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
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
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
of the kynge to go to Mantuell the kyng sent with her of the greatest men of the courte to a company her Thus she came to Mantuell and dyd so moche that she knewe the trouth where her father was buryed Than he was dygged vp and his bones wasshed and bawmed and wrapped in leade and brought to the cytie of Ciuyll and there receyued with processyon without the cytie and the bones brought in to the cathedrall churche and there reuerently and solēply his obsequy was done and there at was king Iohan and his yonge sonne the prince of Galyce and the most parte of prelates and barons of the realme After the obsequy doone euery man retourned to their owne places The kynge of Castyle wente to the vale of Sory and his son̄e and his yonge wyfe with hym and the duchesse of Lancastre to Medena de Campo a good towne wherof she was lady by reason of the confyrmacyon of the peace there she lay a season ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of them and of Castyle tyll a nother tyme and let vs speke of the maryage of the duke of Berrey and also of other insydentes that folowed THe duke of Berrey who had maryed the lady Iane of Armynake to his first wyfe after she was dysseased he hadde great imagynacyon to be maryed agayne and that he well shewed for whan he sawe howe he had myssed of the duke of Lancastres doughter he than set clerkes to write and sent messangers to therle Gascon of Foiz who had the kepyng of the erle of Boulonges doughter more than the space of nyne yeres And bycause the duke of Berrey coulde nat come to this maryage but by the daunger of the erle of Foize for nother for pope father mother nor frende that the damosell had the erle wolde do nothynge without it were his owne pleasure Than the duke of Berrey desyred effectuously the frēch kynge his nephue and the duke of Burgoyne his brother to helpe and assyst hym in this maryage THe frenche kyng laught and had good sporte at the duke of Berrey his vncle bycause he was olde and so hote in loue and said to him Fayre vncle what shall ye do with a yonge mayde she is nat twelue yere of age and ye be .xl. by my faythe it is great foly for you to thynke therof speke for my cosyn Iohan your sonne he is yonge the mater is more mete for hym than for you syr quod the duke I haue speken all redy for my sonne but the erle of Foize wyll in no wyse agree therto bycause my sonne is of the blode of them of Armynake who be at warre togyder and haue ben longe If the lady be yonge I shall spare her a thre or four yere tyll she be a parfyte woman Well fayre vncle quod the kyng I feare me she wyll nat spare you so longe but seynge ye haue so great affection therto I shall ayde you as moche as I may It was nat longe after but that the kynge ordayned the lorde de la Ryuer and syr Bureau his souerayne chamberlayne to go in that voyage to the erle of Foiz and with them the erle of Dassy And the duke of Burgoyne ordeyned to go thyder on his be halfe the bysshop of Anthune and sir Gylliam of Tremoyle and the duke of Berrey desyred Iohan erle of Sanxer a sage and a valyaunt knyght to go with the other These fyue lordes were apoynted to go to the erle of Foize and to desyre to haue the yonge lady in maryage for the duke of Berrey These lordes departed and apoynted to mete togyder at Auignon with pope Clement about Candelmas they departed and toke the waye to Nysmes and so to Auignon They passed by Mounte pellyer and rode by small iourneys and great exspence and passed by Besyers and came to Carcassone and there they founde sir Loys of Xancere marshall of Fraunce who receyued them with good there and he shewed theym moche of the erle of Foiz estate for he had ben there within two monthes before Than they departed fro Carcassone and wente to Tholous and there rested and than sente messangers to the erle of Foiz to Ortays in Byerne And there began to treate for this maryage but it was farre of for at the begynnynge the Erle of Foyze was colde bycause the duke of Lancastre had sente to hym to haue the same lady for his sonne the lorde Henry erle of Derby By reason of this longe taryenge and delayeng of this treatye it was said and noysed that the maryage shulde nat be And all their aunsweres that they had fro the erle of Foize wickely they sente worde therof to the duke of Berrey who was at Nonnecte in Auuergne And the duke who had none other desyre but to bringe the mater aboute wrote often tymes agayne to them with fresshe messangers desyrynge them nat to cease tyll they had brought the mater to passe And the erle of Foyze who was sage and subtyle sawe well the ardent desyre that the duke of Berrey had and the hoter that he was the colder was he and he handeled the matter so wysely that by the full agrement of all partyes and yet sore desyred therto he hadde thyrty thousande frankes for the charges of the ladyes expenses for suche yeres as she had been with hym if he had more demaūded more he shulde haue had but he dyd it so to haue thanke of the duke of Berrey and that he shulde perceyue that he had done some what for hym WHan this mater was concluded and all partyes agreed thanne the erle of Foiz sente his cosyn the lady to Morleaus accompanyed with fyue hundred speares of whome were capytayns syr Espaigne du Lynn syr Raynolde Guyllam syr Peter Calestan sir Adam of Cacasse sir Manalte of Nonnables and sir Pier of Kees and in the feldes the lady was delyuered to the frenche ambassadours on the behalfe of the duke of Berrey There was syr Loys of Xancere with a fyue hundred speares and other company who receyued the lady and there tooke their leaues and departed They of Foize retourned and the frenche men ledde forthe the lady The duke of Berrey had sente to her chares and chareottes rychely garnysshed and horse hackeneys and aparell for her body and for her heed as fresshe and as ryche as though it had been for the frenche quene Thus they rode forthe and I sir Iohan Froysart auctor of this boke rode in their company for often tymes whan I wolde haue taken leaue of the erle of Foiz he wolde saye to me howe I had no dede to make so great haste and badde me whan I wolde retourne to go in good company so I retourned in this sayde company This yonge duchesse of Berrey for so I wyll name her fro hence forthe and all her company rode so longe that they came nere to Auignon There she rested at a towne called Vile Neufe without the towne of Auignon in a house
of the popes And the nexte daye aboute nyne of the clocke all the cardynals that were there at that tyme mette with her and so passed the bridge of Rosue in grete estate the lady rydynge on a whyte palfrey whiche the pope had sent her Than she came to the popes palays in Auignon and there alighted and went to se the pope who sate in coÌ„systory in a chayre pontyficall The pope kyst her mouth bycause of lygnage Than the duchesse and her company wente to dyner with many cardynalles to the house of the cardynall of Thuryn nere to the popes palyce This was on a wednysdaye and the nexte daye they all dyned in the same house agayne I may well saye that the comyng of this lady to Auignon cost the pope the some of tenne thousande frankes The fridaye she supped in the palays and tooke her leaue of the pope and the saturday she departed and rode to dyner to Orange and there lay all night for her cosyn germayne was princesse therof The sonday she departed and heâ— caryage before and passed to Valance and than to Vien and so to Lyon sur le Rone and there rested two dayes than fro thens to Bresâ—e and so entred in to the countie of Forestes and passed through the countrey and so came to la Palesse in Burbonois and so to Quissy than to Hanche and so to Ryon in Auuergne and there rested two dayes or the duke of Berrey came thyder who came thyder on Whytsoneuyn and on Whytsonday betymes he maryed the lady This was a noble weddynge and a gret feest there was the erle of Boloyne the erle of Estampes and the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne this feest and iustes endured foure dayes All this I sir Iohan Froysart auctor of this boke sawe with myne eyen for I was there presente ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne wyse men treated for a peace to endure thre yeres bytwene Fraunce and Englande and all their alyes aswell on the one parte as on the other by lande and by see Cap. C.lvi. YE haue herde here before howe there was a treuse taken bytwene all partyes and garysons bytwene the Ryuer of Loyr and the ryuer of Dordone and of Geronde vnto the feest of saynt Iohan Baptyst couÌ„ted as than in the yere of grace a thousand thre hundred fourscore and nyne This treuse dutynge there were some great men and sage on bothe partyes bothe of Englande and of Fraunce that busyed themselfe to treate for a peace to endure thre yeres both by water and by lande And the entensyon of them the treated in this mater was to comprise in their treatye for the frenche party all suche as were besyed with their warre First to haue comprysed the realme of Castyle holy as well by lande as by water and in lyke maner the realme of Scotlande And on the englysshe partye shulde be comprised all their alyes and the kynge and realme of Portugale and dyuers barones of hygh Gascon These entreatours had moche payne and trauayle or they came to their ententes for the scottes wolde in no wyse coÌ„sent For whanne worde therof came to kynge Roberte of Scotlande fro the frenche kynge his owne persone wolde lyghtly haue greed therto for he desyred no warre On a daye he called before hym all the barones and prelates of Scotlande suche as ought to gyue counsayle in that mater for without their knowlege the kynge wolde do nothyng if he had done they wolde nat haue kepte it There openly was redde in all their presence the letters that the frenche kynge had sente thyder to the kynge and to the realme of Scotlande the entente wherof was that the frenche kyng wolde haue them of Scotland to be comprised with him 〈◊〉 to agre to a treuse for thre yeres by lande and by water bytwene Englande and theym This tydynges was harde to them and they sayde The frenche kynge canne do nothynge but to haue treuce whan it is tyme to make warre We haue in this yere ouercome the englysshmen and the season is ryght good and lykely that we shall ouercome them agayne the seconde tyme yea and the thyrde also There was great debatynge of the matter bytwene them but in no wyse they wolde consente therto Fynally they acorded to sende a bysshoppe and thre knyghtes in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle to the entent to breke the treaties and to shewe the good wyll of the scottes that they had to the warre The bysshoppe of saynt Andrews and syr Archambalte Duglas syr Willyam Lymsey and syr Iohan saynt Clere. These departed as soone as they myght and toke the see and arryued at Sluse and than rode to Parys and before the kyng and his counsayle they shewed their letters of credence sente in the name of all the barones and prelates of the realme of ScotlaÌ„de They were well herde and the frenche men percyued well the great affection that they hadde to procede and to contyne we the warre agaynste Englande howe be it the treatye was so farre past and promysed that it coulde nat be reuoked agayne Than the scottes were swetely answered howe there was no remedy but that they muste nedes procede to the peace Thus the frenche men tooke a treuse by meanes of suche as treated for the mater there were dyuers metynges bytwene the partyes at Balingham bytwene Boloyne and Calays So often they mette and debated the maters that a treuce was taken gyuen and acorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for suche as were treaters of the mater were prelates gret lordes and wysemenne of bothe realmes and all their adherentes and alyes by see and by lande to endure fermely without dissymulacyon of any shadowe of male engyn the space of thre yeres The entreatours of the frenche partye were at Boloyne as the bysshoppe of Bayeur the erle Valery of saynt Pole sir Willyam of Melyn sir Nycholas Bracque and sir Iohan le Mercier And at Calays for the Englysshe parte was the bysshop of Durham sir Willyam Montague erle of Salisbury sir Wyllyam Beauchampe capitayne of Calais Iohan Lauon and Nycholas of Gaberthe and Richarde Roell clerke doctor in lawe These mette togyder in the myddes of the waye bytwene Calays and Boloyne at a place called Balyngham In this tyme great brute was in Fraunce and in other places of a great feest and iustes that the yonge kyng Charles wolde make at Parys at the fyrst entryng of Isabell the freÌ„che quene agaynst whiche feest knightes squyers ladyes and damoselles apparelled them to be at that tryumphe Of the whiche feest I shall speke more here after and of the charter of the peace that was engrosed sealed bytwene the parties yE shall knowe that whan I sir Iohan Froyssarte authour of this hystorie was departed fro Ortays fro the erle of Foiz as ye haue herde here before and wente in coÌ„pany with the lorde de la Ryuer and the lorde Guyllyam of Tremoyle who brought the yonge duchesse of Berrey
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
apparelled lyke angelles swetely syngynge And amonge them an ymage of our lady holdyng in fygure a lytell chylde playeng by hym selfe with a lytell myll made of a great nutte This Heuyn was hyghe and richely apparelled with the armes of Fraunce with a baner of the sonne shynyng of golde castyng his rayes This was deuysed by the kynge for the feest of the iustes The quene and the other ladyes as they passed vnder in at the gate they had great pleasure to beholde it and so had all other that passed by Than whan the Quene and the ladyes were paste by than they came a softe pace before the foūtayne in a strete of saynt Denice whiche condyte was couered ouer with a clothe of fyne asure paynted full of Floure de lyces of golde and the pyllers were serte full of the armes of dyuers noble lordes of Fraunce and out of this foūtayn there issued in great stremes Punent and clarre And about this foūtayne there were yonge maydens richely apparelled with ryche chapelettes on their heedes synginge melodiously Great pleasure it was to here them And they helde in their handes Cuppes and goblettes of golde offryng and gyueng to drinke all suche as passed by And the quene rested there and regarded them and had great pleasure of that deuyse and so dyde all other ladyes and damoselles that sawe it THan after vnder the mynster of the Trinyte in the strete there was a stage and thervpon a castell And a longe on the stage there was ordeyned the Passe of kynge Salhadyn and all their dedes in personages the Christen men on the one parte and the Sarazins on the other parte there was in personages all the lordes of name that of olde tyme hadde ben armed and had done any feates of armes at the Passe of Salhadyne and were armed with suche armure as they than vsed And thanne a lytell aboue them there was in personages the Frenche kynge and the twelue peeres of Fraunce armed with the blason of their armes whan the Frenche quenes lytter was come before this stage she rested there a season Thanne the personages on the stage of kyng Rycharde departed fro his company and wente to the Frenche kynge and demaunded lycence to go and assayle the Sarazins and the kyng gaue hym leaue Than kynge Rycharde retourned to his twelue companyons Than̄e they all sette them in order and incontynent wente assayled the kynge Salhadyne and the Sarazins There in sporte there semed a great bataile and it endured a good space This pagiaunt was well regarded Than̄e the quene passed forthe and came to the secōde gate of saynt Denyce And there was a castell ordayned as was at the fyrste gate and a heuyn clouded and full of sterres richely deuysed and therin the fygure of God lyttynge in maiestie the father the sonne and the holygoost And within the Heuyn chyldren in fygure of angelles swetely syngyng whiche pagiaunt was greatly praysed And as the quenes lytter passed vnder the gate of Paradise there were two angelles came out and came downe holdynge in their handes a ryche crowne of golde garnysshed with precious stones And they sette fayre and easely the crowne on the quenes heed synging right swetely this verse Dame as ye be enclosed bytwene the Floure de lyces so ye be quene of the realme of Fraunce so drewe agayne in to paradyse Than they passed forthe and came before the chapell of saynt Iames. And there was a scaffolde richely deuysed on the right hande as the quene rode couered ouer with ryche arras and drawen aboute with curteyns in maner of a chambre And within there were mē playeng vpon orgās ryght swetely And all the strete of saynt Denyce was couered ouer with clothes of sylke and chamlet suche plentie as thoughe suche clothes shulde cost nothynge And I sir Iohan Froissart authour of this hystorie was present and sawe all this and had great marueyle where suche nombre of clothes of sylke were goten There was as great plentie as though they had ben ī Alysandre or Damas and all the houses on bothe sides of the great strete of saynt Denice vnto the bridge of Parys were hanged with clothes of Arras of dyuers histories the whiche was pleasure to beholde Thus they passed forthe a soft pace and so came to the gate of the chatelet of Parys and there the quene rested to se the other goodly deuyses that were there ordayned AT the gate of the chatelet of Parys there was a castell made of woode tymbre as strōgly made as it shuld haue endured .xl. yeres The whiche castell was enbatylled and at euery lope there was a man of armes armed at all peces And in the same castell there was a bedde made richely encourteyned and apparelled as it had been to haue stande in the kynges chambre this bedde was called the bedde of Iustyce and in this bedde there lay by figure saynt Anne in this castell there was a playne for the castell cōteyned a gret space this playne was full of trees and full of Hares cones byrdes that flewe in and out For whan they were a brode they flewe thider agayne for feare of the people And out of these trees there issued a whyte Harte and wente to the bedde of Iustyce and out of the other parte of the wode there issued out a Lyon and an Egle properlye and fresshely approched the Harte and the bedde of Iustyce Than came there out of the trees a .xii. yonge maydens richely apparelled with chapelettes of golde on their heedes holdynge naked swordes in their hādes and they wente bytwene the Harte the Lyon and the Egle and there they shewed them selfe redy to defende the Harte and the bedde of Iustyce This deuyse the quene and all other had great pleasure to regarde than they passed forthe and came to the bridge of Parys whiche was couered and richely besene The couerynge of grene and crimosyn full of sterres and the stretes hanged to our ladyes churche And by that tyme that the quene and the ladyes were paste the bridge and approched to the churche of oure Lady it was late For all the waye as they wente they rode but a softe pace And or the Quene and the ladies entred in to the churche of our Lady they foūde by they waye other playes and pastymes greatly to their pleasure AMonge all other there was a mayster came out of Geane He had tied a corde on the hyghest house on the bridge of saynt Myghell ouer all the houses and the other ende was tyed on the hyghest towre in our ladies churche And as the quene passed by and was in the great strete called out ladyes strete bycause it was late This sayde mayster with two brinnynge candelles in his handes issued out of a lytell stage that he had made on the hyght of our ladyes towre And syngyng he went vpon the corde all a longe the great strete so that all that sawe hym hadde marueyle howe it
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
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
came to Paris and so wente to saynt Poule to the quene to his wyfe demaunded tidingê of the kyng for he wyst nat wheder he were come or nat whan he knewe that the king was nat come he was ioyfull said to the quene Madame ye shall shortly here tidynges of the kyng He sayd trouthe for the kyng caÌ„e soone after Whan the duke of thou rayn herde that the kyng was come he went and met hym sayd sir I haue won my wager let me be payd it is reason ê™ the kyng so ye shall there they shewed before the ladies all their iorney how that in four dayes and a halfe they were coÌ„e fro Mountpellier to Paris whiche was a C.l. leages a sondre The ladyes tourned all the mater to sporte laughing but they well iuged that they had endured moche payne and iuged that youthe corage of herte caused theÌ„ to do it the duke of thourayn was truely payd for his wager ¶ Of the dethe of pope Vrbayne of Rome called the Antepape howe pope Clement wrote to the Frenche kyng and to his vncles to the vniuersite of the election of pope Boniface by the cardinalles of Rome Cap. C.lxvi ABout the sayd season dyed at Rhome pope Vrbane the .vi. the romayns were sore displeased with his dethe for he was well beloued he was buryed in the churche of saynt Peter and after his obsequy done well and reuereÌ„tly Than the cardynalles went in to the conclaue to chuse a newe pope and so they dyde or that pope Clement knewe therof in Auynon for it was ten dayes past or they knewe it And assone as pope Clement and his cardynalles knewe therof they assembled togyder at the popes palays and had great coÌ„munycacion toguyder and were in great hope that the busynesse of the churche shulde leue and be concluded and to come to a full vnyon for the errour had longe endured They thought that the cardynals at Rome shulde nat agre so soone to entre in to conclaue but rather to submitte themselfe to pope ClemeÌ„t at Auignon They sent also worde to the freÌ„che kyng of the dethe of Vrban called the antepape and desyred hym the soner to come to their purpose that he wolde write to his cosyns the kynge of Almayne and the kynge of Hungy to therle of Vertues to the duke of Austrych who had euer holden with pope vrbane that they shulde nowe cease helpe to make rest and peace in the churche to shewe them by his letters that in our faythe there ought to be no varyacion for as there is but one god in heuyn so ther ought to be but one god in erthe The same season the duke of burgoyne was with the kyng at Parys to whoÌ„ pope Clement the cardynals wrote in lyke maner than the kyng shewed his vncle these newes and was right ioyfull saide Fayre vncle we haue had gret desyre to go with great puissauÌ„ce to Rome to distroy thenfidels but as nowe our iourney is well shorted for Vrbane the antepape is deed as Clement hath written to vs and he thynketh that the cardynals wyll nat entre in to coÌ„claue to chuse any newe pope but rather to come to Auignon to submyt theÌ„ selfes vnder pope ClemeÌ„t and we are desyred by hym by the cardynals at Auignon for the more suretie to write pleasauÌ„t letters to our cosins the kyng of Almayne and to his brother the kyng of HuÌ„gry to the erle Vertues a to the duke of Austriche What couÌ„sayle wyll ye gyue me to do The duke of Burgoyne sayd Sir trewe it is pope Vrbane is deed but as yet we knowe nothynge of the state of the cardynals at Rome nor of the Romayns nor whether they wyll kepe their olde opinyon or nat I feare it wyll be harde for them to leaue it for the Romayns are maysters ouer the cardynalles Byforce they made them to chuse the archebysshoppe of Bare and made hym pope and so maynteyned hym to th ende And so if nowe by ê‘force they cause the cardynalles to entre in to conclaue and to chuse a Pope at their pleasure Wherfore sir ye shall nat nede to entre so farre into the mater as to desyre them that wyll do but lytell for you as they haue shewed yet hydervnto Suffre sir tyll ye here other newes And paraduenture it maye so be that the cardynalles at Rome shall nat be all of one accorde and paradueÌ„ture wyll dissymule with the Romayns and chuse none other pope but Clement And to apease their furour to promyse them to cause Clement to come to Rome whiche he wyll do right gladlye on that condycion And if the mater go so than shall it be tyme for you to write to all the princes christned that are of the opinyon coÌ„trarye to you in the best maner ye canne to a voyde the Scisme and to bring the churche to an vnyon peace as by reason euery man ought to do But as yet ye be nat sure howe the mater gothe it is best ye abyde the adueÌ„ture therof It shall nat be longe or we here other tidynges WHan the duke of Burgoyne hadde sayde these wordes to the kyng and to his couÌ„saile there was none that spake contrarye therto The kynge thought his wordes were resonable sayd Fayre vncle we beleue it is good reason that ye saye yese more clerer in the mater thaÌ„ we do and as for the busynesse or the Churche we wyll do nothynge therin but by youre counsayle and aduyse Thus they cessed of that coÌ„munycacion Great murmuracyon there was a monge the clerkes of the Vniuersite of those tydingê wherby they cessed to rede or to studye And entended to nothynge but to herken and to knowe howe the Cardynalles of Rome maynteyned them selfe Wheder they wolde electe a newe pope or els to retourne to the pope at Auignon They dyde cast many doughtes and argued one with another They knewe well howe Clement had written to the kynge and to the duke of Thourayne and to the duke of Burgoyne and to the kynges counsayle In lykewise letters were written generally to the vnyuersite that they shulde conclude to an vnyuersall peace in the churche Thus the clerkes deuysed amonge themselfe and suche as wolde the aduauncement of Clement sayde Nowe it is tyme that the kyng and the lordes of FrauÌ„ce write to the great princes of Christendome As to the kynge of Almaygne the kynge of Hungry the lorde of Myllayne and to the duke of Austryche and to suche other as are of our opynion to th entent that they shulde retourne to the same state suche writyng maye moche aueyle In thre dayes thre tymes the notable clerkes of the vniuersyte of Parys assembled togyder and at last came to saynt Poules to speke with the kyng and his couÌ„sayle to desyre hym to set to his hande to oppresse the Cysme of the churche to entende to the ordynauÌ„ce
sir WyllmÌ„ Clyfron and expert knight of Englande caused his squier to touche the targe of sir Bouciquant IncoÌ„tinent the knight issued out of his pauylion armed at all peces the two knightes came toguider taynted eche other on the shelde and passed by without brekyng of their speares The .ii. course they crossed on their helmes the .iii. course they encountred ech other so on the sheldes that their horses stode styll the .iiii. course was well employed they vnhelmed eche other The englysshe knight ran no more it was said to hym he had done ynough Than on theÌ„glisshe ê‘te came forthe a lusty yong knight called sir Nicholas clynton he touched the lorde of saynt Pies shelde the knight anon was redy they met togider so euyn that eche of theÌ„ brake their speres in iii. peces with suche force that the knight were in dauÌ„ger to haue taken domage but they passed by caÌ„e to their places the .ii. course they tainted eche other on the helmes passed by the iii. course their horses crossed fayled the .iiii course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed the englysshe knight who ran no more that daye for men said he had well valiantly done quited hymselfe how other must haue place to iust ThaÌ„ a kynsman of therle of HuÌ„tingdon caÌ„e forthe called WyllmÌ„ Stamert he caused to touche the shelde of ser Raynold of Roy. they ran togider with frewyll tainted eche other the englysshe knight lost his spere the .ii. courie they met but theÌ„glisshe knight warued aside I can nat tell wheder the faut was in the knight or in the horse but sir Raynolde strake him so rudely on the targe that he sore reuersed so passed by made theÌ„ redy to ryn the third course so tainted eche other on the helmes that the fire sprang out lost both their speres the iiii course they ataynted ech other in the sight of their helmes with that course sir WyllmÌ„ stamert was dishelmed nigh borne to therthe howbeit he fell nat returned to his coÌ„pany ran no more that day Than another squier of EnglaÌ„de caÌ„e forth called LaÌ„castre he sent to touche the shelde of sir Bouâ—iquant they ran togider tainted ech other on the helmes that the fire flewe out marueyle it was that they had nat ben vnhelmed It was nat long tyll they ran the .ii. course but their horses crossed the thirde course they were both vnhelmed and the Englysshe squyer iusted no more that day Than a yonge knight called sir IohnÌ„ Tayl boise iusted with the lorde of saynt Pye and encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes and brake their staues the .ii. course their horses crossed and the iii. course they were bothe vnhelmed the Englisshe knight ran no more that day Than stepte forthe it Godfray of Seca a gentyll knight and a good iuster that was well sene by hym he encouÌ„tred with sir Raynolde du Roy. They came right toguyder mette in their sheldes the speres were good and wolde nat breke so that it made their horses to reeule and than recouered kepte styll their speres and than ran agayne these coude course the ressed in fante of the horses and nat of the knyghtes and they lost bothe their staues they ran agayne the .iii. course The Englysshe knight strake sir Raynolde on the helme that he was vnhelmed and sir Raynolde strake that Englysshe knight on the targe so rudely and with suche strength for he was called one of the best iusters in all the realme of Fraunce Also he lyued in amours with a yong lady whiche aueyled hym in all his businesse that he perced theÌ„glisshmans targe clene through the speare heed entred in to the arme and the spere brake the trouchon stacke styll in the shelde in the knyght arme yet for all that the knight made his turne came to his place fresshly than his coÌ„pany drewe out the trouchyon bounde his arme and sir Raynolde retourned to his coÌ„pany Of that course sir Roynolde du Roy was greatly praysed on bothe ê‘ties for all the hurtyng of the knight for suche is the adueÌ„tures of armes to some good to some yuell Than came forthe an Esquyer of Englande called Balquet and sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saynt Py who was redy to answere They couched their speares ran toguyder the first course they taynted eche other on their helmes and loste their staues they toke their staues agayne and in the aprochyng their horses crossed and so passed by and retourned agayne to their places They taryed nat long but ran eche at other with that course Blaqueâ— strake the lorde of saynt Pye a hye on the helme and gaue hym a sore stroke saynt Pye strake him in the sight of the heelm a sorer stroke so that therwith he was so vnhelmed that the bocle behynde brake and the helme fell to the grouÌ„de Than Blaquet retourned to his copany iusted no more that day And the lorde of saynt Pye sate styll on his horse abyding other comers Than a gentyll knight or Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Bolcas touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was there redy to answere they strake eche other on the shelde that it was marueile they were nat perced for their speres were strong how be it they passed by lost their speares without any other doÌ„mage The .ii. course they taynted on the helmes without any hurte passed by the .iii. course they crossed the .iiii. course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed rude lye sir Iohan Bolcas After that course the englisshe knight ran no more Than a yong knyght of Englande richely armed named Thomelyn Massydone he touched the shelde or warre of sir Bouciquant He was incontynent answered The first course they crossed on the helmes the .ii. course they met and Thomelyn brake his spere in troÌ„chions and Bouciquant strake hym so sore that he bare hym to the erthe ouer his horse backe Than his coÌ„panyon toke hym vp and he iusted no more Than another squier of Englande called Nauerton touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant sayeng howe he wolde reuenge his company whom Bouciquant had ouerthrowen in his pÌ„sence who was redy to answere The first course they strake eche other in the viser of their helmes without any other doÌ„mage the .ii. course they strake eche other in their sheldes so that their horses reculed brake their speares in thre peces Than they retourned to their places toke newe speares and met agayne togyder sir Bouciquant receyued a great stroke on the shelde but he strake Nauerton in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed who ran no more that day for euery man sayde he had well acquyted hym selfe Than another squyer called Sequaqueton an experte man of armes sente to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roye the knyght was redy to answere well mouÌ„ted with shelde speare They mette so rudely that Sequaqueton bare
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌ„tynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌ„de this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌ„mynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌ„mendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌ„des heritage in these ê‘ties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌ„maunde the vycount of Meaulx to deê‘te fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ„ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ„ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌ„deth on the froÌ„ters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse ê‘teynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌ„ce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌ„don And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌ„sayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌ„don and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌ„sayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌ„ce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌ„ce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ„ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌ„sayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
counsayle and we haue great marueyle and good cause why howe my lorde of Berrey dothe commaunde vs and maketh requeste for his enemyes that we shulde reyse our siege by reason of that we say generally that we shal gyue ensample to all theues and robbers suche as wyll ouer ron the realme to do the worst they canne Wherfore Pyer ye shall say to the duke of Berrey fro vs all that we are and shall be redy inclyned to do any thynge that he commaundeth vs to do but as in this case I am so straytely enioyned and cōmaunded by the kyng and his coūsayle to kepe this siege and to contynewe it tyll I haue the fortresse and them within at my pleasure whiche cōmaundemente I dare nat brake and say that surely I wyll obey to no cōmaundement but alonely to the kynges whose subget Iame and by whome I am sente hyther But sir I requyre you shewe me one thynge if ye can who hath made this request for Aymergotte Marcell who hath done so moche yuell and anoyaunce to the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn and nowe he is atrapped lyke as a traytoure shulde be and is nere come to an yuell ende whiche he hathe well deserued for he hath erred and done contrary to his othe Syr quod the squyer there came to my lorde the duke of Berrey two men of Englande an haraulde and another who brought letters to my lorde fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre and they made greate request for Aymergotte I beleue you well quod the vycounte it was Derby the haraulde and a squyer called Herbery they brought me this other daye lyke letters wherfore I suppose that the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre wrote to the duke of Berrey in this mater wherfore shewe to my lorde of Berrey that I desyre him to consydre all thinges well for all these requestes that are come fro the other syde of the see are but desyres purchased by our enemyes to the which no lorde on this syde the see if he loue the honoure and profyte of the realme of Fraunce shulde enclyne nor condyscende Sir quod the squyer I shall forget nothynge of that ye haue shewed me for I loue nat Aymergot I had rather se his punysshmente thanne his delyueraunce So the Squyer departed and rode to Nonecte where he founde the duke of Berrey and dyd his message ryght sagely the conclusyon was that the vycounte of Meaulx sayde surely he wold nat departe fro the siege before the Roche of Vandoys without the kynge sente hym strayte commaundemente so to do With this aunswere the duke of Berrey was nat well contente he had thought that as well his commaundement shulde haue been obeyed specyally in Auuergne WHan the englysshe squyer and Derby the haraulde herde of the answere that was made to the duke of Berrey and howe that the siege was nat raysed they were sory and sawe well they traueyled in vayne than they sayde to the duke Syr what wyll ye counsayle vs to do shall we thus departe frome you without spedynge of any thynge to purpose The kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre haue great truste and affyaunce in you that ye shuld cause this siege to be reysed bycause the Roche of Vandoys is vnder our signoury Syrs quod the duke suffre a season Aymergot Marcell is in a stronge place he nedeth nat to feare takyng without a great vnhappe and shortely I purpose to goo in to Fraunce to the kynge and thanne I wyll speke with the Kynge and his counsayle and for the loue of my cosyns of Englande I shall do the beste I canne to bringe the matter to passe and ye shall go with me and se howe I shall spede With those wordes the Squyer and the haraulde were contente Than the fourth day after the duke departed fro Nonecte and lefte there the duchesse his wyfe with a gret parte of his householde and so the duke rode to Ryon in Auuergne and there he taryed more thanne eyght dayes for the erle of Sanxere and the lorde Rule who were gone to Auignon aboute the dukes busynesse and whan they were come they departed fro Ryon all togyther and toke the waye throughe Burbonoys and at laste came to Bourges in Berrey and there the duke taryed two dayes Than he rode to Mehun on the ryuer of yeure to a castell one of the fayrest houses of the worlde as thanne the duke had newly bylte it and it had coste hym thre hundred thousande frankes There the duke taryed fyftene dayes wherwith the Englysshe messangers were sore troubled howbeit they coude fynde none other remedy The duke as than made lytell force for the delyueraunce of Aymergot I shall shewe you howe and by what meanes So it was the erle of Sanxere and the lorde of Rule who were chefe of the dukes counsayle with syr Peter Mespyn they in fayre maner blamed the duke and sayde howe he hadde nothinge to do to medell with the busynesse of Aymergot sayenge that his lyfe hathe been alwayes dyshonourable and howe that he was but a false palyarte and alwayes agaynste the crowne of Fraunce and had doone many vyllayne dedes and roboryes in Auuergne and in Lymosyn and how that he was no mete parsone to be entreated for wherfore syr quod they suffre the kynge and his counsayle to deale with hym as they lyste These wordes and suche other refrayned the duke of Berrey to speke any further in the mater Howe be it the two englysshe men dyd their best to remembre the duke And the duke dissymulynge aunswered them curtessy and sayde Syrs suffre a season we shall be shortely at Parys but for all his wordes he taryed styll at Mehun more thanne thre wekes deuysynge with his mayster workeman as keruers and paynters for therin he had great fantasy He had a mayster workeman called maister Andrewe as than one of the best worke men of the worlde an Englysshe man borne but he dwelte in Fraunce and in Haynalte a longe season Nowe shall I shewe you what fortuned of Aymergot Marcell and of the roche of Vandoys This Aymergot was a farre castynge man and whan he sawe that that siege was nat reysed he thought well that the kyng of Englandes messangers coude nat spede of their sute than he thought on another turne as to departe thens and to ryde nyght and daye to speke with the capitaynes of Piergourt and Pyerguyse and with Guyot of saint Fayth and Ernalton of saynt Calombe Ernalton of Rostem Iohn̄ of Morsen Pier Danchin and Remonet of Cōpayne and with dyuers other gascoyns and bernoyse in the englysshe garysons and he thought that with his fayre wordes he shuld cause them to assemble togyther and to come in to Auuergne on truste to wynne great botyes and so on a mornyng or in the night to come and reyse the siege before Vandoys and to take there the frenche men prisoners whiche shulde be worthe to them
the sayd lady durynge the siege dyd many feates of armes The knyghtes of Faunce wolde fayne haue taken hym but they coulde neuer atrape nor enclose him his horse was so swyft and so redy to his hande that alwaies he skaped THe crysten men wolde gladly haue taken some sarazyn to the entente to haue knowen the state of the towne and countrey but for all their skrymysshynge they coulde neuer gette none The sarasyns toke good hede to themselfe and dyd pauesse themselfe agaynst the crosebowes genouoys they werenat so well armed as the cristen men it was nat their vsage nor they had no armorers nor metall to forge harnesse withall for most comenly they lacke yron and steele they be euer armed in lether and beare targettes aboute their neckes couered and made of Cure boley of Capadoce no wepen can perce it and the lether be nat hote so that whan they come nere to their enemyes they cast their dartes all at ones And whan the genouoys do shote at theym than they couche them selfe lowe and couer them with their targes and whan the shotte is paste than they caste agayne their fedred dartes Thus the space of nyne wekes durynge the siege they often tymes skrymysshed so that dyuers were hurte on bothe parties and specially suche as lyghtly without a uysement aduentured them selfe thus the crysten men toke good hede to themselfe and so dyd the sarazyns on their parte and the lordes of Fraunce and suche other as were comâ— thyder to their ayde gladly regarded the dealynge of the sarazyns To saye the trouthe to lordes of astate and to gret men all newelties are dylectable And if the crysten men hadde pleasure to beholde them the sarazyns had as great pleasure to regarde the maner of the crysten men amonge them there were yonge lusty knyghtes who had great pleasure to beholde the armure baners standardes and penons with rychesse and noblenesse that was amonge the crysten men and at nyght whan they were at their lodgynges they spake and deuysed But as it was shewed me there was one thynge amonge them to be marueyled at I shall shewe you what THe sarazyns within the towne of Aufryke had great marueyle by what tytell or instaunce that the crysten men came thyder so strongly to make them warre It was shewed me howe they toke aduyse amonge them howe to knowe the trouth therof and determyned to sende to the crysten men to knowe their myndes and so toke a truchman that coulde speke Italyan and commaunded hym to go to the crysten host and to demauÌ„de of them in what tytle and instaunce they are come to make vs warre and why they be come so strongly in to the empyre of Barbary and in to the lande of Auffryke and saye howe we haue in nothynge trespased them of a trouth afore this tyme there hath ben warre bytwene vs and the genouoys but as for that warre by reason ought nat to touche the crysten men of farre countreys of as for the genouoys are our neyghbours they take of vs and we of them we haue been auncyente enemyes and shall be excepte whan treuce is bytwene vs. with this message the trucheman departed and rode to the crysten army and mette fyrst with a genoway and shewed hym howe he was a messanger sent fro the sarazyns to speke with some lorde of Fraunce The genoway had to name Anthony Marthy he was a centuryon of the crosbowes he brought this messanger to the duke of Burbon and to the lorde of Coucy who gladly herde hym speke and the wordes that he spake in his owne langage the centuryon genoway expowned theym in frenche Whan this messanger had declared his message he desyred to haue an anuswere The lordes of Fraunce sayde he shulde haue but first they wolde take aduyse in the mater Than a .xii. of the greatest lordes drewe togyder to counsayle in the duke of Burbons tent and concluded and so sent for the messanger and the genouoy made him his answere in al their names Sayeng howe the tytle and quarell that they made warre in was bycause the sonne of god called Iesu chryst and trewe profyte by their lyne and generacyon was put to deth and crucyfyed and bycause they had iudged their god to deth without tytell or reason therfore they wolde haue a mendes and punysshe that trespace and false iudgement that they of their lawe had made and also bycause they beleued nat in the holy baptyme and are euer contrary to their faythe lawe nor also bycause they beleued nat in the virgyn Mary mâ—ther to Ihesu Cryst Fâ—r these causes and other they sayd they toke the sarazyns and all their secte for their enemyes and sayd howe they wolde reuenge the dispytes that they had doone and dayly do to their god and crysten faythe With this answere the treuchman retourned without parell or domage and shewed to his maysters all as ye haue herde At this aunswere the sarazyns dyd nothinge but laugh and sayd howe that aunswere was nothynge reasonable for it was the iewes that put Chryst to dethe and nat they Thus the siege styll endured euery party making good watche ANone after the sarazyns toke counsayle togyder and determyned that a seuen or eight dayes togyther they shulde suffre the crysten men in reste and nat to make any maner of skrymysshe with them and than sodaynly on a nyght about the hour of mydnyght to sette on the hoost trustynge therby to do a great feate As they ordayned so they dyd and an eyght dayes togyther they made no skrymysshe and on the .ix. day about mydnight they secretly armed them with such armure as they were accustomed to and so came close togyder without any noyse nere to the lodgynges of the crysten men and had enterprysed to haue done a great feate to haue entred nat on that side that their watche was on but on the other parte of the felde where there was no watche kept They had come to their ententes and god properly had nat ben agaynst them in shewynge of apparante myracles I shall shewe you howe As the sarazyns aproched they sawe sodenly before them a great company of ladyes and damosels all in whyte colour and one in especyall who in beauty without comparison exceded all the other and there was borne before her a baner all of whyte and reed within with this syght the sarazyns were so abasshed that they lacked spyrite and force to go any further and so stode styll and the ladyes before them Also it was shewed me that the Genouoys had a great dogge in their company that they brought with theym but they knewe nat fro whence he came there was none that chalenged the dogge to be his whiche dogge dyd theym great seruyce for the sarazyns coulde neuer come so pryuely to skrymysshe but the dogge wolde bay and make suche brewte that he wold nat rest tyll such as were a slepe were awaked euery man knewe whan they herde the dogge
armye fro Pule Calabre Naples and Cicyll the crysten men had ben deed without any stroke stryking but they made no warre but by lande nor also they be nat of suche puyssaunce on the see nother in gales nor in other vessels as the genouoys and venysians be For if the sarazyns be on the see it is but by stelthe for they dare nat abyde the crysten men without they haue farre the aduauÌ„tage A galey with crysten men well armed wyll discomfyte four galees of sarazyns Trewe it is the turkes are of greater force and better men of armes outher by lande or by see than any other secte of the myscreantes contrary to our beleue but they dwell farre of fro the lande of Aufryke the affrikans can nat be ayded by theÌ„ The turkes had certayne knowledge howe the towne of Aufryke was besyeged by the crysten men they wysshed them often tymes there THe crysten men studyed howe to do domage to the sarazyns and in lyke wyse so dyd the sarazyns agaynst the chrysten men studyed howe to delyuer their couÌ„trey of them and on a day Agadingor Doliferne Madefer de Thunes Belyns Madages and Brahadyn of Bougy with dyuers other sarazyns deuysed amonge them selfes and sayd Beholde here the crysten men our enemyes who lye here before our faces in our owne countrey and yet we can nat discomfyte them and they are but a handefull of men as to the regarde of vs howe be it we thinke veryly they haue some great confort of some valyaunt men out of their owne countreys for at no maner of skrymyssh that we can make and for all that euer we can do we can take neuer a prisoner for if we myght take one or two of their valyauÌ„t men it shulde be greatly to our honour and by them to knowe their demeanour and puyssaunce and what they purpose to do Syrs ê™ Agadingor let se what counsayle is best in this case as for me I am one of the yongest yet I speke fyrst we are contente therwith quod all the other say what ye wyll Syrs quod he I desyre greatly to do some dede of armes with some crysten man and I thynke veryly if I were matched with one to dyscomfyte hym in playne batayle And syrs if ye wyll do so that we myght fynde a .xx. or .xxx. valyaunt men a monge vs I shall cause and I canne the crysten men to sette forthe as many our quarell is good for they haue no cause of reason to make warre against vs. and I thynke what by reason of our iuste quarell and the good corage that we be of shall gyue vs victory Than Madyfer of Thunes aunswered and sayd Syr in your wordes is nothyng but honour to morowe if ye wyll ryde and be in the former fronte of the batayle with a trucheman with you and make some token that ye wolde speke with some crysten man and than do you so moche as to offre the batayle of .x. of yours agaynst ten of theirs than shall ye here and se what they wyll aunswere and yet howe so euer they answere we may be aduysed what we wyll do at leste the crysten men shall repute vs the more valyaunt They all agreed to that apoyntmente and so passed that nyght the next mornyng they rode forth to skrymysshe with their enemyes and Agadingor formest mounted on his good horse and his trucheman with him The daye was clere and bright and a lytell before the sonne rysynge the sarazyns set them selfe in ordre of batayle The same nyght sir Willyam of Tremoyle had kept the watch on the crysten parte and with hym sir Guy his brother Than the sarazins apered before the cristen men within a thre crosbowe shot and Agadingor had his truchman by him he rode on before all his coÌ„pany and made token to speke with some crysten man on the one wynge of the felde And a gentle squyer called Affrenall seyng the sarazyn and the sygnes that he made rode fro his company sayd Syrs stande styll here and I wyll go and speke with yoÌ„der sarazyn and torne agayne to you he hath a truchman with hym he cometh to speke with some man this squier came to the sarazyn who taryed for him Than the truchman said ye crysten man are a noble man and a man of armes and redy to gyue aunswere to our demaunde I am suche a one quod Affrenall say what it pleace you ye shal be harde and receyued Than quod the trucheman syr beholde here a gentleman and a noble man of ours who demaundeth the batayle to fyght with you hande to hande and if ye wyll haue mo we shall fynde to the nombre of sixe of ours redy to fight with .vi. of yours and the quarell of our men shal be this They say and wyll iustifye that our faythe is better and more of valure than yours for our faythe and lawe hath ben written syth the begynning of the worlde and as for your lawe was fouÌ„de out by one man whome the iewes hanged on a crosse Ahsyr quod Affrenall speke no further of that mater it appertaygneth nat to the to speke or dispute our fayth and lawe but say to this sarazyn that he swere by his fayth and beleue to afferme the batayle let hym bringe to the nombre of .x. all gentlemen of name and armes and within this thre houres I shall bringe as many to try the mater The truth-man resyted those wordes to the sarazyn who be semyng had gret ioy to accept and afferme the batayle Thus they toke this enterprise bytwene them twayne and departed and returned to their owne companyes tydinges herof came to sir Guy of Tremoyle and to syr Willyam his brother and whan they met with Affrenall they demaunded fro whence he came and what he had done with the sarazyn Than Affrenall shewed hym all the hole mater and how that he had taken the batayle wherof the sayd two knightes were ioyfull and sayd Affrenall speke to other for we two shall be of the nombre of the ten syr quod Affrenall as god wyll so be it I trust I shall fynde ynowe that wolde be glad to fyght with the sarazyns Anone after Affrenall mette with the lorde of Thune and shewed hym the aduenture and demauÌ„ded if he wolde be one of the company The lord of Thune wolde nat refuse but gladlye graunted to be one of their company For euery one that Affrenall dyd gette he myght haue goten a C. if he had wolde Sir Boucyquant the yonger syr Helyons of Lingnac syr Iohan Russell englysshe sir Iohan Harpedon Aleys Bodet and Bochet all these accepted the batayle Whan the nombre of ten were accomplisshed euery man drewe to their lodgynge to arme them incontynent to do batayle Whan this was knowen in the hoost and the knyghtes named that had taken on them that enterprise Than all other knyghtes and squyers sayd a these ten knightes were borne in a good houre that haue founde this
day so happy an aduenture wolde to god quod dyuers that we were of that nombre Euery knight and squyer was ioyfull of this enterprise and greatly praysed the aduenture sauynge the gentle lorde of Coucy who was nat cotente therwith THe lorde of Thune was of the company of the lorde of coucy he shewed him the couenante he had made with Affrenall to be one of the ten to fight with ten sarazyns as many as herde therof praysed greatly that aduenture but the lorde of Coucy spake against it and sayd Ah sirs ye yonge people that knowe but lytell of the worlde but rather exalte a folysshe ded than a wyse dede In this enterprise I can se no reason for dyuers causes one is that ten knyghtes and squyers of our men all gentlemen of name and blode must fyght agaynste as many sarazyns Howe shall our men knowe whether they be gentlemen or no if they lyst they may set agaynst our men ten rybauldes or varlettes and if they hap to be dyscomfyted we shall wyn nothynge but ten varlettes and yet we shall be neuer the nerer to wyn the towne of Aufryke but we shall thus put our good men in aduēture peraduenture they wyll set a busshment and whan our ten men be in the felde to tary for their men they wyll close them roūde about wherby we shall lese them and be somoche the febler There I say quod the lorde of Coucy that Affrenall hath nat wrought wysely in this mater for at the first whan the sarazyn dyd defye him he shuld than haue made a nother maner of aunswere than he dyd he shuld haue sayd howe he was nat the chefe heed of that army but rather one of the poorest where as ye blame our faythe and byleue ye are nat mete to haue an answer made to you therof by me but if ye lyst I shall brynge you to the great lordes of our armye and I shall take you vnder my saueconducte that ye shall go and returne in sauegarde and suretie and the◠ye shall here the lordes speke Thus Affrenall shuld haue ledde the sarazyn to the duke of Burbone and to the counsayle and there he shulde haue been herde at leyser and answered by good aduyse suche defyaūce in armes for suche quarell ought nat to passe without great deliberacion of good coūsayle And than if the batayle had ben agreed vnto by vs yet it wolde haue ben knowen of them what men by name and surname shulde acomplyssh the batayle Thervpon we to haue chosen other of our men for our honour and profite and thervpon to hane had of the sarazyns suretie and hostage and they of vs. This had ben a more metely maner to haue vsed wherfore if this treatie might be withdrawen with reason it shulde be well doone and I wyll go and speke with the duke of Burbone and to take counsayle with the lordes of the armye and to knowe what they wyll say therto thus the lorde of Coucy departed fro the lorde of Thune and wente to the Duke of Burbons tent where all the barons assembled togyder to take coūsayle in that mater For all that the lorde of Coucy had sayde these wordes to the lorde of Thune by maner of good counsayle and aduyse yet for all that he lefte nat but armed hymselfe and so came forth with other of his company redy to fight with the sarazyns and sir Guy of Tremoyle the formest knight Thus the lordes of Fraunce were in coūsayle in the duke of Burbons tent Some thought this defiaunce to be reasonable and susteyned greatly the wordes and opinyon of the lorde Coucy sayeng howe it were better to make a nother maner of treatie And some other as specyall the lorde Loys erle of Arthoys and sir Philyp of Bare sayd Syth the armes be taken and accepted on our parte it shulde be great blame to let it wherfore in the name of god and our lady let our knyghtes and squyers furnysshe their enterprise This purpose was holden and susteyned but than all thynges consydred it was thought for the best that all the hole host shulde be armed and be in ordre of batayle to th entent that if the sarazyns wolde do any falsnesse they shulde be redy to resyst them This was accomplysshed and euery man well armed and drewe in to the felde in good ordre of batayle redy to fyght the genouoys crosebowes on the one syde and the knyghtes and squiers on the other syde euery lord vnder his baner or penon of their armes it was a goodly syght to beholde them The crysten men shewed well howe they had great desyre that the sarazyns shuld haue come and fought with them And the ten crysten knightes and squiers were redy in the felde aloue of fro their company abydynge for the ten sarazins that shulde haue fought with them but it semed well they had no wyll therto for whan they sawe howe the crysten men ordred them selfe were redy in batayle they douted them and durst nat come forwarde for all that they were thre tymes as many men as the crysten men were The sarasyns wolde often tymes come well mounted and skrymyssh before the crysten mennes batayle and than returne againe and this they dyd of pure malice to put the crysten men to payne and traueyle This day was so hote with the sonne that before nor after there had been no suche sene so that they that were moste lusty and fresshe were so sore chafed in their harnesse that they were nere ouercome for faute of ayre and wynde And always the .x. crysten men taryed a parte for the ten sarazyns but they nother sawe nor herde tydynges of any Than they aduysed to aproche the towne of Aufryke and to assayle it seynge they were all redy armed and redy in batayle And all day to kepe their honour the ten knightes kept the felde tyll it was night there went to the assaute knyghtes and squyers desyringe to do dedes of armes they were hote and sore chafed and yet they traueyled them selfe more and more And if the sarasyns had well knowen what case the crysten men were in they might haue done thē great domage and a reysed the siege and by lykelyhode to haue had the victory for the crysten men were so wery and so sore traueyled that they had but lytell strenght howe be it they conquered by assaute the first wall of the towne where no man dwelte Than the sarazyns retrayed in to the seconde fortresse skrymysshynge without takynge of any great domage but the crysten men had domage ynough for in skrimisshyng and assautynge they were in the heate of the sonne and in the duste of the sandes tyll it was myght wherby dyuers knyghtes and squiers toke their dethe whiche was great pytie and domage By the said occasion there dyed first syr Willyam of Gacill and sir Guyssharde de la Garde syr Lyon Scalet sir Guy de la saluest syr Willm̄ of Staple syr Wilyam Guyret
alwayes he had auaunsed his sonne of Ostrenaunt towardes the kyng and his couÌ„saile This mater was nat forgotten but incontinent the Frenche kyng wrote sharpe letters to therle of OstrenauÌ„t who was at quesnoy in Heynaulte coÌ„maundyng hym to come to Parys to do his homage before the kynge and the other peeres of Fraunce for the coutie of Ostrenaut or els the kyng wolde take it fro hym and make hym warre Whan the erle had well ouersene these letters and parceyued howe that the Frenche kyng and his counsayle were displeased with hym to make his answere he assembled his counsayle as the lorde of Fountayns the lorde of Gomegynes sir Wyllyam of Hermes the lorde of Trassegnies the bayly of Heynaulte the lorde of Sancelles sir Rase of Montigny the abbot of Crispyne Iohan Sulbart Iaquemart Barrier of Valencennes These wysemen counsayled togider what answere might be made to the kynges letters There were many reasons alleged at last all thynges consydred they thought it for the best to write to the Frenche kynge and to his counsayle to take a daye to answere clerely to all maner of demaundes by the mouthe of certayne credyble ê‘sons and none by writyng And in the meane season they sente certayne notable personages to the erle of Heynaulte and duke Aubert of HolaÌ„de to haue their couÌ„sayles what answere to make Thus they dyde They wrote swetely and courtesly to the kynge and to his counsayle so that with those fyrst letters the kyng and his couÌ„sayle was well content Than therle and his couÌ„sayle sent in to Hollande the lorde of Trassegines and the lorde of Sancelles Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier They rode to the erle of Heynault and shewed hym the state of the countie or Heynault and the letters that the Frenche kyng hadde sent to his sonne the erle of Ostrenaunt the erle of Heynaulte had marueyle of that mater and said Sirs I thought neuer otherwyse but that it shulde come thus to passe Wyllyam my sonÌ„e had nothyng to do to go in to EnglaÌ„de I haue delyuered hym the rule and gouernaunce of the couÌ„tie of Heynaulte he might haue done vsed hym selfe accordyng to the counsayle of the countrey Sirs I shall tell you what ye shall do Go to my fayre cosyn the duke of Burgoyn for it lyeth well in his power to regarde and to sette an order in all thynges demaunded by the Frenche kynge I canne gyue you no better counsayle With this answere they departed out of Hollande and came in to Heynault and there shewed what answere they had wherwith the erle his counsayle were content There was assigned to go in to FrauÌ„ce to the duke of Burgoyne the lorde of Trassegnies sir WyllmÌ„ of Hermyes sir Rase of Montigny Iohan Semart and Iaques Barrier To shewe and declare all the processe and sute that they made at the Frenche courte shulde be ouer longe to resyte But finally all thynges concluded for all that the duke of Burgoyne coude do there was non other remedy but that the erle of Ostrenaunt must come personally to Parys and to knowe his homage due to the Frenche kyng for the countie of Ostrenaunt or els surely to haue warre The lorde of coucy sir Olyuer of Clysson toke great payne for the erles sake but sir IohnÌ„ Mercier and the lorde de la Ryuer labored on the contrarye syde as moche as they might ¶ Nowe let vs leaue to speke any more of this mater and retourne to speke of the lordes knyghtes of Fraunce who were at the siege before the strong towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe and by what incydent the siege was reysed before the towne of Aufryke and by what occasyon and howe euery man retourned to their owne countreis Cap. C.lxxiiii YE haue herde here before howe the christen men had besieged the stronge towne of Aufryke by lande by see Settyng all their ententes howe to conquere it for they thought if they might wyn it the brute therof shulde sounde to their great honours and prayse and howe they myght there kepe them selfe toguyder and to resyst agaynst their ennemyes sayenge howe they shulde alwayes haue conforte of the Christen men and specially of the Frenche kyng who was yong and desyrous of dedes of armes consydring howe he had truce with the Englysshmen for two yeres to coÌ„e the sarazyns feared the same wherfore dayly they made prouysyon for the towne and refresshed alwaies their towne with newe fressh men hardy aduenturers accordynge to their vsage Thus the season passed on and after the christen men hadde suffred the great losse of their companyons with lytell wynnynge or aduauntage on their partye all their hole hoost were in a maner dyscomforted for they coulde nat se howe to be reuenged Than many of theym beganne to murmure sayenge we lye here all in vayne as for the skrymysshes that we make therby shall we neuer wyn the Towne of Auffryke for if we slee any of them for eche of them they wyll gette agayne ten other They be in their owne countrey they haue vytayles and prouysyons at their pleasure and that we haue is with great dauÌ„ger and parell What shall we thynke to do if we lye here all this wynter longe and colde nyghtes we shal be morfounded and frosen to dethe Thus we shall be in a herde case by dyuers wayes first in wynter no man dare take the see for the cruell and tyrryble wyndes and tempestes of the see for the sees and tempestes are more fierser in wynter than in somer and if we shulde lacke vytayles but eight dayes togyther and that the see wolde suffre none to come to vs we were all deed and lost without remedy Secondly though it were so that we had vytayles and all thynges necessary with out daunger yet howe coulde our watche endure the payne and traueyle contynually to watche euery night the parell and aduenture is ouer herde for vs to beare for our enemyes who be in their owne countrey and knowe the countrey may come by nyght and assayle vs to their great aduauntage and do vs great domage as they haue done all redy Thyrdly if for faute of good ayre of swete fresshe meates wherwith we haue been norysshed that mortalyte hap to fall in our hoost we shall dye euery man fro other for we haue no remedy to resyst agaynst it Also furthermore if the genouoys turne agaynst vs which are rude people and traytours they may be nyght tyme entre in to their shyppes so leue vs here to pay for the scotte All these doutes are to be consydred by our capytaynes who lye at their ease and regarde nat the case we be in â–ª and also some of the genouoys spared nat to speke and sayd in raylynge to the crysten men What men of armes be ye frenche men whan we departed fro Genne we thought that within fyftene dayes that ye had layen at siege before the towne of Aufryke ye shulde haue conquered
a voyage for you thanne to go to Rome with a great puyssaunce of men of armes and pull downe and dystroy that antepaye whome the romayns by force hath created and set in the seate cathedrall of saynt Peter if ye wyll ye maye well accomplysshe this voyage and we suppose ye can nat passe your tyme more honorably And syr ye maye well know that if this antepape and his cardynals knowe ones that ye be mynded to come on them with an army they wyll yelde them self aske mercy The kynge remēbred hym selfe a lytell and sayd howe he wolde do as they had deuysed for surely he said he was moche bounde to pope Clement for the yere past he had ben at Auygnon where as the pope and his cardynals made hym ryght honourable chere and had gyuen more than was demaunded bothe to hym selfe to his brother and to his vncles wherfore the kynge sayd it hadde deserued to haue some recompence and also at his departure fro Auignon he had promysed the pope to helpe to assyst hym in his quarell At that season there was at Parys with the kyng the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne than it was agreed and concluded that the nexte Marche after the kynge shuld departe fro Parys and take the way towardes Sauoy and Lombardy and the erle of Sauoy to sende his cosyn Germayne with hym and the kynge to haue vnder his charge the duke of Tourayne his brother with four thousande speares and the duke of Burgoyne with two thousande speares and the duke of Berrey two thousāde the constable of Fraunce two thousande speares with the bretons raintoners and lowe marches the duke of Burbon a thousāde speares the lorde of saynt Poll and the lorde of Coucy a thousande speares all these men of armes to be payed in hande for thre monethes and so fro terme to terme And whan those tydynges were knowen in Auignon pope Clement and his cardynals were greatly reioysed and thought in a maner their enterprise atcheued Also the kinge was coūsayled nat to leaue the duke of Bretayne behynde hym but to sende and to desyre hym to prepare hym selfe to go with him in this voyage The kyng wrote notably to hym and sent his letters by a man of honour an offycer of armes signyfyenge the duke in his letters the state of this voyage Whan the duke had red these letters he turned hym selfe smyled and called to hym the lorde of Mountboucher and sayd Syr harke and regarde well what the frenche kyng hath written to me he hath enterprised to departe this next Marche with a great puissaunce to go to Rome and to distroy suche as take parte with pope Bonyface As god helpe me his iourney shall tourne to nothynge for in shorte space he shall haue more flax to his dystaffe than he can well spynne I thynke he wyll leaue soone his folyssh thought And also he desyreth me to go with hym with two thousande speares howebeit I wyll honour him as I ought to do and I wyll write to him ioyously bycause he shall be contente and shewe hym howe if he go in this voyage he shall nat go without me seyng it pleaseth him to haue my company howe be it sir of Moūtboucher I say vnto you I wyll nat traueyle a man of myne for all that the kyng hath purposed and sayd nothynge shall there be done in that behalfe The duke of Bretayne wrote goodly letters and swete to the frenche kynge and the officer of armes returned with theym to Parys and delyuered them to the kynge who redde them and was well contented with the aunswere ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the Englysshe knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the frenche kynge fro the kynge of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Cap. C .lxxv. THe wyll and purpose of the frenche kynge none wolde breke for it pleased greatly all the knyghtes squyers of Fraunce bycause they wyst nat where better to enploy their season and euery man prepared towardes that voyage and namely the clergy of all the prouynces of the realme ordayned and graunted a tayle to sende at their costes and charges men of warre with the kynge Howe be it this voyage tourned to nothynge as the duke of Bretayne had sayd before and I shall shewe you by what incidence About the feest of Candelmas came other tydynges to the Frenche kyng and to his counsayle whiche they loked nothynge for Certayne of the kynge of Englandes coūsayle and suche as were of his priuy chambre were sent nobly to Parys to the frenche kyng and they that were chefe of this legacyon was syr Thomas Percy syr Loys Clyfforde and sir Robert Briquet with dyuers other knyghtes in their company but I herde as than no mo named Whan these thre knyghtes were come to Parys to hym than the french kyng was desyrous to knowe what it myght meane that the kynge of Englande dyd sende so hastely of his counsayle to hym These knyghtes of Englande syr Thomas Percy and other alyghted in Parys in the streate called the Crosse at the signe of the castell The frenche kynge as than lay in the castell of Lowere his brother the duke of Tourayne with hym and his other thre vncles in other lodgynges in the cytie and the cōstable syr Olyuer Clysson It was nere hāde noone whan the englysshe men came to Parys and they kept their lodgynge all that day nyght after and the next day aboute nyue of the clocke they lept on their horses ryght honorably and rode to the castell of Loure to the kyng where he with his brother and vncles the Erle of saint Poll the lorde of Coucy the constable of Fraūce sir Iohan of Vien sir Guy de la tremoyle with dyuers other barons of Fraunce were redy to receyue the englysshe ambassadours who alyghted at the gate and entred in and there receyued them the lord de la Ryuer syr Iohan Mercyer sir Lyon of Lignach sir Peter Villers sir Willyam of Tremoyle and syr Marcell there they receyued them honourably and brought theym in to the chambre where the kynge taryed for them Than they dyd of their bonettes and kneled downe syr Thomas Percy hadde the letters of credence that the kynge of Englande had sente to the frenche kynge he delyuered them to the kyng who tooke them and caused the knyghtes to stande vp than they stepe some what backe The kynge opyned the letters and red them and sawe well that they had credence than he called to hym his brother and his vncles and shewed them the letters than his vncles sayd Syr call forthe the knyghtes and here what they wyll say Than they aproched and were cōmaunded to declare their credence than si◠Thomas Percy spake and sayd Dere sir the entencyon of our souerayne lorde the kinge of Englande is that he wolde gladly that suche of his specyall counsayle as his vncles dukes of Lancastre yorke and Glocestre and other prelates of
be nat delyuered fro the companyons There is as yet the garyson of Lourde where as Peter Arnaulte kepeth vnder the kynge of Englande And also the garyson of Bounteuyll whiche is kepte by sir Iohan of Granley sonne to the Captall of Buse And thoughe it be so that as nowe we haue peace with the erle of Foiz yet it is good to doubte hym for he is cruell and hastye his thought is vnknowen therfore it is good that our landes be nat dyspurueyed Wherfore Brother for these causes other ye shall retourne home and ye shalle here often fro me and I fro you Sir Bernarde lightlye agreed to this purpose The deuyse semed good to hym Nor also he had no great affeccyon to go forthe in that iournay Than at his departynge the erle his brother sayde to hym Brother in youre retournyng ye shall go to our cosyn Raymonde of Thourayne who holdeth lande of the pope in the countie of Venus and maketh warre agaynst hym and my cosyn hath maryed his doughter to the prince of Orenge and shewe hym howe I am desyred of the pope to requyre hym to go with me in this voyage and I shall make hym my companyon in euery thynge and I shall tary for hym at the cytie of Gappe bytwene the mountayns Sir quod Bernarde I shall do your message Thus the two bretherne departed a sondre in the felde and neuer mette to guyder agayne after The erle of Armynake toke the waye to the cytie of Gappe in the lande of Ganos And Bernarde his brother went to the castell of Bolongne where sir Raymonde of Thouraygne was who receyued his cosyn ioyously Than sir Bernarde shewed hym the message that he had to saye fro his brother the erle of Armynacke with as fayre wordes as he coulde deuyse the rather therby to enclyne hym therto Than sir Raymonde aunswered and layd Fayre cosyn or your brother the erle of Armynake be entred farre in to LoÌ„bardy and hath besieged any towne I shall folowe hym but as yet it is to soone for me and my men to go forwarde Write vnto your brother my cosyn that aboute the moneth of Maye I shall folowe hym by the tyme I trust to haue an ende of the war betwene myne vncle pope Clement and the cardinals at Auignon me who as yet wyll do me no ryght and kepeth awaye fro me ê‘force that myne vncle pope Gregorie gaue me they wene to wery me but they shall nat They desyre knyghtes and squyers and gyueth theym pardons to make warre agaynst me but they haue no lyst therto For I canne haue mo men of warre for a thousande Floreyns in one daye than they can haue for all their absolucions in seuyn yere Fayre cosyn quod sir Bernarde that is trewe Kepe on your purpose I wolde nat counsayle you otherwyse And as ye haue aunswered me so shall I write to my brother therle of Armynake So be it quod sir Raymonde Thus they were toguyder all a hole daye ThanÌ„e sir Bernarde departed and passed the ryuer of Rosne at the bridge Saynt Espyrite and so retourned in to Query and in to Rouergue by the mountayns and so came thyder as he wolde be and lefte the erle of Armynake his brother alone with his warre against the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues Or he departed fro Bolonge he wrote to his brother all the newes that he knewe and the answere of sir Raymonde of Thourayne The erle of Armynake receyued the letters in the waye goyng to the cytie of Gappe He redde the letters and so passed forthe and made no great force of the matter WE wyll contynue to speke of the yonge erle of Armynacke and shewe his feate or I speke of any other mater And thus I say The good loue and great affection that he had to conforte his suster brother in lawe her husbande whom the erle of Vertues who called hym selfe lorde of Myllaygne falsely disheryted withoute cause or tytellâ— caused the erle ioyously to passe in his iourney as farre as Pyemount in Lombardy There was two great reasons that caused the erle of Armynake to assemble and to make that iourney at that tyme. The fyrste was that the realme of Fraunce therby was clene rydde of the routes of these companyons that hadde done moche hurte in the reaime and therby the countreys better assured than they were before The seconde reason was to ayde his suster for he had great pytie that she and her husbande shulde lese their herytage wherby they shulde lyue and maynteyne their estate and for these consyderacions he toke on hym this enterprice The capitayns of the companyons sayde one to another Lette vs ryde forthe merily agaynst these lombardê we haue a good quarell and a inste tytell and we haue a good capitayne wherby our warre shal be moche the better And also we shall go in to the best countrey of all the worlde for Lombardy receyueth fro all costes the fatnesse of the worlde and the e lombardes be naturally euer riche and cowardes We shall attayne agaynst theym moche profyte There is none of vs that be capitayns but that shall retourne so ryche that we shall neuer nede to make warre more agaynst any man Thus the companyons de used one with another and whan they came in to a plentuous countrey there they wolde tary a season to refresshe them and their horses In the same season the good abueÌ„turous fought of Englande sir Iohan Hacton was in the marchesse of FloreÌ„ce and made warre agaynst the floreÌ„tyns in the quarell of pope Bonyface of Rome for they were rebell agaynst the popes coÌ„maundement and so were also the Perusyns The erle of Armynake thought that if he might get this Englysshe knyght to take parte with hym he shulde haue a great treasure of hym bycause of his wysedome valyauntnesse The erle wrote to hym signyfieng hym all the hole mater of his enterprice desyringe hym of his ayde Whiche letter was sente by a discrete person to sir Iohan Hacton beyng in the marchesse of Florence and had a two thousande fyghtynge men He receyued the letter and redde it And whan he hadde well vnderstande all the substaunce therof he was ryght ioyfull and aunswered and sayde That his owne warre ones atchyued he wolde do nothyng after tyll he were in the company of the erle of Armynake The messanger sayde Sir ye saye well I requyre you write your mynde to my lorde the erle of Armynake he wyll the better beleue it With ryght a good wyll sir quod the knight it is reason that I so do Than the Englysshe knyght wrote and delyuered the letter to the messangere who retourned and came agayne to his lorde and founde hym as than in the marchesse of Pyneroll where was gret treatie bitwene hym and the Marques of Salues who shulde be alyed with hym to ayde him in his warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne erle of Vertues THe tidynges that the erle of
season syr Olyuer of Clysson as thanne constable of FrauÌ„ce was greatly in fauour with the kyng and with the duke of Thourayne whiche fauour he had get by reason of the good seruyce that he had done in armes as well in FrauÌ„ce as els where in the kynges dayes and in his fathers dayes kinge Charles and sir Olyer of Clyssons doughter had wedded Iohan of Bretayne brother germayne to the quene of Iherusalem and this syr Olyuer Clysson by reason of the alyaunce that he had by the maryage of Iohan of Bretayne was greatly in the duke of Bretayns indignacion in somoch that the duke helde him for his mortall enemy and Iohan of Bretayne in lykewyse and the duke of Bretayne repented hym that he had nat slaine sir Olyuer of Clysson whan he had hym in prisone in his castell of Ermyn This syr Peter of Craon was in suche fauour with the duke of Bretaygne that he myght do with him what he lyst he was his cosyn and whyle he was in fauour with the frenche kynge and with the duke of Thourayn he wolde gladly haue brought out of the kynges fauoure syr Olyuer of Clysson the constable if he coulde haue brought it aboute THus the enuyous whiche couertely always hath reygned in Fraunce dissymuling their maters tyll they come to an yuell conclusion The constable of Fraunce had alwayes ben so true in all his dedes to the crowne of Fraunce that euery manne loued hym except the duke of Burgoyn who loued him nothyng the hatred came by the duches of Burgoyne who was a lady of hygh corage for she coulde nat loue the Constable for the duke of Bretayne was nere of blod to her and all that her father the erle of Flaunders loued she loued and suche as he hated she dyd the same she was of that condycion This syr Peter of Craon whyle he was in the frenche court and great with the duke of Thourayne he wrote often tymes to the duke of Bretayne secretly euery thynge that he knewe the duke wrote agayne to hym Theffecte of their writynges I coude nat knowe how be it I Iohan Froy sart auctor of this hystory on a tyme whan I was at Parys on a night whan a great myschefe was lykely to haue fallen vpon sir Olyuer Clysson constable of Fraunce by a marueylous enterprise of syr Peter of Craon as I shall herafter more playnly declare whan tyme shall requyre And bycause I sawe the mater darke and obscure lykely to be great trouble and daunger I dyd all the payne I coulde to knowe the grounde and occasyon of the mater why syr Peter of Craon was so sodaynly banysshed fro the frenche kynges loue and the duke of Thourayns Suche serche I made and suche enquery of them that knewe the mater that some of them enfourmed me of the trouth as the fame renome ran Fyrst the duke of Thourayn was dyspleased with this syr Peter of Craon through his owne faute for he dysclosed the secretnesse that was bytwene the duke of Thourayne and another lady If he dyd so he dyd yuell THe duke of Thourayne as than had suche fauour to syr Peter of Craon that he toke hym as his companyon and ware euer lyke apparell and had hym alwayes with hym where so euer he wente and shewed hym all his secretes This Duke of Thourayn as than was yonge and amorous and gladly wolde company with ladyes and damosels and sporte hym amonge them and specially as it was shewed me he loued entierly a fayre lady of Paris yonge and fressh His loue and secretes were knowen in suche wyse that it turned to great dysplesure to the duke and he wyste nat whome to blame but syr Peter of Craon for the duke had shewed hym all his secretes in that mater and had taken hym in his company whan he wolde secretly speke with the said yonge lady The duke on a tyme promysed the sayd lady a thousande crownes of golde so that he myght haue his pleasure of her But the lady as than refused it and sayd howe she loued hym nat for his golde nor syluer but pure loue enclyned her to beare hym her good wyll but as for golde or syluer she wolde nat sell her honoure All these wordes and promesses were knowen by the duches of Thourayne who incontynent sent for the said yonge lady in to her chambre Than she called her by her name and in gret displeasure sayd Wylte thou do me wronge with my lorde my husband The yonge lady was abasshed and all wepynge sayd Nay madame by the grace of god I neuer dyd thynke it nor neuer wyll than the duchesse sayd Thus it is Iame enfourmed that my lorde my husbande loueth you and you him and the mater so farre gone bytwene you that in suche a place and at suche a tyme he promysed you a thousaÌ„de crownes of golde to haue his pleaser of you howe be it ye dyd refuse it as than wherin ye dyd wysely and therfore as at this tyme I ê‘don you but I charge you as derely as ye loue your lyfe that ye commune nor talke no more with hym but suffre hym to passe herkyn nat to his comunynge Than whan the yonge lady sawe her selfe accused of trouth she answered and sayd Madame I shall delyuer me fro him as sone as I can and shall so deale that ye shall haue no cause of dyspleasure in this mater Therwith the duchesse gaue her leaue to departe and so she returned to her lodgyng The duke of Thourayne who knewe nothynge of this mater and as he that entierly loued this yonge lady fortuned on a day to come where as she was Whanne she sawe hym she eschewed his company and made hym no maner of semblant of loue but dyd clene coÌ„trary to that she had vsed before for she durst nat and also she had sworne promysed to the duches Whan the duke sawe her countenaunce he was pensyue and thought he wolde knowe why she delte so straungely and demaunded of her the cause of her straungnes The yonge lady all wepynge sayd Syrye haue bewrayed your loue and the secrete promesse an offre that ye made me to my lady your wyfe or els some other remembre you wel to whom ye haue shewed your secretnesse for syr I was in great daunger by my lady your wyfe and by none other and I haue sworne and promysed her that after this tyme I wyll neuer coÌ„pany nor talke with you wherby she shulde haue any ielousy whan the duke harde that they were sore wordes to him and greatly to his displeasure and said Ah my sayre lady I swere to you by my faythe that rather than this mater shulde haue ben shewed to my wyfe that I had loste a hundred thousande frankes sythe ye haue sworne kepe your promesse for what so euer it coste me I wyll knowe the trouth who hath bewrayed our secretes THus the Duke departed fro the yonge lady and made no seÌ„blant as
than but pacyentely suffred howe be it he thought the more and at nyght came to his wyfe to supper shewed her more token of loue than euer he dyd befor and he dyd somoche with fayre wordes that the duchesse shewed him all the matter and howe that she knewe it by syr Peter of Craon than the duke spake no more at that tyme. that nyght passed and the nexte day about nyne of the clocke he toke his horse and rode fro the howse of saynte Poll to the castell of Lowre where he founde the kynge his brother heryng of masse The kyng swetelye receyued hym for he loued hym entyerly and the kynge sawe well by the dukes maner that he had some dyspleasure in his mynde and said Ah fayre brother what is the mater it semeth ye be troubled Syr quod he good cause why Wherfore quod the kynge I praye you shewe me The duke who wolde hyde no thynge fro the kynge shewed hym all the hole mater and complayned greatly agaynst syr Peter of Craon and sayd Syr by the faythe that Iowe to god and to you if it were nat for your honoure I wolde slee hym We shall do well ynough quod the kynge he shall be warned by our counsayle to auoyde our house and seruyce and in lykewyse cause him to auoyde your house and company I am well content with this ê™ the duke The same day the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan Mercyer sayd vnto syr Peter of Craon on the kynges behalfe that he shulde auoyde the kynges courte and seruyce and go where he lyste In lykewyse syr Iohan of Buell and the lord of Dernaulx seneschall of Thourayne gaue hym lyke commaundement on the duke of Thourayns behalfe Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe this he was abasshed and tooke it in great dyspyte and coude nat ymagyn why it shulde be And trewe it was he desyred to come in to the kinges presence and the dukes to know the cause of their dyspleasure But he was aunswered that nother the kynge nor the duke wolde nat here hym speke Whan he sawe none other remedy he apparelled hym selfe and departed out of Parys in great displeasure in his hert and so rode into Aniou to a castell of his owne called Sable and taryed there a season fore troubled in his mynde He sawe well he was chased out of the frenche courte and out of the house of Thourayn and also out of the house of the quene of Naples and Iherusalem than whan he parceyued these thre howses closed fro hym he thought to go to the duke of Bretaygne his cosyn and to shewe hym all his aduentures so he dyd and rode in to Bretayne and founde the duke at Wannes who made hym good chere and knewe somwhat before of his trouble And than this syr Peter shewed hym all the case Whan the duke of Bretaygne had well herde all the mater he sayde Fayre cosyn recomforte your selfe all this is surely brought aboute by syr Olyuer of Clysson THis rote and foundacyon of hatred multyplyed greatly after as ye shall here in this hystory Syr Peter of Craon taryed so longe with the duke of Bretaygne that he forgate Fraunce for the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and the kynges counsayle were agaynste hym and also they were nat contente with the duke of Bretayne in that he kepte sir Peter Craon in his house As for the duke of Bretaygne cared nat greatly neyther for the good wyll nor yuell wyll of the Frenche kynge he prouyded suffyciently for his cyties townes and castelles in suche wyse that he loued as well warre as peace And all that euer he dyd was well knowen in Fraunce and with the kinges counsayle and suche as were nexte aboute the kynge reputed the duke of Bretaygne prowde and presumptuous and thretened him greatly but the duke dyde sette lytell therby and sayde that he wolde make warre agaynst the erle of Pointhieur in a iuste quarell for the erle of Pointhyeur our cosyn wryteth and nameth hym selfe Iohan of Bretayne as though he were herytour of this countrey I wyll he be called Iohan for that is his name and erle of Pointhieur and I wyll he put out of his armes the Ermyns and write himselfe Iohan of Bloys or of Chatellon and none other and if he wyll nat do thus I shall cause him to do it and take fro hym his lande for he holdeth it by faythe and homage of vs as for the herytage of Bretaygne he hathe nothynge to do therwith so that it shulde returne to him for I haue bothe sonnes and doughters that shall be myne heyres Let hym purchase hym landes in some other place for as of this he hath fayled Thus often tymes the duke of Bretayne wolde deuyse with sir Peter of Craon who wolde nat replye agaynst his pleasure but rather dyd further it and all for the yuell wyll that he bare to the constable syr Olyuer of Clysson and to the counsayle of Fraunce ⸪ ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekynge of this mater and treate a lytell of another pytuous mater concernynge the erle Guy of Bloys of whom mencyon is made here before in this hystory ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the yonge erle Loyes of Chastelone sonne to the erle Guy of Bloys Cap. C.lxxix IT hath been shewed here before in this hystory whanÌ„e I spake of the alyauÌ„ce and maryage of Lois of Chatellon sonne to the erle of Bloys maryed to the lady Marye doughter to duke Iohan of Berrey and at the confyrmacyon of this maryage the duke of Berrey prouyded greatly for his doughter for she was assigned for her dowry in the couÌ„tie of Bloys the somme of syxe thousande pounde money corante in Fraunce to be payed in florayns if the foresayd Loys of Bloys dyed before his wyfe than all the countie of Blois to be bouÌ„de to pay these foresayd syre thousande frankes And so it fortuned that about the feest of saint Iohan the Baptyste in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and a leuen this yonge Loys of Bloys sonne to the erle Guy departed fro his father fro the castell of Moltyz in Bloys to go in to Haynalt to se his mother and wyfe and whan he came to Beaumonte in Haynault he fell sycke of a feuer by reason that he had rydden great iourneys and the season was boote and he was but yuell kepte and but tendre of age as of xiiii yeres by whiche syckenes he dyed with out helpe for the physycions coulde nat put a way his hote feuer ye maye well knowe that the father and mother were ryght soroufull whan they knewe of the dethe of thier sonne and heyre In lykewyse so was his wyfe the yonge lady of Berrey who loued hym entierly and thought her selfe hyghtly maryed specyally the trouble of the father was right gret for he ymagyned that the duke of Berrey was ryght couetouse and feared leste he wolde entre in to the countie of Bloys
father loued hym entierly Than he tooke his horse and tooke the kaye and rode to the castell of Orâ—hayes And all that season sir Ienbayne was sertchynge all aboute for they kayes and coulde nat fynde theÌ„ nor wyst nat howe to get the towre dore opyn it was so stronge nor also he hadde no instrumentes to breke it opyn with all And in this meane season the men of the towne hadde soone knowledge by varlettes or women that came to the hospytall howe therle shulde be deed These were harde tidynges to them for the erle was welbeloued withall his people They of the towne assembled to guyder in the markette place and sayde one to another suche as hadde sene sir Ienbayn passe through the towne alone We haue sene sir Ienbayne passe through the towne alone towardes the castell it semed by his councynaunce he was nat content Surely there is some thyng a mysse sor he was nat wonte to coÌ„e home before his father Thus as they were coÌ„munynge toguyder there came in to the towne the Erles chapelayne ThanÌ„e the men of the towne came aboute hym and demauÌ„ded newes of therle their lorde It hath been shewed vs that he is deed Is it so or nat Nay quod the preest he is not deed but he is sore sicke and I am come home before to cause thynges to be dressed for hym and than I muste retourne agayne to hym And so therwith he passed forth to the castell and dyde so moche that he entred of whose commyng sir yuan had great ioye For without the kaye that he brought he coulde nat haue entred in to the Towre where as the treasour was Than the men of the towne hadde great suspecte of the Erles dethe and sayde It is nere hande nyght and as yet we here nothynge of our lorde nor of none of his offycers and sir yuan and his chapelayne are entred in to the castell suspeciously Let vs watche the castell this night and to morowe we shall here other tidynges Lette vs sende secretely to the hospitall than shall we knowe howe the mater gothe Also we knowe well the moost parte of the erles treasour is with in the Castell and if it be stollen awaye by crafte we shal be blamed for it Ignoraunce shall nat excuse vs. They all thought it was best for them so to do ThanÌ„e the men of the towne drewe about the castell and kepte the gates of the towne surely that none shulde entre nor issue without lycence Thus they watched all nyght and in the mornyng they had parfyte knowledge of the dethe of their lorde Than euery man woman and chylde cryed out and wepte pituously for the Erle was welbeloued Than the watchmen doubled and encreased in harnesse aboute the castell WHan sir yuan of Foize sawe the maner of the men of the towne and sawe well howe he was ê‘ceyued and that they knewe the certayntie of the dethe of his father Than he sayde to sir Nycholas Sir I haue fayled of myne enteÌ„t I se well I can nat departe hens without lycence The men of the towne haue knowledge of my fathers dethe and they assemble in great nombre before the castell It behoueth me to humble my selfe to them for force can nat aueyle me sir ye saye trouthe quod the preest ye shall wyn more by swete and fayre word than by rude and frowarde dealynge Go your waye and speke with them Than sir yuan went in to a towre nere to the gate opyned a wyndowe ouer the bridge in the whiche towre he was brought vp in tyll he maryed the lady Iane of Boloyne who afterwarde was duchesse of Berrey as ye shall here after in this hystorie Sir yuan opyned the wyndowe and spake to them that were the princypals of the towne who caÌ„e on the bridge nere to the windowe to here what he wolde saye Than he spake a loude and sayde O ye good people of Orthays I knowe well the cause of your asseÌ„bly it is nat wtout a great occasion how be it I requyre you as derely as ye loued my lorde father that ye be nat displeased with me thoughe I haue aduaunsed my selfe to entre in to this castell first or any other shude entre and to take possession therof and of suche goodes as be within it for I wyll do nothyng but good ye knowe well my lorde my father loued me as well and entierly as his owne sonne and wolde fayne haue fouÌ„de the wayes to haue made me his enherytour And nowe it hath pleased god to call hym to his mercy without accomplysshyng of any thynge of myne aduauncement And nowe he hath lefte me amonge you where I haue been brought vp and lefte nowe as a poore knyght bastarde sonne to the erle of Foize without I haue your ayde and helpe Wherfore sirs I requyre you in goddes behalfe to haue pytie on me wherin ye shall do great almesse And I shall open the castell and suffre you to entre I wyll nat kepe it agaynst you Than they aunswered and sayde Sir yuan ye haue spoken so nobly that it ought to suffyce And sir we saye that we wyll abide with you and our entent is to kepe this castell and goodes with you And if the Vicount of Chastellon your cosyn who is next enherytoure to this countrey of Byerne as nexte parente to your father come hyder to challenge his herytage and mouables or he haue it he shall knowe well howe we shall defende you and your right fro hym and fro your brother sir Gracyen But we suppose that whanÌ„e the Frenche kynge was laste at Tholous and my lorde youre Father with hym that some order was takenne as touchyng your fathers enherytaunce And this can sir Roger of Spaygne your cosyn tell no man better than he We shall write to him and shewe hym of the dethe of the erle your father and desyre hym to come hyder to helpe and counsayle vs in all thynges concernynge the landes of Bierne and of Foiz and also for the mouables and for thentierment of my lorde youre father And this we promyse you faythfully to vpholde With this aunswere sir yuan was well contente And thanne opyned the gate of the Castell of Orthayes and suche entred as wolde And the same daye the Erles body was brought thyder At the metyng of the corse men and women wepte pituously in the remembraunce of his noblenesse and puyssaunt estate His wytte and prudence his Prowesse and largesse and the great prosperyte that he lyued in For there was nouther Frenche nor Englysshe that durste dysplease hym Moost parte of the people sayd Nowe our neyghbours wyll make vs war where as we were wonte to lyue in peace and fredome Nowe shall we be in bondage in misery and subiectyon Nowe there is none to ayde vs. AH Gascone Gascone fayre sonÌ„e Why dyde ye euer so dysplease your father that it coste you your lyfe If ye had ben lefte with vs it shulde nowe haue
at Towers in Thourayn bytwene the Frenche kynge and the duke of Bretayne and of the mariage of the doughter of Fraunce to the lonne of Bretayne and of IohnÌ„ of Bretayne erle of Pointhieur and the doughter of the duke of Bretaygne Cap. C.lxxxi YE haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clysson as than constable of Fraunce hated mortally eche other and besyde the hatred that the duke had to syr Olyuer he had gret enuy that he was so great with the kinge and so secrete of his counsayle and gladly he wolde haue troubled hym but he doughted the kynges displeasure and often tymes the duke repented hym that he had nat slayne hym whan he had hym in prisone in the castell of Ermyn for he thought if he had slayne hym than he shulde neuer haue had more trouble by hym The yuell wyll that he had to hym caused hym to be harde mynded to be obedyente to the crowne of Fraunce howe be it he knewe well he dyd yuell therfore he suffred all thynge to passe at aduenture and helde in his loue the englysshe men and prouyded suffycyently his townes and fortresses with artyllery vytayles and sent priuely in to Englande for men of armes and archers dyd set them in his garysons and made to be beleued that he loked to haue warre but his men knâ—we nat with whome howe be it all that euer he dyd was knowen in FrauÌ„ce and many spake largely against him He knewe well that certrayne lordes of Fraunce were nat contente with hym but he dyd set lytell therby but so passed on his tyme. He had great affyaunce in his cosyne the duchesse of Burgoyne as it was reason for he had of her a specyall supporte and ayde for the lady bycause of lygnage loued hym and bycause that the erle of Flaunders her father who was cosyn germayne to the duke had alwayes loued and comforted hym in all his trybulacyons This lady of Burgoyne was a good lady so that the duke her husbande wolde nat gladly displease her and good cause why for the duke by her helde great herytages and had by her fayre chyldren all the realme of Fraunce was bounde to loue her and she had nat ben great dyscensions had moued bytwene the parties for natwithstandynge that the duke of Bretayne had ben at Paris with the french kyng and made to hym homage yet I can nat well say if it was with good herte or no for as sone as the duke was retourned in to Bretaygne there apered in hym but small amendemente he had sworne obeysaunce and to be obedyent to the pope at Auignon but he was nat for rather he dispysed hym in his wordes Nor also he wolde suffre no man to be promoted in his countrey by that popes bulles but helde hym selfe newter in dyuers thynges wolde gyue the benefyces hym selfe No clerke coulde atteygne to any promocyon of any benefyce in his countrey without he had ben well pleased therwith Also any coÌ„mauÌ„dements that came out of the parlyament chambre of Parys he sette nothynge therby The prelates and bysshoppes of Bretayne lost great parte of their iurisdictions by this duke so that great complayntes therof was made in the parlyament of Parys but they hadde small remedy And whan he was sent for to come to Parysê or els to sende thyder some able personages to make aunswere to suche matters as shulde be aledged agaynste hym and whan any of the kynges offycers came in to Bretaygne to somon hym to apere thanne he wolde nat be spoken withall but euer made sondry seues And whan the kinges officers dyd departe againe thens than he wolde say I wyll go to Parys to se what ryght I shall haue there It is nat yet thre yeres sence I was there to se what ryght I shulde haue but I coulde se nor here of no ryght there mynystred the lordes of the parlyament tourne euery thynge as they lyst They reken me very yonge and ignorante to be ledde as they lyst but I wolde they knewe that if all my men of the duchy of Bretaygne were all of one accorde and obedyent to my pleasure as they ought to be I wolde gyue the realme of Fraunce so moche to do that I wolde bringe theym that be vnreasonable to reason and suche as hath done trewly shulde be rewarded acordyngly and suche as haue deserued to haue iustyce shulde haue as they haue deserued and suche as wolde haue right shuld haue it Thus many complayntes were made often tymes to the kynge and suche as were of his secrete counsayle said This duke is ryght presumptuous and proude sythe he wyll be brought to no reason and if he shulde be thus suffred in his lewde opinyon it shulde greatly enfeble the noblenesse of this realme for by hym other lordes shall take ensample to do yuell and therby the iurysdictyon of the realme lytell and lytell shall be loste Than it was deuysed to withstande and to fynde remedy for suche inconuenyentes and to sende swetely to hym to come to Towrs in Thourayne and there to mete with the french kyng and with the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne the bysshop of Charters the bysshoppe of Dothune These four were specyally named bycause the duke loued them best aboue all other lordes of Fraunce excepte the erle of Estampes and the lorde Coucy THus there was sente in to Bretayne to the duke the erle of Estampes and mayster Iue of Noyent They toke great payne and traueyle to moue the duke to mete with the frenche kynge at Towrs they spake so fayre with fresshe coloured wordes armed with reason that the duke agreed to go to Towrs but further he sayd in no wyse he wolde go and also that he shulde nat se his enemy syr Olyuer of Clysson in no wyse All this was acorded agreed or he wolde come to Towrs These ambassadours retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge and his counsayle howe they had spedde They were contente therwith sythe they coulde brynge hym to none other purpose The kynge and his couÌ„sayle made them redy to go to Towrs and to tary there a two or thre monethes for they thought their treatie with the duke of Bretayne shulde nat sone be acomplisshed Thus the frenche kinge the duke of Thourayne his brother the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and Iohan of Burgoyne his sonne the duke of Burbon the lorde Coucy the erle of Marche the Erle of saynte Poll and other of the counsaile of FrauÌ„ce came to Towrs in Thourayn Also thyder came the constable of FrauÌ„ce and Iohan of Bretayne his sonne in lawe and their counsayles for they hadde maters there to do And a fyftene dayes after thyder came the duke of Bretayne or he came it was sayd he wolde nat come for he had thre tymes sent to excuse hym selfe sayenge he was speke and coude nat ryde how be it finally
was as foloweth CHarles by the grace of god kynge of Fraunce we sende and coÌ„mende vs to the ryght reuerende bysshoppe of Noyon and to our knight and chambrelayne the lorde de la Ryuer We wyll that ye suffre the vycount of Chastellon enherytour of Foiz and of Bierne to enioy possede his heritage of the countie of Foiz with the purtenauÌ„ces so that ye take in to your possessyon the soÌ„me of .lx. thousande frankes at one payment and the money payed than our seneschall of Tholouse to make a sure quytaunce of the recryte therof Also at a nother paymente I wyll ye receyue twenty thousande frankes for your costes and charges in goynge and retournyng and that money payed than make quytaunce therof vnder the seale of offyre of Tholouse Also we wyll that syr yuan and syr Gracyen of Foiz bastarde sonnes to the erle Gascon of Foiz haue parte and ceasonable assignement bothe in landes and goodes of that was their fathers by the aduyse and dyscrecyon of syr Roger of Spayne and of the vicount of Bruny quell syr Raynolde of Newcastell and the lorde of Corase to whome we shall write that they maye so aquyte them to dyscharge our conscyence for we made suche promyse to the erle their father And if there be any faute in these four lordes or any rebellyon in the Vycount than we disanull all this sayde treatie and wyll that it stande as boyde In wytnesse her of to these letters we haue sette to our seale in out cytie of Towrs the .xxii. yere of oure teygne the twenty day of the moneth of Decembre THese letters made and sealed and delyuered the knyghtes of Foiz retourned fro Towrs their leaue taken This season syr Loys of Sanxere marshall of Fraunce lay in the marches of Carcassone as soueraygne gouernour there instytuted by the kynge The bysshoppe of Noyon and the Lorde de la Ryuer sent for hym to Tholouse and whan he was come thyder they sayde to hym Syr marshall the vycount of Chastellon reputeth hym selfe to be enherytour of the country of Foiz and we haue sent in to FrauÌ„ce to the kynge to knowe what he and his counsayle wyll saye in that mater wherfore be ye redy with menne of armes on the fronters of Foiz and as soone as syr Roger of Spayne and syr Espayne be returned or that we haue other message fro the Kynge that they agree nat on any peace and that the king wyll haue the lande of Foiz than entre you incontynent and take possessyon acordynge to the right and puyssaunce that the kynge hathe gyuen vs in that quarell Thus the marshall was redy prouyded and euery day loked for aunswere fro the kynge ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue speakyng of this mater and shewe somwhat of the duke of Bretayne YE haue herde here before what treatie was at Towrs in Thourayn bytwene the frenche kyng and the duke of Bretaygne the whiche duke dyde put the kynge and his counsayle to moche payne for he wolde fall to no reason It was sayde the kynge demaunded of hym and he refused In lykewyse he demaunded and the kynge refused Moche treatie there was but no conclusion taken The duke he was redy to serue the kynge and to do hym homage as farre forthe as he was bounde to do Thanne the kynges counsayle sayd to hym Sythe ye knowledge yourselfe to be the kinges liegman why wyll ye nat than obey to reason Why syrs quod he wherin am I rebell Than they layde to him dyuers poyntes Fyrste in the beleuynge on the pope at Auygnon whome they sayde the kynge toke for the trewe pope ye dyffer ther fro and dyssymule the mater for ye wyll obey none of his coÌ„maundementes but gyue all the benefyces your selfe in Bretaygne and suche as brynge any bulles fro the pope ye wyll nat knowe theym this is agaynste the magesty royall and great synne to your coÌ„scyence and soule Than the duke aunswered and sayde As for my conscyence there is no man ought to speke therof nor iudge it but all onely god who is soueraygne iudge in all suche causes and sythâ— ye argue and appose me in that maner â–ª I shall aunswere you As for these popes who are indyfferent there is no sure declaration made of them and the season that the first tydynges came of the chosynge of pope Vrbayne I was in the towne of Gaunt with my cosyn the erle of Flaunders and there he receyued letters sealed with the popes seale as than called Robert of Quesne cardynall and in his letter he certifyed to the erle my cosyn that by the grace of god and by the deuyne in spyratyon he was chosen pope and hadde to name Vrbayne Howe than canne this be vndone agayne me thynke it were harde to do I wyll nat argue agaynst the kinges maieste for I am his cosyn and lyege man and shall well and trewly serue hym whan so euer I be requyred as farre forthe as I am bounde to do but I wyll speke agaynst them that counsayle nat the kynge well Why syr quod they shewe vs who they be that do nat counsayle the kynge as they ought to do and we shall fynde remedy for them Syrs â— he ye knowe them better than I do for ye company with them oftener than I do but as touchynge the benefyces of my countrey I am nat so haute nor so cruell agaynst suche as desyre them but that I suffre the clerkes of my countrey to enâ—oy them by the bulles of pope Clement but suche cerkes as be nat of the same countrey I refuse them and the cause why I shall shewe you They wolde beare away the rychesse of my countrey out therof and deserue it nat whiche is agaynst ryght and consyence wher fore I can nat agree therto And where as ye saye that I am rebell and 〈◊〉 to agaynst the kynges offycers whanne they come in to my couÌ„trey that is nat so nor wyll nat be ye ought to knowe and if ye do nat lerne it the fee of the â—uchy of Bretayne is of so noble a condycion that soueraygnely there ought none to enterprise any mater there but alonely their owne naturall lorde that is to say the duke of Bretayne holdeth his court open to here all ryghtes and his offycers to execute all ryghtes in the lande of Bretaygne and to do acordynge to their offyce And if I haue any offycer that dothe contrary to ryght that outher straunger or other haue cause to complayne I punysshe them and shall do that other shall take ensample by them more ouer I say that some of the kynges counsayle do so that they ought to be reproued for they do as moche as they maye do to norysshe warre and hatred bytwene the kyng and me the cause why is clere ynough they suffre my cosyn IohnÌ„ of Bloys to do two thynges agaynst me vnreasonable The fyrste is he writeth hym selfe Iohan of Bretayne by reason of that name it semeth he entendeth to
the same opynion that the coÌ„mons were of in Englande and enclyned rather to the warre than to peace to the entent therby to susteyne their estate By the occasion therof the peace was the harder to driue yet the kynge the duke of Lancastre wolde fayne haue hadde peace for by their meanes that metynge at AmyeÌ„ce was apoynted howbeit they wolde nat displease the coÌ„mens of Englande The Englysshe men wolde gladlye haue hadde a peace so they myght be restored agayne to al suche landes as was agreed on at the treaty before Charters and that the Frenche men shulde paye fourtene hundred thousande fraÌ„kes whiche was vnpayed whan the warre began to renewe IN this season thus great coÌ„munycacion there was at the cytie of Amyence on treatie of peace and the lordes that were there on bothe parties toke great payne in the cause It myght well be marueyled why this peace toke none effecte for specialy the duke of Burgoyne dyd what he coude for the Frenche partie and the duke of Lancastre for the Englysshe partie Sauyng the charge that he had whiche he durst nat passe Whan these lordes sawe that they coulde come to no good conclusyon than the frenchemen somwhat to apease and to please the englysshmen and the rather therby to fall to some reason it was offred to them to enjoy styll peasably all that euer they were as than in possessyon of in Acquytayne and nyne dyoces to be quite delyuered without any resorte so that Calays myght be beaten downe And also they offred to paye in thre yere after the somme of .xiiii. hundred thousande frankes Than the duke of Lancastre and the englyssh counsayle answered and sayd Syrs we haue taried here a longe season and haue concluded nothyng nor we canne nat conclude tyll we be retourned in to Englande and than we shall shewe all your desyres and offers to the kyng our souerayne lorde and to the thre estates of the realme and of one thinge be you sure that as moch dyligence as I my brother of yorke can do shall be doone to bringe your desyre to passe except the beatyng downe of Calays we dare nat speke therof for if we dyd we shulde ryn in the indygnacyon and hatred of the most parte of all the realme of Englande and yet were we better to speke no worde therof these wordes somwhat contented the french kynge and his couÌ„sayle and desyred them that whan they were returned into England to do their dyligence in the mater they said they wolde do what they coude for the frenche party sayeng howe the warre had endured ouer longe and many yuell inconuenyentes hath ensued therby in the worlde than it was considred bytwene the parties bycause the truce fayled the next mydsomer after bytwene Englande and Fraunce to contynue it lengar the space of an hole yere bothe by lande and by see bytwene them their alyes and adherentes and therto the lordes of Englande were agreed Than the frenche kynges counsayle desyred to sende two french knightes to go with them into Englande and at their retourne to bringe worde what case they shulde fynde the realme of Englande in The duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke were contente therwith It was shewed me and also the apparaunce was great howe that the frenche kynge desyred greatly to haue peace for as than great brute ranne through Fraunce and other places howe that Lamâ—rabaquyn was entred with great puissaunce of turkes in to the realme of Hungry syr Boucyquant thelder marshall of Fraunce brought those newes and syr Iohan of Charon who were newely retourned fro the partyes of Grece and Turkey wherfore the frenche kynge in his youthe had great affectyon to go in voyage and to go and se the sayd Lamorabaquyn and to recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes had wonne fro the kynge Lyon of Armony who was the same tyme at Amyence and he shewed the cause of his comynge thyder to the duke of Lancastre and to the duke of yorke They knewe hym well for they had sene him before in the realme of Englande He was in Englande to treate for the peace whan the frenche kynge was at Sluse And consyderynge the kynge of Armonyes busynesse at the ende of their parlyamente the frenche kynge sayde to the duke of Lancastre Fayre nephewe if peace maye be had bytwene vs and the kynge of Englande we might than make a voyage in to Tukey comfortyng the kynge of Hungry and the emperour of Constantynople whome Lamorabaquyn dothe moche trouble and let vs recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes kepe We here saye that Lamorabaquyn is a valyaunt man and of great enterprise and agaynst suche persones as are contrary to our beleue and daily dothe trouble and greue vs we ought to enclyne our selfe to defende our crysten faythe wherfore fayre nephewe helpe you to prouyde for this voyage in the realme of Englande The duke of Lancastre promysed to do his deuoyre in that behalfe Thus they toke leaue eche of other THis counsayle at Amyence endured a fyftene dayes than the Englysshe men departed and had with them in writyng the coÌ„clusion of their treatie to shewe to the kynge of Englande and his counsayle Than the duchesse of Irelande departed fro AmyeÌ„ce and toke leaue of her father the lorde of Coucy and retourned with the englysshe lordes And fro that tyme that they departed fro Calais tyll they came thyder agayne they spent nothyng without they lyst for the french kynge made euery thynge to be payed bothe for them selfe and for their horses The duke of Burgoyne than retourned into Archoys to the cytie of Arras and there he founde the duchesse his wyfe who had vysited the countrey of Flaunders The duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey and the duke of Butbone taryed with the kynge and the kinge purposed to go to Beamoys to Gysors to sporte hym there in the waye to Parys With the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke certayne knightes of Fraunce wente in to Englande as syr Iohan of Castell Morante sir Taupyns of Cantmell to bringe aunswere agayne out of England and sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Moncaurell and the lorde of the olde towne conueyed them to Calays and than toke their leaue and the englysshe men passed ouer the see to Deuer and there founde the kynge and the duke of Glocestre taryeng for them Whan the kyng sawe them he had great comunynge with them of the sâ—ate of the parlyamente of Amyence The kynge was well content with that his vncles had done but than the duke of Glocestre who was alwayes harde agaynst the treatie of peace sayd howe there coulde no good conclusyon be taken in this treatye tyll the mater were brought to Westmynster to a generall counsayle of all the thre astates of the realme and than to folowe their aduyses and none otherwyse The duke of Glocesters wordes were well herde no manne wolde saye agaynst hym
shewed outwardly Thus sir Peter of Craon perceyuered styll in his opynyon and deuysed in his imagynacion by the entysyng of the dyuell who neuer slepeth but waketh and enbraseth their hartes to do yuell that enclyneth to his exortacion Thus the dyuell dayly layde the mater before this knyghtes eyen or he put the mater to execusyon but if he had iustly ymagyned the doutes and parelles and myscheuousnesse that myght fall by his yuell dede reasone and wyse atemperaunce shulde haue caused hym to haue done otherwyse But it is often tymes said that the great desyre that a man hath to haue the execusyon of that thynge or it be fallen often tymes quencheth reason and wysdome therfore often tymes vyces are maysters and vertues vyolate and corrupted and for bycause that specially this syr Peter of Craon had so great affection to the dystructyon of the constable therfore he lyghtly enclyned to the temptacion to do outrage and folly and thought that if he myght slee the constable and returne agayne safely in to Bretayne that no man wolde seke hym there if they dyd he trusted that the duke wolde excuse hym and that if the worste fell that the Frenche kynge came thyder with a great puyssaunce than in a nyght to entre in to a shyppe and so to go to Burdeaux to Bay on or in to Englande and there he thought well he shulde nat be pursewed for he knewe well that the englysshe men hated the constable bycause of the crueltyes that he had doone and consented to be done sythe he was tourned frenche howe be it before that he had done many notable seruyces to the englysshe men as it hath ben rehersed here before in this hystory SIr Peter of Craon for to accoÌ„plyssh his desyre had longe studyed in his mynde howe to brynge his purpose to passe and kepte his purpose close and secrete I knowe nat if he shewed it to the duke of Bretayne or nat some thought â—es bycause after the dede done by hym and his company he toke the next way he coude in to Bretayne and tooke for his sauegarde the duke of Bretaygne and also before the dede done he solde his castelles and herytage that he had in Aniou to the duke of Bretaygne and renyed his homage to the frenche kynge and sayd howe he wolde go ouer the see Of all these maters I passe breuely but I shall declare the dede for I syr Iohan Froysart auctour of this hystory whan this vnhappy dede was doone by syr Peter of Craon agaynste syr Olyuer of Clysson I was the same tyme at Paris wherfore I ought to be well enfourmed of the mater acordyng to the enquery that I made therin to knowe the trouthe The same tyme this syr Peter had in the towne of Parys a fayre house standynge in the churche yarde of saynt Iohans as dyuers other lordes had in the cytie for their pleasure In this house there was a keper syr Peter of Craon had sent of his seruauntes to Parys and they prouyded largely in the house with wyne corne flesshe salte and other prouysyons Also he had writen to the keper that he shulde bye certayne armure as cotes of stele gauntletes stoles and other harnesse for .xl men and that doone to sende hym worde therof to thentente that he wolde sende for them and secretly all this do be done The keper who thought none yuell and to obey his maysters coÌ„maundement bought all this marchauÌ„dyse And all this season he was in a castell of his owne in Aniou called Sable and he sent one weke thre or four seruauntes to his house in Parys and so wekely tyll he had there a .xl. and shewed them nothynge for what cause he sent them thyder but he charged them to kepe them selfe close in his howse in any wyse and what so euer they lacked the keper of his house shulde prouyde for it and on a daye I shall shewe you the cause why I sende you thyder before ye shall haue good wages They dyd as he commaunded them and came priuely to Parys and entred in to the house by nyght and in the mornynges for as than the gates of Parys nyght and daye stode open There assembled in that house so many togyther that they were a .xl. companyons hardy men and outragyous Howe be it there were some that if they hadde knowen wherfore they came thyderê they wolde nat haue come there yet they kepte them selfe secrete Than at the feest of Pentecost syr Peter of Craon came to Paris secretly entred into his howse dysguysed lyke a seruaunt Than he called for the porter that kepte the gate and sayd I coÌ„maunde the on payne of thy lyfe let no man woman nor chylde entre in to this house nor none to go out without my coÌ„maundement The porter obeyed as it was reason and so dyd the keper and he coÌ„maunded the kepers wyfe her chyldren to kepe her chambre and nat to issue out therof wherin he dyd wysely for if the woman and chyldren had gone abrode in the streates the comynge thyther of syr Peter Craon had been knowe for chyldren and women naturally are harde to kepe counsayle of that thynge a man wolde haue kepte secrete Thus syr Peter and his company were secretly in his howse tyll the day of the holy sacramente and euery day syr Peter had a brode his spyes that brought him worde of the state of syr Olyuer Clysson and tyll that daye he coulde fynde no tyme to execute his enterprise wherwith he was sore displeased in hym selfe The said day the frenche kynge kepte a feest with open courte with all the lordes that were there Also the quene and the duches of Thourayne were there in great ioy and solace The same day after dyner the yonge lusty knyghtes were armed and iusted valyauntly in the presence of the kynge and of the quene and other ladyes and damosels and contynued tyll it was nere nyght and by the iudgement of the ladyes and harauldes the price was gyuen to syr Gillyam of Flaunders erle of Namure And the kynge made all the lordes and ladyes a great supper and after supper daunced tyll it was one of the clock after mydnyght than euery man departed to their lodgynges some to one place some to another without feare or doute of any thyng Syr Olyuer of Clisson who as than was constable of Fraunce departed fro the kynges place last of all other and had taken his leaue of the kynge and than went through the duke of Thourayns chambre and sayde to hym Syr wyll ye tary here all nyght or els go to your lodgyng of Poullayne This Poullayn was the dukes treasourer and dwelte a lytell besyde the sygne of the Lyon of syluer Than the duke sayde constable I can nat tell as yet whether I do tary here or els go thyder go ye your waye to your lodgynge for it is tyme. Than syr Olyuer toke his leaue of the duke and sayd syr god sende you
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
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
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
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌ„ce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌ„mage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌ„stable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌ„e inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌ„mage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌ„tage and make good prouisyon for theÌ„ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌ„e we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌ„e I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌ„ged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no ê‘sone The tyme was sore chauÌ„ged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌ„castre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
determyned to sende to hym to knowe somwhat of his entent There was apoynted to go the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce the lorde Iohan of castell Morante and Iohan Barres of Barroys and they to haue with them a thousande speares Thus they rode forth tyll they came to the cytie of Agen and there taryed Than they sent harauldes and messnagers to Burdeaux to the duke of Lancastre shewynge hym howe they wolde gladly speke with hym The duke made these messangers good chere and wrote agayne to these lordes certifyeng them that where as they had great desyre to speke with hym in lykewyse he had the same to speke with them and bycause they shulde take the lesse payne he promysed to come and mete with them at Bergerate And whan the frenche lordes sawe this letter they gaue credence therto and ordred them there after and as sone as they knewe that the duke was come to Bergerate they departed fro Agen and rode thyder There they were receyued and lodged in the towne and their company in the subbarbes These lordes spake with the Duke and shewed hym their message The duke receyued them swetely and aunswered and sayd howe he wolde be a good a kynde neyghbour to the frenche kyng and the realme and to kepe and mayntayne the trewce taken bytwene the two kynges for he sayde he hym selfe was one of the princypalles that ayded to make and ordayn that truce wherfore he sayd he ought nat nor wold nat breke it therof they myght be well assured The dukes aunswere pleased greatly the lordes of Fraunce Thus the duke and they were louingly togyder and the duke gaue them a great dyner and supper and after they tooke their leaue and the duke retourned to Burdeaux and the frenche men in to Fraunce They founde in their waye the duke of Berrey at the cytie of Poyeters and they shewed hym what they had doone The duke of Berrey thought the duke of Lancasters answere reasonable and so dyd the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and so the mater abode styll in this estate And for this cause quod sir Iohan Graily the duke of Lancastre hath sent hyther in to Englande of his counsayle as syr Wylliam Peâ—reer and syr Peter Clyfton and two clerkes lerned in the lawe as mayster Iohan Huche and mayster Iohan Rychard of Leycettour to treate and to pleate his maters before the kynge and his vncles and for this cause the kynge rydeth to Eltham and shall be there on thursday nexte that shall be Mary maudelyn daye but what shal be done as yet I knowe nat But as I am enfourmed of some englysshe men that knowe somwhat the duke of Gloucestre wyll be princypally of the opynion that his brother the duke of Lancastre shulde abyde styll in Guyen rather than to retourue agayne in to Englande bycause he was so great with the kynge for I ensure you this duke of Gloucestre is a maruaylous mynded man proude and presumptuous he wolde rule all hym selfe and he is so beloued of the comynalte that what so euer he saythe they wyll enclyne to him He caused the valyaunte knyght the lorde Symon Burle and the duke of Irelande the archebysshoppe of yorke and many other knyghtes and other of the kynges counsayle to dye for hatred and yuell wyll durynge the seasone that the duke of Lancastre was beyonde the see in Castyle He is more dred in Englande than beloued NOwe lette this mater passe quod syr IohnÌ„ Graily and I shall shewe you nowe the seconde busynesse that the kynge hathe to do as I am enfourmed The kynges pleasure is to be remaryed and hath sertched ouer all for a wyfe if the duke of Burgoyne or the erle of Haynalte had any doughter to mary the kynge wolde gladly haue had one of them but they haue none but suche as be maryed It hath ben shewed the kyng that the kynge of Nauarre hath bothe suffers and doughters but he wyll nat entende that wayes The duke of Gloucestre hath a doughter able to mary he wolde gladly that the kyng shulde haue had her but the kynge wolde nat for he said she was to nere of his kynne for she is his cosyn germayne The kynge enclyneth moste his mynde to the Frenche kynges doughter wherof all the countrey hath great marueyle that he wolde take his enemyes doughter the kynge is nat the beste beloued Prince of the worlde with his people but he setteth lytell therby he sheweth always how he had rather haue warre with any other realme than with FrauÌ„ce wherfore he wolde haue a good peace bytwene the frenche kynge and hym and their realmes for the kynge wyll often tymes saye that the warre hath endured to longe bytwene them and that many valyaunt men are deed therby on bothe parties wherby the christen faythe is sore mynysshed and febled And it is nat pleasaunt to the realme of Englande that he shulde mary with Fraunce and it hath ben shewed hym that the doughter of Fraunce is ouer yonge and that this fyue or syxe yere she shall nat be able to kepe hym company Therto he hath aunswered and saythe that she shall growe ryght well in age and though he faste a season he shall take it well a worth and shall ordre her in the meane season at his pleasure and after the maner of Englande sayenge also howe he is yet yonge ynough to abyde tyll the lady be of age No man canne breke the kynge out of this purpose and or ye departe ye shall here moche of this matter And thus for these causes the kynge rydeth nowe to Eltham THus this gentle knyght syr Iohan of Graily and I deuysed togyther as we rode bytwene Rochestre and Dertforde this knight was capytayn of Bouteuyle bastarde sonne somtyme to the Captall of Beusz and I herde his wordes gladly and dyd put them in memory And all the way bytwene Leades and Eltham I rode most parte in his company and with syr Wylliam Lysle Thus the kynge came to Eltham on a tuesday and on the wednysday the lordes of all costes began to assemble Thyder came the duke of Gloucestre and the erles of Derby Arundell Northumberlande Kent Rutlande and the erle Marshall and the archebysshoppes of Caunterbury and yorke and the bysshoppes of London and Wynchester And on the thursday aboute the houre of thre they assembled togyther in the kynges chambre in the kynges presence Than the knyghtes of Gascoyne were sent for and the couÌ„saylours of the good townes And also the Duke of Lancastres counsayle was sent for I was nat preseÌ„t nor might nat be suffred there were none but the lordes of the counsayle who debated the mater more than four houres And after dyner I fell in acquayntauÌ„ce with an auncyent knyght whome I knewe in kynge Edwardes dayes and he was as than of kynge Rychardes priuy counsayle he was called syr Rycharde Sury he knewe me anone and yet in .xxiiii. yeres he had nat sene me before whiche was
tyme I demaunded thē of their beleue wherwith they were nat content and sayd howe they beleued on god and on the trynite aswell as we Than I demaūded on what pope was their affection The aunswered me on hym of Rome Than̄e I demaunded if they wolde nat gladly receyue the order of knyghthode and that the kyng of Englande shulde make thē knyghtes accordynge to the vsage of Fraūce and Englande and other countreis they aunswered howe they were knyghtes all redye and that suffyced for theym I asked where they were made knyghtes and howe and whan They answered that in the age of seuyn yere they were made knyghtes in Irelande And that a kynge maketh his sonne a knyght and if the sonne haue no father alyue than the nexte of his blode maye make hym knyght And than̄e this yonge knyght shall begyn to iuste with small speares suche as they maye beare with their case and rynne agaynst a shelde sette on a stake in the felde and the more speares that he breaketh the more he shal be honoured I knewe their maner well ynough though I dyde demaūde it But than I sayd that the knighthode that they had taken in their youthe suffyced nat to the kynge of Englande But I sayde he shulde gyue theym after another maner They demaunded howe I aunswered that it shulde be in the holy churche whiche was the moost worthyest place Than they enclyned somewhat to my wordes Within two dayes after the erle of Ormonde came to thē who coude right well speke the langage for some of his landes laye in those parties He was sente to them by the kynge and his coūsayle They all honoured hym and he them Than he fell in swete communycacion with them and he demaunded of them howe they lyked me They aunswered and sayde well for he hath well shewed vs the vsage of this countrey wherfore we ought to thanke him and so we do This aunswere pleased well the erle of Ormonde Than he entred lytell and lytell to speke of the order of chiualry whiche the kyng wolde they shulde receyue He shewed it them fro poynt to poynt howe they shulde behaue them selfe and what parteygned to knyghthode The erles wordes pleased moche these four kynges whose names were these Fyrst the great Ancle kyng of Mecte The seconde Brine of Thomōde kynge of Thomonde The thyrde Arthure of Mackequemur kynge of Lynster The fourthe Conhue kyng of Cheueno Darpe They were made knightes by kyng Richarde of Englande in the Cathedrall churche of Duuelyn dedycate of saynt Iohan Baptyst It was done on our lady day in Marche as than it fell on a Thursday These four kynges watched all the night before in the churche and the nexte daye at highe masse tyme with great solēpnyte they were made knightes and with them sir Thomas Orphen sir Ioatas Pado and sir Iohan Pado his cosyn These kynges sate that day at the table with kyng Rycharde They were regarded of many folkes bicause there behauyng was straunge to the maner of Englande and other countreis and euer naturally men desyre to se newelties Than I sir Iohn̄ Froissart sayde Henry I beleue you well I wolde it had cost me largely that I had been there And surely this yere past I hadde come hyder and it hadde nat been for that I herde of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande whiche dyde lette me But one thynge I wolde desyre of you to knowe howe these four kynges of Irelande came so soone to the kynge of Englandes obeysaunce whan kynge Edwarde the kynges graunfather who was so valyaunt a prince and so redouted ouer all coude neuer subdue them nor putte them vnder and yet he had alwayes warre with thē and in that they are subdued nowe ye sayd it was by treatie and by the grace of god In dede the grace of god is good who so can haue it it is moche worthe But it is sene nowe a dayes that erthely princes getteth lytell wtout it be by puissaūce I desyre to know this for whan I shall cōe in to Heynalt of which countrey I am of I shal be examyned of this and many other thynges bothe by duke Aubert of Bauier erle of Heynalte of Holande and of zelande and also by his sonne Wyllm̄ of Bauyere who writeth hym selfe lorde of Frese whiche is a great countrey and a puissaunt whiche coūtrey the sayd duke and his sonne claymeth to haue by ryght successyon and so dyde their predecessours before them but the Fresons wolde neuer fall to any reason nor come vnder obeysaūce nor as yet do nat vnto this day than answered sir Henry Christall sayd Sir Iohan to shewe you the very trouth I can nat but as many a one saythe it is to suppose that the great puissaūce that the kyng had ouer with him and taryed there in their countrey nyne monethes and euery man well payed abasshed the yrisshe men Also the see was closed fro them on all partes wherby their lyuēges and marchaūdises myght nat entre in to their countreys thoughe they that dwell farre within the realme cared lytell for it for they knowe natte what marchaundyse meaneth nor they lyue but grosely and rudely like vnto beestes yet suche as lyueth on the marchesse of England and by the See coost vse feate of marchaundyse with vs and in to other places Kynge Edwarde of noble memorie in his tyme had to answere so many warres what in Fraūce Bretayne Gascone and Scotlande so that his people were deuyded in dyuers places sore occupyed wherfore he coude nat sende no great nombre in to Irelande But whan the Irysshmen sawe the great nombre of men of warre that kyng Rycharde hadde in Irelande this laste iourney The yrisshmen aduysed them selfe and came to obeysaūce And in dede of olde tyme there was a kyng in Englāde named Edwarde who is a saynt and canonysed and honoured through all this realme In his tyme he subdued the Danes disconfyted them by batayle on the See thre tymes And this saint Edwarde kyng of Englande lorde of Irelande and of Acquitayn the yrisshmen loued and dredde hym moche more than any other kyng of Englande that had been before And therfore our souerayne lorde kyng Richarde this yere past whan he was in Irelande in all his armories and deuyses he lefte the beryng of the armes of Englande as the lybardes flour delyces quarterly and bare the armes of this saynt Edwarde that is a crosse patent golde and goules with four white martenettes in the felde wherof it was said the yrisshmen were well pleased and the soner they enclyned to hym For of trouthe the predecessours of these four kynges obeyed with faithe and homage to the sayd kyng Edwarde and they repute kynge Richarde a good man and of good cōscience and so they haue done to hym faithe homage as they ought to do and in like maner as their predecessours sōtyme dyde to saynt Edwarde Thus I haue shewed you
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—
of the duke he humyled and apesed his herte greatlye and with that the knyghtes tolde hym and sayd sir ye se the good wyll of the duke he hath spoken nothyng but his hert dothe agre to the same I se it well quod sir Olyuer and for that I se and ê‘ceyue his good wyll I shall put me so farforthe that I shall yelde me vnder his obeysaunce And it semeth ye be ryght nere to hym seynge he putteth his affiaunce and trust in you to delyuer you his heyre to bringe to me to lye in hostage tyll I be retourned I wotte nat if he haue shewed you what he hath written to me sygned and sealed with his seale The lordes answered and said Sir he hath well tolde vs that he hath ryght great desyre to come to a peace and accorde with you In this ye maye right well beleue vs we be of your blode ThanÌ„e sir Olyuer went for the letters that the duke had sent hym and reed them Sir quod they all that is conteyned in this letter he hath said vnto vs and vpon the same estate he hath sent vs hyder Than sir Olyuer ordaygned hym to departe with the sayd lordes and toke the dukes sonne agayne with them and said howe they shulde bringe agayne the chylde to his father sayeng that he trusted right well his ê“myse coÌ„sydring that he had proued hym so farre and that he had shewed suche humilyte He douted nat but that his herte was in vnyte So they came to Wannes The duke had apoynted that sir Olyuer shulde tary at a Freres without the towne of Wannes and there the duke shulde come and speke with hym as it was ordayned so it was done and whan the duke sawe that sir Olyuer had brought agayne his sonne and heyre he reputed if for a great curtesy and was well content therwt. Thus the duke and sir Olyuer mette in the Freres and there they two alone entred in to a chambre and coÌ„muned toguyder a season and after issued out through a gardeyn and came to the ryuer syde and there they entred in to a bote and fro thens entred in to a shyppe that laye at ancre And so whan they were farre of fro all people they coÌ„muned a longe season toguyder What their wordes were I knowe nat but their dealynge was as I shall shewe you THeir men had went they hadde been styll in the Freres but as it was shewed me they were thus in the shyppe more than two houres there made a good peace bytwene them and sware faythe and trouth eche to other without dissymulacyon Than they called agayne the boteman he brought them agayne where he had them and so entred agayne by the gardeyne syde in to the Freres Than anone after the duke caÌ„e out and ledde sir Olyuer of Clysson by the hande and so went in to the towne of Wannes and in to the castell called le Mote Of this peace euery man was greatly reioysed and to se them so amiably togyder and so was all the countrey At the makyng of this peace IohnÌ„ of Bloyes erle of Ponthieur lost nat for his reuenewes was therby augmented of tweÌ„tie thousande crownes of golde by yere for euer to hym and to his heyres And at this peace a maryage was ordayned for the duke of Bretaynes doughters to confyrme the better the loue and alyaunces bytwene them great newes ran through Fraunce and Englande of this peace ye haue herde here before howe sir Peter of Craon fell in the frenche kynges displeasure and of the duke of Orlyaunce bycause of sir Olyuer of Clysson in that he wolde haue slayne hym on a nyght as he went to his house warde howe the duke of Bretayne susteyned hym in his house by whiche occasyon the freÌ„che kyng wolde haue made warrÌ„ agaynst the duke if the sickenesse that tooke hym had nat been by whiche incydentes the kynges army brake vp also ye haue herde howe the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne bare great displeasure to all suche as counsayled the kyng therto As sir Olyuer of clysson the lorde de la Ryuer the lorde Iohan le Mercyer Montague and other who afterwarde endured therby great prisonment howe the two dukes had the gouernauÌ„ce of the realme as long as the kynge was in his sickenesse also it hath ben shewed what mortall warre was bytwene the duke of Bretaygne and sir Olyuer of Clysson also howe the lordes de la Ryuer sir Iohan Mercyer and Montague were delyuered out of prisone whiche Montague had nat so moche trouble as the other had for as soone as the kyng was returned to his helth he toke MoÌ„tague agayne about hym made his excuse So by reason of these soÌ„drie sickenesses that the kyng had dyuers tymes gretly troubled the realme of FrauÌ„ce and moche abated the kynges puissaunce so that he had nat euery thyng done accordyuge to his wyll In this season sir Peter of Craon was nothyng displeased with the kynges sickenesse nor with the trouble that they of his counsayle hadde howe be it than he made sute to retourne agayne in to the kynges fauour and loue and the duke of Burgoyne and the lorde Guy of Tremoyle were his aduocates to treate for hym And lightly his peace had been made and the duke of Orlyaunce had nat ben for he letted all that treatie for as longe as the hate eudured bytwene sir Olyuer Clysson the duke of Bretaygne sir Peter of Craon coude come to no peace nor accorde but whaÌ„ it was surely knowen that there was a peas made bytwene the duke and sir Olyuer thaÌ„ the quarell agaynst sir Peter of Craon was molyfied and well apeased The same season quene Iane of Naples and Hierusalem and duches of Aniou had a plee in parlyament agaynst sir Peter of Craon for the soÌ„me of a. C.M. fraÌ„kes this lady lay styll at Paris the better to entende to her busynesse sir Peter of Craon that sawe hym selfe in that daÌ„ger and that he was in sute in the ê‘lyament and knewe nat howe his busynesse shulde passe outher with hym or agaynst hym for the ladyes partie was strong and had good profe of whom he had receyued the money in the dayes of kyng Loyes her husbaÌ„de All these thynges coÌ„sydred he ymagyned that it was nat easy for him to beare and also he knewe well he was in hate with the frenche kyng with the duke of Orlyaunce but the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne coÌ„forted and ayded hym asmoche as they myght He gate suche grace that he was at Paris secretly in the house of Arthoys with the duches of Burgoyne ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of hym at this tyme. ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Hungry wrote to the Frenche kynge the state of the great turke and howe IohnÌ„ of Burgoyn eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chefe and heed of the army that went thider Cap. CC.vi. IN this sayd season HeÌ„ry kyng of HuÌ„gry sent
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
had had greatier puissaunce than he had And whan the lorde of Coucy came first vpon the fronters of the ryuer of Geane where the entrees are stronge to conquere if there be made any defence Some lordes of the genowayes suche as fauoured the lorde Coucy and had enformed the duke of Orlyaunce wherby he sente thyder the lorde of Coucy They entreated him amiably and brought hym to their coūtreis and offred to hym their castels The lorde of Coucy who was sage subtyle and ymaginatyfe and knewe right well the nature of the lombardes and genowayes wolde nat trust them ouermoche nor haue to great confydence in their offers and promyses but alwayes wysely he helde them in loue and amyte as longe as he was amonge them and ledde them forthe with fayre wordes and treaties They had many cōmunycacyons in the felde toguyder but neuer in no fortresse and euer the more he comuned with theym the lesse he conquered or gate the genouoys made to him sygne of loue and promysed hym many thynges and wolde haue had hym to haue gone in to the cytie of Gennes or to Porte Vender but the lorde of Coucy durst neuer assure hym in their offers The conclusyon of his voyage was suche that he gate nothynge and whan he sawe that he coulde nat atcheue his busynesse he signyfied his estate to the duke of Orlyance whervpon he was remaunded and so he retourned to Parys and came thyder the same season that all the busynesse was for the iourney goynge in to Hungery The duke of Burgoyne reioysed greatly of his retourne and he and duchesse sente for hym to their house of Arthoyse in sygne of great loue than they sayd to him Syr we trust moche in you we haue caused Iohan our sonne and heyre to take on hym an enterprise in the honour of god and of all christendome and we knowe well that aboue all other knyghtes of Fraunce ye are the moste vsed and expert in all thynges wherfore derely we requyre you that ye wolde be companion with our sonne in this voyage and his chyefe counsaylour wherof we shall thanke you and deserue it to you and yours Than the lorde of Coucy said my lorde you madame your wordes and requestes ought to be to me a cōmaundement in this voyage I shall go if it please god for two causes First for deuocyon to defende the faythe of Ihesu Christ Secondly in that ye do to me somoche honour as to gyue me charge of my lorde Iohan your sonne and I shall acquyte me truely to him to my power howe be it of this dede ye may well dyscharge me and to charge specyally his cosyn and nere kynesman my lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce and his other cosyn the erle of Marche bothe two ought to go with hym in this voyage for they be both nere of his blode Than the duke sayd My lorde of Coucy ye haue moche more sene than these other twayn haue and knowe better the orderynge of an army in straunge countreys than outher our cosyn of Ewe or of March therfore we charge you and praye you to execute our requestes Than he aunswered and sayd my lorde your prayer is to me a cōmaundement and I shall do it sythe it pleaseth you with the ayde and helpe of my lorde Guye of Tremoyle and of my lorde Guillyam his brother and of the admyrall of Fraunce Of this answere the duke and duchesse had great ioye THese lordes prepared them selues to go in this iourney into Hūgery and lordes knyghtes and squyers were desyred to go in their company and many desyred themselfe to go Some were retaygned and some went without maysters and some consyderynge the voyage in to Hungery and fro thence in to Turkey to be ouer longe and chargeable for them beynge nat retaygned waxed colde in their enterpryse For the settynge forwarde of this yonge Iohan of Burgoyne nothynge was spared horse harnesse fresshe clothes riche vessell and plate of golde and syluer and offycers apoynted to do their atendaūce and money delyuered and werke men payed Than all barones knightes and squiers for the honour of Iohn̄ of Burgoyne and also for the auauncement of their bodies enforced them to make them redy The lorde Phylyppe of Arthoys ordeyned hym so puyssauntly that nothynge was spared and wolde go in that voyage as Constable of Fraunce And the frenche kynge who loued him entierlye helped hym moche towarde his charges and so he dyd to the lorde Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce The duke of Burgoyne consydered that this voyage of his sonnes shulde coste ouermoche fynaunce and he thought it conuenyent that the state of his sonne shulde be mayntayned and to fynde syluer to mayntayne it withall he foūde out subtelly a backe tayle for by a former tayle all the countreys cyties and fortresses had ben tayled And the said backe tayle mounted in Burgoyne of the chyuallry syxe hundred thousande crownes of golde And agayne the duke made it to be tolde to all knyghtes and ladyes that helde of him in fee yonge and olde that they shulde go in to Hungery in their owne propre persones with his sonne or els to paye a taxe of syluer so they were taxed some at a thousande poūde the other at fyue hundred frankes eche man after his goodes and valure of his landes Ladyes and auncyent knyghtes remembringe the traueyle of their bodyes and were nat shapen nor made to endure suche payne conpoūded and payed at the wyll of the Duke The yonge knyghtes and squyers were forborne payeng of any money but it was said to them that they shulde go with the lorde Iohan at their owne coste and charge and otherwyse nat Of this backe tayle the duke reysed .lx. thousāde crownes and so none was forborne THe tydynges of this voyage spredde abrode and whan it came in to the countrey of Haynalt knyghtes and squyers suche as desyred auauncement spake togyther and sayde A this were a mete voyage for my lorde of Ostrenant who is yonge and for his brother the erle of Neuers and if any of them wente we myght well go in their company The erle of Ostrenant beynge at that tyme at Quesnoy vnderstode what the knyghtes and squyers of his countrey sayde and he thought no lesse thā they dyd and had great affectyon to go in this voyage whan he herde any spekyng of that mater he wolde answere but lytell but dyssymuled the mater but he was in good entencyon to speke with duke Aubert of Bauyer erle of Haynalt and to do as he wolde counsayle hym Within a whyle after the Erle of Ostrenant came in to Hay in Holande where his father was with the duchesse his wyfe Than he sayd to his father my lorde suche tydinges rynneth abrode that my fayre brother of Neuers hathe enterprised this sōmer to go into Hungery and fro thens in to Turkey whereby all lykelyhode great dedes of armes shall be atchyued and syr as at
nat indomage vs if ye tary tyll all our hole puyssaunce be togyder Syrs this is the ordre that the kynge and his counsayle hath ordered I muste retourne agayne to the kynge Whan he was deê‘ted the french lordes assembled theÌ„ togyder to knowe what was best for them to do Than it was demaunded of the lorde Coucy what he thought best to be done he answered and said I wolde counsayle to obey the kyng of Hungeryes coÌ„maundement for that ordre semeth to be good And as it was enfourmed me syr Phylippe of Arthoys erle of Ewe and constable of Fraunce was nat contented that the aduyse had nat fyrst haue ben demaunded of hym Than he for pride and dispyght helde the contrary opynyon and sayd ye syr ye the kynge of Hungery wolde haue the floure and chiefe honour of this iourney we haue the vowarde he hath graunted it to vs and nowe he wolde take it fro vs agayne beleue hym who wyll for I do nat than he sayd to the knyght that bare his banner in the name of god and saynt George ye shall seme this daye a good knyght Whan the lorde Coucy herde the constable speke these wordes he toke it done of a great presumpcyon Than he loked on syr Iohan of Vyen who bare the standarde of our lady and demauÌ„ded of hym what he thought best to be doone Syr quod he where as wyse reasone canne nat be herde than pride muste reygne and sythe that the erle of Ewe wyll nedes set on we must nedes folowe howe be it we shulde be the stronger and if our puyssauÌ„ce were hole togyther Thus as they deuysed in the felde styll the turkes aproched the two wynges eche of .lx. thousande men beganne to aproche and to close and had the chrysten men bytwene them so that if they wolde haue reculed they coulde nat for they were closed in with the sarazyns the wynges were so thicke Than dyuers knyghtes that were well expert in armes sawe well the iourney shulde be agaynst them howe be it they auaunced and folowed the baner of our lady borne by the valyaunt knight syr IohnÌ„ of Vien Euery knyght of Fraunce was in his cote armure that euery man semed to be a kinge they were so fresshly aparelled As it was shewed me whan they began fyrste to fyght with the turkes they were nat past a seuen hundred men Lo beholde the great foly and outrage for if they had taryed for the kynge of Hungery who were threscore thousande men they had been lykely to haue doone a great acte and by them and by their pride all was lost and they receyued suche doÌ„mage that sythe the batayle of Rounseualx where as the .xii. peres of FrauÌ„ce were slayne crystendome receyued nat so great a doÌ„mage howe be it or they were dyscomfyted a great nombre of turkes were slayne for the frenche men dyscomfyted the fyrst batayle of the turkes and had them in chase tyll they came in to a valey where Lamorabaquy was with his hole puyssaunce Than the frenchmen wolde haue retourned to their hoost but they coulde nat for they were closed in on all partes there was a sore batayle the frenche men endured longe Than newes came to the kyng of Hungery howe the frenche men englysshmen and almayns were fyghtyng with the turkes and had broken his coÌ„maundement and counsayle gyuen theÌ„ by his marshall wherwith he was sore dyspleased and nat without good cause Than he sawe well howe he was lykely to lese that iourney Than he said to the great mayster of the Rodes who was by hym Syr we shall this day lese the iourney by reason of the pride of the frenchmen for if they wolde haue beleued me we had been stronge ynough to haue fought with our enemyes and therwith the kynge of Hungerye loked behynde hym and sawe howe his men fled a waye and were discomfyted in them selfe Than he sawe well there was no recouery and suche as were aboute hym cryed and sayd Saue your selfe for if ye be slayne all Hungery is loste ye shall lese the felde this daye by reason of the pride of the frenche men their valyauÌ„tnesse turneth to folyssh hardynes for they shall be all slayne or taken none is lykely to scape therfore syr if ye beleue vs saue youre selfe and scape this daunger THe kynge of Hungery was sore dyspleased whan he sawe howe he had lost the iourney by dysorderyng of the frenche men and sawe no remedy but to flye or els be taken or slayne Great murder there was for in flyenge they were chased and so slayne They of Hungery fledde without ordre and the turkes chased theym howe be it god ayded the kinge of HuÌ„gery and the great mayster of the Rodes for they came to the ryuer of Dunce and founde there a lytell barge parteynynge to the Rodes they entered in to it but with seuen persones and so went of the shore or els they had been slayne or taken for the turkes came to the Ryuer syde and there slewe many a crysten man suche as had folowed the kynge to saue them selfe NOwe lette vs speke of the frenche men and almayns who fought valyauntly Whan the lorde of Mount caurell a ryght valyaunt knyght of Arthoys sawe that the dyscomfyture ranne vpon them he had by hym a sonne of his a yonge man than he sayde to a squyer of his Take here my sonne and leade hym away by yonder wynge whiche is open and saue hym I wyll abyde the aduenture with other of my felowes Whan the chylde herde his father say so he sayd howe he wolde nat departe but the father dyd so moche that perforce the squyer led hym away out of parell and came to the ryuer of Dunce but there the chylde had suche care for his father that he tooke small regarde to hym selfe so that he fell in to the ryuer bytwene two barges and there was drowned without remedy Also syr Wyllyam of Tremoyle fought in that batayle valyauntly and there was slayne and his sonne by him and syr Iohan of Vyen bearynge the baner of our lady was slayne and the baner in his handes Thus all the lordes and knightes of FrauÌ„ce that were there were distroyed by the maner as ye haue herde Syr Iohan of Burgoyne erle of Neuers was so rychely besene and in lykewyse so was syr Guy de la Ryuer and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of Burgoyne that they were taken prisoners And there were two squiers of Picardy ryght valyaunt men called Gyllyam Dewe and the Bourge of Maytequell these two by valyauntnesse two tymes passed through the felde and euer retourned in agayne and dyd marueyls but fynally shere they were slayne To say the trouthe the frenche men and other strauÌ„gers that were there acquyted them selfe valyauntly but the frenchmens pride lost all There was a knyght of Pycardy called syr Iaques of Helley who had dwelte before in Turkey and had serued Lamorabaquy and coude somwhat speke the langage of
the see and entred in to the realme of Fraunce fro Calayesê and so wente a longe in to the realme and fouÌ„de none to with stande me nor none that durst fyght with me in lyke wyse so dyd syr Robert Canoll and sir Hugh Caurell and Thomas of GrauÌ„tsome and syr Phylyppe Gyssarde and yet they had nat the nombre that I had with me and yet they were before Parys and demaunded batayle of the frenche kynge but they coulde neuer be aunswered nor founde any person that sayd any thyng to them and so they rode into Bretayne and so a longe through the realme of Fraunce fro Calais to Burdeaux without hauynge of any batayle or rencountre but I thynke surely who so wolde nowe make any suche iourney they shulde be fought with all for he that calleth hym selfe kynge in Fraunce is yonge hote and of great corage and enterprise he wolde surely fight what ende so euer fell therof and that is the thynge we desyre for we loue nothynge so well as to haue batayle for without it be by batayle and victory vpon the frenche men who be ryche els we shall haue no recouery but suffre with the losse as we haue done euer sythe my nephewe was kyng of Englande This thyng can nat longe endure in this estate but at laste the realme of Englande shall perceyue the mater repente it for the kyng taketh and shall take and reyse great tayles of the marchauntes wherwith they be nat content and yet they can nat tell where the good becometh Thus the kynge enpouereth the realme of Englande and gyueth to one and other largely and there as it is but yuell bestowed and his people vyeth the bargayne whiche shortely wyll growe to a rebellyon within the realme for the people begyn to clater and to murmure therat sayeng howe they wyll no leÌ„ger suffre nor beare it he sayeth to stoppe the peoples rumure that the trewce ones concluded bytwene him Fraunce that than he wyll make a voyage in to Irelande and enploye there his men of armes and archers and there he hath ben but with a small conquest for IrelaÌ„de is no lande of great conquest nor profyte the people they are but rude and yuell and a right poore countrey and inhabytable and looke what is wonne there in one yere is loste in another Laquynay Laquynay quod the duke all that I haue sayde is of trouth THus the duke of Gloucestre deuysed with his knyght with suche wordes and other as it was well knowen after He hated the kynge and coulde speke no good worde of him and though he were with his brother the duke of LaÌ„castre as one of the greatest rulers of the Realme he toke no care therof And whan the kyng dyd sende for him he wolde come at his pleasure and sometyme nat a whyt And whan he came to the kynge he wolde be the laste shulde come and the first that wolde departe and in counsayle what he had ones sayd of his opynion he wolde haue it taken and accepted els he wolde be displeased and somtyme take his leaue and departe to his maner in Essex called Plasshey there was his chiefe abydynge This duke was a great prince and might well spende by yere a threscore thousande ducates he was duke of Gloucestre erle of Essex and of Buckingham and constable of Englande He was of so marueylous condycyons that the kynge douted hym more than any other of his vncles for in his wordes he wolde nat spare nor forbeare the kynge The kynge alwayes was humble and meke to hym and whatsoeuer he wolde demaunde the kynge wolde graunte it hym This duke had caused in EnglaÌ„de to be done many cruell and hasty iugementes for he had caused to be beheeded withoute tytell of any good reasone that noble knyght syr Symon Burle and dyuers other of the kynges counsayle and chased out of Englande the archebysshop of yorke and the duke of Irelande bycause they were so nygh of the kinges counsayle and layde to their charge that they had counsayled the kynge wronge and ledde hym as they lyst and had spente the reuenewes of Englande at their pleasures This duke had two bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke These two were euer about the kynge wherat this duke of Gloucestre hadde great enuy wolde say to dyuers as to suche as he trusted as Robert bysshop of London and to other whan they came to him to Plasshey Frendes my two bretherne ouerchargeth greatly the kynges house it were better they were at home at their owne houses this duke by subtyle couerte wayes drewe to his acorde the londoners for he thought if he might be sure of them he shulde sone haue all the rest of the realme to his acorde This duke had a nephue sonne to the doughter of his elder brother called Lyonell duke of Clarence whiche doughter was maryed into Lombardy to the sonne of syr Galeas duke of Myllayne This duke Lyonell dyed in the cytie of Aste in Piemounte So this duke of Gloucestre wolde gladly haue sene his nephue sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence called Iohan erle of Marche to haue ben kynge of Englande and to haue had his nephue kynge Rycharde deposed for he sayd howe the kynge was nat worthy to holde nor to gouerne the realme of Englande This he wolde say to them that he trusted and he dyd so moch that he caused the erle of Marche to come to his house and than and there he dyscouered to hym all his entent and secretnesse and sayde howe he had determyned to make hym kynge of Englande and kyng Richarde to be put downe and his wyfe also and to be kept in prison dutynge their lyues and so he desyred effectuously the erle to accept his offre and good wyll sayenge howe he wolde do the beste he coulde to bringe it aboute and that he had of his acorde and alyaunce the erle of Arundell and therle of Warwyke and dyuers other prelates and lordes of Englande The erle of Marche was sore abasshed whan he herde the duke his vncle speke suche wordes howe be it lyke a yonge man he dissymuled the mater and aunswered wysely to th entent to please the duke and said howe he wold be glad to be ruled as he wolde haue hym but he sayd he wolde be well aduysed or he accepted suche promisse to sone and wolde take therin aduyse and delyberacyon And whan the duke of Gloucestre sawe the maner of the erle than he desyred him to kepe the mater secrete The erle answered so he wolde do Than therle departed as sone as he coude and so wente in to Irelande to his herytage and after he wolde neuer entende to the dukes treatie but alwayes excused him selfe wysely yet euer he kept the mater secrete for he sawe well the conclusyon shulde nat be good IT was sayd howe the duke of Gloucestre sought all the wayes he coude to set a trouble in Englande and to styrre the
knightes This shyppe was so goodlye fayre that it was great ioye to beholde it the whiche gyfte the soudan toke in gree and sente agayne to the kynge of Cypre the double in value therof All this was anone knowen in FrauÌ„ce by marchauntes that wrote therof to Dyne of Responde to the entente that he shulde shewe it to the Frenche kyng and to the duke of Burgoyn to haue a thanke of the kynge THis kyng of Cypre had good cause thus to do for he was in doute of the frenche kynges displeasure bicause he caused to be slayne murdered by night his brother the valyaunt kynge Peter who dyde moche trouble to the Sarazins toke Saptalye and Alexandre The Sarazins douted hym more than any other kyng or emperour christened bicause of his valyaÌ„tnesse of the whiche dede this sayde kynge Iames sore repented hym selfe and knewe well he had done yuell And after the same dede he fledde out of Cypre or els the Christen men wolde haue slayne hym So he entred in to a galley of Gene beyng at the porte of Nicopossie and so wente to Genes and the genowayes receyued hym And some said that he dyde that foule murdre by the entysement of the genoways for anone after the genouois came with puissaunce of men of warre and galyes and toke the cytie of Famagous and the porte and kepte it with puyssaunce This kynge of Cypre had a fayre yonge sonne The Cyprience crowned this chylde kynge and after his crownyng he lyued nat long but dyed soone after And aft his dethe the genouois with great puyssauÌ„ce brought this Iaques in to Cypre and crowned hym kyng and so he reigned kyng of Cypre And the genowayes alwayes susteyned hym agaynst all men but they wolde neuer rendre vp the Cytie of Famagous nor the porte but helde it styll at the tyme that the auctour wrot this hystorie And to saye the trouthe if the genowayes had nat had it the Turkes had wonne it longe before and all the realme of Cipre had brought it in to their obeysauÌ„ce and by all lykelyhode had subdued the ysles of Rodes and all other ysles enclosed in the See to Venyce but alwayes the genoways and venisyaÌ„s resysted them And whan they sawe that the turkes had wonne the Realme of Armony than they toke the strong towne of Corque in Hermyne on the See syde and so helde it so that and it had nat ben for dout of the passage and straytes of Corque and of Xere before CoÌ„stantyne the noble the turkes had sore entred in to Christendome and vpon the border of the see the whiche shulde haue been great preiudyce to the ysle of Rodes and to the ysles adioynyng Thus by these meanes the fronters of Christen dome were kepte and defended ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to our purpose THis kyng Iaques of Cyper who knewe hym selfe gylcy of the deth of the kynge his brother wherby he had the hatred of all other crysten kynges therfore he dyd as moche as he coude do to get agayne their loue and fauour and tooke it for a great honoure that the frenche kynge wrote fyrst to hym for he douted him most of all and so he had cause for the duke of Burbone by ryght successyon of the lynage of Lusygnan ought to be kynge there and his heyres for thoughe this kynge Iaques was brother to the kyng Peter of Cyper yet he had no ryght to the crowne for he was but a bastarde and all this knewe ryght well the genouoys so that whan he was made kynge there was made a great alyaunce bytwene them confermed nat to be broken and the genouoys to defeÌ„de and kepe him and his heyres agaynst all other and therby they atteygned great sygnories and fraunchesses in the realme of Ciper and all that euer they dyd to the exaltynge of this Iaques kynge of Cyper was alwayes for their owne chiefe auauntage and to be stronge against the venycians and to haunte and erercyse their feate of marchaundyse in to the Sarazyns landes This kinge Iaques as longe as he lyued dyd what he coulde to please the Frenche kynge by the meanes of the genouoys for they wolde in no wyse dysplease hym and therfore the same season this kynge Iaques ordeyned this shyppe of golde to presente Lamorabaquy to haue loue and acquayntauÌ„ce with him whiche gyft was ioyfully receyued and moch praysed with the turkes and it was thought that the lorde Dyne of Rresponde was meanes therof and wrote therin to the genouoys for in this maner and otherwayes he laboured all that he myght for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and of the other lordes of Fraunce WHan the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe sawe that Lamorabaquy began to fall to treatie for the crysten prisoners the newes therof was greatly to their pleasure and apoynted a sage valyaunt knyght of the countie of Flaunders called syr Gylberte of Linrenghen who was souerayne of Flaunders vnder the duke and duchesse And than they sent for syr Iaques of Helley bycause he knewe the wayes and passages and desyred hym to acompany syr Gylberte to treate with Lamorabaquy for the delyueraunce of the crysten prisoners and promysed hym that his payne shulde be well consydred and rewarded Syr Iaques promysed them so to do So these two knyghtes departed and rode so longe that they came in to the realme of Hungery and so drewe to the kynge for they had letters to hym The kyng receyued them ioyously for loue of the frenche kynge and also he knewe well syr Iaques of Helley There they shewed the kyng the cause of their coÌ„mynge out of Fraunce and howe they were sente in to Turkey to treate for the delyueraunce of the erle of Neuers and the other lordes of FrauÌ„ce if Lamorabaquy wolde gyue them the herynge The kynge sayde it was well done to redeme them if they myght be put to raunsome and sayd in the assayenge therof they coulde lese nothynge besydes that the kinge offred them his body and goodes to ayde theym in all maners Wherof these two knyghtes thanked hym To entre in to this treatye with Lamorabaquy or they coulde come therto these knightes had moche payne and made great dâ—â—ygeÌ„ce for fyrst syr Iaques of Helley was fayne to go to Lamorabaquy to requyre a safe conducte for his companyon syr Gylbert to come in to Turkey And whan he had ateyned it than he returned in to Hungery and so they rode than into Turkey The souerayne of Flaunders was receyued of Lamorabaquy and of his men ryght nobly and was herde speke and so lytell and lytell they entred in to their treatie the same tyme there haunted in to Turkey a marchaunt genouoy of the isle of Sio vnder the obeysaunce of the genouoys This marchauÌ„t was named Bartylmew Pologrine and he was well be loued in Turkey and namely with Lamorabaquy Syr Dyne of Responde beynge at Parys to th entent that this treatie myght haue the better
the countrey is so hote that the people be of sobre dyet and vse moche spycery and specyally suger and gotes mylke wherof they haue great haboundaunce the whiche is cōmon drinke of the sarazyns and they haue plenty of bredde made of a grayne called mylle he had euer aboute hym a seuen thousande fawconers and as many hunters So it was on a daye he wente a hawkynge and had a flyght with a fawcon at an Egle in the presence of the erle of Neuers the whiche flyght pleased nat Lamorabaquy wherwith he was sore dyspleased and as it was shewed me for the same faute there was at the poynte a two thousande fauconers to haue loste their heedes bearyng them in hande that they were nat dylygent in kepynge of his hawkes Another tyme in the presence of the erle of Neuers a woman came to complayne to the kynge desyringe to haue ryght and iustyce vpon a seruaunt of his sayenge Syr kynge I come to you as to my soueraygne I complayne me of a seruaunt of your chambre as it is shewed me he is come this same day in to my howse and the mylke of a gote that I had for me and my chyldren he hath dronken it agaynst my wyll and syr I said to him that if he wolde do me that wronge I wolde complayne to you and as soone as I sayde so he gaue me two great blowes wolde nat forbeare for all that I spake in your name therfore syr kynge do me iustyce as ye are sworne to do to all your people The kinge marked well the womans wordes and so caused his seruaunte to come a fore hym and the woman also and than he caused the woman to renewe her complaynt The seruaunt began to excuse hym and sayd that he knewe nothynge of that matter The woman spake wysely and affyrmed her wordes to be trewe Than the kynge sayde woman aduyse the well for if I fynde thy wordes vntrewe thou shalte dye an yuell dethe Syr quod she I am content for if my wordes were nat true what nede me to come in to your presēce do me iustyce I desyre none other thyng Thou shalt haue iustyce quod the kynge for I haue sworne so to do to euery man and woman Than the kynge caused the man to be taken and caused his bely to be opened to se if he had eaten or dronken the mylke or nat and there he founde that he had dronke the mylke for it was nat turned to digestyon And whan the kyng sawe that the womans wordes were trewe he said to her thou haddest good cause to complayne go thy way quyte thou art well reuenged of the trespase that was done to the and she had a good recompence and the man deed This iudgement the lordes of Fraunce sawe and herde ¶ Howe the lordes of Fraunce returned by see to Venyce and of the isles they founde by the waye Cap. CC.xxiiii WHan the Erle of Neuers and the other lordes of Fraūce who had ben taken prisoners at the batayle before Nycopoly in Turkey whan they had sene a season the state and maner of Lamorabaquy and that he was content of euery thynge and vnderstode that the lorde of Mathelyn and the lorde of Damyne and the marchaunt of Sio were come to Burselle in Turkey than he gaue them leaue to departe So they came all togyther before Lamorabaquy excepte the erle of Ewe and the lorde of Coucy who were bothe deed thus they toke their leaue and thanked hym of his curtesies Than Lamorabaquy said to therle by a truch man Iohan I knowe well thou arte a great lorde in thy Countrey and sonne to a great lorde thou art yonge and pe◠aduenture shall beare some blame and shame that this aduenture hath fallen to the in thy fyrste chyualry and to excuse thy selfe of this blame and to recouer thyne honour peraduenture thou wylt assemble a puyssaunce of men and come and make warre agaynst me if I were in doute or feare therof or thou departed I shulde cause the swere by thy lawe and faythe that neuer thou nor none of thy company shulde beare armure or make warre agaynst me but I wyll nother make the nor none of thy company to make any suche othe or promesse but I wyll that whan thou arte retourned and arte at thy pleasure rayse what puyssaunce thou wylte and spare nat but come agaynst me thou shalt fynde me alwayes redy to receyue the and thy company in the felde in playne batayle and this that I say shewe it to whome thy lyste for I am able to do dedes of armes and euer redy to conquere further in to crystendome These hygh wordes the erle of Neuers vnderstode well and so dyd his company they thought on it after as longe as they lyued Than they tooke their leaue and they were conducted with a great nombre vnder the leadynge of Assybaathe and Surbasaache and so delyuered to the lordes of Mathelyn and Damyne who were cause of their delyueraunce and whan their galees were redy they entred and their conducte retourned to their kynge So they sayled tyll they came to the porte of Mathelyn where they were receyued with great ioye THe lady of Mathelyn was ryght honourable and gentle as well assured of her selfe as any lady in Grece for in her youth she had ben brought vp in the emperour of Constantyne the nobles courte with the lady Mary of Burbone where she had lerned moche norture for in Fraunce the lordes and ladyes be more honourable than in many other coūtreys This lady was right ioyouse to se in her house the erle of Neuers and syr Henry of Bare sir Guy of Tremoyle and the other she receyued them ryght honourably with great ioy and dyd what she coude to do them pleasure First she newly aparelled all the lordes and knyghtes of Fraunce with shyrtes gownes and other aparell of fyne damaske acordynge to the vsage of Grece and all other euery man after his degre The lady spared nothyng on them wherfore they gaue her great thanke and greatly praysed her estate and ordre In lykewyse they thāked and praysed the lordes of Mathelyn and of Damyne who made them good chere and honourable Anone tydynges of their delyueraunce was knowen at the Rodes wherof the great mayster of the Roodes and all the knyghtes there were ryght ioyfull and they determyned to arme forth two galees and to sende for theym to come in to the isle of Rodes and so they dyd and in the one galee they sette syr Iaques of Brassemont a burgonyon marshall of the Rodes So longe they sayled and rowed that they aryued at Mathelyn The marshall was well receyued of euery man and of the lady of Mathelyn Than these lordes and other refresshed them there a foure dayes and on the fyfte daye their galees were redy Than the erle of Neuers tooke leaue of the lady of Mathelyn and thanked her greatly and the lordes also and the erle of Neuers
Erle to abyde at Parys and to kepe there his house to pay for euery thyng that he or his men shulde take To this request the Frenche kynge and his vncles lightly agreed and shewed that they were right ioyfull of his cōmynge and said howe they were ryght sorie of the erles trouble These messangers returned to Calais and fouude the erle redy there The frēche kynge sent sir Charles of Hangers to open all the cyties and townes bytwene Calais and Paris to receyue therle and his cōpany Thus the erle of Derby departed fro Calays and toke the waye to Amyence and in euery place he was well receyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde Guillyam erle of Ostrenaunt sente to his cosyn therle of Derby certayne messangers and howe therle came to Paris howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi THe erle of Ostrenaūt beyng at Quesnoy assone as he knewe that his Cosyn the erle of Derby was passed the See and was come to Calais He ordayned sir Auncell of Trassagetes and sir Fierebras of Vertayne to ride to Calais and to desyre the erle of Derby to come in to Heynaulte to sporte hym and to abyde there a season promysynge hym to haue good chere These two knyghtes departed fro Quesnoy and rode to Cambrey and to Bapames for they herde newes that the erle was departed fro Calais and hadde taken the waye to Amayēce and so to go to Parys These two knyghtes mette hym by the waye They spake with hym and dyde their message so that the Erle thanked them and also his cosyn that had sent them to him and than he excused hym selfe and sayd howe he had made his prouisyon to go in to Fraunce as at that tyme to the Frenche kynge and to his cosyns of Fraunce but he wolde nat renounce the curtesy that his cosyn of Heynalt had shewed hym Than these two knightes departed and retourned and shewed therle of Ostrenaunt what they had sene and done And therle of Derby and his company rode so long that he aproched nere to Parys Whā the kyng and the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles knewe that the erle of Derby came to Paris he prepared his chābers in his place of saynt Poule richely to receyue therle and caused all lordes to issue out of the cytie to receyue hym and the kyng taryed at the house of saynt Poule First mette hym the duke of Berrey and the duke of Orlyaūce and than the duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Burbon and other noble prelates lordes knightes At the metyng there was frendly chere and so in good order they entred in to Paris with great ioye The same daye one great mysfortune fell there was a squyer named Boniface mounted on a great coursar whiche horse rose vpright vpon his hynder fete and fell backewarde and the squyers hedde lyght vpon the stones that his hedde cloue a sonder and so dyed of whose dethe the duke of Orlyaunce was ryght sorie for he loued hym entierly and so dyde the lorde of Coucy in his dayes for he brought hym in to Frūce out of Lombardy THus they came to the house ofsaynt Poule where the kynge was who receyued the erle nobly and therle was sage and wyse and knewe moch of that parteyned to honour He made his reuerēce and acquaynted hym with the kynge after good maner so moche that he greatly pleased the kynge and for good loue he gaue the erle his deuyse to weare the whiche the erle receyued ioyfully The wordes that were bitwene them I can nat tell but all was well And after takyng of spyce and wyne the erle toke leaue of the kyng and than went to the quene in the same house and she made hym ioyouse chere Than after the erle departed and toke his horse to go to his lodgyng and so was conueyed thyder Thus passed the tyme and the lordes of Fraunce dyde often tymes kepe hym company and caused hym to passe the tyme with sportes and otherwyse to the entent he shulde thynke the season the shorter bycause he was out of his owne nacion ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of the erle of Derby and somwhat speke of the ordynaunce of the Churche of the two popes Benedic beyng at Auignon and Bonyface at Rome ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bitwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed And howe the bysshoppe of Cābrey was sent by the sayd kynge to Rome and to Auygnon to thē that wrote them selfe popes to th ētent that they shulde depose thēselfe fro their papalytes and submyt thē to the order of these two kynges Capi. CC .xxxii. YE haue herde here before howe that kyng of Almaȳne and the kyng of Fraunce the lordes of thempire and their coūsails had ben at the cytie of Reynes and there they had dyuers secrete counsayls and their entencion was to bring the churche in to a parfyte vnite for to folowe the way that the churche helde as than The errour was to great And also ye haue herde howe mayster Peter de Ailly bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent in legacion to Rome to speke with pope Boniface he spedde hym so in his iourney that he came to Foūdes and there foūde pope Boniface and to hym he delyuered his letters of credence dyrected fro the kynges of Almaygne and of Fraunce The pope receyued them and the bysshoppe right mekelye The pope knewe well parte of his message Than the bysshoppe declared the cause of his cōmynge Whan the pope hadde well herde hym he sayde Howe the answere laye nat all onely in hym but also in all the cardy nalles that had chosen hym pope but he said whan he hadde spoken with them by delyberate counsayle than he wolde make suche answere that he trusted to content them This aunswere was suffycient for that tyme. The bysshoppe dyned that daye in the popes palyce and certayne Cardynalles with hym Than after the pope departed fro Foundes and went to Rome and there the pope assembled a conuocacion of the cardynalles in his palyce besyde saynt Peters churche In this consistorie there were none but the pope and his cardynalles And there the pope shewed the request that the kynge of Almaygne and the Frenche kyng had made hym by the bysshoppe of Cambrey there he demaunded coūsaile what answere he shuld make there were than̄e many reasons alleged for it semed right contrary to the cardinalles to put downe that they hadde made they sayde it shulde be greatly to their shame and rebuke Than they said to the pope Holy father to cause these kynges to be in a good hope that ye wyll obey to the ye must sōwhat dissymule y◠mater and saye howe ye wyll gladly obey to all thynge that the kynge of Almaygne the kyng of Hungry and the kyng of Englande wyll counsayle you vnto So that he that is in Auignon who writeth hym selfe pope Benedic whom the Frenche kyng
shulde nat be for their welthe but to their great dōmage for the kynge was sore enformed against them Whan they had this warnynge they stopped their cōmyng to the kyng and nat without good cause For they were shewed that if they came they shulde be in ieopardye of their lyues Whan the kynges counsayle sawe that therle and his son̄e came nat they sayd to the kyng Sir nowe ye maye se whyder we dyde enforme you of the trouthe or nat ye maye se therle and his sonne disdayneth to serue you for they wyll nat come at youre cōmaundement and that shall ye se if ye sende for them And I shall sende for them quod the kyng Than letters were written sente by notable messangers to therle to the lorde Henry Percy his son The content of the letters was that incontynent without delaye vpon the sight of those letters that they shulde come to the kyng and do their duetie as they were bounde to do These messangers iourneyed so longe that they came to fayre castell of the erles standyng on the fronter of Scotlande The messanger acquyted hym well in doynge of his message as he was cōmaūded Th erle reed his letters at length and than shewed them to his sonne Than they toke aduise to make the messanger good chere and to write agayn to the kynge in excusynge of them selfes howe they coulde nat come out of their countrey as at that tyme and howe that the kyng had men ynowe to acōplysshe his iourney besyde them The messangers retourned to the kynge and delyuered the erles lettre The kynge redde it the whiche answere was nothynge pleasaunt to the kynge nor to his counsayle and thanne for this cause and for other thynges that were layde to the Erles charge and to his sonnes they were openly banysshed the realme of Englande tyll the kyng dyd repeale them agayne This was publysshed through out all the cyties and good townes of Englande and specyally in London wherof the londoners had great marueyle nor they coulde nat knowe iustly for what cause it was for the erle and his sonne were reputed for noble and as valyaunt men as any within the realme Some sayd it cōmeth by some of the kynges counsayle that hateth them whiche counsayle wyll distroy the kyng at last peraduenture the erle and his sonne haue spoken some wordes vpon the kynge and his counsayle for the yuell gouernynge of the realme coulde nat be herde though they said the trouth and for their true sayeng nowe they be punisshed but we thinke herafter they wyll be punysshed that nowe iudge them Thus the londoners and other spake of this mater The erle had a brother a valiaunt knight sir Thomas percy who had of a longe tyme done many noble seruyces to the kynge of Englande whan the erle knewe that he and his sonne were banysshed the realme he toke it for an vnreasonable punysshment without cause Than he sente for all his frendes in the countrey suche as he coulde get togyther for many of his lygnage were with the kynge to go in to Irelande The erle toke counsayle of them what was best to do sythe the kynge had banysshed hym without cause Than he was counsayled to sende in to the realme of Scotlande and to desyre the king there that he and his sonne might abyde peasably in Scotlande tyll the kynge of Englande were apeased of his dyspleasure Thus therle sent to kynge Robert of Scotlande and the kyng the erle Archambalt Duglas and the other lordes of Scotlande condiscendyd lyghtly to the erles desyre sent the erle worde howe they shulde be gladly receyued and also if they neded of fyue or syre hundred speares if they were signyfied of the tyme they shulde be redy to serue them This message pleased greatly the erle and his lygnage and so the erle taryed styll in his countrey amonge his frendes for kynge Rycharde and his counsayle had so moche to do in sorte season after that they had no layser to do any dyspleasure to the erle nor to his sonne as ye shall here after in this hystory KInge Rycharde thus beynge aboute Bristowe than the state generally of all men in Englande began to murmure and to ryse one agaynst another and mynystrynge of iustyce was clene stopped vp in all courtes of Englande wherof the valyaunt men and prelates who loued reste and peace and were glad to paye their duetyes were greatly abasshed for there rose in the realme companyes in dyuers rowtes kepynge the feldes and hygh wayes so that marchauntes durste nat ryde abrode to excercyse their marchaundyse for doute of robbynge and no man knewe to whome to cōplayne to do them ryght reasone and iustyce whiche thynges were ryght preiudyciall and dyspleasaunt to the good people of Englande for it was contrary to their accustomable vsage for all people laborers and marchauntes in Englande were wonte to lyue in rest and peace and to occupy their marchaundyse peasably and the laborers to labour their landes quyetly and than it was contrary for whan marchauntes rode fro towne to towne with their marchaundyse and had outher golde or syluer in their purces it was taken fro them and fro other men and labourers out of their houses these companyons wolde take whete ootes bufes muttons porkes the pore men durste speke no worde these yuell dedes dayly multyplyed so that great complayntes and lamentacyons were made therof through out the realme and the good people sayde the tyme is chaunged vpon vs fro good to yuell euer sythe the dethe of good kynge Edwarde the thyrde in whose dayes iustyce was well kepte and mynystred In his dayes there was no man so hardy in Englande to take a hen or a chekyn or a shepe without he had payed trewly for it and now◠a dayes all that we haue is taken fro vs and yet we dare nat speke these thinges canne nat longe endure but that Englande is lykely to be loste without recouery We haue a kynge nowe that wyll do nothyng he entendeth but to ydelnesse and to acomplysshe his pleasure and by that he sheweth he careth nat howe euery thynge gothe so he maye haue his wyll it were tyme to prouyde for remedy or els out enemyes wyll reioyse mocke vs our kynge hath sette his brother the erle of Huntyngdon at Calais therby peraduenture may be made some yuell treatie and bargayne for the towne of Calays with the frenche men and rendre in to their handes that thynge that is most necessary for the realme of Englande for if Calays were rendred to the Frenche men Englande was neuer so abasshed as it shulde be than and good cause why for than shulde be lost the chiefe key of Englande THus multyplyed the lamentacyons and murmurynge in Englande and the prelates and other ryche men of the realme came to London to dwell there to be in the better suretie They of the lygnages of suche lordes as the kynge had put to dethe and banisshed
for kynge Rycharde was norysshed amonge them therfore they loued hym and whyle he was kynge if any of Burdeloys came to hym they were well receyued and alwayes the kinge was redy to fulfyll their desyres wherfore they sayd whan they knewe the trouth Ah Richarde gentle kyng ye were as noble a man as euer reigned in any realme this trouble that londoners haue caused for they coulde neuer loue you specyall sythe ye were alyed by maryage with the frenche kyng this myschiefe is so great that we can nat suffre it They haue holden you kynge this .xxii. yere and nowe to condempe you to the dethe for sythe ye be in prison haue crowned the duke of Lancastre they wyll surely put you to deth So they of Burdeloys made great lamentacyons in so moche that the seneschall of Burdeaux a ryght valyaunt knyght of Englande wrote letters therin conteynynge the wordes and lamentacyons of them of the cytie of Burdeaulx of Bayon and of Dax Also he wrote howe they were nere at the poynte to yelde vp their townes to the frenche kyng He sent this lettre by a trusty seruauÌ„t of his by the see who had good wynde and aryued at Cornewayle in EnglaÌ„de and than he rode so longe that he came to London there he fouÌ„de kynge Henry and delyuered his letters whiche were dyrected to the kynge and to the londoners They were opened and reed and the kynge and the londoners tooke counsayle vpon that mater They of London aunswered lyke theym that were nothyng abasshed of that tydynges but sayde as for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche for they can nat lyue in their daunger nor they canne nat suffre the extorcion and pollinge of the frenchmen for vnder vs they lyue franke and free and if the frenche men shulde be lordes ouer them they shulde be taxed and tayled retayled two or thre tymes in a yere the whiche they are nat nowe acustomed vnto whiche shulde be a harde thyng nowe for them to begynne Also these thre cyties are closed in rouÌ„de about with great lordes who are good englysshe and longe haue been as the lorde Pyuiers the lorde Musydent the lorde Duras the lorde Landuras the lorde Copane the lorde Rosem the lorde Logeren and dyuers other barones and knyghtes by whome they shulde haue warre at their handes for they shulde nat issue out of their cities but they shulde be taken For all the seneschalles wrytynge we haue no doute that they shulde become frenche howe be it good it is to sende thyder some valyaunt wyse man that is beloued amonge theym some suche as hath gouerned there or this and that is the lorde Thomas Percy Thus as it was deuysed it was acomplysshed he was desyred to go thyder and to take hede of that couÌ„trey He fulfylled the kynges coÌ„maundement and made hym redy to departe it was about Christmasse at whiche tyme the wyndes be sore and ieoperdous he toke shyppynge in Cornewayle He had with him two hundred men of armes and four hundred archers And with hym was his nephue Hugh Hastynges Thomas Colleuyll Gyllyam Lysle Iohan Graily bastarde sonne to the Captall of Beufz Guillyam Traicton Iohan Danbreticourt and diuers other and also the bysshop of London and mayster Rycharde Doall They taryed tyll it was mydde Marche or they toke the see and or they came to Burdeaux the duke of Burbon was come to the cytie of Dagen to treate with theym of Burdeloys and he dyd so moche by his fayre wordes and good assuraunce that the counsayles of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax were sent to the cytie of Dagen The duke receyued them frendly and gaue them fayre wordes and many promyses and shewed them that if they wolde turne frenche and be vnder the obeysaunce of the frenche kynge what so euer they wolde demaunde shulde be graunted them and sealed perpetually to endure Many thynges they promysed and sware to seale and to kepe for euer They aunswered whan they were retourned agayne in to their cyties they wolde shewe all this to the people and so take counsayle and than gyue answere Thus they departed fro Dagen and fro the duke of Burbon and retourned to their townes and shewed all this to the people but all tourned to nothynge for the comynaltyes of the sayde cyties consydred the busynesse and knewe well howe the realme of Fraunce was vexed and troubled with tayles and fowages and shamfull exaccions all to get money than they sayd if the frenche men gouerne ouer vs they wyll bringe vs to the same vsage yet it is better for vs to be englysshe for they kepe vs franke and free If the londoners haue deposed kynge Rycharde crowned kinge Henry what is that to vs we haue and shall haue alwayes a kynge and we vnderstande that the bysshop of London and syr Thomas Percy shortely wyll be here they shall enfourme vs of the trouthe we haue also more marchaundyse of woll wyne and clothe with the Englysshe men than with the frenchmen let vs be ware we make no treatie wherby we shulde repent vs after Thus the treatie with the frenche men was broken and lefte of Than anone after the bysshop of London and the lorde Percy with their charge of men of warre aryued at Burdeaux wherof moche people were greatly reioysed and some displeased suche as had rather haue been frenche than englysshe All these englysshe lordes were lodged togyther in the abbey of saint Andrewe and whan they sawe their tyme they shewed to the people the state of Englande and the cause why they were sent thyder and they dyd so moche that euery thynge was apeased bothe there and in all other places For harde it was to haue caused them to haue tourned frenche THan it was determyned by the counsayle of Fraunce sithe the kyng was in sycknesse by reason of the displeasure that he toke for the deposyng of his sonne in lawe kynge Rycharde that they shulde sende some notable wyse personage in to Englande to knowe the state of the quene to do this message was apoynted syr Charles de la Brethe and Charles of Hangers who as they were coÌ„maunded departed fro Parys and came to Boloygne and there taryed for they had sent an haraulde to kynge Henry for without assurauÌ„ce they durst nat go for all the truce that was bytwene bothe realmes Kynge Henry who thought hym selfe moche bounde to the Frenche kynge for the chere that he hadde in Fraunce toke counsayle and concluded and so the haraulde was answered that it was the kynges pleasure that they and their company shulde come in to Englande and to come the streyght way to the kyng and nat to ryde out of the way without lycence The haraulde retourned to Boloyne and shewed what he had done wherwith they were content and so shypped their horses and toke the see and aryued at Douer where they founde redy a knyght of the kynges howse â—oho receyued theym they had sene hym before with kyng
where as he laye his hedde on a blacke quisshen his visage open some had on hym pytie soÌ„e none but sayd he had long a go deserued dethe Now coÌ„syder well ye great lordes kynges dukes erles baroÌ„s prelates all men or great lynage puissauce se beholde how the fortunes of this worlde are marueylous turne diuersly This kyng Richarde reigned kynge of EnglaÌ„de .xxii. yere in great prosperite holdyng great estate signorie There was neuer before any kyng of Englande that spente so moche in his house as he dyd by a. C.M. florens euery yere For I sir IohnÌ„ Froissart chanon treasourer of Chinay knewe it wel for I was in his court more tha a quarter of a yere togider he made me good chere bycause that in my youthe I was clerke seruauÌ„t to the noble kynge Edwarde the thirde his grautfather with my lady Philyp of Heynault quene of EnglaÌ„de his grandame and whan I deê‘ted fro hym it was at Wynsore and at my departynge the kyng sent me by a knight of his called sir IohnÌ„ Golofer a gob let or syluer gylte weyeng two marke of siluer within it a C. nobles by the which I am as yet the better and shal be as long as I lyue wherfore I am bouÌ„de to praye to God for his soule with moche sorowe I write of his dethe But bicause I haue coÌ„tynued this historie therfore I write therof to folowe it In my tyme I haue sene two thingê though they differ yet they be true I was in the cytie of Burdeux sytting at the table whaÌ„ kyng Richarde was borne the whiche was on a tuisday about .x. of the clocke The same tyme there caÌ„e there as I was sir Richarde PouÌ„tcardon marshall as than of Acâ—tayne he said to me Froissart write put in memorie that as nowe my lady pricesse is brought abeed with a fayre son on this twelfe daye that is the day of the thre kynges and he is son to a kynges son shal be a kyng This geÌ„tyll knight said trouthe for he was kynge of Englande xxii yere But whan this knyght sayd these wordes he knewe full lytell what shulde be his conclusyon And the same tyme that kynge Richarde was borne his father the prince was in Galyce the whiche kyng Dompeter had gyuen him and he was there to coÌ„quere the realme Vpon these thyngê I haue greatlye ymagined sythe for the fyrst yere that I caÌ„e in to EnglaÌ„de in to the seruyce of quene Philyppe Kynge Edwarde and the quene and all their chyldren were as than at Barcamstede a maner of the prince of Wales be yonde London The kynge and the Quene were came thyder to take leaue of their sofie the prince and the priÌ„cesse who were goyng in to Acquitayne And there I herde an auÌ„cient knyght deuyse amonge the ladyes and sayde There is a booke whiche is called le Brust and it deuyseth that the prince of Wales eldest son to the king nor the duke of Clarence nor the duke of Glocestre shuld neuer be kyng of EnglaÌ„de but the realme crowne shuld returne to the house of Lacastre There I Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle coÌ„sydring all these thynges I say these two knyghtes sir Richarde Pountcardon sir Bartylmewe of Bruels layd bothe trouthe For I sawe and so dyde all the worlde Rycharde of Burdeaux .xxii. yere kyng of Englande and after the crowne retourned to the house of Lancastre And that was whan kyng HeÌ„ry was kyng the which he had neuer ben if Richarde of Burdeaux had dalte amyably with hym for the Londoners made hym kyng bycause they had pytie on hym and on his chyldren Thus whan kynge Richarde had layne two houres in the chare in Chepe syde than they draue the chayre forwarde And whan the foure knyghtes that folowed the chare a sote were without London they lept than on their horses whiche were there redy for them And so they rode tyll they caÌ„e to a vyllage called Langle a .xxx. myle from LoÌ„don and there this kyng Richarde was buryed god haue mercy on his soule Tydinges spredde abrode howe kyng Richarde was deed he taryed euery daye for it for euery man myght well consydre that he shulde neuer come out of prisone a lyue His dethe was long kepte and hydde fro his wyfe The Frenche kynge and his counsayle were well enformed of all this and the knightes and squyers desyred nothyng but the warre that they myght ryde vpon the fronters Howe be it the counsayls as well of the one realme as of the other toke their aduyse and thought it best to vpholde styll the truse that was taken before they thought it more ê“fitable than the warre And a newe treatie was deuysed to be in the marches of Calais bycause the freÌ„che kyng was nat in good case nor had nat been sythe he knewe of the trouble that kyng Richarde was in And yet his sickenesse doubled whaÌ„ he knewe that he was deed so that the duke of Burgoyne had the chefe rule of the realme And he came to saynt Omers to Burbourâ— where the duke of Burbone was sir Charles de la Brest and Charles of Hangeers Iohan of Castell Morant and of prelates the patriarke of Ierusalem and the bysshoppes of Paris and of Beauoyes And on the Englysshe partie there was the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Rutlande the erle of Deuonshyre and the lorde Henry Percy the erles sonne and yuan of Fitzwaren and prelates there were the bysshoppes of Wynchester and of Ely The frenche men demauÌ„ded to haue agayne delyuered the yong quene of Englande but the Englysshe men wolde in no wyse delyuer her but sayd she shulde lyue styll in EnglaÌ„de vpon her dowrie and that though she had lost her husbande they wolde prouyde for her another that shulde be fayre yong gentyll with whom she shuld be better pleased than with Richard of Burdeaux for he was olde and this shuld be the prince of Wales eldest sofie to kyng Henry To this the Frenchmen wolde nat agre for they wolde nat consent therto without liceÌ„ce of the kyng her father who as than was nat in good poynt for he was farrÌ„ out of the way no medysyn coude helpe hym So that mater was layde aparte and the treatie of truse went forwarde in suche wyse that by coÌ„sent of bothe parties they sware and were bouÌ„de to kepe the truse .xxvi. yere more to the four yeres that it had endured the whiche in all was .xxx. yere accordynge to the fyrst couenauÌ„t and vpon this writynges were made and sealed by procuracyons of bothe kyngê this done euery man returned to their own countreis ¶ I haue nat as yet shewed you what became of therle Marshall by whom fyrst all these trybulacyons began in the realme of Englande but nowe I shall shewe you He was at Venyce and whaÌ„ he knewe that kyng Henry was kyng and kynge Rycharde taken deed He toke therof so great displeasure and sorowe that he layde hym downe on his bedde and fell in a fransy and so dyed Suche mischeuousnesse fell in those dayes vpon great lordes of Englande ¶ And in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande four hundred one lesse Pope Benedic at Auignon who had ben susteyned long by the Frenche men was as than deposed And in lykewise so was the kynge of Almaygne for his yuell dedes For the clectours of the Empyre and all the dukes and barons of Almaygne rose agaynst hym and sente hym in to Boesme where as he was kyng and they chose another a valyaunt and a wyseman to be kyng of Almayne and he was one of the Bauyers and was called Robert of Heleberge And he came to Coloygne where he was crowned with the crowne of Almayne for they of Ayes wolde nat open their towne to hym nor the duke of Guerles wolde nat be vnder his obeysaunce This newe kynge of Almaygne promysed to bring the churche to a vnyte and peace Howe be it the FreÌ„che kynge and his counsayle treated with the legeoys who helde with the pope at Rhome And they dyde so moche by the meanes of sir Baudwyn of Mount Iardyne who gouerned a great parte of the bysshoprike of Liege who was a knyght of the Frenche kynges so that by his meanes at the desyre of the freÌ„che kyng the countrey of Liege tourned to become neuter so that the Legeois sente to Rome for all the clergy that were there of their countrey to come by a certayne day or els to lese all their benefyces in the countre Whan they herde that they returned fro Rome and caÌ„e to Liege And pope Bonyface who lost moche by that transmutacion sente a legate in to Almaygne to preche amonge them to cause them to retourne agayne to his parte but the legate durst nat passe Coloigne and sent letters to Liege Whanne those letters were reed the messanger was aunswered that on payne of drownyng he shulde no more comeon suche message For they sayd as many messanger as cometh with any suche message shal be drowned in the ryuer of Moeuze Finis totius Froissart ¶ Thus endeth the thirde and fourthe boke of sir IohnÌ„ Froissart of the cronycles of Englande FrauÌ„ce Spayne Portyngale Scotlande Bretaygne Flaunders and other places adioynynge Translated out of Frenche in to maternall Englysshe by IohnÌ„ Bourchier knyght lorde Berners deputie generall of the kynges towne of Calais and marches of the same At the hyghe commaundement of our moost redouted souerayne lorde kyng henry the eight kyng of Englande and of Fraunce and hyghe defender of the christen faythe c. The whiche two bokes be coÌ„pyled in to one volume fynysshed in the sayd towne of Calais the .x. day of marche in the .xvi. yere of our said souerayne lordes raigne Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Rycharde Pynson printer to the kynges moost noble grace And ended the last day of August the yere of our lorde god M.D.xxv. ¶ Cum priuylegio a rege in dulto
Warwykeshyre and the lande of the erle of Salysbury they agreed soner then they of ferther countreys as they of the north and marches of Wales and of Cornewall al these rebelled and sayd We haue not sene none of our enemyes come in to this countrey why sholde we be greued and haue done no fawte yes yes sayd some let the bysshop of yorke be spoken withall and the kynges counsayle and the duke of Irelande who hathe .lx. thousande frankes of the constable of fraunce for the redempcyon of Iohan of Bretayne this money ought to be tourned to the comon profyte of all Englande ye and speke with syr Symon Burle Syr Wyllyam Helmen Syr Thomas Branbe Syr Robert Tryuylyen and syr Iohan Beauchampe who haue gouerned the kynge and the royalme yf they make a good accompte of that they haue receyued and delyuer it the comons shall sytte in rest and euery thynge payde as it ought to be ¶ When these wordes came abrode and to the herynge of the kynges vncles they were ryght gladde therof for that made well for them for al those before named were agaynste them Nor they coulde bere noo rule in the courte for them Wherfore they ayded the people in theyr oppynyons and sayd These good men that thus speketh are well counsayled in that they desyre to haue accompte and wyll not paye ony more money For surely outher in the kynges treasure or elles in theyr purses that gouerne hym there must nedes be grete treasure Thus by lytell and lytell multyplyed these wordes and the people beganne to waxe bolde to deny to paye ony more money by reason that they sawe the kynges vncles of theyr accorde and susteyned them ¶ And the archebysshop of Cauntorbury the erle of Salysbury the erle of Northumbrelande and dyuers other lordes of Englande put of this taxe for that tyme and deferred theyr counsayle to Myghelmasse after at whiche tyme they promysed to retourne agayne but the knyghtes and squyers suche as had thought to haue had money for the arrerages of theyr wages hadde noo thynge Wherfore they were in dyspleasure with the kynge and his counsayle They were apeased as well as myght be euery man departed the kynge toke no leue of his vncles nor they of hym THen the kynge was counsayled to drawe in to the marches of Wales and there to tary tyll he herde other tydynges and soo he was contente to doo and departed fro London without leue takynge of ony man and toke with hym all his counsayle excepte the archebysshop of yorke who wente backe in to his â—â—ne countrey whiche was happy for hym for I thynke yf he hadde ben with the other he sholde haue ben serued as they were as ye shall here after But it is requysyte that I speke as well of Fraunce as of Englande for the matter requyreth it ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce and dyuers other lordes and squyers of the royalme apparelled grete prouysyons to go in to Englande to wynne townes and castelles Ca. lxxxiii ANd when season of somer was come and the ioly moneth of Maye in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC foure score and .vii. In the same season that the duke of Lancastre was in Galyce and conquered there and that the kynge of Portyngale with grete puyssaunce rode abrode in Castell without ony withstandynge Thenne was it ordeyned in Fraunce as ye haue herde before howe the constable of Fraunce with one army and the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and syr Iohan of Vyen with another armye the one at Lentrygnyer in Bretayne and the other at Harflewe in Normandy sholde the same season make a voyage in to englande with a .vi. thousande men of armes and two thousande crosse bowes and .vi. thousande other men of warre and it was ordeyned that none sholde passe the see to goo in to Englande without he were well armed and prouysyon of vytayles for the space of thre monethes with other prouysyon of hay ootes for theyr horses a daye was prefyxed amonge the capytaynes when they sholde departe and were determyned to lande in englande in two hauens at Douer and at Orwell thus the daye approched of theyr departure At Lentrygnyer prouysyon was made and put in to the shyppes for them that sholde passe from thens and in lyke wyse was done at Harflewe and euery man of war was payde theyr wages for .xv. dayes This iourney was soo farre forwarde that it was thought it coulde not haue ben broken ¶ Nor also it brake not by noo cause of the capytaynes that were ordeyned to goo in that voyage But it brake by another incydent and by a meruayllous matter that fell in Bretayne wherwith the Frensshe kynge and his counsayle were soore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it wherfore it behoued them wysely to dyssymule the matter for it was no tyme then to remedy it ¶ Also other tydynges came vnto the Frensshe kynge out of the partyes of Almayne as I shall shewe you hereafter when tyme and place shall requyre it But fyrst we wyll speke of the matters of Bretayne before them of Almayne for they of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed thoughe other cost more YF I sholde saye that suche matters fell in that season and not open clerely the mater whiche was grete peryllous and horryble it myght be a cronycle but nâ—o hystory I myght let it ouerpasse yf I lyst but I wyll not doo soo I shall declare the case syth god hathe gyuen me the knowledge therof and tyme and leysure to cronycle the matter at lengthe ¶ ye haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde named duke of Bretayne and surely so he was by conquest and not by ryght lyne howbeit alwayes he maynteyned the warre and oppynyon of the kynge of Englande and of his chydren agaynst the frensshe kynge Also he had good cause soo to doo on his partye for without the ayde of englande he hadde not atteyned as he dyd nother before Alroy nor in other places Also ye haue herde here before howe the duke of Bretayne coulde not haue his entente of all the nobles of his countrey nor of all the good townes specyally of syr Bertram of Clesquy as longe as he lyued nor of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce nor of the lordes de la Vale and of Beawmanoyre nor the lorde of Rase of Dygnant the vycount of Rohan nor of the lorde of Rochforde for whereas these lordes enclyned nyghe all Bretayne folowed They were contente to take parte with theyr lorde the duke agaynst all maner of men excepte agaynst the crowne of Fraunce And surely I can not se nor ymagyne by what waye but that the Bretons pryncypally regarded euer the honoure of Fraunce it maye well appere by that that is wrytten here before in this hystory I saye not this by noo corrupcyon nor fauoure that I haue to the erle Guy of Bloys who hath
ben good lorde vnto me and I haue hadde moche profyte by hym who was nephewe and nexte to the erle Loys of Bloys broder germayne to saynt Charles of Bloys and as longe as he lyued he was duke of Bretayne Truely I saye not this for no cause but all onely to declare the trouthe And also the gentyll prynce and erle that hathe caused me to wryte this story wolde in no wyse that I sholde swarue from the trouth NOwe to retourne to our purpose ye knowe well as longe as duke Iohan of Bretayne lyued he coulde neuer attayne to haue all his men in euery poynte to agree to his oppynyons And he sore fered them lest at the last they sholde haue taken hym and put hym in pryson in Fraunce Wherfore he departed out of Bretayne and wente in to Englande with all his householde and the lady his wyfe Iahan of Holande doughter somtyme of the good knyght syr Thomas Holande and thus a season he became seruaunt to kynge Rycharde of Englande and afterwarde he wente in to Flaunders to the erle of Bloys who was his cosyn germayne there taryed more then a yere and an halfe ¶ Fynally they of his owne countrey sente for hym and soo by good accorde thyder he wente ¶ And when he came in to his countrey there were certayne townes closed styl agaynst hym and rebelled and specyally the cyte of Nauntes But all his lordes knyghtes and prelates were all of his accorde excepte the lordes before rehersed and to haue the sygnory of them and to gete the fauoure and good wyll of the good townes and Cytyes and to put the Frensshe kynge in more fere bycause he wolde ouerpresse them with taxes and subsydyes as they dyd in Fraunce and in Pycardye whiche they wolde not suffre in Bretayne Therfore he sente vnto the kynge of Englande for socoure and ayde of men of warre and archers promysynge that yf the kynge of Englande wolde come in too Bretayne or elles one of his vncles with a grete puyssaunce of men of armes and of archers howe that his countrey of Bretayne sholde be opened redy to receyue hym and his company ¶ The kynge of Englande and his counsayle were gladde of those tydynges thought them good and concluded to sende thyder theÌ„ prouysyon was made and thyder was sente the erle of Buckyngham with .iii. M. men of armes and .viii. M. archers who aryued at Calays and passed throughe the royalme of Fraunce without ony resystence as it hathe ben shewed here before demaundynge noo thynge but batayle and so they came in to Bretayne trustynge to haue founde the countrey redy open for them to receyue and to refresshe them for â—â—rely they had made a longe voyage Howbeit they founde it contrary dysposed for the duke of Bretayne was soo ledde by his men and so wysely entreated that they made a peas bytwene hym and the yonge Charles kynge as then in fraunce but with kynge Charles his fader he coulde neuer haue peas he hated hym soo sore The duke of Borgoyne who was one of the chese gouernours in the royalme of Fraunce ayded gretely to make this peas he was so desyred by the lady his wyfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was nere of theyr lygnage soo he was fayne to breke all his promyses with the Englysshmen for he coulde not be suffred to accomplysshe his couenaunt for the Bretons wolde not consent to yelde them to the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce they sayd they were neuer of that oppynyon nor neuer wolde be so that it behoued the Englysshmen to take theyr lodgynges in the marches of wannes where they suffered as moche pouerte as euer dyd men for one tyme and specyally theyr horses dyed for hungre and pouerte and soo in the tyme of somer they departed out of Bretayne as euyl contente with the duke of Bretayne as myght be and not without a cause And specyally the erle of Buckyngham and the barons of Englande that were in his company and when they were retourned in to Englande they made grete complayntes to the kynge and to the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle And then it was deuysed and ordeyned that IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sholde be delyuered and to brynge hym with puyssaunce in to Bretayne to make warre there agaynst the duke of Bretayne and the Englysshe men sayd howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde knewe well howe they had put hym in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne for without vs he hadde neuer come therto And nowe to play vs this tourne to cause vs to trauayle our bodyes and to spende the kynges treasoure it behoueth vs to shewe hym his fawtes And we can not better be reuenged then to delyuer his aduersary and to brynge hym in to Bretayne For all the countrey wyll delyuer hym townes Cytees and fortresses and put the other duke clene that thus hathe mocked and dysceyued vs. ¶ Thus the Englysshe counsayle were all of one accorde and then IohnÌ„ of bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and there it was shewed hym howe they wolde make hym duke of Bretayne and recouer for hym all his herytage of Bretayne And he sholde haue to his wyfe the lady Phylyp of Lancastre so that he wolde holde the duchy of Bretayne in fayth and homage of the kynge of Englande the whiche poynte he vtterly refused But to take the dukes doughter in maryage he was contente But to swere to be agaynst the crowne of fraunce in noo wyse he wolde consente but rather to abyde in pryson all his lyfe WHen the kynge and his counsayle sawe that they withdrewe the grace that they hadde thought to haue shewed to hym and thenne he was delyuered in to the kepynge of syr Iohan Dambretycourte as ye haue herde before I haue made as nowe relacyon of all these matters bycause of the incydentes that folowed after and appered by the duke of Bretayne for the duke knewe well howe he was gretely out of the fauoure of the noble men of the royalme of Englande and also of the comons there And he ymagened that the hatred that they bare to hym was for the voyage that the erle of Buckyngham hadde made thrughe Fraunce to come in to Bretayne wenynge to haue founde the duke there and countrey open agaynst them as the duke of Bretayne hadde promysed whiche the Englysshe men founde contrary ¶ Also he sawe well howe the kynge of Englande hadde not wryten vnto hym soo amyably as he hadde done often tymes before And specyally as he hadde done before the erle of Buckynghams voyage ¶ And also he doubted that the kynge of Englande sholde delyuer Iohan of Bretayne to the entente to make hym warre ¶ Thenne the duke cast his ymagynacyon how he myght fynde remedy in this matter and to brynge it in to a good poynte And to doo his entente soo secretly that the Englysshe men sholde be well content and pleased with hym For he knewe well the man in the
fader whome god pardon made me constable of Fraunce whiche offyce to my power I haue well and truely exercysed and yf there be ony excepte your grace and my lordes your vncles that wyll saye that I haue not acquyted myselfe truely or done ony thyng contrary to the crowne of fraunce I am here redy to cast my gage in that quarell the kynge nor none other made none answere to those wordes then he sayd further ryght dere syr and noble kynge it fortuned in Bretayne in doynge of myne offyce the duke of Bretayne toke me and helde me in his castell of Ermyne and wolde haue put me to deth without reason by reason of his fyers courage and god had not ben and the lorde de la vale so that I was constrayned if I wolde be delyuered out of his handes to delyuer to hym a towne of myne in Bretayne and iii. castelles and the some of a C.M. frankes Wherfore ryght dere syr and noble kynge the blame and domage that the duke of Bretayne hath done gretely regardeth your mageste royall for yâ— voyage that I and my company sholde haue made by the see is broken Wherfore syr I yelde vp the offyce of the constableshyp syr prouyde for another suche as shall please you for I wyll noo more bere the charge therof I sholde haue none honoure to do it Constable sayd the kynge we knowe well that ye haue hurte and domage and is a thynge gretely to the preiudyce to our royalme We wyll incontynente sende for the peres of Fraunce to se what shall be best to be done in this case therfore take ye no thought for ye shal haue ryght and reason ¶ Then the kynge toke the constable by the hande and reysed hym vp and sayd Constable we wyl not that ye departe from your offyce in this maner But we wyll that ye vse it tyll we take other counsayle Then the constable kneled downe agayne and sayd Syr this matter toucheth me soo nere that I cannot vse it The offyce is grete for I must speke and answere euery man I am so troubled that I can answere no man Wherfore syr I requyre your grace to prouyde for another for a season and I shall alwayes be redy at your commaundement syr sayd the duke of Borgoyne he offereth ynoughe ye shall take aduyse it is true sayd the kynge Then the constable arose and wente to the duke of Berre and to the duke of Borgoyne and aduysed to shewe them his busynes and to enforme theÌ„ iustely all the matter seynge the case touched them gretely in that they had the gouernynge of the royalme but in spekynge with them and herynge the hole matter they perceyued the matter touched not them soo sore as he made of soo that fynally they blamed hym for goynge to Wannes sayenge to hym syth your nauy was redy and that knyghtes and squyers taryed for you at Lentrygnyer ¶ And also when ye were at Wannes and hadde dyned with the duke and retourned agayne to your castell of Bourke what had you then ony thynge to do to tary there ony longer nor to goo agayne to the duke to the castell of Ermyne Syr sayd the constable he shewed me soo fayre semblaunt that I durst not refuse it Constable sayd the duke of Borgoyne in fayre semblauntes are grete decepcyons I repute you more subtel then I take you nowe go your way yâ— matter shall do well ynoughe we shall regarde it at leysure Then the constable perceyued well that these lordes were harder and ruder to hym then the kynge was Soo he departed and wente to his owne lodgynge and thyder came to hym certayne of the lordes of the parlyament to se hym and sayd to hym that the matter sholde doo ryght well and also there came to hym to counsayle hym the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and the admyrall of Fraunce and they sayd to hym Constable make noo doubte for ye shall haue reason of the duke of Bretayne for he hath done agaynst the crowne of Fraunce grete dyspleasure and worthy to be shamed and put out of his countrey goo your wayes and passe the tyme at Mount le Herry there ye shal be on your owne and let vs alone with the matter for the peres of Fraunce wyll not suffre the matter to rest thus The constable byleued these lordes and so departed fro Parys and rode to Mount le Herry Soo the offyce of constableshyp was voyde for a season as it was sayd that syr Guy of Tremoyle sholde be constable but it was not soo he was soo well aduysed that he wolde not take it out of the handes of syr Olyuer of Clysson ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frensshe kynge from the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght dyspleasaunt and vnto his vncles Ca. lxxxvii THe same weke that tydynges came to Parys of the takynge of the constable there came also tydynges frome the partyes of Almayne whiche were ryght dyspleasaunt to the kynge and to his vncles I shall shewe you how and wherfore the duke of Guerles sone to the duke of Iulyers was alyed with the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce and hadde taken a pencyon of foure thousande frankes by the yere whiche pencyon the duke of Iulyers his fader hadde in tyme past out of the kynge of Englandes cofers but or he dyed he renounced it and then his sone who was but yonge toke it agayne at the kynge of Englandes desyre so that he wolde defye the frensshe kynge and to make warre agaynst hym and he was enclyned to take the englysshe parte bycause he had warre with the lady of Brabant for he sawe well that the duchy of Brabant was fauourable to the royalme of fraunce for it sholde after retourne to the duke of Borgoyne and to his chyldren Therfore the duke of Guerles wolde shewe that the matter touched hym so nere that he wolde doo the domage that he myght to the royalme of Fraunce and to all theyr alyes So he sente letters of defyaunce to the frensshe kynge whiche were no thynge pleasaunt accepted of the kynge nor of his counsayle as I shall shewe you hereafter in the hystory when it shall be conuenyent to speke therof in the shewynge of the warre of Bretayne and of Guerles the frensshe kynge made noo semblaunt therof but made good chere to the squyer of Guerles who hadde brought the defpaunce howbeit he was afrayde for when he came to the cyte of Tourney he wolde haue gone no fâ—rther but he had shewed the defyaunce to the proâ—ost of the towne and so wolde haue 〈…〉 agayne sayenge that it was suffycyent to declare his message in soo noble a towne as Tourney but they of the towne were not so 〈◊〉 but arested the squyer and put hym in sure pryson and then they sente worde therof to the duke of Borgoyne to know his pleasure Then the duke wrote to the prouâ—st of Tourney that he sholde sende
to hym the squyer with his defyauces and so he was brought to Parys and he fered lest he sholde dye but when he came to Parys the kynge and his vncles and the other lordes dyd noo thynge to hym but all courtoysye And the frensshe kynge gaue hym a goblet of syluer weynge .iiii. marke and .l. frankes within it and they gaue hym a saâ—fâ—onduyte to retourne in to his countrey so by reason of these tydynges the courte of fraunce was sore troubled and the frensshe counsayle was sore troubled when the constable of fraunce came and made his complaynte of the duke of Bretayne for they sawe well that trouble expence began to ryse on euery syde and they sawe well howe they must enploy all theyr wyttes to exchewe suche inconuenyentes they thought that the constable who had serued the kyng soo longe in â—launders and other places sholde haue some helpe in that the duke of Bretayne hadde raunsomed hym and taken his castelles without tytle or good reason and specyally the lorde of Coucy and the admyrall was sore dyspleased with it ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastre and to the kynge of Portyngale who were in Galyce and made sore warre agaynst the kynge of Castell ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastres men assayled the towne of Aurene and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Ca. lxxxviii HEre before ye haue herde how dedes of armes were done bytwene syr Iohan Holande and syr Raynolde of Roy in the presence of the kynge of Portyngale and his wyfe and at the kynges departynge he promysed to the duke that as soone as he was retourned to the cyte of Porte that he wolde not tary past .vi. dayes but that his army sholde sette forthe Thenne the duke sente Constaunce his wyfe to the towne of saynt Iames vnder the guydynge of the lorde Fythwater a grete baron of Englande with a hundred speres and two hundred archers and the duke sayd to her Madame ye shall kepe you in the cyte of Compostella and the kynge of Portyngale my sone and our people shall goo in to Castell to seke for our enemyes to fyght with theÌ„ wherso euer we fynde them and nowe it shall be sene yf euer we shall haue ony thynge in the royalme of Castell or not Syr sayd the lady as god wyll so be it thus they departed for that present tyme and syr Thomas Percy and the lorde Fythwaren conueyed the duches with two hundred speres out of all daungers and thenne retourned to the duke who was as then departed fro Besances towardes a towne in Galyce named Aurene whiche rebelled agaynst hym and wolde not obey bycause it was stronge therin a garyson of Bretons who hadde on theyr parelles vndertaken to kepe it and they had well fortefyed it bycause they hadde knowledge that the duke wolde come thyder the marshall of the dukes oost hadde well herde howe they of Aurene in Galyce wolde not obey but dayly fortefyed them he counsayled the constable to goo thyder and soo euery man drewe to that parte and soo came and lodged nere to it the season was fayre aboute the Ascencyon tyme then tentes and pauylyons were pyght vp in the fayre playnes vnder the Olyues and soo laye al that fyrst nyght and the nexte day without gyuyng of ony assaulte thynkynge that the towne wolde haue gyuen vp and in dede the men of the towne wolde gladly haue yelded them But the lordes and capytaynes wolde not suffre theÌ„ who were Bretons and companyons aduenturers two Bretons were capytaynes called the bastoâ— of Alroy and the other the bastarde of Peneforte they were good men of warre and that well appered in that they toke on them to kepe that towne so farre out of all socour agaynst the duke of Lancastre ON the .iii. daye that the Englysshemen were thus lodged aboute the towne and had well regarded howe they myght at theyr aduauntage assayle the towne Thenne the constable the marshall and the admyrall caused theyr trompettes to sounde to the assaulte and then euery man drewe forth in to the felde and there deuyded them in to .iiii. bandes to assayle the towne iii .iiii. partes so in goodly ordre approched the towne and taryed on the dykes wherin there was no water But it was well fortefyed with pales and hedges then the assaulte began iii .iiii. partes Then men of armes and other wente downe in to the dykes with axes in theyr handes and therwith cutte downe the hedges they within cast downe dartes and other thynges that yf they hadde not ben well pauessed there hadde ben many sore hurte and slayne And also on the edge of the dyke the archers shotte so fyersly that they within durste not appere the duke of Lancastre came to beholde the assaulte whiche made it the more fyerser he sate there on horsbacke the space of thre houres he had suche pleasure to regarde theÌ„ at this fyrst assaulte the dykes were clensed of all the thycke hedges soo that men myght goo to the pales then the retrayte was sowned for that day theÌ„ the duke sayd to the marshal syr Thomas our men haue done theyr deuoyre for this daye let them withdrawe and case themselfe syr it shal be done sayd the marshall so the assaulte was seased euery man wente to his lodgynge and the hurte to be dressed and so passed that nyght they had wynes to drynke plentye but they were soo hoote and myghty that it was moche payne to drynke them and suche as dranke of them without water were in that case that they coulde not helpe themselfe the nexte day THe nexte day it was aduysed that they sholde make none assaulte bycause the daye was soo hoote and theyr men soo wery and ouercome with stronge wynes but determyned that the nexte daye after they sholde begyn theyr assaulte at the sone rysynge and to endure tyll .iii. of the clocke at after noone so euery man was coÌ„maunded to take theyr ease tyll they herde the sowne of the marshalles trompet and the same daye the duke of Lancastre herde tydynges of the kynge of Portyngale howe he was departed fro the cyte of Porte and drewe towardes the porte saynt yrayne that waye he was purposed to entre in to Castell and bothe oostes to mete on the ryuer of Derne besyde the towne of perpygnen or elles before the towne of Arpent thus the Portyngales had deuysed if the kynge of Castell and the frensshe men dyd not encountre them before and yf they were lykely so to doo then to drawe togyder soner of these tydynges the duke was ryght ioyous and gaue the messagere for his tydynges .x. nobles ANd in the mornynge whenne it was daye the marshalles trompet began to sowne before the lodgynges to reyse vp euery man then knyghtes and squyers began to make them redy euery man vnder his owne standerde Then the marshall drewe in to the felde and all suche as were ordeyned to goo
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