henedeth nat to tary here for any warre that is apatente for as for Galice the recouery therof shall be but a small mater for vs. Thus they of the kynges counsayle comuned eche with other and further they said If we ones receyue these people they must be payed of their wages if nat they will pyll and robbe all the realme for the comon people all redy begynneth to complayne therfore we thynke it were best to gyue theÌ„ an honest congy to departe This counsayle was vpholden and the kynge well consented there to for he sawe well it was the most proftye for his people and realme for they coulde take no hurte but it shulde be to his domage and preiudice So that one daye in the kynges presence the archebysshop of Burgus to the duke of Burbon before many of the knightes of Fraunce shewed and declared to theym their ententes as ye haue herde before And the duke of Burbon and dyuers other knyghtes of Fraunce who had rather retourne than to a byde there for the countrey was nat mete for their complerions were well contente to retourne and prepared themselfe thervpon and bycause the duke of Burbone was laste that came he retourned first and toke his leaue of the kynge and said howe he wolde returne by the realme of Nauerre There were great gyftes gyuen him or he departed and might haue had more if he wolde haue taken it but he refused euery thynge except mules and mulâ—tteâ— and dogges of Spayne Than it was publisshed that all frenchmen might at their pleasure departe out of Spayne and retourne in to Fraunce but there taryed styll sir Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Spayne and the marshals and a thre hundred speares of bretons poicteuyns and xayngtons Thus the duke of Burbone returned Whan he had taken his congy of the kynge and the quene and of other lordes of Castyle he was conueyed to Groyne and so in to Nauarre And where so euer he came he was welcome and well receyued for the duke of Burbone was gracyous curteyse honorable and well renomed And the kynge of Nauer receyued him louyngly and neuer shewed any maner of yuell wyll towardes the frenche kynge in that he had taken a way fro him his enherytauÌ„ce of the countye of Eureur in Normandy for he sawe well the frenche kyng that was as than nephewe to the duke of Burbon was in no defaute therof for whaÌ„ it was done he was but yonge But swetely he shewed the duke all his busynesse desyringe hym to be a good meane bytwene hym and his cosyn the frenche kynge The duke promysed hym so to be Than the duke departed and passed thorough the realme of Nauer peasably and all other suche as wolde passe and thus they passed the mountayns of Rouseaulx all alonge the countrey of Bastelles and so entred in to Bierne and in to Saluaterra ¶ Howe therle of Foize receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great giftes that he gaue him and how sir willyam of Lygnac and sir Gaultier of Passackes coÌ„pany departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynt Phagon Cap. C.viii. WHan the Erle of Foyz beynge at Ortays vnderstode that the duke of Burbon was at Saluaterra he was glad therof and sente for his knightê to be aboute him And on a day in great araye he rode with a fyue hundred knyghtes and squyers two leages out of Ortays and mette with the duke of Burbon who in lykewyse rode with a great rout of knyghtes and squiers and there they met amyably as great prynces ought to do And whan they had comuned togyther a certayne space as it was shewed me whan I was at Ortays The erle of Foize drewe hym a parte in the felde with all his company and the duke abode styll in a nother parte Than the Erle sente to the duke thre knyghtes named syr Espayne de Lyon sir Peter Capestan and sir Menaunt of Nowalles And whan they came before the duke they sayd Sir here is a present that my lorde the erle of Foiz hath sent to you at your returnynge out of Spayne for he knoweth well ye haue been at great dyspence Therfore syr he dothe gyue you at your entring in to his countrey of Bierne eyght thousande frankes and this mulette and two coursers and two palfreys Syrs quod the duke I thanke the erle of Foyze But as for the floreyns I wyll take none as for the other presente I wyll receyue them with a good wyll thus the florens were refused and the Mules and horses receyued Than the erle of Foyz came to the duke and brought hym in to the towne of Ortays and lodged him in his owne place all other were lodged in the towne the duke was thre dayes in Ortays and had great there with dyners and suppers And there the Erle of Foize shewed the duke a great parte of his estate On the fourthe daye the duke departed and the erle gaue to the knightes and squiers great gyftes As it was shewed me the comynge thyder of the duke of Burbon coste the erle of Foize ten thousande frankes Thus the duke departed and went in to Fraunce and rode by Mountpelyer by the cytie of Puy and by the countye of Forestes wherof he was lorde by the lady his wyfe FOr all the departyng of the duke of Burben as ye haue herde out of Spayne sir Willyam Lignac and sir Gaultier of Passac departed nat so soone nor the companyes to the nombre of a thre thousande speares and syre thousande of other men of warre and lytell and lytell euer they departed They were many out of wages and wery of the warres and so retourned yuell horsed and yuell aparelled all to torne and ragged The metynge with suche people was nothynge profytable for they vnhorsed whome soeuer they met and made warre to all marchauÌ„tes and to men of the churche and to poore people of the countre where any thinge was to gette These rutters sayde howe the warre had vndone them and howe the kynge of Castyle hadde yuell payed theym their wages wherfore they sayde they wolde pay themselfe And surely suche cyties castels and good townes as were nat stronge in Castyle douted them greatly and agaynst them townes and cyties closed their gates for feare of parels for all was hauocke with them without it were well defended Suche knightes and squyers as came by the erle of Foyze to se hym were well receyued and had gyftes and rewardes gyuen them ryght largely As it was shewed the comyng and retournynge of men of warre that passed by therle of Foize for the sayd iourney coste hym the some of .xl. thousande frankes THis season there fell an incydent in the towne of saynt Phagon in Spaygne after the departynge of the duke of Burbone the whiche coste fyue hundred mennes lyues So it was that whan sir Gaultier of Passar and sir Willyam of Lignac entred firste in to Spayne
Brusels made relacion of their aunswere as ye haue herde before wherwith the duches was well content THe same season newes were sprede abrode of holy saynt Peter of Lusenbourge cardynall whose body dyde myracles in the cytie of Auygnon This holy cardynall was sonne to the Erle Guye of sant Poule who dyed in the batayle of Iulyers This holy Cardynall in his tyme was a good man noble holy deuoute of lyfe dyde many dedes pleasaūt to god He was swete courtesse meke and a mayde of body A great almesse man in gyaynge to poore people He kept nothynge to hym selfe of the goodes of the Churche but his bare lyueng The moost parte of the day and of the nyght he was in his prayers allwayes he fledde fro the vanyties and superfluyties of the worlde so that in his yonge dayes god called hym to his company And anone after his discesse he dyde great myracles and ordayned to be buryed amonge the poore people All his dayes he vsed humylyte and was buryed in the chapell of saynt Mychaell The Pope and the cardynalles whan they sawe the myracles that his body dyde daylye encrease and multiplye They wrote to the Frenche kynge and speciallye to his brother the Erle Valeranne of saynt Poule desyringe hym to come to Auygnon The Erle wolde nat excuse hym but wente thyder and there gaue goodlye Lampes of syluer to hange before his aulter and hadde great marueyle of the great beleue and visytacion that the people made there dayly ▪ and for to se hym I wente thyder fro the countie of Foize and daylye his workes encreased and it was sayde that he shulde be canonised I can nat tell what fell after ¶ Nowe that I haue shewed you of his dethe I shall shewe you of the dethe of another for I haue nat spoken of the dethe of a kyng of whome great mencyon hath been made of in this hystorie Howe be it the dyde many dedes vnresonable for by hym and his meanes the realme of Fraūce had moche to do in his tyme. This was by the kyng of Nauer ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampilona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vāchadore was beseged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the duchesse of Brabant Capi. C.xvi. IT is sayd and it is of trouthe that there is nothyng more certayne than dethe I saye it bycause that kynge of Nauer whan he dyed thought full lytell that he had been so nere to his ende as he was If he had knowen therof paraduenture he wolde haue taken better hede than he dyde He was in the cytie of Pāpylona in Nauerre He ymagined howe he wolde reyse a great taylage in his realme to the sōme of two hundred thousande florens and he sente for his counsayle and said howe he wolde haue this money reysed His counsayle durste nat saye nay for he was a cruell prynce Than the moste notable persones of other cyties and townes in his realme were sente for to come to Panpylona They came thyder for they durst nat disobey Whan they were come all togyther in to the kynges palays the kynge hym selfe declared forthe the mater why they were sent for He was a king ryght subtyle sage and well langaged and at the conclusion sayde howe towardes his nedes he must haue the sōme of CC.M. florens to be reysed of his subiectes After this maner the riche to pay .x. frankes the meane to be cessed at fyue frankes and all other at one franke This request abasshed greatly the people for the yere before there had ben a batayle in Nauer by reason wherof a tayle was raysed to the somme of hundred thousande floreyns And besyde that he maryed his doughter the lady Iane to duke Iohan of Bretaygne and a great parte of that money as thā nat payde and vngadered Whan the kynge hadde made his demaunde he desyred to haue an answere Than they requyred to take counsayle and to speke toguyder The king gaue them respite .xv. dayes than the chefe of them to make answere The brute of this taylage spredde abrode through Nauerre and euery man was a basshed therof At the .xv. dayes ende the moste notable persones of the good cyties and townes returned to Panpilona to the nombre of a threscore persones who had charge to aunswere for all the hole realme The kynge was present at their answere makyng whiche was done in a fayre garden farre of fro any people and closed aboute with hygh walles Than they aunswered all with one accorde and shewed the pouerte of the realme and alleged howe the former tayle was nat as than all leuyed nor gadred wherfore they besought him for goddessake to haue pytie of them for they sayd surely the realme was nat able to beare it and whan the king sawe that he coude nat easely attayne to his purpose he was sore dyspleased and departed fro them and sayd Sirs ye are yuell counsayled take counsayle agayne and speke yet agayne togyder And so he went in to his chambre and his counsayle with hym Than all these good persones were togyder in this garden faste closed in with hygh walles and the kynge commaunded in no wyse to suffer them to issue out to haue but lytell meate nor drinke Than they were there in great doute of their lyues and there was none that durste speke for them and so it was supposed that by constreynt he had his desyre for he strake of a thre of their heedes suche as were moste contrary to his entente to ◠gyue feare and ensample to other Than there fell a straunge insydence by a marueylous sodayne aduēture the whiche god sent lyke a myracle I shall shewe you how as I was enfourmed in the countie of Foize at Ortays at the erles house by men of Panpylona it past nat a thre or four dayes iourney thence It was shewed me howe this kynge of Nauer in his dayes loued well women and at the same tyme he had a fayre damosell to his louer for he was a wydower a longe season On a nyght he laye with her a space and than retourned to his chambre in a feuer and sayd to his seruauntes Dresse my bedde for I wyll rest me a season and so went to his bed and trymbled for colde and coulde take no heate He was an aged man aboute a threscore yere of age and of vsage his bedde was wont to be chased with a bason with hote coles to make hym swete whiche often tymes he vsed and dyd hym no hurte At this tyme his seruaūtes dyd the same but outher as god wolde or the deuyll a burnynge flame toke in the shetes in suche maner that or he coulde be reskewed he was brente to the bowels he was so wrapped bytwene the shetes So that he lyued fyftene dayes after in great payne and mysery inso moche that physyke nor surgery coulde helpe hym but that he dyed
Iherusalem and shall delyuer it fro the handes of the Sodayne and the enemyes of god for at the soÌ„mer nexte commynge the Frenche kynge and the kynge of Englande who wyll conioyne togyther shall reyse vp a great nombre of men of armes and of archers and shall fynde the passages open to receyue them than nothyng shall abyde before vs but all shall be conquered and put in oure obeysaunce whan we shall go all togyther Thus deuysed the Frenche men that were in the realme of Hungery WHan the moneth of May was come trustynge to here tydynges of Lamorabaquy the greate Turke the kynge of Hungery sent to the passages of the ryuer of Dunce and sent through out his realme to assemble his puissaunce togyder and the lordes of the Rodes came to hym strongly and all the moneth of May they taryed for the comyng of the sarazyns but no tydynges coulde be herde of them Than the kynge of Hungery sente suche as knewe the countrey beyonde the ryuer of Dunce to serche to haue soÌ„me tydynges of the great turke Suche as wente sertched all the countrey beyonde the Brase of saynt George and to the marches of Alexaundre of Damas and Antyoche but they coulde here no newes of Lamorabaquy nor of none army towarde Than they retourned and shewed the king what they had herde and sene Than the kynge assembled his counsayle and called the lordes of Fraunce who desyred to do dedes of armes The kyng shewed them howe he had sente men in to Turkey to haue knowlege what his enemies dyd and howe they coulde here no tydinges of Lamorabaquy nor no lykelyhode of his aprochyng for all the promesse he had made to passe the Dunce and to entre in to HuÌ„gery to sight with the Crysten men or mydde May shulde passe wherfore the kynge demaunded what counsayle they wolde gyue hym to do Than the lorde of Coucy for all the other sayd Syr though Lamorabaquy come nat forwarde acordynge to his promesse and maketh but a â—ape therof yet that ought nat to lette vs to do dedes of armes and to pursue our enemyes seynge we be assembled to that purpose Thus all the frenchmen almayns and other straungers shewed well howe they had great desyre to seke out Lamorabaquy to fyght with him whiche was to their great honour The lorde of Coucyes wordes were affyrmed by all the straungers it was all their opynyons howe they coulde enploye their season and tyme no better Than it was ordeyned by the kynge and by his marshalles that euery man shulde prepare hymselfe to be redy to sette forwarde at a daye assygned whiche was the vtas of saynt Iohan the baptyst Than offycers and other seruauntes aparelled for their maisters all thynges necessary and the Frenche men thynkynge to be fresshe and gay spared nouther Golde nor syluer Their departure fro Bode the soueraygne cytie of Hungery was goodly to regarde The constable of Hungery had the vowarde with a great nombre of hungaryons and almayns with him bycause he knewe the countreys And nexte after hym rode the frenche menne with the constable of Fraunce the erle de la Marche the lorde of Coucy syr Henry and syr Phylyppe of Bare and dyuers other And with the kynge rode the great lordes of his countrey as reasone was and besyde the kyng rode Iohan of Burgoyne often tymes deuysed with the kyng They were in the felde a threscore thousande horse they hadde but fewe a foote sauynge suche as were folowers The company of the crysten men were noble and well ordred and of Hungery there were many crosebowes a horsebacke the army iourneyed so longe that they came to the ryuer of Dunce and passed ouer in shyppes and barges and suche bridges as they had ordeyned for that purpose It was eight dayes or they were all passed ouer and as they passed they lodged theym euery company taryenge for other This ryuer of Dunce departeth the realmes of Hungery and Turkey a sonder WHan the christen men were all ouer and nothynge taryed behynde and were in the froÌ„ters of Turkey they greatlye reioysed and desyred greatly to do dedes of armes There they toke counsayle and determyned to go and ley siege to a towne in Turkey called Coniecte And as they ordayned so they dyde besieged it as they myght well do for it stode in a playne countrey and a ryuer ioynynge to it with shyppes theron called Necte the heed coÌ„mynge out of Turkey and fallynge in to the see at the ryuer of Dunce The ryuer of Dunce is a great Ryuer of thre hundred myles in length fro the begynnynge tyll it entre in to the See Whiche were the moost profytable ryuer in all the worlde for the realme of HuÌ„gry if the shyppes that be theron myght issue out therof in to the See but they can nat For in the mouthe therof whan they shulde issue in to the see there is in the ryuer a mouÌ„tayne whiche departeth the ryuer in two ê‘tes and maketh suche brute and noyse that it maye well be herde seuyn myle of and for that cause there is no shyppe that dare aproche nere to it I longe by this ryuer syde there be fayre medowes and pastures wherby all the countrey is well serued and dyuers vynes whiche in seasone make good wynes whiche the Turkes do make and putte in to Goot skynnes and selleth it vnto Christen men For accordyng to their lawe they dare drinke no wyne to be knowen It is defended them on payne of lyfe But they eate the reysynges and they haue other good frutes and spyces wherof they make drinke and vse greatly to drinke Gootes mylke whiche refressheth theym in the hote season Thus the kynge of Hungry and his hoost lodged before the cytie of Coniecte at their ease and pleasure for no manne troubled their siege And whan they came before the Cytie they fouÌ„de the frutes rype the whiche was great pleasure to them They made to this Cytie dyuers assautes and they within defended them selfe trustyng dayly to haue ayde and socour of Lamorabaquy their lorde to reyse the siege with puyssaunce But he dyde nat wherby the Cytie was taken by force of assaute and distroyed with great slaughter of men women and chyldren For the christen men that entred hadde no mercy nor pytie WhanÌ„e this Cytie was thus wonne the kyng of Hungry dislodged and wente forwarde in to Turkey and was determyned to go and ley siege to a great cytie called Nicopoly and as they rode they fouÌ„de in their waye the towne of Quayre and layde siege to it fyftene dayes or it was won but finallye it was won by assaute clene distroyed And so passed forthe and in their waye they founde another towne and a stronge castell called Brehappe and a knyght of Turkey was lorde therof and was within the castell to defende it The kyng and his army were lodged within a myle where was a fayre ryuer and about the towne there was none There the erle of
that they shall haue ynoughe to do TO coÌ„sydre these wordes one ought greatly to marueyle that the Lorde Galeas erle of Vertues and Duke of Myllayne who was reputed to be a christen man baptysed and regenerate after the Christen Lawe wolde seke or requyre loue or alyaunce with a kynge myscreant out of our lawe and faythe or to sende hym gyftes and presentes as he dyde euery yere As dogges haukes and fyne lynen clothes whiche are ryght plesaunt to the Sarazins for they haue none but that cometh fro our parties Also the great Turke sent to hym agayne other presentes of ryche clothe of golde and precyous stones wherof the Sarazins haue great plentie But in those dayes the erle of Vertues duke of Myllayne and sir Galeas his father reygned as tyrantes and so helde their signories It is marueyle to thynke of their dedes and fyrste howe they entred and opteygned the signorie of Myllayne So it was there were thre bretherne the lorde Manfres the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo They hadde an vncle who was archebysshoppe of Myllayne And so it fortuned that whan the lorde Charles of Lusenbourge kyng of Boesme and of Almayne emperour of Rome who reigned after kyng Loyes of Bauyer who opteygned to the Empyre byforce for he was neuer taken as Emperour by the churche but excoÌ„munycate and a cursed by pope Innocent who reygned as thanÌ„e For this Loyes of Bauyer went to Rome and made hymselfe to be crowned emperour by a pope and .xii. cardynalles that he made And as soone as he was crowned he made the Almayns to be payed their wages to ouer ryn Rome and to robbe and to pyll it this was the rewarde that the romayns had for receyuyng of hym wherfore he dyed excoÌ„municat and in that sentence The pope and cardynalles that he made without any constreynâ— came after to Auignon and submytted them selfes to pope Innocent who reigned before Vrbayne the fyfthe and there were assoyled of their errours ¶ Nowe to purpose howe the lordes of Myllayne came fyrst to that signorie I shall shewe you howe SO it was the archebysshoppe of Myllayne at a tyme receyued kynge Charles of Boesme emperour in to the cytie of Myllayne nobly and tryumphantlye after the Emperour had been before Axe the Chapell and had accomplysshed there his .xl. dayes accordyng to the vsage in the case parteyning and for the great chere that he made to the Emperour and for a hundred thousande ducates that he lent to the Emperour He made the bysshop vycouÌ„t of Myllayne and his nephewes after hym for euer to holde the lande and signorie of Mylayne free at his wyll vnto the tyme that the Emperour hadde payde agayne at one tyme the sayd soÌ„me of a hundred thousande ducates And so after the bysshoppe dyed and the lorde Manfres his nephue by the accorde of the Emperour and for loue of his vncle was receyued in to the signorie of Myllayne than his two bretherne who as than were nat very riche the lorde Galeas and the lorde Barnabo counsayled toguyder determyned to reigne and to holde the landes of LoÌ„bardy bytwene theÌ„ and to coÌ„ioyne theÌ„ by mariage to some great lordes to maynteyne their estates and to cause men to feare their displeasures And so they caused their brother MaÌ„frese to be slayne by venyme or otherwyse after whose dethe they reygned puissauntly byforce and polycy All their dayes they lyued in good accorde toguyder and departed the cyties of Lombardy bytwene them The lorde Galeas hadde tenne bycause he was the eldest and the lorde Bernabo nyne And the cytie of Myllayne was gouerned one yere by the one brother and another yere by the other brother And to the entent to reigne puissauntly they sought the wayes to gader great rychesse by raysinge vp in possyons subsydies and gabelles and many other yuell customes wherby they gadered great store of golde and syluer and they caused their townes and cyties to be kepte with soudyours straungers as Almaygnes FreÌ„che men Bretons Englysshmen and of all other nacyons excepte their owne countrey men for they hadde no trust nor affiaunce in them for feare of rebellyon agaynst theÌ„ and these soudyours were payed fro moneth to moneth wherby they were so douted and fered of the people that none durste displease them For if any dyd ryse or dyde any thyng agaynst them there was cruell vengeaunce taken vpon them They distroyed many a one in their dayes to gyue ensaÌ„ple to other IN all their signories no man hadde any thynge but atte their pleasure They wolde tayle a ryche man thre or foure tymes in a yere They sayd that loÌ„bardes were ouer proude and presuÌ„ptuous in their richesse wherfore it was behouable to kepe them vnder subiection no man durst saye nay to any thyng that they coÌ„maunded These two bretherne maryed them hyghlye and bought their wyues with the goodê and substaunce of their people The lorde Galeas hadde to wyfe the suster of the good erle of Sauoye named Blaunche payde to the erle for her a hundred thousande ducates The lorde Barnabo maryed hym in Almaygne to the suster of the duke of Bresnyche and payde no lesse money than his brother dyd These two bretherne hadde many chyldren and maryed them highly and richelye to atteyne therby great alyaunces The lorde Galeas had a sone called Galleas and as than the father vnderstode that whaÌ„ kynge Iohan of Fraunce was come out of Englande and put to rauÌ„some to .xxx. C. thousand frankes and they of Fraunce wyst nat howe to reyse the fyrste payment ThanÌ„e he treated with the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle to haue one of his doughters for Galeas his sonne The kynge and his couÌ„sayle entended to this treatie bycause they knewe well this lorde Galeas was grounded in richesse and thus he bought the kyngê doughter for sixe hundred thousande frankes whiche were tourned in payment to the Kynge of Englande And so his sonne maryed kynge Iohans doughter and to hym was gyuen the countie and erldome of Vertues in Champaygne Of that sonne and doughter issued a doughter whiche byforce of golde and syluer was maryed to the seconde sonne of kynge Charles of Fraunce called Loyes duke of Orlyaunce erle of Bloyes and Valoyes The maryage cost the erle of Vertus father to the sayde lady tenne hundred thousaunde frankes And the countie of Bloyes was bought of the erle Guye of Bloyes as it hath ben conteyned here before in this hystorie Thus these lordes Galeas and Barnabo acorded right well toguyder all their lyue dayes they neuer varyed nor their people toguyder therfore they reigned in great puissaunce No man coude haue reason nor right of them Pope cardynalles nor other that made any warre agaynst them sauyng alonely the marques of MouÌ„tferant that was by the meanes of the lorde Iohan Hacon and the Englysshe men with the routes of the companyons whiche Iohan Hacon brought them out of Prouynce in to Lombardy and made there great warre
pope Clement yet he had neuer ferme beleue on hym But the prelates of the realme of Fraunce and specially Guy of Roy archebysshoppe of Reyns the archebysshoppes of Sens and of Roen and the bysshoppe of Ostune they had brought the duke to beleue on pope Clement ThanÌ„e it was aduysed by the kynges secrete couÌ„sayle that if they purposed to bringe the Churche to rest and peace to haue the accorde of Almayne Than was there sente suffycient ambassadours and clerkes of bothe lawes as maister Philyppe of Playes was one in to Almayne to the kyng of Boesme and of Almayne who wrote hym selfe kyng of Romayns This mater went so forwarde that a day was sette that the kyng of Almayne and his counsaile and the FreÌ„che kyng and his couÌ„sayle shulde mete ê‘sonally at the cyte of Reynes This mater was done secretely bicause the prelates cardynalles archebysshoppes and bysshoppes shulde nat breke their purpose that they were about They made it be noysed that the metyng of these two kynges and their counsayls at Reynes was for non other purpose but to treate for a maryage to be had bytwene the sonne of the marques of Blanquebourge brother to the kyng of Almayne and the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce And so by reason and vnder colour of that mater they wolde common of other In this same seasone dyed at Nesues in Heynaulte the lorde Guye of Chastellone erle of Bloyes and brought to ValenceÌ„nes and buryed at saynt Fraunces in the Freres mynours in a chapell called the Chapell of Orthais he had done moche coste in the closynge of the sayd Freres and whan he dyed he was so in dette that the countesse Mary of Namure forsoke al his goodes and durst nat take on her the admynistracyon of his testament but retourned to her dowrie of the lande of Chinay and of Beaumonde his other herytages went to the heyres The duke of Orlyaunce hadde the countie of Blois for he had payed whyle the erle Guye lyued two hundred thousande crownes of FrauÌ„ce and the landes of Hollande zelande Heynaulte wente to the duke Aubert of Bauyere erle of Heynaulte And the lande of Dauesnes of Landrecier and of Lonnon in terreasse fell to Iohan of Bloyes called IohnÌ„ of Bretaygne And if the erle had nat solde the countie of Blois the sayd Iohan of Bretaygne shulde haue been his heyre therof Consydre what a doÌ„mage a lorde or any other may do to his heyre by gyueng credeÌ„ce to yuell counsayle god forgyue hym ¶ Nowe lette vs retourne to the busynesse of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the exle of AruÌ„dell and howe the kynges vncles and the londoners toke the mater Capi. CC.xxvi YE haue herde here before of the couert hates that was bytwene kynge Rycharde of Englande and his vncle Thomas duke of Gloucestre whiche the kynge wolde beare no lengar but sayd and also was counsayled rather to distroye another man than hymselfe And ye haue herde howe the kyng was at Plasshey by crafte and coloure brought hym out of his owne house to London And by the waye about .x. or a .xi. of the cloke in the nyght therle marshall arested hym in the kynges name And for all that he cryed after the Kynge yet the kynge made a deafe eare and rode on before and so the same nyght the kynge laye at the towre of London but the duke of Gloucecestre was otherwise lodged For byforce he was put in to a Barge and out of the barge in to a shyppe that laye in the Thamise and the erle marshall with hym and all his company And dyde so moche that the nexte day by night they came to Calais without knoledge of any man excepte the kynges offycers of the sayd towne yE maye well knowe whanÌ„e the takynge of the duke was knowen at Plaâ—hey by the duchesse and her chyldren they were sore troubled and abasshed and thought well that the matter went nat well The duchesse demaunded couÌ„saile what was best to do of sir Iohan Laquyham The knight answered that it was best to sende to his bretherne the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke that they myght fynde some meanes to apeace the kynges dyspleasure For he sayde he thought that the kyng wolde nat displease them The duchesse dyd as the knyght counsayled her and she sente incontynent messangers to these two dukes who were farre a sondre who whanne they herde therof were sored displeased and sente worde agayne to the duchesse that she shuld be of good coÌ„forte For they sayd they knew well the kyng wolde nat entreat hym but by laufull iudgement for otherwise they coude nat suffre it but as thanne they knewe natte where he was The Duchesse and her chyldren were somwhat conforted with their answere The kynge the nexte daye wente fro the towre of London to Eltham and there taryed The same night was brought to the towre of London as prisoners the erle of Arundell and the Erle of Warwyke wherof they of the cytie of London had great marueyle and made therof great murmurynge but none durst saye nay agaynst the kynges pleasure But all maner of people knightes squyers burgesses of good cyties townes of EnglaÌ„de said We haue very well suffred the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke bretherne to the duke of Gloucestre They maye prouyde for this whanne it please theÌ„ We thynke they wolde well haue prouyded for the mater if that they hadde knowen the kynges entent agaynst their brother of Glocestre but bycause they were nat dilygent in the cause the matter is come yuell and lyke to haue an yuell conclusyon WHan the duke of Glocestre was brought to the castell of Calys than he feared hym selfe greatlye said to the erle Marshall For what cause am I brought out of Englande hyder to Calais Me thynke ye holde me as a prisoner Lette me go abrode and se the fortresse aboute Sir quod the marshall that ye desyre I dare nat do it for I haue the charge vpon you on payne of my lyfe The kynge my soueraygne lorde is a lytell myscontente with you Wherfore ye muste take pacyence here for a seasone tyll I here other newes and that shal be shortely by goddes grace For sir as helpe me God I am right sorie for your trouble if I myght remedy it But sir ye knowe well I am sworne to the kynge wherfore I must obey and so wyll I do for sauynge of myne honoure The duke coude haue none other aunswere But by that he sawe he feared greatly his lyfe And on a daye he desyred a preest that sange masse before hym that he myght be coÌ„fessed And so he was at good leysar before the sacrament with deuout herte and cryed God mercy and was sore repentaunt of all his synnes And in dede it was tyme so for hym so to do for his dethe was nerer to hym than he was ware of For as I was enfourmed whan
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
other countreis The yonge kynge enclyned lightely to his wordes for he loued him with all his hart bicause they had been norisshed vp toguyder And this erle had great alyaunces with dyuers lordes and knightes of Englande for he dyde all his maters by the counsayle of sir Symon Burle sir Robert Treuelyen ser Nicholas Brambre sir Iohan Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la pole And also sir Thomas Tryuet and sir Wylliam Helmon were named to be of the same ê‘te so that by the dyffernes and discorde bitwene the kynge and his vncles and the nobles and commons of the realme many yuels came therby in EnglaÌ„de as ye shall here hereafter in this hystorie IT was nat longe after that the erle of Cambridge departed out of Portyngale but that the kynge Feraunt felle sicke and so contynued a hole yere and dyed than he had no mo chyldren but the Quene of Spayne Than kynge Iohan of Castell was enformed of his deth and howe that the realm of Portyngale was fallen in to his haÌ„des and howe that he was ryghtfull heyre thervnto by reason of the dethe of the kynge Sother was dyuers couÌ„sayls kept on that mater and some sayd howe that the Portingales were so harde harted people that they wold nat be had without it were by conquest And in dede whan the portyngales sawe howe they were without a kyng than they determyned by counsayle to sende to a bastarde brother of the kynges a sage and a valyant man called Deuyse but he was a man of relygton and was mayster of the hospytals in all the realme They sayd they had rather be vnder the rule of this maister Denyse than vnder the rule of the kynge of Castell for they reputed hym no bastarde that hath good corage to do well Whan this mayster Denyse vnderstode the coÌ„mens wyll of foure chiefe cyties of Portyngale for they hadde great affectyon to crowne hym kyng wherof he had great ioye and so wrote secretely to his frendes and came to Lurbone whiche is the kay of the realme The people of the towne receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym if they crowned him kyng wheder he wolde be good to theÌ„ or nat and kepe the lande in their fraunchese And he aunswered and sayd he wolde be to theÌ„ as they desyred and that they had neuer a better kynge than he wolde be Than they of Luxbone wrote to Connubres to Pount de portugale and to them of Dourke These were the kayes of the Realme and so they determyned to crowne to their kyng this mayster Denyse who was a sage a valyant man and of good gouernauÌ„ce and was brother to kyng Ferant for they sawe well the realme coude nat be longe without a kyng as well for feare of the spay mardes as of the myscreaÌ„tes of Granado and of Bongie who marched on them So these sayde townes and certayne of the lordes of the lande enclined to him but some of the lordê sayd that it was nat mete a bastarde to be crowned kyng And the people of the good townes said that it shulde be so for of necessyte they must so do sithe they had none other and seyng that he was a valyant and a sage man bothe in wyâ—te and in dedes of armes And they toke ensample by kynge Henry who was crowned kyng of Castell by electyon of the countrey and for the coÌ„mon profyte and that was done kynge Peter beynge a lyue So thus the electyon abode on this maister Denyse and solemynely he was crowned in the Cathedrall churche of Connubres by the accorde and puyssaunce of the coÌ„mons of the realme And there he sware to kepe iustyce to do ryght to his people and to kepe and maynteyne their frauncheses and to lyue and dye with them wherof they hadde great ioye Whan these tidynges came to the hearyng of don Iohan kyng of Castell he was sore displeased therwith and for two causes The one was bycause his wyfe was enheryter there the other bycause the people by election hadde crowned maister Denyse kynge there Wherfore this kyng Iohan toke tytell to make warr and to demauÌ„de of them of Luxbone the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande florens whiche Ferant promysed hym whan he toke his doughter to his wyfe So than he sende the Erle of Terme therle of Ribydea and the bysshoppe of Burges in to Portyngale as his ambassadours to them of Luxbone whan they were at saynt prayne the laste towne of Castell towarde Luxbone Than they sent an haraulde to the kyng and to them of Luxbone to haue a saue conducte to go and come and to furnysshe their voyage whiche was graunted lightly so they came to Luxbone and so the towne assembled their counsayle toguyder and the ambassadours shewed why they were come thyder and finally sayde ye sirs of Luxbone ye ought iustely nat to marueyle if the kyng our souerayne lorde demaundeth of you the soÌ„me of money that ye are bounde for And is nat coÌ„tent that ye haue gyuen the noble crowne of Portyngale to a clerke a man of relygion and a bastarde It is a thynge nat to be suffred for by rightfull election there is non nerer to the crowne thaÌ„ he And also ye haue done this without the assent of the nobles of the realme Wherfore the kyng our maister saythe that ye haue done yuell And without that ye shortely do remedy the make he wyll make you sharpe warâ— To the whiche wordes don Feraunt Gallopes de vyle fois a notable burgesse of the cyte answered and sayd Sirs ye reproche vs greatly for our electyon but your owne election is as moche reprouable for ye crowned in Spaygne a bastarde sonne to a iewe And it is clerely knowen that to the ryghtfull election your kynge hath no right to the realem of Portyngale for the right resteth in the doughters of kyng Peter who be in Englande maryed bothe ConstauÌ„ce and Isabell maryed to the duke of I an castre to therle of Cambridge Wherfore sers ye may departe whan ye wyll and retourne to them that sent you hyder and say that our electyon is good whiche we wyll kepe and other kyng we wyll haue none as long as he lyste to be our kyng And as for the soÌ„me of money that ye demauÌ„de of vs we say we are nothyng bouÌ„de therto take it of them that were bouÌ„de therfore and of suche as had the profyte therof At this answere the kynge of Portyngall was nat presentâ— howbeit he knewe well what shulde be sayd And whaÌ„ these ambassadours sawe they coude haue non other answere they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Cyuell where they lafte the kyng and his couÌ„sayle to whom they shewed all the said answere Than the kyng of Spayne toke couÌ„sayle what was best to do in this mater Than it was determyned that the kyng of Portyngale shulde be desied and howe that the kyng of Spayne had a good
I rode nat farre fro theym Thus the cytie of Tarbe was in great doute so that they were fayne to make couynaunt with theÌ„ And bytwene Tarbe and Lourde there was a great vyllage and a good abbey called Gynors who in lykewise were fayne to agre with them Also on the other parte on the ryuer of Lysse there was a great towne called Bagueres they of that towne had a harde season for they were so haryed by the garyson of Maluoysen standynge on a hylle and the ryuer of Lysse rynnyng vnderneth vnto a walled towne called Turney in to the whiche towne they of Lourde and of Maluoysen hadde euer their recourse to the whiche towne they dyde no hurte bycause they had their resorte thyder And they of the towne had euer a good market of their pyllage and so dissymuled euer with them whiche they were fayne to do or elles they coulde nat haue lyued for they had no ayde nor socoure of any persone the capitayne of Maluoysen was a gascoyne his name was Remonet de Lespe an experte man of armes He and his company they of Lourde rauÌ„somed as well the marchauntes of Aragon and Catheloyne as of Fraunce without they agreed with them In the season that I enterprised to go se the erle of Foiz and to se the dyuersities of the couÌ„treys where as I had neuer ben before Whan I departed fro Carcassene I lefte the waye to Tholous and wente to Monterorall and so to Fonges than to Bell and than to the first towne of therle of Foiz and than to Masters and so to the castell of Sanredyn And than I caÌ„e to the good cytie of Pauyers ê‘teyning to the erle of foiz and there I taryed abydinge for some company goyng in to the countre of Byerne where the erle was And whan I had taryed there a thre dayes in great pleasure for that cytie was deleetable staÌ„dyng among the fayre vynes and enuyroned with a fayre ryuer large clere called Liege And on a day it so fortuned that thyder came a knyght of the erle of Foiz fro Auignon warde called sir Espaenge de Lion a valyant an experte man of armes about the age of .l. yeres And so I gate me in to his company and he was greatly desyrous to here of the maters of Fraunce so we were a sixe dayes in our iourney or we came to Ortayse And this knyght euery day after he had sayd his prayers moost parte all the day after he toke his pastyme with me in demaundyng of tidynges and also whan I demauÌ„ded any thyng of hym he wolde answere me to my purpose And whan we departed fro Pauyers we past by the mouÌ„t of Cesse whiche was an yuell passage and so we came to the towne castell of Ortayse whiche was frenche but we passed by it and so came to dyner to a castell of theâ—le of Foiz halfe a leage thens called Carlat standynge highe on a mountayne and after dyner the knight sayd to me sir let vs ryde toguyder fayre easely we haue but two leages to ryde to our lodgyng so I was content to do than the knight said we haue this day passed by the castell of Ortayse which dothe moche domage in this countre Peter Danchyn kepeth it and bath taken and stollen out of the realme of FraÌ„ce more than threscore thousande fraÌ„kes than I demauÌ„ded how that might be I shall shewe you quod the knight On our lady day in August there is euer a great fayre and all the couÌ„tre resorteth thyder for there is moche marchaÌ„dise That day Pier Danchyn and his coÌ„panions of Lourde had taken their aduyse were determyned to get this towne and castell And so they sent two simple varlettê by semyng to the sayd towne in the moneth of Maye to get them selfe some seruyce in the towne so they dyde and were reteyned with two maisters they dyde right dilygent seruyce to their maysters And so went in and out on their maisters busynesseâ— without any suspeciousnes of theÌ„ so on our lady day in August ther were many marchantes strangers of Foiz of Bierne of FrauÌ„ce And as ye knowe well whan machantes do mete that sawe nat togyder long before they wyll make good chere togyder so in the same houses where as these two varlettê were iÌ„ seruice were many marchantes drinkyng and makyng good chere their ostes with them by apoyntment about midnight Pier DaÌ„chin and his coÌ„pany caÌ„e to Ortaise enbusshed theÌ„selfe in a wode whiche passed throughe And so they sent sixe varlettê to the towne with .ii. ladders they passed the dykes came to the walles and reared vp their ladders the other .ii. varlettes that were in seruice in the towne dyd ayde theÌ„ while their maysts sat makyng good chere so these sayd varlettes dyde put theÌ„ selfe in aduenture and one of the said two varlettes brought the other sixe to the gate within wher there was two men kepyng the keys than this varlet said to the other sixe sirs â–ª kepe your selfe here priuy close and styrre nat tyll ye here me whistle I trust to make the porters to open the gate of their warde they haue the keyes of the great gate therfore assone as they haue opyned their warde I wyll whystle Than steppe forthe slee the porters I knowe well ynoughe the keyes of the gate for I haue oft tymes helped to kepe the gate with my maister as they deuysed so they dyd so the varlet went to the gate and sawe herde howe the porters were driÌ„kyng within their warde than he called theÌ„ by their names said sirs open yor dore I haue brought you of the best wyne that euer you dranke which my maister hath sent you to the entent you shulde kepe your watche the better And they who knewe right well the varlet beleued that he had said trouthe opyned the dore and than he whistled thother sixe stept forthe and entred in at the dore there they slewe the porters so priuely that none knewe therof thaÌ„ they toke the keyes went and opyned the gate and let downe the bridge easely that none knewe therof Than they blewe a blast in a horne so that they that were enbusshed mouÌ„ted on their horses came on the spurres entred on the bridge come in to the towne so toke all the men of the towne syttyng driÌ„kyng orâ—ls in their beddes Thus was Ortayse taken by Pier Danchin of Bigore by his coÌ„panyons of Lourde than I demauÌ„ded of the knight howe they gat the castell I shall shewe you ê™ he The same tyme that Ortaise was thus taken the capiten of the castell by his yuell aduenture was in the towne supped with certayne marchauntes of Carcassen and was there taken among other and in the next mornyng Pier DaÌ„chyn brought him before the castell wher as his wyfe chyldren were made theÌ„ beleue that he wolde
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌ„ded what mater was that I shall shewe you quod the other knyght for I was there present There was wyne brought on a day into the princes Chambre where as there were many lordes of Englande with hym whan the prince had dronke bicause sir IohnÌ„ Chandos was constable of Acquitayne the prince sente hym his cuppe first to drinke and he toke the cuppe and dranke and made therof none offre firste to the Erle of Oxenforde who was father to this duke of IrelaÌ„de and after that sir Iohan Chandos had dronke a squyer bare the cuppe to the Erle who hadde suche dispyte that sir Iohan Chandos hadde droÌ„ke before hym that he refused the cuppe wolde nat drinke and sayde to the squyer in maner of a mocke Go to thy mayster Chandos and bydde hym drinke Shall I go said the squyer he hath dronke all redy Therfore drinke you sythe he hath offred it to you if ye wyll nat drinke by saynt George I shall cast the drinke in your face Th erle whan he herd that douted that the Squyer wolde do as he sayde and so toke the cuppe and sette it to his mouthe and dranke or at leest made semblant to drinke And sir Iohan Chandos who was nat farre thens sawe well all the mater and helde hym styll tyll the prince was gone from them Than he came to the Erle and sayde Sir Aubery are ye displeased in that I dranke before you I am Constable of this countrey I maye well drinke before you sythe my lorde the Prince and other lordes here are coÌ„tente therwith It is of trouthe ye were at the batayle of Poycters but suche as were there knoweth nat so well as I what ye dyd theâ— I shall declare it ¶ Whanne that my lorde the Prince hadde made his voyage in Languedocke and Carcassone to Narbone and was retourned hyther to this towne of Bourdeaux ye toke on you to go in to Englande What the Kynge sayde to you at your coÌ„mynge I knowe right well yet I was nat there He demaunded of you if ye hadde furnysshed your voyage and what ye had done with his sonne the Prince ye aunswered howe ye had lefte hym in good helth at Bourdeaux Than the kynge sayde What and howe durste ye be so bolde to retourne without hym I commauÌ„ded you and all other whan ye departed that ye shulde nat retourne without hym on payne of all that ye myght forfayte And you this to retourne I straitly commaunde you that within four dayes ye auoyde my realme and retourne agayne to hym For and I fynde you within this my realme the fifth day ye shall lese your lyfe and all your herytage for euer And ye feared the kynges wordes as it was reason and so auoyded the realme and so your adueÌ„ture and fortune was good for truely ye were with my lorde the prince a foure dayes before the batayle of Poicters And so ye hadde the day of the batayle fourtie speares vnder your charge and I had threfore Nowe ye mayese wheder I ought to drinke before you or nat syth I am constable of â— equytaygne The erle of Orenforde was a shamed and wolde gladlye he hadde ben thens at that tyme but he was fayne to suffre and to here those wordes This sir Iohan Chandos sayde to hym in opyn presence Therfore it is nat to be marueyled thoughe this duke of Irelande who is sonne to the sayd erle of Oxenforde be disdaynfull in folowynge the steppes of his father For he taketh vpon hym to rule all Englande aboue the kynges vncles Well quod some other why shulde he nat sythe the kyng wyll haue it so THus the people in the Realme murmured in dyuers places agaynst the duke of Irelande And he dyde one thyng that greatly abated his honour that was he had firste to his wyfe the doughter of the lorde of Coucy the lady Isabell who was a fayre Lady and a good and of more noble blode than he is of But he fell in loue with another damosell of the quenes of Englande an Almaygne borne and dyde so moche with pope Vrbayne at Rome that he was deuorsed fro the doughter of the lorde Coucy without any tytell of reason but by presumpcion and for his synguler appetyte and than wedded the quenes mayde and kynge Rycharde conseÌ„ted there to he was so blynded with this duke of Irelande that if he had sayd sir this is whyte tho it had ben blacke the kyng wolde nat haue sayd the contrarye This dukes mother was greatly displeased with him for that dede and toke in to her coÌ„pany his first wyfe the lady of Coucy The duke dyde yuell and therfore at length yuell came to hym and this was the first princypall cause that he was behated for in Englande euery thyng that turneth to yuell must haue a begynning of yuell This duke of Irelande trusted so moche in the grace and fauour of the kyng that he beleued that no man shulde trouble hym And it was a coÌ„mon renome through EnglaÌ„de that theâ— shulde be a newe taxe raysed through the realme that euery fyre shulde paye a noble and the riche to beare out the poore The kynges vncles knewe well it wolde be a harde mater to bringe about And they had caused certayne wordes to be sowen abrode in the cyties and good townes of Englande as to saye howe the people of Englande were sore greued with tares and talenges and howe there was great rychesse raysed and that the common people wolde haue accomptes of the gouernours therof as the archebysshop of yorke the duke of Irelande sir Symon Burle sir Mychaell de la Pole sir Nycholas BraÌ„ble sir Robert Tryâ—â—lyen ser Peter Golouser sir Iohan Salisbury sir Iohan Beauchampe and the maisters of the Staple of the wolles The commons sayd that if they wolde make a trewe accoÌ„pte there shulde be founde golde and syluer suffycient without raysing of any newe subsydies It is a common vsage none is gladde to pay money nor to opyn their purses if they may lette it THis brute and noyse spredde so a brode in Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is chyefe cytie in the realme that all the coÌ„mons rose and sayde howe they wolde knowe howe the realme was gouerned sayenge howe it was longe syth any accompte was made Firste these londoners drewe theym to syr Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucestre thoughe he were yonger brother than sir Edmonde duke of yorke The common people reputed the duke of Glocestre for a valyant and a sage discrete parson And whan they came before hym they sayde Syr the good cytie of London recoÌ„maundeth them to you and all the people ingenerall requireth you to take vpon you the gouernynge of the realme For they knowe well it is nat vnknowen to you howe the kynge and the realme is gouerned The coÌ„mon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
vpon tayles aydes vpon aydes so that the realme hath ben more greued with tayles and other subsydies nat accustomed sythe the kynges Coronacyon than in fyftie yere before and it is nat knowen where the richesse is become Wherfore sir maye it please you to prouyde some remedy or elles the mater wyll go yuell for the commons cryeth out theron Than the duke answered and sayde fayre sirs I haue herde you well speke but I alone can nat remedy this mater howe be it I se well ye haue cause to coÌ„playne and so hathe all other people But though I be vncle to the kynge and sonne to a kyng though I shulde speke therof yet nothynge shal be done for all that For the kyng my nephue hath suche couÌ„sayle as nowe about hym whome he beleueth better than hym selfe whiche couÌ„sayle ledeth hym as they lyste But if ye wyll come to the effecte of your desyres it must behoue you to haue of youre accorde and agrement all the cyties and good townes of Englande And also some prelates and noble ê‘sonages of the realme and so come toguyder in to the kynges presens and I my brother shal be there And than ye maye saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir ye were crowned very yonge and yuell ye haue ben counsayled as yet hyther vnto Nor ye haue nat takenne good regarde to the busynesse of this your Realme by reason of the poore and yonge counsayle that ye haue aboute you Wherby the matters of your realme hath hadde but small and yuell effectes as ye haue sene and knowen ryght well For if God haddenat shewed his grace this realme had been loste and distroyed Therfore sir here in the prensens of your vncles we requyre youre grace as humble subiectes ought to desyre their prince that your grace wyll fynde some remedy that this noble Realme of Englande and the noble crowne therof whiche is discended to you from the noble kyng Edwarde the thirde who was the moost nobles kynge that euer was sythe Englande was firste enhabyted that it maye be susteyned in sprosperyte and honour and your people that complayneth to be kepte and maynteyned in their ryght the whiche to do your grace dyde swere the daye of youre Coronacion And that it maye please you to call togyther the thre estates of your Realme prelates and barownes and wysemen of your cyties and good townes and that they may regarde if the gouernyng of your realme that is past be well or nat And sir if they parceyue that it hath been well thanne suche as be in offyce to remaygne styll as longe as it shall please your grace and if they be founde contrarye thauÌ„e they in courtesse maner to be auoyded fro your persone and other notable and dyscrete persones to be sette in to offyce First by your noble aduyse by the consent of my lordes your vncles and noble prelates and barones of your realme And sirs quod the duke of Gloucester whan ye haue made this supplycacion to the kynge he wyll thanne make you some maner of answere If he saye that he wyll take counsayle in the mater than desyre to haue ashorte day And peyse so the mater before hande to putte the kynge and suche marmosettes as be about hym to some feare Saye to hym boldely that the Realme wyll no lengar suffre it and that it is marueyle howe they haue suffred it so longe and I and my brother and the bysshoppe of Caunterburye and the Erle of Salisbury the Erle of Arundell and the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„de wyll be by for without we be present speke no worde therof We are the greatest ê‘sonages of Englande and we shall ayde to susteyne your wordes For all we shall say howe your desyre is but reasonable And whan he hereth vs speke he wyll agre there to or els he dothe amysse and thervpon apoynt a tyme This is the best counsayle I can gyue you Than the Londoners answered and sayde Sir ye counsayle vs nobly But sir it wyll be harde for vs to fynde the kyng and you and all these lordes toguyder in one place Nay nay quod the duke it maye well be done saynt Georges daye is nowe within this syre dayes The kynge wyll be than at wyndsore ye knowe well the duke of Irelande wyll be there and sir Symon Burle and many other and my brother and I and therle of Salisbury shall be there therfore prouyde for yâ— mater ayenst that tyme. Sir quod they it shal be done and so they departed ryght well contente with the duke of Gloucester Than whan saynt Georges daye came the kyng and the quene were at Wyndsore and made there a great feest as his predecessours hadde done before the next daye after the feest of saynt George Thyder came the londoners to the nombre of threscore horse and of yorke as many and many othes of dyuers good townes of Englande they lodged in the towne of Wyndsore The kyng was determyned to departe to place a thre leages thens and whan he knewe of the commyng of the people to speke with hym he wolde the sooner haue ben gone He sayde he wolde in no wyse speke with them But than his vncles and therle of Salisbury sayd sir ye may nat with your honour thus departe The people of youre good townes of Englande are come hyder to speke with you Sir it is necessary that ye here them and to knowe what they demaunde and there after ye maye aunswere them or els take counsayle to aunswere them So thus full sore agaynst the kynges mynde he was fayne to tarye than they came into his presâ—ns in the great hall alowe there was the kynge and bothe his vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshop of Wynchester and the Chaunceler and the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumber lande and dyuers other There this people made their request to the kyng and a burges of London spake for them all named sir Simeon of Subery a sage man and well langaged and there declared well and boldely the effecte of thinformacyon that the duke of Glocester had shewed theÌ„ before as ye haue herde Whan the kyng had herde hym well he sayd Amonge you coÌ„mons of my realme your requestes are great and long they are nat ouer soone to be spedde we shall nat be toguyder agayne a long season and also great parte of my counsayle is nat here present Therfore I saye vnto you gette you home agayne sytte in reste and come nat agayne tyll the feest of Myghelmas without ye be sente for at whiche tyme our parlyament shal be at Westmynster Than come bringe your requestes and we shall shewe it to our counsayle and that is good we shall accepte it and that ought to be refused we shall condempne But sirs thinke nat that we wyll be rewled by our coÌ„mon people that shall neuer be sene as for our gouernynge nor in the gouernaunce of them that rule vnder vs we se nothynge
mounted on their horses and rode to mete hym and there they mette amiably and all their companyes The kynges hole hoost was nat there but taryed behynde in the guydyng of sixe great lordes of Portugale as Ponnase of Congne Vase Martyn de merlo Posdiche de asne degouse Salnase de Merlo sir Anlne Perrier marshall and Iohan Radighes Desar and dyuers other and the kyng had with him a thre hundred speares So at Aurāche the kynge and the duke were togyder a fyue dayes and toke counsayle toguyder The fynall conclusyon was that they shulde ryde togyder and enter in to the countrey of Campe and to go to the towne of Arpent where sir Olyuer of Clesquyne constable of Spaygne was but they wyst nat how to passe the ryuer of Derne whiche was fell and orgulous at certayne tymes specially rather in somer than in wynter for whan the snowe and froste melteth on the moūtayns by reason of the sonne than is the ryuer moost depest most dangerous to passe for in wynter it is frosyn than the ryuers are but base and lowe yet for all that they concluded to ryde in to the coūtre of Campe trustyng at some place to fynde some passage This conclusyon was publysshed throughe all their hoostes wherof euery man was ioyfull for they had lyen along space sore oppressed and in great daunger at Auranche ther about and many were sore diseased Thus the kyng of Portugale and that duke of Lācastre departed fro Auranche and rode toguyder but their hostes were seperated in to two partes bycause none of them vnderstode other nor had no maner of aqueyntāce toguyder And also to eschewe riottes or debates that myght haue fallen bytwene them for portugales are hote hastye and in lykewise Englysshmen be dispytefull and fierse Thus they were apoynted by the man hals of bothe hostes to lodge and to forrage in diuers partes and nat toguyder Thus they rode forthe and were of chat puyssaunce able to fyght for a iourney with kynge Iohan of Castell and all his adhenrentes So longe they iourneyed that they came to they ryuer of Derne whiche was nat easy to passe for it was depe and with highe bankes and full of great broken stones so that but at certayne bridges whiche were broken or elles so well kepte that it was in maner impossyble to passe they might nat gette ouer So these two hostes had great ymaginaciōs how they might passe Than so it fell that sir Iohn̄ Holande who was constable of the Englysshe hoost and the marshalles sir Richarde Butle and sir Thomas Moreaulx and their forragers as they rode before they encountred a squier of Castell called Donnage Bangher He knewe well all the passages of the countrey and he knewe where there was one passage that bothe horsmen and fote men might easelye passe the riuer he came ouer at the same passage and was taken and brought to the sayd lordes of whom they were ryght glad And there he was so streitly examyned also by the wordes of the constable who sayde to hym howe he wolde quyte his raūsome and gyue hym a good rewarde if he wolde shewe them where they myght passe surely the ryuer for they sayde they had herde howe there was one sure passage ouer the ryuer The squyer who toke but lyght aduysement and was couetous of the constables offre was gladde to be delyuered out of their handes sayd Sirs I knowe well the passage and I shall shewe it you and shal be your guyde where as ye and all youre menne maye passe without any daunger Of this the constable and marshalles had great ioye so rode forthe toguyder and sent worde of this tydinges to the duke of Lancastre and so folowed the vowarde and the constables and marshalles came to the passage Than the spanysshe squyer entred firste in to the ryuer shewed them the way And whan they sawe the passage so pleasaunt they were ryght ioyfull and so euery man passed ouer And whan the vowarde was ouer they lodged there to gyue knowledge to all other that folowed after Than the constable kepte his promyse with the squyer that was their gyde And so he departed fro them and rode to Medena del campo where the kynge of Castyle lay a good towne in the countrey of Campe. Than the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre came to the passage which was called Plasce ferarde bycause the grauell and sande there was firme and stable and without parell There they and their hoostes passed ouer and the next day the rerewarde and than they all lay in the coūtrey of Campe. Tydinges came to them of Ruelles of Cateseris of Medena of Vyle arpente of saynt Phagon and to other cyties townes and castels of the countrey of Campe and Spayne howe the englysshemen and portugaloyse were passed ouer the ryuer of Derne and had founde the passed wherof euery man had maruayle and sayd This can nat be done without trayson for they shulde neuer haue founde out the passage but if some of the countre had shewed it to them The kynge of castelles lordes knewe how the squier of Castyle had shewed it them and was their guyde Thervpon he was taken and knowledged the trouth as he hadde done Thanne he was iuged to dye and was brought to Vyle arpent and there beheeded ¶ Howe the tydinges spred abrode that the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of Derne howe it came to the kyng of Castels knowlege howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and rode before Vyle arpente and how the king of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmyng of the duke of Burbone Cap. C.iii. WHan the kynge of Castyle knewe howe the kyng of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre were in that feldes with a great puyssance and daily aproched wherof he was sore abasshyd and called to hym syr Gaultyer of Passac and syr Willyam of Lignac and sayde I haue great maruayle of the duke of Borbon that he commeth nat Our enemyes aproche and kepe the feldes and none encoūtreth them they waste our countrey and the people of my realme are yuell contente that we fyght nat with theym Wherfore sirs I requyre you gyue me counsayle what is best to do These two knyghtes who knewe more of dedes of armes than the kyng dyd for they had more vsed it and therfore thyder they were sente oute of Fraunce they sayde Syr surely the duke of Borbon cometh without fayle And whan he cometh we shall take counsayle what we shall do but tyll he come let vs make no countenaunce of batayle Let our enemyes go and come whyder as they lyst lette them kepe the feldes and we shall kepe the townes that be stronge and well prouyded bothe with men and vytayles They shall be in the sonne and in great heate and we shall be in the shadowe in the fresshe ayre They
whanne tydinges of this dede came to the knowledge of them of Cleremounte whiche was but a small leage thens they were sore abasshed and good cause why for their enemyes were nere them They wyste nat what to saye or do but toke good bede to defende their towne These newes spredde a brode to the castell Neuffe to Thyon to Vyc to Issoire to Ryon and fro thence to Auige Perse to castell of Mounte Pencyer And all these townes and countreys that I haue named the moste parte pertayned to the duke of Berrey In farre countreys these tydynges spred a brode howe these englysshe men and gascoyns had wonne and taken the good towne of Mount ferante in Auuergne As many as herde therof meruayled greatly and were in doute and the countreys adioyning were halfe a frayde as Auuergne Burbonoys Forestes and to Berrey Whan these newes came to Parys the kyng and his vncles were sore displeased whiche was good reason for the same tyme the erle Dolphyn was at Parys for the orderynge of that countrey for he hadde the soueraygne charge of kepynge therof with the erle of Armynake Therfore this dede was greatly to their displeasure for they thought they shulde beare some blame for that dede bycause it was vnder their rule But their excuse was reasonable for it was well knowen howe they were in treatie with all the companions wherfore they thought the countre at that tyme hadde ben in good suretie Than incontynent the erle Dolphyn departed fro Parys to go in to Auuergne to sette an order in the countre and lefte all his trayne behynde hym And so rode but alonely with his page and toke his waye by Moulyns in Burbonoyes to go to Auuergne and chaunged euery daye fresshe horses And as he rode in this haste at saynt Pier the mynster he herde other tidynges that he hadde nat herde before as I shall shewe you ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his company toke their couÌ„saile and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mountferante and howe the sayde Perot and his coÌ„pany deê‘ted thens by night with all their pyllage prisoners and went and refresshed theÌ„ in the towne of Ousac Cap. C.xxi. WHan it was Fridaye mornynge after the towne was wonne on the thursdaye at nyght as ye haue herde here before and that these Capitayns were lordes of the towne they bouÌ„de faste all the men so that they coude do theÌ„ no dommage Than they sertched all aboute and trussed in to fardelles Clothe naprye gownes furres and other thynges suche as they thought to haue any profite by And thaÌ„ they toke couÌ„sayle whether they shulde kepe styll the towne or no. Some were of the opynion to kepe it styll and to fortifye it But the moost parte sayde that to abyde there it were great follye For so they shulde be enclosed rounde about and shulde be farre of fro their socours fortresses so that if they shulde be there besieged they shulde nat be able to withstande their ennemyes and lykely to haue no socours so that by longe siege they shulde be famysshedde for there aboute were many great gentylmen cyties good townes And also whan the duke of Berrey shulde knowe of this enterprice he wyll seÌ„de hyther the mareshall of Fraunce sir Loyes Sanxere And also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne and the erle of Armynake wyll come or sende and besiege vs with many great lordes As the lorde of the Towre the lorde Dapthon the lorde Dapthyer the lorde of Reuell the lorde de la Palayes and dyuers other yea and specially hyther shall come sir Iohan Boesme Launce with a great noÌ„bre All these doutes the sage Perot le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe dyde cast and coÌ„iecte and sayde If they were there taken they shulde lese all they haue and fayne to delyuer vp all their fortresses So these capitayns concluded the same nyght to departe to take with them all their botye and prisoners of whom they had mo thanÌ„e two hundred Than they set a sure garde at the gates to th entent that none shulde issue out to bewray their entreprice ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of a scrymysshe that they of Cleremount made with them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremont made a scrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of Mountferante at the gates of the towne Cap. C.xxii. WHanÌ„e these tydynges were knowen at CleremoÌ„t that the Englysshe menne had takenne MouÌ„tferant they were soore abasshed for they were nere neyghbours So they of Cleremont toke counsayle toguyder And without the towne of Cleremounte on the waye towardes Mountferant There was a churche of Friers as fayre as stronge as well buylded as any was in the realme of Fraunce Whervnto parteyned a great close enuyroned with stronge hyghe walles and with in the close full of Vynes for one yere with another the friers had therof a sixscore vesselles of wyne Than some sayde within the towne that it shulde be best to beate downe the Friers bycause it ioyned so nere to the gate or elles it might be to their distruction Some other sayde naye affyrmynge howe it shulde be great pytie and dommage to distroye so goodly a house and sayde Sirs lette vs go to Mount ferant and sermyss he there with our ennemyes and let vs besiege them there they shall neuer scape vs. For the knyghtes and Squyers of this countrey of Burbonoys and of Forestes wyll drawe hyther So that within these foure dayes surelye they shal be besieged Whyle they were thus debatynge of the matter there were a threscore compaygnions made them selfe redy to departe out of the towne to go se their ennemyes and to serimysshe with theym There was no man dyde lette theym for of the best of the towne were in that company desyringe to wynne honoure and toke with them a .xxx. crosbowes and so rode towardes Mount feraunt Thanne after them issued out of Cleremounte mo than two hundred men a fore and folowed after Thanne horsemen rode streyght to the Barryers of Mount feraunte Tidynges came in to the towne to the Capitayns howe that they of Cleremount were come to vysette them and were before the barryers of whiche tidyngê they were greatlye reioysed and a hundred armed them and mouÌ„ted on their horses and opyned the gate issued out on a fronte and cryed saynt George And whan the cleremoÌ„toys sawe them coÌ„myng so fiersely they were afrayed and vanquysshed within them selfe and beganne to recule without shewynge of any face of defence and so fledde hyther and thyder They that were best horsed at the coÌ„mynge out of Cleremount and were the formast sayeng howe they wolde be the fyrste that shulde make assaute were than the fyrst that retourned agayne to the towne and the gascoyns after them So that if the gascons horses had been as go as the Cleremontoys there hadde but a fewe of them entred agayn in to their towne Howe beit
we saye howe ye be right hertely welcome The kyng hath well herde and vnderstaÌ„de what ye haue sayd ye shall haue shortely and aunswere within a day or two suche as shall coÌ„tente you that is suffycient quod sir Iohan of Vyen and so tooke his leaue of the kynge and of his counsayle and wente to his lodgynge And it was shewed me howe he taryed there more than seuen dayes without hauynge of any answere he sawe nothynge but dyssymulacion wherwith he was sore dyspleased for all that tyme he coulde nat se the kyng for he kept hym close in his chambre And whan syr Iohan of Vien sawe that he coulde haue none other exployte in his busynes he spake on a daye to some of the kynges counsayle and sayd Syrs surely I wyll departe without aunswere They douted leste he wolde do as he sayd and surely so he had done and they had nat called hym on a day and made him his aunswere as they dyd Than it was sayd to hym howe he might well shewe the frenche kynge and suche as had sent hym thyder that they shulde haue the kinge of Castyle nor his counsayle in no maner of suspecte for they had nat done nor wolde nat do any thynge with the kynge of Englande that shulde breke or adnychilate in any maner of wayes the alyaunces that hath been sworne and sealed bytwene Fraunce Castyle howe be it thoughe the kynge of Castyle mary his sonne to the doughter of the duke of LaÌ„castre therby to make a fynall peace for the chalenge that the duke maketh to the realme of Castyle by ryght of his wyfe and generally all the realme counsayleth the kynge there to though he assent wyll do it yet the frenche kyng nor his counsayle ought nat to be dyspleased there with for alwayes the kyng of Castyle and his men wyll be conioyned alyed with the french kynge and with the realme of Fraunce This was the substaunce of the answere that sir Iohan of Vien brought in to FrauÌ„ce fro the knig of Castyle who proceded sorthe with the duke of Lancastre in his maryage made an amyable peace togyther by meanes of messengers that wente bytwene them for the duke laye in the marchesse of Burdeaulx and came thyder fro Bayon and the duches and her doughter where as they were receyued with great ioye for they were greatly desyred there And fro Burdeaux they wente to Lyborne WHan trewe and certayne tydynges was come into the erle of Foiz house howe the Kynge of Castyle was agreed with the duke of Lancastre and shulde mary his sonne with the dukes doughter and to gyue great landes in Castyle and greate nombre of floreyns about a two hundred thousande nobles wherof the erle had great marueyle This I knowe well for I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme. Than the erle of Foiz sayd Ah this kynge of Castyle is vnhappy for he hath made peace with a deed man for I knowe well the duke of Lancastre is in that case and in suche daunger that he can nat helpe hym selfe But the kynge of Castyle hathe mette with a sage and a valyaunte prince of the duke of Lancastre for he hath valyauntly borne hym selfe all the warre season NOwe lette vs somwhat speke of the army on the see So it was that aboute the feest of Crystmas the erle of Arundell who had ben a longe season on the see costynge the fronters of Bretaygne and of Rochell Xaynton and of Normandy and so passed before Karenten but a fore that they tooke lande at Chirbroke and wolde haue done there some dedes of armes And the same season there were souerayne capytayns in the towne and garyson of Karentyne the lorde of Hambre and the lorde of Coucy and with them a great nombre of knyghtes and squyers of NormaÌ„dy Whan the erle of Arundell knewe howe the towne of Karentyne was so well prouyded and furnysshed with good men of warre than he passed forthe for he sawe well in assautinge therof he myght rather lese than wyn Than he came to a nother towne therby called Toraguy and assayled it and toke it perforce and pylled it and wanne there great rychesse and toke with theym many prisoners and than came before the good towne of Bayeux and came to the barryers and there they made a skrymysshe and none assaute Than the englysshmen passed the watches of saynte Clemente and dyd great domage in the countrey for they taryed there a fyftene dayes and no man encountred them the marshall of Blannâ—uille was in Normandy but he knewe nat of their comynge if he had he wolde haue prouyded for the mater And whan the englysshe men had done their enterprise and done great domage to the countrey of Normandy asmoche as a huÌ„dred thousande frankes came vnto Than they drewe backe and passed agayne the watches and retourned to Chyrbroke and dyd put all their conquest in suretye and sauegarde in to their shyppes And whan they had wynde wether and their shyppes charged than they entred and dysancred and toke the see and retourned in to Englande aryued at Hampton Thus the army of the erle of Arundell on the see concluded in that season ¶ Howe syr Loys of Xancere wente to se the erle of Foize at Ortays and howe before the duke of Lancastre at Burdeaux there were dedes of armes done bytwene fyue frenchmen and fyue englysshe men and howe the duches of Lancastre wente with her doughter in to Castyle to kynge Iohan. Cap. C.liiii IN this seasoÌ„ sir Loys of Xancer marshall of FrauÌ„ce was in Languedoc in the marches of Tholouse and Carcassone and he knewe well of the treatye that was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and therle of Foiz for the maryage of the duke of Bowlonges doughter whome the duke of Berrey wolde haue though the damosell were right yonge Than the marshall had affection to go se the erle of Foyz as I was enfourmed by his men at Ortays for whan he came thyder he founde me there He came at the sendynge of the frenche kynge and I shall shewe you why wherfore The frenche kyng was as thaÌ„ yonge and had desyre to trauayle and he had neuer ben as than in Languedoc whiche is a great countrey and full of cyties townes and casteles and as than nygh all dystroyed and wasted for the duke of Berry and his counsayle who had the gouernauÌ„ce of that countrey had greatly enpouerysshed and pylled the countrey by tayles and great oppressyons the complayntes wherof came to the kynges eares by reason that he was newly entred in to the domynacion of his Realme And the kynge sayde he wolde go in to Languedoc to vysite that countrey and also to go and se the pope whome he had neuer sene before and also in that voyage he sayd he wolde se the erle of Foiz of whome he had herde so moche honour and larges spokeÌ„ of Thus the marshall went forthe on his waye and
nexte day to Besyers where he was goodly receyued for the good men of the towne greatly desyred to se hym and so dyd all the countreys bothe of Pesenas of Cabestan and of Narbone for they were redy to make complayntes to the kynge of the duke of Berreys offycer called Betisache who had pylled the countreys This Betysach fro that tyme the kynge came fro Auignon he rode alwayes in his company but no man shewed hym as they thought for they myght haue gyuen hym warnynge if they had lyste but they draue hym forthe with fayre wordes and suthe promysed hym nothynge but honoure as thought the contrary The kynge entred into Besyers bytwene thre foure at after noone he was met with processyon without the towne with all the clergy and burgesses and ladyes and damoselles as the kynge came rydynge they were a bothe sydes of the waye and dyd their reuerence So he came to the cathedrall churche and there alyghted at the dore where there was an auter made rychely garnysshed with iewelles and relykes There the kynge kneled downe and dyd his prayers and than entred in to the churche with the bysshoppe of Besyers and his vncle the duke of Burbone and other lordes folowed after Thanne the kynge wente to his lodgynge to the Palyce whiche was nat farre thence and his brother the duke of Thourayne and the duke of Burbone with him and the other lordes were lodged abrode in the towne where as they were well and easely lodged for Besyers is a good cytie ⸪ ¶ Of the complayntes made to the kyng by the people of Languedoc in the towne of Besyers agaynst Betysach treasourer to the duke of Berrey of the great extorsyons that he had made and of the confession that he made and of the cruell dethe that he had in the sayde towne Cap. C.lxiii THre dayes the kynge was at Besyets in greate ioye and reuell amonge ladyes and damosels and all that tyme Betysache was nothynge spoken vnto but the enquisirours who weâ— ordeyned by the kynge dyd secretly enquyre of his dedes and they founde by enquest dyuers cases horryble nat to be pardoned The fourth day that the kynge had ben there this Betysache was called before the kynges counsayle in a chambre and there straytely examyned and it was sayd to hym Betysache aunswer wysely to these writynges that ye se here There was shewed hym a greate nombre of bylles of complayntes that were put vp to the kynge agaynst hym makyng mensyon of the errorcyons that he had done to the people All these bylles of complayntes were redde before hym one after another To some he aunswered wysely makynge his excuse and to some he playnly denyed them and sayde I knowe nothynge of those maters laye them to the seneschalles of Beaucayr and of Carcassone and to the chauncellour of Berry it partayneth to theym to aunswere to those matters Howe be it fynally it was shewed him that he muste kepe prysone for a tyme tyll the mater were better examyned He obeyed bycause he myght nat chuse As sone as he was in prison the inquysitours wente to his lodgynge and toke into their handes all suche writyngê and acomptes as they founde there whiche partayned to such maters as he had intermedled with all before and they auewed them at leysure and founde in theym the rekenynges of great soÌ„mes of money suche as had ben raysed and leuyed of the people Than he was demaunded where all that money was become and whether the sommes were trewe or nat he aunswered and sayde as for the soÌ„mes are trewe and the money delyuered to the duke of Berrey and so paste throughe his handes and his treasourers whereof I haue good quyttaunces in my lodgynge in suche a place the whiche quitauÌ„ces were sente for before the counsayle and there they were redde and they agreed with the soÌ„mes of his receyte Than the counsayle and the enquysytours were apeased and Betysache sente agayne to a curtesse prysone Than the counsayle coÌ„muned togyther on that matter and sayd It semeth that Betysache is clere of suche causes as are layde to his charge for the money that hathe been reysed the duke of Berrey hathe had it howe so euer it hath ben spente ALl thinges consydred Betysache excusacyons were lawfull for the duke of Berrey was the moste couetouse man in all the worlde so he myght gette good he cared nat where nor howe he hadde it and whan he had it he wolde bestowe it but symply as many lordes do and haue doone in tymes paste Thus the kynges counsayle sawe no faute in Betysache wherby he shulde lese his lyfe some were of that opynyon and some contrary said Betysach hath done so many cruell dedes and hathe so sore inpouerysshed the people for to acomplysshe the desyre of his lorde the duke of Berrey that the blode of the poore people cryeth out and sayeth howe he hathe deserued dethe For he that is a manne borne of these partyes and counsayler with his maister and seynge the pouerty of the people he ought in good maner to haue shewed the trouth to the duke his mayster and if the duke wolde nat haue herde hym than he shulde haue come to the kynge and to his counsayle and haue shewed theym the pouertie of the people and howe the duke of Berrey had daulte with them than he had ben well excused So Betysache was sente for agayne to the counsayle and straytely examyned where the money that hadde been gathered was become for they founde the soÌ„me of thyrty hundred thousande frankes receyued He answered therto and sayd My lordes it were herde for me to tell where my lorde the duke of Berrey hathe bestowed it Moche he hath layde out on byldynges and reparacyons of castels and houses also he hath bought certayne landes in the countye of Boloygne and in the Countye of Estampes Also he hathe spente moche in byenge of precyous stones and iewelles the whiche ye knowe well he hathe alwayes been desyrous to bye Also he is well stuffed to mayntayne the astate that he hathe alwayes kepte Also he hath gyuen suche gyftes and rewardes to Thybaulte and Morynot and to his seruauÌ„tes aboute him in suche wyse that they be ryche men Well Betysache quod they of the counsayle and ye haue had for your parte to your synguler profyte a hundred thousande frankes My lordes quod he that I haue hadde was by the consente of my lorde the Duke of Berrey for he wolde that his seruauntes shulde become ryche Than the counsayle sayde all with one voyce A Betysach that worde is folysshly spoken that rychesse is nat good nor resonable that is yuell gotten ye shall retourne agayne in to prison and we shall take further aduyse on that ye haue sayd and spoken ye must abyde the pleasure of the kynge to whome we shall shewe all your excusacions My lordes quod he all shall be as god wyll Than he was agayne sette in prisone and there remayned four dayes or he
squyer hym selfe had on the syxte And whan they where thus arayed in these sayd cotes and sowed fast in them they semed lyke wylde wode houses full of beare fro the toppe of the heed to the sowle of the foote This deuyse pleased well the frenche kynge and was well content with the squyer for it They were aparelled in these cotes secretly in a chamre that no man knewe therof but such as holpe them Whan syr yuan of Foiz had well aduysed these cores he sayd to the kynge Syr coÌ„maunde straytely that no man aproche nere vs with any torches or fyre for if the fyre fasten in any of these cotes we shall all be brent without remedy the king aunswered and sayd yuan ye speke well and wysely it shall be doone as ye haue deuysed and incontynent sent for an vssher of his chambre coÌ„maundyng him to go in to the chambre where the ladyes dauÌ„sed and to coÌ„maunde all the varlettes holdinge torches to stande vp by the walles and none of them to aproche nere to the wovehouses that shulde come thyder to daunce The vssher dyd the kynges coÌ„maundement whiche was fulfylled Sone after the duke of Orlyance entred in to the hall acompanyed with four knyghtes and syxe torches and knewe nothynge of the kynges coÌ„maundement for the torches nor of the mummery that was coÌ„mynge thyder but thought to be holde the daunsynge and began hym selfe to daunce Therwith the kynge with the fyue other came in they were so dysguysed in flaxe that no man knewe them Fyue of them were fastened one to another The kynge was lose and went before and led the deuyse WHan they entred in to the hall euery man teke so great hede to them that they forgate the torches The kynge departed fro his company and went to the ladyes to sporte with them as youth requyred and so passed by the quene and came to the duchesse of Berrey who toke and helde hym by the arme to knowe what he was but the kyng wolde nat shewe his name Than the duches sayd ye shall nat escape me tyll I knowe your name In this meane season great myschyefe fell on the other and by reason of the duke of Orlyance howe be it it was by ignoraunce and agaynst his wyll for if he had consydred before the mischefe that â—ell he wolde nat haue done as he dyd for all the good in the worlde but he was so desyrous to knowe what personages the fyue were that daunced he put one of the torches that his seruauÌ„tes helde so nere that the heate of the fyre entred in to the flaxe wherin if fyre take there is no remedy and sodaynly was on a bright flame and so eche of them set fyre on other the pytche was so fastened to the lynen clothe and their shyrtes so drye and fyne and so ioynynge to their flesshe that they began to brenne and to cry for helpe None durste come nere theym they that dyd brente their handes by reason of the heate of the pytche One of them called Nanthorillet aduysed hym howe the botry was therby he fled thyder and cast himselfe in to a vessell full of water wherin they rynsed pottes whiche saued hym or els he had ben deed as the other were yet he was sore hurt with the fyre whan the quene herde the crye that they made she douted her of the Kynge for she knewe well that he shulde be one of the syxe wherwith she fell in a sowne and knightes and ladyes came and comforted her a pyteous noyse there was in the hall The duchesse of Berrey delyuered the kynge fro that parell for she dyd caste ouer him the trayne of her gowne and couered him fro the fyre The kynge wolde haue gone fro her Whyder wyll ye go quod she ye se well howe your company brennes What are ye I am the kyng quod he Haste you quod she and gette you in to other apparell that the quene maye se you for she is in great feare of you Therwith the kynge departed out of the hall and in all haste chaunged his apparell and came to the quene And the duchesse of Berrey had somwhat comforted her and had shewed her howe she shulde se the kynge shortely Therwith the kynge came to the quene and as soone as she sawe hym for ioy she enbrased hym and fell in a sowne Than she was borne in to her chambre and the kynge wente with her And the bastarde of Foiz who was all on a fyre cryed euer with a loude voyce saue the kynge saue the kynge Thus was the kynge saued It was happy for hym that he went fro his company for els he had ben deed without remedy This great myscheife fell thus about mydnyght in the hall of saynt Powle in Parys where there was two brente to dethe in the place and other two the bastarde of Foiz and the erle of Iouy borne to their lodgynges and dyed within two dayes after in gret mysery and payne Thus the feest of this maryage brake vp in beuynesse howe be it there was no remedy The faulte was onely in the duke of Orlyaunce and yet he thought none yuell whanne he put downe the torche Than the duke sayde Syrs lette euery man knowe there is no man to blame for this cause but all onely my selfe I ame sory therof If I had thought as moche before it shulde nat haue happened Than the duke of Orlyaunce went to the kynge to excuse hym and the kyng toke his excuse This case fell in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and twelue the tuesday before the feest of Candelmas of whiche fortune great brute spredde abrode in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and in other countreys The dukes of Burgoyne and of Berrey were nat there present at that season They hadde taken their leaue before of the kyng and were gone to their lodginges THe next daye these newes spredde abrode in the cytie and euery manne had merueyle therof and some sayd howe God had sente that token for an ensample and that it was wysedome for the kynge to regarde it and to withdrawe hym selfe fro suche yonge ydell wantonnesse whiche he had vsed ouermoche beynge a kyng The coÌ„mons of the cytie of Parys murmured sayd Beholde the great myshappe and myschiefe that was lykely to haue fallen on the kynge He myght as well haue been brent as other were What shulde haue fallen than of the kynges vncles and of his brother They myght haue ben sure none of them shulde haue scaped the dethe yea and all the knyghtes that myght haue been founde in Parys As soone as the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne herde of that aduenture they were abasshed and marueyled greatly They lepte on their horses and rode to the kyng and coÌ„forted and counsayled hym whiche was necessary for he was sore troubled and the paryll that he was in was styll in his ymaginacion he shewed his vncles howe his aunt of Berrey had saued hym
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌ„ded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ— that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâ—tendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌ„myssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌ„t of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌ„ce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌ„maundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌ„dement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌ„maundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
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 clocke in the forenoone The two Kynges departed oute of their tentes the which were pyght nat farre asondre and came a foote the one to the other and met at a certayne place that was apoynted And on the one syde there was araynged four hundred knyghtes of Fraunce armed with their swerdes in their hādes And on the other parte foure hundred Englysshe knyghtes in lyke maner So the two kynges passed through them The dukes of Lācastre and of Gloucestre ledde the Frenche kynge and the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne ledde the kynge of Englande Thus they came foreby the sayd eight hundred knightes And whan the two kynges came iust toguyder all the eyght hundred knyghtes kneled downe to the grounde and many of them wepte for ioye Thus the two kynges mette toguyder bareheeded and a lytell enclyned and tooke eche other by the handes Than the Frenche kynge ledde the kynge of Englande in to his tente whiche was noble and ryche and the four dukes tooke eche other by the handes and folowed the two kynges And other knyghtes after the Frenche men on the one syde and the Englysshe men on the other syde And so they stode regardyng eche other in good and humble maner tyll all was done Than̄e it was ordayned that on the same place where as the two kynges tooke eche other by the hande that there shulde be made and founded a chapell in the honoure of our Lady and shulde be called our lady of Grace I can nat tell whether it were made or nat SO the two kynges hande in hāde entred in to the Frenche kynges tente Than the foure dukes kneled downe before the kynges and they reysed them vp so talked toguyder Than the two kynges wente a lytell a parte and talked a certayne space In the meane tyme wyne and spyces were brought The duke of Berrey serued the Frenche kynge of spyce and the duke of Burgoyne of wyne And the dukes of Lācastre Glocester serued the kyng of Englād thā other knightes squiers serued all other prelates lordes so that euery man wtin the tent hadde parte and in the meane tyme the two kynges cōmuned toguyder This busynesse done and paste the two kynges tooke leaue eche of other and so retourned to their tentes and tooke their horses and rode towardes Calais The kyng to Guysnes the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucester to Hāmes and the other to Calais The Frenche kyng rode to Cordre and the duke of Orlyaunce with hym the duke of Berrey to Dornam and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre So there was no more done that daye all their tentes stode styll in the feldes THan on the Saturdaye on the feest of saynt Symon and Iude aboute a .xi. of the clocke the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes cāe to the Frenche kyng in to his tent they were receyued right honorably and euery manne talked with his felowe merily Than tables were sette vp and the two kynges sat at one table alone the Frenche kynge on the ryght hande The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone serued the two kynges thā the duke of Burbone caste forthe many iestyng wordes to make the kynges to laughe and suche as were before the table For this duke was a mery man and sayd openly addressynge his wordes to the kynge of Englāde Sir quod he ye ought to make good chere for ye haue all that ye desyre ye haue your wife or shall haue her deliuered to you Than the Frenche kyng sayd Burbonoys We wolde that our doughter were of the age that our cosyn of saynt Poule is on the condicyon that it cost me a great good than she shulde take my sonne with the better good wyll The kynge of Englande herde well those wordes and answered spekyng to the duke of Burbone bycause the Frēche kyng hadde compared his doughter to the erle of saynt Poules doughter and sayd Sir the age that my wyfe that shall be is of pleaseth you right well we loue nat so moche her herytage than I do the loue of you of our realmes For we two beyng of one accorde there is no kynge christen nor other that are able to anoye vs. This dyner thus done in the Frenche kynges tent and after wyne and spyces taken than the yonge quene was brought forthe a companyed with a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles and there she was delyuered to the kyng of Englande Whan that was done euery man toke their leaue to departe The yonge quene was sette in a ryche lytter and there wente no mo frenche ladyes with her but the lady of Coucy There were the ladyes of Englande the duchesses of Lancastre of yorke and of Gloucestre of Irelande the lady of Namure the lady Poynynges and a great nombre of other ladies who receyued the quene with great ioye Thus the kyng of Englande and the yonge quene and his company rode to Calais the same nyght and the frenche kyng and his cōpany to saynt Omers Than the Tuesdaye after whiche was Alhalowen day the kyng of Englande maryed the sayd lady Isabell of Fraūce in the churche of saynt Nicholas in Calais the archebysshop of Caūterbury wedded theym at whiche tyme there was a great feest and great largesse The Thursdaye after there came to Calais the dukes of Orlyaunce and of Burbone to se the kynge and the quene And on the friday they tooke their leaue and departed and rode to saynt Omers to the Frenche kyng And the same day in the mornyng the kyng and the quene toke their shyppe and hadde fayre passage they were ouer within thre houres the kynge laye in the castell of Douer and the nexte daye to Rochestre than to Dartforde and so to Eltham Than̄e all lordes and ladyes toke their leaue and a fiftene dayes after the quene was brought to the cytie of London accompanyed with many lordes ladyes and damosels laye the fyrst night at the towre of London and the nexte day cōueyed along throughe the cytie with great solempnyte to the kynges palais of Westmynster and ther the kyng was before redy to receyue her the same daye the londoners gaue to the quene great presentes Than was there ordayned a great iustes to be holden in the cytie of Lōdon of .xl. knyghtes and squyers chalēgers to be holden at Candelmas nexte after whiche was delyuered to the Herauldes to publysshe on bothe sydes of the realme to Scotlande And whan the Frenche kyng was cōe to Parys after the maryage of his doughter and euery lorde departed home there ranne than a great brute through the realme howe the frenche kyng was in purpose at the begynnynge of Marche to go with a great army in to Lombardy to dystroye the lorde Galeas duke of Mylayne the kyng had suche displeasure agaynst hym that no man coulde tourne hym but that he wolde make that voyage and the kyng of Englande had promysed to sende hym syxe thousande archers
the erle of Derby his sonne and also the duke of yorke and his sonne Iohan erle of Rutlande The kyng loued the erle of Rutlande beyonde measure who dissymuled the dethe of his vncle the duke of Gloucestre shewed howe he wolde gladly se a good peace bytwene the parties said howe he knew well that his vncle dyde wronge oftentymes agaynst the kynge The londoners in lykewyse consydred the great myschiefe that myght fall in Englande by the discencyon bytwene the kynges vncles the kyng and their alyaunces Also they consydred syth the myschefe was fallen of the duke of Gloucestres dethe that there was no recouery therin they knewe well it was bycause the duke of Gloucestre had been to lauesse of his tonge and wolde haue styrred the realme to haue broken the trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce Wherfore suche as were wyse men in the cytie dissymuled the mater and thought it was no tyme to a mende it as than they feared the puyssaūce of Fraunce and lesynge of their marchaundyse Than beganne to treate and went as a meane bytwene the king and the duke of Lancastre who was in many imagynacions for the dethe of his brother troubled him sore Also he sawe howe his nephue kynge Rycharde was alyed by mariage with the frenche kyng Also the duke of Lancastre had .ii. of his doughters out of the lande one quene of Spayne a nother quene of Portugale by whome he thought he shulde haue great ayde if he made warre agaynst his nephue kynge Rycharde All thynges consydred the duke chaunged his courage at the desyre of the londoners and of other prelates of Englande who were meane bytwene the kyng and hym and by their meanes the kynge was agreed with the duke and peace made with that the kinge promysed fro thens forwarde to be gouerned by the duke of Lancastre and to do nothyng but by his counsayle and aduyse whiche promesse the kynge nothynge fulfylled but was counsayled by yonge and wylde coūsayle whiche was to his hurte and great dōmage as ye shall here after in this hystory THus the kyng of Englande had peace with his vncles bycause of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre Than he beganne to reygne more fiersly than he dyd before The kynge went and lay in Essex where as the duke of Gloucestre had the chiefe rule whiche ought to haue pertaygned to Affcen his sonne and heyre but the kynge toke all for the ordynaunce in Englande was the kynge to haue the warde of all herytours chyldren orphelyns vnder the age of .xxi. yeres and than they to haue their herytages Thus the kinge tooke the wardeshyppe of his cosyn the duke of Gloucestres herytour and the kynge toke the possession profyte of all the dukes lande and kepte the chylde with hym And the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters were with the quene The duke of Gloucestr◠by enherytaunce was constable of Englande the kynge toke that offyce fro the right heyre and gaue it to his cosyn the erle of Rutlande The kynge than kept greate state than euer he dyd nor there had nat ben no kynge before in Englande that spente so moche yerely by a hundred thousande nobles as he dyd In lyke wyse the kynge had with hym the heyre of the erle of Arundell who was beheeded at London And bycause a knyght that was belongyng to the duke of Gloucestre called Cerbe spake at a tyme certayne wordes agaynst the kynge and his counsayle he was taken and beheeded Syr Iohan of Quynghay was in great parell but whan he sawe that the maters went so dyuersely as they dyd he dyssymuled as moch as he might and departed fro the duchesse of Gloucestres house and wente and dwelt in other places ¶ In those dayes there was none so great in Englande that durst speake agaynst any thynge that the kyng dyd or wolde do He had counsayle mete for his appetyte who exhorted hym to do what he lyst The kynge kept styll in his wages ten thousande archers night and day that wayted on him for he reputed himselfe nat parfytely sure of his vncles nor of the lygnage of Arundell ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the great assemble that was made in the cytie of Reyns as well by the emperour as of the realme of Fraūce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii THe same seasone there was a great assēble of gret lordes in the cytie of Reynes what of lordes of the empyre and of Fraunce to the entent to bring the churche to a peace and reste for the frenche kynge dyd so moche that at his request his cosyn the kynge of Almayne came to the cytie of Reynes with his counsayle and bycause they wolde nat haue it brewted that they assembled there all onely for the mater by twent the popes the one at Rome and the other at Auygnon they made it to be noysed that they came thyder to treate for a maryage of the sonne of the marques of Blācquebourge with the doughter of the duke of Orlyaunce This Marques was brother to the kynge of Almayne The frenche kyng lay at the archebysshoppes palayes and there was with hym the dukes of Orlyaūce Berrey and Burbon therle of saynt Powle and dyuers other hygh barones and prelates of Fraunce And whan the kinge of Almayne entred in to the cytie all the lordes and prelates and kynge Charles of Nauer who was in lykewyse there went to mete with hym and receyued hym honourably Fyrste they brought hym to our lady churche and after in to the abbey of saynt Remy there the kynge of Almayne laye and his lordes aboute hym And it was ordeyned by the frenche kinge that what so euer the kynge of Almayne spent shulde be at the frenche kynges cost The almayns had euery day delyuered theym ten tonne of herynge for it was in Lent tyme and eyght hundred carpes besyde other fysshes whiche was a great charge WHan the kyng of Almayne came first to the frenche kynge all the lordes went for hym to saynt Remy and so brought him to the kynges palays Whan these two kynges mette they made great honoure eche to other and great reuerence and specyally the frenche kynge for almayns of nature are rude and grose manered without it be to take their profyte therto they be experte and redy ynough All the lordes of Fraunce and of Almayne toke acquayntaunce eche with other with louyng wordes and countinaunce and the frenche kynge made the kynge of Almayne and his company a great dyner at one table there sate fyrst the patryarke of Iherusalem than the king of Almayne the frenche kynge and the kynge of Nauer there sate no mo at that table At the other tables sate the lordes and prelates of Almayne No lorde of Fraūce sate that day but sarued To the kynges borde the meate was brought by the dukes of Berrey of Burbone the erle of saynt Powle and by other great lordes of Fraūce The duke of Orlyaūce set euery man
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
retourned out of Englande and of the aunswere that was made to hym Cap. lvii ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey departed fro Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was contrary to hym Cap. lviii ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berrey Ca. lix ¶ Howe kynge Charles of Fraunce and the frenche lordes returned yuell content fro sluse and out of Flaunders where as their prouysyons were made to haue gone in to Englande and of the feest that was made at London Cap. lx ¶ Howe we a squier called Iaques le Grise was acused in the parlyament howse at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called Iohan of Carongne and what iudgement was gyuen vpon them and howe they iusted at vttraunce in Paris in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple howe Iaques le Grise was confounded Cap. lxi ¶ Howe the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux was set in prisone in Barcelona Cap. lxi ¶ How a batayle of armes was done in Burdeaux before the seneschall there and dyuers other Cap. lxii ¶ Howe Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to syr Charles of Bloyes was delyuered out of prison by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce Cap. lxxii ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone was chosen to go in to Castyle and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyrall of FlauÌ„ders was token prisoner by the englysshmen Ca. lxxii ¶ Howe the englysshe men aryued and brent dyuers villages Cap. lxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters marshall toke the towne of Rybadane whiche was strongly kept Cap. xliii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sent for the admyrall and marshall and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Cap. lxxiiii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his men rode towardes the cytie of Besances howe the towne made composycion with them Capi. lxxv ¶ Howe the duchesse and her doughter went to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene and howe the towne of Basances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvi ¶ Howe they of Basances that had ben sente to the Kynge of Castyle came home to their towne after it was rendred vp to the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Cap. lxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the realme of Castyle Cap. lxxix ¶ Howe syr WyllmÌ„ of Lygnac and sir Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge Iohan of Castyle Cap. lxxx ¶ Howe a great myschiefe fell in Englande bytwene the gentylmen and coÌ„mons for accompte of suche money as had been reysed of the coÌ„mons Cap. lxxxi ¶ Of the great dyscordes that were in Englande after the breakynge vp of the frenche armye and howe the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the coÌ„mons of the good townes to make acomptes of suche money as was come in to their handes the season that they ruled Cap. lxxxii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of the realme apparelled great prouysions to go in to Englande to wyn townes and castels Cap. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sent for all his lordes and kynghtes to come to counsayle vnto Wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to go and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prisoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce was delyuered at the request of the lorde de la Vale parenge a certayne raunsome and howe the constable delyuered to the duke thre castelles and a towne and payed a huÌ„dred thousande frankes Cap. lxxxv ¶ Howe Writinges were made at the duke of Bretayns deuyse for the constable to rendre his towne and castelles to the duke and to his heyres for euer and how they were delyuered to the duke Cap. lxxxvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge fro the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght displeasaunt and vnto his vncles Cap. lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters men assayled the towne of Aurence and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale brente a towne whan he was departed fro Porte and besieged two castles Cap. lxxxix ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and his host came before Feroule and assauted it and it was won and brought vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxxx ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the constable of Fraunce and of the answere that was made to them Cap. xci ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one acorde and alyaunce agaynst the kynge and his counsayle and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande and of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the offycers appered in the presens of the kynges vncles and coÌ„mons of Englande and howe syr Symon Burle was prisoner in the towre of LoÌ„don and howe syr Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande departed fro London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheeded at London and his nephewe also and howe the duke of Lancastre was dyspleased Cap. xciiii ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde to make warre agaynst his vncles and agaynst the cyties and townes Cap. xcv ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande made his â—oÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe syr Roberte Tryuylyen was taken at Westmynster and beheeded by the coÌ„maundement of the kynges vncles Cap. xcvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the kynge of the dethe of his knyght and demanunded counsayle theron and howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his menne of warre Capi. xcvii ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande sent thre kynghtes to London to knowe some tydynges and howe the kynges vncles and they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii ¶ Howe the kynges vncles wan the iourney agaynst the duke of Irelande and howe he fledde and dyuers other of his company Cap. xcix ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande and his company fled and howe the kynges vncles were at Oxenforde and howe syr Nycholas Bramble was beheeded and howe the kynge was sent for by the bysshoppe of Cannterbury Capi. C. ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to Westmynster to a generall counsayle
there to be holden Cap. C .i. ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puyssaunce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puissaunce and howe they coulde nat passe the Ryuer of Dierne and howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theym the passage Capi. C .ii. ¶ Howe the tydynges spred abrode that the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of dierne and howe it came to the kynge of Castylles knowledge and howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and tode before vyle Arpent and howe the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmynge of the duke of Burbon Cap. C .iii. ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe an haraulde was sent to the kynge of Castyle and howe thre knyghtes of Englande wente to speake with the kynge of Castyle for a saue conducte for the dukes men to passe thoroughe his countrey Capi. C.iiii. ¶ Howe these three knyghtes optayned a saue conducte of the kynge of Castyle for their people to passe and howe dyuers of the englysshe men dyed in Castyle and howe the Duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Capi. C.v. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande the Duke of Lancasters constable tooke his leaue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the kynge of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe syr Iohan Dambrity court went to Parys to accomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and syr Boucyquant Cap. C .vi. ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone departed fro Auignon to go into Castyle with all his hoost and came to Burgus in Spaygne and there founde the kynge of Castyle And howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tydynge and howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Capi. C .vii. ¶ Howe the erle of Foiz receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great gyftes that he gaue hym and howe syr Willyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passackes company departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynte Phagon Capi. C .viii. ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle and his counsayle were yuell content with syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultier of Passackes company and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C .ix. ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake tooke great payne to treate with the companyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C .x. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage wystenat what to do came for refuge to the archcbysshoppe of Coloygne his vncle who blamed hym and howe ambassadours went to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthalte of Malygnes by whome he hadde a doughter and after maryed agayne in Englande and hadde issue two sonnes and a doughter and howe syr Iohan of Bloyes wedded the eldest doughter of the Erle of Guerles and howe after the countie of Guerles remayned with the erle of Guerles yongest doughter Capi. C .xii. ¶ Howe these castelles of Gauleche Buthe and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iulyers sustayned the Lynfars in his countre who robbed all maner of people and of the great assemble that the duke of Brabante made to go to Iulyers and howe he was dyscomfyced Cap. C .xiii. ¶ Howe the duke of Brabant dyed and howe the duke Guillyam of Guerles treated with the duchesse of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castelles and what aunswere he had and howe he made alyaunce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C .xiiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the frenche kynge complaynynge of the duke of Guerles and howe the kynge and his counsayle were sore busyed with incydentes that fell in the realme of Fraunce as well for the defyaunces of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretayne Cap. C .xv. ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampylona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vanchadore was besieged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the Duchesse of Brabante Cap. C .xvi. ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brent and ryfled the towne of Seaull retourned to their garyson and of the ioye that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse of Brabant made for that dede and howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce dyscomfyted the englysshe men Capi. C .xvii. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce ledde these prisoners to Mount Ferante and howe they of the countrey were gladde whan they herde of this entreprise and howe Geronet and his company were sette to raunsome and delyuered by the money that Perot of Bierne lent hym Cap. C .xviii. ¶ Howe Geronet of Mandurāt with twelue of his company retourned to Mount ferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with four hundred speares wente to Mount Ferante and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other way but in at the gate Cap. C .xix. ¶ Howe Geronet lette in Perot le Bernoys and his company in to the towne of Mount ferant wherof the countrey was a frayde and howe the kynge and his vncles beynge at Parys were therwith sore dyspleased and also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne Cap. C .xx. ¶ Howe Perotte le Bernoys and his company tooke their counsayle and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mount ferant and howe the sayd Perot and his company departed thens by nyght withall their pyllage and prisoners and wente and refresshed them in the towne of Ousac Cap. C .xxi. ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremounte made a skrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of Moūt ferant at the gates of the towne Cap. C .xxii. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloyes sonne and howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge Charles of Fraunce Cap. C .xxiii. ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lancastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenche men recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the Englysshe men that had ben there in that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the Frenche kynge sente for the duke of Irelande Cap. C .xxiiii. ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce wolde nat accorde that the kynge shulde goo in to Almaygne bycause of the incydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons and made alyaūce with the kynge of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C .xxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoyes layde siege to the towne of Graue and howe the Constable of Fraunce tooke saynt Malo and saynte Mathewes and sette there men in garysone and howe the duke of Lancastre was
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
refused by vs. For surely sir all suche wordes as ye haue said we dyde speke them A goddes name quod the admyrall let me ones se theÌ„ And so anon after therle Dugles and other barons of ScotlaÌ„de brought thadmyrall vnto a highe mountayne and vnder the hyll there was a passage wherby theÌ„glysshe host must passe on this hyll was thadmyrall with diuers knightê of FrauÌ„ce in his company And there clerely they sawe the Englysshe men and all their puissaunce and ther they nombred them as nere as they coude to be a sire thousande men of armes threscore thousande archers and other Than all thynges coÌ„sydred they sayd howe they were nat of puyssaunce suffycient to fight with the Englysshemen for they passed nat a thousande speares a .xxx. thousande of all other men and but yuell armed Than the admyrall sayd to the etle Duglas and to therle Morette Sirs ye saye but good reason thoughe ye haue no wyll to fight with the Englisshe men Therfore aduyse you what ye wyll do they are stronge ynoughe to ouer ryde all your countrey and to distroy it And sithe ye maye nat fight with them I pray you bring me throughe your countre by some priuye waye in to Englande if it maye be and we shall make them warre in some other parte as they do to vs here Sir ê™ the barones that shall we well do for we knowe dyuers wayes TO thus the admyrall and the barones of Scotlande determyned to forsake Scotlande and to lette the Englyssh men alone and to go entre into Wales and to go to the cytie of Carlyle and there to reuenge them So they lefte the Englysshe men and toke the forestes and mountayns and as they rode throughe out Scotlande they distroyed all as they wente and brent townes vyllages and maners and caused all the men women chyldren of the couÌ„tre to driue all their catayle and to go into that wylde forestes for they knewe well the Englisshe men wolde nat folowe them thyder And the kynge of Scottes wente in to the wylde scottysshe bicause he wes nat iÌ„ good poynt to ryde a warfare and they he taryed all the warre durynge and lette his men alone So the Frenche men and Scottes passed the highe mountayns bytwene NorthumberlaÌ„de and Scotlande and entred in to the lande of Wales and began to brenne villages and dyd moche hurte in the Mombrayes landes And the erle of Notyngham the erle of Stafforde and the barone of Grasoppe and the Mosgrâ—ues landes and so they toke the waye to the cytie of Carlyle ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande toke EdeÌ„borowe the chefe cytie of Scotlande and howe the duke of Lancastre was in purpose to retourne in to wales to close in the frenchmen and scottes and what the frenche men the scottes dyde in the sayd countre Cap. xiiii THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce was the erle of Graunt Pre and the lorde of saynt Croix sir Geffray of Charney ser Wyl lyam de Brume sir Iames of Boesme the lorde of Pegny the lorde of Hee s the lorde of Marnell sir Valeran of Rauenall the barone Dâ—â—ery the barone of Fountayns the lorde of Croye sir Brake of Braquemont the lorde of Landury and well a thousande speres of barons knightes of Fraunce And so they and the lordes of Scotlande rode in NorthuÌ„berlande bytwene the mountayns on the fronters of Wales brennyng townes maners and countrees And the kyng of Englande and his vncles with barons and knightes of EnglaÌ„de and their companyes entred in to Scotlande and brent and exyled on their parte And so the kyng came and lodged in Edenborowe the chefe towne in all Scotlande and there taryed fyue dayes and at his departyng it was set a fyre brent vp clene but the castell had no hurt for it was stronge ynough and well kept Whyle the kyng lay at Edenborowe thenglysshmen rode abrode in the countre and dyd moche hurt but they fouÌ„de nother man nor beest abrode for all was withdrawen in to the forestes In the Englysshe hoost were mo than a huÌ„dred thousaÌ„de men and well as many horse wherof they had nede of great prouisyon and they fouÌ„de none in Scotlande but out of Englande there caÌ„e to theÌ„ great plentie bothe by lande and by see Than the kyng departed fro EdeÌ„borowe and rode towarde Estruleyn a good towne wherin there was a great abbey of blacke monkes and moost coÌ„menly the kynges of Scotlande are there buryed The kyng lay in the abbey at their deê‘tyng abbey all was brent Than they passed the ryuer of Taxe whiche ronneth to saint IohnÌ„s towne at the castell of Strulyn there was a great assaute but it wolde nat be wonne yet the towne and all the landes of the lorde Vercy they brent THe entent of the duke of Lancastre and of his bretherne was to passe through Scotlande and to pursue the scottes and frenche men for they knew well they were gone the waye to Wales to go to Carlyle And so they thought to enclose theÌ„ bytwene Englande and Scotlande and to fight with them at their aduauntage This purpose they thought veryly to holde Thenglysshe men spredde abrode in ScotlaÌ„de there was no resystence agaynst theÌ„ for the countre was voyde of all men of warre they were gone in to Englande with the admyrall of Fraunce And so there the Englysshmen brent the towne of saynt IohnÌ„s where as the ryuer of Taxe rynneth and there is a good hauen to sayle thens ouer all the worlde and after they brent the towne of Donde The Englyssh men spared nother abbeys nor minsters but set all on fyre And so they of the vowarde ran to Bredan whiche is a cytie on the see syde It is on thentre of the wylde scottysshe but they dyd no hurte therto howe be it they of the countrey were right sore afrayed They of that cytie thought to haue assaute for they feared leest the kynge of Englande wolde haue come thyder and haue ouer ron all that countre THus in lykewise as the Englysshemen dyde in Scotlande so dyd the frenche men and scottes in Englande in the marchesse of Northumberlande and Wales they brent a great countre as they went out of Northumberlande and entred in to Wales whiche was otherwise called Wynslande and passed by the landes of the lordes of Graystocke and Clyfforde and brent in their voyage dyuers great villages for they were no men of warre in that couÌ„tre as than for they were all with the kyng So they came to the cyte of Catlyle in Wales whiche was well closed with gatê walles dykes It was a place that of auncyent tyme kynge Arthure loued rightwell bycause that there were great woodes and many dedes of armes there was done There laye in Carlyle in garison sir Lewes Clyfforde brother to sir WyllmÌ„ Neuell and with hym sir ThomÌ„s Mosgraue and Dauy Holgraue his sonne and sir Dongorsse and dyuers other of the marchesse and fronters of Wales for the
cytte of Carlyle was chiefe cytie of all that countre and it was nede full for good men of warre to be theâ— for whan the admyrall of Fraunce came thyder he assayled the cytie by great force the whiche assaute was cruell and fierse So thus before the cytie there were many noble dedes of armes done ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Oxenforde brake the pursute that the kyng of EnglaÌ„d had thought to haue made in to wales after the frenche men and scottes And howe the kynge retourned the same waye that he came and howe the frenche men and scottes determyned to retourne agayne in to ScotlaÌ„de Cap. xv THe kyng of Englandes vncles knewe well what waye the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and the scottes helde said how they thought it for the best to folowe theym and to serche tyll they myght fynde them and so to fight with them Sayeng howe they coude in no wyse escape them In this purpose was the duke of Lancastre and his bretherne and dyuers other of the great barons of Englande and the moost parte of the coÌ„mons of the hoost And as than all their prouisyon was come as well by lande as by see and the kynge also was agreed to the same purpose and than on a night the erle of Oxenforde who was as than chiefe of counsayle with the kynge bare all the rule the kyng trusted no man so moche He turned the kyng cleue fro his purpose I can nat shewe you for what cause but the enformed the kyng as it was knowen after and said sir What thynke ye to do Wyll ye folowe the way that your vncles hath counsayled Sir knowe for trouth that if ye do so ye shall neuer returne agayne For sir the duke of LaÌ„castre desyreth none other thynge but that ye were deed that he might be kyng Howe durst he couÌ„sayle yor grace to go this wynter season in to a strange countrey Sir I wolde nat counsayle you to passe the mouÌ„tayns of Northumberlande for there be mo than .xxx. streightes and passages that if ye were closed in them ye shulde neuer come out agayne without daunger of the scottes Sir putte nat youre selfe in to that daunger what soeuer they saye to you If the duke of Lancastre wyll go lette hym go and haue the charge therof but by my counsayle ye shall nat go Sir ye haue done ynough for this one tyme. youre father was neuer so farre within Scotlande nor yet Kynge Edwarde youre graunt father Therfore sir this oughte to contente you and saue youre owne persone ye be yonge and lusty And suche there be that sheweth you sayre semblant and loueth you but lâ—tell The kynge gaue suche audyence to the sayeng of this erle that it went neuer out of his mynde as ye shall herafter THe next mornyng the lordes of Englande and their people ordred them selfe to deê‘te out of ScotlaÌ„de and to folowe their ennemyes to fight with them as it was concluded the night before Than the duke of Lancastre came to the king his nephue nat knowyng of the trouble and chaunge of his purpose â–ª and the kynge beyng in his malencoly assone as he sawe hym he sayd in great yre Certesse vncle of LaÌ„castre ye shall nat attayne as yet to your entent Thynke you for all your wordes that we wyll lese our selfe folisshely I wyll nat beleue you nor yet your couÌ„sayle for I se therby more domage than profyte to vs and to our people For if ye wyll make this voyage do it and ye lyste but as for me I wyll nat For I wyll retourne into Englande the nexte waye and all suche as loue vs wyll folowe vs. Than the duke of Lancastre sayd Sir I shall folowe you for ye haue neuer a man in your company that loueth you so well as I do also my bretherne And if there be any man wyll saye except your persone that I wolde any thynge otherwyse than well to you or to your people here is my guage to the coÌ„trarie So there was none that wolde speke any worde And the kynge helde his peace and spake to other of his seruauntes of other maters and orderyng hymselfe to returne into Englande the same way that he came and the duke of LaÌ„castre departed fro the kynge right sore troubled in his mynde and returned to his coÌ„pany and made newe ordynauÌ„ce for in the morning they had thought to haue folowed the frenchmen in to the marches of Wales but they dyde nat so for they retourned the next waye in to Englande Lo thus ye may se howe thetle of OxeÌ„forde who was great with the kyng brake all this voyage and dyuers of the great lordes sayd that the kyng was yuell counsayled Seynge that all the prouisyon was come For they sayd they might well haue folowed the scottes in to Wales For in their so doyng they shulde euer haue drawen in to Englande warde And some ê‘sons that were wery of payne and trauell said howe that all thynges coÌ„sidred they were better to retourne than to go any further Sayeng howe a great ê“uision must be had to scrue suche an host howe it was yuell to passe the mountayns that wynter season wherby they sayd they might rather lese than wynne THus in his season brake vp the iorney and army of Englande and the kynge and his lordes retourned in to Englande the same way they came but they hadde distroyed the moost parte of the realme of Scotlande These tidynges came to the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce and to the scottes than they tooke counsayle what was best for them to do and so concluded to retourne agayne in to Scotlande for their vitails began to fayle and they were in a poore countrey for they had distroyed the marches of Carlyle and the landes of the barone of Clyfforde the lorde Maubray and the bysshoprike of Carlyle but the cytie they coude nat wynne And the frenche men sayd howe they had brent and distroyed in the bysshorike of Dyrhame Carlyle that was better worthe than all the townes in Scotlande So the frenchmen and scottes retourned in to Scotlande the same waye they came And whan they came into ScotlaÌ„de they founde the countrey distroyed but the people of the countre dyde sette but lytell therby and said howe with thre or four poles shortely they wolde make agayne their houses for they had saued moche of their catayle in the forestes But all that the frenche men tooke they were fayne to paye truely therfore and dere The frenche men were often in great daunger for the scottes and they were at many debates for vitayle And the scotes sayd howe the frenche men dyde them more demage than the Englysshe men had done when it was demaunded of them why so they answered and sayde howe the frenche men as they rode abrode they beate downe desoyled their cornes as whete barley and otes and wolde nat kepe the highe wayes but rather ryde throughe the corne Of whiche demages they said they
place with the banner of Flaunders before theym And they wyll crye through the towne the Lyon of FlauÌ„ders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath ê‘doned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌ„e obeyed without we preuent them and putte them out of our iurysdyctions What is best than to do quod sir Iohan Bourchier Than aunswered Peter and sayd It behoueth that to morowe in the mornyng we assemble in harnes all our men in the house de la Vale And than let vs go throughe the towne with the kynge of Englandes baner before vs and lette vs crye also The Lyon of Flaunders kynge of Englande lorde of this countrey and towne of Gaunte And whan we come in to the market place suche as be on our partie wyll drawe to vs and than lette vs flee all the other treatours It is well deuysed ê™ sir Iohan Bourchier lette it so be done ¶ Nowe beholde if god dyde nat moche for these two Roger and Iaques For they were enfourmed of Peter de Boyse deuyse whan they knewe it they were nat abasshed But late in the euenynge they sente to all their frendes that where as they shulde be the nexte daye in the market place by eight of the cloke in any wyse they desyred them to be there by seuyn of the clocke and that they dyde to preuent Peter de Boyse To this poyntment euery man was agreed and on the monday in the mornyng sir Iohan Bourchyer and his company came to the house called de la Vale with hym a threscore and Peter de Boyse came thyder with a xl there they armed theÌ„ in good ordynaunce sette them selfe forwarde And Roger and Iaques assembled their frendes togyder and the moost parte of the aldermen and burgesses of Gaunt came to them Than they toke the erles baner and went through the towne cryeng the foresaid crye and suche as herde the crye and sawe the aldermen of their craftes and the baners of the erle they folowed after and came to the same coÌ„pany And so by seuyn of the clocke they came to the market place and there set theÌ„ selfe in good order with therles baners before them and euer there came mo and mo to them These tidynges came anone to sir Iohn Bourchier and to Peter de Boyse who were assemblynge of their people Than they went forthe with the baners of EnglaÌ„de before them and as they wente they cryed their cryes before deuysed And so they came to the said market place and there araynged them selfe before the other but euer suche as came the moost parte went to the Erles baners so that if a hundred came fourscore went thyder In so moche that all the place was full of men of armes and so they stode eche regardyng other WHan Peter de Boyse sawe howe the aldermen of the craftes drewe to Roger and Iaques he was sore abasshed and douted greatly of his lyfe For he sawe suche as were wont to serue hym flye awaye fro hym and so priuely he stale awaye oute of the prease and hydde hym selfe for feare of dethe And whan Roger and Iaques sawe that nighe all the people drewe to their parte they were right ioyouse and well coÌ„forted and nat without good cause For than they sawe well that the people of Gaunt wolde be in peace with their lorde Than they departed with a certayne of their company with the baners of Flaunders before them and so came to sir Iohan Bourchyer and to the Englysshemen who were nat very sure of their lyues whan they sawe them come towarde them Than Roger demauÌ„ded of sir Iohan Bourchier wher Peter de boyse was and what was his entent and whyder he was their frende or enemy The knight answered and said I thynke Peter de Boyse be here by me and whan he sawe that he was gone he sayd I knowe nat wher he is become I went he had been in my company But as for me I am and wyll be seruaunt to my naturall lorde the kyng of Englande who sende me hyder at your owne desyres if ye well remembre It is true quod they for if ye had nat ben desyred to come hyder by the towne of Gaunte ye shulde haue ben slayne But for the honour of the kynge of Englande who sende you hyder at our request ye shall nat nede to feare nor non of yoâ—s ye shall haue no hurte We shall saue you from all domages and conducte you to the towne of Calayes Wherfore departe to your lodgynges peasably and â—lyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of oure naturall lorde the duke of Burgoyne and wyll make no more warre The knyght was ryght Ioyouse of that aunswere to be so quyte and sayd Sir sythe it wyll be none otherwyse so be it and I thanke you of that ye offre me at this tyme. ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan Dell came to gauÌ„t to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the cytie where and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sent to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Cap. xx THan sir Iohan Bourchier departed peasably fro the place with all thenglissh men and suche Gauntoyse as were in his Companye fledde awaye and hydde theÌ„ selfe And anone after entred in to the towne sir Iohan Delle and came in to the market place with the dukes letters sende thyder by the duke And there they were opyned and reed to all the people whiche gretlye pleased theym Than Fraunces Atreman was sent for fro the castell of Gaure who incoÌ„tynent came to them and agreed to the treatie and sayd it was well And so thervpon sir Iohan Delle was sente agayne to the duke who was as than at Arras shewed hym all the demeanour of the gauntoyse And howe that Peter de Boyse had as than no rule nor audyence in the towne and howe that if he had ben fouÌ„de he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌ„ces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌ„tly and confyrmable to the Peace All these thynges pleased moche the duke and so he sealed a charter of peace and a truse to endure vntyll the firste day of Ianuarye and in the meane season a counsayle to be had for that matter in the cytie of Tourney And all the sir IohnÌ„ Delle brought agayne with hym to Gaunte wherof all the people had great ioye For they shewed than howe they had great desyre to haue peace All this season sir Iohan Bowser and the Englysshe men and Peter de Boyse were styll in Gaunte but there was no man wolde do any thynge after them and Peter de Boyse lyued styll in rest With that he sware that he shulde nat procure nor moue any thynge that shulde cause any warre bytwene the towne and their naturall
quarell to moue the warre for dyuers reasons So than kyng Denyse was defyed all his helpers in Portyngale Than the kyng of Spayne made a gret soÌ„mons of men of warâ— to lay siege to the cytie of Luxbone the kyng sayd he wolde neuer departe thens tyll he had it for they had answered hym so proudely that they shuld derely repent it if he might ouercoÌ„e them Thus the king of Castell with all his puissauÌ„ce came to saynt yrayne At that season there was a knight chased â—ut of his court who was called sir Nauret For if the kyng myght haue gette hym it shulde haue cost hym his hâ—ed the knight had knowledge therof for he hadde many good frendes So he auoyded the Realme of Castell and came to Luxbone to the kyng of Portyngale who had great ioye of his comynge and retayned hym made hym a great capitayne and he dyde after moche hurte to the spayniardes The kynge of Castell departed fro saynt yrayne and came and layde siege before the cytie of Luxbone and enclosed therin the kynge of Portyngale The siege endured more than a hole yere and constable of the host was the erle of Longueuyll and Marshall of the hoost was sir Raynolde Lymosyn he was a knight of Limosyn who long before came in to Spaygne with sir Bertram of Clesquy in the firste warres that he made in Spaygne This sir Raynolde was a valiant knight and well proued And the kynge had well maryed hym to a fayre lady to a fayre herytage And by her he had two sonnes Raynolde and Henry And he was greatly praysed in the realme of Castell for his prowes and with the kynge of Castell there was Dagheynes Mandake sir Dygo Persement don Peter Roseament don Maryche de Versaulx portugaleys who were turned spaynisshe and the great mayster of Calestrane and his brother a yong knyght called don Dighemeres Pier Goussart of selme Iohan Radigo de Hoyes the great mayster of saint Iaques The kyng had well with hym a thyrtie thousande men There were dyuers assautes and scrimysshes and many feates of armes done on the one parte and on the other The spaygnierdes knewe well that the kynge of Portyngale shulde haue none ayde of the nobles of his realme for the commons had made hym kyng agaynst their wylles So the kyng of Castell had intensyon to coÌ„quere Luxbone and all the countre or he retourned for he sawe well they shulde haue none ayde without it were out of Englande wherof he had moost doute And yet whan he had well ymagined â–ª he sawe well the Englysshe men were farr of and he had herde howe they kynge of EnglaÌ„de and his vncles were nat all of the best acorde wherfore he thought hym selfe the more of surâ—tie at his siege whiche siege was right plentyfull of all thynges There was in no market in Castell more plentie than was ther And the kyng of Portyngale lay styll in the cytie of Luxbone at his case for they coude nat take the See fro hym And he deimyned to sende in to EnglaÌ„de to the kyng and to the duke of Lancastre trustie ambassadours to renewe the aliances made before bytwene the kyng and kyng Ferant his brother And also the ambassadours had in charge to shewe the duke of Lancastre that in maryage he wolde gladly haue his doughter Philyppe and to make her quene of Portyngale and to swere and seale a ê‘petuall peace and alyance bytwene them And also promysynge hym that if he wolde come thyder with two or thre thousaÌ„de men of warre and as many archers to helpe and ayde hym to coÌ„quere his enherytaunce of Castell On this message was apoynted two knightes sir Iohan Rade goe sir IohnÌ„ Tetedore and an archedeaken of Luxbone called Marche de la Fugyre So they made them redy and toke the see and had good wynde and so sayled towarde the fronters of Englande On the other ê‘te the kyng of Castell laye a siege and he was counsayled to write in to Fraunce and in to Gascoyne for some ayde of knightes squyers for the spaynierdes supposed well that the kynge of Portyngale had sende for socoure in to Englande to reyse their siege they thought they wolde nat be so taken but that their puissauÌ„ce might be stronge ynoughe to resyst the Englysshmen and portugaleyse And as he was counsayled so he dyde and sende letters and messangers in to Fraunce to dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as desyred dedes of armes and specially in the countrey of Byâ—rne in the countie of Foiz for there were plentie of good knightê desyring dedes of armes For though they had ben brought vp with the erle of Foiz as than there was good peace bitwene hym and therle of Armynake So these messages of these two kyngê were nat sone brought about howe be it the warres in other places ceased neuerthelesse as in Auuergne in Tholousyn in Rouergue and in the lande of Bygore ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the busynesse of Portyngale a lytell and speke of other maters ¶ Howe the prince of wales and the princes came to Tarbe and of the request that the couÌ„tesse of Armynake made to the prince and princesse and howe the countre of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap .xxii. BItwene the countie of foiz and the countre of Bierne lyeth the couÌ„tie of Bigore whiche countie ê‘teyned to Fraunce and marchesed on the couÌ„tre of Tholousin on the one parte and on the countie of Conâ—uges and of Bierne on the other parte And in the countie of Bygore lyeth the strong castell of Lourde whiche was englysshe euer sythe that the countie of Bigore was yelded to the kyng of England and to the prince for the redempcion of kynge Iohan of FrauÌ„ce by the treatie and peace made at Bertigny before Charters and after confyrmed at Calais as it hath ben shewed before in the other hystorie Whan the prince of Wales was come out of Englande and that the kyng his father bad gyuen hym in herytage all the lande and duchy of Acqustayne wherin there were two archebisshoppes and .xxii. other bysshoppes that he was come to Burdeaâ—x on the ryuer of Gyrone had taken the possessyoÌ„s of all these landê and lyen there a yere Than he the princesse were desyred by the erle Iohan of Armynake that they wolde come in to the countre of Bigore in to the cytie of Tarbe to se that couÌ„tre whiche as than he had nat sene before And the erle of Armynake thought that if the prince and princesse were in Bygore that the Erle of Foiz wolde come and se them and wher as he dyd owe hym for his raunsome two hundred fyftie thousande frankes he thought he wolde desyre the prince and princesse to requyre the erle of Foiz to forgyue hym the same soÌ„me or parte therof So moche dyd the erle of Armynake that at his instance the prince and princes caÌ„e to the cytie of Tarbe This towne
is fayre and standeth in a playne countre amonge the fayre vynes And it is a towne cytie and castell closed with gates and walles and seperated eche fro other Fro the mountayns of Byerne and Catheloyne cometh the fayre ryuer of Lysse whiche ronneth throughe Tarbe and is as clere as a fountayne And a fyue leages thens is the towne of Morlance parteyninge to the erle of Foiz at the entre of the countie of Bierne and vnder the mountayne a site leages fro Tarbe is the towne of Panne whiche also ê‘teyneth to the sayd erle The same tyme that the prince princes was at Tarbe therle of Foiz was at Panne He was there bylding of a fayre castell ioyninge to the towne without on the ryuer of Grane Assone as he knewe the comynge of the prince and princesse beyng at Tarbe He ordayned to go and se theym in great estate with mo than sixe hundred horses and threscore knightes in his company And of his comynge to Tarbe was the prince and priÌ„cesse right ioyouse and made hym good chere and there was the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret and they desyred the price to requyre the erle of Foiz to forgyue therle of Armynake all or els parte of the somme of florens that he ought to haue And the prince who was wyse and sage consyderynge all thynges thought that be might nat do so and sayde Sir erle of Armynake ye were taken by armes in that iourney of batayle and ye dyde putte my cosyn the erle of Foiz in aduenture agaynste you And thoughe fortune were fauourable to hym and agaynst you his valure ought nat than to be made lesse By lyke dedes my lorde my father nor I wolde nat be contente that we shulde be desyred to leaue that we haue wonne by good aduenture at the batayle of Poicters wherof we thanke god WhanÌ„e the erle of Armynake herde that he was a basshed for he fayled of his entente Howe be it yet the lefte nat of so But than he reâ—red the princesse who with a good hert desyred therle of Foiz to gyue her a gyfte Madame quod theâ—le I am but a meane man therfore I can gyue no great gyftes But madame if the thyng that ye desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes I wyll gyue it you with a gladde chere yet the princesse assayed agayne if she coude cause hym to graunt her full desyre But the â—rle was sage and subtell and thought verily that her desyre was to haue hym to forgyue clerely the Erle of Armynake all his dette And than he sayde agayne Madame for a poore knight as I am who buyldeth townes and castelles the gyfte that I haue graunted you ought to suffyce the princesse coude bringe hym no farther whan she sawe that she said Gentyll erle of Foiz the request that I desyre of you is to forgyue clerely the erle of Armynake Madame quod the erle to your request I ought well to condiscendâ— I haue sayd to you that if your desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes that I wolde graunt it you But madame the erle of Armynake oweth me two hundred and fyftie thousande frankes and at your request I forgaue hym therof threscore thousande frankes Thus the mater stode in that case and the erle of Armynake at the request of the princes wan the forgyueng of threscore thousande frankes And anone after the erle of Foiz returned to his owne countre I Sir Iohan Froissarde make narracion of this busynesse bycause whan I was in the countie of Foyz and of Bierne I passed by the couÌ„tie of Bygore and I demaunded and enquered of the newes of that countrey suche as I knewe nat before And it was shewed me howe the prince of wales and of Aquitayne whyle he was at Tarbe he had great wyll to go se the castell of Lourde whiche was a thre leages of nere to the entre of the mountayne And whan he was there and had well aduysed the towne the castell and the couÌ„tre he praysed it greatly aswell for the streÌ„gth of the castell as bycause it stode on the fronter of dyuers countreis For the garysone there might ronne well in to the realme of Arragon in to Catellon and to Barselon Than the priÌ„ce called to hym a knyght of his housholde in whom he had great truste and loued hym entierly and he had serued hym truely and was called sir Pyer Ernalde of the countre of Bierne an experte man of armes and cosyn to the erle of Foiz Than the prince sayde to hym sir Ernalde I instytue and make you Chateleyn and capitayne of Lourde gouernour of the countre of Bygore Loke that ye kepe this castell se well that ye make a good accompte ther of to the kyng my father and to me Sir quod the knyght I thanke you and I shall obserue your coÌ„maundement There he dyde homage to the prince and the prince put hym in possession It is to be knowen that whan the warre began to renewe bytwene Englande FrauÌ„ce as it hath ben shewed before The erle Guy of saynt Poule and sir Hugh of Chatellon mayster of the crosbowes in Fraunce in that tyme beseged the towne of Abuyle and wan it with all the countre of Poitou The same tyme two great barons of Bigore th one called sir Marnalte Barbesan and the lorde Danchyn tourned frenche and toke the towne cytie and castell of Tarbe whiche was but easely kept for the kynge of Englande But styll the castell of Lourde was in the handes of sir Pier Ernalt of Bierne who wolde in no wyse yelde vp the castell but made euer great warre agaynst the realme of FrauÌ„ce and sent for great company of aduenturers in to Bierne and Gascoyne to helpe and to ayde hym to make warre so that he had togyder many good men of armes and he had with hym sixe capitayns euery man fyftie speares vnder hym The first was his brother Iohan of Bierne a right expert squyer and Pier Danchyne of Bygore brother germayne to the lorde Danchyne he wolde neuer tourne frenche Nandon of saynt Colombe Ermalton of mount Ague of saynt Basyll and the Bourge of Carnela These capitayns made dyuers iourneys in to Bygore in to Tholousyn in to Carcassene in to Albygoise For euer assone as they were out of Lourde they were in the lande of their enemyes and somtyme they wolde aduenture thyrtie leages of fro their holde And in their goynge they wolde take nothyng but in their retourne there was nothynge coulde scape theÌ„ Somtyme they brought home so great plentie of beestes prisoners that they wyst nat howe to kepe them Thus they rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„trey excepte the erle of Foiz landes For in his landes they durste nat take a chekyn withoute they payed truely therfore For if they had displeased the erle they coulde nat longe haue endured These companyons of Lourde ranne ouer all the countre at their pleasure
and distroy all togyder Than they of Pauiers were in great feare for the Erle their lorde was farre of fro them for he was as than in Byerne And so they were fayne to bye their owne cornes and payed for them fyue thousande frankes but they desyred fyftene dayes of respyte whiche was grauÌ„ted them Than the erle of Foiz was enformed of all this buÌ„synesse and he hasted hym as moche as he might and assembled toguyder his men and came sodaynly in to the cytie of Pauyers with .xii. hundred speares And so had fought with sir Iohan of Armynake if he had taryed but he departed and wente in to the countie of Comynges So he had no money of them of Pauyers for they had no leysar to tarye therfore But than therle of Foiz claymed the same some for he sayd he was come and saued their money and corne and had put awaye all their ennemyes And so he had it to paye his men of warre therewith and there he taryed tyll they had inned all their corne and vyntage And so we passed than foreby a castell called Bretytte and also by another castell called Bacelles all parteyninge to the erle of Comynges and as we rode a long by the ryuer I sawe a fayre castell and a great towne I demaunded of the knight what the castell was called and he said it was named Montesplayne parteyninge to a cosyn of the erle of Foiz called sir Roger Despaygne a great barone in the countre and in Tholousyn and as than was seneshall of Carcassoney Than I demaunded of this knight if he were a kynne to sir Charles of Spayne who was constable of Fraunce and he answered and sayde no he is nat of that blode For sir Loyes of Spaygne and this sir Charles that ye speke ofâ—came bothe out of the realme of Spayne were lynially extraught of spayne and of Fraunce by their mothers syde were cosyn germayns to kynge Alphons of Spaygne and I serued in my youthe sir Loyes of Spaygne in the warres of Bretaygne for he was alwayes on the partie of sir Charles of Bloyes agaynst the erle MouÌ„tforde And so we lefte spckynge of that matter and rode to saynte Gouffens a good towne of the Erle of Foiz and the next day we dyned at Monreyle a good stronge towne of the Frenche kynges and sir Roger de Spaygne kepte it And after dyner we rode the waye towardes Lourde and so rode throughe a great launde endurynge a fyftene leages called the laundes Lannâ— de vous wherin were many daungerous passages for theues and yuell doers And in this launde stode the castell of Mesere parteyninge to the erle of Foiz a good leage fro the towne of Tourney the whiche castell the knyght shewed me and sayd Sir beholde yonder is Maluoysen But sir haue ye herde here before howe the duke of Aniou whan he was in this countrey and wente to Lourde What he dyde in this countre howe he layde siege to Lourde and wanne it And also the castell of Gryngalet on the ryuer side that ye se yonder before vs parteyneth to the lorde de la Batte Than I remembred my selfe and said Sir I trowe I neuer herde therof as yet therfore I prayâ— you shewe me the mater But sir I praye you shewe me where is the ryuer of Garon become for I can se it no more ye say trouthe quod the knight it departeth here in thentryng of these mountayns and it groweth and cometh out of a fouÌ„tayne a thre leages hens the way to Chatelomy by a castell called saynt Bea rt the fronter of the realme of Fraunce towarde Aragon And there is as nowe a squyer called Ermalton otherwyse called Bourge de Spaygne He is lorde therof and â—hatelayne of all the couÌ„trey and he is cosyn germayne to sir Roger de Spayne if we se hym I shall shewe you him He is a goodly persone and a good man of armes and he hath done more domage to theym of Lourde than any other knyght or squyer of all the countre and the erle of Foiz loueth him ryghtwell for he is his companyon in armes ¶ I wyll leaue to speke of hym for I thynke at this feest of Christmas ye shall se him in the erle of Foiz house but nowe I shall shewe you of the duke of Aniou howe he came in to this countre and what he dyde Than we rode forthe fayre and easely and he began to saye as foloweth ⸪ ¶ Of the Warr ê that the duke of An â—â—u made agaynst the Englysshmen and howe he recouered the castell of Maluoysen in Bigore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to therle of Foiz Cap .xxiii. ⸪ ⸫ AFter the begynnynge of the warres whanÌ„e they began to wynne on the Englysshe men that they helde in Acquitayne and that sir Olyuer ¶ lesquyn was become freÌ„che He ledde the duke of Aniou in to Bretaygne on the landes of sir Robert Canoll â–ª who was at the sege before Dyriuall as ye haue herde before as I thynke and of the treatie that six Hughe Brâ—ce his cosyn made to the duke of Antou as to reÌ„dre the castell and delyuer good hostages so that the duke of Aniou shulde nat coÌ„e to reyse the siege But whan sir Robert Canoll was within the castell of Dyriuall than he wolde holde no tretie All this is true sir quod I. well quod he but haue you herde of the scrimysshe that was before the castell where aâ— sir Olâ—uer de Clesquyn was wounded Sir I can nat tell you quod I I can nat remembre all Wherfore sir I praye you shewe me of the scrimysshe and of the siege what came therof For paraduentureye knowe it some other wayes than I do and ye shall retourne agayne well ynoughe to your purpose of them of Lourde and of Maluoysen It is true quod the knyght it was so that sir Garses of the castella right valyaunt knight of the countre and good frenche wente to the duke of Aniou to cause hym to come before Beauuosyn The duke had made his sommons to holde his iourney before Dyriuall made this sir Garses for his valyantnesse marshall of his host â–ª and true it is as I herde say that whaÌ„ he sawe that sir Robert Canoll wolde nat kepe the trâ—atie that was made before nor wolde nat delyuer the castell of Dyriuall Than he came to the duke and sayd Sir What shall we do with these hostages It is no faulte in them that the castell is nat gyuen vp it were great pytie that they shulde dye for they be geÌ„tylmen and haue deserued no dethe Than the duke said Were it good than to delyuer them yea truely sir quod the knyght it were great â—ytie otherwyse Well quod the duke do therin as ye lyste Than this sir Garses went to delyuer them and as he wente sir Olyuer Clesquyn mette him demaunded wheder he went and fro whens he came I come fro my lorde the duke of Aniou and am goynge to delyuer
suche answere that ye shall be contented Sir ye saye well quod they it suffyceth vs. Than they departed and wente to their lodgynges At nyght they were desyred to dyne the nexte daye with the duke So the nexte daye they came to the duke and were well receyued and so wasshed and went to dyner satte downe Firste the bysshoppe of Langers bycause he was a prelate and than the duke than the admyrall of Fraunce and thanne sir Iohan de Beulle They hadde a great dyner and were well serued and after dyner they entred in to a counsayle chambre and there they talked of dyuers maters and herde mynstrelsy These lordes of Fraunce thought surely to haue hadde an answere but they hadde none Than wyne and spyces were brought in and so made collasyon and than toke their leaue and departed to their lodgynge The nexte daye they were apoynted to come to the duke and so they dyde and the duke receyued them swetely and at the laste sayd Sirr I knowe well ye looke to be aunswered for by the wordes that I haue herde you saye ye are charged by the kyng and his vncles to bring them an answere Wherfore I say to you that I haue done nothynge to sir Olyuer of Clesquyne wherof I shulde repente me sauynge of one thynge and that is That he hadde so good a markette as to escape a lyue And in that I saued his lyfe was for the loue of his offyce and nat for his persone For he hath done me soo many displeasures that I ought to hate hym deedly And sauynge the displeasure of the kyng and of his vncles and his coūsayle For all the takynge of sir Olyuer I haue nat therby broken their voyage by the see I wyll well excuse my selfe therin for I thought non yuell the daye that I toke hym a man ought to take his ennemy whersoeuer he fynde hym And if he were deed I wolde thynke the Realme of Fraunce to be as well ruled or better than it is by his counsayle And as for his castelles that I holde the whiche he hath delyuered me I am in possessyon of them and so wyll be withoute the puyssaunce of a kynge take them fro me And as for rendringe of his money I aunswere I haue had so moche to do in tyme paste by the meanes of this sir Olyuer of Clysquyn that I ranne in dette gretlye therby and nowe I haue payde them that I was bounde vnto by reason of this dette This was the answere that the duke of Bretaygne made to the kynges ambassadours Than they layde forthe other reasons to enduce the duke to some reasonable waye but all his answeres tourned euer to one conclusyon And whan they sawe none other waye they toke their leaues to departe and the duke gaue them leaue Than̄e they retourned and dyd so moch by their iourneys that they came to Parys to the house of Beautie besyde Wynsentes There was the kyng the quene and thyder came the duke of Berrey and the duke of Bourgoyne hauyng great desyre to knowe what answere the duke of Bretaygne haddemade THe aunswere ye haue herde here before I nede nat to shewe it agayne but the kyng and his counsayle were nat content with the duke of Bretaygne that his ambassadours hadde made no better exployte and they sayde howe the duke was a proude man and a presumptuous and that the mater shulde nat so reste in peace seynge the matter so preiudyciall for the Crowne of Fraunce And the entensyon of the kyng and his counsayle was to make warre agaynste the duke of Bretayne and the duke loked for nothynge elles For he sawe and knewe well howe he had greatly displeased the kyng and his counsell but he hated so mortally the constable that it toke fro hym the good order of reason for he repented hym sore that he had nat putte hym to dethe whan he hadde hym in his daunger Thus the mater contynued a longe season and the duke of Bretayne laye at Wannes and lytell and lytell rode ouer his countrey for he freared greatly embusshmentes He kepte styll in loue and fauour his cyties and good townes and made secrete treaties with the Englysshmen and made his castelles and forteresses to be as well kepte as thoughe he had had opyn warre and was in many imaginacions on the dede he had done Somtyme he wolde say he wolde he had nat taken the constable howe be it he sayd euer to stoppe mennes mouthes that sir Olyuer of Clesquyn had sore dishleased hym so that many a man sayd that elles he wolde neuer haue done it therby he brought his coūtre in feare for it is but a small signorie if a prince be nat feared and douted of his menne for and the worste fall he maye haue peace whan he lyst ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Bretaygne and let vs somwhat speke of the busynesse that was in the realme of Englāde whiche was in the same season horryble and marueylous ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one accorde and aliaūce agaynst the kyng and his counsaile and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii YE haue herde here before howe the kyng of Englandes vncles the duke of yorke the duke of Gloucestre with therle of Salisbury and the erle of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Notyngham and the archebysshoppe of Caūterbury All these were of one alyaunce and accorde agaynst the kynge and his counsayle for these lordes and other were nat content with the kynges counsayle and sayd among them selfe This duke of Irelande dothe with the kynge what he lyste and with all the realme The kyng wyll nat be counsayled but by vnhappy men and of base lynage and taketh no regarde to the great lordes of his realme As longe as he hath suche counsayle about hym the busynesse of Englande can nat do well for a realme can nat be well gouerned nor a kynge well counsayled by suche vngracious people It is sene a poore man moūted in to gret estate and in fauoure with his mayster often tymes corrupteth distroyeth the people and the realme A man of base lynage canne nat knowe what parteyneth to honoure their desyre is euer to enryche and to haue all thēselfe lyke an Otter in the water whiche coueteth to haue all that he fyndeth Who hath any profyte by that the duke of Irelande is so great with the kyng we knowe full well fro whense he came yet we se that all the realme is ruled by hym and nat by the kynges vncles nor by none of his blode This ought nat to be suffred We knowe well ynoughe that the Erle of Oxenforde had neuer the grace to do any valyaunt dede in this realme his honour wysedome counsayle or gentylnesse is ryght well knowen and that was well knowen ones by sir Iohan Chandos in
but right iustyce Than a seuyn of them all with one voyce answered and sayde Right redouted souerayne sayng your gracyous displeasure as for iustyce in your realme is right feble your grace knoweth nat all nor canne nat knowe your grace nouther demaundeth for it nor enquereth therfore and suche as be of your couÌ„sayle forbere to shewe it you bycause of their owne profyte For sir it is no iustyce to cutte of heedes handes and fete suche maner of punysshmentes be nat laudable But sir good iustice is to kepe your people in ryght and to sette suche wayes and order as they myght lyue in peace that they shulde haue none occasyon to grudge or to make any commosyon And sir we saye that ye sette vs to longe a daye as to Mighelmas sir we may be neuer so well eased as nowe Wherfore sir we saye all by one assente that we wyll haue accompte and that shortely of them that hath gouerned your realme sythe your Coronacyon And we wyll knowe Where youre Reuenewes is become with all the taxes tayles and subsydies this nyne yeres paste and wheron they haue been bestowed If suche as are your treasourers make a good accompte or nere thervnto we shall be ryght ioyouse and suffre them to gouerne styll And if they can nat acquyte them selfe therin trewly they shal be refourmed by youre deputyes establysshed to that purpose as my lordes your vncles other With those wordes the kynge behelde his vncles helde his peace to se what they wolde saye Than sir Thomas duke of Gloucester sayde Sir in the request and prayer of these good people the commons of your realme I se nothynge therin but ryght and reasone Sir quod the duke of yorke it is of trouthe and so sayde all the other prelates and barons that were there present Than the duke of Gloucester sayde agayne Sir it is but reason that ye knowe where your good is become The kyng sawe well howe they were all of one accorde and sawe howe this chafe Marmosettes durst speke no worde for there were to many gret men agaynst them Well quod the kyng I am content Lette them be rydde awaye for sommer season cometh on and huntynge tyme whervnto we wyll nowe entende Than the kynge sayd to the people Sirs wolde ye haue this mater shortely dispatched yea sir quod they and that humbly we beseche your grace And also we beseche all my lordes here and specyally my lordes your vncles to be there at We are content quod they for the apeysyng of all parties as well for the kynge as for the Realme for oure parte lyeth therin Than they sayde agayne We desyre also the reuerende father in god the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury the bysshoppe of Lyncolne and the bysshoppe of Wynchester to be there They aunswered and sayde they were content so to be Than agayn they desyred all other lordes to be there that were there present as the erle of Salisbury and the Erle of Northumberlande sir Reynolde Cobham sir Guy Brian sir IohnÌ„ Felton sir Mathewe Gourney and moreouer they sayd they wolde ordayne that of euery good cytie and towne in Englande there shulde be a thre or four notable persons and they shulde determyne for all the hole coÌ„montie of Englande Than this mater was determyned and to assemble the vtas of saint George at Westmynster And there all the treasourers collectours and offycers of the kynges to be there and to make there accomptes before these sayd lordes The kyng was content therwith and was brought to it by fayrenesse and nat byfore by the desyre of his vncles and other lordes It semed to hym behouable to knowe where his treasoure was become Thus amiably euery man deê‘ted fro Wyndsore and the lordes went to London the treasourers and other offycers were sende for throughout the realme to come with their full accomptes on payne of dishonourynge losse of all that they had and lyfe ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the officers appered in the presence of the kynges vncles commens of EnglaÌ„de and howe sir Simon Burle was prisoner iÌ„ the toure of London and howe sir Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii THe day prefixed came that all ê‘tes apered at westmynster suche as shulde make their accomptes apered before the kynges vncles and suche other prelates and lordes with other as were assigned to here theÌ„ This accompte endured more than a moneth and some there were that made their accomptes nother good nor honourable suche were punisshed bothe by their bodyes and by their goodes sir Symon Burle was cast in arerage of .ii. C. and l. M. frankes bycause he was one of the gouernours in the kynges youthe And he was demaunded where this good was bestowed he excused hym selfe by the bysshop of yorke sir Wylliam Neuell sayeng howe he dyde nothyng but by their counsayle and by the kynges chamberleyns ser Robert Tryuilyen sir Robert Beauchampe sir Iohn Salisbury sir Nycholas Braule sir Peter Goufer and other And whan they were demauÌ„ded therof before the counsaile they denyed the mater layd all the faute in hym And the duke of Irelande sayd to hym priuely bytwene them two Sir Symon I vnderstande ye shal be arested and sette in prison and holde there tyll ye haue payed the soÌ„me that is demaunded nothyng shal be abated Go your waye whether soeuer they sende you I shall rightwell make your peace thoughe they had all sworne the contrary I ought to receyue of the constable of FrauÌ„ce threscore M. frankes for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to saynt Charles of Bloys the whiche soÌ„me ye knowe well is owyng to me I shall present the counsayle therwith at this tyme. And fynally the kyng is our soueraigne lorde he shall pardon and forgyue it you clerely for the profet ought to be his and no mannes els Syr ê™ sir Symon Burle if I thought nat that ye shulde helpe agaynst the kynge and to beare out my dedes I wolde departe out of Englande and go in to Almayne and to the kyng of Beame for thyder I coulde be welcome and so let the mater rynne a season tyll the worlde be better apeased Than the duke sayde I shall neuer fayle you we are companyons and all of one sect ye shall take day to pay their demauÌ„de I knowe well ye maye pay and ye lyste in redy money more than a hundred thousande frankes ye nede nat feare the dethe ye shall nat be brought to that poynte ye shall se the mater otherwise chaunge before the feast of saynt Michell whan I haue the kyng ones at my wyll wherof I ame sure For all that he dothe now at this tyme is by force and agaynst his wyll We muste apease these cursed londoners and lay downe this slaunder brute that is nowe raysed agaynst vs and ours SIr Symon Burle had a lytell truste on the wordes of the duke of Irelande and so came before the lordes
seasone that he laye at Shene but his counsayle said it myght nat be for his rekenynges were nat clere Than the kynge departed and the duke of Irelande in his company and rode towardes Bristowe and the Quene with other ladyes and damoselles with her ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande departed from London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheded at LoÌ„don and his nephue also and howe the duke of Lancaster was dyspleased Cap. xciiii FOr all that the Kynge departed from the marchesse of London yet the kynges vncles nor their counsayle departed nat but taried styll about London ye haue herde often tymes sayde that if the heed be sicke all the membres can nat be well the malady must first be pourged I saye it bicause this duke of Irelande was so great with the kyng that he ruled hym as he lyste He and sir symon Burle were two of the princypall couÌ„saylours that the kynge had for they hadde a longe season gouerned the kynge and the realme And they were had in suspecte that they hadde gadered richesse without nombre and the renoume ranne in dyuers places that the duke of Irelande and sir Symon Burle had a long season gathered toguyder money and sente it in to Almayne For it was come to the knowledge of the kynges vncles and to the counsaylours of the good cyties and townes of Englande that helde of their partie howe they had sente out of the castell of Douer by see in the night tyme in to Almayne certayne cofers and chestes full of money They sayd it was falsely and felonously done to assemble the rychesse of the realme and to sende it in to other strauÌ„ge couÌ„treys wherby the realme was greatly impouerysshed and the people were soroufull and sayde that golde and syluer was so dere to gette that all marchandyse were as deed and loste and they coulde nat ymagin how it was but by this meanes THese wordes multiplied in suche wise that it was ordayned by the kynges vncles and by the counsayles of the good townes that were anneâ—ed vnto them that ser Symon Burle had deserued punisshment of dethe And also the archbysshoppe of Caunterbury sayd that in the season whan the freÌ„che kyng shulde haue come with his armye in to Englande this sir Symon Burle gaue counsayle that the shrine of saynt ThomÌ„s of CauÌ„terburye shulde haue been taken downe and brought in to Douer castell And the noyse was that he wolde haue had it so to th entent that if he had ben in any daÌ„ger to haue taken and stollen it and conueyed it out of EnglaÌ„d These maters were so layde to his charge that none excuse coulde be herde but on a daye he was brought out of the towre and beheeded lyke a traytour god haue mercy on his soule To write of his shamefull dethe ryght sore displeaseth me howe be it I must nedes do it to folowe the hystorie Greatly I complayne his dethe for whanÌ„e I was yonge I founde hym a gentyll knyght sage and wyse but by this enfortune he dyed HIs nephewe and heyre sir Richarde Burle was with the duke of Lancastre in Galyce the sameseason that this case fell in Englande and one of the most renoumed in all his hoost nexte the Constable for he was as souerayne Marshall of all the hoost and was chiefe of couÌ„sayle with the duke ye may well beleue that whan he knewe of the dethe of his vncle he was sore displeased And also this geÌ„tyll knight sir Richarde Burle dyed in the same iourney on his bedde by reason of sickenesse as many other dyde as ye shall here after at place and tyme conuenyent Whan kynge Rycharde knewe of the dethe of this knyght as he was in the marchesse of Wales he was sore dyspleased and sware howe the mater shulde nat passe sithe they had so put to dethe his knyght without good reason or tytell of right The quene also was sorie and wepte for his dethe bycause he fetched her oute of Almaygne Suche as were of the kynges couÌ„sayle douted greatly as the duke of Irelande sir Nicholas BraÌ„ble sir Thomas Tryuilyen sir IohnÌ„ Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la Poule Also the kyngê vncles had put out of offyce the archebysshoppe yf yorke named Wylliam Neuell brother germayne to the lorde Neuell of NorthuÌ„berlande whiche bysshoppe had longe ben treasourer of all Englande And the duke of Gloucestre had charged hym to medell no more with the busynesse of the realme on payne of his lyfe but that he shulde go to yorke or therabout wheâ— it pleased hym in his benifyce and dwell ther and medell no further And also it was shewed hym howe the honoure of his lynage in that he was a preest excused hym of many great maters sore preiudiciall to his honour And also it was shewed hym that the moost parte of the counsayle of the coÌ„montie wolde haue had him disgrated and putte to dethe in lyke maner as sir Symon Burle was So he departed fro London and wente in to the Northe to dwell on his benifyce with this he all his lynage were sore dyspleased and thought surely that the erle of Northombrelande had brought that mater to passe for all that he was of his lygnage and were neyghbours In to his rome was chosen a right valyant a wyse a sage clerke the archebysshop of Caunterbury who was gretely in the fauour of the kynges vncles He was come of the Mountague and Salysburies and was vncle to the erle of Salysbury there was made of the kynges counsayle by the aduyse of all the comons therle of Salysbury the erle Rycharde of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Deuonshyre the erle of Notyngham the bysshop of Norwyche called sir Henry Spenser the bysshop of Wynchestre chauncellour of Englande abode styll in his offyce and was with the kynges vncles the most renomed man in the counsayle nexte the duke of Gloceste was syr Thomas Mountague archbisshop of CauÌ„terbury and well he was worthy for he was a dyscrete prelate toke grete payne to reforme the royalme and to brynge it in to the ryght waye and that the kynge shulde put from hym the marmosettes that troubled all the royalme often tymes he wolde speke with the duke of yorke in that matter the duke wolde saye to hym syr bysshop I trust the matters shall otherwyse fall lytell and lytell then the kynge my nephewe and the duke of IrelaÌ„de thinketh but it must be done accordynge to reason and to abyde the tyme to be to hasty is no good meane for surely yf we hadde nat perceyued them be tymes they wolde haue brought the kynge and the royal me in suche case that it shulde haue ben at the poynte of lesynge The Frensshe kynge and his counsayle knewe ryght well our dealyng and what case we were in and that caused that frensshe men to auaunce themselfe to haue come hyder so puyssauntly as they wolde haue done to haue
the kyng and there shewe hym what case the busynesse of his realme is in recoÌ„maunde vs to hym shewe hym in our behalfe that he gyue no credence of lyght enformacion agaynst vs He hath beleued some to moche for his owne honour and for the ê“fyte of his realme And saye also to hym that we requyre hym and so do all the good people of London that he wolde come hyder he shal be welcome receyued with gret ioye we shall set such couÌ„saile about hym that he shal be well pleased And we charge you retourne nat agayne withoute hym and desyre hym nat to be displeased thoughe we haue chased awaye a meny of traytours that were about hym for by them his realme was in great paryll of lesynge The bysshop sayd he shulde do ryght well his message and so departed and rodde forthe lyke a great prelate and so came to Bristowe and the kynge was there but with a priuye coÌ„pany For suche as were wont to haue ben of his counsayle were deed and fledde awaye as ye haue herde before The bysshop was in the towne two nightes and a day or the kyng wolde speke with hym He was so soore dyspleased with his vncles for driuynge awaye of the duke of Irelande whome he loued aboue all men and for sleeynge of his knyghtes Finally he was so entysed that he consented that the archbysshop shulde come in to his presens Whan he came before hym he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the kynge and there shewed the kyng euery worde as the kynges vncles had gyuen hym in charge And shewed hym that if it were his pleasure to come to Londou to his palys of Westmynster his vncles and the mooste parte of all his realme wolde be ryght ioyeouse elles they wyll be ryght sorte and yuell displeased And sayde sir Without the comforte ayde and accorde of your vncles and of your lordes knyghtes and prelates and of your good cyties and townes of EnglaÌ„de ye canne nat come to any of youre ententes He spake these wordes boldelye and sayde moreouer Sir ye canne nat reioyse so moche youre ennemyes as to make warre with youre frendes and to kepe youre Realme in warre and myschiefe The yonge kynge by reasone of the bysshoppes wordes beganne to enclyne howe be it the beheedynge of his knyghtes and counsaylours came sore in to his courage So he was in dyuers ymaginacions but finally he refrayned his displeasure by the good meanes of the quene the lady of Boesme and of some other wise knightes that were about hym as sir Rycharde Stoner and other Thanne the kyng sayd to the bysshoppe Well I am content to go to LoÌ„don with you wherof the bisshop was right ioyous and also it was to hym a great honoure that he hadde spedde his iourney so well WIthin a shorte space after the kyng departed lefce the quene styll at Bristowe and so came towardes London with the archbysshoppe in his company and so came to Wyndsore and there the kyng taryed a thre dayes Tidynges came to London howe the kynge was commynge euery manne was gladde Than it was ordayned to mete hym honourablye The daye that he departed fro Wyndsore the way fro Braynforde to London was full of people on horse backe and a foote to mete the kynge And his two vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucester and Iohan sonne to the duke of yorke the erle of Arundell the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes and prelates departed out of London mette with the kyng a two myle fro Braynforde There they receyued hym swetely as they ought to do their soueraygne lorde The kynge who bare yet some displeasure in his herte passed by and made but small countenaunce to theÌ„ and all the waye he talked moost with the bisshop of LoÌ„don at last they came to WestmiÌ„ster The kyng alyghted at his palis whiche was redy apparelled for him There the kyng dranke and toke spyces and his vncles also and other Prelates lordes and knyghtes Than some tooke their leaues The kynges vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterburye with the counsayle taryed styll there with the kyng some in the Palais and some in the abbey and in the towne of westminster to kepe the kynge company and to be nere toguyder co commune of their busynesse there they determyned what shulde be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to westmynster to a generall counsayle there to be holden Cap. C.i. A Generall Parlyament was ordeyned to be holden at Westmynstre and all prelates Erles Barons and knyghtes and the counsayles of all the good townes and cytees of EnglaÌ„de were sent for to be there and all suche as helde of the kyng The archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury shewed to the kynges vncles counsayle that when kynge Rycharde was crowned kynge of Englande and that euery man was sworne and made theyr releues to hym and that whaÌ„ he receyued theyr faythes and homages he was within age and a knyge ought nat to gouerne a royalme tyll he be xxi yeres of age and in the meane season to be gouerned by his vncles or by his nexte kynne and by wyse men The bysshop sayd this bycause the kynge as then was but newlye come to the age of .xxi. yeres wherfore he counsayled that euery man shulde be newe sworne and renewe their releues and euery manne newe to knowledge hym for their soueraygne lorde This counsayle was excepted of the kynges vncles and of all other of the couÌ„sayle And for that entent all prelates and lordes and counsayles of good cyties townes were sent for to come to Westminster at a daye assigned Euery man came thyder none disobeyed so that there was moche people in London and at Westmister And kyng Richarde was in his chapell in the palys rychely apareyled with his crowne on his heed and the archebysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury sang the masse And after masse the bisshoppe made a collasyon And after that the kyngê vncles dyde their homage to the kyng kyssed hym and there they sware and ê“mysed hym faithe and homage for euer And than all other lordes sware and prelates and with their handes ioyned togyder they dyde their homage as it aparteyned and kyst the kynges cheke Some the kyng kyst with good wyll some nat for all were nat in his in warde loue but it behoued hym so to do for he wolde nat go fro the counsayle of his vncles But surely if he might haue had his entent he wolde nat haue done as he dyde but rather haue taken crewell vengeaunce for the deche of sir Symon Burle and other knyghtê that they had putte fro hym and slayne without desert as he thought Than it was ordayned by the couÌ„sayle that the archebysshop of yorke shulde come and pourge hym selfe for he hadde alwayes been of the duke of Irelandes parte agaynst the kynges vncles
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
or squiers of any nacyon what soeuer it be that entred in to this vyage In any wyse arme nat them selfe for the space of sixe yere agaynst the realme of Castyle and that they swere thus to do whan they take the safecoÌ„ducte And of this coÌ„posycion ye shall haue letters open to beare to your constable and to suche coÌ„panyons as sent you hyder These knyghtê thanked the kynge and his counsayle of their answere sayd sir there be certayne artycles in your answere we caÌ„ nat tell if they will be accepted or nat If they be nat we shall sende agayne to you our heraulte if he come nat we shall accept your sayeng Well sirs the kyng is content quod they of his counsayle than the kyng went in to his chambre And sir water Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ Lignacke kepte styll company with the Englysshe knyghtes and brought them in to a fayre chaÌ„bre where their dyner was redy apparelled for theÌ„ and there dyned with them And after dyner had wyne and spyces in the kynges chambre and toke their leaue Their letters were redy they toke their horses and so departed rode to Vyle cloppes and the next day they came to the towne of Arpent dyned and at night lay at Noy in Galyce and the next daye they came to Auranche there founde the constable So it fortuned that in this mean season one of the duke of Lancasters great barons died a right valyant man called the lorde Fitz water He was greatly bemooned but agaynst dethe none maye stryue His enterment was honorably done the kyng of Portugale and the duke of LaÌ„castre present and whan these thre knyghtes were come to the Dukes lodgyng they shewed all that they had done shewed their letters of confyrmacion of the same Than some sayd it was a herde couenaunt and some sayde nay holdyng opinyon that it was right courtesse perfitely consyderyng the danger that they were in These tidynges anone sprede abrode in the host how the duke had gyuen lycence euery man to departe who so lyst Than suche as were sycke and feble desyring a fresshe ayre deê‘ted as soone as they might toke their leaue of the duke and of the coÌ„stable and than they were truely payd their wagê as curtesly as might be And some were content with fayre wordes and so they departed by coÌ„panyes some went to Arpent some to Ruelles some to vilcloppes some to Noy soÌ„e to Medena de CaÌ„po other places in euery place they were welcome and brought to their lodgynges their names presented to the capitayne The greattest parte of the gentylmen went to Arpent bycause in that towne there were many straungers Bretons frenchmen normayns and poicteuyns ouer whome sir Olyuer de Clesquyn was capitayne The Englysshemen trusted better in them than they dyde in the Spaynyerdes and good cause why THus as I haue shewed you the duke of Lancastres army brake vp at that tyme in Castyle and euery man sought the best for hym selfe ye maye well beleue that this dyde greatly trouble the duke of Lancastre and great cause why for he sawe his enterprise â—ore putte a backe and brought in to a herde case Howe be it lyke a valyaunt sage price as he was he coÌ„forted hym selfe aswell as he myght for he sawe well it coulde none otherwyse be And whan the kyng of Portugale sawe howe the matter went and that their army was broken of He gaue lycence to all maner of men except a thre hundred speares that were come to serue hym He retaygned them styll and so departed fro AuraÌ„che with the duke of LaÌ„castre and his wyfe rode to saynt Iaques called CoÌ„postella And whan the kyng and the duke were there the kynge taryed there four dayes And than departed with all his men and retourned to his countrey to his wyfe who laye at Porte a good cytie in Portugale NOwe shall I shewe you what befell of dyuers knyghtes and squyers suche as were departed fro the duke and gone in to Castile Dyuers that were entecte with sickenesse for all their chaungynge of newe ayre and newe medycins yet they coulde nat scape the peryll of dethe Dyuers dyed in Arpent in the meane season that the king of Castyle sent to the kynge of Nauerre and to the frenche kyng for their sauecoÌ„ductes to passe pesably whiche was nat soone optaygned dyuers lordes knyghtes and squyers of EnglaÌ„de dyed in their beddes whiche was gret domage and a great losse to their countrey In Arpent there dyed thre great barones of Englande and ryche men The first was sir Richarde Burle who had ben marshall of the dukes hoost another the lorde Ponynges the thyrde the lorde Percy cosyn germayne to the erle of Northumberlande And in the towne of Noy dyed sir Mauberyn of Lymers a poyteuyn a ryght noble and an expert knyght And in the towne of Ruelles there dyed a great baron called the lorde Talbot So that there died here and there a .xii. gret lordes and a fourscore knightes and two huÌ„dred squyers This was a great dysconfetture without any stroke stryken and there dyed of other meane men mo than fyue hundred And I herde it reported of a knyght of Englande as he retourned through FrauÌ„ce his name was sir ThomÌ„s Quynbery that of fyftene hundred men of armes and foure thousande archers that the duke of Lancastre hadde brought out of the realme of Englande there neuer returned agayn the halfe parte THe duke of Lancastre fyll in a perylous sickenesse in the towne of saynt Iaques and often tymes the brute ranne in Castyle in Fraunce howe he was deed and surely he was in a great adueÌ„ture of his lyfe Thyrrey of Souuayne a squyer of honour and squyer for the dukes body was taken with sickenesse and dyed at Besances he was naturally borne of the countie of Heynaulte And his brother Wyllyam of Souuayn was with hym tyll he dyed who in like wyse was in great aduenture of his lyfe Of a trouthe there was none so hardy so ryche nor so tolye but that they were in feare of theÌ„ selfe euery day loked for none other thyng but deth and with this sickenesse there were none infected but alonely the duke of Lancasters coÌ„pany Among the freÌ„chmen there were none sicke wherby dyuers murmuracyons were among the spanyerdes sayeng the kyng of Castyle hath done great grace to these Englysshmen to suffre them to lye and rest them in his countie and in his good townes But we feare it wyll cost vs greatly for they haue or are lyke to bring in to this countrey great mortalyte Than other wolde saye Ah they are christenmen as we be there ought coÌ„passion and pyte to be taken one of another this was the coÌ„munyng among them And true it was that same season a knyght of FrauÌ„ce dyed in Castile for whom gret sorowe was made For he was gracyous courtesse and hardy in armes and was brother to sir Iohan sir Raynolde and
sir Launcelotte of Voy and he was called sir IohnÌ„ of Voy but howe he dyed I shall tell you He was in a towne of Castyle called Seghome and laye there in garyson he had an Impostume in his body and he was yonge lusty and tooke no hede therof but on a day lept on a great horse and rode out in to the feldes spurred his horse so that by gambaldyng of the horse the impostume brake in his body and whan he was retourned to his lodgynge he was layde on his bedde sicke and that semed well for the fourthe daye after he dyed wherof his frendes were right soroufull ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe sir Iohan HolaÌ„de the duke of Lancastres constable toke his leue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the king of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe sir Iohan Dambreticourt wente to Parys to acomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and Bouciqualt Cap. C.vi YE maye well knowe that euery man eschewed this sickenesse that was amonge the Englysshmen and fledde therfro asmoche as they myght All this season sir Iohan Holande the dukes constable was still with the duke certayne knightes and squyers seynge the season of warre paste thynkynge to eschewe the peryll of the sickenesse sayd to the constable Sir let vs retourne we wyll go to Bayone or to Burdeux to take fresshe ayre and to esche we this sickenes for whan so euer the duke of Lancastre wyll haue vs agayne lette hym write for vs and we shall soone be with hym whiche were better than to kepe vs here in daunger and parell They called so often on hym that on a day he shewed the duke their murmuraryons Than the duke sayde Syr Iohan I wyll ye retourne and take my men with you and recomende me to my lorde the kyng and to all my bretherne in Englande With right a good wyll sir quod the constable But syr though sycke men haue had great curtesy by the constable of Castyle as in suffering them to entre to a byde there at their case tyll they recouer their helthes yet they maye nat retourne agayne to you in to Castyle nor in to Portugale and if outher they or we take our waye to Calays throughe Fraunce than we must be bounde to beare none armure in syxe yere after against the realme of FrauÌ„ce without the kynge our souerayne lorde be present in propre persone Than the duke sayd Syr Iohan ye knowe well that the frenchemen will take on you and on our men in case they se them in daunger all the vauÌ„tage they can do Therfore I shall shewe you whiche way ye shall passe curtesly through the realme of Castyle And whan ye come in to the entre of Nauarre sende to the kynge he is my cosyn and in tyme past we hadde great alyaunce to guyder whiche are nat as yet broken for sith the warre began bytwene the kyng of Castyle and me we haue amiably written eche to other as cosyns frendes nor no warre hath ben made by see bitwene vs but the freÌ„chmen haue wherfore I thynke he wyll lightly suffre you to passe through his realme whan ye be at saynt Iohan Pie de porte than take the waye to Bisquay and so to Bayon than ye be in our herytage And fro thens ye may go to the cytie of Burdeux without daunger of the frenche men and there refresshe you at your ease And whan ye haue wynde and weder at wyll than ye maye take the see lande in Cornwall or at Hampton or there as the wynde wyll serue you Than sir Iohan said your counsayle shal be fulfylled without any faute IT was nat long after but that the Constable and his company departed and there taryed with the duke and duches no mo but his owne housholde seruauntes And sir Iohan Holande had his wyfe with hym and so came to the cytie of Camores and there he founde the kynge of Castyle sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WyllmÌ„ of Lignacke who made hym good chere as lordes and knyghtes do whan they mete eche with other And truely the kyng of Castyle was gladde tose the departyng of the Englysshmen for than it semed to hym that his warre was at an ende and thought that there wolde neuer issue agayne out of Englande so many good men of warre in the duke of Lancasters tytell to make warre in Castyle Also he knewe well howe there was great trouble and dyscorde within the realme of Englande Whan the tidynges sprede abrode in Castile in the good cyties and townes where as the Englysshe men lay sicke and were there to seke for their helthe howe that sir Iohan Hollande was â—ome thyder to retourne agayne in to EnglaÌ„de They were ryght gladde therof and so drewe to hym to the entent to retourne with hym As the lorde of Chameulx sir Thomas Percy the lorde Lelynton the lorde of Braseton and dyuers other to the nombre of a thousaÌ„de horses suche as were sicke thought them selfe halfe hole whan they knewe they shulde retourne their voyage paste was so paynfull to them WHan sir Iohan Hollande toke leaue of the kyng of Castyle the kyng gaue to hym and to his coÌ„pany great giftes with mules and mulettes of Spaygne and payde for all their costes And than they rode to saynt Phagons and there refresshed theÌ„ thre dayes and in euery place they were welcome and well receyued For there were knyghtes of the kynges that dyde conducte theym and payde alwayes for their costes So longe they code that they passed Spaygne and came to Naueret where as the batayle had ben before and so to Pauyers and to Groyne and there rested for as than they were nat in certayne if the kynge of Nauerre wolde suffre them to passe throughe his realme or nat Than they sent to hym .ii. knightes sir Peter Bysset and sir Wylliam Norwiche They founde the kynge at Tudela in Nauer and there spake with hym spedde so well that they had grauÌ„t to passe through Nauer payeng for that they shulde take by the way and as soone as these knyghtê were retourned they departed fro Groyne and so came to Pampylona passed the mountains of RouÌ„ceaux and lefte the way in to Bierne and entred in to Bisquay so to go to Bayon at last thyder they came and there sir Iohan Holande taryed a long space with his wyfe and other of the Englysshmen rode to Burdeaux Thus this armye brake vp So it was in the season whyle these warres endured in Castile that that englisshmen kepte the feldes The lorde Bouciqualt the elder of the .ii. bretherne sent by an herault to sir Iohan DaÌ„breticourt desyring to do with hym dedes of armes as thre courses with a 〈◊〉 thre with an axe and thre with a dagger all or 〈…〉 the knight was agreed therto And after that sir Iohan Dambreticourt sent dyuers tymes to accoÌ„plysshe their feate but Bouciqualt came nat forwarde I can not tell what
their companyes spredde abrode in to dyuerse places in the countrey and aboute the towne of saynte Phagon whiche was a good plentuous countrey There were many of the bretons poicteuyns and augenyns of rainton and men of the lowe countreys And whan they entred fyrste in to saynt Phagon they entred by syxe ten fyftene and twenty so that at laste there were mo than fyue hundred of one and other maysters and seruauntes and euer as they came they lodged them selfe and pilled and robbed their hostes and brake vp cofers cupbordes and wolde take what they foūde And whan the citezyns sawe their demeanoure to the entent that there shulde no mo entre whan these straungers were at their reste they cryed alarum in the towne and the spanyardes were redy for the same all the day before And so they entred in to the lodginges where the straungers were and as they were founde they were slayne without pytie or mercye and happy were they that were saued the same nyght there were slayne mo thanne fyue hundred The nexte mornyng these tydinges came to the capytayns that were comynge to the same towne warde than they drewe them togyder to take counsayle And the capitayns determyned that it was no tyme than to be reuenged for if they dyde they shulde fynde all other townes and cyties against them wherof their enemyes wold be right ioyous but they sayde that whan their voyage shulde haue an ende that in their retourning they wolde thanke them accordynge to their desertes So they passed forwarde and spake nothynge therof but they thought the more NOwe than so it happend that whan euery man returned except suche as were styll abydinge with the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson and specially those of the lowe countreys whan they came togyder they sayd eche to other Nowe lette vs paye for our welcome that we had at saynt Phagon Lette vs quyte them at our departyng To this they were all agreed and so gathered togyder to the sōme of a thousande fightynge men and they aproched saynt Phagon entred in to the towne without any mystruste that they of the cytie had to them for they trusted all thynges had ben forgoten The straungers cryed alarum in a hūdred places and cryed slee the villayns of the towne and take all that they haue for they haue well deserued it Thanne these bretons and other entred in to the howses where they thought to wyn moste and brake vp cofers and slewe the mē downe in euery place They slewe the same day mo than foure hundred and the towne robbed and spoyled and more than halfe brente whiche was great domage Thus these rutters were reuenged for the dethe of their companyons and than they departed fro saynte Phagon ¶ Howe the kyng of Castell and his counsayle were yuell contente with sir Willyam of Lignac and syr Gaultier of Passackes cōpany and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C.ix. TIdynges came to the king of Castyle howe these companyons had robbed and pylled the good towne of saynt Phagon slayne the cytezyns to the nobre of a four hūdred and nigh brent the towne And it was sayd that if the englysshe men had wonne it with assaute they wolde nat haue daulte so cruelly as they dyd The same tyme the two knyghtes were present with the kynge and they were greatly reproued by the kyng and his counsayle They excused them and sayd as god might be their helpes they knewe nothynge therof but they sayd they had herde howe they were nat contente with them of that towne bycause whan they entred firste in to the realme and came to saynte Phagon there were certayne of their company slayne which grudge by lyklyhode they haue borne euer sythe in their hertes It behoued the kyng of Castyle to let this mater passe for it wolde haue coste hym ouer moche to haue hadde it amended But he bare nat so good wyll to the capytayns after as he dyd before and that was well sene for whan they departed and toke leaue of the kyng to retourne in to Fraūce if he had ben pleased with them it ought to be supposed they shulde haue been better payed of their wages than they were For the duke of Burbone that came laste and was firste that departed he and his company had all the chere and well rewarded Thus these people issued out of Castyle by dyuerse wayes some by Bisquay some by Aragon Suche as were noble and honeste knyghtes and squyers and lyued well and kepte good rule they departed pore and yuell horsed and suche as were hardy and aduentured to robbe and pylle they were well horsed and well furnisshed with gold and syluer and their males full of baggage Thus it falleth in suche aduentures some wyn and some lese The kyng of Castyle was ioyfull whan he sawe he was clene delyuered of suche people NOwe let vs somwhat speke of the duke of Lancastre who laye sicke in his bed in the towne of saynt Iames and the duches his wyfe with hym and his doughter Katheryn It is to be thought that the duke day and nyght was nat without anoyaūce for he sawe his busynes in a harde parte and many of his good knyghtes deed suche as he with moche payne had brought with him out of Englāde Nor there was none that wolde treate for any composicyon to be had bytwene hym and the kynge of Castyle nor that he wolde take the duches his wyfe for enheritour of Castell nor gyue her any parte there of But he herde his men saye that they were enfourmed by pylgrymes that came to saynt Iaques oute of Flaunders Brabant Heynaulte and other countreis as they came throughe the realme of Spaygne They herde the men of warre saye to them Sirs ye shall go to saynt Iaques and there ye shall fynde the duke of Lācastre who kepeth his chambre for feare of the lyght of the sonne Recōmaunde vs to hym and demaunde of hym in oure behalfe if we haue made hym fayre warre or that he be cōtent with vs or nat The Englisshmen were wont to say that we coude better daūce than make warre But nowe is the tyme come that they rest and synge and we kepe the feldes and our fronters in suche wyse that we lese nothing nor take any domage Suche tales were tolde to the duke he toke all in worthe for he had none other remedy And as soone as he myght ryde he departed and the duches and his doughter fro saynt Iaques For the kyng of Portugale had sente for hym by the erle of Noware his constable with a fyue hūdred speares and with hym sir Iohn̄ Ferant the Ponase of Congue Ageas Coylle Venase Martyn de Malo Galope Ferrant sir Aulde Perre I can Nedighes de Fay Gannes de Falues all barons Thus they departed fro Compostella so rode tyll they came to the cytie of Porte There the kynge the quene of Portugale made them
the other parte and were in that case that it was likely to haue had a batayle bytwene them But the duke Aubert the duke of Mours the duke of Iullyers mette togyder by a treatie and so this assemble departed a sondre with out any thyng doyng The same yere the duke Wyncelant of Brabant ouerthrewe the companyons in the coūtrey of Lusenburge who had greatly wasted that lande and putte many to exyle and in the towre of the castell of Lusenburge dyed their souerayne capitayne called the lytell Meslyn And also in the same yere sir Charles of Boesme who as than raigned and was kynge of Almaygne and emperour of Rome instytuted duke Wyncelāt of Boesme and made hym souerayne regarder by an instytucion and ordynaunce called in Almayne Le langue fride that is to say holding the couert and sure wayes So that all maner of people myght go and come and ryde fro towne to towne surely and in sauegarde And the Emperour gaue hym a great parte of the lande and countrey of Dauffay on bothe sydes the ryuer of Ryne to defende hym therin agaynst the lynfars who were a maner of people ryght peryllous and great robbers without pytie And also the Emperour gaue hym the souerayntie of the good riche cytie of Straubourcke and made him Marques of the holy Empyre to augment therby his estate And surely he coulde nat gyue hym to moche for this Duke Wyncelant was lyberall swete courtesse amyable and noble in armes was likely to atchyue many thynges if he hadde lyued long but he dyed in the floure of his youthe Wherof I that haue written this hystorie make great complaynt for hym that he lyued no lengar but tyll he was a .xxiiii. yere of age Thescisme that was in the churche greatly displeased hym and that he shewed me often tymes for I was priue of his acquayntaūce in that in my dayes I traueyled a great parte of the worlde two great princes I knewe and non more hūble nor tretable than they were that was this noble prince one and the other my good mayster the lorde Guy of Bloys who cōmaunded me to make this hystorie These two princes were in my dayes and wereful of humilyte larges and bountie without any malyce They lyued lyberally of their owne without oppressynge their people or reysing vp of any yuell customes in their lādes ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to the pythe of the mater that I haue begone WHan the duke of Iulyers and sir Edwarde of Guerles who called thēselfe bretherne and their hertes good Englisshe for they had ben long alyed with the kyng of Englande and with loue and fauour had alwayes ayded them in their warres Whan they sawe that the duke of Brabant hadde so hygh a signory as to be lorde and souerayne regarder by the Emperonr and was chiefe correctour of all mysdoers and robbers that he founde lyueng by the highe wayes of Almaygne They had therat indygnacion and enuy nat for that he dyde well and helde iustyce and corrected yuell doers but of that he had the souerayne regarde signory ouer lāgue fride whiche was parte in their lande whiche offyce was first instytued that marchautes might pesably passe fro Brabant to Heynault to Flaunders to Fraūce or fro Liege to Coleyne and to other cyties townes and fortresses of Almayne And nother marchauntes nor other coulde nat passe nor entre in to Almayne by the landes and daungers of the duke of Iulyers and the duke of Guerles And soo it was that certayne robbers were in the wayes of Linfars And it were they that had done the vyolence and passynge through the landes of the duke of Iuliers It was shewed me that the duke had lente them horse and castels Great complayntes came to duke Wyncelant of Brabant and of Luzenbourge who as than was at Bruselles howe that the Languefryde wherof he was souerayne regarder and keper was broken violated and howe they that dyde that vyolence and robbed the countrey soiourned and euer retourned in to the duchy of Iulyers The duke of Brabante who as than was yonge and lusty and puyssaunte of lynage and of landes toke in great dispyte the offences that his people had complayned of and said how he wolde fynde some remedy seynge he had in charge to kepe and defende the Languefride He wolde nat that through his neclygence he shulde take any reproche or blame and to conclude his dede and to sette reason in their demaunde and by the counsayle and aduyse that he had he sente to the duke of Iulyers notable persones as the lorde of Vrquon lorde of Bourguenall syr Scelar archedecon of Heynalt Geffrey de la towre great rowter of Brabante and other shewyng to him in wyse and swete maner the offence whiche greatly toucheth and is preiudyciall to the duke of Brabante who is keper and souerayne regarder of the Languefride The duke of Iulyers fayntely excused hym selfe for by that he shewed he had as lefe haue had the warre as the peace so that the duke of Brabantes messangers were nat well cōtent and so toke their leaue of the duke of Iuliers and reiourned and shewed the duke of Brabant all as they had herde and sene Whan the duke herde that he demaūded what was best to do He was aunswered by his coūsayle sayenge sir ye knowe best your selfe Well quod the duke and I saye that it is my entensyon that I wyll nat slepe so in this blame nor that it shall be said that for slouth or faynte hert that I shulde suffre vnder my sauegarde robbers to do vilaynes and robories vnpunysshed I shewe and wyll shewe to my cosyn of Iuliers and to his aydes that this mater toucheth me nere This duke cooled nat his entent but in contynent set clerkes a warke and sent to them that he thought wolde ayde hym Some he prayed and some he commaunded and sente sufficyent knoledge of his mynde to the duke of Iuliers and to his alies bothe these lordes made great preparacion The duke of Iulyers had but lytell ayde but of his brother syr Edwarde of Guerles he greatly cōforted him with men and with frendes These two lordes sent priuely for men farre in to Almayne And bycause that almayns are couetous desyring to wynne and it had bene longe before or they were in any place where they myght get any good aduenture They wolde haue come in more habundaunce and they had nat knowen that they shulde haue had to do agaynste the duke of Brabante The duke of Brabante in great aray departed fro Bruselles and went to Louayne and fro thence to Treete on the ryuer of Muese and there he founde a thousande speares abydinge for hym and always there came menne to hym fro all partyes fro Fraunce fro Flaūders fro Haynalt fro Namure fro Lorayne other countreys so that he had two thousande and fyue hundred speares of good men of warre and also there came to hym out of Burgoyne
vs fro hence that within a moneth after I shal bring hym to suche a botye that he and his company shall wynne a hundred thousande frankes With that message the thre companyons retourned agayne to Galuset and shewed Perot their message Thanne he studyed a lytell and sayd It maye well be as he sayeth at aduenture I shall delyuer him incontyuent and so opened a cofer wherin was more than threscore thousande frankes nat gathered of his rentes that he hadde in Byerne but the moste parte of pyllage For the towne he dwelte in be fore the warres was but of twelue houses and the erle of Foiz was chefe lorde therof and the towne was called Dadam within thre leages of Ortays Than he tolde oute .xxii. hundred frankes at a pynch a frende is knowen I shall put them in aduenture he is well able to wyn them agayne and mo and he wyll Thus they departed fro Galuset retourned to Mount ferante it was a .xiiii. great leages bytwene but they had a good sauecōduct wherby they passed in and out without daunger Whan Geronet knewe howe he and his company shuld be delyuered he was right ioyfull and sente for them that shulde receyue the money and sayde Syrs holde tell your money here is all that we owe you So they tolde out xxii hundred frankes Than they rekened for their expenses in their lodgynges and payed euery thynge with the largeste so that euery man was contente And whan all was payed than Gerenot hyred men and horses to bringe theym to Galuset Whan syr Iohan Boesme launce was certifyed of the receyte of the money I thynke he dyd sende for it or els lefte it styll there on trust of the strength of the garyson For the same season sir Peter of Gyache as than chauncellour of Fraunce left the◠his treasoure the whiche he lost the same yere all or most parte Whan Geronet was retourned to Galuset the companyons made hym good chere and after a thre or foure dayes Perot le Bernoys called hym and sayde Geronet the promyse that ye made to my seruantes was cause of your delyueraunce and nothyng els for I was nat boūde to paye your raunsome seynge ye departed without my leaue ye rode forthe but at aduenture therfore nowe holde your promyse or els there shall be displeasure bytwene you and me for I wold ye knowe I haue nat lerned to lese but rather to wynne Capytayne quod Geronet ye haue reason to say as ye do and sir I saye thus to you that if ye lyste I shall set you in the towne of Mount ferant within .xv. dayes in the whiche towne is great treasure and pyllage for it is ryche of marchaundyse and ryche villaynes be therin great plenty the chauncellour of Fraunce syr Peter of Giache as it is infourmed me hathe great ryches within the same towne And I knowe well it is the towne most symplest kept and leste taken hede to of any towne in the realme Syr this is that I can saye and this is the promyse that I haue made In the name of god quod Perot le Bernoys it is well sayd and I consente therto ye knowe well the maner of the towne and howe it is kepte and fortifyed This enterprise dothe it requyre any great nombre Syr quod Geronette a thre or four hundred speares shall well accomplysshe our feate for within the towne there be no men of great defence Well quod Perot I am contente and I shall singnyfye other capytayns of the fortresses here aboute of the mater and we shall assemble to gyder and go thyder ¶ Howe Geronet of Mandurante with twelue of his company retourned to Mountferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with foure hundred speares went to Mount ferant and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other waye but in at the gate Cap. C.xix ON this determynacion Perot sent to the capytaynes nexte aboute hym and apoynted euery man to mete at Ousac a castell in the bysshopriche of Cleremount nat farre thence Wherof somtyme Barbe a great pyller a gascoyne was capytayne The companyons of seuen fortresses assembled togyder at Ousac englysshe men and they were a four hundred speares well mounted and than they had but sixe leages to ryde The first that came to Ousac was Perote of Bernoys to shewe that it was his enterprise and to take coūsayle with the other capytayns by the aduyse of Geronet and accordyng to the informacyon that he had gyuen hym Than Geronet and a twelue other with hym arayed theym lyke rude vyllayne marchauntes in cotes of fryse and ledde horses tyed one to another with baggage on them accordynge to the custome of the countrey And thus they departed fro Ousac in the brekynge of the daye and so rode towardes Mountferant and lyke marchauntes they entred into the towne about noone There were none that toke any hede what men they were they thought full lytell they hadde ben men of warre They of the towne demed surely they had ben marchaūtes come thyder to the fayre to haue bought cloth and dyaper for they said they came fro Mounte Pellier to bye marchaūdyse for against the fayre there was come thyder moche marchaundyse fro other cyties and townes of the realme Than Geronet and his company wente to their lodgynge to the syne of the Crowne and sette vp their horses and toke vp a fayre chambre for thē and kepte theym styll therein without goynge aboute in the towne for feare of spyenge and so sate and made mery and thought well they wolde pay nothynge for their expenses AT nyght they were besy to dresse their horses and said to their host and ostes that their horses hadde sore trauayled all that day wherfore they had nede of rest They prouyded them of plenty of candels and so went in to their chambre and dranke and made mery but they wolde nat go to bed So the host and the hostes wente to their beddes and lette them alone and had no suspecte of them Now shall I shewe you what Perot and his company dyd The sayd day he and with hym seuen other capytayns firste Perot le Bernoys as chefe than the Bourge of Compaygne called Arnaldon the bourge Anglois the Bourge of Carlat Apthon Seguyn Olyue Barbe Bernadon of the isles with them there was a great routter of Byerne the lorde of Launce playne By hym and by the bourge of Compayne I was afterwarde enfourmed of this enterprise whiche was done aboute Candelmas whan the nightes be long and colde and all the same nyght it rayned and the wynde blewe so that it was a stormy season wherfore the capytayne of the watche of Mountferant issued nat out that nyght of his lodgynge but he sent his sonne forthe who was but yonge of a syxtene yere of age And as he wente fro the one gate to the other he foūde four poore men watchinge nygh deed for colde and they sayd to the yonge man Syr take of eche of
vs a blanke and let vs go home and warme vs it is paste a leuen of the clocke The yonge man coueted the money and toke it and they departed fro their watche and wente to their owne houses Than Geronet and his company watched at their hostes dore to se whan the watch men shulde retourne Than they sawe whan the yonge man came fro the watche and the watche men with hym Than Geronet sayde the mater goeth well this is lyke to be a good nyght for vs euery manne in the towne is as nowe gone to bedde the watche is paste we nede to take no care for that And on the other parte I am sure Perotte le Bernoys and his company are rydynge hyder warde as fast as they may And in dede the same tyme they were comynge and came nere to Cleremounte and mette with Aymergotte Marcell with a hundred speres capytayne of the fortresse of Alose besyde saint Floure whan eche of them knewe other they made good chere and demaunded eche other whyder they wolde and what they sought in that countrey Amergot aunswered and said I come fro my fortresse of Alose and ame goynge to Carlate In the name of god sayd two of the capytaynes the Bourge Angloys and the Bourge Compaigne Sir we be here wolde ye any thynge speke wyth vs yea quod Amerigot ye haue certayne prysoners of the countre of Dolphyn of Auuergne and ye knowe well we be in treatynge togyther by the meanes of the erle of Armynake wherfore we wold gladly make an exchaunge with certayne prisoners that I haue in my garyson I am sore desyred thus to do by the coūtes of Dolphyn who is a right good lady and is well worthy to be done pleasure vnto than the Bourge of Compaigne sayd Aymergotte ye are greatly bounde to do some pleasure to that lady for within this thre yere ye hadde of her syluer thre hundred frankes for the redemynge of the castell of Mercyer But syr I pray you where is therle Dolphyn at this season Syr quod the other it is shewed me that he is in Fraunce comunynge vpon the treatie that ye know that we be in hande with the erle of Armynake and with erle Dolphyn Than Perot le Bernoys sayde Sir leaue thir comunynge and come on with vs and it shall be for your profyte and ye shall haue parte of our botye Sir quod Aymergot and whyder go you than By my fayth sir quod Perot we go streyght to Mount ferante for this nyght the towne shall be yelden to me than Aymerygot sayd syr this is yuell done that ye go aboute for ye knowe well we be in treatie with the erle of Armynake and with this coūtrey wherfore all townes and castels rekeneth themselfe halfe assured wherfore we shall be greatly blamed thus to do and ye shall breke out treatye By my faythe quod Perot as for me I wyll agre to no treatye as longe as I maye kepe the feldes it behoueth companyons to lyue come on your way with vs for ye shall haue nothynge to do at Carlat for here be the companyons of that fortresse and suche as be left behynd wyll nat suffre you to entre till their company come home Well ser quod Aymerigot with you wyll I nat go but I wyll returne agayne in to my fortresse syth the mater is thus Thus they de parted one fro a nother Perot helde the waye to Mountferant and whan they were vnder Cleremount there they rested them and imagyned on a newe enterprise specially certayne of the gascoyns who knewe nat of the enterprise of Geronet Than they sayd to the capytayns Sirs beholde here this cytie of Cleremonte the whiche is a ryche cytie and rather more prignable than Mount ferant we haue ladders here let vs scale it we shall haue more profyte here than at Mount ferante To this poynte they were nere a greed but thanne the chefe capytayns sayd Sirs Cleremonte is a puissant towne and well peopled and the men well harnessed if they be ones moued they wyl assemble togyther and put theym selfe to defēce it is no doute but we shulde haue no great aduaunatage by them And if we shulde be reculed perforce and our horse taken or loste we shulde yuell escape for we be farre fro home and if the coūtrey than shulde ryse and pursue vs we shulde be in great daunger we thynke it were better to go on forthe and folowe our fyrst enterprise for the sekynge of a newe enterprise per aduenture myght cost vs dere THis counsayle was taken and so rode forthe without makynge of any noyse so that aboute .xi. of the clocke they were nere to Mount ferant Whan they sawe the towne they stode styll a thre bowe shot of fro the towne Than Perotte sayde beholde here is Mount ferant our company that went before are with in the towne kepe you all styll here close to gyder and I wyll go downe this valaye to se if I may se or here any newes of Geronet who hathe brought vs to this enterpryse and departe nat tyll I come to you agayne sir quod they go your waye we shall abyde you here Therwith Perot departed four with hym The wether was so darke that no man coulde se an acre brede fro hym and also it rayned blewe and snewe that it was a meruaylouse yuell wether Geronet was as than on the walles and taryed to here some newes He loked dowe ouer the walles and as he thought he sawe the shadowe of some men goynge a long by the dyke syde than he began a lytle to why stell softely And whā they without herde that they came nerer to the wall for the dykes on that syde hadde no water Than Geronet demaūded who was there without Perot knew his voyce and sayd I am Perot le Bernoys Geronet art thou there yea sir quod he I am here Make you redy and aproche your men for I shall lette you in here in to the towne for all tho within the towne be a slepe in their beddes What quod Perot shulde we entre here where as ye stande god kepe me fro that I wyll nat entre there if I entre I wyll entre in at the gate and at none other place No wyll quod Geronette and I assure you that lyeth nat in my power to do but syr bring your ladders hyder and spare nat sckale for I assure you there is none shall let you Well quod Perot thou haste promysed to lette me in to the towne but surely I wyll nat entre without it be by the gate Well quod Geronet and I can nat a mende it for I can nat lette you in at the gate it is faste shytte and the kepers be within but they be a slepe Whyle they were at this stryfe certayne of Geronettes cōpany within went vp downe vpon the walles to se if they myght here any noyse A lytell there by there was a poore house at the foote of
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
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
departed fro the cytie of Tholous with a fyue hundred horse and rode so longe that he came to Tarbe in Bygore and fro thence to Morloys in Bierne And the erle of Foiz who was signyfied of his comyng was ioyfull and coÌ„maunded all his offycers that the towne of Ortays shulde be well aparelled to receyue him for he sayd the marshals comynge pleased hym ryght well lodgynges for his men were made redy and the erle rode out in to the feldes to mete with hym and mothan thre hundred horses and there receyued hym with good chere And he was at Ortays a syre dayes and the marshall sayd to the erle howe the frenche kynge had great affection to se the countrey of Languedoc and to se hym Than the erle aunswered and sayd Syr the kynge shall be ryght welcome and gladde I wolde be to se hym yea but sir quod the marshall it is the kynges entension at his comyng playnely to knowe whether ye wyll holde you frenche or englissh for alwayes ye haue dissymuled out the warre for ye wolde neuer arme you for no desyre A sir quod the erle I thanke you in that ye haue shewed me somoche For syr though I wolde neuer arme me nor take no parte there hath been good cause why As for the warre bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce I haue nothynge to do therwith I holde my countrey of Bierne of no man but of good and the sworde What haue I to do to put my selfe in seruytude or in dyspleasure of one kynge or other yet I knowe well myne aduersaryes of Armynake haue done that in them is to bring me in the indyngnacion of bothe partyes for or the prince of Wales wente in to Spayne by the informacyon of the erle of Armynake the prince wolde haue made me warre he was so sore moued therto that he had done so and sir Iohan Chandos had nat broken his purpose but I thanke god alwayes I haue borne my selfe as mekely and as curteyssy as I coulde and shall do as longe as I lyue and whan I am deed let the maters go as they wyll Thus the erle of Foyze and the marshall passed the tyme togyder And at their departure the erle gaue hym a fayre courser a fayre mule and a nother good horse all thre togyther rychely sadylled and aparelled And he gaue to syr Roberte of Challus and to syr Rycharde Dolphyn to eche of them two huÌ„dred frankes and to fyue other squyers to eche of them fifty frankes Than the marshall toke leaue to departe to Tholous And I syr Iohan Froysart was there the same tyme and wolde haue departed fro Ortays with hym but the Erle of Foyze wolde nat suffre me and sayd I shulde nat as than departe So it behoued me to byde his pleasure Sir Loys departed fro Ortays and rode to Tarbe and the lorde Dolphyn of Bygore conueyed him and sir Peter of Calestan one of the erle of Foiz knyghtes ABoute the same season there was at Burdeaux a dede of armes done before the duke of Lancastre by fyue englisshmen of his owne house and fyue frenche menne some of theym were of the marshall of Fraunce house Fyrst by ser Pecton Dallagnie a gascone englyssh agaynst sir Mores Mannigmente frenche Seconde bytwene sir Aragon Raymon englysshe agaynst the bastarde of Chauigny Frenche The thyrde bytwene Loys Malapus capytayne of Agremortes frenche agaynst Iaquemyn Corne de Cerfe englysshe Fourthe bytwene Archambalte de Villyers frenche and the sonne of the lorde of Chaumonte gascone englysshe The fyfte by Willyam Foucalt frenche against the brother of the lorde of Chaumont englysshe And to se these armes acomplysshed dyuers knyghtes and squiers of Bierne of therle of Foiz house toke their way towarde Burdeaux I wente with them in company bytwene Ortars and Burdeaux is but .xxiiii. myle There we sawe the sayde armes done before saynte Andrews in the presence of the duke of Lancastre and the duches their doughter and other ladyes and damosels of the couÌ„trey These knightes were nat all armed at ones but euery man by hym selfe with his felowe aparte their armes were thre courses with a speare thre strokes with a sworde thre with an are and thre with a dagger and all a horsehacke And this they dyd in thre dayes and none of all tenne hurte but sir Raymon slewe the bastardes horse wherwith the duke of Lancastre was sore dysplesed and blamed greatly the knight bicause he bare his staffe so lowe and the duke gaue the bastarde one of his horses Whan this was accomplysshed euery man deê‘ted to their owne houses AN one after the duchesse of Lancastre ordayned to goo in to Castyle and to leade with her Katheryne her doughter who shulde haue in maryage the kynge of Castyls sonne And the duchesse entente was fyrste or she wolde entre in to Castyle to go to Mantuell where somtyme was the batayle bytwene kynge don Peter her father agaynste kynge Henry of Castyle and of sir Bertram of Clesquyn And there she purposed to make iuste enquiry where the kynge her father lay buryed and to dygge vp his bones and to haue them to the cytie of Cyuill and there to bury theym agayne rychly as it appertayned to a kynge In the begynnynge of Marche whanne the sonne beganne to mount and the dayes to encrease than the duches of Lancastre was redy with her doughter and so departed fro Burdeaux and went to Bayon and there the duke of Lancastre toke leaue of her and he retourned to Burdeaux And the ladyes rode forthe to Dape and there she was well receyued for the cyte of Dape was vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande There she rested two dayes and than passed throughe the countrey of Basquence and passed by the passe of Rouceualx and entred in to Nauerre and came to Panpilona and there founde the kyng of Nauer and the quene who receyued the duchesse honourably The quene of Nauer was suster to the kynge of Castyle The duches and her doughter were a monethe passynge throughe the realme of Nauer for they taryed with the Kynge and with the quene a certayne space and their costes and charges were borne and payed for Than they entred in to Spaygne and at the entre of the realme they founde of the kynge of Castyls seruauntes redy there to receyue theym acordynge as they were commaunded And than the yonge prince was called prince of Galyce ¶ Howe the duches of Lancastre departed fro the kynge of Castyle and wente to Mantuell to brynge her fathers bones to Ciuyll and howe the frenche kynge sent ambassadours to the erle of Foize to treate for the maryage of the duke of Berrey his vncle with the doughter of the erle of Boloyne Cap. C.lv. WHan all these matters were renewed and the maryage confyrmed than the duchesse of Lancastre lefte her doughter with the king with her yonge husbande that shulde mary her who was of the age of eight yeres the duches toke leaue
of bowgery and howe the kynge had sayde howe he shulde be brynte and hanged wherof moche people were right ioyouse for he was sore hated the two knyghtes that were come thyder fro the duke of Berrey were greatly abasshed and wyst nat what to suppose Than syr Peter Mesquyn sayde to the lorde of Nantonelet Syr I feare me Betysache is betrayed peraduenture some persone hath ben with hym secretly in the prisone and hathe borne hym in hande that if he holde that horryble erroure that the churche than shall chalenge hym and so be sente to Auignon to the pope and therby be delyuered Ah fole that he is he is dysceyued for the kyng sayeth he wyll haue hym bothe brente and hanged Lette vs go to the prisone to hym and reforme hym and bringe hym to a nother state for he is farre out of the waye and yuell counsayled They wente strayte to the prisone and desyred the gayler that they might speke with Betysache The gayler excused hymselfe and sayde Syrs ye muste pardone me for I am straytely charged to suffer no manne to speke with hym and also here be four sargeauntes of armes sente by the kynge to kepe hym and we dare nat breke the kinges coÌ„maundement Than the two knyghtes sawe well howe they labored in vayne and howe there was no remedy by all lykelyhode but that Betysache shulde dye than they retourned to their lodgynge and rekened and payed and toke their horses and returned to their lorde the duke of Berrey and shewed hym all the case THe coÌ„clusion of Betysach was suche that the nexte daye 〈◊〉 tenne of the clocke he was taken out of prysone and brought to the bysshoppes palays and there were redy the iudges and offycers spyrituall and the bayly of Besyers brought forthe the prisoner and sayde Beholde syrs here is Betisache whome I delyuer to you for an herytyke and a synnet in boâ—gery and if he had nat ben a clerke he had been iudged or this acordynge to his desertes Than the offycyall demauÌ„ded of Betysach if it were with hym acordynge as he was acused and to confesse the frouth there openly before all the people And Betysache who thought to haue said well and to haue scaped by reason of his confessyon he aunswered and sayde that all was trewe He was demaunded this thre tymes and at euery tyme he confessed it to be trewe before all the people Thus ye maye knowe whether he was dysceyued or nat for iâ— he had made no suche confessyon he had been delyuered for the duke of Berrey had fully auowed all his dedes the whiche he had doone at his commaundemente in the countrey of Langue doc But it was to be supposed that fortune played her tourne with hym for whanne he thought to haue been moste assuredest on the heyght of fortunes whele he was tourned vp so downe fro her whele as she hathe doone a hundred thousande mo sythe the worlde began Than Betysach was delyuered agayne by the spirytuall iudge to the bayly of Besyers who vnder the kinge ruled the temperalte the whiche Betysache without delaye was brought to a place before the palays He was so hasted forwarde that he had no leysure to aunswere nor to saye nay For whan he sawe a fyre redy prepared in the place and sawe that he was in the handes of the hangman he was sore abasshed and sawe well than that he was dysceyued and betrayed Than he cryed out a loude requirynge to be herde but than was no hede taken to his sayenge but the hangeman sayde It is ordeyned that ye shall dye for your yuell warkes hathe brought you to an yuell ende He was hasted forwarde to his dethe and the fyre made redy there was also reysed a payre of galowes and therto tyed a chayne of yron and at the ende therof a coler of yron the whiche was put aboute his necke and than the chaine drawen vp a hye and tyed rounde aboute the galowes Than he cryed and sayde Duke of Berrey they cause me to dye without reason they do me wronge As sone as he was tyed to the galows there was setre rounde aboute drye segge rede and â—agoâ—â—es and fyre put therto and incontynente the faggortes were a fyre Thus Betysache was hanged and brente and the frenche kyng out of his chaumbre myght well se hym if he wolde To this poore ende came Betysache and so the people were reuenged of hym And for to saye the trouthe he had doone many extorcions and domages to the people whyle he had the gouernynge of the countrey of Languedoc ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the frenche kynge beynge at Tholouse sente for the erle of Foiz who came thyder and dyd homage to the kynge for the conntie of Foiz Cap. C.lxiiii AFter this cruell iustyce the french kyng taryed nat longe after at Besiers but departed and toke the way to Carcassone and always sythe his departure fro Auygnon his marshall syr Loys of Xancere rode in his company The kynge rode so longe by his iourneys that he vysited the countreys and kepte nat the right hyghe wayes He was at Cabestan at Narbone at Lymons at Mounte Royall and at Fongaur and than he retourned to Carcassone and there taryed foure dayes Than he rode and passed Vyle Franca Auygnollet and Mongistarte and so came to Tholouse and the burgesses there who greatly desyred to se the kynge receyued hym ioyfully and mette the kyng without the towne all in a lyuery and so with greate solempnyte he was brought to the castell of Thoulouse They of the cytie gaue the kinge many fayre presentes wherwith the kynge was greatly reioysed Whan the kynge had been there thre dayes than he was counsayled to sende for the erle of Foiz who was come out of Byerne in to the countie of Foiz and was in the towne of Nasiers four leages fro Thoulouse for he knew of the kinges state and ordynauÌ„ce The marshall of FrauÌ„ce and the lorde de la Ryuer were apoynted to go for the erle of Foize They departed on a wednysday and laye at a cytie in Tholousyn called Iordayn and the next day they came to Nasyers The erle of Foiz who knewe well of their comynge receyued theym nobly for the loue of the Kynge and also he knewe the lordes well he had sene them before Syr Loys of Xancere had the wordes and said Syr my lorde of Foiz the kynge our soueraygne lorde hath sente vs to you coÌ„maundyng you to come to se hym at Thoulouse or els he wyll traueyle so farre that he wyll come and se you in your owne countrey for he greatly desyreth to se you The erle of Foyze aunswered and sayd Syr Loys I wolde nat the kynge had so great traueyle to me it is more mete I haue it for hym wherfore if it please you ye shall shewe hym that I shall be at Tholouse within foure dayes That is well sayde syr quod they we shall returne and shewe him these tydynges fro you So be it
ê™ he howe be it ye shall abyde here all this daye and refresshe your selfes and to morowe ye shall departe they obeyed and taryed that daye and the nyght at their pleasure and the erle deuysed with theym sagely craftely for he was a man by reason of his fayre langage to drawe out by one meanes or other the secretes of on s herte The nexte daye they toke leaue eche of other and rode so long that the same day they came to Tholouse and founde the kinge playenge at chesse with his vncle the duke of Burbone Than the kynge demaunded of them alowde and sayde Syrs howe saye you wyll the erle come or no. yes sir quod the lorde de la Ryuer he hath gret affection to se your grace he wyll be here with you within these foure dayes Well quod the kynge and we wyll gladly se hym The two knightes departed fro the kynge and lefte hym playeng went to their supper and to reste them for they had rydden that daye a great iourney The erle of Foiz who was at Nasyers remembred well the voyage that he had to do He made hym redy and sente before to Tholous for his ê“uisyon acordingly He had sent in to Bierne for knightes and squiers for mo than two hundred to serue and to accompany hym that voiage THe daye that the erle of Foiz had apoynted he entred in to the Cytie of Tholous with mo than syxe hundred horses and well acompanyed with knyghtes and squyers There was with hym BoÌ„nuquell and sir IohaÌ„ his brother sir Roger of Spaygne his cosyn the lorde of Courase the lorde of ValeÌ„tyne the lorde of quare the lorde of Burnge sir Espaygne du Lyon the lorde of Roquepayre the lorde of Lane the lorde of Besache the lorde of Perle sir Peter of Cabestayne sir Monaunt of Nonnalles sir Richarde de la Meete sir Arnolde of saynt Basyll and dyuers other Sir Peter of Byerne and sir Arnolde his two bretherne and his two bastarde sonnes sir Iobbayne and sir Gracyen of Foiz The entencion of the erle was to enherite those two his sonnes in to the moost parte of all the lande of Bierne Of the whiche lande he myght do therwith at his pleasure for he helde it fraÌ„ke and free holdynge of no man but of Godde Thus the erle toke his lodgynge at the Freers preachers There he kept his house and his men lay as nere there about as myght be The burgesses of Tholous made him great chere for they loued him well for alwayes he had been their good neyghbour curtesse and tretable For he neuer suffred any of his coÌ„pany to do them any displeasure nor vyoleÌ„ce wherfore they loued hym moche the better They gaue him many fayre pÌ„sentes of wyne and other thynges so that he was well contente He entred in to Tholous whan it was nere nyght The nexte daye about ten of the clocke he toke his horse suche other of his company as pleased hym mo than two hundred knyghtes and squyers men of honour And in that estate he rode a long through the stretes to the Castell where the kynge was Than he a lyghted in the fyrst court entryng in to the castell Than the erle mouÌ„ted vp the greces in to the great hall The freÌ„che kyng was come out of his chambre in to the hall and there taryed for the Erle and had great desyre to se hym for his great valure and renome that ran on hym Th erle of Foiz who was a goodly prince and of a formall stature beare heeded entred in to the hall And whan he sawe the kynge and other lordes of FrauÌ„ce the kynges brother his vncle he made his reuerence to the kyng and to none other and kneled downe on his one knee than he a rose and passed forthe and at the thirde tyme he kneled nere to the kynge The kyng toke hym by the hande and enbrased him and toke hym vp and sayde Erle of Foiz my fayre cosyn ye be right welcome your coÌ„myng greatlye reioyceth vs. Sir quod the erle I thaÌ„ke your grace that it please you to say so There the kynge and the Erle talked toguyder the whiche wordes I herde nat all ThanÌ„e the kynge went to dyner At the kynges table at the vpper ende sate the archbisshop of Tholous than the kynge and his vncle the duke of Burbone than nexte the erle of Foiz than sir IohnÌ„ of Burbone erle of Marche and of Vandone At that table sate no mo At the seconde table satte sir Iohan de la Brethe erle of Harcourte sir Philyppe of Bare foure knightes of the erle of Foiz And at another table there sate the marshall sir Loyes of sanxere sir Roger of Spayne and eyght other knightes of the erles This was a great dyner and well stuffed of all thynges and after dyner and grace sayd they toke other pastymes in a great chaÌ„bre and heryng of instrumentes wherin the erle of Foiz greatly delyted ThanÌ„e wyne and spyces was brought The erle of Harecourt serued the kynge of his spyce plate And sir Gerrarde de la pyerserued the duke of Burbone And sir Monnaunt of Nonnalles serued the erle of Foiz Thus about four of the clocke the erle tooke leaue of the kyng and of the other lordes He issued out of the hall and in the courte were his hourses redy and his men The erle mouÌ„ted and all suche as accompanyed hym and so retourned to his lodgynge and was well contente with the chere that hadde ben made to hym and his and praysed it moche to his knightes TThus bytwene the Frenche Kynge and the Erle Gascoyne of Foize beynge at Tholous There was dyuers treaties and apoyntmentes of loue and the marshall of Fraunce and the lorde de la Ryuer dyde their payne to helpe it forwarde The erle of Foiz made a dyner to the duke of thou rayne and to the duke of Burbone to therle de la Marche and to other great Lordes of Fraunce This dyner was great and sumptuous and syttyng at the tables mo than .ii. hundred knightes And or the dyner was fullye ended the Frenche kyng who had dyned in the castell and with hym sir Charles de la Brethe and sir Philyppe of Bare and his two cosyn germayns Than the kyng sayde Go we thyder and so he dyde but with .xii. in his company The erle of Foiz was greatlye reioysed in that it pleased the kyng to coÌ„e to his lodgyng and so was all the company There was sporte after dyner of wrestlyng and castynge the barre the stone the darte bytwene the Frenche men and the Gascoyns Thus they passed the tyme tyll it was nerehande nyght Than the kynge and the other lordes retourned The erle of Foiz gaue the same daye to the kynges knightes and squyers and to the duke of Thourayne and to the duke of Burbone mo thaÌ„ threscore coursers palfrayes and mulettes all with whyte sadels redy drest to apoynt Also he gaue to the kynges mynstrelles
castell in the marches of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandois and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meaulx and of the takynge therof and howe Aymerygotte was taken and brought to Parys Cap. C.lxx. IN this season whyle this asseÌ„ble was a making to go in to Barbary for a good entente as to exalte the cristen faythe certayne robbers and pyllers in Auuergne Rouergne and in Lymosyn were of contrary myndes for though the couÌ„treis thought themselfe in suretie by reason of the chartre of the treuce that was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce whiche had ben ê“claymed and publysshed in all fortresses and before all the capitayns that made any warre or helde any fortresses of the englissh parte And an artycle there was that who so euer brake or violated any poynt or artycle comprised in the treaty shuld receyue punyssyon of dethe without hope of any remyssion specially Perot le Bernoys capytayne of Caluset Amergot Marcell Olyue Barbe capytayne of Dousac in the marches of Auuergne were enclosed by name in the charter of the treuse to the entent that if they or any of theirs dyd or consented to do any thynge contrary that they shulde nat ercuse them selfe some of the capytayns that feared to dye a shamfull dethe or to rynne in to the indygnacion of the frenche kynge helde surely all the poyntes of the charter But some dyd nat so whiche they derely bought as ye shall here after ye shall knowe as it hath ben here before rehersed howe Iohan erle of Armynake Bernarde dolphyn of Auuergne and therle Clermounte were in treatie with certayne capytayns that helde fortresses in the said couÌ„treys agaynst the frenche kynge These sayd lordes made suche dylygence that they brought dyuers of these capytayns to composycion and to the sellyng of their fortresses Their treaty and composicyon was that they shulde renounce the warre bytwene Englande Fraunce and durynge the treuce they to go with the erle of Armynake in to Lombardy or whyder as he wolde leade them to ayde hym in his warre a gaynst the lorde Galeas erle of Vertues who had disheryted his cosyn germayns chyldren to his vncle the lorde Barnabo as it hath ben shewed here before and so what to haue their ayde and to auoyde the countrey of these robbers pyllers who had done so moche hurte in the countrey bothe to men and women the sayd erle of Armynake and the erle Dolphyn his cosyn toke gret payne in that mater And at the instant requestes prayers of the good menne of the cyties and townes of the playne countreys aforesayd so that there was a tayle gadred in Auuergne Guynaldan Rouergne Carnosyn and in Lymosyn to the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes so that poore and riche payed somoch that dyuers solde layde to pledge their herytages and were glad so to do to lyue at reste in their countreys And the good men thought by reson of payeng of this money and aduoydyng of the sayd fyue robbers pyllers that they shulde than haue ben quyte for euer of them but it proued nat so in dyuers places specially of Aymergot Marcell and of his men For after that the castell of Aloys was yelden vp and solde by Aymergot Marcell to the erle of Armynake whiche fortresse stode in the herte of all Auuergne this Aymergot was well worthe in redy money a huÌ„dred thousande frankes whiche he had goten by robory pyllage and by raunsominge of men and patesynge of the countrey and he had kept the rule more than ten yere Th erle of Armynake desyred gretly to haue in his company the sayd Aymergot Mercell thought nat to leaue him behynd him for two reasons One was bycause he wolde gladly haue the counsayle aduyse of hym for he was experte and subtyle in all feates of armes both in sautynge sealynge and stealynge of fortresses The seconde reason was the erle feared that if this Aymergot shulde a byde behynde in the countrey thoughe he hadde solde to hym the fortresse of Aloyse and other fortresses yet he might do moche domage in the couÌ„trey of Auuergne and Rouergne wherfore therle made great labour to haue hym But alwayes Aymergot dissymuled the mater and said Whan I se the certayne of the erle of Armynakes departyng than I knowe myne owne wyll is so good that I wyll nat byde behynde Other aunswere the erle coulde nat get of hym The erle of Armynake laye at Commynge and aboute Tholousyn in his countrey and there made his assemble whiche voyage had been more hasted and the voyage in to Auffryke hadde nat been that letted hym a season for dyuers knyghtes and squyers that went in that voyage had promysed hym and this voyage in to Barbary came so sodenly that it hyndred his voyage Whan tydynges was knowen in Fraunce of the treaties that the erle of Armynake had made with the sayde capytayns in Auuergne there was made as moche haste as myght be to pay the money to the capytayns Aymergot Marsell was sore dyspleased with hym selfe in that he had solde and deliuered the stronge castell of Aloyse for he sawe his owne auctorite therby greatly abated and parceyued well howe he was the lesse feared for all the season that he kept it he was doubted and feared and honoured with all men of warre of his parte and had kept a great astate alwayes in the castell of Aloyse The patesynge of countreys that he helde vnder subiection was well worth yerely twenty thousande florayns Whan he remembred all this he was soroufull his tresour he thought he wolde nat mynysshe he was wonte dayly to serche for newe pyllages wherby encresed his profyte and than he sawe that all was closed fro hym Than he sayde and imagyned that to pyll and to robbe all thynge consydered was a good lyfe and so repented hym of his good doing On a tyme he said to his olde companyons Sirs there is no sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men of warre but to vse suche lyfe as we haue done in tyme past What a ioy was it to vs whan we rode forthe at aduenture and somtyme fouÌ„de by the way a ryche priour or marchaunt or a route of mulettes of Mountpellyer of Narbone of Lymons of Fongans of Besyers of Tholous or of Carcassone laden with clothe of Bruselles or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres or laden with spycery fro Bruges fro Damas or fro AlysauÌ„der what so euer we met all was ours or els raunsomed at our pleasures dayly we gate newe money and the vyllaynes of Auuergne and of Lymosyn dayly prouyded and brought to our castell whete mele breed redy baken otes for our horses lytter good wynes beffes and fatte mottons pullayne and wyldefoule we were euer furnysshed as though we had ben kingê whan we rode forth all the couÌ„trey trymbled for feare all was ours goynge or comynge Howe toke we Carlaste I and the Bourge of Compayne and I and Perot of Bernoys tooke
lordes knewe well but I coude neuer haue knowlege therof Thus he was executed His heed stryken of and his body quartred and the quarters sette at euery gate of Parys To this ende came Aymergotte Marcell As of his wyfe and of his goodes I knewe nat what becaÌ„e further of them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the chrysten lordes and the geno wayes beyng in the ysle of Conymbres at ancre departed thens to go and laye siege to the stronge cytie of Aufryke in Barbary and howe they maynteyned the siege Cap. C.lxxi WHere as I haue spoken at length of the lyfe of Aymergot Mercell it was to furnysshe this hystorie for the condycions bothe of yuell and good ought to be alwayes treated in a hystory and specially whan it toucheth any great feate for ensample of other and to gyue mater and occasyon to do well For if Aymergotte had ledde his lyfe in good vertues he had ben a man of great valure and bycause he dyde the coÌ„trary he came to an yuell ende ¶ Nowe let vs leaue spekyng of hym let vs retourne to the hyghe enterprice that the Christen knyghtes of Fraunce and other nacyous dyd in that season in the realme of Aufryke I wyll begyn there as I lefte The sayd lordes assembled in the ysle of Conymbres after they had passed the tempestes and paryls in the Goulfe of Lyon there they taryed eche for other for there were in the cytie of Aufryke a .xxx. thousande In this ysle of Conymbres they were a nyne dayes refresshed them and there the patrons of the galees sayde to the lordes Sirs we be in the lande next aprochyng to the marchesse of Aufryke whider by the grace of god ye are purposed to go and laye liege Wherfore it is behouable to take coâ—sayle eche of other howe we maye entre in to the hauen to take laÌ„de To saue our selfe it is best we senoe formast our lytell shyppes called Brigandyns and let vs tary in the mouthe of the hauyn the first day that we aproche and all the nyght after and the nexte mornynge to take lande by the grace of god at our leysar than lodge our selfes as nere the cytie as we maye without the shotte of their artyllary and let vs sette our crosbowes genouois in order who shal be redy to defende all scirmysshes And we suppose well that whan we shall take ladynge ye haue here iÌ„ your coÌ„panyes many yong squyers who to enhauÌ„ce their honours wyll requyre to haue the order of knighthode In structe them wisely and swetely howe they shall mentayne themselfes And my lordes knowe for trouthe that all we see men shall acquyte vs vnto you well and truely and alwayes shewe you by what maner of order we shall moost greue our enemyes And we shall take payne and study howe the cytie of Aufryke may be won for ofte tymes they haue done vs great doÌ„mage For on that coste it is the chiefe key of Barbary and of the realmes that foloweth First the realme of Aufrike of Mallorques and of Bougy And if god of his grace wyll consent that we maye wyn this cytie of Aufrike all the Sarazyns wyll trymble to the realme of Liby Sury so that all the worlde shall speke therof And by the ayde of other christen realmes ysles marchyng nere to Aufrike we shall always be refreshed with vitayls and newe men for this is a coÌ„mon voâ—age For euery man wyll desyre dayly to do dedes of armes and specially on goddes enemyes and thus in the coÌ„clusion of their processe the patrons said lordes we say nat this by no presuÌ„pcion nor by maner as to teche you what ye shuld do but this that we haue sayd is all onely for loue by humilyte for ye be all noble men sage and valyant can better order euery thyng than we can deuyse and speke Than the lorde of Coucy said sirs your good counsayle aduyse ought gretly to content vs for we se no thyng therin but good And sirs be ye sure that we shall do nothyng without your couÌ„sayle for ye haue brought vs hyder to do dedes of armes THus in the presence of the duke of Burbone the lordes and other couÌ„sayled toguyder in the ysle of Conymbres how they myght aproche the strong towne of Aufryke Whan euery thyng was well aduysed and sette in good order by the admyrall and patrons of the galees that wynde and wether serued them euery lorde entred in to his galee amoÌ„g their owne men hauyng great desyre to encouÌ„tre with their enemyes the sarazyns Than the truÌ„pettes blewe vp at their departyng It was great pleasure to beholde their ores howe they rowed abrode in the see whiche was peasable calme and fayre so that in maner the see shewed her selfe that she had great desyre that the christen men shulde come before the stronge towne of Aufryke The christen nauy was goodly to regarde well ordred and it was great beautie to se the baners and penons of silke with the armes and badges of the lordes and other wauyng with the wynde and shynyng agaynst the sonÌ„e And within an hour of noone the christen men perceyued the hygh towres of the towne of Aufrike the farder they sayled the nerer it shewed to their syghtes wherfore euery man reioysed and good cause why seyng all they desyred to coÌ„e thyder They thought thaÌ„ in a maner their paynes released their voyage accomplysshed Thus as they aproched to thentre of the realme of Aufryke they coÌ„muned deuysed among themselfe and in lyke maner the sarazyns that were within the towne of Aufryke spake and deuysed and were sore abasshed whan they sawe their enemies aproche with suche a nombre of sayles sayde that surely they were lykely to be besieged Howe be it they thought their towne so stroÌ„g with towres and walles with artyllary that therwith they reconforted and toke corage And to gyue warnyng to the countrey as soone as they sawe their enemyes on the See on the hyghe towres They sowned Tymbres and tabours accordynge to their vsage in suche wyse that the men abrode in the countrey drewe toguyder Suche men of Barbary as had ben sente thyder by the kynge of Aufryke and by the kynge of Thunes and Bougy Whan they knewe of the Christen mennes coÌ„mynge by reason of the noyse of the Tymbres and tabours to th entent that they shulde nat entre to farre in to their couÌ„treis Euery man tooke hede to his charge sente certayne of their capitayns to the See syde to se the aprochyng of the Christen men and to beholde their dealyng that nyght Also they prouyded to defende the towres and gates about the hauyn of Aufryke to the entent that by their negligeÌ„ce the towne of Aufryke shulde take no doÌ„mage whiche towne was so strong that it was nat lykely to take great hurte without longe siege And I Iohan Froyssart auctour of this cronycle bycause I was neuer in
Englysshe men for he had ben dyuers tymes amonge them Thanne sir Wyllyam of Haynaulte purposed whyle he made his prouisyon to go in to Hollande to se his father Auberte erle of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande to the entente to speke with hym and to take leaue to go in to Englande He deê“ted fro Quesnoy in Haynault and rode tyll he came to Haye in Hollande where the erle his father was at that tyme. and there he shewed his father his purpose that he was in to go in to Englande to se the countrey his cosyns whom he had neuer sene Than therle his father answered and sayd Wyllyam my fayre son ye haue nothyng to do in EnglaÌ„de for nowe ye be by couenaunt of maryage alyed to the realme of Fraunce and your suster to be maryed to the duke of Burgoyne wherfore ye nede nat to seke none other alyaunce Dere father quod he I wyll nat go in to Englande to make any alyauÌ„ce I do it but to feest and make myrthe with my cosins there whom as yet I neuer sawe bycause the feest whiche shal be holden at London is publisshed abrode wherfore syth I am signifyed therof shulde nat go thyder it shulde be sayd I were proude presuptuous wher fore in the sauynge of myne honoure I wyll go thider therfore dere father I requyre you agree therto Sonne quod he do as ye lyste but I thynke surely it were better that ye taryed at home Whan the erle of Ostrenaunt sawe that his wordes contented nat his father he wolde speke no more therof but fell in other coÌ„municacion But he thought well ynough what he wolde do and so dayly sent his prouisyon towardes Calais Gomegynes the heraulde was sente in to Englande fro therle of Ostrenaunt to gyue knowlege to kynge Rycharde and to his vncles howe that he wolde come honorably to his feest at London Of those tidynges the kynge and his vncles were ryght ioyouse and gaue to the heraulde great giftes whiche after stode hym in great stede For after in the ende of his dayes he fell blynde I can nat tell if god were displeased with hym or nat in his dayes he lyued marueylously wherfore in his olde dayes and that he hadde loste his syght there were but fewe that were sorte therof Thus the erle of Ostrenaunt departed from Haye in Hollande and toke leaue of his father and so retourned to Quesnoy in Heynaulte to the couÌ„tesse his wyfe THis noble feest wherof I make meÌ„cyon was publysshed and cryed in dyuers places wherby knyghtes squyers and other aduaunsed them selfes to go thyder The erle Walleran of saynt Pole who as than had to his wyfe kyng Richarde of Englandes suster He prepared greatly to go in to Englande and so came to Calys And also the erle Ostrenaunt departed fro Heynaulte well accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers and so passed throughe the countrey of Arthoys and came also to Calis and there he founde the erle of saynt Poule and the shyppes passagers of Douer were there redy and whan the shippes were charged and the wynde good these lordes tooke the see howe be it as it was shewed me and I thynke it true that therle of saynt Poule passed first in to Englande before the erle of Ostrenaunt And whan he came to London he founde there the kyng and his brother in lawe sir Iohan Hollande and other lordes and knyghtes of Englande who receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym tidynges of the realme of Fraunce He aunswered well wysely Than therle of Ostrenaunt passed ouer on a thursdaye and so caÌ„e to Cauterbury and on the friday he visyted saint Thomas shrine and offred there in the mornyng and laye there all that daye the nexte day rode to Rochester And bycause he had so gret a company and cariages he rode but small iourneys to ease his horse And on the sondaye he rode to dyner to Dertforde after dyuer to London to be at the feest whiche began the same sonday ON the sonday nexte after the feest of saynt Michaell this feest and tryuÌ„phe shulde begyn and that daye to be done in Smythfelde iustes called the chalenge So the same sonday about thre of the clocke at after noone there issued out of the towre of London first threscore coursers apparelled for the Iustes and on euery one a squier of honour ridyng a softe pase Than issued out threscore ladyes of honour mounted on fayre palfreys ridyng on the one syde richely apparelled and euery lady ledde a knight with a cheyne of syluer which knightes were apparelled to iust Thus they cam ridynge a longe the stretes of London with great nombre of trumpettes and other mynstrelles And so came to Smythfelde where the quene of Englande and other ladies and damoselles were redy in chaÌ„bres richely adorned to se the iustes and the king was with the quene And whan the ladyes that ledde the knyghtes were come to the place they were taken downe fro their palfreys they mouÌ„ted vp in to chambres redy aparelled for theÌ„ Than the squiers of honour alighted fro the coursers the knightes in good order mouÌ„ted on them than their helmes were sette on and made redy at all poyntes Than thyder came the erle of saynt Poule nobly accompanyed with knyghtes and squyers all armed with harnesse for the iustes to begynne the feest whiche incontynent beganne and there iusted all knyghtes straungers suche as wolde and hadde leysar and space for the nyght came on Thus these iustes of chaleng began and coÌ„tynued tyll it was night Than knyghtes and ladyes withdrue them selfes the quene was lodged besyde Poules in the bysshoppes palace and there was the supper prepared The same euennynge came therle of Ostrenaunt to the kyng who was nobly receyued ¶ Nowe for these iustes on the sonday For the aunswerer without The erle Walleran of saynt Poule had the price And of the chalengers the erle of Huntyngdon There was goodly dauÌ„syng in the quenes lodgyng in the presence of the kynge and his vncles and other barons of Englande and ladyes and damoselles contynuyng tyll it was daye whiche was tyme for euery persone to drawe to their lodgynges except the kyng and the quene who lay there in the Bysshoppes Palays for there they laye all the feestes and iustes duryng ON the nexte day whiche was mondaye ye myght haue sene in dyuers places of the cytie of London squyers and varlettes goynge aboute with harnesse and doynge of other busynesse of their maisters After noon kynge Richarde came to the place all armed richely apparelled accompanyed with Dukes erles lordes and knyghtes He was one of the inner partie Than the quene well accompanyed with ladyes and damosels came to the place where the iustes shulde be and mounted in to chaÌ„bres and scaffoldes ordayned for theÌ„ Than came in to the felde the erle of Ostrenaunte well accoÌ„panyed with knyghtes of his couÌ„trey and all were redy to iuste Than came the
and so on a nyght they entred in to the towne of Alexaundre They of the towne were greatly reioysed of their coÌ„myng and good cause why Bycause the erle of Armynake sawe no menne styrynge in the towne Therfore thre dayes toguyder they sauted scrimysshed at the barriers and yet with the small nombre that were there the armynakê were so well resysted that they wan nothyng Whan sir Iaques de la Byerne and his company were entred in to the strong cyte of Alexaundre and were lodged and refresshed the gouernour of the cytie and other came to vysite theÌ„ in their lodgynge Than sir Iaques demaunded of them the state of the cyte and the demeanour of their enemyes to take couÌ„sayle thervpon The anncient men and most sagest answered and sayd Sir sithe the erle of Armynake hath layde siege before vs euery daye we haue had assautes scrimysshes before our barryers Well sirs ê™ the knyght to morowe we shall se what they wyll do They knowe nat of my coÌ„myng I wyll make a secrete issue and lye in an enbusshe for them Ah sir quod they ye haue nede to be ware what ye do for they are a sixtene thousande horses and if they discouer you in the felde without any bataile they shall reyse suche a dust with their horses agaynst you and your company that ye shal be clene disconfit among your selfe Well quod the knyghtes to mo owe we shall se howe the mater shall go We must do some feate of armes sithe we become hyder Than euery man retourned to their lodging and the knight gaue know ledge to his coÌ„pany howe that the next mornyng secretely he wolde issue out of the cytie and lye in a buishment in the feldes and coÌ„maunded euery man to be redy THe nexte mornyng sir Iaques dela Bierne armed hym and all his company and issued out secretely and with hym a ioure hundred halfe a myle outs of the towne and assembled in a valey and caused other two hundred to abyde at the barriers And coÌ„maunded them that if their enemyes came to assayle them that they shulde make but faynt defence and recule backe thy derwarde where as they wolde lye in the busshement The daye was fayre and clere and the erle of Armynake who was yong and lusty after he had herde masse in his pauilyon armed hym and displayed his penon toke with hym but a hundred men thynking that no man shulde encountre hym And so came with his company before the barryers lytell and lytell some folowed hym and some satte styll sayd What nede we to arme vs whan we come to the barryers we shall se no man there and so satte styll eatyng and drinkyng and therle of Armynake went to scrimysshe before the barryers and there began to scrimysshe one with another within a shorte season the defenders beganne to recule lytell and lytell tyll they came to their enbusshe Whan sir Iaques de la Bierne sawe his enemyes coÌ„e before hym he discouered hymselfe and set on the acmynagoys who valyauntly defeÌ„ded themselfe for alwayes lytell and lytell socour came to them there was many a feate of armes done It was on saynte Christofers daye and the daye was so hoote that suche as were in their harnes thought verily they had ben in a furnes the wether was so faynt with out wynde so that the lustyest they had moche a do to do any feate of armes The partye of Myllayne were thre agaynst one The duste and the powder was so great that they coulde scante se one a nother and specially they of the erle of Armynakes parte There fell to the erle a great aduenture he was so oppressed with heate that he was so feble that he coulde scant helpe him selfe so that he drewe aparte out on the one syde of the felde and no man with him and there founde a lytell ryuer whan he felte the ayre of the water he thought he was in paradyse and sate downe alone besyde the water and with moche payne dyd of his basenet and sate bareheded and wasshed his face and dranke of the water wherby he was worse than he was before for the coldnesse of the water coled so his blode that he was faynter thanne he was before and fell in a paluesy so that he lost the strength of his body and speche and his men had loste hym there were many taken After a knight of the duke of Millayns fouÌ„de the erle of Armynake Whan he sawe hym he had meruayle what he was he parceyued wel he was a knyght a man of honour Than the knight said Sir who be you yelde you ye are my prysoner The erle vnderstode hym nat nor he coulde nat speke but he helde vp his hande and made token to yelde hym The knyght wolde haue hadde hym to ryse but he coulde nat The knyght taryed styll with him whyle other dyd fyght in the whiche batayle many a feate of armes was done WHan syr Iaques de la Bierne who was a sage knyght sawe howe the iourney was good for his party and howe that a gret nombre of his enemyes were taken and slayne and also sawe well that his owne men world â—ery and that his enemyes began to multyply with fresshe men than he reculed towarde the cytie skrymysshynge and defendynge The knyght that had taken the erle of Armynake thought nat to leaue hym behynde for he thought surely he was some man of honoure and desyred his company to ayde hym to beare his prisoner in to the towne promysynge them to haue parte of his raunsome They dyd so and with moche payne brought him in to the cyte and was vnarmed and layde in a bedde Than syr Iaques de la Bierne entred in to the cytie and toke his lodgynge and vnarmed hym and refresshed him and his company And whan the erle of Armynacke was myst in the hoost without they were sore dysmayed and wyst nat what to say nor do and some came to the place where the batayle had ben to seke for hym and returned agayne clene dyscomfyted The knyght that had taken the erle of Armynake had great desyre to know what man his prisoner was and came to another squyer that was in lykewyse taken prisoner a gascon desyringe his mayster to suffre hym to go with hym to his lodgynge so they went togyder The lombarde knyght led the squyer of Fraunce in to a chambre and brought hym to the bedde where the erle of Armynake lay sore complaynyng and caused torches to be lyghted vp and than said to the french squyer Sir knowe you nat this man The squyer regarded hym well sayd I knowe hym well for I ought so to do it is our capitayne the erle of Armynake With the whiche wordes the lombarde was ioyfull but the Erle was so sycke that he vnderstode nothynge that was sayd to hym Than his mayster sayd go we hence let hym rest Thus they left him and the same nyght he dyed
and passed this transitory lyfe The next day whan it was knowen that the erle of Armynake was deed in Alexaunder in his bedde syr Iaques of Bierne wolde nat that his dethe shulde be vnknowen but caused it to be publysshed in the hoost by suche prisoners as he had to se what his enemyes wolde do They of the host were sore dyscomfyted as they well shewed for as than they had no capitayne to drawe vnto for they were but companyons gadred of all partes Than they sayd let vs returne and saue our selfe for we haue lost our tyme. Anon it was knowen in the Cytie howe the armynois were discōfyted and had no capytayne than they armed them and issued out a horsebacke and a foote and set on the hoost cryenge Pauy for the lorde of Myllayne There they were taken and slayne without defence The conquest and botye was great with the companyons that were come thyder with syr Iaques of Bierne the Armynage is yelded them selfe without defence and cast away armure and sledde and were chased lyke beastes Lo what a harde aduenture therle of Armynake and his company bad and where as his entente was to do well it tourned hym to great yuell If he had lyued fyue dayes lenger syr Iohan Acton had come to hym with fyue hundred speares and a thousande brigandyns a foote wherby he myght haue done many feates of armes and all lost by harde aduenture WHan the duke of Myllayn knewe the trouth that his enemyes were slayne and taken and specyally the erle of Armynake slayne he was ioyfull therof and loued syr Iaques de Bierne the better in his herte and made hym soueraygne ouer all his chyualry and made him chefe of his coūsayle The duke of Myllayne to auoyde his countrey of his enemyes gaue to euery prysoner that was a gentylman a horse and to euery other man a florayne and quyted them clene of their raunsomes but at their departynge he caused them to swere that they shulde neuer after arme them agaynst hym Thus these companions departed out of Lombardy and Piemount and entred in to Sauoy and in to the dolpheny and had suche pouertie that it was marueyle for as they passed euery towne was closed agaynst theym Anone euery man had spent his florayn some had pytie of them and dyd gyue them almes for charite and some rebuked and mocked them sayenge Go your wayes seke out your erle of Armynake who is drinkynge at a well before Alexaundre yet they were in more myschiefe whan they came to the ryuer of Rone they had thought lightly to haue passed ouer in to the realme of Fraūce but they dyd nat for the frenche kynge hadde cōmaunded all the passages to be closed and kept agaynst them wherby they fell in great daunger and pouertie After that they coulde neuer assemble togyther agayne Thus the yonge erle of Armynakes army brake a sonder his suster abode styll in as yuell case as she was in before Than the duke of Myllayne sent for a bysshop of his coūtrey and for suche as were most next to the erle of Armynake as had ben there with hym at that iourney and the duke cōmaunded that therles body shulde be baumed and sente to his brother syr Barnarde who was ryght sorowfull of those tydynges and good cause why but there was no remedy Than the erle of Armynake was buryed in the cathedrall churche of Rodays and there he lyeth IT ought to be knowen as it hath ben contayned here before in this history how syr Thomas Percy was sent by kyng Rycharde of Englande in to the realme of Fraūce and shewed well howe he had gret affectyon to haue a ferme peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce and specyally two of the kynge of Englandes vncles as the duke of Lancastre and the duke Edmonde of yorke but the kynges other vncle the duke of Glocestre and constable of Englande wolde in no wyse acorde to haue any peace with the french men without it were to the kynges honoure and theirs and that there myght be rendred agayne all suche cyties townes castels landes and sygnories whiche had been gyuen to the kynge of Englande and to his heyres whiche falsely had ben taken away by the frenchmen without tytell or reasone and besyde that the sōme of four thousande frankes whiche was owyng whan the frenchmen began the warre agayne And of this opynyon was dyuers lordes of Englande sayenge that to the dethe they wolde iustifye the same Many sayd that the duke of Glocestre had good ryght and reason to sustayne that opinyon but they dissymuled the mater couertely bycause they sawe the kynges mynde and affection enclyned greatly to haue peace But the poore knightes and squyers and archers of England rather enclyned to haue warre suche as had susteyned there estates by reason of the warre Consydre well than howe peace loue or acorde might be had bytwene these parties for the frenche men in their treatie demaunded to haue Ealays beaten downe to haue the sygnorie of Guysnes Hammes Marke and Dye all the landes of Froyton and the dependantes of Guysnes vnto the lymyttes of the water of Grauelyng and the frenche kynge offred to delyuer to the crowne of Englāde as moch landes in values in Acquytayn against whiche artycle that duke of Gloucestre helde and said The frenchmen wyll paye vs with our owne for they knowe well ynough howe we haue charters sealed by kynge Iohan all his chyldren that all hole Acquytayn shulde haue been delyuered to vs without any resorte or soueraynte to any man and all that euer they haue doone sythe hath ben by fraude and false engyn and nyght and day entende to no other thyng but to disceyue vs for if Calays and suche landes as they demaunde were delyuered in to their handes they shulde be lordes of all the see coste and than all our conquestes were as nothynge I shall rather neuer agree to peace as long as I lyue ⸫ ⸫ ¶ How syr Peter of Craon fell in the french kynges displeasure and in the duke of Thourayns after he was receyued by the duke of Bretayne Cap. C.lxxviii IN this said seasō there was a knyght of Fraunce of the countrey of Aniou a gentle knight and of noble extraction called syr Pyer of Craon marucylously well beloued and specially with the duke of Thourayne for aboute the duke no thynge was doone but by hym Also this knyght helde a gret astate about the duke of Aniou who was called kynge of Naples Cicyll Iherusalem and also he was ryche Asclaunder was brought vp on hym through the realme of Fraūce howe he had robbed the yonge kynge of Cycyll duke of Aniou for the whiche brute the sayd sir Peter absented him selfe fro the yonge kynge and fro his mather who had ben wyfe to the olde duke of Aniou howe be it he delte so that he was welbeloued with the frenche kynge and with his brother the duke of Thourayne Also the same
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
by their good wylles howe be it they hadde made their assemble and to saue their honour they obeyed and folowed WHan the Frenche kyng hadde rested hym a fyftene dayes at saynt Germayns and that his armye was assembled than he departed and passed the ryuer of Seyne and toke the waye to Charters and so to Annens a good towne and a castell parteyning to the lorde de la Ryuer as herytage of his wyues With the kynge was his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the duke of Burbone The lorde de la Ryreceyued the kynge honorably and there taryed thre dayes and than rode to Charters where as Montague was bysshoppe The kynge was lodged in the bysshoppe palais and the two dukes And the seconde day after thyder came the duke of Berrey and the erle of Marche in his coÌ„pany And the fourh daye thider caÌ„e the duke of Burgoyne wher of the kynge was ryght ioyfull and people came dayle and the kyng sayd he wolde nat retourne to Parys tyll he hadde brought the duke of Bretayne to reason who so often tymes had put hym to payne and trouble The kynges counsayle hadde so sette hym on that warre that the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne wolde gladly haue modered the mater but they coulde nat be herde wherwith they were sore displeased so were suche as were of their couÌ„sayls and they said eche to other that surely the mater coude nat long endure in that state for it is full lykely that the kynge and the realme shall haue some busynesse to do sithe the kyng refuseth the counsaile of his vncles and leaneth to other at his pleasure who be nothyng lyke to theÌ„ Whan the kyng had taried at Charters a seuyn dayes than he departed and toke the waye to Mans and his men folowed some fro farre partes as out of Arthois Beamoys Vermandois and Picardy and some said one to another Ah this duke of Bretayne maketh vs to haue moche to do putteth vs to great payne and traueyle He hath been alwayes harde highe herted agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce nor he neuer loued nor honored it And his cosyn the erle of Flaunders and the duchesse of Burgone who haue alwayes borne hym and as yet do had nat ben he had ben distroyed long a go for euersyth the lorde Clysson tourned Frenche he neuer loued him Surelye by an likelyâ— â—de he is â—â—â—yable of this dede for he hath alwayes 〈◊〉 sir Peter of Craon agaynst the kyng and agaynst the Constable Than other sayde Lette the kyng alone for as at this tyme he hath the mater so at his hert that he wyll bring the duke to reason or he retourne That is trewe ê™ other if there be no trayson But we feare that all suche as go with the kyng be nat enemies to the duke as it may be well 〈◊〉 if we durst speke it by some tokens For there be some that nyght and daye do what they can to couÌ„sayle the kynge to breke his voyage whiche so troubleth the kyng that he can scant gette hym selfe any helthe or recouery of his laste sickenesse Thus knightes and squiers deuised among theÌ„ selfe as they rode in their couÌ„treys Styll the kyng aproched to the cytie of Mans and there the kynge lodged in the castell and his lordes in the cytie and his men of warre abrode in the countrey There the kyng taried a thre wickes for he was sore vexed with the feuer and his phisicions sayde to his brother and to his vncles My lordes we ensure you ye do yuell to traueyle the kyng for he is in no good state to ryde rest were farre better for hym for sythe he came fro the cytie of Amyens he hath nat ben in so good helthe as he was before They shewed this to the kynge but he had so great affection to go in this iourney that he wolde nother beleue them nor yet his phisycions but sayde howe he founde more ease in trauelyng than in restyng Therfore who so euer counsayle me the contrary shall nat please me nor he loueth me nat Other answere they coulde nat haue of the kyng Euery day the kyng wolde sytte in the myddes of his counsayle tyll it was noon to th entent that none shulde laye any lette of his iourney Thus the kyng being at Mans and somwhat to acomplysshe the desyers of his vncles He sent four notable knightes to the duke of Bretayne as sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Varensiers the lorde of Castell morant and sir TaÌ„pyne of Cautenâ—l chateleyne of Gysors and they were charged to shewe the duke howe the kyng and his counsaile reputed that he dyde great offence to susteyne the kynges enemy and the realmes and to make amendes that he shulde seÌ„de sir Peter of Craon to Mans to the kyng wherby meanes shulde be fouÌ„de that he shulde take no doÌ„mage nor his countrey for all the kynges voyage Thus they deê‘ted fro Man 's with a .xl. speres passed through the cyte of Angiers and at last came before the cytie of Nauntes and entred and there sounde the duke who made them good chere and on a daye made them a dyner and than they dyde their message and declared the kynges entent and his counsayls whervnto the duke answered wisely and sagely said Howe it shulde be harde for hym to delyuer sir Peter of Craon and sayd as god myght helpe hym in all his busynesse he knewe nat where he was Wherfore he desyred them in that case to holde hym excused But he sayde he had well herde of hym a yere past that he loued nat sir Olyuer of Clysson but wolde make him mortall warre to his power what soeuer ende came therof And at that tyme I demaunded of hym if he had gyuen sir Olyuer knowledge therof and he sayd he had vtterly defyed and wolde slee hym if he coude outher by daye or by nyght where soeuer he coude fynde hym Of his dedes I knowe no further wherfore I haue marueyle that the kynge wyll make warre agaynst me for his cause for as to the couynauntes of maryage bytwene our chyldren by the grace of God shall nat be broken on my parte wherfore I haue done nothynge to hym nor to his counsaile that he shulde make warre agaynst me This was the aunswere that the duke made to the Frenche kynges messangers and so whan they hadde taryed a daye at Nauntes than they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Mans to the kyng who thought longe tyll he herde their aunswere and as ye haue herde before they declared it to the kyng and his couÌ„sayle The dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne were well coÌ„tent with the answere and sayd it was reasonable but the kyng by reason of suche enformacion as he had sayde the contrary and sayd sithe he was so forewarde in his iourney he wolde nat returne agayne in to Fraunce nor to Parys tyll he had brought the duke of Bretayne to reason Gladly
the two dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne wolde haue modered that voiage but they might nat be herde for the kyng had taken suche displeasure with the duke of Bretayn bicause he susteyned sir Peter of craon that no excusacion coulde be taken The same tyme a brute ranne in Fraunce that the quene of Aragon my lady yolant of Bare cosyn germayne to the frenche kynge had in prison in the cytie of Barcylona a knyght that no man knewe his name men supposed it had ben syr Peter of Craon this quene had writen right amyably to the kynge sygnyfyenge hym that the fyfte day of the moneth of Iuly a knyght in good estate and aray came to Barcylona to haue past the sce and had hyred for his money a shyppe as he sayd to haue sayled in to Napoles and bycause we kepe our passages that no straunger shall passe without he be knowen what he is and this knyght wyll nat shewe his name therfore we kepe hym in prisone by the abasshment that we se in him we thynke surely it be the same person ye wold so fayne haue Therfore we write to you therof that ye shulde sende some person hyther suche as knoweth sir Peter of Craon to se if it be he or nat for what so euer he be he shall nat be delyuered tyll we haue aunswere fro you and I wolde that these tydynges might be agreable to you and to your counsayle as knoweth the holy goost who preserue you Writen at Parpygnan the nynth day of Iuly by yolante of Bare quene of Aragon and of Maiolles and lady Sardyne Sardane And on the super scrypcion to the redouted kynge of Fraunce THese tydynges somewhat modered dyuers mennes hartes so that they were nere at the poynte to haue broken their voyage howe be it suche as were sir Olyuer of Clyssons frendes sayde that those tydynges were but fayned tales made and deuysed to breke the kynges voyage sayenge that sir Peter of Craon was in none other prisoneê but with the duke of Bretayne who hath susteyned hym and dothe Of the quene of Aragons lettre the kynge made but lyght sayenge it was but trayson and fables Than the duke of Burgoyne sayd Syr yet at leste to a pease my nese the quene of Aragon and for the delyueraunce of the knight that is there in prisone who petaduenture is nothynge gylty of this trespas sende vnto her that she may be contente with you and with vs. I am content therwith quod the kynge to please you but I beleue surely the traytour syr Peter of Craon is in none other Barcylona nor prisone but aboute the duke of Bretayne and by my faythe that I owe to saint Denyce he shall ones make acompt therof There coulde no man turne the kynge fro the opinyon but that syr Peter of Craon was with the duke of Bretaygne The duke of Bretayne who was well enfourmed of all this busynesse thought hymselfe nat well assured for he sawe well the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne coulde nat bring their purpose aboute for syr Olyuer of Clyssons frendes led the kynge as they lyste Than the duke prouyded for to kepe his townes and garysons howe be it he durst kepe no towne except Wannes Campell Doll Camper Lermyn CoraÌ„tyne and Susement and he wrote to suche knyghtes and squyers as he thought shulde ayde him but they all dissymuled with hym bycause they knewe that the french kyng was so sore displeased with hym and also they thought it was nat a thynge couenable for the duke to susteyne syr Peter of Craon agaynst the constable of FrauÌ„ce as he dyd The duke in a maner repented hym that he had done so moche howe be it his corage and herte was so hygh that he dysdayned to speke it but sayde if the kynge came in to Bretayne as it semed he wolde do at the begynnynge he wolde let hym a lone and thanne shall I se who be my frendes or foos I wyll nat be to hasty to make him warre and whan he weneth to be at most rest than wyll I awake hym if I can nat be a greed with hym by loue Thus the duke deuysed somtyme with his counsayle and thought surely he shulde haue warre howe be it he had nat for the maters tourned otherwyse to his great aduauntage therfore it is an olde prouerbe he is nat poore that is happy This duke was fortunate by reason of apytuous incydence that fell sodaynly on the frenche kynge for otherwyse the duke was nat lykely to haue scaped all dauÌ„gers and to haue lyued in peace as he dyd WHan the Frenche kynge had taryed the space of thre wekes in the cytie of Mans and the knyghtes retourned that he had sent in to Bretayne Than he sayd syth he had herde the dukes answere he wolde no lenger tary there for he sayd the taryenge there greatly displeased him and wolde passe forthe in to Bretaygne to se his enemys that was the duke of Bretaygne who susteyd the traytour syr Peter of Craon The entencyon of the kynge was that if any knyghtes and squyers came agaynst hym or that he founde any townes closed he wolde put downe the duke for euer and set a gouernour in the countrey tyll the dukes chyldren were of lawfull age and than rendre to them the berytage and the duke neuer to haue any parte theof This opinyon the king helde styll and no man coude put hym therfro and thus on a fayre daye aboute ten of the clocke the kynge departed fro the cytie of Mans and had coÌ„maunded his marshalles the nyght before to cause all his at mye bothe before and behynde to dysloge and to drawe to Anger 's and sayde that he wolde nat retourne tyll he had ben in Bretayne and dystroyed the traytours that had put hym to so moche payne and trouble The marshalles dyd the kinges coÌ„maundement The day that the king departed was marueylous hoote for me sonne as than naturally was in his cheife force and to the entent to declare the trouth of euery thyng The same season that the kynge lay at Mans he was sore traueyled with dayly syttynge in counsayle and also he was nat perfytely hole nor had nat ben all that season he was feble in his brayne and heed and dyd eate or drinke but lytell and nygh dayly was in a hoote feuer so that he was gretly anoyed and payned and also for the dyspleasure that he had for the constables hurte he was full of malencoly and his spirytes sore troubled and traueyled and that his physicions spyed well and so dyd his vncles but they coulde nat remedy it for no man durste counsayle hym to breke his voyage in to Bretaygne And as it was enfourmed me as he rode forwarde in the forest of Mans a great sygnifycacyon fell to hym by the whiche if he had doone well he shulde haue called his counsayle aboute hym and well aduysed hymselfe or he had gone any further Sodaynly there came to the
assēble all the counsayle of Fraunce and ordeyne who shall haue the gouernaūce of the realme the duke of Orlayunce or we That is well sayde quod the duke of Berrey it were good we studyed where were best to haue the kynge to lye that he myght the soner recouer his helth Than it was deuysed that he shulde be brought to the castell of Crayell where is good ayre and a fayre countrey on the ryuer of Oyse whan this was ordeyned than all the men of warre had leaue to departe and were cōmaunded by the marshalles euery man to retourne peasably in to his owne countrey without doynge of any vyolence or domage to the countreys as they shulde passe through and if any dyd their lordes and capytayns to make a mendes And the kynges two vncles and the chauncellour of Fraunce sente anone soundry messangers to the good Cyties and townes of Fraunce that they shuld take good hede to kepe well their townes consyderynge that the kynge was nat well dysposed in his helthe Their cōmaundementes were fulfylled The people of the realme of Fraunce were fore abasshed whan they knew howe the king was fallen sycke and in a fransey and menne spake largely agaynste them that counsayled the kynge to go in to Bretaygne And some other sayde howe the kynge was betrayed by them that bare the duke of Bretaygne and syr Peter Craon agaynst the kyng Men coulde nat be lette but that they wolde speke the mater was so hygh that wordes ranne therof dyuersely Thus fynally the kyng was brought to Crayell and there lefte in the kepynge of his physicyons and of the sayde four knyghtes Than euery man departed And it was commaunded to hyde and to kepe secrete the kynges malady fro the knowledge of the quene for a seasone for as than she was great with chylde and all of her courte were cōmaunded to kepe it secrete on payne of great punysshement Thus the kynge was at Crayell in the marches of Seulis and of Compyen on the ryuer of Oyse and kept by the sayd knyghtes and physycions who gaue hym medicyns but for all that he recouered but lytell helth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and Berrey vncles to the kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kynge before Cap. C.lxxxix IN this seasone there was in the realme of Fraunce a wyse and a sage physicyon the brewte was that there was none lyke hym and he was well be loued with the lorde Coucy he was natyue of his countrey As at that tyme his a bydyng was in the cyte of Laon he was called mayster Guylliam of Harsley Whan he knewe fyrste the kynges malady and by what accydent he fell sycke he sayd as he that thought hym selfe to knowe the kynges compleryon howe this maladye is fallen to the kynge through faute his complexyon holdeth to moche of the moyster of the see these wordes were reported to the lord Coucy who was as than at Paris with the duke of Orlyance and with the kinges vncles for as than the coūsayle of Fraūce the noble men and prelates were at Paris to determyne who shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme as longe as the kyng shulde be in that malady outher his brother the duke of Orlyance or his two vncles or one of thē vpon this cōmunycacion they were a .xv. dayes or they agreed Fynally it was concluded bycause the duke of Orlyaunce was very yonge to take on hym so great a charge that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne shulde haue the gouernaunce of the realme and specyally the duke of Burgoyne and that the duches of Burgoyne shulde be aboute the quene and to be as seconde person Thus as I haue sayde before the lorde of Coucy shewed to the kynges vncles the great wysdome and practyse of the sayd physycion mayster Guyllyam Harseley Whan the dukes herde that they sente for hym and so he came to Parys And than the lorde of Couey presented hym to the kynges vncles and sayd My lordes beholde here is mayster Guyllyam Harseley that I shewed you of He is ryght welcome quod the dukes they receyued him and made him good chere and ordeyned hym to go to Crayell to vysyte the kynge and to abyde aboute hym tyll he hadde recouered his helthe Than the sayd mayster at their cōmaundement went to Crayell to the kynge and had the chiefe ouer syght of mynystryng any thynge to the kyng and he sawe well the kynges malady was curable and sawe howe he had taken it by reasone of feblenesse of his herte and heed and through faute therfore he dyd his dylygence to recouer his helthe THe tydynges of the kynges malady spred farre abrode but who so euer was sorye ye maye well knowe the duke of Bretaygne nor syr Peter of Craon wepte neuer a deale nor had no great sorowe Also whan pope Boryface of Rome and his cardynals knowe the trouthe they were right ioyfull and drewe togyther in consistory and sayde howe their greatest enemy the Frenche kynge was beaten with a cruell rodde seyng god had taken fro hym his wytte and sayde howe that influence was sente to hym fro heuen to chastyce hym withall bycause he had so moche susteyned the pope at Auignon therfore this cruell plage was sent to hym to cause the hole realme to be better aduysed therfore they sayd their quarell was the stronger And truely to haue wysely consydred euery thynge it was a great token to haue caused the cardynalles at Auygnon to haue been aduysed but they made but lytell force therof nother to the honour of god nor to the realme for the pope at Auignon and his cardynalles sayde howe by reasone that the kynge was yonge and wolde haue his owne wyll therby he is fallen in to this malady through faute for suche as haue had the rule aboute hym haue nat doone their duetie but haue suffred hym to rynne on the bridell and to ryde nyght and daye excessyuely in traueylynge of his body out of measure therfore suche as hath had the rule ought to be charged therwith and none other for it is through their faulte for if they had ordred hym in his youthe and so contynued by a reasonable regement and haue folowed the counsayle of his vncles this sycknesse had nat fallen to hym nowe Also he hath broken his promesse against reason for he promysed the yere passed and sware by the wordes of a kynge that he wolde so ordayne to dystroy the antepape at Rome and his cardynals and to subdue the sysme of the churche and to sette the maters that be in trouble in good estate whiche is nothynge doone but hathe doone contrary to his promesse wherwith god is dyspleased and to cause hym better to aduyse him selfe he hathe punysshed hym with this cruell rodde And if he retourne to helte as he may well do than it shall behoue vs to sende to him sufficyent legates to shewe hym wysely the defaute and
the clocke in the fore noone and there coÌ„muned vpon many artycles It whiche tyme I Iohan Froysart auctour of this booke was at Abuyle and desyrous to knowe the effecte of this treatie I enquyred the trouth of suche lordes and other as I thought shulde knowe the certayntie Is it was shewed me whan they entred in to comunycasion and had sene eche others auctoryte and perceyued that they had full power to conclude a peace bothe by lande and see bytwene Fraunce and Englande and all their alyes Than one of the firste demaundes that the frenche men desyred was to haue Calays raced downe in suche maner that there shulde be neuer after any habytacion there Therto the dukes of LaÌ„castre and Gloucestre answered and said how they had no suche auctorite to cause Calays to be beaten downe but that Englande shulde holde it in his demayne and trewe herytage And sayd that if they purposed to entre any further in trâ—atye of peace to seace of that demaunde and to speke no more therof Whan the Dukes 〈◊〉 Berrey and Burgoyne herde their two cosyns of Englande answere so quyckly in that 〈◊〉 they seased to speke any more of that matâ—er for they sawe well their traueyle shulde be but in vayne and so than spake of other matters Than the englysshe men demaunded to haue reâ—â—ytucyon of all suche landes as had been delyuered to kynge Rycharde their soueraygne lorde or to kynge Edwarde the thyrde or to any of their deputies or commyssioners and also to haue fully payed the soÌ„me of florayns that was lefte vnpayed at the tyme whan the warre renewed bytwene England and Fraunce and this the englysshe clerkes and lawyers proued reasonable and lawfull to be had The lordes and chauncelours of Fraunce argued to the contrary and sayd as to retourne all the landes agayne to the gouernynge of the kyng of Englande and his successours was impossyble to be done sayenge howe suche landes cyties townes castels lordeshyppes and homages as the Englysshe men demaunded were gyuen awaye whan the peace was concluded at Bretygny and after confermed and sealed at Calays wherby they were clene put a way fro the kyng of Englande whiche peace grauntes was made in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred threscore and one and thervpon the frenche kyng graunted to suche landes great lyberties by his othe writyng and promesse whiche in no wyse canne be broken agayne nor reuoked wherfore they sayd that if the Englysshemen purposed to haue peace they shulde drawe to some nerer poynt Than by delyberacyon of the foure dukes it was deuysed that the frenche men as well as the englysshmen shulde put all their demaundes in writynge the same to be delyuered to eyther partye that they might be regarded at length on bothe partes and suche as were vnreasonable to be rased and cancelled and such as were good to be vpholden this ordynauÌ„ce semed to all parties good and reasonable Before this ordre was taken the sour dukes had to moche busynesse to do specyally the englysshe men had moche payne to here and to vnderstande the frenche men who were full of subtyle wordes and cloked perswacions and double of vnderstandynge the whiche the frenche men wolde rouine as they lyst to their profyte and aduauntage whiche englysshe men vse nat in their langage for their speche and entent is playne And also the englisshmen were enfourmed that the Frenche men had nat alwayes vpholden the artycles promyses and condycyons ratyfied in the artycles of peace yet the frenchmen wold euer fynde one poynte or other in their writynges by some subtyle cloked worde affermynge that the englysshe men had broken the peace and nat they Wherfore whan the englysshe men sawe or herde in the frenche mens writynges any darke or cloked worde they made it to be examyned by suche as were profoundly lerned in the lawe and if they founde it a mysse they caused it to be canselled and amended to the entent they wolde leaue nothynge in trouble And the englysshmen to excuse themselfe wolde say that frenche men letnynge suche subtylties in their youth muste nedes be more subtyle than they Somtyme suche frowarde wordes bytwene the parties greatly draue of the tyme of treatie The frenche men helde them selfe fre and thought they shulde nat be charged with no suche demaundes as to make restytucy on of all the landes with the apendances pertaynyng to the duchy of Acquytayne with the arerages of that hath ben leuyed syth the warre renewed to the whiche they wolde neuer acorde The frenche men offred to rendre the countre of Terbe and of Bygore and the countye of Piergourt and Pyergyns and the countie of Agen and Agenoys but Kaours Rouer gue Ouercy and Lymosyn they wold in no wyse delyuer nor the countie of Ponthyeur nor of the couÌ„tie of Guysnes more than the englyssh men hadde in their handes at the same tyme. Thus these lordes contynued a fyftene dayes and made no conclusyon but these dukes determyned to sende worde to the two kynges to gyue them knowledge what they had done The frenche dukes rode to Abbeuyle and shewed the kynge all the mater and howe they had desyred their cosins of Englande to write the hole treatie to the kynge of Englande and so they sayd they had promysed to do And as I was enfourmed on the englysshe party the duke of Glocestre was harder to entreat than the duke of Lancastre and bycause the commons of Englande knewe somwhat of his entent therfore they agreed that he shulde be sent to this treatye for they knewe well that nothynge shulde passe hym without it were for the honour of the realme Thus these four dukes amyably departed eche fro other and concluded to mete there agayne the nynth day after Thus these englysshe lordes retourned to Calays and the frenche lordes to Boloyne and so to Abuyle That tyme in Abuyle there was a fayre garden closed with the ryuer of Somme whereas often tymes the frenche kynge passed the tyme. He sayd to his brother of Orlyaunce and to his counsayle that his beynge at Abbeuyle dyd hym moche good in his helthe There was there the same seasone with the kynge the kynge Lyon of Armony newly come thyder out of Grece and out of those marches in to his owne couÌ„trey he durst nat entre for the turkes had conquered itâ— except the stronge towne of Conych standynge on the see syde whiche the geno ways helde and kepte for doute of the turkes for if the turkes had gotten that porte they shulde haue doone moche yuell by the see to the cyprians and to the Rodes and other boundes of crystendome The kyng of Armony wolde gladly haue hadde peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce in trust that all yonge knightes and squyers shulde go in to Grece to helpe to conquere agayne his realme of Armony Whan the frenche kynges vncles were come to Abbeuyle the kynge was gladde and made theym good chere and demaunded howe they
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ„ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâ—sayle of those two great matters the kynge had sente for the moost parte of the prelates and lordes of Englande to be at the feest of Maudelyntyde at a manner of the kynges called Eltham a seuyn Englysshe myles fro London And whan they had taryed at Ledes a four dayes the kyng retourned to Rochester and so to Elthame so I rode forthe in the kynges company ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquytayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sent in to Englande to the kynge and his counsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Acquytayne Cap. CC.i. IN rydynge the waye bytwene Leades and Eltham I demaunded of syr Willyam Lysle and of syr IohnÌ„ of Graily capitayne of Bouteuyll the cause why the king drewe to London warde and why that great counsayle shulde assemble at Eltham They tolde me and specially syr Iohan Graily rehersed to me playnly why the lordes of Gascon were come thyder and the counsaylours of the good townes and cyties thus I was enfourmed by this knight who knewe the trouth for he was often tymes amonge theym they and he were in a maner all of one countrey and fronter he sayde thus Surely whan the Duke of Lancastre came fyrst in to Acquytayne suffycyently fournysshed with charters and wrytinges engrosed and sealed with the great seale of Englande and enrolled and fermely decreed with full accorde of all prelates and lordes of Englande and also by consente of the duke Edmonde of yorke and Erle of Cambridge and of Thomas duke of Gloucestre though the sayd herytages might by succession haue come to them for Kynge Rycharde of Englande their nephue had as than no chyldren and these sayd two dukes were brethern germayns of father and mother to the duke of Lancastre whiche duke anone after he was come in to Acquytayne sente some of his counsayle to the cytie of Burdeaux to shewe to the Mayre counsaylours of the towne the fourme and tenoure of his request and for what cause he was come in to the countrey Whan they herde this they greatly marueyled howe be it they ioyfully receyued the kynges and dukes coÌ„myssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌ„sayle and so they dyd Than after they aunswered and said that the duke of Lancastre sonne to kynge Edwarde who had ben their lorde was welcome amoÌ„ge them and none otherwyse for they sayde they had nat so farre forthe taken counsayle as to receyue hym to their souerayne lorde for they sayd that to kyng Rycharde their soueraygne lorde they had done feaultie and homage and as than he had made them no quytaÌ„ce Than aunswered the coÌ„myssioners and sayd Syrs feare nat but that ye shall haue suffycient dyscharge in that behalfe so ye take the duke to your souerayne lorde for ye shall se by the content of the kinges charters that there shall neuer questyon be made therof in tyme to come WhanÌ„e they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌ„myssion extendeth nat all onely vpon vs but in lykewyse to them of the cytie of Bayon and to the prelates and barones of Gascoyne and to all that be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande ye shall drawe you towardes them and as they do and ordre theÌ„ we shall folowe the same Other aunswere the coÌ„myssioners coulde nat haue at that tyme of them of Burdeauâ— Than they departed and rode to Lyborne where the duke of Lancastre laye WHan the duke herde their aunswers he imagyned in hymselfe that the â—â—synesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌ„sayle to the cytie of Bayon and as they sped in Burdeaux so they dyd there other answere coude they haue none And fynally all the prelates and noble men counsaylours of cytes good townes in Gascoyne vnder the obeysaunce of the kyng of Englande conioyned them togyder and concluded in the forme and manner as I shall shewe you They sayde they wolde gladly receyue the duke of Lancastre in to their cytâ—es townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de so that at his entringes he shulde solemply swere that pesably and in good maner he and his shulde entreat the people with out enforsynge of any thynge and to pay reasonably for euery thynge that they shulde dispende and also to swere that he shulde nat oppresse nor cause to be oppressed the iurysdictyon of the Crowne of Englande by no maner of waye nor accyon The duke aunswered to this and sayd that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people but wolde rather kepe and defende them agaynst all men as his herytage and desyred and requyred theym that the coÌ„maundement of the kynge of Englande myght be obserued and acomplisshed Than the hole countrey by a comune voyce sayd that in no wyse they wolde departe fro the crowne of Englande and that it was nat in the kynge of Englandes power to gyue them away to another lorde nor to put them fro the crowne of Englande These demaundes and denyenges were longe a debatyng bytwene the duke of Lancastre and the lordes and townes of Gascon And whan the duke sawe none other remedy than he made request to the countrey that the prelates and noble men and couÌ„saylours of the good townes shulde sende suffycient personages to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle and howe he wolde sende in lykewyse notable persones of his counsayle and loke what so euer the kyng and his counsayle shulde determyne in that cause he promysed surely to abyde ther by whether it were with hym or agaynst him Than they of Gascon consydred well that his request was reasonable and agreed to do as the duke had desyred Than the duke rode to Burdeaur and was lodged in the abbey of saint Andrewes where he had ben lodged before tyme. Than they of the cytie of Bayon and Dar apoynted suffycient personages to sende in to Englande and the barons of Gascon vnder the kinges obeysaunce sent in lyke wyse Also ye shall knowe that whan the frenche kyng and his vncles vnderstode that the duke of Laucastre was peasably entred in to the cytie of Burdeaux and knewe nat for what entent nor whether he wolde kepe or breake the trewce Than he and his counsayle
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
horse and rode to London and the erle of Derby abode styll with the lordes that daye and the nexte daye Thus they of Acquytayne coulde haue none expedicyon nor delyueraunce I Haue delyght to write this mater at length bycause to enfourme you of the trouthe for I that am auctour of this hystory was presente in all these maters and this valyaunt knyght syr Rycharde Surye shewed me euery thynge And so it was that on the sonday folowynge all suche as had ben there were departed and all their counsaylours except the duke of yorke who abode styll about the kynge and the lorde Thomas Percy and syr Rycharde Sury shewed my busynesse to the kynge Than the kynge desyred to se my booke that I had brought for hym So he sawe it in his chambre for I had layde it there redy on his bedde Whanne the Kynge opened it it pleased hym well for it was fayre enlumyned and written and couered with crymson veluet with ten botons of syluer and gylte and Roses of golde in the myddes with two great clapses gylte rychely wrought Than the kyng demaunded me wherof it treated and I shewed hym howe it treated of maters of loue wherof the kynge was gladde and loked in it and reed it in many places for he coulde speke and rede Frenche very well And he tooke it to a knyght of his chambre named sir Rycharde Creadon to beare it in to his secrete chambre And the same sonday I fell in acquayntaunce with a Squyer of Englande called Henry Castyde an honest man and a wyse and coude well speke Frenche He coÌ„panyed with me bicause he sawe the kyng and other lordes made me good chere and also he had sene the boke that I gaue to the kynge Also sir Richarde Sury had shewed hym howe I was a maker of hystories Than he sayd to me as here after foloweth ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kyng Richarde had made in IrlaÌ„de and howe he brought in to his obeysaunce four kynges of that couÌ„trey Cap. CC.ii. SIr Iohan quod he haue ye nat founde in the kynges courte sythe ye came hyder no man that hath tolde you of the voyage that the kyng made but late in to Irlande and in what maner the foure kynges of Irelande are come in to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande And I aunswered no. Than shall I shewe you ê™ the squyer to the entent that ye maye putte it in perpetuall memorie whan ye retourne in to your owne countrey and haue leysar therto I was reioysed of his wordes and thanked hym Than he began thus and sayd Sir Iohan it is nat in memorie that euer any kyng of Englande made suche appareyle and prouision for any iourney to make warre agaynst the yrisshmen nor suche a nombre of men of armes nor archers The kyng was a nyne monethes in the marchesse of Irelande to his great cost charge to the realme for they bare all his expeÌ„ses And the marchauÌ„tes cyties and good townes of the realme thought it well bestowed whan they sawe the kynge retourne home agayne with honour The nombre that he had thyder getylmen and archers were foure thousande knyghtes and .xxx. thousande archers well payde wekely that euery manne was well pleased but I shewe you bycause ye shulde knowe the tronthe Irelande is one of the yuell countreis of the worlde to make warre vpon or to bring vnder subiection For it is closed strongely and wyldely with highe forestes and great waters and maresshes and places inhabytable It is harde to entre to do them of the countrey any doÌ„mage nor ye shall fynde no towne nor persone to speke with all For the men drawe to the woodes and dwell in caues and small cotagê vnder trees and among busshes and hedges lyke wylde sauage beestes And whan they knowe that any man maketh warre agaynst theÌ„ and is entred in to their couÌ„treis than they drawe toguyder to the straytes and passages and defende it so that no man can entre in to theÌ„ And whan they se their tyme they wyll sone take their aduauntage on their enemyes for they knowe the countrey and are lyght people For a man of armes beyng neuer so well horsed and ron as fast as he can the yrisshe men wyll ryn a fote as faste as he and ouertake hym yea and leape vp vpon his horse behynde hym and drawe hym fro his horse for they are stronge men in the armes and haue sharpe weapons with large blades with two edges after the maner of darte heedes wherwith they wyll slee their enemy they repute nat a man deed tyll they haue cutte his throte and opyn his bely and taken out his herte and cary it awaye with theÌ„ some saye suche as knowe their nature that they do eate it and haue great delyte therin they take no man to raunsome And whanÌ„e they se at any encountre that they be ouermatched than they wyll departe a sonder and go and hyde theym selfe in busshes wodes hedges and caues so that no man shall finde theym Also syr Wylliam of Wyndsore who hath moste vsed the warres in those parties of any other englysshe man yet he coulde neuer lerne the maner of the countrey nor knowe their condycions They be herde people and of rude engen and wytte and of dyuers frequentacyons and vsage they sette nothyng by iolyte nor fresshe apparell nor by noblenesse for though their rleame be soueraynly gouerned by kynges wherof they haue plentie yet they wyll take no knowledge of gentylnesse but wyll contynewe in their rudenesse acordynge as they are brought vp Trouthe it is that foure of the princypall kynges and moste puyssaunt after the maner of the countrey are come to the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande by loue and fayrenesse and nat by batayle nor constraynte The erle of Ormonde who marcheth vpon them hath taken great payne and hath so treated with them that they came to Duuelyn to the kynge and submytted them to hym to be vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande wherfore the kyng and all the realme reputeth this for a great and an honourable dede and thynketh this voyage well be stowed for kynge Edwarde of good memory dyd neuer so moche vpon them as kynge Rycharde dyde in this voyage The honour is great but the profite is but lytell For though they be kynges yet no man can deuyse nor speke of ruder personages I Shall shewe you somwhat of their rudenesse to the entente it maye be ensample agayne people of other nacyons I knowe it well for I haue proued it by them selues For whan they were at Duuelyn I hadde the gouernaunce of them about a moneth by the kynges commauudement and his counsayle to th entent that I shulde lerne them to vse them selfe accordyng to the vsage of Englande bycause I coulde speke their language as well as Frenche or Englysshe for in my youthe I was brought vp amonge theym I was with the erle of Ormonde
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌ„ger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌ„t and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌ„ded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ„ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌ„ce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌ„maunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌ„te de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌ„maunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌ„mauÌ„ded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌ„tly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâ—e bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ— and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ— come thyder and howe they had got grauÌ„t of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌ„ce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌ„e I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
in this warre that he wanne more than he lost He toke two tymes all the dukes vessell and plate of golde and syluer and dyuers other iewelles wherof he hadde great profyte The conclusyon of the warre and hate bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson was thus The duke of Bretayne lyke a great lorde as he was sawe well he coude nat come to his entent of sir Olyuer of Clysson and that he had ouer many frendes in Bretayne for sauyng their alegiauÌ„ce to the duchy of Bretayne All the bretons knyghtes squyers prelates and men of the good Cyties and good townes enclyned more to the lorde Clysson than to the duke And the highe barons dissymuled and had aunswered the duke that they wolde nat entremedle them with that warre but sayde they wolde gladly sette a peace and accorde bytwene theÌ„ Also the duke of Orlyaunce specially conforted couertly in many maner of wayes sir Olyuer of Clysson and he was alwayes ioyous whan he herde of his good spede in any of his entreprices The duke of Bretaygne who was a subtyle prince and ymaginatyfe and had endured moche payne duryng this warre and sawe well he was nat very well beloued with his owne people as the chyldren of the lorde Charles of Bretayne were the one called Charles of Bloyes who was slayne at the batayle of Alroy and IohnÌ„ of Bretayne erle of Ponthieur and of Lymogines who had to wyfe the doughter of sir Olyuer of Clisson and the lorde Henry of Bretayne his brother and their suster the quene of Naples and of Hierusalem Also the duke sawe that he began to waxe olde that his chyldren were but yonge and ê‘ceyued well he had no frendes in FrauÌ„ce except the duke of Burgoyne the duches his wyfe And he sawe well his chyldren shulde haue as fewe for by their mothers syde they came were issued of the membres and braunches of Nauer whiche generacion was nat ouermoche loued in Fraunce for the great myscheues that kynge Charles of Nauerre father to the duchesse of Bretayne had done in tyme past in Fraunce wherof the remembraunce as than endured And the duke sawe that if he dyed in that estate bothe with sir Olyuer of Clisson and with the erle of Ponthieur he than douted that his chyldren that were so yonge shulde haue ouer many great enemyes and also he sawe that the alyaunce bytwene hym and Englande began to waxe colde For he was enformed that the kynge of Englande shulde haue to wyfe the doughter of FrauÌ„ce thesame lady that was promysed to hym for his sonne and heyre The duke dyde cast all these doutes ThanÌ„e all thynges consydered he ymagined to breke his herte without dissimulacion and make a ferme peace with sir Olyuer of Clysson with Iohan of Bretayne And wolde putte hym selfe at their pleasure to make amendes for all wrathes forfaytes and doÌ„mages that euer they dyde to hym or to his men duryng the warre He wolde desyre nothynge but that they shulde take hym for duke of Bretayne and his children after hym accordyng to the artycles of the peace before made bytwene hym and the chyldren of sir Charles of Bloyes whiche charter of peace he wolde nat breke nor any artycle comprised therin And also to kepe and vpholde euery thyng that he had promysed to IohnÌ„ of Bloyes his cosyn erle of PoÌ„-Ponthieur And if he hadde nat his parte of the herytage of Bretayne suffycient he wolde putte the ordring therof without any dissymulacion to the vicount of Rohan and to the lordes of Dignan of Leon of Lauall and of Beaumont and of the lorde IohnÌ„ of Harpeden Whan the duke of Bretayne had aduysed in hym selfe all this purpose without makynge of any man of his counsayle He called to hym his secratorie and in a chabre they two alone he caused hym to write a letter to sir Olyuer of Clysson as swetely amiably as coude be deuysed desyring hym that they might speke toguyder secretely on trust to haue good peace bytwene theÌ„ Whan this Letter was made deuysed and sealed Than he toke a secrete person coÌ„maundyng hym to go to the castell of Iosselyn and saye I do sende the to speke with my cosyn sir Olyuer of Clysson and salute hym fro me and delyuer hym this letter and bring agayne an answere And on payne of thy lyâ—e kepe this secrete and shewe no creature whider thou gost nor who dothe sende the. He tooke his iourney and spedde hym so well that he caÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn The porters had marueyle whan they herde hym saye that he cae fro the duke of speke with their maister they wente and shewed their lorde therof Than he coÌ„maunded that the messanger shulde coÌ„e to hym and so he dyde And well and wisely declared his message and delyuered his letter sealed with the dukes seale whiche sir Olyuer knewe ryght well and opyned reed the letter two or thre tymes the better to vnderstande it And in the redyng he had great marueyle of the swete wordes cretable and amyable that was comprised in the letter He studyed a season and at last sayd howe he wolde take aduyse and write agayne sir Olyuers men hadde great marueyle of this for before he had forborne no man of the dukes but outher he was slayne or putte in prisone ThanÌ„e sir Olyuer wente in to his lecrete chambre and began to muse and ymagyn vpon these newes At last he apesed his yuell wyll in that the duke humyled hymselfe so moche towardes him and that he wrote so swetely yet he thought in hym selfe to proue the duke further or he aduentured hym selfe to go to the duke for he thought if he toke any hurte no man wolde bewayle hym if he lost hym selfe by folly Than he wrote a letter to the duke ryght swete and tretable but the conclusyon was that yf he wolde haue hym to come speke with hym that he shuld sende his sonÌ„e and heyre to lye in hostage for hym tyll his retourne This letter was delyuered to the dukes varlet who retourned therwith to Wannes where the duke was there delyuered his letter The duke reed it and studyed a lytell and sayd I shall do it to the entence to treate louyngly with hym Than theÌ„ duke wrote a letter to the vycount of Rohan who was at the castell of Cayre Whan the vycount sawe the dukes letter he came incontynent to Wannes Than the duke shewed all his purpose and entencyon sayd Vycount you and the lorde of Mountbursier shall leade my sonÌ„e to the castell Iosselyn and leaue hym there and bringe with you the lorde Olyuer Clysson for I wyll agree and make peace with hym The vicouÌ„t sayd it shulde be done gladly So they toke the dukes sonne and heyre who was about the age of eight yere and ledde hym to the castell Iosselyn to the lorde Olyuer Clysson who receyued them ryght honorably And whan he sawe the chylde and the good affection
And the duke of Bretaygne had offered to go with hym with two thousande speares bretons Great prouysyon was made for this iourney in the Dolphenry of Vyen and in the countie of Sauoy Whan the duke of Bretayne departed fro the frenche kynge to retourne in to his countrey syr Peter of Craon who was condempned to paye to the quene of Iherusalem a hundred thousande frankes and was in prison in the castell of Loure in Parys At the request of the duke of Bretaygne the duke of Burgoyne dyd so moche to the kynge that by his good meanes the duke of Bretaygne had syr Peter of Craon with hym I thynke he promysed to pay the sayd soÌ„me at certayne dayes to the foresayd quene I wyll nowe leaue this mater and speke of the adueÌ„tures of Turkey ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the siege before Nycopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and howe the Frenche men were dyscomfyted howe the hungaryons fled Cap. CC .xvii. YE haue herde here before howe the kynge of Hungery and the lordes of Fraunce were passed the ryuer of Dunce and were entred in to Turkey and all the soÌ„mer after the moneth of Iuly they had done many enterprises and had brought dyuers townes to their subiection for there was none that resysted them and had besieged the towne of Nycopoly and hadde nere brought it to a small estate nigh redy to yelde for they coude here no newes of Lamorabaquy Than the kyng of Hungery said to the lordes of FrauÌ„ce and to other Syrs thanked be god we haue had a fayre seasone we haue dystroyed parte of Turkey I reken this towne of Nycopolyours whan we lyst it is so sore ouerlayde that it canne nat longe holde wherfore all thynges consydred I couÌ„sayle this towne ones won that we go no further at this season we shall drawe agayn ouer the Dunce in to the realme of Hungery where I haue many cyties townes and castelles redy furnysshed to receyue you as reason is seyng ye be come so farre to ayde me to make warre agaynst the turkes whome I haue founde herde and cruell enemyes and this wynter we shall make newe prouysion agaynst the next somer and sende worde to the frenche kyng what case we be in so that this nexte soÌ„mer he maye refresshe vs with newe men and I beleue whan he knoweth what we haue done howe euery thyng standeth he wyll haue great affection to come hyther in his owne person for he is yonge and couragyous and loueth dedes of armes and whether he cometh or nat by the grace of god this next soÌ„mer we shall wynne the realme of Armony and passe the brase of saynt George and so in to Surrey and wynne the portes of Iaphes and Baruth and conquere Iherusalem and all the holy lande and if the sowdan come forewarde we shall fyght with hym for he shall nat departe without batayle THese or lyke wordes sayd the kynge of Hungery to the lordes of Fraunce rekened Nycopoly as their owne howe be it fortune fell otherwyse All that season the kynge Basaach called Lamorabaquy had reysed an army of sarazyns some out of farre countreys as out of Perce many great men of the sarazyns came to ayde Lamorabaquy to dystroy crystendome They were passed the Brase saynt George to the nombre of two huÌ„dred thousande men To say the trouth the chrysten men were nat a certayned what nombre they were of This kynge Basaache and his men aproched nere to Nycopoly by couerte wayes they knewe in feates of warre as moche as myght be and this kynge was a valyaunt man whiche shewed well by reason of his polycy he ordered his bataylles thus All his hoost was in a maner as wynges his men comprised well a great myle of grounde and before the hoost to shewe a face redye in a bande an eyght thousande turkes the two wynges of the batayle were open a forefronte and narowe behynde and Lamorabaquy was in the herte of the batayle thus they rode all in couerte These eyght thousande Turkes were ordeyned to make a face and that as sone as they shulde se the crysten men a ê“che than they to recule lytell and lytell in to the herte of the batayle and than the two wynges whiche were open before the crysten men beyng ones entred bytwene theym to close togyther and ioyne in to one company and than to fyght with their enemyes This was the ordre of their batayle THus in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre huÌ„dred fourscore and syxtene the monday before the feest of saynt mychell about ten of the clocke as the kyng of Hungery sate at dyner at the siege of Nycopoly tydynges came to the hoost howe the turkes were comyng and the scoutes that came in shewed howe they had sene the turkes but their reporte was nat trewe for they had nat tydden so forwarde that they had auewed the two wynges nor the batayle behynde they had sene no mo but the fore ryders and bowarde for as soone as they had sene theym they retourned The same seasone the greatest parte of the host were at dyner Than tydynges was brought to the erle of Neuers and to all other ingenerall by their scurers who said Syrs arme you quyckly that ye be nat surprised for the turkes are comynge on you These tydynges greatly reioysed the crysten men suche as desyred to do dedes of armes Than euery man rose fro their dynners and put the tables fro them and demaunded for their harnesse and horses and they were well chafed before with drynkynge of wyne Than euery man drewe in to the felde baners and standerdes dysplayed euery man to his owne baner Than the baner of our lady was dysplayed therwith the valyaunt knyght sir Iohan of Vien admyrall of Fraunce and the frenche men were the fyrst that drewe in to the felde fresshely aparelled makynge small accompte of the turkes but they knewe nat that they were so great a nombre as they were nor that Lamorabaquy was there in his owne persone As these lordes of Fraunce were into the felde there came vnto theym the kynge of Hungeryes marshall in great hast who was a valyaunte knyght called Henry of Ostenlenyhall vpon a good horse with a penon of his armes of syluer a crosse sable ancored called in armure the yron of a mylstone Whan he came before the baner of our lady he stode styll and to the moste parte of the barones of Fraunce he sayd openly Syrs I am sent hyther to you fro the kynge of Hungery and he desireth you by me that ye sat nat on your enemyes vntyll suche tyme as ye haue worde agayne fro him for it ought to be doughted lest our scoutes haue nat brought the certaynte of the nombre of the turkes but within these two houres ye shall here other tydynges for we haue sent other foreryders forth to auewe our enemyes more substancially than the first dyd and syrs ye maye be sure the turkes shall
londoners agaynst the kynge So it was the same yere that the truce was made bytwene Englande and Fraunce to endure for thyrty yere and that the kynge was retourned agayne in to Englande with his yonge wyfe than the duke of Gloucestre enfourmed the Londoners and sayd Syrs make ye a request to the kynge and it shall be reasonable desyre that seynge he hath peace with his enemyes that ye may be franke and fre fro all subsydies and aydes that hath ben graunted this twenty yere past affyrmyng howe they were nat graunted but durynge the seasone of the warre for ye syrs quod the duke that be marchauntes are yuell entreated and sore oppressed to pay of euery hundred florens .xiii. and all these goodes are spent in ydlenesse in dauÌ„synge and makynge of feastes and eatynge and drinkynge and all ye pay for wherby ye be sore traueyled and shewe you to the kynge howe ye wolde that the realme of Englande shulde be gouerned acordinge to the auncyent customes and ye may say that whan the kyng hath any nede or the realme or for the honour of the couÌ„trey and for the defence therof howe that ye wyll be redy to ayde it in suche wyse that the kynge and his counsayle shall holde them content Thus by the settynge on of the duke of Gloucestre the Londoners and the counsayles of dyuers other cyties and townes of Englande assembled theym togyther and on a day came to Eltham a seuen myle fro London where the kyng was and whan they came before the Kynge they made a request of all these foresayd thynges and wolde that it shulde haue ben acomplysshed incontynent And whan this request was made there was with the kynge no mo of his vncles but two the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke Than the kynge charged the Duke of Lancastre to make theym an aunswere and than the duke sayd to them syrs the kynges pleasure is that ye departe home euery man to his owne and within a moneth assemble agayne togyder at London or at Westmynster there the kynge wyll be with his counsayle and his nobles prelates and other and they they wyll be redy to here your requestes and loke what shall be thought necessary by his counsayle the kynge wyll graunt it you in suche wyse that ye shall all be well contente This aunswere pleased many of them but nat all for there were some that were of the opinyon of the duke of Gloucestre who wolde haue had a shorter answere but the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke apeased them with fayre swete wordes and so they departed for that tyme. But for all that they left nat their pursute so that the next moneth after they assembled at Westmynster there be ynge the kynge with his counsayle and than there was present the duke of Gloucestre who greatly enclyned to their demaundes but at makinge of the aunswere he spake nat all that he thought in his hert but dissymuled the mater to the entent that the kynge nor his bretherne shulde nat perceyue his mynde Than the duke of Lancastre made the aunswere to the londoners for the kynge and sayd ye syrs of London and other the kynge hath coÌ„maunded me to gyue you a determynable answere to your requestes in his name and his counsayle and by the consent of other prelates and noble men of his realme Sirs ye knowe well to the entent to eschewe all parelles and daungers that myght come to this Realme there was a generall graunt made by you and other of the good cyties and townes of Englande that there shulde be raysed a tayle on the state of marchaundyse in maner and fourme as it hath tynne nowe vpon a syxe yere that was to paye of euery hundred .xiii. and by reason therof the kynge graunted and sealed to you certayne fraunchesses the whiche he is nat in mynde to take fro you but rather to encrease it dayly acordyng to your desertes but where as ye nowe wolde repell agayne that ye ones wyllyngly agreed vnto and graunted therfore here openly he repelyth agayne all suche graces and grauntes as he hath made to you before this tyme. Beholde here all these noble men and prelates haue sworne and promessed to the kynge to ayde and sustayne all thynges lawfully gyuen and graunted therfore syrs considre well that the state of the king is great and chargeable and if it augment in one maner it mynyssheth in another for the rentes and reuene was turneth nat to the kynges profyte as moche as it hath doone in tyme paste the kinge and his counsayle hath ben at great coste and charge sythe the warres renewed bytwene Englande and Fraunce and great charge it hath been to the kynge for suche ambassadours as haue treated bytwene the parties as well here as beyonde the see also the pursuynge of the kynges maryage hath coste gret goodes And though there be nowe peace bytwene the realmes yet the charge is great of kepynge of the garysons in townes and castelles beynge vnder the kynges obeysaunce as well in Gascoyne Burdeloys Bayonois Bygore and the marches of Gyan and Calays also in kepyng the see and the portes and hauens of Englande in lykewyse it is chargeable the kepyng of the fronters of Scotlande whiche may nat be vnprouyded and also the marchesse of Irelande All these thynges and other consernynge the kynges estate and honour of the realme draweth yerely great coste and charge whiche is farre better knowen by the noble men of the realme than by any of you that medeleth but with your marchaundyse Thanke godâ—irs that ye be thus in peace and take hede that none paye without he be worthy and occupye the feate of marchaundyse and as well payeth the straungers as ye do ye be at a freer marte than they of Fraunce or Lombardy or other Realmes whyther as youre marchaundyse repayreth for they be tayled and retayled agayne two or thre tymes in a yere and ye passe by a reasonable ordynaunce sette and assessed vpon your marchaundyse THese wordes or suche lyke spoken by the duke of Lancastre apeased greatly the people who were sette to do yuell by the settynge on of other Thus they departed at that tyme without any other thynge doynge and the moste parte of theym were well content and suche as wolde the contrary made no semblante therof at that tyme. The duke of Gloucestre retourned to his maner of Plasshey and he sawe well as at that tyme he coulde nat brynge his purpose to passe but styll he studyed howe to make trouble in Englande and to fynde the wayes howe to renewe the warre in Fraunce and he had of his acorde his wyfes vncle the Erle of Arundell who desyred nothynge but warre and they had doone so moche that they had drawen to their acorde the erle of Warwyke TTHe kinge of Englande had two bretherne by his mother one called Thomas Erle of Kente and the seconde sir Iohan of Holande a valyaunt knyght who had to his wyfe the
thinke it he is foule abused Therfore sir we humbly beseche you to apeace youre selfe euery thyng shall turne well with goddes grace All that a man speketh coÌ„meth nat to effecte nor all that he sayth oftentymes he can nat accoÌ„plysshe Thus the dukes of LaÌ„castre and yorke apeased their nephewe kynge Richarde THese two dukes sawe well that the busynesse of Englande began to be yuell and parceyued that gret hatered encreased dayly bytwene the kyng the duke of Glocestre And to th entent that they wolde nat entremedell bytwene them they departed fro the kynges court with all their company and seruauntes and so toke their leaue of that kyng for a tyme and went to their owne And the duke of Lancastre toke with hym his wyfe the lady Katheryn Ruet who hadde ben in company with the yong quene of Englande and went a huntyng of the dere as the vsage is in Englande and the kynge taryed about London But afterwarde the kynges vncles repented them that they deê‘ted out of the courte for there fell afterwarde suche maters in Englande that all the realme was in trouble the whiche had nat so fortuned if they had ben about the kynge for they wolde haue founde other prouisyon for yâ— mater than they dyde that counsayled the kyng There were none of the kynges seruauntes but that greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and wolde gladly that he had ben deed they had nat cared howe the gentyll knight sir Thomas Percy had ben long souerayne squyer of the kynges house that is in FrauÌ„ce mayster and seneschall for all the state of the kynge passed throughe his handes He than coÌ„sydring the great hatereddes that encresed bitwene the kyng and his vncle of Glocestre and among other great lordes of Englande with whom he was welbeloued Like a sage knight he ymagined that the conclusyons coude nat be good ThaÌ„ he gaue vp his offyce as honorably as he coulde and tooke leaue of the kynge and the kynge gaue hym leaue full sore agaynst his wyll howe be it he made suche excusacions that he departed and another set in his offyce The kyng had as than but yonge counsayle about hym and they greatly douted the duke of Gloucestre and oftentymes wolde saye to the kynge Ryght dere sir it is a perylous thyng to serue you for we haue sene suche as haue serued you in tymes paste and suche as were ryght synguler in your fauoure yet they haue had but small guerdone Sir Symon Burle who was a sage valyaunt knight in good fauoure with my lorde your father whome god pardone He had great payne and traueyle for your fyrst maryage yet your vncle the duke of Gloucestour caused hym to dye shamefully his heed to be stryken of lyke a traytour before all the worlde with dyuers other that he hath put to dethe as ye knowe well for all the puissaunce that ye were of ye coude nat saue them And sir we that sarue you nowe looke for the same rewarde For whan your vncle cometh to you the whiche is nat often we dare nat lyfte vp our eyen to loke vpon any persone he loketh so hye ouer vs. he thynketh we do hym moche wroÌ„g that we be so nere about you as we be Wherfore sir knowe for trouthe that as long as he liueth there shall be no peace in Englande nor ye shall do no maÌ„ good Also he thretneth you yor wife to close you vp in a castell there to beholden vnder subiection to lyue by porcion sir ye be a kyng lost if ye take nat good hede to your self as for your wife nedeth nat to care she is yong and doughter to the frenche kynge They dare nat displease her for moche yuell might come therby in EnglaÌ„de your vncle of Gloucestre to th entent to make you to be behated with your people hath sowen dyuers sclauÌ„dorous wordê vpon you throughout LoÌ„don and in other places sayeng howe ye be nat worthy to beare the crowne nor to holde so noble an herytage as is the realme of Englande sythe ye haue taken to your wyfe the doughter of the frenche kyng your aduersary Wherby he saythe ye haue greatly febled the signorie and realme of Englande and hath sore discoraged the hertes of the noble valyant knightes and squiers of the realme who haue alwayes valyantly coÌ„tynued the warre and yet wolde do Thus they saye that ye haue brought the realme in great paryll and aduenture to be lost affyrmyng howe it is pytie that ye haue been suffred to contynue so long as ye haue done Also the Frenchemen bruteth that ye wyll put out of your armes tharmes of FrauÌ„ce wherwith the people are nat conteâ—t hateth you therfore And they thynke it trewe bycause ye were so redy gladde to take a truce they thynke more rather byforce than by loue for the noble men of the realme who haue serued and maynteyned the warres neuer agreed therto Also they saye that ye haue nat dilygently reuisyted nor ouersene the letters patentes gyuen accorded sworne and sealed by kyng Iohan somtyme frenche kyng and by his sonnes the whiche grauÌ„t his children lyueng was nothyng vpholden but craftely broken And the Frenchmen founde cautels and subtelties by wrongefull wayes to renewe agayne that warre And therby toke and vsurped all the right that your predecessurs had in that quarell and hath wonne therby landes and countreis in Acquitany with cyties castelles and townes And all this they saye ye take no hede of but haue loste it thoroughe your neglygence and hath shewed but poore corage and that ye doute your ennemyes and haue nat pursued the accydentes of the mater and the good and iuste quarell that ye had and as yet haue the whiche quarell your predecessours had as longe as they lyued First my lorde your father the prince of Wales and of Acâ—tayne and also good kyng Edwarde your grauÌ„tfather who toke great payne and dilygence to augment their signories Thus sir the londoners saye and so dothe other that a day shall come that ye shall repent you Therfore sir we can no lengar hyde these wordê fro you for they be daylye renewed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Glocestre was taken by the erle marshall by the coÌ„maundement of the kyng Cap. CC.xxiii KIng Richarde of EnglaÌ„d noted well these sayd wordes the which was shewed hym in secretenesse lyke an ymaginatyfe price as he was within a season after that his vncles of LaÌ„castre and of yorke were departed out of the courte than the kynge toke more hardynesse on hym and said to hym selfe That fyrste it were better for hym to distroye another rather than another shulde distroye hym thynkynge that shortely he wolde haue his vncle of Gloucestre in suche case that he wolde be assured of hym that he shulde do hym no displeasure after bycause he coulde nat bring about his purpose alone he dyscouered his mynde to such as he trusted best as to therle marshall his
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
other thinges parteynynge to a fortresse and also he was of his person hygh and cruell and wolde nat be abasshed for a lytell thynge The marshall of Fraunce departed fro pount saynt Spyrite and passed with all his company by the towne of Orenge by consent of the prince of Orenge and so entred in to the countre of Venyce whiche was lande parteygnynge to the churche the whiche anone was ouer rynne and the men of warre passed at the bridge of Sourgnes and so they were lordes of all the ryuer and the marshall taryed in the towne of Sourgnes with a gret nombre of menne of warre to kepe the towne and passage and also the garysone of Noues whiche partayned to the pope Than the marshall went and lodged at saynt Verayne nere to Auignon and his men therabout and dayly came thyder men of warre so that the cytie of Auignon was closed in before and behinde by lande and by the ryuer so that nothynge coulde entre nor issue without leaue for at the towne of Noue without Auygnon whiche partayned to the realme of Fraunce was the seneschall of Beaucayre with fyue hundred men and kepte the entre on that syde and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce with two thousande men was on the other syde of Auignon and he sent to theym of the cytie that without they wolde obey and open their cytie that he wolde burne all their vynes and houses abrode in the countrey aboute to the ryuer of Dureuse That soÌ„monynge greatly abasshed the men and women within the cytie for their herytages laye without Auignon vnto the ryuer of Dureuse Than they went to counsayle without knowledge of the pope and they called to their counsayle certayne cardynals as the cardynall of Amyence of Poictours of Newcastell of Viuyers and dyuers other Than suche as had moste to lose shewed these cardynalles howe the marshall of Fraunce had thretened them to brinne their vynes and their howses and all this had caused the frenche kynge agaynst whome they coulde nat resyste for his puyssaunce was so nere them and all thynges consydred they sayde they were better to obey to the frenche kynge than to holde their paryllous opynyons for of Benedyc they coulde haue no ayde nor comforte and they demaunded of these cardynalles if they wolde ioyne and take their parte The cardynals said they were content to take their wayes for vitayles beganne to fayle theym and also their benefyces were in the realme of Fraunce whiche they sayd they wolde nat wyllyngly lese So they entred in to treatie with the marshall of Fraunce the whiche toke suche effecte that all the men of warre entred in to the cytie of Auignon and it was apoynted to besiege the palays their couynaunt was to do no hurte nor dyspleasure to the cardynalles nor to none of their men nor to the hole body of the towne This to do the marshall promysed So they entred in to Auignon and lodged at their ease and lybertie and than all the passages as well by lande as by water were opened to the entent that all maner of bytayle myght come to the cytie WHen he that wrote him selfe pope Benedyc beynge closed in his palays sawe that the cardynals and the men of the cytie had made a treatie with the marshall of Fraunce without his counsayle or aduyse he was therwith sore dyspleased howe be it he sayd that he wolde nat submytte hym selfe to dye in the payne and so he kepte hym selfe close in his palais which was as stronge a place as any in the worlde and most easyest to be kepte so that it be well vytayled This pope had sent letters to the kynge of Aragone instantly to socoure hym in his nede and to sende him men of warre that he myght be able to resyst the marshall of Fraunce also he sente the kynge worde in his letter that if he coulde get hym thens fro Auignon he wolde go and kepe his see apostolyke in Aragon at Parpygnon or at Barcelone The kynge of Aragon sawe well the popes letters but he made no force of them and sayd to his couÌ„sayle that were aboute hym What weneth this preest that to susteyne hym and his argumentes I shall enterpryse to make warre agaynste the frenche kyng to ayde hym than I might well be reputed a fole Syr quod his counsayle ye say trouthe ye haue no nede to medle in that mater for syr ye may be sure the frenche kynge hath suche counsayle aboute hym that he wolde make no warre agaynst hym without a iuste cause lette the clergy alone for if they purpose to lyue the prelates must obey the great lordes 〈◊〉 whome their rentes and reuenues are they haue longe kept them in peace And also syrâ—he frenche kynge hath writen to you all redy desyringe you to determyne you and your countrey to be newter as he is and wyll be and syr ye were beste so to do for my lady the quene who is the Frenche kynges cosyn germayne is content so to be and so is the moste parte of your realme and the clergy in lykewyse and specyally Catelone and Spayne and syr we thynke it is the best opynion for if all cristen kynges do nat the same the churche shall neuer come to vnyte by reasone of two popes Thus the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle deuysed togyder and pope Benedic was styll in his palays trustynge to haue ayde of the kynge of Aragon but he was dysceyued and the marshall of FrauÌ„ce was with in the cytie of Auygnon and the palays was so kept that none coulde issue out nor entre in They lyued with that store they had for of vytayles they had suffycient for two or thre yere but they lacked woode to make fyre with all and to sethe their meate whiche made theym abasshed Euery weke the marshall herde newes fro the frenche kynge and the kynge fro hym and the kynge coÌ„maunded hym that he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had atchyued his enterprise Thus the pope coude nat issue out of the palays there was suche watche layde on hym THe conclusyon was whan this Benedyc sawe that he was so straytely kepte and that fyre fayled hym and other prouysions dayly dyscreased and sawe that no comforte nor ayde came to hym fro no parte at laste he yelded at the request of certayne of the cardynalles and the treatie was thus that he shulde nat departe out of Auignon tyll there were made an vnyon in the churche and a certayne garde was sette aboute hym and the cardynalles and ryche men of Auignon bounde them selfe to kepe this Benedyc so strayte that they shulde rendre accompte of hym agayne outher quycke or dede Suche cardynals as had their benefyces in Fraunce tooke great payne to make this treatie and composycion for they sayde all with one accorde that they wolde abyde with the frenche kynge Thus this busynesse ended at that tyme and euery man departed and the Marshall went to Parys and anone
archebysshoppe of Caunterbury hathe well doone his deuoyre seynge he hath brought hym in to Englande Than they dyd chose certayne men to go abrode to publysshe the erles cōmynge to lordes knyghtes and squyers suche as were of their party and mo than fyue hundred of the londoners tooke their horses and they had so great desyre to go forthe that they were lothe to tarye one for a nother The erle of Derby taryed nat longe at Plummouth but the nexte daye as soone as their horses were vnshypped they rode towardes London And all that season sir Peter of Craon and the bretons were styll with the erle The mayre of London they that hadde the gouernyng of the cytie were the fyrst that mette the erle in the feldes and humbly receyued him and euer as they rode forwarde they mette more people The fyrst daye they cāe and laye at Guyldforde a fyue and twentie myle fro Lōdon The next day a great nombre of the men women and chyldren of London and the clergy came to mete with the erle they had suche desyre to se hym And whan they cāe in to his sight they cried welcome noble erle of Derby duke of Lancastre God sende you ioye welthe and prosperyte Sithe ye wente out of Englande the realme hath ben in no prosperyte Nowe we truste ye shall bringe vs in to a reasonable estate for we haue lyued in great displeasaunce and desolacyon by the meanes of Richarde of Burdeaux and his counsayle and specially he ought moost chefe to be blamed For a kyng that shulde gouerne a Realme and people ought to haue suche discrecyon to knowe gode and yuell asondre otherwise he is nat worthy to gouerne a Realme And this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done contrary whiche shal be well knowen and proued vpon him with suche wordes and other the people brought the erle to London The mayre rode cheke and cheke by hym whiche was great pleasure for the people to se and the mayre sometyme sayde to the erle Sir beholde howe the people reioyse of your cōmyng That is trewe quod the erle And alwayes as he rode he enclyned his heed to the people on euery syde Thus the Erle was brought on his lodgynge and euery man departed tyll after dyner Than the mayre and the notable men of the cite and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes prelates bysshoppes and abbottes suche as were in London cam to se the the erle Also the duchesse of Gloucestre and her two doughters came to se therle who were his cosyn germayns Affren their brother was with kynge Richarde more for feare than̄e for loue With these ladyes was the countesse of Arundell and her chyldren and also the countesse of Warwyke with dyuers other ladyes suche as were at London The people of London were so ioyfull of the erles cōmyng that there was no more workynge in London that daye than and it had ben Easter daye TO come to a conclusyon of this busynesse The people toke coūsayle and aduyse to ryde agaynst the kynge whom the Londoners named Richard of Burdeaux kynge without tytell or honour for the vyllaynes of London hadde the kyng in suche hate that it was payne for them to here spekynge of hym but to his cōdempnacion and distruction for they hadde treated the erle of Derby to be their kynge and he was moche ordred by their counsayle The erle of Derby toke on hym to be kyng and so to endure for euer he and his heyres and therto the Londoners dyde swere and seale And promysed that all the resydue of the realme shulde do the same so solempnely that there shulde neuer questyon be made therof after Also they promysed hym to aide and to assyste hym alwayes These promyses and boundes ones taken and concluded than it was ordayned that .xii. hundred men of London well armed shulde ryde with the erle towardes Bristowe and to do so moche that Richarde of Burdeaux myght be taken and brought to London and than to take aduyse what shulde be done with hym and to be iudged by the lawe and by the thre estates of the realme Also it was ordayned to make the lesse brute and sclaundre that the men of warre of Bretaygne suche as were come thyder with the erle shulde be retourned home agayne For it was sayde howe they hadde men ynoughe to do their dedes without them so that the erle had all the bretons before hym and thanked them of their seruyce that they hadde done hym and gaue them great rewardes so that they were well content and so retourned to Plūmouthe to the shyppes and so in to Bretayne ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the erle of Derby who ordayned to ryde to Bristowe THe erle of Derby was cheife of that armye as reason was for it touched hym most nerest Thus he departed fro London and as he rode the countrey fell in to hym Tidynges cāe in to the kynges host of the cōmyng of the erle of Derby and of the Londoners many knyghtes squyers and other knewe it or the kynge hadde knowledge therof but they durst nat speke therof Whan the tidynges spredde more abrode suche as were next the kyng were in great feare for they knewe well the kynge and they bothe were lykely to fall in paryll bycause they hadde so many ennemyes in the realme and suche were thā their ennemyes that hadde made good face before For many knightes squyers and other suche as hadde serued the kyng before departed fro the courte without any lycence Some wente home to their owne houses some toke the nexte waye they coude streight to the erle of Derby to serue hym As soone as Affren of Gloucestre and Rycharde son̄e to the erle of Arundell knewe that the Erle of Derby and the Londoners were cōmynge they gote their men toguyder and departed and rode streyght to the erle of Derby whome they founde beyonde Oxenforde at a towne called Soucetour Th erle of Derby hadde great ioye whan̄e he sawe his cosyns and demaunded of the state of the kynge and howe they were departed fro hym They aunswered and sayde Sir at our departynge we spake nat with hym For as soone as we knewe of your commynge we lepte on our horses and departed to come to serue you and to ayde to reuenge the dethe of our fathers whome Richarde of Burdeaulx hathe caused to be slayne Sirs quod the erle ye be ryght welcome ye shall ayde me and I shall helpe you For it is behouable that oure cosyn Rycharde of Burdeaux be brought to London so haue I promysed to the Londoners and I wyll kepe my promyse for therto they wyll ayde me And we haue men ynowe to fyght with hym if nede be And if he wyll haue batayle he shall haue it ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe tidynges came to kyng Richarde of the cōmynge of the erle of Derby with great puyssaunce Cap. CC.xli IT was sayd to the kynge whan the mater coude no lengar be hydde Sir aduyse you well ye
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
shotte on bothe partes so that many were hurte Than the bayly with his great nombre came vpon them without sparynge for he had speciall coÌ„maundement fro kynge Henry that he shulde outher take theÌ„ quicke or deed if he myght ouercome them So finally the Erles menne were fayne to withdrawe in to the houses Than the bayly and his men enuyroned their lodgynges on all partes and specially where the two Erles were made there suche assautes that they entred ê‘force There were many hurte and slayne Th erle of HuÌ„tyngton defended him selfe valyauntly as longe as he myght But there were so many agaynst hym that there he was slayne and with hym the yonge erle of Kente for whom great sorowe was made in dyuers partes of Englande for he was a fayre yonge man and was there in maner agaynst his wyll but his vncle and the erle of Salisbury brought hym therto The men of Suscettour who were fierse agaynst theÌ„ strake of their heedes and sent them by a messanger to the mayre of London therwith to reioyce the kyng and the londoners Th erle of Salisbury and the lorde Spensar came to a lyke conclusyon for certayne knightes squiers of the kynges toke them where they were and strake of their heedes sente them to London many suche as were with them alyed were putte to execucion bothe knyghtes and squyers After that the realme was in good rest and peace ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the frenche kyng reysed vp an army to sende vpon the fronters of Englande Cap. CC .xlviii. WHan easter was come the yere of our lorde god M. four hundred The freÌ„che kyng his brother his vncles his counsaile vnderstode howe certayne Englysshmen of armes and archers shulde passe the see and come to Calais and to Guynes to HaÌ„mes and to those fronters Than there was a coÌ„maundement made throughe Fraunce that euery knight and squyer shulde be redy to leape a hors backe and to go thider as they shulde be sente specially Bolonois and the see syde was well prouyded for The same tyme duke Iohan of Bretayne died behynde hym he lefte two sonnes a doughter The eldest sonÌ„e shulde haue maried the frenche kynges secoÌ„de doughter for he might nat haue theldest bycause she was maryed in to Englande to kynge Richarde This treatie of maryage fyrst for the eldest doughter of Fraunce with the heyre of Bretayne was coÌ„cluded at Tourse in Tourayn but afterwarde by the kinges coÌ„sent and his couÌ„saile to th entent to marry her the more richely that mariage was broken with Bretayne she maried in to Englande And dyuers lordes in Fraunce said feared that no good shulde come therof but than they concluded for the secoÌ„de doughter Than after the dethe of the duke of Bretaine it was aduised that the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce with a certayne noÌ„bre of men of warre shulde drawe to the marches of Bretayne to speke with the bretons with the couÌ„saylours of good townes to know what they wolde do with their heyre to desyre theÌ„ to delyuer him to be kept in the house of FrauÌ„ce The duke of OrlyauÌ„ce dyde acording to this deuyse with a certayne noÌ„bre came to Ponthorson there rested and sente worde of his coÌ„myng to the lordes of Bretaigne Than prelates lordes couÌ„saylours of the good townes in the name of the thre estates of the countre assembled togider were determyned what aunswere to make and so they came to Pounthorson to the duke of Orlyaunce and there they made their answere all after one sorte and that was They said howe that their yonge lorde heyre of Bretayne they wolde kepe hym theÌ„selfes in his owne countre Than the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce seyng it wolde none otherwise be he toke boÌ„des of the grettest lordes in Bretayne suche as had chefe charge of the countre that they shulde delyuer hym to the freÌ„che kyng whaÌ„ the childe shulde come to his age These writynges made and sealed than the duke deê‘ted and returned in to Fraunce and shewed the kyng his brother howe he had spedde IT was well knowen in Englande howe the Frenche kyng hadde furnysshed his garysons cyties good townes castels on the fronters of Picardy and Bolonois and howe the frenchmen had closed so the passagê ouer the water of SoÌ„me that no marchandyse corne nor other thyng shulde nat passe Abuyle nor the marchauÌ„tes of EnglaÌ„de who were wont to go in to FraÌ„ce with their marchauÌ„dise durst no more coÌ„e there nor the frenche marchauÌ„tes durste nat come in to Englande so that the fronters on bothe ê‘ties were in gret ruyne desolacion and yet they made no warrÌ„ togyder for they had no coÌ„mauÌ„dement so to do Than it was said to kyng HeÌ„ry sir aduyse you well it semeth by the Frenchmen they wyll make you warre they make great prouisyon for shyppes at Harflewe and capitayns of their armye is the erle of saynt Poule and sir Charles de la Breth And it were to suppose that if the erles of Huntyngton and of Salysbury were a lyue and all suche as be dedde the Frenchmen than wolde soone passe ouer the see on trust to haue great alyaunce and ayde in Englande But sir as longe as Richarde of Burdeaux is a lyue you nor your realme shal be at no suretie I beleue that ye saye is trewe quod the kyng but as for me I wyll nat cause hym to be slayne for I haue so promysed hym and I wyll kepe my promyse without I ê‘ceyue that he worke trayson agaynst me Well sir â—abqod they of his counsaill it were better for you that he were deed rather than a lyue For as longe as the frenche men knowe that he is lyueng they wyll enforce them to make you warre and wyll hope alwayes to bring him agayne in to his former estate bycause of his wyfe the Frenche kynges doughter The kyng gaue none answere but departed fro them as than and lefte his couÌ„sayle coÌ„munyng togyder the kynge wente and toke a faucon on his haÌ„de and passed ouer that mater ¶ Of the dethe of kyng Richarde of Englande and howe the truse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was reuewed And also of the deposicion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC .xlix. IT was nat longe after that true tidynges ran thoroughe London howe Richarde of Burdeaulx was deed but howe he dyed by what meanes I coulde nat tell whan I wrote this cronycle But this kynge Rycharde deed was layde in a lytter and sette in a chayre couered with blacke Baudkynne and foure horses all blacke in the chayre and two men in blacke leadyng the chayre and four kynghtes all in blacke folowyng Thus the chare departed fro the towre of London and was brought a long throughe London fayre and softely tyll they caÌ„e into chepesyde where as the chefe assembly of LoÌ„don was and there the chare rested the space of two houres thyder came in and out mo than xx M. persons men and women to se hym
and there were the two bastarde soÌ„nes of the erle of Foiz sir yuaâ— and sir Gracien and the Vicount of Chastelâ—on and all the barons of Bierne and some of Foiz But assone as the seruyce was done they of Foiz departed and rode the same daye to dyner to Herytell two myles fro Orthais and the next day be tymes the bysshoppe of Palmes deê‘ted he wolde nat be at the generall ê‘lyament whiche was the same daye a monge them of Bierne Thus the erle was buryed in the freers before the hyghe aulter So there is no more mencion made of hym god haue mercy vpon his soule ¶ Nowe let vs speke of the order that was taken at Orthais AS it was enformed me it was said to the Vycount of Chatelion Sir we knowe well that as next of blode ye ought to succede in the herytagê as well of Bierne as of Foiz But as nowe we can nat receyue you as oure lorde for therby we myght bring the lande of Bierne in to great trouble warre and daunger For as we do vnderstande the Frenche kynge who is our good neighbour dothe seÌ„de hyder of his couÌ„sayle we knowe nat for what entent tyll we here them speke We knowe well so do you that our lorde the erle whome god pardone was this last yere at Tholous with the frenche kyng and had secrete coÌ„munycacion toguyder the whiche firste hath nede to be declared for if he haue gyuen and released to the FreÌ„che kyng Foiz and Bietne the kyng than with puissance wyll haue optayne it Wherfore or we do any thing we wyll know the artycles for we of Byern be in other case of other coÌ„dycion than they of Foiz We be all fre without homage or seruytude and the countie of Foiz is holden of the Frenche kynge and also the people of Foiz their hertes be so Frenche that lightly they wyll receyue the frenche kyng to their lorde and soucraygne For they haue sayde sithe the erle was deed he hath none heritour of his body laufully gotten Wherfore the countie of Foize they saye shulde parteyne to the ordynauÌ„ca of the Frenche kyng But sir we shall kepe our holde and we wyll serue no lorde but suche as we ought to do wheder it be the freÌ„ch kyng or you But sir we wyll counsaile you to worke wysely in this busynesse by treatie or otherwyse Than the Vycount said sirs by what meanes wyll ye couÌ„sayle me to worke for I haue promised to worke by your aduyse in euery thyng accordyng to reason sir quod they we wyll aduyse you to desyre sir Roger of Spaygne your cosyn to kepe you company at your cost and charge And go in to the countie of Foiz and treate with the prelates and noble men and with theym of the good townes that they wolde receyue you to their lorde or elles to sytte styll and dissymule the mater tyll ye haue apeased the french kyng and taken with hym some coÌ„posicion by meanes of golde and siluer that ye might haue the enheritaunce in rest and peace if ye do thus than do ye wisely and if ye maye be herde with them that be sente fro the Frenche kynge in to the countie of Foize thoughe it cost you a hundred thousande or two huÌ„dred thousande frankes ye shall fynde ynoughe to paye it with all For the erle that is deed hath lefte ynoughe behynde hym Howe beit sir in any wyse we wyll that his two bastarde sonnes haue parte largely of his goodes Than the lorde answered and sayde Sirs I am content as ye wyll And here is my cosyn sir Roger of Spaygne and in all youre presences I desyre hym to ryde with me in this iourney Than sir Roger answered and said Sir I am content to ryde with you to be as meane bytwene bothe ê‘ties But if the Frenche kyng my souerayne lorde or his ambassadours desyre me to be of their couÌ„sayle orels coÌ„mauÌ„de me nat to medell than I must nedes leaue you The Vycount was content and saide Cosyn I trust they wyll nat agaynst your will take you fro me and if I may haue you nere me I thynke to make a good ende of all my busynesse THan as I was enformed the Vycount of Chastellon made a request before theÌ„ all to borowe fyue or .vi. thousande frankes to performe his iourney Also the two bastardes made their request that they might haue parte of their fathers richesse Than the couÌ„sayle toke aduise togider at last acorded that the VicouÌ„t shulde haue fyue thousande frankes And the two bastardes of Foiz eche of them two thousaÌ„de frankes and incoÌ„tynent the treâ—ourers were coÌ„maunded to delyuer the money All offycers that were in the Erles dayes were suffred to occupy styll without any chaungyng and than kepers were sette to kepe the castell of Orthais and the richesse that was within it The Vicount at his first coÌ„mynge to Orthais gaue pardon to all the prisoners with in the castell wherof there were a great nombre For the erle of Foiz was a cruell man wolde spare no man but to punysshe at his pleasure though he were neuer so great a ê‘sonage He had ones in prisone the said Vycount of Chastellon in the botome of a dongion eight monethes for all that he was his cosyn germayne And whanÌ„c he delyuered him he sette hym to rauÌ„some at .xl. thousaÌ„de frankes whiche was truly payde And also as longe as he lyued he loued hym neuer after so that the Vicount durst neuer come in his sight for if the erle had lyued two yeres lengar the Vicount shulde neuer haue had any parte of the heritage of Foiz or of Bierne THus this counsayle at Orthays brake vp and euery man departed and lefte the Vycount to prepare for his iourney who made hym redy as soone as he might and desyred certayne knightes squiers to go with hym Thus he departed fro Orthais with a two hundred horse and rode to Moriens a good towne on the fronter bytwene Byerne and Bygore a four myles fro Pauy and a sixe myle fro Tarbe And the seconde day he rode to saynt Gausens another good towne at the entre of the couÌ„tie of Foiz on the ryuer of Garone and there tidynges came to hym howe the bysshoppe of Noyon and sir Buryaulx de la Ryuer and other of the Frenche kynges counsayle were coÌ„e to Tholous Than the Vycount tooke counsayle of sir Roger of Spayne what was best for him to do sir Roger answered and sayd Sithe we haue herde tidynges of them let vs tary here and se what they wyll do I thynke they wyll sende shortely to vs and so there they taryed for in dede they coulde go no further in to the countie of Foiz for all the good townes castelles and passages were closed agaynst them As Calumuche Casteres MouÌ„ttesquen Carthas Ortyngas Fossat the cytie of Palmes the castell Montaunt and all the castels on the fronter of Aragon they of the countie of
Foiz sayd that no strauÌ„ger with any puissaunce shulde entre in to no castell nor towne of their countrey tyll the mater were determyned and as they of the countrey shewed themselfe they were better mynded to be Frenche to be gouerned by a seneschall as the countre and cytie of Tholous was and Carcasson and Beauuoyre rather than to be vnder any other ruler Howe be it the mater went otherwyse as ye shall here For whan the Frenche kynges coÌ„myssaries were come to Tholous they demaunded newes of the archebysshoppe and of the seneschall of Foiz and of Bierne and of other suche as had ben at Orthays at the buryeng of the erle of Foiz There they were enformed in what case the countre stode in Than they toke aduyse togyder determyned to sende for sir Roger of Spaygne bycause he was the Frenche kynges man by faythe and homage and his oftycer as seneschall of Carcassone They sent a credable persone with a letter to hym The messanger rode to saynt Gausens a .xii. myle fro thens Than he delyuered to sir Roger of Spaygne his letter sir Roger toke reed it and sayd to the squyer Sir ye shall tary here all this day to morowe ye shall departe I thynke ye shall nat go without company Than sir Roger and the Vycount counsayled toguyder Than it was thought for the beste that sir Roger of Spayne shulde ryde to Tholous and speke there with the bysshop of Noyon and with the Lorde de la Ryuer to knowe what they wolde say The next day ser Roger of Spayne and the messanger rode forthe togyder and came yâ— same nyght to Tholouse Syr Roger toke vp his lodgyng and the messanger went to his maysters Than the coÌ„myssioners said to morowe we shall here tydynges seynge sir Roger is come The next day after masse syr Roger drewe to the bysshop and to the lorde de la Ryuer made good chere eche to other bycause they were all of aquayntaunce and there communed the cause of their coÌ„mynge Than the kinges coÌ„myssyoners shewed forth the kinges procuracions and howe they were set and stablysshed to take possessyon and season of the countie of Foiz and whan syr Roger had well herde them at length he replyed with swete wordes and sayde Lordes I am nat so nere of the kinges couÌ„sayle as ye be and if I were sauynge your correction I wolde counsayle the kyng that he shulde take agayn his money and somwhat more trewe it is he hath lente money on the herytage of Foize to be reysed after the dethe of the erle yet let the kynge leaue the ryght of the enherytaunce to the nexte enherytoure of the blode this shall be for the kynges profyte honour and saluacyon and in this that I saye I shall laye dyuers reasons if ye wyll here it There is one thynge whiche is clere the erle of Foiz layde his lande to pledge by fraude for as for golde and syluer he had ynough for that he dyd was for nothynge but to dysheryte the Vicount of Chastellon wroÌ„gfully bycause he hated hym without cause Also as touchyng the kynges profyte I ensure you the kepyng of the lande of Foize shulde coste the kynge more than the rentes or reuenues cometh vnto And thyrdly the kyng shall lese therby the homage and seruyce of suche a man as is able to do him good seruyce this ought to be well regarded also it shulde be a great charge to the kynges consyence to dysheryte any persone without a reasonable cause for if the herytage of Foiz shuld haue ben bought and solde fyrste all suche as claymeth any ryght therin shulde haue ben a greed with all and satyfyed whiche was nat so wherfore my lordes these reasons well consydred seynge ye be great wyse men and counsaylours to the kynge take good hede what ye do or ye pronounce any thynge that shulde tourne to the kinges sclaunder or hurte to his conscyence if ye do otherwyse it were great synne and as yet there is tyme suffycyente to fynde remedy My cosyn the Vicount of Chastellon hathe sente me hyther to you to shewe you this mater and ryght effectuously desyreth you and so do I in his name to take regarde in this behalfe It is nat good nor conuenyent a man to take euery thynge byforce that he maye take Whan he had sayde than the bysshoppe and the lorde de la Ryuer loked on eche other at laste the bysshop sayde Syr Rodger we se and knowe well that all that ye haue sayd is for good entente but our coÌ„myssyon stretcheth nat so farre to quyte the bargayne that was bytwene the kyng and therle of Foize howe be it for the loue of you and to bringe the matter somwhat to good purpose and that all partyes myght be coÌ„tent we shall put this mater in suffraunce and ye shall take the payâ—e to ryde with vs into Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and than shewe there your reasons as ye shall thinke best and if by your meanes ye can cause the vycount of Chastellon to enioy the herytage of Foiz who is enherytoure therto as ye saye we shall be ryght gladde therof for we wyll dysheryte no person Syrs quod syr Roger I am well contente with your sayenge if it please you to abyde here a season your costes shall be borne of the good that is in the castell of Orthays THe thyrde day sir Roger of Spayne tooke leaue of the kynges coÌ„myssyoners and sayde Syrs I thynke to bringe this mater to a good purpose I must be fayne to make a iourney into Fraunce if I tary longe I pray you be nat myscontent for it shall nat be in my faulte and I shall sende you daily messangers and letters Thus they departed they taryed at Tholous and sir Roger rode to saynt Gausens to the Vycount of Chastellon and shewed him all the mater the Vycount was ioyfull of those tydynges and sayd Fayre cosyn syr Roger all my trust is in you the mater toucheth me nere it is for thenherytaunce wherof I beare the armes I can nat tell whome to sende in to Fraunce but all onely you to shewe my tytle to the kynge and to his couÌ„sayle wherfore sir for the loue of me and for that I may deserue to you in tyme to come take on you the charge of this voyage syr Rodger sayd Syr for the loue of you and of your lynage I shall do it Than sir Roger prepared for his iourney to ryde in to FrauÌ„ce and so toke the way to Rodes and the shorter way for as than truce was bytwene Fraunce and Englande or els the way that he toke had nat been sure for hym for on the fronters of Rouuergue Quercy Lymosyn there were many fortresses that made warre for the Englysshemen ¶ Nowe I wyll leaue for a season spekynge of syr Roger of Spayne and speke of the frenche kynge and of the duke of Bretayne ⸪ ⸪ ¶ How the treatie of peace renewed