sayd that he was bounde for euer towne them his good wyll The lady answered wysely to them all So they entred in to the Galees in the porte of Mathelyn and had wynde and wether at wyll and sayled so longe that without daunger or doÌ„mage they came and aryued in the isle of the Rodes in the same place where as all galees do aryue coÌ„mynge fro Cyper or fro Barne and fro other partes of the see Orientall There were many of the knyghtes of the Roodes who be or ought to be men of valyaunt corage for they beare the whyte Crosse in signyfieng of the crosse of Christ who dyed and toke payne for the redempcyon of all crysten people and nere hande daily these knightes haue skrymysshes and assawtes to ayde and sustayne the chrysten faythe agaynst the myscreauÌ„tes wherfore these knyghtes ought to be valyaunte men and nourysshed in the warre WHan the erle of Neuers and his company were come in to the isle of Rodes the great mayster and the great priour of Acquytanye who was there receyued the frenche men honourably and offred to lende them golde and syluer to paye their small charges and costes whiche offre the erle of Neuers and his company toke for a great curtesy and hertely thanked them for they had great nede therof â–ª the great priour of Acquytanie a right valyaunt knyght lente to the erle of Neuers a thyrty thousande frankes in redy money and syr Reygnere Potte stewarde with the erle of Neuers and the lorde of Rocheforde of Burgoyne receyued the money I thynke it was generally for them all that euery man shulde haue parte but the erle became dettour for the money Thus they taryed in the Isle of Rodes a good seasone to refresshe theym and to sette euery thynge in good ordre for the ayre was more atteÌ„perate there than wheâ— as they had ben in Turkey And as they taryed thus at Rodes abydynge for the galees of Venyce a syckenesse toke syr Guy of Tremoyle lorde of Seully of whiche sycknesse he dyed there and was buryed in the churche of saynte Iohan in the Rodes and the lordes of Fraunce dyd his obsequy ryght reuerently and were ryght sorye of his dethe but there was no remedy The Erle of Neuers knewe well that the duke of Burgoyne wolde be sore dyspleased of his deth bycause he had always fouÌ„de hym sage and of good counsayle At the laste there aryued the galees of Venyce wherof the frenche men were ryght ioyous Than they tooke their leaue of the lordes of the Rodes Thus departed the erle of Neuers sir Henry of Bare Boucyquante Guillyam of Tremoyle the lorde of Rocheforde and all other The patrones of the galees to do them pleasure were contente to suffre them to refresshe theym in the isles bytwene Venyce and Rodes Fyrste they came to Modon a fyue hundred myle fro the Roodes and there they refresshed them it parteyned to the venycyens ANd fro modon they sayled with wynde and wether at wyll and so came to the isle of Calefo and there refresshed theym And fro thence to the isle of Garre and there taryed and than they came to the isle of Chyfolignie and there landed and founde a great nombre of Ladyes and damosels who had the sygnâ—orite of that isle They receyued the frenche men with great ioye and brought them to passe the tyme aboute the isle whiche is ryght fayre and pleasaunte And suche as knowe the condycions of that isle affyrmeth that the fayry and the nympes be moche conuersaunt there Some of the marchauntes of Venyce and Geane and of other landes suche as haue aryued there and taryed there a seasone to eschewe the daunger of the see haue said that they haue sene some of the fairy there and haue proueâ— their wordes to be trewe The erle of Neuers and his company were right ioyouse of the company of these ladyes and ryght ioyously the ladyes receyued them and sayd howe their coÌ„mynge thyder dyd all the isle great honoure bycause they were noble knyghtes and men of honoure for there hath nat acustomed none other to be conuersaunt amonge them but marchauntes This isle is nat all onely enhabyted with women but there be men amonge them but the women haue the soueraynte and chefe rule there They are worke women in sylke worke and make clothes of sylke so subtelly and so well that there is none lyke them nor the men of the isle canne nat make it but they cary them out to sell where they thynke to haue most profyte and the woman abyde styll in the isle and they honour the men for the sayde cause and they haue the profyte therof The Isle is of that condycion that no man dare aproche it to do there any doÌ„mage for who so euer dothe are perysshed and that hath ben sene and proued and therfore these ladyes endure euer in peace and dought no man Also they are marueylous swete gentle amyable and humble and whan they wyll they speke with the fayry and be in their company WHan the erle of Neuers and his company had refresshed them in this isle of Chyfoligne aboute a fyue dayes than they toke leaue of these ladyes and lefte amonge these ladyes parte of suche as they had that they myght forbeare so that the ladyes gaue them great thanke at their departynge and so they sayled to a lande called Raguse and there they rested And fro thens to Clarence a hundred myle fro Venyce And whyle they were there thyther came a squyer of Haynalt of great recoÌ„mendacyon borne in the towne of Mons he was called Brydoll he came fro the holy scpulcre and fro Quayre and fro saynt Katheryns mounte and whan he came to Clarence the frenchmen made him good chere bycause he was borne in Haynalt for the countesse of Neuers was doughter to the erle of Heynalte and also bycause he had ben in farre countreys and they demaunded of him newes fro those parties and also of the state of the kynge of Cyper He aunswered to euery thynge ryght wysely WHan the erle of Neuers had refresshed hym there a season than he sayled forthe and came to the porte of Parcuse The great galees coude go no further to come to the porte of Venyce Than within a certayne space they tooke other small shyppes passengers and so came to Venyce and there were receyued with great ioye and they thanked god that they were come thyder in sauegarde and out of the handes of the myscreauntes for they were ones in feare neuer to haue come out of their handes Than euery man wente to his logynge which was prepared for them for their commynge thyder was knowen before their seruauntes were come thyder and prepared for them redye agaynst their commyng The erle of Neuers founde there redy parte of his seruauntes sente thyder by the duke of Burgoyne his father and the duches his mother Also there was redy syr Dyne of Responde bycause of their raunsome Than clerkes were
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
Wherfore departe you hens and let me shewe my cruelte for I wyll he shall dye A syr sayd the lorde de la vale refrayne your euyll wyll and moderate your courage and regarde to reason for yf ye puth ym to deth there was neuer prynce soo dyshonoured as ye shall be there shall not be in Bretayne knyght nor squyer cyte nor castell nor good towne nor noo man but he shall hate you to the dethe and doo that they can to dysenheryte you Nor the kynge of Englande nor his counsayle shall gyue you no thanke therfore syr wyl you lese your selfe for the dethe of one man syr tourne your ymagynacyon for this thought is noo thynge worth but dyshonourable that ye sholde cause suche an honourable knyght as syr Olyuere of Clysson is to dye comynge vnto you at your owne desyre ¶ Surely syr this dede sholde be treason and grete reproche bothe before god the worlde to desyre hym thus to dyner and he comynge to you and after that ye went to hym in to the towne desyrynge hym to se your newe buyldynges and he obeyed in euery thynge to you dranke of your wyne and is this the grete loue that ye shewed hym to put hym to dethe there was neuer soo grete blame layde to ony lorde as shall be layde to you all the worlde shal reproche you and hate you mortally be glad to make you warre But syr I shall shewe you what ye shall do syth ye soo sore hate hym put hym to raunsome to a grete some of Floreynes this ye may well do and if he holde outher towne or castell that sholde be yours demaunde thē agayne and ye shall haue them and loke what couenaunt ye make with hym I shall become pledge therfore and when the duke herde the lorde de la vale speke so reasonably and pressed so sore on hym as in a maner all that nyght he wolde not departe from hym then the duke studyed a lytell and somwhat refrayned his euyll wyll and at last spake and sayd syr de la vale ye be a good meane for hym howbeit I wyl ye knowe syr Olyuer of Clysson is the man in the worlde that I moost hate for and ye were not he sholde not skape without dethe this same nyght your wordes hath saued hym go to hym demaunde yf he wyll paye to me a. C. M. frankes incontynente for I wyll nother haue hym nor you to pledge nor nothynge elles but the redy money and besyde that to yelde to me .iii. castelles and a towne suche as I shall name the castell of Breth the castel of Iosselyn the castel of blancke and the towne of Iugon and put me in possessyon of them or my deputyes this done I shall delyuer hym to you this shal be done sayd the lorde de la vale and syr I thanke you that ye wyl thus do at my desyre and syr be you sure all that ye haue demaunded shall be done these castelles towne delyuered these C. M frankes payde or he departe THen the lorde de la vale was gretely reioyced when he sawe the constable out of peryll of deth Then the towre dore was opened and the lorde de la vale mounted vp came there as the constable was syttyng sore abasshed for he loked for nothynge but for dethe when he sawe the lorde de la vale his herte reuyued thought there was some tretye in hande Then the lorde de la vale sayd to them that were there by syrs take of his yrons that I maye speke with hym fro the duke and sayd to hym syr howe say you wyll you do that I shall shewe you ye truely syr sayd the constable then his yrons were taken of and the lorde de la vale drewe hym a parte and sayd Fayre broder with grete payne and moche busynes I haue saued your lyfe and made your ende but ye must pay or ye departe hens in redy money a. C. M. frankes and more ouer to yelde vp to the duke .iii. castelles and the towne of Iugon otherwyse ye can haue no delyueraunce then the constable sayd I wyll not refuse the bargayne but who shall go to Clysson to fetche this money fayre broder sayd the constable I thynke ye must be fayne to go therfore Naye syr not so sayd the lorde de la vale for I haue promysed neuer to departe out of this castell tyll I haue you with me for I knowe wel the duke is ryght cruell and peraduenture in myne absence wyll repente hym by some lyght informacyon and so then al were lost why who shall go then sayd the constable syr sayd he the lorde of Beawmanoyre shall goo he is here in pryson as wel as ye be he shal make al this prouysyon that is well sayd sayd the constable go your waye downe and ordeyne euery thynge as ye lyst ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce was delyuered at the request of the lorde de la vale payenge certayne raunsome and howe the constable delyuered to the duke .iii. castelles and a towne and payde C. M. frankes Ca. lxxxv THus the lorde de la vale wente downe of the towre to the duke who was goynge to bed for of all that nyght he had not slepte then the lorde de la vale kneled downe and sayd syr ye shall haue al your demaunde but syr ye must delyuer the lorde of Beawmanoyre that he maye speke with the constable for he must go and fetche this raunsome and put your men in possessyon of the castelles that ye desyre to haue wel sayd the duke delyuer them out of pryson and put them into a chambre be you the meane of theyr tretye for I wyll not se them and retourne agayne to me when I haue slepte and I wyll speke with you Then the lorde de la vale yssued out of the chambre and went with two knyghtes thyder where as the lorde of Beawmanoyre was in pryson who was gretely abasshed and doubted sore the dethe he fered when he herde the dore open that they were come to haue put hym to dethe But when he sawe the lorde de la vale entre his harte reuyued and more when he herde hym speke sayenge syr of Beawmanoyre your delyueraunce is made wherfore ye maye be gladde then his fetters were taken of and so he wente in to another chambre and then the constable was also brought thyder and mete and wyne was brought to them for all the seruauntes of the howse were gladde of theyr delyueraunce for they were sory of that case howbeit they myght fynde no remedy it behoued them to obey theyr maysters commaundement in ryght or in wronge and as soone as the castell gate was shote and the brydge drawen there entred nor yssued nother man nor woman for the keyes were in the dukes chambre and he slepte tyll it was .iii. of the clocke and the knyghtes squyers that were without abydynge for theyr maysters were sore abasshed and sayd
fader whome god pardon made me constable of Fraunce whiche offyce to my power I haue well and truely exercysed and yf there be ony excepte your grace and my lordes your vncles that wyll saye that I haue not acquyted myselfe truely or done ony thyng contrary to the crowne of fraunce I am here redy to cast my gage in that quarell the kynge nor none other made none answere to those wordes then he sayd further ryght dere syr and noble kynge it fortuned in Bretayne in doynge of myne offyce the duke of Bretayne toke me and helde me in his castell of Ermyne and wolde haue put me to deth without reason by reason of his fyers courage and god had not ben and the lorde de la vale so that I was constrayned if I wolde be delyuered out of his handes to delyuer to hym a towne of myne in Bretayne and iii. castelles and the some of a C.M. frankes Wherfore ryght dere syr and noble kynge the blame and domage that the duke of Bretayne hath done gretely regardeth your mageste royall for yâ— voyage that I and my company sholde haue made by the see is broken Wherfore syr I yelde vp the offyce of the constableshyp syr prouyde for another suche as shall please you for I wyll noo more bere the charge therof I sholde haue none honoure to do it Constable sayd the kynge we knowe well that ye haue hurte and domage and is a thynge gretely to the preiudyce to our royalme We wyll incontynente sende for the peres of Fraunce to se what shall be best to be done in this case therfore take ye no thought for ye shal haue ryght and reason ¶ Then the kynge toke the constable by the hande and reysed hym vp and sayd Constable we wyl not that ye departe from your offyce in this maner But we wyll that ye vse it tyll we take other counsayle Then the constable kneled downe agayne and sayd Syr this matter toucheth me soo nere that I cannot vse it The offyce is grete for I must speke and answere euery man I am so troubled that I can answere no man Wherfore syr I requyre your grace to prouyde for another for a season and I shall alwayes be redy at your commaundement syr sayd the duke of Borgoyne he offereth ynoughe ye shall take aduyse it is true sayd the kynge Then the constable arose and wente to the duke of Berre and to the duke of Borgoyne and aduysed to shewe them his busynes and to enforme theÌ„ iustely all the matter seynge the case touched them gretely in that they had the gouernynge of the royalme but in spekynge with them and herynge the hole matter they perceyued the matter touched not them soo sore as he made of soo that fynally they blamed hym for goynge to Wannes sayenge to hym syth your nauy was redy and that knyghtes and squyers taryed for you at Lentrygnyer ¶ And also when ye were at Wannes and hadde dyned with the duke and retourned agayne to your castell of Bourke what had you then ony thynge to do to tary there ony longer nor to goo agayne to the duke to the castell of Ermyne Syr sayd the constable he shewed me soo fayre semblaunt that I durst not refuse it Constable sayd the duke of Borgoyne in fayre semblauntes are grete decepcyons I repute you more subtel then I take you nowe go your way yâ— matter shall do well ynoughe we shall regarde it at leysure Then the constable perceyued well that these lordes were harder and ruder to hym then the kynge was Soo he departed and wente to his owne lodgynge and thyder came to hym certayne of the lordes of the parlyament to se hym and sayd to hym that the matter sholde doo ryght well and also there came to hym to counsayle hym the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and the admyrall of Fraunce and they sayd to hym Constable make noo doubte for ye shall haue reason of the duke of Bretayne for he hath done agaynst the crowne of Fraunce grete dyspleasure and worthy to be shamed and put out of his countrey goo your wayes and passe the tyme at Mount le Herry there ye shal be on your owne and let vs alone with the matter for the peres of Fraunce wyll not suffre the matter to rest thus The constable byleued these lordes and so departed fro Parys and rode to Mount le Herry Soo the offyce of constableshyp was voyde for a season as it was sayd that syr Guy of Tremoyle sholde be constable but it was not soo he was soo well aduysed that he wolde not take it out of the handes of syr Olyuer of Clysson ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frensshe kynge from the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght dyspleasaunt and vnto his vncles Ca. lxxxvii THe same weke that tydynges came to Parys of the takynge of the constable there came also tydynges frome the partyes of Almayne whiche were ryght dyspleasaunt to the kynge and to his vncles I shall shewe you how and wherfore the duke of Guerles sone to the duke of Iulyers was alyed with the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce and hadde taken a pencyon of foure thousande frankes by the yere whiche pencyon the duke of Iulyers his fader hadde in tyme past out of the kynge of Englandes cofers but or he dyed he renounced it and then his sone who was but yonge toke it agayne at the kynge of Englandes desyre so that he wolde defye the frensshe kynge and to make warre agaynst hym and he was enclyned to take the englysshe parte bycause he had warre with the lady of Brabant for he sawe well that the duchy of Brabant was fauourable to the royalme of fraunce for it sholde after retourne to the duke of Borgoyne and to his chyldren Therfore the duke of Guerles wolde shewe that the matter touched hym so nere that he wolde doo the domage that he myght to the royalme of Fraunce and to all theyr alyes So he sente letters of defyaunce to the frensshe kynge whiche were no thynge pleasaunt accepted of the kynge nor of his counsayle as I shall shewe you hereafter in the hystory when it shall be conuenyent to speke therof in the shewynge of the warre of Bretayne and of Guerles the frensshe kynge made noo semblaunt therof but made good chere to the squyer of Guerles who hadde brought the defpaunce howbeit he was afrayde for when he came to the cyte of Tourney he wolde haue gone no fâ—rther but he had shewed the defyaunce to the proâ—ost of the towne and so wolde haue 〈…〉 agayne sayenge that it was suffycyent to declare his message in soo noble a towne as Tourney but they of the towne were not so 〈◊〉 but arested the squyer and put hym in sure pryson and then they sente worde therof to the duke of Borgoyne to know his pleasure Then the duke wrote to the prouâ—st of Tourney that he sholde sende
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
was sente for agayne WHan these tydynges were spredde abrode in the countrey that Betysach was in prison and that inquyre was made of his dedes and that it was publysshed that who so euer had any matter to hym shulde come forthe therby moche people came to Besyers and put vp supplycacions to the kynge of the cruell dedes of Betysach Some complayned of hym that he hadde dysheryted them without cause or reason And other complayned of hym that he hadde by force taken their wyues and doughters Whan the kynges counsayle sawe so many gret causes laide to Betysache they were wery therof And besyde all these complayntes he was sore behated with the people And all this came to hym by reason to fyll the duke of Berreys purse he dyd euer what he wolde haue hym to do The kynges counsayle wyste nat what to do for than there was come thyder two knightes fro the duke of Berrey the lorde of Nantonelet and syr Peter Mespyn who had brought letters to the kynge fro the duke and they in the dukes behalfe auowed all that euer Betysach had doone before and the duke requyred the kynge and his counsayle to haue agayne his man and treasourer The kynge had greate hatred to Betysach bycause of the yuell name and fame that ranne vpon hym The kynge and the duke of Thourayne his brother inclyned greatly to haue had hym hanged sayenge howe he hadde well deserued it But the kynges counsayle durste nat iudge hym for dought of the duke of Berrey They sayde to the kynge syr if the duke of Berrey auowe all his dedes what so euer they be we canne nat se by no waye of reason that he hath deserued dethe for the seasone that he medled in these countreys by cessynge of tayles subsydyes and aydes and receyuynge of them he dyd it at the instauÌ„ce of the duke of Berrey who had at that tyme there puyssaunce royall as well as ye haue nowe but syr acordynge to the desertes of his dedes ye maye sease in to your handes all his mouables and herytages and leaue hym in the same case as the duke of Berrey founde hym fyrste and with his goodes make restytucion to suche poore men as be vn done by hym What shulde I make longe processe Betysache was at the poynte of his delyueraunce with the losse of his goodes tyll at the laste other tydynges came in place I shall shewe you what I Knewe nat nor I coulde nat knowe but by knowledgyng of him selfe if he were in dede so yuell as he iudged himselfe he sayd he was an herytyke and had done many horryble dedes As it was shewed me there came some to hym on a nyght beynge in prisone to put hym in feare whether they were his frendes or fooes I knowe nat they sayde Betysach thou art in a harde case the french kyng his brother and the duke of Burbone dothe hate you mortally there be so many complayntes put vp agaynste you fro dyuers place of suche oppressyons as ye haue doone whan ye had rule in Languedoc so that they all iudge you to be hanged for ye canne nat scape with the losse of your goodes the whiche hath been offred to the kynge But the kynge who hateth you mortally hath aunswered howe that all your goodes are his and your body also the whiche he sayeth he wyll nat kepe longe I shew you this for good wyll for to morowe it is thought ye shall be delyuered to be iudged to dye Those wordes greatly afrayed Betysach and sayd to them Ah saynt Mary is there no remedy yes quod they to morowe say how ye wolde speke with the kinges counsayle than outher they wyll come to you or sende for you to them and whan ye be in their presence than say thus My lordes I knowledge my selfe I haue greatly displeased god and for the displeasure he hath to me this false slaunder is reysed on me Than they wyll demaunde of you wherin Than ye shall aunswere howe ye haue a longe season arred in your faythe and that ye be an herytyke and kepe styll that opinyon Whan the bysshop of Besyers shall here that he wyll than chalenge to haue you in his kepynge than ye shall be delyuered to hym for suche causes ought to be declared by the lawe of the churche thanne ye shall be sente to Auignon there wyll be none against the duke of Berrey the pope wyll nat displease hym and by this meanes ye may be delyuered and nother lese body nor goodes But if ye byde styll in the case that ye be in ye shall nat skape paste to morowe but that ye shall be hanged for the kynge hateth you bycause of the slaunder of the people Betysache who trusted on that false infourmacyon for he that is in parell of dethe knoweth nat well what to do wherfore he aunswered and sayd ye be my frende and couÌ„sayle me truely wher of god thanke you and I trust the tyme shall come that I shall thanke you The next mornynge he called the gayler and sayde Frende I requyre you cause suche menne and suche to come to speke with me and named suche as were the enquysitours ouer him The gayler shewed theym howe Betysache wolde speke with them They came to hym and demaunded what he wolde He aunswered and sayd Sirs I haue serched my coÌ„science I knowledge my selfe I haue hyghly displeased god for longe tyme I haue arred agaynst the fayth I neuer beleued of the Trinyte nor that the sonne of god wolde come so lowe as to come fro Heuen to come in to this worlde to take humayn kynde of a woman for I beleue and saye that whan we dye there is nothynge of the sowle Ah sainte Mary quod they Betysach ye are greatly against holy churche your wordes demaundeth for a fyre aduyse you better I canne nat tell quod Betysache whether my wordes demauÌ„deth fyre or water but I haue holden this opinyon sythe I haue had knowledge and shall holde it tyll I dye The enquysitours wolde here no more of hym at that tyme and were gladde to fynde suche a mater against hym therby to put him to deth Than they coÌ„maunded the gailer to kepe him straytely and to suffre no man to speke with hym to the entente that he shulde nat be tourned fro that opynyon Thanne they wente to the kynges counsayle and shewed them all the mater than they wente to the kynge and shewed hym all the maner of Betysache as ye haue herde wherof the kynge had great marueyle sayd We wyll that he be put to dethe it is an yuell man he is a false herytyke and a thefe we wyll he be brynte and hanged than he shall haue as he hath deserued he shall nat be eâ—cused for all myne vncle of Berrey Anon these tydynges were spredde abrode in the cytie of Besyers howe Betysache hadde of his owne voluntary wyll without any constraynt confessed howe he was an herytyke and had vsed longe the synne
it nowe we haue ben here more thanne two monthes and as yet we haue done nothyng as for such assautes skrymysshes as ye make the towne nedeth nat to feare this yere nor yet the nexte by this maner of meanes ye shall neuer conquere this realme of Aufryke nor yet of Thunes This comunynge spred so abrode in the hoost that it came to the knowlege of the gret lordes and capytaynes of the armye and specyally the lorde of Coucy who was sage and discrete and to whose coūsayle the chefe parte of the host inclyned euer vnto He sayd to him selfe and considred howe all these doutes were greatly to be feared and to the entente to ordayn hastely remedy he assembled secretly all the great lordes of the hoost togyder in counsayle bycause wynter aproched This counsayle was kept in the duke of Burbons tente and the conclusyon was to dyslodge for that seasone and euery man to retourne the same way as they came the lordes prepared secretly for this than the patrons of the galees were sente for and their purpose was shewed vnto them and they wyst nat what to say to the contrary at laste they sayde My lordes take no doute nor suspecte in vs we haue made you promesse wherfore we wyll acquyte vs truely to you for if we wolde haue enclyned to the treaties of the affrykans they wolde gaue desyred to haue had peace with vs bnt we wold neuer gyue heryng to them we wyll kepe our faythe to you syth we haue promysed so to do Sirs quod the lorde of Coucy we repute you for good and trewe and valyasit men but we haue consydred dyuers thynges wynter aprocheth and we are destytute of vitayles other prouysions By the grace of god we ones retourned in to the realme of Fraunce we shall so enfourme the kynge who is yonge and lusty and desyrous to knowe the maner of these marches and seynge that he hath treuce with the englysshe men we thynke small counsaylynge wyll cause hym to come hyther with a puyssaunce royall as well to ayde the king of Cicyll as to make some conquest vpon the sarazyns wherfore syrs we requyre you make redy your galees and all other vessels for we wyll departe within shorte dayes The genouoys were nothynge content with the frenche men in that they wolde departe fro the siege before the stronge towne of Aufryke but they coulde fynde none other remedy wherfore it behoued them to suffre A generall brute ran through the hoost howe the genouoys were aboute to bargayne with the sarazyns take their parte and to betray the crysten men The crysten men beleued this to be true and some said one to an other our souerayne capitayns as the duke of Burbone the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne and the lorde Coucy syr Guy de la Tremoyle syr Iohan of Vyen and syr Phylyppe of Bare they knowe surely howe euery thynge gothe and therfore we shall thus sodaynely departe fro the siege Their departure was publysshed throughe the hoost and euery man cōmaunded to conuey euery thing in to their shyppes Than saruaūtes and varletres were redy to trusse all maner of baggages and to cary it in to their vessels lyenge at ancre Whan euery thyng was cōueyed euery man entred in to suche shyppes as they came in and dyuers barones and knyghtes made couenaūt with their patrons and maysters of their shyppes some to sayle to Naples some to Cicyll some to Cyper and some to Rodes to the entent to go to Iherusalem Thus they departed fro the siege of Aufryke and toke the see in the syght of the sarazyns that were within the towne Whan they sawe their departure they made gret noyse with blowyng of hornes and sownynge of taburs and shoutynge and cryeng in suche wyse that the host of sarazyns that lay abrode knew therof than ye shuld haue sene the yonge sarazyns moūte on their horses and came to the place where the siege had layne to se if they coulde haue founde any thynge there Agadingor of Olyferne and Brahadyne of Thunes formest And there they sawe howe the christen men were so clene departed that they had lefte nothynge behynde that they myght cary There the sarazyns rode vp and downe more than two houres to se the maner howe the crysten men had lodged theym selfe at the siege they greatly praysed the crysten mennes subtyltie in that they had made so many pyttes in the erthe to haue therby fresshe water And whan they hadde been there a certayne space and well regarded the galees and shyppes on the see some of theym entred in to the towne of Aufryke to se their frendes and alyes and other departed agayne to their lodgynges and made bost of their voyage sayenge howe the crysten men durst abyde there no lengar and sayd howe their puissaunce was nothynge to regarde and that they wolde neuer more sette somoche by the frenche men nor by the genouoys as they had done before and of this they sayd trouth I shall tell you howe wherfore AFter that this siege was thus contynued as I was enfourmed the sarazins waxed proude for they sawe well howe the genouoys had done their full power to hurte and to anoy them and they sawe that this voyage was to their great coste and yet had won but lytell whiche was of trouthe And all that season the sarazyns knewe nothing of the deth of so many crysten knyghtes and squyers as were slayne at the great skrymysshe but the same day that the crysten men departed they had knowledge therof and I shall shewe you by what meanes The sarazyns founde in the felde a varlet of the genouoys lyenge on the grounde sore sycke of the hote feuer and was nat able to go to the galees whan his felowes departed And of the fyndynge of this varlet the sarazyns were ryght ioyfull and brought him before their lordes and shewed howe they had founde hym than a trucheman was set to here his examynacion In the begynnynge he wolde shewe nothyng for he reekened himselfe but deed and he desyred the sarazyns incontynent that they wolde put hym to deth than the lordes of the hoost as Agadingor Dolyferne Brahadyn of Thunes and dyuers other thought if they shulde cause hym to dye they shulde wyn nothyng therby yet rather to saue his lyfe so that he wolde shewe the trouthe of that he shulde be demaunded Than it was shewed hym that if he wolde without lyenge shewe the trouth his lyfe shulde be saued and to be delyuered franke and free and sent into his owne coūtrey by the first shyp that shulde come thence outher in to the lande of Geneue or Marcyll and also that he shulde haue gyuen to hym a. C. besantes of golde Whan the varlet who feared dethe herde this promesse he was well comforted for he knew well what so euer the sarazyns promyse by their faythe shulde be truely kepte and also ye knowe well naturally euery man is lothe to dye
the lady was well pleased with her lordes wordes for surely and she had nat ben he had been deed but for her sake the duke of Berrey dyssymuled the mater and that was happy for syr Iohan Mercyer for he and the lorde de la Ryuer were accused for one cause wherfore the dukes had conscyence to cause one to dye and nat the other howe be it for all the promesse that was made to them yet they thought them selfe nat well assured of their lyues as longe as they were in prison for they sawe well they had as than many enemyes who as thaÌ„ reygned and were in their prosperyte and some were right angry that they were saued so longe and they coulde amended it Syr Iohan Mercyer beynge in prisone wepte so contynually that he had almost lost his sight it was pytie to se his lamentacyon WHyle these two knyghtes were thus in prisone more than a yere and no man knewe what ende shulde come of them Than the dukes and their counsayle dyd all that they coulde to haue taken sir Olyuer Clysson and to haue put hym fro his honoure and offyce They had rather haue had hym than all the resydewe but he kepte hym selfe out of their handes wherin he dyd wysely for if he had ben taken they had so ordeyned for him that he shulde haue had iudgement of deth without remedy and all for enuy to haue pleased therby his aduersary the duke of Bretaygne who neuer dyd good in the realme of FrauÌ„ce whan the lordes sawe that he was scaped their handes they toke other aduyse dyd as ye shall here They soÌ„moned hym to apere in the parlyameÌ„t chamber at Parys to answere to such articles as he was accused of on payne to lese his honour and to be banysshed the realme of Fraunce certayne coÌ„myssioners were sent in to Bretaygne to soÌ„mon hym to apere They that were sente rode in to Bretaygne and demauÌ„ded where as they came where syr Olyuer of Clysson was and sayd howe they were sente by the kynge to speke with the constable wherfore they desyred to knowe where he was The men of suche townes and garysons as helde of the constable were determyned before what aunswere to make and sayd syrs ye be welcome and if ye wyll speke with the couÌ„stable ye muste go in to suche a place there we thynke ye shall fynde hym without faute So the coÌ„myssyoners were sente fro towne to towne but they coude nat fynde him And so longe they sought that they were wery and so retourned to Parys and declared what they had sene and founde suche as had accused hym were gladde that he dalte so for than they sayd his falsnesse was playnely shewed and therby acordyng to reason they said he shulde haue as he had deserued Than by the course of the parlyament they proceded to all his soÌ„monynges to th entent that suche as loued hym shulde nat say he had any wronge by Enuy or hatred And whan all his .xv. soÌ„monynges were accompilsshed and that they coulde here no tydynges of hym nor of his aparaunce and that he had been openly called at the parlyament chambre dore and on the steyres and in the courte with all other seremonyes therto belongynge and no answere made for hym he had processe made agaynst hym cruelly in the parlyament There he was openly banysshed the realme of Fraunce as a false traytour against the crowne of Fraunce and iudged to pay a huÌ„dred thousande marke of syluer for the extorcyons he had doone and for that he had so traftely in tyme paste occupyed the offyce of the constablery of Fraunce and therfore to lese for euer without recouery the sayd offyce At the gyueng of this sentence the duke of Orleaunet was desyred to be present but he wolde nat excused hymselfe but the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyn were there with many other great lordes of the Realme of Fraunce Thus a man may se the waâ—kes of fortune howe ferme and stable they be seynge howe this good and valyaunt knyght who in his dayes had so moche traueyled for the realme of Fraunce and as than was put to so moche shame as to be dysgrated fro honoure and goodes Howe be it he was happy he appered nat at their soÌ„monynge for if he had surrly he had shamfully loste his lyfe As than the duke of Orlyance durst nat speke for hym if he had it shulde haue doone hym no good It is nat to be douted but that the duke of Bretaygne and syr Peter of Craon were right ioyfull of those tydinges howe be it they were sory that he was nat prisoner in Parys as well as sir Iohan Mercier and the lord de la Ryuer Of this shamfull banysshing great brute ranne therof in the realme of Fraunce and els where some compleyned secretly and sayd that he had wronge And some other said he was worthy to be hanged and that he had well deserued it and moreouer sayd howe the dyuell coulde he assemble togyder so moche rychess as a myllyon and an halfe of florayns he coulde neuer gette that by ryghtwyse meanes but rather by pollynge and robbyng and retaynyng to hymselfe the wages of the poore knyghtes squyers of the realme of Fraunce that had deserued it as it may well appere in the chaunceryor treasory where euery thyng is written and regestred in the voyage that the Kynge made in to Flaunders there and than he reysed great profyte to his owne vse and also in the voyage to Almayne for all maner of tayles and subsydyes that were reysed in the Realme to paye men of warre passed through his handes he payed where as it pleased hym and the rest he kept to hymselfe and none durste speke agaynst it In this maner syr Olyuer of Clysson was accused in many mennes mouthes It is sayde in an olde prourebe he that hath mysfortune euery man offereth hym wronge If the frenche kynge the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne had nat ben the duke of Bretaygne had ben able to haue subdued syr Olyuer of Clysson seynge he was in the dukes countrey but he suffred hym for a season to se howe the maters shulde procede Also he sawe well that syr Olyuer of Clysson was set on the heyght of fortunes whele and as than agayne he sawe howe he was cast downe and lyke to lese his offyce Thus the duke of Bretayne and syr Peter of Craon were set vpon their fete and all by the workes of fortune whiche is neuer parmanent but nowe vp nowe downe The constable syr Olyuer of Clysson the lorde de la Ryuer syr Iohan Mercyer were principally acused for the chefe cousers of the kinges malady And suche as loued them nat sayd howe they had poysoned the kynge howe be it euery man maye consydre by reason that it was nat so for they were the persones that shulde lese moste by the kynges malady wherfore it is to be thought they sought moste for his helthe
sette to write letters and messangers were sente forthe to gyue knowledge to their frendes of their comynge These newes was anone knowen ouer all the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse ordeyned for the state of their sonne as vessell and plate of syluer and golde aparell and stuffe of housholde all this was sent to Venyce on soÌ„mers and the lorde of Angyers and syr Iaques of Helley dyd conuey all this stuffe and so came to Venyce And all the other lordes and knyghtes frendes dyd sende thyder in lyke maner And ye maye beleue well that this was nat dooue without great coste for there was nothynge spared and also they laye at Venyce at great coste and charge for Venyce is one of the derest townes in the world for straungers to lye in Thus these lordes kept their estates there and therle of Neuers was more charged than any other as it was reasone for he was the chiefe there The duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse sette all their ententes for the delyueraunce of their sonne for they desyred greatly to se theym and so dyd many other and the duke sayd that without ayde of his men and good frendes that were in his landes as well in Burgoyne as in Arthoys and in Flaunders he coulde nat tell howe to atteyne to the somme of money that Lamorabaquy shulde haue for his sonnes raunsome and to beare the costes that dayly grewe by that occasyon for though their raunsomes drewe but to two hundred thousande floreyns all thynges consydred their other charges drewe to as moch as they sayde that had the receyte and delyueraunce therof The duke tooke counsayle where this money shulde be reysed for the duke coulde nat breke nor mynysshe his estate nor it was nat his mynde to do Than it was determyned that the ryche men in all his good townes shulde be tared and specyally they of Flaunders bycause they were ryche by reason of their marchaundyse This taracyon was sette forwarde and whan they of Gaunt were called curtesly to the mater they aunswered and sayd that they wolde gladly helpe to ayde their enâ—erytour with the soÌ„me of fyfty thousande florayns In lykewyse they of Bruges and of other good townes in Flaunders were redy to ayde their lorde The duke and duchesse thanked them curtesly in lykewise so dyde they of Arthoise and of Burgoyne Also the Frenche kynge ayded well for his parte And also it had cost hym great riches in sendynge of presentes and knightes in to Hungry and Turkey howbe it he was well contente therwith syth his cosyns and his knyght Bouciquaunt were come to Venyce in suretie THerle of Neuers laye thus styll at Venyce for his enteÌ„t was nat to deê‘te thens tyll euery thynge was payed and discharge For the furnysshing of this fynaunce sir Dyne of Responde toke great payne to the entente to pleace the Frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne In suche busynesse he was subtyle and wyse Thus these Frenche lordes and knyghtes sported them eche with other The same season there felle in Venyce a great mortalyte and it began in the moneth of Auguste and dured without ceassynge tyll saynt Andrewes tyde wherin dyed moche people and there dyed sir Henry of Barc eldest sonne to the duke of Bare and herytoure by his wyfe of all the lorde of Coucyes landes excepte the ladyes dowrye Thus in the same season bothe the ladies of Coucy were widowes and their husbandes deed the whiche was great doÌ„mage His body was enbaulmed and caryed in to Fraunce and buryed in Parys as I beleue and there his obsequy was done solempnely To flye and eschewe fro this deth at Venice the erle of Neuers went and taryed at Trenuse with all his estate and there taryed a four monethes with all his company THus the erle of Neuers beynge at Trenuse It was shewed the kyng of Hungry by them of the Roodes howe the Frenche lordes were agreed with Lamorabaquy to paye for their soÌ„mes two hundred thousande florens Than the kyng sent letters by a bysshoppe and certayne knightes to them of Venice in the fauour of the Frenche knyghtes And also they were charged to saye certayne wordes to therle of Neuers as ye shall here for whan they caÌ„e thider they said to hym Sir we are sent hider fro our souerayne lorde the kyng of Hungry your cosin who saluteth you by vs and here be letters that he hath sente vnto you and he vnderstaÌ„deth howe ye are delyuered fro the handes of the turkes his aduersaries for certayne rauÌ„some the whiche otherwyse ye coude nat haue ben deliuered wherof he is right ioyouse And sir the kynge knoweth well that your treatie coude nat haue ben made without great cost and charge for besyde that ye lost in the batayle your raunsome and other charges hath ben and is dayly great Wherfore sir the kyng sayth if he myght ayde you with any thyng he wolde gladly do it for he thynketh him selfe bounde therto as well by lynage or otherwyse but sir he and his toke suche doÌ„mage at the daye of the batayle before Nichopoly as ye knowe well And also his reuenues of his realme for this yere and the next be in a maner as lost but whaÌ„ he hath recouery therof and is of power he saythe he wyll so purney for you that ye shal be wel content with hym thus to do he is of good wyll And sir to th entent that ye shall gyue credence to his promise and sayeng He hath in the cytie of Venyce of yerely renenewes seuyn thousande ducates And sir he is content that this be solde to the venycience and that of the money that shall ryse therof that ye shulde vse it and ayde your selfe therwith as ye wolde do of your owne goodes And sir of this we shall delyuer quitauÌ„ces to the venicyence we haue authorite so to do this offre greatly pleased the erle of Neuers and his couÌ„sayle and the lorde of Rocheforde answered and said howe the erle and all his coÌ„pany thanked greatly the kynge of Hungry in that he wolde sell or laye to gage his enherytauÌ„ce for to ayde them Sayeng howe his oâ—â—re was nat to be refused nor forgotten desyring to take a lytell counsayle in the mater and so they dyde Within a brefe tyme after it was shewed to the kyng of HuÌ„geries ambassadours in the behalfe of the erle of Neuers that it shulde nat be coÌ„uenyent that the kyng of Hungry shulde sell or ley to pledge his enherytaunces for other mennes causes But if so be the ambassadours wolde do so moche as to shewe to the venicyeÌ„ce that they wolde do so moche as to lende therle of Neuers a certayne soÌ„me of florence to helpe to paye the erles by charges to paye agayne to the priour of saynt IohnÌ„s in Acquitayne the .xxx. thousande florens that he lent to theÌ„ in the isle of the Rodes In thus doyng they saide they wolde highly thanke the kynge of Hungry his counsayle The