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
his counsayle was to take the see at Sluse so to entre in to englande to distroy the countrey they that were ryche men in the royalme of frauÌ„ce to the ayde of this voyage were taxed tayled to the .iii. .iii. parte oâ— theyr goodes many payde more theÌ„ they were worth besyde to accoÌ„plysshe the payment for men of warre FRo Spayne fro the porte of sybyll to Pruce there was no grete shyp on the see that the frensshmen coulde lay theyr handes on nor vnder theyr owne obeysaunce but were reteyned for the frensshe kynge his men prouysyon came fro al partyes aryued in flaunders both wyne salte flesshe hay in tonnes otes ony on s bysket floure egges in pypes of al maner of thynges that coulde be deuysed so that in tyme to come it coulde not be byleued but by theÌ„ that sawe it lordes knyghtes squyers men of war were wryten vnto desyred to come serue the kyng in his iourney as out of Sauoy Almayne fro yâ— sone goynge downe to the lande of the erle of Amynacke so these lordes of farre countreys as the erle of Sauoy was reteyned with .v. C. speres also the erle of armynacke the dolphyn of Awuergne these lordes thoughe they were of farre couÌ„treys knew not what ende this warre sholde come to yet they made theyr ê“uysyons so grete costly that it was gret meruayle to thynke therof it was wonder to consyder fro whens all suche prouysyon came what by lande by see in to flauÌ„ders as to bruges to dan to Sluse so there was sent for in to HolaÌ„de zelande meldebourge zerechyel dourdrest stonehone to all other townes on the see coost to the ryuers entryng in to the see for al maner of shyppes that coulde do ony seruyce al were brought to Sluse but the holanders the zelanders sayd to theÌ„ that reteyned theÌ„ yf ye wyâ— haue our seruyce pay vs our wages clerely or elles we wyl go to no parte so they were payde wherin they dyd wysely I trowe syth god created the worlde there was neuer sene so many grete shyppes togyder as was that yere at sluse at Blanquerge â—or in the moneth of septeÌ„bre in the sayd yere they were nobred a .xii. C. lxxx.vii shyppes at Sluse there mastes semed in the se lyke a grete wood the coÌ„stable of Fraunce shyp was apparelled at Lentregmer in bretaygne also the coÌ„stable caused to be made in bretaygne of tymbre a closure of a towne or lyke a parke that wheÌ„ they had takeÌ„ lande in englade to close in theyr felde to lodge theriÌ„ more at theyr case wtout waking or skries wheÌ„soeuer they sholde remoue theyr felde yâ— closure was so made that they myght take it a sonder in peces a grete nombre of carpeÌ„ters other receyned in wages to atende thereon I herde not that the duke of bretaygne made ony prouysyoÌ„ to go in this iourney nor the duke of Tourayne the kynges yonger broder nor the erle of Bloys al myght not go for some must abyde behynde to kepe the royalme WHo so had ben yâ— seasoÌ„ at bruges at dan or at sluse sene the busynes there in chargynge of shyppes with hay sackyng of bysket ladyng in of onyons peson benes barley candelles hosen shoos spurres knyues daggers axes of war axes to hew wtal mattockes nayles beddes couches horseshoos pottes paÌ„nes caÌ„delstyckes al maner of necessaryes for kechyn botery al other oâ—â—yces of euery thyng that coulde be thought of necessary to serue maÌ„ horse al was had in to shyppes in one thyng or other who so euer had sene it if he had ben seke I thynke he wolde clene haue forgoten al the payne the coÌ„panyons of frauÌ„ce rekened none otherwyse amonge theÌ„selfe wheÌ„ they spake togyder but that the royalme of englaÌ„de sholde clene haue ben lost exyled wtout recouery al the men women chyldreÌ„ therin slayne taken caryed in to frauÌ„ce in seruytude OF this grete apparel thus made to come in to englande the kyng of englaÌ„de his couÌ„sayle were wel enfourmed therof it was surely affyrmed that the fensshmeÌ„ wolde come thyder for so they had surely sworne it was no meruayle though this grete apparel somwhat at the begynnyng abasshed the englysshmeÌ„ also yâ— matter was shewed moche more then it was in dede also that englysshmen were in no sure cerâ—aynte whether this preparacyon was to come in to Englande or elles to lay syege to Caleys bothe by lande by see for the englysshmeÌ„ knewe wel that of all the townes in the worlde the frensshmen most desyred to haue caleys wherfore the kyng of englande sent to Caleys grete prouisyon of whete other cornes salte flesshe fysshe wyne bere other thynges and thyder was sent syr Thomas HolaÌ„de erle of kente syr Hughe Caurell syr wyllyaÌ„ Helman syr Dangouses syr water of Vurnes syr Water paulle syr WyllyaÌ„ Toucet syr Loys of Mountalban syr Colars of DaÌ„brychcourte .v. C. men of armes .v. C. archers the erle Rycharde of AruÌ„del syr Henry spenser were ordeyned to kepe the see with .xl. greteshyppes wel decked with men of armes archers to the nombre of CCC men of armes .vi. C. archers ON the other syde it was sayd in dyuers places in fraunce in haynalte in pycardy that the freÌ„sshe armye that was thus apparelled in flauders was nother to go in to englande nor to Calays but rather to retourne al the matter set on the towne of Gaunte as it was enfourmed the towne of Gaunte yâ— same season doubted gretely that all the apparell was for to come on theÌ„ but they were in a wronge byleue for the duke of Borgoyne theyr lorde wolde nothyng to theÌ„ but good rest peas thoughe that Frauncis Atreman were slayne anone after the makyng of the peas at Tournay for of his deth the duke was nothyng to blame nor the duke had none euyll wyl to hym though in the season of war he dyd many feates of armes for the towne agayÌ„st the duke as it hath ben declared more playnly here before for though he came to an euyl ende it was his owne defaulte for if he had byleued Peter du boys it had ben otherwyse with hym for when the peas was made bytwene the duke of Borgoyne them of Gaunt when he retourned fro Tournay to Gaunt that Peter du boys made hym redy to go in to Englande with syr IohnÌ„ Bourser then Peter sayd to hym FrauÌ„cis what wyll ye do wyl ye go in to Englande with vs then he sayd he wolde abyde styll in Gaunt why sayd Peter thynke you to abyde here in peas there is grete hatred agaynst you me I wyll abyde for nothynge here it is not to tryst in the comontye ye haue herde how they of Gaunt slue murdred the valyaunt Iaques of Artuell
harde of those tydynges so that they wyst not what to do other to gyue vp theyr towne and forsake all or elles to entre in to the shyppes that laye there and so defende the hauen surely yf the Englysshmen had knowen the case they were in they had ben lordes of the towne and of the castel or yf they had byleued Peter du Boys for he sore counsayled them that they sholde incontynent haue set on the towne of Sluse they had wonne it yf they had soo done but the englysshmen had no courage therto but sayd it were a grete foly for vs to entre in to the towne of Sluse for then they of Bruges of Dan and of Ardenbourge shall come and besyege vs so peraduenture shall lese al that we haue wonne it is better for vs to kepe it and to make wyse warre then folysshly to lese all thus the englysshmen kepte styll the see but they determyned to brenne the nauye of shyppes that lay at ancre in the hauen of Sluse of suche shyppes as they hadde wonne they toke parte of theÌ„ suche as were most olde and drye and lyghtest and gresed them wel bothe within and without and set fyer on them so lete them go with the wynde and with the tyde in to the hauen to the entente that they sholde haue fastened and set fyer on other shyppes that lay there of Spayne and of other places howbeit as god wolde that fyer dyd noo hurte nor domage to none other shyp ¶ Howe the englysshmen aryued brente dyuers vyllages Ca. lxxiii AFter that the englysshmen dyscomfyted syr IohnÌ„ Bucke as he came fro Rochell wherby they had grete profyte specyally of wyne for they had a .ix. M. tonne of wyne wherby wyne was the derer all the yere after in Flaunders Holande and in Brabande and the better chepe in Englande as it was reason suche are the aduentures of this worlde if one haue domage another hathe profyte Thus styll the englysshe men lay before Sluse at an anâ—râ— somtyme with theyr barkes barges they set a lande on the other syde agaynst Sluse where as there was but a ryuer to passe there they brente a mynstre other townes alonge on the see syde on the dygnes called Torne Hoque Murdequer toke men prysoners in the countrey were there lyenge a .x. dayes layde bysshmentes bytwene Dan Sluse on the way of Coceler there was taken IohnÌ„ of Lannay a man of armes of Tourney who was come thyder with the lorde of Estrynay syr Blanquart of Calomne came theues on the spurres fro Tourney with .xl. speres and also syr Robert Merchaunt a knyght of flaunders who had to his wyfe a bastarde doughter of the erle of flaunders was as then at Bruges when the tydynges spred abrode of the Englysshmen so he departed came to Sluse entred in to the castell whiche he founde in small defence for yf the englysshmen had taken lande at Sluse as they dyd on the other syde of the water they had taken at theyr ease the castell all the towne for suche as sholde haue defended the towne were so abasshed that there was no man toke ony hede of defence then this knyght gaue them harte sayd Ayesyrs and good men of Sluse howe maynteyne you yourselfe by that ye shewe yourselfe dyscomfyted without ony stroke strykynge men of valure of good defence ought not so to do they sholde shewe forth a good vysage as longe as they coulde endure at the leest tyll they were slayne or taken therby they sholde attayne to the grace of god and prayse of the worlde thus sayd this syr Robert when he came to Sluse IN the meane season whyle the englysshmen were before Sluse theraboute al the couÌ„trey to Bruges were afrayde for they were euery day abrode a foragynge a foote for they had no horses somtyme they wolde entre far in to the countrey On a day they brente the towne of Cocesy on the downes a grete vyllage in the way towarde Ardenbourge so to the see syde called Hosebourcke they dyd there what they lyst myght haue done more yf they had knowen what case the countrey was in wheÌ„ they had taryed there at theyr pleasure sawe that no man came agaynst them then they toke theyr shyppes drewe vp sayles so retourned in to Englande with CC.M. frankes of profyte and so came in to Tames streyght to London where as they were receyued with grete ioy for the good wynes of Poycton Xamton that was determyned to haue ben dronken in flaunders in Haynalte Brabant in dyuers other places in pycardy the englysshmen brought all with them in to englande was lorde departed at London in other places of Englande wyne was solde then for .iiii. pens the galon and certayne merchauntes of zerecyell in zelande lost parte of the same wyne but they had restytucyon agayne of all theyr losses for they of zercyell wolde neuer agree to go to make warre in to englande nor wolde suffre none of theyr shyppes to goo in the iourney wherby they atteyned grete loue of the Englysshmen syr IohnÌ„ Bucke was put in pryson curioysly at London he myght go where he lyst but euery nyght to lodge in the cyte he coulde neuer come to his raunsome yet the duke of Borgoyne wolde gladly haue had hym by exchaunge for a bastarde broder of the kynge of Portyngalles whom they of Breuelet had taken on the see comynge to Meldeboure thus syr IohnÌ„ Bucke was prysoner thre yeres in Englande and there dyed ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastres marshal toke the towne of Ribadane whiche was strongly kepte Ca. lxxiiii HOwe yt ys tyme that we retourne to the busynes of Castell Portyngale to speke of the duke of Lancastre beynge in Galyce of suche busynes as fall in that seasoÌ„ whiche were not smal also to shewe what ayde comforte the frensshe kynge sent that tyme in to Castell or elles kynge IohnÌ„ of Spaynes busynes had but easely gone forwarde I say surely yâ— same yere that the duke aryued in his countrey he had lost all his laÌ„de if the ayde of the frensshe kyng had not ben ye know wel that tydynges spredeth euer farre the kynge of Portyngale knewe as soone as the duke of Lancastre or ony other maÌ„ how the frenssh kynges army that lay on the see to haue gone in to Euglande brake theyr iourney for the kyng of Portyngale lay as theÌ„ at the cyte of Porte a stroÌ„ge towne a haue wel vsed by reason of merchauÌ„tes that resorted thyder when he knew of the brekynge of the frensshe kynges army he was glad therof for it had benshewed hym before that all englande was lykely to haue ben lost Wherfore he som what dyssymuled with the duke of Lancastre dryuynge of the takyng of his doughter in maryage but styll he draue hym of with fayre wordes
had spedde and they shewed hym all the hole processe and vpon what poynte they departed wherof the kynge was gladde for he shewed to be glad to haue peace In lyke maner the englyssh dukes whan they came to Calays they wrote to the kynge of Englande all the poyntes and artycles of that treatye And shortly they had agayne a good aunswere coÌ„maundynge them to procede for a peace sayenge the warre had contynewed longe ynoughe and that crystendome therby was sore doÌ„maged Thus at the daye prefyxed these dukes mette agayne at Balyngham and with the frenche lordes came the kynge of Armony to shewe to the lordes of Englande his busynesse and necessyte He was well knowen with the duke of Gloucestre for he had ben in Englande whan the frenche army was ordeyned at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande The duke of Glocestre the same tyme receyued the kynge of Armony and made hym good chere at a fayre place of his in Esser called Plasshey At Balyngham also the Dukes of Englande made the kynge of Armony good chere and was glad to here hym speke And they aunswered hym that gladly they wolde ayde hym wherof the kynge was ryght ioyfull Many thynges were treated in this parlyament And all this season the cardynall of Line lay at Abbeuyle who was sente thyder in legacyon by hym that called hym selfe pope Clemente for maters concernyng the churche The frenche dukes at this assemble at Balyngham wolde haue had certayne artycles comprised in their treatie concernynge the churche and susteynynge the opynyons of this pope Clemente Robert of Geneue But whan the Englysshe dukes harde that they sayd to their cosyns of Fraunce Cosyns and ye wyll that we shall fall to any poynte of conclusion speke no more of that cardynall we haue nothyng to do with hym his matter is a busynes without profyte or effecte we are determyned vpon a pope to whom we wyll obey we wyll here no spekyng agaynste hym if the other medle any thynge with vs we shall departe and god hence and leaue all togytder After that tyme there was no mo wordes of that cardynall he taried styll at Abbcuyle Than these lordes proceded in their treaties the duke of Lancastre was well enclyned to haue peace The Frenche kynge the yere before hadde sore desyred hym to be a good meane to entreate for a peace and so he promysed to do howbeit his brother the duke of Gloucestre was hard to agree for he layde forthe the frenchemens dysceytes and colored wordes that they vsed alwayes in their writynges sayenge howe the frenche men wolde alwayes wrestell with their armes dyscouered whiche was euer perceyued On a daye there came a squyer of honour a frenche man called Robert the hermyte to the duke of Gloucestre he was one of the frenche kynges priuy chambre whether he was sente to the duke of Glocestre or came on his owne heed I can nat tell but as the duke shewed me in Englande at Plasshey this squyer sayd to him Syr for the loue of god be nat agaynst this treatie of peace for ye se howe the lordes of Fraunce do their dyligence to bringe it aboute ye shall do an almesse dede for the warre hath to longe endured and sythe that bothe kynges are content to haue peace all their subgiettes ought to obey therto Than the duke answered hym as he sayd Roberte I am nat agaynst it nor wyll nat be but ye frenche men amonge you ye haue so many coloured wordes so darke and obscure to our vnderstandynge so that whan ye wyll it is warre and whan ye lyst it is peace thus haue ye ledde vs vnto this presente daye But if the kynge my soueraygne lorde had beleued me and suche other of his realme as are bouÌ„de to serue hym peace shulde neuer haue been bytwene Englande and Fraunce tyll restytucyon had ben made to vs of all that is taken fro vs without cause by subtylte and crafte as god and all the worlde knoweth But sythe the kynge my souerayne lorde enclyneth to the peace it is reasone that we agree to the same and therfore if we make a peace acordyng to the desyres of bothe kynges sythe we be here assembled let it be well holden on your syde for it shall be well kepte on our partye And thus the duke shewed me that this Roberte the Hermyte departed fro hym and went to his company And so these lordes contynewed styll their treatie I Wyll make no further processe but come to conclusyon These foure dukes that were at this assemble and had full power aâ—d auctorite of their kynges to take a treâ—â—ce and to make a peace They dyd so in suche wyse that generall voyce and 〈◊〉 through the towne of Abbeuyle that a peace was taken vpon certayne artycles bytwene the two kynges their alyes and consyderates But I sir Iohan Froyssart auctour of this hystory beynge the same tyme in Abbeâ—â—yle coulde nat lerne the certaynte of the artycles comprised in that peace Howe be it I knewe that a peace was taken to endure four yeres to be kepte ferme and stable bothe by see and by lande And it was concluded and agreed that within the sayde space of the four yere shulde be delyuered to the kynge of Englande for euer and perpetually to all kinges of Englande and to his coÌ„myssioners all the landes and sygnories in the countrey of Languedoâ— and to be as of the demayne and herytage of the crowne of Englande And this doone and accomplysshed it was agreed by the same ordynaunce that certayne capitayns and their men that helde some holdes and fortresses in the Realme of Fraunce shulde aduoyde and departe all suche as made warre and do make any warre vnder the shadowe and coloure of the kyng of Englande and the Englysshe men of what nacyon so euer they were To all these artycles these lordes that were as than at Balyngham were bounde in writynges sygned and sealed and the copyes therof sent to bothe kynges Than the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre sent an harauld called Marche with letters to the Kynge of Englande shewynge and declarynge all the hole processe ordynaunce concluded in their treatie vpon the forme of peace Thus this haraulde departed with his letters and rode to Calys and passed ouer to Deuer and rode forthe tyll he came to the kynge who was at a manoure of his owne besyde London Whan he came in the kynges presence he delyuered his letters And whan the Kynge had redde them he was ryght ioyouse and gaue to the haraulde for his good tydynges bryngynge great giftes as the same haraulde shewed me after at leysare as I rode with hym in to the Realme of Englande These foure dukes of Fraunce and of Englande were styll at Balyngham and soiourned there in fayre tentes and pauylyons and well and dylygently perused and examyned the artycles of their treatie and wolde passe nor seale to none tyll all darke and obscure wordes were clerely declared and made
Huntyngton was as than on his waye to Ierusalem and to saynt Katheryns mount and purposed to retourne by the realme of Hungry for as he passed through FrauÌ„ce where he hadde great chere of the kyng and of his brother and vncles he herde howe the kyng of Hungry and the great Turke shulde haue batayle togyder therfore he thought sure lye to be at that iourney On the othersyde the duke of Lancastre came to Plomouthe where his shippes laye redy And whan his men were come and his vesselles all charged and had wynde at wyll they toke shippyng and disancred and sayled towardes Burdeaux on the ryuer of Gyron NOwe lette vs speke of the kyng of Englande who had in his copany four thousande men of armes and thyrtie thousande archers They shipped at thre places At Brutowe at Holyheed and at Herforde they passed ouer daylye And in Irelande all redy there was a valyaunt knyght of Englande called erle of Ormonde He helde landes in Irelande and so dyde his predecessours but it was as than in debate The erle Marshall of Englande hadde the vowarde with fyftene hundred speares and two thousande archers The kynge of Englande and his two vncles toke shyppinge at Herforde in Wales Thus the army passed ouer without doÌ„mage than they were lodged in Irelande by the apoyntement of the duke of Gloucestre coÌ„stable of Englande and by the marshals all abrode in the countrey beyond the cytie of Duuelyn a .xxx. myle for the countrey was as thanÌ„e inhabytable Howe be it they laye wysely and surely for feare of the yrisshe men as nede was or els they myght haue taken great doÌ„mage And the kynge and his vncles were lodged in the cytie of Duuelyn and as it was shewed me all the whyle they were there they were largely prouyded of vitayls For the Englysshe men are suche men of warre as can well forage and take aduauÌ„tage and make good prouisyon for theÌ„ selfe and their horses And what fell of this voyage I shall shewe you here after as I was enformed ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to to the kyng Cap. CC. TRewe it was that I sir Iohan Froissart as at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay in the erldome of Heynaulte in the diocese of Liege had great affectyon to go and se the realme of Englande whan I had ben in Abbeuyle and sawe that trewce was taken bytwene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce and other countreis to them conioyned and there adherentes to endure four yeres by See and by lande Many reasons moued me to make that voyage One was bycause in my youthe I hadde been brought vp in the court of the noble kynge Edwarde the thyrde and of quene Philyppe his wyfe and amonge their chyldren and other barones of Englande that as than were a lyue In whome I founde all noblenesse honour largesse and courtesy Here fore I desyred to se the countre thynkynge therby I shulde lyue moche the lengar for I hadde nat been there .xxviii. yere before I thought though I sawe natte those lordes that I lefte a lyue there yet at the leest I shulde se their heyres the whiche shulde do me moche good to se and also to iustifye the hystories and maters that I hadde written of them And or I toke my iourney I spake with duke Aubert of Bauyere and with the Erle of Heynaulte Hollande zelande and lorde of Freese and with my lorde Wyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt and with my right honourable lady Iahane duchesse of Brabant and of Lusenbourge and with the lorde Eugerant lorde Coucy and with the gentyll knyght the lorde of Gomegynes who in his youthe and myne had been toguyder in Englande in the kynges courte In lykewise so had I sene there the lorde of Coucy and dyuers other nobles of Fraunce holden great housholdes in London whan they laye there in hostage for the redempcion of kynge Iohan as than Frenche kynge As it hath been shewed here before in this hystorie THese sayd lordes and the Duchesse of Brabant counsayled me to take this iourney and gaue me letters of recommendacyon to the kynge of Englande and to his vncles sauynge the lorde Coucy He wolde nat write to the kynge bycause he was a Frenche man therfore he durste nat but to his doughter who as than was called duchesse of Irelande And I had engrosed in a fayre boke well enlumyned all the matters of Amours and moralytees that in four and twentie yeres before I hadde made and compyled whiche greatly quickened my desyre to go in to Englande to se kyng Rycharde who was sonne to the noble prince of Wales and of Acquitayne for I hadde nat sene this kynge Rycharde sythe he was Christened in the Cathedrall churche of Burdeaux at whiche tyme I was there and thought to haue goone with the prince the iourney in to Galycia in Spaygne And whanÌ„e we were in the cytie of Aste the prince sente me backe in to Englande to the Quene his mother For these causes and other I hadde great desyre to go in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles Also I hadde this said fayre boke well couered with veluet garnysshed with clapses of Syluer and gylte therof to make a present to the kynge at my fyrst cominynge to his presence I hadde suche desyre to goo this voyage that the payne and traueyle greued me nothyng Thus prouyded of horses and other necessaries I passed the See at Calais and came to Douer the .xii. daye of the moneth of Iuly WhanÌ„e I came there I founde no man of my knowledge it was so longe sythe I had been in Englande and the houses were all newly chauÌ„ged and yonge children were become men and the women knewe me natte nor I theym So I abode halfe a daye and all a nyght at Douer It was on a Tuesdaye And the nexte daye by nyne of the clocke I came to Canterbury to saynt Thomas shrine and to the tombe of the noble prince of Wales who is there entered ryght richely There I herde masse made myne offrynge to the holy saynt and thanne dyned at my lodgynge And there I was enformed howe kyng Richarde shulde be there the nexte daye on pylgrimage whiche was after his retourne out of Irelande where he had ben the space of nyne moneches or there about The kyng hadde a deuocyon to visyte saynt Thomas shrine and also bycause the prince his father was there buryed Than I thought to abyde the kynge there and so I dyde And the next daye the kynge came thyder with a noble company of lordes ladyes and damoselles And whan I was among them they semed to me all newe folkes I knewe no ê‘sone The tyme was sore chauÌ„ged in .xxviii. yere And with the kynge as than was none of his vncles the duke of LaÌ„castre was in Acquitayne and the dukes of yorke and Glocestre were in other busynesses so that I was at
at Bayon greatly dyscomfyted in that he coulde get no maner of ayde Cap. C .xxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey sente letters to the duke of Lancastre to Bayon and howe the duke sente the copye of the same letters in to Foyze and in to Nauerre to the entent to haue them publysshed in Spayne and howe the duke of Bretaygne demaunded counsayle of his men in all his busynesse Capi. C .xxvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne delyuered vp the thre castelles of syr Olyuer of Clyssons and howe he receyued ioyously the lorde of Coucy and his company ambassadours fro the frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre made great chere to syr Helyon of Lignacke seneschall of Xaynton abmassadoure fro the duke of Berrey Cap. C .xxviii. ¶ Nowe the kynge of Castyle sente his ambassadours to the duke of Lancastre to treate for a maryage to be hadde bytwene his sonne and the dukes doughter and howe at the request of the duke of Berrey a truse was made by the duke of Lancastre in the countreys of Tholousyn and Rouergne Cap. C .xxix. ¶ Howe the Dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne departed to go to Bloyes and howe the duke of Bretayne came thyder and howe the dukes dyd so moche that they had hym to Parys in maner agaynst his wyll Capi. C .xxx. ¶ Howe Lewes kynge of Cycyle entred in to Parys in estate royall and howe the duke of Bretayne entred on the nyght of saint Johan the Baptyst the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred fourscore and seuyn and of a dede of armes done before the kynge at Moutereau fault yon bytwene a knyght of Englande called syr Thomas Harpyngham and a frenche knyght named syr Johan de Barres Capi. C .xxxi. ¶ Howe the duke of Bretaygne entred in to Parys and came to the castell of Loure to the frenche kynge Cap. C .xxxii. ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell beynge on the see more than a moneth came to the hauen of Maraunt a lytell fro Rochell and howe he sent a messanger to Perot le Bernoys that he and other capytayns shulde kepe the feldes Capi. C .xxxiii. ¶ Howe they of Marroys and Rochelloys were sore afrayde of the Englysshe men that were a lande and howe they of Rochell made ask rymysshe with theym and howe after the englysshe men had pylled the countrey about Maraunt they drewe agayne to the see with their pyllage whiche was great Capi. C .xxxiiii. ¶ Howe Perot le Bernoys and his companyons resorted agayne to their holdes with great pyllage and howe the duke of Guerles coulde haue no ayde of the Englysshe men to reyse the siege before Graue and howe the brabansois made a brige ouer the ryuer of meuse the whiche they of Guerles dyd breake bryn and dystroy as ye shall here after Capi. C .xxxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoys passed the ryuer through the towne of Rauesten ouer the bridge there and so entred into Guerles Than the duke departed fro Nymay with thre hundred speares and came agaynst them and dyscomfyted them bytwene Rauesten and the towne of Graue Cap C .xxxvi. ¶ Howe the duke of Guerles after he had discomfyted the brabansoys he went agayne to Nymay and howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge and howe the kynge sent ambassadours to the kynge of Almayne Capi. C .xxxvii. ¶ Howe the frenche kynge gaue leaue to the duke of Bretaygne to retourne in to his countrey and howe the couÌ„trey of Brabant wolde nat consent to the kynges passage nor his army and howe the ambassadours of Fraunce spedde Capi. C .xxxviii. ¶ Howe the erle of Bloys sent to the frenche kinge two hundred speares and howe the duke of Lorayne and the lorde Henry of Bare came to the kynge and howe the dukes of Julyers and of Guerles knewe that the frenche kynge came on them Capi. C .xxxix. ¶ Howe syr Hellyon of Lygnacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey and howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an armye to entre into Englande and of an englyssh squyer who was taken by the scottes who knewe the secretes of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Capi. C .xl. ¶ Howe kyng Richarde yelded hym selfe to the erle of Derby to go to London Cap. Fo. CCC .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Duglas wan the penon of sir Henry Percy at the barryers vpon Newe castell vpon Tyne and howe the scottes brent the castell of Pondlen and howe syr Henry Percy and syr Rafe his brother tooke aduyse to folowe the scottes to conquere agayne the penon that was lost at the skrymysshe Capi. C .xli. ¶ Of the state of quene Isabell of Englande and howe she had all newe ê‘sones apoynted to wayte vpon her and howe kynge Richarde was sette in the towre of London Capi. CC .xlii. ¶ Howe sir Henry Percy and his brother with a good nombre of men of armes and archers went after the scottes to wyn agayne his penon that the erle Duglas had won before Newcastell vpoÌ„tyne and howe they assayled the scottes before MouÌ„tberke in their lodgynges Cap. C .xlii. ¶ Howe the erle James Duglas by his valyantnesse encoraged his men who were reculed and in a maner disconfited and in his so doynge he was wounded to dethe Capi. C .xliii. ¶ Howe in this bataile sir Rafe Percy was sore hurte and taken prisoner by a scottiss he knyght Cap. C .xliiii. ¶ Howe the scottes wanne the batayle agayust the Englysshe men besyde Ottebridge and there was taken prisoners sir HeÌ„ry and sir Rafe Percy howe an Englisshe squier wolde nat yelde hym no more wolde a scottysshe squyer and so were slayne bothe and howe the bysshoppe of Durham and his coÌ„pany were disconfyted amonge them selfe Capi. C .xiv. ¶ Howe sir Mathewe Reedman deparred fro the batayle to saue hym selfe and howe sir James Lymsey was taken prisoner by the bysshoppe of Durham and howe after the batayle scurrers were sent forthe to discouer the countrey Cap. C .xlvi. ¶ Howe the scottes departed caryed with them the erle Duglas deed and buryed hym in the abbey of Nimayes and howe sir Archambault Duglas and his company departed fro before Carlyle and retourned in to Scotlande Cap. C .xlvii. ¶ Howe the duke of Jullyers came and excused hym selfe of the defyaunce that his son the duke of Guerles had made to the Frenche kyng and so became his subiette and of dyuers reates of armes done bitwene the freÌ„che men and the almaygnes before Rencongne Cap. C .xlviii. ¶ Howe the duke of Julyers and the archebysshop of Coloygne departed fro the Frenche kyng and wente to Nimaye to the duke of Guerles and howe by their meanes he was reconsyled and brought to peace with the Frenche kynge and with the duchesse of Brabant Cap. C .xlix. ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell and the knyghtes of Englande beyng on the see by fortune of the wynde came to the palyce besyde Rochell whose beynge there was signifyed to sir Loyes of
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
of Bloyes and all their landes to the duke of Thourayn the frenche kynges brother Capi. C .lxxxii. ¶ Howe sir Roger of Spayne and sir Espaygne du Lyon spedde with the Frenche kynge and his counsayle for the Vycount of Chastellons busynesse and howe he was set in possessyon in the countie of Foize and of the money that he payde Cap. C.lxxxiii ¶ Of the great assemble that was made at Amyence of the Frenche kynge and his couÌ„sayle and of the kyng of Englandes vncles on the treatie of peace Cap. C.lxxxiiii ¶ Howe sir Peter of Craon throughe yuell wyll by subtile crafte beate downe sir Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Cap. C.lxxxv ¶ Howe in great dilygence the Prouost of Parys pursued sir Peter of Craon Capi. C .lxxxvi. ¶ Of the great armye and voyage that the Frenche kyng purposed to make in to Bretayngne agaynst the duke bycause he susteyned sir Peter of Craonne and howe in that voyage the kyng fell sicke wherby the voyage brake Cap. C.lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of Thourayne brother to the Frenche kynge resigned the Duchy of Thouraynge in to the kynges handes and howe by exchaunge the kynge gaue hym the duchy of OrlyauÌ„ce and so euer after he was called the duke of Orlyaunce Cap. C.lxxxvii for .viii. Fo. CC.xxxiii ¶ Howe the dukes of Burgoyn and of Berrey vncles to the Frenche kynge had the gouernaunce of the realme and howe they chased and toke suche as gouerned the kyng bâ— fore Cap. C.lxxxix ¶ Howe sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce departed out of Parys after the answere that the duke of Burgoyne had made hym and went to Mount le Henry and â—â—â—thens in to Bretayne Cap. C.xc. ¶ Howe the treatise whiche was accorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. ¶ Of the aduenture of a Daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodhouses wherin the Frenche kynge was in paryll of dethe Cap. C.xcii ¶ Howe pope Bonyface and the cardynals or Rome sente a Frere a wyse clerke to the Frenche kyng Cap. C.xciii ¶ Howe the mariage was treased of the lorde Philyppe of Arthoyes erle of Ewel and the lady Mary of Berrey wydowe doughter to the duke of Berrey and howe he was admytted coÌ„stable of Fraunce Cap. C.xciiii ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bytwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of EnglaÌ„de by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. ¶ Of the dethe of pope ClemeÌ„t at Auâ—gnon and of the electyon of pope Benedic Capi. C.xcvi ¶ Of a clerke named maister Iohan of Warennes Cap. C.xcvii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquitayner and howe the kynge prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acouitayne Cap. C.xcviii ¶ Of the dethe of quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme and Emperour of Almayne Cap. C.xcix ¶ Howe sir Iohn Froissart arryued in Englande and of the gyfte of a boke that he gaue to the kyng Capi. CC ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquitayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sente in to EnglaÌ„de to the kynge and his couÌ„sayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Aequitayne Cap. CC.i. ¶ The deuyse and of the conquest that kynge Richarde had made in Irelande howe he brought to his obeysaunce foure kynges of that countray Cap. CC.ii. ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sent in to FrauÌ„ce to treate of the â—â—â—ryage bytwene the lady Isabell the Frenche kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louynge aunswere they hadde Cap. CC.iii ¶ Of a souper named Robert the 〈◊〉 howe he was sent to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham and howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Riuer and sir IohnÌ„ le Mercier and howe they were putte out of prisone Capi. CC.v ¶ Of the peace that was had bytwene the duke of Bretaynge and syr Olyuer of Clysson Cap. CC.vi. ¶ Howe the kynge of Hungery worte to the Frenche kynge the state of the great Turke and howe Iohan of Burgoyne eldest sonne to the duke of Burgoyne was chiefe heed of the armye that went thyder Fo .cc.lxiii. ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenaunt enterprised to go in to Fryse Cap. cc.vii ¶ Of the iudgement made in the Parlyament for the quene of Naples agaynste sir Peter of Craon Cap. CC.ix. ¶ Of the conclusyon of the maryage taken at Parys bytwene the kynge of Englande and Isabell eldest doughter to the Frenche kynge and howe the duke of Lancastre remaryed Cap. CC.x. ¶ Howe the great turke desyred the soudan and many other kynges Sarasyns to ayde hym with men of warre to resyst agaynst the christen men and howe many valyaunt sarasyns Came to hym out of farre countreis Cap. CC.xi. ¶ Howe the lorde of Eoucy and other lordes of the christen men about a .xv. hundred speares disconfyted a fyue thousande Turkes durynge the the siege before Nicopoly Cap. CC.xii. ¶ Howe the peace bytwene Englande and Fraunce contynewed and of the maryage of the kyng of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii ¶ Howe the erle of Heynaulte and the Erle of Ostrenaunt his sonne made a great armye of men of armes knightes and squyets to go in to Fryse Cap. CC.xiiii ¶ Of the armye that the Frenche kyng sent in to Fryse in the ayde of his cosyns and the lorde Valeran erle of saynt Poule and the lorde Charles de la Brethe were capitayns Cap. CC.xv ¶ Howe the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his tent bytwene Arde and Calais Cap. CC.xvi. ¶ Howe the siege before Nicopoly in Turkey was reysed by Lamorabaquy and how the Frenche men were discoÌ„fyted and howe the hungaryons fledde Cap. CC.xvii ¶ Of the pouertie and misery that the christen knightes of Fraunce and other nacions endured in the coÌ„mynge home to their countreis Cap. CC.xviii ¶ Howe the trewe tidynges of the batayle in Turkey was knowen in the Frenche kynges house Cap. CC.xix ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was hadde in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Capi. CC.xx. ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyn the duches his wyfe tooke great dilygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the Erle of Neuers their sâ—nne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi ¶ Howe the Duke of Gloucestre subtelly sought out the meanes howe to distroy kynge Richarde of Englande his nephewe Cap. CC.xxii ¶ Howe the duke of Gloucestre was taken by the erle Marshall by the coÌ„maundement of the kynge Cap. CC.xxiii ¶ Howe the lordes of FrauÌ„ce retourned by see
to Venyce and of the ysles they founde by the waye Capi. CC.xxiiii ¶ Howe after the retourne of the lordes of Fraunce the Frenche kynge entended what he myght to sette a concorde and peace in the churche Cap. CC.xxv ¶ Of the dethe of the duke of Gloucestre and of the erle of Arundell and howe the kynges vncles and the Londoners tooke the mater Cap. CC.xxvi ¶ Of the great armye that was made in the cytie of Reynes as well by the Emperoure as of the realme of Fraunce on the state of holy churche Cap. CC.xxvii ¶ Howe the erle Marshall in Englande apealed by guage of vttraunce therle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre in the presence of the kynge and his counsayle Cap. CC.xxviii ¶ Howe kyng Richarde gaue senteÌ„ce wherby he banysshed out of Englande the erle of Derby forten yere and therle Marshall for euer Cap. CC.xxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby departed fro LoÌ„don to go in to Fraunce and the erle Marshall went in to FlauÌ„ders and so in to Lombardy Cap. CC.xxx. ¶ Howe the lorde Guyllyam erle of Ostrenaunt sent to his cosyn the erle of Derby certayne messangers and howe the erle came to Parys and howe he was receyued Capi. CC.xxxi ¶ Howe the treatie that had been at Reynes bytwene the Frenche kynge and the kyng of Almaygne concernyng the vnyte of the churche was folowed and howe the bysshoppe of Cambrey was sent by the sayd kynges to Rome and to Auignon to them that wrote them selfe popes to th entent that they shuld depose themselfe fro their papalytees submytte them to the order of these two kynges Cap. CC.xxxii ¶ Howe the FreÌ„che kyng assembled the prelates and other noble meÌ„ or his realme with the vnyuersyte of Parys to take counsayle howe they shulde order pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xxxiii ¶ Of the answere of the duke of Lancastre to the knight sent to hym fro his sonne therle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Capi. CC.xxxiiii ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of Lancastre was knowen in Fraunce the kynge of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes son Capi. CC.xxxv ¶ Of the treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby the duke of Berreys doughter and howe kyng Richarde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Cap. CC.xxxvi ¶ Howe kynge Richarde ordayned to go in to the marchesse of Irelande Cap. CC.xxxvii ¶ Howe the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to therle of Derby fro the Londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue hym to retourne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the Frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretayne Cap. CC.xxxix ¶ Howe the erle of Derby arryued in Englande and howe he was receyued of the LoÌ„doners Capi. CC.xl. ¶ Howe tidynges caÌ„e to kynges Rycharde or the coÌ„myng of therle of Derby with great puissaunce Capi. CC.xli ¶ Howe kyng Richarde of Englande resined the crowne and the realme in the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii ¶ Of the coronacyon of kynge Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv ¶ Howe newes of the takyng of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the commynge thyder of the lady Coucy and howe the Frenche kynge was displeased Cap. CC.xlvi ¶ Howe the Frenche kyng reysed vp an armye to sende vpon the tronters of EnglaÌ„de Cap. CC.xlviii ¶ Of the dethe of kynge Richarde of Englande and howe the â—reuse bytwene Englande and Fraunce was renewed and also of the deposycion of pope Benedic at Auignon Cap. CC.xlix ¶ Finis ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Bourchier gouernour of Gaunt during the truse had newe vitayled the towne of Gaunt And howe a maner of people called comporsels dyde moche hurte in the countre Capitulo Primo SIr IohnÌ„ Bourchier who had the gouernyng of GauÌ„t vnder kynge Rycharde of Englande the capiteyns of the coÌ„montie of the towne as Peter de Boyes fraÌ„ces Atreman and Peterle Myttre They prouyded surely for the warre and duryng the truse they had greatly vitayled and refresshed the towne with all prouision parteyning to the warre and also the castell of Gauure and other places vnder their rule In the same season there was a coÌ„pany of rutters gadered togyder in the wode of Respayle and there they had fortifyed a house so that it coude nat lightly be wonne They were people chased out of Alos of Grantmount and out of other places in FlauÌ„ders and had lost all that euer they had and wyst nat how to lyue but by robbyng and pillyng wheresoeuer they coude gete it so that there was as than no spekynge but of these pygges of Respayle This woode is bytwene Reguays and Grauntmount Anghien and Lysen they dyde moche hurt in the lordship of A the in the lande of Floberge and of Lyssues and in the lande of Danghien and these pyllers were borne out by them of Gaunt for vnder the coloure of them they dyde moche hurt as in robbynge and sleynge They wolde go in to Heynalte and take men and women in their beddes and leade them to their forteresse and raunsome theÌ„ at their pleasure they made warre to euery man The capitayne of A the who was called Baudrius dela Mocte layde often tymes awayte for them but he coude neuer trappe them they knewe so many shyftes They were so feared in the froÌ„ters of Heynalte and Brabant that none durst go that waye in to the countre THe duke of Burgoyne on the other parte for the warâ— that he loked for he garnysshed and prouided for all his townes in FlaÌ„ders There was capitayne of Bruges the lorde of Guystelles and of Courtrey sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Willyam of Namure As than sir WillmÌ„ of Guystels was lorde of Dan and of Courtray sir Iohan Ieumount and sir Peter of Neyper In lykewise in all the townes on the fronter of Fraunce there were men of warre set by the duke of Burgoyne In the towne of Ardenbourcke there was in garyson sir Guy of Pontaillyer marshall of Burgoyn sir Ryflarte of Flaunders sir Iohan of Ieumont sir Henry of Coynge the lorde of Montigny in Ostrenant the lorde of Longueuall sir Iohan Barnet sir Peter Baylleull Philpot Gany Raoleyn dela Foley and dyuers other These men of armes were two hundred and so they toke aduyse toguyder and were in wyll to ryde in to the foure craftes and distroy that countre for moche vitayle came fro thens in to GauÌ„â— And so on a day they departed and toke that way and the same day that the frenche men were rydden forthe there was rydden forthe out of Gaunt a two thousande men mete for the warre and FrauÌ„ces Arreman was their capitayne And so sodainly they mette with the frenchmen in a village and whan
quod he Rycharde Stafforde And I am Hollande quod the other and I seke for the. One of thy seruauntes hath slayne my best beloued squyer And therwith drewe out his sworde and strake Richarde Stafforde so that he slewe hym fell downe deed whiche was great pytie So he passed for the and knewe nat well what he had done but he sawe well one falle to the grounde Sir Richarde Staffordes men were sore dismayd whan they sawe their maister deed than they cryed A Holande Holande ye haue slayne the sonne of therle of Stafforde This wyll be heuy tidynges to the father whan̄e he knoweth therof Some of sir Iohan of Holandes seruauntes herde well these wordes and sayde to their mayster Sir ye haue slayne sir Rycharde Stafforde Well quod sir Iohan Hollade what than I had leauer haue slayne him than a worse The better haue I reuenged the dethe of my squyer Than sir Iohan of Hollande wente streyght to saynt Iohans of Beuerley and tooke the fraunchesse of the towne and abode there styll For he knewe well there wolde be moche a do in the hooste for the dethe of that knight And he wyst nat what the kynge wolde saye or do in the mater So to eschue all paryllce he tooke sentuarye in the towne of saynt Iohans of Beuerley TIdynges anone came to the Erle of Stafforde howe his sonne was slayne by yuell aduenture Thafie the erle demaunded who had slayne hym And suche as were by hym whan he was slayne sayd sir the kynges brother sir Iohen of Holande dyd slee hym And shewed hym the cause why and howe it was ye maye well knowe that he that loued entierly his sonne and hadde no mo but hym and was a fayre yonge knyght and a coutagyous was marueylously sore dyspleased and sente incontynent for all his frendes to haue their counsayle howe he shulde vse hym selfe in the reuengynge of his dethe The moost wysest man of his counsayle sayd Sir to morowe in the mornynge shewe all the matter to the kyng and desyre hym to haue lawe and iustyce Thus they suaged som what his yre and so passed that night And the nexte mornynge Rycharde Stafforde was buryed in the churche of the vyllage therby And at his buryeng were all those of his lynage barons knightes and squyers that were in armye And the obsequy done the erle of Stafforde and a thre score of his lygnage mounted on their horses and so came to the kynge who was well enformed of that yuell aduenture And so the Erle founde the kyng and his vncles toguyder and a great nombre of knightes with them Whan the erle came before the kyng he kneled downe and all wepynge sayde with a soroufull harte Sir ye are kynge of Englande and haue solemly sworne to kepe Englāde in all right to do iustyce ser ye knowe how your brother wtout any tytell of reason hath slayne my sonne and ayre Sir I requyre you do me right and iustyce or els ye shall haue no worse enemy than I wyll be And sir I wyll ye knowe the dethe of my son toucheth me so nere that and it were nat for brekynge of this voyage that we be in I shulde bring the host in to suche trouble that with honour it shulde be amended and so coūteruenged that it shulde be spoken of a hūdred yeres hereafter in Englande But as nowe I wyll cease tyll this voyage in to Scotlande be done for our ennemyes shall nat reioyse of the trouble of the erle of Stafforde The kyng answered Knowe for trouthe that I shall do you iustyce and reason as fatforthe as all my barones wyll iudge I shall nat fayle therof for no brother that I haue Than they of the erles lynage sayd Sir ye haue sayd well we thanke you therof Thus the lynage of sir Richarde Stafforde was apeased and so helde on their iourney in to Scotlande And all the iourney the erle of Stafforde made no semblant of the dethe of his sonne wherin all the barons reputed hym right sage ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande caused to be distroyed the church of meurous in Scotlande and howe the barons of Scotlande answered the admyrall of Fraunce and deuyied to leaue Scotlande and to let the Englesshe men alone Cap. xiii THus auaunsed forthe the kyng of Englande with seuyn thousande men of armes and threscore thousand archers All the strength of the realme of Englāde was there For it was sayd howe the admyrall of Fraunce wolde fight with thē and in dede he had great desyre and wyll so to do for he sayde to the barons of Scotlande or they came forthe Sirs make your sommons to gette as moche strength as ye can for if the Englysshe men come in to Scotlande I wyll surely fight with thē The scottes sayd as than howe they were content therwith howe be it after they toke other aduyse The kynge of Englande passed forthe so fary that he passed Duresme and Newe castell on the ryuer of Tyne and all the lande of Northumberlande and so at laste came to Berwyke wherof sir Mathue Redman was capitayne who receyued the kynge ioyfully and the kyng taryed nat ther long but passed forthe ouer the ryuer of Twede and toke his lodgynge at the abbey of Mewrous the whiche for all the warres that had been bytwene Englande and Scotlande had neuer no hurt nor domage but as than it was clene brnet and exiled For it was th entent of the englyssh men nat to retourne agayne in to Englande tyll they had distroyed all Scotlande bycause they were fortifyed at that tyme by the frenche men Whan̄e the admyrall of Fraunce knewe that the kynge of Englande was passed the ryuer of Twede and was entred in to Morlane in Scotlande Than he sayd to the barons of Scotlande Sirs why do we sytte styll Let vs go forthe and aduyse our ennemyes fyght with them It was shewed vs or we came here that if ye had out of Fraunce but one thousāde of good men of armes ye shulde be stronge ynoughe to fyght with the Englysshe men And I ensure you ye haue mo than a thousāde and fyue hundred cror bowes And surely the knightes and squyers that be here in my company ar parfyte men of armes and the floure of chiualrye and wyll nat flye but abyde suche aduenture as god wyll sende you and them TO these wordes answered the barones of Scotlāde who knewe so well the puissaunce of the Englysshe men that they hadde no wyll to fight with them Wherfore they said Sirs we beleue well that ye and your company be chosen men and of great valure But sir we haue knowledge that all the power of Englande is here there were neuer so many Englysshe men toguyder assembled as be nowe And ye wyll we shall bringe you in to suche a place that ye shall well se and aduyse theym And thanne if ye counsayle that they shall be fought with all it shall nat be
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
bicause they be enuyous ouer straÌ„gers And moreouer he sayd that he had rather be erle of Sauoy or erle of Arthoyse than to be kyng of scottes and sayd howe he hadde sene all the power of Scotlande in one daye to gyder as the scottes sayd them selfe and yeche neuer sawe togyder past fyue hundred speares and about a .xxx. thousande other men of warr the whiche nombre agaynst Englisshe archers or agaynst a thousande of other good men of armes coude not longe endure Than the admyrall was demaunded if he had sene the puyssaunce of Englande He answered yea For on a day quod he whan I sawe the scottes flye awaye for feare of the Englysshmen I desyred them to bring me where as I might se and aduyse the Englysshe hoost and so they dyde I was set in a straite passage where as they must nedes passe and to my demyng they were a .ix thousande men of warre And the scottes sayd that it was all the power of England and that there were none abydinge behynde Than the kyng and his counsayle studyed a lytell and at laste sayd It is a great thyng of threscore thousande archers of sixe or seuyn thousande men of armes It maye well be quod the Constable that they may make that nombre but yet I had rather fight with theym at home in their owne marches than with halfe the nombre here and so I herde my maister saye often tymes whan I was yonge By my faithe quod the admyrall if ye had ben there with a great nombre of men of armes as I supposed ye shulde haue beÌ„ I thynke we hadde famysshed all Scotlande Thus the constable and admyrall deuysed toguyder and they sette the duke of Burgoyne in great desyre to make an armye in to EnglaÌ„de ¶ Nowe let vs leaue a lytell to speke of theÌ„ and retourne to the busynesse of Flaunders IT is of trouthe the duke of Burgoyn had ymagined in his mynde to make the nexte Somer folowynge whiche shulde be in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fyue a great army and to moue the frenche kyng as moche as he might to go into Englande And also the constable of FraÌ„ce who was an expert knight and well beloued in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and had ben brought vp in his youthe in the realm of Englande He in lykewise gaue counsayle to the same enterprise and so dyde the lorde dela Tâ—emoyle And bycause that the duke of Berrey was in Poictou and Lymosyn and knewe nothynge of this counsayle the duke of Burgoyne who was chiefe about the kynge he had dyuers ymaginacions he thought well that as long as the warre contynued in FlauÌ„ders the voyage ouer the see in to Englande coude nat well be done Wherfore he was more troubled with them of Gaunte and enclyned rather to their desyres for he knewe well how they were alyed to thenglysshe men And howe they had in Gaunte a knight of Englande called sir Iohan Bourchier sent thyder by kyng Richarde to gouerne the towne and to counsayle theym Howe be it the gauntoyse desyred to haue peace for they were so ouerlayd by the warre that the moost ryche and notablest persones of the towne were nat maisters of their owne goodê for the wylde soudyours gouerned them And the wyse men sawe well that at length it coude nat endure but that they were all in great parell And whan they were toguyder dyuers of ten tymes marueyled howe they had endured so longe as they hadde done they sawe well it was rather by force than by loue For Peter de Boyse alwayes parceyuered in his yuell opynions and domages So that non durst speke before hym of peace for if he knewe any ê‘sone though he were neuer so sage that spake of any treatie of peace incoÌ„tynent he was slayne and murthered without pytie or remedy THis warre that they of Gaunte hadde maynteyned agaynst their lorde therle Loyes of Flaunders and the Duke of Bourgoyne had endured a seuyn yere wherby ther was suche hurte done that it were great marueyle to reherse The turkes paynims and sarasyns sorowed that warre For of trouthe the marchaundyses of eightene realmes arryued lightely at Sluse and had their delyueraunce at Danne or at Bruges whiche was all let by this warre Than beholde and coÌ„sydre if these farre ê‘ties sorowed this warre Moche more ought to be sorie the landes nexte adioynynge therto there was none coude fynde any meane of peace And so firste by the grace of god diuyne inspyracion and by the huÌ„ble prayers of good folkes that god opened their eares had pytie of the poore people of Flaunders And how the peace came by them I shall shewe you fro poynt to poynt as I shewed you before the begynning so shall I declare the endynge The begynnyng of the hatte was by IohnÌ„ de Bare Iohan Piet Gylbert Mathue Iohan Lion and suche other and I desyre you to herken thervnto ¶ How by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt enteredde to treate with the duke of Burgoyne for peace And howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what aunswere the duke gaue vnto them Cap. xviii IN this season in the towne of Gaunt was sir Iohan Bourchyer ruler there vnder the kynge of Englande and Peter de Boyse dyd assyst hym and susteygned all their yuell opinyons Ther were some wysemen right sore displeased with the dysceÌ„cion bytwene their naturall lorde and the towne how be it they durst nat shewe forth the ententes of their hartes but one of them to another as they durst secretely For if Peter de Boyse had knowen that they had made any â—â—blant of peace they shulde haue ben slayne wtout mercy In lyke maner as he and Philyppe Dartuell had slayne sir Symon Becâ—e and sir Gylbert Brute and to kepe the people of GauÌ„t in feare He had caused dyuers to be slayne in that season In that season afore or Fraunces Atremau was putte oute of the towne of Dan by the frenche kyng and had distroyed the couÌ„trey of the foure maysters and that the kynge was returned agayne in to Fraunce as ye haue herde before They of GauÌ„t began to dout and the notable men of the towne supposed that the nexte Somer the frenche kynge wolde retourne agayne and besiege the towne but Peter de Boyse and suche other of his secte made but lyght therof Sayenge howe they wolde gladly se the kynge before their towne for they sayd they had suche alyaunce with the kyng of EnglaÌ„de that they shulde soone be ayded and conforted In this season there was in the towne two valyant men of good lyfe and of good conuersacyon of a meane lygnage nat of the best nor of the worst Whiche ê‘sones were sore displeased to se the discorde bytwene the towne and their naturall lorde howe be it they durste nat speke therof for feare of Peter de Boyse One of them was a maryner
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
myght haue an answere Laurence sayd the duke or this tyme â–ª I haue shewed you and yet agayne I say it that your comynge and these tydynges doth me grete pleasure and ye shall not departe fro me tyll ye be satysfyed of all your requestes well answered in that ye be come for syr sayd the squyer I thanke you then the duke called for wyne spyces so toke theyr leue wente to theyr lodgynge to Arcorch to the house of the Fawcon in London there they were lodged with Thomelyn of Colebrunque ANd it was not longe after but that the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had counsayle togyder of that busynes â–ª of Castell and Portyngale wherof the erle of Cambrydge was well contente for he had ben in that countrey before more then a yere and he was glad to here of the condycyons tytles of the kynge of Portyngale and of the quene of Castell and sayd to his broder syr when kynge Ferrant lyued the Chanon Robsart and syr Wyllyam Wyndesore and dyuers other knyghtes that were there with me shewed me as it is nowe fallen for they sayd how they had herde dyuers of the same couÌ„trey murmure on the quene of Castelles tytle to Portyngale therfore I toke away with me my sone had no grete affeccyon to that maryage In the name of god sayd the duke the squyer that is here of Portyngale hathe declared all the matter and I thynke we can not haue so fayre an entre in to Castell as by Portyngale for the royalme of Aragon is ferre of and also the kynge there and his chyldren haue alwayes ben more fauourable to the frensshe partye thenne to vs Therfore it were not good syth the kynge of Portyngale maketh for vs this good 〈◊〉 to refuse it So on a day for this matter there was a parlyament holden at Westmynstre there it was accorded that the duke of Lancastre sholde haue at the costes of the royalme bitwene a M. .xii. C. speres of chosen men .ii. M. archers a M. of other yomen they were all paydein hande for halfe a yere therwith all the kynges vncles were well contente specyally the duke of Lancastre to whom pryncypally the matter touched as he that sholde be chefe of the armye and to dyspatche these ambassadours of Portyngale the kynge of Englande wrote to the kynge of Portyngale louynge letters conteynyng grete amyte that he wolde bere to Portyngale grete gyftes were gyueÌ„ to the mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale to Laurence Fongase who was alwayes with the duke of Lancastre with the erle of Cambrydge so on a day these ambassadours toke theyr leue of the kyng his couÌ„sayle dyned that daye with the duke of Lancastre the erle of Cambrydge the nexte day they were delyuered as I vn derstode the duke of Lancastre sente letters to the kynge of Portyngale also by credence that he sholde sende a .vii. galeys an .xviii. or .xx. other vesselles to the porte of Brystowe on the fronters of Wales for hym his company to passe in to Portyngale so the ambassadoures departed wente to Hampton there founde theyr shyp that taryed for them so entred in to the see had wynde at theyr wyl so entred in to the hygh Spaynysshe see within .v. dayes they were in the hauen of the porte of Portyngale at whiche tyme the kynge was there and was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge ANd there the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale Laurence Fongase shewed the kynge his counsayle al that they had sene herde in Englande as well of the kynge as of his vncles delyuered theyr letters whiche certefyed al theyr saynges then anone after the kynge of Portyngale Who gretely desyred the ayde out of Englande to the entente to cause his enemyes to haue the more fere determyned with his couÌ„sayle that mayster Alphons Vâ—etat chefe patron mayster of all his shyppes and galeys in Portyngale that he sholde prepayre redy .vii. galeys and .xviii. other grete Chyppes to sayle in to Englande to fetche the duke of Lancastre his coÌ„pany so Alphons was coÌ„maunded thus to do he incontynent dyd so and so on a daye departed fro the porte of Portyngale and in .vi. dayes he arryued at Brystowe at whiche season the lordes of Englande for the moost parte were aboute the marches of Wales for the kynge was there when the duke of Lancastre knewe of the comynge of these shyppes he was ryght ioyfull Then knyghtes squyers and al suche as sholde go with hym were sente for so that in the porte of Brystowe there were CC. vesselles with the flete of Portyngale redy apparelled for the duke and his company and the dukes entencyon was to haue with hym his wyfe his chyldreÌ„ to make with them some good maryages in castel in Portyngale or his retourne agayne in to Englande for he thought not shortely to retourne for he saw the busynes in Englande lykely to be harde and sharpe how the kyng his neuewe was yonge and had aboute hym peryllous counsayle wherfore he was the gladder to be gone or he departed in the presence of his bretherne he ordeyned his sone the lorde Henry erle of Darby his lieutenaunt of all that he had in Englande set aboute hym wyse sad counsayle he was a lusty yonge knyght was sone to the duches of Lancastre the lady Blaunche doughter to quene Phylyp of Englande I neuer sawe .ii. better ladyes nor of more noble condycyon nor neuer shal thoughe I sholde lyue this thousande yeres whiche is impossyble WHen duke IohnÌ„ of Lancastre had ordred all his busynes in Englonde theÌ„ he toke leue of the kyng of his bretherne and so he wente to Brystowe there taryed a .xv. dayes shypped all his horses bagages mo then .ii. M. with hay lytter and fresshe water for them Then the duke entred in to a galey well apparelled had by hym a grete shyp yfnede were for hym for the duches Constaunce his wyfe who wente in this iourney with a good courage for she trusted then to recouer her herytage of Castell and to be quene there or she retourned agayne she had with her a doughter called Katheryne by her fyrst husbande .ii. other doughters Izabel and Phylyp whiche Phylyp was maryed to syr IohnÌ„ Holande who was constable of the oost the marshall was syr Thomas Morâ—aur who had also in maryage one of his doughters howbeit she was a bastarde was moder to the lady mercell damoysel Mary of saynt Hyllary of Hauman admyral of the dukes nauey was syr Thomas Percy also there was syr yon fythwaren the lorde of Lucy syr Henry Beaumond de poumins syr IohnÌ„ of But nuell the lorde Talbot the lorde Basset syr Wyllyam Beaâ—champ syr Wyllyam Wyndefore syr Thomas
Tracon syr Hughe Spenser the lorde Wylloughby the lorde Braston syr wyllyaÌ„ Fermiton sir IohnÌ„ Dambricourt syr Hughe Hastynges syr Thomas Wancestre syr Mauburyn Liniers syr Loys of Rochestre syr IohnÌ„ Soustre syr Phylyp Tacyel syr IohnÌ„ Bouboufer syr Robert Clycon syr Nycholas Trenton Hugyn of Caurele Dauyd Houlegiax Thomas Allerey Hobequyn Beaucestre and dyuers other all with penons besyde the barons they were a M. speres of knyghtes and squyers of good men of armes and .ii. M. archers and a M. of other tawle yomeÌ„ they had a fayre season as in the moneth of May whiche is lyghtly pleasaunt and peasyble and so they sayled coostynge the Ile of wyght and Gernsey tyll they came open on the coost of Normandy they were CC. sayles it was a grete beautye to se the galeys glyde on the see approchynge the lande full of men of armes and arches sekynge for some aduentures for it was sayd to them that the armye of Normandy was on the see and truely so they were tyll the Englysshe flete appered before the boundes of Ouarentyne but they knewe by theyr balengers that the armye of Englande was comynge and therfore they withdrewe themselfe in to the hauen of Harflewe THere is lyghtely nothynge but that it is knowen and specyally of dedes of armes for lordes knyghtes and squyers wyl gladly talke togyder therof When the dyscomfyture was at Iuberoth where as the kynge of Castell toke suche losse as ye haue herde tydynges therof came in to Franuce as it was reason for there were many there that had lost at the batayle theyr frendes and kynsmen and as then there was no warre so lykely to be as in Castell also they herde true reporte howe the duke of Lancastre claymed as his ryght enherytaunce the herytage of Castell and howe he had raysed in Englonde a grete armye to the entente to drawe in to Castell or in to Portyngale so then knyghtes squyers of the low marches to auaunce theyr honoure drewe sente eche to other to determyne howe they myght best drawe in to Castell some couÌ„sayled to go thyder by lande to eschewe the perylles of the see also to scape fro the encountrynge of the Englysshe nauye some sayd nay therto for they sayd the passage by lande was ouer longe And also they thought that the kynge of Nauare was not clerely fauourable to the frensshe partye for the frensshmen he loued but smally togyder for it was sayd true it was the frensshe men had taken fro hym all his enherytauÌ„ce in NormaÌ„dy howbeit I can not tell yf his quarel were iust or not so thus these coÌ„panyoÌ„s doubted gretely the perylles that myyght fall by goynge by lande as well for the kynge of Nauare as for other they thought they sholde neuer come there by the way thrugh Aragon so at last they concluded to go to Rochell as they dyd there to take these there they rygged an .xviii vesselles toke but fewe horses with them wheÌ„ they were all redy had wynde at theyr wyll they entred in to theyr vesselles so sayled towarde Bayon for that waye or nere therto they must nedes passe in that company there was the lorde of Coursey syr IohnÌ„ Handoy the vycouÌ„t of Verliere syr Peter of Vellamines syr Guy of Baueux syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant the lorof saynt Liger syr Iames of Fougeres the lorof Bellannes syr Trystram of Langurant the lorde Bartoys of Barres dyuers other so that they were a CCC knyghtes squyers of chosen men desyrynge armes thus they sayled by the see had wynde and wether as they wolde wysshe so aryued without peryl or domage at the porte of saynt Andrewe in Bysquay in the yere of our lorde M.iii. C.lxxx .vi. the .xiiii day of the moneth of May. WHen these knyghtes squyers of FrauÌ„ were aryued at saynt Andrewes there they refresshed them .ii. dayes in that space they drew out of theyr shyppes theyr horses bagages then they set forthe demaunded where they sholde fynde the kynge of Castell it was shewed them howe they sholde fynde hym in the cyte of Burgus in Spayne where as theÌ„ he had a grete counsayle for the busynes of his royalme These knyghtes squyers toke theyr way to Burgus so came thyder the kynge of Castell was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge demauÌ„ded of them tydynges of Fraunce what way they came thyder They answered howe they came by the see fro Rochel how it was sayd in frauÌ„ce that the duke of Lancastre had a grete army of meÌ„ of armes archers to come the same season in to Castel or elles in to Portyngale also how the kynge of Portyngale had sent a noÌ„bre of galeys other shyppes in to EnglaÌ„de for hym of these tydynges the kyng of Spayne was more pensyue theÌ„ he was before how be it he made no semblaunt but well he thought he sholde haue sore warre in that season how be it he made good chere to these knyghtes and squyers of Fraunce thanked them gretely of theyr comynge And then he sayd to syr Robert of Braquemont and to syr IohnÌ„ his broder Syrs when ye departed fro me the yere that is past I desyred you that when soeuer ye retourned agayne hyder that ye sholde brynge with you tenyse balles of Parys for vs to play togyder how be it it had ben better I hadde charged you to haue brought good baâ—senetes good harneys for I thynke we shall fynde the season well to enploye them Syr sayd the knyght we haue brought of bothe syr alwayes we can not be armed nor alwayes play Thus the kynge of Castell made them ryght good chere then they had affeccyon to god on pylgrymage to saynt Iames syth they were in the countrey and some of them had auowed so to do so they rode all togyder for company and trussed with them all theyr harneys as thought they sholde haue gone to batayle they dyd wysely in theyr so doynge for it stode them in good stede or they retourned agayne as ye shall here after Nowe let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastres armye who were on the coost of Normandy IN lyke maner as by coÌ„paryson as fawcons pelegrynes that haue stande and â—ested longe on the perche hath grete desyre to flye abrode In lyke maner the knyghtes and squyers of Englonde desyred to fynde dedes of armes to auaunce themselfe and sayd eche to other Why do ye not aryue go se the boundes portes of Normandy there be knyghtes and squyers to awake vs and to fyght with vs these wordes multyplyed that it came to the dukes eyres and the duke or he departed out of Englonde knewe that syr IohnÌ„ of Malestroyt and the lorde of Cambor Morfonac and a grete nombre of knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne lay at the syege in bastydes before the castell of Brest by the commaundement of the constable of
to all my demaundes then the erle of Buckyngham sayd syr kynge of Armony we be ordeyned here to kepe defende this passage and the fronters of Englande by the kynge and his counsayle and we haue no charge to medle ony further with the busynes of the royalme without we be otherwyse commaunded by the kyng but syth ye be come for a good entente in to this countrey ye be ryght welcome but syr as for ony ferme answere ye can haue none of vs for as nowe we be not of the coūsayle but we shall conuey you to the kynge wtout peryll or domage the kynge thanked them and sayd I desyre nothynge elles but to se the kynge and to speke with hym ¶ Howe the kynge of Amony retourned out of Englande of the answere that was made to hym Ca. lvii WHen the kynge of Armony was refresshed at Douer a day and had spoken with the kynges vncles at good leysure then he departed towarde London with a good conduyte that the lordes appoynted to hym for fere of ony rencountres so longe he rode that he came to London and in his rydynge thrughe London he was well regarded bycause he was a straūger and he had good chere made hym and soo was brought to the kynge who laye in the ryall at the quenes warderobe and his counsayle were in London at theyr lodgynges the Londonners were fore fortefyenge of theyr cyte When the comynge of the kynge of Armony was knowen the kynges counsayle drewe to the kyng to here what tydynges the kyng brought in that troublous season when the kynge of Armony was come in to the kynges presence he made his salutacyon and then began his processe on the state howe he was come out of Fraunce pryncypally to se the kynge of Englande whome he had neuer sene before and sayd howe he was ryght ioyous to be in his presence trustynge that some goodnes sholde come therby and there he shewed by his wordes that to withstande the grete pestylence that was lykely to be in englande therfore he was come of his owne good wyl to do some good therin if he myght not sent fro the frensshe kynge wyllynge to set some accorde and peas bytwene ye. ii royalmes englande and fraunce many fayre plesaunt wordes the kynge of Armony spake to that kynge of Englande and to his counsayle then he was shortly answered thus syr kyng ye be welcome in to this royalme for the kynge our souerayne lorde all we are glad to se you here but syr we saye that the kynge hath not here all his counsayle but shortely they shall be here and then ye shall be answered the kynge of Armony was contente therwith and so retourned to his lodgynge with in .iiii. dayes after the kynge was counsayled I thynke he had sente to his vncles to knowe theyr ententes but they were not present at the answere gyuynge to go to the palays of Westmynstre and his counsayle with hym suche as were aboute hym and to sende for the kynge of Armony to come thyder and when he was come in to the presence of the kynge of Englande and his counsayle the kynge sate downe and the kynge of Armony by hym and then the prelates and other of his counsayle there the kynge of Armony rehersed agayne his requeites that he made and also shewed wysely howe all crystēdome was sore decayed and feblysshed by occasyon of the warres bytwene Englande Fraūce and howe that al the knyghtes and squyers of bothe royalmes entended to nothynge elles but alwayes to be on the one parte or of the other Wherby the empyre of Constantynoble leseth and is lyke to lese for before this warre the knyghtes and squyers were wonte to aduenture themselfe also the kynge of Armony shewed that by occasyon of this war he had lost his royalme of Armony wherfore he desyred for goddes sake that there myght be some treatye of peas had bytwene the .ii. royalmes of Englande Fraunce To these wordes answered the archebysshop of Cauntorbury for he had charge so to do and he sayd syr kynge of Armony it is not the maner nor neuer was sene bytwene .ii. suche enemyes as the kynge of Englande and the Frensshe kynge that the kynge my souerayne lorde sholde be requyred of peas and to entre his landes with a puyssaunt army Wherfore syr we say to you that yf it please you ye maye retourne to the Frensshe kynge and cause hym and all his puyssaunce to retourne backe in to theyr owne countreys and when euery man is at home then yf it please you ye maye retourne agayne hyder and then we shall gladly entende to your treatye This was all the answere the kynge of Armony coulde gete there and so he dyned with the kynge of Englande and hadde as grete honoure as coulde be deuysed and the kynge offered hym many grete gyftes of golde and syluer but he wolde take noone though he had nede therof but alonely a rynge to the value of a C. frankes After dyner he toke his leue and retourned vnto his lodgynge and the nexte daye departed and was in two dayes at Douer and there toke his leue of suche lordes as were there and so toke the see in a passagere and aryued at Calays fro thens wente to Sluse and there he spake with the frensshe kynge and with his vncles and shewed them howe he hadde ben in Englande and what answere he had The frensshe kynge and his vncles toke no regarde to his sayenge but sente hym agayne backe in to fraunce for theyr full entencyon was to entre in to Englande as soone as they myght haue wynde and wether And the duke of Berre and the constable came to them the wynde was sore contrary to them for therwith they coulde neuer entre in to Englande but the wynde was good to goo in to Scotlande ¶ Howe the duke of Berre departed from Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was cōtrary to hym Ca. lviii THus the duke of Berre herde masse in our Lady chyrche in Parys and there toke his leue sayd how he wolde neuer entre there agayne tyll he hadde ben in Englande howbeit for all his wordes he thought the contrary for he had no desyre therto for the wynter season was sore come on and all the waye as he came he had letters fro the kynge and fro the duke of Borgoyne in hastynge of hym certefyenge hym howe they taryed for noo thynge elles but for his comynge Soo the duke of Berre rode alwayes forwarde but it was but by small iourneys ¶ And the constable of Fraunce departed fro the cyte of Lentryngyet standynge on the see syde in Bretayne with grete nombre of men of armes and prouyson he had a .lxxii. shyppes and with hym he hadde the closure of the felde made of tymbre the constable and his company had good wynde at the begynnynge but when they
that the tretye of the maryage of his doughter with Iohn of Bretayne was passed for the duke of Lancastre had his doughter with hym in to Castell then he thought to ratrete the kyng of englande to gyue hym in rewarde for suche seruyce as he had done and entended to do Iohn̄ of Brtayne for yf he coulde gete hym of the kyng he was agreed with the constable of Fraunce to haue for his raunsome at two paymentes .vi. score M. frākes the fyrst .lx. M. to be payde as sone as Iohn̄ of Bretayne were sent delyuered in to the towne of Boloyne and the other .lx. M. to be payde at Parys whersoeuer he wolde haue it delyuered the duke of Irelande coueted these floreyns and dyd so moche with the kynge of englande that the kynge gaue hym Iohn̄ of Bretayne clerely wherof many in Englande had grete meruayle but they that lyst to speke wolde speke there was none other thynge the duke of Irelande caused hym to be delyuered in to Boloyne and there the constable had made redy euery thynge for hym dnd so he rode to Parys and there founde the kynge and other lordes of his lygnage who made hym good chere and the constable also who brought hym in to Bretayne and there Iohan of Bretayne wedded his doughter as he had promysed and when the duke of Bretayne knewe that Iohn̄ of Bretayne was retourned in to Fraunce and clene delyuered out of Englande by the ayde and purchase to the constable of Fraunce then he had the cōstable in double hatred sayd what weneth syr Olyuer of Clesson to put me out of myne herytage he sheweth wel the tokens therof he hath delyuered out pryson Iohn̄ of Bretayne and hath gyuen hym his doughter in marriage whiche thynges are to me ryght dyspleasaunt surely that shall I well shewe ones on a daye howe he hath not wel done peraduenture whē he taketh leest hede therof he sayd truely for he shewed it quyckely or the yere passed as ye shall here after in the story But fyrst we wyll speke of the busynes of Castell and Portyngale and of an armye on the see that the englysshmen made to come to Sluse HEre before ye haue herde how the frensshe kynges armye by the see to haue gone in to englande was broken vp in the same season not by the frensshe kynges good wyll for alway he shewed good courage to haue passed in to Englande and when he sawe howe the iourney brake he was more dyspleased then ony other and all the fawte was layde vpon the duke of Berre howbeit it was to be thought that he saw more depelyer in the matter then ony other in his counsayllynge to leue the iourney was for the honoure and profyte of the royalme of fraunce ▪ for who soo euer enterprysed to doo a thynge ought to regarde what ende may come therof and the duke of Berre had ben before so longe in englande in hostage for the kyng his fader had ben so cōuersaunt among the englyssh men had sene so moche of the countrey that he knewe by reason what effecte the goynge in to englande sholde haue come to the cause moost exscusable not to go was bycause wynter was so farre ronne But then it was sayd that the constable of fraunce the nexte somer sholde goo in to englande with a .vi. M. men of armes and as many crosse bowes for it was thought by hymselfe sayd howe that nombre was sufficy to fyght with the englysshe men by reason the constable ought to haue knowen it for he had ben nourysshed there in his yonge dayes whē these lordes were retourned in to Fraunce thē it was determyned to sende socours in to Castell to ayde the kynge there agaynst the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre for it was thought that shortely there sholde be some dedes of armes for the englysshmen kepte the felde And it was consydered that they coulde sende noo men of warre thyder without grete cost and charge for the iourney was ferre of there was but lytell money in the kynges treasoury nor in treasourers handes for the some of money that had ben gadered of the people before in the royalme was spente wasted wherfore they studyed howe to gete more and soo a newe tayle and taxe was deuysed to ryn thrughout all the royalme of Fraunce to be payde incontynent without delay noysynge howe it was for the comfortynge of the kynge of Spayne and to dryue the englysshmen out of his royalme This tayle was publysshed in euery place and the kynges commyssyoners sente in to euery good towne and Cyte who sayd to the gouernours of the townes Syrs thus moche your towne is taxed at the whiche ye must pay incontynent then the rulers sayd syrs we shall gather this some and then sende it to Parys nay syrs not so sayd the commyssaryes we wyl not abyde so longe we wyll do otherwyse then so and commaunded in the kynges name a .x. or xii of the best of the towne to goo to pryson without they payde the some without ony longer delay the honest men fered the pryson and the kynges dyspleasure wherfore they drewe them togyder and payde the money incontynente and recouered it agayne of the poore mē thus they dyd in euery good towne so that there were so many tayles and taxes one after and ther for the fyrst was scante payde when another began thus in that season the noble royal me of fraunce was gouerned and the poore people ouer ledde So that many auoyded out of theyr townes and forsoke theyr herytages and houses for they were fayne to sell all that they had and some wente to dwell in Haynalte and in to the bysshopryche of Lyege where as there ranne no taxe nor tayllage ¶ Howe the duke of Borbon was chosen to goo in to Castell and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyral of flaunders was taken prysoner by the Englysshe men Ca. lxxii THen yt was deuysed what capytaynes sholde go in to Spayne Fyrst they apoynted the gentyll duke of borbone that he sholde be souerayne capytayne aboue all other or he departed there was apoynted .ii. other capytaynes to be in the vowarde and the duke of Borbon in the rerewarde with .ii. M. speres knyghtes squyers these .ii. capytaynes that sholde be in the vowarde were syr Wellyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer hf Passac these .ii. lordes when they knewe that they sholde be the capytaynes of certayne men of armes to go in to Castel they prepayred thē selfe for that iourney then knyghtes and squyers were sente for all aboute the royalme of fraunce to go to Castell and the passages were opened as well in Nauare as in Aragon thenne knyghtes and squyers departed fro Bretayne Poycton Aniowe Mayne Torayne Bloys Orleaunce Beause pycardy borgoyne berre Awuergne fro all the boundes of the royal me of fraunce euery man toke theyr way to go in to Castell
nyght at Ercyell and the nexte nyght at Tarbe he rode that daye a grete iourney and then he determyned to sende fro thens to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and soo he dyd aduertysynge hym howe he had spedde with the erle of Foyze and desyrynge hym to come on forwarde with all theyr companyes and shewynge hym howe the countrey of Byerne and all the good townes sholde be open payenge trewely for that they take or elles not ¶ This messagere dydde soo moche that he came to Thoulouse and dydde his message and delyuered his letters ¶ And when syr wyllyam hadde redde the contynewe hereof he made it to be knowen to all his company that they sholde set on forwarde soo that as soone as they entred ony parte of the erle of Foyze lande to pay for euery thynge that they sholde take elles theyr capytaynes to answere for euery thynge this was cryed by the sounde of a trompet fro lodgynge to lodgynge to the entente that euery man sholde knowe it then euery man dyslodged out of the marches of Tholouse Carcassone Lymous and of Marbon and so entred in to Bygore and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac toke his hors and rode to Tarbe to syr Gaultyer his companyon and there made good chere togyder and theyr bandes and rowâ—es passed by and assembled togyder in Bygore to ryde in company thrughe the countrey of Byerne to passe at Ortays the ryuer of Gaure whiche renneth to Bayon AT the yssuynge out of the countrey of Byerne is the entre of the countrey of Bâ—squey in the whiche countrey as then the kyng of englande helde grete landes in the bysshopryches of Burdeaus Bayon there were a .lxxx. townes with steples that helde of the kynge of englande when they vnderstode of the passage of these frensshmen thrugh theyr countrey they were in doubte of ouer rynnynge brennynge exylynge for as then there were no men of war of theyr partye in all that countrey to defende theyr fronters the sage men drewe togyder sente to trete with the frensshe capytaynes and to bye theyr peas then they sent to Ortays .iiii. men hauynge auctoryte to make theyr peas These .iiii. men met by the way with a squyer of the erle of Foyze called Ernalton du Pyn shewed hym all theyr matter desyrynge hym to helpe theÌ„ to speke with syr Gaultyer of Passac and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac when they came to Ortays whiche sholde be within .iii. or .iiii. dayes after and to helpe to ayde to make theyr peas he answered that he wolde do so with a good wyll The nyght that the capytaynes came to Ortays they were lodged at the same squyers house and there he ayded them of Bysquey to make theyr apoyntment and they to pay .ii. M. frankes and theyr countrey saued fro brennynge and robbynge the erle of Foyze gaue a dyuer to these capytaynes and to syr Wyllyam of Lygnac a fayre courser the nexte daye they passed to Sameterre and entred in to the countrey of Bysquey whiche was redemed they toke vytayles where as they myght gete it and so passed thrughe the countrey without doyng of ony other domage so came to saynt IohnÌ„s de Pye of Porte at the entre of Nauare ¶ Howe syr IohnÌ„ Holande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Ca. lxxviii Here before ye haue herde howe the towne of Besaâ—ces was put in composycyon with the duke of Lancastre and howe it was yelden vp to hym for the kynge of Castell dyd comforte it nothynge and howe the duches of Lancastre and her doughter came to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale to se the kynge the quene there and howe the kynge and the lordes there receyued them ioyfully as it was reason and thus whyle the duke of Lancastre soiourned in the towne of Besances tydynges came thyder fro Valeolyue brought by an heraulde of fraunce who demaunded where was the lodgynge of syr IohnÌ„ Holande and so he was brought thyder then he kneled downe before hym and delyuered hym a letter and sayd syr I am an offycer of armes sent hyder to you fro syr Raynolde du Roy who saluteth you yf it please you to rede your letter then syr IohnÌ„ sayd with ryght a good wyll and thou arte ryght welcome and opened his letter and redde it wherin was conteyned howe syr Raynolde du Roy desyred hym in the way of amours and for the loue of his lady to delyuer hym of his chalenge iii. courses with a spere .iii. strokes with a sworde iii. with a dagger and .iii. with an axe that if it wolde please hym to come to Valeolyue he wolde prouyde for hym .lx. horse a sure saufcoÌ„duyte yf not he wolde come to Besances with .xxx. horses so that he wolde gete for hym a saufcondyte of the duke of Lancanstre When syr IohnÌ„ Holande had red these letters he began to smyle behelde the heraulde sayd frende thou arte welcome thou hast brought me tydynges that pleaseth me ryght wel I accepte his desyre thou shalte obyde here in my house with my company to morowe thou shalte haue answere where our armes shal be accomplysshed outher in Galyce or in Castell syr sayd the heraulde as it pleaseth god you ¶ The heraulde was there at his ease and syr IohnÌ„ wente to the duke and founde hym talkynge with the marshall then he shewed them his tydynges and the letters Well sayd the duke and haue ye accepted his desyre ye truely syr sayd he and I desyre nothynge so moche as dedes of armes and the knyght hath desyred me but nowe syr where shall it be your pleasure that we doo our armes the duke studyed a lytell and then sayd I wyll that they be done in this towne make a saufconduyte for hym as it shall please you and I shall seale it In the name of god sayd syr IohnÌ„ that is well sayd the saufcondyte was wryten for hym .xxx. knyghtes and squyers to come saufe and go saufe then syr IohnÌ„ Holande delyuered it to the heraulde and gaue hym a mantell furred with myneuer and .xii. aungell nobles The heraulde toke his leue and retourned to Valeolyue to his mayster and there shewed howe he had sped and delyuered the saufconduyte on the other parte tydynges came to the cyte of Porte to the kynge of Portyngale and to the ladyes there howe that these dedes of armes sholde be done at Besances Well sayd the kynge I wyll be therat and the quene my wyfe with other ladyes and damoyselles the duches of Lancastre who was as then there thanked the kynge in that she sholde at her retourne be accompanyed with the kynge and with the quene it was not longe after but the tyme approched Then the kynge of Portyngale the quene the duches and her other doughter with other ladyes and damoyselles rode â—orth in grete aray towarde Besances when the duke of
maye take suche trauayle and sykenes that they maye happen repente them that they haue come soo forwarde for they shall not fynde the ayre soo attemperate there as it is in Englande or in frauÌ„ce nor the wynes so pleasaunt for in Galyce the ryuers be troublous and coolde bycause of the snowes that dyscende downe frome the mountaynes wherby they theyr horses after theyr trauayle all the daye in the hoote sone shall be morfoundred or they be ware they be not made of stele nor yet of yron but at lengthe they shall not endure the hote countrey of Castell they be men as we be Thus I thynke we can not better bete them but to let them go where they lyst they shall fynde nothynge in the playne countreys nor no delectable places to refresshe them for as I vnderstande all the open countrey is all redy dystroyed with our owne men and I alowe well that aduyse for yf it were to doo I wolde counsayle the same syrs yf there be ony here can speke better let hym speke we shall be glad to here hym and this syr Gaultyer and I desyre you all thus to doo then they all answered with one voyce lette this aduyse be admytted we can consyder no better nor more profytable way for the kynge of Castel his royalme SO it was there they concluded that they sholde make no countenaunce of warre tyll the duke of Borbon and all theyr prouysyons were come but that theyr men of warre to be put in to dyuers garysons on the fronters of theyr countrey and suffre the englysshmen and Portyngales to go in and out in to the royalme of Castell at theyr pleasure sayenge howe they coulde not bere awaye the countrey with them when so euer they retourned thus ended the counsayle the kynge of Castel had the same daye all them at dyner with hym in his palays at Burgus in Spayne ryght plentyfull after the vsage of Spayne by the nexte daye at none al the men of armes departed thyder as they were appoynted by theyr capytaynes syr Olyuer Clysquy and the erle of Longueuyle with a thousande speres wente to a stronge towne on the fronter of Galyce called Vyllesaunte and syr Raynolde and syr Trystram of Roye was sente to another garyson a .x. legges fro he fronter of Galyce called Agyllar in the felde with thre hundred speres Syr Peter of Bellysme with two hundred speres wente to Pouelles the vycountâ— of Lune wente to the towne of Marolle syr IohnÌ„ of Barres with thre hundred speres was sente to the castell of Noye within Galyce Syr IohnÌ„ of castell Morant and syr Trystram of Iayell and dyuers other were sente to the cyte of Palance And the vycount of Belyer wente to the towne of Rybede and with hym syr IohnÌ„ of Braquen and syr Robert of Braquen â–ª ¶ Thus these men of armes were deuyded and syr Olyuer of Clysquy was made theyr constable and syr Wyllyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultyer of Passac abode styl with the kynge at Burgus In this case standynge was the busynes of Castell abydynge the comynge of the duke of Borbon who was styll in Fraunce makynge prouysyon for his iourney ¶ Nowe we wyll suffre in rest a season the armye of Castell and of the duke of Lancastre and also of the kynge of Portyngale and when the tyme requyreth we shal retourne ther to agayne And nowe lette vs speke of the aduentures that fell in the same season in Fraunce and in englande the whiche were troublous and peryllous for bothe royalmes and sore dyspleasaunt vnto the kynges and to bothe theyr counsayles ¶ How a grete myscheffe fell in Englande bytwene the gentyll men and comons for accompte of suche money as hadde ben reysed of the comons Ca. lxxxi HEre before ye haue herde howe the Frensshe armye with shyppes on the se that were assembled at Sluse to haue gone in to Englande was dasshed broken vp yet to shewe courage and desyre to goo another season in to englande and that it sholde not be sayd that the Frensshe men were recreaunt to haue made that voyage Therfore it was ordeyned that incontynent at the entre of May and that the see myght be fayre and pleasaunt The constable of Fraunce sholde make a iourney in to englande with .iiii. M. men of armes and .ii. M. crosse bowes and they sholde all assemble togyder at a cyte agaynst the fronter of Cornewall called Lentrygnyer and there to be made all theyr prouysyon and it was ordeyned euery man to haue a horse the more easely to â—yde abrode in Englande for it was thought without horse they coulde make noo warre that sholde auayle them soo there was assembled at this hauen of Lentygnyer a goodly apparell of shyppes barkes Bagengers and galeys wel fournysshed with wynes salte flesshe and bysquet and other thynges so largely that it was suffycyent for them to lyue by a foure or fyue monethes without takynge or byenge of ony thynge in the countrey for the constable and his company knewe well that as soone as the Englysshe men knewe of suche a company of men of warre comynge on them they wolde dystroye theyr owne goodes abrode in the playne countrey rather then we sholde haue ony case therof Therfore the constable made his prouysyon redy on that syde the see Also there was ordeyned another flete of shyppes at the hauen of Harflewe for the lorde of Coucy the lorde of saynt Poule and the admyrall of Fraunce sholde there take shyppynge with two thousande speres in lykewyse to goo in to Englande and as the brute wente all this was done to drawe backe agayne the duke of Lancastre and the duches out of Castell The same season the duke of Borbon was at Parys and thought surely that the duke of Lancastre sholde retourne home agayne in to Englande wherfore he thoughe he sholde haue no thynge to doo to go in to castell nor to trauayle his body so farre forthe So it was determyned that in the Constables armye sholde goo Bretons Augenyms Poyetenyns Manceaus and Xayngrons with knyghtes and squyers of the lowe marches and with the lorde of saynt Poule and with the lorde of Coucy sholde go frensshmen Normans Pycardes and with the duke of Borbon sholde goo two thousande speres of Berrey Auuernake of Lymosyn Borgoyne and of the bace marches Thus in that season the matters were concluded in Fraunce and euery man knewe what he sholde do outher to go in to Englande or in to Castell ANd true it was the royalme of Englande the same tyme was in grete peryll in a gretter ieoperdye then when the vyllaynes of Essex and Kent rebelled agaynst the kynge and the nobles of the royalme at whiche tyme they came vnto London I shall shewe you the reason why at that season all the noble men of the royalme toke one parte togyder with the kynge agaynst the comons but nowe it is not soo the nobles vary amonge themselfe The kynge is agaynst his owne
vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre and they were agaynst hym and all this varyaunce dyd ryse by the meanes of the duke of Irelande who bare all the chefe rule aboute the kynge and the comons of Englande in dyuers cytees knewe well of this dyscorde they that were sage men reputed it for a grete euyl and fered that moche trouble sholde growe therby but suche as were lyght persones made noo rekenynge therof some sayenge that it was for enuye that the kynges vncles hadde agaynst the kynge theyr nephewe and bycause they sawe howe the crowne of Englande began to growe farre of frome them and some other sayd how the kynge was but yonge and byleued yonge counsayle and howe that it were better for hym to byleue hys vncles who mente noo thynge to hym but al honoure and proâ—yte nor to the royalme of Englande rather then to be ruled by the prowde duke of Irelande who neuer sawe ony thynge perteynynge to honoure nor neuer was in ony batayle Thus euery man dyffered from other in the royalme of Englande Whiche trybulacyons were well knowen in Fraunce wherfore they made this grete prouysyon to goo thyder with all theyr puyssaunce thynkynge to doo a grete feate on the other syde the prelates of englande were in hatred one with another as the archebysshop of Cauntorbury who was of the Neuelles blood with the archebysshop of yorke And yet they were countrey men borne but they hated mortally eche other bycause the lorde Neuell hadde the rule and gouernaunce of Northumbrelande and soo to the marches of Skotlande aboue the erle of Northumbrelande and his chyldren the lorde Henry and the lorde Raffe of Percy whiche rule the lorde Neuelles broder had gotten hym for he was one of the chefe aboute the kynge with the duke of Irelande ¶ Of the grete dyscordes that were in Englande after the brekynge vp of the Frensshe armye armye and how the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the comons of the good townes to make accomptes of suche money as was come in to theyr handes the season that they ruled Ca. lxxxii AS sone as the englysshmen knewe that the voyage by the see that the frensshmen sholde haue made beynge at Sluse was dasshed and broken Then in Englande began dyuers murmuracyons in sundry places and suche as loued euyll rule rather then good sayd Where be nowe these grete entrepryses and these valyaunt men of englande that were in the dayes of kynge Edwarde the thyrde and with the prynce his sone we were wonte to go in to Fraunce and put backe our enemyes in suche maner that none durst make batayle with vs yf they dydde they were soone dyscomfyted O What a dede was that when the noble kynge Edwarde aryued in Normandy and in Constantyne and passed thrugh the royalme of Fraunce and what goodly entrepryse he acheued in his waye and after at Cressy he dyscomfyted kynge Phylyp and all the puyssaunce of Fraunce and or he retourned he wan the towne of Calays But as nowe the knyghtes and men of warre in Englande doo none suche feates ¶ Also the prynce of Wales sone to this noble kynge dyd he not take the Frensshe kynge IohnÌ„ and dyscomfyted his pyssaunce at Poycters with a smal nombre of people agaynste the people that kynge IohnÌ„ hadde In those dayes Englande was fered and doubted and were spoken of thrughe al the worlde for the floure of chyualry but as nowe no man speketh of vs for nowe there is noo warre made but at poore mennes purses therto euery man is enclyned in Fraunce as nowe the kynge there is but a chylde and yet he hath done more agaynst vs then ony of his predecessours And also he shewed grete courage to haue come in to Englande the lette therof was not by hym but by his men The tyme hath ben sene that yf suche an apparell of shyppes had ben made at Sluse they sholde haue ben foughten withall in theyr owne hauen and nowe the noble men of Englande are ioyfull when they maye sytre at rest and suffre them in peas but yet for all that they suffre not poore men to be in rest but put them to busynes to paye money The tyme hath ben that grete conquestes haue ben done in fraunce without payenge of ony money but suche ryches as hath ben gotten there it hath ben spred abrode in the royalme where is become the grete fynaunces and tayles that hath ben gadered in this royalme with the kynges rentes and accostomed reuenues outher they haue lost it or taken fro them it is behouable that it be knowen howe the royalme of Englande is gouerned and howe the kynge is ledde it were not good that it sholde be longe or it were knowen for this royalme of Englande is not soo ryche nor so puyssaunt to bere lyke charges as the royalme of Fraunce dothe ¶ Also it appereth wel that we in this royalme of englande are febled of wyttes and of grace We were wonte to knowe euery thynge that was done in Fraunce a thre or foure monethes or the case fell wherby we myght conuenyently make prouysyon and resystence but as nowe we knowe noo thynge But the Frensshe men knoweth all our secretes and counsayles we cannot tell in whome is the fawte it wyll be knowen vpon a daye There be some preuy traytours and it were better it were knowen betymes then to late for it maye be knowen soo laâ—e that it wyll be past remedy THus dyuersely men talked in Englande as well knyghtes and squyers as the comons soo that the royalme laye in a harde case and grete peryll And the grete assembly that the kyng and his vncles and his counsayle hadde made with grete expence in dyuers maners to resyst the frensshe kynge beynge a Sluse redy to entre in to Englande suche knyghtes and squyers and other as were in a redynes wolde as then be payde of theyr wages and so for that entente there was a parlyamente somoned to be holden at London by the nobles prelates and comons of Englonde and pryncypally it was ordeyned that there sholde be reysed a grete tayle and subsydye thrughe out the royalme of Englande the ryche to bere out the poore This parlyament was remoued to westmynstre and thyder came all suche as were sente for and many moo to here tydynges ¶ There was the kynge and his two vncles Edmunde and Thomas with many other nobles of the royalme And amonge other thynges yt was sayd that in the kynges treasoure there was substaunce skante to maynteyne the kynges estate soberly Wherfore they of his counsayle sayd howe there must be leuyed a subsydye thrughe out all the royalme of Englande yf suche costes and charges sholde be payde as hathe ben done for the defence of the royalme of englande agaynst the frensshe men To this agreed well they of the bysshopryche of Norwyche and also the archebysshopryche of Cauntorbury and the countye of Essex the countye of Hampton and
Warwykeshyre and the lande of the erle of Salysbury they agreed soner then they of ferther countreys as they of the north and marches of Wales and of Cornewall al these rebelled and sayd We haue not sene none of our enemyes come in to this countrey why sholde we be greued and haue done no fawte yes yes sayd some let the bysshop of yorke be spoken withall and the kynges counsayle and the duke of Irelande who hathe .lx. thousande frankes of the constable of fraunce for the redempcyon of Iohan of Bretayne this money ought to be tourned to the comon profyte of all Englande ye and speke with syr Symon Burle Syr Wyllyam Helmen Syr Thomas Branbe Syr Robert Tryuylyen and syr Iohan Beauchampe who haue gouerned the kynge and the royalme yf they make a good accompte of that they haue receyued and delyuer it the comons shall sytte in rest and euery thynge payde as it ought to be ¶ When these wordes came abrode and to the herynge of the kynges vncles they were ryght gladde therof for that made well for them for al those before named were agaynste them Nor they coulde bere noo rule in the courte for them Wherfore they ayded the people in theyr oppynyons and sayd These good men that thus speketh are well counsayled in that they desyre to haue accompte and wyll not paye ony more money For surely outher in the kynges treasure or elles in theyr purses that gouerne hym there must nedes be grete treasure Thus by lytell and lytell multyplyed these wordes and the people beganne to waxe bolde to deny to paye ony more money by reason that they sawe the kynges vncles of theyr accorde and susteyned them ¶ And the archebysshop of Cauntorbury the erle of Salysbury the erle of Northumbrelande and dyuers other lordes of Englande put of this taxe for that tyme and deferred theyr counsayle to Myghelmasse after at whiche tyme they promysed to retourne agayne but the knyghtes and squyers suche as had thought to haue had money for the arrerages of theyr wages hadde noo thynge Wherfore they were in dyspleasure with the kynge and his counsayle They were apeased as well as myght be euery man departed the kynge toke no leue of his vncles nor they of hym THen the kynge was counsayled to drawe in to the marches of Wales and there to tary tyll he herde other tydynges and soo he was contente to doo and departed fro London without leue takynge of ony man and toke with hym all his counsayle excepte the archebysshop of yorke who wente backe in to his â—â—ne countrey whiche was happy for hym for I thynke yf he hadde ben with the other he sholde haue ben serued as they were as ye shall here after But it is requysyte that I speke as well of Fraunce as of Englande for the matter requyreth it ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce and dyuers other lordes and squyers of the royalme apparelled grete prouysyons to go in to Englande to wynne townes and castelles Ca. lxxxiii ANd when season of somer was come and the ioly moneth of Maye in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC foure score and .vii. In the same season that the duke of Lancastre was in Galyce and conquered there and that the kynge of Portyngale with grete puyssaunce rode abrode in Castell without ony withstandynge Thenne was it ordeyned in Fraunce as ye haue herde before howe the constable of Fraunce with one army and the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Coucy and syr Iohan of Vyen with another armye the one at Lentrygnyer in Bretayne and the other at Harflewe in Normandy sholde the same season make a voyage in to englande with a .vi. thousande men of armes and two thousande crosse bowes and .vi. thousande other men of warre and it was ordeyned that none sholde passe the see to goo in to Englande without he were well armed and prouysyon of vytayles for the space of thre monethes with other prouysyon of hay ootes for theyr horses a daye was prefyxed amonge the capytaynes when they sholde departe and were determyned to lande in englande in two hauens at Douer and at Orwell thus the daye approched of theyr departure At Lentrygnyer prouysyon was made and put in to the shyppes for them that sholde passe from thens and in lyke wyse was done at Harflewe and euery man of war was payde theyr wages for .xv. dayes This iourney was soo farre forwarde that it was thought it coulde not haue ben broken ¶ Nor also it brake not by noo cause of the capytaynes that were ordeyned to goo in that voyage But it brake by another incydent and by a meruayllous matter that fell in Bretayne wherwith the Frensshe kynge and his counsayle were soore dyspleased but they coulde not amende it wherfore it behoued them wysely to dyssymule the matter for it was no tyme then to remedy it ¶ Also other tydynges came vnto the Frensshe kynge out of the partyes of Almayne as I shall shewe you hereafter when tyme and place shall requyre it But fyrst we wyll speke of the matters of Bretayne before them of Almayne for they of Bretayne fell fyrste and were worste reputed thoughe other cost more YF I sholde saye that suche matters fell in that season and not open clerely the mater whiche was grete peryllous and horryble it myght be a cronycle but nâ—o hystory I myght let it ouerpasse yf I lyst but I wyll not doo soo I shall declare the case syth god hathe gyuen me the knowledge therof and tyme and leysure to cronycle the matter at lengthe ¶ ye haue herde here before in dyuers places in this hystory howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde named duke of Bretayne and surely so he was by conquest and not by ryght lyne howbeit alwayes he maynteyned the warre and oppynyon of the kynge of Englande and of his chydren agaynst the frensshe kynge Also he had good cause soo to doo on his partye for without the ayde of englande he hadde not atteyned as he dyd nother before Alroy nor in other places Also ye haue herde here before howe the duke of Bretayne coulde not haue his entente of all the nobles of his countrey nor of all the good townes specyally of syr Bertram of Clesquy as longe as he lyued nor of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce nor of the lordes de la Vale and of Beawmanoyre nor the lorde of Rase of Dygnant the vycount of Rohan nor of the lorde of Rochforde for whereas these lordes enclyned nyghe all Bretayne folowed They were contente to take parte with theyr lorde the duke agaynst all maner of men excepte agaynst the crowne of Fraunce And surely I can not se nor ymagyne by what waye but that the Bretons pryncypally regarded euer the honoure of Fraunce it maye well appere by that that is wrytten here before in this hystory I saye not this by noo corrupcyon nor fauoure that I haue to the erle Guy of Bloys who hath
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
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
good chere And anone after the kyng and the quene deê‘ted and wente to Conymbres a dayes iourney fro thens and the duke taryed there a.ii. monethes In the meane season he ordayned for all his busynesse and hadde galyes of the kyng and they were apparelled had with hym the mayster patrone of Portungale named Alphons Brecart And whan they sawe good tyme to take the see the duke and all his entred in to their vesselles and disacred and toke the see were within a day and a halfe of Bayon whiche was more than threscore and. 〈◊〉 leages of And there the duke toke laÌ„dynge and founde nat there sir Iohan Hollande nor the other Englysshe men for they were departed and gone to Burdeux there toke shippyng and so in to Englande The duke taryed at Bayon a longe space and lyued there of the reuenewes of Bayon Burdeux and of the lande of Acquitayne of all that was vnder the obeysaunce of kyng Richarde of Englande for he had commissyon suffycient to receyue the profytes of all those landes and was called duke and gouernour of them ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke a season of the duke of Lancastre and of the Englysshmen and let vs treat of other maters ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake toke great payne to treate with the coÌ„panyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C.x. IN this reason the erle of Armynake was in Auuergne was intreatyng of the companyons suche as laye in fortresses in garyson In Auuergne Quersy Lymosen This erle hadde great desyre to cause these capitayns to departe out of the realme of Fraunce and to leaue suche holdes as they were in for these laÌ„des were sore oppressed by them and greatly impouerisshed And so he was in coÌ„munycacion with them all except Geffray Teate Noyre who helde Wenchadore agaynst the erle of Armynake These sayd capitayns shulde receyue at one payment two hundred and .l. thousande fraÌ„kes And to paye this soÌ„me the sayde landes were bounde for they were glad to be delyuered of these people for otherwise they coude nat labour the erthe nor occupy their feate of marchaundise nor do any thyng for feare of these pyllers without they were patesed by them And the charge of their patesyng drewe well yerely to the soÌ„me that they shulde pay to haue them delyuered And thoughe these countreis had warre with the Englysshmen yet there were amonge them but fewe of the nacyon of Englande But there were Gascoyns bretons almayns foyzons and men of dyuers countreis who were gathered toguyder to do yuell dedes And whan the coÌ„posycions of the redempcion was made and agreed they excepted Geffray Teate noyre and his forterers for he wolde do nothynge for them Than the erle of Armynake prayed the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne who was a great capitayne that he shulde treate with the sayd Geffray and that he wolde do so moche to go in to Fraunce to the kyng and his couÌ„sayle the dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyn who as than had the gouernyng of the realme to haue their counsayle and assystence For without their aduyse agrement they durst reyse vp no tayle in the countrey The Erle Dolphyn of Auuergne at the request of the erle of Armynake toke his iourney to Paris as than the kynge was nat there he was at Roane Thyder rode the erle and there shewed all the mater to the kynge and his counsayle but he was nat shortely dispatched for they douted the treatie of these people said Sir erle Dolphyn we knowe well that the erle of Armynake and you wolde right gladlye the honour and profyte of the realme for your partes lyeth therin ye haue fayre landes there But we doute greatly that whan these capitayns gascoyns bernoyes other be payed suche somes of money as the composicyon requyreth wherby the countre shulde be enpouerisshed that than within thre or four monethes after they shulde retourne againe and make worse warre than they dyd before and entre agayne in to these fortresses than the erle of Dolphyn answered and sayd sirs it is our ententes the tayle cessed and gadered that the money shall nat passe out of Cleremonde or Ryon tyll we be certifyed and in suretie of these people Well quod the dukes we are content that the money be leuyed and put in sure kepyng in some place in the same countre for at the leest it shall serue to make them warre if they wyll nat come to some amyable treatie And that the erle of Armynake and you the bysshoppe of Cleremonde and the bisshoppe of Puy take ye the charge of this mater and do so as it may be for your honour and profite to the couÌ„tre With right a good wyll sir quod the erle and so deê‘ted fro the kyng and his vncles fro Roane and founde the erle of Armynake his brother at Cleremont in Auuergne with many lordes of the countre taryenge there vpon his commyng and there he shewed worde for worde that he had with the freÌ„che kyng and his vncles and the doutes that were made in the mater And howe it was their ententes that the tayle shulde be gadered and the money ther of gadered toguyder and putte in suretie in some certayne place tyll the very entente of these pyllers might be knowen who kepeth castels and garisons agaynst the realme the same is our entencion quod the erle of Armynake and sithe it pleaseth the kynge and his counsayle we shall go further in the mater but for the more suretie it must behoue vs to haue a good and a sure truse with theÌ„ for all the countrey tyll the tayle be cessed and gadered Than there were ambassadours assigned by the erle of Armynake to go and speke with Perot le Bernoys and Amergot Marcell These two were as souerayns of the fortresse that they helde on that syde the ryuer of Durdone and also to speke with the Borge of Compaigne with Bernarde of the Isles with Olyuer Barbe abton with Seghewe the lorde of Laenplayre and dyuers other All these capitayns acorded nat togyder for that the one wolde the other wolde nat I shal shewe you the reason why THey were of dyuers opinyons and of dyuers countreis They of Armynake suche as were vnder the obeysaunce of the Erle of Armynake were soone agreed but all the other wolde nat be ruled by hym for the chefe company of them and suche as were most renomed to vse grete robbery and pillery were of Bierne and of the countie of Foiz Howbeit I saye nat but that the erle of Foiz wolde the honour of the realme of Fraunce But whan he herde first howe the erle of Armynake dyde treate with them for suche fortresses as they helde in Auuergne in Quercy and in Lymosyn as he that desyred to knowe the hole substauÌ„ce of the mater Demaunded of them that enfourmed hym therof what the erle of Armynake was mynded to do with the men that were in the garysons whan they
their prisoner they make great ioye therof and wyll conuey hym in to Boesme or in to Austryche or in to Xasenne and kepe hym in some castell inhabytable They are people worse than sarazins or paynyms for their excessyue couetousnesse quencheth the knowledge of honoure Lette vs go and put the kynge in daunger amonge these people and if any thynge happen to fall a mysse as the chaunces of fortune are maruaylous what shall be sayde than howe we haue brought the kynge thyder to betray him and to the dystructyon of the realme and nat for the augmentynge therof God defende the realme fro all domage and parell If the kyng go he muste haue parte of his noble men with hym And if mysse fortune fall the realme of Fraunce is loste without recouery Therfore loke wysely if it be good to counsayle the kyng to go that voyage in to Almayne Than some other suche as had wysely coniected all parelles in their imagynacyons sayd In the name of god lette nother the kynge go nor yet sende thyder no puyssaunce For though the duke of Guerles who is but yonge and that youthe of wytte haue made hym to defye the kynge whiche was nat done by no greate wysdome nor good counsayle but rather done by folissh pride of yonge people who wolde flye or they haue wynges And sythe he hathe thus defyed the kynge lette hym alone and suffre hym to pursewe his desyaunce the realme of Fraunce is great if he entre in to the realme in any maner of wyse the kinge shall sone be enfourmed therof and than he shall haue a iuste cause to styre vp his people and to go and fyght agaynste hym where so euer he fynde hym or els to make hym flye or yelde hym in the felde and therby the kynge shall haue more honour and lesse charge than to go in to Guerles for suche as knowe the countrey saye that or we can come to the duke if he lyste we must passe a foure great ryuers the lyste of them as great as the ryuer of Loyre at Namurs or Charite Also they say it is a fowle countrey and yuell lodgynges THe noble men and counsaylouts of Fraunce were thus in dyuers imagynacyons on this voyage that the kynge wolde make in to Almayne and surely it had ben auaunsed the soner forwarde and they had nat douted the venym that myght growe by the occasyon of Bretayne and of the duke there that mater drewe theym a backe And indede they had good cause to doute it for the duke of Bretayne was well infourmed of the defyaunce that the duke of Guerles hadde made to the Frenche kynge and howe that the yonge kinge Charles wolde go in to Almayne The duke loked for nothyng els but that the kynge shulde be ones departed out of his Realme of Fraunce he hadde ordeyned and concluded bytwene hym and the englysshe men to suffre the englisshe army to entre in to his countrey And also he had by subtyle meanes drawen to his acorde the moste parte of the good townes of Bretaygne and specyally Nauntes Wennes Rennes Lentriguier Guerrādo Lambale saynte Malo and saynte Mathewe defyn poterne but the noble men he coulde nat gette to his opynyon Than the duke imagyned if the lordes shulde go with the constable of Fraunce in to Almayne thanne his warre and entente shulde the soner come to passe He caused his townes and castels to be well prouyded for with vytayles and artyllary and he shewed well howe he inclyned rather to the warre than to haue pease Also he had great alyaunce with Charles they yonge kyng of Nauerre and the duke promysed hym that if he might come to his entent to haue puyssaunce of men of armes and archers out of Englāde he wolde bringe them streight in to Normandy and recouer fyrst the good townes and castels that kynge Charles of Fraunce vncle to the kynge of Nauerre had taken fro hym by his men as the lorde of Coucy and outher Of this the kynge of Nauer had great trust and by reason therof he helde in humble loue the duke of Lancastre who was at Bayon for bytwene theym was great alyaunces And of all this I sawe great apparence as I shall shewe after IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and eyght the seuenth daye of Aprell it was concluded by the kynge of Englande and his counsayle and by his vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Glocestre that the erle Rycharde of Arundell shulde be heed and chefe of an army on the see with hym a thousande men of armes and thre thousande archers and to be at Hamton the fyftene day of May and there to fynde his nauy redy apparelled And euery man that was apoynted to go to be there redy at that daye And the kynge of Englande on saynte Georges daye nexte after helde a great feast at his castell of Wyndesore And there were the chefe lordes that shulde go with therle of Arundell and there they toke their leaues of the kynge and of the quene and of all other ladyes and so came to Hampton at their daye apoynted and entred in to their shyppes the twenty day of May whiche was a fayre clere day There was the erle of Arundell the erle of Notyngham the Erle of Deuonshyre syr Thomas Percy the lorde Clifforde sir Iohn̄ of Ware wyke sir Willyam de la Selle the lorde Cameux syr Stephyn de Libery syr Willyam Helman syr Thomas Moreaur syr Iohan Dambreticourt syr Roberte Sere sir Peter Mountbery sir Loys Clombo sir Thomas Coq syr Willyam Pulle and dyuers other They were of good men of armes a thousand speares and aboute a thre thousande archers They had with theym no horses for they trusted if they might come to their ententes to entre in to Bretayne and there to refresshe them where as they shulde fynde horses ynowe at a good price to serue them The daye that they departed fro Hampton was so fayre and peasable that it was meruayle they drewe towardes Normādy nat purposyng to lande in any parte but to passe by the fronters of Normandy and Bretayne tyll they herde other newes They had in their nauy certayne vessels called Ballengers who sayled on before to se if they myght fynde any aduenture in lyke maner as knyghtes do by lande go before the bataylles to dyscouer the coūtrey and enbusshes ¶ Nowe we shall leaue a season of spekynge of this army and speke somwhat of the busynesse of Guerles Brabant and shewe howe the siege was layde to Graue ¶ Howe the brabansoys layde siege to the towne of Graue And howe the constable of Fraunce toke saynte Malo and saynte Mathewes and set there men in garyson and howe the duke of Lancastre was at Bayon greatly dyscomforted in that he coulde gette no maner of ayde Cap. C.xxvi AS it hath been shewed here before of the auncyent dukes of Guerles howe the eldest sonne of the duke of
mounted and so returned to his lodgynge in the strete of that Harpe and none taryed with hym of them that conueyed hym but suche as came with hym out of Bretaygne to Parys AFter all this the duke of Bretaygne spake at leysar with the kynge his vncles so that euery man was well contente with hym and he tooke well euery thynge that had ben promysed to hym for he sawe nouther the constable nor Iohn̄ of Bretayne Whan the lordes sawe that euery thyng was in good state and that they neded nat to doute the duke of Bretaygne seynge they had hym at Paris for they thought he shulde nat departe thens tyll he had done in maner euery thyng as the kynge wolde than it was thought good tyme to ordeyne forth for the voyage in to Guerles whyder the kyng had great affection to go to subdue the duke of Guerles who had so shamfully defied the kyng the whiche cōsydred was nat thoght good to be suffred Than it was ordayned that the lorde of Coucy shulde drawe to the marches of Rennes and Chalous in Champayn and to regarde for the kynges passage that waye and to moue the knyghtes squyers in Bare and in Lorayne to go with him whyder he wolde lede them nat spekynge of the kyng but bearyng them in hande that he wolde go to recouer his ryght in Austryche The lorde of Coucy thus departed fro Parys and wente to Chalous in Champayne and there taryed a moneth and retaygned on all partes knyghtes and squyers ī Bare and in Lorayne in Champaygne and in Retheloys And the Frēche kyng departed fro Parys whan he had cōmuned with the duke of Bretaygne of dyuers maters and nat fully accomplysshed For the sute in the courte of Fraunce is longe whan they lyste and right well they canne foode forthe the people to make theym spende moche and bringe lytell to effecte The kynge came to Moustreau on faulte you in the marchesse of Brie and Gastenoys and there he helde his courte and of ten tymes chased hartes and other wylde beestes in the forest of Brie The same seasone there was a dede of armes done there bitwene an Englisshe knight who was there with the duke of Irelande called sir Thom̄s Harpyngham and sir Iohan of Barres wherof great brute was made in Fraunce and other places Their chalenge was fyue courses with a speare fyue strokes with the sworde fyue with a daggar and fyue with the axe and if any of their weapons brake than they to gette newe tyll their chalenge were accōplysshed These two knyghtes on a day lept on their horses well armed as appertayned The kynge and all other lordes beyng present and moche people and ranne toguyder foure courses ryght valiauntly and as me thought the vsage was than̄e their Helmes were tyed but with a lace to the entente the speare shulde take no holde the fyrst course sir Iohan of Barres strake the Englysshe knyght on the targe in suche wyse that he bare hym ouer the horse crope so that he laye stonyed on the grounde and moche payne to releue Than they perfourmed forthe all the reste of their chalenge in so goodly maner that the kyng and all the other were well cōtent with them ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell beyng on the see more than a moneth came to the hauyn of Marante a lytell fro Rochell And howe he sent a messāgere to Perotte le Bernoys that he and other capitayns shulde kepe the feldes Cap. C.xxxiii IT is long sythe I made any mencyon of the Englysshe armye on the see wherof Rycharde Erle of Arundell was capitayne and with hym many knyghtes squyers and archers of Englande I shall nowe somwhat speke of hym for the mater requyreth it yE haue herde here before of the treatie that the kyng of Englande made with the duke of Bretaygne This nauy on the see all this season laye euer coostynge the fronters of Bretaygne and Normādy if ioynde and wether draue thē thens they euer came thyder agayne And they had in their flete some small vesselles called Balyngers who wente euer and scoured the see The flete had layne at ancre more than a moneth agaynst the ysle of Breshatte in Bretayne And there they herde tidynges howe the duke of Bretaygne was gone to Bloyes to speke with the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne And howe they were so agreed that the duke was gone to Parys And the renoeranne throughe Bretaygne howe the duke hadde good chere of the Frenche kynge and was welcome to hym and to all his cousayle at Parys and shulde nat departe thens tyll the maters were in good estate Whanne the erle of Arūdell herde those tidynges he was pensyue and wente to counsayle what was best to do whyder they were best to drawe to enploye their season Than they determyned to drawe to Rochellois though they had no castelles there yet they hadde men ynowe there to kepe the Felde and to abyde all the puyssaunce of Xaynton and of Poyctou so that they shulde signify their estate in to Auuergne and in to Lymosynne so that they myght sende to passe throughe Bretaygne As than the treuse was nat confyrmed on the ryuer of Loyre but they were a treatynge to begynne the fyrste daye of Auguste And sir Helyon of Lignacke was goyng or cōmyng as the erle of Arundell ymagined outher to the duke of Lancastre to Bayone or elles retournynge in to Fraunce They hadde in their nauye a Breton bretonaunt of the nacyon of Wannes seruaunt to sir Wyllyam Helmon who coude speke well foure maner of languages That is to saye Bretysshe Englysshe Spaynysshe and Frenche and gaue hym in commaundement to go a lande and sayde to hym Go thou the moost preuyest wayes thou canste thou knowest all the preuy wayes of the countrey and gette the to the garyson of Chaluset and haue vs all recommaunded to Perotte le Bernoys and shewe hym fro vs that he sette forthe a company of men of armes suche as be in garysons forthe kynge of Englande and make warre in his tytell thou shalte beare no letters for feare of takynge Thou mayest go lyke a marchaunt of Rochell to by wynes and saye to Perot that he reyse vp these men of warre and kepe the coūtreys of Berrey Auuergne and Lymosyn in doute and kepe the feldes for we shall lande in Rocelloyes and shall make there suche warre that it shal be herde of and well knowen The Breton sayde he shulde do his message if he hadde no great lette by the waye He was set a lande on the sandes and as he that knewe all the countrey of Bretayne went of from all the great townes and passed by the countrey of Poyctou and entred in to Lymosyn and so came to Chalucet wherof Perot le Bernoys was capitayne The messangere came to the barryers and gaue knowledge of his cōmynge to them of the garyson After he had ben examyned at the gate he was lette in and so
at a tyme sealed with my seale sente in to Fraunce whiche came to your knowledge in the whiche letter was contaygned defyaunce pertaynynge to your grace and to your realme with wordes vnreasonable out of the ryght style and vsage that princes and lordes defie eche other the whiche I wyll nat auowe the euer any suche wordes passed out of my mouthe nor by my cōmaundemente any worde touchynge or defamynge your name or signory and syr to veryfye that this myne excuse is of trouthe and that it maye be had out of all suspecte I shall declare the trouthe of euery thynge Syr by reason of the great alyaunce and seruyce that I haue borne to my ryght redouted lorde the Kynge of Englande at his requeste and his counsayls I sente in to Englande four of my knyghtes and delyuered theym my seale to seale to any thynge that they concluded vpon they sealed this letter and nat I for I neuer knewe before the sealynge of that letter what was conteyned therin Syr I requyre your grace accepte this excuse for this is trewe but sir as for the aliaunce and seruyce that I haue made to my lorde the kynge of Englande I wyll neuer breke it nor do contrarye to that he commaundeth me But syr at his request and cōmaundement I wyll defye you or any other whan it shall please hym who so euer they be except myne owne naturall lorde the kynge of Almayne to whome I am made seruaunte by my mouthe spoken and by myne handes in his But syr for the honoure of you consyderynge and in recompensynge the paynes and traueyls that ye haue susteyned in your iourney comynge hyder to knowe the foundacion and trouthe of the defyaunce I shall swere to you and kepe it that I shal neuer make warre agaynst you nor defye you but fyrste ye shall be signyfyed therof an hole yere before And sir me thynke this shulde suffyce you To this deuyse the duke of Guerles sayde I am well contente thus to do in this there in no dyshonour nor blame to me as I thynke THus on this poynte departed the duke of Iulyers from his sonne the duke of Guerles and with him the archebysshoppe of Coloygne and so they returned in to Iulyers and came to Endesker And whan tyme was they wente to the frenche kynge and shewed him all the poyntes and artycles before rehersed and sayd Syr loke what ye wyll do with the duke of guerles for other than this ye shall nat haue of hym The frenche kynge greatly desyred to se the duke of Guerles his cosyn by cause he had put hym to somoche payne wherfore the soner he enclyned to this treatye And the duke of Burgoyn who wolde also that the duches of Brabant and her countrey shulde a byde in rest and peace he toke payne to bringe this creatie to effecte and that the duke of Guerles myght come to speke with the kynge And also there was one thynge that made them the soner agre wynter aproched and the nyghtes began to be longe and colde and also the lordes of Fraunce were enfourmed that Guerles was no countrey to rest in in the tyme of wynter and also dayly they had reporte howe they loste of their men bothe knyghtes and squyers by the synsars almayns who dayly lay in wayte for them So many reasons and consyderacyons were layde and alledged that they fell to acorde and the duke of Guerles aproched and the duke of Iulyers his father the duke of Lorayne and the bysshop of Coloigne brought hym in to the kynges tente where there was with the kynge his thre vncles and his brother the duke of Tourayne the duke of Bare the erle of Marche the erle of saynte Pole the erle dolphyn of Auuergne the lorde Coucy and the constable of Fraunce There the duke of Guerles kneled downe before the kynge and as it was infourmed me the kyng toke hym vp and there valyauntly and wysely he exscused hym selfe of the defyaunce that he had made to the kynge And moreouer he sware that if euer he wolde defye the kynge or make warre to the realme of Fraunce that he wolde gyue the kynge knowlege therof a yere before and the countreys of Guerles and Brabante to be styll in the same case as they be in at that same presēt tyme. Thus the mater concluded bytwene them and the duke of Guerles supped with the kynge the same nyghte at his table he was greatly regarded bycause he had put the kynge to so moche payne and coste This treatie and conclusyon was put in writynge and sealed and whan all was done the lordes toke leaue to departe but or they departed the duke of Guerles demaunded of the kynge that all suche prisoners as the Frenche men had taken in that warre that he myght haue them delyuered franke and free He had his desyre they were delyuered Thanne the kynge demaunded of the duke that all suche prysoners as his men had taken in that voyage shulde be delyuered and rendred agayne Than the duke of Guerles excused hym selfe and sayde Syr that I can not do I am but a poore man and whan I knewe of your commynge I fortifyed my selfe the best I myght with men of warre knyghtes and squyes fro beyonde the ryuer of Ryne and other places and I promysed them that what so euer they wanne in this warre it shulde be their owne wherfore I can take nothinge fro them of that they haue wonne if I wolde I haue nouther puyssaunce nor power to do it for if I wolde shewe rygoure to theym they wolde make warre agaynst me wherfore sir may it please you to lette it passe for I canne nat remedy it The kynge sawe he coulde haue nothyng els he suffred it to passe and imagyned that he and his realme were riche ynough to encrease poore men wherfore he let it passe and spake no mo wordes and at their departure eche of theym well contented other Than it was ordeyned to dyslodge and to retourne the same way they came and than it was sayd that the frenche kynge shulde be at the cytie of Reynes at the feest of all sayntes and there to holde a great feest Thus euery man dyslodged and retourned ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the englysshe army on the see ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Arundell and the knyghtes of Englande beyng on the see by fortune of the wynde came to the Palyce besyde Rochell whose beynge there was signifyed to sir Loys of Xanser and of the departynge of the erle of Arundell Cap. C.l. IN the meane seasone whyle the french kyng was in Guerles the englysshe army was on the see wherof the erle of Arundell was chefe capytayne and some tyme sayled forwarde and somtyme bacwarde as the wynde wolde serue them to seke for aduentures as it is well knowen Always lightly bytwene the feest of saynt Remey and all sayntes is a peryllous season for stormes and wyndes on the see and aboute the same
gouernynge of his vncles euer syth the dethe of the laste kynge his father shulde than take on himselfe the gouernynge and charge of his hole realme and his vncles to cease of the gouernynge for they had ynough to do in other busynesses The kynge as thanne was paste twenty yere of age This was openly publysshed and euery man thought it was resonable The kynge came to Rennes at the feest of all sayntes and there helde a great feest and his vncles with hym And there they had fyrst knowledge that the Kynge of Castyle and the duke of LaÌ„castre were coÌ„cluded vpon a peace and vpon a maryage to be had bytwene the kinges sonne and the dukes doughter Than the frenche kyng sported with the duke of Berrey and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue fayled of your entent a nother is lyke to enioy the wyfe that ye wolde haue had howe say you therto what sayeth your corage The duke of Berrey sayde Syr I saye nothynge but well if I haue fayled there I shall spede in some other place Than the frenche men beganne to murmure vpon this maryage and said this can nat be done without great alyauÌ„ces whiche shal be a thynge greatly preiudycyall in tyme to come to the realme of FrauÌ„ce And suche as considred the botom of the mater said howe that if Castyle Englande and Portugale be all of one alyaunce and accorde these thre realmes what by see and by lande they maye make warre to the realme of Fraunce Wherfore they sayde it were good that the kynge shulde sende and prouyde remedy by tymes consydringe that this vnhappy kyng of Castyle hath made alyauÌ„ce in maner with a deed man For the duke of lancastre is as a man without men and puyssaunce Nor also they sayde howe the kyng of Castyll ought nat to make any aliauÌ„ce with any man with out the counsayle of the Frenche kynge If he do the kynge maye sende hym worde that he wyll make hym as lowe a varlette as he hath made hym a great lorde Lette the kynge make warre agaynste the realme of Castyle and putte out the vnhappy kyng sonne to a bastarde and lette the kyng gyue the realme to his owne brother the duke of Thourayne who as yet hath no great herytage he shall well and sagely gouerne it Howe can or dare this kynge of Castyle make or treate for any peace or alyaunce with the duke of Lancastre without the knowledge or coÌ„sent of the Frenche kynge who hath so moche ayded honoured and auaunsed hym He had loste his realme if the puissaunce and blode royall of Fraunce had nat ben He hath well marchaundysed and yet he wyll marchaundyse But if it be as it is sayd lette hym be shamed and disheryted and lette hym haue suche punysshment that he may well knowe that he hath yuell done THese wordes multiplyed in suche wyse that all thynges consydered The kynge and his vncles and his counsayle determyned to sende in to Castyle to kynge Iohan and to shewe hym on the Frenche kynges behalfe that he be well aduysed and take hede what he dothe And that he be nat so hardy to make any treatie or alyaunce with the Englysshe men nor with the duke of Lancastre in any thyng that shulde be preiudyciall to the Crowne or realme of Fraunce And if he haue done or do or thynketh to do Lette hym be sure that the puyssaunce of Fraunce shall as moche or more sette hym a backe and hynder hym as it hath auaunsed hym before And that the kynge and the realme shall entende to do nothynge elles but to distroye hym Than it was consydred who shulde do this message And it was thought that who soeuer shulde do it ought to be a hardy man well spoken and sagely and valiauntly to declare the kynges pleasure It was thought that a meane and a symple persone ought nat to do that message Than there were thre persones named the lorde of Coucy sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce sir Guye de la Tremoyle Of these thre to take one to go in to Castyle on this voyage And all thynges consydred sir Iohan of Vyenne was apoynted to go Than the kynge and his counsayle sayd vnto hym Admyrall make you redy ye shall go on this voyage and ye shall haue none other letters to the kyng of Castyle but of credence ye are suffycieÌ„tly enstructed of the mater whervpon ye be sente And saye vnto the kynge of Spaygne that he aduyse well and cause to be aduysed And to rede and cause to be reed the alyaunces ordynaunces and ê“myses sworne and sealed bytwene hym and vs and marke well youre aunswere that ye shall haue of hym and of his counsayle and thervpon we shall take our grounde to procede farther The admyrall aunswered and sayd it shal be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Admyrall of Fraunce was ordayned by the Frenche kyng and his counsayle as ambassadour to go to the kynge of Castyle And howe the Duke of Berrey sente to the erle of Foize to treate for a maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey the erles doughter of Boulonge Cap. C.li. THe admyrall of FrauÌ„ce taryed nat long at Paris but made hym quickely redye to departe and tooke his leaue of the kyng and of his vncles and tooke his waye by Burgoyne bycause he wolde go by Auygnone to se the pope and his brother and so he dyde ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke somwhat of Geffray Tete noyre who was enclosed and besieged within the castell of Vandachore But fyrste we wyll speke of the duke of Berrey who had great desyre to mary as he well shewed within that yere Whan he sawe that he had fayled of the duke of Lancasters doughter he was enfourmed that the erle of Boulonge had a fayre doughter named Iane doughter to the lady Elyanour of Comynges howe be it she was nat with her father nor with her moder she was in the countrey of Bierne with the Erle of Foiz her great frende and cosyn She hadde ben there brought vp and nourysshed well entreated the space of nyne yeres in the castell of Ortayes without cost or charge to father or mother The erle often tymes hadde been desyred to haue had her maryed but alwayes the erle aunswered that the damosell was to yonge Specially sir Bernarde brother to the erle of Armynacke hadde desyred to haue her and promysed that if he myght haue her in maryage the warre shulde ende bytwene them for the chalenge of the lande of Byerne But for all those promyses the erle wolde nat agree therto but aunswered euer howe that his cosyn was to yonge but amonge his owne men he wolde saye otherwyse For as sir Espaygne du Lyon shewed me he wolde saye howe they of Armynacke myght well repute hym for a beest if he shulde graunt their desyre seynge it was to his doÌ„mage For if he shulde graunt theym his cosyn in maryage he shulde strength them and enfeble
Almayne besyde the Ryne called sir Seruays of Mirando These iustes were well contynued but there were so many knightes that one coulde nat rynne for another and the duste with rynnynge of their horses was so great that it troubled them sore The lorde of Coucy dyd maruelously well These iustes contynued tyll it was nyght than they departed the ladyes brought to their lodgynges The kynge with his company was brought to his lodgynge of saynt Pole and there was a supper for the ladyes with suche haboundauÌ„ce that it were harde to recorde it and the feest and reuell with syngynge and daunsyng tyll the next mornynge the sonne rysinge And the prise of the iustes of the aunswerers that had best done and lengest contynued was gyuen to the frenche kynge by consente of all the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes and of the chalengers the Halze of â—launders bastarde brother to the duchesse of Burgoyne The knightes complayned of the dust so that some said they loste their dedes by reason therof The kynge made prouysion for it he ordeyned mo than two hundred barrelles of mater that watred the place wherby the grouÌ„de was well amended and yet the nexte day they hadde duste ynough and to moche Than the wednysdaye came to Parys the erle of saynte Pole frome oute of Englande he had made great haste to come to these iustes and feest and he had lefte behynde him in Englande sir Iohan of Chatell Morant to bringe the charter of the treuce with hym The erle of saynte Pole was well welcomed of the kynge and of all other lordes and the Quene and all other were glad of his comynge ON the wednysdaye after dyner euery man drew to the felde and the ladyes came thyder in goodly aray as they had done the daye before and mounted vpon their stages Than the iustes began fyersly and was well contynued tyll it was nyght Than euery person retourned and the ladyes had a great supper at saynte Polle Than the pryses were gyuen by consente of the ladyes and iudgement of the harauldes of the answerers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of Haynalte called Iohan de Flaron who was come thyder in the company of therle of Ostrenant and of the chalengers the prise was gyuen to a squyer of the duke of Burgoyns called Iohan de Pokerers And agayne the thursdaye iusted knightes squyers all togyther euery man payned hym selfe to do well and it endured tyll nyght And the ladyes supped agayne at saynt Polle and there the prise was gyuen of the vtter partie to sir Charles of Armoyes and of them within to a squyer of the quenes called Lons The frydaye the kynge made a dyner to all the ladyes and damoselles and aboute the ende of the dyner there entred in to the hall the kyng sytting at the table the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Burgoyne the duches of Thourayne the couÌ„tes of saynt Polle the lady of Coucy and a great meny of other ladyes and damosels they brought in two knyghtes on horsebacke armed at all peces for the iustes with their speares on their thyes The one was sir Raynold of Roy and the other sir Bouciquant the yonger and there they two iusted goodly togyther Than came thyder other knightes ser Raynold of Troyes syr Gyllyam of Namure syr Charles of Armoyes and the lorde of Garancyers the lorde of Nantoyllet Lardenoys of Ostende and dyuers other all these iusted there the space of two houres before the kynge and the ladyes than they returned to their lodgynges That fryday suche ladyes and damosels as wolde retourne to their owne houses toke their leaues of the kynge of the quene and also suche lordes as wolde departe The kynge and the quene thanked them of the payne they had taken comynge to his feest ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the lorde of the Chateau Morante whom the erle of saynte Polle had lefte behynde hym in Englande retourned in to FrauÌ„ce with the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde and his vncles to endure thre yere by see and by lande Cap. C.lviii AFter that all these lordes and ladyes were returned fro this greate feest to their owne houses than the lorde of Chastell Morant whome the lorde of saynte Polle had left in England retourned in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle and shewed forth the charter of the treuce sealed by kynge Rycharde of Englande and by his vncles and other to endure thre yere as well by see as by lande and the wordes in the charter sayd That whosoeuer breketh by any maner of coÌ„dicion any poynte or artycle conteyned in that treatie shulde be taken and reputed as traytours and to rynne in a mortall punysyon And bycause that the lorde of Coucy was souerayne capytayne chosen by the kinge and his counsayle to defende and kepe the outwarde marches bytwene the ryuer of Durdone and the see and all the countrey of Iuuergne and Lymosyn The copy of this treatye was delyuered to hym to the entente that he shulde publysshe and shewe it to all them that wolde do any thynge to the contrary And also to the entent that they of Vandachor of Chalusset of Dorbesidousac and of the garysons the made warre for the englysshe tytle shulde haue knowledge of that treuce that they shulde make none excuse if they fell in the payne In lykewyse the marshall of FrauÌ„ce the lorde Loys of Xancer had also the copy therof whiche was ryght nedefull for he was gouernour of the outwarde marches of Languedoc fro the ryuer of Ronne and the bridge of Amyngnon and aboute the countreys and signories apendauÌ„t to the ryuer of Dordone as the couÌ„treys of Beaucaire of Carcassone of Tholous of rouergne of Dagen of Querca of Bygore of Pyergourte and of Lymogines and in these countreys were dyuers garysons that smally regarded or obeyed any peace or truce but alwayes entended to make marre as the castell of Cullyer the stronge castell of Londre in Bygore on the fronters of Byerne they were greatly feared of their neyghbours ⸫ ⸫ ¶ The maryage of king Loys sonne to the duke of Aniou to the doughter of kynge Peter of Aragone and how he went with the quene of Napoles his mother to Auignon to se pope Clemente Cap. C.lix IN this tyme there was a treatye made of a maryage bytwene Loys of Aniowe sonne to the duke of Aniou who wrote himself kynge of Napoles of Cycyll and Iherusalem and erle of Prouynce and the doughter of kyng Peter of Arragon The quene of Napoles went to Auygnone to se pope Clement and there she founde the lorde of Coucy and had in her company her yonge sonne Loys The lorde of Coucy was ryght ioyous of her coÌ„mynge The quene was receyued ryght honorably of pope Clement and of the cardynalles as she was well worthy for she was a noble woman and a dilygent in all her busynesse There she desyred the lorde of Coucye to helpe to conuey her sonne Loyes
duke and the duchesse And the duke caused to be proclamed a feest and a iustes to be holden at Dygnon and knightes squiers of Burgoyne of Sauoy and of other marches adioyning were requyred to be at this feest And so euery man ordred themselfe accordingly THus whyles the kynges prouisyon was a makyng to go to Auignon to Languedocke The duke of Burgoyne on his parte made great prouisyon to receyue the kynge and so dyde euery man in their marchesse that purposed to be at the feest at Dignon The same season other maters fell in Fraunce ye haue herde howe the duke of Irelande who was called erle of Oxenforde was banysshed oute of Englande by the vncles of kyng Richarde and speciallye the duke of Gloucestre had grettest dyspleasure to hym so that to saue hym selfe he was fledde in to Hollande and taryed there but a small season in the towne of Dordregh for he was fayne to departe thens For duke Aubert who was lorde of that towne and of Holande denyed hym the taryeng in his couÌ„trey for he wolde nat kepe hym agaynst the wyll of his cosyns germayns of Englande for all that the kynge of Englande had written for hym yet he was fayne to departe and to go to Trecte a fraunches towne for all maner of people payeng for that they take And the duke of Irelande had ynoughe to paye For besyde that he brought with him he had threscore thousande frankes out of Fraunce fro the Constable for the redempcion of Iohan of Bretayne And he was come to the FreÌ„che kyng vnder saueconducte and was there with hym more than a yere The kyng made hym good chere bycause he was a strauÌ„ger Howe be it trewe it was thoughe this duke was with the kyng yet the lorde of Coucy hated hym in his herie for he had good cause For though the duke in all affayres was prouyded of wytte honoure eloquence and of great largesse yet he had greatly trespassed agaynst the lorde of Coucies doughter who was his wyfe laufully spoused And forsoke her without any tytell of reason but by false and yuell temptacyon and disceyte was disceyued And toke another wyfe a damosell of the quene of Englandes of the countrey of Boeme the kyng and the quene of EnglaÌ„de synfully consented therto And was dispensed by pope Vrbane of Rome at the instauÌ„te desyre of the kynge and quene of Englande This synne greued greatly the conscience of the duke of Irelande And bycause the lorde of Coucy who was of the counsayle of FrauÌ„ce and well worthy so to be for he had done good seruyce was well able to do He ê“cured so moche by meanes of his frendes as sir Olyuer of Clysson and the lorde de la Ryuer sir Iohan Marcyer and other That it was sayde to the duke of Irelande that he shulde departe out of Fraunce and to go and chose hymselfe another place to abyde in where he lyst so that it be nat in the realme of FrauÌ„ce and thyder he shulde surely be coÌ„ueyed The duke of Irelande sawe well howe he was dayly in paryll by meanes of the lorde of Coucy and his lygnage Wherfore he thought it shulde be beste for hym to go farre of rather than to abyde nere than he aduised to drawe in to Brabant and desyred the kyng to write to the duchesse of Brabant that it wolde pleace her to suffre hym pesably to abyde in her couÌ„trey The kynge wrote to his aunte the duchesse of Brabant and she condisceÌ„ded to the kynges desyre The duke of Irelande was conducted by men of the kynges to Louayne and there he taryed and somtyme he went to a castell nat farre of fro the towne of Louaygne the whiche he had borowed of a knyght of Brabant With the duke of Irelande was the archebysshop of yorke who in lykewise was banysshed out of Englande all for one cause This bysshoppe was one of the Neuelles of Englande who in the countrey of NorthuÌ„berlande were puissaunt men bothe of landes and of lynage There taryed these two lordes at Louayne or there about as I herde saye as longe as they lyued For they coude neuer come to mercy nor peace with the kynge of Englandes vncles I can no farther speke of them ABout the feest of saynt Mychell the FreÌ„che kyng departed fro his house of Beautie besyde Parys and lefte there the quene and toke his waye by Troy in Champayne to go in to Burgoyne his vncle the duke of Burbone and duke Loyes of Thourayne and the lorde of Couâ—y and many other lordes and knyghtes in his company The kynge rode so longe that he came to Dignon The duke of Burgoyne and the erle of Neuers his sonne were come before to the Chatelon on the ryuer of Sayne whaÌ„ the kyng was come to Dignon the duchesse of Burgoyne and the couÌ„tesse of Neuers her doughter receyued the kyng ioyfully and all other lordes for loue of the kyng And to his welcomynge to Dygnon many ladyes and damosels were come thyder to se hym there was the lady of Sully the lady of Vergy the lady of Pagny and dyuers other fayre ladies and fresshe and well apparelled Than began feestynge daunsynge and carolynge These ladyes enforsed themselfe to daunce to syng and to make ioye for loue of the kyng and the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone of the lorde of Coucy Monday tuesday and wednisday all thre dayes ther was goodly iustes and prices gyuen to the best doers The kynge was eight dayes in the towne of Dignon in great triuÌ„phe and sporte The x. daye he toke leaue of his vncle the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and their children Th entent of the duke of Burgoyne was shortely after to folowe the kyng his nephue and to go with hym that iourney The kyng deê‘ted fro Dignon whan he had taken his leaue of all ladyes and damoselles and rode so long by his iourneys that he came to Vile neufe besyde Auignon There his house royall was apparelled for hym there was the cardynals of Amyens of Aigreuell of saint Marcell of Chatell neufe and mo than xiii other came and mette the kyng in the felde all were gladde of the kynges coÌ„myng THe duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais but he caÌ„e to Vyle neufe to the kynge and laye in the lyuere of arras called Amontays in the way to Mountpellyer The duke of Burgoyne arryued there the next day that the kyng came thyder by the water of Rone for the duke toke a barge at Lyonsur le rone Thus the kynge and these four dukes were togyder Than they determyned to passe the bridge of Auignon and to go se the pope And about .ix. of the clocke in the mornyng the kyng passed the bridge acompanyed with his brother and his thre vncles and .xii. cardynalles and so went to the popes palays and pope Clement was redy in his chambre of
in to Englande and desyred to haue done armes with any man he shulde nat haue departed or he hadde ben answered at his pleasure But I am serued to the contrary Trewe it was sir Guye dela Tremoyle and I were armed in the felde eche agaynst other and ranne toguyder but one course Than it was shewed me fro the kynge that we shulde do no more sayenge howe we hadde done ynough Wherfore madame I saye and wyll say where soeuer I become that I coulde fynde none to do armes with me and that was nat in my defaute but in the knyghtes of Fraunce The lorde of Clary noted well his wordes and helde his pease with great payne Howe be it he suffred hym bycause he had the charge of the coÌ„ueyaunce of hym Than the countesse sayde Sir ye departed right honorably fro FrauÌ„ce whan ye obeyed to the kynges desyre for ye coude do no more sythe it was his pleasure that ye shulde nat IN coÌ„myng returnyng and doyng as ye haue done none can laye any faute in you All suche as shall here there of on this syde the see or on the other shall repute in you more honour than blame wherfore sir I requyre you be contente therwith Madame quod the knight so I do and shall do I shall neuer take thought for it Thus they lefte that mater and fell in other talkynge There he taryed all that daye and night The nexte mornynge sir Petr Court nay toke his leaue of the Countesse of saynt Poule and she gaue hym at his departynge a lytell chayne of golde and to the lorde of Clary another Thus in the mornynge they departed fro Lucenen and toke the waye to Bouloygne and came thyder and there laye all nyght and the nexte daye rode towardes Margyson to go to Calais BItwene Boloygne and Calays are but seuyn or eight leages and fayre playne waye Whan they came nere to Calais there sir Peter of Courtney sayd to the lorde of Clary Sir we be nowe in the kyng of Englandes lande and ye haue well acquyted you in the conueyaunce of me and of your company I thanke you The lorde of Clary who had displeasure in his hert for the wordes that sir Peter had spoken at Lucenen in the presens of the countesse of saynt Pole and other Whiche wordes he thought he wolde nat suffre to reste in that case for he reputed them to haute and to hyghe agaynst the honoure of the chiualry of Fraunce for he vnderstode hym that he said howe he was come oute of Englande in to Fraunce to do armes and how there were none that wolde aunswere hym Than the lorde of Clary at their leaue takynge sayde Sir Peter ye be nowe in the kynge of Englandes lande and sir I haue conueyed you hyder by the commaundement of the kynge my maister and of the duke of Burgoyne And ye remembre well this laste daye whan we were in the countesse of saynt Poules chambre who made vs good chere ye spake there ouer largely as me thynketh to the great preiudyce blame of the knyghtes of Fraunce For ye sayde howe ye came fro the kynges courte coude fynde none to do armes with you By the whiche wordes maye be vnderstande that there is no knyght in Fraunce that dare do armes or iust with you thre courses with a speare Wherfore sir I wyll that ye knowe that here I offre my selfe thoughe I be one of the moost symplest knyghtes in all Fraunce And saye and iustifye that the realme of Fraunce is nat so voyde of knyghtes but that ye shall well fynde yuowe to do dedes of armes with you And sir if ye lyste ye shall fynde me redy to aunswere you be it incontynente this nyght or to morowe I saye nat this for any hatered that I haue to your persone I do it all onely to maynteyne the honour of our ê‘tie For I wolde nat ye shulde retourne to Calais or in to Englande to make youre auaunt that without stroke stryken ye shulde disconfyte the knyghtes of Fraunce Sir answere me if it please you to my wordes Sir Peter Courtney was soone couÌ„sayled what answere to make and sayde Sir of Clary ye speke well and I accepte your demaunde And I wyll that to morowe in this same place ye be armed at your pleasure and I shall be in lyke wise And than lette vs rynne eche at other thre courses with a speare and therby ye shall wynne agayne the honour of the Frenche courte and ye shall do me a greate pleasure Sir quod the lorde of Clary I ê“myse you I shall nat fayle to be here at the hour ye haue assigned Thus these two knightes promysed eche other to iust The lorde of Clary retourned to Marguysen there prouyded hym of his armure shelde speare and horse He hadde anone all that he lacked for on the fronters of Calays and Boloyne men were soone prouyded There he made his prouisyon as shortely as he myght for he wolde natte that ouer many shulde haue knowen therof In lyke manner sir Peter Courtney whanÌ„e he came to Calays he forgate nat the promyse that he had made But prouyded hym of good armure and of euerye thyng elles As for harnesse he had redy suche as he had caryed with hym out of Englande in to Fraunce As at that tyme sir Iohan Bernes was capitayne of Calays Sir Peter shewed hym the promise that was made bytwene hym and the lorde of Clary Than sir Iohan Bernes sayde howe he wolde accompany hym thyder and other good felowes of Calays The nexte daye these two knightes came to the place apoynted the Englysshe knyght came moche better accompanyed than dyde the Frenche knyght for the capitayne of Calays was with hym Whan they were come togyder there was but fewe wordes bytwene theym They knewe well ynough wherfore they were come they were bothe well armed and horsed and toke their sheldes Than they toke their speares with sharpe heedes well fyled and spurred their horses and ranne toguyder The fyrst course they fayled wherwith they were bothe sore displeased At the seconde iuste they mette so toguyder that the lorde of Clary strake the Englysshe knyght throughe the â—arge and throughe the shulder a handfull and therwith he felle fro his horse to the erthe The Lorde of Clary passed forthe and kepte his course and turned and stode styll for he sawe well howe the Englysshe he knight was vnhorsed howe that many men were about hym He thought surely than that he was hurt for his speare was brokenne in peces Than he rode to them And the Englysshe men came to the lorde of Clary and sayd Sir ye be no courtesse iuster Wherfore quod the lorde of Clary bycause ê™ they ye haue hurt this knightes shulder ye might more curtesly haue iusted sirs ê™ he that curtesy laye nat in me seyng I was apparelled to iuste for the same case or worse myght haue fallen to me aswell as to hym Howe be it sir
four tymes aboute in the syght of all the people and there was openly red and publysshed all their dedes and thaÌ„ beheeded and quartered their quarters sent to the four chefe gates of the cytie Thus Alayne and Peter Rour lost shamfully their lyues the castell of Vanchadore ¶ Of the dedes of armes at saint Ingylvertes contynuyng thyrty dayes agaynste all coÌ„mers of the realme of Englande and other countreys euery man thre courses Ca. C.lxviii IN this seasone and in the meane tyme that the truese was thus bytwenene Englande and Fraunce bothe by lande and by see though the kinges and their subgiettes helde well the peace yet was there certayne pyllers robbers in Auuergne who made warre to the poore men on bothe sydes the ryuer of Dordone but the capytayns that had gyueÌ„ vp their fortresses by reason of that treatie dyssymuled the matter By reason of their dissymulacion the couÌ„trey of Auuergne receyued great domage so that the complaintes therof came to Parys Than the french kyng was counsayled to sende to the kynge of Englande signyfyenge hym of the state of these robbes that made warre thus in the countrey vnder coloure of their patesynge the which ought nat to be done I thinke the king of Englande excused hym selfe of the mater And to prouyde therfore the same season the thre fore sayd knyghtes that is to say the yonge Bouciquant Raynolde of Roy the lorde of saint Pye who had enterprised to do armes about the marches of Calays nere to saynte Ingilbertes made them redy to a coÌ„plysshe their desyre to fulfyll their promesse the right of armes for it was openly declared publysshed and specyally in the realme of Englande in the which realme there were knyghtes squyers quyckened to the mater and were in gret imagynacioÌ„s to knowe what they might best do Some said it shuld be greatly to their blame and reproche such an enterprise taken so nere to Calays without they passed the see loke on those knightes that shulde do armes there Suche as spake most of the mater was first syr Iohan of Holande erle of Huntyngdon who had great desyre to go thyder also sir Iohan courtney sir Iohan Traicton sir Iohan Golouffer syr Iohan Russell syr Thomas Shyrborne syr Willyam Clyfton sir Willyam Clynton sir WillymÌ„ Taylboys sir Godfrey Seta syr Willyam hacquenay syr Iohan Vobeas syr Iohan Dambretycourt syr Henry Beamond and dyuers other mo than a huÌ„dred knightes and squters all these sayd Let vs prouyde to go to Calays for the knightes of Fraunce hath nat ordayned that sporte so nere our marches but to the entent to se vs there and surely they haue done well and do lyke good companions and we shall nat fayle them at their busynes This matter was so published abrode in Englande that many suche as had no desyre to do dedes of armes theym selfe yet they sayd they wolde be there to loke on them that shulde Suche as thought to be there sent afore to Calays to make prouysion to kepe their astate and sente ouer their horse and harnes bothe for peace and warre Whan the day aproched sir IohnÌ„ HolaÌ„de brother to the kyng of EnglaÌ„de fyrst passed the see mo than .lx. knightes squiers with hym aryued at Calys there toke vp their lodgyngê At thentryng in of the ioly fresshe moueth of May these thre yong knyghtes of FrauÌ„ce suche as shulde do dedê of armes at saynt Ingilbertê thus first they caÌ„e to Boloyne taryed there a season than came to thabbay of same Ingilbertê Than they vnderstode how there were a great noÌ„bre of knyghtes squyers coÌ„e out of Englande to Calays wherof they were ryght ioyfull And to the entent that the brute shulde coÌ„e to Calays they ordayned in a fayre playne bytwene Calays and saynt Ingilbertes thre fressh grene pauilyoÌ„s to be pyght vp and at the entre of euery pauylyon there hanged two sheldes with the armes of the knightes one shelde of peace another of warre and it was ordayned that suche as shulde ryn do dedes of armes shulde touche one of the sheldes or cause to be touched whiche as pleaseth them and he shulde be delyuered acordyng to his desyre to speke of this mater I shall shew you The .xxi. day of the moneth of May acordyng as it had ben publisshed these thre freÌ„ch knyghtes were redy in the place to furnysshe their interprice And the same day knightes squyers issued out of Calays suche as wolde iust and also suche other as had pleasure to regarde that sporte and they came to the sayde place apoynted and drewe all on the one parte The place to iust in was farre grene playne Syr Iohan Holande first sente to touche the sheld of warre of sir Boucyquant who incontynent issued out of his pauylyon redy mounted with shelde speare These two knightes drewe fro other a certayne space and whan eche of them had well aduysed other they spurred their horses came togyther rudely and Boucyquante strake the erle of Huntyngton through the shelde and the spearcheed glente ouer his arme dyd hym no hurt and so they passed forthe and tourned and rested at their pase This course was greatly praysed The seconde course they met without any hurte do ynge and the thyrde course their horses refused and wolde nat cope The erle of Huntyngton who had gret desyre to iust and was somwhat chafed came to his place abydynge that sir Boucyquant shulde take his speare but he dyd nat for he shewed that he wolde no more tynne that day agaynst therle And whan the erle sawe that he sent his squyer to touche the shelde of warre of the lorde of saynt Pye And he that wolde nat refuse issued out of his pauylion and toke his horse shelde and speare And whan the erle sawe that he was redy spurred his horse and saynt Pye in lykewyse they couched their speares but at the metyng their horses crossed but with the crossynge of their speares the erle was vnhelmed Than he retourned to his men and incontynent he was rehelmed and toke his speare and saynt Pye his and than ran agayne and met eche other with their speares in the myddes of their sheldes so that nere hande they were bothe borne downe to their erthe but they gryped fast their horses with their legges and so saued them selfes and retourned to their places and toke their brethes Syr Iohan Holande who had great affection to do honorably toke agayne his speare spurred his horse and whan the lorde of saynt Pye sawe hym comyng he dasshed forth his horse to encountre hym eche of them strake other on their helmes that the spre flasshed out With that ataynt the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed and so they passed forthe and came agayne to their owne places This course was greatly praysed and both frenche and englysshe sayd that those thre knyghtes the erle of Huntyngton sir Bouciquant and the
gentylman of the duke of Lancasters named Herbery went with the better wyll bycause the varlette promysed hym in the behalfe of Aymergot a hundred fraÌ„kes Thus they thre departed and came to Douer and fro thens at a tyde to Calis And whan their horses were vnshypped they toke the waye to Boloygne and so throughe Picardy and went to Parys fro thens in to Auuergne And whan they approched nere to Lymogines and to the couÌ„tre where the roche of VaÌ„doyes was sette They rode about the more secretely to come thyder THus as I haue shewed you thes messangers dyde so moche that they came nere to the roche of vaÌ„doyes Whanne they were nere where the siege laye the squyer and the heraulde thought it for the best nat to entre in to the towne at that present tyme. But they sent the varlet in to the towne sayeng they wolde do well ynough without his company For they sayd if he shulde be sene with them they at the siege wolde suppose that he had ben sente in to Englande for theÌ„ the varlet obeyed in the night he entred in to the towne without dauÌ„ger than Aymergot Marcell Guyot du Sall made hym good chere and had marueyle that he had spedde his iourney in so short a space There be shewed howe he had spedde and howe a squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters and a heraude was come with him with letters fro the kyng and fro the duke of Lancastre bothe to the Vycount of Meaulr and to the duke of Berrey if nede were And why quod Aymergot mercell are they nat come hyder into this castell Sir ê™ the varlet they sayd they two wolde do their message well inough nor they wold haue no man sene in their coÌ„pany that shulde come fro you They are the wyser ê™ Guyot du Sall therby it shall seme that the mater toucheth the kyng of EnglaÌ„de and the duke of Lancastre Sir it is trewe quod the barlet Of those tidynges Aymergot was ioyfull and sayde to the varlet Thou hast well and dilygently spedde thy maters and that in a shorte season I shall well rewarde the for thy labour Thus the squyer and the heraude came streight to the siege and demauÌ„ded for the VycouÌ„tes lodgynge They were brought thyder and there they founde the vycount beholding men castyng the stone than they kneled and saluted hym and he them agayne and demauÌ„ded fro whens they came They answered and said howe they caÌ„e out of Englande sent thyder by their kyng and by the duke of Lancaster ye are welcome ê™ the Vycount what mater hath brought you in to this wylde countrey Sir quod the heraude beholde here this squier of the duke of LaÌ„casters who hath brought to you letters fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre if it please you to rede theÌ„ and bycause I soÌ„what knewe the countrey I am come in his company Than the squyer delyuered his letters and the vycount receyued them and behelde the seales and knewe well they came out of Englande Than he tooke one aparte that coude rede and there he reed the letters fro poynt to poynt two or thre tymes tyll he knewe well what they ment thaÌ„ he studyed regarded well the kyng of Englandes writyng who sayd in his writynge that he had marueyle that he wolde lodge slepe and reste hym with an army of men of warre on his herytage that he dothe daylye all that he can to breke the peace whiche he ought in no wyse to do for it is greatly â—iudiciall to them that haue sette to their seales to the confyrmacion of the peace and the conclusyon of the letter was howe the kyng coÌ„maunded them incontynent after the sight of his letts that he and his company shulde departe and reyse their siege and suffre Aymergot Mercell pesably to enioye the house parteyning to his heritage whiche hath cost hym great goodes the fortifieng These wordes and suche other were enclosed in these letters all to the ayde of Aymergot Marcell in lyke maner as the kynges letters spake the duke of Lancaster sange the same note commaundyng lyke the excellent duke of Acquitayne and of all that duchy And whan the vicount of Meaulx had well aduysed hym selfe he sayde Fayre sirs these tidynges that ye haue brought requyreth counsayle and aduyse I shall take couÌ„sayle and than ye shall be answered Than they were made to driÌ„ke of the vycountes wyne In the meane tyme the vycount toke counsayle for he sent for the lorde of the Towre for sir Guyllyam Butler sir Robert Dolphyn sir Loyes DaÌ„byer and also for the lorde Montaguy and for sir Berat de la Ryuer who was of his house And whan they were all toguyder he renewed the wordes and shewed them the cause why he had sent for them and there caused the letters to be reed before them Whan these lordes herde that they had great marueile how these letters coude be brought out of EnglaÌ„de for as than they had nat layne at the siege past a moneth I shall shewe you quod the vycount what I suppose Aymergot Marcell is a subtell man as soone as he sawe that he shulde be besieged I thynke he sent incoÌ„tynent some messanger in to Englande to attayne these letters the whiche I maye obey if I lyste but I shall answere them shortely But as in that the kyng of England and the duke of Lancastre coÌ„maundeth me to do I wyll nothynge obey their coÌ„maundementes for I am nat bounde to obey theÌ„ but all onelye the Frenche kynge by whose coÌ„maundement I am sent hyder Call forthe the squier and the heraude I shall make them their answere they were brought forthe Than the vycount began to speke as foloweth you Derby and Tomelyn Herbery thus ye be named accordyng to the tenour of your letters and as it apereth ye be sent hyther frothe kynge of Englande fro the duke of Lancastre they are enfourmed I can nat tell howe outher by Aymergot Marcell or by some other that wolde ayde him and hath ben in England in his name howe I am at this present tyme with an army of men of warre lodged on the herytage of the kynge of Englandes and he commaundeth me to departe and reyse my siege and to suffre Aymergot Marcell peasably to enioy this lytell fortresse whiche hathe coste so moche the fortefyenge and also they sende me worde howe I do put my selfe in parell of dyshonorynge in that I shulde consent to breke the peace sealed and confâ—rmed to endure thre yeres bytwene the two kynges and their alyes Fayre sirs I say vnto you that I wyll do nothyng that shall be against the charter of peace I wyll kepe the treuce and do nothynge agaynst it and though I am lodged here it breketh no peace nor treuce I am subget to the frenche kynge who hath sent me hyther and hath admytted me as his marshall of this small armye for it came to the knowledge of the kynge
syr Geffrey of the chapell the lorde of Pierbuffier the lorde of Bonet sir Robert of Hanges sir Stephyn Sanxere sir Aubert de la mote sir Alaine of Champayn ser Geffrey Fresiers ser Rafe of Couffan the lorde of Bourke artysion sir Iohan of Crey bastarde sir Bertram de Sanache syr Pyncharde of Morlayne sir Trystram his brother syr Ayme of Cousay ser Ayme of Tourmay sir Foukes of Stanfours sir Iohan of Chateuas all these were knightê And there dyed of squiers Foucans of Liege Iohan of Isles Blondelet of Areton IohnÌ„ de la Mote BouÌ„beris floridas of Roque the lorde of Belles brother to Willyam Fondragay Water of Cauforus Iohan Morillen Pier of Malnes Gyllot Villaine IohnÌ„ of Lound IohnÌ„ Perier Iohan menne Iohan of Lauay and Willyam of Parke There dyed mo than a .lx. knightes and squyers whiche wysely to consyder was a great losse And if the lorde of Coucy had ben beleued this had nat fortuned for and they had kepte their lodgynges as they dyd before they had receyued no suche domage ¶ How after this aduenture and domage that fell to the crysten men by reason of this assaute before the towne of Aufryke that so many knightes squyers were deed they mayntayned them selfe more wysely after than they dyd before and coÌ„tynued their siege a longe season after Cap. C.lxxii OF this foresaid aduenture the knightes and squiers of the host were sore displeased and abasshed euery man bewayled his freÌ„des at nyght they drewe to their lodginges and made gretter watche than they had made before for dout of the sarazyns they passed that nyght without any other doÌ„mage Of this aduenture the sarazins knewe nothyng for if they had knowen what case the Christen men had been in they might haue done them great doÌ„mage but alwayes they feared the Christen men They durst neuer adueÌ„ture to auauÌ„ce theÌ„ selfe but by scrimysshing castynge of their dartes They that were moost renomed in armes of their partie was Agadyngore of Olyferne for he loued the doughter of the kyng of Thunes wherby he was moost fresshest and ioly in dedes of armes Thus contynued the siege before the towne of Aufryke In the realme of Fraunce Englande and in suche countreys as these knightes came fro they herde no maner of tidynges of them wherof their frendes were sore abasshed wyst nat what to saye nor thynke In dyuers places bothe in Englande Heynalte and in FrauÌ„ce there were processyoÌ„s made to pray to god for the ê“sperite of these christen men Thentencion of the christen men beyng at the siege was to abyde there tyll they had coÌ„quered the town of Affrike outher by force famyne or treatie The kyng of Cicyll wolde gladly it had ben so so wolde all other xpÌ„en yles adioynyng for this towne of Affrike was their vtter enemye and specially the genouoys toke great payne to serue the lordes to their pleasure to th eÌ„tent they shulde nat be anoyed by reason of their long siege To speke proê‘ly it was a marueylous enterprice came of an highe corage of the christen knightes and squyers and specially the Frenchmen who for all the losse of their knightes and squiers pouertie that they endured yet they coÌ„tynued styll the siege at their great costes chargê without ayde or coÌ„forte And the genouoys who were the first setters on that enterprice began than to faynt and dissymule for as the bruteran than they wolde haue ben gladde to haue made a treatie with the Sarazyns and to haue lefte the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of other Christen countreys styll in that busynesse as I shall shewe you here after as it was enformed me ¶ Nowe at this present tyme lette vs leaue to speke of this siege of Aufryke and speke of a fest that the kynge of Englande made the same season in London ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a feest and iustes made by the kyng of Englande in LoÌ„don whyle the Christen knyghtes and squyers were at the sege before the towne of Aufryke agaynst the sarazyns And howe this feest was publisshe in dyuers countreis and landes Cap. C.lxxiii YE haue herde before in this hystorie what a feest was holdeÌ„ at Paris whaÌ„ quene Isabell of Fraunce made there her first entre of the whiche feest tidynges sprede abrode in to euery couÌ„tre Than kynge â—icharde of Englande his thre vncles â—â—â—yng of this goodly fest at Paris by the reportes of suche knyghtes squyers of their owne as had ben at the same fest Ordayned a great fest to be holden at the cyte of LoÌ„don where there shulde be iustes .lx. knyghtes to abyde all coÌ„mers and with theÌ„ .lx. ladyes fresshely apparelled to kepe theÌ„ company these knightes to iust two dayes besyde sonday the chalenge to begyn the next sonday after the fest of saint Michaell As than in the yere of our lorde god M.CCC fourscore ten whiche sonday the said .lx. knightes .lx. ladyes at two of the clocke at after noon shuld issue oute of the towre of London and so to coÌ„e a long the cytie through Chepe and so to Smyth elde and that daye .xii. knightes to be there redy to abyde all knyghtê strauÌ„gers suche as wolde iust This soÌ„day was called the sonday of the fest of chalenge And on the moÌ„day next after the sayd .lx. knightes to be in the same place redy to iuste to abyde all coÌ„mers curtesly to ron with rokettes and to the best doer of the out syde shulde be gyuen hym for a price a riche crowne of golde and the best doer of the in syde duely examyned by the ladyes in the quenes chambre shulde haue for a price a riche gyrdell of golde And the tuesday folowynge the knightes shulde be agayne in the same place and to abyde all maner of squyers strauÌ„gers and other suche as wolde iust with rokettes and the best iuster on the out syde shulde haue for his price a courser sadled and the chiefe doer of the in syde shulde haue a faucon the maner of this fest was thus ordayned and deuised and herauldes were charged to crye and publysshe this feest in Englande in Scotlande in Almayne in FlauÌ„ders in Brabant in Heynalt and in Fraunce the heraldes departed some hider and some thider These tidyngê sprede abrode into dyuers couÌ„treys The heraudes had daye and tyme suffycient Knightes and squiers in dyuers couÌ„treys apparelled them selfes to be at this feest some to se the maner of Englande and some to iuste Whan these tidynges came in to Heynalt sir Wyllyam of Heynault erle of Ostrenaunt who was yonge and lyberall and desyrous to iuste Purposed in hym selfe to go to the feest in EnglaÌ„de to se and to honour his cosyns kyng Rycharde of Englande and his vncles whome he had neuer sene before He hadde great desyre to be aquaynted with them and desyred other knightes and squyers to kepe hym coÌ„pany and specially the lorde of Gomegynes bycause he was well acquaynted with
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
the same opynion that the coÌ„mons were of in Englande and enclyned rather to the warre than to peace to the entent therby to susteyne their estate By the occasion therof the peace was the harder to driue yet the kynge the duke of Lancastre wolde fayne haue hadde peace for by their meanes that metynge at AmyeÌ„ce was apoynted howbeit they wolde nat displease the coÌ„mens of Englande The Englysshe men wolde gladlye haue hadde a peace so they myght be restored agayne to al suche landes as was agreed on at the treaty before Charters and that the Frenche men shulde paye fourtene hundred thousande fraÌ„kes whiche was vnpayed whan the warre began to renewe IN this season thus great coÌ„munycacion there was at the cytie of Amyence on treatie of peace and the lordes that were there on bothe parties toke great payne in the cause It myght well be marueyled why this peace toke none effecte for specialy the duke of Burgoyne dyd what he coude for the Frenche partie and the duke of Lancastre for the Englysshe partie Sauyng the charge that he had whiche he durst nat passe Whan these lordes sawe that they coulde come to no good conclusyon than the frenchemen somwhat to apease and to please the englysshmen and the rather therby to fall to some reason it was offred to them to enjoy styll peasably all that euer they were as than in possessyon of in Acquytayne and nyne dyoces to be quite delyuered without any resorte so that Calays myght be beaten downe And also they offred to paye in thre yere after the somme of .xiiii. hundred thousande frankes Than the duke of Lancastre and the englyssh counsayle answered and sayd Syrs we haue taried here a longe season and haue concluded nothyng nor we canne nat conclude tyll we be retourned in to Englande and than we shall shewe all your desyres and offers to the kyng our souerayne lorde and to the thre estates of the realme and of one thinge be you sure that as moch dyligence as I my brother of yorke can do shall be doone to bringe your desyre to passe except the beatyng downe of Calays we dare nat speke therof for if we dyd we shulde ryn in the indygnacyon and hatred of the most parte of all the realme of Englande and yet were we better to speke no worde therof these wordes somwhat contented the french kynge and his couÌ„sayle and desyred them that whan they were returned into England to do their dyligence in the mater they said they wolde do what they coude for the frenche party sayeng howe the warre had endured ouer longe and many yuell inconuenyentes hath ensued therby in the worlde than it was considred bytwene the parties bycause the truce fayled the next mydsomer after bytwene Englande and Fraunce to contynue it lengar the space of an hole yere bothe by lande and by see bytwene them their alyes and adherentes and therto the lordes of Englande were agreed Than the frenche kynges counsayle desyred to sende two french knightes to go with them into Englande and at their retourne to bringe worde what case they shulde fynde the realme of Englande in The duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke were contente therwith It was shewed me and also the apparaunce was great howe that the frenche kynge desyred greatly to haue peace for as than great brute ranne through Fraunce and other places howe that Lamâ—rabaquyn was entred with great puissaunce of turkes in to the realme of Hungry syr Boucyquant thelder marshall of Fraunce brought those newes and syr Iohan of Charon who were newely retourned fro the partyes of Grece and Turkey wherfore the frenche kynge in his youthe had great affectyon to go in voyage and to go and se the sayd Lamorabaquyn and to recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes had wonne fro the kynge Lyon of Armony who was the same tyme at Amyence and he shewed the cause of his comynge thyder to the duke of Lancastre and to the duke of yorke They knewe hym well for they had sene him before in the realme of Englande He was in Englande to treate for the peace whan the frenche kynge was at Sluse And consyderynge the kynge of Armonyes busynesse at the ende of their parlyamente the frenche kynge sayde to the duke of Lancastre Fayre nephewe if peace maye be had bytwene vs and the kynge of Englande we might than make a voyage in to Tukey comfortyng the kynge of Hungry and the emperour of Constantynople whome Lamorabaquyn dothe moche trouble and let vs recouer the realme of Armony whiche the turkes kepe We here saye that Lamorabaquyn is a valyaunt man and of great enterprise and agaynst suche persones as are contrary to our beleue and daily dothe trouble and greue vs we ought to enclyne our selfe to defende our crysten faythe wherfore fayre nephewe helpe you to prouyde for this voyage in the realme of Englande The duke of Lancastre promysed to do his deuoyre in that behalfe Thus they toke leaue eche of other THis counsayle at Amyence endured a fyftene dayes than the Englysshe men departed and had with them in writyng the coÌ„clusion of their treatie to shewe to the kynge of Englande and his counsayle Than the duchesse of Irelande departed fro AmyeÌ„ce and toke leaue of her father the lorde of Coucy and retourned with the englysshe lordes And fro that tyme that they departed fro Calais tyll they came thyder agayne they spent nothyng without they lyst for the french kynge made euery thynge to be payed bothe for them selfe and for their horses The duke of Burgoyne than retourned into Archoys to the cytie of Arras and there he founde the duchesse his wyfe who had vysited the countrey of Flaunders The duke of Thourayne the duke of Berrey and the duke of Butbone taryed with the kynge and the kinge purposed to go to Beamoys to Gysors to sporte hym there in the waye to Parys With the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke certayne knightes of Fraunce wente in to Englande as syr Iohan of Castell Morante sir Taupyns of Cantmell to bringe aunswere agayne out of England and sir Raynolde du Roy the lorde of Moncaurell and the lorde of the olde towne conueyed them to Calays and than toke their leaue and the englysshe men passed ouer the see to Deuer and there founde the kynge and the duke of Glocestre taryeng for them Whan the kyng sawe them he had great comunynge with them of the sâ—ate of the parlyamente of Amyence The kynge was well content with that his vncles had done but than the duke of Glocestre who was alwayes harde agaynst the treatie of peace sayd howe there coulde no good conclusyon be taken in this treatye tyll the mater were brought to Westmynster to a generall counsayle of all the thre astates of the realme and than to folowe their aduyses and none otherwyse The duke of Glocesters wordes were well herde no manne wolde saye agaynst hym
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
no man ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue spekyng of hym and speke of other busynesse as the mater requyreth ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the king of Englande gaue to the duke of Lancastre and to his heyres for euer the duchy of Acquytayne and howe the kyng prepared to go in to Irelande and the duke in to Acquytayne Cap. C.xcviii YE haue herde here before in this hystorie howe Trewce was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce and there adhereÌ„ces and alyes bothe by see and by lande For all that yet there were robbers and pyllers in Languedocke whiche were straungers and of farre countreis As of Gascoyne of Bierne and of Almaygne And amonge other sir Iohan of Grayle bastarde sonne somtyme of the Captall of Beuses a yonge and an experte knyght was capitayne of the stronge castell of Bouteuyll These capitayns of the garysons in Bigore and marchynge on the realme of Arragone and on the fronters of Xaynton and in the marchesse of Rochell and of the garyson of Mortaygne were sore displeased that they myght natte ouer rynne to countrey as they were accustomed to do For they were straitlye commaunded on payne of greuous punysshment to do nothyng that shulde souÌ„de to the reproche of the peace IN this season it was agreed in Englande consyderynge that the kynge was yonge and that he hadde peace with all his ennemyes farre and nere excepte with Irelande For he claymed that lande of enherytauÌ„ce and his predecessours before him and was written kyng and lorde of Irelande And kynge Edwarde graunfather to kynge Rycharde made all wayes warre with the Irysshe men And to the entente that the yonge knyghtes and squyers of Englande shulde enploye them selfe in dedes of armes and therby to augment and encrease the honour of the realme It was concluded that kynge Rycharde of Englande shulde make thyder a voyage with puyssauÌ„ce of menne of warre And so to entre in to Irelande and nat to retourne agayne without they hadde an honourable composycion or conclusyon The same season it was concluded that the duke of Lancastre who had greatlye traueyled bothe by See and by lande for the augmentacyon and honour of the reralme of Englande shulde make another voyage with fyue hundred menne of armes and a thousande archers and to take shyppynge at Hampton or at Plommouthe and so to sayle to Guyane and to Acquitaygne And it was the entencyon of kynge Rycharde and by consent of all his counsayle that the duke of Lancastre shulde haue for euer to hym and to his heyres all the countrey of Acquitayne with the purtenaunces as kyng Edwarde his father had or any other kyngê or dukes of Acquitayne before tyme had holden optayned And as kyng Rycharde at that tyme had reserued always the homage that he shulde do to the kynge of Englande to any kynges to come after But as for all the obeysauÌ„ces rentes lordshypes and reuenewes shulde parteygne to the duke of LaÌ„castre and to his heyres for euer Of this the kyng made to hym a clere graunt confyrmed it vnder his writyng seale With this gyfte the duke of LaÌ„castre was well coÌ„tent good cause why For in that Duchy are landes and countreis for a great lorde to maynteygne his estate with all The Charter of this gyfte was engrosed and dewly examyned and paste by great delyberacyon and good aduyse of counsayle Beynge present the kynge and his two vncles the dukes of yorke and the duke of Gloucestre The erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre And also therle Marshall erle of Rutlande the erle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Nottyngham the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Spensar the lorde Beamonde the lorde Willyam of Arundell The archebysshoppe of Caunterbury and the archebysshoppe of yorke and the bysshoppe of London and other all these were presente and dyuers othe Prelates and barownes of Englande Thanne the duke of Lancastre purposed to make his prouisyon to passe the See to go in to Acquitayne to enioye the gyfte that the kyng hadde gyuen hym In lykewise great prouisyon was made for the kynges voyage in to Irelande and lordes and other were apoynted suche as shulde passe the See with the kyng had warnyng to make theÌ„ redy ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of Quene Anne of Englande wyfe to kynge Richarde doughter to the kynge of Boesme Emperour of Almaygne Capi. C.xcix THus as I haue shewed great preparacyons was made at the portes and hauyns where as the kynge shulde take shyppepynge for to go in to Irelande And in lykewyse there as the duke of Lancastre shulde passe to go in to Acquitayne Their voyage was lette and taryed the space of two monethes lengar than it shulde haue ben and I shall tell you why THe same season that all these preparacyons was made the Quene named Anne tooke a sickenesse wherby the kynge and all his lordes were ryght sore troubled for she was so sore sicke that she passed out of this worlde at the feest of Penthecost the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and fourtene of whose dethe the kynge and all that loued her ladyes and damoselles were sore troubled and in great heuynesse She was buryed at Poules in London and her obseâ—es done after at good leysar for the king wolde haue it done sumptuously with great habuÌ„daunce of waxe tapers and torches so that the lyke hadde nat ben sene before The kynge wolde haue it so bycause she was the Emperours doughter of Rome and kyng of Almaygne The kynge loued her so entierly They were maryed yonge howe be it she dyed without issue Thus in one season the kynge the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Derby were wydowers And there was no spekynge of remaryeng nor the kyng wolde here no spekynge therof Thus the kynges voyage in to Irelande was somwhat retarded let howe be it the prouisyon and other lordes suche as shulde go with the kynge passed ouer the see and landed at Duuelyn whiche was alwayes Englysshe and there is an archebisshoppe who was with the kynge And anone after Mydsomer the kynge departed fro the marchesse of London and toke the waye throughe Wales huntyng and sportynge hym to forgette the dethe of his quene and suche as shulde go with the kynge sette forwarde Two of the kynges vncles Edmonde duke of yorke and Thomas duke of Gloucestre constable of Englande sette forwarde in great arraye so dyde other lordes as the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the erle marshall erle of Salisbury the erle of Arundell the lorde Wyllyam of Arundell the erle of Northumberlande lorde Percy lorde ThomÌ„s Percy his brother great Seneschall of Englande the erles of Deuonshyre and Notyngham and great nombre of other knightes and squiers Suche reserued as abode behynde to kepe the marchesse agaynst the scottes who were suche people as neuer kepte no truce nor promyse The lorde Iohan of Hollande erle of
the firste all abasshed for if I had sene any auncyent knyght that had ben with kyng Edwarde or with the price I had ben well reconforted and wolde haue gone to hym but I coulde se none suche Than̄e I demaunded for a knyght called sir Rycharde Seury whyder he were a lyue or nat and it was shewed me yes but he was at London Than I thought to go to the lorde Thom̄s Percy great seneschall of Englade who was there with the kyng so I acquaynted me with hym and I founde hym right honorable and gracyous And he offred to present me and my letters to the kynge wherof I was right ioyfull for it behoued me to haue some meanes to bringe me to the presence of suche a prince as the Kynge of Englande was He wente to the kynges Chambre at whiche tyme the kynge was gone to slepe and so he shewed me and badde me retourne to my lodgynge and come agayne and so I dyde And whan I came to the bysshoppes palays I founde the lorde Thomas Percy redy to ryde to Ospring And he counsayled me to make as than no knowledge of my beynge there but to folowe the court and sayd he wolde cause me euer to be well lodged tyl the kyng shulde be at the fayre castell of Ledes in Kent I ordered me after his coūsayle and rode before to Ospring by aduēture I was lodged in an house where was lodged a gentyll knyght of Englande called sir Wyllyam Lysle He was taryed there behynde the kynge bycause he had payne in his heed all the nyght before He was one of the kynges preuy chambre And whan he sawe that I was a straunger and as he thought of the marchesse of Fraūce bycause of my langage We fyll in acquayncaunce toguyder for gentylmen of Englande are curcesse treatable and gladde of acquayntaunce Than he demaunded what I was and what busynesse I had to do in those parties I shewed hym a great parte of my cōmynge thyder and all that the lorde Thomas Percy hadde sayd to me and ordred me to do He than answered and sayde howe I coulde nat haue a better meane and that on the Friday the kyng shulde be at the castell of Ledes And he shewed me that whan I came there I shuld fynde there the duke of yorke the kynges vncle wherof I was ryght gladde bycause I had letters dyrected to hym and also that in his youthe he hadde sene me in the courte of the noble kyng Edwarde his father and with the quene his mother Than on the Friday in the mornyng sir Wylliam Lysle and I rode toguyder and on the waye I demaunded of hym if he had been with the kynge in the voyage in to Irelande He answered me yes Than I demaunded of hym the maner of the Hole that is in Irelande called saynt Patrykes purgatorie if it were trewe that was sayde of it or nat Than he sayde that of a suretie suche a hole there was and that he hym selfe and another knyght of Englande hadde ben there whyle the kynge laye at Duuelyn and sayd howe they entred in to the hoole were closed in at the sonne goynge downe and abode there all nyght and the nexte mornyng issued out agayne at the son risyng Than I demaūded it he had any suche strāge sightes or vysions as was spoken of Than he sayd howe that whan he his felowe were entred and past the gate that was called the purgatorie of saynt Patryke and that they were discended and gone downe thre or four paces discendyng downe as in to a cellar a certayne hoote wapure rose agaynst them and strake so in to their heedes that they were fayne to syt downe on the steres whiche are of stone And after they had sytte there a season they had great desyre to slepe and so fell a slepe and slepte there all nyght Than I demaūded that if in their slepe they knewe where they were or what visyons they had he answered me that in slepyng they entred in to great ymaginacyōs and in marueylous dremes otherwyse than they were wont to haue in their Chambres and in the mornynge they issued out and within a shorte season clene forgate their dreures visyons wherfore he sayde he thought all that mater was but a fantasy Than I lefte spekyng any further of that matter bycause I wolde fayne haue knowen of hym what was done in the voyage in Irelande And I thought as thā to haue demaūded what the kyng had done in that iourney but than company of other knyghtes came and fell in communycacion with hym so that I lefte my purpose for that tyme. Thus we robe to Ledes and thyder came the kyng and all his cōpany and there I founde the lorde Edmonde duke of yorke Than I went to hym and delyuered my letters fro the erle of Heynaulte his cosyn and fro the erle of Ostrenaunt The duke knewe me well and made me good chere and sayde Sir Iohan holde you alwayes nere to vs and we shall shewe you loue and courtesy we are boūde therto for the loue of tyme past and for loue of my lady the olde Quene my mother in whose courte ye were we haue good remembraunce therof Than I thanked hym as reason requyred So I was aduaunsed by reason of hym and sir Thomas Percy and sir William Lysle By their meanes I was brought in to the kynges chambre and in to his presence by meanes of his vncle the duke of yorke Than I delyuered my letters to the kyng and he toke and reed thē at good leysar Than he sayd to me that I was welcome as he that hadde ben and is of the Englysshe courte As on that daye I shewed nat the kynge the boke that I hadde brought for hym he was so sore occupyed with great affayres that I had as than no leysar to present my boke The kyng was sore busyed there in counsayle for two great mightye maters First was in determynynge to sende sufficient messangers as therle of Rutlande his cosyn germayne and the erle Marshall the archbysshoppe of Dublyn the bysshoppe of Ely the lorde Loys Clyssorde the lorde Henry Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spensar and many other ouer the See to Charles the Frenche kynge to treate with hym for a maryage to be hadde bytwene the kyng of Englande and the Frenche kynges eldest doughter named Isabell of the age of eyght yeres The secōde cause was the lorde de la Barde the lorde of Taryde the lorde of Pyntherne the lorde of Newcastell the lorde of Nesque the lorde of Copane and the counsaylours of Burdeux Bayon and of Daxe were come in to Englande and had quickely pursued their mater sythe the kynges retourne out of Irelande to haue an answere of the requestes and processe that they had put forthe to the kyng on the gyfte that the kynge had gyuen to his vncle the duke of Lācastre of the landes seignories lordshippes and baronyes in Acquytayne whiche they verifyed
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
father to the Erle that nowe is who loued me right well bycause I coulde as thā ryde and handell an horse metely well And it fortuned one tyme that the sayde erle who as than was my maister was sent with thre hundred speares and a thousande archers in to the marchesse of Irelande to make warre with the yrisshe men for alwayes the Englysshe men haue had warre with thē to subdue and putte them vnder And on a daye as the sayd Erle went agaynst thē I rode on a goodly horse of his lyght and swyfte Thus I rode folowed my mayster And the same day the yrisshe men were layde in a busshement and whan̄e we came nere theym they opyned their busshement Thanne the Englisshe archers began to shote so egerly that the yrisshe men coulde nat suffre it for they are but simply armed therfore they reculed and wente backe Than̄e the Erle my mayster folowed in the chase and I that was well horsed folowed hym as nere as I coude and it fortuned so that my horse was afrayd and toke his bridell in his tethe and ranne away with me whether I wolde or nat he bare me so farforthe amonge the yrisshe men that one of them by lyghtnesse of ronnynge lepte vp behynde me and enbrased me in his armes dyde me none other hurt but so ledde me out of the way and so rode styll behynde me the space of two houres And at the laste brought me in to a secrete place thycke of busshes and there he founde his company who were come thyder and scaped all daungers for the Englysshe men pursued nat so farre Than as he shewed he had great ioye of me and ledde me in to a towne and a strōge house amonge the woodes waters and myres The towne was called Harpely and the gētylman that toke me was called Brine Costeret He was a goodly man and as it hath ben shewed me he is as yet a lyue how be it he is very aged This Brine Costeret kepte me seuyn yere with hym and gaue me his doughter in maryage of whom I hadde two doughters I shall shewe you howe I was delyuered IT happened at the seuin yeres ende one of their kynges named Arthur mackemur kyng of Lynster made an armye agaynst duke Lyon of Clarence sonne to kyng Edwarde of Englande and agaynst sir Wyllm̄ of Wynsore And nat farre fro the cytie of Lynster the Englysshe men yrisshe men mette toguyder and many were slayne and taken on bothe parties But the Englysshe men opteygned the vyctorie and the yrisshe men fledde and the kyng Arthur saued hym selfe but Brine Costeret my wyues father was taken prisoner vnder the duke of Clarence baner He was taken on the same courser that he toke me on The horse was well knowen amonge the erle of Ormondes folkes and than he shewed howe I was alyue and was at his maner of Harpelyn howe I had wedded his doughter wherof the duke of Clarence sir Wylliam Wynsore and the Englysshe men were ryght gladde Than̄e it was shewed hym that if he wolde be delyuered out of prison that he shulde delyuer me in to the Englysshe mennes hādes and my wyfe and chyldren With gret payne he made that bargayne for he loued me well and my wyfe his doughter and our chyldren Whan he sawe he coulde make his fynaunce none otherwyse he accorded therto but he reteigned myne eldest doughter styll with him So I and my wyfe and our seconde doughter retourned in to Englande and so I went and dwelte besyde Bristowe on the ryuer of Syuerne My two doughters are maryed and she in Irelāde hath thre sonnes and two doughters and she that I brought with me hath foure sonnes and two doughters bycause the langage of yrisshe is as redy to me as the Englysshe tong for I haue alwayes cōtynued with my wyfe and taught my children the same speche Therfore the kyng my souerayne lorde and his counsayle cōmaunded me to gyue attendaūce on these four kynges and to gouerne and bringe them to reason and to the vsage customes of Englāde seyng they hadde yelded them to to be vnder his obeysaunce of the crowne of Englāde and they were sworne to holde it for euer yet I ensure you for all that I dyde my power to ensygne and to lerne them good maner yet for all that they be ryght rude and of grose engyn moche payne I hadde to make them to speke any thyng in fayre maner somwhat I altred them but nat moche for in many cases they drewe to their naturall rudenesse The kyng my soueraygne lordes entent was that in maner countenaunce and apparell of clothyng they shulde vse accordyng to the maner of Englande for the kynge thought to make them all four knyghtes they had a fayre house to lodge in in Duuelyn and I was charged to abyde styll with them and nat to departe And so two or thre dayes I suffred them to do as they lyst and sayde nothynge to them but folowed their owne appetytes They wolde sytte at the table and make coūtenaunce nother good nor fayre Than I thought I shulde cause thē to chaunge that maner They wolde cause their mystrelles their seruauntes and varlettes to sytte with them and to eate in their owne dysshe and to drinke of their cuppes And they shewed me that the vsage of their countre was good for they sayd in all thynges except their beddes they were and lyued as cōmen So the fourthe day I ordayned other tables to be couered in the hall after the vsage of Englande And I made these four kynges to sytte at the hyghe table and there mynstrels at another borde and their seruantes and varlettes at another byneth them wherof by semynge they were displeased and behelde eche other wolde nat care and sayd howe I wolde take fro them their good vsage wherin they hadde been norisshed Than I answered them smylyng to a peace theym that it was nat honourable for their estates to do as they dyde before and that they must leaue it and vse the custom of Englande and that it was the kynges pleasure they shulde so do and how he was charged so to order them Whan they harde that they suffred it bycause they had putte them selfe vnder the obeysaūce of the kyng of Englande and parceuered in the same as long as I was with them yet they hadde one vse whiche I knewe well was vsed in their coūtre and that was they dyde were no breches I caused breches of lynen clothe to be made for them Whyle I was with them I caused them to leaue many rude thynges aswell in clothyng as in other causes Moche ado I had at the fyrst to cause them to weare gownes of sylke furred with Myneuere gray For before these kynges thought them selfe well apparelled whan they hadde on a mantell They rode alwayes without sadelles styropes and with great payne I made thē to ryde after our vsage Andon a
the maner how the kyng our souerayne lorde hath this yere accomplysshed and furnysshed his voyage in Ireland put it in your memoriall to the entent that whan ye shall retourne in to your owne countrey ye may write it in your cronicle with many other hystories that depende to the same matter Than I thanked hym and sayd it shulde be done So I toke leaue of hym Than I mette with Marche the heraulde and I demauÌ„ded of hym what armes this Henry Christell bare and I shewed the heraulde howe this sir Henry had shewed me the maner of the kynges torney in Irelande and the state of the foure kynges who had ben as he sayd in his gouernyng more than fyftene dayes at Duuelyn The heraulde answered me and sayd Sir he beareth in his armes Syluer a cheuerne goules thre besans goules All these thyngê I dyde putte in writynge bycause I wolde nat forgette them THus I taryed in the kynge of Englandes courte as longe as it pleased me nat always in one place for the kynge often tymes remoued to Eltham to Ledes to Kyngstone to Shene to Charsey or to Wyndsore aboute the marchesse of London And I was enformed of a trouthe that the kyng wrote to his vncle the duke of Lancastre for they of Acquitayne spedde so in their busynesse that their countrey abode styll to the crowne of Englande ThanÌ„e it was concluded by generall counsayle of Englande that the gyfte that the kynge hadde gyuen to the duke of Lancastre must nedes abyde styll as his owne howe be it the duke of Gloucestre wolde that his brother myght haue enioyed the kynges gyfte but his saying coulde nat be herde in that case For they of the Realme of Englande bycause of doutes and casualtyes in tyme to come herde well the wordes of theym of Burdeaux and of Bayone And consydred well that yf the herytage of Acquitaygne were putte fro the Crowne of Englande it shulde be in tyme to come a great preiudice to the realme whiche they wolde in no wise shulde fortune for alwayes Burdeux Bayon and the froÌ„ters and marches of Gascon had kept augmented greatly the honour of the realme of Englande These thyngê were well coÌ„sydred of the wyse men of the kynges couÌ„sayle the duke of Gloucestre absent for before hym no man durst speke so the mater abode in this case ¶ We shall leaue of this matter and speke of the kynge of Englandes ambassadours as the erle of Rutlande and therle marshall and other that were sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene kynge Rycharde their lorde and the doughter of Charles Frenche kyng who was but eyght yeres of age and I shall shewe you howe they spedde ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the ambassade that the kynge of Englande sente in to Fraunce to treate of the maryage bytwene the lady Isable the FreÌ„che kynges eldest doughter and hym selfe and of the louyng answere they had Capi. CC.iii THese Englysshe lordes rode fro Calais to Amyence and to Clermount in Beauuosyn so to Parys and iÌ„ euery place they were well receyued by the coÌ„maundement of the frenche kyng They were lodged about that crosse of Tyrouer They were a fyue hundred horses The Frenche kynge was lodged at the castell of Lour and the quene and her chyldren at the house of saynt Poule vpon the ryuer of Seyne The duke of Berrey at the house of Nesle the duke of Burgoyne at the house of Arthoyse and the duke of Burbone in his owne house the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce the erle of saynt Poule and the lorde of Coucy at their owne houses The kynge had assembled there all his counsayle to the entent to make the better answere to thembassadours of Englande The kyng had coÌ„mauÌ„ded that euery day there shulde be delyuered to these ambassadours two huÌ„dred crownes of FraÌ„ce for their small expences and for their horses And the chiefe of these Englysshe lordes as the erle Marshall and therle of RutlaÌ„de were often tymes with the kynge and dyned with hym they had as good there as coulde be deuysed for the loue of the kynge of EnglaÌ„de These lordes desyred euer to haue an answere they were euer fedde forthe with fayre wordes For the noble men of Fraunce had great marueyle of the requestes of the Englysshe men And that the kynge of Englande wolde marry with Fraunce seynge that the warre had ben so cruell and so long endured And some of the Frenche kynges counsayle sayd howe maye our kyng agree to gyue his doughter in maryage to his aduersary or this treatie shulde be made We thynke we shall haue peace with Englande by some other wayes though it be nat by the meanes of maryage And as at that tyme there was a valyaunt knyght of the Frenche kynges counsayle called sir Raynalt of Corby He was a farre castyng man and consydred what myght fall in tyme to come ThanÌ„e he sayd to the kyng and to his vncles My lordes and maysters A man shulde entre in at the ryght dore in to a house It semeth that kyng Richarde of EnglaÌ„de wolde nothyng to you nor to the realme but loue and all fauour seynge that by reason of maryage he wolde alye hym to you Two tymes your counsaylours and his haue mette toguyder at Amyence and at Balyngham to treate for a peace yet they coulde neuer take no good conclusyon but on the state of a truce And sir it is well knowen that Thomas duke of Gloucestre kyng Richardes vncle is of a coÌ„trary opinyon against the king and his other two vncles the dukes of LaÌ„castre of yorke The kyng nor other can nat make hym agre wyllingly to haue peace howe be it his puissaunce canne natte resyst the kynges power Therfore sir after myne opynyon receyue this offre and refuce nat this treatie and let these lordes haue suche aunswere as maye coÌ„tent them Than the kyng and his vncles agreed therto and specially the duke of Burgoyne for he was so sore charged by reason of the warres that gladly he wolde haue peace and the priÌ„cypall cause was bycause of FlauÌ„ders wherof he claymed to be lorde by reason of his wyfe bycause that countrey marched vpon Englande And also the hertes of the Flemynges were rather Englysshe than Frenche bycause of the entrecourse of marchaundyse bytwene England Flaunders by See and by lande THan it was concluded by the Frenche kynges counsayle that there shulde be as good there made to the Englysshmen as was before And whether it was by dissymulacyon or otherwyse the frenche men were determyned to make a good and a swere aunswere to the englisshe men and to put them in hope that the kynge of Englande shulde haue his desyre The quene and her chyldren laye at the house of faynt Powleê and where as the Englysshe lordes desyred to se theym it was graunted to them and specyally to se her for whome their treatie was than it was shewed them that they muste be content howe so
this tyme I wotte nat where better to enploye myselfe in any dede of armes wherin I wolde gladly knowe youre pleasure I wolde go in that honourable voyage with a hundred knyghtes and beare company with my fayre brother the duke of Burgoyne and my lady the duches shall can me gret thanke and many knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt wyll gladly holde me company Than duke Aubert as a man redy purueyed of aunswere sayd Guylliam what haste or wyll haue you to go in this voyage in to Hungery and in to Turkey to seke armes vpon people and countrey that neuer dyd vs any forfeyte thou hast no tytell of reason to go but for the vayneglory of the worlde Lette Iohan of Burgoyne and our cosins of Fraunce do their enterprise and do thy dedes aparte go thou in to Frese and conquere our herytage that these fresones by pride and rudenes do witholde fro vs and wyll come to none obeysaunte and to do this I shall ayde the. The wordes of the father to the sonne lyghtened greatly the herte of therle of Ostrenant who aunswered and sayd My lorde ye saye well and if it please you that I shall do that voyage I shall do it with ryght a good wyll ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Ostrenant enterprised to go in to Frese Cap. CC.vii THese wordê bytwene the father the sonne multyplyed so moche lytell and lytell that the voyage in to Frese was taken and enter prised and one thynge helped moche the matter forwarde and that was The erle of Ostrenant had at that tyme aboute hym and nere of his counsayle a squyer of Haynalte called Ferebrase otherwise called the bastarde Vertayne a wyse man and a subtyll in feates of armes so that whan he herd of this he said to the erle Syr my lorde your father speketh well it is better for your honour that ye make this voyage rather than in to Hungery and ordayne you therto and ye shall fynde knyghtes and squyers of Haynalt and elswhere that wyll be gladde to kepe you company and shall ayde you to their powers to do this enterprise and if ye haue mynde thus to do I wyll counsayle you to go in to EnglaÌ„de and to signyfy your enterprise to the knyghtes and squyers there and pray the kynge of Englande your cosyn that he wyll gyue lycence to knyghtes squyers and archers to go with you in to Frese at your wages englysse men be men of dedes and if ye haue them ye shall do your businesse the better And if ye may haue by prayer your cosyn therle of Derby in your company your voyage shall be moche the fayrer and your enterprise the more renomed The erle enclyned to those wordes for it semed to hym that his counsayle was good In lykewyse the lorde Gomegynes gaue hym counsayle and so dyd dyuers other These wordes anone spredde abrode in Haynalte Than there was acommaundement made to all knyghtes and squiers in Heynalt that none of theym shulde go out of the couÌ„trey to go in to Hungrey nor in to no place els bycause the erle of Ostrenant shulde ocupy them another waye and shulde leade them in to Frese We shall leaue speakynge of this busynesse and retourne to the voyage in to Hungery THus knyghtes and squiers in many parties had cause to awake and to take corage for the warres that were towarde in that season as well for the voyage in to Hungery as in to Frese The erle of Neuers auaunced his iourney and all knyghtes and Squyers were named and written that shulde go with him prouision was great and well ordeyned and for that he wolde be renomed in this voyage he was lyberall and mad great larges to many knyghtes and squyers that shulde go in his bande for the voyage was long and costely wherfore it was nedefull for theÌ„ to haue some ayde towardes their charges and the other lordes as the constable of FrauÌ„ce and the erles of Ewe and Marche the lordes Henry and Phylippe of Bare the lorde of Coucy the lorde Guy of Tremoyle the lorde Iohan Vyen admyrall of Fraunce Boucyquant marshall of Fraunce and Raynolde du Roy the lordes of saynt Powle of Mutterell and of saynte Pye the Hasell of Flaunders the lorde Loys of Brese his brother le Bourge of Montquell and other they were to the nombre of a thousande knyghtes and a thousande squyers all valyaunt men Euery man departed fro their owne houses about the myddes of marche and so rode forth by companyes and alwayes they founde the wayes open for the kynge of Almayne had coÌ„mauÌ„ded through all his realme of Almayne and Boesme that they shulde haue all thynges necessary and that no vytayle shulde be witholden fro them These lordes of FrauÌ„ce thus rode forwarde to the ayde of the kyng of Hungery who shulde haue batayle with the great turke puyssaunce agaynst puyssaunce the twenty day of the moneth of May. These lordes passed Lorayne the countie of Bare the countie of Mountbelyart and the duchy of Burgoyn and entred into Ausay and passed the couÌ„trey and the ryuer of Rynâ—â—â— many places and the countie of Fierte and so entered in to Austriche whiche is a great couÌ„trey and the entres and issues stronge and great desertes but they went with so good wyll and corage that payne and traueyle greued them nothyng The duke of Austriche made capytaynes in his countrey suche as made the lordes good chere and specyally to IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who was chiefe of that army All these lordes were apoynted to assemble in a cytie in Hungery called Bode ¶ Nowe let vs speke of other maters yE haue herde here before howe the kynge of England had sente in the same season suffycient ambassade to the frenche kyng and to his counsayle to haue to his wyfe Isabell the doughter of Fraunce whiche ambassadours were the archebysshop of Duuelyn the bysshoppe of Wynchester the erle Marshall the erle of Rutlande sonne to the duke of yorke the lorde Henry Clyfforde the lorde Beamonde the lorde Spenser and many other the frenche kyng had made them good chere and all his vncles and counsayls whiche ambassade were retourned in to Englande vpon good hope to atayne to their desyres The kynge of Englande for his parte all the wynter folowynge often tymes sent to the frenche kynge consernynge the sayd maters who was well enclyned to haue peace and to haue ende of the warre whiche had ouer longe endured These pursutes and treaties toke suche effect and the two kynges had writen so solemply eche to other that their maters drewe nere to apoynte so that suche ambassadours as were fyrst sent out of Englande in to Fraunce were than sente agayne and came to Parys and were lodged at the crosse of Tyroner and their men in the streat there aboute They were to the nombre of syxe hundred Thus they soiourned at Parys more than thre wekes ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the iudgemeÌ„t made in the parlyament for the quene
Bartylmewes daye on a sonday in the foresaid yere And whan the Fresons sawe theÌ„ aproche they issued out vpon the dikes a sire thousande to haue lette the landynge of their enemyes Among the fresons ther was a woman apparelled all in blewe who all in a rage went fro the fresons and came nere to the heynowes within the shotte of a bowe Than she tourned her backe towarde the hey nowes and plucked vp her clothes and shewed her bare arse cryeng in her langage sers take this to your welcome As soone as they sawe the leudnesse of this woman they shot at her arowes and quarels so that she was stryken iâ—â—he legges and loynes The arowes came flyeng at her as thycke as snowe Than some lepte out of the shippes in to the water and ran after this folysshe woman with their swerdes and ouertoke her and hewed her in to small peces ThaÌ„ euery man issued out of their vessels and so came agaynst the fresons who receyued them right valyantly and putte them of with longe pykes longe staues bounde with yron To saye the trouthe in takyng of lande there was many dedes of armes done on bothe parties many slayne and sore hurte But biforce of the Englisshe archers and cros bowes of Heynaulte Hollande and zelande They wanne the dyke agaynst the fresons and vpon that dyke they araynged their baners in good order taryeng for their coÌ„pany their reuke was more than halfe a myle longe Than the Fresons that were putte fro the dykes came to their coÌ„pany who were mo than .xxx. thousande closed toguyder in a grounde dyked rounde aboute with a great depe dyke and it was nat so farre of but they myght well se their enemyes wheee they were raynged on the fyrst dyke Thus they contynued tyll all the heynowayes were a lande and all their baggage and certayne tentes reyred vp There they rested them that sondaye and the mondaye aduisynge the Fresons their enemyes In whiche two dayes dyuers scrymisshes were made and on the Tuesday bothe parties were redy Than certayne newe knightes were made and it was ordayned to fight with the fresons Than they auauuced forewarde in good order of batayle and their archers before them and amonge them than sowned trumpettes and clarions and so caÌ„e a fayre pase to passe ouer the dike Than the fresons came to defende the passage and the archers shotte agaynst them fiersly and the fresoÌ„s couered them selfes with targes and with the erthe of the dyke that was bytwene them their enemyes Howe be it they were so nere aproched that certayne of the holanders entred in to the dyke and made bridges with speres and pykes and so with valyant corage began to enuade the fresons who defended their force right valyantly and gaue suche strokes against them that wolde mouÌ„t vp out of the dyke that many were ouerthrowen downe agayne But the Heynowayes Frenche men Englysshe men Hollanders and zelanders were so well armed that the fresons coude do them no doÌ„mage nor hurt but cast them downe to the grounde There were suche noble dedes done and atchyued that it were impossible to shewe it the newe made knyghtes dyde nobly their deuoyre the Fresons defended marueylously They were great and bygge men but they were yuell armed many were barelegged and bare foted In this assaut the lorde Lygne the seneshall of Heynault and the lorde Iumont and dyuers other as they wente aboute this dyke They founde awaye wherby they passed ouer the dyke and so came on the fresons with the poyntes of their speres wherof the Fresons were fore abasshed so that dyuers of them lepte the dyke So perforce the Fresons were fayne to opyn and sparcle abrode here and there In this batayle the great freson was slayne and the other began to flye The chase was horryble and cruell for none was taken to rauÌ„some and specially the holanders slewe all they myght attayne vnto In so moche that suche as were taken by the Heynowes frenche men or Englysshe men the hollanders slewe them in their handes Amonge the hollanders the lorde Wyllyam of Oruenbourge and his two sonnes IohnÌ„ and Henry who were made knyghtes the same mornyng acquyted themselfe maruey lously well and slewe many Fresons for it semed well by them that they loued but litell the fresons Thus finally the Fresons were discoÌ„fyted and the moost parte slayne in the felde but fewe were takenne prisoners and caryed to Haye in Hollande and there were kepte a long season after The lorde of Cundren who was lorde of that couÌ„trey where the felde was was the mondaye before yelden to the duke Aubert and his two sonnes and yet for all that they were in the felde with the fresons The two sonnes were longe after with the duke After this disconfyture they entred in to the countrey of Condren toke townes and fortresses howe be it they coÌ„quered but lytell for the Fresons dyde theÌ„ great doÌ„mage by preuy encouÌ„trynges And whan they shulde take any prisoners they wolde neuer yelde but fought to the dethe sayeng they had rather dye free Fresons than to be vnder the subiectyon of any prince or lorde If any prisoners were taken there coude no raunsome be gotten for them for their frendes wolde nat quyte them out but rather suffre them to dye in prisone They wolde neuer quyte none of their people withoute it were to delyuer man for man And if they sawe that there were none of their people in prisone they wolde slee all their enemyes take no prisoner Thus about the ende of .v. wekes and that the heynous and other had taken and beaten downe certayne townes vyllages and fortresses of no great valure The leason beganne to waxe colde marueylously and rayned nerehaÌ„de euery day and the sees full of tempestes and wyndes The duke Aubert and his sonne consydringe the season purposed to returne in to base Frese fro whens they came and so in to Hollande the more easy to passe the colde wynter So they departed and came to Encuyse there gaue lycence to euery man to deê‘te and specially to the strauÌ„gers and payde theÌ„ truely their wages and thaÌ„ked them of their good ayde and seruyce Thus brake vp the iourney of Frese and had coÌ„quered but lytell all that season But within two yere after the sayd two noble princes assembled agayn the seconde tyme a great armye and wente in to Frese made a great coÌ„quest and dyd there many noble dedes of armes as ye shall here after But as nowe we shall leaue spekyng therof and declare the maner of the maryage of the kynge of Englande to the doughter of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the mariage of the kyng of Englande to the doughter of FraÌ„ce was ordred and howe the Frenche kyng delyuered his doughter to the kynge of Englande in his Tente by twene Arde Calys Cap. CC.xvi. YE haue herde howe the kyng of Englande was returned fro Calis in to Englande there
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
haue repealed therle of Derby agayne in to the Realme but the kyng had no mynde so to do for he dyd clene the contrary for incontynent he sente his offycers in to all the duke of Lācasters landes and toke the profites therof to hym selfe and sayd that as longe as therle of Derby stode as a banysshed man that he nor none of his shulde receyue any reuenues of any landes within the realme of Englande And moreouer wherof the kyng was greatly blamed of suche as loued the erle and his chyldren The kyng gaue awaye landes parteynynge to the herytage of the duchy of Lancastre to some of his seruauntes suche as asked them for the whiche cause many knyghtes other in Englande spake and said The kyng sheweth well that he oweth no good wyll to his cosyn the erle of Derby sythe he wyll nat repeale hym home agayne and suffre his landes to be gyuen awaye where as therle and his chyldren shulde be great membres in Englande a good staffe for the kyng to leane by But he dothe the contrary for he driueth hym awaye so wyll kepe hym in this daūger and worse if he coude For he hath taken to hym selfe his heritage and causeth his offycers to medell with the dukes landes as thoughe they were his owne And if that poore tenauntes complayne of the iniuryes done to them in their lordes absence they can nat be harde there is none that wyll do them right Also it is but a small token of loue that the kyng beareth to the erle of Derby and to his chyldren for their herytage of Lācastre whiche shulde come to thē by right enherytaūce discended fro their grandame the lady Blanche doughter to duke Henry of Lancastre The kyng gyueth parte therof away where as it pleaseth hym suche landes as shulde fall to them by the right of the lady their mother who was doughter to the erle of Herforde and Northampton and cōstable of Englande The kynge gyueth parte therof at his pleasure This is to moche done agaīst all ryght and reason and to the displeasure of all the noble men of Englande this can nat longe endure vnamended Thus the prelates noble men and commons in Englāde cōmuned and murmured IN lykewise in the realme of Frāce suche men of honour as herde spekynge of this mater and hadde sene erle of Derby at Parys hadde great marueyle therof and sayd one to another As we thynke the kynge of Englande hath takenne to great a displeasure with his cosyn the erle of Derby who is the greattest man in Englad next hym selfe He is a gracious knyght curtesse meke and tretable and a man good to be spoken vnto The kyng of Englande knoweth some other thynge by hym than we do or elles the kynge is yuell counsayled And it is marueyle that the Frenche kynge and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles do nat attemper the mater for the erle is daylye amonge theym They shulde fynde best prouisyon in this case for the kynge of Englande wyll do more for thē than for any men bicause he hath maried the Frenche kynges doughter But sythe they do nothynge therin it is best we holde oure peace and lette it passe As for the Frenche kynge his brother and his vncles thought nothyng but good They honoured and loued greatly the erle of Derby and desyred moche his company and they sawe well he was a wydower and to marry and that the duke of Berry hadde a doughter a wydowe of two husbandes she was but yonge of a xxiii yere of age was named Mary Her fyrst husbāde was Loys of Bloys who died yonge and her secōde husbande was the lorde Philyppe of Arthoys erle of Ewe who died in his retourne in Hungry as ye haue herde here before This maryage was at apoynt to haue concluded for they in Fraūce knewe well that the duke of Lancastre was a great enherytoure in Englande and the Frenche kynge was well pleased therwith bycause his doughter was Quene of Englande for he thought that the company of those two ladyes togyder shulde be great pleasure to thē bothe sythe they were so nere of blode And therby the two realmes of Fraunce and Englande shulde be the surer conioyned toguyder in loue and peace whiche was trewe if it might haue been accomplysshed but kyng Richarde of Englande his coūsayle brake all that mater for the fortunes of this world whiche are marueylous nor a thynge that shall be canne nat be eschewed The whiche fortune of this kynge Richarde was so marueylous that it is harde to thynke theron The kynge myght well haue remedyed the mater if he had wolde but that that shall be shal be I shall shewe you what I Iohan Froissarte auctour of this hystorie Herde whan̄e I was but yonge in Englande in a place called Bertamstede whiche as at that tyme parteyned to the price of Wales father to this sayde kynge Rycharde it was in the yere of grace a thousande thre hundred thre score and two And bycause the same tyme the prince and the princes shulde departe out of Englande to go in to Acq̄tayne to kepe their estate there Kyng Edwarde his father and quene Phillyppe my maistres and Lyon duke of Clarence Iohan duke of Lancastre the lorde Edmonde who was after Erle of Cambridge and duke of yorke their chyldren were come to the said maner place to se the prince and princes or they departed And as than I was of the age of .xxiiii. yere and one of my said lady the quenes clerkes of her chambre And as I satte on a benche I herde a knyght talkyng and deuysinge among dyuers ladyes and damoselles of the Quenes and sayde to them There is a booke in this countrey called the Brust many men saye it is of marueylous prophycies But accordynge to that booke the realme and crowne of Englande shulde nat retourne to the price of Wales nor yet to the duke of Clarence nor that they shulde be kynges of England though they were sonnes to kyng Edwarde but this knyght sayd that accordyng to that boke the crowne of Englande shulde come to the house of Lancastre The same season whan this knyght spake these wordes this sayd Hēry erle of Derby was nat borne nor yet seuyn yere after but yet in my dayes the same wordes tooke effecte for I sawe after the same Henry erle of Derby kynge of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of a treatie of a maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berries doughter and howe kyng Rycharde of Englande dyde lette it by the erle of Salisbury Capi. CC .xxxvi. AS soone as kyng Rycharde kyng of Englande herde of the treatie of the maryage bytwene the erle of Derby and the duke of Berryes doughter that the parties were nerehāde accorded he toke those newes to great dyspleasure and sayd to the erle of Salisbury in whom he had great affyaunce ye must or dayne you to go in
Henry in Fraunce wherby they were soner aquaynted so they taryed at Douer tyll their horses were vnshypped and than they rode to Caunterbury And where so euer they bayted or lay their hostes were payed At laste they came to Eltham and there they founde kyng Henry and parte of his counsayle The kinge made them good chere for the loue of the frenche kynge Than they shewed the kyng the cause of their cōmynge The kynge aunswered and sayde Sirs ye shal go to London and there I wyll be within this foure dayes and assemble my counsayle and than ye shall haue aunswere of your demaunde That daye they dyned with the kynge and after dyner they rode to London and the sayde knyght of the kynges styll with them who sawe them well lodged The kinge acordyng to his promyse came to Westmynster these frenche knyghtes had knowlege of the kynges cōmynge thyder and made them redy to go whan they shulde be sent for The kynge had his counsayle with hym and than it was deuysed what answere they shuld haue than they were sent for and than it was shewed them that where as they desyred to se the quene their desyre shulde nat be denyed so that they wolde swere and promesse that nouther they nor none of their menne shulde speke any worde of that was fallen vpon king Rycharde for it was said to them that if they dyd they shulde rynne in great dyspleasure of the people and be in great parell of their lyues The two knightes sayd they wolde in no wyse breake the ordre that they had sette but obey their cōmaundement They sayd whan they had ones sene and spoken with her than they wolde retourne and departe Anon after the erle of Northum berlande brought theym to Haueringe of the bowre to the yonge quene who was there as than and with her the duches of Irelande doughter to the lorde Coucy and the duchesse of Gloucestre with her doughters and other ladyes and damoselles The quene receyued them swetely and demaūded of them howe the frenche kinge her father dyd and the quene her mother They sayde well and so cōmuned with her a gret season They kepte well their promesse for they spake no worde of kynge Rycharde Than they tooke leaue of the quene and retourned to London Than shortely after they wente to Eltham to the kynge and there dyned and the kyng gaue them fayre presentes and iowelles and ryght amyably they toke their leaue of the kynge who sayd to them Syrs ye may say whan ye come in to Fraunce that the quene of Englande shall haue no hurte nor trouble but shall alwaies kepe her estate as to her belongeth and shall enioy all her right for as yet she shall nat knowe the mutacyons of the worlde Of these wordes spoken of the kynges mouth the two knyghtes were well content and so departed and lay at Dertforde and the next day at Osprynge and so to Caunterbury and than to Douer And all their costes and charges commynge goynge the kynges offycers payed Than they tooke the see and aryued at Boloyne and so to Parys and there founde the kyng and the quene and shewed them all that they had sene and herde ¶ Nowe let vs somwhat speake of Englande ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne lordes in Englande rose vp with an army to haue delyuered kyng Rycharde and to haue dystroyed kynge Henry and howe they were slayne Cap. CC xivii DIuers questyons and argumētes were made in Englande amonge noble men and counsayls of the good townes that Richarde of Burdeaux was deed slayne wherfore men spake no more of hym for well he had deserued it To these poyntes kyng Henry answered and sayd Nay quod he I haue pytie of his dethe I wyll neuer consent therto To kepe hym in prisone is suffycient I haue warrāted his lyfe and I wyll kepe my promyse suche as wolde haue had hym deed sayd Sir we se well ye haue Pytie on hym but ye do for your selfe a perylous thyng For as long as he is a lyue though he haue willyngly resigned to you the crowne of Englande and that euery man hath receyued you as kyng and haue made to you faythe and homage yet it can nat be but that there be in the Realme some that loued hym as yet do who wolde lightly ryse agaīst you if they might se any lykelyhode of his delyueraunce Also the Frenche kynge is sore displeased for his trouble he wolde soone be reuenged yf he myght and he is of great puyssaunce with suche ayde as he maye fynde in Englande The kynge aunswered and sayde As longe as I se nat the contrary or that the Frenche kyng wyll take no parte agaynst me I wyll kepe my promyse This aunswere that the kynge made had nerehande haue ben to his owne distructyon The erle of Huntyngton sir Iohan of Hollande brother to kyng Richarde who hadde to wyfe kynge Henryes suster coulde nat forgette the aduenture of his brother No more coude the erle of Salisbury and they had at Oxenforde secrete counsayle toguyder And they deuysed how they might delyuer kynge Richarde oute of the towre and distroye kyng Henry bring a trouble agayne in to the realme They deuysed to make a iustes of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers to beholden at Oxenforde and howe they wolde desyre the kyng to be there priuely And whyle he shulde be syttynge at the table to slee hym For they had deuysed to haue hadde men ynowe to haue perfourmed their ententes and they had redy a preest called Maladyn who was a syngar in kynge Rychardes chapell to haue putte hym in the Kynges appareyle for he was lyke kynge Rycharde in fauoure And than they wolde haue made the people to haue beleued that kynge Richarde hadde been delyuered and returned in to his fyrst state and than̄e to haue sente worde of their dede to the Frenche kynge that he shulde incontynent haue sente in to Englande some socoure to them by the erle of saynt Poule or by some other As they had deuysed so they dyde begynne They caused a feest at Oxenforde to be proclaymed of twentie knyghtes and twentie squyers well accōpanyed with ladyes and damoselles They hadde also on their partie the yonge erle of Kente nephue to sir Iohan Hollande also another great lorde the lorde Spensar And they beleued to haue hadde on their partie the erle Iohan of Rutlande bycause kynge Henry had put hym out of the offyce of the Cōstable shyppe of Englande but he fayled theym for some sayde by hym they were bewrayed This feest prouyded for thau the erle of Huntyngton came to Wyndsore where the kyng was and humbly made his reuerence as he that thought to haue disceyued the kynge with swete wordes and to haue gote hym to haue come to this feest the whiche to do he desyred the kyng effectuously and the kyng who thought none yuell graunted hym so to do wherof the erle was ryght ioyouse and departed
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
brent and rased downe for they sawe well that it was nat to be kept seyng that it was so farr in Englande as it was Than the admyrall scottes rode towarde Auwike in the lande of the lorde Percy lodged there about brent certayne villages and so came to another castell of therle of NorthuÌ„berlandes standyng on the see syde but they assayled it nat for they knew well they shulde lese their payne And so they rode all about that fronter halfwaye bytwene Berwyke Newcastell on the ryuer of Tyne and there they vnderstode howe that the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlande the erle of Notingham the lorde Neuell and the barons of those marches of NorthuÌ„berlande of the bysshoprikes of yorke Dyrham were comynge on them with a great power Whan thadmyrall of Fraunce knewe therof he was right ioy full and so were all the barons of FrauÌ„ce that were in his coÌ„pany for they desyred to haue batayle but the scottes cared Iytell therfore there they were counsayled to returne againe towarde Berwyke bycause of their prouisyon that folowed them also to be nere their owne couÌ„tre and there to abyde for their ennemyes So thadmyrall beleued theÌ„ and returned towarde Berwyke wherof sir Thomas Redman was capitayne with hym right good men of armes So the french men and scottes lay before the towne but assayled it nat so passed by the next day and toke the waye to Burbourcke to retourne to their owne countrees Tidynges was brought anon in to EnglaÌ„de howe the freÌ„chmen scottes were in Northum berlaÌ„de distroyed and brent the couÌ„tre The kynge of Englande knewe rightwell before of their comynge wherfore the lordes were redy in the felde toke their way towarde the scottes Thenglysshmen had made that somer the grettest prouisyon that euer they made to go in to Scotlande bothe by lande water They had a .xxvi. vessels on the fee charged with ê“uision costyng the froÌ„ters of Englande redy to entre in to euery hauen of Scotland And the kyng caÌ„e him selfe acoÌ„panyed with his vncles therle of CaÌ„bridge sir ThoinÌ„s Holand Ther was also therle of Salisbury therle of AtuÌ„dell the yong erle of Penbroke the yong lorde SpeÌ„sar therle of Stafforde therle Mysien so many barons knightes that they were four M. speres besyde them that were before with the duke of LaÌ„castre therle of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„de therle therle of NotynghmÌ„ the lorde Lucy the lorde Neuell The lordes barons that were on before pursuyng the scottes were a two M. speares .xv. M. archers And the kynge the lordes were fyftie M. archers besyde varlettes The kyng folowed the duke of Lancastre so fast that he and all his host came in to the marches about yorke for on the way tidynges caÌ„e to the kyng howe that his people that were before were likely to fight with the scottes in the marches of NorthuÌ„berlande therfore he made the gretter hast so the kyng caÌ„e at last to sait IohnÌ„s of Beuerley in the marches of DyrhinÌ„ And ther tidynges came to the kyng how that the scottes were returned in to their owne countre so all the men of warre lodged about in the marches of NorthuÌ„berland ¶ Nowe shall I shewe you of an adueÌ„ture that fell in theÌ„glysshe hoost wherby that voyage was broken mortall warre bytwene certayne of the lordes ¶ Howe sir IohnÌ„ Hollande slewe sir Rycharde Stafforde howe therle of Stafforde came to the kyng to demaunde iustyce Cap. xii IN the marches of sait IohnÌ„ of Beuerley in the dyoces of yorke The kynge of England was lodged with a great nombre of erles barons and knightes for euery man lay as nere the kyng as they might and specially his two vncles ser Thomas Holande erle of Lien and sir Iohan Holande his brother In the kynges company there was a knyght of Boesme was come to se the quene of Englande and for loue of the quene the kyng and the lordes made hym good chere His name was sir Myles he was a fresshe lustye knight after the vsage of Almaygne And so it fortuned besyde a vyllage nere to sait Iohans of Beuerley that there fell wordes bitwene this knight two squyers of sir Iohan of Hollandes brother to the kynge and to the wordes there came two archers of sir Iohan Staffordes The wordes so multiplyed that the two archers toke parte with the straunger and blamed the two squyers sayng Sirs yedo wroÌ„ge to medyll with this knight for ye knowe he is belongyng to the quene and of her countre ye ought rather to support him than otherwise Than one of the squyers sayd What enuyous knaue Hast thou to do thoughe I blame hym for his folly What haue I to do quod the archer I haue right well to do therwith for he is companyon to my mayster Therfore I wyll nat be in the place to suffre hym to receyue any villany yea quod the squyer if I thought thou woldest ayde hym agaynste me I wolde put this swerd through thy body made couÌ„tnauÌ„ce as thoughe he wolde haue stryken him The archer stepped backe with his bowe whiche was redy bente And sette an arowe therin and drewe it vp and shotte agaynst the squyer that the arowe pearsed thoroughe body hart and so fell downe deed Whan the other squyer sawe his felowe deed he fledde awaye and sir Myles retourned to his lodgynge The two archers went to their maister and shewed hym all the aduenture Sir Richarde Stafforde sayde Thou hast done right yuell Sir quod the archer I coude do none otherwise without I wolde haue been slayne my selfe and I had rather haue slayne hym thaÌ„ he shulde haue slayne me Well quod sir Rycharde Go thy waye that thou be nat founde and I shall entreate for thy peace with sir Iohan of Holande by my father or by some other So the archer deê‘ted TIdynges anone was brought to sir Iohan of Holande that an archer of sir Richarde Staffordes had slayne a squyer of his that man that he loued best in all the worlde and it was shewed hym the maner howe And that it was for the cause of sir Myles the strauÌ„ger Whan sir Iohan of Holande was well enfourmed of this aduenture he was ryght sore displeased and sayd I shall neuer eate nor drike tyll it be reuenged Than he lepte on his horse and toke certayne of his men with hym and departed fro his owne lodgynge It was as than right late and so rode in to the feldes and enquered Where sir Myles was lodged It was shewed hym he was lodged in the reregarde with the erle of Deuurynters and therle of Stafforde Than sir Iohan Hollande toke the waye thyder warde and sought to fynde sir Myles And as he and his men rode vp downe amonge the hedges and busshes in a straite waye he mette at aduenture with sir Richarde Stafforde and bicause it was night he demauÌ„ded who was there I am
of Sauoy the erle Dalphyn of Awuergne the erle of Geneue the erle of saynt Poule the erle of Ewe the erle of Longueuyle and other grete lordes of Fraunce in suche nombre that I can neuer name them all it was sayd there sholde passe in to Englande .xx. M. knyghtes squyers whiche to say trouth is a fayre company also .xx. M. crosse bowes with the Geneways and besyde them other .xx. M. of other men of warre and as then syr Olyuer Clysson was in Bretayne and ordeyned therfore his busynes and nauye and sholde brynge with hym the closure of the felde made of tymbre whiche they ordeyned to be set vp euery nyght when they were ones in Englande and with syr Olyuer Clysson constable of Fraunce sholde come out of Bretayne the best knyghtes squyers therin as the vycount of Rohan the lorde or Rays the lorde of Beawmanoyre the lorde de la Vale the lorde of Rochforte the lorde of Malestroyt syr Iohn̄ of Malestroyte and a .v. C. speres Brerons chosen men of warre for it was the constables entencyon that no mā sholde entre in to englande without he were a mā of armes chosen he gaue charge to the admyral sayng take hede ye charge not our shyppes with varlettes and boyes for they shall do vs more domage then profyte so that .ii. or .iii. knyghtes without they were grete maysters thoughe they hyred shyppes for theyr money yet they sholde haue but one horse ouer one varlet to say trouthe they ordeyned al theyr busynesses in good ordre and it was the opynyon of dyuers that yf they myght aryue all togyder in Englande where as they entended to lande that was at Orwell hauen howe they sholde sore abasshe the countrey so they sholde without doubte for the grete lordes spyrytuall and temporall and the people of the good townes were in grete doubte but the comons poore companyons cared nothynge therfore no more dyd pore knyghtes and squyers for they desyred the warre outher to wynne or to lose all and they sayd one to another god hath sent to vs a good season syth the frensshe kynge wyll come in to this coūtrey he is a valyaunt kyng we thynke this CCC yere passed there was not in fraunce a kyng of that courage as he is of he maketh his men good mē of warre blessyd maye he be syth he wyll come to vysyte vs for nowe we shall dye or elles be ryche it can be none otherwyse ¶ Howe the frensshe kynge taryed at Sluse with his grete oost to the entente to entre in to Englande Ca. iv IF the apparell for this voyage was grete and sumptuous in Flaunders and at Sluse in lykewyse was it in Englāde I haue shewed you somwhat therof here before wherfore I passe it ouer breuely yf the taxes and tallages were grete in fraunce in lykewyse they were in englande so that many a man sorowed longe after but bycause the comons sawe it was nedefull sayd it is not agaynst reason thoughe we be taxed nowe to gyue of our goodes to knyghtes and squyers to defende theyr herytages and ours There was raysed the same tyme in Englande for the defence of the countrey more then .ii. mylyons of floreyns and receyuours therof were the archebysshop of yorke broder to the lorde Neuell the erle of Oxenforde syr Nycholas Branbre syr Myghell Polle syr Symon Burle syr Peter Gauloufer syr Robert Tryuylyen syr Iohn̄ Beauchamp Syr Iohn̄ Salysbury and other of the kynges pryuy counsayle as for the kynges vncles there was nothynge done by them nor they wolde not medle therwith nor brynge the royalme in trouble but they toke good hede to maynteyne the honoure of the royalme to kepe the passages portes for they byleued surely to haue y◠same yere the frensshe kyng with his puyssaūce to aryue in Englande so these sayd lordes and knyghtes receyued the taxes and dyd what they lyst the chefe of them he that had moost profyte was the erle of oxenforde for by hym euery thynge was done and without hym nothyng done so that after whē theyr busynesses were passed the people made trouble to knowe where the money became and some of the cytees good townes of Englande wolde haue accomptes therof with the ayde of the kynges vncles as ye shal here after when tyme shall be to speke therof for it shall not be forgotten out of the hystory ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Cauntorburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he acheued grete hate Ca. lv SIr Symon Burle was capytayne of the castel of Douer and he herde often tymes newes out of Calays by the fysshers for they kepte styll theyr custome of fysshynge Somtyme before Boloyne before the porte of Whytsande and when other frensshe fysshers met with them they wolde tel eche other tydynges somtyme more then they knewe for the fysshers of the see what soo euer warre was bytwene Englande and Fraunce they dyd no hurte one to another but were as frendes aydynge eche other and bought solde eche with other fysshe if one sped better then another for yf they sholde haue made war one with another there durst none haue gone a fysshynge wtout conduyte of men of warre thus syr Symon Burle vnderstode by the fysshers that surely the frensshe kynge wolde passe ouer in to Englande and take landyng at Douer and at Sandwytche syr Symon byleued wel those wordes and thought it was true and so dyd all englande so on a daye he came to Cauntorbury and wente to the abbaye and there they demaunded of hym tydynges and he shewed as moche as he knewe and by his wordes he shewed that saynt Thomas shryne whiche is goodly and ryche was not there in surety bycause the towne was not stronge and he sayd that if the frensshemen sholde come thyder whiche by all lykelyhode they wolde do for Couetyse of wynnynge the robbers pyllers wolde robbe that towne and abbey chyrche and all they wyll cary awaye with them the shryne yf they fynde it here wherfore I wolde counsayle and aduyse you to cary it to the castell of Douer there it shal be in suretye thoughe al englande were lost then the abbot and all the couent toke his counsayle though he ment well in grete dyspyte and dyspleasure sayenge syr Symon wyll ye depose our chyrche fro our sygnory yt ye be afrayde make yourselfe sure for thoughe ye close yourselfe with in the castell of Douer forfere yet the frensshmen shall not be so hardy to come hyder to vs and so Symon Burle multyplyed so moche inwardes in maynteynynge his request the the comons of the countrey were sore displeased with hym and reputed hym not profytable for that countrey and ryght well they shewed after theyr dyspleasure as ye shall here in the story So syr Symon Burley wente to Douer agayne THe frensshe kynge came to Lysle to
of all the formest company syr wyllyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passac were leders to exalte theyr honoure they departed in good araye all theyr companyes in good ordre THus whyles these knyghtes squyers of the royalme of fraunce prepayred theÌ„ to goo in to Castell suche as were fyrst redy fyrst departed specyally they that were of farre countreys for there were many that desyred dedes of armes the same season the englysshmen were on the see bytwene Englande Flaunders wherof Rycharde erle of Arundell was admyral in his coÌ„pany the erle of deuonshyre the erle of NotynghaÌ„ the bysshop of Norwyche they were a .v. C. men of armes M. archers they had lyen at ancre a grete season abydyng some adueÌ„ture often tymes refresshed theÌ„ on the cost of englande aboute the yles of Cornewall bretayne NormaÌ„dy they were sore dyspleased in that the flete of flaunders was scaped fro theÌ„ were gone to rochell specyally that the coÌ„stable of fraunce was gone fro Lentrygner to sluse passed by Calays met not with hym for gladly they wolde haue fought with hym yet the constable had as many shyppes as they but they passed by theÌ„ by reason of the wynde the fludde that they had in the nyght tyme the englysshe nauy lay at ancre before Mergate at the Tames mouthe towarde Sandwyche abydynge theyr aduenture specyally abydyng for the shyppes that were gone to Rochell for they thought they wolde shortly retourne so they dyd for when the merchauntes of flaunders of rochel of Haynalte other places who for doubte of the englysshmen were conioyned togyder departed out of flauders they ê“mysed eche other to go to retourne togyder to take eche others parte when they had all done theyr busynes in Rochel in the couÌ„trey of Xainton had charged theyr shyppes with wynes then as soone as they had good wynde they dysancred departed out of the hauen of Rochell toke theyr way by the see to goo in to flaunders to Sluse fro whens they departed they sayled so longe that they passed the rase saynt Mathewe in Bretayne without peryll or domage so costed base Bretayne theÌ„ nor mandy so came ryght ouer the Tames mouth where as the englysshe nauy lay the flemynges perceyued where they laye they in the hyghe shyppes sayd to theyr coÌ„pany syrs aduyse you wel we shall be met by the englysshe armye they they haue perceyued vs they wyl take the aduauÌ„tage of the wynde tyde we shal haue batayle or it be nyght that tydynges pleased not well al partyes specyally the merchauntes of flauÌ„ders of Haynalte of other countreys who had theyr merchauÌ„dyse there abrode they wolde gladly haue ben thens yf they myght Howbeit syth they sawe no remedy but fyght they ordred theÌ„ selfe therto they were crosse bowes and other meÌ„ harneysed defensably arayed mo theÌ„ .vii. C amonge theÌ„ there was a valyaunt knyght of flaunders who was theyr capytayne was as then admyrall of the see set there by the duke of Borbone called syr IohnÌ„ Bucke ryght sage hardy in armes had done before grete domage on the see to the englyghmen this syr IohnÌ„ Bucke set euery thyng in good ordre decked his shyppes wel wysely as he that coulde ryght wel do it sayd syrs be not abasshed we are meÌ„ ynowe to fyght with the englysshe army the wynde wyl serue vs that euer as we be fyghtyng we shal aproche nerer nerer to Sluse we shall coost flaundres some toke good coÌ„forte with those wordes some not so they put theÌ„selfe in good ordre defence made redy theyr crosse bowes gonues THe englysshe shyppes aproched they had certayne galays fournysshed with archers they came formest rowynge with owers and gaue the fyrst assaulte and archers shotte fyersly and lost moche of theyr shotte for the flemynges couered them vnder the deckes wold not apere but draue euer forth with the wynde and wheÌ„ they were out of the englysshe archers shot then they dyd let fly theyr quarelles wher with they hurted many then approched the grete shyppes of Englande the erle of Arundel with his company the bysshop of Norwyche with his so the other lordes they russhed in amonge the flemynges shyppes them of Rochell yet the flemynges crosse bowes defended theÌ„ selfe ryght valyauÌ„tly for theyr patron syr IohnÌ„ Bucke dyd euer comforte theÌ„ he was in a gret strong shyp wherin he had .iii. gonnes shotynso grete stones that where soeuer they lyghted they dyd grete domage euer as they fought they drewe lytell lytell towarde flaunders some lytell shyppes with theyr merchauntes toke the coostes of Flaunders the lowe water therby saued them for the grete shyppes coulde not folow them for lacke of water thus on the se there was a harde batayle shyppes broken sunken on bothe partyes for out of the toppes they cast downe grete barres of yron where as they wente to the botom this was an harde batayle well fought for it endured a .iii. or .iiii. houres when the day fayled they withdrewe eche fro other cast ancre there rested all nyght dressed theyr hurte men when the fludde came they dysancred drewe vp sayles and retourned agayne to the batayle with the englysshmen was Peter du Boys of Gaunt with a certayne archers maryners who made the flemynges moche a do for he had ben a maryner wherfore he knewe the arte of the see he was fore dyspleased that the flemynges merchauntes endured so longe alwayes the englysshmen wanne aduauntage of the flemynges so came bytwene Blanqueberg Sluse agaynst Gagant there was the dyscomfyture for they were not socoured by no creature nor also at that tyme there were noo shyppes at Sluse nor men of warre true it was there was a squyer a man of armes at Sluse called Arnolde the mayre when he harde howe there was batayle on the see bytwene the armye of Englande them of Flaunders he toke a barke of his owne and entred therin and with hym a certayne men of Sluse and twenty crosse bowes and rowed by force tyll he came to the batayle but that was at the poynte of the dyscomfyture for by that tyme the englysshmen were seased of the moost parte of the flemysshe shyppes and had taken syr IohnÌ„ Bucke theyr capytayne his shyp all that were within it and when this Arnolde the mayre sawe the maner of that batayle he made his crosse bowes to shote .iii. tymes then retourned and was chased into the hauen of Sluse but the englysshmennes shyppes were so grete that they coulde not approche so nere the lande as the barke dyd and therby he saued hymselfe and his company THe men of the towne of Sluse were sore abasshed when they
worlde whome the Englysshmen hated moost was syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of fraunce For in dede syr Olyuer of Clysson euer studyed nyght and daye howe he myght doo dyspleasure to the Englysshe men and the duke knewe ryght well of the armye that was made to god in to Englande bocke at Harflew and at Lentrygnyer then he sayd vnto hymselfe to the entente to please the Englysshe men and to shewe that he dyd not set moche by the Frensshe men he founde the meanes to breke that voyage not in commaundynge his men of Bretayne on payne of lesynge of theyr herytage not to go in to Englande nor to ayde the frensshe partye this he dyd not but he shewed outwardly that the warre was for hym but he dyd his entrepryse more couertly he caste in his ymagynacyon that he myght not doo more honourably nor more to his profyte then to take the constable of Fraunce prysoner or elles to slee hym therby he knewe well he sholde please the Englysshe men for they hated hym for he thought yf he were out of the waye he cared not for the resydue of his lygnage for he knewe well they were not able to make hym warre for the constable hadde but two doughters the one was maryed vnto IohnÌ„ of Bretayne and the other doughter was maryded vnto the erle of Rohans sone he thought to withstande them wel ynoughe and all his lygnage for yf he hadde slayne hym he sayd he hadde slayne but a baron and that there were none that wolde make hym ony warre for his sake ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sente for all his lordes and knyghtes to come to counsayle vnto wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to goo and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prysoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ON this foresayd ymagynacyon the duke of Bretayne rested and to come to his entente he somoned his counsayle to come to Wannes and desyred all the lordes and knyghtes of Bretayne effectuously for to come thyder and he dyd sende out his letters vnto them and specyally he requyred syr Olyuere of Clysson Constable of Fraunce that he sholde not fayle but for to be there sayenge howe he wolde gladlyer se hym then ony other The constable wolde not exscuse hymselfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was his naturall lorde and was gladde to haue his good wyll and soo he came to Wannes and soo dydde a grete nombre of other lordes of Bretayne ¶ This counsayle was longe and many matters debated therin touchynge the duke and his countrey without ony worde spekynge of the voyage that they were in purpose to make in to Englande The duke dyssymuled the matter This counsayle was in the cyte of wannes in a castell called the Mote ¶ The duke made all the lordes a grete dyner and fedde them with fayre louynge wordes tyll it was nere nyght and then they retourned to theyr lodgynges in to the subbarbes withoute the cyte And the constable of Fraunce to please the knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne he desyred them all the nexte daye to dyne with hym some dyd soo and some departed to theyr owne howses to take leue of theyr wyues parentes for the constable was purposed as soone as hâ— departed thens strayght to goo vnto his nauâ—e at Lentrygnyer the duke of Bretayne knewe it ryght well but spake noo worde therof makynge semblaunte as thoughe he knewe noo thynge Soo this dyner ended where as were the moost parte of the barons of Bretayne and sodaynly vnto them came the duke of Bretayne ryght amorously by semynge but he thought otherwyse in his harte None knewe therof but suche as he hadde dyscouered his mynde vnto As soone as he entred in to the constables lodgynge some sayd beholde here cometh the duke then euery man rose as reason was and swetely receyued hym as they ought for to doo theyr lorde and he delte ryght getylly and he sate downe amonge them and ete and dranke and kepte good company and shewed them more tokens of loue then euer he dydde before and he sayd vnto them fayre lordes my louers and frendes god sende you well to goo and well to come agayne and sende you ioye and that you maye doo suche dedes of armes as maye please you and that it maye be honourable vnto you all and when they herde these swere wordes of the duke they all answered and sayd Syr we thanke you and god rewarde you of your grete kyndnesse that it pleaseth you to come and se vs at our departynge THis same season the duke of Bretayne was makynge of a Castell nere to Wannes called the castell of Ermyne the whiche as then was nere furnysshed and to the entente to attrappe the constable there he sayd vnto hym and vnto the lorde de la vale and to the lorde of Beawmanoyre and to other lordes that were there Syrs I requyre you or ye departe to come and se my newe castell of Armyne ye shall se howe I haue deuysed it and also howe I purpose for to doo ¶ They all agreed vnto hym bycause they sawe hym come soo louyngly amonge them for they thought none euyll And soo the moost parte of them mounted on theyr horses and rode forth with the duke to the castel of Armyne Than the duke the constable the lorde de la vale and the lorde of Beawmanoyre and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes alyghted of theyr horses and entred in to the castell and the duke ledde the constable by the hande fro chambre to chambre and in to euery house of offyce and made them drynke in the seller Then the duke brought them to the chefe towre and at the dore therof he sayd to the constable Syr Olyuere I knowe noo man on this syde the see that knoweth more in buyldynge then ye doo wherfore I praye you mounte vp the stayres and beholde the buyldynge of the towre yf it be well I am contente and yf ony thynge be amysse yt shall be refourmed after your deuyse the constable thynkynge none euyll sayd Syr with ryght a good wyl please it you to goo before and I shall folowe you naye syr sayd the duke goo your waye vp alone and in the meane tyme I wyll talke with the lorde de la vale the constable wente vp the stayres and when he was aboue and paste the fyrste stage there were meÌ„ in a chaÌ„bre layde in a busshment and they opened the dore and some wents downe and dyd shote the dore bynethe and the other wente vp all armed to the constable there they toke and ledde hym in to a chambre and fetered hym with .iii. boltes of yron and sayd to hym Syr pardon vs for we must nedes do that we do we be thus commaunded by our lorde the duke of Bretayne yf the constable were abasshed at that tyme it was no meruayle THe coÌ„stable ought not to haue grete meruayle of the chaunce for after that the dyspleasure
to hym the squyer with his defyauces and so he was brought to Parys and he fered lest he sholde dye but when he came to Parys the kynge and his vncles and the other lordes dyd noo thynge to hym but all courtoysye And the frensshe kynge gaue hym a goblet of syluer weynge .iiii. marke and .l. frankes within it and they gaue hym a saâ—fâ—onduyte to retourne in to his countrey so by reason of these tydynges the courte of fraunce was sore troubled and the frensshe counsayle was sore troubled when the constable of fraunce came and made his complaynte of the duke of Bretayne for they sawe well that trouble expence began to ryse on euery syde and they sawe well howe they must enploy all theyr wyttes to exchewe suche inconuenyentes they thought that the constable who had serued the kyng soo longe in â—launders and other places sholde haue some helpe in that the duke of Bretayne hadde raunsomed hym and taken his castelles without tytle or good reason and specyally the lorde of Coucy and the admyrall was sore dyspleased with it ¶ Nowe let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastre and to the kynge of Portyngale who were in Galyce and made sore warre agaynst the kynge of Castell ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastres men assayled the towne of Aurene and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Ca. lxxxviii HEre before ye haue herde how dedes of armes were done bytwene syr Iohan Holande and syr Raynolde of Roy in the presence of the kynge of Portyngale and his wyfe and at the kynges departynge he promysed to the duke that as soone as he was retourned to the cyte of Porte that he wolde not tary past .vi. dayes but that his army sholde sette forthe Thenne the duke sente Constaunce his wyfe to the towne of saynt Iames vnder the guydynge of the lorde Fythwater a grete baron of Englande with a hundred speres and two hundred archers and the duke sayd to her Madame ye shall kepe you in the cyte of Compostella and the kynge of Portyngale my sone and our people shall goo in to Castell to seke for our enemyes to fyght with theÌ„ wherso euer we fynde them and nowe it shall be sene yf euer we shall haue ony thynge in the royalme of Castell or not Syr sayd the lady as god wyll so be it thus they departed for that present tyme and syr Thomas Percy and the lorde Fythwaren conueyed the duches with two hundred speres out of all daungers and thenne retourned to the duke who was as then departed fro Besances towardes a towne in Galyce named Aurene whiche rebelled agaynst hym and wolde not obey bycause it was stronge therin a garyson of Bretons who hadde on theyr parelles vndertaken to kepe it and they had well fortefyed it bycause they hadde knowledge that the duke wolde come thyder the marshall of the dukes oost hadde well herde howe they of Aurene in Galyce wolde not obey but dayly fortefyed them he counsayled the constable to goo thyder and soo euery man drewe to that parte and soo came and lodged nere to it the season was fayre aboute the Ascencyon tyme then tentes and pauylyons were pyght vp in the fayre playnes vnder the Olyues and soo laye al that fyrst nyght and the nexte day without gyuyng of ony assaulte thynkynge that the towne wolde haue gyuen vp and in dede the men of the towne wolde gladly haue yelded them But the lordes and capytaynes wolde not suffre theÌ„ who were Bretons and companyons aduenturers two Bretons were capytaynes called the bastoâ— of Alroy and the other the bastarde of Peneforte they were good men of warre and that well appered in that they toke on them to kepe that towne so farre out of all socour agaynst the duke of Lancastre ON the .iii. daye that the Englysshemen were thus lodged aboute the towne and had well regarded howe they myght at theyr aduauntage assayle the towne Thenne the constable the marshall and the admyrall caused theyr trompettes to sounde to the assaulte and then euery man drewe forth in to the felde and there deuyded them in to .iiii. bandes to assayle the towne iii .iiii. partes so in goodly ordre approched the towne and taryed on the dykes wherin there was no water But it was well fortefyed with pales and hedges then the assaulte began iii .iiii. partes Then men of armes and other wente downe in to the dykes with axes in theyr handes and therwith cutte downe the hedges they within cast downe dartes and other thynges that yf they hadde not ben well pauessed there hadde ben many sore hurte and slayne And also on the edge of the dyke the archers shotte so fyersly that they within durste not appere the duke of Lancastre came to beholde the assaulte whiche made it the more fyerser he sate there on horsbacke the space of thre houres he had suche pleasure to regarde theÌ„ at this fyrst assaulte the dykes were clensed of all the thycke hedges soo that men myght goo to the pales then the retrayte was sowned for that day theÌ„ the duke sayd to the marshal syr Thomas our men haue done theyr deuoyre for this daye let them withdrawe and case themselfe syr it shal be done sayd the marshall so the assaulte was seased euery man wente to his lodgynge and the hurte to be dressed and so passed that nyght they had wynes to drynke plentye but they were soo hoote and myghty that it was moche payne to drynke them and suche as dranke of them without water were in that case that they coulde not helpe themselfe the nexte day THe nexte day it was aduysed that they sholde make none assaulte bycause the daye was soo hoote and theyr men soo wery and ouercome with stronge wynes but determyned that the nexte daye after they sholde begyn theyr assaulte at the sone rysynge and to endure tyll .iii. of the clocke at after noone so euery man was coÌ„maunded to take theyr ease tyll they herde the sowne of the marshalles trompet and the same daye the duke of Lancastre herde tydynges of the kynge of Portyngale howe he was departed fro the cyte of Porte and drewe towardes the porte saynt yrayne that waye he was purposed to entre in to Castell and bothe oostes to mete on the ryuer of Derne besyde the towne of perpygnen or elles before the towne of Arpent thus the Portyngales had deuysed if the kynge of Castell and the frensshe men dyd not encountre them before and yf they were lykely so to doo then to drawe togyder soner of these tydynges the duke was ryght ioyous and gaue the messagere for his tydynges .x. nobles ANd in the mornynge whenne it was daye the marshalles trompet began to sowne before the lodgynges to reyse vp euery man then knyghtes and squyers began to make them redy euery man vnder his owne standerde Then the marshall drewe in to the felde and all suche as were ordeyned to goo
frendes dyd stoppe it Whan these lordes were come to the duke he was gladd specyally by the comynge of his two cosyns germayns the duke Aubert of Bauiers and the duke Oste his brother for he knewe well that they wolde nat his dyshonoure but rather to gyue hym good couÌ„sayle as they dyd Their counsayle was to shewe you breuely that he shulde sende some honorable persones for the duke of Lusenburge and of Brabant whome he helde in curtoyse prison in his castell of Nideque and so he dyd And whan he was come all those lordes dyd hym great honour as reason was And than they all departed togyder and came to Ayes and toke their lodgynges Than the duke Auberte and his brother and the foresayd prelates who were the meanes of this treatye they sore entreated the emperour and his counsayle and shewed the emperoure howe the duke of Iuliers his cosyn of his owne free wyll was come to se hym and to put hym selfe poorely with out any reseruacyon into his obeysaunce and commaundement and to knowledge hym for his soueraygne and liege lorde These swete and amyable wordes molefyed greatly the emperours ire that he had before Than the emperoure sayd Lette the duke come to me and so he dyde and kneled downe before the emperoure and sayde My ryght redoubted souerayne I beleue well ye are dyspleased with me bycause of your brother in lawe the duke of Brabante whome I haue helde longe in prison for the which cause I submytte my selfe to abyde your ordre and your counsayles To that worde themperour gaue none aunswere but his sonne sir Charles who was called kynge of Boesme aunswered and sayde Duke of Iulyers ye haue ben to outragyous to kepe our vncle so longe in prisone And if it were nat at the desyre of your well be loued cosyns duke Auberte and duke Oste of Bauyers this busynesse wolde haue ben soer layd to your charge than it is for ye haue well deserued to be hyghly punysshed but chaunge your copye so that we haue no cause to renew our yuell wylles agaynste you for ye do it wyll be costly to you Than the duke of Iulyers beynge on his kne before the emperoure where as he sate in his chayre imperiall sayde My ryght redoughted souerayne lorde by your puyssaunt hyghnes I knowledge my selfe to haue trespassed youre maieste in that I with an army came against my cosyn your vycaire of the empyre and in that I haue helde hym as my prisoner I delyuer hym vnto you freely and quyte and I requyre your grace that you nor he beare me any yuell wyll fro hence forthe Than the prelates and the princes there beynge presente to helpe forwarde his wordes sayde Ryght noble prince this suffyseth that your cosyn of Iulyers hath sayd Well quod the emperour we are content and so toke hym vp by the hande And as it was shewed me for the confyrmacion of more loue he kyst the duke on the mouth and also his sonne the kynge of Boesme And than the duke of Brabante was delyuered out of prison and all suche as were prisoners vnder the duke of Iulyers and were nat raunsomed before were delyuered quyte by reason of the composycion of the treatie and this done euery manne retourned to their owne The emperour wente to Prage in Almayne and the duke of Brabant in to Brabante and whanne the duke of Brabante was retourned than he reysed a newe tayle in his couÌ„trey to restore to his knightes parte of their domages ⸪ ¶ Howe the duke of Brabante dyed and howe the duke Guylliam of Guerles treated with the duches of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castels and what aunswere he had and how he made alyauÌ„ce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C.xiiii ⸪ ⸪ I Am yet wyllynge to treate of this matter more at lengthe to renforce this hystorye and to brynge it to the poynte that I wolde come vnto to declare the trouthe why Charles the frenche kyng came with a great puyssaunce in to Almayne I might haue shewed this before but I haue prolonged it for all thingê though the date and season be paste yet they ought to be shewed in this hystory for whan I knowe that the frenche kynge and the kynge of England began to be besy than I began to wake to procede this hystory more than I dyd before Therfore I saye thus Whan duke Wyncelant was returned in to the countrey clerely delyuered out of person as ye haue herde before Than he was in wyll to vysyte his landes and castels as well in the duchy of Luzenbourge as else where and toke his iourney to the good cytie of Strawesbourge throughe the lande of Fauquemount and behelde the thre castels whiche were the occasion of the duke of Guerles yuell wyll He founde theym stronge and fayre if he loued theÌ„ before he loued them moche better than and caused them to be newly fortyfied and set workemen a worke as masons carpeÌ„ters and dykemakers to amende euery place and at his departynge he set a valyaunt knyght to be soueraygne keper of these thre casteles This knyght was called sir Iohan Grosset who at the dukes commaundemente toke on hym the charge at his parell The duke passed further and vysited his couÌ„trey and at his pleasure retourned agayne in to Brabante for there was his abydynge In this season syr Iohan of Bloâ—s had wedded the olde lady and duches of Guerles for the herytage by right came to hym by the deth of sir Edwarde of Guerles his brother who was slayne as ye haue herde in the batayle of Iulyers But his suster the duches of Iulyers stroue with hym and made chalenge and the moste parte of the knightes and good townes inclyned most to the ladyes parte bycause she had a fayre sonne who was able than to ryde and that was well sene for always he was in the warres so that sir IohnÌ„ de Bloyse nor his wyfe coulde neuer haue peasable possessyon But the chalenge of the ryght of his wyfe and the pursute therof coste hym aboue a hundred thousaÌ„de frankes For the sonne of duke Wyllyam of Iuliers shewed well in his youth that he was noble and hardy and loued dedes of armes for he came of noble ertractyon and so was duke of Guerles and had in mariage the eldest doughter of duke Auberte who had ben wedded before to sir Edward of Guerles but he had neuer carnally coupyled with her for she was to yonge Thus she was maryed to the lorde Willyam of Iulyers and he and she were moche of one age And soo she was styll duches as she was before This yonge duke increased in honour wytte and prowes and in great wyll to hauÌ„te dedes of armes and to augment his herytage And his heâ—e was rather englysshe than frenche and sayd always as yong as he was that he wolde ayde to insteyne the kynge of Englandes quarell for he was nerer of blode to hym than to the Frenche
them that he trusted best howe he shulde perceuer and deale in all his busynesse and they counsayled hym well and truely as the mater requyred as I shall shewe you YE knowe well as ye haue herde before in this hystorie Howe kynge Henry of Spaygne made a peace with Peter kynge of Arragone on the full poyntment that the kyng of Arragon shulde gyue his doughter in maryage to the kynge of Castyle This was Iohan who is nowe kyng and by this coniunction of maryage they were iÌ„ peace and their realmes Of this Iohan sonne to Henry and of the doughter of Arragon there came a sonne Than dyed the lady and after the dethe of kynge Henry of Castyle this kyng Iohan by the couÌ„saile of his men maried agayne the lady Beatrice doughter to Fernando kynge of Portugale and they hadde a sonne called Henry he was but yonge Than the counsayle of Castyle sayd to the kyng Sir we se in all these doutes but one remedy What is that quod kyng Iohan Sir we shall shewe you quod they your yong sonne Henry may well breke this maryage bytwene the duke of Berrey and the duke of Lancasters doughter for it is to be beleued that the duke of LaÌ„castre and the duches his wyfe had rather marchant with you and with your sonne than with the duke of Berrey In the name of god ê™ the kynge ye saye well I shall herken to this mater I thynke our people wyll lightly enclyne thervnto by that mariage we shulde haue peace with Englande â— bothe by lande and by water Therfore sirs those out them that were mete to go in our name to treate on this mater with the duke of Lancastre Sir ê™ they it is requisyte that they be discrete persones and that the matter be wisely handeled and in the secretest maner that maye be to the entente that ye ronne nat in the indignacyon of the Frenche kynge For nowe a dayes enuy rayneth greatly and sooner reporte is made of yuell than of good and the yuell sooner reysed vp than the good For if they of FrauÌ„ce knowe that ye treate with the duke of LaÌ„castre the Frenche kynge and his counsayle wyll demauÌ„de whervpon ye treate with the duke by reasone of the great alyaunce made in tyme past bytwene your father FrauÌ„ce And also the Frenche men haue alwayes susteyned your warre Wherfore sir â— your treaties must be done secretely and sende to the duke sage men and secrete and well enstructed of your busynesse And sende nat forthewith boost and pride tyll euery thynge be in a sure case It is true quod the kynge name them that be mete to go on that voyage Sir quod they sende your confessour frere FernaÌ„do of Farre and the bysshoppe of Geghene who was somtyme confessour to the kynge your father and Peter Gardelopes who is well languaged I am content ê™ the kynge lette them be sente for and well enfourmed what they shall say they wolde or this tyme haue treated for a peace but we wolde natte here them For the duke of Lancastre wolde none other wyse but that I shulde haue forsaken the Crowne of Castyle the whiche I wyll neuer do Than these thre were sent for to Burgus in Spayne where the kyng was Than it was sayd to them by the kynge and his priuâ—e counsayle Sirs ye muste go to Bayon to the duke of Lancastre and shewed them all their instructions They sayde they were redy to accomplysshe the kynges commanÌ„dement And so sette forthe on their iourney â— nat in no gret estate but symply for they wolde nat be knowen that they wente to the duke of LaÌ„castre as ambassadours to treate for any alyaunce for they knewe nat howe to spede Thus they entred in to Nauerre and came to Pampylona and there founde the kynge and the quene First they came thyder bycause the quene was suster to the kynge of Castyle There they hadde good chere but they nouther shewed the kyng nor the quene where about they wente And so passed thorough the countrey by the mountayns of Roseaulx and entred in to Bisquay and so rode tyll they came to Bayon WHanÌ„e they were come to the towne of Bayon sir Helyon of Lignacke was styll there who was sente fro the duke of Berrey as ye haue herde here before But after the coÌ„mynge of the castilyans they taryed nat longe after for frere don Fernando the kynge of Castyls confessour came to the duke of Lancastre for he knewe hym better than any of the other He began somwhat to breke the mater to shewe the cause of their coÌ„mynge The duke opyned his eates to his wordes and was gladde to here those tidynges and sayde Frere Fernando ye be welcome And the same day sir Helyon of Lignacke was delyuered And as I vnderstode the duke accorded the same tyme to a truse on all partes for such as made warre for hym in Acquitayne Bygore Thoulous and other place to endure vnto to the firste day of Maye in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and nyne this truse to contynue all the countrey to the ryuer of Loyre and no further This truese was concluded at the request of the duke of Berrey to the entent that he myght sende in and out to the duke of Lancastre For before they of the fortresses of Mortaygne on the see of Bonteuyll of Rouuergue of Quercyn of Pyergourt and they on the ryuer of Garon were people without mercy they wolde knowe no manne wherfore these two dukes accorded to this truese the whiche was well kepte Whan sir Helyon of Lignacke departed fro the duke there was great loue shewed for the duke said howe the mater pleased him right well Howe be it the duke sayd playnlye he wolde neuer marry his doughter in to Fraunce without the consent and accorde of the kyng of Englande his nephue And also by the agrement of the counsayle of EnglaÌ„de but he sayd he trusted so to order the mater that all shulde do well Thus sir Helyon of Lignacke departed and returned in to FrauÌ„ce and shewed the duke of Berrey his letters that the duke of Lancastre had sent him and shewed hym by mouthe all the maner howe euery thyng wente and so the duke was well content ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the kynge of Castyls ambassadours to whome the duke of LaÌ„castre gaue good eare so dyd the duches for all their hertes and ymaginacions lay euer on their chalenge of Spayn THe duke made these ambassadours good chere they came before the duke and the duchesse and there shewed their message first they treted for peace and there the frere preached in the dukes chaÌ„bre the duchesse present And she shewed the duke the entent of all his wordes for the duke vnderstode hym nat parfitely The lady vnderstode hym well for in her youthe she was brought vp in Spaygne The duke for all that the mater of their coÌ„myng was pleasauÌ„t to him yet he discouered
dout ther of Herof the FreÌ„che kyng was right ioyfull howe be it some sayd that wheder the kynge of Almayne wolde or nat the kyng had puissaunce suffycient to do what he wolde without dauÌ„ger for all him than the kyng ordeyned to departe fro Chalous in Champayn so deê‘ted toke his way right to great Pre. Whan the kynge came to great Pre he taried ther a thre dayes he coude make no gret iourneys there was so moche people before hym and behynde and rounde about hym so that he was constrayned to ryde easely to haue good lodgyng and bicause of the great ê“uisyon that folowed after the hoost Fro the first company to the last coÌ„tayned .xxiiii. leages of that countrey styll dayly came people Th erle of great Pre receyued the kynge in to his towne and countre and offred all at the kynges pleasure The kyng was well coÌ„tent with hym therle was apoynted to the vantgard Thyder came to the kyng the duke of Lorayne sir Henry of Bare with a faire company of men of armes The duke of Loraine was ordayned to be with his sonne the lorde of Coucy sir Henry of Bare to abide with the kyng the pioners were sore besyed in the forest of Ardane to cutte downe wode and to make wayes where neuer non was before they had great payne to fyll the valeys to make the waye playne for the caryage to passe There were a thre M. that dyde nothyng els Whan the duches of BrabaÌ„t knewe surely howe the kyng was on his waye and approched the foreste of Ardayne she was therof ryght ioyfull for she thought at that voyage she shulde be well reuenged of the duke of Guerles howe the Frenche kyng shulde bring hym to reason And also his father the duke of Iulyers who had done to her many anoyaunces Than she departed fro Bruselles and in her company the erle of Sammes in Ardain the lorde of Bocelairs and dyuers other and toke her waye to Lusenbourge to se the kynge and to speke with hym She passed the ryuer of Meuse and the ryuer of Huy and at laste came to Basconque and there taryed the kynge for he shulde passe therby and so he dyde For whan he departed Graunt Pre he passed the Ryuer of Meuse at Morsay with all his hoost rode small iourneys Than tidynges came in to the duchy of Iulyers and in to Guerles that the Frenche kynge was coÌ„mynge on them with a hundred thousande men And that he had neuer so moche people toguyder before He was nat so great a company whanne he came to Burboure where he thought the Englysshe army had ben gretter than he founde theym The duke of Iulyers than began to dout but the duke of Guerles made nothing therof but sayde Lette them come the further they come the more weryer shall they be and they and their caryages shall waxe feble and their prouisyons shall waste and wynter shall drawe on and I am in a stronge countrey They shall nat entre at their ease They shall recule backe somtyme otherwise than by the sowne of the trumpettes and it shall behoue them to be alwayes toguyder which they can nat be if they wyll entre in to my couÌ„tre And if they disrought and be out of ordre they shall soone be taken vp wheder they wyll or nat Howe be it to saye the trouthe quod the duke our cosyn of FrauÌ„ce is of a good corage he sheweth and dothe as I shulde do Thus the duke of Guerles deuysed amonge his knyghtes but the duke of Iulyers was sore abasshed for he sawe well the French kynge wolde his lande were but brente and loste Than he toke counsayle of his brother the Archebysshoppe of Colonge and of his cosyn the bysshop Leage sir Arnolde of Hornes howe he shulde do to saue his lande fro brennyng and exylyng These two prelates counsayled hym and sayd how it must nedes behoue hym to huÌ„ble hym selfe to the Frenche kynge and to his vncles The duke sayde he was well content so to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Helion of Lignacke made his reporte to the duke of Berrey And howe the lordes of Scotlande assembled toguyder in the Cytie of Berdane and determyned to reyse vp an army to entre in to Englande And of an Englysshe squyer Who was takenne by the Scottes who knewe the secretnesse of bothe realmes Englande and Scotlande Cap. C .xl. THan by the counsayle of the bysshoppe of Trect and by the aduyse of the bysshoppe of Colonge the bysshoppe of Laege was sente to the French kynge to treate for the duke of Iulyers The kynge approched but he passed nat two or thre leages a daye for his trayne was great bytwene Morsay and oure lady of Amount where as the duke of Berey and all his route with mo than fyue hundred speres was lodged Thyder came to the duke of Berrey sir Helyon of Lignacke and sir Wyllyam his brother Sir Wyllyam came fro the siege before Vanchadore for the duke had sente for hym and the duke of Burbone had sente for sir Iohan Boesme launce and they had lefte styll at the siege all their companyes and had lefte for capitaynes sir Iohan Butlere and sir Loyes Dambier And sir Helyon of Lignacke came out of Gascon fro Bayon fro the duke of Lancastre The duke of Berrey made hym good chere and demaunded tidynges Sir Helyon shewed hym and sayd Sir the kyng of Castyle seketh on the duke of Lancastre to haue peace with hym and treateth sore to haue his sone the prince of Wales to marry with the dukes doughter With that worde the duke of Berrey was pensyfe and sayd Sir Helion yet I shall sende you ones agayne to knowe more certayne and the bysshoppe of Poycters with you but as at this tyme we haue ynoughe to do Also the same weke the lorde of Coucy retourned fro Auygnon and came to the kyng to Ardane euery man was glad of his coÌ„mynge yE haue herde here before howe kynge Richarde of Englande had some trouble He agaynst his vncles and his vncles agaynst hym with other dyuers incydentes as by the duke of Irelande and other and many knyghtes in EnglaÌ„de deed and beheeded and the archebysshop of yorke brother to the lorde Neuell was at a poynte to haue loste his benefyce And by the newe counsaylers about the kyng and by the arch bysshoppe of Caunterbury the lorde Neuell who had ben the chiefe ruler and kepar of the fronters of Northumberlande agayst the scottes fyue yeres togyder was as than put out of wages He had before euery yere sixtene thousande frankes out of the countie of yorke and bysshoprike of Durham And there was sette in his stede the lorde Henry Percye and he hadde to wages by the yere but a .xi. thousande Frankes Wherof other lordes of his lygnage thoughe they were of his kynne yet they hadde therat great enuy and indignacyon one agaynst another And all this knewe ryght
well the scottes Than the lordes and knyghtes of Scotlande determyned ones agayne to reyse vp an army and to make a iourney in to Englande they sayde it was as than good tyme and houre for they sawe the Englysshmen were nat all of one accorde And where as often tymes past they had receyued great buffettes than they sayd it was good tyme for them to be reuenged And to the entent that their purpose shulde nat be knowen they ordayned a feest to be holden on the fronter of the wylde scottes at a cytie called Berdane where assembled in maner all the lordes of Scotlande At this feest they concluded and made full promyse that in the myddes of August the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore ano eight They shulde mete all with their puyssaunce on the fronters of Gales at a castell in the hyghe forest called Gedeours Thus at that tyme they departed eche fro other And of this couenauÌ„t there was none of them that made their kyng priuy therto For they sayd amonge themselfe their kyng was no manne of warre There came to Gedeours at the day apoynted first the erle Iames Duglas sir Iohan of Morette erle of Marche and or Donbare sir Wyllyam de Fu and sir Stephyn Erle of Monstres sir Aucebauce of Duglas sir Robert Auerceque sir Marke Odremneu sir Wyllyam Lymsey sir Iames his brother Thomas of Berry sir Alysaunder Lymsey the lorde of Sechyn sir Iohan of Sobelas sir Patryke of DoÌ„bare sir IohnÌ„ Senclere sir Patryke of Hoteborne sir Iohan sonne to the lorde Momogomercy sir Adam of glas diuyn sir Wyllyam Reduryn sir Wyllyam Stonacke sir IohnÌ„ of Halpe breton sir Alider and sir Robert Lander sir Stephyn freseyle sir Alysander Ramsey and sir Iohan his brother sir WyllmÌ„ Morbereth sir Maubert Here sir Wylliam of Waleran sir IohnÌ„ Amonstan and Dauy his sonne Robert Colemney and dyuers other knightes and squiers of Scotlande In threscore yere before there was nat assembled toguyder in Scotlande suche a nombre of good meÌ„ they were a .xii. huÌ„dred speares and .xl. thousande men besyde with their archers but iÌ„ tyme of nede the scottes can lytell skyll with their bowes They rather beare axes wherwith they gyue great strokes WHan they were thus mette togyder in the marchesse of Gedeours they were mery and sayd they wolde neuer entre againe in to their owne houses tyll they had ben in Englande and done suche dedes there that it shulde be spoken of .xx. yere after And to the entent to make sure poyntment they assigned a daye to mete at a churche in a fayre lauÌ„de called zedon Tidynges came in to Northumberlande as nothynge can be hydde if men putte to their dilygence to knowe bothe to therle and to his chyldreÌ„ to the seneschall of yorke and to sir Mathue Redman capitayne of Berwike of this gret feest that had ben at Bredane And to theÌ„rent to knowe wherfore it was these lordes sente to sertche couertly by heraudes mynstrels The scottes coude nat do their maters so secrerly but the lordes of EnglaÌ„de knewe howe men rose in scotlaÌ„de how they shulde mete agayne at Gedeours Brute of this came to Newcastell vpontyne And whan the lordes knewe of this euery man toke good hede to his charge and prouyded them selfe redy to assemble if nede were and this they dyde secretly bycause their enterprice shulde nat be broken Euery man helde hym selfe in their owne houses and were determyned to mete toguyder as soone as they knewe that the scottes came forwarde and sayd If the scottes come forthe we shall haue knowlege therof If they drawe towardê Carlyle we shall entre at another parte in to their countrey and we shall do them more dommage than they can do vs for their countrey is all open We maye go where we lyst and our countre is strong and the townes and castelles well closed And the better to knowe the state of the scottes they sent a gentylman of EnglaÌ„de who knewe ryght well the marchesse of Scotlande and specially the forest of Gedeours where the scottes shulde assemble And the Englisshe squyer went so forwarde that without espyeng he came to the churche of zedon where the scottyss he lordes were And he encred in amonge them lyke one of their seruauntes and there he herde and knewe a great parte of thententes of the scottes and at th ende of their counsayle the squyer went to a tree where he hadde tyed his horse and thought to haue fouÌ„de him there but he was gone for a scotte who be great theues had stollen hym awaye He durste nat speke for hym but so went forthe a fote boted and spurted And whan he was gone fro the churche two bowe shotte than there were two scottyss he knyghtes deuysed bytwene them selfe and sayd one to another felowe I haue sene a marueyle beholde yonder a man gothe alone and as I thynke he hath lost his horse for he came by and spake no worde I wene he be none of our company lette vs ryde after hym to proue my sayeng They rode after hym and soone ouertoke hym WhanÌ„e he sawe them coÌ„mynge he wolde gladly haue ben thens They came to hym and demaunded whether he wolde and from whens he came and what he had done with his horse He began to varry in his sayeng and answered nat directely to their purpose They turned hym and sayde he shulde go and speke with their lordes They brought hym again to the churche of zedon and presented hym to the erle Duglas and to other lordes they examyned hym and parceyued well he was an Englysshe man Than they sayde they wolde knowe the trouthe why he came thyder He was yuell wyllynge to shewe the trouthe but they handled hym in suche wise that he was fayne to shewe all the mater for they bare hym in hande withoute he wolde shewe the trouthe incoÌ„tynent he shulde lese his heed and if he wolde shewe the trouthe he shulde haue none yuell There they knew by hym that the lordes of Northumberlande had sente hym thyder to knowe the estate of their entÌ„price and whiche waye they wolde drawe Herof the scottes were right ioyous and wolde nat for a great good but that they had spoken with this squyer Than they demaunded agayne of hym in what parte the Englysshe lordes were and whyder there were any aparence that they wolde assemble toguyder and what wayâ— they wolde take to entre in to Scotlande Outher by the see syde by Berwyke or els by Donbare or els the highe waye by the countie of Monstres towarde Streuelyn The squyer answered and sayde Sirs sithe it behoueth me to say the trouthe I shall Whan I departed from them fro Newcastell there was none aparence of their assemblyng but they be on a redynesse to departe as well to daye as to morowe And as soone as they knowe that ye set forwarde and entre in to Englande they wyll nat come to mete with you for
of the popes And the nexte daye aboute nyne of the clocke all the cardynals that were there at that tyme mette with her and so passed the bridge of Rosue in grete estate the lady rydynge on a whyte palfrey whiche the pope had sent her Than she came to the popes palays in Auignon and there alighted and went to se the pope who sate in coÌ„systory in a chayre pontyficall The pope kyst her mouth bycause of lygnage Than the duchesse and her company wente to dyner with many cardynalles to the house of the cardynall of Thuryn nere to the popes palyce This was on a wednysdaye and the nexte daye they all dyned in the same house agayne I may well saye that the comyng of this lady to Auignon cost the pope the some of tenne thousande frankes The fridaye she supped in the palays and tooke her leaue of the pope and the saturday she departed and rode to dyner to Orange and there lay all night for her cosyn germayne was princesse therof The sonday she departed and heâ— caryage before and passed to Valance and than to Vien and so to Lyon sur le Rone and there rested two dayes than fro thens to Bresâ—e and so entred in to the countie of Forestes and passed through the countrey and so came to la Palesse in Burbonois and so to Quissy than to Hanche and so to Ryon in Auuergne and there rested two dayes or the duke of Berrey came thyder who came thyder on Whytsoneuyn and on Whytsonday betymes he maryed the lady This was a noble weddynge and a gret feest there was the erle of Boloyne the erle of Estampes and the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne this feest and iustes endured foure dayes All this I sir Iohan Froysart auctor of this boke sawe with myne eyen for I was there presente ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe certayne wyse men treated for a peace to endure thre yeres bytwene Fraunce and Englande and all their alyes aswell on the one parte as on the other by lande and by see Cap. C.lvi. YE haue herde here before howe there was a treuse taken bytwene all partyes and garysons bytwene the Ryuer of Loyr and the ryuer of Dordone and of Geronde vnto the feest of saynt Iohan Baptyst couÌ„ted as than in the yere of grace a thousand thre hundred fourscore and nyne This treuse dutynge there were some great men and sage on bothe partyes bothe of Englande and of Fraunce that busyed themselfe to treate for a peace to endure thre yeres both by water and by lande And the entensyon of them the treated in this mater was to comprise in their treatye for the frenche party all suche as were besyed with their warre First to haue comprysed the realme of Castyle holy as well by lande as by water and in lyke maner the realme of Scotlande And on the englysshe partye shulde be comprised all their alyes and the kynge and realme of Portugale and dyuers barones of hygh Gascon These entreatours had moche payne and trauayle or they came to their ententes for the scottes wolde in no wyse coÌ„sent For whanne worde therof came to kynge Roberte of Scotlande fro the frenche kynge his owne persone wolde lyghtly haue greed therto for he desyred no warre On a daye he called before hym all the barones and prelates of Scotlande suche as ought to gyue counsayle in that mater for without their knowlege the kynge wolde do nothyng if he had done they wolde nat haue kepte it There openly was redde in all their presence the letters that the frenche kynge had sente thyder to the kynge and to the realme of Scotlande the entente wherof was that the frenche kyng wolde haue them of Scotland to be comprised with him 〈◊〉 to agre to a treuse for thre yeres by lande and by water bytwene Englande and theym This tydynges was harde to them and they sayde The frenche kynge canne do nothynge but to haue treuce whan it is tyme to make warre We haue in this yere ouercome the englysshmen and the season is ryght good and lykely that we shall ouercome them agayne the seconde tyme yea and the thyrde also There was great debatynge of the matter bytwene them but in no wyse they wolde consente therto Fynally they acorded to sende a bysshoppe and thre knyghtes in to Fraunce to the kynge and to his counsayle to the entent to breke the treaties and to shewe the good wyll of the scottes that they had to the warre The bysshoppe of saynt Andrews and syr Archambalte Duglas syr Willyam Lymsey and syr Iohan saynt Clere. These departed as soone as they myght and toke the see and arryued at Sluse and than rode to Parys and before the kyng and his counsayle they shewed their letters of credence sente in the name of all the barones and prelates of the realme of ScotlaÌ„de They were well herde and the frenche men percyued well the great affection that they hadde to procede and to contyne we the warre agaynste Englande howe be it the treatye was so farre past and promysed that it coulde nat be reuoked agayne Than the scottes were swetely answered howe there was no remedy but that they muste nedes procede to the peace Thus the frenche men tooke a treuse by meanes of suche as treated for the mater there were dyuers metynges bytwene the partyes at Balingham bytwene Boloyne and Calays So often they mette and debated the maters that a treuce was taken gyuen and acorded bytwene Englande and Fraunce for suche as were treaters of the mater were prelates gret lordes and wysemenne of bothe realmes and all their adherentes and alyes by see and by lande to endure fermely without dissymulacyon of any shadowe of male engyn the space of thre yeres The entreatours of the frenche partye were at Boloyne as the bysshoppe of Bayeur the erle Valery of saynt Pole sir Willyam of Melyn sir Nycholas Bracque and sir Iohan le Mercier And at Calays for the Englysshe parte was the bysshop of Durham sir Willyam Montague erle of Salisbury sir Wyllyam Beauchampe capitayne of Calais Iohan Lauon and Nycholas of Gaberthe and Richarde Roell clerke doctor in lawe These mette togyder in the myddes of the waye bytwene Calays and Boloyne at a place called Balyngham In this tyme great brute was in Fraunce and in other places of a great feest and iustes that the yonge kyng Charles wolde make at Parys at the fyrst entryng of Isabell the freÌ„che quene agaynst whiche feest knightes squyers ladyes and damoselles apparelled them to be at that tryumphe Of the whiche feest I shall speke more here after and of the charter of the peace that was engrosed sealed bytwene the parties yE shall knowe that whan I sir Iohan Froyssarte authour of this hystorie was departed fro Ortays fro the erle of Foiz as ye haue herde here before and wente in coÌ„pany with the lorde de la Ryuer and the lorde Guyllyam of Tremoyle who brought the yonge duchesse of Berrey
Englande called Nycholas Leau he touched the Shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye he was redy to answere the first course they strake eche other so sore on the sheldes that if their staues had nat broken it had ben to their great dōmage but they helde thē selfes well fro fallyng The secōde cope they attaynted eche other on the helmes that the fyre flewe oute for their strokes crossed and so passed by The thyrde was a goodly course for they strake eche other so euin in the sight of their helmes that eche of them vnhelmed other so clerely that their helmes flewe in to the felde ouer their horse cropes the iusters ceased for that daye for there was none Englisshe man that offred to iust any more that day Than the erle of Huntyngdon and the erle Marshall and the lorde Clyfforde the lorde Beamont sir Iohan Clynton sir Iohan Dambretycourt sir Peter Shyrborne and all other knyghtes that had iusted those four dayes with the french knightes thanked them greatly of their pastaunce and said syrs all suche as wolde iuste of our partie haue accomplisshed their desyres wherfore nowe we wyll take leaue of you we wyll returne to Calays and so in to Englande And we knowe well that who so euer wyll iust with you shall fynde you here these thyrty dayes acordynge to the tenoure of your chalenge and we ones come into Englande such knightes as desyre to do dedes of armes we shall desyre them to come to vysite you The thre knyghtes thanked them and sayd They shall be right hertely welcome and we shall delyuer them acordynge to the ryght of armes as we haue done you and more ouer we thanke you of the curtesy that ye haue shewed to vs. Thus in curtes maner the englysshe men departed fro saynte Ingilbertes and rode to Calays where they taryed nat longe for the saturdaye after they toke shyppynge sayled to Douer and was there by noone and the sondaye they rode to Rochester and the nexte day to London and so euery man to his owne The thre frenche knyghtes kepte styll their place at saynt Ingylbertes The frenche kinge and the lorde of Garancyers who had ben there all that season was vnknowen whan the englysshe men were departed they neuer seased rydynge tyll they came to Crayll on the ryuer of Oyse where the quene was at that tyme. After that the Englysshe men came in to Englande I herde nat that any mo came ouer to do any dedes of armes at saynte Ingylbertes howe be it the thre frenche knyghtes helde styll their place tyll their thyrty dayes were accomplysshed and than at their leysar they retourned euery manne and came to Parys to se the kyng and the duke of Thourayne and other lordes that were at Parys at that tyme who made them good chere as reason requyred for they had valyauntly borne them selfe wherby they atcheued gret honour of the kyng and of the realme of Fraunce ⸪ ¶ Of the enterpryse and voyage of the knyghtes of Fraunce and Englande and of the duke of Burbone who was chefe of that army at the requeste of the genouoys to go in to Barbary to besiege the strong towne of Auffryke Cap. C.lxix I Shall nowe declare the maner of an hygh and noble enterprise that was done in this seasō by knightes of Fraūce of England of other countreys in the realme of Barbary Syth I haue concluded the armes that was doone at saynt Ingylbertes nowe wyll I shewe of other maters for to me it is great pleasure to declare them for if pleasure had nat inclyned me to write and to enquyre for the trouthe of many matters I had neuer come to an ende as I haue done Nowe sayeth the texte of the mater that I wyll procede on that in this season newes spredde abrode in Fraunce and in dyuers other coūtreys that the genouoys wolde make an army to go in to Barbary with gret prouysion as well of bysquet as fresshe water and wyneger with gales and vesselles for all knyghtes and squyers that wolde go in that voyage the cause that moued them thus to do I shall shewe you Of alonge tyme the affrycans had made warre by see on the fronters of the genouoys and pylled and robbed their Ilandes suche as were obeysant to them and also the ryuer of Genes lay euer in parell and daunger of them of Auffryke whiche was a stronge towne on the parties garnysshed with gates towres and hyghe and thycke walles depe dykes And lyke as the stronge towne of Calays is the key wherby who soeuer is lord therof may entre into the realme of Fraunce or in to Flaunders at his pleasure and maye by see or by lande sodenly inuade with great puyssaunce do many great feates In lyke wyse by comparyson this towne of Auffryke is the key of the barbaryns and of the realme of Auffryke and of the realmes of Bougne and Thunes and of other realmes of the infydeles in those parties This towne dyd moch dyspleasure to the genouoys who are greate marchauntes and by them of Aufryke they were often tymes taken on the see as they went or returned fro their feate of marchaundyses Than the genouoys who were ryche puyssaunt bothe by lande and by see hauyng great sygnories they regarded the dedes of the affrycans and also consydred the complayntes of suche isles as were vnder their obeysaunce as the isle Dable the isle of Syre the isle of Guerse the isle of Bostan the isle of Gorgennem and vnto the Gulfe of Lyon to the isles of Sardonne and Finisse and vnto the isle of Mayllorke whiche thre isles be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Aragon Than the genouoys by comon acorde agreed to sende in to the frenche courte and to offre to all knightes and squiers that wolde go with them to be siege this towne of Aufryke to fynde them galees and other vessels charged with bysquet swete water and wyneger at their coste and charge so that one of the frenche kynges vncles or els his brother the duke of Thourayn who was yonge and lusty and lykely to conquere honour shulde be capytayne generall And the genouoys furthermore promised .xii. thousande crosbowes genouoys well furnysshed and eyght thousande of other with speares and pauesses at their cost charge This the genouoys dyde bycause they knewe that there was a trewce bytwene Englande and Fraunce for thre yere wherfore they supposed that knyghtes and īquyers as well of Fraūce as of Englande wolde be glad to be doynge in some parte WHan tydynges came first into Fraūce of this voyage the knightes and squiers of the countrey were right ioyfull and the messangers fro Genne were aunswered that they shulde nat departe tyll they were well herde and so to haue socour their request was so reasonable as to the augmentynge of the crysten faythe Thus they were caused to tary a season at Parys There to debate that mater and to se who shulde be chefe
duke Iulyers and to the duke of Lancastre except Chinay whiche shulde go to them of Conflans by homage and the couÌ„tie of Soissons whiche parteyned to therle of Bloys and was auÌ„ciently alyed to hym The lorde of Coucy was enherytour therof by reason of his delyuerauÌ„ce out of prisone in EnglaÌ„d Also the landes of Drages Monny shulde retourne to other heyres And the landes of Holande and zelande shulde retourne to the erle of Heynaulte Thus these fayre heryteges shulde be sparcled abrode this knewe well the lordes of FrauÌ„ce wherfore the duke of Thourayn who had money lyeng by hym thought to bye these laÌ„des if he might haue any resonable bargayne ThaÌ„ he thought to entreate the kyng to moue therle of Blois in this mater and specially at the lest to bye the countie of Bloys whiche was a fayre and a noble countrey and well syttinge for hym for the countie of Bloyes marched on the duchy of Thouraygne and to the Countie of Bloys parteyned many goodly fees This duke of Thourayne rested styll on his purpose seased nat tyll he spake with the kynge his brother the duke of Burbone with the lorde of Coucy bycause he was great with the erle of Blois and had to wyfe the doughter of his cosyn germayne the duke of Loreyne The duke of Thourayne and the other lordes of his affyuite kept this mater secretely fro the duke of Berey I shall shewe you why The lady Mary his dought was endowed in all the countie of Bloys to the soÌ„me of .vi. M. frankes by yere and the duke of Berrey trusted by reason of his doughters dowrie the the countie of Bloys shulde be his after the erles dethe this duke of Berrey was a marueylous couytous prince the duke of Burgoyne in lyke wise trusted the landes of Holande zelande Heynalte to be his bycause that Margarete his eldest dought was maried to Wylliam sonÌ„e to therle of Heynalte wherby he thought outher by bieng or by soÌ„e other incident that chose landes shulde returne to his sonÌ„e erle of Ostrenant otherwyse called IohnÌ„ of Burgoyne who as than had maried Margarete eldest doughter to therle of Heynalte Thus the kyng and these said lordes purposed that at their deê‘tyng fro Tourse iii Thourayn to ryde by Blois to se their cosyn therle Guy of Bloys who was an eight myle fro Tourse in a castell of his owne called the Castell morant there to treate of this marchaÌ„dise with hym with his wyfe the lady Mary of Namure who was a couytous lady So it was there was a valiant knight and of great prudence bayly of Blois called sir Raynolde of Sens who had ê‘fyte informacion of all this busynes by what meanes I knowe nat Whan he knewe it he had gret pyte therof for loue of therle his lorde for he thought by reason of his sale of his laÌ„des he shuld be dishonored for euer disherite the true rightfull heyres whiche shulde be damnacion to his soule He thought to lette this mater if he coude so rode fro Blois spake with therle said sir the frenche kynge the duke of Thourayn the duke of Burdon and the lorde Coucy cometh hyder to you that is true ê™ therle why speke you that Sir ê™ he I say it bycause ye shal be requyred to sell your enheritaÌ„ce wherfore ye haue nede to take good aduise therin of those wordê therle had great marueyle said I can nat let men to speke make requestê but or I make any suche bargayne to sell myne enherytauÌ„ce or to disheryte myne heyres to my shame rebuke I shall rather sell or ley to pledge all the plate I haue Well sit ê™ the knight remeÌ„bre well the mater whan tyme is for this that I haue shewed you is without dout Bayly ê™ the erle I am nat so yong nor folysshe to enclyne to any suche treaties thus the bayly deê‘ted fro therle rode againe to Blois for he wolde nat be sene there at the kynges coÌ„mynge Whan the kyng and these said lordes caÌ„e to the castell the erle made them good chere as it was reason The erle and the countesse were right ioyfull that the kyng wolde visyte them in their owne castell Than the kynge to drawe the erle to his loue to bring hym to his entent sayd Fayre cosyn I se well ye be a lorde of our realme garnysshed with honour and larges and haue ben at great cost and to ayde you and somwhat to recoÌ„pence you We wyll you gyue and ayde that shall be well worthe to you twentie thousande fraÌ„kes in the countie of Blois Th erle thanked the kyng of his gyfte but he had neuer profite therof for he had neuer nothyng Than the kynge began to treate the Erle to sell the countie of Bloyes to the duke of Thourayn The kynge and the duke of Burbone spake fyrst and founde therle very colde and tarre of in that mater Than the lordes drewe to the countesse of Bloyes and shewed her so many colored reasons and she hers that after her husbandes dethe she was lyke to be but a poore lady Wherfore they said it were moche better for her to be a ryche lady and a puissaunt of golde and syluer and iewelles than to be poore Sayeng howe she was lykely to ouerlyue her husbade Therfore they desyred her to counsayle her husbande to make this marchaundyse The countesse who was a couytous lady And for loue to haue the floreyns she enclyned to their desyres and she dyd so moche with the helpe of other as the ayde of a varlet of the Erles chambre called Sohier borne at Malygnes sonne to a weyuer of clothes but he was so great with the erle of Bloyes that all thynge was done by hym without hym nothyng done And the erle had gyuen hym in fees and herytagê more than fyue hundred frankes by yere Be holde and consydre what myschefe great lordes be brought vnto by meane of seruauÌ„tes This Sohier had nother wytte nor reason to be greatly alowed but it was alonely the folysshe loue that his maister hadde to hym In lykewise the duke of Berrey the same season had one with hym called Iaques Thybaulte who was of no reputacion yet the duke at dyuers tymes had gyuen hym the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes and yet all was but loste This Sohier coulde nor can nat excuse hym selfe but that if he had lysted he myght well haue broken that marchaÌ„dise that therle his mayster made but to please the kynge the duke of Thourayne the duke of Burbone the lorde of Coucy and the couÌ„tesse who was agreed therto by couitousnes of the florens He rowned so in his maisters eare that the Erle wente from his promyse that he had made to his bayly And to there the reuercion of the countie of Bloyes after his discease was solde for the somme of two hundred thousande frankes and the duke of Thouraygne to delyuer to
vs wysely consydre the duke of Lancasters wordes who spake them of good entent for he had greatly traueyled in the warres of Fraunce and conquered but lytell and sore traueyled his bodye brent and dystroyed the playne countreys in his waye and after his retourne sone recouered agayn he sawe this warre drewe neuer to nâ—ne â—nde but rather encreased Also he sawe that if fortune shuld turne agaynst the englyssh party that great doÌ„mage therof shulde ensue and parceyued well that the kyng his nephue was enclyned moche rather to the peace than to the warre I Iohan Froysart auctoure of this hystory canne nat well saye whether this dukes opinyon was good or nat but it was shewed me that bycause the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters maryed in higher degree than hymselfe and out of the realme of Englande the one was quene of Spaygne the other Quene of Portugale This caused him gretly to enclyne to the peace for he knew well that the kynge of Spaygnes sonne who had maryed his doughter was as than but yonge and in daunger of his owne subgiettes and knewe well that if he shulde peasably enioye the herytage of Spaygne it was conuenyente that the englysshe men shulde kepe the peace with Fraunce for if the peace shulde be broken by any incydent than the Frenche men myght shortly be reuenged of the realme of Spayne for they had open entrees as well through Aragon and Chathalone as Bierne and Byskay for the lady yolant of Bare was quene of Aragone and she was good frenche and gouerned Aragon Chathalone Bierne and Byskay for the Vycount of Chatellon who was heyre to therle of Foiz had so sworne and promysed the frenche quene wherby the frenche men hadde many fayre entrees in to Spaygne without daunger of the kynge of Nauer who wolde nat wyllyngly dysplease the frenche kynge his cosyn germayne for as than syr Peter of Nauerre his brother was with the frenche kynge who alwayes apeased the frenche kynges ire and dyspleasure whan he had any to his brother the Kynge of Nauer for he was a true frenche man and neuer founde the contrary All these imagynacions the duke of Lancastre had in hym selfe and shewed his mynde to his sonne the erle of Derby though he were but yonge yet he was of great wysdome and lykely to come to great honour whiche erle had thre sonne Iohan Humfrey and Thomas and two doughters by the lady his wyfe doughter and heyre to the Erle constable of Englande erle of Herforde and Northampton by whiche lady he helde great herytage THe conclusyon of the parlyament holden at Westmynster by the thre estates of the realme A trewce was taken by see and by lande bytwene Fraunce and Englande their frendes and alyes to endure fro the feest of saynt Mychell to the feest of saynt Iohan Baptyst nexte after and suche coÌ„myssioners as the frenche kynge had sent to this parlyament were dyspatched and the charter of the truce sent by them sealed whiche treuce was well vpholden on all partyes The Frenche kynge was sore febled by reason of his syckenesse and the physicyon mayster Guyllyam Harselay was as than deed but whan he departed fro Crayell fro the kynge he ordeyned many receytes for the kynge to vse wherby in the wynter season he recouered his helth wherof all his louers and frendes reioysed with the hole coÌ„mynalte of FrauÌ„ce for he was well be loued and so he and the quene came to Parys and helde their householde most parte at saynt Powle and somtyme at Loure and the longe wynter nyghtes they passed the season with daunsynge and carollynge and other reuels and dysportes The quene was acompaned with the duchesse of Berrey the duchesse of Orlyance and other ladyes The same season the Vycount of Chastellon was come to Parys who was newly entred in to the herytage of the erledome of Foize and of Bierne as ryght heyre and he releued the sayde erledom of Foiz and dyd his homage to the kyng but nat for Bierne for that couÌ„trey helde themselfe of so noble condycion that they helde seruyce to no man lyuynge Howe be it the prince of Wales said to the erle of Foiz that last dyed that he ought to releue of him and to haue his resorte to the Duchy of Acquitayne But alwayes the sayd erle denyed and defended it And it is to be thought that the chalenge that the prince of Wales made thervnto was by the settynge on and mouyng of Iohan erle of Armynake as it hath ben shewed here before in this history wherfore as nowe I wyll ouer passe it Whan this vicount of Chastellon called fro henseforthe erle of Foiz was at Paris with the frenche kyng he had there in his company with hym his cosyn syr yuan of Foize bastarde sonne to the laste Erle of Foize who was a goodly knyght The erle of Foiz or he dyed wolde haue made hym his heyre with a nother of his bastarde sonnes called Gracian who dwelte as than with the kyng of Nauer but the knyghtes of Bierne wolde neuer consent therto therfore the mater rested as it dyd and the erle dyed sodaynly as ye haue herde before Whan the Frenche kynge sawe this yonge knyght syr yuan of Foiz he lyked hym marueylous well also the kynge and he were moche of one age and by reason of the fauour that the kynge bare to this yonge knyght the erle of Foiz had the shorter spede and was delyuered of all his businesse and than departed in to his owne countrey and syr yuan abode styll with the kynge and retayned as one of his knyghtes of his chambre with .xii. horses all other thynges therto belongynge ¶ Of the aduenture of a daunce that was made at Parys in lykenesse of wodehowses wherin the Frenche Kynge was in parell of dethe Cap. C.xcii IT fortuned that sone after the retaynmge of this foresayd knyght a maryage was made in the kynges house bytwen a yonge knyght of Vermandoys and one of the quenes gentylwomen and bycause they were bothe of the kynges house the kinges vncles and other lordes ladyes and damoselles made great tryumphe There was the dukes of Orlyaunce Berrey and Burgoyne their wyues daunsynge and makynge great ioye The kynge made a great supper to the lordes and ladyes and the quene kepte her estate desirynge euery man to be mery And there was a squyer of Normandy called Hogreymen of Gensay he aduysed to make some pastyme The daye of the maryage whiche was on a tuesday before Candelmas he prouyded for a mummery agaynst nyght He deuysed syxe cotes made of lynen clothe couered with pytche and theron flare lyke heare and had them redy in a chambre The kynge put on one of them and therle of Iouy a yonge lusty knyght another and syr Charles of Poicters the thyrde who was sonne to the erle of Valentenoys and to syr yuan of Foiz another and the sonne of the lord Nanthorillet had on the fyfte and the
day the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall communed togyder of dyuers maters at last amonge other they spake of the state of the kynge and of his counsayle suche as he had about hym and beleued them so that at the last the erle of Derby spake certayne wordes whiche he thought for the best wenynge that they shulde neuer haue ben called to rehersall whiche wordes were nouther vylenous nor outragyous for he sayde thus Saint Mary fayre cosyn what thynketh the kynge oure cosyn to do wyll he driue out of Englande all the noble men within a whyle there shal be none left it semeth clerely that he wylleth nat the augmentacyon of his realme The erle marshall gaue none aunswere but dissimuled the mater and toke it that he spake agaynst the kynge and thought in hymselfe that the Erle of Derby was ryght lykely to make great trouble in Englande bycause he was so great with the londoners and the dyuell was redy to styre his brayne and that thynge that shall fall can nat be eschewed SO he thought to shewe this mater to the kynge whan noble mē shulde be presente and on a day to please the kynge he sayde Ryght dere syr I am of youre lygnage and ame your lyege man and marshall of Englande Wherfore sir I am bounde to you by myne Alliegeaunce and othe sworne my handes in yours that I shulde be in no place hearynge any thynge contrarye to your mageste royall and shulde kepe it secrete I ought to be reputed as a false traytour whiche I wyll nat be for I wyll trewly acquyte me agaynst you and all the worlde The kynge loked on hym and demaunded and sayd Why say you these wordes we wyll know it My right redouted souerayne lorde quod the erle Marshall I saye it bycause I canne nat suffre any thynge that shulde be preiudyciall or agaynst your grace syr cause the erle of Derby to come before you and than I shall shewe you more Than the erle of Derby was sente for and the kynge cōmaunded the erle Marshall to stande vp for he was on his knee whyle he spake to the Kynge And whan the erle of Derby was before the kyng who thought none yuell than the erle Marshall sayde Syr erle of Derby I say to you ye haue thought yuell and spoken otherwyse than ye ought to do agaynste your naturall lorde the kynge of Englande whan ye sayde that he was nat worthy to holde lande or realme seynge without lawe or iustyce without counsayle of any of his noble men he distourbeth his Realme and without tytell or good reason putteth out of his realme and dystroyeth them who ought to ayde and susteyne him wherfore here I cast my gage and wyll proue with my body agaynst yours that ye are an yuell false traytour The erle of Derby was sore abasshed with those wordes and stepte backe a lytell and stode styll a season without demaundynge of his Father or of any other what aunswere he shulde make Whan he had studyed a lytell he stept forthe with his cappe in his hande and came before the kynge and the erle Marshall and sayd Erle Marshall I saye thou arte an yuell and a false traytour and that I shall proue my body agaynst thyne and in that quarell here is my gauge Th erle Marshall whan he herde howe he was apealed shewed howe he desyred the batayle With that the erle of Derby aunswered and sayde I sette your wordes at the kynges pleasure and other lordes that be here and I tourne your wordes to a mocke and myne to be true Than eche of these erles drewe to their company and lygnage so that the manner of takynge of wyne and spyces was lette passe for the kyng shewed hym selfe to be right sore displeased and so entred in to his chambre and left his two vncles without and all their chyldren and the erles of Salysbury and Huntyngdon his bretherne Than anone after the kynge sent for his vncles and entred in to his chambre Thanne the kynge demaunded of them what was best to do in this mater Syr quod they cause your constable to come before you and than we shall shewe you our opynyons Than the erle of Rutlande who was constable was sente for and whan he was come than he was commaunded to go to the erle of Derby and to the erle Marshall and to take suretye of theym that they go nat out of the realme of Englande without the kynges lycence The constable dyd as he was cōmaunded and than retourned agayne to the kinges chambre YE maye well knowe this matter greatly troubled the courte and many lordes and knyghtes were sore dyspleased of that aduenture and secretly they greatly blamed the erle Marshall but he made as though he had ser nothyng by the mater his hert was so proude presumptuous Thus the lordes departed for that day The duke of Lācastre what so euer coūtynaunce he made he was sore displeased with these wordes and he thought the kynge shulde nat haue taken the mater as he dyd but shulde rather haue tourned it to nothynge and so thought the moste parte of all the lordes of Englande The erle of Derby went and lay at London and helde his estate at his owne lodgynge and there were pledges for him the duke of Lancastre his father the duke of yorke the Erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes And the erle Marshall was sente to the towre of London and there helde his estate These two lordes made prouysyon for that was necessary for them for their batayle The erle of Derby sent his messangers in to Lombardy to the duke of Myllayne syr Galeas for to haue armure at his pleasure The duke agreed to the erles desyre and caused the knight that the erle had sent thyder whose name was Fraunces to se all the dukes armorye And whan the knyght had chosen suche as he lyked than the duke furthermore for loue of the erle of Derby he sent four of the best armorers that were in Lombardy to the erle in to Englande with the knight to the entent that they shulde arme and make armure acordynge to the erles entente The erle Marshall on his parte sent in to Almayn and in to other places to prouyde him for that iourney The charge of these two lordes was greate but the erle of Derby was at moost charge The erle Marshall whan he beganne that busynesse he thought to haue had more ayde of the kynge than he had for suche as were nere aboute the kynge sayd to him Syr ye haue nothyng to do to medle bytwene these two lordes dyssymule you the mater and let them deale they wyll do well ynough Sir ye knowe well the erle of Derby is well beloued in the realme and specyally with the Londoners and if they se that ye shulde take parte with the erle Marshall ye were lyke to lose their loue therby for euer The kynge vnderstode well their wordes and knew well it was trewe he
quod the kyng why shulde they nat We wyll se their dedes of armes Paraduenture we shall knowe therby that we knowe nat as yet shulde be right necessary to knowe to the entente we shulde prouyde for it For there is none so great in Englande but if he displease me I shall cause hym to make me amendes For if I shulde any thynge submytte me to my subiettes they wolde soone ouercome me And I knowe for certaygne that some of theym of my blode haue hadde dyuers treatyse toguyder agaynste me and myne estate and the moost princypall of theÌ„ was the duke of Gloucestre For in all Englande was natte a worse hedde agaynst me than he was Nowe I shall haue peace fro hense forwarde for I shall do well ynough with all the other But sirs I praye you shewe me why ye make this demauÌ„de to me Sir quod they we are bounde to counsayle you And sir we often tymes here wordes spoken that ye canne nat here For sir ye be in youre chambre and we abrode in the couÌ„trey or in London where many thynges be spoken whiche greatlye toucheth you and vs also Sir it were tyme to prouyde remedye and so ye muste do Sir we counsayle you for the best Howe so quod the Kynge Speke further and spare natte for I wyll do euery thynge parteynyng to reason and minyster Iustyce in my realme Sir quod they the renoume ronneth through out Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is the soueraygne cytie of youre Realme They saye ye are cause of this enterprice bytwene these two lordes and that ye haue sette the erle Marshall to fyght with the erle of Derby THe Londoners and dyuers other noble men and prelates of the realme saye Howe ye take the ryght waye to distroye your lygnage and the realme of Englande Whiche thynge they saye they wyll natte suffre And if the Londoners rise agaynste you with suche noble men as wyll take their parte ye shall be of no puyssauÌ„ce to resyst theym And also they haue you in a marueylous suspecte bycause ye be alyed by maryage with the Frenche kynge wherby ye be the worse beloued of all youre people And sir knowe for certayne that if ye suffre these two Erles to come in to the place to do batayle ye shall nat be lorde of the felde but the Londoners and suche lordes of their ê‘te wyll rule the felde for the loue and fauoure that they beare to the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall is soore hated and specially the Londouers wolde he were slayne And thre partes of the people of Englande saye that whan ye harde that wordes fyrst bytwene these two erles that ye shulde haue done otherwyse than ye dyd and that ye shulde haue broken the quarell and haue sayd Sirs ye are bothe my cosyns and lyegmen therfore I commaunde you to kepe the peace fro hens forthe And shulde haue taken the Erle of Derby by the hande and haue ledde hym in to youre chambre and haue shewed hym some signe of loue And bycause ye dyde nat thus the brute ronneth that ye beare fauour to the erle Marshalles partie and are agaynst the erle of Derby Sir consyder well these wordes that we shewe you for they be trewe Sir ye had neuer more nede of good counsayle than ye haue nowe Whan the kynge herde these wordes he chaunged countynauÌ„ce the wordes were so quickely spoken Therwith the kynge tourned fro them and leaned out at a wyndowe and studyed a certayne space and than he tourned agayne to them that had spoken to hym who were the archebysshoppe of yorke and the Erles of Salisbury of Huntingdon his bretherne and thre other knightes of his chambre than he sayde to them Sirs I haue well herde you and if I shulde refuce your counsayle I were greatly to blame Wherfore sirs consyder what is beste for me to do Sir quod one of theym that spake for all The matter that we haue spoken of is ryght peryllous ye muste dissymule the mater if ye wyll haue youre honour saued and to make peace And sir ye ought rather to entertayne the generaltie of your realme than the ydell wordes of two knyghtes But sir the brute thoroughe out all the Realme of Englande is howe the erle Marshall hathe greatlye trespassed and hath renewed to many yuell thinges and daylye reneweth and the realme taketh all his wordes in vayne and saith how that by his ydell words he wolde reise a ê“cesse agaynst the erle of Derby and to bringe the lande in to trouble First They say it were better that he abode the payne and the erle of Derby to be quyte Sir we thynke that or they shulde arme theÌ„ to mete togyder that ye shulde sende to them cause theÌ„ to be bounde to abyde youre ordynaunce in this enterprise And whan they be furely bounde to abyde youre sentence than ye maye gyue theym this Iudgemente That within fyftene dayes after the erle Marshall to auoyde the realme without any truste euer to retourne agayne And therle of Derby in lykewyse to auoyde the realme and to be banysshed for tenne yere And whan he shall departe the realme to please the people withall release foure yere of the tenne and so let hym be banysshed for sixe yere without pardone This is the counsayle sir that we wyll gyue you For sir in no wyse let them be armed one agaynst another for the inconuenyentes that maye fall therby The kynge studyed a lytell and sayde Sirs ye counsayle me trewly and I shall folowe youre counsayle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe kynge Richarde gaue sentence wherby he banysshed out of Englande therle of Derby for .x. yere and the erle Marshall for euer Capi. CC.xxix ANone after that this couÌ„sayle was gyuen to the kynge he assembled great nombre of prelates grete lordes of Englande and they came to hym to ElthaÌ„ there was his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke The erles of Northumberlande of Salysbury and of Huntyngton Than the kynge sente for the erle of Derby and the erle Marshall and sette eche of them in a seuerall chaÌ„bre The kynge shewed howe he wolde be a meane bytwene them and howe their wordes hadde greatly displeased hym and that they were suche that ought nat lyghtly to be pardoned Wherfore he wolde in all poyntes they shulde submytte them selfe and to abyde his ordynaunce in that behalfe Than he ordayned the constable of Englande and foure other great lordes to go to the erle of Derby and to therle Marshall to take their bondes to abyde the kynges ordynaunce These lordes came to the sayd erles and shewed them the kynges pleasure and how the kynge wolde take the matter on hym So they bounde them selfe to abyde the kynges order Than the kynge sayde I ordaygne and commaunde that the erle Marshall bycause he hath brought this Realme in to this trouble by reason of his wordes wherin he canne nat make profe That he ordayne
after he ordeyned him to go in to the realme of Hungery for the kynge of Hungery had written to the frenche kynge howe Lamorabaquy assembled great puyssaunce of men of warre of turkes arabyes tartaryes and suryens and of dyuers other of his secte to fyght with hym The erle of Derby the same season beynge at Paris in the house of Clyssone nere to the temple was wyllynge to go in to Hungery whiche shulde be the lesse coste to the Frenche kynge for he had euery weke redy payed him fyue hundred crownes of golde and the erle thought hym selfe moche bounde to the frenche kynge for that grace and whan that tydynges came fro the kynge of Hungery in to Fraunce the erle of Derby entended well to that mater and thought in hym selfe that voyage to be ryght honourable for hym to passe his tyme there wherby he shulde the lightlyer forget the tyme of his trouble and spake to them of his specyall counsayle and they counsayled hym to go in that voyage so that he knewe fyrst the duke of Lancastre his fathers pleasure in that behalfe Than the erle one of his knyghtes called Dinorth in to Englande to knowe his fathers pleasure This knyght came in to Englande and founde the duke of Lancastre at a Castell a twenty myle fro London called Hertforde There he shewed hym his sonnes entente And whan the duke vnderstode the mynde of the erle his sonne and the good wyll that he had to go in to Hungery to passe the tyme of his banyssment he was ryght well content and sayd to the knyght syr ye be welcome your wordes and my sonnes lettre requyreth counsayle◠ye shall rest you here with vs a season and in the meane whyle we shall take aduyse and in the whyle ye may go and se my sonnes chyldren for ye muste beare tydynges of them to their father Syr quod the knyght ye say true So this knyght syr Dynorth taryed a season in Englande NOwe had the frenche kinge good occasyon to write to the kynge of Almayne and to his coūsayle in what case he had brought pope Benedic and the cardynalles The kynge than sent thyder a noble ambassade as the patryarke of Iherusalem syr Charles of Hangers and other knightes and they founde the kynge at Strawbourgh and dyd their message wherwith the kynge and his counsayle were well content and sayd howe they wolde determyne on that matter but they said they wolde gladly that the kyng of Englande shulde take the same waye the whiche they feared shulde be herde to do with this aunswere the ambassadours retourned in to Fraunce and shewed the kynge what they had doone and sene The frenche kynge than to th entent to bring his purpose to passe sente agayne in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and the messangers shewed the kynge the cause of their cōmynge The kynge gaue good herynge to the mater but as than he had nat the prelates of the realme nor the clergy with hym nor were nat so plyable to folowe his pleasure as they in Fraunce to folowe the pleasure of their kynge and this he shewed to the frenche kynges messangers howe be it he sayde he wolde do his deuoyre and so he dyd And so the messangers returned in to Fraūce and kynge Rycharde on a daye at Westmynster assembled all his prelates and clergy of Englande and whan they were there the kynge shewed wysely the dyfference that was in the churche and howe the frenche kynge by delyberacyon and aduyse of counsayle and by consent of the vnyuersite of Parys and other clerkes he was determyned to be newter and in lykewyse so are the kynges of Spaygne of Scotlande of Aragone and of Nauer and howe that all Almayne Boesme and Italy were of the same opynyon In lykewyse the kynge of Englande desyred that his realme shuld folowe the same Whan the prelates and the clergy who knewe nothynge why they were sent for herde that mater they had great marueyle and were sore abasshed some stode styll and spake no worde and some began to murmure and sayde Our kynge is become frenche he entendeth to nothynge but to dyshonour and distroy vs but he shal nat What wolde he bringe vs out of our beleue he maye do so moche that he shall haue yuell therof let vs nat folowe this opynion sythe the frenche kynge taketh that waye lette hym holde hym selfe newter and let vs holde styll our beleue and lette no man put it fro vs without there be greater apparaunce of a surer foundacyon than we se as yet Whan kyng Rycharde sawe the dyfference and murmurynge of the clergy he caused the bysshoppe of London to demaunde of all the clergy what was best to do They all aunswered that the matter was so great that therin requyred great counsayle and delyberacyon and so they departed and euery man went to his lodgynge And whan the londoners knewe the cause of that assemble and the request that the kynge had made they were than sore troubled agaynst the kyng for the people of Englande were so fermely set on the beleuynge on the pope at Rome that they wolde nat leaue it and sayde howe that Rycharde of Burdeaulx wolde distroy them all if he be let alone his herte is so frenche that he canne nat hyde it but a daye wyll come to paye for all that he shall repente hym and all suche as gyue hym suche counsayle What so euer the kynge sayd to haue his people newter they wolde in no wyse agree therto And the frenche kynge was nat well content with his sonne kynge Rycharde in that he had nat incontynent caused his realme to haue been newter but to saye the trouth the kynge was nat to blame therin And also suche accydentes fell soone after the whiche were so great and horryble that the lyke hath nat ben sene in all this hystorye vpon no kynge crysten except of noble kynge Peter of Lusygnen kyng of Cyper and Iherusalem whome his owne brother and the cypriens martyred ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the aunswere of the Duke of Lancastre to the knyght sent to hym fro his sonne the erle of Derby and howe the duke of Lancastre dyed Cap. CC .xxxiiii. WHan sir Dinorth Whom the erle of Derby had sente in to Englande to his father the duke of Lancastre and had his answere of the duke and had vysyted all the erles landes and had sene his chyldren four sonnes and two doughters than he toke his leaue and retourne in to Fraunce His aunswere was howe that the duke wolde nat counsayle the erle his sonne to go in to Hungery but whan he was wery of beynge in Fraūce than rather to go in to Castell to the kynge there and to his suster and if he lyste to go further than to go and vysite his other suster the quene of Portugale The erle redde his fathers letters two tymes ouer and studyed theron a season and syr Dinorth shewed him that the physicions and surgyons in Englande sayd surely howe
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
thyder where as the erle of Derby was at a place called vyncetour besyde Parys Whan the erle of Derby sawe the bysshop of Caunterbury cōmynge to him his herte and spyrites reioysed and so dyd all suche as were aboute him for he thought well than to here some newes oute of Englande The bysshoppe shewed nat as than the cause of his cōmynge but dissymuled bycause euery man shuld nat knowe his entent and therfore to couer his busynesse he sayd openly he was come on pylgrymage to saynt Mors. All suche as were aboute the erle thought it had ben so Whan the bysshop sawe his tyme he toke a parte the erle of Derby alone in to a chambre and closed the dore to them Than the bysshop shewed the erle the debylyte of the realme of Englande and of the desolacyon therof and howe iustyce had no place to reygne for faute of a good kinge and howe certayne valyaunt men and prelates with the londoners and other ingenerall had deuised a remedy and for that cause he was sente thyder to hym to desyre him to retourne in to Englande and they wolde make hym kynge bycause that Rycharde of Burdeaulx had doone and consented to be done so many yuell dedes that all the people sorowed it and are redy to ryse agaynst hym and therfore syr nowe is the tyme or neuer for you to seke for your delyueraūce and profyte and for the welth of your chyldren for if ye entende nat to helpe your selfe and theym also none other wyll for Rycharde of Burdeaux gyueth to them of his chambre to other dayly parte of your enherytaūce and of your chyldrens of the whiche many valyaunt men and the londoners were sore dyspleased therwith if they coude amended it but they durst neuer speke tyll nowe But bycause the kynge hath yuell vsed hym selfe agaynst you and agaynst your vncle the duke of Gloucestre who was taken by nyght and conueyed to Calays and there murdered and the erle of Arundell beheeded without tytell of any good reason and the erle of Warwyke exyled and you banysshed and thus the realme of Englande is nere dysheryted of all noble men by whome the realme shulde be susteyned And also the kynge hath banysshed the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Percy his sonne bycause they spake somewhat agaynst the kynges gouernaunce and his counsayle Thus they dayly encrease in doynge yuell and none dare speke agaynst it great parte of the realme haue pytie therof and therfore they desyre you to slepe no lenger but to take leaue of that frenche kynge and retourne in to Englande there shall you be receyued with ioy and all this that I haue sayd they wyll fyrmely vpholde for they desyre to haue none other kynge but you ye are so well beloued in the realme WHan the erle had herde the bysshops wordes at length he was nat hasty in gyuenge of aunswere but leaned out at a wyndowe lokynge downe in to a gardeyne and studyed a certayne space and had many imagynacions at last he tourned hym to the archebysshop and sayd Syr your wordes causeth me to study Lothe I wolde be to take on me this enterprise and lothe I wolde be to leaue it for I knowe well that it wyll be longe or I canne retourne in to Englande without it be by the same meanes as ye haue declared Lothe I wolde be to enclyne to your wordes for the Frenche kynge here and the frenchmen do to me and haue done wyll do if I lyst here to tary all the honour and curtesye that I canne desyre And if so be by reasone of your wordes and promesse of the londoners my good frendes that I shulde apply and agree to their wylles and desyre and that therby kynge Rycharde shulde be taken and dystroyed I shulde in that case beare great blame wherof I wolde be tyght lothe if any other meanes might be founde Sir quod the bysshoppe I am sent hyther to you in hope of all goodnesse call to you your counsayle and shewe them what I haue sayd and I shall also shewe them the cause of my cōmynge and I thynke they wyll nat counsayle you to the contrary That shall I do quod the erle for suche a weyghty mater requyreth counsayle Than the erle called to hym his counsayle suche as he trusted best Whan they were before hym than the erle caused the bysshop to shewe them all the mater and the cause of his commynge thyder Than the erle demaūded counsayle what was beste for hym to do They all aunswered with one voyce syr god hathe taken pytie of you howe so euer ye do refuse nat this bargayne for ye shal neuer haue a better and surely who so euer wyll enquyre of your lygnage and fro whence ye dyscended ye are of the ryght stocke and generacyon of saynt Edwarde somtyme kynge of Englande syr thanke the londoners your good frendes who wyll helpe to delyuer you out of daunger and haue pytie on your chyldren and of the desolacyon of the realme of Englande and syr remembre well what wrōges and iniuryes this Rycharde of Burdeaux hath done to you and dothe dayly for whan the maryage bytwene you and the countesse of Ewe was nere at a poynte dyd nat the erle of Salysbury breke it and called you traytoure in the presence of the frenche kynge and other lordes whiche wordes are nat to be pardoned but ye ought to desyre howe to be reuenged Sir if ye wyll nat helpe yourselfe who shulde helpe you syr take good aduyse herin ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby toke leaue of the frenche kyng and went to his cosyn the duke of Bretaygne Cap. CC.xxxix WHanne the erle herde his coūsaylours so ernestly counsayle him his spyrites opened and sayd Syrs I wyll do as ye wyll haue me for to haue your counsayle was the entente that I sent for you Syr quod they ye saye well and syr we counsayle you trewly to our power and as the matter requyreth Than as secretly as they coude they ordeyned for their departure Than it was deuysed howe they might passe the see or any knowledge therof shulde come in to Englande They deuysed that of two wayes they muste take one outher to go into Haynalte and in to Holande and there take the see at Dordright or els to go in to Bretaygne to the duke and there to take the see and so to lande at Plummouth or where as god wolde in Englande All thynges consydred they sayd the best way shulde be by Bretaygne and than they sayd to the erle syr go and take your leaue of the frenche kynge and thanke hym of the curtesy that he hath shewed vnto you and take leaue of the duke of Orlyance and of the kynges vncles and other and thanke theym all of the good chere they haue made you and desyre of the kinge to haue conducte to go in to Bretaygne sayenge that ye wyll go se the duke your cosyn to tary there a
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