there to be holden Cap. C .i. ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale with his puyssaunce assembled with the duke of Lancastre and his puissaunce and howe they coulde nat passe the Ryuer of Dierne and howe a squyer of Castyle shewed theym the passage Capi. C .ii. ¶ Howe the tydynges spred abrode that the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre were passed the ryuer of dierne and howe it came to the kynge of Castylles knowledge and howe certayne of the englysshe knyghtes came and tode before vyle Arpent and howe the kynge of Portugale and the duke of Lancastre determyned there to tary the cōmynge of the duke of Burbon Cap. C .iii. ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe an haraulde was sent to the kynge of Castyle and howe thre knyghtes of Englande wente to speake with the kynge of Castyle for a saue conducte for the dukes men to passe thoroughe his countrey Capi. C.iiii. ¶ Howe these three knyghtes optayned a saue conducte of the kynge of Castyle for their people to passe and howe dyuers of the englysshe men dyed in Castyle and howe the Duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Capi. C.v. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande the Duke of Lancasters constable tooke his leaue of the duke and he and his wyfe retourned by the kynge of Castyle who made hym good chere and howe syr Iohan Dambrity court went to Parys to accomplysshe a dede of armes bytwene hym and syr Boucyquant Cap. C .vi. ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone departed fro Auignon to go into Castyle with all his hoost and came to Burgus in Spaygne and there founde the kynge of Castyle And howe the duke of Lancastre herde those tydynge and howe the duke of Burbone departed fro the kyng and went streyght agayne in to Fraunce Capi. C .vii. ¶ Howe the erle of Foiz receyued honourably the duke of Burbon and of the great gyftes that he gaue hym and howe syr Willyam of Lygnac syr Gaultyer of Passackes company departed out of Spayne and of the incydent that fortuned in the towne of saynte Phagon Capi. C .viii. ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle and his counsayle were yuell content with syr Willyam of Lygnac and syr Gaultier of Passackes company and howe the duke of Lancastre departed fro saynt Iaques to Bayon Cap. C .ix. ¶ Howe the erle of Armynake tooke great payne to treate with the companyons to departe out of the realme of Fraunce Cap. C .x. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles who had layde all his landes in guage wystenat what to do came for refuge to the archcbysshoppe of Coloygne his vncle who blamed hym and howe ambassadours went to Berthaulte of Malygnes Cap. C .xi. ¶ Howe the erle Reynolde of Guerles was maryed to Mary doughter to Berthalte of Malygnes by whome he hadde a doughter and after maryed agayne in Englande and hadde issue two sonnes and a doughter and howe syr Iohan of Bloyes wedded the eldest doughter of the Erle of Guerles and howe after the countie of Guerles remayned with the erle of Guerles yongest doughter Capi. C .xii. ¶ Howe these castelles of Gauleche Buthe and Null came to the duke of Brabant and howe the duke of Iulyers sustayned the Lynfars in his countre who robbed all maner of people and of the great assemble that the duke of Brabante made to go to Iulyers and howe he was dyscomfyced Cap. C .xiii. ¶ Howe the duke of Brabant dyed and howe the duke Guillyam of Guerles treated with the duchesse of Brabante to haue agayne the thre castelles and what aunswere he had and howe he made alyaunce with the kynge of Englande Cap. C .xiiii. ¶ Howe the duchesse of Brabante sent messangers to the frenche kynge complaynynge of the duke of Guerles and howe the kynge and his counsayle were sore busyed with incydentes that fell in the realme of Fraunce as well for the defyaunces of Guerles as the busynesse in Bretayne Cap. C .xv. ¶ Howe by a straunge fortune the kynge of Nauer dyed in the cytie of Pampylona and howe Charles his sonne was crowned and howe Vanchadore was besieged by the duke of Berrey and howe the duke of Burgoyne sente to the Duchesse of Brabante Cap. C .xvi. ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brent and ryfled the towne of Seaull retourned to their garyson and of the ioye that the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse of Brabant made for that dede and howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce dyscomfyted the englysshe men Capi. C .xvii. ¶ Howe syr Iohan Boesme Launce ledde these prisoners to Mount Ferante and howe they of the countrey were gladde whan they herde of this entreprise and howe Geronet and his company were sette to raunsome and delyuered by the money that Perot of Bierne lent hym Cap. C .xviii. ¶ Howe Geronet of Mandurāt with twelue of his company retourned to Mount ferant and howe Perot of Bernoys with four hundred speares wente to Mount Ferante and wolde nat entre in to the towne by none other way but in at the gate Cap. C .xix. ¶ Howe Geronet lette in Perot le Bernoys and his company in to the towne of Mount ferant wherof the countrey was a frayde and howe the kynge and his vncles beynge at Parys were therwith sore dyspleased and also the erle Dolphyn of Auuergne Cap. C .xx. ¶ Howe Perotte le Bernoys and his company tooke their counsayle and determyned nat to kepe the towne of Mount ferant and howe the sayd Perot and his company departed thens by nyght withall their pyllage and prisoners and wente and refresshed them in the towne of Ousac Cap. C .xxi. ¶ Howe they of the towne of Cleremounte made a skrimysshe with these pyllers that had taken and robbed the towne of Moūt ferant at the gates of the towne Cap. C .xxii. ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary his doughter to the erle of Bloyes sonne and howe the same yere the sonne of the duke of Berrey marryed the lady Mary of Fraunce suster to the yonge kynge Charles of Fraunce Cap. C .xxiii. ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lancastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenche men recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the Englysshe men that had ben there in that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the Frenche kynge sente for the duke of Irelande Cap. C .xxiiii. ¶ Howe the constable of Fraunce wolde nat accorde that the kynge shulde goo in to Almaygne bycause of the incydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons and made alyaūce with the kynge of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C .xxv. ¶ Howe the Brabansoyes layde siege to the towne of Graue and howe the Constable of Fraunce tooke saynt Malo and saynte Mathewes and sette there men in garysone and howe the duke of Lancastre was
the prince of Wales house at saynt Andrewes in Burdeaux Another demauÌ„ded what mater was that I shall shewe you quod the other knyght for I was there present There was wyne brought on a day into the princes Chambre where as there were many lordes of Englande with hym whan the prince had dronke bicause sir IohnÌ„ Chandos was constable of Acquitayne the prince sente hym his cuppe first to drinke and he toke the cuppe and dranke and made therof none offre firste to the Erle of Oxenforde who was father to this duke of IrelaÌ„de and after that sir Iohan Chandos had dronke a squyer bare the cuppe to the Erle who hadde suche dispyte that sir Iohan Chandos hadde droÌ„ke before hym that he refused the cuppe wolde nat drinke and sayde to the squyer in maner of a mocke Go to thy mayster Chandos and bydde hym drinke Shall I go said the squyer he hath dronke all redy Therfore drinke you sythe he hath offred it to you if ye wyll nat drinke by saynt George I shall cast the drinke in your face Th erle whan he herd that douted that the Squyer wolde do as he sayde and so toke the cuppe and sette it to his mouthe and dranke or at leest made semblant to drinke And sir Iohan Chandos who was nat farre thens sawe well all the mater and helde hym styll tyll the prince was gone from them Than he came to the Erle and sayde Sir Aubery are ye displeased in that I dranke before you I am Constable of this countrey I maye well drinke before you sythe my lorde the Prince and other lordes here are coÌ„tente therwith It is of trouthe ye were at the batayle of Poycters but suche as were there knoweth nat so well as I what ye dyd theâ— I shall declare it ¶ Whanne that my lorde the Prince hadde made his voyage in Languedocke and Carcassone to Narbone and was retourned hyther to this towne of Bourdeaux ye toke on you to go in to Englande What the Kynge sayde to you at your coÌ„mynge I knowe right well yet I was nat there He demaunded of you if ye hadde furnysshed your voyage and what ye had done with his sonne the Prince ye aunswered howe ye had lefte hym in good helth at Bourdeaux Than the kynge sayde What and howe durste ye be so bolde to retourne without hym I commauÌ„ded you and all other whan ye departed that ye shulde nat retourne without hym on payne of all that ye myght forfayte And you this to retourne I straitly commaunde you that within four dayes ye auoyde my realme and retourne agayne to hym For and I fynde you within this my realme the fifth day ye shall lese your lyfe and all your herytage for euer And ye feared the kynges wordes as it was reason and so auoyded the realme and so your adueÌ„ture and fortune was good for truely ye were with my lorde the prince a foure dayes before the batayle of Poicters And so ye hadde the day of the batayle fourtie speares vnder your charge and I had threfore Nowe ye mayese wheder I ought to drinke before you or nat syth I am constable of â— equytaygne The erle of Orenforde was a shamed and wolde gladlye he hadde ben thens at that tyme but he was fayne to suffre and to here those wordes This sir Iohan Chandos sayde to hym in opyn presence Therfore it is nat to be marueyled thoughe this duke of Irelande who is sonne to the sayd erle of Oxenforde be disdaynfull in folowynge the steppes of his father For he taketh vpon hym to rule all Englande aboue the kynges vncles Well quod some other why shulde he nat sythe the kyng wyll haue it so THus the people in the Realme murmured in dyuers places agaynst the duke of Irelande And he dyde one thyng that greatly abated his honour that was he had firste to his wyfe the doughter of the lorde of Coucy the lady Isabell who was a fayre Lady and a good and of more noble blode than he is of But he fell in loue with another damosell of the quenes of Englande an Almaygne borne and dyde so moche with pope Vrbayne at Rome that he was deuorsed fro the doughter of the lorde Coucy without any tytell of reason but by presumpcion and for his synguler appetyte and than wedded the quenes mayde and kynge Rycharde conseÌ„ted there to he was so blynded with this duke of Irelande that if he had sayd sir this is whyte tho it had ben blacke the kyng wolde nat haue sayd the contrarye This dukes mother was greatly displeased with him for that dede and toke in to her coÌ„pany his first wyfe the lady of Coucy The duke dyde yuell and therfore at length yuell came to hym and this was the first princypall cause that he was behated for in Englande euery thyng that turneth to yuell must haue a begynning of yuell This duke of Irelande trusted so moche in the grace and fauour of the kyng that he beleued that no man shulde trouble hym And it was a coÌ„mon renome through EnglaÌ„de that theâ— shulde be a newe taxe raysed through the realme that euery fyre shulde paye a noble and the riche to beare out the poore The kynges vncles knewe well it wolde be a harde mater to bringe about And they had caused certayne wordes to be sowen abrode in the cyties and good townes of Englande as to saye howe the people of Englande were sore greued with tares and talenges and howe there was great rychesse raysed and that the common people wolde haue accomptes of the gouernours therof as the archebysshop of yorke the duke of Irelande sir Symon Burle sir Mychaell de la Pole sir Nycholas BraÌ„ble sir Robert Tryâ—â—lyen ser Peter Golouser sir Iohan Salisbury sir Iohan Beauchampe and the maisters of the Staple of the wolles The commons sayd that if they wolde make a trewe accoÌ„pte there shulde be founde golde and syluer suffycient without raysing of any newe subsydies It is a common vsage none is gladde to pay money nor to opyn their purses if they may lette it THis brute and noyse spredde so a brode in Englande and specially in the cytie of London whiche is chyefe cytie in the realme that all the coÌ„mons rose and sayde howe they wolde knowe howe the realme was gouerned sayenge howe it was longe syth any accompte was made Firste these londoners drewe theym to syr Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucestre thoughe he were yonger brother than sir Edmonde duke of yorke The common people reputed the duke of Glocestre for a valyant and a sage discrete parson And whan they came before hym they sayde Syr the good cytie of London recoÌ„maundeth them to you and all the people ingenerall requireth you to take vpon you the gouernynge of the realme For they knowe well it is nat vnknowen to you howe the kynge and the realme is gouerned The coÌ„mon people complayneth them sore for the kynges counsayle demaundeth tayles
was blamed defamed and hated in Englande as well as in Fraunce Whan the frenche kynge had concluded to sende for the duke of Irelande the lorde of Coucy spake as moche agaynst it as he myght but there were so many reasons layde to hym and also bycause the kyng wolde haue it that he was contente to suffre it The frenche kynge who was but yong desyred greatly to se the duke of Irelande bycause he was reputed to be a good knyght and also bycause it was sayd howe he was so well beloued with the kynge of Englande Thanne he was sente for by a knyght and a clerke a notary of the kynges Whan the Duke of Irelande herde fyrste howe the frenche kynge had sente for hym he had maruayle therof and hadde dyuerse imagynacyons for what entente he shulde be sente for in to Fraunce howe be it fynally he thought the myght go surely in to Fraunce to se the kynge by reason of his saueconducte and to returne agayne at his pleasure Than he departed fro Trecte and rode forthe with theym that the kynge had sent to hym and rode so longe that they came to Paris for as than the kyng was there in his castell of Lowre There the duke was well receyued of the kynge and of his vncles The frenche kynge desyred him to abyde there styll and apoynted hym a place to kepe his house astate in for the duke had ynough so to do for he had conueyed out of Englande good ynough And also the constable of Fraūce ought hym certayne money for the raunsome of Iohan of Bretayne the whiche was nat all payed as than Thus the duke wente whan it pleased hym to se the kynge and hadde good chere and at all feastes iustes and triumphes the duke was alwayes sente for ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the Constable of Fraunce wolde nat acorde that the king shulde go in to Almayne bycause of the insydentes of the realme and howe the duke of Bretaygne fournysshed his garysons made alyaunce with the kyng of Englande and with the kynge of Nauerre and of the army made by the englysshe men Cap. C.xxv YE haue herde before howe the erle de Stampes was sent in to Bretayne by the duke of Berrey thynkynge to haue brought the duke of Bretayne with fayre wordes to his mynde and entensyon But he coulde nat brynge it aboute but retourned agayne without atteynynge any thynge of his purpose wherof they in Fraunce were greatly abasshed and specially suche as were of the kinges coūsayle for they knewe well the kyng had great desyre to go in to Almayne to se the landes of his cosyns the duke of Iulyers and to be reuenged of the hygh wordes and cruell defyaunces of the duke of Guerles The wyse men of the counsayle of Fraunce suche as conceyued well the mater imagyned therin great parell to the realme for they clerely perceyued howe the duke of Bretayne wolde in no wyse condyscende to reason but helde styll his purpose They thought it was greatly preiudycyall to the honoure of the realme of Fraunce for hym to take the constable of Fraunce and to sette hym at raunsome at a hundred thousande frankes and to kepe thre of his castelles and a good towne And also they sawe howe the duke of Bretayne was makynge of great alyaunces with the kynge of Englande and knewe well howe the duke fortifyed greatly his townes and castels in Bretayne and went aboute to get hym frendes in dyuers partyes in so moche that many of the noble menne of Bretayne wyste nat what to do outher to go in to Fraunce or to a byde there styll with the duke and to take his parte agaynst the kynge or the realme of Fraunce the whiche they neuer thought to do for the moste parte of the knyghtes and Squyers of Bretaygne were alwayes good frenche But the counsayle of Fraunce doubted that if the kynge wente out of the realme with his puyssaunce the whiche he muste nedes do if he shulde goo in to Almaygne that than the duke of Bretayne to bring in to his countrey the englysshmen outher at saynte Malowe at saynt Mathewes or at Lamballe or Camperle or Lantriguier at Guerrando or Bownte or at Wennes or on the see coste For the englysshemen coulde nat haue a better entre in to Fraunce than by Bretayne So that they knewe nat the kynges honour saued howe to breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose Some of the kynges counsayle sayde it shall be to the kynges dyshonour if he breke nat the dukes purpose for the duke is nat lorde peasably ouer his owne countrey for we thynke the lordes knyghtes and squyers of Bretayne wyll nat be agaynst vs to mayntayne the dukes opynion therfore in the name of god lette the kynge kepe on his voyage and lette the constable and other lordes a byde in their countreys and defende the Realme This opynyon was well vpholde with many of the kynges counsayle but than some other sayde naye therto and sayde howe the kyng coulde nat well go out of his realme without he had his constable with hym for he is more wyser and hathe more experyence in warre than a great nombre of other Thus they argued Than some other sayd lette two of the kynges vncles go or one of them at the lest and layde it to the duke of Burgoyne that he shulde go with two thousande speares and syre or seuen thousande of other men of warre and sayde it was moste metest for hym to go for that warre touched hym nere bycause it moued by reasone of the duchy of Brabante and that he shulde haue with him them of Brabante of whome he shulde fynde in nombre to the some of seuen hundred speares and .xx. or thurty thousande of other comons of the countrey of Brabante Than a nother sorte sayde sirs your opynyons be nat good for the kyng wyll go he nameth hymselfe the chyefe of this warre for he is defyed wherfore he muste go consydrynge the charge is his it is good that he go for he is yonge and the more he contynueth the warre the better he shall loue it than some other sayd Who is he that is so hardy to counsayle the kynge to go in to Almayne in to so farre a countrey amonge theym that be hyghe and prowed people and great parell it is to entre vpon them And if the kynge were entred yet it were great daunger the retournynge agayne for whan they shall knowe the kynge and all the nobles of Fraunce to be entred in to their countrey they wyll than assemble all togyder and kepe suche a countrey as they knowe and we nat and so they maye do vs great domage for they are couetous people aboue all other And they haue no pytie if they haue the vpper hande and are harde and yuell handelers of their prisoners and putteth them to sondry paynes to compell theym to make their raunsomes the greater and if they haue a lorde or a great man to
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
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
a voyage for you thanne to go to Rome with a great puyssaunce of men of armes and pull downe and dystroy that antepaye whome the romayns by force hath created and set in the seate cathedrall of saynt Peter if ye wyll ye maye well accomplysshe this voyage and we suppose ye can nat passe your tyme more honorably And syr ye maye well know that if this antepape and his cardynals knowe ones that ye be mynded to come on them with an army they wyll yelde them self aske mercy The kynge remēbred hym selfe a lytell and sayd howe he wolde do as they had deuysed for surely he said he was moche bounde to pope Clement for the yere past he had ben at Auygnon where as the pope and his cardynals made hym ryght honourable chere and had gyuen more than was demaunded bothe to hym selfe to his brother and to his vncles wherfore the kynge sayd it hadde deserued to haue some recompence and also at his departure fro Auignon he had promysed the pope to helpe to assyst hym in his quarell At that season there was at Parys with the kyng the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne than it was agreed and concluded that the nexte Marche after the kynge shuld departe fro Parys and take the way towardes Sauoy and Lombardy and the erle of Sauoy to sende his cosyn Germayne with hym and the kynge to haue vnder his charge the duke of Tourayne his brother with four thousande speares and the duke of Burgoyne with two thousande speares and the duke of Berrey two thousāde the constable of Fraunce two thousande speares with the bretons raintoners and lowe marches the duke of Burbon a thousāde speares the lorde of saynt Poll and the lorde of Coucy a thousande speares all these men of armes to be payed in hande for thre monethes and so fro terme to terme And whan those tydynges were knowen in Auignon pope Clement and his cardynals were greatly reioysed and thought in a maner their enterprise atcheued Also the kinge was coūsayled nat to leaue the duke of Bretayne behynde hym but to sende and to desyre hym to prepare hym selfe to go with him in this voyage The kyng wrote notably to hym and sent his letters by a man of honour an offycer of armes signyfyenge the duke in his letters the state of this voyage Whan the duke had red these letters he turned hym selfe smyled and called to hym the lorde of Mountboucher and sayd Syr harke and regarde well what the frenche kyng hath written to me he hath enterprised to departe this next Marche with a great puissaunce to go to Rome and to distroy suche as take parte with pope Bonyface As god helpe me his iourney shall tourne to nothynge for in shorte space he shall haue more flax to his dystaffe than he can well spynne I thynke he wyll leaue soone his folyssh thought And also he desyreth me to go with hym with two thousande speares howebeit I wyll honour him as I ought to do and I wyll write to him ioyously bycause he shall be contente and shewe hym howe if he go in this voyage he shall nat go without me seyng it pleaseth him to haue my company howe be it sir of Moūtboucher I say vnto you I wyll nat traueyle a man of myne for all that the kyng hath purposed and sayd nothynge shall there be done in that behalfe The duke of Bretayne wrote goodly letters and swete to the frenche kynge and the officer of armes returned with theym to Parys and delyuered them to the kynge who redde them and was well contented with the aunswere ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the Englysshe knyghtes that were sente to Parys to the frenche kynge fro the kynge of Englande and his vncles to treate for a peace Cap. C .lxxv. THe wyll and purpose of the frenche kynge none wolde breke for it pleased greatly all the knyghtes squyers of Fraunce bycause they wyst nat where better to enploy their season and euery man prepared towardes that voyage and namely the clergy of all the prouynces of the realme ordayned and graunted a tayle to sende at their costes and charges men of warre with the kynge Howe be it this voyage tourned to nothynge as the duke of Bretayne had sayd before and I shall shewe you by what incidence About the feest of Candelmas came other tydynges to the Frenche kyng and to his counsayle whiche they loked nothynge for Certayne of the kynge of Englandes coūsayle and suche as were of his priuy chambre were sent nobly to Parys to the frenche kyng and they that were chefe of this legacyon was syr Thomas Percy syr Loys Clyfforde and sir Robert Briquet with dyuers other knyghtes in their company but I herde as than no mo named Whan these thre knyghtes were come to Parys to hym than the french kyng was desyrous to knowe what it myght meane that the kynge of Englande dyd sende so hastely of his counsayle to hym These knyghtes of Englande syr Thomas Percy and other alyghted in Parys in the streate called the Crosse at the signe of the castell The frenche kynge as than lay in the castell of Lowere his brother the duke of Tourayne with hym and his other thre vncles in other lodgynges in the cytie and the cōstable syr Olyuer Clysson It was nere hāde noone whan the englysshe men came to Parys and they kept their lodgynge all that day nyght after and the next day aboute nyue of the clocke they lept on their horses ryght honorably and rode to the castell of Loure to the kyng where he with his brother and vncles the Erle of saint Poll the lorde of Coucy the constable of Fraūce sir Iohan of Vien sir Guy de la tremoyle with dyuers other barons of Fraunce were redy to receyue the englysshe ambassadours who alyghted at the gate and entred in and there receyued them the lord de la Ryuer syr Iohan Mercyer sir Lyon of Lignach sir Peter Villers sir Willyam of Tremoyle and syr Marcell there they receyued them honourably and brought theym in to the chambre where the kynge taryed for them Than they dyd of their bonettes and kneled downe syr Thomas Percy hadde the letters of credence that the kynge of Englande had sente to the frenche kynge he delyuered them to the kyng who tooke them and caused the knyghtes to stande vp than they stepe some what backe The kynge opyned the letters and red them and sawe well that they had credence than he called to hym his brother and his vncles and shewed them the letters than his vncles sayd Syr call forthe the knyghtes and here what they wyll say Than they aproched and were cōmaunded to declare their credence than si◠Thomas Percy spake and sayd Dere sir the entencyon of our souerayne lorde the kinge of Englande is that he wolde gladly that suche of his specyall counsayle as his vncles dukes of Lancastre yorke and Glocestre and other prelates of
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
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
he was in wyl to do dedes of armes and that the turkes were on the felde haue gyuen knowlege before he assayled his enemyes to his hed capitayne the lorde Iohan of Burgoyne that he myght haue had the renome and honour of that enterprise Besemynge the erle of Ewe spake those wordes by enuy that he had to the lorde of Coucy for all that voyage he had no loue to him bycause he sawe howe the lorde of Coucy had the loue fauour of all his company and of other straūgers whiche he deserued ryght well to haue for he was ryght nere of the frenche Kynges blode and bare in his armes floure de lyces and also he was cōstable of Fraunce Thus there engendred a great hate and yuell wyll couertly bytwene the erle of Ewe and the lorde Coucy whiche hatred at last apered clerely wherby great myschefe fell the same seasone vpon the crysten men as ye shall here after ¶ Nowe we we shall leaue to speke any more at this tyme of this mater and retourne to speke of the kynges of Englande and of Fraunce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the peace bytwen Englande and Fraūce contynued and of the maryage of the kynge of Englande with the doughter of Fraunce Cap. CC.xiii YE haue herde here before of the mariage of the french kynges doughter with the kynge of England the whiche tyme aproched nere and bothe parties well wyllynge excepte duke Thomas of Gloucestre he was nothynge ioyfull therof for he sawe well that by that maryage there shulde be great confyderacyons and alyaunces bytwene the two kynges and their Realmes to lyue in peace whiche he was lothe to se for he desyred rather to haue warre The same season the duke had aboute hym a knyght called syr Iohan Baquegay a secrete man and he set alwayes the duke to haue warre The same seasone also the duke of Guerles came in to Englande to se the kynge and his vncles and offred hym selfe to do any lawfull seruyce to the kynge that he myght do he was bounde therto by faythe and homage and he wolde gladly that the kynge shulde haue had watre rather than peace This duke and the duke of Lancastre had great cōmunycacyon togyder of the voyage that the erle of Haynalt and the erle of Ostenaunt his sonne wolde make in to Frese The same tyme Fyerebrase of Vertayne was in Englande sente thyder fro the erle of Ostrenant to gette men of armes and archers to go in that voyage to Frese The erle of Derby was desyred to go in that voyage in aydinge of his cosyns of Heynalt The gentle erle hadde therto good affectyon and sayde howe he wolde ryght gladly go in that voyage so that it pleased the kynge and his father Whan the duke of Guerles came fyrst in to Englande the Duke of Lancastre demaunded of him what he thought of that voyage in to Frese He aunswered and sayd that it was a parylous voyage and the Frese was a countrey nat lyghtly to be wonne sayenge howe in tymes past there had been dyuers erles of Holande and Heynalte that haue claymed their right there and gone thyder to haue put them in subiectyon but they haue always lost their lyues there affyrmynge howe the fresons are people without honour and haue no mercy they prayse nor loue no lorde in the worlde they be so proude and also their countrey is stronge for they be enuyroned with the see and closed in with isses rockes and marysshes no man can tell howe to gouerne them but them selfe I haue ben desyred to go in that voyage but I wyll nat and I counsayle my cosyn your sonne the erle of Derby nat to entre in to that voyage it is no iourney for hym I thynke my fayre brother of Ostrenant wyll go for he hath great desyre therto and wyll haue a bande of haynowayes with hym it shall be an aduenture if euer they retourne Whiche wordes caused the Duke of Lancastre to thynke that his sonne shulde nat go in that voyage and so shewed his sonne his entente and badde hym delaye that mater for the kynge nor he wolde nat that he shulde go Thus the duke of Guerles dyd lette the ayde that the erle of Haynalte shulde haue had of the erle of Derby Many thought it was nat well counsayled nor yet for none of their honours The duke of Guetles all his lyfe naturally was Enuyous presumptuous and proūde yet for all that Fierebrase of Vertayn lette nat his sute to gette ayde and dyd so his dyligence that he gate knightes and squyers and a two hundred archers But the erle of Derby excused himselfe whiche excuse he was fayne to take in gree and sawe well that his wyll was good to go if the kynge and his father had nat been Than the kynge for the auauncement of his cosyns of Haynalte made to be ordeyned in the ryuer of Thamyse vesselles and shyppes for the men that shulde go in that voyage to Frese to aryue at Encuse a towne in the countie of Haynalt at the entre in to Holande This towne standeth on the see within twelue leages by water of the realme of Frese THe same season was sente in to Englande fro the frenche kynge the erle Valeran of saynt Powle with certayne artycles concernynge the treatie of the peace and with him was sent Robert the Hermyte whome the kynge of Englande was gladde to here speke The erle of saint Powle founde the kynge of Englande and his bretherne the erles of Brenne and of Huntyngdon and the duke of Lancastre the kynges vncles at the manour of Eltham The kynge receyued him ioyously and herde well his message and sayd to hym a parte Fayre brother of saynt Powle as to the treatie of peace bytwene me and my fayre father of Fraunce I am right well enclyned therto but I all alone canne nat promote that mater True it is my bretherne and my two vncles of Lācastre and yorke enclyne ryght well therto but I haue another vncle the duke of Gloucestre who is ryght paryllous and a marneylous man he letteth it as moche as he can and dothe what he canne to drawe the Londoners to his opynyon I feare me to make a rebellyon in my realme and that he shulde reyse the people agaynst me whiche is a great paryll for if the people of Englande ryse agayne agaynst me and haue myne vncle of Gloucestre on their parte and suche other barones and knyghtes of the realme as be of his opynion my realme were loste without remedy for myne vncle of Gloucestre is so secerte that no man canne knowe his mynde Syr quod the erle of saint Powle it behoueth you to wynne hym with fayre swete and louynge wordes and gyue hym great gyftes if he demaunde any thyng graunt it him this is the way wherby ye shall wynne him ye must flatter hym tyll the peace be made and that ye haue your wyfe brought hyther to you and that doone than ye maye take other counsayle
ye shall be than of the puyssaunce to oppresse all your rebelles for the frenche kynge if nede be shall ayde you of this ye maye be sure In the name of god ye saye well and thus shall I do THe erle of saynt Powle was lodged at London and often tymes went to Eltham to se the kynge and the duke of Lancastre and had often tymes coÌ„munycacion on this maryage Th erle of saint Poule sayde howe the frenche kynge shulde come to saynt Omers and his vncles and bring with hym his doughter so that the kynge of England wolde come to Calais and so bytwene saynte Omers and Calays the two kynges shulde mete and speke togyther wherby by reason of syght and spekynge togyther shulde encrease loue and amyte and there these two kinges and their vncles shulde speke togyder without any other companye on the forme of the peace and if they conclude nat on some peace yet at leste the trewce myght be relonged to endure for thyrty or .xl. yere bytwene the two realmes and their alies This deuyse semed right good to the kyng and to his counsayle and hervpon the kynge and other lordes sente to Calays to make prouysyon and the kynge desyred his vncle the duke of Gloucestre to go with hym in that iourney and the duches his wyfe and his chyldren and in lyke wyse the Dukes and duchesses of yorke and Lancastre And so whan euery thynge was redy the kynge and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Eltham and rode towardes Caunterbury and after them folowed all other lordes suche as shulde go in this voyage and suche as had been desyred The erle of saynt Powle passed the see fyrst to the entent to aduertyse the Frenche kynge and so passed to Boloyne and so to Paris and there declared to the frenche kynge and to his vncles howe he had spedde wherwith they were well content and so departed fro Paris and lytell and lytell aproched to the cytie of Amyence and the kynge of Englande and his vncles came to Calais with many lordes and ladyes And the duke of Burgoyne one of the frenche kynges vncles came to saynt Omers and by the meanes of the Erle of saynt Powle and Robert the hermyte the duke of Burgoyne came to Calays to se the kynge of Englande and his vncles â–ª where he was nobly receyued and there they couÌ„sayled togyther on certayne artycles of the peace wherto the kynge of Englande lyghtly enclyned and for to say trouth he cared nat what he dyd so he myght haue his wyfe WHan the duke of Burgoyne had ben at Calais two dayes and had coÌ„muned with the kynge of Englande on the artycles of the peace the kynge sayd howe he wolde sende all the processe of the artycles ouer the see in to Englande to beshewed and declared there to the people for he sayde that nouther he nor all the lordes that were there of Englande coulde nat conclude fermely on no peace without the generall consentment of the people of Englande And more ouer the kynge sayde howe that he must fyrst go ouer agayne hym selfe and so retourne and therby make but one iourney That is well said quod the duke of Burgoyne for than at youre retourne euery thynge shall be concluded and perfourmed Thus the duke of Burgoyne and the erle of saynt Powle departed fro Calays and retourned to saynt Omers and fro thens to Amyence where they fouÌ„de the kyng and the quene and their doughter who shulde be quene of Englande The same tyme there was the dukes of Bretaygne and of Berrey in great araye And the kynge of Englande and his vncles and other lordes retourned in to Englande and their wyues taryed styll at Calays tyl their retourne ¶ In this meane season the voyage was made in to Frese by them of Haynalte Fyrst the erle of Heynalte Holande and of zelande and his sonne the Erle of Ostrenaunt as ye shall here after in this hystorie ¶ Howe the erle of Heynalt and the erle of Ostrenante his sonne made a great army of men of armes knyghtes and squyers to go in to Frese Cap. CC.xiiii Ye haue herde here before howe duke Auberte of Bauyer and Guylliam his sonne erle of Ostrenant had gret desyre to go in to Frese to conquere that countrey wherof the sayde duke Aubert by ryght succession of herytage shulde be erle and lorde therof and to auaunce the same iourney the erle of Ostrenant had sent Fyerebrace of Vertayne to haue some ayde of the englysshe men who spedde hym so well that kynge Rycharde of Englande for the honour of his cosyns sent certayne men of armes with two hundred archers vnder the guydyng of thre gentlemen one called Cornewayle another Colleuyll knyghtes the thyrde asquyer I knowe nat his name but I was well enfourmed that he was a valyaunt man of armes he hadde his chynne cutte of in a fray a lytell before and he had a chynne made of syluer tyed aboute his heed with a lase of sylke These englysshmen came to Encuse at their tyme prefyxed This duke Aâ—berte and his sonne had a valyaunt man of their couÌ„sayle called Gylliam of Croenbourge who greatly exorted theym to the warre for he hated greatly the fresones and had doone them many dyspyghtes and dyd after as ye shall here Thus the duke Aubert departed fro the Haye in Holande with Gyllyam his sonne erle of Ostrenant and so came in to his countrey of Haynalte to the towne of Monts and there he assembled togyther the thre estates of the countrey and there shewed vnto them the great desyre that he had to go in to Frese and the rightfull occasion that he had so to do and caused there to be openly shewed certayne letters patentes apostolykes and imperyalles ryght noble and autentyke sealed vnder leade lyole and entre by the whiche apered euydently the ryght and tytell that he had to the signory of Frese and than he sayd openly Lordes and valyaunt men my subgettes ye knowe well that euery man ought to kepe and defeÌ„de his herytage and that a man may laufully moue warâ— to recouer his lande and herytage ye knowe also the fresons ought by right to be our subgiettes and they be inobedyent and rebell agaynst vs and our sygnory as people without lawe or faythe and therfore good and dere frendes ye know well that without your ayde bothe with bodyes and goodes we canne nat fournysshe to bringe to execusyon so hygh an enterprise wherfore we desyre you in this busynesse to ayde vs that is to say with money and with men of warre to the entent that these inobedyent fresons maye be subdued and brought to obedyence These wordes or suche lyke spoken by the duke the thre estates by a coÌ„mune acord grauÌ„ted their lordes petycyon and request lyke suche people as greatly desyred and alwayes had done to do obedyent seruyce and pleasure to their lorde and prince And as I was enfourmed they caused him to haue in redy money
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
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
the realme they were gladde of all this and wolde that more trouble had ben in the realme and the cytezins of Lōdon who were ryche and lyued by their marchaundyse as well coraunt by see as by lande and kepte therby great estate and by ensample of them all the remnaūt of the realme lyghtly folowed they sawe well that as great myschiefe was lykely to folowe in the realme as was sometyme in kynge Edwarde the secondes dayes whan the lorde Spencer caused the kynge to put out of the realme the quene Isabell and Edward her sonne and wolde haue distroyed them and wyste nat why and so were out of the Realme more than thre yere but fynally whan the men in Englande and specyally the londoners sawe howe that the kynge was so asotted on this syr Hugh spenser they prouyded for a remedy for they sente secretly to the quene Isabell that if she coulde get thre hundred men of warre to come in to Englande she shulde fynde the greatest parte of the realme and the londoners redy to receyue her and to put her in possessyon of the realme whervpon the quene founde the lorde Iohan of Haynalt lorde of Beaumont and of Chynay and brother to the erle Guillyam of Haynalte who what for loue and pytie toke on him the vyage to brynge the quene and her sonne in to Englande with four hundred men of warre and so aryued in Englande and by the ayde of the londoners the quene atchyued her enterprise for without their ayde it wolde haue ben hard to haue come to passe and so kynge Edwarde was taken at the castell of Bristowe and set in prisone in the castell of Berkley and suche as fauoured him slayne and put to execusion and Edwarde his sonne crowned kynge at Westmynster All this the londoners ryght well remembred for they that were yonge herde this reported of their elders and some founde it in writynge and they sayd secretly one to a nother Our fathers and antecessours of olde tyme prouyded for these greate mischiefes and we thinke there was neuer greater cause than nowe at this present tyme for suffer this kyng Rycharde to haue his wyll and he wyll waste and dystroy all for sythe he was kynge there hath nat been in Englande suche prosperyte as was before he sheweth nat that the prince of Wales shulde be his father for if he had he wolde haue folowed his condicions and haue taken great pleasure in his prowes and nat to lyue in reste and ease as he dothe for he loueth nothynge but sporte and ydelnesse with ladyes and to be alwayes in their company and to beleue men of small reputacyon and to gather great rychesse and distroy the realme whiche thynges ought nat to be suffred And bycause that valyaunt man the duke of Gloucestre sawe clerely that the maters in Englande went nat as they shulde do by right and sawe howe dayly it was worse and worse and bycause he spake playnely therof the traytours that be about the kinge caused hym to be murthered and in lykewyse the good erle of Arundell and haue driuen out of the realme that valyaunt yonge knight Henry of Lancastre erle of Derby by whome the realme myght and ought to be counsayled and susteyned and by his four sonnes that he hath And yet for more crueltie besyde the dōmage that they cause the father to suffre out of the realme they dysenheryte the chyldren and the herytage that was their auntes the lady dame Blanche of Lancastre is dayly gyuen awaye to them that are nat worthy to haue theym And also bycause the erle of Northumberlande and his sonne the lorde Henry Percy haue somwhat spoken acordynge to reasone kynge Rycharde hath banysshed them it is well apparaūt that with in a shorte tyme there shall neuer a valyaunt man be lefte in the realme wherfore all wyll rynne to nought without remedy be founde shortely and we thynke the best remedy were to sende for the erle of Derby who leseth his season in Fraunce and whan he is come lette hym haue the gouernaunce of the realme that he may refourme all yuell and bringe it in to good state and lette them be punysshed that haue deserued and let Richarde of Burdeaux be taken and sette in the towre of London and all his fautes put in writynge in artycles of the whiche there wyll be founde a great nombre and by that tyme they be examined it shall be sene clerely that he is nat worthy to beare a crowne nor to kepe a realme for his owne de des shall confounde hym ¶ Howe the archebysshop of Caunterbury was sente in to Fraunce to the erle of Derby fro the londoners and other counsayls of Englande to haue him to returne in to Englande Cap. CC.xxxviii THus the londoners cōmunded togyder and nat al onely they but also in dyuers other places of the realme but the chyefe murmuracyon that the people were in was by the first set rynge on of them of London for the cōmons of London were as chefe and by them lyghtly all other cōmons wold be ruled and vpon the myschiefe that they sawe apparaunt in Englande they had dyuers secrete counsayles to gyther and with them certayne prelates and other knyghtes of the realme and they concluded to sende in to Fraunce for the erle of Derby and were determyned whan he were come to shewe hym the yuell gouernynge of kynge Rycharde and to put to hym the crowne and gouernynge of the realme of Englande and so to make hym kynge and his heyres for euer so that he wyll kepe the realme in all good vsages Than it was thought that he that shulde go in that message must be a wyse man and of good credence for they thought it shulde be a great mater to gette the erle of Derby out of Fraūce for they said that for any symple wordes of a meane messanger or for any letters he wolde gyue no faythe there to but rather thynke it shulde be to betraye hym Than the archebysshoppe of Caunterbury a man of honoure and prudence was desyred to do that message who for the cōmon profyte of the realme acorded to go at their desyres and ordeyned for his departure so wysely that none knewe therof but suche as ought to knowe it and so he toke a shyppe at London and but seuen all onely with hym and so past without any parell and came to Sluse in Flaunders and fro thens to Ardenbourge and so to Gaunte to And warpe to A the in Brabant to Conde and so to Valencennes and there toke his lodgynge at the signe of the Swanne in the market place and there taryed a thre dayes and refressed himselfe He rode nat lyke no bysshop but lyke a monke pylgryme and dyscouered to no man what he was nor what he entended to do The fourth day he departed and toke a man to be his guyde to Parys sayenge howe he wolde go a pylgrymage to saint More He dyd so moch that he came
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
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
howe the duke of Burgoyne had great desyre to cause the frenche kynge to make a iourney in to Englande Cap. xvii ¶ Howe by the grace of god two burgesses of Gaunt entred to 〈◊〉 with the duke of Buâ—goyne for peace howe they gaue the charge therof to a knight of Flaunders and what answere the duke gaue vnto them Ca. xviii ¶ Howe these two 〈…〉 burgesses assembled their frendes to acomplyâ—â—â— their enterprise and sent syr Iohan Delle 〈…〉 letters of peace Cap. â—ii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Delle came to Gaunt to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the eytie were and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sente to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Capi. xx ¶ Howe sir Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle departed out of Fraunce and went to the erle of Foyzland the maner of his voyage Cap. xxi ¶ Howe the prince of Wales and the princesse came to Tarbe and of the request that the countesse of Armynake mad to the prince and princesse and howe the countrey of Gascoyne was newly agayne in warre Cap. xxii ¶ Of the warres that the duke of â—niou made agaynst the englysshe men and howe he recouered the Castell of Maluoysyn in Bygore whiche was afterwarde gyuen to the Erle of Foize Cap. xxiii ¶ Howe the garyson castell of Lourde was caste downe and discomfyted by the great dylygence that the erle of Foiz made Ca. xxiiii ¶ Howe the peace was made bytwene the duke of Berrey and the erle of foyz and of the begynnynge of the warre that was bytwene the erle of Foiz the erle of Armynake Ca. xxv ¶ Of the great vertuousnesse and larges that was in the erle of Foize and the maner of the pytuous dethe of Gascone the erles sonne Capi. xxvi ¶ Howe syr Peter of Byerne had a stronge dysease and of the countesse of Bysquay his wyfe Cap. xxvii ¶ Of the great soleÌ„pnyte that the erle of Foiz made at the fyest of saynte Nycholas and the tale that the â—â—stot of Manlyon shewed to sir Iohan Froâ—â—â—rt Cap. xxviii ¶ Howe dyuers capytayns englysshe and other were dyscomfyted before the Towne of Saxere by the frenche men Cap. xxix ¶ Howe a Squyer called Lymosyn tourned frenche and howe he caused Loyes Rambalt his coÌ„pany on in armes to be taken Ca. xxx ¶ Of the state or ordynauÌ„ce of the erle of Foiz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle dommage and outrage that was done therto Cap. xxxi ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle left the siege of â—â—â—bone and howe they of saynt prayne 〈…〉 selfe Cap. xxxii ¶ 〈…〉 batayle that was at 〈…〉 kinge of Castyle and kynge 〈◊〉 of Portugale Cap. xxxiii ¶ Of the spanyardes howe they ordred them selfe and their batayle Cap. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the frenche knyghtes and gascons suche as were taken prisoners at Iuberoth by the portugaloyes were slayne by their maysters and none escaped Cap. xxxv ¶ Howe the kynge of Castyle all his great batayle were discomfyted by the kyng of Portugale before a vyllage called Iuberothe Capi. xxxvi ¶ Howe a spiryte called Orthone serued the lorde of Corasse a longe tyme and brought him euer tidynges from all partes of the worlde Cap. xxxvii ¶ Howe a siege was layde to Breste in Bretayne and howe that dyuers englyssh forâ—â—esses aboute the countrey of Tholous were recouered and tourned frenche Cap. xxxviii ¶ Howe the castelles of Conuall of Bygorâ— and of Nesuyll were taken all they 〈◊〉 taken slayne and hanged Cap. xxâ—◠¶ Howe the kinge of Cypres was slayn◠〈◊〉 murthered in his bedde by his owne broâ—â—â— by exortacyon and corruptyon of the in 〈…〉 for the bountye and hardynesse that 〈…〉 hym Cap. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe the kynge of Armony wa◠〈…〉 and howe .lx. M. turkes were 〈…〉 distroyed in the realme of Hungry Ca. 〈◊〉 ¶ Howe pope Vrbane pope Clement were at gret discorde togyder and howe the cristen kynges were in varyaunce for their lectyons and of the warres bytwene them Cap. xlii ¶ Howe they of Portugale sent out messangers in to Englande to shewe tydynges of their countrey to the kynge of Englande and to the great lordes there Cap. xliii ¶ Howe Laurens Fongase ambassadour fro the kynge of Portugale in to Englande shewed to the duke of Lancastre the maner of the discorde that was bytwene the realmes of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xliiii ¶ Howe Laurence Fongase shewed the duke of Lancastre the maner of the batayle of Iuberothe bytwene the kynges of Castyle and Portyngale Cap. xlv ¶ Howe the ambassadours of Portyngale had aunswere of the kynge of Englande and great gyftes and howe they tooke their leaue and went into their countreys Cap. xlvi ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre assayled the lordes knightes and squyers that were in the bastydes before Brest in Bretayne and howe they defended them selfe Cap. xlvii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his hoost whasie they had soiourned a moneth at Colongne than they departed and rode towarde saynt Iames in Galyce Cap. xlviii ¶ Of the great apparell and prouyson that generally was made in the realme of Fraunce by the kynge there and by his counsayle for a iourney to be made in to Englande and also of the deth of Fraunces Atreman Cap. lii ¶ Howe the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre whan he knewe that he was arryued at saynt Iames in Galyce and of the socours that the kynge of Castyle sent for into FrauÌ„ce and howe the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the Englysshe men Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„castres marshall and his men assayled the towne of Vieclope in Galyce whiche yelded by coÌ„posycion and of the ambassadours that the duke sent to the kynge of Portyngale Cap. li. ¶ Howe they of Bayon yelded theym to the duke of Lancastre and howe the marshall of his hoost entred in to the towne and tâ—ke possessyon therof Cap. liii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and the duchesse helde them at saynte Iames in Galyce and of the comforte that the frenche knyghtes gaue to the kynge of Castyle Cap. lxii ¶ Of the great apparell of shyppes and galeys that the Frenche men made on the see to passe in to Englande Cap. liii ¶ Howe the frenche kinge and his vncles arryued at Sluse in Flaunders Cap. liiii ¶ Howe the frenche kynge taryed at Sluse with his great hoost to the entent to entre in to Englande Cap. lv ¶ Howe syr Symon Burle wolde haue had by his counsayle saynt Thomas of Caunterburyes shryne remoued to the castell of Douer wherby he atchyued great hate Cap. lv ¶ Howe the kynge of Armonye passed in to Englande in truste to fynde some meanes of peace or good appoyntment bytwene the kynge of Englande and the frenche kyng Cap. lvi ¶ Howe the kinge of Armony
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
there a seuyn knightes wyues who were come thyder to se the lady of Guystelles she was redy to lye downe a chylde beed Thus after they had pilled the towne and slayne all suche as wolde nat take their parte than they went to repayre the towne agayne Whanne they of Bruges herde therof they werefore displeased and nat without a cause and armed them And with baner displayed came before the towne of Dan and began to scrimysshe and to assayle the towne but all was for nought they lost more than thei wan so retourned agayne to Bruges Whan these tidynges came to Gaunt they were greatlye reioysed and reputed that enterprise for a noble dede and FrauÌ„ces Atreman for a valyant man ¶ Nowe let vs returne to the frenche kynges weddyng _wHan the duches Margarete of Heynaulte who had the yonge lady in her kepynge Whan she sawe the day was come she apparelled the lady honestly and to them came the duches of Burgoyne and the duches of Brabant accompanyed with many ladyes and damosels These thre ladies coÌ„ueyed the lady Isabell of Bauiers in a chayre rychelye couered with a crowne on her heed worthe the richesse of a realme whiche the kynge had sent her before and the bysshoppe of the same place dyde wedde them in the presens of all the lordes and ladyes After the masse and solempnyte finysshed the kyng and all they went to dyner whiche was great and sumptuous and erles and barownes serued the kynge in ryche array Thus the day coÌ„tynued in great sporte tyll it was night than the kyng went to bedde with his newe wyfe So the feest endured tyll the wednisday after Than tidynges came to the kynge and his counsayle howe Fraunces Atreman had wonne the towne of Danne also there came an haraude from the duke of Burbone brought letters to the kyng signifyeng hym howe Taylbourcke was wonne and turned frenche and howe the duke of Burbone his coÌ„pany was goyng to ley siege to Vertuell and howe they had in Poyctou Xaynton and Limosyn recoÌ„quered sixe forteresses These tidynges somwhat reioysed the court and sette at nought the lesyng of Danne sauyng that it was coÌ„cluded that the kyng shulde do no thing tyll he had ben in Flaunders and won agayne Danne and to entre so farre in to the four craftes out of the whiche all the venym issued that he shulde leaue no house standynge but to dystroy all Than messangers were sent ouer all the realme of Fraunce coÌ„mauÌ„dynge all men of warre to be by the first day of August in the marchesse of Picardy to ley siege to Dan. These tidynges spredde abrode in the realme of Fraunce and euery knight and squyer made them redy to come to the kyng as they were coÌ„maunded The same day duke Federyke of Bauyer and duke Aubert and all the barony toke leue of the kyng and euery man retourned home to their owne lefte with the kyng the lady Isabell of Bauyer as than the frenche quene THe frenche kyng who had made his coÌ„maundement throughe all his realme sayd howe he wolde neuer come in Parys tyll he had ben before the towne of Danne And so the .xxv. day of Iuly he departed fro Amyence with the constable and dyuers other lordes of his house and went to Arras where he taryed but one night and the next day he went to Lan in Atthoyse and dayly men of warre came to hym fro all ê‘tes and so at last he came to Iprso that by the firste day of August he was before Dan and laye so nere to it that the gonne shot passed ouer his heed A thre dayes after came to the kynge Wylliam of Neynaulte who was ryght welcome to the kynge and to the duke of Burgoyne So there they layde a goodly siege about Dan and therin was enclosed FrauÌ„ces Atreman who bare him selfe valiantly for euery day there was outher scrimyshe or assaut without it were truse The lorde of Clary who was mayster of the ordynaunce with the lorde of Coucy was striken with a quarell out of the towne of whiche stroke he dyed whiche was great domage for he was a noble knight To the siege of Danne there came men oute of the good townes of Flaunders as Ipre Bruges and out of Franke. At this siege were beyond a hundred thousande men The kyng laye bytwene Dan and Gaunte and capitayne of the Flemmynges was the lorde of saynt Pye and the lorde of Guystels with a .xxv. speares and laye myddes amonge them for feare of discencion ¶ Howe dyuers burgesses of Sluse were beheeded howe Sluse was chaunged for the lande of Bethune and howe the siege of Danne contynewed longe Cap. vii AT an assault there was made knyght by the kynge Wylliam of Heynalte that day he reared vp his baner and quytte hym selfe lyke a good knight But at that assaute the Frenche men loste more than they wanne for Fraunces Atreman had with hym certayne archers of Englande who greatly greued the assaylantes Also he had great plentie of artillary for whan the towne was wonne it was well furnyssed And also he caused moche to be brought fro GauÌ„t whan he knewe that he shulde haue siege layde to the towne In the same season whyle the siege laye thus before Danne some of the greattest of the towne of Sluse suche as than bare moost rule in the towne were so wrapped with treason that they wolde haue deliuered the towne to the kinges enemyes and to haue murdred their capitayne and his company in their beddes and to haue set fyre in the kynges nauy that lay there at ancre laded with prouisyon for the kynge Before he wente to Danne he was in purpose to haue gone in to Scotlande after his admyrall And also these treators had thought to haue broken downe the see bankes therby to haue drowned the greattest parte of the kyngê hoost Of all this they had made marchaundise with them of GauÌ„te and all these treasons shuld haue ben done in one night but ther was a good man in the towne as he was in an hostry herde all this treason that they were purposed to do And incontynent he went to the capitayne and shewed hym the mater and named to hym certayne of them that had thus conspyred the treason Whan the capitayne herde that he sore marueyled and toke a threscore speares of his company and wente fro house to house of the treatours and so toke and sette them in dyuers prisons in sure kepynge Than he toke his horse and rode to the kyng and so came to his tente before hym and the duke of Burgoyne he shewed all the mater howe the towne of Sluse was likely to haue ben lost and all the kynges host likely to haue been in the water to the brestes wherof the kyng and the lordes had great marueyle And than the capitayne was coÌ„maunded that he shulde retourne to Sluse and incontynent to stryke of all their heedes withoute any respyte therby all other to take
ensample So the capitayne retourned and incontynent strake of all their heedes This was the conclusion of that busynesse Than the duke of Burgoyne cast in his aduyse to fynde some meanes to entreat his cosyn sir William of Namure to haue of hym the towne of Sluse by exchaunge for other landes and to ioyne that towne to the countie of Flaunders And this was moche by thaduyse of sir Guy de la Tremoyle who had the sormer before soiourned in Sluse with a certayne nombre of men of warre _wHanÌ„e sir Wylliam of Namure herde first spekynge of that matter he was marueylously displeased for the towne of Sluse with the apendauntes and profytes of the see was a fayre and a profitable herytage it was fallen to him by his auncestours wherfore he loued it the better Howe be it the duke of Burgoyne lay so sore on hym therfore that there was no remedy but to make the exchaunge For the dukes entensyon was to make there a stronge castell to subdue all comes and goers by the see entryng in to the hauen of Sluse and to kepe it with meÌ„ of warre so that none shulde entre by the see in those marchesse without their daunger and to make a towre so highe to se troeÌ„tie leages in to the see So thus breuely this sir wylliam of Namure was so sore desyred by the duke of Burgoyne and his counsayle that he was contente to exchaunge Sluse for the landes of Bethune whiche is a fayre and a great herytage in that countrey he to haue that to hym and to his heyres for euer And so than incontynent the duke of Burgoyn sette worke men a worke to make the Castell of Sluse ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the siege of Danne THere was nere euery daye an assaute dyuers scrimysshes at the gates barriers so that dyuers were hurt and slayne day lye The frenchmen coude nat well come to the walles bycause of the dykes were full of myre for if it had ben rayny wether the hoost shulde haue had moche a do and shulde haue ben fayne to haue dislodged wheder they wolde or nat But by the space of a moneth that the siege endured it neuer rayned and they had vitayle ynoughe Howe be it bycause of the yuell ayre the stynkynge of deed beestes horses the ayre was so corrupte that dyuers knightes squyers were therby sore sicke so that dyuers went to refresshe them at Bruges and other places to forsake the yuell ayre _tHe kynge hym selfe went and laye at Marles howe be it his tentes were styll pight vp in the felde The entent of FrauÌ„ces Atreman was to holde styll the towne tyll socours came out of Englande to reyse the siege and surely they of Gaunte had sende in to Englande for rescue and surely the kyng of Englandes vncles had come ouer the see sufficiently garnysshed with men of warre and at tillarye to haue reysed the siege but that they were lette bycause of the admyralles beyng in Scotlande with acertayne nombre of men of armes And also it was sayde in the realme of Englande that the constable of FrauÌ„ce shulde come after in to Scotlande with a great puissanÌ„ce for to make warre into Englande wherby the gauntoyse were nat resrued Wher fore it behoued them within the towne of Dan to make an yuell bargayne ⸪ ¶ Nowe the gauntoyse fledde out of Dan by night and howe the frenche men toke the towne and distroyed it And also howe the kynge distroyed the countre of the foure craftes Cap. viii THe .xxvii. day of August the towne of Dan was won For whan Fraunces Atreman parceyued that he had no socour and that his artillary began to fayle than he was som what disconforted in hymselfe and sayd to them of his couÌ„sayle Sirs I wyll that we of Gaunt go our wayes and lette vs shewe this one to another secretely for if they of the towne knewe of our deê‘tyng to saue them selfe their wyues and chyldren Paraduenture they wyll make a shrewdemar chaundyse for vs. yea and delyuer vs to oure enemyes so that they may be in rest and peace and that shulde coste vs oure lyues but I shall kepe theym well therfro Wherfore let vs kepe vs all toguyder and let vs go about the towne to vysite the watche and lette vs cause the men and women of the towne to go in to the mynster makynge theym to beleue that to morowe next we shall haue a great assaute and bicause we would that they shulde haue no domage therfore we wyll haue them in suretie in the churche out of the waye And we shall saye to the watchemen that we wyll go out and make a scrymysshe with the hoost And whan we be in the feldes lette vs ryde on the spurres to Gaunte They of his counsayle sayd Sir ye haue well sayd so lette it be And so euery man ordayned them selfe as they had purposed and in the euenyng they trussed redy all their goodes suche as they might cary awaye and put all women and children and other prisoners in to the mynster and specially all ladyes and geÌ„tyl women Sayeng to them Fayre ladyes we shall haue to morowe in the mornyng a great assaute and we wolde nat that ye shulde be abasshed or take any domage So thus they lefte them in the churche and at the first hour of the night the gauntoise went and dyde visyte the watche and on the walles there were none but they of the towne Than Fraunces Atreman sayde to them Sirs make this night good watche depart nat fro the walles for any thyng ye here orse for in the mornyng we shall haue an assaut but yet first this night I wyll awake the hoost his wordes were well beleued euery man went he had sayd trouthe Whan he had ordayned euery thynge accordynge to his mynde than he caused a gate to be opyned and so he all his company issued out he was nat halfe a leage fro the towne but it was day light Than they of the towne parceyued well that Fraunces Atremen and all his company were gone Than they thought them selfe desceyued than the thefe of the towne began to entreate with the men of the kynges that were there as prisoners sayeng to theym howe they had slayne Fraunces Atreman the same night _wHan dyuers of the towne of Dan vnderstode howe FrauÌ„ces Atreman and his coÌ„pany were gone and howe the gate was opyn they ran out of the towne that best might whan this was knowen in thoost the bretons and burgonyons desyring to wyn mounted on their horses and fell in the chase pursued the gauntoise tyll they caÌ„e within two leages of Gaunte So in the chase there were many slayne and taken mo than fyue hundred but of them were but fewe gauÌ„toise but moost of Danne that fledde out of the towne In the meane season the towne was assayled where was made no defence So the frenche men entred on euery syde by ladders
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
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
place with the banner of Flaunders before theym And they wyll crye through the towne the Lyon of FlauÌ„ders lorde of this countre hath gyuen peace to the towne of Gaunte and hath ê‘doned all trespasses What shall we do The kynge of Englande shall nat be thanÌ„e obeyed without we preuent them and putte them out of our iurysdyctions What is best than to do quod sir Iohan Bourchier Than aunswered Peter and sayd It behoueth that to morowe in the mornyng we assemble in harnes all our men in the house de la Vale And than let vs go throughe the towne with the kynge of Englandes baner before vs and lette vs crye also The Lyon of Flaunders kynge of Englande lorde of this countrey and towne of Gaunte And whan we come in to the market place suche as be on our partie wyll drawe to vs and than lette vs flee all the other treatours It is well deuysed ê™ sir Iohan Bourchier lette it so be done ¶ Nowe beholde if god dyde nat moche for these two Roger and Iaques For they were enfourmed of Peter de Boyse deuyse whan they knewe it they were nat abasshed But late in the euenynge they sente to all their frendes that where as they shulde be the nexte daye in the market place by eight of the cloke in any wyse they desyred them to be there by seuyn of the clocke and that they dyde to preuent Peter de Boyse To this poyntment euery man was agreed and on the monday in the mornyng sir Iohan Bourchyer and his company came to the house called de la Vale with hym a threscore and Peter de Boyse came thyder with a xl there they armed theÌ„ in good ordynaunce sette them selfe forwarde And Roger and Iaques assembled their frendes togyder and the moost parte of the aldermen and burgesses of Gaunt came to them Than they toke the erles baner and went through the towne cryeng the foresaid crye and suche as herde the crye and sawe the aldermen of their craftes and the baners of the erle they folowed after and came to the same coÌ„pany And so by seuyn of the clocke they came to the market place and there set theÌ„ selfe in good order with therles baners before them and euer there came mo and mo to them These tidynges came anone to sir Iohn Bourchier and to Peter de Boyse who were assemblynge of their people Than they went forthe with the baners of EnglaÌ„de before them and as they wente they cryed their cryes before deuysed And so they came to the said market place and there araynged them selfe before the other but euer suche as came the moost parte went to the Erles baners so that if a hundred came fourscore went thyder In so moche that all the place was full of men of armes and so they stode eche regardyng other WHan Peter de Boyse sawe howe the aldermen of the craftes drewe to Roger and Iaques he was sore abasshed and douted greatly of his lyfe For he sawe suche as were wont to serue hym flye awaye fro hym and so priuely he stale awaye oute of the prease and hydde hym selfe for feare of dethe And whan Roger and Iaques sawe that nighe all the people drewe to their parte they were right ioyouse and well coÌ„forted and nat without good cause For than they sawe well that the people of Gaunt wolde be in peace with their lorde Than they departed with a certayne of their company with the baners of Flaunders before them and so came to sir Iohan Bourchyer and to the Englysshemen who were nat very sure of their lyues whan they sawe them come towarde them Than Roger demauÌ„ded of sir Iohan Bourchier wher Peter de boyse was and what was his entent and whyder he was their frende or enemy The knight answered and said I thynke Peter de Boyse be here by me and whan he sawe that he was gone he sayd I knowe nat wher he is become I went he had been in my company But as for me I am and wyll be seruaunt to my naturall lorde the kyng of Englande who sende me hyder at your owne desyres if ye well remembre It is true quod they for if ye had nat ben desyred to come hyder by the towne of Gaunte ye shulde haue ben slayne But for the honour of the kynge of Englande who sende you hyder at our request ye shall nat nede to feare nor non of yoâ—s ye shall haue no hurte We shall saue you from all domages and conducte you to the towne of Calayes Wherfore departe to your lodgynges peasably and â—lyrre nat for any thynge ye here or se For we wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of oure naturall lorde the duke of Burgoyne and wyll make no more warre The knyght was ryght Ioyouse of that aunswere to be so quyte and sayd Sir sythe it wyll be none otherwyse so be it and I thanke you of that ye offre me at this tyme. ⸪ ⸫ ¶ Howe sir Iohan Dell came to gauÌ„t to the markette place where as Roger and Iaques and the aldermen of the cytie where and howe he delyuered them letters fro the duke of Burgoyne and howe they of Gaunt sent to Turney and of the confyrmacion of the peace and of the charters that were made therof Cap. xx THan sir Iohan Bourchier departed peasably fro the place with all thenglissh men and suche Gauntoyse as were in his Companye fledde awaye and hydde theÌ„ selfe And anone after entred in to the towne sir Iohan Delle and came in to the market place with the dukes letters sende thyder by the duke And there they were opyned and reed to all the people whiche gretlye pleased theym Than Fraunces Atreman was sent for fro the castell of Gaure who incoÌ„tynent came to them and agreed to the treatie and sayd it was well And so thervpon sir Iohan Delle was sente agayne to the duke who was as than at Arras shewed hym all the demeanour of the gauntoyse And howe that Peter de Boyse had as than no rule nor audyence in the towne and howe that if he had ben fouÌ„de he had been slayne and howe that FrauÌ„ces Atreman dyde acquyte hym selfe valyaÌ„tly and confyrmable to the Peace All these thynges pleased moche the duke and so he sealed a charter of peace and a truse to endure vntyll the firste day of Ianuarye and in the meane season a counsayle to be had for that matter in the cytie of Tourney And all the sir IohnÌ„ Delle brought agayne with hym to Gaunte wherof all the people had great ioye For they shewed than howe they had great desyre to haue peace All this season sir Iohan Bowser and the Englysshe men and Peter de Boyse were styll in Gaunte but there was no man wolde do any thynge after them and Peter de Boyse lyued styll in rest With that he sware that he shulde nat procure nor moue any thynge that shulde cause any warre bytwene the towne and their naturall
other countreis The yonge kynge enclyned lightely to his wordes for he loued him with all his hart bicause they had been norisshed vp toguyder And this erle had great alyaunces with dyuers lordes and knightes of Englande for he dyde all his maters by the counsayle of sir Symon Burle sir Robert Treuelyen ser Nicholas Brambre sir Iohan Beauchampe sir Iohan Salisbury and sir Mychaell de la pole And also sir Thomas Tryuet and sir Wylliam Helmon were named to be of the same ê‘te so that by the dyffernes and discorde bitwene the kynge and his vncles and the nobles and commons of the realme many yuels came therby in EnglaÌ„de as ye shall here hereafter in this hystorie IT was nat longe after that the erle of Cambridge departed out of Portyngale but that the kynge Feraunt felle sicke and so contynued a hole yere and dyed than he had no mo chyldren but the Quene of Spayne Than kynge Iohan of Castell was enformed of his deth and howe that the realm of Portyngale was fallen in to his haÌ„des and howe that he was ryghtfull heyre thervnto by reason of the dethe of the kynge Sother was dyuers couÌ„sayls kept on that mater and some sayd howe that the Portingales were so harde harted people that they wold nat be had without it were by conquest And in dede whan the portyngales sawe howe they were without a kyng than they determyned by counsayle to sende to a bastarde brother of the kynges a sage and a valyant man called Deuyse but he was a man of relygton and was mayster of the hospytals in all the realme They sayd they had rather be vnder the rule of this maister Denyse than vnder the rule of the kynge of Castell for they reputed hym no bastarde that hath good corage to do well Whan this mayster Denyse vnderstode the coÌ„mens wyll of foure chiefe cyties of Portyngale for they hadde great affectyon to crowne hym kyng wherof he had great ioye and so wrote secretely to his frendes and came to Lurbone whiche is the kay of the realme The people of the towne receyued hym with great ioye and demauÌ„ded of hym if they crowned him kyng wheder he wolde be good to theÌ„ or nat and kepe the lande in their fraunchese And he aunswered and sayd he wolde be to theÌ„ as they desyred and that they had neuer a better kynge than he wolde be Than they of Luxbone wrote to Connubres to Pount de portugale and to them of Dourke These were the kayes of the Realme and so they determyned to crowne to their kyng this mayster Denyse who was a sage a valyant man and of good gouernauÌ„ce and was brother to kyng Ferant for they sawe well the realme coude nat be longe without a kyng as well for feare of the spay mardes as of the myscreaÌ„tes of Granado and of Bongie who marched on them So these sayde townes and certayne of the lordes of the lande enclined to him but some of the lordê sayd that it was nat mete a bastarde to be crowned kyng And the people of the good townes said that it shulde be so for of necessyte they must so do sithe they had none other and seyng that he was a valyant and a sage man bothe in wyâ—te and in dedes of armes And they toke ensample by kynge Henry who was crowned kyng of Castell by electyon of the countrey and for the coÌ„mon profyte and that was done kynge Peter beynge a lyue So thus the electyon abode on this maister Denyse and solemynely he was crowned in the Cathedrall churche of Connubres by the accorde and puyssaunce of the coÌ„mons of the realme And there he sware to kepe iustyce to do ryght to his people and to kepe and maynteyne their frauncheses and to lyue and dye with them wherof they hadde great ioye Whan these tidynges came to the hearyng of don Iohan kyng of Castell he was sore displeased therwith and for two causes The one was bycause his wyfe was enheryter there the other bycause the people by election hadde crowned maister Denyse kynge there Wherfore this kyng Iohan toke tytell to make warr and to demauÌ„de of them of Luxbone the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande florens whiche Ferant promysed hym whan he toke his doughter to his wyfe So than he sende the Erle of Terme therle of Ribydea and the bysshoppe of Burges in to Portyngale as his ambassadours to them of Luxbone whan they were at saynt prayne the laste towne of Castell towarde Luxbone Than they sent an haraulde to the kyng and to them of Luxbone to haue a saue conducte to go and come and to furnysshe their voyage whiche was graunted lightly so they came to Luxbone and so the towne assembled their counsayle toguyder and the ambassadours shewed why they were come thyder and finally sayde ye sirs of Luxbone ye ought iustely nat to marueyle if the kyng our souerayne lorde demaundeth of you the soÌ„me of money that ye are bounde for And is nat coÌ„tent that ye haue gyuen the noble crowne of Portyngale to a clerke a man of relygion and a bastarde It is a thynge nat to be suffred for by rightfull election there is non nerer to the crowne thaÌ„ he And also ye haue done this without the assent of the nobles of the realme Wherfore the kyng our maister saythe that ye haue done yuell And without that ye shortely do remedy the make he wyll make you sharpe warâ— To the whiche wordes don Feraunt Gallopes de vyle fois a notable burgesse of the cyte answered and sayd Sirs ye reproche vs greatly for our electyon but your owne election is as moche reprouable for ye crowned in Spaygne a bastarde sonne to a iewe And it is clerely knowen that to the ryghtfull election your kynge hath no right to the realem of Portyngale for the right resteth in the doughters of kyng Peter who be in Englande maryed bothe ConstauÌ„ce and Isabell maryed to the duke of I an castre to therle of Cambridge Wherfore sers ye may departe whan ye wyll and retourne to them that sent you hyder and say that our electyon is good whiche we wyll kepe and other kyng we wyll haue none as long as he lyste to be our kyng And as for the soÌ„me of money that ye demauÌ„de of vs we say we are nothyng bouÌ„de therto take it of them that were bouÌ„de therfore and of suche as had the profyte therof At this answere the kynge of Portyngall was nat presentâ— howbeit he knewe well what shulde be sayd And whaÌ„ these ambassadours sawe they coude haue non other answere they toke their leaue and departed and retourned to Cyuell where they lafte the kyng and his couÌ„sayle to whom they shewed all the said answere Than the kyng of Spayne toke couÌ„sayle what was best to do in this mater Than it was determyned that the kyng of Portyngale shulde be desied and howe that the kyng of Spayne had a good
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
squyer than he began to saye thus The first tyme that I bare armure was vnder the captall of Beufz at the batayle of Poyters and as it was my happe I had that daye thre prisoners a knight two squiers of whoÌ„e I had one with another four E. thousande fraÌ„kes The next yere after I was in Pruce with the erle of Foyz and the Captall his sonne vnder whom I was our retourne at Meulx in Brye we founde the duchesse of Normandy that was than and the duchesse of Orlyance a great nombre of ladyes and damoselles who were closed in and besieged by them of the Iaquery and if god had nat helped theÌ„ they had ben enforsed defouled for they were of great puissance and in noÌ„bre mo than ten thousande and the ladyes were alone and so we in the ayde of those ladyes dyd sette on theÌ„ and there were slayne of the Iaquery mo than sixe thousande and they rebelled neuer sythe at that tyme it was truse bytwene Fraunce and Englande but the kyng of Nauar made warre in his owne quarell agaynst the frenche kyng and Regent the erle of Foiz retourned in to his owne countre but my maister the captall and I other abode styll with the kyng of Nauar for his wages than we other that ayded vs made great way in FrauÌ„ce and specially in Picardy and toke many townes and castelles in the bysshoprike these of Beauuoise and Amyens and as than we were lordes of the feldes and ryuers conquered great fynance And whan the truse fayled bytwene Englande and Fraunce than the 〈◊〉 of Nauarre seased his warre and toke a peace bytwene the Regent and hym Than the kyng of Englande with a great puyssance passed the see and came and layde siege to the towne of Remus Than the kyng of EnglaÌ„de sent for my maister who was at Cleremont in Beamoysin and there made warre for the kynge agaynst all the countrey Than we came to the kyng of Englande and to his chyldren than â—â—od the squyer to me Sir Iohan I thynke ye knowe all redy all that mater and howe the kyng of Englande wedded his wife and howe he came before Charters and howe the peace was made there bytwene these two kynges That is true sir quod I in writyng I haue it and the contynue of all the treaties Than the Bastot of Manlyon spake agayne and sayde whan this peace was thus made bitwene these two kynges It was ordayned that all men of warre and companyoÌ„s shulde a voyde leaue their fortresses and castels that they helde than all maner of men of warre and poore companyons drewe toguyder and the capitayns tooke counsayle what they shulde do And than they sayde Thoughe these two kynges haue taken peace toguyder yet we muste lyue Than they wente in to Burgoyne there were capitayns of all nacyons Englysshe Gascons Spany ardes Naueâ—oâ—se Almayns Scottes and of all maner of nacyons and there I was as a capitayne and there we fouÌ„de in Burgoyne and about the ryuer of Loyre of our coÌ„pany a .xii. thousande of one and other And in the same coÌ„pany ther were a thre or four thousaÌ„de of good and chosen men of warre and as subtell in all dedes of armes as might be and apte to aduise a batayle and to take their aduantage and as hardy to scale and assayle towne or castell and that was well sene at the bataile of Brinay wher as we ouerthrue the coÌ„stable of frauÌ„ce therle of Forestz and two thousande speares knightê and squiers This vataile dyd great profite to the coÌ„panyons for before they were but poore and than they were all riche by reason of good prisoners townes and castels that they wan in the bisshoprike of Lâ—on on the ryuer of Rone and whan they had â—he ê“ont saynt Esprite they departed their warre made warr to the pope and to the cardynalles who coude nat be quyte of them nor had nat ben tyll they founde another remedy The pope sent in to LoÌ„bardy for the Marques of MouÌ„tferant a right valyant knight who had warre with the lorde of Myllayne WhaÌ„ he was come to Auignon the pope and the cardynals spake to hym in suche wyse that he entreted with the capitayns Englysshe gascons and almayns for threscore thousande fraÌ„kes that the pope and cardynals shulde pay to certayne of these capitayns and to their coÌ„panyes as sir Iohan Hastourde a valyant englysshe knyght sir Robert Briquet Carsnell nandon le bagerant the bourge Camus dyuers other so than went in to LoÌ„bardy and gaue vp the pouÌ„t saynt Esprite of all their routes they toke but the .vi. parte but we taried be hynde sir Seguin of Bateâ—oile sir JohnÌ„ ioell sir James PlaÌ„chyn sir JohnÌ„ Aymery the burge of Piergourt Espiot Loys RaÌ„balt Lymosyn Iaques tryturell I dyuers other we kepte styll lay at saynt Clement at Barell at Terrare at Brinay at the pont saynt Denys at thospitall of Ortifart for we had mo than .xl fortresses houses in the conutreis of forestz Velay base Burgoyn on the ryuer of Loyre and we rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„tre they coude nat be quyte of vs nother for payng well nor otherwise in a night we toke the fortresse of Charite and there we abode a yere a halfe all was ours fro Charite to Puy in Auuergne sir Seguyn of Batefoile had lefte his garison of anse helde Bride in Auuerne wherby he had gret profite what there in the couÌ„tre to the value of a C.M. frankes on the ryuer of Loyre to Orlians the ryuer of Dalyer was all ours the archprest who was capitayne of Neuars was good frenche coude nat remedy the countre but in that he knewe many of the coÌ„panyoÌ„s and so by his desyre soÌ„tyme the lesse hurte was done the archprest dyd the same tyme moche good in Neuernoise for he caused the cite of Neuers to be closed els it had been ouerron robbed diuers tymes for we had in those marches townes castelles mo than .xxvi. There was neyther knight nor squyer nor riche man with out he were agreed with vs that durst loke out of his house And this warre we made in the tytell of the kyng of Nauar. ¶ Howe dyuers capitayns englisshe and other were discoÌ„fited before the towne of SaÌ„xere by the frenchmen IN the same season fell the batayle of Cocherell where the captall of Beufz was capitayne for the kyng of Nauar dyuers knightes and squyers of our company went to hym sir Iaques Planchyn sir Iohan Ioell went to serue hym with two hundred speares The same season I kept a castell called the Becke Dalyer nere to Charyte goyng toward Barbanoise and I had vnder me a .xl. speares and I made in the countre mylles greatly to my profyte about saynt Purcyn and saynt Peter de moustier whan I herde howe the captall my mayster was in Constantyne
myght haue an answere Laurence sayd the duke or this tyme â–ª I haue shewed you and yet agayne I say it that your comynge and these tydynges doth me grete pleasure and ye shall not departe fro me tyll ye be satysfyed of all your requestes well answered in that ye be come for syr sayd the squyer I thanke you then the duke called for wyne spyces so toke theyr leue wente to theyr lodgynge to Arcorch to the house of the Fawcon in London there they were lodged with Thomelyn of Colebrunque ANd it was not longe after but that the duke of Lancastre and the erle of Cambrydge his broder had counsayle togyder of that busynes â–ª of Castell and Portyngale wherof the erle of Cambrydge was well contente for he had ben in that countrey before more then a yere and he was glad to here of the condycyons tytles of the kynge of Portyngale and of the quene of Castell and sayd to his broder syr when kynge Ferrant lyued the Chanon Robsart and syr Wyllyam Wyndesore and dyuers other knyghtes that were there with me shewed me as it is nowe fallen for they sayd how they had herde dyuers of the same couÌ„trey murmure on the quene of Castelles tytle to Portyngale therfore I toke away with me my sone had no grete affeccyon to that maryage In the name of god sayd the duke the squyer that is here of Portyngale hathe declared all the matter and I thynke we can not haue so fayre an entre in to Castell as by Portyngale for the royalme of Aragon is ferre of and also the kynge there and his chyldren haue alwayes ben more fauourable to the frensshe partye thenne to vs Therfore it were not good syth the kynge of Portyngale maketh for vs this good 〈◊〉 to refuse it So on a day for this matter there was a parlyament holden at Westmynstre there it was accorded that the duke of Lancastre sholde haue at the costes of the royalme bitwene a M. .xii. C. speres of chosen men .ii. M. archers a M. of other yomen they were all paydein hande for halfe a yere therwith all the kynges vncles were well contente specyally the duke of Lancastre to whom pryncypally the matter touched as he that sholde be chefe of the armye and to dyspatche these ambassadours of Portyngale the kynge of Englande wrote to the kynge of Portyngale louynge letters conteynyng grete amyte that he wolde bere to Portyngale grete gyftes were gyueÌ„ to the mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale to Laurence Fongase who was alwayes with the duke of Lancastre with the erle of Cambrydge so on a day these ambassadours toke theyr leue of the kyng his couÌ„sayle dyned that daye with the duke of Lancastre the erle of Cambrydge the nexte day they were delyuered as I vn derstode the duke of Lancastre sente letters to the kynge of Portyngale also by credence that he sholde sende a .vii. galeys an .xviii. or .xx. other vesselles to the porte of Brystowe on the fronters of Wales for hym his company to passe in to Portyngale so the ambassadoures departed wente to Hampton there founde theyr shyp that taryed for them so entred in to the see had wynde at theyr wyl so entred in to the hygh Spaynysshe see within .v. dayes they were in the hauen of the porte of Portyngale at whiche tyme the kynge was there and was ryght ioyfull of theyr comynge ANd there the grete mayster of saynt Iaques in Portyngale Laurence Fongase shewed the kynge his counsayle al that they had sene herde in Englande as well of the kynge as of his vncles delyuered theyr letters whiche certefyed al theyr saynges then anone after the kynge of Portyngale Who gretely desyred the ayde out of Englande to the entente to cause his enemyes to haue the more fere determyned with his couÌ„sayle that mayster Alphons Vâ—etat chefe patron mayster of all his shyppes and galeys in Portyngale that he sholde prepayre redy .vii. galeys and .xviii. other grete Chyppes to sayle in to Englande to fetche the duke of Lancastre his coÌ„pany so Alphons was coÌ„maunded thus to do he incontynent dyd so and so on a daye departed fro the porte of Portyngale and in .vi. dayes he arryued at Brystowe at whiche season the lordes of Englande for the moost parte were aboute the marches of Wales for the kynge was there when the duke of Lancastre knewe of the comynge of these shyppes he was ryght ioyfull Then knyghtes squyers and al suche as sholde go with hym were sente for so that in the porte of Brystowe there were CC. vesselles with the flete of Portyngale redy apparelled for the duke and his company and the dukes entencyon was to haue with hym his wyfe his chyldreÌ„ to make with them some good maryages in castel in Portyngale or his retourne agayne in to Englande for he thought not shortely to retourne for he saw the busynes in Englande lykely to be harde and sharpe how the kyng his neuewe was yonge and had aboute hym peryllous counsayle wherfore he was the gladder to be gone or he departed in the presence of his bretherne he ordeyned his sone the lorde Henry erle of Darby his lieutenaunt of all that he had in Englande set aboute hym wyse sad counsayle he was a lusty yonge knyght was sone to the duches of Lancastre the lady Blaunche doughter to quene Phylyp of Englande I neuer sawe .ii. better ladyes nor of more noble condycyon nor neuer shal thoughe I sholde lyue this thousande yeres whiche is impossyble WHen duke IohnÌ„ of Lancastre had ordred all his busynes in Englonde theÌ„ he toke leue of the kyng of his bretherne and so he wente to Brystowe there taryed a .xv. dayes shypped all his horses bagages mo then .ii. M. with hay lytter and fresshe water for them Then the duke entred in to a galey well apparelled had by hym a grete shyp yfnede were for hym for the duches Constaunce his wyfe who wente in this iourney with a good courage for she trusted then to recouer her herytage of Castell and to be quene there or she retourned agayne she had with her a doughter called Katheryne by her fyrst husbande .ii. other doughters Izabel and Phylyp whiche Phylyp was maryed to syr IohnÌ„ Holande who was constable of the oost the marshall was syr Thomas Morâ—aur who had also in maryage one of his doughters howbeit she was a bastarde was moder to the lady mercell damoysel Mary of saynt Hyllary of Hauman admyral of the dukes nauey was syr Thomas Percy also there was syr yon fythwaren the lorde of Lucy syr Henry Beaumond de poumins syr IohnÌ„ of But nuell the lorde Talbot the lorde Basset syr Wyllyam Beaâ—champ syr Wyllyam Wyndefore syr Thomas
his counsayle was to take the see at Sluse so to entre in to englande to distroy the countrey they that were ryche men in the royalme of frauÌ„ce to the ayde of this voyage were taxed tayled to the .iii. .iii. parte oâ— theyr goodes many payde more theÌ„ they were worth besyde to accoÌ„plysshe the payment for men of warre FRo Spayne fro the porte of sybyll to Pruce there was no grete shyp on the see that the frensshmen coulde lay theyr handes on nor vnder theyr owne obeysaunce but were reteyned for the frensshe kynge his men prouysyon came fro al partyes aryued in flaunders both wyne salte flesshe hay in tonnes otes ony on s bysket floure egges in pypes of al maner of thynges that coulde be deuysed so that in tyme to come it coulde not be byleued but by theÌ„ that sawe it lordes knyghtes squyers men of war were wryten vnto desyred to come serue the kyng in his iourney as out of Sauoy Almayne fro yâ— sone goynge downe to the lande of the erle of Amynacke so these lordes of farre countreys as the erle of Sauoy was reteyned with .v. C. speres also the erle of armynacke the dolphyn of Awuergne these lordes thoughe they were of farre couÌ„treys knew not what ende this warre sholde come to yet they made theyr ê“uysyons so grete costly that it was gret meruayle to thynke therof it was wonder to consyder fro whens all suche prouysyon came what by lande by see in to flauÌ„ders as to bruges to dan to Sluse so there was sent for in to HolaÌ„de zelande meldebourge zerechyel dourdrest stonehone to all other townes on the see coost to the ryuers entryng in to the see for al maner of shyppes that coulde do ony seruyce al were brought to Sluse but the holanders the zelanders sayd to theÌ„ that reteyned theÌ„ yf ye wyâ— haue our seruyce pay vs our wages clerely or elles we wyl go to no parte so they were payde wherin they dyd wysely I trowe syth god created the worlde there was neuer sene so many grete shyppes togyder as was that yere at sluse at Blanquerge â—or in the moneth of septeÌ„bre in the sayd yere they were nobred a .xii. C. lxxx.vii shyppes at Sluse there mastes semed in the se lyke a grete wood the coÌ„stable of Fraunce shyp was apparelled at Lentregmer in bretaygne also the coÌ„stable caused to be made in bretaygne of tymbre a closure of a towne or lyke a parke that wheÌ„ they had takeÌ„ lande in englade to close in theyr felde to lodge theriÌ„ more at theyr case wtout waking or skries wheÌ„soeuer they sholde remoue theyr felde yâ— closure was so made that they myght take it a sonder in peces a grete nombre of carpeÌ„ters other receyned in wages to atende thereon I herde not that the duke of bretaygne made ony prouysyoÌ„ to go in this iourney nor the duke of Tourayne the kynges yonger broder nor the erle of Bloys al myght not go for some must abyde behynde to kepe the royalme WHo so had ben yâ— seasoÌ„ at bruges at dan or at sluse sene the busynes there in chargynge of shyppes with hay sackyng of bysket ladyng in of onyons peson benes barley candelles hosen shoos spurres knyues daggers axes of war axes to hew wtal mattockes nayles beddes couches horseshoos pottes paÌ„nes caÌ„delstyckes al maner of necessaryes for kechyn botery al other oâ—â—yces of euery thyng that coulde be thought of necessary to serue maÌ„ horse al was had in to shyppes in one thyng or other who so euer had sene it if he had ben seke I thynke he wolde clene haue forgoten al the payne the coÌ„panyons of frauÌ„ce rekened none otherwyse amonge theÌ„selfe wheÌ„ they spake togyder but that the royalme of englaÌ„de sholde clene haue ben lost exyled wtout recouery al the men women chyldreÌ„ therin slayne taken caryed in to frauÌ„ce in seruytude OF this grete apparel thus made to come in to englande the kyng of englaÌ„de his couÌ„sayle were wel enfourmed therof it was surely affyrmed that the fensshmeÌ„ wolde come thyder for so they had surely sworne it was no meruayle though this grete apparel somwhat at the begynnyng abasshed the englysshmeÌ„ also yâ— matter was shewed moche more then it was in dede also that englysshmen were in no sure cerâ—aynte whether this preparacyon was to come in to Englande or elles to lay syege to Caleys bothe by lande by see for the englysshmeÌ„ knewe wel that of all the townes in the worlde the frensshmen most desyred to haue caleys wherfore the kyng of englande sent to Caleys grete prouisyon of whete other cornes salte flesshe fysshe wyne bere other thynges and thyder was sent syr Thomas HolaÌ„de erle of kente syr Hughe Caurell syr wyllyaÌ„ Helman syr Dangouses syr water of Vurnes syr Water paulle syr WyllyaÌ„ Toucet syr Loys of Mountalban syr Colars of DaÌ„brychcourte .v. C. men of armes .v. C. archers the erle Rycharde of AruÌ„del syr Henry spenser were ordeyned to kepe the see with .xl. greteshyppes wel decked with men of armes archers to the nombre of CCC men of armes .vi. C. archers ON the other syde it was sayd in dyuers places in fraunce in haynalte in pycardy that the freÌ„sshe armye that was thus apparelled in flauders was nother to go in to englande nor to Calays but rather to retourne al the matter set on the towne of Gaunte as it was enfourmed the towne of Gaunte yâ— same season doubted gretely that all the apparell was for to come on theÌ„ but they were in a wronge byleue for the duke of Borgoyne theyr lorde wolde nothyng to theÌ„ but good rest peas thoughe that Frauncis Atreman were slayne anone after the makyng of the peas at Tournay for of his deth the duke was nothyng to blame nor the duke had none euyll wyl to hym though in the season of war he dyd many feates of armes for the towne agayÌ„st the duke as it hath ben declared more playnly here before for though he came to an euyl ende it was his owne defaulte for if he had byleued Peter du boys it had ben otherwyse with hym for when the peas was made bytwene the duke of Borgoyne them of Gaunt when he retourned fro Tournay to Gaunt that Peter du boys made hym redy to go in to Englande with syr IohnÌ„ Bourser then Peter sayd to hym FrauÌ„cis what wyll ye do wyl ye go in to Englande with vs then he sayd he wolde abyde styll in Gaunt why sayd Peter thynke you to abyde here in peas there is grete hatred agaynst you me I wyll abyde for nothynge here it is not to tryst in the comontye ye haue herde how they of Gaunt slue murdred the valyaunt Iaques of Artuell
englande suche lyght companyons in comfortynge of themselfe of them that were abasshed sayd let these frensshmen come there shall not one tayle of them retourne agayne in to fraunce suche persones as were in det cared not for the payment therof were gretely reioysed of the comynge of the frensshmen wolde say to theyr credytours when they demaunded theyr det syrs holde you styll they forge in FrauÌ„ce new floreyns wherwith ye shall be payde and in the trust therof they lyued and spente largely and wheÌ„ they myght not be trusted they wolde say what wolde ye haue of vs It were better for you that we sholde spende frely the goodes of this royalme rather theÌ„ the frensshmen sholde fynde it haue it and so by that meanes there was spente in outrage in Englande a M. pouÌ„de sterlynge IN this season the kyng of englaÌ„de was in the marches walles with hym the erle of Oxenforde by whom euery thynge was done in englaÌ„de wtout hym nothyng done chefe of the kynges couÌ„sayle were syr Symon Burle syr Nicholas braule syr Robert tauylyon syr Robert beauchamp syr IohnÌ„ salwen syr mychel de la polle also there was named the bysshop of Norwyche syr wyllyaÌ„ Neuell broder to the lorde Neuel al these as it was sayd dyd with the kyng what they lyst as for the kynges vncles the erle of Cambrydge the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ coulde do nothyng wtout it were agreable to the other before sayd this trouble differeÌ„ce amoÌ„ge theÌ„selfe was well knowen in frauÌ„ce whiche gretly auaunced theyr iourney they wolde haue had the duke of LaÌ„castre to haue withdraweÌ„ his iourney out of Castell but he toke no hede therof to let his voyage wheÌ„ the lordes of englaÌ„de the prelates the people of the good townes cytees comons of the royalme were iustly credybly enfourmed how the frensshe kyng was redy to come in to englande to dystroy it then they drew togider to couÌ„sayle theÌ„ the kyng was wryten vnto by his vncles that he sholde come to LondoÌ„ certefyeng hym how the comons of his royalme were not coÌ„tent with hyÌ„ nor his counsayle the kyng his counsayle wolde not refuse the goyng thyder but so departed for the marches of wales where they had ben long the quene also so came to Wyndesore there taryed a certayne dayes then the kyng lefte there the quene so went to Westmynstre to his palace and there taryed thyder came to hym al suche as had to do there they toke couÌ„sayle how they sholde be demeaned agaynst this iourney of the frensshe kyng then the erle of Salysbury who was a ryght valyaunt prudent knyght sayd before the kyng his vncles before al the prelates lordes of englande that were there pÌ„sent syr my souerayn lorde al ye my lordes other it ought not to be meruayled of our aduersary the frensshe kyng wyll come ryn vpoÌ„ vs for syth the deth of the last noble puyssaunt kyng Edward of noble memory this royalme here hath ben in gret adueÌ„ture to haue ben lost dystroyed with the vyllaynes of yâ— same also it is well knowen in fraunce how we be not al of one accorde wherfore this trouble appereth the whiche is not lytel for he is but a foole that fereth not his enemyes as longe as the royalme of Englande was in vnyte the kyng with his people they with hym theÌ„ we prospered reygned vyctoryously nor we sawe nor founde none that dyd vs ony grete wronge wherfore it is now nedeful neuer more nede apperd in englande that we coÌ„ferme ourselfe to rest loue vnyte if we thynke to come to ony honour that we ordeyne at the portes hauens of englande suche prouysyon defence that our countrey receyue no blame nor domage THis noble royalme of Englande hath ben a loâ—gâ— season in tryuÌ„phaunt floure euery man knoweth well a thynge that is in floure hath more nede to be wel kepte theÌ„ wheÌ„ it is tourned to parfyte fruyte therfore we ought to se coÌ„syder how this royalme is in his flourysshynge floure for within this .xl. yeres knyghtes squyers therof bothe within the royalme wtout haue had more honoure then ony other nacyoÌ„ therfore let vs put to our paynes that as long as we lyue we may kepe this honour theÌ„ euery maÌ„ sayd that it were good that it wereso The erle of salysburies wordes were wel herde accepted as the wordes counsayle of a noble valyaunt sage knyght all that was sayd by hym deuysed among theÌ„ I wyl not long rest theron for I thynke not to know al but I know wel that the towne of Caleys was kepte as I sayd before they ordeyned to kepe the hauyns portes where as they supposed that the frensshmeÌ„ wolde aryue the erle of salysbury bycause parte of his lande marched nere to the yle of wyght whiche is ryght oueragaynst Normandy the couÌ„trey of â—aulx therfore he was set there with his meÌ„ archers of yâ— countrey the erle of deuynshyre to be at Hampton with CC. men of armes .vi. C. archers to kepe the hauyn the erle of NorthuÌ„brelande at Rye with CC. meÌ„ of armes .vi. C. archers the erle of CaÌ„brydge at douer with .v. C. meÌ„ o farmes .xii. C archers his broder the erle of BuckynghaÌ„ at SaÌ„dwyche with .vi. C. meÌ„ of armes .xii. C. archers the erle of stafforde the erle of penbroke were sent to Or wel hauyn with .v. C. meÌ„ of armes .xii. C. archers syr henry percy faulx percy were at yarmouth with .iii. C. meÌ„ of armes .vi. C. archers syr Symon burle was capytayne of Douer caâ—â—el al the hauyns portes bytwene the ryuer of Humbre Cornewal were refresshed with meÌ„ of war archers on the mouÌ„taynes hylles costyng the see on the fronters agaynst flauÌ„ders frauÌ„ce were set watche meÌ„ watchers in dyuers maners I caÌ„ not tel how they had empty pypes fylled with saÌ„de one set on another on the hyght of theÌ„ were places for meÌ„ to syr on whiche nyght day kepte watche lokynge in to the see they were charged that yf they saw the frensshe nauy aproche towarde the laÌ„de theÌ„ to make fyers alofte on the hylles to styre the couÌ„trey to drawe to the coost where the fyers apered it was ordeyned that they sholde suffre the frensshe kyng peasybly to take lande al his to suffre hym to entre in to the laÌ„de a .iii. or .iiii dayes so theÌ„ fyrst to go to the see where he landed to fyght with the shyppes to wyn them yf they colde to dystroy theÌ„ take al theyr prouysyon thâ—â—â— folow the frensshâ—eÌ„ not incoÌ„tyneÌ„t to fyght with theÌ„ but to hary theÌ„ to kepe theÌ„ wakynge to kepe theÌ„ fro
goynge a foragynge to dystroy theÌ„ all that were abrode in the countrey so that therby they sholde famysshe theÌ„ this was the opynyon couÌ„sayle in englaÌ„de Rochestre brydge was broken where is a grete ryuer rynnynge fro arundel in to the couÌ„tye of Essex entreth in to the see in to Tamyse agaynst the yle of Tenet this brydge they of LondoÌ„ bet downe to be the more surer where as taxes tallages were grete in frauÌ„ce on the men of the townes in lykewyse they were grete yâ— season in englaÌ„de so that the royalme sorowed it a grete season after but they were glad to pay the sowdyours to be therby defeÌ„ded there were redy in englaÌ„de a C M. archers a.x M. men of armes besyde the grete coÌ„pany the the duke of Lancastre had in to castel of whom now we wyll speke somewhat shew of the aquayntauÌ„ce that was bytwene hym the kyng of Portyngale then I shal retourne to speke agayne of englande for the matter requyreth to speke as wel of the one as of the other ¶ How the kyng of Portyngale wrote amyably to the duke of Lancastre wheÌ„ he knew that he was aryued at saynt Iames in in Galyce of the socours that the kyng of Castel sent for in to fraunce how the towne of Ruelles in Galyce was taken by the englysshe men Ca .liii. YE haue herde before in this hystory how the duke of LaÌ„castre with a fayre coÌ„pany of meÌ„ of armes archers were aryued at Coulongne in Galyce how by coÌ„posycyon the towne not the castel was yelden to hâ— thus they sayd they wolde do as other townes in Galyce dyd so therby they were not assayled theÌ„ the duke his wyfe chyldren came to the towne of saynt Iames called CoÌ„postâ—lia there layeâ— was in purpose to do tyl he herde other tydynges fro the kyng of Portyngale who knewe of a surty that the duke was at saynt Iames wherof he had grete ioy thynkyng that bytwene theÌ„ they sholde make a goodly war in to Castell theÌ„ he wrote letters ryght amyably with grete salutacyons sent theÌ„ by certayne messagers to the duke the duches who receyued the letters ryght ioyously for the duke knew wel he sholde haue gretnede of the kynge of Portyngale for wtout hym or his comforte he saw well he sholde make but smal spede in his busynes in Portyngale or in Castel then the duke gaue to the messagers grete gyftes wrote agayne letters with grete salutacyons amytyes to the kyng of Portyngale certefyeng hym in his letters that he desyred gretely to se speke with hym thus in the meane season the letters messagers wente bytwene the kyng of Portyngale the duke of LaÌ„castre yâ— tyme passed kyng IohnÌ„ of Castel fortefyed hym in al that he myght sent ofâ—e in to frauÌ„ce letters messagers desyryng to haue ayde of meÌ„ of war to defende kepe his royalme of Castel sayng that in the somer folowyng he thought he sholde haue grete war bycause the kynge of Portyngale the englysshmen were ioyned togyder in alyaunce wherby they sholde be stronge ynoughe to ouer ryn the royalme of castel wtout they were withstaÌ„ded the freÌ„sshe kyng his couÌ„sayle wrote agayne to the kynge of Castel byddyng hym to take no thought nor doubte for within yâ— moneth of Ianuary he wolde gyue englaÌ„de so moche a do that they sholde not know what to do sayenge that when they had dystroyed al Englande theÌ„ in the somer they wolde take the see agayne so passe in to Galyce in to portyngale that if the englysshmeÌ„ there the portyngales kept the felde they wolde cause theÌ„ to flee so that within a yere they wolde make an ende of al the warres so the kyng of castel coÌ„teÌ„ted hyÌ„selfe with this aÌ„swere for he saw wel he coulde haue none other as at yâ— tyme so there came none out of FrauÌ„ce to hyÌ„ but suche as were there before for al knyghtes squyers farre nere wente to Parys in to Pycardy so to Lysle to do way to tournay yâ— couÌ„trey .iii. myle of length was ful of meÌ„ of warre yâ— nombre was so grete that suche as had the rule of the nauy sayd that they coulde not passe at the fyrst passage but .xl. M. meÌ„ theÌ„ it was ordeyned aduysed that they sholde suffre no maÌ„ passe without he were a ê“pre maÌ„ of armes that euery knyght sholde haue but one varlet a baron .ii. squyers that no horse sholde passe but all onely for the lordes to execute this there were meÌ„set at Sluse to se that none other sholde passe howbeit there were such a nombre of rascalles in flauÌ„dres theraboute that they ete vp al in the countrey the pore men of the couÌ„trey payde for all theyr charges for they durst not speke agaynst theÌ„ they were worse to the countrey theÌ„ yf englysshmen theyr enemyes had lyen there it was grete doubte that the kynge the lordes ones passed ouer in to EnglaÌ„de suche people to abyde behynde lest they asseÌ„bled togyder dystroy al surely so they had done if the iourney had done amysse Now let vs retourne to the duke of Lancastre ¶ In the meane season whyle the duke of Lancastre the duches his chyldren with his coÌ„pany lay at saynt Iames knyghtes squyers of his coÌ„pany lyued at aduenture where they might catche it on a day syr Thomas Moreaulr marshal of the oost 〈◊〉 hym syr Mauburne of luners syr IohnÌ„ daÌ„brychsourte Tyrry wyllyaÌ„ of Sonnayne a CC. speres .v. C. archers rode forth in to Galyce so came to a walled towne a .vii. myles fro saynt Iames called Ruelles for the vylaynes that dwelte therin wolde not tourne to the duke but were rebell had often tymes ouerthrowen of the dukes foragers as they passed by the barryers of theyr towne for they had broken so the wayes that they coulde not repasse none other way but by theyr barryers when they sawe a vauÌ„tage they wolde yssue out lyke theues dystroy foragers or other that passed by wherof the coÌ„playntes came to the marshal that he sholde prouyde some remedy acordyng to his offyceâ— wherfore he came before this towne of Ruelles the watche of the towne had wel blowen theyr comyng wherby â—hey within closed fast theyr barryers gates so that none abode wtout â—â—so mouÌ„ted vpon the walles the marshal wheÌ„ he saw theyr demeanyng saw well theyâ— wolde abyde the saulte then he sayd to syr IohnÌ„ DaÌ„brychcourte and to Tyrry of Sonnayne syrs take your horses ryde aboute the towne be holde wel where we may best assayle the towne with leest hurtynge of our men so they mounted on theyr horses rode aboute the towne it was of no grete crycute wherfore they retourned agayne the soner had wel aduysed euery
alonge by the frontere of Galyce so there at the partyng of bothe royalmes to mete and speke togyder so on that conclusyon the messagers departed and retourned towarde Galyce rode as they came tyll they came to saynt Iames and there shewed to the duke and the duches howe they had sped of whiche tydynges the duke was ioyfull and so he had cause for his busynes began then to approche ANd when the season came that the duke of Lancastre sholde departe fro saynt Iames he lefte there styll his marshall and al his company excepte .iii. C. speres and .vi. C. archers and syr IohnÌ„ holande who had wedded his eldest doughter with hym and many other knyghtes and squyers and the duke rode the fronters of Galyce and approched nere to Portyngale and the kynge who laye at the Porte knewe well of his comynge and so departed with .vi. hundreth speres and came to the fronters of Portyngale and lodged at a towne called Mouson the last towne of Portyngale on on that syde and the duke of Lancastre came to another towne the fyrst towne of galyce ioynyng to Portyngale called Margasse and bytwene Mouson and Margasse there was a ryuer and fayre medowes and a grete playne a brydge called the mor brydge on a thursday in the mornynge the kyng of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre with all theyr companyes met togyder there was a goodly and a louyng metynge and there were lodgynges made in the feldes of the kynges syde and thyder went the duke of Lancastre to dyner whiche dyner was well ordred there sate at the kynges table the bysshop of Connymbres the bysshop of Porte the archebysshop of Bargus in Portyngale the duke of Lancastre and a lytell byneth late syr IohnÌ„ of holande and syr Henry beamonde of Englande and there were plentye of mynstrelles and so were in sporte tyll it was nyght that daye the kynge of Portyngale was apparelled all in whyte with a reed crosse of saynt George for that is the habyte of the house called Mouson otherwyse called Denyce in Portyngale of the whiche ordre the kynge was and or he was crowned was called mayster therof But euer after he bare styll that deuyse in the honoure of god and saynt George and all his men were arayed in whyte and reed then wheÌ„ it began to be late they retourned to theyr lodgynges tyll the nexte daye The kynge wente to Mouson and the duke to Margasse and bytwene bothe there was no more but the medowe and the ryuer to passe then on the fryday wheÌ„ they had herde masse they toke theyr horses so rode agayne to mor brydge and there they met agayne there they had goodly lodgynge made The kyng and the duke had theyr chambres hanged with tapyceryes and curteynes as well as and the kynge had ben at Lyxbone and the duke at London and before dyner they counsayled togyder on the state of theyr busynes howe they sholde maynteyne theyr war when they sholde set forth then it was determyned that all the wynter the kynge sholde tary in his owne countrey the duke at saynt Iames to let theyr marshal dele and in marche the kyng and the duke theyr men to assemble togyder and to go and fyght with the kyng of castel where soeuer he sholde be as theÌ„ for they sayd they sholde be Englysshe and Portyngales togyder a .xxx. thousande and when al this was concluded then the kynges counsayle comoned amonge themselfe for a maryage for theyr kynge for it was tyme and the royalme wolde that he were maryed to his honoure profyte and for to haue good alyaunces in tyme to come and they sayd they knewe not as then where he sholde mary more to his profyte nor to the welthe of his comons then in the house of Lancastre and this they shewed to the duke and when he sawe the kynges entencyon and howe that he was in the kynges daunger seynge he was come out of Englande in to the fronters of Portyngale to demaunde his herytage of Castell then he answered smylynge sayd to the kynge who was there presente syr I haue in the towne of saynt Iames two doughters I wyll gyue you one of them whome it pleaseth you to chose Syr sende thyder your counsayle and I shal sende her to you syr sayd the kynge I thanke you ye offre me more then I desyre as for my cosyn Katheryne I wyll leue her styll with you but as for Phylyp your doughter her I demaunde and wyl wedde her and make her quene of Portyngale and so brake vp theyr counsayle and wente to dyner and sate as they dyd the daye before they were serued notably accordynge to the vsage of the countrey and after dyner the duke retourned to Margasse and the kynge to Mouson THe saterday after masse they met agayne at the sayd place and that daye the duke of Lancastre made the dyner for the kynge of Portyngale and his company and there were chambres and halles hanged with arras enbrowdery as rychely as thoughe they had ben at London and the Portyngales praysed moche the Englysshe maner and at that dyner there were thre archebysshoppes and .vii. bysshoppes syttynge at the hyghe table The bysshop of Lyxbone the bysshop of Porte and the bysshop of Connymbres the archebysshop of Bargus and other and the kynge sate in the myddes of the table and the duke a lytell bynethe hym and bynethe the duke the erle of Nauare and the erle of Angosse and at another table sate fyrst the mayster Denyce then the grete mayster of saynt Iames in Portyngale and the pryour of saynt IohnÌ„s then Don galopes percler IohnÌ„ Ferrant his sone the ponnayse of Congne and Vas Martyn of Congne the Podych of Senede Vas Martyn of merle albarons the abbot of the cabase of Iuberoth the abbot of saynt mary of Eure syr Alue Perere marshall of Portyngale IohnÌ„ Radygosdesar and dyuers other knyghtes and squyers of Portyngale for there sate that daye no Englysshmen for all knyghtes and squyers of englande serued there were many mynstrelles the duke gaue them a C. nobles and the herauldes as moche after dyner when all thynges was accomplysshed they toke leue amyably eche of other tyll another season the kynge retourned to Porte and the duke to Margaâ—se and toke his way in to Galyce and the erle of Nauare conueyed the duke with a C. speres tyll he was out of all daunger and then the erle toke his leue and retourned in to Portyngale the duke rode to saynt Iames in Galyce MOche desyred the duches of Lancastre the retourne of the duke her husbande to here tydynges what conclusyons were takeÌ„ And so the duke was well welcomed home as it was reason and the duches demaunded of hym howe he lyked the kynge of Portyngale by my fayth sayd the duke he is a gracyous man is of body and maners lyke
shewe that the iourney pleased hym and to approche the soner to his passage so the kyng approched and it was sayd in Flaunders and in Actoys they shall take shyppyng outher on Satterday monday or tuysday so that in euery day in yâ— weke it was sayd he sholde departe to morowe or the nexte day after and his broder the duke of Tourayne the bysshop of Beawuoys chauncellour of Fraunce dyuers other grete lordes toke theyr leue of the kyng at Lysl and they retourned to Parys it was shewed me howe the kynge had gyuen the gouernyng of the royalme to his broder the duke of Tourayne tyll his retourne agayne with the ayde of dyuers other lordes of Fraunce suche as were not ordeyned to go in to Englande as the erle of Bloys and other yet all the season the duke of Berry was behynde came but fayre easely for he had no grete appetyte to go in to Englande his longe taryeng was dyspleasauÌ„t to the kynge to the duke of Burgoyne and to the other lordes they wolde gladly he had ben come styll grete prouysyon was made whiche was costly and dere a thynge not worth a franke was solde for .iiii. howebeit for all that money was not spared for euery man desyred to be well stuffed of euery thynge in maner of enuy euery maÌ„ to be better appoynted then other and thoughe the grete lordes were well payde theyr wages other poore companyons bought the bergayne for they were owynge for a monethes wages and yet coulde gete nothynge the treasourer of the warres and clarkes of the chambre of accomptes sayd syrs abyde tyll the nexte weke and then ye shall be payde and soo they were answered wekely yf ony payment were made to them it was but for .viii. dayes and were owynge .viii. wekes soo that some when they sawe the maner of dealynge howe they were soo euyll payde they were sore dyspleased and sayd surely this voyage shall be but of small effecte for by all lykelyhode when the money is gadered of the taxes then they wyl breke this iourney and retourne home agayne in to theyr owne countreys suche as dyd cast suche doubtes prouided therafter were wyse but the poore knyghtes and companyons suche as were reâ—eyned by the grete lordes spente all that they had euery thynge was so dere in Flaunders that harde it was to gete outher brede or drynke or yf they wolde sell theyr wages or armure there was no money to gete yf ony were bought it was dere there was soo moche people aboute Dan Bruges and Ardenbrughe and specyally at Sluse for when the kynge came thyder they wyst not where to lodge the erle of saynt Poule the lorde of Concy the dolphyn of Auuergne the lorde Dantoygne and dyuers other lordes of fraunce to lye more at theyr case lodgynge at Bruges somtyme went to Sluse to the kynge to know when they sholde departe and euer it was sayd to them within .iii. or .iiii. dayes or when the duke of Berrey is come and that we haue wynde to strue vs so euer the tyme passed and the day shortened and began to be foule and colde and the nyghtes longe wherwith dyuers of the lordes were not contente to tary so longe and also theyr prouysyons mynysshed ¶ Howe the kyng of Armony passed in to Englande in trust to fynde some meane of peas or good appoyntment bytwene the kyng of Englande and the kynge of Fraunce Ca. lvi THus in abydynge for the duke of Berrey and for the constable who were behynde then kynge Lyon of Armony who was in frauÌ„ce and had assygned hym by the kynge .vi. M. frankes by the yere to maynteyne his estate he toke on hym for a good entente to go in to Englande to speke with the kyng there and his counsayle to se if he myght fynde ony maner of peas to be had bytwene the two royalmes of Englande and frauÌ„ce and so he departed fro his lodgynge of saynt Albeyne besyde saynt Denyee alonely with his owne company and with no grete apparel Soo he rode to Boloyne and there he toke a shyp and so sayled forth tyll he came to Douer and there he founde the erle of Cambrydge the erle of Buckyngham and mo then a C. meÌ„ of armes and a .ii. M. archers who laye there to kepe that passage for the brute ranne that the frensshmen sholde lande there or at Sandwyche and the kynge laye at London and parte of his counsayle with hym and dayly herde tydynges fro all the portes of Englande when the kynge of Armony was aryued at Douer he had there good chere bycause he was a strauÌ„ger and so he came to the kynges vncles there who swetely receyued hym and at tyme conuenyent they demaunded of hym fro whens he came and whether he wolde the kyng answered and sayd that in trust of goodnes he was come thyder to se the kynge of Englande his counsayle to treate for peas bytwene englande and Fraunce for he sayd that he thought the warre was not mete for he sayd by reason of warre bytwene these .ii. royalmes whiche hath endured so longe the sarazyns Iewes and turkes are waxed proude for there is none that maketh them ony warre and by occasyon therof I haue lost my lande and royalme and am not lyke to recouer it agayne without there were ferme peas in all crystendome and I wolde gladly shewe the matter that toucheth all crystendome to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle as I haue done to the frensshe kyng then the kynges vncles demaunded of hym yf the frensshe kynge had sent hym thyder or noo he answered and sayd nay there is noo man that sent me but I am come hyder by myne owne mocyon to se yf the kynge of englande and his counsayle wolde ony thynge leane to ony treatye of peas then he was demaunded where the frensshe kynge was he answered I byleue he be at Sluse I sawe hym not syth I toke leue of hym at Senlyze then he was demaunded howe he coulde make ony treatye of peas and had no charge so to do and syr yf ye be conuayed to the kynge our nephewe and to his counsayle and the frensshe kynge in the meane season entre with his puyssannce in to Englande ye may happen therby to receyue grete blame and your persone to be in grete ieoperdy with them of the countrey then the kynge answered and sayd I am in suretye of the frensshe kynge for I haue sente to hym desyrynge that tyll I retourne agayne not to remoue fro Sluse I repute hym so noble and soo well aduysed that he wyll graunt my desyre and that he wyll not entre in to the see tyl I be come agayne to hym Wherfore syrs I praye you in the instaunce of loue and yeas to conuey me to speke with the kynge for I desyre gretely to se hym or elles ye that be his vncles yf ye haue auctoryte to gyue me answere
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
season that the kynge of Aragon thus dyed there was at Barcelona the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus whome the duke of Lancastre had sente thyder in ambassade I shall shewe yon the cause why ¶ The prynce of wales bycause he was duke and lorde of the countrey of Acquytayne and that all his neyghbours doubted hym as the Frensshe kynge the kynge of Aragon the kynge of Spayne and the kynge of Nauare yea And also kynges that were sarazyns that harde grete spekynge of hym for the good fortune and noble chyualrye that he was of and he hadde a certayne alyaunce and confyderacyon with kynge Peter of Aragon whiche leage was sworne and sealed bytwene them and it was confyrmed by the kynge of Englande fader to the prynce ANd amonge other thynges it was comprysed that the kynge of Englande nor the duke and lorde of Acquytayne sholde make ony warre nor consente to make ony warre agaynst the roayalme of Aragon for the whiche the kynge of Aragon sware and sealed for hym and for his ayres that euery yere he sholde serue the prynce of Acquytayne with the nombre of fyue hundred speres agaynst who so euer he hadde to doo withall or elles to sende vnto hym as moche money as sholde wagâ— fyue hundreth speres ¶ And soo it was that as then there was .x. yeres rynne in aterages that the kynge of Aragon had payde nothyng nor done ony seruyce to the kynge of Englande nor to his deputyes and when the duke of Lancastre wente out of Englande he hadde with hym letters patentes sealed with the grete seale of Englande wherby he was stablysshed to be the kynges Lyeutenaunt in the marches of Burdeaus Bayon and Acquytayne and the kynge gaue hym fall puyssaunce and auctoryroyall to demaunde all ryghtes and due accyons as well of the royalme of Aragon as elles where and wolde that the duke sholde haue yâ— profyte without ony excepcyon and what soo euer he dyd to be ferme and stable so thus wheÌ„ the duke of Lancastre had ben a season in the towne of saynt Iames in Galyce he remembred hymselfe of the busynes of Aragon and perceyued well by reason of his commyssyon howe the kynge of Aragon was sore in his det in a grete some of money longe renne in arerages whiche he thought if he myght gete it sholde gretely ayde hym in his warres of Castell and soo he sente to the archebysshop of Burdeaus and to syr IohnÌ„ Harpedan who was senesshall of all Burdeloys commaundynge theÌ„ bothe or at the leest one of them to go in to Aragon to the kynge there and to shewe hym playnly howe he was in grete arrerages with the kynge of Englande and with the duke of Acquytayne the archebysshoppe and the Senesshall behelde well the duke of Lancastres letters and soo toke counsayle togyder theron and there they determyned that it was best that the Senesshall sholde â—â—ry styll at Burdeaus and the bysshop to take on hym the charge of that voyage and soo he dyd and he came in to Aragon in so euyll a season that the kynge the relaye syke and dyed and after the kynges dethe the archebysshop poursued his cause and folowed the kynges chyldren and the counsayle of the royalme who came to the kynges enterment to the cyte of Barcelona and this bysshop pursued his ambassade so affectuously that he was set in a courtoyse pryson so that he coulde not departe when he wolde when these tydynges came to Burdeaus to the senesshall there he sayd I thought neuer none other wyse for the archebysshop is hasty heedy I thynke nowe it had ben better that I had gone for I wolde haue spoken moore mekely there is a maner thrughout all the worlde howe to demaunde a mannes ryght the senesshall sente these tydynges to the duke of Lancastre in to Galyce who was therwith ryght sore dyspleased and euyll contente with the kynge of Aragon and his counsayle that they had put the archebysshop in to pryson for doynge of his ambassade then the duke of Lancastre wrote to the companyons of the garyson of Lourde that they sholde make warre agaynst them of Barcellona where as the archebysshoppe of Burdeaus was in pryson IOhnÌ„ of Byerne who was capytayne there and senesshall of Bygore Pier Dauchyn Ernalton of Resten Ernalton of saynt Colombe and other of the garyson of Lourde were gretely reioysed when they herde that tydynges and then began to rynne in to the royalme of Aragon to the portes of Barcelona so that no merchaunt durst go abrode ¶ Also in Aragon there was another myschefe for the yonge kynge IohnÌ„ of Aragon wolde haue ben crowned kynge of Aragon but the good townes wolde not consente therto without he sware fyrst solemply that he sholde neuer demaunde tayle taxe nor inposycyon in all the countrey and dyuers other thynges that he sholde swere and put it in wrytynge sealed yf he wolde be crowned kynge whiche thynge semed to hym and to his counsayle to be ryght preiudycyall Wherfore he thretened to make them warre and specyally to them of the cyte of Barcelona for the kynge sayd they were to ryche and to prowde IN the same season there was in Langue docke and on the fronters of Auuergue and of Rouergue to warde Pezanas and the cyte of Duzes a maner of men of armes called the Rowtes they dayly multyplyed to do euyll and .iiii. men of armes were capytaynes who demaunded warre agaynst euery man they cared not agaynst whom theyr names were Peter of Mount fawcon Geffray Chastelyer Hamgue de forge and the goulent They had a foure hundreth men vnder them who ryfled and pylled the countrey where as they were conuersaunt and when they were enfourmed that the archebysshop of Burdeaus was in pryson in Aragon and that the duke of Lancastre was not contente with the Aragonoys and also that the kynge of Aragon was euyll pleased with the good townes of his royalme and countrey And they were of these tydynges gretely reioysed for suche people as they were are rather pleased with euyll dedes then with good They toke counsayle bytwene them determyned to approche to Aragon and to gete some forterers on those fronters thynkynge then that the duke of Aragon or elles some of the good townes wolde entreate with the to theyr profyte So they rode costynge the countrey set theyr myndes to gete yf they myght the castell of Dulcen beynge in the archbysshopryche of Narbone bytwene the royalme of Aragon and Fraunce on the departynge of bothe royalmes they came thyder at suche a poynte and by nyght that they founde it but symply watched nor kepte they dyd soo moche that they wan it were lordes thereof wherby al the countrey was afrayde specyally they of Parpygnen for it was but .iiii. legges thens also they of Lourde gate the same weke a castell in Aragon a .iiii. legges fro Barcelona called the olde castell of Rolbays perteynynge to the countesse of Castell Boze cosyn germayne
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
of Englande dukes erles barons and counsayle of the good townes Than it was sayde to hym Sir Symon ye haue alwayes ben a notable knight in the realme of EnglaÌ„de and ye were well beloued with my lorde the prince And ye and the duke of Irelande haue had in a maner the gouernynge of the kyng We haue sene all your maters and well examyned them the whiche be nother good nor faire which gretly displeaseth vs for your owne sake It is clerely determynyd by the hole generall counsayle that ye must go to prison in to the towre of London there to remayne tyll ye haue brought into this chambre the money of the kynges and of the realmes that ye haue gathered the whiche as it apereth by the treasourers rolles draweth to the some of two hundred and fyfty thousande frankes Nowe loke what ye wyll say Than syr Symon was halfe discomforted and said Sirs I shall with a good wyll And also it behoueth me so to do to fulfyll yoâ— coÌ„maundement I shall go where as ye commaunde me But my lordes I require you let me haue a clerke assigned to me that he maye write all suche expenses as I haue layde oute in tyme past in Almayne in Beame in procurynge the kinges maryage And if there be any reast I beseche you let me haue the kynges grace and yours that I may haue reasonable dayes to pay it Sir quod the lordes we are content Thus syr Symon Burle was in prison in the towre of London THan the constable spake of ser Willyam Helmon and of sir Thomas Tryuet for they were nat greatly in the fauour of some of the barones of Englande nor of the commontie of the realme for the vyage that they made in to Flaunders For it was sayd that neuer Englysshmen made so shamefull a vyage The bysshoppe of Norwyche and sir Hughe Caurell that was as than capitayne of Calais were excused layde to the others charge howe they hadde taken money for the gyueng vp of Burbourcke and Grauelyng Some sayd that that dede was trayson they were sent for and sir Wylliam Helmon came but sir Thomas Tryuer was excused I shall shewe you howe ¶ The same weke that he was sente for beyng in his owne house in the Northe ê‘te he rode out into the feldes vpon a yonge horse that he hadde and spurred hym so that the horse ranne awaye with hym ouer busshes and hedges and at laste fell in a dyke and brake his necke and so sir Thomas Triuet dyed whiche was great doÌ„mage and his dethe was greatlye complayned with many good menne of the realme yet for all that his heyres were fayne to paye a certayne somme of Floreyns to the Counsayle to the kynges behoue as they sayde But the chiefe encytyng of those maters came by the kynges vncles and by the generall counsayle of the couÌ„trey as it appered after in Englande For of trouthe thoughe the duke of Gloucestre was the yongest brother in age yet he was moost auncyent in the busynesse of the realme for he drewe to that opinyon that moost of the noble menne and prelates and the commons helde Whan that sir ThemÌ„s Tryuettes coÌ„posicion was made after his dethe by the maner as ye haue herde here before therby the penauÌ„ce of sir Wylliam Helmon was greatly asswaged He entred with the counsayle and by the meanes of the valyantnesse of his body and the good seruyce that he had done dyuers tymes for Englande as well in Bourdeloyes as in Guyen and in Picardye where he was alwayes proued a good knight There was nothynge layde to his reproche but takynge of the money for the delyuerauÌ„ce of Burborcke and Grauelynge Than he excused hymselfe with fayre and swete wordes and made dyuers reasonable reasons sayd My lordes who so euer were in lyke case as we were in that tyme in the garyson of Bourburke I thynke wolde do as we dyd I haue herde sir IohnÌ„ Chandos and sir Gaultier of Manny say dyuers tymes who were right wyse and of gret valure Howe that a man ought of two or iii. wayes chose the best waye and wherby most to endomage his enemyes And thus sir Thomas Tryuet and I beyng in the garysons of Bourburke and Grauelyng and sawe howe we were enclosed on all parties and no conforte aperyng to vs from any parte And parceyued well howe we coulde nat endure many assautes for they that laye about vs were as chosen men of armes as euer I sawe or I trowe any other Englysshemenne For as I knewe iustely by the reporte of our harraude they were at leest a syxtene thousande men of armes knyghtes and squyers and a .xl. thousande of other And we were nat paste a thre hundred speares and as many archers And also our garysone was of suche cyrcuyte that we coude nat enteÌ„de on euery place And that we well ê‘ceyued by an assaut that was made vs on a daye For whyle we were at oure defence on the one parte they caste in fyre on the other parte wherby we were gretly abasshed and that our ennemyes right well parceyued And therfore to saye the trouthe the Frenche kyng and his counsaile wrought by great geÌ„tylnesse seyng the case that we were in to gyue vs trewse For if they had gyuen vs another assaute the nexte daye as they were ordayned to do I thynke they hadde taken vs at their pleasure yet for all this they courtesly treated with vs by the meanes of the duke of Bretayne who tooke great payne in that mater And where as we shulde haue gyuen theym money for our raunsommes if we hadde ben taken as it was lykely they gaue vs money wherby we dyde them dommage and it was in them to haue endomaged vs. We thought we conquered greatly on them whan we had of their money and departed oure selfe safe and withoute trouble and hadde with vs all that we had won in all the warre tyme on the fronters of FlauÌ„ders And my lordes besyde that to pourge me of all blame if there be any ê‘sone in Englande or without knight or Esquyer Except the ê‘sons of my lordes the dukes of LaÌ„castre yorke Glocester that wyll saye and abyde therby that I haue done any vntrouthe to the kynge my naturall lorde or accuse me of any trayson I am here redye to receyue his gauge and to putte my body in aduenture by dedes of armes to proue the coÌ„trarye as the Iudge therto assigned shall ordayne These wordes and suche other and the valyauntnesse of the knighte excused hym greatlye and saued hym frome the parell of dethe And afterwarde he retourned agayne in to his fourmer estate and was after that a ryght valyaunt knyght and auaunsed in to the kynges Counsayle But as at that tyme sir Symon Burle was nat delyuered out of prisone for the kynges vncles hated hym gretlye and soo dyde all the commontie of Englande The kyâ—ge dyde all that he myght to haue hadde hym delyuered all the
remedy that other Realmes shulde take ensample by his realme NOwe sirs I reporte me if I haue nat good cause to saye the the realme of Englande in this season was in great paryll and aduenture to haue ben lost without recouery For the kynge was moued agaynst his vncles and agaynst a great parte of all the great lordes of the realme and they agaynst hym And the cytes and good townes one against another And the prelates hadde great indignacyon one agaynst another so that none coude remedy it but alonely god Whan the duke of Irelande sawe that he had the agrement of the kyng and of the moost ê‘te of theÌ„ of the couÌ„trey of Wales than he came to the kyng sayd sir if ye wyll instytute make me your lieutenaunt I shall take a .xii. or a fyftene thousaÌ„de men with me and go to the marchesse of London or to Oxenforde your cyte and myne and there we wyll shewe our puyssaunce agaynst these Londoners your vncles who haue so great indignacyon agaynst you They haue putte to dethe some of your counsayle And sir outher by fayre wordes or otherwyse we shall bringe them to reason The kynge sayde he was content Sayeng I wyll and ordayne you to be the cheife souerayne of my Realme and to reyse vp men where ye can gette theym and leade them wheder ye thynke best to augment our sygnorie and realme And to the entent that euery man shall clerely se that the hoole Realme parteyneth to me I wyll that ye beare with you my banners and standerdes and other abylmetes of warre suche as I wolde beare my selfe in batayle And I thynke that if the people se my banners displayed they shall take corage and hardynesse to susteyne my quarell And I wyll ye punysshe suche rebelles as wyll nat obey you in suche wyse as all other maye take ensample by them I beleue all suche as shall se my banners waue in the wynde shall put them selfe vnder them and shal be afrayde to disobey our coÌ„mauÌ„dement These wordes greatly reioysed the duke of Irelande ¶ oHwe the kyng of Englande made his soÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe sir Robert Tryuylyen was taken at westmynster and beheeded by the commaundement of the kynges vncles Capi. xcvi THe kyng made his assemble in the countrey of Wales and about the froÌ„ters of Bristowe a longe the ryuer of Syuerne Dyuers lordes and knightes were sende for some excused them selfe laufully and some came at the kynges commauÌ„dement howe be it they douted leste great yuell shulde come of that enterprice In this meane season the kynge and the duke of Irelande had a secrete counsayle bytwene them and determyned to seÌ„de some of their men in to the marchesse of London to se and to knowe howe the kynges vncles dyd and what they purposed to do they studyed whome they myght sende in that busynesse to knowe the trouthe than a knyght cosyn to the duke of Irelande and of his couÌ„sayle called sir Robert Tryuilyen sayd sir ye make doute whome to sende that is trusty to London For the loue of you I shall take on me to do that iourney wherof the Duke thanked hym and lykewise so dyde the kyng Therwith this sir Robert Tryuilyen departed from Bristowe disguysed in maner of a poore marchaunt vpon a lytell Nagge and so came to London and tooke his lodgynge where he was vnknowen so taryed there a certayne space and lerned what he coulde At last he vnderstode that the kynges vncles and the newe counsayle of Englande wolde kepe a secrete Parlyament at Westmynster wherfore he thought to go and lye there to lerne what shulde be doone there And so he came and lodged at Westmynster the same daye that their counsaile began and lodged in an alâ—house right ouer agaynst the palys gate and there he was in a chambre lokyng out at a wyndowe downe in to the courte there he myght se them that went in and out to the couÌ„saile and he knewe nerehaÌ„de euery man but none knewe hym bycause of his apparel At last on a day asquyer of the duke of Gloucesters knewe hym for he had often tymes ben in his coÌ„pany And assone as sir Robert Triuylien sawe him he knewe him well and withdrewe hym selfe out of the wyndowe The squyer had suspecious therof and sayd to hym selfe Me thynke I se yonder sir Robert Triuylen and to th entent to knowe the trouthe he entred in to the lodgyng and said to the wife Dame who is that that is aboue in the chambre is he alone or with coÌ„pany Sir quod she I can nat shewe you but he hath been here a longe space Therwith the squier went vp the better to aduyse hym and saluted hym and sawe well it was true but he fayned hymselfe and tourned his tale and sayde God saue you good man I pray you be nat myscontented for I toke you for a farmour of myne in Essere for ye are lyke hym Sir quod he I am of Kente and a farmour of sir Iohan of Hollandes and there be men of the bysshop of CauÌ„terburyes that wolde do me wrong and I am come hyther to complayne to the couÌ„sayle Well quod the squier if ye come in to the palys I wyll helpe to make your waye that ye shall speke with the lordes of the counsayle Sir I thanke your ê™ he and I shall nat refuce your ayde THan the squyer called for a potte of ale and dranke with him and payed for it and badde hym farwell and departed and neuer seased tyll he came to the couÌ„sayle chambre dore and called the vssher to open the dore Than the vssher demauÌ„ded what he wolde bycause the lordes were in counsayle He answered and sayd I wolde speke with my lorde and mayster the duke of Gloucester for a mater that ryght nere toucheth hym and all the counsayle Thanne the vssher let hym in and whan he came before his mayster he sayde Sir I haue brought you great tidynges What be they quod the duke Sir quod the squyer I wyll speke a loude for it toucheth you and all my lordes here present I haue sene sir Robert Triuylyen disguysed in a vyllayns habytte in an alehouse here without the gate Triuylien quod the duke yea truely sir quod the squier ye shall haue hym or ye go to dyner if you please I am contente quod the duke and he shall shewe vs some newes of his mayster the duke of Irelande Go thy waye fetche hym but loke that thou be stronge ynoughe so to do that thou fayle nat The squier went forthe and toke foure sergiauntes with hym and sayd Sirs folowe me a farre of and as soone as I make to you a sygne and that I laye my hande on a man that I go for Take hym and lette hym nat escape Therwith the squyer entredde in to the house where Tryuylien was and went vp in to the chambre and as soone as he sawe hym he sayd Triuylien ye
the kyng and there shewe hym what case the busynesse of his realme is in recoÌ„maunde vs to hym shewe hym in our behalfe that he gyue no credence of lyght enformacion agaynst vs He hath beleued some to moche for his owne honour and for the ê“fyte of his realme And saye also to hym that we requyre hym and so do all the good people of London that he wolde come hyder he shal be welcome receyued with gret ioye we shall set such couÌ„saile about hym that he shal be well pleased And we charge you retourne nat agayne withoute hym and desyre hym nat to be displeased thoughe we haue chased awaye a meny of traytours that were about hym for by them his realme was in great paryll of lesynge The bysshop sayd he shulde do ryght well his message and so departed and rodde forthe lyke a great prelate and so came to Bristowe and the kynge was there but with a priuye coÌ„pany For suche as were wont to haue ben of his counsayle were deed and fledde awaye as ye haue herde before The bysshop was in the towne two nightes and a day or the kyng wolde speke with hym He was so soore dyspleased with his vncles for driuynge awaye of the duke of Irelande whome he loued aboue all men and for sleeynge of his knyghtes Finally he was so entysed that he consented that the archbysshop shulde come in to his presens Whan he came before hym he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the kynge and there shewed the kyng euery worde as the kynges vncles had gyuen hym in charge And shewed hym that if it were his pleasure to come to Londou to his palys of Westmynster his vncles and the mooste parte of all his realme wolde be ryght ioyeouse elles they wyll be ryght sorte and yuell displeased And sayde sir Without the comforte ayde and accorde of your vncles and of your lordes knyghtes and prelates and of your good cyties and townes of EnglaÌ„de ye canne nat come to any of youre ententes He spake these wordes boldelye and sayde moreouer Sir ye canne nat reioyse so moche youre ennemyes as to make warre with youre frendes and to kepe youre Realme in warre and myschiefe The yonge kynge by reasone of the bysshoppes wordes beganne to enclyne howe be it the beheedynge of his knyghtes and counsaylours came sore in to his courage So he was in dyuers ymaginacions but finally he refrayned his displeasure by the good meanes of the quene the lady of Boesme and of some other wise knightes that were about hym as sir Rycharde Stoner and other Thanne the kyng sayd to the bysshoppe Well I am content to go to LoÌ„don with you wherof the bisshop was right ioyous and also it was to hym a great honoure that he hadde spedde his iourney so well WIthin a shorte space after the kyng departed lefce the quene styll at Bristowe and so came towardes London with the archbysshoppe in his company and so came to Wyndsore and there the kyng taryed a thre dayes Tidynges came to London howe the kynge was commynge euery manne was gladde Than it was ordayned to mete hym honourablye The daye that he departed fro Wyndsore the way fro Braynforde to London was full of people on horse backe and a foote to mete the kynge And his two vncles the duke of yorke and the duke of Gloucester and Iohan sonne to the duke of yorke the erle of Arundell the erle of Salisbury the erle of Northumberlande and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes and prelates departed out of London mette with the kyng a two myle fro Braynforde There they receyued hym swetely as they ought to do their soueraygne lorde The kynge who bare yet some displeasure in his herte passed by and made but small countenaunce to theÌ„ and all the waye he talked moost with the bisshop of LoÌ„don at last they came to WestmiÌ„ster The kyng alyghted at his palis whiche was redy apparelled for him There the kyng dranke and toke spyces and his vncles also and other Prelates lordes and knyghtes Than some tooke their leaues The kynges vncles and the archebysshoppe of Caunterburye with the counsayle taryed styll there with the kyng some in the Palais and some in the abbey and in the towne of westminster to kepe the kynge company and to be nere toguyder co commune of their busynesse there they determyned what shulde be done ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to westmynster to a generall counsayle there to be holden Cap. C.i. A Generall Parlyament was ordeyned to be holden at Westmynstre and all prelates Erles Barons and knyghtes and the counsayles of all the good townes and cytees of EnglaÌ„de were sent for to be there and all suche as helde of the kyng The archebysshoppe of Cauntorbury shewed to the kynges vncles counsayle that when kynge Rycharde was crowned kynge of Englande and that euery man was sworne and made theyr releues to hym and that whaÌ„ he receyued theyr faythes and homages he was within age and a knyge ought nat to gouerne a royalme tyll he be xxi yeres of age and in the meane season to be gouerned by his vncles or by his nexte kynne and by wyse men The bysshop sayd this bycause the kynge as then was but newlye come to the age of .xxi. yeres wherfore he counsayled that euery man shulde be newe sworne and renewe their releues and euery manne newe to knowledge hym for their soueraygne lorde This counsayle was excepted of the kynges vncles and of all other of the couÌ„sayle And for that entent all prelates and lordes and counsayles of good cyties townes were sent for to come to Westminster at a daye assigned Euery man came thyder none disobeyed so that there was moche people in London and at Westmister And kyng Richarde was in his chapell in the palys rychely apareyled with his crowne on his heed and the archebysshoppe of CauÌ„terbury sang the masse And after masse the bisshoppe made a collasyon And after that the kyngê vncles dyde their homage to the kyng kyssed hym and there they sware and ê“mysed hym faithe and homage for euer And than all other lordes sware and prelates and with their handes ioyned togyder they dyde their homage as it aparteyned and kyst the kynges cheke Some the kyng kyst with good wyll some nat for all were nat in his in warde loue but it behoued hym so to do for he wolde nat go fro the counsayle of his vncles But surely if he might haue had his entent he wolde nat haue done as he dyde but rather haue taken crewell vengeaunce for the deche of sir Symon Burle and other knyghtê that they had putte fro hym and slayne without desert as he thought Than it was ordayned by the couÌ„sayle that the archebysshop of yorke shulde come and pourge hym selfe for he hadde alwayes been of the duke of Irelandes parte agaynst the kynges vncles
his owne countrey And also the duke of Burbon vncle to the frenche kyng cometh after with two M. speares and assone as he cometh he wyll set forwarde so that we be than at home in oure countreys or we can assemble togyder agayne as we be nowe out enemyes shall do vs great domage Thanne the kynge sayde Well than lette vs kepe styll the feldes in the name of god as for my men be fresshe ynough and are of good mynde to abyde the aduenture and I with them THus they determyned to abyde the coÌ„mynge of the duke of Burbon to se if they shulde be fought withall thanne or nat for they all demauÌ„ded nothinge but batayle The tyme went euer forwarde and the sonne mounted and the dayes chafed meruaylously for it was aboute mydsomer whan the sonne was in his strength and specially in Spayne and Granade and in the farre countreyes of Septentryon Nor after Aprell there fell no rayne nor swetnes fro Heuyn wherby euery thynge was brente on the erthe The englissh men eate grapes whan they myght get them and dranke of the hote wynes and the more they dranke the more they were set a fyre and therby brente their lyuers and longes for that dyete was contrary to their nature Englyssh men are norisshed with good metes and with ale which kepeth their bodyes in temper and there the nyghtes were hoote bycause of the great heate in the day and the mornyng meruaylously colde whiche dysceyued them For in the nyght they coulde suffre no thynge on them and so slepte all naked and in the mornynge colde toke them or they were waxe and that caste them in to feuers and flyxes without remedy And as well dyed great men as meane people ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre gaue lycence to his men and howe a haraulte was sente to the kinge of Castyle and howe thre knightes of Englande went to speke with the king of Castyle for a saueconduct for the dukes men to passe through his couÌ„trey Cap. C.iiii. BEholde nowe and se howe fortune tourned ye maye well beleue that the duke of Lancastre beynge in the realme of Castyle coulde neuer haue loste by batayle nor his men dyscomfetted nor loste his men as he dyd in that voyage by reason of sycknes And hym selfe also nygh deed And sir Iohan Holande who was constable of the hoost whan he sawe his frendes and men thus infected with this malady without remedy and herynge the complayntê of one and other sayeng eche to other Ah the duke of Lancastre hath brought vs to dye in Spaygne cursed be this voyage He wyll neuer haue Englysshman more to come out of Englande to serue hym He spurneth agaynst the pricke he wolde his men shulde kepe the countrey whan it is wonne And whan his men be all deed who shall thanne kepe it He sheweth nat that he can any skyll of the warre sythe he seeth that none cometh agaynst vs to fight in batayle why dothe he nat drawe than into Portugale or into some other place than he shulde nat haue the domage nor losse that he heth for thus we shall all dye without any strokes Whan sir Iohan Holande herde and vnderstode these wordes for the honoure and loue of his lorde the duke of Lancastre whose doughter he had maryed he came to the duke and sayd quickly to him Sir it must behoue you to take newe and shorte counsayle your people be in a harde case and lykely to dye by syckenesse if nede shulde fortune they are nat able to ayde you they be wery and in a harde case and their horses deed so that noble men and other are so discoraged that they are nat lyke to do you any good seruyce at this tyme. Than sayd the duke And what is beste than to do I wyll beleue counsaile for it is reason Syr quod the constable Me thynke it were beste ye gaue lycence to euery man to departe where as they thynke beste and your selfe to drawe outher into Portugale or into Galice for ye are nat in the case to ryde forewarde That is trewe quod the duke and so I wyll do Saye you to them howe I do gyue them leaue to departe whyder it please theÌ„ outher in to Castyle or in to Fraunce so they make no false treaty with our enemyes for I se well for this season our warre is paste And paye euery man their wages and rewarde theym for their costes Syr quod the constable this shall be done SIr Iohan Holande made it be knowen by a trumpet in euery lodgyng the entencion of the duke of Lancastre howe he dyd gyue lycence to euery man to departe whyder they lyst and that euery capytayne shulde speke with the constable and they shulde be so payed that they shulde be content This tydynges reioysed some suche as desyred to departe to chaunge the ayre Than the barones and knyghtes of Englande toke counsayle howe they myght retourne in to Englande it was thought impossyble for them to retourne by the see for they had no shyppes redy and were farre fro any porte And also their men were so sicke with feuers and flixes that there were many deed and so sicke that they coude nat endure the trauayle on the see So all thynges consydered they thought it best to repayre home thorough the realme of Fraunce Than some sayde howe maye that be for we be enemyes too all the realmes that we muste passe through First through Spayne for we haue made theym open warre The kynge of Nauer in lykewyse is ioyned in this warre with the kynge of Castyle also the kynge of Aragone for he is alyed with the frenche kynge and also he hath done to vs a great dyspite he hath take and layd in prison at Barselona the archebyhop of Burdeaux who wente thyder to demaunde the arerages that the realme of Aragonoweth to the kynge of Englande our soueraygne lorde And to sende to the frenche kyng it is harde for vs to do it is farre of and peraduenture whan oure messanger cometh to the kynge he is yonge and peraduenture his counsayle wyll do nothynge for vs. for sir Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce hateth vs mortally for he wyll say that the duke of Bretayn his great aduersary wyll become englissh Than some other that were of great wysdome and imaginacyon said All thinges consydred we thinke it best to assay the kyng of Castyle we thynke he wyll lyghtly condyscende to suffre vs to passe through his countrey peasably and to gette a saueconduete fro the kynges of Fraunce Aragon and Nauer THis counsayle was taken kepte and herde and a Haraulde called Derby was sente forthe to the kynge of Castyle with letters This haraulde rode forthe and came to Medena de campo and there he founde the kynge of Castyle and than he kneled downe and delyuered his letters And the kynge opened them and redde them they were written in frenche Whan he hadde well vnderstande them he turned hym
and smyled and sayde to a knyght of his Go and make this haraulde good chere he shall be answered to nyght and departe to morowe Than the kynge entred in to his secrete chambre and sent for sir Wyllyam of Lygnac and for sir gaultyer of Passac and red to them the letters and demaunded of them what was beste to do ¶ I shall shewe you the substaunce of the matter Syr Iohan Holande constable of the duke of Lancastres hoost wrote to the kynge of Castyle desyring hym to sende by the herault letters of safecoÌ„ducte for .ii. or thre englysshe knightes to go and come safe to speke and to treat with hym Than these knightes answered sayd sir it were good ye dyde this for than shall you knowe what they demauÌ„de Well quod the kyng me thynke it is good Than there was asafecoÌ„ducte written coÌ„teyninge that sixe knightes might safely go and come at the poyntyng of the constable This was sealed with the kynges great seale sygned with his hande deliuered to the heralt and xx frankes in rewarde Than he returned to AuraÌ„che where the duke the constable were THe herault deliuered the safecoÌ„duct to the coÌ„stable Than the knyghtes were chosen that shulde go sir Mauberyn of Linyere sir ThomÌ„s Morell sir Iohan Dambreticourt these thre knyghtes were charged to go on this message to the kynge of Castile and they deê‘ted assone as they might for some thought long for there were many sicke and lacked phisicions and medicins and also fresshe vitaylles These Englysshe ambassadours passed by the towne of Arpent and there the constable of Castyle sir Olyuer of Clesquy made theÌ„ good chere and made them a supper And the next daye he sent with them a knyght of his of Tyntemache a breton to bring them the more surelyer to the kyng for encouÌ„tryng of the bretons of whom there were many sprede abrode so long they rode that they came to Medenade Campo and there they founde the kynge who had gret desire to know what they wolde whan they were a lyghted at their lodgyng chauÌ„ged refreshed theÌ„ they went to the king who made to theÌ„ gode semblaunt were brought to hiby the knightê of his house Than they delyuered to the kyng letters fro the dukes Constable but none fro hym selfe for as than he wolde nat write to the kynge but they sayd Sir kyng we be sent hyder to you fro the erle of Huntyngdon Constable with the duke of Lancastre A certaynynge you of the great mortalyte and sickenesse that is amonge our men Therfore the constable desyreth you that ye wolde to all suche as desyreth to haue their helthe opyn your cyties and good townes and suffre them to entre to refresshe them and to recouer their helth if they maye And also that suche as haue desyre to passe in to Englande by lande that they maye passe without daunger of you of the kyng of Nauer and of the Frenche kyng but pesably to retourne in to their owne coutreis sir this is the desyre and request that we make vnto you as at this tyme. than the kyng answered and said soberly Sirs we shall take couÌ„sayle and aduise what is good for vs to do than ye shal be answered than the knyghtes sayd sir that suffyceth to vs. ¶ Howe these thre knyghtes obteyned a saueconduct of the kyng of Castyle for their people to passe howe dyuers of theÌ„glysshmen dyed in Castyle howe the duke of Lancastre fell in a great syckenesse Cap. C .v. THus they departed fro the kynge at that tyme and went to their lodgynges there taryed all that day the next day tyll none than they went to the kyng Now I shall shewe you what answere the king had of his couÌ„saile This request gretly reioysed the kyng for he sawe well his enemys wolde deê‘te out of his realme he thought in hymselfe he wolde agre therto yet he was couÌ„sayled to the coÌ„trary but he sent for the .ii. freÌ„che capitayns sir Gaultier of Passacke and sir WillmÌ„ of Lignac and whan they were come he right sagely shewed theÌ„ the desire reqÌ„st of the coÌ„stable of the Englysshe host and hervpon he demauÌ„ded of them to haue their couÌ„sayle First he desyred sir Water Passacke to speke He was lothe to speke before other of the kynges couÌ„sayle there but he was fayne so to do the kyng so sore desyred hym so by the kynges coÌ„maundement he spake sayde Sir ye are come to the same ende that we haue alwayes said that was that your enemys shulde wast theÌ„ selfe they are nowe disconfyted without any stroke strikyng sir if the said folkes desyre to haue comforte refresshyng in your countre of your gentylnesse ye maye well grauÌ„t it them so that whaÌ„soeuer they recouer their helthe they retourne nat agayne to the Duke nor to the kynge of Portugale but than to deê‘te the streight way in to their owne countreys And that in the Terme of sixe yere they arme them nat agaynst you nor agaynst the realme of Castyle We thynke ye shall gette rightwell a safeconducte for them of the kynge of Fraunce and of the kynge of Nauerre to passe peasably through the realmes Of this answere the kynge was ryght ioyfull for they counsayled hym accordynge to his pleasure for he had nat cared what bargeyn he had made so that he myght haue benquyte of the Englysshmen Than he sayd to sir Water Passacke Sir ye haue well and truely counsayled me I thanke you and I shall do accordyng to your aduise Than the thre Englysshe knyghtes were sent for Whan they were come they entred into the counsayle chaÌ„bre Than the bysshop of Burges chaunceller of Spayne who was well langaged sayd sirs ye knyghtes of EnglaÌ„d perteyning to the duke of LaÌ„castre and sent hyder fro his constable vnderstande that the kyng here of his pytie and gentylnesse wyll shewe to his enemyes all the grace he maye And sirs ye shall retourne to your coÌ„stable and shewe hym fro the kyng of Castyle that he shall make it to be knowen through al his hoost by the sowne of a trumpet that his realme shal be open and redy to receyue all the Englysshmen hole or sicke so that at thentre of euery cyte or towne they laye downe their armure and weapons And there shall they fynde men redy to bring them to their lodgiges And there all their names to be written and delyuered to the capitayne of the towne to th entent they shulde nat retourne agayne in to Galyce nor in to Portugale for no maner of busynesse but to deê‘te in to their own countreis assone as they may And assone as the kyng of Castyle my souerayne lorde hath optayned your safecoÌ„ducte to passe through the realmes of Nauer and Fraunce to go to Calis or to any other porte or hauen at their pleasure outher in to Bretaygne Xaynton Rochell NormaÌ„dy or Picardy Also the kynges pleasure is that all suche knightê
gathered their company togyder and departed aboute mydnyght and rode a rounde pase too this towne and had guydes that brought them to Seaule by that tyme it was daylight Than they rested them apoynted what they wolde do And as it was shewed me syr Geruays with .xxx. speares went on before for to wynÌ„e the gate and sir Willyam of Tremoyle to folowe after bycause they feared if they shulde haue rydden all togyder to haue been spyed but they thought how they of the towne shulde thynke none other but that they shulde be a certayne nombre of men of armes sent thyder by the duke of Guerles to refresshe the garyson Thus this knyght sir Geruays with .xxx. speares rode before to the towne of Seaulle In the mornynge they founde men and women goynge to the towne for it was markette day they saluted theym in the langage of Almayne and rode forthe The poore men went surely they had been men of the countrey perteynynge to the duke of Guerles that were rydynge to the garyson Syr Geruays and his company rode forthe tyll they came to the gate and founde it open with a small warde it was so erly that the moste parte of the people were in their beddes They rested there and were lordes of the gate Than incontynent sir Willyam of Tremoyle and his route came galopynge thyder as faste as they myght and entred into the towne cryed their cryes Thus the towne was wonne without any defeÌ„ce for the men of the towne thought full lytle that the freÌ„chmen wolde haue done such an enterprise and the moste parte of theÌ„ were in their beddes ¶ Howe the frenche men after they had brente and ryfeled the towne of Seaulle retourned to their garyson and of the ioy that the duke of Burgoyne and the duches of Brabante made for that dede howe sir IohnÌ„ Boesme launce discomfyted the englysshmen Cap. C.xvii THis enterprise was done on the nyght of saynt Marten in wynter and a thre dayes before there came thyder a knyght of EnglaÌ„de with ten speares and .xxx. archers sente by the kynge of Englande This knyght was called syr Guylliam Fykaole Whan the larum began he was rysinge out of his bed He herde that the towne was wonne and demauÌ„ded by whome he was aunswered that it was done by bretons Ah ê™ the knight bretons are yuell people they wyll burne and pyll the towne than departe What crye do they crye syr ê™ they they crye on Tremoyle Than the englysshe knyght closed the castell and helde hym selfe his company within to se if any reskewe came but euery man was so abasshed that they fled hyther thyder The poore people fledde in to the mynster and some auoyded the towne by another gate the frenchmen sette fyre in the towne in dyuerse places howe be it there were many howses of stone and bricke that the fyre coulde nat lighty burne them The moste parte of the towne was brent pylled and robbed so that nothyng was lefte that was good the rychest men of the towne taken prisoners The englysshe knyght was taken at laste For whan he sawe that all was lost he opened the howse that he was in for he douted the fyre whan he sawe the flames and smoke in euery corner of the towne and so came out with his penon before hym and his company archers and other and there valiauntly defended them selfes a longe season But fynally he was taken and yelden prisoner to sir Guylliam of Tremoyle and all his company taken but fewe slayne Whan the frenchemen had done their wylles with the towne of Seaulle in Guerles and their varlettes driuing their pyllage before them they departed for they thought it foly too a byde there and went to their garison fro wheÌ„ce as they came Thus the duke of Guerles had the first buffet and domage wherwith he was sore dyspleased whan he knewe therof and so came thyder with a great nombre of menne of warre and thought well to haue founde there the frenche men but they were gone Than he newe renpayred the towne and furnished it with newe men of warre who were more dilygeÌ„t to kepe the towne thanne they that were there before Thus daily the adueÌ„tures of warre fell some loste one daye and some another The duches of Brabante and all tho of her countrey were gretly reioysed of this aduenture and sir Gillyam of Tremoyle and syr Geruais of Merande atchyued great grace Than they of the countrey sayde that in the nexte sommer folowyng they wolde wynne it agayne Whan the duke of Burgoyne herde these tydinges and howe that his men that were in garyson in Brabant dyd well and valyauntly he was gladde therof and to incorage theym he wrote pleasaunt letters often tymes to syr Guylliam his knyght Thus they taryed there all that wynter kepinge well their fronters defendynge them selfe fro domage And after the castelles and forteresses of Guerles were better taken hede vnto than they were before Nowe shall I shewe you of another enterprise that Perote of Bernois dyde in Auuergne where he gate gret profite and by what meanes he dyd it I shall shewe we you at lenght IT fortuned the same yere and season aboute the tyme of the myddes of Maye a .xl. companyons aduenturers issued out of Caluset the whiche Perot of Bernoys helde This fortresse stode in Lymozyn These companyons rode forthe at aduenture in to Auuergne and a Gascoyne squyer was their capytayne called Geronet Durante an experte man of armes And bycause the countrey was alwayes in doute of the men of warre that were on the fronters of Burbonoys there was a knyght of the duke of Burgoynes called syr Iohan Boesme Launce a gracyouse and an amorous knyght hauynge great corage to auaunce hymselfe Whyle these englysshe men rode a brode he demanÌ„ded what nombre they were of And it was shewed hym howe they were aboute a .xl. speares What quod he it is lytell to regarde for .xl. speares I wyll set as many against them and so departe fro thence as he was as than and went there as his chefe charge was and that was before Vandachor He gate togyder a .xl. or a fifty speares of Lymozyn and Auuergne and Burbonoyse and with hym there was a knyght called sir Loys Dambter and also sir Loys Dabton and the lorde of saynte Obyse And so toke the feldes without kepyng of any high way they knewe the countrey came to a passage where their enemyes muste nedes passe by reasone of the mountaynes and ryuers whiche were greate and depe by occasion of the snowe fallyng fro the mountayns They had nat ben there halfe an hour but that thenglysshment came thyder and was nat ware of that rencountre Than Boesme launce and his coÌ„pany cauched their speares and came agaynst their enemyes and cryed their cryes whan the englisshment sawe howe they must nedes fight they turned their faces to their enemyes defended them selfe There was a sore rencountre
gather to gyder my power and people who haue good myndes to make warre into Castyle so we shall make a good warre somtyme one countrey wynneth and a nother leseth The duke of Lancastre thanked the kynge of Portugale of his good comforte and offre Howe beit for all that the kyng was the dukes sonne in lawe and had maryed his doughter and that he sayde was of a good wyll yet for all that the duke discouered nat all his corage for he knewe well Englande was in trouble and great debate a monge the lordes and howe the lordes hadde maters yno we to attende vnto as well for the kepynge of the fronters agaynst Scotlande as for to treate with the duke of Bretaygne And the kyng knewe well that whan the duke came out of Englande there was a do to sette forwarde his armye wherfore he thought it shulde be harde to get any newe ayde thence seinge the realme at so many great charges all redy and also he thought well that suche englysshmen as were retourned wolde no more come thyder agayne but thought rather that they shulde dyscorage other to come the duke considered all these maters in his mynde and whan he had ben a season at the cytie of Porte with the kynge of Portugale than on a daye he sayd Syr it shulde be for my profyte to retourne to Bayon and to the marches of Burdeaulx for dyuerse reasons He sawe well his beynge in Portugale coulde do him lytell aduaūtage for there he was nat on his herytage that he desyred but he sayde his goynge in to the archebysshoppriche of Burdeaux and of Aulose and so to retourne by Bygore and so by the lande of the lombrisience of the countie of Foyze and countie of Armynake and so by Garonne Dordone and entrynge in to Pier gourte and Querchyn Rochelloys Xayntone Cristynge Poictou Auuergne and Lymosyn wherin were many garysons and castels holden of the englisshe parte who wolde all make warre for his sake Wherfore he sayd it were better for hym to be amonge theym to counsaile and encorage them than to be in any other place And also he sayde howe Portugale was farre of to here any newes out of Englande and also he knewe well that the englyssh men wolde be lothe to come thyder bycause of the long voyage by see and also he knewe well that shyppes of Spaygne of Galyce and of Castyle were goynge and comynge on the see in and out to Flaunders with their marchandyses whiche was also great daunger for encountrynge of them All these thynges consydred the duke of Lancastre prepared for his departynge and had shyppes apoynted hym by the kynge and a patrone called Alphons Bretat Whan these galyes were redy and the wynde good the duke and the duches and her doughter toke leaue of the kynge of Portugale and of the quene and so toke shyppynge and entred on the see abydynge goddes pleasure and wyndes They had wynde and wether at pleasure so that they aryued at Bayon of whose comynge they of the countrey were ioyfull desyringe sore to se them Whan the duke and the duches and their doughter were aryued at Bayon Tydynges therof spredde abrode and they of Burdeloys were ryght ioyfull therof Than sir Iohan of Harpdame senesshall of Burdeaux and the senesshall of the landes came thyder to se the duke and so dyd other gentlemen of the countrey as the lorde of Mucydente the lorde of Duras the lorde of Rosem the lorde of Landuras the lorde Lespare the lorde of Newechasteaur and other knyghtes and squyers of the countrey Thus they came dayly some at one tyme some at another all they offred hym their seruyce as they ought to do to their lord Thus the duke taryed at Bayon and often tymes sente in to Englande to the kynge his nephewe and to his other bretherne But for all his writynge he was nothynge comforted nother with men of armes nor archers for as the worlde wente than the dukes busynesse was lytell taken hede vnto nor lorde knyght nor squyer to make any hast to auaunce forwarde to the ayde of the duke of Lancastre for suche as had ben in Portugale made suche reporte through the realme of Englande that no man had corage to auaunce thyder but euery man said the voyage in to Castyle is to farre of fro vs. It is more profytable for vs to haue warre with Fraunce for that is a good swete countrey and temperate and good lodgynges and fayre swete ryuers And in Castyle there is no thynge but harde rockes and Mountaynes whiche are nat good to eate and an vntemperate ayre and troubled ryuers and dyuerse meates and stronge wynes hote and poore people rude and yuell arayed farre of fro our maner wherfore it were folly to go thyder for if we entre in to any great cytie or towne there wenynge to fynde maruayles we shall fynde nothynge but wyne larde and empty cofers This is contrarye to the realme of Fraunce for there whan it is fortune to wyn any towne or cytie we fynde suche rychesse that we be a basshed therof and it is good to make warre where we may haue profyte let vs aduenture there and leaue the vnhappy warre of Castyle and Portugale where is no thynge but pouuertye and domage Thus the englysshe men sayde in Englande suche as had been in Castyle so that the lordes perceyued well howe that voyage was out of the fauoure of the englysshe men Also the realme was in trouble and the iustyce of Triuylyen and outher but newly done and the duke of Irelande departed out of the Realme and kynge Rycharde came to the guydynge of newe counsayle the whiche he hadde nat well lerned So by reason of suche insydentes the matters abode in harde case for the duke of Lancastre beynge in the cytie of Bayon where he helde all that season ALl these busynesses as well in Castyle and Portugale as in Englande and of the departyng of the duke of Irelande was well knowen with the frenche kynge and his counsayle Than to haue more parfyte knowledge it was ordayned by the frenche kynge and by his vncles to sende to Trecte to the duke of Irelande where as he was and to gyue hym a sure saueconduct to come into Fraunce and to tarye there as longe as bothe partyes were pleased It was behouable to sende for hym by specyall messangers and sure wrytyng fro the kyng or els the duke of Irelande wolde nat haue come there for he knewe well that he was out of the loue and fauoure of the lorde Coucy who was a great baron in the realme of Fraunce and was of a great lynage He had no cause to loue hym as ye haue herde before for acordynge to the trouthe the duke had nat well acquyted hymselfe to his wyfe who was doughter to the lorde Coucy And certaynly it was the principall thing that toke awaye the good renome of his honour bothe in Fraunce and in other places And in lykewyse he
Graue and how the brabansoys made a bridge ouer the ryuer of Meuse the whiche they of Guerles dyde breke brinne and dystroy as ye shall here after Cap. C.xxxv. THe same seasone that the Englysshe armye was at Marant Perot le Bernoyes and his route to the noÌ„bre of four hundred speres were abrode and passed by Lymosyn and came to Berrey And on a daye they tooke all the marchauntes that were in the towne of Blake in Berrey on the whiche daye there was a great fayre wherby they had great profite and good prisoners and than passed further and came to Selles in Berrey and pylled and robbed the towne Thus Perot and his companyons rode abrode in the countre and dyde great doÌ„mage for there was none that came agaynst them The countrey was sore a frayde on bothe sydes the ryuer of Loyre vnto the couÌ„tie of Bloys and of Thourayne They coude nat ymagin what these two armyes were purposed to do some sayde they shulde mete togider but they dyd nat for the army on the see drewe agayne to the see and Perot in lykewise to his fortresse WhaÌ„ they had pylled and wonne great richesse in the countrey euery man wente to their owne fortresse to saue that they had gotte There was none other dede of armes done that season in Auuergne and Lymosyn ThanÌ„e began the truce on that syde the ryuer of Loyre the whiche shulde endure to the moneth of Marche But styll the siege endured before Vandachore by sir Wylliam of Lignacke sir Iohan Boesme Launce sir Iohan Butlere and other For sir Geffray Teate noyre was so proude and cruell that he sette nouther by truce nor peace and all on the truste of the strength of his fortresses ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue speakyng of the siege of Vandachore and shewe here after what ende it toke and speke nowe of Brabaunte and of Guerles yE knowe well as it hath ben coÌ„teyned here before in this hystorie the duchesse of Brabant was determyned to make warre agaynst the duke of guerles and caused the siege to coÌ„tynue before the towne of Graue with a great puyssaunce of knyghtes and squyers and other men of the good townes of Brabante and their entencion was nat to departe thens tyll they had the towne of Graue at their wyll And the duchesse to shewe that the mater touched her nere the laye at 〈◊〉 a four leages thens The hoost was plentifull of euery thynge They were often tymes refresshed with newe prouisyon coÌ„myng fro dyuers partes aswell by see by fresshe water by the ryuer of Muse as by the lande of Brabant This siege long endured and they had there great ingyns be sore the towne to caste in great stones whiche dyde great domage And besyde that to enfecte the people within they caste in to the towne all deed careyne and the wether was hote the whiche greatly anoyed them within The clere ayre was sore corrupted with the yuell ayre Somtyme the knyghtes and squyers of Brabant wolde come to the barryers and scrimysshe with them of the towne and there were many feates of armes done For there were men in the towne sette there by the duke of Guerles that were redye to shewe forthe their prowes whan tyme was The duke of Guerles lay at Nimay coude nat remedy the mater nor reyse the siege nor yet fight with his enemyes for he had no puissaunce therto But he hadde sente in to Englande certifyeng what case he stode in trustynge to haue had socours fro thens but he had none For at that tyme there was moche trouble in Englande For there was sette a newe counsayle about the kynge by the meanes of his vncles and tharchbysshop of CauÌ„terbury About the feest of saynt Iohan the Baptyst there was a couÌ„sayle in Englande to knowe if there shulde be sente any ayde of men of armes archers to the duke of Guerles or nat But euery thyng consydred they thought it best naye For renome ran in Englande howe the Frenche kyng made a gret assemble but no manne knewe whyther they shulde drawe The Englysshe men by ymaginacyon douted that they wolde coÌ„e to Caâ—â—â—s On the othersyde they douted the scottes wherfore they wolde nat sende their men of armes and archers out of the realme Also they knewe howe there were many menne of warre on the see wherfore it was coÌ„uenyent to kepe their owne realme Therfore the noble men of Englande sayd Lette the duke of Guerles alone he is ryght valyant and is iÌ„ a stronge countre he wyll do well ynoughe agaynst the brabansoys Also he shal be conforted by the almayns if nede be for they be alyed with hym and his neyghbours They haue bene with hym or this agaynst the Frenche men Thus the maters wente in Englande but they within the towne of Graue endured the payne with sautes and sore scrimisshing They of Brabante deuysed whyle they laye at the siege to make a bridge of tymbre ouer the ryuer of Meuse therby to entre in to the duchy of Guerles And to ouer ronne the couÌ„trey and to kepe that no vitayle shulde come to the towne of Graue And therby to besege it bothe before and behynde and on all partes to kepe it fro vitayling for they had men ynowe so to do They sette many carpentars a worke with all dilygence and they dyde so moche that their worke was so forwarde that the bridge was nere ouer the water within a speares cast The duke of Guerles had perfite knowledge of the makyng of this bridge and dyde lette them alone tyll it was nyghe made But whan he sawe it was nerehande fynisshed than he came before it with gonnes and other artillarye And shotte fyre to the bridge in suche wise that the bridge was brente and broken and the brabansoys loste all their labour wherwith they were sore displeased and than toke counsayle what was best for them to do ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the brabansoys passed the ryuer throughe the towne of Rauesten ouer the bridge there and so entred in to Guerles Than the duke departed fro Nimay with thre hundred speares and came agaynst theÌ„ and disconfyted them bytwene Rauesten and the towne of Graue Cap C.xxxvi A Thre lytell leages fro the towne of Graue is the castell of Rauesten parteyninge to the lorde of Bourne who was subiecte and helde of the duchy of Brabant He was desyred by the duchesse counsayle by other lordes and knyghtes that he shulde open the towne of Rauesten and suffre their hoste to passe throughe to entre in to the countrey of Guerles And at their desyres he was content The duke of Guerles lyenge at Nymay was surely infourmed by suche spyall as he had howe the lorde of Bourne wolde gyue his enemyes fre passage to entre into his countrey through the towne of Rauesten wherof he was pensyue and maleÌ„colyous for he sawe well he had nat men ynowe to resyste the puysaunce of Brabante for they were well a .xl. thousande menne
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
castell in the marches of Rouergne called the Roche of Vandois and howe it was besieged by the vicount of Meaulx and of the takynge therof and howe Aymerygotte was taken and brought to Parys Cap. C.lxx. IN this season whyle this asseÌ„ble was a making to go in to Barbary for a good entente as to exalte the cristen faythe certayne robbers and pyllers in Auuergne Rouergne and in Lymosyn were of contrary myndes for though the couÌ„treis thought themselfe in suretie by reason of the chartre of the treuce that was taken bytwene Englande and Fraunce whiche had ben ê“claymed and publysshed in all fortresses and before all the capitayns that made any warre or helde any fortresses of the englissh parte And an artycle there was that who so euer brake or violated any poynt or artycle comprised in the treaty shuld receyue punyssyon of dethe without hope of any remyssion specially Perot le Bernoys capytayne of Caluset Amergot Marcell Olyue Barbe capytayne of Dousac in the marches of Auuergne were enclosed by name in the charter of the treuse to the entent that if they or any of theirs dyd or consented to do any thynge contrary that they shulde nat ercuse them selfe some of the capytayns that feared to dye a shamfull dethe or to rynne in to the indygnacion of the frenche kynge helde surely all the poyntes of the charter But some dyd nat so whiche they derely bought as ye shall here after ye shall knowe as it hath ben here before rehersed howe Iohan erle of Armynake Bernarde dolphyn of Auuergne and therle Clermounte were in treatie with certayne capytayns that helde fortresses in the said couÌ„treys agaynst the frenche kynge These sayd lordes made suche dylygence that they brought dyuers of these capytayns to composycion and to the sellyng of their fortresses Their treaty and composicyon was that they shulde renounce the warre bytwene Englande Fraunce and durynge the treuce they to go with the erle of Armynake in to Lombardy or whyder as he wolde leade them to ayde hym in his warre a gaynst the lorde Galeas erle of Vertues who had disheryted his cosyn germayns chyldren to his vncle the lorde Barnabo as it hath ben shewed here before and so what to haue their ayde and to auoyde the countrey of these robbers pyllers who had done so moche hurte in the countrey bothe to men and women the sayd erle of Armynake and the erle Dolphyn his cosyn toke gret payne in that mater And at the instant requestes prayers of the good menne of the cyties and townes of the playne countreys aforesayd so that there was a tayle gadred in Auuergne Guynaldan Rouergne Carnosyn and in Lymosyn to the soÌ„me of two hundred thousande frankes so that poore and riche payed somoch that dyuers solde layde to pledge their herytages and were glad so to do to lyue at reste in their countreys And the good men thought by reson of payeng of this money and aduoydyng of the sayd fyue robbers pyllers that they shulde than haue ben quyte for euer of them but it proued nat so in dyuers places specially of Aymergot Marcell and of his men For after that the castell of Aloys was yelden vp and solde by Aymergot Marcell to the erle of Armynake whiche fortresse stode in the herte of all Auuergne this Aymergot was well worthe in redy money a huÌ„dred thousande frankes whiche he had goten by robory pyllage and by raunsominge of men and patesynge of the countrey and he had kept the rule more than ten yere Th erle of Armynake desyred gretly to haue in his company the sayd Aymergot Mercell thought nat to leaue him behynd him for two reasons One was bycause he wolde gladly haue the counsayle aduyse of hym for he was experte and subtyle in all feates of armes both in sautynge sealynge and stealynge of fortresses The seconde reason was the erle feared that if this Aymergot shulde a byde behynde in the countrey thoughe he hadde solde to hym the fortresse of Aloyse and other fortresses yet he might do moche domage in the couÌ„trey of Auuergne and Rouergne wherfore therle made great labour to haue hym But alwayes Aymergot dissymuled the mater and said Whan I se the certayne of the erle of Armynakes departyng than I knowe myne owne wyll is so good that I wyll nat byde behynde Other aunswere the erle coulde nat get of hym The erle of Armynake laye at Commynge and aboute Tholousyn in his countrey and there made his assemble whiche voyage had been more hasted and the voyage in to Auffryke hadde nat been that letted hym a season for dyuers knyghtes and squyers that went in that voyage had promysed hym and this voyage in to Barbary came so sodenly that it hyndred his voyage Whan tydynges was knowen in Fraunce of the treaties that the erle of Armynake had made with the sayde capytayns in Auuergne there was made as moche haste as myght be to pay the money to the capytayns Aymergot Marsell was sore dyspleased with hym selfe in that he had solde and deliuered the stronge castell of Aloyse for he sawe his owne auctorite therby greatly abated and parceyued well howe he was the lesse feared for all the season that he kept it he was doubted and feared and honoured with all men of warre of his parte and had kept a great astate alwayes in the castell of Aloyse The patesynge of countreys that he helde vnder subiection was well worth yerely twenty thousande florayns Whan he remembred all this he was soroufull his tresour he thought he wolde nat mynysshe he was wonte dayly to serche for newe pyllages wherby encresed his profyte and than he sawe that all was closed fro hym Than he sayde and imagyned that to pyll and to robbe all thynge consydered was a good lyfe and so repented hym of his good doing On a tyme he said to his olde companyons Sirs there is no sporte nor glory in this worlde amonge men of warre but to vse suche lyfe as we haue done in tyme past What a ioy was it to vs whan we rode forthe at aduenture and somtyme fouÌ„de by the way a ryche priour or marchaunt or a route of mulettes of Mountpellyer of Narbone of Lymons of Fongans of Besyers of Tholous or of Carcassone laden with clothe of Bruselles or peltre ware comynge fro the fayres or laden with spycery fro Bruges fro Damas or fro AlysauÌ„der what so euer we met all was ours or els raunsomed at our pleasures dayly we gate newe money and the vyllaynes of Auuergne and of Lymosyn dayly prouyded and brought to our castell whete mele breed redy baken otes for our horses lytter good wynes beffes and fatte mottons pullayne and wyldefoule we were euer furnysshed as though we had ben kingê whan we rode forth all the couÌ„trey trymbled for feare all was ours goynge or comynge Howe toke we Carlaste I and the Bourge of Compayne and I and Perot of Bernoys tooke
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
Englande suche as his specyall 〈…〉 might come in to your presence and to your counsayle as shortely as myght be to treate for a maner of peace so that it he and you togyther myght couenably and resonably be conâ—oyned and meanes sounde to haue a conclusyon of peace he wold be therof right ioyfull and for that entente he wolde nouther spare his owne payne and laboure nor yet none of his men nother to come hym selfe or to sende suffyciente persones ouer thesee to the cytie of Amyence or to any other place assigned And syr we be come hyder for this entente to knowe your pleasure in this behalfe Than the kynge aunswered and sayde Syr Thomas Percy you and all your company are ryght hertely welcome and of youre comynge and wordes we are ryght ioyfull ye shall â—ary here in Paris a season and we wyll speke with our counsayle and make you suche a couenable answere or ye depart that it shall suffyce you With this answere the englysshe men were well content Than it was nere dyner tyme and the englysshe men were desyred to tary to dyne And so the lorde of Coucy brought them in to a chambre and the lorde de la Ryuer There they dyned at their layser and after dyâ—er they retourned in to the kynges chambre and there had wyne and spyces and thanne toke their leaue of the kynge and wente to their lodgynge THe comynge of syr Thomas Percy and his company in to FrauÌ„ce and the tydynges that they brought pleased greatly the frenche kynge and the duke of Burgoyne and dyuers of his counsayle but nat allâ— and specially suche as ayded to sustayne pope Clementes quarell for they sawe well by these tydynges that if the frenche kynge enclyned to this treatie that it shulde greatly let hynder the voyage that was mynded to go to Rome to distroy pope Bonyfacâ— and his cardynals or els to bringe them to the beleue of pope Clemente But the mater of treatie of peace was so â—egh and touched so moche the welthe and prefyte all crystendome so that no persone durst speke against it The duke of Burgoyn and his counsayle with the kynge and his brother and the duke of Burbone were all of one acorde The kyng made good chere to ser Thomas Percy to the englysshmen but amonge them there was one knyght called sir Robert Briquet wheme the frenche kynge loued nat he was a frenche man borne but alwayes he helde him selfe outher naueroys or englysshe and as than he was one of the king of Englandes priuy chambre The frenche kynge dissymuled with hym sagely for whan he spake to theym alwayes the kynge wolde tourne his selfe to syr Thomas Percy or els to syr Loys Clyfforde and sayd Syrs we wolde gladly se this peace to be had bytwene vs and our aduersary the kynge of Englande for the quarell and warre hath to longe endured bytwene vs. and one thinge I wyll ye knowe that it shall nat be hyndred on out parte though it be gretly to our cost Sir quod they the kyng our souerayne lorde who hath sent vs hyther hathe great affection to haue peace and saythe that it shall nat be let on his parte and hath marueyle that the warre and dyscensyon bytwene your landes hath endured so longe and that no good amyable meanes hathe been had or this tyme. Than the frenche kynge answered and sayd we shall se the good affection that he hath thervnto THese englysshemen taryed at Parys vi dayes and euery day dyned with one of the dukes of Fraunce and in the meane season it was determyned that the frenche kynge his vncles and his priuy counsayle shulde be at Amyence by the myddes of Marche next after there to abyde the coming of the kynge of Englande his vncles and his counsayle if they wolde come thyder And the englysshe knyghtes sayd they made no doute but at the lest the kynge of Englandes vncles shulde be at the day assigned at Amyence this was the conclusyon of this treatie The daye before that they shulde departe out of Parys the kynge came to the palays where his vncles were and there he made a dynner to the Englyssh knightes and caused sir Thomas Percy to sytte at his borde and called hym cosyn by reason of the Northumberlandes blode at which dyner there was gyuen to sir Thomas Percy and to the englyssh knightes and squiers great gyftes and fayre iewels but in the gyunge of them they ouer slypte syr Robert Briquet and syr Peter Villers chefe steward with the frenche kynge delyuered the gyftes and be said to syr Robert Briquet Sir whan ye haue done suche seruyce to the kynge my maister as shall please hym he is ryche and puisaunt ynough to rewarde you With whiche wordê sir Robert Briquet was sore abasshed and parceyued well therby that the kyng loued hym nat but he was fayne to suffre it after dyner mynstels began to play that pastyme ones past sir Thoms Percy caÌ„e to the kyng sayd Sir I and my company haue great marueyle of one thing that ye haue made vs so good chere and gyuen vs so great gyftes that sir Robert Briquet hath nothynge who is a knight of our maisters preuy chambre Sir we desyre to knowe the cause why therto answered the frenche kyng and sayd Sir Thomas the knyght that ye speke of syth ye wyll knowe that mater he hath no nede to be in batayle agaynst me for if he were taken prisoner his raunsome shulde soone be payde and therwith the kyng entred in to other coÌ„munycacion Than wyne and spyces were brought forthe and so tooke leaue retourned to their lodgynge and made a reconyng and payde for euery thyng The nexte daye they departed spedde so in their iourneys that they arryued in EnglaÌ„de and shewed the kyng and his vncles howe they had spedde and greatly praysed the freÌ„che kyng and the chere that he had made them shewed of the gyftes and iewels that he had gyuen them ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue a lytell to speke of the Englysshe men and some what shewe of kyng Iohan of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the dethe of kyng IohnÌ„ of Castyle and of the crownyng of kynge Henry his sonne Cap. C .lxxvi. YE haue herde here before in this hystorie how peace was made bytwene the kynge of Castyle and the duke of Lancastre who chalenged to haue ryght to the realme of Castyle by reason of the lady Custaunce his wyfe doughter to kyng DoÌ„peter And by meanes of a fayre doughter that the duke of Lancastre had by the sayde lady Custaunce the peace was made and confyrmed For the sayde kynge Iohan of Castyle had a sonne to his heyre called Henry who was prince of Galyce This Henry was maryed to the duke of Lancasters Doughter wherby good peace was made bytwene Englande and Castyle and within two yeres after this maryage kynge Iohan of Castyle dyed and was buryed in Burgus in Spaygne Anone after his dethe the prelates
and lordes of Spaygne drewe toguyder and determyned to crowne the yonge herytoure the prince of Galyce This prince Henry was crowned the nynth yere of his age and his wyfe doughter to the duke of Lancastre was a fyfteene yere of age Thus the dukes doughter by the lady Custaunce was quene of Castyle and lady and heritour to all the landes and seignories that kyng Dompeter kyng Henry and kyng Iohan helde excepte that the duke of Lācastre her father and his wyfe her mother had durynge their lyues whiche was a pensyon of a hundred thousande doreyns by yere And foure of the best erles of Spayne were pledges and dettours for the same Thus the duke of Lancastre sawe his two doughters one quene of Spaygne the other quene of Portugale bestowed ¶ Nowe lette vs speke of the yonge erle of Armynake and of the voyage he made in to Lombardy for the matter requyreth it and we shall leaue to speke of the kynge of Castyle ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the army of the yonge erle Iohan of Armynake and of the vyage that he made in to Lombardy And howe he dyed at the siege before the towne of Alexandre Ca. C .lxxvii. IT hath been shewed here before what great of fectyon the yonge Erle of Armynake had to go in to Lombardy with menne of warre to ayde and assyste his suster germayne and his brother in lawe her husbande the lorde Barnabo eldest sonne to the lorde Barnabo whome the duke of Myllayne had caused to be slayne marueylouslye And this duke of Myllayne was erle of Vertues and named Galeas Whose doughter the duke of Orlyaunce hadde to wyfe This sayd lady who was doughter to the olde erle of Armynake and suster to the yonge erle was greatly abasshed and disconforted and had no truste but on her brother She signified to hym all her estate her pouertie and necessyte and dōmage that she suffred And humbly requyred her brother that he wolde helpe to kepe and defende her agaynst the tyraunt the erle of Vertues who wolde disheryte her without any tytell of reason And to the request of his suster the erle of Armynake condiscended and sayde That what soeuer it shulde coste hym he wolde do his deuoyre to ayde his suster And all that he promysed he accōplisshed in dede for he had by the ayde of the erle Dolphyne of Auuergne made dyuers treaties in Auuergne Rouergue Quercy Lymosyn Piergourte Engoulmoys and Agenoyes and had bought certayne fortresses whiche had been kepte by the Englysshe men gascoyns and bretons suche as hadde made warre agaynst the realme of Fraunce vnder colour of the kyng of Englande and all suche as he hadde agreed withall hadde their pardons of the Frenche kyng and besyde that the kyng gaue golde and syluer to be gyuen amonge theym But they were all bounde to the erle of Armynake to go with hym in to Lōbardy to ayde hym in his warres there And euery man shewed hym selfe therto well wyllynge euery man drewe to the ryuer of Rosne and to the ryuer of Sosne The duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne suffred them in their countreys to take vitaylles at their pleasure for they wolde gladly haue had them clene delyuered out of the countre And in that season vnder the kyng there ruled in the Dolphynry the lorde Engueram Durdyn And the kynge had written to hym commaundyng that these men of warre parteynyng to the erle of Armynake shulde pesably passe throughe the countrey and to haue that they neded for their money WHan the erle of Foiz beynge in Byerne in his castell of Ortays vnderstode howe the erle of Armynake assembled men of warre toguyder he began to muse for he was a man greatly ymaginatife Well he had herde howe the brute was that the erle of Armynake made this assemble to go in to Lōbardy agaynst the lorde of Myllaygne But bycause in tyme past the erle of Armynake and his predecessours before him and his brother Bernarde of Armynake had made hym warre therfore he douted lest the sayde assemble shulde tourne agaynst hym wherfore he thought he wolde nat be vnprouyded but prepared his fortresses with men of warre and made suche prouysion that if he were assayled to resyst it with all his puissaunce But the erle of Armynake nor his brother were nothynge of that purpose but thought surely to vpholde the treuce that was bytwene them and to atcheue his enterprice in to Lombardy There were many knyghtes and squyers Englysshe gascoyns bretons and other that were bounde to serue the erle of Armynake in his warres But if he shulde haue made warre agaynst the erle of Foiz they wolde haue taken the erle of Foiz parte and haue forsaken the erle of Armynake the erle of Foiz was so welbeloued with all men of warre for the wysedome largesse and prowesse that was in hym And whan̄e the duchesse of Thourayne was enfourmed howe therle of Armynake was redy to passe ouer the mountayns to entre in to Lombardy with puissaunce of men of warre to make warre agaynst the duke of Myllayne her father And howe that the Frēche kyng and his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne consented therto bycause they wolde haue their countreis clene auoyded of the cōpanyons and routes of pyllars suche as had often tymes greued sore their coūtreys this lady thought nat to forgette the matter but wrote to her father the duke of Millayne all that she knewe to the entente that he shulde take hede to hym selfe and to his countrey The lorde of Myllayne was well enformed of the busynesse and prouyded for menne of warre where he might gette them and refresshed his townes cyties and castelles with vitayle and other munysiōs of warre and loked surely to haue warre with the erle of Armynake as they hadde in dede ABout the myddes of the moneth of Marche the moost parte of these cōpanyons were assembled toguyder in the marchesse of Auignon all a longe the ryuer of Rosne to the nombre of fyftene thousande horses and passed the ryuer and so entred in to the Dolphynny of Vyen and lodged abrode in the vyllages and some passed forwarde to haue the more easy passage thoroughe the mountayns whiche were peryllous to passe bothe for man and horse The erle of Armynake and his brother with certayne other knyghtes wente to Auygnon to se hym that was called pope Clemente and the cardynalles there And offred their seruyce to the pope to ayde hym agaynst the tyrantes the lombardes for whiche offre they were thanked And whan they had ben there an eight dayes and that great parte of their company were paste forwarde They tooke their leaue of the pope and of the cardynalles and prepared to folowe their men there the two bretherne departed a sondre the erle Iohan of Armynake and sir Bernarde his brother Than the Erle sayde Brother ye shall retourne backe to Armynake and kepe our herytage of Comynges and Armynake For as yet all the fortresses
for he was greatly in the loue of the realme Than it was shewed to the knightes of Fraunce that they muste go with them to London otherwyse they coulde haue none answere The two knightes obeyed as it was reason Than the kynge toke his way and the lordes with him to London Whan the kynge came to Darfforde he tooke his waye to Eltham and refresshed him there with the quene and than came to Shene and wente agaynst saynte Georges feest to Wyndsore and there the knyghtes of Fraunce were answered but or I shewe you their aunswereê I wyll somewhat speke of the frenche kynge AFter that this assemble and couÌ„sayle had been at Amyence the Frenche kynge for lacke of good gydyng fell sycke of the feuer wherfore he was counsayled to chaunge the ayre So he was layde in a lytter and caryed to Beamoys and there taryed in the bysshops palays tyll he was hole and recouered his brother the duke of Thourayne with him his vncles the dukes of Berrey and Burbone there he helde his Easter And after whan the kynge was stronge and myght well ryde he rode to Gysors the entryng in to NormaÌ„dy to haue there the sporte of huntynge for theraboute were many fayre wodes The kyng beynge there sir Bernarde of Armynake who was brother to Iohan of Armynake came to the kynge in good array and the Dolphyn of Auuergne in his company whome he founde at Parys in his waye There the erle of Armynake and the Erle of Rodays made their reliefe and homage to the kynge acordinge to the custome as other lordes of Fraunce made their relyefe for suche landes as they helde in fee of the kynge And whan euery thyng was writen and regestred they toke their leaue and retourned to Paris togyther and fro thence to their countreys to Auuergne and to Languedoc And about the feest of Ascensyon tyde the frenche kynge retourned to Parys in good helthe and lodged at his howse of saynte Poll the whiche was ordeyned for hym and thyder was come the frenche quene and the duches of Thourayne NOwe let vs speke of syr Iohan of Castell Morante and of syr Taupyn of Cantmell who were in Englande taryenge for an answere of the kyng and his counsayle They were at Wyndesore at saynte Georges feest where was the kynge his vncles and other great lordes of Englande There these lordes counsayled togyther on suche promyse as they had made to the frenche kyng and his counsayle at Amyence and determyned to delyuer the two Frenche knyghtes that dayly called on them for an aunswere Than these knyghtes were sente for on a day and it was sayde to them thus Syrs be contente for all thinges consydred ye canne haue of vs no full answere at this tyme for it wolde be harde as nowe to assemble togyther the thre estates of the realme vntyll the feest of Mychelmas at whiche tyme they muste nedes be at the parlyamente at Westmynster and to excuse you we shall write letters for the same purpose at whiche season if you or any other for the partie of FrauÌ„ce wyll traueyle so farre as to come thyder they shall haue a reasonable answere suche as generally the hole counsayle of the thre astates shall agre vnto whan the frenche knyghtes sawe what aunswere they had and coulde haue none other they aunswered and sayd Syr we are contente with that ye haue sayd lette vs haue our letters and we shall retourne Than their letters were delyuered to them and so toke their leaue of the kynge and of other lordes and so came fro Wyndesore to London and made theÌ„ redy to departe The kyng of Englande caused all their cestes and charges to be payed for and conueyed to Douer and there taryed a fyue dayes for lacke of wynde and on the sixte day they departed and aryued at Boloyne and whanne their horses were vnshypped they rode to AmyeÌ„ce by small iourneys so to Paris and there they founde the kynge and his lordes It was aboute the feest of Penthecost Their letters were redde wherby they vnderstode the ordynauÌ„ce of the englysshmen As it was shewed me the kynge nor his counsayle toke lytell regarde to the mater for within a season after they had moche ado in other places ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe syr Peter of craon through yuell wyll by subtyle crafte beate downe syr Olyuer of Clysson wherwith the Kynge and his counsayle were sore displeased Ca. C.lxxxv YE haue well herde here before how ser Peter of Craon who was a knyght of great lygnage but he was farre out of the frenche kynges grace and the duke of Thourayns if he dyd somoche to cause them to be displeased with him he dyd yuell ye haue herde also howe he was gone in to Bretayne to the duke who shewed hym that the yuell wyll that the kynge bare hym was by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson It may well be that he was so enfourmed in that he hadde so great hate to the constable sir Olyuer of Clysson for he studyed euer after howe to dystroy hym Thus whyle syr Peter of Craon was with the duke of Bretaygne they wolde often tymes comune togyder and deuise howe they myght bringe syr Olyuer of Clysson to dethe for they sayd that and he were ones deed there was none that wolde greatly reuenge his dethe The duke repeÌ„ted hym that he had nat slayne hym whan he had hym in prisone and wolde as than that it had coste hym a hundred thousande frankes that he had hym agayne at his wyll Whan syr Peter of Craon sawe that the duke had suche hatred to syr Olyuer of Clysson he purposed a marueylous ymaginacien in himselfe for by apparauÌ„ce men shulde gyue iudgement This knyght thought howe so euer it were that he wolde slee the constable and thought to entende to nothynge els tyll he had slayne hym with his owne handes or caused hym to be slayne and afterwarde entreat for peace He douted nothyng IohnÌ„ of Blois nor the sonne of the Vicounte of Rohan who had wedded two of the constables doughters he thought to do well ynough with theym as longe as the duke was on his parte for he sawe well the strengthe and puyssaunce of Bloys was greatly feblysshed for the Erle Guy of Bloys had solde the herytage of Bloys to the duke of Thourayn whiche shulde haue ronne by successyon to therle of Pointhycur Iohan of Bloys wherby he thought that the duke of Thourayne shewed hym but small loue nor alyaunce of lynage to bye away his enherytaunce wherfore this syr Peter thought if syr Olyuer of Clysson were deed sone to apease the kynges yuell wyll and the duke of Thourayns and therby sone to ouercome the lorde de la Ryuer and syr Iohan Mercyer Montagu the Begue of Villayns and syr Iohan of Bulle and other of the Kynges chambre suche as susteyned the constable for he knewe well that the duke of Berrey and the duke of Burgoyne loued them nothynge in wardely whatsoeuer they
but they coulde nat be beleued So the two knyghtes remayned styll in prison in dauÌ„ger openly to haue loste their heedes and by all lykelyhode so they had doone if the kynge had nat recouered his helth and by the meane of the duchesse of Berrey who made instante labour for the lorde de la Ryuer And the lorde Clysson was styll in Bretayne and made sore warre agaynst the duke there and the duke agaynst hym whiche warre cost many a mannes lyfe as ye shall here here after in this hystory TRewe it is this sycknesse that the kyng tooke in the voyage towardes Bretayne greatly abated the ioye of the realme of Fraunce and good cause why for whan the heed is sicke the body canne haue no ioye No man durste openly speke therof but kepte it priuy as moche as myght be and it was couertly kept fro the quene for tyll she was delyuered and churched she knewe nothynge therof whiche tyme she had a doughter The physycion mayster Guyllyam who had the chefe charge of healynge of the kynge was styll aboute hym and was ryght dyligent and well acquyted hymselfe wherby he gate bothe honour and profyte for lytell lytell he brought the kynge in good estate and toke away the seuer and the heate and made hym to haue taste and appetyte to eate and drinke slepe rest and knowledge of euery thynge howe be it he was very feble and lytell and lytell he made the Kynge to ryde a huntynge and on hawkynge And whanne tydynges was knowen through Fraunce howe the kynge was well mended and had his memory agayne euery man was ioyfull and thanked god the kyng thus beyng at Crayell desyred to se the quene his wyfe and the Dolphyn his sonne So the quene came thyder to him and the chylde was brought thyder The kynge made them good chere and so lytell and lytell through the helpe of god the kynge recouered his helthe And whan mayster Guyllyam sawe the kynge in so good case he was ryght ioyfull as reasone was for he had done a fayre cure and so delyuered hym to the dukes of Orlyance Berrey Burgoyne and Burbone and sayd My lordes thanked be god the kyng is nowe in good state and helth so I delyuer hym but beware lette no man dysplease hym for as yet his spyrytes be nat fully ferme nor stable but lytell and lytell he shall waxe stronge Reasonable dysporte rest and myrthe shall be moste profytable for hym and trouble hym as lytell as may be with any counsayles for he hath been sharpely handeled with a hote malady Than it was consydred to retaygne this mayster Guylliam and to gyue hym that he shulde be contente with all whiche is the ende that all physicions requyre to haue gyftes and rewardes He was desyred to abyde styll aboute the kynge but he excused himselfe and sayd howe he was an olde impotent man and coulde nat endure the maner of courte wherfore he desyred to returne in to his owne countrey Whan the counsayle sawe he wolde none otherwyse do they gaue him leaue and at his departing gaue him a thousande crownes and retayned hym in wages with four horses whan so euer he wolde resorte to the courte Howe be it I beleue he neuer came there after for whan he retourned to the cytie of Laon there he contynued and dyed a ryche man He lefte behynde hym a .xxx. thousande frankes All his dayes he was one of the greatest nygardes that euer was all his pleasure was to get good and to spende nothynge for in his howse he neuer spente past two souses of Parys in a day but wolde eate and drinke in other mennes howses where as he myght get it With this rodde lyghtly all physicyons are beaten ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the truse whiche was acorded bytwene Englande and FrauÌ„ce for thre yeres was renewed Cap. C.xci. AS ye haue herde here before in the bokes of this hygh and excellent hystory at the request of the ryght hygh and myghty prynce my dere lorde and mayster Guy of Chastellone erle of Blois lorde of Auesnes of Chymay of Beaumont of Streumehont of the Gode I Iohan Froysart preest and chapeleyn to my said lorde and at that tyme treasourer and chanon of Chymay and of Lysle in Flaunders haue enterprised this noble mater treatynge of the aduentures and warres of Fraunce and Englande and other countreys conioyned and a lyed to them as it may apere clerely by the treaties therof made vnto the date of this presente day the whiche excellent materê as longe as I lyue by the helpe of god I shall coÌ„tynue for the more I folowe and labour it the more it pleaseth me As the noble knyght or squyer louynge the feates of armes do perceyuer in the same and be therby experte and made parfyte so in laborynge of this noble mater I delyte and take pleasure ¶ It hath ben here before conteyned in our hystory howe truce was made at Balyngham to endure thre yere bytwene Englande and Fraunce and for that purpose the erle of saynt Poll the lorde of Castell Morant and syr Taupyn of Cauteuell ambassadours of FrauÌ„ce had ben in Englande with the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke for to vnderstande the kinges pleasure and the opynion of the coÌ„mons of Englande for at the comunycacyon and parlyamente at Amyence they were at a poynte of agrement of peace vpon certayne artycles specifyed reseruynge the agrement therto of the coÌ„mons of Englande thus these ambassadours were retourned in to Fraunce and were answered howe that at the feest of saynt Mychell nexte ensuynge there shulde be a Parlyament at Westmynster of the thre estates of Englande at whiche tyme the mater shulde be declared and a full aunswere made Whan tydynges was come in to Englande of the frenche kynges sycknesse that matter was greatly hyndred howe be it kynge Rycharde of Englande and the duke of Lancastre had great affection to haue had peace so that if they might haue had their ententes peace had ben made bytwene Englande and Fraunce But the coÌ„mynalte of Englande desyred warre sayenge howe warre with Fraunce was more conuenyent for them than peace and of that opynyon was one of the kynges vncles Thâ— mas duke of Glocestre erle of Perces and constable of Englande who was welbeloued in the realme he enclyned rather to the warre than to peace And of his opynyon were the yonge gentylmen of the realme suche as desyred feates of armes But his brother the duke of Lancastre bycause he was eldest and of most puissaunce in Englande he thought and said that the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce had endured longe ynoughe and that peace were more mete â–ª for by the warre cristende me was sore febled for the great turke Lamorabaquyn was with greate puyssaunce on the fronters of HuÌ„gery wherfore he sayd it shulde be honorable to all yonge lusty knyghtes and squyers to take their waye thyder and there to exercyse dedes of armes LEtte
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
hym horses Sir Olyuer of Glysson roode ofter abrode than the duke dyde And it fortuned on a day he encountred two squyers of the dukes the one called Berâ—ard the other yuonet they were taken and brought to sir Olyuer who was gladde of them He knewe them well one of them hadde done hym seruyce in tyme past and the other nat but he had done hym displeasure Than sir Olyuer said to yuonet Remembrest thou nat howe in the Castell of Ermyne thou sheweddest me but small curtesy and thou Bernarde haddest pyte on me and dyddest putte of thy gowne and putte it on me whaÌ„ I stode in my doublet on the pauement the whiche kepte me fro colde I wyll nowe yelde thy curtesy to the thy lyfe shal be saued but thou false knaue and traitour yuo net thou myghtest haue done otherwyse thaÌ„ thou dyddest therfore thou shalte repent it and therwith drewe his dagger and strake hym to the herte Another tyme the lorde Clisson rode with thre hundred speares in his coÌ„pany towarde the castell of Alroy where the duke and duchesse of Bretayne were This was aboute Mydsomer and by fortune he encountred a fourtie of the Dukes seruauntes who hadde tyed their horses to the trees and had sickels in their haÌ„des and were cuttyng downe the corne and makynge trusses to cary to their lodgynges lyke forragers Whan the lorde Olyuer came on them they were sore afrayde and the lorde Oliuer said Sirs howe dare ye come in to the feldes to steale and to take awaye poore meÌ„nes corne ye neuer sowed them and yet ye cutte theym downe or they be type ye begyn haruest to soone Leape on your horses and take youre sickels for this tyme I wyll do you no hurt and saye to the duke of Breraygne who is in Alroy that if he wyll come or sende his men to driue me away here he shall fynde me tyll the sonne goynge downe These poore men were gladde they were so delyuered they feared to haue ben slayne So they retourned to the castell of Alroy to yeâ—â—ke and shewed hym what they hadde herde and sene but the duke nor none of his men issued out of the castell Many scrimysshes were made in Bretaygne bytwene the duke and sir Olyuer of Clysson and they of the countre medled nat bytwene them ¶ Nowe we wyll leaue to speke of the duke of Bretayne and of sir Oliuer of Clysson and of their warre and speke of the busynesse bytwene Englande FraÌ„ce ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the forme of the peace made bitwene the Frenche kyng the kyng of Englande by meanes of the four dukes vncles to bothe kynges Cap. C.xcv. YE haue herde here before howe the ê‘liameÌ„t was holden in the cytie of Amyence and howe the Englysshe lordes departed and vpon what artycles howe the Frenche kynge sent after in to Englande to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the answere that they hadde of the Englysshmen who were harde to be brought to any peace For it laye nat all onely in the kyng nor in the dukes of Lancastre and yorke for great parte laye in the commens of Englande and archers and other seruyng men they sayd howe they had rather haue warre than peace many yong knightes squiers were of that same opynion for by reason of the warre they had maynteyned their estates howe be it ê‘force they were fayne to obey as the kyng his vncles wolde The duke of LaÌ„castre bycause his .ii. doughters were quenes the one of Spaygne the of Portugale And also bycause he sawe the kynge his nephue enclyned to haue peace he sayd the warre had endured longe ynoughe and sayde he wolde take payne therin so it myght be for the honour of the kyng and the realme On the other partie the duke of Burgoyne dyde all that he myght do to haue peace consydring howe he was greatly charged with the busynesse of Fraunce And that his two nephues the Frenche kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce were yonge of age and of discrecion Also he consydred howe he was enherytour to the duchy of Brabant and thought that if euer Flaunders and Brabant shulde vary agaynst the crowne of FrauÌ„ce with the ayde of Englande as they had other tymes done before that the realme of Fraunce shulde than haue ouer moche to do the duke of Burgoyne was a wyse and a farre castyng prince and depely regarded his busynesses This duke of Burgoyne and the duke of Lancastre tooke great payne to haue a Parlyament agayn to be holden at BalynghmÌ„ whiche was agreed and bothe partyes suffycyently prouyded with full auctorites to conclude a full peace And this counsayle to be holden at Balyngham in the moneth of May than nexte after in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and .xvii. and all suche as shulde be at this assemble were named and apoynted FIrste on the party of kynge Rycharde kinge of Englande were apoynted his two vncles the duke of Lancastre and the duke of Gloucestre who were greatly in fauoure with all the coÌ„mons of England and with all such that loued berter to haue warre than peace and with them shulde be the archebysshop of yorke the bysshop of London and other clerkes of the lawe It was apoynted that these lordes shulde come to Calays as they dyd aboute the myddes of Aprill anone after the feest of saynte George holden at the castell of Wyndesore by the kynge and other knyghtes of the ordre of the garter And on the frenche party there was aisygned the dukes of Bertey and Burgoyne to be there and other counsaylours of FrauÌ„ce and it was ordeyned that they shulde come to the towne of Boloyn and the frenche king who as he shewed had great affection to haue peace bytwene EnglaÌ„de and hym sayde to his vncles that he wolde come as nere to the parlyament as he myght wher vpon it was aduysed where the frenche kinge shulde lye the parlyament durynge at Balyngham Somesayd at saynt Omers and some sayd at Thourayne and some at Mutterell or Abuyle But all thynges consydred it was aduysed that the kynge shulde lye at Abuyle bycause the towne was stronge and well fournysshed and there euery man shulde be well lodged Whan this was determyned drousyon was made there for the kynge and he to be lodged in the abbay of saynt Peters an abbay of blacke monkes and thyder came the kynge and the duke of Orlyaunce and their counsayle and the lorde Reynolde of Corby chauncellour of Fraunce The dukes of Berrey and of Burgoyne and suche other as were in their coÌ„myssion were at Boloyne And the dukes of Lancastre and Gloucestre other were at Calays It was goodly to beholde to se the ordre of this parlyament that was holden at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and englysshmen There were tentes and pauylyons pyght vp to refresshe bothe partyes and twyse or thryse a weke the coÌ„myssioners mette there in a fayre tente ordayned for that purpose aboute nyne of
Line To speke truely this cardynall was an holy manne and of good lyfe This electyon was made condycionally that if the frenche kynge and his counsayle were content therwith or els nat Nowe regarde and considre the great subiectyon that the churche was in In that where the churche shulde be free they submytted them to be vnder suche as shulde haue ben ordred by theym Thus this cardynall de la Lyne was chosen pope and named Benedic He gaue generall graces to all clerkes that wolde come to Auignon And by the couÌ„sayle of his bretherne the cardynalles he wrote of the creacyon of his papalyte to the Frenche kynge But as I was enfourmed the kynge toke lytell regarde therto for as than he was nat determyned whether he shulde take hym for very pope or nat and ther vpon the kynge sent for the greatest clerkes of the vnyuersyte of Paris to haue their aduyse and counsayle Than mayster Iohan of Gygâ—neourte and mayster Pyer Placyous who were in prudence and lernyng the greatest clerkes in Parys sayde to the kynge in the name of all the hole vnyuersyte howe that the cysme of the churche corrupted the crysten fayth and howe that it myght nat long endure in that estate without all crystendome shulde repent it and rynne in great daunger and specially the prelates and preestes of the churche They of the vnyuersyte were determyned to sende no rolles to Auygnon for any clerkes to haue any graces of this Pope Benedyc The frenche kynge sawe well their opynyons were reasonable and wolde haue none of his clerkes enrolled to seke for the popes graces tyll the mater were better determyned Thus that mater abode styll in that estate Howe be it the duke of Berrey exalted greatly this pope Benedic and sent his roll wherby moche people were purueyed of graces of this Benedic The duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse dyssymuled the mater with the kinge and so dyd the duke of Orlyaunce with many other great lordes of Fraunce and some for fauoure helde them to this pope Benedyc who denyed no man his graces to the entent that his courte at Auygnon shulde be full and to haue the more reputacyon The duke of Bretaygne folowed the frenche kynges opinyon for he was before tyme so abused by the enformacyon of his cosyn the erle of Flaunders that his herte wolde neuer enclyne to beleue on Pope Clemente though the clerkes of Bretaygne beleued and helde hym for pope So whan any promocyon was voyde in Fraunce the kynge promoted his clerkes without gyuynge any knowledge therof to this pope Benedic wherwith he and his cardynalles at Auygnon were sore abasshed and douted leste the frenche kynge wolde restrayne suche rentes and profytes as they were wonte to haue of the benefytes gyuen in the realme of Fraunce Than they determyned to sende a legate in to Fraunce to speke with the Kynge and his counsayle to knowe howe he wolde ordre hym agaynst the churche and to shewe hym howe that he that is chosen pope is vnder this condycyon that if he be pleased than he to abyde styll as pope or els they to put hym out of his papalyte and the cardynals to entre agayne in to conclaue and chose one after the kynges pleasure At this tyme was come to Paris and was about the kynge the freer mynour a meke man who was sente in to Fraunce by pope Bonyface of Rome The frenche kynge herde gladly this freers prechynge Than came in to Fraunce the legate fro Auygnon who was a great and a subtyle clerke and well langaged Than the hole vnyuersyte counsayled the kynge and sayde howe it were well done that eyther Bonyface or els Benedyc to be put out of thâ— is papalyte and all his cardynalles to be putte out of their cardynalyties And in stede of them to be chosyn good clerkes wyfemen and of good conscyence as well of Almayne and Fraunce as of other nacyons And they to be sette toguyder by good delyberacyon and counsayle without fauour or yuell wyll to sette the churche therby at one poynt with one pope They sayde they sawe well there was none other waye to bringe it to a good conclusyon bycause pride and enuy so reygned in the worlde that the princes and lordes eche helde their owne partie This preposycion that the vnyuersite hadde made before the kynge pleased right well the kynge and the dukes of Orlyaunce of Surgoyne And the kyng sayd he wolde write and sende messangers to the kynge of Almaygne and of Boâ—sme and of Hungry and to the kyng of Englande And he thought hym selfe sure ynough of the kynges of Castyle of Nauer of Aragon of Cicyle of Naples of ScotlaÌ„de that they wolde obey to suche a pope as he and his Realme obeyed vnto And vpon this the frenche kyng sente his letters messangers to these sayde kynges There was good leysar in doing of this bothe in goyng and coÌ„myng agayne with answere and in that meane tyme there passed out of this worlde at Parys the noble clerke maysters Iohan of Gygencourt of whose dethe the kynge and the lordes and the hole vniuersyte were right sorie for he laste nat his felowe behynde him and he had in his dayes taken great payne to reforme the churche and to haue brought it in to a perfyte vnyte ¶ Of a clerke named mayster IohnÌ„ of warennes Capi. C.xcvii THe same season there was a great clerke at Auignone bothe of Scyence and of prudence doctor in the lawes auditor of the palais of the casion of RaÌ„nes called maister Iohan of warennes And by reason of suche seruice as he had done to pope Clement to other he was greatly auauÌ„ted and promoted with benefices and he was at that poynt to be a bysshop or a cardynall he had been chapelayne with one at Auygnone called saynte Peter of Lusenbourge The same maister Iohan WareÌ„nes for all his promocions he resigned theÌ„ all and retayned to hymselfe but a small lyueng and that was the sextenty of our lady churche in Renes worthe by yere if he be resydent a C. frankes in absence but .xxx. and so deê‘ted fro Auignon came to dwell nere to Renes in a village called saint Ley. there he ledde an holy lyfe preched the worde of god and exalted moche the pope at Auygnon and condeÌ„pned in his wordes the pope at Rome He was visited of moche people of all countreis that came to se hym and to se the holy lyfe that he ledde He fasted euery day Some people sayd that the cardynals at Auignon by crafte and subtylte hadde sent hym thider to exalte and to colour their opinyon or els he was come thider to shewe his holy lyfe He wolde in no wyse be called the holy man of saynt Ley but the audytor He had alwayes in his coÌ„pany his mother He sayd masse euery daye deuoutly and all that was gyuen him he wolde gyue it agayne for god dessake He wolde aske nothyng of
to pertaygne to the kynge and realme of Englande They hadde alleged to the kynge and his counsayle that his gyfte myght nat passe so bycause it was vnprofytable and mutyle For they sayd all those landes helde of right and of the demayne of the crowne of Englande Wherfore they sayde they wolde nat disioyne nor disceuer theÌ„ fro the crowne They alleged furthermore many other reasonable causes as ye shall here after in this processe But thus to haue coâ—sayle of those two great matters the kynge had sente for the moost parte of the prelates and lordes of Englande to be at the feest of Maudelyntyde at a manner of the kynges called Eltham a seuyn Englysshe myles fro London And whan they had taryed at Ledes a four dayes the kyng retourned to Rochester and so to Elthame so I rode forthe in the kynges company ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Of the refuce of them of Acquytayne made to the duke of Lancastre and howe they sent in to Englande to the kynge and his counsayle shewyng hym the wyll of the hole couÌ„trey of Acquytayne Cap. CC.i. IN rydynge the waye bytwene Leades and Eltham I demaunded of syr Willyam Lysle and of syr IohnÌ„ of Graily capitayne of Bouteuyll the cause why the king drewe to London warde and why that great counsayle shulde assemble at Eltham They tolde me and specially syr Iohan Graily rehersed to me playnly why the lordes of Gascon were come thyder and the counsaylours of the good townes and cyties thus I was enfourmed by this knight who knewe the trouth for he was often tymes amonge theym they and he were in a maner all of one countrey and fronter he sayde thus Surely whan the Duke of Lancastre came fyrst in to Acquytayne suffycyently fournysshed with charters and wrytinges engrosed and sealed with the great seale of Englande and enrolled and fermely decreed with full accorde of all prelates and lordes of Englande and also by consente of the duke Edmonde of yorke and Erle of Cambridge and of Thomas duke of Gloucestre though the sayd herytages might by succession haue come to them for Kynge Rycharde of Englande their nephue had as than no chyldren and these sayd two dukes were brethern germayns of father and mother to the duke of Lancastre whiche duke anone after he was come in to Acquytayne sente some of his counsayle to the cytie of Burdeaux to shewe to the Mayre counsaylours of the towne the fourme and tenoure of his request and for what cause he was come in to the countrey Whan they herde this they greatly marueyled howe be it they ioyfully receyued the kynges and dukes coÌ„myssioners for the honoure of the kynge to whome they ought their seruyce and obeysaunce Than they desyred to take couÌ„sayle and so they dyd Than after they aunswered and said that the duke of Lancastre sonne to kynge Edwarde who had ben their lorde was welcome amoÌ„ge them and none otherwyse for they sayde they had nat so farre forthe taken counsayle as to receyue hym to their souerayne lorde for they sayd that to kyng Rycharde their soueraygne lorde they had done feaultie and homage and as than he had made them no quytaÌ„ce Than aunswered the coÌ„myssioners and sayd Syrs feare nat but that ye shall haue suffycient dyscharge in that behalfe so ye take the duke to your souerayne lorde for ye shall se by the content of the kinges charters that there shall neuer questyon be made therof in tyme to come WhanÌ„e they of Burdeaux sawe they were so nere touched they founde theym another socoure and sayd Fayre lordes your coÌ„myssion extendeth nat all onely vpon vs but in lykewyse to them of the cytie of Bayon and to the prelates and barones of Gascoyne and to all that be vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Englande ye shall drawe you towardes them and as they do and ordre theÌ„ we shall folowe the same Other aunswere the coÌ„myssioners coulde nat haue at that tyme of them of Burdeauâ— Than they departed and rode to Lyborne where the duke of Lancastre laye WHan the duke herde their aunswers he imagyned in hymselfe that the â—â—synesse that he was come thyder for shulde nat be so sone atcheued as he trusted it shulde haue ben Than he sent his couÌ„sayle to the cytie of Bayon and as they sped in Burdeaux so they dyd there other answere coude they haue none And fynally all the prelates and noble men counsaylours of cytes good townes in Gascoyne vnder the obeysaunce of the kyng of Englande conioyned them togyder and concluded in the forme and manner as I shall shewe you They sayde they wolde gladly receyue the duke of Lancastre in to their cytâ—es townes and castelles as the sonne of kyng Edwarde and vncle to kinge Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de so that at his entringes he shulde solemply swere that pesably and in good maner he and his shulde entreat the people with out enforsynge of any thynge and to pay reasonably for euery thynge that they shulde dispende and also to swere that he shulde nat oppresse nor cause to be oppressed the iurysdictyon of the Crowne of Englande by no maner of waye nor accyon The duke aunswered to this and sayd that he was nat come in to the countrey to greue or oppresse the people but wolde rather kepe and defende them agaynst all men as his herytage and desyred and requyred theym that the coÌ„maundement of the kynge of Englande myght be obserued and acomplisshed Than the hole countrey by a comune voyce sayd that in no wyse they wolde departe fro the crowne of Englande and that it was nat in the kynge of Englandes power to gyue them away to another lorde nor to put them fro the crowne of Englande These demaundes and denyenges were longe a debatyng bytwene the duke of Lancastre and the lordes and townes of Gascon And whan the duke sawe none other remedy than he made request to the countrey that the prelates and noble men and couÌ„saylours of the good townes shulde sende suffycient personages to the kynge of Englande and to his counsayle and howe he wolde sende in lykewyse notable persones of his counsayle and loke what so euer the kyng and his counsayle shulde determyne in that cause he promysed surely to abyde ther by whether it were with hym or agaynst him Than they of Gascon consydred well that his request was reasonable and agreed to do as the duke had desyred Than the duke rode to Burdeaur and was lodged in the abbey of saint Andrewes where he had ben lodged before tyme. Than they of the cytie of Bayon and Dar apoynted suffycient personages to sende in to Englande and the barons of Gascon vnder the kinges obeysaunce sent in lyke wyse Also ye shall knowe that whan the frenche kyng and his vncles vnderstode that the duke of Laucastre was peasably entred in to the cytie of Burdeaux and knewe nat for what entent nor whether he wolde kepe or breake the trewce Than he and his counsayle
heyres as myght dyscende of the Duke of Lancastre shulde conioyne theym by maryage to the chyldren of some kynge in Fraunce or of dukes of Berrey Bretaygne or erles of Foize or Armynake or kynges of Nauarre or dukes of Aniou or of Mayne and than they beynge beyonde the see peraduenture in the parties of Fraunce shulde clayme their enherytaunce and therby put the countrey of Guyen in dyscorde and to bring it to be against the crowne of Englande wherby the kynge of Englande than reygnynge and the Realme also shulde haue peraduenture ouer moche payne to recouer it agayne and so the ryght to be put farre of fro thence whervnto it shulde retourne and be as of the demayne of the Crowne of Englande Wherfore ryght dere syr and redouted lordes and noble counsaylours please it you to consydre all these poyntes and artycles which I haue purposed in your presence and determyne it as ye shall seme best for syr the full opynion of all the countrey is they saye they wyll abyde styll in the obey saunce of you ryght redouted lorde and kynge and in the demayne of the noble Crowne of Englande Therwith this offyciall helde his peace and the prelates and lordes eche of them regarded other Than they drewe togyther and aproched to the kynge fyrste his two vncles and the erles of Derby and Arundell Than they of Acquytayne were coÌ„maunded to departe tyll they were called agayne They departed and also the two knightes that were come thyder fro the duke of Lancastre Than the kyng demaunded counsayle what shulde be done and what aunswere shulde be made The prelates tourned the aunswere to the kynges vncles bycause the mater touched them rather than any other At the fyrst they excused them sayeng they myght nat well aunswere for the mater was coÌ„mune and ought to be debated by coÌ„mune counsayle and nat by lygnage nor fauour Thus they bode a good space but fynally the aunswere was layde on the duke of Gloucestre and he was prayed and requyred to saye his aduyse Than he aunswered and sayde howe it was a herde thynge to take a way or to dysanull the gyfte of a kynge confermed and sealed by the acorde of all his subgiettes and by delyberacyon of his specyall counsayle wherfore he sayde his subgiettes shuld be rebell that wolde nat obey for in that they wolde make that the kynge shulde nat be lorde of his owne enheritaunce if that he myght nat do with his owne what it pleased hym some glosed those wordes and some thoughâ— in their corage that the aunswere was nat reasonable but they durste nat saye agaynst it the duke of Gloucestre was so sore dred and the erle of Derby sonne to the duke of Lancastre was there presente who furthered those wordes and sayde Fayre vncle ye haue well sayd I am of your opinyon Therwith the counsayle began to breke and some murmured one with another and they of Guyen nor yet the duke of Lancasters knightes were nat called agayne at that tyme. Whan the kynge sawe all the mater he dyssimuled a lytell and it was his entensyon that they shulde assemble togyther agayne in counsayle after dyner to se if any other propre way myght be taken for the honoure of the crowne of Englande Than the kynge caused the bysshop of Caunterbury to speke of that he had gyuen hym in charge in the mornynge to speke of that was vpon the state of his maryage and to sende in to Fraunce The lordes were of accorde and named them that shulde go whiche were the archebysshoppe of Duuelyn the erle of Rutlande the Erle Marshall the lorde Beaumonde the lorde Hughe Spenser the lorde Loys Clyfforde and twenty knyghtes and xl squyers These were sent in to Fraunce to treat for the maryage of the frenche kynges doughter Isabell of eyght yere of age and yet she was all redy promysed to the duke of Bretayns sonne by a treatie that was made in Towrs in Thourayne Nowe beholde howe this myght be broken for the Frenche kynge and his vncles hadde sealed with the duke of Bretayne yet for all that thenglysshe ambassadours had their charge gyuen vnto them and so they departed out of Englande and aryued at Calays there taryed a fyue dayes and than departed in great araye and tooke the waye to Amyence and they sente before Marche the haraulde who had brought to them saueconducte goynge and comyng and besyde that the lorde Moncheuerell was sette to be their guyde and to se them serued of all thynges necessary ¶ Nowe we shall leaue to speke of them and retourne to our fyrste purpose NOwe as I haue shewed you before the counsaylours of the Cyties and good townes of Acquytayne prayed the kynge and his counsayle to whome they were boude to mayntayn their lyberties and fraunches as in the demayne of the Crowne of Englande as he was sworne to do affermynge that surely they wolde kepe their auncyente lyberties and wyll nat breke it for no maner of cause or condycion and in holdynge thus their opynyon foure partes of the counsayle and the coÌ„mune voyce of the countrey reputed theym for valyaunt and worthy men But the duke of Gloucestre was of another opinyon for he wolde that his brother the duke of Lancastre shuld haue bydden styll in Acquytayne for he thought he was ouer great in Englande and to nere the kynge as for his brother the duke of yorke he cared nat for the duke of yorke was a prince that loued his ease and lytell busynesse Also he had a fayre lady to his wyfe doughter to the erle of Kent on whome was all his pleasure But the duke of Gloucestre was subtyle and euer demaunded somwhat of his nephue kynge Rycharde yet he was but poore for all that he was a great lorde and constable of Englande and erle of Hertforde of Perces and of Bokyngham and also he had yerely out of the kynges cofers foure thousande nobles and neuer rode on the kinges busynesse nor for the realme one daye without he knewe why and wherfore For these causes he was nat indyfferent for the maters of Acquytayne for he wolde haue had his brother of Lancastre to haue bydden still in Acquitayn for euer for than he thought he wolde haue shyfted well ynoughe in Englande As soone as he had sayd his sentence as ye haue herde before and that he sawe some murmured in the kynges chambre and that the prelates and lordes talked togyther two and two he issued out of the chambre and the erle of Derby with hym and came in to the hall at Eâ—tham and made a clothe to be layde on a table and so sate downe to dynner and lefte all other styll talkynge togyther Whan the duke of yorke knewe that he was at dyner he went to kepe hym company and after dyner whiche he made shorte the duke of Gloucestre dyssymuled the mater and tooke his leaue of the Kynge syttynge at the table and so departed and toke his
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
euer they founde her for they sayde she was but a yonge chylde of eyght yere of age wherfore they sayd there coulde nat be in her no great wysdome nor prudence howe be it she was indoctryned well ynough and that the lordes founde well whan they sawe her The Erle Marshall beynge on his knees sayde to her Fayre lady by the grace of god ye shall be our lady and quene of Englande Than aunswered the yonge lady well aduysedly without counsayle of any other person Syr quod she and it please god and my lorde my father that I shall be quene of Englande I shall be glad therof for it is shewed me that I shall be than a great lady Than she toke vp the erle Marshall by the hande and ledde him to the quene her mother who had great ioy of the answere that she had made and so were all other that herde it The maner countenaunce and behauoure of this yonge lady pleased greatly the Ambassadours and they sayd amonge them selfe that she was lykely to be a lady of hygh honoure and great goodnesse Thus whan these lordes of Englande had ben at Parys a twenty dayes and their costes and charges payed for by the frenche kynge a reasonable aunswere was gyuen them so that they were put in great hope to bringe aboute that they came for howe be it the frenche men sayd it coulde nat be doone shortly bycause the lady was so yonge and also she was fyansed to the duke of Bretayns eldest sonne wherfore they sayd they must treat to breke that promesse or they coude procede any further in that mater and thervpon the frenche kynge and his counsayle shulde sende into Englande the next lent after to shewe howe the matter wente And whan the dayes begyn to encreace and waxe fayre Than the kynge of Englande to sende agayne in to Fraunce whome it shulde please hym and they shulde be welcome With this aunswere the englysshe men were contented and toke leaue of the quene and of her doughter and of the kynge and of all other and departed fro Paris and toke the same way they came and so retourned to Calays and than in to Englande and the two erles rode in post before their company to bringe tydynges to the kyng ▪ they rode fro Sandwiche to Wynd sore in lesse thanne a daye and an halfe The kynge was ryght ioyouse of their comynge and was well contente with the frenche kynges aunswere He set the mater so to his herte that he toke great pleasure therin and tooke hede to none other thynge but studyed howe he myght bringe it aboute to haue the frenche kinges doughter to wyfe ON the othersyde the Frenche kynge and his counsayle studyed daye and nyght howe they myght make this maryage with Englande to the honour of the realme of Fraunce There were many in the realme of Fraunce that sayd that if they had been called to these treatyes and our wordes herde the kynge of Englande shulde neuer haue the doughter of Fraunce for any maner of peace What good shulde it be for Fraunce seynge the trewce bytwene them endured but for two yere to come and than shall we fall agayne in warre and eche of vs hate other as we haue doone before The dukes of Berrey and Orlyance were of the same opynion and dyuers other lordes of Fraūce But the king the duke of Burgoyne and the chauncellour of Fraunce enclyned to this maryage and gladde to haue peace reseruyng alwayes the honour of the Realme The same tyme there was a squier in Fraunce of the nacyon of Normandy in the countrey of Caulx he had in his dayes ben sore traueyled in farre parties and as than he was newly retourned into Fraūce his name was Robert le menuot but as than he was called Robert the Hermyte he was relygyous and of good lyfe of the age of fyfty yere he had been at the treaties that was holden at Balyngham at whiche tyme he was well herde and howe he entred than in to that treatie I shall shewe you ⸪ ¶ Of a Squyer named Roberte the Hermyte howe he was sente to the treaties of the peace holden at Balyngham howe he was after sente in to Englande to kynge Rycharde and his vncles Cap. CC.iiii SO it was whan this Roberte the Hermyte returned in to Fraūce out of the parties of Surey and toke shyppyng at Baruch Whyle he was vpon the see a great tempest of wynde rose in suche wyse that they feared to be perysshed and euery man tell to make his prayers to god And at the ende of this tempest and that the wether began to waxe fayre and clere there apered to Robert the Hermyte an ymage more clere than Crystall and sayd thu◠Robert thou shalte issue and escape this parell and all thy company for loue of the for god hath herde thyne orisons and prayers and he sendeth the worde by me that thou shuldest make hast in to Fraunce and go to the kynge and shewe him thyne aduenture and say vnto him that in any wyse he enclyne to haue peace with his aduersary kynge Rycharde of Englande and amonge them that be treaters of the peace preace thou forthe and shewe them thyne aduysyon for thou shalte be herde and say that all suche as be of the contrary opinyon against the peace shall bye it derely in their lyfe tyme in this worlde And therwith the clerenesse and voyce vanysshed away Than Robert abode in a great study but he remembred well what he hadde sene and herde by the deuyne inspyracyon And after this aduenture they had fayre wether and the wynde at their wysshynge and than aryued in the Ryuer of Gennes and there Robert the Hermyte toke leaue of his company and went by lande fro thence tyll he came to Auygnon And the fyrst thynge he dyd he went to the churche of saynt Peter and there foūde a good vertuous man a penytenser and of hym he was cōfessed and shewed hym all his aduenture and demaunded counsayle what was best to do Than his goostly father charged hym in any wyse that he shulde speke nothynge of this mater tyll he had shewed it fyrste to the frenche kynge and loke what counsayle the kynge dyd gyue him so to do This Robert folowed his counsayle and arayed hym selfe in symple habyte all in gray and so poorely departed fro Auygnon and iourneyed so longe that he came to Parys but the kynge was at Abbeuyle and the treatie beganne at Balyngham bytwene the frenche men and Englysshe men as ye haue herde before Than this Robert came to Abuyle and drewe to the kynge and a knyght of his acquayntaunce brought him to the kyng whiche knyght was of Normandy and was called sir Willyam Martell he was of the kynges priuy chambre Than Roberte the Hermyte shewed the Kynge all his hole iourney and aduēture The kyng herde hym well and bycause the duke of Burgoyne and syr Raynolde Corby chauncellour of Fraunce who were of the
kynges opynyon to haue peace were at Balyngham in the treatie holden there the kynge sayd to Robert Our counsayle as nowe is nat here they be at Balyngham ye shall abyde here with me and whan they be retourned I shall speke with myne vncle of Burgoyne and with our chauncelloure and than we shall do in this mater as they shall aduyse me syr quod this Robert as god wyll so be it THe same weke the Frenche kynges counsayle returned fro Balyngham to Abbeuyle and brought with them the artycles of the maner of the peace whiche the englysshe men had deuysed and the maters were so weyghty that the treatie was put ouer tyll another daye vnto suche tyme as bothe kynges were aduertysed of eche others demaundes and their pleasures therin to be knowen Than on the frenche partie the frenche kynge drewe a parte his vncle of Burgoyne and the chauncellour and shewed them what enfourmacyon Robert the Hermyt had made vnto him and the kynge demaunded of them if it were a thynge lysytte and lawfull to beleue They studyed a lytell and at last sayde Syr we requyre youre grace lette vs se this hermyte and here hym speke and thervpon we wyll take aduyse Than he was sent for Whan he came before the kynge he made his reuerence Thanne the kynge sayd Roberte shewe vs here at length all the hole mater as ye enfourmed me before Sir quod he gladly Than as he that was nothynge abasshed rehersed all the hole mater as ye haue herde before Whan he had doone he departed Than the kynge asked of his vncle what was best to be done Syr quod he the chauncellour and I shall take aduyse agaynst to morowe Well quod the kynge so be it Than the duke and the chauncellour counsayled togyther on this mater They sawe well the kynge greatly enclyned to this Robertes wordes therfore they thought it good to aduyse the kynge to ioyne this Robert in coÌ„myssion with them to go agayne to Balyngham to the treatie of peace for they thought his langage so fayre and so swete that he shulde styrre the hartes of them that shulde here hym speke to haue peace and to shewe the deuyne vysion that he had to the lordes of Englande This they thought lawfull ynough to be done and the nexte day they shewed this to the king And than after whan the duke and the chauncellour wente agayne to Balyngham they had this Roberte with them And whan all the lordes frenche and englysshe were assembled togyder in counsayle than this Robert came before them and there well and wisely he declared all the vysion that he hadde on the see and affermed that it was inspyracyon deuyne sente by god bycause he wolde it shulde be so Some of the lordes of Englande toke good hede to this mater and enclyned therto as the duke of Lancastre the erle of Salysbury the lorde Thomas Percy and other the bysshops of Lyncolne and London but the duke of Gloucestre and the erle of Arundell toke no hede nor set nothynge therby Whan they were in their lodgynges they sayd they were but fantasies and wordes fayned by the frenchmen to abuse them all howe be it they determyned to write to kynge Rycharde the maner and sayenge of this Robert the Hermyte and thervpon sent a knyght called Rycharde Credon to kynge Rychardeê who he founde in Kent at the castell of Leades and delyuered him letters sent fro his ambassadours in the marches of Calays wherin was conteyned the hole sayenge of this Robert The kynge tooke great pleasure in these letters and sayd howe he wolde gladly speke with this Robert the hermyte he beleued this vysion to be of trouthe Than the kyng wrote agayne to the duke of Lancastre and to the erle of Salysbury that if it myght be by any meanes that a good peace myght be taken bytwene hym and the frenche kynge their realmes and alyes for he sayde surely he thought that the warre had ouerlonge endured and that it was tyme to haue peace And ye haue herd here before howe the treaters bare them and how the lordes departed one fro another and howe the treuce was taken to endure for foure yere This was the entent of the lordes of the englyssh party except the duke of Gloucestre for he thought whan so euer he came in to Englande neuer to agree to any peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande He dyssimuled as moche as he might to th entent to please the king and his brother of Lancastre Thus by this meanes Roberte le Hermyte came to knowledge ANd as ye haue herde here before how the erle of Rutlande therle Marshall the archebysshop of Dunelyn the lorde Hugh Spenser the lorde Lewes Clyfforde and other had been sent in to Fraunce to treate for kynge Rychardes maryage and were retourned agayne in to Englande and brought the kynge good tydynges so that the kynge was well pleased as ye haue herde before Than Mychelmas came and the generall couÌ„sayle began suche as englysshe men call the terme wherin all maters be debated and at the begynnynge of the sayd terme the duke of Lancastre returned out of Gascon in to Englande and had nat ben receyued there as he thought he shulde haue been as ye haue herde before So whan the duke of Lancastre was retourned the kyng made hym good chere Tydinges anone came in to Fraunce howe the duke of Lancastre was retourned in to Englande than the frenche kynge and his counsayle determyned to sende Robert the Hermyte into Englande with letters to the kynge who desyred to se hym and that the erle of saynt Poll shulde acquaynte hym with the kyng and with the lordes that they myght here hym speake of the busynesse of Surey and Tartary and of the greate Turke and Turkey where he had ben longe for it was thought that the lordes of Englande wolde gladly here speakyng of suche maters Than this Robert the Hermyte was warned to make hym redy to go in to Englande in coÌ„myssion wherof he greatly reioysed bycause he had neuer been there before So he had letters delyuered hym dyrected to the kyng of Englande and to his vncles Thus Robert departed fro Parys with seuen horses at the cost and charge of the frenche kynge and rode tyll he came to Boloyne and there tooke the see and aryued at Douer and spedde so in his iourneys that he came to Eltham and founde the kynge there and the Duke of Lancastre the erles of Salysbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Thomas Percy and for the honour of the frenche kynge he was well receyued and specyally of the kynge who desyred greatly to se hym Than he delyuered his letters of credence whiche were redde ouer by the kynge and the other lordes The duke of Gloucestre was nat theâ— he was in Essex at a Castell of his called Plasshey Whan this Robert had been with the kynge and with the duke of Lancastre at Eltham a fyue daies he departed thens to gose the
duke of Gloucestre and so toke leaue of the kynge and of the lordes and came to London and the next day rode fyftene myle fro London to a towne called Brendwode and the next day to Plasshey and there he founde the duke and the Duchesse and their chyldren who ryght goodly receyued hym acordyng to his degre Than Robert delyuered hym his letters sent fro the frenche kyng And whan the duke sawe they were of credence he drewe this Robert a parte and demaunded what credence he had Robert aunswered hym and sayd syr I shall shewe therin to you at good leyser I am nat come to departe agayne so soone Well quod the duke ye be welcome This Robert knewe well ynough that the duke of Gloucestre was a sore dyslymulynge prince and contrary to any peace and thought it harde to breke hym fro his opinyon for he knewe well he was alwaies contrary to the peace whiche was well sene at the treaties at Balyngham for he neuer demaunded but to haue warre yet for all that Robert the Hermyte spared nat to speke to the duke on the forme of peace Alwayes he founde the duke colde in aunswers and sayd the mater lay nat in hym for he had two elder bretherne the duke of Lancastre and the duke of yorke to whome the mater partayned rather than to hym and also that if he wolde consent therto alone peraduenture the other lordes prelates and counsaylours of good townes wolde nat accepte it Well quod Robert the Hermyte for the loue of our lorde Ihesu Christ be ye nat contrarye to the peace for ye maye do moche and also ye se well howe the kyng your nephue enclyneth to the peace and wyll by maryage haue the Frenche kynges doughter by whiche coniunctyon shal be gret alyaunce of peace and loue Than the duke aunswered and sayd What though ye be beleued and herde at this tyme with the kynges and lordes of bothe realmes and that ye haue good audyeÌ„ce with them and with their counsaylours the mater is so hygh and weyghty that it is conuenyent that greater personages than ye shulde meâ—le therwith I haue tolde you and often tymes I haue said that I shall neuer be contrary to the peace so it be to the honoure of the kynge and the Realme of Englande In tyme paste peace was taken bytwene the king our father and our brother the prince of Wales and kinge Iohan of FrauÌ„ce and the frenche party sworne and bounde vppon payne of sentence of the pope and yet it helde nat for the frenchmen fraudulently haue broken all couenauntes haue taken agayne possessyon of all the landes and lordeshyppes that were yelded delyuered at the peace makyng to our sayd souerayne lorde and father and to our predecessours and moreouer of the soÌ„me of .xxx. thousande frankes that the redempcyon mounted vnto there is yet to paye syxe huÌ„dred thousande frankes wherfore such maters to remembre troubleth sore our corages and we and many of this realme marueyle greatly howe the kynge our souerayne lorde leaneth to so yonge aduyse counsayle and regardeth none otherwyse the tyme passed and the tyme present but enclineth to alye hym by maryage with his aduersary and by that alyaunce dysheryte the Crowne of Englande his successours to come of the clayme of Fraunce Ah ryght dere lorde quod Robert our lorde Iesu Christ suffered passyon on the Crosse for vs all synners and pardoned his dethe to them that crucyfied him in lykewyse a man must pardon that wyll come to the glory of heuen and sir all yuell wylles hates and rancoures were pardoned the daye that the peace was made and sealed at Calays by our predecessours and nowe warres haue been a game newly renewed bytwene your men and ours I thynke surely through faulte on bothe parties for whan the prince of Wales duke of Acquytayne was retourned out of Spayne in to Acquytayne there were a certayne maner of people callyng themselfe companyons wherof the moste partye were englysshe men and gascons holdynge of the kynge of Englande and of the prince of Wales These people assembled them togyther and entred in to the realme of Fraunce without any tytell of reason wherby ensued mortall eruell warre greater than was before These companyons called the realme of Fraunce their chambre they were so set to do yuell dedes that they coude nat be resysted And whan the realme of FrauÌ„ce sawe and felte them so harmed by this people and sawe well the lengar they contynewed the more they multyplyed more hurte they dyd than kyng Charles of FrauÌ„ce sonne to kyng Iohan was couÌ„sayled by his subgiettes to resyst subdue suche enemyes outher by warre or otherwyse and many great barons of Gascoyne came to the frenche kyng suche as said they were sore ouerlayde with their lorde the prince of Wales many iniuryes done to theÌ„ whiche they shewed to the frenche kynge they might nat nor Wolde nat suffre no lenger and so they beganne the warre bycause of their resorte to the prince of Wales Than this kynge Charles by counsayle of them and of his subgiettes enhardyed himselfe to the warre with these barones of Gascoyn for to mete against these companyons And in this newe warre many lordes retourned to the frenche kynge and dyuers lordeshyppes cyties townes and castels for the great oppression that the prince of Wales dyd to theÌ„ and consented to be done by his coÌ„myssioners Thus the warre was renewed wherby many great myschyefes haue fallen to the dystruction of moche people and countreys and the faythe of Christ sore febled and decayed the enemyes of god ryssen and coraged and haue all redy conquered moche parte of Grece the emperour of Constantynople hath nat the power to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of the great turke called Basant Lamorabaquyn who hathe conquered the realme of Armony excepte all onely a towne standynge on the see syde called Tourche whiche the venysians and genouoys kepe agaynst the turke and the emperour of Constantyne the noble who is of your blode he was sonne to the emperoure Hugues of Luzignen and of my lady Mary of Burbon cosyn germayne to my lady the quene your mother he shall nat be able of longe to resyst the puyssauÌ„ce of this gret turke and if peace maye be had bytwene Englande and Fraunce as I trust by the grace of god it shall be than knyghtes squyers suche as demaunde for dedes of armes for their aduauncement shall drawe them to that parte and shall helpe kynge Lyon of Armony to recouer agayne his herytage and to put out the turkes for surely the warre hath ouerlonge endured bytwene Fraunce and Englande and surely who so euer it be that is or wyll be against the peace shall derely aunswere therto outher quycke or deed Howe knowe you that quod the duke of Gloucestre Syr quod Robert all that I say cometh by dyuyne inspyracyon and by a vysione that came to me vpon the see as I retourned fro Baruchâ—
a porte in Surey besyde the isle of Rodes Than he declared all his hole vysion the rather therby to moue the dukes herte to pytie and reason but this duke was herde herted agaynst the peace and kept styll his opynion and by his wordes condempned and dispysed greatly the frenche men for all that euer Robert the Hermyte coude say but bycause that this Robert was a strauÌ„ger and shewed by his wordes and werkes that he wolde all were well and also bycause the duke sawe that the kyng his nephue enclyned to haue peace he dyssymuled and spake fayre what so euer his herte thought Two dayes this Robert taryed at plasshey with the duke and had good chere and the thyrde day departed and retourned to London and fro thence to Wyndesore where the kynge made hym good chere for loue that the frenche kyng had sent him thyder and bycause he was wyse and eloqueÌ„t and of swete wordes and honest It is nat to be doubted but that the kynge demauÌ„ded of hym howe he founde his vncle the duke of Glocestre And Robert answered him well to the poynte The kyng knewe well his vncle of Gloucestre enclyned rather to warre than to peace wherfore he fauoured moche better his other two vncles dukes of Lancastre and yorke whan Robert the hermyte had ben a moneth with the king he toke his leaue and at his departynge the kynge gaue hym great gyftes and so dyd the dukes of Lancastre and yorke and the erles of Huntyngdon and Salysbury and the lorde Thomas Percy The kynge caused hym to be conueyed to Douer and there passed ouer in to Fraunce and he founde the frenche kyng and the quene and his vncles at Paris and there shewed the kinge all his voyage and what good chere he had in Englande Thus dayly messangers went in out bytwene these two kynges and amyable letters sent bytwene them the kynge of Englande desyred nothyng so moche as to come to this maryage and semblably the frenche kynge had lyke desyre for he thought his doughter shulde be a great estate if she might be quene of Englande ¶ Of the delyueraunce of the lorde de la Ryuer and of syr Iohan le Mercyer and howe they were put out of prisone Cap. CC.v. YE haue herde here before howe the lorde de la Ryuer and sir Iohan le Mercyer were in ieoperdy of their lyues and remoued fro prison to prison at laste delyuered to the prouost of the Chatelet of Parys and were at the poynte to lose their lyues and all for hate enuye that the dukes of Berrey and Burgoyne and their counsayle had to them They were in this daunger more than two yere The kyng socoured theÌ„ for always he stopped the execusion and that the dukes of Berrey Burgoyne sawe well and also they perceyued that the duke of Orlyaunce ayded them as moche as he might also the duches of Berrey was a good meane for them and specially for the lorde de la Ryuer and also the one coulde nat be condempned without the other for they were accused all for one cause The prayers of good folkes and their ryght togyther ayded theym Than it was regarded by many of the high barones of FrauÌ„ce who had pytie on them and sayd they had suffred prisonement ouerlonge and that it was tyme to shewe them grace for this Iohan le Mercyer had so moche wept in prison that his syght was sore decayed so that he coude scant se the brute ranne through the realme that he was blynd Than at last they had sentence gyuen them of grace by the kynge and there the lorde de la Ryuer was restored agayne to all his landes and castels as the fayre castell of Aniou but he was charged on payne of his lyfe that whan he was ones in his castell of Aniowe that he shuld neuer after repasse the ryuer of Sayne without he were coÌ„maunded by the kynges owne mouthe And syr Iohan le Mercyer to retourne to PouÌ„te de Nonnon in to his fayre house in Laonnoys and he nat to repasse the ryuer of Oyse of Marne nor of Seyne without he were in lykewyse called by the kynges owne mouth Thus they bounde them selfe to take this prisonment and thought they had a great grace to scape so well were ryght ioyouse whan they were delyuered fro the Chatelet They trusted whan they came out of prison to haue spoken with the kynge and to haue thanked hym of his grace but they coulde nat be suffred but were coÌ„maunded to auoyde out of Parys and to resorte thyder as they were coÌ„mauÌ„ded Thus they were delyuered wherof their frendes had great ioy ¶ Of the peace that was hadde bytwene the duke of Bretayne and sir Olyuer Clysson Cap. CC.vi. yE haue herde howe the duke of Bretayne and syr Olyuer of Clisson warred longe togyther mortally for bytwene them they toke none to mercy and surely syr Olyuer of Clysson and his partie bare them so valyauÌ„tly that of thre he had twayne for the lordes of Bretaygne dyssimnied with the duke and men of the cyties and good townes sayde howe they must nedes lyue and vse their marchaundyse what so euer warre was bytwene the duke and syr Olyuer of Clysson for they sayd it touched them nothinge wherfore they wolde nat entermedâ—e bytwene them but euer the Vycount of Rohan the lorde de Leoâ— and the lorde of Dignan treated for a peace to be had bytwene them So moch they pursewed that the duke promysed to be entreated so that the myght se syr Olyuer in his presence and speke with him and thervpon these lordes on a day rode to a fortresse of syr Olyuers to speke with him and there they shewed him for what cause they weâ— come thyder and howe they had got grauÌ„t of the duke to sende to him a safeconducte safely to go and come to speke with hym sayeng that surely they thought if he were ones in his presence all the yuell wyll and displeasures shulde be clerely pardoned Than sir Olyuer sayd Sirs ye are all my frendes and louers and I trust great lye in you and beleue that the duke hath promysed as you saye and I thynke he wolde gladly se me in his preseÌ„ce But so good helpe me and saynt yues vpon his worde and promise I ensure you I wyll nat ones issue out of my house But I shall tell you what ye shall saye to hym that if he wyll haue me to come to hym let hym sende hyder in pledge his eldest sonne and whan he is here thanÌ„e I wyll go and speke with hym suche ende as I shall make his sonne shall make yf I retourne he shall do in lykewise and if I abyde he shall abide Whan these lordes sawe they coude haue none other ende they tooke their leaue and retourned to Wannes where the duke was and shewed euery thynge as they had herde The duke coude haue none other waye This sir Olyuer bare hym selfe so valyauntly
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
was tyll Michelmas that the ê‘lyament at Westmynster shulde begyn And in the meane season great prouision was made at Calais and at Guysnes for the kynge and for other lordes sent fro the portes of Englande on that cost and great prouisyon was had out of Flaunders all came by see to Calais In lykewise for the Frenche kyng and for his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and his vncles other prelates and lordes of Fraunce great prouisyon was made at saynt Omers at Ayre at Tyrwyn at Arde at Mountoyre and at all other houses and abbeyes there about there was nothynge spared on bothe parties and specially the abbey of saynte Bertyne was well replenysshed of all thynges to receyue these kynges This ê‘lyament at Westmynster began at Mychelmas and it was ordeyned to endure .xl. dayes But it was abridged for the king wolde nat tary there but .v. dayes wherin he declared the thynges most necessary parteyning to the realme and specially that mater that touched hym selfe and the cause why he caÌ„e fro Calais That done he retourned towardes Calais agayne and with hym his two vncles of Lancastre and Gloucestre and other prelates and lordes of Englande suche as were coÌ„maunded to go with him They spedde them so in their iourney that they came agayne to Calays The duke of yorke taryed styll in Englande and the erle of Derby to gouerne the realme in the kynges absence Whan the kyng of Englande was thus returned to Calais the lordes of Fraunce beyng in Picardy were aduertised therof Than the duke of Burgoyn and the duchesse his wyfe came to saynt Omers and were lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne As sone as the FreÌ„che kyng knewe that the kynge of Englande was come agayne to Calais he sente to hym therle of saynt Poule to shewe hym what order was taken in Fraunce concernyng his maryage whiche the kynge of Englande was gladde to here ThanÌ„e the duke of Lancastre and his sonne Beauforde of Lancastre The duke of Gloucester and Affren his sonne the erle of Rutlande the erle mashall erle of Huntyngton the kynges chamberleyne and many other lordes knyghtes squyers and ladyes rode with the Erle of saynt Poule to saynt Omers where they were well receyued of the duke of Burgoyne and of the duchesse and thyder came the duke of Bretaigne and had lefte the Frenche kynge at Ayre and his doughter with hym ye maye well knowe all the chere that coude be deuysed was made to the Englysshe lordes and ladyes and other at saynt Omers and the duchesse of Burgoyne made them a great dyner There was the duchesse of LaÌ„castre and her sonne two doughters there was great gyftes gyuen of plate of Golde and syluer nothynge was spared in so moche that the Englysshe men hadde marueyle therof and specially the duke of Glocestre sayd to his couÌ„sayle I se well there is great rychesse in the realme of Fraunce there was moche gyuen to hym to the entente to abate and to molyfie his rancour that he hadde agaynste Fraunce The lordes of Fraunce knewe well that he was alwayes harde to agre to the peace wherfore they shewed hym as moche token of loue and honour as they coude do He toke euer all their gyftes but alwayes the rancour abode styll in his hert for all that euer the Frenche men coulde do they coulde nat molifye his fell stomake for always he made herde answers as they treated for any peace The Frenche men be subtyle yet for all that they coude gette no hold of hym for his wordes and aunswers were alwayes so couert that they wyst nat howe to vnderstaÌ„de them Whan the duke of Burgoyne sawe his maner he sayde to his counsayle We lese all that euer we do to this duke of Gloucestour for as longe as he lyueth there shal be no sure peace bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande For he shall alwayes fynde newe inuencyons and accydentes to engender hate and stryfe bytwene bothe realmes for he enteÌ„deth nor thynketh none other thynge If it were nat the truste that we haue in the kyng of Englande wherby here after to fare the better the kyng shulde nat haue to his wyfe our cosyn of Fraunce WHan the duke and duchesse of Burgoyne the couÌ„tesse of Neuers the countesse of saynt Poule and the other lordes and ladyes of Fraunce hadde greatly feested the lordes and ladyes of Englande than there was coÌ„municacion howe these two kynges shulde mete speke toguyder and howe the lady shulde be delyuered thervpon apoyntment was made and leaue taken on all partes The Englysshe ê‘tie returned to Calis to the kyng shewed what chere they had and what presentes had ben gyuen them These newes pleased well the kyng for he was gladde whan he herde any honour spoken of the Frenche kyng he was so in loue with hym bycause of his doughter whome he trusted to haue to his Quene Than anone after the Frenche kyng came to saynt Omers and was lodged in the abbey of saynt Bertyne and dislodged all other that were there before and had the duke of Bretayne in his company And than it was ordayned that the dukes of Berrey of Burgoyne and of Burbone shulde go to Calis to speke with the kynge of Englande SO they came to Calays and were ioyouslye receyued had as good chere as coulde be deuysed These thre dukes had secrete communycacion with the kynge and his counsayle so that many bothe of Fraunce and of Englande reputed that there was a peace concluded bytwene Fraunce and Englande And in dede it was nere at a poynt and the duke of Gloucester agreed well therto as at that tyme. For the kyng of Englande hadde promysed hym if he wolde agree to the peace to gyue his son Affren the erldome of Rochester in herytauÌ„ce and to make hym spende yerely in reuenewes two thousande pounde sterlyng and to gyue to hym selfe as soone as he came in Englande in redy money fyftie thousande nobles so that by reason of these gyftes the duke of Gloucestours hardnesse was well aleyed So that the lordes of Fraunce sawe well his opinyons were nat so obstynate as they were before for they founde hym than swete and meke WhanÌ„e euery thynge was ordeygned of that they came for they tooke leaue of the kynge and other and retourned to saynt Omers to the Frenche kynge and shewed howe they hadde spedde Than the Frenche kyng wente to the bastyde of Arde and the duke of Burgoyne to Mountoyre and the duke of Bretaygne to the towne of Esque and the duke of Berrey to Balyngham And in euery ê‘te all aboute there were pyght vp Tentes and Pauilyons and all the countrey full of people what of FrauÌ„ce and of Englande The kynge of Englande came to Guysnes and the duke of Lancastre with hym and the duke of Gloucestre to HaÌ„mes Thus on a Fridaye beyng the euyn of Symon and Iude in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and sixtene about tenne
Turkey with his preseÌ„tes and message Than letters were written sealed and delyuered agayne to the same messaÌ„ger and so he departed to retourne in to HuÌ„gry ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duchesse of Orlyaunce doughter to the duke of Myllayne was had in suspecte of the Frenche kynges syckenesse Cap. CC.xx. YE haue harde here before howe the FreÌ„che kyng lightly euery yere was sore enclyned to fall in to a fraÌ„sey so that there was nother Phisycion nor surgion that coude remedy hym Many said they wolde helpe hym but whanÌ„e it came to the poynt all their labour was in vayne for the kynges sickenesse wolde nat cease nother for prayers nor for medycins tyll it had ron his full course Some of his phisycions and arioles and charmers whan they sawe no remedy than they said surely howe the kynge was poysoned or be wytched by crafte of sorcerye whiche noyse made the lordes other to haue many in suspecte And some of these nigromancers affyrmed that the kynges sickenesse came by reason of sorcery and charmes And to make theÌ„ beleue it was so they sayd they knewe it by the spyrites who had shewed it to them Of these deuins arioles and charmers there were certayne brente at Parys and at Auignon They spake so moche and sayd that the duchesse Valentyne of OrlyauÌ„ce doughter to the duke of Myllayn hadde witched the kynge to the entent to attayne to the crowne of Fraunce They had so sclaundred this lady the brute ran through the realme that she vsed suche craftes of sorcery sayeng that as long as she was about the kyng and that he myght se her the kyng shulde nat ameÌ„de So it behoued this lady to auoyde this sclaunder and to flye fro the paryll therof to departe fro Parys and so she wente to Asyners a fayre Castell nere to Pontoyse ê‘teyning to her husbande the duke of OrlyauÌ„ce And afterwarde she went dwelt at Newcastell on the ryuer of Loyre parteynynge to her husbande who was sore displeased in his hert that suche a brute ran vpon his wyfe howe be it he dissymuled the mater as well as he myght Nor dyd nat absent hym selfe fro the court for he had moche busynesse for the maters of the realme The duke of Myllayne called Galeas was well enformed howe his doughter the duchesse of Orlyaunce was accused wherof he was sore displeased And he sente twyse or thrise ambassadours to the Frenche kyng and his couÌ„sayle and offred to fynde a knyght to fyght at vttrauÌ„ce with any man that wolde accuse his doughter of any trayson And the messaÌ„gers in a maner thretned that the duke wolde make warre in to Fraunce bycause the frenche kyng beyng in good helthe at Balyngham bitwene saynt Omers and Calis said that assone as he were retourned in to FrauÌ„ce he wolde entende to nothyng but to make warre vpon the duke of Myllayne And also the kyng of Englande who as than called hym selfe his sonne bycause he had maryed his doughter promysed to sende hym a thousande speres and sixe thousaÌ„de archers wherof the frenche kyng was right ioyfull Prouisyon was made for the Frenche kyng in the countie of Sauoy in the Dolphenry The kynges mynde was to entre that waye in to Lombardy to make warre on the duke of Myllaygne But that iourney toke none effecte For whan tidynges was brought in to Fraunce of the disconfyture of the batayle before Nicopoly in Turkey and of the dethe and takynge of the lordes of Fraunce The kynge the duke of Burgoyne were so charged and busyed in that behalfe that the iourney in to Lombardy was defected And also they sawe well that the duke of Myllayne was in fauoure with Lamorabaquy so that they durst nat displease hym so lette hym alone ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe the duke of Burgoyne and the duchesse his wyfe toke great dylygence to fynde the meanes to redeme out of prisone the erle of Neuers their sonne and the other prisoners beyng in Turkey Cap. CC.xxi THe duke of Burgoyn and the duches studyed all the wayes they coulde deuyse by what maner or tretye they myght gette their sonne out of prysone they knewe well or they coulde haue hym they shulde be fayne to pay for hym a great raunsome they mynisshed their housholde and kept a meaner estate and gathered as moche golde and syluer as they coulde for without that they coulde nat bringe aboute their purpose And they gate theym aquayntauuce with marchauntes venycience and genouoys and suche other for they thought by their meanes they shulde the rather come to their purpose the duke of Burgoyne lay styll at Paris with the kynge his nephue and had the chiefe gouernaunce of the realme wherby his busynesse had the better effecte The same seasone there was at Parys a marchaunt of Turkey who had all the doynge for all other Lombardes he was knowen and spoken of through out all the worlde his name was called Dyne of Responde by hym all exchaunges were made He was in good fauour with the kyng and other lordes before this iourney in Turkey but than after the batayle he was moche more made of Often tymes the duke of Burgoyne demaunded of hym counsayle howe he myght entre in to treatie with Lamorabaquy for the redempcion of his sonne and of the other prisoners in Turkey Sir ê™ this marchauÌ„t lytell and lytell some meanes wyll be founde Syr the marchauntes of Gennes and of other isles are knowen ouer all and occupyeth the trade of marchauÌ„dyse in Quayre in Alexandre in DaÌ„mas in Danuet in Turkey and out in farre countreys hethan for as ye knowe well marchaundyse flyeth ouer all the worlde Syr let the kynge and you write amyably to theym and promesse them great benefytes and profytes if they wolde do for you There is nothynge but it is ouercome with golde and syluer And also syr the kynge of Cyper who hath hadde no warre with the kyng Lamorabaquy he may ryght well ayde you Syr as for me ye may be sure I wyll do what I canne for I am bounde therto It is nat to be marueyled though the duke of Burgoyne and the duches sought out wayes howe they might recouer agayne their sonne for he was their heyre therfore it touched theÌ„ ryght nere The ladyes of Fraunce tooke great sorowe for their husbandes and louers specyally the lady of Coucy coude nat forget her husbande she wepte pytuously nyght and daye and coulde take no comforte The duke of Lorayne and syr Henry her two bretherne came to saint Gobyn to se and to recomforte her as moche as they myght they sayd they wolde sende in to Turkey to knowe howe he dyd for they said they vnderstode howe he had a more gentyll prisone than any of his felowes had The lady Coucy thanked greatly her two bretherne for their counsayle and great comforte Than she desyred sir Robert Den a valyaunt knyght of Cambresys to take the payne to go in to Hungery and in to Turkey to
doughter of the duke of Lācastre he was erle of Huntyngdon and chamberlayne with the kynge it was he that slewe the sonne of Rycharde erle of stafforde as ye haue herde here before in this hystorie The sayde Rycharde erle of Stafforde had a squyer to his sonne who was with the duke of Gloucestre This erle of Huntyngdon moste cōmonly was euer in the courte with the kynge his brother and he knewe more of the dealynge of the duke of Gloucestre than any other dyd for couertely and wysely he made enquery and also he douted greatly the duke for he knewe he was fell and sodayne and hyghe mynded and sawe howe he kept his enemye aboute hym for the dethe of the yonge Stafforde and the peace therof was neuer made but the grudge therof contynued styll The kynge loued well his brother and bare him against euery man and the kynge sawe well howe his vncle the duke of Gloucestre was euer contrary to hym and was euer about to conspyre agaynst him and to styrre the realme to rebellyon so the kynge and his brother of Holande wolde often tymes comune togyther The same seasone the frenche kyng had sent the erle of saynt Powle in to Englande to se the kyng and his doughter the quene and to norisshe loue for the truce was made in suche maner and cōdycion that their subgiettes myght repayre eche to other in dyspyte of all their yuell wyllers the kynge and the erle of Huntyngdon made them good chere as well for the honoure of the Frenche kynge as for that he had wedded their suffer At that tyme the Dukes of Lancastre nor of yorke were nat with the kynge for they began somwhat to dissymule for they sawe well that the people in Englande beganne to murmure in dyuers places on the state and rewle that the kynge kept and that the maters were lykely to go yuell They thought they wolde nat be at the kinges cōmaundement nor at the peoples And all this came by reasone of the duke of Gloucestre and his company The kynge of Englande spared nat to shewe therle of saint Powle the state that Englande stode in and howe he founde alwayes his vncle the duke of Gloucestre harde and rebell agaynst hym and shewed hym all thynge that he knewe Whan the erle of saynt powle herde the kynge say in that wyse he had great marueyle therof and sayde howe it ought nat to be suffred and sayd Syr if ye suffre this they wyll dystroy you it is sayd in Fraūce howe the duke of Gloucestre entendeth to nothynge but to breake the peace and to renewe the warre agayne and that lytell and litell he draweth the hertes of yonge men of the realme to his parte for they desyre rather warre than peace so that the auncyent wyse men if the warre beganne to styrre they shulde nat be herde nor beleued for reason right nor iustyce hath no place nor audyence where as yuell reygneth therfore prouyde therfore rather betymes than to late it were better ye had theym in daunger than they you These wordes of the erle of saynte Powle entered greatly in to the kynges hert and made hym sore to muse and after that the erle of saynt Powle was retourned in to Fraunce the kyng of Englande shewed all this mater to his brother the erle of Huntyngdon who said to the kynge Syr my fayre brother of saynt Powle hath shewed you the trouth therfore take good aduyse in this mater ANd as I was enfourmed aboute a moneth after that the erle of saynte Powle had ben in Englande and retourned in to Fraunce a paryllous fame and renome ranne vpon the kynge in Englande and in a maner there was a generall brewte that the erle of saynt Powles cōmynge in to Englande was to treate with the the kynge that the frenche men myght haue Calayes in to their handes This brute greatly troubled and moued the people in Englāde in so moche that certayne of London roode to Plasshey to the duke of Gloucestre and shewed hym of that matter The duke apeased nat their wordes but rather augmented it more and more Sayenge howe he coulde nat do therwith But sayd he was sure that the frēche men wolde it hadde coste theym all their kynges doughters so that they might haue Calais at their pleasure This answere set the Londoners a fyre and sayde howe they wolde speke with the kynge and shewe hym howe the realme was nat cōtent Well quod the duke shewe it hym in good maner and make doute that the people wyll nat be contente And marke well what answere he maketh and shewe me therof the nexte tyme I speke with you and thervpon I shall gyue you counsayle what ye shall do farther It maye well be that there be some false traytours counsayleth the Kynge to the same There is the erle Marshall who is Capytayne of Calays who hath been two tymes in Fraūce and taryed at Parys and he was one of the chiefe procurers in the treatie for the kynges maryage with the doughter of Fraunce And these Frenche men are ryght subtyle and can driue their purpose a farre of and lytell and lytell pursue their ententes and wyll gyue largely to bringe about their purpose ACordynge to the dukes counsayle the Londoners on a daye wente to Eltham to the kynge at whiche tyme there was the kynges two bretherne the erle of Kent and therle of Huntyngdon the erle of Salisbury and the archebysshoppes of Caūterbury and of Duuelyn his confessour the lorde Thomas Percy the lorde Lysle Richarde Credon Iohan Boulofer and dyuers other knyghtes of the kynges chambre There these londoners right wisely shewed the kynge their ententes in a meke hūble maner and sayde howe the brute ranne that the kynge was about to delyuer vp Calais into the Frenche mennes handes The kyng had great marueile of these newes for it touched hym nere to the hert But right sagely he dissymuled the mater for that tyme and apesed the Londoners and sayd howe all that noise was wronge for it was nothyng so But for trouthe he said the erle of saynt Poule was come in to Englande for none other entente but to sporte hym and was sent thider by the Frenche kynge to se hym and the quene his wyfe Other marchaundyse the kynge sayde there was none bytwene them and that the kynge sware by the faythe that he owed to god and to the crowne of Englāde and said howe he had great marueyle wherof suche wordes shulde ryse Than̄e the erle of Salisbury sayde Sirs ye good men of London Go home to youre houses and be well assured that the kynge and his Counsayle wyll do nor entende to do any thynge but that that shal be for the honour and profite of this his realme of Englande And who so euer hath fyrst brought vp these wordes are yuell coūsayled and shewe well howe they wolde gladly haue this realme in trouble to haue the people to ryse agaynst the kyng whiche thynge
ye of London ought to feare for by reason of the laste rebellyon ye were in great paryll to haue been all vtterly dystroyed For whan yuell people be vp gouerne iustyce nor reason than hath no place Those wordes apeased greatly the Londoners were contented with the kynges answere and so retourned to the cytie of London And the kynge taryed at Eltham ryght pensyue and full of displeasure by reason of the wordes that he had herde and had stylle about hym his two bretherne and other suche as he trusted beste for he thought hym selfe natte well assured amogne his vncles For he sawe well howe they absented theym selfe fro his Courte and kepte them at home at their owne houses so that he was halfe in doute of them and specially of the duke of Gloucestre And so kepte dayly aboute hym a garde of a thousande archers YT was enformed the kynge of Englande of a suretie that his vncle the duke of Gloucestre and the Erle of Arundell purposed with puissaunce of people to take the kyng and the yong quene and to putte them in to a castell there to be kepte surely in an honest maner with meate drinke other necessaries And also howe there shulde be set four gouernours in the realme as the duke of Lancastre the duke of yorke to rewle fro the Temmys northwarde vnto the ryuers of HuÌ„bre and Thyne of Thay ronnyng by the cytie of Warwyke comprehendynge all the signories of Northumberlande and the boundes of Scotlande And the duke of Gloucestre had all the rule of LoÌ„don and of the londoners and of Essexe coÌ„prehendyng all the boundes of the See and thider where as the ryuer of HuÌ„bre entereth in to the see and also of all the portes and hauyns aboue London to Hampton to Cornwall And the erle of Arundell he to haue the rule of the landes mouynge fro London bytwene Sussexe and Kent Arundell Surrey Deuonshyre and Barkeshyre and of all the hole signories bytwene the ryuer of Thamyse and Bristowe the ryuer of Syuerne whiche departeth Englande and Wales And they shall holde and do iustyce and reason to euery man But their entencyons is if they can fynde any reasonable waye to moue agayne and to renewe the warre bytwene Englande and Fraunce and that if the FreÌ„che kyng wolde haue agayne his doughter he shulde for sithe she is but eight yeres of age paradueÌ„ture whan she cometh to .xii. yeres she may repente her and refuce her mariage bycause she was maryed in her youth And also it was no reason to dismary her fro the heyr of Bretaygne as it was promised And if whan she cometh to perfyte age that she wyll nat refuce her maryage Than she must abyde by right styll quene of EnglaÌ„de and to haue her dowrye but in no wyse she shulde be crowned Quene And that if the kynge dyed or she came to laufull age than they purpose to sende her agayne in to FrauÌ„ce to her father This was shewed to the king for suche wordes were spoken by dyuers Englysshe men and specially by the londoners who coude nat loue the kynge And they repented them that whan the coÌ„mons of Sussexe Kent and Essexe were vp and came to London in that they dyde breake their purpose for as some of them coÌ„fessed they were in mynde to haue slayne the kyng the erle of Salisbury the erle of Oxenforde and all the kynges counsayle And if they hadde so done by meanes of the rebellyon the londoners thanÌ„e shulde soone haue made a newe heed And by meanes of the duke of Gloucestre to haue founde some person to haue had the crowne and gouernynge of the realme and therby to haue brought the realme into a better case thanÌ„e it was in as than Thus the londoners and suche other of their secte dayly murmured and had many secrete couÌ„sayls All this the kynge was enformed of and moost faute was layde vpon the duke of Gloucestre KIng Richarde was abasshed of tentymes whan he herde sawe suche couert hate and yuell wyll borne against hym Alwayes he made louynge countynaunce to his vncle of Gloucestre and to the loÌ„doners but it aueyled hym nothyng On a daye the kynge sayd to his other two vncles of Lancastre and of yorke Sirs on goddes name I requyre you to gyue me your aduise couÌ„sayls I am dayly enformed of asuretie that your brother myne vncle of Gloucestre the erle of Arundell and their complyces are mynded to take me ê‘force by the agrement of the londoners and purpose to close me in a Castell and to order my fyndynge by certayne porcion my wyfe s in lykewise who is but yonge and to seperate her fro me and to kepe her estate in another place Fayre vncles this is a cruell maner and it ought nat to be suffred as long as I maye withstande it ye haue doone me homage and sworne to be trewe to me in the presence of kynge Edwarde of good memorie my grauÌ„tfather at whiche tyme all the great prelates and lordê of this realme sware to kepe and maynteyn me as their kynge a .xx. yere paste Wherfore fayre vncles for loue and charyte and by the othe and promyse that ye haue made counsayle me trewly as ye are bounde to do For as farre as I can ymagin myne vncle of glocestre enteÌ„deth on none other thing but how he might renewe agayne the warre bitwene Englande and Fraunce And to breake the peace whiche we haue confyrmed bothe you and all other of the realme by sweryng and sealyng and by the same composycion I am ioyned in maryage to the doughter of FrauÌ„ce without thynkyng of any yuell ye knowe well that who soeuer dothe contrary to that he is sworne vnto hath sealed to the same so proued dothe yuell ought to be punisshed therfore bothe in body and goodes And also ye knowe well that I forbeare myne vncle of Gloucestre as moche as I may do and take no regarde to thretnyng whiche myght cost me derely Vncles ye are bounde to couÌ„saile me sithe I demaunde it with reason whan they herde the kyng speke thus sawe well howe the mater sore troubled his mynde and that it touched hym nere and also they know well moche of his sayenge was trewe they sayd Sir suffre and lette the tyme ryn and passe We knowe well our brother of Glocestre hath the moost paryllous heed brayne of any manne in Englande But we knowe well he can do no more than a man maye do if he buylde on the one syde we shall buylde on the other as long as ye wyll be ordred by our couÌ„saile ye shall nat nede to care for our brother He saythe often tymes many thyngê wherof foloweth none effecte He all alone nor they of his counsayle canne nat breke the peace that is taken nor can nat enclose you in any castell We shall neuer suffre that nor to be seperated fro your wyfe For if he saye so and
he hadde dyned and was aboute to haue wasshen his handes There came in to the chambre foure men and caste sodaynlye a towell aboute the dukes necke two at the one ende and two at the other and drewe so sore that he fell to the Erthe and so they strangled hym and closed his eyen whan he was deed they dispoyled hym and bare hym to his beed and layde hym bytwene the shetes all naked and his heed on a softe pyllowe and couered with clothes furred And than they yssued out of the chambre in to the hall well determyned what they wolde saye and sayde openly Howe a palueysye hadde taken the duke of Gloucestre the same night sodaynly and so dyed These wordes anon were abrode in the towne of Calais Some beleued theym and some natte Within two dayes that the duke was thus deed the erle marshall appareled hym selfe in blacke bycause he was his nere cosyn and were many other knyghtes and squyers that were in Calays His dethe was sooner knowen in Fraunce and in Flaunders than in EnglaÌ„d The Frenche men were gladde therof For there was a coÌ„mon brute that there shulde be no good peace bytwene Fraunce and Englande as long as he lyued And in all treaties bytwene FrauÌ„ce and Englande he was euermore harder and obstynaier thanÌ„e any other of his bretherne wherfore they cared nat for his dethe In lykewise many men in Englande bothe knyghtes squyers and other officers of the kynges who were in feare of hym bycause of his crueltie All suche were gladde of his dethe They toke to recorde his cruell dedes by the duke of IrelaÌ„de whom he had exyled out of Englande Also of the deth of that valyant knight sir Symon Burle and of sir Robert Triuylien sir Nicholas Bramble sir Iohan Standysshe dyuers other The dukes dethe was but lytell regarded in Englande excepte but with suche as were of his opinyon Thus this duke dyed in Calais his body was enbaumed and seared in leed and couered and so sente by See in to Englande And the Shyppe that caryed hym arryued at the Castell of Hadley vpon Thamyse syde and fro thens caryed by chariot symply to his owne place at Plasshey and there buryed in the Churche Whiche the sayde duke hadde founded in the honoure of the hooly Trynite wherin were twelue Chanonnes to synge diuyne seruyce YE maye well knowe that the duchesse of Gloucestre and Affren his sonne and his two susters were sore discoÌ„fyted whan they sawe the duke brought thyther deed The duchesse had double sorowe for Richarde erle of Arundell her vncle was be heeded openly by the kynges coÌ„maundemeÌ„t in Chepesyde there was no lorde durst speke to the contrary the kynge beyng presente at the same iustyce doynge It was done by the erle Marshall who hadde to wyfe the doughter of the sayde erle of Arundell and yet he bounde his eyen hym selfe The erle of Warwyke was in great daunger to be beheeded but the erle of Salisbury who was in the kynges fauour desyred the kynge for his lyfe and so dyde dyuers other barons prelates in Englande The kynge enclyned to their requestes so that he myght be banysshed and putte in suche a place as he shulde natte come fro for the kyng wolde nat clerely forgyue hym He sayde he had well deserued to dye bycause he was of counsayle with the duke of Gloucestre and with the erle of Arundell to haue brokeÌ„ the peace and truce taken bitwene Fraunce Englande For the whiche artycle the kyng sayd they had deserued to dye for the peace was taken bytwene the ê‘ties on suche coÌ„dycion that who so euer dyde breake it shulde be worthy to dye The erle of Salisbury who had ben the erle of Warwykes companyon dyuers tymes in excusyng of him said Howe he was an olde man and was desyred by the duke of Gloucestre by his fayre wordes Wherfore he sayd that he dyde was natte of his owne mocyon but by theirs Affyrming howe there was neuer none of the Beauchampes that euer dyd trayson agaynst the crowne of Englande Thus the erle of Warwyke for pytie was respyted fro dethe He was banysshed in to the ysle of Wyght And it was sayde to hym Erle of Warwyke ye haue deserued to dye as well as the erle of Arundell but for the great seruyce that ye haue done in tyme past to kynge Edwarde and to the prince his sonne and to the crowne of Englande aswell on this syde the see as byonde hath done you great ayde for the kyng hath pyte on you and hath grauÌ„ted you your lyfe But it is ordayned by iudgement that ye shall go in to the ysle of Wight and lyue there as longe as ye can and shall haue suffycient of your owne to maynteyne there your estate soberly but ye maye neuer departe thens The erle toke this punysshement a worthe and thaÌ„ked the kyng and his counsayle for sauyng of his lyfe and so made hym redy to go thyder at the daye apoynted In the whiche ysle was space sufficient for a lorde to kepe his estate enuyroned with the See Thus passed forthe these Iudgementes in Englande at that season whiche multiplyed dayly worse worse as ye shall here after WHan the dethe of the duke of gloucestre was knoweÌ„ by the dukes of Lancastre and of yorke incoÌ„tinent they knewe well that the kynge their nephue had caused hym to be slayne and murdered at Calays As than these two dukes were nat toguyder eche of theÌ„ were at their owne plates They wrote eche to other to knowe what were best to do and so they came to London For they knewe well that the londoners were nat content with the dethe of the duke their brother Whan they mette there toguyder they tooke couÌ„sayle and sayd Suche dedes ought nat to be suffred as to putte to dethe so hyghe a priÌ„ce as was their brother for ydell wordes and false reportes For they sayd though he spake oftentymes of the breakyng of the peace yet he neuer brake it And bytwene sayenge and doyng is great difference for by reason of wordes he ought nat to deserue dethe by suche cruell punycion these two dukes were in the case to haue put all Englande to great trouble and there were ynowe redy to counsayle them therto and specially them of the erle of Arundelles lynage and of the erle of Staffordes whiche was a great kynred in Englande The kyng as than was at ElthaÌ„ and had sente for all suche as helde of hym in chiefe And he had redy assembled toguyder about London in Kent and Essexe mo than ten thousande archers And sir Iohan Hollande his brother was with hym and therle Marshall and the erle of Salisbury and a great nombre of lordes and knyghtes the kyng sent to theÌ„ of London that they shulde nat receyue the duke of Lancastre They answered and sayd They knewe no cause that the duke hadde done why they shulde refuce hym The duke of Lancastre was at LoÌ„don and
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
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
that the duke his father had on hym a paryllous sycknesse whiche shuld be his dethe these wordes gretly letted the erle to take on hym any maner of voyage but so taryed styll at Parys and often tymes he went and sawe the frenche kyng the duke of Orlyaunce and the kynges vncles and alwayes they made hym good chere so that he was moche bounde to them and he sayde to the kynge Syr ye do me so moche honoure and curtesy and shewe me so great sygne of loue that I knowe nat in all my lyfe dayes howe to deserue it but if euer I come in Englande my lady that quene your doughter to my power shall haue my seruyce I thanke you cosyn quod the kynge So it fell that aboute the feest of Crystmasse duke Iohan of Lancastre who lyued in great dyspleasure what bycause the Kynge had banysshed his sonne out of the realme for so litell a cause and also bycause of the yuell gouernynge of the realme by his nephewe kynge Rycharde for he sawe well that if he longe percepuered were suffred to contynewe the realme was lykely to be vtterly loste With these ymagynacyons and other the duke fell sycke wheron he dyed whose dethe was greatly sorowed of all his frendes and louers The kyng by that he shewed toke no great care for his dethe but sone he was forgotten Than certayne of the noble men of Englande sawe well howe the realme feblysshed sythe the duke of Lancastre was deed and the duke of Gloucestre his brother slayne and the erle of Arundell and the erle of Derby banysshed who ought than to be duke of Lancastre by ryght succession Than some sayde Nowe we shall se what the kynge wyll do it is tyme nowe that he repeale home agayne his cosyn of Derby and to pardone hym his yuell wyll though he haue no cause to be dyspleased with hym it were tyme he came and entred in to his landes as duke of Lancastre Suche wordes ranne a brode in the Realme in dyuers places and specyally in the cytie of London where the erle of Derby was a hundred tymes better beloued thanne the kynge howe be it for all the wordes and murmuryng that the kyng and his counsayle knewe of yet he dyd nothynge therafter but clene the contrary He was yuell counsayled for if he had incontynent after the dethe of the duke of Lancastre sente for the erle of Derby and at his coÌ„mynge haue frendely welcomed hym home and haue called hym duke of Lancastre and haue taken hym as greatest personage in Englande nexte hym selfe and haue sayde howe he wolde be gouerned in all poyntes after his aduyse and counsayle and to do nothynge without his aduyse than the kynge had done well and lykely to haue contynued his estate as kynge of Englande and had nat receyued the yuell fortune that fell to hym shortly after as ye shall here after ¶ Howe the dethe of the duke of LaÌ„castre was knowen in Fraunce the kyng of Englande wrote in maner of ioye to the Frenche kynge therof and wrote nothyng therof to therle of Derby who was the dukes sonÌ„e Cap. CC .xxxv. TIdynges of the duke of Lancasters dethe came in to Fraunce kyng Rycharde of EnglaÌ„de in maner of ioye wrote therof to the frenche kyng and nat to his cosyn therle of Derby howe be it the erle knewe it as soone as the Frenche kynge or soner by suche men as he had in Englande Than the erle apparelled hym and all his men in blacke and caused his obsequy to be done right honorably at the whiche was the Frenche kyng and his brother the duke of Orlyaunce and all the kynges vncles with a great nombre of prelates and great lordes of Fraunce For the erle of Derby was welbeloued with euery maÌ„ and many were right sorie of his trouble for he was a pleasaunt knight and an honest ê‘son curtesse and swete meke to euery man and euery man that sawe hym said howe the kyng of Englande was nat well counsayled that he repealed hym nat home agayne And truely to saye trouthe if the kynge of Englande had wysely regarded the mater and had ben well counsayled the mater had nat tourned agaynst hym as it dyde For the erle of Derby after the dethe of his father was right enherytoure to be duke of Lancastre and to haue been the seconde persone of the realme and by whom all the busynesse of the realme shulde chiefely haue passed Also the kynge and his counsayle ought to haue consydred howe often tymes the people of Englande hadde styrred and murmured agaynst hym and shulde haue knowen howe he was nat very welbeloued of the people nor of some knightes other and how that in the duke of Gloucesters dayes he was often tymes in daunger of his persone As whan the Londoners and the counsaylles of dyuers good townes in Englande caÌ„e to hym to Eltham and there made their requestes that all subsidies and ayes gyuen and graunted within twentie yere shulde haue ben frustrate and fordone or els they were determyned by the consent of the duke of Gloucestre and other noble men of the Realme to haue taken the kynge and to haue sette another to haue reygned in his place and to haue putte the kyng and the Quene in to a place and so to haue hadde meate and drinke as long as they had lyued In somoche that the duke of Gloucester hadde desyred a nephewe of his sonne to the doughter of the duke of Clarence who was called Iohan erle of Marche That he wolde haue taken on hym the charge and gouernyng of the realme and that they wolde haue made hym kyng But the same erle excused hym selfe honestly therfro All these thynges were apeased and layde downe by the wyse sadde meanes and prudence of the sayde duke of Lancastre father to this sayd erle of Derby IF kyng Richarde had wysely consydred all these mats he had reigned in gretter ê“sperite than euer he did before Kyng Richarde knewe all this well ynough and so by yuell counsayle the kynge caused by colour of loue the duke of Gloucestre to be taken and ledde to Calays where he was strangled and murdered Wherof great brute was throughe out all the realme with great grudge and murmuracyons so that it was at the poynt to haue deposed the sayde kyng Richarde Howe be it the duke of Lancastre lyke a sage and a prudent price for all that the duke of Gloucestre was his brother and that the murderyng of hym touched hym nere to his herte All thynges consyred and that he coude nat recouer agayne his brother wisely and amiably he apeased all these maters And the kynge his nephue more feared in EnglaÌ„de than he was before All this the kynge ought to haue consydred and specially howe therle of Derby was better beloued with the people than any other man within the realme All these thyngê wysely coÌ„sidred after the dethe of the duke rf LaÌ„castre the kyng shulde
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
season with hym The erle acorded to their counsayle and whan he was redy he wente to Parys to the kynge as he was acustomed to do for euer whan he came there was no dore closed agaynst him At this last tyme he spake wysely to the kynge and shewed hym howe he wolde go and sporte hym a season in Bretayne and to se the duke whome he called his vncle for he had had to his wyfe his fathers suster doughter to Kynge Edwarde The frenche kynge thought nothyng but well and so gaue hym lyghtly leaue Than the erle desyred to haue conducte to bringe hym thyder He graunted his desyre So to make shorte the Erle ordeyned all his busynesse by great wysdome and toke his leaue of all the lordes of Fraunce suche as were there as than and he gaue great gyftes to the kynges offycers and to offycers of armes and to mynstrelles and in the howse of Clysson he made a supper to all suche as wolde come to hym And the nexte daye he toke his horse and departed fro Parys and issued out at the gate of saynt Iaques and toke the way to Estampes A knight of Beawsey dyd guyde hym called syr Guy of Baygneux So longe they rode that they came to Blois and there they taryed an .viii. dayes for the erle had sente a knyght and his haraulde in to Bretayne to sygnyfie the duke of his cōmynge as reason was WHan duke Iohan of Bretaygne knewe that his nephewe the erle of Derby was cōmynge thyder he was therof ryght ioyfull for he loued alwayes the Duke of Lancastre and all his bretherne and sayde to the knight that brought him worde who was called Gillyam de la Pierre Sir why dothe our nephewe tary by the way that he cometh nat hyther streyght The knyght excused the erle as well as he myght Well quod the duke I sawe no man this seuen yere that I wolde be gladder to se than my nephewe the erle of Derby retourne to hym cause hym to come for he shall fynde my countrey redy open to receyue hym Of that aunswere the knyght was gladde and retourned as shortely as he coulde and came to Bloys and shewed the erle and his counsayle the dukes aunswere The next day they rode forthe and had payed for euery thynge and in the erle of Derbyes company was syr Peter of Craon who was banysshed out of the realme of Fraunce and all his castelles rentes and reuenues seased for the sōme of a hundred thousande frankes iudged to the duchesse of Aniou quene of Napoles by proces of the lawe Thus the erle of Derby came to Nauntes and there founde the duke who receyued him nobly and all his company Than syr Guy le Bayneux retourned in to Fraunce and the erle taryed with the Duke of Bretaygne who made hym as good chere as coulde be deuysed And all this seasone the bysshoppe of Caunterbury was styll with the erle and his coūsayle The duke spared nothynge vpon the erle nor vpon his men but shewed them all the loue of the worlde and yet the duke knewe well the dyspleasure that kynge Rycharde had agaynste the erle wherof he had pytie Whan the erle consydred the dukes good wyll and fauoure he dyscouered to hym parte of his busynesse as touchynge the duchy of Lancastre and suche herytages as the duke his father had in possessyon whan he dyed and desyringe therin to haue the dukes counsayle sayenge that he was nat repealed agayne by the kynge but gyueth dayly away parte of his enherytaunces wherby he shewed the duke that many noble men and prelates in Englande were nat well contente with the kynge and the realme therby in great dyfference In so moche that dyuers noble men and the londoners had sent to hym to haue hym to come in to Englande promysynge that they wolde make his peace with the kynge and set hym in his herytage Whan the duke herde that he sayd Fayre nephue where as be many wayes the best ought to be chosen By the kynge ye are in a harde case ye demaunde counsayle and I wyll counsayle you to gyue credence to your frendes in Englande the londoners are myghty and puyssaunt they and by the ayde of other prelates lordes and knyghtes of the realme shall bringe the kynge to agre to their desyres and nephewe I shall ayde you with spyppes and with men of warre to resyste the daungers vpon the see Of that offre the erle thanked the duke of Bretayne ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the erle of Derby aryued in Englande and howe he was receyued of the londoners Cap. CC.xl. THus the duke of Bretaygne and the erle of Derby were louyngely concluded togyder and the erle taryed there a certayne space made as though he wold haue taryed styll there and in the meane seasone the erle made his prouysyon at Wannes And whan all thynge was redy the duke and the erle came thyder and whan the wynd serued the erle of Derby and his company tooke the see he had with hym thre shyppes of warre to conducte hym in to Englande and the further they sayled the better wynde they had so that within two dayes and two nyghtes they aryed at Plūmouth in Englande and issued out of their shyppes and entred in to the towne lytell and lytell the bayly of Plūmouthe who had charge of the towne vnder the kynge had great marueyle whanne he sawe so moche people and men of warre entre in to the towne But the bysshop of Caunterbury apeased him and sayd howe they were menne of warre that wolde do no harme in the realme of Englande sent thyder by the duke of Bretaygne to serue the kynge and the realme Therwith the bayly was contente and the erle of Derby kept hym selfe so priuy in a chaumbre that none of the towne knewe hym Than the bysshoppe of Caunterbury wrote letters sygned with his hande to London sygnyfienge the cōmynge of the erle of Derby and sente them by a suffycyent man in post who tooke fresshe horses by the waye and came to London the same daye at night and passed ouer the bridge and so came to the mayres lodgynge who as than was a bedde and as sone as the mayre knewe that a messāger was come fro the bysshop of Caunterbury he rose out of his bedde and made the messanger to entre in to his chambre who delyuered hym a lettre fro the bysshoppe of Caunterbury The mayre redde it and reioysed greatly of those newes and incontynent he sente of his seruauntes fro house to howse princypally to suche as were of counsayle of sendynge for the Erle of Derby They were all gladde of that tydynges and in contynent there assembled togyther of the moste notablest men of the cytie to the nombre of two hundred they spake togyder and helde no longe counsayle for the case required it nat but they sayd lette vs apparell our selfe and go and receyue the duke of Lancastre saythe we agreed to sende for hym the
the prince holdynge the sworde of the churche and on the other syde the Constable with the sworde of iustyce and a lytell aboue the marshall with the ceptour and at that kynges borde sate two archbysshops and .xvii. bysshoppes And in the myddes of the dyner there came in a knight who was called Dinereth all armed vpon a good horse rychely aparelled and had a knyght before hym bearyng his speare and his sworde by his syde and his dagger The knyght toke the kyng a lybell the whiche was red Therin was conteyned that there were outher knight squyer or any other geÌ„tylman that wold say that kyng Henry was nat right full kyng he was there redy to fyght with him in that quarell before the kynge or where as it shulde please hym to apoynte that byll was cryed by an haraulde in syxe places of the hall and in the towne There was none that wolde chalenge hym Whan the kynge had dyned he toke wyne spyces in the hall and than went in to his chambre Than euery man departed and went to their lodginges thus the day passed of kynge Henryes coronacyon with great ioy and feest whiche endured all the next day The erle of Salysbury was nat at this soleÌ„pnyte for he was in sure prison and the kinges couÌ„sayle and dyuers other noble men and the londoners wolde that his heed shulde haue ben stryken of openly in chepe for said he had well deserued it for bearynge of letters and credeÌ„ce fro Rycharde of Burdeaux to the frenche kyng and there to reporte openly that kyng Henry was a false traytoure whiche faute they sayd ought nat to be ê‘doned Kyng Henry was more gentyll than so for he had some pytie on hym for therle excused hym and sayd that he dyd was by the kynges coÌ„maundement by the settyng on of the four knyghtes that were beheeded Kinge Henry beleued well the erles wordes but his couÌ„sayle wolde nat beleue it but said and so dyd the londoners that he shulde dye bycause he had deserued deth Thus the erle of Salysbury was in prison in great daunger of his lyfe And syr Iohan Holande erle of Huntyngdon capytayne of Calais was well enfourmed of the hole mater and howe his brother kyng Rychard was taken and in prisone in the towre of London and had resygned his crowne and all howe Henry of Lancastre was kinge of Englande This erle of Huntyngdon what so euer dyspleasure he had for the trouble of his brother yet wysely he consydred the tyme and aduentures and sawe well that he was nat able to with stande all the power and puyssaunce of the realme Also the countesse his wyfe who was cosyn germayne to kynge Henry sayd Syr it must behoue you to passe your displeasure pacyently wysely and do nat that thynge wherby ye shall haue doÌ„mage for the kyng may do you moche good and ye se that all the realme enclyneth to hym if ye shewe any dyspleasure to hym warde ye are but lost wherfore syr I requyre you and I couÌ„sayle you to dyssimule the matter for as well kynge Henry nowe is your brother as kyng Richarde was therfore syr stycke and leane to him and ye shall fynde hym your good louer for there was neuer a rycher kynge in Englande than he is he may do to you to your chyldren great good The erle herde well the wordes of his wyfe and beleued her and enclyned hym to kynge Henry and offred hym humble obeysaunce and promysed hym faythe and trouthe The kyng receyued hym and had great ioy therof and he dyd so moche with meanes of his freÌ„des that therle of Salysbury was taken to grace and his excusacyons accepted and was clene pardoned ¶ How newes of the taking of kyng Rycharde was knowen in Fraunce by the coÌ„myng thyder of the lady of Coucy and howe the frenche kynge was dyspleased Cap. CC.xlvi WHan the lady of Coucy was aryued at Bouloyne she hasted her to go to Parys Great murmurynge there was in Fraunce of the sodayne incidentes that were fall in EnglaÌ„de they knewe somwhat by marchauÌ„tes of Bruges but whan the lady of Coucy aryued than the trouth was knowen She went firste to her husbandes house as it was reason Anon the frenche kynge herde worde howe the lady of Coucy was come to Parys Than the kynge sent for the lorde of Coucy who had ben all nyght with his wyfe Whan he was come the kynge demauÌ„ded of the state of kynge Rycharde of Englande and of the quene his doughter The lorde durst nat hyde the trouth fro hym but shewed hym playnely euery thynge as his wyfe had shewed hym whiche newes were sore dyspleasaunt to the frenche kynge for he knewe well the englysshmen were sore harde men to apease and so with dyspleasure the frenche kynge retourned agayne in to his olde sicknes of fransey wherof the nobles of that realme were sore displeased but they coude nat amende it Than the duke of Burgoyn said I thought neuer otherwyse for it was a maryage without good reasone the whiche I sayd playnly ynough whan the mater was fyrst spokeÌ„ of but as than I coulde nat be herde for I knewe well the londoners neuer loued parfytely kynge Rycharde All this myschefe is engendred by the duke of Gloucestre it is tyme nowe to take hede what the englisshmen wyll do sythe they haue taken their kyng and put him in prison by all lykelyhode they wyll put hym to dethe for they neuer loued him bycause be loued no warre but peace they wyll crowne to their kynge the duke of Lancastre he shall so bynde hym selfe to them that whether he wyll or nat he shall do all that they wyll sayd moreouer nowe shall be sene what they of Burdeaux wyll do for there he was borne and was well be loued with them and also with them of Bayon of Dax and in all the lymytes of Burdeloys it were good that that constable of FrauÌ„ce sir Loys of Sanxere were signyfyed of this mater and that he drewe hym to that fronters there with him syr Raynolde of Barroys of Barreys and other barones and prelates and to treate with them and my brother the duke of Berrey to go in to Poictou to drawe to the fronters of Xaintes of Blaues and of mirebell wherby if they of Burdeaux wyll any thynge entende to our treaties that they may be receyued for nowe shall we haue them or neuer As he deuysed it was ordeyned the whiche was a substanciall deuyce for whan they of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax vnderstode that their kynge Rycharde was taken and sette in the towre of London and duke Henry of Lancastre crowned kyng they had gret marueyle therof and in the begynnyng wolde nat beleue it but lytle lytle they knewe the trouth therof Than the sayd thre townes were closed and no man suffred to issue out nor to entre in they were sore troubled and sorowfull and specyally the cytie of Burdeaux
for kynge Rycharde was norysshed amonge them therfore they loued hym and whyle he was kynge if any of Burdeloys came to hym they were well receyued and alwayes the kinge was redy to fulfyll their desyres wherfore they sayd whan they knewe the trouth Ah Richarde gentle kyng ye were as noble a man as euer reigned in any realme this trouble that londoners haue caused for they coulde neuer loue you specyall sythe ye were alyed by maryage with the frenche kyng this myschiefe is so great that we can nat suffre it They haue holden you kynge this .xxii. yere and nowe to condempe you to the dethe for sythe ye be in prison haue crowned the duke of Lancastre they wyll surely put you to deth So they of Burdeloys made great lamentacyons in so moche that the seneschall of Burdeaux a ryght valyaunt knyght of Englande wrote letters therin conteynynge the wordes and lamentacyons of them of the cytie of Burdeaulx of Bayon and of Dax Also he wrote howe they were nere at the poynte to yelde vp their townes to the frenche kyng He sent this lettre by a trusty seruauÌ„t of his by the see who had good wynde and aryued at Cornewayle in EnglaÌ„de and than he rode so longe that he came to London there he fouÌ„de kynge Henry and delyuered his letters whiche were dyrected to the kynge and to the londoners They were opened and reed and the kynge and the londoners tooke counsayle vpon that mater They of London aunswered lyke theym that were nothyng abasshed of that tydynges but sayde as for these townes wyll neuer tourne frenche for they can nat lyue in their daunger nor they canne nat suffre the extorcion and pollinge of the frenchmen for vnder vs they lyue franke and free and if the frenche men shulde be lordes ouer them they shulde be taxed and tayled retayled two or thre tymes in a yere the whiche they are nat nowe acustomed vnto whiche shulde be a harde thyng nowe for them to begynne Also these thre cyties are closed in rouÌ„de about with great lordes who are good englysshe and longe haue been as the lorde Pyuiers the lorde Musydent the lorde Duras the lorde Landuras the lorde Copane the lorde Rosem the lorde Logeren and dyuers other barones and knyghtes by whome they shulde haue warre at their handes for they shulde nat issue out of their cities but they shulde be taken For all the seneschalles wrytynge we haue no doute that they shulde become frenche howe be it good it is to sende thyder some valyaunt wyse man that is beloued amonge theym some suche as hath gouerned there or this and that is the lorde Thomas Percy Thus as it was deuysed it was acomplysshed he was desyred to go thyder and to take hede of that couÌ„trey He fulfylled the kynges coÌ„maundement and made hym redy to departe it was about Christmasse at whiche tyme the wyndes be sore and ieoperdous he toke shyppynge in Cornewayle He had with him two hundred men of armes and four hundred archers And with hym was his nephue Hugh Hastynges Thomas Colleuyll Gyllyam Lysle Iohan Graily bastarde sonne to the Captall of Beufz Guillyam Traicton Iohan Danbreticourt and diuers other and also the bysshop of London and mayster Rycharde Doall They taryed tyll it was mydde Marche or they toke the see and or they came to Burdeaux the duke of Burbon was come to the cytie of Dagen to treate with theym of Burdeloys and he dyd so moche by his fayre wordes and good assuraunce that the counsayles of Burdeaux of Bayon and of Dax were sent to the cytie of Dagen The duke receyued them frendly and gaue them fayre wordes and many promyses and shewed them that if they wolde turne frenche and be vnder the obeysaunce of the frenche kynge what so euer they wolde demaunde shulde be graunted them and sealed perpetually to endure Many thynges they promysed and sware to seale and to kepe for euer They aunswered whan they were retourned agayne in to their cyties they wolde shewe all this to the people and so take counsayle and than gyue answere Thus they departed fro Dagen and fro the duke of Burbon and retourned to their townes and shewed all this to the people but all tourned to nothynge for the comynaltyes of the sayde cyties consydred the busynesse and knewe well howe the realme of Fraunce was vexed and troubled with tayles and fowages and shamfull exaccions all to get money than they sayd if the frenche men gouerne ouer vs they wyll bringe vs to the same vsage yet it is better for vs to be englysshe for they kepe vs franke and free If the londoners haue deposed kynge Rycharde crowned kinge Henry what is that to vs we haue and shall haue alwayes a kynge and we vnderstande that the bysshop of London and syr Thomas Percy shortely wyll be here they shall enfourme vs of the trouthe we haue also more marchaundyse of woll wyne and clothe with the Englysshe men than with the frenchmen let vs be ware we make no treatie wherby we shulde repent vs after Thus the treatie with the frenche men was broken and lefte of Than anone after the bysshop of London and the lorde Percy with their charge of men of warre aryued at Burdeaux wherof moche people were greatly reioysed and some displeased suche as had rather haue been frenche than englysshe All these englysshe lordes were lodged togyther in the abbey of saint Andrewe and whan they sawe their tyme they shewed to the people the state of Englande and the cause why they were sent thyder and they dyd so moche that euery thynge was apeased bothe there and in all other places For harde it was to haue caused them to haue tourned frenche THan it was determyned by the counsayle of Fraunce sithe the kyng was in sycknesse by reason of the displeasure that he toke for the deposyng of his sonne in lawe kynge Rycharde that they shulde sende some notable wyse personage in to Englande to knowe the state of the quene to do this message was apoynted syr Charles de la Brethe and Charles of Hangers who as they were coÌ„maunded departed fro Parys and came to Boloygne and there taryed for they had sent an haraulde to kynge Henry for without assurauÌ„ce they durst nat go for all the truce that was bytwene bothe realmes Kynge Henry who thought hym selfe moche bounde to the Frenche kynge for the chere that he hadde in Fraunce toke counsayle and concluded and so the haraulde was answered that it was the kynges pleasure that they and their company shulde come in to Englande and to come the streyght way to the kyng and nat to ryde out of the way without lycence The haraulde retourned to Boloyne and shewed what he had done wherwith they were content and so shypped their horses and toke the see and aryued at Douer where they founde redy a knyght of the kynges howse â—oho receyued theym they had sene hym before with kyng
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
where as he laye his hedde on a blacke quisshen his visage open some had on hym pytie soÌ„e none but sayd he had long a go deserued dethe Now coÌ„syder well ye great lordes kynges dukes erles baroÌ„s prelates all men or great lynage puissauce se beholde how the fortunes of this worlde are marueylous turne diuersly This kyng Richarde reigned kynge of EnglaÌ„de .xxii. yere in great prosperite holdyng great estate signorie There was neuer before any kyng of Englande that spente so moche in his house as he dyd by a. C.M. florens euery yere For I sir IohnÌ„ Froissart chanon treasourer of Chinay knewe it wel for I was in his court more tha a quarter of a yere togider he made me good chere bycause that in my youthe I was clerke seruauÌ„t to the noble kynge Edwarde the thirde his grautfather with my lady Philyp of Heynault quene of EnglaÌ„de his grandame and whan I deê‘ted fro hym it was at Wynsore and at my departynge the kyng sent me by a knight of his called sir IohnÌ„ Golofer a gob let or syluer gylte weyeng two marke of siluer within it a C. nobles by the which I am as yet the better and shal be as long as I lyue wherfore I am bouÌ„de to praye to God for his soule with moche sorowe I write of his dethe But bicause I haue coÌ„tynued this historie therfore I write therof to folowe it In my tyme I haue sene two thingê though they differ yet they be true I was in the cytie of Burdeux sytting at the table whaÌ„ kyng Richarde was borne the whiche was on a tuisday about .x. of the clocke The same tyme there caÌ„e there as I was sir Richarde PouÌ„tcardon marshall as than of Acâ—tayne he said to me Froissart write put in memorie that as nowe my lady pricesse is brought abeed with a fayre son on this twelfe daye that is the day of the thre kynges and he is son to a kynges son shal be a kyng This geÌ„tyll knight said trouthe for he was kynge of Englande xxii yere But whan this knyght sayd these wordes he knewe full lytell what shulde be his conclusyon And the same tyme that kynge Richarde was borne his father the prince was in Galyce the whiche kyng Dompeter had gyuen him and he was there to coÌ„quere the realme Vpon these thyngê I haue greatlye ymagined sythe for the fyrst yere that I caÌ„e in to EnglaÌ„de in to the seruyce of quene Philyppe Kynge Edwarde and the quene and all their chyldren were as than at Barcamstede a maner of the prince of Wales be yonde London The kynge and the Quene were came thyder to take leaue of their sofie the prince and the priÌ„cesse who were goyng in to Acquitayne And there I herde an auÌ„cient knyght deuyse amonge the ladyes and sayde There is a booke whiche is called le Brust and it deuyseth that the prince of Wales eldest son to the king nor the duke of Clarence nor the duke of Glocestre shuld neuer be kyng of EnglaÌ„de but the realme crowne shuld returne to the house of Lacastre There I Iohan Froissart auctour of this cronycle coÌ„sydring all these thynges I say these two knyghtes sir Richarde Pountcardon sir Bartylmewe of Bruels layd bothe trouthe For I sawe and so dyde all the worlde Rycharde of Burdeaux .xxii. yere kyng of Englande and after the crowne retourned to the house of Lancastre And that was whan kyng HeÌ„ry was kyng the which he had neuer ben if Richarde of Burdeaux had dalte amyably with hym for the Londoners made hym kyng bycause they had pytie on hym and on his chyldren Thus whan kynge Richarde had layne two houres in the chare in Chepe syde than they draue the chayre forwarde And whan the foure knyghtes that folowed the chare a sote were without London they lept than on their horses whiche were there redy for them And so they rode tyll they caÌ„e to a vyllage called Langle a .xxx. myle from LoÌ„don and there this kyng Richarde was buryed god haue mercy on his soule Tydinges spredde abrode howe kyng Richarde was deed he taryed euery daye for it for euery man myght well consydre that he shulde neuer come out of prisone a lyue His dethe was long kepte and hydde fro his wyfe The Frenche kynge and his counsayle were well enformed of all this and the knightes and squyers desyred nothyng but the warre that they myght ryde vpon the fronters Howe be it the counsayls as well of the one realme as of the other toke their aduyse and thought it best to vpholde styll the truse that was taken before they thought it more ê“fitable than the warre And a newe treatie was deuysed to be in the marches of Calais bycause the freÌ„che kyng was nat in good case nor had nat been sythe he knewe of the trouble that kyng Richarde was in And yet his sickenesse doubled whaÌ„ he knewe that he was deed so that the duke of Burgoyne had the chefe rule of the realme And he came to saynt Omers to Burbourâ— where the duke of Burbone was sir Charles de la Brest and Charles of Hangeers Iohan of Castell Morant and of prelates the patriarke of Ierusalem and the bysshoppes of Paris and of Beauoyes And on the Englysshe partie there was the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Rutlande the erle of Deuonshyre and the lorde Henry Percy the erles sonne and yuan of Fitzwaren and prelates there were the bysshoppes of Wynchester and of Ely The frenche men demauÌ„ded to haue agayne delyuered the yong quene of Englande but the Englysshe men wolde in no wyse delyuer her but sayd she shulde lyue styll in EnglaÌ„de vpon her dowrie and that though she had lost her husbande they wolde prouyde for her another that shulde be fayre yong gentyll with whom she shuld be better pleased than with Richard of Burdeaux for he was olde and this shuld be the prince of Wales eldest sofie to kyng Henry To this the Frenchmen wolde nat agre for they wolde nat consent therto without liceÌ„ce of the kyng her father who as than was nat in good poynt for he was farrÌ„ out of the way no medysyn coude helpe hym So that mater was layde aparte and the treatie of truse went forwarde in suche wyse that by coÌ„sent of bothe parties they sware and were bouÌ„de to kepe the truse .xxvi. yere more to the four yeres that it had endured the whiche in all was .xxx. yere accordynge to the fyrst couenauÌ„t and vpon this writynges were made and sealed by procuracyons of bothe kyngê this done euery man returned to their own countreis ¶ I haue nat as yet shewed you what became of therle Marshall by whom fyrst all these trybulacyons began in the realme of Englande but nowe I shall shewe you He was at Venyce and whaÌ„ he knewe that kyng Henry was kyng and kynge Rycharde taken deed He toke therof so great displeasure and sorowe that he layde hym downe on his bedde and fell in a fransy and so dyed Suche mischeuousnesse fell in those dayes vpon great lordes of Englande ¶ And in the yere of oure lorde god a thousande four hundred one lesse Pope Benedic at Auignon who had ben susteyned long by the Frenche men was as than deposed And in lykewise so was the kynge of Almaygne for his yuell dedes For the clectours of the Empyre and all the dukes and barons of Almaygne rose agaynst hym and sente hym in to Boesme where as he was kyng and they chose another a valyaunt and a wyseman to be kyng of Almayne and he was one of the Bauyers and was called Robert of Heleberge And he came to Coloygne where he was crowned with the crowne of Almayne for they of Ayes wolde nat open their towne to hym nor the duke of Guerles wolde nat be vnder his obeysaunce This newe kynge of Almaygne promysed to bring the churche to a vnyte and peace Howe be it the FreÌ„che kynge and his counsayle treated with the legeoys who helde with the pope at Rhome And they dyde so moche by the meanes of sir Baudwyn of Mount Iardyne who gouerned a great parte of the bysshoprike of Liege who was a knyght of the Frenche kynges so that by his meanes at the desyre of the freÌ„che kyng the countrey of Liege tourned to become neuter so that the Legeois sente to Rome for all the clergy that were there of their countrey to come by a certayne day or els to lese all their benefyces in the countre Whan they herde that they returned fro Rome and caÌ„e to Liege And pope Bonyface who lost moche by that transmutacion sente a legate in to Almaygne to preche amonge them to cause them to retourne agayne to his parte but the legate durst nat passe Coloigne and sent letters to Liege Whanne those letters were reed the messanger was aunswered that on payne of drownyng he shulde no more comeon suche message For they sayd as many messanger as cometh with any suche message shal be drowned in the ryuer of Moeuze Finis totius Froissart ¶ Thus endeth the thirde and fourthe boke of sir IohnÌ„ Froissart of the cronycles of Englande FrauÌ„ce Spayne Portyngale Scotlande Bretaygne Flaunders and other places adioynynge Translated out of Frenche in to maternall Englysshe by IohnÌ„ Bourchier knyght lorde Berners deputie generall of the kynges towne of Calais and marches of the same At the hyghe commaundement of our moost redouted souerayne lorde kyng henry the eight kyng of Englande and of Fraunce and hyghe defender of the christen faythe c. The whiche two bokes be coÌ„pyled in to one volume fynysshed in the sayd towne of Calais the .x. day of marche in the .xvi. yere of our said souerayne lordes raigne Imprinted at London in Fletestrete by Rycharde Pynson printer to the kynges moost noble grace And ended the last day of August the yere of our lorde god M.D.xxv. ¶ Cum priuylegio a rege in dulto
retourned out of Englande and of the aunswere that was made to hym Cap. lvii ¶ Howe the duke of Berrey departed fro Parys to come to Sluse and howe the constable of Fraunce toke the see and of the wynde that was contrary to hym Cap. lviii ¶ Howe the voyage in to Englande was broken by reason of the wyndes of wynter and by counsayle of the duke of Berrey Ca. lix ¶ Howe kynge Charles of Fraunce and the frenche lordes returned yuell content fro sluse and out of Flaunders where as their prouysyons were made to haue gone in to Englande and of the feest that was made at London Cap. lx ¶ Howe we a squier called Iaques le Grise was acused in the parlyament howse at Parys before all the lordes there present by a knyght called Iohan of Carongne and what iudgement was gyuen vpon them and howe they iusted at vttraunce in Paris in a place called saynt Katheryne behynde the temple howe Iaques le Grise was confounded Cap. lxi ¶ Howe the kyng of Aragon dyed and howe the archebysshoppe of Burdeaux was set in prisone in Barcelona Cap. lxi ¶ How a batayle of armes was done in Burdeaux before the seneschall there and dyuers other Cap. lxii ¶ Howe Iohan of Bretaygne sonne to syr Charles of Bloyes was delyuered out of prison by the meanes of syr Olyuer of Clysson constable of Fraunce Cap. lxxii ¶ Howe the duke of Burbone was chosen to go in to Castyle and dyuers other and howe syr Iohan Bucke admyrall of FlauÌ„ders was token prisoner by the englysshmen Ca. lxxii ¶ Howe the englysshe men aryued and brent dyuers villages Cap. lxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters marshall toke the towne of Rybadane whiche was strongly kept Cap. xliii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sent for the admyrall and marshall and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Cap. lxxiiii ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre and his men rode towardes the cytie of Besances howe the towne made composycion with them Capi. lxxv ¶ Howe the duchesse and her doughter went to se the kynge of Portyngale and the quene and howe the towne of Basances submytted them vnder the obeysaunce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvi ¶ Howe they of Basances that had ben sente to the Kynge of Castyle came home to their towne after it was rendred vp to the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxvii ¶ Howe syr Iohan Hollande and syr Raynolde de Roy fought togyder in lystes before the duke of Lancastre in the towne of Besances Cap. lxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and the duke of Lancastre determyned to entre in to the realme of Castyle Cap. lxxix ¶ Howe syr WyllmÌ„ of Lygnac and sir Gaultyer of Passac came to the ayde of kynge Iohan of Castyle Cap. lxxx ¶ Howe a great myschiefe fell in Englande bytwene the gentylmen and coÌ„mons for accompte of suche money as had been reysed of the coÌ„mons Cap. lxxxi ¶ Of the great dyscordes that were in Englande after the breakynge vp of the frenche armye and howe the gouernours about the kynge were constrayned by the coÌ„mons of the good townes to make acomptes of suche money as was come in to their handes the season that they ruled Cap. lxxxii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce and dyuers other lordes and knyghtes of the realme apparelled great prouysions to go in to Englande to wyn townes and castels Cap. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the duke of Bretayne sent for all his lordes and kynghtes to come to counsayle vnto Wannes and after counsayle he desyred the constable to go and se his castell of Ermyne and howe he toke hym there prisoner and the lorde of Beaumanoyre with hym Ca. lxxxiii ¶ Howe the constable of FrauÌ„ce was delyuered at the request of the lorde de la Vale parenge a certayne raunsome and howe the constable delyuered to the duke thre castelles and a towne and payed a huÌ„dred thousande frankes Cap. lxxxv ¶ Howe Writinges were made at the duke of Bretayns deuyse for the constable to rendre his towne and castelles to the duke and to his heyres for euer and how they were delyuered to the duke Cap. lxxxvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the frenche kynge fro the partyes of Almayne the whiche were to hym ryght displeasaunt and vnto his vncles Cap. lxxxvii ¶ Howe the duke of LaÌ„casters men assayled the towne of Aurence and toke it for it gaue vp as other dyd Cap. lxxxviii ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale brente a towne whan he was departed fro Porte and besieged two castles Cap. lxxxix ¶ Howe the kynge of Portyngale and his host came before Feroule and assauted it and it was won and brought vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre Cap. lxxxx ¶ Howe the frenche ambassadours came to the duke of Bretayne vpon the takyng of the constable of Fraunce and of the answere that was made to them Cap. xci ¶ Howe the kyng of Englandes vncles were of one acorde and alyaunce agaynst the kynge and his counsayle and of the murmurynge of the people agaynst the duke of Irelande and of the aunswere of the londoners to the duke of Gloucestre Cap. xcii ¶ Howe the day of accompte came and there the offycers appered in the presens of the kynges vncles and coÌ„mons of Englande and howe syr Symon Burle was prisoner in the towre of LoÌ„don and howe syr Thomas Tryuet dyed Cap. xciii ¶ Howe the kyng of Englande departed fro London and howe syr Symon Burle was beheeded at London and his nephewe also and howe the duke of Lancastre was dyspleased Cap. xciiii ¶ Howe the counsayle drewe togyder for the reformacyon of the kynge and of the realme and howe by the counsayle of the duke of Irelande the kynge was of the accorde to make warre agaynst his vncles and agaynst the cyties and townes Cap. xcv ¶ Howe the kynge of Englande made his â—oÌ„mons to drawe towardes London and howe syr Roberte Tryuylyen was taken at Westmynster and beheeded by the coÌ„maundement of the kynges vncles Cap. xcvi ¶ Howe tydynges came to the kynge of the dethe of his knyght and demanunded counsayle theron and howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his menne of warre Capi. xcvii ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande sent thre kynghtes to London to knowe some tydynges and howe the kynges vncles and they of London went in to the feldes to fyght with the duke of Irelande and his affinyte Cap. xcviii ¶ Howe the kynges vncles wan the iourney agaynst the duke of Irelande and howe he fledde and dyuers other of his company Cap. xcix ¶ Howe the duke of Irelande and his company fled and howe the kynges vncles were at Oxenforde and howe syr Nycholas Bramble was beheeded and howe the kynge was sent for by the bysshoppe of Cannterbury Capi. C. ¶ Howe by the kynge and his vncles all the lordes of Englande were sente for to come to Westmynster to a generall counsayle
of armes theâ— done the Geneuoys and crosbowes that were in the shyppes shotte so rudely and so hole toguyder at them on the bridge that none of them durste scantely shewe any defence What shulde I make longe tale By force of assault the bridge on the ryuer was wonne and all that were fouÌ„de theron slayne and drowned none scaped thus the french men had the bridge of Taylbourc their siege was the easyer It was but thre leages fro faynt IohnÌ„s Dangle and two leages fro Xauntes in the best countre of the worlde OF the losse of Tayllebourke they within Dynaudon other were sore dismayed as they had good cause for they had lost therby the passage of the ryuer howe be it yet they wolde nat yelde them They thought theÌ„selfe in a stronge place and trusted on some rescue fro Burdeaux For it was shewed in all those fronters and englysshe forteresses that the duke of Lancastre or elles the erle of Buckyngham with two thousande men of armes four thousande archers shulde come to Burdeaux to fyght with the frenche men and to reyse all their siege Of this they greatly trusted but it fortuned otherwyse as I shall shewe you It was ordayned in Englande that the Duke of Lancastre and sit Iohan Hollande brother to the kynge Sir Thomas Percy six Thomas Tryuet the lorde Fitz water six Wylliam wyndesore sit IohnÌ„ Fitzwaren and other barons knightes and squyers with a thousande speares and thre thousande archers shulde haue gone to Burdeaux to haue ben there all the somer and to haue refresshed Mortayne Boutuyll and other fortresses in Gascoyne and LaÌ„guedocke and to fight with the Frenche men if they founde them in the countrey And after that they had taryed there a season than to haue gone fro thens in to Castell to Bayon and to Nauarre For they were in treatie with the kyng of Nauer This was ymagined in EnglaÌ„de but all tourned to nought for whan they knewe the certaynte that the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce with a thousande speares of chosen knightes and squyers were come in to Scotlande Than they chaunged their purpose and durst sende none of their men oute of the realme for they doughted greatly the dedes of the frenche men and Scottes ioyned toguyder Also the same tyme there ranne a voyce through all Englande howe they shulde be the same Somer assayled with the frenchmen in thre ê‘tes One by Bretaygne for the duke there was become frenche And another by Normandye for the whiche as it was sayd The constable of FraÌ„ce made his prouisyon at Harflewe and Depe and so a longe the Scesyde to saynt Valeries and to Crotoy And the thirde by the Scottes so that for dought of this they wolde suffre no knightes nor squyers to go out of Englande but made prouisyon to defende their hauyns portes of the see The same season the Erle of Arundell Richarde was admyrall of the See and was on the See with a thre or fourescore great shyppes furnysshed with men of armes and archers And he hadde small shippes that ranne in and oute and viewed the boundes of the yles of Normandy to knowe tidynges ¶ Nowe lette vs leaue to speke of the duke of Burbone and of the siege of Tayllebourcke where as he laye a nyne wekes let vs shewe howe the admyrall of FrauÌ„ce toke lande in the realme of Scotlande and what chere they had made to them at their firste lodgynge _tHe Frenche army that went in to scotlande had wynde at wyll It was in the monethe of Maye whan the waters be peaseable and meke and the ayre softe and swete First they costed FlaÌ„ders Holande zelande and Frise and at last aproched to the sight of Scotlande But are they aryued theâ— fell an harde aduenture to a yonge knyght of Fraunce a proper man of armes called sir Aubert DaÌ„gyers The knyght was yong and of haute courage and to shewe his strength and lyghtnesse of body he lepte vp clene armed on the walle of the shyppe and in the lightynge his fete slypped and so fell ouer the borde in to the see so that he coulde nat be holpen For incoÌ„tynent he sanke downe bycause of the weight of his harnes also the ship sayled euer forthe Of this knightes aduenture all the barownes and knyghtes were sore dyspleased but there was no remedy And so longe they sayled that they arryued at Edenborowe the chiefe towne in Scotlande And wheâ— as the kyng in tyme of peace moost coÌ„menly laye And as soone as the erle Duglas and the Erle Morette knewe of their coÌ„mynge they wente to the hauyn and mette with them and receyued them swetely Sayeng howe they were right welcome in to that countrey And the barons of Scotlande knewe ryght well sir Geffray de Charney for he had been the somer before two monethes in their company sir Geffray acquaynted them with the Admyrall and the other knyghtes of Fraunce As at that tyme the kynge of Scottes was nat there for he was in the wylde scottysshe But it was shewed these knightâ— howe the kyng wolde be there shortly wherwith they were well content and so were lodged there about in the vyllages For Edenborough thoughe the kynge kepte there his chefe resydence and that it is Parys in ScotlaÌ„de yet it is nat lyke Tourney or ValenceÌ„nes for in all the towne there is nat foure thousande houses Therfore it behoued these lordes and knyghtes to be lodged about in vyllages As at Donfer Me lyne Castell DoÌ„bare Aluest and suche other Anone tidynges sprange about in Scotlande that a great nombre of men of armes of FrauÌ„ce were come into their countre Some therat dyde murmure and grudge and sayde Who the deuyll hath sente for theym What do they here Can nat we maynteyne our warre with Englande well ynoughe withoute their helpe We shall do no good as longe as they be with vs Let it be shewed vnto them that they may retourne agayne And that we be stronge ynough in Scotlande to maynteyne our warre without theym And therfore we wyll none of their company They vnderstande nat vs nor we them therfore we can nat speke toguyder They wyll anone ryffle and eate vp all that euer we haue in this countrey They shall doo vs more dispytes and domages than thoughe the Englysshe men shulde fyght with vs. For thoughe the Englysshe men brinne our houses we care lytell therfore We shall make them agayne chepe ynough We axe but thre dayes to make them agayne if we maye geate foure or fyue stakes and bowes to couer them ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe the Frenche men founde a wylde countrey of Scotlande and were yuell content with thadmyrall and howe he pacifyed theÌ„ with fayre wordes And howe Fraunces Atreman and his company had nere hande taken Ardenbourcke in FlauÌ„ders Cap. iii. THus the scottes sayde in Scotlande at the comynge of the frenchmen thyder for they dyde sette nothynge by them but hated them in their courage and diframed theym in their
estate For if the frenche kyng wyll refuse her than is she shamed for euer therfore aduyse you well For if the matter come nat well to passe ye shall haue me your enemy for euer Therfore fayre vncle ye maye se what daunger I haue putte my selfe in Than duke Aubert sayd fayre nephue be nat dismayde for by the pleasure of god she shal be the frenche quene and thanÌ„e shall ye be quyte haue the loue of duke Stephyn your brother THus they taryed at Quesnoy the space of thre wekes and the duchesse who was sage endoctryned the yonge damosell of Bauyer in maner and in countenaunce and chauÌ„ged her appayrell for she was but simplye arrayed after the state of Fraunce Thanne she arrayed her as thoughe she had ben her owne doughter And whan euery thyng was redy the duches and the damoselle rode forthe tyll they came to Amience And by that tyme was come thyder the duches of Burgoyne and of Brabant and also the frenche kynge and his counsayle The lorde de la Ryuer and sit Guy de la Tremoyle Barownes and knightê issued out of Amyence to mete and receyue them of Heynalte Thus they were brought in to Amyence and had moche honoure done to them and the lordes and ladyes eche of theym dyde vysite other louyngly But with moche payne the kynge might slepe for the inwarde desyre that he had to se her that shulde be his wyfe And he demauÌ„ded of the lorde de la Ryuer whan he shulde se her of those wordes the ladies had great sporte so that the Fridaye whan the damosell was redy the thre duchesses ledde the damosell to the kynge and than she kneled downe but the kynge toke her vp by the haÌ„de and behelde her well by whiche regarde loue entred in to his herre Than the constable of Fraunce sayd to the lor-Coucy Sir by my faythe this ladye shall abyde with vs I se well by the kyng for his eyes gothe neuer from her So whan they had ben with the kynge certayne space the ladyes toke leaue of the kyng and went to their lodgynges as yet they knewe nat the kynges intencyon Than the duke of Burgoyn charged the lorde de la Ryuer to enquere of the kyng his mynde who dyde so right dilygently sayeng Sir it lyke youre grace howe lyke you this yonge lady Shall she abyde with vs yea truely ê™ the kynge she right well pleaseth vs. Therfore shew vnto myne vncle of Burgoyne that she maye be delyucred to vs. Whan the lorde de la Ryuer herde hym saye so he incontynent shewed it to the duke of Burgoyne And he streight waye went and shewed it to the ladyes wherof they had great ioye and cryed No well thus the lordes and ladyes were in great ioye the kynges vncles were in mynde to haue had the maryage at Arras but it pleased nat the kyng to go soo farre Therfore he desyred his vncle that it might be done ther. Well quod the duke in a good hour be it so let it be THan the duke of Burgoyne the constable the lorde de la Ryuer and the lorde de la Tremoyle and dyuers other in his company went to the lady of Heynault and fouÌ„de her with her nese by her There he shewed theÌ„ these tidynges how the kyng had broken their purpose as the mariage to be had at Aras sayeng howe the matter touched the kyng so nere wherfore to morowe next we must heale him of his sicknesse the duches began to smyle And so than they departed eche fro other with great ioye and solce The same saturday at night Fraunces Atreman and the gauntoyse with a seuyn thousande with hym wente out of the laÌ„des of the foure craftes after he had fayled of takynge of Ardenbourke and he promysed to them of Gaunt at his departynge that he wolde neuer retourne in to Gaunt tyll he had won some good towne for the gauntoyse dyd what they might to putte the frenche men to suche busynesse that they shulde sende no more companye in to Scotlande to the admyrall to make warre agaynst the Englysshmen for ther was a coÌ„mon brute that the Constable and dyuers other men of arme certayne cros bowes of Gene shulde entre into the see go in to Scotlande to reconforte their men that were ther allredy makyng warre agaynst Englande FraÌ„ces Atreman who was a proper man of armes issued the sayd saturday out of the quarter called the foure craftes and all night he went costyng Bruges trustyng to haue wonne it but it wolde nat be Whan he sawe that he fayled there he wente to Danne and there his spyes mette with hym and sayde Sir it were good ye went to Danne for sir Roger of Guystelles who is capitayne there is nat nowe in the towne and true it was he was goone to Bruges wenyng that the towne of Dan had ben strong ynoughe for their defence but he was disceyued ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe FrauÌ„ces Atreman toke the towne of Dan and howe the french king wedded the lady Isabell of Bauyer and after went and layde siege to Danne WHanÌ„e Fraunces Atreman knewe by his espyes that sir Roger of Guystels was nat in Dan he deuyded his company in two and tooke hym selfe the lesse nombre sayd Sirs go you yonder wayes to suche a gate and whasie ye here me blowe go to the barryers backe theÌ„ downe I and my coÌ„pany shall bete downe the gate for it wyll be ouer long or we entre by ladders the towne shal be ours I put no dout It was done as he ordayned so wente with the lesse noÌ„bre And so the first went with ladders in to the dykes They founde no withstandyng and passed the myre and dressed vp their ladders and so entred in to the towne and came to the gate sownynge their hornes without any daunger for the good men of the towne were in their beddes this was the .xvii. day of Iuly thus they came to the gate and brake the barriers they without brake downe the barriers there so that euery man entred Than they of the towne began to styre but that was to late for they were taken in their houses as many as were founde in harnesse and at defence were slayne with out mercy Thus the good towne of Dan was taken wherein was founde great richesse and specially the sellers full of Maluesey and wyne Granade And it was shewed me howe there was great richesse there of theÌ„ of Bruges whiche they had brought thyder for feare that they had of rebellyon of the coÌ„mon people ERauÌ„ces Atreman whan he sawe that he was lorde of Dan he was greatly reioysed and sayd Nowe haue I well kept my promyse with them of Gaunte This towne shall serue vs well to maister Bruges Sluse Ardenbourcke Than incontynent he made a crye that no man shulde be so hardy to touche or do any displeasure to any lady or geÌ„tylwoman in the towne There was the same tyme
is fayre and standeth in a playne countre amonge the fayre vynes And it is a towne cytie and castell closed with gates and walles and seperated eche fro other Fro the mountayns of Byerne and Catheloyne cometh the fayre ryuer of Lysse whiche ronneth throughe Tarbe and is as clere as a fountayne And a fyue leages thens is the towne of Morlance parteyninge to the erle of Foiz at the entre of the countie of Bierne and vnder the mountayne a site leages fro Tarbe is the towne of Panne whiche also ê‘teyneth to the sayd erle The same tyme that the prince princes was at Tarbe therle of Foiz was at Panne He was there bylding of a fayre castell ioyninge to the towne without on the ryuer of Grane Assone as he knewe the comynge of the prince and princesse beyng at Tarbe He ordayned to go and se theym in great estate with mo than sixe hundred horses and threscore knightes in his company And of his comynge to Tarbe was the prince and priÌ„cesse right ioyouse and made hym good chere and there was the erle of Armynake the lorde Dalbret and they desyred the price to requyre the erle of Foiz to forgyue therle of Armynake all or els parte of the somme of florens that he ought to haue And the prince who was wyse and sage consyderynge all thynges thought that be might nat do so and sayde Sir erle of Armynake ye were taken by armes in that iourney of batayle and ye dyde putte my cosyn the erle of Foiz in aduenture agaynste you And thoughe fortune were fauourable to hym and agaynst you his valure ought nat than to be made lesse By lyke dedes my lorde my father nor I wolde nat be contente that we shulde be desyred to leaue that we haue wonne by good aduenture at the batayle of Poicters wherof we thanke god WhanÌ„e the erle of Armynake herde that he was a basshed for he fayled of his entente Howe be it yet the lefte nat of so But than he reâ—red the princesse who with a good hert desyred therle of Foiz to gyue her a gyfte Madame quod theâ—le I am but a meane man therfore I can gyue no great gyftes But madame if the thyng that ye desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes I wyll gyue it you with a gladde chere yet the princesse assayed agayne if she coude cause hym to graunt her full desyre But the â—rle was sage and subtell and thought verily that her desyre was to haue hym to forgyue clerely the Erle of Armynake all his dette And than he sayde agayne Madame for a poore knight as I am who buyldeth townes and castelles the gyfte that I haue graunted you ought to suffyce the princesse coude bringe hym no farther whan she sawe that she said Gentyll erle of Foiz the request that I desyre of you is to forgyue clerely the erle of Armynake Madame quod the erle to your request I ought well to condiscendâ— I haue sayd to you that if your desyre passe nat the valure of threscore thousande frankes that I wolde graunt it you But madame the erle of Armynake oweth me two hundred and fyftie thousande frankes and at your request I forgaue hym therof threscore thousande frankes Thus the mater stode in that case and the erle of Armynake at the request of the princes wan the forgyueng of threscore thousande frankes And anone after the erle of Foiz returned to his owne countre I Sir Iohan Froissarde make narracion of this busynesse bycause whan I was in the countie of Foyz and of Bierne I passed by the couÌ„tie of Bygore and I demaunded and enquered of the newes of that countrey suche as I knewe nat before And it was shewed me howe the prince of wales and of Aquitayne whyle he was at Tarbe he had great wyll to go se the castell of Lourde whiche was a thre leages of nere to the entre of the mountayne And whan he was there and had well aduysed the towne the castell and the couÌ„tre he praysed it greatly aswell for the streÌ„gth of the castell as bycause it stode on the fronter of dyuers countreis For the garysone there might ronne well in to the realme of Arragon in to Catellon and to Barselon Than the priÌ„ce called to hym a knyght of his housholde in whom he had great truste and loued hym entierly and he had serued hym truely and was called sir Pyer Ernalde of the countre of Bierne an experte man of armes and cosyn to the erle of Foiz Than the prince sayde to hym sir Ernalde I instytue and make you Chateleyn and capitayne of Lourde gouernour of the countre of Bygore Loke that ye kepe this castell se well that ye make a good accompte ther of to the kyng my father and to me Sir quod the knyght I thanke you and I shall obserue your coÌ„maundement There he dyde homage to the prince and the prince put hym in possession It is to be knowen that whan the warre began to renewe bytwene Englande FrauÌ„ce as it hath ben shewed before The erle Guy of saynt Poule and sir Hugh of Chatellon mayster of the crosbowes in Fraunce in that tyme beseged the towne of Abuyle and wan it with all the countre of Poitou The same tyme two great barons of Bigore th one called sir Marnalte Barbesan and the lorde Danchyn tourned frenche and toke the towne cytie and castell of Tarbe whiche was but easely kept for the kynge of Englande But styll the castell of Lourde was in the handes of sir Pier Ernalt of Bierne who wolde in no wyse yelde vp the castell but made euer great warre agaynst the realme of FrauÌ„ce and sent for great company of aduenturers in to Bierne and Gascoyne to helpe and to ayde hym to make warre so that he had togyder many good men of armes and he had with hym sixe capitayns euery man fyftie speares vnder hym The first was his brother Iohan of Bierne a right expert squyer and Pier Danchyne of Bygore brother germayne to the lorde Danchyne he wolde neuer tourne frenche Nandon of saynt Colombe Ermalton of mount Ague of saynt Basyll and the Bourge of Carnela These capitayns made dyuers iourneys in to Bygore in to Tholousyn in to Carcassene in to Albygoise For euer assone as they were out of Lourde they were in the lande of their enemyes and somtyme they wolde aduenture thyrtie leages of fro their holde And in their goynge they wolde take nothyng but in their retourne there was nothynge coulde scape theÌ„ Somtyme they brought home so great plentie of beestes prisoners that they wyst nat howe to kepe them Thus they rauÌ„somed all the couÌ„trey excepte the erle of Foiz landes For in his landes they durste nat take a chekyn withoute they payed truely therfore For if they had displeased the erle they coulde nat longe haue endured These companyons of Lourde ranne ouer all the countre at their pleasure
And he hadde passed bytwene the castell of Monestrole and Mountfaucon and so came aboute the countre towarde a vyllage called Batery bytwene Nonnay and saynt Iulyane And in the wode there was a streyght passage whiche he musteâ— nedes passe or els to go by Nonnay at whiche streight laye the lorde of Voult with two hundred speares and Loyes Rambalt toke no hede tyll he was among them Than the lorde of Voulte who was redy to do his enterprise layde the speare in the rest and came cryinge la Voulte and dasshed in among the companyons who rode abrode withoute good arraye And so at the first metyng many of them were ouerthrowen to the erthe and Loyes RaÌ„baulte was stryken fro his horse by a squyer of Auuergne called Amblardon so he toke hym prisoner and all other taken or slayne none scaped And ther they fouÌ„de in boiettes a thre M. frankes whiche Loyes RaÌ„balte had receyued at Anse for trybute of certayne vyllages therabout wherof they were gladde for euery man had his parte And whan Lymosin sawe Rambalt this trapped he came before hym and sayd in reproche Loyes Loyes here fauteth company Remembre ye of the blame shame that ye dyde put me to at Bride for your maystres I wolde haue thought lytell for a woman ye wolde haue put me to that ye dyd For if ye had done as moche to me I wolde nat haue been so angry for two suche coÌ„panyoÌ„s in armes as we were myght haue past our tyme well ynoughe with one woman With those wordes the lordê laughed but Loyes RaÌ„balt had no sporte herat By the takyng thus of this Loyes RaÌ„balte Bride was delyuered to the seneshall of Auuergne for after they had lost their capitayne and the chefe men they had they wolde kepe it no leÌ„gar And in lykewise so dyde they of Anse and other fortresses in Velay Forestes that was on their parte for they within any of these for tresses were right ioyouse to yelde vp their holdes to saue their lyues Than Loyes RaÌ„balte was brought to Nonnay and there set in prisone and the freÌ„che kyng had great ioye of his takyng as I herde reported he was beheeded at Newcastell besyde Auygnon Thus Loys Rambalt dyed god haue mercy on him Thus sir quod the Bastot of Manlyon I haue holde you with talkyng to passe awaye the night how be it sir all that I haue said is true Sir quod I with all my herte I thanke you Sir I trust your sayenges shall nat be loste For sir god suffre me to retourne in to myne owne countre all that I haue herde you saye and all that I haue sene and founde in my voyage I shall put it in remembraunce in the noble cronycle that the erle of Bloys hath set me a warke on For I shall write it cronycle it by the grace of god to the entent it shal be in parpetuall remembraunce Than the Bourge of Compayne called Erualton began to speke wolde gladly that I shulde parceyue by hym that he wolde I shulde recorde his lyfe and of the Bourge Englysshe his brother and howe they had done in Auuergne and in other places But as than he had no leysar for the watche of the castell sowned to assemble all meÌ„ that were in the towne to come vp to the Castell to suppe with the erle of Foiz Thanne these two squyers made them redy and lyghted vp torches and so we wente vp to the Castell and so dyde all other knightes and squyers that were lodged in the towne ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of the state or ordynaunce of the erle of Foyz and howe the towne of yran rebelled for the great traueyle domage and outrage that was don there to Cap. xxxi OF the astate and order of the erle of Foiz can nat be to moche spoken nor praysed For the season that I was at Ortaise I fouÌ„de hym suche and moche more than I can speke of But whyle I was there I sawe herde many thynges that turned me to great pleasure I sawe on a ChristeÌ„mas day sytting at his borde four bysshoppes of his countre two Clementynes and two Vrbanystes the bysshoppe of Pauyers the bysshoppe of Lescalle Clementynes they satte highest Than the bysshoppe of Dayre and the bysshop of Rone on the fronters of Burdeloys and Bayon Vrbanestes Than satte therle of Foiz and than the vycount of Roquebertyn of Gascone and the vycount of Brunyquell the vycount of IosserauÌ„t and a knight of EnglaÌ„d of the duke of Lancasters who as than laye at Narbone the duke had sent hym thyder The knight was called sir Wyllyam Wylloughby And at another table satte fyue abbottes two knightes of Arragon called sir Raymonde de Mount florentyne and sir Marten de Ruane And at another table satte knightes and squyers of Gascone and of Bigore First the lorde of Daychin than sir Gaylari de la Mote sir RaymoÌ„de of Newcastell the lorde of ChamoÌ„t Gascone the lorde of Compane the lorde de la Layne the lorde of Mountferant sir Wylliam Bernarde sir Peter of Corton the lorde of Valenchyn and sir Aungalle named the Basell at other tables knightes of Bierne a great noÌ„bre and the cheife stewardes of the halle were sir Espaygne of Leon sir Siquart de Boyes Verdune sir Nonnans of Nonnallys and sir Peter of Vaulx of Bierne and the two Erles bastarde bretherne serued at the table sir Erualton Guyllame and sir Peter of Byerne And the erles two sonnes sir yuan of Leschell was shewer and sir Gracyen bare his cuppe And there were many Mynsttelles as well of his owne as of straungers and eche of them dyde their deuoyre in their faculties The same day therle of Foiz gaue to harauldes and minstrelles the soÌ„me of fyue hundred fraÌ„kes and gaue to the duke of Tourayns mynstrelles gownes of clothe of golde furred with Ermyns valued at two hundred frankes This dyner endured foure houres Thus I am gladde to speke of the erle of Foyz for I was there in his house a xii wekes and well entreated in all thynges whyle I was there I might lerne and here tidynges of all countreis And also the gentyll knyght sir Espaygne of Leon in whose company I entred in to the countre He caused me to be acquaynted with knyghtes and squyers suche as coude declare to me any thyng that I roude demaunde For I was enformed of the busynesse of Portingale and of Castell what maner of warre they had made and of the batayls and rencounters bytwene those two kynges and their assysters of whiche busynesses I shall make iuste report yE haue herde here before Howe kynge don Iohan of Castell hadde besieged the castell of Luxbone the king Iohan of Portyngale therin whom the good townes had crowned to their kyng for his valyantnesse howe be it in dede he was a bastarde And also ye haue herde how the same kyng sende in to Englande to the duke of Lancastre and to the erle of
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
they be courtoys people they wyll do vs no hurte yf we receyue them curtoysly to this they were all agreed then there yssued out of the towne a fyfty persones of them that were moost noble as soone as they knewe that the englysshe men approched they yssued out and aboute a quarter of a legge of they taryed for the Enghysshe men TIdynges came to the Englysshe men howe they of the towne of Maures we re yssued out not to fyght but to yelde them the keyes of the towne whiche they brought with them Then the lordes rode on before to se what the matter was and caused all the archers oost to tary behynde then the Galycyens came forthe and it was sayd to them Syrs beholde here the lordes of Englande sente by the duke of Lancastre to conquere this countrey speke to them yf ye lyst Then they all kneled downe sayd Syrs we be of the poore men of Maures whoâ—wyllyngly wyll be vnder the obeysauÌ„ce of the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duke of Lancastre and of my lady the duches wherfore we desyre you to accepte vs to mercy for all that we haue is yours the .iii. lordes of englande by eche others aduyse answered and sayd ye good people of Maures we shall go with you in to the towne and parte of â—ur oost not al and there ye shal make promyse othe as good people ought to do to theyr lorde and lady syrs sayd they this shall we doo with good wylles Then sayd the lordes go your wayes on before and open the gates for ye are and shall be receyued to mercy then they wente to theyr towne and opened theyr gates and barryers and suffred the constable and the other lordes to entre and a .iiii. C. speres with them and the resydue of the oost lodged without in the feldes had prouysyon out of the towne suffycyent the lordes lodged within the towne and toke the othes of them of the towne of Maures as it is sayd before ¶ Howe the duke of Lancastre sente for the admyrall and mershal and his other offycers to come to the weddynge of his doughter and the kynge of Portyngale Ca. lxxiiii THe nexte daye after the towne of Maures was gyuen vp and that euery man made them redy to go to the cyte of Besances there came tydynges and letters fro the duke of Lancastre commauÌ„dynge them on the syght of his letters what so euer estate they were in to repayre to his presence certefyenge them that he loked in a shorte season for the archebysshop of Braghes and for syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar ambassade fro the kynge of Portyngale who were comynge to wedde his doughter by procuracyon and to lede her to the cyte of Porte where the kynge of Portyngale taryed for her When these lordes vnderstode these tydyÌ„ges they retourned theyr waye and sayd it was requysyte for the duke to haue his lordes and counsayle aboute hym at the receyuynge of these ambassadours and so retourned and lefte men of warre in the garysons that they had wonne and so came to the towne of saynt Iames as the duke had commaunded them and within .iii. dayes after thyder came the bysshop of Braghes syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de Sar with a. CC. horses they were all well lodged then when they were redy apparelled the ambassadours and other lordes in theyr company wente to the duke to the duches in good aray where they were receyued with grete ioy and there declared the cause of theyr comynge The duke herde them well was wel reioyced therw t bycause of the auauntement of his doughter and for the alyaunce of the kynge of Portyngale whiche he thought ryght behouable for hym yf he wolde entre to conquere Castell the bysshop shewed the duke and the duches and theyr counsayle howe he had auctoryte by procuracyon personally to wed the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of the kynge of Portyngale wherwith the duke and duches were well contente thus syr IohnÌ„ Radyghes de sar by vertue of procuracyon wedded the lady Phylyp of Lancastre in the name of kynge of Portyngale and the bysshop of Braghes wedded them soo were layde curtoysly in bed as husbande and wyfe ought to be and the nexte day after the lady with all her company were redy to departe and so toke leue of her fader moder and systers with ladyes damoyselles with her and her bastarde syster wyfe to the marshall with her and with her went syr IohnÌ„ Holande syr Thomas Percy and syr IohnÌ„ Dambrychcourte and. C. speres and. CC. archers and so rode to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale AGaynst the comynge of the yonge quene of Portyngale yssued out of the cyte of Porte to do her honoure and reuerence prelates of the chyrche as the bysshops of Lyxbone of Deure of Connymbres and of Porte and of temporall lordes the erle Dangose the erle of Nouayre the erle of Lescal Galope Ferant Patryke Pymasse Martyne de Marlo and mo then .xl. knyghtes grete nombre of theyr people and many ladyes and damoyselles and all the clergy reuested in habytes of processyon thus the lady Phylyp of Lancastre was brought in to the cyte of Porte in Portyngale soâ— to the kynges palace there the kynge toke her by the hande and kyssed her and all the other ladyes and damoyselles that were come with her and brought her in to her chambre and then toke leue of all the ladyes the lordes of englande that were there lodged at theyr ease all theyr men in the cyte of Porte for it is a grete cyte that nyght they kepte the vygyll of the feest to the nexte day the ladyes daunsynge and passynge theyr tyme that nyght and on the Tuysdaye the kynge of Portyngale with the prelates and lordes of his countrey were redy in the mornynge and kepte on theyr horses at the palays and so rode to the cathedrall chyrche called saynt Maryes and there caryed for the quene who came accompanyed with ladyes and damoyselles and thoughe syr IohnÌ„ Radyghos de Sar had wedded her before in the kynges behalfe yet then agayne openly there the kynge wedded her and so retourned to the palays there was made a grete feest and a solempne and after dyner Iustes and tournays before the kynge and quene and at nyght the pryse was gyuen of theÌ„ without to syr IohnÌ„ Holande and of the chalengers a knyght of the kynges called syr IohnÌ„ Tet dore had the pryse so that day and nyght they perceyuered in grete tryumphe and ioye and the kynge lay with the quene and as the reuome ranne in the countrey courte the kynge was as then a clene mayde the nexte daye the feest renewed and newe Iustes and the pryse of the chalengers had Vas Martyne of Merlo and of them without syr IohnÌ„ Dambretycourte and the nyght there was grete daunsyng syngynge and sportynge and euery day there were knyghtes and
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
ben good lorde vnto me and I haue hadde moche profyte by hym who was nephewe and nexte to the erle Loys of Bloys broder germayne to saynt Charles of Bloys and as longe as he lyued he was duke of Bretayne Truely I saye not this for no cause but all onely to declare the trouthe And also the gentyll prynce and erle that hathe caused me to wryte this story wolde in no wyse that I sholde swarue from the trouth NOwe to retourne to our purpose ye knowe well as longe as duke Iohan of Bretayne lyued he coulde neuer attayne to haue all his men in euery poynte to agree to his oppynyons And he sore fered them lest at the last they sholde haue taken hym and put hym in pryson in Fraunce Wherfore he departed out of Bretayne and wente in to Englande with all his householde and the lady his wyfe Iahan of Holande doughter somtyme of the good knyght syr Thomas Holande and thus a season he became seruaunt to kynge Rycharde of Englande and afterwarde he wente in to Flaunders to the erle of Bloys who was his cosyn germayne there taryed more then a yere and an halfe ¶ Fynally they of his owne countrey sente for hym and soo by good accorde thyder he wente ¶ And when he came in to his countrey there were certayne townes closed styl agaynst hym and rebelled and specyally the cyte of Nauntes But all his lordes knyghtes and prelates were all of his accorde excepte the lordes before rehersed and to haue the sygnory of them and to gete the fauoure and good wyll of the good townes and Cytyes and to put the Frensshe kynge in more fere bycause he wolde ouerpresse them with taxes and subsydyes as they dyd in Fraunce and in Pycardye whiche they wolde not suffre in Bretayne Therfore he sente vnto the kynge of Englande for socoure and ayde of men of warre and archers promysynge that yf the kynge of Englande wolde come in too Bretayne or elles one of his vncles with a grete puyssaunce of men of armes and of archers howe that his countrey of Bretayne sholde be opened redy to receyue hym and his company ¶ The kynge of Englande and his counsayle were gladde of those tydynges thought them good and concluded to sende thyder theÌ„ prouysyon was made and thyder was sente the erle of Buckyngham with .iii. M. men of armes and .viii. M. archers who aryued at Calays and passed throughe the royalme of Fraunce without ony resystence as it hathe ben shewed here before demaundynge noo thynge but batayle and so they came in to Bretayne trustynge to haue founde the countrey redy open for them to receyue and to refresshe them for â—â—rely they had made a longe voyage Howbeit they founde it contrary dysposed for the duke of Bretayne was soo ledde by his men and so wysely entreated that they made a peas bytwene hym and the yonge Charles kynge as then in fraunce but with kynge Charles his fader he coulde neuer haue peas he hated hym soo sore The duke of Borgoyne who was one of the chese gouernours in the royalme of Fraunce ayded gretely to make this peas he was so desyred by the lady his wyfe bycause the duke of Bretayne was nere of theyr lygnage soo he was fayne to breke all his promyses with the Englysshmen for he coulde not be suffred to accomplysshe his couenaunt for the Bretons wolde not consent to yelde them to the kynge of Englande to make warre agaynst Fraunce they sayd they were neuer of that oppynyon nor neuer wolde be so that it behoued the Englysshmen to take theyr lodgynges in the marches of wannes where they suffered as moche pouerte as euer dyd men for one tyme and specyally theyr horses dyed for hungre and pouerte and soo in the tyme of somer they departed out of Bretayne as euyl contente with the duke of Bretayne as myght be and not without a cause And specyally the erle of Buckyngham and the barons of Englande that were in his company and when they were retourned in to Englande they made grete complayntes to the kynge and to the duke of Lancastre and his counsayle And then it was deuysed and ordeyned that IohnÌ„ of Bretayne sholde be delyuered and to brynge hym with puyssaunce in to Bretayne to make warre there agaynst the duke of Bretayne and the Englysshe men sayd howe syr IohnÌ„ of Mountforde knewe well howe they had put hym in possessyon of the sygnory of Bretayne for without vs he hadde neuer come therto And nowe to play vs this tourne to cause vs to trauayle our bodyes and to spende the kynges treasoure it behoueth vs to shewe hym his fawtes And we can not better be reuenged then to delyuer his aduersary and to brynge hym in to Bretayne For all the countrey wyll delyuer hym townes Cytees and fortresses and put the other duke clene that thus hathe mocked and dysceyued vs. ¶ Thus the Englysshe counsayle were all of one accorde and then IohnÌ„ of bretayne was brought in to the kynges presence and there it was shewed hym howe they wolde make hym duke of Bretayne and recouer for hym all his herytage of Bretayne And he sholde haue to his wyfe the lady Phylyp of Lancastre so that he wolde holde the duchy of Bretayne in fayth and homage of the kynge of Englande the whiche poynte he vtterly refused But to take the dukes doughter in maryage he was contente But to swere to be agaynst the crowne of fraunce in noo wyse he wolde consente but rather to abyde in pryson all his lyfe WHen the kynge and his counsayle sawe that they withdrewe the grace that they hadde thought to haue shewed to hym and thenne he was delyuered in to the kepynge of syr Iohan Dambretycourte as ye haue herde before I haue made as nowe relacyon of all these matters bycause of the incydentes that folowed after and appered by the duke of Bretayne for the duke knewe well howe he was gretely out of the fauoure of the noble men of the royalme of Englande and also of the comons there And he ymagened that the hatred that they bare to hym was for the voyage that the erle of Buckyngham hadde made thrughe Fraunce to come in to Bretayne wenynge to haue founde the duke there and countrey open agaynst them as the duke of Bretayne hadde promysed whiche the Englysshe men founde contrary ¶ Also he sawe well howe the kynge of Englande hadde not wryten vnto hym soo amyably as he hadde done often tymes before And specyally as he hadde done before the erle of Buckynghams voyage ¶ And also he doubted that the kynge of Englande sholde delyuer Iohan of Bretayne to the entente to make hym warre ¶ Thenne the duke cast his ymagynacyon how he myght fynde remedy in this matter and to brynge it in to a good poynte And to doo his entente soo secretly that the Englysshe men sholde be well content and pleased with hym For he knewe well the man in the
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
are nat come in to this countre for no goodnesse My lorde the duke of Gloucester coÌ„mauÌ„deth that ye come and speke with hym The knyght wolde haue excused hym selfe sayde I am nat Triuylien I am a fermour of sir Iohan of Hollandes Nay naye quod the squyer your body is Triuylien but your habytte is nat And therwith he made token to the sergiauntes that they shulde take him Than they went vp in to the chambre toke hym and so brought hym to the palays ye may be sure there was great prease to se hym for he was well knowen Of his takyng the duke of Gloucestre was ryght ioyefull and wolde se hym And whan he was in his presens the duke sayd Triuylien What thinge make you here in his countre Where is the kyng where lefte you hym Triuylien whaÌ„ he saw that he was so well knowen and that none excusacion coude aueyle hym sayd sir the kynge sente me hyther to lerne tidynges and he is at Bristowe and hunteth along the ryuer of Syuerne What quod the duke ye are nat coÌ„e lyke a wyse man but rather lyke a spye yf ye wolde haue come to haue lerned tidynges ye shulde haue come in the state of a knyght Sir quod Triuylien if I haue trespassed I are pardone for I was caused this to do Well sir quod the duke and where is your mayster the duke of Irelande Sir quod he of a trouth he is with the kyng it is shewed vs here quod the duke that he assembleth moche people and the kynge for hym Wheder wyll he lede that people Sir quod he it is to go in to Ireland In to Irelande quod the duke of Gloucester yea sir truely quod Triuylien And than the duke studyed a lytell and sayde A Triuylen Triuylien youre busynesse is nouther fayre nor good ye haue done great folly to come in to this countre for ye are nat beloued here and that shall well be sene you and suche other of your affinyte haue done great displeasures to my brother and to me and ye haue troubled to your power and with youre yuell counsayle the kyng and dyuers other nobles of the realme Also ye haue moued certayne good townes agaynst vs. Nowe is the daye come that ye shall haue your payment for he that dothe well by reason shulde fynde it Thynke on youre busynesse for I wyll nother eate nor drinke tyll ye be deed That worde greatlye abasshed Triuylen for gladlye there is no man wolde here of his ende He wolde fayne haue excused hym selfe with fayre language in lowly humblyng hym self for he coude do nothyng to apease the duke for he was so enfourmed of hym and of other of the duke of Irelandes secte that nothyng aueyled hym Where to shulde I make lengar the mater sir Robert Triuylien was delyuered to the hangman and so ledde out of Westmynster and there beheeded and after haÌ„ged on a gibet Thus ended sir Robert Triuylien ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe tidynges came to the kyng of the dethe of his knight demauÌ„ded counsayle theron And howe he ordayned the duke of Irelande soueraygne of all his men of warre Capi. xcvii SHortely these tidyngê came to kynge Richarde to the duke of Irelande beyng at Bristowe howe sir Roberte Tryuylyen was shamefully putte to dethe The kyng toke that mater in great dispite and sayd and sware that the mater shulde nat rest in that case And howe that his vncles had done yuell without tytle or reason to put to dethe his men and knyghtes and suche as had truely serued hym and his father the prince Wherby he sayde it semed that they wolde take fro hym the crown of Englande and that the mater touched hym nere Than the archbysshope of yorke who was souerayne of his counsaile and had ben longe said Sir ye demaunde couÌ„sayle and I shall gyue you counsayle your vncles and suche as ben of their accorde erreth greatly agaynst you for it semeth by theÌ„ they wolde shewe howe ye be couÌ„sailed but by traytors They wolde haue none to beate any rule but them selfe It is great parell for all the realme for if the coÌ„mons shulde ryse and rebell gret myschefe shulde fall in Englande if the lordes and great men be nat frendes toguyder and all one Wherfore sir I counsayle you fynde remedy with puissauÌ„ce ye are as now here in a countrey well peopled and named Sende out your coÌ„maundement to all suche as are bouÌ„de to serue you gentylmen and other And whan they be all assembled sende them in to the marchesse of London make your generall capitayne the duke of IrelaÌ„de who gladly wyll take on hym the charge and let no baner nor penon be borne but all onely yours to shewe therby that the matter toucheth no man but you and all the countrey in goyng thyder wyll tourne and take parte with you and drawe to your baners and parauenture the landoners wyll take your parte for they hate you nat for ye dyde them neuer displeasure All the hurte ye haue had your vncles haue caused it Sir here is sir Nicholas Bramble who hath ben mayre of LoÌ„don and ye made hym knyght for suche seruyce as he dyde you on a daye who knoweth and ought to knowe the maner of them of LoÌ„don for he was borne ther and it can nat be but that he hath good freÌ„des there Therfore sir desire his couÌ„sail in this mater that toucheth you so nere For sir by yuell enformacyon rumoure of the people ye maye lese your signorye Than the kynge spake to sir Nicholas Bramble and requyred hym to speke And at the kynges request sir Nycholas sayd Sir and it lyke your grace and all my lordê here present I shall speke gladly after the lytell knowledge that I haue Fyrst I saye I can nat beleue but that the moost ê‘te of the londoners oweth loue and fauour to the kyng that here is for perfitely they loued the prince his father and that they well shewed whan the villayns rebelled for accordyng to the trouthe if they hadde taken parte with the villayns they had distroyed the kyng and the realme And moreouer the kynges vncles haue as nowe a good tyme for they disport them selfe among them and enforme the people as they lyfte for there is none to saye agaynst them They haue put me out and all the kynges of fycers and haue put in them of their affynite and haue sente the kynge hyder to one of the borders of his realme There can no good be ymagined of this nor it can nat be knowen perâ—â—rely what they entende it is a herde mater but by that they shewe they wolde putte the kyng out of his realme for they go all by puyssaunce and the kynge dothe all by gentylnesse They haue put to dethe that gentyll knyght sir Symon Burle who hath doone the kyng moche fayre seruyce in the realme of Englade and in other places They layde great falsenesse in hym that he shulde haue
his leaue departed and rode to Chasteaulx and iourneyed so long that he came to the cite of Naūtes and there refresshed hym And than he demaūded where the duke was and it was shewed hym howe he was in the marches of Wēnes therefoūde the duke who receyued him ioyously for they were nere cosyns togider The erle of Stampes who right well coude acquyte hymselfe amonge great princes and ladyes for he had been brought vp amonge theym in his youthe acquytedde hym selfe right sagely with the duke And shewed nat the princypall affectyon of his corage at his fyrste commynge but dissymuled two or thre dayes and whan he sawe his tyme he humyled hym selfe greatlye to the duke the rather therby to drawe hym to his entent and than sayd Sir and my right dere cosyn ye ought nat to marueyle thoughe I am come so farre of to se you for greatlye I haue desyred it And than notably he shewed hym the charge that he hadde to saye to hym on the behalfe of the duke of Berrey of the whiche wordes the duke made light And for resolucion of answere at that tyme the duke sayde Cosyn we knowe well this that ye haue sayde is trewe I shall remembre me and ye shall abyde here with vs as long as it shall please you for your comyng dothe vs great pleasure Other aunswere the erle coulde nat haue as at that tyme. The erle taryed there a fyftene dayes and the duke shewed hym gret loue and shewed hym the fayre castell of Ermyn whiche was nere to Wannes the whiche the duke had newely made and there he toke parte of his pastaūce And alwayes whanne he sawe a conuenyente tyme he shewed swetely and sagely the cause of his comyng And euer the duke aunswered hym so couertly that the erle coulde haue no suretie in any aunswere to make any restytucion of a hundred thousand frankes nor of the castels that he helde of the constables the whiche yet at the ende he dyd and that was without request of any persone whan it was leste loked for as I shall shewe you hereafter as I was enfourmed Whan the erle Stampes sawe that he laye there in vayne than he thought to take his leaue and to retourne in to Fraunce and so he dyd The duke gaue hym leaue and at his departynge gaue hym a fayre whyte palfrey aparelled and it had ben for a kynge and gaue hym a fayre rynge with a stone well worthe a thousande frankes Thus the erle departed and retourned by Anger 's and there founde the quene of Napoles and Iohan of Bretayne who greatly desyred to here tydynges and sayd Fayre cosyn I thynke ye haue sped well for ye haue taryed longe out Than the erle shewed parte of his busynesse but fynally howe he had spedde nothynge Whan he had taryed there a day he departed and went to Towrs and at last came in to Berrey and founde the duke at Mehyn a castell of his whiche he had newly made and had workemen dayly theron Whan the duke of Berrey sawe the erle of Stampes he made hym good chere and demaunded tydinges of Bretayne There he declared fro poynt to poynte all that he had sente and herde and sayde howe in no wyse he coulde breke the duke of Bretayne fro his purpose The duke of Berrey passed the mater lyghtly whan he sawe it wolde be none otherwyse And so retourned in to Fraunce to the king and to the duke of Burgoyne his brother and shewed theym howe he had sente in to Bretaygne to the duke his cosyn the erle of Stampes and declared in euery poynt howe he had spedde Thus the mater rested whan they sawe none other remedy ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Howe after the departynge of the duke of Lācastre all that euer he had wonne in Galyce the frenchmen recouered it in lesse than fyftene dayes and howe the englisshmen that had ben there ī that warre defamed and spake yuell of the coūtrey of Galyce and howe the frenche kynge sent for the duke of Irelande Ca. C.xxiiii IT hath been resyted here before in this hystory howe the englisshmen dyd in Galyce howe the duke and the duchesse and his doughter came to the Porte of Portyngale and there taryed a season with kynge Iohan of Portugale and with the yonge quene doughter to the duke of Lancastre as ye haue herde here before It anoyed greatly the duke and nat without a cause in that he had done nothynge for his profyte all that season in Castyle but that he hadde done was to his great domage his men deed of sykenes of the best of his company knyghtes and squyers And suche conquest as he hadde made with great payne and cost he sawe well it shulde besoone recouered agayne by the kynge of castell And in dede so it was for as sone as he was departed and entred in to Portugale and that the spanyardes and knyghtes of Fraunce suche as were taryed there with syr Olyuer of Clesquyn constable of Castyle sawe that the duke of Lancastre was departed and that in maner all his englysshe men were departed fro hym Than they sette forwarde to reconquere agayne all that had ben loste of the realme of Castyle the whiche was sone done for they of the townes castels cyties in Galyce had rather to haue ben vnder the obeysaunce of the kynge of Castyle than vnder the duke of Lancaster without he had been able to haue kepte the felde to haue defended the countrey For they of Castyle Lombardy and of Italy of vsage euer they saye Lyue he that is strongest and he that wynneth All that euer the duke of Lancastre had wonne fro the feast of Easter to the begynnynge of Iuly all was wonne agayne and refresshed with newe frenchmen and men of Castyle and the englysshmen that were left there by the duke in garysons who thought to haue taryed there peasably all the wynter were sone put out outher by fayre meanes or perforce and some slayne suche as wolde nat yelde vp and some returned by sauecōducte to passe by Portugale so to Bayon or to Burdeaux And of all this the duke of Lancastre was well aduertysed he beynge in the cytie of Porte in Portugale but he coude nat remedy it whiche was ryghtsore dypleasaunte to his herte It is nat to be beleued the contrary for the more noble valyaunt and sage that a man is displeasures to hym be the more bytter and paynefull howe be it the duke wolde say often tymes and bare out a good face If we haue lost this yere by the grace of god a nother season shall be for vs. the fortunes of this worlde are meruaylous they can nat be always permanente Also the kynge of Portugale gaue hym alwayes good comforte and sayde Syr ye may abyde here and kepe your astate and wryte to youre bretherne and frendes in Englande that they maye sende you this nexte Marche a fyue or syre hundred speares and two thousande archers and I shall
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
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
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
lorde of saynte Pye had ryght well done their deuoyrs without any domage eyther to other Agayne the erle desyred for loue of his lady to haue another course but he was refused Than sir Iohan Holand went out of the renke to gyue place to other for he had ronne all his sire courses well and valyauÌ„tly so that he had laude honoure of all partyes Than stept forth a gentle knight of EnglaÌ„de called the erle Marshall he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynolde of Roy who issued out of his pauylyon armed at all peces and toke his horse shelde and speare And whan these two knyghtes were a sonder they spurred their horses came fyersly togyther The first course they fayled by outragyng of their horses wherwith they were sore dyspleased At the .ii. course sir Raynolde was stryken the spere broken the .iii. course eche strake other on their helmes with suche force that the fire slewe out therle Marshall was vnhelmed who passed forthe retourned to his place iusted no more that day for he had don ynough than caÌ„e forth the lorde Clâ—fford a right apt a valyaÌ„t knight of EnglaÌ„de cosyn germayn to sir IohnÌ„ ChaÌ„dos who was a noble valiant knight in his dayes he sent to touche the shelde of warre of sir Bouciquant incontynent the knight issued out of his pauilyon with shelde and spere These two knightes came rudely togider strake eche other on the helm that the fyre sparcled Their speares brake nat nor the knightes lost no styropes so passed by came to their places made theÌ„ redy to ryn the .ii. course so came togyder wtout any sparing sir BouciquaÌ„t brake his spere but he was vnhelmed yet fell nat they passed forthe came to their places Sir Loyes Clifforde made hym to iust agayne but Bouciquant dyd nat put on agayne his helme that seyng the lorde Clifforde aduysed to ê‘forme his course with another Than he sente his squyer to touche the helde of warre of the lorde of saynt Pye who came forthe redy to iuste They ran toguyder met eche other the lorde Clifforde brake his speare in thre peces on the lorde of saynt Pyes shelde and the lorde of saynt Pye strake the lorde Clyfforde on the helme so that he was dishelmed so passed forche eche of them drewe to their place and the lorde Clyfforde ran no more that day for it was shewed hym howe he had right honorably borne hym selfe that daye Than came forth a noble knight of englaÌ„de called sir HeÌ„ry BeamoÌ„de he caused to be touched sir bouciquantes shelde of warre who was soone redy to answere they ran togyder the lorde BeamoÌ„de crossed Bouciquant strake hym so rudely that he bare hym to therche passed forthe the knight was releued by his men and set agayne on hors backe ran again togyder two other courses without any doÌ„mage thaÌ„ sir Peter Curency who had great desyre to ryn sixe courses caused his squyer to touche all thre sheldes of warre wherof the freÌ„chmen had marueile demaâ—ded what he enteÌ„ded therby he answered that it was his pleasure to ryn with eche knight .ii. courses without he were lette by the way his deâ—yre was graunted Than sir Raynolde du Royran first They came togider with good aduysemeÌ„t howbeit the first course they fayled for their horses refused at the cope wherwith they were sore displeased they railed nat at the ii course but sir Raynold dishelmed the englisshe knyght passed forth retourned to his place held hiÌ„ styl for he had ron his two courses Than the lorde of sair Pye caâ—e forthe to iust ran eche agaynst other brake their speres the .ii. course the lorde of saint Pye strake sir Peter Courtney a crosse sir Pet strake hym on the helme vnhelmed hym so caÌ„e to their owne places than sir Bouciquat to acoÌ„plisshe sir Peters desire came forthe ran met eche other in the myddê of their heldes so rudely that both their horses stakered in the place more hurt there was nat the .ii. course they vnhelmed eche other These .vi. courses done sir Peter Courtney desyred to ryn one course more with one of the thre knightes which as pleased theÌ„ but he was refused it was sayd to him that he had done ynough for the day so he rested Than preced forthe a geÌ„tyl man of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Gouloufer he sent to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde 〈◊〉 Roy who was redy to answere they ran frely togider ataynted eche other of the helmes without dishelmyng or brekyng of their speres so passed by the secoÌ„de course their horses refused to mete the .iii. course they met in their sheldes brake their staues the fourth course they mist the .v. course they vnhelmed eche other retourned to their places Than a valiant knight of Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Rolscau who was a well trauelled knight well knowen he touched the shelde of the lord of saint Pye that knight was redy to answere they ran togyder met so rudely that their horses stayed with the cope the .ii. course their horses swarued asyde myst eche other wherof the knightê were displeased the .iii. course they met strake eche other in the viser of their helmes so that they were bothe vnhelmed The englysshe knyght retourned to his coÌ„pany iusted no more Than came forthe sir Peter Shirborne a yong knight touched the sheld of sir Bouciquant the knight was redy ran togider myst by outraging of their horses they taried nat long but ran togider agayne the .ii. course strake eche other in the syght of their helmes sir BouciquaÌ„tes spere brake thenglysshe knyghtê spere helde so that therby sir Boucyquant was vnhelmed so rudely that the blode ran out at his nose so he returned to his pausiyon ran no more that day for it was nere night but sir Peter shirborne wolde nat leue so but wolde ryn out his .iii. course he sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saint Pye who was incoÌ„tynent redy They ran togider tainted eche other on the helmes but their speres grated nat if they had by moost lykelhod they had taken hurte the .ii. course they strake eche other on the sheldes brake their staues in thre peces theÌ„glisshe knight was borne to therthe they ran no more that day for it was nere night Than the englysshmen drewe togider deê‘ted and rode to Calays and there deuysed that nyght of that had ben done that day In lykewise the freÌ„chmen rode to saynt Ingylbertes coÌ„muned deuised of that had ben done the same day The tuesday after masse all suche as shulde iust that day or wolde gyue the lokyng on rode out of Calis came to the place apoynted and the FreÌ„chmen were redy there to receyue theÌ„ the day was fayre and hote Whan thenglysshmen were armed than
sir WyllmÌ„ Clyfron and expert knight of Englande caused his squier to touche the targe of sir Bouciquant IncoÌ„tinent the knight issued out of his pauylion armed at all peces the two knightes came toguider taynted eche other on the shelde and passed by without brekyng of their speares The .ii. course they crossed on their helmes the .iii. course they encountred ech other so on the sheldes that their horses stode styll the .iiii. course was well employed they vnhelmed eche other The englysshe knight ran no more it was said to hym he had done ynough Than on theÌ„glisshe ê‘te came forthe a lusty yong knight called sir Nicholas clynton he touched the lorde of saynt Pies shelde the knight anon was redy they met togider so euyn that eche of theÌ„ brake their speres in iii. peces with suche force that the knight were in dauÌ„ger to haue taken domage but they passed by caÌ„e to their places the .ii. course they tainted eche other on the helmes passed by the iii. course their horses crossed fayled the .iiii course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed the englysshe knight who ran no more that daye for men said he had well valiantly done quited hymselfe how other must haue place to iust ThaÌ„ a kynsman of therle of HuÌ„tingdon caÌ„e forthe called WyllmÌ„ Stamert he caused to touche the shelde of ser Raynold of Roy. they ran togider with frewyll tainted eche other the englysshe knight lost his spere the .ii. courie they met but theÌ„glisshe knight warued aside I can nat tell wheder the faut was in the knight or in the horse but sir Raynolde strake him so rudely on the targe that he sore reuersed so passed by made theÌ„ redy to ryn the third course so tainted eche other on the helmes that the fire sprang out lost both their speres the iiii course they ataynted ech other in the sight of their helmes with that course sir WyllmÌ„ stamert was dishelmed nigh borne to therthe howbeit he fell nat returned to his coÌ„pany ran no more that day Than another squier of EnglaÌ„de caÌ„e forth called LaÌ„castre he sent to touche the shelde of sir Bouâ—iquant they ran togider tainted ech other on the helmes that the fire flewe out marueyle it was that they had nat ben vnhelmed It was nat long tyll they ran the .ii. course but their horses crossed the thirde course they were both vnhelmed and the Englysshe squyer iusted no more that day Than a yonge knight called sir IohnÌ„ Tayl boise iusted with the lorde of saynt Pye and encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes and brake their staues the .ii. course their horses crossed and the iii. course they were bothe vnhelmed the Englisshe knight ran no more that day Than stepte forthe it Godfray of Seca a gentyll knight and a good iuster that was well sene by hym he encouÌ„tred with sir Raynolde du Roy. They came right toguyder mette in their sheldes the speres were good and wolde nat breke so that it made their horses to reeule and than recouered kepte styll their speres and than ran agayne these coude course the ressed in fante of the horses and nat of the knyghtes and they lost bothe their staues they ran agayne the .iii. course The Englysshe knight strake sir Raynolde on the helme that he was vnhelmed and sir Raynolde strake that Englysshe knight on the targe so rudely and with suche strength for he was called one of the best iusters in all the realme of Fraunce Also he lyued in amours with a yong lady whiche aueyled hym in all his businesse that he perced theÌ„glisshmans targe clene through the speare heed entred in to the arme and the spere brake the trouchon stacke styll in the shelde in the knyght arme yet for all that the knight made his turne came to his place fresshly than his coÌ„pany drewe out the trouchyon bounde his arme and sir Raynolde retourned to his coÌ„pany Of that course sir Roynolde du Roy was greatly praysed on bothe ê‘ties for all the hurtyng of the knight for suche is the adueÌ„tures of armes to some good to some yuell Than came forthe an Esquyer of Englande called Balquet and sent to touche the shelde of the lorde of saynt Py who was redy to answere They couched their speares ran toguyder the first course they taynted eche other on their helmes and loste their staues they toke their staues agayne and in the aprochyng their horses crossed and so passed by and retourned agayne to their places They taryed nat long but ran eche at other with that course Blaqueâ— strake the lorde of saynt Pye a hye on the helme and gaue hym a sore stroke saynt Pye strake him in the sight of the heelm a sorer stroke so that therwith he was so vnhelmed that the bocle behynde brake and the helme fell to the grouÌ„de Than Blaquet retourned to his copany iusted no more that day And the lorde of saynt Pye sate styll on his horse abyding other comers Than a gentyll knight or Englande called sir IohnÌ„ Bolcas touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye who was there redy to answere they strake eche other on the shelde that it was marueile they were nat perced for their speres were strong how be it they passed by lost their speares without any other doÌ„mage The .ii. course they taynted on the helmes without any hurte passed by the .iii. course they crossed the .iiii. course the lorde of saynt Pye vnhelmed rude lye sir Iohan Bolcas After that course the englisshe knight ran no more Than a yong knyght of Englande richely armed named Thomelyn Massydone he touched the shelde or warre of sir Bouciquant He was incontynent answered The first course they crossed on the helmes the .ii. course they met and Thomelyn brake his spere in troÌ„chions and Bouciquant strake hym so sore that he bare hym to the erthe ouer his horse backe Than his coÌ„panyon toke hym vp and he iusted no more Than another squier of Englande called Nauerton touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant sayeng howe he wolde reuenge his company whom Bouciquant had ouerthrowen in his pÌ„sence who was redy to answere The first course they strake eche other in the viser of their helmes without any other doÌ„mage the .ii. course they strake eche other in their sheldes so that their horses reculed brake their speares in thre peces Than they retourned to their places toke newe speares and met agayne togyder sir Bouciquant receyued a great stroke on the shelde but he strake Nauerton in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed who ran no more that day for euery man sayde he had well acquyted hym selfe Than another squyer called Sequaqueton an experte man of armes sente to touche the shelde of sir Raynolde du Roye the knyght was redy to answere well mouÌ„ted with shelde speare They mette so rudely that Sequaqueton bare
hym selfe well fro fallynge for he had suche a stroke that he sore reuersed howbeit he releued and passed forthe but he lost his spere The next course they meete rudely on their helmes so that the fyre flasshed out The .iii. course Sequaqueton was vnhelmed so that bothe he his horse were astonyed and retourned to his company and iusted no more that day nor no man els for the night aproched than the Englysshe men retourned to Calys and the freÌ„chmen to saynt Ingylbertes ye may well knowe that Charles the frenche kyng was sore desyrous to be at those iustes he was yonge lyght of spiryte glad to se newe thynges It was shewed me that fro the begynning to thendyng he was there present disgysed as vnknowen so that none knewe hym but the lorde of Garasyers who caÌ„e also with hym as vnknowen and euery day returned to Margison Than on the wednisday the englisshmen rode fro Calais and came to the place of the iustes Than a squier of Englande called IohnÌ„ Sauage sente to touche the shelde of warre of sir Raynold of Roy the knight was redy in his pauylion issued out and mouÌ„ted on his horse thaÌ„ they came togider with great randon and strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wise that if their sheldes had nat broken outher one of the men or bothe had ben striken to the grouÌ„de This was a goodly a daungerous course howbeit the knightê toke no doÌ„mage Their speres brake to their haÌ„des the heedê stacke styll in their sheldê euery man fered they had ben hurt so euery ê‘tie caÌ„e to their coÌ„pany whan it was knowen that they had no hurt euery man was ioyfull and sayd howe they had done ynough for that day but those wordes pleased nothyng Iohan Sauage for he sayd he was nat come ouer the see to ryn but one course Those wordê were shewed to sir Raynolde du Roy and he answered sayd It is reason that he be aunswered outher by me or by some of my coÌ„pany Than they toke newe sheldes and speares and ran agayne toguyder â–ª but at the cope their horses crossed and so fayled ech other wherwith they were sore displeased for angre cast awaye their speres toke newe And at the thirde course they taynted eche other in the syght of their helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed euery man praysed that course The englysshe men came to Iohan Sauage said howe he had ryght honorably acquyted hymselfe that daye howe he had done ynough for there were other to ryn He obeyed ran no more and a lyghted of his horse and lept on a small hackeney to so other rynne THan a Squyer of Englande came forthe cosyn to the erle Marshall called Wyllyam Basquenaye He touched the shelde of sir Bouciquant The knyght was redy to answere They came togyder as streyght as they coude deuyse and strake eche other in the syght of the helmes in suche wyse that bothe were vnhelmed they passed forthe their course fraÌ„ke and frely Anone they were agayne helmed and ran togider and strake eche other on their sheldes and brake their speares withoute any other domage the thirde course they crossed wherwith they were sore displeased The fourthe course WyllmÌ„ Basquenay was agayne vnhelmed so ran no more that daye Than another Englysshe squyer called Scot ran agayne the lorde of saynt Pye the fyrst course they encouÌ„tred so rudely that their horses stakered the speres helde yet they lost their speres Than they made them redy to ryn the seconde course they met in suche wyse that the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed the squier moche praysed for that course Agayne the thirde course they encouÌ„tred eche other on the sheldes in suche wyse that IohnÌ„ Scot was stryken downe ouer his horse crope thus the lorde of saynt Pye was reueÌ„ged TheÌ„glyssh squyer was releued brought to his coÌ„pany and ran no more that day Than another englysshe squyer called Bernarte Stapleton he touched the shelde of the lorde of saynt Pye they came togider and taynted eche other on their helmes that the fyre flasshed out so passed by without any other doÌ„mage and kepte styll their speres the .ii. course they mette in their sheldes rudely yet they kept their horses so passed forth their course The thirde course they vnhelmed eche other thenglyssh squyer ran no more that daye Than stepte forthe a gentyll knyght of Englande yonge and fresshe a iolly dauÌ„cer and synger called sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell he ran agayne ser Raynold du Roy. At the first course they mette rudely strake eche other on their sheldes but they helde them selfes without fallynge passed forthe their course but they lost their staues The .ii. course they attaynted eche other on their helmes that sparcles of fyre flewe out without other doÌ„mage The .iii. course they crossed and loste their staues the .iiii. course they taynted on their helmes The .v. course they brake their speres on their sheldes and than sir IohnÌ„ AruÌ„dell ran no more that day Than another squyer of EnglaÌ„de called Nicholas Scon a proper man of armes ran agaynst sir BouciquaÌ„t The first course they strake eche other on their helmes a great attaynt the .ii. course they strake eche other on their sheldes in suche wyse that their horses were astonyed and lost their speares the .iii. course they strake eche other on the helmes Nicholas Seon was vnhelmed and ran no more Than another squyer came forthe called IohnÌ„ Marshall ran agaynst sir Bouciquant for he was redy lokyng for nothyng but to iust he toke his speare and couched it in the rest The first course they mette rudelye on their sheldes lost their staues the seconde course they taynted on their helmes the third course they aduysed well eche other and met rudely Iohan Marshall brake his staffe in thre peces sir Boucyquant strake hym on the helme in suche wyse that he was vnhelmed and so returned and ran no more that day Than caÌ„e forthe a lusty yonge knight of Englande who desyred greatly to wyn honour called sir IohnÌ„ Clinton he bare syluer broken with azure a molet syluer in the chefe He touched the shelde of sir Reynold du Roye who was redy to answere and was gladde of the coÌ„mynge of that knyght they came to their places and toke their speares the fyrst course they taynted on the helmes and passed forthe The seconde course they strake eche other on their sheldes and passed by and lost their staues The thirde course they taynted on their Helmes so that the fyre flewe oute the fourthe course they crossed the fythe course was well enployed for eche of them brake their speares The two knyghtes were sore chafed and shewed well howe they had gret desyre to proue their selfes The sixte course eche of theÌ„ vnhelmed other that course was greatly praysed The Englysshe knight ran no more that daye for he had done
soueraygne of the armye for that voyage and to whome euery man shulde obey The duke of Thourayne of his owne voluÌ„tary wyll offred hym selfe to go but the kyng and his vncles wolde in no wyse agree therto sayenge howe it was no voyage for hym and they consydred well howe that genouoys desyred outher to haue him or els one of the kynges vncles Than it was agreed that the duke of Burbone vncle to the kynge shulde be souerayne and chefe of that armye shulde haue in his company the lorde of Coucy Whan the ambassadours of Gene were aunswered that it was concluded without fayle that they shulde haue ayde of knightes and squyers of Fraunce and the kynges vncle the duke of Burbone to be souerayne and chefe capytayne wherof these ambassadours were well contente and toke their leaue of the kynge and of his counsayle and retourned in to their owne couÌ„trey Tydinges anon spred abrode in that realme of Fraunce af this voyage into Barbary To some it was plesaunt and to some nat delectable and many that wolde haue gone wente nat There was none that went but on their owne charge and coste No lorde sente any but of their owne seruauntes Also it was ordeyned that none shuld passe of the nacyon of Fraunce without lycence of the kynge for the kynge wolde nat that so many shulde haue gone to leaue the realme destitute of knyghtes and squyers Also it was agreed that no varlettes shulde passe but all gentle men and men of feate defence Also to please all other nacyons knyghtes squiers straungers had fre lyberty to come and to entre into this honorable voyage wherof all knyghtes straungers greatly praysed the frenche kynge and his counsayle for that dede The duke of Burbone who was one of the chefe of the realme sent incontynent his officers to Gennes to make prouysyon acordynge to his astate The gentle erle of Auuergne sent also to Gennes to make his prouysions and the lorde of Coucy was nat behynde Also syr Guy de la Tremoyle and sir Iohan of Vyen admyrall of Fraunce and all other lordes and knightes suche as were ordeyned to go in that voyage sent to make their prouysions euery man after his degre Also so dyd sir Philyppe de Arthoys erle of Eawe and sir Phylip of Bare the lorde of Harcourt sir Henry Dantoinge Also out of Bretayne and Normandy many lordes other aparelled them selfes to go into Barbary Also of Haynalt the lorde of Ligne the lord of Haureth and for theÌ„ of Flaunders there was great ê“uysion made Also the duke of LaÌ„castre had a bastard sonne called Henry of Lancastre he had deuocion to go in the same voyage he prouyded him of good knightes and squyers of Englande that acompanyed hym in that voyage The erle of Foiz sent his bastarde sonne called Iobbayne of Foiz well prouyded with knightes squiers of Bierne Euery man prouyded them selfes nobly and eche for other and about the myddes of May the that were furthest of fro Gene set forwarde to come to Gennes whereas the assemble was apoynted and where as all their galees and vesselles were assembled It was a moneth or they coude all assemble there The genouoys were right ioyfull of their comyng and gaue great presentes to the chiefe lordes the better therby to wynne their loues They were nombred whan they were togyther by the marshals xiiii hundred knyghtes and squyers Than they entred in to the galees and vesselles that were prouyded for them well furnisshed of all thynges necessary Thus they departed fro the porte of Gennes aboute the feest of mydsomer in the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore and ten GReat pleasure it was to behold their departynge and to se their standardes getorns and penons wanynge in the wynde and shynynge against the sonne and to here the trompettes claryons sownyng in the ayre with other mynstrelsy The fyrste night they lay at ancre at the entryng in to the high see all varlettes horses abode behynde a horse that was worthe fyfty frankes at their departyng was solde for ten frankes for there were many knyghtes and squiers that wyste nat whan they shulde returne they coulde nat haue fyue horses kept at Gennes for a franke a daye and therfore at their departynge they made money of them and that was but lytell There were a huÌ„dred galees garnisshed with men of warre crosbowes pauesses and mo than a C. of other vessels laden with ê“uysion other necessaryes The next day at the breke of the daye they weyed ancres and rowed all that day by force of owers and the nyght folowynge costyng the laÌ„de The thyrde day they came to Portefyn and there cast ancre and taryed there all that night and the next day they came to another porte towne called the porte VeÌ„der and there taryed and refresshed them The next day they passed further into the gret see in the name of god our lady and saynte George firste they founde the isle of Dable and than that isle of Guerfe the isle of Argenen and the isle of Sardyns passed the Gulfe of the Lyon which was a daungerous a doutfull passage but they coulde nat eschewe it the waye that they toke they were there in great parell all to haue ben lost the season was so troublus tempestes so terryble that the wysest maryner that there was coulde gyue no couÌ„saile but to abyde the adueÌ„ture the wyll of god wherby the flete departed a sonder some here and some there they wyst neuer where This tempest endured a day a night whan this teÌ„pest was sest and the wyndes pacifyed than the patrons pylottes set their courses to drawe to the isle of CoÌ„meres a .xxx. myle fro Auffryke and fro the towne thyder as they entented to go For at the goynge out of the Gulfe of Lyon the patrones sayde one to a nother if it fortune that we be driuen a sonder by force of wynde and wether than lette vs drawe to the isle of CoÌ„meres and there lette vs tary eche for other And as they hadde deuysed so they dyd for the fyrst that came thyder taryed tyll the last came and or all coulde assemble there togyder it was a nyne daies This isle of CoÌ„meres is a pleasauÌ„t isle thought it be nat gret There the lordes refresshed theym and thanked god whhan they sawe they had loste none of their company Thanne the lordes and patrons toke counsayle what was best for them to do consyderinge they were so nere the towne of Aufryke ¶ Nowe I wyll leaue to speke of these lordes of Fraunce for a season and speke of other maters that was done in that season in FrauÌ„cel and specyally in the countrey of Auuergne in the marches of the lande of the erle Dolphyn who was forthe in the sayd voyage ⸪ ⸪ ¶ Of a capytayne a robber and a pyller of the countrey called Aymergot Marcell who helde a stronge
and at Dousacke and what answere he had of the capitayns than the Vicount praysed moche Perotte le Bernoyes and Olyue Barbe and was as than out of doute and so contynued their siege THe siege beyng before the Roche of Vandoys euery day there was scrimysshing often tymes some hurte with shotte of the genouoys cros bowes for the genouoys were good shoters Thus the siege coÌ„tynued a nyne wekes Thenterprice of the garyson was greatlye to the aduauntage of them within I shall shewe you the maner howe At certayne places they might issue out at their pleasure in dispyght of all their ennemyes for they shulde haue kepte them fro their issues they had nede to haue had mo than sixe M. men Thus durynge the siege Aymergot was ryght ymaginatife and consydred all thynges and sawe well howe he had nat done well but to tourne his dede in good maner and to th entent that the Roche of Vandoys shulde styll remayne with hym He sent in to Englande a varlet of his with letters of credence to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre And of this purpose he brake his mynde to an vncle of his called Guyot du Sall a man of a thre score yere of age who had greatlye vsed dedes of armes and knewe moche of the worlde Whan Aymergote had shewed hym the maner howe he wolde sende in to EnglaÌ„de this Guyotte was well agreed therto and sayde howe to sende a wyse man thyder coulde do no hurte Than they sente a varlet who had ben brought vp among them Aymergot enstructed hym and sayde We shall sette the out of this house in saue garde out of all peryll and thou shalte haue golde and syluer ynoughe Thou shalte go in to Englande with these letters one to the kynge another to the duke of LaÌ„castre and the thirde to the kynges counsayle and all these letters are of credence Than they wyll demaunde of the the occasyon of thy coÌ„mynge thyder And after thou hast made thy recoÌ„mendacion thou shalte saye that Aymergot Mercell their poore soudyour and subiecte and redy with good wyll to do them seruyce is enclosed and beseged in a lytell fortresse parteyning to the feaultie of Lymosyn belongyng to the kynge of Englandes herytage And they that lye at the siege traueyleth taketh great payne daylye to wyn vs that dothe defende the fortresse And the capitayne of them without is a lorde cosyn to the lorde of Coucy called sir Robert vycount of Meaulx set there by the Frenche kyng Therfore desyre the kynge his counsayle and specially the duke of Lancastre who hath the souerayne gouernaunce in Burdeloys and of the kyng of EnglaÌ„des heritage in these ê‘ties That it wolde please them to write and to coÌ„maunde the vycount of Meaulx to deê‘te fro the siege and to reyse his army And to write to the Vycount that he is about to breke the peace that was taken at Balyngham bytwene Boloygne and Calays And bycause I am in doute what aunswere the vicount wyll make to these letters for he is somwhat stronge and fro warde Therfore desyre that I maye haue in lykewyse letters fro the kyng and his counsayle and fro the duke of Lancastre to the duke of Berrey For if the duke of Berrey wyll incontynent the siege shall be raysed And for the more suretie desyre to haue with the some knight of honoure of the kynges house or of the duke of Lancasters suche one as the duke of Berrey knoweth and the other lordes of Fraunce And shewe hym fro me that I shall gyue hym a C. frankes Remembre all these wordes and do thy message acordingly and shewe theÌ„ that thou spekest withall that this lytell fortresse that I haue fortified if it maye abyde styll Englysshe It shall come well to poynte and specially to theÌ„ that wyll make warre in these parties for the kynge of Englande for the fortresse staÌ„deth on the froÌ„ters of the countrey for therby maye be won at a season in Auuergne and Lymosyn two thousande frankes WHan Aymergot Marcell Guyotdu Sall his vncle had well enstructed this varlet and that the letters of credence were written and sealed and delyuerd The varlet departed by nyght and was well accompanyed and conueyed a fote to another fortresse ê‘teynynge to Aymergot called saint Soupery There he toke a horse suche as he wolde chose for he hadde a great iourney to ryde He rode forthe through the realme of FrauÌ„ce lyke a Frenche man of Auuergne and so came to Calais and acquaynted hym selfe with the Capitayne sir Iohan Beauchampe and shewed hym parte of his busynesse to the entent to haue the soner passage as he had So he came to Douer and than toke his iourney to LoÌ„don And it was his fortune that the kynge of Englande and his two vncles and the duke of Lancastre and the kynges couÌ„sayle were the same tyme at the palais of Westmynster in counsayling for maters of Northumberlande for the scottes helde nat well the truese as complayntes were made The same tyme Aymergottes varlet came to LoÌ„don and there toke his lodgynge and shewed his host parte of the cause of his commynge His host brought hym to Westmynster and caused hym firste to speke with the duke of Lancastre who was in his chambre it was or he went to the counsayle there the varlet delyuered hym his letters the duke toke reed them Than he drewe hym a parte demaunded what credence he had Than the varlet shewed hym all the hole mater as ye haue herde here before The duke herde hym well and demaunded if he had any mo letters and he sayd that he had letters to the kyng and to his counsayle that is well quod the duke I shall cause the to haue audyence than the duke went to the counsayle And whan he sawe the hour and tyme he moued the varlettes mater and by the dukes aduauncement the varlet was sente for Than he delyuered to the kyng and to his couÌ„sayle the letters they were opyned and reed and than he was demaunded what was his credeÌ„ce and the varlet who was hardy and nat abasshed shewed the businesse of Aymergot Marcell right sagely and the better assured bycause euery man gaue hym good audieÌ„ce Whan he had said as moche as he wolde thaÌ„ he was answered that the kyng wolde take couÌ„sayle in the mater and make an answere Than he went out of the counsayle chambre and taryed tyll he had an answere THe aunswere was that the kynge wolde write to the vycount of Meaulx and also to the duke of Berrey accordyng as Aymergot had requyred and in lykewise so promysed the duke of Lancastre and whan the letters were writen there was a gentylman of the duke of Lancastres apoynted to bere these letters So they passed the see and with them went Derby an heralde the better to forther the mater bycause he was aquaynted with the lordes of Auuergne and specially with the duke of Berrey The
my mayster and his counsayle by greuous complayntes of the noble men other of the countrey of Auuergne and Lymosyn howe they had taken great domages and losses by the meanes that Aymergot aduysed a strong place bytwene the couÌ„trâ—â—s which was voyde and nat inhabyted he toke and fortefyed it and hath nat made it a house of peace or solace but a stronge fortresse and a resortynge place for theues robbers and murderers whervpon I am coÌ„mauÌ„ded to be here to defende the countrey and to the entent that suche as be assembled in this forttesse shulde nat multyply in their wickednesse but to punysshe them by suche sentence as apartayneth to their trespace and for that entente I do put to my payne to take them if I can the whiche coÌ„maundemente of my mayster I wyll obey and shall do my deuoyre to acquyte me truly and fro hence I wyll nat departe what so euer coÌ„maundemente I haue tyll I haue the fortresse and them that be within And if Aymergot Marcell wyll say that I am auaunced to breke the peace lette hym come forthe and he shall be fought withall with one that is better than he and shal cause to be proued by dyuers poyntes and artycles that he hym selfe breaketh the peace Sirs all thynges consydred I make you this aunswere ye maye retourne whan it pleace you and whan ye come there as ye wold be say none otherwyse nor no lesse than I haue sayde to you for often tymes reportes nat truely set enfourmeth lordes often tymes otherwyse than the trouthe is in dede Syr quod the squyer we are come hyther for none other purpose but to reporte the trouth of that we here and se and sythe ye wyll none otherwyse do we nede no lenger to abyde here and so toke their leaue And there was gyuen to the haraulde ten frankes for the honour of the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre WHan they were departed they toke the hyghe way to Cleremount and sayd they wolde agayne to Parys whan they were halfe a leage on their way than they began to entre in to their mater and sayd As yet we haue done nothynge it behoueth vs to go to the duke of Berrey in to Auuergne who is lorde of this countrey for he writeth hym selfe duke of Berrey and of Auuergne the by counte of Meaulx dare nat displease the duke if he coÌ„maunde hym to departe and we haue letters fro the kynge our mayster and fro the duke of Lancastre to hym wherfore it is reason that we delyuer them and that we maye knowe his entente They concluded on that purpose and so rode to Cleremounte thydeâ— they were welcome for the haraulde knewe the countrey and whan they were demauÌ„ded what they were they answered that they were messangers sent fro the kynge of Englande and than they demaunded where the duke of Berrey was and it was shewed them that the duke and the duches was in a castell of theirs named the Nonecâ—e The haraulde knewe it well he had been there before Than they departed fro Cleremount and rode to Vyore and fro thens to Nonect There is a hyghe mountayne to passe or one come to the castell Whan they came there the duke of Berrey with many other was sportynge without the gate the harauld was knowen with dyuers Than they were brought to the duke who for the loue of the kynge of Englande and of the duke of Lancastre made them good chere the squyer delyuered his letters to the duke who receyued them and opened and red them at length two tymes ouer Than he studyed a lytell and answered them curtesly and sayde Syrs for the loue of our cosyns in Englande we shall gladly do our power Of the which aunswere the squyer and the haraulde were ryght ioyouse and thought than howe they had sped all their mater but it was nat so as ye shall here after howe be it the duke of Berrey at the begynnynge dyd his deuoyre to haue raysed the siege to please therby the kynge of Englande and the duke of Lancastre who desyred that the siege myght be reysed before the Roche of Vandoys and that the lytell fortresse myght abyde styll to Aymergot Marcell if he haue done any thyng to dysplease the frenche kyng or his couÌ„sayle the kynge of Englande wolde se that there shulde be amendes made And the duke of Berrey bycause he wold acquyte him truely to the englysshe mennes desyres suche as were in his house he wrote incontynente letters well endyghted to the vycount of Meaulâ— and these letters were red or they were sealed before the englysshe men who thought them well ordayned These letters were sente by a notable squyer of the duke of Berreys to the vycount of Meaulx who receyued them and opened them Than the vycount caused them to be redde before suche lordes as were there with hym whyle the messanger was a drinkynge for they made hym good chere for the loue of the duke of Berrey as it was reason Sirs quod the vycounte we shall nat be in rest syth the duke of Berrey wyll beare Aymergot who is the man of the world that this twelue yere hath moste grâ—ued and traueyled the couÌ„trey of Auuergne I had thought that the duke had hated hym greatly but it semeth nay sythe he hath â—rpresly coÌ„maunded that I shulde departe fro hence But by my faythe at this tyme I wyll nat obey this letter but I wyll make excuse by reason of the kynge and his couÌ„sayle who sent me hyder and at my departynge fro Parys he straytly coÌ„maunded me that for any coÌ„maundemente fro any persone and if it were nat fro the kynge kymselfe that I shulde nat departe fro hence tyll I had taken the stronge holde of the Roche of Vandoys and Aymergot therin whiche I wyll do if I canne and nowe the duke of Berrey coÌ„maundeth me the contrary for he chargeth me incontynent his letters sene that I shulde reyse the syege By my faythe I wyll nat do it Syr quod they that were aboute hym ye speke royally and truely and we shall abyde with you but we suppose the occasion that the duke of Berrey writeth thus for Aymergot is that the englyssh squier and the haraulde hath thus desyred him to write we thinke also they haue brought letters to hym fro the kynge of Englande and fro the duke of Lancastre as they brought to you this other day ye say well quod the vicounte and I shall knowe it if I came Than the duke of Berreys squier was sent for to haue his answere and the vycount sayd to him Pyer I wyll well that ye knowe that I owe obeysaunce to the duke of Berrey for he is so nere a kynne to the kynge that I dare nat dysplease hym but I and my companyons who haue ben here these fyue wekes at this siege to wyn this fortresse and to take the theues that be within it by the strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge and his
Than the vycount and the lorde of the towre syr Roberte Dolphyn and other came before the fortresse as nere as they myght aporche and thyder was brought Guyot du Sall and his company Than the vycount spake and sayd to Guyot du Sall. Guyot and all other of your company knowe we for trouthe that incontynent all your heedes shall be stryken of without ye yelde vp the fortresse of the Roche of Vandoys and if ye wyll rendre it vp we shall suffre you to go quyte Nowe aduyse ye well what way ye wyll take other lyfe or deth Of those wordes Guyot his company were sore abasshed at last they thought it was best for them to saue their lyues Than Guyot answered and sayde Syr I shall do the best I canne that the fortresse may be yelden to you Than he came to the barryer and spake with them that were within who rekened themselfes clene dyscomfyted seynge they hadde lost their two maysters and the best of their company As soone as Guyot hadde spoken with theym and declared what case they stode in they agreed to yelde vp the fortresse condicionally that they myght departe with bagge and baggage as moch as they coulde cary and to haue respyte for a moneth to withdrawe them whyther they lyste All this was graunted to them and a sute saueconducte made and sealed Thus the frenche men had the Roche of Vandoys delyuered by reason of their good fortune of their last skrimysshe wherfore it is comenly sayde that all fortunes good and yuell falleth often tymes in armes to them that foloweth warre WHan the Roche of Vandois was yelded vp to the lordes of Fraunce and Auuergnâ— they of the countrey were ryght ioyous therof and the lordes helde well and truely the promesse that they had made to Guyot du Sall â–ª whan they had caryed away as moche as they coulde do than they departed with good assuraunce for a moneth to go whyder it pleased them Than the vycount of Meaulâ— abandoned the Roche of Vandoys to the men of the countrey who incontynente dyd rase it downe in suche wyse that they lefte no wall hele nor house nor stone vpon stone but all was reuersed to the erthe The frenche men that were they in the kinges seruice with the vycount toke their leues of the knyghtes and squyers of Auuergne so they departed and they of Auuergne and Lymosyn went to their owne houses The vycount of Meaulâ— gaue leaue to parte of his company he went to Rochell and lodged at saint Iohans Dangle to kepe there the fronter for in the couÌ„trey there were some pyllers and robbers that ran sometyme in to Xantoigne whan they sawe their aduauntage In the maner and fourme as I haue shewed you the fortresse of the roche of Vandoys was coÌ„quered and rased downe wherof all the countrey was ioyfull for than they were in better suretie than they were before For to say the trouth if it had coÌ„tynued it wolde haue done them many displeasurs Tydynges of this dede came to the knowledge of the duke of Berrey to Cautelon a place of his owne standynge bytwene Charters and Mount le Herrey a nyne leages fro Parys he cared nothing for it for he was as than but colde to are any grace of the kynge for Aymergot Whan Derby the haraulde was infourmed by some of the dukes knyghtes howe the Roche of Vandois was taken beten downe than he sayde to the squyer that came thyder with hym syr ye haue lost a hundred frankes that Aymergot had promysed to you Howe so quod the squier Surely quod the harauld the Roche of Vandoys is gyuen vp and rendred the frenche men haue wonne it therfore lette vs take our leaue of the duke of Berrey and retourne in to Englande we haue nothynge here to do Well quod the squyer sythe it is so I accorde therto Than they toke their leaue of the duke Than the duke wrote to the kynge of Englande and to the duke of Lancastre and gaue to the haraulde at his departynge .xl. frankes and to the squyer a horse Thus they departed and toke the next waye to Calays and so in to Englande Than tydinges came to Aymergot Marcell where he was purchasyng of frendes to haue reysed the siege before the fortresse of Vandoys that it was gyuen vp Whan he herde therof he demaunded howe it fortuned It was shewed hym howe it was by reason of a skrymysshe and by the issuyng out of his vncle Guyot du Sall vnaduysedly Ah that olde traytour ê™ Aymergot by saynte Marcell if I had hym here nowe I shulde sle hym myne owne handes he hath dyshonoured me and all my companyons At my departynge I straytely enioyned hym that for no maner of assaute or skrymysshe made by the frenchmen he shulde in no wyse open the barryers and he hath done the contrary this domage is nat to be recouered nor I wote nat whether to go they of Caluset and they of Dousac wyll kepe the peace and my companyons be spredde abrode lyke men dyscomfyted they dare neuer assemble agayne togyther and though I had them togyther yet I wote nat whyder to bring them Thus all thynge consydred I am in a harde parte for I haue gretly dyspleased the french kynge the duke of Berrey and the lordes of Auuergne all the people of the countrey for I haue made them warre the peace durynge I had trusted to haue won but I am nowe in a great aduenture to lese nor I wotte nat to whom to resorte to are counsayle I wolde nowe that I and my goodes with my wyfe were in Englande there I shulde be in surety but howe shulde I get thyder and cary all my stufe with me I shulde be robbed twenty tymes or I coulde gette to the see for all the passages in Poictou in Rochell in Fraunce in Normandy and in Pycardy are straytely kept it wyll be harde to scape fro takyng and if I be taken I shall be sente to the Frenche kynge and so I shall be loste and all myne I thynke the surest waye for me were to drawe to Burdeaulr and lytell and lytell to get my good thyder and to abyd there tyll the warre renewe agayne for I haue good hoope that after this treuce warre shall be open agayne bytwene Englande and Fraunce Thus Aymergot Marcell debated the matter in hym selfe he was heuy and sorowfull and wysâ—e nat what waye to take outher to recouersoÌ„e fortresse in Auuergne or els to go to Burdeaux to sende â—or his wire thider and for his goodes lytell and lytell secretely if he hadde done so he had taken the surest waye But he dyde contrary and therby lost all lyfe godes Thus â—ortune payeth the people whan she hath sette theÌ„ on the highest parte of her whele for sodainly she reuerseth them to the lowest parte ensample by this Aymergotte It was sayd he was well worthe a hundred thousande frakes and all was lost on a daye
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
at Colbridge and at Bruselles in the house of duke Wyncelante of Brabant and of the duchesse Iahan of Brabant this knyght sir Rycharde Sury made me good chere and demaunded of me many thynges and I aunswered hym as I knewe And as I walked vp and downe with hym in a galery before the kynges chambre I demauÌ„ded hym questyons of that counsayle and desyred hym to tell me if he myght what conclusion was taken He herde me well and paused a lytell and afterwarde sayd syr Iohan I shall shewe you for it is no mater to be hydden and kept secrete for shortly ye shall here theym publysshed all openly ye knowe well quod he and Iame sure ye haue herde rehersed howe the duke of Lancastre is gone in to Acquytayne to reioyce the gyftâ— that the kynge my soueraygne lorde hath gyuen hym for the loue that he hathe to hym for he hath doone the kynge ryght good seruyce and the crowne of Englande therfore in rewarde the kynge hathe clerely gyuen to hym and to his heyres for euer the hole duchy of Acquitayne so as it eâ—tendeth in metes and lymytacyons seneschalles baylyages sygnories and wasselages and clene quyteth all them that holde of hym by faythe or othe and in all homage the resorte reserued more the kynge hath reserued to the crowne of Englande in tyme to come And this gyfte is so sufficyently confermed that all the kynges other vncles and all the counsayle of Englande hath acorded ther to and the kynge hathe gyuen specyall commaundement to all his subgiettes in the sayd lymytacyons of Acquytayne to obey in all poyntes without any othermeane his dere and well beloued vncle duke Iohan of Lancastre and after the syght of his letters to holde and to take hym to their souerayne lorde and to swere to hym faythe and homage and to holde of hym truely as they haue auncyently done and helde at the date of those letters gyuen by the kyng of Englande or his deputies or coÌ„myssioners And who soeuer that rebelleth or speketh agaynst this the kynges grauÌ„t of what condycyon so euer he be to aunswere therto within thre dayes The kynge gaue to his vncle of Lancastre and to his commyssioners full power and puyssaunce to correcte them and to put them out of all hope to haue any other retourne or resorte yet nat withstandynge all these letters and strayte coÌ„maundement of the kynge the good townes and cyties of Gascoyne vnder the kynge of Englandes obeysauÌ„ce and all other lordes knyghtes and gentlemen of the countrey are conioyned togyther to kepe their townes close agaynste the duke and wyll nat nor are nat in mynde to obey the duke in this case for they say and haue sayd and yet susteyne at this houre that the gyfte that the kynge hath gyuen to his vncle of Lancastre is nat suffycient nor profytable and out of the ordre of reason And that duke who wolde nat wynne theym but by gentylnesse herde pacyently their defences and that no further inconuenyentes shulde ensue therfore his counsayle and their counsayles are come hyther to debate and to declare the cause why they do nat obey the kynges coÌ„maundement And surely as this day they haue right wysely shewed their answere and layde forth certayne artycles of reason and they haue ben well herde And they haue layde suche reasons that in a maner the kynge and his counsayle thynke they haue cause to abyde by their quarell I shall shewe you howe but I wolde ye kept it secrete tyll it be knowen further abrod And I aunswered I wolde so do Well quod the knyght one as me thought was offyciall of Burdeaux spake for all his partie and first shewed forthe his procutacyon and auctorite to the entent he myght the better be beleued and than beganne and sayde that the cytie of Burdeaux and the cyties of Bayon and Dax and all the sygnories and lorshyppes that be appendaunt to the lymyttes of the sayd countreys and cyties are of so noble condycyon that no kyng of Englande by no maner of accyon or dede may put awaye or dysceuer them fro the demayns of the crowne of Englande nor to gyue or alyenate them to chylde vncle nor brother by reasone of maryage or otherwise and to veryfie this we say that the aboue named townes cyties and sygnories are suffyciently priueleged by kynges of Englande who haue sworne faythfully to holde and to kepe vs so without reuocasyon For as soone as any Kynge of Englande entreth in to the possessyon of the herytage of the Crowne of Englande he swereth sufficiently on the euangelystes to holde this ferme and stable without breakynge and ye ryght dere syr as kyng of Englande haue made lyke othe And syr to veryfie this to be of trouth beholde here these writynges And ther with he shewed forth letters and charters vnder the sygnes of notaryes imperyalles and sealed with the great seale of Englande gyuen by the same kynge Rycharde there beynge present and there openly he redde it frome clause to clause The charter was well herde and vnderstande for it was bothe in laten and in Frenche and it named in the ende many wytnesses of prelates and great lordes of Englande who were for the more suretie testes of that dede at the leste to the nombre of .xi. Whanne the kynges counsayle herde this they behelde eche other and loked on the kynge There was no man spake a worde nor made no replycacion whan he had redde it ouer he folded it and put it vp and spake further addressynge his wordes to the kynge and sayde Ryght dere syr and redouted soueraygne lorde and you my ryght dere lordes and other at my departynge out of the countrey I was charged to shewe you by the counsaylours of the good Cyties and townes of Gascoyne beynge vnder the obeysaunce of the crowne of Englande hath well ouer sene the fourme and maner of your commauÌ„dement sent vnto them vnder your seale whiche they knewe right well yet they thinke and say that this coÌ„maundement may nat be obeyed for if so were that the cyties and good townes of Guyen wolde enclyne to receyue the duke of Lancastre to their lorde and acquyte for euer the homage and obeysaunce that they owe to you it shulde be greatly to the preiudyce of the crowne of Englande for thoughe it were so that at this tyme presente the duke of Lancastre is the kynges vncle and subgiet and well beloued and wolde holde and kepe all poyntes and artycles belongyng to the crowne of Englande yet it maye so hap that suche loue and tenure may lyghtly be lost by chaunge of heyres by reason of maryages that are made bytwene lordes and ladyes in chaungynge fro one to another though they be nere of lygnage by dyspensacyon of the pope for sometyme it is of necessyte that maryages be made of hyghe Princes or of their chyldren one with another to holde their landes and sygnories in loue and amyte And so it myght fall that suche
his herte and sayd he wolde do as they counsayled hym as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and than he sayd to them that kepte hym howe he wolde gladly speke with his cosyn of Lancastre ⸫ ⸫ ¶ Howe Kynge Rycharde of Englande resigned the crowne and the realme in to the handes of the erle of Derby duke of Lancastre Cap. CC.xliiii IT was shewed the duke of Lancastre howe Rycharde of Burdeaux desyred to speke with hym The duke in an euenynge toke a barge and went to the towre by water went to the kynge who receyued hym curtesly and humbled hym selfe greatly as he that sawe hym selfe in great daunger and sayd Cosyn of Lancastre I regarde and consydre myne estate whiche is as nowe but small I thanke god therof As any more to reygne or to gouerne people or to beare a crowne I thynke it nat and as god helpe me I wolde I were deed by a naturall dethe and that the frenche kinge had agayne his doughter we haue had as yet no gret ioy togyder nor syth I brought her in to Englande I coulde neuer haue the loue of my people as I had before Cosyn all thynges cōsydred I knowe we well I haue greatly trespassed agaynst you and agaynst other noble men of my blodde by dyuers thynges I perceyue I shall neuer haue pardone nor come to peace wherfore with myne owne free and lyberall wyll I wyll resygne to you the herytage of the Crowne of Englande and I requyre you take the gyfte therof with the resignacyon Whan the duke herde that he sayd syr it is conuenyent that parte of the thre estates of the realme be called to these wordes and I haue sent all redy for some noble men prelates and counsaylours of the good townes of Englande and I truste they wyll be here within this thre dayes suffycient of them for you to make a dewe resygnacion before them and by this meanes ye shal greatly apease many men within the realme For to withstande suche enormyties and yuels as haue ben vsed in the realme for faute of iustyce who had no place to reygne I was sent for fro beyond the see and the people wolde crowne me for the renome rynneth through Englande that I haue more ryght to the crowne than ye haue for whan our grauntfather kynge Edwarde the thyrde dyd chose and make you kynge the same was as than shewed hym but he loued so his sonne the prince that none coude breake his purpose nor opinyon but that you shulde be kynge and if ye wolde haue folowed the steppes of your father the prince and haue beleued his counsayle as a good sonne ought to haue done ye myght haue ben styll kyng and haue contynued youre estate but ye haue alwayes done the contrary so that the cōmon renome rynneth through England and in other places that ye were neuer sonne to the prince of Wales but rather sonne to a preest or to a chanon for I haue herde of certayne knightes that were in the Princes howse myne vncle howe that he knew well that his wyfe had nat truely kepte her maryage your mother was cosyn germayne to kynge Edwarde and the kynge beganne to hate her bycause she coulde haue no generacion Also she was the kynges gossyp of two chyldren at the fonte And she that coulde well kepe the prince in her bandon by crafte and subtylte she made the prince to be her husbande and bycause she coulde haue no chylde she douted that the prince shulde be deuorsed fro her she dyd so moch that she was with chylde with you and with another before you as of the fyrst I can nat tell what to iudge but as for you bycause your cōdicyons haue ben sene contrary fro all nobles and prowes of the prince therfore it is sayd that ye be rather sonne to a prest or to a chanon for whan ye were gotten and borne at Burdeaux there were many yonge preestes in the princes house This is the brute in this countrey and your workes haue well folowed the same for ye be alwayes enclyned to the pleasure of the french men and to take with them peace to the confusyon and dy shonoure of the realme of Englande And bycause myne vncle of Gloucestre and the erle of Arundell dyd coūsayle you truly and faythfully to kepe the honour of the realme and to folowe the steppes of your auncestours ye haue traytoursly caused them to dye As for me I haue taken on me to defende your lyfe as longe as I may for pytie and I shall pray the londoners and the herytours of them that ye haue slayne and banysshed to do the same Cosyn I thanke you quod that kynge I truste more in you than in any other It is but ryght that ye so shulde do for if I had nat ben ye had ben taken by the people and deposed with great confusyon and slayne by reasone of your yuell workes Kynge Rycharde herde well all the dukes wordes and wyst nat what to saye agaynst it for he sawe well that force nor argumentes coulde nat auelyle him but rather mekenesse and humilyte wherfore he humbled hym and prayed the duke to saue his lyfe WHan the duke of Lancastre had ben at the towre two houres with kynge Rycharde had shewed hym parte of his fautes than he retourned And the next day he sent forthe mo cōmaundementes in to all parties of the realme to cause noble men and other to come to London His vncle the duke of yorke came to London and the erle of Rutlande his sonne the erle of Northumberlande and the lorde Thomas Percy his brother The duke of Lancastre made them good chere Thyder came also great nombre of prelates and abbottes And on a day the duke of Lancastre acompanyed with lordes dukes prelates erles barones and knyghtes and of the notablest men of London of other good townes rode to the Towre and there alyghted Than kynge Rycharde was brought in to the hall aparelled lyke a kynge in his robes of estate his septer in his hande and his crowne on his heed Than he stode vp alone nat holden nor stayed by no man and sayde a loude I haue been kynge of Englande duke of Acquytany and lorde of Irelande aboute xxii yeres whiche sygnory royalte cepter crowne and herytage I clerely resygne here to my cosyn Henry of Lancastre and I desyre hym here in this open presence in entrynge of the same possessyon to take this septour and so delyuered it to the duke who toke it Than kynge Rycharde toke the crowne fro his heed with bothe his handes and set it before hym and sayd Fayre cosyn Henry duke of Lancastre I gyue delyuer you this crowne wherwith I was crowned kyng of Englande and therwith all the right therto dependyng The duke of Lancastre tooke it and the archebysshop of Caunterbury toke it out of the dukes handes this resygnacion thus done the duke of Lancastre called a notary and demaunded to haue
letters and wytnesse of all the prelates and lordes there beynge present Than Rycharde of Burdeaux retourned agayne in to the chambre fro whence he came Than the duke of Lancastre and all other lept on their horses and the crowne and ceptour were put in a cofer and conueyed to the abbey of Westmynster and there kept in the treasory And euery man wente to their lodgynges and abode tyll the day of parliament and counsayle shulde be at the palays of Westmynster ¶ Of the coronacyon of kyng Henry duke of Lancastre by the consent of the realme the maner of the feest Cap. CC.xlv IN the yere of our lorde god a thousande thre hundred fourscore nynetene the last daye of septembre on a tuysday began a parlyament at Westmynster holden by Henry duke of Lancastre at whiche tyme there was assembled prelates and clergy of the realme of Englande a great nombre and also dukes erles and barones and of euery towne a certayne Thus the people assembled at Westmynster there beynge presente the duke of Lancastre and there the same duke chalenged the realme of Englande and desyred to be kynge by thre reasones Fyrst by conquest secondly bycause he was heyre And thyrdly bycause Rycharde of Burdeaur had resygned the Realme in to his handes by his free wyll in the presence of certayne dukes erles prelates and barones in the hall within the towre of London These thre causes shewed the duke of Lancastre requyred all the people there present as well one as other to shewe their myndes and ententes in that behalfe Than all the people with one voyce sayd that their wylles was to haue him kynge and howe they wolde haue none other but hym Than the duke agayne sayd to the people Sirs is this your myndes and they all with one voyce sayde ye ye And than the duke sate downe in the syege royall whiche seate was reysed vp in the hall and couered with a clothe of estate so that euery man myght well se hym sytte And than the people lyfted vp their handes a hygh promysing hym their faythe and allegyaunce Thanne the parlyament coÌ„cluded and the day was taken for his coronacyon of saynt Edwardes day the monday the .xiii. day of Octobre at whiche tyme the saturday before his coronacyon he departed fro Westmynster and rode to the towre of London with a great nombre and that night all suche squyers as shulde be made knyghtes the nexte day watched who were to the nombre of .xlvi. Euery squier had his owne bayne by him selfe and the next day the duke of Lancastre made theym all knyghtes at the masse tyme. Than had they longe cotes with strayte sleues furred with mynyuer lyke prelates with whyte laces hangynge on their shuldes And after dyner the duke departed fro the towre to Westmynster rode all the way bareheeded and aboute his necke the lyuery of Fraunce He was acompanyed with the prince his sonne and syxe dukes syxe erles and .xviii. barons and in all knyghtes and squyers a nyne hundred horse Than the kynge had on a shorte cote of clothe of golde after the maner of Almayne and he was mounted on a whyte couâ—ser and the garter on his left legge Thus the duke rode through London with a great nombre of lordes euery lordes seruaunt in their maysters lyuery All the but gesses lombardes marchauntes in London and euery craft with their lyuerey and deuyse Thus he was conueyed to Westmynster He was in nombre a syxe thousaÌ„de horse and the streates hanged as he passed by and the same day and the next there were in London rynnynge seuen cundyttes with wyne whyte and reed That nyght the duke was bayned and the next mornynge he was confessed and herde thre masses as he was acustomed to do and than all the prelates and clergy came fro Westmynster churche to the palays to fetche the kynge with procession and so he went to the churche a procession and all the lordes with hym in their robes of scarlet furred with menyuer barred of their shulders acordynge to their degrees and ouer the kynge was borne a clothe of estate of blewe with four belles of golde and it was borne by four burgesses of the portes as Douer and other And on euery syde of him he had a sword borne the one the sworde of the churche and the other the sworde of iustyce The sworde of the church his sonne the prince dyd beare and the sworde of iustyce therle of Northumberlande dyd beare for he was as than constable of Englande for the erle of Rutlande was deposed fro that offyce and the erle of Westmerlande who was marshall of Englande bare the ceptour Thus they entred in to the churche about nyne of the clocke and in the myddes of the churche there was an hygh scaffolde all couered with reed and in the myddes therof there was a chayre Royall couered with clothe of golde Than the kyng sate downe in that chayre and so sate in estate royall sauynge he had nat on the crowne but sate bare heeded Than at four corners of the scaff olde the archebysshop of Caunterbury shewed vnto the people howe god had sent them a man to be their kyng and demaunded if they were content that he shulde be consecrated and crowned as their kynge And they all with one voyce sayd yea helde vp their handes promysynge him faythe and obeysaunce Than the kynge rose and wente downe the scaffolde to the hygh auter to be sacred at whiche consecracyon there were two archbysshoppes and ten bysshops and before the aulter theâ— he was dispoyled out of all his vestures of estate there he was anoynted in vi places on the heed on the brest on the two shulders behynde and on the handes Than a bonet was ser on his heed and whyle he was anoyntynge the clergy sange the latyny and suche seruyce as they synge at the halowing of the fonte Than that kinge was aparelled lyke a prelate of the churche â–ª with a cope of reed sylke and a payre of spurres with a poynte without a rowell Than the sworde of iustyce was drawen out of the shethe and halowed and than it was taken to the kyng who dyd put it agayne in to the sheth than the archebysshop of Caunterbury dyd gyrde the sworde about hym than saynt Edwardes crowne was brought forthe whiche is close aboue and blessed and than the archebysshop dyd sette it on the kynges heed After masse the kyng departed out of the churche in the same estate and went to his palays and there was a fountayne that ranne by dyuers braunches whyte wyne and reed Than the kyng entred in to the hall and so in to a priuy chamber and after came out agayne to dyner At the fyrst table sate the kynge At the seconde the fyue peres of the realme at the thyrde the valaunt men of London at the fourth the newe made knightes At the fyft the knyghtes and squiers of honour And by the kyng stode
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
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